I have recently talked about the most popular genres within the gaming industry. I have discussed the pros and cons of Simulation and Real time strategy games. I have delved into the Role Playing genre and why I believe it is worth every penny when investing in these lengthy titles. I have not however included beat em up’s, puzzle and platform, and driving games. These I consider to be the lower end of the spectrum, even though once they were at the forefront of the gaming market. Games as old as Tekken, Croc, Tomb Raider, Need for speed, Forsa, Dynasty Warriors, Midnight Club, Street fighter and many more come to mind.
All this week I have gave my definitions of each genre of gaming, including a group piece on particular genres that appear to be dying out. I have purposely left the best for last, and of course those of you that have read my articles will know that I’m talking about first and third person shooters and adventure games. The basis from which I define these styles of gaming is based on game sales and the quantity that are released. Household brands like the Call of Duty series, one released annually, plus various other titles including Battlefield, The Elder Scrolls games, Mass Effect, Fable, and Gears of war, Dead Space, and Assassins Creed.
I wanted to add this very well known track lesser well known video as it takes me back to some happy times working and breathing London.
Port Royale 3 is a historical real time strategy, Economic, simulation game for Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and the PC. The game has the player following the role of a Trader, Buccaneer or Pirate, trading goods around the colonies in the Caribbean, attacking ports and raiding trading routes. The player can purchase ships, form convoys, start businesses at various towns and built residences and receive income from manual or automated trade routes. The title does have a back story; either route the player decides to follow you must win the heart of the Viceroys daughter. Following the trading route will have you improving settlements and Adventuring will have you rescuing the damsel in distress from pirates.
Whenever an idea comes into my head I never think to write it down, but luckily today my laptop was already on and ready to go. So my idea or rather my question which I will now attempt to answer is certainly an intriguing one indeed. Recently I have been writing articles on games, their genres and games themselves, but I haven’t delved into the prospect of why some particular features appeal to us as gamers. For example Grand Theft Auto, even the older overhead styled titles have you running around city environments stealing cars, murdering people with a variety of methods, committing fraud, stealing, burglary, transporting drugs and so on. But why, oh why does this appeal to us? In real life I wouldn’t drive my car down a path and run over every pedestrian in site would I? Nor would I rob a bank, magically fly a Harrier jump jet or an Apache helicopter. I wouldn’t walk around armed with a visible Ak-47 or rocket launcher, or even run red lights or knock lampposts over.
I recently published a post on the violence we see in video games, but of course every Ying has a Yang, and too be honest I’m not sure which of the two is more controversial. You’ve probably already guessed what I’m talking about, because with violence, Sex soon follows. Sex appeal and sexual content in gaming has increased somewhat over the years, I remember interacting with the strippers from the original Duke Nukem so they would flash their nipple tassels at me. The first 3-dimensional Grand Theft Auto allowed the player to sleep with prostitutes for extra health, provided you had a vehicle and a remote location to carry out the car rocking deed. This would also prove to be a popular and well used feature over the coming GTA series.
In the single Gangsta, Kat Dahlia delivers a very Rhianna-like vocal performance, which is certainly no criticism, especially when complimented by an excellent music video such as this.
Over the last week I have defined each genre of the gaming world, I have investigated why certain aspects affect our game play styles, our methods and ways of deciding on purchases and the past and future of the industry. I have discussed sex, sexual content and nudity, I have also discussed violence, violent content, and graphic images in our favourite titles. I would say ultimately I have probably discussed and addressed most issues as I have progressed. Thinking this I have had to work hard to think of many subjects to touch upon. I have looked at dying breeds, games of the past and future and each individual genre and have argued the case for each. This post will tap into the minds of the consumer and game designers and major companies that bring us interactive entertainment.
Next on my top ten First Person shooters is none other than, Fallout 3 New Vegas, although this is more of an adventure open world game, it’s still a FPS in the traditional sense. Like most games from Bethesda, the Fallout games feature extended story arcs, massive open play worlds, free play, go anywhere do anything game play, although you might want to be armed to the teeth when wandering around the Wasteland! The Fallout series follows individuals that were originally locked underground in nuclear bunkers. America and Russia have gone to war, and inevitably nukes were used, and destroyed most of the known world along with it. The world is now a dreary, radioactive, mutant filled, warring and violent place to survive. Various clans or settlers have established cities, towns and villages fashioned from scrap metal and other random materials. One of the cities featured in Fallout 3 was actually an old aircraft carrier, and New Vegas features the main Las Vegas strip and the Hoover dam as hubs of human life.
Streaming television shows on the computer is probably one of the most convenient ways of keeping up with one's favourite shows. This can also be said for watching films, rather than take the trouble of buying the DVD or watching the film on a normal television, it's a much more pleasant viewing experience to stream these online. But what does one do when the stream breaks, or worse, suddenly does not work on your computer? The last thing anyone would want is for the streaming to stop when immersed in the suspense of the show.
Read more: Streaming television how to watch without a hiccup?
When it comes to gaming, the whole hobby can be expensive indeed. First you need to purchase either a console like the Playstation or Xbox, or invest quite a bit in a gaming laptop or desktop. Then you need games, which in their own right can cost an arm and leg. Downloading some games direct from PSN, Steam or Xbox Live can cost around £50 to £60. The new Steam console apparently will be on the market for a $1000 in America, which is ridiculous. The same can be said for gaming accessories, for example, game pad controllers, Custom controllers, gaming chairs, Kinect and PS Move, and various others are high in price.
