What You Know Isn't The Truth And What The Truth Is You Don't Want To Know

• 23Mar 09

  Some_One_Plays: Independent Project Update: March. Mon. 23, 2009

  Work has started on the "first unbiased gaming journalism website" since I'm a team of one things are moving a lot slower than I thought. At this rate I'm guessing the site should be opened to the public at the end of April or mid May. Everything on the site is created by me to the layout right down to the design of the site so it'll take some time and this is excluding the content being put on it once done. The wait is almost over.

  • Posted Mar 23, 2009 4:02 am PT
  • Category: Business
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• 11Feb 09

  Society: Gangsta Rap: Overview

  ******* *** ******* *********

  

  This is a blog a made a while back that I wanted to post on Game Spot but due to the language of the post it wasn't accepted. Sorry if I did post it on Game Spot and reposted it again. Now going back to make that site that I said will be the first unbiased gaming journalism site. I want to make sure you hold me to that statement so a little reminder won't hurt.

  The Rejected Blog

  • Posted Feb 11, 2009 10:08 am PT
  • Category: People
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• 4Feb 09

  Some_One_Plays: Independent Project

  Where did I go?

  Where have I gone, if you even noticed?

  Actually nowhere in particular I've been busy with school and a ton of reading in psychology and many other courses people haven't heard of.

  Why haven't I found the time to post blogs yet able to post this blog?

  You know when you get those users who complain that many gaming journalist along with the sites they write for are bias. Well I'm one of them and I know this sounds cliché instead of complaining I'm working on a site that will be the first truly unbiased gaming journalism site. This may sound daunting to most especially with those who trust many of the "professional" journalists at the same time I will assure you what I lack in content a gain in quality. There are way too many inconsistencies in gaming journalism that it has motivated me to start my own thing. At the same time I know there will be preconceived notions of me as a user and as well with independent game journalism sites. I will assure you that when doing the site you'll see a side of me that will impress especially when I give the link to my criteria.

  Not only am I making this site so gamers can finally have a fair analysis of games I also want to keep my skills sharp and do something constructive with my free time. Unlike most users you've most likely met through the site I know how to be coherent with my conclusions and will change them when new information comes in. If you're really interested on how it will turn out stay turned because your guess is as good as mine considering I'm new to this whole website thing. What you can always count on is that the written will always be coherent.

  Lol, if you look at GameSpots' criteria for reviews if a game scores below an 8.5 it's considered a bad thing, thus the reason why so many sports titles are ratted so high. Something to think about when waiting for reviews to come on the site.

  What have I been playing?

  The game I have been playing lately has been Far Cry 2.

  I have nothing else to put in the blog considering that I'm in school as I type this so stay tuned for the next blog on how things are going with the website.

  • Posted Feb 4, 2009 10:56 am PT
  • Category: People
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• 29Dec 08

  Some_One_Plays: Games I Have an Eye On For in 2009 Part II

  I see with my little eyes...

  1. Killzone 2

  

  It is the third installment in the Killzone franchise that began on the PlayStation 2 with Killzone and was continued with Killzone: Liberation on the PlayStation Portable. First announced at E³ 2005 in Los Angeles, California, Killzone 2 is set to be released on February 27, 2009.

  This is a game that I've been waiting for, for a long time and it's looking like the wait is well worth it. This game is said to set the bar higher not just for TV consoles but for shooters in general. By far this game displays one of the best graphics and I wonder if it'll compete with or come close to beating Crysis graphics.

  2. Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer

  

  Quantic Dream started working on Heavy Rain in February 2006. The project was announced on May 7, 2006, and three days later, a real-time 3D prototype technology demo was presented at E3 2006 at [Sony Computer Entertainment's booth The demo, titled The Casting displays various technical features of the game engine in an emotional scene featuring a motion captured virtual actor. The prototype was allegedly created in less than three months, during which Quantic Dream wrote the script, developed the graphics engine, held auditions to find the virtual actress, and recorded the scene. The demo was initially designed to be an internal prototype not shown outside the company, but upon seeing the team's work-in-progress a few weeks before E3, Sony asked them to complete a working demo to be presented to the audience

  This game to me is the evolution of the point and click genre even though the developers Quantic Dream say no other game is like it. What I love about this game is that it can revive the adventure genre as well setting the bar really high. This game will have no game overs, have multiple endings, and will feature a mature story telling. I loved the last game Fahrenheit (Indigo Prophecy) and I'm pretty sure I'll have improvements from the last game with the same game mechanics.

  3. White Knight Chronicles

  

  It is Level-5's first project for the system. According to Sony during a press conference in Tokyo, White Knight Chronicles is expected to launch during the current fiscal year, which ends March 31, 2009, though whether this applies to all releases of the game is still to be determined.

  While little is known about the title, Level-5 has revealed they are placing an emphasis on scale within the game world. As per the playable demo at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, some enemies are extremely large in size, in one piece of concept artwork, a massive turtle-like creature is depicted carrying an entire city on its back.

  This is one of the Sony's exclusive role playing games (RPGs) and it is planned to have one-hundred hours of gameplay, the first RPG to have 1080p graphics, and have an online system to join in the main quest. This developer Level-5 seems like it's going to replace Square Enix's place as Sony's exclusive RPG developer if they have decide to stick with the PlayStation 3.

  4. Infamous

  

  It is currently in development by Sucker Punch Productions, creators of Rocket: Robot on Wheels, and the Sly Cooper video game franchise. The game was announced at Sony's E3 2007 Press Conference on July 11, 2007. The debut trailer indicated that the game would be released sometime in 2008, although the July 2008 issue of Game Informer has stated that the release date has been moved to Spring 2009. It will be the company's first original IP since Sly Cooper.

  The game is a third-person sandbox world that combines elements of the superhero MMO City of Heroes with a roaming open-world, allowing the player to make choices between being a hero or an anti-hero that will affect the game. The player will also have access to electrical powers. The player will obtain them right at the beginning of the game.

  This is a game that looks to out do Prototype in my professional opinion and best part is that I can't play both on the same console. This game is utilizing Blu-ray technology where the city is so big that you could get lost in it said by the developers when on X-Play. The use of electricity is interesting and I'll compare the two games Infamous and Prototype to see which one I think it better.

  5. God of War III

  

  God of War III is a forthcoming installment in the God of War video game franchise. It was formally announced at E3 2008, and is expected to be released for European consoles in 2009 according to the Amazon website exclusively for the PlayStation 3. It is the fifth chapter in the series chronologically, after God of War: Chains of Olympus, God of War, God of War: Betrayal and God of War II. The tagline for the game is "In the end, there will be only chaos

  This game has been tight lipped and only seen one trailer showing in-game graphics that looked decent. I'm sure that the graphics will improve greatly over time just look at Killzone 2 and since it's an exclusive I'm hoping for this game setting the bar high.

  6. Gran Turismo 5

  

  Expanding on the Prologue version, which was first released in Japan in October 2007 and intended to give an impression of the final game, it will be the first of the main numbered series to feature on the PlayStation 3.

  I'm hoping this game is coming in 2009; with Eight Days and The Getaway cancelled this is one of those games that has been hanging in there. Polyphony Digital said that they'll update the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue with damage modeling. The only reason why they haven't in the series yet was because they wanted to do it right or not at all. Here's hoping for the greatest racing simulator to be released in 2009.

  7. M.A.G. (Massive Action Game)

  

  M.A.G. is a game being created by Zipper Interactive that is creating a massive first person shooter online only game for the PlayStation 3. This game will have 256 players at once in one server, divided into eight squads, with a leader who went through the ranking system. The game will have three factions America, European, and Middle Eastern knowing Europeans they'll make the Americans Caucasian when Americans are Aboriginals. This is a game that will display the advantage of having an opened source structure for online over Microsoft's console, long live computer online internet structure. Any who, I haven't seen enough of the game to be dead sure that it'll be a hit but here's hoping.

  Most people don't like online only games like this because there is no training yet this never happens to persistent online games. I do agree if the game is smaller it should be setup differently at the same time I don't think having an online only games is a bad choice, just look at World of Warcraft. The other thing why this usually happens is that the online is free so unless has a subscription they aren't forcing you to pay to play making it equal grounds for everyone.

  Related Blog: Part I

  • Posted Dec 29, 2008 10:35 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 28Dec 08

  Some_One_Plays: Games I Have an Eye On For in 2009 Part I

  I see with my little eyes...

