[Gamer's Review] Indie Games: Journey

Journey's Title Screen | Thenerdpocalypse.com

Yesterday I went to GameStop to buy Journey, an Indie game developed by thatgamecompany.  It's a third-person game that I would best describe as a cooperative platformer.  I had first learned about Journey from Penny Arcade and was intrigued by the concept of the game.

Basically you're a robed figure (that looks kind of like a Garo Robe from Majora's Mask) on a journey across a vast desert to a large mountain.  You start this journey alone on the far side of a fairly large hill, and as you climb to the top of the hill and explore the ruins on the other side.  The controls are very simple, the left analogue stick makes you move, "Circle" lets you communicate and interact with the environment through what I can only describe as song.  "X" eventually allows you to jump and glide.  The camera can be manipulated with the right analogue stick or if you have the proper controller, simply by tilted or leaning the controller in one direction or another.

Your intrepid traveler. | MasonicGamer.com

The developers of the game really don't hold your hand much throughout the game, instead forcing you to use things like observation skills and common sense in order to figure out what you're supposed to do.  The only real "tutorials" were when I learned that "Circle" lets me communicate with others and "X" lets me jump and glide.  Everything else you have to learn either through watching the cut scenes or by observing your traveling companion.

Speaking of your companion, you're not alone in your travels across the scorching desert.  Shortly after learning the controls (all three of them), you run into your companion for the rest of the game.  Or at least I did, I have yet to do a second play-through of the game to be absolutely sure.  You aren't told your companion's name and you can't use a headset to talk to him or her.  Rather, you're forced to rely on pantomiming your actions and using "Circle" to get his or her attention so they watch you do something.  It takes some getting used to, but my companion and I figured out how to work with each other shortly after solving the first puzzle.

As it turns out, we were both fluent in "hieroglyph." | Stevivor.com

I did learn at the very end that it is possible to write short messages in the ground, which usually leaves footprints behind for a couple of seconds.  I wrote out "Hello" in barely legible cursive for my companion last night, but I don't think he noticed.  Next time I hope to discuss the socioeconomic status of Poland with a complete stranger.

The game does offer a single player experience, or at the very least you can play without an Internet connection.  I'm not sure how that would work, as there were several times that without my traveling buddy I would have been completely screwed.  You see, there are some puzzles that are easier to solve with two people, and by "singing" you can recharge the runes on your companion's scarf, allowing them to continue jumping and gliding.  Without such a companion, you'd be forced to rely on the environment to recharge the runes, which while possible, would certainly make things more difficult for you.

As you can probably tell from the images throughout this article, the visuals on this game are simplistic, yet I found them to be stunning.  Maybe I'm just an artsy kind of guy (I'm not), but I found myself enthralled by the Wind Waker-esque graphics style (what is that, two Zelda references in this article?).  In a way, the graphics style reminded me of some of the paintings I've seen from the three museum trips I've made during my twenty-year-long life.  I may have visited one of those museums twice.

The game's soundtrack, which seamlessly switches between calming and almost Zen-like to tension-filled and "Oh shit don't let those flying robot snakes find you!", was composed by Austin Wintory, who has composed soundtracks for several Sundance Films and video games, including fl0w, also by thatgamecompany.  The music remains subtle throughout the game, but without it I firmly believe that Journey wouldn't have been nearly as good as it is.

"Are we there yet?" | Thatgamecompany.com

I realize that I've been gushing over this game for the past 641 words (don't believe me?  Count 'em up, I'll wait.), so I'll dive into the critiques and criticisms portion of this article.  The only real beef I have with Journey is the fact that it's so short.  The game only took me two hours or so to complete.  The game play and my overwhelming desire to get to the top of the mountain made that time fly by, so it seemed ever shorter to me.  However, I don't think that the developers could add anything to Journey that wouldn't ruin the game, so it would be best for everyone if they ignored that complaint.

While I understand Journey's an indie game and therefore has a smaller budget at their disposal, it would have been nice if I could have done a little character customization.  Even changing my brown cloak into a nice red would have been enough for me.  It is possible that such a thing would ruin the experience of the game, since it's supposed to be about two strangers helping one another on their mutual quest, but it'd still be nice.

"You go first."  "No man, you go first." | Gamecatalyst.com

 Journey is not a game for everyone.  If all you look for in a video game is awesome graphics, intense game play, and lots of sex and violence, there are other games to spend your money on.  If you like cooperative game play and puzzle solving (something I never thought I'd like), then look in between your couch cushions for $15 in change, because that's all that Journey will cost you.

All in all, I loved this game.  If I had to assign an arbitrary number to Journey (say, between 1 and 10), I'd give it a 9.  If you have $15 and two hours of free time, I definitely recommend that you give Journey a chance.

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[Top 5] Games Based On TV Shows (and How I'd Do It)

So in my ever-evolving quest to involve my girlfriend in my gaming hobby, I recently picked up Lost: Via Domus for Xbox 360. She watched the show back when it first aired and I just recently finished watching all of the seasons, so I figured it’d be a good game for us to try together. For a casual night of gaming, it wasn’t bad. She got to enjoy her favorite show from a new point of view and I got a topic for a blog article.

For those of you who haven’t seen Lost, you should probably get on that because it’s quite possibly one of the greatest shows of all time. Yes, of all time.

