And so, the curtain comes down on another year.
So....2017....How about that eh?
2017 was, for me, mostly me rediscovering Elder Scrolls Online. A game that i originally approached with reluctance is a game that I have played near exclusively in 2017. The funny thing is that the thing that turned me around was a skill re-spec for my first/main character. Since then I've made a few more characters. All of which, I have approached with a particular plan in mind. Funny thing that: I approach with a plan, and subsequently a better grasp of what I'm doing and suddenly the game becomes a lot more enjoyable. Still, it's no different from me of nearly two decades ago building a plan to work in Civ 2 and Heroes 2.
Other highlights was seeing the Conquest series appear on GoG; beating Nights into Dreams, Conquests of the Longbow and KOTOR 2 - all of which have been a long time coming; Going to PAX and Trying out Alien Swarm.
But you know what? If we go be feel alone, 2017 seems like something of a slump. Nothing came out this year that really grabbed my attention. Maybe it's me living in a backwards flowing bubble, maybe it's me having played games for so many years that it becomes harder for something to stand out of the pack, but somehow one gets the impression that gaming has reached it's zenith: There are no more frontiers to conquer, no one beyond the Steam indie crowd is prepared to make any risks and everything seems to be recycled. Funny thing how a industry that has moved at a lightning fast pace has now hit a point that resembles stagnation.
I've heard whispers that we may be due in for a second Gaming Crash but maybe we could do with one, just to shake things up a bit....
Still we can only hope that 2018 is better....
Anywho, thank you for reading this blog and i hope to speak to you again next year.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Monday, December 11, 2017
Six Pack
Well it seems like a new iteration of the Soul Calibur series is headed this way. I know this because a trailer was recently unleashed on an unsuspecting world:
This is interesting to me as it features two of my favorites: Sophitia and Mitsurugi. Also of particular note is that Sophitia is sporting her original outfit.Which is interesting to me because I remember being turned off by Soul Calibur's post-3 that I was put off by her increasing sexualisation (of course, that reason was one of numerous but still....).
So is like a reboot or something? In any case, it's great to see Sophitia in her original outfit and looking great in the Unreal4 Engine.
But the trailer sure puts a lot of emphasis on her cleavage....
Original video located here. Accessed 9th December 2017
This is interesting to me as it features two of my favorites: Sophitia and Mitsurugi. Also of particular note is that Sophitia is sporting her original outfit.Which is interesting to me because I remember being turned off by Soul Calibur's post-3 that I was put off by her increasing sexualisation (of course, that reason was one of numerous but still....).
So is like a reboot or something? In any case, it's great to see Sophitia in her original outfit and looking great in the Unreal4 Engine.
But the trailer sure puts a lot of emphasis on her cleavage....
Friday, November 24, 2017
Alien Resurrection
Recently I had a go at Alien Swarm.
Anyone heard of this? It's one of those free games that have crept into Steam. I went into it with three friends as we were all after something new to play. And why, who can say no to free stuff?
Upon playing Alien Swarm, we were faced with four character options: Officer, Special Weapons, Medic and a Tech. Predictably, both Special Weapon characters were pounced on quick leaving a Tech and a Medic included as a matter of necessity. I can understand, in retrospect, that having one of each character is key to success but two Special Weapons? It's possible that it can be done but somehow I'm not sure that's what the designers of this game had in mind.
In researching this game it becomes apparent that it's a remake of the Alien Swarm mod from Unreal Tournament 2004. That means little to me as I've never played any games in the Unreal franchise. So, I approached this game as someone unaware of it's origins. After all, it may yield a different perspective, no?
So what we have here is a scenario taken from the movie Aliens: A group of human marines are going into enemy territory where the enemy in question is a swarm of ugly, alien nasties that outnumber the marines several times over. It is then up to the Marines to get through a series of missions, achieving a set task and, hopefully, surviving to the end.
In playing Alien Swarm, I found there are moments where the action is intense, being attacked from all sides. There are equally nerve-racking moments when my guy (the Tech) is trying fanatically to get into a computer system while the aliens are all around me. There's the despair when one of your team mates bites the dust (especially when you need them to complete the mission). There's the necessity of sharing ammo and health and working together to stay upright. And there's always the last minute dash to safety in order to seal the success of the mission.
So really, Alien Swarm does all the things that we expect from Aliens. It's the movie adaptation that never was. And perosnally,, is all the better for it.
Play it again? You bet!
Anyone heard of this? It's one of those free games that have crept into Steam. I went into it with three friends as we were all after something new to play. And why, who can say no to free stuff?
Upon playing Alien Swarm, we were faced with four character options: Officer, Special Weapons, Medic and a Tech. Predictably, both Special Weapon characters were pounced on quick leaving a Tech and a Medic included as a matter of necessity. I can understand, in retrospect, that having one of each character is key to success but two Special Weapons? It's possible that it can be done but somehow I'm not sure that's what the designers of this game had in mind.
In researching this game it becomes apparent that it's a remake of the Alien Swarm mod from Unreal Tournament 2004. That means little to me as I've never played any games in the Unreal franchise. So, I approached this game as someone unaware of it's origins. After all, it may yield a different perspective, no?
So what we have here is a scenario taken from the movie Aliens: A group of human marines are going into enemy territory where the enemy in question is a swarm of ugly, alien nasties that outnumber the marines several times over. It is then up to the Marines to get through a series of missions, achieving a set task and, hopefully, surviving to the end.
In playing Alien Swarm, I found there are moments where the action is intense, being attacked from all sides. There are equally nerve-racking moments when my guy (the Tech) is trying fanatically to get into a computer system while the aliens are all around me. There's the despair when one of your team mates bites the dust (especially when you need them to complete the mission). There's the necessity of sharing ammo and health and working together to stay upright. And there's always the last minute dash to safety in order to seal the success of the mission.
So really, Alien Swarm does all the things that we expect from Aliens. It's the movie adaptation that never was. And perosnally,, is all the better for it.
Play it again? You bet!
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Just a Girl
A story:
I was ten years old. I was attending a super-session at my local arcade parlor (Time Zone) where people could have unlimited credits on any game for a limited time period. I decided I wanted to play the Terminator 2 arcade game so I headed for the machine and I teamed up with someone else. That someone else was a female: she looked several years older than me (mid-to late teens) but we both had a go at blowing away the T-800 Endoskeletons.
Thing is, I didn't discriminate, I didn't make fun of her because she was a girl, and i didn't it think it unusual for a girl to play games. No, I was just glad that she could blow away the Endoskeletons with ease.
I've heard stories in the present of all women are discriminated against because they show an interest in a field that is, traditionally, a male-dominated field. But I have never done such a thing. i could've at the young age of ten but I didn't. And I, into adulthood, have played with female gamers but never once been horrible or discriminatory.
If anything, all i ask of any female gamer is that they have my back.
I was ten years old. I was attending a super-session at my local arcade parlor (Time Zone) where people could have unlimited credits on any game for a limited time period. I decided I wanted to play the Terminator 2 arcade game so I headed for the machine and I teamed up with someone else. That someone else was a female: she looked several years older than me (mid-to late teens) but we both had a go at blowing away the T-800 Endoskeletons.
Thing is, I didn't discriminate, I didn't make fun of her because she was a girl, and i didn't it think it unusual for a girl to play games. No, I was just glad that she could blow away the Endoskeletons with ease.
I've heard stories in the present of all women are discriminated against because they show an interest in a field that is, traditionally, a male-dominated field. But I have never done such a thing. i could've at the young age of ten but I didn't. And I, into adulthood, have played with female gamers but never once been horrible or discriminatory.
If anything, all i ask of any female gamer is that they have my back.
Monday, October 30, 2017
Pax'd Up
Last weekend I was in Melbourne - so I made an unplanned visit to PAX.
Never been to a PAX before but from what I gathered from those in the US, it's a major convention being one of the biggest and most important one's on the convention circuit and a nothing less than a big deal.
So I went in and the first thing that grabbed me was the stalls where various new tech was being plugged. The area all these stalls were in were in in poorly lit areas and featured lots of loud music and neon lighting - an experience akin to being in a rave.
But getting past that initial experience, I spent little time in the tech area. But what i did see were crowds of people gathering around to see what was on offer and snapping up free stuff where available. But strangely seeing what was new didn't interest me - I've been suckered into what was 'new' before only to emerge disappointed. Thus there is a wisdom in being cautious.
What really interested me however was what was happening in the area outside of the 'new' stuff: there were tables of DnD players, various stalls plugging non-electronic gaming wares, and a complete retro gaming section boasting a history of pinball display & games ready to pick up and play. Indeed, it is telling that i spent more time at this retro area than with all the new stuff.
Two things struck me as being of particular interest: One was an area where people can bring in their rig for a gaming at the con. I've been to several cons and have never seen anything like it before. Naturally, this area was under constant security but it's impressive that people will bring their rig to a con just for it - but hey, it's a gaming con, right?
The other thing was a live-speed run, where a guy sought to beat Super Mario World in 100 minutes with a) 95 exits unlocked and b) without the cape. And he did it! I've heard that speed-runners are super insane at their chosen games but it see it done live is something else. As such, the player drew a large crowd and had people cheering him when he performed particular feats.
But in the end, for a con meant to be about the glory of gaming I spent little time around the 'new' stuff and more time running around taking photos of the cosplayers. It may not have been the intent of the con but hey, it worked for me.
