Replay Value

It's the early 90's all over again!

2009-10-12T11:49:00.003-05:00

What the hell is happening here? I'm playing adventure games so much these days, it's as if their oft-reported death never came to be!

BASS Remastered (see below) continues along in all it's glory/frustrating old-school puzzle logic. It's helping restart that horrible part of my brain that used to not think twice about the insane leaps in logic inherent in the adventure genre. There is some really insane Blade Runner and Neuromancer inspired craziness going on in this game. Any doubts about it's awesomeness are probably demolished by the time you jack into the city controlling computer and interface with it by walking around in a virtual space.

I finished Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1 a couple weeks ago, and am anxious to get started on chapter 2. I'm sad it is hampered graphically by the stupid low memory limits of WiiWare, but otherwise it's a fantastic return to form. Dominic Armato is and always will be the ideal Guybrush, and I couldn't be happier that he's back. The games wit is spot on, and splitting the game up into more managable chapters helps them really shift the tone and location more easily than making a full length game feel choppy. I am probably gonna download the remake of the original Monkey Island on iPhone after BASS is finished, simply because it's the most likely place it'll actually get played, and I really want to get to the point where I can beat that game from memory.

Sam and Max Season 2 is coming out on XBLA this week, alongside another game I'm really curious about called Axel and Pixel. It's an adventure bonanza on a modern console! I'm ashamedly sitting on a barely touched copy of Sam and Max Season 1, but will definitely play it this winter, and will probably follow up with the XBLA version of the second season. The Wii version seems stuck in lombo, and the XBLA release is cheaper and will probably run better. If you don't know about Steve Purcell's glorious Sam and Max legacy, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Last but not least, I got Phantasmagoria to run on my Mac last night! Dealing with virtual copies of multiple discs (7 discs bitches!) on a virtual DOS sytem on a Mac is kinda insane, but it works damnit! HOLY CRAP I loved that game. It's one of the finest examples of the insanity of the Full Motion Video adventure games. I don't want to imply that it's a particularly good game, but it feels like a perfect time capsule of an era where PC games held so much maigc for me. Compared to what was coming out at that time on consoles it was something to behold. My dream is to get really good at it and to eventually host a live speed playthrough as a compliment to a horror movie night. I wanted this to happen at our Halloween party, but with an impending move coming up at the end of the month, that probably won't happen.

So basically, Adventure games rock. Let's hope it keeps up!

Beneath a Steel Sky Remastered

2009-10-09T11:55:00.003-05:00

I am a serious sucker for Revolution studios Broken Sword series. I've played all but the most recent game in their epic series following the beloved George Stobbart and Nico Collard (this being due to it only being available on PC currently), and have loved every minute of them. I have always felt guilty for not trying out some of their other games, especially the classic, Beneath a Steel Sky. Now I can finally do something about that.

Beneath a Steel Sky, or BASS, has recently become available on the iPhone and iPod Touch in a newly Remastered format. Not only tweaked for the touch interface of the small screen, BASS Remastered includes new cutscenes by Dave Gibbons. Gibbons is most known as the artist behind Watchmen. His artwork matches the classic dystopian future vibe of the game well. Revolution Studios also cleaned up the music and audio. That's right, this 10+ hour adventure classic is fully voiced and in the palm of your hand.

It's pure adventure gaming bliss to have access to such a game on the go, in a time where classic adventure games that haven't been re-released are becoming harder and harder to play, especially for a Mac owner like me. This isn't the first game to be given this treatment; Monkey Island and Flight of the Amazon Queen come to mind, and I hope they aren't the last. I'll probably post more thoughts when I finish the game, but my early verdict is that it's a great buy for adventure game fans and interested parties at only $5.

Back in the Saddle

2009-09-03T14:42:00.002-05:00

I'm gonna give this another shot. I've felt lately I just need to write. I don't expect anyone to read, and that's just fine.

Dead Space: First Impressions

2008-10-23T19:25:00.006-05:00

I picked up Dead Space the other day and have had a few hours to mess around with it. It's the first big title of the fall AAA game onslaught that I was interested enough in to buy. So far it has not disappointed. My girlfriend even had to leave the room while I was playing it, which has to be a good sign for a horror themed shooter.

Dead Space looks fantastic, no doubt about it, which is to say that it looks absolutely disgusting. I am proud that this was the first new game I've had a chance to break in on my new 61" TV. The first thing you'll notice is probably the grossly deformed enemies which persistently lumber at you even after losing both legs (the headshot is no longer king here, it's all about removing their limbs), and they are a sight to behold. Once you get a quiet moment to look around though, you also notice how good the environment looks, in this case a huge "planet cracker" ship named the Ishimura.

The gameplay so far is a little bit Gears of War, and a little bit Resident Evil. No cover system that seems to be all the rage these days, but it just wouldn't make sense in a game where the enemies are popping out from dark scary corners most of the time. The weapon variety I've found so far is a ton of fun. Since chopping limbs is the order of the day, the weapons tend towards the slicing and dicing variety. EA attempted to make all the weapons seem realistic, mostly with construction and engineering slant to them, but I still fail to see where one would use a flamethrower in a giant space ship.

Overall I'm having a grand time mowing down these icky creatures. I'll hopefully post a little more once I wrap things up. If you have the chance, definitely check it out.

