Category: Gaming Articles

People following my Twitter know that recently most of my free time as of late has gone into playing the PS3 game Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. This absolute beauty of a JRPG has made me absolutely giddy at nearly every turn with its brilliant combat system and wonderful story. But what makes me even more giddy, more so than any of that, is the art of this game. It’s gorgeous, beautiful, stunning, and every other possible word along that same meaning. Level-5 has always done visually interesting games with their Professor Layton series, but they took it a bit farther for this one.

Somehow Level-5 got in good with the art gods and managed to snag the biggest thing that makes this game so visually amazing, managed to get what I’m sure nobody actually thought they’d be able to get: they got Studio Ghibli. One of the most accomplished animation studios in the world does the art for this gorgeous game and it shows, not just from their distinctive characters who share the iconic Ghibli design, but also from the sheer beauty of the landscapes and animals. Not only that but Ghibli even spared their best composer, Joe Hisaishi, to write the score. Layton’s writers and Ghibli’s everything else? This game is a god damned match made in heaven!

I am unnaturally excited every time I boot up this game, and it’s really put me into a Ghibli mood. So, here I am again with another attempt at written content! Let’s talk some Ghibli and their films, shall we? This will come in three parts, the first dealing with their beginnings and their films in the 1980s.

And yes, before I am asked, I have seen all of these. Two of them I only saw as these articles were being written, but I have seen every single one of these films. Let us begin after the break!

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With E3 2012 one month away and after re-watching last year’s press conferences (mostly to get them off my DVR), let’s recap the claims that were made by each of the Big Three companies and see how they did almost one year later! On Friday, we looked at Microsoft. Yesterday, the focus was on Sony. Finally, we have Nintendo at E3 2011, after the break!

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With E3 2012 one month away and after re-watching last year’s press conferences (mostly to get them off my DVR), let’s recap the claims that were made by each of the Big Three companies and see how they did almost one year later! Yesterday, we looked at Microsoft. Now up is Sony at E3 2011, after the break!

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With E3 2012 ONE MONTH AWAY and after re-watching last year’s press conferences (mostly to get them off my DVR), let’s recap the claims that were made by each of the Big Three companies and see how they did almost one year later! Up first is Microsoft at E3 2011, after the break!

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Originally posted by:
Marc “SwordHunter” Spezia
Assistant Editor, Show Me Your News

It’s saddening how poorly the multiplayer scenes of mature-rated games are portrayed in other media: foul-mouthed ten-year-olds filling the servers (which isn’t entirely untrue), cheating ‘trolls’ who feel secure while acting out, and all games being ruled by expert players which make it tough for new players to stay. What doesn’t seem to make the front page is the rare instance where AAA-class multiplayer experiences have a positive impact on players. Mature video games are full of dichotomies – if the worst sides of people can be brought out by them, why not the best sides as well? Maybe I’ve been mostly lucky, but I do at least feel privileged to have been a part of such a scenario for several years now.

At the end of my high school career in 2007, I received my personal “computer for college purposes” and the world of unrestricted gaming was thus opened to me. I asked a friend of mine for suggestions on which $20 PC titles I might be interested in; he responded with Battlefield 2 and Halo: Combat Evolved. I tried Battlefield first and did not like the gameplay nuances very much (I later discover my preferences to match those of Call of Duty 4). His second suggestion, almost four-years-old by this point, blew me away. Halo’s engaging campaign, imaginative weapons and vehicles, online multiplayer (a perk the port had over the Xbox original), and variety of gametypes had me hooked into putting in many hours of gameplay. As expected of a PC title, the availability and variety of mods extended the multiplayer option even further for those who wanted a change of pace from the standard settings. Early into my dip in the ocean that is dedicated-server multiplayer, I found a server with a custom gametype dubbed “SuperSniper:” powered snipers for one-shot kills, rotating targets able to be tracked (you only get points for killing your personal target), and teleporter mods to move from the ground to the unexplored cliffs of Blood Gulch. I had found a fast-paced sniper battle befitting my assumed internet tag of ‘Hunter’ that was unlike traditional, stealth-based sniper matches.

