I never thought I would take a class that encourage so much. Not only did we have a chance to do something most of us enjoyed but we were able to incorporate it into our writing. Never once did I think this class had too much work, it was the perfect amount. It opened me up to the new digital rhetoric of writing, something that I am highly interested in, and I approached it with an opened mind. It was just enough and it helped me find a new voice when writing that I did not know I had.
I want to say my favorite part of this class was playing games in class, which was up there, but I have to say the favorite part was the writing styles. I learned how to write for a different audience, a gaming audience that requires different tone and word choices than when writing for an academic audience. I love that we wrote game reviews and I think that maybe next time the oral review be optional. I got more from writing then standing in front of the class and talking. But the oral reviews have their place and is why I feel it should be optional.
When in a class will you ever here, "spend the first thirty minutes blogging and Twittering" or "go get on a computer and find a flash game to play"? This is a dream come true for me. Something that help make the class stand out from other classes.
I learned a great deal from this class and I hope it is taught again. The number one thing I am taking with me is my new found voice when writing. I hope to keep it and who knows, maybe I'll be a gave reviewer some day.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
My Final Project
For the final project, I still feel like I am up in the air on what were I want to go but I am going to make my decision final; I will do Tattoos and Video Games.
As far as where I want to go with it, I am not to sure yet. Having a video game tattoo myself brings me closer to the topic. I would like to interview at least ten to twenty different individuals on their video game tattoos and find the meaning behind it. Why did they feel so compelled to permanently get this aspect of the game inked onto their skin? I know my reason behind why I got my Bubble Bobble tattoo but why do others do this? There are sociological and physiological reasons behind this and I would like to investigate further into the topic.
As far as where I want to go with it, I am not to sure yet. Having a video game tattoo myself brings me closer to the topic. I would like to interview at least ten to twenty different individuals on their video game tattoos and find the meaning behind it. Why did they feel so compelled to permanently get this aspect of the game inked onto their skin? I know my reason behind why I got my Bubble Bobble tattoo but why do others do this? There are sociological and physiological reasons behind this and I would like to investigate further into the topic.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Almost to the End
Upon reading our final game readings, I realized that I need to have some sort of idea for my final project. Throughout the semester different aspects of video games have been brought to the table, many of which I would have never really considered otherwise. Even though I should have more of an idea of where to go, I am still totally clueless on what to do.
I am not sure where to go with my final project. There are so many ideas floating around in my head but to put them into some sort of order seems almost impossible. I am sure by Thursday I'll have a proposal and a direction on where to go. This class have been extremely informative and with this, hopefully today's class will help give me the right idea.
I am not sure where to go with my final project. There are so many ideas floating around in my head but to put them into some sort of order seems almost impossible. I am sure by Thursday I'll have a proposal and a direction on where to go. This class have been extremely informative and with this, hopefully today's class will help give me the right idea.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Hi, My Name is
Have you ever saw a person on Cops being arrested for selling their body for money? They are dressed up like a crackhead, clothes dirty, face covered with sores, orange Cheetos stains all over their gray sweatsuit and when the officer breaks them down and they finally admit why they are doing this, have you ever heard, "I needed money to help my addiction. I'm addicted to MMORPGs."
I understand that these types of games are highly addictive and I have seen people, my old guitarist for example, spend months in his basement unemployed, playing for hours on end, never seeing the light of day, and considering buying adult diapers all for the game of WoW. Nine months later he snapped out of his WoW coma and deiced to rejoin the real world. He never did any harm to anyone around him, he still took awesome care of his kids, although he had his week moments with the adult diaper thing but honestly, how could we classify this as addictive?
How many kids each year find one toy and become completely obsessed with it? Remember back when you were four or five, there was that one toy that went everywhere with you. That one toy became your life as you spoke for it, moved it, and interacted with it. But as with any toy or game, you grew out of it and moved on. At one point you were addicted to the toy, so should the phrase 'addict' be applied to a child who plays constantly with a toy? MMORPGs are toys, they entertain and at one point, you'll grow out of playing them.
I do understand that there are the rare cases where people cannot overcome the addicting nature of playing a MMORPG game. In a previous article we have read in this class that dealt with sending these 'addicts' to rehab that cost almost ten times as much as a years subscription to WoW, family members stage an intervention and save these gamers. But should we be associating the words addict, addiction, and rehab with the video game world? Here is another way to stigmatize the whole gaming society so that mothers in Utah can ban together and overact, taking their translucent cases all the way to DC, making a false stand on how MMORPGs cost their sons a chance to get into BYU when they really had no drive in the first place to go to college.
I suppose there is no real way to keep people who play MMORPG games from becoming an 'addict'. Gamers who have that addictive personality will continue to play until they collapse and go into convulsions; seriously, did anyone check to see if this kid had any previous medical conditions? If you know someone who seems to be addicted to these games, talk to them, explain your concern, recommend seeing a doctor and if they refuse, well you can't save everyone. They made their own choices in life and these are their consequences that go with it.
I understand that these types of games are highly addictive and I have seen people, my old guitarist for example, spend months in his basement unemployed, playing for hours on end, never seeing the light of day, and considering buying adult diapers all for the game of WoW. Nine months later he snapped out of his WoW coma and deiced to rejoin the real world. He never did any harm to anyone around him, he still took awesome care of his kids, although he had his week moments with the adult diaper thing but honestly, how could we classify this as addictive?
How many kids each year find one toy and become completely obsessed with it? Remember back when you were four or five, there was that one toy that went everywhere with you. That one toy became your life as you spoke for it, moved it, and interacted with it. But as with any toy or game, you grew out of it and moved on. At one point you were addicted to the toy, so should the phrase 'addict' be applied to a child who plays constantly with a toy? MMORPGs are toys, they entertain and at one point, you'll grow out of playing them.
I do understand that there are the rare cases where people cannot overcome the addicting nature of playing a MMORPG game. In a previous article we have read in this class that dealt with sending these 'addicts' to rehab that cost almost ten times as much as a years subscription to WoW, family members stage an intervention and save these gamers. But should we be associating the words addict, addiction, and rehab with the video game world? Here is another way to stigmatize the whole gaming society so that mothers in Utah can ban together and overact, taking their translucent cases all the way to DC, making a false stand on how MMORPGs cost their sons a chance to get into BYU when they really had no drive in the first place to go to college.
I suppose there is no real way to keep people who play MMORPG games from becoming an 'addict'. Gamers who have that addictive personality will continue to play until they collapse and go into convulsions; seriously, did anyone check to see if this kid had any previous medical conditions? If you know someone who seems to be addicted to these games, talk to them, explain your concern, recommend seeing a doctor and if they refuse, well you can't save everyone. They made their own choices in life and these are their consequences that go with it.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
I've Got Bills to Pay I've Got Mouths to Feed and Still Have Time To Review This Game
I don't know what sold me on this game, the graphics on the outside of the game box, the catchy intro song, or the bazillions of guns, but whatever the case was, I am in love. This is coming from a gamer who never thought anything could be better than Bioshock and now is presented with a game that is not only better but takes the cake on being one of the best games to be released this year. The game I speak so highly of is Borderlands.
The game combination of first person shooter and role playing shooter gives each gamer the chance to create a one of a kind character. Borderlands can either be played online or as a single player run through. I choose to play single player so I could get a feel for what I was up against before diving into real game play. From what I've played, the game hold endless potential for online gaming.
The game starts off like a movie, the graphics are stunning. It really does an excellent job at showing the world how far we've come from the pixel characters of the 80s. You find yourself on an apocalyptic style bus traveling to Pandora carrying four characters, Brick the Berserker, Lilith the Siren, Mordecai the Hunter, and Roland the Solider. Each character has their own specialty that is used to enhance game play but to obtain the most of your selected character, online gaming is a must.
You are on a mission to find the Vault which in the begining could be anything, treasure, women, who knows? While on the bus, a vision of a woman appears before you informing on what you need to do to get to the Vault. Throughout the game she will make an appearance, giving hints here and there on what needs to be accomplished. Once off the bus, you find yourself in the town of Fyrestone and being greeted by a friendly Claptrap robot. He will help guide you through the town and certain parts of the game. At times Claptrap becomes a bit annoying with his, "look at me, I'm dancing, I'm dancing," but when it comes time to save him, you feel compassion for the little robot. Keep a heads up, bandits are everywhere and must be destroyed in order to get to your first real mission.
As you progress further into the game, the bazillions of guns become a reality. You are able to pick guns up from dead emenies, find them in Skag piles, and purchase them through vending machines. Every gun has a different feature and should help compliment your characters abilities.
