151,000 Words

I'm still in Final Exam Week mode until next week, so this and the next post will be short.

The following was made by many different artists to be commissioned for the Light Grey Art Lab. It contains all 151 original Pokémon from Bulbasaur to Mew.

The entire online gallery can be found here

My personal favorites are below, but through the whole gallery, what you may find ranges from outrageous to cute to awesome to derpy to HOLY CRAP THIS WILL GIVE ME NIGHTMARES.

 

Oh, and after the Gengar one, I might be afraid of the dark now. :(

A Step Forward

"Well...it's about time." -Tychus Findlay, Starcraft II

Nintendo announced today that they will be selling games digitally and by retail at the same time, for the first time. Somebody pinch me, because I never thought this would happen so soon, let alone in the next five years.

Not only that, but the upcoming Wii-U, successor to the Wii, will have all of its launch titles available for digital distribution as well. Just...wow. Of all the times for Nintendo to drop a bomb shell, especially the bomb shell announcing that they're finally starting to move forward into the present day of video games.

This announcement comes on the day that they reported their first annual loss ever as a public company due to the poor initial sales of the 3DS, so I suppose this has some synergy for both their investors and fans around the world. It assures us that Nintendo hasn't lost it's touch, and while they're significantly late to the party, they are still a factor in today's industry and still a wonderful developer of some of the finest games.

You can read all about their financial results briefing here, and I'm sorry about another short post. It's still the week before finals week, and there's so much time and so little to do...

Wait...flip that.

Risen Evil

I was surprised to see that Blizzard had done something that they had never done before this past weekend: hold an open beta (abeit temporary, but open nonetheless). Even better, the open beta was for Diablo 3, one of the most anticipated games of all time, in my opinion. YEAH!

So, now that I'm ready (no, I didn't forget), let's talk about it. I'll say before I mention anything that I have never played either previous Diablo game or any expansion, so forgive my noobiness.

The 5 available classes to choose are the Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, Witch Doctor, and Wizard. Of these, I had time to try out three of them.

The Demon Hunter was probably the class I played the least of the three. They remind me a lot of the Archer from Gauntlet (hell, this entire game reminds me of Gauntlet, but with more RPG thrown in). For the few levels I played, I could fire bolts from my crossbow and use a special ability with left click that chained to multiple enemies. Even at low levels, this game was surprising me with how cool some of the abilities were right off the bat.

The Wizard I played a bit more, but sadly I'd say I didn't play him enough. A couple friends that joined me playing the game were able to cast large area spells and shoot what appeared to be black holes in a line in front of them. Other spells included an ice beam that you could channel as long as your power lasted, a wand blast, and a close-range group of electric charges. Spellcasters really interested me the most in this game, as they have an incredibly wide variety of magic in their arsenal compared to the classes of World of Warcraft (though to be fair only having 5 classes with all the magic in WoW would be pretty boring compared to the soon-to-be 11)

The Witch Doctor, on the other hand, I played the most. Not only did he have an area slow effect that slowly did damage and a blowgun with darts, he attacks his enemies by throwing pottery at them with spiders inside. Let me repeat that: He attacks his foes by THROWING CLAY POTS THAT CONTAIN SPIDERS AT THEM. Awesome. I was able to reach the first rune on a couple abilities as well, allowing me to augment my spider pots to have leaping spiders that can attack opponents further away from them, or to allow my gun to shoot 3 darts at a time instead of 1. Every ability in the game has several runes like this that can customize them to your playstyle in thousands of ways.

As far as the story and lore goes, again, I haven't played the previous games, but any game that involves annihilating the undead and destroying demons is more than enough for me to try. I did pick up that there is something apparently horrible going on underneath a cathedral that originally imprisioned Diablo, one of the 3 prime evils, and while I have heard that the player killed him in a previous game, something is still going down.

From what little I played of this game, I'm very impressed. Each game blizzard makes is well worth the wait, and this one is seemingly no different. I'm looking forward to May 15th, as should everyone else who's anxious to explode some minions of hell.

New or Used?

I need to make my post today a little short, because I'm pretty busy with some pre-finals week school work. Basically, I want to lay down what sort of opinion I have when it comes to buying used games.

