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So I was online playing Battlefield Bad Company 2 which is definitely my favorite shooter on the ps3 with my buddy. We are both quite good at this game, and we noticed a couple of guys that were blatantly cheating. So I reported them both...even though it probably won't do anything to stop it I felt good to at least try to make a difference.
Accessory Snapshot | Monoprice 8X1 Enhanced Powered HDMI Switcher
High Def Switching Station | | |
I jumped on the HDTV bandwagon relatively early with the purchase of my Toshiba 52HM84 DLP television set back in 2004. At that time, the war for a standardized digital input was still raging and HDMI was not yet an industry standard. Not willing to sink a great deal of money into a fledgling format, my set came equipped with just one (1) HDMI port. With today's gaming systems (and other HD devices) fully embracing High Definition technology, I am once again begging for more television inputs. The Monoprice 8X1 Enhanced Powered HDMI Switcher (Monoprice 8X1) was the answer I was looking for. This externally powered device features a robust eight HDMI 1.2 compliant inputs. This easily accommodates my current set up (Xbox 360, PS3, Cable Box), but more importantly allows plenty of room for growth. The unit is self-aware and will automatically switch to the active HDMI device (a definite plus). I have not experienced any freezing of images when switching (manually or device driven) between connected systems, though there is around a 5 second delay for the Monoprice 8X1 to determine/display the correct source. The performance is exceptional - the quality of picture and sound is unaffected by the use of this switcher. A RS-232 serial interface is also provided for controlling this device from your computer. I have not messed around at all with this feature (RS-232) so I can not comment at all on its ease of use or performance in this area. 
The black matte, solid steel casing of the Monoprice 8X1 is exceptionally sturdy. It is packaged with mounting brackets to easily place this switcher within your existing A/V cabinet. The front facing is elegant and simple, but the red and green LED lights to indicate the active device are truly abrasive. They are so bright that it is rather bothersome when you are in a gaming session. When all HDMI devices are inactive, the LED board is fully alit (pictured below) and so luminous that I could actually read the manual in an otherwise completely dark room. Now if this isn't overkill, I don't know what is. The Monoprice 8X1 also is accompanied with a bank of various electrical convertors, which enhances this product's attractiveness to those outside North America. The plug itself is mounted on a convenient swiveled pedestal allowing you to customize the electrical connection (a.k.a. squeezing it into your surge protector). Installation and set up is a breeze - plug it in and you are all set to go. This unit does come with a small remote, but I have yet had the need to use it due to the HDMI auto-sensing capabilities of this device. Prior to purchasing this unit, I did a great deal of research on HDMI Switches. The general consensus was that, as of today, all of these are basically toasters - the brand doesn't really matter for basic HDMI switching. One has to be aware of potential compatibility issues, signal "freezes" and ease of RS-232 support, but price overall is the determining factor in one's purchasing decision. Similar Monoprice products had been rated well by CNET and other independent review sources, especially when evaluating the value quotient. I purchased this unit around four months ago (July, 2010) and have been very pleased thus far with its performance. Pros | Significantly increased High Def ports on your TV by providing eight HDMI connections for your gaming systems | Auto-sensing capabilities basically eliminates the need for further interaction once you have all of your HD devices connected | | | Cons | The LED indicator lights are abnormally intense and somewhat distracting when gaming | Externally powered by an included AC adaptor, so you will need to free up a spot on that surge protector for this unit |
| | | What HDMI Switcher Do You Utilize?
Share Your Thoughts & Suggestions with the RFG Community!! | Coming up next on the Accessory Snapshot:
The Logitech Cordless Action Controller |
Deleted because whining.
This is the second part of a five part series looking at those titles in the Ridge Racer series of games that have been launch titles. Part 1 covered the first Ridge Racer game, for the PS1. This entry covers Ridge Racer V for the PS2.
[img width=639 height=202]http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/dsheinem/fba68463.jpg[/img]
The first Ridge Racer was arguably the highlight of the PS1 launch, being the only game featured as a launch title in all three major regions. It was also the only arcade-style racer released at that system's launch, and so for many it had helped to define Sony's first console from the very start as the place to go for arcade quality titles. Certainly Sony had high hopes that Ridge Racer V would live up to this legacy.
