updates again...

This week has been kind of crazy. Working 10-hour days, packing for college, still playing far too much PokéMon. Just giving a heads-up on the articles I have planned. These should be posted within the week, but today and tomorrow I'm packing and moving.

Also, big thank you to somebody in Poland, who visited YFG from directly typing in the URL or a bookmark. Seeing that on my blog tracker/stalker made my morning, especially since I'm Polish myself (annnnd my boyfriend is primarily German... oy). So major thanks to you, Polish person. I hope you keep reading, and gaming (what kind of games do they have in Poland??).

Upcoming:
PokéMon Review
This is Art-a!!
More work on the gaming dictionary

ESRB - More distrust in their general direction

Recently, gaming sites have been aflame with the Manhunt 2 controversy, in which Manhunt 2 received the Adults-Only rating that is equivalent to the marketing kiss-of-death for any game.

However, even more recently (August 24), Manhunt 2 was re-rated from AO to Mature with a Halloween release date to boot. What caused this sudden change? No one knows. ESRB won't own up to anything--what content was changed for the M rating (if any), what kind of communications went on between the ESRB and the game's publisher, Rockstar, before and after the ratings change? Is it really a giant publicity stunt? And if so, how could the ESRB expect to play a part in such a stunt and not expect its credibility to be sullied? And what about the infamous Grand Theft Auto Hot Coffee (aka "Hot Coffeegate") incident? Was that a stunt, too?

When it comes to Everyone and Teen-rated games, the ESRB seems to do all right with its ratings, and actually establishes some form of trust-worthiness. (Mostly because there's nothing they have to "protect the children from.") Mature and Adults Only are where things get shaky, as this last episode proves. The system really needs revision when it comes to violent and sexual content, and the divide between M and AO. One of my biggest questions, is if the difference in content between the two ratings is so great (M is socially acceptable, and AO cannot even be sold in stores), why is there only a one-year difference between the ratings' age-groups? (Mature is 17+, Adults-Only is 18+). Does one more year of living really make that great of a difference in maturity?

Advice to parents? Things look a little bleak, as the great ESRB guardians continue to fumble through rating more violent, mature game material. The system obviously needs some kind of revision among its higher ratings. Kids can enjoy all the Everyone and Teen-rated games in the world, but I strongly advise you use your own discretion for Mature and Adults Only, and don't simply trust the ESRB stamp.

This really stinks for parents because doing such research on a game can be very time-consuming. The quickest way to do this would to do some Internet searching for the game's trailers, previews/reviews, and screenshots. Some videogame stores (like EB Games/Gamestop) may let you play the game a bit before you buy if you ask a store representative.

libraries add videogame to collection

I dunno if I'll see anything like this at my local library (I wouldn't know--I haven't been there in years due to being on the run from overdue book fees o_o The library in the next town over is very nice though), but videogames are now flying off the shelves at libraries around the country, according to various news articles my e-mail has been bringing me (I know, that's some hard-core reporting on my part there //end sarcasm).

If you're one of these lucky libraries, bless you, and be sure to take advantage of the super-deal the library is giving you! Those games are at least $50! Give your librarians a hug! (I'm thinking for professionalism's sake, I shouldn't write anything when I'm wired at 1am)

All over-the-top hyper-happiness aside, there was an interesting, optimistic thought buried at the bottom of one of the article from Gaming Today:

One might think of this as another example of video games being shoved in the direction of art.

Maybe a tiny shuffle in that direction. In the original article Gaming Today was evaluating, one librarian noted that "offering "popular" or "recreational" materials is a part of most libraries' mission statement," and the first library used as an example in the article's opening paragraphs started their collection with "a new 50-title collection comprising games based on sports and animated movies." Not exactly the most thought-provoking material, but some libraries are recognizing literary value in more text-heavy genres like RPGs.

According to Gallaway [a former youth services adviser for the MetroWest library system], video game players have to think critically, finding information and then evaluating, organizing and using it. Many games follow a traditional story arc of characters encountering conflict and finding resolutions, and some even require a novel skill: on-screen reading.

"They aren't recognizing that video games themselves are literary," she said of critics. "I think in general we need to stop being format snobs."

