Random Grenades

Recently Infinity Ward put out an online commercial to jokingly address the problem in Call of Duty's multiplayer mode known as grenade spamming. This is the act of throwing multiple grenades in random spots in hopes of killing anyone who is unfortunate enough to walk by one. The commercial itself is voiced by Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels and honestly was done very well. Hearing Hamels talk about the problem in a jesting way was humorous and the ending of the in game video was a good gag. The problem occurred when the video ended and a voice said "Brought to you by Fight Against Grenade Spam". The fake company that jokingly paid for the commercial just happens to create the acronym of "FAGS" which was intentionally done by Infinity Ward. They believed the joke was not offensive and ultimately more entertaining than hurtful. Before I go off on a tangent about the ridiculousness of this entire situation I would just like to say that G4TV's Adam Sessler addressed the situation as well on his webshow, Sessler's Soapbox, and pointed out the problems with this commercial exactly as I would have. So instead of writing for a few hours on the reasons this commercial and the entire mentality of people who either agree with it or don't see the problem with it is frustrating at best I'll just post a link to the video. Adam Sessler is a very animated, intelligent, and passionate video game journalist who hits very key points in this video. Give it a look.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/700461/Sesslers-Soapbox-Adam-Calls-Infinity-Ward-Out.html

A Big Ol' Smorgasbord!

As Dragon Age Origins slowly downloads onto my steam account and I wait impatiently to play it my attention turns to my blog. It has been mainly comprised of video games, in fact it has been all video games. While that is my passion I feel as though it might get a bit boring for some so I'm going to do my best to include whatever else comes to mind, hence this post's title.

One of the first things that has been slowly taking over my Zune and my musical interests is the Blues; Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf to be specific. I recently watched Cadillac Records and was instantly grasped by these two artists, mainly because their music was so emotional and real. It didn't feel like they were making music because it helped them become gods amongst men, it felt like they made these songs to embody their lives and emotions. I am no movie buff so I'll leave the film review of Cadillac Records to someone more inspired to write about it, instead I'll focus on what the music did to me. Muddy Waters' music is perhaps some of the most catchy and inspiring music I have heard since I began listening to broad types of music. Every single one of his songs can be manipulated to prove that someone else used his music to make their song. Innovation does not even begin to describe what Waters did for music as we know it. However, for every one of Muddy's songs I fell in love with there was a Wolf song I couldn't stop listening to.

The methodical approach towards every note, the voice that no one else can copy, the harmonica solos that captivate anyone willing to listen, and of course the lyrics (mainly thanks to Willie Dixon) that tear at your heart and then stitch it back up. Howlin' Wolf is something that I have never experienced while listening to a musician before, a combination of true emotions along with music that anyone can enjoy. Maybe it is just my strange and often random addictions to different musical types but there is something special about Howlin' Wolf. Give his songs a listen and let me know what you think.

I suppose I'll end this post a bit abruptly as the game has finished its downloading but I'll end with...a book! Yes I read too, it's incredible. As of now I've been getting my nerd on with George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. It is quite possibly the most interesting series of books I have ever had the absolute pleasure of reading. The story focuses on a land filled with strife and conflict that spans many miles and many families. The interesting points come in when Martin kills of main characters that the reader was following. Instead of that instant feel good "everyone lives because they're the good guys" feeling you get a sense of confusion that no author has instilled in me before. Knowing who is good and who is bad is not always as simple as it has been with other books like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. There is no clear line drawn between characters and it makes each scandal, battle, murder, and back stab seem that much more powerful. Go read the first book entitled A Game of Thrones, it won't be a waste if you're able to keep up with the changing point of views and long character lists.

So Many Ads!!!

Credibility has become a topic of much debate in the video game writing world. It is difficult to seem unbiased about a game you're reviewing when the game is covering your site with banners and ads. The problem is that video game websites want to include ads that their viewers and readers will click on to generate profit. Any gaming site can put up ads for a clothing store or a new cooking product, but those ads won't generate the revenue that a Halo 3 ODST ad or a Dragon Age ad would create. This becomes a problem for viewers of the site, do you trust the review of a game that is currently being advertised on the site? Or do you look elsewhere for an unbiased review?

One of the most famed stories in video game journalism is that of Kane and Lynch and the review it received from former Gamespot employee Jeff Gerstmann. The game, Kane and Lynch: Dead Men, was being advertised by Gamespot and eventually it was reviewed. Jeff gave the game an average score of 6.5 out of 10 due to the games many bugs and glitches. Gerstmann was fired soon after and the reasons were never truly or clearly stated why. While it is ridiculous to assume that the review would be the only reason for his termination the entire process brings up a great point about credibility and integrity. Gaming sites and magazines walk a fine line between giving honest reviews to their fan base and making sure game companies still want to advertise within their pages. Giving an advertised game a lackluster score could end up leading to gaming companies not wanting to advertise for a magazine or website that won't praise the game that is bringing them revenue through ads.

