To be(ta) or not to be(ta)

Let’s begin class.

I generally prefer not to take part in betas. Having spent some time working on game testing, I know what a game before release looks like. Something unfinished is never what you want it to be when you try it out. But, what can I say: Someone e-mails me a code to a closed beta and I say “what the hell?”.

Today, we’ll be talking about The Division.

I’ve been sitting on the game since release. I wasn’t sure when or if I’d actually play it. Why? Because I played the beta. Now, I’m not saying that the beta was bad. Well, actually, I am saying that. I can’t believe how boring it was. The cover system, the game play, all of it. All of the things that they tried to show off as the crowning achievements of the game. But when I tried to check everything out – closed for beta, closed for beta, closed for beta. Yup. I ran around, and there were moments where I was having fun. And, in the games defense, I didn’t really have time to make it into the Dark Zone. So, maybe that’s what I really missed out on? What I did learn from the beta was that the highly-anticipated Division, played poorly. The controls were janky, the enemies were bullet sponges and there didn’t seem to be a whole lot going on. I honestly didn’t expect a lot story wise from the beta.

I clearly missed out on something. Because when the people who I generally play games with played the open beta, all I heard was how amazing the game really was. So I didn’t cancel my pre-order. The urging of the people around me is the main reason I kept it.

So my first impressions of the game (well, first since the game went gold, anyway) is that I wasn’t wrong. Now, that’s not to say the game doesn’t have some aspects that aren’t enjoyable.

I didn’t think, coming out of the beta, that there would be any redeemable aspects to the game. Maybe I just didn’t do enough, maybe there wasn’t enough access, but it didn’t do it for me

Going into the live game, I didn’t know what to expect. But here’s what I think so far:

Mechanics: It’s not Destiny solid, but it’s good. The game handles better. It doesn’t offer a lot of variety. Stats differ from gun to gun, but the feel is similar. It is also a little ridiculous that I can pour boxes of bullets into someone’s head and watch them walk away.

Story: So, I’m not all the way through, and I’ll reserve full judgement until I see how it all plays out, but it’s kind of bizarre. Sleeper agents among the populous, but instead of the usual terrorist fare, they’re actually secret agents? Um, okay.

Gameplay: Again, I’m not top end, I haven’t done any of the Dark Zone PvP, so I’m reserving full comments until I get through it all, but…if I’m the last line of defense keeping society from totally falling apart and devouring itself, why am I shooting and looting the people who are doing the initial shooting and looting? I know this is a common complaint, but, yea. It makes sense. Lastly: Upgrades. The choices for what one can upgrade in terms of gear slots defy usual RPG choices, and are quite odd. Scarf slot? Holster? Yea…Upgrading both your base and your character also seem to lack imagination.

I think, and I’ve said so from the beginning, that this is probably one of those games that requires friends. Failing that, there isn’t much exciting about it. When I cap out, I’ll get back to you.

On a side note, I have to say: The Tom Clancy releases were the games I was most excited about during the E word, so far they’ve been pretty disappointing. Let’s hope Ghost Recon has something to offer…well, next year.

– The Ego

 

Glad tidings

So my faithful readers, Christmas – the gift giving part at least – has come and gone. I hope you all had a great day, ate well, lived life and did what makes you happiest.

The question I have is: What games were underneath of the tree this year? Being that, as I usually do – what with me being an addict and all – I purchased the majority of the games I wanted this year long before the Christmas shopping began. So when it came time to grab that special game – well, I already had it. But there was a game that almost became a throw back and a forgotten game. That game is Sword Art Online: Lost Song. It didn’t review very well. And, for what it cost at release, it seemed a little hard to justify the price tag for something Gametrailers gave a 6. But, it’s Christmas. And, in the spirit of the season, I decided to give it a second chance. So it’s sitting back in my apartment just waiting to be opened. Being a huge mark for the anime, I feel like the game will have to work pretty hard to earn my ire. I just hope it holds up well enough to get some enjoyment out of.

