Inside the mind of Sabre0001

E3: Caveat Emptor

2014-06-11T16:52:00.001+01:00

E3 is a time of anticipation, excitement, and promise as the future of gaming is laid out before our very eyes. Developers promise never-before-seen-worlds, new mechanics, new IPs, and evolving franchises and many people take these statements at face value. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with getting excited, expectations should be somewhat tempered and audiences need to be more discerning. After all, E3 is essentially a sales conference.

Caveat Emptor is Latin for “Let the buyer beware” and while it traditionally applies to real property, it can apply to other goods; video games perhaps. This phrase arose from the idea of information asymmetry, whereby the seller has more information than the buyer, i.e. the seller knows what defects and limitations exist and the buyer does not. This principle is less applicable nowadays in some countrieswhere consumer law protects buyers andas a result its teachings have all but been forgotten.

When the world’s media, and not just gaming media, is paying attention you can be sure that developers and publishers are pulling out all the stops. This is their time to sell their game to a wider audience, some of whom won’t catch another piece of gaming news until it entails Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, or it’s E3 once again.

As a result, trailers and sales pitches are big business in themselves. We no longer have to take developers at their word that their game will “make [us] its bitch.” Now they can show us themselves. Of course, that’s not to say that they hit the mark every time.

The timing of E3 in this regard couldn’t be any better as a learning opportunity. Watch Dogs was released just weeks ago and left many disappointed. It’s not quite as stream lined as many hoped – street crimes are sought out purposefully rather than by scanning the surrounding – and the graphics controversy has been covered in-depth in the past few months. And yet, two years ago at this very conference it opened our eyes to the future of gaming, singlehandedly winning E3 for Ubisoft.

Of course, Watch Dogs is not the only game to have promised so much and fallen short of its lofty targets. While many are currently celebrating the announcement of Grand Theft Auto V on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, it's worth remembering that even the mighty Rockstar has seen its title hampered by issues in its online component. Servers creaked at launch, as they seem to invariably do at this stage, players glitched their way to more money than they could spend, and players are still waiting for the day that they can execute the perfect online heist rather than just dreaming of it.

We can hope that this is just an isolated incident and that Rockstar will have learned some valuable lessons. Players, on the other hand, seem determined not to learn from experiences. “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” is an expression that needs to be taken to heart. If servers implode or bugs render games unplayable, perhaps it’s worth waiting to see how the game fares in fan, social, or professional circles.

E3 is an exciting time of year, no doubt. The industry needs excitement and enthusiasm, but it also requires higher standards. It needs audiences to beware.

This post appeared at: http://www.clickonline.com/games/e3-caveat-emptor/26468/#sthash.ySeoeWsY.dpuf

I'll take my Xbox One with a side of choice

2014-05-14T15:09:00.002+01:00

“It takes less time to do things right than to explain why you did it wrong.”

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Since the announcement of the Xbox One, Microsoft has been inundated with requests, demands and complaints that it should release the console without the Kinect in the box. With E3 on the not-so-distant horizon, that request is to become a reality as Microsoft will release a standalone Xbox One just before the annual games conference kicks off.

The choice should have been with customers all along, a point made even more valid by the months that have followed the release of the Xbox One. Microsoft stated that the Kinect was a fundamental part of its next-gen offering, but its actions to date haven't backed it up. In spite of the company's initial console announcement, the Xbox One has its fair share of games and high quality ones at that. However, the Kinect has been left out to dry.

When the Wii launched, Nintendo made sure that people knew the capabilities, purpose and benefits of the controller. Just look at what Wii Sports did highhandedly for the console. Xbox One, and the Kinect, has no such title. Ryse could very well have been that title. It got the greenlight for the original Kinect, then was set to be a centrepiece for Kinect 2.0, but even that title shunned Kinect in favour of a more traditional control scheme.

Just Dance and Kinect Sports Rivals are certainly capable of showcasing the improvements between the Kinect's generations, but they're not system sellers, nor are they enough to convince gamers that Kinect is the future of entertainment.

The decision to release a Kinect-less Xbox One could be great for consumers and Microsoft. It certainly becomes a much more tempting prospect at that price, but we should still bear in mind that this is the latest in a line of u-turns and should save our gratification somewhat considering it is a choice that we should have been able to make previously.

It is the element of choice that has been Microsoft's sticking point since the announcement of the Xbox One. The company was forced to abandon its idea of a digital future after the backlash regarding its DRM practices and always-online requirement. But what if signing up to this was optional? When something is introduced that is so different to the status quo, it's going to take time, a lot of explanation and some real world experiences. A "beta" of sorts would provide outside observers with that experience, allow Microsoft to tweak the system according to feedback from those early adopters and allow Microsoft to pursue at least one of its initial core strategies.

E3 is always an exciting time and with this development it will be interesting to see how Microsoft follows it up and how Sony reacts. The countdown is on.

Trials Evolution Review - Keep rollin', rollin', rollin'

2012-05-02T08:09:00.000+01:00

Strap on your crash helmet and padding; you are going to face plant, break some bones and come crawling back for more in the Xbox Live Arcade release of Trials Evolution. For those somehow unfamiliar with the Trials series, it is a collection of challenging, obstacle-riddled tracks which you must complete on your motocross bike with as few faults as possible.

Trials Evolution packs shiny new graphics and the maps have been made more dynamic than ever. There is no shortage of pyrotechnics as pieces of levels explode, break apart and change as players progress through the level. When players finish, there is often a big explosive send off for the rider as bombs drop, shipment containers fall or the rider simply slams into stacked debris. RedLynx has outdone itself in this regard with some fantastic and diverse level design. Some, including the fantastic Limbo-themed level, contain nods towards other indie titles and pop-culture references which is always a nice touch. The levels will test and challenge veterans of the series, but still accommodate for the newcomer. Simply completing some levels is a reward in itself, but there is always a new goal set by the game, by friends or by the online leaderboard.

There are some moments where it seems like the game goes out of its way to be challenging. Some landings are shrouded in shadow or blocked by pillars and debris, and there are platforms that will change between the time players first see them and actually attempt the jump or landing. The old expression “slow and steady wins the race” can be thrown out the window because, while a perfect run is regarded highly by the game, certain jumps and sections require momentum. All of these factors mean that a trial and error approach is required at times, which is an artificial way of extending a title that can otherwise easily pull people back.

As long as you can earn enough medals, in any way at all, it is possible to unlock the next event and new challenges. Thankfully this means that overly challenging levels can be skipped until players feel they can tackle it with renewed vigour. RedLynx has also made it possible to scour the online leaderboard to view replays, which may help players to get past tricky parts. Unfortunately, the in-game ghosts are no more than dots which tell you where a rider is, but the replay option more than makes up for this with its breakdown of throttle or brake as well as the ability to enter slow motion for greater analysis.

Once again, the additional side skill games return, but they seem to show off the potential of the in-game editor more than act as a side distraction. The games are an eccentric bunch which have players testing their skills without fuel or without brakes, or put other qualities to the test as players land UFOs or play a Splosion Man clone. A handful of them will certainly be replayed, but they don’t hold the same draw as throwing a rider down a set of stairs to teach them a lesson.

Traditional multiplayer is the big new addition to Trials Evolution. The local side of things is a blast as up to four players rampage along a series of tracks and compete for the victory. A variety of tracks can be chosen as part of a tournament, which ensures that bragging rights are always at stake and players can continue to build or sustain rivalries. The action is fast and frantic and this allows players to hop straight into another tournament, which is the inevitable outcome of finishing one. Races are kept competitive because when players crash or drop too far back, they lose a point for the fault but get reset at the next checkpoint. This means that even the most unsteady rider could win from the last checkpoint and lessen the damage done by fault points. The multiplayer is easy to get into and even newer players will be able to compete after a handful of races. Unfortunately, there is a limited track selection and very few are that challenging, which means you’ll be replaying the same tracks a lot.

So far, the online multiplayer has been a disappointment. It takes a long time to find a match which really takes away from the experience. While it is possible to rematch when the tournament is done and dusted, I have found myself back at the searching screen once again. This is where the quick and frantic side of Trials gets exposed as a negative because players spend so much more time searching than actually playing online.

