Alright, I know what I said. I said this would be a Retro Review on The World Ends With You. But how can I not talk about E3?! Seriously. Especially with a new handheld being released and a bunch of games announced for said handhelds and Nintendo's new system that is basically a system you play with a handheld. Its a lot of stuff to cover so lets dive in!
Sony. Vita. PSVita. This is the big news. This is the stuff. This is what I was waiting for from Sony. The PSP honestly never excited me a ton. It had its games and they were fine but The PSVita is gonna be where it is at for me. Its a breath of new life for the Sony portable market. Touchscreen. Track Pad. $250. So. Good. I am pumped. The little tech demos they threw out there were exciting and it was nice seeing them connect it to the PS3. Sony is further along towards a unified experience than any of The Big Three, and that excites me. I could care less about a 3G version of the device but it lends itself to Sony's vision of how they want people to play their games.
Sony Suite is also an awesome step for the company. I personally have an android device and we can already see some of the gaming power mobile phones have pumped out. Sony Suite will go a long way toward making mobile phones a part of the 'hardcore' gaming experience. I just hope some of the Sony classics get brought onto the Suite.
Moving beyond just the hardware announcement we also saw a number of planned game releases. It seems like for the PSVita there is a portable version of many of the major games announced for the PS3. I am personally most looking forward to Mod Nation Racers but Little Big Planet's new offerings are interesting as well. Personally, I am not much of one for core games but even those look like awesome portable additions. I can hardly wait to see it all.
Nintendo had their own major announcements for the 3DS. Most of them we already had a guess for but it is still nice to see some actual gameplay trailors. Kid Icarus was by far the most impressive announcement for me, strictly for the 3v3 multiplayer. But as a more subtle release Nintendo also launched the update to the 3DS, along with a free copy of Excitebike (meh, cool but whatever) a re-release of Link's Awakening (already downloaded and playing), free Zelda Four Swords eventually (pretty exciting), web browser, 3D Pokedex, and the E-Shop as a whole.
Anyway, there is far too much for me to cover all on my own in any major detail but I urge you to check it out for yourselves. Let me know what you are looking forward to most from the handheld world!
Oh, and one final remark from me... TEASER FOR A PORTABLE SMASH BROS! WOO!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Game Review: Pokemon Black/White
For my first game review I wanted a pretty big release. Something easily accessable for the average person. Something everyone knows. So the newest addition to the Pokemon game is perfect for a first review.
Anyone who knows even the slightest bit about handheld games knows the name Pokemon. The Pokemon games have been around for generations and its simple core design, adorable art, and its focus on collection have really helped it capture a huge audience. And when I say huge, I mean that it is literally the largest game franchise out there right now. (okay, maybe Mario still has the biggest but Pokemon is right there with that mustached money maker Check It Here!)
For people who have never played the games and only admired the adorable critters from a far the game can be summarized fairly easily. Start on an adventure, collect critters, raise them as your own, do cool stuff with them.
Now I know that seems a bit reductionist of me but even without the goofy storyline (save the world of Pokemon from organized villains) and even without the traditional battle system the Pokemon games remain the same. They are about collecting and raising adorable animals that do cool stuff. That being said those little extras are what makes the Pokemon series so lovable and so addicting.
Moving on to the actual review, I'm having trouble deciding on a starting place. These games have been around so long I feel like it will be a bit too easy to slip into a review of the entire series. I guess I can start big and work my way down to the little details that make the current generation stand out.
As a whole the Pokemon games are very well designed. Their pacing is always excellent, giving the player clear goals throughout the game but still giving a lot of freedom to explore the world around them as they wander through. The battle system is reminiscent of early RPG games and is definitely starting to show signs of age but each new game does its best to keep it fresh. The art style of the games is fairly childish focusing on mixing a real world feel of the places you go with the fantastic elements of the creatures you find along the way. The Pokemon gyms in the game are a great way to drive the player from place to place without feeling too limiting. In the first few games there was even some freedom in what order the player defeated each gym (though there was clearly an order the game makers had originally planned). As the series went on the multiplayer aspect of the games has become more and more prominent. Trading and battling has always been important but it has progressed drastically from game to game. Finally the design of the creatures themselves and the unique way they grow and act has always been a fascinating part of the games.
