Game Spotlight (Education: History) Master of Olympus Zeus + Pharaoh

Games can be great aids to education, any gamer will tell you that, there are always games that helped a gamer learn something or sparked an interest in a topic. Due to the article I wrote on education and gaming, here on this blog. a few people have asked me to recommend specific games to them that might help their kids learn about topics in interesting ways. So I had the idea to spotlight some of the games I personally think are interesting and informative!

So to kick off this brand new type of post I have chosen two games that are very dear to me personally. Master of Olympus Zeus and Pharaoh,  both were published by Sierra and developed by Impressions Games / Activision. They may be retro but the charming visual design and style still looks nice even to this date. These games are really great for learning about ancient history and will be a great conversation starter for you and your kids. 

Master of Olympus Zeus: 

This game is very obviously about ancient Greece, so how good is it for leaning about this part of history?  You play as a ruler that has to build and run cities, this involves tasks ranging from making sure your people are fed and watered, to honouring the Gods and Goddesses with massive temples and even building a mighty military. The way the game is structured teaches useful skills in and of itself, like management and tactics but it is the history that is my main focus here.  Master of Olympus is actually reasonably Historically accurate (Given our current knowledge of the time period) it also weaves in the more mythical side of ancient Greece in an interesting and engaging way.  Some of the missions are based on recorded  events and exploits of Greek heroes detailed in the Homeric Epics. Every inch of the game is steeped in the time period it is set in, from the comical names of the people running around the city, to the often funny quotes they say.   

I think this game would be a great way in for anyone wanting to learn about ancient Greece in a fun and engaging way, its accuracies will delight and its inaccuracies will be a great talking point (especially if you get your kids to research on their own and compare and contrast what they find) it is an entertaining game with some funny jokes and references dotted throughout and boasts interesting, intuitive mechanics. It also has a nice variety of difficulty settings so you can play an easy game or go for more of a challenge.  Fair warning though I have found this game to be often utterly absorbing, it is so easy to spend hours building fantastic cities, immersed in the splendour of ancient Greece. 

I think despite its age it does hold up really well and has a reasonable price tag on GoG.com. (which I tend to use for their easy and no fuss downloads as well as pretty decent pricing.) The graphics as I mentioned are dated but still very pretty due to style.  This game will teach people (especially kids) a lot about ancient Greece passively while they are having fun but its true wealth for learning is in the detail and this game is packed with little details that are ripe for further research and conversation.  This really is an old gem of a game and if you engage with your kids using it you both will end up learning a lot!

Also worth noting is this games expansion pack Poseidon, this focuses on the God of the sea and Atlantis and while it deviates from fact and history it delves into myth and rumour. It is a very fun expansion and is a great way to learn about the myths of Atlantis.  Not quite as useful for teaching History but still great fun! It also adds a level and campaign editor which itself can passively teach a whole load of useful skills like math and design.

Pharaoh: 

Although it came out a year earlier than Zeus this game is by no means dwarfed by its younger sibling. This game is all about ancient Egypt and again is surprisingly accurate in terms of its historical content.  The controls are largely the same and equally intuitive and although a little different from Zeus it proves fairly easy to switch between the two once you have learned them.      

Once again the real gems of this game are in the details, the little jokes and references, accurate names for buildings , every inch of this game even down to the music really make you feel like you are running a city in ancient Egypt just like its younger sibling makes you feel like you are running a city in ancient Greece.  Again the passive management and tactical skills alone make it a valid game to suggest your kids try, from building military, to trading, to making alliances with other cities these two games are both, in my opinion, well in the top spot for best city building games out there.

The one and only critique I have for this game is due to the slight lack of Deity coverage. The ancient Egyptians were big on their Gods and only four of the major Gods and Goddesses are covered in great detail, though the others do get nods in some of the bigger temples.  In the light of education however this can be completely used to a parent or teachers advantage by getting kids to research on their own and compare and contrast. 

This game also has an expansion 'Cleopatra' dedicated to the female pharaoh, moving the games times setting forward.  This expansion stays pretty historically accurate and adds new and interesting features like mountain based tomb complexes.  They like Zeus + Poseidon come bundled on GoG.com for a pretty reasonable price.

I chose to cover both of these games because they are made by the same developers merely a year apart and both focus on periods of history I really love.  They both use the same mechanics and play style and are two gems when it comes to city building games.  I would highly recommend buying both and have personally spent many hours playing each, immersed in ancient Greece and Egypt alike. 

Games can be really great aids to learning and if you engage with your kids on these games you will both get a lot out of them, these make learning fun and enjoyable and should spark interest in what are two amazing periods in history!  

