Satoru Iwata - The Happiness Behind Nintendo

Satoru Iwata passed away yesterday, July 11, 2015. Nintendo has released a statement that he passed away due to a tumor in his bile duct at the age of 55.

I never got to meet Iwata-san. Truth be told, I knew about him as the President and CEO of Nintendo, my favorite gaming company. He worked on games that became part of the childhood of millions like Earthbound, Kirby, Balloon Fight, and would later work on Pokemon, Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing. Take a moment to look at the titles I listed. I guarantee you can recall at least one character from those franchises combined, whether it be Link, Pikachu, the Villager, Meta Knight or Ness.

Iwata is one of the main reasons that Super Smash Brothers Melee finished on time, and he was the reason Pokemon Gold/Silver/Crystal had a second region to go to, the Kanto Region from the original Red/Blue/Yellow. Linger on that thought, it was the only major Pokemon game to date to feature two regions and 16 badges.

I find myself at a loss when I think about all the things that Iwata has done for Nintendo, for all the fans he indirectly had by making the games that would be apart of the childhood of millions. I was born in 1994, so I was lucky enough to play Pokemon Yellow when it came out. I remember buying it from Costco and getting a Purple Gameboy Color to boot. I still have them sitting next to me. I play it from time to time, just because it was such a classic. I also play Crystal, because it is the only 2^nd Generation Pokemon game I have, besides Heart Gold for the DS, that I can play. I remember being completely blown away that I could get 16 badges. That was so cool to me. And it was his idea.

Super Smash Brothers Melee was the first true party game that I played, and I was introduced to it because of my cousin. After that, I was hooked on Nintendo. I was able to see all of these cool characters, and instantly bought the games they were from. I was enthralled by Legend of Zelda, laughed and enjoyed Kirby’s Nightmare in Dreamland, fascinated by Star Fox and obviously obsessed with Pokemon.

To think one man had such an impact on an entire company, industry, and audience completely blows my mind. I wish I got to meet you Iwata-san. Thanks for everything, I never met you, but you made my childhood amazing.

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Street Fighter Documentary: I Am Street Fighter

I am a huge fan of documentaries that discuss bands or video games, and through the power of Reddit, I stumbled across the gem. This documentary about Street Fighter takes a look at one of the most pinnacle fighting games of all time, and views it from various angles. It talks about how the game was practically the grandfather of all fighting games, and how people would flock to arcades to play this game and compete against others in the local arcade scene. Since I was born in 1994, I never got to experience the arcade scene and all of its beauty and community. It shows how people would use their lunch money to play these stellar arcade games as opposed to buying food for themselves, how kids would wait in line to battle the current champion, and how everyone was just blown away by the game. People who are interviewed explain how Street Fighter changed fighting games forever, with basic concepts such as a two way health bar, 90 second matches, and a linear storyline; things that sound so simple and basic, yet so revolutionary. Whilst watching this documentary, I was consistently thinking of the Dragonball Z Series and how the games that would spawn out of it, Budokai and Tenkaichi, use all of the concepts that spawned from Street Fighter

Credits go to alvinlee on DeviantArt

The documentary then shows the community as a whole, and how far people would travel to play the best Street Fighter. Justin Wong would travel from NY to NJ to play and view tournaments, and then travel to California, across the whole country, to play an arcade game. Needless to say, the game changed his, and thousands of others' lives. People wanted to play the next Street Fighter, learn new combinations and interact with people in person. Unlike modern day, where we can sit in the comfort of our homes and La-z Boy recliner chairs, they preferred meeting in person and interacting with one another. They would become family practically, the arcade store becoming their second home. The documentary as a whole was fantastic, and is well worth the one hour twelve minute watch. It opened my eyes to the gaming scene prior to consoles and flat screen T.Vs, and quad core computers and 32inch monitor displays. It was well put together, and it was truly a beautiful sight to see all of these people coming together under one roof to see and enjoy something, similar to how fans would see a band or artist. I fully recommend this documentary, it's opens your eyes to a different kind of community, and the game that changed it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2gZBITO5GwI

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Nintendo's new hand held console- The Nintendo 2DS

Earlier today, Nintendo dropped news about their latest hand held console, the Nintendo 2DS. This is Nintendo's cheaper 3DS alternative, and I personally say it's a great idea. The 2DS is chunkier than the 3DS and the 3DS XL The 2DS doesn't fold like its predecessors do so it gives it an old school retro feel to it. The red and white color scheme also gives a retro feel as well. The main part about the 2DS is that it doesn't have the switch that can turn on the 3D function of the console. This might be viewed as a setback for some, but I have asked many 3DS users and they say they barely use the 3D function after the first couple of weeks. The 2DS can also play 3DS games, and is backwards compatible with DS games. This is great for me as well as millions of others since that means I can still play the old DS games like Pokemon Platinum, Eragon, the downside is that they didn't bring back the GBA slot, so I guess I'll have to use my old DS for that function, or an SP.