The question remains--will games gain any more respect as they shuffle onto library shelves? Very doubtful. But it's a darn good deal. Check it out.

updates, updates, updates

After a couple days of absence, I checked my mail and was floored by the first unopened message: “Comment on your.family.games.” Someone had commented on something I had written! Someone had noticed. I quickly clicked over to YFG and read the comment that was left on the Picross demo review—a link to a site I had already linked to in the Picross post from an anonymous user. Slightly disgruntled, I silently thanked Mr. Anonymous Picross Person (just knowing that someone glanced YFG’s way is nice) and moved on with my usual morning route on the Internet.

I caught a lucky break today, which means I’m typing on my laptop at work as I sit through this rain and pray to sweet Jeebus that no one comes to the pool (making your lifeguard guard in the rain is not cool). What does that mean for YFG? I’m going to try to supply a deluge of much-needed updates while I sit here and listen to my eclectic, eccentric music tastes of orchestrated Phoenix Wright music, Blink 182, j-pop, and other wonderful 90s songs.

I’ve added a few reviews, which are way too time-consuming to write in their current structure and most likely to time-consuming to read. I’m also toying around with the idea of scrapping any kind of ratings system and simply going with a “recommended buy?” type comment. Numbers for revew-purposes can just be plain misleading and confusing as they vary incredibly from review to review, especially when you look at a site like GameRankings.com and see the review scores for one game run the gamut from mind-blowingly amazing to mediocre. But numbers are the easiest way to rank games and put them in perspective.

Let me know your thoughts on the numbers. Or even if you just leave an anonymous comment and a link to a puzzle site, I think I’d be pretty happy :)

Family-Friendly Videogame Reviews

Welcome to the YFG Reviews Section. Our reviews evaluate how family-friendly these videogames listed below are.


Wii:
No More Heroes
Rayman: Raving Rabbids
Super Smash Bros. Brawl


Xbox 360:
Call of Duty 4
Crackdown
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Guitar Hero 3
Mass Effect
NHL 2008
The Orange Box

Nintendo DS:
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
Legend of Unemployed Ninja Izuna
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Playstation Portable (PSP):
Lumines II

PS2:
Okami
Madden 08
Shadow of the Colossus
SOCOM 2: Combined Assault
Star Wars Battlefront II

Ratings Explained

A quick explanation of how YFG ranks and evaluates games.

Important: On YFG, a 7-8 is a decent score and approval for the “recommended buy” list. Even a 6 is still okay (4 or 5 is probably where things get questionable). The reason for this is that when a game achieves a 9 or 10, it really and truly deserves it and means you should go to the store and buy it now :P

For a more detailed explanation, read on.

Review ratings are seemingly everything. A game in a numerical nutshell. However, no matter how much number crunching goes into reflecting a game’s measured amount of goodness, the scores easily can leave readers mystified by what exactly an “8.5” score for graphics means. So here’s reviews in a nutshell. I hope you can take a quick look at this, and easily understand my bizarre little scale. If there are any questions, comments, suggestions for improvement, my inbox is always open and always hungry (especially for something that’s not SPAM!).

YFG Review Ratings

All scores are out of 10.
Overall – The average of all 5 categories’ scores (Story/Concept, Graphics, Sound, Gameplay, Replay Value).

Story/Concept: Rates the overall story of a game—how creative is it? Does it avoid the usual clichés and pitfalls? Is it enjoyable? Does it make you want to play more? If the game doesn’t have the story, how is the concept of the game? Does it entice you to play more, or frustrate you to the point where you feed it to a lamprey?

0—WTF?
5—average story, nothing special
8—above average, solid stuff
10—absolutely everything is there! Dynamic dialogue, characters as enchanting as a Disney movie cast (a good Disney movie) and have evolved beyond one-dimensional, superb story that keeps you guessing and taking twists.

Note: I tend to be very critical of RPG/adventure storylines ^_^;;

Graphics: Evaluates how a game looks.
0—stands for 0 visibility, not even being able to tell what’s going on
5—average, nothing special
8—Graphics are visually befitting for the game**[This is will be a common rating here]
10—Congratulations, you have revolutionized game graphics. Michelangelo will now shake your hand.

