As a foreword: I apologize for the lack of posts this week I'm going to go ahead and say it was my fault.
Over three years ago I heard about a game that was so hard that it was actually a game mechanic that you die... over and over again. So I headed to my local Gamestop and asked about it but instead was told that Dragon's Age Origins was more for me. I waited the day until it was released and I bought that instead of Demon's Souls and although I have enjoyed and played through DAO a fair number of times now that I have beaten the other far superior game I feel that DAO was a waste of my time.
Finally after months of waiting I bought Demon's Souls still fairly apprehensive but a little reassured by the plethora of positive reviews. 'So how was it toodlekittens?' you may ask. First you need to know that the levels are broken down into different worlds in a primary area and then those are broken down further by checkpoints at bosses. Think Super Mario 64 in terms of world and level progression. The controls are fairly simple too the top shoulder buttons control you left and right hands the triggers allow for special attacks, the d-pad is all about item management, then the buttons control sprinting, rolling, and use functions. They are fluid and responsive which is almost a downside since when you die you really can't blame it on clunky or difficult controls. Got that? Okay now I will tell you what happened. I died, I died a lot and you are supposed to. The first level has to be beaten in order to tackle the others and I spent a good 20 hours trolling around trying to get strong enough to be the first goddamn boss. After all that the basic enemies could and would still fuck my day up. Damn it if I wasn't addicted to this game, it was a thrilling masochistic experience. This game does not lead you by the hand either if you die and continue to do so it will make the enemies harder just to salt your wounds.
I fought hard for everyone of my victories and every time a foe would fall by my hand it felt like a true accomplishment, few games do that these days. Eventually I got to the second to last boss of the first world and he was aptly named 'The Penetrator' since he did exactly that. The whole premise of this boss was that he was small, agile and could breach your defenses. His sword was closer to a spear and would ignore most if not all the protection from armor and shields. Took me at least fifteen attempts to take him down but like all my other kills so far it was completely satisfactory. Eventually I beat the game, I beat every boss even the optional ones and I started a new game that allowed me to carry over my equipment and level progression.
That's when I realized that I hadn't even scratched the surface of how difficult Demon's Souls really is. When you start a new game the enemies get 50 percent harder then what they were in the first playthrough. That means that starting a new game puts you about 15% better equipped then you were the very first time you played. I couldn't believe that this game that took me 80 hours to beat was going to suck me in for at least another 60 hours of torture. That was worth the 30 bucks I shelled out for it. Basically what I am saying is if you are looking for a rewarding, brutally difficult gaming experience you should play Demon's Souls for the PS3. And even if you don't have a PS3 you can always play the highly successful and slightly easier Dark Souls on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.
Umbasa
toodlekittens
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Where the **** am I?
Like most avid gamers, I visit a vast number of gaming websites. One of my favorites is of course Giant Bomb. When I was perusing their site had come across a quick look of the game Miasmata. The reason I bring this up is because first, it is a part of Steam's Green Light Project, but also because it has a very unique concept created by two people.
The game itself has you landed on a mysterious island and a plague is killing millions. You play a scientist in search of a cure. The game has you exploring the island, looking for plants to do dissect and create an antidote to save the world, and yourself. The plot itself is something left to be desired, but this game does a couple of things correctly. First, is the atmosphere. This game truly makes you feel alone and paranoia begins to set in. For the sake of someone that wants to play this game, I will not mention why you will feel paranoid, but the feeling is there. Second is the tactile feel of this game. If you need to open your menu, you select your book, turn the page, and close the book again. You want to drink water? You must take out your canteen, fill it up, drink, and screw the cap back on. The tactile feel itself is quite difficult to explain and is something one should play or at least watch to understand. The third thing it does correctly is mapping.
Now, you probably think I'm crazy. Why the fuck would anyone care about maps. This game, you live and die by your map. Unlike most games where you have a marker to show you where you are on the map, you must triangulate your position using various land marks and pathways. This may sound bizarre, but it is the focal point of this game. And in fact it is the most interesting aspect as well.
This got me thinking. In a world where we have massive games that we have to explore their landscape, why do we have fast travel? Miasmata has no such thing and exploration is vital towards gameplay. Imagine that one would have to actually triangulate their position on a map in the world of Skyrim. For some it may be cumbersome, but for others, it adds that much more to immersion. Sign posts, directions from NPCs, temples, caves, harbors, and towns would be vital to unveiling the map and encourages you to explore even further. I think implementing such a system would add a whole new level to immersion in a fantasy rpg setting.
These are just some of my thoughts and I really suggest you take a look at the quick look of Miasmata if this interests you. I'll keep this post short and sweet and I look forward to your thoughts as well.
