Rix Gaming Zone

Back Again Like I NEVER left

2016-12-27T07:53:00.000-08:00

Gone For A Little While...

And a lot has happened. Who would've thought that in the interim my whole life has changed (and so has gaming!).

VR is now the thing of reality. Have you seen what they are doing with cellphones? I'm sure you have. This will not be a long article, but I wanted to let you guys know that I am still breathing. That I am still here, and I am still gaming!

Rix is a writer, gamer, etc, etc... Interested in working in the gaming industry, click here for details.

I'm Back

2016-12-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

Gone For A Little While...

And a lot has happened. Who would've thought that in the interim my whole life has changed (and so has gaming!).

Rix is a writer, gamer, etc, etc... Interested in working in the gaming industry, click here for details.

The Greatest Ish In Gaming Ever... Old School Double Dragon

2014-08-01T14:40:00.001-07:00

Mullet Wearing, Spin Kicking, twin intercepting...

A punch, crunch, pow and pow. I remember the first time I walked into the arcade and saw it. The sound of kids and teens pressing buttons. Quarter after quarter went into that old machine. I'm talking about this machine below. Double Dragon!

What It Meant To Us...

This was the real social media. This was where we showed our skills. It was a sacred temple in the mall located next to the food court. It was where dreams were made and some were broken.

It got no realer then this...

You had two twins, Billy Lee and Jimmy Lee. You had a crazy evil master, the Shadow Boss (or Master, whatever). You had a whole gang of crazy people from Abobo (big mutant evil strong dude) to a dude with a gun (and I mean a gun).

This game had it all. What really attracted me to this game was the....

MUSIC!!!

The genius that came up with this music is forever a legend. How many people made up there own lyrics while waiting to play. And don't let someone cut you off in the middle of the track... a fight could break out in the arcade.

The game had it all. Some people say its retro. Some people say its old and not relevant for today. It was from a time that was different. It was from a time when everyone did karate and taekwondo and tried to be the next dragon.

Frikkin awesome. To me, this is still the greatest (one of them) ish on the planet. Period.

Listen to one of the greatest game themes ever...

Xbox One- Dead or Alive?

2014-02-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

Competitive Outlook Of Xbox One

So we are back in the console wars. Who would've guessed that the PS4 came out swinging. Personally, I like all systems because I love all games, but I just want to know what is your opinion? Is the Xbox One going to make a comeback and take the number one spot, or will PS4 continue its domination of the console market?

Need to do research on the Xbox One first? You can get the specs and info here.

Working on my report from Raccoon City...

2014-01-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

News From Raccoon City...

So here is another report from Rix. I heard of a hot news story coming from Raccoon City. They tell me about something strange happening to the local water. Some sort of pollution by some corporation named Umbrella.

Well, you know I had to find out. I am currently taking a flight on Capcom Airways heading straight for Raccoon City Airport. I will then make my way towards the local branch of Umbrella to get some answers regarding claims of pollution.

We will hold them accountable if I find out they are polluting. That's my word. I will post the first audio entry soon.

The Tanooki File - Memories of Super Mario Bros 3

2014-01-25T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Tanooki Conspiracy

Mario: Haha... get's them everytime...
Rix: Poor little turtle...smh

Even as I type this and upload my video report I have noticed something. The game industry and all its glitz and glamour seek one objective... to confuse the average gamer!

Well I for one am not taking it anymore. I have published my brief yet effective report and thoughts on this latest (yet brief) investigation of a common misconception that has embarrassed gamer's since... well, Super Mario Bros. 3. My brief video report is down below.

So, with no further ado, look at the video I have brought before you. After I leave the Mushroom Kingdom I will be heading to Raccoon City, I hear there is something in the water there...

The Tanooki File - Rix Gaming Zone from Rix Barber on Vimeo.

The Soul of Dracula

2014-01-01T16:35:00.000-08:00

Awesome (and Free!) Castlevania like game

This game is a 2D Platforming Game in the style of Castlevania. It's a good quality and its free! There are bosses in this game along with some intense gameplay. I also have a video that is on my Vimeo channel. So I definitely think its worth a look. I embedded the video down below for your viewing pleasure.

