Blog Posts from "Barely Legible Content" - Gameriot.com

The Exclusive iPhone Club

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:57:00 -0400

Love em' or hate em' Apple has produced a very solid and popular mobile device with the iPhone and at least in the US it has become very accessible with the cost reduction of the iPhone 3G. The legitimacy of the platform when it comes to gaming can still be debated but it is very clear that it's growing and flourishing. The iPhone has games ranging from indie to AAA and from 2D puzzle games all the way to full 3D FPS games. With the popularity of "apps" growing and the penetration of the iPhone also grows, the platform should theoretically be a great breeding ground for aspiring and upcoming indie game developers. Unfortunately, it appears that iPhone development is for an exclusive set of people.

The short version is this: If you want to develop for the iPhone, be it a game or any other app, you are required to do so on a Mac. The iPhone SDK is Mac only, and there is no hint or suggestion that there will ever be a Windows version of it.

On the surface this seems like it would make a load of sense, the iPhone is an Apple product and therefore you develop for it on other Apple products. However, especially in regards to gaming, makes little sense to me.

Gaming has never been associated with Apple and Macs more so when you start talking about game development. Gaming has been dominated by the Windows platform for the most part and a majority of games, both indie and AAA are built in the Windows environment. The fact that the iPhone SDK, a device that bridges between Mac and PC users, is Mac only really screws aspiring developers.

Forcing people to develop on a Mac is not a big deal to companies like EA, Ubisoft and id Software as they can simply budget to get developers those expensive silver boxes and be done with it. Start-ups and indie developers are not so lucky. It's unfair to non-Mac small studios and start-ups who are running Windows platforms because it is the industry standard. Because of this artificial ****-block that Apple routinely operates in, indie game developers have to either bite the bullet and buy expensive Macs, or simply not develop for the iPhone.

It's very unfortunate that a platform with a lot of potential will miss out on games that would have otherwise been developed for it simply because of the lack of a Windows version of the SDK. If you do a simple Google search for "iPhone SDK Windows" you'll see that there are many people asking for this, not just in the gaming world. Of course it works in Apple's favor that the SDK is Mac only as I'm sure many people are buying them simply to develop for the iPhone. It's just a damn shame.

You are a Round Peg, Your Wii is a Square Hole

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:14:25 -0400

Stop trying to force it! I think it's due time that we as a gamer community wake up and smell the coffee, tea, vodka or whatever it is that one drinks in the morning. It is long overdue for us to realize that the Wii is and never will be a system for the dedicated and hardcore flavors of the gaming community. The Wii must take it's place as a casual, pick up style system that sits comfortably behind the shadow of your 360/PS3/PC.

Let us start by asking why. Why can't the Wii ever be a hardcore system. There are three very key reasons for this.

First we can point to the underpowered graphics hardware. The Wii cannot push any HD resolution nor can it push graphics in SD near the quality of a 360 or other next-gen platforms. Holding the Wii to it's own standards needs to end. If I have to read another review that says "looks good... for a Wii game" I'm going to have to find a magnifying glass and torture some poor helpless aunts. The Wii is among all other next-gen platforms and thus it should be held to the graphical standards of the industry, not just itself. If the graphics suck, they suck, which most of the time that is the case. PS2/Gamecube caliber graphics are not the way into a hardcore gamer's heart.

Here is where I might lose some people but it needs to be said. The Wii control scheme is way too gimmicky and way too prone to inaccuracy (even with Wii Motion Plus) for hardcore gaming. Gamers can be competitive and thus they want the most accurate controls scheme a platform can offer, Wii cannot provide this. Even non-competitive hardcore gamers want tight controls simply to avoid unnecessary frustration. Despite being fun, the Wii controls scheme is wonky and often finicky to the point where hardcore gaming on the Wii would likely cause mass-suicide. With that said, the Wii controls are perfect for what it's meant for, causal and spontaneous play. It's no less fun but it's just not conducive for hardcore play.

Click for a Funnie!

The last missing link in the Wii's hardcore linage is the lack of online presence. I do realize that online play does exist but not on the level that all the other next-gen platforms live. The Wii downloads and storefront are pretty good offering tons of classic games but beyond that it's not much to get excited about. The friend system is overly complicated forcing people to exchange prison like numbers rather than a user name. Nothing promotes community like a 12 digit number exchange. Even if you overlook some of the online problems, the system in general just doesn't feel like an online platform. The games that are played are not really designed to make you want to play online with them and as a result, the online community of the Wii gets largely ignored.

If you don't have these three ingredients you can almost garantee that the hardcore gamer will ignore your platform which is why when devs like Sega say they're determined to crack the hardcore nut on the Wii, it frustrates me. There is no nut to crack.

This is not to say that the Wii doesn't have a place in the gaming world which it clearly does. It has found a large but niche crowd that loves the Wii. There is nothing wrong with casual gaming and the Wii provides one of the best causal experiences in existence. Even hardcore gamers like having a casual system around that they just jump on and squeeze out a few minutes of quick and fun gameplay. The Wii attracts soccer moms and hardcore gamers alike while grabbing everything in between. What is wrong with that? I know Nintendo fans want them to be on top and they are in sense, just not in the way they would like. However I think it's time to start accepting the Wii for what it is and embrace it fully. It's a grand little casual system with fun, pick up and go style controls, graphics and gameplay. Leave the hardcore stuff to everyone else.

It's Hard Out There for an Artist

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:50:46 -0400

I've always thought to myself that if Three Six Mafia could win an Oscar, a rap group known for making throw away hip-hop about wheels that keep spinning when you stop, then I too could find success in the endeavors of my life.

In the end everyone should branch out and do things that are difficult and challenging. If you stay complacent in your career, you'll never reach your full potential. At the end of the day and no matter how hard I fail, I'll make sure to keep getting up and taking abuse as I know there will be at least a minuet amount of growth and that's what really matters.

Stardock's Parking Fail (Updated!)

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:04:55 -0400

Someone at Stardock doesn't care if handicapped people can't park. So as long as the paint on that $100k+ Porsche 911 Turbo doesn't get scratched, that's what really matters.

Internet high five goes to Keenan Weaver for providing this image in response to this Facebook challenge issued by PC Gamer. He reckons the car belongs to Stardock CEO Brad Wardell.

Gabe Newell Eats a PS3

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:43:17 -0400

Another victory for Newell in the PS3 vs Valve war. This comic was inspired by a recent interview with Newell where he let the cat out of the bag how Valve wasn’t perusing PS3 development in any real way. Sorry PS3 owners…

Headcrab Hugs

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:46:00 -0400

Poor misunderstood creatures...

