Random Blogthings

Source: geekroom

Having seen this trailer, I unabashedly admit to wanting to see Wreck it Ralph this November.

“Ralph, you are bad guy, but this does not mean you are bad guy!” 

What would Majora’s Mask look like in HD? A little something like this…

This Watch Dogs trailer is E3’s biggest surprise. An absolute must see!

Photographer Patrick Runte explores what classic video games may look like in real life, in his Jump’n’Run series.

As I’m sure all of you are aware at this point - Kickstarter has done some remarkable things for gaming lately; bringing back genres once thought dead, giving classic franchises another shot at success, and even going so far as to give the *legendary* Al Lowe the opportunity to remake a game few modern publishers would have the balls to release.

This, friends, is just the beginning of the crowd sourced game phenomenon, the tip of the iceberg, if you will. With each successful game funded on Kickstarter, gamers everywhere are inherently given an extra degree of choice as to what does - and does not - get released, and become one step closer to having a direct line of communication with would be game developers. Imagine, a developer making the game you, the player wanted, giving you access to every step of the creative process along the way! We’re talking beyond mere crowd sourcing here, moving steadily into the realm of democratized development. 

While certain publishers may argue that this has always been the case, and that we all essentially speak with our wallets (which, amusingly, is why a new Call of Duty game is released, like clockwork, EVERY YEAR - because people keep buying the damn games), until recently, there have been few chances for the end user to decide whether a game will come out based upon whether they choose to buy it.   

With that being said, I encourage each and every one of you still reading this - whether you are old enough to remember the genre it so proudly represents or not, to do your part in the Space Combat renaissance. Rare few exceptions notwithstanding, this once thriving genre - that for many will evoke fond memories of such fantastic games as the Wing Commander series, X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter, Descent Freespace: The Great War, Colony Wars, and Freelancer is sadly near extinction. Given the opportunity, most publishers would  balk at the prospect of releasing a space combat sim these days, citing a lack of player interest. Today is our chance to prove them wrong - to do for the space combat genre what Double Fine did - not even two months ago, for Point and Click Adventures, another supposed “dead” genre. 

In less than 24 hours, Starlight: Inception, a space combat sim taking its cues from many of the classics I just mentioned, will either see the light of day, and hopefully will be the venerable shot in the arm the genre needs at this point, or will not receive the necessary funding, thus remaining an ex-LucasArts employees’ dream project from a forgotten era. (I’m rooting for the former). So please, PLEASE! Help me out here - reblog this post, and support Starlight: Inception in any way you can. Like it on Facebook, support the project on Kickstarter if you’re financially able (and get cool rewards - such as the full, finished game upon availability) and most of all, get the word out about this. For those of you who’ve ever survived a bombing run on Kilrah, or spent hours downing imperial ships in your X-Wing (or wish you could), or wowed your friends with the then groundbreaking visuals of Colony Wars on your Playstation, this one’s for you.

UPDATE: After a nail biter of a Kickstarter campaign, Starlight: Inception raised its funding! With a net total of 3724 backers, and $158,152 pledged, this potentially amazing game WILL see the light of day. Well played, internet. Well played indeed.

As disheartening as this is, despite having attended E3 in some capacity over the past 3 consecutive years, all signs this year currently suggest that there is not going to be a  forth presence for me this time around. While I could use this fact as a segway into a rant about the ESA’s apparent dislike of independent outlets, or the alarming rate of non-media, “promotional” badges that continue to crop up, I will do neither. The fact of the matter is, I am in something of a catch-22 here.

E3 is, and always has been, the largest source of gaming industry related news and announcements this side of Gamescom.The vast majority of heavy hitters, including Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and hundreds more use the expo as their primary venue to showcase their upcoming products, not only for the remainder of this year, but often for ones that are still well over a year in development. It, therefore, quickly becomes one of the best sources of content for a given outlet, and vicariously, can be attributed to an increase in readership.  Therein lies the catch-22 I hinted at earlier; I need an increased readership (according to the ESA) to attend E3, but I need to attend E3 to increase readership.  

How does one address this issue? That is a question with precious few answers, I’m afraid. Appealing the ESA’s decision will not work, nor will the application of certain key SEO initiatives, at this point. There is, of course, the dreaded *paid* option - but, at a staggering $800 for an exhibits only badge, economic feasibility becomes an issue. Even if flying on a budget airline, and staying at the worst possible accommodations downtown LA has to offer, with badges that high, I’d end up spending well over $1700 out of pocket. 

That being said, I can’t very well ignore the importance of E3 2012, either. As we see the twilight of this console generation, as well as the kickstarter revolution (spearheaded largely by Double Fine, and their now record breaking, still untitled Double Fine Adventure), this year stands to be one of the largest in the expo’s 17 year history. Nintendo will announce the details regarding their innovative - and potentially risky - entry in the next console generation, the Wii U; including pricing, retail availability, and launch titles, while Microsoft and Sony will dazzle with their respective offerings (Ryse, Halo 4, and a new cross platform music service, codenamed “woodstock” for the former, and Infamous 3, God of War: Ascension, and gameplay footage of The Last of Us for the latter). As has become the norm, sequels will be abound - Grand Theft Auto V will make its E3 debut, a new Modern Warfare title will be there in full force, and a surprise Dead World announcement may take place.

Of course, E3 usually has its fair share of unknowns, and this the year will be no different. Will Nintendo rename the Wii U, buckling to the confusion that followed their E3 2011 reveal of the console? Will Live TV *finally* make its way to the Xbox 360 in the US?  And what of the PS Vita, that two months in has been sorely lacking in terms of software?

All of these are questions that need answers, and are all something that no scripted G4/IGN/CNET broadcast will answer for me. While these do relay some information, a snippet here and there does not do E3 the justice it deserves - it is a cornucopia of information, straight from the source. Second hand news, from an outside source, is something of a disservice. Seeing the gaming industry’s largest (North American) trade show through a foreign set of eyes, and physically being there are two drastically different experiences.

Will our plucky hero (yours truly) make his way to E3 this year? If so, how?  The answer, sadly, is probably not, but if someone - anyone - wants to work something out (either a freelance assignment, or some sort of barter deal involving money/hotel/etc), I’m open to suggestions. 

For your gaming enjoyment, Megaman Vs. Metroid!

Controls:
LEFT and RIGHT - move
Z - jump
X - shoot
ENTER - pause
Z+DOWN to slide, hold X to charge

Super Mario Bros. Crossover - this is a real thing. 

Best website ever, or BEST WEBSITE EVER?

♫Wheatley, why’d you try to kill me?♫

What if the Dead Island trailer had lyrics?