Given that little summary I can go into a bit more detail about this particular generation of Pokemon.
Lets start with the creatures themselves. This is always a hot topic from generation to generation and the introduction of new creatures is always highly anticipated. Proponents of the first couple generations will sneer at some of the new Pokemon and their names (Search Trubbish) but in all honesty I think they are mostly great additions. You have your cute and cuddly ones, your beautiful ones, your funny looking ones, and your plain badass ones. Yessss you do run into the occasional stinker or uncreative name but it was like that even in the first game (think Ekans... or as some people spell it, snake). I will say this generations starting choices are a little lack luster for me but I will say Lillipup is a FAR more interesting early encounter than Ratatta.
The evolution methods are mostly the same with a couple cool new ones. The addition of the seasons in this game also give some visual interest to a couple Pokemon. Speaking of the seasons, it is sort of a throw back mechanic to the old Gold Silver days, which is nice for us long time players and is a clever way of getting players to come back to the game in new months and keep them playing.
Overall, this new generation of Pokemon has captured my interest and I think merges will with the existing sets we know and love.
Moving on.
The pacing in this game is much stronger than the previous ones but also lacks a bit of the freedom that made the others interesting. This little blemish on the game has some upside though. It lends itself to a stronger story element (which I will go into more detail later) and after the story is over it gives the player a LOT more content to explore on their own, as long as they are driven. There is one glaring issue in the pacing that takes place near the end of the storyline but a curious audience will make it through just fine, it doesn't break the experience. The leveling is very very easy compared to previous games (which is very very welcome) the puzzle are easy but then again they are designed for a much younger audience than me and I have played these puzzles in every previous generation. Lastly, one of the coolest things about this game is that as you beat the game there is still more stuff for higher level Pokemon besides just the multiplayer.
Alright, speaking of multiplayer. The connectivity of this game is just plain better than the others. No question. Your really need to experience it for yourself but to give you a glimpse. The multiplayer makes it phenomenally easy to connect and stay connected. It even mixes in a lot of elements from social networking, such as simple polling of friends and feeds of their activity. Trading and battling is now world wide as the drop of a hat, there is even some basic ranking systems in place to mark your improvement. It is simply wonderful to see it grow so much and the end game content for many ends up being more important than the actual play through itself. I know I have a competitive team planned out to battle it out online!
Aaaaannddddd segue into taking about the battle system. What can I say. It feels old but they add a lot of small subtlety to give highly strategic players something to number crunch. If you are really into the competitive scene, there are an array of new moves and abilities that make this generation very interesting. The addition of dreamworld abilities makes some old favorite Pokemon far more interesting in competitive play. The system itself is old school RPG but adds a TON of strategy. It a little too much for most people to dive into but for the average player it provides a lot of opportunity to give your team its own special something. The big addition to this game in my opinion is triple battles. They definitely add an interesting new element to teams and all together the battle system is still getting by despite its comparatively ancient roots.
People looking for more info on the competitive scene should check out both Smogon and Serebii. Both great resources for number crunching and competitive guides.
Lastly I can talk a little about the art of this game. The style still fits the world of Pokemon perfectly. It gives the player a real world setting and fill in all the gaps with Pokemon whimsy and wonder. TV stations are simply Pokemon TV stations. Artists are PokeArtists. Actors are PokeActors. And so on. This particular generation focused a bit more on 3D models in the game which gives a lot of depth to the world. (haha... depth... 3rd dimension...) No, in all seriousness it does. It gives cities a much better scale compared to towns, opens up spaces to show the vastness of in game landmarks and so on.
