Tag: Video Games

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End the isolation with A Way Out – The Gamer in me GL-27

The return of Couch Co-op

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I remember a time when the most popular video games were all shared screen, or split screen.  Whether competitive or co-operative they all shared one thing in common.  They were enjoyed as a group.  Everyone found a spot on the couch, or floor and prepared themselves for hours of video game domination.  I’ll never forget the ridiculous four port splitters required to play four player dungeon crawlers.  There were wires absolutely everywhere.  The graphics weren’t great, and the more players that played increased the likelihood of frame rate issues.  Games would freeze, or totally crash two hours in when the game consoles got too hot.  To prevent it from happening I purchased one of those external fans that clipped to the back of the game system.  Even with all those issues we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  What made it special was the shared experience.

Developed by Hazelight, and produced by Electronic Arts – A Way Out is banking on the appeal of those classic Co-operative games.  They believe that the shared experience is what makes a game special.  Even if it has a few flaws.

Buy 1 get 1 free

Something that’s totally unique about how A Way Out is being sold.  A Way Out cannot be played solo.  It requires a second player.  Now you might have assumed that it was a crafty sales trick to get somebody who purchases the game to talk their friends into buying it as well.  Well that’s not the case.  When you purchase a copy it includes a fully playable download that you can give to your gaming partner.  It allows them to play the game as the other character online with you.  Of course you can always play couch co-op split screen.  I haven’t played the entire game, but ivI’ heard that it takes roughly 8 hours to complete.  So playing online might be the best way for many to complete the game easily.  Providing the additional download wasn’t necessary.  Electronic Arts could have just forced everyone to buy a copy.  I see this as a very smart marketing move though.  As a video game enthusiast and blogger I keep up on what’s new.  When I mentioned the upcoming release of A Way Out to some of my friends.  Not all of them were aware of it.  Those that were aware, were split between those that were buying it, and those that weren’t.  By providing the free playable download, Electronic Arts will effectively double the number of Players.  If the game is even moderately successful.  The next co-operative game they release will have a larger audience.  They have turned their customers into salespeople.  And who’s more passionate about the games they create than the people that play them?

Attractive Pricing

As a Canadian I’m getting accustomed to paying upwards of $80 for a single video game.  Feels like highway robbery to me.  I’m sure many of you feel the same way.  It takes a lot of hype, great reviews, and an interesting type of game to encourage me to buy it on Day one.  Well at only $40 for A Way Out the choice to purchase it was far easier.  Especially when it includes a partner copy.  Even if it ends up being a bit of a flop.  It becomes a little easier to stomach when it’s only half the price of most new releases.  Lets be honest, there haven’t been many marquee releases yet this year.  While you are waiting for something like the sequel to your favourite franchise to come out.  Why not give A Way Out a try.  It isn’t an exceptionally long game, and one of your friends will owe you one to boot.

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Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – The Gamer in me GL-26

Act fast 

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This is the final day for PS Plus members to download Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.  Every month that passes with uninspiring releases has me looking to see what’s available for free through my PS Plus membership.  For February of 2018 the marquee title for download was Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.  If you are like me, and very selective about the games you purchase.  Then there’s a very good chance that you took a pass on Deus Ex: Mankind Divided when it first released in 2016.  Unless of course you were a dedicated fan of the Deus Ex franchise.  I played the original Deus Ex on PC many many years ago, and loved it.  Unfortunately the first Deus Ex release on Consoles flopped.  Poor reviews due to frame rate issues, confusing controls, and average graphic capabilities had me decide against giving it a try.  A few follow up releases came out over the years, and by the time Mankind Divided dropped in 2016 the reviews were glowing.  Everyone seemed impressed by Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.  Still I wasn’t invested in the franchise, and there were titles releasing around the same time that really had my interest.

Time to take a second look

Thanks to my PS Plus membership I’ve finally taken the opportunity to give Deus Ex: Mankind Divided a chance.  I’m so happy i did.  Keep in mind that I have played only about three hours of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.  In those three hours I’ve realized that for a story driven game designed to lead you from mission to mission.  Deus Ex: Mankind Divided doesn’t feel linear at all.  The freedom you are given to decide how you intend to reach each objective.  The number of side missions that aren’t just mild distractions, and can actually effect your chances of success in story missions.  How each cybernetic upgrade can lead to an increase in what’s possible with the surrounding environment.  You can’t help but feel like you are always in total control of your fate.  Something that’s sorely lacking in most mission based “open world” games.

