Well first off, the past day or so has seen a huge influx of new visitors to this site. So welcome! I guess in due part of me getting a mention over at Game Industry Tweet, as well as my pals Hilary and Leigh Alexander spreading the word about the little Persona 4 fan-art contest I’ve got going on. For anyone that’s missed it, just refer to the handy little button to the upper right-hand side of this page, courtesy of Jason!
But yeah, the response thus far has been really nice! I’ve heard from plenty of folks that are getting ready to fight for the prize(s)! Can’t wait. And hopefully, I’ll hear from even more as time go on. Unfortunately, a bunch of responses to my announcement was accidentally nuked this morning, while doing a mass dump of spam comments… sorry about that.
Anyway, the New York Comic Con is just two days away, but the party officially starts once Pat Lewis arrives in just a bit. Though I do have some time on my hands at the moment, so how about I go over a few random things, before they get completely lost in the shuffle?
One Game Is For Penguins, The Other, For Dudes That Like Batman
Remember all those Sega games I mentioned last week? Well one title I wasn’t allowed to talk about has finally been announced, and thus I’ve been given the okay to spill the beans. The game in question? Let’s Tap for the Wii…
It’s the new game from Prope, which is the new home of Yuji Naka (who was one of the dudes behind the original Sonic the Hedgehog, for all you non-Sega nerds out there). The teaser site proclaimed that it was something even penguins could play, or something like that. And when it was finally unveiled as an assortment of mini-games in which you don’t move the Wiimote around with your hand but instead placed it face down on a cardboard box that you tap, with the Wiimote reading the vibrations, most were generally deflated and didn’t care. Including myself, though I felt the music was pretty f’n hawt. Well, much like Bayonetta, I wasn’t allowed to play and could only watch, but once I saw the game in action, I had to admit, Let’s Tap looked lots of fun! Though it’s certainly not for everyone; in Japan, it’s stressed as a fun activity for the whole, which still holds true. As a single player experience, the game is going to bore one quickly, especially since there aren’t a heck of a lot of game modes.
But still, the game as expected, sounded PHENOMENAL. The soundtrack was so catchy that I simply couldn’t concentrate while playing the new House of the Dead, which was right next to it (not helping is how the game flat out sucked). Though it?s the visuals that really impressed me. Long story short, a while back when Sega was starting to downsize, various studios were absorbed into each other, and the unit behind Rez was absorbed into Sonic Team. Most of those folks left to help for Q Entertainment, but some did stay behind… I’m told that those that had worked on Sega Rally was involved in Sonic Riders (or so I was told). Anyhow, it kinda feels like at least one person behind Rez was involved, since it has that same look, the neon, primary colored, non-textured, and super stylish polygons and all. The overall presentation is actually quite tight, and not at all becoming of a kid friendly title.
Most of the activities involved just tapping the box to either move a little guy, against others in a race, or to keep another floating dude out of harm’s way, a la Balloon Fight (though there was some shooting involved as well). Perhaps the most enticing activity was the visualizer, in which you just tap away to make cool stuff happen on-screen. Unfortunately, you can’t run music off the SD card and have an awesome show for the background of a party, which seems like the obvious thing, though perhaps there’s a solution, like playing music off a stereo and having the speaker near the Wiimote, to read the vibrations. Anyhow, like I said, didn’t play it so I can’t speak too much about it, though I’m actually excited for it’s release, whereas I could not have given a rat’s ass before, and other once Sega fans should also take note.
Oh and yesterday, I got a rundown of the new DC Universe MMO coming out for the PC and PS3. It’s by the same folks behind EverQuest and a host of other Sony MMOs, though DC editor in chief Jim Lee is directing the project (with noted scribe Jeff Johns handling the overall plot). All right, the basics: the game takes place across the DC Universe, and features all its signature heroes and villains. Though you won’t be any of them; the game stresses original character creation, so no one less is gonna be donning the cowl or putting on Supe’s cape. This of course is to prevent 70,000 Supermen flying around. The actual criteria behind a character’s creation I found to be pretty neat. Firs there’s the actual power itself, like ice or fire, then there’s the power source, like a gun or ring or if its just magic. Third is movement, like super speed or flight, and finally we have other traits, like strength and metabolism. It’ll take too long to explain how they’re each tied into each other and how even a dude who has an ultra powerful, earth shattering move is still relatively balanced in the end, though I’m also guessing those to MMOs find such stuff old hat as well (whereas it’s all new to me). You then choose an allegiance, either good or bad, and then go on missions that following an overall storyline… something about Lex Luthor wanting to harness the power of Doomsday
Overall the game seems pretty decent… as you go on missions, you can encounter other players doing their own things, and either help or hinder their progress. Plus there’s plenty of little thing going on, purses to snatch or return to their owners. So I guess think GTA DC. To prevent narrative inconsistencies with so many people playing alongside each other, but at different points of the game, parts where there’s some big confrontation with a major character for example, happens in isolated areas, which is smart, though its still not always the same each time you set foot inside. Sometimes you might be there too early or too late. Back to the open areas, there’s plenty to see and do, like tossing huge buses around, which I was told, was a first in any MMO, the interaction with such environmental objects. And the game certainly did feel more like a standard action game than a MMO. Though one can’t tear down any buildings I’m afraid; the producer toyed with the idea, but then realized that about ten minutes into the game’s launch, the entire city of Metropolis would be complete rubble.
