Gamecreature

DSi One Year Later

2010-02-28T16:06:00.003-06:00

Roughly a year ago I decided to make the move from the original Nintendo DS to the new Nintendo DSi. Okay, it hasn't actually been a year, but I think I've had the new Nintendo DSi long enough to comment on the experience.

The best thing about this new machine is the new menu system, very simular to that of the Wii, that allows you to easily move from one application to another. And unless you have a very uninteresting life and never, ever take advantage of free things, you'll soon find out how useful this is.

For one reason or another, my old DS would frequently lose the wireless signal, making even getting the smallest of updates a challenge. Fortunately this is not a problem with the new DSi. When it finds a signal, it hangs on to it until your business is done.

What's cool about this is that when I'm stuck in a game, I can save my progress, open up the internet browser, and look for hints that'll help me get past my problem - without removing my game from the slot. Admittedly, the Opera browser on the DSi is not much better than the one made available for the DS. But it's free and whenever a better one becomes available, I'll easily be able to upgrade.

Because built into the DSi menu is access to Nintendo's online store where 3-4 new applications are added each week. These little add-ons range in cost from $2 - $8 each and reside in the system's memory. In other words, there is no need to get in your car and go to the store to spend $20 or more for a new game. You can purchase it from the comfort of your home. And since it's in the system memory, you don't have to fumble for cartridges - you can just browse the selections you've added and decide what you're in the mood for at that moment.

Speaking of cartridges, the DSi does not have a port for old Nintendo Gameboy Advance games. Rather, it has a slot for an SD memory card. I've not missed the GBA slot. I've found the extra memory very useful.

The DSi also has two cameras which I've had high hopes for, but have yet to deliver. Yes, you can use the cameras in exactly the same situations you've used a cell phone for, and you can use your pictures to customize your system, etc. But I'm still waiting for a game that really takes advantage of the cameras to create a new experience. There is a clever game that uses input from the camera to sense if you're moving the unit, but I've not tried it yet.

It also has an audio system that can be used like an MP3 player, but as it relies on an audio format that would require me to manually convert all of my files, I haven't even touched it.

The bottom line is, if you don't own a DS or (like me) your old DS system is getting a bit worn out, then you'll be very happy with the new Nintendo DSi.

How we make games

2010-02-15T10:03:00.003-06:00

In the classic film Mary Poppins, the popular Nanny states:

In every job that must be done there is an element of fun. You find the fun and snap! The job's a game.

Truer words were never spoken. Believe it or not, in every aspect of our lives, we make games. We set goals and objectives, we make rules, we congratulate ourselves when we are successful.

Case in point. When I take my dog for a walk, the dog has a habit of wanting to stop at every "interesting" stump, bush or pebble along our route - something that is counterproductive to the whole walking thing. I wondered how many steps I'd go before we'd have to stop again. And then I wanted to see what the most consecutive steps we'd take before stopping again. From there I'd have to introduce rules - what constitutes a full stop, don't "drag" the dog, etc (not that I'm the sort of person who'd do that.) So my simple chore of walking the dog became a game.

Most games we play come from such humble beginnings - goals or objectives are established (get the ball into that basket), rules are incorporated (you cannot walk and carry the ball) and boundaries are established (the game ends after a specific period of time).

The trick is how to make the game interesting so people have fun while playing it. Sure, my dog walking game is convenient as it requires no additional equipment to play while I'm walking the dog, but I'm not about to drop everything so the dog and I can go out and play the dog walking game! ;) It's a fine line.

So what are your game expereiences? Do you have a boring game that needs a little spicing up? Let me know.

Distractions

2009-10-11T12:56:00.005-05:00

Hey folks! I suppose I should fess up to what's been taking up my time instead of making regular updates here (Okay, I've managed to keep the weekly cartoon going, but that's the least I should be doing, right?)

Well, I've been playing games, specifically I've just picked up Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and it's hard to put down. As they had with the first Kingdom Hearts game, the folks at Square Enix have managed to push the envelope with what you can and can't do with the Nintendo DS system and the results are terrific.

But, you may ask, that game hasn't been out that long. And you'd be right. Before Kingdom Hearts, I had my head stuck in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, the second (and what promises not to be the last) in a clever series that combines storytelling and brain teasers.

