Wedding preparations are a looming monster at home these days. We are so very far ahead on a number of things that I`m worried we are forgetting others. It is tricky business and I hope I can keep up
( Read more... )
The wedding will have 4 llamas, an emu, a goat and a few horses. At least, just outside it. That was part of the decision making process, no joke.
Family stuff is something I can cope with. Had a nice chat with my father today. Anna has heavier stuff to deal with, but she seems to be managing too. No worries - at least not any insurmountable ones.
Studio 60, Heroes and Grey's get watched every week here. House and Law&Order SVU when we can catch them. We saw seasons 1-3 of 24 but have fallen off. I hear it is still good, but sometimes a bit over the top.
Among shows I have heard are excellent are Lost, Six Degrees, 30 Rock, Brothers and Sisters and ER ... but there is only so much time. I spent a few years without cable and while these shows are great, I don't want to watch too much TV.
Yay for good endings (I've heard mixed reviews, but everyone I spoke to loved at least some of it - no spoilers, we haven't played in a while but will soon) Okami absolutely rules - and yes, the golden shower is an attack later on. It is also a hugely compelling game - like Zelda, perhaps even better in it's simple yet powerful story and constantly changing/growing gameplay.
As for systems - let me be opinionated: Wii games are ugly. This shouldn't matter much, but outside of control schemes (which rule) I also don't see a gameplay revolution. That is, your end has changed (good) but the enemy AI/game structure/puzzles and challenges may not. To me, this is bad news.
See, I love "emergent gameplay" and not simply from the title or idea - I like the fact that randomness happens, variety happens and you can approach things in different ways. I love games like FF Tactics because I can have thousands of party combinations, Metal Gear Solid because I can get past guards many many many different ways, as well as Devil May Cry for different weapon ombinations and move sets. I love the Motorstorm demo on PS3 because the tiniest group detail or other car changes everything - so racing isn't about perfection, it is about dealing with everything flying at you and finding your way through the mess.
That find of gameplay excites me more than anything. I get bored of games that are about perfecting an obvious strategy - I love games that let me find my own strategy and there is not just one way to do things.
The PS3 will be my system, I think anyhow, because it is built for this - physics, AI and new ideas are a big part of the structure. Companies seem ready to use that. I think the new ideas for games will be the interesting ones, more so that the sequels (though FF anf MetalGear tend to innovate too). I cannot wait to see the next games from the team that did Ico and Shadow of the Colussus, or the Ratchet and Clank guys (after Resistance, which is damn good for a launch game) or the Jak and Daxter guys, or the Okami guys, or the Sly Cooper guys ... along with the Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and others. See, those suprising games grab me so much more and I don't know if the Wii is up for it and I doubt the 360 developers are as interested in it.
I could be wrong, of course, but I'm guessing that will be the case. No one talks, as you mentioned, about the Xbox's predisposition to shooters - it is a good system but the divergent titles are fewer and further between. There were a few but they got no attention or press and weren't polished (Oddworld Stranger's Wrath, GunValkyrie, Jet Grind Radio for a few examples)
And the Wii - strangely I think it will hold success for at least a year or two (and maybe that means developers will find gameplay innovations) but I think only Nintendo (just like in the past) will REALLY know what to do with it. I have seen the 3rd party stuff for Wii and plenty looks both ugly graphics-wise and dumb gameplay-wise. That could change, and it was fun, and being more affordable, it might be worth it for 2 years and a chance at a few more (if I'm wrong :P) but I will hold out. I'll let my friends get it, and invite them over for the PS3 when I have it.
Family stuff is something I can cope with. Had a nice chat with my father today. Anna has heavier stuff to deal with, but she seems to be managing too. No worries - at least not any insurmountable ones.
Studio 60, Heroes and Grey's get watched every week here. House and Law&Order SVU when we can catch them. We saw seasons 1-3 of 24 but have fallen off. I hear it is still good, but sometimes a bit over the top.
Among shows I have heard are excellent are Lost, Six Degrees, 30 Rock, Brothers and Sisters and ER ... but there is only so much time. I spent a few years without cable and while these shows are great, I don't want to watch too much TV.
Yay for good endings (I've heard mixed reviews, but everyone I spoke to loved at least some of it - no spoilers, we haven't played in a while but will soon) Okami absolutely rules - and yes, the golden shower is an attack later on. It is also a hugely compelling game - like Zelda, perhaps even better in it's simple yet powerful story and constantly changing/growing gameplay.
As for systems - let me be opinionated:
Wii games are ugly. This shouldn't matter much, but outside of control schemes (which rule) I also don't see a gameplay revolution. That is, your end has changed (good) but the enemy AI/game structure/puzzles and challenges may not. To me, this is bad news.
See, I love "emergent gameplay" and not simply from the title or idea - I like the fact that randomness happens, variety happens and you can approach things in different ways. I love games like FF Tactics because I can have thousands of party combinations, Metal Gear Solid because I can get past guards many many many different ways, as well as Devil May Cry for different weapon ombinations and move sets. I love the Motorstorm demo on PS3 because the tiniest group detail or other car changes everything - so racing isn't about perfection, it is about dealing with everything flying at you and finding your way through the mess.
That find of gameplay excites me more than anything. I get bored of games that are about perfecting an obvious strategy - I love games that let me find my own strategy and there is not just one way to do things.
The PS3 will be my system, I think anyhow, because it is built for this - physics, AI and new ideas are a big part of the structure. Companies seem ready to use that. I think the new ideas for games will be the interesting ones, more so that the sequels (though FF anf MetalGear tend to innovate too). I cannot wait to see the next games from the team that did Ico and Shadow of the Colussus, or the Ratchet and Clank guys (after Resistance, which is damn good for a launch game) or the Jak and Daxter guys, or the Okami guys, or the Sly Cooper guys ... along with the Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and others. See, those suprising games grab me so much more and I don't know if the Wii is up for it and I doubt the 360 developers are as interested in it.
I could be wrong, of course, but I'm guessing that will be the case. No one talks, as you mentioned, about the Xbox's predisposition to shooters - it is a good system but the divergent titles are fewer and further between. There were a few but they got no attention or press and weren't polished (Oddworld Stranger's Wrath, GunValkyrie, Jet Grind Radio for a few examples)
And the Wii - strangely I think it will hold success for at least a year or two (and maybe that means developers will find gameplay innovations) but I think only Nintendo (just like in the past) will REALLY know what to do with it. I have seen the 3rd party stuff for Wii and plenty looks both ugly graphics-wise and dumb gameplay-wise. That could change, and it was fun, and being more affordable, it might be worth it for 2 years and a chance at a few more (if I'm wrong :P) but I will hold out. I'll let my friends get it, and invite them over for the PS3 when I have it.
Ha! This is too long, gotta reply twice!
Reply
Leave a comment