Thursday 28 February 2013
Back on track soon!
Hi Readers, just a quick message to say I'm out of hospital and things will get back on track soon! Thanks for all your warm wishes and support!
Thursday 21 February 2013
Gamelust
Gamelust. We've all been there. Gamelust is my theory of when you first play a game. It's like when you first meet someone, it's all you can think about, it's fun, it's exciting and all you want to do is be around it. But Gamelust is a serious condition that affects many gamers today, and we know all too well what it's like when you come crashing down from your Gamelust high.
Recently, a friend of mine and a reader of What's it Like posted about Crysis 3. This particular gamer loved the game so much, they sent me about 5 messages in regards it. This is what got me thinking about Gamelust. You see, before I was the cool and calm gamer I am today, I was a notorious Gamelust offender. Let me tell you the story of the game that broke my heart...
It was a cold September morning. Fresh dew on the grass seeped through my socks as I rushed to the car. Today wasn't just any day... Today was the day it finally came out. A game so hyped up in my mind I had trouble sleeping the night before. I drove (obeying all traffic laws of course) to my local video game retailer where I had pre-ordered this particular title. I was at the store 30 minutes before it was due to open, I simply had to have this game. Snacks were prepared, drinks were cooled and controllers were charged... This was my day, a day dedicated to this one title.
After playing the game non stop, I started to tell my friends this was the game to end all games. This was the best game ever. This was The effects of Gamelust. A week or two later, my friends asked me what I was thinking and they informed me they had either returned or traded the game in. The offending title? It was 2010's Medal of Honor. A game I still like, but not love. Once the lust faded I realized it wasn't the one, it wasn't even special, it was just a game.
So gamers, have you or a friend ever fallen victim to Gamelust? Why not dob yourself or your friend in on our Facebook page?
Ill wipe the bitter tears of disappointment away now.
-Sarge
Recently, a friend of mine and a reader of What's it Like posted about Crysis 3. This particular gamer loved the game so much, they sent me about 5 messages in regards it. This is what got me thinking about Gamelust. You see, before I was the cool and calm gamer I am today, I was a notorious Gamelust offender. Let me tell you the story of the game that broke my heart...
It was a cold September morning. Fresh dew on the grass seeped through my socks as I rushed to the car. Today wasn't just any day... Today was the day it finally came out. A game so hyped up in my mind I had trouble sleeping the night before. I drove (obeying all traffic laws of course) to my local video game retailer where I had pre-ordered this particular title. I was at the store 30 minutes before it was due to open, I simply had to have this game. Snacks were prepared, drinks were cooled and controllers were charged... This was my day, a day dedicated to this one title.
After playing the game non stop, I started to tell my friends this was the game to end all games. This was the best game ever. This was The effects of Gamelust. A week or two later, my friends asked me what I was thinking and they informed me they had either returned or traded the game in. The offending title? It was 2010's Medal of Honor. A game I still like, but not love. Once the lust faded I realized it wasn't the one, it wasn't even special, it was just a game.
So gamers, have you or a friend ever fallen victim to Gamelust? Why not dob yourself or your friend in on our Facebook page?
Ill wipe the bitter tears of disappointment away now.
-Sarge
Flashback Friday: The Secret of Monkey Island
Once upon a time before DRM, there were novel ways to prevent piracy. I fondly remember my purple "Dial a Pirate" wheel where the game prompted you to match a pirates face and then type the date and place they were hung to start the game. So what game was whacky enough for "Dial a Pirate?" None other then the Secret of Monkey Island from Lucasarts.
Enter Guybrush Threepwood. A young man determined to be a pirate. He's polite, well mannered and about as green as they come. Guybrush is instantly likable as the goofy wannabe. The game places you on Melee Island where you meet three pirate leaders who tell you that you have to pass the three trials THREE TRIALS! (Inside game joke.)
So what do these trials consist of? Swashbuckling, thievery and treasure hunting of course! The game is a point and click adventure that features clever puzzles, offbeat humor, and interesting characters. The graphics were once a DOS 8-bit style but for you lucky gamers out there it has been remastered in HD high quality sprites.
Gameplay is handled by a simply point and click interface with not so simple puzzles. It's strengths lie in its unique take on the norm such as insult sword fighting and poisoning piranha poodles with a tranquilizer.
The best part of the game however, is following Guybrush's adventure as he finds love with Elaine and trouble with the ghost pirate LeChuck. It's zany and far fetched with twists and turns that have you smiling the whole way through. There's not much I can say without spoiling this game, but what I will say is if you haven't got it I suggest you pick it up. The game is available on IOS, Android, Ps3, Steam and 360 so there's no excuse not to give this classic a go.
So What's it Like?
It's like a hidden object game + point and click + Monty Python = Monkey Island
I give it 8/10.
I'm off to defeat the Sword Master one more time!
-Sarge
Enter Guybrush Threepwood. A young man determined to be a pirate. He's polite, well mannered and about as green as they come. Guybrush is instantly likable as the goofy wannabe. The game places you on Melee Island where you meet three pirate leaders who tell you that you have to pass the three trials THREE TRIALS! (Inside game joke.)
So what do these trials consist of? Swashbuckling, thievery and treasure hunting of course! The game is a point and click adventure that features clever puzzles, offbeat humor, and interesting characters. The graphics were once a DOS 8-bit style but for you lucky gamers out there it has been remastered in HD high quality sprites.
Gameplay is handled by a simply point and click interface with not so simple puzzles. It's strengths lie in its unique take on the norm such as insult sword fighting and poisoning piranha poodles with a tranquilizer.
The best part of the game however, is following Guybrush's adventure as he finds love with Elaine and trouble with the ghost pirate LeChuck. It's zany and far fetched with twists and turns that have you smiling the whole way through. There's not much I can say without spoiling this game, but what I will say is if you haven't got it I suggest you pick it up. The game is available on IOS, Android, Ps3, Steam and 360 so there's no excuse not to give this classic a go.
So What's it Like?
It's like a hidden object game + point and click + Monty Python = Monkey Island
I give it 8/10.
I'm off to defeat the Sword Master one more time!
-Sarge
Monster Hunter Preview
Here at What's it Like, we managed to get our hands on an early play test of Capcom's Minster Hunter 3 Ultimate. Here's our thoughts...
Firstly, you should know that both games are identical therefor the demos are identical.
Ok so the game is shaping up very nicely. The demos feature two missions, an easy and a hard one. What it should really be is a hard one and a harder one. That's the beauty of Monster Hunter, it's difficulty is the most rewarding aspect of the game. Most boss fights can last over 30 minutes and there's no better reward then seeing your enemy fall. The demo is no different, with the easy mission clocking in at a 15 minute fight and the hard one... Well to be honest I can beat it just yet!
I won't detail all the features of the game as the demo focuses only on combat. Features such as the town hub, crafting and looting enemies are not in the demo and I won't speculate on these features until I play them.
The Wii U - So the Wii U's strength lies in its controls. The Wii U game pad and pro controller handle the combat and camera very well making the game a little easier than its 3DS counterpart. The game looks good in crisp high definition although the textures look a little bland. The worlds are immersive and interesting to look at, while the monsters look ferocious and cunning.
The 3DS: The 3DS had some of the best graphics I have seen on the console. The world is fleshed out and pulls you in at a constantly smooth frame rate. The only fault I can find is with its controls. From the start, the game says no circle pad compatibility is supported and this is where the game suffers. It's not a game breaker but a small annoyance when not only are you fighting a monster, you also have to fight the camera. This is relieved with a handy camera snap button but in the thick of the fight, can be a struggle.