Rix's Thoughts On The Game

The Soul of Dracula by Bunaguchi is a quality game made by a true fan of the genre. The animations (from the birds flying away when you get too close or the zombies jumping out the ground) really add a touch of quality to the production that some indie and fan-made games miss.

There was care and time put into this production, and it shows. Below are some of the main controls for the game. Definitely a fun game for someone looking for quick action in the tradition of Castelvania. And the best part? It's free!

You can download a copy of the game here (make sure you have the translate feature on your browser set as this page is in Japanese).

Rix's Gripe

If I have a gripe with this game it is using a keyboard, and the controls on the keyboard. The special weapons key (C Key) really could have been in a better place. Switching between the whip and the special weapon can get irritating if you are just starting out. If you can get pass this you will have a good time.

Controls:
Pause/Start- Space Bar
Jump- X key
Whip- Z key
Special Weapon- C key

The Soul of Dracula from Rix Barber on Vimeo.

Daily Dose Of Things Not Game Related (9-2-2013)...

2013-09-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

News For 9-2-2013 (From Game World ZX101)

Well it was bound to happen, so I guess it happened. The world finally has seen the first of the mutant overlords from the Planet Z manifest thru the space time continuum.

I had the great pleasure of interviewing one of the mutant overlords who goes by the name of X-ra'la bash na kath, but he prefers on earth to be known as Ted.

His picture is below:

Ted (a.ka. X-ra'la bash na kath)

Below are some excerpts from the unedited inteview:

Ted: Hello flesh monkey.

Rix: Good afternoon, X-ra'la bash na kath.

Ted: Your pathetic pronunciation of my name further adds to the insult of having to speak with you, flesh monkey. Simply call me Ted.

Rix: Ok Ted, thanks (I think).

Ted: Human scum, what is the purpose of this interview?

Rix: Well, I run a blog...

Ted: So you are what they call a blogger?

Rix: Yes.

Ted: You really suck at it, flesh monkey.

Rix: I did not call you here for insults. I want to ask you a few questions.

Ted: Well ask before I vaporize you.

Rix: Ok. First, what brings you to our world?

Ted: To conquer, invade, and vaporize all living life upon it.

Rix: Okaaay. What is the point of conquering a world only to vaporize it?

Ted:.... I do not understand your question, flesh monkey.

Rix: I mean, why go through all the trouble to take something over only to vaporize? It sort of defeats the point.

Ted: ........

(Ted was silent for at least 15 minutes)

Ted: This interview is over.

Rix: Okay...

Ted: I hope your blog fails and you are vaporized with the rest of the flesh monkeys upon your planet.

As you can see, we learned absolutely nothing from Ted. As of the printing of this interview, we were informed that Ted became a casualty during the initial invasion of a remote space outpost. May he rest in bits.

For further new not related to games, please tune in or the next time I feel like typing it. Rix out.

Festers Quest - One of the Hardest Games Known to Man

2013-09-02T09:02:00.001-07:00

The Festers Quest Scandal...

Before Festers Quest, there were jumpy games. There were runny games. There were pingy pongy games. But all of these had a manageable difficulty. Enter the Soft... enter Sunsoft.

So the mad wizards at Sunsoft concocted an idea. Let's make a Nintendo Game (for the nintendo entertainment system) so hard that only a few elite gamers will ever... and I mean ever make it to level 2.

Sadly, as of this writing I do not know if there was a level two. The game was so hard I could only make a video of the introduction (which I posted to youtube for all you youtubing people).

Please watch my sad attempt at entering the game only to be rerouted back to the introduction again... sadly true... this game was the hardest game ever created by human beings.

Memories of Mega Man Legends...

2013-08-25T11:25:00.002-07:00

Why I loved Mega Man Legends...

I remember the days of PS One. I remember when polygons became mainstream, and it became cool to be a gamer. It's funny because that feels like yesterday.

There was one game that sticks out in my mind that sparked my imagination. It took the name of Mega Man and extended the MM universe. I am referring to Mega Man Legends. This game had it all. It had a sleek new look (at the time) and a world to explore which spanned above and below.

Every time you entered a new area you were excited as the design of the scenarios and scenes really immersed you into the world.

