Steam Greenlight

Steam Greenlight is up and running. Originally announced in July, Greenlight is a competition of sorts based around the Steam community. Any company or individual can upload a video and screenshots of his or her game, and Steam users vote for what they find most appealing. The most popular games will be on the fast track to an official Steam release. Greenlight launched this morning with 30 games; as of now it has over 220.
 
I've barely scratched the surface of this smorgasbord of indie games, but a few already stand out:

• Project Giana
• Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land
• Forced
• Kenshi 
• Contrast 
• Heroes & Generals 
• Sang-Froid: Tales of Werewolves 
• Doom & Destiny

This is a great community-based experiment: fans get to choose what games they get to buy in the future, and independent developers get to show off their hard work to a community of over 54 million users.

Update: I've never seen so many zombie games in one place.

What is Ouya?

"A new kind of video game console."

Ouya is an upcoming video game console, built to be used with a television, and powered by Android. It's completely unrelated to the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii. The Ouya project was envisioned by Julie Uhrman, the CEO of Boxer8. It was first announced on July 3rd. One week later, the Ouya project was uploaded to the fundraiser site Kickstarter with a goal of $950,000. That goal was raised in eight hours. When the fundraiser officially ended, on August 9, the Ouya campaign had raised $8,596,475 from over 63,000 backers. So it's safe to say there are at least some people very interested in this tiny, unassuming console. But what is it all about?

At first glance, Ouya seems like a console that plays Android games and apps on your television screen. But, according to the Kickstarter page: "OUYA was not created merely to host ports of existing Android games. We’ve built this badboy to play the most creative content from today’s best known AAA game designers as well as adored indie gamemakers." All those games, by the way, will be "free to play." Ouya will also launch with the TwitchTV application and access to OnLive, a video game streaming service similar to Steam. The system also advertises itself as the first true open gaming platform, meaning that "any developer can publish a game" and any hacker can "root" the system to his heart's content. He can even hack the physical console.

Want to mess around inside the Ouya? All you need is a screwdriver.

Speaking of the console, it's about the size of a Rubik's Cube. Its specifications include a Tegra3 quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal flash storage, HDMI connection to the TV (with support for up to 1080p HD), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth LE 4.0, USB 2.0, etc.

Those who didn't preorder it on Kickstarter can do so at Ouya.tv.

So that's Ouya in a nutshell. But is the console worth buying? Will it be successful? Will it draw away anyone who is already invested in one of three existing consoles? And what about PC gamers and smartphone users? Will it appeal to them enough to be financially viable?

Note that Minecraft is not confirmed for Ouya; however Minecraft: Pocket Edition should work fine.

I'm very skeptical about Ouya and pessimistic about its future. Moreover, I think the failure of Ouya will have some rather dramatic effects on the public perception of Kickstarter. Below are four reasons Ouya will fail as a product, never mind "upend console gaming."

#4: Ouya has more supporters than buyers

The Ouya fundraiser took in $8,596,475, exceeding its target goal by 900 percent. There's no way around those numbers: many different people dedicated millions of dollars to Ouya. This signals a very strong fan following for this so-far imaginary console. Moreover, many thousands of those fans donated an amount that earned them a complimentary Ouya system, which makes them supporters and buyers. But what about the other donators, and what about the millions of other video game players? Will they shell out $99 for the system? My guess is no. I think the  financial and verbal support for the Ouya has more to do with fan frustration with the video game industry and less to do with interest in Ouya. Fans are sick of on-disc DLC, subscription fees, expensive and unnecessary sequels, and out-of-touch gaming corporations. Enter a new $99 console that promises free games, and pledges to support the little guy. It's love at first sight. I truly believe many more people love the idea of the Ouya more than the actual console. And sales will reflect this.

#3:Ouya is for hackers

On its Kickstarter page, Ouya states "hackers welcome." It's a bold statement from a prospective video game company, especially considering the scourge that is software piracy for PCs and consoles. Yet Ouya embraces what other companies fight back against. Some, like Kotaku, have argued that the open, hackable nature of Ouya is simultaneously its greatest strength and biggest weakness, but they're missing the point. The question isn't "what hackers will do to the system to undermine legitimate game development?" It's "what hackers?" Is this some huge demographic that will surely buy up Ouya consoles by the gross? I know a lot of video game players, young and old, and most don't know how to reset their routers, let alone hack a console. If filling a niche market is good enough for the Ouya, maybe appealing to hackers is a smart strategy. But I imagine Ouya wants to reach out to the largest possible audience.

These two want an Ouya.

#2: Free to play?

