The Toys R Us Odyssey

Of course as an avid DS gamer I wasn't just going to pass by the opportunity to at least travel to my nearest Toys R Us to browse around and see what I could be getting and getting for free. So on Thursday along with one of my friends I hit up TRU to see what I could find. Like I said before I was hoping to snag Sim City DS, Brothers In Arms DS, and then some old games I haven't got around to picking up like maybe Starfox Command or Hotel Dusk. Much to my surprise the store didn't even open until 10 a.m. so I sat and waited for around 30 minutes. When it finally did open up my friend and I headed inside and were the first in the video game section.

Sadly, within my first pass I realized Brothers In Arms wasn't there, the number one game on my list, but there were to many games for me to just leave free money behind. I picked up one of the two Sim City DS games and started to browse around and see what else I was willing to buy. My friend quickly became bored with my indecisiveness over Sonic Rush, Starfox Command, and Brain Age and went off to dig through the bargain bin games that were 10 dollars each. After awhile I joined him, by this time he was making a large hole in one corner, when to my surprise he pulled a copy of Nanostray from the bottom. I've always wanted to get Nanostray, but I've never been able to find it, even when it launched, and the only copy I found was a used one that was just the cartridge. It was the diamond among the rough, as the only other DS games were some Texas Hold Em', Disney games, and several copies of Super Black Bass Fishing.

However, I now had a problem. The free game in the deal had to be of equal or greater value as the lowest priced game. So I would either have to get another $10 game for free or purchase a $20 or higher one to get Nanostray for free. I wasn't thrilled about spending even more money, but I didn't want one of those crappy games left in the bin. The only game I might have considered was Super Black Bass Fishing, just because I like to fish, but I remembered that it got a horrendous score on IGN, a 2.5 as a matter of fact. Even though I went on a long spill about how reviews shouldn't be the most important factor when purchasing a game a 2.5 is pretty darn bad, but as it turns out I wouldn't be a hypocrite after all. Although I was uncertain my friend was dead set on the game. He likes to fish as well and it wasn't his money. So after giving it much thought I decided what the heck I'll give it a try and got the game.

After putting a good amount of time into each game (Except for Sim City DS, I'm holding out and making myself beat my other games first.) I'm pretty happy with my haul. Super Black Bass Fishing isn't a 2.5 in my highly opinion, especially for those who do enjoy fishing out there. The multiplayer is actually kind of fun. Of course Nanostray is a blast and I'm positive I'll like Sim City when I get to it. Now I just got to get around to beating all my other games! But here's to hoping you took advantage of the TRU Buy Two Get One Free and found some great games too. We can only hope that this won't be the last time we get a deal like it.

Amazing DS Game Deal at Toys R Us

While I contemplate on whether or not I really need to pile 3 more DS games on top of the load I already have I wanted to let you all in on this awesome deal. Toys R Us is having a buy two get one free on all Nintendo DS games both online and in stores through June 30th. 30 free dollars might be too much for me to pass up, even if I do have 3 or 4 games I haven't finished. I've been wanting to pick up the just released Sim City DS and Brothers in Arms DS. How nice would it be to get something like Hotel Dusk or Starfox Command for free? I'll have to do a bit more thinking, but if you've been planning to get some DS games and have been waiting now is the time to buy! Just think of all the fun you'll be having with 3 new DS games for the price of two. I promise I'm not a Toys R Us employee, just don't miss out!

Freedom From Video Game Reviews

If you play video games and have internet access, chances are you've read a review or two for some games. Whether you like IGN, Gamespot, or Nintendo specific fan sites likes N-Philes we've all come across reviews at some point in our lives. They are very useful in learning more about a game and sometimes lead to full blown internet wide fights if a score is felt to be unjust (See IGN's 7.9 for Mario Kart Double Dash). While I don't suggest using one review as a justification to either purchase a game or not, looking over several reviews of a game can help you decide whether it's right for you if done correctly, but don't rely on reviews alone. You have the freedom to make your own decisions and you shouldn't let reviews control your purchases.

