“Are We Spoiled as Gamers, Do We Expect Too Much Out of Our Games”

I grew up in a generation where there wasn't intelligent AI…you could pretty much master any game once you had the timing down.

As far as graphics were concerned…there wasn't anything mind blowing and/or really all the visually appealing…honestly you could build most, if not all the games characters/landscapes with your Legos if you wanted to.

There was no Hollywood quality plotlines either…we had the typical good vs. evil…march forward and save the princess and/or sometimes even save the world from some kind of impending doom.

Pretty much every game had the same core gameplay mechanics too; which was to be expected seeing how the controllers only had two buttons and a D pad/joystick.

It was just a matter of who had the flashier packaging…most likely they would be the one getting your money in the end.

You know something though; all things considered we had a lot of fun with what we did have and what also seemed like a lot less complaining.

I read reviews all the time before I purchase a game…just to make sure I'm making an informed decision…new or used it doesn't matter. I even started writing a few myself, but I found I was dissecting the games I was playing more than I was enjoying the game for what it was. That's why I put the reviewing thing on hold…because I wanted to get back to the care free days when games were played for fun…not played to rate.

It was as if I was playing games like a college professor would grade his students term papers…I was looking for its flaws and short comings and also its successes and shining moments…so I could grade it appropriately…instead of playing it in the manner of a child enjoying his new toy.

Case in point, my girlfriend bought me Mind Jack because she overheard me talking about…so she figured I wanted it. With the mindset that the game was horrible based on all the reviews I read…but not wanting to risk hurting her feelings…I decided to give it a try.

I'm not going to lie to you, the first thing I did while I was playing through the first few levels was critique everything…after realizing I wasn't playing the game for fun but as a means to tear it apart I took a break from it. After coming to conclusion I did I decided to start the game over and play not with the mind of a critic but with one of a person who enjoys gaming as an outlet and a way to relax.

Now the game didn't blow me a way and I didn't have a winning the lotto moment, but I did have fun and truthfully the game isn't as bad as I was lead to believe.

I'm not saying every game is worth picking up at full price…that's a given. I'm also not saying we don't have the right to complain and/or voice our opinions over poor quality…but do you think as a whole we are expecting too much from our games?

We expect all FPS to be of Call of Duty caliber, all MMOs to be WoW and all action adventure titles to be like Uncharted and/or Gears of War? I know the titles I listed aren't for everyone, but I'm sure we call all agree they are at the top of their game when it comes to their respected genres.

Because of the aforementioned titles, plus many others, do we expect a masterpiece every time we put the disc in the system? Do you avoid games because of negative reviews, or do you actually try them for yourself…whether it is when they are first released or even when they hit the used market?

I don't know about you, but a so called crappy game becomes a lot less crappy when I pick it up for about two thirds off the original price…for example Quantum Theory…a game in my opinion that was judged before a trial…just because it resemble the Gears of Wars series.

It's a great time to be a gamer…we have the internet which is a plethora of information to help us to be better informed and to make more sound decisions, the used game market is flourishing which allows us to pick up more titles at cheaper prices which in turn lessens the overall risk and of course video games are so much more mainstream then they were back in the day that the big retailers are competing amongst themselves for our sales dollars…with the outcome being in our favor with better sales and incentives on newer titles.

I'm not saying we as consumers shouldn't want to get out monies worth out of our purchases, whether it be $60 new or $10 used. What I am saying is…are we expecting every game to be a five out of five?

A three or four out of five could be worth your money too…and sometimes even more so…but if it's not a five we just don't think it's not worth it. For example, I loved the game Dark Sector…it wasn’t really all that well received when it was originally released…I was lucky enough to pick it up used at a very good price but honestly if I did paid full retail I still would have loved it.

MJM

“These Young Punks Nowadays Think They're All That”

My cousin (15) and his friend (18) came over my house last night to hang out…considering that we're all gamers we made ourselves comfortable right in from of the TV…me being a gracious host I decided to let them play while I watched.
 

Every game they wanted to play I already played, so I would always caution them that it wasn't a walk in the park…at least for me it wasn’t…and I thought I was the poop…so if I had trouble with it, they would definitely have trouble with it.

Then after playing they would always tell me…it wasn't that hard. At first I thought maybe it wasn't, then after a few more I realized these some beaches were trying to show me up…playing me for a noob.

They started talking about playing online…and I wasn’t down with that because whenever I play online, regardless of what game it is, I get destroyed. I also get cursed out by someone who sounds as if they just sucked the helium out of a balloon…for either making their team lose or by killing them with the "noob tube". There's times that I forget my name was Michael and I start thinking it was F face… because of all the nasty messages I receive.

I then decided to take a trip down memory lane with them and let them know when I was their age I could kick arse at video games too. Getting older makes it a little different and if I knew them back then I would have schooled them proper like.

