Addicted to Games?

Is it me or is it the games that had myself drawn into the computer gaming scene? Apparently I've been playing video games throughout those years as it's going to offer that constant pleasure and could last for a while. It seems nowaday that it could be classified as a hobby, sports or part of the daily life, but that's not the case.

Over the past few days, BBC Panorama aired an episode about the rise of gaming addiction. Specifically it explores the impact on how video games become part of the everyday life and youth culture. It also includes individuals that became so obsess with the growth of online gaming and staffs' view regarding the prospect that video games has in the modern society that we're living in. Here it is:





Although it's often compared to alcohols and cigarettes, it's likely to be something stimulating within your social life. For instant you're going to get drawn into it a lot and cannot break free from the immersity of a particular game. So far we already had students that experienced damaging effect as they unable to keep up with their university studies and faced difficulties with their social issues.

What's even more intriguing is how it became the subject of uncertainty as obssessive gamers miraculously died from hours of gaming without any sleep or abandon their children in favour of gaming. It left the question mark on whether their fate would have consequences that will be unjustified. Otherwise the addiction had already took over their lives as it consider to be uncontrollable.

Plus it does reflect on how we adapt to these new gadgets and technology of the present days. For example how video games defined the modern society and community that we're living in. I assume everybody had already owned most of those current-gen consoles as it could be indispensable to them. And what I mean by indispensable? They won't let go of it. Plus it does mean one thing: looks like everybody are connected and ready for some online gaming!

Call of Duty: Black Ops - Multiplayer revealed!

The expectation had grew so much over the past few weeks as the trailers kept coming. That's right, the video clips regarding the online multiplayer is now available to watch as it's gets very exciting. Starting with the short teaser that was shown last month:



Plus we have the insight on the Wager Match, which is a new feature that allows you to undergo several challenging matches by gamble the amount of currency you earned during online multiplayer:



Finally an exclusive interview with the Treyarch staffs as they talked about the features of the forthcoming release:



So much details have already been revealed. Can't wait for this one to come out!

Hand Baked Arcade - feedback

It took place over the weekend and was filled with expectation: chip tunes and retro gaming! Yep a lot of people turn up for this one day event and the room was getting packed after it was opened. So that's why the Future Gallery was intended for as it developed that innovation within the social space.

What did I saw there? There was Robocod and Streets of Rage projected on the wall; The plug-in version of Tetris and the table arcade cabinet to allows you to choose any random games to play on. One of the highlights was going on the winning streak with Street Fighter II Turbo. It's been a while I haven't play this fighting game as it was considered to be a classic. I assume the key to that success was due to converting onto the home console as the SNES port was incredibly superior and closest to arcade perfection. Plus it became part of the bundle pack in which Super Mario World and Super Mario All-Stars is also available in other packaging.

Good to see Sami Cetin again, the Super Mario Kart specialist who gave some demonstration with the driving lessons. Yep Super Mario Kart is another of my favourite racing game that boosted the Mario franchise and it looks brilliant in Mode 7. Plus I got loaded with some light gun action as Operation Wolf was available to play on the Master System. It was back to the 8-bit era and was great to use the Light Phaser again as it works really well, but doesn't beat the Mini Uzi in the arcade version. Although I was unable to complete the game, it was fun stuff indeed.

I must say it went really well in terms of atmosphere and generating modern society. Everyone are likely to revisit vintage gaming no matter how much you yearned for the past. Don't know when the next event is coming, but I'll look out for it.

Retro Computer Games Festival - feedback

It's the time where classic video games is on the verge of disappearing into the mist as we move on to the current gens. During the past few days there's an event going on at Ash Hall and it became the venue for one thing... retro gaming! That's right, a whole day of retro gaming as I decided to recapped the event from Retro Computer Games Festival.

It was my first time that I went to these retro gaming events and it considered to be very promising. Although it took place at the old building, there were several arcade cabinets available in the main hall including the Neo Geo MVS and MAME. Loads of Xboxs were set up too as Halo 2 was the pick of the bunch if you're up for some multiplayer mayhem.

Into the next room, I can't believed the machines were there. From 8-bit to 16-bit, it sprang from different generations as it included the Amiga, C64, NES, Master System, Mega Drive, SNES and several others. Good to see the PC Engine there too as it's one of the consoles that I never own (and likely to be very rare). Thankfully Bomberman was playable as I first played it on the Amiga under the title Dyna Blaster.

As the World Cup theme build up, I had a go on Super Sidekick II for the NeoGeo. Very impressive football game that seemed to be compared to the ISS series. The next half gets interesting as I played the Amiga version of Sensible Soccer. Played with someone, it proved to be an exciting match as it turned into a five-goal thriller.

