So life has slowly been taking a turn down shit creek, and its getting depressing.
First off, a couple of friends of mine broke up, making for many awkward situations.
At work, I've finally got some programming work to do, but Microsofts emergency's patch on Friday did some, what I'm not sure, but I can no longer use our source control making my changes useless.
My best friend is ditching me on my birthday because dinner & a kegger is too complicated. Communication between us has pretty much evaporated over the past 3 weeks.
Today there was a power flicker here in Stratford while I was playing Halo. Everything seems to be okay except the rear USB port, which is where the wireless network adapter needs to be plugged into. Now, its not a huge problem, I have another year and a half warranty, but its just annoying that I will lose it for a month or 2 while it is getting fixed.
On the plus Tingles took me to the Everything to do with Sex Show in Toronto on Saturday. That was a lot of fun, and so was afterwards.
So here I am, alone and unmotivated. Holding onto the fact that in less than 10 weeks I be living with Tingles. Not much else keeps me going at this point; my birthday this week feels like it will be more like a chore than a celebration. Something needs to change...
Combing 'Roses And Bluejays' I'm A Lot Like My Father, He Knows He Should Go To Work But Sometimes He Doesn't Bother
Vintage
After thinking about hosting a Halo: CE LAN party sometime in the near future, I looked back on my life, and all the games I've played.
I've realized how much time I've wasted playing them, kinda wishing I had done a little more, yet I still want to go back and play them all again. You have to admit, it was some good times....
-Super Mario World
-Super Mario Kart (multiplayer)
-Super Metroid
-Super Mario RPG: Legend of the 7 Stars
-Kirby Super Star
-The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
-Mario World 64
-Mario Kart 64 (multiplayer)
-Super Smash Bros. (multiplayer)
-Halo: Combat Evolved
Current games I want to play include:
-NFS: Most wanted (halfway done)
-BioShock
-Orange Box
All of this while still getting in some Halo 3. Its actually really hard to multitask. I leave Halo for a few weeks & I suck :(
I've realized how much time I've wasted playing them, kinda wishing I had done a little more, yet I still want to go back and play them all again. You have to admit, it was some good times....
-Super Mario World
-Super Mario Kart (multiplayer)
-Super Metroid
-Super Mario RPG: Legend of the 7 Stars
-Kirby Super Star
-The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
-Mario World 64
-Mario Kart 64 (multiplayer)
-Super Smash Bros. (multiplayer)
-Halo: Combat Evolved
Current games I want to play include:
-NFS: Most wanted (halfway done)
-BioShock
-Orange Box
All of this while still getting in some Halo 3. Its actually really hard to multitask. I leave Halo for a few weeks & I suck :(
Halo: The Cole Protocol
If you're a self respecting Halo fanatic, listen up. You'll be excited to hear about the following ?plot summary?
The next book touches on the elusive Gray Teams' missions, the earlier days of Jacob Keyes, and some human survival stories.
In the first, desperate days of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC has enacted the Cole Protocol to safeguard Earth and its Inner Colonies from discovery by a merciless alien foe. Many are called upon to rid the universe of lingering navigation data that would reveal the location of Earth. Among them is Navy Lieutenant Jacob Keyes. Thrust back into action after being sidelined, Keyes is saddled with a top secret mission by ONI. One that will take him deep behind enemy lines, to a corner of the universe where nothing is as it seems.
Out beyond the Outer Colonies lies the planet Hesiod, a gas giant surrounded by a vast asteroid belt. As the Covenant continues to glass the human occupied planets near Hesiod, many of the survivors, helped by a stronghold of human Insurrectionists, are fleeing to the asteroid belt for refuge. They have transformed the tumbling satellites into a tenuous, yet ingenious, settlement known as the Rubble–and have come face-to-face with a Covenant settlement of Kig-Yar . . . yet somehow survived.
News of this unlikely treaty has spread to the warring sides. Luckily for the UNSC, this uneasy alliance is in the path of the Spartan Gray Team, a three-man renegade squad whose simple task is to wreak havoc from behind enemy lines in any way they see fit. But the Prophets have also sent their best—an ambitious and ruthless Elite, whose quest for nobility and rank is matched only by his brutality . . . and who will do anything to secure his Ascendancy and walk the Path.
November 25th, check it out. Looks like Christmas is coming a month early this year.
The next book touches on the elusive Gray Teams' missions, the earlier days of Jacob Keyes, and some human survival stories.
In the first, desperate days of the Human-Covenant War, the UNSC has enacted the Cole Protocol to safeguard Earth and its Inner Colonies from discovery by a merciless alien foe. Many are called upon to rid the universe of lingering navigation data that would reveal the location of Earth. Among them is Navy Lieutenant Jacob Keyes. Thrust back into action after being sidelined, Keyes is saddled with a top secret mission by ONI. One that will take him deep behind enemy lines, to a corner of the universe where nothing is as it seems.
Out beyond the Outer Colonies lies the planet Hesiod, a gas giant surrounded by a vast asteroid belt. As the Covenant continues to glass the human occupied planets near Hesiod, many of the survivors, helped by a stronghold of human Insurrectionists, are fleeing to the asteroid belt for refuge. They have transformed the tumbling satellites into a tenuous, yet ingenious, settlement known as the Rubble–and have come face-to-face with a Covenant settlement of Kig-Yar . . . yet somehow survived.
News of this unlikely treaty has spread to the warring sides. Luckily for the UNSC, this uneasy alliance is in the path of the Spartan Gray Team, a three-man renegade squad whose simple task is to wreak havoc from behind enemy lines in any way they see fit. But the Prophets have also sent their best—an ambitious and ruthless Elite, whose quest for nobility and rank is matched only by his brutality . . . and who will do anything to secure his Ascendancy and walk the Path.
November 25th, check it out. Looks like Christmas is coming a month early this year.
Stratford Blows Chunks
So I was randomly check Stratford by-laws this morning, and was looking as the noise control section. I found 2 thing to be very interesting:
First, you cannot make (unwanted) noise with musical instruments form 7am to 7pm. General noise (ie. party) can go until 11pm, however. Lmack has told me this before, but it sounded so stupid I didn't want to believe him. Also, if you have a band, you can forget legally practicing on Sundays too.
