New Game to try

And.. I'm back. Its been a long time since the last post. The months have been exhausting and so.. time-consuming. I got an interesting early access game (still being developed) to blog about, developed by Mohawk Games. Offworld Trading Company. 

Game title

So the idea of the real-time strategy game is to set-up a base on a foreign planet, extract resources, refine resources, manufacture product and sell it for profit. There is no military action where enemy factions attack to stop you from completing your objective or anything hazardous (so far). The only danger is competing companies that threatens to take your profits. The saving humanity part, I have no idea how that works.

It seems kinda like the science fiction version of the Patrician series or Sid Meier's Railroads.

In short, its about becoming a profitable off world company. Its suppose to be similar to a classic game called M.U.L.E.(stands for Multiple Use Labor Element) for the Nintendo NES. That is a really old game. 

Cover art for M.U.L.E.

The game may be old but that cover art look epic. It looks like a space prospector laying claim on an alien planet for the USA. The two in the bottom looks like their bowing to him. ALL HAIL THE GREAT PROSPECTOR.

I got the game at the price of USD$35.99 at Steam, seem pretty steep right? But so far the review have been good. I like playing economic RTS games, it a nice change from the action games, RPGs and other RTS games.

Now I'm going to try the game out.

Valkyria Chronicles on the PC

Cutscene in the game

Valkyria Chronicles is a strategic video game with shooter aspects for the PS3. It was a great game with its touching story, anime-like art design, interesting visual tone for World War 2 environment and unique game play. It had great reviews on its innovative depth into WW2 battles that was never tried before. Combining strategic gameplay with your units interacting on the battle like a 2nd person shooter game.

The main character is a tank commander who commands a squad of soldiers to defend their country, Galia. A fictional country that neighbors two powerful nations, who have at war for years and Galia has remained neutral in their conflicts but eventually the war spread to their borders. The hero leads to defend his country along side some colorful characters.

The story is both heartwarming and tragic. The hero will go through similar issues of WW2 that bring a sense of relation to better understand the world of Valkyria Chronicles and the cultural influences that can be seen in the game.

The gameplay is something that every gamer should try, its a turn-based strategy where the hero selects troopers to the battlefield. When your turn begins, you choose a soldier or tank, move across the battlefield, set up and shoot at any enemies. The shooting phase set the soldier or tank to shoot in a 2nd person shooter aspect.

2nd Person Shooter View

The each soldier you choose is unique as each of them have their personal traits that effect their battle skill. The solider could fight better in cities or forest, have better accuracy, is more resilient or can spot enemy units from farther distances. It makes you feel like your playing XCOM or Final Fantasy Tactics.

In cover

There are several DLCs for the game, introducing misadventures of certain characters in the game and another campaign on the Empire's side of the war. There is no online features which is probably why not many people heard of it but the game was succeeded into two sequels for the PSP. An anime was released years ago and it was interesting to see characters from the game in a different view.

Valkyria Chronicles has been released in Steam. If you are interested, go get it. It leaves an awesome impression.

Are Indie Games Bubbles?

First the pic above is not mine. Just using it show all the popular indie games out there, there's Fez, Minecraft, Braid, Journey, and few other I know but forgot the title. I don't the warrior lady in the center. Its a great pic.

Back to the subject, bubbles or bubble is a term used to describe the value of a commodity that keeps rising and rising till it pops then nose dives straight down to zero which is known as bubble burst. Its like trends like accessories, clothes, videos, and stuff. It just popular and fun for awhile and people get their kicks for it, but eventually people get bored and lose interest. Then nobody wants it anymore. Gone like the wind. I hope I explain that right.

The reason I mention the bubble is because there was this web article I read somewhere months ago that indie games could be a bubble. Video gamers would keep buying the latest  indie games and the popular ones. Games like Rust with its open world, online multi-player survivor game and Kerbal Space Program where player build space ships and try to travel to all the planets in the KerbalVerse (My words, no idea what the devs call it). Both are great games.

These kind of games may become less desirable and boring to some. This will lead to a decline of demand for indie games. There several causes for this and one of them is the large number of indie games. If you visit Steam and checkout the number of game under Steam Greenlight, it is a lot. The games under Kickstarter. Following the rules of supply and demand, large supply of one commodity means low demand. It doesn't necessarily mean it is just indie games, the large of supply of games from older systems and older PCs games are being offer like the ones on Good Old Games.

