Adventure!!!!!

Boy howdy, have I had an adventure. I just finished up the most radical, encouraging, refreshing vacation of my life and I feel like I can take on the world. It's been an absolute blast seeing family, and seeing some some off. Changes have to happen in order to move forward, and I think that changes are coming my way, and I'm the one to make them happen.

The dream is to be a writer for a wide spread video game publication, and I think I got all the encouragement that I needed, and now, more than ever, is the time to move things in the direction that I want them to go. I've been struggling with depression and various sorts of the blues, but the truth be told, I was the one who put myself into those corners. Video games have helped me through a lot of it, and even connect with a lot of different people, yet video games aren't the thing that are going to get me anywhere. It has to be me. I have to push the start button to get this adventure going.

The same goes for you. I'm sure you're in a similar position. I'm scared to death of the real world, which is why I choose to spend my time in one that doesn't exist. Though, the reality is, that it's not all that bad, and though the world may tell me otherwise, I can get things done. I can accomplish things, and so can you. With determination, and focus, and casting off your fears and doubts, you will be able to overcome. I'm telling this to you as much as much as I'm telling this to myself.

Here I sit at the airport waiting for my plane to board, waiting to get back to the frozen wasteland that I call home, and I'm ready to get stuff done. I've got a few plans laid out before me, and there's no reason to not try at least one of them. So, wish me luck and keep the good vibes coming, all your love and support really helps me through.

I put my heart and soul into this blog, and though it might be riddled with minor grammatical errors, I still give it my all. Thank you everyone.

By the way, have I told you about my Let's play videos? No? Well that's rather silly of me. I'm playing Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Here's the first video, it's not all that good, but they get better I promise!

The Paradox of the Horror Genre

I do not like scary things. I like spooky things, and I kinda like creepy things. Like the Tear Drinkers from Brutal Legend, but I do not like things that are genuinely scary. Like the game Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Which, I own for some reason. I have been playing said game for the past few weeks, and I've had a ball with it. It is so much fun to be scared out of my wits, and be able to press onward after an ordeal has occured. The difference between seeing a horror movie, and playing a horror game is this: control. When you go to see a movie, there is nothing that you as the audience can do. You can squirm, you can yell, but you hold no factor in how the story plays out. When you play a horror game, you control the character, and how the scene plays out. The story doesn't change, but it was by your skill that you survived and lived to tell the tale. I haven't beaten Amnesia yet, so no spoilers. I just want to talk about what I have ascertained about the genre from playing Amnesia.

When I play the game Amnesia, I hate it. I hate the dark, I hate the scary things, I hate the sounds that are coming from nowhere. I hate it. I dread every second that I take control of the game, and I' miserable. Yet, when I put the game down, and talk about it with other people, I sing its praises. That doesn't make any sense. Though, it does somehow. The game throws all sorts of terrible things at you, as the player, and you have to overcome them. You have to get away, avoid them, and survive. Survival becomes your primary objective, and it is all that matters. Who cares about the story when there is a man eating monster that is just on the other side of the wall? Then there is the payoff of actually making it out of that horrible ordeal, and being able to catch your breath. Survival has never tasted so sweet. I've survived some pretty intense uphill battles in Halo, or Call of Duty, though I never felt threatened. Those firefights were all about strategy, and when to move where, and who to take out next. In Amnesia, your sensibility is lost to fear. You're thrown into a state of shock that you have to fight your way out of because you must live. You have to survive, you can't let this terrible monster win. SO you fight off the fear, and you run for your life. You run, you hide, and you do everything that is within your power as Daniel to get away and live to fight another day. That's how it goes, isn't it? That's the rush. That's where all the excitement comes from. It is this rollercoaster of  emotions that goes from dread, to joy in a matter of seconds. It's incredible.

That's the paradox of the horror genre to me. I hate playing the game, but I love the excitement that comes after surviving. Amnesia is certainly one game that is a must play, even if you're like me and you don't even like the horror genre. Face your fears, and have fun doing it.

Gameplay is a Vehicle

Gameplay is an important part of a video game. In fact, it's what makes a video game, well, a video game. Without it, we just have a movie. In most cases, the focus of a game is on its gameplay and mechanics. In others, it's a way to progress the story with elements of interactivity. Gameplay is the vehicle in how the medium moves along, while the game's layout and story is the track.

