Dare to Play the Game

Losing Suits, Being Less Ambitious & Outgrowing Games? – Welcome to the column that would only outgrow games if Obama admitted himself to be a level 70 Tauren Shaman known as Dare to Play the Game.

Tuesday was Veteran’s Day, hopefully most of you took a moment to observe what those brave men and women did for the United States of America. I offer the following piece of courage for those who might have missed the day. To be honest, it snuck up on me as I had forgotten about the holiday until late last week. But we owe them a debt of gratitude. Even though we might loathe most of the nation’s politicians, we know that these fine people still believe that this is a country worth fighting for. We salute them.

I finally started up Fable II over the weekend and have been playing it on and off ever since. The game is fantastic. The graphics and sound are amazing and the gameplay is even better than the first one. Sure it has its holes (figuring out where things are that aren’t quest related, combat needing more depth, etc) but overall this is easily the rpg of the year. Anybody who likes role playing games and has a 360 should buy this. I finally found the bookstore in the game after realizing it was right in front of my face. I promptly bought all of the dog books and any expression book. Ever since then, my dog keeps wanting me to dig up the lovely streets of Bowerstone. This is going to bring property values down.

Ode To Gamer Girls




















As you can see, we have changed this section to glorify all gamer girls, whether they be in a gaming show like Morgan Webb, in video game movie (and a gamer too) like Mila Kunis or perhaps a girl doing her best cosplay. It gives me a lot more to choose from and keeps this part from going stale. Olivia Munn is the subject today looking all sorts of smart and hot. A dynamic combination. Enjoy!

Game Design

While I’m a fan of the fresh and innovative, I’m more likely; depending on time and monetary constraints to run screaming for the safe, the familiar, the … boring games on my shelf? Well, there’s something to be said for the comfort of the familiar, and Tom Cross takes a look at why there’s something to celebrate in the less ambitious, safer and more familiar games out there. Cross looks at Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and The Lord Of The Rings: The Third Age. What it is about those well-worn, “uninventive” titles?:
Those games provide gratification without requiring an overwhelming or annoying amount of effort on the part of the gamer: they’re fun, accessible, and they have worlds or settings that provide enjoyment on a simple level.

There’s something to be said for polished competence and gradual tinkering with familiar mechanics and structures; I agree with Cross that it seems somewhat wrong to adore “a game that’s really just super-competent plagiarism,” but there’s certainly plenty to celebrate about the familiar when it’s done really, really well super-competent plagiarism’ or no.

They had to bring up Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel. While it wasn’t a terrible game, that title nearly prevented me from picking up Fallout 3. Sure there is something to be said for safe games. There are sequels that are produced year after year with the same game and just a little bit of new content. A lot of them sell well too especially when it comes to sports games. We are familiar with the product and to change it around might upset the game that we have become accustomed to.

Then there are those who break all the rules and try to change the world. There are those games with great ideas which turn the industry on their ear and bring in a lot of sales and the opportunity for future titles. But these games usually turn into shadows of their former selves with mindless sequels. Or they can fail. So it is a fine line to decide whether one goes imaginative or one stays safe. There is place for both for certain, just as long as the safe don’t dominate. Innovation makes the world go around and we should never be too afraid to try something new.

GTA

Ah, the Pig Pen, East Los Santos. I’ve blown many wads of cash there in my time, and left it about as fulfilled as I have any other strip club in real life. Speaking of unfulfillment and real life strip clubs, the PlayPen of East Los Angeles — notice any similarities? — lost a federal appeal in a lawsuit against Rockstar Games, alleging the game infringed on its trademarks.

Helfing hasn’t discussed the possibility of an appeal, but that would naturally be to the U.S. Supreme Court. I’d love it if they granted cert for this. Jack Thompson would shit an exact replica of himself.

So the question of the week. Why would a strip joint called the PlayPen have a problem with a seedy game like GTA: San Andreas having a similar strip joint in their game? Oh right, cash money. Apparently everything or everybody is due a buck. GTA: San Andreas certainly did not sell more copies of the game because there was a faithful recreation of a strip joint thrown in there. Honestly, PlayPen should thank Rockstar for the free publicity. I know if I was operating a strip joint (hrmmm, business opportunity), I’d probably come close to begging a game like San Andreas to be in their recreation of Los Angeles. Chances are, the Playpen logo or trademark is about as original as one of their dancer’s breasts. But I digress. Btw, did somebody tell this Helfing guy that San Andreas isn’t even the current GTA game? Heck, San Andreas is about three games ago (IV, Vice City Stories, Liberty City Stories, San Andreas). Hopefully this goes nowhere near the Supreme Court, we don’t need this wasting the boys n girls time.

