• 1Sep 08

  It's time for adults to stand up and act like it

  I call upon everyone who reads this and is at least over the age of 12 (the point when most people are aspiring to become more like a rational and functional adult) to join me in a boycott of discussing NPD.

  Why stop interest in NPD? Because as gamer we should have no interest in it anyway. NPD numbers are currently being released to the average gaming public under the guise of "latest news" for no other reason than to increase activity on web sites by starting flame wars between fans of one current gen system manufacturer or another. It is time that we, who know better, stop trying to argue about this crap and move on to more interesting subjects.

  The fact that the PS3 outsold the Xbox last month by 20k should have no real relevance to anyone save those who actually own stock in that company, which is that real reason those numbers are released in the first place...for investors. The Wii outselling both PS3 and 360 means absolutely nothing to anyone on the street, unless you have nothing better to do than argue.

  Kids and losers are going to argue about this stuff forever and ever. Its the nature of the beast. When I was in junior high, I did the same thing. My friend and I would go on and on over the Genesis and TG-16. Guess who won? All I wish for is to be able to post something on a forum or thread without having some db jump in screaming about how one system sucks and then "back up" their rant with NPD.

  Since we can't stop Gamespot and every other magazine, website, and publication from announcing NPD, then we can at least ignore it. Thats the only way to make it stop. If I'm wrong, please tell me. I'm not sure there is any legitimate reason to review NPD as a consumer. Otherwise, just stop clicking on the announcements.

  • Posted Sep 1, 2008 9:36 am PT
  • Category: Opinion
  • 0 Comments
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• 29Aug 08

  Complaining about things I have no right to...

  I usually hate it when people do this sort of thing, but I have to say something...

  Gamespot is one of the places I have checked review scores on games for years, always feeling like they are well balanced and considered, giving me confidence that the reviewer not only knows what he/she is talking about, but also looking at the game from a larger perspective. While I enjoy and respect their reviews, I have problems with the amount of time it takes them to post reviews.

  Often a game requires additional time for a complete review. An RPG or MMO obviously needs more play time to make an accurate appraisal of the game's over all competency, so I don't expect every game to be posted in review the day of or even after release. What I will say is given how quickly they do post previews of games, it is uncalled for and almost shameful for them to post a review for Hellboy...how many months after it was released in stores? Why the hell would they even bother!?

  • Posted Aug 29, 2008 4:52 am PT
  • Category: Rant
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• 24Aug 08

  Demo Gives A New Hope for Lucasarts

  I played through the Demo for the Force Unleashed tonight and I have to admit that I was not expecting much. I've been following the news released over the last year on the title, and I knew enough about it from previews and build videos to know what the basic ideas behind the title were. But for all of the promises and impressive tech demos showing poor Storm Troopers getting suspended and thrown about, I really had little hope for this title.

  Now, I'm not going to go off and drink the Kool-aid or anything, but I walked away at the end of the demo more impressed than I thought I would. Regardless of my gripes (physics get janky at times, camera issues, character slips and slids around the environment at close range, platforming and jumping are inaccurate...) there was plenty of fun to have throwing stuff around, chopping guys up with your saber, and feeling like an all around bad-ass. Environments fall apart under your will, force powers are suitably impressive and powerful, and there's plenty of Star Wars goodness, at least in the level you get to play.

  I've been sorely disappointed with many (actually most) SW games that have been released over the last decade (there have been so many crappy prequal games that I have lost count) but this may be good enough to convince me to buy (or at least rent) to play more. The demo's version is obviously alpha or at least very late beta, so I wouldn't expect for the above gripes to be fixed by the time it is released next month, but it isn't broken either, so it may be worth a look see...at least until a better game is relased. If you haven't yet, go download and play the demo!

  • Posted Aug 24, 2008 8:13 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 1 Comment
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