The occasional ranting of a disgruntled PC gamer

• 15Aug 08

  List of Playstation 2 games I intent to play

  I am the semi-proud owner of a used PS2 for quite some time now, and although I still consider myself to be a PC gamer, I've decided I should spend some quality time with my first console.

  Since I bought the console from a good friend, he was kind enough to include all of his PS2 games with it, leaving me with quite a large pile. And so I sat down and made a list of all the games I've decided to keep and eventually play.

  So without further ado I present "My Playstation games I intent to play list" - in order:

  Manhunt 2 - I won this game in a contest held on the "Serious Collectors" union.
  Blood Will Tell - never heard anything about this game, but decided to give i a try.
  Rule of Rose - a survival horror title I've been itching to try.
  Resident Evil Code: Veronica X - I believe this game needs no introduction.
  Fatal Frame - another survival horror title.
  Ratchet & Clank - a little comical break from all this horror.
  RLH - a survival horror title I know nothing about.
  Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - again, no introduction needed.
  Siren - the original game of course, not the PS3 remake.
  Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening - my friend highly recommend this one.
  Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly - the sequel to Fatal Frame, obviously.
  Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven - all I know is that is a stealth ninja game.
  Haunting Ground - yet another survival horror game.

  The final two games are on the list just as backup games, in case I need a break from the game I'm currently playing:

  Call of Duty 3 - Lacking a PC version, I have no choice but to play it on the PS2.
  Kingdom Hearts II - never played the first one, and I'm not going to. the only reason it is even on the list is that my friend insisted that I play this game.

  These, of course are not all the PS2 games I got, but some I've already played, and some I got rid of because they were either broken or lousy.

  I would really like to hear your opinion on the list and the games (especially those I know nothing about). If you think I should change the order of the list, please tell me why. Comments would be appreciated.

  • Posted Aug 15, 2008 5:48 am GMT
  • Category: Games
  • 13 Comments
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• 11Aug 08

  Nintendo is destroying the video-game industry

  After witnessing the shameful display of both Microsoft and Nintendo on E3, I realized a sad fact: Nintendo, a once proud developer of enjoyable and accessible games, is now slowly destroying the video-game industry from within.

  My reasons to believe such a fact is true are various, so let me count the three main ones:

  • During their Press conference, not only did Nintendo never showcased a single product that can be called a video-game, but was able to dumb down so many real life activities (such as playing an instrument) to such a level that even a retarded monkey (not an ape) can master them on the first try - thus lowering video-game standards to, well, an all-time low.

  • Anyone who watched the Microsoft presser must have notice the new, rather odd, direction the company took with their new Xbox design, and new line up of games. While the first part of the presser was filled (maybe filled is a bit strong a word) with "hardcore"* games such as RE5, Gears 2 and Fallout 3, the second part was demeaning, too say the least. It is pretty obvious that Microsoft are trying to get a slice of the "Casual Gaming" Phenomenon, made popular mostly thanks to Nintendo's Wii, by developing (or at least publishing) an array of silly, unoriginal casual games, no doubt on the expanse of other, more serious games.

  • Looking at the Wii's line-up of games, it becomes pretty obvious that until now, with the exception of a few recycled versions of existing franchises, Nintendo is content with neglecting its heavier fan base in favor of attracting more and more casual gamers into its customer circle. While spelling good news for Nintendo's financial future, this in fact will probably cause the company (and probably other gaming companies as well) to abandon the development of "hardcore" games and in favor of capitalizing on this new market of "casual" gamers.

  Basically, what I'm trying to say, and I'm probably not the first one, is that this path taken by Nintendo will have destructive effects and will change the industry as we know it. Some will argue and say that the industry's condition was never better, and I'll sadly have to agree: sells are up, more and more games are being produced, and the gaming community keeps expending. Unfortunately, while all of this is true, I predict a grim future for the industry, if things will keep going the way they are. The developing of hardcore games will be reduced and the "Casual Gaming" Phenomenon will eventually take over the market. For those how think I'm being over-dramatic and a pessimistic - just look at the movie industry: turned from a form of art into a mess-produced, low-brow mindless entertainment.

  I say this not only as a disgruntled PC gamer who has an in-born revulsion of gaming consoles, but as a life-long gamer who sees his favorite pass-time activity being dumb down and corrupted for the sake of expending the clientele and sucking the industry dry of anything creative and remotely original.

  
  * Only used for lack of a better word. I dislike using this term when referring to video games.

  • Posted Aug 11, 2008 1:23 pm GMT
  • Category: Editorial
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