They looked at me like I had two heads, like they couldn't believe there was video games back then…like I grew up on the prairie or something…like I chilled with Laura Ingalls.

Needless to say at the end of our time together I felt like having a Three Stooges moment with them…with me of course being Moe.....Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck.

By the way, these are the same punks who thought Steven Tyler got his start on American Idol......kids nowadays. Those gosh darn whippersnappers…those youngins' and their rebel without a clue attitude…now get off my lawn!

 MJM

“E-president For Cyberspace”

We should have an e-president for cyberspace...someone who would over promise and under deliver...just like in the real world.

Someone who would make promises to clean up spam, keep idiots off of mics when gaming online and inflict harsher (if any) penalties for people who hack, send viruses to others online and/or teabag people on Halo...then keep none of them.

Someone who will make sure when you're talking to a woman online...it's really a woman…and not some big fat greasy nasty guy living in his mom's basements eating tacos and burritos all day.

They would also promise to make all porn free...that is just until they got into office…then they would jack up the prices and blame it on the “price per barrel”...or something like that.

Their fundraising campaigns could consist of ad banners all over webpages, instant messages filled with all those cute (and very annoying) emoticons and they could interrupt our multiplayer matches and our porn searches with their speeches (lies) to entice people to vote for them.

They could use that cool internet/text lingo all the kids are using nowadays to connect with the people and to stay fresh...they could say something like , "Don't vote for that noob, he's a boob LOL...vote 4 me because I <3 U...BRB".

They could have their own channels on YouTube to spread their nonsense and propaganda...like FoxNews "fair and balanced" bull dooty!

We could also have political alliances, similar to console fanboys...we'll have the Xboxers and the PS3ers which would be our equivalent to Democrats and Republicans...the PCers could be the Independent Party.

You could cast your vote for the candidate of your choice by using "Like" buttons...which would totally eliminate any hanging chads.

Hmm...

You know what...thinking about it...let's keep politics out of the internet altogether...move along, there's nothing to see here!

MJM

“My Two Girls, the Next Generation of Gamers”

I’m molding my little girls (9 and 11) into gamers...I kind of feel like I’m Mickey and they’re Rocky, “you're gonna eat lightning and crap thunder”…I’m keeping the dream alive. They have such potential…they can already out do me on some of these games…which I know isn’t really saying much, but it’s true.

We just hooked up the PS1 in their room and just like with McDonalds… they're loving it. I literally had to pull them away from the television when it was time to call it quits…it brought back such fond memories of when I was a little GIT (gamer in training).

I even saw a little bit of nerd rage in them...granted it was very minor compared to how I use to rage…but nevertheless it was there…and I was so proud. It was very nice to see that the nut…and I use that term literally…didn’t fall far from the tree.

They already know the little tricks of the trade, like for example unplugging their opponents controller if they are beating them, to give them a chance to catch up and/or surpass them…pulling a move off in a fighting game and when asked how they did it they respond, “I don’t know, I just keep hitting buttons” while the whole time they keep using the said move over and over again during the match…and of course the old “I’m not playing with you anymore, you’re cheating” as they slam the controller down and storm off.

I’m not really sure what I’m going to do the first time I see a controller fly through the air because the game “cheated” …but all I can say is I may be yelling and acting like a responsible adult on the outside…but on the inside I’m going to be such a proud papa.

We gamers have to keep the hobby alive...too many people talking all kinds of poop about us gamers and the games we play. We have to set the record straight and show them it’s not the games and/or the gamers causing all the problems… it’s the crazy ass people who would do something nutty even if they were just playing hopscotch.

My little chick-a-dees are both straight “A” students and very much aware of fact and fiction…I don’t tell you this to brag…even though I am…I tell you this because it’s all about the person behind the controller…not what’s in the disc tray.

I will be gaming until I’m six feet under…and now with my girls following in my footsteps it’s good to see that I will have someone to couch co-op with…I just hope that if I have to drop a stinky in my Depends while they’re sitting next to me that they won’t abandon me.

Also, all you “hardcore” gamers out there in cyberspace don’t have to worry…I already filled them in on the finer points of playing online…so when they are ready (notice I didn’t say old enough, because it’s not an age thing, it’s a mental thing) to game online they won’t be causing any problems…they will be keeping it real and filling body bags with the best of them.

MJM

 

“DEMOlition”

I bought Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days a couple of days ago at my local Wal-Mart…it was cheap and I was looking for something new to play…so I figured why not. Honestly I tried the demo and didn't really care for it…I also heard from many people that it sucked…but since I had some money burning a hole in my pocket and I had to do something with it, I figured it was either the game or more snacks that I (and my waist) didn't need…so I went with the game.