Then came the moment as I finally met some forum members for first time. It includes boggyb68 as we discussed about online Call of Duty 4; woody.cool as I played him on Super Street Fighter II and won five matches; and Sami Cetin, who is the current record holder on Super Mario Kart as he gave tutorials about the time trial. Also I met witchfinder, Grizzly, filecore, Arcadian, StarshipUK and few others. Plus any chance of meeting I_Need_A_Girlfriend? Who knows?

Finally I like to say thank you to Matt Brown for organising the event which went really well. I had a great time there and hope to pop around for some more vintage gaming in the future.

Pass... dribble... shoot... goal!!!

It's not long until the 2010 World Cup and it'll be exciting. There have been so many football (or soccer if you're living in the States) games that were released over the years. It's all about gaining possession, being creative with passing and scoring spectacular goals as I decided to picked some of my favourite football games.

Starting with Super Kick-Off, notably released on the Master System. The gameplay is very much based on control as the aftertouch is introduce and allows more creative freedom with the ball including steady dribbling and dummy.



Next up Sensible Soccer. Graphic is just like the ones from the Kick-Off series as the sprites is slightly smaller. Can't believe how fluid the movement was and it felt very pacey. Great gameplay as the passing became very slick and the control is incredible. Plus you can even score goals from long range too which makes it very interesting.



Finally onto International Super Soccer, which captured my attention for the SNES. It has everything that made this game so special: incredible graphics, great sound effects, fluid speed, solid gameplay. What more can you ask for? This has to be the pinnacle of all football games and considered to be a classic.

Another new map pack coming!

After the success of the Stimulus Package, Infinity Ward decided to add another downloadable contents to Modern Warfare 2 and yet again is exclusive to Xbox Live. Known as the Resurgence Package, three new maps have been confirmed as we're getting Fuel, an oil refinery; Trailer Park, a mobile home park; and Carnival, a desolated amusement park. Plus we see the return of the Strike and Vacant maps from Call of Duty 4 as it's been updated recently. The price (like previously) is 1200 points and is available to buy on 3rd June 2010. Here's the preview clip for more info:

Happy Birthday Pac-Man!

Today marks the 30th anniversary of Namco's most iconic mascot as he made a name for himself at the start of the 80s. Famous for his big, round yellow appearance (although it was inspired by a pizza), you can easily get a lot out of him as he's always up for some feast eating action. From pills to fruits and encountering these pesky ghosts, there's no doubt that you can defined the addictive gameplay and would be considered very memorable.

My first impression of the Pac-Man video game is that it had a very interesting concept that cannot be ignored. Because it used very limited colours, it does clarify the graphics being bold in terms of simplicity and yet it can be an easy-made game which prove to be something special. The sound plays a big part too as it adapts to this continous rhythm while eating the pills. Strangely the ghosts seemed to make those odd siren noise as if they going to arrest the main protagonist. That's okay as you can always waka, waka, waka, waka...



As for the bonus you can play the actual game on the Google page, which is available on this link. Enjoy!

The future awaits for Ghost Recon

It's been a while since the last game and it was a phenonemal success. After all that waiting, it's been confirmed that the forthcoming game Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will be ready for 31st March 2011. Although it was originally planned for release this year, the decision to move it was believed that it could lead to the game be drafted in "a very competitve enviroment". (link)

Set in the future, it completely move away from the modern era as the change in direction will clarify the concept. According to the press, it will promises "cutting-edge technology, prototype high-tech weaponry, and state-of-the-art single-player and multiplayer modes". (link)

Teasers trailers are here to watch:





An exclusive interview with the Ubisoft staffs is available as they discussed about the background of the game and the update within the concept that differs from the previous Ghost Recon game:

Call of Duty: Black Ops - Here comes a new chapter!

Finally a new COD game has been confirmed. As it goes by the title Call of Duty: Black Ops, Treyarch are hoping to take it to the next level after its potential success with Call of Duty: World at War. Mark Lamia, Studio Head, stated that "he can't wait for our community to experience Call of Duty: Black Ops". He also added: "We have focused our entire studio on this game, with dedicated multiplayer, single-player and co-op teams creating the most intense, gripping and riveting experience possible for our fans on all fronts." (link)

There were rumours regarding about the setting taking place in the Cold War and Vietnam War. According to Eurogamer, in which the description was found at GAME website:

"Now you will witness the birth of the Elite Special Forces and take part in off-the-record missions using unconventional weaponry to get the job done! From Cuba to the Arctic and the jungles of Vietnam, Call of Duty: Black Ops features stunning cinematic graphics and intense gameplay that puts you right at the heart of the action". (link)

This teaser trailer does evidence it:



Also having to be premiered on Tuesday, Here's another new trailer:



Looks very stunning at the moment and will be release on 9th Novemeber 2010.

