Miyamoto says, "３DSがフレンド・コードを使うのはもちろん！"

A couple weeks ago, Nintendo held an event in Japan to spin hype for the upcoming 3DS handheld system. The Nintendo World 2011 event featured the grand, public unveiling of the soon-to-be-released system to the Japanese public, with almost all of the launch titles playable. Check that link for event details, but it’s what came after that’s interesting.

One of the sad pieces of information to come out of the event is the rumor that the 3DS will continue to make use of friend codes for online play. It’s still just speculation based on a translated report from Famitsu, but it makes all too much sense. While it may seem backwards to many American gamers who know and love Xbox Live or PlayStation Network, given what I know of Japanese culture, it’s not terribly surprising. What lies at the root of it all is the Japanese sense of public self and how it differs from the American equivalent.

Let me give an example. You have a Facebook account, right? Of course you do. My 86-year-old grandfather has a Facebook account, for god’s sake. Anyway, last week on Facebook one of my friends dropped the “Ode to a Grecian Urn” of swearing after our beloved Oregon Ducks lost the BCS National Championship to Auburn. The next day, she mentioned that masterpiece of cursing cost her 30 friends on Facebook. Her reaction and mine were both cavalier, thinking if those people couldn’t handle that sort of an outburst, they didn’t deserve to be her friend. That response is an incredibly American sense of individualism. Sure, I may not share everything I want on Facebook, but I feel confident in my sense of expression. Facebook also uses my real name and details, and it encourages everyone on the site to do the same.

But Facebook isn’t very popular in Japan. According to a recent New York Times article on the subject, there are only about two million Japanese Facebook users, fewer than two percent of all Japanese internet users. However, this doesn’t mean that social media is unpopular in Japan in general. A crucial difference is that Japanese social media sites, namely Mixi, allow for anonymity and greater control over who sees what you post to the site. It’s more akin to a messageboard, where you have a pseudonym, than a social media site as we in the United States know it. This is also seen in the popularity of online site 2chan, the completely anonymous Japanese messageboard that inspired the nerd hive-mind of the western world, 4chan.

This preference for anonymous online media ties in to the Japanese sense of self and the difference between public opinions and personal thoughts. The two words are honne (本音), which means “real intention,” and tatemae (建前), which means “public position” or “face.” The idea of “face” is quite foreign to most Americans because we are so highly individualistic, but it’s vital in many other cultures. Japan is, like most Asian societies, based more on group consensus than the United States is; coming to an agreeable decision is more important than holding out your opinion. The popularity of certain fashions or items in countries like Japan or South Korea is fed by the need to fit in; if all of your friends have the same jacket, you need it, too. An American may likely view that as being just like everyone else, while a Japanese person may publicly consider it harmonious.

Having an anonymous social media site, then, is a way to show your innermost feelings without giving away who you are. In a world where even having your favorite hobbies publicly advertised is damning to public reputation, the lengths of privacy start to make sense — or, at least, are understood. Keeping that desire for privacy in mind, then, it can make a certain amount of sense why the Friend Codes began with the Wii and why they will most likely continue on 3DS. It’s another layer of privacy, and an example of how different some cultures can be when it comes to gaming.

The 2010 Tokyo Game Show, which concluded last week, may have showcased the re-awakening of Japanese gaming innovation

If you’re a big fan of video games, there’s a very good likelihood you have played and enjoyed the fruits of Japanese video game developers’ innovation. From Super Mario Bros. to Final Fantasy VII to Street Fighter II and back again, many of the highlights of gaming have come from the land of the rising sun.

However, it wouldn’t be controversial to say that, for the last console generation, the games that have set the standard worldwide have come from Western developers — both American and European. One of Japanese gaming’s most prominent developers, Resident Evil creator Keiji Inafune, even said as much to the New York Times: “I look around Tokyo Games Show, and everyone’s making awful games; Japan is at least five years behind,” he said. The same article estimated that Japanese developers, publishers and manufacturers owned as much as 50 percent of the gaming market in 2002; this has fallen to just 10 percent. While this lull is due to many reasons — including a dearth of creativity and the shifting Japanese market — what was shown last week at the Tokyo Game Show may be indicative of a real revival.

The NES: A crucial aspect of my generation's childhood

After the United States video game market crashed in 1983, it wasn’t American companies like Atari or Activision that led the market revival here in the U.S. — it was Nintendo’s NES. We at Silicon Sasquatch grew up on Nintendo’s 8-bit grey box, and by the time the Nintendo 64 launched in September 1996 in the U.S., “Nintendo” was synonymous with video games in the same way Kleenex is with facial tissues and Xerox is with copy machines. Though the generation weaned on Mario, Zelda and company hardly knew it, they were enjoying games made in Japan.

Through the 16- and 32-bit eras, Japanese developers enjoyed a golden period of innovation in game design. Games like Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Chrono Trigger, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy VII were all well received worldwide and helped usher in a more mature era of gaming in all regions. According to numbers on the ever-accurate Wikipedia, eight of the top-10 best-selling Super NES games were Japanese developed, and six of the top-10 PlayStation games were as well.

As pointed out by that well-timed New York Times article, Japan is playing catch-up in this current generation. Where characters like Mario, Sonic and Solid Snake once set the tastes internationally, that mantle has passed to Master Chief, Nico Bellic and the soldiers of Modern Warfare. Not just in sales, either, but in terms of importance to how video games have developed; the open-world gameplay of the Grand Theft Auto games is a huge inspiration to game developers around the world, and Halo and Modern Warfare established the gold standard for how online gaming should be handled. Rather than just following the lead of the Nintendos, Sonys and Capcoms of the world, American and European developers have taken the lead as innovators in modern game design.

One time, gaming's most recognizable mascots were Mario and Sonic. Now, Halo's Master Chief may be at the top of the pile.