While talking about art I'd also like to briefly address the storyline of the game. Its not exactly ground breaking but within the context of Pokemon this generation has a far better story than any of the other games while still keeping the traditional villainous organization theme. They address the idea that Pokemon is an extension of slavery which in and of itself is interesting.
As for the game design in regards to games as art, I would put this in the same artistic realm as any sequel of a sequel of a sequel. Okay, I know that sounds harsh but hear me out. It is beautiful, impressive in its pacing and the game systems within, it has a clear focus and good intentions but in the end it is a cash cow. I still appreciate it though because they are still trying to innovate within the games and not just pumping out sludge to make money but it doesn't have a lot of originality or artistic merit without looking at the series as a whole (but that is another post all its own.)
So overall for fans of the series this is a well made continuation. For people new to the series this is as good a place as any to start playing. It is easier than the previous games (not that they were a challenge) so you get to the cooler content sooner. The connectivity is by far the most impressive and enjoyable part of the game so if I had to make a recommendation for Pokemon Black and White it would be simply to play it with friends!
Next week I will be doing my first Retro Review! Right now I am leaning towards "The World Ends With You" but tell me what you think! Comment and question, if you have anything you think I missed or you'd like me to explain more in detail lemme know! And once again, thanks for reading!
Anyone who knows even the slightest bit about handheld games knows the name Pokemon. The Pokemon games have been around for generations and its simple core design, adorable art, and its focus on collection have really helped it capture a huge audience. And when I say huge, I mean that it is literally the largest game franchise out there right now. (okay, maybe Mario still has the biggest but Pokemon is right there with that mustached money maker Check It Here!)
For people who have never played the games and only admired the adorable critters from a far the game can be summarized fairly easily. Start on an adventure, collect critters, raise them as your own, do cool stuff with them.
Now I know that seems a bit reductionist of me but even without the goofy storyline (save the world of Pokemon from organized villains) and even without the traditional battle system the Pokemon games remain the same. They are about collecting and raising adorable animals that do cool stuff. That being said those little extras are what makes the Pokemon series so lovable and so addicting.
Moving on to the actual review, I'm having trouble deciding on a starting place. These games have been around so long I feel like it will be a bit too easy to slip into a review of the entire series. I guess I can start big and work my way down to the little details that make the current generation stand out.
As a whole the Pokemon games are very well designed. Their pacing is always excellent, giving the player clear goals throughout the game but still giving a lot of freedom to explore the world around them as they wander through. The battle system is reminiscent of early RPG games and is definitely starting to show signs of age but each new game does its best to keep it fresh. The art style of the games is fairly childish focusing on mixing a real world feel of the places you go with the fantastic elements of the creatures you find along the way. The Pokemon gyms in the game are a great way to drive the player from place to place without feeling too limiting. In the first few games there was even some freedom in what order the player defeated each gym (though there was clearly an order the game makers had originally planned). As the series went on the multiplayer aspect of the games has become more and more prominent. Trading and battling has always been important but it has progressed drastically from game to game. Finally the design of the creatures themselves and the unique way they grow and act has always been a fascinating part of the games.
Given that little summary I can go into a bit more detail about this particular generation of Pokemon.
Lets start with the creatures themselves. This is always a hot topic from generation to generation and the introduction of new creatures is always highly anticipated. Proponents of the first couple generations will sneer at some of the new Pokemon and their names (Search Trubbish) but in all honesty I think they are mostly great additions. You have your cute and cuddly ones, your beautiful ones, your funny looking ones, and your plain badass ones. Yessss you do run into the occasional stinker or uncreative name but it was like that even in the first game (think Ekans... or as some people spell it, snake). I will say this generations starting choices are a little lack luster for me but I will say Lillipup is a FAR more interesting early encounter than Ratatta.
