Tetris!

In this week's episode of PBS's "GameShow," Jamin examined why people love Tetris so much and why it's impossible to win.  Here is the video:

I think everyone has probably played Tetris at some point and it has become a mainstay in gaming.  There's something very psychologically satisfying about playing Tetris and I thought it was interesting that brain chemistry actually changes while playing.  Making all those pieces fit together just makes you feel good and you gain a sense of accomplishment from quickly manipulating the blocks exactly how you want them.  The music, the blocks....there's just something great about Tetris.

I can't believe that Tetris has been around for as long as it has and that it's still just as popular today as it was in the 1980's.  It's also oddly satisfying to know the RNG has been screwing people over since the days of original Tetris.

There's a New Shadowrun Game on the Block.

As I logged into Steam yesterday with the intent of causing more mayhem in Grand Theft Auto V, my eye was instead drawn to the blazing light of an advertisement on the store page.  The ad was for a new Shadowrun game called Shadowrun Chronicles:  Boston Lockdown.  Immediately, I was excited but was also quite skeptical.  How come I hadn't heard of this game before?  I had been keeping close tabs on the progress of Shadowrun:  Hong Kong as I was a backer but hadn't heard a peep about another game.

I decided to check out the store page and realized a few things.  Firstly, it is a legitimate Shadowrun game that looks to be based in the cyberpunk world that is central to the series.  Secondly, it appears to follow the turn-based, grid-style of combat from the other games. Thirdly, it is developed by Cliffhanger Productions and not Harebrained Schemes who developed Shadowun Returns and Shadowrun:  Dragonfall.  And fourthly, it is in early access and is not the full version of the game.

I scanned through the user reviews and found that most of them were favorable.  Fans of the Shadowrun series were excited because it was another Shadowrun game.  The few negative reviews were from users who had initially backed the game with the hope that it would be turned into some kind of Shadowrun MMO.  This new game is definitely not an MMO, but does seem to have some co-operative multiplayer.

The price tag for this game seems a little steep--right now it's on sale for $29.99 but it is regularly priced at $39.99.  That's a hefty price tag! I backed Shadowrun:  Hong Kong on Kickstarter and will get a full version of that game for $15.  I think I paid around $30 (or maybe less because of a big sale) for both Shadowrun Returns and Shadowrun:  Dragonfall.  Sure, Returns was kind of short, but Dragonfall had a good chunk of playtime.

For now I'm waiting to see how this new game comes along.  I will probably wait until it comes out of early access and even then for a sale.  I love anything Shadowrun, but don't want to buy a dud.

Here's a link to a Kotaku story about the new game:  "Choose your Shadowrun Games Wisely"
And here's a link to the new game on the Steam store page:  Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown

Paid Mods on Steam. Controversy Abounds!

If you've been paying attention at all to anything in the PC gaming world then you know that the biggest news has been the choice by Steam to allow modders the option of charging for their mods.  This decision led to a lot of argument and even had Gabe Newell, the head honcho of Valve chiming in to defend the choice.  Yesterday Valve decided to yank the short-lived paid mod option but it still looks like something that they are considering for the future.  Does this sound like a good or bad decision?

Let me firstly express my complete lack of knowledge when it comes to mods.  I don't know anything about how they are made and don't often use them (I did use them extensively when I played World of Warcraft so I am a little familiar with how they can be great tools to improve a gaming experience).  I do know that some modders create fantastic mods that can make a game much better.  I also know that these modders can spend a ton of time to create these amazing mods and don't get any kind of financial reward for their creativity or effort.  At first glance I thought that this sounded like a very straightforward issue.  Let people get paid for what they create!  If they want to charge, and if people are willing to pay for these mods, why not?  Maybe some of them who make the most popular mods could make enough income that they could dedicate serious time to making their mods a full-time job.  That would be really great!  I remember the unfortunate frustration that circulated in the WoW clique when a new patch would come out and everyone would have to wait for their favorite mods to be updated.  Imagine if people got paid to update them!  Sweeeeeet.

But then a lot of other questions seemed to pop-up as I kept reading about this issue.  What if someone just added onto something made by another modder?  Who should get paid?  What if someone stole the work of someone else and represented it as their own?  Are there safeguards to protect that from happening?  What about the scammers who could falsely advertise a mod?  Is this just another ploy by Valve to make more money?

From what I've read, other people also had similar concerns and did not hesitate to let Valve know what they thought of this plan.  Apparently there was enough backlash that Valve did finally decide to get rid of it...for the time being.

