Virtual Reality - Please go in front of me

I have fallen for this song and dance once too many times.  After the all out blitz that was the Nintendo Wii I vowed never to let it happen again.  I have not.  Lets go down the list of the times that I have bought first day or sooner and been disappointed:

• Playstation 3 (first week, yeah it got better but man)
• 3D television (with glasses)
• Kinect
• Playstation Move
• Wii U (first day 32 GB)
• Playstation TV

I know some of these had their moments.  Fruit Ninja on Kinect was fun.  Playing Socom with the underutilized PS light gun was fun.  PS3 got better after a few years.  The Wii U finally got Smash Bros and Super Mario was not horrible.  Playstation TV... well we can't say all purchases I make are solid. 

Problem is I did board the hype train but always read the reviews.  Each of these purchases made promises they could never deliver so I am waiting on VR train, in line but waiting.  You know like when you at Disney and let that person go ahead of you because the monorail just seems too crowded waiting.  I know I will start with Sony becaus e they seem to have a line on my bank account but what about the others?  This year I signed up to go to E3 and I want to check them out.  Sony, HTC and of course Oculus are getting closer to "reality".  No one knows the cost, many have seen the demos but no one has come out with a game that is a must have or better yet name an actual game.  I have read the articles and each seems to have benefits but 2016 seems far away to start boarding the hype train.  With Amiibo-mania running wild and Disney Infinity 3.0 about to steal my wallet I think it is too early to tell.  If anyone from any of these companies gets down to my blog.  I get motion sick so I will be a great candidate to try out the process.  Let me know what you guys think.

My love/hate relationship with NHL 15 HUT

I am a huge NHL fan and have been for many moons (the fierce fish win the cup for those who understand) but about this time every year I start to hate NHL.  I am playing Hockey Ultimate Team and for those you do not want to look it up it is a virtual card mixed with your NHL.  Get better cards, build better team... lose anyway.  I am currently in Division 3 of 10 and am starting to think that this is where I am destined to be.  I am currently "ranked" the 40,XXX best player in the game.  I have faced the cheaters , the people that I am confident that this is their job, the gamers who must spend hundreds on this game and some people that I like to think I have a lot in common with.  I have tried to save up my HUT coins and get better players, made trades, watch the players on twitch but I cannot get past level 3 but I keep coming back.  With 2 kids I play at most 2 games a day but I check in with the game every day because I have to get the daily bonus.  I used my Vita remote play if I am travelling or too lazy to go in the other room to turn on PS4 and I keep coming back.  I tried Shadow of Mordor, Monopoly (play the card game its worth the price) and even LBP3 but I always come back to my personal demon NHL 15.  So now it is decision time do I sell all my players and try and go over after someone like Crosby or do I continue to save and plug away to try and get someone better who will push me at least into Level 2.  If anywhere out is reading and would like to donate a great player please hit me up on twitter, comment in the blog or something.  If you just want to play some NHL hit me up on psn.

twitch - must see TV

So last night after pulling a 4-3 come from behind victory on NHL 15 in HUT League Division 3 (win the next game and I move up to 2) I was figuring out what to do next.  On several occasions I have watched different games on twitch to see if  I think I would like the game.  It worked for Shadow of Mordor but failed on Evolve but last night I watched NHL 15 on a few channels and realized how people get addicted.  Last night I started watching iceinmyvain on twitch.  A great NHL 15 player who was not only playing the game, holding raffles, giving away HUT cards (another crack-like addiction) and all in all interacting with the viewers.  I know twitch is not new.  I know people become overnight sensations on the "interwebs" but I watched this guy play for an hour.  Hell, he has his own currency for raffles - icebucks.  It was amazing to watch how him giving a shout out made these players days.  During my time watching I found myself not only picking up tips and tricks but actually cheering for this guy.  I "smashed" the follow button as he asked all the new "crew" to do when we came in. If you have not already tried twitch or if you are not using it to check out the game you are on the fence on... do it.  I have to log back on tonight for some icebucks.

Video Game Tournaments - Lets Try This!

E-sports are starting to creep into the main stream and I want in.  Events and prizes are getting bigger every week and this past week ESPN 2 dipped their toe back in the pond (http://kotaku.com/espn-airs-video-games-twitter-freaks-out-1700333433) and it made me wonder could I do this in my hometown?