But that’s another topic, entirely. As I watch her play through the game, which admittedly has its flaws (GameSpot really echoes my feelings on the game in their review), I come to the realization that many TV show offer a good amount of IP that could be transformed into great games if put into the right hands.

Below is a list of the top 5 TV show IP that should be made into video games and my recommendations for how it should be done. (Note: most of these are already being made/have already been made, but the descriptions provided are purely my suggestion of how I would’ve done it. Additionally, I've played none of the games with the exception of the Lost-based game.)

5. The Walking Dead

Originally adapted from a comic book of the same name by Frank Darabont, the Walking Dead serves as perfect source material for a video game. While I haven’t personally seen the show yet (I know, I know, I’ll get on it) the iTunes store offers this synopsis: “After waking from a coma in an abandoned hospital, police officer Rick Grimes finds the world he knew gone - ravaged by a zombie epidemic of apocalyptic proportions. Nearby, on the outskirts of Atlanta, a small encampment struggles to survive as 'the dead' stalk them at every turn. Can Rick and the others hold onto their humanity as they fight to live in this terrifying new world? And, amidst dire conditions and personal rivalries, will they ultimately survive one another?” Now doesn’t that sound ridiculously like a video game set up? The only possible criticism I can see for not making this show into a game is the sheer amount of zombie-based games that are already on the market. Do we really need another Resident Evil- or Fallout 3-esque experience?

What a lovely smile you have! | blogs.amctv.com

Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Yes, if it’s done right. I imagine this game being a non-linear sandbox adventure with exploration and progression similar to Grand Theft Auto games, where completing missions unlocks more of the map, but in general you can do whatever you please. Missions could be presented in a variety of  ways, preferably with cut scenes setting up each mission to explain the objective and the narrative significance (similar to Prototype) or could be obtained simply from overhearing others or from short conversations with NPCs (like some of the fetch quests in Mass Effect 3 or quests in Fallout 3). The game’s play style would likely be third-person over-the-shoulder shooter or a standard FPS with some light platforming elements. Either way, the setting would provide a lot of different options to game developers.

The first episode of The Walking Dead video game is scheduled to come out April 25^th, 2012. Let’s hope they did a good job with it.

4. Game of Thrones

This seems to be another no-brainer. Fresh in the beginning of its second season on HBO, Game of Thrones is based on a series of novels by George R.R. Martin titled A Song of Ice and Fire. Following the stories of several houses (families), Game of Thrones is a sort of medieval fantasy that offers a massive amount of video game material. Small-scale governmental drama between factions, large-scale war, political intrigue, wolves, dragon eggs, melted gold, beheadings, and a small-statured nobleman who is absolutely hilarious all add up to quite an amazing adventure waiting to be had.

Tyrion Lannister | fanpop.com

As far as a game adaption is concerned, the IP could easily be turned into a Real-Time Strategy (RTS), but where would the inventiveness be? Instead, what if it was an amalgamation of gaming styles? I’m thinking Civilization V RTS for large-scale war mixed with segments of exploration similar to Skyrim or Dragon Age: Origins. Combat in those segments could easily be Final Fantasy X turn-based fights (which gives the gamer a break from fast-paced strategy) or, alternatively, could be set up with an Active-Time Battle gauge system (similar to Final Fantasy VII). Add in a dash of Mass Effect style story telling with dialogue options that can actually sway the outcome of the game (or at the very least the journey you take to reach the end) and you’ve got yourself quite an epic tale.

Game of Thrones is expected to release for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in 2012. It is expected to be a role-playing game. Let us hope it does the novels and the TV series justice.

3. House M.D.

House chronicles the work of Dr. Gregory House, an expert in diagnostic medicine, whose famed expertise is only rival by his infamous bad attitude. Lacking any bedside manner, House would rather pop pills than interact with his patients. With a team of doctors at his side, House sets off to cure the wide variety of illnesses afflicting patients in his hospital.

beyondhollywood.com

While this may seem a bit boring for a video game concept, it could nonetheless be utilized in training for medical students. Granted, the majority of cases are not rare forms of malaria or Lupus, it would nonetheless serve an interesting backdrop to relay potentially boring information. Textbooks are the tried and true method of study for most disciplines, but imagine if technology could be utilized to parlay that same information in a more creative, interesting way. Alternatively, the game could be simply a cinematic experience, giving the player the option to watch the story unfold based on their choices. In fact, why not do a Dr. Mario game utilizing the House IP. Creating a “easy to learn, difficult to master” puzzler with some narrative every few matches could be a great way to revitalize a somewhat ignored genre.

There is currently a House video game for the Nintendo DS, which had lackluster reviews and reception.

2. Dexter

If you hadn’t noticed, gaming has become more and more story driven in recent times. Games like Super Mario World are now being replaced with story heavy games like the Final Fantasy series or, to an even greater extreme, games focused almost entirely on the narrative such as Heavy Rain. Dexter focuses around a protagonist of the same name who is a blood spatter pattern police officer by day and a serial killer, punishing any criminals who he believes the justice system wouldn’t, by night. Not only has the show been on for 6 years and garnered a massive following; there is also a substantial amount of material in the show that could be adapted into a video game.

cdn.screenrant.com

Imagine: You play as Dexter. During the day, you solve puzzles revolving around blood spatter patterns during the day, which eventually lead you and your comrades to the perp. You are now heavily engrossed in a mysterious game full of dialogue and narrative options. If you manage to choose the right kinds of interrogation questions and/or find the right kinds of evidence, you may be able to put the criminal behind bars. Some of the criminals are more careful, however. Because of their attention to detail and knowledge of the legal system, they manage to escape justice. The moon rises as the second half of that particular chapter unfolds and you are now in an action game, based heavily on stealth, like Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, except with automatic weapons and more surgical tools. Alternatively, the game could play out entirely different, showing the day-to-day adventures as cut scenes and focusing heavily on Dexter’s nighttime activities… There are a lot of possibilities.