After a couple of days went by and me coming to my senses I considered returning the game based on how I felt about the demo to get my money back. However, I then remembered I was lazy and I didn't want to waste the gas, so I just decided I would just try it.

Thinking if the game actually sucked as bad as I recalled from the demo, then I would only be out a few dollars. I know that's a stupid thing to say considering that I'm not really banking or anything but I'm not really known for making smart decisions with my money…hence buying a KIA back in the day.

Anyway after playing the game I was pleasantly surprised, it really wasn't all that bad. I wouldn't say it's worth dropping everything and running out to the store to pick it up, but if you're looking for something new to play and you have a few extra dollars laying around then go for it.

The reason for this post isn't to discuss what kind of game Kane and Lynch 2 is, it's about how a bad demo can really ruin the overall bottom line for a game. I try a lot of demos before I buy a game and depending on how I feel about the demo when all is said and done determines whether or not I will buy the game new, used or just forego it all together. It's similar to a movie company releasing a bad trailer for a movie, for the most part based on my feelings towards the trailer, determines if I'll see the movie or not.

I started thinking…I've played and liked games even though the demos sucked, two examples that come to mind is of course Kane and Lynch 2 and the other being F.E.A.R. 2. I wonder how many games I missed out on playing because of bad demos, I know it's probably not many but I'm sure there has been some just like the two aforementioned titles.

Has anyone else experienced this or am I the only one who plays demos? Granted I got these games for a lot cheaper than regular price but I feel as if I missed out on their glory days. I know it's not really a big deal, but the type of person I am, I enjoy talking about things when they are still relevant so I can be involved in all the hoopla.

MJM

“Feeling Embarrassed Buying a Video Game”

Have you ever been embarrassed to purchase a video game because of its content, name or even cover art?

A friend of mind recommended Onechanbabra: Bikini Samurai Squad for the Xbox 360 when I first purchased the system, because of its price and surprisingly decent gameplay…so he said. When it comes to video games his recommendations are normally pretty good, he told me about No More Heroes when I first purchased my Wii and that game was great, so I figured I would trust him on this one.

After speaking with him I stopped by my local used video game store to pick up the game, not really sure what to expect. Other than the title sounding kind of out there, I wasn't really thinking anything of it. I walked in the store and started to browse, I come across the game and after viewing the cover I started to feel a little embarrassed. Based on the cover alone, it looks like some sort of Anime style Playboy! Just to make sure I was getting the right game, I took a picture of it and sent it to my friend to confirm that this was in fact the game he was speaking of. He replied back and confirmed it was, told me not to worry and just buy it.

I started heading to the counter, holding the game close and looking around to make sure no one was watching me, I felt as if I was buying condoms or a dirty magazine. When I approached the counter I laid the game face down so the person next to me couldn't see what I was buying. Then just my luck the halfwit behind the counter holds up the game as to announce it to the store what I was buying and tells me he has to run in the back to get it for me. From the moment he left I didn't make eye contact with anyone, I felt really hot because I knew I was blushing and I didn't want to see all those convicting stares.

After all was said and done the clerk asks me if I want a bag, I said of course I want a bag and preferably a paper bag so people could see through it. While I was leaving, I still had the feeling that everyone I came across knew I just bought some kind of smut, so I rushed home with a quickness, as if the police were after me!

I even disconnected my Xbox from going online when I first played it, because I didn't want my friends to know I got it! Now that all is said and done, besides the lead characters running around in bikinis, it's really not all that bad of a game for the price...and it's not as smutty as I first thought either.

MJM

“Crazy Video Game Related Stories”

The other day while I was out I overheard these two kids talking…one said to the other…"I can't believe you would do that to me and after I took a bullet for you". Now, I don't normally eavesdrop...I swear I don't...but after hearing something like that I just had to find out what was going on.

These kids were only about fifteen or so and as white as Casper the friendly ghost so it struck me as odd...not that white kids from the burbs can't be gang bangers and all…but c'mon man…these two gits were about as hard as a roll of Charmin.

There was no doubt in my mind that if either of these two were in prison they would be hanging on to some big dudes belt loop and calling him daddy...and occasionally being sold for cigs.

I'm not trying to sound stereotypical but these two kids weren't exactly what you would picture in your mind when you thought of gang bangers and they certainly weren't old enough to be in any wars…so I knew something was out of sorts.

Wanting to find out the rest of the story, thinking maybe these two were Columbine survivors or something like that, I asked him what he meant.

He proceeded to inform that last night while playing Call of Duty online he let an enemy opponent kill him so his friend could escape…can you believe that crap. What is going on with kids nowadays…are they all crazy…or am I just an old fogey?

Needless to say I couldn't even respond…at least in a civil manner…so I just gave myself a facepalm and walked away with a quickness.

MJM