So we've talked about the future of gaming, so what better time to take you back to the past. But I'm not the AVGN, so we're gonna talk about something positive. Now this post might come across as a little different than my previous ones becuase this one is a little bit more personal.
I also want to point out, before I get too much farther into this post that I don't hate Sony by any means. As a matter of fact, I rather like Sony, and enjoyed their Playstation 2 console. And it might seem like I'm bashing Sony, but I'm not trying to. I'm just attempting to take you back to how I felt when I was a kid.
That being said, you can probably assume where I'm going with this. As the
girlfriend (yep. Two bloggers coming together. It's like a legendary crossover game... Like Phoenix Wright/Proffesor Layton crossover ^_^) frequently likes to point out, I am a huge Nintendo fan. Which might be why, my favorite console is none other than the Nintendo 64.
Now I'd like to add the disclaimer that the Nintendo 64 was not my first console. To the best of my knowledge, that was actually the Sega Genisis. And maybe we'll talk about that at some point, but the point being is, the Nintendo 64 has captured a special place in my heart that no other console can take. To this day, I have not owned more games for one console (and that's including downloadable games) at one point in time. I think at the height of my owning that console, I believe I owned upwards of 30 games.
Now if you were me, this was about the time the phrase "console war" had any meaning to you. Now by sales, the Playstation 1 did sell more than the Nintendo 64, so by numbers the Playstation 1 did win. But in terms of memorability, it goes to the Nintendo 64. That's all I ever heard anyone talk about. That's all anyone around me owned. And more than anything, I wanted one. Badly. So imagine my excitement when I finally got one for Christmas. And slowly, my collection of games began to grow, and grow, and grow.
Now without doing too much dissing of the Playstation 1, I just wanted to compare a few key characters that were pretty famous on the console. For the few people I knew that did own a Playstation 1, the primary names that always were mentioned were Spyro, Rayman, Solid Snake, and Crash Bandicoot. Of course, if you tried to think of Sony characters now, you'd have to add (maybe even replace this list) characters like Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, Kratos, and Sly Cooper, who are all great characters (most notably Sly Cooper).
Now I have several friends who absolutely love Spyro the Dragon. And I was never able to understand why. Every time I picked up a Spyro game, I felt greatly underwhelmed. I felt like, if I was a dragon, I wanna be big, giant, and reign fire on cities. Now keep in mind I was a little kid back then, so I can appreciate Spyro a little more now, but back then, I always remembered thinking "Why play this, when I can play a really grand adventure like Legend of Zelda. Now this was a game that couldn't disappoint. Right from the very moment you fire up the game, you know you're in for a great adventure. And at the time, the opening scene to Ocarina of Time was possibly the most impressive opening you'd ever seen in a game.
Then there was Rayman. Now let me go on record as saying probably my favorite Playstation game was Rayman 2. And I positively love the Rayman series. However, the problem you run into here, is that while everyone clammored after Rayman, he wasn't really a Playstation exclusive character. As a matter of fact, the Rayman game mentioned above was released on the Nintendo 64 itself. The other problem being, while Rayman was a great, off-beat Platform adventure game, another game that has a very special place in my heart, comparable to the Rayman games is none other than the Banjo Kazooie series. Now I know, Rare moved off to Microsoft, but while Rare was under ownership of Nintendo, great games like this were being made. I logged HOURS into both Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie, two of my favorite platformers ever.
Now I dont wanna spend too much time on Metal Gear Solid, suffice to say I've never really cared much for any of the games, so naturally Metal Gear Solid didn't really intice me into getting a Playstation 1. Now our friend Shawn, who is currently taking a hiatus because he has the money to get all the really cool games coming out right now, happens to be a huge fan of Solid Snake. So it's obvious that he, much like everyone else on that list happens to have dedicated fans, but not even he attracted me to the Playstation 1.
Now possibly the one character on the Playstation 1 I heard about the most was none other than Crash Bandicoot. Everyone with a Playstation 1 owned and was actively playing some sort of Crash Bandicoot game, which led me to sort of look at him as the sort of poster boy/mascot for the Playstation 1, which was cool, but then when it came to mascots, naturally he's going to be compared by this kid to the number one mascot, Super Mario. Now firstly, one reason I really enjoyed my Nintendo 64 is becuase it contained the first Mario game I ever played, the revolutionary Super Mario 64. And after this, I was Mario's number one fan. Not long after this game, Nintendo's pudgy little plumber became my all time favorite Nintendo character. So naturally, Crash Bandicoot could never stand up to Mario, and all of his many games on this very system even.
Though, to close the comparison portion between the two fighting systems, I will say one area the Playstation 1 did win in is Castlevania. The Nintendo 64 got two 3D Castlevania games, which reviews have ranged from dreadfully negative to decently positive, versus the Playstation 1's Symphony of the Night, which is regarded by many as the best Castlevania game ever made.
So to close out this little rundown of my favorite console, let's look at the top 15 games that made me adore this system.
15) GoldenEye 007: A lot of people have very fond memories of this game, and Im one of them. Much like several other games on this system, I logged several hours into this game, in both multi and single player. This was also the first game that I got very big into using cheat codes
14) Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards: Also my very first Kirby game, I remember how much fun it was to combine the different powers to see what powers each combination could come up with. It was also one of the earliest games that I ever finished, though not 100%
13) Gauntlet Legends: Now I've owned several incarnations of this game over the years, but the one I remember most fondly is the N64 incarnation. Its not that this version really stands out over any other version, however it is the first incarnation I remember playing, and the first one that I did take the entire gauntlet through the game.
12) Starfox 64: I don't think anyone who owned a Nintendo 64 didn't play this game at some point. Not even going into multiplayer, this games single player campain was addicting to say the very least. Although there were only two final stages, the numerous different ways to get there were always a mystery (to this day, I have not visited every stage).
11) WWF No Mercy: Now I know what your thinking: "A wrestling game? Really?" Well again, keep in mind, this was when I was young, and this game gave us ample amounts of control and creativity. Even with all the great changes that the new wrestling games are making today, WWF No Mercy is still, in my opinion, the best wrestling game ever made
10) Mario Party (series): This was the game that, at least for a few hours, brought my family together. This was possibly the pinnacle of multiplayer gaming in my childhood. Now these games werent too fun to play alone, but when you had a group of people, it was addictingly fun.
