Link Out (7/6/09)
June 7th, 2009
G’day G’day. Another round up of links to chip away at your busy life. Not much pre-post commentary this time, other than that it seems that I’ve diverged from my one month cycle. If you’re getting too antsy, feel free to check out my delicious account.
Some of you might have caught word that I had a brief lunch with Daniel Purvis some weeks ago. Yeah, that’s true. He’s a good bloke and I’m surprised just how many topics we shared in agreeance. He wrote this convincing essay for one of his uni classes recently, really clean writing, he presents the argument well – ya know, the kind of quality writing you wouldn’t find here.
Block Check #1 and #2 – Critical Gaming
If you read other blogs around this sphere of ours, then I recommend taking a squiz at these posts to see if Richard has covered someone you read. He certainly squeezed out the weaknesses in my Metal Gear Solid 4 essay (which I confess to). A number of these show ponies endorse “critical discussion” of video games, but are they well versed in the art? Perhaps not, me thinks.
EXP Podcast #24: Cultured Gaming – Experience Points
You can probably imagine the selfish glee I took when I received an email by these two gents to inform me that they’d conducted a whole podcast about my ‘The Place of Games in Culture’ article on GameSetWatch. I think they handled it quite well too, you should definitely have a listen.
How To Be Me: Matt Chandronait, Area 5 Founder & Producer
My brother downloads the weekly exploits of ex-1UPers in their new show Co-Op. The show is similar to podcasting actually, in that you’re listening in on the conversation of others. It’s all about interesting dialogue and that’s what the team provide here. The game choices and guests are always well made, as too with the production values. This interview is with Matt Chandronait regarding the operations of the show.
Talking about 1UP, Scott Sharkey wrote this great feature compiling over a hundred quality indie titles worth checking out. I’m currently on hiatus from playing indie games since I’m in Australia and have a stack of bought games to drill through (this will change early next year when I go back to China though). There’s never a better time to savour the delights of indie games. The list features a number of standout titles as well as a few I’m unfamiliar with.
I’ve unsubscribed to this blog to maintain a tighter schedule as the bulk of Jason’s articles in fact say very little, which is unfortunate as he’s an intelligent writer. I just wish he’d stop trying to keep up with everyone else’s news and instead focus on what he can offer as an observer. He does this occasionally and they make for great reads. This short piece is a good example of that, even if he is liberally stealing from others.
Liberty City Lotto: I’m Rich! – PixelVixen707
Some rather amazing stats on the scratch cards in GTA: Chinatown Wars. PixelVixen also wrote a masterful interpretation of the story which is an essential read.
Smash Bros. Brawl Tutorial Videos – Sirlin.net
That critical-gaming dude Richard Terrell linked me to fantastic selection of tutorials for Super Smash Bros Brawl. Even if you only play for fun, it’s well worth watching the series.
Dinosaur Land On Parade – Press the Buttons
Nothing turns my nostalgic dial like artwork from the classic Mario titles. I’m am forever in debt to Matt Green for this one. Seriously, the artwork is super apt.
Majora’s Mask – Nintendo’s Fluke – 4cr
I’m including this link not because I think it’s a fantastic analysis of Majora’s Mask (it’s alright) but rather I hope that someone will attempt to understand the way Majora’s Mask creates it’s overpowering sense of dread as well as the implications within the social and cultural aspects of the game, and share this through writing.
I love desktop customization even though I’m rather terrible at it. I’ve been going to Gamewallpapers.com for a few years but unfortunately they lock away most of their good content. Desktop gaming is a good alternative for retro themed wallpapers.
Other assorted links
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Genesis TV Spot
Too Human versus the enthusiast press: Video game journalists as mediators of commodity valu
Interview: Making Plans For Zeebo – GameSetWatch
How Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time Breaks Language Barriers – Siliconera
Sony Computer to launch seven Indian games this year
King of Fighters XII Dot Graphics Gallery
Link Out (2/4/09)
April 2nd, 2009
Finally within the monthly time frame, your dose of recommended readings for March. Many of the links here reflect subjects that I’ve discussed previously on this blog, and are hence natural extensions of the things I’d have to say, written by more talented writers, of course. Resident Evil 5’s racism issue for instance, is a topic I’m keen to explore but honestly probably won’t look at for at least another year. As too are topics about the specialized language systems in games and some poking at the high production portable mentality. Essentially, if you like what you read here, then you’ll probably thoroughly enjoy these:
Resident Evil 5 – Opinions, Further Readings and an Odd Competition
Plenty of interesting discussion on Resident Evil 5 to share. Just to get them out the way, I found the Eurogamer and Crispy Gamer reviews particularly hard-hitting and well thought out. Tom Chick continued the discussion seen in the Crispy Gamer review with some interesting second opinions and the site concluded all this with Gus Mastrapa’s mini history into the use of black people in the horror genre. It rounds off what I consider to be very thorough coverage of a particularly important issue which needs suitably mature discussion.
N’gai Croal also made some very interesting commentaries on 1UP’s Listen Up podcast (I can’t find the link!), regarding the research behind the game and the justification behind the infamous swamp section. The latter in which the player stumbles upon an African tribe, wearing traditional garbs, and carrying spears and wooden shields. His playing partner Stephen Totilo mentions the difference between the player and observer in this situation. In that the player views the game in a completely different light: they are eliminating threats rather than (the observation that) you play the role of a whitey par-taking in mass murder of another ethnicity.