Some of my fond memories was underneath the surface of the game world hunting for treasure and upgrades. Do games still do this? It felt unique. And the characters along with the story elements really drew me in.

Definitely worth checking out. This had to be one of my favorite games back in the day. Just a random thought.

Hoosier City (MVP Software)- A Lot Of Fun

2013-04-23T05:18:00.001-07:00

Hoosier City Is A Fun Game

As a child I remember the era of shareware. These were games I would play for hours and hours on end. They groomed your imagination for bigger and better games in the future.

Well, there was a particular game I remembered fondly by the name of Hoosier City by Wetware Software.

The story is sci fi and had a pretty good story to it. The world has basically went through a catastrophic period and now people live in domes. However, you are the leader of Oil City and you are sent to investigate one of the domes.

Come to find out things have went haywire and the domes inhabitants have transformed into mutants! Also, robots and security systems have went crazy.

All in all, this is a fun game. The controls take some getting used to but I'm sure you will enjoy it. To me, it was a blast from the past.

You can download it legally from the Archive, by visiting its page here.

While I Type...

2012-08-07T10:36:00.000-07:00

...the first of hopefully a whole string of game videos has begun. I call these things "taste", as in you get to see the intro and title, plus a little bit of the game.

I am excited because I get to pull out my old collection and you get a chance to see what all the fuss was about back in the day. I do not claim to be a retro gaming expert, and some of the parts I actually play may show me doing the opposite of winning.

But, all in all, its all in good fun. I hope you check the videos out!

MSX Games...

2012-05-31T13:23:00.002-07:00

Well, hopefully I should be posting my first video (of an actual old school game) tomorrow. MSX games are something I have been looking into lately. For those who don't know, MSX is the system Konami started a lot of their franchises on (Metal Gear for example, Kojima explained this in a recent interview).

However, I am excited about it. I get to do what I love (playing video games) and you get the info here, and the video on my Youtube channel. Thanks for your continued support (hopefully I will be able to get something done tonight, but who knows).

Mass Effect 3 Review And Price Cut

2012-05-29T09:53:00.000-07:00

Mass Effect 3 To The Point Review

As you are already aware, Mass Effect 3 has been a game shrouded in controversy, irritation, joy, and a whole spectrum of mixed emotions. It is the grand finale brought to us by the fine people at Bioware (the guys who brought us Dragon Age also), and is suppose to be the game that ties up the loose ends created by the other two (awesome) games in the series.

UPDATE!!!

Save $30 on Mass Effect 3, now only $29.99 at GameStop.com

First, before I go any further I must state that the game itself was awesome. The combat has been refined, you feel the intensity and speed of the firefights. Also, the powers (and classes) are more balanced. You can really play your style of character. If you like guns, fine, be a soldier. I myself was a Vanguard, I had a great time playing Mr. Ruthless (I chose to be a tough guy).

You will have fun jumping from world to world and getting to see the various homeworlds of the different alien species (for example, you get to see the Asari and the Turian's homeworlds). It was a very fulfilling experience to see the incredible artwork and the time investment that was placed into this game.

Now for the couple of gripes I have about the game. The ending was one of the greatest let downs. However, as of writing this article, Bioware is going to release a pack to add more to the ending (due to the rabid response of the fanbase), so hopefully that gripe will be removed soon. Also, some of the story elements were to me overemotional. It was like every other moment they were trying to make you feel like “this game is art”. Some of it was good, but some of it was overboard.

All in all, this is a great game. Time and thought went into the construction of this game. Even though it is not a perfect game, it is still worth your time. Mass Effect truly is one of the greatest trilogies to grace a video game system (even though the ending could have been... better). If you haven't done so, grab a copy as soon as possible.

Save $30 on Mass Effect 3, now only $29.99 at GameStop.com

Brought to my attention...

2012-05-24T12:44:00.000-07:00

It has been brought to my attention that in order for me to gain more readers (And viewers for my YOUTUBE channel), I must start to do (crappy, cough, cough) classic gaming walkthru's. I am very much saddened by this turn of events because I believed that modern day content was what people wanted to read. That was until I received a letter from someone I will refer to as Reader X...