All games on Ouya are free to play, except when they're not. The truth is that not all games are required to be free, only some fraction of gameplay has to be free. In other words, developers "can offer a free demo with a full-game upgrade, in-game items or powers, or ask you to subscribe." I know many industry analysts and companies believe in the free-to-play model, but I really think it's unsustainable. By making a console that plays popular Android games on a TV, Ouya is clearly appealing to people who like to play video games on their smartphones and tablets. Will those people move from $1 games to microtransactions and subscriptions fees, many of which add up to an amount greater than those $60 games everyone keeps complaining about? I don't think so.

#1: Ouya exclusives

As I implied in my most recent post, exclusive games are often what determines the greatness of a console. People buy Playstation because they want to play Metal Gear Solid; people buy Xbox because they love Halo and Gears of War; and people buy Nintendo because they can't get enough Zelda and Metroid. So what exclusive games will the Ouya offer? It will surely have dozens (if not hundreds) of Android apps, but what new, exclusive games will be available? On their Kickstarter page, Ouya says: "It’s a little early to share a final roster. We’ll do that when we get closer to launch next year." OK, that's fair. The system is due in March 2013, so we have seven months left. A lot can happen in seven months. But let's look at what we do know. The first exclusive game announced is a series of prequels to an upcoming game (you read that correctly: prequels to a game that hasn't come out yet, and won't until 2015) designed by ex-Infinity Ward strategist Robert Bowling. What's somewhat troubling is Bowling's explanation of the prequels and Ouya in general: "[Ouya] allows us the flexibility and the freedom creatively to use it as a testbed for all these rapidly prototyped mechanic and gameplay experiences that maybe are too costly and risky to dedicate a full priority list to on another platform." Doesn't this sound like Ouya is being used as a beta service for a much more sophisticated game on the next generation of consoles? Then there's Final Fantasy III, which Ouya is advertising as "the first time gamers outside of Japan can play FFIII on their televisions through a console." That's technically true, but Final Fantasy III on Ouya is just an HD version of the same game on Nintendo DS, which released in 2006. If Wii U is going to be criticized for having one-year-old ports at launch, then the Ouya has to be criticized for having a six-year-old port (not the fortified wine).

This deputed six years ago.

Want more proof? Video game analyst and tea-leaf reader Michael Pachter is a big supporter of Ouya. He suggested the sub-$100 price could drive Microsoft and Sony to drop prices on their systems. Said Pachter: "Ouya could hit a sweet spot with gamers."

Is the Xbox 360 Worth It?

For the longest time, I've considered the Xbox 360 to be the best console of this generation. Better than the PS3. Better than the Wii. But lately some cracks have been starting to show in Microsoft's green armor. First it was that annual notice in my email:

Your subscription to Gold – 12 Month is scheduled to be automatically renewed on Saturday, September 15, 2012. Please retain a copy of this for your records...For $59.99 plus applicable taxes, your Xbox LIVE Gold membership takes your Xbox 360 online to play Kinect and controller games with friends wherever they are. 

So I have to pay another $60 to have the chance to play online with friends? That's funny, because it's free on the Playstation 3, it's free on personal computers, and it's free on Nintendo Wii. That's not to say all are created equal. Xbox LIVE is by far the better mousetrap, at least compared to its console counterparts. But is it worth $60 a year? I've now payed $240 over the last four years. I could buy another console with that money. Yet I stick with my gold membership so I can play with my friends online. And that's really the only thing that keeps me renewing my subscription; like a phone network, Xbox LIVE increases in usefulness the more people sign on.

Second was today's revelation when IGN released its list of the top 25 Xbox 360 games. Take a look at this list. Notice anything deeply disturbing? There are almost no exclusives. By my count only six of the 25 titles are Xbox exclusives. IGN makes a list of the 25 best games on a seven year old system, and only six are titles exclusive to that system. Finally, it hit me like a ton of bricks: so many of the games I cherish on the Xbox are available on PC or Playstation 3. That's not to say the true exclusives are bad: Halo and Gears of War are two of the better franchises of all time. Forza and Fable are also top-tier. But after those four it starts to get sketchy. Then I recalled this year's E3. Microsoft, which had the worst showing, spent close to 20 minutes showing Halo 4. And then what? A Gears of War teaser trailer and a bunch of third-party non-exclusives. Meanwhile Sony showed of God of War, The Last of Us, Beyond: Two Souls, etc. And there are others. The list of Playstation exclusives is massive compared to Xbox. Then there's Nintendo: Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, Pikmin, Mario Kart, Wii Sports, Animal Crossing, Paper Mario, Super Smash Bros, etc.

Just a few of many Nintendo exclusives. Most of the best games on Xbox 360 can be played on PS3 or PC.