Original found at Oh The Humanity!

The Dirty Truth About Left 4 Dead 2's Spitter

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:20:58 -0400

Disclaimer: I do not support prostitution or drug use, especially among the undead.

Warning: This post contains both drug and sexual references and is not edited for the faint of heart or hardcore Republicans.

There is something fishy going on in the development of Left 4 Dead 2. The newest special Infected sports both a name choice and character design that strikes me as being too coincidental to be ignored. It is my honor and duty as a responsible gamer to present to you a conspiracy theory regarding the origins of Valve’s latest creation, the Spitter. The Spitter was clearly an intravenous drug-using prostitute before she became the loogy-lobbing special Infected that recently made an appearance in the latest round of Left 4 Dead 2 gameplay videos.

Valve's Inspiration

There, I said it. I know you’re saying to yourself, “YOU SO CRAZY, DIZKO!”, but I have proof that even God himself couldn’t deny.

Let’s examine how Valve chose to christen it’s newest Infected -- the Spitter. Get it? She spits. It’s pretty obvious if you ask me. I don’t think I need to explain this any further. Oh, the dirty minds of Valve developers! They must be sexually oppressed nerds, just like us! Am I right? No? It’s just me? Well, this is embarrassing.

The Spitter’s name alone, however, probably won’t convince the skeptical minds of the interweb’s loyal readers that the Spitter was not only working the street, but doing it to score some hardcore drugs. Never one to disappoint, I have even more unsubstantiated proof!

The clothing of this new special Infected paints a very stark picture of her former life. The high heels are especially telling when combined with the very low cut tank top that also reveals her sexy, distended stomach. When you put the cleavage together with the heels you can easily picture the Spitter leaning into a car muttering the words “You boys looking for a good time?”. Now, I’m not saying that anyone who wears a low cut shirt and heels is a prostitute. Okay, so maybe I am. Sue me for my blindly conservative opinions! Damn dirty pirate hookers, get a real job!

I'm a dirty school girl!

The pigtails this female zombie is sporting also reveals some of her feminine wiles. I argue that her hairstyle serves double duty. Not only would pigtails keep her hair from interfering with certain dubious activities in the backseat of a 1988 Buick during a sweltering Louisiana summer, but they would also serve as a costume of sorts as the Spitter was clearly trying to mimic the innocent schoolgirl look. Another damning detail to support this accusation? Check out her heels again. Go ahead. My wife informs me that the strap is characteristic of Mary Janes, which are a common footwear choice for little girls. All this evidence adds up. It’s obvious that the Spitter was a prostitute catering to the desires of either pedophiles or the Japanese.

You’re probably wondering at this point how I deduced that the Spitter was also a drug user, and well, I think it’s quite obvious. It’s a well-known semi-proven fact that all prostitutes from all corners of the globe use drugs in order to fuel their way through delightful encounters with, let’s say, sweaty, hairy sixty-three year-old bankers who only have five bucks. Okay, that may be a sweeping generalization, but I still think it’s safe to assume that the Spitter was not one of those rare hookers that lives her life based on strong moral and ethical standards. Just check out her hardened veins, clearly a result of some heavy intravenous drug use. I also propose that the creepy elongation of her limbs and neck is a result of methamphetamine in her bloodstream at the time of her infection, causing a massive genetic mutation in the same way that steroids caused the Tank to bulk up to beyond beefy proportions.

In conclusion, I feel I have effectively proven that not only was the Spitter working the streets in her pre-zombie heyday, but that she was also a very heavy drug user. This will present a but of a predicament for many players of Left 4 Dead 2. I know that when I finally meet the Spitter during the game, I won’t know whether or not to aim a grenade launcher at her face or offer her a ten spot for five minutes with that sweet, bloated ass. But the even bigger problem lies with our youth. Shame on Valve for producing such offensive material that will obviously cause our youngins to go out and sell themselves in order to partake in heavy drug use in the hopes that when the zombie apocalypse happens, they’ll be “special” too.

Earthworm Jim Touches My Inner Animator

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:35:48 -0400

Most of you are aware that I can draw because of the Oh The Humanity! comic that I share here on Limit Break, but what you don't know is that I'm also an animator. In fact, this is what I went to college for and I have a fancy piece of paper that says "Bachelors of Science in Media Arts and Animation" While in school I learned a number of different techniques ranging from 2D to 3D and everything in between. My heart however has always been with traditional style 2D animation. This is why Earthworm Jim is one of my all time favorite games.

The game is simple enough really, shoot things, avoid and kill bad guys, use you're worm body to swing on hooks. But what really sold me on this game was the level of quality the cartoon style animation provided. It just so damn good in that respect. One thing they teach you in animation school is that you need to exaggerate movement in order for it to read well in an animation and then always take it one step further. EWJ does exactly that. The animations are so over the top, so exaggerated, it holds up well against cartoon you would see on TV. To top it off, the sound effects are equally as ridiculous that the game becomes infectious and you can't help but have fun playing it. EWJ is a special game. I loved EWJ so much, that my parents allowed me to paint a portrait of Jim on my bedroom wall. Ah the goold ol' days.

Open Mics Can are Bad, mmk?

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:52:38 -0400

If you haven't been following Oh The Humanity! outside of Limit Break then you might have missed when I introduced the two characters you see here. Meet Megan and Marc a young married couple: Megan, a sassy school teacher and Marc, the geeky gamer. You'll see more and more of these characters as time goes on, and I'm sure you'll be getting introduced to new characters along the way as well.

If you're interested in their first appearance you can check it out here.

World of Warcraft Then and Now: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Part 2

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:53:42 -0400

This is the second installment in my series about World of Warcraft, you can check out part one of the series where I go through the leveling systems here. This post is dedicated to my wonderful wife Megan who has been helping turn this artist into a writer. With out her help my writing would be erratic and somewhat unreadable.

In this installment I tackle the topic of raiding which looks much different today than it did when the first raid dungeons rolled out in vanilla WoW. Lets stop dicking around and jump right to it shall we?

Raiding Then

The Good:

Oh S#$%!!!