This year saw me buying and trying a lot of games that I had already said no to, or, never considered at all. Along with SAO, I had thrown back Destiny at one point. I gave up on it, having played through the beta twice, I didn’t see myself stepping back into those space shoes. However, I had some people I like peer-pressure me into buying it. Which, normally, wouldn’t work for a second. But, we all have to fold occasionally. I have to say – I don’t regret it. Playing with them is fun, and the game really does have a lot going for it. I reserve the right to pass final judgement on it when I actually hit the level cap, but so far, so good. Only thing I wish Destiny had of kept from its initial run: Dinklage. Don’t get me wrong, Nolan North is great at what he does. That being said:

1. I love Peter Dinklage
2. I would love to play a game where Nolan North doesn’t voice a character

Nothing exceeds like excess. There is such a thing as too much. Right? Destiny boasts an all-star cast of voices from Idris Elba, Nathan Fillion, Lance Reddick and Peter Stormare. Why couldn’t they just keep Tyrion? I’ll admit, there are times having watched the video below that I like what North did better in terms of his take on the dialogue, but the complaints people had about Dinklage (mostly that he was too dry) make more sense than the animated persona done by North.

Anyway, that was a bit of a diatribe, but it was something I’d been thinking about since I bought the game, so I wanted to get it off of my chest.

I think the main reason 2015 was such a great year for the industry was that it really felt like the current gen consoles really hit their stride this year. Which, I think, is the most important thing we should take away with 2015 closing out next week. The reason being: 2016 now is going to be (and really, has to be) the year where the new platforms have to show us what level we should set our expectations on. 2015, along with some extremely good games, showed us a lot of remastered games. It’s definitely an important step. Showing us what we have compared to what we just gave up. But now it’s time to hit the ground running. Bust out those new IPs everyone is waiting for. Show us that our collective faith in Sony and Microsoft (and to a lesser extent, Nintendo) wasn’t misplaced. Not that I think many people feel that way. But it’s time to make the nay-sayers and hold-outs get on board.

Merry Christmas.

– The Ego

A friend indeed

So for a year before Destiny came out, I was super excited to play the game. I pre-ordered it the day they demoed it at the E word. When the beta came out, I sat and anxiously awaited it to finish downloading so I could jump in – especially given that I had just a short period of time to check it out. When I got into it, I was impressed right away. The game looked great – easily one of the first games of the then “next gen” games that made real use of the hardware.

But then some of the realities started to trickle in…

I got to the beta level cap pretty quickly. That was disappointing. What was worse though, was that the story was basically non-existent at the time. Just a few lines of dialogue spouted out from Peter Dinklage. But even that (which normally would be a deal breaker for me) wasn’t the reason I was so dissatisfied. No, the coffin nail was the co-op aspect. The MMOFPS part. Now, I’m not an MMO virgin. I played WoW from the vanilla beta, through basically all of the content (missing some portions here and there). What was brutal was the nightfall areas. Getting stuck with people who you’ve never met, players who aren’t matched on some kind of skill level or some other relevant statistic. Nope, it was just a random match making system. Now, I’m not going to say I’m the world’s greatest gamer – especially not at any competitive level. You won’t see me at any Esports competitions. That being said, I’d definitely consider myself “hardcore”. So, knowing that my playing the game – my ability to progress and gear my character was hinged on playing with random people whose skill levels were likely not on my level – that’s when I knew the game wasn’t for me.

Now, no matter how impressed I was with the mechanics of Destiny – and frankly, I’ve said it many times, I think Destiny is one of the best shooters (mechanically) that I’ve ever played – I struggled with actually purchasing it. I had written it off as a game I would likely never buy, regardless of how many people tried to talk me into it. And there were many.

But during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, the Legendary edition of Destiny dropped to 50$. At that price, the DLC alone is more expensive than the game itself. I had a co-worker and friend buy the limited edition console, and I let him convince me that picking up the game was a good idea. Even at that, it took some doing to convince me.

But I bought it. I know. I know. I have a problem.

Tonight marked the first time in a while that I’ve actually played a co-op game with a friend. Now, I played the living Hell out of Diablo 3, and by its nature, I played a lot of co-op. That being said – it isn’t the same playing with familiar strangers online. This was a genuine, I know you, you know me and we can plan to do some gaming together kind of occasion.

Running through the beginning, granted – not much of a difficult section of the game – was an absolute breeze. When the beta was out, the first Nightfall area was an unadulterated nightmare. People with sniper rifles rushing the boss…Inevitably dying, and in such a place that no one can save them. Would communication have helped? Maybe. But there’s definitely something to be said for playing with people you know and you know play well.

