Cross Platfrom Comic.com

Fun in Theory

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:20:37 -0700

Scribblenauts!
What an amazing concept for a game. It really is so sad that it stops right there. The 5th Cell guys had the balls to develop a game with 30,000 semi-unique objects, and I commend them for that. But much like their previous effort with Drawn to Life, there is just not enough game behind the premise to make it truly enjoyable.

Playing a level where I had to get past a couple of guards without hurting them just didn't work quite the way I wanted. Invisibility cloak? Guard saw me anyway. Sleeping gas? Didn't affect them. Tranquilizer dart? Didn't affect them. Bribe? They beat me to death with it. The game design is such that it could never possibly be playtested thoroughly enough, so I'd love to cut 5th Cell some slack, but people are paying for it, and they shouldn't need to concern themselves with how hard it would have been to make it better.

Add in the fact that the game outright stifles creativity by rewarding solutions using the fewest amount of item and throw in very sloppy platforming controls and the game is a notable disappointment. Maybe some refinement in the sequel or Wii port can alleviate these issues, I won't be playing much until then.

Rape's Got Me Thinking

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:54:05 -0700

What? E3's going on? I have better stuff to talk about, namely rape.

It seems that some people Japan are getting all in a huff about it. Specifically about video games that let you (that are made for the sole purpose of letting you, really) rape girls. Long story short, rape games will no longer be sold in Japan. This isn't something I have a problem with.

But wait, I say to myself, just why is that? Why would I defend a game publisher's right to sell games where I shoot people in the face, but not a rape game? If one immoral act is acceptable in digital form, shouldn't all of them be?

From a purely legal standpoint, you could say that the majority of games have you killing in self-defense. Fine, but that just leaves me with games such as the venerable controversy regular, Grand Theft Auto. The only argument left is based entirely on a moral standpoint: Rape is worse than murder. Oh, now there's an interesting debate.

Essentially, the violent video game debate exists because of a difference of opinion across America. People are willing to accept different things from the media. What should and shouldn't be taboo in our society is inconsistent, transient, and always under debate. Is it not hypocritical to denounce censorship of one form of game content while agreeing with another?

I say slap an 18+ sticker on it and let them rape away.

Read more/leave comments in the forum thread

Comic: In a World Gone Mad

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:55:35 -0700

New Comic

Madworld

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:55:35 -0700

Madworld comes out this week for the Wii, just in case you need some context for the comic that just went up. It certainly isn't the first violent game for the Wii. That's not what's got me all excitable, it's the ballsy move to use such stark black and white stylized graphics. Video games require a lot of visual clarity and differentiation between objects in order to be playable, so watching someone try this will be interesting, particularly considering the Wii's paltry 480p maximum resolution. I really hope it works, and I really hope it gets a port or sequel to a console that can do the game visual justice.

I'll post my thoughts on how/if the game succeeds once I get my hands on it.

Street Fighter IV Is Broken

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:48:11 -0800

Street Fighter IV is not designed for me, and probably not you, either. If you have the time, read SSF2THDR Dev David Sirlin's various criticisms of it. If you're lazy, let me break it down for you.

Remember that comic I made? Well it kind of applies to every kind of controller. The game designers made a conscious choice of making the control difficult. Special moves require needless control manipulation to execute, super and ultra moves will be impossible for a lot of players and unreliable for almost all, and the best moves (link combos) are locked behind an button input test wall so thick that most people shouldn't even bother considering it.

Oh, there will be players who master these attacks. Probably many players, but you know what? Fuck them. I want to play this game, too. I don't want to play a game that is essentially a series of button input tests with almost no relation to what my opponent is doing.

The most hilarious thing is that this is exactly what Capcom was trying to avoid. The focus attack system? Brilliant. Simple inputs with a very strong strategic focus. Combos were minimized for this reason, too. It's too bad that the game wasn't designed carefully enough to avoid link attacks though (which remind me of games like Streets of Rage where you could stop your combos midway and then precisely time the start of new ones in order to do an amount of damage never intended by the designers) or it may have even worked. Instead, the outcome was that the new combo-esque system is even harder to pull off than the old one.

