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Brand New Video Games Blog

Why not have a look at my new blog about video games and all kinds of related subjects: passion4games

posted by qmchaz64 @ 8:09 pm 0 Comments

New blog and website

Will be moving most of my work to http://passion4games.typepad.com/passion4games/

posted by qmchaz64 @ 9:15 pm 0 Comments

Types of Gamers

The link from the title points to a Wiki on the different types of gamers that exist in the world. This effectively scientifically analyses gamers, but in reality we are obviously not as defined. There are a number of sub divisions of casual and hardcore players. A casual player can be anyone one plays Solitaire on their PC during the coffee break, or could be a console playing gamer. There are thousands of what I consider to be casual gamers who play sports or fighting games. They maybe play with their friends over a few beers.
There are also competitive professional players, or even cyberathletes (as some may be known) who travel the world and play in large tournaments for money.
There are also hardcore gamers like myself, who find the rich worlds and stories behind games immensely captivating. We tend to love action adventure and single player story driven games.
Very different to us are the perfectionist players, who will stop at nothing to complete a particular game 100%. They will unlock everything, beat every difficulty setting and always try to beat their high score. This type of gamer is a phenomenon I don't particularly understand. They generally make excellent computer programmers - many of the good programmers I have met in the past can stay up all night in order to get their one piece of code to work. They're incredible!

posted by qmchaz64 @ 3:03 pm 0 Comments

Bad design, or is it just me?

Been playing through Dead Space in the evenings. I managed to enjoy the first 4 chapters before the fifth sadly forced me to restart from the very beginning. This isn't the first time this has happened with survival horror or action game games, and I suspected I might run into problem from the outset of Dead Space. First things first, I think my general gaming skill level is pretty low, with respect to joypad skills at least; puzzle solving is a different story. I tend to find even the normal difficulty setting a challenge, which I suppose is kind of embarrassing. But that aside, I see a recurring problem with this survival horror genre.
These titles use a 'limited space' inventory system, so in other words you can only carry a certain limited amount of health, ammo and other beneficial equipment (possibly specific to the game). Any extras you find have to be ignored, or you can drop items to make space. This is done, I imagine, to add that extra dimension of strategy to the game, and on paper it sounds very viable. However, personally, it doesn't float with me. I've only recently come to realise how frustrating I find it!
Obviously, gamers around the world enjoy this design approach. I ask why? The WHOLE POINT is that you don't know what is around the next corner, so how the hell can you prepare for it with the required items!? Maybe you need to have psychic abilities that mere mortals like myself simply can't comprehend...
I replayed a section with minimum ammo about 30 times and finally passed it, only to be thrown into another enemy swamped area with next to no ammo, making it impossible, hence the restart, this time on easy mode... Why not put unlimited storage capabilities or change the mechanic in some way to stop this from happening. Are there people out there who really enjoy repeating the same thing 1000 times?

posted by qmchaz64 @ 1:58 pm 0 Comments

Tekken 6

I've been following this game's development through the internet over the past few months, it's not out on console until Fall 2009 but it's shaping up to be awesome. The game is already out in the arcades in Japan with 2 existing versions: Tekken 6 and Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion, the latter being an update featuring 2 new characters as well as several other upgrades including new customization options. The fact that the console release is not for a good long while gives the team plenty of time to perfect the game. I'm hoping for many good things from Tekken 6.
I was looking through tekkenpedia at some of the screens and noticed a heavy emphasis on customisation. If the arcade version features so much customisation, then I can only assume the console release will expand on this with the aid of DLC. This concept also makes the idea of separate character costumes (ie. the 1P and 2P outfits with a possible third unlockable) a thing of the past. I believe that Tekken 6 characters are designed independent of their costumes allowing various items of apparel to be mixed and matched. This is somewhat similar to Soul Calibur 4, although it has the added feature of full character creation, which from what I've seen is very impressive.
Thinking again about the arcade machine, there is a deluxe cabinet which has 4 separate monitors with a fifth, larger monitor for TEKKEN-net matches. I feel that it is a shame that the arcade scene is virtually non existent in the UK these days. Fighting games are by far best played against human opposition and although I am personally not particularly skilled at them, I love the representations of the martial arts that not only Tekken, but most fighting franchises contain.
Finally, I found several videos of high level Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection play from the Evolution West tournament a few years ago. Have a look here. Remember, this is a last gen game but still looks awesome. Tekken 6 will be huge...

