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So Zach, Do You Like this Game so Far?

Supersnake — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This morning I made myself a nice cup of coffee. Not too black and with just a little bit of milk. Oh but not too much milk, don't want to ruin a good cup of coffee now do we? As I took my first sip of that delightful cup of joe I witnessed something unexpected.

"Blog"....in the coffee. Amazing!

My history with Deadly Premonition starts around a year after it was originally released. After hearing so much about this game and how people either hated or loved it, the quirky characters, and that it's a "cult hit" I finally decided to check it out for myself. I didn't have an Xbox 360 to rent it and play it on so I searched YouTube to find a walkthrough of it. Obviously I wasn't going to go out and buy a 360 just to play this game and I wasn't sure if I would even watch more than one video of this game online.

After searching YouTube for a while trying to find a good video to start out on I came across the first episode of supergreatfriend's LP of the game.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I literally could not get enough of this LP. I suddenly didn't have time to actually play games anymore because I had to know what was going to happen next in the story. By the time I finished watching the entire LP I was in love with the game, the story, the characters and just how different it was from any other game I had seen before. It's kind of weird to say, but during that time my earlier statement was no longer valid. As I was itching to buy an Xbox 360 just so I could play Deadly Premonition.

Well the 360 never came which was probably best for this college student with a tight budget. I still had hopes of buying a 360 someday, and when that day eventually came I would pick the game up and have fun actually playing it. That day came much sooner than I expected, with the announcement of the director's cut to the PS3. I can't really describe how excited I was the day I heard this news, but it went something like this.

My plan was to go out and buy this the day it released, but irony is a funny thing. I couldn't find the game to save my life. My local game store didn't have it, and the two GameStops and the BestBuy in the next town didn't have it either. Finally after about a week I walked into my local store to find one copy of the game sitting on the shelves. I instantly nabbed it and skipped happily all the way home.

I've been playing the game whenever I can and I'm a little over five hours into it. Here's my thoughts on it so far:

What's been nice:

The story and the characters are still great and weird just like I remember. Agent York is one quirky son of a gun that I can't get enough of. The added scenario or cutscenes have been fun to watch. I'm looking forward to seeing where they lead to.
The graphics or I guess I should say "enhanced" graphics look nice. However, I'm not a very big critic when it comes to graphics in games. It doesn't take much to satisfy me in that department.
Controlling York feels like I would expect from a third person game. From what I've heard the controls for the 360 version were tough to get used to. I would say the updated controls are the best improvement made in this version. Driving a car is still a clunky mess, but I think that's the way Swery wants it to be.

What's not so nice:

There's been "mini-freezes" happening throughout the game. It's not hurting my enjoyment of the game, but it does start to get annoying when it happens every 10 seconds in certain situations. So far I've only experienced a couple places in the game where the framerate was at a crawl.
Using the map still sucks. I was really hoping they would make the map easier to use, but it didn't happen. The problem is that you can't zoom out far enough to really see what route you need to take to get to your destination. By hitting the select button while driving you can make the mini map pop out so you can see more. This is nice, but I would've rather them make the select button go straight to the map page and to let you zoom out to where you can see the entire map. I printed out a map made by a user on GameFaqs that I've been using instead.
You still can only save to one file. I'm not sure if there's a reason to this that I'm not seeing, but I was hoping the DC would let you save to more than one. It's a little scary playing a game this big with only one save file. Oh well.
Implementing Move controls and 3D into the game. I just look at adding these features to the game as a waste of time and energy. They could have spent more time improving areas of the game *cough*map*cough* instead of adding this crap.

Overall, I'm having a great time playing Deadly Premonition. I'm going to be taking my time with this one. Even though I know what's going to happen in the end I'm just excited that I'm actually playing and experiencing this wonderful game. After having a thirst to play this for the past two years the coffee is still just as good as I remember it.

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How "Call of Duty: Ghosts" Can Transcend Its Predecessors - Part 1

DrJoeystein — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:45:00 GMT

Sooner or later, a lot of good things come to an end. Enjoyable periods in life, friendships, and our favorite TV shows either abruptly halt or gradually fade away into history and our memory banks of nostalgia. The same applies to video games in a more-than-average way. Franchises and series that thousands upon thousands of fans love have died out or remained in a cryogenic, sleep-like state for years. Spyro The Dragon and Crash Bandicoot - crazy, fun 3D platformers with memorable worlds and characters - got stuck in the dreaded mess of being handed around by mediocre developers until their original creative vision and charm was lost (and no, I personally don't consider "Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure" a true revitalization of the Spyro games I loved as a kid). Mother 4, Half-Life 3, Beyond Good and Evil 2, and Star Wars: Battlefront 3 are only a couple of other games that gamers desperately want to experience, but will probably never be able to due to difficult developmental cycles and/or reality's sting.

Anyway, I digress. What I'm trying to get at is that Call of Duty will eventually die out like anything else. Sure, it'll take a long time, but it will very likely be due to oversaturation and "fun factor" stagnation. The yearly releases of this franchise with the formula largely remaining the same will eventually grow old to consumers. I have a friend that believed he wouldn't get tired of Call of Duty only about a year ago, but he's shocked to find himself feeling this way about it now. I talked about this growing problem in my first blog post, so you can check it out for my full opinion on this matter. My main point in it is this: Treyarch and Infinity Ward need to strike that difficult chord between innovation and familiarity. Make Call of Duty something that's recognizable each year, but implement some big changes once in a while. How about a different approach to the style of gameplay (in terms of going from heavy action to an emphasis on stealth) while keeping the mechanics the same? How about branching out to a different genre like Third Person Shooter? At least Treyarch has attempted to do this to a noticeable degree and succeeded in some ways with their takes on Call of Duty. Black Ops 2 contains their most obvious experiments: Real-Time Strategy elements in the gameplay of some campaign missions, multiple story pathways with moral consequences, and a revamped Create-a-Class system for the multiplayer. However, these still aren't and haven't been enough to get me to come back to Call of Duty multiple times throughout any given week like I used to do. What needs to be done?

"What, this flare? Oh, I just wanted to show you how photogenic I am."

With the recent unveiling of Call of Duty: Ghosts, I think it's the perfect time to address what the next installment in this gargantuan franchise could do to stand out as a truly unique and innovative title in comparison to its predecessors. I have a few things I'd love to see in the campaign (part 1), multiplayer, and a third mode different to or expanding upon Spec Ops and/or Survival Mode (part 2). Without further ado, let's unmask my thoughts...

THE CAMPAIGN

1. Diverse Missions Primarily Driven by Stealth Tactics, Equipment, and Settings

Some of my all-time favorite missions from the Call of Duty campaigns are the ones involving stealth. "All Ghillied Up" from Call of Duty 4 and "Cliffhanger" from Modern Warfare 2 are packed with tense scenarios to keep out of the sight of enemies while having to also surgically take them down. However, these sorts of missions make up a small percentage of all the campaigns because Call of Duty is primarily known for explosive, unbelievable shootouts. But what if Ghosts switched gears by having a majority of stealth missions with some epic shootouts here and there? This would surely make for a change of pace that offers up a myriad of new possibilities for Ghosts' campaign. For starters, new mechanics could be added to the solid FPS gameplay that give more control to the player, such as being able to control where the player wants his teammates positioned, commanding who to kill, and which equipment to use in a given situation. This would be something similar to what Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and Brothers in Arms have done and I believe it would bode very well with Ghosts (as exemplified in the RTS gameplay in Black Ops 2).

The equipment possible for a stealth-themed Call of Duty is absolutely awesome in concept. I don't know where to begin with the possibilities! The CornerShot would be an awesome gun to see in the Call of Duty arsenal, as well as plenty of new attachments for other stealthy weaponry. Camouflage for soldiers is a given, and something like "Octocamo" and "FaceCamo" from Metal Gear Solid 4 could open up for plenty of new opportunities for missions. What if there were moments that required precise timing to blend into the environment? The amount of nerve-wracking situations that could result from this alone could craft the campaign into an exciting, edge-on-your-seat experience that doesn't require explosions and close-shaves from utter destruction.

This would be insanely cool in Ghosts...yes, its non-existent technology, but who cares?

Last, but not least, Ghosts could have the most breathtaking environments out of any of the Call of Duty games. I can see it now: watching a sunrise on red mountaintops and desert valleys; crouching down in a midnight storm through a thick jungle; sneaking through an old, seemingly abandoned factory of cold, rusted steel; wandering through an underground network of caves with waterfalls, stalactites, and perilous drops. These are simply a few suggestions; Infinity Ward has the chance to use time of day, unexpected locations, and massive scope to blow away gamers in the visual sense. When everything is blowing up and there's no time to slow down, nothing can be appreciated to its fullest extent. That can change for Ghosts if it takes a stealthy approach, especially since it will have a new engine.

2. A Grounded Story with Relatable Objectives, Twists and Turns, and Depth

Most of the stories of Call of Duty have the simplistic, typical plots you would expect from a military shooter: bad guys have powerful nuclear weapon, so good guys must stop them. However, this would be an unfair description of Treyarch's games. The Black Ops series has the most developed story in the franchise, which has great characters like Sergeant Reznov and Alex Mason, unexpected plot twists, and a surprisingly compelling narrative. I want Infinity Ward to learn from Treyarch's work and make it better.

"The numbers, Mason...what do they mean?" This was an intriguing mystery in Black Ops.

Each story needs an introduction, and Ghosts will be no exception. It's a "new chapter" for the franchise according to an executive producer at Infinity Ward, so I will be expecting a breakdown on what's been going on, what needs to happen, why these things are happening, and who's who. Many games like Call of Duty make the mistake of briefly describing what's going on followed by immediately jumping into the middle of the action without a cohesive goal or reason to care about what's going on. Everything we do is backed up by beliefs, values, and motives. For example, the end of Modern Warfare 3 is one of the most potent levels in the whole trilogy. Captain Price is on a personal vendetta that's absolutely relatable, and it explodes into an adrenaline-pumping mission that isn't just exciting due to the action, but because of the objective itself. Therefore, reasons for combat should be understandable, clear, and effectively introduced throughout the entire story of a video game that requires this, and I believe Call of Duty is one such game. Once this is out of the way, the story should be bolstered with a logical pace; let the player have freedom of choice for the combat and/or story outcomes (Black Ops 2 was a large step in the right direction); create goals for the characters and outcomes for their decisions that are worth caring about, and throw in a couple of unbelievable, emotional plot twists that make sense. The list goes on, and I'm no storywriter, but I know a good story when I see one. If Ghosts can do this - and I know it's possible - then we'll be in for one of the most shocking surprises later this year.

3. Relatable Characters with Backstories, Unique Personalities, and Humanity

One of the biggest challenges facing any video game developer is trying to build a connection between players and a character(s). Examples I can personally conjure up that succeed in this regard are The Walking Dead (by Telltale Games), Final Fantasy X, Kingdom Hearts, and Journey. How do these games manage to do this? Common threads I see woven together in this area include believable, relatable backstories. Characters that have a history instantly become more interesting to anyone. They can be surprising, horrifying, ordinary, or mysterious as long as they're meaningful because they can bring out the curiosity and emotion of gamers. Likewise, personalities are a key strength to strong characters. What would be the opposite of this when it comes to Ghosts? That would be serious, battle-hardened soldiers that shut up, follow orders, and crack some quip or corny phrase every now and then. Uh, how about no? Look at military films and TV shows like Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers. They show that soldiers have diverse personalities, strengths, weaknesses, differing views, and most importantly, humanity. This is true for soldiers in reality, and there's no reason that this can't be emulated to some effect in a game. You need only look to The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls, which are posed to have some of the strongest characters in any game yet (the recent Bioshock: Infinite is another example too). No one should have to search for and try hard to care about someone. It comes naturally to all of us in life, and fiction has the uncanny ability to connect us with the imaginary in all sorts of ways. Although we're talking about Call of Duty, the potential is there for Ghosts to accomplish this.

Will Ghosts' cast of characters be stereotypical or compelling? Time will tell.