When the PS2 launched ten years ago this month (October 2000 in the USA), the gaming landscape was markedly different from what it had been when Sony's PS1 hit stores five years prior. The second golden age of the arcade (the mid 90s) had ended, arcade style racing games were losing market share to driving simulation games such as Gran Turismo, and gamers had become accustomed to graphically polished and in-depth experiences from the racing genre. They had also become accustomed to choice, as there were probably a dozen racing franchises in active production at the turn of the millennium. Fortunately for Namco, Ridge Racer Type 4 had been quite successful and so hopes were high for Ridge Racer V. Nonetheless, V certainly had to contend with a different context than its PS1 launch game predecessor. How did it fare? As a launch title, it is significant for several reasons:
Ridge Racer V
[img width=299 height=235]http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/dsheinem/rrv1.jpg[/img] [img width=314 height=235]http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/dsheinem/rrv2.jpg[/img]
It was the only traditional racing game at the PS2 launch. The PS2 launch had no shortage of opportunities for gamers to drive fast . On launch day, Smuggler's Run, Wild Wild Racing, Midnight Club: Street Racing, and Moto GP offered racing fans a wide selection of titles that could address their need for speed, but only Ridge Racer V offered the option to drive a racing car around a traditional track in an arcade style racer. This seems like it was probably a deliberate choice by Sony, as they did this with the first Ridge Racer game at the PS1 launch and would repeat this model with the PS3 launch.
It was a return to the series' roots. In an often criticized move, Ridge Racer V stripped away many of the additions the series had seen over the years in terms of gameplay, car selection, customization, and other more simulation style racing enhancements. The main track is similar to the one featured in Ridge Racer 1, and all the tracks are quite similar to one another. The main gameplay mode is a Grand Prix mode for trophies, but there are only a few interesting rewards for doing well. In other words, it is very much like the first Ridge Racer.
[img width=283 height=235]http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/dsheinem/rrv3.jpg[/img]
Ridge Racer Type 4 shipped as a special edition with this Namco JogCon force feedback controller. The controller could also be used in Ridge Racer V.
It was a showcase for PS2 graphics...but not in a good way. Graphically, Ridge Racer V is a competent title and arguably looked better than the previous entries in the series with the possible exception of Type 4. The tracks have more shading, lighting is better implemented, some nice spark effects are used, and the menus are slick. But, the game features lots of flickering and aliasing problems (or "jaggies") which were a major concern at the PS2's launch. One argument that some Dreamcast owners made was that their games featured a smoother look than those on the PS2, and Ridge Racer V was a common punching bag for these criticisms.
[img width=314 height=235]http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/dsheinem/rrv4.jpg[/img]
An example of the "jaggies" found throughout the game.
It was really hard. Well, at least I thought so. I can do pretty well in most of the Ridge Racer games without running into many problems until the latest levels. Not so with V. I've struggled with this game from some of the very earliest stages - in part because of the looser steering, in part because of some of the issues with graphics, but mostly because of the cheap AI and unresponsive controls. It isn't that I can't drive the cars, but there often seems to be a disconnect between what I want the car to do and what it actually does. This is certainly one of the more punishing games from the PS1 launch.
It failed to showcase many of the PS2's best features. The audio CD-swapping trick, the unlocakables, and the mini-game features found in the original Ridge Racer all showcased the capabilities of the PS1. There is nothing about Ridge Racer V which suggested the PS2 was a machine that could do new things or do old things better. Part of the reason the PS2 sold well out of the gate was because it was a DVD player and because DVD-based games could hold much more information. Ridge Racer V shipped on CD and didn't really feature very much content compared to some of the earlier CD-based titles in the series. Furthermore, it didn't provide surround sound, use the new ports found on the system, or really push the hardware the way that some of the other launch titles did.
[img width=314 height=235]http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/dsheinem/rrv5.jpg[/img]
It would be the only PS2 Ridge Racer game. Perhaps all you need to know about Ridge Racer V's ability to hook people on the PS2 or get them interested in future racing games comes from this fact. Whereas the PS1 had seen four Ridge Racer titles in five years, the PS2 turns ten this year with only one Ridge Racer game to its credit.
In retrospect, even though Ridge Racer V offered a fully fledged arcade racing experience, it seemed like a rushed and incomplete project that failed to distinguish itself amongst the PS2 launch lineup the way that the first game in the series had on Sony's first console. In future installments, we'll explore whether or not the series' other launch titles addressed these shortcomings.
[img width=300 height=300]http://imgur.com/KHkxQ.jpg[/img]
Alone In The Dark: The New Nightmare is a rather ambitious port of the fourth title in the Alone In The Dark series. Usually when a 3D game is ported to a Game Boy system, really the only thing that stays the same is the title. This is surprisingly not the case with The New Nightmare. The game actually contains some rather impressive pseudo-3D graphics that really must be seen to be believed. The graphics utilize pre-rendered environments, and some pretty ingenious trickery that involves changing the size of the main character sprite to imitate parallax. It's somewhat hard to describe, but it's really a game that every Game Boy fan should play just to see exactly the kind of impressive feat that can be executed on such limited hardware. Pro's of the series may be a bit let down however when they realize exactly how short this port is in contrast to its console counterparts.
