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One of my 2 readers has requested my impressions about E3. I actually wasn't going to give them since I'm feeling very cynical about this years event, but I always listen to my readers so I came up with a few things to talk about.
They should have called this years E3 mE2 (Me Too), since it seems like everybody is doing something that somebody else has done. Copying of ideas is a staple in formula driven businesses like movies and games, but it seems the big 3 are reveling in it this year. When part of your surprise announcements could be paraphrased "Look what somebody else had success with, so we are going to do it too" it's time to hang it up.
Just keep in mind my mindset if I seem a little harsh as I go over the high points of the key note addresses. I'm going in order or least interest to most interest, so we'll start with Nintendo and end with Microsoft. Each section is basically organized in the order it was covered in their keynote address.
It's very long so I'm going to bury the bulk of it behind the cut.
They should have called this years E3 mE2 (Me Too), since it seems like everybody is doing something that somebody else has done. Copying of ideas is a staple in formula driven businesses like movies and games, but it seems the big 3 are reveling in it this year. When part of your surprise announcements could be paraphrased "Look what somebody else had success with, so we are going to do it too" it's time to hang it up.
Just keep in mind my mindset if I seem a little harsh as I go over the high points of the key note addresses. I'm going in order or least interest to most interest, so we'll start with Nintendo and end with Microsoft. Each section is basically organized in the order it was covered in their keynote address.
It's very long so I'm going to bury the bulk of it behind the cut.
Continue reading E3 depressions, err IMPRESSIONS.
2 years ago I did a series of articles on the Independent Games Festival. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I envisioned the series, but I had a good time and found some neat little nuggets of gaming goodness in it.
One of them I found was Tower of Goo, I may even have written about it, but I don't think I did. It may not have even been an entrant into IGF, but instead something I found whiledoing research bouncing around the net mimbly-bimbly. It wasn't a complete game back them, just an exercise in experimental game play, but even then it had a charm about it that I just fell in love with.
Well the guys at 2D Boys have taken the concept, fleshed it out and created a full fledged game out of it. World of Goo is coming out later this year for Wii and PC. Mac and Linux versions will follow later. I've already pre-ordered my PC copy and with it you get a preview beta copy of Chapter 1. I've played through it and I have to say I'm very impressed. The game play is exactly the same with the inclusion of a goal to achieve before advancing to the next level. They've introduced several new Goo types as well as different types of challenges to overcome. I'm really excited for the release of this one.
I wouldn't hold my breath for and XBLA or PlayStation Network version, however, the control scheme just doesn't lend itself well to a gamepad.
World of Goo info page.
One of them I found was Tower of Goo, I may even have written about it, but I don't think I did. It may not have even been an entrant into IGF, but instead something I found while
Well the guys at 2D Boys have taken the concept, fleshed it out and created a full fledged game out of it. World of Goo is coming out later this year for Wii and PC. Mac and Linux versions will follow later. I've already pre-ordered my PC copy and with it you get a preview beta copy of Chapter 1. I've played through it and I have to say I'm very impressed. The game play is exactly the same with the inclusion of a goal to achieve before advancing to the next level. They've introduced several new Goo types as well as different types of challenges to overcome. I'm really excited for the release of this one.
I wouldn't hold my breath for and XBLA or PlayStation Network version, however, the control scheme just doesn't lend itself well to a gamepad.
World of Goo info page.
Okay, this is about as far away from gaming as I can get and still feel comfortable about posting it here. However, it is just so freaking cool to my inner nerd that I have to share.
Microsoft is giving you the chance to win a real live(???) robot. Just enter the Robo-Champs competition and see how you do against other robot programmers in various challenges like navigating through a maze. You will need some technical know-how like how to program since it uses C# and robotics is not exactly entry-level geekery. The contest is all done virtually on your computer using a simulated game space, but the finals will involve uploading your program into a real robot and watching it go (if I understand the contest rules correctly).