Prague never looked so cool

The version of Prague that’s been successfully created by Square Enix can best be described as a Cyberpunk Gothic supercity.  It looks fantastic on a big screen TV.  It would be a great injustice to play Deus Ex: Mankind Divided on a small monitor.  Special attention has obviously been placed on surround sound quality as well.  I felt truly immersed in everything happening around me because of the attention to detail.  Although it could become a little overwhelming to the more obsessively compulsive gamers.  The Prague that Square Enix has created has an endless number of places that can be explored.  Every sewer grate that can be lifted. Every window that can be unlocked.  Every pole or drainage pipe that can be climbed.  Moving from street, to balconies, to rooftops where additional areas can be found to explore.  If you are the type of Gamer that needs to find absolutely everything?  Well it’s going to be a long tedious process.  Play Resident Evil if that’s your thing.  A game that actually rewards you for doing it all.  Deus Ex: Mankind Divided doesn’t care what you do, or how you do it.  All of those aforementioned options are there to provide you with choices for how you would like to accomplish a particular objective.  See them as such, and you will enjoy the game that much more.

Quiet Chaos

One of the primary reasons that I am enjoying Deus Ex: Mankind Divided so much is of course the gameplay.  I’ve never been the type of Gamer that enjoys high intensity shooters.  Running from cover to cover while strafing, and performing super jumps is definitely not my thing.  Tom Clancy’s The Division with small unit coordinated attacks? YES. Halo in jumpsuits in close quarters maps? NO.  Deus Ex: Mankind Divided where stealth and misdirection are as important as the occasional gunfight?  HELL YEAH!  Now I’m not saying that you can’t succeed by shooting first, and asking questions later.  You can do that, if that’s your thing, and that’s the beauty of it.  Deus Ex: Mankind Divided allows you to play the game however you like to play it.  I wish more games were designed the same way.

Do yourself a favour and take the opportunity to download this game.  Trust me you won’t be disappointed!

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GAMING

What’s next? The Gamer in me GL-25

Been there, done that.

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I’ve been a Gamer for what feels like forever now.  Video Games have managed to take up a significant amount of my free time.  From the first generation of home game systems to PS4 and Xbox One, I’ve played them all.  From a competitive stand point Sony leads the way outselling Microsoft by akmoal 2 to 1.  Nintendo has put themselves back on the map with the Nintendo Switch.  The fastest selling handheld game system ever.  Although it’s the newest system on the market there’s nothing particularly ground breaking about the technology that’s in it.  Actually none of the big three manufacturers have really pushed the limits with their current systems.  Probably the most advanced of the three is the addition of PlaystaPlay VR to the PS4.  Of course you can now play virtual reality games on some cellphones.  It’s not as though the Game systems are lagging behind current technology.  They are actually taking full advantage of what’s available.

Therein lies the problem

With sales of current generation Gaming Systems apparently flatlining.  The question that’s being asked more and more often is when the next generation of Games Systems will be released?  In the past when next generation systems were being proposed people got excited.  I remember the feeling of anticipation well because I have been an early adopter of new Systems for quite some time.  The thing is that people had good reason to be excited because the current systems used to be far behind the capabilities of the current technology.  The problem Game system manufacturers face now is that there’s nothing new to offer.  Best possible picture quality available today is 4K/HDR.  Can a current game system reproduce that?  The answer is yes.  Virtual Reality gaming? Check.  Local multiplayer and online multiplayer capabilities? Yep got that too.  Massive storage space to make your game library portable?  Absolutely no problem.  About the only thing a Game system manufacturer could offer the consumer to entice them to buy a new system is access to the newest games.  Limit New releases to being available for the newest system only.  Thus forcing the consumer to having to buy the newest system.  Even though the capabilities of the newer system aren’t actually superior to the previous generation.  That’s a scary thought.  To pull it off they would have to offer marquee titles exclusively through their own development house, or get the independent software developers on board.  Not an easy thing to accomplish, but not impossible.

