I recently downloaded Lucidity, the new XBLA arcade title by Lucasarts. I hadn't really heard much hype surrounding the game, but when I saw a screenshot I had to at least give the trial a shot.
I fired up the trial version and the first thing that I noticed was the art style, which grabbed my attention right away. The imagery is just downright beautiful. It reminds me a bit of the recent stop-motion film Coraline, although I don't feel right comparing the two. Lucidity is definitely its own thing.
The story revolves around a little girl named Sofi, who is dealing with the loss of her grandmother. Sofi is constantly running through her own dreams in search of some form of closure. It's a theme that I personally could relate with, and as much as I hate to admit it, the game did tug at my heart strings. Yeah, I know, I'm a wuss. I also cried at the end of Benjamin Button... So what, wanna fight about it?
The atmosphere of Lucidity was initially the main draw for me, but the gameplay really surprised me and warranted a purchase after just a few minutes of playing the trial.
As mentioned before, Sofi is literally running through her dreams, and actually isn't even controlled by the player. She will run right into a giant frog monster or go skipping off of a ledge, and the only thing that can save her is the quick placement of the various tools that the game provides you. Sofi can take a few hits from the basic grunts, and can actually replenish her health by collecting fireflies as she travels through a level.
Lucidity is a bit like a blend of Lemmings and Tetris. It offers many unique pieces to help you protect Sofi, like basic platforms and staircases, and more advanced items such as fans, which throw Sofi vertically into the air, or bombs, which can destroy walls and enemies. That is where the similarities to Lemmings ends though.
Like Tetris, the game provides pieces to you at random. This is where the real challenge comes in. It shows you the piece that you can currently use and the one that you will be able to use next at the top of the screen. Sofi may be headed for a ledge, about to leap to her death, and you may have something like a bomb at the ready, with another useless piece on deck. You can bank one of your pieces to be used later, and can switch between your banked piece and the piece that the game provides you with the press of a button.
This game became really challenging towards the end, and kept me entertained for a few days. It kind of sucks that nobody is really talking about this game, as it is one of the most unique titles to come out in recent memory.
If you have an Xbox 360, do yourself a favor and at least download the trial. Or better yet, do what I did and take a look at a screenshot. The art alone should at least pique your interest.
So I went to my parents house to get all my stuff out of their attic. I finally have space to put all my cards, star wars toys, etc.
I couldn't believe what I saw.
I completely forgot that my brother and I had this when we were kids. We used it to store all our games, controllers, R.O.B, etc. Unfortunately all that stuff wasn't in there, Just a bunch of worthless basketball cards.
It is in pretty good shape. The top has some bubbling. The metal has a little rust. But the inside is excellent, and overall it is very good.
Posted on Oct 29th 2009 at 03:55:28 AM by (Ack) Posted under Introduction
Hey fellas, Ack here. I'm using this introduction to explain a bit about what I'd like to talk about, as well as teaching myself the blogging software here.
And now...picture break!
Ok, glad I understand how that works. And yes, that is a map of Silent Hill.
Anyway, I'm Ack, and I like video games. I especially like video games with horror themes, though I do play a lot of other stuff, so please don't think I'm a one-trick pony. I just happen to have a soft spot in my heart for games that terrify me when I play them in the dead of night.
In fact, horror games have given me some of my favorite gaming memories. Resident Evil 2 was my first...I remember sitting up in a little hole-in-the-wall game room in my stepmom's house in Maine, controller gripped tightly in my hands, eyes wide at the carnage in front of me. We went out to dinner that night, and on the way back I kept glancing out the windows into the pitch-black woods wondering if zombies were really out there. Were they? Were they coming for me? I didn't sleep well for days. I didn't realize it until later that this had been one of those little gaming epiphanies, where you suddenly realize just how powerful the medium can be. But I digress.
I've discovered over the years that a lot of people avoid this genre because it terrifies them far more than any movie or book, likely because in this medium they have the power to control the so-called "victim," the player character, though they're still confined to the game's rules. But there are some folks who rise to the challenge, who subject themselves to this sheer, unadulterated terror, who sit up late into the night while playing Silent Hill, palms sweaty, hair unkempt, fear in their eyes. It is for these people that I'm doing this article: I'm giving them a list of nightmares, with some discussion of mechanics, a few screenshots, and sometimes a few insights of my own on the game.
Or maybe I'm just overthinking this, and some folks just want to play some games.