Sound: The music, the sound effects, and all the other blips, beeps and buzzings from the game fall into this category.
5—listenable
8—I can put this on my iPod
10—I will pay $50 for this soundtrack and listen to it repeatedly on my iPod (yes, I’ve done this before)

Gameplay: Evaluates how the game handles. Are the controls clunky and complicated or do they play smoothly and lend a nice challenge? Also simultaneously looks at game mechanics and scenarios, and how the controls lend themselves to the situation.
0—Just don’t stand a chance
3—Definitely clunky, LOTS of bugs
5—it works, but may still be flawed a bit
8—Very nice
10—Hardly notice you even have a controller in your hands—it’s like second nature.

Replay Value: When games are going for $30-$50 apiece, you know you’re going to want your money’s worth. Replay value refers to how many times you can replay/keep playing a game before you tire of it and toss it aside for a new one. This is clutch when you’re on a budget.
0—Didn’t even want to play the game to begin with
5—Once is enough
8—Definitely a game you’ll want to revisit
10—Cant..stop… playing…….. save … yourself.

And there you have it :)

Picross - Review (Demo)

Picross
Nintendo DS
Rating: E for Everyone (6+)
Price: (MSRP) $19.99

Genre: Puzzle

Synopsis: You're given a blank, square grid and must figure out which squares are filled and which ones are blank by using logic and process of elimination. When you finish the puzzle, it forms a picture! How fun!

Overall: N/A. Only played a bit, so I can't give it an exact breakdown. However, from what I've played, it looks like a solid, fun and addicting game. Perfect for the puzzle addict, and those who enjoyed Brain Age games.

Difficulty: Pretty stinkin' hard, but you can chooose to get hints from the game at the beginning of any puzzle.

Learning curve: About 4-5 of the easier puzzles, so about 30 minutes?

Family Factor: Excellent. Perfectly harmless and fun game. It's a little frustrating at times, but if you take the time to think about the puzzle logically everything works out.


I did some digging around on the Internet, and found that Picross is not at all a new concept. The puzzle, which is also called a nonogram, griddler, Shchor Uftor, Logimage and many other names, has got quite a history (I know no self-respecting journalist should ever link to wikipedia, so here's another picross link that shows how the game works).

This isn't even the first nonogram/griddler/Maľované krížovky/picross puzzle game that has been published for a Nintendo handheld. In 1995, Nintendo created Mario's Picross for the GameBoy (that's right, the regular, old-school, brick-sized GameBoy).

I guess the games industry isn't too far off from the fashion industry... all you have to do is wait 10 years and then people are all, "OMG, look at this awesome new game/style of clothing! How'd they do that?"


Related Games: Polarium (DS), Touchmaster (DS), Brain Age (DS), Lumines (PS2/PSP)
__________

Play a Picross-like game online!

Dr. Phil, violent videogames, and Mr. Thompson

We have confirmation. Jack Thompson will be appearing on the Dr. Phil show, which instead of focusing on game violence, will now examine role-play addiction. "They have a girl who has that problem," Thompson said.

"That problem?" The nerve. Now it's going to be a showcase of this poor girl, and the story will be warped to make all gamers look like we're all hopeless addicts.

It's times like this that remind me of the South Park Movie: everyone going to war because of the negative effects of digital media/entertainment. Watch this video, but replace "Canada" with "videogames."


Movie plot: The South Park boys have sneaked into the R-rated Canadian Terrance and Philip movie, and picked up a slew of swear words. Now the South Park parents are planning to do something about the movie that "corrupted" their children.

Let me explain my reasons for posting this clip. If you're not familiar with South Park, its charm lies in it’s ability to satirize the current political/popular climate and other events, but it does so in a way that is crude, rude, typically offensive and simultaneously appealing to those who enjoy rampant potty humor. But South Park has some good points, and some episodes even have a moral.

When the South Park movie came out (1999), I didn’t pay any attention to it because having never seen a South Park episode at that point in my life it didn’t really interest me. So, years later, I watched it at college one night with some friends. I laughed at the hyperbolic scenarios it used to point out societal truths, winced at the more disturbing jokes and almost cried at one point. (For some reason, animated films hit me much harder than non-animated.)

