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

Blizzard’s Absurdly Good Customer Service

October 16, 2015 Alex McCumbers

After my girlfriend procured the Summon Loot Crate, I was left with the stuff she didn’t want. There were two things she tossed to me: a Hearthstone stress ball, shaped like the stone that has teleported many a WoW player to sanctuary; and a Hearthstone coin with a free pack of cards on the back. I let those free pack of cards sit for about a week before I decided to fire up my old account and sling some cards around. It was then that I ran into a bit of a roadblock. . .

JWG9XU3O6ZBX1409164793621 — I get locked out of my account a lot. . .

Unfortunately, Battle.net hasn’t been a service I’ve kept up with. The last time I tried to make an account, I had to create a new email, which is never fun. Frustrated and wanting to use my normal email, I hopped into Blizzard’s Customer Service Chat, looking to get my password reset.

Awesomely enough, the helpful folks behind this service role-play the whole situation. These Game Masters choose names that would fit among the people of Azeroth and use dialect when typing. It took a bit of poking around, but after some time, we finally got my account linked to my preferred email. While opening up my Hearthstone client, a thought occurred to me.

Game Masters usually speak in character, making that experience more personalized.

“Can you help me get into my old World of Warcraft account? I kinda want to see how my old Rogue is doing,” I asked the Game Master with obvious doubt.

The Game Master said, “Sure, just give me your character’s name and any other detail you can remember. We’ll try to find him.” Of course, I spouted everything I could remember. Sardeth is a Forsaken Rogue who I hadn’t seen since 2003. I had only spent about four months in Azeroth before moving on to other games, but I had fond memories of following my friend through dungeons, picking up stuff everyone else wanted. They called me a Ninja or something, it’s been so long.

Sardeth's adventures were happening right as the Lich King grew to power. — Sardeth’s adventures were happening right as the Lich King grew to power.

There are some products on the market that promise an improvement in viagra from india online your overall health. As a result there is blood flow into the wholesale cialis price male’s genital part and hence helps in maintaining and enhances crucial blood flow. Men usually feel very embarrassed to talk about viagra soft tablets the desperate effects it controls on the afflicted men. They regularly test their amerikabulteni.com online levitra cholesterol, blood sugar, and high triglycerides can damage arteries present in the heart, brain and male organ, they could be risky for men with serious heart, liver and kidney problems. After about twenty minutes of playing practice matches in Hearthstone, the Game Master came back with, “I think I found something. It appears that a few years ago Sardeth was stolen from your account by a hacker.”

Being that I hadn’t much attachment to anything that character had, I wasn’t surprised or upset. “Tell you what,” the Game Master said, “Let me transfer him and your other characters to your preferred account.”

Needless to say, I was blown away by this service. I asked about Sardeth on a whim, not caring if it couldn’t be done, but on sheer curiosity. The Game Master assured me that, “Sardeth is alive and well. Well, as much as an Undead can be. . .”

Azeroth's Undead have always been a lively bunch. — Azeroth’s Undead have always been a lively bunch.

This whole endeavor happened around 2 a.m. Not sure what time it was there, but the fact that Blizzard’s services are this helpful gave me a new respect for the company. Just because of this Game Master’s kind gesture, I’ll be logging into World of Warcraft soon for a long awaited visit with an old friend.

Blizzard has the best customer service of any company I’ve ever dealt with. My thanks knows no bounds. Helping players out, especially when it comes to an MMORPG, is an aspect Game Designers and companies need to take into great consideration. Blizzard makes for an excellent role model.

Game File, Games and Software

Mario Maker Hands Players the Keys to the Mushroom Kingdom

September 23, 2015 Alex McCumbers

Ever since my early days of squawking at my cousin Axl to let me play Super Mario Bros 3 during his summer visits, I’ve wanted to make my own Mario levels. I even drew out a few during those humid months, using crayons, markers, anything I could get my hands on. The toys in my room were usually arranged in some sort of level as well. Needless to say, Nintendo hit me in the childhood with Mario Maker.

Mario Maker has that weird Japanese feel to it. It’s off-beat with its menus and sound effects, but its goals of being a tool to make Mario levels are met with unprecedented success. Never before has the act of game design been so simple. A concept can rapidly become a product in a matter of minutes. Will the level make players cry for mercy or make them smile?

wiiu_supermariomaker_9uul0 — Enemies can be stacked to create towers of mayhem.

