When Companies Win, Consumers Lose.

Should we always just quietly cheer for the underdog?

Let's take a moment to reflect on what has been going on in the industry for ages. In the past, present, and definitely onward into the future. When companies are winning, the consumer sees no benefits.

Most notably, it's easy to look back to Nintendo in the 1980s and early 1990s. In these days, Nintendo essentially held a monopoly on the gaming industry. It's no secret that Nintendo kept the competition out of retailers, aside from Sega. The little guys never stood a chance, and Nintendo continued to dominate as a result. Now, some would argue that Nintendo deserved to be on top but the disadvantage to consumers here was the elimination of choice. Was there a better system? Maybe. Would you ever know it? Not a chance.

Would things have been different in the industry today had Nintendo not played a role in siphoning the life out of the industry's diversity? Who knows? Perhaps, it was for the best in the long run. However, now that video games have been established as a crucial entertainment platform, it is highly unlikely that the risk of them going away will ever come to fruition again.
Nowadays, consumers want to be guaranteed value for their dollar. Unfortunately, companies who are winning their respective "console wars" have little to no reason to provide consumers with additional value. In fact, winning companies tend to display greedier characteristics, particularly when they know what they can get away with.

7th Generation
Last gen we saw the Xbox 360 come out with a very strong start in 2005. For years, the platform dominated the PlayStation 3 within the United States, arguably positioning itself to be the top dog for years to come. While the Xbox 360 did end up in last place for sales in the 7th generation, Microsoft's schemes have formed deep and lasting scars in anti-consumer gaming practice.

From paid online (with no benefits of Games with Gold, like today), $100 Wi-Fi adapters, to faulty console hardware, the Xbox 360 was plagued with a number of issues that haunted gamers for the vast majority of the 7th generation. These problems took YEARS to address as Microsoft didn't have any real need to rush in fixing them. People kept buying Xbox 360s, even with a reported failure rate of 54%. Consumers kept paying an extra $100 for Wi-Fi separately. Without protest companies are free to continue their gains, regardless of how ethical or fair they may be.

Today
Most recently, Sony announced that their plans of backwards compatibility on the PS4 would not support physical discs. Much to the dismay of many gamers who have retained a PS2 library over the years, any hopes of actually being able to use the emulator have been squandered. Based upon the information we have available to us there is little reason to believe that Sony would lock the emulator behind a paywall for anything other than to reap the benefits of profits. Not only that, older titles are being released for as much as $14.99. A steep price to consider for those who already own physical copies of the titles available. But, Sony knows that their base will pay. Some hardcore fans aren't complaining, in fact they seem to be praising the idea of a paywall.

In contrast, the Xbox One, trailing behind the PS4 in sales has a very successful strategy for backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games, allowing for the use of already owned discs.
Considering the gap in competition, Microsoft has scrambling to become as appealing as possible
in the least amount of time to maintain relevancy. Admittedly, their efforts have been quite awesome thus far, and while emulation isn't perfect on Xbox One, it certainly is nice to not have to repurchase games you already own. Consumers are winning on team Xbox, but losing on team PlayStation.

Ultimately, consumers should realize that the platform that wins is typically plagued with issues in one form or another.There is no benefit in defending business practices that hurt YOU. Practices that are designed to keep you double, triple, quadruple dipping into the same things you've already bought. As a gamer, your first priority shouldn't be "how much of my money can I give to Sony?" Unless of course you're a corporate slave.

This time around, it seems that Sony doesn't seem to want to let go of that money. And, if the tables were turned and Microsoft was leading again, the Xbox One we have today would likely be very, very, different. And not in a good way.
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Is Ubisoft Pandering to Their Minority Audience for Praise?

These days, with all of the commotion going on within the gaming industry surrounding social issues, one has to ask the question... how long will it take before games begin to be more "inclusive" as a way of standing out?

Personally, it seems as though Ubisoft's latest move with Assassin's Creed Syndicate is nothing more than a show of desperation in many ways. It is no secret that Assassin's Creed, while still quite popular in some circles is losing its touch. With the 2014 release of Unity being harshly ridiculed for major bugs, framerate issues, and graphical inconsistencies, Ubisoft needed to devise a strategy to help gamers forget the negative and embrace the series once more.

To be progressive and inclusive is one thing, I think most can admit that it can be quite good. However, why can't this subject simply be a display of artistic vision? Something that people can discover on their own when playing the game? Is it really fair to believe that advertising a "trans" character's inclusion in the game is anything more than a publicity stunt for attention and free marketing?

And it seems that Ubisoft is openly admitting that making this character's trans gender orientation is not for any reason other than modern inclusiveness with their audience. It's for not historical accuracy, nor for the sake of crafting a unique personality or character background. No, it's simply for the sake of shoehorning in something "new" for the sake of being able to say "Assassin's Creed is forward thinking!" To cover up the fact that the gameplay has essentially been the same with every single release.

In a sense, highlighting this aspect of a person's identity as being a stand out difference is not what the transgender community even wants. This move promotes alienation and a social divide between trans individuals and the rest of society, when in reality, people just want to be considered equal.