Secondly, operating a motor vehicle in a way which causes the tires to squeal is illegal apparently. Not that I condone that type of behavior, but in the event that your tires squeal to avoid an accident, its pretty lame that you could get charged for it when in theory you did something good.
First, you cannot make (unwanted) noise with musical instruments form 7am to 7pm. General noise (ie. party) can go until 11pm, however. Lmack has told me this before, but it sounded so stupid I didn't want to believe him. Also, if you have a band, you can forget legally practicing on Sundays too.
Secondly, operating a motor vehicle in a way which causes the tires to squeal is illegal apparently. Not that I condone that type of behavior, but in the event that your tires squeal to avoid an accident, its pretty lame that you could get charged for it when in theory you did something good.
What Makes Halo So Popular?
Please remember that this is my opinion, and although it is directed at Granite, it is not meant to start a debate. Its also unfair to compare a PC game to a console game.
This article pretty much sums it up.
Halo has never claimed to have ground breaking graphics or innovative game play. Halo has 2 things: story and multiplayer.
To most non-Halo-ers out there, Halo is just another FPS whose story is based on saving Earth by killing aliens. Although the pervious statement is correct, I would feel more comfortable saying all FPSs are point & click games, where the only action available is ‘use’ ‘gun’ on ‘man’.
On average, (console) FPSs are made in the same manner. A developer has an idea for a FPS game. They have a meeting, throw some good ideas around to incorporate into the game, and then rip an article out of the Sunday paper and call it their story. The plot to most games seem to be good ideas thrown together in a semi-intelligible manner (Army of Two is really bad for this, you can tell the game was rushed). This leaves the game feeling like a child who has lost his parents at Disney Land.
Halo, on the other hand, has a real story. It has a timeline, a universe. Halo does take place in the future, but not in the year 20xx. Everything in the story is totally within reason (sort of). When you start getting into the story, you begin to connect with the characters; it becomes more than a game. You can actually become attached to the characters (more so with Halo 3 through the dramatic cut scenes). Even with games like Army of Two where Lmack and I relate extremely well with the characters personalities, the story and involvement just isn’t there. I’m not saying Halo is the only game that does this, just the only one I’ve found and loved.
The other legendary aspect of Halo is its multiplayer. When you hear the words ‘Halo’ and ‘multiplayer,’ the first thing most people think is ‘Xbox Live.’ Those people would be wrong. Halo: CE (2001), that’s Combat Evolved, or rather Halo 1 for you fan boy wannabes, was released before Microsofts’ Xbox Live service. This means most of Halo: CE multiplayer was done via LAN.
Endless hours were spent surrounded by 4 TVs, scrambling to retrieve your own flag. The dedication need for & satisfaction gained from these experiences made Halo 2’s online experience so explosive (And 3 comes after 2, but I’m sure you can do the math on that one).
You can try to tell me that you're not all that into multiplayer, and I will tell you you will hate gaming within 5 years or so. Playing online with thousands of other experience players will almost always provide a more challenging and rewarding experience than any AI can create. (Online) Multiplayer is where the future of gaming is heading, like it or lump it.
Games like Halo that have a well written single player will still exist, but will become even further & farther between than they currently are as their focus will be on online and/or multiplayer.
If you're sitting that muttering to yourself about how Halo multiplayer isn't any different than any other console FPS, I urge you to sit down and play the campaign, understand the story (1, 2 and 3) and then spend a few hours playing online matchmaking. If you aren't sold, I'll invite you to are weekly Halo night where a small group of people play custom games; an experience with more laughs and less competition. If you still don't like it, then I can respect your opinion because you will have tried it.
I have always bad-mouthed WoW, but then one day, I tried it. Now I can really say I think its stupid and I don't like it. I know Halo 3 isn't perfect, and I find this hilarious. Never have I seen a review by this man that didn't make me piss my pants laughing.
This article pretty much sums it up.
Halo has never claimed to have ground breaking graphics or innovative game play. Halo has 2 things: story and multiplayer.
To most non-Halo-ers out there, Halo is just another FPS whose story is based on saving Earth by killing aliens. Although the pervious statement is correct, I would feel more comfortable saying all FPSs are point & click games, where the only action available is ‘use’ ‘gun’ on ‘man’.
On average, (console) FPSs are made in the same manner. A developer has an idea for a FPS game. They have a meeting, throw some good ideas around to incorporate into the game, and then rip an article out of the Sunday paper and call it their story. The plot to most games seem to be good ideas thrown together in a semi-intelligible manner (Army of Two is really bad for this, you can tell the game was rushed). This leaves the game feeling like a child who has lost his parents at Disney Land.
Halo, on the other hand, has a real story. It has a timeline, a universe. Halo does take place in the future, but not in the year 20xx. Everything in the story is totally within reason (sort of). When you start getting into the story, you begin to connect with the characters; it becomes more than a game. You can actually become attached to the characters (more so with Halo 3 through the dramatic cut scenes). Even with games like Army of Two where Lmack and I relate extremely well with the characters personalities, the story and involvement just isn’t there. I’m not saying Halo is the only game that does this, just the only one I’ve found and loved.
The other legendary aspect of Halo is its multiplayer. When you hear the words ‘Halo’ and ‘multiplayer,’ the first thing most people think is ‘Xbox Live.’ Those people would be wrong. Halo: CE (2001), that’s Combat Evolved, or rather Halo 1 for you fan boy wannabes, was released before Microsofts’ Xbox Live service. This means most of Halo: CE multiplayer was done via LAN.
Endless hours were spent surrounded by 4 TVs, scrambling to retrieve your own flag. The dedication need for & satisfaction gained from these experiences made Halo 2’s online experience so explosive (And 3 comes after 2, but I’m sure you can do the math on that one).
You can try to tell me that you're not all that into multiplayer, and I will tell you you will hate gaming within 5 years or so. Playing online with thousands of other experience players will almost always provide a more challenging and rewarding experience than any AI can create. (Online) Multiplayer is where the future of gaming is heading, like it or lump it.
Games like Halo that have a well written single player will still exist, but will become even further & farther between than they currently are as their focus will be on online and/or multiplayer.
