Assassin’s Creed 2

Nulla E Vero. Tutto E Permesso. Nothing is true, Everything is permitted. The first Assassins Creed was a highly controversial game. Now, it isn’t controversial in the traditional sense. People aren’t debating political or religious issues, just gameplan and story ones. Assassins Creed will live in infamy as one of the more dividing games in recent history. For every ten people you could find who loved the game, you could find ten more would argue the exact opposite opinion. The game scored a mixed bag, but let us put that all aside. This isn’t the original. Sit back as Laren gives his take on Desmond’s return to the Animus!

Story

Back when I played the first Assassin’s Creed on the 360, I was drawn into the story. One thing I always enjoy as a gamer is an original and immersive story. The first iteration of Creed has a very solid storyline. Assassin’s Creed II starts off right where the first game left off. We open to Desmond being greeted by Lucy. Desmond is rushed to hurry back on to the Animus. This is where we witness the birth of Ezio Auditore da Firenze. It’s a very strange way to begin a game, but it does a great job of keeping the player on his toes.

Desmond’s ancestor and our new soon-to-be assassin. After some running and fighting Desmond and Lucy  escape Abstergo and we are introduced to some new  characters , new hideout, and a new Animus. We are  introduced to Shaun Hastings an egotistical data logger  who really does not seem to care for Desmond. Our other  new character in Desmond’s is Rebecca Crane who runs  the Animus 2.0. Now we  get  to the good stuff. At this  point, we begin to re live the life of Ezio Auditore da  Firenze in the Italian renaissance. Ubisoft did an amazing  job choosing the time period and character. Ubisoft  really paralleled the story of AC1. Instead of being a Master Assassin and getting your ranked stripped, you start off as a normal 17 year old teenage boy. Trust me, it’s more fun than it sound. Let’s just say that some crazy stuff happens and both of your brothers and your father ( who was also an assassin) are hung are their own “acquittal”. before the death of your father, he tells you of a chest. From here, we enter the journey of an Assassin.

Assassin’s Creed II, like its predecessor, is filled with conspiracy theories and yet, they all somehow tie into a Sci-Fi, Past, Present, Assassin, Redemption story and some how it all makes since

Gameplay

The biggest issue with the first Creed was with the gameplay. It was repetitive to a fault. Well Ladies and Gentlemen, Ubisoft listened to the complaints of gamers and fixed it all! That is one of the aspects that makes AC II such an amazing game, Ubisoft improved ALL the problems that the first had when it came to gameplay. Let me just say that this game has stunning environments and you get a rush Free-Running through Italy. The combat is also improved and Ubisoft gave us some new equipment. You have two Hidden Blades, hidden pistol, poison blade, new assassination techniques and so much more. Ubisoft really thought about what gamers wanted and they fully delivered. The gameplay felt extremely smooth and enjoyable. The camera worked well, Ezio’s control felt natural and the game has a low learning curve.

Enviroments

Ubisoft did an amazing job picking the locations for AC II. The cities are massive, in fact, the whole game has a much more epic feel to it. From the music to the cutscenes, it’s all massive! Venice is my personal favorite and it is for a reason. The buildings look extremely accurate to that of Italy and there is just something surreal about seeing Firebreathers and Fireworks during Carnivale!

Overall

The jump from the quality from AC I to AC II is simply amazing! The feel of this game felt more immersive and on a much bigger scale. The story was more of the focus and that is not bad by any means. Italy is  amazing and Ezio is so much better as a protagonist. If you do not own this game, you are missing out on an amazing experience!

Media Violence And Its Effects: The Problem We Face

Violence is something that is all around us. We here at Everyday Gamers wanted to address the issue of Media Violence. In particularity, in this first article, we want to address how Video Games are misunderstood and how video games compare to other forms of media violence.

