You must have heard by now the controversy surrounding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Leaked videos showed the player engaging in taking over an airport as a terrorist and shooting innocent civilians.
Well, to expand on it, the player is an undercover CIA agent, and the player does have an option to shoot or not. That simple.
I can not say it any better than Rus McLaughlin from IGN.com in his column.
Make sure you give that a good read; now for some brief commentary.
Yes, the game does not force you to shoot civilians. It is a moral dilemma that the player must face. The developers do not force you to shoot the civilians. They are not to blame. I have a strong stance that games will not make somebody grab a gun and beat up hookers and what not.
In fact, something that Rus doesn't mention is this: we should thank Infinity Ward for this level. Why? Well, we know it is violent; the whole damn game is going to be violent. The past two CoDs are extremely violent. Almost three times in Modern Warfare does your player-controlled character kick the bucket. In World at War, Japanese soldiers are burned out of hiding in the grass as you hear them scream. Violence is a hot issue.
But to pick up on what I was saying, it is best that Modern Warfare 2 have a level like this now. Right now. In 2009. These ideas are so fresh in our mind: that videogames are violent and so is real life. There is still conflict in the Middle East. It is best that we examine the situation now to give ourselves better ideas of what is going on today, and what shouldn't happen in the future.
Why is it best that we have a level where we could kill civilians? If it happens any later down the line (who knows, 5? 10? 15 years?) then our society may be too desensitized to the violence and won't think any better of it. Violence in games could gradually become worse, and the shift may be slow to start, but the end result will be so drastically different than from what it is now.
Twenty years ago it was Mario jumping on turtles. Today it is running through a crowded airport with terrorists and an AK-47.
Let this scene cause debate. Let it fire up gamers and parents and politicians. Let this happen now so we know the difference between right and wrong before it is too late.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wii Price Cut
Wii price cut is official. Dropping down from $250 to $200, the Wii will still be packaged with a Wiimote and Wii Sports.
This is most likely, but not entirely, due to the fact that both XBox 360 and Playstation 3 have slashed prices very recently. It really was not necessary for Nintendo to cut the price, since they have literally held the top position in sales for about three years. But this only means that Nintendo will sell more consoles.
While the XBox 360 has head steady sales thanks to its game library, the PS3 has struggled because of its price and low number of exclusive games.
I have to say, though, that PS3 will definitely be on the rise this season. The impressive release of the Slim model at $299 is an attractive temptation for gamers. Not only is the PS3 an incredibly powerful gaming system, it is also a Blu-Ray player. It may be the best media player today.
It also has hot games like Uncharted 2, Infamous, and of course, MGS4.
This is most likely, but not entirely, due to the fact that both XBox 360 and Playstation 3 have slashed prices very recently. It really was not necessary for Nintendo to cut the price, since they have literally held the top position in sales for about three years. But this only means that Nintendo will sell more consoles.
While the XBox 360 has head steady sales thanks to its game library, the PS3 has struggled because of its price and low number of exclusive games.
I have to say, though, that PS3 will definitely be on the rise this season. The impressive release of the Slim model at $299 is an attractive temptation for gamers. Not only is the PS3 an incredibly powerful gaming system, it is also a Blu-Ray player. It may be the best media player today.
It also has hot games like Uncharted 2, Infamous, and of course, MGS4.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Super 16 - Bracket B - Match 2
Wow, this is an odd matchup.
Syphon Filter is unique; it's a bit of a dark horse on this overall list of favorite games. But it does have this special place in my heart. By comparison, games from the past generations blow it away. Graphically, it is awful. Control is ehhhhhh. But its story is interesting; interesting enough to make the most recent season of 24 extra bland and pretty bad.
NHL '94 and NHL 09. The two best hockey games ever made and ever played. What makes '94 special is the simple gameplay, quick games, sweet rosters, and Brian Leetch and the New York Rangers. Would I love the NHL as much as I do now had I never played NHL '94? I think it is obvious that my love for the game would hardly even stretch past the Red Wings.
I sit here and think: Which of these games do I love more? After the reasoning I gave behind NHL '94, it is hard to go the other way. Even its menu theme song is cooler.
Winner: NHL '94
Match 2
Syphon Filter
Vs.
NHL '94
Syphon Filter is unique; it's a bit of a dark horse on this overall list of favorite games. But it does have this special place in my heart. By comparison, games from the past generations blow it away. Graphically, it is awful. Control is ehhhhhh. But its story is interesting; interesting enough to make the most recent season of 24 extra bland and pretty bad.
-----
NHL '94 and NHL 09. The two best hockey games ever made and ever played. What makes '94 special is the simple gameplay, quick games, sweet rosters, and Brian Leetch and the New York Rangers. Would I love the NHL as much as I do now had I never played NHL '94? I think it is obvious that my love for the game would hardly even stretch past the Red Wings.
-----
I sit here and think: Which of these games do I love more? After the reasoning I gave behind NHL '94, it is hard to go the other way. Even its menu theme song is cooler.
Winner: NHL '94
Super 16 - Bracket B - Match 1
It's been a long time, huh? Well, I am going to super charge this one, with a very quick dual match up to cover both challenges from Bracket B. No images to dress this post up, sorry. I have no excuse for not updating this bracket. It's been over a year, I should have gotten done with it in two months.
MGS4 is storytelling at its finest. Video games used to be solely about playing them, until this franchise came along. Many gamers can argue about long cut scenes interrupting play, but the story drives this game. The graphics are top notch. Raiden is not a bitch.
This has favorite written all over it. I foresee it reaching the finals. (No promises though) I bought a PS3 because of this game. I do not regret it. PS3 is a quality and under appreciated game console. MGS4 is not under appreciated. It is respected by critics and gamers alike. It's earned perfect scores from many sites and magazines. It's earned a perfect score from me.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is amazing. This is the best local multiplayer known to man. The extended roster boosts replayability through the roof, but then again, once you find your best fighter (or for me, my best 6) its hard to change your ways.
I will say this is my favorite local multiplayer game. Better than a local Guitar Hero band, since you do not get tired of the set list, and you don't need to be a pro to play Brawl. Button mashing is a tactic, but come on! You only need to use two button! It's brilliant!
Sadly, for Brawl, I got all reminiscent of it typing that. But I haven't been around the people I play it with in months. MOOOOONTHS. Even if it hadn't been, it would be hard to justify why this game is "better" than MGS4. Brawl doesn't have that groundbreaking, horripilating experience when you play it. And I love my games to tell me a story (which is also why I love RPGs (and I'm not knocking down Brawl's Adventure mode)).
Winner: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
-----
Match 1
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Vs.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
MGS4 is storytelling at its finest. Video games used to be solely about playing them, until this franchise came along. Many gamers can argue about long cut scenes interrupting play, but the story drives this game. The graphics are top notch. Raiden is not a bitch.
This has favorite written all over it. I foresee it reaching the finals. (No promises though) I bought a PS3 because of this game. I do not regret it. PS3 is a quality and under appreciated game console. MGS4 is not under appreciated. It is respected by critics and gamers alike. It's earned perfect scores from many sites and magazines. It's earned a perfect score from me.
-----
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is amazing. This is the best local multiplayer known to man. The extended roster boosts replayability through the roof, but then again, once you find your best fighter (or for me, my best 6) its hard to change your ways.