If you're sitting that muttering to yourself about how Halo multiplayer isn't any different than any other console FPS, I urge you to sit down and play the campaign, understand the story (1, 2 and 3) and then spend a few hours playing online matchmaking. If you aren't sold, I'll invite you to are weekly Halo night where a small group of people play custom games; an experience with more laughs and less competition. If you still don't like it, then I can respect your opinion because you will have tried it.
I have always bad-mouthed WoW, but then one day, I tried it. Now I can really say I think its stupid and I don't like it. I know Halo 3 isn't perfect, and I find this hilarious. Never have I seen a review by this man that didn't make me piss my pants laughing.
Can I Haz Recon? Plz?
So yesterday, Lmack told me there was a new trailer out for Halo Wars and I got really excited.
I had mixed feeling about the trailer. It was well done from technical stand point, but it just didn’t give off that Halo-epic-ness that I’m used too. I’m going to blame it on the developer, ES. Nothing against them, but I was expecting a Bungie-class video from someone who isn’t Bungie; kinda my fault.
On the plus side, the trailer really got the plot rolling, yet left so many things unanswered as to not ruin it; a very difficult task to accomplish, and well executed.
After being excited for Halo Wars in 2009, Bungie released the full (or seemingly full) version of the trailer for the new Halo 3 expansion (keep it clean /prepare to drop). Unfortunately I saw it at work, so it was low quality & no sound… Can’t wait till I get home!
The video confirms a few things. First, you most likely play as an ODST, because that is who steps out of the last pod. Second, you have the city SuperIntendent AI guiding you. And Lastly, its official name is “Halo 3: Recon”. Yeah! Mmm!
On the down side, it is to be released in the fall of 2009; kinda far away. The Halo 3 forums are speculating that it will also contain the Mythic map pack, but seeing as how far away it is, seems unlikely.
There is also a debate whether or not the game will be DLC or a stand alone disc. Bungie calling it ‘their next game’ makes it sound big & so a stand alone disc sounds more likely. If that’s the case, it is also more likely not to include the Mythic maps, as Halo 3 has the Mythic map achievements.
It could be like the Halo 2 map pack where the disc just copied all the data to the HDD, but then the disc part is useless (other than transfer speed). My money is on Recon is a game disc, separate from Halo 3, Mythic maps sold separately.
Peace
I had mixed feeling about the trailer. It was well done from technical stand point, but it just didn’t give off that Halo-epic-ness that I’m used too. I’m going to blame it on the developer, ES. Nothing against them, but I was expecting a Bungie-class video from someone who isn’t Bungie; kinda my fault.
On the plus side, the trailer really got the plot rolling, yet left so many things unanswered as to not ruin it; a very difficult task to accomplish, and well executed.
After being excited for Halo Wars in 2009, Bungie released the full (or seemingly full) version of the trailer for the new Halo 3 expansion (keep it clean /prepare to drop). Unfortunately I saw it at work, so it was low quality & no sound… Can’t wait till I get home!
The video confirms a few things. First, you most likely play as an ODST, because that is who steps out of the last pod. Second, you have the city SuperIntendent AI guiding you. And Lastly, its official name is “Halo 3: Recon”. Yeah! Mmm!
On the down side, it is to be released in the fall of 2009; kinda far away. The Halo 3 forums are speculating that it will also contain the Mythic map pack, but seeing as how far away it is, seems unlikely.
There is also a debate whether or not the game will be DLC or a stand alone disc. Bungie calling it ‘their next game’ makes it sound big & so a stand alone disc sounds more likely. If that’s the case, it is also more likely not to include the Mythic maps, as Halo 3 has the Mythic map achievements.
It could be like the Halo 2 map pack where the disc just copied all the data to the HDD, but then the disc part is useless (other than transfer speed). My money is on Recon is a game disc, separate from Halo 3, Mythic maps sold separately.
Peace
Whatcha Gunna Do When She Won't Leave You Alone?
Have you have meet one of those annoying people where no matter how they interact with you, it just bugs the crap out of out? Well, that’s how my sister is to me.She pisses me off so gawd dang much.
Last Tuesday, when I took Lmack to see his new home in Guelph, she wanted a ride to Waterloo. So I said fine and asked them each for $10 gas money. Lmack paid me the next day, which I promptly used to purchase tasty chicken wing delight. My sister did not, however.
At some point later in that week, she took the car to London. It had half a tank of gas when I last had it. When I asked for my $10, she told me she had put it in the car (umm, great? Where’s my money?) totaling $40 worth of gas she added.
Here’s the kicker; the car had half a tank of gas the next time I drove it. So I vowed not to help her again. But she’s just such a whiny yatch. She just won’t leave me alone. Like last night she needed to use my printer to ‘print a couple things’ ….25 pages later….
Am I the only one who can’t stand their sibling?
Last Tuesday, when I took Lmack to see his new home in Guelph, she wanted a ride to Waterloo. So I said fine and asked them each for $10 gas money. Lmack paid me the next day, which I promptly used to purchase tasty chicken wing delight. My sister did not, however.
At some point later in that week, she took the car to London. It had half a tank of gas when I last had it. When I asked for my $10, she told me she had put it in the car (umm, great? Where’s my money?) totaling $40 worth of gas she added.
Here’s the kicker; the car had half a tank of gas the next time I drove it. So I vowed not to help her again. But she’s just such a whiny yatch. She just won’t leave me alone. Like last night she needed to use my printer to ‘print a couple things’ ….25 pages later….
Am I the only one who can’t stand their sibling?
RE: RE: RE: RE: Why Nintendo Will Die
I respect your decision to stand down, but I must reply to some of your points. I also find it slightly saddening that you do not wish to partake in this debate. I’m not trying to stir the pot or bash one thing, just a debate; a discussion.
You still call me a fan boy, saying I’ve ignored the faults of “my console.” I just haven’t brought all of them to the table. The Xbox is loud, its hot, it doesn’t have blu-ray, it doesn’t have a new controller interface (tried & true button mashing), the accessories are overpriced, and the list does go on. The PS3 has much better graphics and sleeker design. This was all brought up talking about the consoles in general, not their games.
