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Talking About Games - Editorials
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Saturday, March 13 2010 17:19 |
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As I type, the Game Developer's Conference is going on in San Francisco, California. Part of me wishes GDC would go back to being for and about game developers instead of the hybrid trade show it has become while E3 is trying to regain its former self. Now publishers are seeing another opportunity to build anticipation for upcoming products and keynote speeches are turning into sales pitches. Of course, despite my qualms there are a few noteworthy news items to come from this year's gathering of gaming intellectuals. Most prominently, PlayStation Move. The much anticipated motion controller from Sony's neck of the woods is real, it has a name that isn't too awkward, and most importantly it shows tremendous potential. My general apathy in the direction of Nintendo has been documented, and while I'm not about to jump on the bandwagon of the Move, I do see a lot of opportunity for this to be a successful venture for Sony and its affiliates.
Let's get a Move on, shall we?
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Friday, March 05 2010 20:04 |
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I was on a mission this week. Some might call it suicide, others foolish. My objective: find an editorial topic this week not related to the PlayStation 3 apocalypse (cleverly coined "ApocalyPS3") or about the Infinity Ward/Activision debacle. The way that dispute is unfolding, I could have paragraphs of speculation refuted in a matter of minutes. Information is still being uncovered and at this point it's best to sit back and watch the public relations nightmare play out. While I'm not picking sides in the Infinity Ward/Activision madness and I'm not fueling flames of console enthusiasts, I couldn't resist the opportunity to address a topic that has a little controversy sprinkled on it -- so let's talk politics. No, not United States politics (this time), I'm talking about the looming debate over video game ratings in Australia.
It's a long flight to Australia, you'd better get comfortable.
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Written by Samuel Colunga
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Wednesday, March 03 2010 09:36 |
It is only Wednesday, yet this week will most definitely go down in video game history as one of the craziest so far. First, we had the ApocalyPS3, then we had Portal getting a coded update that Dan Brown would be proud of. Then, we got the big one! Now that football is officially over, there isn’t much to look forward to on Monday nights. Activision thought the same thing, so they dialed 1-800-Henchmen and had their goons stand guard in the Infinity Ward offices. That, along with the missing execs was enough to get the internet buzzing.
Like Donald Trump reigning down on an unsuspecting employee, Activision gave a big “You’re fired!” to Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vincent Zampella. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock these past three days you know this already. Originally brushed off as a hoax, or as a way to keep promoting Modern Warfare 2 in the midst of Battlefield: Bad Company 2's release, it was quickly realized that this was no joke. Activision and Infinity Ward had been at each other’s throats for a long time. The first shots were fired when it was announced that Treyarch would be developing Call of Duty 3 instead of Infinity Ward. Since then an adversarial relationship between publisher and developer was established. The battle lines had been drawn!
Hit the jump to go bar-hopping with Mr. West
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Monday, March 01 2010 19:53 |
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If you missed the news, this past week was host to the Nintendo Media Summit. Among the news stories crashing RSS feeds were some release dates for upcoming Nintendo titles including Metroid: Other M and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Now it is certainly possible that the decision-makers at Nintendo realized there are twelve months in a year and 52 weeks worth of release dates instead of the ones between Thanksgiving and New Years. It's possible that these games were always scheduled to come out in the Spring to capitalize on a typically slow release schedule. Ironically, it would seem that Sony and Microsoft had a similar thought process. God of War 3, Heavy Rain, Mass Effect 2 and a handful of other high-profile games have highlighted the beginning of 2010. With Super Mario Galaxy 2 coming out May 23 and Metroid: Other M in June, Nintendo is positioning these first-party favorites well in advance of the holiday season, potentially as an attempt to capitalize on the market before store shelves become over-saturated with offerings. Or, if you have a tin foil hat handy, maybe they are ensuring these games are released before the fall season because they are afraid something else is much more likely to capture their audience and they do not want to lose potential sales. But that can't be true, can it? Is it possible that Nintendo is afraid of Project Natal?
I know it sounds crazy, but the voices in my head think it's possible. Let me explain.
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Written by Samuel Colunga
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Thursday, February 25 2010 10:29 |
Since the dawn of time, back when people churned butter, listened to Buck Rogers on the radio and played Nintendo, there was only one true controller scheme: A to jump and B to shoot. With each generation of consoles, there has been a change to the way we use our controllers. The SEGA Genesis gave us three buttons. The Super NES, however, came with four buttons and it introduced the concept of shoulder buttons. Ever since then controllers have gotten even more and more sophisticated. The Nintendo 64 had a Z button! Can you believe that mess? And all of this led to controller issues. It forced developers to give the player the freedom to choose which buttons he wants to mash to complete his goal of destroying evil.
And then they took it away.