-Smi13y out
The game itself has you landed on a mysterious island and a plague is killing millions. You play a scientist in search of a cure. The game has you exploring the island, looking for plants to do dissect and create an antidote to save the world, and yourself. The plot itself is something left to be desired, but this game does a couple of things correctly. First, is the atmosphere. This game truly makes you feel alone and paranoia begins to set in. For the sake of someone that wants to play this game, I will not mention why you will feel paranoid, but the feeling is there. Second is the tactile feel of this game. If you need to open your menu, you select your book, turn the page, and close the book again. You want to drink water? You must take out your canteen, fill it up, drink, and screw the cap back on. The tactile feel itself is quite difficult to explain and is something one should play or at least watch to understand. The third thing it does correctly is mapping.
Now, you probably think I'm crazy. Why the fuck would anyone care about maps. This game, you live and die by your map. Unlike most games where you have a marker to show you where you are on the map, you must triangulate your position using various land marks and pathways. This may sound bizarre, but it is the focal point of this game. And in fact it is the most interesting aspect as well.
This got me thinking. In a world where we have massive games that we have to explore their landscape, why do we have fast travel? Miasmata has no such thing and exploration is vital towards gameplay. Imagine that one would have to actually triangulate their position on a map in the world of Skyrim. For some it may be cumbersome, but for others, it adds that much more to immersion. Sign posts, directions from NPCs, temples, caves, harbors, and towns would be vital to unveiling the map and encourages you to explore even further. I think implementing such a system would add a whole new level to immersion in a fantasy rpg setting.
These are just some of my thoughts and I really suggest you take a look at the quick look of Miasmata if this interests you. I'll keep this post short and sweet and I look forward to your thoughts as well.
-Smi13y out
Friday, December 7, 2012
UUDDLRLRBA(SELECTSTART)
Cheat Codes. Those were definitely the days, when you could load up your game and after some clever and often confusing button presses you got infinite lives, ammo, money, whatever. You could overcome crushingly difficult bosses or get the boost you needed to finish that last level. Then a new set of consoles came along and videogames got more complicated; some still clung to the old ways of imputing them manually and others made you complete difficult tasks before rewarding you with new game modes and cheat codes. And cheat codes and bonus game modes became all the more satisfying; you earned these things, you had conquered the crushingly difficult boss you had beaten that last level by the sweat of your own brow and you had your reward. The game would proclaim to you "Congratulations player you have tread where we thought you would fail and you have come out the other side victorious. You have earned the right to become a god and crush foes who once instilled fear and dread in your heart. May your foes tremble and wet themselves at the coming of your shining glory.' Those were the days.
Then along came a spider and whispered in the ear of videogame designers 'What if we gave the illusion of accomplishment and reward? What if we gave them points and virtual trophies that don't do anything besides show to world than to show that they have indeed played a game?' Oh my dear readers I have a friend who has fallen for their trap and will not consider a game thoroughly beaten unless he has collected all the points for a game for no other reward than saying he has them all. When I first heard of the achievement system (on Xbox 360 and PC) I was full of wonder and I would say to myself 'This is a smart way to visually demonstrate a gamer's prowess. Oh how naive and foolish I was, so young and full of hope. I hadn't realized the impact that the achievement system was going to have on one of my favorite features in videogames.
By late 2009 I had finally chosen which current generation console I was going to purchase and I got myself a secondhand SONY PS3, the majority of my friends had chosen the Microsoft Xbox 360 and I would have gotten a chance to play videogames with my friends more often but what ultimately swayed my decision was Sony's exclusive games (God of War III and Metal Gear Solid 4 mainly). Back then those were the early days of trophy support some of the older videogames didn't have any trophies and the ones that did were well out of my budget. As time went on and the Sony mandate that all videogames support and include trophies in order to be Sony certified trudged on I noticed that more and more games had less incentive to beat the game and play it again; other than the trophies themselves. I first noticed it when I finished my first play through of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I had spent a good portion of that game hunting down the intel expecting some sort of reward and to be fair I did get a reward I heard the trophy unlock sound and I saw the notification in the top right corner of my screen and that was it. That's when it dawned on me the only reward I was going to ever see for collecting that intel was a virtual bronze trophy. It wasn't just the Call of Duty series, very few games offered me any real and tangible reward for beating the game or any incentive to play it again. Were we so busy collecting imaginary points and trophies to realize that games had lost a huge part of what made them worth $60 was missing? Adjusting for inflation past generations where about $10-$20 more expensive than they were today so games are cheaper but aren't nearly as impressive as they used to be.
There are however a few champions who still hold to the old ways like Naughty dog, Rock*, and Ubisoft to name a few but even then should you turn on a cheat code you can no longer save. Which is a shame since seeing how badly cheat codes screwed up your game was a blast in of it self. Maybe one day we will return to the glory days of yore but that is highly doubtful and incredibly saddening.