I don't want to say whether or not they should exist right now (that's a whole other topic), but in the present day, they're here, and they can be very useful.

New Games

• Having a new game before anyone else on release day can get you a "15 minutes of fame" moment among your friends, and playing said new game with these friends is all that much sweeter.
• Buying a game new ensures that the developers get the money they so rightly deserve for putting hard work into their product.
• A new game is exactly what it is: New. There is very little to no chance at all that the product you are buying will have any imperfections, like scratches on the disc.
• Pre-ordering and receiving special bonuses for doing so are usually associated with buying a newly released game.
• Personally, I get a special kind of feeling unwrapping and peeling the sticks off of a new game, because usually you're too excited to care about throwing away the trash and rush right to shoving the disc in your game console.

Used Games

• They are always cheaper, which is nice for those of us on a budget.
• They are almost always available with the exception of big, popular titles that everybody pre-orders. There is usually never a shortage of a used game that was released a few months back.
• There are usually better return policies with used games because of the risk involved with the disc being damaged (though to be fair the retailer should be in charge of repairing damages before they sell them).
•  Retailers usually have good deals for buying used games, like buying two and getting a third one free.
• In the end, you're doing the same thing that you would be doing had you bought it new. If you're patient enough, you can wait a little while and substitute spending money for time.

Personally, if I like the developers and what they make, do, and stand for, then I will always buy their games new. To be fair though, I do have a budget (especially being a relatively broke college Junior), and for those times of year where new releases are falling from the sky, I will usually get my priorities first and wait for either a price drop or some used game sales to pop up before acquiring everything I want.

Of course, I haven't gotten the chance to buy all the games I want, and I never will. Again, broke college kid.

Why Video Games Suck

If for some reason you haven't figured it out yet, I love video games. I love what they do, and I love what they are doing for our generation and the future. I know that's a very vague statement, and I'll get to the details some other time, but right now, I want to talk about why some things surrounding gaming suck.
 

Now, I know in general the typical gamer is sometimes very defensive when it comes to their favorite hobby, and I can understand that. Sometimes we are even right to be defensive, because those who criticize us are sometimes just plain wrong. However, there are things we must realize that are the truth (or, at least I believe them to be true), and looking at both sides of controversy such as this can make us smarter overall, especially when it comes to that defensiveness that I mentioned earlier.

First of all, video games are still a new form of media. This sucks because we are typically the target of many common claims that still plague modern society today, like "video games cause violence" or "playing this game can make you a rapist" (yes, someone actually said that. Hilarious, right?) Similar movements and claims were made when movies and comic books were new too, and yet history keeps repeating itself. What's most funny about these claims that people make is that the evidence they cite is either vastly outdated or greatly exaggerated, so with a little digging, it's pretty easy to tell when somebody is targeting the obvious scapegoat of video gaming just to generate buzz-worthy news.

Whenever something like this happens, we gamers usually draw our swords and put up our shields at the supposed enemy. Sometimes we're in the right, like when we get wrongly called out for causing violence. However, when this happens, we become monsters ourselves by throwing our own insults and filth back at them. Doing so isn't really helping our cause, and the way we should be fighting is the intelligent way rather than the stupid way.

Another reason is that video games are significantly easier to spend time on than other hobbies. The new form of media that they embody is called "interactive storytelling", and because a player is essentially given control over how fast and sometimes what direction the story progresses, a person can get much more involved in comparison to, say, a simple novel. Yes, a person can get deeply involved in a novel too, but bookmarks are not the same as the pause button, and finishing a page in a book doesn't feel the same as finishing a portion of a video game.

Aside from the average amount of time that either takes, reading a book and playing a video game, while similar in some ways, are just not the same. The story and events in a book are already set in stone, and the only way that your feelings change depends on how fast you get through it. In a video game, you can essentially control the world around you (in most cases anyway), and though the story can be mostly linear (if there even is one!), your feelings can go in one or more of many directions solely based on the way the game is designed. For example, the choices you make in the game could affect the story, or if there is no story, you could make a gameplay decision that changes the possibilities of your next move. 