My hope is that Valve tries to work out some of the questions surrounding the paid mod feature.  I think it could be a really great thing for people who spend time creating content for games.  Why shouldn't people who spend a bunch of time creating content to make games better be rewarded for their efforts?

http://kotaku.com/gabe-newell-optimistic-paid-mods-will-be-a-win-for-ever-1700219463

The iFruit App for Grand Theft Auto V

After some Googling I learned that the iFruit app is, in fact, an actual app for various devices.  It was referred to several time in the game so I decided to check it out.  I downloaded it on my iPad and so far it's pretty lackluster.  Unless you have a great desire to alter your in-game vehicles or teach Chop some new tricks....it's  nothing more than another link to your Rockstar Social Club account.

I am a little confounded by the Los Santos Customs part of the app.  It allows players to alter the main player vehicles for any of the three main characters.  I guess it's kind of neat that you can make the default vehicle unique.  I would rather spend my credits souping up the unique vehicles that I have started hoarding.  It does make more sense to spend money making a vehicle that will continue to respawn even better.  Maybe I'll check that app out some more later on.

One other unique feature of the app is the ability to take care of Franklin's dog Chop.  Within the "Chop the Dog" app players have to feed, water, and entertain Chop in order to keep him happy.  There is also a series of mini-games that allow players to earn points by controlling Chop and helping him to keep other dogs away from his "bitch" or to chase off Ballers who are trying to break-in to Franklin's car.  This helps keep Chop happy as it serves as some sort of dog walking equivalent.  You randomly accumulate credits from these mini-games and can use the credits to buy a nicer collar for Chop or to train him to do tricks.  There are some in-game benefits to using this app if you're interested in having Chop look cooler or be able to sit on command.

The app also provides a link to different features of the Rockstar Social Club like in-game photographs taken on Snapmatic or videos created with the video editor.  Here's a funny video someone made.:

If your goal was to create a random character decked out in a matching turquoise outfit who appears to have a great desire to take people out while riding a BMX bike....goal accomplished.

Things I Miss

Overall, I think Grand Theft Auto V is a great game.  I haven't quite finished story mode, but I have had a blast playing as all three of the main characters.  GTA V took the formula from previous games and greatly improved upon it.  There are a few things from previous games I miss.

I am probably weird, but I always enjoyed the missions where you would receive a list of unique cars to steal.  First you had to locate them and then you had to steal them and get them back to some central location.  You were paid based on the condition of the vehicle so you had to be careful.  There was something really satisfying about completing those lists.

One feature that also seems to have disappeared in this new game is dating.  Sure, Michael is supposed to be married but his marriage is obviously a disaster.  Why can't Franklin and Trevor play the field and meet some lovely Los Santos ladies?  I guess dating was something Rockstar felt we could all do without.

Hanging out with your contacts also has become optional.  In GTA IV your friends would occasionally call you up with a request to participate in some sort of fun activity.  If they liked you enough they would offer you some sort of special perk like getting rid of two stars on a wanted level or providing free cab rides.  In GTA V hanging out is optional.  I tried it once and ended up playing as Franklin and hanging out with Lamar at some weird foreign film.

Besides all the things I miss there is one feature I can live without--strippers.  Last night I decided I should check out the local strip club to see what had changed from previous games.  Now, as you watch the pole dancers you can choose to give them a small tip or "make it rain."  Each stripper has a "like" bar that rises as you lavish her with cash and flirtations.  If you're feeling bold you can pay a stripper $40 to get a private dance--a topless private dance.  Once inside the private room there is a sort of mini-game where players are challenged to flirt with and touch the dancer in order to make the "like" bar rise.  You can't get caught touching the dancer or the bouncer will throw you out.

Even though I hate the strip club, I had to check it out.  It's sort of like a car accident...you don't want to look, but you kinda do.  Thanks Rockstar for taking something kind of gross and turning it into something really gross.  My characters will be avoiding the strip clubs from now on.

Pre-Reading: The Witcher

The first set of stories in the Witcher series.

I've been a fan of The Witcher series since I decided to take a chance on a game I had never heard of. Having played both games, I decided to look into the source materials for the games, the series of short stories by Andrzej Sapkowsi.  I am working my way through them and learning many new details about the complicated world players traverse as Geralt of Rivia.

From reading a few of the books, I have learned that the world of the Northern Kingdoms is an extremely complicated landscape of alliances, intrigues, and power struggles.  Contained within this landscape you have a vast array of characters with their own motivations or ambitions.  The elves...the former rulers of the lands of the Northern Kingdoms whose fortunes have fallen so much that they are the targets of brutal pogroms and constant fighting between their factions and the humans.  The sorceresses with their many spells and charms that allow them to make themselves beautiful and live extremely long life spans.  They claim a mastery of magic that only women can posses and scheme and plot to manipulate the politics in the many kingdoms in which they serve as advisors to kings.  The dwarves who, like the elves, are also treated as outcasts, but have managed to use their business acumen to navigate into positions of some power.  Theses are just a few of the many diverse groups that populate the world that has been portrayed in the games.