I have to say I'm very impressed with Capcom's latest outing in the Monster Hunter series. It's only a month to go until we see the final product so stay tuned for our review!
-Sarge
Firstly, you should know that both games are identical therefor the demos are identical.
Ok so the game is shaping up very nicely. The demos feature two missions, an easy and a hard one. What it should really be is a hard one and a harder one. That's the beauty of Monster Hunter, it's difficulty is the most rewarding aspect of the game. Most boss fights can last over 30 minutes and there's no better reward then seeing your enemy fall. The demo is no different, with the easy mission clocking in at a 15 minute fight and the hard one... Well to be honest I can beat it just yet!
I won't detail all the features of the game as the demo focuses only on combat. Features such as the town hub, crafting and looting enemies are not in the demo and I won't speculate on these features until I play them.
The Wii U - So the Wii U's strength lies in its controls. The Wii U game pad and pro controller handle the combat and camera very well making the game a little easier than its 3DS counterpart. The game looks good in crisp high definition although the textures look a little bland. The worlds are immersive and interesting to look at, while the monsters look ferocious and cunning.
The 3DS: The 3DS had some of the best graphics I have seen on the console. The world is fleshed out and pulls you in at a constantly smooth frame rate. The only fault I can find is with its controls. From the start, the game says no circle pad compatibility is supported and this is where the game suffers. It's not a game breaker but a small annoyance when not only are you fighting a monster, you also have to fight the camera. This is relieved with a handy camera snap button but in the thick of the fight, can be a struggle.
I have to say I'm very impressed with Capcom's latest outing in the Monster Hunter series. It's only a month to go until we see the final product so stay tuned for our review!
-Sarge
Medal of Honor Cancelled
Dishonourable Discharge?
This is an outrage! The Medal of Honor series had been cancelled indefinitly due to poor sales. Upon hearing this news I have decided to grow a Tier 1 beard in protest. After realising it would take about 3 years for me to grow a beard I have decided to write an open letter to EA Australia to get the Sarge's point across.
To Whom it may concern,
My name is Joshua and I wish to protest Medal of Honor's cancellation. The previous 2 Medal of Honor games were good, just not great. Medal of Honor 2010 featured an excellent single player and an ok multiplayer. I loved the transition to modern combat and your characters were fleshed out and not 2 dimentional gun toting dickheads. Warfighter was a good game too. The only issue I had was I felt you had great original ideas such as the car chase sections but they were overshadowed by the Call of Duty mentality of huge explosions and gameplay on rails.
You see I feel you just gave up on trying to beat Call of Duty and decided to join them. You know who else gave up trying to beat the bad guys? The French. Look how that worked out for them. I like the realism approach to the series, but this shouldn't be a selling point. I also felt like you marketed Warfighter as a Battlefield 4 beta. I have played Medal of Honor the entire series across all formats and it has been a great adventure until the last few levels of Medal of Honor Airborne where we had a flak tower the size of the Empire State and the immersive realism was dropped.
As you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of Medal of Honor. I even got the Warfighter pack with a shirt that doesn't fit because it's designed to fit the body of a 14 year old girl. Medal of Honor is why I love FPS and Call of Duty is just the same crap over again. Recently I played Black Ops 2 and actually thought I purchased some expensive DLC rather than a new game. Don't emulate these guys. EA Games always pushes the envelope when it comes to game design and new IP's, but most importantly they keep refreshing game series when it comes to sequels which make games a genuine pleasure to play.
So what would Dusty do if he was knocked down? I'm pretty sure he would get up, brush off his tier 1 beard and get back to kicking some ass. Maybe Medal of Honor needs to go back to WWII? Maybe we need a stronger campaign? I don't know what the new series needs, but I do know gamers need Medal of Honor.
So EA, I challenge you to pick yourself up, dust off your beard, and start making the Medal of Honor game we all deserve.
-Sarge
So there you have it readers. I will update you if I hear back from the EA games crew. In the meantime why not head over to Facebook and tell us what you would like to see in a new Medal of Honor game?
This is an outrage! The Medal of Honor series had been cancelled indefinitly due to poor sales. Upon hearing this news I have decided to grow a Tier 1 beard in protest. After realising it would take about 3 years for me to grow a beard I have decided to write an open letter to EA Australia to get the Sarge's point across.
To Whom it may concern,
My name is Joshua and I wish to protest Medal of Honor's cancellation. The previous 2 Medal of Honor games were good, just not great. Medal of Honor 2010 featured an excellent single player and an ok multiplayer. I loved the transition to modern combat and your characters were fleshed out and not 2 dimentional gun toting dickheads. Warfighter was a good game too. The only issue I had was I felt you had great original ideas such as the car chase sections but they were overshadowed by the Call of Duty mentality of huge explosions and gameplay on rails.
You see I feel you just gave up on trying to beat Call of Duty and decided to join them. You know who else gave up trying to beat the bad guys? The French. Look how that worked out for them. I like the realism approach to the series, but this shouldn't be a selling point. I also felt like you marketed Warfighter as a Battlefield 4 beta. I have played Medal of Honor the entire series across all formats and it has been a great adventure until the last few levels of Medal of Honor Airborne where we had a flak tower the size of the Empire State and the immersive realism was dropped.
As you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of Medal of Honor. I even got the Warfighter pack with a shirt that doesn't fit because it's designed to fit the body of a 14 year old girl. Medal of Honor is why I love FPS and Call of Duty is just the same crap over again. Recently I played Black Ops 2 and actually thought I purchased some expensive DLC rather than a new game. Don't emulate these guys. EA Games always pushes the envelope when it comes to game design and new IP's, but most importantly they keep refreshing game series when it comes to sequels which make games a genuine pleasure to play.
So what would Dusty do if he was knocked down? I'm pretty sure he would get up, brush off his tier 1 beard and get back to kicking some ass. Maybe Medal of Honor needs to go back to WWII? Maybe we need a stronger campaign? I don't know what the new series needs, but I do know gamers need Medal of Honor.
So EA, I challenge you to pick yourself up, dust off your beard, and start making the Medal of Honor game we all deserve.
-Sarge
So there you have it readers. I will update you if I hear back from the EA games crew. In the meantime why not head over to Facebook and tell us what you would like to see in a new Medal of Honor game?
Minecraft Review
Many a time has the Sarge recommended Minecraft to a friend and many a time has it been dismissed as "a stupid Lego game." But it is so much more than that.
You see, Minecraft is not only a game, it's your very own world. You can cultivate crops, explore dungeons an build anything you can imagine. As a matter if fact, the only limits the game has is your imagination. So to help clear the air, I decided to write about my experience with Minecraft, and how it is so much more than the sum of its parts.
When you first start Minecraft, you are simply dropped in the middle of nowhere. The cube like environment may seem alien at first, but what appears to be a simplistic graphics engine hides a much more intricate game. If you're going to survive, you are going to need to craft. Crafting works much like how you would expect it. Grab some wood, make a sword, make a pick axe and start digging your shelter out. To start, this is a survival game. Once the sun sets, the monsters come out and if you're not in shelter, you're in for a hell of a fight.
After a few nights of survival, you start to understand how things work and start branching out by exploring the vast, random generated world. Soon the survival aspect fades and it becomes a construction game. You start dreaming up a house, which then becomes a base, then a fortress. If you can think it and have the patience to mine the materials, the sky's the limit. After building, the game becomes a farm management game, or a hunting game. The versatility in its gameplay is one of Minecrafts many strengths.
