This is the third day I've spent on my mac doing entirely nothing, except for scouring facebook. Normally I would hop on my PS3 and start playing a game I've been loving, but not this time.
I said a few posts ago that I had a tonne of games that were certainly worth my time, only that I questioned as to why I had lacked the drive to play it. I can't remember if I answered the question, maybe the games weren't just that interesting. Maybe they didn't interest me. What not even Super Street Fighter IV?
Maybe now I realise that it isn't the games that aren't interesting. As humans we are always quick to blame other things bar ourselves, it's just human nature, it's just who we are. Maybe I tried to pin the blame on the games, that 2010 just wasn't a very interesting year for games. But logical thinking took over, and I realised that we had Red Dead Redemption, God of War 3, Mass Effect 2, Heavy Rain and so and so forth. Yes very interesting games, and certainly one of the most interesting years of gaming in recent memory,
"Rita's inside. It was me"
Like Dexter at the beginning of the fifth season, I'm blaming myself, not the games, for not being interesting. I once had a drive to play games, a passion to see games on a deeper level and talk about them with vigour. I can't explain what happened, and contrary to the rest of this post, I won't speculate on the cause. I have faith that my passion will reemerge once more, but for now, it's all gone.
For now that is...
Friday, December 17, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Now for some bragging...
So I broke my longest win streak in ranked matches in Super Street Fighter IV today with none other than Guile! The previous record was 7, which has been beaten by 11, and in the process earning me the Tenpeat trophy (for 10 ranked match wins in a row)!
There were some matches I came close to losing, such as the Makoto match where I was down a round and pretty had a sliver of health left in the second. Luckily for me my sonic hurricane managed to connect and got me back in the match which was taken to a third and final round. Starting off the round bad, I somehow managed to get back in it with some lucky trips and finished my opponent off with some sonic boom - air throw baiting tactics. WOO yeah!
If I can I will upload a video of it. But for now, let's enjoy this picture...
There were some matches I came close to losing, such as the Makoto match where I was down a round and pretty had a sliver of health left in the second. Luckily for me my sonic hurricane managed to connect and got me back in the match which was taken to a third and final round. Starting off the round bad, I somehow managed to get back in it with some lucky trips and finished my opponent off with some sonic boom - air throw baiting tactics. WOO yeah!
If I can I will upload a video of it. But for now, let's enjoy this picture...
Monday, November 29, 2010
What's it to you?
I've got a copy of FIFA 11 next to me, and Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition , Super Street Fighter IV and a whole lot of other games sitting underneath my 40gb PS3. To the right of the aforementioned games, I've got a Wii (unplugged) and a couple of PS3 controllers next to it. I may not have the best entertainment system (hello 1994 Panasonic model tv) but it gets the job done. My rockband drums and guitar are upstairs in my messy room, along with an arcade stick that I've always wanted. I've got games that will last me a good year, or even more. So why can't I bring myself to play these games? Am I slowly being consumed by casual gameritis?
I don't fear I've become a casual gamer, despite the fact that I spend less amounts on games than I used to, because what's there to fear about being casual gamer? Aren't I still a gamer at heart?
Looking over my blog that has collected the metaphorical dust, I know I've spent less and less amounts of my time on my most beloved hobby, compared to even the beginning of the year. I refrain from saying that I've lost interest in gaming, or even that my interest is waning, because I know at heart I'm still a gamer.
Yeah I'm still a gamer. I might not spend 40+ hours 'shooting noobs in da face' in Black Ops, or rushing out to midnight launches for the signature edition of Gran Turismo 5, but I'm not any different to those who would anyway. I'm as much a gamer as those Korean Starcraft Superstars, or the old granny who decided to spend $250 + on Wii Fit instead of taking a walk outside.
What's a gamer nowadays? To me a gamer is someone who has ever actively participated in playing video games, and it's as simple as that. Why shun the casuals when we can welcome them with open arms, hand them a controller and let them have a go? Why give disgusted looks to those who toil away in front of their computers, engaging in dungeon raids with their guilds?
Yeah I'm still a gamer at heart. What's it to you? What's a gamer to you?
I don't fear I've become a casual gamer, despite the fact that I spend less amounts on games than I used to, because what's there to fear about being casual gamer? Aren't I still a gamer at heart?
