Written By Stephen Heller
While the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP have been enjoying their supremacy in the handheld market this generation, Apple’s iPhone is really stepping it up. With graphics that are better than the Nintendo DS, and an easy to access App Store, one has to wonder what is next for the multi function device.
The recently released Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition from Lucasarts has found it’s way onto the App Store, and with all the features intact from it’s Xbox 360 and PC counterparts. Weighing in at a mere 350mb and a measly $9.99 you can purchase a fully fledged game that will last 5-10 hours, for less than a quarter of the price of a new release Nintendo DS game.
Other developers are really backing the platform, EA releasing hand held versions of The Sims 3 and Spore, classic games such as Uno and new unique titles such as the ever popular Tap Tap Revenge. Even classics such as Wolfenstein 3D are making an appearance on the app store.
Will the iPhone replace the Nintendo DS or the Sony PSP? While the iPhone does rival such devices, it doesn’t make a sale purely as a gaming device. The fact that Nintendo and Sony tailor their experience purely as a gaming device will suit games better. What the iPhone does manage to do is open up the door to quality games for casual gamers.
What are your thoughts on the iPhone becoming a formidable force in the world of handheld gaming?
26/07/2009
Return of the Adventure?
Written By Stephen Heller
Adventure games dominated the PC gaming scene in the early 1990’s. Their complex stories, memorable characters, uncanny ability to sit on the edge of clever dialogue and puzzling challenges seemed to be the formula for success. Companies such as Lucasarts and Sierra On-Line ran ahead of the pack releasing what are still today, some of the greatest adventure games of all time.
With the ever increasing popularity of the First Person Shooter with the phenomenal successes of Wolfenstein 3-D, Quake and Doom, and of course the continuing increases in home console development and market share, Adventure Gaming seemed to be a dying art by the end of the 90’s. Lucasarts pulled out of the race entirely, closing up their adventure department and cancelling popular series sequels such as Sam & Max Freelance Police which left fans of the genre with a sombre outlook on their beloved genre.
Yet the past few years have seen an ever increasing buzz in the world of adventure gamers, and now with the release of a new Monkey Island series one has to wonder, could we be seeing the return of the adventure?
Telltale Games have become the front runner with their largely successful Episodic adventure games, already releasing two seasons of new Sam & Max adventures, a series of Strongbad titles, Wallace and Gromit and now a return to an old Lucasarts classic Monkey Island. Gamers across the globe have revelled in the nostalgia value of continuing on with a beloved character in Guybrush Threepwood, and newcomers alike are loving Telltale’s new series so much they are wanting to sink their teeth into the previous titles in the series.
With that in mind Lucasarts are releasing a new “re-imagining” of the original Monkey Island sporting new graphics, with an option to go back to the original graphics of yesteryear. It’s a great concept, and Lucasarts have claimed that if it sells well, we can expect more to come.
With the recently released Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings gamers had the ability to unlock the ability to play through the classic point and click adventure Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. Is Lucasarts testing the water to see if they can make a comeback to the genre after abandoning it so long ago?
Just last week Lucasarts made an important announcement from the Twitter account, stating that they will be releasing their catalogue of titles across the STEAM platform for PC users. One of the first games available was Fate of Atlantis making this the second time it has been re-released this year alone!
Aside from the frontrunners there has been a slew of popular titles in the adventure genre lately with titles such as So Blonde, Zack & Wiki and A Vampyre Story which prove that the genre is really picking up the pace.
The world of adventure gaming has been abandoned for far too long, and with recent investments into old series such as Monkey Island, along with new adventures such as A Vampyre Story it begs the question is this going to be the return of the adventure!
13/07/2009
Back in the early 90's PC gaming wasn't just all FPS shooters and solitare, many developers were taking charge of a genre known as Point and Click adventure games. Some of the major players in the genre included Sierra, and Lucasarts, who were responsible for bringing some of the greatest games in the genre to our PC's.