When you stepped inside your first forty-man raid it felt insanely epic, like Charlton Heston in The Ten Commandments epic. Forty players of varying classes came together to take out giants and powerful enemies. When Ragnaros first shot out of the lava anus I nearly crapped my Spiderman undies, and when Onyxia barfed flames all over me for the first time, taking out half of my raid with me in one fell swoop, it was monumental. The raids felt like they meant something. When you downed a boss for the first time, all forty of your players cheered through Vent, congratulating one another on their glorious victory costing many a repair bot. The original forty-man, pre-Wrath of the Lich King version of Naxxramas is commonly referred to as the pinnacle of WoW raiding and has yet to be duplicated. Even the revamped 10/25-man version of Naxx that appears in Wrath doesn’t quite feel the same.

The Bad:

Because raids were mostly forty-man with two twenty-man raids sprinkled in, gaining access to these raids was like climbing a fifty-foot fence with knife-wielding midgets stabbing you in the knee every step of the way. In other words, it was very hard and very painful to do. If you could play five days a week for four hours or more a night, you couldn’t get into the premiere guilds. If you were like me, you started you own guild based on casual play and ended up having more than a hundred people to make sure you had bodies in the ranks to fill when people didn’t show. It was a long, tough road, and kudos to the guilds that could pull it off. Accessibility was not a word you used when talking about forty-man raids.

The Ugly:

Quit looking at me swan!

Dead weight and guild-killing bosses loomed in the shadows, and while this still can be a problem in today’s WoW, it’s not nearly as significant as it was then. Guilds that were just starting to progress often had to carry nearly half of their players through, and because you needed them, even if they weren’t pulling their weight you couldn’t do anything about it. If you weren’t already the top guild on the server, pickings were slim. Because of how many people were needed, good players were being sucked up by well-progressed guilds, leaving newer guilds stuck between a rock and a hard place. Bosses like Vealstrez, Huhu, and C’thun liked to decimate guilds because of the sudden high skill cap needed to get forty players to coordinate and work together on very strategy-sensitive encounters. Because players were being carried through other content, hitting these bosses became a sudden kick to the nuts for a lot of guilds, leading to some of their demises. Who knew that a sleeping dragon could mess so many people’s nights up?

Raiding Now

The Good:

Loot Pinata!

Well, for starters, raiding is now virtually accessible to almost everyone. You can easily find a pick-up group (PuG) for most raids on any given night. With the start of Burning Crusade, Blizzard reduced the size of the raids to a maximum of twenty-five players and a minimum of ten. It’s so ridiculously easy to raid now, you can get away with no guild, whereas pre-Lich King it was almost mandatory to have a guild if you wanted to see the inside of a raid. With Wrath of the Lich King, Blizzard also finally got rid of the god-awful attunement systems. No more jumping through pointless **** blocks just so you can open the door to a dungeon. Thank baby Jesus for that one even though he had nothing to do with it. Credit stealing punk!

The Bad:

Either Blizzard has gotten a tad bit lazy, or we’re just too goddamn good. The problem now is that progression hits a wall very quickly. Wrath of the Lich King released with four different raid instances: three of which only contained a single boss, and the other was a revamp of a raid that people did at level sixty. Very soon after Lich King released, the content was beaten and players hit a plateau, tapping their toes waiting for what’s next. The problem now is that it’s taking much too long for raid content to get to us. Players are blowing through the content faster than Blizzard can release it, and this is a problem. Yes, there are hard-modes to be beaten, but to me that’s a really lazy crutch that Blizzard uses to force players to replay the content over and over again.

The Ugly:

Obligatory LOLcats picture.

Elitism, folks, is out there, and it’s a much bigger epidemic than the good ol’ swine flu. Because raiding is now much more widespread than it was before, it’s getting to some people’s heads. Players have become impatient,wanting to blow through a raid, and they will throw a fit whenever it doesn’t move fast enough for them. They’ve gotten big heads, and they’re too good for Naxx 10. They do Ulduar 25, and their homeboys have most of the pieces for the new Legendary mace, like OMG! Trade chat is littered with “LFM for Naxx 25, pros only, noobs not doing 2500+ dps will be booted” or “LFM OS with drakes, will check armory”. It’s rather preposterous to assume that gear equals skill, but that’s a whole other issue. Even the players looking for groups reek of elitism: “LFG VoA no fail groups please”. There is also the not-so-friendly suggestions like “your spec sucks” or “why are you using that weapon you noob, I’ve cleared Ulduar I know what I’m talking about”. The main problem lies in the fact that these people think that they’re so damn important that they have the authority to deem you a good or bad player.

In the next installment of this series I'll poke, prod and vigorously shake the crap out of Player vs Player.

Fallout In Real Life, Kind of Sort of

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:29:17 -0400

I was watching the Discovery Channel with my wife, specifically watching some nature show about the south pacific (which was awesome by the way) and they kept airing commercials for a new reality TV show called The Colony. I have to admit this might have been the first time ever that I've seen a preview for a reality type show and went "That looks cool."

The basic premise is that a virus wiped out a majority of the Earth's population and a handful of people with special skills (as noted in the video) have to survive using the junk in this abandoned warehouse and nearby other buildings. Not only that, but they have to protect themselves from an outside hostile gang. Seeing this reminded me a lot of Megaton and Fallout 3 as well Bigtown. So the premise isn't exactly like Fallout but the game touches upon the post-apocalyptic future that many games are using as their back drop. It's interesting to see a reality game show based in the same setting that a lot of our games are begin set in. Hopefully the show proves to be as good as the trailer. I guess we'll have to watch and find out, won't we?

World of Warcraft Then and Now: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Part 1

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:31:47 -0400

This post started as a very long post that took a very long look at World of Warcraft, breaking down each facet of the game and delivering the good parts, the bad parts and the ugly parts all the while comparing the original game with its current state. Instead of making this one uber post and getting the TLDR comments I decided to make this an ongoing series bringing you a different facet of the game with each installement. The first portion I’ll explore is the leveling system then and by then I mean when the game first released, and how it looks now.

Leveling Then:

The Good

Finding the good in any leveling system is hard, epically in MMORPGs. It’s the part of the game that feels like a necessary evil and we deal with it to get to the good chunky parts of the game that we actually enjoy. In other words we bend over, take it like a champ and try not to complain. The only good thing that leveling provided in vanilla WoW is that it forced you to explore the beautiful zones that inhabited Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms that otherwise might have never been visited if players could simply jump to the end game. There is some satisfaction to be had as your character got more and more powerful with each level, but not enough to alleviate the feeling of grind. No one actually likes treadmills which is what leveling essentially became.