Overall, a video game is like an open-ended world where a story is happening, and you just happen to be there in the shoes of the main protagonist or watching them experience it themselves. While books are great storytellers by themselves, it is much easier to be invested in a video game for the vast amount of possibilities, and they can be a bit more of a timesink as a result.

Lastly, if you're relatively new to video games in today's day and age, especially games with online features, prepare yourself for the worst. We can blame the anonymous nature of the internet, which is usually a necessity in my opinion to protect identities from antagonistic people, but it is an unfortunate reality that we have to put up with right now. If you were to play any game online, be it on a console or on your computer, you'll probably encounter some kind of flaming or racism or general unpleasantness if anything you say or do doesn't conform with the general societal norm of the community in question. Basically, if people think you're wrong, then you'll hear about it. Oh yes, you'll hear about it alright.

I think this is unacceptable. Now, I'm definitely being hypocritical by saying that, because I am just as guilty as any other pile of crap that thinks they can say whatever, but the difference between me and them is that I realize the possible long-term consequences and the immorality in doing so, and I usually shy away from being a jerk most of the time as a result. This goes along with not provoking someone enough to the point of conflict, and that differs among most people, but there you go.

Behavior like this online only promotes the negative stereotypes associated with us gamers as well as proves the general asocial nature of a gamer. Simply hearing someone's voice or reading the text they type is not the same as communicating with them live and in person. The hand and facial gestures along with bodily movement can tell somebody a lot when combined with a person's voice and spoken words, and it still is today the easiest way to understand someone completely. Those who spend their time online don't take others as actual people for some strange reason, and as a result they feel entitled to do whatever the hell they like with no consequences in mind.

Video games should be something that entertains and makes a person enjoy themselves. They can also bring people together towards a common interest and cause even more fun. It's just unfortunate that many assume and act in such a way that makes it horrible for the rest of us, and while there are those of us that contribute, there are also those that realize our mistakes and try to put our best foot forward.

Also, games are expensive. Most of the time. That sucks.

The Power of the Players

I'm finding it amazing how many game companies do (and don't) listen to their community and fans right now. Seriously, you'd think that the big bad gaming industry would be just too big to give a damn about us consumers who keep buying their $60 circles in plastic cases every month, but somehow there are those developers who listen to their consumers and take feedback, acting accordingly.

With that said, let me go off on a tangent slightly. Right now, I'm playing more games on my PC right now than on my Xbox 360 and Wii (granted my Wii won't read discs and needs to be repaired, but that's beside the point). One particular game that's caught my attention and I've been wanting to try is a little game known as Demons Souls by FromSoftware, but moreso its sequel Dark Souls, which recently was announced that a console port was coming to the PC. Here's the interesting part: This game came out in North America on October 4th last year. Granted that PC ports take time, but originally, there was no plan to even make one. Why is this PC game coming out almost a year later?

Because fans voiced their opinions, made a petition, and were heard by the developers.

Here's another example, and I know I keep coming back to these guys, but they're a great example. Blizzard at one time wanted to implement a mandatory "Real ID" system. People would have their real names be revealed on their forums for all to see, dropping the veil of anonymity and possibly reducing the amount of cover that anonymous trolls had on their public forums.

People weren't all that happy. In this day and age, simply knowing one's name could be enough information for one to obtain much more information through use of the internet, so the feature never happened. Was it right for players to protest? Maybe, but the way Blizzard was going to implement it did have its problems, and hearing feedback from the fans surely helped in the realization.

Now there's a recently familiar image. If there's any recent example that signifies the power players have, it's the ending of Mass Effect 3. While I haven't played it yet or seen the ending, it certainly stirred up a massive firestorm of hatred and controversy online. Many drastic things were done by fans that felt betrayed by the ending being what it was, such as contacting the Better Business Bureau, filing complaints, and mailing...cupcakes. Only recently has Bioware released an expansion on the ending with free DLC, solely as a result of all the fan feedback.

