Chris Slate's Game Brain

Exciting News!

2007-06-15T14:29:00.001-07:00

I HAVE RETURNED!!!

...To tell you that I'm leaving this blog for all eternity.

BECAUSE I'VE STARTED A NEW, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER BLOG!!!

Please do visit. You can find it here: http://cslate.wordpress.com/

At the new blog, I'm working hard to put up more interesting content -- insider stuff that I've been been a part of during my 18 years covering the video game biz. Also, I comment on current hot gaming topics (especially Nintendo stuff). My goal is to pepper in as much insider info as possible, so that I won't be just another fan ranting and raving without adding anything interesting to the conversation.

So...

So long for now; check out my new site and I'll see you again soon!

--Chris

Officially "Going Dark"...

2006-03-06T23:35:00.000-08:00

...As opposed to the "unofficial" darkness this blog has been in over the past month :/ Sorry for the disappearing act. As those of you who keep a close watch on PSM should know, we've been working hard at a new design for the magazine that will debut with the June issue. Well, not just a new look, visually, but we're also adding a ton of great new editorial ideas that we think people will really enjoy.

So, that's where I've been instead of here on this blog -- slaving away on PSM business. Until we put the finishing touches on that June book (still a couple months away at the time of this posting), I likely won't be updating this blog. I'll be back after the "new" PSM hits, or, very likely, I'll be blogging at a new site with my fellow PSM staffers. The plan is to work together to create something special that will get more attention from all of us, more often. But, I get ahead of myself...

So, until we talk again: look for some big PS3 coverage in the next few issues, don't forget that the new Harry Potter flick hits DVD tomorrow (March 7th), and give Super Princess Peach on DS a try -- no, really!

--Chris

Funny Stuff

2006-01-22T22:34:00.000-08:00

Check this stuff out for a good laugh:

The Lonely Island

Not all of it is fantastic, but there's some real gold in there. Highlights include "Just Two Guys" and the opening to "Awesometown."

The spirit of getting famous on the internet lives on!!!
--Chris

And now for something different...

2006-01-09T22:36:00.000-08:00

Not really game related, but the Japanese TV drama "Densha Otoko" ROCKS. Seriously. Its Adidas blow through concert doors.

(Well, I should clarify that the *first three* episodes rock -- I can't, at this time, vouch for the rockitude of episodes 4 - 10.)

I figured that some of you gamers out there (especially the ones that are into all things Japanese) would dig this show because much of it takes place in or around Akihabara, Tokyo's famous videogame store paradise. The story is about this anime otaku (geek) that ends up saving a beautiful woman on a train. As they come to know each other, our otaku hero tries his best to become the type of man that a woman like that could love. It's kind of sweet, but hilariously funny. And, get this...

It's based on a true story!

See, the otaku dude would constantly ask people in an online chat room for advice, and would then post updates as to how things were going with the woman. Nobody knows who the otaku really was, only that he went by the screen name "Densha Otoko" ("Train Man). His posts, and those of the other posters, were collected into a book that became a bestseller in Japan. All of this gets you really curious about each episode, because -- while I'm sure the TV folks took some creative license -- you really don't know where the story will go. It's based on real life, so it could go anywhere. And you really find yourself rooting for the poor, helplessly in over his head otaku. Will he somehow -- impossibly -- get the girl?

As far as I know the show isn't available commercially outside of Japan, but English-subtitled versions are floating around the 'net. The series was a big deal recently in Japan, so anyone interested in sampling a bit of recent Japanese pop culture -- or those just looking for a funny, charming, uplifting show -- should check it out!

--Chris

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy

2006-01-02T13:35:00.000-08:00

The Holidays have blown by, leaving my head spinning while I dazily look forward to a new year of gaming goodness. Top of the list for me is the new Zelda, the full E3 unveiling of the PlayStation 3, the Nintendo Revolution, and a better look at the second wave of big Xbox 360 games that (from what people in the know have told me) look jaw-droppingly better than the launch titles. Keep an eye out for the next showing of Gears of War, especially.

Not long before the break I found out that I'm going to be a dad! My lovely wife and I had hoped to have a kid sometime next summer, so it's worked out great. Now the only question is whether I'll have a little boy or girl sitting next to me on the couch, laying down cover fire while I storm enemy territory :)

I got to spend a lot of time playing the 360 lately, especially Ridge Racer 6. Out of a launch lineup that I think is pretty darn solid, this game has surprised me by sticking out as my favorite. While it isn't the most ambitious 360 game, it's a hell of a lot of fun at the faster speed classes. And racing online is totally addictive. Nothing against PGR3 fans -- your game is certainly nicer looking -- but I'd rather play a faster-paced racing game where I'm not crashing into every corner (I suck at realistic racers).

I also had time to play through Prince of Persia 3. Great game -- probably the most polished PoP to date -- but for me, it had a real sense of "been there, done that." Hopefully, if there's ever a part 4, they'll make some drastic changes to freshen the series up. Tomb Raider Legend, by the way, is looking very nice. I got to try it out right before the break and it's coming along fine. Still some rough spots to iron out, but it's got a long way to go.

Next up: I'm finally going to tackle Kameo (it looks fantastic, two chapters in).

--Chris

PS: As always, I'll try to put up better (and more timely) posts soon, but my work schedule often tends to get in the way. Thanks for checking back, even when there's not much new to see :)

"Next" Gen is now "Current" Gen!

2005-11-29T12:27:00.000-08:00

The entire week of Thanksgiving, I spent most of my time zombie-eyed in front of my TV with the sweet, sweet wireless 360 controller in hand. I had nine different games to play, and popping one out for the other every ten minutes took me back to my first days with the Super Famicom. While the 360 titles haven't had the same impact on me as Super Mario World, Pilotwings and F-Zero did way back when, they are still addictive enough to turn my brain into mush.

So yeah, overall, I love my shiny new 360. It's got a very solid initial game library, it's a fairly handsome piece of hardware, and the Xbox Live features continue to wow me. I've encountered a few rough spots (a hardware crash; trouble downloading things from Xbox Live Marketplace; a 360 headset that causes my voice to echo; a Ridge Racer 6 disc that inexplicably stopped working) -- but hey, no new console launch is flawless.

It really is amazing to think that the 360 comes from a company that's still a rookie in the games business. Microsoft has done an admirable job. (Well, except for the ridiculously low hardware shipments -- maybe a worldwide launch wasn't such a great idea after all?)

The only major thing missing is that one paradigm-shifting game that says "with this system, gaming just got better in ways you never dreamed of." Perfect Dark Zero, whether you think it's the second coming of Halo or not, is at least a fun, solid shooter, but it's obviously not a turning point for gaming. What you get with 360 is just what you'd expect: more of the same, only prettier, and with more online features. This isn't a bad thing, per se, especially so early in the system's lifespan. Hopefully, though, creative developers will soon find more creative ways to flex the system's extra muscle.

Switching over to PlayStation 3, I'm becoming more and more convinced that Sony will finally offer some sort of Xbox Live-type service. Kaz Hirai, President of Sony Computer Entertainment America, says as much in an interview we're running in the January PSM (shameless plug). I'll be very curious to see how they'll try to outdo Live.

BTW, for those who may not have been keeping a close watch on things, the general feeling amongst most in the industry these days is that PS3 will launch in Japan sometime next Spring or (more likely) Summer, with a U.S. launch in the fall/Holiday timeframe. That would give 360 almost a year's head start over here, which would just be huge for them. Better make the most of it, guys!

The only system I've been playing other than 360 is Nintendo's DS. How did this little "stop-gap" system rebound so strongly from a wishy-washy first few months? It took 360 to make me put Mario Kart DS down for even a second, and I'll be picking up the new Mario and Luigi DS title today. Plus, Animal Crossing is out in just a couple weeks, eventually followed by the New Super Mario Bros., Brain Training, Super Princess Peach and many more next year. Wowsers. (And for those who don't know, Nintendo's Osu! Tatake! Ouendan! and Jump Super Stars are absolute must-have Japanese imports.)

What an exciting time to be a gamer -- 360 ushering in the next generation, DS offering up fun innovation, and we still have PS3 and Revolution to look forward to :)

I'm still here... (really!)

2005-11-19T02:10:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to say that I'm still here, and still plan on updating this blog. Between work and Mario Kart DS, I haven't left much time for myself to write new posts. (Plus, nothing really super-duper exciting has happened that I feel I simply *must* comment on... well, other than Mario Kart. Damn, that game is *amazing*!)

I'm giddy with excitement over the Xbox 360 launch; here's what I've got stashed up:

- My special edition E3 faceplate
- Extra wireless controller
- Play & charge kit with two battery packs
- Memory Unit
- Xbox Live points card
- Call of Duty 2
- Condemned
- Ridge Racer 6
- Kameo
- Project Gotham Racing 3
- Gun
- NBA 2K6

Now all I need is Perfect Dark Zero and the 360 itself, and my wife won't see me all next week! (Sorry, honey!)

