defrag:Duff

Video game secrets: do they even exist any more?

2009-05-18T10:40:00.001-04:00

This is just a little rant that I had in my head over the weekend... but whatever happened to the concept of there being secrets and codes in video games? Now days, any and every game that is released has pretty much its entire contents disclosed up front, both in terms of what it contains and how to achieve it. I really miss the days where gamers had to work for these extras and such...

Take Mortal Kombat for example; that game could be given much more replay value if every Fatailty / Brutailty wasn't given in a press release the week before the game is released. That is what made the arcade games so great; the joy of experimenting and finding these things one your own. Do you think that Mortal Kombat 2 would have been as big as it was it all of the finishing moves and secrets were listed right there on the side of the cabinet from the start? Neither do I...

Have you seen the "Power of Paint"?

2009-04-22T13:22:00.001-04:00

I caught wind of this indie game through a Twitter post recently and it sparked my interest: TAG- The Power of Paint. Imagine Valve's Portal with the gun getting more than just the Portal ability... that is TAG. This is a FP-puzzle game where the goal is to reach a certain point on stage; getting there is an entirely different story though. You can't jump, you can't climb... all that you can do is walk and shoot with your Super Soaker style gun. The world that you are in is completely in black and white, however you can introduce various colors to the world by collecting cans of paint to load into your gun which will have varying effects on the environment. Find some green paint, paint the ground and step into it, and you character will jump. Find some blue paint, and it will cause you to speed up. Get it? Got it? Good. Now go check out the game and throw some support to an indie developer for some phenomenal work... http://www.thepowerofpaint.com

Is this thing still on?

2009-04-16T10:09:00.001-04:00

Hello? <tap tap> Testing. 1. 2. Testing. Bababooey!

Facing one’s addictions…

2007-10-19T16:15:00.001-04:00

Yeah, I know, it’s been a while since I have posted anything here, but I cannot help it, I have an addiction… Hello, my name is Duff, and I am addicted to Portal. As I browse the wonderful interweb I am starting to realize that I am not the only person facing this addiction, and it is comforting to know that I am not alone…

Simply because I like talking to myself and an occasional person or two reads these blurbs, I should say that this blog will be moving soon, hopefully within the next 2 weeks, to a more “permanent” location within a wonderful little gaming community, but that is just between you and me…

Okay, this is where I draw the line…

2007-10-04T08:54:00.001-04:00

One of the things that I have had to get used to in the passing of the years in my life is to see so many fads and ideas from times past come back with new coats of paint. Over the past few years I have seen resurgence of many classic series and IP’s such as the Transformers, He-Man, Care Bears, and even GI Joe. It always cracks me up when the younger generation(s) of the day gets into these things and thinks that they are new and original, oblivious to the history and past that they actually have. This morning I have seen what I would consider the worst reinvention yet and that is the hip-hop / gangster version of Alvin and the Chipmunks. ALVIN IS NOT A GANGSTER!!!!! WTF?!?!?! Sometimes I really hate the marketing groups and ideas that end up in the mass media now days… Alvin and the crew used to be one of my favorite cartoons (and still have some of my favorite Christmas songs) but I can see their inevitable destruction looming on the horizon… Man, I guess that I am getting too old…

A Public Apology to Tetris Splash…

2007-10-04T08:51:00.000-04:00

Ok, I can admit it when I am wrong… I passed judgment too early on the newest addition to the Xbox Live Arcade, Tetris Splash. I actually took the time to give the game a try last night and have to say that it appears to be the best of both worlds. First and foremost, this is the version of Tetris that I should have paid $30 for… it’s good, clean, classic Tetris fun. On the other hand, the game is an obvious attempt by the “powers that be” to milk every nickel and dime out of the consumers possible. The backdrop of the game is an underwater seen, but they expect you to buy any and all of the fish to add to the beauty. BUYING FISH!?!?!?! Not going to happen… I am too busy watching the pieces fall anyway. It’s a good game, but an obvious attempt at exploiting consumers…

Tetris: Splash Now Available on XBLA

2007-10-03T09:12:00.000-04:00

…but my question is why? The game is selling for 800 points through the marketplace, but didn’t I just buy a 360 version of Tetris about 6-7 months ago? I bought Tetris Evolution when it launched because I wanted a “Tetris” game on the 360 (more so on XBL), and have to admit that I didn’t like it at first. Over time I grew to appreciate and really like the game, but why are they (MS) countering their own titles with a lower priced alternative? This decision baffles me…

defragging Duff

2007-10-03T07:44:00.000-04:00

Just like my computer needs to be defragged regularly, so does my mind. Welcome to the crazy world inside my head...