Raptr Preservation

Yeah it's Halloween so what have I got up my sleeve for this evening? Something completely unrelated! Ha!

Anywho, it's been a week since I started using Raptr. In that time I've notched up over a thousand hour of game time.
Of course, this is only through me going back over my game files, over several consoles, and adding them to my Raptor profile. Thus the 1000+ hours is the product of seven years not seven days (so you can kindly cease typing out that email denouncing me as a loser).

Why go to all this trouble? Well I like the idea that this, Raptr, is there to serve as a record for one's gaming achievements - and not just XBLA achievements/PSN Trophies. I like the idea of Raptr being evidence of doing such things and it serving as a record that may last for years to come. Of course that may not turn out that way but I do like the idea of it being set in stone. Who knows? You come back in several years time and think: Yep, I did that :)

However me going back over my old gaming files does ultimately defeat the purpose of the reward system that Raptr is plugging. The rewards system seem more focused on more recent games not on the classics. There there is really nothing really gained from me putting in so much hours for classic eighties/nineties games. Still I must admit that it's kinda nice to be ranked the no.1 player for Adventures of Lolo, Final Fantasy 1, Secret of Mana, Super Mario Bros 3, Ogre Battle 64, and Burnout 3.

Of course the 1000 hours are the time-frames that I've been able to recover on my PS2, Wii and 360. I have invested many hours in other games on other gaming platforms but they're sadly lost to time. Indeed, I'd like to know how many hours I've blown in Baldurs Gate. However I don't WANT to know how many hours I've sunk in World of Warcraft....

Phun with Fotoshop

Braid Tumour

Not much to say for today: I was hoping to have beaten Braid by today so I would have something to talk about but it wasn't to be. I got to the last level but was unable to complete it as I got to an impassable part where I have to jump over some of those Goomba lookalikes - those who've played Braid would know exactly what I'm talking about.
I hate it when games do that: Luck need not play a major part in beating a game.

Still I do like the 'pin' feature that came with the latest update of XBLA. I hope the person who suggested it in the Microsoft think-tank got upgraded to a new office.

Halt! I am Raptr!

This was passed on by a friend (thanks Aef!): Raptr. A site where gamers can log in and share achievements, notch up game time, share what games they're playing and assess games they like and hate.

True some of you might already be on there but I've signed in and already picked the games I like and enjoy playing. I've even collected data from old save files to add to my game time - after all, if this is going to last for years to come, then I may as well preserve history.

My gamer card as it currently is:



Not much else to say but I approve of this handy little gadget :)

Keep Dreamin'

I've said it once and I'll say it again: Sega are really doing themselves by not making their back catalogue of non-Megadrive/Genesis games readily available. Sure there have been a few games on the Master System/Saturn/Dreamcast slipping through the cracks on PSN and XBLA but what about the rest? Whilst Sega may have had more than few failed consoles to their name, I can still think of some games in Sega's back catalogue that could benefit from a second look.

I could see some reluctance on Sega's part namely a) the difficulty of obtaining rights of certain games with certain gaming studios scattering elsewhere b) an unwillingness to release something that has no guarantee of decent sales and c) the idea that maybe Sega's failed consoles is something they would like to forget. Reasonable claims I will admit but I've heard of such games being spoken of in near mythical terms and needless to say my curiosity is piqued.
I can think of several games on the Mega CD that may be worth dusting off and preserving for gamers both now and in the future, namely Eternal Champions, Lunar, Popful Mail, Robo Aleste, Shining Force CD, Silpheed, Snatcher and Vay (and who says it was all Sonic CD?)
And on the Saturn front, I would certainly like to play the likes of DragonForce, Astal, Shining the Holy Ark and Panzer Dragoon Zwei. I know of games that may benefit from a proper translation like Assault Suit Leynos 2, Shining Force 3, Magical Knight Rayearth and Grandia. And need I mention how many people want to see a proper rerelease of the Holy Grail of gaming Panzer Dragoon Saga?

Of course I've gathered this laundry list of titles through research - I've heard all of these titles spoken highly of both Sega fans and (general) gamers alike so it makes me interested in checking them out. One problem though: How do I do it? This in turn goes back to Sega not taking action to preserve their gaming catalogue and make it readily available. Listen to me Sega: Would you rather people get to these games through using emulators and denying you of some actual money?

