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Archive for the ‘Video Games’ Category

What Comes Next?

Posted in Articles, Video Games, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »

So we’ve seen what Nintendo intends to bring to the next generation. The WiiU is comprised of a console and a tablet-like controller that allows you far more immersion into the gaming world than we’ve had originally, but that’s always been Nintendo’s survival tool. They strayed away from the normal controller based gameplay in favor of something motion based, giving the player essentially free reign to a degree on what they did in a game. Slashing the air ended up cutting down an enemy in game, and multiple other actions did other things not to mention the variety of mini games made endlessly fun (I.E. Mario Party). My question concerning that is, “what comes next?”. While we can easily look at Nintendo, who have already spoiled their next gen console for the masses and say, “That was obviously the next step in their evolution.”, is it really all that simple? Sure enough we’re all pretty bias considering we already know what they’re bringing to the party, but I can’t say that I would have said that a few months ago when speculation was still the norm. (more…)

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The World Ends With You iOS Port

Posted in Articles, Video Games, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 29, 2012| 2 Comments »

So…one of my favorite games has just been released for the iPhone. The World Ends With You is an immersing and wonderful game developed by the minds over at Square Enix. Focusing on Neku Sakuraba and a mysterious set of circumstances, you’re guided through a world of intrigue and puzzles and monsters that only SquEnix could deliver. A direct port of the popular DS game, TWEWY has finally come to the iOS in fully retrofitted glory. Considering my loss of the original DS game cartridge for TWEWY, this was naturally a step in the right direction as it didn’t require me to lug around my huge original handheld in order to play. Anyway, I hope you guys take the time to check it out and lemme know what you think, but beware that this game is ridiculously steep at 17.99$ for an app. The price may turn you off, but also keep in mind that you’re getting a FULL DS game essentially.

Source: TWEWY iOS Port

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Prepping For Borderlands 2 and a Media Consolidation

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , , , , on August 28, 2012| 2 Comments »

I’ve never been more excited for a game than the upcoming sequel to 2009’s runaway hit Borderlands.  Combining RPG and FPS shooter elements to a quirky styled game made an excellent stew of a game.  Leveling up and variety of guns made the staying power and the mayhem of fire fights made the fun.  Despite owning the game for a couple of months now, I’ve made it a goal to finish the first one by killing Crawmerax the Invincible before the September 18th release date.  As we wait though, the developers Gearbox Software has been slowly trickling out information to satiate the rabid fanbase.  And it looks like it won’t disappoint.  By giving the game a better story, varied environments, and face to the villain, all the main problems seem to be already have fixed.  And by adding even more guns, crazier enemies, and new classes, we might be looking at Game of the Year right here.  I’ve consolidated a lot of the media Gearbox has released in this post, be sure to check it all out.

All art comes from MentalMars’s Deviant Art Page, be sure to check it out!

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Two Best Friends is a Video Game Web Series Worth Watching

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , on August 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

2 Best Friends is a web series created by Machinima that features 2 hardcore gamers as they live commentary new games.  Even though anyone can get drunk and play a video game, but these guys are actually pretty witty.  There’s a combination of light racism, plot hole points, and even legitimate gameplay mechanics.  Whether the game is awful or awesome, they’ll probably be there making fun of it.  I’ve included some of my favorite videos.  They’re pretty long, but there’s certainly some creative one-liners in each.  I recommend you check out their Youtube channel and find some of your favorite games they’ve critiqued.  You’ll definitely be entertained.

 

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Morning Link: Ouya, The Future of Console Gaming

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on August 27, 2012| 1 Comment »

Today’s Morning Link(s) is wickedly exciting because it is about one of the coolest sites on the interweb and how it funded one of the coolest gaming projects of the year. The site is Kickstarter and the treasure is the Ouya. If you are familiar with both of these beauties I still encourage you to comment and bond with me in manic excitement. If you are unfamiliar with Kickstarter it is a crowd funding website dedicated to creative projects. Anyone with a creative idea can submit a video and receive funding from the Kickstarter community to make their dream a reality. If you are interested in Kickstarter get your artistic/innovative/favorite pants on and  start browsing!

The second and more seductive half of today’s Morning Link is the Ouya. The Ouya is an upcoming video game console due in early 2013 that runs on the open source Android platform, starts at $99, and requires every game to offer some kind of  free-to-play option. The Ouya was Kickstarter’s fastest project to reach the one million dollar donated mark and finished at a grand total of $8,596,475. The Ouya represents everything that the console gaming world has been missing; portability, affordability, and ease of game development. I’m going to cut myself off now because when I talk about the Ouya too much my face starts to melt. Please check out the Ouya Kickstarter campaign that made it all possible here and the official site here.

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Planetary Annihilation!