While a fully realized game has yet to surface, for the time being we can enjoy a Dexter video game on the iPhone.

1.  Lost

Now you might be asking yourself, “Dave, didn’t they come out with a Lost game? In fact, didn’t it inspire you to write this article?” Yes. Yes, it did. The game failed to do justice to the series as a whole, however. Lost centers around survivers of a plane crash on a deserted island. Each season focuses on a new overarching storyline, most of which center around the character development of the story’s main 15+ characters.

vinegeek.com

If I were to make Lost a video game, I would’ve focused more heavily on the character development side of things, like the show did. In fact, I don’t see any reason why a MMORPG couldn’t be made using this IP. Consider utilizing the existing platform where each server is its own island. Like World of Warcraft, you could choose a faction: the Survivors or the Others, and would gain benefits based on which side you chose. You could determine your background (soldier like Sayid, medic like Jack, Swindler like Sawyer, etc.), which would be the equivalent of a class.

Once in game, you complete missions that range from fetch quests (need more wood for the fire) to recon missions (investigate the other faction). Exploration would be a fundamental part of the game as well. In fact, maybe when you hit a certain level you can receive a mount (I’m talking baby blue Volkswagon Hippie Van!) Combat would be handled primarily with simple firearms and hand-to-hand combat with the inhabitants of the island (Polar Bears, sharks, wildlife, or the Black Smoke). Conversations would flow fluidly and naturally and would serve a greater purpose than to be time consuming and extend play. Implementing a loyalty system (similar to that of Dragon Age: Origins) would help immensely in determining your standing with the other factions.

It’s not a perfect idea and there are a lot of unanswered questions, but it certainly has the backbone for a really interesting release.

Well there you have it! Some games that were already created based on TV IP that could be made even better. What are your thoughts? Drop some comments and let your voice be heard!

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[Top 5] Games That Deserve Sequels and/or Remakes

Sorry for being about two weeks late with this latest Friday update.  I've had a lot on my plate in college land.  Hopefully this little article will appease you and get rid of any hard feelings.  No?  Oh well, I'll post it anyway.

Normally sequels and remakes are an atrocity and the people behind them deserve to be drug out into the street and shot.  Sequels suck and are made to cash in on a previous success without requiring much thought or effort.  The only constant exceptions are planned sequels, trilogies, and series.

On the same note, most remakes are just “get rich quick” schemes that take classic games, update the graphics, maybe throw in some extra features like expanded multiplayer, an extra weapon, new costumes, or a super cool and horribly overpowered weapon.

However, there are some games that truly deserve a sequel or a remake, and I plan on bringing some of those games to light.  If you disagree with me then go ahead and let me know in the comments section.  If it turns out that such a game has already been made, also inform me of this so I can go out and buy it.

5. Comix Zone

Comics, action, sunglasses, and ponytails.  Comix Zone is truly a representative of the '90s.

Comix Zone is an older game from 90s that proves that you don't need a sensible or plausible story line in order to make sense.  In fact, most games seem to follow that line of thought, so maybe it's better if you just ignore what I wrote.

I don't remember much of Comix Zone, aside from the fact that I was a kick-ass comic book artist that was dragged into a comic by its main villain.  Once inside, I proceeded to kick ass and take names until I got to this one pit I could never get across.  Ever.

Seriously, I spent about 80% of the time playing that game at the freaking pit where I would constantly die because I couldn't jump far enough.  I don't even think I managed to make it out of the first Episode, that's how hard the game was, or how bad I was.  Given that I was only 7 or 8 when I played Comix Zone, it wouldn't surprise me if I was just bad at video games.

Sega, or whoever controls this game now, please revisit this gem.  I know that it can be downloaded on Steam, but you can do better.  Toss in some more episodes or extra endings or improve the game play through more combos (although that might bring it too far into the fighting genre).

Or maybe release Comix Zone 2 where Sketch has to go back into his comics for some reason and kick the ass of an ever stronger villain than Mortus.  You know what?  A sequel sounds a lot better than a remake.  Make a sequel!

4. Gauntlet

From the Golden Age of gaming where you still had to go outside to play.

When I heard that "Gauntlet" was going to be released for the Nintendo DS I just about shit myself in sheer joy.  I'd be able to play one of the classic dungeon crawl games with friends (because when I little I didn't have friends, clearly) and better graphics.

Then Eidos Studios delayed the game's release.  Then they delayed it again.  Now, four years after its "initial release," Gauntlet DS hasn't hit the shelves and in all likelihood has been cancelled.  My hopes and dreams were crushed, and I would never be able to play Gauntlet with my friends.

Me when I'm old and still haven't played Gauntlet with my friends.

