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Denver, 8:18 PM
Mon Nov 23
53 posts in the last 24 hours
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09/22/09
It's all about playing it in public spaces, meeting new people who also like the stuff you like, and having fun with a bunch of friends.
Also it's probably easier to convince non-gamers to play than stuff like DDR, PIU or even Guitar Hero.
09/22/09
09/22/09
09/22/09
Like the rise of reality TV.
09/22/09
Also, their depiction of one of the greatest onions who ever lived is highly offensive. And now the person who made him eat himself is making even more money from his death.
It sickens me to see the fake onion market so saturated.
09/22/09
09/22/09
09/22/09
in short: w00h Japan!
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
07/09/09
I don't mean to sound vicious with this because this post isn't meant as an attack, but Tsunku has consistently produced/written some of the worst J-pop I've heard so despite his huge success he seems kind of an inappropriate judge of Japan's musical talent... though it has rhythm, so many of his singers just cannot hit a note.
When it comes to producers, I've always been more of a Tetsuya Komuro fan; his acts like Namie Amuro, DJ Krush, Ayumi Hamasaki, Globe, Kumi Koda or Ryuichi Sakamoto are all especially rhythmic and tend to have strong dancable beats.
Takkyu Ishino or Denki Groove... are wholly based on rhythm and would have nothing if not for it... being producers of pounding techno and all... same for rappers like RIP SLYME, Halcali or Dragon Ash.
Overall, it's just a nonsensical comment. He should take in some taiko some time and... stop listening to old SharanQ albums? (Ok, that was uncalled for... but fun. XD)
@traumafox:
Also, this. There have been an assortment of rhythm games since the mid-late 90s in Japan. It's just hitting its stride here, and I still only know a couple others here who can play them. Most gamers I know just want to run around and shoot stuff. :/
07/09/09
I love Rhythm Tengoku to death, and have since the launch day of the original GBA version...and I'd say that this guy would be better off giving up the Morning Musume gig and focusing on Rhythm Tengoku exclusively. The "Love Laboratory" song was friggin awesome.
By the way....his suit is awesome. While I am reluctant to go all the way to a full on suit...I do own a number of shiny jackets. "Men's Marui" in Shinjuku...the entire 5th floor is nothing but god damn shiny suits.
07/09/09
07/09/09
You mean those stupid singing Easter Island statues???
God I hated that level!!! Is there anyone out there who actually enjoyed that stage??? The sounds those statues made was extremely annoying...
I wish we would have gotten a new "Obon" level....it was by far and away my favorite stage from the GBA original...
05/11/09
05/11/09
Marketing is important, but celebrities have nothing to do with that. Take a game like Assassin's Creed - controversial reviews for such a big game and it sold mostly based on the quality and quantity of the TV spots.
05/11/09
05/11/09
Likewise, if a company is paying for a celebrity to hock its games, of course it'll sell better than a lesser promoted title. Those Guitar Hero commercials were everywhere, and the use of famous names added synergy with other outlets picking up the commercial as a point of interest due to the celebrities used alone. If someone is paying big bucks for these people, he/she is going to ensure the ads get good penetration throughout the media. The same wouldn't hold for Jamie Bunker, Jeff Gerstmann, or any "lesser" person since it's not a known name worth investing in.
05/11/09
(Also, everyone who in all seriousness uses the word "synergy"...)
05/11/09
05/11/09
Expect the overall quality of games as whole to continue to downslide as developers find new ways to screw us out of content. As long as they can get a grinning celebrity to pimp their product, it'll sell, and that's all that matters.
05/11/09
05/11/09
Agreed on both counts. It's just too bad so many companies are all making the same batshit decision...eventually consumers WILL wise up to the fact they're being sold less and less over time and they'll either demand lower prices or more complete experiences, and the industry will be forced to bounce back or die.
At this rate, I'm not sure which I would rather have happen.
05/11/09
05/11/09
I keep asking myself "those every new/sequel game really needs MP just for the heck of it"
05/11/09
That market seems to be shrinking, though, as the economy falters and those of us who have been gaming since we were children continue to age. I mean, I'm almost 24. I can't see myself gaming when I'm 30 unless my wife is the most tolerant woman in the world or I get a job working in the industry. Something's got to give in the NEAR future or the entire industry will pay for it in 10 years when we stop buying things.
@Curse_Lily:
Multiplayer's a big one. Forcing everything into the first person viewpoint is also another one, as are "create your own character" systems. It's ironic how most of these decisions come at the expense of deep, nuanced single-player campaigns with compelling storylines and developed characters. Ironic and depressing.
05/11/09
05/11/09
Nah, people are stupid. Work even a WEEK in games retail and it'll be made perfectly clear. People will always avoid quality titles for something shittier and more marketed or more approachable, even if you do your best to explain the difference between the two to them.
05/11/09
05/11/09
Actually, I don't mind Halo. I hate the fans, but I've poured plenty of hours into all three games. Been a Bungie fan ever since their Mac days.
The point is, just because the mass market likes something doesn't mean it's good. Just means it's marketed well, or they're too stupid to tell the difference. Sometimes the mass market and quality do overlap, but lately, that's getting less and less frequent.
05/11/09
And I think the reason so many games are so middling is because so many games are just like every other game. It's because of this that they have to resort to marketing it to stupid people. How else will you move copies of "generic sci-fi shooter #371"?
For now, the "Games as Art" argument is over, and Ebert has won. There has been little this generation or last generation that has convinced me that video games involve more creative thought than my grocery list.
05/11/09
05/11/09
Well, what do you expect? I've watched gaming transform from an innocent, magical part of my youth to a massive, soul-crushing corporate machine bent on nothing but fucking the customer over for extra money with less product. The older I get and the more I learn about the industry, the less there is to like.
How would I NOT be cynical or full of contempt? I've been playing games since before I could write. The past few years of my gaming career have been equivalent to being a Star Wars fan after the release of Episode 1.
05/12/09
Wait, so you're saying that if I buy this game, Paris Hilton will like me? Quick, where's my checkbook? I need to burn it immediately.
05/11/09
A person is smart.
Disclaimer: This is a general statement, and not meant directly at the franchise stated in the article.
Batteries not included.
05/11/09