All in all, we will have to see how everything turns out once Syndicate is finished, but right now this all seems like an obvious ploy to detract from the negativity surrounding the series' recent past.

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Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) [PC] - Game Review

Reviewed On: PC
Also On: PS4, XB1, Wii U

"Gone with the wind..."

Never Alone is a game whose charm you will desperately want to love, and on the surface there is enough elegance to be intrigued. Unfortunately the Never Alone doesn't do very much as a game.
Difficulty: Easy 
Time Spent Playing To Date: 4 Hours  
Worth Playing?: No
The Bottom Line: "Great concept; failed delivery"

It's challenging to attempt to give this game a fair chance in a review format. While Never Alone was for the most part somewhat enjoyable, I simply could not shake the feeling of mediocrity that I was left with at the end of the experience. Looking back, this game doesn't bring anything revolutionary to the 2D platforming genre, however, I don't think anybody expected that much. But ultimately, it ends up taking a few steps backwards. 

Gameplay:
For the first 90 minutes the platforming felt alright, but about halfway through the fourth chapter things began to fall apart. The true nature of the controls were starting to become more and more apparent. Controlling the characters felt clunkier, attaching to ledges properly sometimes took several tries. The bola stood out as being particularly awkward and could have controlled better to say the least. In a game that seemed to be aiming for simplicity, some of these factors definitely detracted from the experience as a whole. 

The level design felt a bit redundant after a while as well, a lot of the levels or particular aspects of them began to feel the same or just too gimmicky, and for a game that can easily be completed in just over three hours this type of design isn't particularly welcome. 

Story:

This happens to be a category where the game performs well. Based on an Iñupiaq tales and beliefs, the world that the player is able to explore feels fresh for those unfamiliar with the culture. The level design doesn't aid in helping this world feel very expansive, however. 

Visuals:
The game does look great, there is no denying that. The characters are designed to be unique and special in a way that allows the player to feel more connected to them even though the vast majority of the dialogue is delivered by a narrator, rather than the characters themselves. This helps to salvage quite a lot of the blandness that is felt after playing through the game for a while. 

Extra Content:
The cultural insights (documentary type clips) were the true star of the show and largely responsible for keeping me interested in the game all the way through. However, first and foremost, the game should be critiqued for how it performs as an actual game. The cultural insights and story are very nice touches but that alone cannot shape the entire experience. 

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All in all, Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) has enough charm on its surface to make for a really enjoyable and educational journey. However, a lot of that enjoyment is lost in the boring level design and sometimes mildly frustrating controls that make for a mediocre 2D plaforming experience. While it is a game I'd like to be able to recommend, you'd likely have just as pleasant of an experience watching the cultural insights as a standalone video.

 5 / 10 - Mediocre

Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed [Vita/PC] Two Platform - Game Review

Reviewed On: Vita, PC
Also On: PS3, 360, Wii U, 3DS

"Kart racing... transformed."

Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed adds new elements to the kart racing genre that make it an absolute blast of an experience, for fans of the genre this is a must play.
Difficulty: Scales (Easy - Very Hard) 
Time Spent Playing To Date: Vita - 11 Hours  PC - 28 Hours 
Worth Playing?: Yes
The Bottom Line: "Instant Classic"

Gameplay:
Sonic ASRT achieved something that for a long time I didn't think was possible: innovation to the kart racing genre. In this game, races take place not only on the road, but also in the water and sky. That's right, your kart has the ability to traverse different types of terrain making races all the more interesting.
Coming off of jumps also allows the player to perform tricks, successfully landing tricks can reward you with a boost. On the other hand, failing to land a trick will slow you down. This adds a little bit more diversity to the gameplay keeping things fresh every time you reach a jump.
Tricks are performed using the right stick, and for each direction there is a different kind of flip/roll (front, back, left, and right).
Drifting also will land you a boost bonus, the longer you hold a drift the larger the boost will be. This is measured based upon the color of your exhaust and on screen prompts. 

PC Screenshot - NiGHTS' All-Star Form

In the typical kart racing fashion, random boxes containing pickups (and some super pickups, with specific items in higher quantities) are placed at regular intervals throughout each track, in this game your arsenal consists of Ice, Firework, Drone, Blowfish, Glove, Twister, Boost, Hot Rod, Swarm, and the All-Star power-up. All-Star mode places the character in an invincible state at a higher speed where they can easily attack other drivers. 

Controls:
PC:
On PC there is of course keyboard support, as well as native Xbox controller support. The game is easily playable with the keyboard but of course a controller is a much better alternative and will put players at an advantage. The controls are tight and responsive and the karts handle great.
Vita:
The Vita version controls just as you'd expect it to, everything transfers over well from the console version. Without grips for the Vita, the game can cause some strain on the hands though as you'll need to rely heavily upon the L and R buttons to slide around turns. 

Difficulty:
This game can become very challenging at the higher levels of play. Some of the expert ghosts are especially frustrating. On the Vita in particular, I kept wishing I had a controller. Because of the sheer difficulty the game provides... I'd have to say if you're aiming for the Platinum Trophy on Vita it's at least a 9/10 difficulty rating from me, even with the glitched trophy for beating all expert ghosts.

