CONSOLE ME

A Fireside Chat (for my fans)

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:06:00 -0600

A Fireside Chat (for my fans)

Gaming and Society - Gaming and YOU!

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:59:23 -0600

While I’ve spent much of this blog’s short life raving on about the nobility of...

GAMES ARE ART (Part Deux - The Reckoning) [Transcript...

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:43:00 -0600

GAMES ARE ART (Part Deux - The Reckoning)

[Transcript Follows]

Most of us know that by the early ‘90s, video games had climbed out of some serious troubles, and were fully coming into their own. Still, making the case that games could be called fine art was a very tough sell indeed. Tough, that is, until in 1997 this happened:

(Cue FFVII Intro)

Leaving aside the emotionally wrenching storylines, music, and compelling gameplay – the crowning achievement of Final Fantasy VII was engaging gamers and non-gamers alike in a fully immersive multimedia experience that simply hadn’t existed before. Stunning visuals, thoughtful composition, and relatable character designs finally managed to turn some heads in the main stream.

(Cue FFVIII Intro)

And if that weren’t enough, a few short years later came the fully engrossing experience that was Final Fantasy VIII. Like its predecessor, this game featured the breathtaking design talents of Tetsuya Nomura, and presented lush visual representations of an epic which transcended time, space, and of course love.

But Fan boy though I might be, I can’t give Final Fantasy all the credit for moving games into the halls of accepted art forms. Though they did lead the charge, those games set the stage for a host of later efforts which range from impressive to downright mind-blowing.

Thanks to this precedent, modern games not only present a unique opportunity to experience visual art in motion, and allow us to interact with it in historically unheard-of ways, but each game presents a plethora of opportunities to examine ourselves in ways we never had – all bundled in one convenient piece of new visual media.

‘Bundle,’ in fact, is a fantastic term to describe what games offer us. In one sitting, we can be empowered, encouraged, sickened, tickled pink, deeply disturbed, love-struck, heartbroken, or perhaps just mildly amused. While traditional forms of visual art are limited to a single composition – a single moment, great games offer us a lifetime. That is why we love them, and that is why they are art.

Dear god this is amazeballs. LOLZ.

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:03:22 -0600

Dear god this is amazeballs. LOLZ.

This game was fantastically inventive, and all-around fun. Give...

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:41:30 -0600

This game was fantastically inventive, and all-around fun. Give it a try, if you haven’t.

lazyboywithtime:

catherineisthesourceofalllife:

Catherine’s European release fell close to Valentine’s Day - what could be more perfect?

I’m literally unnable to speak right now. No…words….just awesome

Dropping the Discs ... ? WTF.

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:48:14 -0700

Microsoft’s next Xbox will not have a disc drive, according to a source speaking to MCV. ...

Witcher Dev Exec comes out Anti-Anti-Pirate

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:31:07 -0700

Yes, that double negative means he’s decided that DRM (Digital Rights Management) software is...

Check out what game engineers are working on at MY UNIVERSITY!!!...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:45:00 -0700

Check out what game engineers are working on at MY UNIVERSITY!!! :-D

(PS: Love that the fishing tech demo used the boss fight music from FFVII)

http://www.baldursgate.com/

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:02:00 -0700

http://www.baldursgate.com/: It’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAaack ^^b

"Steam is getting its own console… Interesting."

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 01:25:00 -0700

“Steam is getting its own console… Interesting.”

Never played through an AC title before, but might complete this...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:00:30 -0700

Never played through an AC title before, but might complete this one, just for the repeated chance to yell “EFF you, Redcoat!” XD

Okay, you guys know I lean Sony, but this looks pretty cool. ...

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:09:45 -0700

Okay, you guys know I lean Sony, but this looks pretty cool. How can I hate on aerial combat with dragons?

galaxynextdoor:

NEW Crimson Dragon details.

If you’re an old school fan of the Panzer Dragoon series then your Kinect is about to finally earn its worth. Last night Microsoft and Capcom had an event to show off several titles; one of them being the Team Andromeda/ Grounding developed Crimson Dragon. Originally known as Project Draco, Crimson Dragon is the closest thing to a new Panzer Dragoon game as we’re going to get. Directed by Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi and featuring a soundtrack by Saori Kobayashi (Panzer Dragoon Saga and Orta) — it’s a new Panzer title in everything but name alone.

Destined to hit XBLA early this year, the title will fully utilize the Kinect sensor and feature 3 player online co-op; 6 playable dragons and over 100 skills to collect allowing your dragon to grow. Expect to see more of the title at next weeks Microsoft’s Xbox Spring Showcase. For now, check out some footage from the Japanese event last night here.

wipes drool … If you can’t see why Vita is pricey...

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:50:00 -0700

*wipes drool* … If you can’t see why Vita is pricey now, you are silly.

* HAIKU REVIEW! - Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:31:00 -0700

Want a Power Ring? Hal Jordan fans will have fun. Everyone else? Maybe not. …Need more? Check...

LOVE this. You’ll get the joke when you play the game. :-)

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:23:16 -0700

LOVE this. You’ll get the joke when you play the game. :-)

videogamenostalgia: Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions now...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:08:28 -0700

videogamenostalgia:

Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions now available on iPad

One of ~~my personal favorite games of all time~~ Square’s best selling and most favorited games on the original Playstation has now been ported to the iPad with updated graphics (including redone character portraits with no pixellation), new cut-scenes, more jobs, and an updated control scheme to fit the iPad.

It costs $17.99 and is available now!

‘Tactics’ was great. Give it a try if you haven’t.

Take a great RPG, then add a healthy splash of fanservice...

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:18:00 -0700

Take a great RPG, then add a healthy splash of fanservice — I HEART YOU, JAPAN!

A Brief History of the Console Wars

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:23:46 -0700

Or, How Sony Has Already Won, and You Just Don’t Know It First off, if you are currently scratching...

* HAIKU REVIEW! - Final Fantasy XIII-2

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:54:00 -0700

Dear GOD this game’s huge, IF you play through ALL of it. You’re nuts if you...

Why I'm a Gamer

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:00 -0700

(Follow all links to get the full story.) “… Because everyone is now, right?” The game...

CONSOLE ME

A Fireside Chat (for my fans)

Gaming and Society - Gaming and YOU!

GAMES ARE ART (Part Deux - The Reckoning) [Transcript...

Dear god this is amazeballs. LOLZ.

This game was fantastically inventive, and all-around fun. Give...

Dropping the Discs ... ? WTF.

Witcher Dev Exec comes out Anti-Anti-Pirate

Check out what game engineers are working on at MY UNIVERSITY!!!...

http://www.baldursgate.com/

"Steam is getting its own console… Interesting."

Never played through an AC title before, but might complete this...

Okay, you guys know I lean Sony, but this looks pretty cool. ...

*wipes drool* … If you can’t see why Vita is pricey...

* HAIKU REVIEW! - Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters

LOVE this. You’ll get the joke when you play the game. :-)

videogamenostalgia: Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions now...

Take a great RPG, then add a healthy splash of fanservice...

A Brief History of the Console Wars

* HAIKU REVIEW! - Final Fantasy XIII-2

Why I'm a Gamer

wipes drool … If you can’t see why Vita is pricey...