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

Remembering Satoru Iwata

July 13, 2015 Alex McCumbers

Nintendo has always been full of quirky folks, ones who have overwhelmed these many years of gaming with an abundance of creativity and whimsy. Unfortunately, there’s only so much a single person can contribute. On July 11, 2015, Satoru Iwata suddenly passed away from an illness that he had seemingly defeated. He was 55.

While there is much sadness in the gaming world, I want to make a recommendation. Let us play the games he helped produce and remember all of the joy these titles brought. Here, I will list some of the greatest achievements of Mr. Iwata.

Rollerball (NES)

Rollerball was the first game in which Iwata was credited for being a producer, and it was his first game on the Nintendo Entertainment System. To be honest, I had never heard of this game before researching his massive list of projects he had worked on. Rollerball was a pinball game for the NES that had multiple boards, which stretch multiple screens. Even though it is just pinball, the music and the feel of the game makes it fun and humbling. This simple game was the gateway that led to many other classics for Nintendo.

Earthbound (SNES)

Earthbound is a game that continues to inspire people to this very day. It takes all the workings of a Japanese role-playing game and applies them to Americana. Throw in comments on psychology, excellent story telling, and off beat humor. Earthbound is not only one of the best SNES games, but also of all time. Fans of the series are still asking for more since there have been only three entries, one of which Westerners have yet to play as an official port.

If it wasn’t for Iwata and his team at Hal Laboratories, Earthbound (Mother 2 in Japan) may have been cancelled. The development process was grueling and Iwata helped alleviate that workload to help the game see release day. What sort of wonder did those men and women feel as they crafted what would be known as a timeless classic?

The game never sold as well as other Nintendo franchises, but it had so much heart that it has never truly left the minds of gamers. Even though we may never play another new title in the series, Ness and Lucas continue exploring the world in Super Smash Bros.

Super Smash Bros (Nintendo 64)

Speaking of Smash, Iwata was also the producer of Nintendo’s greatest fighting game, putting all the characters from across the platform into one game. The game broke the conventions of typical fighting games and has rapidly evolved into one of the most complex games around. There are still players out there playing the first Smash competitively, to outstanding use of the game’s mechanics.

Super Smash Bros was the first game I bought for the N64; it essentially sold me the console. I didn’t like Mario running in circles, but I did like the idea of Mario battling against Pikachu. In fact, I waited months after buying an N64 before getting Smash. My family could barely afford the console, so I waited patiently to earn enough money for the game. Needless to say, I have the entire box of the system memorized. Smash was not only one of my favorite games for years, but it also pointed me to other Nintendo characters I had never seen. Playing Smash led me to discover the Metroid games and sent me on a quest to find out who the hell Ness is. I loved every second of it, and I owe a large part of that experience to Iwata.

Animal Crossing (Nintendo Gamecube)

There is a simple joy to Animal Crossing. No monsters chase the player. No princesses are in danger. No realms are being razed by evil kings. There’s simply a community of animals and the player that lives among them. The neighborhood is filled with unique personalities and lots of things to do to bring them together. It’s not about getting a high score; it’s about enjoying life by catching bugs, remembering old experiences, or just growing a garden.

Unfortunately, the Gamecube classic is a little hard to find and can be expensive to buy. Luckily, Animal Crossing: New Leaf is available on 3DS, and taking the experience on the go feels more natural. While I haven’t had the chance to play many of the Animal Crossing games, I’ve always had immense respect for them and what they’ve accomplished. Such simple designs can bring great joy to everyone, and that’s something that I think Iwata truly wanted to deliver.

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The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (Nintendo Gamecube)

I can only imagine how Iwata must have felt when the harsh criticism came to light on this game. I’ll admit that I was one of those gamers who felt anger towards the way the game looked when compared to Ocarina of Time. I wanted Link’s world to be more detailed, but I and everyone else were completely wrong. Wind Waker is a beautiful game that captures all of the staples of the Zelda franchise, while adding the freedom of sailing. This version of Link may have been less detailed, but he was more expressive than ever before.

Many franchises were reborn on the Gamecube. Wind Waker is one of those gambles that resulted in one of the most regarded Zelda games. It is so good, that just updating the graphics made it seem like it had been made for the current generation of consoles. Iwata must have known that Link as a character had more going on than heroism. He is much more complex than that. The struggle to show this side of such a well-loved character could’ve been the reason for such a stark change in presentation. Iwata and his team took a bold chance and the world of gaming was made the better because of it.