In 2005, the Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed 2032 children from grades 3 through 12. This survey is just a minuet part of the on going research trying to find a link between media violence and more aggressive behavior.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a problem here. For years, there has been much debate over whether a direct correlation between forms of media violence, I.E. video games, and more aggressive behavior. So, where does the problem lie? In order to find the problem, we have to dig deeper through the research. First off, what is media violence. Well it is simply the violence found in Television shows, Movies, Video Games, etc. Politicians, parents and even some Psychologists will argue that playing such games as Grand Theft Auto, will lead to more aggressive behavior in the player.

The first part of the problem comes from the fact that much of the research is inconsistent and therefore inconclusive.  In previous surveys that have been conducted, one survey showed that teens reported more self involvements in physical fights after routine play of “M” or Mature rated games. However, another survey showed that players showed less aggression of gameplay of Mature rated games. So, what is the deciding factor? Well, the people in the first survey also admitted to having an aggressive nature to begin with. As you can see, the research

so far does not see, to support each other. Then why is it, that video games get such a bad rap? Well, video games are probably one of the most misunderstood forms of media out there.

Another piece of the problem is the fact that we focus too much on violence in video games. In fact, over sixty percent of television shown in primetime contain some form of violence. The fact is, there are far more violent choices then there are non-violent. Many people will argue that by playing violent video games, you become more violent. However, I believe these games are helping not hurting. The Virtual Psychology Classroom Journal talked about something known as the Catharsis Theory. The Catharsis Theory disputes the link between media violence and more aggressive behavior. The Catharsis Theory essentially states that the player takes out their aggression on a video game, something which is virtual and causes no harm to anyone. This seems like a positive, so why are the “side-effects” still such a controversial issue?

There are many aspects about video games that many people still do not

understand, we will address these in a later article. Many people make a one-sided argument about media violence. The media has constantly attacked video games, well it seems to me that the media attacks what it does not understand. Dr. Douglas A. Gentile argued that if all you research is the negative, that is all you will find. He argued how we always hear this conflicting reports about video games. He argued that instead, media violence has both positive and negative effects. Our goal here at Everyday Gamers, is to show by the end of what will be a  total of three articles, that :

1. There are many aspects of video games that are not understood.
2. Video Games are just like any other form of media
3. Video Games can affect you in positive ways and correlate back to real-life.

2010: The Future of Gaming

2009 graced us with many great titles, but 2009 is gone. Let’s take a look at what 2010 has in store for us. The writers of Everyday Gamers have each made a list of their top 6 most anticipated titles of 2010.

Laren Hawkins:

MGS: Peace Walker – Being the proud new owner of a PSP Go, I am really looking forward to Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. I have played the demo and while it is challenging, it is very good. I have to admit though, this is the first time I have played anything MGS. The graphics are amazing controls work very well. I like how you can choose to use stealth or just run-in and gun. The current release date is set to 3/18/10!

Pokemon: Heart Gold and Soul Silver – This is the most anticipated DS game I have for this year so far. Yes, I am a pokeaddict and I can not wait for these games. The graphics seem improved, and I like how your partner Pokemon can walk around with you. I may be about to turn 16 but, I can not help but, love these games. The current release date is set to 3/14/10

Lead and Gold:  Gangs of The Wild West – This game looks absolutely amazing. I do not many details about this game however, I do know its from Paradox and they have a pretty good track record.

Lost Planet 2 – I really liked the first Lost Planet and found it original and refreshing. The graphics were pretty good and it had a solid story. I am greatly looking forward to see what Capcom has up their sleeves with this one!

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep – I heard about this release recently and am excited for two reasons. 1: it is on the PSP. 2: I have NEVER played a Kingdom Hearts game before. It is also an action-RPG.  I have seen some screenshots and it looks amazing! The release dates are as follows: Japan: January 9th, 2010 US: TBA 2010

Mod Nation Racers – We first got a glimpse of this game back at E3’09 and I have to say , I was very impressed. It is the product of taking LittleBigPlanet and merging it with Mario Kart. Not only is is coming to the PS3 but, it is supposed to be released for the PSP ( as per a Gamestop listing).