On the horizon

So what should we really expect to happen?  Well what you should expect is that as newer Audio/Video technology becomes available.  Game System manufacturers will look to release their latest system along with it.  As someone who has worked in the Audio/Video field for many years i can confidently inform you that there isn’t any breakthrough technology on the way.  As far as Video resolution is concerned, 4K is about as good as it gets.  I don’t doubt that 6K, and possibly even 8K screens are on the way.  The problem with that is our eyesight can’t reasonably discern the difference between 4K and 8K.  The pixel density is already so high at 4K that anything more looks the same.  Actually the greatest step forward in Video quality occurred when HDR was introduced.  The thing about HDR is that it really only requires a high quality screen that can reproduce the Contrast and Colours.  As long as the source (digital download or Blu-ray) contains an HDR game.  All the Game system requires is the necessary software, and processing power.  Current generation systems either already have it, or could easily add it through a software update.

Need not Greed

The best we as consumers can hope for is that the Game systems manufacturers continue to invest in their current hardware.  Offering add-ons like Playstation VR, or high quality gaming controllers to increase their revenue.  Maybe even offering major software upgrades as an option for a cost.  The only thing I don’t want is a PS5, or Xbox Two that does exactly what my PS4, or Xbox One does now.

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Tom Clancy’s The Division revisited – The Gamer in me GL-24

A blessing to be bored

I keep waiting for a new PS4 game to grab my attention and really wow me. For the last few months nothing really has. So today I found myself reaching into the Blu-ray cabinet for an old favourite, Tom Clancy’s The Division. Tell you what, I am damn glad I did. If you haven’t read some of my earlier posts. You might be unaware of the primary reason I waited in line one very early morning to purchase my PS4 on release day. I pre-ordered my PS4 from Futureshop, and although I was practically guaranteed my console provided I arrived before noon. The two games I would get to take home with me weren’t guaranteed. Each game was subject to availability, and the sole reason I wanted a PS4 on day one was to play Tom Clancy’s The Division. Well what I would soon find out is that without any prior warning a number of the day one releases had been delayed. Sony was worried that the significant number of games that had been promised on day one were reduced enough to scare people away from making a purchase. If you ask me they were probably right. I for one wouldn’t have pre-ordered a PS4 if I knew that my first two games would be Need for Speed Rivals and Injustice Gods among us. A couple of truly shitty games in my opinion. I spent the next three months after playing my favourite PS3 games. What made matters worse was the game I truly wanted got delayed multiple times over a couple years.

Would my wish be answered?

When I finally got to play Tom Clancy’s The Division my initial interest and expectations were thankfully met. It remains to this day one of the best designed games I’ve ever played. Even the Dark zone which has had it’s fair share of issues, and balance problems couldn’t ruin it for me because the primary campaign is totally playable and fantastic without it. It has the perfect balance of Story, realism, and arcade elements to make it feel challenging, but remain fun. Graphically it’s stunning. Many open world campaign shooters tend to feel monochromatic. Although the colours are subtle in The Division, they are still very present. The game rewards Players of a high arcade style skill level, but is equally playable by Players that take a more realistic tactical approach. Generally I’m not a big fan of first person or third person shooters. I find them too unrealistic, or chaotic in most cases. Successful franchises like Halo, or Battlefield are probably why so many game designers have chosen to go that way. Tom Clancy’s The Division has moments of intense action which can feel a little chaotic at times, but in doing so never feels unrealistic. The intense, and occasionally over the top sequences fit the story, and serve as a reminder that not all in this world is totally familiar.

If it isn’t obviously apparent to you by now, I’ll just say that I was hooked. I played it as much as I could for a couple months and completed the campaign. Then like most games I’ve truly enjoyed it found it’s way into my Blu-ray cabinet. Expansions were released, but I was already on to something else. Quite a few of my online friends I played The Division with, had already moved on to playing Destiny. Although a marquee game in it’s own right. Destiny was a game that I made a conscious decision to avoid because it seemed to require too much of a time commitment. I prefer solitary games or games that I can enjoy online with 1-3 friends for a few hours every now and then. Destiny just doesn’t fit what I’m looking for out of a game. Although the Division does require groups to complete some of the missions. The majority of the game can be played by yourself, and with a couple friends or strangers online when need be.

HOW IT FEELS TO REVISIT THE GAME.