4. An Electrified, Gritty Soundtrack with Tensity and Spine-Chilling Beauty

Hans Zimmer may have been the helm of the Modern Warfare 2 soundtrack, but I'll never forget Harry Gregson-William and Stephen Barton's score for Call of Duty 4. Or more specifically, the main menu theme he composed for it. It has this sense of quiet severity brought out by eerie, heavy strings and odd echoing sounds. This is how I would imagine the majority of Ghosts' soundtrack. The bombastic orchestral songs from most of the Call of Duty games are great, but they shouldn't be the prominent type of music in Ghosts. Soundtracks like the ones for the Metal Gear Solid series invoke the vibe I'm looking for. After all, being stealthy is a scary, risky, and nerve-wracking thing to perform, so the music of the game should define it to enhance the immersion of Ghosts.

5. Significant Improvement to the Engine, AI, and Realism

It's been quite a while since Call of Duty has changed its game engine. In fact, the Call of Duty 4 engine has been used for over 5 years for each game with small adjustments and improvements. This streak is finally ending with a supposedly new game engine coming to Ghosts. This will hopefully be accompanied with significantly updated graphics that improve important things like textures, lighting, and physics. Another area people have always wanted to see improved is the Artificial Intelligence. Instead of enemies normally hiding behind cover and sticking their heads out in ridiculous ways, there should be more strategies for them to execute. They should have some unpredictable movements, truly try to defend themselves instead of running out into the open, and react with one another in creative ways. All of these things in consideration contribute to enhancing the realism of Call of Duty, which could be applied to every area of Ghosts. I know that people laugh at the idea of an FPS (let alone Call of Duty) being realistic, but at least games like Battlefield 3 and Medal of Honor: Warfighter have accomplished this goal to certain extents. The former excels in visual, equipment, and vehicle realism, whereas the latter attempts to show the emotional and personal effects that war has on soldiers and their families.

But will they act "real?" Will the game at least try to be "real" to some extent?

I concede that this is some major wishful thinking, but the "realism" I'm hoping for isn't impossible. Developers will never be able to replicate reality (or not for a very long time, at least), but that doesn't mean they can't imitate it in the best way that games are capable of doing.

6. Campaign Co-op and DLC Missions

Not a lot of developers attempt to add DLC to campaign experiences that would benefit from it. However, Dead Space 3 and Bioshock: Infinite are two recent examples of games that are going against the curve. Call of Duty has always had the potential to do this as well, but simply never has. If Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops had DLC missions that centered on their prominent characters (like Ghost and Reznov, respectively), I would have been all over them. The reasons why are that they could have expanded on the Call of Duty stories or even offered alternate timelines in addition to new vehicles, weapons, and locations to use. And I'm not just talking about a 30-minute/one hour-long mission every couple of months, but one mission every month in the form of episodic releases like The Walking Dead. The exciting anticipation that would come with this kind of release strategy for campaign DLC in Ghosts could be something ingenious.

Multiplayer DLC may offer new maps to play online, but campaign DLC would be a new and fresh addition to Call of Duty that many people would be more than willing to try out. And not only this, but it could entice players that only play the multiplayer to dive into the campaign, especially if it could be played cooperatively like World at War's campaign. It may not have been a popular feature in that game, but with DLC and a squad of main characters (as indicated by the reveal trailer), Ghosts would make for the ultimate return of co-op (maybe even up to four players) for the campaign...and why not?

The potential is there for the campaign in Ghosts, but will Infinity Ward seize this opportunity?

---

I will try to return with my suggestions for the multiplayer and third mode (Part 2) in a week or two. I didn't expect to rant for so long on the campaign, so I hope this doesn't come across as being spread out too thin. Other than that, what are you hoping to see in Call of Duty: Ghosts? If you were in charge of the franchise and could do anything with it, how would you alter it? Do you currently like Call of Duty, enjoyed it in the past, or were never fond of it? Shout out in the comments below, and please ask any questions you may have about my points (it was hard to get them right!). Thanks for reading!

Dr. J

Medieval Survival Horror Game?

awmace5 — Tue, 21 May 2013 02:19:00 GMT

I was wondering if anybody here thinks some of these ideas are cool:

No inventory, only being able to carry 2 sets of weapons (i.e. sword and shield with bow on back, two handed sword with 1 handed sword sheathed and shield on back)

Drink water and eat food to avoid dehydration and starvation

Weather mechanics that slow you down (slide in rain, slowed in snow)

If anybody knows of any released medieval survival horror games please suggest some as well.

5th games I play next pt. 3

Juanolo — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:29:00 GMT

We are getting closer to the finale. Closer to see who wins it all. First we need to see who goes on to the final fours in are semi finals. Lets see who will go on. Remember you can head to forums to vote twice. Here are your choices:

Red dead redemption vs. Uncharted 2

Max Payne 3 vs. The walking dead

God of war 3 vs. sleeping dogs

Battlefield Bad company 2 vs. Batman Arkham city

There they are. Remember you can vote I. Forums for your vote to count twice as much. The semi finals will be up Thursday. Thanks again to all voters and see you then.

Pachter Be Damned Pre E3 Blog:

bunnyking — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:35:00 GMT

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With E3 coming, and a lot of buzz going around I want to make some pre E3 prediction about the gaming industries 2 big Next Gen consoles, Nintendo and the wide array of Box top consoles coming soon.

First off the Big 2 and what they need to gain market share this generation:

Sony's PS4

The PS4 has already been announced and a lot of developers are loving it and that is good for Sony. My prediction is that if the PS4 and XBOXNext have similar prices Sony will take the worldwide market, although in the US I think the XBOX might have an edge for several reason which I’ll post about later.

Pros:

Free Online Gaming.

Bungie.

A lot of favorable Buzz from game developers including independent developers.

What it can Work on to attract gamers:

Price. For Sony to be the number one console in terms of market share is price. If it comes out bundled with a game for a similar price to the XBOX Next, that will definitely give it an edge. Give us a product that sells itself.

Microsoft's Next XBOX

The XBOXNext will be revealed tomorrow, it has had some negative buzz do to the “always online” features that were rumored. For XBOX to win again it comes out to price. My prediction for what will be revealed tomorrow is that “always on” features will not keep you from gaming offline or prevent you from using your system like any other system that’s already out there, also that it will have a really awesome price that is made available with a subscription to XBOXLive.

Pros:

Price. I think Microsoft knows that having a great price, with comparable performance to even a more powerful system makes a huge deal in sales and market share.

Unique partnerships with Activision and other developers to release games on their platform first.

Gamerscore.

US based.

What it can Work on to improve its product:

Forget Kinect and focus on online chat features. Making online chat more personal, and having more options and filters to weed out trolls by making it more formal or suited to players taste will add so much to this system. Public chat doesn’t have to be annoying.

One more thing that I think is super important, is the UI. The XBOX UI is clunky and slow, and also confusing. When I hop on a console I just want to play. I don’t want to scroll around, make a character and so on. I just want to hop on and play.

The XBOX has an edge because of its user base. If the XBOX Next lets you transfer your friend’s list, gamer score and achievements, it will hold a lion’s share of the market. The true battle for next gen will be all about pricing.

Nintendo's Wii U

The Maverick – Nintendo has gone rouge and while it isn’t a Next Generation console, it is a player in the next gen. Nintendo recently is forgoing E3 for a more direct approach to promoting the Wii U. During E3 we will all be able to go to selected Best Buy's around the country and check out MarioKart, Smash Bros. and everything else the system has to offer from special Nintendo booths. It’s a fresh take on marketing, and I think it's exactly what Nintendo needs.

Nintendo is doing something very unique besides it’s interface and that is that it will be supporting Unity and iOS games which kind of crosses over into the Ouya’s territory and I’ll write about that soon.

While Nintendo has gotten a lot of flack recently, but I’m sure the Wii U will do well once it’s better established and has proven itself as a unique system. I predict that all systems will feel the bite of recession when they release but that gamers will flock to them once they’ve established a library of exclusive games.

Pros:

Unique gaming interface

Franchises such as Zelda, Metroid, Mario Bros., F Zero etc.

What they can do to gain some market share:

Drop the price, drop the price, drop the price. One thing that is sure is that the Nintendo WiiU needs a competitive price drop because Sony’s PS4 rumored price is $399 and XBOX Next is $499 and $299 with a 2 year subscription to XBOX live contract. While it's current price is $299 for the white one and $350 for the Black one.

Another Thing they can do is improve the Wii emulator so that it's pixel perfect when compared to a Wii. Lastly, they can bundle pre installed games on the system. Make it a value and make it a no brainer for gaming on the cheap.

Final Words:

Before anyone says the word “Casual Gamer” I want to shamelessly promote the new slew of Unity, Java based consoles and phone gaming. I think these products are bold and deserve our support as gamers because they are platforms for indie developers like Spicy Horse, Ironhide Game Studio and Absolutsoft, and their games deserve a wider audience.

Gaming is here to stay, and if you invest in it, invest in the things you love about it. Michael Pachter Be Dammed!

The Six Games I Want Most...That Aren't Confirmed To Exist

The Destroyer — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:57:00 GMT

We all have those certain games we've been craving for, some of us for a few months, some for more than a decade. We dream about the possibilities they could offer to improve upon their preceding game, and the possibility of diving back into their worlds. Today, I thought I'd share several of the games I hope are in development, with some being way more likely than the others. In any case, here are some of the games I really want to end up playing some day.

I was so disappointed when this didn't reveal my number 1...like I expected...

6. Dishonored 2

Last year's surprise stealth-action hit was a one of my favorite games released in 2012, only being beaten by two games that are now in my top ten-Zero Escape and Xenoblade Chronicles. Its wonderful art direction and compelling gameplay were a huge standout for me-this was the game that made me put down Borderlands 2 after playing it pretty much exclusively since its released. Though this game has been hinted at after Bethesda's comment about turning the game into a franchise, it hasn't been said that the game has started development(this is why games like Zero Escape 3 aren't on this list, because that has confirmed to exist). My hopes for the game would be that it has some new setting, to explore a new dynamic besides a city being hit by a plague. Gameplay would be similar, with some new powers, and the story of the game would focus more on the Outsider's origins, and his interactions with the world.

5. OverBlood 3

I have no shame in putting this here. The original two Super Replays are some of the funniest videos I have ever seen, and a new game being developed in the OverBlood series would be an insta-buy for probably half of GIO. It would probably be the best thing ever, and would change the face of video games as we know it. Also, it would be the reason PS4 rules generation 8.

4. Left 4 Dead 3

I've spent a lot of time with this zombie cooperative shooter, more than any other game I've played. While I have stopped playing recently, due to it becoming too much of an obsession, I would still love for it to have another installment. It could have a few new campaigns, a couple new infected types, and a new set of characters, and I'd still buy it. Left 4 Dead 2's humor is fantastic, and exploring a new set of settings with new characters would only provide more opportunities for funny, awesome zombie killing fun.

3. Fallout 4

Here's the one that pretty much everyone wants-the final true 4th installment in the Fallout franchise. I have always found the Fallout series much more compelling than the Elder Scrolls series, because of it having characters that are truly struggling to survive in the face of a world transformed by a nuclear armageddon. Moving into the next console generation, we could see many new possible settings, even possibly outside the United States. Wherever the game takes place, I hope to one day explore an area again laden with Deathclaws and Radscorpions.

2. Radiant Historia 2

Here's the most obscure title on this list, because this game is probably one not many of you know about. It was a JRPG released for Nintendo DS in 2011 by ATLUS, and still hasn't had any hint of a sequel. It was popular enough to warrant a reprint, and also did well critically, so the fact that it hasn't had some sort of spiritual successor is disheartening to me. It's basically like Chrono Trigger, because it involves time travel, but the travel is over several months instead of millenia, with the main goal of the protagonist, Stocke, to change the outcome of a war between various kingdoms on the continent he lives in. One unique thing is also that there are two separate timelines, based on an early split, and the game requires you to move between both in order to gain knowledge of events in the other, as well as advance further, because they affect each other. Considering the game's ending...I'm really hopeful ATLUS releases a sequel to this wonderful game.

1. The World Ends with You 2

So, last summer, a teaser site went up related to The World Ends with You. I was very, very excited about a sequel happening, and then I found out it was an iOS remake. I. Was. Livid. Not only was it not a sequel, but it wasn't being put on 3DS also, and was thus missing its core audience. My appreciation for Square Enix dropped that day, taking away all the excitement I had about a sequel. Even though there are rumors of a sequel being made, there's still nothing that's been confirmed, and I am anxiously waiting any news of it being revealed. The only real clue we have of a sequel is the above image, but that still doesn't confirm that Square Enix has started making the game. With how things have been going recently for them, it's probably going to be an iOS exclusive with microtransactions or something. In any case, I just really want a sequel to my favorite Nintendo DS game, and please...put it on 3DS, put it on the console it's meant to be on.