So what’s gone wrong, then? Take a look at sales numbers: Again according to stats from Sony, there have been 38.1 million PlayStation 3 consoles sold; more than 5 million have been sold in Japan. Meanwhile, out of the PlayStation 2′s approximately 145 million units sold, more than 21 million were sold in Japan. While those figures are similar in their percentages — both over 13 percent of total sales — the sales volumes have some serious discrepancies. Moreover, despite Microsoft’s push to gain market share in Japan, only 1.2 million Xbox 360s have been sold in Japan — roughly 3 percent of global sales. The one sales success of this era has been the Wii, which surpassed 10 million consoles sold in Japan in March; however, that achievement took almost a year longer to reach than it did for the PlayStation 2. The PS2 took 131 weeks, roughly two and a half years, to reach 10 million in sales; the PS3 has been on shelves for almost four years.

It seems as though the maturation of the Japanese market visible in the 16- and 32-bit eras, which reached an apex with the PlayStation 2 and GameCube, has given way to a cultural change where gamers just aren’t interested in home consoles. The Nintendo DS is the best-selling system ever in Japan, having sold more than 25 million units; the DS is, as my travels in Japan this spring proved, absolutely ubiquitous. It seems that where the current console generation is left out, handheld systems have gained, and that includes creativity in game design. As handhelds are the rage, that is where development has gone.

But what of the consoles? Perhaps another reason is the lack of relevance of arcades. Japanese developers like Namco, Konami, Sega and Capcom thrived in arcades, and many of their best games came as home console ports. Though shorter games are seeing a revival on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, it’s hardly enough to sustain the sorts of development teams that these former arcade giants enlisted, and today’s $60, big-budget titles have moved beyond the shallow replayability offered by many of the arcade ports that were successful even on sophisticated platforms like the Sega Dreamcast.

Yes, this is the controller the original Steel Battalion came with. Yes, it cost $200.

Last week’s Tokyo Game Show brought a revelatory thunderbolt: Microsoft’s Kinect was going to get support from some very, very big developers who were promising to bring more creativity than just rehashing Wii Sports. The 360-powered Kinect has drawn some particularly big names — seven new titles, five for Kinect alone, all from Japanese development teams. The headline grabber has been the revival of Steel Battalion; the Xbox cult favorite was renowned for its 40-button hyper-realistic joystick, and now it’s coming to Kinect. Games also announced included Goichi Suda and Grasshopper Manufacture’s Codename D and Project Draco, which appears to be a new Panzer Dragoon-inspired game from ex-Sega developers.

What made the Kinect-centric TGS announcements so much of a shock was the stark contrast they presented to what Western developers showcased at E3 2010 in June. Combining what was shown last week in Tokyo along with Q Entertainment’s spiritual successor to Rez, Child of Eden, and it turns out that the vast majority of Kinect games that are aimed at hardcore gamers are coming out of Japan. It was said in the games press (including on the podcasts I listen to: the Giant Bombcast, Weekend Confirmed, Rebel FM, and 1up’s In This Thread) that the key phrase of E3 this year is “it’s not for you,” in that the motion-control games for Kinect and PlayStation Move were not geared toward the hardcore. Sure, Harmonix’s Dance Central has a Rock Band-like crossover appeal, but most everything else looked to ape the Wii’s successes and appeal to broader audiences while leaving the Halo and GTA crowd out in the rain.

Q Entertainment's Child of Eden was hardcore gamers' only hope for an engaging motion-control game at E3 in June.

These development announcements aren’t surefire signs that Japan will come roaring back immediately. It’s been rumored that Microsoft is helping development costs for these games as a loss-leader for Kinect. Business thought would be that Microsoft helps pay for some marquee games so that the hardware sells well, providing a market for developers down the line. More power to the Japanese developers for taking on this challenge, then, especially as these projects look so promising. Moreover, this is what may help revive the Japanese gaming market — perhaps gamers no longer want iterations of what’s come before? Perhaps the more experiential gameplay brought by motion controllers will help move PS3s and 360s; the Wii has been successful in Japan, so the market may be there for something different. It’s certainly proof that what’s come before hasn’t worked this generation, and that change is needed.

Inafune-san may be right — Japan may be five years behind American developers. But the Japanese market and Japanese publishers and developers are too important to gaming for them to fade away meekly. I don’t know whether motion games will be the death knell or the phoenix rising, but I do know it will be more interesting for all gamers worldwide than if the Japanese developers quietly wound down their streams of games.

Japan has had an undeniable influence on the video game industry. One of the main reasons why I began studying the Japanese language, why I continued studying that through to an undergraduate major, and why I am now in a graduate program with a focus on east Asia is because of my love of video games, and this historic influence. I can’t deny my nerdy roots.  That curiosity has turned into a respect and academic desire to study other cultures, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say gaming sparked some of that. That is how I found myself spending a month in Asia in March, traveling through Japan, South Korea, and China, visiting factories and hearing business lectures.

Akihabara, Tokyo's district filled with electronics shops, is an otaku heaven.

From the early 1980s arcade era to now, Japanese hardware and software developers have been leaders and innovators in this medium. Whether it’s Nintendo, Sony, Sega, Square-Enix, Capcom, Konami, or any of the other developers down the line, these companies established a worldwide legacy. I’ve played games for my entire life, studied Japanese through high school and college, and sat through the grueling trans-Pacific flight — I could hardly wait to touch down in Tokyo and see Japan for myself.

On my first full day in Tokyo, I took an afternoon trip out to Akihabara — the heart of Tokyo’s nerd and otaku culture. Electronic shops large and small line “Den-Den Town,” the nickname for the area near Akihabara Station where the district focus is sharpest. Want to see advertisements for PC components from Asus and Intel up the side of a building? Or multiple large arcades right on the main boulevard? You’ve come to the right spot. You’re also in the right spot if you want to delve into the depths of Japanese – ahem – taste; right across the street from the Akihabara Station exit is a five-story sex toy and pornography store, where the floors go from tame to what-the-hell as you head up. Tiny Japanese girls dressed in costumes passing out flyers for maid cafes while standing on the street sidewalks.