  8. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

  

  This entry follows the adventures of protagonist Nathan Drake as he uncovers the mysteries behind 13th-century explorer, Marco Polo, and the ships that he "lost" while returning home to Italy. Following him on his quest will be Chloe Frazer, a new character voiced by Claudia Black of Stargate SG-1 and Farscape.

  The title will feature new gameplay mechanics, such as stealth action segments, and changing the climbing mechanic to allow free movement over walls. The game is also stated to have no loading screens

  I haven't seen a lot of this game even with that said I have the first one and still playing it from time to time. This game is going to be amazing setting the bar even higher because everything they did in the last game was amazing, they can only go up from here.

  9. Final Fantasy Versus XIII

  

  Very little information regarding the plot of the game has been revealed since E³ 2006; however, Square Enix representatives have commented that Versus may be the darkest Final Fantasy game yet.

  Final Fantasy Versus XIII revolves around a prince named Noctis Lucis Caelum, who is the last heir to an unnamed kingdom in which the last Crystal is kept. Because of increasingly apparent modernization in contrast to neighboring nations, Noctis' kingdom has isolated itself from the outside world. The game is set as two nations battle each other for dominance and for the last Crystal held by Noctis' kingdom. The game has been said to initiate at the "clearing" of a long Cold War between warring nations that revolved around these crystals.

  10. Final Fantasy XIII

  

  The plot focuses on the fal'Cie, a race existing beyond humanity. The people marked by the fal'Cie for a greater purpose are named the l'Cie. Some 13 centuries ago, a mythical Crystal told the fal'Cie to construct a paradise for humanity. The shell-like city of Cocoon was created and floated high above the surface of the world now known as Pulse, which is later maintained by its own Crystal. Cocoon's Crystal created life forms and machines for its inhabitants to use, and humanity flourished. Over time, the people of Cocoon began to fear for the safety of their world, and were worried that it would be cast down from the sky. In present day, the wilderness of Pulse has strange effects on people, and the Holy Government of Cocoon quarantines and exiles from the city anyone who has been influenced by Pulse. A woman codenamed Lightning is chosen by the Crystals to be the enemy of humanity and bring about the downfall of the world.

  This game was said to be pushing the PlayStation 3 to its limits if true what's going to happen to the XBOX 360 version, six discs?

  11. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena

  

  The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is an upcoming video game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows. While the science fiction first-person action game was originally anticipated to be a remake of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, it currently features enough content to be considered a sequel as well.

  12. Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams

  

  In response to the game's high sales and critical acclaim, Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick revealed in a conference call to analysts that the company now considered the game as part of a franchise.[ He also speculated on any follow-ups mimicking the development cycle of Grand Theft Auto, with a new release expected every two to three years. On March 11, 2008, Take Two Interactive officially announced that Bioshock 2 is being developed by 2K Marin, and is expected to be released before the 2009 holiday season. In an August 2008 interview, Ken Levine mentioned that 2K Boston was not involved in the game's sequel because they wanted to "swing for the fences" and try to come up with something "very, very different." BioShock 3 has also been announced, with its release likely to coincide with the Bioshock film.

  The first information about BioShock's immediate sequel came in a teaser on the PlayStation 3 version of the game, revealing that the second game is to be titled BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams. This teaser used The Pied Pipers' version of "Dream" in much the same way that the first BioShock's soundtrack used Great American Songbook tunes. A 2K developer stated that the game "is part of a prequel and at the same time is a sequel." BioShock 2 is planned to be released for the PlayStation 3, Windows PC, and Xbox 360.

  13. Demon's Souls'

  

  With a dark fantasy theme, the player will set off into the heart of Voletaria, a kingdom of warriors that was destroyed after the appearance of beasts and demons.

  This is one of those games where I haven't seen enough to be confident that it'll succeed but here's to hoping.

  14. Resident Evil 5

  

  It is the forthcoming installment in the Resident Evil survival horror video game series, which is set to debut for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It will be developed and published by Capcom.

  This game is taking place in Africa with amazing graphics what else is there to say about this game?

  15. Star Ocean: The Last Hope

  

  This is the next installment in the Star Ocean series for the Xbox 360. Famitsu has revealed that the battle system will now feature 4 party members, and be more team-oriented. The hero's name is Edge Maverick, while the heroine is named Reimi Saionji. The game will also feature more of a sci-fi emphasis than past titles with the ability to control your own ship. It's been said this ship is quite large, and will be able to land on at least 5 planets or other space-based destinations. One will be able to travel through the "star ocean," jumping across planets. The game will also take place a few centuries before the original Star Ocean (around S.D. 10, or approximately 2097 AD).

  This game is going to be on three discs and this usually turns me off but it's Star Ocean. Once you know you can play a game without switching discs even if I have to install to do it, so be it because installs are a one time only thing (Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the only exception).

  16. Wardevil: Unleash the Beast Within

  

  It was originally planned to be released for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but the Xbox 360 version was cancelled in order to focus on one platform. As of August 2008, Digi-Guys has confirmed that WarDevil is still in production, and that new information on the project will be released before the end of the year. As of Decemer 2008, however, no new information has been released.

  This is another game where I haven't seen enough to be confident yet at the same time it's suppose to have 1080p graphics/resolutions at 60fps (frames per second) using a totally new engine.

  17. The Agency

  

  Upon starting the game the player has the opportunity to join one of two agencies, which will determine the ****of missions they receive during gameplay.

  • The United Nations Intelligence and Tactical Experts (U.N.I.T.E) are the world's most elite secret agents. They are the forefront of the fight against terrorism, corruption, and rogue states around the globe. UNITE agents are deadly specialists in stealth and subterfuge, with access to technology the public has never seen before. Headquarters: Unknown Location - North America. mission types: stealth action
  • The Paramilitary Global Operations Network (ParaGON) is one of the largest private armies in the world, serving clients both upstanding and unsavory. ParaGON's efficient, honorable, and often unconventional mercenaries can be found putting duct tape and high explosives to new and exciting uses on every continent. Headquarters: Unknown Location - Africa. mission types: action packed

  18. DC Universe Online

  

  The basic concept of the DC Universe is that it is just like the real world, but with superheroes and supervillains existing in it. However, there are other corollary differences resulting from the justifications implied by that main conceit. Many fictional countries, such as Qurac, Vlatava, and Zandia, exist in it. Though stories are often set in the United States of America, they are as often as not set in fictional cities, such as Gotham City or Metropolis. These cities are effectively archetypes of cities, with Gotham City embodying the negative aspects of life in a large city, and Metropolis reflecting more of the positive aspects. Sentient alien species (such as Kryptonians and Thanagarians) and even functioning interstellar societies are generally known to exist, and the arrival of alien spacecraft is not uncommon. Technologies which are only theoretical in the real world or are outright impossible according to modern science, such as faster-than-light travel and artificial intelligence, are functional and reproducible, though they are often portrayed as highly experimental and difficult to achieve. Demonstratable magic exists and can be learned. The general history of the fictional world is similar to the real one (for instance, there was a Roman Empire, and World War II and 9/11 both occurred), but many fantastic additions exist, such as the known existence of Atlantis. In recent years, stories have increasingly described events which bring the DC Universe farther away from reality, such as World War III occurring, Lex Luthor being elected as President of the United States in 2000, and entire cities and countries being destroyed. There are other minor variations, such as the Earth being slightly larger than ours (to accommodate the extra countries), and the planet Saturn having 18 moons rather than 19 because Superman destroyed one

  This game looks interesting but as of speaking now The Agency has me hooked more but it will be interesting how this game turns out.

  19. Ghostbusters

  

  The events of the game occur during Thanksgiving 1991, two years after the events in Ghostbusters II. Players portray a new recruit hired to test Egon Spengler and Ray Stantz's new equipment, during a recent rise of paranormal activity. This paranormal activity begins to occur as the city is about to unveil a Gozer exhibit. The team is thus called to investigate. Along the way, players battle several entities from the films, such as the Library Ghost, Vigo, Slimer, Gozer, and Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, as well as many mini bosses that will be encountered throughout each level. One level, in the console versions, involves escorting the Ecto-1 through the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while another takes the player directly into the Ghost World.

  20. Deus Ex 3

  

  The year 2027, 25 years before Deus Ex, which was set in 2052. Nanotechnological augmentations have yet to be developed and biomechanical augmentations are the current state of the art. The main character, Adam Jensen, is a private security officer with a company that specializes in these augmentations. He witnesses a chilling attack on his company, and "the conspiracy begins." There are hints that the starting zone will be Shanghai, and Detroit may be a featured locale. One piece of concept art appears to hint that a locale in France may be included.