So in the end, I had a great time at PAX but it is interesting to note that enjoyment had, once again, nothing to do with the latest games and/or tech. Telling much?
Never been to a PAX before but from what I gathered from those in the US, it's a major convention being one of the biggest and most important one's on the convention circuit and a nothing less than a big deal.
So I went in and the first thing that grabbed me was the stalls where various new tech was being plugged. The area all these stalls were in were in in poorly lit areas and featured lots of loud music and neon lighting - an experience akin to being in a rave.
But getting past that initial experience, I spent little time in the tech area. But what i did see were crowds of people gathering around to see what was on offer and snapping up free stuff where available. But strangely seeing what was new didn't interest me - I've been suckered into what was 'new' before only to emerge disappointed. Thus there is a wisdom in being cautious.
What really interested me however was what was happening in the area outside of the 'new' stuff: there were tables of DnD players, various stalls plugging non-electronic gaming wares, and a complete retro gaming section boasting a history of pinball display & games ready to pick up and play. Indeed, it is telling that i spent more time at this retro area than with all the new stuff.
Two things struck me as being of particular interest: One was an area where people can bring in their rig for a gaming at the con. I've been to several cons and have never seen anything like it before. Naturally, this area was under constant security but it's impressive that people will bring their rig to a con just for it - but hey, it's a gaming con, right?
The other thing was a live-speed run, where a guy sought to beat Super Mario World in 100 minutes with a) 95 exits unlocked and b) without the cape. And he did it! I've heard that speed-runners are super insane at their chosen games but it see it done live is something else. As such, the player drew a large crowd and had people cheering him when he performed particular feats.
But in the end, for a con meant to be about the glory of gaming I spent little time around the 'new' stuff and more time running around taking photos of the cosplayers. It may not have been the intent of the con but hey, it worked for me.
So in the end, I had a great time at PAX but it is interesting to note that enjoyment had, once again, nothing to do with the latest games and/or tech. Telling much?
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Beginnings of a saga
Ive talked up Panzer Dragoon Saga a lot in this blog but I haven't; given much attention to the other games in the franchise. Recently however I decided to rectify this....
...by watching a LongPlay of Panzer Dragoon 1 and 2 (Zwei) on YouTube.
Seriously though, it's the only way I could ever see these games in action other than shelling out a fortune for a working Saturn and the games in question. I have memories of playing a single-level demo of Zwei in a store but that's pretty much my extent with this series. But considering how a dramatic change it was for Saga to be an RPG, there must've been something there originally, right?
Okay, so let's start with Panzer Dragoon.
From the looks of it, this game isn't that remarkable from a gaming standpoint: It's short, it's working off of an arcade mentality (as in it's longevity is based on how quickly the player can do everything required), it requires quick actions and reflexes, the player is running on a set path (such is the nature of a 'rail shooter') and success is measured by how well the player did by doing the same old thing.
But what truly got my interest was the aesthetics of this game. Oh. My. God. The Aesthetics. If the game part of it was kinda weak then it's the way the game is presented that makes up for it. We have fascinating settings with sunken ruins, deserts, caves, canyons and forests. There is a language made up especially for the game. There are mech devices and ancient tech. There are airships that looked like they came straight out of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. There is art based off of the illustrations of the French artist Moebius. There are bosses that collapse into pieces as they are destroyed. There are Sandworms that look like they came straight out of Dune. And the music is both atmospheric and brilliant.
But what strikes me the most about this game is the world in which it's set: It's intriguing yes but it's also very vague. The opening text makes clear that this is a post-apocalyptic setting, wherein human civilization has crumbled. But the humans are living in fear of 'cyber genetic warfare' (huh?). So the humans find, and excavate, an ancient Tower and turn the tables. This in turn makes all surrounding nations (Huh?) turn on each other while fighting a 'Dark Dragon'.
It's an intriguing setup that raises a lot of questions: How did humanity survive the many years since the collapse of civilization? What the hell is this cyber genetic warfare? Who is responsible for it? If civilization collapsed then what are the other nations? Who is in them? If civilization has long collapsed shouldn't everything be a lot more disorganized? What does the Tower do? And how does the Dark Dragon fit into all of this?
Of course none of these questions are answered over the course of the game but playing the game raises even more questions: Who was the original rider of the Blue Dragon? We get his mission was to destroy the Tower but why? Who was the rider of the Other Dragon that keeps reappearing throughout the game? What was his/her story? And as for the mission to destroy the Tower, did the Blue Dragon know? Did he even need the human PC?
With such questions, it's fair to say that Panzer Dragoon delivers half a story - and still, saying it's half still feels generous. There are some ideas that certainly have some potential but most likely it is confined to the restrictions imposed by fifth-generation gaming.
So how about Panzer Dragoon Zwei?
Well clearly the game is like any true sequel: It offers more of the same but enough new additions to make it stand on it's own two feet. The graphics are better, the boss fights are just as gripping, the targeting system works better and the first two levels are ground based. There's also a berserk mode added and the PC's dragon can upgrade based on the progress the player makes.
Other than that, the game's aesthetics still prove to be the series' strength: the art direction is still beautiful, the soundtrack is still great the settings are interesting, the enemies are varied, and the designs are still as inventive as Zwei's predecessor.
Unfortunately, the setting is as vague as before. The opening text indicates that 'Many millennia have passed since the fall of the old age'. Okay, so does the old age refer to when human civilization was in flower? And if that was a thousand years ago as the first game declared, does that that mean Zwei is set so many thousand years since?
We are then told that people are living in terror of a weapon created from gene reconstruction and it's use is robbing the humans of their strength. Okay so is this the cyber genetic warfare that was mentioned in the first game? Did it replace the Tower? Is in any related to the Tower?
And speaking of the Tower it is then revealed that other nations are following the humans' lead and digging up ancient weapons to fight wars. Okay seriously, who are these 'Other Nations'? Are they humans? If they are populated by humans why are they fighting the....well... other humans?
But again, none of these questions matter because, once again, when the game gets underway, more questions arise. Why does this place hate dragons and kill them on sight? I can understand that different places may have different perceptions but the Dragons and humans were getting along so well in the last game. And for that matter, how did the PC get Lagi (the Dragon) out of the village? Someone would've surely noticed a dragon of that size. Who destroyed the village? Why did they destroy the village? Who is this Empire? Are they connected to the 'humans'? Who is the Mecchania? Why are they after the ship?
And then there's the ending: ......I.....um....what? It was abrupt, bizarre and confusing - as if my head wasn't already loaded with enough questions. Once again however it does give the indication that the story the makers had wasn't the kind that could fit onto a single CD.
Confusion aside, the world that Panzer Dragoon and Panzer Dragoon Zwei clearly had potential. Potential that could not be confided to a singular game on a singular disc. hence we got sequels in the form of Saga and Orta. Indeed, it should be noted that Orta came with it's own encyclopedia resolving many of the questions inspired by this game series.
Still, none of these questions were actually resolved in-game - like how questions relating to the game should be. I can understand Saga going out it's way to resolve such issues but that game remains, alas, out of reach.....
...by watching a LongPlay of Panzer Dragoon 1 and 2 (Zwei) on YouTube.
Seriously though, it's the only way I could ever see these games in action other than shelling out a fortune for a working Saturn and the games in question. I have memories of playing a single-level demo of Zwei in a store but that's pretty much my extent with this series. But considering how a dramatic change it was for Saga to be an RPG, there must've been something there originally, right?
Okay, so let's start with Panzer Dragoon.
From the looks of it, this game isn't that remarkable from a gaming standpoint: It's short, it's working off of an arcade mentality (as in it's longevity is based on how quickly the player can do everything required), it requires quick actions and reflexes, the player is running on a set path (such is the nature of a 'rail shooter') and success is measured by how well the player did by doing the same old thing.
But what truly got my interest was the aesthetics of this game. Oh. My. God. The Aesthetics. If the game part of it was kinda weak then it's the way the game is presented that makes up for it. We have fascinating settings with sunken ruins, deserts, caves, canyons and forests. There is a language made up especially for the game. There are mech devices and ancient tech. There are airships that looked like they came straight out of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. There is art based off of the illustrations of the French artist Moebius. There are bosses that collapse into pieces as they are destroyed. There are Sandworms that look like they came straight out of Dune. And the music is both atmospheric and brilliant.
But what strikes me the most about this game is the world in which it's set: It's intriguing yes but it's also very vague. The opening text makes clear that this is a post-apocalyptic setting, wherein human civilization has crumbled. But the humans are living in fear of 'cyber genetic warfare' (huh?). So the humans find, and excavate, an ancient Tower and turn the tables. This in turn makes all surrounding nations (Huh?) turn on each other while fighting a 'Dark Dragon'.
It's an intriguing setup that raises a lot of questions: How did humanity survive the many years since the collapse of civilization? What the hell is this cyber genetic warfare? Who is responsible for it? If civilization collapsed then what are the other nations? Who is in them? If civilization has long collapsed shouldn't everything be a lot more disorganized? What does the Tower do? And how does the Dark Dragon fit into all of this?
Of course none of these questions are answered over the course of the game but playing the game raises even more questions: Who was the original rider of the Blue Dragon? We get his mission was to destroy the Tower but why? Who was the rider of the Other Dragon that keeps reappearing throughout the game? What was his/her story? And as for the mission to destroy the Tower, did the Blue Dragon know? Did he even need the human PC?
With such questions, it's fair to say that Panzer Dragoon delivers half a story - and still, saying it's half still feels generous. There are some ideas that certainly have some potential but most likely it is confined to the restrictions imposed by fifth-generation gaming.
