I be blaming me cold on Silent Hill: Downpour.
Colds be the worst. ye gain a legitimate excuse t' lay around all day, but the effort needed t' do anything makes it a moot point.
I’m battling through a mild cold right now, 'n I’ve re-written this opening sentence more than a dozen times. It’s unclear whether each time be because the sentence wasn’t any good or I just can’t tell anymore. I guess it doesn’t matter. Not like I can tell.
Worth Reading has been going for a little while now, 'n I’ve been pleased by the reception. It could always be better, though, 'n I’m introducing a new feature at the bottom. Whenever I feature a game or story, it’s featured because I’ve taken the time t' read or play it. I’m constantly taking note a games 'n articles all week, though, 'n it seems a shame that I’m not able t' share any a them because I ran out a time.
As always, let me know what ye think, 'n keep sending me game 'n article recommendations!
Hey, ye best Play This:
Designer Michael Consoli be onto something with Against the Wall, a first-person puzzler that imagines a chaotic civilization where the world be dictated by an omnipotent wall. The wall does not talk, it does not speak, but the wall be life, be everything, 'n in order t' survive, ye must push 'n pull the wall, 'n hope yer jumps be well-timed along the way. Against the Wall has been in Consoli’s pet project for the last year, 'n he’ll attend NYU Game Center later this fall because a it. Against the Wall might be put on the backburner during that time. Maybe we can convince the sea dog otherwise? ye can find out for yourself, since early versions a the game be available for download now.
'n ye best Read These, Too:
- Black Undead Damnation by Jason Johnson for Kill Screen
I’ve become obsessed with watching The Legend a Zelda: Ocarina a Time speedruns, as players discover 'n manipulate different glitches within the game that allow them t' finish it in absolutely astonishing times (the last one I saw be 22 minutes!). Glitches give rise t' myths, 'n myths can be powerful toys for the imagination. The arcade near me as a kid be one a the Midway testing grounds, 'n we constantly received updated versions a Mortal Kombat long before the games came out. The rumor about Kano 'n Sony being playable via glitch took on legitimate life at me arcade, since new revisions be always coming through. Jason Johnson heard about a haunted house in Red Dead Redemption, 'n went about investigating. His lesson? Be careful what ye wish for. Mwhaha!
The ghost hunt be a bust. More curious than the mansion itself be why videogames generate urban legends in the first place. I have me own theory on this. It shows that a game has been assimilated into culture, t' the point where people be willing t' make up bullshit about it, which might be the highest achievement a all for a game. In the classics, this sort a rumor mongering happens all the time.
- Observing the “Burn Jita” Player Event
ye’ve heard us talk about EVE Online before, 'n it won’t be the last time the space drama be mentioned on Giant Bomb. I’m still not sure how t' tackle covering EVE Online. When even Dave can’t find a way t' break through t' the game, I’m willing t' admit defeat up-front. Right now, I’m searching for an EVE Online ambassador--a guide, if ye will. In the search for captivating stories, however, EVE Online be full a them, as the “Burn Jita” event recently underscored. “Burn Jita” be a massive attack on the economic infrastructure a EVE Online, headed by the group “Goonsquad.” Developer CCP Games has published a blog about the “Burn Jita” event, which includes a fascinating breakdown a the technical logistics involved with scaling 'n maintaining such a large player event.
Since the "Burn Jita" event be announced well in advance 'n CCP wants t' support player-driven events (as long they be within the rules a the game), we reinforced the Jita solar system on our beefiest hardware, further reinforced all neighbouring systems 'n set out t' monitor the event 'n provide the best experience we could t' willing ('n unwilling) participants. Then things started t' unfold a day earlier than announced on Friday morning. We gathered data 'n fine-tuned the systems 'n as CCP Veritas put it: "
it be okay, didn't want that Friday night anyway."
'n Some Other Stuff:
- Passion Pit’s new single isn’t game related, but I’ve been listening t' it while writing about games, so...
- Before Crytek picked up Free Radical, some crazy shit went down with LucasArts. Amazing story.
- it be been a while since GeoHot, but we barely knew about what happened. David Kushner solves that.
- ye've heard me lament about horror games before. Frictional Games gives me hope.
- People be pretty up in arms about the EA "indie" bundle, but what do the developers think?
- I've been told the best way t' understand design philosophy be t' make a board game. Matthew Burns did.
- Can someone explain why this Wikipedia article about Bit.voyage costs so much money?
- An article about gamification that doesn't talk about gamification t' avoid pre-conceived notions. Hmm.
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