I will say this is my favorite local multiplayer game. Better than a local Guitar Hero band, since you do not get tired of the set list, and you don't need to be a pro to play Brawl. Button mashing is a tactic, but come on! You only need to use two button! It's brilliant!
-----
Sadly, for Brawl, I got all reminiscent of it typing that. But I haven't been around the people I play it with in months. MOOOOONTHS. Even if it hadn't been, it would be hard to justify why this game is "better" than MGS4. Brawl doesn't have that groundbreaking, horripilating experience when you play it. And I love my games to tell me a story (which is also why I love RPGs (and I'm not knocking down Brawl's Adventure mode)).
Winner: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
Friday, June 05, 2009
E3 2009 - Wrap Up
I cannot think of a better way to wrap up an incredible week than this "Hype Montage" that was put together by IGN.
I still love that track that plays during the Final Fantasy XIII trailer.
I still love that track that plays during the Final Fantasy XIII trailer.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
E3 2009 - Day 2
We've heard the big news from Nintendo already (see previous post) about Mario Galaxy 2 and Metroid: Other M. Besides that, New Super Mario Bros. Wii was announced and displayed. Nothing real special about that, besides a four player mode. There was no Zelda announcement during the conference, but apparently Miyamoto spoke in a closed-door discussion with gaming journalists about the next installment.
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Sony's conference was also this afternoon, and what you expected to be shown pretty much was. God of War III showed off its similarly cool gameplay that the other two are known for, but it looked much better and you can tell it will be far more epic.
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Final Fantasy XIII was also present, with English voices in its videos. A little more dialogue was spoken toward the characters and their personalities and how they fit into the plot. Check it out.
Then a complete shocker. FFXIV was announced, as a PS3 exclusive (during the conference, they kept adding that PS3 only games are not only exclusive to the PS3, they are only possible on the PS3). The drawback? It's an online game.
-----
Hideo Kojima was also at the conference. No new announcement toward MGS:Rising, but instead presented MGS: Peace Walker for the PSP. Setting is in the 1970s, ten years after Snake Eater. Described not as a spin-off, but an extension to the story, hopefully bridging the gap and the beginnings of Outer Heaven.
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Did I mention Golden Sun DS?
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Sin and Punishment 2 Hands-On Preview!!!!
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I think G4 did an amazing job with their E3 coverage today. Airing live, they had the Nintendo and Sony Conferences this afternoon, with great filler coverage up until 6, when the AOTS and XPlay crew were on the floor with demos for Modern Warfare 2 and Mass Effect 2, asking the questions we wanted answered.
They also were the first to speak with Reggie Fils-Aime right after the Nintendo Conference, and he was really great and adding info on how he, as a gamer, takes his time to read the boards and listen to what we other gamers look for and what.
On the other hand, I am a little upset with IGN, who throughout the day, was running very slow online and didn't get updates up as soon as they could (should) have been. A very slow day
-----
Sony's conference was also this afternoon, and what you expected to be shown pretty much was. God of War III showed off its similarly cool gameplay that the other two are known for, but it looked much better and you can tell it will be far more epic.
-----
Final Fantasy XIII was also present, with English voices in its videos. A little more dialogue was spoken toward the characters and their personalities and how they fit into the plot. Check it out.
Then a complete shocker. FFXIV was announced, as a PS3 exclusive (during the conference, they kept adding that PS3 only games are not only exclusive to the PS3, they are only possible on the PS3). The drawback? It's an online game.
-----
Hideo Kojima was also at the conference. No new announcement toward MGS:Rising, but instead presented MGS: Peace Walker for the PSP. Setting is in the 1970s, ten years after Snake Eater. Described not as a spin-off, but an extension to the story, hopefully bridging the gap and the beginnings of Outer Heaven.
-----
Did I mention Golden Sun DS?
-----
Sin and Punishment 2 Hands-On Preview!!!!
-----
I think G4 did an amazing job with their E3 coverage today. Airing live, they had the Nintendo and Sony Conferences this afternoon, with great filler coverage up until 6, when the AOTS and XPlay crew were on the floor with demos for Modern Warfare 2 and Mass Effect 2, asking the questions we wanted answered.
They also were the first to speak with Reggie Fils-Aime right after the Nintendo Conference, and he was really great and adding info on how he, as a gamer, takes his time to read the boards and listen to what we other gamers look for and what.
On the other hand, I am a little upset with IGN, who throughout the day, was running very slow online and didn't get updates up as soon as they could (should) have been. A very slow day
New Metroid! Galaxy 2!
So I'm gonna try to get some audio stuff up and running. He is a quick reaction to Nintendo's press conference. More to follow after Sony's, and a wrap-up of today's biggest news tonight (after the Wings game, of course).
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So here is video of Metroid: Other M.
And Super Mario Galaxy 2.
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So here is video of Metroid: Other M.
And Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Monday, June 01, 2009
E3 2009 - Day 1
I'll do this every day during E3. I will have sort of a wrap-up with quick hits on stuff that's most awesome (things I care about). Will include links to stuff, some video, maybe some images. Enjoy.
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Metal Gear Solid: Rising is the new title that has been building suspense for days. Instead of the "Tactical Espionage Action" that made MGS awesome, this is billed as "Lightning Bolt Action." Since Raiden is our main character, fighting with swords and ninja kicks and I guess lightning bolts will take us away from the stealth-focused familiarity. The trailer does add "Sneak in" at the end, so maybe not...
While the XBox logos appear, this better not be an exclusive. Hideo Kojima was even on stage for the announcement and stated that MGS:R is currently in development for XBox 360.
Teaser website hit zero at 6 p.m. EST. But it took 20 minutes to work. Ugh. Nothing new or exciting on the site, since I already saw the announcement. Hope more comes in the following hours or so.
-----
Microsoft's Conference was today, and there was a release window given for the XBox 360 version for Final Fantasy XIII: Spring 2010. Will this mean that the PS3 version is released around the same time, or before??
-----
IGN gets their hands on demo for Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a beautiful 2D hack-n-slash. Check it out.
-----
Full Guitar Hero 5 artist list announced. No Arctic Monkeys, but more Muse and Rush.
-----
Pete Sampras showed up to EA's conference to play Grand Slam Tennis with Peter Moore. Moore asks, "How does this feel in relation to the real Wimbeldon?" Sampras replies, "This is easier."
-----
EA's Conference ended with the awesomeness of a trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic. This will be an MMO that takes place in the same era as the KOTOR series. I just may have to get this PC game.
-----
More to come.
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Metal Gear Solid: Rising is the new title that has been building suspense for days. Instead of the "Tactical Espionage Action" that made MGS awesome, this is billed as "Lightning Bolt Action." Since Raiden is our main character, fighting with swords and ninja kicks and I guess lightning bolts will take us away from the stealth-focused familiarity. The trailer does add "Sneak in" at the end, so maybe not...
While the XBox logos appear, this better not be an exclusive. Hideo Kojima was even on stage for the announcement and stated that MGS:R is currently in development for XBox 360.
Teaser website hit zero at 6 p.m. EST. But it took 20 minutes to work. Ugh. Nothing new or exciting on the site, since I already saw the announcement. Hope more comes in the following hours or so.