So the question isn't "is the Xbox a dud?" It's definitely not. It has the best online network (albeit the most expensive), the best controller, a handful of great exclusive games -- Halo being the best -- and a robust Xbox LIVE arcade service. The question is: "if I could only purchase one system from this generation, would it be the Xbox 360?" And the answer has to be "no." Sony and Nintendo have better exclusives: this includes current software and also classic games available on the Playstation Store and Virtual Console. And they have free, however inferior, online matchmaking.

I love my Xbox. I value it so much it's the only console I brought with me overseas. But the more I think about it, the more I realize it's not the best console of the seventh generation; it might actually be the worst.

Goodbye Nintendo Power

I lost something of my childhood when I read the news this week that Nintendo Power would cease publication in December, after 24 years. As a loyal subscriber for 16 years, I have collected over 150 issues of Nintendo Power, and treasure them all. The magazine was very important in my progression from video game amateur to enthusiast -- as I'm sure it was for many children and young adults.

Nintendo Power published its first issue in the summer of 1988, spotlighting Super Mario Bros. 2 for the NES. Since then there have been 281 issues. The overall focus of the magazine has certainly shifted since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Originally, the magazine was focused more on exclusive strategies, tricks, cheats, and other helpful tips to overcome Nintendo games, in addition to reviews and previews. In an age before the internet, Nintendo Power was the place to find official Nintendo walk-throughs, maps, and insider knowledge. Because the magazine was owned and operated by Nintendo, the information could be taken directly from programming teams. As of 2012 the magazine is much more community-oriented, and has largely given up in-depth strategy in favor of previews, reviews, retrospectives, and fan mail. One of my favorite new features, which began in 2010, is "Star Power," which picks a new Nintendo character every month and provides his or her "career" chart, quotes, and other details. One feature I miss is "Power Charts," which kept track of the top best-selling games for Nintendo systems and how long each had been on the list. I remember A Link to the Past being in the SNES list for something like 70 months.

Many criticized NP for lacking in objectivity since the magazine was a Nintendo product, but they were missing the point. Nintendo Power was a magazine for Nintendo enthusiasts; it guided them through their favorite games, and told them which new ones were worthy of purchase. Moreover, the magazine was (and is) deeply nostalgic. It pays tribute to the classic Nintendo games, and bridges the gap between the golden age of video games and the modern age.

My first issue of Nintendo Power was #88. It was the September 1996 issue -- the same month the N64 debuted in North America. I remember reading all about Super Mario 64, Turok, and Shadows of the Empire, three games that would soon become my favorites. One of the most memorable covers was four issues later, #92. NP released the magazine to subscribers with four different covers, each from Shadows of the Empire.

I received the Boba Fett cover -- score! -- not as rare as the IG-88 cover but not too shabby. Eight covers later was the 100th issues, and the editors at NP paid tribute to the milestone with a top 100 Nintendo games. Here is the top ten:

1. Super Mario 64
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
3. Tetris
4. Mario Kart 64
5. Super Mario Bros. 3
6. Super Metroid
7. GoldenEye 007
8. Final Fantasy VI
9. Final Fantasy IV
10. Street Fighter II Turbo

Considering this list is limited to only Nintendo video games, and the fact that is was released in 1997, it's pretty damn good. Four of these games would still make my top 10 of all time. In issues 196-200 (October 2005-February 2006), NP released a list of the top 200 Nintendo games of all time. The top ten is as follows:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
2. Resident Evil 4
3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
4. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
5. Super Mario 64
6. Super Mario Bros. 3
7. The Legend of Zelda
8. Super Mario World
9. Super Mario Bros.
10. Metroid Prime


In issue 252 (March 2010), the editors of Nintendo Power listed their favorite games and moments of the decade including the top ten titles from the years 2000-2009. The top ten games were:

1. Super Mario Galaxy
2. Resident Evil 4
3. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
4. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
6. Metroid Prime
7. Elite Beat Agents
8. Metroid: Zero Mission
9. Mario Kart Wii
10. The World Ends with You

As you can tell from these lists, Nintendo Power presided over several generations of Nintendo products, and the fans who loved them. The Game Boy, the SNES, the N64, the Gamecube, the DS, the Wii, and soon, the Wii U have all released under the watchful eye of Nintendo Power. It's fitting I suppose that NP will close its doors at the same time that a brand new Nintendo product will hit store shelves  -- a passing of the torch of sorts. Still, a generation of young kids who are discovering Nintendo for the first time won't have a family-friendly magazine dedicated solely to their favorite consoles and games. There are plenty of online resources -- gaming sites, FAQs, forums -- that provide previews, reviews, and advice, but none match the excitement of receiving an ink and paper product in the mail every week, or the assurance that the authors are dedicated solely to making  the most of every Nintendo experience.

