I suppose I should mention that going into Star Wars: The Old Republic, I carry with me the experience of 4+ years of World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, City of Villains, and EVE, to name a few. After leveling three level 85s in World of Warcraft, I figured I knew what to expect when it came to mmos.

Turns out I was right and I was wrong.

Starting up Star Wars, I was greeted by a surprisingly robust character creation system for an mmo, it wasn’t on par with Mass Effect, but it was still a far cry better than many other games. I like my character to look as unique as possible, so this was a nice feature. I chose to be a Chiss Bounty Hunter, because I mean.. Boba Fett.

Anyways, right off the bat you are thrown into a conversation choice system which is the trademark of BioWare games, and what really sets them apart from other studios in the industry. The speech options were interesting, the voice acting decent, and the scripting excellent for the most part. Then quicker than you can say “I am your father”, you are grinding away mmo style, collecting 10 of these, killing 5 of those, it’s the same old formula but with a Star Wars twist. To address question in general, for me the experience seems to be putting in the annoying grind work to earn yourself some interesting speech options after the quest is done, or during the quest in some cases. Maybe I’m getting older, and I know every game is technically a grind, but I just felt really bored with the actual gameplay. I mean, when you first get your skills, its a lot of fun to fire wrist rockets and laser bolts, but in the end it’s still just a standard PvE spell rotation.

Environments in Star Wars: The Old Republic are were very hit or miss I found. Some areas looked excellent, and some just looked terrible. I feel that although World of Warcraft had inferior graphics, the zones for the most part were better designed and constructed. This is just my opinion though, and it’s not like the environments for really that bad overall.

The instances, or “flashpoints” as they are called in SWTOR were another feature I was on the fence about. Some were very cool, and had some nicely integrated dialogue parts which were fun. The fact that you choose and roll on the speech choices with your group was a very cool addition and something I still enjoy doing. That being said, not having a dungeon queue like World of Warcraft makes things very annoying, especially after typing “LFM Healer and Tank!” in general chat for the hundredth time.

In a lot of ways, Star Wars: The Old Republic feels like WoW before many of the newer features were added. Coming for World of Warcraft, there are definitely a few things that just make you wonder what they were thinking not adding them in. For example, the Galactic Trade Network (Auction House) in Star Wars has to have the most infuriatingly difficult interface I have ever used. This is to the point where I would rather just stay poor than use it, for the most part. There are many little things like this in the game that get annoying the deeper in you go, although for the most part none of them are too game breaking.

PvP is fun in theory, and when I do get a good match it’s fun, but it seems for the most part they are fairly one sided. There are definitely classes that are stronger than others, and I do realize some patches will balance this in the future, but after getting gunned down by Republic Troopers for the 10th time, it gets a bit frustrating. On the flip side, the actual PvP venues are pretty fun and straightforward, especially Hutt Ball, which can be either the best or worst, depending on your team. There is a cap on how many PvP points you can carry at one time, which is a bit annoying, but I suppose they have to balance things like arena points in WoW.

I suppose I have painted a rather negative picture of the game, which is not my intent, as it is a fairly good game over all. I mean, compared to Star Wars Galaxies it’s in an entirely different league, so for Star Wars fans like myself even the many flaws will not entirely deter me from playing it. Once a few patches have been introduced to combat the glitches and class imbalance, things will begin to come together and I have every confidence this game will be around for a while to come…. or at least until Blizzard launches their new mmo.

Anyways, those are just my general thoughts on the game so far, I will most likely write some guides once I have played at 50 for enough time to get my head around the game in its entirety.

- Karoken

Turns out Magic the Gathering is pretty damn awesome.

I admit I was rather skeptical about playing a card game, especially when Skyrim and Battlefield 3 are only a click away. However, within half an hour I had already forced my friends to buy it and we were happily engaged in FFA 4 player duels for several hours that night and a few hours the next. Even sitting at my desk in the studio, surrounded by games, I still just want to play Magic the Gathering.

