I have a tendency to bitch a lot to my friends and coworkers, but in reality, I can’t complain. Why? Because I have the life others can only wish for (well if you’re a hard core gaming nerd, or a loser that is). A life which seems to totally revolve around video games. For example, here’s a look at earlier today, which I guess technically was yesterday…
7:30 a.m. Got up earlier than usual due to an assignment for Nickelodeon Magazine. But before heading out (and while waiting for my hair to dry), I always check out the Gaming Age Forums, usually to see if any of my posts from the night prior (usually around 3 in the moning-ish) received any responses.
9:30 a.m. I interviewed Michael Braglia, a kid who submitted an original character to Sucker Punch, the makers of Sly Cooper for the PlayStation2 as part of some contest. As the grand prize winner, his character, which is some sort of kung fu simian, will appear in the upcoming sequel, so I ask him about that and other things (and get a ton of Monty Python references in return).
11:00 a.m. Met up with my editor at Nick Mag to hand off the interview tape. I love writing for Nick, not just because it’s always fun, and there’s the chance to see & play games before anyone else, as well as meet some awesome people (Miyamoto!), but I get paid handsomely as well. In addition to the checks, there’s always shwag on the side: today, my editor passed along a pretty neat-o Mega Man shirt.
12:00 p.m. It’s lunch time, but at home; today is my first day of vacation, It’s also time to check out the latest headlines in the world of games. I go to the “big guys” first, like IGN and GameSpot, but then I always try to stop by the more niche-oriented sites like Insert Credit. Today I just noticed that my post about Game Engine 2 got mentioned on the front page!
1:00 p.m. I normally reserve all my Game Boy Advance playing for subway rides, but last night I went to a Sony cocktail party, and instead of trying out Ratchet and Clank 3 or Jak 3 (ugh), I ended up playing my companion’s GBA instead; in hers was a copy of Bugs Bunny’s Crazy Castle 2, a really old school Game Boy title for those who don’t know. So now I’m on a classic Game Boy kick, which today was appeased by rounds of Tetris (the original Game Boy version is still the best in my book, no matter what anyone says), DuckTales 2 (which was also brought on by listening to an mp3 of the theme, courtesy of the same friend from last night), and Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (gotta remember to pick up Oracle of Time while I still can find it). I really wish I hadn’t sold my copy of Donkey Kong ’94, now that I hear Mario vs. Donkey Kong sorta sucks.
1:45 p.m. Checked the mail and found the Fall Continuing Education Bulletin for SVA (my class is listed on page 46). It’s 10 sessions instead of 8 (hooray!), but its also $100 more expensive (sorry). Also checked the SVA website and the fall class is also now available for online registration.
2:00 p.m. Took a nap. My doctors (as well as numerous friends) have been nagging me forever to get more sleep, and I guess vacation’s the time to do it.
4:00 p.m. Woke up later than I wanted. I’m rushing to get stuff done, but yet I still have time to stop by the GAF and other gaming forums.
4:30 p.m. Had a conference call regarding possible development work for PixelJump. I really wish I could say who it is, but since it’s still in the talking stage, I obviously can’t. But let’s just say, I find the possibility of working with this is person very exciting.
5:30 p.m. Went to SVA since I still had class to teach. Waiting for me in my mailbox were two games from Ziff Davis, to be reviewed for GMR. Spent the next half hour finalizing my note for the evening…
6:00 p.m. Class begins. Went over my impressions of the Game Engine 2 event, which was followed by a discussion regarding the Japanese game industry, which according to a 1Up article that’s getting a lot of attention right now, is on the brink of death. I pointed out that whenever the gaming industry goes through a generational shift, from one console to another, there are always doomsday reports, usually citing the possibility of another industry wide crash. This piece points to the Japanese public’s apparent disinterest of the console scene, and how cell phone games and online titles are instead being embraced. The author makes some good points, but neglects to make a few others as well.
While I agree that perhaps games are becoming too complicated, hence why cell phone games, as well as GBA titles (which Nintendo’s Satoru’s Iwata is more than happy to point out) do so well, one shouldn’t blame other gaming outlets for the lack of interest in console titles. It’s like when people in comics blame video games for the loss in readership; as Peter David pointed out at a panel I once shared with him at this past Icon, people will always make room for whatever is fun and enjoyable, regardless of the medium or format, and that ultimately one’s attention is never solely focused on just one type of distraction or hobby. And I just wish the author pointed out that the Japanese economy has been in a major slump for over 15 years now, hence why sales might be steadily declining. That there is another reason why perhaps mobile and online games are doing so well: they’re simply cheaper to play.
This lead into a several other discussions, mostly regarding the independent game scene, or more specifically, if there is one. I explained that yes there is (several actually), and it’s thriving, though the public just chooses not to pay any attention to it (and that the very concept of an “independent” video game scene is either completely foreign or just absurd to most). I pointed to the home-brew scene as an example, and listed the thriving underground Dreamcast scene, along with what’s being done on the Game Park 32 as a few examples.
Next were not one, but two in-class assignments. The first was to take an existing 2D game and describe how they would handle a 3D treatment. It was funny hearing one student describe how he would do a 3D Tron game and then telling him that not only does one exist, but it’s practically pixel perfect to what he has just described. Next was to design a game catered to one of the following audiences: teenage girls, people between the age of 39-65, fans of the show Trading Spaces, troubled youths, people with learning disabilities, and fans of the film Titanic. For such a “jokey” assignment, I was surprised by all the ideas that were generated; most could easily be turned into legitimate (and dare I say profitable) games.
10:30 p.m. I’m home, just had dinner, and decide to play games. The one’s I’ve been assigned to review for GMR? Of course not. Instead, I take another jab at Mega Man vs Ghosts ‘n Goblins. I still can’t get passed the jumping portions in the second level due to the shoot and jump buttons being reversed. Now I know what the GameCube Mega Man: Anniversary Collection must be like.
…. So now you see why I really don’t have enough time to do all the things I really want to be doing, such as drawing, reading comics, and watching cartoons.
Also, at the very end of the night, I went to get some cereal for a midnight snack and noticed all my cereal boxes were covered in grease. Once again, since they cook every meal with oil (and this include soy milk, I serioulsy kid you not) the air gets so filled with fats, it has no where to go except inside the cupboards to further ruin my food.
So I think I continue to bitch about my day to day existence.
