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Welcome to Untitled Gaming, repository for unfiltered, uncensored opinions on all things related to games, and best of it all, it comes from two adults that don't live in their mothers' basements. Additionally, we do not think it's the coolest thing in the world to scream racist and homophobic slurs, all in the name of drawing attention to our sad, little lives. We do other less obnoxious things to draw attention to our sad, little lives.

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Blaine's Other Blogs

20140130

2014: The 'MUST HAVE' games

So, here we are. We've culled through the games that are on my radar, but about which I have some concerns, the games that I've found enticing, about which I'm very curious, and am eager to see more before I buy, which brings us to today, in which we discuss the games that I WANT. NOW.

This is a shorter list than what I've previously presented in the past couple days. There are fewer questions here, a greater number of assumptions, and in all, a brief and definitive presentation of the future greatest games of 2014. If I'm wrong, then everything is terrible, and surviving this wretched winter is virtually all for naught.

Here we go. Buckle in.

The Elder Scrolls Online (PC)
This was a game that I initially disregarded, given my checkered and difficult past with the Elder Scrolls series, and Bethesda, in general. However, after having finally found that I was 'doing it wrong,' and coming to appreciate Bethesda's style, learning more about the game, and stuff that I can't discuss yet, I preordered the hell out this motherfucker last night. Imperial Edition, bitches.



This is difficult for me, since I'm trying to explain why I'm excited about this without disclosing details that are under NDA.

Let's do it like this. Everything I've seen in the publicly available videos and marketing materials tells me this is a true Elder Scrolls game. The difference between this and previous core Elder Scrolls games is that you can team up with your friends, and this thing looks huge. Since Daggerfall, we've been restricted to one huge area of Tamriel at a time, whereas this opens up several areas. I cannot wait to just explore and see what's out there.

I also like the setting, both in terms of time and story, as well, and the game just looks really, really nice. According to the publicly available videos and marketing materials.

If they have an open beta before release, I beg you to try it. If you're reading this, my assumption is that you have at least a modicum of sense, and will come around to my way of seeing things.

The last thing that makes me love this in advance is that it's subscription-based, which tells me that the quality of the game is something about which Zenimax cares. I'm done with F2P stuff, and have no interest in going back. I care more about substantial content releases than I do hats.

If they do drop the sub at some point, I'd like to see them adopt a model in which big chunks of content are purchased, a la Secret World, LotRO, or Guild Wars. I'd be good with that. F2P has all but chased me out of STO and SWTOR, and that was really disappointing. Both of those games had endless potential that was curbed sharply by the decision to add an F2P model.

In any case, five days before 4/4 can't some soon enough!

Pillars of Eternity (PC)
This was the first project I ever backed on Kickstarter. When I saw it was Obsidian getting back to their roots, I literally dropped what I was doing and backed it. And then drove my coworkers nuts with tales of Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, and Planescape: Torment while we were out to lunch, as those are the games being invoked in the design choices of this game (moreso the first two, while the further-away Torment: Tides of Numenera leans more on the, you guessed it, Torment design. That games look amazing, as well.)



I'm fascinated to see what the grand old style of PC RPG looks like today, how it plays, and how they've meshed that with today's modern RPG sensibilities.

What caught my attention the most was that it was a chance for Obsidian to operate without the meddling of a publisher, which seems to have hindered them in the past. Both KotOR2 and Alpha Protocol appeared to suffer from 'must meet release' date mentalities from their respective publishers. I'm excited to see these guys put their game where their mouth is, and I have a lot of confidence they can do it.

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt (PC)
It took a couple years for Geralt and I to come to terms with each other, but once we did, it was a partnership that I came to treasure, above all perhaps all other user-avatar relationships that I have.

The Witcher series speaks to me on a level that makes wonder why other development studios don't approach the concept of 'mature' storytelling the way this does. Everything in the Witcher games is there to serve the story and the experience. Nothing in these games cries out for controversy or attention. Rather, it's all components of a whole and complete storytelling experience. And, lemme tell ya, there's a lot of very 'adult' content, some of it rather gratuitous, but it all informs the tone and style of the storytelling.

Once I finally 'got' the first game, understood it, I was off to the races and plowed through every bit of content I could get my hands on. Once I was done, I dove into the mods, played those, loved them, and then felt a wave of depression come over me as I realized that The Witcher 2 was still a ways off.

Then, one glorious day, The Witcher 2 came out, and my video card howled in pain as I cried out in ecstasy. I consumed The Witcher 2 like a delicious Imo's Pizza, and then ... it was over. I wanted to fall to my knees and cry out, but I have hardwood floors, and I'm a bit heavyset, so that would've really fucking hurt. Instead, I turned my gaze back to my old BioWare games, and played some of that, but nothing could quite fill the void that had been left by completing all available Witcher content.

As each of the books has been slowly translated and released on Nook, they've brought a brief and all too-fleeting salve to my grievous wound, but nothing will compare to that moment when I'm back in Geralt's rough embrace.



That moment cannot come soon enough, but I've been assured that it will come this year. I'm already scoping out video cards.

Dragon Age: Inquisition (PC)
Before I talk about the game about which I'm the most excited for 2014, let's you and me get a few things straight right quick.

01. It has become fashionable to beat on BioWare. Yes, I've heard. I don't give a fuck. Do I think they've made some imperfect decisions in every one of their games? Oh, hell yes. Consider this, though. Is it possible that the quality of their games is so high that when they do make a decision most people don't like, it's all the more highlighted by the fact that everything else about the experience is orgasmically wonderful? All signs point to yes for me.