A while back I was playing Final Fantasy X in an effort to work through my backlog of video games. I can't say that I've picked up the game for a while. However, it got me thinking about the mechanics of the battle system, and how it differed from my other experiences with other Final Fantasy games. FF X uses a turn based battle system, that also changes with the actions that the player takes. For instance, a standard attack will keep the order of battle. However, if I decide to use an item, use an ability, or cast a healing spell, the order is changed. This allows me to strategize, and puts more weight on the decisions that I make in battle. Though, admittedly, I was playing Final Fantasy X for its story, as opposed to its gameplay. While the battle system is solid, it's nothing all to special. Granted, it's a majority of the game, but it's more of a means than a focal point. Final Fantasy games, and other RPGs, are primarily all about the story that they want to tell. However, gameplay is still important. Gameplay is the reason I haven't invested as much time into other Final Fantasy games. I find that the ATB system isn't functional, nor conducive to carrying the game. There's nothing wrong with a turn based battle system. Pokemon proves this with every game. Turn based is safe, and reliable. Like a mini van.

That being said, other games have an immense focus on their gameplay, such as fighters, platformers, shooters, and the like. These games spend a long time in development having their mechanics worked on. Having them be refined to the highest end. To make the controls tight and responsive. Super Meat Boy is a good example of this. In SMB, the player has full control over the character, yet is sent against nearly impossible obstacles. These boards are extremely difficult, but can be overcome with skill and patience. It's all possible within the confines of the games mechanics. Like a driver trying to shave off seconds to get a better time each lap, or to move up to the next position on his conquest for first place. Games that focus on their gameplay are like sports cars. Their fast, responsive, and extremely dangerous because you'll end up dying a lot. Though, when you've mastered it, you come off looking like a badass because you can swerve around corners and maintain control every inch of the way. Games with gameplay are its primary function are like a Lamborghini.

Some games don't necessarily have a set track. They allow the player to go anywhere, and do anything that they want to. These games can go off the beaten path, and go mudding, get dirty, and have fun doing whatever catches their fancy. Skyrim is one of those games. Skyrim allows players to go wherever, and do whatever they please. If they wish to become a master of the arcane arts, then they can do so. If a player wants to become a master of the sword, wearing heavy armor, and carrying a shield to plow through enemies because stealth is for the weak, then they can do so. If the player wants to be a deadly shadow that takes out his enemies from a distance, or slit throats, then they may do so. If the player wants to become a werewolf; and the list goes on. Other games like Just Cause 2, let the player go wherever they want, and blow up anything they want. These game can allow for total exploration, for both on and off road. These games are like a Hummer.

Some games try and do something different. Some games experiment. They've still got four wheels and an engine, but there's something... different about them. They don't obey what is traditionally considered a game, they do things differently because they understand that games can do more. The Walking Dead video game by Tell Tale Games tells an emotional story, with character, and heart. The game doesn't really have anything of a traditional game. There isn't much action, yet there's a lot of drama. There is gameplay to be sure, but not as we understand it. Games of earlier days were still experimenting with gameplay, and game design. The Dreamcast is home to many of these, including: Ecco The Dolphin, Crazy Taxi, Jet Grind Radio, Space Channel 5, and Shenmue are only a handful of games that broke the mold of what a game is. These kind of games take what we know as a game, and modify it to become something more, something different, something wonderful. These games are kind of like... well, this:

As important as gameplay is for a video game, it's really more of a vehicle. How much fun you have with that vehicle is how well it functions. Game play is absolutely crucial to a game, as it can make or break it. There have been several times that I haven't completed a game because of its broken gameplay, as everything hinges on it. That being said, it isn't everything. If Mass Effect didn't have the story, or universe that it did, it wouldn't be the same game. 

What are some games that you play for just the gameplay, or vice versa? Are there games out there that you couldn't care less how the gameplay and mechanics were so long as you got to experience the story? Let me know in the comments!

Lovely Day for a Stroll

I like the city where I live. It's pretty cool. There are tall buildings, shows to go to, things to do, shops that don't exist anywhere else. I live in a pretty cool town. I occasionally like to go for a walk and explore, but not now. It's too cold outside for that.....