The 2DS looks large in images, but in the Youtube video below, it looks pretty small-ish when the boy is holding it so I guess it's about the size of the 3DS, just without the folding screen. The target of this product though is for little kids who's parents don't want them to strain their eye sight with the 3D function of the 3DS and 3DS XL. I personally thought this was a great idea for Nintendo to release this because it's basically a budget 3DS. When E3 happened, and Nintendo released news about all of the fantastic 3DS games that were going to release, the 3DS's price increased slowly but surely. This is basically Nintendo's way of saying, "Here, we also want the people who may not have as much money for a 3DS to still enjoy our games." I think it's old school look, and cheaper price tag will garner it many purchases, and although it may not stack up to 3DS in every aspect, it is still a great way for people who are strapped for cash to still enjoy what Nintendo has to offer. Nintendo has also stated that the 2DS is going to release on October 12, 2013, the same day as Pokemon X and Y.

Here is the video for the Nintendo 2DS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sAExBTWIp3M

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Humble Bundle Origin Bundle! (With Steam keys)

Humble Bundle recently dropped their latest bundle, dubbed "The Humble Bundle Origin Bundle". They offer AAA games such as Dead Space, Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, Crysis 2: Maximum edition, Mirror's Edge, Dead Space 3, and Medal of Honor. If you choose to pay above average, you will receive Battlefield Bad Company 3 and Sims 3 as well as the start pack for it. At first I thought this was strictly a Origin sale, but then I noticed that certain games had the Steam symbol underneath it. Turns out that Dead Space, Burnout, Crysis 2, Mirror's Edge, and Medal of Honor all offer Steam keys. For five dollars, this is practically a steal! They're all fantastic games and I can't wait to play some of them like Burnout and Mirror's Edge.

All the money goes to charity and Humble Bundle (since they need money to run their servers). The money doesn't go to EA, for all of you who hate EA, since EA has stated that they, as well as Origin, are giving their share of the money to charity. Overall, this is a fantastic bundle and I urge anyone and everyone take buy this bundle. It contains great games and it all goes for a great cause! 

https://www.humblebundle.com/

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Microsoft goes back on their word again!

Microsoft recently revealed the news that the Kinect is no longer required to be plugged in for the Xbox One to work. This is their second overturn in policy in three months, the first being DRM and used games issue. Although Microsoft was keen to attach the Kinect as an always on piece of technology, customers understood that there would be privacy issues, and after all the frights and scares concerning Edward Snowden, I'm not surprised Microsoft stepped down and decided to make the Kinect an optional feature.  

In doing so though, Microsoft shows that they don't really predict the future well and what consumers want. I am inclined to say that almost anyone would have guessed that not having used games and forcing a video/audio sensor to always be on would not work well with customers. Customers want freedom and various choices, and Microsoft practically obliterated that with their initial choices in policy. Microsoft could have easily made better choices in policy and presentation before news of the Xbox One even released.

I remember six or seven years ago when the Xbox 360 was hyped by Microsoft, and when the time came for the consoles to release, it was a legitimate competition. My friends were torn between Sony and Microsoft, and they weighed in every possible factor they could. It seems this time around, Sony has made a better case and will probably will this console war in the beginning.  It was poor planning on Microsoft's part, and Sony just did what any company would do if their competitor faltered, they capitalized on it. Microsoft is going to have to do more than just reverse poor policies, they are going to have to create new ones that entice their customers to stick with them and make them feel like spending the extra hundred dollars more on the Xbox one was worth it.. 

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Xbox One Controller and Accessory prices released

Microsoft recently unveiled the prices of the Xbox One Controller along with their play and charge kit and headset. I have mixed feelings about it all.

 The price of the products increased from their Xbox 360 predecessors. Since I have not personally held the controller in my hand, nor used the headset or the plug and play charge kit, I can’t say if the increase and price justifies the purchase overall. They are definitely using new technology in these products to enhance the overall gaming experience. I do like the fact that the Xbox One headset plugs in fully into the controller, similar to how the Xbox 360 headset plugged in, before they did the revamp on them and made is so that it is one tiny little plug with the in-line audio controls. The original headset always felt more secure in the controller than its successor. The buttons on the headset plug are a nice improvement, because I can’t count the times I accidently rolled back the volume on the original Xbox 360 headset. I do question if the new design will interfere with the player when they hold the controller, but only time will tell I guess.

I do think that the products are slightly overpriced, and the fact that the Xbox One’s do not come with a provided headset really pisses me off. They Xbox 360’s came with one, it adds to the experience that Microsoft is trying to sell. Not providing the headset with the purchase of their product is a foolish move since it’s an external purchase. Less people will buy if it is not included, although I am sure a fair amount will buy it to talk with their friends. The fact still remains that the Xbox One, as of now, is $100 more than the PS4. The PS4 ships with a headset AND allows backwards compatibility with PS3 headsets, so previous purchases won’t be a waste.