How to relax, just a little

2007-12-19T11:53:00.001-06:00

The game pictured above is Switchball, a puzzle game from Sierra now available on Xbox Live Arcade and PC. I downloaded it a few weeks ago and it's been my go-to for a quick gaming fix ever since. It's a deceptively simple puzzle game that's along the lines of Marble Madness or Monkey Ball, but with a clever twist. You're trying to get a simple marble past widely varied puzzles, but can change the ball into other states when the puzzle requires. There's a heavy metal ball for pushing heavy objects or getting past fans, or an air ball that can be inflated to float past spikes and other obstacles, and a sort of super ball that can be charged to jump, dash, or be magnetic. The puzzles start out simple, but get pretty complicated pretty quick. There's also a multiplayer race mode, but that's not my cup of tea.

What's so amazing about this game is how clever the puzzles are. They're so good in spots that you just have to smile when you solve them. I'm through about 20 of the 36 levels so far, and have yet to encounter a level without something new and unique. Also, unlike some frustrating puzzle games, this one actually relaxes me. I usually play with a custom soundtrack on and can get caught up for a few minutes or a few hours.

My girlfriend, who refers to Switchball as "that ball game," thinks it's the stupidest thing I play these days. I haven't been able to get a good reason out of her as to why this is, other than that it's "fuckin' gay." She doesn't know what she's missing. This is going down as my Live Arcade game of the year.

Mass Effect: First Impressions

2007-12-19T11:40:00.000-06:00

So I finally picked up Mass Effect yesterday and popped it in. First impressions are pretty good. Like the look a lot, and LOVE the music. The much publicized conversation system isn't revolutionary, but it's fluid and seamless. Some people think there's too much dialog, but I feel like there's always a quick way out if you are so inclined. However skipping most of the dialog will make you miss how realized this world is. There's so much backstory it's nuts.

How about the combat? Haven't seen to much yet but it's pretty solid. Could've used a little better cover system, but I'll excuse it for now. We'll see if it becomes an issue. I think I'll be taking the side of letting my team do whatever the hell they want for the time being. Seems to work alright. I do agree though that the whole item organization system sucks balls. You pickup TONS of crap during misisons, and it's not organized at all in your menus. I think I'll get over it though, since at least there's an overabundance of crap to find, and no super ultra mega weapons like in Final Fantasy.

Overall I'm definitely in it for the long haul. If you like Bioware, I don't see you having any problems with this. If you're more of an RPG traditionalist, but like Sci-Fi, give it a shot.

Anticipation

2007-08-13T15:47:00.000-05:00

I can barely deal with all the games which are about to come out in the next few weeks and months. Well there is little chance I could ever be truly without something fun and exciting to play from the past that somehow escaped my notice or financial reach at launch, the future always holds some highly anticipated treasures. While there are far too many games to list here that I would love to try, I will quickly speak about the 3 games I am most certainly going to buy before the year is out.

Bioshock

I list this first for two reasons: 1.It comes out the soonest (August 21st) and 2.It has me the most excited. How could you not love a spiritual successor to some of the best games ever (System Shock 1 + 2) which takes place in a crumbling and failed underwater utopia inspired by the writings of Ayn Rand? Still not convinced? Well then how about the fact that this beautiful Shooter/adventure/rpg hybrid mixes traditional shooting with crazy superhuman abilities called plasmids that allow you to pick and choose the genetic upgrades you use to lay waste to your enemies. If that's not enough, well then you must have a cold dead heart.

Halo 3

What can honestly be said that anyone with ears hasn't already heard. Sure it's not going to reinvent the wheel, but it will certainly make a wheel so appealing that we will roll it until it is all but square again. Pretty new graphics, a pile of new enemies and weapons, an incredible evolution of the finest console multiplayer experience to date, and most importantly, a finish to the damn story. I'm downright giddy about everything except the sleep I'm bound to lose. If you're somehow not sold by now, all I'll say is, Kieth David.

Mass Effect

This one's the hardest sell, although that's putting it up against the juggernauts that are Halo and Bioshock, two games I've been waiting YEARS for. I want Bioshock pretty bad, but my yearning only became truly cemented after this years E3. This is the latest epic RPG from Bioware, makers of some of the finest western RPG's ever. Always an innovator, this time they've created an insanely huge space opera with sweet sweet shooting action, crazy amounts of customization, the best conversation system I've ever seen, and an overall experience that will truly be unique to every player depending on their actions and choices. Now that's the kind of hot talk daddy likes. Throw in a hopping space buggy and, oh yeah, more Kieth David, and I'm freakin' sold. November can't come soon enough.

So there you go kids. These are the games I'll drop everything to play. Be back soon for a few more of the games I'm guaranteed to pick up to fill in the gaps. All awesome, just maybe not as awesome as these three. When forced to choose between a lack and an over abundance, I choose over abundance here for sure.

Now that's what I'm talking about

2007-03-02T10:40:00.000-06:00

The world needs more driving games where you spend as much time off the ground as you do in Stuntman.

The driving genre has been getting pretty creative as of late, with a large handful of games looking to break the mold of Gran Turismo style attempts at pure simulation or the endless line of boring street racing games centered around gaudy chavved out cars. The most visible carrier of this torch of change is Burnout, a series of games centered around extreme speed and the art of the crash. Any game with mode that rewards the total monetary destruction of an acident is alright in my book.

