March 2012
58 posts
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The Problem with Android →
Marsh Davies of Eurogamers notes concerns noted by readers noting an overall lack of content related to Android gaming, I note. To answer that, Davies comments that the iPhone is “really pretty cool”. Oh, and that there are less games and of an overall lesser quality available, for reasons beyond developer control. One developer comments:
“I don’t know how many new...
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On Fake Geek Girls. "Fake" →
Forbes and others have recently had commentary on “fake” geek girls, which drew the ire of real geek girls. “Real”? No, just real. My favourite response comes from Susana Polo, who writes:
Because that’s what the idea of the “fake geek girl” is all about, right? “Oh, she’s just doing that for the attention.” Which, by the way, is also a thing said when women claim they’ve...
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Could Scratch Be the Key to Maintaining Canada's... →
Ryan Creighton, big boss man of Untold Entertainment, is worried that Canada isn’t doing enough to maintain its position as the third largest producer of videogames (and what glorious games we produce, if you don’t mind the endings).
For Creighton, the concern isn’t in tax breaks, which have bolstered production in Canada, but rather, the next generation. Training kids in...
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Journalism and newsroom management →
Crecente knows a thing or two about “real”, nose to the dirt journalism, which he explicates in his article. Making the jump from that to covering electronic entertainment is a weird process, but others, such as Steve Tilley, have done just that. All the same, this is a must read for aspiring games writers. It’s philosophy. And it’s good for you.
In informing any...
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Slowpoke & Me -- A Strange Tale of Friendship and... →
This has been making the rounds on Twitter, and for good reason. Scott Benson, an artist, examines his imaginary friend—as a high school senior and beyond—and the effects it had on him. Here’s just a taste:
When I was 19 I dated a great girl who sent me care packages from her college in NJ. She mailed me a box with some fancy ready-to-cook rice, a volume of Kurt Vonnegut’s...
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XCOM: Enemy Unknown Preview: A True X-COM Sequel? →
Alec Meer’s preview of XCOM is brilliant. It’s mostly brilliant because Meer is writing as an X-COM fan first and foremost. As a preview, it targets an audience and goes for the gusto. What it accomplishes, though, is sucking the unfamiliar reader in, explaining fan expectations, and then delivering the goods. Too. It does that too, you see.
Purists are more likely to be irked by the...
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Home, memory, and the music of Earthbound →
I’ve really been going gung-ho over anecdotal pieces lately, particularly where they relate to families. Shameless self promotion time: I recently wrote one. To see my friend Layton Shumway write a similar anecdote, in which he, too, gloats about being an uncle was kind of surreal. I got over that sensation in a hurry, though:
As I played with my niece and nephew, I thought back to my own...
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Tom Chick on Reviewing Games and Stuff →
Tom Chick’s review of Journey created quite a stir. Having given the game “two stars” of a possible five, many perceived Chick to be beating up on the indie darling. They let him know, in kind. As a result, he posted a somewhat funny but strictly serious FAQ dealing with his review. An excerpt follows:
As long as I’m not misrepresenting myself or my perspective, as long as I...
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“As we get closer and closer to true photorealism in games, we may be entering a...”
– Orland, Kyle. “Does it matter if the Wii U has only “current generation” hardware power?” (Ars Technica: March 26, 2012) <http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2012/03/does-it-matter-if-the-wii-u-only-has-current-generation-hardware-power.ars>.
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The Art of Videogames Galore
You say videogames are art, yes? Well, this post is for you then, as the Smithsonian agrees (though not everyone does). Three updates, one post, just for you.
With The Smithsonian’s new exhibit about games, I’ve seen lots of praise aimed their way. Pixels or Death is a bit more cautious in their assessment:
If one cannot truly experience games as an art form without playing them,...
Announcement: Slow Updates This Week
Hi, all.
Sorry for being quiet. This week and last came out of the blue and struck me down hard. As such, the site hasn’t been updated with the regularity I’d like it to have been.
Through this Sunday, it will be quiet. Every now and then, however, there will be an explosion of content. That can only happen if you submit, though! Use the button on the side or send me a message...
