Malik
(7/29/08)
With Vivendi and Activision becoming the latest massive behemoth of
gaming, it's no surprise that some games would be
cut from Vivendi's schedule of planned games. While I can see
the latest 50 Cent game, the next Leisure Suit Larry, and a few
others being in line to be cut, I have some disbelief.
That would come from the limbo state that Ghostbusters is in. It's
not like a Ghostbusters game would, on the surface, appear to be a
bad idea. However, we're not talking about some lame game built on
that franchise like we saw in the 1980's. We're talking about a real
deal sequel with some of the major talent of the movies behind the
game. We're talking about all the original actors coming back. We're
talking about the original writing talent coming back. We're talking
about a full fledged sequel in game form on the modern systems that
could tackle the explosions caused by their particle beams. We are
talking about a real Ghostbusters situation.
I hope that Activision gives Vivendi enough room to find an
alternative publisher and alternative funding for this game before
it becomes one of the most highly anticipated vaporware properties
since Duke Nukem Forever.
On a final note for today's shorter than usual post, I am finding
the displeasure of the modern E3 funny. We've heard some complaints,
but I think
one of the best complaints yet has been from Peter Moore. In a
nut shell, he's saying that the current form of E3 is a source of
"frustration" and is "soulless".
That sounds about right for a show that was incredibly hyped by the
media, only due to tradition (just a couple years back it was worthy
of being covered by a large media frenzy), and...well...it's not
that it's been ignored or neglected by other people who care about
gaming. It's more that it's as recognized as a sunny day in San
Diego or a rainy day in Seattle. Which is to say that it exists, and
it might be recognized, but it just doesn't do anything special for
anyone. E3 has become relegated to the "part of life" status that
goes with anything too unimportant to be either recognized or
ignored. It's just there...
Malik |
Malik
(7/31/08)
Yes, I've been bad
with posting this week. I guess you could call it busy busy or lazy.
For once, I think busy is the better term. Between a small bit of
vacation on Monday and having a long work day of interviewing future
servants (lower level technicians) for my job yesterday, I have been
strapped for time.
Then again, I also
have had little to discuss. I blame this mostly on FFIV DS. This
game has claimed my free time like it was candy and the game is a
fat kid. I have spent almost all of my free time just grinding away.
One thing I can
easily discuss is that this game is hard as hell when compared to
past FFIV versions and ports. I just finished with the first trip
through the Tower of Babel. It basically entailed forcing myself to
redo the first few levels repeatedly as the random encounters
eventually ended up on (going off of old FFIV names) a group of
three flame beasts. These this would quickly lay out scorch
(previously called flame). The first use would hurt. The second
would eliminate Kain, Rosa, and Rydia. The third would finish off
the HP hording Yang and Cecil. Then I would have to replay the
entire first few floors of the tower hoping to egt to the next area
in one piece. Once you clear enough areas, you do find easier foes
and some armor to block the death caused by scorch...but by then
you've gained enough levels to not care as much.
At least this is
normally a good type of challenge. What I mean by that is that it's
more about how you fight than simply being strong enough to mash the
fight/attack button repeatedly. It's usually about knowing what
spells you can lay down to either debuff the enemies or buff your
party. The question is if you're smart enough to figure it out
before you see the game over screen for the millionth time.
On a small bit of
real news,
I think Peter Molyneaux is rushing things. It's good for fans of
his work, like myself, to see three more Fable games may be in the
future. It would, however, be wise for him to wait and see if the
gaming world is still accepting of his work before riling up his
long time fans.
Of course, if he
does go ahead with Fable III, IV, and V, I will be ready to lay down
my money to this mad genius. Afterall, while many hated Fable for
what it lacked, I saw something more that I expect to see in Fable
II; passion for making games. Molyneaux brings this rare flavor to
his games and I am always game for another round of that type of
goodness. There is always something a little more enjoyable about a
game that shows the player that the designer actually has more
respect for his job than to think of it as a standard nine-to-five
money making thing.
Finally, it's
Thursday so I'll wager on my guess for the Rock Band DLC to be
announced tomorrow. Since we've had a lot of very modern stuff
recently, I see something from the 90's or earlier this week. I'd
guess with either something alternative (like some rumored Nirvana)
or something more in the classic pantheon of The Rolling Stones or
(come on Harmonix) more Deep Purple. Of course, if they could manage
to bring something of the Hendrix flavor between now and September,
it would show they can easily compete with and even out compete
GH:WT. Anyway, I'm guessing either alternative 90's or hard rock
70's for this week. Also, expect another large set (more than three
songs).
I just wish we
could stop seeing so many artists using Rock Band as a way to push
their new music. It was one thing when Saints of Los Angeles
premiered on RB. It was new then. Disturbed wasn't so bad since we
also had Jimmy Buffett that week. However, the Cruefest pack and the
random shit from this week are just not worth it when there's
nothing else to salvage the week. Especially when so many of these
bands prove that their major hits from their first few releases are
just not of the same level as what they try to cram on to the radio
today (I'm looking at Staind and Papa Roach in particular on this
crime to my ears).