(Whew, looking at that list, it's a good thing that I was lucky enough to get some of them sent to me by friends in the industry, or I'd be beyond broke. It says a lot about this launch that there are so many games I want to play on day one :)

Of course, EB is making me stand in line at midnight Tuesday morning to pick my 360 up... even though I pre-ordered last May... and have paid in full already. If I'm not in the midnight line, then presto -- my 360 disappears. My biggest fear about the launch is that the massive shortages everyone has been fearing will break a lot of hearts. Well, actually that's my *second* biggest fear -- my first is that my 360 will be defective somehow and there won't be any others to replace it with for months. Gah! Knock on wood!!!

Well, time to hit the sack. Once again, Mario Kart DS (and this quick blog update, I suppose) have kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. See ya soon!

--Chris

360 Loves Me, It Loves Me Not...

2005-10-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile, but I've finally managed to sit my butt down and update this blog. I can't claim that I haven't had the time, I've just been spending it on my Nintendo DS (Ouendan, Under the Knife, Jump SuperStars, Castlevania, Advance Wars -- DS, you rock my world!)

Actually, I *have* been eager to jot down my thoughts on the impending launch of the Xbox 360; the only problem is that my thoughts seem to change from day to day. From the system's disappointing rollout at E3, to its so-so showing at TGS, and finally its "hey, it's pretty cool" hands-on demos at X05, Microsoft really seems to enjoy building up some last-minute drama.

"360 isn't nearly as powerful as PS3!" / "Wait, maybe it is!"
"Perfect Dark Zero is god-awful!" / "Hold on -- PDZ could be really good!"
"Nothing looks next-gen." / "Holy s***, PGR3 in-car cam!!!"

Three-siddy's roller-coaster ride to retail is enough to drive you to drink.

I may be Editor-In-Chief of a PlayStation magazine, and a lifelong Nintendo nut, but I'm as excited as anyone about this launch. Microsoft has made plenty of mistakes since they entered the games market, but they've had some incredible successes, too. I've had a few chances to go hands-on with the 360 recently, and I am completely impressed with every aspect of the system -- especially the front-end navigation. It's just a smartly-designed set up; Microsoft *really* gets this. After the adequate-at-best PS2 front-end, and Sony's weak first effort to build an online gaming community, it's hard to imagine the PS3 getting as much stuff right as the 360 has. Media integration, online services, a front-end OS -- this stuff is just too far up Microsoft's alley.

But hey, I'm sure that I'll be raving about the PS3 once Sony has had a chance to really wow us with it.

Something that really gets me excited about the 360 launch is the idea that, on day one, the entire country will get to experience the launch *together* through Xbox Live. This is the first time in gaming history that an online community like this has been in place at a console's launch, and it's really going to add to the fun. People will rip their 360 out of the box, put in PGR3 or PDZ, go online and start chatting with other new 360 owners about how they like the system and which games are the best. How cool is that? You can be the only person on your block to pick up a 360, and you'll still get to feel like you're part of something bigger. It'll be like one giant launch party.

To date I've been able to try out four 360 games, and they've been a mixed bag, at best. At E3 I tinkered with a very limited demo of Need For Speed Most Wanted, which consisted only of a short straight-line drag race. Nothing to write home about, but that was my first time using the new 360 controller, which is *very* nice. Here lately, I've gotten to play NBA Live and FIFA, neither of which impressed me. I have to admit that I really know nothing about soccer, but even technologically it did nothing for me. The latest movies and screens of NBA Live had me drooling, but the build I played was a huge disappointment. There may still be time for a few last minute tweaks, but I don't see any way the game can be polished up enough to satisfy hoops fans.

The last game, though, was *awesome* -- Condemned: Criminal Origins. While the graphics aren't "OMG MGS4" quality, this is the first 360 game I've played where I got to "ooh" and "ahh" over the pretty visuals (especially on the 720p widescreen LCD I was playing it on). It's a very simple and straightforward horror/action game, but done incredibly well with solid play mechanics and incredibly spooky lighting and pacing. This game went from a "why bother?" to a "must preorder" just five minutes in.

I'm hoping to try out as many launch titles as I can before November 22nd, especially Microsoft's big three: Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3 and Kameo. From everything I've seen, heard and read, Kameo is another title that's come from nowhere to really impress. I can't believe that I'm as hyped as I am about this game after playing StarFox Adventures. It seems that Rare may be about to make a big comeback, especially if PDZ can deliver. Lots of differing opinions on that, but after scouring the web (and working my contacts) for every scrap of info and media I can find, my gut tells me that the game will be a lot of fun. Of course, I'm also one of those gamers that thinks the Halo series is highly overrated (the single-player modes, at least); I'd rather play TimeSplitters. So, maybe PDZ is more up my alley than most Xbox fans.

If Microsoft can deliver enough units at launch (and through the end of the year) to at least satisfy its most hardcore fans -- and if key launch window games like PDZ, Kameo, PGR3, and Oblivion can deliver the goods -- then 360 will be off to a great head-start over its next-gen competition. While I don't prefer Microsoft over its competition or vice-versa, I think it would be great for gaming if Sony got put back on its heels a bit.

Here's hoping for another Super NES versus Genesis showdown!
--Chris

Understanding Nintendo

2005-09-19T14:37:00.000-07:00

A friend pointed me towards a blog that really seems to get what Nintendo is all about -- its philosophies when it comes to innovating and how its business decisions make sense for them. Check it out...

here

Then come on back and let me know what you think!

--Chris

Industry opinions on Revolution Controller

2005-09-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

Ch-ch-check it out... here

Revolution, Part 2

2005-09-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

The Revolution discussion has continued over on Frosty's blog (http://www.stephenfrost.net/blog/)-- I figured I'd copy some of it back over here for you guys to check out.

The more I think about the Revolution, the more excited I get. I'm sold. At least, as sold as I can be without having played (or even seen) any actual games :)

From Nintendo's perspective, this is probably the best business direction for them. If they made a more traditional console, even if it was as powerful as the PS3, they'd likely go nowhere. Gamecube was more powerful than PS2, and it didn't help them with third-parties or any of their other problems. Sony just has too much momentum, and the ball's in their court until they drop it. So, by differenciating themselves, Nintendo has given us a reason to care/be interested/get excited about them. For some people Revolution may make sense as their only system; for hardcore gamers, it's likely a great second option behind the PS3 -- you get your quirky, innovative games and your great-looking standard types of games.

I don't think arm fatigue will be a problem, because the hands-on reports say that you only have to move the new controller just a little bit. One guy stated that the controller finally "clicked" for him when he quit waving it around like a maniac, sat down and rested it on his leg (the typical game-playing "couch poatato" position). Of course, waving it around like a maniac could be fun in small bursts.

I think that, to some degree, innovation has to be forced. It's a very valid argument that gamers already know what they like and want, and it's an uphill battle to try to sell them on something new. But, although it's risky, the upside is huge. Time and time again, Nintendo has redefined what gaming is. Hell, after Atari crashed, they brought gaming back with the NES when everyone thought they were crazy. While they haven't always been the first to try something (like an analog stick), they've certainly been the ones to popularize it. Every 3D action game today is based off of how the analog stick worked with Mario 64 and how the lock-on camera worked in Ocarina of Time.

Another important aspect of Revolution is that it's supposed to be very developer friendly. Nintendo has gone on and on about how the biggest problem facing developers and publishers is the enormous cost of making next-gen games, and that Revolution will be much simpler to create for. So, although designing games for the controller will require extra R&D, maybe that can be balanced out by a more affordable dev budget overall.

Nintendo has said that the analog stick attatchment will come packed with the system, which avoids any weird split there. But I think, what's good about the "remote" approach is that casual gamers (the type that love using the stylus with Nintendogs) likely won't ever need to use the stick. I imagine that Nintendo will create games aimed at casuals that can be played using only the remote, in which case I can totally see non-gamers that I know giving it a shot. When you add the analog stick, that's when you get into real gamer territory. And if the whole combo still isn't your idea of fun, Nintendo will be making a more traditional controller option for straight third-party ports and classic games. Hell, you'll probably be able to simply plug in an old wired Gamecube pad and use that, if the developer wants you to. Or the WaveBird.

I think that that giving developers the option to develop for a standard controller layout is a smart move -- it shows that Nintendo are being realists. They feel the need to blaze a trail, but they know that a lot of people won't want to -- or know how to -- follow them at first. When new technology is first introduced, it often has to bridge that awkward gap between the old and the new. For example, OSX macs had to support OS9 software, and Blu-Ray players will still play DVDs. Although the multiple controller option might send a somewhat muddied or confusing message to some people, I think Nintendo is smart to realize that it can't just push everyone in the direction they want all at once. At the same time, since the strange new controller is the pack in, developers will put more effort into supporting it. It's a pretty well-balanced plan.