When pre-own keeps growing

Over the years the introduction of second-hand items has already rised in retail stores and now supermarkets. It's another alternatives as it gives you the chance to see what you can find and hopefully get something out of it. Would this consider to be a good move for big names such as HMV and GAME?

What's more intriguing is that when you pick up a brand new game (possibly sealed), it could instantly be replaced by a second-hand copy and it'll make customers feel very unsatisfied with the purchase. Plus it seemed to be overpriced nowadays as it become very appalling in terms of condition and quality. Who'd intend to pay £34 for a pre-own copy of Modern Warfare 2? Last month GAME store have made a mistake by taking another direction and according to Max Console, it's true that it 'admitted to selling ex-display stock as NEW!' (see this link). Even more interesting is that it's seems to be compared to piracy recently and if you look at the shelves (not matter if you're at Gamestation, HMV) it seemed to overtook new release titles (more link).

Personally I think it's a risk for the business as it's likely to be overlooked by customers who don't intend to buy items that's already been used (unless you lucky enough to get it in very good condition). Kind to think about it, what can you get out of the disc that's already been badly scratched or case that looks very tacky and cracked aroung the edge? Are these stores making enough profits out of it?

When Marvel meets Capcom... again!

Yet another 2D fighting game is going to be available on the next-gen console as Capcom once again collaborates with Marvel for its forthcoming sequel. After nearly ten years since the previous game, it's been confirmed that Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds is due for release next year and could be the answer to the Wii's version of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom as it never got ported on the Xbox 360 or PS3. It doesn't get any better as our favourite characters from both brand are back for this new outing as the rosters keeps growing, giving you the opportunity to play as Ryu, Wolverine, Strider, Spiderman and many more. Plus there're some surprising characters as Chris Redfield from Resident Evil and Dante of the Devil May Cry series are among those playable characters, which can be very interesting. Here's the teaser trailer:

Gears of War 3 - The epic battle continues...

A new teaser trailer has been revealed as the war between the Delta Squad and Locusts continues as we'll see more blood-splattering action in the forthcoming sequel. This could be the final outing for Fenix, Dom and co as Cliff Blezinski, Design Director, stated at the press that "this is definitely the biggest and most dramatic chapter yet in the 'Gears of War' saga, and we can't wait to deliver it." (link) It'll be interesting to see how the game end and we'll find out when it release in April next year. Here it is:

New map pack and Double XP Week confirmed!

I can't believe Modern Warfare 2 still get hours of play thanks to the online multiplayer. As the new downloadable content is due for release on the Xbox 360 next week, what can we expect from it? Known as the Stimulus Package, here's the exclusive preview of the three new maps:



It cannot get any better as we see the return of two old maps from COD4. It's confirmed that Crash, a war-torn urban environment; and Overgrown, which features a massive dry creek bed, have been included to complete the package. As it's considered to be a popular choice among with gamers, it's a pity that Chinatown, Pipeline or Vacant didn't get picked as it was my favourite, but I can live with it as this new pack will promise to be interesting in terms of popular demands.

Also to promote the new downloadable pack (which cost 1200 points), the Double XP Week will take place from 2nd April until 5th April (link) and it's only available on the Xbox 360 version. It gives everybody the opportunity to level up as quickly as possible, especially if you're playing Domination or Headquarters mode!

The rise of multiplayers

Ever since Doom first hit the streets back in 1993, who knows where it went from there? Playing with millions of people around the world, it's the matter of getting everybody together as it does create this huge gaming society and community.

Before we had the internet, gaming session was very minimum in terms of limitation and coherency and the anwser to this was to add another player. Originally taking turns on Space Invaders and Pac-Man require so much waiting and it doesn't felt convenient at all. Plus you never know if you're going to get your turn as you watch other gamers spent hours on the machine without dying.