Nintendo Power will be missed greatly, not only by me, but by a legion of video game fans that grew up reading it cover-to-cover. I'm grateful to NP for helping me beat the trickiest of levels, for advising me on which games to buy, and for inspiring me to love video games. I look forward to its 285th and final issue in December.

Below is a group of milestone NP covers. Please enjoy.

The first issue of Nintendo Power

The 50th issue

Number 100

The 150th issue

Number 200 - still going strong

This is #222 -- the first issue published by Future.

#250

And finally, number 152. I thought this was most fitting as a goodbye to Nintendo Power. Even if Nintendo Power is never renewed again, I hope Nintendo will at the very least digitize and archive all its issues. In that way, kids who never held a physical copy might discover it online, hiding in plain sight, waiting to be found.

Wii U Press Event Planned for September 13

Nintendo is hosting a major Wii U press event in New York City on September 13. According to reports, we will learn "more about how the Wii U will change the future of gaming and entertainment." The event will be hosted by Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. Now, if history teaches us anything, this will be the day that the world finds out the Wii U launch date and price point. The last time Fils-Aime took the stage in New York City for such an event, Nintendo revealed the launch date and price of the 3DS. The time before that? You guessed it. Nintendo hosted a huge Wii launch showcase.

My prediction: the Wii U will launch in North America on Sunday, November 18, five days ahead of Black Friday. It will cost $299, and its games will cost between $49.99 and $59.99. For me the biggest question is whether the system will come bundled with a game. When I first wrote about this, I guessed that the Wii U would arrive in a bundle with a new Super Mario game. After E3, I assumed the bundle would include Nintendo Land. Now I'm not so sure. On one hand, it makes sense as a pack-in title; Nintendo Land is designed to prove the usefulness of the Wii U and its unique tablet controller, just as Wii Sports demonstrated the usefulness of motion controls. On the other hand, Nintendo is marketing Nintendo Land as a complete video game, not simply a collection of tech demos, and might expect it to sell well on its own. If I had to decide, though, I would say Nintendo Land will be bundled with the system. If not, expect the Wii U to arrive with digital software already installed -- something like the AR games on the 3DS.

Fils-Aime in New York City for the 3DS launch event.

In much sadder news, there is a report that Nintendo Power magazine will soon stop publishing. This is especially gut-wrenching for me. I've subscribed to Nintendo Power since 1996 -- I still remember my first issue -- and although I haven't had the opportunity to read every single page like I once did, receiving it in the mail once a month was a real treat for me. I hope the rumors aren't true, but I suspect they are. Several sources at the magazine confirmed as much to the gaming site Kotaku. If it turns out that Nintendo Power is indeed shutting down, expect a lengthy eulogy for my favorite magazine on this blog in the coming days.

Dungeon Siege

The name says it all.

From the mind of Chris Taylor (Total Annihilation) comes the action role-playing game Dungeon Seige. Like Ninja Golf, you pretty much know what you're getting into when you boot up Dungeon Siege. It's a game where you lay siege to dungeons, one after another. If your idea of role-playing heaven is based on customization, character development, and a huge open-ended world in which to explore, Dungeon Siege might not be for you. It's almost all action, all the time. The story is underdeveloped, the dialogue is almost non-existent, and the side-quests, if you can call them that, are hardly off the beaten path. Yet despite all this, Dungeon Siege is an excellent game. It might not have much of a story, but the graphics, sound, play control, and gameplay of Dungeon Siege are all outstanding.

Unlike many modern role-playing games, Dungeon Siege doesn't invest much in a story. After a short preamble, in which we are told the brief, bloody history of the Kingdom of Ehb, players are dropped into the game as a simple farmer. From there he or she, depending on what sex you chose at the title screen, goes on to recruit other citizens of Ehb to save the kingdom from an ancient evil.

Players can customize their character before the action starts. Above: my character, Flora.

What Dungeon Siege lacks in narrative and presentation, it more than makes up for in technical achievement. The game is beautiful. Gorgeous 3D models fill up the screen with no slow-down, and there are plenty of highly-detailed background to gaze at while your party isn't being attacked by abominable snowmen. There are also a hundred small touches that add to the visual appeal and realism of the game. For example, if you continue to burden your pack mule with supplies, larger bags and boxes will appear on its back.

Dungeon Siege not only looks great; it sounds great too. The music and voice acting is nothing to write home about, but the sound effects are truly excellent. Hearing the sounds of nearby monsters stalking their prey or the distant echo of water dripping from a cave ceiling give Dungeon Siege atmosphere and a sense of place. But the greatest technical achievement in the game might be its commitment to "seamless" gameplay. There are no loading times between dungeons, castles, towns, and caves, and the control interface couldn't be more smooth. The camera is controlled entirely with the mouse, so players can adjust pitch and yaw in no time. Dungeon Siege also provides a useful pause button, so that players can freeze the action onscreen to adjust weapons, spells, and battle tactics.