Still though, Nintendo aren't likely to lure developers to make as many games for Revolution as they will for PS3 and 360. That might not matter, though. For better or worse, I think that Nintendo fans have become increasingly used to longer waits between the few big games that make owning their systems worthwhile. This isn't the best scenario for Nintendo or gamers, but it says something about Nintendo players. The ones that have stuck around want quality over quantity, and have proven to be a pretty patient bunch. Seriously, do most of Nintendo's current fans care if Prince of Persia 3 or Tony Hawk Whatever come out for their system or not? Most likely they only bought it for Nintendo's own games in the first place. Maybe this strategy won't topple Sony, but it might be good enough to sustain the profit-leading position Nintendo's always managed with its smaller audience. And, as a gamer, innovation is one of the things I demand of developers -- since I've got the dollars, I have that right. Should I be satisfied if presented with a scenario where game design always stays pretty much the same from now on, just to make it easy on the game makers?

Whether you think Nintendo's plan is an overall good or bad one, God bless 'em for pushing the envelope -- somebody has to. For the most part, the only true gaming innovations have come from them. It's great that PS3 and 360 will have HD graphics and all, but every once and awhile a true change is healthy.

Look at it this way:

ROUND 1: REVOLUTION (NES)
ROUND 2: EVOLUTION (SNES, Genesis)
ROUND 3: REVOLUTION (N64, PlayStation)
ROUND 4: EVOLUTION (Gamecube, PS2, Xbox)

NEXT ROUND: REVOLUTION (Nintendo Revolution) / EVOLUTION (PS3, Xbox 360)

If Nintendo *didn't* do something freaky, this would be the first time that we've ever gone three console generations in a row without a big shake up to keep games feeling fresh and new.

Personally, I think that the ideas behind Revolution are fantastic and I love Nintendo for trying it. It's really going to come down to actual games that can wow us with how the controls are used. That, and Nintendo is going to have to market this thing really carefully -- they have to get across the idea without making it seem overly alien or complex. That's going to be a much bigger challenge than simply making fun games, I think.

I could still see the system being a complete and total failure, but I can also imagine it really taking off, too. This isn't anything against developers at all, but I think that there's a real problem with the industry if it can't support fresh new ideas. Sometimes I do feel like Sony and Microsoft have taken the industry down the wrong road. I mean, I can't wait to play hyper-realistic games like MGS4, but if I'd never seen them, I wouldn't lust after them so much. People were pretty much happy with Game Boy for decades before PSP showed up with its super graphics. What I'm saying is, the industry keeps making things harder on itself. I think Nintendo has made a lot of sense in its arguments against the way things are being done. All this extra work to make prettier games, and what has it gotten the industry? Movie-sized budgets, longer and more complex development cycles, and a consumer base that's been taught to constantly demand better, faster. And yet, games cost roughly the same that they did back in the 16-bit era when they could be made by a handful of people in a fraction of the time, at a fraction of the cost. Is this smart business?

Anyway, I digress :)

Just for fun, I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that the Revolution will actually sell more than the Gamecube. Of course, I've yet to hold the controller in my own hand, but I look at it like this: Gamecube got its butt kicked by Sony because it offered essentailly the same product and the same experience, only not as good (no DVD playback, an overall weaker game lineup, etc.). There were other factors, too -- such as the "kiddy vs. cool" factor -- but essentailly, Nintendo was trying to sell a PlayStation that wasn't as compelling as the real PlayStation. With the Revolution, it's good that they're offering something unique and different. Even if you're buying it as a second system, at least there's still a reason to buy it. And also, I'm willing to trust Nintendo. They're not stupid -- they know how bold this move is. If they didn't have rock-solid games in the works, if they didn't believe in their hearts that this thing was going to be 100% fun, they wouldn't take this big of a risk.

Believe ;P

And There Came a Revolution

2005-09-15T21:20:00.000-07:00

The Revolution controller...

WOW.

Don't really know what to think just yet; my mind is still sorting out the amazing problems from the amazing possibilities.

But... bottom line...

Nintendo are the crazy mad scientists of gaming, and whether you realize it or not, we NEED them to be nutty professors.

For those that can't imagine playing a game with that thing, just remember how odd the NES pad looked when we were used to joysticks... or how we had to learn to use an analog stick with Mario 64...

Yeah, there's always the Virtual Boy, but the reason that was such a spectacular failure was because it was Nintendo's *only* big stumble. Decades of risk-taking gaming innovations and just one big misstep? Who else has a track record that good? Who else has done more to earn our trust?

This won't be the console to play Madden, Grand Theft Auto, etc. on -- at least, not as we know those games today.

I'm as worried as the next guy that this won't work, that Zelda won't be as fun somehow, that Mario will be too weird... and how the hell will I play the new Smash Brothers?

But it's good that I'm worried. After seeing the new controller, we could've all gone "That's it? That's all?", or we could go "Holy crap, what the hell IS that thing?" Considering that Nintendo promised a revolution, I'm glad it was the latter.

I'd be concerned if every system was doing this, and the old ways of playing games were going away for good. But, I'll still have my PS3 and 360 for the types of games I already know and love.

Really, would we be better off with a third system doing the same things with the same third-party games?

It's hard to imagine how much we'll enjoy new types of games before we've had a chance to try them. It's an especially tough sell for hardcore gamers, who are a tough crowd. Everything in life that we enjoy, though -- there was always a first time. Everything was new once. Aren't we glad we gave these things a chance?

I read a post on a message board that made an excellent point: "Nintendo has the most to lose next generation, but they've still got the biggest balls to try something new."

I can't WAIT for Xbox 360 and, especially, PS3 (MGS4!). But the system I'm most excited/intrigued/compelled to pull out of the box? Revolution, hands-down.

Nintendo, God bless 'em -- crazy f'ing mad scientists. Let your freak flag fly, you glorious bastards :)

PSM Makin' Waves

2005-09-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

For the past few issues we've been working extra hard to uncover as much new PS3 info as possible, and it looks like our efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Our stories have been repeated across many of the top internet sites, with most of them (if not all) giving us credit and hopefully turning a few more people onto the magazine.

Our latest issue (November) has reached some subscribers and has been scanned and copied word-for-word onto websites and message forums. I don't really care, personally, so long as proper credit is given.

However, as is expected online (where an increasingly jaded readership is used to sorting through lies and misinformation), some people have doubted our reports. I'd like to take a second to clear that up right now by saying that, unlike other less reputable sources, we don't print a story unless we've gotten solid confirmation on it. We don't sit around and make up stuff just to sound cool, or reprint things that we've only heard second- or third-hand. We do run some rumors, but we always clearly label them as such.

Botom line: we've been one of the top videogame magazines for 103 issues -- we've got great connections. We're constantly talking to people at Sony and publishers all over the world. We talk directly to the people making the games.

The funniest re-reporting of our latest PS3 story popped up this morning over at spong.com. Since they reprinted our story, I figured it would be okay to copy-and-paste the first part of theirs:

"SPOnG would never say that magazines just make things up, hiding in the accountability void afforded by the antiquated media of print and miniscule readerships. We also have to socialise with our print press colleagues and pretend to like them as they pretend to like us*. So it’s better to keep things smooth…"

Um, reprinting information that you question the validity of probably isn't the best way to showcase your higher journalistic standards. You're welcome for today's top story, by the way.

Anyways, I guess it's always nice to be noticed :)

--Chris

I think I've Spoiled the Revolution For Myself...

2005-09-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

Maybe that headline is a bit too dramatic, but I'm so in love *my* idea of what the Revolution could be that I don't think I'll be satisfied by anything else.

Like many people, I'm pretty convinced that gyros are somehow a part of the system's "revolutionary" new feature. This would make sense for a number of reasons:

1) Nintendo has experimented with similar technology in Game Boy games like Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, Wario Ware: Twisted, and Yoshi: Topsy Turvy.

2) Nintendo supposedly has some kind of partnership with a company that has been working on new types of gyro applications (this was reported a while back, but I can't remember the exact details).

3) Being able to move a game character by simply tilting the controller could make it easy for non-gamers to play, which is a goal that Nintendo often stresses the importance of.

4) Gyros are by far the most feasible of the various wild rumors about the Revolution.

So, in imagining cool new ways to use gyros, I came up with an idea that I think would be so big that it would not only put Nintendo back on top, but also pull in scores of non-gamers.

Basically, it's virtual reality.

Imagine that you'd still use a standard controller to control a game, while using wrap-around LCD "shades" to *view* the game. The gyros would be built into the lightweight headset so that it could sense your head movements -- essentially, your head would take the place of the C-Stick for camera control.

For example, you would play Metroid Prime with the same controls as before, but now you'd be able to turn your head left to see what's there. You could look up to spot a hook for your Grapple Beam. In a racing game, you'd look to your side to see a car passing you. Or just imagine the beauty in standing on a cliff in Wind Waker, simply looking from the sky to the ocean to take in the view around you. The immersion would be unparalelled, especially in first-person games. Third-person games would work fine, too -- just think of Mario as an RC car. In real life, while steering an RC car you'll often take your eyes off it for a moment to look ahead at where you're going.

If done right, I think this headset could be one of those features that, once you experience it, there's no playing games without it. It'd be a little odd to wear with friends over, but then again, imagine how cool it'd be to look at a buddy sitting next to you and "see" his virtual self standing there. And the headset wouldn't have to be a heavy, clunky helmet; think wrap-around Oakleys with pods on the sides for the gyros.