  21. Rage

  

  These are the developers behind Doom id Software making a game with first person shooter and racing elements. I haven't really seen too much about this game but here's hoping.

  23. Dark Cloud 3

  

  This is said to be released in Japan in 2009 and hoping that it'll make its way to North America some time in 2009.

  24. Black 2

  

  This is the sequel to one of the most destructible first person shooters in the last generation hitting the next generation platform.

  25. Wanted: Weapons of Fate

  

  The game has been designed to take advantage of the curve the bullet mechanic, to curve the bullet players will have to hold the R1 button and using the analogue stick to control the line of fire and press fire to shoot the bullet and curve it. The game will also feature Max Payne ****bullet time.

  26. Dark Void

  

  The game's story will center around a cargo pilot who crashes in the Bermuda Triangle. From there, he is teleported to a parallel universe where he encounters other humans, called Survivors. Together, the protagonist and the survivors must battle an alien race known as the Watchers to return to Earth.

  Source: Wikipedia.org

  • Posted Dec 28, 2008 4:50 am PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 27Dec 08

  Review: Mirror's Edge

  Mirror's Edge

  

  I got Mirror's Edge and Fable 2. I'll most likely review Resistance 2 than Fable 2 because it doesn't look much different than the last game. Anyways this is about Mirror's Edge, and I couldn't put this game down. I love how fluid the game is and reminds me so much of a game called Breakdown. Breakdown was more on combat than platforming while Mirror's Edge is more on platforming than combat. Either way I loved the game and will be working on getting the best PlayStation 3 time on EA's servers in one of the 23 courses. Terminator_TX3 is coming.

  Strengths

  •· Amazing universe

  •· A new perspective for platformers

  •· Unique visual direction

  •· Creative use of mechanics

  Weaknesses

  •· Some poor animations in cinematics

  •· City feels kind of dead

  Mirror's Edge Review

  • Posted Dec 27, 2008 7:33 am PT
  • Category: Games
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• 20Dec 08

  Review: Grand Theft Auto IV

  Grand Theft Auto IV is not Game of the Year

  

  After hearing that GTA (Greater Toronto Area) I mean Grand Theft Auto got Game of the Year I had to finish this game to see what the critics saw that I didn't see. After finishing the game I of course reviewed it and I still wasn't satisfied with the final product the Rock Star created.

  Strengths

  •· Strong narrative

  •· Good voiceovers

  Weaknesses

  •· Graphics too soft

  •· Cover system works half of the time

  •· Took out elements from the last game in this instalment

  •· Went back to one of the smallest cities they've created

  For those of you who want to read it I've improved on how I do reviews even down to how I score them since I'm starting to review games now. The more I do it the better I become and hopefully I'll review Resistance 2, one of my favourite games on this year. I have a feeling I would have picked Fallout 3 as Game of the Year but I haven't played it and leaning towards Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

  Grand Theft Auto IV Review

  • Posted Dec 20, 2008 2:13 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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• 15Dec 08

  Grand Theft Auto 4: The Lost and Damned: My Theory

  Grand Theft Auto 4: The Lost and Damned

  

  There's one part in Grand Theft Auto 4 that this Jason guy reminds me of is when you go kill Mr.Faustin's (Mikhail Faustin) daughter's boyfriend, it reminded me of the mission. One part he talked about a daughter named Anna who he thinks that his daughter is turning into a whore. So when you go by Mr. Faustin's orders to kill Anna's boyfriend I remember him saying, "I'm going to get the brothers and we're gonna kick your **** ass" I killed him before he got to where ever his bike brothers were. With that said I think this exclusive downloadable pack for the XBOX 360 is almost like a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 4 because I'm pretty sure Jason (if him) was dating Mr. Faustin's daughter before Niko Bellic (you) got to Liberty City. The only other reason why this theory came to my head was the guy's voice because I thought he sounded like a punk for looking like a criminal because he needed his "brothers" lol, it was a group comment.

  

  I stumbled upon Game Trailers when I saw the "new exclusive download" for the XBOX 360 and thought I'd check it out. I knew about this before I get my PlayStation 3 version and didn't think they could really do all that much considering not all XBOX 360s have large HDDs (Hard Drive Disks), enough is there for me to be satisfied, and plus all I could see was new missions, multiplayer modes, more city, or more customization with your online avatar. In the end I just didn't think it would be worth it and plus I'd rather play for free online even though it satisfies a lot of people I'm just use to PC gaming. After searching the internet the mission is called "No Love Lost" the nineteenth mission you go on in the game. I haven't beaten the game yet so I don't know if killing the daughter's boyfriend caused anything. Lol, most of the characters look like you (Niko Bellic).

  

  With all that said do you think I'm right about the XBOX 360 exclusive download because I haven't been keeping up to date with things lately? Lol, I would look stupid if it was already announced and I went through all this for nothing, but things happen.

  • Posted Dec 15, 2008 8:34 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 14Dec 08

  Impressions: PlayStation Home: Open Beta

  Impressions PlayStation Home

  

  PlayStation Home is a 3D virtual community for PlayStation 3 users, it's an interactive virtual space where users meet up, hang out, and explore a connected world. It's free of charge and is available from the cross media bar (XMB). PlayStation Home is a 3D virtual community for PlayStation 3 users, it's an interactive virtual space where users meet up, hang out, and explore a connected world. It's free of charge and is available from the cross media bar (XMB). Community a group of interacting organisms sharing an environment, a group of people sharing common interests, participation, and fellowship. A group of plants and animals living and interacting with one another in a specific region under relatively similar environmental conditions or a region occupied by a group of interacting organisms. Interacting is a kind of action that occurs as two or more objects have an effect upon one another.

  

  PlayStation Home is in its open beta meaning that it isn't really the final version of Home but is still working out the kinks. I've had experienced some difficulties with Home when just entering it for the first time with the update. Once in you'll have to create your avatar that consists of three options presets, character, clothing, and load/save. Presets are exactly what you think they are with avatars already made for you. In the character option there is gender, structure, face, body shape, skin, hair, and makeup (female). With each section in the character option there will be in depth character sculpting still ultimately hard to recreate yourself in Home. You can tweak eye darkness, wrinkles, colour, the whole face structure, neck, mouth, cheeks, to body shape/height.

  Once you're satisfied with that you can go into the clothing option to change/add headgear, hand accessories, torso, legs, feet, jewellery, or accessories in general. The avatars look good enough and in my opinion the best looking avatars around. Once you're done with the avatar you can save up to nine different avatar load outs.

  

  You'll then pop into what I like to call your 3D profile since you can eventually upload if not already content from your HDD (Hard Drive Disk) to your own space. You can decorate your space in twelve categories picture frame, chairs, footstools, tables, storage, flooring, ornaments, cubes, lights, sofas, appliances, and wallpaper. Since this is a beta there are limitations to what you can do as of speaking right now so I'm hoping for more items available at launch. Of course you have a menu system that is a shape of some kind of PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and not the PlayStation Portable, odd. The personal space is designed nicely but I'm guessing the bigger estates are a lot nicer.

  The menu is in a list **** with personal, locations, friends list, clubs, alerts, game launching, communication, community, help, settings, and downloads. What I like about this is that you remain in the space while looking at your PDA to me it kind of adds to the immersion. What I also like is that you can download areas for the first time in the background while you do other things. Even though for the most part the PDA is like the XMB you can still pull up the XMB which is nice, completely giving you freedom.

  

  In the Mall you can buy bigger spaces, clothing, furniture, and play with board games. Some of the store names consist of Home threads, Home estates, and Home Stuff that ultimately just describes what they offer instead of real world names. I like how you're able to purchase items in The Mall it's simple and easy even though I haven't bought anything yet. The Home Theatre is a small place that basically is setup like a real life theatre with seats displaying one single screen. The videos that are pushed into the space is the Twilight Trailer and the music video that pertains to the movie Twilight. I'm hoping that the actual launch will have a bigger theatre and would actually simulate a theatre building and not just the theatre itself. I just find it a little too small and would add to the realism in my opinion.

