While I believe that both handhelds, consoles and PCs are all well and good in their own various rights, I'm extremely agitated at the diversity between versions of the same game being produced when really, it isn't exactly the same game at all. I mean, that would be like taking me and after a romp through the cloning machine, as a midget with dark skin, sultry demeanor and the unmistakable appearance of female anatomy strolled on out alongside the original, both were still named the exact same thing. It's simply not fair and it's unfair to the sheeply masses that droll through the video game aisles thinking that they'll get the exact same experience when going from a handheld to a console to a pc or vice vice versa and that in my opinion is very wrong.
Take Tom Clancy's EndWar, a smashing voice-command title created originally for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, with a port of spinly proportions probably eventually coming to the PC. It was fun, it was different and it felt original after having played Command and Conquer and the tongue on taint experience that was the console port of Supreme Commander, but what I'm trying to convey is that having played the game on 360 and then stepping down to the ds there is this wanton urge for me to slam my handheld on the floor until the screen can show me something minutely similar to what I had joy playing on the goddamn 360. I'm noy trying to say that I had built up expectations of having voice-command on the ds or the graphics that have become the whorishly-pretty standard of this generation of console, but still, don't put the title of the same game on two titles that play totally fucking different. When one version stands up totally on its own, if albeit averagely, don't try to sell me a version that has already been done and by far fucking better than something that seems like trying to do a ds version of Knights of the Old Republic - unrequited retardation is the only thing that'll be placed in the hands of the player and you'll only garner an attitude of hate from fucking gamers like me who'll want to see the developer of this half-assed attempt shot into the sun. But really, where console games are attempted with an incarnation to a handheld, it is going to leave features absent, but don't leave out anything im-fucking-portant, like the bloody gameplay and don't try to sell me a handheld version of what's on the 360 or PS3's respective boxes, it's just not going to stand up and as usual those who aren't cynical are going to be left as disappointed as little Julie who found daddy and mommy passed out drunk under the Christmas tree this year.
I'm not saying that EndWar on the DS or PSP wouldn't be games in their own rights for the systems in which they were designed, but what I am saying is that I feel like I'm being falsely sold on something that can't possibly, with any amount of alcohol, stretch my mind or balls to believe that what I'm holding in my hands is even remotely comparable to what it is I have when I'm sitting on the couch in front of a much bigger television. But for everything that EndWar could have been sold on and what made it worth playing on the respective consoles is lost on the handhelds and you end up with something that is about as triffling as a mouse thinking it can call itself a dog, a big dog, with teeth.
So, I will say this, stop trying to sell me a game I love on every system possible. I'm looking not only at EndWar, but Civ Revolution, Force Unleashed and any of the other many titles that eye a handheld system with the same prospects as they do a console. I understand we are currently in a fucking recession, so wouldn't it be halfway goddamn intelligent to actually pour what resources are available into a gaming experience that people will want to buy and ultimately keep as opposed to feeling like they should regret ever having set foot into whatever consumer whorehouse they happened to find themselves? Stop trying to sell me a pony while calling it an Elephant, I'm not stupid, I understand that calling it Tom Clancy's not-as-good-as-on-the-consoles EndWar wouldn't have really helped the game financially, not to mention box design costs, but for fuck's sake, change the title or don't give people the same impression you're going to get the same ride with the same title.
--Andrew
It's fucking advance wars!
Dec 30, 2008
Dec 29, 2008
Dec 24, 2008
Because God hates Chicago
Since I grew up in Chicago, I have a genetic predisposition towards snow. I imagine it is sort of like the Vikings of Scandinavia, if your from Chicago, you'll bitch about snow, but you deal with it and fight on, the only difference being we don't head into Wisconsin, Iowa or Indiana to rape, murder and pillage-just to vacation. Anyway, I wanted to at least touch on a few things before I enjoy my trek back to Echo Base preparing for the impending assault of Imperial Walkers.
I confess I'm a bit enamored with my original copy of Halo for the Xbox, I don't love it in anyway that man with butter and a bagel would, but I am wooed by the content on the disc to my hearts content. That said, the case and disc rarely go anywhere because inside the case in my tag from the Halo Launch Party, which illustrates that I was lucky getting in as they only let x amount of people in (and I was the last to be allowed in). So, my only alternative is to download the game on to my hard drive for the 360 and it's actually striking me as a pretty sweet deal given that it is on sale via Xbox Live this week. So, I think I might spill the money and pick up a few Microsoft points, just for good measure.