How to learn Japanese the nerdy way (like a boss)

Japanese... this language has fascinated me for so long, the way it sounds, the beauty of its writing, love it or hate it it's hard to deny its usefulness at the least.

So for those who are unlucky and never got the opportunity to study this in formal schooling or even for those of you who are indeed lucky enough to be doing this at school etc then lets dig in!

For all my fellow nerds out there Japanese is probably one of the most accessible and indeed useful languages out there! Want to watch your anime in subs without having to read? Better learn Japanese. Want to read imported game manuals or pre production game info? Again you are going to need to get a basic grasp. 

So what are some of the ways you can learn easily just by being your nerdy self you ask? Well believe it or not there are heaps of things you can do that will both passively and actively boost your learning of this amazing language. 

Anime: This is obvious to most people that watch anime but you really can start absorbing words without even knowing it just by watching anime. Language experts often say the best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it and for those of us that can't afford a trip to Japan anime is pretty much the next best thing.  With so many anime out there anyone can find something they like. So if your into anime already great! Keep watching and watch in Sub (Subtitles) and not Dub. If you haven't watched anime then give it a try, from love stories to adventure to space robots I promise there is an anime that will interest you out there. Again here watching it Japanese with subtitles is key. I myself have been watching anime in sub for years and can pick out and remember a tonne of words with no effort put in on my part! (Stuff like, always, everyone, dream, white, damn, I love you, I am, etc). Granted this is no substitute for actually studying it but boosting both your comprehension of sentence structure,  words and phrases with no actual work involved is a pretty sweet pay off for sitting down and watching some amazing stories. 

Ok you say so I can start to get a really basic grasp just by watching cartoons that's pretty neat and all but what I can do that is nerdy to actually study it? 

Well here are several nerdy things you can do with the help of word charts of Japanese Kanji for both Katakana and Hiragana. 

1. Pokémon Names: Have you ever wonder traded your Pokémon? Got some Japanese ones? Cool use the sheets to figure out the names of the Pokémon and the original Trainer! (write it down and keep a book) See if every now and then you can read them without using the sheet from memory!

2. Imported Games: If you have any Japanese imports use the sheets to try and figure out bits of the manual or game. (again writing it in a book can be helpful)

3. Pre-release game info:  If you love games  and the studio is releasing info before the release you can again use the charts to look up what the characters used actually spell so you can figure out what that boss is going to be and what the moves could be ahead of release!  A YouTuber Gaijin Goombah actually has a mini-series of videos on doing exactly this!

4. Last but not least you can use your internet skills! This may sound like a bit of a no-brainer but the internet is actually pretty jam packed with sites that will help you learn Japanese from Kanji sheets like the ones linked above to actual courses and lessons .

So there you have it folks! Ways to start or boost your leaning of a language just by being your fantastic nerdy self! 

Hope you enjoyed this article and as always if you want to fling me some pocket change so I can keep blogging you can donate via paypal to kara_mad@yahoo.co.uk all donations are loved and greatly appreciated. That is also the email you can get me on if you want to suggest content for me to blog about!

Minecraft Adventures: Pixelmon Mod ( Poke Frontier Sever) + Mini Reveiw

So I haven't been posting much on the blog lately (don't worry content is coming) ... the reason is I was gifted a copy of Minecraft. 

This game is unreal. Most people who don't live in a cave will get what I am talking about here its like Lego, you can build anything and the only limit is you. (Also a lot less pricey and cant be used as a booby-trap, Lego + feet = pain am I right?)

So I decided to instal a mod called Pixelmon that I heard a lot about. For anyone that likes Pokemon and owns mine craft I would check it out.

Brief mini review of Pixelmon: As I tend to do reviews here I thought it apt to do a mini review of the mod itself. Anyone who likes Pokemon will most likely get a kick out of this mod. The craftables the mod adds have really sensible recipes and look very nice, the models are nice looking and still blend well into the original game. The Pokemon models are on the whole very nice and there are some really nice nodds to fan cannon in the mod (cloning Mew gets Mewtwo but fail and get a Ditto) which long time Pokemon fans will really appreciate. The mod also has a dedicated wiki which is super helpful and the mod itself is fairly easy to instal. It can be a little buggy at times but it is being constantly updated, worked on and fixed. On the whole its a very well put together mod. If you wanna play a pokemon game but always longed for an MMO experience and love mine craft then this is your dream mod. Get it and find a server.

This brings me onto the more shameless plug bit of this post. So in the time I haven't been posting its because I followed my own advice.