Either way, I'll be focusing on an individual game each post, following a thing I did over at the Racketboy.com forums, where I talked about one game each day for October. In fact, some of my earlier posts will likely just be straight ports of that material, if only to give me a platform to springboard off of with original content once October is over.
And if you have requests, such as you've heard of a particular title and want to know more, or think that certain games should be discussed, or you just want to know the thoughts of myself and the rest of the folks here at RFGeneration, post it in the comments! It's the best way to have a conversation.
This weekend provided some much needed clearout of the garage. We managed to free of up some more space and condense boxes.
Before
[img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic021.jpg[/img] This area was home to some tools, bikes, sleds, and outdoor toys.
After
[img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/garage001.jpg[/img] This is one of the corners of the new gameroom.
[img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/garage002.jpg[/img] Picture of some of the shelving for the gameroom. There perfect for holding games and cases either vertically or horizontal.
A couple weeks ago I rediscovered a long lost passion of mine. A game I had almost forgotten. Luckily browsing through the RFGen NES High Score thread reminded me to dig out one of my all time favorite games.
After having to postpone another 3 times we finally got together 2 days in a row to finish most of the work. We ran out of wood for the actual shelves and so did Home Depot, Home Hardware and Rona so we are temporarily stalled. Lucas figures he can get some ordered in so hopefully next week we can finish completely. For now we've got a large majority of it done though. I've just got to paint it now.
Ok first off for anyone that is wanting to play The Dig and hasn't yet you may want to skip my blog. I'm sure spoilers will abound as I go through my trials and tribulations.
Now on with it!
First off, I have a new record! I managed to make it a good 20 minutes into the game before I got stuck! We will overlook the fact that half of that was cutscenes. But, with me and adventure games there is always a caveat. I'm playing The Dig on SCUMMVM. It autosaves to the directory you are running the game from. Initially this was from the cd. So after my first session ended ... I started over, with SCUMMVM configured correctly.
I managed to make it into the asteroid with little difficulty. Although I did think the shuttle was supposed to move the rock instead of the shovel ... yeah I know, but remember I suck at adventure games.
So I make it onto an alien world and into an underground lair, with only one casualty. Which is supposed to happen. I did a double check with my friend to see if that was story driven or if there was a possibility to save him. Either way i'm not going back on my play through. Curiosity was getting at me, tho.
And now we get to where I am stuck. There is a large circular room with many sealed doors and a pattern to unlock them. I managed to find a key but I think there is something else I need to do to activate the doors. As the key only shows a pattern. I do see a lens on the floor ... my next mission is to try and get that, I think. And for those who have played the game I have touched every stinking glowing plant, to no avail, to try and get a door open.
And now for the no crap statement of the week. I promised my friend i'd keep him abreast of my progress. So I called him and told him where I was and that I was having trouble opening the sealed doors. And his response ... well there is something you have to do to get the doors open. NO CRAP!
For the record I will update the blog after every gaming session or so. And I am defining a gaming session as at least an hour of game play or what I deem a major accomplishment.
As a Director of this fine site, I'd like to welcome the newest addition to the RFGen staff, Crabmaster2000! He will be joining the ranks of the RFG staff as a Blog Writer, which means he'll be gracing the front page of RFGeneration more often. He will be writing about the 'Unloved' games that most of us pass by as well as giving a description of the current month's "Off The Shelf" game, which was also a creation of his.
So, fellow members, take the time to congratulate Crabmaster2000, he certainly deserves it! And remember to keep it on Channel 4 to read his and all the wonderful blog posts on THE Classic and Modern Video Games Database!
I don't know about you, but I tend to be rather ritualistic when preparing for a serious gaming session. Just like setting the table for dinner, everything has to be set just so prior to my indulgence. Preparation is paramount in order to fully enjoy my upcoming virtual experience. Yes, I admit that my OCD tendencies might have some bearing on the extremely structured routine I follow. I would like to believe I am not an island and that all of us gamers share certain 'peccadilloes' in this regard.
Anyway, the following details some of my required groundwork prior to firing up the system and getting lost in the worlds of Oblivion. Items are listed in the order that they are executed.
Hunt & Gather
The right selection and quantities of munchies and beverages are critical for any gaming tour of duty. You can't expect to give it your all while working on an empty tank - you will need to visit the refueling station every now and again to replenish the reserves.