Being able to build levels in four different Mario styles is a blast. What’s interesting is that many assets mix into styles they were never in before. For example, Bowser Jr. is available by giving dear old dad a shake, which can make for an interesting boss fight or just an obstacle to clear. Even new ways to play emerge with items like the Clown Car or Latiku’s Cloud. These items open up free flight, giving a whole range of options to builders.

Making levels isn’t everything though. Players who seek insane challenges will also find enjoyment with Mario Maker. The game supports many of the Wii U’s controllers, so players can grab their favorite and have a go at some levels in Course World with comfort. Filters can be used to find the hardest or most appreciated levels. You can also follow Makers like any modern social media site. Personally, I enjoy finding my favorite YouTube personalities through Twitter; their levels are usually pretty cool!

wiiu_supermariomaker_o2ubt — Pipes are now the homes of all sorts of things. . .

Of course, the major complaint behind Mario Maker is how the assets are unlocked. The more time you spend making levels, the more you unlock. Supposedly, a patch was added to speed up this process, but no matter how many levels I made, it seemed like I still had to wait until the next day for the shipment of assets to arrive. This does, however, force the player to build upon schema by using what’s available. Sometimes, the best concepts would come to me by being limited. I don’t think I would’ve messed with the New Super Mario Bros U mode if it wasn’t for that initial limitation; however, by doing so, I made some interesting levels involving the wall-jump mechanics in that mode.

Of course! Now let’s compare that with another statistical data that says that 82% of married women prefer cunnilingus over any other sexual act! 82%!!!! A man dealing with erectile dysfunction viagra sale can bring so much pleasure to a female. You can easily get rid of this trouble such as teasing her while she is cooking, sending her/him erotic messages, snuggling levitra without prescription while watching television together etc. Watching Too Much Pornography A survey in 2013 disclosed that men who watch porn per hour, suffer from low self esteem, poor viagra prices performance in bed and low sexual satisfaction. Functions like muscle contractions, hormonal secretion, blood flow, emotions and vardenafil india above all, the brain. The absolutely seamless transitions between modes, backgrounds, and level types gives the game a fluid feel. It opens the door for experimentation, especially when makers can tap an icon to try a segment as a player or switch game modes altogether. There’s also a Mario Path that can be toggled when unlocked, allowing makers to build sinister, precise jumps. Just about any feature a maker could want is possible in Mario Maker.

There are tons of unlockable sprites for use in the original Super Mario Bros style. A mystery mushroom grants makers the ability to put one of a hundred Nintendo characters into play, each with their own sound effects and animations. Unlocking these quirky characters can take a lot of time by playing the 100 Mario Challenge in Course World, but every Amiibo currently available unlocks a sprite, which is great for those of us addicted to the hunt of plastic figures.

Well, some are more quirky than others. . .

All in all, Mario Maker is a charming game that gives players the chance to build levels for Mario to traverse. The excellent interface and flawless execution shows off Nintendo’s quality seal. There are tons of unlockables to find, and being that this is a community-driven game, it can hold unlimited hours of play. The joy of this game comes from its potential as millions of makers set out to create unique levels.

wiiu_supermariomaker_zou6k — Already, millions of levels have been made. Click this to play more!

Lastly, I challenge all of our Giga Makers to send us some levels. They could show up in a YouTube video or Twitch stream. I’ll be devising my own to share as well.

The future of Mario Maker is bright, but first, it has to be built.

Games and Software

The Smartest Shows in Gaming

September 9, 2015 Alex McCumbers

While it may seem common for us Giga Geeks to see gaming as a medium that deserves a gargantuan amount of praise, the rest of the world doesn’t necessarily see that. Like literature and film, video games deserve to be preserved for further study to prevent the same mistakes, making the video game a continued evolution, rather than a circle of repetition. I have gone so far as to write collegiate level essays about video games, either about the plot or the mechanics and how they convey emotions.

