Laser Sharks

Guitar Hero was an experience so unique that it seemed that no rhthym game could ever again be so good.  Then Guitar Hero II came out and arguably topped the original.  Mainstream successes in a niche market will have mainstream publishers (read Activision and MTV) rushing to get in on the action.  Activision may dramatically change the Guitar Hero franchise when it releases Guitar Hero III, but the core gameplay mechanics of Rocks the 80s remains the same as the first two as this is the last Guitar Hero game to be made by the original developer, Harmonix. 

Rocks the 80s plays exactly like Guitar Hero II.  Exactly.  All of the characters and venues are the same, just with an 80s twist.  Rocks the 80s was designed for someone who loves Guitar Hero and just wants some more songs to play.  Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s is that it is essentially the same game with 30 new songs on which you can rock out.  It is a great expansion pack.  The only problem is that it is not intended to be and expansion pack and is priced at $50.  I thought the game was overall enjoyable but could only recommend it to serious fans of the series; otherwise, your money would be better spent on Guitar Hero III or Rock Band.  If you do not mind paying $50 for 30 songs (it is cheaper than downloading 30 songs for Guitar Hero II on Xbox Live), or love 80s music in all its forms, then go ahead and pick up a copy. 

Popularity: 4% [?]

Book Review of
Ghost of Onyx (Halo)
by Eric Nylund
Let me begin by saying how much I do not like books based on video games. More often than not, they are as disappointing (if not more so) than movie adaptations of games. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved Mega Man 2 and Blaster Master from the WORLDS OF POWER collection, but I was also in 5th grade when I read them. I would not exactly call myself an amazing judge of quality at that age. But while those books were entertaining, the only video game books that I have ever really enjoyed reading (and would consider reading again) was the Doom series by Dafydd ab Hugh and Brad Linaweaver. It took a game with the basic premise of killing monsters while trying to get through a level and created an amazing story that gave you an understanding of why this guy (who ends up being a marine) was walking around killing all of these strange creatures/aliens. So after expressing my deep-seated dislike for most video game novels, I have to say that Eric Nylund’s Ghost of Onyx (Halo) was a VERY pleasant surprise.

The first thing I really liked about Nylund’s novel was the absence of Master Chief and the prescence of five other survivors of the SPARTAN-II program. Don’t get me wrong, I love Master Chief and am highly grateful for all of the things he has done to make the universe a safer place to live, but I have always wondered what happened to the remaining SPARTAN-II’s at the Battle of Reach (this is the battle the Pillar of Autumn is fleeing at the beginning of Halo). Nylund’s novel answered these questions with flying colors. The bulk of the story surrounds the SPARTAN-II Kurt, who disappeared years before the Fall of Reach. Kurt is abducted by the secret military organization Section III, so that he can train the next generation of Spartan soldiers, the SPARTAN-III’s, to face the expected onslaught of Covenant forces. With the help of Chief Mendez, the trainer of the SPARTAN-II’s, Kurt sets up a training camp on the mysterious alien planet Onyx, where the surviving orphans of Covenant attacks are brought to undergo intense military training so that they will be both physically and mentally prepared for their ascension to the ranks of the legendary SPARTANS. But one day something strange occurs and alien drones (similar to the Forerunner Sentinels) begin to appear on the planet and attack both students and military personnel. Shortly thereafter, the four remaining Spartans along with Dr. Halsey (creator of the SPARTANS) make their way to Onyx, while a fleet of UNSC ships and an armada composed of warring Covenant elites and brutes appear and chaos ensues in the skies above Onyx.
 
What are these mysterious drones? What attracted both the Covenant and UNSC to Onyx? What lies in store for our Spartan heroes, both old and new? If I answered these questions, then I would be a huge jerk and you wouldn’t have any reason to read this fantastic entry in the Halo series. So if you want something to satiate your Halo hunger until the release of Halo 3 later this year, pick up Ghost of Onyx (Halo).  As a Halo fan, I do not think you will be disappointed.

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1. It is Hard to Program
Cell Processing was promised as the next step in processing.  It may be, but what was delivered was poorly organized, bottlenecked, and hard to program.  While difficulty in programming does not directly matter to the average consumer, it does directly matter to the developers.  As a result, you have a higher learning curve and it is hard for the developer to make the game do exactly what they want it to do.  It also makes the platform less attractive to the developers.  These all lead to less games and lower quality games.