IDDQD
toodlekittens
Then along came a spider and whispered in the ear of videogame designers 'What if we gave the illusion of accomplishment and reward? What if we gave them points and virtual trophies that don't do anything besides show to world than to show that they have indeed played a game?' Oh my dear readers I have a friend who has fallen for their trap and will not consider a game thoroughly beaten unless he has collected all the points for a game for no other reward than saying he has them all. When I first heard of the achievement system (on Xbox 360 and PC) I was full of wonder and I would say to myself 'This is a smart way to visually demonstrate a gamer's prowess. Oh how naive and foolish I was, so young and full of hope. I hadn't realized the impact that the achievement system was going to have on one of my favorite features in videogames.
By late 2009 I had finally chosen which current generation console I was going to purchase and I got myself a secondhand SONY PS3, the majority of my friends had chosen the Microsoft Xbox 360 and I would have gotten a chance to play videogames with my friends more often but what ultimately swayed my decision was Sony's exclusive games (God of War III and Metal Gear Solid 4 mainly). Back then those were the early days of trophy support some of the older videogames didn't have any trophies and the ones that did were well out of my budget. As time went on and the Sony mandate that all videogames support and include trophies in order to be Sony certified trudged on I noticed that more and more games had less incentive to beat the game and play it again; other than the trophies themselves. I first noticed it when I finished my first play through of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I had spent a good portion of that game hunting down the intel expecting some sort of reward and to be fair I did get a reward I heard the trophy unlock sound and I saw the notification in the top right corner of my screen and that was it. That's when it dawned on me the only reward I was going to ever see for collecting that intel was a virtual bronze trophy. It wasn't just the Call of Duty series, very few games offered me any real and tangible reward for beating the game or any incentive to play it again. Were we so busy collecting imaginary points and trophies to realize that games had lost a huge part of what made them worth $60 was missing? Adjusting for inflation past generations where about $10-$20 more expensive than they were today so games are cheaper but aren't nearly as impressive as they used to be.
There are however a few champions who still hold to the old ways like Naughty dog, Rock*, and Ubisoft to name a few but even then should you turn on a cheat code you can no longer save. Which is a shame since seeing how badly cheat codes screwed up your game was a blast in of it self. Maybe one day we will return to the glory days of yore but that is highly doubtful and incredibly saddening.
IDDQD
toodlekittens
Saturday, December 1, 2012
I don't like either of those choices!
So this past Thursday, I had completed season one of The Walking Dead game. First, I want to say one thing. This game is officially one of my favorite games of all time and is GOTY worthy. This is not what I want to talk about though. What I do want to talk about is what TWD brings to the table as far as story, immersion, and finally the illusion of choice.
Story is by far one of the most important things, in my opinion, that makes a game great. Whether the story itself is a grandiose narrative (Final Fantasy) or subtle gestures towards a simple concept ( Limbo). What TWD does well is have a large narrative over five episodes, but each episode has its own compact story. The reason why this game stands strong is because it is set in the same universe as the show and the comics, but it is a completely different story from its predecessors. The story itself is extremely well written and keeps the player interested and even emotionally invested. Where many games fail, the story is where TWD rises above many AAA titles and other "point and click" adventure games.
So I spoke of immersion in my introduction and this game accomplishes that. The reason I bring this up is because the world of TWD is truly brought to life (that is a bit of an oxymoron, but fuck it I do what I want). The comic book art direction and the tone are almost perfected. And much like the rest of the other forms of media within the series a sense of danger is always present. What is even more effective in creating this atmosphere is the dialogue in the game.
This is where I want to talk about the illusion of choice. Unlike Mass Effect, Fable, or any other game with choice, it does not have a diamond shaped decision tree. What you do get to choose is how you interact with each character and how they react to already predetermined events. Throughout the game, relationships change and shift often and quickly. What is even more interesting about these decisions of dialogue or actions is the time. Many choices you are given, you have mere seconds to choose what you feel is right, or sometimes the lesser of two evils. These major decisions may not change the overall narrative as a whole, but they change your interactions with others and the world around you. No matter what you choose, certain characters will die or leave, and at the end of the day you have to live with that. TWD has given one of the most uncomfortable and intense experiences one can get within a videogame to date. Often times you are presented with difficult choices and makes you yell WTF I don't like those choices, why do I have to be the one to make this decision.
Overall the game has a somewhat linear narrative, but gives the player the room to play how they would like to. This game is not without flaws by any means, but I feel that it is something you should experience. The game is coming out soon on disc with all five episodes for $25 or you could just download it. Well this post turned out longer than I wanted it to. See you later.