Chris Maeurer

Mass Effect 2 – After finally finishing the first game, I can’t wait for the sequel, it’s easily my most looked forward to game of 2010.  The conversations, the combat, the universe created stands out as one of the best new IP’s of late, and with Bioware pushing the limits for the sequel, anticipation couldn’t be higher!

Assassin’s Creed 2 – No, Ladies and Gents, that’s not a typo.  While the console release has picked up quite a bit of steam, the PC iteration of this hopeful title will not hit until March 16th, and once again anticipations are high.  From all accounts, it would seem Ubisoft took gamer’s criticisms of the first game into consideration and made this second installment a better, more evolved game, and I can’t wait to take it for a spin on the PC!

Alpha Protocol – Mix Mass Effect and Modern Warfare, and you will have gamer’s chomping at the bit!   This game gets more amazing the more I see about it, and I worry if it will live up to the hype, but I am still on for the ride.  Take a solid shooter, and infuse the story-telling and conversations from Mass Effect and I am so sold on this game.  Not to mention the three ‘classes’ offered to the player sound intriguing, and may just be the icing on the cake if this title delivers.  Who says revenge is a dish best served cold?  I want it piping hot, and that’s what Alpha Protocol is shaping up to be!

Aliens Vs. Predator – What’s not to love about this franchise?  The two previous PC iterations garnered lots of praise, and the Jaguar game was easily a system seller, so there’s a lot to love about the universe and characters if Sega and Rebellion can pull this off.  Solid Single and Multiplayer with next-gen graphics and this is a must win for 2010.

Tron : Evolution – I know, I of all people should know how licensed games turn out, but I can’t help holding out hope for Tron.  The first movie was beloved, the second is anything but rushed, and I am praying this game gets the attention it deserves to cater to the fans.  Set between the upcoming film and the original, this game has me intrigued to see if it can break away from the monotonous junk pile of licensed games.  It has amazing potential, so I will hope against hope that Disney Interactive can make this game better than a light cycle ride!

Metro 2033 – Everything I’ve seen from THQ’s new IP has me waiting with baited breath for a game I never knew existed.  With elements of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fallout, with maybe a sprinkle of Hellgate, it is really going to be interesting to see if this game can turn out to be great or if it will jsut be a bad knock-off of any of the titiles I’ve just mentioned.  So far the screenshots and previews are looking good, and the game is set to ship in March, so we won’t have to wait long to see how the apocalypse looks in Russia.

Eric Bouchard

Mass Effect 2 – This has been on my list since I finished the first Mass Effect. I cannot wait to continue the adventures of Commander Sheapard and his team. New characters new environments and a storyline that appears to be shaping up to be even better than the first have made this the fist game I have pre-ordered in a long time. Add a revised combat system, smarter teammate AI and controls, new weapons and the intereupt feature…. Well, I could go one forever listing why I am looking forward to this game, but you are all probably tired of hearing about it buy now.

Alpha Protocol – First read about this game in Game Informer, and it is one I have looked forward to ever since. A spy RPG that lets you take the main character along 3 unique training paths, shaping your spy in the mold of Bond, Bourne or Bauer. This shooter meshed with an RPG is one that hopefully hasn;t fallen off too many people’s radars. Oh, and don’t let issues you may have had with Knights of the Old Republic II scare you off this game. Obsidian was never given the opportunity to finish the sequal to Bioware’s RPG. Given a chance to take the time to build its own game, Obsidian has all the makings of a hit.

Alan Wake – I am generally not much of one for survival horror games, but this thriller from Remedy, the makers of Max Payne, has really caught my eye. The game follows Alan wake, a horror novelist who is facing writer’s block. His wife takes him to a small town to help get the creative juices flowing, but everything starts to fall apart as he losses his manuscript, and his story starts to come to life. Alan’s only real weapon against these “creatures” is light, and from what Remedy has shown, the studio intends to use that rather creatively. The story is being told in mini series style, with the chapters being broken up with flashbacks of what happened on the “last episode.” What was shown at E3 really piqued my interest, and I cannot wait to play it.