Eidos Studios or Backbone or whoever owns the rights to the game, just release it already.  Everything I read made it sound like you almost finished the game anyway.  If you don't feel like doing that, then hopefully someone else will.

All I really want is some classic hack'n'slash dungeon crawling game that I can play with 1-4 people on a Friday night when all of the cool kids are out drinking and talking to the ladies, is that too much?  I'll even take the smart-ass narrator that loves to remind me over and over again that "The wizard needs food badly!"

I AM AWARE THAT I'M HUNGRY, THANK YOU!

3. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2: Grimoire of the Rift

Dear Square Enix, please give me the hundreds of hours I spent playing your games back.

The Final Fantasy Tactics Advance series did two good things for me: introduced me to small-army tactics games (as opposed to Advanced Wars, which is all about amassing a relatively large force), and get me into the Final Fantasy series (although the only other Final Fantasy game I ended up playing was FF3).

The games were beautifully designed, the combat was solid, and the storylines were pretty good.  As a brief recap, in FFTA you were Marche, a kid growing up in the town of St. Ivalice that suddenly found himself in the magical kingdom of Ivalice.  Marche’s goal is to return home with his friends and younger brother, most of whom do not wish to return to their hum drum lives (would you?).  Eventually he convinces everyone that living in Ivalice is a form of escapism and that it’s not healthy to run away from your problems all the time.  End Story, roll credits, applause.  Was Marche the hero, or was he a villain?  FFTA left quite a few unanswered questions.

FFTA2 has a much more upbeat storyline and a happier character: Luso Clemens.  Luso also lives in St. Ivalice with his worrisome aunt.  One day after school, Luso has to serve detention by cleaning up the library.  He finds an old book and is transported to Ivalice (apparently the real one this time).  Unlike Marche, Luso has no intentions of returning home, he’s going to explore and generally have a good time.  However, as fate would have it, Luso needs to step up to the plate and prevent the big bad evil lady Illua from destroying or rewriting the world in her own image (it’s been awhile, okay?).  In the end Luso succeeds, we end the story, roll the credits, and applaud.

Now to the main part of this entry: I want to see Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 3.  The Nintendo 3DS came out not too long ago, so the fine people at Square Enix should be falling all over themselves at the chance to call it Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 3DS: Talisman of the Ancients or something like that.

However, I don’t want the same old “boy finds book, boy is transported to Ivalice” story.  I want a girl to find the book (it’s 2012, we can have female protagonists now), but I want the main character to be a native of Ivalice, not someone from our world.  Make the story about him trying to help the girl, who’s scared and alone in this world, get back home.

Basically, I want this.

2. EA Games’ The Lord of the Ring Trilogy

The Lord of the Rings is probably the best-known modern fantasy series out there.  No, forget I said that.  It is the best known modern fantasy series out there.  Without J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, we wouldn’t have modern fantasy.  There would be no Dungeons and Dragons, which in turn means that the fantasy video games based off of D&D (note: all of them) wouldn’t exist.  Tolkien made it possible to like elves, dwarves, dragons, and hobbits.  Then almost 50 years later Peter Jackson came along and made it cool to like elves, dwarves, dragons, and hobbits!

EA Games took The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy and turned them into three fairly successful games that I quite enjoyed.  It doesn’t get much better than being an elf archer bringing down mumakil and trolls with well-placed arrows (or more accurately a barrage of well-placed arrows) or taking on a small army of orcs and Uruk-Hai as Samwise the Brave.

Samwise Gamgee.  Best hobbit, or best hobbit?

Not to mention that the games looked awesome when they were released (which was back when the GameCube, Playstation 2, and original Xbox were the consoles to have).  Compared to today, they look like crap and they don’t offer nearly enough game play.  Today’s gamers are used to have hundreds of hours of game play in a single game, something that the three LotR games together can’t offer without replaying levels several times.

I’m thinking that EA Games should get together and have another look at their video game trilogy.  Update the graphics, add a little more to the combat to make it more cinematic (even if it’s just the “kill cams” that have become so popular lately), make each of the levels bigger in terms of space and game play, and make the leveling system feel more complete.  Maybe “borrow” some things from Skyrim, making various perks and abilities available to the different characters rather than simply having the players buy the same set of combos and health upgrades over and over again for different characters.  And let us play with our friends either online or in the same room.  Or both.  Yeah, make it both.

Oh, and definitely let us play as the entire Fellowship without having to unlock characters just to play them on already completed levels.  Aragorn was playable in each of the games, but I wasn’t able to play as Merry or Pippin until I had already thrown Gollum into the fires of Mt. Doom.  I want to be able to play as Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir (and I suppose Faramir for when Boromir kicks it) without having to jump through hoops!  Am I acting like an entitled gamer?  Maybe a little, but these are main characters!  I’d gladly have to unlock some characters, but make it secondary characters like Eowyn, Arwen, and Haldir (and I guess Boromir after he dies).

EA Games, I beseech you.  Take your LotR game trilogy and turn it into one super game that tells the entire story of The Lord of the Rings from the Shire all the way to Mt. Doom.  Give me the games I loved with improved graphics, more levels, and overall better game play!  Please?

1. The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

If the Skull Kid's creepy laugh didn't immediately play in your head, you need to turn you N64 back on a play some more.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is my all-time favorite Zelda game.  I’m not entirely sure why, but I found the idea of running around wearing magical masks as a 10 or 11 year old kid endearing.  Maybe it’s because the masks I ran around wearing at those ages were boring pieces of cardboard and plastic that were no more magical than my toenail clippings.