Orson Scott Card-or the remainder of what was his genius-has surfaced with details about an Ender's Game Game (Because that doesn't sound at all fucking redundant), I'm appeased by the prospects as the universe is rich with very unique sci-fi oriented content, but I worry about (as with all games) the prospect of failed design and production execution, because so help me, if this gets screwed up, someone will pay. On an unrelated note, I need to remind myself to read the short story "A Young Man with Prospects" and seemingly get a bit deeper into said Enderverse.
A brief note, Castle Crashers finally got the patch update for Multiplayer-which I'll be grabbing asap.
1up has an interesting peek at the Top 5 Worst Christmas-Themed games. Ever.
For anyone who didn't play Black on the Xbox or PS2, I suggest you do. I sincerely consider it one of the best FPS experiences of the previous generation of video game consoles and its essentially a working study of how to push hardware at the end of its operational life. But, the more intriguing notion is that there will most certainly be a sequel-seems to be the season for that.
In other news-The DSi is still selling in droves. Yeah, big fucking surprise.
For all my paranoia, if Blizzard can in fact sell me something for $6.50 that'll ensure peace of mind, I'll buy it. It must be a terrible idea though, because it's totally sold the fuck out right now.
Finally, there is a definitive unit and building breakdown for both the UNSC and the Covenant via Ensemble Studios. That's surely what I call not going quietly into the night. Bravo.
Make some time to play on Christmas-If Jesus was having a birthday party-I have a feeling it would be a LAN party.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
--Andrew
Murlocs celebrate Christmas.
I confess I'm a bit enamored with my original copy of Halo for the Xbox, I don't love it in anyway that man with butter and a bagel would, but I am wooed by the content on the disc to my hearts content. That said, the case and disc rarely go anywhere because inside the case in my tag from the Halo Launch Party, which illustrates that I was lucky getting in as they only let x amount of people in (and I was the last to be allowed in). So, my only alternative is to download the game on to my hard drive for the 360 and it's actually striking me as a pretty sweet deal given that it is on sale via Xbox Live this week. So, I think I might spill the money and pick up a few Microsoft points, just for good measure.
Orson Scott Card-or the remainder of what was his genius-has surfaced with details about an Ender's Game Game (Because that doesn't sound at all fucking redundant), I'm appeased by the prospects as the universe is rich with very unique sci-fi oriented content, but I worry about (as with all games) the prospect of failed design and production execution, because so help me, if this gets screwed up, someone will pay. On an unrelated note, I need to remind myself to read the short story "A Young Man with Prospects" and seemingly get a bit deeper into said Enderverse.
A brief note, Castle Crashers finally got the patch update for Multiplayer-which I'll be grabbing asap.
1up has an interesting peek at the Top 5 Worst Christmas-Themed games. Ever.
For anyone who didn't play Black on the Xbox or PS2, I suggest you do. I sincerely consider it one of the best FPS experiences of the previous generation of video game consoles and its essentially a working study of how to push hardware at the end of its operational life. But, the more intriguing notion is that there will most certainly be a sequel-seems to be the season for that.
In other news-The DSi is still selling in droves. Yeah, big fucking surprise.
For all my paranoia, if Blizzard can in fact sell me something for $6.50 that'll ensure peace of mind, I'll buy it. It must be a terrible idea though, because it's totally sold the fuck out right now.
Finally, there is a definitive unit and building breakdown for both the UNSC and the Covenant via Ensemble Studios. That's surely what I call not going quietly into the night. Bravo.
Make some time to play on Christmas-If Jesus was having a birthday party-I have a feeling it would be a LAN party.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
--Andrew
Murlocs celebrate Christmas.
Dec 22, 2008
Sinking Ships, New Years Stars and Marketing Dicks
After a weekend that both felt very long and very short, I'm glad that it's the start of a new week, and not just any week, but Christmas week. Forgive me if I drop off the face of the Earth once the holiday festivities begin, but that's just how it goes, I'll do my best to keep up with my Twitter and an occasional post, but I make no promises. In the meantime, this weekend was flooded with news and this morning is no exception either.