The recent arrival of Nights Into Dreams to the XBLA provides new, solid evidence to suggest otherwise that Saturn games may be difficult to emulate or even revamped to stunning effect. Sure Nights was also ported to the PS2 but the presence of other Saturn games on XBLA, Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, could be another reason for, right?
But alas if the spectacular revamp of Nights will prove anything, it will be proof fifth generation gaming can be rebuilt in such a manner. And thus yielding another excuse for those wanting a new Final Fantasy 7 to persue their tireless crusade (fingers in the ear and all). Okay but how about we ask for something we HAVEN'T played?

Dreams of Reason

Well Nights Into Dreams has finally made it's way to the XBLA. For me it's the end of a journey that began sixteen years ago: For, from being enamored at first sight of the intro as teenager, to brief instances of actually playing the game since, to debating as to whether or not I purchase the Wii incarnation, I finally have an edition of Nights Into Dreams to call my own :D

I mentioned earlier this year that I managed to play the original Nights Into Dreams on the Sega Saturn where I found the controls hard to get into grips with and the graphics looking dated to the point of horrible. However with the HD revamp, neither seems to be case at all: The graphics are glorious to behold and they great for a sixteen year old game. None of the pixelation that has plagued fifth generation games at all!
Also, the music sounds lively and fun - in fact I'm not sure its the same from the Saturn but who cares? It sounds marvelous just the same.
And the controls are better than my previous experience! As crazy as it may seem, for the first time ever I had a clear idea what to do and where I was going and I was making excellent progress.

Now gaming technology is one where people are constantly in the race to produce the most technological advanced product imaginable - hardly the type of thing that improves with age. But here, it's justified - who would've thunk it?!

Signing up

During my travels on the net i came across this: A petition to remake Panzer Dragoon Saga in HD.

I have little faith in web-petitions. I'm am uncertain whether or not they get heeded and make a difference - unless of course they're signed by Star Wars fans. Still this is a cause I'm all for so I signed it. It may not make a difference but at least I get my voice heard.

You're an all star

I recently heard that a follow up to Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing is currently in development.
I've played the first game and I thought it was all right. Sure I bear the scars of having lived through years when everyone was making their own karting game in an attempt to match the success of the original Super Mario Kart, but Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing was good fun - and a great way to put one's friendships on the line just to notch up a win (although it is bit puzzling as to why the super fast Sonic needs a car....).

A look at the character list reveals some familiar faces: Vyse of Skies of Arcadia, Nights from Nights into Dreams, Gillius Thunderhead from Golden Axe and Joe Musashi from Shinobi. Much like the first game, the character roster seems spread across Sega's history with some classic figures stepping back into the light and some lesser-known faces getting a second shot. The titular character from the upcoming movie Wreck it Ralph is also present (nice tie-in there), real life racing driver Danica Patrick is also in, and the racing tracks will be inspired by the likes of Outrun, Panzer Dragoon and Afterburner.

Whilst it is nice to see Sega dust off some of their other IP, it does make one wonder if they may have something up their sleeve. Years earlier Nintendo did the same thing with Super Smash Bros Brawl - notably with the presence of the character Pit which eventually led to a new Kid Icarus game - twenty years since the last one.
Could this be a sign a change may be afoot? Considering that Sega finally released Nights into Dreams on the XBLA with a new HD remakes one would think that Sega may be trying some market research to see if some old IP may be worth something.
It maybe too early to call but for the romantics among us, it would be nice to think that Sega may finally be moving past their Megadrive/Genesis glory days and digging up some lost treasures to preserve. The Saturn games have built a reputation for being notoriously difficult to emulate but the presence of Nights (even if it was also on the PS2) is a step in the right direction.
If so, how about Panzer Dragoon Saga eh?

Silent Bill

I find the idea of silent game characters a rather strange choice in gaming. Why build a world where everyone can talk and interact with other bar one? Why give character a face and a name but refuse to make the final jump in giving them a voice? I just find it odd that worlds get built with so much detail but one detail is missing with the player's entry point into said world not saying single damn thing.
In fact to have a Player Character silent when everyone else isn't does portray them in a rather puzzling manner. Do they have poor social skills? Do they have trouble interacting with the people around them? Are they shut-ins who spent many years of their life cut off from the rest of the world that they missed out on some vital communication skills?
If anything, the lack of voice in a Player Character doesn't really suggest anything about them: What they think, how they view the world around them and how they perceptive being repeatedly handed tasks to complete for the populace. The last point is of particular note: We know the scenario: The Player Character is given tasks by the populace in order to advance further in the game - but the PC accepts this without a second thought. But really how does he/she really feel about this? Would they get irate that no one can do things for themselves? Would he/she get annoyed that he/she's continually getting sidetracked from their main quest? I think Lenny Bruce said it best when he declared that: 'Take away the right to say "fuck" and you take away the right to say "fuck the government."'

