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Archives for 2008

Monday Madness?

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As I get ready to start my self-imposed internet ban for the week, I figured I’d link up this week’s madness. I’ve got a gamer responsibility post coming later this week (it’s pre-dated) so I should still be around virtually.

I’m amazed at what lengths the idiots in the media will go to for a story. Engadget reports a guy who decides to demo the Air Force’s pain gun. Does the gun work? Do you think he gets paid enough? Wonderful video. Engage!

Bill Harris at Dubious Quality does this great, in depth comparison of game scores to their publishers. A couple of publishers score high with each game released. One is Blizzard. The others are surprising.

Engadget also shows us an Etch A Sketch clock video.

Lastly, our most loyal reader Brock sent me a link to a great image a week or two ago. Think 300 meets Patapon. Pata pata pata pon.

I am Legend’s real ending

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When I commented on my viewing of I am Legend, I mentioned that while I enjoyed the movie as a whole, I really didn’t care for the ending.

I Am Legend

Now, it looks like the DVD has the “real” ending that was replaced in the final theatrical cut. Over at firstshowing.net, they have a video of the new ending and it greatly improves the movie. If you saw the movie in the theater, it’s worth your time to watch the original ending. There’s also a little discussion about why this ending is better, discussing the fact that the whole point of why the book is titled “I Am Legend” was lost a little bit in the theatrical version. I really like the new ending. Tharr be spoilers tharr, so be warned, ye who click.

What if a game had an ending noone liked (I’m looking at you, Halo 2)? Would people accept an alternate ending (something available via downloadable content, for example)? Watching a movie with a new ending changes things dramatically. Would it have the same effect on a game?

Time to Purge (“The List”)

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In light of all I’ve gone through and with giving up (actually, changing perspective) on “The List,” it’s now time for me to get rid of all the games I no longer want or need. What does that mean for you, oh, inquisitive reader? Simply put, you get first dibs.

Here’s how it works. I’m going to list all the game I want to get rid of. (All of them come in their cases). I could just take them in to Gamestop, but they are idiots (There’s a guy in our local store that deserves a plethora of posts. I feel sorry for uninformed customers.) and they would give me a pittance for the trade-in anyway. I will sell the game to you at half the price Gamestop sells it used (look it up on their site and email me the link). That way, you get a game cheaper than used list and I make more off it. Make sense? Let’s eliminate the used store middleman and save on their fees.

Just email me (agentgray at gmail) what you want and we can work all the other stuff. I’ll probably use Paypal and ship the mail via USPS (US or Canada) Here’s the games (with commentary):

Gamecube:

  • Metroid Prime – It’s a little past it’s namesake, but an excellent game. Good for a single play through.
  • Metroid Prime 2: Echoes – echoing what’s above
  • SSX Tricky – I loved this game. One of the few I did everything with. Now? Meh.
  • Pikmin – If you like telling flowers what to do, then this is for you.
  • Mario Golf Toadstool Tour – I consider it to be the best sports game for the ‘cube.
  • Super Monkey Ball – A party game before they were popular. You unlock the party game part.
  • Prince of Persia The Sands of Time – I had a blast with this, the grandfather to Assassin’s Creed.

Xbox

  • Lego Star Wars – I have the new version. No need here.
  • Panzer Dragoon Orta – I guess this game may be rare? Good for a single play through.
  • Psychonauts – Just a smidgen overrated, I think, but very funny. Might be a little rare in Xbox form.
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – A classic. Might be the best Star Wars story since Episode V.

Nintendo DS

  • Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime – a fun diversion that’s easy to play.
  • Brain Age – my age dropped the more I tried to complete “The List”
  • Contact – what a quirky game. Almost like a new Startropics.
  • Hotel Dusk Room 215 – one of the best uses of the DS ever, an interactive book.
  • Metroid Prime Hunters – cramp inducing? At least for this lefty.
  • Meteos – From what I understand it may be rare now. A fun puzzle game.
  • Electroplankton – I love this quirky off the cuff stuff. NOt really a game, but interesting. Rare.

