Perhaps my title is misleading. Perhaps I can't think of a better one since it's 11 PM. Perhaps I want to mislead you. Perhaps no one is reading so I'm pondering this to myself, but I will continue nonetheless to give it to the many people on my MSN list.
Now, what is my point? People have had a long history of blaming things for ruining the youth. In history, when it was invented, music poetry and etc. That could've ruined them. Moving up more recently as to the 1960's, it could've been comic books. Well, now the baby boom read plenty of comic books. Now most of them are in their fifties, and are they rampaging murderers? No. Hell, they even filed a decency act for them.
Before that, rock music. Now, where does this fit in? Video games are just the new iteration. Why? Because much like some rock music and comic books, it has things that could be deemed "offensive". Generally, there are just people who think us children should be bubble wrapped and protected from the world. But, in the end what does that do? Just makes us squirm for it more. In my opinion, in a perfect world noone would complain about violent video games and they'd just become the norm and sit. Not the most popular, but definetely a genre.
I honestly think there is no such thing as FPSes ruining someone. If you want to ruin them, give them drugs. Some people would call video games the opiate of the masses, but it is certainly not a drug. It hardly does any harm unless your one of those people who so desperately needs evidence that they are that you publish reports and go around and hunt down every little wrong and offensive thing then gathers people and forces them to play it just so you can say "HERE THEY ARE THE EVILS NOW!" and then count this with the fact the columbine kids *may* have been inspired by doom.
But this isn't the first case, even something as rudimentary as space invaders was to be called as an evil. As more advanced games come along, and it still doesn't make people blend with reality, it's hard to say that video games harm anyone.
Unless your one of those stuck up mothers who worries about such things.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
Monday, November 3, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Mold Spores in the wind
I believe I dabbled on this in my complaint about The Sims. Poor spore, you were going to be so great. I feel that I actually should make this post entirely exclusive from the rest since I actually keep having the same reserve of complaints for it.
First, subject matter. Scientists have actually verified evolutionwise, spore sucks. I could agree, but what was it going to be before hand? If anyone has seen the original demo ('05) from will wright (Which I will embed in it's 36 minute glory below this paragraph) You'd know that he made it so that the evolution (Not the space stage) Was a smooth and flowing process. First you are a cell, then you are a fish, then you grow legs after you can save for them and walk out on land. Okay a bit jittery. But then you grow your nest to a tribal ground as your species brain evolves. Then after that, expanding your tribal ground through various upgrades until it's a cityscape, then eventually the ability to save up enough RTS like resources to buy a spaceship. It would be one continous smooth game, and could take anywhere from hours to something like a full game of Civilization.
Just skip through it. Okay maybe I rawly estimated some bits but Mr. Wright did fastforward over the cell stage to fish part. And the tribe to civ. Anyways, still, much more beautiful and slightly more scientifically accurate than the spore we have now, where from being a small cell, you turn into a creatures with legs. Yeah. Wait-- WTF? Yeah. That's what I'm thinking.
My entire case rests on the whole "Evolution is gradual" proccess. Spore screwed up by being instant. Tribe to civ - BAM! Creature to sentient - BAM! Cell to creature - BAM! Now, is that how evolution worked? Did we just pop out a new extension on a millenia by millenia basis? If you really want to think hard evolution is really the proccess of reproduction and how it sees the world fit. Generation after generation it's just more births. Kind of sporeish. Give or take it'd be speeding up the proccess no mater what but still.
So, what else has the new game done? No strategic placement of body parts. I believe it's Brian Crecente's FruitFucker(TM) (From kotaku.com) would work the same as oh say one of those spore creation contest ones that looks like a nineteenfifties style robot just as long as you put a few horns on it and it'll try to badly animate it versus figure out where it was.
