• 13Nov 11

  Of Games And Life

  It's been a while from the last time I wrote a blog about my personal updates. I guess I wasn't in the mood for it.

  First of all, I'll tell you what I have been through lately. I was a bit lost from Gamespot and Fuse lately as I was working in Accountancy in a school as a replacement. It was the most demanding job I've ever had. My days back then used to be very busy and after working, I went to university and then I went home and that was all I used to do. I was too stressed out, my qualifications started to decrease at university and my relationship went to trash due to that. But not everything was that bad. Thanks to that job, I got the best Halloween party ever, my beloved 360 and some videogames And I learned a lot from that job. It was definitely a great experience.

  I'm currently working as an assistant teacher in Marketing area. It's not too demanding and I'm being able to improve my qualifications at university. And I can do other things, like get into sports again and gaming more (which I love the most). The paradox is, that I feel strange with all of this free time sometimes. I guess I need to get used to it

  As for video games, I got Dead Rising 2 and Modern Warfare 3 and I've been having fun so far I still need to finish Amnesia: The Dark Descent though, so I won't be getting any more videogames for this year. Oh well, except Saints Row Double Pack. I can never know what video games I will get for Christmas though

  A new week is coming up and with it, my busy life turns on. I have to make a long class tomorrow, prepare a presentation for Wednesday, a meeting on Thursday and so the list keeps on going.

  Over and out, mates!

  *Bonus Track* Artist Of The Day: Chevelle.

  • Posted Nov 13, 2011 9:03 pm GMT
  • Category: General
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• 15Oct 11

  Gamers Are Not A Stereotype - An Article Response

  First of all, I apologize for being absent for such a long time. However, I have good reasons for that. Since my new job and university keep me busier than I would like to, I've been just having time to check out video games articles, your blogs and GameSpot Fuse. And for gaming, of course.

  As an introduction, I would like to talk to you about something common nowadays. A while ago, I read an article named "5 Crucial Lessons Learned By Watching Kids Play Video Games" and I decided it was time to show up with my opinion about this. In a brief note, I will tell you this article talked about 5 stereotypes in youngers gamers such as "They Don't Tolerate Losing, So Modern Games Just Let Them Win", "They Have No Tolerance For Grinding", "If They Want To Read, They Will Buy A F*****g Book" and "Don't Like It, Break It". You can check out the article here, so you will see how my blog will be related to it.

  # 5

  We All Have Minor Tolerance At Losing, Let's Face It.

  It's certainly true that video games nowadays aren't what they were 10 years ago or even in NES old days. But that doesn't mean gaming today is crappy. Gaming industry has evolved into a massive activity among youngens and elders. As every market worldwide, developers and publishers offer options to all kind of gamers. Those who like hardcore gaming, can go for Hard or Expert modes or maybe that blessed God Mode, like in God Of War, for instance. In those modes, you can't save the game until a certain checkpoint or until you're advanced in the game, so death is still an issue in video games nowadays. Oh, and there are Amateur and Easy modes for casual gamers. Nobody loses. And that's a happy ending for everyone, isn't it?

  

  I remember I was playing Prototype once and I was very advanced in the game. Every single night, I used to stand for one or two hours to pass one mission at a time and this mission was specially difficult and in the middle of a fight, a blackout occurred. God, upset would be a nice word to describe how pissed off I was. I literally wanted to pull of my hair and throw my laptop off the window in rage. But I controlled myself. I'm a grown up, I said to myself. I can live with this, even when it took two hours of my life and even when I have to work tomorrow morning and I've slept less for playing this game. Damn! Rage was coming up again. I couldn't sleep figuring out how I would pass that mission again in less time.

  With that example, you can see death is still an issue for gamers like me. And I know you can relate to that episode of my life, and if you don't, don't worry. I'll go by myself to get locked in a padding room. Ha ha.

  # 4

  "Grinding" Could Be Useful or We Could Check If Luck Is By Our Side.

  

  Every game has some "workload" on it. In minor or major quantities, but they do. It's in our hands to take it or not. But note this, if we don't, we could regret it when we less expect it. In the final chapter of a game, for example.

  Oh, snap! It was just a pain to get back to old places in Resident Evil: Nemesis just because I forgot a darn green plant in the middle of my rush to face Nemesis for the 50th time (obviously exaggerating, but it helps for the article, don't you think?). While I was running through the roads I was already mumbling and groaning and cussing at the developers and at Jill Valentine, but I went to the places where the holy green plant could be, because it was important when facing Nemesis or he would kill me with just one shot of his grenade launcher or whatever that huge gun was. And I did it, because "grinding" is still important in game industry.

  And we have the option to just go blind and walk around unknown places without reading any maps and see what happens while we're in it. Some people just like surprises. We gotta respect that or won't we?