Okay, there's been other things going on as well, but you don't want to hear about that. Hey, I've got a day off tomorrow. What to do, what to do...

We're back!!

2009-08-09T12:52:00.001-05:00

Hey folks, long time, no see. I appologise for the lack of updates, but I've got top people working on it even as we speak. See you next week!

Nintendo DSi

2009-04-05T18:34:00.005-05:00

Hey folks, spring is here, the wildlife is abundant and the dog is chasing them.

My old Nintendo DS (not DS lite) was getting worn down, so I was looking forward to the release of the new Nintendo DSi.

Like the old DS and DS light, this little unit has two screens, a touch screen interface and wireless communication. What the new DSi lacks is a port for Gameboy Advanced cartridges - which frankly, I don't miss. What it has instead is a slot for SDHC memory cards, giving you the ability to augment the storage capacity of the machine by 2 gigabytes or more.

Why would you want to do that? Well, for one thing, this new DSi has a modular menu, similar to what you'd find on the Wii. You can add, subtract or rearrange your applications at your leisure. One of these applications, the DS store, allows you to download new games and applications directly to your unit (using the same points you use on the Wii). To make things more fun, they're giving you 1,000 points (roughly equal to $10) to play with right off the bat. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of selection in the store at the moment, but you'll want to get the free internet browser right away.

I had noted that my old DS, as of late, was very picky when connecting to the internet, frequently dropping connections. This new DSi has no trouble at all finding and keeping the signal and giving me good data. The browser still isn't as fast as my trusty computer, but it appears to be a lot better than the previous incarnation available for the DS and DS Lite.

Something else you'll want extra memory for is the built in cameras. The DSi has two cameras, one to look at you and one to look at the world around you. This promises to add some cool new features to upcoming games, but for now, you can take pictures with it. However, the DSi camera utility has some fun options that you won't find on most other mobile devices. You can distort, mirror, morph and have other fun with your pictures. I'll show some creations later - at the moment I'm too afraid that I'll break the lens with my ugly mug.

One more thing you can do with the added memory is turn your DSi into a music player. The drawback is that it only plays music in AAC format (MP4) but this is presumably so you can edit the music files in the same manner that it allows you to play with your pictures. I'm looking forward to playing with this.

For me, purchasing this new DSi was a no brainer, as I skipped the DS Lite and my original version DS was definitely showing signs of wear and tear. If you're in the same boat as me, I'm sure you'll have no trouble justifying this purchase. However, for the rest of you, your milage may vary.

Lost in Space

2009-03-08T12:07:00.004-05:00

So folks, I am now the proud owner of Puzzlequest: Galactrix and in many ways, it's a lot like the original Puzzlequest offering.

However, there is one humongous glitch that had me wondering if my DS was broken. It played a lot like this.

When choosing your destination on the galactic map, the interface frequently assumes that you chose coordinates far, far away from where your stylus is pointing and promptly sends your spaceship wandering off to points unknown. This is compounded by the fact that there's a good chance that your choice on a pop-up menu will not register and your ship starts wandering again. What makes this doubly annoying is that you cannot open up that same menu again until your ship is once again on the planet, something that could take a while depending on the speed of your ship and how far off course it is.

I have no idea how this managed to get past testing and approved for distribution by Nintendo. If it were up to me, I would have not allowed the ship to budge until a destination is confirmed. If you click on a planet, then the menu should open and stay open until you make a choice (or choose cancel). Assuming you've chosen something to do on that planet, then and only then does your ship fly over there and nothing would interfere with the journey. But that's just me.

Fortunately, the glitch does not extend to the actual gameplay itself. That is not to say that solving puzzles are not without problems, but they are minor compared to the buggy interface.

So if you are a die-hard Puzzlequest fan, you've probably already picked up Galactrix. For everybody else, you might want to give this one a pass.

Fancy Feet

2009-02-22T14:52:00.003-06:00

Hey there. Another week, another cartoon. Feel free to share your thoughts.

This week brings the long-awaited companion to the break-out game, Puzzle Quest. The new game in the series is called Galactrix.