There have been a number of updates since the game was originally released.  They have managed to improve an already excellent game.  Additional gameplay modes, new equipment to be found, and additional areas to explore.  Honestly they didn’t have to change a thing for me, but the additions are totally welcome.  I had already started a second campaign months ago so I started out a little buffed already.  What I wasn’t ready for was how realistic the recoil system was, and how engaging and smart the AI can be.  In other words I was rusty and ready to have my ass handed to me.  Oh and I definitely did.  Should have changed my name to respawn.  A few deaths later, and I was back to kicking gang banger ass.  It feels good to be back.

If you haven’t played Tom Clancy’s The Division, well now is a great time to give it a try.  If you own it like me but haven’t tried it since the most recent updates.  I suggest you load it up, and give it a go.  I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.

 

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GAMING

A Gaming Holiday Hangover – The Gamer in me GL-22

It’s sooo tempting to play what’s new!

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During the holidays there’s ample opportunity to play any number of games.  If you are a dedicated gamer like me then you probably received a couple new games as gifts.  Your friends were off from school or work so it was the perfect time to go online and coordinate some Destiny boss runs, or get together for a Board game night.  You probably played more games over the last couple of weeks than you had the last couple of months before.  Now that you have been sufficiently spoiled you can’t help but want to keep playing.  You probably have a new favourite.  Like the next Season of your favourite show on Netflix you can’t wait to binge play it.  Of course what happens when you quickly finish that current Season on Netflix?  You suffer a form of withdrawal when it’s over.  Nothing else you watch seems worthy.  Well even though games don’t suddenly end.  Playing too much of a favourite game can quickly render it unplayable.  I don’t care how much you love a particular game.  If you don’t give it a rest every once in a while you’ll quickly tire of it.

Like it or not it pays to switch genres

Different types of games require different skills.  Games can excite our imagination, fuel our competitive nature, challenge our intellect, and at times totally surprise us.  Of course most of all they’re entertaining.  Most of us excell at one or two particular types of games.  Focus on only the ones that you are best at, and you limit how entertaining games can be.  I’m not a big fan of First Person Shooters, but there have been a few that I actually loved when I tried them.  Some people wouldn’t even consider playing a Racing simulation style game.  Then you sit them down, and have them try out your gaming steering wheel, and they become hooked.  I’ve known people who dismissed Board games as a child’s distraction.  Then I talked them into playing a game of Roborally after a few beers, and they couldn’t stop playing until they finally passed out.  It might surprise you what games will surprise and entertain you.  So as much as you love the new game you got on Christmas.  Don’t keep playing it until you hate it.  Play something totally different every now and then.  Even if it doesn’t totally thrill you.  It will make going back to your favourite game that much more satisfying.

Don’t bully your buddies

Just because you are still available after Christmas doesn’t mean that your friends are.  For many this time of year is getting into their slow time at work.  The big sales are coming to an end.  The winter weather shuts down a lot of the outdoor activities and industry.  Even the Real estate, and home improvement markets slow down.  If this is a slow time for you?  It won’t be long before you are going stir crazy wishing you had a few more friends to game with.  Don’t message all of your gaming friends like a pyramid scheme direct marketer.  Your Best shot of getting a few friends together to play some games is to just let everyone know that you are available.  Trust me, just because they might be busy most of the time doesn’t mean that they aren’t interested in blowing off a little steam by having a games night.  When they have a free night, they’ll be happy to know that at least you are definitely available.  As long as you make a habit of showing up when invited.  You will probably receive enough invitations to to keep your gaming addiction under control.

As much as I hate winter, so do a lot of other people.  Staying indoors is the perfect excuse to try a few new games so get gaming!

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GAMING

The Dos & Don’ts of Family Gaming – The Gamer in me GL-21

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

Many of us will be spending a lot of time with our families over the holidays. The more time you spend with them the greater the chance that you will end up playing a few games.  Family Gaming can be absolutely great. Beware of making the classic mistakes that can turn a fun night into a warzone.

PROPER GAME SELECTION

Picking the right game to play with your family is key to having a successful day. There are an endless amount of choices so choosing the right game might not be as easy as you think. You can’t just open a pack of cards, and be done with it. Or can you? Card Games are a classic favourite with many families. A single deck of cards can provide hours of entertainment. So many different games can be played requiring minimal set up, and a rereading of the rules generally isn’t necessary. Everyone remembers how to play, and quite a few of the games require a fair amount of luck to win. The luck factor is very important. It means that one family member is unlikely to win every game. Well there you have it then. Cards are the perfect family game. Well hold on for a second. Not every card game is appropriate for a family get together.

