Tokyo Game Show Madness Part 2

In this post we will cover some of the key games that caught our attention so far. Now it is almost impossible to list everything in blog format, so we will just stick with games that caught our attention the most, and that is pretty popular coming from TGS.

Microsoft is trying to gain respect of the JRPG market with yet another product from those that brought you Blue Dragon. This one is now called Lost Odyssey for the Xbox 360, and should arrive in the US by February 2008. While the game looks beautiful, and will contain about 40-50 hours of gameplay, some are saying it looks a little too much like Final Fantasy. Still, with an interesting combat ring system, we'll see if the game can get distinguished enough.

NiGHTS for the Wii is a remake of the original SEGA classic too few played. Now you can relive it with updated visuals, and cool motion controls that just seem to fit so well.

Ninja Gaiden is making a return, this time actually in new games. This first is Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360, and while only a trailer was shown so far, it seems to be as beautiful and bloody as ever, and is trying to be "the world's premier action game." The other one is Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword for the DS, so you can hack and slash with a stylus now, and have an incredible time doing it wherever you are.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is making quite a splash, since it is the first time people are getting hands on with it. The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay is hot, and the story is crazy, what more do you want. Also, keep an eye out for Metal Gear Online if you want to take the action online with 16 player battles.

A new trailer for the mysterious PS3 game Afrika was shown, giving us an update on the progress of the game, this time with some more scenes of a couple in a jeep and walking around with a camera. Could it be the next Pokemon Snap... we'll just have to wait and see.

Playstation Network games are really starting to impress alot of people, with their emphasis on trying to be different and innovative yet still fun. Take Echochrome, a basic black and white puzzle game where you live in a world that seems to be dreamed up by M.C. Esher. You even have fl0wer, a sequel to the popular fl0w, that is still leaving some people scratching their heads.


Do you want to stay fit yet still play video games? The Wii should be your platform of choice, since not only are you getting WiiFit, but also similar fitness offerings from both Konami and Namco. Hopefully these will burn enough calories so you don't feel so bad drinking all that soda when playing Super Smash Brothers.

Stay tuned to Devicing for more updates.... if we still have the strength.

Images from IGN.com

Wii Closing in on Xbox 360

The console wars are getting a little close quartered now that the Wii is closing in on the Xbox360's sales. NextGenWars says the Wii has sold a 9,870,153 units since its lackluster launch (\sarcasm) and the Xbox360 selling 10,991,992 units since its 2005 launch. In less than one year since its initial release into the Wii has closed in on the 360s two year head start. Unless Microsoft can sell units full of cash I doubt they can hold the lead much longer.

The New Renaissance- A Game for All Ages

It's been awhile since I first sat down and squealed with glee when Little Big Planet was debuted to the public for the PS3 and I have some thoughts. The title reflects what I feel is a New Era of video games that we should all can be excited about.


For those of you who don't know what Little Big Planet is and for the other smaller half who's been living under rocks; Little Big Planet is a game developed by Media Molecule in which the object of the game is to build, play and share simple levels where the only object is to reach the end. The game features a robust creator in which players can create levels seemingly straight out of a children's books and then share and play over the internet or in the comfort of their own home.

Simple fun gameplay is Little Big Planets motif and quite frankly I'm glad. Not for Little Big Planets sake (Yes, I'll buy a PS3 just for LBP) but for the game industry at large. Video game developers have been throwing flashy, hardware intensive games at us and we the market have been eating up. While ingenuity is often praised, there was for a long time only ho-hum sequels to franchises and renditions of older styles. We as video gamers began to finesse over the subtle differences between games that had one time gimmicks or fancy visuals when really the same ideas have been around for at least 5-10 years.

But over the past 3 years or so a new crop of games have arisen that put the focus back on simple gameplay and not on graphics. These games have always been there, but from I can remember they first became readily available around 2001 when ICO was released. It was the first time in awhile when you had to just save the princess; that was it. The game received good reviews commending its easy to use design and focus on action and not glamor.

Over the following years more games would be released that put the focus back on new and simple ideas; where leveling up or customizing weapons wasn't the focal point. Games like Katamari Damacy, Shadow of the Colossus, and Lumines later followed and although they weren't Halo-ish blockbusters; they both earned a respectable amount of sales and awards.

Of course the culmination of this trend came with the Launch of the Nintendo Wii which was so successful I feel because it brought games that anyone could play with small learning curve. Sure it has graphics that pale in comparison to others, but the people have spoken and beauty truly is on the inside (and on the wii-mote).

The new renaissance is starting to makes it way to the PC market as well. So called snobby PC gamers have been enjoying the old classics such as Myst, but also applauding new ones like Penumbra.

I for one am happy to see this once neglected market starting to thrive again alongside the hardcore gamers of the world. I do enjoy extremely technical games like Supreme Commander, but rolling my Katamari into cats and people brings a child-like smile (not the durrrrrr durr type smile) to my face and gives me a chance to just relax while playing a game. I expect to see games being developed and released by lesser known developers with smaller budgets become more and more popular.

To sum it all up I feel that the video game industry is redefining itself. Often viewed as a nerdy hobby; its now cool to play video games. "Normal" host parties just drink and play the Wii. People now can choose from games for all types from many different backgrounds without being ridiculed (or shoved into lockers....*sniff*). And these games are now fun for everyone! I don't care what you think some people just won't understand what's exciting about World of Warcraft. And all of this is because video game developers are being creative in the simplest of ways. I guess much like children, video games are starting to embrace the simple pleasures in life and now give everyone a chance to be friends and just play.