Street Fighter desperately is in need of RE:4-style reboot. Capcom's probably too timid to consider such a thing, but an series offshoot is possible. Look at Smash Bros., there's plenty of opportunity for deep gameplay with simple input commands. Get to work.

Holy Shit, It's a Comic

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:48:11 -0800

I'm back and I've got presents.

You can expect the weekly to semi-weekly updates to resume.

Comic: Difficulties

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:26:36 -0800

New Comic

I Made a Thing

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:14:04 -0800

No, it wasn't a comic, sorry. I was going to make a Street Fighter comic bitching about Capcom rereleasing SF2 over and over again, but I decided against it. There's too much bitching in the video game commentary world. People like reading other people bitching, so the rants will continue (and I'm certainly not going to stop myself) but I figured that just this once, I would cut someone a break.

So thank you, Capcom, for giving the people what they want, even if it is just unimaginative sequels. Here's to Street Fighter 4.

SHIN TEMPORAL CYCLONE!

Forum Is Up

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:26:57 -0800

The new forum is here.

Tell me anything you want me to know. Ask any questions you may have. Proclaim how "fisrt!" you are, whatever.

I'll spruce up the site layout with some more convenient links after I (finally) get a comic or two up.

On Webcomics and Warcraftery

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:13:54 -0800

I'm very sorry I haven't had a new comic in what feels like forever. I've been super busy lately, but I guarantee I should be back to my somewhat regular schedule in a couple of weeks (after I move).

Anyway, I've been in a discussion recently about the reason behind WoW's success. Here are some key ideas from myself and others you may find interesting/enlightening/enraging.

The difference is Blizzard. Their company policy is quality over quantity. They are a very well-established company with the lifetime goal of producing the absolutely best damn games they can. They through countless millions of dollars and endless developer hours at their games to give them an unsurpassed level of polish. They hire the right people to develop their games. Those that understand games and gamers, who know what is important to have in the game (again paying a pretty penny to get those people).
They do not innovate. None of that. Perfect what you have is their motto. Blatantly steal and improve every idea you come across. Constantly think "How can I do this better?" With that always on your mind, you eventually will.
Another point is that WoW is so popular just because it is popular. It's a self-perpetuating cycle. All the friends you made playing WoW are still playing WoW because all their friends are still playing WoW, so you'll keep playing WoW. It's the basic money-making mechanic behind all MMORPG's, which are almost all very very shitty games from a gameplay standpoint.
Combine this with the fact that WoW's popularity makes it a lot of people's very first MMO. Like girlfriends, almost all people keep their relationship to their first MMO far longer than it deserves.
- me

The ability to appeal to people in European/American/Asian markets. That's what sets WoW apart.
When WoW was released, Lineage I and II had like 6 million combined Asian players. How many people in the US played it, like 4? Hell, the number of people in China who play EVE, WAR, or AoC is probably measured in the low hundreds.
WoW is so far, the only game that has bridged that gap. Why, I can't say. But that's why it's burning up the competition.
- Rollin Dutch

I think the answer is twofold: history and embedded base.
Warcraft was a great game. All of the sequels and spin-offs had a huge following. WoW used this following as a pre-embedded base of players that would quickly transition to an online version. Add the diablo fan base into that as general blizzarddicksuckers and viola! You have a group of people who already know and like the interfaces, mechanics, world-setting, and have an affinity for the previous products. Now you can play the style of game that you love and be seamlessly integrated with your friends and enemies on teh interweb. EQ started from scratch. It was a new and novel game as well, but people had to 'try it out' to get into it, and therefore you already had a reduced fanbase ready to shell out for it, unlike WoW.
Now the embedded part comes in. You constantly add new content and remove the bugs. You always let players feel there's something they haven't done/seen/obtained yet and you do it in a quality way without breaking more things (a la AoC). And more importantly, you give them no reason to look for another game. They are perfectly happy on the WoW server with all their friends and uberweapons, and nothing is wrong. Why see if that new girl down the street is any good if you are already banging a supermodel who is trained to do what you like with no questions asked? I think that is the prevailing mentality.
-pentatholx

Impressions: Mirror's Edge, Avoiding the Corny Jokes

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:35:35 -0800

Let's get one thing out in the open: I wanted to love Mirror's Edge. Actually, correction, I still want to love Mirror's Edge. It's a fresh idea, it's gorgeous, it plays well, and we've known that from the demo. So yes, I was very excited to play it. In fact, as I originally had hoped to pick it up alongside Call of Duty, I thought I'd end up throwing Call of Duty away.

