Nintendo Switch Presentation

The Nintendo Switch has finally been officially announced with a release date and it is less than 2 months away. Nintendo organized a very well two-day event packed with announces and information for their new console. I thought the presentation had for fans many great reasons to be excited about the Switch and several legitimate causes for concern.

Hardware wise, I am very impressed by the what the Nintendo Switch has to offer to gaming as both a home and portable gaming console. I am no expert in hard manufacturing cost, but I am skeptical on their focus with motion control. If motion control prevented a lower price point or features to improve its portability then I believe Nintendo made a huge mistake.

My major concern is that they went after the wrong third-party developers. I can think of 4 games right now that are already out that people would love to play on the Switch. Rocket League, Overcooked, Gang Beasts, Towerfall, and Videoball would all be great games that you can play on the go with friends. They already have the audience and credibility to make them succeed on the Switch and are games still being played.  

I understand and respect the hardware limitations, I am not asking for games like Mass Effect Andromeda on the Switch. That won’t be a problem since that isn’t its true strength. As long as there is a steady stream of great games being released they will be fine, but Nintendo can’t do this alone. Indie developers are best positioned to take advantage of the hard limitations and portable functionality of the Switch

I truly believe in the Switch’s ability to be a portable high-quality gaming experience is an extremely compelling reason for all types of gamers to get this console. All gamers would benefit from being able to let their friends enjoy the games they play at home anywhere. I truly hope the Switch is successful but I think the launch window is currently a major missed opportunity.  

Games Most Excited For In 2017

I haven’t seen a game this stacked with amazing games in a long time. I will actually be keeping many weekends to myself so I can play at least some of these games when they come out. While I know I won’t get to play them all this year doesn’t change the fact that I am super excited for them this year.

Persona 5

Unfortunately, this game has been a game I have been looking forward to way too long. I had it on my list as the game I was most excited for last year but the English version got delayed.  I probably would have gotten the Japanese version if it had English subs. No problem though since I am patient and want Atlus to get this right. Now since we have an official date here is hoping to no more delays.

Red Dead Redemption 2

I actually never played Red Dead Redemption last generation (Nor can I right now thanks to PS4 lack of backward compatibility) but I do know that this game was one of the best to come out that console cycle. Hopefully, I can get to play the first before playing this game but I have no intention of missing Red Dead Redemption 2 this console generation so who knows.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Zero Dawn just looks gorgeous but also mysterious. The world in this game is asking to explored and the mysteries to be solved. I got to play this game at E3 and left me with even more questions. Though since this game is a new IP I am making sure not to hype it up too much but I am very much keeping it on my radar and can’t wait to hear about it when it gets released very soon.

Mass Effect Andromeda

Another game series I never actually got to finish last console generation. Though what I did play I absolutely loved but alas college had much more pressing issues to attend to. (Common EA HD remake of the original trilogy) I am actually surprised this game hasn’t been spoiled for me. I can’t wait to hear more about this game when it comes out soon though hopefully nothing gets spoiled for me.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

I got in line 2 hours before E3 was open made sure this was the 1st game I played this year. I knew this game was going to be something special and that E3 demo sealed the deal.  I will be buying a Nintendo Switch this year just to play this game. Going around in that open world as Link was absolutely breathtaking. There are 2 games I will for sure complete this year and that is Persona 5 (I seriously waited a long time) and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

My Top 5 Games of 2016

My Top Games of 2016

What a year for gaming for me was it for 2016. I actually got to play a good amount of games ranging from alright to amazing. Some were let downs and others were complete surprises. So let’s jump right into it in no particular order. 

Pokemon Sun/Moon

I haven’t played a Pokemon game since generation Sapphire and Ruby. It’s been a while and a lot has changed but many for the better. Many of the systems added are greatly appreciated, in fact, the only thing I miss is the Gym Leaders. Overall this Pokemon game is extremely fun and something I enjoy playing when I am traveling.

Pokemon GO

This game surprised me in every single way. I did not expect this game to be something I would get into or something that the entire world would go crazy over. While the game itself isn’t that great it didn’t matter because of the social phenomenon it created. So many times going on errands or hanging with friends would me and my friends bust out our phones to try and catch Pokemon and see random strangers do the same exact thing. 