You called my first post tactless, thinking only of yourself. The motivation for the post is rooted in a very recent discussion I had at work, coupled with me wanting to post more about gaming. I mentioned the works of this post to Lmack & he said you might have a word or two about it, so I dropped you a comment so you would be sure to check it out. This was never directed at you.
Graphics & a powerful system do not automatically make a more enjoyable experience, I agree. They certainly aid in it though. I also agree that a game isn’t enjoyable if it looks good, but you couple great looks with good game play, and then you’re going to the next level of experience. I’ve seen GT5 for the PS3 and I must say, I had to look twice at the cars; I swore it was actual footage, the graphics are that good. Those graphics, that level of realism, enhances the game play. But NO the graphics are NOT needed to make a good game; they simply make a good game better. And I also fully believe that the PS3 version of any game will always look better than the Xbox 360; not details like sweat but emotion and such which help you relate to your character.
You have also taken the title of my post too literally. The Wii is a great system and is very successful has made Nintendo a lot of money. The problem lies with the bang for buck. Nintendo is raping people’s pockets with the Wii. I do not understand why the system price has not fallen in 2 years, like every other computer related thing. Therefore, the production cost probably fell, while there profits rise. To me, this shows me that they are more so into making money then satisfying their consumers (well, more so than the other corporations). In my mind, this will slowly cause people to stop playing/buying the Wii as the lack of attention might lead to a poorer quality of gaming. Nintendo may be filthy rich, in the console wars they wouldn’t be taken seriously. And if that is the way things go, then I may stop paying attention to them.
Don’t get me wrong Wolfgang. I respect you a great deal. Thanks, that means a lot :)
Valid story? I’m not talking about Metroid or Mario Galaxy, I’m talking about Littlest Pet Shop, We Cheer, We Love Golf!, Active Life Outdoor Challenge, and the list goes on. What kind of story is involved with these games? I would even debate the story in Guitar Hero; if those games didn’t have good music that “you play yourself” then the game would be nothing. Even Wii Sports seems like it would get boring fast. In single player, is it just random matches or is there a tournament you need to win (and why)? I know most games are multiplayer, but then what happened to judging a game by storyline?
That’s sort of the direction I meant with valid story line. Halo 3 has a story (6+ novels worth) which I am in love with. It has a protagonist, conflict, purpose. To me, there seems to be a lot more games that have an uncertain story for the Wii, where as other consoles the games give off a vibe that they have a story (although it may not always be a good one). Other consoles have shitty games too.
I can agree with some of your points, but I disagree with Nintendo’s “philosophy.” I think their approach to the market will end up hurting them at some point. I respect you bowing out, but would like to throw out an old suggestion to RCG: have an online chat/debate lobby.
One last thing: if Nintendo didn’t remove themselves from the hardcore FPS market, or better graphics, with the gyroscope attachment, how cool could the games be?!
You still call me a fan boy, saying I’ve ignored the faults of “my console.” I just haven’t brought all of them to the table. The Xbox is loud, its hot, it doesn’t have blu-ray, it doesn’t have a new controller interface (tried & true button mashing), the accessories are overpriced, and the list does go on. The PS3 has much better graphics and sleeker design. This was all brought up talking about the consoles in general, not their games.
You called my first post tactless, thinking only of yourself. The motivation for the post is rooted in a very recent discussion I had at work, coupled with me wanting to post more about gaming. I mentioned the works of this post to Lmack & he said you might have a word or two about it, so I dropped you a comment so you would be sure to check it out. This was never directed at you.
Graphics & a powerful system do not automatically make a more enjoyable experience, I agree. They certainly aid in it though. I also agree that a game isn’t enjoyable if it looks good, but you couple great looks with good game play, and then you’re going to the next level of experience. I’ve seen GT5 for the PS3 and I must say, I had to look twice at the cars; I swore it was actual footage, the graphics are that good. Those graphics, that level of realism, enhances the game play. But NO the graphics are NOT needed to make a good game; they simply make a good game better. And I also fully believe that the PS3 version of any game will always look better than the Xbox 360; not details like sweat but emotion and such which help you relate to your character.
You have also taken the title of my post too literally. The Wii is a great system and is very successful has made Nintendo a lot of money. The problem lies with the bang for buck. Nintendo is raping people’s pockets with the Wii. I do not understand why the system price has not fallen in 2 years, like every other computer related thing. Therefore, the production cost probably fell, while there profits rise. To me, this shows me that they are more so into making money then satisfying their consumers (well, more so than the other corporations). In my mind, this will slowly cause people to stop playing/buying the Wii as the lack of attention might lead to a poorer quality of gaming. Nintendo may be filthy rich, in the console wars they wouldn’t be taken seriously. And if that is the way things go, then I may stop paying attention to them.
Don’t get me wrong Wolfgang. I respect you a great deal. Thanks, that means a lot :)
Valid story? I’m not talking about Metroid or Mario Galaxy, I’m talking about Littlest Pet Shop, We Cheer, We Love Golf!, Active Life Outdoor Challenge, and the list goes on. What kind of story is involved with these games? I would even debate the story in Guitar Hero; if those games didn’t have good music that “you play yourself” then the game would be nothing. Even Wii Sports seems like it would get boring fast. In single player, is it just random matches or is there a tournament you need to win (and why)? I know most games are multiplayer, but then what happened to judging a game by storyline?
That’s sort of the direction I meant with valid story line. Halo 3 has a story (6+ novels worth) which I am in love with. It has a protagonist, conflict, purpose. To me, there seems to be a lot more games that have an uncertain story for the Wii, where as other consoles the games give off a vibe that they have a story (although it may not always be a good one). Other consoles have shitty games too.
I can agree with some of your points, but I disagree with Nintendo’s “philosophy.” I think their approach to the market will end up hurting them at some point. I respect you bowing out, but would like to throw out an old suggestion to RCG: have an online chat/debate lobby.
One last thing: if Nintendo didn’t remove themselves from the hardcore FPS market, or better graphics, with the gyroscope attachment, how cool could the games be?!
RE: RE: Why Nintendo Will Die
Read this.
Normally i would just make a comment, but there were far too many point I wanted to cover for that.