Thus, I am always on the lookout for Scholars of the Pixel, Patrons of the Graphics Card, and Warriors of Game Design. These shows expand the mind on the subject of video games in all sorts of interesting ways. Feel free to let me know in the comments below if I’ve missed any individuals or groups I should be watching.

created by James Portnow, Daniel Floyd, Allison Theus, Elisa "LeeLee" Scaldaferri, Scott DeWitt, and Dan Jones, among guests — created by James Portnow, Daniel Floyd, Allison Theus, Elisa “LeeLee” Scaldaferri, Scott DeWitt, and Dan Jones, among guests

Extra Credits is a simple show in production, but contains some of the most well-thought scripts of anything I’ve ever watched. Seeing one of its episodes usually inspires me to write something, putting me in a frothing madness until something has been created. Its content always hits precise, yet broad topics across the medium from The Uncanny in horror, what a Skinner Box is, and beyond. It’s really useful stuff for writers, designers, artists, and anyone else in the creative space.

The crew includes artists, designers, and writers who work in the industry. Extra Credits writes fantastic articles, recommends games that are exceptional, but usually obscure, and even shows off some musicians who use video games as an inspiration. It truly celebrates the cerebral side of gaming in an outstanding fashion.

Where would gaming be without a firm understanding of what it has been?

This is the question that Norman Caruso addresses in each of his publications. Fighting to keep the obscure alive and well, Caruso gives the modern audience a broader respect for what was in the past. He also has a knack for uncovering excellent research on peripherals and consoles. Many of the gadgets he discusses I had never seen before, but still hold lessons in design that are valuable. For example, the Top-Loader NES had better pins to read games, but few know of it, due to the iconic, albeit flawed design of the original NES, sending the Top-Loader into rarity.

Caruso’s skills in research with his expertise in production makes The Gaming Historian an absolute must when studying video games. His videos expand the mind for the future, while keeping the past alive, which is truly commendable.
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Sequelitis has the fewest episodes when compared to the others, but the statements made in these few are substantial in a lot of ways. Hanson is one of those people who doesn’t care what other critics have said, often tearing down well beloved games in favor of tighter design. He also points out the brilliance of subtle elements in a way that is hilarious and immensely insightful. For example, he harps on the first level of Megaman X on the SNES for a large part of his Megaman episode, pointing out each detail so that it makes sense, even to those not versed in the game design tongue.

There are few shows that have made me laugh as hard as Sequelitis, but then turn around and make me think beyond my usual understandings of a game. The animations and humor make these complex thoughts easy to grasp. The use of examples from the games prove points. The precise nature of his production, only releasing when truly satisfied, shows great care for the subject. It’s brilliant in every way!

If it wasn't for seeing Sequelitis three years ago, there may not be a Forever Classic. — If it wasn’t for seeing Sequelitis three years ago, there may not be a Forever Classic.

In fact, Sequelitis is the main reason I write and produce videos on the subject of video games. I wouldn’t have pursued becoiming a writer at Giga. I may never have taught a Middle School English class with Minecraft. I owe a lot to Arin Hanson and his work.

There is true scholarship to be found in video games. Of this, I know no doubt. The people who are challenging themselves to discover and share this wealth of knowledge is comparable to the essay writers who critique Shakespeare or the journalists who pick apart Gone with the Wind. Video games are a medium worth studying, and hopefully there will be more and more publications on the matter as the folks behind these three shows have shown to be possible.

Thus I challenge our readers to sit down and study a game. Why is it fun or not fun? What elements have been used to craft the experience? How does the art direction or music fit in? It’s a fun exercise I wholeheartedly recommend.

Below are a few more shows you should check out. Stay smart, Giga Geeks.

Game Theory, Zero Punctuation, 8-Bit Philosophy, Did you Know Gaming, Satchbag Goods

Games and Software

Remake Fever in the Gaming Industry

September 4, 2015 Alex McCumbers

Nostalgia is a powerful force, so much so that designers often revisit past projects to bring experiences to a new generations of players, often with better technology than the original development. The concept of a remake is nothing new to game development, but what makes an exceptional example of such? To find out, I’ll be exploring a wide array of remakes from the Super Nintendo to as recent as the Xbox One.

This screen still remains as one of the most memorable title screens ever.

One of the first remakes I can remember was Super Mario All Stars, specifically the new coat of paint Super Mario Bros 3 was given. Everything popped with new color, but the controls and gameplay were still familiar, if not almost identical. The game also had three other Mario games, each with updated graphics, one of which was Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels, a game that hadn’t been released in the West prior.