So how about Panzer Dragoon Zwei?
Well clearly the game is like any true sequel: It offers more of the same but enough new additions to make it stand on it's own two feet. The graphics are better, the boss fights are just as gripping, the targeting system works better and the first two levels are ground based. There's also a berserk mode added and the PC's dragon can upgrade based on the progress the player makes.
Other than that, the game's aesthetics still prove to be the series' strength: the art direction is still beautiful, the soundtrack is still great the settings are interesting, the enemies are varied, and the designs are still as inventive as Zwei's predecessor.
Unfortunately, the setting is as vague as before. The opening text indicates that 'Many millennia have passed since the fall of the old age'. Okay, so does the old age refer to when human civilization was in flower? And if that was a thousand years ago as the first game declared, does that that mean Zwei is set so many thousand years since?
We are then told that people are living in terror of a weapon created from gene reconstruction and it's use is robbing the humans of their strength. Okay so is this the cyber genetic warfare that was mentioned in the first game? Did it replace the Tower? Is in any related to the Tower?
And speaking of the Tower it is then revealed that other nations are following the humans' lead and digging up ancient weapons to fight wars. Okay seriously, who are these 'Other Nations'? Are they humans? If they are populated by humans why are they fighting the....well... other humans?
But again, none of these questions matter because, once again, when the game gets underway, more questions arise. Why does this place hate dragons and kill them on sight? I can understand that different places may have different perceptions but the Dragons and humans were getting along so well in the last game. And for that matter, how did the PC get Lagi (the Dragon) out of the village? Someone would've surely noticed a dragon of that size. Who destroyed the village? Why did they destroy the village? Who is this Empire? Are they connected to the 'humans'? Who is the Mecchania? Why are they after the ship?
And then there's the ending: ......I.....um....what? It was abrupt, bizarre and confusing - as if my head wasn't already loaded with enough questions. Once again however it does give the indication that the story the makers had wasn't the kind that could fit onto a single CD.
Confusion aside, the world that Panzer Dragoon and Panzer Dragoon Zwei clearly had potential. Potential that could not be confided to a singular game on a singular disc. hence we got sequels in the form of Saga and Orta. Indeed, it should be noted that Orta came with it's own encyclopedia resolving many of the questions inspired by this game series.
Still, none of these questions were actually resolved in-game - like how questions relating to the game should be. I can understand Saga going out it's way to resolve such issues but that game remains, alas, out of reach.....
Monday, October 16, 2017
Got lost on the way to Teotihuacan
You gotta admire the architecture in ESO. Here's something that truly stood out for me:
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Closing up shop
The major piece of news that has been going around this week is the announcement that Nintendo will be shutting down the Wii Shop Channel. The proposed date for this will be January 30th 2019.
Until then, items already available can be purchased and downloaded until March 29 2018.
In a word: Disappointing. I purchased my Wii pretty much for the Virtual Console and I swear I spent more hours on the games I got off the Virtual Console than i did for regular Wii games. This is largely because the games in question are timeless and still hold up in today's environment - but that isn't the type of attitude that Nintendo will take kindly to. But this announcement seems like the ultimate act of revenge: The Virtual Console has yet to appear on any of the Wii's successors and many of the games currently on the Wii Store are unavailable anywhere else.
This could largely be laid at the feet of Nintendo having no idea how to handle downloading services but I can't help but think if this is a harbinger of things to come. While it's great we have the likes of XBLA, the PlayStation Store, Steam and GoG, one can only imagine how long they will last before the servers keeping them going breaks down completely and such wonderful and trailblazing games are lost forever.....
Until then, items already available can be purchased and downloaded until March 29 2018.
In a word: Disappointing. I purchased my Wii pretty much for the Virtual Console and I swear I spent more hours on the games I got off the Virtual Console than i did for regular Wii games. This is largely because the games in question are timeless and still hold up in today's environment - but that isn't the type of attitude that Nintendo will take kindly to. But this announcement seems like the ultimate act of revenge: The Virtual Console has yet to appear on any of the Wii's successors and many of the games currently on the Wii Store are unavailable anywhere else.
This could largely be laid at the feet of Nintendo having no idea how to handle downloading services but I can't help but think if this is a harbinger of things to come. While it's great we have the likes of XBLA, the PlayStation Store, Steam and GoG, one can only imagine how long they will last before the servers keeping them going breaks down completely and such wonderful and trailblazing games are lost forever.....
Monday, October 2, 2017
Back in the Saddle
So this has been doing the rounds recently:
It's the first real taster we've been given of this game. And, unsurprisingly, the rumor mill is in full flight. Is that guy towards the end Dutch? Is that guy in front of the burning building Bill? Who is this Arthur Morgan? Is he the PC? And where is John in all of this?
I, however, am having my reservations: Aside from the fact that this is too early to call and speculation can only last until the game is, y'know, actually released,the thing is that this game looks to be well and truly a prequel. And the only problem with prequels, is you know how it's going to end. It doesn't matter how big a role Jon, Dutch, Bill and Javier will play in this new game because, as we all know, they will appear in the RDR1. And if Arthur Morgan is indeed a previously unnamed member of this outlaw gang, then somehow his fate is already sealed.
Still, for the moment, call me curious....
Original video located here. Accessed 2nd October 2017
It's the first real taster we've been given of this game. And, unsurprisingly, the rumor mill is in full flight. Is that guy towards the end Dutch? Is that guy in front of the burning building Bill? Who is this Arthur Morgan? Is he the PC? And where is John in all of this?
I, however, am having my reservations: Aside from the fact that this is too early to call and speculation can only last until the game is, y'know, actually released,the thing is that this game looks to be well and truly a prequel. And the only problem with prequels, is you know how it's going to end. It doesn't matter how big a role Jon, Dutch, Bill and Javier will play in this new game because, as we all know, they will appear in the RDR1. And if Arthur Morgan is indeed a previously unnamed member of this outlaw gang, then somehow his fate is already sealed.
Still, for the moment, call me curious....
Friday, September 29, 2017
Leagues ahead
Earlier this week, I got talked into having a shot at League of Legends.
This is not unfamiliar territory for me however: I have played the original Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft 3, thus giving me a fair idea what to expect and how the game works. I was also aware of the extreme popularity of the game but it didn't bother me too much.
And as it turns out, I had some fun with this game. Sure there were some frustrating moments with both my inability to take out enemy heroes and me constantly getting curb-stomped by said heroes, but once I got the hang of the game there were some moments of gold. I felt the satisfaction of every progressive step towards the enemy base. I relished each moment when everything went in my team's direction. And I felt the satisfaction of a hard-fought victory.
And suddenly the wide popularity of this game makes a whole lotta sense.
I don't see myself becoming regular player of this however: It all hinges on whether my compatriots can find the time to spare. But still, it's always there.....
This is not unfamiliar territory for me however: I have played the original Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft 3, thus giving me a fair idea what to expect and how the game works. I was also aware of the extreme popularity of the game but it didn't bother me too much.
And as it turns out, I had some fun with this game. Sure there were some frustrating moments with both my inability to take out enemy heroes and me constantly getting curb-stomped by said heroes, but once I got the hang of the game there were some moments of gold. I felt the satisfaction of every progressive step towards the enemy base. I relished each moment when everything went in my team's direction. And I felt the satisfaction of a hard-fought victory.
And suddenly the wide popularity of this game makes a whole lotta sense.
I don't see myself becoming regular player of this however: It all hinges on whether my compatriots can find the time to spare. But still, it's always there.....
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Can you hear the lambs Clarice?
Another game has been struck down from my Hall of Shame. Clean out your desk Nights Into Dreams - you're outta here!
And thus ends a journey that has been twenty-one years in the making. I still remember seeing the trailer for this game in a store and being really excited about it, what with me being a Segafanboy sympathizer. But it is only now, when Sega's heyday as a hardware manufacturer is long gone that I'm able to play Nights Into Dreams - on the XBLA. Irony eh?
Of course, I'm not playing the Saturn version: I'm playing the HD enhanced version. I could play the original version by why would I want to do that?
Okay, sarcasm aside, this game would still have to rank as one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. And the HD Enhancement does just that: Enhances the graphics into one of the most brightest and most colorful games around. Indeed it certainly shows up a lot of modern games - and this was a game released in a the middle of a decade people tend to look back on as being full of grittiness and edginess.
I remember one of the first reviews I saw of this game the reviewer noted that the game looked like it been made by a graphics department who'd had too much red cordial - can't say I disagree.
The music is also a treat too.
Now that we have the aesthetics out of the way, how does the gameplay come across?
I like what this game was trying to do, with it's flight mechanic but the prospect of flying is hindered by the knowledge that what the player is ultimately doing is flying along a fixed path. Sure there are alternate paths but they don't seem that different. And there's no denying that the game is short - but the difficulty makes up for it. For therein lies the challenge of reaching the 'A' rating - a challenge that, naturally, seems difficult in getting. And I will admit that i was putting a lot of hard effort in only to get anything but an 'A' - to a point where I was starting to take it personally.
One interesting observation is that, given how there is a loud call for more female representation in gaming, I actually found Claris' dream easier than Elliot's dream. True: I breezed through Clari's levels and got some high scores but Elliot's dreams were more tricky and more demanding to get higher scores - so much so, I was baffled that i did really well only to get hit with a lowly 'C' grade.