It's scary to think that we players have such power, even though technically we don't in terms of making the game how we want it from the get go. The only problem is that we must realize how to correctly point out the wrong and communicate good feedback to our developer friends. Don't just be an asshat and throw around insults like they're money in your pocket. Offer your constructive criticism, and together, who knows what we can do?

I Fell Into a Burning Beta of Fire

Now that there isn't a silly non-disclosure agreement, I can finally talk about this game. It's been in beta for a pretty long time now, and it was in development for even longer. I haven't been in the beta for too long or played it all the way through, but I have a fairly accurate experience of the first few quests, and this will be about my first impressions.

Firefall is a FREE TO PLAY MMO by Red 5 Studios, who are quickly becoming known as a leader in the world of micro-transaction-based free games. What they've made seems to be something really unique in today's WoW-clone world, and I'm very excited to talk about it, especially considering that many employees at Red 5 formerly worked at Blizzard when World of Warcraft was still in its beta.

First of all, though they call it a public beta, random invites are sent out with seemingly no pattern. Call me lucky I suppose, but all you have to do is go to firefallthegame.com and click the large "Request Beta Access" button at the top of the page. You'll make an account, then When you first boot up the game, you create your character like any other MMO and you choose your class, but the real fun begins after the opening cutscene.

The first thing you'll notice is that the game controls like any similar shooter, with each class having one class-specific gun, and a second gun that usually has unlimited ammo. Each gun behaves differently with left and right click, like having two different shots or a zooming function. There are even special abilities that each class has, like a giant ground slam or a homing turret. Aside from that, your character can sprint by holding Shift, and they can jump and fly for a short time with their jet pack by holding the Space Bar.

From the get-go, I could tell that the feel of this game was completely different than other MMOs. I did partake in a couple "Kill X amount of Y" quests, and it was fairly linear, but because your character is so mobile and you can dish out damage with your guns so quickly, the overall experience was streamlined and really fun, especially when enemies are coming at you from all directions. In order to be successful, I can imagine you'll have to not only be aware of where you are, but you'll have to shoot efficiently if you want to survive, lest you risk trying to run away, but some creatures are quick enough to catch you.

Some in-game features might be a little incomplete or a little lacking for now because of the beta test. I found the tutorials slightly lacking, though I did figure enough out to play well enough to complete what I wanted. I even visited the website above, and while they did offer information on classes and some monsters and lore, I didn't find anything relating to the gameplay or how to play the game in general, be it questing or PvP (which I didn't try yet). I suppose they could add the information at a later time, but with the bombshell of information now being spread around about the game, it should be about time to get people familiar before they start playing so they know how awesome the game is and they know what they're doing.

Other things I can remember include a crafting system that might not be complete yet, but had easy enough materials to gather, a fairly wide range of monsters for a starting zone, occasional events that would happen that required nearby players to help with, resulting in everyone getting experience and money, and switchable equipment loadouts and classes.

That's right: You can switch your class at any time. Each one has it's own level, and it's very easy and free to switch between them at the appropriate station. Just...amazing.

I'm looking forward to what additional content I can find in this game. It has me excited not only because of the new innovations found within, but because of a seasoned and renowned development team that seemingly really knows what it takes to make a truly great video game. With this beta, they'll receive lots of feedback from players, and it will be that much better when it finally launches.

Speaking of beta tests, where is my Mists of Pandaria key Blizzard? I'm dying over here! :(

Flying Hatred

Angry Birds, quite possibly the most profitable and popular game on any smartphone app store ever (and spawned two spinoffs), recently got a sequel that sent our mad feathered friends into space.

Love it or hate it, Angry Birds has become a household name in the world of gaming. More often than not the average person you walk up to on the street has a smart phone, and you could probably put money on them having some kind of Angry Birds game downloaded. The cartoony style, the simple gameplay, and the level design are all fun to experience, yet it receives so much hatred for what it is. Personally, I don't think it deserves it.

Many people hate on this game for several reasons: It's "too easy", it "copied off of many other games" (the most commonly cited game is 'Crush the Castle'), and it's only for "casual gamers". Again, I disagree, and I think all of those points are as wrong as the green pigs are for stealing eggs.

