For the next installment of the outstanding series of multiplayer-focused Battlefield games, it seems EA and DICE wanted  to make something different.  While the cell-shaded, cartoony look and 3rd person perspective are what first catch the eye, it’s the “free to play” business model, with revenue gained solely via advertising and microtransactions, that make it truly unique.

Despite what the game’s producers may say, the simple look and approachable gameplay do indeed offer a much more casual-friendly experience.  The incredibly low hardware requirements mean that most computers will be able to run it without a serious upgrade.  Five second spawn times, infinite ammo and limited weapon choice make it quite approachable for any gamer used to the mouse and keyboard.  The downside of this approachable nature is that character class distinction is rather lacking among the game’s three classes.  You seem to have more options in customizing your character’s appearance than actual gameplay abilities, with numerous store-bought clothing and emote options at your disposal.

On the flip side, battles are incredibly fun and frenetic, frequently occurring around the game’s flag capture points.  Death leaves you with just enough time to check your stats and catch your breath.  Before you know it you’re back in on the action, thanks in part to the game’s automatic spawning system that does a decent job sending you back relatively close to the action.  The AI system also does a good job of making sure you aren’t constantly ambushed by spawn campers, like in Battlefield 2 when your side was pushed back to a single capture point.  Vehicles, such as tanks, jeeps and planes, are present on most maps, but their awkward controls and tame firepower make them much less important than in the more realistic Battlefield games of the past.  The game also takes a cue from the Halo series, with automatic matchmaking, based on player skill.  No server lists to navigate and refresh, just quick access to instant action.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: battlefield, beta

The 8-bit video game era of the late 80’s and early 90’s was an important period in gaming.  Where intuitive game design and refined controls were still at very early stages of development.  It was a time of cheat codes, Game Genie, and Nintendo game tip hotlines.  Most of all, it was a time of rose tinted nostalgia.  And although it’s easy to see all the inherent flaws of those games now, it’s hard to forget all the moments of joy they brought.

Retro Game Challenge (or GameCenter CX: Arino’s Challenge, as it’s known in Japan) tries to recapture that magical feeling again by simulating the 1980’s through a series of fictional NES-era (Famicon) games.  By some odd twist of fate, you are sent back in time to 1984 to complete a series of game challenges by a Japanese game show host named Arino.  The time warp changes your character to a younger version of you and Young Arino is also there to offer guidance as your fellow couch buddy.  Each fictional game offers a linear set of 4 distinct challenges ranging from the very easy (beat level 5) to more moderate challenges (score 250,000 points using the same continue).  Arino also periodically buys monthly game magazines, complete with helpful tips and tricks, sneak peaks at upcoming games and release dates, and even phony EGM-style game editors like Dan Sock (Dan Shoe) and Johnny England (John Davidson).

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: DS, retro

The Cinematic or Cutscene. Story devices such as pre-rendered or in-game cutscenes are just about as old as gaming itself.  They control the pacing of a game and can portray important story elements in ways the game may not be fully able to, such as complicated action sequences or emotional set pieces.  They also tend to restrict player involvement, which can be useful when large portions of data are needed to play the next area of the game.  Mission briefings in military FPS or RTS games like Gears of War use these breaks to feed you with objectives and background intel, while enormous amounts of texture data are piped in behind the scenes, keeping the actual downtime to a minimum.

Ridiculously Long Elevator Ride. Although similar in nature to the previously mentioned lengthy hallway, this techique differs slightly in that these more blatant transitions do not usually require any player action whist in the load screen. Portal had many such elevator rides, with one after every puzzle. Some games choose to use this time to also convey some story elements, such as was the case in the Metroid Prime series. Likewise, Mass Effect was famous for it’s incredibly long elevator rides, but also supplemented the trip with relevant radio broadcasts pertaining to some of the player’s more recent endeavors. Another similar technique is the laughably long, door-opening animation, found in early Resident Evil games and many other 3D action titles. The animation for opening a desk drawer or treasure chest could even give the game a split second to process whatever random loot you happen to find in that hidden stash.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: gamedev

Dead Rising (Xbox360)

You, trapped in a mall with thousands of zombies and the freedom to use practically anything as a weapon.  It’s no wonder we haven’t seen this game concept done earlier.  The zombie playground idea could be applied to almost anywhere too. Amusement park, airport, or even a small, open-world town would all be great locales.  Throw in a bunch more interactive objects for creative, new ways to kill the walking dead and you’re all set.  Oh yeah, how about some online co-op, please?