So what, playing the female character means an easier time? Clearly this game was thinking way ahead of it's time.
But at the end of the day, this game had a lot of charm and I liked it a lot. It has great ideas, great art direction and the HD enhancement really help the game. It may have been a diamond in the rough when it was first released but, when compared to a lot of it's Saturn stablemates, Nights Into Dreams is a game that truly comes across like it was made with heart and a passion to be the best game the makers could produce.
And HD enhancement gives Nights Into Dreams the greatness originally worthy of it.
Original image located here. Accessed 27th September 2017
And thus ends a journey that has been twenty-one years in the making. I still remember seeing the trailer for this game in a store and being really excited about it, what with me being a Sega
Of course, I'm not playing the Saturn version: I'm playing the HD enhanced version. I could play the original version by why would I want to do that?
Okay, sarcasm aside, this game would still have to rank as one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. And the HD Enhancement does just that: Enhances the graphics into one of the most brightest and most colorful games around. Indeed it certainly shows up a lot of modern games - and this was a game released in a the middle of a decade people tend to look back on as being full of grittiness and edginess.
I remember one of the first reviews I saw of this game the reviewer noted that the game looked like it been made by a graphics department who'd had too much red cordial - can't say I disagree.
The music is also a treat too.
Now that we have the aesthetics out of the way, how does the gameplay come across?
I like what this game was trying to do, with it's flight mechanic but the prospect of flying is hindered by the knowledge that what the player is ultimately doing is flying along a fixed path. Sure there are alternate paths but they don't seem that different. And there's no denying that the game is short - but the difficulty makes up for it. For therein lies the challenge of reaching the 'A' rating - a challenge that, naturally, seems difficult in getting. And I will admit that i was putting a lot of hard effort in only to get anything but an 'A' - to a point where I was starting to take it personally.
One interesting observation is that, given how there is a loud call for more female representation in gaming, I actually found Claris' dream easier than Elliot's dream. True: I breezed through Clari's levels and got some high scores but Elliot's dreams were more tricky and more demanding to get higher scores - so much so, I was baffled that i did really well only to get hit with a lowly 'C' grade.
So what, playing the female character means an easier time? Clearly this game was thinking way ahead of it's time.
But at the end of the day, this game had a lot of charm and I liked it a lot. It has great ideas, great art direction and the HD enhancement really help the game. It may have been a diamond in the rough when it was first released but, when compared to a lot of it's Saturn stablemates, Nights Into Dreams is a game that truly comes across like it was made with heart and a passion to be the best game the makers could produce.
And HD enhancement gives Nights Into Dreams the greatness originally worthy of it.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Red Dead Redemption
And another game has been cast down from my Hall of Shame. Goodbye Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: the Sith Lords!
This is a difficult game to assess: largely because so much has already been said about it: The dramas this game had during development, the cut content that were eventually restored via the Steam release, the gamers who have given this game a frosty reputation gamers and have since warmed up to, the challenges this game has put to the Star Wars universe, the philosophizing present within a series not known for its subtlety.
I however played this game off of Steam and it’s through the lens of seeing a broken game restored that I have viewed this game.
And I saw a complete game. Okay, sure the ending may have been a bit abrupt but seeing how much effort has gone into restoring the lost content and how it has been applied into the original game, it is difficult to imagine how the originally released game went without it.
The game I played certainly looked complete. It had a clear beginning, middle and end. There were interesting characters, solid writing and depth that was unusual for Star Wars. It may seem like a re-tread of the first game in some ways but there was enough new content and the provision of a much different perspective that this game succeeds as a sequel.
Other than that, there isn’t a lot else I can say about this game: The characters are all well-written and memorable (favourites being Visas and HK-47), the writing is top-notch, and it’s a lot fun to play. Funny how games can be seen in a much different light given the passage of time and the meddling of modders. A fresh perspective on Star Wars that is lost following Disney’s ditching of the Expanded Universe? Sadly yes. Better than the sequel? You know I think it may well be.
It’s just a shame that the series ended here and sequel hasn’t been seen beyond the MMORPG.
One question though: Considering that I completed the game on the Light Side path, does that mean that The Exile can now be Force buddies with Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Anakin Skywalker? (sure they will all come much later but still….)
Original image located here. Accessed 22nd September 2017
This is a difficult game to assess: largely because so much has already been said about it: The dramas this game had during development, the cut content that were eventually restored via the Steam release, the gamers who have given this game a frosty reputation gamers and have since warmed up to, the challenges this game has put to the Star Wars universe, the philosophizing present within a series not known for its subtlety.
I however played this game off of Steam and it’s through the lens of seeing a broken game restored that I have viewed this game.
And I saw a complete game. Okay, sure the ending may have been a bit abrupt but seeing how much effort has gone into restoring the lost content and how it has been applied into the original game, it is difficult to imagine how the originally released game went without it.
The game I played certainly looked complete. It had a clear beginning, middle and end. There were interesting characters, solid writing and depth that was unusual for Star Wars. It may seem like a re-tread of the first game in some ways but there was enough new content and the provision of a much different perspective that this game succeeds as a sequel.
Other than that, there isn’t a lot else I can say about this game: The characters are all well-written and memorable (favourites being Visas and HK-47), the writing is top-notch, and it’s a lot fun to play. Funny how games can be seen in a much different light given the passage of time and the meddling of modders. A fresh perspective on Star Wars that is lost following Disney’s ditching of the Expanded Universe? Sadly yes. Better than the sequel? You know I think it may well be.
It’s just a shame that the series ended here and sequel hasn’t been seen beyond the MMORPG.
One question though: Considering that I completed the game on the Light Side path, does that mean that The Exile can now be Force buddies with Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Anakin Skywalker? (sure they will all come much later but still….)
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Last Exile
Lately I've been playing a lot of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: the Sith Lords.
And this is who I have for the Exile:
Granted this game may be a product of it's time but I find it odd that the players has to choose their player from a selection of pre-made faces. Taking into account the extraordinary range of customization options that proliferate in gaming today, it thus becomes hard for the player to come up with something unique - and not something that many other people would've done already.
Okay sure, Jade Empire did the same thing with pre-made characters but considering the setting of that game, you'd want a character that fits right in - something that will, naturally, go against the nature of customization - not to mention the tendency to challenge the rules that gamers tend to do.
That being said, this may not be the first Exile of colour in the history of the Sith lords but it;s one I've chosen. Why? I felt it was something different. Yes this may all seem contradictory so let me explain: One common complaint I've heard about Star Wars, or at least the original trilogy, is it's short on female characters and black characters - indeed, one gets the feeling that Rey and Finn in the Force Awakens was an attempt to address this.
So why not have a black Jedi? Why not have a person of color heading a group of misfits and cruise around in the Ebon Hawk, having adventures in the galaxy? Why not have a Jedi of colour who has significance that it makes the Jedi Council worried?
Why not have a person of color being the one in charge?
I mean, Star Trek (DS9) did it....
And this is who I have for the Exile:
Granted this game may be a product of it's time but I find it odd that the players has to choose their player from a selection of pre-made faces. Taking into account the extraordinary range of customization options that proliferate in gaming today, it thus becomes hard for the player to come up with something unique - and not something that many other people would've done already.
Okay sure, Jade Empire did the same thing with pre-made characters but considering the setting of that game, you'd want a character that fits right in - something that will, naturally, go against the nature of customization - not to mention the tendency to challenge the rules that gamers tend to do.
That being said, this may not be the first Exile of colour in the history of the Sith lords but it;s one I've chosen. Why? I felt it was something different. Yes this may all seem contradictory so let me explain: One common complaint I've heard about Star Wars, or at least the original trilogy, is it's short on female characters and black characters - indeed, one gets the feeling that Rey and Finn in the Force Awakens was an attempt to address this.
So why not have a black Jedi? Why not have a person of color heading a group of misfits and cruise around in the Ebon Hawk, having adventures in the galaxy? Why not have a Jedi of colour who has significance that it makes the Jedi Council worried?
Why not have a person of color being the one in charge?
I mean, Star Trek (DS9) did it....
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Wolf pack
Recently it was announced that Okami will be getting a HD remake on the PS4 and the Xbone.
And this certainly raised an eyebrow on my end: i enjoyed Okami a lot when i played it and the prospect of a HD remake is certainly appealing. So could this be the one? The moment where I will be swayed back to the console race? The game that is enough to convince me to give consoles another go and splurge out on an eighth generation console?
Oh wait, Okami HD is also coming to the PC
Oh well, never mind then
And this certainly raised an eyebrow on my end: i enjoyed Okami a lot when i played it and the prospect of a HD remake is certainly appealing. So could this be the one? The moment where I will be swayed back to the console race? The game that is enough to convince me to give consoles another go and splurge out on an eighth generation console?
Oh wait, Okami HD is also coming to the PC
Oh well, never mind then
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Wrapping up
Recently I was informed that Raptr will be closing up at the end of this month.
So I thought I might take the time to reflect on this app as a regular user.
I first encountered Raptr in 2012 when a friend told me about it. And I took to it readily, delighted that there was this app that allowed me, a gamer, to record all my gaming times. It allowed me to add all my games in my collection and to enter the hours spent on them, regardless of system or era.
Indeed, it was important for me that this was something that provided a record. I had so many games that was important to see how much time I had spent on them, in relation to each other, and also call attention to other games that may have slipped my notice - indeed, there's something to be said to see a game that had been neglected for so long, race up the ranks.