Do you have any different games you've been waiting for, but haven't been confirmed to exist by the developer? That means no Kingdom Hearts 3, or Half-Life 3, guys.

Super Smash Bros? Cheap?

LuckyKoopa11 — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:50:00 GMT

(this is my first blog post, I'm new to this)

Let me tell you a story about when I was on a Disney Cruise Ship.

My little brother looked at the ship map and noticed there where was a "Tween" area for kids between the ages of 11-13, I was 2 month too young to go to the "Teen" area so I went there with him (The last time I checked 13 year olds are teenagers). There were several TVs with video game systems, but the one everyone crowded around was Super Smash Bros Brawl. The line to play was so long I just spectated.

I noticed one kid kept on winning and then my little brother got to play and won with Snake (my little bro's best character). The kid called my little brother cheap and convinced the other losers to force my little bro to stop using Snake!

I thought I would teach him a lesson, and I did. If you haven't played SSBB with me just know that I always use Marth and I rely on my Counter ability and my successful counter rate is 75%. The kid did the same thing to me and he said "Oh my God, Marth's counter is sooooo cheap". Marth's counter? Cheap? Do you think it's easy to counter? I practice my counter skills to teach lessons to brats like him due to the number of SSBB game being able to play at Amusement Parks recently.

I kept on spectating and noticed that a kid saw everyone attacking each other at the same time, so he did the smart thing and waited it out in a corner. Mr. Acuser saw and said "you're not even attacking anyone, you're so cheap, everyone team up on him" and watched everyone team up on him while he did nothing. I told him "how can you call him cheap when you're doing to exact same thing", he replied be saying "**** you! **** off!". (he obviously couldn't think of a good reply)

Do you think any characters are cheap? and if not do you agree with my statements?

That concludes my first blog post

Bioshock Infinite Review

Joe Clark — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:45:00 GMT

Bioshock Infinite

Developed by Irrational Games

Published by 2k Games, subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive

Rated: Mature

Released: March 26^th, 2013

Bioshock Infinite is a beautiful, albeit flawed game. Is its atmosphere and writing excellently crafted? Yes. Is the gunplay tight and fun to mess around with? Well, yes for the most part. But is something also missing? At times, yes. It’s an incredible game, a very deep experience that is hard to come by in the industry today, but that does not mean that it’s not without its kinks.

The game is set in 1912, two years before World War One. You play as Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton agent who is indebted to the wrong type of people. To absolve himself, he takes a job to find and recover a girl named Elizabeth from the floating city of Columbia, a city in the sky created by Zachary Hale Comstock to demonstrate the power of the United States which has since been disowned by the US government and hidden itself in the clouds.

Ultimately, this little synopsis does not do the story any favors. In short, it’s incredibly hard to sum up the story and themes of Bioshock Infinite because there is so much more here than meets the eye. Booker’s ascent into Columbia and its reveal is, essentially, perfect. Accompanied by a beautiful score composed by Garry Schyman, this opening scene is eye-opening, jaw dropping even. It sets the stage for a deep, emotional journey that, as a gamer, I’ll never forget. The atmosphere here is nothing short of phenomenal. The city of Columbia feels like a living, breathing place, with gorgeous set pieces and an amazing attention to detail. You’d be doing a disservice to yourself and this game if every corner is not explored, not checked. From the architecture, to the propaganda posters, to the citizens themselves and their interactions, Columbia is excellently crafted, with a ridiculous amount of attention to the smallest detail. For the first forty minutes of the game, not a single shot is fired. Booker is exploring the world, this celebration that the citizens are attending, a county fair of sorts with fully playable games and intriguing live advertisements for genius new products. But then the dark side of Columbia starts to unravel. A society brimming in American Exceptionalism, Columbia is a very racist place. Blacks are regarded as work laborers only, and the Irish are seen as drunks and useless workers. Here, only a true American citizen can thrive. Bioshock Infinite explores some very dark themes regarding America’s past, and it does not shy away from it. It never feels overtly biased, or insulting; it is just showing us what America used to be. And it’s true. As a society, America used to be a place where making a living was hard if you weren’t a true white American citizen. In Columbia, motorized versions of Washington preach the power of the white man and retell ideal accounts of wars against the foreign hordes while praising Comstock at the same time. You see, Comstock is a prophet, a man of God who can see into the future and use this power to create a technologically superior city that could destroy any civilization. And he has deemed Booker DeWitt as the False Shepard, a man sent to capture and corrupt Columbia’s pride and ultimate salvation: Elizabeth.

So yes, Bioshock Infinite’s atmosphere is fantastic, and its attention to detail is superb. But does the story hold up? The short answer is yes, but the longer answer becomes a little more complicated. Booker and Elizabeth’s interactions and how they affect the world around them drive the story forward. As a character, Elizabeth feels incredibly realized. She inspects things, she interacts with the environment, and she always has something to say. The conversations between her and Booker are always interesting, always filled with seemingly darker undertones, which describes both characters in a nutshell. Booker is not a good guy. He’s morally grey, sent to do his job and fulfill it. Elizabeth is naïve, yet as her story unfolds so does her darker side as well. Their story is wonderfully told, with tight writing and interesting commentary.

But despite Bioshock Infinite’s atmosphere and interesting protagonists, it falters in spots regarding its overall narrative. Sometimes, it feels like something is missing. Certain characters are under developed, overshadowed even. Daisy Fitzroy’s and Fink’s narrative in the story is all but forgettable, even though the underlying themes involving the two are precisely portrayed. Zachary Hale Comstock, being directly involved in Booker’s and Elizabeth’s state of affairs, is for the most part an excellent villain. His extremist views are at times reprehensible but also fascinating to try and grasp. His Voxophone (Columbia’s audio diaries) recordings are a joy to listen to and when he is on screen or talking to the two protagonists he demands attention. But he’s also fairly absent throughout a certain portion of the game, and for a time his overpowering presence is lost. The Songbird, Elizabeth’s giant guardian, barely makes an appearance and feels like an oversight, even though it’s been publicized extensively in ads and in the very first demo of the game. Although its story arch is fascinating to an extent, the Songbird is delegated to act as an interrupter of events more than as an actual character with a rich connection to Elizabeth, which should have been the case. His hate-fueled relationship with Booker, which would have been an awesome addition to the story, is non-existent.

Although Booker and Elizabeth have several touching moments together, some come off as a little cheesy and do not pull on the correct emotional strings. When Elizabeth is talking about something serious but her back is to you while lock-picking a door, it ruins the moment because her facial emotions are out of sight. Certain revelations, which may not be a surprise to the player but certainly are to the character of Elizabeth, are slightly ruined by her dialogue and emotional reactions. Sometimes it’s too much, and sometimes it’s simply not enough. The choices given to the player surrounding Elizabeth’s character are cosmetic only, and do not affect the game in any way whatsoever, which is a shame because Songbird could have been used to a great affect in this regard.

However I cannot say that the story, despite these flaws, is a failure. It’s not; in fact, it’s a resounding success when Bioshock Infinite is focused on it. The ending in and of itself is worth a play-through alone, and the game’s touching of themes such as racism, alternate realities, religion, and redemption all support a fantastic narrative, when it’s present. Yes, the story seems to take a backseat for a few hours in the middle of the game, and certain aspects of the story, while not entirely confusing, feel a little rushed and out of place. It doesn’t ruin what is there, but it does make you wish that there was a little more. Therefore, the story of Bioshock Infinite is two sides of one coin. On one side, you have an incredible and detailed atmosphere, a fantastic and well written partnership between Booker and Elizabeth (with some minor flaws), and an excellent story with a perfect beginning and ending. On the other side of the coin however, you come across a villain who is great but who’s presence is not felt entirely enough, forgettable minor characters, and a plot that (although fantastic) falls under its own weight at times and disappears altogether at one point.

The first scene of violence in Bioshock Infinite will surprise you, but it also supports what the rest of the gameplay in Bioshock Infinite feels like: violent, gritty, and at times a little too much to handle. For the record, the violence in this game is not entirely disturbing, or the worst thing you’ll ever experience. It just feels out of place, and comes off as a little corny and over the top for its own good. In this game, I’ve ripped off heads with my skyhook, broken necks, blown a person’s head off (with the inappropriate blood fountain gushing from the neck), burned people’s skin off until they’re nothing but bones that crumble to pieces, and so on and so forth. Of course, these things have been seen in games before. But it feels out of place here, in this world. If it is an allegory for the violent history of America, I applaud Irrational. And in truth, I was not annoyed by it. It just feels comical compared to the very serious tones and situations that Irrational created.

Besides that minor complaint though, the gameplay of Bioshock Infinite is, for the most part, perfectly suitable. Like its predecessor, Infinite mixes gunplay with a healthy dose of Vigors, powers that convert the player’s DNA into something that can be used to attack and defend yourself. There are less Vigors here than seen in Bioshock (which used the term Plasmids, not Vigors), but that’s not a bad thing. It’s been more streamlined, effectively cutting and combining certain serums, and although there are only eight Vigors in the game, they’ll all be used and can be combined to create some nasty effects. Want to pull someone towards you and then shock them while they’re entrapped in a whip of water? Use Undertow and Shock Jockey. Want to create fiery birds that deal even more damage? Combine the effects of Murder of Crows and Devil’s Kiss. The Vigors here are nothing short of awesome, and each one has its uses for certain situations. You’ll find yourself experimenting with the best ones, such as Bucking Bronco and Return to Sender (my personal favorite). The only weak link in the chain of awesome seems to be Charge, but it has its place and can be used to great effect. Each Vigor, with the use of money, can be upgraded at the Vini! Vidi! Vigor! machines, which gives Vigors an added boost, new mechanics, or prolongs their attacks.

Because the Vigors can be dual-wielded here, they become the weapon of choice, and the guns in Bioshock Infinite, although serviceable, seem to take a backseat to their awesome power. Because Irrational uses a two gun limit mechanic, its best to choose your two favorite weapons and stick with them throughout the game, even though experimenting with new guns is always a treat. Although some may deem this infuriating, Irrational has done a good job of placing certain weapons in locations which may require them. If you need a rocket launcher, or a sniper rifle, chances are there will be one for you in the environment. Like the Vigors, weapons can be upgraded at a Minuteman’s Armory station, boosting accuracy, damage, and lowering kickback, among other things. I found myself only upgrading about three or four of the actual weapons in the game, but only because there were some guns I rarely used, while others I tried to keep with me at all times.

Your health, Salt-intake, and Shield (yes, Irrational added a regenerative shield to the game) can all be upgraded by finding Infusions throughout the world, which are hidden in locked rooms throughout Columbia that can be picked by Elizabeth if you have the right amount of lock-picks. Gear replaces the Tonics from Bioshock, but ultimately these upgrades are disappointing, and you’ll find yourself forgetting they exist all together. Some gears are useful, but most are forgettable, and by the time I was done playing the game for my first go-around, I had all but forgotten about them.

The variety of enemies in Bioshock Infinite is large, but the amount of times certain ones are used is ultimately disappointing. For the most part, you’ll be combating standard soldiers with machine guns, pistols, and shotguns, along with the occasional rocket launcher. Other enemy varieties exist, such as the Motorized Patriot, the Fireman, and the Ku Klux Klan like Zealot of the Lady, which uses Murder of Crows and a scythe against you. The awesome Handy-man, which is a b*tch to kill and a challenging fight all around, especially in the higher difficulty levels, is a nice change of pace from the standard soldier. He requires quick thinking and some sort of strategy to kill. Avoid standing too close, although he is unfortunately not used enough in certain portions of the game. The turrets make a re-appearance here as well, but never feel like a real threat due to the Vigor Possession, which allows you to automatically hack them. Security cameras are gone, but the Boys of Silence (which only appear in one portion of the game) more than make up for this loss, and they are an excellent addition to the game.

