Snippets

I occasionally come across things I'd like to write about, but can't find enough to say (unless it's 1am and I feel like rambling; see the previous post). Here's some stuff that has crossed my mind recently:

1) Max Payne 3 needs to be released. I've been replaying the first two, and they were just too damn cool. A really good demonstration of a narrative-focused game that doesn't skimp on the mechanics (Quantic Dream take note). I will point out that Max's gravelly voice, while suited to the character's personality and the style of the game, didn't fit the face until the 2nd game. First time around he looked like John Leguizamo should have been voicing him. I had so much fun diving around and shooting bad guys, while the rich characters and wonderful environments ("wonderful" used here in an odd sense, I realise) helped make the gameplay matter more, rather than the gameplay just providing an alternative to turning the pages of the novel the creators really wanted to write. Yeah, I didn't think much of Heavy Rain.


2) I now dislike Valve a little bit. They forced Troika to release Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines on the same day as Half-Life 2 just because they wanted to have their game out first. Jerks. They killed Troika and the game's sales as far as I'm concerned. Y'know, if you ignore the crippling bugs in the original build of the game. Thank god for the unofficial patch.

3) I really want the world to shut up about Minecraft. Yes, I can see that it's an interesting game, very innovative, I certainly admire Notch for his daring and design work. No, I do not want to pay money for it. Why? Because if I'm going to spend that sheer amount of time in a game, I want more to show for it than a building that does nothing and isn't real. The only project that I really like is that computer someone built in the game, because that shows some expertise and it DOES something. If I wanted a model of the Enterprise, I'd buy one. Why am I so cross about this? Every time I hear about Minecraft or get into a conversation about Minecraft,  I keep getting the impression that if I don't love it, I'm somehow wrong in an objective sense. I don't like that because it of course isn't objective. The idea of being dropped into a game with nought but the tools and mechanics and left alone to do what you want is a worthy one to explore, and if that sounds like your cup of tea then fine, more power to you. Go play it. I, however, don't have fun like that. I like a purpose to a game beyond "doing whatever", that's why I hate The Sims. I'll stick to my games that some kind of narrative purpose, and the rest if the gaming world (so it seems) can f@*£ off and play Minecraft.


4) DC Adventures (or Mutants & Masterminds 3rd Edition if you like)  looks like a really good game upon reading. If you like role-playing and superheroes, go look for it. If I get a chance to run some of it, I'll let you know how it plays.

5) D&D Heroes of Shadow is also a good book, should appease that player who wants to be evil. I mean, he still can't be, but he can pretend to be. Give him a fringe haircut and let him mope away about how much the world hates him and his magic sword.

Yeah, that's my little bites of opinion there. Comments down below, I imagine someone might just disagree with something :)