More Lego Replicas

So I suspected that Halo couldn't be the only game with weapons iconic enough to turn into a Lego creations.  Turns out I was right.  Using Legos to build video game weapons is apparently a thing.  Here is some other examples.  I would buy any one of these.

Gears: Lancer with working chainsaw

Halo Reach: Dedicated Marksman Rifle (DMR)

Gears: Retro Lancer (look past the awkward 15 year old)

MW3: Whole collection of Guns

Life Size Replica of Halo Sniper Rifle...Made of Legos!!

I came across this the other day and was in awe for two reasons.  For one, I love Halo and this is pretty damn cool.  Second, this isn't a Lego product.  I checked (credit card in hand).  So the creator put this together with no instructions.  I have trouble putting together simple Lego sets that include instructions.

This is pretty impressive.  The time, the energy, the patience, the skill, the hours wasted by not actually playing Halo...I'm pretty envious.  Well of everything but that last part.

Dishonored Gameplay shows off Variety

Dishonored got a great deal of attention coming out of E3 this year.  I heard numerous comparisons to Bioshock.  A lot was made of the way the game allowed players to tackle objectives in multiple ways.

If variety is the what Bethesda is aiming for with Dishonored, this gameplay seems to indicate they hit their mark.  In the video the players is seen...lets say...introducing himself to some unsuspecting guard.  We are then treated to 3 very different ways the player can escape the situation.

I love when games give you multiple ways to complete objectives and I'm always amazed that more games don't give players that freedom.  Something as simple as giving players the ability to take the "high path" or the "low path" like Gears of War often does during the campaign can go a long way in making a player feel like their behavior is shaping the game experience.

This game is out October 9, 2012 and looks like it could be a sleeper hit.  Maybe they will follow the lead set by Bioshock and release a demo that blows everyones mind.

Telltale's Walking Dead on iOS Today

The Walking Dead was a great show for most of the first season.  That ended with season 2.  But if the hype surrounding Telltale's episodic adventure game is true, then there remains a place to get great Walking Dead content.

I played the demo of the first episode and was impressed.  Can't even tell you what prevented me from buying it.  Episode 2 was recently released and I considered getting both, but didn't.  I'm glad I waited because as of today the games are available on iOS devises.  Given the style, the game may be best played on iOS devices.

This is not a game so much as it is interactive comic book (based on my Demo impressions and various conversations on podcasts).  But while interacting with the comic, players are forced to make decisions with serious implications.  It seemingly perfects what games like Mass Effect have long promised to do.

The first episode will be $4.99.  You can then purchase episodes 2-5 in advance for a discounted price of $14.99, or $4.99 for each episode.

Developers Frustrated with XBLA?

In June a Patch was released for the XBLA hit "Fez".  The patch fixed numerous bugs plaguing the game since launch.  Unfortunately it introduced a new game breaking bug that corrupted save files for a small number of players.  The patch was pulled, but returned last week...without a fix for the save file bug.  

Phil Fish, the controversial creator of Fez, blamed the lack of  a fix on the prohibitive cost of releasing a patch through XBLA.  Fish took a clear swipe at MS when he said that if Fez was a Steam game it would have been fixed two weeks after launch, at no cost to him.  Adding: "only a few months left to our XBLA exclusivity."  Ouch!! 

Phil fish has been known to make controversial comments and some have responded to his comments as just  Phil Fish being Phil Fish.  But there seems to exist a growing sentiment among developers that XBLA is no longer developer friendly, and many are turning to alternative distribution models like iOS and even PSN.

Case in point: Tim Schafer from Double Fine said that indie developers were moving away from XBLA because of the difficult certification process.  Like Fish, Schafer pointed to the prohibitive costs of providing maintenance on the game post launch - which he cited as $40,000 for a patch.

In yet another example of developer discontent, Ron Carmel (creator: World of Goo ) said in a article from October of last year that he believed XBLA had peaked as a place for indie development, and that people at MS had not yet recognized how the service had fallen out of favor with developers.  To back up his claim Carmel surveyed 200 indie developers.  The results should have sent off alarm bells at Microsoft.  A majority of developers were more interested in developing for the PSN than XBLA.  When asked to label the ease of working with the various distribution services, a majority rated platforms like Steam, Facebook, and Apple as "very easy" and most found PSN and Android "so-so".  XBLA was the only platform that a majority found "excruciating".  This is troubling for MS because 3/4 of those surveyed said that ease of working with a platform was "paramount" in deciding which systems to develop for.

There was a time when the hurdles required to publish on XBLA may have been worth the trouble for indie developers because XBLA was the only game in town.  Now with alternatives like iOS, Steam and even PSN, that time has passed.  MS should take steps to make developing for XBLA easy and rewarding for developers or they risk losing that important market to alternative platforms.

Youtuber Profile:Muzzafuzzagaming

Most people (i.e. my wife) would say I play plenty of games (i.e. too many).  But in my mind I don't play enough.  When life gets in the way and I can't get to my Xbox, I alleviate the unfortunate tweaking by watching other people play games.  There are a number of options available to do this.  If I'm itching to watch some live streaming gameplay I'll turn to justintv or twitchtv.  But for watching commentary, edited videos and montages Youtube is the only place to turn.

