On Japan: No News Is Not Good News and Ignorance Isn’t Bliss…

Posted on March 14, 2011 by geelw

While some folks have seemed to it’s tough to simply go into a “life goes on…” mode given the current situation in Japan. Most of the folks I know there are OK and the ones I haven’t heard from yet I’m keeping an ear to the ground for news when I can. If you want to help, getting on a plane isn’t recommended, as even the government there is discouraging travel (unless of course you’re showing up on a Navy transport). Feel free to give to a LEGITIMATE relief organization if you’ve the funds (check out anyone you’re donating to fully, don’t just click or ring up funds to some random “Donate NOW!” site).

Meanwhile, back at the ranch – I got a review copy of Yakuza 4 on Friday (thanks, Scott!) and was a few hours in when I heard the earthquake news, so I haven’t played all that much since. I’ve been pretty much contacting folks and eyeballing a few news channels from different world locations. It’s definitely an interesting comparison between NHK’s matter of fact presentation and any US networks and their annoying “play that slow piano tragedy theme” coverage that falls into the same pattern no matter what the event is. Ugh. Anyway, off to try and get some work done. Hey Hide J! If you’re somewhere reading this, ring me up, dude.

Got Used Games? Go GameStaq!

Posted on March 9, 2011 by geelw

As someone who's been playing console games since game consoles were created, I can very safely say that there's been a massive market for used video games market since day one. Before game shops became an important part of the retail chain, pre-owned titles were either sold/traded between friends at home, school, work and yes, garage sales or flea markets. In the 80's, a number of used game shops across the country such as FuncoLand, BRE and others began the huge boom in dealing in large amount of pre-owned titles along with new releases at brick and mortar locations. Even back then, many consumers complained because they weren't given the best value when trading in recently purchased games and accessories even if they were in fantastic condition.
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Quick Updaaaaaate (I’ve Been Busy)

Posted on February 28, 2011 by geelw

Miss me? Good. Anyway, been working on clearing out a HUGE stack of games here and getting some other personal things taken care of, BUT I’ve also been playing a bunch of games, so reviews are coming this week. What else… um, the 3DS launched in Japan over the weekend, sort of sold out (but didn’t). Things bode OK for the US launch it looks like. I’ll need to keep bugging the hell out of Nintendo PR so I get an invite (bastards keep ignoring me… and NOBODY puts Baby in the corner!).

Anyway, off to do some good. Expect a few surprises when I get back.

Oh yeah, Brink and Hunted: The Demon’s Forge ROCK, dammit. GO pre-order both, please.

Knocked Out Loaded.. But Still Going!.

Posted on February 13, 2011 by geelw

Ugh. Hadn’t been feeling too well since last week (note the lack of frequent updates for a few days?) – woke up bright ‘n early (around 5:30) to hit Toy Fair, but pretty much keeled over thanks to a bit of stomach flu. Not pleasant at all, folks. Packing in the fluids, a bit of spicy stuff and trying to sweat this out all day today and tomorrow so I can at least make it on Tuesday or at latest, Wednesday. Crap. Well, the GOOD news was I got to watch most of the Xperia PLAY conference Ericsson put on in Barcelona at the Mobile Games Congress between trips to.. well, you know. Ooof… I’ll post the videos in a bit…

Commentary: Why We ALL Need Wizardry Back!

Posted on January 14, 2011 by geelw

Sometimes, I just hate Japan, but in a decidedly more “grrrr… how come they get THAT game?” manner (and not anything more overly dramatic than that, mind you). While the Wizardry franchise hasn’t seen a new Western-developed PC game in the states since the ill-fated, (but mostly well-rated) Wizardry 8 (back in 2001!), since the late 80’s, Japanese gamers have had nearly 40 ports or completely original Wizardry games and side-stories created by an assortment of developers for a number of consoles, portables and even cellphones.

More recently (as in a big, fat “what the what?!”), the Nintendo DS in Japan has gotten their own original Wizardry games in the form of three titles that will probably never, ever see the light of day in English unless they get fan-patched translations (*grrrr!*). You can keep your Angry Birds, and other “casual” games, folks – I’d rather play something with real meat on its bones.

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Commentary: Is 3DTV THAT Urgent Of An "Innovation"?

Posted on January 11, 2011 by geelw

According to a friend I just got off the phone with, at CES 2011, you “couldn't take ten steps” without someone either handing you a pair of now cool (but still expensive as you have to buy that new TV) 3D glasses, or gently nudging you or using booth babes to lure your toward a glasses-free (and wallet busting) 3D experience. Yeah, yeah, I get it – it works and it works really damn well. The problem is… not everything that's going to be ON those new super sets will be worth watching in three di-mensions, dammit.