9)Pokemon Stadium (series): Now when i talked about the next generation of Pokemon, I briefly talked about Pokemon Stadium, but this game pretty much ignited my Pokemania. I loved going through the different cups with my different Pokemon. I even made team taylored to every cup playable. I could spend an entire day playing either Pokemon stadium game.
8) Paper Mario: Possibly my very first RPG, this game was nothing short of enjoyable. I never actually beat the game on the original console (that's becuase I never really had the money to buy it, so I only had it on a rent), but I tried, and tried, and got at least half way through within a week.
7) Mario Kart 64: Another game I don't think a 64 owner went without playing at some point, this game was a lot like Mario Party, except it was even fun to play alone as well. To a lot of people, this WAS the original Mario Kart, and with very good reason. This game was a blast, and easily one of the best racers for the system.
6) Banjo Kazooie (series): I already talked about this game above, so I don't really have a ton to say here, other than the fact that this game is a perfect blend of humor, fun, creativity, and fantasy adventure.
5) Legend of Zelda: Occarina of Time/Majora's Mask: Easily two of the best games on the Nintendo 64. This was Link's first step into the 3D realm, and what a very graceful step it was. Now I never managed to beat either of these games on the original system (as a matter of fact, I still haven't beaten either game to this day), but it was always fun up to the point I did make it to. Just running around in this expansive world was simply incredible.
4) Donkey Kong 64: Although 3 out of the 5 kongs in this game were unknown prior to it, this was, for the longest time, a very strong contender for my favorite Nintend 64 game. The fact that there were so many puzzles and challenges which were difficult, but never frustrating made this one of the most enjoyable games I've ever had the pleasure to own. When I think Nintendo 64, this is one of the first games that come to mind.
3) Diddy Kong Racing: This was always my favorite game to play with friends. The fact that, much like Mario Kart, there was multiplayer racing madness, but added to the fun was the numerous tracks with several fun, fantastic themes, and the fact that you could choose to race in three different vehicles was something incredible to my young mind. So much so that I could barely handle it.
2) Super Smash Bros: The game that started it all. Again, another party game, however, this was the first game that I could literally play for days if my body would allow me. The game that brought all of Nintendo's greatest superstars into one game... just so Mario could destroy them all. There was only one other game that I had more fun playing on this system, but despite that fact, this was the very first game that I ever had the "must own" feeling for.
1) Super Mario 64: Now again, I talked about it above, so I don't really have much to say about this game. That being said, Super Mario 64 was a huge, expansive game with hours of exploration, and ton of places for someone like me to mess around in. And trust me, as a kid, any game that I could just mess around in was a good game for me to own.
Now other games that didn't make this list include Lego Racers, 1080 Snowboarding, Snowboard kids, and Yoshi's Story, among others. But even those were games that I spent hours playing, and made up why I absolutely addored this system. This was about the time I first started refering to myself as a gamer, and what began to mold me into what I am today.
My Perscription: Don't be afraid to go back and look at your past every once in a while.
Dr. Buck
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Gaming: Where we are and where we're going
Well fellow nerds, here it is. The big one. The post to end them all (not really). Here we talk about the future of gaming. Where are we headed and where we're going. What's going to shape the future of this great American pastime. (And in case you don't believe me when I say that this is the big one, wrap your brain around this: I've been working on this post since literally right after my last post went up)
First of all, I want to state that once again, this is my opinion, and there are plenty of folks to ask. If you want to read other opinions besides mine, try IGN, and G4TV, specifically the Grandfather of Gaming himself, Adam Sessler. Needless to say, I have endless amounts of respect for this man, and value his every opinion.
But this is my blog! So for right now, you're listening to my opinion. And trust me when I say this, we're gonna talk about EVERY gaming method, so grab a snack and get reading.
First off, I want to talk about an always hot gaming topic, PC gaming! Now I know what so many people are saying "PC gaming is dead". Truth is, however, not only is PC gaming NOT dead, it's not even showing signs of dying.
Why is PC gaming thriving? One word, MMOs. For you see, excluding very RARE exceptions, MMOs are just something that appearantly people can't seem to master on the console. I mean, between games like World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons online, City of Heroes/Villians, the upcoming DC Universe MMO, and the numerous different MMO both currently being played, and on in the works. Another thing keeping PC gaming alive? FPS. A lot of people would argue (and I'd probably be inclined to agree) that the best method to playing FPS is on a PC. Some people are such purists on the subject that they refuse to play them any other way.
But now we have to flip things around. While it IS true that PC gaming is not dead, and isn't really dying, one has to ask, is PC gaming the future of gaming? Well, one guy (Chris Taylor, I believe his name is) was on Attack of the Show recently, and he's probably the self-proclaimed poster boy for PC gaming. However, I find that I have to disagree.
Why? On paper, PC gaming seems like it should be the most versitile, widely adopted form of gaming. I mean, just about everyone has a computer. In fact, unless you're reading this at a library or a friend's house (in which case I'd have to wonder why you're not doing stuff with said freind), you own a computer. So on paper, that makes sense right? So why isn't that happening? Well the obvious answer is the fact that, most computers weren't built to handle both every day things, PLUS serving as a gaming console. I mean, my old computer only had one game on it. The Sims 2. But becuase I so frequently saved and downloaded things to it, that game barely ran, and if/when it did, it was at a snail's pace. So imagine someone trying to play a game like Battlefield Bad Company 2, on that machine.
But there are solutions. And that's PCs specifically tailored to gaming. They come in both laptop and desktop formation. So you're thinking then "So are PC's now good contenders to console gaming?", and the answer there is still no. The problem being there is price. Odds are, to get a system that's even worth half its weight, you're gonna be paying upwadrds of $700. And most of us scrape together just to get console games. I mean, I own a Wii and an XBox 360, now the Wii was a birthday gift, but I had to trade in a lot of things I owned (including several WIi/Gamecube games, my NIntendo DS and a few games for it, and my Nintendo 64 and all its games), just to get the bastard. And after all that, I STILL had to pay a pretty hefty amount just to afford the system, which ran me about $250. Now imagine someone like me trying to get a special computer, without having ANYTHING they can turn in to help get it. Sounds damn near impossible without months of saving, doesn't it?