[img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/4GU83.jpg[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/g5CET.jpg[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/8wpZU.jpg[/img]
I personally have never played another other installments of the series, so I really don't have much to compare this one to myself. I can only say that beyond the impressive graphics, the game is a pretty fun title that mixes a bit of adventure in with a little bit of action. What did the rest of you think?
I've lately been looking through my Xbox collection for something to write my first blog about. And I think I've found it. Mechwarrior 4 is one of my all time favorite games as a child and I had a wonderful time blasting through the first Mechassault. So one time when I was browsing video games at the store with my parents, I saw it. Mechassault 2: Lone Wolf. This game is far better than the first one, and it's an excellent addition to the Battletech series. So, before I get into the actual game itself, here's a couple screenshots:
[img width=700 height=466]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/reviews/919791_20041222_screen004.jpg?ei=voGuTPV_hIKUB5bRvOUP&iact=hc&vpx=110&vpy=298&dur=905&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=173&ty=107&oei=moGuTJ2LD8L6lwfAm-DmDw&esq=2&page=2&tbnh=158&tbnw=197&start=40&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:40[/img]
[img width=630 height=469]http://static2.videogamer.com/videogamer/images/xbox/mechassault_2/screens/mechassault_2_2.jpg?iact=hc&vpx=499&vpy=76&dur=239&hovh=194&hovw=260&tx=136&ty=136&ei=B4KuTJ3KEcSblgef7OXfBQ&oei=moGuTJ2LD8L6lwfAm-DmDw&esq=10&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=174&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0[/img]
[img width=260 height=195]http://images.eurogamer.net/assets/articles/a/5/7/8/4/1/a_med_1.jpg?iact=hc&vpx=1439&vpy=103&dur=323&hovh=132&hovw=176&tx=151&ty=102&ei=PoKuTNOsK8WAlAeOtM3kDw&oei=moGuTJ2LD8L6lwfAm-DmDw&esq=6&page=1&tbnh=132&tbnw=174&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0[/img]
The box art:
[img width=300 height=420]http://www.gamesarefun.com/games/xbox/mechassault2/boxart.jpg?ei=PoKuTNOsK8WAlAeOtM3kDw[/img]
[img width=640 height=907]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/1/919791_57237_back.jpg?iact=rc&dur=273&ei=moGuTJ2LD8L6lwfAm-DmDw&oei=moGuTJ2LD8L6lwfAm-DmDw&esq=1&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=110&start=0&ndsp=40&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0&tx=45&ty=75[/img]
Now I'm not going to get into the story. I don't want to spoil it for the rest if you.
I've found the game to be quite balanced difficulty wise. There is no different levels of difficulty, they replace this with a very healthy learning curve. I am quite disappointed with their roster of mechs as they only put in the most known mechs such as the Atlas and Mad Cat. The gameplay I've found to be fairly balanced as they do something different here and there that gives it a good replay value. When you partake in the single player campaign with the intention of beating it, one must learn one single thing, always keep moving. A light mech is as good as an assault mech because you can easily dodge enemy fire and sometimes completely avoid missles. Because of that the game is extremely fair and balanced. If you have an Xbox or an Xbox 360 (it's backwards compatible), get a used copy of this game. You will not be dissapointed.
For the heck of it the other day I loaded up Final Fantasy VII on my PC because I felt like playing it. I remember when it first came out my friend was an avid Final Fantasy player and I pretty much didn't even play RPG games at the time with one exception, Fallout. Anyway I remember being blown away by the awesome graphics at the time, and also have since played many RPG games, and many more games with RPG elements. At any rate I was feeling some nostalgia and wanted to remember what these amazing graphics looked like. Everything installed just fine, but then the issue came up. I was trying to configure the game to use 3D graphics as opposed to software and for some reason at the bottom of the config for 3D it calls for 8 bit textures or something like that (don't have it in front of me for reference). So then I thought, well my laptop is pretty old and has a Radeon 9700 in it, perhaps that supports it, NOPE. So then I tried to find the solution to this issue, perhaps there is an update or something to the software that fixes it. Well there are patches for the software, but they only deal with sound. I mean, yeah I could play the game in software mode, but that wasn't the point to me even loading it up. This is rather disappointing and strange, I have never heard of an old game that won't play on a new system because of the hardware, and I am certainly not going to run a virtual machine just for one old game, has anyone else dealt with this issue or perhaps a similar one?