  In the Central Plaza you can play a game called "Saucer Pop" where the object of the game is to collect items in a flying saucer while avoiding objects. You can sit down, dance, and is pretty much boring because - PlayStation Home is a 3D virtual community for PlayStation 3 users, it's an interactive virtual space where users meet up, hang out, and explore a connected world. It's free of charge and is available from the cross media bar (XMB) - sorry about that there must be a glitch in the system. Because there is nothing else to do but look at advertisements (laughs), in my opinion this is a good thing. I say that because Sony will be advertising in the right place as well getting money for advertising other companies' products. This is what will keep it free in my opinion and ads a sense of realism with all the real world elements. This place is mainly for socializing, yes that's right fellow gamers it's time to whip out those headsets, keypads, keyboards, or virtual keyboards because this is the heart of the application.

  You're able to interact with other avatars through your avatar in two ways, prefixed text (quick right) or avatar animations (emotes). With the animations there are six categories greeting, conversation, celebration, disappointment, extra, and dance. The prefixed text consist of hello, goodbye, yes, no etc giving people quick responses if you're one of those anti-social gamers. The avatar movements consist of beckon, yawn, laugh, dismissive, pose, or robot with many other things to do. You have to give it to Sony for actually making use of the avatars unlike a company that everyone loves so. The saddest thing is that most people I've encountered have no headset and sometimes will add you randomly just to run away. Honestly, I hate the stereotype that gamers are anti-social and finally Sony comes out with a - PlayStation Home is a 3D virtual community for PlayStation 3 users, it's an interactive virtual space where users meet up, hang out, and explore a connected world. It's free of charge and is available from the cross media bar (XMB) - pathetic attempt to win over gamers' hearts with a Barbie simulator.

  The Bowling Alley of course has bowling, pool tables, and arcade machines with games called Ice Breaker, Echochrome, and Carriage Return. Carriage Return you line up the carriages and make sure they arrive before the time runs out. Echochrome you collect the echoes (shadows of yourself) and avoid enemies in the optical illusion stages. Ice Breaker you keep the ball bouncing and smash all of the ice blocks in order to win. By playing these games to win you'll be rewarded with outfits that pertain to the game when beating Echochrome you get the costume to look like the character you control. In this section I do wish you could watch other people play while playing any of the arcade machines. The games themselves work just as you think they would with a good level of quality that I'm impressed with.

  

  The developer spaces that are available is Far Cry 2 and Uncharted that look pretty interesting and is unique. I say this is a good start to things and would love to see where this goes especially with exclusive titles that Sony wants you to buy. I hope eventually you'll be able to watch live or pre-recorded tournaments to talk about while you're watching it.

  In the end there's nothing to do in this "PlayStation Home" Sony didn't deliver on the promise - PlayStation Home is a 3D virtual community for PlayStation 3 users, it's an interactive virtual space where users meet up, hang out, and explore a connected world. It's free of charge and is available from the cross media bar (XMB). - and just made a pathetic attempt to make me be social. I say, "Screw you Sony for trying to make gamers not anti-social and I want to continue to be that stereotype that people have over gamers." Since it's a beta and will be free and most of the time all you do is just talk, I guess it will be ok, I'll have to see. Hell, is it anything different than this website?

  • Posted Dec 14, 2008 2:08 am PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 11Dec 08

  Sesslers Soapbox: Congratulations Fable II: My Thoughts

  My Thoughts

  The game feels more than the sum of its parts

  - Adam Sessler, X-Play

  Yes, choosing to be the best is challenging, who said it wasn't hard? I want to reiterate as strongly as I can that when a game becomes a winner it isn't over whelming superiority in its "category." Idiot, one word, idiot, oh, I forgot that little piece of magic (rolls eyes). When he says, "We chose" does it mean XBOX Fanatics because the only games they ever show is Halo, Halo, and of course Halo 3. Also states it isn't going to stop flame and hate mail, no really? We don't watch the Oscars because someone feels sorry for Uwe Boll, which I think you're becoming. Yes I feel that it's wrong what the film fanatics are doing, but we must come to reality and that reality, the world can hurt.

  Or another example would be having an Olympic race and you reward one of the last players for best efforts and the gold. No, it doesn't make sense because the whole point of the awards is that you pick the best no matter how hard it may be for you. Life isn't easy, get over it.

  Lol, Sessler's reasons for his "Award Changing Experience" is:

  1. He didn't bother to quick travel; so what, and this is what makes it better than Fallout 3, Little Big Planet, or
  2. Very assessable when you're coming from Guitar Hero or the Wii; one word Little Big Planet, Linger in Shadow.
  3. The co-op isn't great and the game didn't get the Game of the Year because of its co-op, but since it had such a strong campaign hell, who cares about the online portion, right?
  4. At the end of the day game stays with so many members of the team and comparing different experiences and realizing the game was completely different to all of us; two words Fallout 3 and Little Big Planet.

  They didn't realize how the game recalibrated itself to how you're playing; you mean how Left 4 Dead does when you're playing? In all honesty I understand what Adam Sessler was trying to achieve I just think that isn't the game. You can create a whole new category, but the Game of the Year should have an all around good experience. You won't have high school awards to the best student and they can't even read or multiply. This isn't holding the industry to the best of its abilities since the standard is lowered. I'm sorry it may hurt some feelings during this process, yet doesn't justify giving the benefit of the doubt, Sessler.

  Little Big Planet is a perfect example of this because it's simple, complex, and fun. I haven't played Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts so I have no idea how much depth does it have or simplicity. With that said I still consider Little Big Planet better because of what you're able to do in the game besides build vehicles to travel in. You'll never see this kind of actions in the Oscars or Grammies but for some odd reason gaming is pathetic. At the same time I should wait for the real awards considering this is a site/show's opinion and is just an example of why I think Game Journalist are bias. Opinions shouldn't control reviews, rewards, or any type of professionalism in any industry because you aren't being objective. These journalists aren't kids either they're grown adults who can't think straight or maybe they're just slow? What I do know is that they almost never make any sense. The key words in the video are "That X-Play put the game ahead of other games not the game itself." I feel that I have to leave mistakes in this blog to look less educated than someone in their thirties. X-Play is one of those few sites/shows I look forward to in gaming and this just disappoints me.

  End Rant

  • Posted Dec 11, 2008 8:15 am PT
  • Category: Rant
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• 7Dec 08

  Some_One_Plays: 1UP Profile

  What Drives Me to Video Game Journalism

  1UP Profile

  I've been gaming for a long time now and from my experience I find a lot of game journalism is bias whether they realise it or not. I mostly play on my PlayStation 3 but also have an XBOX 360. My top genres would be adventure, action-adventure, action, and puzzle games. I'm also love to write about anything that interests me and will voice my opinion strongly. I'm opinionated, analytical, articulate, mature, and intellectual. Even though some can say analytical and articulation go hand to hand, but I've seen someone who's analytical without articulation. Articulation goes beyond just spelling correctly it's about logic argument so because you analysed something it doesn't mean you make sense.

  I'm been a GameSpot user for a while now and if you want to check my previous blogs go to the site and read them. I'm also thinking of creating a gaming journalism site if I continue to see more bias in the gaming industry. Like for example I will read a review of a game and a negative quality of the game is that it's linear. When it comes to first person shooter almost every game is linear so when I see this with first person shooters they're stating they hate the game for being a first person shooter. I also see journalist compare first person shooters with action-adventure games and state they hate back tracking. An example of this would be Metroid Prime it's an action-adventure game in a first person perspective. From my experience with "action-adventure games" there is always backtracking same with Grand Theft Auto. In the end some genres are more prone to be in a certain design more than others and often see journalist hate a game for being a game. A recent example was with Resistance 2 some journalist said the bad thing about this game is that it's "very linear," so Halo 3 was non-linear? I also notice certain hatred towards "Western Developers" with the anime representation in games.

  I know I'm a Sony gamer, but I also see a lot of hatred towards Sony games for such minuscule elements. A recent example was with Killzone 2 being too dark with a lot of greys by IGN while none of this was ever said with Gears of War, Condemned 2: Bloodshot, or especially Dead Space. I find with each big title on the PlayStation 3 that counters a game on another platform they pick out something that doesn't make sense. Especially when the game is suppose to be gritty, dark, or horror like because they're simply stating they hate the game for having a setting they don't prefer. Sorry, but preferences don't make a game bad or good.

  That's enough with that once you've read this and start looking for what I mentioned you'll see it a lot. This is what is going to drive me to game journalism if this continues to proceed and I will try my best to be the top journalist in gaming. I'm not joking because this only hurts the gamers and the industry as a whole. Don't get me wrong I'm a good person who isn't bias I'm just a hardcore gamer who sees everything in a different light. I hinted this once in my blog, with much thought I'll be driven to create a site to become big in internet gaming journalism.