To touch first on a few small hits and misses. Crackdown 2 is being negotiated with and looks like Ruffian Games, specifically funded by Microsoft for the development, would be the choice to design the sequel to the super-cop hit. Dawn of War II seems to be coming along nicely, the latest trailer illustrating the enemies of the Imperium as opposed to the Space Marines themselves shows a very nice variety and is graphically amazing. Once again, I will toss out the reminder that the Metal Gear LPB pack is coming to the PlayStation Network tomorrow and for all intents and purposes is worth picking up. Also, on a much happier note, it looks like Resolve, a company with a hand in the Free Radical administration proceedings might purchase the developer outright so that Timesplitters 4 will have the much deserved chance to see the light of day. And I do just have to say it, the Crystal Chronicles DSi looks goddamn sexy and I really would fucking love to have one. Indeed a hit if ever I saw one is the new content coming out from Bungie, the map pack as well as Halo: ODST have definitely given me something to happily look forward to from them in 2009. A defnite miss is Uwe Boll's take on a film adaptation of Contra, this game should never, ever need a movie. Ever. The rest is pure gold.
Street Fighter IV Collectors Edition on the PS3, yes, the PS3, I'm gonna get it, the Dualshock is agreeably closer to the SNES controller, thanks Anthony.
A tip to Sony-Drop the price of the PS3, PS2 and PSP or face extermination at the hands of the Xbox and Wii. You're supposed to be selling a game console, not something you believe is equivocable to a solid gold toilet.
Finally, this is a list from GameSetWatch about the 50 best publisher/marketing/random quotes from the video game industry of 2008. It's definitely worth a look for the humor factor.
Keep Playing.
--Andrew
Sleeping once I die.
To touch first on a few small hits and misses. Crackdown 2 is being negotiated with and looks like Ruffian Games, specifically funded by Microsoft for the development, would be the choice to design the sequel to the super-cop hit. Dawn of War II seems to be coming along nicely, the latest trailer illustrating the enemies of the Imperium as opposed to the Space Marines themselves shows a very nice variety and is graphically amazing. Once again, I will toss out the reminder that the Metal Gear LPB pack is coming to the PlayStation Network tomorrow and for all intents and purposes is worth picking up. Also, on a much happier note, it looks like Resolve, a company with a hand in the Free Radical administration proceedings might purchase the developer outright so that Timesplitters 4 will have the much deserved chance to see the light of day. And I do just have to say it, the Crystal Chronicles DSi looks goddamn sexy and I really would fucking love to have one. Indeed a hit if ever I saw one is the new content coming out from Bungie, the map pack as well as Halo: ODST have definitely given me something to happily look forward to from them in 2009. A defnite miss is Uwe Boll's take on a film adaptation of Contra, this game should never, ever need a movie. Ever. The rest is pure gold.
Street Fighter IV Collectors Edition on the PS3, yes, the PS3, I'm gonna get it, the Dualshock is agreeably closer to the SNES controller, thanks Anthony.
A tip to Sony-Drop the price of the PS3, PS2 and PSP or face extermination at the hands of the Xbox and Wii. You're supposed to be selling a game console, not something you believe is equivocable to a solid gold toilet.
Finally, this is a list from GameSetWatch about the 50 best publisher/marketing/random quotes from the video game industry of 2008. It's definitely worth a look for the humor factor.
Keep Playing.
--Andrew
Sleeping once I die.
Dec 19, 2008
Gamers save the economy?
I woke up this morning to a what seemed like a storm of the ice cream that I used to ingest wholesale (just like an astronaut would) at Space Camp and that, I thought, was a fun way to kicking off the fucking adventure I believe this day is going to be.
Not really.
I almost wanted to rush out and pick up an iPhone when I heard that Metal Gear was coming out as an app for it, and then I heard that it was going to be a bit closer to Lethal Enforcers than Metal Gear Solid (link at 1up has since been pulled). This got me thinking about the series as well as the platform it was being developed for. Essentially, the Metal Gear franchise has been built up and like any monster was unleashed upon the PS3 to expected praise as most things with Hideo Kojima's name on them are prone to do, but then to move to the iPhone is an unexpected twist. As opposed to working on Metal Gear 5 or anything akin to said subject matter, they choose to do something that looks like a light gun shooter where you touch to kill instead of pulling a trigger, I find it a bit disappointing (in addition to the slayed notion that Metal Gear was coming to the Xbox 360). I don't think disappointing is the word, but it feels very anti-climactic to a series that has given so much to the gamers and even if every plotline and story arc were to be completed and wrapped up into a nice, neat little package with a bow on it for all gamers to behold (I'm looking at you Metal Gear Solid 4), it would probably still leave gamers wanting more, just because that's the kind of producer/designer/showman Hideo Kojima is and can be appreciated as such. But despite all these things, and not to sound sexist, but I'm going to say that I'm anxious to see what comes of a woman being on the development team and in a lead role on this Metal Gear, it should bring a fresh take on some of the source material if nothing else and create a very nice spin to an already dauntlessly incredible series.
