Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (PSP, Wii)

Kane and Lynch (360)

Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron Hands-on Multiplayer (PSP)

Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron (PSP)

Jam Sessions (DS)

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness Episodes I (PC, 360, Mac, Linux)

So, as you can see, I have been busy. Lots of meetings, talks, travels to game companies. All in all, it’s been amazing. Either way, just wanted to share, some of these games are looking pretty good.

Chufmoney

You see what I’m talking about? And if that game proves to have half the random level action that it is claiming, it could be a game that you come back to time and again. Who hasn’t desired to fight off zombies with friends? Sure Resident Evil games are fun as hell, but they have always lacked the cooperate element (note: while I acknowledge that the DS remake of part 1 had co-op, I am speaking here about home consoles).

Thank you for answering my evil prayers, Turtle Rock.

Chufmoney

That is the glorious part about video games, their cliches. However, rather than rewrite Wired Senior Associate Editor Chris Baker’s piece, it would be better for you to check it, and the relevant screens it has to go along with it.

Chufmoney

This is another example of real world anecdotal evidence consistently flying in the face of pseudo-research. If that’s the case here, I’ve seen my son play DS with his cousins just as I’ve seen my daughter play hop-scotch with friends. Both sets of kids were having fun and communicating. Both were interacting and being social. One could even argue that the DS group was doing so in multiple channels more than the physical-only crowd.

Hearing about social isolation stories makes me wonder where the parent — or in this case, perhaps the parent and the teacher — has failed the child, not how the technology or media choices that he/she uses to pass their clearly lonely time has made them so…

I’m sure pointing fingers and laying blame elsewhere makes some adults feel better, but it just isn’t reality.

Thank God that there are people who can say things to the public concerning video games that sound reasonable. No elitist remarks, just plain talk from a person who knows games and has children who game.

People will always be on the lookout for the reasons that things change. Times are changing that much is for sure. However is it possible that socialization is not decreasing overall as a result of technology but is just changing in the way it works? The study insinuates that children who spend time at home and on cell phones are damaging their socialization skills. But to counter that one could say they are just adapting their socialization skills to a changing environment. The writers on this website use the internet to communicate more than they do their vocal chords and still some how function in society.

I think Halpin makes a strong case when he says that the problem lies more in the institutions and with the parents. Teachers need to take the extra time to work with children and their social needs. If there are children that have different socialization needs now than they did years ago then the curriculums and the skills of the teachers and parents need to learn how to work within the world the children know. It just seems like there is a paradigm shift in terms of how people are interacting and so much of those who are “the man,” so to speak, are more concerned with how they know it than how it really is.

Chufmoney

As a Religious Studies Graduate from the University of California, Davis, this idea became important to me after I was made aware that gamepolitics.com had posted an article from the Express-Times that brought up the question of whether video game violence could be considered a sin. Though I am not religious myself, I recognize that this could be an extremely important issue to a lot of people since the majority of Americans are self-declared Christians. I don’t want to just discuss whether video game violence is a sin, but whether if playing video games, in all their various elements, could be considered a Sin in the Christian tradition.

Sin is something that is hard for many people to define. For the sake of this article it will be defined as any action with estranges a person from God. That probably sounds much more cold and devoid of the passion that people associate with Sin, always thinking of it as something that is obviously evil; Sin does not have to feel wrong to be something that estranges one from God.

It would be easy to say that playing video games could be sinful because of the fact that players are committing virtual Sins. Gamepolitics correctly makes the connection between Matthew 5:27 which essentially makes clear that to Jesus their can be a clear connection between fantasizing about committing Sin and committing the Sin in reality. Jesus informs his followers that to God both are Sins.

But this issue deserves more attention than simply making a connection that if fantasizing lustfully is a Sin, then video game violence, which is fantasy violence, is a Sin. Clearly there is a distinction between actively creating a fantasy about something in your mind and simply interacting with one in a digital environment. Video game fantasy is the same as that of a book or movie. Players are not fulfilling their desires but rather working within the constraints of a universe with boundaries.

However, if players are playing through a fantasy that is not their own but are enjoying the acts of violence or sexual transgression that they are taking part of, are they not committing a Sin similar to fantasizing about it themselves?