First off, I didn't realize I was going to war here. I just sent up my flare & was attacked with a torpedo. So I guess the rule of engagement are being ignored. I am disappointed that you would say something such as how narrow minded I am. I am a Halo fan, not a Xbox fan. If i had the money I would also buy a PS3, but I just don't. i was merely point out the benefits the the consoles and overall, the Xbox 360 is the most well rounded. It has the most media options, its at a good price point, its game selection varies from gruesome/freaky genre to the soft/cuddly/rainbow games. It has a vast online community littered with demos, trials & trailers. Its backwards compatible, and does it all while looking fairly nice. The PS3s online community isn't quite up to speed but it does have the blu-ray, along with earth shattering graphics. On the down side, the price is higher and it has a much weaker game selection. The Wi doesn't have the game variety, doesn't have the graphics, doesn't have the media, (to my knowledge) doesn't have the online community, and no longer has the price point.
These are just facts. Is that to say that the PS3 & Wii have no good games? No. Their selection is just limited to certain niches. The PS3, however, has some other appealing options to me where as the Wii still only has the novelty.
So don't call me a fanboy. I am not some senseless college frat. I make my decisions based on facts and logic, and the Xbox 360 happened to be one. I bought my console for Halo 3 (which I admit am I a fan of) but since grown to love as it has provided me with an endless variety of fun; whether I'm brutally murdering terrorists in Army of Two or eating minnows in Feeding Frenzy, playign Tetris, or rolling my Switchball.
Secondly, I never said gaming was a culture. I was referring the the gaming industry/market.
That is my argument.
Continuing that, Nintendo is also recycling game ideas like crazy. Sure the Xbox 360 has another Halo title, but I assure you it doesn't involve saving the damn Princess again from the clutches of Bowser.
Thirdly, graphics are not meaningless. Mega Man was made that way on purpose to recreate the feel of NES for nostalgia purposes. Many games are because its a selling point. I have Doom on my Xbox. A lot arcade games are also remade in modern graphics, but they will also come with their 80s counterparts.
Again, you think I'm only for the new, but I've recently driven to New Dundee just to pay $20 for the SNES title"The legend of Zelda: a link to the past." I love that game, it has great game play and an awesome story. It was one of the gems from its time. Like with anything, you can have good, bad, and awesome. I also still enjoy playing Super Mario RPG, and Super Smash Bros. That doesn't mean graphics are meaningless.
Granted, a lot of todays games may look nice (some not even) but what truly makes a good game is story & game play. And to make a good story, one could argue that you would have to be able to become attached to the character. What better way to become involved with a character then seeing pain in his eyes, or the battle scar on his face. Seeing and living the emotions involved in the story. In the cortana level of Halo 3, if you follow the story, there is a cut scene that chokes me up almost every time I play it. I doubt there would be such involvement if MC was just a floating green blob with unattached arms.
And yes, things should be in HD. Things like the Wii slow down progress. Space travel is expensive because we are using 20 year old technology (the shuttle).
Lastly:
The Wii is fun and I do enjoy playing it form time to time, but my opinion (based upon facts) I do not think it has the power to sustain itself in its little corner in such a vast & diverse market.
PS.
PPS. Love the Thinkpad keyboard, folks.
Normally i would just make a comment, but there were far too many point I wanted to cover for that.
First off, I didn't realize I was going to war here. I just sent up my flare & was attacked with a torpedo. So I guess the rule of engagement are being ignored. I am disappointed that you would say something such as how narrow minded I am. I am a Halo fan, not a Xbox fan. If i had the money I would also buy a PS3, but I just don't. i was merely point out the benefits the the consoles and overall, the Xbox 360 is the most well rounded. It has the most media options, its at a good price point, its game selection varies from gruesome/freaky genre to the soft/cuddly/rainbow games. It has a vast online community littered with demos, trials & trailers. Its backwards compatible, and does it all while looking fairly nice. The PS3s online community isn't quite up to speed but it does have the blu-ray, along with earth shattering graphics. On the down side, the price is higher and it has a much weaker game selection. The Wi doesn't have the game variety, doesn't have the graphics, doesn't have the media, (to my knowledge) doesn't have the online community, and no longer has the price point.
These are just facts. Is that to say that the PS3 & Wii have no good games? No. Their selection is just limited to certain niches. The PS3, however, has some other appealing options to me where as the Wii still only has the novelty.
So don't call me a fanboy. I am not some senseless college frat. I make my decisions based on facts and logic, and the Xbox 360 happened to be one. I bought my console for Halo 3 (which I admit am I a fan of) but since grown to love as it has provided me with an endless variety of fun; whether I'm brutally murdering terrorists in Army of Two or eating minnows in Feeding Frenzy, playign Tetris, or rolling my Switchball.
Secondly, I never said gaming was a culture. I was referring the the gaming industry/market.
Gaming is not a culture. It is an industry.These words are useless in your reply. my post was pointing out why Nintendo was failing at the gaming industry. and you covered it in your post:
Whether you are playing a heated first person shooter with some faceless strangers online or casually harvesting fruits with your girlfriend while you both play Animal Crossing: Wild World, gaming offers a vast assortment of experiences for everyone to enjoy. Not every experience appeals to everyone.I couldn't agree more. That's why Nintendo will lose its market power. It is shifting its focus to the younger, more friendly audience. They are cutting themselves off from the rest of the non-existence gaming culture. Everyone who enjoys killing/shooting/or another kind of behavior that cant be rated 'E' will not want to play a Wii; and that's a lot of gamers.
That is my argument.
Continuing that, Nintendo is also recycling game ideas like crazy. Sure the Xbox 360 has another Halo title, but I assure you it doesn't involve saving the damn Princess again from the clutches of Bowser.
Thirdly, graphics are not meaningless. Mega Man was made that way on purpose to recreate the feel of NES for nostalgia purposes. Many games are because its a selling point. I have Doom on my Xbox. A lot arcade games are also remade in modern graphics, but they will also come with their 80s counterparts.