Why you ask? As I pointed out, for the sake of casual gaming. What kind of normal, sims loving, let's play barbie style sims person would ever want to strategize where to put the horns on their monster? Why have to make a butterfly monster and figure out it'd never survive? Exactly. Spore is essentially a dress up barbie kit trying to pretend to be part of a bigger world. It's no original idea, it's all about customization *that doesn't matter* much like the sims. When you think about it, the person who like virtual barbie would make their sim look as nice as they want them too. And does it effect them? No.
Spore has become an essential drain of a good idea into a thing attempting to be the sims. Because EA wants it to. I thought it'd be a cold day in hell before gaming became mainstream, but it is.
I still whine and moan, and since I don't know where to go, I'm ending this blog post.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
(And yet still noone reads this blog)
First, subject matter. Scientists have actually verified evolutionwise, spore sucks. I could agree, but what was it going to be before hand? If anyone has seen the original demo ('05) from will wright (Which I will embed in it's 36 minute glory below this paragraph) You'd know that he made it so that the evolution (Not the space stage) Was a smooth and flowing process. First you are a cell, then you are a fish, then you grow legs after you can save for them and walk out on land. Okay a bit jittery. But then you grow your nest to a tribal ground as your species brain evolves. Then after that, expanding your tribal ground through various upgrades until it's a cityscape, then eventually the ability to save up enough RTS like resources to buy a spaceship. It would be one continous smooth game, and could take anywhere from hours to something like a full game of Civilization.
Just skip through it. Okay maybe I rawly estimated some bits but Mr. Wright did fastforward over the cell stage to fish part. And the tribe to civ. Anyways, still, much more beautiful and slightly more scientifically accurate than the spore we have now, where from being a small cell, you turn into a creatures with legs. Yeah. Wait-- WTF? Yeah. That's what I'm thinking.
My entire case rests on the whole "Evolution is gradual" proccess. Spore screwed up by being instant. Tribe to civ - BAM! Creature to sentient - BAM! Cell to creature - BAM! Now, is that how evolution worked? Did we just pop out a new extension on a millenia by millenia basis? If you really want to think hard evolution is really the proccess of reproduction and how it sees the world fit. Generation after generation it's just more births. Kind of sporeish. Give or take it'd be speeding up the proccess no mater what but still.
So, what else has the new game done? No strategic placement of body parts. I believe it's Brian Crecente's FruitFucker(TM) (From kotaku.com) would work the same as oh say one of those spore creation contest ones that looks like a nineteenfifties style robot just as long as you put a few horns on it and it'll try to badly animate it versus figure out where it was.
Why you ask? As I pointed out, for the sake of casual gaming. What kind of normal, sims loving, let's play barbie style sims person would ever want to strategize where to put the horns on their monster? Why have to make a butterfly monster and figure out it'd never survive? Exactly. Spore is essentially a dress up barbie kit trying to pretend to be part of a bigger world. It's no original idea, it's all about customization *that doesn't matter* much like the sims. When you think about it, the person who like virtual barbie would make their sim look as nice as they want them too. And does it effect them? No.
Spore has become an essential drain of a good idea into a thing attempting to be the sims. Because EA wants it to. I thought it'd be a cold day in hell before gaming became mainstream, but it is.
I still whine and moan, and since I don't know where to go, I'm ending this blog post.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
(And yet still noone reads this blog)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The little campaign that couldn't
Well, it's been a long time during the american campaign hasn't it? It's lasted for a good long Year and 1/4th almost (Not a precise estimate), but generally everyone's been duking it out. Originally it was the fact that the republicans had extremely low ratings, but the other two candidates fought and while John McCain waited they dropped out. McCain still stood still essentially.
Then a bit later, when hillary dropped just a bit the massive following of Obama the new messiah came in, and hillary still wanted to fight. Eventually she dropped out and Obama still remained, albeit with a bit less of his god like fanbase.
So we had some constant campaiging and attack ads until recently McCain seemed to start frothing at the mouth and being angry. And that's where he lost. I really consider the turning point the debate, since we all saw his true side -there-. He just went on and on about the cold war, let's fund the war, nuclear power, off shore drilling and really, do we remember the last president like this? Yes, the one in office, Bush Jr.
