Perfect Video Games

Tags

gamer, games, gaming, hardspace shipbreaker, list, listicle, lists, mega man x, mixolumia, perfect game, perfect games, splatoon, xexyz

Today’s post was inspired by a question tweeted out by Eric Bailey, a Christian gamer (though I suspect he’d prefer the former be put more far forward than the latter) and… I guess I can also call him an accidental satirist? Honestly, his Twitter content is equal parts wholesome and random. He should be in your social feed if he’s not already. And don’t let his faith scare you off: He’s actually one of the good guys.

Anyway, back to the post’s point. Bailey had tweeted out for examples of the perfect video game, citing Contra and Tetris as examples. This prompted one response out of me, but the more I think about it, the more I kind of pondered other video games that I would think fit the bill. Mostly because the question is so complex yet simple. It asks not about favorite game or favorite game story or favorite genre; it asks you to consider a video game condensed into its “purest” form. To consider gaming as perfect means it fits its function and executes its idea so flawlessly and so brilliantly that you don’t even have to think about it. At least, that’s my interpretation. So, I decided to write about it.

Writing Project Spitball Bonanza: Ultimate Hyper Championship Arcade Edition

Tags

book, books, novel writing, writer, writing, writing books

Pardon the stupid title. I’m feeling kind of free-flowing with today’s post.

If you follow my Twitter feed, I’m sorry. Also, you perhaps have been exposed to some general malaise about the need to have two jobs, particularly since the second job is a soul-crushing but necessary for survival in capitalist America hellscape that is casino customer service (again, I’m sorry). Now that I’ve been writing professionally for a little bit, I’m starting to get it in my head that I’m capable of doing more writing. Self-published writing.

Early Access Games That Aren’t Trash

Tags

craftopia, early access, fps, hardspace shipbreaker, multiplayer, online gaming, online multiplayer, sandbox, steam early access, survival sandbox

With all of the itchy, uncomfortable, and downright exploitative ways game dev studios are trying to monetize their game, it’s easy to pass off anything other than “gold product” as nothing more than a scam. And for the most part, you’re right. Even I can admit that crowdfunding a game is a whole lot riskier and possibly more scam-adjacent than not, when previously I had foolishly hoped that it would open up a lot more doors and ideas.

One of the most recent and proliferous forms of “alternative” game monetization schemes is the early access launch, which asks folks to buy an incomplete game, provide feedback, and watch it evolve into a fully-launched product. It’s, at the brass tacks level (and grossly oversimplified), spending money to be a tester instead of letting professionals do that and get paid for it. However, as vile as that sounds, there are a few games that I’ve come across that actually are worth the buy-in cost in my opinion, and so I wanted to take a moment to highlight them with today’s post.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker and the impact of visual storytelling

Tags

audio storytelling, blackbird interactive, design, early access, focus interactive, game design, hardspace, hardspace shipbreaker, narrative, single player, steam early access, story, storytelling, visual storytelling

I’ve got a new gaming obsession. It’s Hardspace: Shipbreaker, a game where you play the role of a Cutter that chops up derelict spaceship and repurposes the various components, either by refinement or straight-up salvage. It’s already a brilliant and unique bit of gaming and is only just in early access, meaning that its already impressive gameplay can only grow from here on out.

I could write up plenty of effusive praise on this game as it is, but I’m not really here to write a review on the title as a whole. Instead, I want to focus on one aspect of this one that it absolutely nails: telling a story without outright writing one out.

The Best Anticipated List of Video Game Awesomeness for 2018 and Forever (Until Next Time I Do This List Thing)

Tags

games, gaming, list, listicle, new games, new releases, upcoming games, upcoming releases, video games, videogames, videogaming

Okay, enough of the sad crap.

My previous blog posts have been kind of droll, with me saying goodbye to a loved MMO and before that having a bit of a whine about people not having fun.

So, in the interest of that whole spreading fun thing, I’m going to take a few moments to look forward to some of the awesome stuff that’s coming our way in video gaming. Because dammit, that totally deserves a moment of excited flapping.

This kind of flapping.

Welcome to Joy

Tags

chill games, community, fun, gamer, games, gaming, MMO, mmorpg, silliness, silly, silly games, video games, video gaming

As much as I like how “legitimate” video gaming things like esports are becoming, I’m often left reminding myself that legitimacy should always take a backseat to being fun. For every game that tries to be art or weave a genuinely complex story, I’d much rather there be about three times as many games that just have a good, goofy time.

It’s a lesson the Devil May Cry series seems to be taking to heart.

That sense of overwhelming fun has catapulted some games into high points on my mental list of favorites, and it’s something that I felt is worthy of elaborating on. Both as a self-reminder and perhaps a reminder to anyone reading this who might be taking this stuff a little too close to the vest.

The Acceptance of Not Understanding

Tags

battle royale, community, fortnite, fortnite battle royale, fortnite br, gaming, gaming community, multiplayer, multiplayer gaming, pubg, video games, videogames

So there’s this rap song made by this kid who is very, very clearly a fan of Fortnite Battle Royale. It crossed my Twitter feed a week or so ago and it took me just about as long to process, as this young boy was trying to turn his ability to play a shooter well into several bars’ worth of lyrics about their own superiority.

At first blush, it sounds a lot like 2018’s answer to the Numa Numa Dance. But after some introspection, I’ve concluded that the problem isn’t him, but me. Its reinforced something of a lesson about how some games or genres are beyond my comprehension and that’s okay.

Who knew this little dude would pack so many mental exercises into two-and-a-half minutes?

My 2017 in Gaming

Tags

2017 gaming, 2017 in review, 2017 year in review, best games of 2017, best of, best of 2017, end of the year, games, gaming, gaming in 2017, list, listicle, nintendo switch, pc, ps4, year end, year in review

Look, you can’t be completely surprised by seeing this topic on my blog; it’s kind of typical of this time of year to look back at what was and I actually was asked in the Discord server I help run. So while it might be par for the course to write these sorts of things, my responses might not be expected.

To further entice you to stay, here’s a puppy picture.

Wolfy’s Most Anticipated Games of 2018

Tags

2018, 2018 games, console, games, games of 2018, gaming, list, listicle, MMO, mmorpg, most anticipated, most anticipated games, multiplayer, pc, sandbox, single player

This is pretty much expected behavior for people who like to write about video games, I figure. So to further extend assumptions, I will now openly admit that I’m writing this in the hopes that I get all the free stuff from the games I mention.

In fact just writing that lead-in brought me about $35.

But seriously, though, whatever you feel about 2017 in terms of real-life things, it has been a great year for games and next year is looking pretty solid as well. So I wanted to wiggle excitedly in the direction of upcoming titles that I have no basis for anticipation for other than marketing speak and second-hand experience. Because piss off I like being excited.

30 Videogame Answers, No Likes Part 1

Tags

atari 2600, chain letter, fandom, games, gaming, i'm joining the crowd lookit me, meme, MMO, nes, one like one answer, pc, snes

Sometime last week or so, there was a fun little prompt fluttering among those I follow on Twitter. Basically, you answer one videogame-related question for every like the posted picture got, to a maximum of 30.

It looked like a lot of fun, and since I’m always a sucker for cheap easy writing prompts, I decided to take the idea and write about it here.

…I searched for “writing prompt” and got this. So let’s just move on.