Off the main streets are, just as in most every section of Tokyo, a series of narrow side-streets that offer up a menagerie of storefronts — maid cafes, anime and manga stores, pachinko parlors, small hole-in-the-wall stores, hobby shops, electronics stores of all varieties…everything you can imagine. I wandered down one such alley and ran smack into a hobby shop that specialized in die-cast model cars; next door, their sister store had tons of plastic Gundam models. That is Akihabara in a nutshell — a haven for nerds.

Many districts within Tokyo have narrow side streets jam-packed with interesting stores; Akihabara is no exception.

Every one of the major chain stores — whether a Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, or Sofmap — provides a vertical experience. Floor space is at a premium in Japan, so stores tend to be multi-floor affairs; point-and-shoot cameras here, SLRs on the next floor up, audio on the third floor, gaming on the fourth. In a way, it’s very similar to a Best Buy or Fry’s in the United States; I’d argue it’s better because, certainly for camera lenses and accessories, a Bic or Sofmap was much better stocked than any consumer electronics store I’ve been to here in the U.S. That said, the other thing I notice about the new game sections is how much shelf-space is dedicated to each different console; the Nintendo DS was far and away the leader, with the PS2 and PSP following, PS3 and Wii showing decently, and Xbox 360 there, but without a large presence. The Xbox 360 displays were often nice and similar to kiosks at stores in the U.S., but were probably there through contractual agreements as opposed to real demand. If there were any PC games in Japan at stores, I certainly didn’t see them at all.

Yes — handheld gaming appears to rule to roost in Japan right now. Riding the Yamanote Line around central Tokyo, I would often see people sat down with their noses buried in their cell phone, DS Lite, or PSP. And, judging from the shelf space each took up in stores, the handhelds have become most popular in terms of mindshare amongst gamers.

Whereas the only people you’d expect to pull out a DS on a train in the United States are grade-A dorks, it seemed like all walks of life had one in Japan; young women, young men, even businessmen had gaming consoles out and about. For all the worship of how common gaming is in Japan from obsessed otaku in the United States, it comes off as exactly that — common, ordinary.

Major Japanese electronics retail stores, like this Yodobashi Camera location in Shinjuku, also have wide-ranging game sections.

Yes, there are Nintendo ads on the trains; it’s not an earth-shaking event, it’s just a part of everyday Japanese life. Nintendo is as common in Japan as Disney in the United States. Imagine how you’d act if Asians came to the United States and were stunned at how common Disney franchises were. Actually, it’s a decent comparison; while Disney characters and properties are viewed as being for children in the U.S., plenty of my friends from Asia (especially the girls) have Disney products, and they are in their 20s. It’s not too far a stretch to stereotypically view gamers in a similar light in the U.S. Gaming culture has dissipated into many more areas of Japanese life than American, but it’s not as deified as some American nerds would like to believe.

That said, if you are an American nerd with a love for Japanese games and gaming culture, then traveling around shopping districts in Tokyo is like going through a candy store. My experience at Book-Off, a chain of Japanese used book, CD and game stores, tells this story incredibly well.

Welcome to paradise.

Analogous to walking past a Barnes and Noble or Borders in an outdoor mall in the U.S., the Book-Off branch I went to in the district of Ikebukuro in Tokyo looked just like a book store. Little did I know what I would find inside: aisles of games, both new and used. It was only after walking halfway down an aisle and running into old Nintendo Famicom cartridges that noticed it was a wonderful treasure trove.

Japanese copy of Final Fantasy 3 for approximately $5? Collectors, time to go wild.

From Famicom to Dreamcast, a large section was dedicated to older used games…almost all of which were listed at only ¥500, or roughly $5. I would have bought a Japanese copy of Chrono Trigger had I known it would work on my SNES. The variety and quality of the games was stunning; few looked truly ragged, most of the newer titles were boxed with instructions, and the selection was wide-ranging. The PlayStation 2 section was half an aisle unto itself; I picked up a Japanese-market-only Winning Eleven title for ¥500, while import copies go for nearly $70 in the U.S. There was also a selection of systems and used accessories; the first-party Dreamcast arcade stick that goes for $60 or more in the U.S. was sitting in a bin for ¥200, right next to a $25 Super Famicom and a ¥100 used Saturn.

Japanese Dreamcast, Saturn, Super Famicom…all for super cheap. In the display behind sit an array of contemporary used consoles.

I looked around Akihabara for the famous used game store Super Potato, but despite wanting to see a legendary retail location, I found almost everything I would have wanted to buy and bring home at that Book-Off. It speaks to the ubiquity of gaming that so many generations of games — literally every generation of Nintendo software and hardware was represented, from Famicom up to Wii and DS XL — can still be found in Japan. I wanted to buy another suitcase only for Book-Off purchases, but discretion was a better plan. I will return, though.

While there may be some misnomers about the Japanese market, and there is worry that consoles are waning in Japan, there is little doubt that gaming is still important. What form it continues in may be up for debate, and the audience for gaming may shift as demographics skew older, but games have cemented a place in Japanese popular culture.

The Holidays approach. For some that means quality time with family members not seen for a year — maybe more. Others, well…can I get a “what what” if at some point during your life you hid away in the midst of celebrations to finish Earthbound (or, insert other game reference here). However, my adult years have made me more personable when it comes to the holidays; I’m now infinitely more interested in the going-ons of my kin.

Still, I won’t lie that this year I’d prefer to mow down more of Left 4 Dead 2′s cajunized zombies with a giant plate of delicious turkey and fixins on my lap. I’m thankful for me.

We’re back on track for backlogs, and this week is mega-sized to make up for our absence. To summarize: Nick informs us he essentially played everything ever released this month, Doug gushes about his beloved Forza 3 between study sessions, and I write about why two wonderful November-born titles should be played on the PC.

Do the Mario!

Nick:

Life served up a particularly hellish week for me, so it was fortunate that I had a slew of excellent games to escape with.