The latest game should be no surprise to Puzzle Quest fans. What's diffrent is there's now an added axis added to the game. But heck, why listen to me? Click here and try it for yourself.

Say What?

2009-02-08T18:43:00.003-06:00

These days I've been playing a new game for the DS called The World Ends with You. It's a roll playing game (RPG) by Square Enix, the folks who have given us such titles as Kingdom Hearts and the Final Fantasy series. Don't get me wrong, I think this game is great, but (and this is a problem I have with a lot of the games from this studio) there is a lot of time spent waiting for people to stop talking. And a most of that time they're saying absolutely nothing.

I don't know how much time I've spent waiting for the dialog to end (when they're saying anything at all, as opposed to a collection of punctuation symbols) so I can get back to the game. Can this game decide if it wants to be a game or a book?

But once you do get into the game, it really has a lot to offer. To put it simply, it's a game about people playing a game. The catch is that the stakes are much higher in this game - litterally life or death. The game in this world lasts exactly 7 days and if the players do not succeed with the days' mission, they get erased - and you can guess what that means.

The chief things doing the erasure are creatures called "noise." Fortunately, you are not without resources when the noise attack. Your character has a great variety of counter moves. These moves are associated with pins (the same kind of pins that all the hip and trendy kids are carrying). You choose which pins you want to use before battle. Some work better in some situations than others. It won't be long before you've got a lot more pins than you know what to do with. Of course there's more than just pins. What you eat and what you accessorize with also determines your success in battle. And just to make things more confusing, your pins and accessories can bring you bonuses or penalties in battle, depending on what district of the game world you're in.

Okay, so while you have to endure the endless dialog, it's still quite an addictive game. If you're a fan of the other offerings from Square Enix, you'll want to pick this game up. Additionally, if you're looking for a fully develpoed RPG on the DS with a lot of variety, this should also be on your list. Game on!

The land of ice and snow

2009-02-01T14:31:00.003-06:00

Actually, it's not quite this cold at the moment. But I hear we're due for some more nasty weather soon. :(

As you may recall, last week I mentioned that there actually are some games on the DS that offer a true "Real Time" strategy experience. One of those games is Robocalypse.

This game has everything you'd expect from a Real-Time strategy game - buildings where you can manufacture units, merciless foes, heroic leaders, all wrapped up in an amusing storyline told with brilliantly drawn cartoons. What more could you ask for? Well, for one thing, it'd be nice to have the units actually go where you direct them to, and an interface that makes it easy to change said orders.

To be honest, I haven't played much of this game, since Age of Empires: Mythologies is taking up so much of my time. Actually, I've got four games I'm trying to finish: Age of Mythologies, Lock's Quest, Robocalypse and The World Ends with You. But all is not lost. I actually did finish a game recently - Picross. Yes, I've finally completed all of the shipped puzzles plus the roughly 1,000 downloadable puzzles for this game. It looks like there aren't any more puzzles for this game forthcoming, so I think I can safely put this one away. Though I may check for new puzzles every month or so, just to be on the safe side.

Good thing no one ever reads this blog or I may not have time to play any games at all. See you (?) next week.

Take your Empire with you!

2009-01-25T13:37:00.004-06:00

Everyone's a critic. Want to know what I have to put up with when putting my cartoon together? Look here.

Those of you who have been around here long enough know that I have played and enojoyed the Age of Empires series from Ensemble. So you may be wondering how I feel about the latest version, Age of Empires: Mythologies, for the Nintendo DS. Well...it's great.

As you might guess, this game has more in common with the previous Nintendo DS offering (Age of Empires: Age of Kings) than the PC version (Age of Mythology). Unlike the PC version, the Nintendo game is not a true Real Time Strategy (RTS) game (there actually is a true RTS game for the DS - I'll tell you about that later). Instead, this game is turn-based, where everything waits for you to decide exactly what you want to do with each of your units. Now I prefer having Real Time in my strategy games, but I have to say that I really enjoyed the first offering in this series and this one is even better.