The Bad

The sheer length of time it took to go from 1-60 was absolutely mind numbing. It was like watching grass grow. The questing was sporadic in some areas leaving us wandering around aimlessly similar to stumbling around drunk in a foreign city. This only prolonged the grind that pre-expansion leveling was, causing players to bash their fragile skulls against their desks, causing their brains to leak out and turning them into zombies. This caused the very first zombie apocalypse and many died losing loved ones to flesh eating monsters. Ok those last parts didn’t actually happen, but whatever. A lot of people talk about how MMO leveling is really just a grind and WoW was definitely no exception. Leveling should just happen as a natural result of playing the game and should never become a chore. At no point should I log on and go “Ugh, I have to f@#$ing level to 52 today”.

The Ugly

My Ride Is Dope Holmes!

You wasted so much flipping time traveling within the vastness of tileable textures. Walk here, go there, then walk all the way to the other side of the god damn map because Mr Quest Giver said so. Stupid Goblin, yea I’ll “keep it real” all over your ass, GREEN MAN! Remember the Barrens? What a torture zone that is, I swear Blizzard made that zone to mess with the lower level players. There was more bad news when your novice self realized that you not only didn’t get a mount until level 40, but it was so horribly slow! There’s nothing like hoping on the back of a horse only to watch in amazement as it appeared to move in slow motion. The faster epic mount didn’t come until level 60 at which point you were already done leveling. I spent 800 gold for that? Thanks for nothing Blizz! Don’t even get me started on taxies, what an ungodly wicked spawn of Satan that crap is. I think if you sat and added up all the time you spent traveling, it would grossly overtake the actual time you spent killing things and competing quests.

Leveling Now:

The Good

Ever since the Burning Crusade era, Blizzard has drastically reduced the leveling requirements and also increased the experience gains for the run from level 1 to 60. This has really opened the door to new players despite having 79 levels to get through in order to catch up. This has also allowed veteran players to level alternate characters (alts) faster and take away some of that grinding feeling, which should be left to high school dances anyway. With the release of Wrath of the Lich King, the experience gains and requirements were also changed for the run from levels 60-70 making it even easier for new players. This keeps the older content accessible to new and old players that might look at the 80 levels as an un-climbable mountain of fire and brimstone. On top of the experience changes Blizzard also improved the way quests are set up. Leveling in Wrath of the Lich King is a delight compared to the original game. Quest hubs are frequent and you can fill up your quest log in one shot and logically move through the zone to complete them, coming back to the hub with a ton of completed quests.

The Bad

Pretty in Pink! MY EYES!

It’s still leveling and really no matter how you do it in an MMO it almost always just feels like a grind. If veteran players want to go back and level a new character you have to play through tired zones and ones like Netherstorm in Outlands that burn holes in your retinas. No one likes going blind and I’m pretty sure everyone hates pink, anyone with an ounce of dignity anyway.

The Ugly

The unfortunate side effect because of the new ease in leveling is you get these “ flavor of the month” classes, much like you get “flavor of the month” compositions in the arenas. Because class balance is something that Blizzard currently struggles with, we get classes that end up being more powerful than others. For instance right now Death Knights and Paladins are very well represented in both the PvE and PvP aspects of the game and was once Druids and Rogues in Burning Crusade. The ease of leveling now allows players to quickly level one of these “powerful” classes whenever a given class moves into this position of awesome. This ends up destroying class pride and class identity that people once had, because all people end up caring about is winning and being the “best”. This new leveling scheme makes it possible to quickly switch classes with the drop of a hat.

In the end leveling still kind of sucks, but Blizzard has done a lot to make things easier on everyone. Some of the side effects really mess with the community and even guilds as players constantly switch what class they’re playing and muck with guild’s raid compositions etc. In the next patch Blizzard is making leveling even easier as they’re changing the mount requirements again allowing players to pick up a mount even sooner and virtually taking away the flying restrictions in Northrend. Not only that but they’re also reducing the costs for mounts across the board and so once 3.2 hits live it will be even easier than before to level all the way from 1-80.

In the next installment I’ll tackle the wonderful world of raiding! Stay Tuned.

PS3 and Valve, It's a Love/Hate Thing...

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:26:52 -0400

I've already posted this to Reddit and the likes via the original comic, so with that said please try not to duplicate the link on those sites from here when it comes to the comic, because they think I'm a spammer when that happens. However, feel free to submit my regular non-comic posts to reddit and all those mama-jammas since I post those exclusively here. Thanks everyone!

Original via Oh The Humanity!

An Interview with Good Rouge Gild

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:34:36 -0400

A couple months ago I featured a World of Warcraft guild on the Stormrage server called Good Rouge Gild. They are a unique comedic persona (although they would tell you otherwise) that the community both loves and loves to hate. My initial write up on the guild left me with a limited perspective so I decided to sit down with Goodrouge and ***nus, the leaders of Good Rouge Gild, to hear what they had to say.

Dizko: Let's get the obvious questions out of the way shall we? How did Good Rouge Gild come about?

Gordon Gets the Memo

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:15:44 -0400

Original can be found at my comic's site Oh The Humanity!

I haven't written anything for Limit Break in a few weeks now and for that I have to apologize. I have number of things stockpiled to talk about and hopefully my work schedule opens up a bit to allow me to get cracking. I can promise that I will have something done very soon (if you even care) and hopefully get some more consistent posting done. Hope you enjoy the comic!

States of Snake

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:29:29 -0400

Science is fun!

Original found at Oh The Humanity!

What Your Cats Actually See

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:35:20 -0400

If you own a cat and play video games then you know exactly what I'm talking about here.

Originally found at Oh The Humanity!

Top Five One Trick Ponies: Developers

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:04:56 -0400

When I started doing the research for this article I went into it with the idea of finding 5 one hit wonder developers. I soon realized that was going to be harder than I had anticipated. The reason being is that a lot of developers released sequels to their one hit, and thus sometimes creating two hits. So I moved away from the notion of one hit wonders, and shifted my focus to developers that only really nailed a single intellectual property. These are my top 5 results:

#5 - Shiny Entertainment with Earthworm Jim (1 and 2)

Mooooo

Fridges and Cows!

If you're familiar with Shiny then you might be wondering why it's on this list. Shiny made a couple pretty good games, including MDK. MDK is more of a cult hit than a commercial success. It was a pretty bizarre game for the time with dog-headed enemies that incited visions of Daft Punk and it was then a PC only title that only later got ported to Playstation. While it was on the PC, it was known but again it fell more into the cult classic category.