The technology seems to be here. If there are Game Boy games now that can tell whether you're turning them to the side or tilting them up and down, then all you'd need to do is is marry that with an LCD screen. Of course, I'm no engineer so I could be over-simplifying things.

Another beautiful part of this idea is that it would make games easier for non-gamers to get into. Putting on a headset might be weird the first time, but think about it -- one of the most confusing things to get used to in a game is controlling the camera. With the headset, this problem would be removed completely.

The "wow" factor alone would get everyone to check it out. Nintendo could even offer peripherals -- like a glove or light gun -- that had built-in gyros, too. The peripherals and headset would know where each other are, so that if you raised the light gun in front of your visor, you'd see your virtual hand holding a virtual gun right in front of your face.

Well, that's pretty much all of it. Maybe now that I've shared this idea, I can put it to rest and just enjoy whatever it is Nintendo might unveil at the Tokyo Game Show next week. If anyone out there is a tech genius, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this idea -- is it possible, or what?

--Chris

Last Minute MGS4 Speculation

2005-09-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

Along with the advanced AI I wrote about in my previous post, I've got one more guess about MGS4's true nature before the "big reveal" at TGS next week.

Okay, dig this --

At E3, MGS mastermind Hideo Kojima told me that he'd placed clues in the game's E3 teaser (you know, the funny one with everyone sitting in chairs?) -- clues that could be used to figure out what MGS4 is all about. After watching the teaser over and over, the only thing I can figure is that the game will take place in a warzone.

I mean a "soldiers are shooting at each other, bombs are falling and crap keeps blowing up all around me" type of setting. This would fit with the game's theme of "nowhere to hide", and it meshes well with Kojima's hints about an environment that can change, where you can't take anything for granted. Imagine trying to sneak around city streets and through rubble while fighting is going on all around you -- and if Snake is seen, then *he* becomes the target.

My reason for thinking this comes from the very beginning of the E3 teaser. Snake peeks around a wall at a group of soldiers that are *already in combat*, and they don't notice him until the wall Snake is hiding behind gets bombed away.

Well, I'll admit that it's a bit of a stretch, but I just had to put the idea up here, on the off chance that I'm onto something.

I'm so excited to see this game that I can't stand it anymore! :)

--Chris

Ten Years of PlayStation

2005-09-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago on September 9th, 1995, Sony changed our lives forever with the introduction of the original PlayStation.

(Wow, has it been that long already?)

Weather or not you're a fan of Sony's consoles, you can't deny the impact they've had on gaming. Perhaps only Nintendo has been more influential in the industry's 30+ years. Just take a look at some of the market-defining changes Sony has introduced in just a decade:

- They knocked off Nintendo, which had been the unbeatable market leader for so long.

- They pushed the transition from 2D to 3D gaming, triggering what was arguably the most important turning point in gaming history.

- They took off the kids' gloves, made gaming "cool" to the older demographic, and grew the industry enormously.

- While Nintendo was still pressing cartridges, Sony made disc media the industry standard and ushered in bigger, broader games.

- They've started to move the games-only console towards an all-in-one entertainment hub for the living room, starting with CD music and eventually introducing DVD movie playback and a handheld that does pretty much everything.

I'm sure there's plenty more to add to this list -- what am I forgetting, guys?

Anyway, while I've sometimes been critical of Sony over the years, today I'd simply like to congratulate them on their many incredible achievements. It's no exaggeration to say that gaming as we know it would not exist if not for them.

Happy birthday, PlayStation -- I'm looking forward to your next ten years!

--Chris

Catching Up

2005-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, what's up?

First of all, sorry for going so long without an update. While I don't imagine that anyone's been waiting on pins and needles for a new post, I did promise to put something new up much earlier.

What's worse is, most of my time lately has been spent playing Jump Superstars on the Nintendo DS. I know, I've got no excuses! :)

Catching up with current events, some big, big things are about to go down at next week's Tokyo Game Show:

- Playable Xbox 360s (according to Microsoft)
- Playable PS3s (according to Sony's Ken Kutaragi)
- The full unveiling of Nintendo's Revolution, complete with the next Mario (according to a report at Spong.com, which fits well with hints Nintendo have dropped)

Basically, TGS will be what last E3 was supposed to be. (Better late than never, I guess.)

Microsoft will probably announce some new partnerships with Japanese developers, and is sure to show off as many Japanese-friendly games it can muster (a retooled True Fantasy Live Online, anyone?). PS3 isn't likely to put as many games in the hands of show goers as the 360, if Kutaragi does indeed follow through with his promise to "let consumers experience the PS3." But Sony's system could still come out on top thanks to one game: Metal Gear Solid 4.

The buzz is -- and statements made by Konami's Hideo Kojima seem to support -- that the series' next installment will make its first true appearance via a trailer running on real PS3 hardware. Folks, unlike a lot of other developers who like to bait-and-switch pre-rendered footage with honest gameplay, Kojima always shoots straight with his Metal Gear trailers. The PS2 hype machine didn't really kick off until he debuted the trailer for MGS2, which just blew people's minds at the time. This MGS4 trailer will show us what the PS3 will truly be able to do in the hands of a top developer, and I get all tingly just thinking about it. And what did Kojima mean by saying that the theme of MGS4 is "no place to hide?" Just imagine the power of the PS3 being pushed to create environments and enemy AI so realistic that you can't predict what happens on the battlefield any more than a real soldier could in combat. If you can't always count on a guard to walk the same path over and over, or on a truck to stay parked long enough to provide cover, then how will you hide? You heard it here first, folks! :)

No matter what you guys might be up to late next week, be sure to keep a close eye on the gaming sites -- it's gonna be wild!

--Chris

Glad to be playing in the U.S.A.

2005-07-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hi gang,

Thanks for all of the well wishes and kind words regarding my wedding. The big day went incredibly well. My wife (I'm still getting used to calling her that) looked absolutely beautiful in her wedding dress, and it was amazing to have family and friends from different periods in my life all together at once. In short, I highly recommend this wedding thing.

For our honeymoon we toured London and Paris, which were both fantastic places to visit. Saw all the major sites, picked up a British copy of the new Harry Potter book, played a lot of Tetris on the plane... life was good. I couldn't believe, though, how much games cost over there! Japanese gamers pay much higher prices, too. We American players really are lucky.

Now, I've got a lot of catching up to do — PSP web browser? GTA forced to adopt an AO rating? Resident Evil 5? A lot sure can happen in just two short weeks!

—Chris

PS: I'm drafting several different posts right now; I plan to add some real updates to this blog soon. Stay tuned!

Off Gettin' Hitched

2005-06-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

As I'm feverishly preparing for my wedding in just under two weeks' time (in addition to working on the magazine), don't expect to see many (if any) new posts here over the next few weeks. I honestly have no idea how many people might have found their way here so far, but for those of you that have, I haven't abandoned you :-)

Inspired by the lively discussion around my PSP post, I've actually started several other articles that will go up just as soon as I have a spare minute to finish them. And also, my blog has led to another fun opportuinty that I'm extremely excited about, which I look forward to sharing with you soon.

So long for now — but don't forget to drop back by around the end of July!

PSP Blues (Or, "Guess What's In My Closet?")

2005-06-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

I know that what I'm about to say is fairly premature, but if I'm feelin' it, I've gotta say it:

PSP just ain't doin' it for me.

It was lust at first sight, and those holiday flights I spent playing Ridge Racers were heavenly, but I haven't taken the handheld out of my closet in weeks. What's wrong with me? The damn thing is God's gift to gamers on the go, right?

At first I thought I was crazy, but now I'm thinking something even scarier — that the PSP might not be a surefire homerun for Sony.

Many of the system's faults are only temporary, such as the premium price, the so-so library of PS2's hand-me-down games, and the short list of (mostly "meh") upcoming titles. But there are other weaknesses in Sony's handheld plan that may not ever be fixable:

- By design, the PSP is a handheld PS2 with less functionality. Inherently, its games will always be PS2-style titles that aren't quite as good as we're used to. At first it's amazing to see this level of graphics on a handheld, but once the "wow" factor wears off, all we're left with is gameplay. At best, PSP offers a slightly downgraded version of the gaming experience I already get at home. Without any unique gaming features, the PSP is, at best, a stand-in for the real thing.

- So far, the PSP doesn't get what handheld gaming is all about. Because Sony's mission seems to be to recreate the home experience as closely as possible, PSP's console-esque games aren't tailored for snappy "pick-up-and-play" use. Nintendo gets this. Titles like Tetris, Yoshi's Touch 'N Go, Polarium, Nintendogs, etc. offer bite-sized bursts of low-commitment fun. For the most part, when I'm stuck waiting somewhere, I'm not looking to engross myself in an epic story; I'm just looking to waste time in the least annoying way possible.

- PSP's extra functions aren't really delivering. The system will never be my prime music player because my iPod kills it, and I'd never pay more than $5 for a UMD movie when I'm already buying the DVD. I'm much more likely to put movies onto Memory Stick, but Sony has restricted and complicated that process to the point that I'll hardly ever bother. The PSP is a Jack-of-all-trades, but master of none.

