Video games have been around for quite some time by now, offering multitudes of ways to entertain, captivate, and challenge the player's intellect. Throughout the years, video games have evolved into something much more than simple pixelated sprites shuffling across the screen, giving way to enhanced graphics, more sophisticated stories, and a much greater amount of effort on part of the creator(s). Sadly, despite this magnificent boom in creative potential, there are still some who consider that video games are not, when compared to movies, music, and other forms of expression; art. Take, for example, this statement by Roger Ebert:
"...games could not be high art, as I understand it. How do I know this? How many games have I played? I know it by the definition of the vast majority of games. They tend to involve (1) point and shoot in many variations and plotlines, (2) treasure or scavenger hunts, as in "Myst," and (3) player control of the outcome. I don't think these attributes have much to do with art; they have more in common with sports." - Ebert (2007)
Taking into consideration that Ebert was following up on a previous, more crass statement that video games will never be art; the points he makes can be easily dissolved with a wealth of exceptions and/or creative methods to compensate for such points. The following are examples of games that will, beyond any reasonable doubt, prove that video games are much more than a simple interactive shooter-adventure sport:
Shadow of the Colossus
Anyone with at least a decent knowledge of the previous console generation can recall that Shadow of the Colossus is easily the most stunning games for the PS2, as well as the most unique. Throwing away many traditional conventions, SotC consisted solely of defeating these monstrosities. No mini-bosses, no regular enemies, just a massive world, a horse, and a lonely man aching to revive the maiden he so dearly loves. The sheer scale of the land and the creative, puzzle-like method of dispatching the massive foes creates a unique experience that will not soon be forgotten. Easily, SotC dispels all three of Ebert's claims by being a puzzle game with little point-and-shoot elements, foregoing any "scavenger hunts", and having an ending that is not determined by the player respectively.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjDtw6rmJ9g
Ico
Though by the same developer (SCEA), Ico is, without a doubt, a glorious and touching example of how moving a video game's story can truly be. Playing as a boy guiding a maiden through a perilous journey, the connection between the two grows stronger over the course of the experience until an event occurs that will emotionally effect even some of the heaviest-hearted people. It should also be noted that, for its time, the graphics were quite advanced and the unique art styIe truly made this title one of the best of its year.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsbJ8GIIySE
Katamari Series
By far one of the goofiest (and trippiest) games to come out in quite some time, the Katamari series has proved time and time again that graphics are not the only thing that matters. From its absolutely hilarious surrealism to the quirky bits of dialogue the King of the Cosmos blurts out at the player, every single entry has proved itself worthy as a highly creative series on par with surrealist filmmakers, painters, and so on.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpI5uI6bMm0
Okami
Okami's styIe is instantly recognizable to anyone who has followed the video game world for the past few years. Utilizing the highly-artistic Japanese watercolor theme to its fullest, Okami allowed players to take control of the elements of nature via a magical calligraphy brush that was able to turn the tides of the wind, sea, earth, and also deliver decisive blows to enemies. Its penchant for artistic prowess easily qualifies it as one of the most artistic games in recent memory.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTUm07enrs4
Tower of Shadow
Though it isn't released yet, Tower of Shadow is something any person can glance at and easily consider it a highly creative idea. Using a unique method of gameplay that focuses on the background rather than what would traditionally be played on, the overall styIe of this upcoming title has the potential for Ico-grade artistry.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viZjjpuymrc
Oddworld Series
Created by Lorne Lanning, a magnificent artist judging by the complexity and overwhelming skill taken into his concept art, the Oddworld series is living proof that video games can have not only artistic, but political significance as well. Though subtle, such topics as worker exploitation and species extinction (Abe's Oddysee), brutal takeover of the American West (Stranger's Wrath), animal testing (Munch's Oddysee), and other issues have been covered by entries of this highly creative series. Also, the gameplay in the first couple games are especially unique since it was one of the first side-scrollers to completely reject the Mario format of platforming for a more puzzle-like role as the skinny guy with no weapons.
Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2EDJbIyzpo
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In conclusion, video games can be much more than simple entertainment. Games can be anything from an artistic expression to a political statement that has considerable significance. It will be interesting to see where technology will take us all in the future of gaming, as uncertain as things may be in the perspective of some. Regardless of the industry's direction, there is something I will always truly believe: Video games are art.
So, as one could imagine, even with the realization that the cost of a new computer is spectacularly expensive, the idea that I was able t play more modern PC games was an exciting tidbit, especially with the holiday season looming. I had nothing really that I wanted to the holidays on my list, which people had pestered me over for weeks now, so I figured I'd do some hunting.