Crackdown was originally going to be one of those games I seriously anticipated would be stacked to the fucking ceiling once the Halo 3 beta was over (since it came free on the disc and was an easy in for anyone who didn't get selected for the beta originally), but the interesting thing was, it was actually really goddamn fun to play. The open-world (sandbox design, if you will) was made late and great by the Grand Theft Auto series, and this was done well, but what made Crackdown so much fun was a few basic factors. Dying never really meant anything extremely detrimental to the overall gameplay, your super-cop could easily be cloned and the consequences were making your way back across the city to cause more heroic mayhem was fun, if not easy. The controls were pick up and run, literally, you could make your way anywhere in the city with a great deal of ease and it never felt like a chore, because the significant amount of chaos and damage once could cause just never seemed to get old. The multiplayer, for it's time, was a phenomenon being able to jump into a friend's city and go through missions together, regardless of skill, or level up, was something amazing. Hell, being able to ride in a car while another super-cop ran and carried it was impressive. But, the fact that a sequel is being developed, well then, that just made my day.
On a more minor note, I have to touch on the now very real prospect of being able to have my Spore creature sitting on my desk in all of it's plastic modelled glory, I'm just thankful that there won't be a surplus of dick-monsters being churned out at incomprehensible paces.
Something needs to be said in recent articles I've seen in regards to gamers and the recession, some say gamers will save the economy while others condemn gamers to hapless boobs unaware of said economic downturn, suffice to say, I resent both fucking statements. I will say this once, and once only, I hate the term "Core Gamer" I hate the term with every shred of my being and I loathe it with every shred of my being, if I could hate one single phrase out of fucking existence, it would be that goddamn phrase. There is no such thing as "Core Gamers" there are gamers (who play anywhere between 20 and 168 hours a week) and then there are casual gamers (those who play anything less than), but the economist who believes that gamers are the socio-economic group that will save this great economy of ours is living in a fantasy world, but it is nice to hear something positive about gamers for once as opposed to statements like those made by Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter, “They may be wealthy, they may be poor, but they have no clue we are in a recession,” and to that sir, I give you a wholehearted, fuck you. Gamers are not all apart of the same group that lives in a basement or a small room in their parent's house and do nothing but troll forums and play all day and night, so before you publish your finding on what you think of gamers I suggest you try being one before you pull the next less than sensational quote out of the thin air that I will call your ass.
Despite knowing that the technical improvements revolving around the DSi make it a bit of a brave new venture in the realm of unconventional (as well as Nintendo's best hope to combat piracy, which has already been thwarted), I should be used to the idea that no matter what Nintendo comes out with, it will in fact fucking sell regardless. So, I'm waiting patiently, and I'll probably reserve one for myself and one for the wife to be solely so that I review one, but I'm keeping my DS Lite (and you can pry it out of my cold, dead hands).
For anyone who is interested, as yet a small intermission, Quackcon 2009 - date and locale, right here.
The new PSN updates are here and they've trickled out a few new titles, a MGS online demo seems intriguing, but I'm anxious to download this for LBP.
A new Zero Punctuation is now online, Yahtzee reviewed Sonic Unleashed, it's a fun watch and everything he touches on, as usual, is pretty spot-on.
Animal Crossing: City Folk is essentially what I expected, a lot of the same. I'd rather be playing it on the Gamecube anyway.
Resident Evil 5 is looking more and more gorgeous as time goes on, and its definitely shaping up to find its way nesstled into my collection, but with it being produced for the PS3 and the Xbox 360, I'm happily doubting that we'll see a haphazard remake on the Wii anytime soon, which actually makes me feel pretty warm and fuzzy inside.
Not surprisingly, Street Fighter II HD Remix is doing fucking amazing, who'd a guessed?