Most importantly for me was, again, the record. I can't stress this enough: As the passage of time renders obsolete media, like optical discs and console memory cards, completely unusable, it was refreshing to know that I had such historical information preserved.
Granted this may not be what the makers of Raptr wanted (I cringe at the thought of them making the first rank of pre-2000 games at twenty hours) but for me it filled a vital need.
Later on, Raptr moved away from the console field., This was a disappointment on my end as I enjoyed having so many platforms under the one umbrella. Granted the consoles of now may have their own game/achievement tracking device but it is disappointing they can't...well...mix. One can't underestimate the importance of having everything within easy reach and easily comparable (after all isn't that the main driving force of the technological advanced times we live in?).
Losing the consoles to me, however, was the turning point with Raptor and myself: Sure it was nice to record everything I played on Steam and GoG Galaxy but without console input, it was never the same.
And now Raptr is pulling up stumps and calling quits. It is disappointing that my record is now obsolete. Sure I have Steam keeping track of my game time but over a decade's worth of gaming has been effectively erased. Sure it exists as a file on my computer's hard drive, but somehow it doesn't seem the same.
Raptr may have failed to keep up with the times but for me it represented something that is not often thought of in the gaming community: An archive. The original idea may have been strong enough for the major companies to take notice but without an app representing, well, everything it doesn't seem the same.
So here's to you Raptr you magnificent archive you.
Hopefully something comes along that fulfills the niche you pioneered.
So I thought I might take the time to reflect on this app as a regular user.
I first encountered Raptr in 2012 when a friend told me about it. And I took to it readily, delighted that there was this app that allowed me, a gamer, to record all my gaming times. It allowed me to add all my games in my collection and to enter the hours spent on them, regardless of system or era.
Indeed, it was important for me that this was something that provided a record. I had so many games that was important to see how much time I had spent on them, in relation to each other, and also call attention to other games that may have slipped my notice - indeed, there's something to be said to see a game that had been neglected for so long, race up the ranks.
Most importantly for me was, again, the record. I can't stress this enough: As the passage of time renders obsolete media, like optical discs and console memory cards, completely unusable, it was refreshing to know that I had such historical information preserved.
Granted this may not be what the makers of Raptr wanted (I cringe at the thought of them making the first rank of pre-2000 games at twenty hours) but for me it filled a vital need.
Later on, Raptr moved away from the console field., This was a disappointment on my end as I enjoyed having so many platforms under the one umbrella. Granted the consoles of now may have their own game/achievement tracking device but it is disappointing they can't...well...mix. One can't underestimate the importance of having everything within easy reach and easily comparable (after all isn't that the main driving force of the technological advanced times we live in?).
Losing the consoles to me, however, was the turning point with Raptor and myself: Sure it was nice to record everything I played on Steam and GoG Galaxy but without console input, it was never the same.
And now Raptr is pulling up stumps and calling quits. It is disappointing that my record is now obsolete. Sure I have Steam keeping track of my game time but over a decade's worth of gaming has been effectively erased. Sure it exists as a file on my computer's hard drive, but somehow it doesn't seem the same.
Raptr may have failed to keep up with the times but for me it represented something that is not often thought of in the gaming community: An archive. The original idea may have been strong enough for the major companies to take notice but without an app representing, well, everything it doesn't seem the same.
So here's to you Raptr you magnificent archive you.
Hopefully something comes along that fulfills the niche you pioneered.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
The Handmaiden's Tale
Her facial expression says it all:
Damn Hutts.....
(note the light saber in her hand....)
Damn Hutts.....
(note the light saber in her hand....)
Friday, August 25, 2017
The Wrong Man For the Job
Screw an Obi-wan Kenobi movie, I want a Darth Revan movie :(
And make it a female Darth Revan while you're at it.
And admit it: You want one too
(Search your feelings, you know it to be true)
And make it a female Darth Revan while you're at it.
And admit it: You want one too
(Search your feelings, you know it to be true)
Friday, August 18, 2017
Friday, August 11, 2017
Conquered
For the first time in a long time, another game has been struck down from my Hall of Shame. Goodbye Conquests of the Longbow: the Legend of Robin Hood!
It has certainly been a long time since I knocked one off from my Hall of Shame. Why, here we are, eight months into 2017 and here's the first one!
But no matter: This is one of the lesser known titles from Sierra's stable of adventure games. So it being a Sierra game, one kind of expects to see a mixture of good and bad. I certainly got the good - the gorgeous settings - and the bad - arcade sections that were crow-barred in - in equal amounts.
However the real strength of this game is in the writing - yes the writing is the lifeblood of adventure games but I understand what this game was trying to do: It was taking a legendary character and mythos and placing it within a realistic setting: The characters talk and act like people of the era and the plot of King Richard the Lionheart being held hostage by Leopold of Austria is historical fact. Indeed, this game is well-researched and it shows - and is all the better for it. True Robin Hood may be a combination of legend and historical figures but it see the legend with such historical accuracy behind it is a welcome change to say the least. Why, the manual lists a bibliography and clearly states what the makers of it were aiming for.
I also like how this game offers something new with a oft-used mythos. Sure we have the usual tropes - Robin's usage of disguises, helping out the poor and the scenario of showing up the Sheriff in an archery tournament - but it does it's own spin: Marion doubles as a Druid priestess, Friar Tuck goes against tradition of being a jolly figure and fond of rich living, and there is certainly an emphasis on druidism that, as far as I know, has been barely touched on in the Robin Hood mythos.
So in terms of providing a unique and historical accurate spin on Robin Hood this game is indeed a success.
Sadly this was the second and last game for the Conquest series. Which is a shame because series creator, Christy Marx, recently revealed she planned to do a third game but it was to be based on Charlemagne - a real person as opposed to Robin Hood or King Arthur (the basis for the first Conquest game). And seeing I enjoyed this game, I am only left with what could've been.....
Original image located here. Accessed 11th August 2017
It has certainly been a long time since I knocked one off from my Hall of Shame. Why, here we are, eight months into 2017 and here's the first one!
But no matter: This is one of the lesser known titles from Sierra's stable of adventure games. So it being a Sierra game, one kind of expects to see a mixture of good and bad. I certainly got the good - the gorgeous settings - and the bad - arcade sections that were crow-barred in - in equal amounts.
However the real strength of this game is in the writing - yes the writing is the lifeblood of adventure games but I understand what this game was trying to do: It was taking a legendary character and mythos and placing it within a realistic setting: The characters talk and act like people of the era and the plot of King Richard the Lionheart being held hostage by Leopold of Austria is historical fact. Indeed, this game is well-researched and it shows - and is all the better for it. True Robin Hood may be a combination of legend and historical figures but it see the legend with such historical accuracy behind it is a welcome change to say the least. Why, the manual lists a bibliography and clearly states what the makers of it were aiming for.
I also like how this game offers something new with a oft-used mythos. Sure we have the usual tropes - Robin's usage of disguises, helping out the poor and the scenario of showing up the Sheriff in an archery tournament - but it does it's own spin: Marion doubles as a Druid priestess, Friar Tuck goes against tradition of being a jolly figure and fond of rich living, and there is certainly an emphasis on druidism that, as far as I know, has been barely touched on in the Robin Hood mythos.
So in terms of providing a unique and historical accurate spin on Robin Hood this game is indeed a success.
Sadly this was the second and last game for the Conquest series. Which is a shame because series creator, Christy Marx, recently revealed she planned to do a third game but it was to be based on Charlemagne - a real person as opposed to Robin Hood or King Arthur (the basis for the first Conquest game). And seeing I enjoyed this game, I am only left with what could've been.....
Friday, July 7, 2017
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Monday, July 3, 2017
The SNES Strikes Back
The biggest news to emerge recently is that of the Super NES Classic. A rehash of the SNES with a wealth of classic titles built in. Namely:
Well yes but there's little point as this damn thing will most likely sell like crazy XD
Contra III: The Alien WarsIt's an impressive list to be sure but nearly all of these games I have on the Wii Virtual Console. That raises he question: Beyond, Yoshi's Island 2, Earthbound and Star Fox 2, is there any reaosn to get this?
Donkey Kong Country
EarthBound
Final Fantasy III
F-ZERO
Kirby Super Star
Kirby's Dream Course
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Mega Man X
Secret of Mana
Star Fox
Star Fox 2
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
Super Castlevania IV
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Super Punch-Out!!
Yoshi's Island
Well yes but there's little point as this damn thing will most likely sell like crazy XD
Friday, June 23, 2017
A Shadow of Colossal greatness.
Recently it was announced that a new version of Shadow of the Colossus will be coming to the PS4 as a remake.
What interests me however is that this is the first we have heard from Team Ico (or what's left of it) since The Last Guardian. Considering the delays and dramas that went into The Last Guardian's development and the lukewarm reception it received, one would think that relations would become frosty with Sony and Team Ico. And that appears to be the case with the newest release from Team Ico would be in the form of a revamp of it's greatest success.
It's a worrying sign and a legitimate concern that the genius and vision of Team Ico has now hit a wall. Granted no one can keep such talent going for so long (the prolonged development of The Last Guardian being one such example) but it is unfortunate that the generate perception of Team Ico's output is a truly great game, an experiment and a flop (so to speak).
Needless to say, it will be interesting see what comes next out of Fumito Ueda's imagination - provided that particular well hasn't run dry.