The best part of the game is the possibility of never dying. If you have mastered the skill of running away from gunfire in other games, then playing the single player mode should be a piece of cake. You are able to purchased shields that protect your health and depending on what shield you get depends on what it can do for you. Some shields take ten to twenty seconds without any hits from emenies to regenerate and protect your health while others can take more or less time. I find myself running away or hiding from gunfire at times until my shield is back up to full bars.
If you do end up dying, it is okay. There a points throughout the game that save your progress but can become tiresome when the last save point is on the other side of the Arid Badlands and requires a hike to get back to where you died. Also, every time you come back to life, you are charged a fee so make sure you have an abundance of money on hand.
Picking up ammo and money does not seem to be a problem in Borderlands. Boxes that have green lights on the outside are located throughout the game and contain all kinds of perks. Make sure to search through everything, you never know what you might find.
Enemies vary in difficultly. Skags, the mutant looking dogs are not too hard to kill if you go for a head shot. A melee attack on these creatures usually can prove deadly and saves ammo when on certain missions. Be careful, certain Skag shoot balls of acid on you and can quickly eat up your health. Also watch for Skag wearing aromor. These ones will require a nice critical shot to the head to ensure instant death.
Bandits are everywhere in the game while some can go down quickly, others have shields which can prove to be difficult when trying to take them down. The game will provide you with a bar letting you know where their shield levels are at with their health bar. Once you get the shield level down, go for head shots otherwise you will find yourself wasting ammo trying to take down invincible bandits.
My only complaint about this game are the buttons. Until you get the hang of what button does what, it can get a bit frustrating. Each button has several different functions depending on what is happening in the game. For example, the X button has four uses: you can hit it when you need to pick things up, smash Skag piles, use it to reload, and when held down while dying, will automatically start you back at the last save point. When a lot of action is taking place at once, I find it hard to get the X button to do what I want. If you're hit and dying, the game gives you chance to get your second wind by killing an enemy but if you need to reload and are in the heat of the game, you might find yourself holding the X button down too long and starting back at the last save point instead of getting your second wind. The only problem I found.
Borderlands feels like it combined games like Diablo, Bioshock, Fallout, and World of Warcraft all into one. If any other these games fit your personality than Borderlands is worth your time. I recommend the online game play to increase your loot, character abilities, and of course, the chance to find the bazillions of guns. After playing Borderlands, I give it a 9.5.
The game combination of first person shooter and role playing shooter gives each gamer the chance to create a one of a kind character. Borderlands can either be played online or as a single player run through. I choose to play single player so I could get a feel for what I was up against before diving into real game play. From what I've played, the game hold endless potential for online gaming.
The game starts off like a movie, the graphics are stunning. It really does an excellent job at showing the world how far we've come from the pixel characters of the 80s. You find yourself on an apocalyptic style bus traveling to Pandora carrying four characters, Brick the Berserker, Lilith the Siren, Mordecai the Hunter, and Roland the Solider. Each character has their own specialty that is used to enhance game play but to obtain the most of your selected character, online gaming is a must.
You are on a mission to find the Vault which in the begining could be anything, treasure, women, who knows? While on the bus, a vision of a woman appears before you informing on what you need to do to get to the Vault. Throughout the game she will make an appearance, giving hints here and there on what needs to be accomplished. Once off the bus, you find yourself in the town of Fyrestone and being greeted by a friendly Claptrap robot. He will help guide you through the town and certain parts of the game. At times Claptrap becomes a bit annoying with his, "look at me, I'm dancing, I'm dancing," but when it comes time to save him, you feel compassion for the little robot. Keep a heads up, bandits are everywhere and must be destroyed in order to get to your first real mission.
As you progress further into the game, the bazillions of guns become a reality. You are able to pick guns up from dead emenies, find them in Skag piles, and purchase them through vending machines. Every gun has a different feature and should help compliment your characters abilities.
The best part of the game is the possibility of never dying. If you have mastered the skill of running away from gunfire in other games, then playing the single player mode should be a piece of cake. You are able to purchased shields that protect your health and depending on what shield you get depends on what it can do for you. Some shields take ten to twenty seconds without any hits from emenies to regenerate and protect your health while others can take more or less time. I find myself running away or hiding from gunfire at times until my shield is back up to full bars.
If you do end up dying, it is okay. There a points throughout the game that save your progress but can become tiresome when the last save point is on the other side of the Arid Badlands and requires a hike to get back to where you died. Also, every time you come back to life, you are charged a fee so make sure you have an abundance of money on hand.
Picking up ammo and money does not seem to be a problem in Borderlands. Boxes that have green lights on the outside are located throughout the game and contain all kinds of perks. Make sure to search through everything, you never know what you might find.
Enemies vary in difficultly. Skags, the mutant looking dogs are not too hard to kill if you go for a head shot. A melee attack on these creatures usually can prove deadly and saves ammo when on certain missions. Be careful, certain Skag shoot balls of acid on you and can quickly eat up your health. Also watch for Skag wearing aromor. These ones will require a nice critical shot to the head to ensure instant death.
Bandits are everywhere in the game while some can go down quickly, others have shields which can prove to be difficult when trying to take them down. The game will provide you with a bar letting you know where their shield levels are at with their health bar. Once you get the shield level down, go for head shots otherwise you will find yourself wasting ammo trying to take down invincible bandits.
My only complaint about this game are the buttons. Until you get the hang of what button does what, it can get a bit frustrating. Each button has several different functions depending on what is happening in the game. For example, the X button has four uses: you can hit it when you need to pick things up, smash Skag piles, use it to reload, and when held down while dying, will automatically start you back at the last save point. When a lot of action is taking place at once, I find it hard to get the X button to do what I want. If you're hit and dying, the game gives you chance to get your second wind by killing an enemy but if you need to reload and are in the heat of the game, you might find yourself holding the X button down too long and starting back at the last save point instead of getting your second wind. The only problem I found.
Borderlands feels like it combined games like Diablo, Bioshock, Fallout, and World of Warcraft all into one. If any other these games fit your personality than Borderlands is worth your time. I recommend the online game play to increase your loot, character abilities, and of course, the chance to find the bazillions of guns. After playing Borderlands, I give it a 9.5.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Would You Kindly?
"In the end, what separates a man from a slave?" The voice asks. I've spent hours getting to this point. The point where I think I am about to beat the game and destroy the main character. Up until now, Atlas, via his short wave radio, has informed me that it was Andrew Ryan I needed to kill in order to get out of Rapture. This was how I was going to save Atlas's family and return to a Splicer-free world. Here I am, standing before the man as he plays a round of putt-putt in his office. I think to myself, something does not seem right.
"A man chooses, a slave obeys," he tells me. This is the perfect opportunity to kill him but I have no control over my weapons or plasmids. I am only allowed to move around to see the crumbling walls of Andrew Ryan's office falling like a metaphor for his impending doom. I think back on what I did to get to this point. I have saved the Little Sisters from their curse like Tenebaum has asked me to do. I have taken the pictures of dead apprentices for artistic lunatic Sander Cohen. I have invented the Lazarus Vector in order to save the vegetation of Rapture. But I still feel like something is missing. This game should not end like this.
"You think you have memories," Ryan tells me as pictures from my life flash before me. Finally, here comes the twist. Up until now I was under the impression I was on a plane that had crashed into the Atlantic and being the only survivor, I swam to a random city shooting up out of the ocean. Seems plausible, right? But now Andrew Ryan is telling me that these memories are not my own and I was sleepwalking through my life until these so-called memories were activated by there kindly master.
"A man chooses, a slave obeys," he tells me as he walks into the dark with his putter in hand. I am anxiously waiting to have to kill hordes of Splicers or a have a new creature be introduced into the game. One I will have a hard time killing. Something needs to happen. I am on edge.
"Come in," as the doors to his office open and I am no longer separated by a piece of glass. I am now face to face with the person I have been told the entire game I need to kill. I move towards him and wait. Is this a trick?
"Would you kindly?" He asks while telling me how much of a powerful phrase it is. He is pushing me back while holding the putter in his hands, ready to bludgeon me at anytime. I really wish that my weapons and plasmids were available at this moment. Can't I just get this over with now?
Suddenly the phrase is repeated over and over by a familiar, Australian voice. "Would you kindly? Would you kindly? Would you kindly head to Ryan's office and kill the son of a bitch?" Atlas? The man who has helped me get this far in the game. The man who made sure I did not die by the hand of any creature. Now I am questioning the entire game. Have I made a wrong turn and joined the evil side? I don't remember ever having a choice.