I Googled “Magical Toes” and got this.  No, I don’t understand the connection either…

 In fact, I love this game so much that I want to get a permanent tattoo on my body (which is a temple, mind you), from this game.  And not the typical Triforce tattoo that most Zelda nerds get.  No, I’m talking about Darmani’s tattoo.

What?? It means "loyalty" and "brotherhood" to me.  And also that I'm a giant nerd.

 So yeah, there’s that.  Anyway, Nintendo recently released The Ocarina of Time for the 3DS, and while I haven’t played it, it looks stunning for a handheld game.  I’m not entirely sure what they changed and what stayed the same aside from the graphics and some game controls that were altered to fit the 3DS platform.  However, I trust that Nintendo hasn’t killed Ocarina with its remake.

Nintendo, if you remake Majora’s Mask for the 3DS, I will buy your newest handheld just so I can play that game.  If you aren’t aware, Nintendo, I haven’t purchased anything from you console-wise since my Nintendo DS Lite I got about four or five years ago.  The last game I bought was probably the Fire Emblem remake, which is sitting in my dresser while I play and replay Advanced Wars DS and Mario Kart DS.

Suffice to say, Nintendo, getting me to buy something from you would be a pretty big deal for me.  Not because I haven’t wanted to (believe me, not owning Skyward Sword hurts my soul), but because there are other things I have to buy first.  Like food.

Unlike some of the other games, I have no requests as to what you do with Majora's Mask save two, Nintendo.  One: remake it for the 3DS, and two: don't completely fuck it up.

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[Re-Play] The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare

Recognize this?

For those of you who don't, this is just one of many introductions to the Simpsons, a TV show that features and parodies pop culture and current events. When the Simpsons were still a relatively new family to everyone in America, I was still a young boy who didn't catch any of the references on comedy shows and yet... there was something appealing about the yellow family of Springfield. One of the best character on the show, Bart, brought out the destructive youth in all of us. Who better for a protagonist in a game?

The Simpsons family | simpsons.wikia.com

The Simpsons: Bart’s Nightmare has you live out the “worst” dreams of everyone’s favorite troublemaker. The story starts off as Bart falls asleep trying to complete an assignment at his desk. As he dozes off he is transported to a world ridiculously similar to his hometown of Springfield. The main area, called Windy World, resembles Evergreen Terrace; the street Bart’s family lives on in the show. Here, Bart searches for pieces of his homework, which lead to different mini-game levels.

In my opinion, this area really only serves as a hub world, but combat with other characters (via blowing bubblegum bubbles) and minor exploration can be done. Once Bart finds a page of his homework, he must jump into it, which will transport him to a hallway with two doors, one of which he must quickly choose. Each door is one of several colors, each representing a different world Bart will travel to. Once the level is completed a piece of Bart’s homework will be recovered. Bart dons many different outfits through his journey, including Bartman (blue door), Indiana Bart (orange), and Bartzilla (green). The other two doors find Bart in the world of Itchy & Scratchy (yellow) and Bart's bloodstream (purple).  Each level offers a different style of gameplay, which keeps the majority of the game refreshing and challenging.

GameFAQs.com

The Idea: Combine Simpsons intellectual property with some pop-culture references and throw it in a bag. Shake up the standard gameplay with five different “levels”, each of which must be completed to finish Bart's assignment, and you've got yourself a game! Possibly add in a few hits of acid for some creative inspiration… 

Intro & Bartzilla level

The Look: 16-bit Bart and friends look pretty good for the time and a lot of the Simpsons characters are present including Homer and Marge (as “Homer Kong” and “Momthra”, respectively), Lisa, Maggie, Itchy and Scratchy, Principal Skinner and more.

godisageek.com

The Sound: The sound was pretty much what you’d expect from a 90’s game. The music is a pretty cheesy but it fits the goofy style of the game. The sound effects fit the cartoony environment, but the lack of music in certain levels (particularly Bartzilla) made the game feel a little slow back when I was a kid. I love the music for Bartman’s level, though. The video below does a pretty good job of explaining the level too.

The Play:  Windy World is primarily a 2-D side scrolling area where Bart travels back and forth in search of homework pages. Each world features different gameplay, however. The Bartman and Bartzilla are arcade-style side scrolling with shoot ‘em up elements. The bloodstream area finds Bart “swimming” (complete with mask and snorkel) and using his pump to kill germ enemies who come from the bottom of the screen. The yellow door leads Bart in a comical and deadly house, going from room to room avoiding all kinds of household villains while fighting both Itchy and Scratch with various weapons. This area plays like an old school beat ‘em up game. The orange door leads Bart to Maggie’s Temple, where he must hope from pillar to pillar in order to traverse the temples dangers.

The Entertainment: This game had a lot of different styles of play and all of them offer different joys and frustrations. My favorite levels as a kid were Bartman, the germ level, and Itchy and Scratchy. Nothing is as satisfying as smacking a cat with a hammer… and doing it in a game is just as fun!