This is Trubbish (credits to Bulbapedia, a great resource for PokeInfo)
The evolution methods are mostly the same with a couple cool new ones. The addition of the seasons in this game also give some visual interest to a couple Pokemon. Speaking of the seasons, it is sort of a throw back mechanic to the old Gold Silver days, which is nice for us long time players and is a clever way of getting players to come back to the game in new months and keep them playing.
Overall, this new generation of Pokemon has captured my interest and I think merges will with the existing sets we know and love.
Moving on.
The pacing in this game is much stronger than the previous ones but also lacks a bit of the freedom that made the others interesting. This little blemish on the game has some upside though. It lends itself to a stronger story element (which I will go into more detail later) and after the story is over it gives the player a LOT more content to explore on their own, as long as they are driven. There is one glaring issue in the pacing that takes place near the end of the storyline but a curious audience will make it through just fine, it doesn't break the experience. The leveling is very very easy compared to previous games (which is very very welcome) the puzzle are easy but then again they are designed for a much younger audience than me and I have played these puzzles in every previous generation. Lastly, one of the coolest things about this game is that as you beat the game there is still more stuff for higher level Pokemon besides just the multiplayer.
Alright, speaking of multiplayer. The connectivity of this game is just plain better than the others. No question. Your really need to experience it for yourself but to give you a glimpse. The multiplayer makes it phenomenally easy to connect and stay connected. It even mixes in a lot of elements from social networking, such as simple polling of friends and feeds of their activity. Trading and battling is now world wide as the drop of a hat, there is even some basic ranking systems in place to mark your improvement. It is simply wonderful to see it grow so much and the end game content for many ends up being more important than the actual play through itself. I know I have a competitive team planned out to battle it out online!
Aaaaannddddd segue into taking about the battle system. What can I say. It feels old but they add a lot of small subtlety to give highly strategic players something to number crunch. If you are really into the competitive scene, there are an array of new moves and abilities that make this generation very interesting. The addition of dreamworld abilities makes some old favorite Pokemon far more interesting in competitive play. The system itself is old school RPG but adds a TON of strategy. It a little too much for most people to dive into but for the average player it provides a lot of opportunity to give your team its own special something. The big addition to this game in my opinion is triple battles. They definitely add an interesting new element to teams and all together the battle system is still getting by despite its comparatively ancient roots.
People looking for more info on the competitive scene should check out both Smogon and Serebii. Both great resources for number crunching and competitive guides.
Lastly I can talk a little about the art of this game. The style still fits the world of Pokemon perfectly. It gives the player a real world setting and fill in all the gaps with Pokemon whimsy and wonder. TV stations are simply Pokemon TV stations. Artists are PokeArtists. Actors are PokeActors. And so on. This particular generation focused a bit more on 3D models in the game which gives a lot of depth to the world. (haha... depth... 3rd dimension...) No, in all seriousness it does. It gives cities a much better scale compared to towns, opens up spaces to show the vastness of in game landmarks and so on.
While talking about art I'd also like to briefly address the storyline of the game. Its not exactly ground breaking but within the context of Pokemon this generation has a far better story than any of the other games while still keeping the traditional villainous organization theme. They address the idea that Pokemon is an extension of slavery which in and of itself is interesting.
As for the game design in regards to games as art, I would put this in the same artistic realm as any sequel of a sequel of a sequel. Okay, I know that sounds harsh but hear me out. It is beautiful, impressive in its pacing and the game systems within, it has a clear focus and good intentions but in the end it is a cash cow. I still appreciate it though because they are still trying to innovate within the games and not just pumping out sludge to make money but it doesn't have a lot of originality or artistic merit without looking at the series as a whole (but that is another post all its own.)
So overall for fans of the series this is a well made continuation. For people new to the series this is as good a place as any to start playing. It is easier than the previous games (not that they were a challenge) so you get to the cooler content sooner. The connectivity is by far the most impressive and enjoyable part of the game so if I had to make a recommendation for Pokemon Black and White it would be simply to play it with friends!