Hey! I loved Dawn of War, and I heard the sequel is ok, even if it's a bit buggy. But then I checked more into it and I crossed it off my list.
Hey! I LOVED Rome: Total War, I missed out on Medieval 2TW, but Empire: Total War looked astonishing! But then I checked up on it and eventually crossed it off as well.
Hey! I heard from a couple of friends that Last Remnant is a fun game, and it's relatively cheap at my local shop! Seems like a sweet deal, but after checking into it, I crossed it off my list too.
Why did I cross those games off my list? Because they require Steam.
I hate Steam(the program, not the vaporized water) and everything that it stands for.
It, most of all, is DRM, which I believe is wholly uncecessary. It acts as middle man bloatware that takes up valuable memory capacity. On my new system, it wouldn't be a problem, but on my old PC, Steam(regardless of what they state is false, and I wish I still had the screenshots to prove it) was a memory hog that brought Half-life 2 to a crawl. It would start ok, but then steam would build and build and build until my PC crashed. This was a long time ago when steam was closer to its infancy than now, but that was unacceptable and the fact that Steam gets updates that cause INCREASES in system requirements for games, and frees itself from all liabilities regarding gameplay and access of content/service, it's a huge double-fister waiting in the wings, ready to breach sphincter at any moment.
It tells users when, if, and how they can access the concent they purchased, even if said content is stored on their hard-drives(their personal property). Steam could deny my request to play a videogame I paid for whenever it deems it necessary. Instead of increasing the quality and amount of serers available to meet demand, they demand you just sit tight and wait X amount of hours to play whatever game you desire to, because you're accessing their precious services.
You require internet to play your games offline(or at least, you did when I had it, and judging from troubles people had with Empire:Total War, it still holds true). In order for a computer to be able to validate a steam account it used to have to connect online, even if the account was made to be run in offline mode on a separate internet-connected computer beforehand. If this still holds true, that sucks. If it doesn't, it would likely still require you to transfer that library of files from the online connected computer to your new, non-online connected PC(one thing I have heard in the pro-steam discussions). Either way, getting a game validated on steam without an internet connection is unecessarily annoying, out of the way, and frustrating.
Their customer service is/was terrible, not providing any support past whatever they deem basic, before claiming something is wrong on the user's end. POP QUIZ Valve, when you make a gateway service to access games through, you develop it to run as simple as possible, and to automatically assess system security so as to ease the trouble of connecting to Steam! How is the average user supposed to know how to do port-forwarding? How is the average user supposed to know that they have to delve into .ini files to hand-code in workarounds? I'm experienced enough with computers and networking, so it's no real skin off my teeth, but most people aren't, and would more easily give up and return the game. BUT WAIT! if they've already registered the activation code in Steam(which they would have in attempts to get it working), there's no point returning the game because no one else can ever use that activation code ever again! BRILLIANT!
I could keep going on about my burning hatred for Steam, and how no matter if you're installing via disc, it'll still prefer to eat up your bandwidth and download whatever it wants to until you slap it on the wrist, cancel the install, delete the local cache, and start the install over(at least, those are my experiences with how it ran...I had to pay my parents an extra $20 for going over the bandwidth limit from Steam auto-updating HL2, CS:S and all that jazz after my first install). Maybe in countries where there are no bandwidth limits, it would be fine, but many countries have caps. Canada does for the most part unless you pay a premium for it.
Give me Securom before Steam. At least it's passive and just sits there in the cornerdoing nothing. Sure, it doesn't really tell you it's going there, and it's batcrap hard to get rid of, but it doesn't do anything(well, it didn't do anything to my old computer that had it) and didn't prevent me from playing Bioshock(well, eventually I realized my system, which was barely under the min requirements, couldn't play it efficiently enough). Sure, it had limited installs, but I could have just called them up to tell them I'd uninstalled it due to a HDD reformat and they'd give me one back. No biggie.
So yeah, here I was, checking out some rad-awesome games, only to be thoroughly disappointed that they require Steam to access them. There's a reason I buy valve games for console only now, and that's to avoid Steam at all costs. I don't care about the friends lists, or chat program built in it. MSN Messenger does that better. I don't care about online multiplayer. If I want to play with friends I LAN or P2P, nothing else, unless it's an MMORPG or something. Playing with strangers is entirely useless in my books. No point in it aside from maybe getting a better challenge than AI if you're lucky, and even then there's a good chance the user's using some cheat/hack.
