Live Services MUST Die!

To sum up Jim's video, AAA publishers are the worst.

But seriously.  There's a term that's going around in the AAA games industry called Live Services.  Basically, it's the video game equivalent of keeping cancer-ridden grandma alive in her deathbed while you keep paying the insurance and medical companies more money.  What Jim's video is highlighting is that companies like Ubisoft are restructuring their business plans to make less games while making more money on fewer games via daily content, DLC and microstransactions.  Live Services makes this happen.

Speaking of Ubisoft, one game of theirs I just so happen to be playing is Assassin's Creed: Origins, and I can see this happening already.  Daily quests and weekly events are introduced to keep players who've already beaten the game coming back for more.  This opens up spending opportunities to buy Helix credits and season passes and whatnot.  Of course, this is nothing new, keeping a game alive by continuing to support it with new content, but does a game like Assassin's Creed: Origins really need to be supported into the next decade?  Assassin's Creed games, with the exception of Origins, are yearly events.  If we're getting an Assassin's Creed game next year, or the year after that, who will still want to play Origins?  Unless... Ubisoft thinks that enough people will.  Therefore, the drive to make the next Assassin's Creed is reduced. 

Now, I dislike the idea of Live Services for a few reasons.  My first and foremost reason is that I feel all games need to end.  I very rarely buy DLC for games because after I beat them, I move on to the next game; I'm always playing something new.  It has to be an exceptional game for me to not only want to return to it, but to also spend money on an expansion pack while I'm at it. 

Another reason is because constant injections of new content while the game is still fresh is distracting from the main game.  To use Assassin's Creed: Origins as an example, I just now started playing the game, but there are quest events that are outside of my level meaning they're going to disappear before I'm strong enough to get to play them.  I really hate seeing them on my screen, and I hate to think of people who've spent money in an attempt to speed up their levels in order to access these daily and weekly quests.

That brings me to my last reason: it's exploitative as fuck.  Now I'm sure most people don't bother dropping money on microtransactions and other nickle and diming forms of DLC, but there are enough people out there that do to keep this business practice going.  There are the whales who have more money than sense, and then there are the addictive gamers who have serious problems and shouldn't be spending that money to begin with.  The fact that you need to keep asking the gamer to pour more money into a game they already played to dripfeed content to them that they should just be earning playing the game is unethical in my opinion.  It's just not defensible.  It's lead up to debacles such as Star Wars: Battlefront II that has put video games back in the sights of lawmakers.  It continues to get worse and worse with companies like Konami charging 10 dollars for extra save slots in Metal Gear Survive, a game which has a single player campaign, but REQUIRES you to always be online.  Now we know why you have to always be online.  Konami needs to know you need a new save slot so they can charge you for it!

This generation of gaming is the most disgusting, most disappointing, most disheartening generation I've had the displeasure of experiencing.  Yet, you get the new gamers who can't seem to wrap their minds around the concept of anti-consumerism and try to defend these companies by saying that video games are so expensive to make.  They need the extra income.  Yes, games are expensive to make, but no, they don't need the extra income.  They WANT the extra income.  They are greedy.  If not greedy, then they are horrible at budgeting.  Why do we as consumers have to be nickle and dimed to help recoup the hundred million dollars that they spent marketing a game of a franchise that everyone knows will release a new installment every year?

Live Services is just a horrible idea to me.  I know this is just my opinion, but gamers don't need to keep playing the same game for years.  There's SO much else out there to play.  Tastes need to be broadened so that we can see a more diverse selection of games.  If every AAA publisher begins to embrace Lives Services, then we're going to see fewer risks being taken.  That means fewer IPs and fewer games.  Do we honestly want to see a community of gamers who play nothing but Overwatch, Destiny 2 and Battlefront 2?  Is that how we want to be seen as? Playing the same thing over and over again?  Let's stop chasing the carrot, shall we?  It's time to kill Live Services!  It's time to just let grandma die!

Chasing the Strawberry: The Forbidden Fruit of the Masochistic Platformer

Platformers.  So simple in their design.  Run, jump, maybe die?  Die.  Try again until you don't die.  These are the simple tenets of the platformer.  Yet, platformers can also be some of the most wickedly designed games out there.  You might be lulled into a false sense of security as you breeze through the first few levels but then suddenly, the level design maliciously changes on you introducing jumps you can't make the first try and hazards you never knew existed. You're starting to become familiar with that one worded question: Continue?  You can't turn down a challenge, can you?

Some platformers take challenging gameplay to a whole other level.  Games like N+ and Super Meat Boy are so crushingly difficult that there's got to be some kind of subgenre to describe them.  Whatever that may be, I'm just going to call them masochistic platformers.  These are the games that don't just challenge your skill level, they challenge your patience and mental stability.  Normal gamers give up on a game after about ten to 15 deaths in a row (ok, I pulled that statistic out of my ass), but gamers who continue to truck on after countless death are a special breed.  They're the ones who enjoy the frustration.  They enjoy the pain.  They won't stop until they beat that level that no one else in the world but them cares about beating.  Once they do, they get a special kind of elation from overcoming the challenge.  These gamers are masochists, and I'm one of them. So hence, "masochistic platformer".

