The Story
I moved into a new apartment on Saturday September 20th, 2008 with some furniture, a bed, my computer but NO INTERNET.
To some, that detail about the internet isn't a big issue but for the gamer and computer guy inside of me, it was hard to wait for my Comcast router to arrive and be installed. That glorious day was scheduled for Thursday September 25, 2008. So, I had to wait until then.
I found myself hard at work placing items in the correct spots in the new apartment on Sunday, Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. I got a lot done in a short time after coming back from work. After that, I would have popped in a game and just zoned out for a bit but every time I did, I felt alone, lost and confused since I had no one else to share my gaming experience with. Instead, I would start watching a movie to pass the time.
After a movie each night (4 different movies total) and trying to find some satisfaction with playing Geometry Wars 2 without an online connection, Thursday finally came around and the Comcast technicians provided the equipment needed to get me all set up with cable and internet. This small change in my life improved my gaming attitude enough that I bought the Game Pass from Blockbuster for $21.99.
The Revolation
This brings me to a conclusion that I might not be totally insane about how important it is to include online features in games today. It took 5 days without internet for me to observe that feature's importance.
We even see in some reviewed games if the online game play is good, bad or just not there and how the score can go down without an online focus . Why develop a game that will not touch the online market?
One of the easiest things people do is an online leaderboard and even something like that can be a good feature for game developers to embrace. Knowing who you can beat ahead of you and feeling the gratification of doing so can mean a lot for a gamer. How can developers do that for simple games like RPG's and Action games that don't use the online concept much?
The Conclusion
Developers need to think about the online part of their game along side other areas like story line, gamplay, etc... This does add a bit more to the weight of a gaming producer or manager but that's what happens with this industry we call video games. The dynamic nature of hardware being updated, gaming discs holding more and more information and also internet accessibility will be a part of gaming that will always be improved and is necessary for consoles and handhelds a like.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Fail to the King
Two years ago, during X06, Microsoft announced a bunch of stuff for the then fledgling XBOX 360 that got a lot of people excited for the system. However, there was one surprise announcement during the X06 news conference: Doom for Xbox Live Arcade. The bigger surprise? It was released the same day it was announced.
And honestly, I completely dug Doom for XBLA. For some reason, the pixelly look and fast shooting, along with it's unabashedly rough look still has a charm with it that, to this very day, is still a blast to play.
Since then, Marathon: Durandal was released on XBLA as well, with an updated graphics engine and a boost to 60 fps. Result? A decent XBLA shooter with an uncanny ability to make the end user nauseus after 20 minutes of play. As you can probably guess, I stopped playing it well before.
And now, the next in the PC classics that are being released on XBLA is the foul-mouthed, yet revolutionary Duke Nukem 3D, which paved the way for the shooters of today with its interactivity and personality.
Like Doom, very little of the game has been changed or redone. The vintage, pixelized look and the cheesy one-note lines remain lovingly intact from the original source. All the levels and the secrets are just the way you remember them.
And for people who are still fans of Duke Nukem 3D, that is some great news.
....
Now for my prespective:
I used to love Duke Nukem 3D. When it first came out on PC, it was the one game I played very often and actually convinced me in some sort of way that I was into PC FPS' (that actually turned out to be false).
The thing is, I had a very protective mother when it came to the games I played and the movies I watched at the time of its original release. So...you guessed it...she bought me the CENSORED version of the game. That means no blood, no strippers, no foul language and no dirty double-entendres.
And I know what a lot of you are thinking: "You definitely played the wrong version of the game...you were meant to play it as it was originally intended!" So, I was actually looking forward to playing it on XBLA.
My opinion? I completely hate Duke Nukem 3D. The game itself is so crass and unnecessarily raunchy that it becomes highly annoying just to hear Duke speak.
Now, don't get me wrong, I was a fan of Conker's Bad Fur Day, which is one of the most raunchy and crass games ever made. However, Conker was intelligent in the way of making a game that parodied other games in some ingenious ways. Duke, however, is raunchy for raunch's sake. Even if you believe he's a satire of 90's action films, it still isn't funny no matter how you look at it.
And, I don't know why, but the verticality of the game feels very off. It doesn't really feel like your jumping correctly in its platforming sections, where most of the secrets end up being stashed away. When you feel like you're jumping and that the placement at the end of your jump doesn't feel right, there are definitely problems.