However, most sites and magazines do manage to pull off the advertising and reviewing debacle very well. Whether it is through disclosures at the beginning or the end of the review, not reviewing an advertised game until the ads are down, or sometimes just reviewing the game regardless of ads. The point is that reviews are written by people who are giving their opinions on a game they have played in an often different way than how most people play games. While most people take their time to see it all and have fun on their own time reviewers run through a game and make sure they see everything a game has to offer in a short amount of time to deliver a timely review. Take reviews with a grain of salt, and if a website or magazine seems like its being a bit too biased with a certain game then go look the game up on a different website, metacritic.com is a good source for nearly every review of a game...just don't take the metacritic score to mean something, we'll talk about that tomorrow. Happy gaming.

Review: Killzone 2 (Single player only)

So my hopes of posting a Xbox Live Arcade article last night was ruined by my addiction to Killzone 2. I jumped into the game, thinking to play for maybe an hour or so, and ended up playing the game for close to five hours to its finish. Afterwards I decided that I would throw up a review of the single player game because I found it to be stunning in its simplicity of story and intricacy of gameplay. This will only be a single player review of Killzone 2 because I have not yet gotten into the multiplayer, but expect a write up of that soon.

After listening to a breathtaking speech by the game's antagonist Scolar Visari, played by Brian Cox, I jumped right into the single player action. With a basic militaristic plot outline you are put into the boots of Sergent Sev and told to go off and kill the enemy on their home planet. If you take the time to see the story for what it really is you get a feeling that more could have been done with it. There were very few times that Visari was portrayed in cinematics and that could have been a highpoint of the story. Visari's speeches about how the ISA, the protagonist's military force, treats his people like mutants who do not deserve to live make you sympathize with Visari and his seemingly

turbulent situation. Although for all the sympathy you may feel for Visari and his Helghast troops there is an underlying sense of manipulation given off by his speeches as well. Overall the simple story elements in Killzone 2 allow you to connect with the often silent Sev and his overly adrenaline pumped squad. Through quick cut scenes you get to better understand each member of the squad, although some of the characters seem paper thin. Killzone 2's characters are mainly developed through their final moments which always end in glorious and memorable ways. By the end of the game you can clearly understand the characters' motivations and quirks, and the bland plot is made up for by the incredible cut scenes.

The first thing anyone will notice about Killzone 2 is its incredible graphics. There were always claims made to trailers of Killzone 2 gameplay being made up because it looked so good. While some of the trailers were not gameplay footage it is apparent that the actual visuals are not far off from what was shown years ago. Everything from the barren and destroyed landscapes of the poisonous planet of Helghan to the interiors filled with Nazi-like flags of the Helghast is beautifully rendered. Gun models look fantastic and character animations, while occasionally awkward, flow nicely from shot to shot. Of course what would a first person shooter be without guns, and Killzone 2's guns are its bread and butter.

With a sizable variety of weapons, both big and small, Killzone 2's arsenal is impressive to say the least. While using the default ISA assault rifle and smg became my main strategy there were occasionally times where I would pick up something new for added flare. Some parts of the game require the use of a sniper rifle, missile launcher, and other one hit wonders. My personal favorites from the Helghast side were the bolt gun and electric gun. The bolt gun shoots a large bolt right into an oncoming Helghast and eventually detonates for maximum damage, while the overpowered electric gun shoots a bolt of electricity that stuns and then kills its target...oh it has infinite ammo too. While these guns make small bits of the game fresh and exciting the main part of the gameplay is exciting enough to not even warrant these outlandish guns. All of Killzone 2's

weapons have a nice weight to them and feel great when you are squeezing the triggers, not to mention that they all sound great when fired. My only gripe with the guns in the game is that, excluding headshots, it takes too many shots to bring down a Helghast. I understand that they are supposed to be mutated humans with great strength but they can't all act like Jesse Ventura in Predator. Besides that complaint I found the gameplay to be top notch especially with the great addition of stop and pop gameplay in a FPS.

By simply pressing the L2 button and finding cover Sev automatically hides being the object in front of you. If you keep L2 pressed down you can peek out from the side of the object or pop up top and let off a few rounds without taking too much damage. The enemies also behave in this manor and manage to provide some difficult challenges with their ability to take cover. While the AI in Killzone 2 could use some work the enemies manage to make up for their lack of brains with sheer numbers. At times it can feel like there is an unending number of Helghast

soldiers but that tends to make situations feel all the more intense. Especially during a particular battle for a courtyard, where the soldiers are literally endless until you manage to kill enough to move up on their position and continue to push them back. These battles feel great and make the game feel more like a war than a linear push through enemy territory. There is also a superbly done boss battle with Radec that makes me wonder why there are not more boss battles in first person shooters.