There was the brief moment that it was a controversial choice, choosing palin, which was another downfall. She looked good for the campaign, but then we found out she was stupid, quoth the actual interview: "You can see parts of russia from here in alaska". No, not the SNL skit. The actual words from her mouth. How many people like stupid people in presidency? Our president currently is a good example.
So what does it mean now? Well, as we've seen everyone loves obama for no reason. But it seems there's just general doldrums with the attack ads. They aren't doing much. I'm honestly getting a bit sick of it, but unbeknownst to me, as I've already deduced that McCain is going to lose, in the last minutes of life in the campaign, he's launching a infomercial. Something like that, at least what I heard on CNN.
I just believe you'd know your campaign is screwed when you need a 30 minute commercial to vote for you as a president. I just believe.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
Then a bit later, when hillary dropped just a bit the massive following of Obama the new messiah came in, and hillary still wanted to fight. Eventually she dropped out and Obama still remained, albeit with a bit less of his god like fanbase.
So we had some constant campaiging and attack ads until recently McCain seemed to start frothing at the mouth and being angry. And that's where he lost. I really consider the turning point the debate, since we all saw his true side -there-. He just went on and on about the cold war, let's fund the war, nuclear power, off shore drilling and really, do we remember the last president like this? Yes, the one in office, Bush Jr.
There was the brief moment that it was a controversial choice, choosing palin, which was another downfall. She looked good for the campaign, but then we found out she was stupid, quoth the actual interview: "You can see parts of russia from here in alaska". No, not the SNL skit. The actual words from her mouth. How many people like stupid people in presidency? Our president currently is a good example.
So what does it mean now? Well, as we've seen everyone loves obama for no reason. But it seems there's just general doldrums with the attack ads. They aren't doing much. I'm honestly getting a bit sick of it, but unbeknownst to me, as I've already deduced that McCain is going to lose, in the last minutes of life in the campaign, he's launching a infomercial. Something like that, at least what I heard on CNN.
I just believe you'd know your campaign is screwed when you need a 30 minute commercial to vote for you as a president. I just believe.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
Monday, October 27, 2008
Bejeweled twist
I wasn't going to make some corny pun title. No, that'd be too underestimating of you, the lowely few spam bots and the zero readers. Feels like talking to myself, but who knows who's going to read me. Anyways, I suppose I'll finally make a review here living up to my title:
Today, it's popcap's latest (just today) release, bejewled twist. Being the cheapskate that I am, I only got the trial and await it's pirating onto the internet in which case I can complain about the other two modes. So, what did I think? Well, I thought many things.
First, it's the new bejeweled. Okay that's good, as much as I resent the casual games movement, popcap has a somewhat soft place in my heart. I remember my old iMac which had the ancient trial version. Ahh, the days long ago. But, is it really worth the title of "Making casual games history"? No. To make history in this sense, you have to essentially change the way the industry thinks forever. Now while it's not the same as the last two, is it a concept much like the sims that is universally applicable? No.
However more importantly, not all shiny graphics and such: Is it fun? I could say probably yes. I haven't been stuck with it long enough to say that I love it or not. The new gameplay mechanic is fairly simple and is actually a bit more diverse than the last one. It's very simple: You get a twisty wheelish thing and it turns the jewels around, you position them so it's three of them. However I was hoping this was some sort of scroll wheel/right click deal because I miss the old bejewled. Really it would fit well either way. The powerup jewels for big combos are back, this time somewhat a la bomberman.
Today, it's popcap's latest (just today) release, bejewled twist. Being the cheapskate that I am, I only got the trial and await it's pirating onto the internet in which case I can complain about the other two modes. So, what did I think? Well, I thought many things.