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End 

I love the Uncharted series and this game didn’t disappoint. This game delivered everything you would expect for the finale of Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series. (No spoilers it’s in the title) Can’t really talk too much about it though because it is the journey to that finale that makes the game so rewarding. If you love this series you owe it to yourself to play this game.

The Witness

I am absolutely horrible at puzzle games yet The Witness was able to grab me and keep my attention. I got so into this game I went out and bought graphing paper to help me solve the puzzles in this game. The puzzles can get very difficult but are never unfair which makes them extremely satisfying when you complete one. No matter how stuck I get I can’t help but solve it even it means taking a break and letting my mind just think about it.

Overwatch

Whenever I am stressed out I jump on Overwatch and play a couple of games which can turn into many hours. I am terrible at shooters and have no desire to play them in today's online environment which makes Overwatch perfect for me. I can contribute greatly to my team by playing as a support and tank and it is still incredibly fun for me.  This is my go-to game when I have a couple minutes of free time.

Other Notable Mentions

Job Simulator

If I want to show my gamer friends what VR is like this is the game I show to them on my PlayStation VR. 

That Dragon, Cancer

This game made me cry but it was beautiful.

INSIDE

What a special game but some parts were just too scary for my coward ass. 

Firewatch

Talking with Delilah was brilliant and made exploring the forest serene.

Riot Games and MLB Media Partnership

Riot Games and MLB Advanced Media have announced a partnership to help monetize and commercialize League of Legends. This is huge news for League of Legends which has one of the largest player bases in the Esports scene. While the details of this deal will not fully see fruition for fans until years from now if a better viewing experience is created then everyone wins.

John Skipper, ESPN President famously said that he didn’t believe Esports was a sport and he was only interested in covering real sports. Years later he has now changed his tune and admitted that he still learning at his age with ESPN taking a much more active role in Esports.  This isn’t an uncommon way of thinking especially among older professional sports veterans.  

Improvement in relations between traditional sports and Esports has been a positive turn of events. While Esports and traditional sports are different they also share a lot of similarities. Many veteran sports organizations can provide the experience and infrastructure to expand and monetize while Esports can teach traditional sports a few things about this new generation of digital consumers.

The average Esports consumer has grown up in the digital world. They love to consume their content digitally whether it be streaming shows or playing games online. It is because of this so many young people tend to gravitate towards Esports when it comes to competitive entertainment. This doesn’t mean they don’t love to watch traditional sports, just like to watch games they also play.

Video games are becoming as common as watching movies. There are many different types of gamers who play casually just on their phones or on a dedicated gaming hardware. It is just natural for people who consume video games to also enjoy watching professionals playing at the highest level. Though with that also comes growing up being used to getting your content for much cheaper.

This audience of the young digital age is used to their content being extremely accessible with a low barrier to entry. It is hard to monetize if your viewership is largely online using free services like Twitch and YouTube. The average Esports fan spends far less than the average traditional sports fan.

Broadcasting Esports is very expensive and if the industry wants to be sustainable it will need to figure out more sources of revenue. There are many challenges that need to be addressed such as creating a better environment for teams and players but none of that can be solved until Esports becomes profitable for everyone that invests in it.  

If Riot and MLB Advanced Media can create a product that users will want to spend money on without alienating those used to getting it for free on sites like Twitch and YouTube then this will be great for the Esports industry.

Showing My Family Virtual Reality

VR is here and I got myself a PlayStation VR. For all the hype surrounding VR now that it is the public it is going to very interesting to see how the public reacts to it. For the general public, this is the first real experience they will have with VR and I hope that it is great for many people because this will set the tone and future for this medium.

I got to finally set up my PS VR this holiday break and I can say that is going to be an issue. The amount of effort and space it takes for me to set up means I will only be using it to show off to family and friends or when I get a bigger place. Nothing against the PS VR but even as revolutionary as it VR doesn't change the fact that I play games to relax.

I got to show PS VR to my family and this was their 1st experience. My brother who is a gamer got Job Simulator very well. My parents who aren’t at all gamers couldn’t handle any interactive controls but they loved PlayStation VR Worlds. Ocean Descent was super easy for them to understand and they were mind blown by how immersed they felt.

We all had that scary movie moment where we mentally believed even if it was just for a brief moment that could happen to us. There are times in drama where we emotionally feel attached and sad when a character we like dies. Some games can make pressing a button even if it a simple decision intense. VR has the ability to do all of that but also make you forget that you are physically not in a real world.