I don't know where I'm going to find time to do this between school and gaming and other time wasters, but I'm sure going to try.
Competition Site: RoboChamps (You will need to install Silverlight to view it, so if that makes you squeamish see the Major Nelson link first. He has alternatives you can install instead)
Source: Major Nelson
Microsoft is giving you the chance to win a real live(???) robot. Just enter the Robo-Champs competition and see how you do against other robot programmers in various challenges like navigating through a maze. You will need some technical know-how like how to program since it uses C# and robotics is not exactly entry-level geekery. The contest is all done virtually on your computer using a simulated game space, but the finals will involve uploading your program into a real robot and watching it go (if I understand the contest rules correctly).
I don't know where I'm going to find time to do this between school and gaming and other time wasters, but I'm sure going to try.
Competition Site: RoboChamps (You will need to install Silverlight to view it, so if that makes you squeamish see the Major Nelson link first. He has alternatives you can install instead)
Source: Major Nelson
Since I have a birthday coming up *hint hint* I'm looking around for that perfect something to put on my wish list. Something that matches my personality, something both fanciful and practical, full of whimsy and common sense.
Behold, the most adorable drum mod ever!
Not only do they help muffle the tappity taps, they keep your drums warm and cozy! Yes, they really are crocheted Rock Band drum kit cosies ... and they match your drum pads!
Unfortunately, they are on sold out right now (I imagine they take quite a long time to make) but she takes custom orders.
Now if only I could find someone to knit me a gig bag.
Behold, the most adorable drum mod ever!
Not only do they help muffle the tappity taps, they keep your drums warm and cozy! Yes, they really are crocheted Rock Band drum kit cosies ... and they match your drum pads!
Unfortunately, they are on sold out right now (I imagine they take quite a long time to make) but she takes custom orders.
Now if only I could find someone to knit me a gig bag.
It's been a while since I posted and I'm very sorry. Everything went to hell in a handbasket for a while and I tend to shut down when things start to fall apart.
Anyway, it's very rare that I will recommend a game before it's released, but I'm going to do it now (I'll do it again at least once in the future as soon as I know a date for release on that one). Now 'before it's released' is being kind of sketchy with my terminology for this title since it's technically been released twice already, once on the Dreamcast and later on the Game Cube. This will be the first time many XBox owners will see the game, however.
Ikaruga, one of the greatest vertical scrolling shooters ever created is coming to XBLA this Wednesday. Don't wait for my review, buy it day 1. It's a fine example of an old school shooter, with a lot of new school innovation. Newbies to the shooter genre may feel a little overwhelmed at first. It is very Japanese, by that I mean It is VERY difficult.. Remember that FF3 originally wasn't released here in the States because it was deemed too hard for American audiences. The Japanese like them hard. And Ikaruga doesn't disappoint. Don't expect to cruise through this one in a couple of hours.
If you are looking for a great example of a shooter, this is the one to buy.
Check out some screenies and get more info here.
Anyway, it's very rare that I will recommend a game before it's released, but I'm going to do it now (I'll do it again at least once in the future as soon as I know a date for release on that one). Now 'before it's released' is being kind of sketchy with my terminology for this title since it's technically been released twice already, once on the Dreamcast and later on the Game Cube. This will be the first time many XBox owners will see the game, however.
Ikaruga, one of the greatest vertical scrolling shooters ever created is coming to XBLA this Wednesday. Don't wait for my review, buy it day 1. It's a fine example of an old school shooter, with a lot of new school innovation. Newbies to the shooter genre may feel a little overwhelmed at first. It is very Japanese, by that I mean It is VERY difficult.. Remember that FF3 originally wasn't released here in the States because it was deemed too hard for American audiences. The Japanese like them hard. And Ikaruga doesn't disappoint. Don't expect to cruise through this one in a couple of hours.
If you are looking for a great example of a shooter, this is the one to buy.