Which leads me to the graphics. The blocky 8-bit style of the game can be seen as both a strength and a weakness. The strength is that it allows you to create your own world block by block, the weakness is that some may find it off putting. This leads to what I perceive as Minecrafts main problem, it's unique style leads it to be judged by its cover, not so much it's substance.
This is a shame and what I try to tell my fellow gamers. Drop the Lego attitude, Minecraft is a perfect way to drop the browns and greys of the war games, and add some color into your game world. It's not about fighting on the ground or blasting away the sky. It's about letting the inner child in you come out while appealing to your adult gamer.
It's great to see a game that's not limited to the system you play it on, it's only limited by what you can dream up.
So What's it Like?
Well I would say Little Big Planet + The Sims + Skyrim + Lego = Minecraft
I give it 8.5/10
Time to lock down before the creepers come out!
-Sarge
You see, Minecraft is not only a game, it's your very own world. You can cultivate crops, explore dungeons an build anything you can imagine. As a matter if fact, the only limits the game has is your imagination. So to help clear the air, I decided to write about my experience with Minecraft, and how it is so much more than the sum of its parts.
When you first start Minecraft, you are simply dropped in the middle of nowhere. The cube like environment may seem alien at first, but what appears to be a simplistic graphics engine hides a much more intricate game. If you're going to survive, you are going to need to craft. Crafting works much like how you would expect it. Grab some wood, make a sword, make a pick axe and start digging your shelter out. To start, this is a survival game. Once the sun sets, the monsters come out and if you're not in shelter, you're in for a hell of a fight.
After a few nights of survival, you start to understand how things work and start branching out by exploring the vast, random generated world. Soon the survival aspect fades and it becomes a construction game. You start dreaming up a house, which then becomes a base, then a fortress. If you can think it and have the patience to mine the materials, the sky's the limit. After building, the game becomes a farm management game, or a hunting game. The versatility in its gameplay is one of Minecrafts many strengths.
Which leads me to the graphics. The blocky 8-bit style of the game can be seen as both a strength and a weakness. The strength is that it allows you to create your own world block by block, the weakness is that some may find it off putting. This leads to what I perceive as Minecrafts main problem, it's unique style leads it to be judged by its cover, not so much it's substance.
This is a shame and what I try to tell my fellow gamers. Drop the Lego attitude, Minecraft is a perfect way to drop the browns and greys of the war games, and add some color into your game world. It's not about fighting on the ground or blasting away the sky. It's about letting the inner child in you come out while appealing to your adult gamer.
It's great to see a game that's not limited to the system you play it on, it's only limited by what you can dream up.
So What's it Like?
Well I would say Little Big Planet + The Sims + Skyrim + Lego = Minecraft
I give it 8.5/10
Time to lock down before the creepers come out!
-Sarge
Wednesday 20 February 2013
Watch Dogs confirmed for Wii U and PS4
Glad to see support picking up for the Wii U as Ubisoft has announced Watch Dogs will be released on Wii U and PS4. This game is shaping up to be a new major IP with its unique hacking gameplay style.
-Sarge
-Sarge
The Playstation 4 is a reality
That's right folks! The PS4 is real and will be out just in time for Christmas! The system boasts some very impressive specs (pictured below) and features a customized social and gaming experience using social media integration much like the Miiverse on Wii U. There's still no idea as to what the system looks like but graphically the tech demos and upcoming games were very impressive. Speaking of games, the following titles have been announced...
Beyond: Two Souls
Deep Down
Destiny
Diablo 3
Drive Club
Final Fantasy
Infamous Second Son
Killzone Shadow Fall
Knack
The Witness
Watch Dogs
Rumors are also circulating that current gen games released over the holiday period such as GTA 5 will also be release on the new PS4 as well as PS3 simultaneously.
Exciting times ahead as we wait for Microsoft to retaliate after Sony has fired the first salvo! Why not head over to our Facebook page and tell us what you want to see from the next gen?
-Sarge
Beyond: Two Souls
Deep Down
Destiny
Diablo 3
Drive Club
Final Fantasy
Infamous Second Son
Killzone Shadow Fall
Knack
The Witness
Watch Dogs
Rumors are also circulating that current gen games released over the holiday period such as GTA 5 will also be release on the new PS4 as well as PS3 simultaneously.
Exciting times ahead as we wait for Microsoft to retaliate after Sony has fired the first salvo! Why not head over to our Facebook page and tell us what you want to see from the next gen?
-Sarge
Tuesday 19 February 2013
The Gamebreaker
So recently I logged back on to Battlefield 3 to see how it played since all the add-ons came out. I was shocked to find I hadn't logged on for 160 days! I used to play Battlefield religiously and due to my memory loss I was stumped as to why I hadn't played in so long. Then it hit me... Skyrim.... It was Skyrim. Everyone knows what Skyrim is. Many couples have split because of too much attention given to the game. Many unhappy loved ones, land lords complaining over late rent, many things have lost out to Skyrim, including other games.
I call this a Game Breaker...
There are a lot of awesome games that come and go, but once in a while, a game comes along so fun, so immersive that you forget about the real world and lose yourself.
So gamers I want to ask you what your Game Breaker is. What game have you played that was like Kryptonite to the other games in your collection? Leave a comment on our Facebook Page and share your story of love and loss.
-Sarge
I call this a Game Breaker...
There are a lot of awesome games that come and go, but once in a while, a game comes along so fun, so immersive that you forget about the real world and lose yourself.
So gamers I want to ask you what your Game Breaker is. What game have you played that was like Kryptonite to the other games in your collection? Leave a comment on our Facebook Page and share your story of love and loss.
-Sarge
A Report from the Field: Battlefield 3
We interupt our regular articles to bring you a breaking story. War has broken out between two factions and once again we return to Battlefield 3. We now cross over to our reporter on the ground for further updates.
Thank you Sarge. I'm standing here next to a checkpoint at the Caspian border where not long ago a new server started and war broke out. Fighting has been intense with both factions taking heavy casualties. This highway once had cars passing through on holiday visits, now heavily armored tanks roll through this checkpoint. The source of this conflict remains a mystery, all we can say is that both factions seem to be fighting over a few flagpoles in this region, 4 to be exact, and why they fight to the death over "flagging rights" is puzzling. We are going to head over to the area known only as "Flag C" to see if we can make some sense of this conflict.
We have finally made it to Flag C and the scene is not pretty. Once, this small hill housed a service station, now it is rubble. I spot a lone soldier lying prone in the grass and decide to approach him.
"Excuse me soldier, can you tell us what you are fighting for?" I ask.
"STFU N00bfag you will give away my position!" Is all he replies. Our interview is cut short by a helicopter buzzing overhead. The soldier runs away. Several troops of the opposing faction drop down and start raising a flag, ignoring the retreating soldier. We decide to head for cover.
We manage to make it to the safety of another small gas station where an AC-130 hovers menicingly in the sky. It's cannons rain fire down on troops while para-dropping down to capture more flags. The scene is utter chaos. At one point we spotted an enemy soldier trying to kill a tank with a welding torch. Madness. It looks like the Russians will win this battle which leaves an uncertain fate for the Caspian border. All we know is that both forces will be moving the conflict to the snowy mountains of Admand Peak next map rotation where hopefully this conflict will be resolved...
So no doubt many of you had Battlefield 3 and have played it to death so is it worth returning to? Yes. EA have released several expansion packs which have added more ways to dominate the Battlefield.