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Future Proof: HTML5, Native Client and the Battle... →
I’ve been following HTML5’s growth for some time — I’m quite optimistic about it. Matthew Handrahan explains why in his opening:
In that respect, the promise of HTML5 is a sort of Holy Grail: game experiences once only available through native apps and plug-ins, now achievable seamlessly through the browser on any device that can support one - mobile, PC, tablet, smart...
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Split Screen: Getting touch controls right →
It’s nice to see a mainstream outlet shedding light on a number of great indie releases on the iOS platform. James Dominguez’s focus is on the evolution of on-screen joysticks (etc.) — the bane of my existence! — and how more recent releases forgo those annoyances. Dead Space 2, Fruit Ninja, Age of Zombies, and Waking Mars are all examples of progression cited.
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Kids and video games: Why children should play... →
For me, gaming has always been something the whole family has been involved in. I learned at a young age to moderate my time with games and television and offset it with other activities. Scott Steinberg’s article implores responsible gaming and more — like kids playing more games. Hmm.
Thanks Kelly!
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Mirror's Edge: Building the Impossible →
Edge pretty much defines long-form in this industry — has it always been that way? — and I admire them for it. As an examination of Mirror’s Edge, this is an OK piece. As an in depth analysis on what goes into making a game, however, this is exceptional writing and interviewing:
The worst you can say aboutMirror’s Edgeis that it’s simply not very good, or that it’s simply...
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How To Handle Nitwits on Xbox Live →
Dan Amrich’s editorial on dealing with “nitwits” is suited to all kinds of online play. As a harbinger of changing discourse in gaming, Dan’s best advice goes beyond just online play, and into just being a rad dude:
No matter how strongly you feel about it, you can’t enforce etiquette. You can only set an example of what to do rather than what not to do. And what I really...
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The art of sound: Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka... →
While we’re discussing music, Denby’s interview with Akira Yamaoka is a good addition to the discussion. I may or may not be saying that because I’m obsessed with Sine Mora…all the same, an interesting read:
For Yamaoka, successful sound design and music are about an artist’s ability to communicate feeling to the player. “It’s more sort of what the music tries to say,...
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Mass Effect 3's Musical Secret →
Kirk Hamilton’s analysis of the opening score in Mass Effect the first and its re-emergence in the third is an interesting one. At times, it’s merely bit playing in the background; those times, he argues, are where it has the most punch. The tune is an anchor to the past as well as a propeller into future conflict. Give it a read.
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“What makes the multiplayer so enjoyable is the satisfaction of seeing your...”
– Amirkhani, Justin. “Kid Icarus: Uprising Review” (GameShark: March 21, 2012) <http://www.gameshark.com/reviews/4005/p_0/Kid-Icarus-Uprising-Review.htm>.
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The House That God of War Built: Sony Santa Monica →
Simon Parkin has sparked a trend in which game developers and journos come together to take a close at a specific studio. In this case, it isn’t one that’s seen as a shell of its former self, so Colin is adding his own twist. This is another great look at a studio many adore.
Sony didn’t appear to understand how integral to PS2’s success God of War would become. “I...
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The Best Stories You Can't Read →
I thoroughly enjoyed the comparison in this piece between videogames and amusement park rides. We don’t really think about the storytelling going on at places like Disneyland, but there seems to be more thought put into these rides than I’d initially thought. It’s the type of insight that, of course, comes from someone on the dev side:
[A]s you move through the queue [of...
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“[M]y “club” definition for games writers comes from a sense of inclusiveness....”
– Nichols, Scott. “The Game Writing Club” (March 19, 2012) <http://gamerlymusings.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/the-game-writing-club/>.
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EA announces server shutdown for 14 games, citing... →
I don’t link a lot of news, but I like the value added Andrew…adds…with this one.
The issue is made more complex now that EA has begun shutting down online servers for titles like EA Sports MMA, which require gamers who purchased pre-owned copies to pay a fee to play online, as part of the now-infamous Project 10 Dollar. A used gamer that purchased an Online Pass yesterday will...
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How to Unbraid Modern Game Design →
Previews don’t often get featured here; for better or worse, the feature many writers wind up creating isn’t generally all that different from the next guy’s. Alex Rubens defies the trend with his preview of ‘The Witness’:
It seems odd for there to be such a strong focus put on narrative in a game that insists on leaving the player alone, but the extremely personal...