I feel that is a growing problem with today's video gamers. We put too much emphasis on the score a game gets. How many times have you been interested in a game only to mark it off your list and forget about it because it got a 6 on IGN? It's a scene all too familiar. Just ask those who were excited for Red Steel. Prior to the reviews this game looked to be a mega hit, then those early reviews from IGN and Gamespot came in and instantly people who were singing praises started slamming the title. There is no doubt in my mind that because of those reviews it severely hurt the sales potential of the game and that shouldn't be the case. Reviews shouldn't have that much power over us and our decisions.

Why? For several reasons. Just as you have individual tastes in clothes, food, and movies everyone has individual tastes in video games! Mark Bozon from IGN may like shirts from GAP and might hate stuff from Kohl's, but if you like clothes from Kohl's you don't start shopping at GAP just because he doesn't like it do you? The same should be thought of when it comes to video games. Maybe you absolutely love puzzle games, well do you think that if someone who dislikes puzzle games reviews one they'll give it a great score? It's poor decision making if you let their review greatly influence your decision to purchase a game.

Another problem I have with reviews is that half the time the reviewer hasn't even played more than a few levels of a game, if that! And it's a tiny percentage of reviewers who have actually beaten the game they are reviewing! You don't see people reviewing books after a couple of chapters or Ebert and Roeper giving a thumbs up to a movie they only watched 30 minutes of. Why should video game reviews be any different?

The current reason is our own impatience. Everyone can't wait to read the first review of a game, and news sites compete to see who can get their review out the fastest. This shouldn't be the case. Reviewers should be able to spend as much time as needed with the game to finish it, or in the case of games that can't be "finished" (Animal Crossing, racing games, etc.) enough time to make a good judgement on the game. So what if it takes 6 or 7 more days for the review to come out at least now we know they know what they are talking about. They have played the game enough to really understand the depth and all the intricacies, not just enough to get a gist of what the game is like.

So don't let video game reviews control your purchases anymore. Instead of trying to figure out why a reviewer gave a game a score that they did ask them how long they played the game. How far they got into it. Or is the ending any good. Don't forget to ask what their favorite types of games are. Then use these answers to base how much influence you let the review have on you. Don't let a number ever make or break your decision. You'll be more likely to find hidden gems and enjoy games you would have never imagined yourself playing. There are way to many great games out there to limit yourself by what some guy on the internet says.

Freedom of thought, freedom of choice, freedom of purchase, and freedom of playing. Long let freedom ring!

Samus Aran Brawlin'

Yesterday's daily update at Smash Bros. Dojo featured one of my personal favorite Nintendo characters, Samus Aran. Sporting a graphically updated suit, now with extra metallic shine there's just too much to love about her mega arsenal of beams, missiles, and bombs. I posted some side by side screenshots below of the new Samus and Samus from Super Smash Bros. Melee. If you can't tell the difference you don't deserve to know.

Wi-Fi is a Royal Pain in The Butt

I love that Nintendo now has an online service, but sometimes I absolutely can't stand the Wi-Fi service itself. If I had a nickel for every error code number I've had put together I'd be able to purchase 3 or 4 Wii systems and probably a DS Lite or two. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like for no reason whatsoever, my DS Lite or Wii will randomly not connect. Sure they'll be going good for a week or two, then bam, no changes to my internet connection, the system, or the USB connector, but it won't connect.

I'm sure I'm not alone.

The fact is it's not perfect and I want to know that everytime I try to connect to Wi-Fi it will connect. I want to be as sure as I know the sun will rise everyday, but that isn't the case. However, at least we have the error code system. Where I can take my error code and type it in online at Nintendo's support site and I can get helpful tips. Which 95% of the time do not work or are just the general "try this and see".

I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate Nintendo going online with their systems, I do, but as long as I keep getting those random error codes that keep me from getting my Everybody Votes Channel results in I'll still be complaining. Because I take my Everybody Votes Channel very, very seriously.

Only joking!

