For people that follow the business of journalism, the field of gaming journalism is rarely, if ever, talked about legitimately. Many respected news organizations tend to gaze upon the coverage of games negatively, and with good reason. The outlets most trafficked -- IGN, Kotaku and Destructoid to name a few -- post in a tabloid format, often commentating on insignificant details, and this has garnered gaming journalism an indisputable childish reputation. Frankly, it's difficult to look at video game journalism in its current state without laughing. Although a bunch of factors can be blamed, it is purely the irresponsibility of these gaming publications, focusing on top ten lists with no real purpose compared to pressing developers and publishers for important details.
The general consensus may disagree, but gaming is a legitimate form of entertainment, on par with films and television, as seen by the Supreme Court decision in California. And the recognition that video games are art. And the multiple tax breaks and scholarships to developers from governments. The industry has started the transition to becoming an accepted form of entertainment, but the reporting of the industry hasn't, and that reflects terribly on all those involved.
Many issues do undermine the credibility of gaming journalism, and it's on the part of these news outlets to change that. Movie reporting gets unprecedented access to the process of making a film and the people involved, and that gives journalists in the field a continuous stream of useful information. Game reporters have a much tougher task in gathering information for productive stories. Developers and publishers tend to be very secretive about their projects, disallowing journalists to do their job correctly. And while that secrecy is almost habitual, gaming outlets aren't putting enough pressure on these companies to allow free-flowing information. What gaming outlets don't realize is they have most of the power; gamers flock to these sites in droves to find breaking news on their favourite upcoming games. These outlets are such a powerful source of information, as well as being a valuable source of publicity, both things publishers desperately seek for potential sales. Therefore, for the respected sides to achieve credibility, an unwritten agreement is necessary.
Since publishers are often reticent, gaming journalism has developed into a cycle. Most of the attention is derived from reviews and previews, the objectivity and influence of the journalists writing these reviews, and the influence of companies advertising with that outlet. Unlike movie reporting outlets where the range of advertisers is vast, advertising for gaming outlets is usually selective. Generally, only gaming companies will push marketing into gaming publications. This has caused many issues when a writer is tasked with reviewing a game from one of these companies, as threats of lost advertising revenue really doesn't give the writer a true voice. Timeliness is also a major issue. Oftentimes, depending on the genre, writers don't have the time to play through a game before the release date. This is usually because developers are on a short leash from publishers to polish a game as close to the release date as possible, leaving no room for writers to fully grade all aspects for a review. The lateness puts a strain on gaming outlets because reviews generate a large portion of traffic, and getting the copy out there later could mean a loss in readership and profits. Money talks.
Let me change the narrative. In doing research for this topic, I noticed a trend which I find myself guilty of in this very blog post. As writers, and as a culture, we have adapted to the exclusive nature of the gaming industry. Read any news story and find a reference to the target audience. Notice how the audience is labeled as "gamers" and not referred to as individuals, as is the case with movie and television reporting. Commenting on the response to a certain event, gaming outlets will use the term "gamers" while other entertainment news mediums will appease to a larger crowd. I've probably done that over the many months of blogging subconsciously trying to mimic how the successful gaming blogs operate. I'll leave the mistake in as a future reference.
The reports come out routinely every Sunday on which movies won in the box office, so why can't the same report include the highest-selling games of the week? It can't be that hard to tally if figures for movie theaters can be measured overnight. You'll catch me smiling when that day finally arrives. As for the topic itself, I wish I could give some insight on how to solve these issues plaguing the industry, but my personal credibility would be questioned. I haven't had any substantial experience to really give my take, but maybe someone reading this will get inspired and take matters into his or her own hands.
Hope you enjoyed my little rant. It's bothersome and quite troubling to question the state of the industry I aspire to be apart of, but whenever I do land a job somewhere this crisis had better be resolved.
To the readers, who do you think is to blame for the despicable state of gaming journalism? Moreover, what could be possibly be done to change things?
Just an update: I'm off with family this weekend so no posts will be put up. I apologize in advance, but in remote cottage country no Internet is allowed. Some unwritten rule or something. Don't cause too much trouble while I am away from civilization. Also, while I'm gone, check out episode 24 of BelowRadar. Hurrah.
June 29, 2011
June 28, 2011
Summer of Arcade: Preview for 2011
The long drought of summer is slowly becoming an event of the past. Normally major developers have a dry spell between June and August, and the majority of releases are simple arcade games with no real backing. Though, while movies soak up most profits during the summer months, Microsoft gives small developers a much-needed boost in their Summer of Arcade promotion: five XBLA releases each week, often exclusive or timed-exclusives, splashed all over the dashboard for a mere $15. Some games quickly turn critically-acclaimed, like last year's mysterious platformer Limbo and 2008's puzzling adventure Braid. The exposure is noteworthy for these small developers whose games often get overshadowed by big-budget triple-A releases. The lineup for 2011 looks especially eccentric and endearing, presenting a vast selection of titles, including the first for Kinect. Let's get to previewing them, shall we?
The promotion kicks off July 20 with the release of Bastion, the first from Supergiant Games. The hack-and-slash genre has been noticeably vacant from Microsoft's premiere arcade event, and Bastion looks to make a splash. Touting an impressively vivid art style, the game was nominated for "Excellence in Visual Art" at the Game Developers Conference. Supergiant has been suspiciously quiet on its first foray in the gaming world, but being first the pressure is on. Response from gaming outlets has been favourable, including this glowing preview from ShackNews. I hope the game sets a high bar being the first release on the docket.
Ubisoft is looking to bank some success with their godly simulator, From Dust. From a third-person perspective, players look to distort the surrounding environment to save a nomadic village from impending disaster. The campaign involves missions in unique locations, all featuring a distinct map and several paths to success. Considered a spiritual successor to Populous as described by Ubisoft, the game will be a timed exclusive for release later this year on PC/PS3. Out of all the games, this one has caught my attention the most. The longevity of gameplay is evident, and meddling (adversely destroying) with the environment will be enjoyable.
With explosive gameplay and an aggressive soundtrack to boot, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will be included this year. In development since 2007, Fuelcell is seeking to combine quick movements with a barrage of enemies to create an unique experience. Featuring exploration like Castlevania, players thoroughly investigate the Shadow Planet worlds, vibrantly themed with secrets galore. Many elements of gameplay will be included like boss battles, difficult puzzles and armies of bad guys looking to tear players to shreds.
The first entry to the Summer of Arcade on Kinect, successful iOS game Fruit Ninja is being ported over to Xbox Live. Aptly named Fruit Ninja Kinect, Metal Gear Rising is given a run for its money in the watermelon-slicing department. Tired arms and unapologetic combat against malicious fruit is the name of the game. From the E3 trailer, I can't expect the port to share the same success as its mobile brethren (four million downloads and counting), but the quirky gameplay and welcoming premise should make Fruit Ninja Kinect a decent seller. And certainly the established reputation of the series helps as well.
The only sequel in this year's lineup is Toy Soldiers: Cold War. Set during the Cold War (if that wasn't obvious enough), players command armies and control towers in this wave defense extravaganza. Including co-op, comprehensive leaderboards and a Survival mode, Signal Studios is looking to topple one of the best Arcade games from last year. Can they do it? Wait to find out!
As I anxiously wait for July 20, I pose this question to all of you: which games do you plan on buying or what game impresses you the most?
Just an update: By the way, make sure to check out episode 24 of my podcast, BelowRadar. This time we cover Shadows of the Damned, Alice Madness Returns, and major happenings of the last two weeks. Click here to catch all the shenanigans.
The promotion kicks off July 20 with the release of Bastion, the first from Supergiant Games. The hack-and-slash genre has been noticeably vacant from Microsoft's premiere arcade event, and Bastion looks to make a splash. Touting an impressively vivid art style, the game was nominated for "Excellence in Visual Art" at the Game Developers Conference. Supergiant has been suspiciously quiet on its first foray in the gaming world, but being first the pressure is on. Response from gaming outlets has been favourable, including this glowing preview from ShackNews. I hope the game sets a high bar being the first release on the docket.
Ubisoft is looking to bank some success with their godly simulator, From Dust. From a third-person perspective, players look to distort the surrounding environment to save a nomadic village from impending disaster. The campaign involves missions in unique locations, all featuring a distinct map and several paths to success. Considered a spiritual successor to Populous as described by Ubisoft, the game will be a timed exclusive for release later this year on PC/PS3. Out of all the games, this one has caught my attention the most. The longevity of gameplay is evident, and meddling (adversely destroying) with the environment will be enjoyable.
With explosive gameplay and an aggressive soundtrack to boot, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet will be included this year. In development since 2007, Fuelcell is seeking to combine quick movements with a barrage of enemies to create an unique experience. Featuring exploration like Castlevania, players thoroughly investigate the Shadow Planet worlds, vibrantly themed with secrets galore. Many elements of gameplay will be included like boss battles, difficult puzzles and armies of bad guys looking to tear players to shreds.
The first entry to the Summer of Arcade on Kinect, successful iOS game Fruit Ninja is being ported over to Xbox Live. Aptly named Fruit Ninja Kinect, Metal Gear Rising is given a run for its money in the watermelon-slicing department. Tired arms and unapologetic combat against malicious fruit is the name of the game. From the E3 trailer, I can't expect the port to share the same success as its mobile brethren (four million downloads and counting), but the quirky gameplay and welcoming premise should make Fruit Ninja Kinect a decent seller. And certainly the established reputation of the series helps as well.
The only sequel in this year's lineup is Toy Soldiers: Cold War. Set during the Cold War (if that wasn't obvious enough), players command armies and control towers in this wave defense extravaganza. Including co-op, comprehensive leaderboards and a Survival mode, Signal Studios is looking to topple one of the best Arcade games from last year. Can they do it? Wait to find out!
As I anxiously wait for July 20, I pose this question to all of you: which games do you plan on buying or what game impresses you the most?
Just an update: By the way, make sure to check out episode 24 of my podcast, BelowRadar. This time we cover Shadows of the Damned, Alice Madness Returns, and major happenings of the last two weeks. Click here to catch all the shenanigans.
A Message to Bioware - Beyond Mass Effect 3
First of all, thank you for making awesome games, and may the future give you great fortune to continue making awesome games. You have brought us one franchise too great to measure, following the heroic endeavours of one Commander Shepard, and for that us gamers applaud loudly.
Thinking about it in great detail, the Mass Effect series encompasses what makes a modern franchise great: stellar gameplay, an intriguing storyline, a believable universe, and the ability to shape one's own adventure. Many decisions go into every mission and side-quest, and that collection of choices will form a beautiful and unique adventure for everyone come the third game.
But gamers nor Bioware want to see the franchise end. The third game will make the developer millions in revenue while gamers enjoy delving into every corner amassing a complete play-through. A win for both sides. So, where does the future of the series rest? Earlier this year rumours flew about a possible MMORPG, which would be the obvious candidate given the wide selection of classes and races in the universe. And Bioware quickly learning the process with Star Wars: The Old Republic helps too. The possibilities are truly endless.
Regarding the future, Bioware could take the series in any direction and fans would rejoice. Though I'm not a particular fan of the genre, I'd love to see a a real-time strategy project like Halo Wars. More emphasis would need to be placed on battles, and the multiple races allow for a varied style in gameplay. The Asari could focus heavily on biotics, the Salarians promote their tactics through tech, and Humanity or the Turians could use a healthy combination. For the storyline, a mounting collection of conflicting interests could lead to total war among the Citadel races. An ample discovery of ancient Prothean technology perhaps. Possibly, however, a real-time tactics iteration could be more fitting. A game like Tom Clancy's EndWar, involving an ever-changing, networked landscape where control of areas is determined on individual outcomes.
Another candidate is a prequel, detailing the discovery on Mars and rise of humanity into Citadel space. While the process is covered considerably in the encyclopedias and books, most players don't take the time to read through the walls of text. Though it's incredibly interesting so I suggest anyone curious to take the time necessary. An arcade game would suffice; nothing major, or even possibly the long-rumoured Mass Effect movie could document humanity's troubles into Citadel space and the First Contact War with the Turians.
Beyond Mass Effect 3, anything is possible. We assume the Reapers are eradicated in the Battle for Earth, and that leaves a universe tired and disjointed from the hell of survival. Much of the universe has yet to be explored and the series has left itself open enough for the next game to be potentially a blockbuster. Bioware, make it happen.
Just an update: Episode 24 of BelowRadar is live! Check out our opinions on Alice Madness Returns, Shadows of the Damned, Saints Row 3 gameplay, and other goodies. The link is here.
Thinking about it in great detail, the Mass Effect series encompasses what makes a modern franchise great: stellar gameplay, an intriguing storyline, a believable universe, and the ability to shape one's own adventure. Many decisions go into every mission and side-quest, and that collection of choices will form a beautiful and unique adventure for everyone come the third game.
But gamers nor Bioware want to see the franchise end. The third game will make the developer millions in revenue while gamers enjoy delving into every corner amassing a complete play-through. A win for both sides. So, where does the future of the series rest? Earlier this year rumours flew about a possible MMORPG, which would be the obvious candidate given the wide selection of classes and races in the universe. And Bioware quickly learning the process with Star Wars: The Old Republic helps too. The possibilities are truly endless.
Regarding the future, Bioware could take the series in any direction and fans would rejoice. Though I'm not a particular fan of the genre, I'd love to see a a real-time strategy project like Halo Wars. More emphasis would need to be placed on battles, and the multiple races allow for a varied style in gameplay. The Asari could focus heavily on biotics, the Salarians promote their tactics through tech, and Humanity or the Turians could use a healthy combination. For the storyline, a mounting collection of conflicting interests could lead to total war among the Citadel races. An ample discovery of ancient Prothean technology perhaps. Possibly, however, a real-time tactics iteration could be more fitting. A game like Tom Clancy's EndWar, involving an ever-changing, networked landscape where control of areas is determined on individual outcomes.