Trials Evolution as a stand-alone title is excellent, but it is always going to be compared to its older sibling, Trials HD. When the word “Evolution” is mentioned, many would conjure the image of humans evolving from apes. The problem is that Trials HD was so good that Trials Evolution feels like the evolution of an ape to a slightly bigger and prettier ape. The graphics are shinier, the levels are more dynamic and the level editor is a pastime in itself, but it stands alongside the superb Trials HD rather than overshadows it. Trials Evolution is a steal at 1200 points because there is so much content and play time contained within…just don’t tell RedLynx that.

YouTube takes back

2012-04-06T17:42:00.000+01:00

Gamers have usually been left disappointed by movie tie-ins, but thankfully there are glimmers of hope. When the fans take back the power or the route to the end audience is more direct, the resulting work can be incredible. This post is inspired by the short film Pac-Man. It is a really well done project and pays tribute to the classic title while putting its own spin on it. I really enjoyed this video and watched it a couple of times I have to admit.

I previously wrote about the Mortal Kombat Legacy series and was impressed throughout the rest of the series. There was a break of a couple of weeks between the second last and last episode, which was a little strange. However, the quality of the series was excellent throughout. Unfortunately it never built to a climax or cliffhanger, but instead acted as an origin story for each character. The first series has ended, but it is unclear if a second is on the way. The first installment was viewed over 16 million times while the ninth and final episode hit over 6 million views. Surely this should be reason enough to delve into the universe once more.

Another video which bore the "Legacy" tagline was a fan made Street Fighter short. The video sees Street Fighter favourites Ryu and Ken square off in a forest complete with slow motion action sequences and special effects. It is another project that I would like to see more from.

Hopefully those involved with these projects can get the go-ahead or the support to do more. I would not say no to more episodes from the Mortal Kombat series or longer cuts of other projects. Have you seen any other videos that are worth checking out. I have heard of a Splinter Cell live action movie, but haven't had a chance to check it out just yet.

My frustrations with FIFA Street

2012-04-05T11:51:00.001+01:00

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy FIFA Street and think it's a well done game. However, the online has become overly frustrating. First of all, my team is now rated 95 despite only just unlocking Stage 3 of World Tour. This means that it's difficult to get a game as people back out. THEN you have to wait while people set up squads because it isn't possible to do so in any prior menu.

And then finally, you get into the game only to find that people are playing as if it's FIFA 12. I can count on on hand the number of skill moves that I have seen attempted by my opponents in-game. Instead, they run down the wing and pass across in the hope that my defence hasn't tracked (which it often doesn't - thanks A.I.!) or my keeper fluffs it (which he often does).

I try for a little bit of style and entertainment, but without fouls in most game modes there is no punishment for simply steamrolling a player with the ball. So in the end, the person who keeps it basic and doesn't try anything can often get the win. The solution seems simple: put Panna as an online playable mode. The problem then is that FIFA Street occasionally awards beats that simply aren't there or misses clear beats.

From here on out, the only way I'll be playing FIFA Street Online is as part of the FIFA Street Adventures. It's less frustrating and at least Jonathan and I can have a bit of banter or joke about the fact that every opponent plays in the same way.

The expression goes, "don't hate the player, hate the game". However, in this instance I think I'm well within my rights to hate the online player. Don't want to entertain? Go back to FIFA 12 where you belong.

Pornstars & gaming

2012-04-04T14:01:00.000+01:00

This video is in response to the news announcement that porn site Brazzers had expressed interest in sponsoring players, such as LI|Joe, and possibly events in the future. The news was met with mixed reactions from players, tournament organisers and spectators alike. For practical reasons, such as widening the potential sponsor pool, I can see this as a good thing.

I understand that people don't want kids who attend fighting game tournaments to be exposed to sites such as Brazzers. However, if it is simply a logo on a t-shirt, then it's like any other logo and when was the last time you investigated a logo that you had never heard of before. Dirty magazines are drifting off the top shelf in newsagents and every second magazine aimed at women has tips on how to please their man. This is all in plain sight. The internet has become more and more accessible for everyone and if you want to seek something out, it is very possible to do so regardless of barriers put in the way.

Of course, I don't want explicit material to appear on every second stream or for people to be encouraged to visit these sites. If handled correctly and done properly, the partnership of Brazzers and members of the fighting game community could be a positive thing.

This announcement has placed the fighting game community in an awkward spot. The largest tournament, EVO, has already said that it will not be referencing the sponsor at its tournament. What other tournaments will follow suit? The Fighting Game Community is heading towards the problem that has faced eSports for years. There are no organising bodies outside of individual tournament organisers, which means that there is no way to centrally agree on something.

Formula 1, for example, was put under pressure regarding tobacco advertising years ago. Individual grand prixs would not allow it and then eventually the governing body put a rule in place. Nothing like this exists for competitive gaming. For example, rule sets are based on what has happened before, even if a change might do some good.

It's unlikely that LI|Joe will find himself unable to compete in tournaments bearing the Brazzers or BRZ tag, but what will the prize pots be like at these events? There has been a shift towards bigger events with streaming and professional coverage and professional players have linked up with eSports brands. The smaller, possibly underground, scene still exists and still allows commentators to say whatever floats into their head, trash talk, blow-ups and so on. But on the flip side, the money isn't in these events.

Where is the line with Quick Time Events?

2012-04-03T12:17:00.000+01:00

As games get more and more cinematic, the move towards Quick Time Events (QTEs) becomes more apparent. Certain titles have really overused them or used them incorrectly recently I feel. Games are supposed to be a source of escapism and enjoyment, but QTEs can really blow this concept out of the water.

Asura's Wrath was a title with lofty goals and ambitions. Some of the battle sequences are impressive to say the least and really push the boundaries. There aren't many games where a boss the size of a planet will attempt to crush you with his index finger, but Asura's Wrath was willing to push the boundaries in this regard. However, the demo was enough for me. Why? The overuse of QTEs. Everything in the two featured boss battles was a case of pressing the right button at the right time. This isn't gaming and it isn't fun. While I appreciate the attempt to go bigger and better, I felt removed from the experience. What is the point of doing big, dramatic battles if I have to focus on two square inches of the screen?

I have been playing Syndicate recently and, while I enjoy the game as a whole bar the iffy A.I., the Quick Time Event button mashing for simple tasks such as opening a door irk me. In life opening a door, even if it sticks a little, isn't the most taxing experience in the world. However, Syndicate possibly made it more tiring to conduct even the most basic tasks at times.

Then there is the infamous Need for Speed: The Run experiment. "Why are there action QTE sequences (on foot) in a racing title?" many fans exclaimed. The reasoning behind it was to get players involved in a cut scene. Again, the cinematic experience is lost as players must focus on a small area of the screen or risk failure.

Quick Time Events allow developers to go for bigger scenes that players would more than likely be unable to accomplish themselves. However, overuse of them becomes tiring and takes away from the cinematic side that developers may be trying to push. I enjoy battles with enemies and like the feeling of accomplishment when I know that I have contributed to my victory, rather than simply feeling like I pressed the buttons at the right times and the game did the rest.

QTEs make it difficult to relax when playing a game. I find myself watching cinematics with one eye on the bottom section of the screen in case a command pops up. The days of eating and drinking during a gaming session could also be something consigned to the past as a result of these cinematics. The day is coming when we read a news headline some day that a gamer drowned while playing simply because a QTE popped up as they were taking a drink. Just you wait and see...

SOPA - Videogame streamers could face jail time

2011-12-19T11:56:00.000+00:00

The scene was the Evolution Gaming Series (EVO) fighting game tournament in 2004 in a ballroom in a Las Vegas hotel. Japan’s Daigo Umehara faced America’s Justin Wong in the Grand Final of Street Fighter III: Third Strike, but had just a sliver of life remaining. A mistake or blocked attack meant defeat. Third Strike had the novel feature of being able to parry an attack to avoid taking any damage. However, as crazy as it sounds, this meant pressing forward at the right moment…into the attack. As Justin unleashed a 17 hit super attack, it was Daigo’s only option. Any mistimed forward press or lapse in concentration would mean defeat.