Puzzle Quest 2 – Puzzle Quest is one of my top 10 games of all time, but D3 Publishers has not done a good job with the games following it. Galactrix was a disapointment, and Puzzle Kingdoms came and went without much fanfare. With that in mind, you may be wondering why I so looking forward to Puzzle Quest 2. It’s because D3 is returning to the franchise and formula it just about perfected with the first one. As long as the company does that, I can see myself once again spending a lot of time with this puzzle based RPG.

Just Cause 2  – I have to admit, this one snuck up on me. It was not until I saw the video of the demo of the game done at E3 that I developed any kind of interest. Even if the storyline ends up being completely forgetable, there is just something about the gameplay combinations of the grappling hook and parachute that will make this a game worth playing. Imagine using the two in combination to rise above enemies, grapling them to exploding barrels and finding other creative ways to take on entire armies. Just watch some gameplay footage; you will want to play it as well.

Star Craft 2 – Many of you may be thinking my listing of this game in my 2010 most anticipated is wishful thinking, and maybe it is. Still, Blizzard has said it intends to get the Terran campaign for Star Craft 2 out by the end of 2010, and if that happens, I will probably be forced to buy a new computer just to play it. Star Craft is hands down the best Real Time Strategy game I have ever played, and the sequel looks to be ever bit better than its predecessor. New units, improvements to an already top-notch multiplayer and the continuation of Star Craft’s incredible story makes this game and absolute must own.

Patrick Adams

Crackdown 2 – This is easily my most anticipated game of 2010. I was a major fan of the first one and I am totally siked that Microsoft decided to keep this franchise alive. I know that this game will  be pure fun.

BioShock 2 – Whether you are skeptical about this one or not you can’t hide the fact that the first one was one of the best games you ever played (well at least it is in my book). My fingers are crossed that the second one is just as great but it has a lot to live up to. None-the-less it’s still going to be a day one purchase.

Red Steel 2 – Why not? I am one of the few people out in the world that thought the first Red Steel was fun. I’m not sure what it was exactly about the game but I liked it. With WiiMotion Plus out now I think that the developer will be able to fix all the problems the first one had and they will finally be able to achieve the quality first person shooter that they’ve wanted to since the beginning.

Splinter Cell: Conviction - The first look at this game that we got a while back had everyone worried but now it looks to be the best yet. I think as long as it sticks with the core gameplay that made the Splinter Cell series so awesome I’m sure it won’t dissapoint.

Halo: Reach – I’m not the biggest Halo fan but I appreciate a good shooter, especially after playing crap like Rogue Warrior. Halo Reach has huge potential. I expect Microsoft will milk this one as much as they can with a lot of commercials, themes, controllers, limited edition consoles, etc.

Fallout: New Vegas – If New Vegas is Fallout 3 with a new setting them I’m sure to love it. The only problem is that we don’t really know what New Vegas will be. Either way it’s still one of my most anticipated games of 2010. I absolutely loved the first and I trust Obsidian’s ability to make a great game.

Honorable Mentions: Fable III, EyePet, HL2: Episode 3 (maybe?), ModNation Racers, and DeathSpank.

Jordan de Boer

Mass Effect 2 – I don’t know what is harder, counting down the days to the release of Mass Effect 2…or trying to avoid the spoilers while doing so. The internet is absolutely bursting at the seams with hype and excitement for this game, and for good reason. I don’t question whether or not I will be playing this game through to completion; I just question how many times and in how short a period of time.

Heavy Rain – I can confirm that my jaw is still firmly in place on the floor from the original 2006 teaser video for this game. The visuals, the voice acting and the facial animation..even back then they were amazing. The grand promises of arching story paths and heavy in-game consequences in reaction the players choices has me at full attention.

Splinter Cell : Conviction – Yes, the last Splinter Cell game was a mess, I’ll be the first to admit that. They stepped in it big time. I don’t, however, want to let that cloud my judgment of what has been shown so far of Conviction. Ubisoft Montreal is behind the wheel now and things are looking up in a major way. Just watching this new (less emo) version of Sam Fisher flawlessly combining stealth and action has many people drooling, including myself.

