06/21/05

Acording to a recent article on Gamespot, New York Senator Charles E. Schumer is attacking Eidos and their upcoming game titled "25 to Life." The senator Claims that the game encourages "Little Johnny" to kill cops. He is urging New York retailers not to sell the game, and also asking Microsoft and Sony end their licensing agreements with Eidos! Ok I know that senators attacking the Video Game industry is nothing new, and I should be used to this crap. But I mean, come on, HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET? Here are some things to consider:

1. Very few videogames are actually played by "Little Johnny" anymore, and somebody would have to have ABSOLUTELY NO PARENTING SKILLS WHATSOEVER to think that "Little Johnny's" Parents would let him play a game made for adults.

2. The game is not focused on killing cops, It is merely an online cops and robers game in which you can shoose sides. Yes there is realistic violence, and the ESRB will surely give the game an appropriate rating.

3. Why is the Video Game industry attacked so much more often the the music or movie industries? Last time I checked, Hollywood movies still have much more realistic violence than Video Games, And lets not forget about the music industry (How many Rap songs have you heard that encourage "Little Johnny" to make friends with the Police?). Note to NAACP: I'm not trying to pick a fight here, and I myself do enjoy some Rap music, so don't go getting all worked up over nothing. I freely admit that the Video Game industry (that I am defending here) is full of Violence as well.

4. Asking Retailers not to sell a game because you don't like it is CHILDISH AND STUPID. Who do you think you are? They have a right to sell that game. If you personally hate it and don't want people playing it, fine, ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS NOT TO BUY IT, DON'T SUGGEST THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BUY THE GAME TAKEN FROM THEM.

5. Oh yes, now for the part I have been so wanting to get to. Asking that two huge corporations, in this case Microsoft and Sony, end their licensing agreements with a third huge coroporation (Eidos)? That is ABSURD AND BORDERS RETARDATION IN MY OPINION! Again WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Those are not your companies. You don't even work for them. Now you want to make their business decisions for them? I think not buddy, and to end all licensing with Eidos, because of one game would be stupid. Are you implying that Tomb Raider should be pulled from the market as well? Oh wait, that game has an attractive female carrying weapons, so maybe you are.

How do such Moronic individuals, who haven't a clue as to how to go about things, or indeed even what things to go about, become Senators?

Heres a thought, let me try: I hereby request that Senators stop attacking the Video Game industry.

Maybe that will work. --Lance

05/04/04

Ok. now for the long awaited (by no one anyway) news update. With about a year (maybe 2) before the next round of consoles comes out. It's pretty obvious the the Playstion 2 is the leader in sales. Xbox and Gamecube, although equally great systems (some would argue better) are tied for a distant second place. However, Playstation 2 also huge head start. But what really matters is the games, and all 3 consoles have their share of great ones. To be honest though, despite owning a Gamecube (and a Playstation, Dreamcast, Saturn, Genesis/32X, Game Gear and Game boy) I've been pretty much a PC only gamer for the last couple of years. The main reason for this is becuase now that I've been living on my own, I've found it is much more cost efficient to find one good PC game, and just buy the expansions for $30 every year. But (and this is a big Butt err.... but) Right now we are in the part of a console generation where I start getting really excited about what the next round of consoles may be like. Both Sony, and Microsoft's next generation systems sound very promising, even though details on either one are scarce. More elusive yet are details on Nintendo's plans for a next generation console. Besides consoles, Nintendo and (especially) Sony's upcoming handhelds are somewhat intrigueing. As some of you may know, E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) is coming very soon, and with a strong possibility of announcements regarding the next generation of consoles and handhelds, this should be the most exciting E3 in many years. But now enter the reason I am so excited about this years E3, Sega's mystery announcement. They are promissing BIG news that nobody will guess. Could it be...? Could it really possibly be... Probably not, but what if... Maybe, just MAYBE Sega intends to release a new console. The possiblity is breath taking. Now there are many who say it will never happen, indeed for a long time Sega said it would never happen. But when has Sega ever stuck with anything for more than 2 or 3 years (ok besides Genesis). And let us not forget that interview last year with Yuji Naka that was cut short by Sega Higher Ups when he seemed to have hinted at a new Sega console. Although Sega later blamed it on a mis translation, what if... And add this to the equation: When Sega dropped out of the hardware business they were in the worst financial shape ever. Saturn was a flop, Dreamcast was Wildley successful, but it cost them more money because everyone was just buying the system (for less than it cost to make) and then getting copied games every time they went to a LAN party. But now, they are once again a profitable company, indeed one of the top game developers out there. And, they have managed to get their products into the hands of their "former" competiters customers hands. Think about it. If Sega were return to the console business now, then they will have managed to have used their own competitors consoles as a trojan horse to win consumers. Until they make their announcement at E3 there is no way to tell. But wouldn't it make sense?