In the end, Duke Nukem 3D almost seems pointless to be on XBLA in my eyes. It's also incredibly telling that I found the game more fun in its more subdued and censored version, then the crass and vulgar uncut version that lies here today.
....
However, one idea I do have that they should consider as the next release on XBLA: Unreal Tournament. To me, this game still holds up to this day.
...
Finally, I'm playing Lock's Quest for the Nintendo DS. So far, it's not a bad base building game, but it's nothing extraordinary. I just can't seem to understand why this is getting such great buzz around it. Kind of wishing I bought Dragon Quest IV instead.
...
And that is all kiddles. Bryan and I will be recording the podcast on Friday, to be released sometime this weekend. We will also release the special episode with our faves of the year so far and are most looking forward to games. Be sure to download!
- Brad Wiswall now gets why Duke Nukem would randomly pull out a $20 in the censored version for no apparent reason.
And honestly, I completely dug Doom for XBLA. For some reason, the pixelly look and fast shooting, along with it's unabashedly rough look still has a charm with it that, to this very day, is still a blast to play.
Since then, Marathon: Durandal was released on XBLA as well, with an updated graphics engine and a boost to 60 fps. Result? A decent XBLA shooter with an uncanny ability to make the end user nauseus after 20 minutes of play. As you can probably guess, I stopped playing it well before.
And now, the next in the PC classics that are being released on XBLA is the foul-mouthed, yet revolutionary Duke Nukem 3D, which paved the way for the shooters of today with its interactivity and personality.
Like Doom, very little of the game has been changed or redone. The vintage, pixelized look and the cheesy one-note lines remain lovingly intact from the original source. All the levels and the secrets are just the way you remember them.
And for people who are still fans of Duke Nukem 3D, that is some great news.
....
Now for my prespective:
I used to love Duke Nukem 3D. When it first came out on PC, it was the one game I played very often and actually convinced me in some sort of way that I was into PC FPS' (that actually turned out to be false).
The thing is, I had a very protective mother when it came to the games I played and the movies I watched at the time of its original release. So...you guessed it...she bought me the CENSORED version of the game. That means no blood, no strippers, no foul language and no dirty double-entendres.
And I know what a lot of you are thinking: "You definitely played the wrong version of the game...you were meant to play it as it was originally intended!" So, I was actually looking forward to playing it on XBLA.
My opinion? I completely hate Duke Nukem 3D. The game itself is so crass and unnecessarily raunchy that it becomes highly annoying just to hear Duke speak.
Now, don't get me wrong, I was a fan of Conker's Bad Fur Day, which is one of the most raunchy and crass games ever made. However, Conker was intelligent in the way of making a game that parodied other games in some ingenious ways. Duke, however, is raunchy for raunch's sake. Even if you believe he's a satire of 90's action films, it still isn't funny no matter how you look at it.
And, I don't know why, but the verticality of the game feels very off. It doesn't really feel like your jumping correctly in its platforming sections, where most of the secrets end up being stashed away. When you feel like you're jumping and that the placement at the end of your jump doesn't feel right, there are definitely problems.
In the end, Duke Nukem 3D almost seems pointless to be on XBLA in my eyes. It's also incredibly telling that I found the game more fun in its more subdued and censored version, then the crass and vulgar uncut version that lies here today.
....
However, one idea I do have that they should consider as the next release on XBLA: Unreal Tournament. To me, this game still holds up to this day.
...
Finally, I'm playing Lock's Quest for the Nintendo DS. So far, it's not a bad base building game, but it's nothing extraordinary. I just can't seem to understand why this is getting such great buzz around it. Kind of wishing I bought Dragon Quest IV instead.
...
And that is all kiddles. Bryan and I will be recording the podcast on Friday, to be released sometime this weekend. We will also release the special episode with our faves of the year so far and are most looking forward to games. Be sure to download!
- Brad Wiswall now gets why Duke Nukem would randomly pull out a $20 in the censored version for no apparent reason.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Why can't I sit down? Oh, right, because Mega Man 9 is kicking my ass...