Another candidate is a prequel, detailing the discovery on Mars and rise of humanity into Citadel space. While the process is covered considerably in the encyclopedias and books, most players don't take the time to read through the walls of text. Though it's incredibly interesting so I suggest anyone curious to take the time necessary. An arcade game would suffice; nothing major, or even possibly the long-rumoured Mass Effect movie could document humanity's troubles into Citadel space and the First Contact War with the Turians.
Beyond Mass Effect 3, anything is possible. We assume the Reapers are eradicated in the Battle for Earth, and that leaves a universe tired and disjointed from the hell of survival. Much of the universe has yet to be explored and the series has left itself open enough for the next game to be potentially a blockbuster. Bioware, make it happen.
Just an update: Episode 24 of BelowRadar is live! Check out our opinions on Alice Madness Returns, Shadows of the Damned, Saints Row 3 gameplay, and other goodies. The link is here.
June 26, 2011
Eve Online Fans Riot Over Outrageous Prices
There were no burning cars or stores ransacked, no mass arrests or police investigations, no infamous pictures of couples kissing; only the strong sense of community directed at an outrageous scam. As news broke CCP, the developer of the hit spacefaring MMO EVE Online, was preparing to launch a micro-transaction store with hugely overpriced items, literally thousands of players gathered in the main hubs to protest. What culminated was a full-on riot (as riotous as MMO players can get) with thousands of players shooting lasers in the air at main trading hubs.
Players are fuming over the release of the new update, allowing characters to leave the ship -- a first for the game. But the introduction of new gameplay is not the issue: it's how drastically overpriced items are on the new store. Although a majority of the items sold are pure customization (monocles for $68, give me a break), there was a document released by a former CCP employee claiming, in further updates, players will be able to purchase different types of ammo and even faction reputation among other things. This is completely opposing what CCP said back in November, saying the new system wouldn't impact gameplay.
What CCP has done is blatantly alienate their fanbase. EVE Online is one of the hardest games to integrate into, especially someone coming from a fantasy MMO background, and the community takes pride in that. Many notable games (including World of Warcraft) have made great strides to grasp the casual MMO player while CCP refused. And the player base respects the developer for doing so. But these transactions are working against what the majority of fans feel, and that's not how to handle business. This is either a desperate attempt to attract more subscriptions or CCP just doesn't understand its audience.
The hardcore nature of the game is what makes it unique in the oversaturated MMO market. Giving players an easy pass for a fee is both disregarding and discrediting that hardcore nature. Therefore making Eve Online just another game in the lot. I don't know any fans personally, but I can assure anyone reading this the implementation of these transactions will be disastrous for the population count.
To players looking for a new game with similar characteristics, check out Black Prophecy. It's free-to-play and in open beta right now, and looks gorgeous. Hopefully CCP can resolve this peacefully and not force the fanbase to shift their interests elsewhere.
And to the readers, would you pay $68 for monocles or an immediate boost in reputation with a faction? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.
Players are fuming over the release of the new update, allowing characters to leave the ship -- a first for the game. But the introduction of new gameplay is not the issue: it's how drastically overpriced items are on the new store. Although a majority of the items sold are pure customization (monocles for $68, give me a break), there was a document released by a former CCP employee claiming, in further updates, players will be able to purchase different types of ammo and even faction reputation among other things. This is completely opposing what CCP said back in November, saying the new system wouldn't impact gameplay.
What CCP has done is blatantly alienate their fanbase. EVE Online is one of the hardest games to integrate into, especially someone coming from a fantasy MMO background, and the community takes pride in that. Many notable games (including World of Warcraft) have made great strides to grasp the casual MMO player while CCP refused. And the player base respects the developer for doing so. But these transactions are working against what the majority of fans feel, and that's not how to handle business. This is either a desperate attempt to attract more subscriptions or CCP just doesn't understand its audience.
The hardcore nature of the game is what makes it unique in the oversaturated MMO market. Giving players an easy pass for a fee is both disregarding and discrediting that hardcore nature. Therefore making Eve Online just another game in the lot. I don't know any fans personally, but I can assure anyone reading this the implementation of these transactions will be disastrous for the population count.
To players looking for a new game with similar characteristics, check out Black Prophecy. It's free-to-play and in open beta right now, and looks gorgeous. Hopefully CCP can resolve this peacefully and not force the fanbase to shift their interests elsewhere.
And to the readers, would you pay $68 for monocles or an immediate boost in reputation with a faction? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.
June 24, 2011
Sonic Generations: Demo Impressions
The famed blue hedgehog has delighted audiences for two decades now, and Sega is paying tribute to that history in the newest of the series, Sonic Generations. Combining gameplay elements from past and recent games, Sonic and crew find themselves trapped in time and must work with ancestors to return safely.
While it was nice to see Sonic return to the franchise's roots, the demo was disappointing. There is only one level to tackle, the first section of the Green Hill Zone, and that's it. Nothing more, nothing less, over in less than two minutes. However, the demo gave us some valuable insight as to how different gameplay elements will be integrated in with the fast action, and gladly I can report everything runs smoothly.
The Green Hill Zone of past games was known for its obviously pixelated waterfalls and overall bland background (though highly detailed for the Genesis), so seeing three-dimensional interaction with the rest of the environment was a great change. The camera was effectively used; not only to show twists-and-turns in the 3D parts, but expanding outward during big-time air to really show the colour of this lush world. The classic music is also making a return: the Green Hill Zone tune has been slightly remastered to feel more contemporary without losing the classic feel.
Although the demo was ridiculously short, this Sonic is instantly recognizable. Multiple paths, more secrets and fast chaos all melded beautifully into a game well-tailored as an anniversary release. The demo is available for download across all platforms.
What did you guys think of the demo?
While it was nice to see Sonic return to the franchise's roots, the demo was disappointing. There is only one level to tackle, the first section of the Green Hill Zone, and that's it. Nothing more, nothing less, over in less than two minutes. However, the demo gave us some valuable insight as to how different gameplay elements will be integrated in with the fast action, and gladly I can report everything runs smoothly.
The Green Hill Zone of past games was known for its obviously pixelated waterfalls and overall bland background (though highly detailed for the Genesis), so seeing three-dimensional interaction with the rest of the environment was a great change. The camera was effectively used; not only to show twists-and-turns in the 3D parts, but expanding outward during big-time air to really show the colour of this lush world. The classic music is also making a return: the Green Hill Zone tune has been slightly remastered to feel more contemporary without losing the classic feel.
Although the demo was ridiculously short, this Sonic is instantly recognizable. Multiple paths, more secrets and fast chaos all melded beautifully into a game well-tailored as an anniversary release. The demo is available for download across all platforms.
What did you guys think of the demo?
June 23, 2011
Popcap Acquired by Electronic Arts?
Massive business deals in the gaming industry are scarce, and an acquisition dealing in the billion range is even rarer. Reports surfaced late last night Popcap, the famed developer behind Bejeweled, Peggle and Plants vs Zombies, is up for auction. Electronic Arts, according to TechCrunch, has dropped many zeroes on Popcap's doorstep, and the offer comes after the developer unveiled plans for Bejeweled 3.
Popcap's annual revenue is estimated to be $100 - $150 million, so throwing the billion word around is a ten times multiple. More details are to be released, but such a high offer indicates there is either competition, an unwillingness to sell or Popcap is just that valuable. The high selling price is a huge gamble for EA because a billion dollars is 13% of the company's market cap. However, this deal will strengthen the position of EA while the publisher pushes into the social and mobile gaming sectors. And the announcement of Bejeweled 3 helps too.
Although Popcap has been a leading force in the social gaming revolution, I feel Electronic Arts is drastically overpaying. The value of Popcap is quite evident, and the timeliness of this deal corresponding with the Bejeweled 3 showing can't be coincidence, so EA has to feel strongly about their position to acquire this company. A weakened presence in both markets has put EA in a very uncomfortable position and this deal should silence the critics (if there is any).
Just an update: Hey guys. Normally I would never ask this of you, but if I ask nicely could you please click the ads? Times are tough right now and any extra income could help. Thanks and enjoy the blog.
Popcap's annual revenue is estimated to be $100 - $150 million, so throwing the billion word around is a ten times multiple. More details are to be released, but such a high offer indicates there is either competition, an unwillingness to sell or Popcap is just that valuable. The high selling price is a huge gamble for EA because a billion dollars is 13% of the company's market cap. However, this deal will strengthen the position of EA while the publisher pushes into the social and mobile gaming sectors. And the announcement of Bejeweled 3 helps too.
Although Popcap has been a leading force in the social gaming revolution, I feel Electronic Arts is drastically overpaying. The value of Popcap is quite evident, and the timeliness of this deal corresponding with the Bejeweled 3 showing can't be coincidence, so EA has to feel strongly about their position to acquire this company. A weakened presence in both markets has put EA in a very uncomfortable position and this deal should silence the critics (if there is any).
Just an update: Hey guys. Normally I would never ask this of you, but if I ask nicely could you please click the ads? Times are tough right now and any extra income could help. Thanks and enjoy the blog.
June 21, 2011
World of Warcraft: The Challenge of Holding Two Audiences
Unfamiliar with the world of MMORPGs, I found it surprising Blizzard lost almost a million subscriptions after Cataclysm launched. Supposedly, the expansion was going back to the game's roots, and possibly where the term "grinding" was first applied to the genre. And this was a welcome change. But many complaints, and the reason for a percentage of hardcore players quitting, involve how "easy" the game has become compared to previous years. Yet, with so many long-term players hanging up their boots, Cataclysm is the highest-selling expansion and the fastest-selling PC game in history. With such a paradox, how long can Blizzard keep the cash-cow from collapsing?
Launched in 2004, no game has received the same level of success as World of Warcraft. In seven years, the game has survived one console generation -- coming up on two -- and almost as long as the Warcraft franchise itself (WoW was first sold on the tenth anniversary of Warcraft). Blizzard is now three expansions in with a fourth incoming, and the fanbase is still ten million plus. Through seven years, though, Blizzard has dramatically changed the audience focus: from the hardcore to the casual. The transformation has alienated hardcore players and the countless seeking the classic MMO experience are turning to new avenues.
Blizzard needs to find a delicate balance between both audiences. The company wants the casual players to see all the content, thus making raid encounters significantly easier with overall health and damage nerfs to each boss. But these changes are allowing hardcore guilds to burn through content rather quickly. Blizzard has vowed to put out more content faster with each new patch, which may be a short-term solution, but allowing players to acquire great gear purely through heroic instances makes that player a liability for the endgame. World of Warcraft was built as a hardcore MMO, and for raiding groups to progress, several wipes were necessary; "raid progression" is the term often thrown around. Blizzard wants the casual audience to see the latest content, but that can't happen given the way the company has engineered the game. Making encounters easier certainly helps, but habits carry over to other instances (standing in fire, not watching other mechanics, etc.) which forces hardcore guilds to recruit idiotic players.
 |
| An elated Blizzard executive. |
Slowly, Blizzard will lose a portion of subscribers to other games with ingenious mechanics. WoW is aging, and as the genre reinvents itself repeatedly, numbers will dwindle. Though Blizzard is in a favourable position. The company can dictate the game's future, and realistically the future of the genre, with its forthcoming next generation project codenamed Titan. No details have been realized as of yet, but since many gaming pundits consider it the spiritual successor to World of Warcraft, Blizzard's newest will be huge.
Just an update: I had this jotted down as an idea for a while, but writing about this topic saddens me since I only recently started playing. And with patch 4.2 delayed a week, this post is even more evident, as mass response to the new Firelands raid may cause me to revisit this post. Regardless, enjoy my shiny new layout and a longer post than usual. Thanks for reading!
Gears of War 3: Video Explaining Horde Mode 2.0
Great video I found on YouTube detailing what we can expect for Horde mode 2.0 come September 20. I'll be right back - I need to change my pants.
June 19, 2011
You Guys Like the New Layout?
I have spent all morning toying with the layout, and right now is the best I can do before I drive myself insane. Web design was never my strong suit, clearly. Glad to get that out of the way.
Also, I must apologize for the prominent ads on the side. The only reason is basically because I am trying to make some extra money so I can help pay for school and the essentials (groceries, utilities). Clicking on those would be greatly appreciated.
Today I feel like doing a really long post. And I'm thinking ambitiously too. Maybe an easy? We'll have to see. Stay tuned for whatever I turn out. /smileyface
And... and... a name! A Video Games Blog is simple and rather straightforward, but I want a name that exemplifies the finest of blogging about gaming without getting too ostentatious. Short and sweet with a punch. Have any ideas? Leave a comment and I'll give you full credit. My creative juices aren't flowing right now - I blame the caffeine.
Hurrah.
Also, I must apologize for the prominent ads on the side. The only reason is basically because I am trying to make some extra money so I can help pay for school and the essentials (groceries, utilities). Clicking on those would be greatly appreciated.
Today I feel like doing a really long post. And I'm thinking ambitiously too. Maybe an easy? We'll have to see. Stay tuned for whatever I turn out. /smileyface
And... and... a name! A Video Games Blog is simple and rather straightforward, but I want a name that exemplifies the finest of blogging about gaming without getting too ostentatious. Short and sweet with a punch. Have any ideas? Leave a comment and I'll give you full credit. My creative juices aren't flowing right now - I blame the caffeine.
Hurrah.
Happy Father's Day
This will only be a short post. Just wanted to wish everyone a happy father's day (everyone who is a father).
The average gamer is 35, and I can say with confidence not all of you are virgins, so anyone with little ones running around the house I wish you the best. Now I'm off to the local coffee shop to pick up breakfast for everyone.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate it.
