Archive for August, 2009
Shadow Complex, Orson Scott Card and homosexuality: Ethics and consumer responsibilty in the video game marketplace
Aug 30th
This week’s podcast centers around Shadow Complex, one of the latest and most critically acclaimed games on Xbox Live Arcade. While most people will agree the game is a worthwhile trip down memory lane in the spirit of classics like Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, that isn’t the focus of our discussion. Instead, we’re taking a look at an opinion piece penned by Christian Nutt of Gamasutra, who responds to a debate that arose on popular video game forum NeoGAF over whether it’s reasonable to boycott a game for ethical reasons. From there, we discuss the reasoning behind boycotts and petitions that gamers engage in and the ramifications of their actions.
At just over 30 minutes, this is our most succint podcast — but I think it’s also safe to say it’s the most engaging episode we’ve produced so far.
Finally, I wanted to mention that this entry marks the 100th post on Silicon Sasquatch! On behalf of Aaron, Doug and myself, I just wanted to say we’re all deeply grateful to our fans (and critics) and we hope you’ve enjoyed the ride so far.
If you want to help us, just spread the word! Follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our RSS feed, or post a comment on an entry or two. We’re always grateful to hear from you.
The Backlog: Of Dark Knights and Dead Consoles
Aug 28th
Marge would be proud
It’s been a bit of a difficult week for the Silicon Sasquatch staff. Nick spent much of the week reformatting and fine-tuning his computer before hauling it up north for the sixth annual Penny Arcade Expo and its thousand-seat LAN — a stressful experience, and one that leaves precious little time for gaming. Doug’s third Xbox 360 fell under the alluring spell of the Red Ring of Death and is currently drifting towards Valhalla. And Aaron? Well…Aaron’s the lucky one who actually got to sit down and play through Batman: Arkham Asylum.
Review: Rock Pedal
Aug 24th
If last week’s paean to the ultimate Rock Band drum set cast my reputation as a savvy consumer into doubt, I’m probably sinking my credibility to the bottom of the darkest ocean with this review of a premium kick drum pedal for a video game.
Strictly speaking, the Rock Pedal is an actual, real drum pedal, complete with chain, spring and hammer. However, it’s been modified to work with Rock Band with unparalleled precision and durability, putting the easily-broken pedals of Harmonix’s own kits to shame.
There’s no question whether the $80 pedal works as intended; Rock Pedal comes with a 30-day trial and a one-year full warranty, and my own experiences with the pedal over the last month have been nothing short of stellar.
No, the real question is one of value. What kind of person would benefit from a drum pedal that costs as much as the standard Rock Band drum kit?
The Backlog: It’s Like E3 Again Edition
Aug 21st
Why hello there, future purchase
What a week it’s been. The inaugural Gamescom in Cologne, Germany opened on Wednesday and guess what: Sony kindly unveiled the new PlayStation 3 Slim. Media outlets weren’t exactly surprised by the announcement, but I think we’re all glad the rumor mill has finally ceased its incessant turning about the damn console. Looks like I finally need to go get a PS3.
Oh, and a little event in Anaheim, California called BlizzCon flung its +10 Doors of Nerd Barricading open to the (literally) unwashed masses of Blizzard fanatics today, and so far we’ve already been made privy to the next World of Warcraft expansion, a new Diablo III class and StarCraft II being confirmed for release in 2010.
You know, as a gamer I like it when these big gaming-related events run back-to-back with one another. The ESA might as well wedge E3 2010 between next year’s Gamescom and BlizzCon to mentally and physically destroy every games journalist in existence. That could be Silicon Sasquatch‘s in! Read the rest of this entry »
Review: Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta (XBL)
Aug 20th
Here we are, dissecting the final downloadable addition to the Fallout 3 universe.
Throughout the year, Bethesda Softworks has given gamers a grand total of $50 worth of extra content to one of 2008′s finest games. The finale, Mothership Zeta, is certainly a bold move on the studio’s part to try to go out with an edge-of-your-seat bang. Putting Fallout in space, even with the series’ trademark exorbitant scenarios, is definitely a head-tilting decision. But cosmic setting aside, don’t expect any climactic end to the story of the Lone Wanderer here; the developers are smart enough to realize that after rectifying Fallout 3′s ending with Broken Steel, setting a finite conclusion to the mythos would kill the immersion.