  In the end don't send a boy to do a man's job

  • Posted Dec 7, 2008 8:28 am PT
  • Category: General
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• 22Nov 08

  Impressions: New XBOX Experience

  The New XBOX Experience

  

  Microsoft has launched the New XBOX Experience that will integrate new features as well as an XMB (Cross Media Bar) / Cover Flow / Wii Channel menu **** for better navigation. The menu consists of a Welcome Channel, Spotlight, My XBOX, Game Marketplace, Video Marketplace, Friends, and Inside XBOX.

  

  Welcome Channel

  This part consists of What's Hot, XBOX Essentials, New XBOX Experience, and a Hide Channel option. This just tells you what you need to know about the XBOX 360 if you're new to the whole experience or haven't read anything about XBOX online.

  Spotlight Channel

  This channel of basically what's new and popping on the XBOX 360 by showing you a retail game, an arcade game, movie, game events, avatars, and avatar games. In this section they're (Microsoft) advertising a game for your avatar called "Photo Party" which is self explanatory. I have no idea why someone would even have a photo party because to me it sounds illegal, lol.

  My XBOX Channel

  This will display the game disc that is inserted, your gamer profile, game library, video library, music library, picture library, Windows Media Centre, and system settings.

  Game Marketplace Channel

  This is of course everything you need for your gaming experiences from games, add-ons, and free demos. There is also something called XBOX Live Community Games this is just an XNA section and think of it as YouTube just in games. I didn't subscribe to XNA ($100.00/year) so I couldn't browse through the games. The videos on XBOX 360 aren't running in HD (High Definition) and you can easily tell by the quality of the picture. I'm usually on the PlayStation 3 so I'm used to seeing 1080p videos and when you download an XBOX 360 video the quality isn't on par.

  Video Marketplace Channel

  This is your access to the movies that Microsoft has available to you and apparently Netflix isn't available in Canada so don't look for it. I don't have an account to Netflix so I wouldn't be able to check the video quality. I haven't tried the XBOX 360 service for movies yet so I'm guessing they run at a better quality than the Game Marketplace.

  Friends Channel

  The friends section is interesting because this is where you get to see your friend's avatars and also see other people's parties. The avatars have a speech bubble like the PlayStation Network accounts to display the names and also mottos.

  Inside XBOX Channel

  This is just a section devoted to game tips, community events, or XBOX news. This is just the equivalent to the Information Board on the PlayStation 3. Instead of sending you places if necessary like in the Information Board on PlayStation 3 it's just strictly videos. I also find that this videos aren't even in HD and is kind of disappointed because it's suppose to be an HD console. At the same time there is a lot more videos than PlayStation 3 just not running at quality that it is said to be running at. I blame Microsoft for having HDMI 1.2 ports instead of 1.3a ports on the PlayStation 3 because what else could be the problem?

  Overall

  I like the avatars but I feel like the avatars were just put in for the sake of putting them in with no real reason outside mini games. The New XBOX Experience is basically the equivalent to PlayStation Home in 2D (Two Dimensional) environments instead of 3D environments. This just means that the whole point of avatars can be confusing since they force you to make one/choose one. It's a good update Canada is kind of left out of the experience yet should still be intrigued by the service. This is going to be interesting because I just feel that Microsoft was feeling the pressure of PlayStation Home to deliver on this kind of experience to XBOX 360 users. Even though it's made fun of often it's very similar in a way to what the two companies are offering.

  I also find the "New Experience" makes the old themes/avatars pointless and a waste of money. In the prevous system you had to purchase these and with the new update they are almost completely pointless to keep. What's the point of having a 2D avatar now with a 3D one being displayed constantly? I don't like the child toon look and want a more mature looking avatar to illustrate my online persona. Will Nintendo feel the pressure of PlayStation Home to create a persistent online world like Sony or go an easiler way with a 2D envoirnment like Microsoft?

  P.S. I got my original PlayStation ID back and will be sending friend requests again and I promise this is the last time, lol. Thanks for putting up with the switching for those that will.

  • Posted Nov 22, 2008 7:12 am PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 27Oct 08

  Versus: Gears of War 2 Trailer (Rendezvous) vs. Killzone 2 Trailer (Helghan)

  Gears of War 2 Trailer vs. Killzone 2 Trailer

  Gears of War 2 - Rendezvous

  

  I have a rendezvous with death, at some disputed barricade, it maybe he should take my hand, and lead me to his dark land, and close my eyes, and quench my breath. I have a rendezvous with death, and I to my pledged word I am true; I shall not fail that rendezvous.

  Killzone 2 - Helghan

  

  Helghan, in and out within a month they said, their weapons no match for our military might, moderate to low resistance, enemy morale at an all time low, I guess somebody forgot to tell the Helghast.

  Opinion

  I think these are the best trailers for each game and love the rendezvous speech in Gears of War 2 but love the cinematic for Killzone 2 because of the mystery with in-game graphics (Gears of War 2 has nice graphics too). I also love how they did the Gears of War 2 trailer as well along with the music. I gave Gears of War a rating of 10/10 because the game was so amazing but Killzone 2 is looking good as well. This isn't about game-play just friendly dispute of who has the better advertisement. I don't want to see how one game is more grey than the other when they both have the same theme, lol. What do you think?

  • Posted Oct 27, 2008 9:57 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 25Oct 08

  Game Critics: When to Review

  When is a game eligible to review?

  

  While a go I posted up impressions of what I thought of the game Socom U.S. Navy Seals: Confrontation and also stated that GameSpot along with a couple of other sites I think it's was too early to review. I'll be explaining why I think it is (too early to review) with some games while others it doesn't matter. I'll determine the middle ground of what is right and what is wrong in my opinion. If I had the money to start my own website of course this would be implemented and I would be stealing a vast majority of GameSpot, IGN, 1up, and Meta Critic users. I personally think if I went through the schooling and did the networking I could have the potential to dominate game journalism. That's for another blog so let's get cracking on determining the middle ground for the right time to review a game.

  Informed Critic + Sensitive Critic + Demanding Critic = an accurate review

  

  An informed critic will know the background information for a particular game to have more appreciation for the game itself. Generally speaking the more you know about people the more you can empathize from where they're coming from. Example if you know there are 20 people working on a game and have a limited budget you can see the product for what it is. You don't expect a Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots killer where the sensitive critic / demanding critic come in. Imagine a professional critic reviewing the online portion of the game before release so no one is online, how accurate would that be? Knowing that professionals can get a chance at looking at game's before release and has contact information with companies all around, I generally expect some sort of professionalism with common sense.

  

  There are three types of games off-line, off-line/online, and online only. With off-line games it's pretty obvious as soon as the game is released is the final coding without any variables to think about. With games like Lair, BioShock, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune if released with glitches it will have to count in the critic review. There are some that will release patches the day of release that can make it iffy because not everyone has an online connection. Given that they released it on release day I would say include the update in the critic review.

  

  Now with off-line/online games there are a couple of things that can be iffy but I'll start with the easy elements first. As with online only games bottlenecks/traffic can happen with the online aspects of these games due to people logging in at once. Developers can release online modes the day of release and this should be included because in order to play online you have to connect to an internet source. When it becomes blurry is when developers promise something to be in the single campaign with an online update day one. This is iffy because what if they promised something for the off-line aspect through an internet connection. Even though you know there is an online it doesn't mean everyone will be playing online. Example would be Grand Theft Auto IV how many players who own the game are playing online?

  

  Online only games consists you having an internet provider, most also require a subscription fee, and sometimes the demand for the game can be unexpected if not prepared. With games like World of Warcraft, Shadowrun, or Socom U.S. Navy Seals: Confrontation can run into server bottlenecks/traffic due to the number of people logging in. Given that it's only a server problem and the original code for the game itself is fine you have to give them (developer(s)) some slack.

  Conclusion of Common Sense

  

  In the end I basically think if the release code for an off-line can be reviewed day one, with off-line/online games as long as it's server problems only critics shouldn't review the game, especially online only games.

  Related Blog(s): Game Critics, Gamers Defined

  • Posted Oct 25, 2008 8:11 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 23Oct 08

  Motion Controls: Does it have a future?

  SIXAXIS is it really needed?