When it comes to munchies, I personally avoid anything that can either 'crumb' or that I can indent my fingerprint upon. The last thing I need is a controller pasted with chocolate residue and lighted 'flavored' with potato chip salt. Also, any food that requires delivery utensils of any kind (i.e. fork) is forbidden in my sick world. Slim Jims fit the bill for me: easy to eat, the correct portion size, no mess at all - the perfect combination (and taste pretty good too). Low maintenance is a key here in choosing my favorite rations.
Regarding fluids, I have been on a continued quest since 1995 to find a suitable replacement for my ultimate gaming beverage of choice - Gatorade Ice Tea. This drink had it all - excellent flavor, generous portion size (32 oz.) and provided immediate refreshment. I am a HUGE ice tea fan, but not so much of the aftereffects endured while deeply entrenched in my game. The continual runs to the john to pay back the piper gets old quick. I didn't have to consume great quantities of Gatorade Ice Tea to get the best of both worlds (ice tea flavor and personal rehydration). Gatorade Frost Glacial Freeze is now my weapon of choice, but I still dearly miss long lost gaming friend.
Eliminate Human Contact
Alone time is always optimal when getting involved with the latest release or a cherished classic by oneself. There is a time for sharing our passion with our family and loved ones, but during a focused gaming session is not one of them. The last thing I want to hear, in one simple word, is anything. I have a task at hand forthcoming and human interaction will distract me from my primary mission - mastering the awaiting challenge ahead.
At times this is a pothole that can not be easily avoided. Family and loved ones always take precedence, that is a given. But on the rare occasion when you have the crib to yourself, you must be prepared to act decisively. GAMING DEFCON 1 actions need to be immediately enacted. In other words, my cell phone ringer gets switched to 'Emergency' and 'I Won The Lotto' modes - all others get the dreaded voicemail. Yes, I agree that this may be a little extreme. Tell me I am wrong that you aren't peeved to no end when your buddy calls to shoot the breeze when you are smack in the middle of a mob of henchman and fighting for your virtual life.
Don the Garb
Just like the virtual warrior I am about to become, armor selection is paramount. Comfort is obviously the key with old baggy clothing usually fitting the bill. For me, I prefer layering to a degree to give me some flexibility. My 4 Star Suit of choice is a pair of those cheap woven sleep pants from Target, wool socks, a Haines T-Shirt (have to love the no-tags) and my Mr. Rodgers sweater. Propping my baseball cap on the melon and I am ready to go.
Adjust Atmospheric Conditions
Proper alignment of your gaming cockpit is a must. Any serious gamer already has this already in place in their Room of Doom, but still this is something that can never be overlooked and should be addressed.
Seating is critical and I, like most, have my own special gaming chair – a high-back swivel desk chair with an accompanying plush ottoman to rest the dogs. It provides ease of movement along with the proper support for both my arms and neck (especially needed in those marathon sessions). Personally, I can not stand gaming while having my keister planted on a couch. I grant you that the sofa is perfectly suited for co-op play and catching the game on a Sunday afternoon, but not so much for extended game play. As for a loveseat, forget it. To this very day I truly have no idea what its function is. I have vowed never to own one.
No set up is complete without the proper gaming side table. This should be large enough to shoulder your rations and remote, but cheap so you don't have to worry about using a coaster for your beverage. No need to spend a million dollars on these either - you can snag one from Wal-Mart for $4. My lady friend rather hates them since the molded plastic table does not fit in at all with the rest of my decor. Hmmm.... perfectly coordinated furnishings or a functional piece of equipment? Sorry honey, you'll have to live with them.
Last thing to do is to set the lighting low, close all vertical blinds and get into cave-mode.
Assemble the Mascots
This is basically all about our support group that accompanies us on our gaming adventure. Most of us have one, whether it be a favorite lid for our dome or a funky pair of slippers. For me it is all about my 'gaming blankie'.
I have to admit that I was rather relieved at the reaction when I shared this personal fact about myself in a previous article. To much of my surprise, I found that most could relate, sometimes first hand, and shared some form of this 'mascot' tendency. One person had a sock puppet that always stuck by his side, for another it was a 60 ounce glass stein for his beverages. Whatever the case, they need to be ready and available to join your efforts.
Game On!!! (?)
A fistful of Slim Jims and a cool Gatorade sit next to me on my $4 table. My 'pleather' desk chair creaks a bit but welcomes back my ever-widening bum as I plop down into position. My freshly laundered 'gaming blankie' is draped loosely across my legs. Nothing left to do except to get it on!!