I spent a few fantastic hours in New Super Mario Bros. Wii in its fantastic cooperative/competitive mode earlier this week. What Jerry Holkins said about this game’s debilitating effects on a relationship is true, to a point; while we were able to help each other out for the most part, there were times where my attempts to “take the lead” or “get us through this tough spot” often led to one or both of us being killed, prompting my girlfriend to say some things about me that are rarely included in the same sentences used to talk about a Mario game. But it was all in good fun — something this game has in ample supply. It’s Mario in his best form ever, and anyone who grew up playing these games should purchase it without hesitation.

This week also brought another sequel to a game I adored: Assassin’s Creed 2. Transporting the game to Renaissance Italy is perhaps the most significant shift in story and setting that I’ve seen in a franchise in quite some time, and Ubisoft Montreal deserves some commendation for crafting an incredible sequel to an already ambitious debut title. There’s so much I could say about how things were improved — combat, economy, actions and consequences, exploration, story — but I’ll lay it out like this instead. If you loved Assassin’s Creed, you’ll love Assassin’s Creed 2. And if you hated the original? You’ll probably love Assassin’s Creed 2 anyway.

Having completed all five campaigns in Left 4 Dead 2, I’m happy to pronounce myself an official fan of the series. Although I bought the first game and had my fair share of fun with it, I always felt a little uneasy playing it. And it wasn’t because of the game’s tension, or horror-film veneer, or anything like that; it was just that the game sent a constant message that your survival was entirely at the game director’s mercy. In the sequel, the tone has changed significantly for the better. If Left 4 Dead was Valve’s attempt to make an interactive zombie movie like Dawn of the Dead, Left 4 Dead 2 is Valve making a balls-out Zombieland-style game. Melee weapons encourage close combat, lending a sense of strength and confidence to the survivors that was sorely missing from the first. All four of the characters in the sequel have stronger personalities than the first game’s survivors, and their determination on getting to New Orleans to be rescued encourages the player to keep slogging it out through hell and high water. It’s one of the most improved sequels of the year, without a doubt.

And when you consider that Left 4 Dead 2 was developed in just one year, it’s disappointing that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 didn’t shape up to be more substantial. To be fair, Infinity Ward’s last game, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, not only reinvented the series — it raised the bar significantly for what an online multiplayer experience can be. I sank a “mere” 40 hours into COD4′s multiplayer mode, which pales in comparison to most of the people on my friends list. Multiplayer in Modern Warfare 2 is technically just as good as COD4′s, but after a solid six hours online in a variety of modes I’m struggling to stay interested. The mantra in developing this sequel seems to have been “more options in every aspect of play,” which is a good thing, but the core sensation of Call of Duty 4 has dulled for me. I was hoping lightning would strike twice, and I suppose it did, but I was hoping for a more risky and adventurous update to multiplayer — not a mere iteration. If I wanted that, I’d have bought last year’s Call of Duty: World at War. If there is one area that received a substantial improvement, though, it’s the single player. Rather than attempt to keep things within the bounds of reality, Infinity Ward opted to create an over-the-top global conflict that was flawlessly paced from start to finish. It’s ludicrous, but it’s so, so much fun. At about six hours to complete, it’s shorter than COD4′s — but considering how tedious replaying that game’s campaign was for me, I’m much happier with the new game’s approach.

I’m still slogging through Dragon Age: Origins with my city elf rogue. Steam says I’ve played for quite a long time, but I’m only at about 15% completion. Maybe it’s because I love reading every entry in the admirably written codex, or because I can’t help but talk to every NPC, but I’m getting an astronomically entertaining experience for my money with this game. I’m really struggling to fathom just how Mass Effect 2 could top the quality of this experience once it hits in January.

I also sank a few rounds in with the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 beta. I’d been hoping for a return to the glory days of Battlefield 2, and instead what I got was Bad Company with a moderate graphical upgrade; it’s good, but there are better options available. Looks like I’ll still be holding out for Battlefield 3 after all.

Doug sums up his feelings on this picture with an articulate "WEEEEEEE!"

Doug:

While I’ve been way too busy finishing up the majority of my grad school quarter, I’ve still found time to play a little bit of…erm…Forza Motorsport 3. And nothing else.

But it’s so good! I still love pretty much everything about it, even if I haven’t been able to play online with my friends at all. The rewind button is a godsend — it erases single-player frustration with the ease of control-z functionality. The selection of cars and tuning options are superb; I’ve made an old-school Volkswagen Rabbit into a fire-breathing, turbocharged four-wheel-drive monster that could eat a Ferrari for lunch and spit out its bones.

It’s been said that Microsoft and Turn 10 gets things right in the third iteration, and this particular game is a great example of that. It’s almost strange to think that all three Forza Motosport games have been released since Sony and Polyphony released Gran Turismo 4 on the PlayStation 2. It’s scary to think how much Forza has moved ahead certain aspects of console racing games.

Along with Forza, I’ve tried out a few of the Xbox Live improvements from this week’s update — namely the implementation of Facebook and Twitter. And that’s really the extent of my interaction; they’re there, they work just as advertised, but I feel like I’m kind of missing the point. It’s nice to have both services everywhere at all times, but until a real killer use for either blooms on the 360 they’re going to feel like tacked-on additions.

I don't think James Brown had this in mind when he wanted to take us to "the bridge."

Aaron:

Let’s get down to it. Left 4 Dead 2 and Dragon Age: Origins are two amazing games that deserve to be played on the PC only.

Now, I love consoles. This isn’t a fanboy thing. And I fully understand that not everyone has a modern computer capable of playing the latest releases — Boot Camp Macs included. So, let’s assume you’re a lucky gamer who has the following: a home console of the PS3 or Xbox 360 variety, and a gaming PC. Let’s also assume you enjoy co-op zombie shooting and in-depth fantasy RPGs. You’re excited about the aforementioned titles, but you’re hesitant to commit to a particular platform. Here’s the answer: Play those games on the PC, or you’re not getting your money’s worth.

That may be a blatantly ignorant statement to some, but these words come from a person who, before this month, more or less abandoned PC gaming over the past year (aside from Dawn of War II and Left 4 Dead 1). PCs get the short end of the doomsday stick these days. People say the PC as a gaming device is dead, no one makes money off of the games anymore, and pirating is ruining developers left and right. Controversies aren’t helping the perception of PC gamers amongst the general gaming populace either. So that’s why I’m glad to see Electronic Arts promoting the platform with a definitive version Dragon Age, and Valve doing their thing by releasing such a quality computer title as L4D2.

