Tag: Coffee Talk

Coffee Talk #104: Is EyePet the Key to Sony’s Future in Motion?

Sony has been getting mixed reactions on its GDC 2010 press conference for PlayStation Move. Some writers and gamers are greatly intrigued by Move’s fidelity and tremendous creative possibilities. Some are dismissing it as “stupid Wii games…in HD”. Developers will determine the immediate future of PlayStation Move, but there’s one product that could shape Sony’s motion-control future for decades — EyePet.

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, tonight’s IGDA awards at GDC 2010, Buddha Bar in San Francisco Chinatown, or Sting’s shoulder injury, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Sony has been getting mixed reactions on its GDC 2010 press conference for PlayStation Move. Some writers and gamers are greatly intrigued by Move’s fidelity and tremendous creative possibilities. Some are dismissing it as “stupid Wii games…in HD”. Developers will determine the immediate future of PlayStation Move, but there’s one product that could shape Sony’s motion-control future for decades — EyePet.

EyePet is already a success in Europe and I think it’ll be huge in North America. During yesterday’s Sony presser I tweeted that EyePet could be Sony’s Pokemon. While I doubt it will have the ridiculous success of Pikachu and friends, I do think it has a chance to be a hugely popular fad in its own right. More importantly, with PlayStation Move integration, there’s a chance that million of kids will use PlayStation Move with EyePet and get used to playing games that way.

Gamers like you and me were brought up on gamepads. Sure, there are more buttons these days, analog sticks have been added, and they rumble to match the onscreen action, but the basic concept has been the same for decades. Most gamers are used to playing with a gamepad and are uncomfortable with anything else. With EyePet, a whole generation of gamers will start their gaming lives with PlayStation Move. As they get older, they’ll adapt to future motion-control products. The same way you’re used to a gamepad, they’ll be used to motion devices.

Of course that’s just my theory. Do you agree or disagree with me? Do you think EyePet will help condition young gamers to motion controls? Or do you think it’ll just be an insignificant drop in the bucket?

Coffee Talk #103: Your Silly Gaming Quirks

Last week I went out to lunch with a friend that’s in the gaming business. He mentioned that he only plays scary games during the day and saves the lighthearted stuff for night. For example, his recent gameplay sessions included Dead Space in the afternoon and Band Hero at night (I play my Band Hero at night, so I can so I can?).

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, Pinoy power prevailing on Saturday, your favorite bit of GDC news, or pole dancing, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Last week I went out to lunch with a friend that’s in the gaming business. He mentioned that he only plays scary games during the day and saves the lighthearted stuff for night. For example, his recent gameplay sessions included Dead Space in the afternoon and Band Hero at night (I play my Band Hero at night, so I can so I can?).

I was totally prepared to lean into him and call him a wussy gamer…but then I remembered that I only watch scary movies during the day or with every light in the house on at night. Ha!

Do you have any quirky gaming habits similar to my friend’s? Do you play survival-horror games at night? Or are they something you have to experience during the day? Leave your gaming quirks in the comments section (please)!

Coffee Talk #102: Game Changers in 2010

Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2010 is kicking off and, as always, it’s interesting to the trends that are dominating the show’s programming. While enthusiast gamers and writers are interesting in things like PlayStation Arc (of the Covenant?) and OnLive, there are more people here that are interesting in emerging markets — mobile gaming and social gaming.

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, Sting’s heel turn, Brooke Hogan’s ridiculous push (again), or your favorite color, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2010 is kicking off and, as always, it’s interesting to see the trends that are dominating the show’s programming. While enthusiast gamers and writers are interested in things like PlayStation Arc (of the Covenant?) and OnLive, there are more people here that are interested in newer, burgeoning markets — mobile gaming and social gaming.

Mobile gaming has been a big part of GDC for several years, but it’s bigger than ever in 2010. Obviously the iPhone market is enormous and potentially lucrative, but Google and Palm are at the show, pushing Android and WebOS gaming, respectively.

Social games like FarmVille and Mafia Wars have been immensely popular. At this year’s GDC, the next generation of social games are being discussed and shown off. Developers are working on improving the visual quality and overall experience of social games. In many ways, they’re more attractive to developers — cheaper to make, easier access to consumers, etc.

Gamers like you and me are most interested in the latest console games and technology, but these trends in gaming can’t be ignored. They’re already huge and getting bigger all the time. Today I wanted to see which trends you think are the most important. Do you see social games getting bigger and getting console-level graphics? Do you think mobile games will become bigger and more like PSP titles? Leave a comment and let me know (please)! Or do you prefer to bury your head in the sand and stay safe in the traditional console world?

Coffee Talk #101: Giacchino’s Incredible Career Started in Games

Last night at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, Michael Giacchino snagged an Oscar for best original score for Up, adding another accolade to his phenomenal career. While he’s gained fame for his work on Lost, The Incredibles, Ratataouille, and more, Giacchino got his start in games. From The Lost World: Jurassic park to numerous Medal of Honor titles to several Call of Duty games, he has composed some of the best soundtracks in gaming.