Just an update: After six months, you'd think I'd have gotten Blogger's interface down right? Not really. This better not be against the terms of AdSense, but I can please ask all of you to click the ads? I'm having money trouble right now and extra income could do wonders. Normally I would never ask you to do such a thing if I wasn't in a desperate situation, but finding employment is difficult and I would like to go back to school in three months time.
I will still provide content as I do, though I may need to cut down if I can't find a job somewhere. Thanks to you all. And have a good morning/day/night.
The average gamer is 35, and I can say with confidence not all of you are virgins, so anyone with little ones running around the house I wish you the best. Now I'm off to the local coffee shop to pick up breakfast for everyone.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate it.
Just an update: After six months, you'd think I'd have gotten Blogger's interface down right? Not really. This better not be against the terms of AdSense, but I can please ask all of you to click the ads? I'm having money trouble right now and extra income could do wonders. Normally I would never ask you to do such a thing if I wasn't in a desperate situation, but finding employment is difficult and I would like to go back to school in three months time.
I will still provide content as I do, though I may need to cut down if I can't find a job somewhere. Thanks to you all. And have a good morning/day/night.
June 17, 2011
The Xbox 360 and Japan - Why the Mediocre Sales?
Microsoft prides itself as being a worldwide leader in corporate advances of technology. So why then, do you have the company only selling 1.5 million units of its console in Japan? That is a huge figure, but compared to the rest of the world, that number is pathetic. Sony and Nintendo dominate the Japanese video game market, but that's no excuse. Here are a few reasons why Microsoft has failed considerably in the Japanese gaming market.
The Western and Japanese gaming sectors are entirely different. So different in fact, genres take precedent in sales. For the Japanese it is mainly JRPGs, like Final Fantasy and the Tales franchise, whereas in North America the first-person shooter takes the crown. Microsoft has yet to crack why there is such a diversity in preference between the two cultures. I'm not sure Sony and Nintendo have embraced that fact either. The most prominent RPG on Xbox, arguably, is Lost Odyssey, a game made by Mistwalker, a Japanese studio. Sadly, one major title won't cause an entire audience to rush and grab the console. A great example of this differential is the Monster Hunter franchise. While basically unknown in North America, the franchise sells like hotcakes in Japan.
The issue could be simply the Japanese prefer to spend money on brands comfortable to them, and not foreign companies like Microsoft. Nintendo and Sony are both based in Japan, so this fact certainly adds credence to the story. Not that I'm implying the Japanese are self-protective or racist, but Microsoft has prided itself on the success of Xbox Live. Japanese gamers must not respond well to online play, except in the name of Monster Hunter.
Since the Xbox 360 is an online-focused platform, many Japanese gamers have yet to embrace the online gaming revolution. It's even rare to see a Japanese gamer playing a modern first-person shooter. The fighting genre is extremely popular, and the directional pad is unsuited for longer and complicated combos. Hence why the PlayStation is preferred as the platform for fighting game connoisseurs. The 360 is just not tailored for the genres the Japanese prefer.
Microsoft could be doing a better job if they were committed in increasing their standing among the Japanese populous. Better to wait for a new generation of consoles to establish a reputation. A more ergonomically designed controller (the current one is almost perfect) and a quality directional pad will do wonders for Microsoft's presence in Japan. And more RPGs! The catalog of JRPGs on the 360 is limited, though the addition of future Final Fantasy games was a nice touch. The opportunity is there, and Crytek has claimed we'll see some new hardcore from Microsoft next year, so we will surely see if they heed advice.
The Western and Japanese gaming sectors are entirely different. So different in fact, genres take precedent in sales. For the Japanese it is mainly JRPGs, like Final Fantasy and the Tales franchise, whereas in North America the first-person shooter takes the crown. Microsoft has yet to crack why there is such a diversity in preference between the two cultures. I'm not sure Sony and Nintendo have embraced that fact either. The most prominent RPG on Xbox, arguably, is Lost Odyssey, a game made by Mistwalker, a Japanese studio. Sadly, one major title won't cause an entire audience to rush and grab the console. A great example of this differential is the Monster Hunter franchise. While basically unknown in North America, the franchise sells like hotcakes in Japan.
The issue could be simply the Japanese prefer to spend money on brands comfortable to them, and not foreign companies like Microsoft. Nintendo and Sony are both based in Japan, so this fact certainly adds credence to the story. Not that I'm implying the Japanese are self-protective or racist, but Microsoft has prided itself on the success of Xbox Live. Japanese gamers must not respond well to online play, except in the name of Monster Hunter.
Since the Xbox 360 is an online-focused platform, many Japanese gamers have yet to embrace the online gaming revolution. It's even rare to see a Japanese gamer playing a modern first-person shooter. The fighting genre is extremely popular, and the directional pad is unsuited for longer and complicated combos. Hence why the PlayStation is preferred as the platform for fighting game connoisseurs. The 360 is just not tailored for the genres the Japanese prefer.
Microsoft could be doing a better job if they were committed in increasing their standing among the Japanese populous. Better to wait for a new generation of consoles to establish a reputation. A more ergonomically designed controller (the current one is almost perfect) and a quality directional pad will do wonders for Microsoft's presence in Japan. And more RPGs! The catalog of JRPGs on the 360 is limited, though the addition of future Final Fantasy games was a nice touch. The opportunity is there, and Crytek has claimed we'll see some new hardcore from Microsoft next year, so we will surely see if they heed advice.
World of Warcraft: Patch 4.2 for Warriors
Upon taking a month break from World of Warcraft, it has reinvigorated my interest of the game. Not having a consistent raiding guild nor being successful at PvP deterred my ability to play, but now I can proudly say I am roaring to go in anticipation of patch 4.2 dropping next Tuesday (expectedly). Since I never played during Burning Crusade, I'll actually have the opportunity to take down Ragnaros, the famed boss of Molten Core. Late Monday I plan to pick up my subscription for two months to get right back into the thick of things.
Only playing for short six months, I haven't really become accustomed to other classes other than my Warrior. And all the better since the Tier 12 gear was revealed for my beloved class. The gear looks gorgeous, way better than the Earthen gear from Tier 11, and I can't wait to have my Troll faceted in this new set of equipment. It took Blizzard a while and I must congratulate all Druids as well; you're tier 12 set looks awesome.
Warriors after a major patch become a laughing stock because of the laundry list of updates. Patch 4.2 has been tame to us, only giving a 1.5 second global cooldown to Overpower (not a big increase) and making Deadly Calm and Recklessness unusable concurrently. A pain for PvP, but good Arms warriors don't need Deadly Calm to generate a large Rage pool. And this nerf does make sense - Arms warriors are overpowered when able to use both at the same time.
On the 4.2 patch notes, it says the damage done by Fury and Arms is being nerfed "across the board". First of all, how rare is it to see an Arms Warrior in PvE? Fury is definitely the way to go. Secondly, the DPS by Fury was just fine. There's no need to nerf the damage done. The Earthen set gave us predominately Haste (useless for all three specs), so giving us Hit or Critical rating would have been a better change.
Another change was using Charge as a rotation ability. Oftentimes I was able to maintain 17k DPS without having the need to use Charge. Although I did play Fury, I never needed the ability to use Intercept during a raid boss. Kept smashing away and hoping for the best. I could see the problem in PvP, but Charge is ultimately necessary combined with Heroic Leap to take down casters. Heroic Leap needs some desperate fixing though, something us Warriors have been asking Blizzard for a long time now.
While other classes get buffed (mainly Frost mages), Warriors get left behind. Before I even considered leveling a Warrior, I considered taking on other classes. The one thing I didn't realize was how much Blizzard tampered with Warriors after a major patch. After 4.2 drops, stay tuned to get my take on the changes, including the new Firelands raid, the new boss added to Baradin's Hold, and how PvP goes. Expect a lot of raging.
Only playing for short six months, I haven't really become accustomed to other classes other than my Warrior. And all the better since the Tier 12 gear was revealed for my beloved class. The gear looks gorgeous, way better than the Earthen gear from Tier 11, and I can't wait to have my Troll faceted in this new set of equipment. It took Blizzard a while and I must congratulate all Druids as well; you're tier 12 set looks awesome.
Warriors after a major patch become a laughing stock because of the laundry list of updates. Patch 4.2 has been tame to us, only giving a 1.5 second global cooldown to Overpower (not a big increase) and making Deadly Calm and Recklessness unusable concurrently. A pain for PvP, but good Arms warriors don't need Deadly Calm to generate a large Rage pool. And this nerf does make sense - Arms warriors are overpowered when able to use both at the same time.
On the 4.2 patch notes, it says the damage done by Fury and Arms is being nerfed "across the board". First of all, how rare is it to see an Arms Warrior in PvE? Fury is definitely the way to go. Secondly, the DPS by Fury was just fine. There's no need to nerf the damage done. The Earthen set gave us predominately Haste (useless for all three specs), so giving us Hit or Critical rating would have been a better change.
Another change was using Charge as a rotation ability. Oftentimes I was able to maintain 17k DPS without having the need to use Charge. Although I did play Fury, I never needed the ability to use Intercept during a raid boss. Kept smashing away and hoping for the best. I could see the problem in PvP, but Charge is ultimately necessary combined with Heroic Leap to take down casters. Heroic Leap needs some desperate fixing though, something us Warriors have been asking Blizzard for a long time now.
While other classes get buffed (mainly Frost mages), Warriors get left behind. Before I even considered leveling a Warrior, I considered taking on other classes. The one thing I didn't realize was how much Blizzard tampered with Warriors after a major patch. After 4.2 drops, stay tuned to get my take on the changes, including the new Firelands raid, the new boss added to Baradin's Hold, and how PvP goes. Expect a lot of raging.
How Mass Effect Multiplayer Could Work
The rumours do speak volumes. Ever since the reveal of Mass Effect 3, rumours have been widespread about the inclusion of a multiplayer component. Although most franchises receive the same treatment, the ones involving Mass Effect are particularly unsettling. Bioware had the one-man-save-all space opera storyline in mind in the first Mass Effect, but from then on people consistently speculate we will see some sort of multiplayer in a future game of the series.
Given Bioware's reputation alone, the studio could make multiplayer work. Probably not a competitive mode (like Team Deathmatch), but a drop-in, drop-out co-op centric adventure. Traditionally, two squad mates are chosen for each mission, but the trend nowadays is four-player co-op. It's possible a multiplayer component could be a remarkable success, though that would be the first thing necessary to address. From the trailers it seems Bioware is aspiring to make battles more grandiose, using wider environments (especially the ruins of Earth), as the Reapers dwindle in numbers. Four players running around destroying Geth and Cerberus employees is a picturesque chaos, as players working together Left 4 Dead style to tackle enemies. For that to be achieved, the perfect gameplay would need quite the overhaul.
Three players could work though. Teammates have the option of acting within their own means, or only using powers when necessary. Biotic teammates are especially deadly, leading to some hilarious and interesting confrontations specifically for co-op. There's one problem regarding multiplayer though. If Bioware intends to include co-op in the storyline, conversational decisions are as much part of gameplay as is combat. The last thing the developer wants to do is leave players uninvolved and bored as Shepard screws every crew member. A potential way to solve this issue is a separate adventure, possibly included Shepard, meant for multiple players. Personally, I'd love to kick alien ass with friends if done correctly. Bioware needs to careful, however, of not tarnishing the reputation of its star franchise by tossing out a crappy multiplayer mode.
It is possible. Bioware can make such a mode happen. Nine months until Mass Effect 3 launches, though we should hear some news before then.
Given Bioware's reputation alone, the studio could make multiplayer work. Probably not a competitive mode (like Team Deathmatch), but a drop-in, drop-out co-op centric adventure. Traditionally, two squad mates are chosen for each mission, but the trend nowadays is four-player co-op. It's possible a multiplayer component could be a remarkable success, though that would be the first thing necessary to address. From the trailers it seems Bioware is aspiring to make battles more grandiose, using wider environments (especially the ruins of Earth), as the Reapers dwindle in numbers. Four players running around destroying Geth and Cerberus employees is a picturesque chaos, as players working together Left 4 Dead style to tackle enemies. For that to be achieved, the perfect gameplay would need quite the overhaul.
Three players could work though. Teammates have the option of acting within their own means, or only using powers when necessary. Biotic teammates are especially deadly, leading to some hilarious and interesting confrontations specifically for co-op. There's one problem regarding multiplayer though. If Bioware intends to include co-op in the storyline, conversational decisions are as much part of gameplay as is combat. The last thing the developer wants to do is leave players uninvolved and bored as Shepard screws every crew member. A potential way to solve this issue is a separate adventure, possibly included Shepard, meant for multiple players. Personally, I'd love to kick alien ass with friends if done correctly. Bioware needs to careful, however, of not tarnishing the reputation of its star franchise by tossing out a crappy multiplayer mode.
It is possible. Bioware can make such a mode happen. Nine months until Mass Effect 3 launches, though we should hear some news before then.
1UP Duke Nukem Forever Review - Criticisms
After Duke Nukem Forever got lambasted by gaming outlets, one review has caused controversy. 1UP, a respected gaming website, has received some damaging attention from their review. None regarding the grade either - the low ranking of F, or what Metacritic calls a zero - but involving the quality of the review itself. Most websites have a particular style and order reviews should be written in, but these outlets generally give the writer free reign to approach the piece as he/she sees fit.
Using that idea, there's a fine line regarding the construction of a review for a terrible game. Not to make it too callous or insensitive, or derogatory, or just a rant. Care is especially necessary when reviewing a game part of an established franchise, with a very vocalized fanbase, that went through development hell. The writer (who is the features and news editor of 1UP) ranted endlessly about how irrelevant Duke as a character is today, the prominent misogyny featured, and the feeble humour, with just a snippet on gameplay, graphics, and nothing on the plot. It was the reviewer's job, his duty, to assess these aspects of the game in a professional manner and leave personal beliefs out. Gamers seeking the site's opinion won't care about the writer's personal beliefs regarding relevancy of characters or weak humour. They want to know if the game is playable, how the game looks after such a long period in development, and if there's a story, all of these in great detail.