I feel like all my blog posts for the next while are going to mention Skyrim, but my god its a great game. It does have some issues, such as the occasional broken texture or invisible head, but nothing totally game breaking so far, unlike my experience with Fallout: New Vegas, which is thoroughly unpleasant. If you have not started the Thieves Guild or Dark
Brotherhood quests, i recommend it, as they are among the best I have experienced so far in terms of quest diversity and fun. Also, if you are going to play them, I recommend wearing the armor they give you and using daggers or a bow, since the story is way more believable and immersive when you are in assassin armor and not 600 pounds of plate steel.

Alright. Back to work!

- Karoken

Well, i’ve decided to maybe blog. Well, I want to, but sometimes it’s difficult to consistently do something. Kind of like Twitter, it just feels like such a chore after a while.

Ah, yes, Blog.

I have decided to begin my memoirs of a gamer who also works in the video game industry. It seems like there is a stigma or unspoken rule within video games that we need to live in this politically correct bubble where every game gets 9/10 and the fastest way to make a buck is the norm.

So, I think i’m just gonna talk about it online, like an internet superhero. At least until I take over the studio I work for.

- Karoken

PS: Buy Skyrim. Seriously.

Battleheart is fairly straightforward. Each party member has two special abilities, and a default ability (attacking or healing). They can use a variety of equipment, and have a basic “one or the other” skill tree that allows them to specialise in certain roles within the class, and your party setup.

To move them, you click and drag, and they’ll run to the spot before attacking or healing on autopilot, or if you’ve dragged to an enemy or party member, attacking or healing them, respectively. It’s a system that works very well, although if you’re clustering your party members for tactical reasons, selecting between then can be frustrating and time consuming – clicking an icon and a location/enemy/party member would’ve been more efficent.

Tactically, it’s challenging, but whether you’re a World of Warcraft player or a Partypoker veteran you’re likely to sink into it and become adept at the strategy required to finish the game (which lasts quite a while if you’re redoing levels or micro-managing between them). Boss fights can be really tough, but if you’re familiar with RPGs you’ll recognise the patterns – stay out of poison puddles, use a tank for aggro, and so on.

The art style is fantastic, and it’s really what makes this game better than any other title with similar mechanics. The cutesy characters and enemies mean that the game never gets too cliche or serious, and the game is, overall, The Little RPG That Could. Had they added a story it could’ve been even better. Worth the purchase, and a sequel wouldn’t be a bad thing, either.

So then, what would be better than seeing a live performance of all your favorite Final Fantasy orchestrated pieces, composed by Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu and conducted by the talented Arnie Roth.

Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds will be coming to Vancouver on the 27th of July, 2011, featuring music from Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy XIII, and XIV. The performance will be held at the Orpheum Theatre downtown, and tickets are available here. While tickets are still available, they are going fast, so get yours today, and enjoy the music live that you have been enjoying for years in your own home.

For more information:

Final Fantasy: Distant Worlds Website

While there are many games that push the boundaries of creativity and unique gameplay, Trouble in Tin Town definitely stands out. Trouble in Tin Town is a turn based strategy game for iPhone and iPad, based on the premise of “war” between various factions of childrens toys. Many of the toys are famillair classics from childhood stories and games, and there are also a bunch of new additions and unique takes on things like historical figures and dinosaurs. The three factions are “Historical Figures”, “Forgotten Island”, and “The Kandy Kingdom”. Each group has a very diverse set of characters, and each character has various upgradable special abilities, which means the gameplay is rarely stale.

The Historical Figures faction features such classics as Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln, whereas the Forgotten Island faction sports characters like “Finneas T-Rex” and “Banana Bob”. The characters are unique, funny, and all around awesome, and defintely make the game worth the purchase. While many mobile games seems to shrink away from putting more than the bare minimum of effort in storyline and content, Trouble in Tin Town takes it a step further with an in-depth and unique background to the gameplay.