Two of the biggest additions to gameplay come in the form of Elizabeth and the skylines found throughout Columbia. As an AI, Elizabeth works wonderfully in battles. If you’re low on ammo, Salts (which power Vigors), or health, she’ll track items down in the world and toss them to you. Furthermore, she can use her powers to open tears (alternate dimensions) on the battlefield, which allow Booker the use of turrets, cover, ammo, and extra skyhooks. Elizabeth as a gameplay mechanic is really well done. Irrational has replaced holding extra med-kits and Salts for her. They are still scattered around the world and you’ll never feel like you can’t find any, but the fact that Elizabeth can toss them too you in times of need is a great touch and adds a certain amount of dimension to gameplay. The skylines help in increasing the level of interaction between you and the battlefield. Although they feel underutilized in the game as a whole, the skylines are still awesome to use when available. Jumping from a skyline and smashing an enemy’s face in is a satisfying feeling, and the controls for riding the skylines are easy and precise to use.

If I have any problem with the gunplay, it’s the sheer amount of it found in the game. At certain points, it simply feels like you’re running and gunning, and despite some breaks to tell the story, it still feels like there is a bit too much at times. The bosses are boring and uninventive (I’m looking at you Siren), and rely on one mechanic: spray and pray. And when it comes down to it, there isn’t enough variety. Even though Elizabeth and the skylines add another dimension to firefights, after going from one firefight to another to another even these mechanics can’t save the repetitive nature involved. The section containing the Boys of Silence, which relies on stealth and smart thinking (unless you want to die) to survive, is the only breakaway from the run and gun formula. Is the gameplay fun? Definitely, for the most part. The Vigors are cool to use and experiment with, while the guns do a serviceable job of backing them up. There are some awesome enemy types, and some battles (such as ones involving the Handymen) are intense and fun to play, especially when the skylines are used to full capacity. But sometimes it feels like there is too much, like Irrational is just throwing enemies at you. It’s a minor problem overall, but it’s also a tad inconvenient at times, especially when you just want to push toward what’s going on narrative-wise.

Bioshock Infinite has no multiplayer (thank God), but it does have a few collectibles to obtain throughout the world of Columbia. There are 80 Voxophone recordings, and I recommend trying to find all of them. Not only do they add insight into some of the characters in the game, but they also provide an interesting account of Columbia’s past and ideals, especially Comstock’s. Furthermore, there are 37 Kinetoscopes/Telescopes to find throughout the world. The Kinetoscopes are short little films that provide certain insights into Columbia’s past and its creation, as well as what is going on in the world, while the Telescopes provide close-up views of certain important buildings and locations. These collectibles enhance the game overall, adding another dimension to Columbia and its fascinating history. Furthermore, I suggest trying the game out on Hard (Medium is a little too easy) and then the unlockable 1999 mode. I haven’t completed this mode yet, but it is definitely challenging and worth its namesake (System Shock 2, anybody?).

Final Verdict: Bioshock Infinite is a great game. The world Irrational Games has created is beautiful, a sight to behold. Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth are excellently drawn characters, and their story’s conclusion is ultimately riveting. However, the story is far from perfect. The lack of interesting side characters, and the ultimate under-use of some, as well as a lull in quality towards the middle of the experience, holds the narrative back from achieving ultimate greatness. The combat, while fun and at times extremely satisfying, is dulled by an over-use of certain enemies and the absence of others, as well as poor boss battles. The Vigors are fantastic, the guns are serviceable, and the use of Elizabeth in battle coupled with the skylines ultimately keeps the gunplay from becoming completely repetitive. Bioshock Infinite is a must play title, one that will open your eyes to the power that the video game driven narrative can accomplish. But it’s a flawed experiece, and although it’s destined for greatness, certain elements keep the game from obtaining true nirvana.

9/10

Hey GIO! Let's Play Neptune's Pride 2!

Light Gamebeast23456 — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:37:00 GMT

A few weeks ago I was listening to the Idle Thumbs podcast and they talked about this interesting browser-based strategy game Neptune's Pride 2. I have been looking for a fun, accessible game for the community here to play (I haven't been on the site for awhile, and I would like to play a game with y'all.)You can read about the game here: http://triton.ironhelmet.com/#landing I want to do this game because you can literally play it anywhere with an Internet browser (it's all HTML5) and I think it would be fun.If you are interested in playing, here's what you do:

1. Make an Account Making an account is easy and free, you just have to have a Google account. Don't make your username the same as it is on GI or anywhere else. From what I've read (I actually haven't played a game myself) part of the fun comes from anonymity and being very selective about releasing information.

2. Leave A Comment Once you've made an account, leave a comment at this blog saying you are interested in playing (we can have a maximum of eight players, so it's first come first serve.)

3. Wait Until WednesdayThis Wednesday at 7:10 AM Central Time I'll be launching a game. Before I mentioned you really need to comment if you are interested, the reason for this is simple: I need to know how big of a game to set up. There is a limit of eight players, but I need to know so we can move quickly. Like I said before, I haven't played the game before. It'll be a learning experience for all of us; I also think it will be a lot of fun.

Based off the little I know of the game, I just need to lay out the ground rules. These rules are more appropriately titled suggestions, though

.1. Keep Your Name Close To Your ChestThere is a messaging system in the game, and from what I have read diplomacy is part of the game. However, just for fun I'm going to request you not divulge your name willy-nilly. Use your own discretion

.2. Try To Keep It PG-13While this game's demographic isn't really people not used to salty language, I still would prefer no one get offended or anything.

3. Be Ready To Keep PlayingThis game could take a number of weeks, it's unpredictable. If you want to play, make sure you are committed. Luckily for us this game is made for convenience. If you have an internet connection and a competent browser, you should probably be able to keep up (from what I know the game is lengthy but not time-intensive).I hope to see everyone playing!

For Creative Writing Viewers

Fry0127 — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:58:00 GMT

i will be consistently updating the Chronicle of Haethrong with new bits of the story every so often, so don't forget to check back every once in a while! I'd rather not make a post every time I update though, as I figure that might get rather obnoxious :/

Anyway, Enjoy reading, and any and all feedback is greatly appreciated. I respond very well to criticism so don't be afraid to call me out on grammar and i like hearing ideas that people have!

Fry

Smash Bros. WiiU/3DS ideas

Luis E. Morales Falcon — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:47:00 GMT

Please Rate and comment.

It is no secret that everyone is expecting the next Smash Bros. with great hype. After merging both platforming and 2D-3D fighting style gamers also loved pitting characters from the Nintendo archives between each other. In 2008, we got the answer to our question on who would win in a Mario vs. Sonic fight, and also Samus Aran vs. Snake.

For the new entry however, I feel that Nintendo has a tremendous chance to success and

we all hope so. Here are my ideas for the next game:

DLC- I can hear you all saying right now, "oh no it should be included in the main game". I agree,

but depending on how Nintendo implements it, it could be something like the new Luigi DLC,

where we can buy it from the store and not depend from an online store exclusively (WiiU does not

have Origin). DLC can be: new characters, stages, songs, etc.

The return of Special Attacks- just check this video. Nothing like unleashing your most powerful

attacks on your opponents.

Now, on to the characters and stages:

1. Garrus Vakarian from the Mass Effect series- I should not be getting a negative comment from

this unless you want to face the wrath of the entire Internet. Reason why it is not Shepard, too many

versions of him/her. His map could be a battlefield on either Palaven or Earth, like the

Smash Metal Gear stage with background action and the occasional Reaper Destroyer showing up and shooting

to the fighters like the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl stages where: Palkia, Dialga and Cresselia

shock the stage. His special can be much like Snake in where he exists the stage and starts

shooting everyone with a grenade launcher. The best part is: Mass Effect 3 alread- oh biggest burn

there Bioware publisher.....Noooooooo

2. Darth Vader Star Wars- wait....^ see above. His could be the new tank character, special

move can be choking his opponents, his stage could be on Cloud City.As for the second

picture, that has to be the biggest Easter Egg in the history of Easter Eggs.

3. Cha-Cha and Kayamba from Monster Hunter- Considering the

beast they has to take on, it is a no brainer. The stage could be Moga Village under attack

from the Deviljho, in the background as we see the Hunters fighting with it. Their gaming

mechanics could be like the Ice Climber's on Melee and Brawl, where we control both characters,

their special could be summoning the Alatron.

4. Batman or DeathStroke or both, they are everywhere- Coming from characters like them who are no strangers to hand to hand combat, and considering that the WiiU will see the release of Batman Arkham Origins, they are great choices. The map could be the port sector from the trailer during Christmas eve with the snow falling on top of characters and accumulating on the ground and every-time we move, the snow on the ground reacts..... Also, only one of the two,

What are your ideas?

Star Trek: Not So Boldly Going

Cameron Koch — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:55:00 GMT

If I were to imagine what kind of game the quirky, cheesy, and occasionally philosophical sci-fi television series of the 1960s Star Trek, now reimagined for the current generation, would be, a 3rd person shooter would be low on the list.

That is, however, exactly the kind of game we got.

Simply titled Star Trek and set within the new J.J. Abrams film's Star Trek universe, the game, with the exception of a few cool moments, never manages to capture what makes both the old and new Trek so popular and enduring.

Players step into the iconic shoes of either series hero Captain Kirk or science fiction icon Spock in an adventure that in many ways feels like it could be an episode for a new Star Trek TV series. The reptilian Star Trek race known as the Gorn have a received a major face lift from their TV counterparts, and thanks to the irresponsible use of a powerful new technology by the hands of the Federation, have entered Federation space through a wormhole, intent on galactic domination through deadly force. After the Gorn steal the new federation tech, it's of course up to Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the USS Enterprise to get the device back and protect the Federation and its people from a full-scale Gorn invasion.

One critical aspect of the series and especially the new film to which the game is loosely tied is the relationship between Kirk and Spock. The two characters, in many ways polar opposites but at the same time the strongest of friends, make up one of TV and cinema's most powerful bromances.

The game focuses heavily on this relationship, and for the most part succeeds. Players can step into the shoes of either character, while the other is controlled by AI or another player through online or offline co-op. Their bantering back and forth during the game is definitely true to the series and make for quite a few memorable quotes. One moment towards the end of the game involving science fiction's dynamic duo in particular is a brilliant throwback to the original TV series that will make any Trekker smile. Even better, they are both voiced by their actors in the new films, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. It's fortunate the developers managed to snag their voices, as they both do a great job of bringing the characters to life. Without them, it just wouldn't have been the same.

Unfortunately, the same praises can't be heaped upon the use of the likenesses of the actors. The game character models are all based off of their respective actors in the film, which is a definite plus. The only problem is the graphics simply are not up to snuff - faces and animations are at best below average and at times atrocious. I shouldn't be able to count on two hands the number of times a main character was delivering dialogue despite their mouth not moving, and even when they are moving the animations are so stiff and the lip synching so poor they might as well have kept their mouths shut. Poor Simon Pegg, playing lead Enterprise engineer Scotty, looks as if he suffered a near fatal stroke, and something similar can be said for the remainder of the Enterprise crew.

Graphics are definitely not Star Trek's strong point, and sadly neither is any other part of the game. The bulk of the gameplay consists of shooting waves upon waves of a variety of generic looking lizard people through uninteresting environments of grey or orange while using a solid if imperfect cover system. In between you and your partner will be stopping way too often to perform a hacking minigame that is both time consuming and devoid of any entertainment. Also, cooperative door opening. Sometimes you even cooperatively open a door by doing a hacking minigame. I'm not sure why opening doors is still a feature of cooperative games. Surely developers can think of a more original or fun way to build a relationship with your cooperative partner. Mashing X as fast as possible to open a door together every 10 minutes is not it. Stop it.

Almost every shooting gallery segment also comes with optional stealth objectives or nonlethal options. I really appreciated the ability the option for players to go the non-lethal route and even be rewarded for doing so in the form of additional experience points that can be used for upgrades. Star Trek is not Gears of War, something I can at least tell the developers kept in mind when they made the secondary fire function of the majority of the game's weapons a stun blast.

Sprinkled between the thousands of Gorn and hundreds of hacking and door opening minigames are poorly conceived platforming segments. It is often unclear what jumps can be made and which ones can't, what ledges can be grabbed onto and which ones cannot. It makes for a frustrating experience, especially since every time you make a jump the poor animations make it looks as if you are going to fall to your death before jerking your character as if by a magnetic force to the ledge. Scanning the environment with the do-all tricorder is also used liberally. It literally does everything, from scanning enemy corpses, to healing teammates, to hacking doors - all from a distance. There is nothing really wrong with the idea of using the tricorder to scan anything and everything, there is just little to be gained from it.