  # 3

  Reading? Suuure!

  But they don't need to put a whole encyclopedia in a game. Measurement. Yes, please. We need to read instructions, notes, entrances and "guides-in-game" to understand stories and what in heaven we have to do when stuck.

  I can't imagine not reading in Amnesia: The Dark Descent when Daniel, the main character is amnesic and can't remember a thing, but what he reads from time to time.

  And as for games like Battlefield or Call Of Duty, I want reality, which means a "very nice" Sargent shouting instructions at me and making me take quick decisions. Because it's war and in war I won't have a Sargent or a Mayor sending me an e-mail or calling me on the phone to tell me that I have to move and pick up a gun and shoot at tanks.

  

  On the other hand and as I pointed in # 4, some gamers would like to spend some time going around a city or a town to "discover" what comes next or who is around the corner. Maybe they enjoy when a monster appears from nowhere and says: Surprise! while killing you. Ha ha.

  # 2

  We Press "Skip Buttons" When Stories Are Just Not Immersing.

  Period. If we think the story is atmospheric and it will get us immersed and blown away, we will follow the whole thingy until the game is over and our expression is wowing even after a week of having beaten the game. And I can think of games like Bioshock, Metro 2033 and Silent Hill: Homecoming for this point.

  We can make a difference between "brainless fun" games like Dead Rising 2 or "brain cracker" games like Bioshock. And we do enjoy both genres, because we're not in the mood to play games that make us think and burn our neurones while playing it. Gamers nowadays are not the stereotype of an old gamer who was playing for weeks without seeing the light of a day.

  Gamers nowadays have lives, families or like to hang out with friends from time to time. They have better lives, I have to say. And they can complement video games with life perfectly. And that's good for everyone, as we all know addictions are harmful.

  

  # 1

  Using Cheats? No, Sir.

  

  Cheats are the worst thing ever for a true gamer. And let me tell you, it's not a common thing among gamers. Some casual and impatient gamers use them, but we can't generalize. Gamers nowadays prefer to spend 40 hours of gaming in a "15 hours" game and not using cheats. And using cheats make you a scum among gamers. They won't want you in their clans and they won't want you around their servers. Hell yeah, the won't. They will kick you out everytime you want to try something like cheating or hacking in the middle of co-op action.

  I know we always complain of the scum in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, but that's not something we see in every single game around there. Lets tell the truth, some co-op games are just awesome. Like Battlefield: Bad Company 2 or Halo 4 or Call Of Duty 4.

  If we see glitches or things going wrong in a game, we will complain or we will look for a patch to fix it up. We wouldn't like to cheat. That's bad (yeah, I'm acting like your father here lol). Maybe reading a "guide" when stuck in the middle of a chapter or a mission, but that's nothing too bad. Just healthy readings.

  Thanks for reading. Over and out, gamers!

  • Posted Oct 15, 2011 2:54 pm GMT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 30Jun 11

  Downhill Fail

  I've liked Extreme Sports and everything that involves an adrenaline rush since I can remember. I can't really explain why the sensation of danger gives me goosebumps and an insanely great excitement. And it's even harder to explain why it gets addictive once you try it.

  Certainly, this is not about getting to kill yourself. This is about feeling new sensations. When routine gets boring, your life becomes more interesting when you try something different or new and that makes YOU feel comfortable about it.

  I've been doing Mountain Biking from time to time and last Sunday, I wanted to try Downhill (a sort of Mountain Biking). But I made two mistakes. I didn't wear a helmet and I didn't use a proper bike. Guess what the result of that equation was? I had an accident. My friends and family in general told me that I could have died because of that accident. I don't know if that's true or not. I'm just thankful that it wasn't some like a big deal. I can't remember anything, because I had a blackout during the whole accident and the minutes later.

  I went to a hill near my hometown with my mum to make my descent from there. I got to a high place after a curve and I started to ride. The first seconds were awesome. I felt that sensation of danger and those goosebumps immediately and as I started to earn speed, it was even more exciting. But after a while, the bike started to lose control and I thought to myself: 'You're going to crash'. I made a quick decision and I took a detour thinking that I would make the crash a bit easier. And I can't remember anything else. I just remember I got home and that I had a painful sensation in my head and in my face. I got a black eye quickly and during the following days, it got worse. That's when I went to see the doctor, she told me that I had multiple contusions and she gave me medical rest till tomorrow, so that means I have to skip university and work. My black eye is getting better, but my contusions still hurt. But the point is, I learned my lesson. Next time (yeah, there will be next time), I will use a proper bike and a helmet. No doubt about it

  • Posted Jun 30, 2011 12:58 pm GMT
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