I found a server and became a helper. I play on a pretty good Pixelmon sever called Poke Frontier (pokefrontier.nn.pe:25565) It's a community server with people on the whole being really friendly and helpful and also coming from all over the world! We have both Kanto and Johto maps that are pretty accurate and well built and also the gym challenge for both regions. The Gyms and the Elite four are all real people which makes it a tough but enjoyable challenge, also its totally optional. There are also drop parties and quizzes and Pokemon races held from time to time too which keeps things fun and interesting. Also a big draw for the server is that you have plenty of space to build either a faction base with all your friends or just carve out a little spot all to yourself. 

So come and join it if you think its your kind of thing! 

Now I'm going to show off my base and hopefully get you fired up to join in! 

Have a look at the awesome stuff I have made and the Pokemon I have caught, come and join in. The server even has a Youtube Channel so check it out!

RPG Maker XP Adventures (Troll Game) Update2

Ok so only a little update but I felt I would like to share the work I have done...

So apparently waterfalls in caves are not allowed to have nice bubbling endings to them.... :( I searched Google high and low to see if anyone made a custom waterfall autotile but apparently I am the only nutter that wants a lot of caves in their games...

So I was left with the only option of making one (or editing the grassy waterfall to brown pixel by pixel)

I would like to share this so no one has to go through hours of unnecessary pixel work themselves.

One fully working cave waterfall auto tile. Feel free to use in commercial and non-commercial games but please do credit (me) Nights-Rune. :)

RPG Maker XP Adventures (Troll Game) Update1

Ok so really exciting first update! Wooo....

I am working on a game about a young Troll who leaves her tribe wanting to explore the wider world. (Nope no plot spoilers here!)

So far I have been mainly working on making sprites for all the Trolls (who have long ears with fluff and tails with a fluffy tuft) and also on the MASSIVE custom tile set needed to make the Tribe's home in the caves.

Also a lot of map making has been the focus so far (because Troll tribes are very communal there are no doors or truly separate hosing so its one HUGE map for just the inside of her home)

I really like the style of RPG Maker XP. Its graphics may be a little retro but they are clean and quite pretty with a slight anime vibe to the stylization. (The above picture includes a fully animated Troll blacksmith - a sprite edited from one landofshadows produced)

I have so far animated all the fires (Trolls are really into fire) so that torches, fire places and fire pits all move as they should, which takes a long time on a massive map with many sources of light. I have made the cave screens a little bit darker than the outside but since Trolls have brilliant night vision it would not make sense if it were pitch black.

I am at a stage now where I can refine the map and add in people to make it an imersive world. So I am now spriting Trolls like mad (which is mainly adding ears and tails to original sprites) and because I want a really deep and believable world it means making a lot of non essential characters.

Note for other users of RPG Maker XP: This game is not going to be used for commercial purposes as it is my first game, as such I am using a lot of other people's source materiel from the web. I am putting together an extensive credits so that I can give people proper thanks for their work. If you do at any point see any of your stuff please let me know what it is and what name you want to be credited as! I have tried to be really thorough in my search for who to attribute work to but sometimes I haven't been able to the find the creator!  On a related note any of my edited sprites are free to use in any non commercial game, if you want to use them please credit it to Nights-Rune. Thanks so much and keep being the awesome community that you are!

I will be posting more updates on the progress of the game when interesting and non spoiler type things happen so please stay tuned and thanks for reading!

RPG Maker XP Adventures

I was in two minds about weather to blog about this or not but I decided I would. I have recently brought myself a program called RPG maker XP which I hope to use to create games. I have also signed up to a community for game devs to learn and get involved with other games. (link here for people who want it)

I have decided to showcase the work I am doing on my game and on other projects. So stay tuned for more updates.

To start I am showing off the art assets that I made for a horror project called deep within the mind (which has been shelved for now sadly)

It is only a title screen and some buttons but I am fairly pleased with how they turned out.

Review: Nemos Reef (Mobile Game)

It's been quite a while since my last review and I have been wanting to do this one for a while.

I have put it off because of the kind of game I want to review.  Hardcore gamers will probably hiss and slink back into their game caves but I am going to review a 'casual' mobile game.

For those in the dark as to what defines 'hardcore' and 'casual' games pretty much any game on a mobile can be considered casual. Hardcore games are games on PC or Consol like 'Call of Duty', 'Mario', 'World of Warcraft', 'Kingdom Hearts' They generally are things like RPG's and Shooting games and what most gamers consider 'traditional'. Casual games are things like 'Peggle', 'Plants vs Zombies' and the like, simple things like hidden object games. 