Read more: Gaming accessories - A pricy booster for your experience
Needed to show this video, couldn't quite live up to the pulsating tones of this track but none less is original for the epoch, one of Fleetwood Macs best songs if you ask me.
It was a watershed of crayon and a wake up call to the power and imagination that would be music video that until much previous had be film of the band or some other story, but here we had a real story of danger, escape and rescue and the dream. So watch it again and let us know where you were and if it implanted on you as it did me.
We continue on the road towards the top then FPS games, and here we have #8 on the list. Battlefield 3 takes the place of number 8 on the list, although I imagine some diehard fans will disagree and argue that I’m saving higher spots for the Call of Duty games. I have placed BF3 at number 8 because there are a few problems I have the title, there are of course some features that I think other FPS should take away from it as well. Battlefield has been a popular franchise for some time now, and is probably one of the most well known games of all time.
James Smith’s quick-fire insight into the world of movies. Here he checks out Hitchcock, a look at a period of the rotund movie legend’s life during the making of smash horror, Psycho.
Directed by Sacha Gervasi
Starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson
This track caught my eye this week while listening to Pete Tong and his essential selection indeed this track made his track of the week last.
Usually cartoon shows result in a mass production of different toys. For example, when Batman came out there was an array of Batman superhero figures, gadgets and alike released onto the market. When The Powerpuff Girls came onto the scene there was an array of cuddly toys and dolls produced too. However, there are actually toys that have resulted in cartoons being made. These toys have gone down so well that series have been written around them. Thus, read on to discover the top kids’ toys that inspired some great cartoons.
If you’re looking for some arty abstract ideas with a bit of indie rock thrown in, then this music video, Timeless, from American band, The Airborne Toxic Event, could fit the bill.
James Smith’s quick-fire insight into the world of movies. Here he checks out G.I. Joe: Retaliation 3D, a formulaic bicep flexing action workout of the 3D variety.
Directed by Jon M. Chu
Starring Dwayne Johnson, Adrianne Palicki, Bruce Willis
It can be very frustrating when you first start to play an instrument - your initial enthusiasm for it can quickly fade when you find that you’re struggling to master even the most basic chords or finger positions. At the same time, you may start to lose interest if you cannot commit enough time per day to practicing. Some people might just learn a small amount, and then get overwhelmed by the prospect of continuing. So, then, how can you keep yourself motivated when these hurdles start to appear?
Read more: How to Keep Yourself Motivated When Starting to Learn to Play
Here he checks out Oblivion, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi shoot out starring Tom Cruise and Olga Kurylenko.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Starring Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko
I randomed across this music video while watching that music app on my xbox the one with the big green text on black and annoyingly I can never remember the name of it..anyway.. but had an awful connection so left it. So imagine my suprise when my niece shows me a music video she made to the very same trac. Not least beacuse it has some quality moves - humour and direction though she knows not what skill she has not at all. I am blown away by this. Please take a look and comment and forward to your friends.
James Smith’s quick-fire insight into the world of movies.
Here he checks out Olympus Has Fallen, a macho action epic starring Gerard Butler with more than a hint of Die Hard thrown in.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman
James Smith’s quick-fire insight into the world of movies.
Here he checks out Trance, an art heist movie with a big dose of amnesia and some mind-bending plot twists.
Directed by Danny Boyle
James McAvoy, Vincent Cassel, Rosario Dawson
I love the originality of this commercial and clever screenplay. It was made to help bring about the Indian Premier League 2013 not that this is in need of advertising at least in India. They go nuts for their cricket.
"to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, to boldly go where no man has gone before"
Well you have probably been before but if you didnt the guardian have compiled a guide for the trekkie Noob.
They must sit and think through the humour at length in the fosters comercials such as that shown here but ! See what I did there finishing the scentence with a but ? Australian beer comercials have a long and laughter filled past with that beer called castlemaine XXXX and fosters at the forefornt. Still going strong today is the latter with their beach side radio call in station are the two guys (Brad and Dan) who introduced me to fist bumping 'safe' and are always surrounded by bikini clad hotties yes the word of beer is cool. So sit back enjoy and share our post and please comment if you feel so inclined we will do you a virtual fist bump. Selecting High Wycombe might be a little harsh but its probably spin the globe and pick a small town that at first glance appears a bit backward. I think I'd be pleased to be honest anyway enjoy the commercial.
James Smith’s quick-fire insight into the world of movies. Here he checks out Fast & Furious 6, an outrageous testosterone party, packed with cheesy morals and vehicular carnage on an epic scale.
Directed by Justin Lin
Starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker
I just loved this song the second the simplicity and elegance of the melody came through thanks to Pete Tong and his essntial selection (just bing it).
Read more: Chris Malinchack (WHO ?) 'So Good To Me' official music video
Hip-hop music fans around the world would give an arm and a leg to get their hands on one of these items.
He won the golden cup at the Antigua Carnival as he wove the lyrics into his own song. Ezzy Rattigan is the man responsible for that 'fuck up' song you might have heard if you spent 30 minutes in Antigua around carnival time. At street level, let's face it the best place to enjoy the Antigua Carnival you will hear 'fuck up' and its actually 'for cup' that would have satisfied the guys that allow such colour into the daily lives of those here at least for this weekly celebration of many things Antiguan family not least.
For more on the Antigua Carnival check this Antigua Events >>