One major character from the books that hasn't featured in the games yet is the so-called "child of fate," the princess Cirilla from Cintra.  Ciri and Geralt have a strange bond that seems to draw them together, but then pull them apart.  There is a very strange father/mentor relationship between them.  Geralt briefly attempted to train Ciri as a witcher before he realized that she had vast magical powers.  After that a series of different sorceresses attempted to train Ciri and as a result she got mixed up in the middle of the unending plots.  She has some of the impressive sword skills of a witcher as well as the magical knowledge she attained undrer the tutelage of the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg.

Ciri looks to make an appearance in the upcoming Witcher game and I am interested to see how they incorporate her into the story.  I think I read that she will be a playable character.

If you're a fan of The Witcher games and enjoy reading, I would recommend checking out the original stories.  They do shed some light on the characters and world portrayed in the games.

Crowdfunding--Is it Good or Bad for Games?

Just a few hours ago, Jamin from PBS's "GameShow" released a video with his thoughts about crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding has become a popular way to support your favorite artists, games, or other causes.  It's pretty amazing that people are willing to spend money to help sponsor the creation of something and that a lot of people giving a little bit can help something really amazing come together.  I recently ventured into the waters of the crowdfunding game by ponying up some cash for the next game in the Shadowrun series.  Shadowrun:  Hong Kong is the next game in this brilliant turn-based Cyber Punk adventure by Harebraind Schemes.  Everything I've seen looks really great so I am pretty confident that everything will come together in a great game.

I'm not saying I would be willing to give up my hard earned money for anything that comes along.  As someone who was new to crowdfuning I was a little hesitant--I had heard the many stories about promising games that raked in hundreds of thousands or even millions of crowdfunding dollars and then never panned out.  Would I be throwing my money away?  I was encouraged by some of Kickstarters policies that suggested that if a project didn't pan out that I would get my money back.

Overall, I think crowdfunding is risky.  There are no guarantees that whatever project you are backing will actually come to fruition.  I would be skeptical to give money to any individual or company that doesn't seem reliable.  I have been encouraged by the way that Harebrained Schemes has sent out frequent updates about how Shadowrun:  Hong Kong is progressing.  They have released videos showing production and also some pretty nifty backer perks.  This has helped reassure me that they are putting my money to good use.  I think the moral of the crowdfunding story is that you should be cautious about how you spend your money.

The finished Shadowrun:  Hong Kong is supposed to be released in August of this year.  I am hopeful that it will be even better than Shadowrun:  Dragonfall.  I also have realistic expectations and know that there will most likely be delays in production.  I try to be patient when it comes to release dates and generally do a good job, but I think there are a lot of people out there who expect games to be released EXACTLY when it's originally stated that it would be released.  What's more infuriating...a game that's released on schedule but that is filled with bugs (sometimes game breaking) or one that is released later but which plays smoothly?  I would much rather wait and have a high-quality game than a broken one that will have to be patched multiple times.

Still Rockin' in Los Santos.

I tried to squeeze in a few hours of Grand Theft Auto V last night, but my cat had other ideas.  She parked her furry little cat face right in front of my monitor in protest of her recent neglect due to gaming (in her cat mind she's neglected--in real life she's spoiled rotten).  I managed to entertain her long enough so that she would leave me along and plunged back into the sprawling world of GTA V.

Trevor meets the Thornhill's.

Trevor is a pretty interesting character.  I am enjoying his very psychopathic side and willingness to engage with the wide variety of weirdo's scattered throughout Los Santos.  My personal favorite whack jobs are the Thornhills.  I never expected that part of my GTA experience would be helping some crazy old people stalk celebrities.  As Trevor careened through the city killing bodyguards and stealing underwear all I could do was laugh as the chaos unfolded.  The Thornhill missions culminated last night with a mission to help them kidnap a famous actor so they could "just sit and talk."  Then I had to figure out if I wanted to "get rid" of him or release him into the wild.....a few thousand bucks richer.  I let the poor guy go...he may be a celebrity idiot, but he doesn't deserve to get smashed by a train.  Plus I made $5000 from the deal.

I spent most of my non-cat intruded time playing as Trevor.  Trevor and his meth-head lackeys are in the process of scouting out a mysterious cargo ship that is docked in the Los Santos harbor.  It's heavily guarded so it has to contain something valuable.  The plan involves using a helicopter and a submersible to steal whatever is currently hidden below decks.  Stealing the helicopter was an adventure.  I had Trevor ram his way through the front gate of the military base and speed to the landing pad.  As I tried to navigate him away from the legion of soldiers trying to prevent him from stealing the cargo helicopter from directly off the landing pad I watched helplessly as Trevor became a bullet magnet.  I managed to get the helicopter off the ground and evade the angry military helicopter that chased me for some distance.  Then I headed off to the docks to steal a submarine.