Now I know what you're thinking (or at least someone out there is thinking) "You can build a computer for half that price!". WEll sure, if I knew how to build one. I mean, let's be honest, putting together computers, or rather even just basic computer maintenance, is not common knowledge by any means. Truth be told, Im afraid to let just about anyone open up my computer, simply because I'm afraid either me or someone else is gonna screw it up. And yeah, you can learn, but does anyone really want to put all that time and effort just to play games?
So needless to say, PC gaming has a very select audiance, and while that audiance is being maintained, it's not really a setup that finds itself rapidly expanding, so I can't really say that PC gaming is the future of gaming.
So lets move on to another seemingly dying breed of gaming, Arcade gaming. A lot of people claim that arcade gaming is far past dying. It's dead and rotting. However, to this I also say, false. I would argue that Arcade gaming isn't dying, but simply transforming. Notice how in a lot of downloaded games (ironically enough, from the X-Box Live ARCADE), are often describe as being "acrade style" such and such. This is part of the transformation. Arcade gaming is no longer a method of gaming, as in you go to the arcade, play for an afternoon, then go home, but rather it's becoming more of a genre. Meaning games done in the Arcade style (Shank, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, ect.), are now the new Arcade. So you can still compete for the high score, and compete to make it through some of the most challenging, yet enjoyable, games known to mankind.
This transformation also makes Arcade gaiming more versitile as well. No longer does one have to drive to an arcade, wasting half their paycheck putting quarters into a machine. Nope! You can do it at home, and still get the same satisfaction. And with online play as well, one can get the same arcade multiplayer experience, without even having to see each other! (Though seriously guys, get out of your own nerd cave every once in a while and go play games in the same room. I know it's a foriegn concept, but trust me you'll enjoy it). But with all that versitility, I STILL can't say Arcade gaming is the future of gaming either.
So maybe our future lies in portable gaming, or handheld gaming! But first of all, let's look at the contenders in the handheld division.
Well, right now, you have Nintendo with their 3DS, and Sony, with their most recent invention, the PSP Go. But before we get to them, what about the missing party, Microsoft? Do they plan on jumping into the mix? Well there have been rumors for years now, dating back to about the time the 360 was a year old, about a Microsoft portable device. And it was interesting becuase a lot of people had really convincing pictures of what the device would look like. The problem? There were TOO MANY reports. I mean, google it. Google Microsoft portable device, and you'll find several really well done, but varying pictures. The names even vary from X Box 180 to X Box 720. But I have to tell you, none of these consoles exist. Microsoft may have considered something like this, but no, they don't exist.
Now the question is, is Microsoft gonna throw their hat into the handheld gaming realm. Personally, I think not. I mean, I think the reason they don't have one is simply because they're a little smarter than that. I mean, Nintendo has reigned king of Handheld for an enternity, and Microsoft knows better than to waste money trying to change that. Now Microsoft HAS released their own smartphone to compete with tech rival Apple (Microsoft has a lot of rivals, huh?), and they've stated that this IS their portable device, as far as their concerned. Now whether this statement means they believe the phone to be an actual competitor in the Handheld gaming realm, or rather meaning that this is the closest to a handheld system we're getting out of them, I was unable to decipher.
Regardless, the reigning champion of handheld has always been Nintendo, and that doesn't look like it's about to change any time soon. Recently, Sony released their newest version of the PSP, the PSP Go. Now, where do I begin...
First of all, WHY ALL OF THESE USELESS REMAKES OF THE PSP? I mean, you knew Nintendo was doing something big in handheld, don't you think it would be a better idea to release a NEW handheld system that addresses the issues of the original PSP?? I mean, most people have been pratically BEGGING for a second joystick on the system. Does the PSP Go have that? No. It has your standard, one control stick, which if you've ever played a Playstation ANYTHING, you know that the dual joystick is what helped it when it's first two console wars (PS1 vs. Nintendo 64 vs. Sega Genisis/Saturn, and the PS2 vs. Gamecube vs. X Box vs. Dreamcast (poor, poor Dreamcast)). So when you try to put a lot of favorites on the PSP, naturally their gameplay is going to DEMAND TWO JOYSTICKS, even if its for something just as simple as camera control (which, I might add, is one thing that has ruined what otherwise would have been really good PSP games). Secondly, why did you think the replacement of physical UMD's was going to be a good idea? I mean, some games (I.E. Birth By Sleep, one of the most highly anticipated PSP games), is not playabe on the download-only PSP Go. SO yeah, if you were a PSP Go owner who was looking forward to play Birth By Sleep, then I guess it sucks to be you, huh? AND ON TOP OF THAT, you're asking to retain your original versatility of having pictures, music, and video on your memory, but now you wanna add FULL ON GAMES too??? I mean, the 360 can get away with that becuase it's capable of having 250 gigs worth of memory. The PSP Go, does not. The PSP go isnt even capable of half that. And then my biggest problem with the device is, WHY DID IT DEBUT AT DAMN NEAR THE SAME PRICE AS THE PS3??? I mean, really??? PSP Go, at its debut, was only $50 cheaper than the PS3. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I mean, at least in the PS3's defence, it does do quite a bit, on top of playing it's average at best games, so I could at least justify it's price. BUt the GO is not capable of a lot of things the PS3 could do. So long story short, if you're gonna buy a PSP, don't buy a Go. Or if you're just looking for handheld, turn to Nintendo.
And speaking of Nintendo, they're coming out with what has the potential to be the greatest handheld system known to mankind, the 3DS. And no, it's not just the 3D aspect. What's more impressive is the titles that we never believed would be on a portable console. I mean, I flipped out when they were not only able to port Super Mario 64 to the DS, but ADD more too it. But the fact that they're porting games like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Starfox 64 is simply mindblowing. I mean, if you just simply imagine what those games looked like, the fact that they can be ported onto a handheld system is simply incredible, ON TOP OF being able to play in
3D. Of course, ON TOP OF THAT (as if all that wasn't enough), you have a whole library of orignial games, made by both Nintendo and other developers. I mean, after all, DS stands for Developer's System, so if they're able to fully utilize what the 3DS is capable of, you have a system with ENDLESS amounts of potential.
