Keiko

I'm currently having some trouble rendering the image. I'll still try to get an image up here befre class, but in the event that I can't fix the problem, here's a screenshot...

Sonic Is Back!!! In 3D!!!

Sonic the Hedgehog is back for the Play Station 3. This new site dedicated to the new PS3 game goes all out to provide nice graphics as well as a smooth interface - and music. The new story: During the Soleanna Sun Festival, Dr. Eggman's (what happened to Dr. Robotnik?) minions abduct Princess Elise. (Since when are princesses involved?) Sonic also has a new hedgehog foe: Silver. Silver is from the future and has telekinetic powers. He believes that Sonic will destroy his planet and is traveling into the past to stop Sonic.

There are now ten main characters involved in the plot of this new game. I don't know if this means that people can play all ten characters, or if they just play significant roles within the game. The game's graphics have took a turn in a different direction, and no longer have the familiar 2D world that we've come to know and love. It's hard to tell exactly what the game is like, but it doesn't appear to have the same sort of linear world that Sonic would run through, and now includes things like eagles that carry sonic from one platform to another. Sega has been sure to include plenty of videos to show off the new technological advances Sonic has undergone.

There seems to be a conflict between Sonic and the world he fights in. Sonic appears almost plastic while the world has a more realistic look.

As of now, my idea is to build a Cathedral as a follow-up to my midterm project. I'm worried that I won't be able to model it due to my own skills with the program. I know it's physically possible because I saw the link that Andy sent me, but I don't know how well I'll be able to use the program for my own needs. At the very least, I'm going to make attempts and show my methods.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance.

On December 8, the game Marvel Ultimate Alliance, will be released on the Nintendo Wii. Embracing the capabilities of the Wii's controller system, the game allows players to act out the actions of the characters to control them.
Images.

The game allows up to four players, and will feature many different heroes which each have their own powers, which specific gestures that will activate them.

I've heard that the Wii will also have standard controls, and I can't help but wonder if this type of game will play as smoothly on regular controls. Some people might not have the space or courage to go all out by performing the motions, but those people should still be able to play with all the same capabilities as those with the Wiimote.

I found the video footage of the game amusing.

Taken from Game Spot News.

Games often have their own terms for different weapons, monsters, maps, equipment, or items. This allows the game to be unique and have its own lingo. People can joke amongst each other using terms specific to the game, and only those who play the game can really understand what's being said. People new to games often have to get used to the game lingo either by piecing the puzzle together themselves, or by risking their pride and asking a fellow player what the term means.

Blizzard Entertainment is making gaming even more accessible to all people by creating their own World of Warcraft Encyclopedia. This encyclopedia allows newcomers to the game to get adjusted more easily instead of forcing players to discover the meaning behind certain terms for themselves. However, I'm sure there are probably abbreviations withing these terms that players have created for themselves.

Guides similar to Blizzard's encyclopedia have already been created, although they cannot officially be linked to Blizzard's site. Avid fans of the game who wish to help out lost new souls have created these kinds of guides either out of an abundance of free time, or because they know what it's like to be a new person to a game, or maybe both. This personal page includes game slang, specific to World of Warcraft, and (for some) might actually be more helpful than Blizzard's encyclopedia. It even includes the term 1337!

vs

My Indigo Prophecy article.

Midterm Image

In the past, Def Jam Records and Electronic Arts have collaborated to release games. In March of 2007, they plan to release their third collaborative effort called Def Jam: Icon. This game features various artists who are currently signed to Def Jam as well as realistic settings for music video shoots. While some artists, such as Ludacris, have been announced to make appearances in the game, the other artists who will appear are unknown.

Def Jam: Icon will allow players to fight by using various buttons on the controllers. These buttons will control punches and kicks, and players receive bonuses for executing combos. Like, many fighting games, this game also allows players to throw one another. Music plays a large role in this game, allowing players to listen to the game music rather than turning on a stereo for background noise. The scenes in the game emphasize this musical aspect by pulsating and moving to the beat of the tunes.

By scanning the artists' faces with lasers, the character resemblance to the actual artists is striking and, combined with the graphics, creates a very realistic and engaging game. However, I can't help but wonder what significance Def Jam really brings to this game. Aside from the fact that the music and artists are those featured by Def Jam, there isn't anything here that couldn't be produced without Def Jam's aid. This game appears to be another Tekken-esque game. The musical aspect does appear interesting, but the only part it seems to play is giving players a soundtrack rather than integrating it into the gameplay. Regardless, I am curious as to how this game really engages the player and look forward to its release.

Def Jam: Icon article
Def Jam: Icon video

Image from Def Jam Icon

The first thing I noticed with the website is that there were no examples of game play. Although the site talks a lot about what the game is meant to do, it never really displays what this game is like. Images would have helped me to understand what kind of game this is. At this point, I'm unsure if this is a game based on text, or if it actually has graphical images.

In the article we read, Chris Crawford talks about how some similar storytelling games lack drama and options for the player, but there are certain limitations that must be laid down because the game can only store so much information. Whatever is programmed into the game is all that the player has as far as options. With games, naturally, if it hasn't been programmed into the game, you can't do it.

Lastly, if the game must be "programmed" or created by the player, then it's really more like "create your own story" rather than adding your own twists and changes to an existing story, as he states on the site. The site asks, "ave you ever wanted to try to jump right into a story and speak to the people in it? Have you thought about playing the protagonist, letting your feelings and imagination steer the story in new, creative directions?" But by giving the story so much fexibility, the person is, in essence, creating their own story rather than meeting the characters of an existing story or changing the outcome of the story. It almost sounds as though the game is more like work (creating a game for yourself) rather than playing along in a game.