02. The Mass Effect 3 ending. Yes, it was shit. Up to that point, I was considering that I'd been playing what was arguably the best game I've ever played, and then that turd of an ending happened. The reaction from the community is what is typical when you have a large bag occupied with numerous smaller internet-infesting shitbags, and the whole thing got blown way out of proportion. Was the 'Director's Cut' (or whatever it was called) ending improve things? Yes. Was it made perfect by this patch? No. And that's okay. If BioWare stands by their artistic vision, even if I think the whole thing happened because they ran out of time to address the insane number of variables that could make up that ending, I'm okay with it. No one I care about in real life died, I still have a job, I still have a house, and it's time to move on.

03. It became especially fashionable to declare Dragon Age II as the worst game ever. This was a curious one. I really enjoyed it (on PC. I don't know why one would play this series on a console.) Was it as good as Dragon Age: Origins? Not even close. However, it was still a deeply enjoyable game that contributed a lot to the lore and larger story of the Dragon Age franchise. The majority of the core mechanics were still in place (for PC players), and the ridiculous reuse of assets and environments became a rallying cry for shitbags the world over. Morons. Do I hope for an experience that harkens back to DAO more than DA2? Yes. Do I also want new features? Yes. Do I still replay DA2 from time to time and enjoy the hell out of it? Yes.

All these gripes about your gripes lead me to believe that there's a lot of myopia when it comes to the average internet shitbag and their perspective on 'good' games. If a game lacks something that its excellent predecessor has, it must now, according to the average shitbag, be the worst game ever. What an odd and sad little world you've carved out for yourself.

Being a fan of the Dragon Age games, as well as the novels and comics, the Dragon Age universe is one with which I connect on a very deep level. There's something about the series that captures the same essence of 'I can't wait to see what happens next' that only KotOR has every captured for me.

From the storytelling to the combat, Dragon Age is my favorite game series ever, and everything I've seen about Inquisition has me ready to burst with excitement.

I'm keenly interested in the features that are new to the series, such as the more 'open world' structure, and the establishing of the Keep and what seem to be something like control points on the world map, that open up new areas for the user to explore.



My one potential disappointment is that PC players may not be able to directly import their save files, and may instead have to use the online system to 'create' an imported save. If that's true, that is a huge bummer, but one that I can easily overcome.

In all, DAI might be that game that I sheepishly take a day off work for, the day after it comes out (PC players, of any new release, always need to take the day after off, to get all the launch bugs and DRM worked out before they can play the best available version of the game.)

In closing ...
This is certainly shaping up to the best year ever in RPGs, and even if it was just the four games I talked about today, I would still have concerns about how I'm going to squeeze it all in, while still maintain that work-family-life balance.

And, hey, if I need to let it seep into next year, that's fine. Or not. Next year will have Mass Effect 4, Tides of Numenera, whatever the new Bethesda release is, and more and more and more.

Either way, too many good RPGs is a good problem to have. I look forward to having the best backlog ever.

What about you? What are you must-have games for 2014? Any thoughts on these? Lemme know!

As always, thanks for reading!

-Blaine

20140129

2014: The 'Curious' Games

I've often had pride in the fact that I'm not afraid to try something new. Whether it be a new Indian dish, a show that's not science fiction or fantasy, a band that is formed of guys that are not from a grunge-era band, or a girl that does not have red hair, I'll try anything once.

Where the consideration comes in for games, though, is two things. Time and money. To ask someone to invest $20-60 dollars AND a lot of their free time into something that's an unknown quantity, that's a big deal. Ask someone to do it several times in a year, and that's an even bigger deal.

Bear in mind, I'm not talking about n3wb-P3wn3r69, I'm talking about someone like me, that's semi-retired from the hardcore gaming scene, and just wants to enjoy himself, rather than have pride in having played every indie/hardcore release.

The games I'm talking about today are upcoming releases that I'm leaning toward buying, but more because I'm really interested in what the marketing and publicity has presented in terms of feature sets and story, rather than because they're part of a franchise I know and love.

Divinity: Original Sin (PC)
The Divinity series is one of which I've had an awareness, without really ever jumping in too deep. Yes, of course, I own every game in the series (thanks, Steam sales), but they keep getting brushed aside by something new and shiny before I can really sink my teeth in.

That changed a little last year, when Larian Studios released the mostly-excellent Divinity: Dragon Commander. However, that game is a sharp departure from the rest of the series gameplay-wise. I enjoyed it tremendously, for the most part, but had been waiting until the prequel to the series, Original Sin, was out before I really jumped in.



CONFESSION: I've already bought this game, so I suppose counting it as a 'Curious' game is a moot point. However, before playing the alpha, I was somewhat on the fence, despite having impulsively funded the game. Everything I knew about the series told me it was something right up my alley. The deep lore, the big worlds, the cool story, the solid combat.

The alpha, thus far, has confirmed that I will fucking LOOOVE the combat. Rather, I DO love the combat. Ever played a tabletop strategy game like Warhammer 40k? OK, there's your combat system. Were I saying this to me, I'd slap the person for daring to invoke the greatest combat system ever, and then hand over my money to Larian.

Where my curiosity mostly lies is in everything else in the game. What I've played of the alpha is pretty nice, but I'm curious to see how the rest of the presentation comes out, how the character builds are, and how the co-op works.

In all, I'm pretty excited.

Bravely Default (3DS)
Everything I've read and seen says that this is the Final Fantasy game we've been waiting for since the end of the PlayStation 1 era.



I just wish it was on any platform that wasn't 3DS.

Yeah, I could borrow my son's 3DS, and yeah, I also wanna play the new Phoenix Wright game on the 3DS, but ... it's still one more game platform I gotta buy. I am not excited about that.