Ghost Recon 4 – We don’t exactly know what this game is going to be, but if it’s anything like the previous Ghost Recon games, it’s going to be awesome. The title “Ghost Recon : Future Soldier” was recently trademarked by Ubisoft and 2010 is floating around as the release date. I’m all ears.

I Am Alive – My dark horse of the bunch. The preposed post-disaster survival story set in Chicago originally got me interested and what little we have seen of the game visually also has had a funny way of drawing me in. Some troubling news about development issues has contributed to an overall lack of excitement for this game, but the year is young.

Honorable Mentions: Mirror’s Edge 2. Make it happen!

2009 Year in Review: Game of the Year

It’s that time of year. The time where everyone gets together and starts to put together their year in review articles and podcasts. If you caught podcast 41, you heard what we at Everyday Gamers feel were some fo the biggest news stories of the year. We have at least one more year in review podcast coming, but when it comes to these kind of lists, there is one that is expected from every video game website: Game of the year.

So, we here at Everyday Gamers decided we would come together and give you and idea of what each of us feel are the five best games we each played this year.

Eric Bouchard:

5. Tie: Scribblenauts/Henry Hatsworth and the Puzzling Adventure (DS) – Yes, I know starting out with a tie seems like a bit of a cop out, but I cannot help it. In what seemed overall like a down year for the DS, Scribblenauts and Henry Hatsworth were 2 absolutely can’t miss games. Scibblenauts adds a whole new twist to puzzle solving with no set way to beat each level, while Hatsworth combines platforming with puzzle gameplay in a way that is just astounding. The games stand out as the best on the handheld, and I dare anyone to play either one and not enjoy them.

4. Torchlight (PC) – In a world of big releases, it is rare to see an indie game catch on the way Torchlight has. Made by many of the creators of Diablo, Torchlight manages to be both a deep dungeon crawler and yet an accessible game for those not used to that type. You can pop in and play for just a bit or get lost for hours, something most games cannot balance. Excellent gameplay, an inventive inventory system with the ability to have you pet sell you items and 3 truly unique classes to play set Torchlight apart from other Diablo clones, and that’s not counting the mods people are already making available for the game. Heck, it deserves to be on the list if for nothing else than it has gotten me back into PC gaming.

3. Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360, PC) – When Left 4 Dead 2 was announced at E3, there were many people, including some 0n this site, who thought it was too soon after Left 4 Dead. Many were afraid the game would just be Left 4 Dead 1.5, but it did not take long for that to be proven wrong. The sequel has surpassed its predecessor in every way, from tighter controls to longer, more involved campaigns. Add to that plenty of new weapons including melee based, new special infected, the uncommon common and more multiplayer modes, and Left 4 Dead 2 ends up feeling like much much more of a complete game than the original. This version is worth the $60.oo price point.

2. Dragon Age Origins (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) – This game was in the running for Game of the Year when I was first started playing. Bioware set out yo make Dragon Age Origins to be the spiritual successor to Balder’s Gate, and the company has achieved that. A deep storyline, excellent character interaction and a rich combat system make this an RPG to make hardcore RPG fans proud. In the end, however, that is part of why it did not make number 1 on my list, as the one the made it there was much more accessible and has the best Co-op I think I have ever played.

1. Game of the Year: Borderlands (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) - There is something magical about this game. Gearbox has managed to do the best job so far of combining an FPS with an RPG, and the cell-shaded look to Borderlands just helps add to the joy you get while playing it. Though the single player campaign is strong, you are really doing this game and yourself a disservice if you do not play it Co-op, and as such the 360 version may be the best because of Live. Random weapons, 4 unique character classes that can be leveled up in many different ways, enemies who level up based on the number of people playing and a wry humor that just permeates the game make Borderlands the clear choice for GOTY.