Party members will earn titles depending on what weapons and spells they use most often.

Speaking of tactics, they play an important part in Dungeon Siege. Although most of the action is of the hack-and-slash variety, the game allows players to organize their party into battle formations: wedge-shaped, double row, etc. This way, players can hide weaker party member in the back of the formation where they can attack with spells or projectile weapons, and place heavily armored party members in the front to absorb most of the damage.

Although it's not as emotionally powerful as some other RPGs, Dungeon Siege is still a game worth playing for many hours. The interface is simple and intuitive, the graphics and sound create a believable, immersive game world, and the light strategy elements spice up standard hack-and-slash combat. Replay value is also high, since players can return to the game with a new custom character and recruit an entirely different party.

Score: 8.5

Top 10 Most Wanted Games on 3DS eShop

Part of the reason I like Nintendo's virtual console service -- and also Sony's Playstation Store -- is that it provides perfect ports of classic video games. Compare that to Xbox Live Arcade, which often features remastered, retouched, or otherwise reinvented games. There's certainly a place for these remakes -- Bionic Commando Rearmed is an excellent example -- but as someone who wants to experience the original, unadulterated game, I appreciate perfect ports. The virtual console on the Nintendo Wii was therefore a godsend. I was able to play games that I had missed growing up and were impossible to find outside of eBay.

The eShop on the 3DS offers a similar service. In the 14 months since it launched, the eShop has provided a very nice selection of old Game Boy and Game Boy Color games: Super Mario Land, Tetris, Kirby's Dream Land, Metroid II, and others. But the list is far from complete. There are a handful of old Nintendo handheld titles that would make the eShop even more attractive. Below is a list of ten such titles.

These are the games I would most like to see available on the 3DS.

10. Final Fantasy Adventure

It might bear the Final Fantasy name, but Final Fantasy Adventure is only a spin-off of the flagship franchise. It's actually the first game in a series that includes Secret of Mana. Although it has RPG elements, Final Fantasy Adventure plays and looks more like The Legend of Zelda. With great story, sound, and graphics, Final Fantasy Adventure is one of the quintessential Game Boy titles.

9. Donkey Kong Land 

At first glance, Donkey Kong Land might look like a Game Boy port of the SNES classic Donkey Kong Country, but it's actually an entirely original follow-up with 30 brand new levels and 40 hidden areas. The game utilizes ACM technology for maximum detail and animation, resulting in some very pretty graphics.

8. Pokemon Puzzle Challenge

Panel de Pon has had quite a work out. First it was ported to the Nintendo 64 in 1996 as Tetris Attack. Then, in 2000, it was ported to the Game Boy Color as Pokemon Puzzle Challenge. In all versions of the game, colored blocks rise from the bottom of the screen as players attempt to eliminate horizontal and vertical rows by swapping blocks with a cursor. Pokemon Puzzle Challenge has six unique game modes, and features 25 Pokemon.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages

Link's Awakening seems to get all the love when it comes to early Zelda handheld titles, but the dynamic duo of Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages is a tremendous product, especially when paired together. Each game features an independent storyline, and both can be played in any order. I'm partial to Oracle of Seasons, probably because I played it first. Players who connect both games can transfer items and unlock a special "linked ending."

6. Mario Tennis

Launching a few months after the console version, Mario Tennis for the Game Boy Color featured many of the same characters and modes, but also mini-games and an adventure mode absent from Mario Tennis for N64. In this mode, players begin as a rookie tennis player at the Royal Tennis Academy and slowly build up their skills.

5. Dragon Warrior I & II and Dragon Warrior III

Is it cheating to include three games in one spot? If so, you're going to love number one on this list.  Dragon Warrior I & II is a compilation for the GBC that includes Dragon Warrior and Dragon Warrior II. The handheld version uses a new translation, and is more faithful to the Japanese original. Other additions include "quicksave" and a streamlined menu. Dragon Warrior III was also re-released on the GBC, modeled after the Super Famicom version, which never arrived in North America.

4. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe

One of the most acclaimed GBC titles of all time is Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, a re-release of the original Super Mario Bros. It includes an overworld level map, a challenge mode, and eight additional worlds based on those from the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2. It also features simultaneous multiplayer -- long before New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

3. Shantae

Here is the only game on the list currently planned for release on the eShop, and I couldn't be happier. Shantae is a platformer released late in the life cycle of the Game Boy Color, after the Game Boy Advance had launched, so it was easily overlooked. A sequel was released in 2010 as a downloadable DSiWare title.