In recent years, the option to chose a controller setup is still alive, but you can only select from a preset variety of layouts. Taking away the freedom of choice is something George Orwell warned us about many years ago. I want to shoot with __. I want to jump with__. No. Sorry, chap. That can’t happen! Some games even take away that option altogether, leaving us with no choice but to use what they give us. If you say beggars can’t be choosers, then I’d have to say that it’s hardly begging when you’re paying sixty dollars a pop for something that is supposed to be enjoyable and fun, not hard to control and rage-inducing.
Hit the jump to see both sides of his coin.
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Saturday, February 20 2010 19:13 |
 At last. We thought this day would never come. A playable version of StarCraft 2 available for public consumption. Sure, it's only a beta and it's not public, but it's playable. Of course I'm looking at this as a pure outsider; as a consumer, I have no interest. But as a gamer, I understand and respect that this is a really, really big deal. I also understand that games like these don't come around every day, partly because developers like this are a rare breed. We can't expect them to turn out something for fans every six months. High quality products take time to produce. Sure, waiting 12 years is a bit much, but for the die-hard fans and supporters, the wait is easily forgotten as soon as the game is in their hands or installed on their hard drives. But it seems like there are just a few games and subsequent companies that receive this kind of attention. It seems like there are only a few companies that essentially support the rest of the industry. Companies like Valve, Blizzard and PopCap garner a different kind of attention and admiration from media and fans alike. But can the PC gamer survive on Peggle and Zerg rushes alone?
Mouse? Check. Keyboard? Check. Jump?
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Written by Samuel Colunga
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Thursday, February 18 2010 09:41 |
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In what is yet another retread, SEGA has made it clear that it wants to jump on the current trend of remakes, de-makes and re-releases. With the announcement of Sonic 4, SEGA has achieved what it sought out to do: make the old school gamers buzz, wax nostalgic and relive fond memories of the Sonic games of old. Just the mere mention of the publisher itself, SEGA, invokes those same recollections. Sometimes you just want to wrap yourself up in the warm blanket that is SEGA, with a soft piano playing solemnly in the background. Then, a disembodied voice will whisper into your ear, "Sonic 4," and almost by instinct, you reach for your wallet and ask the voice, "How much?"
I was one of those infamous SEGA kids. You know, the ones who spent countless hours playing Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Sonic the Hedgehog and Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. We'd have West Side Story-esque face offs against the Nintendo kids, complete with the finger snapping and leather jackets. No, not really, but you could imagine! Hearing the "SEGA" sound clip brings back memories of Christmas morning, when I unwrapped my Genesis and played Sonic The Hedgehog for the very first time. The SEGA Saturn was with me during my troubled teen years when I was lost and had no direction. Playing Panzer Dragoon late into the night in my dark bedroom, where the only light was the glow of the TV screen, helped me out a lot during those times. Sonic and SEGA were both a part of my youth. I tolerated TAILS, I lived only to smash Dr. Robotnik, I nodded my head to the Michael Jackson-inspired music and I defended Knuckles to all the doubters of the world! That being said...
Spin-Dash your way to the jump to read more.
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Monday, February 15 2010 19:07 |
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I wonder if the time for originality is officially at an end. Video game release schedules are littered month after month with sequels and re-imaginings to a point of painful predictability. I get it, times are tough, go with a sure thing to ensure the bottom line is satisfied. The movie industry has proven that the decision-makers feel safer supporting a known entity, even if that simply means updating the dialog and adding some gratuitous sex or violence to spice things up. The video game industry appears to be falling into the same stalemate. Without the financial security to try something truly new and original, we are force-fed sequels and clones instead of something fresh and new. You say Heavy Rain, I say Dante's Inferno. After reading a week's worth of reviews and interviews about this game, I have had my fill.
I assure you, the rest of these words are mine and mine alone.
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Saturday, February 06 2010 01:46 |
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A lot of noise gets thrown around over opinions. Whose opinion is right, whose is wrong? By definition, opinions are subjective and vary from person to person. They can, however, be influenced by more prominent external factors. Gaming sites featuring preferred personalities, independent podcasters and even casual word of mouth all factor into a purchasing decision. Outside of these traditional channels, every now and then we are gifted with a rare perspective on a new release that warrants some serious attention. This week our lucky contributor is the ESRB, although not in the way you might think. The ESRB recently rated Dead or Alive Paradise for the PlayStation Portable and generated a lot of attention throughout the Internet with their view on the game.
Thankfully, the rest of this article is rated A for Awesome.