Honorable Mentions: Uncharted 2 (PS3), Street Fighter IV (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), Batman Arkham Asylum (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), Assassin’s Creed II (PS3, Xbox 360)

Patrick Adams

5. InFamous (PS3) – I was a little skeptical about the game until the demo released, once I got my hands on it I instantly knew it would be a day-one purchase. I’m not one to pay attention to the story in a game but InFamous made it hard not to with it’s sweet comic book art-style. The platforming elements in InFamous were very refined and overall the game is one of the best on the PS3.

4. Shadow Complex (XBLA) – Shadow Complex was so good that I almost added it to my top 10 favorite games of all time list. Yes it pays homage to Metroid but for someone like me who has never played Metroid it was still an amazing game. The game was very polished and overall just plain fun. Once I completed the game I only wanted to play more. I hope we’ll see a sequel sometime in the near future.

3. Uncharted 2 (PS3) – Everyone knew U2 looked beautiful and the hype for it was pretty high. Naughty Dog delivered and the game lived up to the expectations. Like the first one, U2 is like an adventure movie that you play and that’s awesome. With a thin line between the cutscenes and the actual gameplay U2 is right next to Killzone 2 as the best looking game to grace the PS3.

2. Red Faction: Guerrilla (Xbox 360) – I think the main reason RFG is #2 on my list is because it really caught me by surprise. I had heard nothing about the game until I played the demo and that demo was enough to make me go out and buy RFG on day-one. RFG is about destroying everything and destroying everything is as fun as a game can get.

1. Game of the Year:  Borderlands (Xbox 360) – I went out on a limb and bought this game purely because of reading good things about it on Twitter and here it is my #1 one pick, my game of the year. The funny thing about my experience with Borderlands was that I played the entire game by myself. It was exactly what I needed, a blend of the action in an FPS and the addiction of collecting loot and leveling up in an RPG. Borderlands also has an art-style that hits the spot for me. With the announcement of plans to make it a franchise I am excited to see more of Borderlands in the future.

Honorable Mentions: Killzone 2 (PS3), GTA: Chinatown Wars (DS), Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360), and N.O.V.A. (iPhone).

Yuoma

Tony Hawk: Ride Sales Are Dissappointing

So, apparently the sales for Tony Hawk: Ride aren’t exactly booming. So the question is why. Lets ponder for a moment shall we? I don’t think it would anything to do with the fact that we need MORE  “wireless” accessories piling up. It couldn’t be because the Tony Hawk franchise lost its allure 50 games ago. Now, sarcasm aside, I have played the old skool Tony Hawk games. They were inventive, fun, and original. However, the originality part doesn’t stand in todays market. Now, to my next point. You may be wondering why I did this “” to the word wireless. Well, here’s why. Ok, so the whole point of wireless is to remove the inconvenience and clutter of cords but, that brings a new problem. The fact that we have so much wireless accessories that they pile up and cause inconvenience and clutter. Oh you can just smell the irony. Chris, now would be a good time into insert a flatulence joke. Ok, all joking aside. The biggest problem in my opinion is that people want something and refreshing. That may take more than just a fake, plastic, wireless skateboard.

Digital Distribution: Our Thoughts

Digital Distribution is definitely starting to be a new trend in gaming. However, unlike motion controls, I am more apt as a gamer to move with this trend. Digital distribution is not something new to the consumers however. The 360 uses it with movies, even Xbox originals. while there are very successful forms of digital distribution i.e. Steam, it can also be a gamble i.e. PSP Go. So what are our thoughts?

Eric Bouchard: The Two Edged Sword

Whether we like it or not, Digital Distribution is here to stay. It’s the direction things are headed. The 360, PSN, Steam…everyone is coming up with ways to deliver their product directly to the consumer. Some people really like the idea of being able to directly download games, music or movies. Personally, I have never been a big fan.

Some of the people who know me may find that hard to believe. After all, I own an iPod with my entire music collection on it, I have ripped several of my movies onto my hard drive and I have digital copies of more than a few of my games. The main difference there is I own physical copies of almost everything. I like having the actual copies in case something ever went wrong. As I have gone through 2 different MP3 players before getting my current iPod, having physical copies of the CDs has been very important to me.