Overall I was blown away by the single player campaign in Killzone 2. It started off slow enough that anyone would be able to understand the basics and ramped up as the game progressed. The occasional crazed talks of Visari and his soldiers helped to flesh out what would've been a completely barren story; although I would venture to guess that most people would find Killzone 2 to be spectacular without any story elements at all. The guns and gameplay in Killzone 2 are polished and developed to such a high degree that by the time you finish playing the single player game you just want to keep shooting. Luckily there appears to be a robust multiplayer side of the game which I will look into and write about soon. As for now do yourself a favor and, if you own a PS3, buy Killzone 2.

Quick Blurb: OnLive

Imagine a product that cuts out the middle man, that being the console, and allows you to instantly access any game through an online service. These games are up to date, run smoothly over the internet, and allow gamers to buy or rent at their leisure without having to purchase a console or a cd. This product exists and it is called OnLive. I can not currently write as much as I would like to right now about OnLive but I don't think I need to. The majority of the information about this interesting product is all up on their website at www.onlive.com so go check it out.

Hopefully I will be able to put up a much larger post today about 5 Xbox Live Arcade games to check out so look for that in the evening.

Cheap Games ≠ Less Fun

Video games are a very costly form of entertainment. Games usually range in price from $29.99 to $59.99, arcade and PSN games not withstanding. Purchasing just two games for your Xbox 360 or Ps3 can lead to a cost of over $120. With new releases coming each week around the holidays people buying games need ways to figure out which games are worth their time and which games might disappoint. There are a couple of easy ways to get your hands on games before you make the large investment of procuring a game. There are also multiple ways to get the best games that are being offered without ever paying a sizable amount to your local gaming store.

Probably the easiest and most popular way to get games without spending a ton of money is using a rental service. While Blockbuster allows some quick pickups of new releases if you time your trip to the store right, I have often found that Blockbuster's stock is far from diverse. There are often too few games or not enough copies of the games they do have to ever service more than two lucky customers. I find that Blockbuster is best used when you are looking for a game that has been out for a few months and you may have missed or have not had the time to play. But when it comes to renting games in a timely manor I have found no better service than Gamefly.

Gamefly allows its subscribers to rent one game a month for fifteen dollars a month. Subscribers are allowed to hold that game in their possession for as long as they want and send it back to Gamefly when they want a new game. I have found it very simple to time it so the game I send back is received right before a new game is released so that the new game is shipped to me right away. Gamefly also has a large catalog of older games and these games seem to always be in stock, or highly available, at all times. What I have found so useful about Gamefly is that I am able to completely finish a game on my own time and send it back once I finished. I never feel like I need to make time just to play a game because it needs to be returned in five days. If you are willing to drop some extra cash you can upgrade to Gamefly's two game plan, and eventually qualify for their three game plan as well. If you have the small amount of cash to spend each month and want to be able to play games on your own time go for Gamefly.

Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network are also great ways to get your hands on some games before they are even released. The often overlooked demo feature of both systems allows gamers to play a level or two of an upcoming release before the game hits shelves. The demo feature also allows for great opportunities like playing in the Uncharted 2 Beta which was immensely popular among PS3 owners. If you have internet access and one of the two aforementioned consoles do yourself a favor and check out the demo section once in a while. But wait there's more!

One of the most overlooked features of all three current generation consoles is the great ability to buy full fledged games for minimal prices. Whether it is the Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network Shop, WiiWare or the Wii's online catalog there are tons of fantastic games you can buy for prices as low as $5. Games like Shadow Complex, Trials HD, World of Goo, and classics like Marvel vs Capcom 2 are all up for your pleasure on their respective consoles. Games like Shadow Complex push the boundaries for what qualifies as a downloadable game. With its slick visuals, masterful gameplay, and great throwback mechanics Shadow Complex is one of the best downloadable games that has come out for the Xbox 360's Live Arcade and it only costs $15. With cheap prices and often unique gameplay there is no reason to not be checking out your console's online catalog for the next great game, especially since many of them allow for a free trial of the game. I will get into what games to look at for which consoles in my upcoming posts but for now boot up your console and take a peek into its more than extensive catalog of online titles that may provide more enjoyment for a fraction of the price of a standard game.

Sifting Through Reviews

(Just so you all know something screwy happened with the text in between the two Joystiq pictures so just highlight it if you want to read it, it's a formatting error I can't seem to fix.)

When it comes to the purchase of a video game the majority of customers want to know a few things before they hand over their money. It doesn't matter how much you have been anticipating the newest Halo game, if reviews say that after the third level your Xbox 360 catches fire are you really going to spend $60 on it? The answer for sane gamer would be no, so how do you know if a game is good? And which outlets are going to be to your benefit? Well there are probably close to, if not more than, a hundred different gaming sites and magazines that you can get your advice from. However, I have found that over the course of time some companies become more reviewing for the sake of garnering readers than telling the readers what they want to know.

There are three main sites that I have used for review purposes and any game related news as well. Sites like IGN, Gamespot, Gamespy, and 1UP are still common gaming sites that have huge fan bases but all of them seem to have fallen to a corporate feel. The reviews have lost some of the flare that they had back when certain staff members were around and the love for the common gamer appears to be dwindling. The three sites I mentioned before feel like they are written by video game players that know what other gamers like to play. Giant Bomb, Joystiq, and Destructoid are sites that allow gamers to read up on upcoming games they are interested in and get a gamer's opinion on the game, not a reviewer's.