-----
Microsoft's Conference was today, and there was a release window given for the XBox 360 version for Final Fantasy XIII: Spring 2010. Will this mean that the PS3 version is released around the same time, or before??
-----
IGN gets their hands on demo for Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a beautiful 2D hack-n-slash. Check it out.
-----
Full Guitar Hero 5 artist list announced. No Arctic Monkeys, but more Muse and Rush.
-----
Pete Sampras showed up to EA's conference to play Grand Slam Tennis with Peter Moore. Moore asks, "How does this feel in relation to the real Wimbeldon?" Sampras replies, "This is easier."
-----
EA's Conference ended with the awesomeness of a trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic. This will be an MMO that takes place in the same era as the KOTOR series. I just may have to get this PC game.
-----
More to come.
Friday, May 29, 2009
EGM Returns
An announcement today stated that Electronic Gaming Monthly, a fine videogame magazine publication, will return for the second half of 2009.
In January, publication shut down for the magazine after Ziff Davis Media said it was "no longer viable in today's marketplace." However, things have turned around.
This. Is. Awesome.
With aspirations of being a videogame journalist, I am glad that the publishers have agreed to restart the magazine's operation. I would rather work for a monthly publication (magazine) than a website because of the look and feel you get from print. Design plays a much bigger role in print, because you need to grab the eye's attention in order for the reader to actually read. Online, people read only what they want and look for more specific and interesting pieces.
Journalism isn't dying, but print media has faced a lot of hardships in the past year. It's slower and limited, but it's comforting.
In January, publication shut down for the magazine after Ziff Davis Media said it was "no longer viable in today's marketplace." However, things have turned around.
This. Is. Awesome.
With aspirations of being a videogame journalist, I am glad that the publishers have agreed to restart the magazine's operation. I would rather work for a monthly publication (magazine) than a website because of the look and feel you get from print. Design plays a much bigger role in print, because you need to grab the eye's attention in order for the reader to actually read. Online, people read only what they want and look for more specific and interesting pieces.
Journalism isn't dying, but print media has faced a lot of hardships in the past year. It's slower and limited, but it's comforting.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Everlong
Today, I joined the ranks of the elite.
I have beaten Everlong on Expert in Guitar Hero: World Tour. Proof:
To begin this story, I felt like continuing on my replay of every song in career mode. My skills as a drummer have improved, and I wanted to improve my scores along with it. Songs that were not beaten on Expert before had been mastered, and gig by gig I marched on in my conquest(not counting Vicarious by Tool).
I reached the Rock Brigade, which as a whole is one the best sets for drumming: Mountain Song, Spiderwebs, Shiver, The Kill, Dammit, and Everlong. Typically when I would play this gig, I could get to Everlong, fail at 14 percent, and then switch to Hard.
But anyway, I do my thing. I nail every star power in Mountain Song. I keep up outrageous note streaks in Spiderwebs. I get shades beneath by awesome high score in Shiver. I hit all but one snare roll in The Kill. I even freakin' got a 4 star performance on Dammit! I was doing great!
The time came to play Everlong. I was not expecting much, but I had a feeling when my rhythm was dead on for the high-hat at the beginning. That right there helped me a lot, because the song carries that fast rhythm the whole time. Then comes the snare. And the bass drum. I was still in the green. The vocals started. They kept going. I knew I was past 14 percent, because I never hear this many lyrics. It continues.
I reach the chorus. That's a good sign. Hey, I have star power now! Back to verse. Still in the green? What am I going to do with this star power? Oops, used it by accident. Typical. But I'm still in the green... and... CHORUS AGAIN! I'M THERE!!!
Holy balls, I realize I am sweating a ridiculous amount. I feel it gather on my forehead, and a bead rolls down next to my right eye. Thank goodness I had my contacts in, or my glasses would be falling right off my nose.
Whew, I have a break now. I don't care about this drum fill they are giving me, I'm wiping this sweat off right now.
High-hat again. Miss the star power. Snare roll. Miss the star power. Oh well, I know I'm in good standing, I'm already past the second verse, that's all that matters. Get that far and I am home free.
OMG THIS SONG IS SO FREAKIN' FUN ONCE I KNOW I CAN'T FAIL! The sweat continues to gather on my face. I have swamp ass now, and couldn't be happier. I keep pounding these fake plastic drums like it's nobody's business.
And guess what? It's over. It's done. Everlong has been beaten on Expert.
I have beaten Everlong on Expert in Guitar Hero: World Tour. Proof:
To begin this story, I felt like continuing on my replay of every song in career mode. My skills as a drummer have improved, and I wanted to improve my scores along with it. Songs that were not beaten on Expert before had been mastered, and gig by gig I marched on in my conquest(not counting Vicarious by Tool).
I reached the Rock Brigade, which as a whole is one the best sets for drumming: Mountain Song, Spiderwebs, Shiver, The Kill, Dammit, and Everlong. Typically when I would play this gig, I could get to Everlong, fail at 14 percent, and then switch to Hard.
But anyway, I do my thing. I nail every star power in Mountain Song. I keep up outrageous note streaks in Spiderwebs. I get shades beneath by awesome high score in Shiver. I hit all but one snare roll in The Kill. I even freakin' got a 4 star performance on Dammit! I was doing great!
The time came to play Everlong. I was not expecting much, but I had a feeling when my rhythm was dead on for the high-hat at the beginning. That right there helped me a lot, because the song carries that fast rhythm the whole time. Then comes the snare. And the bass drum. I was still in the green. The vocals started. They kept going. I knew I was past 14 percent, because I never hear this many lyrics. It continues.
I reach the chorus. That's a good sign. Hey, I have star power now! Back to verse. Still in the green? What am I going to do with this star power? Oops, used it by accident. Typical. But I'm still in the green... and... CHORUS AGAIN! I'M THERE!!!
Holy balls, I realize I am sweating a ridiculous amount. I feel it gather on my forehead, and a bead rolls down next to my right eye. Thank goodness I had my contacts in, or my glasses would be falling right off my nose.
Whew, I have a break now. I don't care about this drum fill they are giving me, I'm wiping this sweat off right now.
High-hat again. Miss the star power. Snare roll. Miss the star power. Oh well, I know I'm in good standing, I'm already past the second verse, that's all that matters. Get that far and I am home free.
OMG THIS SONG IS SO FREAKIN' FUN ONCE I KNOW I CAN'T FAIL! The sweat continues to gather on my face. I have swamp ass now, and couldn't be happier. I keep pounding these fake plastic drums like it's nobody's business.
And guess what? It's over. It's done. Everlong has been beaten on Expert.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Metal Gear... Big Boss?
Hideo Kojima's next project keeps gamers wondering, "What is next for Metal Gear?"
For the past few days, a teaser website has been running a countdown, and each time it hits zero, new bits are added and a new countdown begins.
At first, it was just an open field with clouds and lightning. Then, it started to rain, with the letters E3 appearing every couple seconds. Now, it is pouring rain. The letters are now showing PS3, E, R, and e. But the biggest, and best, addition is this:
Big Boss.
The next Metal Gear Solid game will once again take us back in time. That is what it appears to be. A PlayStation 3 exclusive, most likely, where Big Boss is once again the main character, filling in bits of the story through history.