And that brings me to one of my biggest issues with Digital Distribution: you do not really own the product. Anyone who has had to change 360′s knows that. Though Microsoft allows you to redownload any of the arcade games you have bought, you have to go through a rather extensive process to have them relicensed to your new machine. Otherwise you cannot play the games while not connected to XBox Live.

So is Digital Distribution all bad? Not by a long shot. One of the advantages it has is it has allowed smaller developers a channel to release their games. Without it, games like Flower, Groov and Audiosurf would never have been released to the general public. Even larger companies can take advantage of the freedom allowed by Digital Distribution as well. After all, do you really think Epic would have created Shadow Complex if the only way to distribute it had been standard game discs?

Then there are groups like Good Old Games. For those of you who do not know, GOG takes older games, gets them working on current machines and operating systems and then sells them over the net. GOG has two major things going for it. First, many of the games you can download off GOG are not available in a format that is playable on anything current. The other is the company does not believe in attaching DRM to any of its files. In other words, when you buy a game from GOG, you can install it on as many computers as you like and redownload an unlimited number of times if you have the need. Instead of just buying the right to download a playable version of the game, you are buying the rights to the game itself, just as you would if you owned the physical copy. Steam doesn’t even give you that.

Whether we like it or not, Digital Distribution is here to stay. While we can all hope more companies will take the approach Good Old Games has when it comes to DRM, most will not out of fear of piracy. What that will mean for the consumer as far as the question of ownership and usage rights still remains to be seen.

Laren Hawkins: The Future of Gaming

I have to agree with Eric, Digital Distribution is definitely a growing trend in gaming. So much so that Sony recently released an all Digital Distribution hand held. The PSP Go is a big step in the growing strength of Digital Distribution. I was very skeptical of the PSP Go at first. I have always liked owning a physical copy of a game. There are many problems that can come with Digital Distribution. 1: Many people will make the argument that you will never truly own that game and I have to say that is a pretty good argument to make. 2: Many gamers like to trade their games after they are done with it, me included. With something like the PSP Go, you can’t do that, once you drop that money, that’s it. 3: Many consumers may not be comfortable with only buying content online and owning no physical copy of that game. I know I had many concerns about the PSP Go and many questions. So, I hopped on to the information super highway and did some research.

1. What if a friend wants to borrow a game? (There is a feature on the PSP Go that is similar to that on the DS’s download play. I am not sure however how many games are compatible with this feature.)
2. What if your little brother some how manages to delete a game? Like in iTunes, there is a history of your purchases and you have to do is re download it
3. What about the slow internet speed on the Go? That was one of my biggest concerns however, after doing some digging I found a solution. Sony released a software that comes with the Go in which you can transfer music, movies, photos and download games. You can use your computer to download the games and have a faster download speed depending on your internet.

So, are there any positives to Digital Distribution?

Well, yes. For one, you don’t have to make a trip to Gamestop. ( That is enough to make me cry tears of joy and break into a chorus of Hallelujah) With systems like the go all the games are right there on the system you don’t have to carry UMDs. You may still have a question, why am I so wrapped up in the Go? Well lets just say that was the only thong on my Christmas list. Albeit, I am taking a bit of a risk but, what better to understand Digital Distribution then to fully experience it? Like with many things in life, Digital Distribution has both positives and negatives. For now, we can only sit back and watch what Digital Distribution brings to the table in the future.

Halo Reach: A Breath of Fresh Air

Back at E3 ( No this isn’t another one of my Nintendo rants :O) Bungie was very vague about Halo: Reach. Now, having had read The Fall of Reach Halo novel, I got the connection the the Halo kingdom. Now, I have gotten sick of Halo FPS’s however, after seeing the first non-teaser trailer, I am very excited for this game. It seems like a breath of fresh air which is exactly what we need in a world of FPS’s look-a-likes. Now don’t get me wrong I love Halo and FPS’s as much as the next guy it just, they often feel the same. Leave it to Bungie to breath some fresh air into the genre.