Dragon Age works best on PC because of the following: the overall better performance (higher frame rate, less glitching, faster loading), a more sensible control/camera mechanic, and a BioWare community toolset that paves the way for future user mods. If Neverwinter Nights is an example to go by, expect years of free, quality content flowing from the collective mind of an invested fan base.

Now, Left 4 Dead 2 deserves to be experienced on the PC because it’s a Valve title first, console port second — plain and simple. The Steam service is consistent in its ability to match like minded players and bring friends together promptly. PC gamers are spoiled when it comes to online play. Thanks, dedicated servers.

I’d also wager the community on Steam is better than Xbox Live’s. Actually, it is better. Left 4 Dead 2 even has a section specifically for add-ons, and it’s exciting to think of the campaigns an active community will create using the sequel’s assets. The original’s user-made maps were generally great, so expect a longer lifespan if you pick up L4D2 on the PC.

Oh, and PC versions are cheaper than their console counterparts. That’s a plus.

Somewhat ironically, Animal House was filmed at the U of O…but you all likely know that by now

First of all: Congratulations recent college graduates. Welcome to a world full of (seemingly unavailable) opportunities!

I’m sorry, that was harsh.

Still, the University of Oregon’s ceremony for the geography and anthropology departments had a wonderfully apocalyptic keynote speaker telling everyone the skills they earned during four years of tuition-giving are for jobs not yet created, and that there are no guarantees of gainful employment right now — but good luck anyway! I laughed for my graduating friend.

As far as Silicon Sasquatch goes we’re back on track this week with our lovely Daily Recaps, and we’ll actually get around to posting additional content over the next few days.

Doug’s preparing a wonderful beginner’s guide to sports games, which is something I’ve always wanted to read considering my inability to get into the genre. I’ll be working on a review for Saints Row 2 and I can’t say enough good things about it from the in-depth customization to the spraying of public property with fecal matter.

Also, look for our impressions of the recently released Overlord II demo; as far as I can tell, controlling a horde of gremlin-sounding demons with a penchant for clubbing baby seals results in guilt-laden hilarity.

Monday’s news = 1UP posts some hefty Project Natal rumors, Verizon steps onto GameTap’s turf and Shigeru Miyamoto really wants to help you win at gaming.

Unfortunately, that's not a trick of perspective. Natal is, right now at least, pretty big.

Microsoft’s Natal hardware, demoed famously at E3 two weeks ago, is kind of the current poster child of gamedom. Sure, E3 2009 had a lot of fantastic announcements from all sorts of developers, publishers and console makers, but the media bees are certainly buzzing about the capabilities of the company’s proprietary Xbox 360 camera.

Now 1UP has confidently posted significant (if proved to be true) rumors about Project Natal, believing that the camera is actually part of a “new” Xbox console package to be launched in the fall of 2010. However, as the post states, don’t think of it as the Xbox 720, but more of what happened between the GameCube and Wii transition: similar hardware that can play the last generation’s games while offering new ones with different control schemes and slightly better graphics. Something tells me this new Xbox will cost a bit more than the Wii’s meager $250 asking price.

I’ve read a lot of postulations about Natal recently, but 1UP is really going all out here. The idea isn’t extremely far fetched, but one would have to question Microsoft’s methodology of extending the 360′s life cycle — which we know the company wants to do. Why continue to carve the gaming population into accessory-laden segments? Oh yeah: cash money.

It’s bad enough with overpriced hard drives, and it was worse when there used to be Core, Pro and Elite models. If Microsoft does introduce a redesigned 360 to bundle with Natal, the price has to be competitive and the package can’t alienate current 360 owners by offering too many upgrades to then negate the older model. Of course the company can do whatever it wants, but the backlash from gamers could be tremendous.

Verizon seems to be everywhere, but you can't say the same for their downloadable game service; not yet at least

Apparently Verizon craves a slice of the deliciously profitable pie that is downloadable PC gaming, à la GameTap.

Joystiq has a story up unveiling that the telecommunications giant will soon be introducing a test program in New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts to offer over 1,400 PC games for a $9.99 per month subscription fee. The games can be played online, likely through Verizon’s own software, or can be downloaded directly to the computer. I’m sure users can expect some form of DRM considering the format.

Now that one big telecoms company is on the bandwagon, who’ll be next?

An image from Nintendo's patent for "demo play," originally referred to in the document as the Kind Code

It’s been mentioned for a while, but now the truth finally comes out: Nintendo will be introducing a new feature in New Super Mario Bros. Wii that can finish difficult parts of the game for you. Shigeru Miyamoto seems to be spearheading this innovation, currently referred to as “demo play.” The famed designer wants to attract people who give up on games after failing during trying portions of a title.

I truly support the idea, but it took a few minutes of deep pondering to come to that conclusion.

It’s not that I’m worried “demo play” could take away from the experience of overcoming adversities — after all, if someone wants to pay full price for a game to watch it be played, that’s their own decision — it’s that I initially assumed this feature might turn games into a boring spectator sport where friends rent and “beat” a title on autopilot just to say they did. I’m already not a fan of videogames adopting cinematic cliché­ after cinematic cliché, so the idea of literally watching a game like a movie sounded off-putting.

However, I think “demo play” is a promising development for gaming as a whole. How many times have you or someone you know quit a game due to frustration? Maybe the option just being there will bring the more timid and inexperienced toward gaming, and as such the act will become even more socially acceptable.

Sure, the so-called hardcore can use this as flak to say you’re not getting the most out of a difficult game if you let the computer do it for you, but I’ve always been more concerned with the experience of videogames and not high scores or bragging rights. A game’s story, presentation, art style, music and a multitude of other things matter way more than if it’s hard or easy enough. Even with achievements I only try to get the most points in games I care about and love, not solely just to have a bigger gamerscore than someone else.

