VDOgaming

Who stole the show?

Nintendo Wii U

It has to be doesn’t it? I don’t know about you but nothing excites me more than a new games console reveal. We’ve been walking with dinosaurs (Old Wii, PS3, XBOX) for far too long. And no, the pathetic excuse of revolutionary gaming that are the PS Move and the Kinect aren’t new consoles. Revolutionary? Maybe. Shit? Definitely.

Wii U isn’t anything revolutionary. But it is a new games console (not an add on). And that’s exciting. Now it has the graphics capability equal to PS3 and XBox 360. It should be more powerful but that’s Nintendo for you. Always flawed in some way. But I’m okay with that. As long as I can work out what’s happening on screen without “fuzziness” getting in the way I’m pretty much satisfied.

So glad it’s nothing to do with “3D!” There I said it!

I never had a problem with big controllers. And Wii U’s new one is a sexy piece of kit. It looks comfortable enough for me. The touch screen idea is good.Touchscreen is the future, it’s where everything is heading. But what worries me is how the Wii U will implement this into its games.

Nintendo seem to love gimmicks. Japanese seem to fall for them, or even like them but us westerners (or maybe just me) find them cringe worthy. 3DS AR Cards anyone?

In one of the Wii U videos they show off a golf game where the controller is placed on the floor which shows the golf ball… on the floor. Hmm that really does look desperate to me. (Calm down Jimmy, it’s just a showcase of possibilities).

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE the fun factor Nintendo always bring to the table. They’re the masters of it. They do it better than the rest. But what I don’t like is silly gimmicks, cute games (Pokemon, Nintendogs) and millions of RPGs.

As always I’m very eager to play the next inhouse Nintendo games like Super Mario, Zelda etc. Please make another Pilot Wings, a good one this time!

So yeah, Wii U was the main highlight at E3 for me. As far as I’m concerned Nintendo invented games (in my head anyway), so I’ll always have some love for them.

Other Highlights

• Super Mario 3D: Being extremely disappointed with the current 3DS games, this has ignited intense excitement in me. Please make it another Super Mario 64!
• Mario Kart 3D: Big fan of the Mario Karts. Very much looking forward to another lap in Bowser’s Castle!
• PS Vita: Hmm, just because it’s a new console.
• Driver San Francisco: Don’t ask! I’m still waiting for them to get it right, loved the original back in the day.
• Far Cry 3: Loved Predator Instincts!
• Batman FPS: Seems interesting, could mess up big time. Loved Arkham Asylum!
• Deus Ex: Niiiiice.
• Resident Evil (all): I have a soft spot for the good old residents of evil.

Okay I’ll leave it there.

What was your highlights of E3?

I’m sure you agree with me because I’m just amazing!

Discuss…

Jimmy

Today 3D is the “new” thing. Both in gaming and television watching. But it won’t last…

Nope. It’s just a fad. Give it a few years and it’s going to drop like a Betamax.

Who the f*** want’s 3D anyway? Unless you want to go cross eyed that is. Prolonged 3D viewing is bad for the eyes so eventually, 3D will be doomed.  And the glasses? You reckon we wanna watch our TV through glasses? Give me a break!

Tom: Yo Steve, pop over in the evening, I’ve got GT5 on 3D!.

Steve: Coooool!

Tom: Bring Jack, Ant and John too. And oh yeah, don’t forget the 3D glasses.

Steve: I don’t have 3D glasses.

Tom: Oh…

HD is good enough for me. It’s crisp, it’s clear, it’s vibrant. Frankly there is absolutely no need for 3D.

I’m looking forward to the Nintendo 3DS (launching on 27th March 2011) but not necessarily because it has 3D capability, but because it’s another piece of hardware from Nintendo. In the future I predict Nintendo releasing a 2DS as well, which will be exactly like the 3DS but without 3D.

It’s time we snap back into reality, the REAL 3D!

I know I’m right. What do you guys think?

Jimmy Cash

Wow check out the graphics! So real. Look at the detail on that rock. Check out the car physics, handles like the real thing.

I’m doing 200mph but why does it feel like I’m only doing 50? Anyway at least I’m driving a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640… Virtually I mean.

Okay my question of the day is:

Does realism make games better?

As technology got more and more advanced, gaming environments have got more and more realistic. Naturally this was expected. Since the early days of gaming we’ve always longed for better visuals. At that time a lot was left to the imagination. Now it seems, imagination has been replaced with realism.

Inevitable but unfortunate.

This transition has effectively stripped all creativity out of the industry. We now get games that look pretty but play like a dead horse.

Who’s to blame for that? We are, cos we keep buying that shit.

We waste truckloads of money on sub-par, half-arsed titles that insult our love for games everyday. We’re encouraging this.

To be brutally honest, I’d rather have great gameplay over great graphics any day. Even bad graphics can work.

I actually liked it when things were left to our imaginations.