2. Metal Gear Solid

Released as Metal Gear: Ghost Babel in Japan, Metal Gear Solid is an original game produced specifically for the Game Boy Color. The story of Ghost Babel is non-canonical; it serves as an alternate sequel to the events of the original Metal Gear. The games uses an overhead two-dimensional format like the first two Metal Gear games.

1. Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal

This isn't even close. I'd rather see every generation I and II Pokemon game on the eShop than all the other games on this list combined. Imagine trading and fighting Pokemon from the original six Pokemon games wirelessly with friends. Pokemon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal fetch a small fortune on eBay and other sites, so a digital download for a fair price would be a godsend. How about it, Nintendo?

Spiral Knights

It's amazing how video games, and technology in general, have changed in 20 years. In 1992 if I wanted to play Street Fighter II with my friends, they would have to come to my house, or I to theirs. And of course I would have had to pay $40 for the cartridge. Flash forward two decades, and I can play a free game online with someone 6,000 miles away, each of us on a different operating system. The game in question is Spiral Knights, a free-to-play, Java-based game available on Steam for PC and Mac. Like all MMORPGs, Spiral Knights is better played with others, and best played with friends...

Evan (Faithhammer): Well, I somehow convinced you to play another co-op game, probably against your better judgment. But it was a good experience. And it was a first for both of us: my first free-to-play game, and your first massively multiplayer role-playing game. Spiral Knights is a charming, likable, and user-friendly game, but for me the novelty wore off quickly. What were your impressions?

Beth (Shmoopette): Spiral Knights was a great way to get my feet wet with a massive multiplayer role-playing game. I could be wrong but my impression is that it doesn't have all the complexity or depth of some of the other games in its category. That being said, I found the missions, items, and rewards structure easy to understand, and personally enjoyed the point and click nature of the weaponry. I particularly think that the free-to-play aspect is brilliant because while we didn't purchase anything, I can see how easy it is at every turn to put down a couple of dollars to enhance gameplay. It's different than any game I've ever played before, but I like the customizable aspect of it.

Energy units, seen in the bottom right, deplete as knights descend into the clockworks.

Evan: I agree the free-to-play business model is intriguing, although I concur with Jack Tretton who recently said the model isn't sustainable. It's basically free to play, pay to win. Spiral Knights is no different. In a 24 hour span, each knight has 100 energy units with which to do as he pleases. Once those units are exhausted, he needs to purchase more energy with real dollars or call it quits for the day. You and I smartly called it quits once we ran out of energy, but surely not everyone does. That's why Spiral Knights is ideal for short bouts, not for extended play.

Beth: I agree wholeheartedly that this game isn't really great for extended play. That being said, part of the reason I feel that way is the lack of an overall story arc, or goal that needs to be achieved. Even individual missions, while enjoyable, do not have a particularly powerful or moving goal and I often felt like I was just trying to fight my way through a series of enemies to finish a mission without a real goal or something I could feel passionate about. The same could be said for the entire game. Having never played any other MMORPGs, I'm curious if that is a flaw with the genre overall? Certainly it doesn't have the same heart and soul of other games I've played.

Knights are equipped with melee and projectile weapons. Unlike most RPGs, players do not evolve; only weapons and armor do.

Evan: I wouldn't call it a flaw. Massively multiplayer games are more open-ended by design. They don't operate within the same story structure as traditional games, in large part because the thousands of people playing them all need to feel as though they play an important part in the action. That's not to say Spiral Knights has no story. A group of interstellar soldiers crash land on an alien planet called Cradle, and are forced to explore its mechanized core for an energy source to power their escape. Not a bad premise, right? The bigger problem is the level design; it often felt like we were replaying the same five or six levels. Even the "prestige" missions, unrelated to the central plotline, are often recycled.

Beth: One thing I particularly appreciate about Spiral Knights is the ease of learning, as you go along in the game. As you play missions, you are introduced to different aspects of the story as well as instructions for future gameplay. It's a nice way to ease into the game and to have the depth of it revealed as you go along and master certain elements. For example, while you can explore most of the home base named Haven from the beginning of the game, you don't understand how to use or interact with most of it until the game is certain you've mastered the basics. I really like that element of it, and I think it makes the game accessible to all kinds of players.

The town square in Haven, complete with auction house.

Evan: Definitely. There's not doubt Spiral Knights is accessible. It's mechanically accessible because of tutorials and the gradual learning curve you mentioned. And it's financially accessible because it costs nothing to play, at least not at first. For those reasons I think Spiral Knights is an ideal game for families or younger players who don't want to get bogged down in the minutiae of bigger games like World of Warcraft.