Aside from a handful of segments like the Kirk and Spock centric moment mentioned above and a Portal-esque teleportation pad puzzle area, the bulk of the game is uneventful and largely boring. I know 3rd person shooters are probably easy and, as we all know, popular in this current gaming age, but Star Trek just doesn't lend itself all that well to the genre. The mission of the USS Enterprise is "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." A TellTale adventure game version of Star Trek with occasional shooting segments similar to their The Walking Dead game seems far more suited to capturing the sense of exploration, character relationships, and plot driven action that the show is known for. Star Trek the game does none of this, and instead not so boldly goes where just about every other licensed game has gone before - the bargain bin.

Guess That Character

Jeremy Sturgill — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:37:00 GMT

The forest is haunted. How do I know this? I am its apparition.

The laughter of children once reverberated through this sacred place, but the children and the laughter are gone now. Their innocence was foreign to a world separated by the dark and the light. The world was cruel, and the curse was strong. Innocence could not overtake its power. The children are gone, but I remember the laughter. I miss the laughter.

I dwell in a realm unlike your own. The wolf howls, and I alone can hear. The tree that once wept, I alone remember the tears. The people are blinded in the dark, and I alone know their darkness.

How did it come to this? Why did she do this to me?

I beg for you not to blame her. There was a truth that neither of us understood at the time when the world was divided. In our world, a war must end in victory or defeat. In our youth, we choose a third option. The absence of war. With that decision my fate was sealed. Neither champion nor loser, I became the third option. An apparition. I was sent to abide in a world between the dark and the light to prepare the next incarnation for the task at hand. War is inevitable. Even now, it is nigh. The sun is setting, and two worlds are about to collide.

Do not be disheartened. There is always a boy, always a city, and always a princess. This time is no different. Only hope for victory or defeat. For in both, there is a promise of a tomorrow where the darkness breaks, and the sun rises again. I miss the sun.

Do not despair for me. My task will soon be over, and the sun will rise again. I will be at peace. I know you have many questions, but I must go now. My time is at hand. The wolf cries.

I hope you enjoyed this unofficial entry in the GIO community game "Guess That Character."

I did take certain creative liberties with this story, but I hope that you can still guess who it is. This is my interpretation of the character and the story associated with him/her.

As soon as someone guesses the character, I will add a picture of the subject of this post to the blog.

It is a short description, but once, I had this down on paper everything else I added seemed unnecessary.

Max Payne 3: Campaign Review

Joe Clark — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:41:00 GMT

Max Payne 3

Developed by Rockstar Vancouver

Published by Rockstar Studios, Subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive

Rated: Mature

Released: May 15^th, 2012

Max Payne 3 caters to the adult gamer. Not because of sex, violence (although it’s loaded with it), or ridiculous language (even though that’s there too), but because of its subject matter. Deep down, Max Payne 3 is about one man who has lost his way. A drunken degenerate, Max Payne has lost his way, solving his problems by drowning them in booze and pills. Deep down, his regrets have transformed him into a cynical, depressed man who ultimately waits for something to come along and end his life. When Max is forced out of retirement he takes a job as a private security guard for a rich family in Sao Paulo, Brazil, headed by Rodrigo Bronco. Unfortunately, when Rodrigo’s wife Fabiana is kidnapped by an underground organization Max and his partner Raul Passos head out to find her while Max slowly begins to uncover something much darker than he anticipated.

Max Payne 3 is a third person shooter at its core. Rockstar, known for its open world games such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, ditches this aspect for a fairly linear experience, but it ultimately pays off. Max Payne 3 is a story driven adventure, one that continuously pauses the action for long character driven cutscenes that not only give the player insight onto what’s going on, but also further delves into the mind of its main character. Without these segments, the game would not carry the emotional depth that it does, or keep the player’s attention. The story is well written, tightly weaved, and deals with subjects that a lot of video games fail to ever acknowledge successfully. Corruption, corporate greed, the hypocrisy of the rich, and of course the dark nature of violence inside one’s soul are all poured into one pot and thrown at the player in a crazy, surreal way, all told through the eyes of the craziest man of all: Max Payne. His cynic narrations, as well as his out-of- touch-with-humanity nature, drive the story forward and pull you in. It’s a dark, disturbing game, even though it’s set in a bright city in Brazil. Max Payne has always been a noire-type thriller, and even though Rockstar has changed its location from New Jersey to Sao Paulo, the game still has a noire feel too it. Every city has its demons and scandals, and Sao Paulo is no exception. Sao Paulo also seems to jive perfectly with Max Payne himself, who is out of touch with their culture and does not understand their language. He is a stranger in a strange land, lost in this place that he has no knowledge of. It’s an allegory for Max himself, who is out of touch with the rest of humanity and to an even greater extent himself.

The world Rockstar has created here is an incredibly rich and atmospheric one. Not constricted by an open world, the company was allowed to really flaunt the power of its RAGE Engine. Every location, from a high-class club to the shanty towns of the poorer side of Sao Paulo, the environments are rich and full of detail. The characters themselves look incredibly realistic, with amazing movements. Max Payne is one of the best looking game characters ever created; you can see separate stubble in his five o’ clock shadow, the lines on his tired face. It’s incredibly well done; indeed, Max Payne 3 is one of the best looking games to come out this generation. The atmosphere, facial animations, and overall look and feel of the game combine to create an insanely addicting experience. The soundtrack, composed by the band HEALTH, further adds to the atmosphere in the game. Max’s main theme alone is beautifully done, but each score adds to the action and the revelations throughout the story.

It also helps that Max Payne 3 is a joy to play from a gameplay perspective. A third person shooter, the game continues to throw enemies at you that slowly become tougher to defeat as the game moves on. It’s not an easy game: you will die, especially if you play on the hardest difficulty. It never feels cheap, however, thanks to tight controls and a great cover system. The shooting mechanics are made even better by Bullet Time, which allows Max to slow down time to take out enemies faster while also dodging bullets in the process. It’s easily the best slow-mo mechanic I’ve played in a long time, and it rarely falters. To keep Max from dying, he has to digest pain killers that are scattered around the levels. Health regeneration is not a factor here, and if one intends to survive, pain killers are a must. If Max is carrying pain killers, he can survive kill shots by slowing down time and trying to shoot the enemy who dealt the blow. If the player can pull off the shot and down the enemy, a pain killer is used and drains away Max’s damage. If the shot is missed, Max dies, simple as that. Gun variety is another plus. Max can hold two pistols at all times, and one bigger weapon that he holds in his hand when using the pistol. If the player decides to dual-wield pistols, he drops the bigger weapon. When doing so, the player will have to replace that weapon or simply pick it back up again. It’s simple, but effective.

The single-player campaign is ripe for replayability; Hard mode is an incredible challenge, especially when the free aim mode is chosen for shoot outs. There are golden parts throughout each level, which combine to create golden weapons. When all golden weapons are acquired, the player can unlock infinite ammo when replaying the campaign. Other cheats are accessed when certain objectives are complete, such as invincibility and infinite bullet time.

I did come across a few gameplay glitches as I played. Sometimes while in cover, Max will shoot straight up into the air; this only happened once or twice, but depending on the situation one is in at the time of this little inconvenience, it could mean the death of the player. Texture pop-in, especially in cutscenes, is not necessarily common but happens every once in a while, and sometimes sound comes in and out for a split second. The game contains no load times however, so these glitches may be attributed to this factor. None of these really destroy the game, or even hinder it all too much, but you will come across it at least once. Also, even though the story is incredibly strong and Max Payne is an exceptionally well written character, some of the other characters in the story, especially the villains, fall on the way side. They are still well acted and are interesting to listen to when talking, but they are one dimensional in the end. But this is Max Payne’s story, and in this regard the game does not disappoint (in fact it succeeds with flying colors). He is such an interesting character, a multi-dimensional anti-hero that is lost in his own head and is stuck in the past. Every event that happens in the game is an allegory to Max’s past and his own inner demons that he cannot escape.

FINAL VERDICT: In the end, Max Payne 3 is an excellent game that bridges story and gameplay through the eyes of a dark and emotional character. The game, with its exciting story, gorgeous environments, and intense gun-play should not be missed. It’s a dark tale, one full of mystery and corruption intertwined with the internal torture of a man who has lost his mind.

9.5/ 10

An Ode To The Gaming Television

LetMeGetToACheckpoint — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:30:00 GMT

This past week has continued my recent theme of an insanely hectic work period. So much so that even my limited gaming time largely evaporated during these past seven days. Sad I know. During one of these mornings when I should have been gaming I was instead sipping a large iced coffee in the predawn on the bus. My mind wandered over the gaming that I wished I was engaged in and I thought about the evolution of my personal "gaming center."

Wow, just wow. I wish that I had one.

For console gamers, the television is a central proponent of the gaming center. Just as apps such as Netflix and HBO GO are only available on Xbox Live for those who already have a series of purchases such as an internet connection, a Xbox Live subscription, and a subscription to the desired app. The console is almost worthless without a television to plug into, nowadays not completely worthless because other screens can be used. Looking back on the evolution of my gaming television I marvel at the changes in both I and technology since the early nineties.

Somehow, someway in the early nineties I wanted a Sega Genesis. After my parents separated, my mother began working a newspaper route in order to earn a few more dollars. As the oldest child, I was about eight, I helped her in the predawn (a bizarre similarity to my current morning routine) bag and deliver the newspapers while my younger siblings slept in the minivan. My mother was, and is, not a video game fan but she allowed me $20 from each paycheck and I saved for my beloved Sega Genesis. Later standing at the counter of the local Toys 'R Us my short eight year old self stood mesmerized as that black and red box was handed down to me seemingly from an opening in the sky itself.

This is the red and black box of my childhood memories. I hope the upcoming generation includes memorable packaging.

On the ride home, my mother sternly reminded me that I was not allowed to play the console until the next day. I agreed without a fuss. The next day my parents met with the mediator for the divorce proceedings. What happened next remains disputed. However, the facts are that a list was made of my parents' shared worldly possessions, my mother had full custody of the children therefore her household needed many of the items but ultimately the television was written into my father's column.

My father alleges that my mother demanded that he take the television but my mother insists that he demanded the television over her protestations. Regardless, that day after school I witnessed my mother use a strength only fueled by burning fury to toss that television yelling that if my father wanted the television he could pick it up from the curb. For those that remember, analog televisions were, and are if you have not tossed yours yet, incredibly heavy machines. Additionally, in 1993 appliances were not cheaply replaced. When our microwave or VCR (you young kids think of a DVD player for VHS tapes) broke Target did not have cheap replacements for $39. Instead, we weighed which appliance mattered most and took the machine to the appliance repair shop. Us kids voted to repair the VCR but our mother overruled us and repaired the microwave instead.

After school that day, my Sega Genesis had no television companion. I am unsure how much time passed, whether days or weeks or months, but eventually a kindly neighbor discovered our plight and gave us an unused television from his basement and I gamed.

Popping open the top in order to insert a CD felt very high tech at the time.

In the next couple of years, my father moved states away to Georgia/Alabama; he lived on the border of the two states. We kids visited for eight weeks every summer. One summer, my father placed me in front of another Toys 'R Us console display and magnanimously offered for me to choose the console of my choice. All I knew about the consoles was my loyalty to Sega thus I chose the short lived Sega Saturn. Back at my father's house, I set up my Sega Saturn on the extra television in his bedroom. The television was my childhood television that my mother previously threw to the curb. He had in fact picked it up. The television was finally plugged into a video game console.

I have no memory of when or why I picked up this game but it became my seminal Sega Saturn experience.

That summer I played a game, Crusader: No Remorse, on my Sega Saturn for hours. My red space man and I traveled the galaxy that summer taking down Stormtrooper inspired enemies and using the flamethrower as often as possible. While I basked in the post-game euphoria of a game played to its conclusion my television screen suddenly flashed and left behind only a solid black screen. Frantic attempts hitting the power button and reconnecting all of the cables were useless. The television was dead with the finality that accompanies a burst tube but not before I finished my game. The television's purpose was complete.

We had a great summer, that flamethrower and I.

In the next few years my siblings and I fought for control over either parent's sole television in their respective households. Technology was expensive and in the competition amongst four children we were often forced to schedule television, and later computer, time in thirty minute increments. Enforcing this schedule was another matter entirely. I heavily gamed during the era of the original Playstation but dabbled in PC gaming during the time of the Playstation 2 due to increased pressures in school.

By the start of college I was determined to have a television in my dorm room. I felt celebratory that no younger siblings would demand changing the channel to SpongeBob SquarePants. In order to save money my mother shut off the cable for my entire high school senior year. In college cable was free! I only needed a television.