All this to say: Playing with friends is just the best. Clearing zones, having a good time and a good laugh. Just the best. The downside to the industry now is that it seems like only about 5-10% of the games are couch co-op. That’s what I really miss. But, I’ll definitely settle for knowing that a good player and a good friend is just a button click away.

– The Ego

Bringing the mountain

So the day finally arrived. I am now the proud papa of a brand new Xbox One Elite bundle. I’ve crossed over (though I’m not sure which would really be the darkside…).

I have to say, it’s a cool system. Comparatively the interface is a lot less user friendly, and just looks wonky like Windows 8, but aside from that – pretty awesome.

It’s still new to me, and I’m ironing some things out. I don’t know if it’s from years of playing exclusively on a Sony platform but it just isn’t an intuitive system. Regardless, the hardware, the UI, these aren’t the things that make or break a console. It’s the games.

I actually got the console for free, well, sort of. I won it at work. Either way – the price was definitely right. I was lucky enough to walk in on Thursday and be met with congratulations and the great news that I’d be going home with a slick new machine.

Being that it’s only been a couple of days, I’m just starting to dip my toes into the water. I picked up Sunset Overdrive – the game that made me want the console in the first place. It felt odd playing something from Insomniac on a foreign machine. I felt…dirty. But like, the good kind of dirty I guess. The feeling you get when you’re getting away with something you know damn well you shouldn’t be doing. The game is great. Unlike my initial feelings regarding the console, the controls and play style of SO is definitely familiar. It’s second nature to anyone who has undertaken a Ratchet and Clank game or two. It feels like the older brother Ratchet and Clank never had. It’s every bit the colourful, fun and wacky game that you’d find over on the Playstation, but it’s a little more. Well, a little more crude I guess. The sense of humour, language and tone have evolved a little bit. Kind of like that kid you knew who found his first Playboy in the 7th grade and became the class hero for it.

While the play style is similar, it is also unique in a few quantifiable ways. The focus on crazy weapons is paramount, but once you get a few different weapons under your belt, the how changes dramatically. Rather than the smash and collect of Ratchet and Clank, this game is more about the how than the why or what. It’s all about finding fun ways to get combos, while playing smart. It’s basically everything I love about the R&C games combined with everything I loved about Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2.

My one criticism to an otherwise incredibly enjoyable game is: the customization suite. I know a lot of it is unlocked through gameplay. But the opening didn’t offer a lot in the way of personalisation. You’re choices are limited to gender, bulky or thin and then a smattering of hipster haircuts and “punk” garb. Fortunately it doesn’t impact anything beyond the cosmetic. So, it doesn’t really make a big difference.

Oh, and as a side note, it doesn’t look great. The colours pop with vibrancy and there is always a lot to draw the eyes. But there are some bad looking textures: things like the facial hair on the player character. But it’s really not a big deal. Graphics aren’t the be all and end all of games. Contextually, it was also a launch title, so some leeway must be granted.

I am going to try and burn through a couple of games, even if it isn’t to the end, just to try and get a grasp on what the system’s new IPs are like. The real test that I’m looking forward to will be putting the elite controller into some fairly advanced FPS game. Perhaps I’ll check out Halo at some point.

For now, consider me happy. It was much less disturbing to plug it in than I expected it to be. Still, viva PS4.

– The Ego

 

Skimming off of the top

So, I’m sure it’s come up at least a handful of times already, but let me put it on the record again: I’m not crazy about DLC. Now that’s not to say that I refuse to buy it. So, I’m certainly a part of the problem. I think the majority of gamers are in the same lot. We hate paying for stuff that should be included in the price of the game, but we simultaneously love that games we enjoy are supported, sometimes, long after their launch. Micro transactions are currently the bane of the industry – on the consumer side. Now my feelings can best be summed up by a good friend of mine: when it comes to micro transactions for things that are cosmetic, and not game breaking I’m fine with them. Especially when the money raised from them fund the developer’s ability to release substantial pieces of content free for the rest of the users.

I think what is both interesting and infuriating is that every game seems to come with a “gold” or “deluxe” version now.