However I still think there's another level of innovation just waiting around the corner. It was hinted at by a good-but-too-damn-hard for PS2 a few years ago called Stuntman. The basic idea is almost equally puzzle and driving. You were tasked with performing stunt driving scenes in a series of fictional action films which took place in fairly traditional settings(among others an Indiana Jones clone, a James Bondish spy thriller, and my personal favorite the Dukes of Hazzard knock-off). The puzzle element was in the fact that all these scenes had to be performed with exacting percision, or you'd have to start again. Let's just say that while I enjoyed this game quite a bit, I probably yelled at it more than any other game in recent memory(except that fuckhead Astro Boy).

Well according to 1UP, there is a sequel in the works, pictured above. Titled Stuntman: Ignition, it's a next-gen update to Stuntman that looks to be taking the concept to the extreme. I find myself positively giddy at the prospect of playing this title. The difficulty level has supposedly been made much more reasonable(although hopefully not too much), and the graphical upgrade is amazing. If you need more proof of this games Hotness, head over to Gamevideos.com and check out the trailer.

Talk about some Bullshit

2007-03-02T08:48:00.000-06:00

That's right, Bullshit with a capital B.

It's no news that Sony has been taking some serious shit these days. In fact their insane claims and statements are coming with such regularity it's quite astonishing. The backlash from the gaming community has been pretty substantial, but Sony seemed to be content to continually just brush those haters off as it were.

Well they finally got angry.

You can get more details at Kotaku, but the long and short of it is that Sony didn't like a (widely confirmed at Kotaku by very reliable sources inside the gaming industry) rumor that Kotaku wanted to publish. Well even after some nice asking from Sony, they published the rumor anyway. Instead of the "we do not comment on rumors or speculation," company line that Microsoft regularly dishes out, Sony sent a bitchy note to Kotaku saying that they were shutting down all relations with the site including interviews at future trade shows and the a request for the return of their debug PS3.

This is some serious blackballing if I ever saw it, and it freaking blows my mind. If you're a gamer and you follow the multitude of gaming sites and blogs that publish gaming news everyday, you know that there is nary a day that a rumor doesn't appear that was meant to be a secret. For example, recently it's become apparent that the developer and industry only test version of Xbox Live (known as Partnernet) is regularly being raided by certain sites to reveal unannounced games, despite very clear rules against such practices.

Sure all these rumors may run against your planned controlled release of news and information, but why would you go so far as to burn your bridges so completely? It's been widely reported that the biggest thing that is going to sustain Sony and the PS3 in thse critical first year is the Hardcore gamers, due to a lack of any substansial amount of somtware and such high prices. Well I may be crazy but the regular readers of Kotaku are generally pretty hardcore.

Here's the wierdest part: not only are the rumors almost certainly true(evidenced most clearly by Sony's harsh response), but they are about a feature which sounds like a beneficial addition to the PS3's somewhat uncohesive online experience. I mean if the rumor was actually damaging to your image that's one thing. Lesson here: pick your battles. Apperently Sony realised this, albeit a little late, and has apparently kissed and made up with Kotaku. After this though I'd pay good money to see the next tension filled interview of a Sony exec by a Kotaku staffer.

No Wii jokes, I swear.

2006-09-14T17:33:00.000-05:00

It's coming for you and your children, and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

So everything (pretty much) has been laid out on the table. The big things you need to know:
1. $250
2. Nov. 19th
3. Zelda (pictured above) at launch day

That's right folks, just in time for the holiday season you'll be able to get your grubby little hands on Nintendo's latest creation, the Wii. For only $250 you not only get the system and one controller/nunchuck combination, but also the game Wii Sports as well. My feelings on including a pack in game (something not done at launch by a system since the Super Nintendo) are mixed, especially when it appears that many of the games included on Wii Sports (Tennis, Golf, Boxing, Bowling, and Baseball so far) are of the fluffy filler variety. However at this point there's not too much I will be able to do about it. As for the price, I think it's right on target, although the option of $200 minus that game would've been welcome.

Other details to come out of Nintendo's NY City press conference include the Wii-mote and Nunchuck selling by themselves for $40 and $20 respectively. This seems a little high, as I was feeling more like $30 and $15, but whatever. Nintendo builds pretty much indestuctible stuff so I'm down. Also, it appears the Wii will not be able to play DVD's as was previously speculated by some. Again, no biggie here. You want DVD playback, buy a freakin Xbox 360 or PS3, or better yet use one of the damn DVD players you already own. On the downer side of things, at launch there will be no support for external hard drives to store online downloadable content, which mostly consists of the Virtual Console games. I don't think this is a big issue for most NES and Super NES games, but I have a feeling those N64 games take up a bit more space. And lastly, the nerds let out a cheer at the news that Nintendo made Wii games will be region free, and other publishers are likely to follow suit. This means if you feel like importing, it'll be that much easier.

On the game side, no big surprises. Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess will be available at launch, along with about two dozen other games. Thirty or so total games will be availbale by the years end, and several more by the end of the March 2007. What am I going to be playing on launch day(which I just realized is a Sunday)? Well Zelda is a given(duh). Other than that, I think there is a solid chance of me coming home with at least one other game, likely to be Red Steel(first person Yakuza themed shooter/sword-fighting game), Rayman Raving Rabbids(brightly colored platformer featuring several mini games and crazy ass rabbits), or Trauma Center: Second Opinion(Crazy surgery game that's a follow up to a steller Nintendo DS title).

So there you have it. After months of speculation, it's now time to start the real test of a gamers endurance: waiting patiently for a new system. I personally need to get a new TV before then, otherwise I'm gonna be pretty sad staring at all the other kids as they get to enjoy their Wii before I do. Let me know what you think about the big news.