Wario Ware Inc: Mega Party Game$ (Gameboy Advance)

To truly understand the simple joy Iwata brought with his design, one must spend at least an hour with any of the Wario Ware games. They are sheer absurdity in a frantically paced mess, yet they remain overwhelmingly hilarious and fun. These sort of games are the kind that people want to share, just to bring laughs. I used to look down on this franchise, but did eventually try it out on the DS years ago. I laughed so hard that I practically wet myself and proceeded to play for several hours.

This franchise reminds me of being a kid who wanted to make people laugh, no matter what sort of weird, embarrassing act it took. Many of the game’s laughs are crude or random, which fit into that childish sense of humor that makes many of us laugh at farts and dirty jokes. Wario Ware takes an establish Nintendo villain and makes him the embodiment of humor, which is something everyone could use more of.

Iwata helped make the world laugh, not only in his games, but in his nature. He was naturally a funny guy and that came out during his appearances at E3 and Nintendo Direct presentations. I also have a feeling that he was funny in person.

A Conclusion of Wonderful Memories

I may never have personally known Mr. Iwata, but the games he helped create brought me smiles for the entirety of my life. The games he and his team created explore everything it means to stay youthful and having simple joys in life. These games have brought together people of all ages and all nationalities to simply have fun.

So yes, I have never met Satoru Iwata, but I do feel a closeness to his ideals and dreams. I feel sadness in his passing, as if he had been a family friend. However, it’s this sadness that reminds me of the things he had accomplished and the mass amounts of joy he left for everyone in his games.

Let his whimsical nature live on in the people he’s touched over the many, many years of game development.

On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer. – Satoru Iwata

Rest in peace, Satoru Iwata, you will be missed and remembered.

Games and Software, Indie Pennant

Disciples of the Storm Brings a PC Classic into the Future

July 12, 2015 Alex McCumbers 1 Comment

Classic PC gaming has always been a bit of an enigma to me. I didn’t get a chance to spend time with Doom, Mech Warrior or Starcraft. Even during those times, PC gaming was more of a niche than it is today. Pirating was super easy and a norm for the culture. Players would often have access to the code and create mods or whole new games. While this culture has waned a bit, several servers are still active for these old games. Whole communities are still playing classics like Unreal Tournament or Quake. Lucky for gamers, these communities hold many talented people, which sometimes leads to full-blown independent game development.

Even though Halo and Call of Duty rule the multiplayer scene, Unreal Tournament still sees regular play. Gotta love PC gaming.

Kickstarter has been the breeding grounds for indie games. Many success stories bolster overnight funding with plenty of cash to use for even greater development than before. Usually, the titles that pay homage to older, well-loved franchises see the highest donations, such as Shovel Knight or Bloodstained. Following this trend, Storm Isle Productions hopes to keep its passion for the 1997 PC strategy game, Netstorm, alive with its newest title, Disciples of the Storm. It’s even working with some of the original developers of Netstorm!

NetStorm - Islands at War_8 — Players use a bridge system to create connections to other islands to capture, attack, and defend. Its widely interesting.

To truly understand where Disciples is coming from, I had to dig into Netstorm, a game I hadn’t even heard of until recently. After a few hours of playing it, I can understand why Storm Isle chose to revive it. For starters, the interface is silky smooth which is a must in these competitive strategy games. Each motion of the mouse, each placement of units, everything just feels modern. Mechanically, there are many interesting things at work; plenty of depth for each unit type and faction. Players must build bridges to the enemy floating isles to attack, while keeping their own island safe from invasion. However, bridges take time before they are sturdy. Players can be quick with their bridge building, but it leads to cracked designs that crumble over time. This creates a flow to matches that I haven’t witnessed in any other title.

Luckily, the game is free since it is abandonware and I can attest that it works smoothly in Windows 8, which means I’ll be looking to sharpen my skills soon.

Playing Netstorm really gives Disciples of the Storm new life. The amount of detail being put into each unit is astounding, considering the basic graphics of Netstorm. For instance, the golems were once lifeless blobs that called me master, but for Disciples, they take on new life.