- The system is a little too big and expensive to just toss in your pocket and go. Its easy-scratch screen makes it a no-no for kids, not that many of them could get their hands on a $300 to $400 PSP bundle, anyway. That makes adults almost exclusively the target market, who generally have much less "handheld time" in their day. Unless you take public transit to work, when are you going to pull the thing out? I'll play a great PSP game at home on the couch, but if my 36" TV is in front of me, I can get the same experience, only better, on it.

When I first got my PSP, I was convinced that the DS was doomed, and that it was only a matter of time before Sony began taking major marketshare from Nintendo. Now, I'm not so sure. As underpowered as the GBA and DS are, they offer a good assortment of fun, unique handheld experiences. Different experiences, not just "console-lite" games. They offer a better business model to publishers. And, they embrace the biggest handheld market, kids.

On the plus side, the PSP is obviously gorgeous, and anyone who gets a glimpse of it wants one instantly. The games will get better, and Sony is still learning about this new market it's entered. But for anyone who, like me, saw the PSP as an unstoppable beast, E3 was a sobering experience. About 22 new PSP games total, almost all of them PS2 shovelware.

To say the least, it will be very interesting to see how PSP evolves the second half of this year.

Gamecube's Top 10, According to Me

2005-05-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

So, I've finally had time to catch up on my stack of unplayed games over a four-day Memorial Day break, but what do I do? Get re-hooked on classic Nintendo Gamecube games like Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Mario Sunshine. I blame it on my fiancée — she's playing through the Gamecube version of Ocarina of Time for her first time, and watching her has put me in a lovey-dovey Nintendo mood.

I've got Mario Sunshine paused right now (grabbing those last blue coins I never got), and I'm suddenly struck with the urge to write a definitive list of my all-time favorite Gamecube games. After all, the system is just about finished as far as new first-party Nintendo titles are concerned, which is all the system really had to offer in the first place. (Of course, I reserve the right to change this list at any time and claim that I never did.)

So, without further adieu, here is Chris Slate's personal all-time, can't-argue-with-me, never-gonna-change-it (unless I do) Top 10 Gamecube games! (Presented in the oh-so-dramatic last-to-first format for extra suspense!!!)

10] Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
The original is my all-time favorite PSone game, and the Gamecube enhancements, for the most part, made it even better. I think that, if this had been a brand-new Gamecube game, I'd have ranked it much higher.

9] Metroid Prime
I'm still impressed at how flawlessly they made the move to the first-person view, while still making the game feel unmistakably like a Metroid title. I feel like this kind of game should have had more of an interesting personal story for Samus, though (not just the "history lesson" blurbs you get from scanning everything), and it's too easy to get lost while backtracking, but everything else about the game is perfect. I still can't bring myself to play through my copy of Echoes, though, since it's essentially the same game with all the power-ups re-scattered. Ah, well.

8] Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
While not significantly different from the original (or the GBA's Mario & Luigi, for that matter), this game is just a pure joy to play. It's probably the most "charming" game I've ever seen; it plays like a love letter to the Mario series. (Come to think of it, I think I'll pop this one in and play it next...)

7] F-Zero GX
Sega's crazy Mokey Ball team did an amazing job with this game. Of all Nintendo's team-ups with other developers, this one produced the best results, by far. It does get way too difficult, though — I love the challenge, and I feel like I'm Champion of the Universe when I finally win something, but the toughest challenges are just plain cruel. I often dream of a sequel with crazy next-gen graphics and gyroscopic control.

6] Resident Evil 4
This is easily Gamecube's best third-party game. It's gorgeous, scary, fun, packed with goodness — it oozes quality from every bloody pore. The upcoming PS2 port looks better than I expected, but this game was made with the Gamecube in mind, and it shows.

5] Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
The only thing disappointing about this game is that Nintendo didn't really try to expand on the classic Mario Kart formula with anything different. The two-rider feature was cute, but didn't change much. Still though, in my mind, this is the best Mario Kart game to date. It will never replace the feeling I got playing the Super NES original, or my first "wow" at the N64 version's true 3D graphics, but to me, it's as fun to play as any of them, with the best graphics. I still love racing an all-course tournament, at top speed, against a buddy of mine. Awesome stuff.

4] The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Damn that sailing! If it wasn't for the incredibly overdone (and mostly boring) sailing, this may have been my favorite Zelda game. I love the style of the graphics, the dungeons and items are great, and some of the locations are so fantastic that I've thought of what it would be like to live there (I know, geek +1 for me). Despite the sailing and the insane fetch quest near the end, I always end up defending this game against the haters until I'm blue in the face.

3] Super Mario Sunshine
Another game that I'll always defend. I don't get why some people hate this game so much — it's basically Mario 64 with amped-up graphics and crazier stunts! I'll agree that the water pack is awkward for a lot of people to pick up and learn, and given the choice, I'd rather it not return in the next full Mario title, but for this one game it was a blast. If I'd like to live in the world of Wind Waker, then Delfino Isle is where I dream of vacationing (geek +2).

2] Super Smash Bros. Melee
When the original Smash Bros. was blowing up on the N64, I was one of those people that just didn't get it. Finally, I forced myself to sit down and play it, and after a few hours it just clicked. Melee adds so much to the original, and in many ways, it's Gamecube's best game. It's one of the best fighting games and one of the top multiplayer games, plus it's marinated in classic Nintendo nostalgia. My future wife just might divorce me when the online Smash Bros. comes out for Revolution.

1] The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Okay, obviously, I haven't even played this game yet. But after decades of gaming, I like to think that I've got a very good instinct about games, and my gut is telling me that Twilight Princess will be the best thing in the history of best things. I may have to re-do this list if this game ends up having some massive flaw, but I'd like to think Nintendo learned its lesson from the sailing in Wind Waker. This game will own us all.

And that's it! My personal top 10 Gamecube games. I've done these types of lists for magazines for years, and often times I'm fairly ambivalent about the order. This time, though, I think every game fits into its spot perfectly. I do feel a little guilty for not including some of my other favorites, like Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Pikmin and Pikmin 2, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, Eternal Darkness and the Viewtiful Joe games, among others. Oh well, sucks to be them.

While I'm at it, I'd like to recognize my personal Gamecube low points: both StarFox games. While I've never felt like the StarFox series measured up to Nintendo's other triple-A franchises, I really enjoyed the N64 game and I've always felt StarFox had the potential to be greater. However, Rare's uninspired collect-a-thon and Namco's "blah" shoot-'em-up have really set the franchise back. Nintendo needs to do the next game themselves to get it back on track.

As the next generation systems get closer, I'll probably jot down my top PlayStation 2 and Xbox games sometime soon. I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this list, so don't be shy, leave some feedback! :)

E3 '05: Half Baked

2005-05-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

In what's becoming a really sucky annual tradition, I caught a cold the day before the show started. Maybe that's part of the reason why this year's E3 only scored a "Meh" on my Rock-'O-Meter, although there was a lot to be apathetic about.

I suppose it really was a big deal that three major new game consoles were unveiled (well, we'd already seen the Xbox tree-siddy on MTV's sad shambles of an infomercial, but let's just pretend that debacle didn't happen, shall we?). Here's my two-cents on each:

*** Xbox 360 ***
I still think it looks cool — not bat-guano crazy cool, but it's lightyears beyond that big, black Frankenstien's monster that came before it. I LOVE the controller. It's smaller, lighter, looks cooler, and feels more solid. I'm a little concerned about the new shoulder buttons, though; the lower triggers work fine, but I have to stretch my fingers too much to reach the new higher ones. Still, Microsoft deserves a big, tasty cookie. They've gone from having the worst controller last gen (at launch, anyway) to possibly having the best one next gen (especially if Sony goes through with that silver "boomerang" oddity for PS3).
There wasn't a single 360 game that I REALLY can't wait to play, though. I'll settle for a very DOA3-looking DOA4, Project Gotham Racing 3 (still pretty much sight unseen), and the sweet-looking Ghost Recon (although I normally have no interest in that series). Sega's 360 tech demos, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion and especially Gears of War looked great (although the latter two chugged along at horrible framerates). It's painfully obvious that the 360 won't really be ready to launch this year, although they're going to push it out, anyway. Nobody has real development kits yet, and we're only six months away from launch. Cripes. Developers have told me that Microsoft's claims of 25 or so games by year's end simply won't happen. And where's Perfect Dark Zero, the system's supposed "Halo" for launch? After stinking up the place with its abysmal MTV debut (and subsequent ass-tacular screen shots), its absence from the show floor did little to inspire the Xbox faithful.
But where the 360 is really going to kick ass is with its services. The integration of Live into the console is so far beyond anything Sony's ever dreamed of that it seems highly unlikely that PS3 will match it anytime soon. I'll settle for a slight hit in graphics if I can play 360 games with my bud in Japan with voice chat. Really, when it comes to online gaming, is Sony even that far ahead of Nintendo?