11/14/01

Its an exciting time to be a Gamer! we are very possibly at the beginning of a console war as exciting, maybe even more so, than the 16 - bit era of the early 1990's (in case you didn't know, that was the time period commonly referred to as the golden age of gaming)!

Playstation 2 is selling extremely well with an installed user base of over 7 million, and developers are just now starting to tap into its capabilities.

Even more exciting is the competition. Not one, but two other major gaming platforms are about to be released! Microsfts TREMENDOUSLY HYPED BLACK AND GREEN MONSTER we call the XBox, will be unleashed at midnight tonight. Along with it several impressive luanch games that already appear to surpass anything on the PS2. XBox also comes with a built in 8GB Hard Drive and ethernet connection. Microsoft also plans to release a headset to allow real time voice chat in online multiplater games to create a new level of interactivity. and like the PS2, it is DVD movie ready (with the purchase of a $30 kit that includes a remote and DVD movie playback software).

If thats not enough for you, enter Nintendo's new PURPLE TOY BOX WITH A HANDLE THINGY more commonly known as the Gamecube. While the PS2 and XBox are primarily targeting the 17 to 25 year old male gamer (most gamers), the Gamecube should offer more for everyone. While Gamecube is going to have a full selection of games similar to those found on PS2 and XBox, it will also feature games such as "Pikmin", an extremely creative strategy game in which you take control of cute litte aliens called Pikmin to help find the parts of your broken spaceship and leave the planet you're trapped on. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto (creater of Mario) this game looks to be very fun. Another game that appears to fun and addictive is "Monkey Ball," a game created by Sega (Thats right they reall did go third party) in which you control a monkey in a ball (hence the title) through many different courses trying to collect banannas. If your a fan of "Sonic the Hedgehog," then Gamecube is the new game system for you, since it is Sonics new home, and Sonic Adventure 2 is in development for it. And if you're a fan of "Super Mario Brothers," there is a REAL Mario game coming eventually (not the demonic launch title "Luigi's Mansion"). The new "Wave Race" game looks impressive, and "Star Wars: Rogue Leader" looks absolutely amazing! If you are planning on buying one of the new game systems and you have a child, then you should really consider Gamecube since Nintendo usually has more games young audiences. The Gamecube doesn't have DVD movie capablility, but it is $100 cheaper, and even more importantly it has a handle!

All these competing game systems trying to live up to very high expectations will mean fierce competition not seen in nearly 10 years. This will lead to very high quality games, pushing the limits of each system beyond what they are supposed to be able to do on paper, and a renewed excitement to the video game industry. Also exciting is the fact that 2D graphics are starting to, albeit slowly, make a comeback! Another thing I look forward to is the comercials where each company bashes their competition, and say popular slogans. Do you remember "Welcome to the next level" or how about "Sega do what Nintendon't," those days are about to be back (even though Sega is out of the hardware business). Finally, that brings us to the third party developers.

Most of you probably recognize names like Electronic Arts, Squaresoft, Eidos, and so on. But even though Sega left the Hardware business, they didn't go away. They went everyware. Sega's strength has always been games. Even when they were just making games for their own system's (and the only ones keeping them alive) they were one of the worlds top developers. Now that they have taken a new "platform agnostic" aproach to game development, they are really going to be a force to be reconed with. EA will be forced to step their quality up a notch or two if they want to havey ANY chance of keeping the throne as the worlds number one game publisher, and other third parties will have to follow suit. All this competition is going to lead to great games, more gamers, and more jobs in the game industry. It's time to get excited!