Don't do it Madeline!  It's a trap!

I'm currently playing through Celeste right now.  Celeste is exactly the kind of game I'm describing when I say masochistic platformer.  It has that same "jump precisely or die" gameplay that everyone loved in Super Meat Boy, but it adds a few other gameplay elements to it, such as an eight-way directional boost and the ability to climb.  You'd think that would make the game easier than Super Meat Boy, right?

Well, I suppose if you just ignore the strawberries, then yeah, maybe it's not so bad.  But on to the topic of the blog: chasing the strawberry.  In Celeste, there are floating strawberries that are placed in precarious places that only serve one purpose: they want you to die collecting them. How it works in Celeste is that once you managed to get the strawberry, you have to return to terra firma where it's safe before it counts as you collecting.  This means you can't just run and jump to it and then die with it collected.  Nope, you have to do a full circle.  Also, some of the strawberries have wings and when you boost anywhere on the screen, they take off.  This makes the path to them even more hazardous because you can't use the boost if you hope to reach them.

See that strawberry up there?  That's just one of the easier ones.

The game expects you to die.  A lot.  So much so that it keeps track of your deaths at the end of every chapter.  In fact, during one loading screen, it even tells you to take pride in your high death count because that means you're learning.  But ... are you REALLY learning?  Anyway, when I reach the end of chapter three, I expect my death count to be in the hundreds.  It's all due to these damned strawberries!  There's really no point to them.  They don't bequeath XP; they don't give you special powers; they do absolutely nothing except give you a thousand points at the cost of a thousand deaths.  This isn't really a game I see people playing for points anyway, though.  Also, the game actually tells you in a loading screen that the strawberries do nothing but "impress your friends."

I probably could have been a lot farther along in Celeste has it not been for wasting so much time trying to collect every strawberry I saw, but they're just too tempting for some reason.  They seriously are forbidden fruit.  I'm not supposed to partake, but I will risk many lives in order to do so.  And these kinds of collectibles exist in many platformers.  They entice you above the edge of cliffs.  They beckon you between two massive saw blades.  They lure you in like sirens eagerly awaiting your battered remains to be sploshed among the jagged rocks of the cove.  And we masochistic gamers come back for more, again and again and again, because there is no sweeter fruit than the forbidden variety.

Eight Reasons to Buy a Switch (Because Mario and Zelda Aren't Enough)

"I'm not buying a Switch for just Zelda and Mario."

Sound familiar?  If you're a proud Switch owner and you've discussed the Switch with someone who doesn't have one, you've most likely heard this before.  Yes, at face value, it seems like all the Switch does have to offer is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.  Just those two games alone, never mind them being two of the highest rated games of all time, would be a hard sell to anyone looking to buy a Switch.  Well, it's a pretty good thing that those games aren't the only two reasons to own a Switch.  So, I'm here to give you eight more.

#1

I'm willing to bet you that if The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey haven't yet sold you on a Switch, there's a good chance you never owned a Wii U.  With only about 10 million Wii Us ever sold, those chances are pretty good.  Mario Kart 8 is one of the best Mario Kart games that I've played in the series, and the Deluxe edition only improves it.  For starters, it comes packed with the DLC of the Wii U version and has a proper battle mode this time.  Mario Kart has always been a terrific party game as well, with fantastic online play.  Taking it on the go with you only makes the game that much better.  The only thing I cannot defend is the abhorrent voice chat system.  I'm just... going to move on.  

#2

Splatoon looks very "kiddie" on the surface, but don't let the aesthetics fool you.  Splatoon 2, just like its predecessor, is a very addicting shooter.  The story campaign, albeit a bit short, has a lot of fun platforming segments and boss battles, but it's the online play that keeps you coming back.  Unfortunately, I'm not much of a fan of how the online matches are structured and again, it's a pain to voice chat with anyone, but that doesn't take away from the chaotic fun of running and swimming around the battlefield trying to overtake the enemy's ink.  Plus, the game's constantly being supported with free DLC.  

#3

The chronic problem that always seems to follow Nintendo around whenever they release a new system is not enough third-party support.  Well, Ubisoft has not only come through with a third-party title for Nintendo but also did it as an exclusive title using the license of Nintendo's iconic Mario.  Ubisoft has also brought their crazy mascots, the Rabbids, for a joint effort in a game that no one ever thought would exist.  What's really most surprising about this title is not just the crazy concept of the game, but just how insanely GOOD it is.  It has the charm of Mario and Co., the humor of Rabbids games, and the gameplay of X-COM.  These three elements mesh together so unbelievably well that you'd be hard pressed to find a better Switch exclusive that Nintendo didn't hand-make themselves.  

#4

Now, I can hear you laughing at me all the way over here for this reason.  I really don't blame you, but I'm not listing this reason for you.  It's for your kid(s).  Nintendo knows full well that this isn't for the core gamer, but I'm not really going to get into that.  For more of my thoughts on Labo, click here.   So, Nintendo Labo is for your children to help spark their interest in STEAM activities.  Honestly, if you bought a Switch for your kids, there's a good enough chance they probably don't even need Labo to have fun with the Switch itself, but this is an amazing way to let them interact with the Switch on a completely different level.  If you help your kids put together, I'm sure you'll even find some fun with it yourself.  