Again, you think I'm only for the new, but I've recently driven to New Dundee just to pay $20 for the SNES title"The legend of Zelda: a link to the past." I love that game, it has great game play and an awesome story. It was one of the gems from its time. Like with anything, you can have good, bad, and awesome. I also still enjoy playing Super Mario RPG, and Super Smash Bros. That doesn't mean graphics are meaningless.
Granted, a lot of todays games may look nice (some not even) but what truly makes a good game is story & game play. And to make a good story, one could argue that you would have to be able to become attached to the character. What better way to become involved with a character then seeing pain in his eyes, or the battle scar on his face. Seeing and living the emotions involved in the story. In the cortana level of Halo 3, if you follow the story, there is a cut scene that chokes me up almost every time I play it. I doubt there would be such involvement if MC was just a floating green blob with unattached arms.
And yes, things should be in HD. Things like the Wii slow down progress. Space travel is expensive because we are using 20 year old technology (the shuttle).
Lastly:
Gamers and the console war is a massive discussion over people’s favourite colours. How can you justify saying what is better and what is worse?How can I justify it? Technical testing & theoretical performance evaluation shows that the PS3 is the most powerful & most capable console on the market. I justify saying the Xbox has the best value by stating its myriad or options, features and choices that it gives the user. And I justify Nintendo no longer being a serious competitor through their poorly executed 'innovative' control interface (third party is developing motion controls for the PS3/Xbox360, so the Wii may soon not even have that) EDIT: and their small selection of game types.
The Wii is fun and I do enjoy playing it form time to time, but my opinion (based upon facts) I do not think it has the power to sustain itself in its little corner in such a vast & diverse market.
PS.
If people did this about coin collecting or book clubs, people would get laughed at.Most gamers are nerds/geeky to some extent, and we do get made fun of for it. It is a part of the life we chose.
PPS. Love the Thinkpad keyboard, folks.
Why Nintendo Will Die
Yes, I said it. Nintendo sucks and is slowly dying a painful death. Deal with it. The company had a good run, but I really think its time for them to throw in the towel.
Now, I’m sure I just pissed off some (if not all) of the RCG, but, well… deal with it. I’m sure your first reaction if to throw the Wii sales records at me, but you need to wait; you can do that when I have my rifle shouldered and I yell ‘pull.’
Hardware/Graphics
We all know it; the Wii has the equivalent processor of your Timex digital watch. Okay, so it’s not that bad, but when you consider its November 2006 launch date, its hardware is way behind the time. Granted it was relatively cheap ($280) on launch, the sheer lack of binary crunching this thing can do is shameful at best.
When you compare the data crunching abilities with the $500 Xbox 360 (Now $300, $200 for the core console; its cheaper, bitches) which was released a full year earlier, there isn’t even a contest.
All of these lowered prices/usefulness results in a shitty modern gaming experience. Had the Wii been 5 years sooner, it would be great, seeing as the graphics aren’t all that better than the GameCube. Well, that’s okay too, because the Wii doesn’t have HD capabilities.
“Who cares about HD, I don’t have an HDTV anyway.” Well:
1. You suck; HD is awesome and is becoming the standard.
2. Just because you don’t care about HD and a better gaming experience, doesn’t mean we should all suffer.
Now granted, not everyone is a (different levels of) graphics whore, but come on, have you ever played a text base game that’s as fun and addicting as anything current? I’d like to point out that the Wii HD (succor to Wii) is said be released 2010 at the earliest (or so rumours the internets). HDTVs have been publically available since 1998. Twelve years behind. Way to go.
Games & Play
The game play for the Wii games has fallen into a niche category. They are mostly fun, colourful kid games that the whole family can enjoy. Which I think is great. It helps bring families & friends together to laugh & have fun. This however, has no place in the video game industry.
This isn’t to say I think the Wii is bad, because I like playing tennis on it; its great fun. Do I own a Wii? No. Will I buy one? No. This is because the Wii isn’t for gamers (also, the effect of most Wii games can be simulated & improved by simply masturbating). It has a certain novelty to it which it can (and does) quickly lose.
Granted, I have heard good things about Mario Galaxy (I haven’t really heard anything bad about any Mario World games) alone with a few others, but for the most part, Wii has been losing the ‘gamer’ crowd as they have been focusing on “Rated ‘E’ for everyone.” I’ve heard rumours that the Zelda game is basically the previous Zelda game with Wii controls. So not only does the system suck, but the games have lost their substance and have been boiled down to internet flash games without the nudity & violence.
Conclusion
All in all, the Wii is great at what it does (at least until your wrist gets sore from not actually masturbating), although it has no place within the video game industry. As far as myself, I am an Xbox 360 fan, & here is where I think each console succeeds;
Graphics: PS3
HD Playing Capabilities: PS3 (because of built in blu-ray. Also, Microsoft could make a blu-ray USB add on)
Game Selection: Xbox 360
Online Community: Xbox 360 (the PS3 world thingy sounds neat, but ultimately useless & inefficient; it reminds me of playing GTA without objectives or violence)
Media Center: Xbox 360 (Netflix in Canada?)
Fun Little Mini Games: Xbox 360 Arcade
Overall Best Value/Most Entertainment: Xbox 360
Best Exercise Machine: Wii
By the way, whose bright idea was it to combine exercise & video games anyway? The Wii defiantly lives up to the stereotype that if you don’t like video games, buy a console.
Now, I’m sure I just pissed off some (if not all) of the RCG, but, well… deal with it. I’m sure your first reaction if to throw the Wii sales records at me, but you need to wait; you can do that when I have my rifle shouldered and I yell ‘pull.’
Hardware/Graphics
We all know it; the Wii has the equivalent processor of your Timex digital watch. Okay, so it’s not that bad, but when you consider its November 2006 launch date, its hardware is way behind the time. Granted it was relatively cheap ($280) on launch, the sheer lack of binary crunching this thing can do is shameful at best.
When you compare the data crunching abilities with the $500 Xbox 360 (Now $300, $200 for the core console; its cheaper, bitches) which was released a full year earlier, there isn’t even a contest.
All of these lowered prices/usefulness results in a shitty modern gaming experience. Had the Wii been 5 years sooner, it would be great, seeing as the graphics aren’t all that better than the GameCube. Well, that’s okay too, because the Wii doesn’t have HD capabilities.