Four Versus Two
Anyhow, it’s going to be one of the many games on-hand at the NYCC this weekend, so if you can, check it out. Speaking of, my houseguest for the event and this weekend just showed up! And because Pat’s now getting his first taste of the splendors of Rock Band 2…
Remember how I also couldn’t figure anything to get at Gamestop last week as well? Well, the very next day I went back and finally picked up a copy of Guitar Hero World Tour (and NOT Ultimate Shooting Collection for the Wii, which I didn’t find out till it was too late that it had already been released… though I highly doubt a place like Gamestop would even carry it… and truth be told, the only reason why I want the thing is to finally play Karous in English). I had played the game here and there since it’s launch, but never actually got the chance to really dig in. And because I’ve finally grown a bit bored with Rock Band 2, at least until the Pearl Jam Ten re-issue hits the game sometime next month, figured what the hey. The verdict…
- First off, I honestly can’t understand how GH4 managed to garner as much praise and the same high scores as RB2 did. First off, World Tour is flat out one of the ugliest games I’ve played in a long time. The art director seriously needs to be fired. The obscenely heinous visuals are most evident in the character creation mode, which Rock Band totally blows away. There’s plenty of options, more so than in Rock Band, to the point that it’s overkill. The biggest issue is how none of them compensate for the fact that, again, everyone is grotesque looking. I spent a half an hour in vein trying my best to recreate my RB2 hottie; you know, when there’s an option to have a teen girl’s face, I want a teen girl’s face and not one belonging to some fifty year old tranny. The outfits are also nowhere near as interesting, but only really started playing, so perhaps the closet situation will improve over time.
- On a related note, while I appreciate the more robust logo creator, the interface is a complete pain in the ass. So much so that I’m steering far, far away from the music creator (which I hear is not all that anyway).
- As for it all moves, the animation is okay I guess. I still prefer the personalty that’s found in Rock Band, but at least it’s vastly improved over Guitar Hero 3. The drummer actually looks like he or she is a person and not an malfunctioning robot at Chucky E. Cheese. Everyone still looks insanely ugly though. Sorry to keep mentioning this, but it’s hard to ignore. The interface also sucks; everything is just small and vague. Another plus for Rock Band for keeping up standard definition set owners in mind.
- The product placement is just as bad as everyone says it is. I’ve been to quite a few house parties in my time, and not once have I seen anyone serve or bring with the a bucket of chicken from KFC. Just saying.
- And the virtual Billy Corgan is also just a atrocious as everyone said he’d be. No wonder he’s so goddamn hostile towards Guitar Hero.
- The selection of music is where the highlights finally begin to rear its head. I was certainly non-plussed to play crap like 311 so early on, and hearing/playing so many of RB2′s songs as good as they might be was also somewhat disappointing, but classics from Ozzy, Filter, the Eagles, and the Steve Miller Band, plus the one Dream Theater song that’s actually good (never mind that other crappy one of theirs in RB2) is most certainly appreciated.
- Here’s where World Tour shines for me: the note placement is considerably more fun and satisfying. I’m the kind of player that’s too good for normal, yet still can’t hang in RB2′s hard setting. At this point I have to crank up the speed of the notes, but in GH4, it’s just the right speed, as well more than enough notes to boot. I’d perhaps complain that it’s a bit too tough on normal if I hadn’t had so much practice in Rock Band.
- And as goofy as the on-stage antics is, at least its a bit more spontaneous than Rock Band’s. I’m talking about all the electrical effects when using star power. It’s amusing… for now. I guess ask me again after a few weeks. But yeah, as is, Rock Band 2 is clearly the superior product. Now more than ever, I’m glad Harmonix got the Beatles license!
Quote Of The Week
Courtesy of Katie’s sister, who on a totally coincidental note. is also from Pittsburg, just like Pat! Who at this very moment is jamming away on Psycho Killer, by the Talking Heads. Anyhow, this one is regarding last weekend’s Super Bowl…
“a new fad is for kids to ride parking meters like a bucking bronco until they are uprooted from cement. this takes time and strength, and after about 10 minutes of teetering, it’s out. but no, why stop there? lets take the head off the meter, raise it over our heads and smash it on the ground letting the quarters roll on the street like candy out of a pinata. but wait, lets do this to like 4 meters in a row. good times.”
“Hey, can I bring my friend Dave to the meetup?”
Okay for you new folks, I have a message board, in case you missed it. It’s not the biggest, most active place in the world, but what it lacks in quantity is more than made up in quality! There’s some few good folks there, and if you’re interested, come on board! Though please drop me a line when you do, including what your handle is, because all account activations is handled manually, and given the high number of spam bots on that end as well, there’s a good chance that real people are getting lost there as well.
Anyhow, every once in a while, when there’s not much going on around here, I often highlight “the best of”, though I’ve been so busy as of late that it’s been a while and now I’m seriously behind. Was gonna give it another shot this week, before the con, but Pat’s here already and I risk making myself look like a total douchey guest by spending too much time online. So here’s just a small taste…
… Hey, Katie’s finally home! Guess posting highlights from the past couple of weeks at my Pokemon Ranch will have to wait. Instead, time to get some beers, order some Thai, and pop in Nothing To Fear! Later folks.