Looking over my blog that has collected the metaphorical dust, I know I've spent less and less amounts of my time on my most beloved hobby, compared to even the beginning of the year. I refrain from saying that I've lost interest in gaming, or even that my interest is waning, because I know at heart I'm still a gamer.
Yeah I'm still a gamer. I might not spend 40+ hours 'shooting noobs in da face' in Black Ops, or rushing out to midnight launches for the signature edition of Gran Turismo 5, but I'm not any different to those who would anyway. I'm as much a gamer as those Korean Starcraft Superstars, or the old granny who decided to spend $250 + on Wii Fit instead of taking a walk outside.
What's a gamer nowadays? To me a gamer is someone who has ever actively participated in playing video games, and it's as simple as that. Why shun the casuals when we can welcome them with open arms, hand them a controller and let them have a go? Why give disgusted looks to those who toil away in front of their computers, engaging in dungeon raids with their guilds?
Yeah I'm still a gamer at heart. What's it to you? What's a gamer to you?
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
It's been a long time...
Hello people who like games! I haven't updated in a while, but that doesn't mean I've stopped playing games full stop. In fact, I think the reason why I've stopped updating is because I have been preoccupied with too much games. Ok well not too much games, more like three games, but three of probably the best games I've played in a long time. So here's a review of the three games I've been playing.
Red Dead Redemption:
You know playing Red Dead Redemption is akin to travelling to the countryside after living a long time in the city. It's a breath of fresh air, an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the stars at night are a lot more prominent. Not just in a literal sense, but it's wholly refreshing to see the tried and true formula set in an entirely different setting, so points for Rockstar for trying something new. And it's through this that Red Dead Redemption feels a lot more involving than Grand Theft Auto. Where long trips to missions in GTA sometimes felt like a bit of a grind, Red Dead Redemption invites the player to hop on their horse and explore a western, and indeed, entirely new setting. The sun is bright and often the land is often barren, save for random events such as an escaped convict or a fire fight between the authority and bandits. But through this, it allows the player to take in the world around them, making it, in my eyes, a true 'open world game', where you whistle for your horse, hop on and ride off into the sunset. Brilliant stuff.
Valkyria Chronicles
I have nothing but praise for this game. Thanks to my co-op partner Selina for letting me borrow the game, for letting me experience this game because it is awesome. Set in a sort of steampunk setting, gameplay is a hybrid between third person shooter and turn based strategy which results in a load of fun. Depth is evident as well, with different classes of soldiers in order to combat different types of situations. Throw in some awesome cel shaded-water painting graphics and it's the formula for awesomesauce! LOVE IT!!
Super Street Fighter IV
Just a bit of a story before I start. When my family came to Australia in the summer of 1993, they had to live with my cousins for a while until they found their own home. My cousins were addicted to Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, and my dad was always exposed to the soundbites of Hadouken, Shoryuken, Yoga fires and the points noise whenever you won a battle. He always recounts this memory, and adds that 'You (myself Jared) were still in your mother's stomach'. With that in mind, here's Super Street Fighter IV
Super Street Fighter IV, the game which has ignited a passion in me that will never ever be rivalled again. So let's start with the game itself. Online has been fixed somewhat to add new modes, and lag is less present, so playing with Americans halfway across the world isn't something problematic. The addition of ten new characters looked to fix the problem of the usual ryu/ken/sagat matchup but it seems people have been sticking with their guns. Never gets old focus attack dash cancelling through their fireball spams to get in their face and unload a bread and butter crouching medium punch into flash kick. Sweetness!
It may be the same game, but Super Street Fighter IV has grabbed me like no other game has grabbed me before. The day I decided to do a search on guile strategy guides is the day my street fighter experience changed forever. A whole competitive street fighter scene, where an alien like language has now managed to infuse itself into my everyday talk. Let this be a reminder, flash kick has no priority, but linking it from a crouching medium punch makes it all the more safer.
And the scene itself. Names like Daigo Umehara, Justin Wong, Gamerbee and John Choi, players with awesome skills, who for me, are the gaming parallels of sporting legends such as Roger Federer and Michael Jordan. All this would've never been possible, if I didn't decide to pick up Super Street Fighter IV on that day, and expose myself to something that has changed my gaming world perhaps forever. It is for this reason, that Super Street Fighter IV is one of the best games of the year.