-Smi13y out
Story is by far one of the most important things, in my opinion, that makes a game great. Whether the story itself is a grandiose narrative (Final Fantasy) or subtle gestures towards a simple concept ( Limbo). What TWD does well is have a large narrative over five episodes, but each episode has its own compact story. The reason why this game stands strong is because it is set in the same universe as the show and the comics, but it is a completely different story from its predecessors. The story itself is extremely well written and keeps the player interested and even emotionally invested. Where many games fail, the story is where TWD rises above many AAA titles and other "point and click" adventure games.
So I spoke of immersion in my introduction and this game accomplishes that. The reason I bring this up is because the world of TWD is truly brought to life (that is a bit of an oxymoron, but fuck it I do what I want). The comic book art direction and the tone are almost perfected. And much like the rest of the other forms of media within the series a sense of danger is always present. What is even more effective in creating this atmosphere is the dialogue in the game.
This is where I want to talk about the illusion of choice. Unlike Mass Effect, Fable, or any other game with choice, it does not have a diamond shaped decision tree. What you do get to choose is how you interact with each character and how they react to already predetermined events. Throughout the game, relationships change and shift often and quickly. What is even more interesting about these decisions of dialogue or actions is the time. Many choices you are given, you have mere seconds to choose what you feel is right, or sometimes the lesser of two evils. These major decisions may not change the overall narrative as a whole, but they change your interactions with others and the world around you. No matter what you choose, certain characters will die or leave, and at the end of the day you have to live with that. TWD has given one of the most uncomfortable and intense experiences one can get within a videogame to date. Often times you are presented with difficult choices and makes you yell WTF I don't like those choices, why do I have to be the one to make this decision.
Overall the game has a somewhat linear narrative, but gives the player the room to play how they would like to. This game is not without flaws by any means, but I feel that it is something you should experience. The game is coming out soon on disc with all five episodes for $25 or you could just download it. Well this post turned out longer than I wanted it to. See you later.
-Smi13y out
Gold(middle)finger
There has only been one game I have ever failed to beat. Sure I have plenty of games that I have yet to beat but that isn't for lack of ability. The reason I haven't beaten many of the games in collection is either laziness, boredom and/or the unwillingness to end a magical journey (which will be a topic for another day). No this game is different I have not beaten it because I failed as a gamer. I have gotten as far as the last level on the hardest difficulty yet the end credits screen (remember when that was the ultimate reward for all your hard work, I do and miss them dearly) is still beyond my grasp.
As a gamer I have worked my way through Demon's Souls, blasted my way through nigh countless Call of Duties, survived several Fallout scenarios, went on Legend of Zelda adventures (two actually and I only enjoyed one of them), fought plaga and virus outbreaks in Resident Evil, and crossed many finish lines in Need for Speed, among many many others. However there is one game that haunts my dreams still. 007 The World Is Not Enough is simply the bane of my existence.
Here is a game that is comparatively easy to many other games I have played. Demon's Souls is by far the hardest game I have ever had the (dis)pleasure to ever play in my life. It's a ruthless, rewarding and deeply satisfying gaming experience. The story is threadbare at best but each victory, every conquered enemy is won by your skill as a gamer to adapt to each situation given to you by utilizing the tools you yourself have fashioned. By comparison to this monumental gaming sojourn, 007 The World Is Not Enough for the Nintendo 64 should have been a gentle stroll through an autumn touched park. It however refused to be conquered by yours truly time and time again.
I have played that game on and off over the years which usually ends with me selling it to a local store for petty cash as punishment for its need to make me feel like a fool each time I try to beat it. The reason I bring this 12 year old game (that makes me feel old) at all is because recently I decided to dust of the old N64 and take it for a spin; as I am want to do when I am feeling the pangs of nostalgia. So I plugged in my dusty relic and loaded up GoldenEye (I dare one more person to correct me on this, it's one word not Golden*SPACE*Eye) and proceed to get my ass handed to me. Do you remember the first game to introduce onscreen cross-hairs and iron sight? I sure as hell don't it was probably one of those WWII shooters that became exceedingly popular in the early days '00 but GoldenEye does not have either of those amenities. It was tough going for a bit but once I got the hang of it all it came back to me just like riding a bicycle so I promptly finished that on 00 Agent difficult in one sitting. Then the hunger came back, I needed another chance at redemption. I looked in vain for my copy of that cursed game and just as my frustration level was about to peak with the destruction of a third N64 controller (thank you Paper Mario) I remembered I had sold it.
I started looking online for a cheap copy of the game and I found several then I remember that I am the only person I know who actually likes that game. So I went to have a look at the shop I had sold it to years earlier and sure enough there it was in the display case, mocking me with it's insipid stares. It may not actually be the same copy I sold to them but I know that no one is in a hurry to buy that game, not unless they are some sort of obsessive James Bond fan or gamer. So I left it there it was only 8 bucks I know that I can come back for it at a later date.