2.  It Can Have a “me-too” Mentality
Motion controls?  Yeah…mmm, we have that.  Online marketplace?  Sure, and it is better than anyone else’s, well at least it might be if we had any content.  The Playstation Network offers everything that Xbox Live does, but it is free - or at least it should if we ever get it implemented.

3.  Overpromised and Underdelivered
Anybody else remember dual HD outputs and up to seven people on the same console at the same time?  How about games so large and expansive that they require a blu-ray disc.  What about 380 PS3 games by March 2008 (to meet this Sony would have to crank out over 40 games a month)?  The video below has some cheesy edits, but the Sony promises are real.

4. Weak Online Service
There is some truth to the saying ”you get what you pay for.” It may be free while Xbox Live costs $50 a year, but it is nowhere close in terms of interconnectivity, features, or seamlessness of Xbox Live.  If Sony ever offers all of the features they say they have planned (see number 3) for the PlayStation Network and can continue to offer it for free, then Sony will have a huge advantage over Xbox Live.  However, they still have a long way to go.  If you want to play Madden online for free then this is the system for you.  If you play several games online with a consistent group of friends, like to monitor their progress, talk to them while playing different games, or play games online with video chat, then you will have to go with Xbox Live.

5.  It is Expensive
The PS3 costs  $200 more than its main competitor, the Xbox 360.  Sure it is cheap for a Blu-Ray player, but not everyone cares to have a blu-ray player.  Sony launched with a lot of seemingly good features that cost a lot of money: the cell processor, the Blu-ray player, a design licensed from the George Foreman Grill, but these things all added up to major costs for Sony.  Sony is losing major amounts of money on every console they sell.  I know this is common console strategy, but their competitors are making money on each console they sell.  This translates to a lack of exclusive titles, as Sony can’t justify spending the money for them.

Check out the worst things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360
Check out the best things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360

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1. The Wii has Friend Codes

The Nintendo Wii sports an “always on” feature where it is always connected to the internet. Unfortunately, just because it is connected doesn’t mean it is easy to connect and play with a friend. You see, you have to have a console specific friend code for everyone you want to play with. The reasoning behind this is because Nintendo wants to promote people playing together in a physical space rather than online. But you know what, people may not always be available to come over and play every time you want to hop on multiplayer. I say give me that option and I’ll utilize it, but don’t restrict me. It’s like having a console with a bedtime.

2. The Wii has poor Graphics

I know the Wii is focusing on gameplay and group interaction, but I don’t care. I want my games to look good, not par with a web browser game or a console from 5 years ago. That’s all I have to say about that.

3. The Wii has few good Games

Speaking of games, the Wii has the poorest lineup thus far. There are a few must have games, but most are just ok at best. The games either poorly use the motion-sensing functionality or provide only short bursts of fun. I’d also like to see some new intellectual property from Nintendo. I love Mario and Zelda and the gang, but I bet they’d like to have some new friends to play with, too.

4. The Wii has the Wiimote

The revolutionary aspect of the Wii is its controller. It senses motion and requires players to move it and its friend, the Nunchuck, in certain ways to accomplish actions on-screen. This is supposed to provide a great sense of immersion, unfortunately it usually only provides a sense of disconnection and frustration. The sensitivity just isn’t right on nearly every game. It feels more like work trying to get my motions down pat, only to have different in-game results all the time. I’m not going to lie and say it’s not fun to try, but I definitely prefer to feel like I’m good at a game, not just lucky motion sensing worked in my favor.

5. The Wii is not for Relaxing

This may seem like a weird point to make, but I feel it is important. A lot of the times, I play games to relax. With a standard controller or mouse/keyboard setup, I can be playing a very intense, action oriented game and still be relaxed and comfortable in a chair. With the Wii, however, even the simplest of tasks forces me to do a lot of moving and generally, I have to be standing up to accomplish this. This is ok some of the time, but when the system makes it difficult to relax in every game, I find it hard to want to play it that much. And no, I’m not being lazy, I just like to come home after a hard day’s work and relax, not work up a sweat.

Check out the worst things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360
Check out the best things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360

Popularity: 7% [?]