In some cases, like Star Wars: Battlefront, the up-sell is 10$. For your 10$ you get a few weapons, some cosmetic stuff and a DLC map. Not a lot for your money, but you’re not breaking the bank. It’s the sort of stuff the die hard crowd goes for, and I get that. But then there are games like Assassin’s Creed Syndicate or Rainbow Six: Siege. The regular games are already at the whopping price point (in Canada) of 79.99$. To acquire the Gold edition, you’re putting down 119.99$ – before taxes. That 40$ gets you access to the season’s pass. Now, most games don’t even give you a complete list of what you can expect, in most cases it’s a vague blurb. In the case of Assassin’s Creed – you get a bunch of missions and an extra “hour” of associated gameplay. The justification is pretty thin.

If you’ve been reading along with me for some time now, you’ll know that my opinion of Ubisoft has only been climbing this year. This isn’t something they and they alone are guilty of. It’s a systemic problem. Not localised to any one company or sector of the industry. And, my qualm (this time) isn’t even pointed directly at the day one DLC/built in season’s passes. My issue is if you’re going to go the way of making a season pass, and promising expanded content – you really need to make it something specific, something great and something that can give me a reasonable answer to the question: Why should I give you another 40$ for a game I’ve already bought, played through and completed versus me going out and grabbing a new game?

Because the truth is: There is always another game out there. Indies, AAA’s and a bevy of games are at the consumer’s fingertips. Basically all retail stores (with even a modicum of electronics) carry games now (even your local drug stores and grocery stores) and digital media is just a few mouse clicks/taps on the analogue away from adding something else to the library.

For 40$, I personally need to walk away from my purchase saying: That was a great decision. Especially since, unlike physical media, there is no returning software that you’ve purchased. Regrets cannot be an outcome.

Now, again, this isn’t me picking on any group or company specifically, but I will use the Fallout series as a perfect example of money well spent. Every piece of Fallout DLC is virtually deep enough to be as large (or larger) as some indie games. For the price of (approximately) 10$ per installment (the same price that games like Assassin’s Creed’s offer) there is no comparison.

So, to the companies forcing that extra attempt at grabbing those extra consumer dollars – just remember that what you put out there is the reputation you have to stand on. Make sure that when you tell me I should give you that extra 40$, that there are choices abound.

– The Ego

Media blackout

What’s the right thing to do? Do you spoil it, or do you live in total ignorance?

Don’t worry, I’m not looking for any of you to make any kind of life-changing affirmations here. I’m just talking about games. Shocker, right? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately.

What with Fallout 4 finally launching last month, I sat and gave it some serious thought. Like most things in life, this is definitely one of those situations where you’re balancing on the edge of a razor. I know this is definitely a decision you, dear reader, need to make for yourself. Me, however, I’m going to spend the next 400 odd words debating the pros and cons.

So, Fallout, the most recent, and most relevant example I can think of. Yes, I watched the Bethesda conference at the E word, and yes, I was totally psyched for its release. But I refused to read, watch or hear about anything regarding the game. I want to go in, experience what it has to offer first hand, for the first time. So I boycotted the media on it. I put my fingers in my ears, made strange noises and closed my eyes as I ran from friend and co-worker alike. But, is that the better decision?

The argument in favour is, I suppose, that you go into the game completely fresh. You found that cool national park with the raging Yao Guais on your own. You didn’t watch that twenty minute video showing you all of the new gameplay elements. So when you do something, outside of the missions/mission parameters, it’s completely original to you. Your experience, I’d argue, is infinitely better because you’re experience is unique and therefore, more immersive. In an age of “on-rails” games, having the ability to do as you like within the game world, is as close to real freedom you can achieve within a game, or for that matter (possibly) in your day-to-day as well. So there is definitely a strong argument for avoiding the hype, the wiki articles and the general press and forums.

The biggest reason against, then, would be: I knew nothing about how any of the systems worked going into the game. With a game like Fallout, it’s definitely advantageous to have an idea of how all of its systems work. The crafting aspect is so deep that sometimes it feel like I need someone sitting next to me at all times giving me a step-by-step tutorial. Now, I don’t mean that literally, but there have been aspects that came off as extremely convoluted. They’re not necessarily aspects that are required for completion, but are worth taking part in to get the most bag for your buck. It’s also tough because we exist in an era (bit dramatic, but I’m being intentionally hyperbolic) where tough choices have to be made with which games to buy. I rely fairly heavily on sites like Gametrailers.com for reviews, and from those reviews, I select which games are worth picking up.