But I wonder, what else can be added to the story when MGS4 did such a good job at filling in mostly every hole? How much of what happens can tie in to the main story line and how much can be new enough to surprise gamers? (Okay, the second part of that really should not be too difficult consider the franchise that I'm talking about.)
Honestly, though, I am a little upset that this was not going in the direction of a Raiden game. I like Raiden. He's a badass. MGS2 did not bug me all that much. It just made me look forward to MGS4 that much more. A Raiden filler game would have been way cool, since it would turn him from little bitch to ninja badass.
It just hit me. The time frame for this new game can lean closer to the events of the first Metal Gear. That would be cool.
For the past few days, a teaser website has been running a countdown, and each time it hits zero, new bits are added and a new countdown begins.
At first, it was just an open field with clouds and lightning. Then, it started to rain, with the letters E3 appearing every couple seconds. Now, it is pouring rain. The letters are now showing PS3, E, R, and e. But the biggest, and best, addition is this:
Big Boss.
The next Metal Gear Solid game will once again take us back in time. That is what it appears to be. A PlayStation 3 exclusive, most likely, where Big Boss is once again the main character, filling in bits of the story through history.
But I wonder, what else can be added to the story when MGS4 did such a good job at filling in mostly every hole? How much of what happens can tie in to the main story line and how much can be new enough to surprise gamers? (Okay, the second part of that really should not be too difficult consider the franchise that I'm talking about.)
Honestly, though, I am a little upset that this was not going in the direction of a Raiden game. I like Raiden. He's a badass. MGS2 did not bug me all that much. It just made me look forward to MGS4 that much more. A Raiden filler game would have been way cool, since it would turn him from little bitch to ninja badass.
-----
It just hit me. The time frame for this new game can lean closer to the events of the first Metal Gear. That would be cool.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty 4 was a cool game. It had a solid single-player campaign with one hell of a war story. Most of its renown came from its incredibly deep and playable online multiplayer.
We all know about online multiplayer and its importance in this generation's games. It can make or break an experience, and too many gamers beg for having an online mode, no matter how unnecessary it is. Resident Evil 5 (ugh, co-op emphasis again) wants you to play with somebody, but for some reason it has a deathmatch component (which is on the disc but you pay to unlock it?).
So World at War continued the same multiplayer experience, keeping the leveling system, prestige mode, unique perks, unlockable weapons and upgrades, and strategic maps. Single player was also pretty tight, although it was another WWII shooter, it took us to parts of the world that aren't normally featured. Marching from Mother Russia into the heart of the Reich was pretty epic.
Well, Modern Warfare 2 is coming. The teaser trailers have been released. We are expecting pretty much the same multiplayer experience, at least I am, and it's alright. But more exciting for me is the single player experience that looks really promising from the videos.
What I want from a single player campaign is roughly a 20-30 hour playthrough. To me, that does not sound like too much to ask. I want more than about a dozen missions. I want to be able to return to the game with hopes of thinking, "I want to play this certain level right now," and when I do, it is awesome. Give me unique objectives, different environments, solid characters, and the obligatory sniping mission.
Most importantly, give me this badass story that involves killing terrorists.
We all know about online multiplayer and its importance in this generation's games. It can make or break an experience, and too many gamers beg for having an online mode, no matter how unnecessary it is. Resident Evil 5 (ugh, co-op emphasis again) wants you to play with somebody, but for some reason it has a deathmatch component (which is on the disc but you pay to unlock it?).
So World at War continued the same multiplayer experience, keeping the leveling system, prestige mode, unique perks, unlockable weapons and upgrades, and strategic maps. Single player was also pretty tight, although it was another WWII shooter, it took us to parts of the world that aren't normally featured. Marching from Mother Russia into the heart of the Reich was pretty epic.
Well, Modern Warfare 2 is coming. The teaser trailers have been released. We are expecting pretty much the same multiplayer experience, at least I am, and it's alright. But more exciting for me is the single player experience that looks really promising from the videos.
What I want from a single player campaign is roughly a 20-30 hour playthrough. To me, that does not sound like too much to ask. I want more than about a dozen missions. I want to be able to return to the game with hopes of thinking, "I want to play this certain level right now," and when I do, it is awesome. Give me unique objectives, different environments, solid characters, and the obligatory sniping mission.
Most importantly, give me this badass story that involves killing terrorists.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
PS3 Fallout 3 DLC - OMG!
(^ It rhymes)
But yes, it is official. In an exclusive interview with IGN, Fallout 3 Game Director Todd Howard announced that the three current DLC will come to PlayStation Network starting in June with Operation Anchorage. A period of about a month separates the next release, The Pitt, and then yet another month before Broken Steel (an a raised level cap). Ugh.
It breaks my balls that it will not be until roughly August that I can take my character(s) up to level 30. This leaves me wondering why I would want to download the first two expansions before Broken Steel when the experience would be wasted.
For the Xbox and PC crowd, two more DLC offerings are coming before they hit the PS3: Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta. Come October, all five DLC will be available on disc with the Fallout 3: Game of the Year edition.
I pretty much want only Broken Steel. More so for the capability of leveling up to 30. I'm sure even without the bonus missions, I could go back through the Capital Wasteland and hit 30 with what is already there. I hit 20 hours before I was even close to finishing the story. Hours. And believe me, I committed a lot of hours to Fallout 3, like any good gamer should have.
But yes, it is official. In an exclusive interview with IGN, Fallout 3 Game Director Todd Howard announced that the three current DLC will come to PlayStation Network starting in June with Operation Anchorage. A period of about a month separates the next release, The Pitt, and then yet another month before Broken Steel (an a raised level cap). Ugh.
It breaks my balls that it will not be until roughly August that I can take my character(s) up to level 30. This leaves me wondering why I would want to download the first two expansions before Broken Steel when the experience would be wasted.
For the Xbox and PC crowd, two more DLC offerings are coming before they hit the PS3: Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta. Come October, all five DLC will be available on disc with the Fallout 3: Game of the Year edition.
I pretty much want only Broken Steel. More so for the capability of leveling up to 30. I'm sure even without the bonus missions, I could go back through the Capital Wasteland and hit 30 with what is already there. I hit 20 hours before I was even close to finishing the story. Hours. And believe me, I committed a lot of hours to Fallout 3, like any good gamer should have.
Happy Anniversary!
Today is the four year anniversary of one of the greatest days of my life.
Yes, the celebration of the midnight release of Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
At midnight, I am watching my DVD to celebrate that magical moment. No other movie release had me so excited or made me feel the way I did when I saw Episode III in theaters. The only time I felt more entertained in my environment was seeing Snakes on a Plane at Star Southfield (a woman's hat literally flew off her head).
May the Force be with you all.
Yes, the celebration of the midnight release of Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
At midnight, I am watching my DVD to celebrate that magical moment. No other movie release had me so excited or made me feel the way I did when I saw Episode III in theaters. The only time I felt more entertained in my environment was seeing Snakes on a Plane at Star Southfield (a woman's hat literally flew off her head).
May the Force be with you all.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Screen-Capture
You know what would make this site more awesome? My own screen-capturing device. I wouldn't have to take screenshots from various websites and outside sources, or spend a lot of time searching for an image that best represents what I am talking about. That and I could capture those hilarious moments. And the perverted ones too.