Posted in Articles, Video Games, tagged , , , , on August 24, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Oh wow does this look REALLY cool. While the video I’ve shown you is just a visualization and a little bit of an overview of this game, I hope that you all will take the time to at least check out their kickstarter campaign to get this show on the road. While I’m not openly advertising this company and kickstarters as a whole put me on edge, I wouldn’t mind just helping them along by linking to it down below. While I most likely won’t be getting the game and playing it for days on end like I have with previous titles, the idea alone sparked enough of an interest in me to at least support it on some level. It looks like an RTS style game in which you can control an entire solar system by building more and more. In contrast to most RTS style games where your maps consist of a single city or barren wasteland, this game will have you on edge trying to compete for multiple bodies in space for resources and control. If that in itself doesn’t interest you in the slightest then at least it’s a really cool video to watch.

Kickstarter: Planetary Annihilation

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Where Do We Draw The Line?

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , on August 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »

So as many of you have already heard, publishing giant EA has sued infamous game thief Zynga over a blatant copy of their sims series of games. While I’m all for giving the bad guy what’s due to them, I can’t help but wonder of anything can be done at all to stem the idea thieving that has been going on for some time now. I actually wonder if anything would have been done at all had EA not stepped up to the plate and started this lawsuit. Further along in this article I’ll somewhat give a rant about what I feel concerning this entire debacle, and hopefully you all can shed some light as to whether or not this should have happened in the first place. (more…)

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Remember Me

Posted in Articles, Video Games, tagged , , on August 22, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Wow…just wow. This concept is something that I recall seeing a while ago, but just seeing this game makes me feel like we’re definitely expanding beyond the normal hack and slash or first person shooter games. A lot of upcoming AAA titles have definitely piqued my interest, Watch Dogs and Remember Me included. There is a gameplay preview from Gamescom that shows just why I find this game so interesting. With the ability to rearrange and change aspects of your target’s memory, this game has definitely caught my eye as something I haven’t seen before. If it isn’t new, then forgive me for being so giddy, this is just the first game I’ve seen that’s done so well with it. As I remember hearing someone say, it feels like a mix between Mirror’s Edge and Assassin’s Creed. Anyway, check out the videos I’ve linked above and enjoy!

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10 Popular Gaming Memes

Posted in Lists, Video Games, tagged , , , , , on August 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Ever heard the phrase, ‘Do a Barrel Roll’ or ‘Finish Him’?  If you’re not familiar with game culture and are interested, than this is the video for you.  What we have here is a surprisingly information-filled story about the history of gaming memes.  Included, you’ll hear “All Your Base Belong to Us”, “Fail”, etc.  It’s surprising how Fail came from gaming culture when everyone, including non-gaming people, now incorporate this into every day life.  Check out the video above.

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Half Life 3 for Gamescom? Probably Not, But Hopefully!

Posted in Articles, Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on August 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Many gamers should rejoice! According to this article, Half Life 3, the much awaited sequel and possibly ending to the Half Life series, will be announced during Gamescom. I’m a little skeptical as to this notification, however, and will take it with a grain of salt. Multiple Valve employees have already stated via twitter that there won’t be any games shown this year, but who knows with them? I have included a secondary article that explains the debunking behind the myth, and is more than likely correct. On the off chance that it is spoiled this year ’round, I will be incredibly delighted. Though I myself am not a fan of the Half Life series, I do know the amount of fandom and size of its community. Something like this also means that Valve (or just Gabe) knows how to count to three (I joke.). Hopefully it’ll be as good as the community wants, and won’t end up like another Duke Nukem. Hopefully…

Source: HL3?

Speculation: Debunking Speculation

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I, Geth

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on August 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

This is a pretty cool wallpaper that features the enemies of Commander Shepherd from the Mass Effect universe.  It looks like a mass produced assembly line of Geth robots.  In this assembly, there seems to be one Geth who is a little bit more curious than the others.  Is it Legion?  We vs. I?  Totally reminds me of Will Smith’s i, Robot and Sonny.

I wanna watch that movie again.  Why doesn’t Will Smith make movies anymore?  He’s too busy making movies for his kids…

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Phantasy Star Online 2 Gets an English Port!

Posted in Articles, Video Games, tagged , , , , , on August 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Alright, while normally the Thursday article would be filled with gaming knowledge to be bestowed upon you in the form of reviews and other fancy articles, I decided that this week would be dedicated to Phantasy Star Online II. I’m making this very special exception in light of the fact that the original Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 and 2 were my most played and favorite games of all time. I’ll just take the time to put up a preview from what I’ve been able to play using an English codex on the Japanese version. I will not give links just in case that stuff isn’t allowed and I break some of the rules…but rest assured the wait will be worth it. (more…)

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Avengers as Pokemon

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 15, 2012| 1 Comment »

Talented artist FerioWind combined two favorite pop culture worlds: Marvel and Pokemon.  In each of these pictures, Avengers major players have been paired with fitting Pokemon.  Thor and his electrics, Loki and his dark types, etc. etc. I particularly like the irony of Hulk’s Pokemon being the cuddliest.  I suppose it calms him.  I am a generation 1 + 2 man, so some of these don’t register with me, but combining Hawkeye and Pidgeot was a good call.  Below I’ve compiled all their individual profiles with the addition of Agent Phil and others!