As he parried each attack, Justin became more desperate. The situation was out of his control and he could only watch as Daigo’s character flashed blue with each successful parry. The crowd were on their feet from the moment Daigo started parrying and were screaming their lungs out throughout. After the last parry, Daigo pounced with a flurry of attacks that led into a super attack of his own.

That incident became known as ‘EVO Moment #37’ and went down in fighting game lore. It gained worldwide notoriety and was a popular clip on YouTube for years. Even seven years on, it is the stuff that legends are made of. In the build up to EVO 2011, that moment was recreated in an 8-bit retro art style and the release of Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online challenged players to complete the parry and finishing combo as part of a trial.

It was the moment that helped many people discover the fighting game scene and the idea of competition through videogames. Tournament organiser and commentator, Alex Jebailey, acknowledged the importance of this single moment. He said, “That’s pretty much what started a lot of this.” Videogame entertainment attorney David Graham said that it was a great video because it showcased the action itself and the reaction. He said that it showed “how we get hype and go crazy” and added that people seemed to like that. The video appeared to help encourage players to enter other tournaments and inspired people within the community to upload videos more.

However, the streaming and public broadcast of videogame content via services such as YouTube may be under threat with the proposition of S.978 in the

United States

which aims to “amend the criminal penalty provision for criminal infringement of a copyright, and for other purposes.” While boring, the current copyright law and the implications of change are important to understand. As it currently stands, streaming videogame content or uploading it to YouTube is illegal. It is classified as a misdemeanour, which comes with a penalty of up to one year in jail. It is rare to hear of someone uploading game content to YouTube being prosecuted. Many videogame developers tend to look the other way as additional coverage of a game helps them. This was the view of Jebailey and, fighting game talk show presenter, Ryan Gutierrez among others. Gutierrez was keen to highlight that people watching highly skilled players may be more inclined to purchase a game because it looks fun. He emphasised that streams and YouTube content can help boost game sales “if you take advantage of the fact that all these people are basically advertising your game for free”. Senior Vice-President of Capcom, Christian Svensson, has also stated that “historically we have been helped by these activities.”

The revised bill would make streaming and providing YouTube content of videogames a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Graham explained that under American copyright law, there is no difference between videogame content and other media such as film. He said, “The audio-visual part of the videogame, the sights and sounds on screen, are indistinguishable legally from a TV show or a film.” As many of the fighting game community outlined, it is unlikely that videogame streamers and YouTube producers were the targets of this bill. The explanation from Graham provides an unfortunate reality: under the new bill, they would be targets.

Live streams and YouTube content are beneficial for both the gaming community and game developers. As Gutierrez said, it is essentially free advertising for game developers. Perhaps, if after watching a live stream or some footage of a fighting game tournament, people will feel more inclined to purchase a game. It also raises the awareness of titles or keeps them in the public consciousness. Irish tournament organiser Daniel Madden mentioned that there were no major releases of fighting games for several years, but videos on YouTube kept fighting games “in the collective psyche” of gamers.

Naturally, the gaming community has benefited from content being published on the internet. Jebailey commented that “streaming is the big thing now.” The fighting game community saw rapid increases in the number of players attending tournaments and the number of people watching footage. Graham explained that the parry video featuring Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong was one of the reasons that more people started recording footage. As a commentator, he saw that several years ago they were delighted if 1,000 people watched a stream, whereas the EVO finals in 2011 attracted over two million unique viewers from around the world over the course of the weekend.

This scene grows and builds itself organically. Jebailey and Gutierrez highlighted that each stream and tournament helps the next. As Gutierrez said, “a rising tide raises all ships.” It is a cycle that is not reliant on external factors and one that any tournament, stream or YouTube channel can become a part of. In fact, Graham highlighted that smaller tournaments are very important for getting new viewers and inviting new people into the community. He said that these tournaments allow viewers to get to know the players and their personalities. This builds an emotional connection so that when that player is competing at a major event, viewers will want to cheer for them. Both Gutierrez and his partner in crime from Cross Counter TV, Mike Ross, are personalities within the fighting game community. They have fans that cheer them on passionately and are genuinely disappointed if results don’t fall favourably.

This is also relevant closer to home. Irish tournament broadcaster, Brian Quigley, has been recording videos from Irish tournaments for over a year. He has seen that these videos “are attracting more and more people to the scene”. Firstly, they advertise the existence of a competitive scene and a community, and it also builds this connection with viewers that Graham mentioned. This feeds into what Jebailey mentioned: “By doing all these YouTube videos, it gets more content out there for people to be more aware of Street Fighter and the scene.” This can only be a good thing for communities around the world.

YouTube videos have a worldwide audience because of their nature, which means that viewers from overseas can become fans of American or Japanese players, but Irish players can gain fans of their own. Quigley highlighted that when a group attended a tournament in France, several of the French players knew of Irish players and actually liked watching their footage. As Madden said, streams and YouTube videos “have made names a lot bigger”. This clearly applies to all names within the scene rather than the top dogs within the tournament circuit. Naturally, the scale of the following varies depending on the player and the scene that they are involved in.

Irish players have grown fond of tournament streams and many could be considered fans of the American scene because of videos and streams. Both Quigley and Madden said that they would be more inclined to watch a stream rather than TV now. Several of the fighting game community attended an event in Dublin to watch the EVO live stream overnight. Streams have encouraged this passion to the extent that players travelled from around Ireland to attend this event, cheer on their favourite players and hopefully catch a glimpse of an Irish representative. Quigley said that without the extensive coverage, it is unlikely that he would be following the scene as closely.

As it currently stands, the only notable copyright case in recent years was due to leaked videos involving new characters for Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. Capcom was affected by this and notified YouTube to get the footage taken down. As a result of YouTube’s policy on copyright infringements, some accounts went over the number of allowed “strikes” and were deleted entirely. This is something that annoyed Gutierrez as it put Cross Counter in a difficult situation as well. This “knee jerk” reaction as he called it made content producers, including the Cross Counter team, afraid to put up videos. He understood why they did it, but at the same time he thought that they could have used it as publicity and simply admitted that the characters were in the game, just waiting to be unlocked.

It is this fear that can be seen regarding the latest anti-streaming bill. The penalties are too great that, if implemented, broadcasters and content producers will want to take the risk. Fear of being prosecuted will hurt the competitive scene and the communities that have built up around fighting games. This is one aspect that was agreed on across the board.

An anti-streaming bill would certainly impact immediately on the competitive scene within the United States. However, its effect could potentially be felt in Ireland. As Graham explained, it may cause companies such as YouTube to reconsider uploading policies and may result in a blanket ban on videogame content unless producers have proof of a license. Jebailey and Gutierrez highlighted that this bill could hurt game developers in the long run. Gutierrez said that YouTube videos almost act as a shared property with developers providing the medium through which players provide the performance.

Capcom’s response to the proposed bill is that the community has certainly helped the company and that the efforts of people with good intentions will be supported. Capcom has also implemented a license into Street Fighter III: Third Strike Edition Online that allows users to post their videos directly to YouTube, and indicated that it is looking into enabling streaming directly from games. The fighting game community is aware that it is not videogame developers coming after them; if they wanted to, they would already. The issue with the wording outlined is that it implies that licenses for some titles will be awarded individually rather than across the board. This would mean that all content producers would have to enter negotiations with Capcom and acquire a license to distribute content. Graham noted that “historically, companies have been pretty reticent to give that out”. The likes of EVO and other large scale tournaments would be fine in this regard, but smaller tournaments that are vital for the continued growth and exposure of the scene could have more difficulty.

It could be easy to dismiss this as scare mongering. After all, American law has no direct consequences internationally. Broadcasters in Ireland cannot face a prison sentence. However, other governments are starting to take notice of streaming and its influence. The Italian government recently outlined a copyright bill that would implicate anyone accused of breaking copyright law. One of the most worrying elements of this bill is that anyone can accuse a person of breaking copyright law, rather than just the copyright holder. What is the penalty for being accused of breaking copyright law? The alleged offender would be banned from the internet. While this sounds like something designed to catch out people who are unfamiliar with how the internet works, similar to warning against typing “Google” into Google, it signifies that streaming is considered a threat to traditional media.

