A very PC year.

Now that I have just seen the gameplay trailer for Diablo III, I'm really getting excited about PC gaming again. I can't wait till I get a decent computer to play an ever-growing list of PC games.

I've been wanting to play Sins of a Solar Empire for the longest time now. I bought it when I was still back in Singapore, waiting for the day I get a new PC to play it on. It's been sitting in my suitcase, beckoning to me to rip open the plastic wrap.

Starcraft II is also something that I'm eagerly looking forward to. I was never any good on the original, but it was heck loads of fun. I forsee many nail-biting multiplayer matches, most of which I will get my ass handed to me.

I want to play Team Fortress 2 on the PC too. I've got it for the Xbox 360, and it's quite good on it. But honestly, it's the sort of game that needs to be played on a keyboard & mouse combination, with my face about 10 inches from the monitor.

Valve's upcoming Left 4 Dead is looking very good. 4-player cooperative multiplayer? Zombies? 8-player Adversarial mode with 4 players taking the roles of zombies? Winning formula!

I have also been keen on making the jump into a MMOG, and there are a few I've got my eyes on. I have been thinking about starting Lord of the Rings Online for the longest time. It looks very nice, and from what I've read, seems suitable to solo-play as well. That's good because I might not always be in the mood to play with other people all the time. EVE Online seems like such an captivating world that I'm seriously contemplating joining. I've heard the crazy stories of intrigue and politics that spill into real life which absolutely fascinates me. Jumpgate Evolution seems like it'll scratch my fetish for space opera, spliced with edge of seat dog-fights in space. There's also a persistent rumour that Star Trek Online will eventually be published, which is already making my head spin with all sorts of sci-fi goodness. Then there's Mythos, whose action-heavy focus, and pick-up and play experience seems to be right up my alley.

And now there's Diablo III! The Witch-Doctor has a spell called Wall of Zombies! How bloody awesome is that!? I swear I almost creamed my pants seeing that. It sure seems like all of the years' outstanding PC games are made especially for me. It's going to be a very Ken-friendly PC year.

Boardgames and Videogames, Part 2

See part one of Boardgames and Videogames here.

I previously talked about the long-standing relationship that boardgames had with videogames, and how boardgames has left a thumbprint on videogames.

Here, I'd like explore how boardgames, especially in recent years, has been drawing a lot of inspiration from videogames as well. Boardgames has seen a bit of a resurgence especially within the last 10 years, this being prompted in part by the increase of German-styled (or Euro) boardgames becoming available in USA (and by extension, worldwide). This is coupled by the increase in production of various other genres of table-top gaming (e.g. wargames, RPGs and miniatures). There is also a sizable overlap in the demographics between videogames and boardgames. In addition, anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that many new boardgamers specifically sought out a different gaming experience because they were burned out on electronic gaming. One of those reasons is the lack of (or minimal amounts of) social interaction; Being able to sit across a dining table and enjoying a shared gaming experience is often cited as a pull factor of boardgames. So at the beginning of the decade, we have more boardgames, more boardgamers, and gamers who had more than a passing knowledge of videogames. It would seem inevitable and obvious that crossovers would be emerging before long.

One of the first few high-profiled videogames to be converted to the table-top format was Warcraft. The game attempted to recreate the feel of the videogame, by requiring players to gather resources, establish buildings and bases, build units and engage in combat. The boardgame was not well received however. Main complaints about the game were that the gameplay was too one-dimensional, and it was quite bland, with barely any differences between the 3 main races. Part of the appeal of the videogame was the vast differences in each race, but in trying to balance it for the boardgame, most of that appeal was lost.

One of the next major videogames to be converted was Doom. Released in 2004 by Fantasy Flight Games, the same company that produced Warcraft, the game was initially panned by what players felt were glaring oversights in the game rules. Many players, including myself, felt that the game was extremely unbalanced, which made the experience extremely frustrating. In trying to re-create the foreboding sense of claustrophobia and terror, the game was initially skewed too widely against the player, by essentially crippling their abilities to progress in the game. It did not help that Fantasy Flight Games did not handle post release backlash very well. However, they have since refined the base mechanics, and released an excellent game based on the original system: Descent: Journeys in the Dark.