#5 

So I know this is way off in the distance, but I highly doubt the Switch will have a price drop when the game finally comes out, not with the success it's been enjoying currently.  Now, when Metroid Prime 4 does release, it's most likely going to be the Breath of the Wild and Odyssey of the Metroid Prime franchise.  If you're any kind of fan of Nintendo, then you're a Metroid fan and I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't be excited to play a new Metroid, let alone a Metroid Prime game, on the Switch. Also, don't forget, it's portable so you don't have to worry about finding a save point if you have to leave for work.  Just take it with you!

#6

You want another hard hitting exclusive? Bayonetta 3!  I'm sure you love action games, and Platinum makes some of the best around.  One of my favorites is Bayonetta.  I never got around to playing the second, but I already know how excellent that game was from the reviews and secondhand from people who've played it.  I have no reason to doubt that the third title will not disappoint.  "But I'm not going to buy a Switch for just one game!"  So sick of hearing that... This is just like those saying they won't buy it for just two games... You'll have plenty of games to choose from when the game you really want comes out, and again, I doubt the price will drop by then so you might as well just buy a Switch now and start enjoying it.  

#7: Wii U Ports

 

 

This goes back to what I was saying with Mario Kart 8.  There's a good chance you never purchased a Wii U, so with Wii U games now coming to the Switch, you have more reasons to get a Switch.  I also included Lego City Undercover because it was at one point a Wii U exclusive but even though it was ported to other systems, they don't have the same tablet features the Wii U had, which I'm sure you'll be able to use in the Switch version.  That makes the Switch version of Lego City Undercover the definitive version to own. "But, why are they charging 60 dollars for old games?!"  Depends on the value.  People seem to think there's still value in these games, hence the prices.  Click here to read my thoughts about that. 

#8: It's the Definitive Platform for RPGs

Granted, there's going to be a few major RPGs that might never see the light of day on the Switch, but the Switch already has several great ones to choose from.  There's RPG Factory's I am Setsuna and Lost Sphear. There's NIS America's Disgaea 5 Complete.  There's Monolith's Xenoblade Chronicles 2.  There's also Square Enix's upcoming Project Octopath which I've played a demo of, and it is FANTASTIC.  Now, what makes the Switch the definitive platform for RPGs is the simple fact that it's portable.  If you've played RPGs at all, you know how frustrating it is to be waist deep in a dungeon only to have something come up, whether it's going to work or school or an emergency.  The beauty of the Switch... if I have to spell out it out again.. is that it's portable.  Sleep it, take it with you, resume when you've got a break.  I mean, come on!  Who wouldn't love to get a couple hours of dungeon grinding in while you're flying to the grandparents'?  

#9: It's the Definitive Platform for Indies

Ok, so I lied.  I have one more reason for you, and it's just too good not to list.  Ever since the Switch launched, it's being receiving a torrential downpour of support by indie game developers.  You have to take the good with the bad, though, because just like every platform that indie games release on, there's a lot of stinkers but a lot of certified gems as well.  This is certainly the case with the Switch.  I'm currently playing Celeste, and it's simply incredible. It brings all the fun and challenge of Super Meat Boy and mixes it with a thoughtful story and unique charm.  If that wasn't enough, I've been hearing nothing but excellent things about A Night in the Woods.  I'd love to get it right now, but there's just too much on my plate!  And again, just like what I said about the RPGs, the Switch is the definitive platform for indies because of its portability.  I don't have to wait until I get home to play Celeste.  I can simply play it on breaks at work.  I cannot emphasize enough how that convenient feature alone makes it worth the 300 dollars.  

You know what?  I just realized that I could continue to list reasons.  No, seriously, I could go on and on, but I already said I was going to list eight and went one over, so I'll just wrap it up with one other mention.  As of the time of this writing, there are 431 listings on Nintendo's eShop.  The system hasn't even been out for a full year yet, and it's closing on 500 games.  Even if you only have 1 percent interest in the Switch's library, that's about five games that you'll want to buy a switch for.  That's three games more than just the two you say isn't reason enough for, and that's on a VERY low estimate of what you'll be interested in playing on the Switch.  

It certainly does seem like Zelda and Mario are the only reasons to buy a Switch, but that's because those games are of such high quality, the radiance they emit from their respective pedestals makes it hard to notice other games.  Trust me, they're out there.  And there's more coming.  There's always things down in the pipeline and if you aren't interested in the Switch at this point especially if you never had a Wii U, then what exactly do you want from Nintendo?  Do you want Battlefront 2 or Destiny 2 on the Switch?  Why?  You most likely have it on the PS4 or Xbox One.  If you're waiting for those games to come on a Nintendo system, then clearly you're not a Nintendo fan because you'd have a Switch by now playing those Nintendo games.   If that's the case, then I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to change your mind, so I'm sorry for your wasting your time in reading this.