Back to Karkand - Touted as a return to the days of Battlefield 2, Karkand sees the return of the best maps from the previous entry in the Battlefield series. There are new weapons and vehicles included for free and Premium members have new skins and challenged to unlock.
Close Quarters - Essentially gives a more Call of Duty experience to BF3. Small maps feature highly destructable elements and new weapons are a blast. New game modes are well implemented although C4 is abused in small time flag captures.
Armored Kill - A great example of an expansion pack done right. Armored Kill adds huge new maps which focus on temawork and capturing strategic points. No longer do you head for any flag, first you capture the air support flag to add an AC-130 mobile spawn point and rain hell from above. Vehicle combat and controls are refined to deliver armored warfare to your living room.
Aftermath - Play through maps that show the aftermath of a deadly earthquake. New weapons like the crossbow add new gameplay elements. Guerilla warfare is the focus of play in this great add-on.
So What's it Like?
Best described as Call of Duty + Vehicle warfare + Teamwork = Battlefield 3.
Back in the day I would have given it 8/10
Today its even better with several new features and balancing 9/10
Countdown to the next match has begun gamers... GEAR UP!
-Sarge
Thank you Sarge. I'm standing here next to a checkpoint at the Caspian border where not long ago a new server started and war broke out. Fighting has been intense with both factions taking heavy casualties. This highway once had cars passing through on holiday visits, now heavily armored tanks roll through this checkpoint. The source of this conflict remains a mystery, all we can say is that both factions seem to be fighting over a few flagpoles in this region, 4 to be exact, and why they fight to the death over "flagging rights" is puzzling. We are going to head over to the area known only as "Flag C" to see if we can make some sense of this conflict.
We have finally made it to Flag C and the scene is not pretty. Once, this small hill housed a service station, now it is rubble. I spot a lone soldier lying prone in the grass and decide to approach him.
"Excuse me soldier, can you tell us what you are fighting for?" I ask.
"STFU N00bfag you will give away my position!" Is all he replies. Our interview is cut short by a helicopter buzzing overhead. The soldier runs away. Several troops of the opposing faction drop down and start raising a flag, ignoring the retreating soldier. We decide to head for cover.
We manage to make it to the safety of another small gas station where an AC-130 hovers menicingly in the sky. It's cannons rain fire down on troops while para-dropping down to capture more flags. The scene is utter chaos. At one point we spotted an enemy soldier trying to kill a tank with a welding torch. Madness. It looks like the Russians will win this battle which leaves an uncertain fate for the Caspian border. All we know is that both forces will be moving the conflict to the snowy mountains of Admand Peak next map rotation where hopefully this conflict will be resolved...
So no doubt many of you had Battlefield 3 and have played it to death so is it worth returning to? Yes. EA have released several expansion packs which have added more ways to dominate the Battlefield.
Back to Karkand - Touted as a return to the days of Battlefield 2, Karkand sees the return of the best maps from the previous entry in the Battlefield series. There are new weapons and vehicles included for free and Premium members have new skins and challenged to unlock.
Close Quarters - Essentially gives a more Call of Duty experience to BF3. Small maps feature highly destructable elements and new weapons are a blast. New game modes are well implemented although C4 is abused in small time flag captures.
Armored Kill - A great example of an expansion pack done right. Armored Kill adds huge new maps which focus on temawork and capturing strategic points. No longer do you head for any flag, first you capture the air support flag to add an AC-130 mobile spawn point and rain hell from above. Vehicle combat and controls are refined to deliver armored warfare to your living room.
Aftermath - Play through maps that show the aftermath of a deadly earthquake. New weapons like the crossbow add new gameplay elements. Guerilla warfare is the focus of play in this great add-on.
So What's it Like?
Best described as Call of Duty + Vehicle warfare + Teamwork = Battlefield 3.
Back in the day I would have given it 8/10
Today its even better with several new features and balancing 9/10
Countdown to the next match has begun gamers... GEAR UP!
-Sarge
PS4 Announcement Imminent
Just a reminder that the Playstation 4 will most likely be announced today. Keep checking back to this site as we will update as soon as we hear from Sony!
Our Friend Rhys
I want to share a story about a friend and reader of What's It Like. His name is Rhys. When I first met Rhys he was a shy, quiet and very nervous kid fresh out of school applying for a job at a video games retailer I worked for. Nathan and I sat him down in the food court and started firing questions his way about how he could contribute to our team while he stared wide-eyed at us like a deer in the glare of headlights. That moment in history led to him being nicknamed "Bambi."
Bambi fit in well with our team and he was a good kid.
A few years later I get a text from my old boss Nathan that made my heart sink. The message told me that Rhys had been hit by a car and he was in a coma. He might not make it. There were no other details told and the last few words "he might not make it" stuck with me for a long time.
Rhys was put in a medically induced coma and I heard no further news.
Not too long ago I got back in contact with an old collegue named Briana. It turns out she was engaged to Rhys and I was pleased to hear he was alive and... ok. You see he had to have some of his skull removed to reduce the risk of brain damage. As most of you will know, brain injuries take a long time to heal and inhibit your bodily functions making the simplest of tasks difficult and frustrating.
Recently, he had another bout of surgery to replace his skull fragments and all went well considering the circumstances. However, It was brought to my attention that he is having a rough time recovering with symptoms that Sarge can relate to such as memory loss and intense headaches. So What's it Like wanted to help him take his mind off things and called an old friend, Nathan Whitehouse, who along with his team at Event Cinemas has given What's it Like a double pass to give to Rhys and his lovely fiance Briana to help them take their mind off things.
I would like to wish Rhys a speedy recovery from his surgery and extend Nathan and the team at Event Cinemas a big thank-you for the tickets!
Got a recovery message for Rhys? Why not pass it on through our Facebook page here (http://www.facebook.com/SOGwhatsitlike)
Keep on gaming Rhys and all the best!
-Sarge
A few years later I get a text from my old boss Nathan that made my heart sink. The message told me that Rhys had been hit by a car and he was in a coma. He might not make it. There were no other details told and the last few words "he might not make it" stuck with me for a long time.
Rhys was put in a medically induced coma and I heard no further news.
Not too long ago I got back in contact with an old collegue named Briana. It turns out she was engaged to Rhys and I was pleased to hear he was alive and... ok. You see he had to have some of his skull removed to reduce the risk of brain damage. As most of you will know, brain injuries take a long time to heal and inhibit your bodily functions making the simplest of tasks difficult and frustrating.
Recently, he had another bout of surgery to replace his skull fragments and all went well considering the circumstances. However, It was brought to my attention that he is having a rough time recovering with symptoms that Sarge can relate to such as memory loss and intense headaches. So What's it Like wanted to help him take his mind off things and called an old friend, Nathan Whitehouse, who along with his team at Event Cinemas has given What's it Like a double pass to give to Rhys and his lovely fiance Briana to help them take their mind off things.
I would like to wish Rhys a speedy recovery from his surgery and extend Nathan and the team at Event Cinemas a big thank-you for the tickets!
Got a recovery message for Rhys? Why not pass it on through our Facebook page here (http://www.facebook.com/SOGwhatsitlike)
Keep on gaming Rhys and all the best!
-Sarge
Monday 18 February 2013
A Report From The Field: Skyrim
Welcome to our first report from the field. A review where we revisit a game we haven't played in a while and deliver a report on how it is today. Today we have a report from Skyrim which I hope you will enjoy. Coming soon we will have a report from World Of Warcraft and Battlefield 3. Why not head over to our Facebook page and tell us what you want a report from? We now cross live to our reporter on the ground in the world of Skyrim...