Joystiq is probably the most well known of the three sites, although Giant Bomb is quickly gaining popularity. Joystiq follows a blog-like format that is updated on a consistent basis, usually every 30 minutes or so, and is filled with inside news, dirt, and random tidbits. Joystiq is usually one of the first sites I go to if there is a rumor floating around about any new game or system. The reason for that is because Joystiq usually has some sort of developing story up minutes after the news is released. But I am not here to sing the praises of Joystiq's fantastic reporting, instead I am going to talk about Joystiq's reviews. Joystiq is one of the very few media outlets that does not score its reviews of games. Instead Joystiq reviewers deliver a very colloquial and honest review of the game. Reviewers on Joystiq blatantly state what they enjoyed about the game and what they thought was in need of fixing. If a game was hyped up before its release Joystiq reviewers have no problem saying that it wasn't what they hoped it would be right in the opening statement.

I feel as though this gives readers an open look as to the thought process of the reviewer. Right of the bat a reader can understand where the reviewer is coming from and does not need to bog through the politically correct nonsense of "well if you take away the hype the game got, and its development time, and what makes it bad...". Readers can expect a much more comfortable review style than what you may find on IGN or 1UP. To me it has always felt that Joystiq reviews its games like any other outlet would but they interject thoughts that go through the minds of every gamer but are not usually PC to say during a review. Such as saying that they are not sure if Demon's Souls deserves a high score because of its brutal difficulty. Go ahead and check out Joystiq next time you're curious about a game and I am sure you'll walk away with a different insight than most reviews give.

Destructoid is another blog-esque website that always manages to provide insightful reviews that, similar to Joystiq, feel like they have been written by gamers not writers. I am not as dedicated to Destructoid as I am to Giant Bomb and Joystiq but from what I've read their reviews always seem to have very opinionated and justifiable stance on games. When they give a popular game a bad score their review is 100% able to back up the reasons why the reviewer disliked it. A perfect example of that is Brutal Legend, while some outlets dish out 8s and 9s for the game Destructoid gave it a 6 and provided ample reason why it deserved its average score. I also like the way Destructoid places a meaning next to every score as a way to allow people to know what a 6 means as opposed to an 8. Since many readers are lead to believe that a 6 is immediately a bad score it is nice to have a disclaimer saying that a 6 is by no means an awful score for a game to receive. From what I have read on Destructoid I would say they are a company of gamers who truly understand what gamers want to hear in their reviews, no bullshit and straightforward scores regardless of hype and advertising.

While Joystiq and Destructoid are both great sites filled with knowledgeable reviews no other site has astonished me more than Giant Bomb. Founded by Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis, former Gamespot employees, Giant Bomb is quickly becoming one of the most popular, passionate, and dedicated video game websites I have ever had the pleasure of surfing. With the small yet somewhat famous staff of former Gamespot employees, that also includes Brad Shoemaker and Vinny Caravella, Giant Bomb offers some of the most entertaining video content such as their Quick Looks, Endurance Run, and hilarious behind the scenes footage. These videos all help you get to know the writers better and make you feel more comfortable when you read their reviews. The reviews on Giant Bomb are top notch and always seem to be able to sway my opinion on a game if I am on the fence about it.

Giant Bomb and its staff go out of their way to provided reviews only of games that people actually care about. There is no sifting through mediocre games that you have never heard of; instead there are the games you care about coupled by some interesting hidden gems and just plain awful releases. The simple scoring system on Giant Bomb makes it easy to see a score and immediately understand the reviewer's opinion. Giant Bomb operates on a 5 star system ; 1 star means stay away, 2 means only die hard fans will like it, 3 is a rental, 4 is great with flaws, and 5 is a must buy.

Like with the aforementioned sites Giant Bomb feels very colloquial in its writing which makes it easier to understand how you as a gamer would feel about whatever game they are reviewing. Giant Bomb is without a doubt my favorite site to check up on for reviews of new releases, and the entertaining video content just makes it that much better.

Of course there is more to making a decision about a game than simply reading someone else's opinion. After you read a review try to take into account your own opinions and preferences in video games. If you hate playing games that involve swords and shields don't go out buying a hack and slash game just because it got a great review. These reviews are written to help gamers make up their minds on games they do not want to immediately spend money on but want to buy eventually. If you are still unsure of a game's worth go out and rent it.

What I'm Playing

Many gamers, including myself, find it very difficult to lay down upwards of $60 for a single video game now a days. While some games like Heavenly Sword, Infamous, Red Faction: Guerrilla, and Prototype might be fantastic games in their own ways it is hard to purchase a game that is only going to last a few hours before it runs out of steam. Gamers want to know if a game is long enough in its single player component, or at least has some way of extending gameplay, and if the multiplayer is any good. I figured since its always nice to hear about games you might be inquisitive about from people you know I'd go ahead and give you my opinion on the three games I am currently playing.