Casual Gaming

2006-09-01T18:52:00.000-05:00

I read somewhere a while ago that the most visited video game site on the internet is Yahoo Games. This might seem odd to some people, but it's true. The reason is because apparently a ton of people love wasting time playing solitaire, Hearts, or one of the many other simple and classic games available there. I have nothing against Yahoo Games(I myself have been known to play a few games of pool there on occasion), but I don't particularly like seeing that site ranked in the same category as solid game journalism sites Gamespot and IGN(#2 and #3 on that list I believe). I just think they should be in two different categories entirely. However this is beside the point.

What the point is is that lots of people like casual games. These are games that are ususally either digital representations of real world games(Solitaire, Hearts etc...) or just very simple to pick up video game snacks(Tetris, Snood etc...). If you like games that are simple to pick up, but possibly a better work out for your brain, then the fine folks over at Jay Is Games have you back. They provide solid reviews of flash based games from a myriad of different internet sites.

Going beyond the call of duty, Jay Is Games recently hosted a competition to design a simple flash based puzzle game. The kind of affair that can be finished in one sitting, and can be controlled very simply, hopefully using only the mouse. The inspiration is the types of puzzles found in the Myst series, along with the Click Drag Type series of flash games. When the dust settled, 17 entries were submitted. While there are several very good games among the entries I have had a chance to play, I agree with their winner they chose, Clack. It's so simple yet so challenging and clever. Iwould love to describe it in detail to all of you, but I think it's better if you simply go try it.

We knew there could be trouble, but this...

2006-08-31T16:12:00.001-05:00

Just look at this headline to a recent WIRED magazine article and tell me it isn't at least a little surprising:

Can the PS3 Save Sony?
The company that created the transistor radio and the Walkman is at the precipice. If Sony's new $600 console doesn't blow gamers away, it may be time to say sayonara.
by Frank Rose

Now I know that the video game industry has been considering the possibility that the PS3 could be a flop for quite a while now(the timeline varies greatly depending on who you talk to, but for my money it's since they announced the price), but I don't think too many people really thought it could sink Sony. However I suggest anyone who thinks that possibility is very slim should go ahead and read the fascinating article Frank Rose has written for WIRED because it makes a very convincing argument.

My own opinion? Well despite some severe bashing by the hardcore gaming community, I still think this machine has a decent chance. Some huge mistakes have been made by Sony, but there is still a lot to be revealed. I know $600 is a lot of money but you must also realize children, that there are people every day spending that much for graphics cards alone in their gaming PC's. And if you still think it's insane well then I direct your attention to an eye-opening little study by the fine folks at Curmudgeon Gamer. It lists the absolute and relative prices of pretty much every console system of worth to come out in the last 30 years. Check it out.

It's been really amazing though to see Sony go from a company that everyone thought was crazy to challenge Sega and Nintendo in '95, to whomping the competition with both the PS1 and PS2, to now standing in front of possibly their most crucial hour, and all their hopes rest on this one game system. Viewing Sony as a whole, and not just a video game company, I must say I hope this isn't it. Despite some recent mis-steps, they are still responsible for some of the finest home electronics around.

Chuck Klosterman ignites a shitstorm

2006-08-13T21:11:00.000-05:00

Before I say anything about the story he wrote, and it's snowball effect on the video game world, I will simply say that I believe Chuck Klosterman is a genius. His books and articles are insightful, hilarious, intelligent, and thought provoking, often all at the same time. He's a senior editor at Spin Magazine, a columnist for Esquire and ESPN the Magazine, and has written for countless other publications. You would do yourself good to go read some of his work, or all of it for that matter.

Now that I'm done kissing his ass, I'll tell you the real story. Last month Klosterman wrote an article for Esquire titled The Lester Bangs of Video Games. The intent of the article was to discuss why there isn't a truly transcendent video game critic writing about video games for the masses, or any real writing in that direction. It's a fascinating read even for non-video gamers. To say that the reaction was mixed would be irresponsible, it was a torrent of applause and death threats, and everything in between. Klosterman even did an interview with Gamespot.com on his piece after the initial response hit.

My take is that he's exactly right. Understandably there are a few parts of his article that are a little off the mark, but on the whole he is exactly right. Video game critics and columnists as they exist today are more often than not product reviewers. They are stating their opinions on the merits of a particular game to help gamers decide if they should purchase said game. Beyond that there's the ocean of bloggers who are reporting on the voluminous amounts of news and random factoids that the game world produces daily. The unifying characteristic that brings all of these people together is that they are all gamers. They speak the language of video games in a world where that language is still pretty foreign.

You see despite video games reaching the amazing levels of "mainstream" popularity that they are currently at, there are still a staggering number of people who simply don't get it. Millions of people have never touched a video game (or at least haven't touched one since Atari). How many people do you think live in this country who've never watched TV, seen a movie, or listened to music? Basically we don't have a common agreement that video game are even capable of being engaging forms of artistic expression for both creator and player, and until that happens, we can't really take video gaming to the next level. The thing I'm struggling with, is whether this Lester Bangs of video games will usher in this new period, of if it will have to arrive before s/he can exist.

Is anyone really that surprised?

2006-08-13T15:43:00.000-05:00

So a few posts back I spent a decent amount of time explaining the big news stories of the Electronic Entertainment Expo(E3) from the Big 3. Well now I come bearing news of the status of E3 itself. The Entertainment Software Association(ESA) announced a few days ago that it is restructuring the E3 expo into a much smaller and controlled affair. Most video game media outlets are reporting that E3 is for all intents and purposes cancelled, and they're pretty much right. The beast formerly known as E3, and what will take place next year look to be so different as to warrant an entirely different name.