"Rix, love what you write. However, I love classic games! Do you think you can do walkthru's of them? I love watching games I've played a thousand times being played through by other people. If you do this I'm sure your vacant blog would get lot's of readers.

P.S. I think you are a poopoohead. HAHAHAHA" Unknown Reader X

Well, Unknown Reader X, for your information I have many classic games. Some were awesome while (many, many... many) a lot of them were lukewarm (translated: soiled baby diapers). So now, Rix will be doing classic game walkthru's hoping to be bought out by a huge conglomerate so he can sell out for the big bucks and do reviews on network television next to some... wait, what was I writing about again?

Oh, the shame...

You see, that is my problem. I have a lack of focus. I am like a dog chasing cars. As soon as one goes by another nice shiny one zooms by (notice picture to the left)!

This is why my sites generally do not last that long. Short attention span. However, I love games. And if making videos about games that came out in the dark ages will increase my rep then BY Golly! I'll do it.

Sheesh. I thought hot videos of new video games people loved. Well, for those who still care... here is what I've been playing lately...

Leveling Up In Diablo 3 - Speed Guide

2012-05-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

Leveling Up Has Never Been Easier

Leveling up in Diablo 3 is vital to your success in being the best. Tired of burning away hours upon hours in front of your computer hoping to reach a higher level? Then this Diablo 3 Speed Guide is for you.

The goal of many gamers is power leveling, especially when it comes to Diablo 3. You might be tempted to spend a lot of cash since the auction house in Diablo 3 allows you to use real money to buy items with Blizzard taking their fair share.

It is known that some of the best gear might create better results.

But, spending money in the auction house is not the best method (even if you had all the money in the world to spare). It is always better to save your money because there are many ways to get the best gear in the game naturally.

Did you know that questing in the right direction offers a much better progression for each character versus going back to the same spot killing the same monsters over (and over) again?

With changes in how the actual game runs now, what has worked in the past does not necessarily apply for Diablo 3. For example, the returns on boss runs isn't the same because Blizzard is now encouraging players to embrace diversity of play style verses the repetitive grinding system of the past.

Also, there are higher levels of difficulty (such as the inferno level) which will give you better drops. There are many methods that can help you on your way to true leveling.

This is why I recommend the Diablo 3 Speed Guide because it is written by experienced players (who actually play Diablo 3). No beating around the bush here, just what you need as quickly as possible. This is a very effective method for players who do not wish to spend 15 hours a day in front of their computer trying to level up.

For more information on the Diablo 3 Speed Guide, click here now!

Legend of the Mystical Ninja

2012-05-22T12:21:00.001-07:00

The Legend Continues...

Simply put this is one of my favorite old-school games (truthfully, to me, it really isn't that old, but that would be saying too much about my age LOL).

In today's 3D world this game would be considered a novelty, even though you can download it on the Wii (legally that is...). I remember playing through this game from beginning to ending, it was one of the most unique games I had played at the time.

Creativity is something I would love to see in some of the new games. I am not saying they are not creative or original, but finding new ways to blow up meshes is not my idea of original. Flavor is what separates one food from another, and it is the same in gaming.

I remember looking through one of my old game magazines (from the Nintendo Power days when it was the original N-E-S), and the originality that went into everything from the paneling to the layout of game maps was on a different level. These things were valuable back in the day (because games back in the day were so difficult that many of them are not even playable today LOL).

You had to find a cheat code (anyone remember the Konami cheat code which worked for almost all their titles?). Game Genie was still hot (before Gameshark, do they still use Gameshark?!). The eighties were lovely.

Sigh... well. As always, I thank you for reading and hope you are having a wonderful week.

Love for gaming...

2012-05-17T10:27:00.000-07:00

Love for the game...

Who would've thought twenty years ago we would be playing the games we would be playing today? It literally boggles my mind to think that so much has changed in the last two decades that the old way looks like a fossil now.

Old and dated, it's hard to believe that so much has changed. Remember Atari 7800? Or text adventures like the Kingdom of Kroz? Do you remember making your own adventures with ZZT? And how stoked were you when you started to use Megazeux (tricked out ZZT)? The games get bigger and more epic pushing the envelope on what's possible. But how many of us still love playing Deus Ex (the original)? Not only was it awesome, it still is. Will we say the same ten years later about Human Revolution?