Bringing classic experiences into a new generation of graphics and music seemed like a no-brainer to me, even as a child. As if all of my favorite games should just grow up with me; however, wouldn’t I eventually become bored with the same games, no matter how well they were designed?

Resident Evil HD Remaster — Notice the lighting engine and how it comes from the equipment. This would’ve been accomplished with a static light source in the original game.

Remakes also have the chance to expand upon gameplay elements or update controls. One of the best examples of this is Capcom’s Remake of the first Resident Evil, known as Resident Evil HD Remaster. This game recreates all of the static backgrounds with full 3D modeling, to ensure that the lighting was perfect. Combine that with an optional, modern control scheme makes this groundbreaking game less stiff to a new audience. Also, this remake seems minor compared to the graphical overhaul of the game when it was brought to the Gamecube back in 2002.

Yeah, Capcom knows where they come from. It’s hard to let go of the past.

Capcom has a firm understanding of how to remake its games in an effective manner and have had plenty of practice to the point of ridiculousness: adding a parody of itself in Dead Rising 3‘s DLC. I did always enjoy Capcom remakes more than its newest games, simply because I felt that there was tighter design in those early titles. Speaking of which, I would love to see Demon’s Crest be brought into a new age, but I digress.

Even more recent was Epic Games’ remake of the first Gears of War on the Xbox One. This Ultimate Edition brought Marcus and the rest of his thick-necked squad into higher resolutions, with new mechanics (developed throughout the franchise) being utilized as well. Marking targets, which was seen in Gears 3, is now a staple of staying alive on the multiplayer battlefields. Speaking of multiplayer, the Gears franchise was one of the few that could combat the juggernaut that was Halo as one of the most played games on Xbox Live. With these two shooters being exclusive to the Xbox, Microsoft ruled the online space with the 360 console and could very well do the same in the current console generation, especially with Halo 5 looming just over the horizon.

Yet, Ultimate Edition is a good example on how companies can ride out the wave of nostalgia on a board of missed opportunities. For example, many of the animations in the Xbox One Gears was pulled straight from the original. These movements seem stiff by modern comparisons, or even when compared to Gears of War 3. It was also a bit of letdown when looking at the modes offered. Even though Horde mode hadn’t been invented when the original Gears launched, it would have been an excellent addition to this Ultimate Edition.
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All in all, it was great to see the COG go up against the Locust on the Xbox One with nicer graphics, but there could’ve been some more features added to make it feel more ultimate than it claims to be. Although, it’s also important to note that players who try out this version will be getting the entire Gears franchise for free. Unfortunately, while there’s much to be enjoyed in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, it seems like an attempt to make some quick cash for Gears 4.

Remaking a game to truly capitalize on what makes these sort of memories special takes complete dedication with goals that align to the players, not profits.

Sora can't believe the whole game was remade either. — Sora can’t believe the whole game was remade either.

One of the best examples of this surprisingly comes from Square Enix, a company horribly guilty of shelling out remakes for a quick buck. Nonetheless, the amount of care and polish that was put into Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix is astounding. Much of the original files that were used to create the first Kingdom Hearts on the PlayStation 2 were lost. Therefore, to give Kingdom Hearts the remake it deserved, Square Enix’s team re-recorded all of the music in a studio, remodeled all of the graphics, and tightened up the gameplay to be more consistent with the franchise as a whole. What resulted was an absolutely excellent release.

Not only was the game completely remade, but elements from the elusive Kingdom Hearts Final Mix were also included. Final Mix was actually the first imported game I had ever seen. This was when I learned that consoles could be modified and how region locking affected what could and couldn’t be played. This lack of knowing the Japanese language, coupled with my love for the series, made Kingdom Hearts 1.5 a must have game in my library.

There are many more remakes worth mentioning, but what can be taken away from remakes as a whole? For developers, there is much to be utilized from tapping into their players’ nostalgia. Its a feeling that can leave audiences speechless or giggly from reliving fond memories. However, there is a fine line to be tread: each remake must be given great attention. Even new developers can use nostalgia to their advantage in ways that can skyrocket small teams into having more resources. Shovel Knight is a great example of this as its design is similar to several older games, but remains unique.

Yes, gamers remember Super Mario Bros 3 or Resident Evil because they were great feats in game design. Yet, know that as a medium there is so much that developers haven’t discovered. New possibilities lie hidden, beneath the surface of what has already been done. As new technologies emerge and game design becomes more available, games will continue to be that defining art form which demands so much time and sweat, but ends up being an expression of those who made them and those who play them.