"Sit," Ryan orders me to do with "would you kindly?" I am obeying. He tells me to run, to stop, to turn and I obey. I no longer have any control over my player. Something is about to happen.
"Kill!" Ryan shouts at me as he hands me the putter. I swing at his face. He stumbles back, holding his bleeding mouth. I continue to smash the putter into his face and he gurgles out the words, "a man chooses, a slave obeys," until I finally plant the putter firmly in his skull and he falls over dead. Too easy, now what?
"You've been a good sport," Atlas tells me over the short wave radio after I place the key into the self-destruct machine to stop it from killing us all. This is where I find out the truth. Atlas is really Frank Fontaine, a gangster that up until now, was dead. And the best part of all, I just killed my father. I knew this game wasn't going to be this easy. I have a new goal and new challenges ahead of me. No time for mourning, only time to kill Fontaine and save Rapture.
"A man chooses, a slave obeys," he tells me. This is the perfect opportunity to kill him but I have no control over my weapons or plasmids. I am only allowed to move around to see the crumbling walls of Andrew Ryan's office falling like a metaphor for his impending doom. I think back on what I did to get to this point. I have saved the Little Sisters from their curse like Tenebaum has asked me to do. I have taken the pictures of dead apprentices for artistic lunatic Sander Cohen. I have invented the Lazarus Vector in order to save the vegetation of Rapture. But I still feel like something is missing. This game should not end like this.
"You think you have memories," Ryan tells me as pictures from my life flash before me. Finally, here comes the twist. Up until now I was under the impression I was on a plane that had crashed into the Atlantic and being the only survivor, I swam to a random city shooting up out of the ocean. Seems plausible, right? But now Andrew Ryan is telling me that these memories are not my own and I was sleepwalking through my life until these so-called memories were activated by there kindly master.
"A man chooses, a slave obeys," he tells me as he walks into the dark with his putter in hand. I am anxiously waiting to have to kill hordes of Splicers or a have a new creature be introduced into the game. One I will have a hard time killing. Something needs to happen. I am on edge.
"Come in," as the doors to his office open and I am no longer separated by a piece of glass. I am now face to face with the person I have been told the entire game I need to kill. I move towards him and wait. Is this a trick?
"Would you kindly?" He asks while telling me how much of a powerful phrase it is. He is pushing me back while holding the putter in his hands, ready to bludgeon me at anytime. I really wish that my weapons and plasmids were available at this moment. Can't I just get this over with now?
Suddenly the phrase is repeated over and over by a familiar, Australian voice. "Would you kindly? Would you kindly? Would you kindly head to Ryan's office and kill the son of a bitch?" Atlas? The man who has helped me get this far in the game. The man who made sure I did not die by the hand of any creature. Now I am questioning the entire game. Have I made a wrong turn and joined the evil side? I don't remember ever having a choice.
"Sit," Ryan orders me to do with "would you kindly?" I am obeying. He tells me to run, to stop, to turn and I obey. I no longer have any control over my player. Something is about to happen.
"Kill!" Ryan shouts at me as he hands me the putter. I swing at his face. He stumbles back, holding his bleeding mouth. I continue to smash the putter into his face and he gurgles out the words, "a man chooses, a slave obeys," until I finally plant the putter firmly in his skull and he falls over dead. Too easy, now what?
"You've been a good sport," Atlas tells me over the short wave radio after I place the key into the self-destruct machine to stop it from killing us all. This is where I find out the truth. Atlas is really Frank Fontaine, a gangster that up until now, was dead. And the best part of all, I just killed my father. I knew this game wasn't going to be this easy. I have a new goal and new challenges ahead of me. No time for mourning, only time to kill Fontaine and save Rapture.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Labels
Hardcore gamer versus causal gamer. In all honesty, what is the difference? There isn't. And besides that, why do we feel we must label everything?
The answer is simple, as a whole, we use labels to define who we are; from what we wear to what we play. Being called a hardcore gamer makes one feel like they are in-touch with videogames. They are the ones who know everything there is to know about this topic. They spend countless hours playing first person shooter games becoming Jedi masters of their domain. In no way am I coming down on hardcore gamers, please do not take this the wrong way. The causal gamer is one who plays a game within ten minutes, just long enough to pass the time. They categorize games like Galaga and Tetris as games for the causal gamer. How are these games causal? How are these any different from a first person shooter game?
They classify Galaga and Tetris as games for the causal gamer but for me, they are just as hardcore as any other game. When I play Tetris, I spend hours trying to get farther and farther into the game, not just ten minutes. If I lose, I slowly become frustrated and before long find myself yelling at the screen as much as I would if I were playing Left 4 Dead. I do not just play these games once, even if I beat them. I feel that classifying these as causal games are stereotypical and stereotypes are bad. Why not label people who play World of Warcraft as stoners because they spend hours staring at a computer screen. They aren't though, be we love those labels. Everything must have a label, clothes, cars, and games are labeled.
Okay, so I may be off on this, but that's fine, it is my opinion.
The answer is simple, as a whole, we use labels to define who we are; from what we wear to what we play. Being called a hardcore gamer makes one feel like they are in-touch with videogames. They are the ones who know everything there is to know about this topic. They spend countless hours playing first person shooter games becoming Jedi masters of their domain. In no way am I coming down on hardcore gamers, please do not take this the wrong way. The causal gamer is one who plays a game within ten minutes, just long enough to pass the time. They categorize games like Galaga and Tetris as games for the causal gamer. How are these games causal? How are these any different from a first person shooter game?
They classify Galaga and Tetris as games for the causal gamer but for me, they are just as hardcore as any other game. When I play Tetris, I spend hours trying to get farther and farther into the game, not just ten minutes. If I lose, I slowly become frustrated and before long find myself yelling at the screen as much as I would if I were playing Left 4 Dead. I do not just play these games once, even if I beat them. I feel that classifying these as causal games are stereotypical and stereotypes are bad. Why not label people who play World of Warcraft as stoners because they spend hours staring at a computer screen. They aren't though, be we love those labels. Everything must have a label, clothes, cars, and games are labeled.
Okay, so I may be off on this, but that's fine, it is my opinion.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Cubix Collects My Time Well Spent
What game should I review? I kept asking myself that as I sat at my computer prepping myself for a big review. What games have recently come out that should be worthy of my time and of those, which one do I choose for this review? With the questions in mind, I set forth to newgrounds.com to find recently added flash games. Games here are uploaded by gamers such as ourselves who create fun flash games on their computer and want to share them with the world. There were many to pick from and after playing through a few, found one worthy of my time.
When I first picked the game, it was just another new upload added to the flash portal. The game, Cubix Collect has now been nominated as underdog of the week and I am sure for many reasons.
Upon starting the game, I was asked to choose how I wanted to play, normal or sudden death. This was my first time playing and as with every game that I start, I went with the normal game play. I did not want to be overwhelmed since I was unaware of what the game included. So there I was, starting a new game that resembled a set up of Galaga, the classic arcade game. The controls were fairly easy, move the mouse around and hit the other cubes. The other cubes need to be the same color of the cube you are controlling. Easy enough to follow.
The game did an excellent job at telling me what I needed to do next. My colored cube needed to hit other cubes of the same color. For every one I hit of the same color, the number would be multiplied by how many in a row I had hit without colliding with a cube of another color. Frequently throughout the game I was warned of the many cubes changing direction. Starting from raining down in space to moving from the left or right and then a sudden criss-cross of cubes going in every direction. I had to do my best to keep from colliding with cubes of the other color.
Most of the time the game would warn me that my cube was about to change color but I found that despite the warning, it would still take a few seconds too long for my cube to change. While I was being distracted by when my cube was going to change, I found myself colliding with cubes of the wrong color causing me to lose my streak of high points. One small flaw I found with the game.
The more cubes I hit of the right color, the larger my cube would become. This was both good and bad. While I was being rewarded for my excellent playing skills, the game was becoming increasingly harder. Maneuvering my growing cube through the chaos of other cubes, all while avoiding other colors becomes almost impossible. The game speeds up and good hand-eye coordination is a must but no matter how well I had mastered this skill, was still doomed to collide with the wrong ones.
During the speeding up of the game, it would tell me to feast in which all the cubes would change to the same color and I was able to go hog wild and triple my score.
After a few minutes of play, I started messing up and as I continued hitting the wrong cubes, my cube began to decrease in size. Before too long it was almost too hard to see and then, it was over. I hit the last cube of the wrong color and stared at my score, 263,771. Not too bad I thought until I submitted it and saw hard-core players of the game whose skills exceed mine by hours of hand-eye coordinated games.