The main reason they're on this list is because of Earthworm Jim. That game was a smash hit at the time and even landed its own cartoon TV series. Both EJ1 and EJ2 were very successful platformer games filled with slapstick comedy and cartoon antics. Being a fan big of animation, this game hit home for me. The Earthworm Jim games contain some of the best cartoon animation I can think of in any video game to date, 2D or otherwise. It's simply brilliant on that front.

#4 - Mythos Games with X-COM UFO Defense (Enemy Unknown in the UK)

Pew pew!

Wait your turn!

Considered by some to be one of the best PC games ever made, Juilian Gollop and Mythos Games lived the dream. X-COM went from what was a small demo to being picked up by then big time publishing studio MicroProse (Sid Meier's company) and developed into a smash tactical/strategy hit. Also, if I have to hear another person tell me how awesome this game is, I will probably vomit.

The game sold a staggering 600,000 copies on the PC which was a pretty big deal (like Ron Burgundy) for PC gaming in 1993. Mythos Games went on to make a few more games for MicroProse but soon felt the pressures of the demanding publisher and later parting ways, leaving X-COM behind forever.

#3 - Running With Scissors with Postal

Fire is Fun!

The Postal games are what they are. They're not really good games but what they lack in quality is made up in raw controversy. While the actual games themselves seem underdeveloped and poorly designed, the games managed to draw up so much PR that it got ripped out of obscurity and dumped straight into the mainstream polluting our generally pristine waters.

The two Postal games are violent, crude and down right offensive but that's pretty much all it has going for it. The gameplay is generic and the overall aesthetic design of it is also very, boring. There is no doubt that whatever is in store for us with Postal 3 that it will drum up just as much controversy as the first two and will more than likely get banned in a couple of countries. But the chances of them pulling out another hit IP, is slim to none.

#2 - Johnson Voorsanger Productions with ToeJam and Earl

You're a Poindexter!

Lemonade anyone?

Johnson who? Exactly. This is pretty much the only IP this once two man development team has ever worked on. The funk-a-delic alien duo crash landed on a planet (Earth) filled with crazy effing ****. Sorry, but there is no other way to put it. The 16-bit acid trip was a success, and why not? It had humor, crazy visuals and slow but ridiculously fun gameplay. I can still hear the "aaaaaaaaachooo" of Earl's sneeze that causes their funk-a-jet (or whatever it's called) to crash on some crazy layered version of Earth.

After TJandE's success there was an attempt at a follow up with ToeJam and Earl: Panic on Funkatron and it surprisingly was well received by critics. The game shifted from an isometric exploring game, complete with random ringing phones and super shoes, to being a 2D platformer while retaining the silly nature of the first game. But after Panic on Funkatron, Johnson Voorsanger fell off the map until much later when the third game in the series ToeJam and Earl III Mission to Earth came to the Xbox. That third game was met with mixed reviews and poor sales thus sealing the fate of the those once funky developer's. Play on my fellow funky freaks. Play on.

#1 - 3D Realms with Duke Nukem 3D

Come get some. MONEY!

It probably didn't take you very long to figure out what the #1 one trick pony would be. 3D Realms is possibly one of the biggest ball droppers in the history of video game development.

There have been many titles released under the 3D Realms logo, but only 2 have ever been developed by them exclusively. Duke Nukem 3D is obviously the one game that they made that turned out to be a major success story. Not only that, it turned into one of the most iconic games in PC gaming history. The testosterone ridden mega-anti-hero came with the ability to flush toilets, solicit strippers and deliver catchy one-liners. It was like playing a cruder version of an Arnold Schwarzenegger action movie. Shadow Warrior, their other game, was basically Duke Nukem but with a kitana sword and less strippers. BORING.

Duke Nukem Forever seems to be gone, forever. Even if this game were to release today 3D realms would have still been riding that same pony that galloped them to success in the first place. Either way, they still would have remained in a one trick pony status. But as we all know, DNF has officially entered the realm of vaporware with the closing of the 3D Realms development studio. There is where it will remain and hopefully where it will die a slow and comfortable death just long enough for us to forget about it and move on with our lives.

Postmortem E3

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:14:24 -0400

Now that E3 is said and done and the information hangover begins I'd like to go through and share the parts that excited me the most. I'm going to leave any Final Fantasy stuff for the experts because well, I'm no expert on the matter!

Left 4 Dead 2

Being a fan of Left 4 Dead the news that Left 4 Dead 2 was not only in production but going to release in November was shocking to say the least. After the shock wore off the controversy began to set in and it appears that there is a fair amount of community backlash. I myself am torn like Natalie Imbruglia, well not like that at all actually. At this point I'm not sure what to think. One side of me is as excited as a little boy on the first day of school. The other side of me is that same little boy but on the second day of school when he realizes that school is actually kind of lame and full of jerks and bullies.

I like the idea of more L4D content, but I'm not sure that what we've seen thus far justifies it to be branded as a sequel. After reading an article on Max PC's website, I can potentially see why Valve sees it that way. From a development standpoint their AI Director 2.0 is a major milestone to them. For them, it's a significant enough of an advancement to label it a sequel. But because that part is under the covers, to us it just seems like they turned the lights on in L4D and slapped a 2 on it.

Speaking of the light, that's where another concern comes into play. Versus balance. How will the daylight setting effect Versus Mode? It's already sometimes difficult to catch players off guard as the Boomer since he's a fairly large vessel, how are we supposed to manage that in broad daylight? Where are the shadows going to be for me to lurk as a hunter waiting to pounce? The addition of the melee weapons also raises some concern too because from the initial game play videos, they look pretty powerful.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Moving on because it appears that I'm obsessed with L4D and an I don't want to get slapped with a restraining order, I have to say that Relic really impressed me with their Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine trailer. First of all, I had no clue they were even working on it and secondly the fact that it wasn't an RTS game caught me off guard.

I'm glad Relic is branching out though and trying something different. For their first big budget non-RTS game I'm ok with them using an IP they're comfortable with despite having just released Dawn of War II. Seeing the game play got me excited, I enjoy the Warhammer 40k universe and having good action RPG set within it, is that much more exciting to me. Although I will say that seeing the trailer only made me wish that Relic was working on the Warhammer 40k MMO.

Assassin's Creed II

Assassin's Creed II. It looks amazing, that's really all you have to say about that. I really liked what I saw, the setting alone interests me enough to buy it. The game play looks better than the first and I just hope that they address some of the repetitive feeling I got from the original. But, we knew ACII was coming though, didn't we?