Zack and Wiki (Wii)

It’s the brilliant, Wii, point-and-click adventure that was a critically success, but a retail failure.  Sadly, we probably won’t ever see a sequel any time soon.  Some of the later puzzles were down right diabolical, but when you finally did figure it out, that “eureka” moment was pure magic.  The cute, lovable animations, the multiple solutions, and the clever use of items and enemies all worked to create an experience that could only be compared to the days of playing an old-school, LucasArts adventure game.  More of the same is all I ask.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: DS, pcgaming, ps3, PSP, wii, xbox360

The gamble that Bethesda made in acquiring the rights from Interplay seems to be paying off. The fanatical outcry from the incredibly vocal Fallout fans has died down. The game is finally out and available for the masses to judge for themselves. And yet, as I log yet another hour in this wonderfully crafted, post-apocalyptic vision of Washington D.C., heading into the credits of my second playthrough, it’s apparent that the game lives up to every bit of the hype and then some.

Destroyed Beauty

There’s just something about the meticulous attention to detail of Fallout 3, how the environment was lovingly created and just as lovingly destroyed, that gives it that personality that is so rare to find in games. The Fallout series has always had a brilliant art style, mixing old 1950’s-inspired culture with the futuristic technology of tomorrow. With Fallout 3, Bethesda truly outdid themselves by presenting a world of hauntingly beautiful structures that spell a cautionary tale of nuclear war at every turn. Every corner of the game’s world is enriched in amazing little touches; torn-down walls, pieced together suits of armor made of shopping carts and old tires, tons of humorous, fake products and advertisements. There are even a handful of in-game radio station broadcasts with a wonderful selection of music from the ’40s and ’50s that help in immersing you in the alternate-history dystopia that the series is known for.

The characters themselves offer an incredibly rich selection of voice-acted dialog, whether or not you recognize the Liam Neesons or Malcolm McDonalds of the bunch. And just like Oblivion, there are naturally some repeats here and there (for example, three ghouls outside a vault all had the same exact voice and slightly different thing to say), but it’s never quite as noticeable, possibly due to the smaller amount of settlements and survivors that the Fallout setting lends itself to.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bethesda, pcgaming, ps3, xbox360

Sleepy Gamer is thankful for.. bite-sized game experiences.

I love the occasional 50-60 hour RPG experience as much as the next guy, but sometimes it’s nice to just sit down and play a game for 5-10 minutes.  Thankfully, there are a host of games that are just perfect for that situation.  Geometry Wars 2, Pac-man C.E., and Pixel Junk Eden all possess great “pick up & play” appeal.  Smaller, casual games also provide another great benefit.  They’re great “wind you down” games for that last bit of gaming at the end of the day, or even right before bed.  Nothing like a 2-hour Peggle session when you can’t sleep at 3 in the morning.

Sleepy Gamer is thankful for.. save anywhere.

You weren’t always able to save your game at anytime in console games.  True, some games still stick to the antiquated concept of the artificially increased challenge that rigid save points bring, but the vast majority have moved past this.  Now we’re free to save our game every five steps and abuse quick save/load to our heart’s content.  Ridiculously long dungeons are finally a thing of the past.  Now you’re playing with power.. and it doesn’t involve holding the reset button while turning off the power.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: co-op, netflix

Be sure to check out Part I for the Wii and PS3 breakdowns.

Xbox 360

None of the current consoles have fragmented the consumer experience more than the Xbox 360.  One could argue that the tiered offering of the of Xbox 360 line of consoles was designed to appeal to a broad range of gamers, from the very casual to the hardest of hardcore.  Unfortunately, most of the omitted features in the lower end models tend to be components you’ll regret buying piecemeal at a later date.  To make things a bit clearer, the Xbox 360 breakdown will be done in two separate parts, based on what Xbox 360 model you “jump in” with.