As I write this I am reminded of how much has changed. We use to go to arcades to play games. Now we play online at home with others. There was a certain social interaction that had a feeling of community with it.

Don't get me wrong, I love the games that are out today. What I miss is the social interaction of being next to real people (like at the arcades). It's one think to let someone know you dominated them over a headset, and another thing to see the look on their faces when you spank them like they stole something.

Sigh, the good old days. Well, back to Demon Souls (yes, I still play this game) to die another hundred deaths against an indescribable terror.

Lord of the Rings War in the North for Xbox 360 On Sale Now

2012-05-17T08:40:00.001-07:00

LOTR: War in the North (Xbox 360) only $19.99!

If you didn't know I am an action-RPG fanatic. I love games that allow me to control my sword and grow my stats. You have probably seen the advertisement and scratched your heads (you know, the one with the scary guy silently staring at you through his helmet), wondering what sort of game is this? To be honest, when I first saw the advertisement I did not know it was Lord of the Rings until I read the title.

Well, War in the North is a co-op Action RPG that puts you (and your friends) into a new chapter in the War of the Ring. With heavy inspiration from the original source material and a ton of enemies you will find the familiar and unfamiliar nature of this game epic and incredible.

You will travel to locations that are known, and some that are not so known (never seen in the movies). The images are breathtaking, and help towards immersing the players into Middle-earth unlike any other game before it. This game gives you a chance to experience Middle-earth and the lore firsthand, while making your own story in the Ring saga.

You can play this game solo or with two of your friends (total of three players). Your jobs will be to face the growing armies of the North (and to survive the conflict). Drawing heavily from the books and appendices, you will find a story that is unique and refreshing.

For a limited time Gamestop (through the link below) has War in the North on sale for $19.99. If haven't done so already, now is a great time to experience the war in Middle-earth.

Lord of the Rings: War in the North for Xbox 360 only $19.99 at Gamestop.com

Borderlands 2 Preview and Release Date

2012-05-16T11:57:00.002-07:00

Preview shots and details of Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 is the sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed four-player co-op shooters (with role playing gameplay I might add). It's set to be bigger and better then the original Borderlands (that's what Gearbox tells me anyway).

The release date of Borderlands 2 (as of the writing of this article) is September 18, 2012. As always, you can pre-order (or after 9-18-2012 order) by visiting here. The game is set to have more gadgets then before (if that's believable) and for those that pre-order the game a set of bonuses (find out more about the bonuses here).

As far as the story goes you are in the world Pandora, fighting the corrupt Hyperion Corporation (sort of a cool name). The corporation is led by one notorious person called Handsome Jack. You can tackle the game solo or in four player co-op (very interesting).

At the start of the game you find yourself left for dead in the tundra (very frozen place) of Pandora. As you can tell, this will be a quest for revenge, and to some extent redemption. The corporation Hyperion is surrounded by evil perpetrated by the evil CEO (ROFL) Handsome Jack. There will be bullets flying and corporate lackeys falling. The best part is, you do not have to tackle Pandora alone.

The co-op is what excites me the most about Borderlands 2, You can do this either locally (via split-screen) or online. A major bonus of the online mode is that you can drop in and drop out. This means players can aid when needed and leave when they have other things to do.

There are all new characters, with you stepping into the role of the Gunzerker. Also, there are new character classes. The Gunzerker has the ability to dual-wield (don't they all?) any two weapons found in the game. This has my mind going places. Just think about it. You could dual wield sniper rifles (I'm not making this up), rocket launchers, machine guns. This adds an interesting dynamic to the game that will have to be seen to be believed.

In conclusion, Borderlands 2 is shaping up to be an incredible journey. Below are some screenshots of the game. I hope you enjoy them. As always, thanks for reading.

Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City Price Cut

2012-05-16T08:36:00.001-07:00

$20 off Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (Limited Time)

It was bound to happen, and happen sooner rather then later. Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City has finally experienced a price cut! For those who don't know what this game is, let me give you a little background on it first.

