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.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
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.
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