I have decided to relaunch my blog and focus on the things in my life that I feel are important launching points for discussion and education. I will attempt to entertain and enlighten (a bold task I know)everyone who graces my blog with their attention. I will mainly talk about issues that relate to my daily life encounters that spark my need to speak out on a particular issue. Most of these points of interest will no doubt include: Religion, Psychology, Parenting, Life Goals, Empowerment and other such launching points.
If anyone reads this blog, which I hope will happen, then feel free to comment and question any topic or idea that you or I have. I am very open minded (or should I say tolerant) of anyone who has something to ask of me or comment about. So please enjoy!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Times, changes, and internet speak
Well I haven't written in quite a while. There have been quite a few changes over the past year that have made me take my life in a different direction. I have taken the behavioral therapy route instead of gaming, which actually turned out very nice. I still get to enjoy video games, debating the many different topics that arise, and I get to follow another passion which is therapy. Needless to say life is pretty nice.
The main reason I wanted to write was in regards to "Buzzwords". Most people use buzzwords, whether it is known to them or not, on a fairly regular basis. Most buzzwords are used so often that we fail to call them, or their validity, into question. Of course I could list many of the different words, but I wish to focus on one main buzzword for the world of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) -- Themepark.
The buzzword Themepark seems to have arrived due to irate gamers looking for a way to label the many MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft. This is usually looked at as a derogatory term referring to the lack of player input or open-world feel. They use this to say that a games mechanics and story never change even if some of the actions, or characters, a player uses changes. So these games replicate the feeling of going to Disneyland or Six Flags, where you always get the same ride no matter what. Thus gamers have coined a term and many have chosen to use it haphazardly when referring to games that might not quite fit the definition of "themepark".
Where my point comes across is with the usage of the buzzword and how people may start to use it correctly, but it often evolves into a new meaning altogether. The meaning gets lost as the word gets stretched to cover more and more games, until finally the word, which might have contained some validity, is now nothing more than a cheap insult. Many buzzwords seem to share this fate, and thus are eventually forsaken for new "hipper" words.
All in all I must ask one thing, please make sure you know about the word you are using. There is nothing worse than using a buzzword when talking about a topic, only to show you don't really know its meaning.
The main reason I wanted to write was in regards to "Buzzwords". Most people use buzzwords, whether it is known to them or not, on a fairly regular basis. Most buzzwords are used so often that we fail to call them, or their validity, into question. Of course I could list many of the different words, but I wish to focus on one main buzzword for the world of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) -- Themepark.
The buzzword Themepark seems to have arrived due to irate gamers looking for a way to label the many MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft. This is usually looked at as a derogatory term referring to the lack of player input or open-world feel. They use this to say that a games mechanics and story never change even if some of the actions, or characters, a player uses changes. So these games replicate the feeling of going to Disneyland or Six Flags, where you always get the same ride no matter what. Thus gamers have coined a term and many have chosen to use it haphazardly when referring to games that might not quite fit the definition of "themepark".
Where my point comes across is with the usage of the buzzword and how people may start to use it correctly, but it often evolves into a new meaning altogether. The meaning gets lost as the word gets stretched to cover more and more games, until finally the word, which might have contained some validity, is now nothing more than a cheap insult. Many buzzwords seem to share this fate, and thus are eventually forsaken for new "hipper" words.
All in all I must ask one thing, please make sure you know about the word you are using. There is nothing worse than using a buzzword when talking about a topic, only to show you don't really know its meaning.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Update: Psychological game and Violence article
Got a little swamped over the last week and was not able to finish everything that I had planned. I did manage to get quite a bit done with the mechanics and cards for the game though. If all goes well then I should have a nice prototype version of it out later this weekend or early next week.
In other news, I am about to begin work on a new article involving Violence and Video Games. Yes, I know, it is a topic that has been done nearly to death. I plan on approaching it in an interesting direction, one that hasn't really been done much. Lets just say I have to approach it carefully because I have a feeling that it will get a lot of flakk from parents.
On another note, here is a link to one of my other articles that I wrote quite a while back, but the message still holds. It is about Game of the Year and whether it means anything.
Game(s) of the Year
In other news, I am about to begin work on a new article involving Violence and Video Games. Yes, I know, it is a topic that has been done nearly to death. I plan on approaching it in an interesting direction, one that hasn't really been done much. Lets just say I have to approach it carefully because I have a feeling that it will get a lot of flakk from parents.
On another note, here is a link to one of my other articles that I wrote quite a while back, but the message still holds. It is about Game of the Year and whether it means anything.
Game(s) of the Year
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
New Game Coming Soon!
Got a lot up in the past few days. Been working on a new game that is more of a party/social game. Should be pretty enjoyable and brain busting. Here is a little sneak peak of what is to come.