I am really not sure how most gamers feel about casual games but between my Zelda stints there are vast times where without casual games I would be left unplugged. I as a gamer I do not really like being unplugged all that often. 

So with that explanation out of the way I would like to talk about a mobile game (available on the app store and Google play store) Nemo's Reef.  A continuation on the story of Disney's movie  'Finding Nemo' where you help the little clown fish build a perfect reef. 

I am not exaggerating when I say that this game is like a digital form of crack for me. I literally have trouble putting it down. 

So what makes it so appealing you ask. Well its visuals are so bright and colourful that even though it's fairly graphically simple it still looks stunning. Yet despite all the bright and varying colours it still has a very relaxing quality.  The music is soothing and you can spend hours getting lost in the repetitive nature of completing quests and harvesting the materials needed to progress.  The game play is pretty simple (it's a kids game so no real shock there) but it's enjoyable to watch your reef expand and grow as you level, bursting with colour and fish as you discover new combos. Little fish are simple enough to get with coral combos making the reef feel alive and for any kid that gets lost watching fish tanks this game will be a winner and keep them quiet. 

 

So are there any downsides? Well yes. The game is free to play with a pay for perk currency and while it is very possible to play without spending a penny it will be very slow going and annoying as hell for anyone who is even a touch completion-ist . The rare fish are much more easily obtained with the pay for currency and there are some very good plants and nifty decorations to spend real cash on. One would think a company as big as Disney would not even need to have pay for perk system in their games but hey everyone likes a profit and the bundles they do are somewhat reasonable. On the plus side rare fish can be 'fed' to spit out a pearl (the pay for currency) around every three days for the cheapest and going down the more in game currency you sink in. The quests can be ignored completely but sometimes do demand use of the pay for currency which can get highly annoying. The game requires connection to the internet to play so if you have a Wi-Fi or cloud access you can enjoy it on the go or at home, it will eat through mobile data though so be warned of that.  Frome time to time a chest will pop up, most of them unlock with the peals (cash based) but sometimes for the in game obtainable resources , though it is worth noting that not all the ones open-able for the in game resources give better rewards than what you need to sink to open them. The flip side is that sometimes a chest will appear with no lock and will open for free, actually genuinely for free... There is a daily log in bonus, it's not the best but you get pearls starting on the third day, the bad thing about it is it resets after five days down to a really rubbish reward whereas most games keep going up or at least keep the rewards good but if you log in all five days you can net nine pearls which is better than nothing.

So on the whole would I recommend the game? Yes I would. For parents wanting a good game for their kids this will definitely keep them absorbed.  You do need to be aware that they will at some point want real money to complete things so it could be a good opportunity to teach them restraint. The way you pay for pearls is linked to your account and there is a confirmation screen but you may have to supervise the more persistent or smart child and laying down some ground rules (for any game) is never a bad idea. For adults looking for something both creative and relaxing that they can play at a whim when boredom creeps in I would say to give it a shot for gamers and non gamers alike.  It may not be the best mobile game out there but it is absorbing and utterly beautiful in terms of visuals and will suck you into hours of reef building if you let it. Also the younger of my cats seems to like playing it too! 

How to get the most out of gaming. (For parents who worry about gamer kids)

It can be a little daunting being a parent in the modern world, with your kids wanting the latest consol for Christmas, spending days glued in front of a TV blasting enemies or jumping bright coloured platforms.

Do you feel like you can't relate to them or worry that they aren't getting anything from the experience other than entertainment? Well there are some simple ways you can put your mind at ease.

Take an interest: This may be really hard to do when your young child is constantly babbling at you about brightly coloured monsters or when your teen is talking about how they 'pwnd' all the enemies and got a lot of head shots but ask them what they are playing and what they like about it. There may be surprising ways you can turn it into a positive experience for them or for both of you! For example if your teen really likes war games, talk to them about the period its depicting, the differences of real verses game world. Any WW2 game can open up a dialog on that part of history, tell them about any relatives that were alive back then, show them family medals from then if you have them. Find out why your child likes the games and talk to them. Maybe the reason your son or daughter likes the monster games is because they take care of them or maybe they enjoy the story, you won't know unless you ask and believe me they will relish in telling you all about it. 

Play together: If you are into games this is easier, Love an old Mario or some other retro game? Take turns in playing it with your kid or better still find a co-op, they will have fun seeing what you like and trying to do it as well as you if not better. If you are not into games this can be a little scary but ask your child to teach you or show you, they will get a massive kick out of feeling so accomplished and helping a grown-up and you get to see how smart they actually are.  