The Rest...

I hate to say it, but that's pretty much where it ends for me. I know that a lot of sites haven't had a chance to catch up on all the hands-on that was done there so I haven't seen all of E3 quite yet. But most of that will be pretty predictable. Borderlands was probably awesome, Bioshock 2 was probably awesome, etc etc. In terms of announcements and the likes, nothing else really grabbed me. Metroid Other M looks really good, and Sony's motion control and project Natal also seem pretty cool, but neither of those threw me through a loop. We kind of knew that they would try to move into Nintendo's space in some form or another.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, E3 2009 was pretty lackluster with a few exceptions, at least for me. Also, going back to my first post on Limit Break, there was nothing regarding Games For Windows Live, and that alone ruined E3 for me. I am happy that they revived the old expo format of E3 and that alone makes E3 2009 one to remember. But here's to hoping next year's E3 will be better. Who knows, maybe I'll make it out there next time.

Fanboy Kitteh

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:37:36 -0400

Everyone has an inner fanboy, if they admit to it or not.

Original over at Oh The Humanity!

Nintendo's E3 Showing, Redeemed

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:01:07 -0400

There were many times when I almost fell asleep during Nintendo's E3 presentation (did anyone else notice the lack of clapping?) but to be honest a couple of the DS announcements were exciting. But nothing compared to the last reveal of the new Metroid game that looks to be a cross between Metroid and Ninja Gaiden. Hmm wonder why? I don't know, it was pretty cool if you ask me, and well Reggie is still scary! Don't mind the unfinished nature of this comic, for the sake of time and getting one up every day, these comics will be very unpolished.

E3 has me swamped and being a game journalist over at That VideoGame Blog, but I promise I have a couple articles in the works. I have an article compiling my E3 impressions and a piece about whether or not 3D graphics have plateaued both of which will appear exclusively on Limit Break, so stay tuned for that!

Left 4 Dead 2 Blows The Mind (E3 2009)

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:01:18 -0400

So, like I said on Twtter, I’m trying something very lofty this week and posting a single daily comic (no color) in celebration and relating to E3 2009. Here is the first, check out tomorrow for the next comic!

Reproduced courtesy of Oh The Humanity!

Bayonetta, Too Hot for You?

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:21:54 -0400

Sexually suggestive content is nothing new in the world of video games, but rarely does a game go out of it's way to be sexually charged on purpose. Usually, at least in regards to high profile games, developers leave the sexuality to the subtle subconscious of the players.

Bayonetta is not one of those games. In fact it's very much the opposite. They're purposely throwing the very sexual heroine in your face so much so it's impossible to ignore. The question becomes, how far is too far, and when does sexuality in video games become, too much?

Let's take a look at the following trailer where the main character is wearing some sort of Spiderman-esque symbiotic suit. Pay attention to not just the nudity, but look at the character's body language and gratuitous camera movements.

Did someone turn up the heat in here? Whew. I'm feeling oddly uncomfortable right now. Needless to say, they're certainly not hiding the fact that Miss Bayonetta there is very comfortable with her sexuality and expressing it even during the heat of battle.

Below I have a screenshot of our Heroine's ass, yes that's right I do. It's covered don't worry! The point of showing you this is because the developers wanted you to see it. They apparently took a great amount of time modeling out the finest video game butt you could lay your eyes on as they explain in an interview.

“I really wanted to get Bayonetta’s backside perfect” Kenichiro Yoshimura, Bayonetta modeler.

Ugh, I'm beginning to perspire now. There's plenty-o-junk-in-the-trunk, aye? All joking aside, it's amazing how upfront the developers of Bayonetta are about the game's rampant sexuality.

Granted, the game looks pretty amazing. It's like Devil May Cry but laced with some highly charged sexuality that cannot be ignored.

The question remains, when is it too much? It should be understood by now that men aren't the only ones playing these games, what about our female gamers? Now I personally don't have issues with sexuality, in fact I think it's natural and quite beautiful. But there are times and places for it to appear. Does this level of one-sided sexuality belong in our high profile video games that are seeing this type of mainstream coverage? I leave that answer to you, what do you think?

Sustainability: Balancing the Gamer Lifestyle

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:51:13 -0400

I got the idea for this post while listening to Market Place on NPR where they took a look at the current financial lifestyle and discuss its sustainability with respects to the current global rescission. I began thinking about the sustainability of the gamer lifestyle as we gamers begin to age and mature, and how I intend to keep gaming in my life until I can't use the controller due to horrible arthritis.

There are many reasons why video games attract the demographic it does, but one of the contributing factors on why older adults don't play as much is because of the lack of sustainability in the long term. As people mature they tend to take on more responsibilities and move towards obtaining their life goals and sometimes there just isn't room for gaming.

Take me for example: I'm approaching the age of 26, I'm married, I have a full time and demanding career and at the same time I'm building a sub-career as a video game journalist and humorist. While it doesn't seem to be a lot on the surface, my full-time job already consumes tons of time that could be spent exploring virtual worlds. If I want my wife to feed me and give me hugs then I surely have to pay her attention and spend quality time with her. Add in my side-jobs and that leaves very little time to devote to gaming. The scary thing is I don't even have kids yet which will only remove even more time from my gaming schedule.

How can we do it? How do we sustain our lifestyles with out depleting the other facets of our lives? The answer is really about balancing everything. Simple right?

Lets start with your spouse, girlfriends, boyfriends and what have you. The first thing you should do is make sure you spend time with them and not neglect them as a result of gaming. Seems like a no-brainer, I know, but it had to be said. Secondly (if your spouse is not a gamer) make sure they understand that gaming is important to you, and that you want to be able to dive into some video games a couple times a week. Everyday isn't necessary and it's perfectly ok to leave the system off for a day or two. It will be there when you get back, promise. Scout's honor! Try to include them in some way. Buy a game that is suitable for your non-gamer significant other to partake in. Sometime tells me Fallout 3 won't be that game, just a hunch. The Wii has been fantastic for this.

If they are a gamer then all of what I just said is moot, just make sure the two of you don't get overly competitive about the games you're currently playing. Keep it civil and keep it fun. Sleeping on the couch over a round of deathmatch isn't worth it.

A similar type of approach could be used with children. Between all the things you'll have to do as a parent, setting aside a day a week and make it "Game Night" and including the entire family in some friendly video game action will get you your fix while encouraging family unity. Again, Fallout 3 probably not going to be the game here. Make sure you work with your significant other to set aside personal time that you can spend playing more adult games and offer to do the same for your spouse to allow them to work at a hobby of their choice. Maybe they like basket weaving or ninja training, whatever it may be, make sure to give them back the time for their own hobbies. Give and take! Remember it's a partnership!