This question is incredibly hard to answer. I suppose the easy answer would be to say yes, it is a Sin to find pleasure in things that are inherently sinful, even if they are virtual. But the reality of the Christian tradition states that all humans are sinners. While this may sound like a cop out, and that players should just play because Sin is unavoidable for humans, this is not my intent at all. Rather I think, like so many things in life, that individuals have to examine the way that video games play into their life and what the pros and cons, based firmly within their belief, are.

Video games have violence and they have sex. However the act of playing video games goes above and beyond simply participating in a fantasy environment. People often play video games as a means to connect with others. Some of the most intense times of connection and love that I have experienced have been late nights of video gaming with others. I have seen video games used as a way of creating fellowship amongst fellow believers. And if God is Love, then, in the eyes of the author, video games can bring one closer to God.

But what if there was a way to argue that violence did not have to be inherently sinful? After all the Christian video game Left Behind was filled with violence; even the Bible is riddled with tales of violence that was committed as an act of God. Christian writers have been debating whether or not there can be a “just” Christian war for centuries and still have never come to a decisive decision that all within the faith are satisfied with.

The question will inevitably get more attention as video games continue to become a much more pervasive part of world culture. Like many Christian arguments about matters of Christian faith it is doubtful there will ever be a uniform answer that all Christians can respect. For now, at least in my fallible opinion, it comes down to the individual and how they perceive and interact with the fantasy worlds that video games place the user in. Make your video game experience one that is about bettering yourself and the love you have for others, even if it’s making a friend with that loner guy at school, and I think you are on the right track before God.

(NOTE: I don’t believe in any particular God. I know that to many this will make my opinion completely irrelevant in the matter. However as a scholar of the Christian tradition I do take this idea incredibly seriously. I didn’t dedicate my time at college to learning about the various beliefs of Christians for no good reason. So if this helps you in any way, even to just communicate the idea with people who might be able to expand the conversation, then I can say, just like our President, “Mission Accomplished.”)

Hit me up with thoughts either in a comment here or at chufmoney@eat-sleep-game.com

Chufmoney

The correct answer to the above is no. The Nintendo Wii is still riding high off of fanboyism and scarcity. Don’t get me wrong, I do own one. I waited in line and acquired a Wii by waiting in line just like you did or will. I just do not think that the Wii has the games to support such rabbid sales and thus it must be the hype built up around it rather than its revolutionary software. The people who are still waiting in these lines to get the systems either have only played Wii Sports or have not had a chance to be sorely disappointed with most of the other current title offerings.

Though Nintendo may be raking in the cash, and rightfully so from their outstanding DS sales, I think that they are in for a social backlash if they do not start putting out titles that people are interested in. For now people are just excited enough to acquire a system and go crazy and buy games they think they may like. I just don’t know how long the hype can last. Sony and Microsoft’s systems might end up making more oustanding additions to their software catalogs, doing what Nintendon’t.

Chufmoney

Why would Nintendo do something that is so obviously out of sync with what gamers expect from “next-gen” consoles?  With the comparative ease with which you can play games online with the PS3 and with the 360 it seems inexcusable for Nintendo to have such an archaic style of online play.  Nintendo certainly doesn’t have the line-up that either of the consoles do and now its online support is set up in the most frustrating way possible.  Suddenly paying more for a console like the 360 or PS3 doesn’t sound like such a bad thing.  

Nintendo is really going to have to step it up in future console generations.  I for one have been a loyal Nintendo fan since my NES, but am pained by their lack of third-party titles and horrible online ability.  I forgave them for shitty N64 games, and even bought a GCN on day one, but the Wii might be the final straw. The future of gaming is through online connectivity, Nintendo needs to catch up or go the way of Sega.

Chufmoney

This article comes via 1up via Falafelkid’s Blog

NRAMA: Finally, before we let you go, what is interesting you/what are you working on outside the realm of comic book publishing?

MM: Like all my pals, the TV and movie people have come calling and even the computer game people (which is weird because games are for pedos and I have no interest). Comics are my first love, but it would be crazy to turn down some of these gigs and so we’re all biting at the moment. I’ve been developing King and Country as a TV thing as well as an original graphic novel, but my main area of interest is genre movies in Hollywood.

That’s a… curious generalization there Mark. That’s like saying that all comic writers and their fans are elitist social troglodytes whose audience has continued to dwindle for the last decad…

Oh, wait.