What is the reason behind this you ask? Well basically the publishers were saying that they weren't getting a good return on their investment. When you add up the cost of putting together very high tech booths with tons of demo stations, people to staff them, free swag to give away, and the time taken out of the development cycle to create demos specifically for E3, one starts to see how it can be a pricey affair for those trying to get noticed among the deafening noise. It's also been reported that many in the industry thought the attendance levels at E3 were getting out of control, making it difficult for the really important people to see as many games as possible. Just look at the lines that formed to play Nintendo's Wii this year.

Who is it that's been clogging the halls of the LA convention center you ask? Well even though E3 requires you be a member of the industry to attend the grandaddy of all game shows, it has never been very picky about where the line is drawn in that regard. It seems that beyond the major members of the media, retail chain inventory buyers, and other higher ups in the industry, that attendance has been trumped up by an army of game store clerks and managers who are for the most part just gaming fans trying to get a taste of the big time. Not anymore says the ESA, as now things will be strictly invite only.

So what will things look like come next July(not May as has been the traditional E3 month). Well the nicer and friendlier E3 will be much more focused on press events and small meetings, instead of the bright lights of the trade show floor that pulled most of the attention in the past. When one looks at it even briefly it's easy to understand why the decision to head in this direction is an understandable one. Already the major publishers had been forced to put on glitzy press events outside the show floor just to make sure all their big announcements didn't get lost in the shuffle.

I myself won't really miss E3. In the end, the gaming news is gonna come one way or another, only now so much of it wont be in a deluge over a mad week in May from strung out gaming reporters. Also, I hope this encourages more companies to consider pre-release events where actual gamers might get to try out their games, as opposed to being resigned to drooling over screenshots and videos. I think E3 basically just kind of outgrew itself. I heard an analogy some time back that if comparing the history of the video gaming industry to that of film, we are really still in the silent film era at best. Stuck in a studio system that limits creativity, there are gems to be found, but the greatest stories are still yet to be told. Moving past E3 in my mind is a step in the right direction.

Get him while he's still alive

2006-06-09T20:54:00.000-05:00

So the other night I saw a pretty cool French movie from 2004 called District B13. Probably the only reason this movie got released here is because of the involvement of Luc Besson. Besides directing some pretty great movies like The Professional and The Messanger, he's also produced half the stuff coming out of France in the last few years. Mr. Besson's also found time to do wacky stuff like re-edit and release the amazing Ong-Bak last year. He must never sleep kids(seriously, go check his IMDB profile).

ANYWAY, the reason this relates to video games is because this particular French film is the best action film I've seen since the previously mentioned Ong-Bak. Much of the reason for this is one of the stars, David Belle. Besides being the crazy man in the picture above, he is the inventor and grand master of a kind of freestyle-running/obstacle-coursing known as Le Parkour. It's all a lot of fun to watch, and terrifying at the same time. It also works beautifully in such a well shot action movie. Granted the whole thing is a plot device that leads to fight scenes and chases, it realizes that fact from start to finish.

Still not getting the video game connection? Well, even though there really isn't much more than a few close calls(Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat 1) heaped on top of many steaming pieces of crap(the list is too long to bear) in the realm of video game related films, I still manage to find hope on the horizon. One of those shining rays of hope is Halo, but that's for another post entirely. I also would be very delighted if someone got off their ass and snatched up David Belle for a particular video game movie. That game is Prince of Persia.

For those unfamiliar with this series of games, it basically takes place in a fairy tale version of the Middle East several hundred years ago. You run around as the Prince of Persia himself, performing all manner of daring acrobatic escapes(including running along walls, jumping huge gaps, swinging from ropes, and combining this with a very long list of other skills), fighting enemies along the way, all the while usually finding a love interest who likely can kick a little ass herself if needed. Believe me, it's all a lot more exciting than it sounds when playing it. In fact it's one of my favorite games out there. It combines puzzles, mystery, incredible tension, action, romance, and above all else, a great sense of storytelling.

I don't know about you, but all that if done right could add up to a great movie. Unlike most video games, the story is simple at it's base, but has lot's of complexity for those looking a little beneath the surface. Any good action movie really only needs to have just enough plot to string together the action scenes and lead to a satisfying climax. After that all you want is a capable and engaging star, and thus we come back to Mr. Belle. Who better to play a daring and nimble character like the Prince of Persia than a man who lives daring and nimble every day.

Basically this is a dream that I know won't come true, but it's the kind of inspired connection that really needs to happen before a video game movie is actually a good film, and not just a decent "video game movie." Hollywood needs to stop trying to cash in on licenses(which still hasn't really even been successful yet), and actually start thinking about making decent films out of the few video games that have potential on the big-screen. They also need to realize that what draws people to video games is different from what draws them to movies, but at the core of both is still good storytelling. It's just a matter of time before SOMEONE get's it right. No one said though that it couldn't still be a very liong wait.

The Storm Has Passed

2006-05-17T22:55:00.000-05:00

So E3 has come and gone, and the news is still coming at pretty steady rate. This E3 had quite a bit more than usual riding on it due to it being the final major show before both the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PS3 are released this fall(November 17 for the PS3, unknown for Wii). Well now that all the big news is out in the open, I feel it's time to throw my opinion into the mix.