It is the uncertainty involved that is unsettling for content producers and fighting game enthusiasts worldwide. There is nothing about this bill that appears straightforward. Graham explained that there is no way to write a law that specifically targets the streaming or uploading of TV shows and film, and so on, without incorporating videogames. Even though the international reach of this bill would be limited, YouTube’s base in

America

could make all content producers feel an effect of one kind or another. While the bill may not pass, as several interviewees said, “You just never know.” There is a long road ahead, but gamers, viewers and content producers must keep their ears to the ground.

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This was originally written during the summer as part of my thesis. It was certainly an interesting topic, but throws some of the consequences of online piracy acts being passed into the spotlight. I was able to speak to people who would be directly and indirectly affected and the picture is quite grim. As the subject has become topical once more, I thought I would share this and I encourage questions, comments and feedback.

400 to Fortune series

2011-11-07T17:25:00.000+00:00

Another FIFA series? Really? Yes, I know...The plan is to diversify, but this was a pretty easy series to start. I got the PC version and ended up with 400 coins in my balance. So, the plan was and is to buy packs and try to sell what I get and see how far I get. There is no extra trading or match playing in the mean time so the series is completely dependent on luck, persistence and timing!

Two episodes shot and the second batch of packs are currently selling...so there will be an episode 3. I have to keep steady so it doesn't go bust quickly - once you step up to silver, there is a massive chance of getting nothing of value.

Would love to hear what you think of commentary and series! Hit me up in the comments section or on Twitter (@Sabre0001).

Newest episode of Rise of the Champions

2011-11-06T11:13:00.000+00:00

Read text after watching video if you want to avoid spoilers, but still want to get my thoughts on the series and Division :)

*******

So another Division down. Onwards and upwards. I have to admit, I struggled far more in Division 10 than I did in Division 9. Still, it's nice to avoid relegation when it becomes a possibility and an unbeaten record is something I won't dismiss. Maybe I'm tooting my own horn here, but I felt comfortable in most of the matches and felt I deserved a win in the drawn game.

As always, nervous about next Division. That's what online matches do to me - keep me on my toes eternally! Still not sure whether to just pick the one team or mix it up a little. Might pick Palmero for two out of three games per episode and then try out a different four star team for the last match. Hoping for the best from Division 8. First episode of that journey will be released on Friday...and recorded some time before then!

Need for Speed: The Run Preview

2011-10-31T13:24:00.002+00:00

EA heard that you like races, so they put a race in your race! That is the basic premise of Need for Speed: The Run. The protagonist Jack Rourke is involved in a coast to coast race, but within each stage there are objectives set. The overall goal is to arrive in New York as the leader of the pack of over 150 competitors. This is more than a race for prize money or bragging rights. Along the way Jack must avoid cops and criminals who are willing to do whatever it takes to stop him. This is a race for Jack’s life.

Need for Speed: The Run uses the Frostbite 2 engine and puts it to good use from what has been showcased thus far. This engine allows the EA team to go bigger and better than ever. The landscapes look beautiful, although you can't pay too much attention when racing at breakneck speeds. Environments can be changed and its impact felt on the race track. With the landscape of the United States so varied, it presented a challenge and an opportunity to the development team. Races through snowy planes fall subject to avalanches, while more urban settings can be altered thanks to third party influences.

One particular level features a race for survival against the criminal elements presented in Need for Speed: The Run. As you come under a barrage of bullets and heavy impacts it really does feel like a survival challenge. And then, the helicopter is called in. This addition will test every fibre of your racing ability. It is no longer about racing quickly, but about dodging bullets, spotlights, falling debris and dead ends. This is a tough and unforgiving mission that changes the feel of the game. Suddenly, it is a completely different type of Need for Speed game rather than the same formula that has been seen in the series to date.

The racing is exciting with a range of exotic cars, environments and challenging competitors. There is great variety included in The Run as well. It is no longer about earning the quickest car and simply racing to the end in that. From what has been shown off so far, players will be forced to adapt to new cars for one reason or another. When the new environments are also taken into account, there will be plenty to keep new and old Need for Speed players occupied.

It is fair to say that the E3 trailer concerned many players. In it, players were shown Jack running about on foot with Quick Time Events (QTEs) thrown in. This is something that EA was keen to highlight. While these are present in-game, they represent less than 10% of the overall gameplay. It was pointed out that the choice was to use this interactive segment or use a cut-scene instead. In the end, EA decided to go down the route of QTEs and is happy with that choice.

EA has been cagey when it comes to the multiplayer side of The Run. All that could be confirmed so far is that there will be multiplayer. Like the more recent Need for Speed titles, it will feature the Autolog and allow players to compare their times with those of their friends. This is a social feature that EA is committed to and goes back to the basics of multiplayer gaming: bragging rights become important once more.

Need for Speed: The Run is shaping up to be an exciting rollercoaster ride across America. It is the biggest game of the franchise and looks to push the boundaries of what players have come to expect from the Need for Speed series. The game comes out on PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and 3DS. The release date is staggered with North America getting it on November 15, Australia on the 17^th and Europe on the 18^th. Japan must wait until December 1^st.

Ultimate FIFA Adventures Season 2

2011-10-27T23:27:00.000+01:00

It's been an absolute blast to record this season so far. Our game has stepped up, we understand Ultimate Team more, we are playing better and we are communicating. To make it even better, we have a few wins under our belts :)

Outside of the game, things have also been stepped up. A HD camera was finally purchased to ensure the best quality all round...made sense seems as we had the PVR already running - though the quality was being reduced overall because of the video camera. As for sound, experimented with an external mic on a stand - good quality mic, but it's not picking up the sound as required. Time for us to just speak louder all the time!

Going to upload videos here now as well. No such thing as too many places to post! So, here is the season so far.

More every Wednesday!

All that glitters is not gold...

2011-10-27T11:51:00.000+01:00

Street Fighter X Tekken (SFxT) has received a lot of press and a lot of promotion of late, though not always for the right reasons. The latest announcement is an unusual one - a gem system. Essentially, this allows people to customise and tailor characters to suit their playstyle. On the surface, it sounds interesting and beneficial. However, when some of the gems are detailed, a few eyebrows may be raised.

The same ones are being highlighted time and time again. There are two reasons for this. They are the ones that have been detailed in trailers or gameplay videos, but they are also the ones that cause most concern. The idea of allowing players to burn meter in order to auto-block or auto-tech throws is a strange one. These are going to have an impact in matches and, competitively, could have a detrimental effect. Matches may no longer come down to who is calm under pressure and pulls off a clutch read or counter, but who has certain gems stacked or the meter to use them.

While this does open up strategical elements: having meter to use, similar to how players would try to keep two bars in Street Fighter 4 to allow for a Focus Attack Dash Cancel (FADC) into Ultra, it penalises those who go for outright damage. The combo system in SFxT is an interesting one and requires meter to tag characters in and out to extend combos. Perhaps this is Capcom's way of stepping in to ensure that people don't try 60-100% combos.

There was an interesting point raised on Cross Counter Live (http://t.co/0KfCXg5n), where it was highlighted that when players at home pick Ryu, they have the same tools at their disposal as the top players in the world. If you draw a comparison to other professional games, and even mainstream sports, everything should be a level playing field. Poker became huge because anyone could participate or begin to play. People could play among friends and have the same showdowns, albeit on a different scale, as professional tournaments. Players should be able to emulate their idols or develop from beginner to competitor without having to shop at the same store as their idol.

The greatest games, and certainly the best competitive games, should be easy to learn but hard to master. It should be very easy for a beginner to come in and do something, but there should be layers of depth. Only the best will master games, but anyone can compete and learn. Any sport has this setup. The basics and fundamentals are very easy to learn, but there are more complicated plays or systems and so on that can be used to unlock the opposing player or team. Gems will not contribute to this; they pose a barrier instead as there will be certain mixes that work better than others and it becomes too difficult to learn the properties of every gem and combination.