It is that experience when you physically forget that you are in a fake world that only VR has the capability to do. My mom, dad, and uncle all tried to grab hold of the bars in Ocean Descent only to realize nothing was there. The fact that their brains were so easy to trick on the first generation of objectively the weakest VR platform speaks volumes to the future.

All the possibilities outside of gaming are so thrilling to envision. As a gamer, VR is the obvious relevant application to be excited about but that isn’t going to be the most significant function in the future. There is a reason why Facebook bought Oculus, they saw a future where this technology can be used for so much more.

The technology for VR is very impressive but this is just the beginning. It will be interesting to see how the gaming industry adapts to the launch of VR. Shue Yoshida said it best by saying this is just the first generation of VR and it going to take generations to see all the potential of what VR can bring.

Bethesda New Review Policy

Recently there has been a lot of talk about Bethesda announcing their new review policy about not giving early review copies to journalists. Many people are understandably upset on all sides. Let’s be clear Bethesda decision does not benefit their consumers, but it is totally their right to not give out early copies of the game for game media. I am just not sure if this is the right choice.  

Bethesda is one of the few companies that can get away with doing this for their games. Many of the smaller game companies would not be able to get away with this for the simple fact that those game journalists would just not review the game. Journalists have a lot of games to play and need the time to properly review games. Being given time before the game releases allow them to make the best review for their viewers which benefits everyone.

There are going to be games that aren’t even going to benefit from a review since they wouldn’t make sense like Pokemon GO. Sometimes the experience of the game can only objectively be critiqued when it is released into a public and the social aspect of it is truly realized. By then it might be too late to even review the game.

There are many topics that need to be discussed such as when game reviews actually make sense for a game in the age of ever updated games from when they are released to when the media should be given the game early to review.  I just want to briefly talk about what I think is the most important of all of them which is the relationship between the media and developers.

In the end of the day, what matters most is those game companies and the game media have a functioning and positive relationship with each other. When it comes to reviews, game companies need to trust that the media will to the best of their ability review the game in a way that their audience expects them to. The media needs ample time to research a game to give their best review.  

Video games are unlike many other forms of entertainment. Many games are relatively more expensive, time intensive, and requires more of your attention. Books, films, and music are all much less expensive and easier to consume which is why it is so popular. With the resources required for the average consumer it is important they have trusted sources they can turn to so they are getting the most out of all games.

When consumers can get trusted information to make sure they are playing the games that are best for them, the industry benefits. No one wins when a consumer is turned off of games forever because of one horrible experience. In this changing world how consumers get that information is ever changing and adapting, but that is ok as long as the core source of trust is kept.

Worlds At Staples Center

I got to attend my first Worlds and it was everything I dreamed of. I have to give a special shout out to my buddy Erika for getting me such amazing seats. I have been playing and watching League of Legends since beta and it has become one of the most important games to me. Lucky for me it has also become one of the most important games in the industry.

I got to attend the group stages in San Francisco and watched all the matches and I can say this game has become more entertaining to watch with every passing year from gameplay to production.  It was best highlighted by the amazing grand finals between SKT and Samsung. I honestly thought the series was over until the amazing close comeback that put the game 1 away from being a complete route.

It is awesome to see how much League has grown over the years. As a support player, I have gone from seeing professional supports from being a sole ward carrier to variety pool of champions with a diverse set of skills. From being able to focus on a tank champion to being a purely disruptive character meant to disable enemy champions at the worst time.

I am a Lakers fan so it was cool that Worlds was at Staples Center again. I have been before but actually never for a Lakers game because I was always broke as a kid and could never afford it. Since I had VIP tickets I was able to check out the VIP section in Staples Center which is something I would never be able to do for a Lakers game.  

League of Legends, it is great to see you still going strong and I can’t wait to see what you will be doing next season. League is current at the top Esports in the market for a reason and I know it will be like that for years to come. With Riot Games leadership, I only know good things will happen to the entire Esports industry.  

The Best E3 Demo Ever

Another year of games and amazing E3 content. This is now my 2nd time at E3 and was by far a way better experience than I could have imagined. Granted I only have been to two so there isn’t much to compare plus I learned a lot of mistakes from last time that I didn’t repeat. I am so glad I got to experience it again.