Aside from the review, the site did go overboard with their rating. Scores are a matter of opinion, yes, but giving the lowest grade possible implies the game is totally unplayable. Being a college student I can't afford to pick up the game, but from the demo and watching gameplay online, Duke Nukem Forever looks like an enjoyable experience if you're a fan. This review reminds me of Destructoid's review for Deadly Premonition - while on far ends of the opinion spectrum, both were dramatic enough to cause gamer hysteria.
The franchise is known for its classless humour, non-existent plots and blatant sexism toward women, but that's part of the allure. It's laughable, really, a writer for a gaming website would spend 500 words demonizing the very essence of what makes Duke attractive to gamers, when that is what people like to see in the first place. The character is an asshole, defining the word perfectly, and that's partly why the series is so legendary. Clearly the writer didn't understand this and the comments repeatedly reminded him.
What an angry morning! With no sun shining down from the heavens, I felt it necessary to do an angry post. The day is still young, and I will continue to provide angry, angry content for all of you to enjoy.
Just an update: I added an "About Me" section which I plan to update sometime in the near future. Maybe pictures, my writing station and gaming setup, or just general details about my life and gaming career. Also, episode 23 of BelowRadar is posted. Aptly named, Episode TwentE3 is straightforward. You can find the link here.
June 14, 2011
RIP Kaos Studios - The Future of Game Development?
Leading up to the March 15 release of THQ's Homefront, questions came all over the gaming realm of what the game was, and whether it could compete with the likes of Call of Duty. Touting a compelling multiplayer component, the game received the highest pre-order count in the history of THQ, over one million units sold. An impressive feat for a new franchise. Although review scores varied greatly, Homefront still managed to transcend the stigma of a new IP. Kaos' previous game, Frontline: Fuel of War was released under similar circumstances.
And now the studio is gone. THQ worked the developers to the bone, stressing Homefront be released before the end of the fiscal year. Six, often seven days a week these developers worked, barely given a personal life or time with family. The publisher has now re-purposed many of the developers, offering them a job at THQ Montreal (quite the distance from Kaos' New York headquarters) or find employment elsewhere. It's sad, but thus is the nature of game development these days; an unfortunate side effect of bigger budgets and stricter release dates.
What THQ has done is entirely reprehensible, seeing these people as pieces of meat rather than individuals. They give the publisher a record-breaking product and get shafted as compensation. I've never met any developers from Kaos personally, but I'm sure many of them would prefer to still be employed. Moving locations wouldn't be too bad if these poor people were moving anywhere else, but Quebec is a lot different from New York. Different language, different culture, different country, and a place where English-speaking folk are usually shunned. Not all communities in Quebec are like this, to be fair, but a percentage of Quebecois do feel this way, and the situation could get hairy for the developers' families.
With the release of Homefront, many anticipated THQ would become a top-tier publisher in the next five years. The first-person shooter market is overcrowded and innovation is often overshadowed by the mess of modern combat simulators. Before the closing, Homefront gave THQ the chance to penetrate the oversaturated genre with a unique and more heartfelt look at the brutalities of warfare. They have now lost that prime opportunity because gamers will refuse to buy any sequel out of protest.
This closing leads to a dilemma currently plaguing the industry: as publishers rush to get top titles out on the marketplace faster, studios full of hardworking people are tossed around like garbage. The displacement of the fine people at Kaos is over money. Even better, taxes. Quebec has always been buddy-buddy with the game development scene, and cities like Montreal have become hotbeds for business because of friendly tax codes. Aspiring game developers generally are unaware of the circumstances revolving around how vicious publishers can be, and they get caught off-guard. It's the nature of the business these days, something that won't be changing for a while, and this trend has partly led to prominent talent getting into social and mobile game development instead.
Many of the developers will move to Quebec because no other options present themselves. Another difficulty of gaming development: jobs are few. And while the industry gets even bigger, more publishers will continue this. Oh, profiteering; how doth we command you?
And now the studio is gone. THQ worked the developers to the bone, stressing Homefront be released before the end of the fiscal year. Six, often seven days a week these developers worked, barely given a personal life or time with family. The publisher has now re-purposed many of the developers, offering them a job at THQ Montreal (quite the distance from Kaos' New York headquarters) or find employment elsewhere. It's sad, but thus is the nature of game development these days; an unfortunate side effect of bigger budgets and stricter release dates.
What THQ has done is entirely reprehensible, seeing these people as pieces of meat rather than individuals. They give the publisher a record-breaking product and get shafted as compensation. I've never met any developers from Kaos personally, but I'm sure many of them would prefer to still be employed. Moving locations wouldn't be too bad if these poor people were moving anywhere else, but Quebec is a lot different from New York. Different language, different culture, different country, and a place where English-speaking folk are usually shunned. Not all communities in Quebec are like this, to be fair, but a percentage of Quebecois do feel this way, and the situation could get hairy for the developers' families.
With the release of Homefront, many anticipated THQ would become a top-tier publisher in the next five years. The first-person shooter market is overcrowded and innovation is often overshadowed by the mess of modern combat simulators. Before the closing, Homefront gave THQ the chance to penetrate the oversaturated genre with a unique and more heartfelt look at the brutalities of warfare. They have now lost that prime opportunity because gamers will refuse to buy any sequel out of protest.
This closing leads to a dilemma currently plaguing the industry: as publishers rush to get top titles out on the marketplace faster, studios full of hardworking people are tossed around like garbage. The displacement of the fine people at Kaos is over money. Even better, taxes. Quebec has always been buddy-buddy with the game development scene, and cities like Montreal have become hotbeds for business because of friendly tax codes. Aspiring game developers generally are unaware of the circumstances revolving around how vicious publishers can be, and they get caught off-guard. It's the nature of the business these days, something that won't be changing for a while, and this trend has partly led to prominent talent getting into social and mobile game development instead.
Many of the developers will move to Quebec because no other options present themselves. Another difficulty of gaming development: jobs are few. And while the industry gets even bigger, more publishers will continue this. Oh, profiteering; how doth we command you?
Why Kinect Will Never Apply to the 'Core'
Does Microsoft think they are the Midas of the gaming world? Not every product released under their brand names is going to be pure gold. Last week proved this undoubtedly. The company trying to stuff Kinect down our throats instead of letting us embrace it, and then the head honcho behind the device claiming the 'core' never disapproved of the idea of motion control. It's all evidence Microsoft had no solid plan when marketing Kinect for the traditional gaming audience, just to put it out there and see how we responded.
Microsoft had another group in mind when showcasing the device at E3 last year. Quite the lavish conference with Cirque du Soleil performing for some unknown reason, and with that their intention was clear: Kinect was meant to take the Wii audience. Now nobody can blame Sony and Microsoft for going after Nintendo's audience, but through the launch lineup Sony has at least attempted to appeal to the 'core'. It was actually painfully pathetic - almost a desperate bid to attract attention - to see the launch releases for Kinect blatantly copy what initially captured the Wii fans. The buzz surrounding the gimmick - hands-free motion control - is what drove millions of people to first purchase the thing, and Microsoft cleverly banked on consumer ignorance. Basically, buyers didn't bother checking out the games using Kinect.
And now, Microsoft wants to disregard the last year and say, "Oh yeah, Kinect is for you guys too!" The company couldn't possibly just expect every gamer to suddenly realize they're fans of the device. The targets were consumers unfamiliar with gaming, or whom had grown bored of what the Wii offered, and it continues that reputation. Nevertheless, Kinect has shown its usefulness - the demo with Ghost Recon: Future Soldier was impressive, though the gameplay could use some work. And the new software developmental kit Kinect Labs could lead to some innovative creations. But what Microsoft refuses to acknowledge is gaming fans know of the gimmick, that it is a gimmick, and won't fall into a trap.
One thing is undeniable: the potential of Microsoft finally reaching out to the hardcore with Kinect may have a bright future. Considering how the last year has treated the device, a second desperate bid by Microsoft is always welcome. There's a little phrase to describe this situation: "Too little, too late." If Microsoft planned some games to appeal to the hardcore beforehand, the general disdain of gamers wouldn't exist. Yet they felt horrendously. Can't blame you for trying Microsoft.
Microsoft had another group in mind when showcasing the device at E3 last year. Quite the lavish conference with Cirque du Soleil performing for some unknown reason, and with that their intention was clear: Kinect was meant to take the Wii audience. Now nobody can blame Sony and Microsoft for going after Nintendo's audience, but through the launch lineup Sony has at least attempted to appeal to the 'core'. It was actually painfully pathetic - almost a desperate bid to attract attention - to see the launch releases for Kinect blatantly copy what initially captured the Wii fans. The buzz surrounding the gimmick - hands-free motion control - is what drove millions of people to first purchase the thing, and Microsoft cleverly banked on consumer ignorance. Basically, buyers didn't bother checking out the games using Kinect.
And now, Microsoft wants to disregard the last year and say, "Oh yeah, Kinect is for you guys too!" The company couldn't possibly just expect every gamer to suddenly realize they're fans of the device. The targets were consumers unfamiliar with gaming, or whom had grown bored of what the Wii offered, and it continues that reputation. Nevertheless, Kinect has shown its usefulness - the demo with Ghost Recon: Future Soldier was impressive, though the gameplay could use some work. And the new software developmental kit Kinect Labs could lead to some innovative creations. But what Microsoft refuses to acknowledge is gaming fans know of the gimmick, that it is a gimmick, and won't fall into a trap.
One thing is undeniable: the potential of Microsoft finally reaching out to the hardcore with Kinect may have a bright future. Considering how the last year has treated the device, a second desperate bid by Microsoft is always welcome. There's a little phrase to describe this situation: "Too little, too late." If Microsoft planned some games to appeal to the hardcore beforehand, the general disdain of gamers wouldn't exist. Yet they felt horrendously. Can't blame you for trying Microsoft.
June 13, 2011
E3 2011: A Disgrace or Just A Disappointment?
Much of the hype surrounding the conference this year was regarding new hardware. The Wii U was unveiled to the world with mixed results, and the spiritual successor to the PSP got a favourable ovation from the crowd. The hardware arguably stole the show, with new game announcements hardly getting any attention. The biggest showing could have been Halo 4 if the game wasn't leaked hours before the conference.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo should be the place where the industry's biggest announcements are made loud and proud for the world to see, but in recent years it has turned into a laughing stock. A place where companies boast about sales figures and "surprise" us with leaked (and sometimes already confirmed) revelations. And, sadly, the surprise element was noticeably absent from the showings this week. Half the reason gaming fans invest time in the coverage is to learn of the most breaking news and brag to friends about knowing first, but the conference was severely underwhelming.
The ridiculousness of this year's conference shows what E3 has turned into: corporate behemoths needlessly bashing each other in front of people who frankly don't care. The typical gamer wants to play games, not hear who had more impressive sales figures.
But all of this pessimism is coming from someone who didn't have the opportunity to be on the show floor. I couldn't possibly afford a trip to Los Angeles, a four day hotel stay and an E3 pass. Where the conferences disappointed, the show floor is where most of the action happens and what gaming fans don't get to see. Publishers spend hundreds of thousands pimping out their booths to attract attention, which is counter-intuitive because lavishness of a booth doesn't affect gameplay. Nonetheless, surveyors go to E3 to try the latest and greatest from the gaming world, not hear corporate banter.
Leaked announcements are nothing new to the industry, but this year saw an unprecedented amount of major leaks. Nintendo's new console, the Wii U, was confirmed two months ago after rumours swirled stemming from a Eurogamer article. A new handheld from Sony has been in the rumour mill for such a long time, it was generally accepted one was coming (and the name was leaked days before E3). And, though no word of a new console just yet, Microsoft botched the Halo 4 unveil by prematurely posting it on their website. All of this sucks the fun right out of the conference.
I was genuinely excited for E3 2011. As last weekend approached, I gathered my snacks and goodies, tubs of ice cream and bags of chips galore, and made myself an E3 station. Pages upon pages of notes stacked on my desk ready to be dissected. I've done that the past couple years and it's something I thoroughly enjoy. But this year I didn't feel that sense of sensationalism. It could have been the presence of Geoff Keighley (who needs decaf, seriously) or how focused I was on the hotness of Amanda Mackay (hiring models posing as credible gaming journalists works somehow), but this E3 failed on so many levels.
Could E3 2012 see the conference's return to prominence? Anything to improve on this year I'll gladly accept.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo should be the place where the industry's biggest announcements are made loud and proud for the world to see, but in recent years it has turned into a laughing stock. A place where companies boast about sales figures and "surprise" us with leaked (and sometimes already confirmed) revelations. And, sadly, the surprise element was noticeably absent from the showings this week. Half the reason gaming fans invest time in the coverage is to learn of the most breaking news and brag to friends about knowing first, but the conference was severely underwhelming.
The ridiculousness of this year's conference shows what E3 has turned into: corporate behemoths needlessly bashing each other in front of people who frankly don't care. The typical gamer wants to play games, not hear who had more impressive sales figures.
But all of this pessimism is coming from someone who didn't have the opportunity to be on the show floor. I couldn't possibly afford a trip to Los Angeles, a four day hotel stay and an E3 pass. Where the conferences disappointed, the show floor is where most of the action happens and what gaming fans don't get to see. Publishers spend hundreds of thousands pimping out their booths to attract attention, which is counter-intuitive because lavishness of a booth doesn't affect gameplay. Nonetheless, surveyors go to E3 to try the latest and greatest from the gaming world, not hear corporate banter.
