Tag: Videogames

Coffee Talk #414: Skylanders — Brilliant, Evil, or Both?

I’ve started playing Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventures for a Machinima.com review. I’m completely fascinated by the Skylanders business model. For those of you not familiar with the deal, Skylanders is an action-RPG available for most…

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, Lindsay Lohan’s latest mugshot, the outstanding customer service at Verve Coffee Roasters, or Bernard Hopkins getting suplexed in a boxing match, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve started playing Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventures for a Machinima.com review. I’m completely fascinated by the Skylanders business model. For those of you not familiar with the deal, Skylanders is an action-RPG available for most videogame systems. What makes it unique is that it uses toys to enhance and unlock gameplay. The $69.99 starter kit comes with the game, the “Portal of Power” accessory that plugs into your console, and three action figures. Additional action figures can be purchased for $7.99 and up.

Now here’s the kicker: from what I’ve seen, you have to buy more toys to get everything out of the game. That’s brilliant…and possibly a little evil. So far, the game is surprisingly fun; I had low expectations for it and they have been greatly exceeded. The toys look cool. On their own, I’m not sure they’re worth $8 each or $20 for a three-pack, but considering that they unlock in-game features, they’re pragmatic as well as decorative. There are more than 30 toys, with more action figures and DLC on the way, so it’s entirely possible to spend hundreds of dollars on Skylanders…and I’m sure some kids will do just that.

Fascinating, hey? I’m not really sure what kids and tweens like these days, but I imagine Skylanders is going to be hugely popular this holiday season. While most of the videogame business has been focusing on DLC and $10 online solutions to make more money of off each title, Activision is probably going to strike gold with dollies action figures. If this game does well, can you imagine a Transformers, Pokemon, or Disney game using a similar business model? This dolly thing could be huge…and more than a little exploitative.

Anyway, I wanted to see what you thought about Skylanders and its business model. Is Skylanders brilliant, evil, or both?!?

Coffee Talk #413: Your Favorite Videogame Crossovers

With the rumor of Assassin’s Creed’s Ezio Auditore da Firenze set for an appearance in Soulcalibur V, I was thinking about videogame crossovers and cameos. There have been so many great ones over the years! Bill Clinton in NBA Jam…

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, Hulk Hogan taking back bumps after eight back surgeries, RIM’s BlackBerry BBX OS, or the Red Sox ordering Popeye’s fried chicken during games, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

With the rumor of Assassin’s Creed’s Ezio Auditore da Firenze set for an appearance in Soulcalibur V, I was thinking about videogame crossovers and cameos. There have been so many great ones over the years! Bill Clinton in NBA Jam, Mega Man in Dead Rising, Michael Jackson in Space Channel 5, Solid Snake in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Spider-Man in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 immediately come to mind. Last year I had a blast playing as a Helghast from Killzone in Hot Shots Tennis. Crossovers are cool.

The Soulcalibur series has my favorite videogame crossovers of all time. Soulcalibur II had Link from The Legend of Zelda and Todd McFarlane’s Spawn! Soulcalibur IV had Darth Vader and Yoda from Star Wars! Those inclusions caused me to mark out as a Zelda, comic book, and Star Wars fanboy. It was almost nerd overload, but I thoroughly enjoyed playing as those characters. So cool.

Now it’s your turn! What are some of your favorite videogame cameos and crossovers?

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Video Confirms Game is Awesome

The more I see of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, the more I want it. The game is utterly charming! Check out this video featuring scenes, sites, sounds, and characters from various Final Fantasy titles set in a music-rhythm game. If you’re not charmed then you have no soul (or you don’t like Final Fantasy).

Read My Dead Rising 2: Off the Record Review (Please)

My review of Dead Rising 2: Off the Record is up at Machinima. Kindly check it out when you have a chance. It’s a fun game, but largely the same as DR2. Most of the same art assets and levels are used, with some new dialogue, a sanbox mode, and the photography gimmick thrown in. It’s “only” $40…but it’s kind of a tough sell. Here’s the part where I quote myself:

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record offers hours of visceral zombie mashing and allows gamers to have fun slaughtering the undead with all manner of weapons. The problem is, I’m not really sure who this game is for. Only the most ardent Dead Rising fans should buy this game. Gamers that liked or really liked Dead Rising 2, but didn’t love it, will find that it’s too much of the same. Even though this game retails for a relative bargain of $39.99, gamers that only played the first game will be better off playing Dead Rising 2, which can be found for half the cost or less. As for people that liked Dead Rising’s potential but didn’t like the actual game, there aren’t any significant improvements here to make them believers. Off the Record is a must-buy only for those with an irrational love for the series.

I know that several of you enjoyed Dead Rising 2, but are you going to pick this one up? Or are you going to wait until it hits the bargain bin? When you have a chance, please head on over to Machinima and check out my review. Thanks muchly!