Rain Golem Concept — Yeah, I don’t want this guy touching my priest.

What’s even better than this guy stomping over to capture enemy units? Each of the four planned factions will be getting unique designs, making them easy to distinguish when in battle. Each unit from Netstorm is getting a glorious upgrade, making them fit their faction’s theme and being a better fit for the game’s environments.
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rain power — Raining rain! From a lacerated raindrop!

The developers of this title have obviously spent a lot of time on Netstorm, judging from the amount of joy being put into each aspect of the game. These are players who not only remember a classic game, but they also want to share this experience with a new generation. I can’t wait to see how players use the bridge system to creatively attack and defend. What sort of crazy strategies will come out of it?

Either way, its sure to bring a smile to old and new players alike.

Disciples of the Storm is accepting support on Kickstarter.

I discovered this project while searching for people interested in the gaming industry who are active in my home state of West Virginia. I found a little group of folks who discussed and traded games, but one user stuck out. Nathan Hunt trumpeted constantly about this exciting project he was working on, often showing models, environments, and the like for Disciples of the Storm. This lead to our connection, as there is very little to note for the game industry going on in WV. Since then, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the project, counting down the days til the Kickstarter. It’s been an eye-opening experience for me, as I thought game design was merely a hobby in WV. As I’d hoped, there are developers making awesome games everywhere, even WV.

Because of this, I challenge everyone to find local game designers, writers, video producers, and gamers and make a connection. Community is what makes being a gamer so awesome. We make lifelong friends through sharing these wild experiences that no other medium has.

Go forth my fellow Giga Geeks! Make connections!

Game File, Games and Software

Final Fantasy VII-2?

June 29, 2015 Alex McCumbers

Following E3, I found myself bringing up the Final Fantasy VII remake to everyone I know. The announcement was one of the most exciting moments of E3 that I’ve ever witnessed; it turned three grown men into squealing children. Over lunch, a friend and I were discussing the fact that Square Enix has said that the official title will be revealed at the end of the year, which raises some questions. While most will be anticipating FFVII HD Remix or something similar, the possibility of something more is present. My friend jokingly claimed, “It will be like their last big game. Final Fantasy VII-2.” That statement, while enormously funny, blossomed into a couple theories.

A Rewritten Story

Even though this game holds a special place in the hearts of millions of people, its obvious that the story could’ve been delivered more effectively. Sure, the plot was fairly complex for the time and the characters were interesting. Yet, in a modern gaming environment, the current script would be unacceptable. Compare VII to Telltale’s The Walking Dead, a game that relies solely on the story and the wording of each line of dialogue, which makes Final Fantasy seem like a poor fan fiction. The Walking Dead revitalized a whole genre, using clever dialogue, characterization, and moral dilemmas that rarely left a safe decision. As such, it’s safe to expect a more in-depth narrative in the new Final Fantasy VII.

Reworking the script could expand the world and characters we’ve come to know and love. Think of the depth it could have. Each exchange could be more dynamic, more meaningful. It would be a damn waste to do otherwise. Yet, even though I want these well-deserved changes to the script, I would love to see the classic script as an option.

A Sequel

Square Enix is still getting over the sickness of sequel-itis. When Final Fantasy X was given a sequel, many were skeptical and most critics considered it ridiculous. A console generation later, Final Fantasy XIII was released, a solid flop critically and financially, lacking major components that the series was built upon. Not only did Square try to patch things up with a sequel, but a third title as well. Therefore, Square Enix making a straight up sequel to Final Fantasy VII would, unfortunately, fit their pattern.

Would this benefit FFVII? Possibly, but the game would have to be handled very carefully for it to work. A consideration of the game’s current canon would also have to be considered, especially when several games have already been made in its world. It would be interesting to see how the world has changed since the times of Dirge of Cerberus. I’m not sure this would be the best course of action for the game, but it is a possibility I’m willing to mull over. This could also be a chance to bring characters from the expanded canon into the picture; I would love to see Cloud go up against the likes of Genesis.

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Something about the trailer seems like it could be running in the same engine as the Final Fantasy XV demo seen earlier this year. This is more apparent from the angle in which Cloud and Barret are captured. It seems like the player could pick up from there, running down the steamy streets of Midgar.