I'll probably try Medieval 2: Total War as it doesn't require steam, and it's rather cheap with all the expansions these days. I'll avoid DoW2 and go straight for something like World in Conflict, or maybe stick to my current Surpreme Commander gaming setup. I'll avoid Last Remnant, nothing I know that could take its spot, really, but that's their loss of a sale for using such a terrible infrastructure.
So much promise, only to be let down when you do some research and realize how it works. Just like a magic trick.
I'll leave you with some songs I've been listening to lately:
"Nightshift" - The Commodores(such a smooth song)
"Kerosine"-Big Black
"Ocean" - John Butler Trio
and this gem. 
Have a good one guys, I'm lagging behind on my YIR but I'm trying to catch up. Lost a lot of ground due to the computer being down.
The single greatest concert experience I've ever had. They were so tight, every song came to life. The audience and band interacted seamlessly and I know this as I was in the front row. I locked eyes with Frank Black, he smirked at me as I did my bobble head-style moshing. HE SMIRKED AT ME. I'm still feeling that concert high and it will probably last for the rest of my life. Me and my buds decided to wear suits to the show. It was worth it, even if my finest sportcoat is now lathered in excessive amounts of sweat and tears. "Hey" and "Gouge Away" were the highlights for me from the Doolittle album. Having said that, "Into the White" completely stole the show for me. That guitar build-up is the most intense thing I've ever heard, it sounds like the hands of the ocean banging pieces of metal fervently. And then, they closed with... with a curveball, "Velouria". I was expecting "Where is My Mind?" or "Gigantic", they ended the show after two encores with a personal favorite. I sang to a woman I've never met before in my entire life and she sang back, as we bounced along to a number of songs. It was a religious experience, communal. Considering my parents were fans and they used to play them around the house, it made the experience all the more personal. If you ever have to chance to see the best band in the world, do not miss out on it. Not even if you're dying, this is really a live show that you have to witness.
Hey guys, I've just started using Twitter (a bit late, I know) and I'm still learning the ropes
Here's my profile:
when the wibble wills
wibbles in the wind
the wind will wibble back
all nice and pretty baby
Don't remember where that's from or if its right but it's been stuck in my head since i was a kid, just thought i'd share that with someone cause i don't know what else to do at this time. ;D maybe someone knows where it's from.
This isn't a blog post. It's just an activation for my blog picture.
What a babe she is
- My Zune won't sync.
- I'm now level 34.
- I still miss Steppin.
- I have seen GameSpot Hell, but have been revived to see OT become Hell.
- After being b& / unb&, I am losing desire to come to GS.
- Seriously... What else is there to do?
- Soufy got me to poast on LL, so I'll most likely be there more than often.
- I'll also be arguing with muzak nubs on PlanetRenders.
- MY ZUNE WON'T SYNC.
- Pie >>>>>>>>>> Cake
- I'm bored.
- I MISS STEPP.
Fleet Foxes - S/T
The reason for the two names is that it's not sure of what the album name is yet.
Fleet Foxes Track Listing
1. Sun It Rises
2. White Winter Hymnal
3. Ragged Wood
4. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
5. Quiet Houses
6. He Doesn't Know Why
7. Heard Them Stirring
8. Your Protector
9. Meadowlarks
10. Blue Ridge Mountains
11. Oliver James
After listening to this album I can say it's a solid one, even though it's technically not released yet. It's genre would be placed in Psychedelic Folk. At first listen, you'll find it odd, maybe a bit bad, but it's an album that grows. Don't be turned off at first. Especially going in with the first track. I'm not sure on posting a link of the download, but PM if you want one. Download is from Mediafire, so it should go fast.
I ordered my copy of System Shock 2.
Next Purchase:
+ 
Also, pay no attention to my alter ego. He is confused and knows not what he talks of. That is all.
Five things you didn't know about me...
5. My favorite game ever is Pokemon Silver. (don't diss)
4. My nickname around the internet is "Justing"
3. I'm really bad at games, but I still play them.
2. I'm in my school's drumline. 1. I've never been able to sit through all of Godfather Part 3.
I would tag someone, but it looks like all of you have been tagged. I'll tag Hallenbeck, though...I don't think he's gotten it.
^(Just about at the end of "A History of Bad Men" by the Melvins.)