Trailer courtesy of Youtube.com

Gamestop: Another Bad Move

Starting next year, Gamestop is going to cater to DLC lovers. How you may ask, they are going to sell DLC… IN THEIR STORES. Ok, so something called Downloadable content, which can be DOWNLOADED in the comfort of your own home, is going to be sold in store? I honestly want to know who came up with this idea. I can’t see consumers making a trip just to get something they can download anywhere. All I can say is, Gamestop is either 1, running out of good ideas or 2, desperate. Either way, I do not feel that this a good move for Gamestop.  Selling DLC in store kind of defeats the purpose.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

A horrid disease strikes the land known as the Blorbs. You have never heard of the Blorbs you say well, beware because its not all fun and games. The land searches for a hero. Who knew the hero would be a pair of brothers.

Story

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story has an absolutely amazing and certainly unique plot. This kind of story could only make sense in the  the world of the Bros.  The story starts off first introducing you to a condition known as the Blorbs. The Mushroom Kindgom seems to have become plagued with it. You are then sent to Peach Castle where they await a Starite. To their dismay, this is something even a Starite can’t fixed. They need a hero and they need one fast. Who is the hero you ask, a pair of brothers. As in most Mario games, Bowser ends up storming the castle only to be made into a fool by Mario. With a now dismayed and frustrated Bowser, he finds his way to a mysterious person at a stand who says he has won a “Lucky Mushroom”. Next thing you know, Bowser ends up sucking up the citizens, Mario, Luigi, Peach and more!

Graphics

The graphics are pretty normal for a DS game yet, they seem fresh and vibrant. I kept saying, ” WOW, this looks really good!” and in all honesty, the game looks fantastic.  It just goes to show that you don’t need fancy graphics to make a great game. The bright and vibrant colors seem to make the game pop and bring the characters to life.

Gameplay

They could have very easily screwed up the game controls to feel very cramped and unnatural however, they delivered dead on when it comes to control. Throughout the game, you switch between playing as Bowser to Mario and Luigi. When playing as Bowser, you will typically use x,y buttons. When you play as the Bros., you use the “A” button for Mario and ‘B” for Luigi and somehow, it seems to translate extremely well on the DS. Playing as the characters is just as exceptional. Getting to switch from Bowser to the Bros., I never seemed to get bored of the gameplay. My next aspect is the RPG elements, after all, this is an RPG. I found the combat system to be extremely refreshing and easy to use. It was a very pleasant experience switching to special attacks, selecting normal attacks, equipping items etc.  Leveling up is an overall very satisfying experience, especially when you even get to upgrade the Bros.’s stashes. The combat system while usually composed of one to two buttons, still requires skill and timing.

Overall

This was the first Mario and Luigi RPG I had ever played and I have to admit, I had no idea how good of a game it would be. I was not let down. From the fun and quarky story to getting to play as Bowser when he’s 7 stories tall yet, the story ties up all together at the end. I found myself just wanting to play more and more. Whether it be trudging through the inside of Bowser in search of the Princess herself or battling as Bowser himself, I couldn’t get enough of it This is one of the best Mario games I have played in awhile. The controls translated well, the vibrant colors made the graphics pop off the screen and an unique and inventive story line. Which is why I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Nintendo Takes Another Gamble

How many of you are a proud owner of a DSi? I know I am. Well, it just so happens that in Japan, Nintendo is releasing another iteration of its very successful hand held.  The new system is called the DSi L L/XL. You may be asking yourself, why in the world would they call it xl? Well for one reason, its bigger, MUCH BIGGER. The DSi XL measures 161 x 91.4 x 21.2 mm (6.34 x 3.6 x 0.83″), 1.61x the total volume of the DSi, and 1.48x the volume of the DS Lite. It weighs 314 grams.   The system will come pre-loaded with the DSi browser, Flipnote Studio, Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math and a Japanese Dictionary program. Honestly, it has to be the ugliest handheld I have seen in awhile.The XL will be released in Europe and North America sometime next year. This is one handheld I will not be picking it up.