Games to Movies

I was watching a preview of the coming movie adaptation of Prince of Persia:The Sands of Time on tv (it really does look awesome), and I got to thinking of videogame movies (or rather, the good ones). There are not that many, but two of my favorites (which I own on disc) are Silent Hill and Doom. Yes, Doom. A lot of of critics and game players hated on the film, but I quite enjoy it. Sure, the monsters are mutated humans, and not demons from hell, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. And the five minute 1st person section of the film is pure genius, IMHO.

Silent Hill is also well done, and pretty frightening actually. Other than the ending (they're ghosts now? What did I miss?) I really like this film.

So what about you guys? Any video game movie adaptations that you enjoy? Disagree with my faves? If you don't have any faves, which ones do you hate? (And writing 'anything by Ewe Boll' is a very good answer.) :P

Games to movies

I was watching a preview of the coming movie adaptation of Prince of Persia:The Sands of Time on tv (it really does look awesome), and I got to thinking of videogame movies (or rather, the good ones). There are not that many, but two of my favorites (which I own on disc) are Silent Hill and Doom. Yes, Doom. A lot of of critics and game players hated on the film, but I quite enjoy it. Sure, the monsters are mutated humans, and not demons from hell, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. And the five minute 1st person section of the film is pure genius, IMHO.

Silent Hill is also well done, and pretty frightening actually. Other than the ending (they're ghosts now? What did I miss?) I really like this film.

So what about you guys? Any video game movie adaptations that you enjoy? Disagree with my faves? If you don't have any faves, which ones do you hate? (And writing 'anything by Ewe Boll' is a very good answer.) :P

HD? No Thanks

One of the many reasons I have not gotten a PS3 or XBox360 (a major one having no job at the moment) is that, apparently you should get an HD television in order to fully enjoy the graphics of the games. It's not needed, but highly recommended.

To this, I say:screw that.

Basically, if I were to buy one of the aformentioned systems for approx. 300, I SHOULD also get a an HDtv, which costs, what, 300-400? Why would I spend that amount of money when I have several perfectly fine standard definition tvs to play games and watch movies on?

Frankly, the thing about HD tv is I simply do not give a flying fig newton about it. I've heard watching sports on it is WONDERFUL, but the thing is, I don't watch sports. And I've heard many people having problems with their HD televisions. I just turn on my 20 inch standard definition tv and I'm ready to go. I quite like it. I even have my XBox and PS1 hooked up to a standard 13-inch. I bet that blows some people's minds. And am I wrong, or does one have to pay a monthly fee for the privilage of HD?

Maybe I'm just getting old, but I don't see the greatness of HD or Blue-Ray, for that matter. (Again, were I to get a Blue Ray player, I would need an HD tv to really enjoy it. I suppose. I'll stick with DVDs for now, thanks.)

Right now, I am very much enjoying (and often being blown away by) my last gen systems and games. Sorry to repeat myself, but I do not see the point of HDtv right now. I really don't.

Does this preclude my ever getting an HDtv, X360 or PS3 in the future? Hell no. When prices go down more (and they will, trust me) and I need a new tv, maybe.

Am I forgetting the Wii, which still has standard definition graphics? No. It's just the Wii is a piece of gimmicky crap. It would still be gimmicky crap if it it did have HD graphics. Nuff said.

Sick day games

I and wife are both very sick (may be strep throat), so I'll keep this blog short. But it got me to wondering if anyone out there plays video games when they are unwell, and if you have any favorite video games you play to make you feel better. Or do you just chill and watch television or movies? I have been playing very simple video games since I got sick , the more complicated ones give me headaches (literally.)

Hope everyone else is well!

GAMER The Movie

Just wondering if anyone saw/liked Gamer. Just saw it a few days ago and quite liked it. There was a lot of action and gore, which is good, but the movie also dealt with themes of control and freedom. And there is a song and dance number/fight scene which is as cool as it sounds. Really, no sarcasm.

As long as I'm mentioning 'game movies', did anyone but me like Doom (which I own.) Sure, the monsters are genetic human mutations rather then demons from Hell, but I just really love this movie. And the '1st person' section of the movie is pure genius.

Finally, I also really like Silent Hill. The only problem I have with the movie is the WTF happened ending? Anyone figure out exactly what was going on there? Anyone? Bueller?