Offer help: Knowing that a parent has your back, even if it's just that you can snuggle on the sofa, safe in the knowledge that they will Google an answer for you when you get stuck, really means a lot to a child. It shows that not only are you interested in them but that you are there for them too! Here is where gamer parent's actually fall over, yes they may have fallen down the same pit at least a hundred times but accept if they don't take you up on your offer of assistance, do help them if they really are stuck but try to encourage them to solve the puzzle or jump a gap on their own. Be supportive and encouraging, as tempting as it is to do it for them, they won't learn or grow if you help them out the moment they become stuck, allow them to progress on their own at their own pace, be supportive if they fail, they will get there in end, no matter how annoying you find the game over music. 

Encourage deeper research:  Tones of games have interesting facts hidden in them, they are a great way to encourage your child to research deeper into things, be it finding all the secret arrears on a walkthrough or learning about the meaning of the names of certain characters; for example in one game a character was called Yggdrasil, this opens up a whole area of research on Norse mythology that you can explore together and may even give you both a deeper understanding of some parts of the game. I myself would not know some of the things I do now if I hadn't seen it in a game and researched it.  You can even weave some games into your child's education, for example if they are studying samurai at school then why not play something Like Shogun Total War and bring that part of history to life in a small way? There are so many games with so many subjects that even pure entertainment games can be an opportunity to educate. 

Pick age appropriate games:  It's very easy to blame games for having a bad effect on your kids but be mindful of the age ratings on games, they are there for a reason and are too often ignored. Can your child really handle the content of the 18 rated game they are bugging you for at the age of 12? A smart way to make informed choices is to play a little yourself or ask the staff in the shop what they think of it. There are games out there that can give very positive life lessons about friendship, love, sacrifice, teamwork and a whole host of other things. For example the game 'Tales of Symphonia' is packed with positive lessons like how to be brave and selfless. Read reviews and make informed choices about the games you actually let your kids play. 

Get the whole family involved: Party games can be a really great way to spend family nights in and they are becoming more and more accessible to non gamers . Why not have a Wii Sports night where even Grandma and Grandpa join in with the bowling? There are plenty of party games that you can enjoy as a family that are not just fun at Christmas or parties but great for family nights in!

So there you go, the key things to keep in mind are; listen, try and relate even in a small or remote way, be supportive, be encouraging, make informed choices on the games they play, get involved if you can, and if you can find an educating tie in go for it!

Update: I will be doing spotlights on games that can help education the first of which is now here. 

How (NOT) to be a 'Huntard' in WoW (A simple guide)

If you live on planet earth and have not been living under a rock with your fingers in your ears the whole time, it is safe to assume that you have at least heard of the MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Play Game) World of Warcraft. It's a great game and is incredibly addictive populated by many ages of players from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. However there is a blight so insidious to this universe of Orks Elves and Dwarves that the fanbase has even created a moniker for such players. This dear friends is the blight known as 'huntards' to give a little bit more explanation WoW works on a system where you pick a race and a class, i.e. rouge, monk, hunter, warrior, druid etc.The problem arises from the fact that each class is unique in some way and can take time to master. Hunters however (of whatever race) seem to get the most flack and sadly, more often than not, it's well deserved.

So without further ado here is a handy Do's and Do not's list to help make WoW a better place for you and all the other players that have ever run into a wall or mob because someone has left their aspect of the pack on.

DO: Be mindful of your aspect, Hunters all have three aspects (1, the hawk - for when you are shooting things, 2, the cheetah - for when you need to run faster, 3, the pack - for when all your friends need to run faster) I know this may sound simple but forgetting to switch from pack to anything else can actually wipe a party, as the increased movement speed can make you run into mobs or walls, not to mention the stun when you get hit. It's easy to forget in the commotions of raids but pay attention. There is also a glyph that gives you a mini pet for a little bit when you switch aspects if you need a visual clue. (or just like the tart value)Stay mindful of your aspects!

DO NOT: Leave your pets growl on in a raid or dungeon! A hunter is a DPS class and as such is there to do steady damage while the tank of the party gets butchered. Growl pulls agg (threat level) away from the tank making their life a nightmare as they try to keep the mobs attention on them. As funny as it is to see the tank lose their marbles trying to work out why they are not holding the attention of the mob, please remember that you are making their life harder and putting your team at risk of a wipe.

DO: Have your pets growl on when you are solo in the field. This is the true reason they have this ability, to tack the flack off you. When you are solo have your pet have growl on so that things munch on them instead of you. If it's hard to remember to switch it on and off use a curiosity or ferocity for raiding and tenacity pets for solo questing, that way you can leave the raiding pet's growl off permanently.