Maybe it's the nearly 20 year gap between the first Mega Man and now. Maybe it's the fact that I've actually memorized the layouts of the first two Mega Man games. Maybe I've been so accustomed to analog controls and more complicated feature sets that actually help you play a game.
Or maybe...just maybe...I don't remember Mega Man being nearly THIS hard.
After spending what little money I had yesterday on Wii Points to get Mega Man 9, I dove in thinking that I could pick an enemy that looked easy enough and, within the hour, defeat at the very least 2 of the enemies.
The time is now 12:15 the next day...and I haven't defeated a SINGLE LEVEL.
This is for three reasons:
1) The level design is easily one of the hardest 2D side-scrolling platforming designs I have ever come across and it continually hands me my ass each and every time I have an impercise moment.
2) The Wii Remote is what I've been using to play the game, which I'm realizing is a problem because my big thumbs can't seem to get precise control with the tiny D-Pad and buttons. This will probably lead me to use the Classic Controller tonight just to see if that was the problem or if the controls actually need some work.
and
3) I've refused to go online to look at FAQ's, Walkthroughs, and Cheats. I beat both Mega Man 1 and 2 without the help of any of these three items when I was barely in the double digit age range when I beat both (I think at least, I may have been 10 when I beat Mega Man 2), I refuse to use them now, especially since I chose to play it on Wiiware where "Trophies" and "Achievements" are not even a concern. I wanted the purest, old school feel when playing probably one of the most obnoxiously old school games I've played in years.
That being said, if I can beat the game without the need of a guide, this will be my personal gaming achievement I've had in a long time.
And lord knows I need that since Flem-bot has been handing me my now positively bruised posterior in Geometry Wars 2.
- Brad Wiswall enjoys his small victory with Pacifism against the Edgz.
Or maybe...just maybe...I don't remember Mega Man being nearly THIS hard.
After spending what little money I had yesterday on Wii Points to get Mega Man 9, I dove in thinking that I could pick an enemy that looked easy enough and, within the hour, defeat at the very least 2 of the enemies.
The time is now 12:15 the next day...and I haven't defeated a SINGLE LEVEL.
This is for three reasons:
1) The level design is easily one of the hardest 2D side-scrolling platforming designs I have ever come across and it continually hands me my ass each and every time I have an impercise moment.
2) The Wii Remote is what I've been using to play the game, which I'm realizing is a problem because my big thumbs can't seem to get precise control with the tiny D-Pad and buttons. This will probably lead me to use the Classic Controller tonight just to see if that was the problem or if the controls actually need some work.
and
3) I've refused to go online to look at FAQ's, Walkthroughs, and Cheats. I beat both Mega Man 1 and 2 without the help of any of these three items when I was barely in the double digit age range when I beat both (I think at least, I may have been 10 when I beat Mega Man 2), I refuse to use them now, especially since I chose to play it on Wiiware where "Trophies" and "Achievements" are not even a concern. I wanted the purest, old school feel when playing probably one of the most obnoxiously old school games I've played in years.
That being said, if I can beat the game without the need of a guide, this will be my personal gaming achievement I've had in a long time.
And lord knows I need that since Flem-bot has been handing me my now positively bruised posterior in Geometry Wars 2.
- Brad Wiswall enjoys his small victory with Pacifism against the Edgz.
Welcome to the Official Blog of Opinion Unlocked!
Hello and welcome to the Official Blogspace of Opinion Unlocked, brought to you by Bryan "Ruff3dgz" Fleming and Brad "Gamakarmica" Wiswall. On the podcast, we discuss numerous topics surrounding the gaming industry and what they mean to enthusiast and casual gamers alike.
On the blog, we discuss the topics in greater detail, as well as talk about random happenings in the industry and elsewhere. You may also find bios of the two "Main OpUns", as well as profiles on some of our favorite designers, games and game mechanics. So keep it here on The Official Blog of Opinion Unlocked, where gamers of all types can be heard!
- Bryan Fleming and Brad Wiswall
On the blog, we discuss the topics in greater detail, as well as talk about random happenings in the industry and elsewhere. You may also find bios of the two "Main OpUns", as well as profiles on some of our favorite designers, games and game mechanics. So keep it here on The Official Blog of Opinion Unlocked, where gamers of all types can be heard!
- Bryan Fleming and Brad Wiswall
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