  

  Sixaxis motion controls feel tacked on and annoying, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Las Vegas, GameSpot, by Jason Ocampo. "Features motion-sensing technology to detect natural and intuitive movements for real-time and high precision interactive play, acting as a natural extension of the user's body, by SCEA. "Tilt control's not difficult to do," says Guy Wilday, head of Sega Racing Studio, on the possibility of tilty-pad gameplay being included in their new version of Sega Rally for PS3. "Fundamentally, though, the whole tilt control thing is rubbish. It's no compensation for rumble." Abysmal control and targeting are a constant struggle and crush every aspect of gameplay, from flight to combat, Lair, GameSpot, Kevin VanOrd. SIXAXIS controls are loose and inaccurate, Lair, X-Play (G4), Morgan Webb. Is Sixaxis really that bad or are developers just taking the wrong approach on the relatively new technology? I'll talk about what developers should do, what games it works / don't work in, and what they should explore once perfected.

  

  I'll flat out say the motion technology in the Wii and PlayStation 3 is here to stay because of two reasons. One, they should allow users to adjust the motion control sensitivity, two, test the motion controls enough where it's precise. I think this is key especially with games that force you to use the motion controls and with the Wii using motion control fully with their games. Usually with some Wii games the drawback is that the developer used the motion controls too much. If the developer(s) decide to use the Sixaxis they need to cater to everyone's learning curve. I personally think the vast majority aren't ready for motion controls because they can't handle it. By setting the motion controls sensitivity this can cater to everyone who isn't as advanced as others. This is present pretty much with every first person shooter (FPS) by setting the analog's sensitivity.

  

  With the games that work with motion control for the PlayStation 3 usually have an option where you can control the motion sensitivity. Games like Warhawk where you can choose to use it or not and if you do you can change the sensitivity. I think this is really needed in flight games so with games like Lair it doesn't have the sensitivity levelling. When I play the game for the most part I'm doing fine with the motion controls (targeting is kind of problematic), but everyone is different. With Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 they gave users an option. I think this game needed it but considering that you can over take the motion controls with the analog sticks/buttons most people won't even use it. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune they used it for balancing where controlling the sensitivity isn't needed so most people can get a grasp of. Resistance: Fall of Man also used it in a way were you didn't need the sensitivity levelling because it wasn't about precision. Socom U.S. Navy Seals: Confrontation also uses the motion controls for the PlayStation 3 and I would say it's a hit and miss if you really need the sensitivity controlling option. Motor Storm is the only racing game that I've played were it works plus you can control the sensitivity. For the most part I'm fine with it yet that doesn't mean the next person is.

  

  Getting back to Warhawk I use the Sixaxis for everything but I wouldn't have used it if you couldn't control the sensitivity levels. I changed the default settings from 50% to 30% because obviously it was too sensitive for me. After adjusting the controls it opened my eyes that Sixaxis is here to stay if implemented correctly. Especially with the tank in Warhawk it took some time to get use to because my mentality is to use the right analog stick for movement and that was a challenge. To change my mentality from thinking one way to another is hard because sometimes your own worst enemy is yourself, lol.

  

  I would love to see if the motion controls could work for controlling the camera angles then one of the analogs would be free for something else. This is one thing I learned with Warhawk when using the motion controls you have to sit up straight at all times. If you're lying down or holding the controller where it's leaning sideways it will constantly throw you off. I would also like to see if FPSs can be controlled by the Sixaxis, now that would change a lot in gaming if it could work. I also have a vision of using the Sixaxis of controlling a person's head in FPSs to look around but haven't figured out what would be the reason to. I also thought about it when sniping instead of coming out you can just move your head from the scope to look around. I would love to see this in a racing game or even to the point where you move your head to check the rear view mirrors in a car or some GPS unit in the car, lol. This can add to the immersion if car games used in-car GPSs for their maps instead of having it displayed on the screen at all times. My ideas are a little wonky but I'm the type that likes exploring new things; I can see it now motion controls replacing the analog sticks in the future, lol.

  

  There you have it, having motion control sensitivity options without broken motion controls in games in the future can be really interesting for motion technology. Do you think I'm on to something or I'm way off?

  • Posted Oct 23, 2008 12:33 am PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 22Oct 08

  Impressions: Socom U.S. Navy Seals: Confrontation

  Socom U.S. Navy Seals: Confrontation

  

  Well to get started I'm a Socom fan and was playing it in the PlayStation 2 days when Sony was first entering the online world. When buying this game I was hoping for the best unfortunately when first getting into it can be a drag. There is a Socom: U.S. Navy Seals Confrontation Game data installer you have to install then a temporary update to compensate for the issues that has arisen since launch. I encountered a corrupted data before anything could commence. Given that before you even start anything the server news gives you a heads up that the team is working on a patch to fix these problems. Just like with Bioshock with the XBOX 360, PC, and PlayStation 3 all having something at launch giving you a heads up about it so I won't review this game until the update. That's one thing I like about this generation they (developers) can fix something that has problems at launch, hey look at Warhawk now. I consider Warhawk to be one of the best online games for the PlayStation 3 and it had hiccups at launch.

  Nothing isn't even recorded so I have no idea why Game Spot reviewed a game that isn't even working, IGN at least has their head on their shoulders. It's these kinds of actions when I start to think GameSpot is bias to be more specifically I would call them a "confirmation bias." This is a person who searches only information to justify their perception. I'll just let it slide because Bioshock is well known it had problems and look at its score. The funny thing is that BioShock is off-line so if there is anything wrong with it, it's because of the game itself. A good example would be buying a sports car and going to try it out when there is trafic everywhere you go. It will take longer to get to the race track but once you're there it's well worth it. With the game Lair I would say it's a different case than Socom: Confrontations because the controls were broken. Controls can't break because of bottle neck servers, lol or can it?

  PlayStation Blue Tooth Headset

  

  Specs.

  Battery type: Lithium-ion polymer battery

  Voltage: 3.7 VDC

  Capacity: 190mAH

  Operating temperature: 41* F - 95* (5* C- 35*C)

  Headset weight: 0.69 oz (19.5g)

  The official PlayStation 3 blue tooth headset works better than I thought it would. It's easy to use, has a mute button, and your voice comes out crystal clear when chatting. This is bundled in with every retail copy of Socom: Confrontation game. With all those people criticizing PlayStation Network (PSN) about no one having a headset they haven't played Socom: Confrontation before. If anyone is interested in buying a headset for gaming and your cell phone as well buy this headset that will be available I think next month stand alone. Another thing with the headset you can charge it using the Sixaxis charging cord directly to the headset or to the charging base. The part that I like is that you can still use it while it's charging on the charging base. I highly recommend PlayStation 3 users to buy a ('15 feet) charging cable if you want to charge it directly to the blue tooth headset because the one that comes with the PlayStation 3 is too short.

  

  My Experience

  To tell you the truth if you're a Socom fan like me you're going to like this game because it brings enough from the old game while changing the ****a little bit. Overall the game-play is a little slower than its predecessor on the PlayStation 2. The maps are very well designed and are very large with many choke points to get your enemies. The create a character isn't as deep as I would have liked it to be considering everything is focused on ground combat. What I noticed right away is that the sounds in the game are amazing with authentic sounds throughout. Lol, the best part of Socom are the taunts and it wouldn't be a Socom game with the victory dances. After the update is finally live this game will get me off of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. With the release of this game the PlayStation 3 is getting closer to surpassing XBOX Live especially when Sony is advertising their network on the game covers now. In the end once you finally get into a game it's great everything works but the servers/stats. It isn't hard to get into servers but everything is always full and can only hold 256 players per channel (region). All I have left to say is bring on the patch so I can add it to my most played list Slant Six Games.

  Related Blog: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

  • Posted Oct 22, 2008 10:33 am PT
  • Category: Games
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• 17Oct 08

  PlayStation Network: Five Things To Add

  Five Things to add to the PlayStation Network

  

  I. Expand User Profiles

  

  Sony should add one more section/page to the profiles for users to elaborate on anything they want to share to the public. Something like the biography that the XBOX 360 Gamer Cards have where you're able to write a short paragraph of anything. Sony already adds a section to the user profiles when you look at the players met while playing online. So it would be interesting to have some sort of real bio that PlayStation Network users can have. Lol, I also find it weird that you can't use characteristics to fill the speech bubble. At least make us have one complete sentence or allow us to fill the whole speech bubble. I just want Sony to extend the online profiles with a Sony twist of course, lol.

  II. Expand PlayStation Video Store Regions/Products

  

  So far I have not even experienced the PlayStation Video Store and is only available in a America leaving us Canadians in the dust. I'm not one to purchase motion pictures online but I would surely rent some movies to test out the service. In simple terms expand on the video service beyond America would be nice, lol. It would be nice to have music available through the PlayStation store especially game related music. So far there is only Lair I want more game music even if I have to pay.