The final point that illustrates that gems have no place in the competitive fighting game circuit is that of balance. It is difficult enough to balance a limited cast of characters, as most developers including Capcom have illustrated in the past. However, hundreds of gems and potentially thousands of combinations give reason for concern. There will be subsets that will be better than all the others and these will be exploited.

Will it succeed in a casual market? Who knows...Mortal Kombat had an automatic blocking system of sorts, and people became tired of it. Capcom are stepping onto dangerous territory. The fighting game market is becoming saturated once again. Games will fail and if pushed too far the market may collapse once more. Where will SFxT lie when the dust settles?

What are your thoughts? Let me know by commenting here or on Twitter (@Sabre0001).

FIFA Street Preview

2011-10-24T19:34:00.001+01:00

It's back and bigger than ever. While the main FIFA series is attempting to go down the sim-esque route with Sky Sports highlight moments thrown in for good measure, FIFA Street is going bigger and bolder than ever. The completely off-the-wall flavour has been ditched for a more authentic down to earth game. In spite of this, tricks and skills are still the order of the day.

The number of skill moves included in the game has been increased and fans want to see them. Not only is there an emphasis on winning, but teams must entertain the fans. Each player will be rated according to how entertaining they were over the course of the match. Flicks, spins, tricks and flashy passes or shots will be met with approval. If used correctly, they can wrong foot the defender or goalkeeper and turn the match in your favour.

While the skill moves themselves will take a little time to actually understand so that you can pull off the right move at the right time, there are a large variety of tricks that each player has up their sleeves. Cheeky passes and shots are the order of the day. Best of all, any player can feel like a footballing god quite easily. If a skill move or two come off and set up a wonder goal, it is the moment where you feel like you have accomplished something spectacular. But of course, you can never stop at one moment.

The gameplay is quick, frantic and exciting. The matches showcased at a recent EA preview were 5v5 or 6v6. In great news, indoor soccer is back. While it's not quite the same as the good ol' days of FIFA, it brings back fond memories. The focus of FIFA Street is the grassroots soccer. Well, not quite grassroots… Players will take on teams on streets, beaches and courts from around the world.

There will be several game modes included in FIFA Street. Along with exhibition matches, game modes based on panna (1v1) and futsal will be included. Players will also be able to start with a squad of nobodies and take on the world. Along the way, they will be challenged with the potential reward of picking up notable real world players. Your created player could finally earn the chance to play alongside Wayne Rooney for example. The World Tour mode challenges players to progress from the local scene to national, European and ultimately world-stage tournaments.

It is shaping up to be a cracker. The play is fluid and fun, the skill moves are animated well and the game is graphically impressive. While the action is more frantic and goal mouth action is frequent by the nature of the size of the pitch, goal-fests are not to be immediately expected. Keepers are more than capable of holding their own and will pull off some impressive saves.

FIFA Street blurs the line between reality and simulation. Tackles are more realistic pokes and players will occasionally stumble as a result of the impact engine. The larger than life tricks and skills at the beckon of an player remind the gamer that this is not your typical FIFA game; this is FIFA Street.

It's been a while...

2011-10-23T23:03:00.000+01:00

Hmmm...Last post in July! Bad times. Time to start blogging some more. Or, as the brilliant Contagion puts it - graffiti with punctuation. So what's been happening, what's to come?!

Firstly, college is once again behind me. Exams are done, thesis is handed in and results from the latter will be signed, sealed and delivered in December. Let's hope for the best. Had a horrible feeling the other day when I opened a draft of a feature to get a quote for a new feature I was writing. Saw an underscore - my temporary holding symbol for a point or word to add - and my heart sank. Thankfully it was an early draft, but that was not a nice feeling.

Attended the Italian Grand Prix in Monza with a friend. That was a blast. Great weekend overall - really nice weather, great views, beautiful place. To make it even better, we were able to get a tour around the Lotus garage, into the Paddock area and got to sit up in the business seats on the main straight for Friday. Unforgettable. My view for the race itself was pretty good too. Here is the first lap from where I was:

Still doing some freelancing and writing, but need to step up my activity. This short blog is a good way to start, but I have a couple of previews and a review to put together soon too. Fun, fun! Also hoping to ramp up my activity on YouTube. Have started to connect to other channels and am browsing YouTube partner forums. Ultimate FIFA Adventures is still going strong and Season 2 has started really well. We are only entering knockout competitions. This means more drama, more raw emotion and more tension. Here's the first episode that we shot - new episodes every Wednesday.

In order to bolster my channel, and because I'm interested in producing more content, I have started to record my progress in FIFA 12's ranked mode. Tough going but two episodes recorded. This is going to have a more frequent output. Hoping to schedule for Mondays and Fridays. Need another few projects...I never do anything by halves. Once again, I look like I'm going to make myself overly busy!

King of Chinatown Review

2011-07-21T15:43:00.001+01:00

King of Chinatown Review

By Mark O’Beirne

King of Chinatown is more than a documentary about the fighting game community; it is a story. It is the story of the potential conflict between the “industry” and the community, the story of Empire Arcadia attempting to break into the big leagues, and the story of Justin Wong’s quest to become a professional gamer and defeat his arch nemesis on a major stage.

The documentary itself does not feel the need to handhold. There is a brief introduction regarding the emergence of the subculture of the fighting game community and potential careers as a professional gamer. However, the documentary is not stop-start with various definitions and explanations. The introduction gets straight to the point. Immediately, viewers meet Justin in his natural environment of an arcade and the imposing figure of Isaiah Triforce Johnson, the manager of Empire Arcadia. From the beginning, viewers are armed with key pieces of information: Justin is a hugely talented player and confident in his abilities, he is an integral part of the Empire Arcadia structure, and Empire Arcadia plans to grow as an organisation.

There is a natural progression to the film. Even the tournaments and scenes featured grow in scale. The initial scenes are shot in a local arcade. This is followed by a tournament in a local Gamestop, games at a garage based arcade, the major Gamestop finals and finally, Evolution (EVO) 2009. While Justin has been a competitive player for some time, and there are tournaments of various sizes all the time, this paints a clear picture for all viewers regardless of their background knowledge. The film builds to the biggest stage in the world and Justin’s biggest opportunity, but also his biggest challenge.

Justin’s rivalry with Japanese legend, Daigo “The Beast” Umehara, provides a fitting background to the story arc. The infamous parry video from the loser’s final of EVO 2004 is a painful reminder of Daigo’s dominance over Justin on the competitive circuit. Throughout the documentary, Justin is looking for redemption; he wants to be able to stop people from reminding him about it. In the words of one tournament attendee, “everyone remembers it.” This rivalry is at the focus of Empire Arcadia’s plan as well. If Justin can slay that demon, Empire Arcadia gets a big win under its belt and the potential for massive exposure within “the industry”.

The various strands of the storyline are woven together seamlessly throughout. For example, many interviewed during the documentary such as Justin, Triforce and Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez say that the Gamestop tournament may not be widely acknowledged by the community. However, as Triforce explained it will get attention within the industry. It sets Justin on the way to becoming a fully fledged professional, and, of course, it gets Empire Arcadia in the limelight. There is the added benefit that the winner will get the chance to play the Japanese champion, Iyo, Korean champion, Poongko and Daigo himself. This is just one instance where the various threads cross over.

King of Chinatown rounds off particular scenes with interviews involving Justin’s friends, Empire Arcadia members or former members, and other members of the fighting game community. These interviews serve to illustrate additional pieces of background information that some may want unknown. Triforce explains that he is looking out for Justin’s interests legitimately but acknowledges that he is looking to make a career for himself at the same time. Other interviewees focus on the latter, and explain that a career is Triforce’s main objective.

The soundtrack, provided by The Gay Blades and Kiss Kiss is truly excellent. The songs used are implemented perfectly and add to the tone of each individual segment. It also helps that the songs themselves are incredibly catchy and good songs in their own right, unlike some soundtracks which don’t work when the songs are heard outside of that setting.

The King of Chinatown is a must-see for any fighting game or competitive gaming enthusiast. It is a gripping story full of twists, turns and emotion. Prepare to learn how the community and industry collide and co-exist, what gamers have to do to make it, and what a year in the life of a gaming organisation feels like.