Leaked announcements are nothing new to the industry, but this year saw an unprecedented amount of major leaks. Nintendo's new console, the Wii U, was confirmed two months ago after rumours swirled stemming from a Eurogamer article. A new handheld from Sony has been in the rumour mill for such a long time, it was generally accepted one was coming (and the name was leaked days before E3). And, though no word of a new console just yet, Microsoft botched the Halo 4 unveil by prematurely posting it on their website. All of this sucks the fun right out of the conference.
I was genuinely excited for E3 2011. As last weekend approached, I gathered my snacks and goodies, tubs of ice cream and bags of chips galore, and made myself an E3 station. Pages upon pages of notes stacked on my desk ready to be dissected. I've done that the past couple years and it's something I thoroughly enjoy. But this year I didn't feel that sense of sensationalism. It could have been the presence of Geoff Keighley (who needs decaf, seriously) or how focused I was on the hotness of Amanda Mackay (hiring models posing as credible gaming journalists works somehow), but this E3 failed on so many levels.
Could E3 2012 see the conference's return to prominence? Anything to improve on this year I'll gladly accept.
Battlefield 3: EA Pulling A Fast One?
The fiercely competitive and passionate Battlefield fanbase awoke to some startling news Sunday morning: Battlefield 3 is getting region-exclusive DLC for pre-orders. Retailers in the United Kingdom are giving fans the "Physical Warfare" pack, including weapons, ammunition and maps not included on release. This has caused a stir among the community, with a post being cited many times on Reddit calling for a boycott. The source claims to have a good relationship with DICE, and this information was purely the decision of EA. DICE was even surprised to hear of the news, apparently not being told by the publisher.
For Battlefield fans this is nothing new. The franchise's first foray into the console world, Battlefield: Bad Company, had a similar plan, but backlash caused EA to cancel the idea. For the publisher to try the same trick again for one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 is a questionable business move given the circumstances. A poll conducted on the franchise's official website claims 94% disapprove of the idea of pre-order downloadable content. It gives players an unfair advantage, and considering the heightened competitiveness that comes with any Battlefield release, the situation could get ugly.
Why Battlefield has such a successful multiplayer component is the care DICE takes to balance all classes and maps. Maps are carefully constructed to not give one side a distinct advantage over the opponent and weapons are given the same treatment. DICE must be steaming because the introduction of new weapons, maps and ammo only a certain percentage of players will have corrupts that delicate balance. And that's partly why pre-order downloadable content is a nuisance.
Honestly though, it's hard to blame EA for doing this. Battlefield 3 had a massive reception this week, and the gameplay has gamers worldwide salivating. While the move might be questionable, EA is looking to fully monetize any release they do publish and Battlefield 3 could be their biggest release this year. And the jostling between the publisher and Activision doesn't help either. EA knows people will buy into this, and the millions of complaints they receive won't change their decision. At least it seems that way.
Another question remains: is EA purposely stripping content from the main game to sell separately? The company won't come out and say explicitly if this is the case, but it does lead to the whole debate gamers have feared for a long time. Just last month, questions arose over the downloadable content of L.A. Noire and if Rockstar knowingly committed the same act. (An idea for another blog post!)
As the fanbase grows angrier and the pre-order count lowers, EA will be prompted to make a statement. Nothing will be clarified, however, and more controversy will arise. More stuff for us bloggers to rant about. I can thank the publisher for that.
Just an update: Episode 23 of BelowRadar is set to go live later today. Listen in at http://belowradarpodcast.podbean.com to get our thoughts on the Wii U, Microsoft's laughable conference and Sony's new handheld, the Vita. It was a fun show to record; I know because I was there!
For Battlefield fans this is nothing new. The franchise's first foray into the console world, Battlefield: Bad Company, had a similar plan, but backlash caused EA to cancel the idea. For the publisher to try the same trick again for one of the most anticipated releases of 2011 is a questionable business move given the circumstances. A poll conducted on the franchise's official website claims 94% disapprove of the idea of pre-order downloadable content. It gives players an unfair advantage, and considering the heightened competitiveness that comes with any Battlefield release, the situation could get ugly.
Why Battlefield has such a successful multiplayer component is the care DICE takes to balance all classes and maps. Maps are carefully constructed to not give one side a distinct advantage over the opponent and weapons are given the same treatment. DICE must be steaming because the introduction of new weapons, maps and ammo only a certain percentage of players will have corrupts that delicate balance. And that's partly why pre-order downloadable content is a nuisance.
Honestly though, it's hard to blame EA for doing this. Battlefield 3 had a massive reception this week, and the gameplay has gamers worldwide salivating. While the move might be questionable, EA is looking to fully monetize any release they do publish and Battlefield 3 could be their biggest release this year. And the jostling between the publisher and Activision doesn't help either. EA knows people will buy into this, and the millions of complaints they receive won't change their decision. At least it seems that way.
Another question remains: is EA purposely stripping content from the main game to sell separately? The company won't come out and say explicitly if this is the case, but it does lead to the whole debate gamers have feared for a long time. Just last month, questions arose over the downloadable content of L.A. Noire and if Rockstar knowingly committed the same act. (An idea for another blog post!)
As the fanbase grows angrier and the pre-order count lowers, EA will be prompted to make a statement. Nothing will be clarified, however, and more controversy will arise. More stuff for us bloggers to rant about. I can thank the publisher for that.
Just an update: Episode 23 of BelowRadar is set to go live later today. Listen in at http://belowradarpodcast.podbean.com to get our thoughts on the Wii U, Microsoft's laughable conference and Sony's new handheld, the Vita. It was a fun show to record; I know because I was there!
The Future of My Blog: Seeking Some Advice
Since I have only been blogging for six months now, my blogging career (if you want to call it that) has been short. Therefore, my experience in my field is limited. And so I am writing this post for anyone reading my blog: I need some advice. Some advice regarding where I should take this. Do I try and monetize? How often do I post and how long should each post be?
There's really two ways to go about maintaining a blog: writing short, factually heavy posts, or posting once a day and going in-depth. I'd prefer to do the latter because not only am I trying to inform you, my readers, about the video game industry, but slowly I am gathering more information as well. Expanding my knowledge. The aim is make my posts more informative, more interesting and take a unique look at my beloved hobby.
I'm not expecting the vast readership sites like IGN, Kotaku and other gaming blogs receive daily, but it would be nice to have gaming fans who appreciate what I have to say and how I approach those opinions. Mixing genres is something I've tried in the past, covering every type out there, to less-than-stellar results. I don't plan on posting daily cosplay stories to get cheap viewership from horny, desperate teenagers, or use excessive language to demonstrate how angry a person can get. I am just a simple gaming fan who wants his opinions heard.
The issue with running a blog with little experience doing so is the ability to market oneself online. The key to gaining readership is a slow process - encouraging friends to tell friends, leaving comments on other prominent blogs, networking - and through my efforts I have nothing to show for it. And so I turn to you all, even the people who take one glance and never return again, to tell your gaming buddies to check out my little piece of paradise. Leave updates on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or shoot me an email. Whichever your preferred method, please do so!
The whole idea of social networking is to connect and meet people with similar interests, and I wish to do that with all of you. Everyone has their own opinion and unfortunately the best ones don't get heard often enough. So if you are happy, discouraged, saddened about anything, send me an email and I'll make your voices heard! Or if you own a blog like I do, send me a URL and I'll blatantly steal some of your ideas (with full credit given where credit is due of course) and vice versa.
So I thank you in advance! I am now off to hand out dozens of resumes to places not even looking for people right now. Wish me luck! And may the week go well for you all. Mondays suck.
There's really two ways to go about maintaining a blog: writing short, factually heavy posts, or posting once a day and going in-depth. I'd prefer to do the latter because not only am I trying to inform you, my readers, about the video game industry, but slowly I am gathering more information as well. Expanding my knowledge. The aim is make my posts more informative, more interesting and take a unique look at my beloved hobby.
I'm not expecting the vast readership sites like IGN, Kotaku and other gaming blogs receive daily, but it would be nice to have gaming fans who appreciate what I have to say and how I approach those opinions. Mixing genres is something I've tried in the past, covering every type out there, to less-than-stellar results. I don't plan on posting daily cosplay stories to get cheap viewership from horny, desperate teenagers, or use excessive language to demonstrate how angry a person can get. I am just a simple gaming fan who wants his opinions heard.
The issue with running a blog with little experience doing so is the ability to market oneself online. The key to gaining readership is a slow process - encouraging friends to tell friends, leaving comments on other prominent blogs, networking - and through my efforts I have nothing to show for it. And so I turn to you all, even the people who take one glance and never return again, to tell your gaming buddies to check out my little piece of paradise. Leave updates on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or shoot me an email. Whichever your preferred method, please do so!
The whole idea of social networking is to connect and meet people with similar interests, and I wish to do that with all of you. Everyone has their own opinion and unfortunately the best ones don't get heard often enough. So if you are happy, discouraged, saddened about anything, send me an email and I'll make your voices heard! Or if you own a blog like I do, send me a URL and I'll blatantly steal some of your ideas (with full credit given where credit is due of course) and vice versa.
So I thank you in advance! I am now off to hand out dozens of resumes to places not even looking for people right now. Wish me luck! And may the week go well for you all. Mondays suck.
June 10, 2011
Halo 4 is a Lost Cause
The final cutscene of Halo 3 was one of the most chilling events of my gaming career. There I was, witnessing the ending - the culminating chapter - of one of the greatest franchises ever to grace store shelves. Then word of a prequel surfaced, detailing an important event that saw the beginning of conflict: the fall of Reach. And, again, the final cutscene of Halo: Reach showed (chronologically) the first appearance of the Master Chief. A nice homage to one of gaming's greatest heroes.
I thought the story was done. And that's why a new trilogy is so troublesome. The third game had a fitting ending, a solemn ending to a prominent franchise. Then eventually sequels come out showing other battles in the lore and everyone moves on. Other games attempt to blatantly replicate the formula presuming the franchise is dead-and-buried, and get shunned into mediocrity. Even more so now because the franchise is still kicking.
The Halo fanbase is very unique - they actually care about the story of a first-person shooter. It was universally accepted the series saw its end, and fans were anxiously waiting for other installments including the long-rumoured Halo Combat Evolved high definition remake. Then Bungie made the gravest announcement: any future Halo games after Reach they wouldn't be involved with. The franchise was Bungie's baby, and to have the original developer disappear from future projects killed hype. Bungie realized the franchise was slowly getting stagnant and moved on to a very lucrative deal with Activision. Yet Microsoft didn't get the message.
Unless the existing Halo fanbase is very engaged in the storyline, the new trilogy won't be seeing double-digit millions of units sold. Though, if 343 Industries manages to exceed expectations with a solid multiplayer component, I'll retract my previous statement. I don't know the developer very well, but they better understand Halo fans globally are keeping an eye on how they follow in the footsteps of their beloved Bungie.
There could be more excitement if Microsoft didn't categorically fail at leaking their biggest announcement. Reaction to the news was expectedly mixed, though most were bitter. Late next year will see the re-emergence of this huge franchise. Things will get toasty. Yes, toasty.
I thought the story was done. And that's why a new trilogy is so troublesome. The third game had a fitting ending, a solemn ending to a prominent franchise. Then eventually sequels come out showing other battles in the lore and everyone moves on. Other games attempt to blatantly replicate the formula presuming the franchise is dead-and-buried, and get shunned into mediocrity. Even more so now because the franchise is still kicking.
The Halo fanbase is very unique - they actually care about the story of a first-person shooter. It was universally accepted the series saw its end, and fans were anxiously waiting for other installments including the long-rumoured Halo Combat Evolved high definition remake. Then Bungie made the gravest announcement: any future Halo games after Reach they wouldn't be involved with. The franchise was Bungie's baby, and to have the original developer disappear from future projects killed hype. Bungie realized the franchise was slowly getting stagnant and moved on to a very lucrative deal with Activision. Yet Microsoft didn't get the message.
Unless the existing Halo fanbase is very engaged in the storyline, the new trilogy won't be seeing double-digit millions of units sold. Though, if 343 Industries manages to exceed expectations with a solid multiplayer component, I'll retract my previous statement. I don't know the developer very well, but they better understand Halo fans globally are keeping an eye on how they follow in the footsteps of their beloved Bungie.
There could be more excitement if Microsoft didn't categorically fail at leaking their biggest announcement. Reaction to the news was expectedly mixed, though most were bitter. Late next year will see the re-emergence of this huge franchise. Things will get toasty. Yes, toasty.
June 8, 2011
Gears of War 3 - Horde Mode 2.0!
The Lambent Leviathan was awesome. That boss fight expresses what makes the Gears franchise spectacular; the great lengths humankind will strive to for survival. Flooding the last bastion of hope to defeat their most violent foe, the Locust. Collapsing Jericho, humanity's safe haven, could have meant the end of the struggle. Yet, the enemy is resilient in their fight, and now a new force rises to threaten the existence of both species.
And I'll carry over that oath to vanquish all foes in the revamped Horde mode for Gears of War 3. A vilified multiplayer experience brought Horde to prominence in Gears 2, and the idea of fending off wave after wave has now been replicated in the dozens, oftentimes met with failure. The success of the mode drove gamers to go back again-and-again, and the satisfaction of going wave 1-50 on Insane is an unmatched feeling. I've only felt the same level of satisfaction from completing one of the best trilogies of all time, Halo.
Gears of War 2 thus created a phenomenon in gaming. Many games the last two years have tried and failed to blatantly copy what Gears accomplished, and it is for that reason I am proud to have wasted so many hours slaughtering Locust. With Gears of War 3 launching this September, Epic gave us details of how Horde will operate. The formula has been dramatically changed; for the better or worse remains to be seen.