Now Playing (Catch Up Version)

Posted on January 3, 2011 by geelw

It might be a slow week for you folks dragging back to work or school after the holidays, but I’ve been busy working on a bunch of stuff, including polishing up and posting a few old reviews I mentioned a little while ago. In the meantime, I’m also getting around to a few (sort of) current releases such as Disney Epic Mickey, Namco Museum Megamix and a few other games I had queued up near the TV during the holiday crunch. I was thinking about making some Game of Last Year picks (a little in-joke there), but I’m still mixed on the idea of “best-of” lists, as they tend to ignore too many otherwsie excellent games in favor of being popularity contests.

For instance: how many of you guys and gals have played Din’s Curse, Avernum 6, Plane Weaver, Amnesia: the Dark Descent, Alice in Wonderland (DS), Deadly Premonition, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Dementium II, or Y’s Seven? Now, those aren’t all the games I’d add to my own “best of” list (which would have at least 50 titles on it, in case you’re wondering), but it’s just why most GOTY lists that ignore offbeat, well-made games such as these stink. Anyway, back to the salt mines… I’ve got games to finish playing!

Happy New Year! Er, Wait… Where The Heck Did LAST Year Go?

Posted on January 1, 2011 by geelw

Yikes, last year went by FAST. Well, given that I was out of action for a good part of early to mid 2010, the second half of the year was pretty busy and mostly productive on a few fronts. I’m still planning to catch up on/complete and post some old reviews just to have them in the database here (which will be updated with its own search function at some point) along with some other cool stuff.

Amusingly enough, all I did most of yesterday was finally finish up two games I’d started a while ago and happened to find saves for while clearing some stuff off my hard drive. That’s a screen from The Chosen: Well of Souls to the left, a single-player action RPG that’s not quite the Diablo rip-off you’d think. Awful voice acting aside (except for the guy doing the final boss), it’s a pretty long and tricky bit of hack ‘n slash with some nicely varied stylized environments and some interesting tweaks to the usual formula. Not “Game of the Year” material, mind you, but developer Rebelmind sure knows how to make a decent chase & chop. Anyway, here’s to a wildly amazing 2011 packed FULL of great games, new tech to play with and yup, more stuff to give away when I can swing it. Hang on and keep us bookmarked, folks – it’s going to be a really interesting year…

Nintendo 3DS Pre-Order Madness Starts With Nary A Price Point In Sight (AND Your Kids WIll Go BLIND… Er, Maybe)…

Posted on December 30, 2010 by geelw

I’m gathering that reports that the upcoming 3DS will carry a warning about use of its innovative 3D functionality being not recommended (or good, for that matter) for the eyesight of kids under six years old isn’t going to stop anyone from putting down a fat deposit at Gamestop and posting copies their receipts online. Of course, those pre-ordering folk aren’t six years old (and hopefully don’t have kids coming up on that age they want to introduce to that sort of eye/brain strain) and heck, trying to stop early adopters from throwing packs of money around is sort of bad for the economy (which someone should tell those AGAINST alternative fuel sources).

Still, Nintendo really needs to play offense as well as defense here as they address this potential sales-killing (or class action lawsuit bringing) issue as more of the dopier media outlets (you know, the ones that ALWAYS take the “Video games will turn your kids into mass murdering sex fiends in three seconds!” approach to this sort of news) take this negative angle and run wild with it. I say, as long as parents can read the damn box (or have a clerk point this age limit out to them) BEFORE they buy it, it’s all good. Now, about that price point… Guess we’ll see by CES (my prediction: $249.99, but perhaps with a pack-in and maybe loaded with some cool stuff)

My REAL question is this: Why the hell do we keep seeing kid’s movies arriving in theaters (then later on DVD or Blu-Ray) in 3D if kids under six shouldn’t be able to watch them at all? Granted, you can sit around playing “normal” games for hours on end with only a few issues. 3D gaming has been headache-inducing since the 90’s when there were something like two to four minute experiences along with a few other applications. I guess we’ll see what happens after the 3DS ships and more folks can afford 3D televisions and those expensive glasses.

Still, I’m crazy that way. I can see myself playing a 3D game ’til I fall off the couch from dizziness, but I just can’t imagine myself or someone else watching more than two 3D movies in a row before their butt tries to bite them for making them sit so long doing nothing…

Random Holiday Greetings Roundup

Posted on December 25, 2010 by geelw

Here’s a few more of the e-cards or holiday-themed images that have ended up in my inbox (I don’t drive, but thanks, Maserati!). I need to poke around and see what’s ended up in the spam folder, as on occasion, a card or three turns up there as well. Click on that amusingly rustic card from CDProjeckt Red’s The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for a trip to its pre-order page, as there’s a rather spectacular bonus-packed deal on the upcoming title that’s very hard to refuse. For some wonky reason, I can’t even see the digital card Atlus USA sent out, but I’ll try to upload and post it later.