Like a G6!

2011-07-12T11:43:00.000+01:00

If children’s TV shows have taught us anything, it’s that things are easier and work better when people work together. Yet, looking at the history of eSports, one would think that the major players involved had never been allowed watch these shows. Instead, they may have been reared on documentaries about conquerors; people who looked out for themselves and were fascinated with the idea of conquest and dominance.

Traditionally, one league or tournament would pick a game, set rules or choose maps, and others would be expected to fall in line. The players expected it, the fans expected it and of course the decision makers demanded it. Those who attempted something different were questioned and berated until they submitted and joined the idea of the “perfect set of conditions”.

There were two problems with this scenario. Firstly, particular organisations held the power and set the tone. This meant that nothing changed. It was very easy for things to become stale. Meanwhile, the world looked to the east as Starcraft took Korea by storm, even changing map pools along the way. However, one central organisation held power there with people signing up to the changes. In the west, those who tried to change rules or maps did so alone. It must be asked if they were hoping to steal away some of the market from others.

However, there could be a new, wacky idea of co-operation about to take the world of eSports by storm. Game choices have been replicated across tournaments for some time. This is simply a numbers game, as outlined by Head of Competition of Games Solutions (ESWC), Camille Versteeg. Other tournament settings can act as a wild card. Maps, bracket layouts, sudden death settings and playoff stipulations can court controversy or rile forum members up the world over.

With Counter-Strike 1.6 still rumbling on, many of the same maps have been played to death. Some maps have become no more than plain football fields that some teams have made their home ground. In a sense, they know the location of every divot and every blade of grass. The top teams are already two to three steps ahead without this advantage. eSports will never have the drama of an F.A. Cup match where a Division 2 side knock out a Premiership contender if the top teams simply have to show up to win 16-0.

New maps may change this, but rather than one tournament organisation seeing this possibility a joint decision has been made. The ESL, DreamHack, ESWC and eStars Seoul have signed up to a map pool consisting of de_mirage, de_forge, de_tuscan, de_train, de_dust2, de_inferno, and de_nuke. The maps will be subject to plenty of discussion and analysis, but it is great to see a co-operative effort being made. Could this have greater repercussions for the future? Could we see a more collaborative decision making process? Have we seen the emergence of a conjoined decision making group without the need for a fancy name, title or website? One can only hope that this signifies the start of something special.

Lessons learned!

2011-07-06T14:46:00.001+01:00

Newscasters, actors, entertainers...they make it look so easy. Last night, I experienced the joy of shooting a promo. The promo was for the upcoming Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition league - the Glacial Super League (in Limerick City, Ireland). I was happy with the script I had written, equipment was all set up, lighting was fine, but fluffing lines is a pain! I'll be honest, this was a trial by fire. A number of elements that I did not have a lot of experience with were meshed together in the hopes of piecing together a decent video.

The scenes were split by season. So, I had three paragraphs to say. Learning them is one thing, reading them aloud is another, but learning a script and staying focused on all the other essentials is a different kettle of fish. You can't move around for fear of making seat noises, hand movements had to be toned down - I nearly resorted to strapping my arms down - and of course things such as eye contact, breathing and facial expressions have to be considered. Everything that we take for granted. Watching videos back and listening makes you very concious of words that you say incorrectly, or where the stride is broken.

The first paragraph took some time. There were many "nearly there" moments, which then resulted in a stumble. Some people make the whole process look too easy! The second paragraph was a little more straightforward, despite being longer. However, time was ticking on. Shooting couldn't be left to the next day, or moved - results in differences which even the less-than-observant would notice. So the project pushed on, although certain lines could have been tidied up a little.

The final paragraph was pretty seemless. It was short, simple and straightforward. In saying that, it still took a couple of attempts. As a presenter, I still have plenty to learn, but it's good to have made a start. The project required editing, but that's a different story for a different time. There was plenty of downloading, uploading and, if it's even possible, sideloading. I am reconsidering my usage of Cyberlink Powerdirector. Now that I have actually put together a project rather than something straightforward, some of the inadequacies have been noticed.

But without further ado, here is the final project. It recaps what has gone before in the Glacial Super League. The first session of season 3 will take place on 16 July, 2011 in Moviedrome, Limerick City. More information is available here.

Glacial Super League Season 3 Promo: The Story So Far

Stability in the IPL

2011-06-25T18:04:00.000+01:00

Stability in the IPL

By Mark O’Beirne

eSports is back in favour and with a new flavour: Starcraft 2. Unfortunately, that brings a wave of players, teams, tournaments and cowboys that try to hijack a good thing. In the past, eSports fans and audiences have seen organisations that set their sights too high and fell short on their promises. Their eyes were bigger than their bellies, as the expression goes. Is the IGN Pro League (IPL) just another flash in the pan? Will we see a rumoured five year plan turn into just two seasons?

The cynical could say that IGN has money to burn. After all, it is an organisation that comes under Rupert Murdoch’s umbrella. However, that is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the backing is there to challenge any area that IGN desires. However, Mr Murdoch is a businessman. At the end of the day, if a venture isn’t going to be profitable or doesn’t fit, it will be cut.

In spite of this, the first season of the IGN Pro League focused on getting the basics right. The FAQ was upfront with interested visitors. The promise for 2011 was that $110,000 had been allocated to the league. However, just $5,000 was awarded in Season One. Immediately it was acknowledged that to go above this barrier would require more discussion with Blizzard, and that negotiations were underway for future seasons.

The ‘Best of the West’ tournament was focused. Sixteen of the best North American Starcraft 2 players were contacted and invited to take part. IGN acknowledged that eSports in America had not yet taken off and tried to rectify this. Money would be one approach but as stated, IGN looked beyond this. The announcement itself contained one very important word: “sustainable”. Instantly, it was recognised that, while IGN could make a short term splash, it is more beneficial to make an impact in the long term.

The IGN Pro League promised a polished viewing experience. Spectators have come to expect more and more over the years. Free streams run by volunteers and passionate fans are expected to be lag-free with perfect commentary and professional quality. Within the Starcraft scene, there are other elephants in the room, so to speak. GOMtv set the bar with coverage of the Korean scene. The Major League Gaming (MLG) circuit picked up Starcraft 2 and has become proficient at coverage. The North American Star League (NASL) started recently too, and would be regarded as the IPL’s closest rival. Naturally, IGN had a lot to live up to.

IGN’s presentation style almost acts as a tribute to GOMtv and the Korean tournaments. The wonderful hand-drawn player portraits are reminiscent of the usage of player pictures used as part of the opening sequences for Korean broadcasts. IGN is meticulous to include details about players including recent performances and what spectators may have to watch for in terms of playing style. The prelude to games is very spectator friendly with the player details, the map portrait and other subtle elements, such as the player’s name matching the colour that they will be represented by in-game.

Many tournaments and broadcasters focus on the event itself and then lose track of what is important. The first season of the IPL has come to a close and with the second season looming, it is vital to continue the hard work. Some tournaments omit the latter rounds in brackets or are found lacking in video uploads. However, for those that could not watch the tournament as it occurred, the IPL site itself is viewer friendly. Player profiles, including performance details, full brackets and a comprehensive video on demand section serve to inform and entertain.

IGN is gearing up for the launch of Season Two. The prize fund has increased to a whopping $50,000. This may raise a few eyebrows as eSports fans have seen previous organisations expand too fast and promise the sun, moon and stars. However, IGN appears to have stability in mind.

It must also be recognised that IGN has a team of dedicated and knowledgeable commentators on board. One in particular must be highlighted, not only for his talent but for his dedication to eSports. DJ Wheat has been on the scene longer than he would care to remember. He has been stung in the past, and has seen organisations close their doors despite the promise of longevity. One series recently made the promise of a five year plan that was cut short. If IGN are doing something wrong, the right team of advisors is in place to guide things back on track.

IGN has recognised that Korea is catered for, while Europeans are allowed to compete so long as they fulfil the American criteria. There are plenty of tournaments for Europeans. IGN has spotted a gap in the market and has identified where other organisations have fallen down. With a focus on the spectator as well as the spectacle, the future is promising for the IPL.