I recently bought a PS3, with the newly dropped $300 price tag I suggest that anyone tempted to buy one should do so immediately, and have been finding it amazing. The first and only game I have bought so far is Killzone 2. This is above and beyond one of the most engaging experiences I have had with a first person shooter in a long time. The disgusting grime of each battlefield you step on to fills you with a sense of awe and disgust all at once. Helghan, the alien planet you fight on, is covered in clouds of smoke and industrial rubble. Each battle is covered by an overcast of electrical storm clouds that leave the player with an uncomfortable feeling about the whole planet.

The games disgusting planet side is only outshone by the glorious and dazzling guns in the game. Your revolver that gleams in the light, the machine guns that feel heavy and bulky, the assault rifle that feels light yet effective. Both the incredible design of these futuristic ballistic weapons along with their incredible feel combine to make a shooter like no other. Each shot feels like you are actually pulling a trigger to one of the many guns in Killzone 2. I have only made it about three or four hours into the campaign and I am deeply enticed to continue. There really is not much of a story but the characters you encounter have some characteristics that make it easier to care about them then in some first person

shooters. Not to mention that Helghan's emperor, Visari, is voiced by Brian Cox who does an incredible job of bringing this insane dictator to life. There is also a Team Fortress 2 esque multiplayer component to Killzone 2 but I have yet to delve into it. From my understanding the more you accomplish in the multiplayer the more classes and weapons you can unlock. The game is very polished and provides players with a great atmosphere and tight controls that should be experienced by all PS3 owners.

When I'm not swamped with school work or playing Killzone 2 Dirt 2 has been slowly becoming a bit of a mainstay in my gaming time. Racing games have never been a huge part of my library but there is something special about Dirt 2. There are definitely options for those gear heads who want to tinker with every last piece of the car to get it just right. Personally I found the mechanic portion of the game, which is completely optional, to be overwhelming and uninteresting. What makes Dirt 2 so much fun is its accessibility. Dirt 2 has a multitude of difficulties that will either have you breezing past your enemies or buying a new controller after each frustrating race. The game balances risk and reward well with higher difficulties granting you higher amounts of cash rewards. There is no penalty for choosing to race on a medium difficulty but then lowering it for a specific race because it is just too hard. This feature is nice to have around if there is a certain race that is bugging you and you just want to get it out of the way. I've played Dirt 2 for probably six or seven hours and the races are varied enough that I never feel like they're being recycled. There are point to point races, rally races, truck only races, and many more race types that keep each new trip to the track feeling fresh. I've also grown fond of driving in the cockpit view because so much work has gone into making it feel spectacular.

Dirt and water splash up onto the windshield and the wipers turn on to get them out of your way, temporarily blinding you. This view has the potential to lead to many race ending crashes but the games new rewind feature. Dirt 2's rewind feature allows players to watch their crash and then rewind to a spot where all was well, from there players can retake control of their vehicle and hopefully change the outcome of the race. Some racing enthusiasts would call this feature unfair and unrealistic but it is a video game after all and the rewind feature is completely optional. Dirt 2 is a slick and stylish racer that allows players of varied experience levels to grab a hold of the wheel and race. I highly recommend checking out Dirt 2 if racing games have always seemed a bit too "car heavy" to you. Dirt 2 focuses much more on the basics of speed and racing rather than fine tuning your car to perfection, although that is a completely plausible part of the game as well. Check it out if you get the chance.

The final game that has been becoming less of a time sync as time goes on is Batman: Arkham Asylum. This is one of the most astonishing games I have played bar none. The graphics, atmosphere, voice acting, character models, sound design, level design, and gameplay all come together to create a once in a lifetime experience. I won't bother going into detail about the story or whether or not this is the greatest Batman/Crossover game of all time but I will say that it is a great game in and of itself. Both the combat and stealth based gameplay share fantastic elements of tight controls and intuitive action. Combat is easy to learn but complicated to perfect and the stealth gameplay will have you drooling with anticipation, wondering how you want to take out a room full of baddies with your new toys. Batman is rewarded with new gadgets as the game goes on and this fleshes out the game by adding new aspects to the gameplay. Where before Batman had to quietly knock out a room full of villains with only his fists, now he can detonate remote charges for distractions or destruction.

Each combat situation feels like a new challenge, and that doesn't even include the incredible boss battles. Besides maybe one boss battle that I found to be a letdown the game is chalk full of great encounters with Batman's greatest villains. The game is paced so well that you almost don't want to put the controller down at any given time. Even when it is all said and done you still want to glide around Arkham Island in all its rendered beauty and collect every Riddler Trophy and collectible possible. Don't waste your time wondering if Batman is worth your hard earned money, just go out and buy it regardless of your love or hate for the caped crusader.

