All posts by Alex McCumbers

Classic games are my inspiration. Many of those games hold design elements that are blatantly ignored in modern games. Doesn't mean I'll ignore new titles, but I will reject play requests to spend time with my SNES.

Game File, Games and Software, Industry Now

The Spoiled War: Super Smash Bros. Not as Shiny as It Used to Be

September 29, 2014 Alex McCumbers

Super Smash Bros. comes out for the 3DS October 3, and while I am pumped up for the release, I feel less pumped than usual. I’m all about importing games. I think there’s nothing better than snagging up a game from Japan, usually one that will never be in the English language. I’ve known many a gamer who learned Japanese, just to play some obscure title or a hidden gem in a franchise, but for once, I have a bit of a problem with importing. It’s great that gamers all over the world get to see Super Smash Bros. early, even before the demo arrives; however, the internet has become incredibly saturated with leaked character rosters and popular YouTubers streaming the game.

Search Smash on Twitch right now, I guarantee someone is playing it.

I had to avoid one of my favorite Youtubers for a while. . .

While I love gaming personalities like Jwittz, I feel that these streams have jaded my relationship with the game. I’m incredibly passionate about the franchise, so settle in, because it’s Anecdote Time with Alex.

When I was a kid, my father agreed to buy me one of the newest game consoles for my birthday: the PlayStation or the N64. I was also made aware of how expensive the games were for each system: PlayStation games were about $30 – $40, while every N64 game was $60. Not only that, but the consoles themselves shared a similar price ratio. My dad practically begged me to get the PlayStation, but my Nintendo blood had already chosen for me.

The problem with that day was that we couldn’t afford a game, and this was before the days of trial versions being packed in with the system or before a bundle was released. I was left to stare at it for months. Then, a mystical game appeared and Christmas was steadily rearing its head.

Super Smash Bros. had a few familiar faces for me like Mario, Pikachu, and the hero from Zelda (for I had yet to learn his name). Yet, there was also this cool dude with an arm cannon and there was this fox. Playing that game was seeing parts of Nintendo I had no idea existed before. Note, these were the days when dial-up internet was the norm and in my rural area we couldn’t even get that for another 5-6 years. Turns out, the green guy is named Link and Samus is a girl. Not only that, but there are games like Earthbound out there that I had never heard of before.

His name is Link?! But for years his name was Alex, Zelda, or Fopquarf. . .

For me, and I’m sure many gamers, that was the magic of Smash Bros. Players would initially choose to play as their favorites, but then slowly learn about the strangers. This, of course, led me down a path to find those weird games and play them. Super Smash Bros. Melee had a similar effect on me. I had no idea who Roy was or why he talked in Japanese, but through Melee I learned that there are several other Fire Emblem games out there. This and the chance discovering of Mewtwo was the best for me and my friends. The trophy gallery quickly became an encyclopedia of Nintendo. It was all new, interesting, and a bit overwhelming.

Brawl did an okay job at hiding things, like epic boss battles and cool cutscenes. I did feel that game had way too many clone characters, or characters who fight in a similar fashion to others. I hated Wolf with every fiber of my being, seeing as there were hundreds who could’ve taken his place. Nevertheless, I had tons of fun with Brawl and it was one of the few reasons my household owned a Wii—and for the archery aspect of Wii Sports Resort. My dad is obsessed with bows and is one of the best mechanics in the area for the sport, so we spent many a happy hour trying to beat each others’ scores.

Dad, my step-brother, and I spent a lot of time perfecting our shots.

My point is that Super Smash Bros. used to be a series about surprises, mysteries, and discoveries. Sure, it’s a great party game and a rather deep fighter, but learning about those obscure characters is where I’ve always thought it shined.

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There is an equal amount of awesome and disturbing in this screenshot.

What’s worse is that Nintendo claims that the Wii-U version will have the same features. So, my hopes of something new on that console have also been dashed against a brick wall.

My culminating questions for the gaming community are thus, what are we losing when we choose to stream games that have yet to come out? Has the internet ruined that childhood-esque discovery and wonder? Do modern children even have those feelings?

Will these thoughts deny Nintendo a sale from me? No, I have big plans for the game; my step-brother and fellow lets player are going to play while on Skype. I expect that October 2nd will be a long, long day with me dragging ass at work on Friday.

Sakurai is enjoying my business a little too much.

In a way, I can’t really blame Nintendo. Its advertisement campaign is great, especially in the past couple years. Can I blame the streamers and YouTubers? No, not really. Everyone wants to have a ton of views and getting stuff early can skyrocket those numbers. I’ve been there and the drive is astounding.

Oooooh — It’s the simple things that are worth slowing down to look at.