Resident Evil is a survival horror game where you have limited resources, overpowered enemies, and an atmosphere of fear and bloodshed. Historically this has been the formula for Resident Evil games, but Capcom (company behind Resident Evil) changed things up a bit when they added a team element to the game.

In Operation Raccoon City you are warped (haha, Mario Brothers) back to that fateful night in September 1998 (what day was it?) when the deadly T-Virus was unleashed upon the ignorant masses of civilians (and non-civilians) in Raccoon City. Umbrella then decides to send its team to do some clean up, and the US Government has quarantined the area also sending in their elite soldiers (they want to help survivors, Umbrella wants to kill everyone).

Favorite characters return in this game (like Leon Kennedy of RE2 and 3D movie fame) adding an element of nostalgia for the hardcore Resident Evil fan (or addict if this is your favorite genre). With everyone's favorite undead villain lurking around (STARS!) and hordes of zombies, the bullets will be flying and the undead bodies will be dropping (along with the opposing teams).

There are various modes of gameplay such as the Campaign mode which allows up to 4 player co-op (where you choose your side, Umbrella Secret Service, or the Elite Special Forces Unit of the US). You can also fight online (bring along a couple of friends mode).

All in all, if you don't have a copy yet (because 59.99 was too much, as it was for me), then click on below and head over to Gamestop while they are knocking $20 dollars off the price (limited time only).

Save $20 on Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City for PS3 and Xbox 360 at Gamestop.com

A Real Diablo 3 Review

2012-05-15T11:33:00.001-07:00

Diablo 3 is...

Diablo 3 is simply put the dungeon crawlers equivalent of an ice cream sundae with all the right fixings. It is hoarding, pillaging, destruction, stat building... yada... yada... yada...

Okay, did you buy that? No, probably not. So let me explain exactly what it is and what it ain't. First, Diablo 3 is known as an action role-playing game. This means that you control the slicing, dicing, cutting and casting. It also means you have to grow experience (distant memories of experience points in the old days) and abilities.

You will face hordes of monsters, heart wrenching bosses and dangerous situations. But fear not, you have five distinct classes to choose from like barbarian (think Conan, only without the former governor), witch doctor (not your family physician), wizard, monk, or the feared demon hunter. As you can tell, each has their own abilities and powers to assist them.

Each class has a distinct background and a story to fit. For example the barbarians are heavily armed and hail from Mount Arreat while the witch doctor comes from the Tribe of the Five Hills (Umbaru race...sigh, I did not make that name up). The witch doctor specializes in spells and alchemy and also posseses the ability to summon while the barbarian is the definition of the physical beast (slaughtering line after line of undead fiends).

The game is set in Sanctuary (not the TV show silly). As you can tell, it is a dark world filled with fantasy and treacherous... things. The inhabitants are pretty ignorant of the fact that there is an underworld filled with demonic forces from a horrible vacation spot (not really) called the Burning Hells. Some remember their dread while most enjoy their mundane lives. Then... all of a sudden... THINGS CHANGE!

That was the shock of your life right? Not really? Well, the minions of the Burning Hells want revenge for the spanking they received twenty years ago and you (and your companions) are the only ones that can stop them.

Can you do it? Do you have what it takes? Diablo 3 is a game that will not lay down for you. It keeps coming at you. You will perish. Many times. But you must rise from the ashes like the phoenix and lay the smack down upon the fiends from the Burning Hells.

If you love great games and want to have the time of your life, then this is the game for you. To get your copy click one of the pictures (the version you like) below. Thanks for listening to my rant. This game is awesome.

-----------------------------------------------
Gamestop - Click pictures below for further details

Diablo 3 (Regular)

Diablo 3 Special Edition

Excitement...

2012-05-15T10:52:00.003-07:00

Gaming (console, desktop, and old school desktop) has been my love for a very long time. Looking through the many websites online I was confounded to see a certain trend... and within this trend I did not feel certain questions were answered.

So I decided to hop on the blogging bandwagon and review the hottest titles, get the best trailers, and give my honest opinion about them (hopefully helping you to avoid purchasing video game garbage). So, now my fun-filled journey begins. My only question is, "Will you be joining me?"