I'm curious to see how this crazy heist turns out,  A helicopter, submarine, and a psychopath...it's going to be magic.

Body Types in Video Games

On this week's episode of PBS's "GameShow" Jamin explored why video game bodies are so "extreme."

This is an issue that I haven't ever given much thought to but have subconsciously wondered about.  It seems like certain games go much further than others but that most games do really push unrealistic physical features.  Maybe that's part of the magic?  That you can play as a hulking warrior who smashes everything in sight or a lithe thief who slips through the shadows just makes sense.  But is it fair that the hulking warrior is almost always a man while the lithe thief is way more likely to be a lady?  It seems a little sexist and way too stereotypical.  Video games are a form of fantasy, so why can't my hulking warrior be a lady?  (I really feel like I am seeing that way more in games.  Jamin used the example of Zarya from Overwatch which is a great one.)

I do get somewhat tired with the same old sexy lady characters and was really glad that he explored the common design factors that are considered when making a female character.  "Butt sway?"  That's a real thing?  I am reminded of the many infamous Mass Effect 2 Miranda butt shots.  Commander Shepard is sitting in a chair having a conversation with Miranda about how her whacko genetics make her a sad panda and WHAM--cut to a butt shot of Miranda's sad (but decidedly firm looking) butt.  Really?  Or the so-called "breast physics."  I can do without the bouncing boobies, thanks.  How come guys don't get the same treatment?  Not saying I hope for a bunch of jiggling male packages in the future, but c'mon!

When the most recent Tomb Raider game re-designed Lara Croft I was floored (in a good way).  She went from being a total exaggeration of the female form to looking like a believable human woman.  Ellie, from Borderlands 2, is another of my favorite female characters in a game.  I like that Ellie is not your typical body shape, but is still a confident character.

It would be really great if more games moved away from using these sort of overemphasized and stereotypical body types and focused on a diversity of bodies.  I like that Michael in GTA V is a sort of soft former athlete and not some bulging uber-man.  It's nice to see a regular guy type of character.

More Grand Theft Auto V Talk.

I am extremely excited every night after work to log onto Grand Theft Auto V and see what it has to offer.  The last couple of nights I have spent time doing a variety of activities.  There are so many things to do and so many people to inadvertently run over.

The new challenge modes offer a fun way to increase the skills of your current character and to test your meddle.  The shooting range offered up the opportunity to pop off a few rounds and improve my accuracy with a variety of weapons.  A few nights ago I decided to try a different set of challenges and drove Trevor to the airport to start flight school.  The first few challenges were easy and I had no trouble completing them.  It wasn't until I got to the stunt challenges that things got much more complicated.  Which way do I tilt my rudder to keep from crashing into the ground while I'm "knifing?"  Ooooh....not that one.  Time to start over.  Eventually I figured it out, but several of the challenges took me an embarrassing number of tries.

Let me just state something else here.  I hate helicopters.  They are the worst!  One of the flight school challenges involved an obstacle course testing both your ability to fly accurately and quickly.  I am pretty sure I spent almost an hour trying to simply complete that one. I finally managed to do it with mere seconds to spare.  Helicopters.  Are.  The.  Worst.

I've also managed to scrape together enough cash so that my characters can start investing in businesses.  Trevor is now the proud owner of an airstrip that delivers mysterious packages to Mexican gangsters.  Franklin invested wisely in a cab company.  This means that he is periodically called to help out.  Last night I completed a mission that involved delivering a thief to a jewelry store and then being his getaway driver.  I got away...but he didn't tip.  Cheapskate.

Michael is introduced to the health benefits of yoga.

Oh and there was yoga.  Yup, I guided Michael through a fancy yoga routine in an effort to placate his wife.  It was....strange, but oddly satisfying.  There needs to be more yoga in video games.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Trailer is just....Wow!

I somehow missed the announcement trailer for the next game in the Deus Ex series.  Yesterday I finally decided to watch it and was really impressed with what I saw.  Here it is if you missed it:

Wow!  Adam seems like an even bigger augmented badass than before.  He's displaying every augmented ability in the playbook in this trailer.

I am curious how the decisions from the end of Human Revolution will play out in the next game.  Will it matter who I sided with?  It looks like the conflict between augmented and non-augmented humans has turned into an all out war.  I gather that the augmented population has agreed to follow some cult-like leader who is willing to fight to protect them from what looks like widespread persecution.  It's been quite awhile since I played Human Revolution...maybe I need to go back and give it another go.

This is just another great game that I am adding to my wishlist.  

Grand Theft Auto V is Filled with Great Characters.

Michael, Franklin, and Trevor.