*** Nintendo Revolution ***
It's tough to judge the Rev's E3 showing, because it basically didn't show up at all. In the long-term I doubt it will matter that we didn't find out everything we wanted to know about it, but for now, it's another in a long list of reasons to shrug your shoulders about Nintendo. I think the look of it is... okay. Well, good, actually. I like that it clearly doesn't look like a toy, and should appeal to the mainstream crowd that turned its nose up at the purple 'cube. Its size makes the other next-gen consoles look big and bulky, and the glowing blue disc slot is uber cool. It just needs a little more personality; more of a unique touch. Hopefully the design will continue to shape up.
No games were shown, except for the very low-key Metroid clip. Third-party support still seems like a big uphill battle for the system. I'll buy it on day one for online Smash Bros., though. I like the idea of being able to download old Nintendo games, but I'll probably like it a lot less once I see what they'll charge me for them. Having to buy an add-on to play DVDs is just dumb. Why bother?

*** PlayStation 3 ***
This console gets my vote for sexiest look — especially the silver metal flake version on display at Sony's booth. The Spider-Man font for the logo is a little goofy, but it looks cool enough. The controller has me worried. Yeah, it's boring when they trot out the same DualShock design time and time again, but hey, if it ain't broke... My first thought upon seeing it was that Sony must need extra long handles to house a new kind of dual-motor design since they got mega-sued over the old one. Either that, or they wanted to show something quirky so that later on, when they steal whatever nutty ideas Nintendo's planning for the Revolution controller, they can say "See? We planned to do a new controller all along!" The silver boomerang is a little less scary in person, when you realize it's smaller than you thought... but still...
The games — God, please let them really look that good. I've heard mixed reports from "people in the know" as to how real or fake those clips were. If the PS3 can really make that Killzone trailer run in real-time, it's game over for everyone else. Whether it can or can't though, Sony has to be called out for flat-out lying about this footage. It was all presented as real games, glimpses of what the PS3 WILL do. Even if Killzone does come close to that level of quality, it ain't there yet, since the game has barely been started. Sony faked up a smokin' trailer just to dump all over 360's Perfect Dark Zero, and it did just that. After the PS3 showing, the buzz around the show was that Microsoft's next sysem is about to get its ass kicked. Hard. With steel-toed boots. It didn't help that none of the 360 games were running at anything close to the system's full power.

As for the rest of the show, there were plenty of good games on display for the PS2, a few predictable gems for Gamecube, and very little for Xbox. Put a fork in that system, it's done the moment 360 comes out. The DS has rebounded very well from the early PSP hype — I'm much more pumped for Mario Kart, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing, New Super Mario Bros. and more than I am for anything PSP's got cooking (although Pursuit Force and Daxter looked very promising).

Here are the games that stood out the most to me:

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - My early pick for Game of the Year. (It's still go to beat God of War, though.)
Okami - Probably the year's coolest new game that, unfortunately, won't sell more than a couple hundred thousand units.
Dead Rising - Not a benchmark next-gen game by any means, but it was fun to play.
Pursuit Force - A rare non-port for PSP that harkened back to good ol' arcade gameplay.
Daxter - Another original PSP title — what are the odds? The prettiest PSP game to date.
Black - I don't usually care for FPSs, but this game is drop-dead gorgeous.
Sega's 360 demos of Virtua Fighter, Sonic, & Afterburner - Could it be? Classic Sega revamps that might not suck?
Mario Kart & Animal Crossing DS - Finally, online goodness from Nintendo!
Mario Soccer & Baseball - Actually looked like a lot of fun.
Tomb Raider - Core, THAT'S how you do it! Glad to see this series back on track.

Man, there's so much more that I haven't even touched on. I guess this really was a good show overall; it's just hard to get too excited about the current generation anymore, and we didn't get nearly enough of the next-gen stuff. The transition seems to be happening so much slower than before. Ah well, I've got my Xbox tree-siddy preordered, PS3 is officially on the radar, and we've got another year's worth of Revolution specuation to keep us occupied when things get boring. E3 2005 didn't quite live up to its potential, but at least we've got a good stack of games to look forward to :)

I Was Wrong About You, Xbox

2005-04-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

When Microsoft first announced that it would compete with Sony and Nintendo, I couldn't have rolled my eyes with more disgust. I mean, here was "Big Brother", the monopoly that can be sooo easy to hate, daring to tread on the sacred ground of Yamauchi, Miyamoto, and Kutaragi. At every step of the Xbox's unveiling, I got a sick kind of glee scoffing at it. First the gigantism of the system and controllers, then the PC-port jokes, the lack of major franchises, the utter hopelessness in the Japanese market... Bill Gates simply had no business in OUR business.

Man, what a few years can change.

I've got to hand it to those guys; despite a million insurmountable challenges, they've not only stuck around, but have begun to thrive. Yes, they still don't have many major exclusive franchises; yes, they're still dead as 3DO in Japan; yes, the Xbox is still THAT ridiculously huge. But, they've also got the better-looking versions of most third-party games, they have an online service that makes Sony just look lame, and they've got the most momentum going into the next generation. Xbox seems to be where most of the buzz is these days — at least, among the hardcore.

And now, after all of the crap I gave Microsoft in the past, I have to give credit where credit is due. When it's all said and done, they’ll have lost boatloads of money on Xbox, but they did what they set out to do — they forced themselves into the market and into gamers' mindshare. Microsoft representatives have always said that this first console was just to get their foot in the door, and you really get the sense that, with Xbox 360, they're about to kick things off for real.

So much about the next Xbox is known at this point that you have to wonder whether the leaks were on purpose. It would be a fitting addition to the company's unconventional marketing approach, one that has included fake websites, internet puzzles, and placemats with Bill Gates holding an S Controller and a hamburger — not to mention the radical May 12th official unveiling of Xbox 360 on MTV.

I respect Microsoft because they've (usually) done what they said they'd do. For example, they talked big about building an online community, and they got it done — while Sony looked lost. Not bad for the new guy.

So now, after I've overanalyzed every Xbox 360 pic and scrap of info along with everyone else on the 'net, I am seriously hyped for this machine. Of course, I'm hyped for PS3 and Revolution as well, but I always knew I would be. Microsoft has won me over the hard way, and I'm just so damn ready to kick off the next generation with them. I'll be glued to my TV on May 12th, and I'll be ready to believe at the Xbox pre-E3 conference the week after.

There are still plenty of challenges facing Microsoft, and in many ways round two is going to be even tougher. But I just had to take a moment to recognize what "Big Brother" has accomplished so far, and at long last, say this:

Welcome to the club.

I HATE Auto-Adjusting Difficulty

2005-04-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

I'll make this short and sweet:

Some developers may think that it's cool for a game's difficulty to auto-adjust to each unique player, but — in actuality — it is an idea worthy of being shot and drug through the streets.

I hate auto-adjusting difficulty for three main reasons:

1) It punishes good play by making the game endlessly tougher. "You thought you'd gotten good? HA! We'll REALLY kick your ass, now!" Part of the fun of a game is the satisfaction of seeing how good you've gotten; to expertly clear areas that were tough at first. Auto-adjusting difficulty takes that away.

2) It indirectly encourages you not to excel, but rather, to do just good enough to get by in order to keep the difficulty manageable.

3) It creates an uneven measuring stick between yourself and other players. Any moron that sucked enough to get a free ride through a game that an expert busted his ass to beat gets the same reward at the end. This destroys any true sense of accomplishment in beating a game. It also hurts the feeling of community between people playing the same game. GOOD GAMER: "Man, that level seven boss was a bitch, huh?" BAD GAMER: "Uh, what? He went down in, like, three shots for me."

Auto-adjusting difficulty is a poor and lazy replacement for good game balancing. Simply offering different difficulty settings (i.e. Easy, Normal and Hard) is a much better solution. It still lets gamers of different skill levels play, but that measuring stick is still in place.

So, in short, you game developers out there — no more auto-adjusting difficulty. Please.

What's in a (Videogame) Name?

2005-04-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Y'know, sometimes the simplest titles are the best choices.

Case in point: Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal. I'm a big fan of the series, but half the time I couldn't tell you whether that game came before or after Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando. Then there's the upcoming Ratchet: Deadlocked, which is only a side game and not meant to be "Ratchet & Clank 4" (I guess the clue is that it doesn't have "& Clank" in the title.) God help new players who come to the series looking to play the games in order. Would it really have hurt to have put "2s" and "3s" in the titles?

There's another problem with dropping numbers. In the past I've been conditioned to look at unnumbered sequels as side games, like Resident Evil: Outbreak. People might pass up a title like Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando and wait for "Ratchet & Clank 2" instead.

Many other game names are either too bland and undescriptive (Cold Winter; Snowblind), or too confusing (Viewtiful Joe; Sly Cooper and the Thievious Raccoonus). And let's not forget the trend to tack on long, unncessecary subtitles (like Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, and the Scrabble-winning Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords).

