Target had TRON: Evolution on sale the other day for 37.99. Back to Gamestop I went to return the game I got after returning the TRON: Evolution Collector's Edition.
I've now saved myself over $90 on this game from my original purchase.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
The Silent Protagonist
For some reason, developers have this crazy idea that if they don't make the player's character talk, then it allows you, the player, to 'become one' with the character and somehow allow you to identify with him/her better.
Loads of crap.
I recently finished Dead Space and other than a few grunts and groans here and there, I never spoke a single word. I was talked at a whole bunch but I never uttered a single phrase. Never acknowledged a single message, never any reaction to the nasty things he encounters, not even a, "Phew, glad that is over" when it is all over.
Far from helping me be the character, I found myself wondering why in the world this guy is such an emotionless tool. And he's not alone. Gordan Freeman is a mute. Meets all sorts of people in course of his games, never says a word to any of them. Not even a simple, "Hey what's up?" People through the course of the game have entire conversations with him, even to the point where they act like he's actually responding to them. To me they seem like crazy nut jobs who are talking to themselves.
Sometimes the developers go so far as to give you character who has no identity. Last year's Halo: ODST didn't even give you a name. You are simply known as the "The Rookie". And on top of that, you don't even have a face. You're the helmeted unknown. I guess that makes it nice for all gamers as it really could be anyone in there (male or female) but it also makes the protagonist rather uninteresting.
As I said earlier, I recently finished Dead Space and the whole time I was bothered by the lack of reaction from Issac Clarke. I compare this to some other titles I played this year, such as Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Red Dead Redemption, and Mass Effect.
In all of these, I became engaged with the protagonist in a way that would not be possible with silent method. I cared about the plight of John Marsten and his desire to see his family. I understood Ezio's motivation's and what drove him to Rome.
And Shepard from Mass Effect, far from being a silent protagonist, I got to not only become engaged in his/her story, I got to shape the character into something that I wanted without the character being silent. I identified with the character because I shaped the character.
Here's the deal, I like Half-Life. I like BioShock. I like Dead Space. But I often wonder if I would have liked them more had I been allowed to get know the protagonist better.
Loads of crap.
I recently finished Dead Space and other than a few grunts and groans here and there, I never spoke a single word. I was talked at a whole bunch but I never uttered a single phrase. Never acknowledged a single message, never any reaction to the nasty things he encounters, not even a, "Phew, glad that is over" when it is all over.
Far from helping me be the character, I found myself wondering why in the world this guy is such an emotionless tool. And he's not alone. Gordan Freeman is a mute. Meets all sorts of people in course of his games, never says a word to any of them. Not even a simple, "Hey what's up?" People through the course of the game have entire conversations with him, even to the point where they act like he's actually responding to them. To me they seem like crazy nut jobs who are talking to themselves.
Sometimes the developers go so far as to give you character who has no identity. Last year's Halo: ODST didn't even give you a name. You are simply known as the "The Rookie". And on top of that, you don't even have a face. You're the helmeted unknown. I guess that makes it nice for all gamers as it really could be anyone in there (male or female) but it also makes the protagonist rather uninteresting.
As I said earlier, I recently finished Dead Space and the whole time I was bothered by the lack of reaction from Issac Clarke. I compare this to some other titles I played this year, such as Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Red Dead Redemption, and Mass Effect.
In all of these, I became engaged with the protagonist in a way that would not be possible with silent method. I cared about the plight of John Marsten and his desire to see his family. I understood Ezio's motivation's and what drove him to Rome.
And Shepard from Mass Effect, far from being a silent protagonist, I got to not only become engaged in his/her story, I got to shape the character into something that I wanted without the character being silent. I identified with the character because I shaped the character.
Here's the deal, I like Half-Life. I like BioShock. I like Dead Space. But I often wonder if I would have liked them more had I been allowed to get know the protagonist better.
Friday, December 17, 2010
I just couldn't do it
Earlier this month I bought the Tron: Evolution Collector's Edition. It was pricey. And what does that extra CE get you?
Hmm, let's see. I get the game, a big box, and a lightcycle with a display case. Oh, and a $10 movie pass.
So, assuming no sales on this you are paying $130. That's $60 for the game, $10 for the movie pass, and $60 for a lightcycle? Wow that is steep.
For $60 I could go to Amazon and get the Sam lightcycle, the runner, and Flynn's white lightcycle.
Yeah can't justify that. So back to the store it went and I swapped it out for the regular version.
I feel better now.
Hmm, let's see. I get the game, a big box, and a lightcycle with a display case. Oh, and a $10 movie pass.
So, assuming no sales on this you are paying $130. That's $60 for the game, $10 for the movie pass, and $60 for a lightcycle? Wow that is steep.
For $60 I could go to Amazon and get the Sam lightcycle, the runner, and Flynn's white lightcycle.
Yeah can't justify that. So back to the store it went and I swapped it out for the regular version.
I feel better now.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Wampas like to exercise too...
I think this guy ate too many rebels and needed to work off the extra weight.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tron is coming...
The new Tron movie is coming and it makes me feel like a kid again.
Daft Punk has taken the reigns on the soundtrack front and has given us this lovely preview of one of the tracks from the movie. The video itself is not from the movie, and in fact looks like what we may have gotten if they released the movie 10 years ago and decided to stick with the 1980s aesthetics.
Man, the sounds of that arcade at the beginning sure takes me back...
Daft Punk has taken the reigns on the soundtrack front and has given us this lovely preview of one of the tracks from the movie. The video itself is not from the movie, and in fact looks like what we may have gotten if they released the movie 10 years ago and decided to stick with the 1980s aesthetics.
Man, the sounds of that arcade at the beginning sure takes me back...
Sunday, December 5, 2010
This month in collecting - November 2010
It's been awhile since I posted. I've been very busy of late. So this post will cover the tail end of October and all of November
Click on the images to enlarge.
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood: Collector's Edition (PS3 and 360)
I wanted the collector's version but then I found out that the depending on which retailer you bought from, you'd get a different Jack in the Box. So, I ordered one from Gamestop (Jester) and one from Amazon (Doctor). Now I have both. Excessive? Yes, but since Assassin's Creed is my absolute favorite IP from this generation of consoles, a little indulgence is okay. Right?
Click on the images to enlarge.
Driver 2
I picked up a little bit ago and so when I found this really nice copy of Driver 2, I couldn't pass on it. It's a Greatest Hits but I'll survive.
Enslaved
I enjoyed the demo, reviews were good, so when Amazon had this on for only $25, I couldn't resist.
I enjoyed the demo, reviews were good, so when Amazon had this on for only $25, I couldn't resist.
I wanted the collector's version but then I found out that the depending on which retailer you bought from, you'd get a different Jack in the Box. So, I ordered one from Gamestop (Jester) and one from Amazon (Doctor). Now I have both. Excessive? Yes, but since Assassin's Creed is my absolute favorite IP from this generation of consoles, a little indulgence is okay. Right?
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