Unfortunately, the end is nigh…and not that great. Zeta is a linear and uninteresting bookend to a fairly massive collection of expansions. It’s not as bad as Operation: Anchorage, but that’s not saying much.
Thanks to Zeta, most gamers are going to feel like their wallets have been probed. Take me to your refund counter, please. Read the rest of this entry »
Review: ION Drum Rocker
Aug 19th
Before we begin, one thing must be accepted as an absolute truth: The ION Drum Rocker is not for everyone. With an asking price of $300, you could purchase a brand new Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 Slim. You could even invest in a full menagerie of fab instruments with The Beatles: Rock Band bundle. And if Snuggies are your thing, well, you’re looking at a couple weeks’ worth of cuddly, cost-efficient warmth.
With its authentic, professional-grade electronic drum pads and cymbals that can be rearranged to the drummer’s every whim, even a casual Rock Band player will find his or her attention seized by the sheer spectacle of the Drum Rocker. But is it the kit for you?
The answer is simple! Just take our three-step quiz:
- If you don’t own a Rock Band game: Please don’t waste another second living under that rock. Kindly redirect your browser here and pick up the Rock Band 1 bundle along with Rock Band 2 and the AC/DC Live Track Pack for a mere $80. Those Rock Band 1 drums will get you acquainted with the basics.
- If you’re a light to moderate Rock Band or Guitar Hero player: You’re better served spending your money on expanding your song or instrument library in a less extravagant fashion. There’s not a single expert drum song that can’t be passed on the stock Rock Band or Guitar Hero drum set, so don’t panic.
- If you’re a super-big Rock Band geek with naïve aspirations of learning how to play a real drum kit (kind of like Neil Peart but without the tragic history and freaky Objectivist lyrics): Oh thank goodness. I’m not alone. You should keep reading this article.
Review: Fallout 3: Point Lookout (XBL)
Aug 18th
It’s comforting to trek through the swampy bogs of Fallout 3′s fourth downloadable content pack — it’s just like the Capital Wasteland, only with (slightly) more inbreeding.
That feeling of being at home within the game is Point Lookout’s strongest asset. Unlike the uneven experiences in both Operation: Anchorage and The Pitt, this DLC effort takes a page out of the core Fallout 3 experience. Players are given a familiar set of rules and goals: explore, scavenge, kill and quest. Even Broken Steel, which was a remarkably solid piece of extra content, timidly reproduced the basics of Fallout 3. But with Point Lookout, Bethesda Softworks has created a real sidestory to remind us why its rendition of the Fallout franchise is so supremely addictive.
Review: NCAA Football 10 (Xbox 360)
Aug 17th
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
The Who, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
Right before tearing the shrink wrap off NCAA Football 10, I had a thought: “Why do I do this every year?” This is the third year in a row I’ve bought EA Sports’ NCAA Football game, and on previous console generations I purchased multiple copies as well. The problem is I’m getting strict visions of déjà vu. It is, clearly, an annual thing for me — all within the same repetitive cycle of pre-release excitement, post-release honeymoon, and over-analysis of missing features that need to be in next year’s version. Rinse, wash, repeat.
So let’s take a look at how NCAA 10 fits into this cycle — because, despite tweaks and improvements that fans have clamored for, there are a few minor steps backwards and features that have been given little more than a fresh coat of paint.
Silicon Sasquatch Podcast #2 – The Summer Drought
Aug 3rd
We’re all familiar with the summer doldrums — the scorching heat, the long days and short nights, and the almost total lack of good games being released in stores. But was it always like this? And thanks to the digital distribution market, are things changing?
Site editors Nick and Aaron were joined by our number-one (and possibly only) fan Tyler for this discussion. Although the show weighs in at a mere 40ish minutes this time around, we did find ourselves sidetracked a few times. It just goes to show that if you get a few nerds together to talk, the discussion will invariably devolve into an argument over which Final Fantasy is the best.
Editor’s Note: It’s Final Fantasy VI.