Before I end this post however, I'd like to say that my once partner in crime Selina has now become my co-op partner. With this, I hope that our escapades such as fighting mass armies during the three kingdoms era, hopping around the Mushroom Kingdom trying to save Princess Peach, or simply just rocking out to some tunes in Rock Band brings many many joyous times. Thanks a bunch Selina for being my co-op partner!
Red Dead Redemption:
You know playing Red Dead Redemption is akin to travelling to the countryside after living a long time in the city. It's a breath of fresh air, an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the stars at night are a lot more prominent. Not just in a literal sense, but it's wholly refreshing to see the tried and true formula set in an entirely different setting, so points for Rockstar for trying something new. And it's through this that Red Dead Redemption feels a lot more involving than Grand Theft Auto. Where long trips to missions in GTA sometimes felt like a bit of a grind, Red Dead Redemption invites the player to hop on their horse and explore a western, and indeed, entirely new setting. The sun is bright and often the land is often barren, save for random events such as an escaped convict or a fire fight between the authority and bandits. But through this, it allows the player to take in the world around them, making it, in my eyes, a true 'open world game', where you whistle for your horse, hop on and ride off into the sunset. Brilliant stuff.
Valkyria Chronicles
I have nothing but praise for this game. Thanks to my co-op partner Selina for letting me borrow the game, for letting me experience this game because it is awesome. Set in a sort of steampunk setting, gameplay is a hybrid between third person shooter and turn based strategy which results in a load of fun. Depth is evident as well, with different classes of soldiers in order to combat different types of situations. Throw in some awesome cel shaded-water painting graphics and it's the formula for awesomesauce! LOVE IT!!
Super Street Fighter IV
Just a bit of a story before I start. When my family came to Australia in the summer of 1993, they had to live with my cousins for a while until they found their own home. My cousins were addicted to Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, and my dad was always exposed to the soundbites of Hadouken, Shoryuken, Yoga fires and the points noise whenever you won a battle. He always recounts this memory, and adds that 'You (myself Jared) were still in your mother's stomach'. With that in mind, here's Super Street Fighter IV
Super Street Fighter IV, the game which has ignited a passion in me that will never ever be rivalled again. So let's start with the game itself. Online has been fixed somewhat to add new modes, and lag is less present, so playing with Americans halfway across the world isn't something problematic. The addition of ten new characters looked to fix the problem of the usual ryu/ken/sagat matchup but it seems people have been sticking with their guns. Never gets old focus attack dash cancelling through their fireball spams to get in their face and unload a bread and butter crouching medium punch into flash kick. Sweetness!
It may be the same game, but Super Street Fighter IV has grabbed me like no other game has grabbed me before. The day I decided to do a search on guile strategy guides is the day my street fighter experience changed forever. A whole competitive street fighter scene, where an alien like language has now managed to infuse itself into my everyday talk. Let this be a reminder, flash kick has no priority, but linking it from a crouching medium punch makes it all the more safer.
And the scene itself. Names like Daigo Umehara, Justin Wong, Gamerbee and John Choi, players with awesome skills, who for me, are the gaming parallels of sporting legends such as Roger Federer and Michael Jordan. All this would've never been possible, if I didn't decide to pick up Super Street Fighter IV on that day, and expose myself to something that has changed my gaming world perhaps forever. It is for this reason, that Super Street Fighter IV is one of the best games of the year.
Before I end this post however, I'd like to say that my once partner in crime Selina has now become my co-op partner. With this, I hope that our escapades such as fighting mass armies during the three kingdoms era, hopping around the Mushroom Kingdom trying to save Princess Peach, or simply just rocking out to some tunes in Rock Band brings many many joyous times. Thanks a bunch Selina for being my co-op partner!
Jared
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sometimes I wished...
that the world ended with me. And that I still had my copy of The World Ends With You. What a great game.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Germany Vs Australia
After a performance that sent shockwaves throughout the Footballing World, Australia come up against much stronger opponents in the form of Germany. A top of the table clash that will be a telling tale in where both sides are in terms of form and more importantly, their chances in winning the World Cup. Stay tuned...
KICK OFF
4th minute - GOAL for Mario Gomez. Disastrous start for Australia, after Gomez slots in a rebounded shot from Schwarzer. 1-0 Germany
13th minute GOAL for Tim Cahill. Equalizer! Tim Cahill has four for the tournament after he volleys a cross from Bresciano into the goal. 1-1.