1. You have to pay to play online
Although Xbox Live offers the most complete online service, you do have to pay $50 a year to play the game that just set you back $60. Although you do not get the same quality of service or all the cool extras, you can play Madden for free on the Playstation Network.

2. They Use Microsoft Points
I understand that allowing $1 at a time credit card transactions are cost prohibitive, but at least give us a currency that isn’t intentionally confusing.  Nintend0 has 100 Points=$1 and Sony’s point system uses the equivalent local currency.  Why then does Microsoft feel the need to make 80 points=$1?  It is simple math and only takes a little bit to figure it out, but we know that the only reason this pricing method is used is to make you think you are paying $5 for something that is actually costing you $6.25.

3.  The Hard Drive Is Not Standard
The original Xbox had the advantage of being the only system to include a hard drive as standard.  This allowed games like Halo to be played through with almost no loading screens.  With the Xbox 360, they decided that it was a good idea to release a cheaper version without a hard drive.  That is fine except this forced developers to not count on the hard drive being there, and as a result, many of the benefits of the hard drive, such as reduced loading screens, are not there either.

4. The Accessories are Overpriced
$100 for a wi-fi adaptor, $100 for a 20 GB hard drive, $170 for a 120 GB hard drive, $40 (now $30) for a 64 MB memory card, $50 for a 512 MB hard drive, $ - well, you get the point.  I should buy a product from Microsoft that costs 2.5 times the cost that somebody off the street will pay for it.

5. One Third of the Systems are Defective
Like the Xbox 360, well there is a good chance that you will have several of them.  I personally know a guy who is on his fourth console.  This guy has had twelve of them.  At lease Microsoft has finally admitted that there is a problem and extended the warranty to three years, as well as changing some of the hardware.  Still, you know it was frustrating to be the kid who opened up his gift on Christmas morning only to have it go out three hours later.

Check out the worst things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360
Check out the best things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360

Popularity: 7% [?]

1. The Xbox 360 has Hardcore Gamers.
For Gamers that play a lot, there is no better system than the Xbox 360. It has the best there is to offer for a standard next-gen console and a large user base to utilize it all. Which leads me to my next point…

2. The Xbox 360 has Xbox Live.
Of all the systems, including the granddaddy of connectivity, the PC, Xbox Live is by far the easiest to use connection tool. Other systems have it, other systems have friend codes, other systems are currently free, but Xbox Live does it best. Voice, text, downloadable content, system/game updates, all easily navigable through…

3. The Xbox 360 has Xbox Dashboard.
This is the console’s menu system, and by itself, it is well laid out, easily accessible, and chock full ‘o’ nifty options. They include user set backgrounds and modular, organizational components. And, for people that have been console gaming for years, it means that you can have fun with your console without having a game plugged in.

4. The Xbox 360 has Game Library.
In the past, Xbox hasn’t had the largest library of games…well, good games at least. So far, and with new titles coming all the time, the 360 has the best selection of games. It has even snagged a number of formerly exclusive titles. And yeah, that’s just a by-product of developers and producers needing to pay rent, but what it means to the consumer is that you can play the game you want on the system you want. And right now, those games are debuting on the 360 first.

5. The Xbox 360’s Pricing.
This one is a no brainer. The 360 is smack in the middle of the price scale. And yet it offers more than one competitor and just as much as the other. Even the new Elite version of the 360 is cheaper than competition, and that’s with a twice as large harddrive. 360 is definitely the best bang for your buck when it comes to next-gen gaming.

Check out the worst things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360
Check out the best things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360

Popularity: 5% [?]

1. The PS3 has the Cell Processor.
This is a dedicated processor especially designed for gaming. It is essentially 8 processors in one. This allows developers to assign specific processors for specific tasks. Multitasking has never been easier than with Cell and it will only grow in its potential.

2. The PS3 plays Blu-Ray.
The PS3 is a gaming system that can play Blu-Ray discs at half the price of just a dedicated Blu-Ray player. What’s not to love? Oh, it also enables a huge increase in disc space which allows for better graphics, AI, map size, and much more. I don’t care what she tells you, bigger is better.

3. The PS3 is Backwards Compatability.
The best part about having a game is being able to play it. Unlike certain competitors, the entire Playstation library is playable on the PS3. Now you can free up some entertainment center space for all those new Blu-Ray movies you’re going to be buying.