DO NOT: Multi-shot or barrage randomly, I know this sounds like a no brainer but things that hit multiple targets can get you in a lot of trouble if you don't pick your moments...

DO: Arcane shot everything in the face, lots! No really just do.

DO: Keep an eye on your focus, you can recharge it with certain shots and abilities as you level. This is a bit of a no brainer but you need this to use anything so keep an eye on it.

DO: Camp out at rare pet spawns, they are annoying and you will want at least one so find the one you want and camp it till you get it.

DO NOT: Be a dick and kill rare pets if another hunter is taming it. I mean come on! How would you like it if you were a few seconds away from getting the rare pet you always wanted and someone killed it out of spite? It happens far too often and its petty and annoying! If a hunter is taming the pet you want either walk away or be cordial and congratulate them. Don't be a giant dick!

Note: The proper use of Misdirect, Hunters have this ability where they can shift a mobs attention to a specific target. Misdirecting onto a tank and then letting off a multi-shot will make all the things you hit run at the tank, this is very useful in raids. In the field it's a great way to attention off you and back onto your pet, because if things are chewing your ankles off, odds on its all gone a bit runny... Don't, as funny as it is, Misdirect onto a healer... ever!

So there you have it a small list of things that around 80% of hunters seem to ignore, basically use your common sense, pay attention, don't be an ass-hat and you will be playing this class properly as a true hunter!

Media Review - Alice: Madness Returns

So it's been ages since I have written a media review... this is for two main reasons;

1) At this stage I don't think anyone actually subscribes / reads this blog

2) I currently don't have sufficient money to buy a new game to review each month.  Yes I am well aware that I don't have to review current games or even games at all but it is the most relevant topic and also the most fun to review. 

So why I am still doing reviews? Basically so that I don't go rusty. 

Alice: Madness Returns

The sequel to the original American McGee's Alice a game for PC released in 2000, it  markets itself as a 'physiological horror' however it plays more like a platform-puzzler with some very familiar elements of all the best bits of well loved retro platformers mixed with challenging yet enjoyable 3D platforming. 

I had played the original game as a teen and remember being thrilled with the darker take on Alice's Adventures.  So eventually I decided to treat myself to the sequel after seeing the screenshots and being hooked by just how lovely the graphics were... I admit that, while a game can be retro and not have amazing graphics if it has a good storyline and smooth mechanics, I am a little bit of a sucker when it comes to good graphics. Often this trait, given the state of the gaming industry currently, has lead to disappointment. 

With 'Alice: Madness Returns' however finally I have not been disappointed!  The story is intriguing and polished, the yo-yo between 'real' and wonderland is all at once jarring and smooth and wonderfully, utterly, creepy in some parts.  The game weaves bits of reality into the explanation of wonderland in a fascinating and meaningful way and you never quite know when Alice will next plunge into madness.  So the story gets my approval, what about the mechanics? 

Well this is a tough question. I do not (as much as would like) have a gaming keyboard. So playing with a keyboard I decided to start off on easy, thinking this would compensate for my keyboards age and breed... I was pleasantly surprised to find that the actual default setup was very intuitive, comfortable and flowing! In the past I have played games that actually hurt you to play because of the keys required to complete actions.  But on keyboard this game makes sense, it feels right and good! However I was still finding things hard, I presumed my lack of accuracy was because of being rusty using a keyboard to control the game... this was until a one incident where, not pressing any keys, Alice jumped herself off a cliff...  My poor 'w' key so sick of being abused decided to exert its own freewill... My non-gaming keyboard, when being asked to register more than two keys at time, was having an aneurism! This resulted in death, multiple do-over's and some very funny incidences (also the decision that when I have more cash a new keyboard may be a wise investment) but ultimately a decision to plug in the x-box controller and give my poor old keyboard a break... The game handles very well on a controller and feels more nostalgic and classically game-y that way. I did keep the keyboard nearby however as the game lets you use both, a feature that I found pleasing. As long as you have a good gaming keyboard the game is easily and comfortably playable on both keyboard or controller! A trait sadly more PC games do not share... 

So how good are the graphics? Well I find it hard to tare myself away from the stunning environments and do things like drink and eat!  Some of the locations are just so breathtaking that it's almost a shame you have to leave them. Likewise some of the darker and more twisted locals are jaw-dropingly detailed, so much so that you don't know whether to flee or explore and even the 'real life' sections that are mostly in sepia hues look gorgeous. The fact that it looks so good really softened the blow for me when my decrepit keyboard had pitched a fit and walked me off a ledge for the 10th time, It may have been annoying to walk all the way back to the start of the platforms but at least the scenery was stunning. 