I stand here at the gates of Helgen where only months ago a giant dragon we know only as Alduin destroyed this once peaceful city. While the location of Alduin and his motives remain unknown, we have had reports of several of his kin attacking cities for reasons unknown. Details are bare at best, but rumours of a Dovahkin arising to defeat the dragons have been circulating for quite some time. We are about to head downstream to the town of Riverwood to find out more.
Riverwood. An idealic peaceful town nestled between a sheer valley. To my left, a haunting outline of the Bleak Falls Burrow casts a menicing shadow over the town. To my right, the steep cliffs of the mountain of high Hrothgar watch carefully over Riverwoods inhabitants. It's hard not to fall in love with this town. Salmon whistfully jump upstream as the lake gently passes through the lumber mill. This town may hold the secret to the rise of the Dragonborn, so we decided to ask some of the local inhabitants what they knew. I see a guard over yonder.
"Excuse me?" I tentatively ask the guard.
"Let me guess, someone stole your sweet roll?" he replies dryly.
"Can you shed some light on the recent dragon attacks in Helgen?"
He looks at me with an empty stare and says "I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow to the knee."
I can see people don't want to talk. As I back away from the guard he has one more thing to add "If you disrespect the law, you disrespect me." Duly noted."
"I spot a blacksmith relentlessly hammering an iron dagger over hot coals. Sweat beads from his forehead as his concentration wavers when I approach. His name is Alvor and I decide to ask a few questions. "Excuse me, what can you tell us about the attack on Helgen?" He looks up at me and says
"By Ysgramor if it's strong I can forge it." I stare blankly and repeat the question.
"Looking to protect yourself, or deal some damage?" He replies."
"It's clear that the people of Riverwood are too frightened to say anything, fearing reprimand from Alduin or the dragon flight. There's not much more we can tell you on the situation, All I can tell you is we need the Dragonborn more than ever, and nobody can say for sure where he is..."
Well gamers, we know where he is. He's enjoying the latest add-on content of this brilliant game. Skyrim was released just over a year ago to critical acclaim, and much has changed since then. The game still looks fantastic compared to new release titles and aside from some annoying bugs, it's as fun to play as ever. New add-on content Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn add so much more to the game and are well worth the purchase. Players will find new mounts, quests, locations and weapons with each add-on they install.
This gamer has lost countless hours discovering the game again and have no problem giving it a high recommendation.
So What's It Like?
An open world RPG + Immersive experience + Countless hours of fun = The Skyrim Experience.
Back in November 2011 I would give it a 9/10
Now I would still give it a 9/10
Fus-Roh-Duh Gamers!
-Sarge
I stand here at the gates of Helgen where only months ago a giant dragon we know only as Alduin destroyed this once peaceful city. While the location of Alduin and his motives remain unknown, we have had reports of several of his kin attacking cities for reasons unknown. Details are bare at best, but rumours of a Dovahkin arising to defeat the dragons have been circulating for quite some time. We are about to head downstream to the town of Riverwood to find out more.
Riverwood. An idealic peaceful town nestled between a sheer valley. To my left, a haunting outline of the Bleak Falls Burrow casts a menicing shadow over the town. To my right, the steep cliffs of the mountain of high Hrothgar watch carefully over Riverwoods inhabitants. It's hard not to fall in love with this town. Salmon whistfully jump upstream as the lake gently passes through the lumber mill. This town may hold the secret to the rise of the Dragonborn, so we decided to ask some of the local inhabitants what they knew. I see a guard over yonder.
"Excuse me?" I tentatively ask the guard.
"Let me guess, someone stole your sweet roll?" he replies dryly.
"Can you shed some light on the recent dragon attacks in Helgen?"
He looks at me with an empty stare and says "I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow to the knee."
I can see people don't want to talk. As I back away from the guard he has one more thing to add "If you disrespect the law, you disrespect me." Duly noted."
"I spot a blacksmith relentlessly hammering an iron dagger over hot coals. Sweat beads from his forehead as his concentration wavers when I approach. His name is Alvor and I decide to ask a few questions. "Excuse me, what can you tell us about the attack on Helgen?" He looks up at me and says
"By Ysgramor if it's strong I can forge it." I stare blankly and repeat the question.
"Looking to protect yourself, or deal some damage?" He replies."
"It's clear that the people of Riverwood are too frightened to say anything, fearing reprimand from Alduin or the dragon flight. There's not much more we can tell you on the situation, All I can tell you is we need the Dragonborn more than ever, and nobody can say for sure where he is..."
Well gamers, we know where he is. He's enjoying the latest add-on content of this brilliant game. Skyrim was released just over a year ago to critical acclaim, and much has changed since then. The game still looks fantastic compared to new release titles and aside from some annoying bugs, it's as fun to play as ever. New add-on content Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn add so much more to the game and are well worth the purchase. Players will find new mounts, quests, locations and weapons with each add-on they install.
Dawnguard was the first pack of DLC released which allowed the Dragonborn to become a vampire lord or join the elite vampire hunters of the Dawnguard. New areas such as the Pitcairn showed us where trapped souls from soulstones go and new shouts that allow the Dragonborn to summon a dragon to fight on their behalf. The highlight for me was the new mount called "Arvark" which is a spell summoned horse so if it dies, you simply cast the spell again.
Hearthfire marked more customization for the game, allowing the Dragonborn to not only purchase land but build a house on it too. The player can also adopt kids and new random quests involve bandits kidnapping your loved ones and seeking ransom. Although it may not sound like much, Hearthfire is a great add-on and is the cheapest of the lot.
Dragonborn is the most ambitious DLC released so far. It adds the island of Solsthiem which was featured in "Morrowind" a previous game in the series. Dragonborn allows the player to craft new items, undertake an epic quest and even ride dragons!
All these packs are now available on all formats. Playstation 3 users will recieve the DLC at half price during this week so load up some PSN credit now!
This gamer has lost countless hours discovering the game again and have no problem giving it a high recommendation.
So What's It Like?
An open world RPG + Immersive experience + Countless hours of fun = The Skyrim Experience.
Back in November 2011 I would give it a 9/10
Now I would still give it a 9/10
Fus-Roh-Duh Gamers!
-Sarge
Vita Price drop Imminent
Sony announced last night that the Playstation Vita would receive a price cut in Japan last night. It's no secret the Vita has been struggling to push sales worldwide and has a huge lack of third party support at the moment. No word yet on whether there will be a western price cut but rest assured a price cut over here will be more than likely announced soon so keep your eyes on our page for an update when we get it.
-Sarge
-Sarge
Sunday 17 February 2013
The Sunday Roast
Welcome to the first Sunday Roast! This will be a weekly article where we review the worst of the worst. I think we all know that the first game we review has to be truly terrible, so with further ado, we take Duke Nukem Forever out of What's it Like's oven, and serve it up to you...
Duke Nukem Forever. The name alone sends a shiver down any gamers spine when they hear it. The real question many ask is, how after countless years of development, did this abomination get released? I don't even know where to start on this review which is probably what the developers at Gearbox thought when this steaming pile of turd landed on their desk.
Let's start with the graphics, which for the majority of the time look like they are a Playstation 2 port. Yes that's right I said the majority of the time. You know a game is bad when the half assed level design changes into an ok level design for an hour or two. This is the major fault with DNF, too many cooks spoiled the broth and it shows throughout the entire experience. There are times where the game shows a brief section of potential, which is clearly Gearboxes influence. These sections are few and far between however and cannot save this train wreck of a game from utter failure.
