Writing has taken up the majority of my time, and I’m so incredibly excited to share the awesome news that I am officially writing for GaminG4Respect! Times are extremely busy while the G4R team and I kickstart the new website and attract a larger audience, and it will be difficult for me to religiously post on PhoenixDown like I normally do. However, I will periodically release posts such as this one that will contain some updates and links to several of my articles that can be found on other wonderful sites. Let me know if this is something you enjoy seeing even if it is technically filler until I post some actual articles on here. Your continuous support has made all of this possible and I love each and every one of you for it. I hope you continue to follow my work on G4R and Geek Force Network. This community is the greatest thing I have ever had the privilege to be a part of!
While I am personally on leave from CTG to focus on other real life responsibilities, Shady and Callum have taken over and continued the podcast… and episode 3 was born. Featuring Vinceofalltrades, the three dudes talk about all things video games without a female presence… the lack of a womanly charm is a shame, but the entertainment successfully continues! If you have any topics or questions that you would like to hear on the next episode, fill out the form below!
As the sole writer here at PhoenixDown, I’ve taken pride in my ability to write and post content to entertain you guys, and I’m in the process of expanding my circle of content to include all of the major forms of entertainment available – video games, movies, comic books, and television. And while expansion is a good thing, it makes my job a lot more difficult! I am always looking for guest bloggers to send in content, but with the introduction of more topics, I wanted to publish a quick post inviting all of the writers that didn’t think their writing was suitable for PhoenixDown to come back!
Movies/Television
Movie and television reviews are something I really want to start focusing on, but life tends to get in the way of that and sometimes movies and episodes are missed. If you are interested in sending in a movie review (preferably a new release) or a review of a recent television episode, here are some guidelines to take note of:
Reviews are loosely based on a point system with 1 being the worst to 10 being the best. Make sure your score reflects what you wrote. Don’t say that Iron Man 3 was the best movie you’ve ever seen and then give it a 5.
Reviews can contain spoilers but that should be clearly noted at the beginning of the article.
Reviews should contain around 1000 words, explaining the different points that make up the movie: Story, characters, graphics, etc. Just make sure there is depth and good reason.
If you’re reviewing a specific television episode, make sure you include the title of it in the subject. Ex. Review: Television Show- Episode Title
Make sure that your review is sent as an attachment, preferably as a Word document.
If you have images to include, add them as attachments as well. Although they are not necessary, they will make your post stand out and look better.
Featured images should be at least 950 pixels by 425 pixels, otherwise it won’t appear in the slideshow on the home page!
Try not to send in reviews that have already been posted. For example, I already wrote an Iron Man 3 review… another one isn’t needed.
To get a better idea of how your review should look, feel free to read through the ones I have posted!
All content should be sent to crystalkm@yahoo.com
Other kinds of content besides reviews are always welcome as well and are encouraged to be sent in! Have some predictions about the next season of The Vampire Diaries? Feel free to write up a post. There aren’t any other specific guidelines concerning other pieces, but feel free to check out the submissions page to get more info.
Nintendo has collected quite a bit of bad press recently with the exposure of a “same-sex” bug on Tomodachi Collection: New Life that they plan on “fixing” to the latest YouTube monetary scandal that has left several content creators upset. And fans are still stuck in a state of disappointment over the announcement that Nintendo would not be holding a major press conference at E3. However, Nintendo has plans to deliver some awesome content to fans attending E3 by showing upcoming Wii U titles from franchises such as Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, Super Mario Bros., and Super Smash Bros.
This is definitely something I can get excited about!
Batman: Arkham Origins features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline occurring several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous villains and assassins, the game showcases a young, raw, unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight. As the story unfolds, witness identities being formed and key relationships being forged.
Look for the full trailer to be released on May 20th. Batman: Arkham Origins will hit shelves on October 25, 2013 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PC.
They say bad press is good press in the business, and while that may be true for major companies like Nintendo, it tends to pull out some sour grapes and then forces you to eat them with nothing to wash it down. I’m talking about the consumers that respond to bad press and disappointment. Are they right to boycott against a company because of bad news, or is this a heightened sense of entitlement that some fans develop? Nintendo has reportedly claimed ownership of YouTube videos that display their content, successfully creating a whirlwind of anger and negative responses, particularly from YouTube creators that depend on ad support to help with their own income.
While I can sympathize and even agree with the anger expressed toward Nintendo, I strictly disagree with the methods displayed on the internet. And I target my disagreement toward both sides of the argument. This inevitably grinds down toward another important topic that exists inside of the gaming industry: Are money-spending fans entitled to their boycotts and dramatic disagreements? In a way, I think yes. This has been displayed toward companies such as EA, and I don’t see how these events should differ simply because it is Nintendo trapped in the negative spotlight.