I am thrilled, abso-fucking-lutely thrilled to see GOG (Good old Games) giving away a game for free, if nothing else, it will get them a lot of exposure and be able to allow people to see that this business model might actually work. It would be comforting to know that if say, my discs of Total Annihilation were to say, fall through some sort of time paradox and be taken by a zombie Hitler, that I can still get my hands on my beloved Cavedog produced entertainment.
On a much more distressing note, Free Radical, producers of the titanic Timesplitters series was placed in Administration this week. When employees showed up to the office, the doors were locked. Apparently, they are in some bit of financial trouble and it terrifies me because Timesplitters is one of the better done FPS games in the genre and I'd feel it be a terrible waste and loss to see the company fall to the wayside of digital history.
Say what you will, but if you have the time, read this. Epic.
I had my apprehension about the World of Goo, but after reading the review, I need Wii points.
The new movies coming out based on video games in the next three years is staggering, here's hoping they don't suck.
I downloaded Audiosurf off of Steam yesterday, and it was preposterously good to the point that I had to suspect it had been created by time traveling communists bent on ruling the world through subliminal rhythms. But then I noticed that you get to inject any song into the game that you want and it becomes a course in music and instantaneous level creation. The game improvises every single level from the song you tell it you want to play and to me, that brings the accessibility of rhythm-based video games into the same realm as the wheel or the ball, everyone should play this game and for good reason, not just because Rock Band, Guitar Hero or other music junkies can have something in this game, but everyone can have something in this game, and that's what makes it absurdly, nay, dare I say, ridiculously fun.
Keep playing, and have a stellar weekend.
--Andrew
Can't stop the rock.
Not really.
I almost wanted to rush out and pick up an iPhone when I heard that Metal Gear was coming out as an app for it, and then I heard that it was going to be a bit closer to Lethal Enforcers than Metal Gear Solid (link at 1up has since been pulled). This got me thinking about the series as well as the platform it was being developed for. Essentially, the Metal Gear franchise has been built up and like any monster was unleashed upon the PS3 to expected praise as most things with Hideo Kojima's name on them are prone to do, but then to move to the iPhone is an unexpected twist. As opposed to working on Metal Gear 5 or anything akin to said subject matter, they choose to do something that looks like a light gun shooter where you touch to kill instead of pulling a trigger, I find it a bit disappointing (in addition to the slayed notion that Metal Gear was coming to the Xbox 360). I don't think disappointing is the word, but it feels very anti-climactic to a series that has given so much to the gamers and even if every plotline and story arc were to be completed and wrapped up into a nice, neat little package with a bow on it for all gamers to behold (I'm looking at you Metal Gear Solid 4), it would probably still leave gamers wanting more, just because that's the kind of producer/designer/showman Hideo Kojima is and can be appreciated as such. But despite all these things, and not to sound sexist, but I'm going to say that I'm anxious to see what comes of a woman being on the development team and in a lead role on this Metal Gear, it should bring a fresh take on some of the source material if nothing else and create a very nice spin to an already dauntlessly incredible series.
Crackdown was originally going to be one of those games I seriously anticipated would be stacked to the fucking ceiling once the Halo 3 beta was over (since it came free on the disc and was an easy in for anyone who didn't get selected for the beta originally), but the interesting thing was, it was actually really goddamn fun to play. The open-world (sandbox design, if you will) was made late and great by the Grand Theft Auto series, and this was done well, but what made Crackdown so much fun was a few basic factors. Dying never really meant anything extremely detrimental to the overall gameplay, your super-cop could easily be cloned and the consequences were making your way back across the city to cause more heroic mayhem was fun, if not easy. The controls were pick up and run, literally, you could make your way anywhere in the city with a great deal of ease and it never felt like a chore, because the significant amount of chaos and damage once could cause just never seemed to get old. The multiplayer, for it's time, was a phenomenon being able to jump into a friend's city and go through missions together, regardless of skill, or level up, was something amazing. Hell, being able to ride in a car while another super-cop ran and carried it was impressive. But, the fact that a sequel is being developed, well then, that just made my day.
On a more minor note, I have to touch on the now very real prospect of being able to have my Spore creature sitting on my desk in all of it's plastic modelled glory, I'm just thankful that there won't be a surplus of dick-monsters being churned out at incomprehensible paces.