The sound design is awful. Duke Nukem makes quips that you would expect to hear on an episode of Jersey Shore. His personality and character development starts and ends with literally "I'm Duke Nukem, I must have sex and kill aliens." If this was real life, Duke Nukem would most likely be a registered sex offender or at his very best, kicked in the balls until he passed out from the pain.
DNF's gameplay is about as enjoyable as getting a prostate exam from Captain Hook. Most puzzles are jumping platform sections and crappy fetch quests which probably wouldn't be so bad if the controls were responsive. Controlling Duke is like having your hands broken by Joe Pesci in that scene from Casino, then trying to play a game of poker.
It's unfortunate that Duke Nukem Forever turned out to be so bad that even Gearbox from Borderlands fame couldn't save it. I don't think Duke's quips belong in this day and age and I'm not sure they belonged in any age for that matter. But back in the days of Duke Nukem 3D, it was shock value mixed with good gameplay. These days, the only shock you get is wondering what happened to this franchise...
Avoid it like the plague.
So What's it like?
Best described as Punching yourself in the face + hanging out with the cast of Jersey Shore = Duke Nukem Forever
I give it 2/10 (Which is being generous)
-Sarge
Duke Nukem Forever. The name alone sends a shiver down any gamers spine when they hear it. The real question many ask is, how after countless years of development, did this abomination get released? I don't even know where to start on this review which is probably what the developers at Gearbox thought when this steaming pile of turd landed on their desk.
...or we can not and then just say we did.
Let's start with the graphics, which for the majority of the time look like they are a Playstation 2 port. Yes that's right I said the majority of the time. You know a game is bad when the half assed level design changes into an ok level design for an hour or two. This is the major fault with DNF, too many cooks spoiled the broth and it shows throughout the entire experience. There are times where the game shows a brief section of potential, which is clearly Gearboxes influence. These sections are few and far between however and cannot save this train wreck of a game from utter failure.
From the future of 1998 it's Duke Nukem's graphics
The sound design is awful. Duke Nukem makes quips that you would expect to hear on an episode of Jersey Shore. His personality and character development starts and ends with literally "I'm Duke Nukem, I must have sex and kill aliens." If this was real life, Duke Nukem would most likely be a registered sex offender or at his very best, kicked in the balls until he passed out from the pain.
This screenshot actually looks great... but it's a render and
does not represent the final product.
DNF's gameplay is about as enjoyable as getting a prostate exam from Captain Hook. Most puzzles are jumping platform sections and crappy fetch quests which probably wouldn't be so bad if the controls were responsive. Controlling Duke is like having your hands broken by Joe Pesci in that scene from Casino, then trying to play a game of poker.
It's unfortunate that Duke Nukem Forever turned out to be so bad that even Gearbox from Borderlands fame couldn't save it. I don't think Duke's quips belong in this day and age and I'm not sure they belonged in any age for that matter. But back in the days of Duke Nukem 3D, it was shock value mixed with good gameplay. These days, the only shock you get is wondering what happened to this franchise...
Avoid it like the plague.
So What's it like?
Best described as Punching yourself in the face + hanging out with the cast of Jersey Shore = Duke Nukem Forever
I give it 2/10 (Which is being generous)
-Sarge
Console Catfight!
Sony have posted some sneaky adverts around the web to build up anticipation for their huge news reveal later this month on the 20th which is said to unveil the PS4. The offending ads say "Oh yay another Mario game. Step up to Playstation." Clearly this is a dig at the latest Nintendo Direct which announced several new titles (and a few Mario games) bolstering support for both the 3DS and the Wii U.
Perhaps a bit too early to brag since circulating rumors hint at console locked games and a constant Internet connection required for everyday use. Or maybe they are a little upset over the 3DS destroying the Vita on the market at the moment including overshadowing the new Vita Killzone game with Nintendo's Pokemon X&Y? All we know is being Sony Tech, whatever is shown will push gaming to new limits. Time will tell in a few days when all is said to be revealed...
-Sarge
Perhaps a bit too early to brag since circulating rumors hint at console locked games and a constant Internet connection required for everyday use. Or maybe they are a little upset over the 3DS destroying the Vita on the market at the moment including overshadowing the new Vita Killzone game with Nintendo's Pokemon X&Y? All we know is being Sony Tech, whatever is shown will push gaming to new limits. Time will tell in a few days when all is said to be revealed...
-Sarge
Update Delay
Hi Gamers. Due to health issues the site won't be updated until tomorrow. Stay tuned tomorrow for our (delayed) Sunday Roast article and more gaming news!
-Sarge
-Sarge
Friday 15 February 2013
Asteroid Hits Russia
Not really a gaming related post but something a little interesting. Last night while we were playing our games safe in our homes, an asteroid struck areas of Russia injuring over 1100 people. Thankfully most injuries were due to broken glass and not too severe. Check out www.news.com.au for more details including footage you won't believe.
I'm off to hunt down Bruce Willis because I don't want to close my eyes, I don't want to fall asleep...
-Sarge
I'm off to hunt down Bruce Willis because I don't want to close my eyes, I don't want to fall asleep...
-Sarge
Flashback Friday: Final Fantasy 8
"I'll be here..."
"Why...?"
"I'll be waiting here..."
"For what...?"
"I'll be waiting here so if you come here, you'll find me..."
And so begins one of the greatest adventures in RPG gaming history. The introduction starts with words floating on screen above a beautiful scene of waves gently lapping the shore. You don't know it yet, but these words will hold great significance in your adventure. Enter Squall, a young and proud trainee warrior who belongs to SEED, a special mercenary force used to quell unrest throughout the kingdom. Squall takes after previous heroes in the series, mainly Cloud, and at first it's hard to like the mainly silent protagonist as he rebels against his trainer Questis. This doesn't last long however, as Squall is thrust into a story that promises intrigue, political unrest and love. Does it deliver on these promises?
The answer is yes. After the initial introduction to a character you can't really be attached to, you are trust into political turmoil as you support an uprising of rebels called "The Forest Owls." Squall doesn't initially fight for a cause, the sole motivation for a SEED operative is money. During the development of Squall's story, the player starts to understand his faults and reasoning which leads to the player caring about his plight. Character development is handled well and instead of going for the typical emo kid routine, Squaresoft (now Square-Enix) develop the stereotype by adding depth and internal conflict into the fray.
Without giving too much away it is a joy to watch the bonds between a team motivated by money change into a group of friends. Love is the main theme amidst the civil war and even in times of conflict, love blossoms between Squall and Rinoa.
The graphics were very advanced for its time which featured high polygon count models vastly improving its engine over FFVII. Spells and summons where the highlight with what seemed to be pre-rendered movies behind in game battles. Speaking of pre-rendered, FFVIII pulls you in to a beautiful world of fantasy architecture that mixes both medieval and futuristic locales. Full motion video seamlessly blends into in game graphics an whilst it's very noticeable these days, in its heyday it was something you could not believe.
Gameplay follows the traditional Final Fantasy archetypes with the exception of a new junction ing system. This allows the player to customize their fighting style to how they want to play. The game originally spanned 4 discs which is something you don't have to worry about anymore as the digital release on Playstation Network handles disc swapping easily. It's easy to see why it spanned 4 discs as the game features several locations to explore and over 100 hours of gameplay (40 if you rush it.)
So What's It Like?
I would say its would be something like this... Traditional JRPG + Epic Story + FF Gameplay = FFVIII
I give it 9/10
Final Fantasy 8 is available on Playstation Network as a PS1 Classic for $15.99 AUD.
