E3 2015 - Thoughts, Opinions & Realism

E3 this year has been a virtual cornucopia of surprises, and advancements in gaming. While I didn't dare to stay up past 10pm to catch all the juicy details I did go back, and watch the Youtube trailers, and videos about the E3 events. Like everyone else (mostly everyone else) I found myself pleasantly surprised at many of the future gaming titles that were showcased. In light of the mind blowing spectacles though I noticed that hardly anything new, or of significance to the gamer was announced for this year. There were plenty of 2016, and beyond releases hinted at, but some of these projects will take so long to complete that we may not see them for a few years. What worries me about this, and the many kickstarters that are promising the best of games is that the future is uncertain. I don't mean "uncertain" in the sense that none of us are promised tomorrow, but more so in the sense that the world is on the brink of an economic collapse, and possible war. Even gambling on a year ahead is not a safe bet. Sure I'd like to see these games come to fruition, and be able to play them, but reality dictates what can, and cannot happen.

Vitamin Z (PS Vita)

Like the 'World War Z' flick, and the 'Day Z' survival horror game Namazu Studio's 'Vitamin Z' takes the zombie genre to an entirely different level. The game, which is free to play, and could easily be described as 'Dexter's Labortory' meets 'Attack of the Killer Tomatoes' utilizes a simple arcade style shoot'em up formula to challenge the gamer in a score based fashion. In 'Vitamin Z' you'll descend down a laboratory elevator via a platform as you kill off waves of living dead veggies, and fruits for their internal fluids. It's these fluids (aka, Vitamin Z) that boost the scientific protagonist's weaponry, and gives her the ability to conduct other ungodly experiments on god knows what? While the game is "free-to-play" micro-transactions do creep in like some ghastly apparition, but in doing so doesn't really hinder non-paying players from earning the accompanying trophies nor does it keep said players from progressing deeper into the laboratory depths. Sure paying real world money for in-game currency will give you a boost in the form of extra lives, and shields, but playing the game without them is manageable regardless. You simply have to put in more effort to be the best.

Weekend Blog Log (June 13, 2015)

I want to start off this weekend's blog log by giving a collective "Thank You!!!" shout out to all those who have supported me throughout the years, and who continue to support me as I type this very article. You are the reason I do what I do. You are the driving force, and inspiration behind "OtakuDante's Gaming Inferno". For that I thank you! With that having been said I'm here to deliver a summary of my week's activities (or lack thereof) as well as let you in on my plans for the remainder of this weekend. I'm going to try, and keep it brief, and to the point but will elaborate on some details when I feel the need to do so.

SNEAK PEEK - Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance (PS4)

Out of all the game releases scheduled by NISA to release in 2015 (Aside from the new Danganronpa ^_^), "Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance" is the one I'm most excited for. It'll be the sixth installment in the series, but the first to make the leap to new generation consoles, namely the PS4. After reading the press release I'm excited to see the new, and seemingly more dark conflict play out between Netherworld savior 'Killia', and the newly introduced threat that is 'Void Dark'. From the cover image, or box art it looks like the characters may have taken on a more mature visual design this time around. Possibly something akin to 'The Guided Fate Paradox', and 'The Guided Fate Ultimatum'. Along with the art comes a descriptive hint that the usual Disgaea humor will also be making a return, thankfully. It's going to be very interesting to see how the mixture of revenge, and humor will pan out in the plot that is given though.

Mapped Controllers Are Ruining the Fighting Game Experience

While doing research on mods a while back I happened upon a disturbing Youtube video about modded controllers, and a new feature called "Button Mapping". It's basically a series of buttons, or switches that could be added to a gamers' controller for a certain price in order to allow said gamer to program button input sequences in a single button fashion for easier control. It was initially meant for the FPS scene, but unfortunately the guy hosting the video, and others like him let the whole damn world know that the single button mapping add-ons could be used in fighting games as well. While you won't find many gamers admitting to having such a controller mod (because the little turds want you to think that they are genuinely skilled) you will see a sh*t ton of advertisements online in social media trying to grab gamers' attention with their offered mods. The really disturbing thing about this growing trend of gaming experience augmentation is that it ruins the intended experience for gamers who put in the time, and effort to actually learn how to play a game properly. Furthermore, in a fighting game scenario it changes the output effects of combos, finishers, and special attacks ...