Sonic Team’s first game for the DS has just been revealed. The title is “I Will Die For You” and it takes just one look to figure out that is not from the same folks that gave you Sonic Heroes or Billy Hatcher (thank God). Actually, the man behind the game is Takumi Yoshinaga who hails from the United Gaming Artist sides of things (the part that decided to stick around) and was a designer on Space Channel 5, which more than shows. The story revolves around one guy’s obsession over one girl and game is all the things he has to do to woo her.
It’s played with the touch screen alone and from just looked at the few screenshots (and hearing the looping music from the game’s site, I;m already in love with the game. And, much like Rez before it, it’s almost guranteed to enjoy a strong, cult following…. and be an abysmal commercial failure.
On the GBA side, the first screenshot of “Yoshi’s Universal Gravitation” was also shown in the same issue of Famitsu. Visually, it’s looks just like the N64 platformer Yoshi’s Story, which was slated to get a GBA translation (one level was ported years ago as a means to show of the then fledgling’s capabilities) but that never happened (though I don’t feel too bad since I really didn’t enjoy it that much in the first place). It also utilizes the same motion sensor technology that’s in Wario Ware 2.
Back to Sonic Team, I finally got a chance to listen to their “farewell” album, Sonic Team Unplugged Live 2004 which I wrote about a few months ago. And it’s… nothing special. Perhaps it was a bit foolish to hear a drunken Yuji Naka in the background making fun of Blinx, but there’s nothing wrong with hoping…
But the really big news this week has been the long awaited unveiling of the new game from the folks who created Ico. It’s either called “Wanda and the Colossus” or “Wonder and the Giant Statue”, depending on whom you talk to. There’s very little info on the game as of right now, but the few images that have been releases have been absolutely beautiful. If Terry Gilliam ever wanted to make a Time Bandits game, these are the guys to make it (unless they’re doing it already).
Also, some technical issues that were in the way have finally been resolved, so I’ve finally begun posting descriptions for the Internet Archive’s massive collection of game related videos. To find out what games I’ve updated, simply keep any eye on the message board at the bottom of the main page.
I also recently did a write up of Alien Hominid for Insert Credit. The game’s publisher, O3 Entertainment, was in town on Wednesday to talk with the press, but I almost didn’t make it due to the storm that hit the city earlier that morning. Normally I never complain about the weather since it’s totally out of anyone’s hands (plus it’s totally stupid to do so since the same storm took people’s homes and their lives in other parts of the country) but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t bitch about the subways which were totally crippled for some inexplicable reason. Well the MTA did provide one: the storm caused a flood that shorted out the entire train system. I love how NYC was so ready for the army of Republican delegates and protesters that followed just over a week ago, yet when it came to just three inches of water everything went haywire.
So with no trains running and buses bursting with passengers (with people literally hanging on, like they do on trolleys in San Francisco) I attempted to walk the entire 104 blocks to work, though along the way I shared a cab with two women, both of whom did not know each other but happened to be from France. The cab ride was pleasant, thanks to the opportunity to chit chat with a hot French chick, and despite the bitching from the cabbie, since they can’t stand it when people share a cab (which is total bullshit since they’re getting paid regardless). But as I stepped out, my cell phone fell into puddle of oily water, and it’s been on the fritz ever since. Plus by the time I got to work, I had to leave in just five minutes to make my appointment.
You can read my impressions of the game when it’s posted on IC, but what I will tell you is that I ended up chitchatting with the folks at O3 and eventually I brought up my past as a designer for a major game studio, which of course was Ubi Soft, and then came the question I always love answering: “What was your biggest game?” And just as much as I enjoy saying Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I love all the “Jesus…” looks and “I’m sorry” comments even more, though they’re totally justified; the game flat out sucks ass, no doubt about it. And of course, there’s the explanation I always give regarding my numerous (and futile) attempts at making the game would be good, which should have been good given the strength of the movie’s license. After all, you play people who sword fight and run on rooftops… how could anyone possible fuck that up?! But I usually get the “we know, we know” response from those who know how things work in a major game publisher. The fact that O3 is all about helping smaller developers get their games to the marketplace with raping them in the process is something who’s time has truly come.
Though the most uncomfortable part of that conversation was when someone made a comment regarding Ubi Soft’s rather “French” way of handling business, which of course led to some jokes on that country’s expense… all while with a French producer (who was there to demo another O3 published game) was in the same room. The guy was super nice (I feel bad that I had zero interest in his game) and tried his best to roll with punches. Man, Wednesday was a really French Day.
Friday was the opening day of the iGames Expo. Even though I wasn’t there to cover the event for anyone, that didn’t stop one of the organizers from giving me a red carpet tour. I guess it has something to do with the fact that I write for Ziff Davis and they’re the ones behind next month’s Digital Life, which is hosting GameOnNY (and happens to be iGame’s “competition”). So after humoring the guy, I headed down to the basement where the Gamer’s Nite Groove party was going on and caught up with the guy behind that, plus a few of the regulars whom I’ve become aquatinted. Empire Arcadia was there and I finally met its members face to face. They were on hand to specifically help promote Guilty Gear Isuka, by bringing in some of country’s best fighting game aficionados, including Justin Wong (which I think most people will know best from this vid) whom I also got to meet for briefly. I ended up chitchatting with one guy from Empire Arcadia for most of the night, mostly on the subject of Sega racing games and really obscure PSOne titles. Before leaving I spoke to the Sammy rep who was quite eager to pimp a game that wasn’t even playable, though the opening cinematic could be found looping over and over and over again. It’s called Darkwatch and when I went home to do some research on the game, I came across this. All I can say is that you really have to try hard to out smut the topless BloodRayne pic from Playboy.