What interests me however is that this is the first we have heard from Team Ico (or what's left of it) since The Last Guardian. Considering the delays and dramas that went into The Last Guardian's development and the lukewarm reception it received, one would think that relations would become frosty with Sony and Team Ico. And that appears to be the case with the newest release from Team Ico would be in the form of a revamp of it's greatest success.
It's a worrying sign and a legitimate concern that the genius and vision of Team Ico has now hit a wall. Granted no one can keep such talent going for so long (the prolonged development of The Last Guardian being one such example) but it is unfortunate that the generate perception of Team Ico's output is a truly great game, an experiment and a flop (so to speak).
Needless to say, it will be interesting see what comes next out of Fumito Ueda's imagination - provided that particular well hasn't run dry.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
More Xbox than Atari
In one of the most head-scratching, baffling decisions announced recently, Atari has declared it's intention to re-enter the console market with a new console under it's name.
A strange decision to say the least seeing that a) Atari have been out of the console race for over twenty years, b) they have been rebuilding as a mobile game developer and c) they pretty much started the whole console crash in the mid-eighties.
This may be easily dismissed as a case of 'Your mouth is writing a check that the rest of your body can't cash' but a fourth horse in the console race? Why not? We haven't seen that since the sixth generation so why not release a cat among the pigeons to shake things up a bit? The Steam box has more or less been a failure so why not?
I mean it may lead to another Great Gaming Crash but hey, gotta ditch the dead wood....
A strange decision to say the least seeing that a) Atari have been out of the console race for over twenty years, b) they have been rebuilding as a mobile game developer and c) they pretty much started the whole console crash in the mid-eighties.
This may be easily dismissed as a case of 'Your mouth is writing a check that the rest of your body can't cash' but a fourth horse in the console race? Why not? We haven't seen that since the sixth generation so why not release a cat among the pigeons to shake things up a bit? The Steam box has more or less been a failure so why not?
I mean it may lead to another Great Gaming Crash but hey, gotta ditch the dead wood....
Monday, June 19, 2017
Boxed up
So the Xbox Scorpio now has an official name: Behold the Xbox Box One X!
Just when you thought Microsoft couldn't come up with a dumber name than Xbox One. Or lazier name.
Okay sure the first letters of the words making up this new name all spell out Xbox but that is even more lazy. Are those in Microsoft marketing department are feeling resentful? Or have too much money?
And to think that I once thought the title of 'Scorpio' had some degree of allure...
Just when you thought Microsoft couldn't come up with a dumber name than Xbox One. Or lazier name.
Okay sure the first letters of the words making up this new name all spell out Xbox but that is even more lazy. Are those in Microsoft marketing department are feeling resentful? Or have too much money?
And to think that I once thought the title of 'Scorpio' had some degree of allure...
Monday, June 12, 2017
Go fish
Out of all the hours I have invested in ESO, this line of dialogue has to rank as the funniest I have ever seen:
Friday, June 9, 2017
The Right Combination
This came up as an ad for Steam sales.
Could be a wild guess but i think this placement may have been intentional.
Could be a wild guess but i think this placement may have been intentional.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Where are my dragons?
Here's a blast from the past: Dragonstone. It was an Amiga game that came out in 1994.
I didn't have the full game but I did play a demo of the first level (Woodlands) a lot back in the day - hey, when your system is being phased out and you find yourself short on actual games what else are you going to do?
Looking at the gameplay of this game, it's quite clear the makers of Dragonstone were going for something along the lines of a Zelda clone. of course, this was meaningless to me as a teenager as Zelda would come much later on. But, I want to call attention to two things in the playthrough.
Firstly, the pixel art is simply stunning. I will forever maintain that the 16-bit area produced some beautiful graphics that have aged surprisingly well and this game certainly makes a case for it.
Secondly, this game always struck me as being set on a remarkably small scale. You see, prior to this the RPGs I played usually required me, the player, to defeat some huge Big Bad and involved traveling through to a wide variety of diverse locales with a whole bunch of NPCs to encounter along the way. Not so with this one: based on the Woodlands level alone one gets the feeling the this game is a very isolated experience. You start in a forest as opposed to some village, there are are only two NPCs in the entire area (with the first being both in the middle of nowhere and not immediately apparent) and there is no music, only basic sound effects. All of these make for a very atmospheric experience and proof of the adage that Less is More.
Watching the play through itself, the idea that this is a smaller scale RPG is enforced with the locales themselves: They seem rather limited. We see Woodlands, a Village, a Mountain, a Port Town and finally the Dragon Isle. The small number of locales is fascinating to me: If this is representation of the game's world it's a small one. Does that mean that something bigger is happening out of the view of the player?
It may sound odd but I like this formula of 'small scale adventure with isolationist mood and something bigger may be happening elsewhere'. Wish more people would use it in this modern age.
Original video located here. Accessed 7th June 2017
I didn't have the full game but I did play a demo of the first level (Woodlands) a lot back in the day - hey, when your system is being phased out and you find yourself short on actual games what else are you going to do?
Looking at the gameplay of this game, it's quite clear the makers of Dragonstone were going for something along the lines of a Zelda clone. of course, this was meaningless to me as a teenager as Zelda would come much later on. But, I want to call attention to two things in the playthrough.
Firstly, the pixel art is simply stunning. I will forever maintain that the 16-bit area produced some beautiful graphics that have aged surprisingly well and this game certainly makes a case for it.
Secondly, this game always struck me as being set on a remarkably small scale. You see, prior to this the RPGs I played usually required me, the player, to defeat some huge Big Bad and involved traveling through to a wide variety of diverse locales with a whole bunch of NPCs to encounter along the way. Not so with this one: based on the Woodlands level alone one gets the feeling the this game is a very isolated experience. You start in a forest as opposed to some village, there are are only two NPCs in the entire area (with the first being both in the middle of nowhere and not immediately apparent) and there is no music, only basic sound effects. All of these make for a very atmospheric experience and proof of the adage that Less is More.
Watching the play through itself, the idea that this is a smaller scale RPG is enforced with the locales themselves: They seem rather limited. We see Woodlands, a Village, a Mountain, a Port Town and finally the Dragon Isle. The small number of locales is fascinating to me: If this is representation of the game's world it's a small one. Does that mean that something bigger is happening out of the view of the player?
It may sound odd but I like this formula of 'small scale adventure with isolationist mood and something bigger may be happening elsewhere'. Wish more people would use it in this modern age.
Friday, June 2, 2017
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
End of PS3
Big news: Sony has finally ceased production of the PS3 with the finally one being rolled out of the assembly line.
I personally have never bothered with the PS3: I am still nursing the wounds of betrayal when they said there would be no backwards compatibility - leaving those with PS2 and PS1 games up a certain creek without a paddle.
To be honest, I am a bit of a loss as to what to make of the path that PlayStation is forging from the PS2. I wasn't that keen on the PS3 (get past the reasons mentioned above and my interest starts looking fragile) and nothing from the PS4 has yet to grab my interest. Still, you never know....
I personally have never bothered with the PS3: I am still nursing the wounds of betrayal when they said there would be no backwards compatibility - leaving those with PS2 and PS1 games up a certain creek without a paddle.
To be honest, I am a bit of a loss as to what to make of the path that PlayStation is forging from the PS2. I wasn't that keen on the PS3 (get past the reasons mentioned above and my interest starts looking fragile) and nothing from the PS4 has yet to grab my interest. Still, you never know....
Monday, May 22, 2017
Friday, May 19, 2017
Strafed
Let's talk about Strafe for a moment.
Well it's here upon us. After a crowd-funding campaign and an advertising campaign we finally have it. And what do you know? It's getting a lot of bad press, what with glitches, stupid AI, restricting environments and presenting something different from the original promise. The latter in particular: It seems that when the trailer offered something along the lines of Doom or Quake, the finished product was more akin to a roguelike.
Not a good selling point eh?
Personally, looking back at the (in)famous advertising campaign, it seems more laughable than provocative. And therein lies the point where my interest dies down: Considering how much trouble the makers of this game, Bleeding Edge, went to with the adverting campaign, one can't help but feel that they put more effort into it than the actual game.
Personally, as someone who spent much of their teen years in the nineties, I am questioning whether Bleeding Edge really speak from experience. Did they really play the right games? Or are they selling a fantasy? You see, I can safely say that, back in 1996, whilst there was some strong interest in Doom and Quake, they weren't THE game. You know what I'm talking about: THE game that everyone had, and everyone was falling over themselves to get a hold of and play to death.
No, back in 1996, THE game was this:
Well it's here upon us. After a crowd-funding campaign and an advertising campaign we finally have it. And what do you know? It's getting a lot of bad press, what with glitches, stupid AI, restricting environments and presenting something different from the original promise. The latter in particular: It seems that when the trailer offered something along the lines of Doom or Quake, the finished product was more akin to a roguelike.
Not a good selling point eh?
Personally, looking back at the (in)famous advertising campaign, it seems more laughable than provocative. And therein lies the point where my interest dies down: Considering how much trouble the makers of this game, Bleeding Edge, went to with the adverting campaign, one can't help but feel that they put more effort into it than the actual game.
Personally, as someone who spent much of their teen years in the nineties, I am questioning whether Bleeding Edge really speak from experience. Did they really play the right games? Or are they selling a fantasy? You see, I can safely say that, back in 1996, whilst there was some strong interest in Doom and Quake, they weren't THE game. You know what I'm talking about: THE game that everyone had, and everyone was falling over themselves to get a hold of and play to death.