4. The PS3 has Sixaxis Conrollers.
I know the directional motion sensing has been done by somebody else. I know the controller now lacks rumble features. But the simple fact that I can hold a normal, dual-thumbstick controller and still be able to affect the gameplay with gestures and motions…well, that’s at least something special, I think.

5. The PS3 has a standard Harddrive.
What!? No more memory cards!? Welcome to next-gen PS3.

Check out the worst things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360
Check out the best things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360

Popularity: 5% [?]

Despite having been raised by the principle that if you cannot say anything nice, do not say anything at all, I have posted have been a few examples of what I like to call Wii-whacking (see here or here). I still believe everything written in previous posts on this site, but I really do believe that the Wii has many redeeming qualities. So to make up for all of the console hating that has been going on, we have decided to post the something positive about the Wii.

1. The Wii is Fun During Holidays
There is something special about a game console that everyone from grandkids to grandma will enjoy whenever the family gets together during the holidays. This is exactly the time that you would want a system that is easy to pick up and has no real learning curve. The Wii’s unique control scheme draws even the non-gamers of your family to it.

2. The Wii has a Truly Innovative Design
In an industry that is so focused to me-too concepts (see any World War II shooter), the Wii is a beacon of ingenuity. It forsakes the control pad design that has been on every mainstream system since the Atari and makes a step toward true interactivity. Rather than focusing solely on making a graphics powerhouse that will look outdated in a few years time, it focuses on providing a fun, interactive experience that the whole family can enjoy.

3. The Wii is Bringing Gaming to the Mainstream
I first realized how popular the Wii has become in mainstream culture when my non-gaming dad called me to ask to help him get a Wii. I have heard countless non-gaming co-workers chatting about how they would like to play the Wii. There is a real need to bring gaming to the mainstream in a world where video games are blamed anytime a kid makes a stupid decision that lands them in jail. Although videogames sales often outperform box office movie sales, there is still a large chasm between the gaming and non-gaming communities.

4. The Wii is Popular With the Ladies
If you have a Wii, you can probably get girls into your apartment. I do not mean that to be nearly as dirty or creepy as it sounds, but it is true. There are hosts of gaming girls that grew up playing Nintendo or The Sims that either still only play these games or no longer play any video games because they do not like the first person shooters or sports games that tend to dominate other systems. The Wii is growing in popularity with the fairer sex due to its out-of-the-box design and the nostalgic Virtual Console.

5. The Wii has The Virtual Console
Although every next-gen console is trying some form of online games marketplace, the Virtual Console stands out because it has exclusive rights to many of the classic games that console gamers remember from their youth. Nintendo dominated the console market from the mid-eighties to the mid-nineties and as an extension can bring many of those classic games, in their original form, to market again. Sure it is just a money printing press for Nintendo and everyone already owns most of the games they would want on other systems, but it is still undeniably fun to play old games on a new system. Nintendo’s Virtual Console also uses the logical 100 points = $1 ratio rather than Microsoft’s intentionally confusing 80 points=$1 system.

Check out the worst things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360
Check out the best things about the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360

Popularity: 5% [?]

I like Nintendo, I really do.  I have had every Nintendo console except for the Virtual Boy.  I love playing with Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong (sorry Samus, you get no love from me).  Even more than that, I love the quirky, super-bright-and-colorful, off-the-wall games that usually release on Nintendo Systems (Custom Robo and Donkey Konga just to name a few).  I waited in line fore several hours just to get my hands on a Wii.  I bought Zelda and one of every controller accessory they would sell me.  When I got home that night, we loaded Wii Sports into the system and had a tremendous amount of fun.  My girlfriend loved to play it.  It was a smash hit at Christmas - grandkids, grandparents, and everyone in between played it with smiling faces.  Nearly everyone I have talked to loves it.  I since its November launch I have seen one console in the stores.  I had to move stacks and stacks of PS3s out of the way to see it, but I did see one Wii in the store. 

Until recently, I would have told you that I loved the Wii as well. I recently realized something.  I have not played my Wii since January.  None. Not one minute.  I have bought a couple of other games, some that I really like.  I just have not had a desire to play Wii.  There have not been any games I have wanted to buy since the launch.  I have not finished any of the games I bought at launch.  The Wii is a great system - for those who do not like games.  It is easy to pick up, learn the controls, and master it.  This translates into being overly simple, having limited control, lacking depth. 