My mother and I fought bitterly over this television. Despite having my own funds, she insisted that I did not need a television in my dorm room. Luckily, my best friends pooled their money and for about $90 they gifted me with a 13 inch analog television from Best Buy. Yes, in 2003 nearly $100 bought only a 13 inch television. My laptop screen was larger but we were not yet accustomed to watching programming on our laptops.

I was oddly hooked by this game so much so that I replayed the beginning sequence over and over just to one hit kill the henchmen with my arrows.

Like many college students before us, but not so much after, my roommate and I adjusted our eyes and watched hours of programming on that 13 inch television, mostly Alias and Sex In The City. Eventually, I splurged on a Playstation 2 bundle made cheap by the then-new, now current, generation. My game of choice was Robin Hood Defender Of The Crown, the beginning of my preference for bow and arrow combat.

Aside from the historical twist that Robin Hood regularly held jousting tournaments. Why do games no longer have first person jousting?!

To accompany my new Playstation 2 I bought the largest analog television I could afford from a student message board. Moving from apartment to apartment each time I lugged that monstrosity, especially up stairs, I encountered that split second thought of, "What if I just let go? Is this television really that important?" Inevitably, that answer was always yes and the hulking machine was always safely ensconced in my new living room.

A few years ago, as a present my girlfriend bought me a Wii and when my brother was unloading his flat screen television I could not resist a cheap upgrade. My 26 inch Sony Bravia is nothing special but it set the technology bar in my living room. Not long after, my television had a new Xbox 360, a console worthy of the television.

In context of the difference in moving analog televisions versus the current flat screens, my current 26 inch flat screen weighs 17 pounds whereas my old 26 inch analog television weighed about 80 pounds. Also, in my city, much of the housing was built at the turn of the twentieth century which translates into the fact that there are nearly no elevators in housing to assist with moving.

In twenty short years we have mostly lost appliance repair stores and my house now contains four televisions, three that are in use. The fourth is my college dorm room 13 inch analog television that is tucked away and will surely be needed again someday.

My console is a magical machine but useless without an accompanying television. With luck, my game time will return this week and once again my television, console, and I will be an unbeatable trio saving the universe in some shape or form. Thank you television for your typically unacknowledged contribution in gaming, I appreciate all that you do.

Thank you all for reading. May your television remain a steady companion this week after all next to (or above or below) every console is a television too.

Do you have any memorable gaming televisions in your past or present?

Did you ever have trouble setting up your console to your television before we could route all wires through the HDMI cable?

Do you use a television with your console or another type of monitor?

The Games I've Completed So Far in 2013

N64LIVE — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:55:00 GMT

I read Reiner's blog recently about his favorite games of this year. But as I prepared to make an equivalent blog, as he suggested, I decided instead to write about not just my favorite games so far this year (I haven't played a lot of 2013 releases thus far), but to write about any game I've beaten this year. As of today, this will simply be a list, but soon I will get to writing descriptions of my time with those games (once I've got some finals out of the way).

Half-Life

Goldeneye 007

The Walking Dead

Mass Effect

Mass Effect 2

BioShock Infinite

Luigi's Mansion

Mass Effect 3

Dragon's Dogma Review

wayoverdue — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:37:00 GMT

After a very long hiatus, I've finally returned, to write my review for the game I got the first day it came out, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen! Alas, I have not actually completed Dark Arisen. The part of the game I have played through, however, is the main story! Right now, I am working diligently to complete Dark Arisen(I have to go towards the end of the main story AGAIN before I'm ready!), and I'll make sure to get a review for that up as soon as I can.

Without further ado, I present to you my review of Dragon's Dogma!

The first thing I would like to note about this game is the gameplay. The most important part of the game, in my opinion. If it has bad gameplay, it's unplayable. Fortunately, this game is very playable, due to an achieved balance of relying on yourself and pawns(your group/team, if you will). It's simple, really. If you go alone with your main pawn(Who can't leave your company), then you'll most likely fail in achieving anything, unless you choose a very certain vocation for them, along with very specific skills that allow you to succeed.

It's much easier to just enlist pawns so that taking down large enemies is much easier.

Aside from teamwork, you'll also see yourself relying on your own power(Since the AI isn't exactly the best). One mechanic in this game is climbing. Not mountains or cliffs, enemies. Much like Shadow of the Colossus, but without ledges on the large enemies. You'll find yourself climbing bosses frequently trying to find the weak spot to do more damage, or just deal damage(Some enemies have rock hard...rocks...).

(I've never encountered this thing during the day)

Movement in this game is great, as long as you aren't carrying too many items. Unlike Skyrim(There's the reference), carrying more does slow your movements. This forces the player to either store or sell items that are just burdens.

Moving on.

A less important aspect about the game, the graphics. While graphics don't make a game, they do certainly change it. Having different graphics changes the game, for good or bad. In this game's case, graphics were great. One aspect about the graphics sets it apart from most games, though. The lighting. I have to say, the lighting in this game was phenomenal. It was what made me feel like I was really walking through a thick woodland, or in a dark cave.

Using your lantern is essential to navigation, especially during night. In most games, if you're walking through a chasm during the day, you'll see plenty of light, even if the sun isn't directly overhead. In this game, if the sun isn't directly overhead, you'll need a lantern, or you'll barely see anything. Much less so at night. Even with your lantern, I'd estimate you could only see 5 feet ahead of you(I'm terrible with measurements).

Enough with the lighting, I'm sure you guys(and gals) want to hear about the things that I personally don't like. Well, honestly, I can only think of one thing, and really, it's just a love/hate thing.

Travelling. If any game were to represent the Lord of the Rings movies(other than the actual games), this would be it. Walking is pretty much 40% of the game. "What about fast travel?" Well that's in the game, but you're given these items that allow you to fast travel, called ferrystones. They aren't the most abundant item in the game, either, so you're forced to walk most of the time. I've always wanted a game that made you feel like you're actually going on a journey, so I like that, but I'm not always in the mood to walk, so I end up using ferrystones from my last playthrough(about 10 total).

I really like the game, but I guess another thing I'd change is warning of quests cancelling. With as little spoilers as possible, I'll warn anyone buying this game of the quests that are cancelled, and when. "Lost and Found" is cancelled upon completion of the Everfall, and "Duchess in Distress" upon completion of "Deny Salvation." Fair warning.

I personally think this a great game, and would definitely recommend it.

A little side note: It took me about half an hour to finish a particular boss.

The Wasteland Wanderer: Introduction

warlord5531 — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:55:00 GMT

The forty or so of you that actually read the story the first time I posted this will probably want to read again. Basically, this was already up, but the formatting was terrible (lesson learned with Microsoft Word), and I decided to delete the post and start over.

For the people that have not yet read this, this is a fan story based off of one of my favorite universes in gaming, the Fallout universe. Specifically, it is based off of Fallout: New Vegas. I've delved back into the world of New Vegas to put together a fiction story based around one of my favorite games. I thank the Fallout Wiki for providing a reliable source.

This is the first part (the introduction actually) of a multiple-part story that I am still working on. I hope to get enough positive feedback for it being worth to go on, so comment on any and everything you feel the need to. Enjoy!

The Wasteland Wanderer

I haven't done a whole lot in my life.

I was a Mojave Express courier for a couple of months after my mother died. I realized that was a bad idea when I woke up in the New Vegas medical clinic. Doctor Usanagi told me they found me with a few too many bullet holes in me. I couldn't remember anything, so I took her word for it. I later found out that I had been carrying an important package to a Benny in New Vegas. Funny, I've still never met the guy. Anyway, I was fired, but it was okay. After all that, I had basically quit.

Well, after that, I wandered for weeks, surviving off of the bottle caps I got from being a courier and the ten-millimeter in my holster. Eventually, I stumbled upon Goodsprings, a nice little town southwest of New Vegas. There, I met a few good people and got a job hunting Geckos with a girl named Sunny Smiles. It was a nice place. It got me some caps, and honestly, I might have stayed there longer if it wasn't for the Raiders and critters. I left after a couple of weeks.

From there, I wandered again. I headed south and stumbled upon a small town named Primm. It wasn't too far from an NCR outpost called the Mojave Outpost Barracks. I stayed for a little while and then left, finding nothing for me to do.

Oh, why am I telling you all this without telling you who I am? I'm Samson Smith, a wasteland wanderer who hasn't found his place in the world yet. I spent my entire childhood in New Vegas with my mother, Penny Smith.

I know what you're probably thinking right now. Why would you leave New Vegas? Most people are lucky to ever get in, let alone be born in such a city. I know, I know, but let me explain. You see, I was born into a rich family. My father was a high-level NCR soldier who enjoyed the Gomorrah. His name is Jackson Smith. My mother drank and did drugs (mostly Psycho) a lot, mostly after my father left her for a dancer in the Gomorrah. That happened when I was six years old.

After that, my mother drank more and did more drugs (still mostly Psycho). The Psycho would make her angry and stronger than her malnourished physique. The alcohol would even that out, but it wouldn't stop her from beating me. I usually got a beating a week, but on the worst days, I'd get several beatings a day. She bought all of it with the caps my father left and I basically bought for myself. Rumors swirled about what was going on. I endured that for twelve years.

Then, when I was eighteen, my mother ended up overdosing on a mixture of Psycho, alcohol, and Mentats and died. I left then, taking what little we had left, including the ten-millimeter. I stayed in Freeside for a few days, taking pointers from other travelers, and left there.

I had to learn quickly what the world was like out there. Sure, I had been told stories by my father, NCR soldiers, and travelers, but until this point, I had never been outside the Strip. It was okay, though. I didn't have much, so there wasn't much to steal. People saw me and ignored me. It was okay because I was more confused than ever.

I guess I still am that confused now, sitting in a police station on the side of the road, on a smelly cot I found in the back. I'm confused about a lot of things. Who am I? Is there a place, a meaning, for me in this world? I'm asking questions like those all the time.

Also, what was so special about the dancer my father liked? I'd heard the slurred names women were called in the Gomorrah. What was so special about that woman, to be even more special than my mother? Also, why did my mother beat me? I remember her rants about me being such a disgraceful kid, but I never did much. I couldn't. What did I ever do to her that was worth beating me all the time?

But the most burdening, most worrying question rings in my head all the time. Should I have left New Vegas?

Pokemon X and Y update

brainraider1 — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:45:00 GMT

So some new picture sets for Pokemon X and Y have recently come out. One of them show a new pokemon Gogoat

Gogoat is a grass type pokemon that is well a goat. There has never been a goat looking pokemon in pokemon well at least according to my knowledge so this is interesting. I was honestly wondering if it would be a normal grass type pokemon which would actually give it the benefit of not being affected by ghost type pokemon so yeah that would make a difference in the pokemons abilities.

There is also a new City Luminous City

Which is obviously a city that is based off Paris look at that Eiffel tower like building in the background. The name Lumious sounds like luminous which is a reference to the nickname of Paris the City of lights just like how Manhattans nickname is the big apple. I mention this since some parts of the Unova region are geographically based off New York City. Apparently Japan has a huge fascination with Paris they hold their fashion and style in high regard. There is even something called the Paris Syndrome which is caused by Japan's huge fascination with Paris. If this is true then I'm surprised it took this long for an area to be based off Paris. This Paris fascination really brings some Light to Mitsuru kirijo

She is the President of the whole Student body, she is intelligent, popular, and stylish. She also has a French Style to her and she speaks fluent French oh and don't forget that she is very rich and is the head of the Kirijo group. So Japanese people having an obsession with French people actually makes a lot of sense to me now that I've played Persona 3.

Now getting back to Pokemon you can ride a mount now

Which is honestly pretty cool the only mount that has been show is Gogoat but I'm sure there will be more mounts since that woiuld be incredibly lazy of Game Freak and Creatures Inc(The developers of the Pokemon games) to do . I honestly miss when Soul Silver and Heart Gold came out and you could have your pokemon walk behind you ahh those were good times.

My current Favorite Edition to the Pokemon series is the ability to customize your character.