I've finally had time to dedicate more time to discovering the magic of Grand Theft Auto V.  After playing for a few hours yesterday I feel like I can estimate where the story is headed.  I am really enjoying the branching storyline with Franklin, Michael, and now Trevor.  I forsee the three of them combining forces to wreak some serious havoc on the city of Los Santos.

Yesterday I was introduced to the third of the three main characters, Trevor.  Trevor lives in the desert outside of Los Santos with the rest of his meth addled friends.  Within the first few minutes of Trevor making his grand entrance he was kicking a member of a motorcycle gang to death.  Yeah, he's kind of a psycho.  I proceeded to follow Trevor's storyline and learn more about him.  Trevor runs a meth cooking and distributing facility and is looking to branch out.  He was a former airforce pilot who was kicked out of the military for failing a psych evaluation.  He likes to shoot people.  Trevor also revealed some important clues into Michael's story.  Apparently Michael faked his own death and has been living under a false identity with his ill-begotten bank robbery money.  It's all coming together!

Within Trevor's storyline I also got to experience some unique vehicular experiences.  It turns out I am fairly good at navigating on a four-wheeler.  I managed to win a racing event very easily.  I also got to experience Trevor's unique flying ability.  Flying airplanes in GTA V is much simpler than in previous games and could possibly be enjoyable.  However, it does make me feel like I am going to throw up.  I spent much of the time on the flying missions feeling nauseous.  I didn't have the stomach to tackle the stunt competition.

I plan to spend more time today discovering how all three of these interesting characters come together.  It's going to be epic.

Are Download Sizes Getting Out of Hand?

It seems like the newest games just keep getting bigger and bigger.  I was a little stunned when I started pre-loading Grand Theft Auto V and the estimated space required was 59 GB.  That's insane!  It took me the better part of two days to finally get it completely downloaded.  I have what I would consider mid-grade Internet so I'm sure the download times could be faster.  But what about the people with cheaper, slower connections?  I can't even imagine how long it would take.

I am looking forward to the May release if The Witcher 3, but am dreading the days of download time it will inevitably take.  I have read that this entry in the series is supposed to be considerably longer than either of the previous games.  I wonder how many GB this bad boy is going to eat up?

If gamers want bigger, shinier games we're going to have to live with longer downloads.  This is an unfortunate but unavoidable trade-off.  We can all hope that someone comes up with a more efficient method of delivery, but until that time we will have to quietly curse the unmoving progress bar.

More GTA V Discoveries

In the last few days I've managed to squeeze a little more time into my new adventures in Grand Theft Auto V.   I think I've gotten a better feel for driving and have figured out which radio stations I should listen to (I weirdly opt for the rap channels even though I am not a big rap fan in real-life.  There's something about GTA that brings out my inner gangster...if that's even a thing).  There are some really great new features that I am enjoying and that have made this newest GTA much more expansive.

Franklin and Chop.

One new thing I'm excited about is the addition of animals.  Franklin is tasked with caring for Chop, a huge rottweiler who is adept at detecting and chasing down the bad guys.  I finished a mission where I could switch between Franklin and Chop and it was kind of cool to see things from the perspective of a dog.  I haven't figured out how to train Chop, but I keep getting messages that I can download the "iFruit" app and learn how to teach him tricks.  I'm going to have to do some Googling to figure that out.

I advanced the storyline far enough that I have unlocked another of the main characters.  I'm still trying to fully figure him out, but he seems interesting.  Michael lives a privileged life that seems pretty mainstream, but you know there is something big and criminal in his background.  What did he do to before he became the dad in a dysfunctional nuclear family?  I'm betting he was some sort of hitman.  He seems cool and collected...and maybe a little deadly.  I'm not quite sure what his special ability is but I think it has to do with shooting.

I decided to have Franklin check out the local Ammu-Nation store to see what weapons were available.  There is a much wider variety of weapons to choose from as well as different types of armor.  One of the stores I visited even had a shooting range that offered shooting challenges.  I attempted to earn a gold medal in as many as I could and had mixed success.  I think I need a better mouse....  I managed to boost Franklin's shooting abilities a little bit.

I'm going to spend this weekend exploring more of the world in GTA V.  It's an exciting time!

Jamin Talks Feminism in Games

The newest video from PBS's "GameShow" features the host Jamin discussing how he became a videogame feminist.  It's nice to see someone who is willing to look at some of the issues in gaming with an open mind.  I wish more male gamers were like Jamin and were willing to actively look at the issues faced by lady gamers.  Here is the video:

I think it's going to take a lot to change the culture in gaming.  Many discussions seem to have already started and issues related to gender equity seem to be at the forefront.  It's nice to see a budding crop of lady developers, coders, and designers.  There's huge potential in the relatively untapped market of lady gamers.

GTA V, Finally!