Yet many gamers think otherwise - and as result, the likes of Link, Samus Aran and Gordon Freeman are continually thought highly of in gaming circles. The reason being is that because the character is silent, the gamer is free as they please to build their own opinion about them. I guess that argument has weight with one's personality being built up through one's actions rather than the words spoken - and previous attempts to make a personality (ie Legend of Zelda cartoon and Metroid Other M), have been pathetic to say the least. That may be the case but I refuse to accept the idea that the silent character is meant to be the eyes of the gamer in the game world. They aren't me: Why? Because they have an appearance and a name that I don't really have a say in. The characters I've played in both Baldurs Gate and World of Warcraft are mine because I made them and guided them through their
respective game worlds - whereas Link is....... well.... everyone's Link.

So yeah, for me playing a character who already has a name and face but no voice doesn't mean they are me in the game itself. If anything, the games that want to involve the player themselves are those that a) address them directly, b) make the player feel like they're making some kind of difference and c) remove any visual representation of the PC.
That being said I think the games that have done this best are Starcraft and Bioshock. Starcraft did so by having a well-written script with characters address the player directly - helped considerably by some solid voice acting - and really created the impression the player was making a difference. Bioshock also took a brave step by refusing to make any visual reference to the PC (apart from hands and a bit of arm) and through placing the player in situations that challenged linear gameplay.

So, if anything, building a character a face, a name but no voice strikes me as a little odd - like a runner that jumps numerous hurdles but then chooses to not clear the last one. If this is a character that's meant to represent me, the player, then why do I have a set name and appearance?

I don't give a damn about my bad reputation!

Something else that has cropped up whilst playing WoW: What is the point of the reputation system? Okay, so it's kinda cool to see a character progress through Azeroth and making an impression as they go, and to see whose worth hanging around but my beef with the reptuatation system is that it seems to go against the lore that Blizzard established for themselves.

Allow me to explain: In World of Warcraft, out of all the races available, the only one's that seem in any way antagonistic are the Humans, Night Elves, Orcs and Undead (fittingly, all three playable races in Warcraft 3). As for everyone else, they're all bound together by their respective alliances - yet that doesn't make them in any way friends. And in the case of the the Horde, most of the races therein have been victimized and so they've gathered together in a show of unity. But the unity is showing cracks leaving many races distrustful of one another.

So with all that considered, what does my reputation prove? I like using the Blood Elves and they're distrusted by the other Horde races due to their magical prowess - although the BE's do share some kind of common ground with the Undead. Through Rithendal I have only reached Exalted status with one racial faction and it's one of the undead factions - fitting but in terms of lore not surprising.
So in lore terms what happens when Rithendal reaches Exalted status with another race? Do race relations soften? Do they recognize someone decent in a sea of idiots? Or will achieving Exalted states do nothing to prevent knives in the back?

I don't know - most likely through playing other RPGs, I've become accustomed to making world-shattering changes in the world presented before me. And such changes may be something beyond the scope of a MMORPGer....

Don't give Hate a chance!

As some of you may be well aware, there is a movie based on Metal Gear Solid in development. Can't say I'm surprised: Metal Gear Solid drew a lot of inspiration from Hideo Kojima's love for cinema and some say (well, the more cynical amongst us) that the Metal Gear Solid games are more cinematic than being an actual game. But no matter: One can't deny that the transition from game to movie would be natural one for Metal Gear Solid.

But a problem has arisen: Apparently David Hayter will have no involvement whatsoever. Granted David Hayter has probably had more success in Hollywood with his scriptwriting than his acting but to be honest, I can't imagine Snake being played by anyone else. I heard Christan Bale was interested in playing Snake but Snake being played by someone who isn't David Hayter would...well...not be Snake. He's been playing the role for four games now so why stop now?
Come on, it's not like he doesn't look the part:


But whatever: I'm just a grumpy blogger who doesn't have a say in how Hollywood casts it's movies.
But I will say I live in hope that whoever they cast for Meryl, that it be Rachel McAdams.^__~

Mud slinging

This headline has been generating a lot of attention recently: US politician Colleen Lachowicz is in the running for Democrat candidate for the State Senate of Maine. But her election campaign has hit a snag with some dirt being dug up by some Republican rivals. What kind of dirt? Apparently Lachowicz is a big fan of World of Warcraft so her political rivals have fashioned site displaying images of her Orc charatcer and the posts she made on the Blizzard forums.