First things first, let’s get the common stuff out of the way.  Every Xbox 360 system comes with one wireless controller, and supports up to a maximum of 4 controllers at a once.  Each additional wireless controller costs $50, or if you prefer (although I’m not sure why anyone would want to), $40 for wired controllers that plug in via the USB ports.  Like the Wii’s wiimotes, the wireless gamepads also require either a steady supply of AA batteries or you could spring for a set of rechargeable battery packs made specifically for the controllers themselves.  The battery packs can cost as much as $15 a piece, and the charger itself can be bought as a USB “Plug & Play” cord for $20, or as an AC adapter plug-in “Quick Charge Kit” that comes with one battery pack and charges 2 rechargeable packs at once, all for $30.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ps3, wii, xbox360

Sure, there are plenty more expensive hobbies out there to spend your hard earned cash on, but the cost of gaming can get pretty daunting if you’re not too careful.  With any big electronic purchase, it’s best to know how much of a dent to your pocket book it will all be with all the hidden fees and additional purchases added in.  This guide will try to give you an idea of which buys are absolutely necessary, which ones are nice-to-haves, and what you should avoid like the plague.  And for simplicity’s sake, let’s just round all prices up to the nearest dollar.

First things first, you’ll need a television.  Yeah, I know, everyone’s got a TV, but if you’d like to game on a nice big screen and don’t yet have one, you should probably factor that cost into your budget.  If you’re interesting in a high def set, check out our HDTV buyer’s guide, otherwise, any regular TV will do.  Just be aware that most 360 and PS3 games were made with higher resolutions in mind, and in some cases, the text is displayed using extremely tiny font sizes that don’t show up very well on SDTVs.  Okay, now onto the consoles..

Nintendo Wii

The Wii offers the most basic retail configuration out of the three consoles.. one box and one box only.  For $250, you get the Wii game system, one wiimote controller, one nun-chuk controller add-on, and one game, Wii Sports.  However, if you want to invite your friends over to play, you’ll need extra controllers ($40 each) and possibly extra nun-chuks ($20 each).  You might only need to buy one extra nun-chuk though, since most games don’t require the analog stick.  Otherwise, buying a full set of three additional controllers will cost you $180 more.  You might be tempted to buy a copy of the game Wii Play, since it nets you an extra wiimote, but unless you have really young children, I’d say pass.  Wii Play costs $50, same as any other game, so you’re really just buying a $40 wiimote and getting a mediocre minigame collection for $10 more.  Also, if you plan on buying any old Nintendo games on Virtual Console, you should pick up at least one Classic Controller ($20).  And if you decide to use the Wii’s backwards compatibility and play any Nintendo Gamecube games, you’ll need a Gamecube controller (I suggest the wireless Wavebird for $25) and a memory card (around $10), both of which aren’t sold at retail anymore, but are plentiful online at Amazon and eBay.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ps3, wii

- “Yes we can has change!” Obama ads show up in video games.. You heard right, Barrack “That One” Obama has taken the first leap by a presidential candidate and bought ad space in a video game.  Make that nine games, published by EA, from Burnout Paradise to their Madden ‘09 roster update.. err cash cow.

- Nintendo dominates NPD sales once again. In other news, ice is cold and paper cuts hurt.. No big surprise here.  The Wii dominated with an outrageous 687,000 units in the month of September, easily outselling both the 360 and PS3 combined.  The recent price drop that put Microsoft’s box as the same price as the Wii ($250) clearly gave the 360 a bump to beat out the PS3, but that race is more of a 2nd place affair between Microsoft and Sony.

- Xbox 360 Memory upgrade program makes HDD-less Core and Arcade owners less screwed.. By registering your console ID at this MS site, you can apply for either a free 512MB memory card or pay only $19.99 (rather than the usual $100) to upgrade to a 20GB HDD.  Even that might not be enough HDD space once you start installing console games like PC games this Fall.