Why toodlekittens, why are you so obsessed with a 12 year old game? What could it possibly have done to you, you may ask. I'll tell you what this douchebag-fest of a game did to me. This was the first game that I truly ever loved on the N64 some have The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (in my opinion; fuck that game) I had 007 The World Is Not Enough. I spent countless hours on that game perfecting my shooter skills that I would later go on to use on such classics as Resident Evil 4, Binary Domain, Red Dead Redemption. My love for those games all stems from my love of this N64 game.
I had given all that my body, heart, and soul could give to it. Instead of its gratitude and love back I was scorned and my love spurned. I had given up all the hours that I could possibly give it, I learned all the tips and tricks so that I could beat it for the first time on 00 Agent. I held this game in such high esteem that I hadn't even bothered to play it on the lower difficulties. I had weathered all its trials and all its tribulations and finally found myself on the last level; Meltdown. If you are not familiar with the film or the game *MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT* follows: Renard the main bad guy has kidnapped the current Bond girl Dr. Christmas Jones and is about to cause a critical meltdown in the nuclear reactor of submarine and it is James' job to stop that from happening and kissing the girl while fireworks go up in the background. Yes, all of that sounds easy, all in a day's work for Mr. Bond. Surely I should not have any problem doing that. Oh my dear reader how wrong you are, after surviving and mowing down wave after wave of witless henchmen I had come to the resolution but every time I would get near to the big red button that makes a happy ending for the good guy and a terribly tragic ending for the bad guy I could not for the life of me find how to get to that GODDAMN button to press it. All it would take for me to accomplish my task that was bordering on sexual gratification was to press that button. But I would always run out of time before I got to it and I would fail every time. Every time.
Now I need to buy this game again and see if the 4 years since I have last attempted to rid myself of this albatross around my neck has been worth it. Perhaps this time I will find some respite from this cartridge that haunts my dreams.
You only live twice,
toodlekittens
As a gamer I have worked my way through Demon's Souls, blasted my way through nigh countless Call of Duties, survived several Fallout scenarios, went on Legend of Zelda adventures (two actually and I only enjoyed one of them), fought plaga and virus outbreaks in Resident Evil, and crossed many finish lines in Need for Speed, among many many others. However there is one game that haunts my dreams still. 007 The World Is Not Enough is simply the bane of my existence.
Here is a game that is comparatively easy to many other games I have played. Demon's Souls is by far the hardest game I have ever had the (dis)pleasure to ever play in my life. It's a ruthless, rewarding and deeply satisfying gaming experience. The story is threadbare at best but each victory, every conquered enemy is won by your skill as a gamer to adapt to each situation given to you by utilizing the tools you yourself have fashioned. By comparison to this monumental gaming sojourn, 007 The World Is Not Enough for the Nintendo 64 should have been a gentle stroll through an autumn touched park. It however refused to be conquered by yours truly time and time again.
I have played that game on and off over the years which usually ends with me selling it to a local store for petty cash as punishment for its need to make me feel like a fool each time I try to beat it. The reason I bring this 12 year old game (that makes me feel old) at all is because recently I decided to dust of the old N64 and take it for a spin; as I am want to do when I am feeling the pangs of nostalgia. So I plugged in my dusty relic and loaded up GoldenEye (I dare one more person to correct me on this, it's one word not Golden*SPACE*Eye) and proceed to get my ass handed to me. Do you remember the first game to introduce onscreen cross-hairs and iron sight? I sure as hell don't it was probably one of those WWII shooters that became exceedingly popular in the early days '00 but GoldenEye does not have either of those amenities. It was tough going for a bit but once I got the hang of it all it came back to me just like riding a bicycle so I promptly finished that on 00 Agent difficult in one sitting. Then the hunger came back, I needed another chance at redemption. I looked in vain for my copy of that cursed game and just as my frustration level was about to peak with the destruction of a third N64 controller (thank you Paper Mario) I remembered I had sold it.
I started looking online for a cheap copy of the game and I found several then I remember that I am the only person I know who actually likes that game. So I went to have a look at the shop I had sold it to years earlier and sure enough there it was in the display case, mocking me with it's insipid stares. It may not actually be the same copy I sold to them but I know that no one is in a hurry to buy that game, not unless they are some sort of obsessive James Bond fan or gamer. So I left it there it was only 8 bucks I know that I can come back for it at a later date.