The DS:Lost Potential

I got a DS Lite from my lovely wife this past Christmas, and I love it. It disheartens me that there are so many games for the under 10 set. (Especially the Imagine series. I know they are serious money makers but...blech.) There are also many 'extremely casual' games, such as crosswords or sudoku, but I don't mind those so much, these 'games' create a bigger older target audience, and that's cool with me.
It just bothers me that the DS may turn out to be the best selling handheld ever, yet the games for it are so limited. Nintendo and developers of games for the DS seem to believe that the vast majority of people who own DS are really young kids. If that were true...and I believe it is most definately not...why is Nintendo debuting the DS XL next month? It has a bigger screen for older people whose sight is fading, and a bigger stylus made for adult hands.
What pisses me off is that I am certain that Nintendo beleives the DS, like the Wii, is a toy fit only for the young 'uns and families with kids. If that is so, why is the DS so damn popular? Adults like me like the DS, and Nintendo knows this hence the DS XL here and DS LL in Japan.
Why are there not more M-rated games? More hardcore games? Why aren't more 1st person shooters made for the DS, even though the system is perfect for them? (I should know, I own two of the three 1st person shooters made so far for the DS, and they control perfectly.)
Nintendo seems content as always to fart out dozens of Mario games and kiddie fodder for the DS. It is a unique systems that took risks..two screens and touch control....yet in it's fourth year, games for the system are 80% crap, 10% Mario, and 10% good games. I wish Nintendo would, just once, see the forest for the trees full of money.
You can do it, Nintendo. You have the potential to exploit the DS. Exploitation is what you are good at.

Pure Imagination

'Come with me,and you'll see, a land of pure imagination...'

I love this song, one of the best parts of the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and sung awesomely by Gene Wilder. The remake is good, but I was saddened by it's being excised from the movie. Johnny Depp would have nailed it. Oh well.

One of the reasons I love playing video games is not just the chance to blow someone's head off with a shotgun without actually killing anyone, it is a chance to see the remarkable worlds and creatures created by some incredibly talented people. There is and will be for the forseeable future a debate on whether video games are art or not; I stand firmly in the 'games are art.' section.

I have seen incedible worlds on the television screen that I have only seen in my dreams, and better still, I can interact with these worlds. It is an incredible feeling, one I am sure a lot of other gamers have felt that way. I will not mention any particular games in this blog; I know what they are, and you know what they are.

Gaming is not all about violence and death, although right now that is a big part of the gaming landscape. Gaming is about unleashing the imagination, for the creators and for the players. Since I was a child, I have wanted to be a comic book writer and/or illustrator. That is a dream I still have but will probably never realize for a multitude of reasons. But now there are videogames, which are each generation creating more realistic but breath-taking worlds. This is also happening in movies, which I think is wonderful, through the use of Computer Generated Images. Now the dreamakers can put their dreams up on the big screen, so we can wonder at them.

In videogames we can go one better, though. We can take part in and explore the dreams and imaginations of others. And in so doing, be inspired ourselves. We can play in a land made only of confections, in land full of dragons and demons, on a world far, far away. It is a good time be a videogame player.

So come with me, to a land of pure imagination...because we can.

And thanks to all the once and future creators of video games, because not only are they the dreamers of dreams, they are the the makers of dreams.

Tonight We Try To Take Over THE WORLD!

At Acme Labs....

"What in the 8 planets in the solar system are you doing, Pinky? You're cavorting about like a spastic orangutan!"

*Zoink* I'm playing with the Wii, Brain! It's fun!"

"Ugh, Pinky, I don't need any information about your carnel desires..."

"No, Brain, THE Wii. It's really popular with human people. You use a remote-whatsit and nunchucky to play games and stuff.*Narf* It's really hilarious."

"Hmmmm. Well, I have no doubt that your small mind would find this ridiculous pastime enjoyable. As for me...wait, did you say this 'Wii' is popular with humans?"

"Yup."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?"

"No Brain, I've never been in a pool full of pudding, either."

"No Pinky, you mentally challenged ignoramous. Remind me to slap you later. I'm thinking we could use this "Wii" to take over the world! Any who played the Wii could be hypnotized to be my slave! They would dance like puppets holding those...controller whatsis. I just need to spread a virus through the internet..."

*Narf* "Sorry Brain, I don't think it would work."