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Amazing Portal Concept Art

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on August 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

Superstar artist Andrea Tamme drew some amazing concept looking Portal art featuring a sensual moment between Chell and Glados.  It’s a neat photo, having it set in debris which I can only imagine is Aperture Science.  I wonder what they’re talking about.  I’m assuming this is pleasant conversation, so the subjects of lying cake, obesity, and loveless parents aren’t on the table.  Maybe they’re talking about that time when Chell turned Glados into a potato.  Surely Glados has a sense of humor…well maybe not when she’s the victim.

Regardless, check out this photo and many other photos at Andrea Tamme’s deviant art page!

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Pro Gamers versus Athletes: Blurring the Line?

Posted in Articles, Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on August 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Alright folks, this week’s major article concerns eSports and the future of gaming as a profession. In this nifty CNN article below, we talk about pro gaming with a focus in Starcraft 2. The article (and its predecessors) follow the story of both MKP and MVP from what I remember in the earlier articles, and mostly discuss addiction and how eSports shouldn’t be considered sports. From the growing eSports scene and my own personal viewpoints, I’ve decided that this is a topic worth discussing in general with the fan base here on Banana Scoop, or at least the video game fan base here on Banana Scoop. Anyway, hopefully you’ll check out my little blurb about this below and consider what I have to say. (more…)

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Mass Effect Movie?!

Posted in Articles, Movies, Video Games, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Not sure how to feel about this, folks. News has it that Legendary Pictures has taken the rights to make a Mass Effect movie. While I haven’t seen anything concrete, we all know the curse about video games being turned into movies. I’m hoping they won’t just butcher everything I know and love (Tali, stay safe!). While normally I’d be somewhat more enthusiastic about the concept, I just feel that the need to create a movie based on a game that more or less plays out like a movie is overkill. We get the cinema experience in every rendered cutscene. I guess I could wait before deeming it a total flop though. We’ll have to see how it goes.

Source: Mass Effect Movie!

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Creepers are Misunderstood Creatures

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on July 31, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

Without a doubt, in my experience, one of video game’s most fearsome enemy, the Creeper, may simply be misunderstood.  The motive behind any animal force essentially sacrificing itself for a chance at killing you is definitely worth looking into.  From my understanding, zombies want to eat you guts, spiders want to eat your guts, and skeleton warriors may also wanna eat your guts.  But the motive behind this creature who kills you for no known benefit is a tougher cookie to crack.  There have been images where they claim Creepers as the protectors of the lands who take out punks who are digging holes, cutting trees, and slaughtering wild life like you out.  They’re possibly defending the land and their own children from you.  Maybe you’re the video game industry’s biggest enemy.  As a being you’ve killed probably millions of fictional characters, so maybe you’re the one that’s a monster and not this cuddly green…thing.

Anywho, below are two more adorable images of Creepers.  Thanks to Deviant Artists everywhere for their imaginative renditions.

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Game of Thrones RPG, Season 2

Posted in Television, Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on July 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »

This website is no stranger to awesome Game of Thrones parodies.  This is a video that is a sequel to a popular video from College Humor that rendered Game of Thrones season 1 into a 8-bit RPG game.  I had posted the video before and can be rewatched at the bottom of this page.  Like the first video, it makes fun of some of the absurdities of the season but drives in some rather good point in terms of what should’ve been represented versus what was.  You’ll have to watch to see for yourself, but there are some NSFW stuff, so be careful.

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Minecraft: The New Age Settler

Posted in Reviews, Video Games, tagged , , , , , , on July 27, 2012| 1 Comment »

The settlers must’ve had tough time settling on any land.  We’re all read about it in the history books.  You come with essentially nothing but your own hands, and you’re expected to create a profitable civilization in which you culture growth, safety, and prosperity.  There are many video games like that, where you build from the ground up.  Many of those being similar to Farmville or Tiny Tower types.  The type where you have nothing and then through many hours of tapping and harvesting, you create a somewhat sustainable living ground which you can then decorate and personalize.  Queue Minecraft.

Minecraft is a survival/creation game where you essentially start as a settler in an unknown, untamed land.  There you must build a fortress to protect yourself from the hazard of the wildlife.  Cut trees, dig holes, forge tools, do whatever it takes to survive.  In the process, you create a home for yourself in which you grow crops, mine jewels and ores, and live as prosperously as your own merit and skill can take you.  Below is a review on this addicting game that despite it’s simple design and objective, gives me one of the most pleasurable, emotional, heartbreaking, and back-neck-hair raising experiences I’ve ever had in a game.

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Amnesia: The Dark Descent Review

Posted in Video Games, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »

So this has been a long time coming, but I never really mustered up the courage to play Amnesia until quite recently. It had been installed on my computer for a few months until I finally said “I can do this.” and just manned up. Anyway, I won’t really cover gameplay and the like since there isn’t much to talk about. I may gloss over it at some point to explain to the general public what this game is all about. For now, however, I’ll just cover the atmospheric and graphical content of this masterpiece of thriller/horror games. Without further ado, below is my review of Amnesia. (more…)

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