So I thought why not give it a try.  I started the same way that everyone does... Google.  As I went down the rabbit hole my head started to spin:

Is it Legal in Ohio?

How much do I charge?

Can I make anything on it?

What games?

How many systems would I need?

Now before I answer some of these questions, let me tell you a little about my background.  I have dealt with venues and I do have experience booking bands so some of this is vaguely familiar to me

So like most folks I retreated to my basement to draw up a simple plan to see how I could make this work.  I started very simply.  $1,000.00 was my budget.

1.  Pick the games.  This was very easy Smash Brothers for the Wii U and Mortal Kombat for PS4

2.  Equipment:  To start I would have 2 - Wii Us and 2 PS4s .  3 - 32" TVs and one projector (for the Main Event)

3.  Venue: something close, I don't want to have lug this stuff around town

4.  Rules: Learn the rules... this was something that was difficult.  I needed to make sure I had the correct firmware and version for the game

5. Set the prizes: Is it legal?

6.  Could I get some sponsors?  What about asking the developers for some DLC or something

7.  What else would gamers want?  Raffles (those Amiibos are out of control).  Food?  No alcohol for sure

This seemed fairly simple.  I asked a lawyer friend who gave me a lawyer answer.  I asked is this legal and he quickly pointed out that video games are games of skill and not chance.  I asked " Have you ever played these games because luck seems to be a contributing factor"  He suggested everything from getting involved with a charity to starting my own league.  His final words still haunt me "I think if you keep it low key no one is going to hunt you down".  Really that is what passes for legal advice over drinks. 

So this lawyer friend got me wondering how did MLG get away with this in Columbus?  They had a huge event at the Convention Center and actually had Police work the event.   It was packed.  Again as planning and set up goes all I saw my video games hooked to TVs.  A few sponsors, you think you do not need a $100 joystick till you see others buying them and you think it does improve my reaction time by half a second. This event was $40 just to watch.  Once again $40 to watch.  The longest line at this event was the souvenir line.  They had some League of Legend Plushies and a few other exclusive items and did some raffles.  The line was HUGE.  This was simple I have had to read riders and meet with sound and stage folks and deal with rock stars. I left awestruck by the event.

Decision time:  I'm going to try it.  I should have a date tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to the challenge and think its time to pursue the dream.  I have started gatorzcap gaming and who knows maybe if I buy the right equipment I may turn this into a business or go after a big fish and start an EVO of my own.  I hope to have information here in the next few weeks.

Follow me on Twitter @gatorzcapgaming #thisoldgamer

Child of Eden and The Gun Slinger Demo

Child of Eden is one of the games I got most excited about for Kinect.  I saw it at E3 2010 and said I would get it.  For the past few months I have put it in and been amazed by the graphics, music but not impressed with the game play at all.  I like the premise but the game is just difficult and frustrating.  Now before anyone sends me anything, remember I am not a FPS guy.  I am constantly going off screen and have a hell of a time with the motion controls (yes I calibrated Kinect... several times).  I get to the first end guy do about half damage he comes straight at me and death comes my way.  I got this game during Best Buy's BOGO sale earlier this year so it cost me about $25.  Let me just say that trade in value is $5 so it looks like I am not the only one who dropped this title.  Not very family friendly and all in all disappointing.

Oh yeah before you ask I did not try it without Kinect because the box says "better with Kinect" and if that's better I don't want to see worse.

Grade - C-

The Gun Slinger demo was 100% better then expected.  The puppet controls and the whole live audience have sold me on this game BIG time.  This is not just a shooter.  There was platforming and a little fighting but the presentation sells this game (no matter how bad the acting)  The folks at Twisted Pixel have nailed a great demo and this game will be going down on my list for games to get for Kinect.

Quick notes:

• Bought NHL 12 this week game play has not changed much but glad I can knock down the goalies.
• I bought a new Xbox 360 Slim (last one I can promise you that)
• Is there any games that are Sharpshooter enabled that you can play together against AI for PS3, Socom 4 is getting a little stale.

Castle Crashers - Just Good Fun

XBL was one of the last things to work on my "old new" Xbox 250 gb Slim (see previous post) so I finished Castle Crashers on it.  For those who are new to Xbox Live or PSN for that matter, CC is one of the highest selling XBL titles in existence.