Epic has aptly named the reinvented mode "Horde 2.0" and the improvements are imminent. Focusing more on survival than just killing enemies, Horde will implore many elements seen from other games copying the mode. In Gears 2, every tenth wave was met with an onslaught of wild creatures named Bloodmounts (a pain on Insane). Now, the tenth waves will include random boss encounters alongside a continuous army of enemies. Brumaks, Reavers or the dreaded Berserker will all make appearances. Aiding in the fight will be Monday Night Combat meets the Zombie mode from Call of Duty. Towers, ammo and resurrection within a round can all be bought given the player has enough points gathered from killing enemies. The original Horde mode was ridiculously fun, obnoxiously addictive and always presented a challenge; the new mode will still retain that deep challenging gameplay with an armoury at one's disposal.
Challenges will be awarded through the randomly-generated waves (Thank you! The waves were highly predictable.) for either experience or points (that information wasn't said). This way one kill is actually significant while before it only meant one was closer to Seriously 2.0. Someone having enough points could spell success or failure within a round, and clearly the heart will be beating faster. I don't want to be too stressed while playing, but the urgency will only heightens the senses.
Evolving the perfect mode couldn't be easy. The originally Horde mode was wonderfully constructed and will always hold a special place in my gaming heart, and this news just made me even more excited for September 20. Anyone have real life fast forwarding superpowers?
And I'll carry over that oath to vanquish all foes in the revamped Horde mode for Gears of War 3. A vilified multiplayer experience brought Horde to prominence in Gears 2, and the idea of fending off wave after wave has now been replicated in the dozens, oftentimes met with failure. The success of the mode drove gamers to go back again-and-again, and the satisfaction of going wave 1-50 on Insane is an unmatched feeling. I've only felt the same level of satisfaction from completing one of the best trilogies of all time, Halo.
Gears of War 2 thus created a phenomenon in gaming. Many games the last two years have tried and failed to blatantly copy what Gears accomplished, and it is for that reason I am proud to have wasted so many hours slaughtering Locust. With Gears of War 3 launching this September, Epic gave us details of how Horde will operate. The formula has been dramatically changed; for the better or worse remains to be seen.
Epic has aptly named the reinvented mode "Horde 2.0" and the improvements are imminent. Focusing more on survival than just killing enemies, Horde will implore many elements seen from other games copying the mode. In Gears 2, every tenth wave was met with an onslaught of wild creatures named Bloodmounts (a pain on Insane). Now, the tenth waves will include random boss encounters alongside a continuous army of enemies. Brumaks, Reavers or the dreaded Berserker will all make appearances. Aiding in the fight will be Monday Night Combat meets the Zombie mode from Call of Duty. Towers, ammo and resurrection within a round can all be bought given the player has enough points gathered from killing enemies. The original Horde mode was ridiculously fun, obnoxiously addictive and always presented a challenge; the new mode will still retain that deep challenging gameplay with an armoury at one's disposal.
Challenges will be awarded through the randomly-generated waves (Thank you! The waves were highly predictable.) for either experience or points (that information wasn't said). This way one kill is actually significant while before it only meant one was closer to Seriously 2.0. Someone having enough points could spell success or failure within a round, and clearly the heart will be beating faster. I don't want to be too stressed while playing, but the urgency will only heightens the senses.
Evolving the perfect mode couldn't be easy. The originally Horde mode was wonderfully constructed and will always hold a special place in my gaming heart, and this news just made me even more excited for September 20. Anyone have real life fast forwarding superpowers?
The Wii U!
The new console was no surprise to anyone, and it still managed to make a splash. How Nintendo does it year-after-year-after-year is baffling. "Project Cafe" is now public knowledge and every half-witted person is opining on the innovative idea. The Wii U, whether considered a direct or spiritual successor to the motion control monolith, is simple and brilliant in concept. The hardcore felt abandoned after Nintendo unveiled the Wii, and its sequel will make up for lost time.
Basically combining the idea of a tablet with a traditional home console, the talking point is the controller. Shipping with a six-inch screen, a game is fully playable on both the television and the controller itself. Backward compatibility was heavily emphasized during the conference, and while that news is great, we can look forward to a new Pikmin and Super Smash Bros. with more titles to come.
Reactions were mixed, but that was the exact same reaction at E3 2005 to the Wii. First seeing the console I was skeptical, as most people were, though seeing it in action was positive. Particularly nice was being able to play while someone else watches TV. Siblings won't have to throw punches now. But this design shows a new face in gaming - the rise of social gaming on tablets hasn't been captured by the console-makers yet, and the Wii U controller is a push toward embracing that idea. The new form of Nintendo perhaps?
The controller is also touch-sensitive; for example, in the demo the player throws ninja stars by gliding his hand over the device. Nintendo is officially trying to be the Apple of gaming - innovating but being sly about it. Sneaky bastards.
The name... the name. The "Wii U?" Yes, the first system's name was meant to be a pun - encouraging multiple people to play at once - but now the name is a contradiction. What does Nintendo want? Us or me to play? I am confused. What a peculiar predicament to find myself.
Does Nintendo have the golden ticket this time around or will the eighth generation of consoles get a rocky start? Late 2012 can't come fast enough.
Basically combining the idea of a tablet with a traditional home console, the talking point is the controller. Shipping with a six-inch screen, a game is fully playable on both the television and the controller itself. Backward compatibility was heavily emphasized during the conference, and while that news is great, we can look forward to a new Pikmin and Super Smash Bros. with more titles to come.
Reactions were mixed, but that was the exact same reaction at E3 2005 to the Wii. First seeing the console I was skeptical, as most people were, though seeing it in action was positive. Particularly nice was being able to play while someone else watches TV. Siblings won't have to throw punches now. But this design shows a new face in gaming - the rise of social gaming on tablets hasn't been captured by the console-makers yet, and the Wii U controller is a push toward embracing that idea. The new form of Nintendo perhaps?
The controller is also touch-sensitive; for example, in the demo the player throws ninja stars by gliding his hand over the device. Nintendo is officially trying to be the Apple of gaming - innovating but being sly about it. Sneaky bastards.
The name... the name. The "Wii U?" Yes, the first system's name was meant to be a pun - encouraging multiple people to play at once - but now the name is a contradiction. What does Nintendo want? Us or me to play? I am confused. What a peculiar predicament to find myself.
Does Nintendo have the golden ticket this time around or will the eighth generation of consoles get a rocky start? Late 2012 can't come fast enough.
Thoughts on the MS Conference - E3
This year's conference proved many things, one being Microsoft can't put on a good conference. I'm not going to say Nintendo "won" the conference - though they were leagues ahead of Microsoft - but M$ should really ask the Japanese how to perform on stage. Not EVERYTHING needs Kinect support. Not EVERY conference has to start with fifteen minutes of Call of Duty. Lastly, the BIGGEST announcements SHOULDN'T be leaked before the damn event.
We start with a hilarious opening: Robert Bowling's controller dying. Some preparation and a flawless presentation is appreciated. Modern Warfare 3 looks generally the same as its annualized brethren, with explosive action and an extremely detailed look at Manhattan. Arguably the coolest mission in Modern Warfare 2 is back as the protagonist, known as "Frost" alongside partner "Sandman", must tail a Russian submarine underwater. A crazy raft sequence followed, reminiscent of the snowmobile chase from Modern Warfare 2. Fans of the franchise can expect the same gameplay and hopefully a better constructed storyline.
Lara Croft is back, and bloodied, and can seemingly travel long distances with a few broken ribs. I'm not doubting her ability, just those ribs shifting would cause extreme pain. The new Tomb Raider showcased several minutes of the first gameplay shown, and I am mightily impressed. The young heroine is now 21 and shipwrecked on a dangerous island. She's eventually captured, and that was all revealed. This game oozes grittiness and definitely takes a more believable look at the adventures of Ms. Croft. This will be an origin story and it's great to see Lara's background, whereas before she's often an attractive, forgettable template. One prominent mechanic was shown: using "survival instincts", Lara is able to pinpoint items in the room to help solve puzzles. This better not make the game easy.
Kinect. Kinect, Kinect, Kinect. Too much Kinect. Motion control overload. For some games the application of voice recognition is just badass, like in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, and very applicable to difficult scenarios in Mass Effect 3. One concern I have is the EA Sports lineup being operational on the device. Tiger Woods, Madden NFL, FIFA and others are getting integration while no news was divulged on other franchises. Cryptic also showed a Roman-era gladiator combat game titled Ryse; nothing to report as of yet. Microsoft is making a poor attempt on trying to appeal to the hardcore. If I ever considered buying the device, I'd want solid Kinect exclusive games where a controller can't be used. Good games, and not ones already done by the Wii.
Hearing Mass Effect 3 is getting Kinect support wasn't a major surprise and the gameplay demo did reveal some things. First off, there was a major spoiler. For people paying attention to the dialogue, did they find a cure to the Genophage (a disease introduced by the Salarians aimed to quell the Krogan Rebellions)? If so, Wrex can finally rest in peace. And it was finally great to see Ashley let her hair down! I work my best to notice the smallest things.
Microsoft LOVES the colour white. I was watching the conference sitting about eight feet from the TV, and yet the new dashboard still hurt my eyes. But a new dashboard does make sense for their rebranding measure, changing from a gaming machine to an entertainment center. YouTube is finally seeing the light on Xbox Live, stuff is now searchable using the Google-wannabe Bing, and live TV will now stream on the service. Think of it as a virtual cable box, bringing channels like HBO and Showtime to the mainstream gaming audience. Partnerships are still to be announced, but the package is promising. The most awesome aspect was the UFC being available with an informative dashboard and to communicate with friends while streaming. Tons of interactivity as well.
Silverback mechs! I cannot wait. The Gears of War 3 campaign demo was exactly what any fan could ask for, showing an intense boss encounter with a Lambent Leviathan. That freaky eye gave me nightmares. Clear and easily identifiable objective markers were also added (more useful than people think). I got lost a few times playing through the Gears of War 2 campaign.
The console's baby franchise, Halo, made news before the conference, as Microsoft made the stupid mistake of leaking their biggest announcement, the finale of their damn showing, BEFORE the fun started. Halo 4, the start of a new trilogy by 343 Industries, revitalizes the franchise as the Master Chief is awoken and welcomed by what looks like a Frontrunner vessel. The Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition will hold over fans until next year with high-definition graphics, co-op and online multiplayer.
Other major announcements include Minecraft on consoles, Fable The Journey, more Forza Motorsport 4 tidbits, the Sesame Street simulator Once Upon A Monster and Kinect FunLabs (let the imagination run wild).
Microsoft has never truly been successful at E3, and we have yet to see a mind-blowing showing. Disappointing really because this year Microsoft had the most to prove. More announcements would be nice, and not every single thing needs Kinect support. There's always next year.
We start with a hilarious opening: Robert Bowling's controller dying. Some preparation and a flawless presentation is appreciated. Modern Warfare 3 looks generally the same as its annualized brethren, with explosive action and an extremely detailed look at Manhattan. Arguably the coolest mission in Modern Warfare 2 is back as the protagonist, known as "Frost" alongside partner "Sandman", must tail a Russian submarine underwater. A crazy raft sequence followed, reminiscent of the snowmobile chase from Modern Warfare 2. Fans of the franchise can expect the same gameplay and hopefully a better constructed storyline.
Lara Croft is back, and bloodied, and can seemingly travel long distances with a few broken ribs. I'm not doubting her ability, just those ribs shifting would cause extreme pain. The new Tomb Raider showcased several minutes of the first gameplay shown, and I am mightily impressed. The young heroine is now 21 and shipwrecked on a dangerous island. She's eventually captured, and that was all revealed. This game oozes grittiness and definitely takes a more believable look at the adventures of Ms. Croft. This will be an origin story and it's great to see Lara's background, whereas before she's often an attractive, forgettable template. One prominent mechanic was shown: using "survival instincts", Lara is able to pinpoint items in the room to help solve puzzles. This better not make the game easy.
Kinect. Kinect, Kinect, Kinect. Too much Kinect. Motion control overload. For some games the application of voice recognition is just badass, like in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, and very applicable to difficult scenarios in Mass Effect 3. One concern I have is the EA Sports lineup being operational on the device. Tiger Woods, Madden NFL, FIFA and others are getting integration while no news was divulged on other franchises. Cryptic also showed a Roman-era gladiator combat game titled Ryse; nothing to report as of yet. Microsoft is making a poor attempt on trying to appeal to the hardcore. If I ever considered buying the device, I'd want solid Kinect exclusive games where a controller can't be used. Good games, and not ones already done by the Wii.
Hearing Mass Effect 3 is getting Kinect support wasn't a major surprise and the gameplay demo did reveal some things. First off, there was a major spoiler. For people paying attention to the dialogue, did they find a cure to the Genophage (a disease introduced by the Salarians aimed to quell the Krogan Rebellions)? If so, Wrex can finally rest in peace. And it was finally great to see Ashley let her hair down! I work my best to notice the smallest things.
Microsoft LOVES the colour white. I was watching the conference sitting about eight feet from the TV, and yet the new dashboard still hurt my eyes. But a new dashboard does make sense for their rebranding measure, changing from a gaming machine to an entertainment center. YouTube is finally seeing the light on Xbox Live, stuff is now searchable using the Google-wannabe Bing, and live TV will now stream on the service. Think of it as a virtual cable box, bringing channels like HBO and Showtime to the mainstream gaming audience. Partnerships are still to be announced, but the package is promising. The most awesome aspect was the UFC being available with an informative dashboard and to communicate with friends while streaming. Tons of interactivity as well.
Silverback mechs! I cannot wait. The Gears of War 3 campaign demo was exactly what any fan could ask for, showing an intense boss encounter with a Lambent Leviathan. That freaky eye gave me nightmares. Clear and easily identifiable objective markers were also added (more useful than people think). I got lost a few times playing through the Gears of War 2 campaign.