Accessory Snapshot | The Pelican System Selector Pro
Switching Station | | |
If you are an old school gamer like myself, it goes without saying that there is a significant need for additional standard def television inputs due to the large library of systems requiring this type of A/V connection. Typically I'll play games across a variety of consoles - the last thing I want to do is mess around behind a TV switching out cords and the like. The Pelican System Selector Pro was/is my salvation. This device features an impressive 8 A/V (Composite / S-Video) and 3 Component inputs. Additionally, there are three Ethernet ports for sharing a broadband connection between systems that utilize this technology. One of the best features is the convenient front A/V ports (hidden by a concealed door) which allows quick access to plug in and play those 'occasional' systems in your collection. 
The performance is exceptional with both CRT and HD television sets. I have never experienced degradation of signal nor lag time regardless of the what system(s) I have hooked up. Newer models come with a remote, but in all honesty I think this is pretty useless. I greatly prefer the simple push-button method of selecting a system on my older model rather than trying to fuddle around looking for a remote. 
The Pelican System Selector Pro is not a small unit. Measuring in at a healthy 9.5" D x 17.0" W x 2.5" means that you will have to allow some space in your display. The design does meet industry standards, so this is a stackable unit with other components in your A/V rack. Contrary to what may be initially communicated by the feel of the rather light weight, hard plastic chassis, this switcher has been extremely durable over the nine years that I have had it. A customizable, lit name plate is located directly above each console/device that is connected to the Pelican System Selector Pro. Overall this is highly recommended for any gamer that has multiple systems they want to have connected to their TV. If you want to spend more time on gaming rather than jockeying cables, the Pelican System Selector Pro is for you. Pros | Significantly frees up those precious ports on your TV by providing 8 A/V connection for your gaming systems | Built-in mini 'router' is extremely convenient for those that do not have access to a wireless environment | | | Cons | Plastic construction feels a little fragile, but I have had no issue with it at all over the 9+ years that I have had it. | Externally powered by an included AC adaptor, so you will need to free up a spot on that surge protector for this unit |
| | | What Switcher Do You Utilize?
Share Your Thoughts & Suggestions with the RFG Community!! | Coming up next on the Accessory Snapshot:
The Logitech Cordless Action Controller |
[img width=300 height=300]http://imgur.com/jIUSo.jpg[/img]
Because of the Game Boy Player Land blog I get a lot of emails asking me for suggestions of obscure games to try. A few times I've been asked to list what I would consider a true Hidden Gem of the console, and inevitably the first title that pops into my mind is Bubble Ghost. The game is so extremely original. You control a ghost who lives in a mansion. His goal is to guide his only friend (a bubble) from one end of the mansion of another by blowing, through each room with its own set of obstacles.
[img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/8yA3C.jpg[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/Y9FBD.jpg[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/2M4iz.jpg[/img]
The game is wonderfully paced. Each stage gets progressively harder as you're introduced to new obstacles and ways to get around them. For instance, early on you have to cross a candle. It seems no matter how you try to guide your bubble over it the flame is too hot and the bubble bursts. Once you figure out that you can simply blow out the flame of the candle, that particular obstacle becomes far easier to surpass. The game is full of fun challenges like this, which leads me to again mention that Bubble Ghost is an absolute must-have for all Game Boy enthusiasts. Seriously.
Well I havent updated this in awhile, so I guess it is time.
Over the past few weeks I have been picking up things here and there but nothing major to
warrant a post.
I feel I finally have enough things together to do a write up.
From a few weeks ago from the Flea Markets I got:
Spider-Man X-Men SNES Complete: $3
Golden Axe II Genesis CIB & Ground Zero Texas Sega CD CIB: 2 for $5
The rest of the games were also 2 for $5.
Mortal Kombat II SNES
Ghostbusters NES
Kickmaster NES
Shatterhand NES
Joe & Mac NES
T2 NES
Solomon's Key NES.
The following is from another week at the Fleas:
All for Intellivision and Complete:
Space Hawk
Major League Baseball
Mouse Trap
Skiing
Triple Action
Snafu
Vegas Poker & Blackjack
and Space Armada
They were $1 each and came with a whole lot of other stuff (more on that in a few)
The Genesis Games were $3 each and all CIB
Toy Story
X-Men
and Primal Rage
Game Genie for SNES $2
All of the Nintendo Games were 2 for $5
Jaws
Battle Chess
Trick Shooting
3-D Worldrunner with Glasses
Championship Bowling
Cobra Command
Raid on Bungeling Bay
Duck Hunt and 10 Yard Fight I got For Free.
This next picture I managed to get for free while buying the
intellivision games, there are Atari Catalogs, Atari Booklets, NES Cases, Intellivision Booklets, Instructions, Stickers, and more. Some pretty cool stuff.