The premise is simple bad guys take pretty girls, good guys follow in pursuit and action ensues. This game is button mashing fun with great pick and play ability.  It is classic button mapping: a button for strong attack, regular attack, jump and use item.  The 2d graphics are straight out of a comic book and the guys (and one pink crasher who is free on XBLA) are awesome.  The comedy in the game is hilarious (watch out for the pooping deer) and is very family friendly.  There is some blood but its "cartoony" blood if there is such a category.

The boss battles are a blast (my favorite was the corn, yeah I said corn).  These are old school boss battles with a health meter and a weakness.  Nothing that made me throw down a controller but I had to start from the beginning a couple times but the difficulty was casual.  After death if you have earned enough XP you can upgrade your attack, defense, magic and speed.  Nothing makes that big of difference but toward the end I could see some changes (mostly on speed).  Playing with some friends was great because you can play up to 4 people.  The animal side kicks are cute but felt a bit tacked on.  For those wanting achievement points there are some that are simple and some that will make you scream (running through the barn without getting hit upset me more then once).

Finally the length / value of the game is great.  Sure you could knock it out in a couple of days but the challenge boards and simple premise make this a game you can always come back to with friends and without.

Bottom line if you have played X-men Arcade, Double Dragon or TMNT arcade and liked them this game is for you.  The price of about $15 is great and well worth it.

Grade - A

A few quick hits:

• Started Prototype because Prototype 2 looks cool.  Plenty of cut scenes at the beginning (too many) and is it just me or did they make the buttons for the better moves straight out of SFIIV
• NHL 12 and God Of War: Origins are out today.  Kmart has the best deal but I foolishly ordered at Best Buy.
• Thinking about opening a game store, has anyone got one or had any real experience with it?

Xbox 360 Blinking Light of Death = RROD Round 2... My Xbox Slim 2010-2011 RIP

I have said before in this blog that I buy all of my equipment and this week that played out on Tuesday when my 57 week old Xbox Slim 250 gb died suddenly.  That's right I said Slim.  I got what can only be described as the "Yellow Blinking Light of Death".  My Xbox went from a vibrant shiny council to to a non portable PSPGo! that can only play games from the hard drive.  I love Castle Crashers and Limbo but (to quote Chris Carter from ESPN) "come on man".

Let me start from the beginning to set the stage.  I have been playing Castle Crashers on and off for what feels like 2 years but I know its not.  I finally get to the end and going through the 4 portals and "slim" turns itself off with a slight "pop".  I'm upset but it turns right back on.  I thought maybe I blew a fuse (little did I know I was about blow a fuse).  So "slim" turns right back on with a nice strobe light effect for the power button.  I see the yellow light blinking and think I better check with forum gods to find out what the hell this means.  I turn to the Internet and come to the conclusion: contact the good folks at Xbox support.  I call the number and we start to troubleshoot.  Power Brick - checks out ok.  Unplug and reset - still blinking light.  Take out HD and turn on - still strobing.  Finally he says "open the disc and try a game" and then nothing happens.   Diagnosis - "bad disc drive".  Here was the kick in the head.  Dante (maybe from Devil May Cry) says in his most evil boss battle boss "I'm sorry your warranty expired July 28th it will cost you $100 to send it in to fix it".  Have you ever played (insert your favorite game) on line and been winning then the other person leaves with no warning... that is how it felt.  I was 5 weeks out of warranty. I was crushed.  I felt I had been finally defeated when they told me that the repair comes with a 90 day warranty on that repair.  It was like so far on a board having to start the entire level over again (I'm looking at you Demon Souls).  I hung my head and the phone up.  I looked at my games on the shelf, the Kinect seemed to look away from me as if betrayed by it's own family.

I had the Xbox 120gb Elite and found someone to buy it.  I liked the fact that "slim" had a bigger hard drive and WiFi built in.  I liked the look of the new system.  The way it shined in the stores.  Now I have to decide new system or get it fixed.  Gamestop claims they will give me about $90 in store credit for the paper weight.  So I want to warn you readers if that white or non shiny  Xbox is working please let it stay on the shelf until he/she gives up the ghost.  I wonder if that guy who bought my Xbox elite is treating her right... she deserved better anyway.

As for Microsoft you may want to start to look into this problem because all the slims are coming are going out of warranty and with Gears 3 right around the corner it would be terrible if this starts happening all over again.  You have admitted fault before it may be time to raise your hand one more time.  The Halo ad campaign said "Remember Reach" my new slogan when I look at my Xbox games is "Remember the 57th week".