Something needs to be said in recent articles I've seen in regards to gamers and the recession, some say gamers will save the economy while others condemn gamers to hapless boobs unaware of said economic downturn, suffice to say, I resent both fucking statements. I will say this once, and once only, I hate the term "Core Gamer" I hate the term with every shred of my being and I loathe it with every shred of my being, if I could hate one single phrase out of fucking existence, it would be that goddamn phrase. There is no such thing as "Core Gamers" there are gamers (who play anywhere between 20 and 168 hours a week) and then there are casual gamers (those who play anything less than), but the economist who believes that gamers are the socio-economic group that will save this great economy of ours is living in a fantasy world, but it is nice to hear something positive about gamers for once as opposed to statements like those made by Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter, “They may be wealthy, they may be poor, but they have no clue we are in a recession,” and to that sir, I give you a wholehearted, fuck you. Gamers are not all apart of the same group that lives in a basement or a small room in their parent's house and do nothing but troll forums and play all day and night, so before you publish your finding on what you think of gamers I suggest you try being one before you pull the next less than sensational quote out of the thin air that I will call your ass.
Despite knowing that the technical improvements revolving around the DSi make it a bit of a brave new venture in the realm of unconventional (as well as Nintendo's best hope to combat piracy, which has already been thwarted), I should be used to the idea that no matter what Nintendo comes out with, it will in fact fucking sell regardless. So, I'm waiting patiently, and I'll probably reserve one for myself and one for the wife to be solely so that I review one, but I'm keeping my DS Lite (and you can pry it out of my cold, dead hands).
For anyone who is interested, as yet a small intermission, Quackcon 2009 - date and locale, right here.
The new PSN updates are here and they've trickled out a few new titles, a MGS online demo seems intriguing, but I'm anxious to download this for LBP.
A new Zero Punctuation is now online, Yahtzee reviewed Sonic Unleashed, it's a fun watch and everything he touches on, as usual, is pretty spot-on.
Animal Crossing: City Folk is essentially what I expected, a lot of the same. I'd rather be playing it on the Gamecube anyway.
Resident Evil 5 is looking more and more gorgeous as time goes on, and its definitely shaping up to find its way nesstled into my collection, but with it being produced for the PS3 and the Xbox 360, I'm happily doubting that we'll see a haphazard remake on the Wii anytime soon, which actually makes me feel pretty warm and fuzzy inside.
Not surprisingly, Street Fighter II HD Remix is doing fucking amazing, who'd a guessed?
I am thrilled, abso-fucking-lutely thrilled to see GOG (Good old Games) giving away a game for free, if nothing else, it will get them a lot of exposure and be able to allow people to see that this business model might actually work. It would be comforting to know that if say, my discs of Total Annihilation were to say, fall through some sort of time paradox and be taken by a zombie Hitler, that I can still get my hands on my beloved Cavedog produced entertainment.
On a much more distressing note, Free Radical, producers of the titanic Timesplitters series was placed in Administration this week. When employees showed up to the office, the doors were locked. Apparently, they are in some bit of financial trouble and it terrifies me because Timesplitters is one of the better done FPS games in the genre and I'd feel it be a terrible waste and loss to see the company fall to the wayside of digital history.
Say what you will, but if you have the time, read this. Epic.
I had my apprehension about the World of Goo, but after reading the review, I need Wii points.
The new movies coming out based on video games in the next three years is staggering, here's hoping they don't suck.
I downloaded Audiosurf off of Steam yesterday, and it was preposterously good to the point that I had to suspect it had been created by time traveling communists bent on ruling the world through subliminal rhythms. But then I noticed that you get to inject any song into the game that you want and it becomes a course in music and instantaneous level creation. The game improvises every single level from the song you tell it you want to play and to me, that brings the accessibility of rhythm-based video games into the same realm as the wheel or the ball, everyone should play this game and for good reason, not just because Rock Band, Guitar Hero or other music junkies can have something in this game, but everyone can have something in this game, and that's what makes it absurdly, nay, dare I say, ridiculously fun.
Keep playing, and have a stellar weekend.
--Andrew
Can't stop the rock.