Gaming for Thought: Branching Out

I've decided to try and come up with some different mainstays here on my blog to make things more organized and practical. There will of course be reviews and previews when possible but other posts will include hidden gems of gaming, retro reviews (basically anything on an older console), games to run from, and this new idea called Gaming for Thought. This will be an editorial post that will be my attempt at getting gamers and non gamers to look into less popular games, voice opinions about random gaming news, and try to give my insight into the amazing talent that is compiled in the video game industry.

This week's Gaming for Thought will be about branching out. Many gamers I know are very focused on one or two genres in the video game world. Some gamers are hooked on first person shooters and their addictive multiplayer, others love the competitive fighting games, and still others enjoy the 40+ hours a good role playing game can bring. What I have noticed is that there are specific reasons that gamers enjoy these types of games and find them to be superior to all others. I don't see anything wrong with finding your niche in gaming and enjoying one genre more than the rest, but what I am going to attempt to do is show how certain genres can be melded together. There are very close parallels between certain genres, or at least the factors that go into making people enjoy them so much. This post will hopefully help those who enjoy a certain genre but get bored with only playing one or two games for a long time; since it is not often that many games for one particular genre are being released in numerous amounts.

First person shooter fans are perhaps some of the most competitive, dedicated, and diverse fans in the video game industry. The fps fan base ranges from young and old, male and female, and spans the globe in terms of ethnicity. Many fans of fps style games enjoy the multiplayer aspect especially. The team work that is involved, the thrill of gunning down an actual human player, and the addictive quality of being rewarded for your hard work all come together to form an experience that has gamers playing games like Call of Duty and Halo 3 for years. However, if you step back and look at what makes these games so enthralling, without coating these aspects in a fps shell, you begin to see a different genre. Working with a team, leveling up and gathering new abilities/gear, and being able to kill human players...sounds like a role playing game to me. Many gamers who focus their time on first person shooters often shy away from role playing games because they are heavily saturated in high fantasy settings. People who enjoy modern war and science fiction sometimes do not feel compelled to spend time making an elf and going of to gather new swords and armor to defeat the evil emperor. But there are some role playing games out there that are trying to welcome first person shooter fans with open arms.

Fallout 3 and Borderlands are both examples of the new idea that shooters and rpgs can somehow coexist. These are both excellent starting points for an fps fan to branch out into a different genre of gaming. Both games allow players to feel in control of their trigger happy main character, reward the player with new abilities and gear as they continue playing, and in Borderlands' case allow for some player vs player action. Role playing games can become a great time sync for fans of shooters who are willing to step out of their comfort zone and look into a gaming genre that preforms the balancing act of story and gameplay to an

untouchable degree. While most rpgs will cause strict shooter fans to cringe with their long stories games like Mass Effect have managed to indulge both the rpg nerd and raging killer in all of us. I would suggest Mass Effect as the easiest game for any first person shooter fan to play if they wanted to jump into rpgs but did not know where to start. This Xbox 360 exclusive plays as an over the shoulder shooter with fantastic mechanics and heavy rpg elements. The deep story and great leveling system allow for multiple play throughs and endless hours of shooting dudes in the face.

Sports games, perhaps some of the most loved and hated games in video gaming history. Those who play them often play them religiously, and those who don't play them can't understand the draw in them. There will always be the die hard Madden fans who play at least ten online games a week and consider it a personal injustice when the referee calls a flag on their play. Sports games bring to life the competitive nature and micromanagement aspects that come with a real sports team. Whether it is hockey, football, baseball, soccer, basketball, tennis, or golf there is usually a sport game out each year for the majority of the world's popular sports. So what is it about these games that cause people to scream at their televisions when their opponent takes the lead? It is a combination of realism, micromanagement, and competition. Making sure that every part of your team or player is just right so that you can dominate your opponent, real or computer controlled, in a way that feels true to the sport you are emulating is an experience that few genres match. The only genre that comes to mind in perhaps matching those aspects is the genre of real time strategy. Real time strategy games involve the process of building up your army in order to completely annihilate the competition. Building your army often requires the same micromanagement that keeping a sports team up and running does. Games like Company of Heroes and World in Conflict manage to greatly recreate the truth and realism of war on your computer. For those who are unable to run computer games but still want to try out real time strategy games Halo Wars for the Xbox 360 would be a great place to try as it

is both streamlined for beginners and familiar to Halo fans. The competitive nature of sports games can perhaps only be bested by the intense scenarios that only occur on the battlefield of a strategy game. Imagine, you and your partner are trying to flank one of your opponents with the majority of your troops while your other opponent sneaks into your base and begins destroying key components. The thought process of what to do and how to do it effectively can take some time to get down but once you are playing comfortably you will be running into incredible situations that will give you a sense of great accomplishment when you run through them.