Sid Meir's Civilization: The Boardgame (Eagle Games, 2002) is a particular example, as I had earlier pointed out. The 2002 version of the boardgame was inspired by the PC game that was inspired by the original Civilization, published in 1980.

Videogames that have also made the transition to boardgames include: Anno 1503 (Mayfair Games, 2003), Age of Mythology (Eagle Games, 2003), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (Winning Moves, 2003), Railroad Tycoon (Eagle Games, 2005), World of Warcraft (Fantasy Flight Games, 2005), Starcraft (Fantasy Flight Games, 2007), Age of Empires III (Pro Ludo Games, 2007).

Office Nerf War!

http://view.break.com/521743 - Watch more free videos

Sir Lord Baron Von Vaderham

I find the lack of Penne ala 'Arrabiata disturbing... Enjoy!

What's the best way to add mainstream appeal to any activity? By including karaoke, of course! And that's no different when it comes to video games. Team Fortress + karaoke = unrivaled awesomeness. Or in this specific case, total annoyance.

Hit the link for: Team Fortress presents Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Boardgames and Videogames, Part 1

There is considerable overlap between boardgames and videogames (both PC and console), though it may not always be apparent. And moving forward, I think we will see even more of such overlap.

Some of the classic videogame franchises that we see now had their beginnings as boardgames. This is no more apparent than the Civilization series of PC games, which was inspired by the 1980 boardgame, Civilization. Spawning 4 sequels, the PC game even made the transition back into modern boardgames in the form of Sid Meier's Civilization: The Boardgame, released in 2002.

Another game that made an impact on videogames is the Battletech series. Originally published by FASA, the boardgame had players facing each other off through the control of squads (or in Battletech terminology, lances) of heavily armed metal behemoths. And Battletech: The Crescent Hawk's Inception was the first in a line of PC and videogames over the course of 17 years. In addition, these games (especially the Mechwarrior series) have also helped in creating an entire genre of videogames. Today, the boardgame still enjoys a healthy following, having just released a revitalised ruleset. Other spinoff games include a collectible card game, and a collectible miniatures game.

These 2 games were not the only ones to make the transition onto the electronic format: Full Metal Planete (Infogrames, 1990); 5th Fleet (Avalon Hill, 1995); Wooden Ships and Iron Men (Avalon Hill, 1996); Europa Universalis (Strategy First, 2000). An in-depth search will reveal even more of these games.

New Car

Holden : Barina : 2008 : 1.6L : 4-Door Sedan

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

I've been watching Audrea play the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for about a week now. She's been sneaking in playtime when she should have been studying for her CPA paper. But who am I to stop her? If she had used that time to do anything less constructive (such as chores or bathing or eating), I might have objected more. But she was playing video games, and I can fully understand.

I felt as though the designers have tried to shoehorn Wii motion controls to the game, and it feels really gimmicky. I don't find those motion controls adding anything of substance to the game, and it really bugs me.

So far, I've only seen the Wiimote (and nunchuck) being used to swing a sword or to aim. And when you're not doing either one of those things, there's no discernible difference to a regular controller: You'd still use the left thumbstick to walk, and face buttons to open up menus. And as a result of trying to implement motion controls into this game, there are two things that really annoy me.

1) Imprecise controls

Waving the Wiimote about swings your sword, and that works in most situations. Unless you want to do something specific, such as a stab. The player is supposed to simulate the motion with the Wiimote, but more often than not, the on-screen result is not what you intended. You'd be stab-stab-stabbing at the TV screen, but the motion just doesn't register accurately. Her character only just learnt how to shield bash using the nunchuck, and she hasn't been able to perfect that move yet because of the controls. And not only does the game not register her motions accurately, the timing is a bit off too; there's a slight delay in the reaction time. And what this makes for is frustrating gameplay. It all lacks a certain sense of finesse.