Malik |
Malik
(8/1/08)
I am
in a bit of a shitty mood today. Driving to work, on a day when
I aim to take off early, is not a good thing when some damned idiot
caused a tanker truck to close down all but one lane of the main
driving route from the majority of the people to the majority of the
jobs. In other words, I just finished (as I write, but not as I
finally post this) driving for well over an hour at 5-10 MPH to make
a commute that takes 20 minutes (at about 65 MPH). If you are the
driver of the taxi that caused this; next time, go f#@$ youself in
the privacy of your own home next time instead of deciding on f#@$ing
hundreds of thousands of people in public.
Also, why the f#@$
was a tanker truck in the left (fast/passing) lane at 5AM on a
stretch of interstate that is relatively low traffic at this time of
morning? I damned well know there are no left hand exits for another
5-7 miles and that tankers are not usually associated with the
concept of legally passing other vehicles. Just too damned bad that,
for no good reason, it is legal for large trucks to actually be in
the left lane at this stretch of I-5 (although, it is illegal only a
mile before the accident...makes you think...).
Anyway, I am now
thinking, due in a large part to peer pressure (damn you, Bastich!)
of buying MLB Power Pros 2008. I haven't bought a sports game in
about a decade, not counting extreme sports, but this may be the one
to change that. For one thing, the PS2 version is only $20. Not bad
for a game that came out only in the last couple of days. Secondly,
it's a baseball game that recaptures the feel of RBI Baseball for
the NES. In other words, it's baseball like I grew up with, before
things became overly complicated and a baseball game would feel more
like a job than a game.
Lastly, the game
has a pretty awesome sounding RPG element in it. You are able to
take control of a student in high school (or is it college...uhhh...same
difference) and control his focus on sports, classes, and social
things. This, along with buying and earning special equipment will
allow you to make a player who can then be imported into a
professional team (or you can get a code to get him into a friend's
team on another PS2). It's a good deal like the fighter's evolution
mode on Rival Schools...except this did come to the US (unlike said
mode in Rival Schools which was cut for American audiences).
Despite having a
need to finish Xenogears (for the 8th or so time), FF4 DS, playing
Rock Band, playing real guitar, getting ready for Tales of Vesperia,
then getting ready for RB2, and then getting ready for Fable 2 and
Tales of Symphonia 2, I feel a calling. I think this should be a
great game to play with my friend (damn you, Bastich!!!) who is
constantly tempting me with this game and it's price.
Anyway, to wrap up
this week, the newly announced Rock Band DLC for next week is...
Actually, one
thought before I get to the announcement. I've noticed a sad trend
lately in RB. Originally (up until around June), DLC and core (on
disk) songs for Rock Band tended to go for one type of sound while
songs for Guitar Hero 3 went a different direction. Heavier stuff
that was less likely to get a general audience excited (Disturbed,
Motley Crue, Slipknot, Slayer) and were seen as more guitar
intensive were found primarily on GH3. On the other hand, songs on
RB were less guitar intensive (some were obvious vocal or bass
showcases) and more likely to be accepted (even if not generally
desired) by a more broad of audience. However, upon the release of
the Disturbed pack (and a small first step with Screaming for
Vengeance a bit earlier), the sound of RB has been changing.
In recent weeks,
we've been seeing RB move away from classic rock, 1980's fun music
(new wave or general 1980's rock and punk), punk in general, and
classical genre twisters (like The Grateful Dead and The Police).
Instead, we've seen a lot of very bland sounding new songs from
one-or-two-hit-wonders (Staind, Papa Roach, Disturbed), some obvious
songs for audience specifics (Crue is not exactly an easy to
appreciate band if you were not raised on them), some of the less
desirable songs of otherwise good artists (sorry, but enough Stadium
Arcadium crap from RHCP), and some forced MTV crap (Scene Pack).
Hell, we've even seen a repeat with a second (although superior)
version of Working Man from Rush.
I hope this is not
a trend that remains. While some people will complain at something
like The Police (although we did see some overkill on Police),
Blondie, Clash, classic RHCP, classic Weezer, classic power and
thrash metal (Metallica and Maiden actually are pretty commonly
enjoyed by a lot of people who don't go for metal...it's just
something about how well their sounds flow), and the other great
songs and styles that can cross audience types and can be seen as
more than guitar showcases. So, I type this just prior to the
announcement being sent out from Harmonix, I say we need something
for DLC that would have fit in with the first half year of DLC
releases. Even if it's more Rush or Police (I'm not exactly a huge
fan of either group), we just need something that can be appreciated
by more than just the diehard fans of the DLC artist(s).
I write this an
hour later at 11AM.
The new DLC announcement is up! Actually, the "!" may be
overdoing it for most of this crap. Here comes Cruefest Pack
02...blah! Sixx AM, Buckcherry, and Crue. At least it's only 80MP
each (240 for pack)...so it makes it look like more economical crap.
However, at least
there are two (160MP each) System of a Down songs. Got to love those
crazy Armenian geniuses. Toxicity is alright, but I think the true
star of August 5th will be B.Y.O.B. Definitely this would be one
song I've been waiting for for a long time.
Too bad the
majority of this DLC is fitting in with my previous observation.
It's all stuff that not only represents limited tastes by diehard
fans, but it's also not the best from each artist (ok...Sixx AM has
nothing good, since it's all bubblegum MTV shit and Buckcherry does
need to go away before they have a chance for a real song...and
Crazy Bitch is not good despite what radio air time suggests), and
it's obviously of the type of music MTV would force on it's viewers.
Malik |