Category: Videogames

Coffee Talk #351: Do You Use Subtitles in Videogames?

In yesterday’s Coffee Talk, I was surprised to learn that a bunch of you prefer movies with the subtitles turned on. For games, I always have the subtitles turned on. How about you?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the hotness of mermaids, liking the song “African Child”, or continued iPad 2 production delays, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

In yesterday’s Coffee Talk, I was surprised to learn that a bunch of you prefer movies with the subtitles turned on. As I explained, English is a second or third language for several of my friends, family members, and playmates. Subtitles help us all enjoy movies together. That said, I often leave subtitles on when I’m watching alone. For games, I always have the subtitles turned on. How about you?

I’m a writer. I need to read. In addition to videogame stuff and tech commentary, I’ve scripted videogames and comics. Reading is one of the best ways to improve writing. I’ve “borrowed” techniques from my favorite columnists, comic-book writers, videogame writers, and more. So for me, leaving subtitles on in videogames adds to my enjoyment and serves as a study tool.

And you ladies and gents? Do you prefer your games with or without subtitles?

New File Size Limit Should Greatly Help Android Gaming

At Google I/O 2011, the company announced an increase to the file size limit of Android apps. According to TechCrunch, the new limit is 4GB (50MB app package and two 2GB archives). This is a tremendous increase from the previous 50MB limit. Developers will be able to take advantage of the larger file sizes starting next month.

This should be tremendously helpful to game developers. The paltry 50MB limit was the second-biggest complaint I’ve heard from Android game developers. Take a game like Infinity Blade for iOS for example. That’s a 548MB file. Getting it to work on Android would have required some serious compromises that would make for an inferior experience.

While this new limit doesn’t address the difficulty of coding for different Android versions, different screen sizes, different resolutions, etc., it should give game creators much more freedom to dazzle on Android. It’s about frickin’ time Google!

Win a T-Mobile G2X and a Trip to E3 2011

T-Mobile is holding a sweet contest that could snag you an LG G2X and a trip to E3 2011. Dubbed “The Battle for E3”, I’m fairly certain that the contest doesn’t contain any physical  battling. Instead, you’ll have to post a short video on T-Mobile’s Facebook page and let the fans decide if you’re worthy to win. Here are some official details:

T-Mobile is introducing “Battle for E3” – an opportunity for consumers to compete for the ultimate T-Mobile gaming phone, the G2x, and a trip to this year’s E3 Expo in Los Angeles on June 7-9. To participate in the online competition, which kicks off May 15, all you have to do is upload a video (15 seconds or less) on T-Mobile’s Facebook page demonstrating how you are the ultimate gamer and ideal E3 “correspondent” for T-Mobile.

The videos will be ranked by fans voting on T-Mobile’s Facebook page and the top 10 entrants will each win a prize. The two most hardcore gamers, however, will win a G2x and the chance to attend the upcoming E3 Expo! Armed with T-Mobile’s hottest gaming phone – the T-Mobile G2x with Google – these two winners will chronicle their trip, host gaming challenges, conduct interviews and much more.

One unadvertised prize for RPad.tv readers is that you’ll get to hang out with me at the show! If you enter the contest, I promise to vote for you. Should you win, I expect you to make sure that I don’t punch any game developers at E3 parties. I don’t need another stupid Cliff Bleszinski story. I hope some of you enter. The G2X is a great phone and it would be awesome to see you at E3.

This Week’s Videogame Releases

After a few slow weeks, May brings several interesting games to the table. Brink has been getting a lot of buzz — some of my reviewer friends are high on this game and some are meh on it. Virtua Tennis 4 looks to bring the series back to glory. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean serves up the cutest version of Captain Jack Sparrow ever. MX vs. ATV Live should keep motor sports fans happy. The First Templar is flying under the radar, but a few of my friends are digging this adventure game, saying that it nicely blends old and new.

Any of you guys and dolls picking up new games this week?

PlayStation Network Key to Sony’s Android Tablet Future?

The tablet wars are going to get super interesting. Slick hardware is not enough to compete with Apple’s wildly successful iPad tablets. Competitors realize that they need to offer slick software and services too. Recently Sony announced that it will be entering the Android tablet space later this year. Will PlayStation Network be the key to Sony’s tablet success? That’s what PC Magazine’s Tim Bajarin believes. He recently wrote:

I understand that Sony’s tablet offerings will eventually be tied to the Sony PlayStation Network, in which there are about 77 million subscribers worldwide. If I read the tea leaves right, that should mean that Sony could use this network to deliver video, music, and games, as well as potentially host its own vetted app store and even create Sony dedicated apps. Its goal is to be number two in the tablet market (behind Apple) and number one in Android-based devices.

Leveraging the backbone of the PlayStation Network would give Sony quite an edge over its competitors, right out of the box. My only concern is that it has to rely on Google for its OS. Not controlling the OS could be an issue for delivering an enhanced user experience that’s optimized for Sony customers. But having a network backbone to deliver optimized content for various Sony devices is quite a plus.

Bajarin is one of the sharpest tech analysts in the world. His opinions are almost always on the mark. I think he’s on the right track here. The infrastructure of PlayStation Network has already expanded to include Qriocity. I can see Sony going even larger to create a multimedia “walled garden” of its own, with curated movies, music, apps, and gaming.

What do you think? Will PlayStation Network be the key to Sony’s tablet success? Or will it be the key to One-Eyed Willie?