2) On-screen cursor

The Wiimote works really well as a pointing/aiming device, and it was brilliantly implemented in Metroid 3. It works alright here, when you actually do need it (i.e. aiming your bow & arrow, or boomerang). But when you aren't using it, there's this fairy cursor that flutters around the damn screen. And since you aren't aiming for most part of the game, that accursed thing just lingers on-screen, and annoying the piss out of me. I guess you could try and hide it at the corner of the TV screen by pointing your Wiimote elsewhere, but there's always a part of that fluttering cursor showing. And I hate that. It's a distraction and an annoyance, like a little flicker at the corner of your eye you can't get rid of.

To me, the motion controls just doesn't feel integral to the game. It might sound cool to have players physically swing about as though they were really doing so with a sword. But that doesn't not always translate well in implementation. There was more than once I felt that a button push might have presented a much more elegant solution.

ESRB Ratings Widget

I am generally against the censorship of video games, especially since as an adult, I feel that I should have the freedom to choose the type of media that I consume. I guess I can also say that I am against most forms of media censorship as well.

However, I can understand the need to restrict the access of inappropriate materials by children. And in this instance, I think that the best methods of doing this is self regulation by the industry, increasing information about game ratings, and getting retailers to enforce these restrictions.

As I have ranted before, the sales of inappropriate video games to minors often continues due to either 1) parents buy these games for their children without knowing that they are, and 2) retailers selling them to said children.

The Electronic Software Ratings Board has done a fairly good job on accurately rating these games, and parents have a good amount of information to base their purchases on. And they have just created a widget that can be added to any website or blog, giving users the tools to check out the ratings on any game. I have added this widget to my page, because I feel that I share the responsibility in helping to highlight the available information.

If you're a gamer, I hope you feel the same way too.

Iron Man: The Movie: The Action Figure

As you may already be aware, I am filled with anticipation for the new Iron Man movie. He's always been one of my favourite characters, alongside Batman. I guess the idea that normal humans can exceed their limitations through technology, discipline and training is appealing to me.

I knew that there would be a toy line coming out for the movie, and I was eager to go check it out. Based on the images I saw online however, I was a little disappointed. The toys looked a little... underwhelming.

That left a bad taste in my mouth, so I decided to check out the real deal at Target, at a nearby shopping mall. And I have to say, the damn thing looks a whole lot better up close. The photos had the figure in a odd pose, and I think that worked against it.

I think I might just go and pick up one for myself.

Deichkind - Ich betäube mich

Fresh it up. Mega Ultra Wow. 1000% Yes.

Stealthy like a Ninja

I went to GameScore yesterday with the express purpose of picking up a cartridge case for my DS games. And while I was there, I couldn't resist picking up Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the Nintendo DS, along with Burnout: Paradise for the Xbox360.

I've heard some good buzz for Ninja Gaiden, and I was keen on checking it out. So far, it hasn't disappointed, but I'm still fairly early into the game. But I've got one minor gripe with the game. Or at least, a gripe with the opinions of the gaming press regarding the game.

Over at 1up, there have been claims that the game is too easy, and that it isn't much of a challenge. All I can say to that is... Bullshit.

I only just defeated the second boss, but only by a whisper; And it was on my second attempt. The first time I tried, I got my ass totally handed to me... by a leg-less pig ogre. And that's not counting the number of times I died getting to the boss in the first place. Apparently there are werewolves in the world of ninjas.

And I swear, things are going even more crazy now. There are ninjas that look like demons, and demons that look like dogs. And there's some chick with half a face and a tentacle for an arm who calls herself "Ultra-Fiend" or something like that.

Applications are Currently Open

We are looking for fellow adventurers to form an adventure party to traverse the lands of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Rings of Fate. If you are a fun, dynamic team-player, eager to seek treasure and phat loot, this may be the dream position for you.

We want someone with creative brilliance, able to commit to both long and short adventures and possess great survival skills.

Responsibilities include:

• Killing monsters
• Healing fellow party members
• Casting spells, and creating Magicite crystals
• Tanking
  

Personal attributes we're looking for:

• Outstanding communication skills
• Attention to detail
  
• Able to work in an intimate team environment
• Able to multi-task
  
• Able to make tactical decisions in a high tension situation
• A proven track record in escaping from dungeons and caves
• Team player

Prior experience preferred but not necessary.

