High Dynamic Range Lying

I have always been a fan of both city building simulation games, and I of course have a soft corner for the Final Fantasy franchise. It seems odd, though, to see the two finally come together.

While Nintendo’s Wii console has had their retro catalogue available on the Virtual Console service since the console’s launch, but it was not until they revealed their WiiWare service that they offered the chance for gamers to download new, specially designed titles. Among the first batch of titles available to Wii owners with an internet connection are titles like Lost Wind, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - My Life as a King.

Continue reading ‘Impressions: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - My Life as a King’

WIth the beta for Metal Gear Online wrapping up, players have been squeezing as much play time as possible out of the last couple days before the game goes into hiding once again. Despite being an online competitive shooter, the game has a personality all its own, reaffirming that even when taking notes from other games, it is still firmly rooted in the world of Solid Snake.

Gameplay is not the only death sentence an online competitive game can contract. Especially today, the genre is highly competitive, with fickle players and a demanding community. Having a well designed infrastructure, reliable servers, and a wealth of community features are just the beginning if a developer wishes to compete with the best and most experienced developers in the industry. It is quite obvious that Kojima Productions is new to the online gaming space, as they make a number of these elementary mistakes.

Continue reading ‘The 8 Online Design Commandments’

The free-to-play, online only and community connected game has always been the most flexible. Advances in online technology have made patching that much easier. While many games will adjust balance, perhaps even insert new items or stages for players to explore, they very rarely respond to player suggestions in the way Flagship Studios has.

The company announced a drastic change to the flow of the game, based on feedback from players participating in the beta.

Continue reading ‘Heads Up: Mythos Changes Flow’

Metal Gear is one of the highest quality franchises Konami has under its belt, but the game has always been a largely single player series. Starting on the MSX, the game has followed the adventures of grizzled war veteran Solid Snake through deception, espionage, and love triangles.

Back after the release of Metal Gear Solid 2, creator Hideo Kojima expressed his interest in an online Metal Gear title, but said that it would not see the light of day for some time. When the re-issued special edition of Metal Gear Solid 3 shipped (dubbed Subsistence), it came with a free online mode, which Kojima and team called a mere test of the “real” Metal Gear online.

Continue reading ‘Impressions: Metal Gear Online β’

This morning I walked in the pouring rain to pick up the Japanese Limited Edition version of Valkyria Chronicles, called Senjou no Valkyria in Japan. The LE is the regular fare in regards to Japanese Limited Edition boxes: it comes in a custom cardboard box, adorned with fantastic art from the game. Unlike American LE’s, though, these are truly limited. In Japan, Limited Edition copies of games are only shipped to stores if specifically ordered.

Continue reading ‘Sneak Peek: Valkyria Chronicles (戦場のヴァルキュリア) Japanese Limited Edition’

Depending on who you ask, this generation of gaming has either gotten more expensive than ever before, or is still cheaper than the 16-bit era. Cartridge based games did not have standardized pricing, and titles like Chrono Trigger retailed in the United States for upwards of $89.99. For those who desired nothing more than Chrono Trigger in their Super Nintendo (mostly elementary and high school students), the shock was unbearable.

Continue reading ‘Pay to Play: Game Pricing and Fleecing Customers’

Despite arriving later in the Kansai area than Tokyo, the Super Famicom classic controllers for Wii have finally been sent out to Club Nintendo Platinum members. The controllers are an exact replica of the original Super Famicom controllers that were released in Japan, but have a classic controller plug, for that authentic Super Famicom experience when playing games on Virtual Console.

Continue reading ‘Sneak Peek: Club Nintendo 2007 Platinum Members Gift: Super Famicom Controller for Wii’

With the release of the final chapter of the Metal Gear Saga looming over the horizon, he hype train leaves its station, intent on infecting all with the most terminal of diseases: Metal Gear fever.

While most fans are firmly focused on the release of the game itself, most multiplayer minded individuals are preparing for the beta of Metal Gear Online, the online shooter that will accompany Metal Gear Solid 4 at release. While the American and European beta sign-ups are rather selective, the Japanese sign-up is remarkably simple. All one must do is log on to the official Metal Gear Online website, use their Konami ID, and answer a simple survey.

Be warned though: Not only is sign up finished on April 17th, but those living outside of Japan looking to take this painless route will be denied. The MGO site does track IP addresses, preventing those living outside of Japan from accessing the beta.

Those living in Japan, be sure to sign up as soon as possible. As mentioned before, sign up wraps up in just 2 days. The beta begins worldwide on the 21st.

Story has become an increasingly important part of gaming over the years, with more complex storylines, a large cast of characters, and more inventive ways to convey the narrative. Single player games, especially Japanese developed ones, still have large chunks of narrative in between gameplay, and many developers still refuse to let go of cutscenes and extended exposition.

In single player games, gamers usually have higher tolerance. The experience is more relaxed. Other than the player’s time, there are no other constraints. Multiplayer games, on the other hand, are a completely different kettle of fish. When presented with story element, player become impatient. While some are always impatient when faced with story, even the most patient of gamers screams for a skip button in multiplayer games.

Continue reading ‘Framing the Action: Implementing story in Multiplayer games’

Capcom is probably one of the most consistent companies when it comes to releasing artbooks for their titles. Even newer, western centric titles like Lost Planet and Dead Rising have seen their share of artbook releases. Rockman (Mega Man in the US) alone has had its fair share of artbook releases, including a cameo in Capcom Design Works, and an artbook dedicated to the Rockman Zero series.

Continue reading ‘Design Works: R20th - Rockman And Rockman X Complete Works’