I press the center button on my Xbox 360 controller and eagerly await the system screen to begin my assault on the lands of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. Nothing. Hmmm.... I press it again, somehow expecting a different result. Still nothing.
If only I would have remembered to get batteries for my controller!!!
These are a few of my pecadilloes - what are yours?
This weekend showed little progress in moving forward on the garage. I had a few others things to do. Mainly we had a Walk For Autism event on saturday and sunday was dedicated to fixing the truck. I managed to clean and pack the bearings, put new rotors on, and new brake pads. I also cleaned the seat that was sitting in the garage and installed it into the dakota.
Before [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic013.jpg[/img] After [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic030.jpg[/img] This area was home to the bench seat that now is in the dakota.
Before [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic022.jpg[/img] After [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic031.jpg[/img] This area received a facelift with the removal of the yardsale items.
Posted on Oct 17th 2009 at 08:03:43 PM by (LAGO) Posted under adventure game
I've got a friend from high school who has always loved adventure games. Mainly the Lucas Arts adventure games, Monkey Island and that ilk. As it turns out every year he gets an itch to play The Dig. Said itch is currently in the process of getting scratched.
Many moons ago he let me borrow this game, but my computer was to slow to run it. I never got around to playing it. Plus I am atrocious at adventure games. So my friend, in the spirit of old fashioned competition, issued the following challenge:
Complete "The Dig" the way we used to play video games before the internet. No cheats, no FAQS, and no help from him or anyone else. Well GAME ON! I'll keep this blog updated as I progress through the game/pull my hair out in frustration.
I think its only fair I issue a counter challenge to him. I'll decide on that in the next few days. I've a couple ideas already. Turns out his main motivation for the challenge is to see how long it takes me to complete the game. Knowing my inherent lack of ability when it comes to adventure games, I will be following this theme in my blog for the next couple of decades.
Yes, remember them? They were once the greatest game publishers in the cult-phenomenom demographic, getting the rights to popular Japanese titles for small systems (Sega CD and Turbograpfx CD mainly, but the Playstation was small when they started publishing games for it) and giving them the red-carpet treatment to America, great voice acting and glossy front covers. Then the 2000s came and...yeah...
But now that I've got your attention, I've got my first Working Designs game! Read on to see!
I have always been intrigued by video gaming systems, beginning with my first experience with my Uncle Glenn's Atari PONG system at the tender age of 7. I was a gaming panhandler during my early years until my father told me in 1979 that he had decided to take the plunge. I remember my heart racing with excitement!
Would he choose the Atari 2600 that seemed to catapult my buddy P-Man into demigod status overnight once he got one? Or maybe the Magnavox Odyssey 2 that was the showstopper at my cousins house the Christmas prior? Either way, I knew I couldn't lose.
The day finally arrived when my pops entered our humble abode with the fruits of his efforts - the Texas Instrument TI-99/4A!
Wait a second.... a TI-what??? What was he thinking??? More importantly, what was this thing that looked like an electric typewriter???
The TI-99/4A was a personal computer hybrid that was released in 1979 (as the TI-99/4) by electronics heavyweight Texas Instruments. This is widely considered to be the first 16-bit personal computer to be available to the general public in this genre and was very advanced for the time period. This hardware debuted at a retail price of $1,200 - and that was a lot of pesos back then (and now for that matter). The glorified, shiny silver casing sports an odd 'ramp' leading up to the recessed cartridge slot. I used the term 'hybrid' earlier since the TI-99/4A primarily utilizes propriety cartridges for its software (around 300 total titles). An optional joystick was available, but do yourself a favor and stick to the keyboard for navigation - the TI version is squirrelly as hell and more sensitive than a rug burn on your kneecap. Better yet, splurge for the Atari 2600 controller adaptor and really live large ($5).
A very nice thing about this beast is that it connects directly to your TV and doesn't require an external monitor. Another interesting fact is that there was an optional Voice Synthesis module for use with games - and you could teach the system how to talk! It also supported a plethora of add-ons including a thermal printer, cassette deck (for recording/saving/playing programs) amongst others. Check out a fully loaded TI-99/4A below:
I won't be detailing the specific hardware information in this article - Wikipedia and dedicated fan sites can provide that much better than I. I will say that Texas Instruments introduced many innovations with this model, some which are common to this very day and will be summarized in the conclusion of this writing. My intent in this writing is to share the gaming experience, so let's get to it!
