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Monday, September 10, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Disappointment: A Lesson in Failure
If you were to aggregate my feelings towards this year's E3, the above picture would accurately portray them. I'll break-down the conferences:
Microsoft
- Scene-It? - Buzz! ripoff.
- Limited Edition Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 - It's visual disaster. If you happen to lay eyes on this abomination, I advise that you seek medical attention immediately.
- Viva Pinata: Party Animals - Don't they get it? Microsoft's fanbase doesn't want games aimed for Nintendo's.
- Disney on Xbox Live Marketplace - Yay!?
- Jeff Bell - Does Microsoft have an assembly line actively manufacturing these
PR robotsguys? Just wondering.
This is how the conference went once Jeff Bell stepped on the stage:
"Xbox 360 is great."
"Diverse portfolio!"
"Halo 3 sells a lot."
"Microsoft is great, too!"
"Naruto is nice, and stuff."
Thanks, Jeff.
Nintendo
- YouTube videos - You guys wasted over 15 minutes on this garbage. Why?
- Wii Fit - Neat peripheral. They spent way too much time showcasing it, though. (Yes, I realize it was meant to appeal to the mainstream press, and Nintendo's ingenuity was on full display, because it worked. But, I was bored.)
- "Heavy Clothing" - Oh, Reggie...
Sony
- PSP Redux - What? What? What? It's the same thing, only lighter. What?
- Chewbacca - I cringed, I cried, I laughed; my ambivalence knows no bounds.
- Jack Tretton - "I'm a little nervous being up here with so much free room, I'm a podium kind of guy." Hey, honesty is a plus. He had a decent performance at E3.
- Killzone 2 - "And, remember, this is all real-time footage." Frankly, I wasn't impressed. Lair is still technically miles ahead of Killzone 2; I don't understand the fascination with this title.
Basically, it can't be compared to the E3's of years past. Nothing major came from the event, but, it was interesting none the less. It seemed like all console manufacturers were content with just showing off their 2007 titles. Not much was shown from any of the three in terms of 2008 releases.
E3 may or may not be around next year; but, I think it was more of a success than people initially thought that it would be. The reason why I say it's a disappointment, is because it was what I had predicted E3 would be (i.e., nothing Earth-shatteringly awesome shown or announced), and I turned out to be correct.
Anyway, Leipzig and PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) are next month. So, maybe something good will come from those two. If not, I can hold out hope for TGS (Tokyo Game Show) at the end of September.
We shall see.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Legitimacy: A Lesson in Neglect
So, I've neglected this blog outside of B-Side News for a long while. I still intend to post here, though, that's for sure. Okay, so legitimate response time, I've got some things to discuss!
I've picked up a freelance reviewing job. I'm being sent review copies of games, so that's a definite plus. Only downside? I gotta bite the bullet and review some PC games, too. I think I'll live, though. This will be my first "real" job reviewing games, since what I was doing previously was just hobby work. I'm pretty excited, but I'm not an expert at reviewing, so it'll take some work. I'm excited, though, and I think it'll bode well for the future. If anyone's wondering (lolol), I'm still a news editor for my other site, so this job won't be interfering with my other work.
I finished Metroid Prime after owning the game for four years. I'm really fickle with games, and I think it's going to be a problem while reviewing them. Playing through it, it felt pretty repetitive and didn't seem to exemplify the Metroid ambience the 2D titles are renowned for. However, upon finishing the title, I came to the realization that I had really enjoyed playing it.
As such, I need to finish Metroid Prime 2: Echoes before Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is out. I've got a long list of titles I need to finish before the summer's done, and reviewing games on top of it isn't going to make it any easier of a task.
Oh, and Metroid Prime has a fantastic soundtrack. Given Metroid Fusion's and Metroid Zero Mission's mediocrity in the sound department, it's refreshing to know that there are still some good compositions left for the Metroid series.