There are a total of 26 fully detailed and diverse levels, as well as 24 characters to control, which gives the game a much longer average playthrough time than other similar titles. The gameplay is also smooth and fun, and generally superior to other turn based strategy games on the market. While the game can be challenging, the difficulty progresses well as you move through each campaign, and even at it’s hardest is still usually manageble.

The main thing holding back Trouble in Tin Town is the lack of multiplayer or general gameplay outside of the campaign. The developer, Jovian Minds, is working frantically to get multiplayer into the mix though, so thats something we can expect from the title in the near future. Lag can also be a factor on the larger maps, but the issue is sporatic and usually not severe enough to effect gameplay that much, so it’s not that big of an issue.

All in all, a pretty darn solid game compared to many other mobile titles out there, and with some tweaking and multiplayer it could easily be one of funnest games available on the iPhone and iPad.

Check out out here.

As mobile gaming becomes more and more popular, the games that are developed get even better. BattleBallz is the perfect example of an awesome new game for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Windows Phone. The games is much like the classic Arkanoid, but with a modern twist. What is this twist you ask? Well, imagine Arkanoid, but on steroids. BattleBallz is definitely a very fast paced game, and with competitive 2 player modes and insane AI, it’s always an awesome experience.

The game essentially centers around breaking blocks and getting powerups while avoiding hazards such as black holes and gravity wells. There are also tons of other cool in-game features such as the ability to shrink your enemy or make yourself immune. BattleBallz was developed with competition in mind, and the 2 player mode really shines as a fun and awesome way to test your skills.The AI is also pretty challenging as well, which means you will not be at a loss if you do not have a friend to play against. The single player also progresses well, with each new level adding new features and higher difficulty.

Some of the features include:

- Comprehensive single and 2 player game modes
- Four extensive difficulty modes
- Progressive difficulty scaling and feature introduction in single player
- Over 80 unique achievements
- Powerups and other cool features that let you hinder your enemies
- Stats tracking so you can see how good (or bad) you are

With numerous fully detailed levels combined with over 80 game achievements, you will definitely get your money’s worth when you buy BattleBallz. Check it out here.

Ever wanted to play a video game that lets you test your romantic skills? With My Virtual Girlfriend for iPhone and iPad, you can do just that, and all from the ease and comfort of your own mobile device. The game is centered around your very own “virtual girlfriend”, who can be customized to be the perfect woman through physical and personality traits in the game. The in-game girl generator creates a unique girl every time you want to play, which means the experience will always be different, no matter how many times you choose to replay and test your skills.

The game begins almost like an online dating website, and lets you really choose the perfect virtual girl. The rest of the game more or less takes place in the room of the chosen girl, which is fully customized according to what type of girl you choose. You must then use the surrounding environment as well as emotes and actions to show off your epic man-skills. Your progression with the virtual girl is noted by an experience bar on the side of the screen, and you can note your progress as you attempt to seduce the virtual girl. The more correct moves you make, the higher level you reach with the girl, unlocking new actions and letting you do more risque things.

With each girl having a unique personality, including likes and dislikes, you must make sure to do the correct moves – or face rejection. There over 20 levels of progression in My Virtual Girlfriend, with each stage unlocking more gameplay features and other cool goodies. The girls not only have extensive personalities and physical traits, they also respond to your emotes and even your touch, which is pretty awesome. You can even earn special achievements by completing tons of in-game objectives and challenges.

Beyond the gameplay, the conversation options are clever, humorous, and always keep the game fresh and exciting. With over 1500 lines of dialogue, there is never a dull moment, and you are never stuck repeating the same things, like in other games. Unfortunately Apple maintains high standards for iPhone games and apps, which means you can only see these beautiful babes in their sexy lingerie, but hey, its definitely still worth it. The graphics are pretty impressive as well for a mobile game, which means your virtual girlfriend will be crystal clear and sexy at all times.