Watch Dogs (PC)
Yeah, this isn't technically an RPG, but it sure has plenty of RPG elements, and I think this, rather than Thief, may be scratching the itch left by Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Also, I did my undergrad in Chicago, so I'm eager to see how closely they've rendered the real city.



Everything I have seen about this game blows me away, in particular, how much the user can use the environment around him or her to accomplish various goals. Promises like that, though, can sometimes underwhelm in their final implementation, as we've seen many times. Of course, it could also be the next DXHR.

Just please give me Steam achievements, and not just Uplay achievements.

And let me have my character take advantage of $.50 draft nights at the Parkway Tavern on Fullerton, if that's still a thing. Hell, if it isn't, make it a thing in the game. That was awesome.

Age of Decadence (PC)
I'm so excited about this game, I refuse to take part in the Steam Early Access. I don't want anything ruined for me before the finished product is out.

Turn-based, low magic, post-apocalyptic setting + an emphasis on choices and consequence? Where do I sign up? Oh, on Steam, it turns out. I've contemplated buying into the early access, just to help contribute to the game, and then not playing until it's done, but I know I'd be unable to resist just getting a taste. I don't want to have to replay anything in the final game. I'm so pumped, I want it all to just be new.



Curiously, though, it's been in development for, literally, 10 years, so I have some concerns about that. When you iterate on something that long, everything from the ideas to the tools you're using can become woefully outdated. That doesn't appear to be true here, especially since graphical fidelity doesn't appear to something with which they're very concerned, nor should it, for an old-school isometric game that still looks pretty decent.

What has me curious, and pumped about this game is the motivations and ideas behind it. Like I said, the interesting setting, plus the emphasis on choice really has me excited.

Wasteland 2 (PC)
And another 'old-school' PC RPG release, though this might be the biggest of them all. You like the Fallout series? Thank the original Wasteland.

To tell the truth, though, I've never played it. I know. It's true. It was released in 1988, when I was but a lad still cutting my teeth on Legend of Zelda.

This game features an overhead, rotatable view, turn-based combat, and a party of up to 7 people. The NPCs sounds pretty interesting, too, and seem like they're going to have a lot of logic dictating unique agendas on the part of the NPCs.



I will say, I'm fascinated by the resurgence of turn-based combat in these crowd-funded RPGs, and it tells me that there's an appetite for it out there. I know I've certainly missed turn-based combat. Frankly, I enjoyed both turn-based and real-time, but I like having both, and the turn-based games all but went away some time ago, at least in terms of the high-profile RPGs.

There's an early access version available on Steam for $60, but word on the street is that price will come down upon final release.

I'm heavily leaning toward getting this one, as well, but timing, if it slips all the way into the fall, when all my big boy games come out, may become a question. This game sounds beautifully huge, and rather demanding of time, but potentially worth it. We'll see when this actually comes out. It's in beta now.

Star Wars: The Old Republic (new content) (PC)
What an interesting couple of years and change it's been, SWTOR. I've stuck with you the whole way, and I'm still with you, but if you don't get some significant new story content, we're done this summer. It's not me, it's you. And ESO.

What about you? What games are you really curious about? What games have you just on the edge of preordering? Lemme know!

Thanks for reading! I'll be back tomorrow with my 'MUST HAVE' games of 2014!

-Blaine

20140128

2014: The 'Maybe' Games

When it comes to unreleased games, I tend to veer sharply in one of two directions.

On one hand, I'm stupidly loyal to series that are long past their expiration date. I've been that guy that's chugging down a gallon of curdled Final Fantasy releases for quite a while now, to the point where it's easier to beg them to stop that it is me.

On the other, I'm also pretty good at reading the tea leaves, and knowing when a game is going to be shit. See: Aliens - Colonial Marines. I've been at this long enough now that I can typically get a good feel based on not only what the publisher let's us see in advance, but also what they won't let us see in advance.

Sadly, though, #2 never overrides #1. Maybe we can change that this year.

Fable: Anniversary (Xbox 360)
I really enjoyed the first two Fable games, even if they fell well short of Molyneux's promises that they were going to be full life-simulators and that real children were going to literally burst forth from the original Xbox (it was about big enough to gestate a human embryo.)



I enjoyed them, and then finished them, and never envisioned a world in which I would ever go back and play them. Yes, this looks neat, and it has ACHIEVEMENTS, and yes, as I said, I really did enjoy the original game.

However, it has two strikes right out of the gate. One, I've already played this. Two, I can't play it on my Xbox One. Yes, my 360 is still hooked up in another room, but I don't like playing consoles, especially retired consoles, and while this looks kinda interesting, between my backlog and the crush of new releases this year, I'm leaning toward 'no.'

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy: XIII: 3: Lightning Again (Xbox 360)
This whole Final Fantasy XIII franchising thing has always had me scratching my head. My two least-favorite non-MMO numerical Final Fantasy games (X and XIII) both got the sequel treatment, and I've never understood this.

I don't think either is outright offensive, nor a bad game, per se, but there are much better Final Fantasy titles out there with which to build franchises.

Rather, there are better Final Fantasy titles out there with which to make true JRPG sequels, and not horrible third-person shooters that make children and cute animals cry tears of anguished blood.

Either way, Lightning is apparently Returning, and it looks like they've revamped the combat to be more action-oriented after 25 years of success with a more menu-heavy system. Why, you ask, would they do this? Well, it's obviously, uh, hmm, I, uh, well, it's obviously the next step in further alienating a once-tremendous fanbase. And we'll all still buy this shit, so there ya go.



But, it might be great. After the horrid story & characters (but awesome combat) that was Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2 was a pleasant surprise.

Honestly, I'll probably end up being a sucker bitch and buying it, but my logical Vulcan mind says that's a potentially stupid decision.