Beth: Along those same lines, I particularly liked the graphics in Spiral Knights. While not particularly sophisticated, I think the graphics in the game present a fun, not-to-serious setting for the missions. Though enemies are hard to defeat, they are borderline cute. The same is true for avatars, who are relatively small and simple and lacking the more mature features that you might find in avatars from other MMORPGs. The result is endearing and gives the game a light-hearted atmosphere that I for one really appreciated.

Good teamwork is essential to survive in the Clockworks.

Evan: I think we've covered all our bases here. Only one thing left to do. It's time to score Spiral Knights. Although there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the game, I can't give it great, or even good, marks. There just isn't enough substance to keep me coming back for more. For that reason I give Spiral Knights a 6.0. I will say this however: Spiral Knights is a completely inoffensive and family-friendly game. If you're looking for a community-based RPG with less baggage, you should give it a try, and decide if it's worth your time or not. It's free to play, after all.

Beth: Maybe it's just because I'm still a newcomer to video games in general and therefore got a little bit more out of it, but I'm going to be a bit more generous and go with a 7.0. I found Spiral Knights to be enjoyable, and I appreciated the way it helped ease me into this genre. I think if I had to pay for the game I might also have given it a 6.0, but since it's free to play, that pushes it over the edge for me to a game that I could definitely recommend, and might even go back to again at some point.

Best Buy Summer Gaming Blowout 2.0

*Updated August 12, 2012*

For those who missed the first blowout sale, Best Buy is holding another clearance sale, with even more games at lower prices.

Click here to start shopping.

The sale starts August 12.

Here is a selection of the games on sale:

$14.99 Games
The Darkness II
Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir
Sorcery

$9.99 Games
Wolfenstein
Black Eyed Peas Experience
James Bond 007 Bloodstone
NHL 11
MLB 11 The Show
Just Dance Kids 2
Beatles: Rock Band
Animal Crossing City Folk
Kirby’s Epic Yarn
NBA Jam
Hasbro’s Family Game Night 4
Skate 3
Dungeon Siege III
Child of Eden
Singularity
Brutal Legend
Neverdead
Dirt 3
Bodycount
Dead Space 2
Dead Rising 2: Off the Record
Rayman Origins
Michael Jackson Experience
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
Rhythm Heaven
Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker
Final Fantasy IV
Gran Turismo
Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest

$7.99 Games
Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock Software
Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days
Michael Jackson The Experience
Lego Rock Band

$4.99 Games
Rhythm Heaven Fever
DJ Hero 2 Software
Band Hero
Bulletstorm

Wii U Rumors

It's been a while since I wrote about Nintendo's upcoming eighth generation console, the Wii U, so here are some updates to keep you going as we inch closer to launch.

Last week, a leaked photo from a GameStop listing revealed several Wii U launch titles, along with many other wintertime releases. There are no dates on the listing, only descriptions like "HOLIDAY" and "LAUNCH WINDOW." Several games are listed as working titles.

These are the games, grouped by publisher. Please note: not all will be available at launch.

2K Sports 
NBA 2K13

D3Publisher 
Ben 10: Omniverse
Family Party: 30 Great Games
Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game

Electronic Arts 
Mass Effect 3

Maximum Games 
Jett Tailfin

Namco Bandai Games 
Tank! Tank! Tank!
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 

Nintendo
LEGO City: Undercover
New Super Mario Bros. U 
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge
Nintendo Land 
SiNG
Wii U Panorama View
Game & Wario
Pikmin 3 
Project P-100
Wii Fit U

SEGA
Aliens: Colonial Marines

THQ 
Darksiders II

Ubisoft 
Assassin's Creed III
Just Dance 4
Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
Rabbids Land
Sports Connection
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
ZombiU
Rayman Legends

Warner Bros. Interactive 
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition


In other Wii U news, box art for three upcoming Wii U games appeared on Amazon.ca. The images may simply be placeholders, like the outrageous $100 price tag for Wii U games at GameStop, but maybe not. The potential Wii U box art features a blue half-circle with golden trim on the top of the case. Games with online capability bear an orange and white "Nintendo Network" icon in the top right.

The box art is not unlike box art for Gamecube titles: similar half circle, similar two-color palette with trim.

I think the Wii U art looks good: bright, clean, simple, clearly different from its competitors. It seems to borrow more from Apple than from Microsoft or Sony. But what do YOU think?

Metroid Retrospective

There is a holy trinity of Nintendo video game series, all three of which debuted in Japan within one year of each other: Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. Each one of these original games changed the video game industry forever, and for the better. And each has spawned a healthy franchise with many critically and financially successful sequels, prequels, and interquels. Today we look back at the third member of the trinity, Metroid, since today marks its 26th anniversary. Metroid was first released on August 6, 1986.