As I challenged myself to be more efficient and keep up an average score/minute rating, I began to pay attention to the group of people who hosted the server. The members of the PÕQ Clan (mistakenly assumed to be an acronym, named from the founder’s hometown of Poquoson) were legitimately skilled, fair in having teams be balanced, and perhaps most importantly kept the game clean. I doubt I fully appreciated this last characteristic until I further expanded my online horizons with Xbox LIVE, but PÕQ servers certainly stood out to me from other Halo PC servers because of it. Impressed by their conduct, I applied and was accepted into the approximately 30-member clan later that year, and was eventually promoted to administrator. While regular members could show clan affiliation and warn offenders by citing server rules, administrators and leaders had password-protected access to the built-in Remote Control/Console (RCon) commands – and thus the ability to intervene when things got messy. The war against rule-breakers never ends, but “PÕQ~Hunter” was now among those fighting back.

As expected, things are more complicated behind-the-scenes than they appear to passersby. Those players who are determined to cuss and betray teammates are dealt with easily with a kick-then-ban policy, but suspected cheaters are far more disruptive to normal gameplay. The open and accessible nature of computers make them more susceptible to foul play than console networks (XBL, PSN, etc.), especially with an older game where newer anti-cheating filters such as PunkBuster were not available. There is a disturbing myriad of cheating programs with applications in online shooters: “aimbots” that snap the player’s targeting reticule to a specific part of an opponent’s body (usually the head), wallhacks that can highlight opponents through walls or turn walls into transparent wireframes, and the “Sightjacker” that allows the player to view what an opponent sees to determine their location. Unfortunately the use of these programs is not always obvious, thus requiring on-duty admins to stop playing and investigate. They have to walk a fine line, using Sightjacker themselves not to cheat, but to see the tell-tale snap of an aimbot user or see a cheater track an opponent through a wall. As you may have noticed, this distinction becomes more difficult on the SuperSniper server I described where tracking opponents is part of the game – the trick becomes whether or not the player gained the point or not for that tracked kill.

While moderating game servers while trying to have fun playing may seem to be a hassle, but the point is: it is worth it. Just because someone plays a first-person shooter doesn’t mean they want to be consistently shot with rockets by a teammate, cussed at in all-caps every time you shoot some immature troll, or anything worse I dare not mention. Clean games separate the actual mature players of M-rated games from those who shouldn’t be playing at all. It provides a friendly atmosphere and a service to those looking for a similar experience. PÕQ (a Halo PC-exclusive clan) is a family of gamers now numbering in the triple digits with members of all ages, both men and women from around the world. Sharing games with quality individuals enhances the positive experiences we get out of them, helps build friendships, and forms a sense of belonging with clanship. Though upset, banned, troublemaking players may try to ruin the experience and send more filth their way, PÕQ preserves and continues to fight the good fight. I have been a member for almost three and a half years now, and joining the clan has been one of the best decisions I have made in my time as a gamer.

Marc “SwordHunter” Spezia is the assistant editor for the gaming podcast “Show Me Your News,” originally created by his brother Peter, at showmeyournews.com. Aside from sniping and banning n00bs in Halo PC, he lives out his aspirations of driving a Bugatti Veyron via Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit on Xbox 360. Marc may be reached via email at poqhunter(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

Here at SMYN, there are certain things that the entire community as a whole gets very excited about. When that happens, I usually pose questions in a countdown format for the last week for everyone to give feedback on. So, like I did with Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver and Black/White, I will be posing questions for the Nintendo 3DS, due March 27th.

IT’S HERE TOMORROW!!

My answer to yesterday’s question:
In May, I’m looking forward to the eShop the most. Can you imagine the potential of some of the Game Boy games they could add? Plus, I’ve missed out on a bunch of DSiWare! The online connectivity improvements are also a godsend. However, at launch, I’m very intrigued by the 3D camera and its potential of sharing pictures with friends. Sure, the quality isn’t optimal, but it’s the concept that counts, much like early cell phone cameras.