Lucasarts really ran away with the genre with successive hits in the Monkey Island series, Sam and Max Hit The Road, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Day of the Tenticle and their final swan song, Grim Fandango.
Many of these titles are constantly listed on peoples top games of all time, and rightly so. They intorduced us to memorable stories, zany characters and gameplay that required a little more than run and gun tactics.
As gaming evolved it seemed that there was no need for the genre any longer, and major developers dropped out of the race. Yet we are slowly seeing a resurgence of point and click adventure titles on not only the PC platform, but also home consoles.
Telltale Games are really leading the pack with a series of critically acclaimed titles which include the Sam and Max series, Bone series and most recently the release of the Wallace and Gromit series.
Does this mean that a genre that seemed all forgotten still has a place in this gaming world of ours. Could this truly be the beginning of another "Golden Period" in gaming, with more on offer than just your average FPS, RTS and Puzzle title?
Do you have memories from the old point and click titles? Have you been one of the gamers who have only recently had a chance to experience the genre?
Stay tuned for a Lucasarts Point and Click retrospective in the next few days
19/04/2009
Well there seems to be a growing trend of PC case modding on MyFrag.com.au with a number of members deep into or just starting a custom case build of their own. Nothing as extreme as the mod pictured above but given that we’re all beginners at this sort of thing the learning process and gradual evolution of our projects is starting to encourage others to give it a try. The common goal amongst the members of MyFrag is to take an old out of date PC case and bring up to today’s standard. There’s a sense of personal satisfaction when you’ve taken an old discarded case are reworked it to your likings by using just your basic off the shelf supplies and tools.
It all started when a thread was started about modding thumb drives emerged a couple of months ago and as the days rolled by some pretty clever creations were posted, and that motivated me to get off my ass and start building a custom PC case that I’ve been thinking about doing for some time. To further add to the motivation we recently had a cool give away of a Custom Super Nintendo on MyWii. Hmmm…seems like the flavour for the year is “custom” because we’ve even seen current consoles attacked with some artistic talent. Lets hope this is an ongoing trend across all sites that will keep growing, but to stop myself digging up more info and further side tracking let me show you what the guys are up to over at MyFrag.
Project Rat Rig
This is what I’ve been chipping away in my free time. Thread: Project Rat Rig
It’s pretty much finished but there’s still a few more things I would like to add before I say “It’s finished!”
Viva La Liberation
This is what Slicingman has put together. Thread: Project Viva La Liberation
Before
After
Project EPIC FAIL (Skuttbox!)
This is what our resident MyFrag admin Skarteh has started working on. Thread: Project EPIC FAIL (Skuttbox!)
Before
Keep an eye on this project because it’s just getting started but some interesting design ideas have already been thrown around.
Project Lemonade
This is what Pongo has started working on. Thread: Project Lemonade
Before
Some very interesting ideas are in plan for this little case
xCaRmiNEx's Case Project
This is what xCaRmiNEx has started working on. Thread: xCaRmiNEx's Case Project
Before
Also deciding to give it a try is xCaRmiNEx who has already got a stripped out case to work with.
Pop into MyFrag and check out what’s going on, make some suggestions or even give case modding a try for your selves.
18/04/2009
F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin has simply grabbed me by the throat and dragged me in this week. I've been creeping down hallways and blasting my way through this horror FPS for this whole week and I'm still loving it! Monolith have proved once again that they are masters when it comes to creating atmosphere. Check out our full review for the PC version over here
Exciting games are starting to pop up this week with Street Fighter IV making a rather positive impression on me. It has a way of bringing about a nostalgic feeling, yet manages to stay fresh and exciting. Street Fighter IV drops for the Xbox 360 and PS3 this Thursday.
And last but not least, the one thing that is going to keep me occupied, at least until Killzone 2 drops next week, GTA Lost and Damned for the Xbox 360. This piece of DLC is sure to blow us all away! Sorry PC/PS3 fans, you miss out this time around. So glad I got that Xbox after all!
So what is keeping your attention at the moment kiddies? Let me know :)
17/02/2009