Lastly, Capcom held a treasuring hunting competition in Trafalgar Square recently to promote Resident Evil 5. The contestants had to hunt down pieces of zombie flesh, take them to a set location and yell the word “Kijuju!” (RE5’s fictional location), each body part is worth X number of points, and the contestant with the highest number of points wins. Kinda weird, don’t you think? Particularly when you consider that the prize is an African holiday – ya know, the country which the game in question grossly mis-portrayed the citizens of. Supposively the competition was a success though.
Join the club (again) – Screen Play
As pointed out by Screen Play, Nintendo of Australia has re-opened its Club Nintendo program that was announced to hit Australia over a year ago. While particularly slim at the moment, the rewards on offer are pretty sweet, including Game & Watch Collection for the Nintendo DS, which can only be acquired through the rewards system either in Japan or Australia. Still, very little in comparison to what’s on offer in the UK though.
Analysis: Secret Languages In Game Playing – GSW
An interesting survey (of 300 people) regarding specialized language used in video games. Unfortunately I don’t think that James Portnow fleshed out his results well enough. Only a handful of sentences based on responses from 300 people seems odd, but overall it’s not a bad piece. I also found this video on Zath to be an interesting example of that specialized language in use.
Nintendo’s Reggie Fils-Aime Talks DSi-Enhanced Games, ‘Zelda: Spirit Tracks’ And More – MTV Multiplayer
The thing I really wish to point out about this article is Stephen’s question regarding high profile games on the DS. He questions how Nintendo are facilitating this option for developers, (brilliantly) recognizing Vicarious Visions in the process too, good man Stephen.
Katamari was comment on consumerism – Eurogamer
I found this post particularly moving, as it shades the whole context of this game in a very different light. My previous interpretation of Katamari was unrelated to consumerism, but reading Keita Takahashi intentions, and then his personal reflection of how the game made him feel (and subsequently the development of the minimalist Noby Noby Boy countered) is really powerful stuff. Changes the way I ever considered looking at these games, much in the same way good critique would.
Link Out (8/3/09)
March 8th, 2009
You’ve probably noticed the sudden increase in video streams included in the most recent posts. Well at least I hope you have, but more importantly I hope you’ve gain a sense of why I’ve adopted this approach. It’s not a trend that I wish to continue for every post thereafter, rather the last few topics all benefited from some video contextualization.
Same old deal: I’m battling to keep this segment running just within a monthy basis – I always seem a week or two out of the month. As always I’ve tried to seek out the most interesting links from a wide variety of sources. The latter I consider to be pretty important. It’s surprising how many bloggers simply link to the same 3-5 people in their friends group and leave it at that. Tsk, shame on them. I also need to update that blogroll sometime.
A Progress Worth Saving – Critical Gaming
I’m a sucker for personal anecdotes, and Richard does a beautiful job at drawing me in with his description of the power of print, the strength of physicality and how the importance of these things don’t quite equate into the virtual space. I’ve probably spruiked Critical Gaming in the past, but if you haven’t caught on, go ahead and start reading this goldmine of information. I’m currently backlogging myself, seriously, great work at hand.
Legacy of Ys: Books I & II Review – GameCritics.com
I went on silent revolt once I read the changes that GameCritics adopted on their review structure some months ago. I returned though and I’m pleased that I did. I got a lot out of this review of the latest revival of the Ys series. The way Mike ties together rose tinted nostalgia and modern day realities is handled with great respect.
Edge Killzone 2 Review: A Disservice To Game Consumers PSX Extreme
I bet someone over at this site is probably kicking themselves for letting this blind-sighted moron post something so shallow. How did this ever get through editorial? This site deserves all the ridicule that’s been layed upon it. Silly, silly people.
New Games Journalism is Dead. Long live New New Games Journalism.
Chris’ discussion here is an interesting one, I personally disagree with some of the direction, but – as taken up via email – I think we feel pretty mutual on the topic at large. An interesting dissection of the evolution of progressive games writing and a suggestion that we are perhaps running off the rails.
Lunchtime Video – The Importance of ‘Mario Kart’ Sales – MTV Multplayer
There’s been a small dip in quality since Patrick Klepek left late last month, but Stephen and Tracy are still doing a good job at holding the fort. Stephens insightful musing are perhaps the real hook for me which is why I wanted to point this one out.
JetSetRadio Future – GameSpite Issue 12.4
Not so many people are aware of the Xbox JetSetRadio iteration. Fortunately this article puts the nuances between the Dreamcast original and Xbox sequel in good light. The article’s also got me pondering the relationship between Sega’s bolstered Xbox support and the relation that had to do with Windows CE being featured the Dreamcast.
They Call it the Grind for a Reason – Versus CluClu Land
The past couple of days I’ve restarted my backlog through the (numbered) Final Fantasy games, with FF Origins on the PSone. I’ll discuss the game and my venture through the series in due time, for now let’s just say this piece is a suitable introduction.
Draughts Game Complete – Nexfinity.net
I also forgot to plug the latest indie hit sensation Draughts as developed by my twin brother. While the concept of draughts/checkers may appear daft, this is no ordinary iteration of the classic board game. Well actually it is, but Chris had been sure to develop the game on pretty low end code from the ground up. You won’t notice this much in play as the game was intended to be a used for crunching code rather than design. It’s neat though, so I recommend you check it out, the code is all open source too, so take a squiz and see if you can help him flatten any strange anomalies that might surface.
Good Times Spent With Friends – Press the Buttons
Cuties! I love these cute characterizations of the consoles and PC.
Other equally great stuff that I can’t put words to:
Through The Tubes – Raptured Reality
Behind The Charts: The Portable Rhythm Game Jam – GameSetWatch
Disney Capcom NES Games – HardcoreGaming101
Iwata: ‘Essence Of Fun’ Can Overcome Gap Between Japanese, Western Culture
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