I kid. I kid because I like comics, and there was a point where I had aspirations of drawing (and maybe even writing) them. But I think that this comment reveals more than a bit of animosity towards a medium that seems to be poaching the time of a significant element of the superhero comic audience, especially as graphics get better and can compete with the primarily visual vein of comics that Marvel tends to bank on. I wish he didn’t feel this way; it would be great to get more good writers into game narratives (Eric Nylund can’t write everything, after all), both for we the gamers who like compelling narratives in our games, and perhaps for the comic writers as well, as writing for such a fickle and malleable medium could generate new inspiration and new ideas for their primary work. Maybe someone can send Mark a box of chocolates and a copy of Beyond Good and Evil so he could overcome his insecurities.

-Aegies

Nintendo really needs to land some exclusive titles that will make their constituents feel like they waited in line for a reason. They need more than Mario and Samus to make this system the “revolution” it was intended to be. They must provide a solid foundation of games that are built for the Wii specifically. Nintendo is going to go down the path its gone before unless they churn out games that make you think “man this could only have worked on this console.”

Right now Nintendo has the hype and desire for its product that will give strong sales early on. However, the gaming community has seen how quickly Nintendo fans can turn against the company if they provide a slew of insignificant titles (how quick are you to fucking naysay anyone who tries to defend Nintendo after teh N64?). Nintendo must capitalize on its fan base, strike while the iron is hot (i.e. provide a great base of games, not rehashed Prince of Persia titles), or they will go down the route of the PSP. While there are a lot of PSP games out very few are worth your money, much like the current Wii selection.

I own a Wii. I just wish that Nintendo could provide me with good reason to turn it on more than four times a year when they release a first party game.

Chufmoney

As more news becomes disclosed about the future of GoW on PSP you can be damn sure I will let you know.

Chufmoney

The bad news that Reggie presented came as he stated that Metroid Prime 3 would be delayed. Though originally this was a game that was going to come out in “early 2007,” Reggie now says that this game will come out when its ready and “perfect.”

To me this is truly depressing because I find that there are really slim pickings for games that interest me on the Wii in 2007. While so far most FPS games on Wii have been truly disappointing, especially Red Steel, I was really looking forward to fighting as Samus within the second quarter of 2007. Alas, after Reggie’s newest comments I would be willing to bet I will not be shooting Space Pirates until around the Fall of 2007.

What games are coming out this year for Wii that excite you? I mean Reggie claims that Nintendo has “strong 3rd party support” but I am still not seeing it. Besides Ubisoft, who has produced some pretty craptastic titles thus far, who else is releasing a game that is worth a damn on the Wii? Make me love this system as much as I love my 360 already Nintendo!

Chufmoney

1. Sam and Max: Hit the Road (Released in 1993 by LucasArts)

I remember first trying this PC title out at a friend’s house. My parent’s computer at the time did not have the 4MB of RAM reccommended to run this game and thus I did not think to purchase it. My best friend Nick, on the other hand, had a top of the line Gateway that was running an early form of Windows and even had a Sound Blaster card (which you needed if you did not want to just read subtitles)! I used to watch Nick play this game for hours at a time. Even as a child I loved the characters, whose crass humor and violent tendencies really drove the ridiculous detective story plot of the title. The game takes you to many interesting environments and really was and is a prime example of the LucasArts interactive adventure games that they are so famous for (a la any of the Monkey Island games). This game featured full audio for all the dialogue and took many hours to complete. It took us kids many days to beat this game. While it could at times be frustrating because it involved some pretty complex puzzles, it was definitely one of the more rewarding games I played during my gaming childhood. Not only should you play this game because the comedy, story, and MIDI music are all so amazing, but also because you could probably download it from anywhere these days. If you can find it somewhere that you can still purchase it, more power to you. I still have my copy sitting in the original box. It is one of the more prized pieces of my collection. Just be warned, should you choose to let the world of Sam and Max envelop you, you will have to get a DOS emulator to run this game.