The next picture I also managed to get free for buying all of the nes games above.
A bunch of NES instructions.
The next bunch I got the 7 Intellivision games CIB
for only $7 from a friend of a friend selling on ebay, I bid and got them all for .99 each
and didnt have to pay to ship because they lived down the block.
Darksiders for the 360 I got for $12.99 from Gamefly.
and Alan Wake Collectors Edition I got from Amazons deals for $40.
This next lot is from the Flea last week,
The Atari games you see were sitting in a old bag sitting in a pile of other things,
so I asked how much and they said $6, ended up getting the 23 games, and Controller for $5.
Haunted House
Star Raiders
Stampede
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Combat
Karateka
Dig Dug
Jungle Hunt
Defender
Journey Escape
Food Fight
Xevious
Pac Man
Donkey Kong Junior
Raft Rider
Mario Bros
Keystone Kapers
Jr Pac Man
Warlords
Atlantis
Pitfall
Ghostbusters
Pole Position II
I got the How to Win at Nintendo Games book for 5 cents
Quake 4 was $3 complete with a bonus disk inside.
Chessmaster and Speedy Gonzales were 2 for $5.
and Brothers in Arms Hells Highway Collectors Edition
I got online for $20.
Finally that brings us up to this past week.
There are getting to be less and less people at the flea now that
its starting to get cooler out, and the last one is Oct 31st,
so I have been finding less and less.
All of these games came from just two different people.
If it wasnt for them I wouldnt have found anything.
First Up I picked up the following, all $1 each.
Genesis:
Tecmo Super Bowl CIB
Road Blasters CIB
Super Thunder Blade CIB
NBA Jam CIB
Sub Terania CIB
Pro Quarterback CIB
Evander Holyfield Boxing CIB
Hand On & Astro Warrior CIB for the SMS
Saturday Night Slammasters for the SNES
Clayfighter for the SNES all beat up
Alien vs Predator SNES
Bonanza Brothers Genesis
Game Genie Genesis, I now have 2 game genies for the Genesis,
one is black and one is this gold one.
The second guy I managed to pick up a few dreamcast games (this is
the first time I have ever seen import games at a flea market)
The Dreamcast Games were $1 each.
Gian Gram 2000
Sega GT
F355 Ferarri
and the US version of Sonic 2.
Also bought Star Ocean (missing Instructions) for the PS1 for $3.
Also picked up Fable II Special Edition online for $12
and Street Fighter IV Special Edition online for $22
Hopefully stay tuned for next week.
So in talking with a coworker recently, I realized how unique our hobby really is. As gamers we use our spare time to become characters in another world. Sure there is some of that in a book or movie, but that is a linear story, and there is nothing wrong with that, I love stories.
Like I said, I was talking with my coworker who is a gamer this morning about the new Front Mission and about my experience with Dogfighter the last couple times and it really struck me that our hobby is really unique. Most of my coworkers go home, watch sports or the news, play with their kids, and thats it. Done. I was recently placed in the middle of two other teams for crosstraining purposes and out of the thirty people, that is what 27 of them do daily. Well last night I piloted an aircraft (Dogfighter) and later drove a 37 ton robot around a battlefield trying to rid my planet of hostile forces (Mechwarrior 3). The night before I was on a quest to save some princesses (Castle Crashers). So when one of my new coworkers asked me this morning what I did last night what did I tell them? I said that last night I was trying to figure out why a utopia fell to madness (Bioshock).
Ofcourse this is a common thought among the gaming population, but when you sit down and think about it, we really do have a magical hobby.
And yes, I know I am late on the Bioshock wagon shut up. I was a Wrenchlord of the Deep.
Thought that the Halloween month would be the perfect time to bring this topic up.
Gaming, like most entertainment media, is usually centered around conflict. Be it the two colors of Chess, mute crowbar wielding theoretical physicists against the oppressive Combine, or tetrominoes versus gravity, ours is a hobby always searching for good antagonists to toss against our Hiro Protagonist.
Now that our little Pongs and 2600s have grown up into PS3s and 360s and Grandpa has a Wii at the nursing home, the larger public conscious has honed in to the fact that us gamers have been shooting, stabbing, eviscerating, decapitating, exploding, maiming, impaling, jumping on, poking, and sticking our tongues out at a variety of things for decades. Our preference tends to go in waves; we've seen the loose Cold War allegories of space aliens, the patriotic duty to eradicate the Nazi regime, the ever present threat of technology turned bad in evil robots, the popular and topical terrorist scum, even the role reversal of revolutionary or anti-hero. With high-def digital representations of human faces to shoot/hit/punch/kiss replacing solid blocks of single color and a lot of imagination, our industry is now having to take greater care in literally choosing our targets for fighting.