  III. Expand Voice Chat

  

  What I find sometimes a lot of gamers are shy to talk so why not bring back voice masking to the online world again. I always thought that this would be cool in a horror game and you took the voices of the characters in the game. You would only hear your friend through the game speakers not the headset so proximity voice chat would be added. That would be cool to; to be able to mask your voice as the characters you're playing as during co-op. This was taken out of XBOX Live because it was considered to be annoying to most.

  IV. Expand Messaging

  

  It would also be nice to leave voice messages on top of the images that we can send to friends. What would be interesting would be sending video messages. Since Sony is has added features for developers to allow gamers to record game-play to upload to YouTube. It would be nice to use those same videos to send to friends. If possible being able to invite a friend to a game you're in and automatically enter into the lobby without even going through with searching for the lobby yourself. Also I would like to have one on one video chat while playing a game would be cool; obviously I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone but them. It would be cool to have some sort of cross chat with computer applications like MSN or Yahoo without Yellow Dog Linux.

  V. Cross Media Bar (XMB) Access During Movies

  

  It would be nice to access everything on the XMB while a movie is playing or even chatting of some sort. If Sony could have video chat while playing having an option to make the video feed transparent to help with the movie watching.This would also mean to be remained signed in and having the options to turn off notifications if you prefer it. This way you're always connected to your friends if you choose to be. Maybe this way Sony can change the DRM (Digital Rights Management) when purchasing a movie from the PlayStation 3. From what I hear you can only download the movie twice once from the first purchase and another after calling Sony. If you were able to remain signed in then Sony could manage it like Warhawk or Socom U.S. Navy Seals: Confrontation games.

  Conclusion

  There it is some things I want to change I originally had only three reasons then extended to two more reasons. Overall I'm pretty happy with the service so it's hard for me to complain about it and most people complain about the PlayStation 3, it's usually prejudice. Lol, I do make comments here and there just to contradict the opposing articles. The last time I remember doing that was about rumours of Microsoft making a motion sensing controller. I made valid points with a negative attitude just to see how gamers would react. So far no one has ever really brought it up that is interesting to me because that is what you call sensationalism folks. Anyways this is what I think should be added if possible by Sony.

  • Posted Oct 17, 2008 7:06 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 11Oct 08

  Society: North American Cultural (Ethnic Origin) Problems Part: I-I

  Reality vs. Corruption

  

  During the ice age the Aboriginals cross-ed an iced bridge from Asia to Canada where they started to head south downwards to America. Wrong, Aboriginals were here for a long time even before some strange magical iced bridge. Aboriginals are a cross of Indian and Asian because the Europeans thought they were in India. Wrong, Aboriginals have nothing to do with the Asian (race) community nor the Indian (race) community the Europeans just named them that because of poor navigation. Europeans didn't need help of the Aboriginals and are as powerful today because of their dedication. Wrong, the Aboriginals helped the Europeans (explores, traders, trappers) settle in the new land and as Europeans adapted to agriculture livelihood more European immigrants settled. The Aboriginal's way of life wasn't different from the European's and got along nicely. Wrong, the Aboriginal's attitudes way of life differed from the European's, but with the European's superior technology (example: Railroads, guns), larger numbers they used/implied brute force to coincide with the treaty process. The treaty process was the remove the Aboriginals out of the way of the European settlement and so began the Euro-Canadian domination of Aboriginals in Canada. I'll be talking about the issues in the past to present, how things should really be, and tragedy of the corruption's outcome.

  

  Let's start by, the French being challenged by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 and Conquest on the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Eventually by the time of Confederation there were two social groups (English/French) and was overall being controlled by the British. John Porter's definition of the "Charter group" ignored the existence of Aboriginals in the already resident in the territory, the point of the charter group was in control (immigrant) ethnic groups to make resident in unoccupied territory. The British had higher status and the French had lower status that resulted in enforcing subordinate status/power to the Natives/other ethnic groups. Several features are a result of Canadian's society cause of this. One, the framework of the new society was based on British institutions and traditions even if other ethnic groups didn't appreciate (Native). Two, British allowed francophones (French-Canadians) to keep some control over "Quebec" and with the conflicts of the French/English having different interpretations of ethnic power relationships. This resulted in two official languages due to the fact the French had lower status French became the official second language of Canada. Three, due to the ethnic identities, conflict of loyalties between charter groups it triggered a pattern for other ethnic groups to keep their identity too. The French/British were in conflict it had a greater built-in tolerance for perpetuation of ethnic identities.

  

  The francophones over the years have sustained their ethnic identity through the province of Quebec and is gaining more political power to do so. The Anglophones (English-Canadians) feel that they're part of the Canadian minority linguistic making them feel threatened by the French community. The Quebec government able to make ethnic claims it inspired and Ukrainians in Manitoba, northern Saskatchewan, and Alberta eventually obtaining language support in the school systems. This lead to francophones trying the same thing leading to rejection. Inuit in Nunavut have some school instruction, as well as broadcasting in their native tongue. The one important effect was the segregation seen in the urban areas.

  It's important because 94% of all immigrants who arrived in the '90s located in census metropolitan areas, and 73% chose Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal. The least segregated was the Western/Northern Europeans, Central/Eastern Europeans with Italians somewhat segregated, and the Asians/Blacks to be the most segregated. As you can see there is segregation between different Caucasian groups, to the different races like Asian/Black that is still present today. With many movements to make immigrants to feel like home away from home is deriving from the importance of the Aboriginal's culture.

  

  Immigration can be looked at in waves and I will assure you this was not random, but intended by the government still to this day. First wave, the British Isles, European (White/Caucasian); second wave, Asian, Middle Easterns, and South/Central America; third wave, by races other than white followed by Native People, French, British, and Europeans. This all happened because the government wanted to express the policy concerning suitability of the migration group. This lead to favouritism (Elitism) from towards British people and North European countries to come over settle in Canada. In 1967 a point system introduced to evaluate the merits of potential immigrants. Eventually lead to discrimination so a new Immigration Act introduced in 1978.

  Immigration Streams 1956-60:

  Europe: 57.2%

  United Kingdom: 28.3%

  United States: 6.9%

  Asia: 2.6%

  Oceania: 1.7%

  South & Central America: 1.3%

  Africa: 1.0%

  Caribbean: 0.9%

  Immigration Streams 1998-2002:

  Asia: 51.47%

  Europe and the United Kingdom: 19.1%

  African and the Middle East: 18.7%

  South & Central America: 8.0%

  United States: 2.6%

  Source: Statistics Canada Catalogue 91-527 and Citizenship & Immigration Canada, Facts and Figures 1998 and 2002: Immigration Overview.

  

  I will stop here for the past, but this will eventually lead to Canada having no cultural identity since it's catering to immigrants ethnicities. Don't get me wrong keeping your ethnic identity is fine, but changing the Nationalities' ethnic origin to me is wrong. This should get you to think about what North America is and what kind of identity is being represented? Why Canadians and Americans are allies, yet the people in power for each country is just settlement disputes. Almost to the point where War is caused by immigration differences between Caucasian vs. Caucasian (Canada) and Caucasian vs. World (America).

  Mental Note: If wrong feel free to correct me.

  Related Blog: Ethnicity

  • Posted Oct 11, 2008 4:07 pm PT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 7Oct 08

  Explanation: Gamers Defined

  Reasons for my Choices

  

  Casual Gamer: A permissive person who plays at irregular / infrequent intervals.

  • Neutral Gamer: A type of person who really enjoys the time playing.

  • Impulsive Gamer: A type of person who just plays seeing it as second nature.

  With the "Casual Gamer" I wanted it to be a definition of how they somehow happen to play games by chance instead of choice or is unconcerned with video games altogether. I also used my experience with another medium and how tolerant I am towards it. I don't go looking for the medium, but it comes by me I'll watch if everyone is doing it.

  

  Hardcore Gamer: A Person who knows the basics of the industry, is an informed gamer, generally challenges themselves/sets goals, knows what they want, and strives to get it, is what centrally drives them to games.

  • Cyber Athlete/Professional (Pro) Gamer: Is a type of person who plays games for money almost to the point where it's like a career or looking for money by playing video games.

  • Retro Gamer: Is a type of person who enjoys playing/collecting vintage games and can't live without the backward-compatibility/emulators on platforms.