Next, I played through sudden death which as the title states, is exactly that. Instead of having a chance to mess up here or there, sudden death let me play until I hit the cube of the wrong color. My first time through, a score of 4276. The second time I did not improve by much so I decided to stick with playing the normal game. Each time trying to get on the leader board of high scores.
I would recommend this game to players who enjoy Tetris or Galaga, and if you were not a fan of that, then this game probably will not be for you. The lack of scene changes and levels may be boring to some gamers but if you are only looking for a game to pass the time, this is for you. Since I cannot give this game the 'buy it' grading scale because you can play it for free, I will recommend to 'play it' and see what you think for yourself.
When I first picked the game, it was just another new upload added to the flash portal. The game, Cubix Collect has now been nominated as underdog of the week and I am sure for many reasons.
Upon starting the game, I was asked to choose how I wanted to play, normal or sudden death. This was my first time playing and as with every game that I start, I went with the normal game play. I did not want to be overwhelmed since I was unaware of what the game included. So there I was, starting a new game that resembled a set up of Galaga, the classic arcade game. The controls were fairly easy, move the mouse around and hit the other cubes. The other cubes need to be the same color of the cube you are controlling. Easy enough to follow.
The game did an excellent job at telling me what I needed to do next. My colored cube needed to hit other cubes of the same color. For every one I hit of the same color, the number would be multiplied by how many in a row I had hit without colliding with a cube of another color. Frequently throughout the game I was warned of the many cubes changing direction. Starting from raining down in space to moving from the left or right and then a sudden criss-cross of cubes going in every direction. I had to do my best to keep from colliding with cubes of the other color.
Most of the time the game would warn me that my cube was about to change color but I found that despite the warning, it would still take a few seconds too long for my cube to change. While I was being distracted by when my cube was going to change, I found myself colliding with cubes of the wrong color causing me to lose my streak of high points. One small flaw I found with the game.
The more cubes I hit of the right color, the larger my cube would become. This was both good and bad. While I was being rewarded for my excellent playing skills, the game was becoming increasingly harder. Maneuvering my growing cube through the chaos of other cubes, all while avoiding other colors becomes almost impossible. The game speeds up and good hand-eye coordination is a must but no matter how well I had mastered this skill, was still doomed to collide with the wrong ones.
During the speeding up of the game, it would tell me to feast in which all the cubes would change to the same color and I was able to go hog wild and triple my score.
After a few minutes of play, I started messing up and as I continued hitting the wrong cubes, my cube began to decrease in size. Before too long it was almost too hard to see and then, it was over. I hit the last cube of the wrong color and stared at my score, 263,771. Not too bad I thought until I submitted it and saw hard-core players of the game whose skills exceed mine by hours of hand-eye coordinated games.
Next, I played through sudden death which as the title states, is exactly that. Instead of having a chance to mess up here or there, sudden death let me play until I hit the cube of the wrong color. My first time through, a score of 4276. The second time I did not improve by much so I decided to stick with playing the normal game. Each time trying to get on the leader board of high scores.
I would recommend this game to players who enjoy Tetris or Galaga, and if you were not a fan of that, then this game probably will not be for you. The lack of scene changes and levels may be boring to some gamers but if you are only looking for a game to pass the time, this is for you. Since I cannot give this game the 'buy it' grading scale because you can play it for free, I will recommend to 'play it' and see what you think for yourself.
Monday, October 12, 2009
New York Times Game Reviewers
The Problem with Games Journalism: Part One highly entertained and shocked me.
Of course there are writers out there who think they are above the rest. They are the last to admit that they cannot find a job as a writer, spending months unemployed sharing the cat food with their mangy pet. These are the prentenious writers who think one day they will be writing for the New York Times or having book readings like Truman Capote, drinking Burgundy with socialites, to realize that the only returned phone calls for a job is working as a game reviewer. Stuck on themselves thinking that they are much too qualified for this job, take it and will show up their editor. So they sit down with absolutely no clue on what steps they need to take in order to review a game. Has this person ever picked up a game controller? Probably not but they are intellectual enough, no need to worry.
As a result of these, I suppose over-qualified writers is the reviews are too much for gamers to understand. I am not saying that gamers are dumb by any means, it is the writers for their usage of language no one would use to describe game play who are the dumb ones. Not only that, but the article, I, Gamer by Leigh Alexander was beyond horrible. I was shocked by how she built herself up as this all-knowing person. Everything she writes is more important than what the Bible has to say. I think I may have thrown up a little bit in my mouth.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there is a world in which people do not know that Kotaku exists. And for the record, the GameStop employee, while he seemed perfectly knowledgeable about the titles in his store, doesn't know what GameSpot, IGN ,Edge or anything else of their ilk are, either." Alexander needs to be slapped in the face. A comment like this should cause an up-roar in the gaming world. I am someone who plays a lot of videogames and I do not even know of these sites. Just because you do sweetheart doesn't mean we should lower our standards. Yes I said that because you are not above any other game reviewer. They are all equal in their domain. But this woman needs to have a rude awakening and discover she will lose her following coming down on people like that.
Of course there are writers out there who think they are above the rest. They are the last to admit that they cannot find a job as a writer, spending months unemployed sharing the cat food with their mangy pet. These are the prentenious writers who think one day they will be writing for the New York Times or having book readings like Truman Capote, drinking Burgundy with socialites, to realize that the only returned phone calls for a job is working as a game reviewer. Stuck on themselves thinking that they are much too qualified for this job, take it and will show up their editor. So they sit down with absolutely no clue on what steps they need to take in order to review a game. Has this person ever picked up a game controller? Probably not but they are intellectual enough, no need to worry.
As a result of these, I suppose over-qualified writers is the reviews are too much for gamers to understand. I am not saying that gamers are dumb by any means, it is the writers for their usage of language no one would use to describe game play who are the dumb ones. Not only that, but the article, I, Gamer by Leigh Alexander was beyond horrible. I was shocked by how she built herself up as this all-knowing person. Everything she writes is more important than what the Bible has to say. I think I may have thrown up a little bit in my mouth.
"Ladies and gentlemen, there is a world in which people do not know that Kotaku exists. And for the record, the GameStop employee, while he seemed perfectly knowledgeable about the titles in his store, doesn't know what GameSpot, IGN ,Edge or anything else of their ilk are, either." Alexander needs to be slapped in the face. A comment like this should cause an up-roar in the gaming world. I am someone who plays a lot of videogames and I do not even know of these sites. Just because you do sweetheart doesn't mean we should lower our standards. Yes I said that because you are not above any other game reviewer. They are all equal in their domain. But this woman needs to have a rude awakening and discover she will lose her following coming down on people like that.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Videogames: A Form of Art
The definition of art: the products of human creativity, the creation of beautiful or significant things. Artwork: photographs or other visual representations. These are a few definitions of what art could be while everyone is entitled to their own personal opinions. I might see a stick lying in the middle of street and be moved by its position and could call it art. Another person may see the same stick and with one glance kick it into a ditch. There was no art in that stick lying in the middle of the street to them. But as Clive Barker would say, "we can debate what art is, we can debate it forever. If the experience moves you in some way or another ... even if it moves your bowels ... I think it is worthy of some serious study". With this in mind, why not consider videogames as a form of art?
I understand that not everyone is into the gaming world. It is sort of an acquired taste, like sushi. A person who never picked up a controller in their life my find it awkward and hard to hold. Not only that, but playing a game that requires hours of your time almost seems silly. It is just a game, right? Well maybe so but should we be so quick to dismiss the idea that this 'game' is some form of art? I would like to ask that everyone who has never played a videogame in their life to try it. Not spending hours upon hours engaged in the storyline, but just enough to see what it is all about. At that point, the judgment call could be made if videogames are a form of art. What would you say? I say yes.
I say yes because no matter what game I am playing, there are visuals all around that help bring the game closer to me as a player. When playing Bioshock, it revolves around art in the background. No matter where you are in the game there is something, from dead corpses hanging on the wall to shattered pictures of Andrew Ryan, that are a form of art within the videogame. Without this art, the game would lose most of it's meaning. I find myself moved by the visuals as well as the sounds of Rapture. As a whole the game itself is a form of art. It is a beautifully written story that unfolds before you as you move throughout the game. If I'm not mistaken, written stories are a form of art.
I was always told, if something inflicts an emotional response, that the artist has done their job correctly. How many times has a player found themselves emotionally moved in a videogame? Now when I say emotionally moved, I do not mean tears, but any sort of emotions such as anger or joy. I know I have felt all of these at some point when playing a videogame and the end result, the artist has created art because this art has inflicted an emotional response.