Of course, there is the price. Now they haven't announced an offical North America price (or release date, for that matter), but rumor has it that the 3DS is going to run you about $300, simply becuase that's about the price equivilancy of how much it costs in Japan. First of all, I do have to state that prices are not always directly transfered over from Japan, meaning that this system could actually have a much cheaper release price. However, if it does come out for $300, I DO think it will hurt how much it sells on it's release date. I mean, after all, this handheld system costs MORE than the Wii does right now, which is a first. But even though I won't be getting it on it's release date, I definitely think it'll be worth that price at some point, once a bit of it's potential is achieved. Regardless of the price, however, one can pretty much guess who's gonna win the handheld war.
But, even with the 3DS and all it's heavenly capabilities, would I call it the future of gaming? Or handheld gaming in general? To this, again, I say no. And why is that, you may ask? Simply becuase time has proven this to us again, and again, and again. Every handheld system looks more impressive than the last, but they never seem to stack up to their console counterparts, and I think the 3DS will befall the same fate. Impressive? No doubt. But even it can't compare to consoles.
So now I wanna discuss, very briefly, about iPods, iPads, and smartphones. Honestly, I'm just going to put it out there, no, they're not the future of gaming. Truth be told, they're kind of like counting flash games online as the future of gaming. They're cool devices, but hardly gamer worthy.
So before we jump into console gaming, I want to discuss how you console err.. game. While we still have CDs (and in some rare cases, cartridges), there's also been a noticible increase in downloadable games. So this begs the question, are we gonna see downloading replace CDs? My bet goes to no. I do believe downloads are here to stay, but mostly for what they do now. Rereleasing old games, new indie games, and add ons to your favorite CD games.
So now we come to the big one. Console games. So first we have to identify, who are the major competitors in the console wars. Right now, Microsoft and Nintendo. Why not Sony you ask? Simply becuase, it seems like with every turn, Sony is playing catch up. The only real advantage the PS3 has that some other console doesn't is that it plays Blue Ray. That's it. Good PS3 exclusives are few and far between (even so much so that Final Fantasy, a game that for the LONGEST time was Sony exclusive, is now on the 360), and most of the good PS3 games can be played on the 360 as well. Now all of this probably wouldn't have kept it out of competition had it not tripped up so bad early on. I mean, numerous bugs, zero backwards compatibility, and the ability to do everything BUT play games, kept it from taking off, and unfortunately, it's a little too late for them to really catch up.
So who is going to win between Microsoft and Nintendo? It's a little early for me to say. Yeah it's true that the Wii has sold nearly twice the amount that the 360 has sold, but at the same time, at kick off, the Wii was really popular. But (and while it really does pain me to say this), the Wii's popularity has severely decreased since it's launch, do to problematic controls with some games, and very little decent 3rd party support. Not to mention the small variety of good games for it. There aren't many FPS, RPGs, or anything of that sort on the Wii. But a lot of kid friendly games.
However, Nintendo does have the advantage of 1) being the cheapest console available, and 2) unlike the PS3, it's not too late for itself. If it can build up its library to include a lot more, hardcore gamer oriented games like a lot of fans have been ASKING for, and show everyone that you can utilize your online ability, then you might be a legit contender. However Nintendo, at this rate, it's only a matter of time before Microsoft takes over.
Now we talked about motion control last time, but more so in the respect of "will it put any one company on top?". But is it the future of gaming? Are we going to be throwing our entire bodies into the games we play? Nope. Personally, I think motion controls are just a fad. Nintendo decided to try something new after the dismal sales of the Gamecube, and it caught on, so Microsoft and Sony decided to follow suit. Now does that mean we're going to go back to traditional controllers? I suppose only time will tell, but that does bring me to my last topic.
New consles. When, if ever, are we going to see them again? And I know what you're thinking: No new consoles??? You're CRAZY!!! But some experts have questioned whether or not there is a need to ever come up with a new console? I mean, just look at the 360. That thing has been around for 5 years now, and rather than coming up with something new, the 360 has just continued to evolve. With so many new games coming out on these systems, and downloads to back games up, allowing them massive replay value, it'll be a long time before we see new consoles, however, I do believe that we will see new consoles. Each of the big 3 will have to try something new at some point, and in this order: Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft. Sony really should retry with a brand new system. Drop the price of the PS3 until you come out with a new idea, and try and capture the magic that won you the last two console wars. And Nintendo has a little life in them too, and the power to win this console war, but it is Microsoft with the most lasting power. But even they will have to create something new at some point.
So now that we've covered all this, I'm sure you wanna know.... what IS the future of gaming? And that's simple. The future of gaming, are the gamers. I know I know, it's cheesy, but its true. Notice how, regardless of what comes through this industry, if the fans don't go for it, it doesn't stick. Gaming is easily the most fan influenced industry out there. So if there is a major backlash against something, just give it time, and it will die out. So we decide what does, and does not, stay in this industry. So we are the future of gaming.
My Perscription: Get out there and wave your gamer flag proud!!!
Dr. Buck
First of all, I want to state that once again, this is my opinion, and there are plenty of folks to ask. If you want to read other opinions besides mine, try IGN, and G4TV, specifically the Grandfather of Gaming himself, Adam Sessler. Needless to say, I have endless amounts of respect for this man, and value his every opinion.
But this is my blog! So for right now, you're listening to my opinion. And trust me when I say this, we're gonna talk about EVERY gaming method, so grab a snack and get reading.
First off, I want to talk about an always hot gaming topic, PC gaming! Now I know what so many people are saying "PC gaming is dead". Truth is, however, not only is PC gaming NOT dead, it's not even showing signs of dying.
Why is PC gaming thriving? One word, MMOs. For you see, excluding very RARE exceptions, MMOs are just something that appearantly people can't seem to master on the console. I mean, between games like World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons online, City of Heroes/Villians, the upcoming DC Universe MMO, and the numerous different MMO both currently being played, and on in the works. Another thing keeping PC gaming alive? FPS. A lot of people would argue (and I'd probably be inclined to agree) that the best method to playing FPS is on a PC. Some people are such purists on the subject that they refuse to play them any other way.
But now we have to flip things around. While it IS true that PC gaming is not dead, and isn't really dying, one has to ask, is PC gaming the future of gaming? Well, one guy (Chris Taylor, I believe his name is) was on Attack of the Show recently, and he's probably the self-proclaimed poster boy for PC gaming. However, I find that I have to disagree.