One thing that does disgust me, however, is the response from “professional” entities on social networks. I can understand being passionate about Nintendo and their games. Hell, if this had anything to do with my favorite titles and the companies that created them, I might feel the need to act a little brash. But as a person that shares news, I understand that there is an etiquette that needs to be respected, particularly inside of social networking. Bad press and passion mixes rather dramatically. I will never declare someone a disloyal fan simply because they personally feel as if they need to boycott a company that has disappointed them. This is simply business. This is supply and demand. The video game industry is already piled with enough controversy and immaturity to make me cringe… I don’t understand why other figures are simply escalating the trouble.
To the YouTube creators that may suffer from this news, I sincerely apologize. It’s a bummer. But at the same time, people need to realize that money-makers such as YouTube ride on risk. The business is in constant motion and will be forever changing. This exists in any part of the entertainment industry, including journalism. I can understand that. I can desperately pray that my portals of publishing and sharing are never ripped away, but I understand that they can be. Is it wrong? Hell yes. And I have no power over it. People need to learn to accept and evolve with change, particularly change that is bad or disappointing.
Simply put: Business doesn’t go out of its way to make your life easier. That’s your job.
The Novelist asks one central question: can you achieve your dreams without pushing away the people you love? The game focuses on Dan Kaplan, a novelist struggling to write the most important book of his career while trying to be the best husband and father he can be. The Kaplans have come to a remote coastal home for the summer, unaware that they’re sharing the house with a mysterious ghostly presence: you.
Read the family’s thoughts. Explore their memories. Uncover their desires and intervene in their lives. But stay out of sight; you can’t help the Kaplans if they know there’s a ghost in the house. It’s up to you to decide how Dan’s career and family life will evolve, but choose carefully; there are no easy answers, and every choice has a cost.
Dan’s relationships – to his work, his wife, and his son – react and shift in response to your choices. With a different sequence of events in every playthrough, The Novelist gives life to a unique experience each time you play.
The decisions you make will define the Kaplans’ lives, but they may also tell you something about yourself.
The Novelist is a game about choices and the consequences that come from them, a game type I am absolutely obsessed with. I think that is one reason why I enjoy games such as Dragon Age and Mass Effect because they rely so much on the morals of the player and the choices that can be made. What is so attractive about this game is the realistic aspect about it. You are entering the personal life of a man trying to achieve his dreams while keeping his family together, something I find very relatable and riveting because of that. It has a very personal impact to me, particularly as a writer and as someone that is trying to reach goals that people may see as unattainable. It’s very difficult to create a balance between my personal endeavors and my obligations toward the people I love.
What is also attractive is the fact that you aren’t taking control of the characters in the game. You are playing as yourself, an entity that has the power to change things. The choices you make specifically reflect you, and I think that’s a very deep and interesting quality that I would enjoy exploring. What would be more important to you: Grasping your dreams or protecting your family? What if one choice could completely obliterate the other?
More information about Dragon Age: Inquisition is planned to be revealed at E3 this year, although the amount of detail is unknown. While I’m hoping for lots of spicy details to satisfy some of my curiosity, I don’t see BioWare sharing too much so soon. I’ve mentioned some of the rumors that have spread about the game, and a few details that people are craving for in the next installation, but what would undoubtedly make the “perfect” Dragon Age game?
Dragon Age: Origins created something brilliant with the different origin stories available to try. It allowed a different experience for each playthrough, and the ability to play as different races and classes each time is something that makes this game one of the best modern RPGs available. But would this create an interesting dose of variety in the third game? Or would a push for another new introduction pull away from the Dragon Age lore and mysteries that have yet to be revealed?
I suppose this would depend on the controllable protagonist introduced in the game. Obviously if this is a predetermined character like Hawke in the second, a detailed and always-changing origin story would be difficult to manage. But creating diverse and likable characters is something BioWare is extremely talented at. While I would enjoy being able to choose my own race, a protagonist such as Hawke wouldn’t deter me from the game.
Character growth is something that makes Dragon Age shine, and the supporting characters should definitely hold a major impression over the decisions and actions the player makes in the game. While consequences in DA:O were fairly heavy, personal opinions of the characters didn’t often make me rethink my decisions. This is where Dragon Age 2 shines. All of the characters are so different and so heavily dependent on their beliefs that it makes consequences feel more real and life-altering. This needs to be a strict and important element inside the game.
But at the same time, the player should be able to change the thoughts and opinions of their companions. This element in DA:O and DA2 are highly comparable. For example, even though Alistair corners you in camp if you kill Connor, you’re able to easily change his opinion about the matter, and it seems way too easy to do such things. While in DA2, the supporting characters are downright belligerent! Sometimes the characters’ beliefs could strike true emotion, and other times… it’s obvious that there is no middle ground. Conversations, more importantly, confrontations are like bashing into a brick wall. Characters need to be malleable, but not too much! And vice versa.