And yet, the movie highlighted something that is very pertinent to the violence and gaming issue—how caught up adults can get in “protecting the children” while at the same time, they stop listening to what their children actually want and have to say. (i.e. Kyle’s mom is leading the army of parents against the vulgar humor presented in the Terrance and Phillip Show, where Kyle just wants his overbearing and over-protective mom to stop fighting everyone.)

Maybe our kids don’t need to be so “protected” (I wish I could say I was a parent and had some credo on this, but then again, I’m nineteen and kids aren’t in the near future for me ^_^;; ), at least by government measures. By watching my aunts raise my little cousins, seeing parents and their kids at the pool while lifeguarding and just observing life in general, I know America has plenty of capable parents. That’s why I believe, as far as children and videogames, the power to decide what their kids should and can play should lie in the parents’ hands.

Use the ESRB system (and more), look at online reviews, play games with your child. Only you can protect videogames from being banned.

Dr. Phil to feature video game violence

I recently just returned to my regular schedule of sifting through Internet stories, finally on the rebound from this awful cold I've had, and find that Dr. Phil will be taping a show this Thursday about videogame violence with a so far unnamed guest appearance of a "game violence specialist." It is unknown when this episode will air, but I'll watch it, find it on YouTube, or blow the dust off the VCR and record it.

Since this taping was announced (I heard about it from GamePolitics), concerned gamers have been talking about it with some apprehension and plenty of disgust, which is understandable because Dr. Phil was among the first to point fingers at videogames as the cause of the Virginia Tech Massacre (only to be beaten out by the insidiously evil Jack Thompson).

What I find most interesting (and frightening) about this upcoming show is GamerDad was asked to appear as a guest. However, as he explained he didn't believe videogames caused violence, the show lost interest. (Actual quote from GamerDad can be found in the comments on the small article about Dr. Phil's taping)

This makes me believe the argument Dr. Phil is going to present will be a teeeeensy bit skewed and one-sided.

Dr. Phil has made other comments on violent videogames before on his website here. Some of the advice he gives is surprisingly sound, like encouraging parents to play with their kids, read beyond the ESRB ratings, talking with your child about what they're playing, and going online to do further investigation on certain games.

However, he still makes the claim that

According the American Psychological Association, violent video games can increase children's aggression.

Proponents of the link between videogames and violence always say this, but never show you the study that was done to prove this, which is a sketchy way to build an argument at best.

No studies have actually drawn a direct causal link between games and violence (it usually has been compared to the same way the "causal link" between lung cancer and smoking are made).

It will be interesting to see how this episode plays out. Just remember, so far there is no direct causal link between games and violence and there is no such occupation as a "game violence specialist."

books, movies, and videogames... all telling the same story

It's a book!

No, it's a movie!

No, it's a videogame!

No, it's a SUPER-FRANCHISE!!!

It's becoming more and more common these days. A story starts out in its precarious print form--whether that be a book, comic or graphic novel. Then it gets a following, usually underground in a "sleeper hit" kind of way. And then someone in Hollywood stumbles on it, decides to introduce it to the mainstream and SHAZAM there's a 90+ minute feature film (or 8 hours if your name starts with "Lord of the Rings"). The videogames industry, always looking for a quick buck to get a profit, is never far behind.

It's happened with Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Fantastic 4... any super-hero/epic adventure story you can think of that was released as a movie in the past 4-5 years is probably a videogame by now, and chances are it's not a very good game.

The buyer must be very wary of videogame movies. Although they're usually visually appealing because they're fashioned after the movie's setting, they suffer from other flaws like clunky controls and repetitive, uninteresting gameplay. There are some exceptions to the rule (i.e. Goldeneye for the N64 was an amazingly exceptional game, as was Lion King for the SNES. More recently though, I've heard The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (Xbox) and Scarface (PS2) were decent).

So beware the movie-game. And those silly games based on Nickelodeon cartoons. Most are mediocre at best, and for the genres they inhabit (usually platform/action, adventure, racing) have a non-Nickelodeon-themed game that's much better.