Why? On paper, PC gaming seems like it should be the most versitile, widely adopted form of gaming. I mean, just about everyone has a computer. In fact, unless you're reading this at a library or a friend's house (in which case I'd have to wonder why you're not doing stuff with said freind), you own a computer. So on paper, that makes sense right? So why isn't that happening? Well the obvious answer is the fact that, most computers weren't built to handle both every day things, PLUS serving as a gaming console. I mean, my old computer only had one game on it. The Sims 2. But becuase I so frequently saved and downloaded things to it, that game barely ran, and if/when it did, it was at a snail's pace. So imagine someone trying to play a game like Battlefield Bad Company 2, on that machine.
But there are solutions. And that's PCs specifically tailored to gaming. They come in both laptop and desktop formation. So you're thinking then "So are PC's now good contenders to console gaming?", and the answer there is still no. The problem being there is price. Odds are, to get a system that's even worth half its weight, you're gonna be paying upwadrds of $700. And most of us scrape together just to get console games. I mean, I own a Wii and an XBox 360, now the Wii was a birthday gift, but I had to trade in a lot of things I owned (including several WIi/Gamecube games, my NIntendo DS and a few games for it, and my Nintendo 64 and all its games), just to get the bastard. And after all that, I STILL had to pay a pretty hefty amount just to afford the system, which ran me about $250. Now imagine someone like me trying to get a special computer, without having ANYTHING they can turn in to help get it. Sounds damn near impossible without months of saving, doesn't it?
Now I know what you're thinking (or at least someone out there is thinking) "You can build a computer for half that price!". WEll sure, if I knew how to build one. I mean, let's be honest, putting together computers, or rather even just basic computer maintenance, is not common knowledge by any means. Truth be told, Im afraid to let just about anyone open up my computer, simply because I'm afraid either me or someone else is gonna screw it up. And yeah, you can learn, but does anyone really want to put all that time and effort just to play games?
So needless to say, PC gaming has a very select audiance, and while that audiance is being maintained, it's not really a setup that finds itself rapidly expanding, so I can't really say that PC gaming is the future of gaming.
So lets move on to another seemingly dying breed of gaming, Arcade gaming. A lot of people claim that arcade gaming is far past dying. It's dead and rotting. However, to this I also say, false. I would argue that Arcade gaming isn't dying, but simply transforming. Notice how in a lot of downloaded games (ironically enough, from the X-Box Live ARCADE), are often describe as being "acrade style" such and such. This is part of the transformation. Arcade gaming is no longer a method of gaming, as in you go to the arcade, play for an afternoon, then go home, but rather it's becoming more of a genre. Meaning games done in the Arcade style (Shank, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, ect.), are now the new Arcade. So you can still compete for the high score, and compete to make it through some of the most challenging, yet enjoyable, games known to mankind.
This transformation also makes Arcade gaiming more versitile as well. No longer does one have to drive to an arcade, wasting half their paycheck putting quarters into a machine. Nope! You can do it at home, and still get the same satisfaction. And with online play as well, one can get the same arcade multiplayer experience, without even having to see each other! (Though seriously guys, get out of your own nerd cave every once in a while and go play games in the same room. I know it's a foriegn concept, but trust me you'll enjoy it). But with all that versitility, I STILL can't say Arcade gaming is the future of gaming either.
So maybe our future lies in portable gaming, or handheld gaming! But first of all, let's look at the contenders in the handheld division.
Well, right now, you have Nintendo with their 3DS, and Sony, with their most recent invention, the PSP Go. But before we get to them, what about the missing party, Microsoft? Do they plan on jumping into the mix? Well there have been rumors for years now, dating back to about the time the 360 was a year old, about a Microsoft portable device. And it was interesting becuase a lot of people had really convincing pictures of what the device would look like. The problem? There were TOO MANY reports. I mean, google it. Google Microsoft portable device, and you'll find several really well done, but varying pictures. The names even vary from X Box 180 to X Box 720. But I have to tell you, none of these consoles exist. Microsoft may have considered something like this, but no, they don't exist.
Now the question is, is Microsoft gonna throw their hat into the handheld gaming realm. Personally, I think not. I mean, I think the reason they don't have one is simply because they're a little smarter than that. I mean, Nintendo has reigned king of Handheld for an enternity, and Microsoft knows better than to waste money trying to change that. Now Microsoft HAS released their own smartphone to compete with tech rival Apple (Microsoft has a lot of rivals, huh?), and they've stated that this IS their portable device, as far as their concerned. Now whether this statement means they believe the phone to be an actual competitor in the Handheld gaming realm, or rather meaning that this is the closest to a handheld system we're getting out of them, I was unable to decipher.
Regardless, the reigning champion of handheld has always been Nintendo, and that doesn't look like it's about to change any time soon. Recently, Sony released their newest version of the PSP, the PSP Go. Now, where do I begin...
First of all, WHY ALL OF THESE USELESS REMAKES OF THE PSP? I mean, you knew Nintendo was doing something big in handheld, don't you think it would be a better idea to release a NEW handheld system that addresses the issues of the original PSP?? I mean, most people have been pratically BEGGING for a second joystick on the system. Does the PSP Go have that? No. It has your standard, one control stick, which if you've ever played a Playstation ANYTHING, you know that the dual joystick is what helped it when it's first two console wars (PS1 vs. Nintendo 64 vs. Sega Genisis/Saturn, and the PS2 vs. Gamecube vs. X Box vs. Dreamcast (poor, poor Dreamcast)). So when you try to put a lot of favorites on the PSP, naturally their gameplay is going to DEMAND TWO JOYSTICKS, even if its for something just as simple as camera control (which, I might add, is one thing that has ruined what otherwise would have been really good PSP games). Secondly, why did you think the replacement of physical UMD's was going to be a good idea? I mean, some games (I.E. Birth By Sleep, one of the most highly anticipated PSP games), is not playabe on the download-only PSP Go. SO yeah, if you were a PSP Go owner who was looking forward to play Birth By Sleep, then I guess it sucks to be you, huh? AND ON TOP OF THAT, you're asking to retain your original versatility of having pictures, music, and video on your memory, but now you wanna add FULL ON GAMES too??? I mean, the 360 can get away with that becuase it's capable of having 250 gigs worth of memory. The PSP Go, does not. The PSP go isnt even capable of half that. And then my biggest problem with the device is, WHY DID IT DEBUT AT DAMN NEAR THE SAME PRICE AS THE PS3??? I mean, really??? PSP Go, at its debut, was only $50 cheaper than the PS3. FOR WHAT PURPOSE? I mean, at least in the PS3's defence, it does do quite a bit, on top of playing it's average at best games, so I could at least justify it's price. BUt the GO is not capable of a lot of things the PS3 could do. So long story short, if you're gonna buy a PSP, don't buy a Go. Or if you're just looking for handheld, turn to Nintendo.