“Who cares about HD, I don’t have an HDTV anyway.” Well:
1. You suck; HD is awesome and is becoming the standard.
2. Just because you don’t care about HD and a better gaming experience, doesn’t mean we should all suffer.
Now granted, not everyone is a (different levels of) graphics whore, but come on, have you ever played a text base game that’s as fun and addicting as anything current? I’d like to point out that the Wii HD (succor to Wii) is said be released 2010 at the earliest (or so rumours the internets). HDTVs have been publically available since 1998. Twelve years behind. Way to go.
Games & Play
The game play for the Wii games has fallen into a niche category. They are mostly fun, colourful kid games that the whole family can enjoy. Which I think is great. It helps bring families & friends together to laugh & have fun. This however, has no place in the video game industry.
This isn’t to say I think the Wii is bad, because I like playing tennis on it; its great fun. Do I own a Wii? No. Will I buy one? No. This is because the Wii isn’t for gamers (also, the effect of most Wii games can be simulated & improved by simply masturbating). It has a certain novelty to it which it can (and does) quickly lose.
Granted, I have heard good things about Mario Galaxy (I haven’t really heard anything bad about any Mario World games) alone with a few others, but for the most part, Wii has been losing the ‘gamer’ crowd as they have been focusing on “Rated ‘E’ for everyone.” I’ve heard rumours that the Zelda game is basically the previous Zelda game with Wii controls. So not only does the system suck, but the games have lost their substance and have been boiled down to internet flash games without the nudity & violence.
Conclusion
All in all, the Wii is great at what it does (at least until your wrist gets sore from not actually masturbating), although it has no place within the video game industry. As far as myself, I am an Xbox 360 fan, & here is where I think each console succeeds;
Graphics: PS3
HD Playing Capabilities: PS3 (because of built in blu-ray. Also, Microsoft could make a blu-ray USB add on)
Game Selection: Xbox 360
Online Community: Xbox 360 (the PS3 world thingy sounds neat, but ultimately useless & inefficient; it reminds me of playing GTA without objectives or violence)
Media Center: Xbox 360 (Netflix in Canada?)
Fun Little Mini Games: Xbox 360 Arcade
Overall Best Value/Most Entertainment: Xbox 360
Best Exercise Machine: Wii
By the way, whose bright idea was it to combine exercise & video games anyway? The Wii defiantly lives up to the stereotype that if you don’t like video games, buy a console.
Late Last Night I Had Me A Dream, I Was Out Fishin' In A Whiskey Stream, Baited My Hook With Apple-Jack, Threw Out A Drink, Drug A Gallon Back
So, with Lmack leaving town this weekend, I am left alone. These past few weeks have been spend soaking in time with my buddy before his departure, playing Xbox.
As sad and depressing as that sounds, my weekends so far this term have been very eventful with 2 dragonboat festivals and party, a day trip to Waterloo to see Tinglez. This coming weekend I'm helping Lmack move and on Sunday, I'm going to be taking part in a 5km fun run for breast cancer with Tinglez & family. I've also been invited to 3 parties in London curiosity of Mass, all of which I have been too busy to attend.
Soon to be alone, I feel like my life will become meaningless; playing games, watching my life shrink away. But then i remember the plans I made when I found out he was leaving. I'm going to start working out a couple times a week, possibly running a mile everyday after work. I want to get back on my drums, as I havent touched them in over 6 months. Gary from the DB team plays guitar, and at the party, I proposed to jam with him sometime, so I thought I'd facebook him after I got back into the swing of things.
I'm also working with some cool students, Joe & Dan; although I don't actually work with Dan. I'll have to hang out with them and socialize this term. I really need to make some more friends. I'd also like to get out, visit friends in other cities like Mass/Jess, Claudio, Bren. My social experiences have been limited. This is something my life needs more of.
So for now, I prepare to say goodbye to a dear friend. In the words of Bungie: "The night is darkest before the dawn.... Dawn is about to break."
As sad and depressing as that sounds, my weekends so far this term have been very eventful with 2 dragonboat festivals and party, a day trip to Waterloo to see Tinglez. This coming weekend I'm helping Lmack move and on Sunday, I'm going to be taking part in a 5km fun run for breast cancer with Tinglez & family. I've also been invited to 3 parties in London curiosity of Mass, all of which I have been too busy to attend.
Soon to be alone, I feel like my life will become meaningless; playing games, watching my life shrink away. But then i remember the plans I made when I found out he was leaving. I'm going to start working out a couple times a week, possibly running a mile everyday after work. I want to get back on my drums, as I havent touched them in over 6 months. Gary from the DB team plays guitar, and at the party, I proposed to jam with him sometime, so I thought I'd facebook him after I got back into the swing of things.
I'm also working with some cool students, Joe & Dan; although I don't actually work with Dan. I'll have to hang out with them and socialize this term. I really need to make some more friends. I'd also like to get out, visit friends in other cities like Mass/Jess, Claudio, Bren. My social experiences have been limited. This is something my life needs more of.
So for now, I prepare to say goodbye to a dear friend. In the words of Bungie: "The night is darkest before the dawn.... Dawn is about to break."
This Warthog Should Help You Punch On Through
It's been over a year now since the release of Halo 3 and my obsession with the Halo Universe has grown exponentially. The last years has been birthing grounds to the Uprising comics, the halo graphic novel (I read it this year, it has been out for longer), Contact Harvest, 7 new maps from Bungie, a super suspenseful trailer for a campaign expansion, TU2, a Mythic Map pack (6 maps) announcement, as well as an announcement for the 6th book; The Cole Protocol. The new book (along with Halo Wars) is supposed to be released this November.
So, needler-less to say, I’m excited. The story has become so intricate that Lmack and I now debate possible puncture in Halo cannon. I have ascended to true greek-dom, although I still remain a nerd.
Uprising
These are a great little comic series. I was never really into comics, and I am still not. But this 4 volume series fills the gap between Halo 2 & 3, providing some awesome art work along the way.
Graphic Novel
Same benefits as Uprising, only it provides details of other parts along the story line.
Contact Harvest
This book is great story looking at life before the Covenant and how the war began through Johnsons’ eyes.