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Good Games Tweeting: Andrew Groen
Value added. That’s what we’re doing here…adding value to your GGW experience. And, hopefully, your Twitter experience.
Andrew Groen is the guy to follow, folks. @sciencegroen is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet in the Twittersphere, too. Like our last Good Games Tweeter, Andrew tends to respond to most tweets aimed his way, and he always has insight into the industry....
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WatchI really enjoyed this video looking at the dawn of the Western RPG. The host knows his stuff, and makes the history lesson an interesting one. I’m by no means a lover of RPGs but I loved this video. Click this to get to the source where there’s also a video on The East.
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Tic-Tac-Toe and World Famous Game Developers →
This is so silly but I love it all the same. Challenging developers — in the silliest way possible — to look at a game everyone knows and loves (except Phil Fish when he’s not winning) and examine it.
How often do we appraise games like Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman, Chess, etc? How often should they be appraised?
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“When it comes to Mass Effect 3, certainly they have the “right” however vaguely...”
– Brahe, Tycho. “The Delicious Invasion” (Penny Arcade: March 16, 2012) <http://penny-arcade.com/2012/03/16/the-delicious-invasion>.
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“On very rare occasions, video games managed to find a way to remind me of my...”
– Petit, Carolyn. “That Girl is Poison” (GamesRadar: March 14, 2012) <http://www.gamespot.com/features/that-girl-is-poison-6366216/>.
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GGW Rewind: The Invisible Hand of Super Metroid →
What a monster of an analysis. Then again, would anything else be fair treatment for a title with the status Super Metroid holds? We’re setting the clock back a few months and taking a look. If you were a fan of Teavis Thompson’s Zelda piece, this will suit you well.
Here is, approximately, one billionth of the piece*:
Because of this, the experience of most Metroidvania titles...
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Dark Horse: The Secret of Skylanders' Success →
Skylanders surprised many with its release. Not only was the emphasis less on Spyro than a new cast of characters, but the emphasis was also less on longtime fans and instead on introducing the character to a new generation. Here’s just a little on that:
Among those plastic carcasses are more than a few unloved Guitar Hero instruments and unopened Tony Hawk: RIDE skateboards. Activision...
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Into The Lion's Den: An Outsider's Look into the... →
My one complaint with this piece—it’s a substantial one—is that most everyone reporting on the Cross Assault controversy is an “outsider”. That said, it’s also a strength: Outsider perspectives are shaped by media blowouts, like we’ve seen, so the crux of the piece comes from the conclusions drawn:
I learned much at Final Round, but perhaps the most...
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No Souls Were Sold: An Insider Perspective on EA's... →
Here’s an interesting piece in similar vein to Parkin’s on Rare; instead of going the “who killed them” route, Sinan has instead opted for the “they’re not so bad after all” route. Prima facie that’s incredibly less interesting. However, considering BioWare’s pedigree, it may be a newer take on Rare — the developer who can’t go...
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The Dysfunctional Three-Way →
Chris Hecker, of Spy Party fame (and much love from me), spoke at GDC 2012, and that talk is now available in all its glory in video form. Or, if you rather, you can just look at the slides. Or you can read the summary here.
The common denominator I found between these three groups was what I call An Appetite for Sameness. Players seem to want to play the same games over and over again, Press...
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Reasons to Look Around
Dark Souls has really generated a lot of games writing; to me, that’s the sign of a good game. Something of a controversial title—is its difficulty warranted, is it “Game of the Year, etc—it’s also brilliant in its design. Or, at least, several writers would have you believe that. Among them is Sinan Kubba, writing:
[T]he majority of today’s games…still...
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“[Mass Effect] Infiltrator disappoints, but the concept of connecting smaller...”
– Lenhardt, Heinrich. “Mass Effect infiltrates iPhone with lackluster results” (GamesBeat: March 12, 2012) <http://venturebeat.com/2012/03/12/mass-effect-infiltrates-iphone-with-lackluster-results/>.
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Tangentially Related: Spoilers and PR
It’s Monday and it’s a Monday following a loss of an hour. So excuse me as we stick to gaming only a little for the first update.