"And why not, my microceleptic friend?"

"Well, the Wii isn't really connected to the 'internut' very well. And you need these friend codes that I still can't figure out, and mostly old people and children play with the Wii. That wouldn't make a very good army, would it, Brain?"

"No, I suppose you've got a point, Pinky. Oh well, I still have plans involving the XBox and it's 'Red Ring of Death. That might work."

"Scuse me Brain, all this talk about the 'Wii' makes me want to take one."

"You do that in the corner this time, Pinky, not the water dish. And get some rest for tomorrow."

"Why? What are we doing tomorrow, Brain?"

"Same thing we do every day, Pinky:Try to take over the world!!"

DLC and Patches? F@@k that!

Back in my day, we would insert a cartridge or disk into a game console, and viola! you played the game. I LOVE that. Games were whole and complete unto themselves, nothing more needed. That is not the case any more.

Now we have down loadable content, or DLC for many games. Now you not only pay 60 bucks or for a game, now you can pay extra money for new maps, new weapons, new outfits or what have you. A lot of people seem to enjoy doing this, and it is supposed to 'extend' the 'life' of certain games. Maybe it's just my generation, but isn't that what sequels are for? For the money one can put into DLC for one game, one might be almost be able to pay for a sequel, probably with a new story, weapons, characters, enemies, etc. But in this economy, why not throw more money into buying stuff THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE DISK ALREADY. Remember, in my day, everything was on the cartridge or disk...and stuff the developers could not fit on this game, they could put on the sequel.

And now it seems that develpers not only have money coming in from DLC, they don't even need to put money into quality control. Something screwy in the game? Fix it with a patch! I'm kind of surprised that publishers do not force players into paying for patches....although Activision will probably start doing that soon, evil empire that it is.

I admit that much of this bile comes from the fact that game consoles are now connected into the internet 24/7. My belief is that the internet on computers is a good thing; on consoles, not so much. It seems apparent game consoles connected to the web, while a necessary evolution I suppose, is just away for game developers to siphon even more money from game players' pockets. Although one could argue that for the web in general, I suppose.

Don't even get me started on how popular downloadable games have become. Topic of another blog, for sure.

Maybe DLC and patches just make my favorite hobby that much more complicated. I yearn for the simpler, less expensive and patch free times, but one does get that way when one reaches my advanced age.

What say you? Love the concept of DLC? Are patches a now necessary evil, or should they not exist at all?

Why All the Army Games?

When I played the first Medal of Honor game on the now-ancient PSOne, I loved the WWII first person shooter. I still own it and dive into it once in a while. At the time, a WWII shooter seemed special and very unique.
Fast forward about fifteen years and just about every other game on the PS3, X360 and even the Wii is a military shooter. Now, I enjoy 1st person shooters, and always love me killing a bunch of dirty Nazis, but it seems to me that this genre has not only reached it's saturation point, but gone beyond it.
I suppose the fact that online multiplayer is so popular is part of the reason why military shooters are so popular. Yelling military tactics to your friends is just so cool. But there seems to me there are just so many ways to make a military shooter. The thing is....
It seems that recently, if someone tries something different then a military shooter, say with aliens or monsters, the critics piss all over them, while just every cookie cutter military shooter often get glowing reviews. But just how many variations can be made of 'shoot bad guys with guns, not shoot fellow soldiers' can be.
Apparently, as many as the public wants. Which is a lot. Back in the early 90's, there was a huge glut of fighters spurred by the phenominal success of Street Fighter II (which, while it is a good game that has withstood the test of time, it is not one the best games of all time in my belief, one that does jibe with many others) The fighter genre pretty much died out, at least till now, with the release of, ironically, Street Fighter IV. Perhaps fighters will rise again to supplant military shooters...although I'm not sure this is a good thing,
I do have to mention that the game Borderlands, which has been well recieved, thinks outside the militarty shooter box, however the game could be, and has, been labeled an RPG shooter. Nothing wrong with that, I just hope it does not drown in the sea of brown and tan colored military shooters. Look, people enjoy these games, and companies make millions off them (or billions, in the case of Modern Warefare 2.), just, enough already. This steady stream of soldiers games need to be slowed, if not stopped. It is certainly putting me off of getting a new system.
As for the equal surplus of zombie games, I have no beef with that. Shooting zombies NEVER gets old.