But what games should be considered art? All games. It does not matter how old the game is or how absolutely horrible it was, it was created for a purpose and that purpose is art. Pong, even though lacking color, graphics, and a storyline is art. Duck Hunt, even though the player finds themselves killing innocent birds is art. Sonic, even though annoying to beat, is a form of art. Each game was created by an artist for the consumer to enjoy in a form of art. There are indie films out there that people consider art that I would rather choke down a handful of glass than watch but even those awful movies, that were created for the purpose of art, are considered art by certain people. If we can understand that, why can't we see the same thing with videogames?
My only reasoning why it seems outrageous to consider videogames as a form of art is the stigmatization they hold. Videogames are bad, they make kids kill each other, they rot their brains, they cause them to drop out of school, and so forth. One, this is entirely not true and two, how many great artists were a little whacked in the head? Look at Van Goethe, he cut his own ear off and we have our children look up to him. He was an amazing artist although some would say his art, well is not art. Again, everyone is entitled to their own personal opinions. So should we be so quick to stigmatize videogames some more and not give them a chance to be art because of the so-called violence they hold? No.
Maybe like all great artists, when the games have been long dead and no one remembers what a Nintendo was, will videogames be considered a work of art. Someone will find a lost gaming system one hundred years from now and put it on display in an art museum. Or maybe they will make slide shows of difference action sequences and show them at an indie film show. Maybe people will come to their senses and realize that this medium is a form of art, hopefully in our life time.
I understand that not everyone is into the gaming world. It is sort of an acquired taste, like sushi. A person who never picked up a controller in their life my find it awkward and hard to hold. Not only that, but playing a game that requires hours of your time almost seems silly. It is just a game, right? Well maybe so but should we be so quick to dismiss the idea that this 'game' is some form of art? I would like to ask that everyone who has never played a videogame in their life to try it. Not spending hours upon hours engaged in the storyline, but just enough to see what it is all about. At that point, the judgment call could be made if videogames are a form of art. What would you say? I say yes.
I say yes because no matter what game I am playing, there are visuals all around that help bring the game closer to me as a player. When playing Bioshock, it revolves around art in the background. No matter where you are in the game there is something, from dead corpses hanging on the wall to shattered pictures of Andrew Ryan, that are a form of art within the videogame. Without this art, the game would lose most of it's meaning. I find myself moved by the visuals as well as the sounds of Rapture. As a whole the game itself is a form of art. It is a beautifully written story that unfolds before you as you move throughout the game. If I'm not mistaken, written stories are a form of art.
I was always told, if something inflicts an emotional response, that the artist has done their job correctly. How many times has a player found themselves emotionally moved in a videogame? Now when I say emotionally moved, I do not mean tears, but any sort of emotions such as anger or joy. I know I have felt all of these at some point when playing a videogame and the end result, the artist has created art because this art has inflicted an emotional response.
But what games should be considered art? All games. It does not matter how old the game is or how absolutely horrible it was, it was created for a purpose and that purpose is art. Pong, even though lacking color, graphics, and a storyline is art. Duck Hunt, even though the player finds themselves killing innocent birds is art. Sonic, even though annoying to beat, is a form of art. Each game was created by an artist for the consumer to enjoy in a form of art. There are indie films out there that people consider art that I would rather choke down a handful of glass than watch but even those awful movies, that were created for the purpose of art, are considered art by certain people. If we can understand that, why can't we see the same thing with videogames?
My only reasoning why it seems outrageous to consider videogames as a form of art is the stigmatization they hold. Videogames are bad, they make kids kill each other, they rot their brains, they cause them to drop out of school, and so forth. One, this is entirely not true and two, how many great artists were a little whacked in the head? Look at Van Goethe, he cut his own ear off and we have our children look up to him. He was an amazing artist although some would say his art, well is not art. Again, everyone is entitled to their own personal opinions. So should we be so quick to stigmatize videogames some more and not give them a chance to be art because of the so-called violence they hold? No.
Maybe like all great artists, when the games have been long dead and no one remembers what a Nintendo was, will videogames be considered a work of art. Someone will find a lost gaming system one hundred years from now and put it on display in an art museum. Or maybe they will make slide shows of difference action sequences and show them at an indie film show. Maybe people will come to their senses and realize that this medium is a form of art, hopefully in our life time.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Free Speech Does Not Mean This...
I read the article "Bow, Nigger" and was not only saddened by what I read, but disgusted by the fact there are people out there who think they can act like this. You could replace the words with a variety of derogatory phrases and have the same reaction but this goes too far.
When I play a videogame online, there are a lot of words exchanged between players, not always best words, but in the context they are being used, dammit and shit are not out of the ordinary. I find myself cursing away at the screen not remembering that I have a headset attached to me and players on the other end can hear me. It's okay though, they are saying the same thing and if it were brought to my attention that a curse word I said was offending someone, I would immediately stop and apologize. I would never say something like the player did in JKII.
You never know who you are going to come across when playing online. There are thousands of players waiting and no two are the same. Playing videogames online is a sort of escape from reality, not a place where hurtful things should be said. It is a low blow in order to win a game. It is a low blow no matter what.
I like how the author of the article does not shun the game for allowing bad words and phases but shows how bad behavior from others can result in good behavior, especially in a game where you are playing a Jedi. In the end, the good wins. Didn't this guy watch the Star Wars movies? The Sith always lost a limb, well many, and yeah they never get the girl. Bummer.
When I play a videogame online, there are a lot of words exchanged between players, not always best words, but in the context they are being used, dammit and shit are not out of the ordinary. I find myself cursing away at the screen not remembering that I have a headset attached to me and players on the other end can hear me. It's okay though, they are saying the same thing and if it were brought to my attention that a curse word I said was offending someone, I would immediately stop and apologize. I would never say something like the player did in JKII.
You never know who you are going to come across when playing online. There are thousands of players waiting and no two are the same. Playing videogames online is a sort of escape from reality, not a place where hurtful things should be said. It is a low blow in order to win a game. It is a low blow no matter what.
I like how the author of the article does not shun the game for allowing bad words and phases but shows how bad behavior from others can result in good behavior, especially in a game where you are playing a Jedi. In the end, the good wins. Didn't this guy watch the Star Wars movies? The Sith always lost a limb, well many, and yeah they never get the girl. Bummer.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sally's Spa
There are now hundreds of games available for play on the iPhones. Like the commercial says, there's an app for that, and with that statement there is a game for everyone. I found it hard at first to play games on the iPhone; using the touch screen and tilting it back and forth, like I was playing a Wii, I became frustrated. So most games I just dismissed as pointless. Recently, while reading about iPhone apps, I came across a game that was the number one most downloaded game. Interiuged by the name, Sally's Spa, I thought I would give the game a chance. Instantly I became addicted.
The game starts off with the player being Sally, a girl who has been asked to help run a friends spa. The player begins in Laguna Beach California and the basis of the game is simple, direct the costumers to what they request. Each costomer who comes into the spa has above their heads what service they would like. Generally they start off with the sauna and move to a facial. Afterward they can choose to have a massage, hot tub experience and then they are done. It isn't until you progress farther into the game do more services become available; eyebrow tweezing, hot stones, bath bombs, and manicures and pedicures. Don't get too excited, with the added services, being able to manage all of your costomers and keep them happy becomes harder. But that was what I liked about the game.
During game play, certain costomers come in and the game does a good job at pre-warning the player on how each will act and tip. The easiest are the goths although low tippers. They are relatively very patient so its easy to skip over them and move onto the more inpatients and higher tipping costumers such as the bride-to-be or the fashiontias. These costomers will not be pleased if they wait too long and Sally will loose much needed tips that are used to buy equipment for the spa.
After every level, Sally gets a chance to spend her hard earned cash. Upgrades are available on everything found in the spa. I recommend buying more help. It helps move the game along smoother when things start to get busy. Buying a more lite weight outfit for Sally is a necessity. It will help her move through the spa quicker keeping all the customers happy and patient. There are also candles for sale and each does a different thing. The heart candles when lit give everyone an extra heart boost, this helps keep the customers happy and patient. Also available are patient candles and big spender candles. Be careful when you lite them, only use the heart boost and patient ones when the spa is full. This way you get a bigger effect. The big spender candles should be used only when there is a line at the counter while cashing everyone out.