Games and Software, Industry Now, Pop Culture

How Nintendo Could Make A MOBA

August 3, 2015 Alex McCumbers

Gaming trends come and go. Hell, when Doom appeared, developers frantically emulated that iconic first person style. For many years, FPS games were referred to as Doom Clones. When a game truly perfects a style and is wildly successful, developers will inevitably put their own spin on it or sometimes shamefully try to make a quick buck.

Nintendo seems to ignore these trends in the industry. In fact, it’s just now getting into the mobile-gaming scene, years after Apple and Google created an environment, which generates tons of revenue. What’s sad is that there are many Nintendo franchises that can easily be used in interesting ways. I’m not saying it should just copy everything that becomes popular, but there are whole genres being developed that could use that Nintendo touch, just for the sake of the genre.

This is why Nintendo needs to make a MOBA.

Before I go any further, let me first say that I am in no way a MOBA fanatic. In fact, the only MOBA I regularly play is Smite and its a prime example of what can be done with the style. That being said, I have immense respect for what MOBA games have done for that style of game, the heightened awareness of competitive gaming that comes with its popularity.

Without MOBAs like League and DOTA 2, this wouldn't be possible. — Without MOBAs like League and DOTA 2, this wouldn’t be possible.

While trying to come up with the general concept for a Nintendo MOBA, I spent hours thinking of how it could be done without it being too much like Super Smash Bros. Using that sort of model, a MOBA by the Big N would simply be an extra mode for Smash, something that wouldn’t really take advantage of the mechanics of the genre, a rushed multiplayer mode on a clearly single player experience if it were.

That's right Bioshock 2! I'm looking at you. — That’s right Bioshock 2! I’m looking at you.

Then, a revelation occurred while playing my DS. What other Nintendo franchise has a vast history, tons of characters, and a strategy-centered gameplay? Fire Emblem.

Fire Emblem has a vast history and cast that can be pulled from to make a truly awesome MOBA experience.

Think of it this way. How simple would it be to replace all the characters in Smite or League with characters from Fire Emblem? Even that simple act alone would still be an interesting way to play. Add in some locales from various games and let the money roll in. However, something that simple wouldn’t take advantage of the concept, even though it would inevitably be profitable.

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This Fire Emblem title could also make interesting use of the Wii U gamepad or the dual screens of the 3DS. Not only could maps be presented, but players could also ping locations, and mark out strategies; pretty much anything that could be done with a PC is possible. This would also give Nintendo a chance to add more voice chat support to its games.

One of the defining features of Fire Emblem is that characters can upgrade their class. This could be done mid-game, allowing players to choose to upgrade after reaching level ten. Players could also hold back on upgrading for the extra stats as well, just like in the source material. This could create many interesting decisions from players and develop unique abilities for characters. Add in characters that can choose between a few classes will make things even better.

As another interesting spin, most MOBA games are played in real time, while every Fire Emblem title is turn based. Thus a MOBA could be created in a turn-based system, fitting more with the style of the source material, while experimenting with the genre. This could also be played against friends similarly to the Civilization series that enables players to play a single game over several days, if not longer. That sort of play could also be ported over to smart phones with little difficulty.

A Fire Emblem MOBA could also give players a chance to create their own champions, due to the classes of the games each having unique looks and skills. Players could choose a class, edit a model, and gank lanes as their own characters. Most characters would be the iconic characters throughout the series and could have powers unique to their stories or design, retaining the general idea of their respective class.

Even though I can see this sort of project being immensely amazing for fans of Nintendo, MOBA games, and the Fire Emblem franchise, I don’t see this sort of thing happening for a while. Nintendo really doesn’t like to take risks with its franchises. Although, sometimes those titles such as Metroid Prime or Wind Waker, prove to be some of the most interesting. In fact, maybe Retro Studios need to head this project. Seriously guys, this could be a great chance to get Nintendo into MOBA games or even the PC market. Call me if you need a project leader.

Or fans should start making this a reality. Of course Nintendo would cancel it, but hey, it’d be fun for a while.

Until I can have Lyn take out monsters in the jungle, I can be found putting some serious hours into Shadow Dragon on the DS.