Japanese titles are weird because, while they often don't make any sense, they still sound cool (see Devil May Cry, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, and Resident Evil). Having a nice ring to your title still isn't enough in today's market though, when western-developed games are making the English-as-a-second-language titles look more awkward. Then there are the Japanese game names that mean nothing whatsoever to U.S. consumers, like Onimusha, Tekken, Tenchu, etc.

What makes a good game title? To start with, it should be unique, reflect the feel of the game, be clear and catchy, and be as succinct as possible. A subtitle can work, but it should also adhere to these goals, and it should also help to differentiate the game from the others in the series. Using a movie as an example, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope works well.

I'll bet that something as seemingly trivial as a game's title can have a massive impact on its sales. A good title will hook you, excite you, and convey the type of amazing experience that awaits you. A bad title is generic, dull, confusing, and long-winded. Most publishers can really improve on how they name their games.

I could also talk about bad box art and advertising, but I'll save those for later rants ;)

Will MTV Steal Xbox 2's E3 Buzz?

2005-04-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

Man, what a massive announcement today — Xbox 2 (or 360, or whatever it's called) will debut on MTV on May 12th, four days before Microsoft's annual pre-E3 press conference. When I first heard the news, it felt like someone had spoiled Christmas morning. I mean, that's what E3, and all of the pre-show press conferences, are to me — Christmas morning. You gather with thousands of like-hearted game fantatics and gawk at what Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have under their trees. I'd been looking forward to unwrapping the Xbox 2 at the E3 press conference, and now that day I'd marked on my calendar seems a lot less special.

But, what a nutty view, right? Two seconds after my initial feeling, I realized what a lucky life I lead as a games journalist. This MTV unveiling — celebrity-tacky and faux-cool as it may be — will be a great way of letting *all* gamers share in this historic moment, and not just lucky bums like me. It's a revolultionary idea that should have the competition slapping its heads and saying "why didn't *we* think of that?" The whole world will be able tune in at the same time to get its first peek at the future of gaming. What a brilliant way to kick-start critical momentum for Microsoft's next-gen console. They know they've got a small window before Sony crashes the party with PS3, and they're starting the next round with guns blazing.

I wonder though, if the early reveal will dull Microsoft's buzz at E3... The world press — from gaming mags, to CNN, to Newsweek — everyone will be looking for the big stories; the products and events that will define this year's show. Usually, the top stories are decided on before the show even opens, once the three first-parties' pre-E3 conferences have concluded. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will take turns selling their visions of where gaming is heading, wowing audiences with their Next Big Things. As the excitement builds to a climax for those three presentations, what will the big stories be? Microsoft will surely get a lot of attention, but before, the full debut of Xbox 2 was a shoe-in to steal the most headlines. With Sony and Nintendo not likely to reveal nearly as much about their next systems (which won't hit until next year), Microsoft's vision of the future will be the only one you can touch, experience and play. But when E3 week rolls around, Xbox 2 will already be yesterday's headlines. Reporters will be looking for the big *new* stories. And what the press latches onto, what gets them the most excited at the show, could likely influence coverage (and therefore, valuable exposure) heading into the rest of the year. Will the exclusive MTV deal outweigh a potential drop in coverage elsewhere, as the gathered world press searches for their own breaking stories?

It will be very interesting to see what people are buzzing about, and getting excited about, the week *after* the MTV special. Will Microsoft hold back certain key announcements until E3 to give the audience at its conference reasons to cheer? And, with not as much to show or reveal, will Sony and Nintendo be able to hold their own against any momentum the MTV special starts to build?

I'm really just thinking out loud; I don't have the answers, but I'm getting more and more excited to find them out :)

OMFGod of War

2005-04-07T21:42:00.000-07:00

Wow. I mean, just... WOW.

Today I finished Sony's God of War in God Mode, and it was one of the most fun, challenging and rewarding playthroughs of a game I've ever done. I guess I'm bragging a little, but I just had to gush about how cool this game is for those that haven't played it yet. Not only is it freaking amazing to play, but the rewards that you're given for beating the game, then beating the Challenge of the Gods side game, then beating God Mode, are some of the coolest unlockables I've ever seen.

Bravo Sony, and major kudos to David Jaffe's immensely talented and hard-working team. God of War II is easily my most anticipated game, no matter how long you make me wait. We're only a few months into 2005, but GOW's going to be damn tough to beat for Game of the Year!

God of War, Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid 3 all within a few months of each other — is this one of the best streaks in the history of gaming, or what?

What Does "PlayStation" Mean to You?

2005-03-26T21:59:00.000-08:00

As I sit here getting pumped for E3, I'm reminded of the very different approaches taken by the "Big Three." If this year's E3 press conferences follow tradition, Microsoft's will be a dazzling geek fest -- half rock show, half Microsoft nerd party. Although they've had little to show in the past, they make a lot of noise and do a great job of walking that line between hungry newcomer and confident leader. Their conferences are a lot of fun, and this year's presentation should be their best ever since they'll most likely be the only first-party to fully reveal its next console.

Nintendo's pre-E3 show is either the best or worst, depending on whether or not you're a hardcore fan. The audience at these things seem to be at least 90% Nintendo fanboy, who roar in approval whenever one of Nintendo's classic franchises appear on screen, or when legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto makes his appearance on stage. I was there last year when the new, more "adult", Zelda was unexpectedly revealed, and people actually *wept*. These fanboys unashamedly chug down Nintendo's Kool-Aid, and I think it makes the show a helluva lot of fun. The Zelda reveal ranks just below the E3 unveilings of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Super Mario 64 as my third favorite E3 moment ever.

Finally, there's Sony, who -- year after year -- seem to do very little with so much. Rather than blast first looks at mind-blowing PS2-exclusives like Metal Gear 3, God of War or Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, you get guys in suits showing PowerPoint. The presentation is slick enough, and you can tell they drop a hefty chunk of change on the stage setup, but there's just no excitement. No cheering, no big reveals, no balls-to-your-nuts presentations that leave you desperate to "play in their world." Yes, we understand that you sold a lot of units this year. Yes, we know you're number-one. But don't just tell us this, make us *feel* it.

Okay, so now I'm getting to my real point of this post: what *is* PlayStation? What is associated with that brand? Who is a PlayStation gamer? The brand is slick, modern, and cool... but... isn't it kind of hollow? I mean, if you like Nintendo, you like Nintendo's games, their characters, their heritage. If you're an Xbox gamer, you're into Live, military games, tech power, Halo. Nintendo and Microsoft offer very specific visions of the experiences they offer. PlayStation 2, on the other hand, is like the VCR of gaming. Everybody has one, but its use is purely functional -- you own it because it plays the widest selection of games and because it's number-one.

Sony does have a few big first-party series, such as Gran Turismo, Jak, Ratchet & Clank and SOCOM, but there's no vision to tie those together into an overall "experience"... nothing about those titles that say "THIS is what it's like to play PlayStation!" When Sony talks about its vision for the future of gaming, it's in a very corporate, generic, by-the-numbers way. They don't say anything I haven't heard before. Meanwhile, you've got Microsoft's J. Allard preaching about how the next Xbox will usher in the "HD Era", and cater to the "Remix Generation." Whether you buy into what he's saying or not, there's value to *how* he's saying it. He's painting a passionate picture of how gaming on his platform will be different and better.

I love PlayStation games and respect the incredible things that Sony has achieved in this industry, but I want them to excite me, lead me, and make me more passionate about my hobby. Anyone else out there feel this way?

Bad Touch! BAD TOUCH!!!

2005-03-26T21:18:00.000-08:00

There have been all sorts of crazy rumors flying around the 'net about Nintendo's Revolution. Depending on what you read, the console won't use a TV, will use gyroscopic controllers, or shoot out holograms. Now, I don't usually let rumors get to me (especially Nintendo ones, since they tend to be the craziest), but a scary one keeps popping up -- the idea of a buttonless touch-screen controller. I can't imagine any way that such a thing wouldn't be a colossal blunder.

There are two main reasons why this would kill the console right out of the gate, and they seem so obvious that you'd have to think Nintendo would have realized them, too:

1) A touch-screen gives no tactile feedback. As anyone who has struggled through the touch-screen control in Mario 64 DS can attest, moving your character is much harder when you can't feel exactly which direction, and to what degree, you're pressing. You're constantly repositioning your thumb in that silly "thumb strap", or having to take your eyes of the game to look down and figure out what the hell you're doing.

2) The supposed benefit of the touch screen would be that developers could create a custom control scheme -- with unique "button" placements on the screen -- for each game, opening the door for more creativity. While that sounds interesting at first, think about it -- it'd be like having to learn to use a new controller for every game you play. The company line at Nintendo is that gaming has become too complicated, that it's too intimidating for newcomers. Anyone who's ever tried to get a non-gamer to play a game knows that learning to use a controller can be a huge hurdle. So, constantly changing the way a controller works would really put these people off.

Not to mention that this would be gaming's all-time greasiest controller with all that flesh pressing. Gross.

