E3 Is Right Around The Corner

Well on it’s here again, E3.  Starting Monday my DVR is going to be filling up with press conferences and demo footage.  I look forward to this even almost as much as NYCC.  Honestly, I haven’t been reading up on whats going to be at the event, I want to be surprised.  The only game I have seen an image for is the new Gears project.  It is going to be the cover of the next gameinformer.

I will be posting more after the event is over on my thoughts of what company has come out on top, and what game I’m looking forward to the most.

Cave Johnson Here

Ahh, three simple words that get me excited.  I love Portal 2 and the character Cave Johnson, and Valve has just releaced a new video showing off a new addon to the game.  Take a look…

The best part about this video, is that they are still using Cave.  I hope they keep the character around and use him on other games… possibly Half-Life 3 (if they use the Black Mesa and Aperture are competing laboratories story).

P.S. I have not forgot about this site, just have a lot of work with the end of the semester.

Throwback Thursday (3/22/2012)

Spring is upon us, and because of that I haven’t been playing to many video games this spring break.  I have been outside enjoying the unusually warm weather.  The warm clear days gave me a great idea for this weeks Throwback Thursday,

Boktai

The sun is in your hands 

 This game is very interesting, and unique.  It was the first of its kind because of the technology inside the cartridge.  This game used a solar sensor to power your characters main weapon, the Gun Del Sol (solar gun).  Now this game didn’t just encourage you to go out side and play it, it was required at times.  You would use the power of the sun to recharge your gun to fight.  If by chance you ran out of sun you were SOL.  Now don;t worry this game is playable at night time.  When playing the game there was a bar on the bottom of your screen indicating the amount of sun the cartridge was picking up.  This acted like a battery storing sunlight to be used later in case it got shady or you wanted to play before bed or something.  Another cool feature of the game is the fact that is had an internal clock that would effect game play.  If you were playing at night different enemies would become active than if you played in the daytime.  This game is also make by Konami, the makers of metal gear, so there is also a stealth aspect if you want to conserve your sun powers.

This silly cartoon shows hot the game works and the cool small details are in the game.  Even thought this game is cool and original you can still find copies of the game at gamestops or other used game stores.  I’m sure you can find an emulator for it but it loses a lot of the fun when you cant actually charge the game up in the sun. Regardless give this game a try if you can get your hands on it.  Enjoy

Ghost Recon Online Stream

So how was everyone’s weekend?  Mine was very busy.  Over the past couple of days I have been playing SFxT, working on homework/studying for midterms, oh and getting a beta key for the Ghost Recon Online closed beta.  This post is delayed because of the home work, but in-between studying I have been getting a couple of games in.  Now, before I tell you my first thoughts on the game I want you guys to take a look at it for yourselves.  Later today I am going to be streaming a couple of games I recorded last night.  I will be streaming on twitch.tv.  During the stream I will be answering questions (if they are any), and commentating what you are seeing. If you miss the stream you will still be able to watch the recording on twitch, and at the end of the week I might edit together a video and put it on YouTube.

Link to my Twitch.tv page: http://www.twitch.tv/aggrocragg

P.S. You can also ask questions in the comment section below if you miss the stream.

Throwback Thursday (3/8/2012)

Its Thursday again, everyone’s favorite day of the week.  So lets get started.  Today’s game is the definition of a throwback.  Everything about this game is memorable, from the gameplay, to the announcer.  If you didn’t already guess, today’s pick is…

NBA JAM

If you had one sports game as a kid, this was the game to have.  No mater your skill level you could play this game.  The controls were super easy, and you could play with a friend.  Everything about this game appealed to me as a kid.  High flying dunks, a silly announcer, and the ability to push the other players to get the ball.  The only real complaint with this game, that I could remember, was that some of the all-stars weren’t in the game, mainly Jordan.  Other than that this game was a hit. So much so, that there is another NBA Jam that came out for PS3 and XBox 360.  This updated version is similar to the original except with updated graphics.  The game, like the original knows it is a joke and puts in classic unlockables like “Big Head Mode”.  Just look at it and tell me this game isn’t awesome, I mean, this sound track “is on fire.”

Now you can play the original here, but I recommend playing it on console or just getting the new version.  You wont regret it.