-Sarge
Thursday 14 February 2013
The Perks of Being a Gamer
Last night I took my lovely wife out to buy a new necklace. The jeweler noticed my Halo shirt and started up a gaming conversation. We got along well and he was nice enough to give us a discount on a necklace dropping Warcraft puns a plenty.
Why am I telling you this?
Well I'm currently sitting at Brisbane airport where moments ago I really needed to use the restrooms. I approached the men's toilets to see a barricade in place saying closed for cleaning. The cleaner inside looked through the door at me and removed the sign. He stared at my Borderlands 2 shirt and said "We can't let people in while we are cleaning... But because of your shirt I'll make an exception.
I am absolutely blown away by this concept. I am receiving special treatment because I'm a gamer... There are perks to being a gamer!
Back in the day, the only perks I received at school for being a gamer was an atomic wedgie and a not so friendly shove into the bag racks...
So please, enlighten this gamer and head over to our Facebook page to share any perks you may have received by being a gamer.
I'm off to go through the security checkpoint now. I wonder of they will wave me through if I put on my Mario shirt?
-Sarge
Why am I telling you this?
Well I'm currently sitting at Brisbane airport where moments ago I really needed to use the restrooms. I approached the men's toilets to see a barricade in place saying closed for cleaning. The cleaner inside looked through the door at me and removed the sign. He stared at my Borderlands 2 shirt and said "We can't let people in while we are cleaning... But because of your shirt I'll make an exception.
I am absolutely blown away by this concept. I am receiving special treatment because I'm a gamer... There are perks to being a gamer!
Back in the day, the only perks I received at school for being a gamer was an atomic wedgie and a not so friendly shove into the bag racks...
So please, enlighten this gamer and head over to our Facebook page to share any perks you may have received by being a gamer.
I'm off to go through the security checkpoint now. I wonder of they will wave me through if I put on my Mario shirt?
-Sarge
What's it Like is Mobile!
Did you know our site is mobile friendly? Reading What's it Like on the go is the best way to stay up to date with gaming related goodness. To read our mobile site, simply click our Facebook links on your smartphone or put this address into your favorites! (http://sogwhatsitlike.blogspot.com.au/?m=1)
Thanks again for reading What's it Like. Your support has delivered over 430 hits on the site and over 50 likes on our Facebook page.
Keep on gaming!
-Sarge
Thanks again for reading What's it Like. Your support has delivered over 430 hits on the site and over 50 likes on our Facebook page.
Keep on gaming!
-Sarge
Super Mario Busters
With the release of Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon just around the corner, a very talented animator, James Farr, has released an extremely entertaining mash-up of Mario Bros and Ghostbusters. Check it out here... http://youtu.be/srXN-1DUd3Q
Thanks to Steve and Sarah for sharing this. Got a funny game related video to share? Leave a link on our Facebook page!
-Sarge
Thanks to Steve and Sarah for sharing this. Got a funny game related video to share? Leave a link on our Facebook page!
-Sarge
Nintendo Direct Surprise!
Direct to our hearts...
Many gamers woke up this morning (including myself) to a late Valentines Day present from Nintendo. Mainly focused on the 3DS, the latest announcements show just how far the 3DS has come and despite a rough start, has started to hit its stride. Here are just a few announcements...
-Animal Crossing to be released June 9.
-Dillons Rolling Western sequel to hit eShop.
-Luigi confirmed as DLC for New Mario Bros Wii U.
-Mario Golf headed to 3DS this year.
-Donkey Kong Country Returns sequel to hit 3DS this year.
-Another new Pokemon confirmed for X&Y called Sylveon.
-Mighty Switch Force heading to Wii U eShop.
-Mario and Luigi Dream Team RPG headed to 3DS.
-Harvest Moon and Legend of the River King headed to 3DS Virtual Console.
-Fire Emblem exclusive 3DS bundle confirmed.
-Zelda Miiverse added to Wii U (It's live as we speak)
-Monster Hunter packs confirmed for Wii U and 3DS.
-Mario and Donkey Kong to have new eShop game.
and finally Code of Princess to get EUR digital eShop release.
Phew! I know a lot of gamers are going to be excited about this one including our new Nintendo staff member who will be introduced next week. Once again Nintendo have shown that an old dog can learn new tricks and with these announcements, have secured the future of the 3DS.
Why not head over to our Facebook and tell us which announcment has got you most excited at (http://www.facebook.com/SOGwhatsitlike)
I'm going to charge up my 3DS now.
-Sarge
-Animal Crossing to be released June 9.
-Dillons Rolling Western sequel to hit eShop.
-Luigi confirmed as DLC for New Mario Bros Wii U.
-Mario Golf headed to 3DS this year.
-Donkey Kong Country Returns sequel to hit 3DS this year.
-Another new Pokemon confirmed for X&Y called Sylveon.
-Mighty Switch Force heading to Wii U eShop.
-Mario and Luigi Dream Team RPG headed to 3DS.
-Harvest Moon and Legend of the River King headed to 3DS Virtual Console.
-Fire Emblem exclusive 3DS bundle confirmed.
-Zelda Miiverse added to Wii U (It's live as we speak)
-Monster Hunter packs confirmed for Wii U and 3DS.
-Mario and Donkey Kong to have new eShop game.
and finally Code of Princess to get EUR digital eShop release.
Phew! I know a lot of gamers are going to be excited about this one including our new Nintendo staff member who will be introduced next week. Once again Nintendo have shown that an old dog can learn new tricks and with these announcements, have secured the future of the 3DS.
Why not head over to our Facebook and tell us which announcment has got you most excited at (http://www.facebook.com/SOGwhatsitlike)
I'm going to charge up my 3DS now.
-Sarge
The Violence Debate
Are we poisoning ourselves with violent media?
Another week with another tragic shooting in the U.S. The latest shooting where a rogue police officer gunned down several fellow officers in Los Angeles is without a doubt a horrific situation, people are sad and angry and need something to point their fingers at but do violent video games deserve the flak?
Video Games have evolved over the years from a few pixels to an immersive experience. Graphics are photo realistic and deliver action with over the top explosions and gore. Gamers now have a selection of titles where they can shoot, blast, stab and destroy their way through any obstacle yet they remain just that, "Games." Personally, I dont believe video games cause people to have violent tendancies I do however, agree that games desensitise impressionable minds into losing the shock value of violence. Let me clarify... The average gamer is aged between 18-35 years, an adult. We have grown up, have a sense of moral obligations and understand the consequences to our actions. Young children do not have these skills in a fully developed state and can be confused by what they see on their TV screens.
Who's to blame?
Being a veteran of the Retail aspect of the games industry, there have been many a time where I have sold a copy of a violent game to a parent who is buying for their child... that's right, child. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, that an 8 year old child shouldn't be exposed to a game where you solicit prostitutes and gun down civilians for money. Now before you think I'm blaming the parents think again. I'm not even going to begin to pretend I know how to raise a child, but I think the blame is soley on A lack of education.
Parents who buys these games don't intentionally want to expose their kids to this sort violence at a young age. Due to pressure from the child and not understanding the content that their kids are seeing, parents can unintentionally harm their childs sense of morality.
So how do we solve this? Well, not buying GTA for an 8 year old would be a great start, but retailers should help parents paint a better picture of the software they are buying and on the homefront, perhaps parents can help explain and educate children on the games they are playing. An even better idea would be the media not firing blame at everything gaming related and maybe say "Hey, this guy was messed up." And finally, in a perfect world, we could try to identify the real social issues behind shooting sprees such as, I don't know, having military grade weapons in civilian homes for the hell of it.