24th minute - Header by a German forward fizzes past the post. Still 1-1.
38th minute - A chance for Kennedy to add to his goals for the tournament after a breakaway. Shoots straight at the keeper which results in a corner...1-1
HALF TIME
Australia starting to take control towards the end of the half. Both sides with chances to take the lead but a combination of good defending and poor finishing leaves the scores deadlocked. Stay tuned...
SECOND HALF
47th minute - Early in the second half and Kennedy rises high for a header. Past the keeper but past the post too.
57th minute - GOAL for Scott Chipperfield. Contentious penalty after Kewell breaks into the box and is brought down as he attempts to score. Chipperfield sends the keeper the wrong way. 2-1 Australia.
65th minute - Australian defense almost made to pay for laziness. Gomez' shot bounces off the crossbar, oh so close.
76th minute - GOAL for Harry Kewell. Quick counterattack by Australia and there is no one defending for Germany. One on One with the keeper and Kewell has his first goal for the tournament. 3-1.
89th Minute - Germany still desperate to salvage a goal. Gomez comes up with another shot but once again it bounces off the post.
FULL TIME Australia 3 - 1 Germany
Both sides in it until the penalty was given. From that point it looked like the Germans were playing catch up. Another goal to Australia and it looked clear from that point. Germany also guilty of not taking their chances when it counted. The Australians clear at the top of Group D and guaranteed a spot in the round of 16! Celebrations ahead!
KICK OFF
4th minute - GOAL for Mario Gomez. Disastrous start for Australia, after Gomez slots in a rebounded shot from Schwarzer. 1-0 Germany
13th minute GOAL for Tim Cahill. Equalizer! Tim Cahill has four for the tournament after he volleys a cross from Bresciano into the goal. 1-1.
24th minute - Header by a German forward fizzes past the post. Still 1-1.
38th minute - A chance for Kennedy to add to his goals for the tournament after a breakaway. Shoots straight at the keeper which results in a corner...1-1
HALF TIME
Australia starting to take control towards the end of the half. Both sides with chances to take the lead but a combination of good defending and poor finishing leaves the scores deadlocked. Stay tuned...
SECOND HALF
47th minute - Early in the second half and Kennedy rises high for a header. Past the keeper but past the post too.
57th minute - GOAL for Scott Chipperfield. Contentious penalty after Kewell breaks into the box and is brought down as he attempts to score. Chipperfield sends the keeper the wrong way. 2-1 Australia.
65th minute - Australian defense almost made to pay for laziness. Gomez' shot bounces off the crossbar, oh so close.
76th minute - GOAL for Harry Kewell. Quick counterattack by Australia and there is no one defending for Germany. One on One with the keeper and Kewell has his first goal for the tournament. 3-1.
89th Minute - Germany still desperate to salvage a goal. Gomez comes up with another shot but once again it bounces off the post.
FULL TIME Australia 3 - 1 Germany
Both sides in it until the penalty was given. From that point it looked like the Germans were playing catch up. Another goal to Australia and it looked clear from that point. Germany also guilty of not taking their chances when it counted. The Australians clear at the top of Group D and guaranteed a spot in the round of 16! Celebrations ahead!
Australia Vs Scotland
Jared Araniego here providing updates on Australia's first match in the 2010 FIFA (Virtual) World Cup. Can Australia build some confidence with a good performance against Scotland? They're gonna need it in their next games against Germany and Croatia. Stay here to find out...
THE MATCH STARTS!
9th minute - GOAL to Tim Cahill after a quick breakaway. 1-0
19th minute - GOAL to Tim Cahill. Exchange of passes, Cahill takes a shot just outside the box, keeper can get a finger to it but not enough and it goes in. 2-0
23rd min - yellow for C.Moore
27th min - GOAL for Mark Bresciano after a combination of good passing and lacklustre defence allows him to calmly a slot a goal into the bottom left corner. 3-0
35th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Bad marking and defending allows Kennedy to get into some space, shoots pass the keeper into the goal. 4-0
40th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Counterattack catches Scotland off guard, no reply to quick passing and Kennedy scores. 5-0
44th min - Australian defence caught napping with McFadden latching onto a cross from Miller, providing the first real test for Schwarzer. Rebounds off the post and tipped away by the Australian Goal keeper. Corner.