And speaking of Nintendo, they're coming out with what has the potential to be the greatest handheld system known to mankind, the 3DS. And no, it's not just the 3D aspect. What's more impressive is the titles that we never believed would be on a portable console. I mean, I flipped out when they were not only able to port Super Mario 64 to the DS, but ADD more too it. But the fact that they're porting games like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Starfox 64 is simply mindblowing. I mean, if you just simply imagine what those games looked like, the fact that they can be ported onto a handheld system is simply incredible, ON TOP OF being able to play in
3D. Of course, ON TOP OF THAT (as if all that wasn't enough), you have a whole library of orignial games, made by both Nintendo and other developers. I mean, after all, DS stands for Developer's System, so if they're able to fully utilize what the 3DS is capable of, you have a system with ENDLESS amounts of potential.
Of course, there is the price. Now they haven't announced an offical North America price (or release date, for that matter), but rumor has it that the 3DS is going to run you about $300, simply becuase that's about the price equivilancy of how much it costs in Japan. First of all, I do have to state that prices are not always directly transfered over from Japan, meaning that this system could actually have a much cheaper release price. However, if it does come out for $300, I DO think it will hurt how much it sells on it's release date. I mean, after all, this handheld system costs MORE than the Wii does right now, which is a first. But even though I won't be getting it on it's release date, I definitely think it'll be worth that price at some point, once a bit of it's potential is achieved. Regardless of the price, however, one can pretty much guess who's gonna win the handheld war.
But, even with the 3DS and all it's heavenly capabilities, would I call it the future of gaming? Or handheld gaming in general? To this, again, I say no. And why is that, you may ask? Simply becuase time has proven this to us again, and again, and again. Every handheld system looks more impressive than the last, but they never seem to stack up to their console counterparts, and I think the 3DS will befall the same fate. Impressive? No doubt. But even it can't compare to consoles.
So now I wanna discuss, very briefly, about iPods, iPads, and smartphones. Honestly, I'm just going to put it out there, no, they're not the future of gaming. Truth be told, they're kind of like counting flash games online as the future of gaming. They're cool devices, but hardly gamer worthy.
So before we jump into console gaming, I want to discuss how you console err.. game. While we still have CDs (and in some rare cases, cartridges), there's also been a noticible increase in downloadable games. So this begs the question, are we gonna see downloading replace CDs? My bet goes to no. I do believe downloads are here to stay, but mostly for what they do now. Rereleasing old games, new indie games, and add ons to your favorite CD games.
So now we come to the big one. Console games. So first we have to identify, who are the major competitors in the console wars. Right now, Microsoft and Nintendo. Why not Sony you ask? Simply becuase, it seems like with every turn, Sony is playing catch up. The only real advantage the PS3 has that some other console doesn't is that it plays Blue Ray. That's it. Good PS3 exclusives are few and far between (even so much so that Final Fantasy, a game that for the LONGEST time was Sony exclusive, is now on the 360), and most of the good PS3 games can be played on the 360 as well. Now all of this probably wouldn't have kept it out of competition had it not tripped up so bad early on. I mean, numerous bugs, zero backwards compatibility, and the ability to do everything BUT play games, kept it from taking off, and unfortunately, it's a little too late for them to really catch up.
So who is going to win between Microsoft and Nintendo? It's a little early for me to say. Yeah it's true that the Wii has sold nearly twice the amount that the 360 has sold, but at the same time, at kick off, the Wii was really popular. But (and while it really does pain me to say this), the Wii's popularity has severely decreased since it's launch, do to problematic controls with some games, and very little decent 3rd party support. Not to mention the small variety of good games for it. There aren't many FPS, RPGs, or anything of that sort on the Wii. But a lot of kid friendly games.
However, Nintendo does have the advantage of 1) being the cheapest console available, and 2) unlike the PS3, it's not too late for itself. If it can build up its library to include a lot more, hardcore gamer oriented games like a lot of fans have been ASKING for, and show everyone that you can utilize your online ability, then you might be a legit contender. However Nintendo, at this rate, it's only a matter of time before Microsoft takes over.
Now we talked about motion control last time, but more so in the respect of "will it put any one company on top?". But is it the future of gaming? Are we going to be throwing our entire bodies into the games we play? Nope. Personally, I think motion controls are just a fad. Nintendo decided to try something new after the dismal sales of the Gamecube, and it caught on, so Microsoft and Sony decided to follow suit. Now does that mean we're going to go back to traditional controllers? I suppose only time will tell, but that does bring me to my last topic.
New consles. When, if ever, are we going to see them again? And I know what you're thinking: No new consoles??? You're CRAZY!!! But some experts have questioned whether or not there is a need to ever come up with a new console? I mean, just look at the 360. That thing has been around for 5 years now, and rather than coming up with something new, the 360 has just continued to evolve. With so many new games coming out on these systems, and downloads to back games up, allowing them massive replay value, it'll be a long time before we see new consoles, however, I do believe that we will see new consoles. Each of the big 3 will have to try something new at some point, and in this order: Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft. Sony really should retry with a brand new system. Drop the price of the PS3 until you come out with a new idea, and try and capture the magic that won you the last two console wars. And Nintendo has a little life in them too, and the power to win this console war, but it is Microsoft with the most lasting power. But even they will have to create something new at some point.
So now that we've covered all this, I'm sure you wanna know.... what IS the future of gaming? And that's simple. The future of gaming, are the gamers. I know I know, it's cheesy, but its true. Notice how, regardless of what comes through this industry, if the fans don't go for it, it doesn't stick. Gaming is easily the most fan influenced industry out there. So if there is a major backlash against something, just give it time, and it will die out. So we decide what does, and does not, stay in this industry. So we are the future of gaming.