For one thing, there's more units to choose from. As the title implies, you command an army in one of thre mythological periods - Egyptian, Greek and Norse. Not only do you get to command their armies (Egyptian Chariots, Greek Hopolites, Norse Axemen to name a few) but you also get to summon creatures from their mythology - Sphynx, Medusa, Chimera, Giants and more. Additionally, you can turn to the gods for favor to smite your enemies. Be aware that your opponents will be doing the same. As with Age of Kings, the game designers have worked hard to come up with interesting scenarios to keep you occupied.

If you liked Age of Kings, you'll love Age of Empires: Mythologies. If you've never tried this series and you're looking for an interesting war game for the DS, you should give this a try.

Another week, another game

2009-01-18T16:47:00.005-06:00

Where does the time go? Well, while our intrepid heroes deal with limited space, let me amuse you with another game.

This one's called Biolabs: Outbreak. The object is to capture the viruses with the antidote. The trick is to make large bubbles by holding down the mouse button. Note as easy as it looks, because your bubble pops if a virus touches it before you're finished. Give it a try!

Gamecreature's Arcade

Gamecreature's Arcade

Tower Bloxx

2009-01-02T15:34:00.003-06:00

Hi folks,

As you may have noticed, I've created a new repository of games for you to have fun with. Of course, with so many to choose from, you may be wondering which ones to try first. There's several solutions for that little dilemma. First of all, let me direct you to the search function. In the upper right corner of the new games page is a box that will let you search the games database. For instance, if you type in "tower," you'll see a lot of games based on that "Tower Defense" craze. You'll also find "Tower Bloxx." Which brings me to the second way to help you find new games. Periodically, I'll use this blog to help bring to your attention some gems that you might otherwise miss. Such is the game called Tower Bloxx. In this game, you build skyscrapers by dropping blocks on top of another. There's a quick play option that lets you get right into the action and try to build a stack as high as you can. But if you want a whole new level of play, try your luck at building a city with 4 different building types. Try it now!

Gamecreature's Arcade

Gamecreature's Arcade

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T14:49:00.002-06:00

Wow, hard to believe it's 2009 already. Just so you know, I've been busy expanding the Gamecreature online game library - it's required a whole new page and a whole new way of doing things. Please bear in mind that it's very new and I'm still working out the bugs. There's thousands of games to play - please help me figure out which games you like by using the built-in rating system. Dive in and have fun!

Keep the season bright

2008-12-14T13:11:00.003-06:00

Nothing like a little blazing fire to keep the holidays warm.

Over the last few days, New England was hit hard by ice storms. Fortunately, all we got was a lot of rain. So we're happy to have warmth and electricity while so many others are struggling to make do.

So what's on everyone's Christmas list?

The Holidays are Coming

2008-12-07T18:16:00.005-06:00

Hey folks! We had some snow this morning. The dog made shoveling the driveway difficult. I kid you not.

As I mentioned in the title, the holidays are on their way. Heck, they may already be here. I took my first trip to New York City yesterday. It was interesting, to say the least. We saw some of the windows that the stores were offering. Not so sure about the crowds - that was kind of crazy. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to visiting again someday.

And since it's the holidays, let me leave you with "Another Christmas song" performed by Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

A Colbert Christmas: Another Christmas Song

Colbert at Christmas
Colbert Christmas DVD

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

When Nerds Collide

2008-11-30T12:15:00.006-06:00

I can't believe I went this long without mentioning the Bailout.

But as promised previously, I thought I'd take a few minutes to discuss the latest Futurama DVD, Bender's Game.

This movie takes no prisoners when it comes to impaling the conventions of fandom, getting its digs in on Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and Dungeons and Dragons (the late Gary Gygax, creator of Dungeons and Dragons, has a cameo in this film). The gags are non-stop and certainly some of the best from the Futurama writers. However, the story is pretty weak, and the justification for sending the characters on their fantastic journey is flimsy at best. In fact, one could cut a third of the movie (and admittedly some of the best gags) without having any impact on the story at all. That being said, I really enjoyed the movie and rank it above the previous Futurama DVD (The Beast with a Billion Backs) and slightly below the first DVD, Bender's Big Score. But if you're a fan of Futurama and Role Playing Games, I think you'll enjoy this effort.