Check out some screenies and get more info here.
I'm going to step away from the pixels and polygons for a bit and go back to old school gaming for this article. Even though he never worked directly on video games, Gary Gygax influenced hundreds of them. You may not know him by name, and likely don't know his face either, but if you have ever played and enjoyed an RPG you have him to thank. He was an inspiration to game developers (video, board, and pen & paper) around the world. You see, in 1974 Gary Gygax, along with co-creator Dave Arneson, released into the world a product that would change gaming forever, Dungeons and Dragons. Yesterday, he passed from this realm at the age of 69.
Even if you've never played the pen & paper version, or any of the computer/console versions of D&D you owe Gary thanks. Every RPG that has come out since 1974 has been influenced by D&D directly or indirectly. Some are more obvious than others, but the fact is before D&D there was no RPG game.
I played D&D when I was younger. I enjoyed it a lot and it has affected who I am today. Many of the books I read as a teenager (and still read, actually) were based on D&D characters and story lines. I played all of the Gold Box series of computerized D&D games back in the day. In fact, I've played most of the D&D branded computer/console games. Even at 37 years old, I still play the pen & paper D&D to this day in a group that meets every other Sunday.
Gary will be missed by many. The dice can only tumble for so long, so heres to you, Master DM. Thank you. You have truly inspired gamers, writers, and designers around the world. Warm up those dice, I want to sit at your table for a session when I get to heaven.
Even if you've never played the pen & paper version, or any of the computer/console versions of D&D you owe Gary thanks. Every RPG that has come out since 1974 has been influenced by D&D directly or indirectly. Some are more obvious than others, but the fact is before D&D there was no RPG game.
I played D&D when I was younger. I enjoyed it a lot and it has affected who I am today. Many of the books I read as a teenager (and still read, actually) were based on D&D characters and story lines. I played all of the Gold Box series of computerized D&D games back in the day. In fact, I've played most of the D&D branded computer/console games. Even at 37 years old, I still play the pen & paper D&D to this day in a group that meets every other Sunday.
Gary will be missed by many. The dice can only tumble for so long, so heres to you, Master DM. Thank you. You have truly inspired gamers, writers, and designers around the world. Warm up those dice, I want to sit at your table for a session when I get to heaven.
This game almost flew under the radar. I found about it while browsing upcoming games on GameFly. A little research on it revealed that it was likely to be a game I would be interested in, if they did it well. A good puzzle game with a good storyline, so far, has been an elusive creature.
I actually ended up buying the game instead of just renting it through GameFly, so follow the jump to see if I made the right choice.
Continue reading Professor Layton and the Curious Village.
And the award for Coolest Guitar Hero Mod goes to......
Full article with details on how to do it are here. This is for the Gibson SG from Guitar Hero 1 & 2, but there is some discussion on how to do it for the X-Plorer and other guitar controllers in the comments..
Full article with details on how to do it are here. This is for the Gibson SG from Guitar Hero 1 & 2, but there is some discussion on how to do it for the X-Plorer and other guitar controllers in the comments..
I meant to post this earlier, since I found out about it weeks ago, but I had other things going on (read: I was too busy playing Rock Band).
Anybody in the southeast who has been putting off trying GameFly because of ship times should be happy to hear the news. that GameFly has opened a new shipping center in Tampa, Florida. This brings the total up to 3 with the ones in LA and Pittsburgh. The coverage keeps getting better and better. I'm still covered by the PA center so it doesn't help me any, but I can get games in a 1 week turnaround so it isn't too bad.
Anybody in the southeast who has been putting off trying GameFly because of ship times should be happy to hear the news. that GameFly has opened a new shipping center in Tampa, Florida. This brings the total up to 3 with the ones in LA and Pittsburgh. The coverage keeps getting better and better. I'm still covered by the PA center so it doesn't help me any, but I can get games in a 1 week turnaround so it isn't too bad.
