The Future

E3 has now come and gone and everyone got what they were waiting for it seems in deciding what was going to happen with the future of console gaming, and after all of that I am decidedly pro-Sony. Microsoft continued to shoot themselves in the foot over the last number of weeks with news coming out about having to be always online and it has continued to go downhill from there. My biggest problem then is that their policies are so incredibly anti-consumer that it has continued to leave a bad taste in my mouth, even just thinking about it. For a company set in a democratic, pro-capitalist market you would think that their restrictions would have led to second thoughts but apparently not. Microsoft is going to do what they want to do and what they think is good for business, but not for the average gamer. I am sure there are the hardcore Xbox fans that love their Xbox Live, their Gamerscore and all that lays in the ecosphere that Microsoft has fostered, but I for one am a fan of being able to lend and trade in the games that I own, and to not have such severe restrictions placed on how my gaming console should work. The always online (or at the least check-in every 24 hours) is still so incredibly ludicrous it is mind-blowing. There are so many places in the world where gamers don't have solid internet connections, and that Microsoft's statement regarding those with lack of Internet to stick with an Xbox 360, well that's just insane.

Also, don't forget about Microsoft being named in the whole PRISM scandal.

This isn't to say that Sony isn't the greatest, most perfect corporation in the world. But how they've leveraged themselves with a cheaper system, one that allows the trading of games and re-selling of them, and how aggressive they have been with indie developers makes me like them all the more. That being said I've pre-ordered my PS4 and will probably pick up Knack, inFamous and Destiny off the bat. Excited about the future of gaming though and for the PS4 and especially how it will tie into using the Vita.

Lastly, I am very excited about the new games for the WiiU. I've felt it's been a little neglected, as has everyone, but with Game & Wario coming in a week, followed by Pikmin 3 and Wonderful 101, Sonic, Wind Waker HD, Donkey Kong and Mario 3D World there's going to be tons to play. I feel next year however the WiiU will really take off, after Mario Kart and Smash Bros come out. Nintendo will do their own thing and some developers will make some exclusives, but for the most part Nintendo will just keep doing their own thing.

So, what is everyone else excited for? What have you pre-ordered?

Art of Videogames Review

This past weekend I had the chance to check out the EMP for the first time in a little while, but especially as there are currently a handful of nerdy exhibits on, one on horror movies, one for fantasy and one for videogames. This was what I was especially excited for, and while it was a bit underwhelming compared to the other two, it still was informative and nice to have a refresher course in the history of the medium.

On the main level sits the room that the Art of Videogames resides in and as you walk in you are inundated with some familiar sounds, specifically from Pac-Man and Mario Bros. They have a timeline set up along the wall and it goes from pre-Atari games up till todays current console and includes a few of my favorites, specifically the Commodore 64. That "computer" holds a special place in my heart as the first gaming system that we had, and I played a lot of Pac-Man, Impossible Mission and Montezuma's Revenge on that little guy. Funny story, I had my C64 monitor for years and used it with my PSone and PS2 until it finally died as it had such a crisp picture, compared to a regular old tube tv that is.

For each of the consoles they had chosen four games; action, adventure, strategy and shooter. For each of those there was a blown up gorgeous screen shot giclee print and some of them looked fantastic, especially the 8 bit ones for things like Zelda and Wonder Boy. As well you could listen to some great info on each game and watch clips of the games. There as well were some videos going on with interviews with game industry vets like Warren Spector talking about games and a fair amount of original concept art, and even the infamous Halo 2600 cartridge.

Centered in the room were kiosks essentially with some of the greats including Mario Bros, Myst, Pac-Man, Monkey Island and Flower that you could play for a bit. Definitely felt great to use the old NES pad and jump on some koopas. All in all there was a great amount of history presented and cases made for some of the finest games of all time and to whether or not they are art and some great information to non-gamers to let them know of the full history of the medium. It was still a little small I thought, especially as compared to the Fantasy and Horror exhibits going on but it was still worthwhile to check out and hopefully helped to inform those who don't know too much about the industry about how creative and wonderful it can be.

Also, the choice for Mass Effect 2 for the 360 was spot on.

The EMP and the Art of Video Games

A lot of people like to argue about whether or not video games are art or can be art? While I feel that they can be for sure I am excited to hit up the Experience Music Project this weekend and check out the Art of Videogames exhibit that has been going on there. I've read some favourable things about it, about the selection of the games that they've picked and the bits of history behind some of everyone's favorites like Mario, Zelda, Pitfall, Monkey Island and dozens more and overall it seems like it will definitely be something worth seeing. I quite enjoy behind the scenes looks at games and with plenty of conceptual works and interviews with developers and creators I feel like this is something that a gamer can't afford to miss. Here is a link to the EMP's site for the exhibit and I'll write more after the weekend as to how it was.