There are some really good youtube channels dedicated to gaming.  Along with highlighting some high quality podcasts, one of my goals is to try and find the best gaming channels on all the various video services and profile them here.

First up: Muzzafuzzagaming (Youtube)

One problem with most Youtube channels is that they tend to highlight only a particular game or two.  Most channels dedicated to COD or StarCraft tend to only post videos on those games - tips, strategy, montages etc.  Unless you are a huge fan of the game the channel is dedicated to, there is generally no reason to subscribe.  All you'll ever get is videos of those games.  It's hard to find channels that post clips from a broad range of games.  Muzzafuzza is an exception.  His videos range from Duke Nukem campaign videos and Skyrim shenanigans to high quality MW3 and Halo Reach montages/gameplays.

Another problem with youtube gaming channels is that they tend to feature boring and predictable gameplay videos and commentary.  There is only so much you can say about the 150th COD match posted to your channel.  Once you've watched one, you've seen them all.  Again MuzzaFuzza is an exception.  His stated goal is to post videos and clips that are different from what you can get on most channels.  Does he always succeed in that goal...No.  Again, to some extent there is only so much you can say.  However, he is more successful than others are posting unique gameplay videos.  His commentary is funny and he isn't afraid to stray from boring descriptions of what we are watching in the clip.

If you want some unique gameplay clips muzzafuzzagaming is a good choice.  You can see and example of what he brings to the table in the video above.

Also, muzzafuzza is one awesome gamertag!

Podcast Review: Weekend Confirmed

When I first got an iPod I was excited at the prospect of having my entire music library in my pocket and being able to listen to my favorites artist whenever I wanted.  Then I discovered Podcasts. Now Podcasts account for about 90% of what I listen to.

One of the regular features I hope to post is podcast reviews.  I look forward to highlighting some of my favorite gaming podcasts that I never miss.  I'm also excited to search out more obscure podcasts and let people know whether they are worth a listen.  I find community specific podcast to be really fascinating.  They are usually hosted by non-journalist fans or community members and so there is a very raw (polite for rough) nature to these podcasts.  Some community specific podcast reviews will be featured in the near future.

But first up is Weekend Confirmed, my current favorite.  Weekend confirmed is the spiritual successor to 1UP Yours which, in my opinion, is the grand-daddy of all gaming podcasts.  Garnett lee (shacknews.com), hosted 1UP Yours and now handles the same duties on Weekend Confirmed.  Joining him as a mainstay is Jeff Cannata, who is best known as co-host for the Totally Rad Show.  Filling out the four person round table is numerous guests including: comedian Christian Spicer, Machinima.com host Andrea Renee, and fellow shacknewsers Jeff Mattous and Andwer Yoon.

Weekend confirmed is one of the slickest gaming podcasts around.  Topics for each episode are mapped out ahead of time and they stick to the plan.  That is not to say the show sounds scripted.  On the contrary, the show features a free-flowing format that ensures the conversation can go anywhere.  However, by the end, the topics they wanted to hit on are covered.  Beyond the basic news coverage and discussion of the games the hosts have been playing, the conversation tends to be philosophical in nature...(i.e what makes games good, why do we play games).  Usually, I'm thinking about an episode long after I've stopped listening to the podcast.  I can't say that about any other gaming podcast.

I've found that with most podcasts, there is one cast member who makes the show for me. With Weekend Confirmed, Jeff Cannata is that cast member.  Along with sharing my taste in games, he is the comic relief of the show.  In one episode he performed a dramatic reading of an email sent in by a listener describing a harrowing deer attack.  The results were hilarious.

Though the show doesn't quite capture the magic of the old 1UP Yours, Weekend Confirmed is a magnificent podcast.  I can't recommend it enough.  If releases on Fridays and is guaranteed to make weekend yard work much more enjoyable.

TOP NEWS: OUYA Lands its First Exclusive: Human Element Prequal

I hadn't been buying the hype on the OUYA Kickstarter project - a console to play games equivalent to what I get on my iPhone? No thanks?  Even securing 42,000 backers and $5.2 million in funds in less than two weeks failed to mitigate my skepticism.  But after today's announcement that the $99 counsel nabbed its first high profile exclusive, I may need to change my tune.


Robert Bowling, formally of CoD fame, announced a prequel to "Human Element" - his new studios first game - will be exclusive to the OUYA.  One wonders if the plan for the game had been in place, or if Robotic is the first studio to be lured by the impressive Kickstarter numbers.  How many more might be lured? 


With any new counsel its success will be determined by the games it offers.  Though I'm still skeptical, this is the first sign that OUYA may be more than a fad. 


I would still attribute the success of the OUYA Kickstarter project to two factors.  1) people are itching for a new console.  Any new console.  I think it indicates the major console manufacturers missed an opportunity by not announcing or even teasing their next generation of hardware at E3 this year.  How much could a Xbox 720 Kickstarter project raise? And 2) price point matters.  People will take a shot on a new console if it is priced right.  Realistically the next gen console won't be anywhere near the $99 price point, but MS and Sony should understand keeping the cost down will only benefit them.