Dragon Age characters are complex, but in a way, they need to be even more complex. Allow the world to influence them. Being able to harden characters in DA:O was something interesting, and if you played the game without understanding that influence, the storyline and consequences can be delightfully shocking.
This could make relationships more dramatic and more worthwhile. I love the fact that you can heighten the approval of companions in DA:O by giving them gifts and picking decent conversation choices, but life outside of the relationships should carry a deeper influence. As was stated in David Gaider’s blog, romantic relationships shouldn’t be as static.
While I enjoyed the flexibility the romance offered in DA2, I understand that this isn’t realistic. Not every character in the game should prefer both sexes. In fact, some characters shouldn’t be able to participate in an epic romance at all. This would be difficult to do in a game where the story normally centers a small group of companions, but I would love to be able to meet complex NPCs that could offer a variety of relationships: Someone that cheats, someone that can be killed, someone that betrays… the possibilities here are endless.
But at the same time, there need to be the epic relationships that people tend to crave for inside of BioWare games. And in this case, I think they need to be more profound and dramatic. I’m an intense lover of angst, and combined with romance, this quality could create a deep story inside of the Dragon Age world. Have you heard some of the cries from the characters when Hawke is close to death? Even though I’m not a huge fan of Anders, his cries give me chills. And I love that!
Voice acting is a must, although that will most definitely be expected in Inquisition. I’ve never really had a problem with voice acting in the Dragon Age games. The actors do a wonderful job and their characters end up becoming more fleshed out and worthwhile because of it. Dragon Age 2 offered better voice acting, especially during the more dramatic scenes. Dragon Age: Origins is disappointing in comparison.
There needs to be risk, and the characters need to react and fear these risks. Sometimes there need to be tears and screaming and a little bit of insanity… it makes the characters more human and more relatable. There is nothing more heartbreaking than to see Merrill cry, and there is nothing more enjoyable than to hear her deliver her confused questions and quips. That underlying emotion needs to exist in all characters in realistic ways.
Awesome battles should be found along with these risks, something Inquisition will no doubt contain, but the combat system should retain Dragon Age 2’s fluidity. Origins’ was fun, but it felt like a game that tried to develop tactical battle inside of a game that is better received as a more fast-paced and action-packed title. Playing as a mage in Dragon Age 2 was a delight given the variety of powers you could equip, and I would love to see something similar integrated in Inquisition.
The numerous amounts of powers and abilities for each class made combat more interesting, and I found myself trying out different techniques in different playthroughs. This kind of customization made exploring and fighting more enjoyable. But the customization shouldn’t end there! While DA:O tackled the character customization quite thoroughly, I enjoyed the more aesthetic choices in DA2. More hair choices, more striking eye colors, more striking colors in general, and the ability to customize your armor would be fantastic! It doesn’t need to be too extensive, but I enjoy having a character that feels like mine.
There are several qualities inside both Dragon Age games that could be combined to create an ultimately pleasant experience, and I’ve only touched on a tiny bit. Even though no details have been unveiled about Inquisition yet, I have faith that this game will overpower the other two in terms of the story and development. There is so much mystery and lore inside of this universe that can be deeply explored, and I can’t wait to be able to access more parts of this growing world.
I am not a television person outside of cartoons and the sporadic Netflix binge, so when Fox announced their new pilot lineup, I nearly skipped by it without even a passing glance. Then, J.J. Abrams’ name popped up along with names such as Karl Urban and Lili Taylor, and suddenly… I became very interested.
Almost Human, from executive producer J.J. Abrams and creator/executive producer J.H. Wyman, stars Karl Urban, Lily Taylor, and Michael Ealy in an action-packed police drama set 35 years in the future. Police officers are partnered with evolved human-like robots. Jon Kennex (Urban) partners with a “highly-evolved” android named Dorian (Ealy) who showcases a more “humanized” and emotional robot intelligence that differs from the later android models that operate based on logic and rules.
Dorian and Kennex become involved in a strange partnership as they uncover a conspiracy that involves the newer monotone androids, revealing lots of action and interest inside of these two main characters. Not much has been revealed outside of the official trailer, but the futuristic world Abrams and Wyman have displayed looks interesting enough to entice hardcore sci-fi and action fans. I will definitely be giving this show a shot!
While no official news about the appearance of the PS4 has been revealed, it is possible that it has been leaked inside of what appears to be a possible E3 ad. Sony has said nothing about the mysterious ad yet, but the people that have seen it have expressed their approval if this is, in fact, the actual PlayStation 4 console. But until Sony says yes or no, this simply remains as a very attractive rumor. Do you think it’s fake or real?
Geek Force Network is a collection of great writers, podcasters and video producers who gravitate toward all things geek. The idea for the name was started among a group of bloggers on Twitter, and eventually it snowballed into this behemoth. GFN updates at least twice a day, seven days a week.