In order to play this game for iPhone, be prepared to do a lot of dragging and tapping on the screen. This games makes using a touch screen a piece of cake; the goal of the iPhone. When the spa becomes busy, up to fifteen people at a time, take a second and manage who is in need of being helped. See who wants to go to what service next, then tap them and they will move on. If they are waiting for a service from you, such as facials or eyebrow tweezing, tap them and they will have a number above their head notifying when you can get to them. The best part of the game on the iPhone is the ability to see the entire screen. This way there is no slowing down what needs to get done and your time management skills will shine.
Always watch the costumers facial expression and the boxes over their head, they can become frustrated as a ball of frazzlement forms above their head. When this happens try to calm them if you are unable to service them. A cup of green tea, a magazine, or lighting a candle will help, otherwise they will walk out and it is less money for you.
The games colors and music are relaxing, just like being in a real spa. There never is a time when one would find themselves annoyed by the images which helps as players try to stay calm when things get busy.
This game is not only available for the iPhone, but for Verizon's first version of the iPhone, the LG Dare. Being an owner of the Dare and stumbling across this game for it, I became excited. I had beat Sally's Spa for the iPhone and wanted to play again; so I dished over the eight dollars and downloaded the game. At first it seemed the same with a few added details. Players could now choose to play survival mode where costumers continue to come in until you can no longer handle it. The screen, my number one complaint was not big enough to see the enitre spa, so a lag in game play occurs. Also, the LG Dare's touch response is not as senstive as the iPhone is, so tapping the screen several times to get the desired action is needed.
Several added and changed parts of the game are noted. With the iPhone's version, players could easily do hot stone massages by tapping on the stone needed. For the Dare, players must swap stones in order to keep the customer happy. With the Dare's poor touch response, this sometimes can lead to unwanted moves leaving the customer unhappy and less tips. Another problem with the Dare's version is lighting the candles. It sometimes takes several hits, moving the screen back and forth, causing the player to lose track of where they are at, and sometimes the candle won't light at all.
I was highly disappointed with Verizon's version of this game as it requires more patience when playing it. So as I reviewed this game, I thought I should inform all users that the game is fun but use caution when purchasing it for anything other than the iPhone. I recommend that everyone at least give the game a chance. It is a game that for people who like to manage, would love. Even the movie star Megan Fox as recently admitting to being addicted to the game. So if that is not incentive enough to try it out, I don't know what is beside I would give this game a 10 out of 10 for the iPhone and a 6 out of 10 for the LG Dare.
The game starts off with the player being Sally, a girl who has been asked to help run a friends spa. The player begins in Laguna Beach California and the basis of the game is simple, direct the costumers to what they request. Each costomer who comes into the spa has above their heads what service they would like. Generally they start off with the sauna and move to a facial. Afterward they can choose to have a massage, hot tub experience and then they are done. It isn't until you progress farther into the game do more services become available; eyebrow tweezing, hot stones, bath bombs, and manicures and pedicures. Don't get too excited, with the added services, being able to manage all of your costomers and keep them happy becomes harder. But that was what I liked about the game.
During game play, certain costomers come in and the game does a good job at pre-warning the player on how each will act and tip. The easiest are the goths although low tippers. They are relatively very patient so its easy to skip over them and move onto the more inpatients and higher tipping costumers such as the bride-to-be or the fashiontias. These costomers will not be pleased if they wait too long and Sally will loose much needed tips that are used to buy equipment for the spa.
After every level, Sally gets a chance to spend her hard earned cash. Upgrades are available on everything found in the spa. I recommend buying more help. It helps move the game along smoother when things start to get busy. Buying a more lite weight outfit for Sally is a necessity. It will help her move through the spa quicker keeping all the customers happy and patient. There are also candles for sale and each does a different thing. The heart candles when lit give everyone an extra heart boost, this helps keep the customers happy and patient. Also available are patient candles and big spender candles. Be careful when you lite them, only use the heart boost and patient ones when the spa is full. This way you get a bigger effect. The big spender candles should be used only when there is a line at the counter while cashing everyone out.
In order to play this game for iPhone, be prepared to do a lot of dragging and tapping on the screen. This games makes using a touch screen a piece of cake; the goal of the iPhone. When the spa becomes busy, up to fifteen people at a time, take a second and manage who is in need of being helped. See who wants to go to what service next, then tap them and they will move on. If they are waiting for a service from you, such as facials or eyebrow tweezing, tap them and they will have a number above their head notifying when you can get to them. The best part of the game on the iPhone is the ability to see the entire screen. This way there is no slowing down what needs to get done and your time management skills will shine.
Always watch the costumers facial expression and the boxes over their head, they can become frustrated as a ball of frazzlement forms above their head. When this happens try to calm them if you are unable to service them. A cup of green tea, a magazine, or lighting a candle will help, otherwise they will walk out and it is less money for you.
The games colors and music are relaxing, just like being in a real spa. There never is a time when one would find themselves annoyed by the images which helps as players try to stay calm when things get busy.
This game is not only available for the iPhone, but for Verizon's first version of the iPhone, the LG Dare. Being an owner of the Dare and stumbling across this game for it, I became excited. I had beat Sally's Spa for the iPhone and wanted to play again; so I dished over the eight dollars and downloaded the game. At first it seemed the same with a few added details. Players could now choose to play survival mode where costumers continue to come in until you can no longer handle it. The screen, my number one complaint was not big enough to see the enitre spa, so a lag in game play occurs. Also, the LG Dare's touch response is not as senstive as the iPhone is, so tapping the screen several times to get the desired action is needed.
Several added and changed parts of the game are noted. With the iPhone's version, players could easily do hot stone massages by tapping on the stone needed. For the Dare, players must swap stones in order to keep the customer happy. With the Dare's poor touch response, this sometimes can lead to unwanted moves leaving the customer unhappy and less tips. Another problem with the Dare's version is lighting the candles. It sometimes takes several hits, moving the screen back and forth, causing the player to lose track of where they are at, and sometimes the candle won't light at all.
I was highly disappointed with Verizon's version of this game as it requires more patience when playing it. So as I reviewed this game, I thought I should inform all users that the game is fun but use caution when purchasing it for anything other than the iPhone. I recommend that everyone at least give the game a chance. It is a game that for people who like to manage, would love. Even the movie star Megan Fox as recently admitting to being addicted to the game. So if that is not incentive enough to try it out, I don't know what is beside I would give this game a 10 out of 10 for the iPhone and a 6 out of 10 for the LG Dare.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Zombie Hooker Nightmare
I encourage all to go to Adult Swim, http://games.adultswim.com/ , to check out their variety of online games. All the games offered are a bit off the wall, but is the goal when it comes to Adult Swim. I played Zombie Hooker Nightmare and though the graphics are not the best and it is nothing compared to Left 4 Dead, the game holds up and is seriously entertaining. Playing a hooker who needs to turn tricks, you fight off hordes of zombie hookers and pimps all while finding a John, getting him safely into a trailer, and earning that cash. Fun game for sure.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Only a Guess
"We can debate what art is, we can debate it forever. If the experience moves you in some way or another ... even if it moves your bowels ... I think it is worthy of some serious study" (Clive Barker).
I love this quote while highly disliking whatever Mr. Ebert had to say in response to this. For being a movie reviewer, one would assume that Mr. Ebert would know what art is and how to judge it; only a guess. A can of Campbell's soup is art so how is a vdieogame any different? It's not. If art is created by the artist, then who is the artist when playing a videogame? The player. The player is moving throughout the game, differently from every player playing the same game. They create a new story and out of that, a form of art is created.
Definitions of art: the products of human creativity, the creation of beautiful or significant things, artwork: photographs or other visual representations. This is what art can be along with many other interpretations; it's only a guess though.
From personal experience I would say that art is the glue in videogames. I have played a lot of games in my life and all have been filled with some form of art. For example Bioshock, and I apologize for using this game so many times as an example, but this game is full of art. When I say full of art, I do not just mean the background pictures, I mean from beginning to end the game is a form of art.
The first time I played Bioshock, when I entered the mystical city of Rapture, chills went down my spine as I indulged in the surroundings on the screen. At any time I could have paused the game, taken a picture and had a work of art to hang on my wall. When the biosphere moves past a Big Daddy welding the tunnels, that imagine stays with you as a player. The sound of Andrew Ryan's voice speaking, telling you why Rapture exists is a work of art. This is artwork; but it is only a guess I suppose.
I guess I find myself in shock that a man who discusses a form of art has a hard time classifying videogames as a form of art. When Mr. Ebert lost his voice, he claims that it moved him but not in an artistic form. Really? Finding a new way to get your thoughts and expressions across without using your voice is not a form of art? I think so but it's only a guess.