2. Beyond Good and Evil (PS2 Released in 2003 by Ubisoft)

I can’t remember what drove me to purchase this game. I do not think that I had read any of the reviews which praised this game (of which there were/are many). I think it was that I had read a preview of this game more than a year before it came out which told me I would be able to travel in space. That, and when I looked at the back of the box I saw quirky enough snapshots of the game that it sparked my intrigue and made me take what was a huge financial gamble for my self at the time and spend 40$. Once I got the title up and running in my PS2 I was immediately engrossed. It had the photo shooting fun of Pokemon Snap as well as the kick ass adventuring of any Zelda or Banjo Kazooie game. And yes, I did just put those two in the same sentence, and yes, I am ok with that. Beyond Good and Evil combined so many game elements that I love. BG&E had an incredibly interesting plot which took hollywood movie style turns and twists, stealth missions, side quests, and characters you actually loved. The game’s cartoony atmosphere did not take away from its beauty and I still stand by it when I say it is one of the more visually beautiful PS2 games I have played. BG&E is one game that any person I know who has given it a chance literally plays until they beat it. It is the type of game that consumes your thoughts while you are at school or work and will be the reason that you make an excuse for yourself so that you don’t have to attend some social event you would otherwise enjoy. It is that good.

3. Outcast (for PC released by Infrogames and developed by Appeal in 1999)

Oh, Outcast. Words cannot iterate the intense love I have for this game. I had read about this game in a Gamepro in 1997 (I think). I remember it being described as a revolutionary game in it’s scale and graphics. The original screenshots of the game were indeed impressive for 1997. The game’s world is gigantic and rendered in 3D. However the reason that this game never took off was it used a voxel engine. While the use of voxels did not require the player to have a graphics card in their PC it did require a more powerful processor. Thus when this game was released only really powerful computers could run it. And, since voodoo cards were hitting the market, the voxel graphics really did not please the eye when compared to early Quake 2 screens.

Though this game sold disappointingly it stands as my favorite game of all time because it is epic, in every sense of the word. The game’s world is huge, the culture of the alien planet is incredibly developed and rich, and the action and battles will make you feel like you are truly the gun wielding savior of an entire people. The music was done by the Moscow National Symphony and it is powerful and moving.

I can’t praise this game enough. It is as addictive as an MMORPG. It gives you little quests all throughout the game which serve to push the main story but also give you the instant sense of accomplishment. The game does not slow down or drag due to its great design and pacing. You can choose how to go about accomplishing your primary mission (to save Earth), and can complete the game in many different orders. You can choose to be a savior to the aliens on this planet or a terror to them, and it will affect how they view you and react to you in game. It has all the fun of a choose your own adventure wrapped into a story that is reminiscent of Stargate. You see? This game makes me ramble like a fan-boy!

If you were to only play one of these games I would say you should play Outcast. If you encounter troubles with running the game on your machine you should check the wikipedia article about Outcast so you can get it rolling on your machine. Have some games you think make your top three? Hit me up, new or old, I am always looking to play the game I should have played.

Chufmoney

Regarding the Blu-ray format and the PS3, Tretton, stated, “I don’t think we can single-handedly drive the Blu-ray format….Blu-ray is a great value for consumers as a movie format, but most importantly, [it's of value] to the gamers.  Blu-ray does wonderful things for the development community…that’s something that no other machine offers.”  I do not know that anyone here at ESG would swallow any of the above points concerning Blu-ray.  Besides higher content capacity I see no advantages to the Blu-Ray format for gamers or developers.  What details am I ignorant to that would make this format a distinct advantage to gamers or developers?  It seems like Blu-ray would make for slower load times, but that is just a guess.  I hope SCEA can focus on pushing the PS3 as a video game console rather than a Blu-ray player.  We need games for this machine, dammit!

I am not a Sony fan-boy. Nay, if you read previous posts you can see the many time I deplored Sony for the things they have done and the PS3 in general.  Sony is a corporation that above all wants our money.  So is Nintendo and Microsoft.  But if Sony really means it when they say that they will back the system for many years than I might purchase one….in two years.  I am still waiting for an exclusive besides Killzone 2 that pushes me into Sony’s Next-Gen arms.

 Chufmoney

I for one would like to see more competition in the video game console market.  I want to see failed consoles and successful consoles.  I want another xbox or playstation to drop onto the market and cut out a piece for themselves.  I think Dell is large enough financially and as a brand to possibly have some success at such a venture.  If the handheld device they are possibly developing was able to get great third party support I would be willing to purchase one.  Though I often am a whore to my DS I am by no means opposed to owning multiples of any type of console.  I would defiantely buy a PSP if there was more than five games that I felt compelled to play.  Please Sony make me spend my money on your products!

I digress….I hope this is not just rumor or heresay and that Dell really will look into getting into the console market, handheld or otherwise.  Increasingly consoles are just becoming closer to dedicated gaming pcs anyways so I think Dell could be in a good position to release a competitive gaming machine.

Chufmoney