wishes he had money so he could be standing in line for and XBox

10/28/01

Hello DGF's! Guess what?! While Xbox isn't scheduled for release until November 15, Distance Gaming (Me) had a special opportunity to have a hands on preview today. A playable Munch's Oddysey was pretty impressive, showing off the systems ability to handle high numbers of richly textured polygons while keeping a smooth framerate. The demo put you in control of abe and munch to collect mushrooms. You can switch between characters at will, and have to use both of them to unlock locations for each other. Fans of the Oddworld series will quickly feel at home with the ability to make their character say funny phrases. Blood Wake is a game that puts you in control of a small boat with weapons, and you drive around and shoot at targets. Not only is this game impressive from a graphical standpoint, but you immediately notice how realistic the surface of the water is. This isn't a cheaply done water surface animation created by morphing textures! No, every single triangle used to create the water moves around in a beautifully realistic way. Just looking at this is amazing, but when you notice the effect it has on the boat, your jaw WILL drop to the floor. Choppy water effects the momentum of your boat, makes it lean back and forth and side to side, and nearly tip over. When another vessel is sunk, the displaced water gushes above the surface, and brings you with it if your too close. also impressive were distorted torpedoes and their trail visible under the translucent surface of the water. Next I saw an amazing video of Dead or Alive 3. And finally, some other videos that weren't quite as impressive.

btw the Xbox's release date was changed a while back to November 15 (previously Nov. 8) and Gamecube to November 18 (previously Nov. 5).

--Lance
Wants an Xbox almost as much as a Gamecube.

7/13/01

Hello DGF's! Sorry I took so long to get this to you, but I've been busy. In case you don't know, Sega announce a while back that they are working on a NCAA Football game for the Dreamcast based on the NFL 2K2 engine. while that may be old news, below is one of the screenshots that Sega released the other day for the first time.

--Lance
Is a huge Gator Fan!

7/10/01

I got a Job today at a movie theater! Its not that great, but it should keep me alive so I can continue to please all you Distance Gaming fans (DGF's for now on)!

Ok probably none of you readers care, but this is my website (mostly), so I am going to tell you anyway. I got really irritated and left a certain store in the mall today because the person working there (who I believe was the manager), lied to a customer and told him that the Gameboy Advance is, "...just as powerful as the Playstation." Now of course the customer will probably believe him, but I can't make myself believe that the man working there believed for a second that he was making a truthful statement. It was a Terminological Inexactitude, to say the least. Don't get me wrong I like the Gameboy Advance a lot, but in reality it can do about as much as the Super Nintendo. It just makes me mad when they lie like that because they don't think the customer will ever know the difference! Ok I feel better now.

NOW FOR SOME REAL NEWS...

I had the opportunity to view some brand new screenshots of Sonic the Hedgehog Advance today, and it looks great. It is very exciting to see a new 2D Sonic game. Hopefully, I should be able to play this one, since GBA is sure to catch on better than Neo Geo Pocket.

If any of you DGF's would like to donate a GBA or PS2 to Distace Gaming, so we can provide you with reviews on those systems as well (yes reviews for other systems are coming...) please email me. Oh well, it was worth a try.

Ok, how about this, you don't need to donate anything, but if there really are any DGF's out there, please email me and let me know you exist. Or better yet, SIGN THE GUEST BOOK!

--Lance
had a really, really crazy day, but all is well.

7/5/01

Ok most of you, by now, have probably known for a while about Microsoft's Xbox and Nintendo's Gamecube. In case you missed the news from this past E3, here are the release date's and prices of both systems:

Mircrosoft's 128 bit, DVD based (Yes, you can also use it to play DVD movies)Xbox system will launch in North America on November 8, 2001 for a price of $299.

Nintendo's 128 bit, 1.5 GB mini-DVD based Gamecube system will launch in Norh America for $199 on November 5, 2001. Interestingly this is $100 less than Xbox or Ps2, and only 3 days earlier than Xbox. I think the $199 price point is a smart move by Nintendo, who has never taken a loss on a new game sytem in order to build a user base (until now), as it leaves the consumer with enough money left over to also buy their newly released handheld, the Gameboy Advance, which was released this past June. Nintendo has also announced that some Gamecube games will connect to Gameboy Advance games. This is a smart strategy on Nintendo's part, as it should boost sales of both systems, and allow them to remain dominant over the handheld market.

--Lance
Really needs a job!