What I can do is try to make the community more aware of what it has lost. Maybe this article will help change the minds of an indie developer who could release the coolest game out of nowhere. I can only hope.

I just miss that sense of surprise.

Title image by Marcos-Inu

Forever Classic (my Youtube gaming team) will also be having a little Skype party with the game after its release. More than likely we will be streaming the fun on our Twitch channel. Follow our Facebook Event Page for more details.

Action, Adventure, Games and Software, Otaku

Final Fantasy XV: It’s been a long time coming…

September 20, 2014 Alex McCumbers

Information on the newest Final Fantasy game has been sparse at best. As a long time fan, I drool over anything Square Enix puts out, but for the past five years or so I haven’t had the same hype I used to have. My first PlayStation game was Final Fantasy VII, what many consider to be a masterpiece. However, my favorite in the series is Final Fantasy IX.

Ever since its announcement as Versus XIII, I have been on pins and needles. I agree completely with Square Enix’s decision to change the title, but honestly I am starting to wonder if I’ll ever get to play this game and will be any good.

This trailer puts some of those fears to rest. It shows beautiful gameplay, tons of charm, and a broad scope. This could be the best Final Fantasy game ever made. I only hope that when it comes out it will be worth the wait. Needless to say I’ll have plenty of things to say about it when it finally releases.

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Those words help heal the wounds that Lightning left.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnDxg2afpCE&w=560&h=315]

Game File, Games and Software, Indie Pennant, Industry Now

The Future of Storytelling: A Response to the Thoughts of Chris Charla and Benedetto Vigna

September 19, 2014 Alex McCumbers

Being a writer and literature enthusiast, I’m obsessed with narrative. Through words, we can transport ourselves into other peoples’ lives and experience their worlds. We can visit the abstract and experience impossible things to reach deeper understanding. Because I love stories, I’ve always gravitated towards video games with powerful—or at the very least, central—narratives. Games like Zelda, Legend of Dragoon, and Final Fantasy top my list of favorite games, not because their gameplay is the best or they have the best design or the best graphics, but because I like the stories.

This was one of the first RPGs I ever played. The story is fantastic and the art style is amazing.

In the past six or seven years, the gaming industry has evolved. Gamers have always heard about the success of game developers creating something awesome in a basement and it exploding in popularity, but the ease of which that can happen today is astounding. There are hundreds of game development tools that are easily accessible. Some programs don’t even need coding or knowledge of complex computing languages. In the past, game design was more of a labor of love, but now it’s more of a love of labor. All one really needs for game design is to have an idea and time to bring it to life.

One of the first decisions of Black and White 2.

I’ve always been a console gamer. Sure, I had a few PC games that my poor Dell could barely run, like Mech Warrior and Black and White, but none of those games really stood out or held my attention for long. The story wasn’t as important on the PC, so I gravitated to the PlayStation and Nintendo systems.

Last year, my laptop finally went kaput, even after I had pulled a Frankenstein and truly performed repair miracles. After that, I set out to build my own PC: for me, made by me. After all was said and done, I had a computer capable of all my creative outlets: writing, video editing, etc., but I also ended up with a gaming machine. I was pumped to play games like Skyrim, using mods. Instead, my Steam account slowly filled up with indie games. Now, I scour the internet in search of these brave and new ideas. My machine can play things with superb graphics, but I always end up playing simple indie games, mainly because they often explore new ideas.

Risk of Rain is one of my favorite PC games.

The gaming market is now filled to the brim with exciting new ways to tell a story and for others to experience it. Plus, most of these games are much cheaper than a new game for consoles. Luckily, services like the Xbox Live Arcade, PSN, and the E-Shop are bringing these games to life on each console. Those without a decent PC can enjoy many of these fantastic games. With these games being easily presented to a hungry consumer base, better games are making more money. That kicks off the chain reaction of the right designers having creative freedom and in turn making more games.

Chris Charla applauds the indie movement in his video.

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Motion controls are all thanks to that tiny speck in between his fingers.

Aside from just the ease of which games can be made, the way we play games has also changed. Even though I’ll never fully support motion controlled gaming, I will say that the possibilities that have opened because of it is amazing. Think about someone who can’t or has difficulty using a controller. Think about an older person who didn’t play Nintendo or Atari. The concept of a controller probably goes as far as a remote for the TV. What if people could play the same game or a different game in a way that’s accessible and fun for them? Do you know what we have now? A broader pool of people playing games.

Doom was one of the main reasons work was stalled in offices around the world.