Now, I’ll be honest, I don’t know what’s right. I’m sure it’s one of those subjective non-answers. But it’s a complicated problem. Obviously – spoiling things isn’t good. But neither is ignorance. Like many things, I don’t think there is much of a middle ground on the issue. If it were that simple, I doubt it’d be racking my brain nearly as much as it is. I can’t say it’s something I lose sleep over, but it is something I’ve asked myself time and time again. I guess the issue is that there just isn’t a satisfying answer. The happy medium, the middle of the road, just doesn’t exist. You can choose to look at some articles or some videos, but the truth is: You can’t control how much info is actually in there. And, for me at least, once you see something, sometimes it can’t be unseen. That’s why I don’t watch Game of Thrones teasers/or read wiki articles.

– The Ego

Say bye bye

That’s what I just said to the 50$ that was in my wallet. So Sony announces that some PS2 classics are going to be playable on PS4. And it’s not just any games, no. Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Really Sony? Really Rockstar? Why would you do it to me. Especially right before Christmas!?

But yea. I can’t tell you how excited I am. So they remastered them. Brought the graphics up to 1080p and added trophy support. Everything there is beautiful music to my ears.

I am looking forward to putting on my blue leisure suit, watching Lance Vance dance and ruling Vice City with the Harwood butcher. I deft you to look at that picture and not smile.

If you are one of the few people out there, and I know there are a few of you, who haven’t played through these games – you need to scrape the cash together, and play through them in sequence. I don’t care if you have to donate blood, or turn in tin cans – do it. Do it now. Stop reading, and go do it. For those of you still reading, all I can say is: Finally!

With all of the remastering being done for the current gen consoles, I don’t know why it took so long for this to happen. I can think of about five games off of the top of my head that didn’t need to move to current gen. To think that this took this long, it’s baffling.

You know what makes me the happiest seeing this? The thought that if these sell well, we might be able to take a trip back to Vice City in the future. I know that the games have kind of gone out of sequence, GTA 4 being set in Liberty, and then 5 in San Andreas, but Vice City has always been my favourite locale. Even if those characters don’t spill over, like they didn’t in the other new games, heading back there – regardless of the time period, Vice City rocks. And, even as much as I’d love to see some new cities, I think we need to do right by the trilogy that started it all before we move on. Therapists would call it closure.

My only concern is the graphics. I still have my PS2, and the trilogy, all safe and secure in my basement. But I find more and more that I’m having a hard time stepping back into the jagged graphics of the older generation consoles and their software. I’m sure that they took the time and did it right, but I haven’t been able to find any good videos to give me an idea of what I’m getting myself into. I think this is going to be one of those situations where you jump in with both feet, or don’t bother. Hell, let’s be honest, shall we? It could look like total crap – and I would still buy it. Most of you would probably agree. This is a really great opportunity for gamers. I imagine that a lot of people out there. There are a bunch of people who haven’t had the luxury of playing through the original games. They can get an idea where this who thing came from. And no, it won’t have the same gusto that the newer games do, but that’s not to say that there isn’t something worthwhile there. Trust me when I say this (and I imagine that’s something most of you do anyway, since you’re reading my blog) – these games are next level.

My only regret is that they didn’t wait till the off season to drop these great games. It would be a lot easier to justify if Fallout wasn’t permanently loaded in my PS4 (and a time where I want an X-Box One…) I’ll take it though.

P.S – Final thought: Drive by shootings to Foreigner. Yes, that is a thing. A cherished memory for me.

– The Ego

Back again

Wow, I really kind of fell off of this. To my loyal readers, a heartfelt apology.

And what, can you possibly guess, has brought me out of hiatus? This.