Game Design

In an interesting opinion piece over at GameSetWatch, designer Brice Morrison expounds on why it is that he ‘outgrew’ games; even though he’s a designer. It’s not exactly treading any new ground (any ‘why is gaming an immature medium?’ essay traverses the same ground), but it’s an interesting perspective from someone who has built a career on designing games; games that he says he’s outgrown. What do we need more of? Boring games (sort of):

I don’t really agree with him on a number of level; and don’t really like conflating ‘serious purpose’ with ‘maturity,’ for it’s possible to have wildly entertaining things that are also extremely mature in their handling of a variety of situations but it’s one perspective on the issue. I’m also not at all convinced a game like My Weight Loss Coach is changing perspectives on games, per se many people I know don’t make the connection between that sort of ‘game’ and, say, an RPG or FPS.

In my 30’s, I have had pause one time or two when people outside my gaming circle (like my parents and co-workers) suggest that games are immature or that I should grow out of this phase. And do what exactly? Take up knitting or spend time talking politics? Not likely. Chances are by the time that arthritis sets in, I’ll still be playing a video game on some system. For the simple fact that I enjoy it. I still enjoy it as a break from the real world. It’s my time to enjoy life and play something near and dear to my heart. It’s my hobby, same as those who enjoy hunting, fishing, arson, and coin collecting.

But serious games? Serious games has led to such titles as How to Stop Smoking or Defensive Driving for the DS. I’m fully expecting to be able to file my taxes through Xbox Live any day now. (don’t laugh too hard, I’m sure somebody has already thought of it) I don’t know about the rest of you but games are my window of escape. For that 30 minutes, hour or longer I can leave the bills, tensions and problems of the world and play my little character and get a sense of accomplishment or at least enjoyment. But people see games like Wii Fit and think that if they go and make a serious game, they can make gaming “more acceptable” and reap the cash reward.

From what I could find, we didn’t get an Xbox Live Arcade release this week. On the 19th, we get a new dashboard (no more blades), the ability to copy games to our hard drive (360 games anyway), and we can all create Mii’s…I mean avatars. I really hope this isn’t confusing. As long as I can play my XBLA, look through my memory and access my media center, I’m good.

Most of you are familiar with Brain Challenge. The game where you boost your brain by playing various minigames that stimulate your senses and force you to use your noogin. It has come to WiiWare and allows you to use your Mii character to set personal sessions. Also Kid Test & Senior Test have been added to the action. Safe to say, anybody with a brain will enjoy getting around the Wii and trying this out. Hopefully, or at least that is what they paid me to say.
















Winning the award for most likely to be a kids game, Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam. Here you take the role of a chef. Serve the food you make to the customers before they start having a cow and going home. Naturally there are tasks to make the food and four different places to perfect your craft such as The Hot Dog, Hamburger, Pizza and Mexican Restaurant. Wow, such diversity. Will DLC include the Chicken Joint? It’s a simple game, don’t expect much and you might not be disapointed.

Download of the week and the 2nd best Mega Man game ever. The gameplay was the same as 2 and future games where you played in 8 different stages guarded by a boss. Defeat the boss and get their weapon. In this game, the story is that Dr Wily reforms and works with Dr Light to build a peace keeping robot named Gamma. However, the 8 robots that they designed to help with that effort go crazy. Mega Man steps in to shut things down. This introduced the slide technique as well as Rush, the robot dog. Good times and an easy recommendation.

WoW time. 54/39/30/18. My dwarf is exalted with Darnassus (got a cat mount) and still roughly 14000 away from being exalted with Exodar. *sigh* Heck, I could be exalted with Stormwind, Ironforge and Exiles before I cross the line with Exodar. Stormwind will most likely come next but I really do still hope I can get exalted with Exodar before I turn 60. His jewelcrafting is going okay but I’m not rushing it too much. I’ll probably try to reach 40 before Thursday just to do it but I would like to go back to Horde at some point and at least get my rogue up to 60 or my hunter up to 40.

However, my last blurb this week while related to World of Warcraft is more of a life lesson. I lost a best friend this week. He was the very reason I played on the Killrogg server and while he wasn’t the reason I started playing in the first place (that one was all Sarah), he certainly made me feel at home on that server. But he let misconceptions as well as common sense get in the way of making rational decisions. Unfortunately it is my belief that this will lead him down a dark path from which he may never return. Harsh words were exchanged and a falling out occurred. Hence in the end, I lost 200 gold and more importantly a best friend over something that got out of hand over a big misunderstanding on his part. So here is the life lesson. If you read something in a text or column format that you think is directed at you, do the curtsey and pick up a phone or at least chat with them over a game about it. (Heck, schedule a real life lunch) A lot of arguments and people losing friendships can be simply avoided with a little communication. My crime in the manner was letting my emotions get the best of me. My fault was yelling so loud that his nine-year old son who thinks the world of me (or at least did) heard me for which I am very sorry of. My regret is that I will never get to see those three children again. I wish him the best. So, I end this column and say to all of you kiddoes out there. Keep your friends close, but please communicate with them and so much can be accomplished.

As Always,
Kedrix of Aldrianian
(*The Forgotten One*)