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 Oscar Awards, the outstanding HBO documentary on Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird, or wrestling’s Monday night wars, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

New Coffee: Totally forgot about this, but I opened a bag of Colombia La Piramide Reserva from Stumptown last week.

Last night at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, Michael Giacchino snagged an Oscar for best original score for Up, adding another accolade to his phenomenal career. While he’s gained fame for his work on Lost, The Incredibles, Ratataouille, and more, Giacchino got his start in games. From The Lost World: Jurassic park to numerous Medal of Honor titles to several Call of Duty games, he has composed some of the best soundtracks in gaming.

As someone that’s followed his career for more than a decade, I’m thrilled for Giacchino’s success. Every time he snags an award, he creates an opportunity for people to learn about the gaming world. His success brings attention, prestige, and legitimacy to the relatively young business of videogames. I know he’s busy with movies and television, but I hope he still has time to create music for the medium that helped get him to where he is today.

Out of curiosity, do you have a favorite Michael Giacchino soundtrack? I absolutely love the score for The Incredibles. Giacchino’s music is one of the reasons The Incredibles is high on my list of all-time favorite movies. Let me know some of your Giacchino favorites when you have a chance.

Coffee Talk #100: I’m Raymond Padilla, Your Verbal Entertainer

In the immortal words of Barry Manilow and Shania Twain, “Looks like we made it.” Yes, it’s Coffee Talk #100!!! Thank you all so much for your support and readership. Today I’m going to be a little selfish and write about me. What I wanted to tell you all on this special day is that I am not a journalist. I am a verbal entertainer.

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, American Idol voters hating Asian people, Apple laying the smack down on HTC, or the iPad going on sale in less than a month, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

In the immortal words of Barry Manilow and Shania Twain, “Looks like we made it.” Yes, it’s Coffee Talk #100!!! Thank you all so much for your support and readership. Today I’m going to be a little selfish and write about me. What I wanted to tell you all on this special day is that I am not a journalist. I am a verbal entertainer.

Most people that write about games for enthusiast outlets are not journalists — not in the sense of reporting. Certainly there are exceptions. Leigh Alexander, Patrick Klepek, and Stepehen Totilo are fine reporters. Most “game journalists” are actually critics. Some are just hacks that vomit thousands of words on a single game just to get multiple page views. I’m not any of those things.

Nobody is going to use it, but I prefer the label “verbal entertainer”. Reporting news isn’t my priority. Most game reviews are crap and and most people/outlets don’t know who they’re reviewing for, so I don’t want to be called a game critic. I use the term “game writer” a lot, but that should probably be saved for people that write scripts for games (like the totally outstanding WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010!).

What I like to do is entertain you. Whether it’s through cool discussion, goofy video interviews, or asking developers your questions on PadCasts, my goal is to make your day a little bit more fun. Whether you read my words or listen to them, my motivation is similar to Robbie Williams’ — “Let Me Entertain You”!

My name is Raymond Padilla…and I approve this message this. That’s not right. I meant, this…is American Idol! That’s not right either… Oh yeah! I’m a verbal entertainer!!!

Coffee Talk #99: Do You Understand Game Development?

With Game Developers Conference 2010 next week, I wanted to talk to you about…uh…game development. A lot of gamers don’t really understand what goes into making a game. Hell, a lot of journalists and critics don’t really understand the process either. I completely admit that there’s still a lot I don’t know about game development after more than 15 years of game writing, but I’ve tried to learn a fair bit and feel that I know more than most writers.

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, all these crazy earthquakes (end of the world?), whether Tiger Woods can dominate golf again, or the ex-Infinity Ward guys taking legal action against Activision, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

With Game Developers Conference 2010 next week, I wanted to talk to you about…uh…game development. A lot of gamers don’t really understand what goes into making a game. Hell, a lot of journalists and critics don’t really understand the process either. I completely admit that there’s still a lot I don’t know about game development after more than 15 years of game writing, but I’ve tried to learn a fair bit and feel that I know more than most writers.

Do you know the difference between a producer on the publisher side and on the development side? Do you understand how budget and time restrictions can limit creativity and quality? Is there anything about game development you’d like to learn more about? Or do you not care about knowing more about the process? After all, you don’t have to know anything about game development to enjoy great games.

In some ways, I think it’s important for you to try to understand game development. It leads to a deeper appreciation of the games you buy. In other ways, it’s trivial. Do you enjoy a movie more knowing what the key grip and gaffer do?

I’m curious to read your responses today. They’ll shape my mindset going into next week’s show. Perhaps I can get some of the information you want. Learning together is cool. So let’s get to it (please)!

Coffee Talk #98: Your Non-Gaming, Non-Nerd Hobbies

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, Lost, the kick-off of the the Mayweather-Mosley press tour, or teenage girls in Japan throwing knuckleballs, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Today’s Coffee Talk is a special request from RPadholic bsukenyan. He recently revealed to other RPad.tv readers that he’s an avid collector of pennies. This hobby definitely falls outside of the realm of the gaming, gadgets, and geek culture that’s discussed on this site. Do you have any hobbies or interests that are “different”?