New Maps
Although only 1 map was free, I bought them anyway like a sucker. Sadly, I only really like 2 of the 6 I paid for.
Heroic:
Standoff – This isn’t bad for objective based games like CTF or Assault, but its not great either. The bases sit on either side of a valley, making it very open.
Rat’s Nest – Again, not bad for Assault, CTF, or rocket race, but it just doesn’t have a good flow in my mind.
Foundry – I like this one, although I’m not always in the mood for it. It does allow for a lot of customization (aka many great home-made maps) and also gave birth to Griffball; the best game since the game itself.
Legendary:
Blackout – Good slayer map, awesome remake of Halo 2’s Lockout, which sucked.
Ghost Town – This is an okay map I suppose, but for slayer only.
Avalanche – Huge map, remake of Halo:CE Sidewinder. Makes a good heavy map, but the fighting still just doesn’t do it for me.
Bungie Day:
Cold Storage – Remake of Halo:CE’s Chill Out. Redone very well, plays slightly differently than its precursor, but is the best remake & one of the best small maps.
Halo Wars
This will be interesting. It’s an RTS (of which I’ve heard they did an awesome job of turning over to console controls) based on the 5 year battle to reclaim Harvest. It sounds fun, but I’m not big into RTSs, so we will see.
The Cole Protocol
I’m very excited about this. People are saying it will cover the mysterious mission of Grey Team. It will defiantly be killer.
TU2
Title update 2 was big. It released 10 new achievements worth 250GS along with a new annoying playlist exp system. It’s annoying because for the next month, you will be leveling every 5 seconds. It’s cool because now you can become a General in Griffball. It also included various playlist tweaks & a new banhammer. Yeah.
Mythic
Mythic is supposed to be 6 new multiplayer maps. Some theories about it being new campaign have surfaced, but died when TU2 also showed 10 new achievements (so 20 total), worth 500GS for these new mythic maps, which clearly indicate they are multiplayer.
Keep It Clean / Pardon Our Dust / Prepare To Drop
This is awesome. Bungie released a seemingly empty trailer for a new campaign expansion. When you watch closely, you notice things like a sign that says “City of New Mombasa” and a Covenant cruiser in the distance before a large explosion. The date on the camera along with the city, indicate that it is Regret’s ship, and the explosion is really an EMP, indicating a slipspace jump (aka. About 25% of the way into Halo 2 story).
There are also things that fall from the sky right before the EMP, and on closer inspection are HEVs for the badass ODSTs. And it looks like theres only one pod that makes it down. People are saying that the expansion will be in Halo2 time when Master Chief is on the Delta Halo, and you get to play as an ODST. However, I can’t remember at this point in time when Fred, Will, and Linda left for Oynx, but it is possible for it to be a Spartan-II. Either way, I’m wetting my pants.
I fucking love Halo.
So, needler-less to say, I’m excited. The story has become so intricate that Lmack and I now debate possible puncture in Halo cannon. I have ascended to true greek-dom, although I still remain a nerd.
Uprising
These are a great little comic series. I was never really into comics, and I am still not. But this 4 volume series fills the gap between Halo 2 & 3, providing some awesome art work along the way.
Graphic Novel
Same benefits as Uprising, only it provides details of other parts along the story line.
Contact Harvest
This book is great story looking at life before the Covenant and how the war began through Johnsons’ eyes.
New Maps
Although only 1 map was free, I bought them anyway like a sucker. Sadly, I only really like 2 of the 6 I paid for.
Heroic:
Standoff – This isn’t bad for objective based games like CTF or Assault, but its not great either. The bases sit on either side of a valley, making it very open.
Rat’s Nest – Again, not bad for Assault, CTF, or rocket race, but it just doesn’t have a good flow in my mind.
Foundry – I like this one, although I’m not always in the mood for it. It does allow for a lot of customization (aka many great home-made maps) and also gave birth to Griffball; the best game since the game itself.
Legendary:
Blackout – Good slayer map, awesome remake of Halo 2’s Lockout, which sucked.
Ghost Town – This is an okay map I suppose, but for slayer only.
Avalanche – Huge map, remake of Halo:CE Sidewinder. Makes a good heavy map, but the fighting still just doesn’t do it for me.
Bungie Day:
Cold Storage – Remake of Halo:CE’s Chill Out. Redone very well, plays slightly differently than its precursor, but is the best remake & one of the best small maps.
Halo Wars
This will be interesting. It’s an RTS (of which I’ve heard they did an awesome job of turning over to console controls) based on the 5 year battle to reclaim Harvest. It sounds fun, but I’m not big into RTSs, so we will see.
The Cole Protocol
I’m very excited about this. People are saying it will cover the mysterious mission of Grey Team. It will defiantly be killer.
TU2
Title update 2 was big. It released 10 new achievements worth 250GS along with a new annoying playlist exp system. It’s annoying because for the next month, you will be leveling every 5 seconds. It’s cool because now you can become a General in Griffball. It also included various playlist tweaks & a new banhammer. Yeah.
Mythic
Mythic is supposed to be 6 new multiplayer maps. Some theories about it being new campaign have surfaced, but died when TU2 also showed 10 new achievements (so 20 total), worth 500GS for these new mythic maps, which clearly indicate they are multiplayer.
Keep It Clean / Pardon Our Dust / Prepare To Drop
This is awesome. Bungie released a seemingly empty trailer for a new campaign expansion. When you watch closely, you notice things like a sign that says “City of New Mombasa” and a Covenant cruiser in the distance before a large explosion. The date on the camera along with the city, indicate that it is Regret’s ship, and the explosion is really an EMP, indicating a slipspace jump (aka. About 25% of the way into Halo 2 story).
There are also things that fall from the sky right before the EMP, and on closer inspection are HEVs for the badass ODSTs. And it looks like theres only one pod that makes it down. People are saying that the expansion will be in Halo2 time when Master Chief is on the Delta Halo, and you get to play as an ODST. However, I can’t remember at this point in time when Fred, Will, and Linda left for Oynx, but it is possible for it to be a Spartan-II. Either way, I’m wetting my pants.
I fucking love Halo.
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