There will probably be many posts to follow with commentary on happenings from E3, but the most pressing news to respond to is the moves made by the Big 3: Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. I'm just gonna go down the line for this one.

Nintendo:
For many a fanboy, this was the moment they had been waiting for for years. The next Nintendo system would truly be revealed in all its glory, with working Wii-motes and playable games to shock and amaze. Although we've heard this sentiment many times before, there is a large contingent that believes that this could truly be the system that launches Nintendo back into the console market forefront. While all Nintendo systems have been unique, this one has an ability to truly seperate itself from the PS3 and XBOX 360 and turn the console war into a spectator sport for the Big N.

Nintendo didn't take long to stir up much drama and excitement at their press conference before E3 began in earnest. They pulled out all the stops, showing an incredibly fun looking new Mario game, the wildly anticipated new Gamecube Zelda touting enhanced Wii functionality(fishing anyone?), Metroid Prime 3, the new Super Smash Bros. featuring Solid Snake, and many many more games. After the conference though, the real work began. Nintendo Showed off some 26 playable games in their incredibly busy booth. The lines to try out the much hyped Wii-mote were in a word, epic. The response varied wildly depending on the game, but the sentiment was largely that while it may not come quickly(remember the DS launch), it will be only a matter of time before greatness is achieved by a developer with true imagination and the will to attempt something truly original. I myself saw several games that point towards my buying a Wii at launch, dominated by Super Mario Galaxy. More on that later.

Microsoft:
Few people were focusing too hard on Microsoft going into E3, the fact being that their system had already been to market for some time. There were even those who thought the entire pre-show conference would be a thinly veiled plot to talk about Microsoft's new operating system Vista for 45 minutes before showing the Halo 3 trailer. Thankfully this wasn't the case. Maybe it didn't have the anticipation of the other shows, but there was definitely things to see.

The biggest news (other than Halo 3 of course), was probably the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 this October 17th, both on PS3 and Xbox 360. This is huge news for Xbox owners, because the normal progression has been for them to get an only slightly cleaned up port of the latest GTA a year after Playstation 2 owners. Despite that date not really being that far away, no screens or video of any kind were shown. This isn't really a surprise from Rockstar though, as the last three GTA's have been unleashed upon the world usually with only a month or two worth of serious media coverage. Obviously judging from sales, this hasn't been a big problem. Several other neat things were shown, but many of them are stilll far off. Bioshock and Gears of War are of intense interest to me, but I should probably buy an Xbox 360 before I get too excited.

Sony:
I must admit that I was incredibly curious about how Sony would approach this conference. Many people in the industry suggested that the delays to the PS3 would only worsen, pushing the date back to early 2007. This would of course mean that another important holiday season would be missed as Microsoft and Nintendo ate away at Sony's formidable market share. However the word came down at the Sony Press Conference that the day was set(Nov. 17th), and so was a price. Due to the long list of impressive features that were listed previous to the show for the PS3, many worried the price would be painfully high. Well their fears were confirmed, as Sony announced a two-model approach similar to the 360, selling for $499 and $599 respectively. The thud when that news hit the floor was nothing short of deafening, and as E3 closed only days later, there were already t-shirts vowing a boycott of Sony's expensive machine. The feature list for both systems had also gotten a pretty dramatic trim from previous stats, and there were more than a few angry fans who felt lied to.

However when the dust cleared, there were still games to see. While of course the new Metal Gear Solid and Gran Turismo games looked jaw-dropping, as did Assasin's Creed, everything else as seen through this gamer's eyes was decidedly lackluster. Sure it all looked pretty, but nothing screamed at me and begged to be played. Also there was the obvious fact hanging over the whole thing that for $600, it better be pretty amazing. I can't deny that MGS4 will be hard to stay away from even at that price, but there better be some other games to woo me by that time. Otherwise its the big middle finger to Sony, and I don't think I'm alone.

So there you have it folks, another E3 come and gone and lots to consider. As usual I'll be here to update you as the war wages on.

A Revolution Indeed

2006-05-08T10:45:00.000-05:00

While I am probably the last video game blog on the planet to comment on the subject of the Nintendo Revolution's name change, my waiting is not without reason. I write this on the eve of E3's beginning, and the controversy about Nintendo's new system is at a full on roar. For those not regulars to the world of video games, E3 is like the ultimate once a year Roman Orgy of video game trade shows. It's held usually in LA or Vegas, and is only open to people in the industry. More so than even the Tokyo Game Show, this is where us nerds find out what they're going to be playing for the next year or so. This year it is where we will finally(if the gods don't hate us), see a great many things including Halo 3, the new Nintendo system actually running, same for the Playstation 3, and a whole lot more.

This particular entry though is about Nintendo's latest entry into the home console market. Up until a week ago, the system was named the Nintendo Revolution. While this name might have come off as a little presumptuous to some non-gamers, the whole of the gaming community seemed to really embrace this name. It implied change in a company very used to sticking to its tried and true status. It implied that the new controller (seen above) would truly break away from what up until now had been a very evolutionary set of game controllers. However this name was not meant to last apparently. Last week Nintendo announced that the new system being released around Thanksgiving formerly known as the Revolution, would from now on be known as the Nintendo Wii(as in Whee or Oui). The thud heard following this announcement could likely be heard around the world.

Some gamers have had violent outbursts in response to this news, going so far as to say they wouldn't play a system named Wii. Others have reacted as I have, that while it's a dumb name, it's the games that matter. Some even think that this hoopla has all been an elaborate marketing scheme designed to draw attention to Nintendo at E3 so they can announce the systems REAL name. This conspiracy theory was somewhat shot down however when a copyright for the name Wii finally surfaced.