Lending weight to this rumor is a quote from a Nintendo higher-up that the Revolution won't (or "may not" -- can't remember the exact wording) use the traditional A and B buttons. While the pursuit of a true "revolution" is exciting and to be applauded, it's also risky. Here's hoping that Nintendo isn't so desperate in its battle against Sony and Microsoft that it would be quirky just to be quirky. Nintendo has a good track record of putting gameplay above all else, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. (Virtual Boy and a long list of "innovative" dud peripherals aren't making me very comfortable, though.)

Is Gran Turismo Broken?

2005-03-22T15:35:00.000-08:00

I originally posted this on the PSM forums. I think that the Gran Turismo series is fantastic, but there's just something missing... something important... it's tough for me to put my finger on. I think that the biggest point, which I come around to below, is that it doesn't do the job of cultivating the love for cars in people who aren't already car freaks. Anyhoo, here's the post...

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For the fourth Gran Turismo game in a row, I've gotten all excited about the graphics and the career mode, then tossed the game aside after just one play. Technically, there's no question that this game is amazing. If someone asks me to name PS2's top games, I always instinctively include the lastest Gran Turismo title in the list. But, as good as I believe it to be, I just never have much fun with it — really, I've enjoyed Ridge Racers on the PSP an infinite amount more.

It comes down to the fact that I don't know jack about cars. I know that this is a series primarily aimed at car fanatics, so I've just shrugged off my apathy in the past, content that "some people" out there can really enjoy these games. But now I'm starting to think that maybe the developers have blown a crucial part of game making.

See, Gran Turismo is a major franchise — an EVENT franchise. It's a system seller. Although the core group of GT fans are probably gearheads that can appreciate a game made just for them, what about the majority of the gamers that buy these games because they're the best-looking, highest-reviewed racing games on the market? Why should we be left out of the fun?

Now, I don't mean to lump everyone else in here with me, and I know that — if I really wanted to put in the extra effort — I could read the faqs and do some car research to brush up. But I guess my point is that this game — or any game, really — shouldn't force me to do homework just to play. I mean, this is a series that's made from the developers' pure love of cars, and it's meant to spread that passion amongst its players — shouldn't Gran Turismo aspire to cultivate that passion for cars in people? To actually turn gamers into car lovers?

I don't think that the gameplay should change, but the series' total audience would be much better served if it guided them more, explained complicated concepts; introduced us to these types of things. I'd love to think that, after sitting down and learning to play GT, I come out of it learning, and loving, a lot more about driving. Instead, the moment I start up career mode I have no idea which car to buy, no idea what the differences are or how it will affect my racing. It's a very common trend these days for games of any kind to have built-in tutorials to get you going, but GT just has the driving tests, which don't do nearly enough.

Sorry if this sounds like whining to any GT experts out there; I just really want in on your series. Actually, my above opinions are in constant flux, which is why I thought I'd post. Am I on to something, or should I just accept that this is a game made only for an elite group of gamers with deep car knowledge? Or, do you guys disagree that the effort involved to "get up to speed" is asking too much?

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There's been some great feedback to the post, and people are still chiming in with their opinions. Maybe after the thread calms down I'll revisit this subject with some of the best responses.

Nintendo's DS Challenge

2005-03-22T14:03:00.000-08:00

So, I was chatting online today with a friend of mine, and as we often do, we began trying to unravel the enigma that is Nintendo. I felt that we hit on some key points that Nintendo needs to address with its new handheld, and figured I'd post our comments up here to share with everyone else. Here 'goes:

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FRIEND: Did you see Advanced Wars DS? It freakin' looks exactly like the GBA version.

ME: Yeah, I noticed that. To tell you the truth though, I'd rather see sharp-looking 2D games on DS than N64-quality 3D ones. Either way, it's not a very competitive place for them to be.

FRIEND: Overall, it seems that Nintendo's DS titles aren't reviewing that well these days... actually, their games in general are scoring lower.

ME: Yeah -- although I do really like Wario Ware Touched and Yoshi's Touch and Go. On GameCube, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat is also really fun. I think that Nintendo's got two things working against them: 1) some of their franchise games have fallen short (especially Star Fox Ass), and 2) they make a lot of arcade-style games now that aren't meant to be very deep, and are tough to score on a traditional review scale.

FRIEND: I think that is the problem -- they seem to be moving away from the long sort of experiences because they feel that the mainstream market doesn't want that, and moving towards shorter, simpler arcade stuff.

ME: I think there's room for both, as long as the quality is high and the pricing reflects the replay value. They are spreading themselves too thin though, amongst so many platforms. I think most fans would rather have those three or four "mega games" from Nintendo every year rather than a bunch of simpler ones.

FRIEND: But then everyone complains that there aren't enough games. Nintendo just needs to bulk up and make more standard games. They obviously know that they can't rely on much 3rd party, so they need to suck it up and really do a big push. Also, I get confused by the DS because games like Yoshi look kiddie in design but are a bit challenging for young kids to actually grasp the idea and be able to play it.

ME: Yeah, Nintendo's sending mixed messages: "With DS, everyone goes back to the starting line -- you don't have to be a game expert to play!" Then they take standard game types and make them tougher to play with a stylus. And, try explaining to a non-gamer how to even use the thing. Yoshi's and Wario Ware are decent examples of how their strategy COULD work, but you're right, Yoshi's is too frantic right off the bat. I thought a non-gamer friend of mine might like it, but by the time I got around to explaining how to make bubbles around enemies, their brain had already retreated.

FRIEND: Exactly... I was trying to get someone to play, too.

ME: Animal Crossing and Nintendogs will be great games to go after casuals and female gamers, but those titles are the exception to the rule. If Nintendo wants to make any real headway with those crowds, the need to keep their message consistent -- either you play totally new types of games on the DS or you don't. If someone buys the system and picks up any games other than the two or three that are actually good and show off the systems' features, they're immediately turned off.

FRIEND: Yeah, those two you mentioned should hopefully win over more casual gamers.

ME: The DS ads are ass, too. Here you've got this product where your top challenge is to explain to people what it is, and the ads don't even show the damn thing in action.

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And from there we went back to gushing over the PSP. Let's hope that Nintendo shows how much smarter they've gotten at E3 in May!

The Glorious Magnificence of Modern Handhelds

2005-03-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

I've had a Japanese PSP since it launched late last year, but after initial marathons with Ridge Racers, Hot Shots Golf Portable and Lumines, my frothing demand for the widescreen wonder fell back down to a more manageable, healthier level. One day I'd take a crack at a lesser game like Rengoku, the next I'd fool around with iPSP to see how many movie trailers I could stuff onto a 1GB Memory Stick. A few days ago, however, Sony was nice enough to send me a package containing its U.S. PSP launch titles, and it's like I've rediscovered the handheld all over again.

Aside from Ridge Racer, the U.S. launch is all about Twisted Metal Head-On and Wipeout Pure. Great Odin's beard, these games are glorious. Of course, they aren't that different from past games, but they each represent the best their series have to offer. Playing Twisted Metal online — using a wireless handheld — is one of those rare "holy crap, the future is NOW!" moments that make video games so damn fun. I played against a couple of guys across the country on the East coast, and it didn't hurt the gameplay at all. Wireless LAN at the office has kicked all kinds of ass, too; five of us blasted each other to hell today in TM, and we had some really sweet Wipeout races, too. The games are pricey for a portable, and there are already a few clunkers, but still, this has got to be the best software lineup I've ever seen for a system launch.

Then there's the Nintendo DS. My poor, adorable DS. Actually, I dusted it off a couple days ago to give Yoshi's Touch-N-Go a whirl, and I've enjoyed it a lot. Yoshi's has a great old-school arcade feel, mixed with some new-school touch screen features that go beyond just being a gimmick to actually being fun. If Nintendo could consistently put out titles like this, Wario Ware Touched, Pac Pix and Nintendogs, then I could believe Nintendo when they call the DS a "Third Pillar" that doesn't have to compete head-to-head with PSP. But alas, for every DS gem there are at least a handful of third-party ports like Madden, Ridge Racer and Spider-Man that simply take standard games and do little to make them special (or worse, use the touch screen to make them unplayable wrecks).

And what's with the DS not going online until late this year? I'm playing PSP online right now, dammit! And Nintendo, Mario Kart had better work online, or, or... you'll have to put up with me, um, ranting on my blog. (Cough.)

Hi! Hello! Welcome to my Brain!

2005-03-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

I'm often moved to praise the glory of, or rant about, video games. Since my day job is Editor-in-Chief of PSM (that's "PSM: 100% Independent PlayStation Magazine" to people who prefer long-winded titles over acronyms), you'd think that I'd be sick of talking games after the work day has ended. Oh, but I simply *am* that sick!

As it turns out, my brain can't ever seem to find the lever to open the door to any other subject, so I'm often struck by thoughts or ideas when there's nobody around to listen (or at least nod politely and occasionally mumble "uh-huh"). So, I figure that when I'm moved to talk games, I'll come here to get it out of my system. If like-minded game fanatics stumble across my digital dumping ground and find what I have to say interesting, all the better.

If you're reading this, thanks for stopping by, and c'mon back anytime. However, I have no idea when or how often I'll put up new posts, and I wholeheartedly reserve the right to flake on the whole thing ;-)