So to sum it up it is a very good game! It has enough combat and weapon choices to keep the fights entertaining (the weapons are brilliant by the way) and enough hidden secrets and puzzles to keep my brain engaged. It mixes some of the best elements of 2D and 3D platforming with a highly polished story and visuals.  So as a game its fun and engaging and while the horror aspect of it is a little lost on me (not that I don't love how dark and twisted it is, in fact that's maybe why) the subtle psychological nods are very satisfying. Games as good as this I feel lend weight to the 'Games are Art' argument...

It can't be all bad being a gamer...

 Yes I know I post a lot of talks but TED is so full of clever stuff:

Daphne Bavelier: Your brain on video games #TED : http://on.ted.com/mH3l

Felt like sharing another TED talk. I always find the most inspiring things. So apparently video games have positive effects on eyesight and could make you a better driver. Its a shame they only focused on action games but is really interesting food for thought.

Monthly Media Review Nov 2011: Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword + Wii

The Explaining: 

So I have recently brought myself the limited bundle of the Skyward Sword game. I feel that in this review I may need to explain two reasons as to why I brought this game, firstly I am an avid Zelda fan and secondly because of this video on YouTube...

I know it would be weird to have only watched a spoof trailer and then based on that decided to buy not only the game but a limited edition bundle of it and also (out of necessity) HAVE to buy the accompanying console but somehow this funny video fired up in me the desire to buy it, it reminded me how much I genuinely enjoy the Zelda games. 

I should also probably explain why I haven't until now bothered to buy the Nintendo Wii... I am very much into retro gaming (odd for someone that likes the idea of augmented reality so much I know) and in my misguided youth I was adamant that video games were to be played sitting down with a D-pad style controller! (In fact this belief was why I opted for the previous Zelda title 'Twilight Princess' on my game cube instead of getting a Wii.) So naturally it was with a considerable amount of apprehension that I brought my newest addition to my horde of consoles. 

The Wii:

So what do I actually think of the Wii? Well allow me to lay my nostalgia goggles to the side for a moment... It is fun! Plain and simple, yes it is gimmicky but so what? I enjoy the gimmick now that I have stopped griping about it long enough to do so.  One of the things that strikes me about it is just how sociable it is, lots of my friends have played it with me, including most notably my friends' children who are around 4ish. It has also on occasions resulted in us laughing together so hard that we can't breathe! Having said this I am glad that I did not buy one when they initially were launched! I remember my friends Wii as being very overrated, mainly because of the utter lack of sensitivity in the motion sensors. This problem seems have to have been solved with the new Wii-motes as mine not only actually respond (something my friends first ever Wii failed to do on a regular basis) but they respond brilliantly, Also I think a noteworthy addition to the Wii-motes are the new rubber grip sleeves; Nintendo obviously learned from the number of Wii-mote related accidents and injuries that happened on first release.   

  

So on to Zelda! 

Graphics:

As far a graphics go this one is a winner for me right from the get go. The art is a wonderful fusion of the Wind Waker's cell shading and Twilight Princess's more adult style. The blending of the two styles gives it a very rich painterly feel that is not to childish and not too serious but very visually pleasing. Also the water looks lovely! (Yes I judge games on water graphics...)

Sound:

Sound wise I have rarely ever been able to fault a Zelda game since Ocarina of Time since in terms of sound this game set a high benchmark that has always been upheld. It sounds like a Legend of Zelda game should and that is generally adventurous and altogether epic! It is beautifully scored like I expected it to be.

Game play:

Game play wise they have mixed things up a fair amount. Starting with six hearts instead of the normal three made me instantly worried that they had made the game far too easy, however to my complete relief this was not the case and the extra hearts came in handy as I clumsily hacked at Moblins. The controls were new to me and although strange were instantly smooth and terribly satisfying for something I had always held to be gimmicky. Cutting down enemies is so much more satisfying when you are physically swinging for them and the 'flailing' proved to be very intuitive and actually fairly true to life. The new level of skill this requires personally only heightens the level of enjoyment for me. I haven't got very far in the game if I am honest because I can't play it as much as I want too... but I have been pleasantly surprised so far with the array of items they have included with some brilliant new ones alongside classic favorites such as the slingshot. The story so far has also been very engaging and has included (in a good way) a lot of fan service although the main character reveal was done very quickly making me thing that there will be some dramatic plot twist somewhere. The world environment of Links home Skyloft is stunning and swan diving off of it into the clouds is incredible fun. The puzzle element plays like any other Zelda title apart from the Wii-mote waggling dependent puzzles (putting a key in a door has so far been THE HARDEST thing in the game I have ever done!) There are a few familiar faces in the people that inhabit the game world (good gods Nintendo why inflict Beedle on us AGAIN!? ;p) but mainly the people are original to this title which is nice.         