Why toodlekittens, why are you so obsessed with a 12 year old game? What could it possibly have done to you, you may ask. I'll tell you what this douchebag-fest of a game did to me. This was the first game that I truly ever loved on the N64 some have The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (in my opinion; fuck that game) I had 007 The World Is Not Enough. I spent countless hours on that game perfecting my shooter skills that I would later go on to use on such classics as Resident Evil 4, Binary Domain, Red Dead Redemption. My love for those games all stems from my love of this N64 game.
I had given all that my body, heart, and soul could give to it. Instead of its gratitude and love back I was scorned and my love spurned. I had given up all the hours that I could possibly give it, I learned all the tips and tricks so that I could beat it for the first time on 00 Agent. I held this game in such high esteem that I hadn't even bothered to play it on the lower difficulties. I had weathered all its trials and all its tribulations and finally found myself on the last level; Meltdown. If you are not familiar with the film or the game *MASSIVE SPOILER ALERT* follows: Renard the main bad guy has kidnapped the current Bond girl Dr. Christmas Jones and is about to cause a critical meltdown in the nuclear reactor of submarine and it is James' job to stop that from happening and kissing the girl while fireworks go up in the background. Yes, all of that sounds easy, all in a day's work for Mr. Bond. Surely I should not have any problem doing that. Oh my dear reader how wrong you are, after surviving and mowing down wave after wave of witless henchmen I had come to the resolution but every time I would get near to the big red button that makes a happy ending for the good guy and a terribly tragic ending for the bad guy I could not for the life of me find how to get to that GODDAMN button to press it. All it would take for me to accomplish my task that was bordering on sexual gratification was to press that button. But I would always run out of time before I got to it and I would fail every time. Every time.
Now I need to buy this game again and see if the 4 years since I have last attempted to rid myself of this albatross around my neck has been worth it. Perhaps this time I will find some respite from this cartridge that haunts my dreams.
You only live twice,
toodlekittens
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Herro
Hi everyone! My name is Anthony, but all of you can refer to me as MisterSmi13y. I have been given the opportunity write for Videogames and Other Vices. I myself am about to graduate and continue my education through graduate school in Religous Studies. However, what is more important for this blog is my experience with games and well, other vices.
I first started playing games back in the day of the NES, mind you I could barely remember what I played. It wouldn't be until the N64 where I would truly begin this obsession. I grew up mainly playing Golden Eye, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and a stupid amount of Mario Party. In fact, I still have scars from that damn game.
Those were my humble origins, but where am I at now? As of lately, I do play a lot of shooters. However, I have been diving pretty deep into the indie scene as of lately. I have a fairly large knowledge of various genres and such, but what my forte is theoretical gaming. New ideas, new ways to play, and all things meta. Some may laugh, but my favorite developer is Peter Molyneux. Though the guy talks out of his ass, his ideas are unique and very much different from the rest of the industry. Well that is all for now, I wanted to keep this short.
I hope you enjoy what I will bring to the table, but for now, Smi13y out.
I first started playing games back in the day of the NES, mind you I could barely remember what I played. It wouldn't be until the N64 where I would truly begin this obsession. I grew up mainly playing Golden Eye, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and a stupid amount of Mario Party. In fact, I still have scars from that damn game.
Those were my humble origins, but where am I at now? As of lately, I do play a lot of shooters. However, I have been diving pretty deep into the indie scene as of lately. I have a fairly large knowledge of various genres and such, but what my forte is theoretical gaming. New ideas, new ways to play, and all things meta. Some may laugh, but my favorite developer is Peter Molyneux. Though the guy talks out of his ass, his ideas are unique and very much different from the rest of the industry. Well that is all for now, I wanted to keep this short.
I hope you enjoy what I will bring to the table, but for now, Smi13y out.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Work in the Shadows
We really suck at keeping this updated but here is another attempt at just that.
A long long time ago I had a ridiculously involved conversation with Darth_Marth about ways that Ubisoft could improve its Assassin's Creed franchise. We talked about adding reconnaissance missions to figure out your target's routine, map out points of entry, plan out an escape route, chart NPC movements, even find places to conceal yourself. In this ridiculous conversation the use of a sniper rifle and making the the map large enough that you have to plan out your transportation to and from your base and target location. This conversation consequently reminded me that my favorite game genre involves a methodical approach, and an almost obsessive level of planning. Although you could get away with a more loosely structured style of gameplay, you will still want to make a plan for the situations you come across.
Stealth Action games are almost exclusively my favorite genre of videogames although Survival (Horror) are a close second since they require almost as much planning as the former. I treat Stealth Action games like Real Time Strategy games which is funny since I actually despise RTS games and I just cannot stand playing them at all. (Well, back to my original point sometimes I get lost in my own thoughts.) I treat my Stealth Action games like RTS games because I obsessively manage all of my resources whether it's currency, bullets, aid items, or special powers.