The final connection is perhaps the most bizarre and the biggest stretch. Fans of the racing genre are often very dedicated to their games and, from the many racing game fans I know, do not often venture out of that comfort zone. There are indeed many games that come out each year in the racing genre and all of them have their own quirks and qualities to create unique experiences within that genre. However, if there are any racing fans who wish to branch out and see what else is out there I would suggest fighting games. Both genres include fast paced action in short bursts, online competitive multiplayer, and gameplay that is easy to pickup and nearly impossible to master. Games like Blaz Blue, Street Fighter 4, and Soul Calibur 4 can all lead to that adrenaline rush that racing game fans experience each

time they press the gas. Fighting games require players to master combinations of button presses in order to defeat their opponents effectively, a big departure for the often minuet amount of buttons required to play a racing game. That sense of speed and the looming feeling of being tense until you either win or lose are often reasons racing games are so popular. Those feelings can be easily replicated in fighting games as well, seeing your health deplete while trying to block an incoming attack and then reacting at the right time to take the victory can be one of the most satisfying experiences in gaming.

I realize that the majority of gamers play multiple genres of games and that most people don't mind branching out when they feel like it. But I also know a lot of people who feel like they are unable to find the experiences that make them happy in video games without staying in their favorite genres and waiting for new games to come out. Not to retract from the sure amount of greatness Modern Warfare 2 will achieve but it is not the only game that will provide the experience you clamor for. So go out there and give new genres a try, pick up a game you wouldn't normally play for more than five minutes, branch out.

(All pictures are from giantbomb.com, be sure to check out my next post tomorrow)

It has been too long...let's make a list!

Surprisingly college can manage to suck up an enormous amount of time in one's life. But as I've gotten settled in here at Hofstra I have decided to start writing daily posts here at Involuntary Projection. I'm going to do my best to review games, new and old, as often as possible as well as give my somewhat learned opinion on demos, upcoming releases, and other video game goodness. Since it is getting closer and closer to the holiday season there are enormous amounts of games on their way. I'm going to go over five of those delicious titles and try to pinpoint the apparent draws of each one. Some of these games are out now and hopefully my post will peak your interest to games that you would otherwise not check out. Remember kids life is more than Halo and Forza.

First up is a game that I have been looking forward to since before it was even announced, Brutal Legend. The company behind Brutal Legend, Double Fine, has a tremendous pedigree in gaming. Besides the upcoming release of Brutal Legend Double Fine has only released one other game, Psychonauts. However, the sheer amount of talent at that company is enough to make most people clamor for any title they announce. Tim Schafer is a name that has become synonymous with great writing in video games. His games have always had the uncanny ability to provide a sense of humor that actually causes laughter instead of smirks and snickers. Brutal Legend, Schafer's recognition of a long love of heavy metal, is the story of roadie Eddie Riggs who is voiced by Jack Black. Riggs, after what appears to be a life ending situation, finds himself in a world of rock and roll unlike anything he could dream of. From there the player takes control of Riggs in what appears to be a button mashing frenzy of melee and ranged combat.

Riggs is ready to rock.

There appears to be a clever story tied into the game, as there always is with Schafer, along with some interesting multiplayer aspects as well. The multiplayer focuses around building up armies to decimate your competition in a real time strategy manor. With the great looking visuals, humorous dialog, unique story, and interesting multiplayer Brutal Legend looks like it could be a much loved game. As with most of Schafer's projects the fan base appears to be the biggest worry. Although his games are often entertaining and unique compared to the competition people seem to rarely pick up games without a title that is immediately apparent to them. Do yourself a favor and at least give the demo a shot on PSN or Xbox Live. Brutal Legend is out now, check it out.

Game number two on the list is one that has had me on the fence for a long time. Borderlands comes to us from the brilliant minds of Randy Pitchford and Gearbox Software. The biggest draw for this game? 17,750,000 guns! That is not an exaggeration, in fact it might be less than the actual number as that count was given from Pitchford months ago. Borderlands is a first person shooter with RPG elements to create a sort of Diablo meets Halo hybrid. The core gameplay revolves around shooting baddies square in the face and collecting massive amounts of loot from theirdead bodies.

The amount of guns in this game is thanks to an amazing weapons generator created by Gearbox that takes different elements and ammunition type and rearranges them to create new and interesting weapons. There is no doubt in my mind that some of these guns will be similar save for the fact that one shoots bullets while the other shoots acid coated rounds, but come on 17,750,000 guns! There are four playable characters, each with there own special abilities including turrets, melee combat, a phase walk, and a combat pet. Vehicles are a slightly less touted form of combat in the game but there are certainly a good number of vehicles to create all sorts of havoc on the battlefield. The game is quest based and relies on players finishing quests in order to move on to the next kill spot. There will certainly be plenty of hours of gameplay here with multiple characters, an amount of guns that is unheard of, and four player co-op to boot. Borderlands' only drawback for some might be the repetitive shoot, kill, and loot mechanic.

However, if people could play Diablo for hours on end I can't see why Borderlands would be any different. Look for it on shelves for the PS3 and 360 on October 20th and the PC on October 26th.