I wish I could also directly capture video with some digital device, and then I could use whatever software available to make my own "video reviews." That would off the hook! It would be excellent practice for expanding my skills, and potential employers would love that skill.
You know what, I'm gonna try to work something out with what I've got. By the end of May (if I give myself more than a month to do it, it is more likely) I will try to put together my own video review of a video game using the limited technology and equipment I have. Look forward to it.
I wish I could also directly capture video with some digital device, and then I could use whatever software available to make my own "video reviews." That would off the hook! It would be excellent practice for expanding my skills, and potential employers would love that skill.
You know what, I'm gonna try to work something out with what I've got. By the end of May (if I give myself more than a month to do it, it is more likely) I will try to put together my own video review of a video game using the limited technology and equipment I have. Look forward to it.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits
A few weeks ago, Activision revealed that they will release Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits, an installation to the franchise that will take pre-existing songs from Guitar Heroes 1-3 and Rocks the 80s, but will be playable as a full band. That means the existing guitar (and bass) will be accompanied with vocals and drums. Awesome!
I love this because hammer-ons were pretty much impossible to pull off (pun kinda intended) in GH1, making Cowboys From Hell damn hard to complete. I would love to see some of the more fun songs from the series be included in GH:GH, as well as some personal favorites.
Before I get into that, though, here are some confirmed songs to be included:
GH:
"I Love Rock 'n Roll" - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"Killer Queen" - Queen
GHII:
"Killing in the Name" - Rage Against the Machine
"Them Bones" - Alice in Chains
Rocks the 80s:
"I Wanna Rock" - Twisted Sister
"Nothin' but a Good Time" - Poison
GHIII:
"Barracuda" - Heart
"Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce
I've gotta say, of these songs, I will have to most fun doing the vocals for "I Wanna Rock." Also, I don't think any first tier songs should be in the game. If people are playing a Greatest Hits, they have played them all before and want more challenging songs.
Anyway, here is a list of five songs from each game that I would absolutely love to play in GH:GH, whether it be for awesome guitar charting, funky bass, bangin' drums, (vocals? meh) or just nostalgic value.
GH:
"Crossroads" - Cream
"Stellar" - Incubus
"Ace of Spades" - Motörhead
"Higher Ground" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Godzilla" - Blue Öyster Cult
GHII:
"Cherry Pie" - Warrant
"Who Was in My Room Last Night?" - The Butthole Surfers
"YYZ" - Rush
"Search and Destroy" - Iggy Pop and the Stooges
"Carry On Wayward Son" - Kansas
Rocks the 80s:
"Heat of the Moment" - Asia
"Synchronicity II" - The Police
"Only a Lad" - Oingo Boingo
"Seventeen" - Winger
"Play With Me" - Extreme
GHIII:
"3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
"Even Flow" - Pearl Jam
"Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
"The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
"My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
It may not be the perfect list of songs, and some even appear in Rock Band already. But I don't have Rock Band. If Activision wants me to buy this game, then they should be able to throw in a majority of the songs I want. I hope they also surprise me with some songs I may have overlooked, not thinking that the drums could be that fun.
I do know for certain: I want to play Crossroads and be able to hit the hammer-ons and pull-offs.
I love this because hammer-ons were pretty much impossible to pull off (pun kinda intended) in GH1, making Cowboys From Hell damn hard to complete. I would love to see some of the more fun songs from the series be included in GH:GH, as well as some personal favorites.
Before I get into that, though, here are some confirmed songs to be included:
GH:
"I Love Rock 'n Roll" - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"Killer Queen" - Queen
GHII:
"Killing in the Name" - Rage Against the Machine
"Them Bones" - Alice in Chains
Rocks the 80s:
"I Wanna Rock" - Twisted Sister
"Nothin' but a Good Time" - Poison
GHIII:
"Barracuda" - Heart
"Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce
I've gotta say, of these songs, I will have to most fun doing the vocals for "I Wanna Rock." Also, I don't think any first tier songs should be in the game. If people are playing a Greatest Hits, they have played them all before and want more challenging songs.
Anyway, here is a list of five songs from each game that I would absolutely love to play in GH:GH, whether it be for awesome guitar charting, funky bass, bangin' drums, (vocals? meh) or just nostalgic value.
GH:
"Crossroads" - Cream
"Stellar" - Incubus
"Ace of Spades" - Motörhead
"Higher Ground" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Godzilla" - Blue Öyster Cult
GHII:
"Cherry Pie" - Warrant
"Who Was in My Room Last Night?" - The Butthole Surfers
"YYZ" - Rush
"Search and Destroy" - Iggy Pop and the Stooges
"Carry On Wayward Son" - Kansas
Rocks the 80s:
"Heat of the Moment" - Asia
"Synchronicity II" - The Police
"Only a Lad" - Oingo Boingo
"Seventeen" - Winger
"Play With Me" - Extreme
GHIII:
"3's & 7's" - Queens of the Stone Age
"Even Flow" - Pearl Jam
"Impulse" - An Endless Sporadic
"The Number of the Beast" - Iron Maiden
"My Curse" - Killswitch Engage
It may not be the perfect list of songs, and some even appear in Rock Band already. But I don't have Rock Band. If Activision wants me to buy this game, then they should be able to throw in a majority of the songs I want. I hope they also surprise me with some songs I may have overlooked, not thinking that the drums could be that fun.
I do know for certain: I want to play Crossroads and be able to hit the hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
GH:WT Drums - Shiver
So here it is finally, a successful video upload from YouTube.
The song, as you might have seen/heard, is Shiver by Coldplay. It truly is one of my favorite songs to play drums in Guitar Hero: World Tour. So what if I messed up a few times, I still am impressed with some of the combos that I kept through trickier parts. I count my victories, no matter how small.
It is true that I could have just played for a better run, but that was not the point. I just wanted to test out my digital camera's video setting, and now that I know that it can capture video and audio pretty well, I have a good reason to take other videos (of similar quality, not great but good enough) of other games and activities. I wish I did have some screen capturing device of my own so I can use my own images in some posts.
Boom! The dimensions of this blog have vastly improved. I'm thinking that the next video I treat you guys with is a run-through of the Mercenaries mini-game from Resident Evil 5. Remember the posted scores from RE4? Now you can see the destruction and mayhem.
The song, as you might have seen/heard, is Shiver by Coldplay. It truly is one of my favorite songs to play drums in Guitar Hero: World Tour. So what if I messed up a few times, I still am impressed with some of the combos that I kept through trickier parts. I count my victories, no matter how small.
It is true that I could have just played for a better run, but that was not the point. I just wanted to test out my digital camera's video setting, and now that I know that it can capture video and audio pretty well, I have a good reason to take other videos (of similar quality, not great but good enough) of other games and activities. I wish I did have some screen capturing device of my own so I can use my own images in some posts.
Boom! The dimensions of this blog have vastly improved. I'm thinking that the next video I treat you guys with is a run-through of the Mercenaries mini-game from Resident Evil 5. Remember the posted scores from RE4? Now you can see the destruction and mayhem.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Video Uploads!
So I have decided that my digital camera has a decent enough video capability to record the television screen as I play videogames.
