Inside the thoughts of an average gamer.
Games
Gaming Podcasts
Oct 20th
Video games have changed the way we looked at entertainment. MP3 players changed the way we carried our music around with us. With the introduction of the MP3 players came podcasts; Regularly recorded shows, usually in just audio, that talk on various subjects.
I tend to load my iPod up with a ton of gaming podcasts that I’ve subscribed to. Usually I’ll take it with me to work and when things are slow or dull (or when opposing hockey players are chirping at each other between their penalty boxes) I’ll turn one on and relax while I watch pucks, press buttons, sometimes write and occasionally tell a few tense hockey players to shut the fuck up. I rarely ever listen to my podcasts at home; I almost always listen to them when I have nothing else to focus on, as I don’t wanna miss anything.
I have about four or five podcasts that I like to listen to regularly; These are my own recommendations. Hit the jump to find out who I’m listening to.
(All of the podcasts I’ve listed are available on iTunes.) More >
Ten F2P MMORPG Gripes
Jul 15th
The massively multiplayer online RPG: Some swear by it, and some call it a detriment to society, breeding a world of hermits. When you think MMORPG nowadays, you’re likely thinking about games like World of Warcraft, Everquest, City of Heroes/Villans, and so on. All of these have one thing in common, you must pay some sort of fee, whether it be buying the game itself, paying for a subscription to continue playing it, or a lot of the times both. However, not all are like this:
There are probably as many MMOs out there that are “free to download, free to play” as there are ones that require you to pony up, if not more. Many times, this ends up making the game more accessible to all, however these games have their own set of challenges, all which contribute into how “Free-to-play” MMOs are run and the community that plays them.
That being said, I’ve been playing various MMOs for close to five years now, and I have my share of good and bad experiences. This list covers some of the more apparent bad experiences that you’re likely to come across. Hit the jump to find out what they are:
Sony Jumps on the “Online Pass” Bandwagon with Modnation Racers PSP
May 27th
It’s barely been around a month since EA first announced their “online initiative” that requires people to buy a pass to play a used game online and already other companies are looking to cash in: THQ has already done the same thing with UFC Undisputed 2010 and now it looks like Sony is looking to take advantage of this as well.
I hopped on the Playstation store to buy Modnation Racers PSP the other day and I clicked the first logo I could find, thinking that it would be the game. Oh boy was I wrong, because what I actually clicked was an add-on titled “Modnation Racers PSP Online Entitlement.” This is what it says:
The Online Entitlement is used to activate the Online and Infrastructure features of the ModNation Racers game for the PSP system. For those purchasing the game second-hand, the entitlement will also need to be purchased and entered into a PSN account prior to activating the Infrastructure
So, another publisher joins the fold.
Is this something that’s been going on behind the scenes now? I know that publishers were looking for a way to discourage used game sales; Have they found it? Should they really be getting all butthurt about used games?
This is still a neutral subject for me; I don’t mind publishers looking for a way to get some money off of used games. Really, it’s still their game, but at the same time I don’t agree they should be making money off a game that they’ve already sold. All in all it’s been mentioned many times on various gaming blogs that this pretty much makes buying used games pointless unless it’s a strictly offline affair. Destructoid’s latest Bit Transmission podcast put this nicely, if you’re buying a used game for 10 dollars less than the price of a new one, and you have to pay 10 bucks for a code to play it online, it doesn’t make it worth buying used unless you’re playing it strictly offline.
It might not have been long since EA announced their online initiative, but this is quickly becoming the norm.
The online entitlement seems to be only in place for the PSP version of the game; From what I’ve heard it’s not the same thing for the PS3 version. Of course, if you buy the game new or off of PSN then you don’t have to worry about buying the entitlement, as it will be tied to your PSN account.
First Impressions: Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
Mar 21st
Was I ever excited about this.
In October 2000, Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver had already been out in Japan for quite some time. I had a preorder for Gold, due out October 14th. It was a day I couldn’t wait for. I remember I didn’t sleep the night before and I showed up at the mall a half hour before it opened so I could pick the game up right away. I took it home and played, played, played, and played the crap out of it. So much, in fact, that the only game that I have ever played more than my beloved Gold version is Tales of Symphonia.
Pokemon Gold and Silver introduced a lot of new things to the series that wasn’t around in Red and Blue: A real-time clock, day/night phases, pokemon genders, battle screen enhancements such as experience meters, new plot events, and Pokemon Crystal took it even further by introducing a playable female character, battle animations, a “second rival” (Eusine) and a forced legendary battle after the seventh badge; Something we’ve seen in every game after Crystal.
Nine and a half years later to the day on March 14th 2010, Pokemon HeartGold and Pokemon SoulSilver made landfall in North America. Just like before I had it preordered, although I didn’t rush out to get it. As I unboxed the big package that the game came in (which includes the Pokewalker, which I will get to in a bit) and started playing, I came to realize that not only has all of that been improved on, but things that had been added later on had also been put into this game, along with a few new things.
