Music can make or break a game.  That is a known fact in the industry, and that is why so many developers spend so much on developing a great score. The music from the game Uncharted really helped to set the mood for the game. From the the opening scene to the end credits Naughty Dog nails it.  The rich and organic feel of the music punctuated by rhythmic drumbeats instantly transports the player to the jungle.  Here is a sample from the first game. Whereas this style and theme created a richer world for the first game.  I seriously doubt that it will lend anything to Among Thieves.  I have not played Uncharted 2, but I can say that with the utmost certainty because of the trailer. The sparse mountainous setting of Nepal is a great departure... [Read more]

I like to run and workout to stay in reasonably good shape.  One thing I have never done though is run a marathon.  It takes too much time to train for and the amount of punishment your body ends up taking is insane. In games though, your characters are the most insanely fit people on whatever planet you happen to be on. They can run up and down mountains, swim oceans, and climb to the heavens. Master Chief is a good example.  That guy never stops.  If he were an E9 in the Navy I was in, he would be drinking coffee and waiting for his retirement checks to start rolling in. I know that these are just games and not real life, but COD4 limited the ability to sprint for hours and that added to the overall realistic feel. I am not hung up on... [Read more]

Sorry for the Bon Jovi reference but it just seemed to fit. I had an interesting discussion with friends the other day about life meters. Life meters are a part of games that I have mixed emotions about.  Back in the day when arcade machines were fed with quarters, the life meter was a necessary evil.  If you were not dieing then you were not feeding the beast. With the advent of home consoles systems, life meters were made obsolete.  Dying every few seconds to get more quarters no longer serves any purpose. It was just annoying and could ruin a great game. So, on the one hand, new games with the old school life meters are pointless, but if the concept is modified to work so that life is regenerative then you have a visual way to gauge your... [Read more]

When was the last time you cut a celebration dance short to read the credits of the game you just PWND? If your answer was, “Credits? There are credits.”  You are not being a very considerate gamer. I know that reading the end credits of a game is on the level of watching paint dry, but it is the least we can for the men and women that put countless hours in to producing the games we love to play. My wife and I feel that it is important to acknowledge the creative minds behind the game. This post is not a sermon, I just wanted to remind everyone that we should be mindful of everyone in the industry. Image Source: Aoife city womanchile [Read more]

Where do game designers come up with clothes that the characters wear? It started when I played Tomb Raider for the first time.  I was like every other 16 year old boy and thought that is how every female should dress.  (except some moms and the elderly)  Then as I matured I stared to wonder – where does she keep all of those extra guns and items? The latest version of this problem I am having is with Far Cry 2 and Uncharted.  In Far Cry you runaround the desert in bluejeans and in Uncharted you run around the jungle in bluejeans. After all of the dust settles, both of these guys have perfect hair and pants that look like they just came off the rack with not one hole or grass stain. On a personal note, I only wish my pants fit that... [Read more]