Everyone plays video games for different reasons. Some play to escape the reality of the world. Some play for money, whether it be as a professional gamer or as a journalist. Most, however, play games simply because they are fun. Unlike a movie or a book, by playing a game, a person is able to fully step into a world completely different from our own, by being an active participant as a character. It really is no wonder that video games have grown to such a huge audience, since they have become magical (and accessible) enough for people of all types and ages to become enthralled by them.
Why do I bring this up? I've been reading a lot about game journalism lately, trying to soak up everything I can. By hearing about so many stories, I am starting to build my view on the world of video game journalism and understand what it truly is. One thing that really started sticking out to me is how many of these journalists talked about a video game fatigue, a point where they just don't enjoy playing games anymore.
It makes perfect sense when you think about it; game journalists are often given games to cover that they don't wish to even look at but are forced to for work. Even the games they play because of actual interest must be broken down and analyzed intently, something that can possibly take the fun out of even the best games. It's a sad thing to think about and one I'm trying to take a stand against right now.
Currently, I play games in a very particular way. I own maybe 30-40 games that I want to complete at some point, that list ever growing as new games come out (something that makes me move that much faster through a game). As each game is finished, the next one on the list is selected and I play it. Sometimes, I'll play some old games for a change of pace (just did Mass Effect 2 on Insanity, for example). Unfortunately, this has led me to a very irritating and boring pattern in which I complete goal after goal in each game, almost asleep from the autonomy with which my body moves through them. A deep-seated urge to reach the end of my list of games to beat constantly pounds in the back of my head and I find it very hard to silence sometimes.
So, starting today, I am going to (and I encourage each and every one of you to do the same) find the true enjoyment in every game I play. Instead of rushing my way through game after game, I will take the time to savor the looks or the music of a particular game, finding what speaks to me about each particular one and, most importantly, enjoying it. Of course, I will still look at each game with a practical eye too (what kind of "future" journalist would I be if I didn't?) but I want to stop and have a good time with each of them. Each and every game is an amazing accomplishment that took a dedicated group of people thousands of manhours to make; don't they deserve more attention for the games they've created?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Were Deadly Premonition's "Quirks" Intentional?
If you're one of those people who likes cult games, you've probably already heard about Deadly Premonition. For those of you who haven't, it is an interesting little game. Essentially, it is a game that mixes the survival-horror elements of Resident Evil (and I mean the original few games) with the crazy setting and characters of the television show Twin Peaks. It married a crazy but endearing story and setting with some ugly graphics and shoddy gameplay (two things that CAN be dealt with, if a person cares to). This world really intrigued people and EVERYBODY was talking about it for awhile, causing popularity in the game to flare up heavily. Giantbomb also did an Endurance Run, playing through the whole game on camera (twice even, with two sets of people), which added to its popularity even more.
As for the point of this post, I was reading through my feeds today, as I usually do each day. I stumbled upon an article titled "Love GTA, Heavy Rain and Resident Evil? Well Deadly Premonition is better than all of them. Here's why" on GamesRadar and, having already played through the game and kind of understanding why this may be a valid point, I had to read it. The main thing I have to say about is that it is a brilliant article, dissecting what most people dismissed as poor implementation and design and showing the game for what it more likely was (although I don't exactly imagine that every little mistake that Deadly Premonition made was intentional).
The article looks at the town, the characters, the gameplay, and manages to perfectly justify each part of the game's shortcomings. When I first read it, I didn't necessarily need to be convinced. After viewing Giantbomb's Endurance Run, I went out and bought my own copy of the game, eager to play through it for myself. Even with the muddled textures and odd UI choices (the map in particular), I truly enjoyed my time with the game. I didn't even know how much I had dismissed little things about the game, making excuses in the back of my mind for some of the problems I had with it.
Each one of those excuses was verified by this article. David Houghton did an astounding job explaining why these choices were probably made, why these characters are so strange at first glance and more. If you've ever had any interest in Deadly Premonition, give it a look. If you've never heard of the game, you should read it too; it may describe a gaming experience unlike any you've heard of and give you something new to play.