Dec 18, 2008
Video Games
I think my font has been running a bit too big as of late, so I decided to tone it tone a little, simply because it's hurting my fucking eyes way too much. I'm not saying I've gone old, gray and turn down that damn loud music kids, but I'm pretty sure its the resolution on this monitor, thus, for the sake of my vision, which I need to see all the awesome bloody games I'm yet to play, I'll turn the font size down a bit so you can preserve your vision too, or feel old as you squint or go put on some glasses like I always have on.
Anyway, I'm not kidding when it comes to my subject line. This isn't like another dive into the breach for me and I'm not all that out in the cold right now when it comes to things to play. Currently, I either need to manage my time better to get everything I own played (and preferably completed) in one capacity or another, give everything away to charity (which as much as I love charity, probably won't be happening) or construct a device that will allow me to freeze time for about a year so that I can get everything I've been meaning to play played. I mean seriously, this is all sorts of ri-goddamn-diculous. There is seriously too much shit to play and it is overwhelming me knowing that I own the games and I've been meaning to play them forever. Granted, human interaction is appreciated (and I will get to that in a few minutes, so just sit the fuck tight), but when videos for games like this or this premier it makes it very difficult to stay on the same game for any given amount of time. All the same, there are titles that have been consistently holding my interest, but that's not fair to the other games I want to be playing, because I feel like there are experiences I've been missing, and in essence, that disappoints me to a vast degree.
Before I do talk about what I want to play, I do want to touch on what I have been making time to play. On the train, I'm currently running through Metroid Fusion, which if you haven't ever played before, I will say right now, you are missing out and with it being a GBA game is exceptionally easy to pick up and play, but, first you have to find it and I make no promises on that. Clearly one of the Yoshio Sakamoto's finest in regards to the Metroid series as a whole, it is one of the few games on a handheld system that, in agreement with a friend, makes me feel genuinely hunted. The controls are tight, expert sound and the gameplay never seems to feel worn or old as you progress and are rewarded with recovered technology upgrades. On the homefront, I finally own Left 4 Dead and End War, but I'm still deeply absorbed in Wrath of the Lich King, which has essentially taken everything that was World of Warcraft and has switched it around on its goddamn head so what you are playing is an entirely new game in many aspects. I've said it before, but feel confirmed via my own progression that Blizzard wants people, more than ever, to get to the end game content and hit level 80. It's still a challege to say the least and requires a form of dedication that I'm convinced borders on madness, but for a compelling online and social experience, it really doesn't seem to be beaten out quite yet by the likes of Lord of the Rings online or Warhammer Online for that matter. Currently, the only forseeable contender that I can really think of is Star Trek Online, and really, I can't wait to try it. But, for the mean time, I still have more than too much to do in Azeroth and Blizzard has the hooks in deep.
What I would like to be playing is everything I've owned for the better part of three months, but have been gearing my time elsewhere (see above). As I previously stated, I finally picked up Left 4 Dead as well as End War, but those should have been picked up in November, however, the Christmas season compels me to allocate funds towards the merrier side of my personality and I do enjoy seeing people get what I think they want for Christmas. But, the gist of it in general is games that would absorb me into them in the same way a comfy chair sucks in children and the elderly never to be seen again. Fable 2, which kills me because I have the limited edition content for as well as Fallout 3 and Dead Space are all demanding my time, but my PS3 isn't hooked up currently and I'm trying to find cables so I can rig it up to my laptop so I can play Metal Gear Solid 4 (as well as Twin Snakes on my Gamecube, while I'm on an Metal Gear tangent) Dead Space and Little Big Planet in the computer room while everyone else does their thing (Primarily because the prospect of playing Dead Space alone scares the everloving shit out of me, really). Also, I would really like to try Audiosurf off of Steam, primarily because I got the download code for free and if it works on my laptop, then I have no problem letting my super-significant other get some playtime in (primarily because she has a better developed sense of rhythm as well as a burning desire to play).
It would be wrong of me to not touch on Defense Grid, which is probably going to stay earmarked on my radar for sometime until I finally am able to satiate myself with some time along playing. I was able to catch a introductory/walkthrough video here and to say the least was extremely impressed. Having grown up in the RTS/TD subculture of the genre Defense Grid is shaping up to be one of those titles that changes things for the better in regards to setting a new bar, and I'm really impressed to see that occur from a smaller developer when some larger companies and development houses can't even afford to pay the bills after pushing unto the consumer/gamer the same sordid garbage that they'd been pushing for the last several years hoping that crap begetting crap would finally yield some kind of venerable result.