Unfortunately, through the majority of my life, gaming has always been frowned upon by society as a whole, especially with stories that connected specific games to terrible tragedies. The industry was crippled when Doom was blamed for the deaths of innocents. Its a shame that such an impressive medium can be set back by simple media connections. Although, coupled with the negativity is the joy video games can bring. The popular charity Child’s Play has raised over seven million dollars this year. Minecraft is being used in classrooms by educators around the world, myself included at one point.

In twenty years, I’ve been hundreds of heroes, slain thousands of monsters, and saved millions of worlds. What other medium connects the experience with the one experiencing it? Gaming has for a while now.

As a medium, let’s explore what’s never been considered. Let’s see what’s never been seen. Let’s play what’s never been played.

For more on these thoughts, check out the Future of Storytelling’s Video Series.

Adventure, Games and Software, Otaku, Pop Culture

Mega-Evolution is NOT a Fad

September 12, 2014 Alex McCumbers

Mega-Evolution was thought to be an exclusive mechanic of Pokemon X and Y. Yet, as Nintendo continues to show, haters of Mega-Evolution will have to deal with it, because it’s not going anywhere soon. For those who ignored the newest Pokemon games, Mega-Evolution is a power granted to specific species of Pokemon that pushes their abilities into new levels. To do this, a trainer must have that Pokemon’s Mega Stone. The form lasts for only that battle, but during this time a Pokemon’s strengths, abilities, and even type can be altered. Some Pokemon, such as Charizard and Mewtwo have two mega forms, each with unique attributes.

This mechanic changed the way Pokemon battles were played. A strategic Mega Evolution could change the fate of a match. I frequent a popular browser game called Pokemon Showdown, which focuses solely on competitive Pokemon battles and creates tiers to create a balanced game—it’s basically Fight Club with adorable creatures. When the X and Y mechanics were implemented into the system, it changed everything.

Players began to fear specific Pokemon due to the mere chance that they would Mega Evolve. Last I played, Mega Gengar is still banned and Mega Kangaskahn is invincible. Some trainers hissed at the use of a Mega, while others praised the return of fan favorites in need of a competitive overhaul.

Personally, I love Mega-Evolution. It brought new life into my favorite Pokemon, Charizard. While I loved nothing more than blasting away enemies with a STAB dragon attack, I always thought all this power was temporary. My fears were eradicated with three new games set to be released.

Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby

Using Megas in this game came as no surprise. Remaking the first GBA Pokemon games in the X and Y engine needed to support the mechanic as players would undoubtedly want to trade between the two 3DS games. However, the sheer amount of Megas is rather staggering. Already there have been thirteen confirmed Mega-Evolutions plus an additional two (Latios and Latias) that are assumed as hackers have found the items and models in X and Y. Will all these Megas saturate the game? Will trainers think less of Pokemon that cannot Mega-Evolve? In fact, that would make an excellent plot line for a movie or an episode of the anime if it hasn’t happened already.

Honestly, out all the Megas that have been announced, I’m most excited for Mega Marshtomp. Let’s be honest, there have been few internet phrases that reached the popularity of “I herd u like Mudkips.” That, and Mudkip is the first starter I picked on the original Ruby Version. I also have my fingers crossed for a Mega Flygon, but so far all I’ve gotten is a well-done Rick Roll.

Aside from Mega-Evolution, Primal-Evolution has also been added to Groudon and Kyogre. These forms change those Pokemon into their original selves during the creation of Hoenn. These forms are massive and will prove to be overly powerful. Every time I see them though, I always think, “Can’t wait to see Primal Rayquaza!”

Super Smash Bros. 4

The gaming world has known about this for a while. Both Charizard and Lucario will be able to use their Mega forms in Nintendo’s newest brawler. So far, only Charizard X has been seen. While the X form is obviously more popular, it sort of leaves Charizard Y to cry in the corner. Melee favorite Mewtwo has yet to make an appearance, but considering it has two forms as well, I’m going to assume that he (or she depending on what movie you watched) will be available in DLC. Whether Mega-Evolution will be available outside of a Final Smash ability is yet to be known. I’d like to see them as alternate costumes at the least, but keeping them as a killing blow can add to the fear of seeing them evolve.

I guess we’ll have to wait until Super Smash Bros. comes out for 3DS on October 3.
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Pokken Tournament

A while back there was a screen shot of Blaziken that many fans thought to be about a new Pokemon game. Others thought that Blaziken may be coming to Smash; however, few could’ve guessed that Namco was teaming up with Nintendo to create a Tekken game with Pokemon characters. It is the most astounding bit of news I’ve heard since Hyrule Warriors was announced. Not only is the idea absurd and honestly stupid on paper, but by watching the trailer I was floored. Pokken Tournament is looking to be an awesome Wii-U port of what will obviously eat the yen of Japanese arcade players. Hopefully, Pokken will come to the 3DS as well.