South Park: The Stick of Truth (PC)
This is one that should be on the 'Curious,' or even 'MUST HAVE' list, given it's blend of pedigrees.

Here's why it's not. Too many delays + change in publisher. Sometimes, when something's allowed to have too many hands changing core concepts over a period of time, the game can end up having a ton of cool features, none of which is particularly polished. This isn't to say it's doomed. It might be great, but I have to wait and see.

Also, it's Ubisoft, so the PC version might get delayed until god knows when.

BUT, it is being developed by Obsidian, which is usually a great thing, and a lot of the marketing has suggested that Matt Stone and Trey Parker are heavily involved.



I actually have a better feeling about this than I do my next game ...

THIEF (PC)
Yeah, it's not really an RPG, but DXHR came close, so I'm counting it.

This game is supposed to be great. It's the same studio, Eidos Montreal, that made Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and you'd think this game would be right up their alley. But ... the tea leaves have me worried. Between the lukewarm previews citing very specific issues with the game, and the studio GM bailing last year because of irreconcilable differences with Squenix ... ya gotta wonder ... it's too bad, because I wanna buy this game and love it. I loved DXHR. I like the Thief series quite a bit, too.



At the same time, some of the issues presented in the previews sounds pretty fucking nitpicky, so it may be alright. We'll find out in less than a month.

Final Fantasy XIV - new content (PC)
My paid time is running out in Eorzea, and as much as I didn't hate my experience there, I'm not sure my subscription to this game is going to survive my summer purge of MMOs, in which only sub will be left standing.

I don't like the lack of voice acting, and while the game itself is actually pretty decent, I'm guessing that its lack of narrative hook will end up dooming it for me.

We'll see, though. A substantial story-based release for the game could keep me in. Anything they can do to make it more a true 'Final Fantasy' game, but online, will make it very hard for me to dump. I'd love nothing more than to immerse myself in a real Final Fantasy world, and this game already comes pretty close, but ESO and SWTOR already have made stronger cases for my $15/month.

In closing ...
I don't want to be a negative Nancy, but these are games I want to want, and something about them makes me cautious, or has diminished my interest.

It is worth noting, too, that these games are all coming out soon, away from the releases in which publishers typically have more confidence. If something hits about this time of year, it indicates either a just-missed holiday release, or it's being dumped, to avoid competing with better games. Bigger releases typically crank up from April to June and then September to November. Games released outside of those windows, due to observed publisher habits, typically bear a little more scrutiny.

These could all be fine games, but have all, for various reasons, incurred a 'wait and see' attitude from me.

What say you? What are your thoughts on these games? You gonna take a chance on them, wait and see, or just avoid them altogether? Let me know!

Tomorrow, I'll be back with my 'Curious' games, the games that I'm very curious about, and am somewhat inclined on which to take a chance.

Thanks for reading!

-Blaine

20140127

Those Other 2014 RPGs and the Time I Don't Have to Play Them

I've been avoiding doing individual posts about the remaining RPGs of 2014 about which I'm excited because, frankly, I hate writing previews, especially when there are so many skilled and paid writers out there already doing exactly that.

Instead, I think I'll just dump them all here, tell ya a bit about why I'm excited for it, and let you take it from there. It's not a matter of sheer laziness. Rather, I already won't have time to play all these games, especially with the backlog I have.

Consider this. I got no time with Morrowind this weekend because I was attending a wedding this weekend in my wife's hometown, and the setup there, from a gamer perspective, is much like camping, but indoors. The internet is something that is referenced in everyday conversation, but in a longing and 'someday' manner. My cell phones search frantically for signal when I attempt to tether either the Alienware or Surface, and on occasion, I can find that one perfect spot in my in-laws' house, as if the Maker himself is beaming down a beautiful one-bar LTE signal, just for me.



This is also assuming that I can resolve some of the power issues I run into up there, but enough of this.

The point is, I've lost a weekend of Morrowind play time, one weekend out of 52 this year, and that is a staggering loss, when considering that I'd like to play the following this year:
That's a lotta big-ass RPGs. Oh, and as I've mentioned before, I'm employed full-time, married, and have children. Yeah.

I've not had a list like this in years. Not even close. If anything, my list of annual game purchases has been diminishing year after year, and then bam, 2014 hits, and I feel like I'm back to being a fresh college grad with a bachelor pad, old Final Fantasy preorder posters, and furniture that's been acquired via dumpster-diving. All I need now is a case of Icehouse and some Doritos, and I'd be 'back in the day.' I don't see my wife or employer going for that any time soon.

So, what's a grown-up RPG fan to do?



Maybe we can break these down into three categories, 'Maybe,' 'Curious,' and 'MUST HAVE.'

I'd like to be able to play new games this year, but intersperse my continued play-through of Elder Scrolls 3-5. I know. I know. One could fill a year with just those three Elder Scrolls games, but I'm an ambitious fellow.

So, this week, I think I'll break them down into each category. Tuesday, we'll talk the 'maybe' games, Wednesday, the 'curious' games, and then, Thursday, we'll talk the 'MUST HAVE' games.

What about you? What am I leaving off that should be on here? What games are in those three groups for you? How would you break these games down into those groups? Leave your comments below!

No matter what I do, it's going to be a great year for RPGs, maybe the best we've ever seen. Lots of variety, and a strong blend of both quality AND quantity.

Thanks for reading.

-Blaine

20140123

I'm Old and I Game Like It

One of the things I've enjoyed about aging (I'm now in my mid-30s) is that my tastes have slowly narrowed in the gaming realm, and I'm very happy about that. I used to play the latest everything, plus a lot of interesting niche titles, and I really didn't look down my nose at a game unless it was just flat-out bad. I also didn't finish a lot of games, and actually developed something of a reputation for it. I also didn't really care. If it wasn't a Final Fantasy title, I didn't finish it. And if it was Final Fantasy VIII, and featured that horrid Junctioning system, I lost all motivation to play it late in the game.

