My Growing Excitement for Bioshock Infinite

Bioshock Infinite was released on Tuesday, but those who share my affinity for the midnight launch ran out at midnight on Monday to charge, not into Rapture, that slumbering underwater dystopia, but to Columbia, floating sky city of tomorrow. Well, as envisioned by the academic elite of 1911 anyways. Clearly it’s a stark departure from what we’re used to in exploring the art deco halls of Rapture, but my excitement couldn’t be more overstated right now. This, I very much believe, will set the standard for immersion and storytelling in gaming and here’s why. Ken Levine is back Bioshock 2 was good. Very good, in fact. But it didn’t quite have the magic of the original. And I believe a big part of that was not having Ken involved. It’s not uncommon for publishers in any medium to rush a sequel of a proven success and while Bioshock 2 was carefully constructe and faired better than most, there was something missing and I’m glad to see the original vision of the Bioshock series is returning in Infinite. The sky is the limit One of my good friends told me recently that Infinite looked horrible on account of being a floating sky city. I can understand that position because of the radical departure from the world of Rapture, but I feel like there is a TON of potential here that the hesitant should consider. For starters, being set 40 or so years before the original allows for a alot of development and throwbacks to the characters we’re used to. Hopefully we’ll see the origins of some of the characters we came to love in Bioshock 1 and 2 like Andrew Ryan, Sophia Lamb, Fontaine, Tenenbaum, and so forth. This could enrich the mythos considerably or,...

Seasonal Gaming: Josh’s Picks for Spring [Game On]

After months and months of steel gray skies here in Columbus I just can’t fathom another day of the biting flat-land wind gusts. However, it occurred to me that the games I play tend to synchronize with the seasons in either theme or presentation.  With spring (thank God) rapidly approaching, it got me thinking about what types of games I’ll likely be re-visiting and also which ones I’m excited about.  So, between shooting The Packrat Show and contributing here on FaN, what will I be popping in for Mr. Sunshine’s return?  Read on for a couple of my old favorites and then a quick look at two titles I’m really excited for this spring. Viva Piñata Incestuous undertones aside, Viva Piñata was a surprise favorite for me.  The sickeningly bright color scheme and undeniable cuteness of raising baby piñatas in a beautiful garden you can customize however you’d like was immediately appealing to me. Its dream-like orchestral score combined with fun mechanics that blend a little bit of Sim City with a little bit of Pokemon made for an experience that would satisfy even the most ambitious achievement whores. It’s also a great way to unwind after a rough day, admiring the serenity of the zen-like oasis you’ve crafted for your piñatas. I crushed the original Viva Piñata a while back (which, I guess describing it that way lets you know what kind of gamer I am) and am very much looking forward to finally digging into the sequel, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise.  But, I won’t indulge until the weather goes back up to the 70s because playing a game this adorable indoors just doesn’t feel right in the dead of winter. Eternal Sonata Released in 2007 from Namco Bandai, Eternal Sonata is...

What Console Makers Can Learn from Apple [Game On}

With Nintendo recently posting some horrible losses, a lot of which can be attributed to the rise in iOS gaming popularity, it occurs to me that if Apple really does plan on making a foray into gaming, there are some things that Nitntendo, Sony, and Microsoft can do to prepare for this by learning from Apple’s past successes.  Things like… Have an Ecosystem (Or Join One) Apple makes beautiful devices.  Simple, elegant, and highly functional. However, pristine as the iPad might be, it wouldn’t be very drool worthy if not for the variety of content available on it. I’m directing this point particularly toward Nintendo. For years they’ve hamstrung themselves with lackluster online experiences and clunky marketplace offerings. Making matters worse is that the bulk of their content consists of rehashed first party titles from years past that we’ve already purchased on another system Microsoft and Sony had a little more foresight here.  Both offer the ability to purchase movies, music, and games.  The meteoric rise of indie games is at least partially thanks to Microsoft’s outstanding support of 3rd party developers on its system. The difference between Apple and Nintendo is that while they’re similar in their pursuit of end-to-end integration, Apple’s model is more adept at leveraging the creativity of self-starters with its lush support of iOS development. Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication While motion controls were novel at their debut, Sony and Nintendo’s offerings looked archaic next to Microsoft’s Kinect. It had largely the same capabilities, but the package was more enticing without multiple accessories, batteries, and add-ons being required to make the experience fun. The same can be said of game design to a degree. Angry Birds is an astoundingly simple premise — slingshot birds to eliminate pigs. Five words. Done. In an age where...

5 Reasons I May Pass on Nintendo’s Wii U [Game On]

In case you haven’t heard, Nintendo is prepping to launch its next gen system, the Wii U.  Normally I run out and buy nearly every gaming system at launch.  I actually waited overnight in a tent to get a Nintendo Wii with my friend in 2006 and was enthralled with the new system.  However, this time around I have some reservations that are putting me off.  For starters… 1. The Controller While an iPad-like interface sounds good on paper, in practice I see nothing but a nuisance here.  Nintendo’s new controller is supposed to look like this- “But Josh, look at it!  It’s like something out of the future!  Imagine the possibilities!” I agree, it’s certainly forward thinking, but just because a piece of technology is advanced, that doesn’t make it ideal for its proposed application.  I’ve no doubt many cool things can and will be accomplished with this new interface, but I also see a lot of pitfalls that aren’t being addressed. For example, laying a tablet in your lap or resting it on your knee is comfortable enough, but holding it up like a game controller seems painful, especially for extended play sessions.  Comfort aside, how much will one of these beasts cost?  I was irritated enough at the repeated cost of controllers and nunchuks on the Wii, so how much will this set me back? If that weren’t enough, look at the features on this thing: built-in accelerometer, gyroscope, speakers, front-facing camera, sensor strip, microphone and a 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) 16:9 resistive touchscreen That’s a lot of features!  However, what kind of havoc will all of these goodies wreak on battery life?  If I want to gorge myself on Doritos while I’m on a 4-hour Castlevania tear will I even...