So far, Audiosurf seems to be the most promising game of 2008. And as far as I can tell it pretty much delivers the goods so to speak. The basic idea of the game is very simple. You control a little Wipeout-esque craft of some kind, sliding along a track hitting blocks to create clusters of three or more of the same color to score points. Not that in itself is not terribly groundbreaking. The really fun part is that you get to use your own music. Load up an mp3 from your hard drive and the game will create a visual interpretation of the music within.
I've already had the pleasure of putting myself up against some of the most brutal and unmusical tracks in my collection. It really gives you a whole way to think of music. Reminds me somewhat of Richard D. James incorporating an image of his own face as a musical composition at the end of the track [symbol] on the Windowlicker EP.
This game is exactly what the rhythm game lineup needed. I can definitely see myself wasting a lot more time on this than i'd ever have the patience to do with Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Mostly because I here get to choose exactly what I want to play.
If I have to put my finger on one thing, it would be the controls. You can move your craft left and right on the track with either the arrow keys or the mouse. But really when you get cracking, it feel like you're just frantically moving from side to side hoping not to hit the wrong blocks. It can get frustrating.
The game has three difficulties and each one sporting a few different "surfers" with different abilities. One can pick up blocks and save them for later, another can force push blocks left or right and a third can shuffle up the blocks you have already in hopes that some of them might form clusters.
The graphics are simple but stunning in their own right. Feels kind of like a mix of Tron and Wipeout… which is GOOD. The art direction is amazing and you can really tell there's gone a lot of work into making this game feel just right. I really feel this is the perfect game for people like me who never got into the whole Rock'n'Roll tyle gameplay offered by other games recently.
Now I feel like giving this game a pre-release grade. But I don't have a grading system, so I'll just say this:
**** YES!
I was a little flippant in the last entry so just in case it isn't clear, I fully understand how completely messed up this is. It's as if Gamespot is trying to destroy their own credibility, trying to make people cancel their subscriptions, with how they're handling this. For the love of God apologize. And if you can't apologize, or don't feel you have to, put the situation out in the open. This policy bull crap about how we don't talk about former or current employee's hiring/firing status is a load of crap. Protecting his privacy? Then why can't Jeff talk about it? Cnet lawyers protecting him from himself?
I don't want to be a big drama queen and leave Gamespot, that's always a load of crap to me, "leaving" the site. It's the internet, you're not really going anywhere. But I'll be damned, Cnet sure is trying it's damndest to change my mind.
edit: And God dammit, do you even realize who you're firing? Greg Kasavin is gone, if he was still here I think Gamespot could weather this a little better (I'd like to think it never would have happened but what the hell do I know?), but now... I don't want to say this in an insulting way to the many editors left over who I've loved to read over the years. Brad Alex all them don't get me wrong I would grieve their leaving in a very real way especially under these circumstances but when you fire Jeff Gerstmann you're cutting off the goddamn head. I mean who the hell do we look to now? Who is the face of Gamespot? And how can we look at whoever takes Jeff's place without a sense of suspicion? If they can swallow their morals and take up his position in the wake of something so blatant as this, what the hell are we supposed to think?
I bought the orange box last week and the Assassins creed preorder box... Finished every game in the orange box from start to finish... it was a blast (already played half life 2 but going to play it again)... going to get Gmod as soon as I get money on my paypal so that I can enjoy making my own stuff.. 9.0 doesn't seem to work anymore so I have to upgrade.. 8[
I was thinking about giving away my PSD files of my projects but as I looked at them I came to the conclusion that they are messy and not very helpfull for the people that could use them... (didnt name the layers and some projects have around 50 of them).. maybe I could write a tutorial but those are just plans for the future..
here is some stuff that I made this and last week:
made after playing a lot of half life (The buildings are from Half life 2 and lost coast and I put 2 striders in it)
Took around 3-5 hours to complete... had a hard time making the city look believable because the stock photo has multiple mountains and I tried making 1 out of them
Stock: http://beefstock.deviantart.com/art/beefstockpic0035-29930422
Front and Back for an art tour flyer...
Took around 2 hours to make them both...
And a halo sig requested by LiquidFlame... he isnt using it so that's kinda weird after he said that he liked it.. 
I think that I made this in a bit more than 1 hour..
That was all again.. been a bit busy with LL to really design big things but hey I'm also having a vacation..
New additions to the clone army, they will viciously attack anything that moves, slaughtering the innocent in their path to achieve whatever fowl goal they have been programmed to carry out.
These creatures against nature are truly soulless beings, and have only the intent of finishing their mission to spread the clonium, and create mass armies of enigmatic, featureless clones to obey my command.
Remember to visit my forum