No, back in 1996, THE game was this:
Original video located here. Accessed 19th May 2017
Monday, May 15, 2017
Friday, May 12, 2017
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
On Ice
Gotta love this death pose:
For some reason seeing those legs still standing, is something I find hilarious.
For some reason seeing those legs still standing, is something I find hilarious.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Friday, May 5, 2017
Friday, April 28, 2017
Trapped like a rat
In what must be a big surprise, Night trap is being revamped for a re-release in time for it's 25th anniversary.
Ummmmm.......why?
Much of Night Trap's reputation rests on the controversy it caused and how it had a hand in establishing the rating system for games. But, with the passage of time, one can only look back at the controversy with bewilderment: The game itself was a target of small-minded wowsers who never actually played the game and the game itself isn't really that provocative (Source). Compared to some of the stuff that modern games get away with, Night Trap pales in comparison.
One would think considering how much fuss was made of nothing, one would forget Night Trap and move on. But no.
And the game itself has a terrible reputation of not being that great: Get past the bad FMV and one could find not much in the way of gameplay and a reliance on trial and error - as was other FMV games of the era are wont to do.
One would think considering how lousy the game was, one would forget Night Trap and move on. But no.
And speaking of FMV games, one would accept that it was failed experiment, inspiring a laundry list of failures as a gaming format and should be disregarded as something that should never be attempted again - but somehow that seems unlikely given the recent success of Her Story and it's ability to prove that FMV games can work.
One would think considering the failure of FMV, one would forget Night Trap and move on. But no.
Really who is this game for? Is it a middle finger to the killjoys who just want to bitch about everything? Is it an exercise in 'let's point at this and laugh'?
Or is it a reason to deny a revamp to far more deserving games?
Ummmmm.......why?
Much of Night Trap's reputation rests on the controversy it caused and how it had a hand in establishing the rating system for games. But, with the passage of time, one can only look back at the controversy with bewilderment: The game itself was a target of small-minded wowsers who never actually played the game and the game itself isn't really that provocative (Source). Compared to some of the stuff that modern games get away with, Night Trap pales in comparison.
One would think considering how much fuss was made of nothing, one would forget Night Trap and move on. But no.
And the game itself has a terrible reputation of not being that great: Get past the bad FMV and one could find not much in the way of gameplay and a reliance on trial and error - as was other FMV games of the era are wont to do.
One would think considering how lousy the game was, one would forget Night Trap and move on. But no.
And speaking of FMV games, one would accept that it was failed experiment, inspiring a laundry list of failures as a gaming format and should be disregarded as something that should never be attempted again - but somehow that seems unlikely given the recent success of Her Story and it's ability to prove that FMV games can work.
One would think considering the failure of FMV, one would forget Night Trap and move on. But no.
Really who is this game for? Is it a middle finger to the killjoys who just want to bitch about everything? Is it an exercise in 'let's point at this and laugh'?
Or is it a reason to deny a revamp to far more deserving games?
Friday, April 14, 2017
Return to ESO
So I decided to return to ESO...
Not sure why though: the one character I've been using from the very beginning turned out to be a disappointment with me dying repeatedly using skills that proved to be anything but effective. But if you can rehash your skills (for a price) then maybe there's something in there worth exploring?
So I changed my skills set and also changed my character race (call it starting afresh in more ways than one). I planned out what skills I would need, with the intention of making my Dragon Knight into a tank. Why a tank? Well, they always seem so hard to kill....
So far, this change is proving successful: My character's deaths have decreased dramatically and the skills I have are proving quite effective. So maybe there is something in ESO to keep going with....
Not sure why though: the one character I've been using from the very beginning turned out to be a disappointment with me dying repeatedly using skills that proved to be anything but effective. But if you can rehash your skills (for a price) then maybe there's something in there worth exploring?
So I changed my skills set and also changed my character race (call it starting afresh in more ways than one). I planned out what skills I would need, with the intention of making my Dragon Knight into a tank. Why a tank? Well, they always seem so hard to kill....
So far, this change is proving successful: My character's deaths have decreased dramatically and the skills I have are proving quite effective. So maybe there is something in ESO to keep going with....
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Ein Hund
And now, further proof that obtaining any license doesn't mean jack:
Well that was missing the point of the movie by a loooooooooooooong shot.
Personally, I can see Reservoir Dogs working as a choice-based RPG but it would seem the devs of this thought otherwise.
A wasted opportunity if ever there was one.
Original video located here. Accessed 15th March 2017
Well that was missing the point of the movie by a loooooooooooooong shot.
Personally, I can see Reservoir Dogs working as a choice-based RPG but it would seem the devs of this thought otherwise.
A wasted opportunity if ever there was one.
Monday, March 13, 2017
30 years of Final Fantasy
This year sees thirty years of my favorite frenemy franchise, Final Fantasy (alliteration FTW!):
With regards to this video, it's interesting to note that Five is the one that shows some actual gameplay footage....
Still, for me the Final Fantasy series represents a strained relationship. Sometimes it strikes gold, other times it delivers crap. Sometimes it provides an engaging RPG experience, other times it seems more interested in the spectacle. Sometimes it has timeless classics that still hold up years later, other times it seems to be making the lightening strike again to the point of painful.
But in the end, for all the times Final Fantasy DID work, I can't hold those moments against it.
So here's to three decades, you magnificent bastard.
Original video located here. Accessed 13th March 2017
With regards to this video, it's interesting to note that Five is the one that shows some actual gameplay footage....
Still, for me the Final Fantasy series represents a strained relationship. Sometimes it strikes gold, other times it delivers crap. Sometimes it provides an engaging RPG experience, other times it seems more interested in the spectacle. Sometimes it has timeless classics that still hold up years later, other times it seems to be making the lightening strike again to the point of painful.
But in the end, for all the times Final Fantasy DID work, I can't hold those moments against it.
So here's to three decades, you magnificent bastard.
Friday, March 3, 2017
History lesson
Here's something that came to my attention recently: The Video Game History Foundation
This site was launched earlier this week and is dedicated to building a digital library made up of magazine scans, brochures, displays and much more.
Not much else to say except, that this a worthwhile cause and you should go and support it!
Go click on that link!
This site was launched earlier this week and is dedicated to building a digital library made up of magazine scans, brochures, displays and much more.
Not much else to say except, that this a worthwhile cause and you should go and support it!
Go click on that link!
Friday, February 24, 2017
Not steaming, just fuming
Come July, games distributed via Steam will face a 10% increase here in Australia. This is because of the Australian government's Goods and Service Tax.
As if games weren't already expensive enough here in Australia.
Really there isn't a lot i can say about this. It's a disappointment yes but considering Valve have made some bad moves in the past (getting chased down by the ACCC comes to mind), it's hard to paint them as the 'Good Guys' and the Australian Government as bullies.
Still at least there's always GoG....
As if games weren't already expensive enough here in Australia.
Really there isn't a lot i can say about this. It's a disappointment yes but considering Valve have made some bad moves in the past (getting chased down by the ACCC comes to mind), it's hard to paint them as the 'Good Guys' and the Australian Government as bullies.
Still at least there's always GoG....
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Hidden in the Summer for a million years
Earlier this week, some news of interest emerged for us Aussie's: For the first time in it's history, the Civilization series will have, for it's latest iteration (VI), Australia available as a playable faction.
It will be available as a Premium DLC but will feature advantages such as cities benefiting from coastal positioning, and the leader being John Curtin.
Well this is pleasing to me both as an Aussie and a fan of the civilization series. Nice to see some solid representation. And it might make people learn who John Curtin was - both here and overseas.
It will be available as a Premium DLC but will feature advantages such as cities benefiting from coastal positioning, and the leader being John Curtin.
Well this is pleasing to me both as an Aussie and a fan of the civilization series. Nice to see some solid representation. And it might make people learn who John Curtin was - both here and overseas.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Castlevania Right There on my TV
News has been circulating recently on how Castlevania will be made into a TV series with the producers behind it talking up how it will follow the gritty path set by Game of Thrones.
Well at least they're admitting they want a piece of that pie...
But seriously though, I have my doubts about this. Castlevania is, for me, a superb slice of gothic horror that, as a series, is played across different eras and generations of the Belmonts. It may seem presumptuous but the former will most likely be one this proposed TV series latches onto. Meaning that the 'generational' aspect may be left by the wyside.
Which is funny because Game of Thrones does the generational thing......
I mean I can see each episode having a different Belmont in a different era but I still don't still it working - even as i type it out.
Well at least they're admitting they want a piece of that pie...
But seriously though, I have my doubts about this. Castlevania is, for me, a superb slice of gothic horror that, as a series, is played across different eras and generations of the Belmonts. It may seem presumptuous but the former will most likely be one this proposed TV series latches onto. Meaning that the 'generational' aspect may be left by the wyside.
Which is funny because Game of Thrones does the generational thing......
I mean I can see each episode having a different Belmont in a different era but I still don't still it working - even as i type it out.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Return of Timezone
Here's something that came to my attention recently: Former arcade giant Timezone are announcing a comeback with plans to expand into shopping centres.
I remember Timezone being a big deal when I was a kid in the early nineties. It was a place where they had these real awesome games that I couldn't find anywhere else, somewhere I visited many times and a place where i blew many a dollar. Indeed, i have many fond memories about meeting people there and experiencing so many wonderful games.
Of course, that all seems irrelevant now, as the era of the arcade has long since passed. Sure it managed to bounce back from a previous potential collapse (saved only with the advent of Streetfighter 2), but the rise of the home entertainment, technical advancements and saved games kinda ended it for people.