Firstly, I would like to express my sympathy for all the PC gamers who were unable to play GTA V on release day due to the special characters in your username issue.  That really sucks.  I am pouring out a fictional 40 for you in my head.  I hope they get that problem resolved quickly.  Secondly, know that it rocks.  Everything is so big, so beautiful and seems super realistic.  I only got to play for about an hour, but I am hoping to really dive in this weekend.

The introduction was intense and I really liked how they used a bank robbery for the tutorial.  I was reintroduced to the basic controls in a cool way.  Then I got to shoot a lot of cops.  (I have the utmost respect for police officers in real life.  In GTA life....they best stay out of my way.)  It was way too fun.  I sort of got the hang of the whole character switching scenario which is an interesting new addition.

The character divergence and branching storyline is seems pretty awesome.  I got to play as some white guy with a mullet and then as Franklin who, at this early point in the game, just seems confused.  The Franklin scenario introduced me to driving in GTA V.  It feels similar to driving in the other games, but I felt like I had more control  At one point I accepted a random mission to drive a tow truck and tow cars with some former lady friend.  I expected the drive to be slow and difficult, but it was actually pretty smooth.  So far, the driving seems more realistic--which has proven to make it somewhat difficult.  In the initial race sequence I managed to almost completely trashed the sports car that I was supposed to get to the dealership without a scratch.  Running over pedestrians leaves unwanted bloodstains on your car.

I am looking forward to getting some time to truly experience GTA V.  It seems like the type of GTA that has been made into the "ultimate" version.  Finally!

Tales from the Borderlands and Musical Sequences

Besides completely lacking any willpower when it comes to not purchasing games, I'm also a sucker for great video game music.  Whether it's a kickin' soundtrack--Deus Ex:  Human Revolution, Transistor--or just fun music placed the right way or that captures the mood perfectly, there's a very good chance that I've purchased it and it now lives on my iPod (circa 2008--I have an oldie).  The Borderlands series did a great job of finding some cool songs like "Ain't no Rest for the Wicked" by Cage the Elephant or "Come With me Now" by the Kongos.  Tales from the Borderlands seems to be continuing this trend of great music and has improved it by placing it into action-packed sequences.  I had completely forgotten about this until I read about it on Kotaku!  (I've been having some anger issues about how long the delay between episodes has been and may have inadvertently forgotten about this).  Here's a musical sequence from episode 2:

Perfect!  I'm already Googling this song so I can download it on my ancient iPod.  How cool is this sequence?  Just watching it makes me feel cool--like someone who would normally listen to music like this.

I can't wait to see what they do in episode 3.  Hopefully I don't have to wait four months.  See!  Leftover rage.

On a total aside--GTA V should now be fully downloaded onto my computer and ready to rock tomorrow.  I've intentionally avoided learning anything about the storyline so I can truly enjoy it.  Mayhem awaits.  Yesssssssssss.

The Woes of the Weak Willed. And Pre-Loading.

Awhile back I read this whole article about how pre-ordering a game is generally a bad idea.  Too often games are buggy and can have serious issues right at release.  Waiting for these issues to be resolved can save gamers a lot of time and nerdrage energy.  Unfortunately for me, I am one of the weak willed.  I tell myself that I'm going to wait until I hear that a game is stable and that the initial kinks have been worked out.  I never do!  The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto V on PC is the latest culprit in this chain of impatience.  I keep reading amazing things and watching 60 FPS trailers and then getting really excited!  Yesterday I caved and hit the pre-order button.

A 4K rendered screenshot from GTA V.  Wow!

Now that I've pre-ordered GTA V, I can start the process of pre-loading.  If you are planning on playing it on release day, I would highly recommend that you get cracking.  You might need to clear up some space on your hard drive.  GTA V came in at a whopping 59 GB.  I have been sporadically pre-loading (between pausing so I can watch Netflix and do online things) and have only made it to 44%.

While I wait for this momentous occasion, I have decided to check out season 3 in Diablo III.  I haven't made a seasonal hero before this and wanted to see what all the fuss is about.  My barbarian, Ragnaar, is currently crushing his way into his level 30's.  Ragnaar has landed some nice legendaries for levelling and is looking pretty good.  I don't see myself topping any leaderboards, but I'm having fun.

I can't wait to re-enter the optimized world of Grand Theft Auto!  It's only a day away (I am singing that song from the musical "Annie" which is in no way related to a video game).

The Witcher 3....Are we there yet?!!?

My wishlist is filled to brimming with some great upcoming games.  Next week Grand Theft Auto V finally arrives and PC gamers can finally renew their criminal activities.  I told myself that I wouldn't pre-order but I desperately want to pre-load and play on day one.  But I digress, I actually wanted to talk about The Witcher 3 which comes out in May.