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Written by Samuel Colunga
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Wednesday, February 03 2010 09:07 |
Xbox is on a mission to prove something. That something is that gamers will pay for anything. With all the technological advancements in graphics and levels of interactivity, and with Project Natal on the horizon, Xbox is trying to push this newfangled “ Game Room” on us. It’s just another of Xbox’s cons. The con started for a lot of us when they introduced downloadable classic games, and now this? According to Microsoft, Game Room will be the be all, end all, when it comes to retro gaming. Hailed as the project that will finally bring back that old arcade feel, Game Room is nothing more than a money grab to me. The sick and twisted Xbox big wigs have been hard at work trying to come up with a way to pump every last dollar out of your wallet.
Hit the jump and I'll tell you more.
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Friday, January 29 2010 19:54 |
 It's been another one of those weeks. Everyone on my Xbox Friends List is playing Mass Effect 2 and everyone else is talking about Steve Jobs. These are the weeks that are particularly trying on my ability to select a topic interesting enough for both you and me. I have no right discussing a sequel to a game I have installed on my Xbox's hard drive but have yet to play. One day that game will be a mark of pride instead of a badge of shame, but that day is not today. So let's talk about Apple. If you missed the news -- and I know you didn't -- Steve Jobs unveiled his latest masterpiece to the public on Wednesday: the iPad. As expected, everyone has an opinion on the viability and prospects of this device. Is it worth the money? Will it cure Juvenile Diabetes? Who was responsible for naming this thing? Given the circumstances, I could not resist the opportunity to gather my thoughts for you to consider and most likely dispute. But let's not jump to conclusions just yet. Be sure to stick around until the end for One More Thing.
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Written by Samuel Colunga
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Thursday, January 28 2010 10:15 |
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In the past 48 hours, gamers everywhere have isolated themselves from the outside world as a result of this week's two big releases: Mass Effect 2 and MAG. While the most hardcore of Mass Effect players spent the weekend leveling up their Shepard, others have been getting swallowed up by the hype machine. The hype machine has always been responsible for people getting giddy over and plopping down money for games that they usually don't play, but because the hype machine is so strong, they do so without giving it a second thought.
Hit the jump for the full diatribe.
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Friday, January 22 2010 22:48 |
This has been the most peculiar week of video game news voyeurism. It would seem that Mass Effect 2 has created a void in the industry with all gamers willing and able to hold their breath until they have the opportunity to take control of Commander Shepard. Last I checked the calendar said January, but don't tell Electronic Arts or BioWare. The rest of the industry is treating this like a big-time holiday release, so I'll let the higher-ups enjoy their champagne and caviar. In the mean time, nearly every news story is getting buried by Mass Effect goodies. In the wake of the latest, and last trailer released, I'm sure you didn't notice the fact that the Rock Band Network has updated to an open beta. It's an interesting story that speaks to a larger situation concerning the state of digital content on our consoles. So please, hold off on boarding the Normandy for a little bit longer.
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Written by Samuel Colunga
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Wednesday, January 20 2010 10:48 |
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By now it should be common knowledge that Nintendo has cornered the market for the casual gamer. Grandma, grandpa, little sister and the family dog all get their kicks out of Wii Bowling and Wii Archery. Yes, this has all been established. “Wii want to play” was a funny commercial. Nintendo has that magic formula in their vault, a formula just as secret as the colonel’s 11 herbs and spices recipe. Xbox and PlayStation 3 are both bending over backwards trying to compete in this casual world where they have been dominated for so long by the former playing card makers turned video game innovators. While not the same, Xbox’s Family Game Night and PlayStation 3’s Little Big Planet are both going after that Nintendo crowd.
Now what about the common man? I’m not talking about the “bro” crowd that thinks video games are for losers, and would rather spend their time downing Jello shots and playing beer pong. I’m also not talking about the Madden crowd. You know them, the ones who virtually made EA into the monster it is today. If you look through their collection you’ll see an overabundance of games, and most of them are either made by EA or 2K. They buy Madden every year and they gleam over how shiny and polished it looks, while hardcore gamers complain and gripe over how bad the gameplay on Madden has gotten over the years.
Hit the jump to see who I'm talking about.
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Written by Christopher Snider
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Monday, January 18 2010 02:56 |
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I'm not sure if I am still allowed to say These Troubled Times without causing readers to roll their eyes or close their browser window, but last I checked we are still in a recession. While the video game industry admirably held its ground despite the lousy economic conditions for as long as it could, we are seeing more and more evidence that the industry is not recession-proof. Sure, this might not be a shock to everyone but it seems like each day the industry is dealt another reaffirming blow to remind us all that the same money that makes this industry thrive can also be its biggest downfall. Companies have been downsizing and consolidating as the fiscal year comes to an end; no company is too big to fail. Along with workforce consolidation, financial reports and projected earnings are being tempered to adjust to consumers becoming more frugal with their funds. The latest victim is Ubisoft.
The future is hazy, but I'll guide you through the fog of uncertainty.
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