One example. The Monkey Island games looked much better when they were pixelated. I actually perceived each character in my own way. Different to how others perceived them. It was personal. When the MI games moved into 3D, they lost half of their character. Suddenly the characters I knew and loved are now strangers. Still love them though. Actually this is bad example really because even with the 3D graphics, the artwork is not realistic, it’s highly stylised so I’ve got nothing to criticise. Just making a point though.

Realistic graphics can work too. Like in the Gran Turismo series. Other realistic racers though? Yawn…

Hats off to games like Team Fortress,  Mario Kart, Limbo, Street Fighter, Brutal Legend for choosing creativity over realism.

For me, gaming is about escapism. If there’s realism it has to be fun as well, otherwise I’d rather just step outta my front door and go for walk instead.

Thoughts?

Jimmy Cash

How do girls use the iPhone? I mean don’t their long nails get in the way? Of course they do.

I see them use their finger in a flat way to browse the phone instead of using the finger tip (which they can’t).

I’ve also noticed how annoying they (i.e. my ex) find it because let’s face it, using the flat end of your finger to type isn’t very accurate.

Text messages and emails would take twice as long to write because of mistakes unless they’re happy with something like:

“Hy, ebjoued lsst nijt. calk mw.”

How about gaming on the iPhone? Well I think it’s bad, very bad. I personally like to feel buttons. I also like to feel some kind of feedback when I press them too. A drawing of a d-pad for me to touch will not do I’m afraid. There’s no difference between touching that and any other part of the screen. I acknowledge, many people don’t mind that, but for me, it just doesn’t work.

Tilting the iPhone to steer a car is good in theory but again, for me it’s just too gimmicky. There’s no precision in it, especially for realistic/semi-realistic racers. It works for other types where accuracy isn’t so important, similar to Mario Kart with the Wii controller.

On the plus side, iPhone with it’s huge collection of apps, there are games that are perfectly suited for the device. Simple games like Angry Birds are fun, simple and easy to play. iPhone has started it’s own games genre.

I don’t have the iPhone and I don’t really want one. But I must admit, even though I find the touch screen annoying (personally) I do think the iPhone is by far the best mobile phone available. It’s easy to use (if you don’t have long nails) and fun. It’s basically everything (phone, internet, games, music, camera) in one neat little package. It’s even good for some games if you can get used to the controls.

Do you find iPhone game controls annoying?

Discuss.

Jimmy Cash

“Hey wow Kinect! COOL! Let’s turn it on… Woah look I’m driving with my hands… Oh look I can kick an invisible ball… (ten minutes later)… This is so awesome… haha, woohoo… I wonder what’s on TV (turns off Kinect) SIMPSONS!!”

Do we really WANT to move around to play games? Do we really want to wave our arms and legs around in the air to control the action on the screen? Is that really so fun (after 10 minutes?) I don’t think so.

Yes the Wii is super successful but at least that had something you can hold, something tangible.

The Kinect is ridiculous. It’s gonna fail in the long run. It may get a lot of sales from curious people to start with but that will quickly decline.

If we want to work out, we go to the gym, not play the Kinect. If we want to play games we let our thumbs do the exercise while we’re seated on our comfortable couches.

Xbox 360 is a good machine. And in my opinion it’s more fun to play and use than the PS3. It has better user interface, better controller, and sometimes even better graphics.

But the Kinect? Pah-leeeeaassse!

So what do you think about the Kinect? Discuss…

Thanks,
Jimmy

The Nintendo DSi really does kick ass. A great piece of kit, I love it.

Sure it’s infested with sissy titles like Cooking Mama and Pokemon but it also has some killer ones like GTA Chinatown wars.

I’m loving the XL with its large screens. The resolution could be better but it really doesn’t matter when you’re so engrossed in hijacking an arms van while possessing 20 bags of powder with the cops on your ass for accidently hurting one of them… err I’m talking about Chinatown Wars game by the way!

Yeah the DSi is one mean little fu**** with a soft side.

The soft side of course includes games like the Super Mario games. Love them.

PSP Go on the other hand… is… so……… Hey did I just see Cameron Diaz?

Sorry where was I? Oh yeah the PSP… …

Anyway hope you enjoyed this post. Hats off to Nintendo for making the DS. Can’t wait for the 3DS!

Thanks,
Jimmy Cash

What’s with some game music? I mean COME…..ON!!

Whoever thought mixing shitty rock/grunge tracks with games was a great idea has no imaginations. By the way I’m not talking about games like Rock Band etc, I’m talking about other games (e.g. racing) with rock style music because they couldn’t be bothered to compose a decent track.

Nothing wrong with rock music, but it just doesn’t work with games. Especially if it’s composed inhouse or by some nobody group.

Earplugs anyone?

Music is about charming the senses, not destroying them!

In the good old days we were rewarded with inspired tunes that evoked all sorts of emotions within us, even with limited technology. Who can forget “Magical Shower” in Outrun?

Can we please learn from such talent from the past and bring it to the present? I wanna hear more DECENT music in my games thank you.

Please leave your comments, I wanna hear your views. Do you agree with me?

More on this later.

Thanks,
Jimmy Cash.