I know that a lot of this depends on the games you play on the console.  When Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario Galaxy are released, I am sure I will pick up the Wii again.  I wonder how long these games will hold my interest.  I am afraid my beloved Wii is doomed to just being the console that mom and grandma love to play Christmas. 

Personally, I think you are either not much of a gamer, too uncoordinated to use the wii remote & nunchuck, or just not playing games that you enjoy. After having my Wii since they were released in the US, I can honestly say that I’d never go back to a traditional controller setup. I’ll give up the HD graphics of the PS3 for a control setup that makes more sense, is more interactive and doesn’t lead to arthritis of the thumbs. Try Resident Evil 4, Transformers or Godfather: Black Hand, then tell me if you still don’t like it and why.

I am a very much into gaming and I can certainly use the Wii remote and nunchuck. I like the games that I have, just nowhere near as much as the games I have on other systems. I will admit that I have less gaming time than I had last year, but that has just made me more selective of what I play. I usually can find a little gaming time everyday and I would just rather play something else.

The controller has its limits not because I suck at using it but because the controller kinda sucks. The fact that I often get beat by my four year old nephew at WiiSports Tennis when all is does is wave his arm up and down shows the limited control you actually have over the controller. The fact that over the holidays, the entire family would play together and no one consistently won shows that the games involved more luck than skill.

I really do want to love the Wii, but I realized I don’t. It is fun as a party game, during the holidays, or any other time non-gamers would be inclined to play a game, but it is not as fun as a person who actually enjoys playing video games.

On a positive note about the Wii, I do enjoy some of the Virtual Console games. I played a lot of Mario 64 when it was released. The problem with that is that I already own most all of the games I would be interested in buying.

My final gripe with the Wii is the lack of online multiplayer. I want an online experience similar to that of at least the PS3. I should be able to play games with anyone in the world using some type of matchmaking system. I also would want voice chat. The Mii Parade no longer cuts it as an online experience. I do not want to have to have a friend code. I understand that the friend code was designed to protect kids from online predators, but you should not design around the lowest common denominator. Evidently the Wii was designed for child molestors.

Also, check out my story on how developers for the Wii are pandering to the casual games market.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Mass Effect: Revelation
by Drew Karpyshyn

Lately I seem to be reading many science fiction books and I will try to share my impressions.  I am very much looking forward to the new Mass Effect game for Xbox 360.  It is an action RPG from BioWare, the same folks who made Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic .  This book is a prequel to the Mass Effect game and gives the back-story leading up to the game.

Mass Effect: Revelation  is a book with many of the standard sci-fi themes.  The protagonist is an elite solider named David Anderson. As expected, Anderson is and always has been the best at everything he has ever attempted.  As the best soldier in the galaxy, he is of course charged with going on a double secret mission to save the galaxy from the impending peril that is sure to ensue.  Of course, he must track down and protect the lovely young girl who alone possesses the knowledge to save the universe.  Oh and did I mention that he has romantic feelings for her but cannot act on them due to his sense of duty.  All very standard stuff for a sci-fi novel.  If you are looking for groundbreaking ideas and plot lines then this books is not for you.  The characters are all mostly one-dimensional and changed very little throughout the story.  There are very few surprises in the book.  In fact, the whole book feels unfinished.  It starts off strongly and then seems to fade into inconclusion. 

The biggest problem with the book is that it is a prequel.  This book would neither read nor sell well on its own, but with the upcoming game, and most likely another book, then the book becomes and interesting Act 1 of a broader story.  The book is actually an entertaining read, just seemingly standard fare.  There are some interesting ideas in the book.  One of the more fascinating ideas is that all of the races featured in the book obtained the advanced technology from the same long extinct race.  Each race had discovered the technology at different times with the humans being the most recent to the galactic civilization.  The humans had basically introduced themselves by starting a war with one of the other civilizations.  As a result, the humans were widely disdained in the galaxy.

I am willing to give this book a pass as being a prequel with more of an interesting story to follow because of Drew Karpyshyn’s other works. Karpyshyn penned the excellent story for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and has authored the story for the Mass Effect game as well.  I would recommend Mass Effect: Revelation  for anyone who is interested in the back story for Mass Effect the game or for anyone who is willing to accept that this is just really the opening act for a much grander story.

Popularity: 6% [?]