So far details have been scarce, but Lucario, Machamp, and Blaziken have been confirmed characters. What’s interesting is that Lucario is seen using his Mega-Evolution, which may be used in a similar fashion to Kazuya’s Devil form in Tekken. This leaves me to wonder what other Megas will appear in the final game, if any at all. I hope that a new Mega is shown as a boss on Pokken first and later comes to the handheld games.

Either way, being that I’m both a fan of fighting games and Pokemon, I am conducting the hype train for all things Pokemon. Choo! Choo!

Megas Forever!

When Mega-Evolution first arrived I was a skeptic, although through X and Y, I came to love them for what they are. Mega-Evolution adds new things to Pokemon and frankly the series has been so formulaic that it definitely needed the change. Honestly, I’m not too keen on Megas popping up everywhere, but for the most part I enjoy the new designs and power of these forms. I can’t wait to awaken the dragon as Charizard or turn up the heat with Lucario in a more button responsive game.

Thinking Mega-Evolution to be a fleeting thing is harder to do when considering the acceptance of the fans. Artists are creating their favorite Pokemon as Megas, many looking to be professional and creative. Modders have even put Megas into other games, like Minecraft and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Many gamers were hesitant like me, but most have grown to love these powerhouses. Gamers can’t ignore that something awesome and new has happened to the series.

Finally, Pokemon as a franchise is trying new things and reaching into places it previously wasn’t. Pikachu is a worldly recognizable character to the point that people are forgetting about Mickey Mouse. Whether its toys, games, cards, or simply a bunch of Pokemon at a soccer game, Pokemon bring all sorts of people together for one thing: fun.

Of course, this also means the world is okay with the forced enslavement and gladiatorial engagement of various creatures, but most overlook that.

Game File, Indie Pennant

Hive Jump Preview

August 29, 2014 Alex McCumbers

I was given a chance to try out an early build of Graphite Lab’s Hive Jump. The following preview is based on what I have played so far and what I infer from their Kickstarter campaign.

Some of the greatest Science Fiction films are Aliens and Starship Troopers. These movies are filled with rough and tough mercenaries with big guns and bigger attitudes, blasting away monsters that come in droves. Hive Jump is inspired by these elements and is shaping up to be an awesome game.

Pixels have taken over PC gaming since Minecraft’s success and I couldn’t be happier. Hive Jump looks great, combining that beloved retro style with modern techniques. The game utilizes a powerful lighting tool known as Sprite Lamp, adding to the overall tone and atmosphere of the game. Sprite Lamp, the backgrounds, the environments, and the sheer ferocity of the enemies is molding Hive Jump into an interesting piece of Sci-Fi.

Players will be donning the persona of the typical space marine, lugging around heavy armor and heavier weaponry. Each weapon is upgradeable with the goo collected from fallen foes. Adding to the armory are upgrades scattered throughout the maps. Players will have to balance their weaponry while fighting off wave after wave of nasty bugs. There are also plans for a strategic campaign mode that lets players plan out each precise strike.

What I found most interesting about the demo is the speed at which the game attacks the player. While this may not be the case in the final version, I found myself quickly overwhelmed on single-player mode, but that just made me hungry for more bug goo. Luckily, on a respawn, players blast away aliens from the sheer force of their drop into the hive. This is similar to how arcade beat-em-ups would treat coming back to life, and the mechanic fits well into the theme and the gameplay.

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Each weapon feels different and their upgrades are always a treat to use. Although, I did have a lot of trouble using the charge beam; it took way too much time to build into a lethal dose. As I mentioned earlier, these bugs don’t wait around, nope they filleted me out and waited for my clone to drop from the sky. Let’s just say I fed a lot of bugs on my first couple drops.

Unfortunately, the demo lacks the collecting and upgrading mechanics, but I can’t wait to see how those are implemented further. As the game is developed more and more weapon ideas are sketched out. I’m hoping to see TONS of unlockable content including weapons, areas, modes, and characters. Already there are plans to bring Bart from Aegis Defenders into the hives. Multiplayer should also prove to be great, but I hope to see something new come out of playing with friends that I haven’t seen already.

What impressed me was Graphite Lab’s love for other developers. The Hive Jump Kickstarter page actually holds several other games in development. Graphite Lab, unlike most developers, is actually spreading out the spotlight instead of the typical “Look at me and my game! Give me money!” stance. It is humbling to know that these developers aren’t necessarily out there to fill their pockets, at least alone. They’re willing to spread the joy of gaming, no matter who is making the game.

All in all, I can’t wait to see what else Hive Jump will have in store for players on its release. If you need me, I’ll be throwing grenades down the throats of murderous insects. Private Alex of the Giga 304^th Battalion signing off.