Ubisoft's James Cameronstravaganza really was the most boring thing about E3 — but we promise to post the older (and much more interesting) info later this week

So that whole triple-E expo thing is over, right?

We still have our Nintendo and Sony conference impressions on-tap and ready to be served, but we’re simply terrible at sliding that frothy information down the counter to you, the frustrated consumer.

Look for those articles later this week with a comp for your first few Jägerbombs.

Yesterday’s news ran quite the gamut of topics: Sony’s trophy system isn’t happening on PSP, Satoru Iwata “scuttles” when it comes to new handhelds and playing a game might just help lower your car insurance rates.

It would be much more of a letdown for PSP owners if PS3 trophies actually came to gamers in this life-sized format

The idea of tracking digital accomplishments for consoles is still a relatively new concept. And though Microsoft blazed the trail with the Xbox 360′s achievements in 2006, Sony wised up and added its own variation to the PlayStation 3 last year.

Unfortunately for fans of Sony’s trophies, the PlayStation Portable won’t be adding its own version anytime soon.

Joystiq asked one of Sony’s PlayStation Network higher-ups, Eric Lempel, about the possibility of adding PSP games to a trophy system linked across both consoles. Lempel gave a pretty clear “No” answer, thanks to the PSP’s trouble with hackers manipulating the hardware and software to no end. It seems the PSP Go won’t remedy the lack of trophies either.

It makes sense for Sony to protect the purity of their trophies, and while some may scoff at the entire concept of digital boasts, it’s very important to make sure hackers and pirates can’t bolster their profiles with fake accomplishments for the sake of those gamers who boldly sacrifice having a life in order to achieve artificial glory.

I have to wonder what Microsoft’s solution would be if they ever released a portable, gaming-specific system? Maybe players would have to sign in to their Passport accounts each time they unlocked an achievement. Scarily enough, I can almost see that happening.

This is really an outlandish mod/fake concept model — but a portable GameCube sure would be wonderful

The Nintendo DSi has had quite the successful launch just two months into its North American life cycle. Even so, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata told CNBC that the company had plans for a different handheld — plans that were eventually scrapped.

The article is rather vague, which isn’t the author’s fault but more due to the coy explanations on the part of Iwata. It’s both refreshing and frustrating to read that Nintendo had another portable system “complete” (though Iwata doesn’t offer any details on what this system was exactly) but refused to release it. Without any specific details, it’s easy to imagine this unseen console could’ve been the greatest thing ever. That’s the problem with mentioning your company had a release-ready product that never felt the clammy touch of nerdy hands.

Yes, Nintendo has a vision and it’s been incredibly successful this generation — it still doesn’t mean that updating the same basic hardware for the second time is the best option, regardless of how well the DSi sells.

Iwata believes in the need for preserving a sense of momentum with Nintendo’s available hardware. But really, that’s just another way of saying, “We’re making a lot of money as-is…why bother?” Some might just accept that as business, which is true, but laurel-resting still looks bad.

Jewel Diver doesn't look like much, but potentially saving your life AND money at the same time is quite an impressive CV for such a simplistic game

Car insurance is one of those necessary evils we all have to deal with. But what if playing a simple game could improve your visual acuity and performance to make you safer on the road and lower your premiums?

Kotaku paraphrased a story found on the San Francisco Chronicle website, SFGate.com, wherein Allstate Insurance has used a simplistic flash game called Jewel Diver — developed by Posit Science — to seemingly improve drivers’ peripheral vision and awareness levels. If the experiment is widespread enough in its success, Allstate might employ the game to test drivers and then offer cheaper rates for those who do well enough.

It’s a fantastic idea on Allstate’s part, and while there are no definitive results yet it’s still a good thing to see the concept of games being used to hypothetically improve public safety. The basic of idea of what a game is doesn’t always have to equal either immature fun or bloody, senseless violence.

Now, let’s get more companies thinking that way.

Now let’s be honest: every other website has some kind of intimate E3 coverage planned for videogame fans and followers of the industry. You have your liveblogs, live video, exclusive interviews, previews, hands-ons and podcasts. We, a fresh and puerile (but not juvenile?) website without access to E3, can’t provide the coverage like bigger media entities can. However, what we can do is offer our analysis and summations of big E3 press bombs and try to cut the fat the best we can.

So stay with us throughout E3 and think of our content as the delicious Andes mint after a filling dinner — a complement to a main course of news from the hundreds of other videogame journalists doing the real work this week.

We’ll be posting our recaps of each big press conference and attempting a few interesting things this week in terms of  feature articles. Next week you’ll see more thoughtful content, as post-E3 lends itself well to in-depth analysis and status reports of individual genres — even the consoles themselves.

I’ll leave you with the times and dates for the five major press conferences.

Enjoy E3…we’re besieged like this only once a year, or twice depending on how interesting the Tokyo Game Show will be come September.

Press conferences for Monday, June 1st:

• Microsoft: 10:30 a.m.
• Electronic Arts: 2 p.m.
• Ubisoft: 5 p.m.

Press conferences for Tuesday, June 2nd:

• Nintendo: 9 a.m.
• Sony: 11 a.m.

But, I’ll be honest here and say I’m completely fine with not playing Fallout 3 in any capacity for a few months.

Please, Vault Boy…no more

Today’s batch of industry news has annoying legal teams crushing fan-made dreams, enough Japanese DS owners for Nintendo to start a conscription-based army, one announced title that no one really is surprised by and a perplexing possible addition to the English language that all gamers love to hate, but also use incessantly.

Unless it's a paid-for DS re-release, Square Enix doesn't approve of this gang having additional adventures

It’s a sad day for Chrono Trigger fans as  Square Enix’s legal team has terminated fan-made ROM project Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes. The collaboration, a five year long effort nearing its release date, was supposed to add to the original Chrono Trigger experience with 35 hours of brand new content written and created by devoted fans.