TODAY’S QUESTION:

Very simply, why are you looking forward to the Nintendo 3DS?

My answer:
E3 2010 was an event that has so far defined my life. I got to be in Los Angeles with one of my best friends, see and try all the latest video game tech, and be near the front of the audience at one of the best Nintendo events of all time. Ever since I first tried the 3DS, I have only had good things to say about it. Maybe the device itself reminds me of all of those great memories I have, but the technical marvel in it combined with some of my favorite gaming franchises make it a must-own for me. I love you, Nintendo.

Here at SMYN, there are certain things that the entire community as a whole gets very excited about. When that happens, I usually pose questions in a countdown format for the last week for everyone to give feedback on. So, like I did with Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver and Black/White, I will be posing questions for the Nintendo 3DS, due March 27th.

ONLY TWO MORE DAYS!!

My answer to yesterday’s question:
Face Raiders is a lot of fun and Find Mii seems very intriguing, but the AR Games are going to be where it’s at. Not only can you buy more than the original six with Play Coins, but this is going to be the best ease of entry for new gamers into the 3DS. These games are entirely straightforward, but are quite enthralling at the same time. I’ve tried Archery 1, but there’s a higher difficulty of Archery, and I’m looking forward to the AR Shot game that looks a lot like billiards.

TODAY’S QUESTION:

So many things are new with the Nintendo 3DS. I could list all of its new or improved features, but it would become rather tedious to do. What is/are your favorite feature(s) of the Nintendo 3DS?

Here at SMYN, there are certain things that the entire community as a whole gets very excited about. When that happens, I usually pose questions in a countdown format for the last week for everyone to give feedback on. So, like I did with Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver and Black/White, I will be posing questions for the Nintendo 3DS, due March 27th.

ONLY THREE MORE DAYS!!

My answer to yesterday’s question:
Going to make two different lists for this one…

CONFIRMED:
5. Star Fox 64 3D
4. Super Mario 3D
3. Mario Kart 3DS
2. MGS: Snake Eater 3D
1. Ocarina of Time 3D

POSSIBLE:
5. Sonic the Hedgehog
4. Persona
3. Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney
2. Pokémon Grey
1. Super Smash Bros 3D

TODAY’S QUESTION:

The bundled games that come with the 3DS are rather impressive for being free titles, from Face Raiders, to all the different kinds of AR games, to even Find Mii (the built-in RPG). Which one are you most looking forward to playing and why?

Here at SMYN, there are certain things that the entire community as a whole gets very excited about. When that happens, I usually pose questions in a countdown format for the last week for everyone to give feedback on. So, like I did with Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver and Black/White, I will be posing questions for the Nintendo 3DS, due March 27th.

ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS!!

My answer to yesterday’s question:
I was just going to go with Super Street Fighter IV because I love fighting games, it’s getting really nice reviews, and it seems to take advantage of most of the 3DS’ features. However, then I learned that Toys R Us is supposedly going to be having a buy one, get one 50% off deal on 3DS games at launch (read this online, haven’t been at work to confirm yet). So now I’m leaning towards Nintendogs + Cats as well. Another highly-reviewed game, I never played the first title, but I’m a sucker for dogs. I’ve never owned a cat, but they can be pretty cool, too. It’s usually not my style of gameplay, but I was very impressed with how it looked when I gave it a try a few days ago. So for $20, why not? It’s a Miyamoto game, it’s going to have a lot of polish.

TODAY’S QUESTION:

It’s exciting to consider what’s down the line for the 3DS and the planned games are no exception. What are your top five most-anticipated games for the 3DS – confirmed, suggested, or otherwise?

Few things have recently annoyed me more than random hating on the Nintendo 3DS. Especially when these complaints usually have pretty easy fixes to them. I’m not saying that Nintendo’s upcoming handheld is the perfect device and sure, it is pretty clear where my gaming allegiances lie, but this is how I perceive a lot of the “bad” complaints that people have been throwing Nintendo’s way.