Looking back, I should've financed an intern to come to my apartment and Draw magic for me from enemies for several hours. Seriously, how the fuck was that allowed to make it to the production version of the game?

Oh, and Squall ... ugh ... worst lead character in a Final Fantasy ever ... well, maybe second to that obnoxious daddy-issue-laden jerkoff shitbag Tidus. It's like some Japanese consulting firm came to the States, saw all the sad little emo boys of the late 90s, and decided that 'feelings' needed to be a bullet-point on the back of the jewel case for Final Fantasy VIII and X. As if having watched Cloud wobble in a wheelchair like a drunk, blonde cactus for 10 hours in FFVII wasn't enough 'feelings' for the entire series. Ugh. And Tidus ... I'm still disappointed there was no way to drown that whiny prick, even with all that water. Ugh. UGH. ACK. At least Cloud was an identity-stealing sociopath.



Anyway, now that I've thoroughly dated myself, I used to play everything, but only finish Final Fantasy games. FASCINATING, I know.



Nowadays, insane Steam sales aside, I play far, far fewer games, but finish a far higher percentage (let's just look away from my 300+ game Steam library and play along.)

Part of that has come from the fact that I just don't give a shit about your dudebro, mouthbreather, generic, annualized military shooter anymore, and part of it is from the fact that I look at my family, I see the years of wear and tear on my body start to accumulate, and realize that if I'm going to spend any time at all gaming, it needs to be spent on games that actually contribute something to my life, which for me, is RPGs (and some strategy and some driving sims.)

Yeah, okay, I'll still pop in for the occasional Battlefield match, but rarely. I don't play BF4 40+ hours a week, so I'm not good enough to really enjoy it, and multiplayer in games tends not to drive me down a thrilling narrative path, so I tend to regard them as a waste of time. Some MMOs, because of their structure, are exempted from this.

I'll also veer outside of this for games that aren't RPGs, but still tell good stories well, like the Uncharted series and various PC adventure titles.

There's just something about being swept up in a narrative experience that feels substantial, like a good novel, almost, and getting to explore another world in an interactive way deeply reinforces that perception. While my life is far less stressful than it used to be, I still find that I love totally checking out of this reality for a bit, and living in a world that is not this one, whether it be the rolling expanses of Tamriel, the politically-charged kingdoms of Thedas, the wasteland of post-apocalyptic Washington DC, the wind-swept tombs of Korriban, or the bright, endless expanse inside the Citadel.

On top of that, cracking open games, digging through their files, and either editing them myself or installing mods, and then getting to dictate my experience is fantastic.

For me, the interactivity with a game doesn't stop at the user interface, but being able to tailor the game even more to my tastes makes the experience more 'mine,' and so much more enjoyable.

And I still enjoy the occasional RPG on console, when it's the only way to play it, like the rare modern JRPG that's worth playing.

On top of that, I still have a pile of shame like you wouldn't believe. Between 90s PC RPGs of which I wasn't aware, and newer console-only (for shame) titles like Dragon's Dogma that I hate playing on console, and the entire Bethesda catalogue, I've got a pile of shame that is daunting.

Combine that with the fact that I hardly game during the week (8-5 as a developer, 5-8 with the kids, 8-? with the wife), most of my gaming is night-time binging on Friday and/or Saturday night, so I have to be fairly selective, and force myself to focus on one, maybe two, game(s). And I've sometimes been known to sneak in some time during sports broadcasts by seeing how long my legs can stand the Alienware laptop while in my recliner (my normal gaming rig is a custom build ['of course it is, you pretentious dickbag,' is what you're thinking, but it's okay.])

What's funny, too, is I used to experience something approaching anxiety about not being super-plugged-in to the gaming scene when I decided to start scaling back my purchases and genre interests. Time and the realization that most so-called hardcore gamers are just awful people really changed that. Between the built-in racism and misogynism endemic to the 'hardcore gamer,' I was more than happy to divorce myself from that crowd. The 'anti-diversity' thing that pervades comments sections in gaming articles makes me want to throw up in your mouth.

Additionally, as I've gotten older, I've come to realize that the concept of being 'hardcore' about anything tends to imply that a person has a gaping emotional hole in their life that they're desperately trying to fill, only to further erode any shot at happiness they'll ever have. As great as that sounds, I'll keep my life interests diversified, and spend what little gaming time I have in a way that is fulfilling and fun.



I remember recoiling in horror, as younger man, at the thought of ever having to 'give up' the huge amount of gaming time that I had. Maybe that's where you are right now, and that's okay. I was like that, too, for a real long time. It's important, though, to remember that you're a moron, your priorities are beyond fucked, and right now is a good time consider completely overhauling your core identity, before you do something completely stupid, like reply in a way that is deeply passionate to a comment in an article about which is better: PS4 or Xbox One.

What about you? How has your gaming experience changed over time?

Also, I don't know why I've been bringing up Final Fantasy so much in these recent posts. Sorry about that. I hardly touch the series anymore. I don't know what that's about.

Thanks for reading, and I'll be back soon.

-Blaine

20140122

MMOs and Me

I have been the biggest supporter of Star Wars: The Old Republic since before it launched of pretty much anyone I know. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of my top three games of all time, Star Wars is probably my favorite franchise of any, and I loved that BioWare was bringing their 'fourth pillar' of story to an MMO.