45th min - A red card for Naysmith caps off a horror first half for Scotland. Australia with a chance to score another goal going into halftime.
45th min - GOAL for Mark Bresciano. A free kick for Bresciano pays dividends with the aussie scoring a spectacular goal. 6-0
45th min - Own Goal for Scotland. Can it get any worse? A mix up at the back ends with Caldwell kicking it into his goal. Oh dear..7-0
HALF TIME 7-0 to Australia.
Well the scoreline tells the story. 7-0 to Australia. One side completely dominating while the other side is playing the worst football imaginable. No way back for Scotland from here...
SECOND HALF STARTS
46th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. HAT-TRICK! Again bad defending from Scotland and quick passing from Australia results in yet another goal. 8-0
57th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Four!! It's Arshavin all over again. Martin Tyler thinks the game is over after that goal. I thought it was over in the first half. Each to their own I guess. 9-0
68th minute - Rare chance for Scotland as Schwarzer tips away a header from one of the forwards. Corner…
74th minute - GOAL for Fletcher. FINALLY Scotland gets on the board after a mix up between goalie and defender. Thrown straight to one of the forwards, passed to Fletcher and he takes the chance. Any hope of a comeback though? 9-1
75th minute - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Right from the kick off, Australia catch Scotland napping and a few passes later, Kennedy's in for his fifth. 10-1.
89th minute - GOAL for Tim Cahill. Him and Josh Kennedy will be fighting for the match ball, because they've both got Hat-Tricks. 11-1
FULL TIME AUSTRALIA 11 - 1 SCOTLAND
I don't think anyone expected such a smashing performance from Australia. Dominating a lackluster Scottish side that didn't have any answers.
THE MATCH STARTS!
9th minute - GOAL to Tim Cahill after a quick breakaway. 1-0
19th minute - GOAL to Tim Cahill. Exchange of passes, Cahill takes a shot just outside the box, keeper can get a finger to it but not enough and it goes in. 2-0
23rd min - yellow for C.Moore
27th min - GOAL for Mark Bresciano after a combination of good passing and lacklustre defence allows him to calmly a slot a goal into the bottom left corner. 3-0
35th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Bad marking and defending allows Kennedy to get into some space, shoots pass the keeper into the goal. 4-0
40th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Counterattack catches Scotland off guard, no reply to quick passing and Kennedy scores. 5-0
44th min - Australian defence caught napping with McFadden latching onto a cross from Miller, providing the first real test for Schwarzer. Rebounds off the post and tipped away by the Australian Goal keeper. Corner.
45th min - A red card for Naysmith caps off a horror first half for Scotland. Australia with a chance to score another goal going into halftime.
45th min - GOAL for Mark Bresciano. A free kick for Bresciano pays dividends with the aussie scoring a spectacular goal. 6-0
45th min - Own Goal for Scotland. Can it get any worse? A mix up at the back ends with Caldwell kicking it into his goal. Oh dear..7-0
HALF TIME 7-0 to Australia.
Well the scoreline tells the story. 7-0 to Australia. One side completely dominating while the other side is playing the worst football imaginable. No way back for Scotland from here...
SECOND HALF STARTS
46th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. HAT-TRICK! Again bad defending from Scotland and quick passing from Australia results in yet another goal. 8-0
57th min - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Four!! It's Arshavin all over again. Martin Tyler thinks the game is over after that goal. I thought it was over in the first half. Each to their own I guess. 9-0
68th minute - Rare chance for Scotland as Schwarzer tips away a header from one of the forwards. Corner…
74th minute - GOAL for Fletcher. FINALLY Scotland gets on the board after a mix up between goalie and defender. Thrown straight to one of the forwards, passed to Fletcher and he takes the chance. Any hope of a comeback though? 9-1
75th minute - GOAL for Josh Kennedy. Right from the kick off, Australia catch Scotland napping and a few passes later, Kennedy's in for his fifth. 10-1.
89th minute - GOAL for Tim Cahill. Him and Josh Kennedy will be fighting for the match ball, because they've both got Hat-Tricks. 11-1
FULL TIME AUSTRALIA 11 - 1 SCOTLAND
I don't think anyone expected such a smashing performance from Australia. Dominating a lackluster Scottish side that didn't have any answers.
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