So, I was very anxiously awaiting my copy of Fallout 4 today. I woke up early, just like I did as a kid at Christmas, refusing to do anything on the off chance that the mail would end up coming while I was elsewhere. Of course, that wasn’t the case. But you know, as well as I do, that if I had of done anything else, they surely would have come in the mean time. I was actually curious to see who would get it to me first, Amazon or Bestbuy. I was glad to see my faith in Bestbuy was not tried. Pretty disappointed in Amazon. I’m sure you’re wondering why I ordered two. Well, when something like this comes along, you want to make sure someone is going to fulfill that order. Worry not, fair readers, I don’t intend to scalp the second copy. When it finally shows, it’s going to a co-worker at the price I paid.

But here it is:

Now, I purposely kept myself from watching videos, reading articles, etc before the release. One of my co-workers tried to show me an unboxing video, and I had to walk away from him. But then it arrived. The article I posted had caught my eye, but before I’d read it, I wanted to unbox my own.

Now, I’m not going to say that the article is 100% in the wrong. Yes, the Pip Boy is made of plastic. And yes, it looks like plastic. But my question to the author, and to the people who have complained the same: What were you expecting? Did you think it was going to be a working, metal, futuristic Pip Boy?

Hell, even Todd Howard called it like it is. At the E word, he said: “As far as stupid gimmicks go, this is the best fucking one I’ve ever seen,”.

In defense of the article, yes, it is expensive. Yes, it’s “junk”. But if you’re buying this collector’s edition for any reason other than you love Fallout, then frankly, you need to re-think how you spend your money. Find me any game today that puts out a collector’s edition, where the statue or collectible isn’t plastic. Even some of the better one’s I own, Darksiders 2, Skyrim – the statues, masks, etc – suprise! Are all plastic…

Even the Portal gun that I purchased, and that cost me more than the Pip Boy edition (and I didn’t get a game or steelbook with it). Is it plastic? Yes. Is it incredibly well made? Well, not really. Is it cool? You bet it is.

I think people’s expectations have gotten too high. I know I’ve said it before and I’ve likely posted as much. The entitlement is getting to be a bit much. Far be it for me to say that x is worth x amount of money. I think that’s a value judgement that each person has to make for themselves. But the truth is, this is what you should come to expect when you buy a set like this. It’s never going to be the high-quality work of art that you want it to be. The Portal gun is a great example. If you want something that is built with a little more heavy-duty plastic, moving parts that function, and circuitry that serves a real purpose – expect to pay real money for it. And, again, this is just a bit of fan service. Something that you can throw up on a shelf, and take down once in a while to show off. Trust me, the Portal gun doesn’t come off of its stand very often.

I wish that opinion pieces would take a bit more time and thought. Rather than just writing a complaint off of the cuff. Sort of like this one.

I promise there’ll be more.

– The Ego

The (figurative) towel

When is enough, enough? I feel like I should be dragged (likely kicking and screaming and swearing) to some sort of gamers anonymous meeting. I just keep buying new stuff. So, here it is:

My name is The Ego, and I have a videogame buying problem.

Phew, now that that’s off my chest – I feel a hell of a lot better. Well, not really, but at least I can feel the acceptance flowing through me. And, I’m sure, since you’re reading this, you’re probably looking over at your wall, your entertainment center, or whatever you keep your mountain of games on – that you’re in the same boat as me.

So I guess the question we have to ask ourselves, is, is there a breaking point? Is there a moment (I ask because if there is, the line is so far away, I can’t see it) where we just say “enough”? I don’t know if that point will ever come for me. It may. It may. But frankly – I’m not sure I really want it to.

I think the problem that I’m starting to see is that getting that new game – whether it’s something that I’ve been anticipating playing, or some new game that just excites me in some way that I wasn’t expecting, I just don’t get that same feeling I used to get. I’m starting to feel a bit like this:

Yup.

That thrill, instead, is the replaced by a feeling of creating a real burden. Am I just adding to my pile of games to play, consuming because I am in fact, just a consumer? Or, am I just fooling myself into thinking “Yea, at some point I will get through all of these games”…I want to play them, I do. I like to think, and I’m sure my wife would agree, that I’m pretty good when it comes to controlling my spending and not wasting my money. I’ll reveal a little of my “personal” life: I don’t smoke, don’t do drugs and I rarely drink. So buying games is really my one vice. When I look at it like that, it’s a lot easier to stomach the concept of spending money on games (especially, like I said in an earlier post, if you shop smart like I do).