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What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I’m going to give Pilotwings Resort more time this weekend. I’ve liked what I’ve played, but I was expecting more. Perhaps a dedicated weekend of flying around in 3D will help me warm up to the Nintendo 3DS. Of course I’ll be playing games on my iPad 2 too. I’m still loving Civilization Revolution and Final Fantasy III on iPad. They’re both awesome, but in very different ways. Naturally all gaming activity will be dropped during the Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley fight on Saturday.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

Coffee Talk #347: Your Least Favorite Console Launch

I’m late to the party on the Nintendo 3DS…and I’m trying to figure out where the party is. As a frequent flyer and huge portable gamer, the 3DS is off to a disappointing start. What was your…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, whether Derek Jeter is washed up, the brilliance of Hall & Oates, or your favorite Thundercat, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’m late to the party on the Nintendo 3DS…and I’m trying to figure out where the party is. I loved the potential of Nintendo’s latest portable gaming system at E3 2010 and the handful of times I got to play it between then and launch. After a few weeks with the system, I’m completely underwhelmed.

I have five 3DS launch titles and the only one I’m regularly enjoying is Nintendogs + Cats. That game hardly pushes the 3DS’ capabilities and the charm is largely the same as the original’s. I know that the 3DS will have great games in the future and I’m sure I’ll eventually love the system. As a frequent flyer and huge portable gamer, I’m really disappointed in the 3DS’ weak start. Next time I fly, I’ll probably leave my 3DS at home and play games on my iPad 2.

I don’t remember the last time I was this underwhelmed by a console launch. A new system usually brings something new and exciting to the table. The 3DS only does half of that. Where there any console launches that left you feeling flat? Kindly name the console launch (or launches) that disappointed you the most.

Coffee Talk #346: Gaming While You’re Sick

Yesterday it was 90 degrees in Los Angeles…and I spent most of the day under a blanket. It absolutely sucked to be sick and weak on such a beautiful day, but I think I made the best of it…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Lorenzo Lamas taking his wife’s name, “Sugar” Shane Mosley’s chances against Manny Pacquiao, or new iMacs, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Yesterday it was 90 degrees in Los Angeles…and I spent most of the day under a blanket. It absolutely sucked to be sick and weak on such a beautiful day, but I think I made the best of it. My gaming habits are a little different when I’m sick. I like to dumb it down a bit and stick to games that I can play blindfolded. I spent most of of my couch time playing Civilization Revolution and doing random battles in Final Fantasy III. I watched some motion comics and WWE documentaries. While I didn’t get to enjoy the beautiful day, it was as good a sick day as I could have imagined.

What kind of games do you play when you’re sick? Are your sick games different than your regular games? How about other nerd activities like movies, comics, and TV? What kind of media to you devour on your sick days?

Sony Offers Free Games, Qriocity, and PlayStation Plus

Sony Computer Entertainment will restore PlayStation Network service this week. Features will be redeployed on a rolling basis. Last week we discussed what Sony would do to make things up to its customers. The company has gotten all official with its make good offer. As part of its “Welcome Back” appreciation program, Sony will give its customers free games, 30 days of PlayStation Plus, 30 days of Qriocity, and complimentary identity protection service. Here’s a clip from the press release:

  • Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon.
  • All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service.
  • Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.
  • While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, the company is committed to helping its customers protect their personal data and will provide a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs. The implementation will be at a local level and further details will be made available shortly in each region.

What do you think of “Welcome Back”? To me it seems like a pretty generous program. Do you think it’s enough? Or do you think Sony should have offered more?

Coffee Talk #345: PSN Outage Further Killing Sony’s Brand?

Gamasutra’s Colin Campbell wrote this excellent article on how the PlayStation Network outage has further devalued the PlayStation brand. I don’t think he went far enough. The PSN outage has damaged the (already declining) Sony brand.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, those pesky Memphis Grizzlies, the Bin Laden attack being described on Twitter hours before the U.S. government acknowledged it, or wanting to hug awesome apps, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Gamasutra’s Colin Campbell wrote this excellent article on how the PlayStation Network outage has further devalued the PlayStation brand. Colin is awesome and his article is great, but I don’t think he went far enough. There’s no question that the PSN attack has damaged the PlayStation brand. It’s more than that though. The PSN outage has damaged the (already declining) Sony brand.

Remember when Sony was the premiere name in consumer electronics? There was a long stretch when the consumer electronics market was Sony, followed by everyone else. From televisions to audio components to laptops, Sony products were almost always best in class. A lot has changed since then. The company absolutely bombed in the modern portable audio space (which is funny because it basically created the market with the Walkman). PC manufacturers were able to offer computers that were almost as nice, but much cheaper. The television market got a lot more competitive, with Korean companies like LG and Samsung outdoing Sony in both price and performance.

For two console generations, Sony dominated the field. Its third go-round didn’t go nearly as well, for numerous reasons. Although the PlayStation 3 was starting to pick up steam globally, the PSN outage will definitely impact performance and perception. Rightly or wrongly, people will use the PSN outage to illustrate that Sony has lost its grip on yet another market.

What do you think? Will the damage be confined to to the PlayStation brand or is the Sony brand in jeopardy too? Or is all of this being overblown? Perhaps the PlayStation and Sony brands will be just fine by the end of the year. Kindly share your thoughts on the nebulous value of branding!