For the full story click here.

Whilst mud-slinging is nothing new in a political campaign, I find this hilarious. I will admit that yes this could result in some people seeing doubt in Lachowicz's ability to make crucial decisions (part and parcel of being leader - playing Peace Maker would do that to you) the rest of the smear campaign is just absurd: It's scare-mongering by people who don't know what they're talking about. Worse still, it's big step backwards when I thought we were all moving away from the incorrect notion of 'games are evil things played by psychotically damaged misanthropes'. Hate to back this to you losers but computer and console games are enjoyed all kinds of people from all walks of life - including politicians.

Still, whilst it may be far too early to call, I can see this backfiring in spectacular fashion - for now that a politician is a keen user of WoW, no doubt this will work in Lachowicz's favor as many people will be getting behind her. 
And it doesn't sound far-fetched that people will back someone who's a step away from the straight-laced politicians that keep running for government. After all, this story takes place in the US - where it's president, Barack Obama, is a fan of Spiderman comics.

Given the Boot

Last week I was playing World of Warcraft and tried my hand at a dungeon. This wasn't the first time  I've tried a dungeon but I've had a go of two before and found them enjoyable & lucrative in both gold & xp. So I used the dungeon finder, got Rithendal into a group and set off. I had no plan in mind beyond shoot anything that moves (a plan I've used in the past and which worked well enough). Then, after one particular boss fight, I was shown the door (so to speak). I was uncertain what I'd done - in retrospect though I think I might've attacked the boss before everyone else was ready - but my dungeon party members started turning on me and I got the boot.

While I may have some idea what went wrong I was uncertain at the time. Needles to say, it was surprising when the party members started calling for the removal of the Hunter. Any protesting I did was met with disdain through my lack of dungeon experience - Obviously these were pros I was dealing with (i did see the comment of 'noob' crop up at least once in the chat window).
I guess that;s the thing with WoW dungeons - you will almost inevitability be surrounded by people who KNOW what they're doing.

Now whilst this may not been the first time I've had a bad experience with WoW, it is the first time it involved the Horde. It may sound odd but my long-held impression of the Horde that it's filled with friendly people and this is the first time I've seen, firsthand, that maybe there are some elitist types in there.
Before I started playing WoW (and well afterward), my impression between the two factions was that the Alliance was full of rude, surly people who liked the hotties whereas the Horde was full of friendly, helpful people who liked being a monster. In short, the 'noble' Alliance was full of gits whilst the 'monstrous' Horde was full of helpful people (because there's no such thing as an 'Evil' Alliance or a 'good' Empire - thanks a lot Star Wars). Yet the longer I''ve played WoW, the more opposite that notion has become: My dwarf Grimcrag has been involved with a large Alliance guild that has been very helpful and friendly whilst in the Horde......you have the encounter I described above.
But then again, any MMOPRGer is just like the Internet: there's an equal amount of idiots and nice people XD

Planet of Sound (no.11)

Name: Sam Brooker
Birthdate: 1st October 1984
Instruments: Lead vocals / Guitar
Affiliations: Demon Flower
Bio: Sam was born and raised in New York. He is the middle child of five and has three sisters and a brother.
At first, he was a well-mannered lad from a good family, with a decent education, handsome looks, overflowing charisma and many admirers. Things however took a nasty turn when his father died when he was in high school. This put Sam on the path of delinquency he skipped school and joined a gang of troublemakers, engaging in gang violence and property destruction. It was during this time that he discovered Metal. Inspired, Sam decided to clean up his act and commit his time to learning a guitar. He went back to school to learn all he could about the guitar - and when he was done, he moved onto the bass. He would later credit metal as saving his life.
By the time he came to Spike’s attention, Sam had become a talented musician. With his skills and dashing good looks to match, he was welcomed into the ranks of Demon Flower. However, it didn’t take long before Spike figured that his presence would be better off suited up front entertaining the crowds.

Sam was already involved with Demon Flower before Jasmine left. He was already working with Demon Flower on tour and in the studio so went it came time to find a new vocalist he was a natural fit. With good looks, stage presence, guitar playing and a powerful roar in him, Sam quickly won over the crowd and the press and made his presence known. And when Jasmine returned, he agreed to share vocalising duties. 
In the collective, Sam is more or less the front man: He talks to the media and the fans – being the only one who can stomach such attention. This suits both Sam and the other band members who are then left to concentrate on their duties. Nevertheless Sam has made put forth several ideas to the collective and has had several song writing credits to his name.