+add graphic+

board games go digital

If your box of Scrabble or one of the 18 billion versions of Monopoly are on their last legs, then fear not. Electronic Arts Inc. and Hasbro, Inc. have formed a licensing agreement in which EA will produce digital versions of Hasbro's most popular games including

• Monopoly
• Scrabble
• Yahtzee
• Nerf
• Tonka
• Littlest Pet Shop

The games will be featured on mobile phones and the Internet, according to an article from Reuters, and also on portable consoles, home consoles, and PC, as stated in Gamasutra's article on the partnership.

The first games (exact titles are unknown) will be released in the beginning of 2008.

Board games have been converted into video games before (I remember my friend playing Monopoly on her GameBoy Color). They usually have a simplistic interface and easy controls, and should be good clean fun for the little ones.

There's only one thing that bothers me about this whole story. And that's this guy:

Microsoft already talking about Christmas in July (August, really)

Remember that scene in the Lion King, where Simba is standing in the bottom of the gorge after Scar leaves him there? He's chasing around this silly chameleon thing, having a good time, and then the ground starts to vibrate and the pebbles on the valley floor start to jump around. The vibrations grow and crescendo, and all of a sudden he turns around and there's a HUGE heard of wildebeest bearing down on him. Suddenly, he's surrounded by the chaos, which then leaves as quickly as it came.

Yeah, and that's kind of like the holiday season for video games (except without the death of Mufasa, even though parents/gift-shoppers are pretty fatigued after this is over).

The holiday season of video games is a blitzkrieg of who has the best holiday lineup and titles. The only exception to this is when new consoles are released, and then it's the age-old, never-ending "console wars," the debate on which system will be the mightiest, which is the best deal, and which has the most solid launch titles of them all.

I bring this up only because we're 4 months away from the "most wonderful time of the year" and Microsoft is already tooting its own horn about its most elite holiday lineup yet. Microsoft does have some pretty decent titles slated for holiday release, but their tenacious confidence might be a little much. Here are the games they're promising:

• Guitar Hero III Legends of Rock” (RedOctane/Activision),
• Halo 3 (Bungie Studios),
• Madden NFL 08 (EA)
• Rock Band (MTV Games).
• BioShock (2K Games),
• Lost Odyssey (Mistwalker and Feel Plus),
  
• Blue Dragon (Mistwalker and Artoon Co. Ltd.),
• Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action (Screenlife),
• Project Gotham Racing 4 (Bizarre Creations Ltd.),
• Mass Effect (BioWare Corp.),
• Naruto: Rise of a Ninja (Ubisoft),
• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

Followed by this quote:

“On the eve of the best holiday games lineup ever and the launch of ‘Madden NFL 08,’ there has never been a better time to jump into Xbox 360.”

I don't know about that. Last I heard the Xbox 360 was still having technical hardware issues with what has been dubbed by frustrated gamers the "Red Ring of Death." But it's probable this hardware issue will be fixed come holiday season.

Looking at this game list, I don't know if it secures Microsoft's success. They do have some solid system-exclusive titles, namely Halo 3. But this list is rounded out by Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, both games with big expectations. I can also see some titles that are family-friendly and would be great for the kiddies, like Scene it?, Rock Band, and Naruto.

Oh, the possibilities. I wonder how many articles are written on videogames just based loosely on conjecture.

Anyway, my plans to prepare for the holiday season... I will have for you:

• List of holiday titles for each system
  
• have short evaluations/previews of said holiday titles
• Include a list of games from last season/year that are solid titles, and probably pretty cheap right now

I promise. These will be here. And if they aren't, I'll do all of your holiday shopping.

That's how serious I am. :P

persuasive games, indeed.

This is definitely one of those times when I'm disappointed I don't have cable/satellite. Not only do I miss out on the quirks and joys of Ninja Warrior or Futurama, but also the nightly broadcasts of the lovable Steven Colbert. Apparently last night's Colbert Report guest was Ian Bogost, creator of the online website Persuasive Games.

Bogost spoke on how games can have a sociological aspect and be exactly what his website says they are--persuasive. Bogost's games bring certain issues to life, such as immigration, airport security, FDA inspection, and obesity. These games are meant to educate, satirize, and most of all just bring attention to certain events. And they do just that.