Summer Movie Hype

The winter video game season is dead and gone.  Next up to bat is the summer movie blockbuster season.  With a lot of great titles coming out this year lets start getting excited.  First movie on the list is not in the summer, but it is getting so much attention it is worth putting on this list.

HUNGER GAMES

(March 23)

If you didn’t know, this movie is based off of a very popular book series.  The book/movie is set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television.  Sounds like a good time right.  Now personally I have not read the books, but from what I hear this book is going to be a bit challenging to turn into a movie.  I say this because I can only assume that the book is violent.  Now that’s not so bad right, wrong, I would bet money that the writers and the director are going to cut the violence back to get a PG-13 rating to get the teen crowd to fill the seats.  Now for someone who hasn’t read the stories, like me, this wont be a huge problem.  Just wait until the die hard fans see the movie and complain about that.  Regardless what everyone thinks, I’m interested in seeing this move, if only to see how they get away with a movie based on kids killing each other.

THE AVENGERS

(May 4)

This is the movie that all comic book fans have been waiting for.  Nick Fury and the international agency S.H.I.E.L.D. bring together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki & his various membered army.  Movie fans are familiar with most of the members of the Avengers, because four of the six of them have has their own summer hits (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America).  Personally I am excited, not only because I’m a comic nerd, but because I want to see of they can pull off a movie with all of these big name superheroes.  You can bet if this makes bank, DC is going to try and make a Justice League movie.

MEN IN BLACK III

(May 25)

Most people aren’t to excited for the third installment of this series.  On the other hand I can’t wait for this.  I have loved the first two Men in Black movies.  To really enjoy these movie, I think you have to familiarize yourself with old scifi classics.  You can’t take the series to seriously.  Go see this movie if you are looking for a comedy that is a modern interpretation on classic science fiction hits.  I mean come on, Will Smith goes back in time to the 60’s

BRAVE

(June 22)

it’s Pixars now movie, need I saw more.  Well if I do here you go, this is a brief on IMBD “Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. ”  But honestly, this is going to look beautiful, and sound beautiful because of its cast.  If you are a Pixar fan, Disney fan, or an animation fan go see this film.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

(July 3)

The Amazing Spider-Man is hopefully going to be a good comic book movie.  This film is going to be the much needed reboot for the spider-man films.  Unfortunately for this series, I feel it is being over shadowed by The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises.  I still think it will do well.  The main character casting is far better than the original films.  James Garfield makes a better Peter Parker, and Emma Stone makes a better love interest as Gwen Stacy.  Peter feels more like he should, an awkward nerd, but still makes joke when dealing with criminals.  I feel Garfield will bring a Peter Parker we can relate to, who wont wine as much as the Peter in previous films.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

(July 20)

This is the movie most of us are waiting for.  The conclusion of Nolan’s Batman trilogy.  Like always, this movie has a great cast, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, and Liam Neeson.  If you loved the first two movies in the series, I don’t have to convince you to go see this film…You’re going to see this movie.  (Who’s taking bets on if Bane breaks Batman’s back).

THE BOURNE LEGACY

(August 3)

I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Bourne series, but this trailer really sold me on this film.  I like the fact that Matt Damon’s story is over and they are dealing with a new charter.  Not because I don;t like Damon, but because I’m glad the story is moving forward and not dragging its face across the pavement.  I feel Jeremy Renner will do a great job and, even if it’s not the best it will be worth the price of the ticket…Maybe not the price of the popcorn with the prices these theaters charge.

Throwback Thursday (3/1/2012)

Unfortunately this Throwback Thursday is going to be a bit short, I am busy with school work, working on fixing my resume, and writing cover letters.  But who cares what I’m working on lets get started.  This week we are going back to an old favorite.  If you owned a SNES, chances were you owned this game.

Super Mario World

Come on,  look at that cover.  If this game doesn’t portray the awesomeness of this game I don’t know what does.  Okay so the cover is lame but trust me this game is awesome.  This game is your classic Mario game but updated.  This game took everything amazing about Mario 3 and made it better.  This game gave up new power-ups.  Not only that, but it gave the player a way to store power-ups in case you get hit.  This game was long too.  It has so many secret levels you will be playing this title for hours.

Trust me this game is fun and probably my favorite Mario game.  And because I like you guys I’ll give you a link to where you can play it.  Don’t day I never did anything for you.