See what I mean? | simpsonscrazy.com

The Challenge: The majority of the challenge in this game came from figuring out what exactly you had to do to accomplish anything. Another problem came with dying, as this like many games in its time didn’t believe in save points and the arcade style gameplay wanted to promote repeated play – always from beginning to end. Oh, and even if you don't fail a level, the game requires you repeat some of the mini-games multiple times to get the best ending. At least you get to choose which ones...

The Legacy: The real legacy of this game comes from the nostalgia it provides to us 90’s kids. The game is one of many attempts to put Simpsons into the gaming realm and this particular entry does so pretty successfully. And let us not forget, you get to hit cats with hammers!

Well, that wraps up another week of Re-Play! One last thing for you Minecraft fans...

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[Skyrim Double Feature] The Imperial Argument

This article was written by my good friend Pierre Roderique.  I hope you guys enjoy it!

*Spoiler Alert* This article contains spoilers about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It is one of two articles arguing opposing sides of the Skyrim's Civil War. The Stormcloak Argument can be found here.

The Imperial, the champion of the Empire.

On Wednesday, Sean wrote an article in support of the Stormcloaks, explaining away their faults and trying to undermine the position of the Empire. At the end of that article, he promised that I would write a follow-up explaining just what makes the Empire so great; well, here it is. 

Anyone who has played Skyrim knows about the Stormcloaks and the Imperials; their struggle forms the backdrop of the game, creating context and breathing life into a game world that would otherwise consist of the Dovahkiin solving minor grievances and occasionally fighting dragons. Indeed, I could hardly be arsed to keep playing the game once I had finished the Imperial quest line, as by then I had already had my fill of killing dragons. 

The Imperials fight to prevent the separation of Skyrim from the Empire; they recognize the need for unity now more than ever, with the Thalmor breathing down their necks and war threatening to break out at any moment. It cannot be stressed enough just how important Skyrim is to them, for both its cultural and military significance. If the Stormcloaks represent America during the American Revolution, the Imperials represent America during the Civil War. 

Can... can we ALL be America?

Skyrim is a land run by barbarism and chaos; the Jarls, rulers of their respective lands, can never come to agreement on anything, and do not do nearly enough to support their people. These people are their direct charge, faces they see every day, and yet they are perfectly willing to pay random strangers who happen to amble into town to deal with problems they should really be training their own soldiers to handle. The reason, they will tell you, is that their soldiers are all off fighting for either the Stormcloaks or the Imperials; yet, there would be no war if Ulfric Stormcloak had not decided that his desire for the throne of High King was more important than the stability of his country. 

Ulfric’s desires are one of the reasons he is difficult to trust. Torygg, the previous High King, was a good friend and ally of Ulfric’s; yet, before the game starts, Ulfric uses the power taught to him by the Greybeards to kill Torygg in a duel. Had he simply asked Torygg to aid him in his struggle, things might have been different; for one thing, he would have had the full force of Skyrim to back him up. He chose, however, to murder his old friend in the hopes of securing his path to the throne. 

Another problem arises in the form of racism between the Nords and every other race. Many Nords want nothing to do with “outsiders,” of which there are many. Most Nords treat members of other races coldly, and this is reflected in the Stormcloaks as well. If you attempt to join their ranks as a member of another race, they will grill you about your choice. They are fully aware of their intentions from the beginning: to push all non-Nords out of Skyrim, and make it their own. I’m not about to make any unfavorable comparisons here, but that kind of racial discrimination is incredibly shortsighted and is apt to put Stormcloaks in a position of severe weakness once the war is done. 

The greatest problem with the Stormcloaks’ Rebellion, however, is what it means for Tamriel as a whole. For every day the war drags on, the Thalmor gain a greater advantage. They admit in one of their reports that they had a role in influencing Ulfric to start his rebellion, supplying him with weapons and supplies he only recently ceased accepting. They know that the war works in their favor; anything that can be done to weaken their enemies without losing their own soldiers works in their benefit. And should Ulfric succeed in his war and gain independence for Skyrim? While his forces work to rid the country of non-Nords, the Thalmor will waltz in and steamroll the entire nation. They simply have too much working in their favor to be reasonably dealt with during the time the game takes place; the Imperials are tacticians, and recognized this fact immediately. 

The Empire has chosen to bide its time and wait until they have a reasonable shot at beating the Thalmor before striking at them again. They know that even if they could unite the countries of Tamriel, their combined power would not be enough to stop the Thalmor. Thus, they bide their time and try to build up their forces; the Stormcloak rebellion does little more than slow this process down. By fighting the Empire, the Stormcloaks are unwittingly playing directly into the Thalmor’s hands. 

Now, it’s true that the Empire signed the White-Gold Concordat and banned the worship of Talos as part of their peace treaty with the Thalmor. However, it must be noted that they did this to save lives; while it is true that some Nords still die as the Thalmor “uncover” them as Talos worshippers, this is nothing compared to the number of deaths which would have resulted from continuing the war. Moreover, these deaths could be forgotten completely if the Nords would simply accept the abolition of Talos; it is their own stubborn pride that allows the Thalmor to abuse their power to arrest and execute Talos worshippers. 

Many Nords feel that those who serve the Empire are traitors, but in the end it is just the opposite: the Nordic Imperials care about the well-being of their people, but are willing to look beyond the immediate future to see the repercussions their actions will have in the grand scheme. They work to preserve unity in order to prevent the country they love from meeting a disastrous fate. 