Next week I will be doing my first Retro Review! Right now I am leaning towards "The World Ends With You" but tell me what you think! Comment and question, if you have anything you think I missed or you'd like me to explain more in detail lemme know! And once again, thanks for reading!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
First Impressions: 3DS
Alright. So I thought to really kick this off I may as well give my first impression on the newest handheld around. The Nintendo 3DS!
For those of you who are not familiar, the 3DS came out just this year and has grabbed a lot of attention because of its ability to show 3D graphics without the use of annoying 3D glasses. Other than that it also touts a wider top screen, two external cameras for 3D images and AR games (alternate reality games, I'll explain later) a touchscreen, a microphone, an internal camera for taking pictures of yourself, and an analog stick (!)
For people who have played with the DSi the hardware feels very similar but includes the welcome addition of the analog stick. The software feels like an extension of the Wii, especially with the ability to create and share Miis. You can also customize panels on the home screen to have easy access to your favorites and it has built in shortcuts for notifications, wireless connectivity, and web browsing (eventually).
Right out of the box the 3DS impressed me with the amount of content it gives you. Along with the previously mentioned Miis you have FaceRaiders, AR Games, the Streetpass Plaza(a way to share Miis and play games via proximity to other 3DS systems), the camera (with some simple editing abilities), and a mini sound studio.
Most of the content feels like little tech demos of what the system can do but they are still fun tech demos. The camera actually works surprisingly well and even has some recognition software used for making Miis, capturing faces, and reading the AR Cards. AR Games is probably the most time consuming of the apps out of the box. Basically the game has you scan these little cards that come with the system using the camera and uses that image to create an alternate reality game using whatever space you place the card. It is enjoyable but can be a bit frustrating because if you lose focus of the AR card it shuts off the game, but overall it is a pretty awesome experience and one that I always dreamed of as a child.
One thing I think parents might appreciate is the addition of Play Coins. The system tracks how many steps you take in a day and rewards you with this virtual currency. They can be used to purchase extra content in games (puzzle pieces, new modes, etc). I have been mostly using mine on the Street Pass games but I can see where it could lend itself to other games quite well.
Overall the system has a great feel and a lot to experience before even purchasing a game for it. The upcoming software updates will only improve the system (can't wait for downloadable games). There are only a couple things I don't love about it. One would be the battery life (around 3-4 hours, so I have the brightness all the way down) and the other would be the stylus (its a telescoping design, which I don't mind but it is placed similarly to the original DS, which feels clunky when trying to get at it in the middle of a game). Both of these things are still fine, just not as great as the glorious DS Lite.
As for the 3D effect. I personally think it is neat but I honestly keep it shut off the majority of the time as it is not actually needed for playing any of the games and in fact sometimes makes it more difficult. You have to be viewing the system pretty much straight on to get the effect and it becomes bothersome after a while. However, it can be altered on the fly so it doesn't get in the way. I'll be curious to see if any games include it as an actual mechanic but so far it is simply for show.
To wrap up here, the system feels like a worthy successor to the DS and I am very excited to see its future. The $250 price is a little steep but will definitely be worth it as the game library grows. The 3DS has a lot of room to keep improving on handheld gaming as a whole and it has a lot of potential so I really hope Nintendo makes the best of it. I am personally looking forward to the improved connectivity (one friend code per system!) and seeing what games can do with the new system hardware. Let me know what you think of the system and its future in the comments section.
Next week I will be posting my first game review of Pokemon White. If you own the game and have specific topics you would like me to address or if you are curious about the game and would like to know more please comment on this post and I will include them next week! Thanks for reading!
For those of you who are not familiar, the 3DS came out just this year and has grabbed a lot of attention because of its ability to show 3D graphics without the use of annoying 3D glasses. Other than that it also touts a wider top screen, two external cameras for 3D images and AR games (alternate reality games, I'll explain later) a touchscreen, a microphone, an internal camera for taking pictures of yourself, and an analog stick (!)