First of all, yes, some of the levels are easier than others, but the game is meant to be accessible to a wide audience while being challenging for those who wish to master the game. The 3-star rating you get after completing a level is determined by the amount of points you have, so theoretically you could kill all the pigs with one bird and get only one star, requiring you to rethink your strategy and destroy some debris for extra points. Aside from that, later levels sometimes require pinpoint precision on your bird flinging in order to pick up the one single pig that eludes you every attempt, and don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, because you've totally been there before as we all have. This also explains that it isn't only for "casual gamers", but for all gamers. You play it however you want, whether it be a little at a time or staying up all night and 100%-ing the game in one night.

Secondly, while it is true that the concept of "fling object at physics-based structure" isn't exactly a new video game, the context and style of the game is what determines how fun a game is. Angry Birds might be the same kind of game as Crush the Castle, but they are completely different when it comes to the actual content of the game. For example, Castle allows you to switch between what projectile you fire at will, while Birds gives you a set amount and types of ammo to work with and you just have to work with what you have or fail trying. Saying that Birds copied Castle is like saying James Cameron's Avatar copied off of Ferngully or Pocahontas where the settings, characters, context, and dialogue are completely different. If you want a more relevant comparison, it's like saying the entire Call of Duty franchise copied off of the Doom franchise from the 90's.

There's nothing wrong with reinventing the wheel or going with what works well. Obviously there are certain barriers and measures put in place like copyright laws and whatnot to stop blatant infringement, but that's not the point. Many forms of media have inspirational points or concepts that are the same or similar to others, and not only should that make the new work that much better, it should make those older points and concepts shine even more, because they are the backbone of what makes the new work amazing.

Any haters can take it up with the red bird pictured above. He'll happily fling himself at your house and crash it into bits.

A Fool's Paradise

Call me childish, but I love April Fool's day. I can never come up with a great prank or joke, and I can even be fooled quite easily from time to time, but I love it all the same just because of how ridiculous and creative people get, especially on the internet, where the troll is king on a day like today. In past years, companies like Google go the extra mile and actually integrate their pranks into their search engine and other sites like Youtube. Gamers should also be familiar with the annual practices of Blizzard Entertainment and several other game companies too.

In summary, here are my favorite three examples of this year's April Fool's Day on the internet:

3. Google Maps

Among Google's several annual jokes, the one that impressed me the most was their Google Maps announcement...for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Not only is that hilarious, but the 8-bit models and sprites they use on their maps and the logo parody an incredibly popular game series called Dragon Quest, and that is just awesome.

The maps worked just like normal too, complete with zooming and drag-able map, but what impressed me the most was the maps would still be relatively accurate when you zoomed in right down to lakes and landmarks, all while keeping the 8-bit graphics and sprites. A gamer can appreciate this kind of humor and I love that such a large company can throw in an appeal like this that speaks to multiple audiences. If you want to check it out before it's gone, go over to maps.google.com and click the "Quest" icon in the upper right corner of the map.

2. Blizzard Kidzz

Call me biased, but Blizzard does come up with wonderful April Fool's jokes every year for their fans. This year, one of their several pranks was an introduction to their planned line of "Kidzz" educational games. Their new series included titles ranging from "Where in Sanctuary is Deckard Cain?" to "Zergling Teaches Typing" seen above.

Just from the video you can see how funny it is just from how bad of a game this would be. Being a gamer, it's commonly humorous to see popular developers make cracks like this, especially when it's about their own material. All of their "Kidzz" games can be found over on their preview page.

1. Adult Swim

If you were a kid through the 90's, just from looking at the above video preview, you most likely know why I loved this year's prank from Adult Swim. For the past few years, they had been showing the movie The Room instead of their regularly scheduled programming, but this year, they surprised their entire fanbase by resurrecting Toonami, a block of shows that died off in the last decade that many old Cartoon Network fans remember fondly. It took a few hours to pick my jaw up off the ground after it started, and they even had new transitions and a game review of a recent game!

All through the night they played episodes of the most popular shows that were ever on Toonami, and holy shit was it a nostalgia trip. If they have the ability to do this, then just think about the possibilities. Toonami being revived and coming back for good? I sure hope so.