You can now change the skin tone and hair color of your character as well which is awesome. I remember back in Crystal version when you first got the option to be a girl which was very cool. Ever since Diamond and pearl I have only wanted to be the girl character though. I hate the male character sprite in the Sinnoh Region and this male character design is better but I still prefer the girl sprite. I might end up being the black girl she currently looks the most appealing to me along with the tan one in the middle, the blonde one isn't bad either. I wonder if you will have the ability to change the appearance of your character whenever you want that would be cool because sometimes I want to be a different skin tone. Heck I also think it would be cool to change from a boy to a girl however I'm not complaining because the girl sprite is far superior. As for my character name I'm trying to decide between Iris, Maya, Victoria, and Chlamydia. I know that the name of an STI but it would be pretty funny beating someone online with that name because hey I like to troll plus I actually like the sound of the name it's a shame it has to be in relation to something so negative.

Anyway I really need to start saving up for a 3ds and this new pokemon game its probably going to be so good they better bring back the World Tournament from Black and White 2 now that would be a step in the positive direction.

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Song of the Week #24

General Mills44 — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:55:00 GMT

Whether you prefer PC, Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, or even Sega consoles, it’s tough to look back at the PS2 and be unimpressed by its extensive library of excellent games. My foray with this fantastic piece of gaming hardware only began in full about a year ago. Since then, I’ve played a dozen or so PS2 titles that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Few were as sublime as Ico.

Most modern games have a heavy focus on storytelling and struggle, while attempting to not overdo it in the exposition and dialogue departments. Ico, on the other hand, excels past the mesosphere of the expected limitations of video game storytelling and into a place few games ever ascend.

I’ve always firmly believed any great story is supported by an equally great soundtrack. Ico is more hard evidence in support of my belief. This week, I’d like to draw your attention to "You Were There," a four-and-a-half minute piece which ironically has more dialogue than the entirety of Ico. To make matters even more peculiar, much of Ico's dialogue is in a dialect created specifically for Ico and subtitled with strange symbols. While this helps to give Ico's narrative a deeper meaning, it provided an even greater challenge for composer Michiru Oshima.

I won’t spoil anything, but the final ten to fifteen minutes of Ico are a sobering demonstration of what our young entertainment medium can achieve. I firmly believe "You Were There" played a major role in the beauty of those final moments. You may not be able to grasp the exact words Yorda mutters, but "You Were There" more than adequately communicates the emotions running between protagonist Ico and his young love Yorda.

To this day, Ico — and its successor Shadow of the Colossus — stand testament as to why video games should be considered an art form. Both games' minimalist storytelling styles are supported by amazing songs such as "You Were There," but don’t fail to tell highly emotional and well-written tales.

Now if only The Last Guardian would finally release and join the ranks of such storied games.

As always, dear readers: sit back, relax, and enjoy.

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You can also follow me on Twitter @Plus10Mills.

KRIEG: Borderlands 2's Newest Jack Smasher

footthumb — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:51:00 GMT

I actually had no idea that Borderlands 2's newest DLC character, Krieg, was heading towards release. Actually, I had no idea that there even was a new character on the horizon. I was just minding my own business mowing down some Pandoran and Hyperion scum in my monthly revisit to my favorite game and there in Dr. Zed's vending machine was a strange looking mod for a 'Psycho Class'. Initially I just wrote it off thinking that maybe Season Pass holders had access to some kind of mod that the rest of us didn't, but every time I hopped into a med machine there it was; 'Psycho Class' - Burn Chance +5%, or Melee Kill +15%. It was like an itch that I couldn't scratch and before I knew it, it was all I could think about on Pandora. So after spending a few minutes digging around in the DLC and then a quarter of a half of a fifth of a second waiting for Google to give me a result, there it was; Krieg, Borderlands 2's newest Vault Hunter.

Krieg is one of Pandora's infamous Psychos. Now playing for the home team, you finally get to experience what it's like to be completely insane, but best of all, to wield that big-ass buzz axe. As Krieg's melee weapon and Action Skill, the buzz axe is the same wrecking ball that it is in the enemy's hands. Hit that left bumper and "Krieg get angry, Krieg get smashy." Like Brick in the original Borderlands, Krieg's action skill is all about getting extremely pissed off, charging in and separating flesh from bone. But unlike Brick, Krieg's action skill also gives you the ability to keep your distance and throw that monstrosity of a spinning death stick, giving you an alternative to charging in head first. As you progress through Krieg's skill tree you can even attach a healthy amount of TNT to that buzz axe and toss the mother of all hand tools into the midst of your enemies. Like all Vault Hunters, Krieg comes with his own unique skill tree and dialogue. It's this skill tree however that I have a few minor issues with. Much like Gaige's, Krieg's skill tree introduces what I like to call, 'a very bad idea'.

While I always appreciate something new to try out, both of Gearbox's new DLC characters Gaige, and now Krieg, have come with skill trade-offs along with skill bonuses. It started with Gaige's 'Ordered Chaos' branch. If you wanted access to that second tier or anything below it, you had to give up a percentage of your magazine capacity. For someone like me that likes to arm themselves with Revolvers, Shotguns, but most of all, Sniper Rifles, I could be looking at a 3 shot weapon. Needless to say, I wasn't very happy with such a frustrating addition to what otherwise used to be upgradable skills; bonuses to your character's abilities. So, I just upgraded my 'Anarchy' ability and completely left the 'Ordered Chaos' branch untouched. And now, once again, Krieg comes with a branch, that while certainly offering skill upgrades, also forces you to sacrifice for a bonus. This is an unsettling development for Borderlands and it's making me a little nervous thinking about what a Borderlands 3 skill tree might look like for all of the characters.

In Krieg's 'Hellborn' branch, if you upgrade the 'Burn, Baby, Burn' skill, Krieg deals increased burn damage - but - there's also a chance that he's going to burst into flames. I don't need to tell you what kind of trouble this can, and does, cause. Now, while you're on fire, you do deal even more burn damage, but, if your dead, who cares? In the middle of a cluster of chaos, if you're blasting away with your fire weapon and your shields get completely depleted, you're more or less done for if that fire weapon forces you to go up in flames as well (this will happen). After a few frustrating firefights, emphasis on fire, I decided it was time to go through every Vault Hunter's skill tree to make sure I wasn't just imagining this unfortunate new turn of events. As it turns out, I wasn't. I couldn't find a single skill in a single Vault Hunter's skill tree that forced you to give up something to get something. That's zero, not one, not a single trade-off whatsoever. Every upgrade gives you a bonus to your abilities, not a bonus coupled with a penalty. I had chalked up Gaige's trade-off to the fact that 'Anarchy' is an absolute wrecking ball when maxed out, so sure, decrease that magazine size (although all 3 times I've played with her, I haven't touched anything other than 'Anarchy'), but added Burn Damage does not make Krieg a wrecking ball; at all. And further complicating the problem is that 'Burn, Baby, Burn' isn't the only skill that increases your chance of bursting into flames. If you also upgrade your 'Fuel the Fire' and 'Delusional Damage' skill, you're further increasing the chance of self-immolating. This is not a good idea Gearbox. Every single Vault Hunter has an upgradeable skill that gives you bonuses to your player's abilities so that as the game's enemies get more and more powerful, you're given the freedom to choose from a variety of ways to make yourself more powerful as well. Now, your power comes along with… what? The ability to go up in flames? "Krieg no like.. Krieg strap boom-boom to buzz axe."

Don't get me wrong. Krieg's skill tree is still a lot of fun. Replacing your regular melee with the ability to breath a cone of fire is an absolute blast, and strapping a bundle of dynamite to your buzz axe never gets old. There is a lot to enjoy. You really don't want to pass him up, because he is a great deal of fun. And who knows, maybe you'll love being on fire and decide that all of the bonuses that come with it are well worth dying every now and again. As you progress through the 'Hellborn' branch, being on fire makes you more and more powerful, so it's not like it's some kind of horrible trade-off that makes life on Pandora harder and harder; but 7 out of the 34 skills come with some form of trade-off and that's 7 more than there should be. You should also keep in mind that once you hit a certain point in the game you're mainly battling Hyperion robots and soldiers that are completely resistant to fire damage. So while it's great for most of the game (again, if you don't mind the trade-off), it's going to become a lot less useful in the end. But, like all of the Vault Hunters, the choice is up to you. You don't have to touch that right branch if you don't want, which still leaves 2 other branches that have a ton of great skills. Aside for strapping dynamite to your buzz axe, which is obviously my favorite, you also have skills like 'Pull the Pin', that let's you drop a grenade when you die, granting you double XP for killing whoever was stupid enough to be tea-bagging your corpse. The entire 'Bloodlust' branch offers stackable damage, culminating in it's final skill, 'Bloodsplosion', where killing an enemy causes them to explode with an Elemental Nova matching the element of the damage that killed them.

Krieg is worth the dough. Even with all my petty little issues, I had a ton of fun playing as a Psycho. That buzz axe is a force to be reckoned with and there's nothing more satisfying than going up against a Badass Psycho as a Badass Psycho, and letting them know how it feels to have that buzz axe planted firmly in their eye socket. Ordinarily those dudes put the fear of god into me, but as Krieg, I couldn't wait for one of them to pop up so I could hit that LB and chuck a buzz axe full of dynamite into their sternum. Sweet, sweet revenge. And while the skill tree is by far the most important part of any new Vault Hunter, Krieg also comes with his own unique dialogue. I never once got tired of him saying "Insurance Fraud!" every time I ran over something or someone with my vehicle. He's as stupid as you'd expect a Psycho to be and it's hilarious listening to some of his comments. As far as his mod's are concerned, some of those come with trade-offs as well, but that's par for the course with mods, so it's really no big deal. In my playthrough most of the ones I came across had to do with Burn Damage, Melee Damage, or Fight For Your Life bonuses. There are more of course, and one particularly helpful one that I'll let you discover for yourself. As a team player, he has some particularly useful attributes that will make him a helpful addition to any Jack-slaying Vault Brigade. If you're a Borderlands fan you're probably already playing with Krieg, but if you haven't picked him up yet, he's worth the investment.

Top 5 Games We Morally Shouldn't Love, But Do

Hist — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:58:41 GMT

Most of the time when you're playing a video game, you're playing a good guy. You're the hero. You're the one who's going to save the world.

Sure, more and more games are adding moral choices to their games, like Mass Effect, Infamous, and others. But ultimately that choice is up to you. You can still play the hero with no problem. And often, the moral choices are just whether you play as a Dick or not. You don't often (though you do occasionally) get to play as a true villain.

But every once in a while there's a game where there isn't a lot redeeming what you're trying to do. There may be moral shades of grey in the story, of course. But there's no doubt that part of the game has you wasting innocent people, or good guys just trying to do their jobs. These are the games that non-gamers look at us playing and may have a point when they ask "What is wrong with you?" (Empty Chair: I've been asking that question for years)

Despite that, these are awesome games that we just love playing anyway. Maybe they make us laugh (despite the fact that they shouldn't). Maybe it's a puzzle that comes from a rather dark corner of the mind.

These are the games that, maybe, your mother warned you about (assuming she didn't pick up a controller and play with you).

5) Overlord & Overlord 2

Ok, this may be stretching the definition of "love to play", but it is a fun little game where you are the ultimate bad guy. You actually can create and hire minions to do your dirty work, ransacking villages and trying to destroy or conquer the land. When good guys try to stop you? That fully-armored knight who wants to put you down?

That's what your can opener is for.

Those poor villagers, though.

4) Dungeon Keeper

I remember when this game first came out. I believe it was one of the first that makes you be on the other side. You're the ultimate bad guy, creating a dungeon and stocking it with evil monsters and traps to stop the annoying heroes from coming in and killing you (or at least taking all of your treasures). The idea is to kill as many good guys as possible. It was tons of fun, and it was pretty well-liked at the time (the original came out in 1997).

It's too bad that it didn't continue after the second one came out in 1999, though apparently there is an MMO that's only out in China.

I loved its slogan: "Evil is Good!"

3) Saint's Row

How could you not have this series in here? (Empty Chair: What if you don't love it?)

This series is a perfect example of the "go for hilarity so you don't think about the morals of the game" concept. It's so over the top (which is probably why some people don't love it as much as I do) that you really can't take it seriously. But when you really dig down into the game, you are playing a bunch of scumbags who have no problem taking out multiple police officers during a mission. Yes, you are ultimately playing against other gang members as well, but there are a lot of innocent bystanders and police just trying to do their jobs.

Funny how none of these cities seems to have any children in it. Then again, would you let your kids play outside when this is happening?