The Empire may not be taking the most heroic course of action, but they are taking the smartest. They fight to ensure a future for themselves and all of Tamriel. The Stormcloaks fight to satisfy their own selfish and racist ideals, and are steering themselves towards an early, ignoble death. 

The banner of the Imperial Legion, because fuck bears, dragons are cool!

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[Skyrim Double Feature] The Stormcloak Argument

*Spoiler Alert* This article contains spoilers about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It is one of two articles arguing opposing sides of the Skyrim's Civil War. The Imperial Argument can be found here.

The Stormcloak, the dedicated defender of Skyrim's freedom.

         It’s been awhile since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim came out (4 months and 10 days by my count), but there’s still one argument that seems to pop up on video game forums an awful lot (aside from the inevitable “Where do I get my nude mods?”): Who is right: the Stormcloaks or the Imperials?

Even though the civil war/revolution isn’t technically the main quest line in the game, it’s mentioned so often that is might as well be.  While people recognize that there are DRAGONS attacking Skyrim’s cities and villages, they seem more concerned with the significantly more mortal and easy to kill Nords and Imperials running around hacking each other to bits.

I may have strayed a little too much from my point in that last paragraph…  Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that the Stormcloaks are more in the right than the Empire.  They fight for better reasons than the Imperials and their leader Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak is only slightly more of a dick than General Tullius.

The Stormcloaks fight for two main reasons as far as I can tell: political independence and religious freedom.  You know what country did that in our world?  The United States of America.

America!  Fu-  Never mind, that meme is too old.

First I’ll discuss their desire for political independence.  The politics in Stormcloak are much like feudal Europe’s were back in the day.  There the High King or Queen who rules over all of Skyrim and eight jarls that govern the eight holds that aren’t under the High King or Queen’s direct control.  When the High King dies, the jarls (and likely whoever is in charge of the late king’s hold) come together to select a new High King or Queen to rule over Skyrim.  During the events of the game, there are nine jarls, as the High King was killed and the moot has not yet met to elect a new jarl.

However, since Skyrim is part of the Empire, the titles of High King and High Queen are largely ceremonial and the rulers of Skyrim still have to answer to the Emperor.  The Emperor, being far from Skyrim in his palace in the Imperial City, doesn’t necessarily know what’s best for Skyrim.  The Nordic culture is often disregarded in face of the “betterment” of the Empire, as is shown throughout General Tullius’s campaign to bring an end to the rebellion.

During the events of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the Empire is a sinking ship that threatens to drag down the rest of Tamriel with it.  Seeing this, Ulfric Stormcloak starts his revolution so keep Skyrim from being destroyed alongside the Empire.  He isn’t the first person to do this either.  Before the events of the game Hammerfell was renounced by the Empire after feeling betrayed by Emperor Tidus II.  Ulfric and many of Skyrim’s citizens feel the same way and want to leave the Empire that threw away so many Nord lives in a pointless war.

Many Imperials and supporters of the Empire believe that if Ulfric Stormcloak proves victorious and Skyrim’s secedes from the Empire it will only serve to make a Thalmor victory easier.  While there is a chance of this happening, do not forget that Hammerfell, after being abandoned by the Empire, managed to force the Aldmeri Dominion’s forces out of their lands.  Who’s to say that Skyrim can’t do the same?

With political freedom discussed, I’ll turn to religious freedom argument.  When the Empire lost to the Aldmeri Dominion (and they did lose, the White-Gold Concordant was almost identical to the ultimatum the Thalmor presented to the Empire before the Great War), the right and freedom to worship Talos was banned.  Talos, the divine incarnation of Tiber Septim, the very man who founded the Empire, was abandoned by his people.

Now if the Thalmor wanted to ban the public worship of Talos (much like how the public worship of the Daedric Princes is taboo), then I wouldn’t blame the Empire as much for accepting the terms to preserve the Empire, but the Thalmor completely banned the worship and travel throughout the provinces of Tamriel still controlled by the Empire (and through the Empire the Aldmeri Dominion) and arrest and often execute people suspected of worshipping Talos.  Religious persecution is something that has occurred throughout the history of our world, and it has never ended well for any of the parties involved.

Before I wrap up this argument, I’ll address one of the concerns that people have about this argument: Ulfric Stormcloak and the leaders of the Stormcloak Rebellion.  To be frank, Ulfric is a racist, selfish dick (but most people in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are racist, otherwise I wouldn’t be the only khajiit allowed into the different cities).  I won’t even try to deny it.  However, he takes it upon himself to free Skyrim from the rule of the Thalmor, something no other man or woman was willing to do.

He's a dick, but damn does he have a sense of style!

His primary mistake was killing High King Torygg, who would have likely joined Ulfric’s cause.  Instead, the Jarl of Windhelm let his desire to become the High King cloud his judgment and he killed Torygg in battle.  Whether Ulfric used his voice to “shout High King Torygg to pieces” or he killed Torygg in an honorable duel, he still killed a potential ally out of greed.

However, despite this, Ulfric ultimately has his heart in the right place.  He fights for the people of Skyrim, and unlike the Imperial leaders he actually walks among his soldiers and speaks to his people, rather than having his officers relay all of his orders to the men and women who fight under his banner.