For me, having a 'single player' MMO set in the Old Republic era of Star Wars was a dream come true. I loved that I could solo the majority of the game, and bring in friends whenever I wanted. I didn't even touch the endgame raid stuff for almost a year. I was so caught up in creating new characters and playing their stories, that I didn't really have a need.


Finally, though, having to burn through the same content (the non-character story side quests) started to wear on me a bit, and I joined a buddy's guild, and started dabbling in the endgame stuff. It was cool, I did enjoy it, but it didn't bring the same exhilaration that seeing new content brought.

Looking back, I think, for me, where things really started to fall apart was the transition to adding a F2P model. At that point, new development stopped being about adding more expansive story content, and became more about adding small bursts of new content, and a ton of nickel & dime microtransactions.

I've weathered this for two years, and over time, I've come to the conclusion that I'm much more willing to put time into an MMO if it's subscription-based, rather than an F2P microtransaction vehicle.

I've had an incredible amount of fun in SWTOR, and have gladly sunk more time and dollars into it than any other game I ever have, but I think my time with it is approaching its end. I plan to wrap up a couple character stories, and then call it a day by some time this summer.

Barring a substantial announcement from BioWare, I'm pretty sure I'll be jumping over to Elder Scrolls Online for my MMO fix. Between my new adoration for the franchise, and something I can't talk about, I'm very excited for this game.


I like having a go-to story-heavy MMO, and everything I know about ESO tells me it's going to fill that role nicely. Also, having all the areas of Tamriel opened up to me is tantalizing.
 
What really fills me with confidence, though, is that it's a subscription-based model. As I said, aside from the Guild Wars series, having an F2P, microtransaction-driven model discourages big releases, in favor of lots little nickel & dime releases. I'd rather pay a regular fee and get more substantial updates.
 
We'll see what happens, though. Turbine has done some okay things with the F2P model, with both Dungeons and Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online, but they also don't feature a deep story the way SWTOR does, and the way ESO appears to. My guess is ESO is going to build on the what's come before in the series, which isn't a grand, overarching story, but a main story thread that you can leave and come back to at your own pace, while tackling really interesting side quests. If anything, the Elder Scrolls structure is ripe for being imported into an MMO.
 
Of course, a good friend over at Galaxy Next Door reminded me that the Secret World is still out there, and I really enjoyed the little bit of time I spent in that game. I like their model of regular expansions that are bought outright, or received as part of a sub.
 
Oh, and Guild Wars 2 is still out there. I'll admit, their model defies everything I've been saying here, and I don't know how they do it. At the same time, though, I pretty quickly lost interest, even though I love the franchise. GW2 isn't a bad game, but ... I don't know.
 
Oh, and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn keeps tugging at me. I may explore that one a bit more, while I still have sub time. I do plan to only carry one MMO sub after this summer.
 
Will it be SWTOR, ESO, or FFXIV? What do you think?
 
In closing, I am not, by any means, a typical MMO player. I'm pretty resistant to random grouping, and definitely enjoy soloing, if the content is good. SWTOR was perfect for me, but they've refused to release any new class-specific content, and most of their new content, with the exception of Makeb, has been pretty small. Some of it's cool, but I want more. I hope they announce something soon that'll keep me in the game.
 
Either way, I'm really looking forward to the ESO launch in April. I can already envision myself in my recliner, Alienware in hand, stomping around Tamriel, while watching the 2014 Cardinals destroy the rest of the NL Central. Good times, folks.
 
What do you need, story-wise, from an MMO? What's your favorite MMO play style? What do you play? Are you looking forward to ESO?
 
-Blaine

20140121

2014: The Year of the RPG: Part 2: Bravely Default

So, as I discussed the other day, 2013 was a pretty dogshit year for RPGs. My assumption is that the console transition killed things for a bit, even on my beloved PC, since PC game release schedules are now beholden to their lesser, malformed console counterparts.

2014, though, looks to be much brighter. Much, much brighter. Almost blinding in its potential.

To kick things off, though, I'll be talking about a 3DS release, which kinda shocks me. I'm not a big handheld gamer, unless we're talking my Surface tablet and the PC games I play on there. I guess my PS Vita is my de facto Final Fantasy 1-9 machine now.

In any case, the thing that caught my eye with Bravely Default was that it was sooo Final Fantasy, and looks to be the really good kind (pre-FFX, but FFXII rocked.)



It's weird, though, because I feel kinda stupid whenever I see these cutesy, squeaky characters, but from what I know of and have seen from the game, it looks like the mechanics and overall story are getting to be pretty bad ass. It's been a while since we've seen Squenix really try to recapture their once-proud pedigree, and since they seem opposed, for whatever reason, to making a proper AAA JRPG, this is as close as we're going to get.

I'll tell ya, too, as much as I've adopted the western RPG as my main genre, a good JRPG (such as the brilliant Lost Odyssey) is refreshing as hell. I still love JRPGs, but haven't found one that I've really loved in a long, long time. It's like they're either trying too hard to be western, or they're so Japanese that I begin to feel sorry for the near-nude squeaking female. Matta fac, every time I play one of those games, I'm reminded of this Onion article.

Anyway, having grown up with Final Fantasy, starting with buying the first one on NES the day it was released when I was in sixth grade, games like this almost look like a chance to reconnect with an old friend. That is precisely what Lost Odyssey was like for me, and I've been eager to find something like that again.

Bravely Default

The visual style actually reminds me of the Final Fantasy III remake from a few years ago.

Final Fantasy III

While I could do without the cutesy super-deformed art style, the thing that really draws me into JRPGs is the presentation and the combat. While the presentation, being on a Nintendo handheld, is going to be jaggy and slightly shit, the combat looks and sounds fantastic. It's your standard turn-based JRPG affair, plus the 'brave' and 'default' options. If you choose 'brave,' you can use four attacks at once, but then you have to wait until the enemy takes four turns before you can go again (so you wanna save this for when you think you can get a knockout) or you can use 'default,' which banks an attack, and skips your turn.