Source

Paul Dini Talks About Writing Batman: Arkham City

Most of you have been dazzled by Paul Dini’s work in Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and more. Although Dini is a relative newcomer in the videogame world, most gamers were thrilled by his writing in Batman: Arkham Asylum. Early reviews indicate that he’s better than ever in Batman: Arkham City. Dini recently discussed the differences between writing for animation and writing for a game. He told  Gamasutra:

It’s like writing the same movie about 12 times, you know? For every variation. You go down and the character has a certain goal to accomplish — like he’s got to get to this room and then there’s a certain boss along the way, and he’s got to go through the other guys. But every loop has to be written, and scripted, and accounted for.

So I find myself looking for variations of thug dialogue a lot, like “What’s that?” “It’s the Bat!” “The Bat, he’s here!” It’s like, how do you say the same thing over and over again? Because every movement — “We got him!” “He got away!” — has to be done over and over again.

As you’d expect, I’m a total Dini mark. The guy is just frickin’ awesome. He owns in the animation and comic-book worlds. His videogame writing is also super good; perhaps one day he’ll be as captivating as the bloke that wrote SmackDown vs. Raw 2011. *joke*

What did you think of Dini’s writing in Arkham Asylum? I know that some of you are picking up Arkham City tonight. When you have a chance, kindly leave your first impressions of the story.

Source

Coffee Talk #412: Predict Nintendo’s Future with 3DS and Wii U

Today I’d like you guys and gals to put on your analyst caps and predict Nintendo’s future. In the past, people have questioned Nintendo’s DS and Wii consoles, which went on to become two of the best-selling systems in videogame…

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, Kurt Angle’s fiber solution, Apple and Samsung being best frenemies, or why people were scared of mummies back in the day, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Today I’d like you guys and gals to put on your analyst caps and predict Nintendo’s future. In the past, people have questioned Nintendo’s DS and Wii consoles, which went on to become two of the best-selling systems in videogame history. A lot of analysts and journalists have doubts about the 3DS and Wii U systems, but will they proven wrong by Ninntendo once again? Or will the “experts” be right this time?

As for me, I don’t see how Nintendo can go anywhere but down. This really has nothing to do with the 3DS and Wii U, but rather the remarkable sales of the DS and Wii. Those systems sold like crazy and I’m not sure when the business will see something like that again. The 3DS will surely sell well, but it faces stiff competition from smartphones and tablets. The Wii U’s tablet-as-a-controller strategy is odd, but it could work. There are lots of idiots out there that are saying “Nintendo is teh doomed!!!” but the company will always sell millions of Mario, Metroid, Pokemon, and Zelda games. I guess what I’m saying is that Nintendo won’t be able to duplicate the ridiculous success it enjoyed this generation, but it will be fine during the next.

How about you? How do you think things will play out for Nintendo? Will the 3DS recover from its rough start? Will mainstream consumers flock to the Wii U and its tablet controller? Will Nintendo rock next generation? Or is it “teh doomed”? Channel your inner Jesse Divnich and analyze Nintendo’s future (please)!

This Week’s Videogame Releases (Batman Arkham City!)

The big game this week is Batman: Arkham City. The sequel to arguably the best comic-book videogame ever release, Arkham City should be another thrilling action game starring The Dark Knight. PlayStation 3 owners looking for some exclusive cooperative action should give Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One a look. Insomniac rules! Rocksmith adds an interesting twist to music games by allowing you to plug any guitar you have into your console. Everybody Dance is the newest franchise on the highly competitive dancing-game scene. It’s getting hard to keep track of them all.

Any of you planning to pick up new games this week?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

This weekend I’m going to mess with some Orlesians and wyverns in the Mark of the Assassin expansion pack for Dragon Age II. I played through it once to enjoy all the story elements and would like to give it another go so that I can solve all of the intricate puzzles. Aside from some annoying stealth elements, I enjoyed it…despite Felicia Day’s character. On the portable side, I’ve been enjoying Scribblenauts on my iPad 2. I love Scribblenauts. I love my iPad 2. This is an excellent combination. Yay 5th Cell!

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

Coffee Talk #409: New Game Plus and You

I love “new game+” modes. To me, they’re a nice reward for beating the game. I love being able to replay an RPG with all the equipment and powers I’ve earned. There’s something gratifying about going through a 40-hour RPG in 1/4 the time…

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, how to react when being told you’re overqualified, the future of standalone compact cameras, or walk-off grand-slams, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I love “new game+” modes. To me, they’re a nice reward for beating the game. I love being able to replay an RPG with all the equipment and powers I’ve earned. There’s something gratifying about going through a 40-hour RPG in 1/4 the time thanks to the use of ridiculous weapons and crazy powers. If it were up to me, every game would have a “new game+” mode.

To my amazement, some of my friends don’t enjoy these modes. To them, there’s nothing fun about plowing through a game unchallenged. They think it’s boring and unsatisfying. Beating a game that way feels cheap and hollow to them.

What’s your stance on “new game+”? Do you enjoy it? Do you think it’s cheap? Perhaps it’s cheap and enjoyable? Leave a comment and let me know (please!).