GTA IV versus Iron Man

A very interesting article just surfaced over at Next Generation. According to the article, at least one analyst has proposed that the launch of GTA IV will eat into the ticket sales of the Iron Man movie when it opens a few days later.

Ostensibly, this is due to the fact that both products are targeting the same demographic: The young male gamer. And this would not be an isolated event, as earlier in September, Hollywood executives blamed the release of Halo 3 for poor ticket sales during that same period.

I guess one could probably see a correlation between the two, though not necessarily a causation. And it is not a stretch of the imagination that if a person is presented with two equally excellent choices that some would choose one over the other.

But let me tell you how this situation would affect me personally. And I think that it will... quite profoundly. Once GTA IV is released, I'm going to play the shit out of that game. And then when Iron Man opens, I'm going to take a break from my hours-long vigil and watch it. And then I'm going to go back and play some more GTA. And if Iron Man turns out to be as excellent as I hope it to be, I'll probably go and catch it again that same weekend. And maybe a third time.

Food, sleep and toilet breaks are not mandatory.

Thebes

I finally had a chance to play Thebes, by Queen Games yesterday at SOG. I've been wanting to play this for a good while now, and I'm glad I finally had the chance.

In the game, players control archaeologists who travels around the western world gathering knowledge, equipment and assistant. All these preparatory work will then allow players to gain better success when they finally travel to five different archaeological sites to dig for artifacts. Players score victory points based on the number of artifacts found (valued anywhere from 1 to 7). Players can also score VPs based on exhibitions they might put up, conferences they conduct, and if they have the highest amount of specialised knowledge. VPs are calculated at the end of the game.

One interesting mechanic that must be pointed out at this moment is the resources that players use to gather knowledge and organise digs. Each action (travelling, researching, digging) requires a number of weeks to complete, but there is an overall cap on how much time there is available in total. In the 4-player game I played, there were only a 104 weeks available to complete as many tasks as possible. But do not think that you have the luxury of time, as most tasks require multiple weeks to complete, not counting travelling time. For example, one could spend 3 weeks traveling from London to Vienna and then another 3 to gather general knowledge; equipment and cards are marked with the location they are available. Players move from one location to another and make one action, and then move their marker forward on the time track. In order to balance the usage of time between players (preventing one to use up all 52 weeks in a year), turn order is determined by whoever is last on the time track.

Players have to balance between gathering more knowledge to increase their chances to pick up more items, and being the first at a site to pillage and ravage it. Once they have the ability to dig at a particular site, the number of pieces they can draw out of a bag is determined by their knowledge level, plus assistants and equipment. But not all the pieces are valuable; a large number are blank pieces representing dirt and sand. What is most intriguing is that as you dig at a site, the valuable pieces are claimed by the player, but the blank pieces are thrown back into the bag. So in other words, the more a player digs, the more the returns are constantly diminishing. In my game, one player completely ravaged Egypt which left the rest of us with only 4 sites remaining to fight over.

Some people might not like the game for the luck level involved; The rewards on digging is sometimes hard to determine, and the cards for knowledge and equipment can be quite random. In a spate of good luck, I was able to secure a car and multiple conference cards in the same location. But therein lies the key to the game: managing luck and reducing its effects on your strategy. Balancing between spending time researching and time digging is a pressing concern, and balancing between getting to the right site first and increasing your returns on the dig is also key.

I found this game to be wholly enjoyable, as I am not bothered by the luck factor. In fact, I think it helps build the theme of the game very effectively. It's not easy going for archaeological expeditions, and even the greatest knowledge does not guarantee that one returns with the prizes to show for it.

Always Open to Gaming

I just hosted my last SOG for the forseeable future, and I now leave the group to very capable hands to continue in my stead. As some might already know, I will be re-locating to Australia, and I ought to be gone within the month.

SOG has been a constant in my life for the past two years, and I've been at its helm for 23 sessions; There was that one time I was absent when I traveled to the States. SOG has been my one highlight, the one thing I look forward to every month, and the one thing that keeps me going.