EA's new Medal of Honor game recently came under fire for offering the ability to play as the Taliban against the U.S. military in the multiplayer element of the game, causing a name change to "Opposing Force." This is a pretty interesting development; while other games such as Counter Strike (released originally in 1995) allow you to specifically select 'terrorist' as the faction team to play on, in recent years our western mainstream media sensitivity has heightened so much that the U.S. military refused to sell the future Medal of Honor title at military bases. (As far as I could research, there was no such ban on Counter Strike or other similar games, past or current.)
Us gamers have mowed down countless men in uniform both online and off since before the days of Wolfenstein 3D, and while criticism of simulated violence is once again a hot political topic contested in court, the industry is always searching for the next perfect, generic, we-can-all-agree-to-kill-these-guys adversaries. Each classic set of virtual villainy has its baggage:
Space aliens can come in a wide variety of flavors, but often degenerate into cliched generic evil doers who have little connection to our reality and therefore become uninteresting. Or, they represent some human-themed agenda that reduces them to simply different people groups who are actually like us and we need to learn from (our generation can call this the 'Avatar Syndrome'. Our parents could have called it the 'Star Trek Dreck.')
The classic evil regime, such as rogue Russian militias, Nazis, terrorist factions, or demonic cults (or any combination!) can help with the overall 'obviously these are bad guys' mind frame, yet the recent push for realism in gaming demands that either this direction addresses our current world mentality in some fashion, or risks being dumbed down to nonsense or unattached silliness. The new Medal of Honor will likely fall somewhere in between these, as do the Call of Duty series.
With the ethical challenges opened by our rampant technology growth state, unfeeling robots and extermination-minded AIs are a ripe candidate for adversaries, even obvious given the very nature of our hobby. Yet while the meta-themes of humanity's own poor choices are often the real backbone of these narrative elements, the theme has waned in recent years because the very technology we would fear has become so comfortably entrenched into daily life. It becomes too much a stretch to wonder if our microwaves are really sentient machines planning world domination; more likely the burrito inside is the one with the sinister plot about to unfold.
Fantasy genres tend to give us good epic potential between worthwhile oppositions, but as with sci-fi, where there is an enormous potential for originality we are all too often given the same few characters, events, and battles repackaged with a different set of pointy ears, wings, or skin colors. The motivations behind our enemies are all too often either 'we didn't know you were actually doing this for the greater good' or 'wow, you're just an evil power-monger.'
I'm not griping about having to replay the same stories: we all know there's nothing new under, around, on top, or inside the Sun. Except Noby Noby Boy. But that becomes a particular challenge for game developers:
Who are we fighting, and why? Its a question most of us gamers have probably never really cared much about. Sure, we can get into a good story, maybe even invest in some of the characters, but more often than not the game simply has to point out that the other guy will shoot you if you don't shoot first. Most of the time we're fine with that. Some games are far more intriguing for making that mindless acceptance an introspective point to the game narrative (BioShock and the Metal Gear Series come to mind) but most games just except that gamers are more interested in the action in the conflict than the reasons for the conflict.
After all, it's just a game, right? Who cares?
Well, more and more people, in fact. Many of whom don't play games. It may have been fun to use good old Jack Thompson as a whipping boy, but now that his personal crusade has done about as much good for his cause as the actual Crusades, the vacuum created in his absence combined with the continuing mainstream acceptance of video games has brought our apathy of digital empathy to the limelight. Now gamers are being asked, as we blast away at the Locust Horde, slam sports cars off the road, and run over prostitutes in a stolen Hummer, what is the context behind our actions? And the common gamer answer of, "uh, I don't care, it's just a game!" is unlikely to hold up in the currently debated California bill that judges our industry's content as completely different than movies, music, and other media. An examination of the domino effect of that bill or the eleven other states that formally support it is way outside of the scope of this post, though I always welcome such discussions.
What piqued my thoughts on this actually stems from my gaming purchase last week. Without much thought about the related source material, I picked up Dead Rising 2 and Plants Vs. Zombies. It literally didn't cross my mind until I got home that I, a person who has absolutely no consistent enjoyment, fear, or real interest in zombies just bought two games in one day that featured said creatures as the antagonists.
You see, despite my absolute love of the Castlevania franchise and a few other 'horror' gaming staples, I've never really been a fan of werewolves, vampires, 'creatures of the night/darkness', or the undead. They just don't do anything for me; I have to overcome a certain mental apathy to them to enjoy the media containing them. Oh, there have been plenty of media featuring such things that I enjoy, but often that enjoyment is in spite of, or at least indifferent to them. The psychological underpinnings of a Silent Hill interest me far more than the camp-scare of a Fatal Frame, and I get much more out of the crisis survival piece of Left 4 Dead than the weird critters those survivors are pitted against. Which is why I'm beginning to theorize that zombies may be the perfect video game bad guy; if a person like me can have fun with pop culture's recent zombie fetish, it says a lot about their staying power.