And now I have an urge to do battle with some savage creatures. Signing off.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T18:55:00.004-06:00

Howdy folks. November 27th is Thanksgiving day in the United States. A time where we try to set aside our differences and find common ground. And while it's actually a Christmas song, I thought this song from Dar Williams best shows the spirit families coming together despite their differences - "Christians and the Pagans."

Technical Difficulties

2008-11-23T12:23:00.002-06:00

New cartoon is up. Earthlink sucks. Will post more when I get a better connection.

Essen continued

2008-11-16T15:44:00.004-06:00

The debate about too many games continues.

Here's a few more new games I found at Essen:

Zack & Pack (Kosmos) - As a kid, I used to love playing with those counting blocks designed to teach basic math skills. My first glimpse of Zack and Pack brought me back to those games. This game is built around the theme of movers trying to use every square inch on their moving trucks. Players get a random assortment of blocks and then has to guess which of a variety of trucks the blocks will fit into. You lose points for unused space or left-over blocks, so picking the right truck is key to victory. Gameplay is quick, usually lasting less than half an hour. This is one of those games where playing can be so fun that you forget about trying to win.

Chicago Express (Rio Grande Games) - Oh no, not another train game! What is it about gamers and trains? But I have to admit, this game works well. Players buy stock in various railroads and the railroads use that money to expand their lines and increase their profitability. This game plays remarkably quickly and the game system is easy to grasp. Unlike many train games that force you to use established lines, you can go all over the board in this game. I'm looking forward to playing this one again.

Coming up next: When games and entertainment collide.

Impressionen von Essen

2008-11-09T12:29:00.003-06:00

Howdy, folks. I know it's been a while since I've posted (but at least I've kept the cartoons up to date). At any rate, let me tell you what I've been up to.

Believe it or not, there's a major gathering of boardgame publishers every year in Essen, Germany. Now I've been to a few trade shows in my time, but Essen is in another category altogether. It's truly an international event covering a great deal of space - hall after hall with new games and happy people trying them out. Essen is open to the general public and the goal of the exhibitors is to get people to sit down and play yor game! I was there for two out of the four days of the convention and had the opportunity to try over a dozen games that I'd never seen before. Anybody who knows me knows that I'm a guy who's willing to give any new game a try and Essen put that to the test - there were so many games to try and so little time. Here's some highlights:

Stoneage (available in the US from Rio Grande Games) - In this game, players are leaders of primitive tribes. On each turn, players send their people out into the fields to harvest food, chop wood, dig for stone or (if you've got anybody left over) build a hut or other useful items. I can't wait to play this again.

Herr der Ziegen (Amigo Games, currently not available in the US) Ziegen is German for goat and in this game, each player is an alpha goat looking for the choicest specimens to add to his flock. The clever illustrations of goats in comical situations (rocking out like AC/DC, relaxing in a hot tub) add to the fun. While the instructions are in German, there is no text on the cards, making this a fairly easy game to pick up once you know the rules. A fun game for all ages.

Dominion (available in the US from Rio Grande Games) On the surface, this game looks like it would take a long time to learn, much less play. It's a card game where each player has their own deck of cards and each player has to build up that deck by selecting the best cards. During your turn, you play a card (Action), get new cards (Buy), and then get rid of any cards you can't use (Clean up). In other words, the game is as easy as A-B-C. If you're looking for a little strategy, a little light play and a whole lot of fun, give this a try.

More to come.

The Dark Brotherhood

2008-10-13T16:08:00.007-05:00

Hey, sometimes when you're stuck, you should go out and get some air, you know what I mean?

I know it's been a while since I've posted some game reviews, but I've been busy with the move and everything. I do have some new games to talk about, so I'll start with Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the Nintendo DS. The game was developed by Bioware, the folks who single-handedly brought back good old computer role-playing games from the brink of extinction with Star Wars, Knights of the Old Republic. This time around, they apply their design expertise to everybody's favorite blue hedgehog and put it on the Nintendo DS so you can take it with you. If you liked Knights of the Old Republic, you'll feel right at home here. While concessions have been made to adapt to the hardware limitations of the DS, Dark Brotherhood has the same feel of Bioware's more robust offerings on the XBox and Xbox 360. You feel like you have some freedom to explore Sonic's world, instead of putting your head down and running as fast as you can from one checkpoint to the next. Indeed, if you're looking for typical Sonic gameplay here, keep looking. Sure, there are gold rings to collect, but this game is about as far removed from the typical, twitchy, push-the-button-combos-at-just-the-right-second as one can get. Sonic's zipping around ramps and through loops is only triggered at special circumstances, and you have no control of the characters when they make their special moves.