Let it be known that I own an Xbox 360 and not a Playstation 3, but Microsoft has been making all the wrong moves with this release. They are going to have to work ten times harder than originally planned to relatively compete with the Playstation in terms of the product itself and what they are offering if they want to win over gamers.

Here is their official online store with the prices and a little bit of information:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/list/Accessories/parentCategoryID.64484500/categoryID.64724300

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GTA V- The Best of Everything for the open world gamer

Yesterday was a big day for Rockstar since it released gameplay footage for what could quite possibly be their biggest and most ambitious open world game since Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto V.

            The gameplay trailer was more informative, and it explained new additions to the series, while letting the viewer soak in the new features the game has introduced such as diving underwater and hunting. The game takes place in Southern California, and Rockstar is bringing back many locations from their previous hit release, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. A minute into the video and they announce the first new feature to the game, which gaming communities have known for a while; you could now play as three different characters. This adds two whole new levels of gameplay to the much anticipated game, since there are now three interwoven stories to follow. What I find cool is that one of your characters could be the sniper on the roof, another the driver of the getaway car, and a third could be the one doing the crime, and with a click of a button, you could switch between all three! This will also make multiplayer with friends much more enjoyable if your friends can join your campaign or start a co-op campaign.

            The video does a sky view of the whole game and you really realize how big this game really is. It isn't just Liberty City anymore where you could pan left for about five to ten seconds and you could see the other city. This is a full blown location with huge cities, quiet suburban homes and a vast countryside with towering mountains. Another feature this game adds is the ability to buy and customize your car like never before. It takes the vehicles customization features that were Rockstar's competitor, Saints Row: The Third, to the next level with a huge menu of modifications one can do to their car. The jet makes its return from San Andreas, about time too if I do say so myself! Animals also now play a role in the new Grand Theft Auto since the player can now hunt, and be hunted, by the various animals in this game, a feature that is reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar's cowboy, mid west open world game. In addition to all of these changes, they make the ability to switch between guns much more fluid and simple than in previous games based off of the gameplay video. It seems much easier and not as much of a hassle, in comparison to GTA IV or their competitor Saints Row The Third.

            The overall presentation of this game is much more… lifelike then any of Rockstar's previous releases. Long gone are the days of being an immigrant arriving in a ship to the docks of Liberty City where your cousin helps you get on your feet. This game offers the player to play sports such as golf or tennis, spend money on luxurious and fast cars, invest money in the stock market, and pick what they wear. Although some of the features I have listed have appeared in previous games, Rockstar seems to have molded all of their best ideas into one visually stunning game, a game I cannot wait to purchase or see more of.

Here is the link to the GTA V Gameplay Video, for those who have not seen it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-xHcvug3WI

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Green Man Gaming: How to interact with the customers

So for the past few days, Green Man Gaming has been running major sales on PC games for the gaming client Steam, a sale they are dubbing the 666 sale. Six games on sale, every six hours, for six days. Now I do not know how many people go to Green Man Gaming for sales as much as they might go to Humble Bundle,  Indie Gala, or the Steam store itself since they have good sales at times, but I do have an immense respect for GMG. As expected with any major online sales, the website received a lot of traffic from the sheer amount of people trying to access their website at one time, not to mention the transactions going on. What I really like about them is the fact that GMG listened to the people and what they had to say.

During the first sale for the "666" promotion, the website literally crashed due to the traffic it was receiving. They were able to bring the website back up multiple times between their first sale and now (they are on 9 of 24 as of), but it usually went down for an hour due to maintenance during each sale. What made me really like the company was that they always communicated with their community through their blog page. They maintained good relations with their customers in the tough times by communicating with them and informing them of their progress with expanding the servers and the deals. I don't see large companies doing this anymore. Larger companies usually post once or twice during an ordeal concerning their business and leave their consumers large out of the loop. Over at GMG, they discussed the issues with their audience and assured them that their sales would continue, and they even brought back some of the sales that could not be purchased due to the website's maintenance. GMG understood their shortcomings and were honest about, as opposed to other companies that may have  twisted their words around in order to make themselves look good. I may have only recently gotten into PC gaming and websites that offer games, but Green Man Gaming is at the top of my book for their superb efforts in providing the gaming public with the great sales and customer service they offer.

This blurb if from one of their blog posts, and it can give you a taste of what Green Man Gaming is really about during the whole 666 game promotion:

"Finally, I'd hope we're a lot more humble - we've had some problems and you've stuck with us.  We've been in business for just over 3 years and we're selling globally - and you are part of that. We might not get it right every time but, make no mistake, we are all about getting great games to you.

Keep talking to us - good, bad or indifferent, it will make us better"

James, George, Darren and the rest of the GMG Team

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