Dishonored is an excellent example of this, you get these snazzy powers that allow you teleport directly behind an unsuspecting enemy or summon a swarm of rats to devour all that stand in your way and many more powers designed to make short work of your obstacles. The thing is they use up your magic (mana) and unlike some games where it recharges over time like in Skyrim the only way to recharge your gauge is to use up potions. Or to use special non-magic using abilities that allow it to recharge magic and health with kills. That is a huge problem for me because I always want to hoard my potions because I never know when I am going to get myself into a situation where the shit has hit the fan. However, that never, ever, ever, ever happens to me because I always skulk around the levels so methodically that I never end up using any of the cool powers. Then i get to the end of the level without using any of the powers and not killing anyone which in its own way is pretty fun but I am also missing out on the cool mechanics that these awesome game companies spent so much money and time on.
This pretty much rings true for any game that is at all Stealth Action oriented from Skyrim to Metal Gear Solid and everywhere in between. Since it isn't just about the special powers and potion hoarding. I am also guilty of counting bullets in such awesome games like Hitman and Crysis. Maybe I have gamer-hoarding issues I need to deal with or maybe it's just that I hate going into boss battles completely unprepared. It may also contribute to why I sometimes find that games bore me towards the end; because I am so over prepared for everything and there is no challenge anymore. That however is a tale for another time.
Shadow hide you,
toodlekittens
post script
You didn't really think that I was going to be gone forever did you? This blog may have kept getting pushed aside and kept getting shoved towards the back of my to-do list but I have made a glorious return.
A long long time ago I had a ridiculously involved conversation with Darth_Marth about ways that Ubisoft could improve its Assassin's Creed franchise. We talked about adding reconnaissance missions to figure out your target's routine, map out points of entry, plan out an escape route, chart NPC movements, even find places to conceal yourself. In this ridiculous conversation the use of a sniper rifle and making the the map large enough that you have to plan out your transportation to and from your base and target location. This conversation consequently reminded me that my favorite game genre involves a methodical approach, and an almost obsessive level of planning. Although you could get away with a more loosely structured style of gameplay, you will still want to make a plan for the situations you come across.
Stealth Action games are almost exclusively my favorite genre of videogames although Survival (Horror) are a close second since they require almost as much planning as the former. I treat Stealth Action games like Real Time Strategy games which is funny since I actually despise RTS games and I just cannot stand playing them at all. (Well, back to my original point sometimes I get lost in my own thoughts.) I treat my Stealth Action games like RTS games because I obsessively manage all of my resources whether it's currency, bullets, aid items, or special powers.
Dishonored is an excellent example of this, you get these snazzy powers that allow you teleport directly behind an unsuspecting enemy or summon a swarm of rats to devour all that stand in your way and many more powers designed to make short work of your obstacles. The thing is they use up your magic (mana) and unlike some games where it recharges over time like in Skyrim the only way to recharge your gauge is to use up potions. Or to use special non-magic using abilities that allow it to recharge magic and health with kills. That is a huge problem for me because I always want to hoard my potions because I never know when I am going to get myself into a situation where the shit has hit the fan. However, that never, ever, ever, ever happens to me because I always skulk around the levels so methodically that I never end up using any of the cool powers. Then i get to the end of the level without using any of the powers and not killing anyone which in its own way is pretty fun but I am also missing out on the cool mechanics that these awesome game companies spent so much money and time on.
This pretty much rings true for any game that is at all Stealth Action oriented from Skyrim to Metal Gear Solid and everywhere in between. Since it isn't just about the special powers and potion hoarding. I am also guilty of counting bullets in such awesome games like Hitman and Crysis. Maybe I have gamer-hoarding issues I need to deal with or maybe it's just that I hate going into boss battles completely unprepared. It may also contribute to why I sometimes find that games bore me towards the end; because I am so over prepared for everything and there is no challenge anymore. That however is a tale for another time.
Shadow hide you,
toodlekittens
post script
You didn't really think that I was going to be gone forever did you? This blog may have kept getting pushed aside and kept getting shoved towards the back of my to-do list but I have made a glorious return.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
It's Go Time
Hello all,
It has been some time and I've been thinking about my first post here. I decided that I couldn't resist how awesome Star Wars: The Old Republic was since it is (as of today) free to play. So I set off on my adventure to download this game and get my money's worth from it (heh if I complain does that make me ungrateful?) Regardless I started the install and holy smokes was I in for a rude awakening. 25 GB of data had to be written to my poor C: drive which was already getting low on the space. And that thing took FOREVER. I pretty much packed my bags and went and found new things to do with my life and let my laptop just chug away. To make a boring story short I eventually signed and played that sucker on Low graphics quality (5 year old laptop is old) and I must say it was quite glorious. I got a bunch of my friends to get on the bandwagon too so I expect happy adventure time soon with them.