A new solution was made as the introduction of simultaneous two player option became available in most arcade cabinets and home consoles. It's a very clever feature that allows you to play with a friend as you can help each other get pass certain obstacles on any game of your choice. For example, scrolling beat em' up game such as Final Fight earns that recognition as you come across several enemies on each stage, which can get crowded. Plus it doesn't get any better as you kick ass from the beginning until the end:



Alternatively, it was followed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and X-Men that allows up to four-six players to join in simultaneously:





It's not just scrolling beat 'em up that earns a lot of applaudics, the introduction of the Bomberman series was phenomenal. First played on the Amiga under the title Dyna Blaster, it was highly recognised for its famous battle mode and it indeed defined the fun loving gameplay. Choosing from customizable characters and picking up items such as firepower, boxing gloves and rollerskate, it proves to be a worthy classic as it offers that pleasurable moment. Plus who could forget the incredible ten player option found on the Saturn version:



Here we have some first-person shooters that became massive after its release. And yep it introduces the much awaited deathmatch mode that allows you to go head-to-head with anybody, who has what it takes to be in the true gaming league. As you battle out for the top spot or most points, who knows what the outcome would be? Observing the indoor setting of narrow corridors, wide rooms and the open environments featuring mountains and forest, everybody will experience the intensity as bullets are going to fly everywhere! Here we have the four player split-screen action found in GoldenEye 007 for the N64, which was very memorable and definite choice for everyone:



Also when the internet first arrive in the mid 90s, what can you expect from there as the online multiplayer was available for the first time. Plus we're likely to see plenty of bloodfest found on the ever popular Doom and if you're lucky to own the game back then, you could always come back to it and it would be considered a cult classic:



It's just unbelievable as the expansion of more players keep flooding in. It brings in that inclusion that gaming does have the continuity to build up from its predecessor whether you love Doom, Quake, or the current Call of Duty title. As we usually play with friends in front of the TV, what would the chance be nowadays as I enjoyed four controllers plugged into the console. Since the arrival of Xbox Live and PSN, it already took multiplayers to another level. Plus I never got around to play four player deathmatch on GoldenEye 007 at all and I been hooked with online Modern Warfare 2 ever since. Will have to get a space to switch back to these old gaming basis one day.

The discovery of emulation

I assume everybody wondered about whether they can play their favourite video games again. The only way to do it: dig out any consoles you had for a long time and adapt to the physical presence of the yesteryears. However, some might have trouble with their loved machines as it could be put on sale, broke down or struck by technical problems. Alternatively, I came across a very interesting discovery.

I recalled the start of the 21st century as I studied at the Sixth Form Centre. During IT lesson, I was on the computer and when I opened the disc tray, I found a blank CD which wasn't labelled. What could be on that disc? Didn't know what was on it, I decided to take it home once lesson finished. As soon as I got home, I boot up the computer and the revelation had finally arrive! The introduction of the emulator, known as Snes9x (DOS version), open up the pathway as it gives you the opportunity to play classic games on the PC for the first time. Luck cannot get any better as I found Super Metroid, Super Mario Allstars and Super Mario World on that disc too. From there and having to adapt to the controls through keyboard, I became hooked to the monitor ever since! :D

The alternatives of playing retro video games kept coming and revival is going to be important to everybody. It's the matter of reliving those existed periods, no matter what generation you came from or the era you grew up with. And yet bringing back what you've experienced over those years can be fulfill and it's all thanks to those nostalgic value.

2010 - Here it comes!

I'd like to wish everybody a Happy New Year. I can't believe the time had went so quick since entering the 21st century and the decade had already passed. Now the question is: what can we expect from 2010?

Starting with the forthcoming releases, Bayonetta is just around the corner as it's going to be a smasher once it arrive on the shelves this week. And yet it's going to draw slight comparison with other titles such as Ninja Gaiden 2 and the Devil May Cry series. As the leading heroine seem to across between Dante and Lara Croft, what can we expect from this outing?

Further updates confirmed that Super Street Fighter IV is going to be delayed for few weeks (or months) as it's still under development. According to MTV (see this link), it's believed that Capcom changed their plans to "avoid competing with the major titles that other companies plan to introduce," "preserve the value of Capcom’s titles and maximize sales volume" and "expand the lineup of titles in the next fiscal year and afterward." Also mentioned was Dead Rising 2 and Lost Planet 2, which again been pushed back to further date.

Another news have been confirmed that Gran Turismo 5, the most anticipated driving simulation game, will be due for release in Japan this March, and in the States during the summer. Already have the arrival of Forza Motorsport 3, I assume Gran Turismo 5 will face competition with its opposite racer and despite the rivalry, these two titles both have that unique quality within the concept and realistic gameplay.

As for downloadable packs, the new multiplayer maps for Modern Warfare 2 will be available on XboxLive and PSN around Spring. Mike Griffin, President and CEO of Activision Publishing, stated on IGN (link): "We plan to launch two separate map packs for this title. Map packs help extend the shelf life of the franchise, as evidence by the strong catalog sales and premium pricing that we maintained a year and a half after launch."

Would be interesting to see what the new maps look like as I wouldn't mind the return of Chinatown.