"The scales between God and the Devil are at an even match. It is judgment day and you have been called upon to decide who is right and who is wrong, and thus decide the fate of the cosmos. Only problem is, neither looks the part of God or the Devil. Two people stand before you in a suit and tie at a podium. A large scale stands behind them that is evenly balanced. The time has come for a grand debate of wits, which will you choose as the victor?"
Hope this teaser makes people interested. I should be finished with a first draft within about a week.
"The scales between God and the Devil are at an even match. It is judgment day and you have been called upon to decide who is right and who is wrong, and thus decide the fate of the cosmos. Only problem is, neither looks the part of God or the Devil. Two people stand before you in a suit and tie at a podium. A large scale stands behind them that is evenly balanced. The time has come for a grand debate of wits, which will you choose as the victor?"
Hope this teaser makes people interested. I should be finished with a first draft within about a week.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Card Game: To Kill a King
Here is a card game that I made after thinking of some type of game to make. It is a strategic card game for two players that is about protecting your king and killing the other players king.
Enjoy:
To Kill a King
Enjoy:
To Kill a King
Street Fighter 4 Review
Street Fighter 4 Review: Back 2 two
Street Fighter 4 has been out for a while now, which has given much time to experiment and get the whole experience out of it. This game is a very solid game, which is a sigh of relief for all the fans of the series out there. The game delivers a very well structured fighting system that is sure to be a main contender for tournament play. This does not mean the game does not have its weak points, as every game in existence does. However the overall presentation of the game is hard to beat.
+Large variety of character types and diverse lineup available.
+Gorgeous art style brings the game’s original style into the next gen era.
+ Combat is very tightly tuned and flows nicely.
+Great online multiplayer system in place.
+Great for parties and tournaments.
+Training mode allows for players to learn and master the different combos each character has.
- Seth, the final boss in arcade mode, is overly hard to beat and just frustrating.
- Not very friendly to newcomers and those not proficient at fighting games.
- Step back from Street Fighter 3 by focusing on older characters instead of new characters.
-Need a joystick to get the real feeling of the game (especially for the Xbox 360).
-No real leap forward for the genre or series, just a small tweak on an existing game.
Although I have these criticisms, which might seem to be nitpicking, the game is still very good. I have highlighted these problem areas because for some people this could prove to be a deal breaker. The final boss, Seth, is extremely hard and can serve as a deterrent for many to actually continue playing the game. Although there is a training mode available, the overall difficulty of play isn’t really set for beginners looking to break into fighting games, unless they are up for a challenge. Furthermore, if you are to really get the most out of this game, you have to buy a fightpad-- preferably a fightstick. If you have an Xbox 360 then it is nearly impossible to play with the d-pad, although some have found the analogue stick to be fairly decent.
The main reason why I could not give this game a 5-star rating was because it didn’t make any real strides forward. The game played it very safe and close to its comfort zone. I would have really liked to see the game push the genre forward the way Street Fighter 3 did with the parry system and a total overhaul of the existing roster.
Bottom Line- Street Fighter 4 is an awesome fighting experience; however for those looking for a fighting game that will push the genre forward may not be as satisfied.
---Explanation of rating system---
*= Stay Away
**= Diehard fans need only apply
***= Pretty good game. Has its good points and equally bad points.
****= Very good game. You should definitely give it a look as you will most likely enjoy it.
*****= Amazing game! Comes around only so often and serves as the shining example of the potential of the industry.
Grand Opening
The time has finally come to start up a blog where everyone can see what is going on in my life as well as share in my worldview. I was always a little hesitant of setting up a public blog, however I would love to be able to share my thoughts and ideas with others.
I will be posting some of my articles from the website I write for as well as games that I have made. I hope people will make themselves at home here and will partake in some discussions about some of my articles and games. Feel free to post your thoughts, just please be rational and thoughtful with your responses. This is all I ask.
I just got done with 3 very busy days at GDC (Game Developers Conference) in my home town of San Francisco. I met a lot of people in the industry and got a very good feel for just how busy the games industry is. I learned a lot there that will help me to become a stronger game designer while I look for a job in the industry.
I encourage anyone interested in being a part of the video game industry to attend a GDC, wherever they may be held. There is a plethora of information to get, and lots of people to meet along the way.
This is about it for today. Hope to get some of my files up tonight and maybe a review as well.
-Kevin Sosa
I will be posting some of my articles from the website I write for as well as games that I have made. I hope people will make themselves at home here and will partake in some discussions about some of my articles and games. Feel free to post your thoughts, just please be rational and thoughtful with your responses. This is all I ask.
I just got done with 3 very busy days at GDC (Game Developers Conference) in my home town of San Francisco. I met a lot of people in the industry and got a very good feel for just how busy the games industry is. I learned a lot there that will help me to become a stronger game designer while I look for a job in the industry.
I encourage anyone interested in being a part of the video game industry to attend a GDC, wherever they may be held. There is a plethora of information to get, and lots of people to meet along the way.
This is about it for today. Hope to get some of my files up tonight and maybe a review as well.
-Kevin Sosa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