I think all gamers would have something to say about this debate and encourage you to share your thoughts (http://www.facebook.com/SOGwhatsitlike) on the media and violent video games because one thing I've always noticed is when the blame finger is pointed at gamers, we never get to have a say.
-Sarge
GTA, Taking the heat off Mortal Kombat since 1997
Video Games have evolved over the years from a few pixels to an immersive experience. Graphics are photo realistic and deliver action with over the top explosions and gore. Gamers now have a selection of titles where they can shoot, blast, stab and destroy their way through any obstacle yet they remain just that, "Games." Personally, I dont believe video games cause people to have violent tendancies I do however, agree that games desensitise impressionable minds into losing the shock value of violence. Let me clarify... The average gamer is aged between 18-35 years, an adult. We have grown up, have a sense of moral obligations and understand the consequences to our actions. Young children do not have these skills in a fully developed state and can be confused by what they see on their TV screens.
Who's to blame?
I don't even...
Being a veteran of the Retail aspect of the games industry, there have been many a time where I have sold a copy of a violent game to a parent who is buying for their child... that's right, child. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, that an 8 year old child shouldn't be exposed to a game where you solicit prostitutes and gun down civilians for money. Now before you think I'm blaming the parents think again. I'm not even going to begin to pretend I know how to raise a child, but I think the blame is soley on A lack of education.
Parents who buys these games don't intentionally want to expose their kids to this sort violence at a young age. Due to pressure from the child and not understanding the content that their kids are seeing, parents can unintentionally harm their childs sense of morality.
So how do we solve this? Well, not buying GTA for an 8 year old would be a great start, but retailers should help parents paint a better picture of the software they are buying and on the homefront, perhaps parents can help explain and educate children on the games they are playing. An even better idea would be the media not firing blame at everything gaming related and maybe say "Hey, this guy was messed up." And finally, in a perfect world, we could try to identify the real social issues behind shooting sprees such as, I don't know, having military grade weapons in civilian homes for the hell of it.
I think all gamers would have something to say about this debate and encourage you to share your thoughts (http://www.facebook.com/SOGwhatsitlike) on the media and violent video games because one thing I've always noticed is when the blame finger is pointed at gamers, we never get to have a say.
-Sarge
The DLC Issue
Done right? or Dun goofed?
Today finally saw the release of Skyrim DLC on the Playstation 3 which has got us here at What's it Like talking about whether DLC is a good or bad thing. As many of you will most likely know, Dead Space 3 launched this week with 11 pieces of day 1 downloadable content. At what stage does DLC stop becoming an add-on and start becoming a quick cash grab?
The worst offender for an incomplete game would have to go to 007 Legends which didn't even have the last level included so as not to spoil the Skyfall movie. If this was the case, why not release the game later with the level included. It has to be hard on gamers with no internet connection who spend hard earned dollars on a game only being told "too bad, so sad" by developers.
Another example of poor DLC come from the likes of EA and Capcom. Capcom had been notoriously repeat offenders shipping games with DLC included on the disc! They also charge prices for alternate costumes which seems like a bit of a rip off. EA essentialy charge for cheat codes, allowing the player to unlock cars or money in games.
DLC can be done well however, such as Skyrim's expansion packs and Battlefield 3's excellent extensions which not only add new maps but new weapons and vehicles as well. Zen Studios has taken a fair approach to DLC by adopting a free to play business model on Zen Pinball 2 (Review incoming!)
So readers, what are your thoughts on DLC? Have you been stung by a quick cash in or is there an exceptionally well done DLC pack you love? Head on over to our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/SOGwhatsitlike) and tell us your thoughts!
-Sarge
The worst offender for an incomplete game would have to go to 007 Legends which didn't even have the last level included so as not to spoil the Skyfall movie. If this was the case, why not release the game later with the level included. It has to be hard on gamers with no internet connection who spend hard earned dollars on a game only being told "too bad, so sad" by developers.
Another example of poor DLC come from the likes of EA and Capcom. Capcom had been notoriously repeat offenders shipping games with DLC included on the disc! They also charge prices for alternate costumes which seems like a bit of a rip off. EA essentialy charge for cheat codes, allowing the player to unlock cars or money in games.
DLC can be done well however, such as Skyrim's expansion packs and Battlefield 3's excellent extensions which not only add new maps but new weapons and vehicles as well. Zen Studios has taken a fair approach to DLC by adopting a free to play business model on Zen Pinball 2 (Review incoming!)
So readers, what are your thoughts on DLC? Have you been stung by a quick cash in or is there an exceptionally well done DLC pack you love? Head on over to our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/SOGwhatsitlike) and tell us your thoughts!
-Sarge
Wednesday 13 February 2013
Wreck-it-Ralph Film Review
"I'm gonna wreck it!"
What does it mean to belong? This is the theme of Disney's "Wreck it Ralph." Ralph is a video game bad guy who isn't really a bad guy but just someone looking for a little recognition. The movie is a tribute to video games littered with easter eggs and cameos from the most famous game mascots of all time. So is this movie just a fan service to gamers? Read on...
So I won't give away the important stuff but the story goes a little something like this. Ralph is a bad guy in his game. He's proud of the job he does but is tired of not being recognised for his accomplishments. On the 30th anniversary of his game, Ralph witnesses the hero of the game "Fix it Felix Jr." recieve a medal and an honourary cake for his achievements. Ralph decides that the only way he will be accepted is if he earns a medal and jumps games to "Heroes Duty" a Call of Duty and Halo type shooter. During his time here he unknowingly sets an alien infestation loose throughout the arcade. Fix It Felix teams up with Heroes Duty star Sgt. Calhoun (who is programmed with a tragic back story) to chase down Ralph and right the wrongs.
cameos are a great addition to the film
So I won't give away the important stuff but the story goes a little something like this. Ralph is a bad guy in his game. He's proud of the job he does but is tired of not being recognised for his accomplishments. On the 30th anniversary of his game, Ralph witnesses the hero of the game "Fix it Felix Jr." recieve a medal and an honourary cake for his achievements. Ralph decides that the only way he will be accepted is if he earns a medal and jumps games to "Heroes Duty" a Call of Duty and Halo type shooter. During his time here he unknowingly sets an alien infestation loose throughout the arcade. Fix It Felix teams up with Heroes Duty star Sgt. Calhoun (who is programmed with a tragic back story) to chase down Ralph and right the wrongs.
Jane Lynch from glee delivers a great perfomance
The films theme of belonging is excellently portrayed as Ralph runs into a game glitch called "Venelope" (Sarah Silverman) who is shunned by other racers in her game "Candy Rush" a Mario Kart clone. As the movie progresses, Vanelope grows on Ralph and his desire to belong plays second to loking after Venelope to help her enter a race since other characters don't want to catch her "Glitch."
The film is beautifully animated with characters moving how they would in games and the cameos are expertly handled. The voice acting is superb and delivers by an all star cast who you easily believe are the characters they portray. The story is heartwarming and a genuinley funny affair with a lot of in house jokes and refrences to classic games. Disney has hit the mark with a movie that kids and adults alike can enjoy using clever refrences for adults and lovable characters for kids.
It's rare for a movie to make you smile when you leave the cinema, but Disney has crafted an amazing world to get lost in and characters to love. Well done Disney.
So What's It Like?
I would say this... Toy Story + Video Games + Nostalgia = Wreck It Ralph.
I give it 9/10
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