But how can that be when are great indie games out there? Yes, there are a lot to choose from but some standout more than the rest like Planetary Annihilation. It looks like players will be enjoying that game for years to come.

Planetary Annihilation

Another reason would be the alternative video games choices. There are great games that are on the tablet devices like the iPad and Android Tabs. There are lots of games to choose from on the AppStore and GooglePlayStore. And with the added convenience of the mobile handheld devices, this sounds better than to play them on the the PC.

Gratuitous Space Battle

But not truly alternative as some indie games have been ported to the mobile devices. Games like Gratuitous Space Battles, originally release for the PC yet it also available for the iPad. There are also some other games but I forgot.

But this is just me blogging my thoughts.

Need Stylus

Hello Internet, this is one of my earlier attempts using Paper. It's a drawing of my dad and it almost looks like him I guess. Not really. I guess I captured his something? I was using my fingers to draw. It's difficult to draw well yet it is so simple and fun to finger paint. I really need a stylus if I plan to keep drawing.

Also I have only access to ink tool, eraser and the color palette. It has more tools, pencil, marker, brush, pen and color mixer. I need to pay to use them and it tempting because the app show previews of what the tools can be used for. There's even a test box for users to try it. Still need to consider. Unlikely as I keep considering video games and Steam sales are really good.

First iPad Post

This is my post using my iPad 2 and it seems great so far. The auto-correct pop ups now and then. The pic above is a drawing of a couple of friends of mine, relaxing in the corner, I made using the Paper app on the iPad. Its fun to play with. Paper is an app where u can draw using art tools on literally digital books, or port folio if you are an artist. It has a sample book for beginners and the applications are amazing, you can use it for marketing concepts, brainstorming, rough art, idea plans, technical structure. The app has been for some time now, but give it a try see what it can used for.

Not sure if I will keep using the iPad for blogging. The on screen keyboard is a challenge to type seeing that I have always type with my hands rested on the keyboard. Its a bit tiring but it's fun and it feels so futuristic. Typing on screen like in a science fiction movie. It's also so convenient. I can post while using apps on the go. Are tablets the future of computing?

I read an web article that Apple is making the next iPad the largest ever made. Something about people preferring to use larger screens. I guess its harder to type on the mini-iPad.

What to Watch

Hello internet, Max here. I love game trailers, nothing is as mesmerizing, engaging and imaginative then a  game trailer. It is one of my best reasons to wake up every morning, just to watch that amazing, kick ass game trailer. Although over time after watching a lot of game trailers, you just realize that the best part of the game is not in game.

Worse are the ones that oversell the game, when you get it and feel how bad it is. There comes the sense of betrayal and anger. The expectations set by viewers after watching the game trailers that just fails to reach the level of satisfaction is just hard to bear.

Like the creative assembly's Stormrise. Came out in 2009. Check out this trailer.

Awesome trailer, right? Then the reviews came and what a shocker. Gamespot gave it a 2 out 10. It was so hard to believe it was such a disappointing game. I didn't even know Gamespot could bother to rate the game so low. I truly wanted to buy this game, then I watch a game review in Youtube and I didn't want it anymore.

Some though reach a higher expectation than what trailers can show or just meets the exact amount. The narrator telling the tale or ominous warnings. The view of game world. Bits of gameplay. The right music to match the video. The immense gratification of getting just the best game out there. Like Skyrim.

And some just make you to wonder and leave your mouth open. Like No Man's Sky trailer.

I am really hoping to see what in store in this game. There are a lot of gametrailers out there, some are for teasing, some to impress, humor, horrify. Just another good reason to wake tomorrow. For me, after watching the game trailer below and I want it.

I have a thing for anime.

Flash, New Frontier

It has been a busy month for me, my internship is on its second last month and I have a project to finish by the end of next month. I am not sure if it will be done but I keep going till its finished.

In the mean time I have been going through Adobe Flash tutorials and its been fun. Learning the capabilities of flash animation and actionscript programming. Still a lot to learn and it is really a lot. Lots a people for different stuff like advertising, animation, developing apps, teaching, illustrations and more.