The next day I went a backyard party thrown by my boss in Brooklyn. It’s almost always assumed that everyone who lives in Brooklyn eats healthy (i.e. vegan), and the food on the grill generally reflects this, but thankfully my coworkers were in the same boat as I was; we all craved just one thing: meat. There was to be found; my boss had a separate grill for meat… a very small grill actually. Which meant we all had to fight over tiny morsel of animal flesh. I totally missed out on the hamburgers, so I tired a veggie burger instead. I’ve actually had some good ones in the past… and this time was not it. Inside were all the colors of the rainbow, as if someone compacted some Fruity Pebbles in meat patty form, though it didn’t taste nearly as delicious. At least there were to whole trays of deviled eggs for sustenance. That and the slice of $36 cheesecake.
Afterwards was a trip back in the city and a belated birthday dinner and drinks with Joe. By the end of the night, I was set on heading towards Penn Station to catch the 1/9 train home, but then I saw the light towers in the distance (yep, it was September 11th), so I figured I’d check it out. Joe lives on 26th Street and I walked all the way down to the Ground Zero; I don’t know how many blocks that is (it’s practically half the entire length of Manhattan,) but the weather was really nice, plus I really need the exercise. As I got closer, I noticed little pieces of “something” moving about and shimmering in the light. As I got closer, the light became larger and more ominous, even surreal; the streets were deserted (it was like 2-3 in the morning at this point) save for a few other who were all walking towards it like me, and all looking up, as it was a signal from another world. By the time I arrived at the site, I realized they were hundreds of tiny moths going nuts for the lights and one by one they were dive-bombing into the hot bulbs. As soon as one made contact, they burnt up instantly, with a just a small puff of smoke rising up. I’m not trying to make some deep or profound (or groan inducing) analogy or statement, just an observation. Obviously the subtext was there, but even without it, it was quite the sight.
The next day, I finally watched that PBS documentary on video games which I taped on Wednesday night. Overall, I thought it was decent; it’s easily the best in-depth look into video game that has been produced thus far for American television thus far, though that’s really not saying much. I both liked and hated at the same time the all over the map look at the subject. It featured tons of interviews with an impressive selection of industry folks (Bushnell, Miyamoto, Molyneux, Meier, Wright, Blackly, Rubin and even Bernie Stollar!) and tried it’s best to cover a great deal of territory, but the all over the map presentation grew tiresome, especially after the second hour, which almost felt as if it had run out of steam. Plus there was the minor inaccuracies in certain places, and their choice of footage for certain instances made absolutely no sense (if you’re specifically talking about the Star Wars arcade title from the early 80′s, then why show footage from the latest PC game, which doesn’t even feature any element that’s instantly recognizable to the average Star Warts fan?).
There’s been many complaints regarding the overall value of the show, specifically its tone, but I think that’s a fairly ridiculous thing to get worked up about. The documentary was clearly aimed at the masses, so of course it “didn’t show or say anything new”. Video games is still very young, which translates to mystery and confusion for many (despite it being such a powerful medium, even at this point in time) and the documentary certainly did a good job of filling in the blanks for the general public, which popular media, or even their children might not do all that well. But then again, inaccuracies are inaccuracies, and simply saying that common folks won’t ever know or even care is not good enough. Plus it’s not a great sign when “the authority” can’t even gets their Nintendo pack-in games straight.
But still, perhaps the best part of the entire thing was not seeing some of the industry’s greatest minds, but the blind girl who can play Pokemon. I’m so glad they used her as a focal point instead of that girl who lost 100 pounds via Dance Dance Revolution. Don’t get me wrong… she fucking hot…. but the shtory of the blind girl and how video games has made her life better is simply more profound.
Later in the evening was another documentary, this one on A&E and it was all about Star Wars, which obviously coincides with the release of the DVDs coming out very soon (the same documentary is actually included, along with additional material that covers the latest “improvements” which I could care less about). As clich?d as it has become, I too must echo the sentiment that what Lucas is doing to his masterworks is indeed “destroying my childhood”. I’ve always been steadfast when it has come to my disgust towards Lucas, as well as my disdain for the franchise as a whole, but watching the behind the scenes footage of what was once my favorite films of all time really made me remember how incredible and magical those films were, as well as how much of a genius Lucas was. And as crazy as it sounds, hearing his constant complaints regarding how, at least for the original film, never lived up to what he had in mind, for the first time ever, I almost became somewhat sympathetic towards his desire to make what he had truly envisioned. But it’s also sorta sad… especially when he spoke of how when he was younger, he had stood up to the studios and did things his own way, until he became so powerful he became his own studio… essentially what he hated most (he even made the whole Darth Vader analogy himself).
But still, I’m just like all the others who love the original films and simply want to see them untouched and preserved. I could give a rat’s ass about the touch-ups… even though the latest ones do fix a lot of the botched up “enhancements” from the Special Edition, it simply re-enforces that chances should have never been done in the first place… we just want the original versions as well. Though unlike most of the complainers, I am not going to be buying the DVD set, since it will only validate Lucas’s efforts, so I for one will proudly be pirating them. Besides, I believe I’m going to be getting a free set anyway, though I really can’t say how just yet…
Lastly, Super Mario Bros. was first released 19 years ago on this date and it’s just as good today as it was back then.