This is certainly not the first case of “Squeenix” cease-and-desisting fan projects for fear of copyright infringement. Chrono Resurrection is another perfect example of how much passion and effort can go into projects doomed for cancellation by intellectual property holders. These talented people simply have a lot of love for a particular title made by a profit-seeking company, but that doesn’t mean much to the suits. It’s not to say Square Enix is heartless, but the truth is these projects seek no monetary gains–really they’re no more than elaborate love letters from a cadre of fans who worship the original creators’ work.

If I were the company, I’d be enormously flattered. But I’m not, because if I were the human embodiment of an RPG development powerhouse I’d have deported Wakka from Spira and made another Vagrant Story by now.

20% of Japan having DS units pales in comparison to the 50% of college-aged American women wearing Ugg boots

According to internal Nintendo sales numbers posted by Kotaku, one-fifth of the entire population of Japan owns a Nintendo DS. And here we were thinking Nintendo was surely down in the dumps. Comparing the population sizes of Nintendo’s other key markets of the United States and Europe–who each have a much higher number of people living in their respective territories–truly makes the Japanese consumption numbers a staggering statistic.

And while the DS has remained extremely popular to gamers and non-gamers alike since release, the fact that the DS has sold nearly the same number of units in a country almost three times smaller in terms of population than the United States is quite impressive indeed.

So that's who Altaïr gets his fashion sense from

Eidos has finally confirmed the development of Thief 4, something known to–or at least expected by–most of the gaming community for quite awhile now. Although I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never actually played a Thief title, I’ve always heard great things about the series’ stealth-based gameplay. Plus, it’s wonderful to know Eidos is working on projects other than further Tomb Raider sequels.

Let’s see what the company’s new overlords (and fan project deniers) Square Enix can do for a series that hasn’t seen a release since Thief: Deadly Shadows in 2004.

Lastly, multiple websites have reported today that “noob” just might become the unofficial millionth word in our poor, dear English language. Don’t expect to see the online trash talk favorite appear in any notable dictionaries in the near future. Still, an Austin, Texas-based piece of analytics software known as the Global Language Monitor analyzes word trends by tracks the number of usages of a particular term throughout thousands of legitimate online sources like magazines and news feeds. If a linguistic newcomer is used enough, the Global Language Monitor declares it a word.

I don’t intend to sound snobbish about the word, because in truth language changes daily and is meant to change. Without adaptations, we wouldn’t have such wondrous gems as “blog” and “tweet.”

Oh god…what have we done?

Gunnin' for that #1 spot: Sales of Call of Duty: World at War helped Activision post earnings of nearly $1 billion this past year, the company announced today. Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft were also named as leading Activision-Blizzard franchises.

Just a couple of days ago, Electronic Arts announced its quarterly and yearly financial statement; today,  Activision followed that up with its own release, and the returns are very impressive. Activision-Blizzard posted a $981 million net revenue in the first quarter of this year — no, that’s not a yearly figure. That beats the publishing giant’s own projections for the quarter by more than $100 million, and has caused the company to raise its revenue expectations for the 2009 calendar year to $4.3 billion.

“Our better-than-expected first quarter results were driven by strong global consumer response to the Call of Duty and Guitar Hero franchises and Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft, despite challenging economic times,” Activision CEO Robert Kotick said.

Of course, as happens from time to time, some games that were rumored to exist were confirmed in the financial release. Guitar Hero 5, Band Hero, and DJ Hero were all confirmed in the report, and Guitar Hero: Van Halen was made official later in the day. GH5 is a follow up to 2008′s Guitar Hero: World Tour and 2009′s Guitar Hero: Metallica (our review of which is here.) Band Hero is going to be family friendly, and DJ Hero will feature hip-hop, R&B, electronic, techno, and dance music and a turntable peripheral.

In non-music-game-related Activision news, during the earnings conference call, word leaked out (repoted by Kotaku) that details on the next entry in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise may be coming at next month’s E3 convention. One of Activision’s older cash cows, THPS went underground (as opposed to Underground) last year as developer Neversoft focused on Guitar Hero games. Looks like EA’s Skate series may have some competition once again.

Nintendo's Wii Fit helped the company sell 26 million Wii systems worldwide last year, rocketing the little white waggle-tastic console to the 50 million units sold mark.

Meanwhile, Nintendo continues to print money. They also released financial numbers today, and they are ludicrous – GameSpot reports $2.8 billion in net revenue and $6 billion in operating profit in the last year, more than $18 billion in total sales worldwide, and a total rise of 8.5 percent over the numbers Nintendo turned over last year.

Even crazier is the amount of consoles sold to fuel those numbers: 26 million Wii consoles sold worldwide, which puts the system above 50 million sold in its lifetime, and 31 million DS units sold, lifting the handheld above the 100-million mark. Even though Nintendo gets the short end of the stick from many jilted hardcore gamers, it’s clear their bottom line is hardly hurting because of that.

We mentioned earlier in the week the anticipation for the newest piece of Fallout 3 DLC, Broken Steel, but it seems that Bethesda’s add-on fell on its face upon launch – Xbox 360 gamers were having problems with the achievements, and PC gamers couldn’t even install the DLC whatsoever. Apparently that has been fixed, with threads in the Fallout 3 forums saying that both issues have been resolved. Hopefully no problems will beset our brave editor Aaron Thayer as he tackles the Fallout 3 DLC suite this weekend.

Despite the title, Daniel Benmergui's Flash game "Today I Die" really isn't all that sad of a game.

Lastly, a little indie gaming to lighten the mood after all that financial talk. “Today I Die,” a simple yet very moving poetic flash game, has been released by creator Daniel Benmurgi, who previously made “I Wish I Were The Moon” and “Storyteller.” We found this game via Kotaku, and will share the same hint that they suggested: Try the jellyfish.

Welcome to dual screen gaming, 3.0.

Not even a month into its release and the DSi has already smashed the DS Lite’s initial sales figures twice-over. Obviously there are enough curious consumers out there eager to experience a DS for the first time, or diehards simply willing to upgrade their old systems for the next big thing. But for the uninformed, what’s the DSi really all about? Read on for a breakdown of Nintendo’s latest portable powerhouse.