As for me, I don’t think I have any hobbies that you don’t already know about. You guys pretty much know what I do: games, tech, pro-wrestling, American Idol, MSNBC, and travel.

I guess I’m a little insane when it comes to taking advantage of frequent flyer programs. Yes, I’m one of those guys that frequents the FlyerTalk forums, tries to take advantage of every United promotion, and goes on mileage runs. I actually spent a day flying to New York and back because there was a double qualifying miles promotion that would get me over 150,000, earning another pair of system-wide upgrades that can be used on international flights. In a way, I treat it like a videogame; I want to get the best score I can and take advantage of bonus multipliers.

So in the spirit of bsukenyan’s penny hobby, let everyone know if you have any similar interests or hobbies. Do your non-gaming, non-nerd activities somehow relate to games? Discuss!

Coffee Talk #97: What’s Your Favorite Final Fantasy?

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, Bobby Kotick talking about creativity, March coming in like a lion for the gaming business, or the hotness of Mika Brzezinski (again), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

With Final Fantasy XIII coming out next week and Wired’s Chris Kohler spilling the goods on the Japanese version of the game in the latest RPad.tv PadCast, I thought it would be a good time to discuss your favorite game in this legendary series. There are so many brilliant Final Fantasy games that it’s tough to choose. For the sake of this conversation, let’s stick with the mainline games (Tactics, Crystal Chronicles, etc. do not apply).

As for me, it comes down to IV, V, VI, and X. I’ve probably played IV the most, V has the outstanding job system, VI took interactive storytelling to a new level, and X was just wonderfully polished. My favorite usually changes, but it’s always one of these four games. Today I’m going to go with FFV because I absolutely love job systems (remember, FF Tactics is my all-time favorite).

So let me know what your favorite FF game is and why (please)! In addition to your pick, I want to hear the reasoning behind it. Warning: if you pick FFVII then I expect a pretty lengthy explanation or I’ll probably think you’re a VII fanboy.

Coffee Talk #96: Can Nintendo Be Stopped?!?

“Can Nintendo be stopped?” That’s the question a lot of game writers have been asking for the last few years. With the ridiculous success of the Nintendo DS and Wii, it seems like a good question. I, however, think it’s a stupid question considering what a lot of these people have been writing about Nintendo for the last 15 years. The story goes a little something like this:

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, your closing thoughts on the Vancouver Winter Olympics, why there isn’t a PSN error 867-5309, or the hotness of Mika Brzezinski, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

“Can Nintendo be stopped?” That’s the question a lot of game writers have been asking for the last few years. With the ridiculous success of the Nintendo DS and Wii, it seems like a good question. I, however, think it’s a stupid question considering what a lot of these people have been writing about Nintendo for the last 15 years. The story goes a little something like this:

  • Nintendo 64: Can Nintendo be restarted?
  • GameCube: Really, can Nintendo be restarted?
  • DS/Wii starting hot: Can Nintendo keep it up?
  • DS/Wii continuing to be hot: Can Nintendo be stopped?
  • DS/Wii in 2010: Will Nintendo remember the people that got them here?

While Nintendo did well with the N64 and GameCube (despite what some people think, the company was highly profitable and cash-rich back then), it was clear to the entire world that it needed to do something different in order to overtake Microsoft and Sony. It did and now the company gets heat from the Nintendo “faithful”. A lot of N64 and GameCube owners were rooting for Nintendo to reclaim the throne, but I guess that was a conditional wish. Funny how it goes….

Anyway, the answer to the question, “Can Nintendo be stopped?” is obviously, “Hell to the no!” — at least for this console generation. As for the next generation…well, the market is constantly changing and there are way too many things that can happen between now and then.

The better question, in my mind anyway, is this: “Will Microsoft and Sony be able to reach as broad an audience as the Wii with their next-gen consoles?” What do you think?

Coffee Talk #95: What Videogame Character Do You Want to Be?

Is there a videogame character you wish you were more like? It sounds like a silly question, but there are loads of videogame characters that have laudable traits. It’s not hard to find a character that’s heroic, clever, wise, witty, or caring. If you’re more devil than angel, it’s easy to find characters that are devious, diabolical, and cruel.

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, Americans getting into curling to be contrary, the latest snow storm on the east coast, or Palm taking a beating, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Is there a videogame character you wish you were more like? It sounds like a silly question,  but there are loads of videogame characters that have laudable traits. It’s not hard to find a character that’s heroic, clever, wise, witty, or caring. If you’re more devil than angel, it’s easy to find characters that are devious, diabolical, and cruel.

As for me, I’m going to go with Pokemon’s Ash Ketchum. I’m certain that I’m being influenced by GameStop’s upcoming Pokemon Jirachi promotion, but I think he’s a great pick. He’s kind, caring, and determined. I also miss viewing the world through innocent eyes. Ash accomplishes his goals as a Pokemon trainer while still being a good person and seeing things with child-like wonder. Maybe I’m just feeling tired and jaded this week, but I want to be more like Ash.

So play this game with me (please). I’d love to know what videogame character you’d like to be more like. I’m just hoping none of you pick Kratos.