Meditations on Realism

As I see it, there are two distinct camps in relation to realism: those who (above all else) wish for realism and those who prefer a more fantastical (where realism is not as great a concern) experience. We run into people in the other camp nearly every day. In fact, our office has been notoriously split when it comes to taste (and this is what it comes down to mind you). Zach Felling has always been a fan of sports titles, particularly the Madden series. He gains pleasure from pitting complex defensive strategies against well-planned offensive plays… by taking on the persona of a multimillion-dollar free safety or replaying World Series games while throwing a perfect game. I on the other hand, have always been more inclined towards garnering my entertainment from otherworldly scenarios. Our web designer is in my camp, preferring the ability to rip off the head of a medusa than throw a football, but that is neither here nor there.

PAX 2010: In(die)credible! The Best New Games You Haven't Played

Curious about the Indie Games community? Wondering which upcoming titles have developers talking? Looking for something different? Then go play "Don't Shit Your Pants"! Or better yet, come to our talk! Our mile-a-minute panel will highlight the new, the innovative and the exciting; games that inspired our work, recent releases we can't stop playing, and upcoming projects we're dying to get our hands on. From elegant experiences to mind-bending mechanics to hilarious premises, we'll showcase some of the best and brightest games that Indie Games has to offer in 2010... and beyond!

PAX 2010: Guild Wars 2 Impression

Going into PAX, there was no game I was looking forward to more than Guild Wars 2. So when I was able to schedule an interview with a Guild Wars 2 developer, I was very excited. Being a huge fan of the series, I was very prepared for this interview hoping to get all the information I could.

PAX 2010: GameTrailers.com Presents: Hello Fellow Babies! – Pach-Attack! LIVE

The only things I had heard about Michael Pachter, host of GameTrailers.com Presents: Hello Fellow Babies! Pach-Attack! LIVE, were bad. Comments such as “He’s a horrible person” “He cares only about money” and “Activision pays him to charge us more money” are littered throughout forums and game sites to try and form an evil image of Mr. Pachter. Although I do not agree with most of his views and predictions, I now feel I have a better idea of why he does it.

New PES 2011 Video - Master League Online Mode

We have uploaded a video of PES 2011 Producer Shingo ‘Seabass’ Takatsuka explaining how the new addition of master league online mode works, detailing the basic mechanics such as player transfers, etc, and how the player can compete against their peers. Seabass also uses the video to introduce a number of other advances to the new game, such as the Stadium Edit.

Konami will be announcing more about PES 2011 at Gamescom.

-JB

Looking Forward

Many games are coming out this year. So many, that we will be hard pressed to cover all of them. That is where you come into play. Is there a game you want to see us review or walkthrough? If you do, post right here on the blog and you may just see that game covered.

This includes all games, small or big. So tell us what you think!

~Dew

Reflections on E3

The chairs have been stacked up, the lights shut off, and the doors locked, yet a residual energy still charges the air. E3 is a fairytale world where we catch but a glimpse of the future and are teased with every tantalizing wonder on display. E3 is to gamers as the fountain of youth was to Ponce de Leon… as The Ark of the Covenant was to Indiana Jones. So, it stands to reason that we have been fairly distracted of late by this spectacle, if not completely blinded by the promised media to come.

Our impressions of the expo have been profoundly positive - there is truly too much on which to comment. We squealed like girls asked to their first dance during the Nintendo press conference, which we feel was the best of the three major conferences; it was filled with a slew of enticing diversions. I was exceedingly tickled by the idea of returning to Hyrule to rescue Zelda once again with Skyward Sword. Reminiscent of The Wind Waker, the graphics of Skyward Sword capture the childlike whimsy for which the series is known… I hope the stylized plumes of smoke make a glorious return whenever bodies of fallen adversaries vanish or bombs explode. If the controls are tight, this promises to be a wonderful experience.

If I were to point out one other title of extreme interest, I would be remissed if I did not mention Portal 2. If for some bizarre reason you have not played the first title, it is free to download using Steam and is contained in the Orange Box (for a nominal fee). I must admit that I’ve played though Portal at least seven times. There is nothing to criticize about the title. The controls are ideal, the puzzles are intuitive yet (at times) challenging, the writing if fantastic, and the closing track (Still Alive) is one of the most beloved ending songs. Knowing Valve, Portal 2 will be as well designed, equally well written, and as fantastic. In fact, if I took anything out of the demo videos, it would seem that timing and portal placement have become even more important than the first installment in the series. I cannot wait to enter the world of Aperture Science to test my metal against GLaDOS once more.

I cannot but apologize. Although we would love to continue prognosticating about the highlights of unreleased games that remain rumors beyond the horizon, we are heading right back to work. Videos will be uploaded shortly and a comic is in the works. The chairs are stacked, the lights are off, and the doors are locked for the Electronic Entertainment Expo... back to business as usual for The Media Cows.

- Ben