Wii Need More Mii Follow-Up

I was just talking about how FIFA 08 would be the first third-party game using Miis and wouldn't you know it IGN posted a screenshot two days ago of, as I know it, the first known image of the Miis in action. Looks like some sort of juggling contest. This might be what seals the purchase for me. That and the fact it's planned to be online.

PC Games Allow Me To Introduce You To The Wii

As we all know real time strategy (RTS) and simulation games are widely popular genres on the PC but haven't had much success on home consoles. A mouse's point and click is much more preferrable and easier than using the analog stick along with a 4 or 5 buttons. So us console gamers haven't gotten the same RTS and sim love that PC's have. There are some amazing RTS games out there, like my personal favorite Age of Empires II and alot of great simulation games like SimCity or Rollercoaster Tycoon. All of these games have found alot of success on the PC and haven't even really been attempted for console because of control issues, however, all of that can change thanks to the Wiimote.

Just like a mouse, with the Wii remote you can point, click, and drag over your screen any way, shape, form, or fashion. This is a clear advantage over the traditional analog and button dominated controllers, but it also has an advantage over the mouse and keyboard because it can sense depth and has motion sensing. So our favorite RTS and sim games should be right at home on the Wii so why aren't we seeing a plethora in development?

I have a hunch that it has something to do with a little computer company who recently became a console manufacturer, that goes by the name of Microsoft. Of course PCs dominate the computer gaming world and who dominates the computer world? Microsoft. Because they have the main operating system used with the PC games they have influence with the companies that make them and alot of them are owned by Microsoft, like Ensemble Studios, makers of Age of Empires. So if Microsoft has, dare I say it, a monopoly on computer gaming, that would give them key influence on any PC game developers making games for the Wii. Of course they don't want to add anymore fuel to the Wii blaze that has taken over the world so they'll keep as many of the PC exclusive games PC exclusive for as long as they can.

We can only hope that independent third party developers such as EA who has such PC hits as SimCity and Sims will start to take notice and take advantage of this expansion of the point and click userbase. Luckily for us, it appears that they might already have with the upcoming MySims game, but we can only hope that this is a beginning to many more PC exclusive games coming to the Wii.

Wii Need More Mii

Who doesn't love their Mii? From your family and friends to celebrities and even yourself we all have Miis. That is assuming that you play and own a Wii or play a friend's, but sadly they are limited to Wii Sports and Wii Play and I believe a small bit of Mario Party 8. They shouldn't be forever stuck playing sports or being chosen out of a crowd. There needs to be more for them to do. To put it clearly the Wii needs more games with Mii usage. On the horizon it appears that only one such game has announced using Miis as a feature and that's EA Sports' FIFA 08. The last game you would ever imagine being the first third party game to use them. Even though it's a step in the right direction it is a very small one, because as of this writing they have only been confirmed for usage in minigames. I'm still glad to see EA being a frontrunner, because we all know EA is known for being limited in it's updates to key franchises, but it's not enough.

There are plenty of games out there that could and should be using Miis. Either as the main characters or just in minigames. Imagine playing Sims with your Mii and your friends. Why do we have to create another version of ourselves with EA's character creator when we already have one on the system? There could even be a special mode of Super Smash Bros. Brawl where you could go head to head with your friend's Miis in a button mashing mayhem. Or how about being able to choose yourself as a driver in the next Mario Kart? It's simple additions like these that can make game experiences all the more personal and fun.

It could happen and needs to happen because my Mii is getting tired of riding cows and playing baseball he wants to expand his horizons to bigger and better things.

1000 Downloads Per What?!

While browsing around IGN I found a very interesting bit of news that also relates to my current poll. Nintendo announced on Friday that there have been 4.7 million game downloads from the Virtual Console since the Wii launched or 1000 downloads per hour! Until Friday Nintendo had kept us in the dark on specific figures for the VC. I recall them only saying something like it was very popular and doing better than they expected, but I doubt that anyone would have ever imagined 1000 downloads per hour.