I picked up Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. You know, I started playing it and thought, "this game is beginning to show its age." But, then, I started progressing further, and I began to realize how well it still holds up. The character models are just dripping with detail, high poly count, realistic expressions and animation, it's really aesthetically pleasing to look at. Much of the atmosphere is excellent, too. The Village at the beginning isn't that great, but once you're at the cemetery, or the burning barn, or the castle, it's just really nice looking.
On the subject of Wii controls, I think it fits the game real well. Initially, I had about a 20 minute adjustment period where I was really perplexed with them. Now, though, I'm really content with them, and it's far, far, far superior to controlling it with the analog stick. So, really, still the same great game from two years ago, with better controls and the PS2 extras. A $30 asking price is a bit steep, but I, personally, feel it's worth the price.
I ended up typing more than I had initially thought I would. Okay, I guess this makes up for the lack of updates in the past couple months. Now, to neglect this blog until September!
No, I'll try to keep updating a bit more often. Not that anyone cares, but it's still something I'd like to do. Maybe I'll post excerpts of reviews I've done, we'll see.
I've picked up a freelance reviewing job. I'm being sent review copies of games, so that's a definite plus. Only downside? I gotta bite the bullet and review some PC games, too. I think I'll live, though. This will be my first "real" job reviewing games, since what I was doing previously was just hobby work. I'm pretty excited, but I'm not an expert at reviewing, so it'll take some work. I'm excited, though, and I think it'll bode well for the future. If anyone's wondering (lolol), I'm still a news editor for my other site, so this job won't be interfering with my other work.
I finished Metroid Prime after owning the game for four years. I'm really fickle with games, and I think it's going to be a problem while reviewing them. Playing through it, it felt pretty repetitive and didn't seem to exemplify the Metroid ambience the 2D titles are renowned for. However, upon finishing the title, I came to the realization that I had really enjoyed playing it.
As such, I need to finish Metroid Prime 2: Echoes before Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is out. I've got a long list of titles I need to finish before the summer's done, and reviewing games on top of it isn't going to make it any easier of a task.
Oh, and Metroid Prime has a fantastic soundtrack. Given Metroid Fusion's and Metroid Zero Mission's mediocrity in the sound department, it's refreshing to know that there are still some good compositions left for the Metroid series.
I picked up Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. You know, I started playing it and thought, "this game is beginning to show its age." But, then, I started progressing further, and I began to realize how well it still holds up. The character models are just dripping with detail, high poly count, realistic expressions and animation, it's really aesthetically pleasing to look at. Much of the atmosphere is excellent, too. The Village at the beginning isn't that great, but once you're at the cemetery, or the burning barn, or the castle, it's just really nice looking.
On the subject of Wii controls, I think it fits the game real well. Initially, I had about a 20 minute adjustment period where I was really perplexed with them. Now, though, I'm really content with them, and it's far, far, far superior to controlling it with the analog stick. So, really, still the same great game from two years ago, with better controls and the PS2 extras. A $30 asking price is a bit steep, but I, personally, feel it's worth the price.
I ended up typing more than I had initially thought I would. Okay, I guess this makes up for the lack of updates in the past couple months. Now, to neglect this blog until September!
No, I'll try to keep updating a bit more often. Not that anyone cares, but it's still something I'd like to do. Maybe I'll post excerpts of reviews I've done, we'll see.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
B-Side News: Pro Evo Soccer 6 Online Issues
Did I mention that people don't read? I did, didn't I?
Konami and Microsoft are working to fix the connectivity issues some players are facing.
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH today addressed that they are aware that a small number of customers are experiencing difficulty connecting while trying to play online. Microsoft and Konami are both working to fix the problem at hand. We’ll let you know when a fix comes along.
Konami and Microsoft are working to fix the connectivity issues some players are facing.
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH today addressed that they are aware that a small number of customers are experiencing difficulty connecting while trying to play online. Microsoft and Konami are both working to fix the problem at hand. We’ll let you know when a fix comes along.