First, it's the new bejeweled. Okay that's good, as much as I resent the casual games movement, popcap has a somewhat soft place in my heart. I remember my old iMac which had the ancient trial version. Ahh, the days long ago. But, is it really worth the title of "Making casual games history"? No. To make history in this sense, you have to essentially change the way the industry thinks forever. Now while it's not the same as the last two, is it a concept much like the sims that is universally applicable? No.
However more importantly, not all shiny graphics and such: Is it fun? I could say probably yes. I haven't been stuck with it long enough to say that I love it or not. The new gameplay mechanic is fairly simple and is actually a bit more diverse than the last one. It's very simple: You get a twisty wheelish thing and it turns the jewels around, you position them so it's three of them. However I was hoping this was some sort of scroll wheel/right click deal because I miss the old bejewled. Really it would fit well either way. The powerup jewels for big combos are back, this time somewhat a la bomberman.
But that's what stands out. Actually I just finished getting the completed version (Yes I'm writing this in two shifts being a lazy blog person) and actually do have to say that the graphics are what makes this enjoyable. The point of an addicting casual game for me is not neccesarily the gameplay in a sense, but the big flashy things that light up as you get that combo that you never thought possible and the entire screen starts in bright flashy colors that somehow make it feel fun. It's what worked for platformers anyways, so I suppose a screenshot would suffice:
Sorry for the formatting issue but it looks nice there, anyways, if you'll see it now has those explosive gems and the board leaps and distorts and such, and if you just love seeing yourself make small gem tiles explode, it comes with a new instant replay button much inspired by it's neighbor peggle.
But ultimately: Do I like the game? I'd say yes. For those of you unimaginative people, I'll just give it a 8/10 because I still want the old game mechanic as a added bonus and I don't consider this too much of a surprise. I was hoping it had something more in stock for me.
Oh well, back to the drawing board. If anyone actually wants it, you could pay up the cash, or go search for it on a torrent site, I personally recommend the latter.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
But ultimately: Do I like the game? I'd say yes. For those of you unimaginative people, I'll just give it a 8/10 because I still want the old game mechanic as a added bonus and I don't consider this too much of a surprise. I was hoping it had something more in stock for me.
Oh well, back to the drawing board. If anyone actually wants it, you could pay up the cash, or go search for it on a torrent site, I personally recommend the latter.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Death of the sims
I suppose first this is a bit abrupt, perhaps it's just it's late at night and I've gone nuts, or perhaps I just felt the need to write. Anyways I suppose first I was going to review everything I pirated from the internets. Then secondly I suppose I blog about things I'm thinking about, not my life since I covet privacy a bit too much.
Anyways, I suppose I'll just get started:
The death of the "Sims" series, it seems a bit too impending. Okay, what inspired me to start this? I did not know that "D-gamer" some sort of disney gaming membership majig is integrated with "Simanimals", and it isn't a disney specific game. Guess who's in charge of it? EA? Yes you guessed right!
I have some sympathy for maxis and will wright. Long ago there was a point where they were just a small company and had the big hit simcity. I'm not sure if the sims was under electronic arts after the buyout already.
But hey, those games were great weren't they? I mean even though I'm spoiled with nice graphics, I actually liked the original simcity once I tried it out. 3000 is my favorite etc. but, to the point, those were great and such, so what happens when EA finds out the sims is the best selling game of all time?
Will Wright is the new gaming messiah! Let's make him give us everything so we'll make more money! Let's just rush it since he's that great! Backing into another subject of the sim-line: Spore. Spore I admit was a game I was hyped about. I wanted to love it. The presentations were grand. But then wha--? We have a new spore? Aimed at "casual gamers"? Pulling another rule from nintendo: Let's target the audience now! Plan ahead later!
Now, face it, people who barely want to be hardcore leaning on the "Popcap" gamer as I suppose I will coin it, love it since it embraces their odd love of a Mr. Potato-head style creator and makes a shiny appearance in game. They all love it, but me being the original audience is pissed off.