Censorship is a b****

2011-05-03T16:33:00.000+01:00

There is a time and place for censorship, but it seems to be becoming more widespread on the internet. A place where regardless of what it is, you can find it if you really want to look for it. Sometimes, this censorship affects us in our day to day offline lives too, and it can be baffling at that.

When I was a young lad, all that time ago, Alanis Morissette had the hit song 'Bitch'. It was uncensored and the controversial word was in the title. While it has an intended usage as the term for a female dog, this was not its purpose within the song. The song was played on the radio and many paid it no heed. It was just another word within another song.

Years later, we found YouTube to be a Godsend. No longer was it necessary to call into a radio station and wait for hours until the requested song was played. Just type it in and away you go. While I am for supporting artists, it is baffling when songs hit VEVO and become edited, especially when there is no way to watch the uncensored versions. This is particularly true in the case of rap videos. It's utterly pointless listening to most of these on VEVO. It becomes two minutes of silence with the occasional beat thrown in for good measure.

What is interesting is when rap hit mainstream radio. Suddenly it became acceptable to play it during the day, but the naughty words still had to be taken out. The most prominent example in my mind is when a local station played Eminem's "Ass Like That". Now it contains that particular lyric a number of times within a four minute window. Each and every time, the word "ass" was removed...Only for the radio presenter to come on at the end and announce the song name in full. What was the point of that exercise?

If there is a song that I'm unfamiliar with, and I hear silence that appears out of place, I immediately become more curious as to what should be there. When I was younger, one of those songs was "Fat Lip" by Sum 41. The word "gas" is censored in the line, "all the gas you've been huffing". Without the silence, it would have been another lyric but when censored, it becomes all the more interesting. The same occurred recently in the song "Like a G6"; why is "slizzard" a bad word? - "when we drink, we do it right gettin' slizzard". Yes, it means drunk, but it's not going to add to the problem of underage drinking.

Why stop with that word? Lady Gaga is responsible for plenty of dodgy thoughts, lyrics and videos. Yet is left practically in touch. Listen to any given song and there will be some examples that shouldn't be sung by her target market. Maybe I have no innocence left, but what is the difference? Where is the line between OK and banned? And why are children allowed to sing about, "going for a ride on a disco stick"?

The main reason that this has come to a head is the release of Mortal Kombat Legacy. For those not in the know, it is a web series based on the game, Mortal Kombat. It is gritty, grimy and apparently subject to censorship. I would advise checking it out. BUT watch the uncensored videos. As someone commented, Mortal Kombat without violence is like Street Fighter without Hadoukens. If you don't want spoilers, look away now - go watch the series.

I have really enjoyed the series so far. However, episode 2 bothered me. The early release showed Jax punching Kano's eye out - resulting in the half bionic face. However, this was removed in an edited version. This removal makes the opening two episodes pointless. They act as a background to how the characters come to be and interact, and yet we're losing the knowledge about Jax and Kano, and how Kano loses an eye. It's graphic but viewers will quickly realise that someone could throw jam at the camera for the same effect. Interestingly, there is also a surgery scene where Kano's eye is replaced. This is present in both episodes despite being far more graphic and uncomfortable.

Episode 3 was the straw that broke the camel's back. It centres around Johnny Cage. It is full of grit, adversity and swearing...or silence if you watch the censored version. It breaks the tone and feel of the series. It actually came close to ruining that episode for me. I went back and watched the real version when it was released later in the week and it is so much better. From here on out, I will only be watching the uncensored cuts.

There is a time and a place for censorship. A series based on Mortal Kombat is neither.

Not-quite-review Review of The Fancy Pants Adventures

2011-05-03T10:50:00.000+01:00

To be honest, I'm not quite sure what to make of The Fancy Pants Adventures. I first got a look at it at the EA Showcase and it seemed like a lot of fun. Then again, I played for about 20 minutes with four players and only touched on the story mode. Instead, we saw challenge rooms and alternative modes such as King of the Hill.

The Fancy Pants Adventures does not seem designed for playing single player, which makes it difficult to review and also difficult to pin down. As a 2D platformer, it looks well but it isn't overly challenging. There are bundles of collectibles but it's like collecting rewards from cereal boxes; it comes down to dumb luck and persistance.

The only reason to play on your own is to get the extra "squiggles" and go for the 100% completion or rewards. However, the levels are designed for multiplayer. Some squiggles are unobtainable unless you work with other people to reach higher platforms. So, while you get to explore more at your leisure in single player, you may not be able to get to places that you find.

This is where the game falls down. It can be a blast playing four player locally. There are some excellent game modes. But, if playing with the wrong crowd, it comes across as a boring title. If you can get the mix of co-operation and competition right, it works out brilliantly. But considering that you need to assist one another to get some squiggles, if people take the competitive element too far then the wheels come off the chariot.

I picked it up instantly when it came out after my impressions at the showcase. My friends haven't been won over so it may only get played locally for short bursts of time. On top of that, it hasn't quite gripped me enough to play through of my own accord.

Review: Unpleasant Horse

2011-05-02T12:59:00.001+01:00

The more observant will instantly spot that Unpleasant Horse doesn't quite fall in line with what is expected from Popcap. That is why "4th & Battery" has been created; to act as an indie label to cater for Popcap's strange or marginal ideas.

The protagonist is the Unpleasant Horse, complete with skull tattoos and a dark mane. But when viewing the title screen, look beyond the fluffy pink background into the sad eyes of the horses beyond and you get an inkling of what is to come.

The initial tutorial is brilliant in a sadistic, dark way. The basic mechanics are explained simply - touch the screen to jump to a cloud, or make a leap of faith if you are that way inclined. Then the line of, "Oh look! A pritty pony!! Let's go say hi" pops up. At this point Unpleasant Horse lives up to its name.

You see, the objective is to leap from cloud to cloud, and occasionally weighing down flying ponies so that they drop into a sea of sawblades. All of these actions gain points, with extra awarded for linking ponies, mega jumps, or dismounting just before you get devoured yourself.

The artwork is well done with subtle animations. Players will almost feel bad for those ponies being brought to their deaths as they weep before disappearing in a torrent of blood and gore. Their wings flap in desperation as they try to avoid the inevitable but it is of no use. Clouds darken with your presence and lightening flashes.

The game mechanics are implemented well and work fluidly. Combos are rewarding to chain and provide a challenge, while style points push the player to drop closer and closer to their own demise before leaping away from the clutch of the saw blades.. Bird feathers allow for an extra hop which can extend the chaos. However, there is never a need to move on. This is one point where the game falls down as it provides less of a challenge and more of a test of patience.

If the player can wait for an appetising screen, they can make great progress and rack up the points. Popcap have capped the number of feathers a player can hold at five. This means that there could be an end at some point as players eventually lose their run of luck, and cannot get an extended jump. An online leaderboard could have been an added touch.. Unless you are competitive and strive for perfection, or are sharing your iPad or iPhone with others, the game does lose its appeal.

Unpleasant Horse is an interesting change of direction for Popcap. It would traditionally be associated with colourful, family friendly games. At a push, the exception may be Plants vs Zombies, but even that can appeal to all. However, the cartoonish gore and game theme may be enough to put many players off. The background metal music is not for everyone, and the scream of horses mixed with the rev of saw blades may cause some to lose their appetite.

Players can certainly have plenty of fun with Unpleasant Horse. It is free so everyone should play it a couple of times at least. The various extras for scoring points reward a blend of creativity, daring and luck. Unpleasant Horse is a great way to kill some spare time. Overall, Popcap has put together a fluid, fun little game. However, it loses out in terms of long lasting appeal unless the competitive spirit is ever present.

Price: Free

From: App Store

Developer: 4th & Battery (by Popcap)

Ninjamurai Preview

2011-04-30T09:41:00.002+01:00

Limerick based Open Emotion Studios is back with a new title destined for the PS3/PSP Mini's market. Ninjamurai puts you in control of a young ninja/Samurai known as Ninjamurai, as he tries to outrun a number of evil forces.