I love this quote while highly disliking whatever Mr. Ebert had to say in response to this. For being a movie reviewer, one would assume that Mr. Ebert would know what art is and how to judge it; only a guess. A can of Campbell's soup is art so how is a vdieogame any different? It's not. If art is created by the artist, then who is the artist when playing a videogame? The player. The player is moving throughout the game, differently from every player playing the same game. They create a new story and out of that, a form of art is created.
Definitions of art: the products of human creativity, the creation of beautiful or significant things, artwork: photographs or other visual representations. This is what art can be along with many other interpretations; it's only a guess though.
From personal experience I would say that art is the glue in videogames. I have played a lot of games in my life and all have been filled with some form of art. For example Bioshock, and I apologize for using this game so many times as an example, but this game is full of art. When I say full of art, I do not just mean the background pictures, I mean from beginning to end the game is a form of art.
The first time I played Bioshock, when I entered the mystical city of Rapture, chills went down my spine as I indulged in the surroundings on the screen. At any time I could have paused the game, taken a picture and had a work of art to hang on my wall. When the biosphere moves past a Big Daddy welding the tunnels, that imagine stays with you as a player. The sound of Andrew Ryan's voice speaking, telling you why Rapture exists is a work of art. This is artwork; but it is only a guess I suppose.
I guess I find myself in shock that a man who discusses a form of art has a hard time classifying videogames as a form of art. When Mr. Ebert lost his voice, he claims that it moved him but not in an artistic form. Really? Finding a new way to get your thoughts and expressions across without using your voice is not a form of art? I think so but it's only a guess.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Paying Off Gamers
I had mentioned on someone else blog that maybe game reviewers get paid by big corporations to give the game a positive review, making it bias. I was merely joking until I read the article Killzone 2 reviews: fanboy food with side order of nastiness. Obviously here the author is making a joke about the idea but who knows, could it possibly exisit? A place where game reviewers go when hard up for cash, instead of selling-out in WoW they plead with top gaming companies to give them a stipen for their lack-luster words. I am sure it happens; hopefully rarely.
It does present a good question, if this does happen, when and how can we tell? It would be hard to tell unless that reviewer had a following and a sudden shift in the style of games they are gun-ho about do a 180. It could be possible to watch the style of text being used. The reviewer begins to use an array of different words to describe the action, words you would find on the back of the game, not in a review. Also if the reviewer is known for rating the game and the audience notices a steep jump, a 10 out of 10, unheard of for this reviewer. Surely I am way off, but who knows.
For me, I listen to what other gamers have to say about certain games. I am not concerned with what the company has said about their game because it's much too bias. I am the one who will be playing the game so knowing from someone else first hand account helps me choose what I should spend my money on.
It does present a good question, if this does happen, when and how can we tell? It would be hard to tell unless that reviewer had a following and a sudden shift in the style of games they are gun-ho about do a 180. It could be possible to watch the style of text being used. The reviewer begins to use an array of different words to describe the action, words you would find on the back of the game, not in a review. Also if the reviewer is known for rating the game and the audience notices a steep jump, a 10 out of 10, unheard of for this reviewer. Surely I am way off, but who knows.
For me, I listen to what other gamers have to say about certain games. I am not concerned with what the company has said about their game because it's much too bias. I am the one who will be playing the game so knowing from someone else first hand account helps me choose what I should spend my money on.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Reviewing Videogames
After reading the game review on Fallout 3, I found some useful hints that other game reviews have left by the way side. I found it helpful as I am starting my game review for this class. Terrified that I have no clue how to go about reviewing a game; my limited knowledge leaves me with, that game was awesome, best ever, and I spent my whole weekend beating it so I recommend everyone doing the same. I believe that this does not constitute on how to actually review a game. The helpful hints I think everyone could use or not, your choice. But I feel compelled to discuss it.
The most useful hint that I came across was playing the game during the daylight hours, primarily during the morning hours. That is when the game becomes less depressing, possibly because the player is refreshed from a nice sleep. Although playing a game in the morning for some may mean three or four in the afternoon for others. This hint may not work for all.
I can understand how playing Fallout 3 at ten in the morning could make the game easier to get through. I find myself at night playing the game and becoming frustrated with the amount of dialogue you must swim through. I hit buttons to move along quicker, skipping over something that may have been important. I get annoyed when shooting, trying to find the spot on your enemy or radroach that will cause the greatest amount of damage. I find myself quickly turning the game off and going to bed.
So maybe if I get up some Saturday morning and play Fallout 3, I might find it easier to get through. I'm refreshed and it is my day off, what better thing to do but to play Fallout 3. I am sure this can be applied to any game. I remember during my Bioshock obsession I would be up at six in the morning, playing before classes. I would come home on breaks exhausted but still have it in me to play. But if I were to review that game, I would take the strategy and play first thing in the morning when the colors, or lack of, of Rapture are picturesque.
The most useful hint that I came across was playing the game during the daylight hours, primarily during the morning hours. That is when the game becomes less depressing, possibly because the player is refreshed from a nice sleep. Although playing a game in the morning for some may mean three or four in the afternoon for others. This hint may not work for all.
I can understand how playing Fallout 3 at ten in the morning could make the game easier to get through. I find myself at night playing the game and becoming frustrated with the amount of dialogue you must swim through. I hit buttons to move along quicker, skipping over something that may have been important. I get annoyed when shooting, trying to find the spot on your enemy or radroach that will cause the greatest amount of damage. I find myself quickly turning the game off and going to bed.
So maybe if I get up some Saturday morning and play Fallout 3, I might find it easier to get through. I'm refreshed and it is my day off, what better thing to do but to play Fallout 3. I am sure this can be applied to any game. I remember during my Bioshock obsession I would be up at six in the morning, playing before classes. I would come home on breaks exhausted but still have it in me to play. But if I were to review that game, I would take the strategy and play first thing in the morning when the colors, or lack of, of Rapture are picturesque.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Gaming History
I never remember asking for a Nintendo when I was four and have a hard time believing that I even wanted one. I was at the age of Barbie dolls and power wheels, not at all concerned with a gaming system. Even though I never remember asking for a Nintendo, I will never forget what it was like to open that present on Christmas Eve. It was wrapped in red shiny paper and as I ripped it open, my family started getting louder and louder with excitement. I think they kind of forgot who the present really was for. I am thankful however that at the tender age of four I received this gaming system. It shaped the way I saw videogames and without it, probably would have never picked up a controller.
My first experiences with my Nintendo weren't too exciting. I figure it was because the games that were purchased for me, weren't really for me. My dad took me to Toys R Us one day which is always a place of excitement for a child, and to my dismay we left the store with Mad Max. No four year old girl is interested in playing that and neither should a fifty year old man but there I was, disappointed. The next game was just the same, Silent Running. To this day I couldn't tell you what that game was about; something with submarines and blowing them up, not even half as fun as Battleship. At this point I was starting to give up hope that I would ever enjoy my Nintendo that was gifted to me. Until one day when the greatest game ever was handed to me to play.
So here it is, Bubble Bobble, the game that change my life so much that I even had it tattooed on me. The atheistically pleasing affects of the game were profound and opened the gate to even more games. I finally found a game that was fun, that was interesting, and even challenging; though I've never been past the 17th level. Up until that point, I was convinced games were boring. I enjoyed my Nintendo and it's games for as long as I could until the next step in gaming systems was finally released. Super Nintendo became my new obsession and I quickly tripled my videogame collection. Games varied from every genre and the freedom to pick the games I actually wanted was finally granted to me. With saving my weekly allowance and stealing quarters from cup holders I was able to acquire games such as Mario Kart to Mario Paint to Donkey Kong to Sim City. Each and every game was another influence towards continuing my gaming experience. I skipped over Sega and Nintendo 64 and went to PlayStation. That was the last major gaming system I really was into. After a while I started to become bored with the games. Then that was it, someone eventually stole my PlayStation and I just became too busy to be concerned with games anymore. It wasn't until the last year that I happened to stumble into the videogame world again. I was at a friends house while they were playing Xbox360. The game on the screen was pretty interesting, the graphics and story line were keeping my attention. Someone handed me the controller and told me to play. Never holding a controller since PlayStation, I was a little worried about how stupid I was going to look but to my surprise I picked up playing the game pretty well. Before I knew it, I was back into the videogame world. I purchased my own Xbox360 and bought the game that brought me back, Bioshock. My collection is nothing like I had with my Super Nintendo but it includes games I feel have meaning while I play them. Nothing too exciting happened with my gaming history. I now sit around playing Fallout 3 while anxiously awaiting the release of Left 4 Dead II. I honestly could not have written a paper about my top five videogames, I only have two that influenced me the most. I guess this wouldn't classify me as a hardcore gamer but either way, my love for the games are just as strong as the next.