So there's one more rushed sim flop. I mean it has barely -any- content in the way of game playing. But the original was so smooth and polished and felt like real evolution not a clunky "LETS STICK MOAR PARTS ON" Sort of a deal.
But hey, it sold well right guys? Let's make another few things to make those people cash in to us who loved the sims! Like Mysims! And Mysims party! Mysims kingdom! Cute and creepy parts expansion pack for spore! SPORE SPACE EXPLORATION PACK! THE URBZ! THE BARELY WORKED ON AND NOW EVEN MORE FUTILEY DEVELOPED SIMS 3!
The list goes -on and on-. People hate the expansion things yes, but I feel the real people feeling the burn soon will be electronic arts. They've made their cash and such, but they've sucked almost all life out of the sims series. Even the sims 3 has the sims reduced to four stats. What happened to the micromanagement we so longed for? Replaced by a mechanism so stupid that you could make your sims rich by just pressing the left button repeatedly.
It is that all this rambling gathers to my point: The sims and it's fifteen offspring parshially developed by EA's maxis department and mostly not have little or no quality and are being rushed quickly. The concepts grow unoriginal, and it seems like an excuse for people to buy them. I believe the sims have little life left in them, good riddance I say. Good riddance.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
Anyways, I suppose I'll just get started:
The death of the "Sims" series, it seems a bit too impending. Okay, what inspired me to start this? I did not know that "D-gamer" some sort of disney gaming membership majig is integrated with "Simanimals", and it isn't a disney specific game. Guess who's in charge of it? EA? Yes you guessed right!
I have some sympathy for maxis and will wright. Long ago there was a point where they were just a small company and had the big hit simcity. I'm not sure if the sims was under electronic arts after the buyout already.
But hey, those games were great weren't they? I mean even though I'm spoiled with nice graphics, I actually liked the original simcity once I tried it out. 3000 is my favorite etc. but, to the point, those were great and such, so what happens when EA finds out the sims is the best selling game of all time?
Will Wright is the new gaming messiah! Let's make him give us everything so we'll make more money! Let's just rush it since he's that great! Backing into another subject of the sim-line: Spore. Spore I admit was a game I was hyped about. I wanted to love it. The presentations were grand. But then wha--? We have a new spore? Aimed at "casual gamers"? Pulling another rule from nintendo: Let's target the audience now! Plan ahead later!
Now, face it, people who barely want to be hardcore leaning on the "Popcap" gamer as I suppose I will coin it, love it since it embraces their odd love of a Mr. Potato-head style creator and makes a shiny appearance in game. They all love it, but me being the original audience is pissed off.
So there's one more rushed sim flop. I mean it has barely -any- content in the way of game playing. But the original was so smooth and polished and felt like real evolution not a clunky "LETS STICK MOAR PARTS ON" Sort of a deal.
But hey, it sold well right guys? Let's make another few things to make those people cash in to us who loved the sims! Like Mysims! And Mysims party! Mysims kingdom! Cute and creepy parts expansion pack for spore! SPORE SPACE EXPLORATION PACK! THE URBZ! THE BARELY WORKED ON AND NOW EVEN MORE FUTILEY DEVELOPED SIMS 3!
The list goes -on and on-. People hate the expansion things yes, but I feel the real people feeling the burn soon will be electronic arts. They've made their cash and such, but they've sucked almost all life out of the sims series. Even the sims 3 has the sims reduced to four stats. What happened to the micromanagement we so longed for? Replaced by a mechanism so stupid that you could make your sims rich by just pressing the left button repeatedly.
It is that all this rambling gathers to my point: The sims and it's fifteen offspring parshially developed by EA's maxis department and mostly not have little or no quality and are being rushed quickly. The concepts grow unoriginal, and it seems like an excuse for people to buy them. I believe the sims have little life left in them, good riddance I say. Good riddance.
Adieu,
Dr. Random
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