- Valve’s Half-Life 2 Episode 3 continues to define episodic gaming as every 2 to 3 years.. Those of you eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Valve’s Half-Life saga will have to wait a bit longer.  Seems Left 4 Dead and TF2 have delayed the episodic trilogy’s conclusion.  You can also expect a more signficant play experience to come from Episode 3.  Here’s to hoping we’ll see something new before year’s end.

- Bioshock 2 sequel/prequel teaser shows off cutest Big Daddy ever.. Not much is yet known about the follow to the breakout-hit, objectivist, uptopian, FPS, critical darling of last year.  Seems it will be both sequel and prequel.  Whether that means it will contain flashbacks or some totally off-the-wall story telling device remains to be seen.

- PSP 5.00 update brings long awaited online store. Take that DSi.. The latest firmware update makes the PSP online store more accessible (see iPhone store) by no longer requiring you to be tethered to your PS3 or PC.  Also, the new PS3 2.50 update grants the gift of hulu.com video streaming, so you can enjoy the latest episodes of The Office on your couch, not hunched over a computer monitor.

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: hl2, npd, ps3, PSP, wii, xbox360

Those interested in getting Rock Band 2 will inevitably fall into one of two camps: those who already own the Rock Band 1 bundle, and the rest who have yet to hop on the bus and join the tour.  For the latter group, the improved instruments and huge selection of songs make the choice a relatively easy one for anyone even remotely interested in an incredibly fun, party-accessible, music rhythm game.  But we don’t live in a vacuum and this isn’t exactly the first game in the series.  So, is Rock Band 2 worth your $60 to upgrade to this year’s model?

The Patch Upgrades.. I Mean New Features

While the first game was the biggest leap forward in the music game genre since the original Guitar Hero, it was also missing a couple key features.  One of them was the in-game music store, which was patched in early this year free of charge.  Unfortunately, the online and single-player band world tour modes, cost the price of admission.  Many of the improvements make Rock Band 2 feel more like a patch upgrade than a full fledged sequel.  This seems to be the current direction most game franchises are heading, so I’m afraid we’ll probably have to start getting used to it.  Despite all this, everything Harmonix has added makes the game a whole lot better experience overall.

From the UI improvements, namely adding difficulty ratings on songs for each instrument component.  To the improved character customization options and loosened restrictions on using which band members.  To an incredibly diverse song list that crosses through genres and music eras with surprising choices.  To the brilliant inclusion of a drum trainer, complete with actual drum fills for those overdrive (ie: star power) activation moments.  Even the new Battle of the Bands mode provides a host of unique daily challenges that keep you coming back week after week.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ps2, ps3, rockband, wii, xbox360

Starcraft II will become a trilogy of games.. Due to a ridiculously ambitious (note: over budget) single-player campaign, the RTS sequel will be released as three separate products, with an epic campaign for each race, complete with adventure gameplay, RPG elements, and a bit of Guitar Hero throw in for good measure.  I think we can all assume that both new expansions will also offer slight multi-player tweaks to each set of units and tech trees, just as all Blizzard expansions have in the past.  Although, it is a little disappointing that we won’t be seeing much of the Zerg and Protoss space opera until those secondary games come out.  The pricing and release schedule will be very telling as for how much of that evil Activision DNA has seeped into the Blizzard house, post merger.

New Diablo III class, the “Wizard”, is the only bombshell announced during the Blizzcon opening ceremony.. Following in the footsteps of other recent Asian game characters, such as that chick from Portal or that other chick from Mirror’s Edge, the third D3 class gives the Sorceress a fresh new look.  From my playthrough at Blizzcon, it’s definitely shaping up to be a lot of fun for all you power-hungry, mana-burning lovers out there.  Did I mention, you get the spell “Magic Missle”?