For people who have played with the DSi the hardware feels very similar but includes the welcome addition of the analog stick. The software feels like an extension of the Wii, especially with the ability to create and share Miis. You can also customize panels on the home screen to have easy access to your favorites and it has built in shortcuts for notifications, wireless connectivity, and web browsing (eventually).
Right out of the box the 3DS impressed me with the amount of content it gives you. Along with the previously mentioned Miis you have FaceRaiders, AR Games, the Streetpass Plaza(a way to share Miis and play games via proximity to other 3DS systems), the camera (with some simple editing abilities), and a mini sound studio.
Most of the content feels like little tech demos of what the system can do but they are still fun tech demos. The camera actually works surprisingly well and even has some recognition software used for making Miis, capturing faces, and reading the AR Cards. AR Games is probably the most time consuming of the apps out of the box. Basically the game has you scan these little cards that come with the system using the camera and uses that image to create an alternate reality game using whatever space you place the card. It is enjoyable but can be a bit frustrating because if you lose focus of the AR card it shuts off the game, but overall it is a pretty awesome experience and one that I always dreamed of as a child.
One thing I think parents might appreciate is the addition of Play Coins. The system tracks how many steps you take in a day and rewards you with this virtual currency. They can be used to purchase extra content in games (puzzle pieces, new modes, etc). I have been mostly using mine on the Street Pass games but I can see where it could lend itself to other games quite well.
Overall the system has a great feel and a lot to experience before even purchasing a game for it. The upcoming software updates will only improve the system (can't wait for downloadable games). There are only a couple things I don't love about it. One would be the battery life (around 3-4 hours, so I have the brightness all the way down) and the other would be the stylus (its a telescoping design, which I don't mind but it is placed similarly to the original DS, which feels clunky when trying to get at it in the middle of a game). Both of these things are still fine, just not as great as the glorious DS Lite.
As for the 3D effect. I personally think it is neat but I honestly keep it shut off the majority of the time as it is not actually needed for playing any of the games and in fact sometimes makes it more difficult. You have to be viewing the system pretty much straight on to get the effect and it becomes bothersome after a while. However, it can be altered on the fly so it doesn't get in the way. I'll be curious to see if any games include it as an actual mechanic but so far it is simply for show.
To wrap up here, the system feels like a worthy successor to the DS and I am very excited to see its future. The $250 price is a little steep but will definitely be worth it as the game library grows. The 3DS has a lot of room to keep improving on handheld gaming as a whole and it has a lot of potential so I really hope Nintendo makes the best of it. I am personally looking forward to the improved connectivity (one friend code per system!) and seeing what games can do with the new system hardware. Let me know what you think of the system and its future in the comments section.
Next week I will be posting my first game review of Pokemon White. If you own the game and have specific topics you would like me to address or if you are curious about the game and would like to know more please comment on this post and I will include them next week! Thanks for reading!
Here are some quick pictures I snapped of the system to give you a sense of what it looks like.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Introduction
I suppose for a first post it only makes sense to introduce this blog and explain what its all about.
Basically, as the title suggests, I plan to review handheld games.
Now this sounds like a simple goal, and I suppose it is. However, I'd also like to explain a little about why I am writing this blog.
After searching around the web I found a lot of game review sites and blogs but very few if any have any real focus on handheld games. I feel as though these sites are helpful but a blog that is focused specifically on handheld games would give people a better way to learn more about a sometimes ignored but absolutely vital section of the game industry. I want to point a spotlight on my favorite part of video games and hopefully share my love of handheld games with others.
Some people might ask "Why handheld games?"
I can't give one reason because I think every person who plays them has different reasons for choosing the games that they play. For me, I simply find handheld games more fun. When I play a game I am not looking for the same things as a PC gamer, a Facebook gamer, or a console gamer. I am looking for something I can pick up and put down in 20 minutes and still have fun. I am looking for something easy to learn and easy to play without feeling like I need to invest real time into it. I am looking for simplicity and elegance.