I played Presidential Pong, which is a cartoony revamp of the old arcade classic involving the 2008 Presidential candidates. Each candidate has his or her own power-up that pokes fun at their personality or past remarks. For example, Hilary can use the "Clinton Family" to put a little more spin on the ball and John Edwards uses "Two Americas" to confuse the opponent by using two ping-pong balls.

Although these aren't as fun as straight-up entertainment games, they put serious issues in a joking light and make learning about them fun.

Now, Mr. Colbert, when do I get my turn to talk to the Nation?? :P

congratulations VGVN

Congratulations to the Video Games Voting Network on gaining support from over 100,000 members (even though they did have that awful ad). You're really showing that gamers do in fact come out of their little caves full of consoles, and can take a long enough of a break from WoW to promote a cause. (Joking, guys.)

I'm interested to see where this issue will play a role and if it will play a role in any campaigns. I doubt we'll see it in the presidential campaign (because of more pressing issues like the war in Iraq, gay marriage rights, etc., etc.), although it would be interesting if we did. It's just hard to imagine presidential candidates talk fervently about videogames. Maybe Barack Obama, just because he's so hip and mainstream with the younger crowd, but aside from that, I can't really see it happening.

Ooh, I need to see what Jack Thompson thinks about this. He tends to think of gamer's as know-nothing zombie-IQ-level degenerates who have no other interest in anything else aside from videogames, which corrupt our morals on a daily basis. Oh, Jack Thompson, how you make the game community chuckle.

**okay, I really need to go to work. To do: links, pic of Obama angel, spelling of Obama's name?, JT response, be an evil degenerate zombie-child videogame-freak.

racism? no.

When I first saw the ugly Resident Evil 5 racism conspiracy raise its head, I edged away from it, thinking it wasn't too relevant to YFG. And then I realized I was being a silly, lazy person, and have decided to toss in my few cents on the issue.

Resident Evil is hearkened as a consistently good zombie-killin' game. The player typically assumes the role of the protagonist, and sets out to weed zombies out of a certain area. But it isn't just a good ole zombie-blasting time. RE has a reputation for having puzzle-solving elements and being very plot-driven (meaning you're killing zombies for a reason AND there's other things going on in the storyline). RE is usually set in a rural, almost deserted area, probably to kick the creepiness up. RE has taken gamers to a variety of environments, which allows for more of a variety in gameplay. But the RE franchise hadn't hit a problem until the RE5 trailer debuted, showing a desert-like setting in Africa and the white male protagonist shooting the now-infected black zombies.

The race issue exploded on the Internet, and even got some coverage on G4, a TV station focusing on gaming. Some activists are really getting fired up about it.

"But activist/media analyst/blogger Kym Platt is seeing red over the trailer to Resident Evil 5. According to Platt (and others on the web) the trailer shown at this year's E3 is "problematic on so many levels." The vid, according to Platt, depicts black people as "inhuman savages, the killing of Black people by a white man in military clothing, and the fact that this video game is marketed to children and young adults. Start them young… fearing, hating, and destroying Black people." -G4TV.com

"Start them young... fearing, hating, and destroying Black people"? If game designer's purposely designed games like this, chances are they'd be out of the job and fired before you could say "awful human being." The game is set in Africa in order to provide a new gaming experience, not to breed racism. Besides, in all past RE games, victims have been primarily white, and depending on location, Hispanic. I know, the trailer looks bad, but RE stands to become a stale, repetitive series if they keep sending gamers on missions to creepy woods in the boonies, deserted cities/villages, treks through the mountains and over the freezing snows. Capcom is trying to give gamers a new and exciting experience; send gamers to a place they haven't been before. Seriously, I can't remember the last game I've seen that was set in Africa, and probably for this same reason.

Please, Capcom is not singling out a race. They are not trying to make Klan members out of your kids. As a middle-class white kid, I don't claim to understand what it's like to be targeted by racism or the history that comes with being oppressed for so many years. I just don't believe that Capcom's intentions for this game have racist roots (for the reasons listed above), and don't think they should be perceived as such.

**will edit: add link to trailer, pics, any more links? gottta go to work