 

P.S. There are mods out for this game where people create their own challenge levels.  they are excruciating, just take a look.

 

Throwback Thursday (2/23/2012)

Thursday is upon is once again, so let me tell you my pick for this weeks throwback.  To break the trend of nothing but video games on this website, I bring you a movie.

Kung Fu Hustle

I can’t explain it, I love this movie for some odd reason.  It is one of those movies, where if it is on TV, I have to drop what I’m doing and watch it.  It is a total guy movie.  It’s goofy, has great over the top fight scenes, and it has Stephen Chow in it.  I mean just look at this scene where they introduce the fearsome “Axe Gang”.

You have no reason not to check this strange movie out.  It has been out for a while so you can get it cheep at any movie store.  (Unfortunately it is not on Netflix streaming.)  Trust me, you will love it and well be a good addition to your DVD/Blu-ray collection.

Making Movies

There is a question that has been asked on almost every message board, game website, and game channel.  It is a question that we all can’t agree on.  What video game should be made into a movie?  Now before you start answering this question, I’m going to ask a counter question.  Do we really need to turn video games into movies?  With how far the gaming industry has come, I don’t understand why fan boys and girls are so eager for their favorite games to hit the big screen.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but, video games can be better than movies.  Not only do you get sucked into a great story, but you actually get to play as the characters instead of watching an actor surrounded by special effects do everything.

The thing is, I don’t know if the average player understands that current games are treated similar to movies.  Even though it is all digital, the creators still need to worry about a script, lighting, blocking the scenes, transitions, continuity, etc.  The first time I really understood this was when I saw a video in which Hideo Kojima was showing the intricacies if the engine that Metal Gear Solid 4 ran on.  The ting about the video that I remember the most was how he could instantly tweak the smallest detail of the lighting, and the particle effects of snakes surroundings in real time.  The funny thing is that people made fun of metal gear solid for being more of a movie than a game because of the number of cut scenes in it, and every time the original question is posed, people want a MGS movie.  On a similar note, Uncharted 3 is practically a movie.  The uncharted series is one of the most realistic looking games on the market.  This is because the game is motion captured and voiced at the same time.  This means that there is no longer a disconnect from the voice actor and the motion.  This adds more realism because the voice actor can get into character better and do a better job.  Below is a short video interview with the actors of Uncharted.

For me, I’m not sure I could ever like a video game movie more than the game the characters originated from.  I say this because one of the aspects of movie would be casting the characters, and if the characters voice doesn’t match it would bother me.  I would rather a director change the look of a character slightly over changing the voice.   Nolan North will always be Nathan Drake, Carlos Ferro will always be Dominic Santiago, and Link will never have a voice.

In the end, do we really need another video game movie.  Just look at the track record of these movies.  I mean, don’t get me wrong I would pay to see Matthew Fox as Commander Shepard in a Mass Effect movie, or Nathan Fillion as Nathan Drake in an Uncharted Film.  but is it necessary.  I would love to see original ideas coming out of Hollywood for a change, but that is for a different post.

Hell, for the fun of it there is a poll if you want to vote.

Throwback Thursday (2/16/2012)

It’s Thursday, so lets jump into our second Throwback Thursday.  Now, for me the is going to be a long weekend because of presidents day.  With that, I have picked a good game for you and your friends to get together and waste the day…

MARIO PARTY

By now if you have never played a Mario Party or don’t know what it is, I’m sorry, but where have you been for the past fourteen years.  Mario Party, on paper, must have sounded like a bad idea at first.  With all of the great adventure games, RPGs, and puzzle games Mario has been in, who would think to put him in a digital board game.  We all can be thankful that this series was created.  Mario Party is a simple concept, you and three other friends get together and try to make your way around the game board buying stars.  The person with the most stars after a predetermined amount of turns is the winner.  Of course Nintendo wouldn’t be able to squeeze eight games out of just that (Okay well maybe they could).  After every player has moved, they all engage in a mini game.  These mini games are varying between 4v4, 2v2, and 3v1 (the teams are determined on what color space they land on).

That video is a trailer for the ninth installment of the game on the Wii, and give you an idea what the game is about.  Over all, just go out and play this game.  It shouldn’t be to hard to find seeing as you can get it an any Nintendo system since N64.  You and your friends will have a good time…if they are still your friends after (No one likes getting their stars stolen).