– “It’s too expensive”
It’s one thing to have money-johns and to not be able to afford it. It’s another thing to say the device is “too expensive” for what it’s offering. This is next-generation hardware. Those who say “it’s more expensive than a Wii, so it’s a ripoff” are morons, plain and simple. Five years is a long time, especially when the price has been discounted since then. When focus groups were recommending $300-$400 for the 3DS, you get a 2 GB SD card plus a bunch of bundled software, and Nintendo is bringing something new to the table once again, $250 is a pretty good deal, all things considered.

– “The launch lineup sucks”
Nintendo can’t win in this situation. They’re trying to show the vast third-party support they have with the onset of the system, and while those games are just not that good right now, how is that a knock against the system in the long run? What did the original DS lineup have that was a big seller, aside from Super Mario 64 (which most say was disappointing, too)? Are people just ignoring what games are already in the works for the system?

– “The battery life sucks”
Three-five hours on full 3D settings isn’t ideal, sure. But when a device is trying to render two screens simultaneously in 3D mode, that’s going to be a pretty big power suck. Few things, though: If you’re on a long car trip, buy a car adapter or do something else. You have power outlets in your home/apartment – you can use them if you need to while playing. Also, if you’re not playing your 3DS, charge it in the docking bay, plain and simple. The battery life isn’t a big issue for me, because the most I’ve played a handheld in one sitting is only a few hours anyway. Treat the 3DS like a phone. You’re going to be taking it with you, you’re going to have to charge it overnight or during downtime. However, the most important part about the battery is that it is REMOVABLE. Nintendo could have easily gone the Apple route and said “once the internal battery dies, you’re screwed, you have to get a new device.” However, third-parties are now developing external batteries that greatly improve the battery life of the 3DS, at the cost of system bulk. Who knows if Nintendo will support battery replacements under their warranty?

– “The sweet spot is too small for me/I shake my handhelds”
Arms at 90º angles. Device 10-14″ away from your eyes if you’re on full 3D effect. And don’t move your system around like a fool. Or turn the 3D off. Sure, you’re not going to be playing games that use the gyroscope like Steel Diver or Face Raiders in public, where you’ll look ridiculous moving your entire body with your arms locked. But it’s not any of our problems if you don’t have any self-control and like to tilt your handhelds uncontrollably. And did I mention you could just turn the 3D off?

– “The 3D hurts my eyes”
Then TURN. IT. OFF. Believe it or not, the slider is there for a reason.

– “Some features are missing”
Nintendo’s eShop, improved web browser, and many more tweaks are expected for a massive firmware update in late May. Netflix on 3DS is planned for later this summer, but I’ve heard rumblings that Nintendo may be trying to push that up to the May update as well. Patience is always a good virtue to possess, especially in small doses.

– “I’ll just wait for 3DS Lite”
You don’t KNOW that’s happening. Sure, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise at all, given Nintendo’s recent history, but if you’re willing to miss games like Ocarina of Time, Paper Mario, Mario Kart, Star Fox, Metal Gear, and more to wait for something that MIGHT happen, that’s your prerogative. Or you can be smart and get a two-year warranty from your retailer that will fully refund you for your 3DS if something like that does happen. Your call.

– “I’ll just wait a few months and buy it with Zelda”
Good luck trying to find one. All indications so far are that we’ll be seeing Wii-like supply/demand shortages. Income excuses aside, if you do eventually plan on getting one, the smartest thing to do would be to pre-order and purchase one at launch. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

– “There aren’t any good features”
3D camera, improved connectivity with StreetPass/SpotPass and one friend code tethered to the system, 3D slider, backwards compatibility, bundled software, AR games, suspendable games…that whole “no glass required” thing…and more. No, you’re right, this device is terrible.

– “NINTENDO SUX SONY RULEZ”
/trollin’
But I do wonder what kind of complaints will surface when we learn more about NGP. Not to mention if we’ll learn from how these issues will be resolved and apply them to Sony’s new device.

Anyway, my two cents.