The first video I recorded was of myself playing Guitar Hero: World Tour for Wii. It is uploading and processing on YouTube right now, so later on I will write a new post with the video and some extra commentary.
I look forward to expanding my blog with these videos, and hopefully I can get some more posts written and possibly increase my number of readers!
The first video I recorded was of myself playing Guitar Hero: World Tour for Wii. It is uploading and processing on YouTube right now, so later on I will write a new post with the video and some extra commentary.
I look forward to expanding my blog with these videos, and hopefully I can get some more posts written and possibly increase my number of readers!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Resident Evil 5
I want need to start off by saying that Resident Evil 4 is superior in terms of gameplay, character and plot development, pacing, exploration, horror, and above all else, innovation.
So does that make Resident Evil 5 a bad game? Not at all. I found that on my initial playthrough (which took me less than 10 hours) that while this is similar to RE4, RE5 takes a different approach and stresses many different factors to help set it apart.
The biggest difference is the emphasis on cooperation. This goes far beyond Leon helping Ashley climb over a wall, or catching her because she doesn't know how to climb down a ladder, or telling her to hide in a dumpster so she doesn't get her head torn off by a bitch with a chainsaw.
Playing as Chris Redfield, your partner is Sheva Alomar, which is either controlled by AI, online with another player, or split-screen. I only have experienced the story with the AI controlling my lovely and kick-ass Sheva. I was really impressed with what she was capable of doing when controlled by the AI. She provided decent cover fire, would pick up items for me, heal me when I was dying, and very quickly (average of 1.5 sec) come to my aid when I was being strangled by the hands of an infected or by the tongue of a Licker.
Sheva did have some drawbacks though. She would burn through ammo without even thinking of the situation, and this was all handgun ammo. Despite arming her with a rifle, shotgun or machine gun, she would 99 percent of the time have her handgun equipped. This led me to giving her all the HG ammo while I would tank with the shotgun or spray with a machine gun of my own.
[SPOILER ALERT]
In the final chapter, in which the two of us teamed up against Wesker, she would keep yelling to me that she had a rocket for my launcher, when in fact she was just firing her handgun at Wesker instead of actually running off to help load my weapon. After that, during the fight in the volcano (WTF? I disliked this ending) we needed to shoot Wesker in the back to reveal his otheer weak spot. I wish instead of having only two commands for Sheva, "attack" and "cover," I could have ordered her to split off from my side so at least one of us could get behind him. Ugh. That and she spent all her ammo immediately. But, alas, Capcom did want to stress the co-op.
[END SPOILER?]
Visually, this game is astounding. If I were not so busy shooting people in the eyes and then punching them in the mouth, then I would have more time to admire the lighting in this game. In a lot of games, I think "Where is my shadow?" RE5's lighting has a shadow for pretty much everything. There is a part in the mines when one person needs to carry a lamp while the other defends them, darkness just overwhelms you as a player (especially in a RE game) but the light coming from the lamp and showing shadows on the walls was so amazing.
Now, I began by saying RE4 was better in numerous ways. Let me break it down:
-Gameplay-
RE4 was a continuous story. You could progress, you could backtrack. There was puzzle solving that required you to backtrack, which previous RE games required. RE5 was sporadic in a sense. The chapters ended, and there was no going back. Sometimes you would travel miles across the continent and it felt detached from the previous environment. RE4's areas were all connected and had purpose, whereas RE5 kinda threw you into a different environment randomly. It was hard to see how these places were connected in a larger sense. Yet, I return to the emphasis on co-op, and that allows a pick-up-and-play mentality.
-Character and Plot Development-
Leon had personality. Ashley brought out a different side to him, one that was caring and compassionate. He was witty, he was handsome, and he was driven to complete the mission. One thing led to another, and you were well-informed of what was going on via cut scenes, dialogues, scattered memos, and just exploring new areas. The villains were introduced and then given reason for their diabolical actions.
RE5 was stale. Chris lacked any real connection between himself and me as the gamer. His steroid-induced biceps annoy the hell out of me. A cut scene randomly shows a grave and I think "WTF!?" Thanks for coming out of nowhere. Chris' primary objective? I really had to figure that one out. And who is this Ricardo Irving assclown? Ugh............. Wesker's pursuit to be all-powerful is awesome. His motive behind it was weak. Just weak.
-Pacing-
RE4 had its slow parts, I'll admit. But it fit. RE5 forced action into a lot of places when I just wanted to slow down for a bit and explore. Very episodic in the chapters, but you can guess what is the reasoning behind that.
-Exploration-
Meh. See above.
-Horror-
This fits in with the plot development. I never really felt like I was overwhelmed (as Chris) in this setting. I was well-equipped (maybe too much so) for any situation, except for the Public Assembly. The first chapter of the game did very well in how hectic this place is. Giant guy with a hammer-axe? Freaky. Especially when you don't have the firepower to bring him down so early in the game that you are always on the run until the helicopter arrives. That dark mine? Save that part for when two dozen Lickers are after me.
-Innovation-
I really should not have to discuss this point in-depth. RE4 was the first of its kind to blend action/adventure with survival-horror. RE5 was heavy on action, but for the umpteenth time: co-op.
With all this being said, and much more can be said, I still love RE5. Replayability is very high, because weapons carry over, hidden emblems, unlockables, THE MERCENARIES MINIGAME!, and (omg) co-op. CO-OP!!! ARGH!!! I did read that RE6 is getting a reboot. I don't want the comfort of co-op in a survival game. The Resident Evil series has had its fun with 4 and 5, it needs to shift back to its roots where ammo is a luxury and not an abundance.
So does that make Resident Evil 5 a bad game? Not at all. I found that on my initial playthrough (which took me less than 10 hours) that while this is similar to RE4, RE5 takes a different approach and stresses many different factors to help set it apart.
The biggest difference is the emphasis on cooperation. This goes far beyond Leon helping Ashley climb over a wall, or catching her because she doesn't know how to climb down a ladder, or telling her to hide in a dumpster so she doesn't get her head torn off by a bitch with a chainsaw.
Playing as Chris Redfield, your partner is Sheva Alomar, which is either controlled by AI, online with another player, or split-screen. I only have experienced the story with the AI controlling my lovely and kick-ass Sheva. I was really impressed with what she was capable of doing when controlled by the AI. She provided decent cover fire, would pick up items for me, heal me when I was dying, and very quickly (average of 1.5 sec) come to my aid when I was being strangled by the hands of an infected or by the tongue of a Licker.
Sheva did have some drawbacks though. She would burn through ammo without even thinking of the situation, and this was all handgun ammo. Despite arming her with a rifle, shotgun or machine gun, she would 99 percent of the time have her handgun equipped. This led me to giving her all the HG ammo while I would tank with the shotgun or spray with a machine gun of my own.
[SPOILER ALERT]
In the final chapter, in which the two of us teamed up against Wesker, she would keep yelling to me that she had a rocket for my launcher, when in fact she was just firing her handgun at Wesker instead of actually running off to help load my weapon. After that, during the fight in the volcano (WTF? I disliked this ending) we needed to shoot Wesker in the back to reveal his otheer weak spot. I wish instead of having only two commands for Sheva, "attack" and "cover," I could have ordered her to split off from my side so at least one of us could get behind him. Ugh. That and she spent all her ammo immediately. But, alas, Capcom did want to stress the co-op.