As for currently what I have been playing, I gave Monaco a try on Steam and I highly recommend getting it on there, or get it on XBLA whenever the patches are done and the game is released. It's an action packed top down bit of pixel heaven that's like a number of games but it's very own beast at the same time. As well after beating inFamous I am now on Uncharted and have been enjoying it. I do have a bit of a problem with how cheery Nathan Drake is for the amount of guys that I have slaughtered, but I digress, it's a great game with a great story so far.

The Future Is Near

It was just announced that the new XBOX reveal would happen on May 21, and be broadcast on Spike as well as on XBL and such. This is definitely welcome news as I'm interested to see what the new XBOX is going to be like. With the Wii U out now and faltering a little due to lack of games and support from Nintendo and other developers alike, and Sony's PS4 already revealed people are definitely clamoring for whatever news they can get from Microsoft. But already the rumors of always online and installing games directly to the system have left people wary, myself included, so it will be interesting to see what they have to show.

As for me personally, I'm definitely curious but at the same time I feel like the new XBOX won't be for me. As I have recently been trying to steer away from most M rated games thanks to having a new son, the titles on the 360 in general appeal less and less to me. Having a chance to finally catch up on PS3 titles on the other hand has been great. Titles like Journey, inFamous, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, Ico and even the Jak & Daxter games have been great to have. I got a Wii U because I love Nintendo games and want my son to play them too. Nintendo will continue to do their own little thing, receive some support but if you have a Wii U you'll probably need one of the other consoles. With the promise of next-gen iterations of inFamous, Uncharted and hopefully Last Guardian I am pretty sure that it'll be a PS4 for me.

But, we will see.

What is everyone else going to go for?

Fire Emblem - GOTY 2013 So Far...

I know that it's still early in the year and there's still plenty of great games coming out and new consoles coming out this year, but nothing has eaten up my time more and engaged me more than Fire Emblem: Awakening for the 3DS. After about 25 hours I'm still just passed half way through the game and am still grinding levels like crazy. I know that that's not an impressive amount of hours but considering I just get that gaming in on the go it's definitely occupied much of my gaming time.

The story has been fantastic, the characters great, and the rock, paper, scissors style of combat is still as fantastic as it has ever been. If you have a 3DS and you don't have this game, what's wrong with you? And if you love strategy RPG's and don't have a 3DS, definitely just go out and get one and get this game. Too good. Full review still to come.

Rebuilding a Collection

I have a fair amount of games but I have decided that really the focus of what I have and should be acquiring is games that I want my son to play, for him to have the experiences I had growing up and for him to be playing the best of the best. Part of the reason of getting a Wii U was because I love Nintendo's games and I want for him to get to play as many Nintendo games as he can. He's still a tiny guy and it's a ways off but when he grows to be a slightly bigger nerd we will have some pretty awesome gaming experiences to try out.

Lately I've been thinking about the old Playstation and Playstation 2 with the recent announcement of the PS4 and I sadly got rid of some of the best games when I moved to the coast and now feel like I need to get some of the best ones back to have on hand for when my son is old enough to play them. I know you can have a Playstation 3 and get HD collections or get the games on the digital storefront but I want to have the games in all their packaging glory. Games like Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Bushido Blade, Crash Team Racing, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, and so forth. Excited to have a little nerd on hand.

Borderlands 2

Thanks to a good friend of mine and his stream (which you can find here) I won myself a copy of Gearbox Softwares Borderlands 2 and have finally sunk some time into one of last years best games.

Yes indeed it is one of the best games of last year, and one of the best I have played in some time.

Starting up I made myself a Commando and hopped into the world of Pandora and just like the first one, the cel shaded visual style did not disappoint. This time around though the crispness is even sharper and the creature designs are superb. I have only played through for a number of hours now and know I have barely scratched the surface of the shooting and looting and am excited for more of it. As well I will write more after I play online and couch co-op with my brothers and friends in the near future.

Thus far though Borderlands 2 has been a superb shooter and something that is far more interesting to myself than most of the other fps games out there. If you haven't played this, then pick it up for sure, and if you have what do you think?

Postscript. Fire Emblem for the 3DS comes out this weekend, expect some more talk about that one soon enough.