Every time I see a new gameplay video for The Witcher 3 I get very antsy for the game to be released.  It was originally scheduled to come out in February but was pushed back to May.  The latest video shows the vast world of the Northern Kingdoms which is filled with beautiful landscapes and bustling villages.  Oh, and monsters.  It wouldn't be The Witcher without some horrible monster lurking in the forest or rising out of the waters in the sewer.  Watch this and tell me that you aren't going to pre-order!  I have already pre-ordered.....against my promise to stop pre-ordering things.

I am counting down the days until I get to guide Geralt through the world of political intrigue and monster slaying.  Maybe I'll have GTAV finished by then.  It's a great time for gaming!

Choices Don't Really Matter

Jamin, the host of PBS's "GameShow," does a great job of analyzing complex principles that are commonplace in many games.  I like Jamin.  But today, Jamin kind of ruined my day.  In the newest episode of "GameShow," he explored the illusion of player choice in many games.  Here is the video:

What?  So going back to replay all of The Walking Dead is a waste of time!  I knew that but was enjoying the state of denial that I currently live in.  It's completely true that player choices tend to matter very little when it comes to how the story ends.  This is somewhat of a disappointment as it seems like a lot of games use the idea of player choice as a big selling point.  Sandbox games most likely do offer the most varied types of play.  I'm not a really that into sandbox games so I guess I'll just keep lying to myself that my next playthrough of Mass Effect is going to be different than my previous twelve.

Would it even be possible to make a game that gives you infinite possibilities?  Is too much choice a bad thing?  This episode has blown my mind and made me ponder reality...in a BioShock:  Infinite kind of way.

Life is Strange Choices Cause Re-load

I have written a few times about the episodic story game Life is Strange.  Unlike other games in this genre it features the unique ability to rewind time and change your decisions.  Well, it mostly does.  (Spoilers--don't read if you haven't finished episode 2!).  The the very end of episode two Max is faced with a difficult situation.  Kate Marsh, a fellow student who is being ruthlessly bullied by a group of horrible classmates, is standing on top of a dormitory building and looks like she's ready to jump.  Players can stop time and take Max up to the roof in an effort to talk Kate down.  It's at this point that players are confronted with the fact that Max seems to have temporarily lost her ability to rewind.  Your choices determine if Kate Marsh lives or dies.  That's a high pressure situation and, surprisingly, many players who failed to save Kate were so stricken by this fact that they opted to replay the entire episode!

Read this article from Kotaku that describes how many people couldn't face the decisions that they made.

GTA V on PC just 1 Week Away!

I am really excited that GTA V is just 7 days away from being released.  I keep reading lots of great things about how they have added in newer or better features to celebrate bringing it to PC.  Anyone who has pre-ordered on Steam can now pre-load.  It's an exciting time for PC gamers who have waited a long time to finally play!

Popularity/Legality of "Let's Play" Videos

I'm not a big fan of watching other people play games.  I can understand why others enjoy it...there is some humor in watching other people get scared or screwing something up.  I didn't realize how popular "let's play" videos really were until watching a recent episode of PBS's "GameShow."  In this episode Jamin explores the legality of these videos--something that I didn't really think much about.

I could really see some legal issues with these videos, but agree that they do seem to be a grey area.  Don't these very popular YouTubers make money from these videos?  Couldn't game developers/companies argue that their intellectual property is being used by others for profit?  The problem with this argument is that I don't think people are watching these videos to merely see footage of a game being played.  I think most people watch the videos to see someone interacting with a game.  Gaming can be a very singular experience and it is fun to see how similarly or differently people experience these games.

The exploration of legal issues argued in this video is interesting.  The size, complexity, and popularity of the Internet seems to have made enforcement of copyright laws extremely difficult.  Many of these "let's play" videos might also be beneficial to certain games.  I think Goat Simulator is a shining example of this.  Watching people create chaos with a goat is hilarious.  I, who initially thought that it sounded like the most ridiculous thing, wanted to run out and buy a copy.  Why would developers want to miss out on this kind of free publicity?  In the end I believe that is the simple reason why there haven't been more legal issues around these videos.  Keep making and enjoying those "let's play's" and hope that the lawyers stay out of it.

Happy Easter Gamers!

I hope everyone is having a nice Easter either in-game or out.  I have fond memories of completing Easter themed quests in World of Warcraft.  So to everyone spending this Easter adventuring...I hope you find lots of eggs and save up for that mount or other cool thing that you want.  Enjoy this somewhat cute but disturbing Noblegarden wallpaper from Blizzard.