Although it debuted around the same time, Metroid has fewer games in its canon than The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario. In fact, the franchise at one point went eight years without a game, hard to imagine in today's video game industry, which is suffering from a serious case of sequelitis. The franchise has a total of 11 games, not including the compilation Metroid Prime: Trilogy. Of the 11 games, ten are related to a central storyline. This is yet another departure from Zelda and Mario, which either feature a story spanning generations or, in the case of Mario, very little story at all. In Metroid it is always the same story arc, and it is always the same heroine.

The Metroid series follows the adventures of bounty hunter Samus Aran, including her encounters with parasitic organisms called Metroids, and with her perennial enemies, the Space Pirates.

Age of Exploration

The first three games in the series: Metroid, Metroid II: Return of Samus, and Super Metroid.

Although it's arguably the weakest in the series, the first Metroid game proved to be the most influential. It masterfully combined the platform mechanics that had made Super Mario Bros. a breakout hit with the open-ended exploration and upgrade system that Nintendo used in The Legend of Zelda. Mix that with the cold, empty, and terrifying atmosphere of the movie Alien and you've got Metroid. And although Metroid didn't invent non-linear action-adventure gameplay, it certainly pushed the genre forward. Metroid was the first game to feature a password system that allowed players to save their progress, and one of the first games to make use of multiple endings, three of which reveal that the hero Samus Aran is actually -- gasp! -- a woman. The revelation that Samus was a woman is probably the greatest video game surprise of all time, but it also had an important effect on the industry. At a time when female video game characters were mostly damsels in distress, Samus destroyed the status quo, and paved the way for heroes like Jill Valentine, Lara Croft, and Jade from Beyond Good & Evil.

Metroid for the NES

Next came the first handheld Metroid game, Metroid II, which built on the foundation of its predecessor and added a few new functions, including a battery save. Although Metroid II is the second game in the series, it's actually sixth in the Metroid timeline. It takes place after Metroid Prime 3 and before Super Metroid, the masterpiece of the franchise.

Ah, Super Metroid. Like its SNES cousin, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid didn't do anything revolutionary; it simple perfected the formula. With amazing level design, epic boss battles, superior graphics, precise controls, and an emotionally powerful story, Super Metroid has it all. It's the best game in the series, and one of the two best games on the Super Nintendo.

Prime Time

The Metroid Prime trilogy

After Super Metroid debuted in 1994, fans waited for the next installment of the franchise. And waited. And waited. The N64 came and went. And still they waited. Finally, in 2002, fans got what they wanted: not one, but two new Metroid games. One for Nintendo's newest handheld, the Game Boy Advance, and one for its newest console, the Gamecube. But wait a minute. The Gamecube title, Metroid Prime, wasn't developed exclusively by Nintendo, nor was it a third-person action-adventure game. It actually looked more like a first-person shooter. When Metroid Prime was showcased by Nintendo at E3 2001, the reaction from fans and critics was mixed at best.

Metroid shifts to a first-person point of view.

Thankfully, Nintendo and Retro Studios (the new kid on the block) stayed the course, and released a game that somehow, miraculously, managed to transition Metroid from 2D to 3D and third-person to first-person all at once. How well was Metroid Prime received, only one year after some critics and fans suggested abandoning the project altogether? It currently rests comfortably as the sixth best reviewed game of all time on GameRankings.com. Metroid Prime was followed by two sequels and a spin-off for Nintendo DS called Metroid Prime: Hunters.

Potent Portables

Along with Metroid Prime, Nintendo released a handheld Metroid game in 2002: Metroid Fusion. Developed by Nintendo Research & Development 1, the same team that worked on Super Metroid, Fusion closely resembles the first three Metroid games, although it is more linear than its predecessors. Players who own both Fusion and Prime can unlock special features, including an emulated version of the original Metroid.

Metroid Fusion, 2002

Although it received critical acclaim, Fusion was surpassed two years later by Zero Mission, a retelling of the events of Metroid. Even though it is based on the events of the inaugural game, Zero Mission plays a lot more like Super Metroid. Storytelling is also improved: the original story was rewritten to reveal more of Samus' backstory, and new cut-scenes added.

To Be Continued...

The most recent Metroid game was the underrated and over-abused Metroid: Other M, an excellent addition to the franchise that explores Samus' personality like never before. Other M was a collaborative effort between Team Ninja (Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive) and series' co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto. That was two years ago. What does Nintendo have in store for Metroid? So far, the video game company hasn't announced any plans to develop a Metroid game for either the 3DS or the upcoming Wii U, but I suspect one is already being developed, probably by Retro Studios.

Samus deserves an encore.