That is not to say other game mediums don't offer those things. I just find that handheld games do it best.
As for the structure of this blog I plan on writing here weekly with around 4 rotating topics. Now this is all subject to change if I gain a following and people want more of one thing and less of another. I hope to be adaptable and change to what my audience wants so if you read this please comment, I promise you I'll read them.
The topics I plan on writing about are as follows:
Overall I plan on having this be a fairly fun and light hearted space so if you are looking for scathing reviews this is not the place for it. I also plan to address the issue of video games as art. It has been a pretty hot topic for years but not many reviews include an opinion on it. As I see it all games are art to some extent and all games have art within them but not many, I would argue, can compete with the more developed art forms out there... yet. So I'll throw out my humble opinion on whether or not each game embodies art or stands as a good argument for the idea that games are artistic. I will try my best to do this without making it I huge focus of the blog, but I think it is important to talk about just as talking about the potential artistic value of music, movies, or books as compared to their entertainment value.
So that about sums up my little introduction. I hope if you enjoy what I post here you will follow me and check in regularly. Share this with people you think might enjoy it, and please comment! Feedback is appreciated! I won't know if I am giving people what they want unless they tell me.
Thanks for reading!
Basically, as the title suggests, I plan to review handheld games.
Now this sounds like a simple goal, and I suppose it is. However, I'd also like to explain a little about why I am writing this blog.
After searching around the web I found a lot of game review sites and blogs but very few if any have any real focus on handheld games. I feel as though these sites are helpful but a blog that is focused specifically on handheld games would give people a better way to learn more about a sometimes ignored but absolutely vital section of the game industry. I want to point a spotlight on my favorite part of video games and hopefully share my love of handheld games with others.
Some people might ask "Why handheld games?"
I can't give one reason because I think every person who plays them has different reasons for choosing the games that they play. For me, I simply find handheld games more fun. When I play a game I am not looking for the same things as a PC gamer, a Facebook gamer, or a console gamer. I am looking for something I can pick up and put down in 20 minutes and still have fun. I am looking for something easy to learn and easy to play without feeling like I need to invest real time into it. I am looking for simplicity and elegance.
That is not to say other game mediums don't offer those things. I just find that handheld games do it best.
As for the structure of this blog I plan on writing here weekly with around 4 rotating topics. Now this is all subject to change if I gain a following and people want more of one thing and less of another. I hope to be adaptable and change to what my audience wants so if you read this please comment, I promise you I'll read them.
The topics I plan on writing about are as follows:
- Game Reviews
- reviews of newer games with a reasonable amount of time to play them and get the full experience of the game
- First Impressions
- reviews of recent and new releases after playing for a short period of time
- Retro Reviews
- reviews of older games at the recommendation of commenters mixed with some of my personal favorites (I'll try not to go too far back with these though)
- Looking Forward
- my thoughts or impressions of yet to be released games, what I expect from them and what I would like to see in new games
- and possibly a bit of Industry Talk
- (reserved for interesting topics like the PSN craziness that has happened recently)
Overall I plan on having this be a fairly fun and light hearted space so if you are looking for scathing reviews this is not the place for it. I also plan to address the issue of video games as art. It has been a pretty hot topic for years but not many reviews include an opinion on it. As I see it all games are art to some extent and all games have art within them but not many, I would argue, can compete with the more developed art forms out there... yet. So I'll throw out my humble opinion on whether or not each game embodies art or stands as a good argument for the idea that games are artistic. I will try my best to do this without making it I huge focus of the blog, but I think it is important to talk about just as talking about the potential artistic value of music, movies, or books as compared to their entertainment value.
So that about sums up my little introduction. I hope if you enjoy what I post here you will follow me and check in regularly. Share this with people you think might enjoy it, and please comment! Feedback is appreciated! I won't know if I am giving people what they want unless they tell me.
Thanks for reading!
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