I cannot overstate how much each session means to me, and how much effort I take to make sure everyone who games with me is enjoying themselves. When I would go around, making sure I knew everyone on a first name basis, you would know how important this was to me. And my closest friends would know what little weight I put into remembering peoples' names and faces in any other situation. But SOG... That was different. It was my creation, my endeavour, the first time I was the creator, and not just another consumer.

And the thought that I won't be in that room, playing with people whom I've grown to consider friends, pains me. I'm sitting here, in my chair, and I'm ready to tear. I feel a strain in my chest, an ache where my heart is. And I'm struggling to find the words to describe my sense of loss.

Iron Man

I have such a man-crush on Iron Man. And by extension, Robert Downey Jr.

There here is a brand new trailer for Iron Man. Enjoy.

For the Love

There's a new online game that's captured my interest. And the more I read about it, the more excited I become.

The game, Love (as in For the Love of Game Development), is designed entirely by one person, Eskil Steenberg, and I think he has demonstrated a very unique vision for this game. This was displayed at GDC, and reported on by Kotaku, and Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

Part FPS, part MMO, and part adventure, this game will allow gamers to both create and explore the world around them. And what makes Love so compelling is the art style. It creates such a rich canvas that makes the gamer want to wander around, and become part of the environment.

One of the key ideas for the game is that is a not a massively multiplayer game; it is a moderately multiplayer one. Gamers interact intimately with a small, close-knit group; Friends who you would take with you on an adventure.

Moreover, gamers are given the tools and the freedom to create and modify the world that they are in. One could build walls to defend their cities, or dig tunnels. I'm not sure what are the limits to this freedom, but it all sounds so intriguing.

Art + interaction + creation = a winning solution to me.

An Ode to FAB: The Bulge

Sweet, sweet FAB: The Bulge.
How I have waited for you;
Long into the night have I teared into my pillow.

You arrived on my doorstep,
But there was no welcome waiting.
The postman took you away, and there was one more joyless night.

The sun arose this morn,
with the promise of new life.
At the post office I received you, which made me late for work.

Original bad poetry by me; Photos taken at my desk

Oomphatico's

The whole lot of us had dinner last night at Oomphatico's, and it was a very pleasant experience. I think that overall, it is a very nice restaurant, and definitely worth another visit.

Decor
The decor and overall layout of the place is very nice. If I had to use adjectives to describe the overall feel, it would be lush and whimsical. The room was brightly and warmly lit with ceiling and wall mounted lights. The walls were colourful with very pretty wallpaper. Tables and chairs were well spaced so one would not feel cramped. The furniture was very comfortable with thick cushioned arm chairs, in a myriad of colours and tones. There's a chic casualness about the place, without being pretentious, and it gives the guest a very relaxed atmosphere to dine in. Most of all, just sitting there is a delightful experience.

Service
Service was excellent, with plenty of friendly staff to attend to our needs. We didn't have to wait long to be served, and the staff were very attentive. One lady (I assume she was either the boss or the service manager) made sure to go around each table and chat with the guests, which made me feel very welcome. In addition, the staff were more than willing to do separate bills for each person around the table, so we didn't have to wrangle with who had to pay who at the end of dinner. Two thumbs up.

Food
The food overall was of a good quality, with many interesting items on the menu. You really need to give the menu a good once-over to fully understand the kinds of items available to delight your palate. I had a very delicious pizza topped with mushrooms, bacon, greens and egg, and a very yummy juice of pineapple, mint, ginger and lime. The risottos were quite yummy, the salads looked fantastic, the Thai green curry was flavourful and the pancake lasagna was very good. The sandwich was a bit of a mixed bag because the bread may have been over toasted, but the fillings were ample and fresh. We didn't have any dessert or coffee after, so I hope to go back to try it soon. And we barely scratched the surface of the menu; there were so many different items on it. And we also didn't have a chance to sample the breakfast menu.

Overall
I think the restaurant is definitely worth a visit, and I will be going back there again; I'd really like to sample the rest of the menu. Guests will feel very comfortable there, and will be delighted by the food. It's a great place for a relaxed Sunday morning lunch, or an afternoon coffee, or a casual date. I highly recommend Oomphatico's, and I hope everyone will give it a try soon.