This year I got to attend the Bethesda press conference, my first Sony press conference, and demo amazing games like Horizon, Killing Floor 2, and For Honor. There is really so much I could talk about but there is only one thing that stood out from the rest on how amazing it was, Don’t get me wrong that isn’t a knock on everything else, but just a testament to how amazing this was.  

I am of course talking about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Wow was every single detail about this experience amazing. Not only was this the best experience I ever had at any E3, but for any gaming conference, I have ever attended. Everything from the design of the booth itself to the demo was on point and fit well into the vibe they were trying to pull off.

The booth was designed to make you feel like you were in the game with the forest open world feel. It was in a huge enclosed area with the floor made to look like grass, the walls like the vast horizon, and the support structure like parts of a temple we all are familiar with. No matter where you looked you were reminded of the vast open world of this game and man did the demo deliver that too.

Getting to explore the world in Breath of the Wild is reason enough for me to get the new Nintendo system. The game looked stunningly beautiful and seeing far into the horizon mountains that I could explore just made me so giddy with joy. This game looked to have so much to explore and find.

The world wasn’t the only thing that got me excited but the different ways you could play the game. I put a bomb on top of a tower I was on and next thing I realize I was being blown off falling to my death. It felt like the stupid shenanigans I did in Grand Theft Auto but with style of Zelda like throwing a bomb and using my magnet to move it on top of an enemy camp.

Thank you E3 for another great experience and thank you Zelda: Breath of the Wild for showing me the best game demo ever.

Virtual Reality Has Finally Arrived

If last year at GDC was developers seeing the possibility of VR, this year was seeing developers putting it all on the table. I saw so many different types of VR games from the classic action games to creative world creation tools. VR has evolved so much in just a year since GDC last year that is shocking that is going to be released this year.

I got to try so many awesome VR demos that have only more solidify my belief that VR will become a vital part of the gaming industry when it is released. I have been a firm believer in VR for years now, but the amount different types of experiences in VR is just totally mind blowing. PS VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive all have something unique about them for anyone interested in VR.

The coolest thing I got to try was the Birdly experience by SOMNIACS. Being attached to a machine having wind blown into your face as you fly around was terrifying in the best way possible. When I first jumped off the building to fly I thought I was falling. To have the feeling of then flying and the emotion of soaring through the buildings was an immersive experience I hope everyone gets to try because it is what VR is all about.

Seeing what developers are learning and discovering about VR is exciting. While virtual reality is not new in any way it is in completely new territory. The level of technology that is available now on all the VR platforms and the talented developers that are taking advantage show that everyone is taking the complexity of developing of VR seriously.

It is so surreal to know that VR is coming out so soon, in fact, this month for Oculus. It will be so interesting to see how the industry changes with the release of VR if there are any noticeable changes at all. I truly believe VR is here to stay, but I am not sure how and if it changes the gaming industry  

Games Most Excited For In 2016

Man am I excited for the games that will be coming out in 2016. We are going to finally gonna have virtual reality becoming a reality. Many game franchises that were successful in the previous generation (or 2) are making their debut this generation.  

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

I don’t really have time to play games anymore let alone play games that take more than 20 hours to complete. I will make time for Uncharted 4 though. I love the Uncharted series and there is no way I am missing the finale of Nathan Drake. I am super excited to see how this story will end.

Job Simulator

This is the VR game I am most excited for this year. Granted I hate horror games so my list of games is dramatically cut which is alright gotta do what the market wants. Still this game just looks like a lot of fun while also showcasing what even the most basic VR tool set can possibly achieve in terms of immersion.

Overwatch

Having played this game at Blizzcon 2015 and being invited the beta I can say for sure the hype around this game is the real deal. This is a first person action multiplayer that anyone can play and have a bunch of fun in. So excited to play this during launch when all my friends can play matches with me and get into all types of chaotic action.

No Man’s Sky

No Man's Sky blew me away when I first saw the endless possibilities potential that this game has. There is so much mystery about this game such as how much of this is really a game, but that is alright. If Minecraft has taught us anything it is that games are being played so much more than it's gameplay these days.

Persona 5

Atlus you better make this game release in 2016 so I can take a Friday off of work and burn through this game in just 1 weekend cause I will. I can wait but dammit I will go insane since I have been waiting since PS3 just to play the next Persona game. Persona 3 and 4 were in my top 5 favorite games in the PS2 era and I need this game to come out!