In the meantime, keep playing and if I don't say it before the fact, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
--Andrew
Escape? There's no escape.
Anyway, I'm not kidding when it comes to my subject line. This isn't like another dive into the breach for me and I'm not all that out in the cold right now when it comes to things to play. Currently, I either need to manage my time better to get everything I own played (and preferably completed) in one capacity or another, give everything away to charity (which as much as I love charity, probably won't be happening) or construct a device that will allow me to freeze time for about a year so that I can get everything I've been meaning to play played. I mean seriously, this is all sorts of ri-goddamn-diculous. There is seriously too much shit to play and it is overwhelming me knowing that I own the games and I've been meaning to play them forever. Granted, human interaction is appreciated (and I will get to that in a few minutes, so just sit the fuck tight), but when videos for games like this or this premier it makes it very difficult to stay on the same game for any given amount of time. All the same, there are titles that have been consistently holding my interest, but that's not fair to the other games I want to be playing, because I feel like there are experiences I've been missing, and in essence, that disappoints me to a vast degree.
Before I do talk about what I want to play, I do want to touch on what I have been making time to play. On the train, I'm currently running through Metroid Fusion, which if you haven't ever played before, I will say right now, you are missing out and with it being a GBA game is exceptionally easy to pick up and play, but, first you have to find it and I make no promises on that. Clearly one of the Yoshio Sakamoto's finest in regards to the Metroid series as a whole, it is one of the few games on a handheld system that, in agreement with a friend, makes me feel genuinely hunted. The controls are tight, expert sound and the gameplay never seems to feel worn or old as you progress and are rewarded with recovered technology upgrades. On the homefront, I finally own Left 4 Dead and End War, but I'm still deeply absorbed in Wrath of the Lich King, which has essentially taken everything that was World of Warcraft and has switched it around on its goddamn head so what you are playing is an entirely new game in many aspects. I've said it before, but feel confirmed via my own progression that Blizzard wants people, more than ever, to get to the end game content and hit level 80. It's still a challege to say the least and requires a form of dedication that I'm convinced borders on madness, but for a compelling online and social experience, it really doesn't seem to be beaten out quite yet by the likes of Lord of the Rings online or Warhammer Online for that matter. Currently, the only forseeable contender that I can really think of is Star Trek Online, and really, I can't wait to try it. But, for the mean time, I still have more than too much to do in Azeroth and Blizzard has the hooks in deep.
What I would like to be playing is everything I've owned for the better part of three months, but have been gearing my time elsewhere (see above). As I previously stated, I finally picked up Left 4 Dead as well as End War, but those should have been picked up in November, however, the Christmas season compels me to allocate funds towards the merrier side of my personality and I do enjoy seeing people get what I think they want for Christmas. But, the gist of it in general is games that would absorb me into them in the same way a comfy chair sucks in children and the elderly never to be seen again. Fable 2, which kills me because I have the limited edition content for as well as Fallout 3 and Dead Space are all demanding my time, but my PS3 isn't hooked up currently and I'm trying to find cables so I can rig it up to my laptop so I can play Metal Gear Solid 4 (as well as Twin Snakes on my Gamecube, while I'm on an Metal Gear tangent) Dead Space and Little Big Planet in the computer room while everyone else does their thing (Primarily because the prospect of playing Dead Space alone scares the everloving shit out of me, really). Also, I would really like to try Audiosurf off of Steam, primarily because I got the download code for free and if it works on my laptop, then I have no problem letting my super-significant other get some playtime in (primarily because she has a better developed sense of rhythm as well as a burning desire to play).
It would be wrong of me to not touch on Defense Grid, which is probably going to stay earmarked on my radar for sometime until I finally am able to satiate myself with some time along playing. I was able to catch a introductory/walkthrough video here and to say the least was extremely impressed. Having grown up in the RTS/TD subculture of the genre Defense Grid is shaping up to be one of those titles that changes things for the better in regards to setting a new bar, and I'm really impressed to see that occur from a smaller developer when some larger companies and development houses can't even afford to pay the bills after pushing unto the consumer/gamer the same sordid garbage that they'd been pushing for the last several years hoping that crap begetting crap would finally yield some kind of venerable result.
In the meantime, keep playing and if I don't say it before the fact, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
--Andrew
Escape? There's no escape.
Dec 1, 2008
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