So overall this game is a fantastic game if you're a fan of Zelda, if you're not objectively I would say it's a very nice game to start with. (Nostalgia goggles in place I would demand you start with Ocarina of Time) It is a good solid Zelda title that proves to be enjoyable and involving.

About the Special Addition Extras:

Included in the bundle was the Golden Wii-mote and the 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD. The CD is awesome and not what I expected at all. It has a mix of tracks that covers most of the titles where I was thinking it would just be orchestral versions of the Ocarina songs. The mix is good enough to appeal any Zelda fan and maybe even some classical music fans to. I am not sure whether others would like it but I love it! As for the limited edition Wii-mote (or the Golden Wii-mote of Doom as it has become known) I am not sure what to say... I am not a fan of the colour Gold overly and consider it tacky in consoles yet I love my golden Wii-mote of Doom... maybe it's because its limited I am not sure or maybe just because it appeals to the fan side of me... the point is it works and it is very nice looking despite my hatred for gold controllers.

Am I happy I got the limited edition? HELL YES (but I'd have liked a few stickers or artwork in there too)   

   

Monthly Media Review: The Endless Forest

This is my first of (I hope) many 'monthly media reviews' I have started this practice because it's relevant to my Degree. I am open to suggestions of what to review so please feel free to email me. This month I have decided to review a free to play, Arts Project / MMO / Game that I randomly found a while ago called The Endless Forest.

The Endless Forest feels more like being lost in a painting than playing an MMO but this is part of what makes it so appealing . The game itself is an art project from an independent games studio aptly named Tale of Tales located in Ghent, Belgium.

In The Endless Forest you play as a dear with a human type face that reminds me a little of Ooccoo (Picture left) from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. At first it was a bit odd to look at however it soon becomes very natural and the painterly quality of the forest is very absorbing. When you start off you are a faun for around a month in which time you can get a few different horns for a little while. When you have been a user for over a month you then mature into a stag with the potential to have lots of different horns, fur colours and masks. These are given player to player at random and the way to activate them is by eating special fruit.

One of the most impressive and quirky things is the way you interact with other dear of the forest, there is a set number of animations in a very easy to use interface that let you do things like; cry out, dance, bow, shake or nod your head, paw at the ground and so on. The lack of a text box is actually very refreshing and also means there are no such things as language barriers or spam. It is incredibly freeing!

You 'name' your dear with a little glyph that appears as a if a halo between your antlers this way you can be identified and when you 'call' for others or 'listen' their glyphs will also appear. This again is very freeing as there isn't a need to worry about a name yet it is also creative and expressive.

One of its main differences to a regular MMO is that it is completely free of the goal or quest driven monotony that has come to be staple and while I am not saying that the quest driven systems are bad it is refreshing to play a game where you do just that... play... no need to level grind or train skills, it is simply and wondrously just a place to play and explore.

Talking of exploring the forest has quite a few zones to wander around in and all of them are visually lush. It genuinely feels like walking around in a painting and in fact some paintings have been inspirational to some of the places you can explore.

The sound used in game further builds on the natural depth and beauty of the environments created, sticking with very natural or ethereal noises things that you would hear in a forest or expect to hear near a Fae circle! The sounds blend well together and offer a peaceful atmosphere, a sort of quietude that is still vibrant and alive with nature.

To summarise The Endless Forest is a very relaxing and innovative arts game, quite possibly the most interesting screen saver I have seen and something that is very much worth downloading. it's something I would consider more of an experience than a game since it's very possible to get lost in the immersive and changeable scenery. 

Here is me in game: 

Rant- Retro Gaming and Nostalgia Goggles.

So wandering the interwebs as I am want to do I have come across a raging debate in the gaming community about retro games compared to the new games. Now I am not above the occasional "in my day we only had three lives and liked it" kind of comment or feeling (being raised in the era of Mega Drive and SNES) but it truly baffles me just how much some people get so angry about the fact games have progressed.

It seems a large amount of the gamer community is just so stuck in their ways that it sparks aggression just suggesting change.

I truly wonder if these people are the same ones that as children dreamed of VR-headsets and having personal robots... If they were how did that spark die?

Now this post was spawned by this YouTube vid:

It's witty and funny and part of me can't help but agree with the some of the sentiment. However having actually played Hart Gold I can say that I give full thumbs up for remakes!

I like the fact that games have and will continue to progress, its a good thing and gets me one step closer to my VR-headset!