The console's baby franchise, Halo, made news before the conference, as Microsoft made the stupid mistake of leaking their biggest announcement, the finale of their damn showing, BEFORE the fun started. Halo 4, the start of a new trilogy by 343 Industries, revitalizes the franchise as the Master Chief is awoken and welcomed by what looks like a Frontrunner vessel. The Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition will hold over fans until next year with high-definition graphics, co-op and online multiplayer.
Other major announcements include Minecraft on consoles, Fable The Journey, more Forza Motorsport 4 tidbits, the Sesame Street simulator Once Upon A Monster and Kinect FunLabs (let the imagination run wild).
Microsoft has never truly been successful at E3, and we have yet to see a mind-blowing showing. Disappointing really because this year Microsoft had the most to prove. More announcements would be nice, and not every single thing needs Kinect support. There's always next year.
June 5, 2011
Why "Winning" E3 is Pointless
There is this rampant obsession within the gaming industry of which company could possibly "win" the conference. Having a successful response to a showing certainly gives that corporation momentum, but they don't flaunt their newfound stardom up and down the streets of Los Angeles wearing blue swede shoes (Okay, I made that last part up). These companies graciously spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on lavish circus performances, laser tag battles, terrible actors and the occasional drunk host so us gaming outlets will have to something boast about a week or two. The group is given a heightened state of awareness in the public eye for what, maybe a week? Then it goes back to the typical jostling we've come to know and love.
Don't get me wrong for one second - the conference is truly important, some even consider it the pinnacle of gaming in its current form. A way for companies to reach a hand-picked audience, 80, 000 members of the press and the rest of the globe. But, someone has to play the bearer of bad news and I was hired to take the role (the pay is liveable). After all the excitement dissipates and people are ultimately disappointed, the industry goes back to the way it was before. Microsoft will still have barely nothing for the core audience, Sony will still be reeling from the PSN attacks, and Nintendo's popularity will be waning until late next year.
All of these companies are in unique situations, so it is pointless to declare a "winner". They have their focuses on completely different things, mostly out of their control. For example, Sony will be using the time to play crowd control and reassure everyone their console is still playable. Microsoft, who considers themselves bringers of the the renaissance of motion control, will be shoving Kinect so hard down our throats, we will see peoples' heads pop off in the crowd as we watch in horror. And for Nintendo, they'll just be pushing the Wii until Project Cafe comes out, and hopefully explain why the 3DS sank in sales.
A month even before announcements are made official, there is rumour overkill. And, as is the case with Project Cafe, secrets are confirmed before their showing. This pre-babbling nonsense ruins the fun of the conference and takes away the WOW factor. Impeccably done by the guys at Eurogamer to first find out the existence of a new console from Nintendo, but the big news gets tossed around like a ten cent whore and now everyone knows. Companies used to be reticent about their secrets, and now since the industry has gotten bigger and given more attention, my eagerness for the conference is slowly dissolving.
The last annoyance I have is how conspicuous the entire event has become. Why bother hiring Cirque du Soleil to show off your product and instead show us how the bloody thing works? This "jazzing up", trying to make everything pretty and glorious, is just a pathetic and wasteful way of drawing the masses from other conferences. A pointless endeavour because companies present at different times. I am watching these presentations to figure out what I'll be spending money on and consuming in the next year, not to see how impressive your corporate dollars are. If that is the intent, why don't companies just abandon E3 and hold their own conferences where there are no limits? Rent out the Staples Center and hold your own version of BlizzCon.
I'll always love the Electronic Entertainment Expo but some things have to change. A cap on expenditures and a time limit will cut down the uselessness and wastefulness of each company's showing. I want to hear about games, not dance about them damnit!
Don't get me wrong for one second - the conference is truly important, some even consider it the pinnacle of gaming in its current form. A way for companies to reach a hand-picked audience, 80, 000 members of the press and the rest of the globe. But, someone has to play the bearer of bad news and I was hired to take the role (the pay is liveable). After all the excitement dissipates and people are ultimately disappointed, the industry goes back to the way it was before. Microsoft will still have barely nothing for the core audience, Sony will still be reeling from the PSN attacks, and Nintendo's popularity will be waning until late next year.
All of these companies are in unique situations, so it is pointless to declare a "winner". They have their focuses on completely different things, mostly out of their control. For example, Sony will be using the time to play crowd control and reassure everyone their console is still playable. Microsoft, who considers themselves bringers of the the renaissance of motion control, will be shoving Kinect so hard down our throats, we will see peoples' heads pop off in the crowd as we watch in horror. And for Nintendo, they'll just be pushing the Wii until Project Cafe comes out, and hopefully explain why the 3DS sank in sales.
A month even before announcements are made official, there is rumour overkill. And, as is the case with Project Cafe, secrets are confirmed before their showing. This pre-babbling nonsense ruins the fun of the conference and takes away the WOW factor. Impeccably done by the guys at Eurogamer to first find out the existence of a new console from Nintendo, but the big news gets tossed around like a ten cent whore and now everyone knows. Companies used to be reticent about their secrets, and now since the industry has gotten bigger and given more attention, my eagerness for the conference is slowly dissolving.
The last annoyance I have is how conspicuous the entire event has become. Why bother hiring Cirque du Soleil to show off your product and instead show us how the bloody thing works? This "jazzing up", trying to make everything pretty and glorious, is just a pathetic and wasteful way of drawing the masses from other conferences. A pointless endeavour because companies present at different times. I am watching these presentations to figure out what I'll be spending money on and consuming in the next year, not to see how impressive your corporate dollars are. If that is the intent, why don't companies just abandon E3 and hold their own conferences where there are no limits? Rent out the Staples Center and hold your own version of BlizzCon.
I'll always love the Electronic Entertainment Expo but some things have to change. A cap on expenditures and a time limit will cut down the uselessness and wastefulness of each company's showing. I want to hear about games, not dance about them damnit!
June 4, 2011
Writing About E3
Another personal blog entry. It's storming outside and reminded me of the shitstorm about to happen in a few days. My blogging/writing career has existed for only a short while so I haven't seen truly what major conferences are like for the media. I have seen the conferences, I watch as many as I can out of pure interest; but this time, coming from a journalist's perspective, my experience will be different. Scribbling down dozens of pages of notes, from the major announcements to announcements with little impact, from the ridiculous to the incredulous, from the heart-pumping to the disappointing. Hundreds of new games are brought to light, and even some new console tidbits are thrown into the mix as well. It'll be an exciting time, and I hope everyone currently reading this does watch each conference.
I did my analysis of what to expect from the console manufacturers and I had planned to do the publishers as well, but most of their announcements are pretty straightforward. Activision will be shoving Modern Warfare 3 and Elite down our throats, EA will be pushing Battlefield 3, etc. If you want to see a full list, check out IGN or any gaming sites who actually have the time to detail each conference. Certainly, I want the ability to, but being unemployed has hindered my desire to sit back and write.
Though, all is not lost. During each conference I will be posting updates on this blog and also live-blogging for RipTen.com. I ask you nicely to stay connected to my lovely video games blog and RipTen for the best analysis anywhere. Two days to go.
LET THE HYPE TRAIN COMMENCE! ALL ABOARD!
I did my analysis of what to expect from the console manufacturers and I had planned to do the publishers as well, but most of their announcements are pretty straightforward. Activision will be shoving Modern Warfare 3 and Elite down our throats, EA will be pushing Battlefield 3, etc. If you want to see a full list, check out IGN or any gaming sites who actually have the time to detail each conference. Certainly, I want the ability to, but being unemployed has hindered my desire to sit back and write.
Though, all is not lost. During each conference I will be posting updates on this blog and also live-blogging for RipTen.com. I ask you nicely to stay connected to my lovely video games blog and RipTen for the best analysis anywhere. Two days to go.
LET THE HYPE TRAIN COMMENCE! ALL ABOARD!
June 3, 2011
Duke Nukem Forever Finally Coming
A feeling of shock or despair or some other odd feeling overcame me when I wrote that title. Duke Nukem Forever, the long-in-development-hell game from 3D Realms-now-Gearbox, is expected to come out June 10 in Europe and June 14 in North America. I italicized "expected" for a reason.
It's almost surreal to believe a game first developed in 1997 hasn't been released yet. In that time, two generations of consoles have graced us, with a third being shown before the game comes out. Bluntly speaking, that is pathetic. Various issues doomed the project from the very beginning. Twelve years later, in 2009, 3D Realms was downsized and half the studio was let go, severely deterring development. When news broke, I first thought Forever would be forever stuck in video game limbo. Sure it was great to hear Gearbox took over development duties (a developer I thoroughly admire; I can't wait for Borderworlds to be shown at E3) but where does that leave potential for other games in the franchise? Duke Nukem is 3D's baby and it feels wrong to play a franchise practically stolen away from them. Not that I'm blaming Gearbox or anything; the prime opportunity to snatch up an established franchise? I would have done the deal as well.
The main reason why I'm especially excited to see the game come out is so we can stop talking about it. I used to see at least a dozen reports every week regarding Duke Nukem Forever and that many stories on the same topic will make any news junkie go insane. But it's great to see the game go gold from pre-orders. Personally, I couldn't care less about Forever; the franchises' misogyny is a great mockery of today's societal standards but I have no interest. Call me a supporter of womens' rights or something like that.
First gameplay demos show classic Duke Nukem, which is a double-edged sword. The game is apparently not losing its classic roots (what the series is known for) but being in development for so long, Forever has shown its age. What essentially looked like a PS2 game was being pushed heavily before its release. E3 should be interesting; let the jokes and ads fly.
Only Gearbox knows whether Duke Nukem could possibly return to its former glory. That question will be tossed around once Forever is actually confirmed for release. We still have a week for it to be delayed. I'll crap myself laughing if I am actually right.
The China Conundrum: The Rise of Gold-Farming
While some see MMOs as a way to waste an afternoon, others rely on the genre to feed their families. For the past decade, a new industry has boomed in popularity on the Silk Road: gold-farming. The practice of playing a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) solely to attain in-game currency to sell to other players. In the business hub of gold-farming, China, there is an estimated 100, 000 "professional gold-farmers" who rake in $200 million USD each year. It's not surprising given the formidable success of games like World of Warcraft, and how loosely the Chinese government has handled this situation.
This massive problem made headlines last week when Chinese prisoners claimed they were used as gold-farming slaves instead of doing hard labour. If they didn't meet their designated quota, they were severely beaten. Brutality in prisons is one thing, but this is just downright cruel. The gold-farming done would make the guards an estimated $770 USD per day. Technically the practice is legal in China because the supposed ban implemented last year doesn't apply to in-game items, that including virtual currency. Gold-farming is recognized as a legitimate business in the country, also in South Korea, where it is taxed.
Thought to have started in 2001, Korean Internet cafes became a hotbed for the illicit activity. When World of Warcraft launched in 2004, the business slowly seeped into China and quickly grew in popularity and profitability. Now the industry is worth $200 million USD annually and increasing each year. China harbours the largest online population globally at 477 million Internet users, so I'd say the profits rise quickly.
An MMORPG is highly reflective of how society operates, and prices will fluctuate by how much gold is being traded between players. A high influx of currency disrupts this flow and causes prices to drop drastically, thus eradicating potential profits. (For a fun fact: MMOs are often studied by sociologists to see how society will react in different situations; it's fascinating stuff, check it out!) And China's refusal to dignify gold-farming as a problem (and recognizing the business legitimately) is to blame. Blizzard can only close accounts being reported by players and a subscription base of 11.5 million is a lot to manage.
Disastrous effects on the game economy aren't the only detriment. Through illicit means like botting, spamming or keylogging, the players' personal information is also at risk. I've been hacked before and it's not a fun experience. It was early in my World of Warcraft career too, and part of me wanted to quit entirely. Glad I didn't though. That's why Blizzard introduced the Authenticator, a random number generator used to log in. Gold-farmers often spend many sleepless nights stealing accounts to try and put food on the table (or not get beaten to death).
Though prominent in MMOs, the business affects other services as well. Last year Zynga sued PlayerAuctions.com for unlawful sales of in-game currencies over the company's popular Facebook games, Farmville and Mafia Wars. Capitalizing on this, Zynga later filed a patent to officially sell in-game currencies offered by the company. The developer set a precedent for social game makers, and around the same time Disney and EA picked up their own social studios. Zynga is now looking to file an IPO so the move really helped them out economically.
China may be the hub for gold-farming, but not all players from the country partake in the activity. It's a common misconception by English-speaking players that all Chinese players are in fact gold-farmers, which is purely false. Back in 2006, Eurogamer ran a story on such a case. "Tales of Warcraft", a now-dormant Mandarin World of Warcraft site, had 7, 000 claims of discrimination from English speakers. Many accused Chinese players of only playing for commercial gain. That's not the truth though.
Gold-farming will exist as long as MMOs exist. Right now nothing can be done to stop its success, but as the genre evolves into something more interactive, I believe we'll see some innovative ways developers handle this issue. Got any thoughts? Shoot them Blizzard's way.
P.S. I wrote this in about fifteen minutes. I'm impressed with myself. Also please re-tweet if you bother to read this! It helps me get noticed and I can't thank you guys enough. I try my best to keep you guys informed.
P.S. I wrote this in about fifteen minutes. I'm impressed with myself. Also please re-tweet if you bother to read this! It helps me get noticed and I can't thank you guys enough. I try my best to keep you guys informed.
June 1, 2011
The Elitism of Call of Duty
The following statement was said with the most enthusiasm a person can muster: Modern Warfare 3 is coming this year!
What a... surprise? Will anyone be shocked by this announcement? The entire plot leaked with the multiplayer details won't affect sales, but here is something we actually didn't expect. A pay-for-play model of Call of Duty was rumoured, but I expected such a game to be a separate release. Call of Duty: Elite, supposedly being showcased at E3, was leaked early and now everyone is giving their take.