B-Side News: Shadowrun Available Now for Xbox 360 and PC
Shadowrun has gone on sale today, retailing for $59.99 for Xbox 360 and $49.99 for Windows Vista.
Shadowrun goes on sale today. It carries a MSRP of $59.99 for Xbox 360, and $49.99 for Windows Vista. Shadowrun is rated “M” for Mature.
Shadowrun is a FPS offering cross-platform multiplayer for both PC and Xbox 360 players. Players can choose between four different races including human, elf, dwarf or troll. Shadowrun will come with nine maps and three map variations. The game is set in a futuristic Santos, Brazil.
Shadowrun goes on sale today. It carries a MSRP of $59.99 for Xbox 360, and $49.99 for Windows Vista. Shadowrun is rated “M” for Mature.
Shadowrun is a FPS offering cross-platform multiplayer for both PC and Xbox 360 players. Players can choose between four different races including human, elf, dwarf or troll. Shadowrun will come with nine maps and three map variations. The game is set in a futuristic Santos, Brazil.
Monday, May 21, 2007
B-side News: EA Announces Partnership with The9
EA has invested $167 million into the Chinese online operator The9 Ltd. to bring FIFA among other titles to mainland China.
Electronics Art announced today that they have made an investment of roughly $167 million in The9 Ltd. The company is a leading online game operator in China. Both companies also announced a licensing agreement that allows for The9 to publish EA Sports FIFA Online in China. EA will own approximately 15 percent of the common shares of The9.
The9 currently operates licensed MMORPGs in China. Some of these include MU, World of Warcraft, Soul of The Ultimate Nation, and Joyful Journey West.
“EA will be a strong partner for us in the rapidly expanding online game market in China,” said Jun Zhu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The9. “We are seeing strong interest in online sports games in China with the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and FIFA Online is set to be a top favorite in the Chinese market.”
Electronics Art announced today that they have made an investment of roughly $167 million in The9 Ltd. The company is a leading online game operator in China. Both companies also announced a licensing agreement that allows for The9 to publish EA Sports FIFA Online in China. EA will own approximately 15 percent of the common shares of The9.
The9 currently operates licensed MMORPGs in China. Some of these include MU, World of Warcraft, Soul of The Ultimate Nation, and Joyful Journey West.
“EA will be a strong partner for us in the rapidly expanding online game market in China,” said Jun Zhu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The9. “We are seeing strong interest in online sports games in China with the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2010, and FIFA Online is set to be a top favorite in the Chinese market.”
B-side News: Ubisoft Announces My Coach Line of Casual Titles
All I can say is that, people need some reading comprehension to prevent double news posts. Hence the recent influx of B-side news. Trust me, I don't prefer putting up B-side news instead of an actual news story for the site I write for.
My Coach titles promote personal improvement and will be released across Wii and Nintendo DS later this year.
My Coach titles promote personal improvement and will be released across Wii and Nintendo DS later this year.
Ubisoft is continuing their Nintendo DS support with more casual games. The publisher today announced the My Coach series of games, which will act as an extension of the already released Petz line of Nintendo DS titles.
Ubisoft apparently have even more casual oriented games in development, as they have appointed Pauline Jacquey as executive producer of casual games at Ubisoft.
“Ubisoft’s vision for this business is unique,” said Pauline Jacquey. “We are developing projects that make people feel that playing games is worth their while, allowing them to spend quality time with family and friends, learn a new skill, or improve their daily lives.
By creating games with real-life benefits, we are creating games that appeal to everyone.”
The My Coach series of titles will be educational titles designed to stimulate creative thinking. The first two titles to be released will be My Word Coach and My Life Coach. My Word Coach is being developed jointly with linguists; and intends to assist players in refining their verbal and vocabulary skills. My Word Coach will be available for both Wii and Nintendo DS this fall.
My Life Coach is a “personal coach” title that’s also being developed in collaboration with a behaviorist. My Life Coach will be available this Holiday for the Nintendo DS.
The successful Petz line of Nintendo DS games will also be making their way to the Wii later this year.
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