When firing up this hardware, you are presented with a Texas Instruments home screen. After pressing any key, a text driven menu is displayed to allow your choice of entering into BASIC mode (yes, this baby was programmable) or starting the inserted game cartridge. Let the games begin....
This was the first game that accompanied our TI-99/4 back in the day. It is rough by all standards to be honest. You had a selection of 4 plays for offense/defense and you had to be sneaky quick to rifle through them quickly and set your formation so your opponent wouldn't catch you locking 'in'. After your virtual gridirons (football helmets) are aligned, there is nothing really else to do but to click a button and watch the play unfold - you had no control of your warriors. This was still a blast with my buddy Drago and we still reminisce at times about him uttering "The Bomb" when I was set in my "Goal Line" defense in a 3rd and 2 situation. You can guess the outcome of that scenario - Drago 7, Marriott_Guy 0.
I hated this game to be honest, but I would be remiss not to include it since everyone that has owned or experienced the TI-99/4A has been subjected to this sick form of torture know as Alpiner. First off, what is even remotely fun about climbing a virtual mountain and dodging a deluge of rockslides that look like ginormous piles of horse dung? Nothing, in my humble opinion. Secondly, my 'hero' flickers so bad that after playing for more than a few minutes I start to feel like some of those afflicted souls in the movie The Happening - I just want to take a running start and take a dive off of a tall building. Thinking about it now, that would be a more pleasant outcome to be honest than playing this pig for any extended period of time.
This was not a bad clone at all of Space Invaders. Game play was flicker free and fast. The sound effects were much better than the Atari 2600 version. This game had to be displayed in this article to give you a comparison for the era.
This is a classic must-have for any TI owner. It is basically a Scrambler clone, but it is well done and features great voice synthesis work during game play. Sound effects in general are excellent, but most importantly this game is a BLAST!
Another classic TI game, this time by a third party developer, TigerVision. I am not a huge fan of this game, but this game does demonstrate the advancement in game technology due to TI's loosening their stance on external software development and embracing willing partners rather than attempting to have a virtual monopoly on all software development for the TI-99/4A.
The two videos above are provided in this article to demonstrate how far the development had gone towards the end of this system's life. Both are excellent translations and truly display the possibilities of the TI-99/4A.
Though initially disappointed with my father's purchase at the time, I quickly grew to really respect and enjoy this system immensely, even to this day. You can now score one of these systems on the cheap - say around $20 or so. I recommend giving one of these a shot - this retro 'hybrid' is a low capital investment with a high rate of 'fun' return.
Managed to get some more meager work done on the garage. Found a few items to add to the yardsale too.
Before [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic024.jpg[/img]
This is the entrance to the garage along with some clutter.
After [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic026.jpg[/img] [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic028.jpg[/img]
There was a ton of stuff removed for the yardsale or just thrown out.
Before [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic002.jpg[/img] I cleaned this area up the first day, but decided to put most of my tools there.
After [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic027.jpg[/img]
[img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic029.jpg[/img] Some of the game stuff that's going in the yardsale. The 2600 games are .50 each and everything else is 1.00 each.
The garage cleanup is going well and everything is on track.
10-14 _______________________________________________________________________ Last night seen some small progress on clearing out the garage.
Before [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic025.jpg[/img]
After [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic002.jpg[/img] [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic004.jpg[/img] This area had alot of wires, nuts, bolts, screws and junk laying in a pile. I pitched anything that wasn't useful and kept the rest.
Before [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic013.jpg[/img]
After [img width=319 height=240]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic003.jpg[/img] I managed to get the bumper on the dakota so it wasn't laying in the garage. The bumper is for a slightly newer dakota and doesn't fit mine the way I want it too. I'll probably sell it and pick up another one.
[img width=240 height=319]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/Edstu234/pic001.jpg[/img] This cab was pulled into the center of the garage for someone to come and look at. They never showed up so it's still sitting there waiting for a new home. If you live anywhere near Terre Haute, Indiana this cab is for sale. I'm asking 150.00 for it.
Not much else in the way of progress. The wife managed to come home early yesterday and pulled all the yardsale stuff out of the garage. More than 20 bags/boxes of yardsale goodies. We plan on going through some more stuff in the garage tonight.
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.