Twitter Death Threats toward Developers

I'm not really that into social media.  I mostly use Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends.  I don't have a Twitter account nor really know much about the whole concept of "tweeting."  It's more than a little disturbing to hear that people use social media as a way to make threats against others.  Just yesterday Jamin, the host of PBS's "GameShow," shared his thoughts about people using Twitter to level threats against game developers.  Here it is:

To me the worst part of this whole issue is the fact that people get so upset with something in a game that they immediately jump to threats of bodily harm.  That's not cool!  The anonymity of the internet makes it so easy for people to hide behind online personas and as a result people say and do things that they most likely wouldn't do in real life.  If someone messes up my order in a restaurant I don't tell them that I hope they die.  What is wrong with people that they feel like levelling these threats is acceptable behavior?  It makes me sad.

Also, how is using a death threat against a developer going to help them address your complaints about their product?  Wouldn't it be more helpful to give them constructive feedback about what you want to see changed?  I was upset about Mass Effect 3''s ending but I also felt like BioWare created the game so they have a right to choose how it ends...even if I don't like it.  I thought it was great that they listened to fan feedback and made amends by adding in the free extended ending.

Stop the death threats!  It's disturbing and in no way constructive.  Chasing developers off of Twitter is simply cutting off another avenue that could be used to communicate with them.  It's silly to get so upset over a game that you are willing to threaten to kill someone, even if it is anonymously.  I really wish the internet was a nicer place where people could work together rather than tear each other apart. 

I love Sales! But are they actually bad for gaming?

The huge sales that occur on Steam several times a year are some of my favorite things.  You can usually find some really great deals and pick up some games from your wishlist for a steal.  I will freely admit to being an impulse buyer during these sales.  A game....for $2!  No way you can pass that up!  But are these sales actually a bad thing?  Here's a PBS "GameShow" episode where Jamin investigates how all the big sales and bundles might actually be bad for gaming:

I think that if I actually analyzed many of my purchases during Steam sales that I would find that the games I purchase during these sales usually turn out to be the ones that I don't play much.  This is an unfortunate reality and maybe it does mean that I place a lower value on the games that I buy very cheaply.  There isn't much impetus to play a game that I only paid $2 for where I want to get the most out of something that I paid $60 for.  As much as I want to disagree with this theory I have to admit that it's true.

The sales can't be all bad.  Humble Bundle gives money to charity!  That's a much better reason to buy some games than just to simply have them.  The sales also gives gamers with less cash to spend a chance to buy some games that they've been wanting but can't afford.  I hear a lot of high school students who have a limited income dishing about the latest Steam deals and how they can make the most out of what they have.

I'm going to keep buying games from Steam sales.  I might play them....I might not.  It's nice to have a diverse backlog to choose from and these sales definitely make that possible.

Streaming: Is it for me?

The new trend of gamers live streaming as they play has interested me for awhile.  I have thought many times about buying a camera and looking into getting a Twitch account.  I'm not sure I fully understand the lure of streaming.  I would much rather play a game myself than watch someone else play.

One part of streaming that appeals to me is the opportunity to watch the top players.  You can learn a lot from simply watching how another person plays and maybe learn some new tricks to help your own game.  The only streaming that I have watch has been celebrity streaming.  It's fun to watch someone who is a little famous messing around in a game.  I've enjoyed a little bit of Felicia and Ryon Day streaming some games.

I would like to stream myself but I'm not sure I have the personality for it.  There's something that seems a little kooky about sitting by yourself and talking to your game.  I'll admit to the occasional outburst when something really stupid or unbelievable happens.  Also, as a teacher, I'm not sure how appropriate it would be for me to be swearing at a game while possible students are watching.  I also don't think I have the skill to be someone who people would enjoy watching.  Do you really need skill to stream or is it more about fun moments in games?

Speedrunning--Cool or Not?

It seems like I'm constantly reading about some person who is finishing a game in an incredibly short amount of time.  To me this seems like a travesty.  I've always been a completionist and make it my goal to explore and complete as much as I can.  I don't understand why anyone would want to rush through a game rather than sit back and enjoy the small details.  Is it for the bragging rights?  I suppose that having the fastest completion time would be something cool to brag about.  The most recent episode of PBS's GameShow explores how speedrunners are able to complete games so quickly.

Honestly, I sort of have to admire speedrunners for the amount of practice that it takes to truly master a game.  I can't imagine dedicating thousands of hours to plotting a path or looking for some game breaking glitch that is going to help them move through a game at a breakneck pace.  To me this sounds boring, but there is some satisfaction in improving on your own performance, so I can understand the drive behind beating your own records.

There's another part of me thought that thinks it's sort of silly and maybe a little bit like cheating.  They aren't really playing the whole game and are just looking for glitches to exploit.  That seems a little unfair.

I'm not going to be getting into speedrunning anytime soon, but can understand why someone might be drawn to it.  I can't help but be impressed by the amazingly fast times in which some of these huge games are completed.  Speedrunning is another case of people finding their own unique way to make gaming more enjoyable.  I might not understand it, but to each his/her own!