This slowly led me to imagine playing as Cloud and fighting off waves of enemies in real time, just as I’ve done as Noctis. Think of the cinematic style of Advent Children, made playable. This theory may be a bit of a stretch, but considering the developers are in their twilight, a new way to play would be an interesting and challenging angle for the game.

A True Classic in Every Sense

I’ve always been a big advocate of playing older games. Often times I avoid picking up newer titles, just because I enjoy the classics much more. However, I’m also a fan of being creativity and taking risks in an industry that has a tendency to be stagnant for many years at a time. One can chart out the patterns gamers have seen over the years, and when games break those conventions it makes those instances that much more memorable.

I loved Final Fantasy VII, even though I agree that it hasn’t aged as well as other titles in the series. Yet, I would love to see the new project—whatever it may become—developed with creative liberty.

Final Fantasy VII being remade was seemingly an impossibility, dangled in front of the noses of fans like a carrot in front of a starving horse. Always, rumors would flood the internet and tech demos were shown and denied, but it finally seems like players will be able to visit Midgar once again.

Yet, if this title never comes to fruition, I will know true despair.

Game File, Games and Software, Industry Now

The Best of E3 2015

June 22, 2015 Alex McCumbers

E3 has always been one of the most exciting events for gamers everywhere. It’s a prime opportunity for developers to show their latest work and for journalists to become nocturnal. Ever since the days of G4, in which Sessler and Webb reigned supreme, I’ve huddled around the tv, full of anticipation. Each expo brings showmanship, new technology and, most importantly, more games.

Although E3 has settled down over the years due to it being closed to the public, it remains the most exciting event in the industry. The following list is a collection of things that blew me away this year, but feel free to share with us your favorite moments.

5). Minecraft Hololens

Hololens was announced before E3, but never before had a live audience been able to experience this amazing tech. By using a special camera that projected the experience, Microsoft proves just how capable and viable Hololens is. This presentation also showed off the showmanship of the Microsoft staff, making them fun to watch. Buying this intellectual property was a good move for the company as Minecraft has been a milestone in gaming history; Hololens will hopefully take that one step further.

4). Horizon: Zero Dawn

One of the most unique games to come out of E3 2015 was Sony’s reveal of Horizon: Zero Dawn. Thematically, the game combines elements from prehistoric times and a bleak, robot ruled future. The gameplay shown is awe-inspiring as the main character stalks what is presumably a food critter, only to be intercepted by a metallic T-Rex. Battle ensues, as the heroine is forced to take the beast down. It appears players will have to use weapons created from scraps scattered around the world and slowly dismantle the defenses of large creatures, all while trying to survive. Hopefully more information on this dynamically different game will be revealed soon.

3) Nintendo World Championships

Before the days of online multiplayer and getting pentakills, players had to physically attend tournaments, often traveling thousands of miles and having to record their skills on tape to enter. One of the most notorious of these early events was the Nintendo World Championships. These competitions had players playing a special tournament cartridge with several challenges built in. These cartridges are now sought after by collectors, being some of the most expensive games on the system.

Unfortunately, the World Championships faded into nostalgic obscurity, the last one held in 1990. However, in 2015 Nintendo comically announced the classic event is coming back. It was awesome.

Players, hand picked by Nintendo for various reasons, competed in Splatoon, Metroid Prime: Blast Ball, Mario Maker, and more to be crowned the champion. Each player brought out awesome skills for each game, making every moment exciting.

Hopefully this event becomes an annual tradition.
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2) Final Fantasy VII

Sony floored its audience with a single trailer.

While most believe this reveal to mean that one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time will finally get a remake, I’m convinced that there could be more to the story. I’ll elaborate more on my theories in a later post. More official information will be shared this winter.

Fallout 4

Before E3 officially began, Bethesda held its press event—one of the best presentations I’ve seen in a long time—showing off titles like Dishonored 2 and Doom. Their energy was abundant, the games were fantastic, and the fans were loving every second of it. Of course, everyone patiently waited for Fallout 4.

I had my doubts about the project after the trailer was released. However, I was completely blown away by what was shown at E3. The sheer amount of content being jammed into this game is staggering. Combat will be streamlined, fitting more in line with a shooter than an RPG, while retaining the classic elements established in past installments. Random junk is no longer just fun to horde as each piece can be used to construct other things. Many, many aspects of the game can be personalized from armor to weapons and beyond. Mods will also be playable on the console versions, even though the Xbox One will be getting them before the PS4.