I think this whole story though brings together a much larger set of questions though, mostly revolving around the importance of naming in today's market. For example; would some of today's most recognizable products, such as the iPod, be where they are if they weren't named what they are? I would like to assume it's true quality that sells, but others would try and tell you that without a good name, even the most revolutionary product is doomed to fail. I imagine it's very hard to tell most of the time. In the case of Nintendo, it will certainly go down as one of the most scrutinized product names of all time.

So with that I ask you to throw your opinion into the mix. Tell me what you think of the new name. Also let me know some of you favorite(and least favorite) product names of all time.

Way to spend a day.

2006-05-02T20:42:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but nothing makes me fell refreshed like wasting an entire day playing video games.

My roomate just returned home last night after a 3 month incarceration in Pittsburgh. Since his showing up last night at least 17 (conservitive estimate) hours of gaming has been logged between the two of us on our hardworking Signature 2000(?) television. I myself have been playing more games than in the last few months as of late due to having a new job and a little spare cash for once. No big spending sprees, but used gaming trade ins have been good to me. For me its been lots of Metroid Prime 2 on the Gamecube until my $6 ebay copy of The Matrix: Path of Neo showed up in the mail yesterday(after being sent through the US Postal Services worm-hole apparently, as I won the bid on Friday afternoon and paid for it late that night. It was coming from Texas freaking standard mail, not even priority). My roomie has been playing the fantabulous God of War. Actually all these games are at the least very solid(The Matrix being by far the weakest though).

ANYWAY, my point is that we've been wasting a ton of good time on good games. I want to know if anyone out there has any stories of days destroyed by gaming. Not just 6 hours or some weak number, I'm talking about epic struggles against physical activity of at least 12 hours or more. If memory serves me correctly, my greatest achievement in gaming sloth was my first Sunday with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. I assumed the fabled slouch on the greatest loveseat ever known and played that damn game until I could barely see straight. Those were the days my friends. Those were the days. Let's hear it kids.

It's the small stuff that really hurts

2006-03-12T11:26:00.000-06:00

Okay, so you all know about HDTV. At the very least you've heard how it's, "the future of television and will change the way we watch TV" and crap. Or if we want to get even more visceral than that, unless you've been under a rock for about 10 years, you've at least seen a pretty HDTV at Best Buy in that wonderful "Section of Stuff I Can't Afford."

What you may not be aware of is the fact that DVD's, as pretty and fancy as they are, do not have the same eye-blistering resolution of HDTV. Believe me on this one. Go watch Lord of the Rings in HD, and play it on the same TV on a DVD side-by-side, and you will notice a big difference in picture quality.

So you may be wondering exactly where I'm going with this little lesson. Well someone finally got off their ass and made a disc that can hold an entire high definition movie. Actually two different formats were created that could hold movies in HD, each one backed by a bunch of technology companies and movie studios. They are called Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. There are benefits to each, but that doesn't really matter. We're in another VHS or Beta battle, and the winner won't be known for some time, and will come down to price and movie availability, not tech specs.

Now many tech geeks and home theater enthusiasts like myself know far too much about these two discs, and the fact that they both have launched their first players this spring at very high prices with low movie selection(actually you can only buy HD-DVD movies so far, but you can buy computer based Blu-Ray drives and burn obscene amounts onto data onto a BD disc, at least 50GB I believe). However, a frightening amount of people dont know about this. They have never heard about either of these formats and will likely be very confused when they first see them in their local store. My girlfriend for example had absolutely no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned HD--DVD a few weeks back. When I explained it all to her she wondered angrily how this could happen. Well part of it is due to the fact that few people have TV's that will support these new formats, or the money to care. There's also a big worry that the new format will enforce a copy protection scheme similar to Sony's now infamous DRM scheme. Makes me cringe just thinking about it.

You may be curious(although I highly doubt it), "I wonder which format John thinks is better?" Well since I haven't seen Blu-Ray in action I couldn't make the call on that one, but I am leaning in one direction. You see, as is common in the Electronics business, Sony holds the apparent Trump card. This comes by way of the PS3. The PS3 will arrive this November by all accounts, likely just in time for Thanksgiving. If Sony keeps true to its word(no one knows because no one has actually seen a game running on the actual system even this close to it's release), the PS3 will retail for between $400 and $600 and include a Blu-Ray player in it, much the way the PS2 included a DVD player. Why is this a big deal. Well there are a bunch of reasons but the 800 pound gorilla in the room is the fact that all the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players coming out this year are going to retail for at least $500. Are things starting to add up here kids.

Why the fuck would anyone pay the same amount for a player they're gonna get for likely the same price along with a very powerful next-gen gaming system. I sure as hell know I wont. The first time most people even hear about Blu-Ray is when they see the logo for it on their PS3's come November, and like that the decision will be made for them. HD-DVD is gonna have a hard time stopping that charge.

Oh there's one more thing though. HD-DVD cases fucking suck.

Well have fun watching the battle begin kids.

Playing with yourself taken to new levels

2005-12-27T22:35:00.000-06:00

Now I realize that there are lots of athletes out there who probably delight in playing themselves in video games (although I wonder if players on crappy teams play their team all the time knowing they'll be at a big disadvantage). I also realize that many voice actors have probably delighted in playing characters voiced by themselves. But this is a little weird. Okay it's really weird.