As for the point of this post, I was reading through my feeds today, as I usually do each day. I stumbled upon an article titled "Love GTA, Heavy Rain and Resident Evil? Well Deadly Premonition is better than all of them. Here's why" on GamesRadar and, having already played through the game and kind of understanding why this may be a valid point, I had to read it. The main thing I have to say about is that it is a brilliant article, dissecting what most people dismissed as poor implementation and design and showing the game for what it more likely was (although I don't exactly imagine that every little mistake that Deadly Premonition made was intentional).
The article looks at the town, the characters, the gameplay, and manages to perfectly justify each part of the game's shortcomings. When I first read it, I didn't necessarily need to be convinced. After viewing Giantbomb's Endurance Run, I went out and bought my own copy of the game, eager to play through it for myself. Even with the muddled textures and odd UI choices (the map in particular), I truly enjoyed my time with the game. I didn't even know how much I had dismissed little things about the game, making excuses in the back of my mind for some of the problems I had with it.
Each one of those excuses was verified by this article. David Houghton did an astounding job explaining why these choices were probably made, why these characters are so strange at first glance and more. If you've ever had any interest in Deadly Premonition, give it a look. If you've never heard of the game, you should read it too; it may describe a gaming experience unlike any you've heard of and give you something new to play.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D's One Save Slot - Is It Really That Bad?
Everyone is talking about Capcom's newest 3DS release, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. Wow, it must be really good, huh? Not many 3DS games have been getting any amount of buzz. Unfortunately, this buzz isn't good at all.
It was revealed very close to release (maybe even after it came out) that the game only offered one save slot. Okay, that isn't so bad. Games like Pokemon do it (albeit still at an annoyance). The main grievance that consumers are having is that the game's save file CANNOT be reset. This essentially means that any progress made in the game can never be erased and will make any copy of the game that has been played an obviously used copy.
People are really up in arms about this, arguing that their purchase of a game entitles them to do whatever they like with it. Capcom argues that this is to prevent people from selling the game to retailers like Gamestop or Amazon and "encouraging" buyers to keep the game instead. Of course, this means that owners of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D can't even lend the game to a friend, unless that friend just wants to mess around with it.
While I can understand some of the hate, this isn't really all bad. The game seems to be built around replayability (from what I've seen), having stages where the only goal is to try for the high score again and again. Sure, if someone has unlocked everything in the game, the next person would only get to play a file with everything on it, but is that really so bad?
Reports are surfacing that some Gamestops aren't even taking used copies of the game, since the replay value is so low. Game rental service Gamefly also revealed that they aren't even renting the game out to customers, which I can understand. Why rent a game that would be in various states of completion?
The main issue people seem to be having with this whole debacle is that they are very limited with what they can do afterwards. So many gamers out there finish a game and immediately sell it to a friend or at a Gamestop and that isn't really an option now. I ask you is this really such a bad thing? Sure, I've sold my fair share of games to Gamestop but it pains me every time. I dream of having a massive game collection, one I've built up over the years. It is always the promise of a shiny new game that tempts me from this. Is a game that I can't sell back (kinda like a PC game really) really so bad?
The bigger problem could be if more and more companies start this trend. Being that the 3DS (and DS) are the only cartridge based systems, this is the only set of games it could affect but that is still a rather large group. Some people are arguing that this will just lead to more and more systems put in place like this one, more encroachment on the freedoms of gamers. While that may happen, I really can't fault company for trying to slow the tide of used games sales; seeing how much money a company can lose to them really makes me understand why they try these radical new ideas (Ubisoft's always-connected DRM for PC comes to mind). For now, we just have to watch and wait for the continued reaction to this news.
It was revealed very close to release (maybe even after it came out) that the game only offered one save slot. Okay, that isn't so bad. Games like Pokemon do it (albeit still at an annoyance). The main grievance that consumers are having is that the game's save file CANNOT be reset. This essentially means that any progress made in the game can never be erased and will make any copy of the game that has been played an obviously used copy.
People are really up in arms about this, arguing that their purchase of a game entitles them to do whatever they like with it. Capcom argues that this is to prevent people from selling the game to retailers like Gamestop or Amazon and "encouraging" buyers to keep the game instead. Of course, this means that owners of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D can't even lend the game to a friend, unless that friend just wants to mess around with it.