Xbox 360

  • PocketBike Racer – I will give this away. The King creeps me out.
  • Lost Planet – the constant falling down lost me on this.
  • Dead Rising – A frustrated love? The timer, the inmates (that keep coming back), the bad survivor AI, and weird save system. I need to move on.

Nintendo Wii

  • Zack & Wiki – I had fun with this quirky adventure game. Hilarious unintended Wiimote motions too.
  • MLB Power Pros – I wish I had the time. I really do, but this is the most interesting, time consuming baseball game on any console. Stat tracking is amazing.

There you go. There are some more titles I may add to this, but I am very close to completing them. Plus, I have some PC titles, but I need to make sure license keys and stuff are OK.

Monday Madness?

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I have this horrible online habit of bookmarking everything I come across and throwing it in a folder called “toread.” The idea behind it is that on Friday afternoon as a reward for a good week’s work I’ll take the last hour and follow up on them. They’re usually gaming related, but some craziness creeps in there every now and then. I figured I’d (Ed. – Tony, feel free to add to it) try something new here and share with you on Mondays the links that I’ve found to be interesting, my goal being to distract you from your job.

First I’d like to share with you a little bio I found about John Freeman, Gordan Freeman’s brother, called Half life: Full Life Consequences. It’s insane enough that it’s warranted a sequel. It’s a quick and dirty use of Garry’s Mod with quirky writing to go along with it.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun gave us a first look at Battlefield: Heroes a while back. I was not sold on it at all because it’s a complete knock off of Team Fortress 2. However, this writeup convinced me to give it a try. After all, it is FREE (from EA? yes!) and has a great sense of humor. It’s also has one of the best commercials/trailers I’ve ever seen for a video game.

I am a sucker for shooters. I find them to be nerve racking and relaxing. Indie Games has a list of what they consider to be the best FREEware shooters of 2007. I’ve not checked them all out yet, but I’m hoping there’s a gem or two in there.

My favorite toy is LEGO. Naturally, I want to see what people can do with it. This guy has made micro Star Wars scenes and put them under glass domes, and this guy does some great mini-mecha stuff. The little yellow utility mech is great.Lastly, just one more LEGO tidbit.

It looks like LEGO is dropping their train line. According to Brothers Brick, they’ve started discounting sets. You can get the Hobby Train set at half price ($50). It’s probably the best LEGO sales deal I’ve ever seen from (what I consider to be) a heavily overpriced toy. I bought one at Christmas and just bought another. Oh, the Imperial Star Destroyer is disappearing too.

All Good Things…Must Come to An End

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It’s over.

After almost five months, I just cannot do it. I’m not going to be able to complete “The List.” It’s just gotten to be too painful.

A couple of days ago, Jason from Unfethered Blather (Not reading it? You should be.) left a comment here that summed up perfectly one of the feelings I have evolved towards in completing my games.

I am trying to either finish all of my games or at least play enough of every game that I can honestly feel like I’ve gotten something out of it.

I went back to my chart and calculated based upon reviews and FAQs how much time out would take me to complete “The List.” It came to roughly two and one half months—straight through. I then figured for the insane normalcy that is my life and it came to almost a year and a month just to finish them. Uh, I think it just became a job. What Jason said should probably be true. In the back of my mind all this time I had been doing a quick assessment of what games I had gotten enough playtime and enjoyment out of. That led to two things:

  1. I had a lot of games I that I had gotten enough enjoyment from playing. They had to go.
  2. I am not a responsible gamer. Some games I paid a premium for and not played a whole lot.

The second item is something that I want to focus on over the next couple of weeks. Being a person with a limited budget, how can I be a more responsible gamer. What are some guidelines I can follow so I don’t just blow good, hard-earned money on crap? There’s just too much to choose from in the digital entertainment industry, and it’s probably high time I start being “adult” about it. I’m actually thinking of starting a series called, appropriately enough, “Being A Responsible Gamer.” I’ve certainly thought about it enough over the last five months.