Let’s start with the flaws of the game. Mount & Blade has mediocre graphics for a new game. Even if you max them out, they are no match for contemporary titles like Shogun: Total War. If you’re looking for awe-inspiring massive displays of combat, Mount & Blade also falls a little short. You won’t have thousands of troops meeting each other in combat, at most you’ll have a few hundred on both sides.

The interface is confusing and clunky and there is little in the way of aid to help you understand it. There will be a lot of trial and error as you discover all the things you need to know, like where to accomplish quests and the various hotkeys for commanding troops in the heat of battle (there is no pause feature, you must give orders quickly and effectively). The game is also wholly uninspiring. I’m all for flavour text and great storylines, but I did not care at all about what I was seeing in Mount & Blade.

Internal gameplay has a few minor issues. It is incredibly frustrating to move around a huge map looking for Count Gibberish. Every time I asked for locations, they would be long gone by the time I got there. Every time that happened, I felt like a little dude would pop up and say “I’m sorry, but your Princess is in another Castle”.

There’s a lot of good in this game though. It looks so simple on the surface  but I have yet to experience the full breadth of the game in over 50 hours of gameplay. You can literally do whatever you want. Do you want to raid every nation for hours on end? Go for it. Do you want to swear allegiance to a nation, become a vassal, receive a fief, and try for Marshal of the realm? Go for it. Do you want to collect songs to woo a noblewoman and marry into a wealthy family? You can do that too (but really, why would you do that…). One can even be a little economic guru if they want, setting up breweries in every city, and for constant income. You can even set up a band of merry men, heroes with skills like yours to level, all with different specialties, in things like Engineer, Trade, etc. It’s annoying to have them leave at random intervals, or question your moral compass (or lack thereof) but it does add to the diversity of the game.

There are some balance issues in the game, such as certain cavalry, which are pretty overpowered. My army of Swadian Knights could not be stopped unless severely outnumbered. Infantry are not only usually crushed but they are also slower and laughably ineffective. It’s hard to balance something as expansive as Warband but it seems the cavalry nations, particular Swadia, Kergit Khanate, and the Sayyanids all seemed to have an edge on the Rhodoks and the Vaegirs. Maybe its just me.

Combat is rudimentary but ultimately effective, and satisfying in its simplicity. You right click to block and left click to attack. Yes, its that simple. Arrows curve appropriately (with distance) and horses die, spilling you unceremoniously to the ground. Things happen the way they should happen. If you run your horse into people, they are bowled over like nine-pins, but can sometimes arrest your charge with weapons and shields. If you shoot enemies in the head, they usually die, or take more damage. If you shoot them in the shield, nothing happens. These kind of basics seem simple but they are satisfying to see properly implemented.

The small but localized personal army you command is catered to your whims. You will feel every soldier death, particularly if they are fully levelled, and even if they’re simply levelling. There’s a lot of customization to your army: you can change its composition, size, training levels, strengths, and weaknesses. There’s also enough weapon variety like lances, polearms, etc., to keep one interested, with a variety of strengths and weaknesses to cater to many players.

The ultimate reward is leaving the shadow of the established kingdoms and forming your own. Many of the surrounding nations do not appreciate this: but that’s part of the fun, trying to keep your fledgling nation alive. You can appoint your own advisors, grant fiefs to your own vassals, and manage your cities by adding various improvements.
There’s a lot of goofy things in this game too. One can take the taxes due to a lord, and then simply “forget” to hand them over. What is possibly broken is that there will be no penalty: there are penalties for failing, or not doing quests, but not for completing them and not turning them in. Other fun things to do include one-man army efforts by your own player character, dominating dozens of enemies with a stalwart horse and a hardy bow.

Mount & Blade Warband is not a timeless classic but there’s a depth here that is very appealing. I recommend it if you’re into RTS games even remotely, as it attempts to bridge the gaps between genres, with a dash of FPS and some RPG elements. However, if you’re not into RTS at all, then you may not find the game is for you.

7.5/10.