While I can understand some of the hate, this isn't really all bad. The game seems to be built around replayability (from what I've seen), having stages where the only goal is to try for the high score again and again. Sure, if someone has unlocked everything in the game, the next person would only get to play a file with everything on it, but is that really so bad?
Reports are surfacing that some Gamestops aren't even taking used copies of the game, since the replay value is so low. Game rental service Gamefly also revealed that they aren't even renting the game out to customers, which I can understand. Why rent a game that would be in various states of completion?
The main issue people seem to be having with this whole debacle is that they are very limited with what they can do afterwards. So many gamers out there finish a game and immediately sell it to a friend or at a Gamestop and that isn't really an option now. I ask you is this really such a bad thing? Sure, I've sold my fair share of games to Gamestop but it pains me every time. I dream of having a massive game collection, one I've built up over the years. It is always the promise of a shiny new game that tempts me from this. Is a game that I can't sell back (kinda like a PC game really) really so bad?
The bigger problem could be if more and more companies start this trend. Being that the 3DS (and DS) are the only cartridge based systems, this is the only set of games it could affect but that is still a rather large group. Some people are arguing that this will just lead to more and more systems put in place like this one, more encroachment on the freedoms of gamers. While that may happen, I really can't fault company for trying to slow the tide of used games sales; seeing how much money a company can lose to them really makes me understand why they try these radical new ideas (Ubisoft's always-connected DRM for PC comes to mind). For now, we just have to watch and wait for the continued reaction to this news.
Monday, June 27, 2011
No Fines for Violent Game Sales to Minors
As you may have known, the Supreme Court finally revealed its final ruling on the California vs EMA case, the one discussing whether or not selling a violent video game to minors would be fineable in California. Citing the First Amendment as the main reason, the Supreme Court defended gamers by saying that games are under protection by the Constitution and could not be fineable under law.
I will admit that when I first read this, I really had no idea why it was such a big deal. Violent games not being able to be sold to minors (at least more strictly then it already is)? Sounds like a good idea. It took me awhile of really thinking about it (and a bit of research) to understand; why should video games be fined like this when books and movies aren't?
I had no idea that the only medium that could incur fines for selling to minors was pornography. The thought that a group of individuals was trying to say that video games are as harsh as pornography both angered and amused me. Of course, the anger came from the idea that video games should be penalized because they are interactive, something that really doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things. The laughter came from the thought that a video game rating is SO MUCH MORE STRICT than even an R-rated movie and that these people believed a violent video game, one that isn't even on the level of some R-rated movies, is equivalent to porn.
Of course, the biggest surge of anger came from Senator Leland Yee's comments after the case, the senator behind the whole thing. He is upset that violent game sales to minors don't have stricter penalties (something I undestand but don't believe should happen unless it happens to every medium). He argues that since this law didn't pass, more violent games can be sold to children.
Wait, huh? Doesn't he know that most stores that sell games WILL NOT sell M-rated games to children under 17? Sure, there isn't a fine, but most retailers will come down hard on any employee that does happen to break the rule. Even if, what about the parents? Any time someone brings up this issue I wonder why no one blames the parents. The ratings system is there for a reason and parents should KNOW what their kids are playing. No one should have to regulate video games except parents.
I will admit that when I first read this, I really had no idea why it was such a big deal. Violent games not being able to be sold to minors (at least more strictly then it already is)? Sounds like a good idea. It took me awhile of really thinking about it (and a bit of research) to understand; why should video games be fined like this when books and movies aren't?
I had no idea that the only medium that could incur fines for selling to minors was pornography. The thought that a group of individuals was trying to say that video games are as harsh as pornography both angered and amused me. Of course, the anger came from the idea that video games should be penalized because they are interactive, something that really doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things. The laughter came from the thought that a video game rating is SO MUCH MORE STRICT than even an R-rated movie and that these people believed a violent video game, one that isn't even on the level of some R-rated movies, is equivalent to porn.
Of course, the biggest surge of anger came from Senator Leland Yee's comments after the case, the senator behind the whole thing. He is upset that violent game sales to minors don't have stricter penalties (something I undestand but don't believe should happen unless it happens to every medium). He argues that since this law didn't pass, more violent games can be sold to children.