Anyone not a fan of Call of Duty will revel in the ubiquitous hatred toward the franchise and toward Activision, and this will just elevate that hatred. Though the crowd is full of journalists who try to remain unbiased, there's going to be one or two people throwing out boos. The service will probably be first mentioned during Microsoft's conference but unveiled fully during Activision's run.
It is completely in Activision's right to monetize the cash-cow, but really? A game every year and an MMO-style game to boot is just ridiculous. This game will take off because the 13-year-olds who still play Call of Duty will beg their parents to pay the subscription. Some speculated the price would be a Netflix-type subscription, whereas I say Activision could get away with charging as much as they do for downloadable content. If the community is willing to spend, then Activision will charge accordingly.
In doing this, I hope other developers don't get the same idea. This can break a franchise, and Activision will pay the hefty price of losing their crown jewel.
Is it possible? Leave a comment or shoot me an email on your thoughts!
The E3 Analysis - Sony
What could now be considered as cliche, every gaming publication gives their take on how each company could possibly "win" the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3. But with the conference a week away, the excitement is palpable and everyone is roaring to go. As opinions are tossed around like potatoes during a food fight, let the debate begin as to who could take the crown of this corporate battle-royale.
The well-documented, heavily publicized hacking of the PlayStation Network makes Sony's appearance at E3 all that more significant. The company has been extraordinarily generous to its fanbase with the "Welcome Back" program, but was irresponsible for not forewarning consumers their information was at risk. According to Sony the service will be fully operational sometime this week, so fans can finally start rejoicing.
These events occurring so close to the biggest conference in gaming is somewhat of a blessing-in-disguise. The attacks were terrible, obviously, but it gives Sony the most to come back from, and the most to joke about. I don't know if Kevin Butler will be making an appearance this year, however it would be essential to relieving some tension with the audience and viewership. Sony should start with a message to its fan base about the hacking because that will be all the chatter surrounding the company. The new handheld will get some attention but I know for a fact that journalists will find Sony's response at E3 more newsworthy.
While the NGP will soak up the stardom, we can't forget what else Sony has in line for its console this year. The release of Infamous 2 is the same weekend as E3; that baffles me because E3 will be taking the headlines. Sony's conference is scheduled to take place BEFORE the release of the game, so expect them to force it down our throats with simple reminders repeatedly throughout their showing. Other games making an appearance should be Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, Twisted Metal and The Last Guardian. Last year many claimed showing off The Last Guardian could win Sony the conference alone, and that stands true for this year as well. Coming from the developer of such classics like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, we can understand more care will be taken considering Team Ico's previous two releases are coming to the PS3.
Sony let it slip that the PlayStation 4 is currently in development, which makes sense if a 2014 release date is truthful. The company will keep a watchful eye on Nintendo's unveiling of Project Cafe and any info on a potential new system from Microsoft. This generation has been the most competitive of all, and the eight cycle of consoles will get even more heated.
The Vita. Vita? It means "Life" in Italian and I've been very vocal of my feelings toward that name. I get Sony is trying to separate the new handheld from the PSP, but picking such a stupid name will get it bad press. Note that these reports remain unconfirmed but general consensus among those in the-know says Vita is the official name. Otherwise, the system looks rock solid and the audience will have a strong response. It's indicative to point out Sony's previous claim that the NGP was as powerful as the PS3 is impossible unless they want it to have a very, very short battery life. Then reports surfaced the RAM was cut in half to 256MB to ultimately lower the projected price, and to help with an external memory system and not stored memory on the handheld itself. All of Sony's major franchises are anticipated to be on the NGP, including Call of Duty, LittleBigPlanet and Uncharted. We'll get more information June 6.
Sony has the most to gain or lose from their presentation. A solid run would restore some faith in the beleaguered service and missing the mark would be disastrous. I hope the pressure doesn't get to them and the company can come away with a flawless conference. Our faith in the company is depending on this, so Sony, please don't screw it up.
The well-documented, heavily publicized hacking of the PlayStation Network makes Sony's appearance at E3 all that more significant. The company has been extraordinarily generous to its fanbase with the "Welcome Back" program, but was irresponsible for not forewarning consumers their information was at risk. According to Sony the service will be fully operational sometime this week, so fans can finally start rejoicing.
These events occurring so close to the biggest conference in gaming is somewhat of a blessing-in-disguise. The attacks were terrible, obviously, but it gives Sony the most to come back from, and the most to joke about. I don't know if Kevin Butler will be making an appearance this year, however it would be essential to relieving some tension with the audience and viewership. Sony should start with a message to its fan base about the hacking because that will be all the chatter surrounding the company. The new handheld will get some attention but I know for a fact that journalists will find Sony's response at E3 more newsworthy.
While the NGP will soak up the stardom, we can't forget what else Sony has in line for its console this year. The release of Infamous 2 is the same weekend as E3; that baffles me because E3 will be taking the headlines. Sony's conference is scheduled to take place BEFORE the release of the game, so expect them to force it down our throats with simple reminders repeatedly throughout their showing. Other games making an appearance should be Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, Twisted Metal and The Last Guardian. Last year many claimed showing off The Last Guardian could win Sony the conference alone, and that stands true for this year as well. Coming from the developer of such classics like Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, we can understand more care will be taken considering Team Ico's previous two releases are coming to the PS3.
Sony let it slip that the PlayStation 4 is currently in development, which makes sense if a 2014 release date is truthful. The company will keep a watchful eye on Nintendo's unveiling of Project Cafe and any info on a potential new system from Microsoft. This generation has been the most competitive of all, and the eight cycle of consoles will get even more heated.
The Vita. Vita? It means "Life" in Italian and I've been very vocal of my feelings toward that name. I get Sony is trying to separate the new handheld from the PSP, but picking such a stupid name will get it bad press. Note that these reports remain unconfirmed but general consensus among those in the-know says Vita is the official name. Otherwise, the system looks rock solid and the audience will have a strong response. It's indicative to point out Sony's previous claim that the NGP was as powerful as the PS3 is impossible unless they want it to have a very, very short battery life. Then reports surfaced the RAM was cut in half to 256MB to ultimately lower the projected price, and to help with an external memory system and not stored memory on the handheld itself. All of Sony's major franchises are anticipated to be on the NGP, including Call of Duty, LittleBigPlanet and Uncharted. We'll get more information June 6.
Sony has the most to gain or lose from their presentation. A solid run would restore some faith in the beleaguered service and missing the mark would be disastrous. I hope the pressure doesn't get to them and the company can come away with a flawless conference. Our faith in the company is depending on this, so Sony, please don't screw it up.
The E3 Analysis - Nintendo
What could now be considered as cliche, every gaming publication gives their take on how each company could possibly "win" the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3. But with the conference a week away, the excitement is palpable and everyone is roaring to go. As opinions are tossed around like potatoes during a food fight, let the debate begin as to who could take the crown of this corporate battle-royale.
Nintendo has set precedent on how to put on the perfect conference, and somehow the company overshadows its competitors each year. Never failing to disappoint, 2011 is looking like the best yet. Although Project Cafe will get the most attention, I am interested to see how Nintendo will respond to the slower-than-expected sales of the 3DS.
The first talking point is obviously the new console. Rumours are spreading faster than herpes in a hot tub (thank Stephen Colbert for that joke) and the specs have been "leaked" dozens of times. The highly anticipated piece of hardware is reportedly coming out next year and might be playable at the conference. And that's pretty much all we know. Nintendo has been very secretive about their new project, but at least they confirm its existence. When they do present, we can expect a name, a release date, and possibly a hint of their lineup. I've heard distant speculation of a Super Smash Bros. game and Mario title being part of the launch lineup, but we'll have to wait anxiously until the morning of June 7 for confirmation. The conference will be played live on Nintendo's website, so a simple Google search can get you there.
Aside from the new console, the 3DS will be showcased as well. Nintendo's first foray into the three-dimensional world was at first a successful endeavour, but lately sales have slipped. It's unclear why, but Nintendo will have to bring out its best come conference time. Kid Icarus: Uprising, Ocarina of Time 3D and the 3DS Store will all be making an appearance. We can also expect word about Skyward Sword, probably the last big-name title for the Wii.
Many publications have posted quite the range of rumours regarding Nintendo's new console, so realistically the machine could be anything. High definition support and a new online service are probable, a strong launch lineup is almost necessary, and some sort of Wii integration would be an awesome addition. I don't know how exactly they could tie the two consoles together, but knowing Nintendo they have an ingenious trick up their sleeve. Will Nintendo try and win back the hearts of the hardcore, or further embrace its newfound casual audience? Having the Wii preceding it, Nintendo has really put themselves in a spot to dazzle or disappoint.
If the release date is this year or next, I believe Nintendo is acting too hastily. The Wii can still pack a bunch if the catalogue of games continues to be stellar. Though sales of the console itself have diminished, that's only because of age. But sales are still incredibly high given the length of time the console has been available. Microsoft may be winning right now, but the Wii can maintain a high degree of purchases if Nintendo gradually eases the audience toward its new console. The company will likely treat it as the new evolution of gaming and not a direct successor. Doing so would undermine and ultimately alienate the established audience, so staying with what works could be the path to creating maximum profits.
Nintendo is expected to have the strongest showing, though Sony will be hot on their heels. Tomorrow I'll take a look at what Sony could show, and how to appropriately respond to the attacks. Ciao!
Nintendo has set precedent on how to put on the perfect conference, and somehow the company overshadows its competitors each year. Never failing to disappoint, 2011 is looking like the best yet. Although Project Cafe will get the most attention, I am interested to see how Nintendo will respond to the slower-than-expected sales of the 3DS.
The first talking point is obviously the new console. Rumours are spreading faster than herpes in a hot tub (thank Stephen Colbert for that joke) and the specs have been "leaked" dozens of times. The highly anticipated piece of hardware is reportedly coming out next year and might be playable at the conference. And that's pretty much all we know. Nintendo has been very secretive about their new project, but at least they confirm its existence. When they do present, we can expect a name, a release date, and possibly a hint of their lineup. I've heard distant speculation of a Super Smash Bros. game and Mario title being part of the launch lineup, but we'll have to wait anxiously until the morning of June 7 for confirmation. The conference will be played live on Nintendo's website, so a simple Google search can get you there.
Aside from the new console, the 3DS will be showcased as well. Nintendo's first foray into the three-dimensional world was at first a successful endeavour, but lately sales have slipped. It's unclear why, but Nintendo will have to bring out its best come conference time. Kid Icarus: Uprising, Ocarina of Time 3D and the 3DS Store will all be making an appearance. We can also expect word about Skyward Sword, probably the last big-name title for the Wii.
Many publications have posted quite the range of rumours regarding Nintendo's new console, so realistically the machine could be anything. High definition support and a new online service are probable, a strong launch lineup is almost necessary, and some sort of Wii integration would be an awesome addition. I don't know how exactly they could tie the two consoles together, but knowing Nintendo they have an ingenious trick up their sleeve. Will Nintendo try and win back the hearts of the hardcore, or further embrace its newfound casual audience? Having the Wii preceding it, Nintendo has really put themselves in a spot to dazzle or disappoint.
If the release date is this year or next, I believe Nintendo is acting too hastily. The Wii can still pack a bunch if the catalogue of games continues to be stellar. Though sales of the console itself have diminished, that's only because of age. But sales are still incredibly high given the length of time the console has been available. Microsoft may be winning right now, but the Wii can maintain a high degree of purchases if Nintendo gradually eases the audience toward its new console. The company will likely treat it as the new evolution of gaming and not a direct successor. Doing so would undermine and ultimately alienate the established audience, so staying with what works could be the path to creating maximum profits.
Nintendo is expected to have the strongest showing, though Sony will be hot on their heels. Tomorrow I'll take a look at what Sony could show, and how to appropriately respond to the attacks. Ciao!
How Tiny Creatures Changed My Life
Before all the tournaments, the trading cards, the growing fan base and the millions of units sold, Pocket Monsters was a simple idea. A vibrant universe replicating Earth, filled with villages and cities, wonders still unexplored, but with one major difference. It's considered inhumane here to entrap, collect and use animals to do our bidding. Of course that side of Pokemon is never portrayed.
I'm kidding. Seriously, I am. It's no secret to any gaming fan the true impact Nintendo has had with its Pokemon franchise. When the first games were launched here in 1996, I dreamt about the days where a world like this could exist, where thousands upon thousands of people went on adventures with trusty creature companions. The Christmas of '96, as I say in my bio, was a game-changer. Staying up to the wee hours of the morning, developing strategies and devious battle plans to topple my foes; it gave us the sense of imagination nothing else could.
The trading card game commenced shortly thereafter and our imaginations grew even bigger. In my quest to get a holographic Charizard, I opened dozens of card packs and made thousands of trades. Although the card wasn't in mint condition, my gleefulness overcame my fear of dancing in public and I did my special victory dance all around those school halls. Thank goodness there's no video; needless to say, it was embarrassing.
This is the unearthing of my most embarrassing moment to the public, so be prepared. The first time I ever got emotional during a movie was when fake Pikachu started slapping real Pikachu. And boy did I sob. My eyes were like Niagara Falls. Being so heavily entranced by a franchise can do that to a person.
And all of this happened before I hit puberty. Though the series has cooled down in popularity in recent years, the fervor surrounding it still exists. I bought Pokemon White as did millions of others, and I still find myself getting so engulfed in a world I couldn't possibly understand. If Pokemon ever turned out to be real, I would become a trainer in a heartbeat. Being considered an "adult" legally, it's hard to justify my passion for Pokemon and for gaming in general, but my nerdiness always gets the best of me.
This is my post to go on BMC later today. Check it out! http://www.brokemycontroller.com
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