Moving on I don't have much in the way of homebrewing advice or anything right now because I'm working through recent creations of a Belgian Wit (NOT A BLUE MOON CLONE EITHER!), an India Brown Ale (there's a story for another time) and a Black Hefeweizen (oh yes. what a glorious homebrew concotion). But I can say this definitely, my next beer will be a SMaSH (that's single malt and single hop) with the glorious New Zealand hop strains I picked up. More to come folks so stay tuned!
It has been some time and I've been thinking about my first post here. I decided that I couldn't resist how awesome Star Wars: The Old Republic was since it is (as of today) free to play. So I set off on my adventure to download this game and get my money's worth from it (heh if I complain does that make me ungrateful?) Regardless I started the install and holy smokes was I in for a rude awakening. 25 GB of data had to be written to my poor C: drive which was already getting low on the space. And that thing took FOREVER. I pretty much packed my bags and went and found new things to do with my life and let my laptop just chug away. To make a boring story short I eventually signed and played that sucker on Low graphics quality (5 year old laptop is old) and I must say it was quite glorious. I got a bunch of my friends to get on the bandwagon too so I expect happy adventure time soon with them.
Moving on I don't have much in the way of homebrewing advice or anything right now because I'm working through recent creations of a Belgian Wit (NOT A BLUE MOON CLONE EITHER!), an India Brown Ale (there's a story for another time) and a Black Hefeweizen (oh yes. what a glorious homebrew concotion). But I can say this definitely, my next beer will be a SMaSH (that's single malt and single hop) with the glorious New Zealand hop strains I picked up. More to come folks so stay tuned!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
WTF Happened?
Well hello anybody that may be reading this. If you look at the date of the last posting it appears to have been awhile. Apparently the members I originally went into this with backed out (and I'm not sure why). So for right now I am taking full possession of this blog. I will continue with the same topics but I will have a good focus on homebrewing as a hobby. So think of "other vices" as homebrewing and you'll be good. I hope that some activity has piqued your interest and you will return to this blog. There's stuff brewing (heh) and more to come soon.
Hope to see you again!
Darth
Hope to see you again!
Darth
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Skyrims and CODs and Beers, Oh my!
From my dwelling, I did rise, drawing back the curtains, hit with surprise. The unfamiliar warmth of sun's natural light, and to behold, my land, in a winter's guise. How long have I been away!? Sheeeeeit. Anywho, sorry about my extended absence I have been completely emerged in Skyrim's splendor (go then, there are other worlds than these). Not only did I rave the lands with my traditional Nordic berserker: Hrothga'ar (I didn't know about High Hrothgar when I named him. Back off!), but I've been playing CoD:MW3 in every second of my preciously scarce free time. I am, as ashamed as I am to admit it, a prestige whore. I'm 3/4 of the way through 9th prestige, leaving only one more to be attained. This journey was less a fanboy thrill-ride, but more of a junkie's insane thrash about his house to find any remaining powder he left behind; I NEED MY FIX! If you've read the Dark Tower series you may compare 10th prestige to reaching the tower itself and finding the wonders residing in the room on the top floor. I am frickin Roland, and i will kill or ignore ALL the things to reach it. (If you haven't read it, either rent/buy it now or cast yourself into the nearest body of water wearing a backpack pull of bricks, and free the world of yet another pointless inhabitant.) *Disclaimer: writer may have intense biases*
Where were we? Oh yeah, as expansive a game that Skyrim is, coupled with the addictive properties of CoD:MW3, and keeping in mind I have a job and fiancee to weigh me down, AND my need to *try* to find time to make my WoW subscription worthwhile, I haven't posted in a while. But great news my Ka-tet: The darthy One and I have successfully brewed 5 gallons of Imperial India Pale Ale using a recipe entirely our own. We just bottled it, leaving a couple few weeks to carbonate itself. From what I sampled, it will be amazing. Special thanks to the Brewfather for his contributions. Quick suggestions kiddies: if you like chemistry, drinking, and being awesome, you may want to look into homebrewing for yourselves :)
Speaking of beer, if you live in the wondrous state of Michigan and find yourself on the west side, hit up the Michigan Beer Cellar. Stellar beer, great barkeeps, and the best freakin smoked cheddar sandwich I have ever had the privilege of ingesting. I wish I had another one RIGHT NOW!
That's about all I have for you this time, but on a final note: **** SOPA! Dafuq are they trying to do to my interwebs? Wikipedia black out? *Ultra-Gib mode activated*
Here I am blogging when there are dragons to kill, noobs to pwn, and science to do! Ta ta faithful readers and remember: A chaste life of discipline and sobriety is a life wayyyy too long to live.
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