That's why there are video games. I've talked about the escapism of video games, and the places I like to go there, but it isn't very often that video games have places that I want to go to. I'm usually lost in the story, characters, or action to take the time and just roll around. Come with me on a journey, as I talk about the different video games that I just like to walk around in.

Skyrim

I picked up the ultimate edition of Skyrim during the fall sale on Steam. It's kind of silly that I did so, being that I already had it on my 360, but what separates the PC version from its console counterparts is the community driven mods. Mods can shape the game in many different ways, whether it be something silly or game changing. The mods I've downloaded are purely graphical, and make the game even more of a wonder to behold. Skyrim was already a good looking game. I got lost in it for hours, just wandering around, exploring in caves and fighting bandits. Skyrim is one of those games that I can get lost in because there's no real pressure to do anything in particular. Now, every now and then a dragon can just drop in wherever he pleases, and that puts a damper on my musings. However, that's all part of the experience. Skyrim is something of a marvel, because while there is a fast travel function, I don't use it. I just like walking, and taking in the sights and sounds of Skyrim. I don't mind doing nothing in the game. I'm just a tourist as far as I'm concerned.





Assassin's Creed II

AC II is a game that is full of action, character and conspiracy, and a game filled with wonder and immersion. After I beat Assassin's Creed II for the first time, I still wanted to hang around and just do stuff. However, I'm not really good at screwing around, and getting in trouble and causing chaos. So, I decided that I would just wander around Italy. I've always wanted to go to Italy, though, I may not get the chance to ever go there, Assassin's Creed II gave me that chance. The cities that the players visit are full of live. All of the NPCs have their own agendas, and errands to run. They have places to go, and people to see. The architecture of the city is simply marvelous. The towering buildings and the back alleys that wind through the city, and Venice. Oh Venice. Most of my traversal of Venice is on her rooftops, but my goodness what a city to behold. The people that you come across have the most amazing outfits that are intricately detailed, and you can tell by their style of dress what class they hold, and what their profession is. Assassin's Creed is a game where you can just go sight seeing, and relax.





Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto has always been a sandbox for many gamers and a place to just wreak havoc upon the helpless. Though, as I've mentioned, I'm not very good at that sort of thing. One thing I am good at, is driving. GTAV has a massive world that I can explore, and most of it is connected by roads. One of my favorite activities in the game is just to drive along the coastal highway from the southernmost point to the north. It's like a mini road trip. What helps is the absolutely killer song selection that the developers have chosen for the radio stations. My favorite is the hipstertastic Mirror Park Radio, that plays synth pop, and has a pretentious hipster DJ who claims not to be a hipster. When I've had my fill of driving, I take a walk along the beach, or around the city, and gaze up with awe at the skyscrapers that cast shadows that consume the landscape. Dropping eaves isn't very polite, but it's hilarious to listen in on the conversations that people are having. Whether it's one side of a cell phone conversation, or some guy talking to his fellow bro about a girl, San Andreas is full of life. Every area has its own set of rules and cliques that rule it. I recommend GTAV solely based on this facet of the game. One can truly get lost here.





Red Dead Redemption

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love Red Dead Redemption. I love the ability to walk down the streets of Armadillo, or Black Water and say hello to people. I love the sunsets. I love the star filled skies at night. I love roaming around the desert and hunting animals, or picking flowers. I love the eloquence of John Marston. I love the idea of fighting for something that truly matters: family. I love taking down the bad guys on the wanted poster, and cleaning up the land with a bit of wild west justice, and making a tidy sum. My favorite part of the game was towards the end when John Marston is finally allowed to see his family again, and you just run your ranch. It is what Jon had wanted all along and he finally got it. He got an honest life. And I got to experience it, and be around his family. I loved watching John Marston teaching his son how to run the ranch, and how to hunt. It wasn't action oriented, there was no shooting bad guys, or anything like that. I was just living out someone elses life, in a beautiful and detailed world. I love John Marston, and his character. He's one of my favorites. I couldn't find a video that accurately depicts my love for the game and the land that it created, so here's one about the man behind the voice of John Marston.




Those are just a few, I'm sure that there are others. Maybe I'm just a boring person, who enjoys the mundane things in video games about action. Though, I find it's a wonderfully pleasant contrast to what is considered the "norm" in video games. I think that's something to think about next time you play a video game. Take in the world, don't just look at it.