So, now that I have the remake of one of my most beloved games of all time, what do I think of it?
First Impressions: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Nov 18th
I can remember when I first got a DS. It had already been out for about a year and a half and it just so happened that the first New Super Mario Bros. was on its way, promising an experience that mixes Mario’s new moves in an old 2D-style game. Nevertheless I got it when I had the chance and loved every minute I spent with it. Being an 80′s kid that logged countless hours playing Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 3, the game brought back many nostalgic moments from the plumber’s 8-bit glory days.
Despite this, I didn’t know what to think when Nintendo showcased New Super Mario Bros. Wii at this year’s E3 press conference. It could have been the fact that they spent all the time on boasting about 4-player simultaneous half co-op, half competitive multiplayer, but it really took me a while for this one to settle in… In fact, it was only yesterday that I actually was sold on the game by demoing it in single-player. (I’m really the only gamer in the household so it’s really hard to be sold on a game that only offers local multiplayer.) A couple of trade-ins later and I find myself headed home with the game’s bright-red box in hand, ready for yet another classic Mario experience.
Game Overview:
The actual storyline of course is just a shadow to the same old thing. Bowser comes, kidnaps Peach, starts terrorizing the Mushroom Kingdom, yadda yadda yadda… Nothing new there. Okay, so now that we’re past that… New Super Mario Bros. Wii follows in the footsteps of its DS predecessor by offering a modern Mario game in a classic 2D environment. It’s the type of game that will no likely please just about everyone in one way or another… There’s really just no way I can describe this in greater detail.
How does it play?
With the exception of the mega mushroom, all of Mario’s moves from NSMB can be done here. The controls, assuming you’re using just the remote, (which if you’re like me is the only way to play a game like this) have been simplified down to something reminiscent of an NES game, with a few extra things that require you to shake or tilt the remote, such as spin-jumping or tilting a special kind of platform. The game takes a lot out of Super Mario Bros. 3 in a way. The game features the return of airship-style stages, replaces the SMW-style “reserve item” system from the first game with an inventory system similar to 3′s, and even brings back the Koopalings from a long leave-of-absence. Yoshi also makes an appearance and controls much like he did in his debut nearly 19 years ago complete with gobbling berries, stomping out most enemies in 1 hit, and jumping off his back. (Many times causing him to make noble sacrifices so that Mario can complete his quest.)
Progression is similar to that as in the DS version; Worlds are set out into branching paths and each world contains a castle at the end and 1 or 2 towers along the way. Ghost houses, mushroom houses, warp cannons, and now even enemies that wander the map make a return in NSMBWii. Mario must jump, stomp, and slide his way through to the ever-so-classic flagpole at the end of each level, which obviously opens the way to the next level. He does have the help of a few new powerups along the way; The ice flower works much like the fire flower except that Mario can freeze enemies. This allows him to pick a frozen enemy up and toss it like a koopa shell. The propeller hat allows Mario to fly straight up with a shake of the remote, then slowly float back down. Penguin mario negates the effects of ice and also enhances his sliding ability.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to try multiplayer yet, though I’m confident that one day I’ll be able to give it a spin… I just need people that I can actually play it with.
Pros:
- Continues offering the nostalgic feel that the first New Super Mario Bros. did.
- Simultaneous Multiplayer that can be both co-operative and competitive.
- Keeps things fresh by adding new power-ups while also re-introducing some old mechanics.
Cons:
- Stale story. Seriously… I don’t know how many ways you can conjure up a story that has the same result… Princess gets kidnapped, plumber sets off to save her.
Do I Like It?
It’s… Mario, and it’s a Mario that just about everyone can relate to. The presentation is a nice mix of old and new and controls with a similar style to that of the older Mario games. As I said before, I wasn’t sure how much I was going to like this game until I was able to try it out for myself, and once I did it was golden. This game is a must-buy.
Who should buy it?
Everyone that has a Wii. I’m not saying this as a fanboy, or a Nintendork, or an old-school gamer. There is something that will please just about everyone in this game unless you absolutely hate platformers… Or old-school games. (I have yet to be given a valid reason as to why someone should hate an old-school game, though.) People who grew up with an NES will like it for its single-player gameplay, and maybe the young ones will like the multiplayer aspects.
First Impression: Very Good. At this point I don’t think Nintendo could have done better… aside from the story.
Notable releases: Q4 2009 UPDATED
Sep 28th
So, it’s been a bit of an uneventful third quarter at AGM. It appears I have come down with severe cases of writer’s block, laziness, and just plain procrastination all at once.