Unfortunately, Mirror's Edge is not a great game. It's hardly a good game either. Of course it all depends on what your definition of great and good games is, mine comes Dictionary.com and personal experience.

Read the full article

Review: Why You Should Care About a World at War

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 07:08:09 -0800

Activision seems to believe that the best way to remember our veterans on their national day is to offer the people who didn't get to lose a thumb or two the yearly chance to do so, virtually. Call of Duty World at War is out, and chances are you're familiar with the series. Chances are also good that you know the series has opted for a jump back in time, only this time the Nazis are not the only ones you get to shoot. Introducing this year: a game ban, in Japan!

I know. Call of Duty? World War II? Again? No thanks. And trust me, I was on that train up to a few days ago. However, it would be a shame, because this may very well be the first time that a War game grows the balls to become a bit more than that. I'm hesitating at the use of the term "Social Commentary", but it wouldn't be far off.

Read the full article

Impressions: Quantum of ... Yeah, Sure, Whatever

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:22:06 -0800

Make me understand. Someone just do what it is you have to do, take out your calculator, a soap box, whatever, just make sense of this for me. How do you take one of the most robust FPS engine out there, not only for controls, but for detailed graphics, and not make a good game out of it? Treyarch needs an award, and that dude we've kept seeing in all of Quantum of Solace's previews is the new winner of the Molyneux Award of Bullshit.

In its defense, the new James Bond game isn't terrible. It's not even a bad game. What it is though, is a four hour ride that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth once you're done.

Here's the thing. I go to a store, I shell out $65, and guess what, that money was not pulled out of my ass, contrary to some beliefs. Sure when it comes to movie games there's really no way someone should expect an amazing game, but this is James Bond we're talking about. Goldeneye set a standard back in the days: Bond games are not allowed to suffer the terrible, terrible movie-to-game curse. Even Tomorrow Never Dies was alright.

Read the full article

Halloween Pics

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:22:06 -0800

Let this be a testament to the dorkiness of me and my friends. I give you 1 video game character, 1 cartoon character, and 3 comic book characters (no Jokers), and 1 obscure side character/inanimate object (or is he?) from I Am Legend.

Impressions: Killzone 2 Beta

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:25:21 -0800

I�ve been playing the KillZone 2 beta for a little while. Granted I don�t give it my full attention, there�s much better stuff to play out at the moment, but hey, it�s a multiplayer shooter demo, what am I supposed to do? Since it�s just impressions on a BETA, I�ll simply list things.

This is not a review of the final game. Because the final game is still months away.
THE GOOD:
- Graphics are great. I don't want to use the word "amazing" because, to be perfectly honest, I was not blown away. It looks great, easily on par with Halo 3 in terms of polish and smoothness. Textures are easily on level with Gears of War as well. Honestly, at first glance there's nothing to complain about. One of the multi levels has a thunder storm going, and the sky looks (now I can use that word without feeling bad) amazing. I know it's "cheating" because it's not engine and just a movie running on the "roof", but screw it, it looks incredible.
The destruction is also pretty nifty. I love CoD4 just like the next addict, but walls need to crumble when shot, and KZ2 has that. Thumbs up for that Devs, nice detail.
Gun models are very cool, and they're helped by the blur effect, which this game has PLENTY of. The whole damn thing takes a chapter out of the Burnout book for blur effect, which isn't a bad thing, at least not for me, although I do know a few people who absolutely loathe it. Hey, if it hides a graphic transition that wouldn't look too great, I don't see the problem.

Read the full article