The nature of video games has shifted from just a solo experience to a more social function. Another way you can get some face time with your favorite games is to have a LAN party. Even the busiest people have the weekends off, and if you entice them with food and beverages a wicket night of fragging will net you both game time and social experiences. Besides trash talking is a lot more fun in person. It doesn't have to be a LAN per-say, inviting a few friends over for beer and blasting on your Xbox 360 works just as well. Rock Band and likes lend themselves well to this sort of get together. I hear Rock Band/Guitar Hero parties are all the rage now, and it would be a good time to break out the video game themed drinks!

Simply finding the time to do these things can be prove to be a challenge. Even if you do the things above it can still prove to be difficult to squeeze much needed game time in. When it comes down to it you really just have to find time. You're passionate about video games and thus you will find time to be a gamer.

For example, one of the times I do play video games is in the morning during the weekends. My wife isn't much of a morning person and so she doesn't wake up until about 10am. I on the other hand am a morning person, and I get up around 8am even on the weekends. This has proven to be a great time for me to catch up on my gaming as I don't have the luxury of playing every night.

The point is, you can find time. There are downtimes and pockets of random time that you can jump in and get a few missions/quests banged out no matter the circumstance. Make sure to get your game time in, somehow.

I could spend some time and talk about the financial side of the sustainability of the gamer lifestyle but lets be honest, it's one of the cheapest hobbies you can have. When it comes to gaming, money isn't necessarily a problem for most. With trade in and other swapping programs, you can have new games for relatively low costs, not to mention rentals. The systems themselves cost nothing for the amount of entertainment time they end up providing. In terms of cost-per-hour it's much cheaper than going to the movies, clubs, bars etc. So when it comes to dollars and cents, video gaming is very sustainable even as a PC gamer.

Sustainability is out there for us gamers, however as you get older the days of marathon gaming will pass in favor of a more regimented schedule. It will be ok as long as you can balance your gaming lifestyle around the demands of adult life. You really didn't think that you could go on continuing to play until the wee hours of the morning because you only had one 10 am class the next day with an optional shower, did you? Trust me though, it will be ok. I've reached that point myself, and I still mange to juggle all that I do and play 2-3 games at any given time. Sustainability for the gamer lifestyle is possible, it's your job to make it happen.

If Your Handheld Consoles Could Talk

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:13:26 -0400

The sequel to my other "If Your Systems Could Talk" comic.

Be sure to check out my archives as I do occasionally do non-gaming related comics as well as a few that have not appeared here on Limit Break.

Reproduced courtesy of Oh The Humanity!

Zeno Clash 2 Wish List

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:38:49 -0400

I had the wonderful pleasure of reviewing Zeno Clash at my other job over at That Videogame Blog and while the game wasn't perfect, it was absolutely refreshing. This is why you should be looking forward to Zeno Clash 2 even if you didn't have a chance to try the first.

Zeno Clash took the tired and true format of the FPS genre and more or less took away the shooter part and added in lots of ass kicking that is equally satisfying as a shotgun blast to the face. But this is only part of the equation. The mechanics of the game are not so far beyond what's already been done in regards to game play mechanics, but it's the world in which it exists that makes it a rewarding and refreshing experience, and why the sequel will be a better game all around.

The world is colorful, lush and nothing sort of strange. The characters are equally if not more strange and twisted as the world in which they reside. Like I said in my review, it's looks like the love child of the movies Guillermo del Toro’s Pans Labyrinth and Jim Henson's Labyrinth the results of which are nothing short of stimulating. Play this game was refreshing having played the latest slew of colorless drab post-apocalyptic games like Fallout 3.

The details for the next installment of the game are scarce and rightfully so being that the first one just came out less than a month ago. But from what we know now, is it looks to be a full game that is much larger in scope while again featuring some of the most memorable characters including the gender neutral and very creepy Father Mother.

My Wish List for ZC2:

There are a couple guns in this game and while the idea of dual fish-guns is awesome, they're incredibly ineffective and utterly moot. There is one part where you have no choice but to use a gun and thus it's one of the worst parts of the game. Take all the guns out. They're pointless and take away from the very enjoyable ass-kickery that the melee combat provides. Keep the grenades, they're fine. However please make the explosions more than a pathetic puff. If I throw a bomb, I want to see it explode.

That is it. Yes, it's a small list. The game is already pretty damn solid and is teetering on that edge of being a great game. I think if they tweak the above problems we'll have ourselves an amazing piece of videogame to enjoy and take us away from the mainstream filled with Call of Duty type games that flood our industry.

Handle This! A Fake Dissection of the Gamer Rationale

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:23:59 -0400

The video game industry has changed a lot in the past several years and one of the biggest changes is the ever growing expanse of online play. When players venture into vast internet to play their favorite games online, they're faced with a choice. A choice that often proves to me more difficult than it seems on the surface. That choice will reflect your online identity and share to others a little bit about your personality. What I'm talking about (if the title didn't give it away already) is your online handles.

What I will attempt to do in this post, is dive into the minds of our fellow gamers to possibly gain insight on how the decision making process unfolds as they create their online handles. Follow me as I quantum leap into other peoples minds.

britneyspears38195 (randoms numbers after handle Guy)

What MMOs Really Are

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:10:09 -0400

When you strip MMOs down to their core you're left with this...

Reproduced courtesy of Oh The Humanity!

Secret Funny: Good Rouge Gild

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:35:32 -0400

World of Warcraft sometimes gets a bad wrap for a lot of reasons and one of those reason is its immature and disrespectful community. While I somewhat agree with that notion, a lot of good things have come, especially in regards to comedy, out of WoW. Some of the best machinimas I have ever seen has been done with WoW, and one of the most viral in-game videos ever being the Leeroy Jenkins in the Rookery of Blackrock Spire video.

I would like to share with you a little piece of secret funny I discovered a while ago. There is a guild on the server I play on (Stormrage) in WoW called Good Rouge Gild. Admittedly at first I was resistant to what they were doing and I initially attempted to ignore anyone and everyone associated with them. But after a while I became intrigued by their commitment to the joke, because it was clear that the guild and everything about them was an elaborate joke. It has been months now since Good Rouge Gild has come on the scene, and they're still stringing the joke along, fairly successfully too it seems.