[END SPOILER?]
Visually, this game is astounding. If I were not so busy shooting people in the eyes and then punching them in the mouth, then I would have more time to admire the lighting in this game. In a lot of games, I think "Where is my shadow?" RE5's lighting has a shadow for pretty much everything. There is a part in the mines when one person needs to carry a lamp while the other defends them, darkness just overwhelms you as a player (especially in a RE game) but the light coming from the lamp and showing shadows on the walls was so amazing.
Now, I began by saying RE4 was better in numerous ways. Let me break it down:
-Gameplay-
RE4 was a continuous story. You could progress, you could backtrack. There was puzzle solving that required you to backtrack, which previous RE games required. RE5 was sporadic in a sense. The chapters ended, and there was no going back. Sometimes you would travel miles across the continent and it felt detached from the previous environment. RE4's areas were all connected and had purpose, whereas RE5 kinda threw you into a different environment randomly. It was hard to see how these places were connected in a larger sense. Yet, I return to the emphasis on co-op, and that allows a pick-up-and-play mentality.
-Character and Plot Development-
Leon had personality. Ashley brought out a different side to him, one that was caring and compassionate. He was witty, he was handsome, and he was driven to complete the mission. One thing led to another, and you were well-informed of what was going on via cut scenes, dialogues, scattered memos, and just exploring new areas. The villains were introduced and then given reason for their diabolical actions.
RE5 was stale. Chris lacked any real connection between himself and me as the gamer. His steroid-induced biceps annoy the hell out of me. A cut scene randomly shows a grave and I think "WTF!?" Thanks for coming out of nowhere. Chris' primary objective? I really had to figure that one out. And who is this Ricardo Irving assclown? Ugh............. Wesker's pursuit to be all-powerful is awesome. His motive behind it was weak. Just weak.
-Pacing-
RE4 had its slow parts, I'll admit. But it fit. RE5 forced action into a lot of places when I just wanted to slow down for a bit and explore. Very episodic in the chapters, but you can guess what is the reasoning behind that.
-Exploration-
Meh. See above.
-Horror-
This fits in with the plot development. I never really felt like I was overwhelmed (as Chris) in this setting. I was well-equipped (maybe too much so) for any situation, except for the Public Assembly. The first chapter of the game did very well in how hectic this place is. Giant guy with a hammer-axe? Freaky. Especially when you don't have the firepower to bring him down so early in the game that you are always on the run until the helicopter arrives. That dark mine? Save that part for when two dozen Lickers are after me.
-Innovation-
I really should not have to discuss this point in-depth. RE4 was the first of its kind to blend action/adventure with survival-horror. RE5 was heavy on action, but for the umpteenth time: co-op.
With all this being said, and much more can be said, I still love RE5. Replayability is very high, because weapons carry over, hidden emblems, unlockables, THE MERCENARIES MINIGAME!, and (omg) co-op. CO-OP!!! ARGH!!! I did read that RE6 is getting a reboot. I don't want the comfort of co-op in a survival game. The Resident Evil series has had its fun with 4 and 5, it needs to shift back to its roots where ammo is a luxury and not an abundance.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Getting my money's worth from my games
Really? A whole month since the last post? I am letting myself down. In my defense, the semester has gotten busier for me, with volleyball practically every weekend and increasing workload from classes (which I still get by doing minimal effort).
You don't care about that. You care about what I care about; for what other reason would somebody read this blog if they did not?
Anyway, let's get to the point.
-----
This is totes going to sound cliche, but I had a great idea in the shower: what games have been played so much that they have practically paid for themselves? What games have I gotten my money's worth out of, and then some? Plus, what kind of games have a higher play rate and/or replayability factor?
This thought came from something I said last night while playing NBA Live 2005 with my roommate. NBA Live 2005 is the latest basketball game in my collection, and allowed us to play with more recent rosters than NBA Jam TE does. We also created ourselves, stacked our team and play on the easiest difficulty. It's fun.
But that's not the point. This game is four and a half years old. I am still playing it. It is the Gamecube version, and I paid no more than $40 when it was brand new. That figures to less than 10 bucks a year, and there is no reasonable way I could count (or even guess) the number of games or seasons I have logged in NBA Live 2005, so calculating a per game price is impossible.
Therefore, I might say that the experience is priceless.
-----
Analysis: Sports videogames last longer for some gamers (especially me) because keeping up with each new version of the game becomes expensive. When brand new games are $60, I try to be mindful of which games I want in my collection. I also have a higher standard for games, and pay attention to which ones I can get my money's worth out of (the last game I bought with my own money was Fallout 3).
Back to the sports games. The newest sports game I own is NHL 09, the older version I have is 06, but I bought that online over a year ago before I had a PS3. MVP Baseball 2005 is the latest baseball game I have, and I don't mind. Trying to keep up with an entire season of real-life MLB is hard enough. I don't own or care too much for football games.
Over the next week or two (or whenever I can update over break) I will feature a game that has lasted (or will last) very long in my collection, has been played to death, and has seen the light of day again, or will beg for more playing time. In short, these are the games that I have gotten my money's worth. NBA Live 2005 is just the first of these games.
You don't care about that. You care about what I care about; for what other reason would somebody read this blog if they did not?
Anyway, let's get to the point.
-----
This is totes going to sound cliche, but I had a great idea in the shower: what games have been played so much that they have practically paid for themselves? What games have I gotten my money's worth out of, and then some? Plus, what kind of games have a higher play rate and/or replayability factor?
This thought came from something I said last night while playing NBA Live 2005 with my roommate. NBA Live 2005 is the latest basketball game in my collection, and allowed us to play with more recent rosters than NBA Jam TE does. We also created ourselves, stacked our team and play on the easiest difficulty. It's fun.
But that's not the point. This game is four and a half years old. I am still playing it. It is the Gamecube version, and I paid no more than $40 when it was brand new. That figures to less than 10 bucks a year, and there is no reasonable way I could count (or even guess) the number of games or seasons I have logged in NBA Live 2005, so calculating a per game price is impossible.
Therefore, I might say that the experience is priceless.
-----
Analysis: Sports videogames last longer for some gamers (especially me) because keeping up with each new version of the game becomes expensive. When brand new games are $60, I try to be mindful of which games I want in my collection. I also have a higher standard for games, and pay attention to which ones I can get my money's worth out of (the last game I bought with my own money was Fallout 3).
Back to the sports games. The newest sports game I own is NHL 09, the older version I have is 06, but I bought that online over a year ago before I had a PS3. MVP Baseball 2005 is the latest baseball game I have, and I don't mind. Trying to keep up with an entire season of real-life MLB is hard enough. I don't own or care too much for football games.
Over the next week or two (or whenever I can update over break) I will feature a game that has lasted (or will last) very long in my collection, has been played to death, and has seen the light of day again, or will beg for more playing time. In short, these are the games that I have gotten my money's worth. NBA Live 2005 is just the first of these games.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Metroid Prime Wiimake
Yes. Metroid Prime is being remade with Wiimote controls. Nintendo fanboys rejoice!