My Perscription: Get out there and wave your gamer flag proud!!!
Dr. Buck
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Doc's quick fix: Updates and Changes
Really quick blog post. Honestly I wouldnt even say its a blog post, more like a newsletter, but I have just a few things to tell you about.
First of all, about the only actual change may be the layout. As you may notice, I've added something to the little sidebar. Appearantly I have really opinionated friends, and a lot of them decided to focus their thoughts into blog form! Now my blog decided to put it in a random order, but here's a basic layout of them
Abombs World - Not to be confused with popular website abaum's world, this site is ran confusingly enough by my friend Adam. He's a review on anything he feels need reviewing, and always has an interesting opinion on everything, so if you like topics of discussion, he's very interesting to read
I Can Has Catboy - Also not to be confused with... a lot of things I'm sure your wild imaginations could think of. Run by another friend of mine and a member of our con going team M.O.B. (Midwest Otaku Brigade), she leads a rather interesting and amusing life that's definitely worth reading about. Plus, she posts very helpful and intersting food for thought from time to time, and she has a bit of the nerd as well!
Parbuit - Now I won't claim to know what the name means, BUT, I will claim that when it comes to tech advise, here is a good place to look. Run by Edward, if it has to do with computers, internet, and a bunch of other things I dont understand, you'll probably find it here!
Now of course going to these sites never excuses you from coming back here and getting my views on the latest Video Game and Anime topics. And also, if you have a blog, lemme know and if I like it (which I probably will), I'll add it to my list of blogs.
Second bit of news, I'm currently looking for a sort of Anime correspondant for this blog. Does that mean I'll stop writing about Anime? No, but I do feel like the topic goes undiscussed compared to my gamer side. So if you're someone who likes Anime, and knows a LOT about it (and I mean a lot. Im talking about not just specific anime, but companies, voice actors, and the such), then apply either here, or on Facebook or Twitter!
Lastly, I do have to let you guys know that I recieved an email to go and be a part of a new idea by the guys behind the videojug who are opening a new portion of thier site called videojug pages. Now I'm still trying to work things out, however, if we can iron out all of the kinks, this blog may be on the move. Naturally, I'll let you all know before such a move takes place, however, I wanted to prep you for it.
And thats it! I dont really do a lot of these sort of kamikaze updates, however, when changes are afoot, this is how I will let you know. So thank you for reading, and until my next actual post!
First of all, about the only actual change may be the layout. As you may notice, I've added something to the little sidebar. Appearantly I have really opinionated friends, and a lot of them decided to focus their thoughts into blog form! Now my blog decided to put it in a random order, but here's a basic layout of them
Abombs World - Not to be confused with popular website abaum's world, this site is ran confusingly enough by my friend Adam. He's a review on anything he feels need reviewing, and always has an interesting opinion on everything, so if you like topics of discussion, he's very interesting to read
I Can Has Catboy - Also not to be confused with... a lot of things I'm sure your wild imaginations could think of. Run by another friend of mine and a member of our con going team M.O.B. (Midwest Otaku Brigade), she leads a rather interesting and amusing life that's definitely worth reading about. Plus, she posts very helpful and intersting food for thought from time to time, and she has a bit of the nerd as well!
Parbuit - Now I won't claim to know what the name means, BUT, I will claim that when it comes to tech advise, here is a good place to look. Run by Edward, if it has to do with computers, internet, and a bunch of other things I dont understand, you'll probably find it here!
Now of course going to these sites never excuses you from coming back here and getting my views on the latest Video Game and Anime topics. And also, if you have a blog, lemme know and if I like it (which I probably will), I'll add it to my list of blogs.
Second bit of news, I'm currently looking for a sort of Anime correspondant for this blog. Does that mean I'll stop writing about Anime? No, but I do feel like the topic goes undiscussed compared to my gamer side. So if you're someone who likes Anime, and knows a LOT about it (and I mean a lot. Im talking about not just specific anime, but companies, voice actors, and the such), then apply either here, or on Facebook or Twitter!
Lastly, I do have to let you guys know that I recieved an email to go and be a part of a new idea by the guys behind the videojug who are opening a new portion of thier site called videojug pages. Now I'm still trying to work things out, however, if we can iron out all of the kinks, this blog may be on the move. Naturally, I'll let you all know before such a move takes place, however, I wanted to prep you for it.
And thats it! I dont really do a lot of these sort of kamikaze updates, however, when changes are afoot, this is how I will let you know. So thank you for reading, and until my next actual post!
The Battle of Motion Control
So in case you've been sleeping under a rock recently, there's no doubt you've seen the numerous attempts Sony and Microsoft have made to make it into the Motion Control realm. But why are they trying to break into the motion control realm? Are they trying to be innovative? Not at all!
Now try to remember back to 2006 (I know thats a long time ago, so don't strain yourself). Nintendo had decided to throw it's hat into the seventh generation battle, a war that had been started by Microsoft a year earlier. But Nintendo had forsaken the conventional controllers in favor of motion controls. This took Nintendo out of the funk that the Gamecube caused, and launched the Wii into being the number 1 selling console of this generation, a record they still hold today.
But the question is, will Sony's Move or Microsoft's Kinect lead their systems to that number one spot? Well let's look at both systems, starting with the Playstation 3's Move.
Now first of all, if you look at the Move, the first thing you'll probably notice is... the design is very very simmilar to Nintendo's Wii and Nunchuck combination. The biggest difference between the two is that the Move is wireless. Now what I've seen from the Move, it's clear that they're trying to emulate the Wii. Even their initial demonstration was very identical to the Wii's original demonstration. So no, Sony isn't trying to hide the fact that they're attempting to be a Wii killer. But how does it play? Well it's impossible for me to say personally, since I've never even picked up the controller, however I've heard from several sources that the controls actually DO improve on the Wii's controls. Which is great for them, since, lets be honest, Sony's first attempt with motion control, the Eye Toy, was an epic failure.