Microsoft announces New Xbox Experience (NXE) will launch Nov 19th.. For those scratching their head, that would be the “oh so clever” MS branding for the new Xbox360 Fall Update.  Among the new features are a totally redesigned user interface (think coverflow), cute player avatars (think Xbox Miis), party system (think PSN Home), and Netflix integration (yay, something sort of original!).  Too bad those Xbox360 “Arcade” owners will need at least 128MB of memory card space to enjoy those new features.

The upcoming Resident Evil: Degeneration CG-movie was screened at the Toyko Game Show (TGS).. Unlike the previous, live-action, Milla Jovovich-starring films, this new film promises to be 100% canon to the game series and actually works to link the Umbrella Corp storyline from the first three games with the upcoming RE5 game.  Good for long-time fans of the survival horror series and great for catching up newcomers in need of some backstory.  So yeah, this won’t be another Final Fantasy: Spirits Within..

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blizzcon, diablo3, starcraft2, xbox360

It wasn’t too long ago that game exclusivity was king among “third party” blockbusters like Final Fantasy and Guitar Hero.  When games were only released on one system and one system alone.  However, with this console generation having no clear cut leader to shoulder the burden of millions of sales, like it was during the Playstation 2 era, the ideas of exclusivity are beginning to change.  But why move away from single platform exclusivity when it’s obviously much easier to develop for one system?  The sad truth is that game development costs are a lot higher now than they were a few years ago.  The move to HD graphics means much more detailed art assets are required and production quality expectations are at an all time high.  Just like the movie business, video games are turning into a big budget, blockbuster-obsessed industry.  So game publishers are finding little reason to stick to one platform when they could be selling to a much wider audience.

The concept of exclusivity is not altogether dead yet.  Although not an entirely new idea, timed exclusivity is one way Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are continuing to compete for dominance in the continuing console war.  Traditionally, when a game receives a timed exclusivity window of a year or more, sales are generally skewed heavily toward the first version of the game, since all the buzz and anticipation will have worn off by the time the ported game comes out.  After all, the Grand Theft Auto series became a timed exclusive for the PS2, which later appeared on both the PC and Xbox.  The same could be said for Resident Evil 4, which first debuted on Nintendo’s Gamecube and was later ported to PS2.  Today, the timed exclusive has all but replaced the “third party” exclusive.  Bioshock and Eternal Sonata were both timed exclusives for the Xbox360 and Unreal Tournament III was temporarily a PS3-only game.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ps2, ps3, xbox360

The successor to the ever popular Nintendo DS handheld, the DSi, is revealed.. Among some of the new features, the DSi boasts larger screens, an even slimmer form factor, standard web browser, 2 built-in 0.3 megapixel cameras (one aimed outward in front, one inside aimed at the user), and an SD memory card slot.  Also, be prepared to start downloading DS games from a new, online, portable store.  But if you live outside Japan, don’t expect to get your hands on one before 2009.

Flurry of announced Nintendo games, including a new Punch-Out!.. The new DS revision wasn’t the only news to come out of the recent Nintendo conference.  Other announced titles include Sin and Punishment 2, Fire Emblem DS, and Mario and Luigi RPG 3.  Also, get ready for even more Gamecube Wii-makes, namely Metroid Primes 1 & 2, Mario Tennis, Donkey Kong Jungle Beat, and Pikmin.

Those pesky Wii HD rumors just won’t go away.. Seems the latest sources predict the next Nintendo console to launch sometime in 2011 and offer a more significant leap in hardware than the jump from Gamecube to Wii.  Yet to be seen is whether or not the new system will iterate on the “making you look ridiculous while playing” novelty that made the Wii such a truly unique experience.

PlayOn Beta for PS3 and Xbox360 gives the gift of Netflix, Hulu and other online video streaming.. Why wait for Netflix streaming in the upcoming Xbox360 dashboard update when you can do all that and more with PlayOn.  Sign up for the beta now!

Take-Two decides to remain independent after the failed EA hostile takeover attempt.. The mid-sized publisher behind such game series’ as Grand Theft Auto and the 2K line of sports titles avoids the consolidation that has become almost routine in the industry.

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dsi, netflix, nintendo, wii

It’s no big secret that Will Wright’s next endeavor would be an incredibly ambitious project.  The game, which has won countless trade show awards over the past several years, was aptly called “Sim Everything” for a reason.