Card Game Dos & Don’ts

As popular as Poker has become over the last decade. Suggesting that the family play Poker together over the holidays is a seriously bad idea. Everyone has a different amount of expendable income. Some people can afford to play Poker and lose. There are those that winning is really the only option. By suggesting a game of Poker you are essentially saying that you have money to burn, or you are arrogantly confident in winning. You also effectively exclude anyone who is feeling the holiday pinch in the wallet. Christmas is an expensive time for many. Don’t be a tool, and ask your family to gamble. If your family is familiar with four handed Euchre I would suggest that as maybe the perfect substitute. Four handed Euchre is played as two teams of two so you win or lose together. That also allows you to occasionally switch up the teams so stronger players can be paired up with weaker players creating balance. There is a bit of bluffing in Euchre. If you play to ten points like most people then you can put something trivial as a prize on the outcome. Winner gets a larger slice of pie, or the losers have to give a candy cane to the winners for each point they lost by. Whatever you decide Euchre provides the right combination of competition and friendly fun.

Board Game Dos & Don’ts

If your family prefers to play Board games. Choosing the right Board game is absolutely critical. Unlike Card games which are easy to pack up, or simply switch to another game if the current game your playing isn’t enjoyable. Board Games can require a lot of set up, a fair amount of time to play, and in some cases additional time to relearn the rules. I’m sure that most of you have started at least one game of Monopoly that never got finished. The same can probably be said about Risk. A quick note about Risk, don’t ever play Risk with an odd number of people. Doing so practically guarantees that an alliance will be created at some point in order to crush the individual that got off to a good start. This usually results in a lot of swearing, and in extreme cases a trip to the medicine cabinet. Keep a fair amount of Advil, and possibly some Band-Aids if you intend to play Risk. I’ve finished a few games of Monopoly in my lifetime, and I consider that to be one hell of an achievement. It takes an incredible amount of dedication, and patience from all involved to actually finish a game of Monopoly. Instead of Board games that require a lot of patience, strategy, and who knows how long to play. Choose games that are much shorter, and contain a random element like Snakes and Ladders, or Sorry. If you are from a family full of dedicated gamers then I would suggest bringing a cooperative Board game to play. That way you can all win or lose as a team. It also allows the most serious gamers to take on a greater role, and the occasional gamers to feel involved. Basically everybody wins. If you are unfamiliar with cooperative games I would suggest that you read my https://cobelife.com/competitive-or-cooperative-the-gamer-in-me-gl-20/

Video Game Dos & Don’ts

For many gamers it’s all about technology now. It doesn’t matter if you are a PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo fan. There are great games on all the different platforms that can be enjoyed by many. A favourite of mine that’s perfect for family occasions is the PlayStation Playlink game That’s You! Up to six people can play at once, and instead of using traditional game controllers each player uses an application on their cellphone. The game itself is very simple. The Players are presented with an example and each Player votes for which Player the example is most like. If you vote with the majority you earn points. For a more detailed review of That’s You check out my  https://cobelife.com/the-gamer-in-me-gl-8-thats-you/  Now on the flipside there are many games you should avoid. Honestly there’s too many to list, but the majority fall in to two categories; First Person Shooters, or Competitive Fighting Games. Seriously avoid the Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, and Halos of the video gaming worlds. Unless you want your family get together to be filled with trash talk, and a potential fight. Certain Sports games like Madden or FIFA fall under the Don’ts column as well. Do yourself a favour and take turns playing classic side scrollers, or racing simulators. Those games can be as much fun to watch as they are to play.

VIRTUAL REALITY IS HERE!

I’ll tell you where it isn’t though. At your family get together. If you were hoping to see your sister trip over her gift basket then play VR. If you would prefer to pretend that you aren’t with your family at all then play VR. If you were were hoping to see someone get disoriented and vomit well then set up the Virtual Reality. I’m sure you see what I’m getting at. Virtual Reality with the family is a huge Don’t! Maybe in a few years as the technology improves things will change, but for right now just no.

Hopefully my warnings, and suggestions will help make your family occasion that much better. All the best!