posted by qmchaz64 @ 4:39 pm 0 Comments

The Silent Protagonist

I've been playing through Dead Space over the last few days and so far I'm very impressed. It's one of the most atmospheric games I've played, and was obviously heavily influenced by the film Event Horizon, which happens to be my all time favourite film! There seems to be a reference around every corner, along with the general design of the game's setting - the Ishimura (a deep space mining vessel)
As an action/survival horror game, it follows the formula to great effect. Lots of gore, disturbing human abominations for enemies which creep up on you from behind in the dark, and of course practical action based challenges & problem solving.
As the player you assume the role of Isaac Clarke, a lowly engineer investigating the stricken ship Ishimura. However, Dead Space adheres to the 'silent protagonist' method of storytelling, which naturally only works with video games (with a few exceptions).
It may seem strange to those who don't play games, but it is as the name suggests, the main character never says a word for the duration of the game, the supporting cast provide all dialogue and you as the player robotically carry out tasks. Although on paper, this sounds dreadful, it actually works very well and you will forget the fact that your character is silent before long as the game sucks you in...
There are very good reasons for this approach, the main being that it allows the player to create their own interpretation of the character. It's likely that you will never see the character's face during the game either.
Dead Space achieves this with the use of a visor combined with a full body suit. The end result is that the only tie to Isaac Clarke that we have, is the name 'Isaac Clarke'. The suit could be worn by anyone!
The potential for a sequel is also very much increased, as we do not have to 'become' another character, or indeed become Isaac again in a different setting. I have found myself disliking certain games and films as a result of not relating to any of the characters. This problem is negated here. There will apparently be a Dead Space sequel which I'm looking forward to. It's a new IP and will hopefully become a great franchise. I recommend it to anyone who likes sci-fi and of course, a scare!

posted by qmchaz64 @ 1:15 pm 0 Comments

More about Karate

That previous marathon post started me thinking and I feel compelled to reiterate that last paragraph. It really became a rant. I've turned into yet another angry blogger...!
I would like to say to any young person thinking about starting karate, beware of egotistical old men at your chosen club. They are not as good as they believe they are.
There is a rare breed however; grand masters who have devoted their entire lives to karate, and descend directly from the Funakoshi or Harada lineage. These are not the people who I am referring to in this blog and I have the utmost respect for them. Although they do happen to be the people who the egotistical old men model themselves on.
After changing karate clubs, my training took a far more gritty, streetwise, and athletic theme, steering away from intense technical & philosophical workouts, although this was still present. With this change came new ideas and indeed different types of individuals to train with.
It is commonly known that the strength of Shotokai is in it's diversity, and this new club prompted me to start practicing 'my' Shotokai rather than the sensei's. I am after all, far taller and heavier than average, and can use this to my advantage.
Having said this, I, along with almost every other karateka in my style, must remember 'soft' karate. Only after years of training, I realised that my size and power can be combined with relaxation rather than brute force to achieve great results.
All of the above is fair enough, but it does not hide the fact that in it's element, karate is, believe it or not, an athletic activity. You actually need to be fit. Why do people not understand this!?
The brainwashed old men of above feel that they can start karate in their sixties, train for 5-10 years and then think of themselves as 70 year old grand masters. You would not take up football in your sixties and then expect to be able to keep up with the University under 19s squad! Why do you think karate is different!?
As you have probably deduced by now, the point is that this is very different from being a genuine 'soft karate' grand master, so to speak. They can perform amazing feats in their seventies, but not without 50+ years of blood, sweat and tears. Exactly how I train presently.
It sickens me to see these ridiculous men cruising up the grades, getting praised, etc when they can't even complete the warm up. Some believe they could defend themselves against a thug 50 years younger & faster. I would honestly hate to think what would happen...
I'm aware this post has not promoted the idea of older generations taking up new hobbies, or even sports and events for disabled individuals. For this I apologise, but there are separate competitions for disabled people within most sports. This is superb. Once again though, people seem to see karate differently...

posted by qmchaz64 @ 4:11 pm 0 Comments