There was this tutorial in YouTube video I found about how to make a 3D flip animation. The videos below.

It seems like a cool animation to try and so I follow the tutorial. This is my result. Click on the red box.

Simple and done. I'll try the next tutorial.

Defining Survival Games

What makes a great survival video game? Is it the sense of dread when traversing unknown territory? Is it about leaving all the luxuries of home and living in the wilderness? Is it about managing resources like water and food and trying to make a stable home in harsh environments? Is it fighting hostile enemies while trying to stay alive till the next day? Or is it about creating a safe a home and preparing for the worst?

There was one article I read in kotaku.com (I think). It was a discussion about the why are game developers making most survivor games into a fight for survival from raiders, zombies, creepers, and any hostile creature that means to take the player out of the game. It continued on about a survival game isn't just about defending from enemies or taking out any competitors. Survival games are about living in harsh environments, removing yourself from your home and managing to stay alive.

Banished, for example, is about building a settlement from a procedural generated world. The game has a survival feel as players have to managing the villagers and keep them dying. Not attacks or raids from hostiles but from starvation, disease, and freezing. Players have to set up building to manufacture tools, plot farms for food and fell trees for fire wood. This kind of game play brings forth a welcome change from the conventional survival games.

Despite the good argument, having enemies that attack periodically can be exciting and fun. Like Left for Dead and Dead Island where players have fight off zombie hordes to reach their goals by either gunning down zombies or cutting through with axes, hammer or whatnot melee weapons.

I found the article enlightening and found myself appreciating the game mechanics of a survival game. I have played Banished, Left for Dead and Dead Island and they are all great games to play. Its really about what people like to play and shoot zombies is way easier than to manage a town.

Free to Play? Awesome!

What is it these days that great games like Team Fotress, Planetside 2, and Star Wars the Old Republic become free to play. As in get the game for no cost at all and if there was one, it would be optional. Is it a desperate attempt to get attention? Is it advertising tactic to show the game producers future product? Is it to battle the dominating popularity of Blizzard's World of Warcraft? Or maybe its a way to give back to video gamers for their faith in the game.

You're probably wondering why is Dead Space screenshot is shown above. Well, that because the game is FREE in EA Origin. Yup, Electronic Art's digital distributor of video games is giving Dead Space, not the second game nor the third but the first game, away for free or what it says on the store page.. On The House. If you heard about the game, get it cause it will knock your sock off.

Dead Space store page in Origin

First you register to Origins, follow the instructions, provide necessary information, confirm email and then it should simple from there. Get it while its still hot.

Rising trend of survival games?

There has been an increasing trend of survival video games sold  in the market. Zombie survivors, environmental survivor, post-apocalyptic survivor, horror survivors, sci-fi survivors, adventurous survivors and more. The survivor themed game play is where the player has to endure or fight just to continue playing. There is a sense of thrill in the fight for survival and the horrific feeling in dying.

DayZ

Zombie survivors are the common theme for the survivor genre. Players have to fight off zombie hordes in order to live another day. The sense of dread in the knowledge in managing the amount of bullets and medical supplies. The beautiful feeling of gratification in surviving a day of zombie hordes encourages players to push on.

DayZ is currently is most popular zombie survivor video games out there. Players can play as single player, co-op or online and explore a post-apocalyptic world where zombies horde are found everywhere. When night time comes, it get even scarier as players can only see using their flash lights and zombie easily gang up on them. Other online players can choose to attack other players in the course of the game. So, I guess its fair game for everyone.

Rust

Another popular survivor game is Rust. There are no zombie, monsters or any dangerous animals. It is a multi-player game where players are set to live in a vast open-world and can choose to either to make  friends to form alliances or enemies. So I guess its fair game, not a good game to make friends. Unlike DayZ, players can build structures to make a home and defenses against other players.

Don't Starve

Don't Starve, the game title says it all, find food to live another day. Players is set in a 2D world of which I'm guessing is inspired by Tim Burton (Demon of Fleet Street, Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride) because it is a creepy game. There is a brain meter which measures the character's sanity, if low the player will notice hallucinations appearing and hungry eyes in the shadows. Craft tools to collect resources and research to build new tools.

There are survivors game to come, each with its own premise and gimmick to entice players to try. I hope to see more kinds of survivors in the future.