While I'm fairly certain that my time with Lost Odyssey was a one-time event, and that I'll never feel that same way about a JRPG ever again (especially with Final Fantasy being reduced to an action series now), I'm still fairly enthusiastic about Bravely Default. It sounds like a chance for something old to be something new again, and if I'm relegated to the Vita and 3DS being my sole JRPG machines, I can think of worse fates.

Also, for those that enjoy JRPGs, keep an eye on Project Phoenix (which has funded on Kickstarter) and Unsung Story (which still needs your help!) I'm thrilled to see more and more of a JRPG presence on PC!

I'll be back soon.

-Blaine

20140120

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Trust the Bethesda

I've been an RPG fan for a good long while. Yeah, I've been playing games that are mislabeled 'RPG,' such as the Legend of Zelda series, since the first iteration on the NES, but more importantly, I cut my teeth on the early console RPGs, such as the first Final Fantasy (loved it) and the first Dragon Quest (Dragon Warrior) (didn't really like it.)



All through the 90s, I stuck with the console RPGs, usually Square titles, but then branched out once Squenix decided that most of the design choices in Final Fantasy X were a good idea (they were not).



At that time, I discovered BioWare, then traced them back to Black Isle, and before I knew it, Obsidian existed, and then CD Projekt Red sprang up, and I had so many awesome RPGs from which to choose.



Somewhere in there, Bethesda and I never got some on the page (scroll.)

I never understood it, either. On paper (scroll), Bethesda games should be my dream games. Open world, freedom of choice, a shit load of menus, tons of stats, tons of variables, insanely deep lore. All of those things equal my dream game, and yet ... it just never clicked for me.

The years went by, Bethesda would drop the occasional release here and there, I'd inevitably pick it up on or near release day, because THIS was going to be the Bethesda game that I'd finally get into, and ... it never happened.

I kept telling myself it was the combat (which is pretty bad for such refined games), or I'd tell myself it was the weak central narrative (which is almost nonexistent in some titles), or I'd tell myself it was the pain-in-the-ass traversal of the game world (which can be horribly painful if you take a single wrong turn.) Still, everyone so often, I'd fire up Fallout 3 or Oblivion, and something would almost click. Something would almost tickle the right part of the brain to pull me in, and yet ... it would just never quite happen.

I think, initially, I had a bit of culture shock, if you will. See, in most of the BioWare / Squenix / Black Isle games I've played, if there's a dice-roll associated with an attack, it's an explicitly expressed dice-roll, meaning that the user is informed that there is 'chance' associated with the invocation of this action.

In Bethesda games, the dice-roll is implicit, rather than explicit. When I swing/shoot this sword/gun, there's a dice-roll, even though in most games when I swing/shoot, there's a 1-1 association between animation and object collision.



Throw in there the first-person perspective, and if you're not accustomed to Bethesda games, your mind is trying to demand that there be an automatic 'hit' when you shoot/swing, while, underneath this FPS veneer is a very, very deep RPG engine that wags its finger and says 'ah, ah, ah ... +2 to hit.

At first, this made combat very hard for me. I'm a seasoned RPG veteran, but something about this mishmash of genres really fucked me up. I'd be swinging like mad at a Cliff Racer, only to be taken down by Prehistoric Fucking Tweetie Bird.



Additionally, ranged enemies soon became problematic. Also, jumping. Also, navigating the map. Also, the world just being so big. Also ... it just stopped being fun after a while.

I own EVERY FUCKING GAME Bethesda has ever released. Oh, and all the expansions and DLC and shit. Yup, I'm THAT guy. I wanted so badly to love these games. There's so much in there that I can appreciate and enjoy.

So, fast-forward to late 2013. I decided I needed to chill out a bit, and be less goal-oriented in my play time. I realized that I'd gotten very linear and very concerned with 'progress' when I played games. It occurred me to that I was approaching all games with the same mindset, which was to maximize stats, view all available content, and do so in as timely a fashion as possible.

It occurred to me that Bethesda games, at least the first time each is played, aren't easily compatible with this approach. I decided to approach Morrowind (the furthest back I can go without being forced to invoke DOSBox) with a mindset of 'max chill.'

And to be fair, much of this flawed gaming mindset comes from being a pretty happy guy. I have a wife, children, and a full-time job as a developer, so while I have nothing about which to complain, I wouldn't necessarily have the time to complain, anyway.

Either way, it was time to fire up Morrowind (again.) After installing a few mods to get it to render a little prettier, we were 'go.'

As I (very) slowly walked my way through Seyda Neen, I leaned back, chilled myself out, and said, 'just relax ... take your time ... you're here to relax.' And it all finally started to click.

As I very deliberately took in everything around me and talked to everyone, I could almost here Loial, from a Wheel of Time, in my ear: 'humans are always so hasty.'

Since then, I've progressed further in Morrowind than I have in any previous attempt. I'm excited, because I'm so chilled about it. I'm even thinking I'm going to fire up Fallout 3, and then New Vegas, some time during my Elder Scrolls 3-5 playthrough.

I'm an Imperial bard, member of the Thieves' Guild and Imperial Cult, and cannot stand these whining Dunmer. I look forward to joining the Imperial Legion, and doing what I can to bring about greater obedience from these elves.

It is amazing to me how easy these games are to roleplay, though. It seems that these games lack in story, they make up for with depth of lore and freedom of choice. I appreciate now more fully how different but equally successful the BioWare and Bethesda approaches to RPGs are.