Vita Screenshot

The challenge definitely exists, and yet at the same time, there are lower difficulties available that make entry into the game painless. As a result, the whole family will be able to enjoy Sonic ASRT. The game definitely allows players to develop their racing skills over time and appropriately test their abilities. 

Multiplayer:
Sonic ARST uses matchmaking for its multiplayer on each of the platforms. There are three modes: races that rely solely on speed and contain no weapons, traditional races with weapon pickups, and battle mode which unlike Mario Kart 8 actually has appropriate arena levels. The network connection on both the PC and Vita proved to work quite well.

Local split-screen is also great fun. The Vita features ad-hoc play to cover for not being able to provide this feature.

So all in all, what is left to be said about this game?

Pros -

+ Well designed and responsive controls
+ A wide selection of characters
+ Dynamic courses and vehicles
+ Matchmaking/Invite system that functions properly
+ Wide range of difficulty to cater to all levels of players
+ Good amount of tracks to race on including mirrored versions
+ Visually the Vita version is almost on par with its console/PC counterparts

Cons -
- Limited graphics options on PC indicative of a console port
- Vita controls can feel a bit tight with heavy reliance on the shoulder buttons


Vita  -  8.5 / 10 - Great
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PC -    9 / 10 - Superb

No Fallout 4 Multiplayer is a Mistake

By now, it's almost certain that the vast majority of the gaming community has heard the news that Fallout 4's multiplayer plans were scrapped by Bethesda. In the original article published by Mashable, Todd Howard is quoted stating "Believe it or not, every time we do a game we design a multiplayer mode just to see what we would do."

In other words, this means that Bethesda's hit games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, at one point DID have plans for multiplayer. Here's just a couple of reasons why not getting multiplayer in yet another Bethesda title is a mistake.

1) Multiplayer is a staple, and an industry standard
By now, if your game doesn't feature some kind of online connectivity you've already made a huge mistake. Games are justified based on their value and all the value is held in fluid, ever-changing online experiences. Playing alone has no value to today's gamers. We have evolved past the basic living room single-player days. Today's gamers DEMAND the ability to explore the wasteland with their friends. Solo play is an experience reserved for social outcasts and rejects.
Get outta' gaming, pleeease!

2) It gets boring by yourself eventually 
Ever sat and played through Fallout 3 or Fallout New Vegas and thought to yourself "wow, this would certainly be much better with some type of co-op experience." Well you're not alone! Many gamers, if not all gamers who played these games definitely dreamt of having a multiplayer experience in the Fallout universe. Unfortunately, this dream has yet again been squandered by the creative minds over at Bethesda. What are they thinking?

What are your thoughts on this atrocity? Do you think this decision is okay?

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Here's Why You Shouldn't Buy Retro Games from GameStop.com

So when I first heard GameStop was doing this I was not sold on the idea. Now that it is being fully implemented the flaws with it are starting to surface. As a collector I was of course interested in seeing some of these older titles potentially become more readily available. But alas, that is not going to be the case. So here are some reasons why you really should not buy your retro games from GameStop.

1) The prices aren't exactly... great
Some of the prices on these games seem reasonable, and to many even astonishing if they have not been a part of the retro market space in recent years. However, they are sometimes double the price of where they are available elsewhere, like eBay as AlphaOmegaSin pointed out. His video is worth watching.

2) It's a complete gamble
Now some of you may ask why I even say this. Well, it's largely due to the fact that GameStop will take in pretty much anything as long as it plays, regardless of condition. And if you're already thinking like I am that means LOOSE games. For disc based games this is incredibly unappealing to most people, and certainly not worth the amount that GameStop is asking.

Are you paying $70 for a loose CD? Highly likely.

If you're fine gambling on quality and potentially receiving loose discs for full complete retail price, don't complain. But realistically, it would be better to simply download the games digitally at that point for most people. It's far cheaper and loose discs are hardly collectible to most.

3) Potential label damage on carts
It's not just the fact the discs are likely going to be lacking boxes, but carts may also see signs of severe wear and tear you won't know about until you receive the game. Sun damage, water damage, half ripped off stickers, old stickers/goo, etc don't make for a pleasing experience.

So who is this for?
Well... it's certainly not for collectors. If anything it's to rip off gamers who have forgotten retro as it has fallen out of the mainstream brick and mortar store spotlight. Don't fall for the trap, buy your games elsewhere.

The bottom line is... you shouldn't buy what you can't see!
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[VGA] News Site - The Revival

As of today, June 22, 2015 the news site is getting an overhaul and revisit. Two days ago the group just celebrated its 2nd Anniversary, and in order to get the group more active again things are going to start changing in a big way. We will be looking for active contributors looking to write on just about anything gaming related from retro to current, be it opinion pieces, news articles or reviews.

I'm happy to be able to say that the blog is going to be back and better than ever. Rejoice! Or don't, if you're not excited.

Thanks for your participation!

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