(Please visit the site to view this media)

2) Grand Theft Auto

The granddaddy of them all. You knew this was going to be on the list, considering how popular it is. And how controversial, too. I think every installment has had some kind of article written against it about how it signifies the fall of society.

Yes, Rockstar does add a lot of humor to things and puts it a bit over the top (not as much as Saint's Row, though it's definitely up there). And yes, many of the stories are about a guy just trying to find his way and ultimately get away from the crime business. In San Andreas, CJ is trying to get out of things, but he's kind of stuck because of Tenpenny (the ultimate bad cop). That being said, he does still seem to get into the gang wars without complaining about it too much.

One of the most exciting missions in GTA IV was the big heist, so much so that Rockstar is putting a bunch of them in GTA V. Lots of cops die in these missions. Not to mention the old "Renegade" side missions (whatever happened to those?) where the idea was to kill as many people as possible within the time limit using the weapon given to you. Nothing evil about that, right?

But wait a minute, you're asking. How can Grand Theft Auto not be #1?

1) Plague, Inc

Because how can leading a life of crime and killing a bunch of police officers really stack up against trying to eradicate humanity?

That's what you do in Plague, Inc, a really fun iOS and Android game where you are a disease that is basically trying to do just that.

On the first level, you're a bacterial strain, but as you succeed in wiping out the human race, you graduate up to virus, fungus, parasite, all the way up to bio-weapon. You mutate the disease by using DNA points that you get from infecting more and more people, in addition to little DNA bubbles that pop up and that you have to press. These mutations are anywhere from making it more likely to be transmitted by bird migration to hardening the genetics of the disease to make the cure harder to find.

It's a really fun game, and a bit of a puzzle in that you have to figure out the best way to get your disease spread before the world starts curing you. If the cure is completed and distributed before you wipe out everyone, you lose. You may have wiped out 80% of humanity, but you still lose.

Here's a gameplay video to give you an idea of what it's like.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

And there you have it. Five games where you are truly evil.

Even if the game is telling you otherwise.

And yet we love them.

What's up with that?

What's your favourite game like this? Let me know in the comments.

The Top Ten Female Companions in Games

Mr Turkey — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:59:00 GMT

Lists... everybody loves lists. Here you have my top-ten buddies in gaming who happen to be girls.

10: Ashley Graham (Resident Evil 4)

Although she served to be little more than a constantly-whining little girl who needs to be rescued, Ashley turned out to be pretty tough in the long run. Not only did she receive countless maulings from bloodthirsty zombies, dodge harrowing attacks from robotic knights in armor, and solve brain-melting puzzles, but she even proved her mettle by eating every one of those yellow herbs Leon fed to her. Yuck!

9: Lydia (The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim)

You've gotta hand it to Lydia, she's the most brainlessly obedient pawn ever seen in a video game. You could tell her to jump off a cliff, and all she'd say is, ''As you will, my Thane. I will protect you with my life.'' But who would want to do that when you can pile all your belongings in her non-existent pack? Never once does she give a complaint, besides her occasional sarcasm. She doesn't even require a horse! Players can gallop for miles on the back of their steed, and Lydia will jog at your heels all the way, without ever letting up.

8: Ellie (Dead Space 2)

In Dead Space, rarely do you ever forget that you're alone on a space station filled to the brim with heaps of scrawny monstrosities who perceive your guts to be Turkish delight. But then along comes another survivor like yourself who needs companionship desperately, even if she doesn't realize it at first. Ellie eventually warms up to your company, and agrees to escort your insane buddy Stross to safety... that is, as long as he doesn't become violent. In a stunningly predictable turn of events, he gets violent, and just when your journey was beginning to get peaceful, Stross stabs Ellie in the eye with a screwdriver. But was she mad? Nah, and that's why she gets points.

7: Liara T'soni (Mass Effect series)

A quick-thinking scientist with blue skin is one thing, but add the fact that she's a girl and... well, I'd like to think that changes everything. In reality, though, it only adds a few new dialog options and some awkward scenes where she's attracted to Shepard, and ol' Shep... well, he can't get past the blue skin. Liara is delightful to be around because she's constantly giving helpful input on the situation. You can be in the heat of battle and still feel at home when she's by your side, since she hardly even raises her voice when she speaks.

6: Elena Fisher (Uncharted series)

Drake really knows how to pick 'em. Elena is more than just a pretty face. She's got charm, ingenuity, endurance, and everything your typical Hollywood macho babe possesses when it comes to action sequences. She'll jump out of a collapsing building with you as long as it means you stay together. Although... the reason she takes part in those crazy stunts alongside Drake might just be because she's too dumb to give them a second thought.... She's blonde, after all.... And blondes... ah, never mind.

5: Clementine (The Walking Dead)

The thing about kids in a zombie apocalypse is that you expect them to be scared all the time, and so you try to shelter them from all the horror. But this little girl has survived quite capably without the help of the player when he finds her. Clementine serves as the player's moral compass in the game; each time you make a choice, you're reminded of what she might think of you after the fact, and even how she might be affected for better or for worse. Rarely does a game ever manage to create this sort of father/daughter relationship, which is why Clementine remains one of video games' greatest achievements.

4: Elizabeth (Bioshock Infinite)

There's nothing particularly likable about Elizabeth, beside that awesome gold thimble she's got on her pinky. Her usefulness comes in the form of being able to open rifts in space and time so that Booker can access health-packs and other items. She also throws stuff at you, like vigor refills, ammo, and books. Yes, books. Perhaps it's because she thinks Booker likes them. ''Booker'' has ''book'' in it, so... I don't know. Maybe I'm over-thinking this. Elizabeth is perhaps the most resourceful companion ever seen in video games; never once does she even appear to need help. That's rarely seen in games today.

3: Cortana (Halo series)

When players first meet Cortana, she's an incredibly intelligent A.I. companion who aids you with finding objectives, identifying threats, and following along with the story. But she wasn't really your friend. After she receives higher knowledge from the Forerunner installation on one of the halo rings, everything changes in her psyche. She begins to show emotions, and even gets angry at certain things. The player begins to relate to her, and she in turn turns out to delve deeper in the character development spectrum. By the end of Halo 2, you're BFFs, and your parting ways is made all the more saddening at the end of Halo 4.

2: Alyx (Half-Life 2)

Anyone who's played the game can testify to this: Alyx is everything you could ever want from a female companion. Her personality covers everything from humor, to sarcasm, to sympathy and remorse. She genuinely cares about the player... err... Gordon Freeman. Right from the get-go, she saves you from the Combine marines who were hunting you down, which immediately makes you respect her ability to handle herself, as well as protect you. But as the story unfolds, you see how she loves her dad, and that she wan't just made to be the player's helpful buddy; she has her own life, too. Without a doubt, she's one of the greatest non-romantic female characters any developer has ever crafted.

1: Alex (Breakdown)

What a crying shame it is that so few people know what it was like to live, fight, and die with Alex. For the entire first part of the game, players are confused as to where she came from and how she knows you. Mysteries abound in the entire story, but Alex's origins are by far the most puzzling. Just as soon as you think you understand who she is, someone gives you a piece of information that has you scratching your head once again. By the game's end, you're on a mission to save her from the main antagonist, but it's all for naught. Her fate is set, and that's why the following events are so compelling in your relationship with her. The player is given chances in dialog to confess his love for Alex, but she always brushes off your sentiments because of the more important objective ahead. What I would give to honestly tell her how I feel.... Alex sets off emotions that no other game can copy, and that's why it earns her place as #1 in my book.

Thanks for reading!

Have your own favorite companions?

The First Annual JohnWrek Trivia Challenge

John Wrek — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:17:00 GMT

Today's blog is going to be a more interesting, light-hearted trivia blog of sorts. I know this may seem narcissistic in many ways, but it will be a blog featuring myself, and will question you about just how much you know about a certain subject pertaining to me presently here at GIO: my blogs that have been written over the years. I hope to make this a fun, annual occurrence, so I will release one of these next year as well, assuming I'm still around and nothing odd happens that would result in my departure from this wonderful community. If not, then at least you will have this one to play around with. I hope you will enjoy the twenty blog trivia questions that I have in store, and be sure to go back and search my blogs for some of the subtle and not-so subtle hints. Now, allow me to begin with the rules and regulations.

Le Rules

Answers can only be found in my blogs.

You must laugh at the witty fail in the above picture, if you found it (them).

Answers, if posted by you in the comments, do not have to be exact- simply close.

Be sure to check your answers underneath each question (they will be in white to blend in).

Highlight or turn the site black to see the answers.

Enjoy the trivia challenge.

Post how many you got right, or close calls.

I will make an example comment to spur discussion.

Questions are in chronological order, to make things easier-ish.

Le Questions (and Answers)

1) What was the ending quote from my very first (officially published) blog here at GIO?

Answer: "Need your cajones, son."

2) What was the first Game Informer issue that I blogged about my responses to and thoughts on, here at GIO?

Answer: Issue #227

3) How many video game franchises did I say "should take it easy for awhile?"

Answer: 7

4) One of my critically acclaimed blogs, which game was I promising to revisit after nearly a year of it being out?

Answer: Portal 2

5) What was the title of my co-blogging extravaganza with JayWrighterJames?

Answer: The Evolution of Spider-Man in Video Games

6) What game did I make a parody sequel announcement post to shortly after my co-blogging exploits? (And what was the parody called?)

Answer: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (The Elder Scrolls VI: Hammerfell)

7) In my blog praising the Dark Knight's concluding chapter, I stated that what point was number five in that particular blog?

Answer: Continuity

8) What blog has a title that seems very similar to one of my more recently released blogs, the one known as The Persian Perspective?

Answer: The Playfire Perspective

9) What was my contribution to the weekly question genre of blogs here on GIO?

Answer: One Feature you'd add to Any game

10) This blog about a list of games included how many theoretical sequels by Valve Software?

Answer: 3

11) One of my most popular blogs, which was also featured in Blog Herding and the GI Newsletter, defined what term for warfare?

Answer: Unconventional Warfare

12) My blog on an excellent game known as a successor to System Shock 2 was titled what?

Answer: Jack's Redemption

13) In my blog pertaining to Thanksgiving Day Warrior, I titled each part of the blog with allusions to what game?

Answer: Halo: Combat Evolved or Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition

14) The first episode of my short little synopsis series called Let's Talk featured what game?

Answer: Guardians of Middle-Earth

15) What was the title of my little top 25 blog?

Answer: The Top 25 Impressive Features in Gaming

16) In this philosophical blog post, I broke from the norm by including what anonymous quote?

Answer: "The world doesn't stop for any single person- it just rolls on with or without you, regardless of how important you may or may not have been to it's peoples."

17) In this blog I told you some tips on hoe to create a good blog. What was part four's title?

Answer: In Which we Reach the End of our Journey...Or do we?

18) In this particular blog, I correctly guessed that what game would score the score given to it by GI Magizine in Dan Ryckert's review? (What score?)

Answer: Gears of War: Judgment (8.5)

19) One of my most beloved top 10's blog lists, this blog talked about this generation of gaming, and included what game as the seventh of the ten interesting games that impacted this gen?

Answer: Mirror's Edge

20) Following three subsequent blog reviews and coming before a review of a game that GI gave a perfect ten, what blog did I post with a picture pertaining to that game? (And what was the game's title?)

Answer: The Top 10 'Perfect 10's' of GIO (Bioshock Infinite)

Le Finish

It's been a fun little trivia challenge, and I hope you will deign to comment.

Give me feedback on what scores you got (out of 20).

And feel free to comment on what you thought was neat.

Thanks again folks, and as usual, until next time...adios.

5th games I play next pt. 2

Juanolo — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:21:00 GMT

Last Friday, I had 32 games to vote from. Now, were in the sweet 16. Whoever goes on, will be in the elite 8. Remember, you can also head over to forums if you want to vote twice. So lets get to it. Here are your choices.

Bioshock vs. Red dead redemption

Uncharted 2 vs. Mass effect 2

Borderlands 2 vs. Max Payne 3

The walking dead vs. Tomb Raider

God of war 3 vs. Darksiders 2

Sleeping dogs vs. Assassins creed 3

Killzone 3 vs. Battlefield Bad company 2

XCOM Enemy unknown vs. Batman Arkham city

Well, those are your choices. Like to thank everyone who voted the first round, and everyone who votes here. Like I said earlier, of you really want your votes to worth twice as much, you can head on over to forum. Round 3 or the elite 8 will be up Tuesday. Thanks agin and see you then.