While my list of improvements may seem like a lot, the official list of what’s being added is several pages long. Seriously. Not only that, but the collector’s edition of the game comes with a working Pit Boy that can be connected to a smart phone. Its everything I’ve ever wanted from the Fallout franchise, presumably. We won’t know till the game comes out in November, but its not going to stop this title from being another Bethesda masterpiece.

To truly experience what’s been revealed for Fallout 4, watch the video below.

Now that E3 has come and gone, I feel that there are true strides being made in the gaming industry. I do wish someone would teach Square Enix how to do a proper gaming presentation, but I digress.

Game File, Games and Software

Fallout 4’s Announcement Trailer is Lackluster

June 8, 2015 Alex McCumbers 1 Comment

Before being treated for third degree burns from the flaming I’m going to get, let me lay out my thoughts. First off, I love the Fallout franchise and have even gone as far as to explore the series roots in the older PC titles. The series has had some fantastic writing over the years, with deep moral questions that hit players hard. Couple that with a post-apocalyptic setting, great humor, and references to pop-culture, Fallout is a series that will stand the test of time as a classic.

However, I will say that through the years there has been a lack of a truly unique experience from title to title. Sure, the gameplay mechanics changed drastically when Bethesda released Fallout 3, but the art direction of the game has barely budged over years of titles. This is horribly apparent when comparing Fallout: New Vegas to Fallout 3.

Each environment feels empty, barren, as they’re supposed to feel, but they also lack the depth the series so desperately needs. There was a nuclear war, there’s a monologue about the history so far, and a vault is seen closing. Each game is fundamentally similar. In fact, many assets were reused in New Vegas, which makes the trailer for Fallout 4 unsettling for me.

When I found the countdown on Bethesda’s site, I immediately set an alarm for the reveal. That morning, I sprang up, downed a cup of coffee, ate some Cocoa Wheats, and waited patiently. When the trailer finally started to play, I immediately asked, “Wait, are they re-releasing Fallout 3?” Even as I said that to myself, the chat on Twitch reflected my thoughts. Thousands immediately feared the same. While I wouldn’t say no to playing Fallout 3 again (in fact, shortly after the trailer I bought the complete edition on Steam), I was worried that after all this time there wasn’t going to be a new game.

At the end of the trailer the large font announced that what I had just saw was in fact Fallout 4. Not only was I not impressed, I was kind of peeved that I had woken up early for it. Needless to say, I went back to bed.

yn7vX9gKUDv3.840x0.Vdef9Kkm — After the trailer finished, I compared my feelings to that of a wandering Deathclaw.

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Another problem I had was the direction of the trailer. Instead of showcasing what gamers could expect for the new game, the trailer looked like a glorified Machinima project. Camera pans were jerky, animations lacked polish, and characters looked lifeless. The only saving grace for the trailer was the expanded color palette, which does bring some new layers to the Fallout formula.

Fallout-4-8 — Notice the lack of a brown filter, boy?

Finally, the way the trailer was hyped didn’t match what was actually shown. The countdown promised something new, profound. Yet, many fans were left confused. I worry that this trailer may be what it is due to the leaking of information on the game. It feels like a rushed job in response to the leaks.

While I was disappointed by this trailer, I do have hope for the game’s full release. Bethesda is having their own press event for E3 on June 14, 10 p.m. EST, which is great considering how much information is lacking for Fallout 4.

I will say that I would ignore my major complaints so far, as long as there is a plethora of game content on the way. Rumors have said that Massachusetts will be one of the largest maps seen in Fallout history. I’m hoping for more depth to each area, instead of more steps to take alone. There also has to be some new creations. Fallout has plenty of room to expand and evolve, Bethesda just needs to take some risks.

2012-11-10_00001 — Ah, mods. Breathing life into games since the early 80s.

Even though I’ve got a terrible taste in my mouth from the trailer, I can’t wait to see what Bethesda has in store for their press event. Here’s hoping the wasteland will be a bit more interesting this time around. Till then, I’ll be exploring the modding community. Maybe they have something new.