“I fight for the men I’ve held in my arms, dying on foreign soil!  I fight for their wives and children, whose names I heard whispered in their last breath… I fight so that all the fighting I’ve already done hasn’t been for nothing!  I fight… because I must.”

“But Sean,” you say. “Politicians will say anything to sway the people and gather support!”

“Reader,” I reply.  “That is most certainly true!  However, when Ulfric says this, he is speaking to Galmar Stone-Fist, a man he has known for years and doesn’t need to convince.  Aside from the Dovahkiin and Ulfric’s steward Jorleif, there is no one else in the room.  Ulfric speaks those words because they are how he truly feels.

Ulfric and the Stormcloaks fight for just and noble causes: freedom from an Empire that will only serve to slowly kill them and the right to worship their god.  The Empire only fights in hopes of holding on to Skyrim so that it can maintain its illusion of control over Tamriel.

The Stormcloak banner, because bears are awesome.

Stayed tuned for my friend Pierre's Imperial Argument!

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Violence and Brand Identity: Legal Issues in Gaming

Happy St. Patrick’s Day readers! A few weeks ago, I discussed the legal side of video games and how it affects us as game loving consumers. Today, I’d like to revisit the legal issues with the gaming industry and entertainment in general. A series of podcasts from a series called Entertainment Law Update by Gordon P. Firemark, Esq. will provide the topics of discussion today.

Obscene v. Violent

The first podcast, titled “Episode 22: Violent Games, (anti) Slapps and other painless fun”, featured issues regarding a variety of topics including the Mike Tyson tattoo controversy that spawned from the Hangover II and everyone’s favorite song dedicated to a day of the week!

www.bittenandbound.com

While these issues don’t directly relate to gaming, there are still lessons to be learned from the cases. The Hangover II case, for example, reminds us to be extra diligent when using any type of graphic or visual representation that is associated with a particular person or company. Keep in mind, for you aspiring video game programmers out there, that you should probably gain clearance if you are to depict anything in a video game that is a reference to a real person or company, as right of likeness cases pop up all over the place, even when they may not be intentionally infringing. (Note: This is just my opinion. I’m not a lawyer, so please consult someone who gets paid to give that kind of advice!)

The real topic of interest is the video game law that got turned down in California. Basically, the State of California proposed a law that would make it illegal to sell video games with certain themes (such as violence) to minors. Retailers that did sell these restricted games to minors would suffer a fine of $1000. The Supreme Court ultimately turned down the law, stating that it was too broad and conflicted with the First Amendment. Firemark and his associate, Tamara Bennett, offer their opinions. Bennett agreed with the Supreme Court’s decision, stating that the restrictions the Supreme Court currently has in place deals with obscenity in media, not violence. She suggests that the State of California’s new video game law is trying to apply the restrictions that deal with obscenity to violence, which is a big leap to make. Furthermore, the State of California is asking that the law only apply to video games. My opinion on this matter can be found in a prior post.

This is an important decision for those of us in the video game industry, as a law such as the one proposed could greatly decrease our customer base as well as create higher barriers when selling products. Moreover, from an artistic point of view, it could cause game developers to censor their work, making the stories that they want to tell less realistic. Realism in games is part of what makes playing them so appealing. The question, however, is how far can we take realism before it becomes harmful in the real world?

Realism v. Brand Damage

The second podcast, titled “Episode 28: Political campaigns, combat helicopters and Batmobiles,” covers a variety of topics, the most interesting of which is EA’s use of the First Amendment in it’s game Battlefield 3.

www.wikipedia.org

Basically, Textron, a helicopter manufacturer, threatened legal action against EA if the company included Textron’s trademarked helicopters, the AH-1Z, UH-1Y, and V-22. In a preemptive response, EA filed suit against Textron, citing the First Amendment and the freedom of artistic expression. Part of EA’s defense rests in the fact that it provides a disclaimer stating it does not endorse any particular brand of vehicle or weapon in the game, and, likewise, EA is not featuring any brand of vehicle or weapon more prominently than another. The case was resolved in EA’s favor, stating that the freedom of artistic expression trumps trademark protection. You can read more details of the case here.

Battlefield 3 helicopter | joystiq.com

This outcome is a double-edged sword for us in the gaming industry. On the plus side, EA is allowed to create a realistic video game that features real-world brands and puts them in front of the player, which can be good for the company as well. The problems, however, quickly accumulate. What if, in Battlefield 3, there is a segment where a helicopter malfunctions and causes the squad to crash in enemy territory? What if that helicopter was a V-22 Bell, one of Textron’s trademarked models? Does this say that this model is unreliable? While many are likely to view the crash as a result of war, it is nonetheless a possible question to consider.

How can we resolve this conflict? We want the games to be realistic, which means using real world brands. Likewise, realism dictates that sometimes real-world products malfunction, break, or otherwise cease to be useful. Companies argue, however, that they don’t want to be associated negatively and scenarios like the one above could be damaging to their brand. As a business owner, I’d had to see my brand being exploited and portrayed in a negative light, especially without my consent, but I can definitely see the argument of creative expression and realism from the game developers side.

How do we strike the balance, then? One of the legal system’s favorite video games to target, the Grand Theft Auto series, has one solution: mock existing brands.

Notice Sprunk, a clear imitation of Sprite | www.newpcgamesite.com

What do you think? How can we strike a balance between realism and fantasy in our video games so that we, as consumers, can distinguish between the two?

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