And boy, is our pop culture going through a zombie phase. Resident Evil (films and games), 28 Days/Weeks Later, Zombieland, Romero's recent set, Planet Terror, Colin, Fido, Shaun of the Dead, World War Z, Monster Island/Nation/Planet, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Left 4 Dead, Dead Rising/2, Plants Vs Zombies, the list just goes on. We now have fast zombies, shambling zombies, biting zombies, mutating zombies, Nazi zombies, Hazmat zombies, zombonis, zombie meals with fries and a diet Coke. We're so obsessed with zombies we shoehorn them into completely different properties like Call of Duty and Red Dead Redemption. We even put them into space and call them strange names like 'the Flood.'
They seem like the perfect enemies, don't they? No nationality to object to, no reason to sympathize, no moral issue with destroying what's already dead to begin with. That last attitude is a far more recent development; whereas the dead and things related to them were once treated with a great deal of dignity, respect, and cultural or religious sensitivity, our modern era has come to view corpses as biological shells and meat bags we medically treat to last for three quarters of a century or so. Upon release in 1968, Romero's Night of the Living Dead was unnerving and shocking, and still remembered today as a landmark horror film that pushed past taboo. Nowadays, we watch open heart surgery on daytime television that includes a thoughtful text blurb about content that 'some may find objectionable', and news affiliates paste up graphic crime and accident footage that 'may offend some viewers.' I wonder sometimes if the Roman Coliseum had the same warning billboards over the entrance, but I digress. :p
The cultural acceptance of the zombie concept is no more obvious than my recent purchases, Dead Rising 2 and Plants Vs. Zombies. Many gamers are somewhat familiar with these games: one of these allows the player to use everything from projectile weapons to lawnmowers to crush, burn, freeze, dismember, and decapitate a zombie horde. The other is Dead Rising 2. And while the latter is certainly far more gory, graphic, and easily offensive, Plants Vs. Zombies makes the onscreen action of similar events so goofy, sanitized, and endearing that it's hard to remember both games contain themes of cannibalism, heads popping off, limbs falling off, and eyeballs hanging loosely. It's just so darn cute.
The kicker? Plants Vs Zombies is rated E10. And I haven't heard anything about Congress putting publisher PopCap up on the stand to defend itself. (Not to imply I think they should.) If the cartoony presentation of Plants Vs Zombies were replaced with a different art style and the trademark humor replaced with a dour presentation, the game couldn't get by on that rating even if it remained relatively bloodless. Compare that with Dead Rising 2, whose M rating would be guaranteed just due to the violent content alone. Please don't think I'm picking on either of these excellent games, just pointing out that zombies are so ubiquitously accepted in our culture that these extremes exist in the first place. Parents flipped at the Atari 2600 VCS version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, yet now mommy giggles at the crunchy eating sounds (complete with screaming) coming from the house in PvZ.
So for now, it appears that zombies have earned their rightful place as our bad guys of choice, standing in line with Nazis, Russians, Space Aliens, and Congress. They can be ultra gory to satiate bloodlust or be cleaned up and painted in day-glo colors to hook housewives into spending countless hours on the family PC. We have our safe villain of the day, until the next wave crashes over and we forget why zombies were so big before, because obviously Corporations were our worst enemy all along.
Me? I'm just glad we're past vampires as the 'in' thing. Oh, hello new Castlevania...
[img width=300 height=300]http://imgur.com/ZtSZM.jpg[/img]
I don't know what Capcom was thinking when they thought that gamers would want to suddenly have one of the biggest jerk in videogame history as their hero. But for some reason it totally works in Gargoyle's Quest. In this Ghosts 'N Goblins spin-off you control Firebrand. The game combines on over-world map RPG element with side-scrolling platforming levels. Luckily Firebrand can (kind of) fly and cling to walls. It's really quite awesome to see the amount of ability that his little 8-bit sprite is capable of.
[img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/qg8NJ.png[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/gLMrU.png[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/FjejH.png[/img]
As is to be expected from most Capcom Game Boy releases, there's an impressive level of attention paid to the graphics (both sprites and backgrounds) as well as the music. It's easy to see that Capcom tended to favor original games on the Game Boy because they actually believed in the possibilities of the hardware. Gargoyle's Quest is definitely worth checking out for Game Boy enthusiasts that are fans of platformers or a bit of the macabre.