The name of the guild takes a stab at the rogue class that is seemingly populated by immature people with horrible typing abilities. The reference is to the all too often general chat and forum posts from rouges (rogues) looking for a guild and group. "good rouge luuking fir good gild, PST hav lotz of epix) The reason it's funny, is because it's rather true and for some strange reason, many rogues have a hard time typing Rogue vs Rouge (you're not make-up fellows!). You do see these poorly conceived beggar posts from rogues all over the game. Before any rogues get defensive on me, my main character is a rogue, but fortunately for myself I'm not "luuking fir a good gild"

Good Rouge Gild has pulled out all the stops, and actively recruits using various tools to promote their "gild". The application form itself is priceless, I won't spoil it because its worth discovering on your own, to view the Good Rouge Gild application, click here.

They're using all sorts of tools to entice members of the Stormrage community to join the ranks of Good Rouge Gild, like wheeling in big name players.

They've also managed to purchase a personal Gild jet to promote themselves in the glorious blue skies of the globe.

They won't stop there however, they've also started employing the use of hypnotics as a tool to get people interested in joining their army of Good Rouges.

Their recruiting methods are bar none, never has a guild in the history of the Stormrage server has ever enacted such masterful techniques to pull in new members.

What is most striking about this elaborate farce, is the consistency it has. They never, ever break character and they have the "good rouge gild" vernacular down to a science.

Aside from their recruiting tools, they make sure to go out of their way to show the Stormrage community the dominance Good Rouge Gild holds over its population. After establishing themselves as the premiere guild on the Stormrage server, they set up mandatory toll points with in the city of Stormwind, requiring players to pay them as they pass through.

Besides forcing players to pay tolls in Good Rouge Gild turf, they also released a video displaying their massive power. Keep in mind, this video is not for the feint of heart, and only true Good Rouges should view it.

You would think that there could be nothing better than what you have seen so far, but I assure you, there is more. If being the best most dangerous guild on the Stormrage server wasn't enough, they've gone and published some of the best poetry in the last decade. Warning, the following poem does contain profanity.

I ROTE DIS POME ABOT THE NEW LAMBERGEENEY……

LETS TAKE IT 2 STREETS COS IM REDY 2 CRUZE
JUST BOT ME AN MY CAR SUM BRAN NEW SHOOS
AND THE PEPOLE JUST STARE SO I LOV 2 PARK IT
AND I JUS PUT A COMPUDER N THE GLOV COMPARKMENT
WITH THE PEDAL 2 THE FLORE…RADAR N THE GRIL
TV N THE MIDLE OF MY STERENG WEELE
IT MY CARS BIRTDAY SO WE BLOWN THEM CANDELS
MORE SPEKERS N THE TRUNK THAN ME RIDE CAN HANDEL
GOT MY NAME N THE HEDREST…REDE IT AN WEEEP
NOS TANK N THE BAK…CAMEL HARE ON THE SEAT
AND WHEN I PULL UP 2 THE CLUB..IGET ALL THE AFECTON
CUZ THE WOMEN LOV THE PANTE AND THEY CAN C THEYR REFLECTON
IM ABOT 2 TAKE OFF….SO F WAT U HERDE
BECOSE MY SIDE MIRERS FLAP LIEK A FUKIN BIRD

While at first I simply wrote off Good Rouge Gild as another childish antic that would be short lived and completely unfunny, but the longer it went on and the more stuff they put out, the funnier it became. I have to hand it to whomever is behind the scenes, they've committed to the joke and have taken it much further than I think anyone anticipated. There is much more to be seen at their website which is fully populated by tons of things similar to what I shared here with you. If you want, feel free to check out their website http://www.goodrougegild.info/ I'm sure they won't mind. But if they do, I'm probably a dead man.

Prince of Persia to be the savior of video game movies?

no.spam@gameriot.com (Dizko) — Thu, 14 May 2009 11:11:32 -0400

As well all know there is a list, a very long list, of bad video game to film adaptations *cough* Hitman *cough* Doom *cough* errm, sorry it's allergy season. While some films have come close to being good movies, they always seem to disappoint us but at least we could rely on that.

It looks that perhaps that is all about to change. Jerry "Blow It Up" Bruckheimer, man behind many projects is breathing a new life into the video game to film world with the new Prince of Persia starring the "dreamy" Jake Gyllenhaal.

Looks like it's shaping up pretty well right?

As someone who has never played the modern PoP games I have no real frame of reference to compare, at least when it comes to the story and lore of PoP. However, I have put my journalistic skills to work and judging by a lot of the backlash in the comments of that video on youtube, it looks like they're taking liberties with the story.

I applaud Bruckheimer and the writers for doing this. This is the best thing that they could do for the benefit of the movie and its potential viewers. Rule number one that should always be followed while adapting a video game to be a film, don't make the movie for us and by us I mean, gamers. Rather, make the movie so that it's a good film, something that is enjoyable to watch by a majority of moviegoers.

When I go to the movies, I want to see a well produced and entertaining film. What I don't want to see a film clone of the video game I've already played, because well I've already played the damn thing why would I spend $10 to see the same thing I already played?

One of the complaints I keep seeing is the choice of Jake Gyllenhaal for the part of the Prince, to this I say, come off it. I think he's a pretty good choice, he's a fantastic actor and he's built physically in a way that to me, resembles the video game character, enough. While facially he my not "look" like the video game Prince, I'd much prefer an excellent actor who can pass for a character rather than a terrible actor who looks exactly like the character. If Dark Knight taught us anything, is that it doesn't matter what the person looks like, it's how they act.

The other complaint floating around Jake being Prince is the fact that he's not Persian. As if that really mattered? Last time I checked Greeks didn't have Scottish accents and yet that didn't stop 300 from being an awesome movie. Or how about the fact that Tom Cruise had no German accent in Valkyrie, it really doesn't make a difference.

Perhaps I'm jaded having not played the newer PoP games, but to me it looks like the movie adaptation isn't falling into the traps other video game films have fallen into. While it does look like just another epic style action movie, I'd much watch something like that and be entertained than watch something that is "true" to the game, or an underproduced pile of junk.

The Prince of Persia movie is shaping up pretty well if you ask me, and it looks like it will be a great action film with quality production and solid acting, I mean come on Ben Kingsly is in it! I really hope, and I think every gamer out there should hope with me, that this is the film to drag the video game to film reputation up from the pits that it currently lives in. Here is to hoping that PoP tuns out to be a great film.