Wait, huh? Doesn't he know that most stores that sell games WILL NOT sell M-rated games to children under 17? Sure, there isn't a fine, but most retailers will come down hard on any employee that does happen to break the rule. Even if, what about the parents? Any time someone brings up this issue I wonder why no one blames the parents. The ratings system is there for a reason and parents should KNOW what their kids are playing. No one should have to regulate video games except parents.
Welcome!
This is it. This blog will exist as long as I need it to practice my writing (essentially forever) and I will post on it multiple times a week. I will not stop writing for a month and delete this blog, starting over yet again.
Sorry about that. I'm sure most blogs don't start with such a statement but I felt it necessary to drive the point home in my head. See, this is probably the fifth or sixth time I've done this blog. Each time, I fall out of habit and stop writing, causing me to return to it later with a nagging feeling in my head about the absence. That feeling usually leads to me deleting it and starting over. That WILL NOT happen again.
Now that that's out of the way, welcome to my blog! As you've probably already guessed from the name, this is a blog about gaming, my greatest passion. Nothing else can bring a smile to my face, fill my body with excitement and enjoyment, and sometimes even move me deeply like a video game can. Having been a gamer since I was about 4 or 5, I've been playing them constantly ever since, my main hobby and my passion.
To be a little more specific, this is a blog for me to practice writing about games. Why would I need to do such a thing, you may ask? Well, there is one job in the world that fills me with envy every time I think about it. In this job, a person gets to play all the games they could want and get to talk about them constantly. Of course, this job is a video game journalist. As a kid, I read gaming magazines religiously and followed every bit of gaming news I could. As I matured, I started to delve deeper into the actual articles, trying to find out what these men and women were really writing about.
I know what you may be thinking. Oh, great, another kid who loves to slack off and play games and wants to do it for a living, getting free stuff while sitting on his ass. I am not that person. I truly understand the challenges (like low pay and no job security) that game journalists must face and none of that bothers me; it still sounds like the perfect job for me.
So I'm here to try and crack that code, the code that determines what makes a video game journalist successful. My name is Justin Davis and I'm a 21 year old college student sitting at home for the summer, trying to determine what major to declare for my third year of college. Nothing in this world inspires more passion from me than video games so I have to at least give this a shot. Hop on for the ride and maybe you and I can find out a few things about the gaming industry we didn't know before!
Sorry about that. I'm sure most blogs don't start with such a statement but I felt it necessary to drive the point home in my head. See, this is probably the fifth or sixth time I've done this blog. Each time, I fall out of habit and stop writing, causing me to return to it later with a nagging feeling in my head about the absence. That feeling usually leads to me deleting it and starting over. That WILL NOT happen again.
Now that that's out of the way, welcome to my blog! As you've probably already guessed from the name, this is a blog about gaming, my greatest passion. Nothing else can bring a smile to my face, fill my body with excitement and enjoyment, and sometimes even move me deeply like a video game can. Having been a gamer since I was about 4 or 5, I've been playing them constantly ever since, my main hobby and my passion.
To be a little more specific, this is a blog for me to practice writing about games. Why would I need to do such a thing, you may ask? Well, there is one job in the world that fills me with envy every time I think about it. In this job, a person gets to play all the games they could want and get to talk about them constantly. Of course, this job is a video game journalist. As a kid, I read gaming magazines religiously and followed every bit of gaming news I could. As I matured, I started to delve deeper into the actual articles, trying to find out what these men and women were really writing about.
I know what you may be thinking. Oh, great, another kid who loves to slack off and play games and wants to do it for a living, getting free stuff while sitting on his ass. I am not that person. I truly understand the challenges (like low pay and no job security) that game journalists must face and none of that bothers me; it still sounds like the perfect job for me.
So I'm here to try and crack that code, the code that determines what makes a video game journalist successful. My name is Justin Davis and I'm a 21 year old college student sitting at home for the summer, trying to determine what major to declare for my third year of college. Nothing in this world inspires more passion from me than video games so I have to at least give this a shot. Hop on for the ride and maybe you and I can find out a few things about the gaming industry we didn't know before!
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