The artwork is subtle, simple yet gives the impression of being carefully crafted. After seeing the artists at work at their studio in Innovation Works, it is evident that a lot of care and detail is being put into the work. Some recent titles to hit XBLA and, when it was active, PSN have shown that simple graphics can suit the game. This is certainly the case in Ninjamurai.

The gameplay is fluid and thankfully the controls are responsive. When the character is running at full tilt across dangerous, and sometimes collapsing, terrain the last thing needed is an input delay. Players of games such as N+ or Super Meat Boy will have to make a minor adjustment as there is no wall jumping up a single wall. As a player of such games, that was one of the first things I tried to do. Thankfully, there is usually an easier way to travel across and up a level. Learn from my mistakes!

Ninjamurai is set to cater for a variety of gamers. Rather than putting together a formula and hoping that all playstyles are catered for, Open Emotion Studios have implemented a few different features which should fit the bill. There are two stances: one is a running stance with slow attacks, while the other is a combat stance with less overall speed but quick and deadly attacks. This enables players to battle tooth and nail, or stealth their way through a level.

In addition, it is possible to unlock five outfits. Again, these can cater for or adapt the way in which a player plays. For example, one has less health points for Ninjamurai, but enables the player to inflict more pain.

The level designer is clearly fond of the classic "pit-of-death". While this keeps the player on their toes, it can also make it quite nerve wracking when told to wall slide down. It doesn't make it any more reassuring when that comment is from an Open Emotion staffer, I can tell you! However, the team has seen difficulties that players have faced and are actively working to rectify this issue. It is one of the few things that slows progress down, but if sorted will have players blasting through at a mile a minute.

The pit-of-death is a classic element that designers were fond of in the past: Remember Mario? That is not the only classic touch that a player will see. Certain gameplay elements and level features are a well implemented homage to old school games. A certain age group of gamers will feel that surge of nostalgia down the spine. Unfortunately, I have come to the realisation that I fit that age bill! Worse things could happen though; it allows me to appreciate these references.

Ninjamurai is designed to have people play again and again. A number of playmodes are on offer. These include a hardcore mode designed to test Ninjamurai skills, speed runs and a survival mode. Each is a unique take on the game and challenges the player to get better and better. In a novel touch, Open Emotion Studios has implemented in-game achievements.

Ninjamurai is shaping up to be an exciting release from a home grown development studio. The aimed release date is in May 2011, but the studio is keeping tight lipped on an exact date at this point in time.

My own Marvellous adventure

2011-04-28T23:54:00.001+01:00

When Marvel 3 was released, I picked it up immediately. For some time prior to release, I wasn't sure that I would invest in it. I had found its prequel difficult to get to grips with and there was waaay too much going on for my poor brain to handle. But, after playing MvC3 at the Eurogamer Expo, I took the plunge and bought it.

And then swiftly traded it in. Once again, I found it difficult and couldn't find a way past a stream of bullets as Dante or Deadpool, or sometimes both, appeared on screen. As it was, I was still an average player at Street Fighter; a game that I had invested a significant amount of time in. I didn't have enough time going spare to get into MvC3. It's frustrating to lose...It's even more frustrating when that loss comes from the other side of the screen.

I kept in touch with the Marvel scene. I watched the occasional stream and kept on top of 'The Marvellous Adventures of Gootecks and Mike Ross". Slowly, the desire to play came back. So I picked it up once again. However, I had learnt from my mistakes.

I hit Mission Mode immediately and, strangely, made more progress with Wolverine than I had done in the past. He was always a certainty in the team. I had heard complaints about Sentinel, seen the patch and seen his influence on matches. So, for the first time, I picked him. I quickly realised you don't even have to play him well. If you can, it's beneficial, but a couple of hits per combo deals significant damage. Pair that with X-Factor and you're good to go. Unfortunately, my 2nd character is still undecided. I'm not sure who'll fit the mix or who I like.

Once I hit online, I was surprised. I was actually winning! Some of those thanks to my giant, hulking robot...Sentinel for example won one match single handed. I was in trouble and on the ropes. Then managed to link a couple of devastating blows together. With plenty of super meter to spare on his last character, I unleashed it. Dante didn't teleport, and instead blocked a stream of supers. Desperation set in and he pushed a button....and then lost. Not the finest win, but it would do.

I'm currently at 8-2 online. All was going well until I took a break from Ranked, and everyone disappeared. Player matches were a mixed bag. One player in particular had my number! My Wolverine is coming along nicely, Sentinel acts as a solid anchor in any team, but who do I put in the middle? Any suggestions appreciated. Comment below or @Sabre0001 on Twitter.

Portal 2 Review

2011-04-28T15:58:00.000+01:00

By Mark O'Beirne

If you liked Portal, you will love Portal 2. If you didn’t like Portal, you should check out your local psychiatrist; there’s clearly something deeper that needs to be ironed out. Perhaps, you have been the subject of a series of test chambers, risking life and limb in the past.

Portal 2 is a more rounded and developed game than its predecessor. For example, players are introduced to the founder of the Aperture Science Computer-Aided Enrichment Centre. Players get a peek at how Aperture operates, the characters that make up the corporate machine and the intense rivalry with Black Mesa. Portal 2 simply seems to have more depth and substance to it.

The Aperture Science facility has changed since the first title. It has been overrun by decay and mother nature herself. The main character from Portal, Chell, is back after being woken from a cryogenic freeze. After being guided to where GLaDOS lies, dormant but alive, Chell and a side kick robot by the name of Wheatley attempt to escape. Unfortunately, they wake GLaDOS who is surprisingly pleased to see Chell…considering their shared history. This forces Chell down the route of a series of tests in a crumbling environment, with a number of twists and turns along the way.

It would have been easy to follow up Portal with more of the same, but there is a concentrated effort to add more while staying true to the original. Unlike the first which was essentially a series of tests, there is more of a storyline present…interlinked with a series of tests.

Players have more at their disposal, or challenging them this time around. Along with portals, players must make use of three different gels that are sprayed around certain parts of the facility. These change the dynamics of the game as they can propel the player, make them bounce higher, or allow them to place portals on surfaces that it would not have been possible to previously.

At its core, Portal 2 is very faithful to its legacy. Humour is present in abundance with quips and comments from GLaDOS and Wheatley. Meanwhile, Cave Johnson chimes in with pre-recorded messages from time to time that are certain to make players chuckle while pondering the ethical greyness of the facility. Even the early tutorial gives an inclination of the tone that is present throughout the game. All that can be said without spoiling it is that it is a more refreshing and enjoyable tutorial segment than usual.

The scripting in Portal 2 is excellent and carries both the story and the dialogue well. However, it is voice acting performances from Ellen McLain (GLaDOS), Stephen Merchant (Wheatley) and J.K. Simmons (Cave Johnson) that round off this performance perfectly. The scripting suits them, and appears to have been meticulously crafted for them.

The puzzles are similar in style to Portal. Players must get from one place to another through the use of cubes, buttons, portals and gels. Exploration is also encouraged where possible. The “Rat Man” is back with his scrawls that tell a tale. Achievements are often ignored in reviews, and with good reason. However, the achievements list shows that players can do quite a bit. From messing with the way Aperture conducts its business to disobeying certain instructions from GLaDOS; there is more to the game than may meet the eye.

Portal was often a solitary experience. This is not the case with Portal 2 thanks to the added Co-operative mode. Despite controlling two robots by the names of P-Bot and Atlas, players are still treated to insights, comments and remarks from GLaDOS. Players are required to work together to get through the environment. This can be done on- or off-line. Once again, there is plenty of depth. The robots able to interact such as playing Rock-Paper-Scissors, while GLaDOS will interject if the player waves in front of a camera and so on.

Portal was a good game, but it is the depth that makes Portal 2 a great game. Everything seems more real as there is a background in place. Everything has a history. The humour runs throughout the game, which is certainly needed in what could otherwise be a sterile test environment. While the graphics haven’t become more elaborate since the first rendition, the gameplay has made progress in leaps and bounds. Portal 2 has been out for a week; therefore you should own it by now.