Creature Creator.. A Game In Itself

While you don’t immediately start off creating your creature, it’s an activity you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again, throughout your playthrough.  The software tool is easy enough to use for most novice players.  Adding body parts is as simple as clicking and dragging body parts to wherever your twisted mind wants them.  Each added part has several sliders to adjust orientation, size, and length, while the main body can be molded like clay to become longer or shorter, fatter or skinnier.  The only restrictions come in form of forced symmetry by the editor.  Regardless, the sheer amount of user-generated creatures that have already been made is a testament to the power, ease, and usability of the tool.  It should be noted that a free, standalone version of the Spore Creature Creator is available for anyone to try.  You won’t be able to test out your creation in-game, but you can tinker with the tool and get a small taste of what the creative aspect of Spore is all about.

5 Games In 1

Spore is divided into five evolutionary stages (Cell, Creature, Tribal, Civilization, and Space), based on mostly distinct gameplay types.  You advance through the game either by spending a predetermined amount of time in the current stage or by filling up an experience bar at the bottom of the screen, although each stage has its own way of awarding experience points (XP).

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: pcgaming, spore

Bungie countdown brings a cryptic trailer and possibly more Halo 3 content.. There is no doubt that this is the trailer Microsoft pulled from their E3 press conference, to make way for an even bigger announcement.  Looks like Bungie is teasing a new Halo 3 campaign expansion of some sort.  However, I’d love to see more updates like the recent title update to multiplayer though.

Early Mirror’s Edge tech demo is amazing.. The proof of concept that DICE brought to show EA is definitely an incredible showpiece for the first-person, platforming game.

It’s not even out yet and Little Big Planet is already remaking the classics.. First Mario, and now Tetris gets the LBP treatment, according to this video.  I’m glad these are being made, but hopefully the community downloads page won’t be overloaded with old sidescrolling remakes.

In addition to Halo Wars, Ensemble was also working on a now-canceled Halo MMO.. Throw this in with the prototyped Halo DS game as something you won’t likely see any time soon.

Wanna calibrate Rock Band’s audio/video setup the old fashioned way? This video shows how manually, without using the in-game tool or the fancy new instrument sensors.

Be careful of Sony’s restrictive PS3 video DRM.. Seems like you can copy purchased or rented movies off the PS3 store just fine.  But should you happen to delete a movie to make room on your hard drive, just be prepared to call up tech support for a one-time re-download.  At least with Spore’s DRM, EA is always happy to give you an activation reset.

WoW + Bejeweled = Farewell to any hope of sleep or rest.. Yeah, that’s right.  You can now play Bejeweled while waiting to group in World of Warcraft.  Good luck ever leaving your PC desk.

Play Fallout 1 for free, right freaking now.. GameTap is offering up the free download, so what are you waiting for?  Prepare for Fallout 3.

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: fallout, halo, lbp, mirrorsedge, ps3, rockband, wow

Apparently, everyone on the Internet hates Spore’s DRM.. First the anti-DRM fanatics bombed the Amazon review average.  Then they made Spore creatures.  EA responded with some changes, but more were needed.

Updated Fallout 3 site totally worth your time.. Bethesda officially launched the site with a bevy of ’50s era propaganda videos, subtly followed by relevant interactive content for each one.  Each button is a different video, so try them all out.  What does your “G.O.A.T.” psychological profile say about you?

Rock out with your friends, but don’t forget the code.. Just like any good party game (cough.. Super Smash Bros Brawl), you’re required to spend tons of hours unlocking things before the fun can begin.  Unless you use this temporary unlock code: Red, Yellow, Blue, Red, Red, Blue, Blue, Red, Yellow, Blue.  Have fun with these codes as well!

What’s better than yearly Guitar Hero games?  Try triple that amount.. Does that mean Activision big wigs also get triple the gold toilets.

Peggle Nights is out. Play it! Popcap should really be regulated by the FDA, because Peggle Nights is just as addictive as the first game.