MP, as I have stated on this blog, was the reason I wanted to get a Gamecube. MP3: Corruption was a big reason I wanted a Wii. Combine the two. I get goosebumps thinking about it. No joke.
MP is a beautiful game and is paced amazingly. The environments are vast and the boss battles are epic. Corruption's controls are the best FPS controls I have ever experienced on any platform. Better than mouse and keyboard twitch aiming, better than two thumbsticks to move and aim with shoulder triggers, and better than the totally customizable Medal of Honor Heroes 2 for Wii.
Want to see what this will look like? Probably not anything new, because it really is just Corruption's controls with MP's unforgettable gameplay.
Release date? Not soon enough. (2009?)
MP, as I have stated on this blog, was the reason I wanted to get a Gamecube. MP3: Corruption was a big reason I wanted a Wii. Combine the two. I get goosebumps thinking about it. No joke.
MP is a beautiful game and is paced amazingly. The environments are vast and the boss battles are epic. Corruption's controls are the best FPS controls I have ever experienced on any platform. Better than mouse and keyboard twitch aiming, better than two thumbsticks to move and aim with shoulder triggers, and better than the totally customizable Medal of Honor Heroes 2 for Wii.
Want to see what this will look like? Probably not anything new, because it really is just Corruption's controls with MP's unforgettable gameplay.
Release date? Not soon enough. (2009?)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Game of the Year 2008
I wanted to to my own special kind of article revolving around my personal Game of the Year for 2008, but alas, not surprisingly I never got around to it.
So I will throw down the goods and offer a little bit of commentary on three different games that three different sites have crowned Game of the Year.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - GameFAQs Poll of the Day
Obviously the best game for the Wii last year (also, I have not played No More Heroes, so for me it's obvious). Sadly, to name another decent Wii game from last year, I think of only Mario Kart Wii and Guitar Hero: World Tour. WiiWare and Virtual Console games don't count for me.
But Brawl offers the most out of any game the Wii has ever offered. Infinite hours of gameplay come out of the best fighting game I have played. The expanded character selection is solid, especially with newcomers like Solid Snake and King Dedede (I don't care much for Sonic). Gamers can mock the Wii al they want, but surely they will agree the Brawl is the finest local multiplayer game to be played; better than playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
The vote was incredibly close in the two final polls that were used to determine the Game of the Year. About 2,500 votes separated Brawl with MGS4 in the first poll (Fallout 3 the other game), and in the final vote, 4,000 votes (4 percent) separated the two. This selection for Game of the Year might be the best considering the gamers chose it, not editors.
Fallout 3 - IGN.com
I actually went out and bought this game, seeing its potential early on from the preview articles and I played a bit of the original Fallout over the summer to try to geta good feel for the setting. Fallout 3 plays much different from the original, and that I think makes it much, much better.
Although you won't commit as many hours into Fallout 3 as I eventually will accumulate with Brawl, I still have commited about 40 hours into one character in Fallout 3. I don't think I have traveled to half of the places that the Wasteland has to offer. Now that a Trophey patch has been added for the PS3 version, it begs me to start all over again and try a whole new approach.
IGN really surprised me on this one, and even stated that despite two games receiving a perfect 10 in 2008 (Grand Theft Auto IV and Metal Gear Solid 4), the editors got the most out of playing Fallout 3, and I cannot disagree with them that Fallout 3 has the most to offer any gamer in terms of character development and story progression. I look forward to a replay during the summer.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Gamespot
MGS4 had Game of the Year written all over it before it was even played. Before it was even released. Before it was even officially announced. Gamers knew that the bar was going to be raised with Solid Snake's final chapter. I was not disappointed. I bought a PS3 for this game.
Never have I been so enveloped by the way a story was told. My emotions were effected with each new deveopment, and I could honestly not wait to see the next cutscene, and then play some more, and then to see another cutscene. An amazingly paced game with environments sculpted perfectly for its style of play. Graphics? I should not need to say anything.
The editors described their take on this game beautifully. They could say something about the game that made it great, but then had to say another moment, and another moment, and another. From Snake running through streets as Geckos crash all around him; Raiden's duels with Vamp, so emotionally fueled; the point where it seems Ocelot has won by taking over the system; A MOTHER FUCKING BATTLE BETWEEN METAL GEAR REX AND METAL GEAR RAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow.
This is it folks, Metal Gear Sold 4: Guns of the Patriots is my Game of the year for 2008. Why am I not replaying it right now????
So I will throw down the goods and offer a little bit of commentary on three different games that three different sites have crowned Game of the Year.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - GameFAQs Poll of the Day
Obviously the best game for the Wii last year (also, I have not played No More Heroes, so for me it's obvious). Sadly, to name another decent Wii game from last year, I think of only Mario Kart Wii and Guitar Hero: World Tour. WiiWare and Virtual Console games don't count for me.
But Brawl offers the most out of any game the Wii has ever offered. Infinite hours of gameplay come out of the best fighting game I have played. The expanded character selection is solid, especially with newcomers like Solid Snake and King Dedede (I don't care much for Sonic). Gamers can mock the Wii al they want, but surely they will agree the Brawl is the finest local multiplayer game to be played; better than playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
The vote was incredibly close in the two final polls that were used to determine the Game of the Year. About 2,500 votes separated Brawl with MGS4 in the first poll (Fallout 3 the other game), and in the final vote, 4,000 votes (4 percent) separated the two. This selection for Game of the Year might be the best considering the gamers chose it, not editors.
Fallout 3 - IGN.com
I actually went out and bought this game, seeing its potential early on from the preview articles and I played a bit of the original Fallout over the summer to try to geta good feel for the setting. Fallout 3 plays much different from the original, and that I think makes it much, much better.
Although you won't commit as many hours into Fallout 3 as I eventually will accumulate with Brawl, I still have commited about 40 hours into one character in Fallout 3. I don't think I have traveled to half of the places that the Wasteland has to offer. Now that a Trophey patch has been added for the PS3 version, it begs me to start all over again and try a whole new approach.
IGN really surprised me on this one, and even stated that despite two games receiving a perfect 10 in 2008 (Grand Theft Auto IV and Metal Gear Solid 4), the editors got the most out of playing Fallout 3, and I cannot disagree with them that Fallout 3 has the most to offer any gamer in terms of character development and story progression. I look forward to a replay during the summer.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Gamespot
MGS4 had Game of the Year written all over it before it was even played. Before it was even released. Before it was even officially announced. Gamers knew that the bar was going to be raised with Solid Snake's final chapter. I was not disappointed. I bought a PS3 for this game.
Never have I been so enveloped by the way a story was told. My emotions were effected with each new deveopment, and I could honestly not wait to see the next cutscene, and then play some more, and then to see another cutscene. An amazingly paced game with environments sculpted perfectly for its style of play. Graphics? I should not need to say anything.
The editors described their take on this game beautifully. They could say something about the game that made it great, but then had to say another moment, and another moment, and another. From Snake running through streets as Geckos crash all around him; Raiden's duels with Vamp, so emotionally fueled; the point where it seems Ocelot has won by taking over the system; A MOTHER FUCKING BATTLE BETWEEN METAL GEAR REX AND METAL GEAR RAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow.
This is it folks, Metal Gear Sold 4: Guns of the Patriots is my Game of the year for 2008. Why am I not replaying it right now????
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