My first experiences with my Nintendo weren't too exciting. I figure it was because the games that were purchased for me, weren't really for me. My dad took me to Toys R Us one day which is always a place of excitement for a child, and to my dismay we left the store with Mad Max. No four year old girl is interested in playing that and neither should a fifty year old man but there I was, disappointed. The next game was just the same, Silent Running. To this day I couldn't tell you what that game was about; something with submarines and blowing them up, not even half as fun as Battleship. At this point I was starting to give up hope that I would ever enjoy my Nintendo that was gifted to me. Until one day when the greatest game ever was handed to me to play.
So here it is, Bubble Bobble, the game that change my life so much that I even had it tattooed on me. The atheistically pleasing affects of the game were profound and opened the gate to even more games. I finally found a game that was fun, that was interesting, and even challenging; though I've never been past the 17th level. Up until that point, I was convinced games were boring. I enjoyed my Nintendo and it's games for as long as I could until the next step in gaming systems was finally released. Super Nintendo became my new obsession and I quickly tripled my videogame collection. Games varied from every genre and the freedom to pick the games I actually wanted was finally granted to me. With saving my weekly allowance and stealing quarters from cup holders I was able to acquire games such as Mario Kart to Mario Paint to Donkey Kong to Sim City. Each and every game was another influence towards continuing my gaming experience. I skipped over Sega and Nintendo 64 and went to PlayStation. That was the last major gaming system I really was into. After a while I started to become bored with the games. Then that was it, someone eventually stole my PlayStation and I just became too busy to be concerned with games anymore. It wasn't until the last year that I happened to stumble into the videogame world again. I was at a friends house while they were playing Xbox360. The game on the screen was pretty interesting, the graphics and story line were keeping my attention. Someone handed me the controller and told me to play. Never holding a controller since PlayStation, I was a little worried about how stupid I was going to look but to my surprise I picked up playing the game pretty well. Before I knew it, I was back into the videogame world. I purchased my own Xbox360 and bought the game that brought me back, Bioshock. My collection is nothing like I had with my Super Nintendo but it includes games I feel have meaning while I play them. Nothing too exciting happened with my gaming history. I now sit around playing Fallout 3 while anxiously awaiting the release of Left 4 Dead II. I honestly could not have written a paper about my top five videogames, I only have two that influenced me the most. I guess this wouldn't classify me as a hardcore gamer but either way, my love for the games are just as strong as the next.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Goodbye AA, Hello GA
As I read this article College Students Vulenerbel to Web Addiction, I was rather stunned to find that there is a serious consideration that videogames, web games, and digital writing tools such as Facebook and Twitter should be classified as a possible addiction. I laughed at the thought, really how could these be an addiction? When I think of things that are addictive items, I think of the obvious, Cocaine, Crack, Meth, Heroin, and alcohol. These things after some time claim the lives of it's users in horrific ways. I never heard of Facebook defiling your looks while giving you hepatitis in a hotel room with a hooker. I've never passed out with my Xbox controller hanging from my arm after I overdosed on too much game playing. And I can honestly say I have never puked after playing too many hours Solitaire on the computer. So what makes these professionals so knowledgeable on what makes something an addictive item that requires a rehabilitation center in Redmond, Washington?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Part Two: Video Games or Videogames
Almost like a line from Shakespeare we ask the questions; what do we call the games that we love and devote some much time to? Are they digital games, computer games, hand held games, or the true question, video games or videogames? The question to also ask is, does it really matter what we call them?
From that first chilly Christmas morning when I opened up the shinny paper that hugged my new gaming system Nintendo, I always remember calling them 'videogames'. It seems weird to think that when I was four I remember what I called them but I have vivid memories of going to "The Video Den" to rent these 'videogames'; seeing bright neon signs advertising where to get the gray rectangle shaped toys with bright stickers explaining what fun was to be had if you rented this game. So to me it has been 'videogames' and will always be 'videogames'. It wasn't until I read the blog by Zach, Videogames or Video games -- What Are We Talking About?, that I realized there was a debate and questions over what we should actually call these toys.
He points out the clarity between other systems, computer vs. Xbox, and what their games are called. We know the difference when it is spoken. But when it comes down to the consoles that we so righteously plug into our TVs, confusions apparently lays ahead.
When using Google to search for videogames, typing in video games breaks down the search engine into more groups, bringing in an array of other finds that are not linked to what you were looking for. This can prove frustrating and seems odd that die-hard fans of the split word would want to filter through the unnecessary finds.
I can understand the dialect for the usage of the two ways of spelling. Depending on where a person is from can determine spelling for many words that we have not in American but all over the world. For example in South Carolina a misquote is referred to as a water snake. It means the same thing, just a different name. Video games and videogames are the same word granted but it is no different when it comes to referring to the same thing. So from a linguistics point of view, I see no argument except what individuals have been raised on calling it.
With spell check, it tells me that videogames is spelled incorrectly and should be two words but really, what does a computer know except the bias's that were program into it?
I honestly have no problem with what videogames are called. To each his own but it was interesting to see that their was a debate going on and would be fun to research and find out the actual true name for these beloved toys.
From that first chilly Christmas morning when I opened up the shinny paper that hugged my new gaming system Nintendo, I always remember calling them 'videogames'. It seems weird to think that when I was four I remember what I called them but I have vivid memories of going to "The Video Den" to rent these 'videogames'; seeing bright neon signs advertising where to get the gray rectangle shaped toys with bright stickers explaining what fun was to be had if you rented this game. So to me it has been 'videogames' and will always be 'videogames'. It wasn't until I read the blog by Zach, Videogames or Video games -- What Are We Talking About?, that I realized there was a debate and questions over what we should actually call these toys.
He points out the clarity between other systems, computer vs. Xbox, and what their games are called. We know the difference when it is spoken. But when it comes down to the consoles that we so righteously plug into our TVs, confusions apparently lays ahead.
When using Google to search for videogames, typing in video games breaks down the search engine into more groups, bringing in an array of other finds that are not linked to what you were looking for. This can prove frustrating and seems odd that die-hard fans of the split word would want to filter through the unnecessary finds.
I can understand the dialect for the usage of the two ways of spelling. Depending on where a person is from can determine spelling for many words that we have not in American but all over the world. For example in South Carolina a misquote is referred to as a water snake. It means the same thing, just a different name. Video games and videogames are the same word granted but it is no different when it comes to referring to the same thing. So from a linguistics point of view, I see no argument except what individuals have been raised on calling it.
With spell check, it tells me that videogames is spelled incorrectly and should be two words but really, what does a computer know except the bias's that were program into it?
I honestly have no problem with what videogames are called. To each his own but it was interesting to see that their was a debate going on and would be fun to research and find out the actual true name for these beloved toys.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Video games
So I need to get use to the habit of writing on a blog and it helps that this class requires it as I just landed a job being a blogger for U of M. Here will help me brainstorm ideas for the U of M blog and maybe bring in more interest of students attending school here. Enough of that; video games are my hobby although I pushed them to the side after Super Nintendo. The last game I beat was Donkey Kong before I feel in love with Xbox360.
I had a strong love for my Nintendo and Super Nintendo, playing hours upon hours of Mario Brothers, until HDTV's came out making it impossible to play them any long. My passion for my gaming systems has carried on my entire life forcing me to get a Bubble Bobble tattoo that takes up my entire upper part of my back; that's love for the game.
When Xbox360 came out I was sceptical. I wasn't ready to part for my beloved consoles yet. It wasn't until the game Bioshock came out that I found a new love. I had a hard time at first learning the controls and the multiple buttons, but before long I had it down and beat it twice. I guess you could call that my gate-way game to more games and now I look for games that remind me of Bioshock. Video game are not my life but they do play an important part.
I had a strong love for my Nintendo and Super Nintendo, playing hours upon hours of Mario Brothers, until HDTV's came out making it impossible to play them any long. My passion for my gaming systems has carried on my entire life forcing me to get a Bubble Bobble tattoo that takes up my entire upper part of my back; that's love for the game.
When Xbox360 came out I was sceptical. I wasn't ready to part for my beloved consoles yet. It wasn't until the game Bioshock came out that I found a new love. I had a hard time at first learning the controls and the multiple buttons, but before long I had it down and beat it twice. I guess you could call that my gate-way game to more games and now I look for games that remind me of Bioshock. Video game are not my life but they do play an important part.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)