As one would expect from a role playing game, you have choices to make when the characters gain experience, improving their attack, defense and special combat moves. Some combat moves are tied to other characters and can only be used when those characters are in your party. There are a total of 10 characters to choose from, and Sonic can only add 3 extra friends with him when he explores. Choose your friends carefully, as you'll need some of their special moves to get past obstacles - Tails can fly, Knuckles can climb, and so on.

If you've got to collect everything Sonic, you're probably already enjoying this game. If you're a fan of Bioware, but you're afraid the game may be too fast for you, worry not. This game is just the right speed for you. Sonic moves!

Bridge to the Future!

2008-09-28T15:33:00.006-05:00

Hey folks, coming up with catchy titles for these blog entries isn't easy! For now let me entertain you with a tale from the department of motor vehicles!

Recently I've become acquainted with two new kinds of bridges. These bridges create a new way for electronic devices to talk to each other. The first is an ethernet bridge. What it is a little device that allows you to take your home network where the cables don't ordinarily go. The most common bridges work with a wireless router to communicate with the network. Now I know what you're asking - why get a bridge when you can add a wireless card to your computer? The bridge is for all of those devices that you can't add a card to - such as a printer or your XBox gaming system. The bridge makes the device think it's connected to the network through a cable. The one I got for the Xbox was reasonably priced and very easy to set up. If you're looking to extend your network, this might be the solution for you.

The other bridge is called "Pictbridge" and it was built into my new printer. I'll admit that I wasn't looking for this feature when I was evaluating my new printer purchase. But now that I have it, I'm hooked. What it is, is a simple and efficient way to print pictures directly from a digital camera. All Pictbridge is is a USB port on the printer with the Pictbridge logo on it. No need for built in screens or multiple card slots. Pictbridge is as easy to use as your own camera. Just plug it in, turn it on and start browsing the pictures to pick the ones you want to print. Once you've made your choice, the picture is sent to the printer and voila! You've got pictures. Pictbridge is not limited to any specific brand - my Nikon camera has no trouble communicating with the Canon printer. You just have to make sure both devices are equipped with Pictbridge when you buy them. You can rest assured that I'll be checking from now on.

That's all for now. See you next week.

How did this happen?

2008-09-21T20:28:00.003-05:00

As we go through life, we have a habit of accumulating things. I have finally come to the realization that I just have too much stuff and not enough places to put it. I'm not using it, so I'm setting it free. I feel better already. :)

Oh, and here's this week's cartoon. Sorry about the lack of posts, I've been busy. :)

3000 games of Monopoly

2008-09-01T15:53:00.005-05:00

One of the things I've been involved in is the attempt to set the world record for the most games of Monopoly played at the same time. Here's a picture of me playing the game on the Hasbro factory floor where the games were being shipped out. (yep, I'm the one near the back).

The unofficial count had more than 3100 games being played. We played for an hour with the new, "World Edition" of the game, in which all of the properties were decided by world vote. I actually managed to buy the top two properties, Montreal and Riga (aka Boardwalk and Park Place) and had three houses on them. Sadly, it wasn't quite enough to get me the top place in the game when time ran out. I probably would've done it, though. The "Advance to Montreal" card hadn't been uncovered yet.

A couple of fun facts. Most of the chance and community chest cards contain trivia about the world destinations they relate to. Also, the game includes an electronic banking system that keeps track of the money being spent. The electronic banking unit also contains a handy countdown timer for auctioning properties (you do auction properties when people don't buy them, right?) At any rate, a great time was had by all.

I'm Back (Did you miss me?)

2008-08-31T15:37:00.002-05:00

Hi, folks! I finally made it back online after having two weeks with no internet service. But it looks like everything is working now and I'll be returning to the regular schedule of Gamecreature cartoons. It's been a busy two weeks - I'll fill you in soon. What have you been up to?