Farewell to Jeff Green, former CGW/GFW editor-in-chief.. And farewell to the GFW Radio podcast, one of my weekly mainstays and always an enjoyable listen.

Oh and the next expansion to a little game called WoW is coming Nov 13th.. If you have any loved ones who play WoW, make the most of your time with them now.

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: fallout, rockband, spore, weekendbytes, wow

Nintendo redefined what was traditionally thought to be the video game console life cycle with the Wii. They focused on getting a fun and affordable system into people’s houses, with the concept of “play, not graphics” being the primary driving force. In doing so, they were able to jump forward into the console life cycle at the point in which mass market acceptance becomes high and barriers to entry are low. Everyone became an early adopter of the Wii; hardcore gamers, families, young professionals, middle aged couples, and everyone in between.

One side effect of this swift change has been the reduction in quantity of game releases aimed squarely at the hardcore gamer. While Nintendo initially did an excellent job releasing their stable of beloved franchises (Mario, Zelda, Smash Bros, Mart Kart), since then we’ve seen a considerable decline in the amount of notable core game releases from Nintendo. E3 was a prime example of this, as Nintendo failed to deliver the excitement and promise of new games to get the hardcore excited. They did, however, acknowledge that these titles were being worked on. Recently, there was an article in Edge magazine about how Nintendo would have these core titles ready in approximately 2 to 3 years. But if the Wii software cycle started off toward the middle of what we’ve come to know of the conventional product cycle, does this mean we should expect these games on the next Nintendo console instead?

The rumors and speculation about an major upcoming Wii redesign are actually very plausible. Nintendo could still draw upon the incredibly popular Wii branding, perhaps naming the next console “Nintendo Wii Plus” or “Wii HD”, to keep the strong mainstream mind share alive. And just like the jump from Gamecube to Wii wasn’t a monumental jump forward in graphics, this redesign could continue this tradition, using multicore technology and the Bluray format, at a point when such hardware is much cheaper. It could easily include hardware-based backwards compatibility with all the existing Wii software and maybe even support the current controllers and peripherals as well.

Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: microsoft, nintendo, sony, wii

While PC gaming has enjoyed smaller downloadable games for just about as long as the Internet has been around, the console space has only just begun to embrace this concept.  The incredible ease of obtaining digitally distributed content along with the rising cost of game development for AAA titles has carved out a nice niche for independent developers to showcase their wares.

Sony has proved that downloadable games can offer large, retail game-sized experiences (see Warhawk , GT 5 Prologue and the upcoming Ratchet & Clank: Quest For Booty), however, the space is primarily inhabited by more casual “pick up and play” games.  Titles like Geometry Wars Retro Evolved or Super Stardust HD are extremely addictive twin stick shooter gems, but they’re also great games to play for 10 to 15 mins, while you wait for your buddy to join you online.  In a way, they’re really more like palette cleansers that can be loaded up quickly while you’re in between game sessions.  These games also don’t require individual discs, which means you can turn on your console and then decide what you want to play, possibly after you’re glanced at your friend’s list.  And since they tend to be smaller, less complicated games, you’re more apt to find a local multiplayer game everyone can join in on.  Rather than entice your friends to come over and play Halo 3 or Madden, you can boot up N+ or Calling All Cars! to bring out some good old fashioned couch rivalries.

Creating these smaller bite-sized games also means you can charge less and still turn a decent profit because the development times are drastically lower.  Independent development studios like thatgamecompany or NinjaBee would have probably never existed or at least might not have been as successful had it not been for the smaller canvas and digital distribution.  Rather than deal with one of the incredibly massive multi-national publishers, Xbox Live Arcade, Playstaion Network, and Wiiware, offer direct channels for consumers to buy their products.  Since a lower cost of development means lower investment risk, developers are given more freedom to innovate.  The single-man production of Everyday Shooter is a great example of a game that seems unlikely to have ever existed on a console 5 years ago.  Such is the potential for this brand new medium.
Read more »

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: psn, wiiware, xbla

© garret for Sleepy Gamer, 2008. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blog