Taken to the Matte: The Look and Feel of the DSi

With the DSi, Nintendo finally chose to step back from the shiny, Apple-like design philosophy that was present throughout the DS Lite years. It was a wise choice.

Though some may prefer the glossy look of the Lite’s clear outer shell, the new matte finish of the DSi goes a long way to prevent unsightly fingerprint smudges and create a more solid-feeling product. As far as scratching is concerned, the matte body seems to hold up well against everyday use: The DSi used for this overview has no visible scratching even after a run-in with a hardwood floor and some kitchen utensils (don’t ask).

Holding the DSi for an extended period of time is generally quite comfortable due to the solid grip provided by the new texture. It wasn’t uncommon for the Lite to slip and slide out of even slightly oily fingers. However, and this may be just one individual’s curious finding, extremely dry hands and fingers can forget about finding a comfortable hold on the DSi. If you work with your hands a lot and don’t take care of them, you might find the console to be an ordeal to use.

Proper moisturizing aside, the DSi is an attractive piece of technology. Even the WiFi, charging and power lights are flashy to the point of being cool. Aside from the visible external camera, this looks even less like a gaming console than the DS Lite — that is, if you buy the black version of the DSi. No one will be fooled by the (fantastic) robin’s egg blue color.

Minor aesthetic changes here and there revolve around button placement. The old sliding power switch has been moved to the interior, replaced with a simple button. One benefit to this change is that when pressed once, the power button will automatically return the user to the DSi menu — very handy. The volume slider has been minimized and moved to the left side of the DSi, and is now essentially an up and down button.

Personally I find the change unfortunate, as the volume is now less efficient to press during gameplay than the sliding version found on the Lite; however, the updated volume control handily changes the screen’s brightness at anytime if you’re simultaneously holding the select button.

As far as the d-pad, shoulder buttons and face buttons are concerned, the DSi’s mantra seems to be “clickiness is best.” Every gameplay-intensive button has a distinct resistance to it coupled with the faint sound of clicking. Assuredly the tight controls are a welcome change for some gamers out there, but the new buttons feel far too resistant and uncooperative. For instance, driving around in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars felt like more of a chore than it already was due to the stiff, concave d-pad.

The shoulder buttons are even more problematic: On the DS Lite, they were larger, softer and thus more pliable to presses — with the DSi, the L and R buttons are as clicky as they are small. Though the design of the DSi warrants squarer shoulder buttons more parallel to the system’s angles, it results in slightly annoying-to-use buttons that shouldn’t be that way considering they’re integral to most games.

One of the more talked-about additions to the DSi are its brighter, bigger, 3.5-inch screens. The extra 1/4″ of screen isn’t entirely noticeable without a Lite nearby to compare, but the amplified illumination is plain to see. The downside to this is a shorter battery life: about two-to-four hours less than the DS Lite, depending on the brightness setting.

Is having one extra brightness setting worth the lessened portability life? That will depend on each person’s gaming habits, though it’s safe to say most people encounter an AC outlet or two every five-odd hours, so charging shouldn’t be a concern.

Who Killed the Game Boy Advance Cartridge?: The Features of the DSi

The DSi’s most controversial change from the core DS design is its omission of a Game Boy Advance cartridge slot. But in exchange, the console is now thinner, has a faster processor and contains an SD card slot in addition to its on-board, 256 MB of storage. The trade-off is up to the consumer here, though I don’t see the extinction of the GBA as exactly heartbreaking. Think of it this way: DS Lite gamers interested in the older GBA titles don’t have to upgrade to a DSi, and new consumers are unlikely to care about a defunct system’s titles. The replacement for GBA support is instead found in the DSi’s two best — and exclusive — additions, the DSi Shop and DSiWare titles.

Think of the DSi Shop as an exact copy of the Wii’s online store, because it is — yes, even the muzak shopping tune is there, too. Nintendo was smart to keep a sense of uniformity between its respective digital malls; hopefully the similar store themes hint at more inter-console capabilities in the future. Browsing is a breeze and the point system is just like the Wii’s, though here they’re called DSi points. It’s ironic (and unfortunate) that in the face of similar storefronts, Nintendo decided to segregate its purchasing options instead of using an all-encompassing credit system of Nintendo points.

The DSiWare concept revolves around small, downloadable titles that can be stored directly on your DSi or SD card. The offerings as of this writing are sparse, but Nintendo’s free 1000 points (equivalent to $10) included with the system do allow for more than one title to be purchased, as currently the most expensive title of the nine available is only 800 DSi Points. It’ll be interesting to see what’s released on the service in the future.

In terms of technical additions, the DSi’s most obvious feature is its two 0.3 megapixel cameras. Unfortunately, the very low-resolution cameras are more of a novelty than anything groundbreaking. Frankly, the editing options felt little more advanced than what was offered in the Game Boy Camera 11 years ago. The cameras do open up future gameplay avenues, but the limiting resolution and inability to transfer photos to an SD card or distribute them online are quite archaic.

One of the more welcome inclusions to the new system is its menu layout, which is quite similar to the Wii’s channel-based version. Programs and games are placed on a draggable line of blocks complete with animated iconography for most. It’s definitely more intuitive to use and robust than the DS Lite’s menu.

Another novelty for the system is its full-featured sound editor. The editor allows users to have fun with music from their SD cards, or alternatively record sound clips to then speed up, slow down, play in reverse and so on. Again, this is more of a novelty than anything vital to the DSi, but it’s a nice addition to the package anyway.

Closing Notes:

• Matte finish is comfortable, fingerprint-proof and sturdy…unless you have the extremely chapped hands of a hardworking, salt of the earth fellow like myself
• New buttons are an acquired taste; they’re very rigid and click when pressed
• Big screens, while nice, mean a (somewhat) shorter battery life
• No GBA cartridge slot, but…
• The alternative is the intuitive and soon-to-grow DSi Shop and DSiWare
• Cameras aren’t anything to write home about; could be later on if developers take advantage of them
• System menu and sound editor are welcome additions