It's amazing to me, though, that all it took for me  to finally 'get it,' in regards to Bethesda RPGs, was an adjustment to mental approach. Have any of you experienced anything like this?

Also, to those experienced Morrowind players - is there something optional that I absolutely MUST do or somehere optional I absolutely MUST go? Let me know!

I'll keep checking back in every so often about this while I write up my RPGs of 2014. I've got more to say, but I'm eager to get back to Morrowind on this extra day off!
 
-Blaine
 

20140119

2014: The Year of the RPG: Part 1 - 2013 in Review

Being that I'm in my mid-30s, employed, a family man, and someone that can string together a sentence that qualifies as 'proper English,' I really only play RPGs and driving sims now (and anything Relic releases). Time and intellectual reward are my focal points in terms of measuring risk-reward when engaging in recreation, and 'Call of Duty' and 'Assassin's Creed' just don't pass the test.

So, looking back at 2013, it was quite a shit year for me, in terms of gaming. Given that the Khaleesi and I welcomed another offspring into the world, that may have been for the best, but it sure led to some long hours trying and quitting various games in my Steam library.

Ultimately, I divided my time between a hell of a lot of Star Wars: The Old Republic (to which I'm still a subscriber) and replays through the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series. Yeah, that's a lotta BioWare, and I don't think that's an accident. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a big fan of theirs. I'm considering doing a blog about the BioWare approach to RPGs, so I'll get more into it then, but know that their approach in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Dragon Age: Origins resulted in two of my favorite games ever. I've enjoyed everything they've released since then, to varying degrees, but there were a few key design choices in those games that cemented them as 'best ever,' at least for me, or anyone else that a) has played them, and b) doesn't have utter shit for taste.



Playing through Dragon and Mass Effect again, has been, predictably, wonderful. I really like truly roleplaying a character through both of those series, and getting to see something new every time.

I also, for the most part, really enjoyed SWTOR in 2013. I made a commitment to getting comfy in the 'elder game,' (end game) and actually got a good handle on how raids work in MMOs. I still prefer playing either with real friends or alone, but the occasional raid can be a blast. Now, though, SWTOR and I, due to the infection of F2P elements, are at a crossroads. More on that later.

I also dallied a bit with my roots. I revisited some once-familiar territory in the Final Fantasy series, as well. As part of another effort, I've been shifting my console gaming more and more toward the Xbox brand, and so I decided to move my Final Fantasy gaming that direction, and began a replay of Final Fantasy XIII on the 360, with the intent of playing through the rest of that trilogy on 360. That's been going well, but I won't lie. I don't love Final Fantasy XIII the way I do 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 12. It's a different beast, and that's okay. I like the series, but do not love it. I didn't have a problem with the linearity, and actually really like the combat system. The biggest problem I had was the vague and nigh-incomprehensible storytelling, and the flat characters. Unless you have a fucking wiki open next to you, or actually churn through the walls of text in the menus, you won't have any idea what's going on. Fal'cie, L'cie, angsty school-shooter-wanna be Hope, boring Lightning, insufferably moronic Snow, and ... sorry, I almost fainted from boredom.



Underneath, though, there is an interesting tale that badly wants to break out, and I'm curious to see if I can sustain this playthrough of the trilogy. Thus far, it's gone okay. It'd be easier if the Xbox One were backwards compatible, but I've set up the PS360 setup in another part of the house for 'retro' console gaming, and so, that's been proceeding apace.

On the other side of the Final Fantasy world, I've been, shockingly, enjoying Final Fantasy XIV, the most recent MMO iteration of the series. I was one of those people that had preordered, beta tested, and then suffered all those years ago when it first launched. I quickly canceled all my shit, and moved on.

Then, in 2013, some buddies started whispering that 'A Realm Reborn' (the second attempt at 'Final Fantasy XIV') was actually worth playing. I was skeptical, but ultimately, I decided that I'd enjoy having a true Final Fantasy MMO in my life was worth looking into, even after the disasters that were Final Fantasy XI and the initial release of Final Fantasy XIV.

I've played it a bit, and actually liked it. I went ahead and bought a six-month sub, to alleviate the pressure of 'needing' to play it, and when I've wandered in, I've been rewarded by a world that is the closest any MMO has come to 'feeling' like a Final Fantasy game. It's not perfect, and I've got a list I'll detail some time of things that would make it the perfect Final Fantasy game for me, but if you're a Final Fantasy fan, it's something you might enjoy.

Aside from all that, I did really enjoy BioShock: Infinite, Company of Heroes 2 (probably my personal Game of the Year), Forza MotorSport 5, and Divinity: Dragon Commander.



So, really, 2013 was a year of getting back to my roots. There were no core RPG releases for me, but some enjoyment was to be had in revisiting old friends, and yeah, a few new releases brought some serious fun, but I have a feeling 2014 is going to be almost overwhelming in the number of core RPG releases I'll have to play. Everyone from Squenix to BioWare to CD Projekt Red to Obsidian to Inxile to Larian Studios to Zenimax Online (sorta Bethesda) is putting something out this year, and it's going to be awesome. I don't think I've ever seen a year like this before, with so many quality potential releases that fit my extremely narrow tastes.

I'd also like write more here. Now that I've changed jobs (I'm a full-time developer now), I have a little more free time, as well as some newly-gained insight into the development process. I want to write about the releases I'm excited for, as well as my issues with the growing F2P problem, and some musings on what I've been playing.

How was your 2013, in terms of gaming?

I'll be back in the next couple days, but will be monitoring the comments here. I think before I kick off my awesome games of 2014, I wanna talk a bit about the things I've noticed playing the Mass Effect and Elder Scrolls series simultaneously.

Thanks, and please comment away!

-Blaine