The Timezone I knew from my childhood started was part of my local movie theater. Compared to other places it wasn't seedy and was more welcoming to all kinds of people. Then suddenly it changed it's name to NRG and then to Intensity, it's current name.
I remember Timezone as being packed, wall to wall, with arcade cabinets and little room for anything else. By contrast, I walk into Intensity now and it seems barren. Sure there's DDR but at the same time, there's some aging cabinets that haven't moved in twenty years, very few games from the past decade, and there seems a lot more open spaces. I've heard that arcades are still managing to live a surprisingly healthy existence overseas but you wouldn't think that down here. Hell, I've been to Galactic Circus in Melbourne and that seems to be doing amazingly well, despite the arcade being long-surpassed by the appeal of home gaming.
But it would seem that the Arcade's time has come (yet) again: Gaming has been recognized as a social activity thus presenting an opportunity worth seizing upon. And so Timezone announced a comeback: As indicated by the link above, they've opened up five new stores last year to enough success that expansion has been announced.
I doubt this thing will come to the backwater that Tasmania, but if it results in a large gaming complex loaded with all kinds of Arcade gaming then hell yes!
I remember Timezone being a big deal when I was a kid in the early nineties. It was a place where they had these real awesome games that I couldn't find anywhere else, somewhere I visited many times and a place where i blew many a dollar. Indeed, i have many fond memories about meeting people there and experiencing so many wonderful games.
Of course, that all seems irrelevant now, as the era of the arcade has long since passed. Sure it managed to bounce back from a previous potential collapse (saved only with the advent of Streetfighter 2), but the rise of the home entertainment, technical advancements and saved games kinda ended it for people.
The Timezone I knew from my childhood started was part of my local movie theater. Compared to other places it wasn't seedy and was more welcoming to all kinds of people. Then suddenly it changed it's name to NRG and then to Intensity, it's current name.
I remember Timezone as being packed, wall to wall, with arcade cabinets and little room for anything else. By contrast, I walk into Intensity now and it seems barren. Sure there's DDR but at the same time, there's some aging cabinets that haven't moved in twenty years, very few games from the past decade, and there seems a lot more open spaces. I've heard that arcades are still managing to live a surprisingly healthy existence overseas but you wouldn't think that down here. Hell, I've been to Galactic Circus in Melbourne and that seems to be doing amazingly well, despite the arcade being long-surpassed by the appeal of home gaming.
But it would seem that the Arcade's time has come (yet) again: Gaming has been recognized as a social activity thus presenting an opportunity worth seizing upon. And so Timezone announced a comeback: As indicated by the link above, they've opened up five new stores last year to enough success that expansion has been announced.
I doubt this thing will come to the backwater that Tasmania, but if it results in a large gaming complex loaded with all kinds of Arcade gaming then hell yes!
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
A Private Little War
One thing that caught my interest in recent weeks is the announcement that the classic Games Workshop tabletop game Necromunda will be turned into a game for the PC and console.
Well if you have Mordheim as a game then you may as well got the whole hog and do Necromunda as well...
As someone who was very interested in the Game Workshop in the mid-nineties, I have fond memories of Necromunda. There was something so satisfying about playing a game on a much smaller scale than that of FB or 40k. And was especially gratifying to see the fighters that made up your gang grow and evolve with each passing battle (and also very disheartening when they bit the dust). But unfortunately, the campaigns I played in tended to be short-lived - so I could never experience that feeling of taking a gang the whole way from inception to victory (or something).
Thus, having an adaption such as this would be a dream come true, right?
Well i have no idea if anyone in Rogue Factor will read this, so regardless, I offer my two cents on a potential Necromunda game. As far as I'm, concerned it need to have three things:
1) Squad based combat
First and foremost, the only way i can see this working if the makers of this game took the approach of squad-based combat popularized by Xcom.Unlike Mordheim, Necromunda always took an individualistic approach with the men (or women if you chose house Escher) under your control and you built a connection with your dudes, experiencing satisfaction when they did well and dismay when they were killed off - something that Xcom players would know all too well.
If i were to make a Necromunda game,. the first thing I would do is study the combat utilized in Xcom and understand why it worked so well (both in the original and the remake).
2) League system
Another game I would look at, for my hypothetical Necromunda game, is Worms - and in particular the league system. Now i will admit that I don't know how league systems have improved with two decades of gaming advancement, but the one in Worms will forever be my benchmark.
I liked how in Worms it came with it's own inbuilt league and a combination of computer controlled worm teams of varying ability. By playing against each team, one could get a sense of progression and build up genuine rivalries as well as see each worm progress and build a history - which is exactly the type of thing Necromunda offers.
3) Unique gangs
Can we have them please?
Seriously though, one of the more interesting things about Necromunda is that each of the gangs are unique with their own play style, skill-sets and weapons. And in some cases, particularly the Outlander gangs, their own rules. Granted such a scope may be tricky to implement in a game such as this but such an effort will not go unrecognized.
Oh and get the Enforcers while we're at it.
Well if you have Mordheim as a game then you may as well got the whole hog and do Necromunda as well...
As someone who was very interested in the Game Workshop in the mid-nineties, I have fond memories of Necromunda. There was something so satisfying about playing a game on a much smaller scale than that of FB or 40k. And was especially gratifying to see the fighters that made up your gang grow and evolve with each passing battle (and also very disheartening when they bit the dust). But unfortunately, the campaigns I played in tended to be short-lived - so I could never experience that feeling of taking a gang the whole way from inception to victory (or something).
Thus, having an adaption such as this would be a dream come true, right?
Well i have no idea if anyone in Rogue Factor will read this, so regardless, I offer my two cents on a potential Necromunda game. As far as I'm, concerned it need to have three things:
1) Squad based combat
First and foremost, the only way i can see this working if the makers of this game took the approach of squad-based combat popularized by Xcom.Unlike Mordheim, Necromunda always took an individualistic approach with the men (or women if you chose house Escher) under your control and you built a connection with your dudes, experiencing satisfaction when they did well and dismay when they were killed off - something that Xcom players would know all too well.
If i were to make a Necromunda game,. the first thing I would do is study the combat utilized in Xcom and understand why it worked so well (both in the original and the remake).
2) League system
Another game I would look at, for my hypothetical Necromunda game, is Worms - and in particular the league system. Now i will admit that I don't know how league systems have improved with two decades of gaming advancement, but the one in Worms will forever be my benchmark.
I liked how in Worms it came with it's own inbuilt league and a combination of computer controlled worm teams of varying ability. By playing against each team, one could get a sense of progression and build up genuine rivalries as well as see each worm progress and build a history - which is exactly the type of thing Necromunda offers.
3) Unique gangs
Can we have them please?
Seriously though, one of the more interesting things about Necromunda is that each of the gangs are unique with their own play style, skill-sets and weapons. And in some cases, particularly the Outlander gangs, their own rules. Granted such a scope may be tricky to implement in a game such as this but such an effort will not go unrecognized.
Oh and get the Enforcers while we're at it.
Friday, February 3, 2017
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Well played
Happy New Year!
I wish I could say that but alas, this new year for Game Tumour has begun on a sour note: becuase yesterday, it was announced that Good Game, the longest running gaming show in the history of Australian TV, has been given the axe.
I can't contain my disappointment on this one: I've given Good Game my undivided attention every week for years. I may not have agreed with Bajo and Hex's opinions but the content in the show has been, at once, informative, different and engaging. Admittedly last year, there were times when I could feel the show was running out of gas but the ten year anniversary show put such fears to rest, proving there was still a lot left in the tank.
But the disappointing thing about this is that whilst the main show is gone, many of the web-only specials are gone too. This means the only survivor is Good Game Spawn Point: the show catering for a younger audience. In a way, I feel insulted: Contrary to the views of the ABC Management, Gaming is not a 'kids' activity. No, it is something that is enjoyed by adults. Some of whom are parents and enjoy gaming with their children. I thought the diverse range of shows under the Good Game brand would have silenced such an archaic perception but that, unfortunately, doesn't appear to be the case.
Still, I am grateful for Good Game for the many, many episodes produced and which kept giving me an excuse to come back every week. If I hadn't watched Good game I wouldn't have known about many great games and the world is indeed poorer without it.
I wish I could say that but alas, this new year for Game Tumour has begun on a sour note: becuase yesterday, it was announced that Good Game, the longest running gaming show in the history of Australian TV, has been given the axe.
I can't contain my disappointment on this one: I've given Good Game my undivided attention every week for years. I may not have agreed with Bajo and Hex's opinions but the content in the show has been, at once, informative, different and engaging. Admittedly last year, there were times when I could feel the show was running out of gas but the ten year anniversary show put such fears to rest, proving there was still a lot left in the tank.
But the disappointing thing about this is that whilst the main show is gone, many of the web-only specials are gone too. This means the only survivor is Good Game Spawn Point: the show catering for a younger audience. In a way, I feel insulted: Contrary to the views of the ABC Management, Gaming is not a 'kids' activity. No, it is something that is enjoyed by adults. Some of whom are parents and enjoy gaming with their children. I thought the diverse range of shows under the Good Game brand would have silenced such an archaic perception but that, unfortunately, doesn't appear to be the case.
Still, I am grateful for Good Game for the many, many episodes produced and which kept giving me an excuse to come back every week. If I hadn't watched Good game I wouldn't have known about many great games and the world is indeed poorer without it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)