Now let's look at the Kinect. Unlike Sony, Microsoft isn't expressly trying to prove their superiority over Nintendo. Which is odd, becuase they're definitely the ones that have the right. Rather than coming up with a new controller to play with, Microsoft is going completely controller-less. The Kinect integrates your whole body into the game, much like the Eye Toy attempted to do. And some of the games almost feel like you're a motion capture employee, which is really cool. Much unlike the Move, which seems to be a bit more focused on integrating their motion controls into other games, the Kinect's main focus seems to be games made specificaly for the Kinect, which as Nintendo clearly proved, is the better idea. (Trust me, as a die-hard Nintendo fan, I know how bad it sucks to just slap on motion controls to another game).
Regardless, it's true to say that both of them improbve on the Wii's controls. But does this mean that these new motion controls are going to put them on top. Truth be told, no, I don't think so, and here is why.
First of all, the demographic is all wrong. Odds are, if you were looking for motion control, you got the Wii. Most of the people who bought the 360 or the PS3 don't really care about Motion control. As a matter of fact, they tend to be the main skeptics of motion control. Most of them are going to look at something like the Kinect, and think "$150 for this little add on, or 3 brand new games? I think the choice is obvious". And most of the people who DO buy it are people who just have the money, or people who probably won't use it too very much, other than to show off the fact that they have it.
So you're probably thinking then, "Well maybe they're trying to appeal to a new demographic". And odds are, you're probably right. I think the whole point is to try and take away that audiance of Nintendo's. The problem you run into there is price. Now we assume that when you think of a new audiance, you mean someone who hasn't bought your system, right? Therefore, starting with the Kinect, you still have to buy a $300 system, then the $150 Kinect. And this alone isnt even including games! However, the Wii is currently sitting at $150, meaning the Kinect alone is the same price as the Wii! And Im not sure how much the Move is, but I do know that the PS3 alone is still more expensive than the Wii. Therefore, the Wii definitely has price working to its advantage. That, combined with the fact that the appeal just isn't really there as far as as the Kinect and Move go.
But I think the biggest problem is is the timing. Truely I believe that it's far too late to be trying these things. I mean, had Microsoft or Sony tried this before, I already know they'd be on top over Nintendo, becuase they are improved over their motion controls. However, going back to the demographic, most people already bought the system they wanted, and those that wanted motion controls, got the Wii, and odds are, those that want motion controls are going to stick with the Wii.
As always, this is my opinion. So, if you think otherwise, let me know here, on Facebook (facebook.com/djghostpirate), or on Twitter (@ghostpiratedj).
My perscription: Wait and see how the Move and Kinect develop. And maybe wait for a drop in price
Dr. Buck
Now try to remember back to 2006 (I know thats a long time ago, so don't strain yourself). Nintendo had decided to throw it's hat into the seventh generation battle, a war that had been started by Microsoft a year earlier. But Nintendo had forsaken the conventional controllers in favor of motion controls. This took Nintendo out of the funk that the Gamecube caused, and launched the Wii into being the number 1 selling console of this generation, a record they still hold today.
But the question is, will Sony's Move or Microsoft's Kinect lead their systems to that number one spot? Well let's look at both systems, starting with the Playstation 3's Move.
Now first of all, if you look at the Move, the first thing you'll probably notice is... the design is very very simmilar to Nintendo's Wii and Nunchuck combination. The biggest difference between the two is that the Move is wireless. Now what I've seen from the Move, it's clear that they're trying to emulate the Wii. Even their initial demonstration was very identical to the Wii's original demonstration. So no, Sony isn't trying to hide the fact that they're attempting to be a Wii killer. But how does it play? Well it's impossible for me to say personally, since I've never even picked up the controller, however I've heard from several sources that the controls actually DO improve on the Wii's controls. Which is great for them, since, lets be honest, Sony's first attempt with motion control, the Eye Toy, was an epic failure.
Now let's look at the Kinect. Unlike Sony, Microsoft isn't expressly trying to prove their superiority over Nintendo. Which is odd, becuase they're definitely the ones that have the right. Rather than coming up with a new controller to play with, Microsoft is going completely controller-less. The Kinect integrates your whole body into the game, much like the Eye Toy attempted to do. And some of the games almost feel like you're a motion capture employee, which is really cool. Much unlike the Move, which seems to be a bit more focused on integrating their motion controls into other games, the Kinect's main focus seems to be games made specificaly for the Kinect, which as Nintendo clearly proved, is the better idea. (Trust me, as a die-hard Nintendo fan, I know how bad it sucks to just slap on motion controls to another game).
Regardless, it's true to say that both of them improbve on the Wii's controls. But does this mean that these new motion controls are going to put them on top. Truth be told, no, I don't think so, and here is why.
First of all, the demographic is all wrong. Odds are, if you were looking for motion control, you got the Wii. Most of the people who bought the 360 or the PS3 don't really care about Motion control. As a matter of fact, they tend to be the main skeptics of motion control. Most of them are going to look at something like the Kinect, and think "$150 for this little add on, or 3 brand new games? I think the choice is obvious". And most of the people who DO buy it are people who just have the money, or people who probably won't use it too very much, other than to show off the fact that they have it.
So you're probably thinking then, "Well maybe they're trying to appeal to a new demographic". And odds are, you're probably right. I think the whole point is to try and take away that audiance of Nintendo's. The problem you run into there is price. Now we assume that when you think of a new audiance, you mean someone who hasn't bought your system, right? Therefore, starting with the Kinect, you still have to buy a $300 system, then the $150 Kinect. And this alone isnt even including games! However, the Wii is currently sitting at $150, meaning the Kinect alone is the same price as the Wii! And Im not sure how much the Move is, but I do know that the PS3 alone is still more expensive than the Wii. Therefore, the Wii definitely has price working to its advantage. That, combined with the fact that the appeal just isn't really there as far as as the Kinect and Move go.
But I think the biggest problem is is the timing. Truely I believe that it's far too late to be trying these things. I mean, had Microsoft or Sony tried this before, I already know they'd be on top over Nintendo, becuase they are improved over their motion controls. However, going back to the demographic, most people already bought the system they wanted, and those that wanted motion controls, got the Wii, and odds are, those that want motion controls are going to stick with the Wii.
As always, this is my opinion. So, if you think otherwise, let me know here, on Facebook (facebook.com/djghostpirate), or on Twitter (@ghostpiratedj).
My perscription: Wait and see how the Move and Kinect develop. And maybe wait for a drop in price
Dr. Buck
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