The third game in this list is one that all of the masochists out there will be sure to love. Demon's Souls comes to us from From Software. Demon's Souls is an open-ended dungeon crawler with some interesting multiplayer mechanics and a gut wrenching difficulty. The things that make this game hard however are mechanics that were normal and accepted back in the 90's. Things like mana and health that don't regenerate, enemies being able to destroy you in a few hits if you aren't wary, and the complete loss of valuable objects (in this case souls) when you die.

My, what a big sword you have!

Death in Demon's Souls causes you to lose souls which are basically a form of currency in the game; in order to reclaim those souls you must run back to your body and touch the bloodstain that was left by your death. However, if you die a second time you without reclaiming those souls you lose them forever. The gameplay is action packed and thrilling when you know that any battle can result in a serious problem later on, but that is what the game's online is for. It is a somewhat persistent world that allows players to jump in and out of co-op with one another. Players can help each other with quests, or if you are feeling a bit angry you can jump into a players game and go after the player themselves. Demon's Souls is a PS3 exclusive that seems to be getting a lot of attention for its interesting fantasy setting and highly loved gameplay style. There will always be a group of hardcore RPG fans and this game certainly fills their niche. But I never considered myself a huge RPG player and I still found my short time with Demon's Souls to be thrilling, almost like playing a survival horror game with swords. Demon's Souls is out now for the PS3 so if you are up for a real challenge go check this one out.

The fourth game is one that is striving to garner even more attention to the rhythm game genre. That game is DJ Hero. Created by FreeStlyeGames and published by Activision DJ Hero is yet another try to include the many people who just couldn't get into the rock culture of Guitar Hero. DJ Hero centers mainly around hip hop and features an impressive set list of 94 songs in all. With artists like; 2Pac, Beck, Daft Punk, DJ Shadow, Grandmaster Flash, Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, Little Richard, and even Queen DJ Hero is shaping up to be an interesting title.

The game comes with a turntable style controller that has been said to be easy to pick up for those who are intimidated by its professional appearance. Players use the controller much like the guitar in guitar hero to preform scratches and crossfades in order to score points on each song. As the difficulty ramps up players will need to use the crossfader quickly and scratch in certain directions if they do not wish to fail. With seven multiplayer modes, including face-off and co-op, DJ Hero looks to wrangle in those casual players who couldn't get into Guitar Hero. Look for DJ Hero to be in stores on October 27th bundled with the controller for about $120.

Game number five is my personal favorite of the list and one that I have been looking forward to since I beat Baldur's Gate 2. Dragon Age: Origins is the spiritual successor to Baldur's Gate and is created by BioWare. BioWare's impressive list of games includes Baldur's Gate, Baldur's Gate 2, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, and their latest title Mass Effect. BioWare is responsible for some of the greatest RPGs in all of gaming. What makes their RPGs so fantastic is the fact that the majority of people can jump into them and play through their 40 hour campaigns without needing to read a 400 page manual or already be aware of the game's history and fiction. Dragon Age: Origins seems to be a bit less forgiving in the jump in and play aspect but the game itself seems more than worth the time it will take to learn how to play. Dragon Age: Origins plays as a third person RPG with turn based yet real time combat. There is an ability to pause the game and select which moves you want your party to cast, making the gameplay more manageable in heavy situations.

That is not a good defense...

Dragon Age: Origins appears to be just like the majority of BioWare games, it contains a heavy narrative with meaningful characters and realistic situations. Dragon Age takes place in a fantasy setting that is being considered Dark Fantasy for its immense amounts of gore and violence and the occasional sexual act. BioWare's dynamic conversation system appears to be present in this game and that always makes for a more immersive and dynamic storytelling. There are six characters to play as so far and each one has their own unique origin story to start with, leaving the replayability factor very high. On top of your starting character you will gain party members over time who you can control in combat and make use of for solving problems. One of the most interesting dynamics I've seen in Dragon Age is spell interaction. For instance, if the floor in front of you is aflame and your party is suffering from it simply cast a water or ice spell to cancel out the flame and then heal up your party. There is a much deeper level of thinking required for some battles in Dragon Age: Origins and each battle feels like a mini war in and of itself. That being said beating a simple group of Darkspawn, the game's main enemy, feels like an accomplishment each time. Dragon Age: Origins promises near 40 hours of gameplay for the average player, calculate that into the six different starting characters and the ability to play as different classes knights, rogues, mages etc and you are looking at a game that could easily top 100 hours of gameplay. There is some seriously excellent looking content here for those who don't mind sitting down for a bit to indulge in this game's fantastic fiction. Dragon Age: Origins comes out for the 360 and PC on November 3rd and for the PS3 on November 17th, do yourself a favor and give it a try.

Play it...

(All pictures are from giantbomb.com...except for the horse, that was on Bing.)

Coming Soon...

I have not written much in the past few months due to a ridiculous amount of school work. I do plan on quickly going over many of the games I said I was going to review before, and having a full review of The Bourne Conspiracy soon enough.

See you soon!