  • Import Gamer: Is a type of person who loves playing games that aren't from their region even if it's in a different language.

  • Elite Gamer: Is a type of person who knows a lot about their particular platform, thinks it's the best no matter what, and would rather be caught dead instead of playing games on the rival platform(s).

  • Fanatic (Fan-Base) Gamer: Is a type of person who can be a follower in numbers/sales (National Purchase Diary), games (franchises, series), genres (Real-Time Strategy, First Person Shooter), developer(s)/person(s), products (toys, special controllers, special canned beverages), and overall have an intense liking, occasionally has an overwhelming obsession.

  Mental Note: There might be other types of hardcore/casual gamers.

  

  What I'm going to talk about here are "Elite Gamers" and "Fanatic Gamers" to show you why I made them significantly different. I did mention why in the original, but I'm hoping this can make people understand better. Fan, is a devotee of a pop star, sport, or hobby. Fanatic, a person who is excessively enthusiastic about something. Elite, most powerful, rich, or gifted members of a group; a belief that society should be governed by a small group of superior people. I gave this definition because I wanted to show that being a fanatic doesn't necessarily mean you have negative qualities. Being a fanatic just means you are an ardent supporter of something. In the gaming community for some reason sees being a "fanatic" means you possess negative qualities.

  

  A good example would be in a rugby game you'll have some players you genuinely get hyped up for a game, while others love the sport they just don't show it as openly. A movie in 2005 was about a diehard Red Sox fan with a girlfriend in "Fever Pitch" starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon. A lot of people will say a fanatic will go beyond the social norms. Then you have to ask yourself, what is the social norm and who defines it? Is talking in slang deriving from the "social norm" is being gothic deriving from the "social norm?" To me this varies on person to person even down to profession, age, or intelligence can determine that "social norm."Someone with a Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) can talk very different from a teenager or someone who's married with kid(s) compared to someone who single with no kid(s).

  

  Without being too sidetracked there will be something we all get obsessed over with and I think being a hardcore gamer would require some form of fanaticism. Considering the title "hardcore gamer" should imply that you have some kind of intense liking, would it make sense if you moderately like video games still being called hardcore? In the movie "Fever Pitch" a fanatic doesn't necessarily mean you're ready to fight someone who is a fanatic of something opposite in the medium you're interested in. You can easily say anyone who dresses up as a video game character derives from the social norm, one, they're grown adults two, it isn't Halloween. At the same time wouldn't that be the social norm in that particular place or industry? At the same time some people can cross the line even for gamers (COD4 Psycho) on YouTube than there are the gamers who boost/smack talk/taunt that isn't crossing the line, hey what are achievements / trophies for?

  

  It's obvious of why I would connect what is a fanatic in the gaming industry to "elitism" and just twisted it a little. Instead of being upper **** they just think they're upper **** based on the platform they choose, think it should dominate, and will never touch the rivals' platform.

  In the end it will depend on what you consider the "social norm" and creating new definitions to fit those particular criteria. As each generation grows up we're as a society is becoming more acceptable to different types of people. Women are being seen as human beings and taking care of a child can be the equivalent to two full-time jobs, while society understands war can make men develop psychological side effects. Eventually I think the "social norm" will be defined by a psychologist and not by society itself.

  Related blog: Gamers Defined

  • Posted Oct 7, 2008 1:24 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 3Oct 08

  Society: Gamers Defined

  Defining a Gamer

  

  Game - amusement or pastime; contest for amusement; single period of play in a contest; an activity distinct from work with rules, challenges, and interactivity; scheme or trick; animals or birds hunted for sport or food; their flesh. -v gamble. -adj brave; willing. Gamely adv gaming gambling. Gamekeeper, person employed to breed game and prevent poaching. Gamesmanship, art of winning by cunning practices without actually cheating. Gamer - ? There is no formative definition of a gamer let alone what is a casual to hardcore gamer until now. Well I'll be trying to define it, while at the same time categorizing/defining gamers. Whether they're athletes or not will be for another time, but for now I'll tell you the categories and what/why I go into a specific category.

  

  Since many words come from other words it'll be natural that I use pre-existing words to define words in the gaming community. What I find with people who try to define what is casual and hardcore they don't break it down into sub-categories. Let's start with the title "Casual Gamer" is just a permissive person who plays at irregular / infrequent intervals. I would say there are two types of casual gamers the one (Neutral Gamer) that really enjoys the time playing and the other (Impulsive Gamer) who just goes with the flow seeing it as second nature. Now going to the hardcore gamers where I think many people should really use sub-categories since there are so many different levels.

  

  As for the main category the "Hardcore Gamer" is someone who knows the basics of the industry, is an informed gamer, generally challenges themselves/sets goals, knows what they want, and strives to get it; is what centrally drives them to games. I've been searching the internet for what people thought and will put other types of gamers under the hardcore category. First up will be the cyber-athlete/professional (pro) gamer, is the type of person who plays games for money almost to the point it's like a career, or is looking for money by playing video games. Retro gamer, is a person who enjoys playing/collecting vintage games and can't live without the backwards compatibilities on consoles/emulators. Import gamer, is a person who loves playing games that aren't from their region even if it's a different language than theirs.

  Elite gamer, is a person who knows a lot about their particular platform, thinks it's the best no matter what, and would rather be caught dead instead of playing games on the rival platform(s). Fanatic gamer (Fan-base), is a person who can be a follower of the numbers/sales, games (franchises, series), genres (Real Time Strategy, First Person Shooter), developer(s)/person(s), products (toys, special controllers, special canned beverages) and overall has an intense liking, occasionally has an overwhelming obsession. This term is altered in the gaming community for some odd reason, but I personally think it (Fan-boy/girl) should be called "Elitism" not "Fanatics'." I believe being a fanatic draws gamers together like Trekkers /Trekkies at Star Trek conventions.

  

  As you can see being a hardcore gamer isn't defined by how much you play, but your incentive to play. With all hardcore gamers they're well informed about the gaming industry otherwise they wouldn't be able to import games knowing the names of the games they want, or even knowing how to play/purchase games from previous generations. Remember now this isn't a surgical operation where you have to meet certain criteria to be called hardcore; example playing a single game for at least 6-12 hours straight. You can also be more than one if you think you just don't fall into one type of hardcore gamer, but at least gives you an idea of where I'm heading with this.

  

  What type of gamer am I? Well I'm the hardcore fanatic gamer and people will most likely strongly dissagree with my definition or think I'm really arrogant. Well I'm proud to be a fanatic, but I wouldn't say I'm authoritative. At the same time I do try to set new standards to open people's minds. Technically speaking you can create a Neutral "Hardcore" Gamer category if you really want to be categorized, where you don't really do anything special. For the most part most gamers are "Fanatic Gamers" if you really think about it. I'm more of a hardcore - fanatic I play games to beat them, have fun, and go online. You can call me a fanatic gamer because I'm a fan of Metal Gear Solid and Gran Turismo Series with many more on the list. You can also go by genre and say I play a lot of third peson shooters, racing games, and first person shooters.

  I'm also well informed about games in the sense that I know what's coming out, what the game's features are, and have account(s) on gaming sites for updates. What I think makes me a hardcore gamer is that I strive for the challenge, yet that challenge varies from person to person. I usually play games no lower than Normal, but usually play on the hardest difficulty settings. Another hardcore gamer might want to beat a game under a certain time or collecting achievements/trophies in their games. A casual gamer wouldn't be interested in getting too involved in the game. Hence, the lack of depth in with games that is labelled as casual, pickup and plays mechanics.

  I find that when a journalist or user tries to define what is a casual gamer to a hardcore gamer they list criteria, not characteristics. A combination of qualities distinguishing an individual should be the definition. Just like in real life I'm not so much a sports fanatic so I'm a casual sports person. Yes, believe it or not I don't enjoy watching too many sports besides fighting or unless I'm watching myself play sports, lol. Then you'll have you sports fanatics where they check the stats of their teams to heart, collect the cards, or even jerseys of their favourite team/player. For the fact I'm even doing this shows how serious I am on the topic that will automatically ****fy me as a hardcore gamer because of how much depth I have on the topic.

  As you can see a casual gamer plays games in irregular / infrequent intervals, hardcore gamers have priorities, and why I should be called a hardcore gamer.

  Mental Note: There might be other types of hardcore gamers, but wanted to make this short as possible, if you can call it that?

  Related Blog(s): Gamer Critics, Gamer Fanatics

  • Posted Oct 3, 2008 8:53 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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