The Video Game Purists were kind enough to let me host on their podcast this week. Heffe couldn’t make it this time so it’s just Fred [Spydersvenom] and I. We are aware that the VGP Live feed for itunes is messed up but Fred is working on it. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s fixed. Hit the jump to see the show summary:
Forward: The following feature discusses sexual situations in video games and handled in an appropriate and tasteful manner. Most links are safe for any environment save for one or two that specifically explain the inappropriate material.
Going into 2010, console gaming has crossed a new barrier as the medium continues to mature – nudity in games has become more commonplace. Not only that, but the occurrences don’t seem to be as immature as we’re used to in gaming. Sure, Saboteur’s breasts are exploitative and serve little if no purpose in the actual game, but the inclusion seems to be more about creating a vivid world than showing off some digitized breasts. Heavy Rain released today and was only banned in one country for its heavy sexual content and nudity – which begs the question: is it possible games have matured to appropriately include sex?
All gamers need to have a setup, better known as a gaming rig, which is basically code for the ideal environment for a specific person to play the brunt of their video games in. Some gamers need top of the line televisions, sound systems, and consoles to enjoy a single night of lax gaming. Whereas others have been rocking headshots on a standard def 19″ since the day they got their first console. For each person a gaming rig is like a custom car: something that is designed for you but you hope can be appreciated by your peers. It has taken me an absurd amount of time and money to create my perfect four-part gaming rig.
In the words of Say Anything’s Max Bemis,
Bemis is the sort of mad genius that I can’t help but love, literally spending as much time in mental health treatment as he did touring his band’s first album. I imagine him to be the kind of person compelled to make real-world observations devoid of candy coated treatment [To get a taste of his uncanny ability to cut through the bullshit, I recommend giving the song "Admit It" a listen]. The singer was speaking about his experience as a musician in an indie rock band, but the revelation of his statement rings true for just about any art-form or endeavor.
______________________________
Sega announced recently that they will be returning to the Sonic franchise yet again, but instead of creating such illustrious mechanics as the werehog, they will be opting for a return to form. In short: Sonic is returning to the 2D side scrolling speed platformer it used to be. This is just another in a long trend of bringing the past back to the present in modern day gaming. While the business plan makes sense and you would think that those of us who grew up in the Nintendo generation would leap head over heels for the opportunity to re-create the glory days, the response seems pretty clear that retro is out. If you own the Wii, the previous statement probably sounds to you like an absurd claim with the success of New Super Mario Bros. Wii and even last year’s download release of Mega Man 9, but after closer analysis it all comes to a head very fast. There’s no denying the success and money made from these titles. But this formula is specific to the circumstances surrounding their release and therefore cannot be applied to all types of games.
____________
*The Gun Control is happy to announce that Fred Rojas has now teamed up with theguncontrol.com as a contributing writer! He will make your experience here exponentially more awesome as we strive to bring you more in-depth features and far out gaming pontifications. I’m super exited to see the writings/thoughts he will bring. Welcome! -gunhaver
For some of you out there, I need no introduction. You know me either as Fred Rojas from the Video Game Purists podcast or as “spydersvenom”, the fun loving gamer that has blessed the communities of Video Game Outsiders, That Gaming Site, EZ Mode Unlocked, and various others. As of late, I find myself getting more and more involved in the video game industry down to receiving review copies of games and writing paid reviews. It’s for this reason that I need a location, a bat cave if you will, to spout all the clutter that occupies my brain while I’m trying to focus on the acute details of a video game worth mentioning in a review. There were many places I was trying to scour on the Internet to call my open-minded home and while I was frantically trying to narrow it down, in swooped Gunhaver to invite me to write for his insightful blog, The Gun Control. I couldn’t ask for a better home. For those of you who aren’t familiar with me, I’m going to give this first post to a brief introduction followed by some photos and details of my multiple gaming rigs scattered throughout my house. You can expect more thought-provoking and less meglomaniacal (pretty sure this is a word, regardless of spell check) entries in the very near future.
Continue for my Bio
|