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Accessory Snapshot | Energizer Power & Play Charging Station
For the Sony Playstation 3 | |
Keeping your controllers fully charged is obviously important in today's age of wireless gaming. Of equal importance is having an organized, spot-on display within my Room of Doom. The Energizer Power & Play Charging Station was just what the doctor ordered for this gamer. I have never been a big fan of the USB method utilized by Sony to charge standard issue controllers and certain peripherals. Though thoroughly effective, it is not the most convenient process known to man. The Energizer Power & Play Charging Station eases this process considerably.  This handy, compact device can simultaneously charge up to four (4) standard DualShock 3 or Sixaxis controllers in around 2.5 hours. Two are easily docked directly into the station while two additional USB ports provide access to charge other peripheral accessories (i.e. microphone). The station alerts you to the charging status or each via the not so subtle lighting display (red = charging; green = complete). The performance is outstanding - I have not experienced any decrease in game play time as compared to controllers charged through conventional means. This excellence is also reflected in its overall design.
The oval, classic black chassis of the Energizer Power & Play Charging Station is nicely accented with a mirrored-silver front nameplate. The lighting indicators are extremely vibrant but not to the point of being offensive. The end result is an extremely clean, modern look that will not only compliment your Playstation 3 system, but will enhance your general display. Overall the Energizer Power & Play Charging Station truly delivers on all accounts by providing exceptional functionality in a sleek, contemporary presentation. Pros | Reliably charges up to four (4) USB devices at once | Compact yet stylish design compliments any Room of Doom | Cleans up that mess of mini USB cables hanging off your PS3 like umbilical cords | | | Cons | Plastic construction feels a little fragile | The base could be a bit heavier to provide better stability when docking a controller | Externally powered by an included AC adaptor, so you will need to free up a spot on that surge protector for this unit |
| | | Coming up next on the Accessory Snapshot:
The Pelican System Selector Pro |
[img width=300 height=400]http://imgur.com/ZBxOvl.jpg[/img]
I know many of you assume that I'm only interested in Game Boy games, but the truth is I grew up on many different games from many different consoles. And yet I'm pretty sure I may be the only person out there who would say that A Nightmare On Elm Street is in my Top 10 NES games of all time. In fact, it's probably one of my favorite games of all time -- period! I say that because truthfully, I play it a lot. I mean a lot. I always have. It's just one of those sort of "comfort games" to me. I almost can't see what most people seem to think is so bad about it.
[img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/RUaR5l.jpg[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/l0g8N.jpg[/img]
One thing we need to get out of the way is that the game was published by LJN. That (apparently) turns off most people. I've never been bothered by LJN. Certainly they've made some bad games, but at the same time they've made others that I've enjoyed immensely. Major League Baseball on the NES is still my favorite baseball game of all time. And although I don't love it as much as A Nightmare On Elm Street, I am also a big fan of the Friday The 13th game for NES as well.
[img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/0rDyc.jpg[/img] [img width=200 height=200]http://imgur.com/lfE7P.jpg[/img]
So what is it that I like about A Nightmare On Elm Street so much? For starters: the music. The music is my favorite soundtrack of any NES game -- challenged only by Mega Man III. The score is a wonderful, moody piece that takes full use of the NES' sound capabilities and goes through various sections. It's somber, scary and awesome all at once. I could listen to the music all day long.
The game is also extremely original. There are two plains of existence in this game: the regular world and the dream world. This means each levels has two different ways of being experienced. You can choose when and if to wake up by finding coffee or loud music. Although the nightmare world is harder, it does allow you to experience it as one of the Dream Masters (ninja, athlete, wizard). It's this sort of open-ended choice of how to complete the game and as who that is extremely interesting for a "crappy LJN licensed title."
But above all that, the number one reason to love A Nightmare On Elm Street is the amazing 4-player co-op. This game rules with three friends. Growing up this was my party game. And everyone had a blast. Trust me. You need to give this one another shot.
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We are a community of collectors, gamers and the likes, and some of us enjoy to let the world know what is on our mind. For those members, we have the community blogs, a place where they can publish their thoughts and feelings regarding life, universe, and everything. Some of those members might even choose to write about gaming and collecting! Whatever they write about, you can find it on their blog. You can either see the latest community blog entries in the feed you see to the left, or you can browse for your favorite blog using the menu above. Interested in having your own blog hosted on RF Generation? It's rather simple, first be a registered member, and then click the "My Blog" link that you see in the navigation above. Following those two steps will certainly get you on your way to blogging.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy our entries, rantings, and completely unrelated series of thoughts. We write for you to read, so we certainly hope that you enjoy our material.
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