But should I throw it in? Should we all? Or, at the very least, is there a line in the sand? And to quote one of my favourite movies “across this line, you do not“. Trust me when I ask this, I do not take the question lightly. Not in these hallowed halls. I just wonder if there will be a day where I stand in front of a rack of games and just say: “Naw, I don’t want any of this”. I highly doubt it’ll happen – it certainly doesn’t seem to be one of those things on the horizon anyway.

Part of me thinks that my compulsion, and inevitable feeling of dread, spans from my being a collector at heart. As a kid, it was things like Marvel trading cards. You would hunt and trade and buy and such and eventually, you’d reach the end. You’d have a complete set. Gaming isn’t like that – but it kind of is. You don’t come to a point (at least, I don’t think so) where you say “Yep, I have them all”. It’s a continual art/consumer project. Which isn’t to say I use that term in a pejorative sense. It’s great that there are people out there who make a living masterly crafting these games. I wish (on a daily basis) that I was one of them.

So to anyone reading out there, don’t think that this is me giving up. It’s not really me calling the cease-fire. I want the games to keep coming – I do – I swear. All I’m asking is, will there be an end to it all? I hope not. This is one addiction I can stand to support indefinitely.

– The Ego

Service up

How amazing is Bethesda and Fallout? Right?! They wait and wait to reveal the fact that Fallout 4 is due out within mere months of it’s announcement. Then they start posting all kinds of info and videos, new merch and then things like this:

This is just amazing. It’s so simple too. Anyone who is worth their salt when it comes to videogames, and especially RPGs made by Bethesda, knows how the basic mechanics work. Strength is a given. But here’s a company who says “Let’s do something fun, anyway”. And they have succeeded on a grand scale.

Little promotional videos like this really resonate with me. Not just because they’re fun and funny. And not because it shows it’s a company that actually cares about their IPs. It resonates with me because it’s both of those things, but set in the world of their games, making it something that is actually relevant. And it’s not like today’s movie trailers where every cool plot point, or potential game changers, is run through the trailer – thus eliminating the reason to actually go see it. Seeing this or missing out doesn’t change the impact the game will have. It’s probably not going to bring anyone new to the franchise (this could be one of those rare moments where I’m actually wrong). It’s 100% fan service. Which, in and of itself, is generally not worth the time to watch it. This is one of those cases where the fan service is totally justified. Especially considering that Bethesda is all about their fans. Why else would they just release Fallout 4? Well?

Aside from the obvious, this being another method of delivering game info – without having to craft pages and pages of wikis to monitor and update, it’s the most fun way that the devs can say “check out the way that we’ve improved on something you love” without beating you over the head with it. They also do it in such a way that, even knowing the stat ability and what it usually entails, I still want to watch it. It’s fun and clever and puts a smile on my face.

This style of video is something that Bethesda, and only one other company has managed to do well. The other I’m referring to, of course, is Irrational Games and the Bioshock series. The old-timey commercials for their plasmids and vigors were in the same vein. It’s one of those great ideas that completely sets them apart from the competition. They create these rich and well thought out worlds and they build depth to them with basic concepts with tactical precision. They don’t carpet bomb the fan with media or force-feed concepts, it’s more like a firm handshake from an old and welcome friend.

Like I said a few posts ago – it’s experiential recognition that creates a brand that people are always going to be drawn to. Because, at it’s core, Fallout (mechanics wise) doesn’t do a whole lot than any of the other FPS or post-apocalyptic games don’t do. Yes, VATS is extremely well developed. But beyond that, it’s a shooter. FPS or third person, but it’s a shooter. It’s set in a space that a lot of brands are playing in. But the whole is so good, that no matter who you are, or what types of games you normally play – chances are: you’re getting Fallout 4. Hell, I contemplated buying the Mini-Nuke set for PC just for the box.

So no, the video hasn’t offered anything game-changing or mind-altering. But it has piqued my interest. It’s cool for cool’s sake. It doesn’t offer anything I couldn’t figure out in the HUD menus in a minute or so. But what it does show me is that Bethesda cares enough to put something like this out there, knowing it’s the core audience that is going to really appreciate it. What a great company. In my books, they can do no wrong. And, The Ego is rarely wrong.

– The Ego