Spoilers are a nasty nasty thing. I’m of the opinion that a good review need not give away substantial plot elements. That’s a review. Features tend to spin out from very specific experiences with games - Dark Souls especially lately - so...
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Good Games Commenting: Ebert
Good Games Writing doesn’t just come in the form of articles; indeed, it also comes from comment threads. For the most part, delving into comments is a bad idea. But every now and again gems surface. Once a week, we highlight the best of the best.
****
This week, it’s just one comment of note, and it’s...
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“To The Moon pulls from a history of scientific inquiry into the understanding of...”
– Hernandez, Patricia. “Can Manufactured Memories Be as Powerful as Experience?” (Kotaku: March 9, 2012) <http://kotaku.com/5891893/can-manufactured-memories-be-as-powerful-as-experience>.
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The freedom of having no choice →
This is more a personal essay than anything, but there’s an interesting argument to be uncovered — if games are used as escapism, are choices compelling? Choosing is hard to do in the big scary world.
It’s certainly something to think about.
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In Defense of Women In Games Initiatives →
Elizabeth Sampat once again offering a response about women from…a women’s perspective! It’s shocking how rarely this happens. Her response is to very specific things (which she links for you), but it’s definitely worth a read.
It does not matter whether or not you define yourself as a woman, because the world has done it for you. And as long as the games industry does...
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The Story Behind IGF's Critics →
Caldwell’s oft pithy article, evaluating the elements of IGF Judging, is one of the best things in games writing I’ve read in ages. It’s a monster of a piece—around 4000 words—that begs to be read. Here’s a small excerpt to whet your appetites:
I smile at the prospect of indie conspiracy theorists. Four of the people who have worked on Fez werejurors in the...
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Ed McMillen Regarding Nintendo's Isaac Rejection →
Ed McMillen’s a really fun guy to interview (though a pain to edit, if over email)—he always speaks earnestly. This interview is a great one, as McMillen is nonplussed by Nintendo’s rejection of The Binding of Isaac.
McMillen said there’s definitely no bad blood between him and Nintendo, and that he’d be willing to work with the company again. “I definitely...
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“Of course, both of these events have also brought the worst kind of person out...”
– MacDonald, Keza. “Are gamers really sexist?” (The Guardian: March 6, 2012) <http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2012/mar/06/are-gamers-really-sexist?CMP=twt_gu>
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Infographic: 10 Key Games Pushing Apple too 25b... →
I’m a sucker for infographics, and I like both the research and the look of this one. Where’s My Water? was indeed the 25 billionth download —and a surprisingly great game on its own right.
What other games got Apple that landmark amount of downloads? Hit the link (above) to find out.
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On SFxT's on-disc DLC →
This is an apt summary of the options Capcom and consumers have in regards to Street Fighter x Tekken’s on-disc DLC. I’ve been speaking extensively about the issue with several people, but I really admire Holmes’ argument.
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Turning 6th Grade Into an MMO →
As a student teacher and freelance writer, intersections between gaming and education are of particular interest to me. Here, Ben Bertoli describes how he turned his Grade 6 classroom into an RPG. He writes:
I gave each student a half sheet of paper with some sections to fill in. To give ClassRealm an added (albeit pointless) feel of fantasy and role-playing I had each student create a...
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“Every game released to this point [on Vita] is available front and center in the...”
– Bailey, Kat. “So far, so good: Why the Vita rises where the PSP fell” (Joystiq: March 2, 2012) <http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/02/so-far-so-good-why-the-vita-rises-where-the-psp-fell/>.
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Musical DNA: how Austin Wintory wrote the song... →
I know what you’re thinking: doesn’t Kuchera basically do the same thing as GGW on a section of the PA Report called “The Cut”? You’d be right - and recommended to check out his daily links, if you didn’t know he does - but it raises the question…who is to promote his good work? No better candidate than us, is there?
Anyways
“Extremely interactive music...
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Sexism: Not About Gamers, But Bullies →
Becky writes a great response to the Cross Assault incident this past week, in which she drives home two points:
Game companies (etc.) may not have a legal obligation to cut out instances of sexism (freedom of speech working for several masters) but that doesn’t mean consumers can’t vote with their dollars and;
It’s not a case of gamers (or any other community), but rather,...