So the Army (yes THE Army) is funding another sequel to its little experiment known as America's Army, released in 2002 for the PC. There's been several updates and expansions since its initial, surprisingly well received release. What started out as a free game available for download on the internet and at Army recruitment centers (sneaky huh), eventually spawned a retail version for PS2 and XBOX this year. But now they're throwing in a twist by putting you in the shoes of actual existing soldiers. That means the playable characters are based on current soldiers, and the missions might even be based on their real experiences.

I honestly don't even know how to feel about this. Hell I still don't know how to feel about the game itself. I initially hated the idea of the Army doing a game, but I think in retrospect that's just because I thought it would surely suck hard. However it was decent, free, and people seemed to like it. I understand that the Army doesn't care about making good video games, they care about recruiting anyone they can. If that means making a game, no one in hell will care if the games no good.

So I guess my indifference is due to the fact that I'll respect just about anyone who makes a decent game, free or otherwise, even if I have no intentions of playing it. I give the Army credit for thinking outside the box, but I really wonder what recruiting payoffs the game has garnered. If anyone did actually decide to join the Army because of a video game, then that's probably the right place for them. However, most video gamers aren't as susceptible to suggestion as legislators would have the public believe. Also, we can be pretty lazy. I don't know about you, but the Army is no place for lazy people. So here's to staying on the couch with my controller.

Felicitous Non-Denominational Fourth Quarter!

2005-12-24T12:25:00.000-06:00

One of the most under-appreciated gamer magazines isn't even printed, but available free to your cheap ass any time you want to check it out. I speak of The Escapist. Incredibly well laid out and insightfully written, the escapist is the best gaming magazine no one ever reads. They recently released their holiday issue, and I highly suggest you check it out. Sorry but there aren't any reviews for 187: Ride or Die, so you'll just have to take my word for it and believe that it sucks.

Well kids, at the risk of offending some really dumb people: Merry Christmas.

Have fun wrapping one of these

2005-12-23T01:03:00.000-06:00

Well it may be a bit late to get that special someone a gift that has to be packed in a crate and shipped via trucking company, but it's never to early to start thinking about next year's credit card pounding nightmare. The gift I speak of is something all gamers have dreamed of at one time or another, but few will ever know the delight of. That is: Arcade Games.

I don't mean those wussy arcade collections that Namco and Midways are peddling out at such an alarming rate. I'm talking about good old fashion stand up and pump in some quarters arcade games. Back in a simpler time, arcades were king. Nothing used to get me more excited as a kid than the deafening roar of my local arcade (an Aladdin's Castle if you're curious). Nowadays though you'd be hard pressed to find much more than a random pinball machine or copy of Galaga in the odd laundromat or pizza place. That is unless you're willing to brave the terror of such cold and heartless "arcades" as Gameworks or Dave and Busters.

If you actually have the cash to make the dream of having a mini arcade in your home, then check out this guy. Not only does he sell arcade games, but his personal collection is insane. Makes you feel like your 120 Atari games isn't so bad after all.

Rubbing the right people the wrong way

2005-12-22T22:25:00.000-06:00

You've gotta give it up for Dan Hsu. The Editor in Chief of "esteemed" video game magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly (or EGM for short) posted an editorial in the most recent issue. As anyone with brains would assume from reading it, he stirred things up a bit. If you're too lazy to check out the link, the long and short of Dan's article is that a few reputable sources confirmed something which more than a few jaded gamers already assumed to be true. This something is that certain video game magazines and websites will readily allow video game makers to influence what games they report on if they throw enough advertising dollars their way. There is a mountain of integrity issues at play here, and all of them are rather upsetting.

The argument being made by some that Dan is a big wuss for not naming names is a pretty shallow one. As many others have stated, EGM is not a news site in the business of revealing scandals. Leave such messy business to other more capable individuals. EGM is a fairly respectable gaming magazine who is taking a fair risk by calling out both it's fellow magazines, as well as several advertisers it has likely dealt with in the past.

Now I don't know about you, but I find the idea of video game reporting being bought for a few advertising dollars as disgusting. It also is a big self-inflicted kick in the nuts to an industry which spends quite a bit of time whining about how it deserves to be recognized as an art form along with film and television. Well this isn't how to do it (Neither is this, but that's beside the point). For the love of god, how many thousands of games come out every year? Are you telling me there are decent magazines out there without enough ad revenue to not have to trade cover stories for ads?

Unfortunately though, people like Dan are not easy to find. This story will not crawl beyond the pages and postings of hardcore gaming sites until the legitimate press starts reporting on gaming stories other than what anti-gaming laws got signed lately, or the whole hot coffee scandal (which so sickens me I won't even grant it a link). I guess we'll just have to wait to see if someone in power hears the cry for a serious investigation into the practices of the video game industry. In the mean time I'm gonna be suspicious of all gaming magazines from now on (although Game informer was already on that list big time), until they prove to me I don't have a reason to be.

Begin Here

2005-12-22T21:21:00.000-06:00

So this is blogging. Maybe you crazy kids were on to something after all.

My goal here is to present to you news and views (and hopefully not too much rhyming) on video games and home theater, and hopefully all the places they intersect. I understand that this is some pretty nerdy stuff, but its what I know best. I'm sure I could go to great lengths to explain to you some of my greater plans and goals, but I think the best avenue is to just let this little guy out in the yard to run around a bit. You'll make sense of it over time, I promise. So here it goes.