All too often, I think gamers in general, are the worst fad followers in the world. We move from game to game and release to release. Of course, it’s no help that the developers and retail industry make it possible to purchase games before they are released. No, don’t get it on release day. Get the satisfaction that you get it ASAP. Very rarely, if ever, have you known a game not to be available. Most are very easy to find. (Yes, there are some exceptions. I recently tried to find Puzzle Quest for the DS as a birthday gift.)

I would like to address issues of money, time, quantity, morality (yes, there is such a thing), kids, and even quality in the upcoming weeks. Now, it’s just time for a gaming clearance at our household. “The List” will still be around, it’ll just be much smaller.

In [Nat’s] Hands: Wipeout Pulse

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Wipeout PulseAs many of you know, I’ve been going on and on the last couple of days (or is it weeks) about Patapon. Yes, it is a PSP must buy, and yes, it is a challenge to play. However, this post is not about that game. I actually ended up with something unexpected on top of Patapon.

While getting another game for my brother’s birthday (the greatest console game of all time, in my opinion) and trading in a bunch of games (a LOT, but not all, and if you’ve been following my little project here that may gave you a hint of another upcoming post), I was able to score Wipeout Pulse for $5 with a trade promotion and still keep a lot of my credit.

I’m not a big fan of the Wipeout games, but some people are diehard fanatics. Insane people. However, I have owned every Wipeout game on the PSP (there’s been only one) . At $5, how could I not pass it up. (I broke my “no new games” rule. I’ll confess later).

Anyway, this title is probably has the best presentation I’ve ever seen in a handheld game. Name any recent feature found in games and Wipeout Pulse has it: achievements, wifi play, major stat tracking, nostalgia play, minor rpg elements, a great soundtrack, custom soundtracks using your own MP3s, JPG screenshots you can save to the memory stick, and the list goes on. There’s even a browser link in game that let’s you get more vehicles, tracks, and other such goodies from a PSP formatted website. Oh, and there’s 8 person online play. That feature alone makes it that there is no excuse for any racing game on the PSP to not have online play.

In some respects this game appears to be a giant homage to the diehard fans. However, the game does appear to be getting favorable reviews from mainstream outlets. Their only complaint seems to be that the races really offer nothing new and that the endgame can be difficult. I find that to be ironic that most reviews mention that because the Wipeout games have never really changed all that much as far as gameplay is concerned.

According to my profile’s stat page, I’ve only played 2 minutes and 33 seconds on one race. (I finished 7th out of 8 slots), but I figure I’ll probably pick this game up from time to time for some fast-paced filler.

Oh, did I mention that you can create custom decals to share online for your racers? The only downside is that it appears that add-on content for some of the items will cost some moolah. That’s kind of a bummer because the previous game offered downloadable content for FREE. We can probably thank Xbox Live for that.

It’s Final Fantasy Tactics, and I need more parenthetical references (maybe?).

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

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A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you about my little renaissance I’ve had with Puzzle Quest. It is the only game I’ve really put some time into this last month while my family and I were (and are) under the weather. Well, it seems as if D3 Publishers of America has finally release information about their pseudo-sequel called Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. This person is excited. Puzzle Quest is the only game I have bought three times: DS, 360, and PC.

If you’ve never played it, get the PC demo. I guarantee, you’ll get it for something. (It’s available everywhere at budget pricing). Kotaku was able to score an interview with the developer and they were able to address some things and find out a little more about the gameplay.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix

The round pieces have changed to hexagonal ones and extra challenge has been added by the movement of the hexagons once you have matched up your three or more. Instead of dropping straight down, your columns slide diagonally, and depending on which piece you move, the columns will fill in either from the left or the right. Gravity will have a bearing on the various movements of the pieces as well making you have to think in several directions at once.

One of the things I asked about was whether the AI was going to be improved over the seemingly punishingly difficult AI of the original Puzzle Quest. I was told that the developers had heard players issues and it was something they were working on.

The game is set to be released later this year, and that’s just not soon enough.

Thanks to Kotaku for the pic. Be sure to head there for more info.