But, without further ado, here are some of the games you can expect between now and the end of the year:
(Note: The following list is only for North America)
Xbox 360
Oct 13th: Brutal Legend
Oct 27th: DJ Hero
Oct 27th: Forza Motorsport 3
Oct 27th: Tekken 6
Oct 29th: GTA4: The Ballad of Gay Tony
Nov 3rd: Band Hero
Nov 10th: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Nov 17th: Assassin’s Creed II
Nov 17th: Left 4 Dead 2
Dec 22nd: Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Playstation 3
Sept 29th: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
Oct 13th: Brutal Legend
Oct 20th: Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time
Oct 27th: DJ Hero
Oct 27th: Tekken 6
Nov 3rd: Band Hero
Nov 3rd: Lego Rock Band
Nov 10th: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Nov 17th: Assassins Creed II
Dec 22nd: Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Wii
Sept 29th: Dead Space Extraction
Oct 4th: Wii Fit Plus
Oct 6th: Spore Hero
Oct 13th: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Oct 27th: DJ Hero
Nov 3rd: Band Hero
Nov 3rd: Lego Rock Band
Nov 3rd: Rabbids Go Home
Nov 3rd: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Nov 10th: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex
Nov 15th: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Nov 27th: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles
Dec 22nd: Guitar Hero: Van Halen
Dec 26th: Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
(I also believe that Tatsunoku vs. Capcom is supposed to fit in somewhere here, unless I missed something.)
Nintendo DS
Sept 29th: Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Oct 6th: Spore Hero Arena
Oct 12th: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
Oct 13th: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Nov 3rd: Lego Rock Band
Nov 10th: Band Hero
Nov 10th: Call of Duty Modern Warfare: Mobilized
Dec 7th: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
PSP
Oct 1st: PSPGo [Hardware]
Oct 1st: Gran Tourismo
Oct 1st: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Oct 13th: Half Minute Hero
Oct 20th: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Nov 17th: Little Big Planet
(And yes, that’s it for now.)
PC
Oct 13th: Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Oct 22nd: Windows 7 [Operating System]
Nov 10th: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Nov 17th: Left 4 Dead 2
Random Ramblings: Vista… Oh that Vista…
Jul 18th
The last time I decided I was going to randomly talk about gaming stuff, I was talking about the DSi, how I pwned my computer, the sheer amount of games that were being added to my collection, and a possible deep connection between an evil defense attorney whose name isn’t Jack Thompson, and an anime angel loli. It couldn’t get any weirder, could it?
GameDeals Video Games – The Independent Game Retailer Still Lives
Jul 7th
If it’s one thing that many older gamer remembers, it’s the little stores back in the days that sold video games, allowed you to trade them in, and whatnot. Even in today’s age where game retail seems to be dominated by GameStop/EB Games, these small stores still exist. One said store is GameDeals, a little second hand store in New Westminster (suburban Vancouver) situated within walking distance from Columbia Station along the Expo line.
Sony Finally Launches PSN Prepaid Cards in Canada, and Goofs.
Jul 6th
It seems that Sony keeps on thinking of ways to show just how much they fail.
When they’re not launching their newest systems to lackluster launches, they’re relaunching them with features that nobody cares about. When they deny a rumor, they come back and reveal that it’s true by the end of the week.
…And when SCEA finally started selling Playstation Network prepaid cards in Canadian retailers, the cards were bogus.
In a goof-up of epic proportions, Sony mixed up their initial shipments of PSN prepaid cards, except those going to EB Games. I have no idea how or why this would make a difference since all retailers technically use the same system, but apparently certain cards only work at certain retailers, and the cards that apparently were supposed to go to Rogers Plus stores ended up at 7-11 and Best Buy/Future Shop. However, the cards were stocked anyway and as a result, cards purchased from anywhere in Canada except EB Games, although recognized by the Playstation Store as activated, are giving a “The funds could not be added to your wallet” error due to them not being activated properly.
Fortunately, both Sony and the retailers are starting to catch onto this critical error. Over on the Official PlayStation Forums, people affected by the problem are reporting that both parties are cooperating. Sony is asking for proof of purchase to be faxed to them, and others have reported that they had gone back to Best Buy, explained what was going on, and were actually able to get a refund. (Yes, a refund on a non-refundable product) Those same people have also said that the managers have had the bogus cards pulled off the shelves.
Sony has not released an official statement regarding the issue, and there is no word that they will. I advise my fellow Canadians looking to buy a PSN card to do so from EB games, as the are the only ones that seem to be working. If you have already bought a card from 7-11, Best Buy, or Future Shop that does not work, you can call SCEA Consumer Support at 1-800-345-7669.
UPDATED: SCEA has been manually adding the balance to peoples’ accounts for those that have bought a non-working Playstation Network card. Here’s what you have to do:
- Call the support line as noted. Give them your PSN ID, the card’s code, and where you bought it. They’ll give you a service request number and a number to fax copies of your card and receipt to.
- Scan the your receipt and both sides of the card, print them out, write “Attn: Tech Team” along with your service request number, name, phone number, PSN ID and associated ID on the printout. Fax all of this to the number that they give you. (If you don’t have a fax machine at home, you can go to a UPS store or other courier and it’ll only cost you around two bucks.
- They will call you back in a day or two to let you know that they’ve added the balance to your account, given that everything checks out correctly.
Update 2: I had faxed them a copy of my bogus card and receipt and they manually added the $20 to my account. That’s quite a relief.
