(Seemingly) No More Originality in Gaming

It would be a misnomer if I said that there haven't been any kind of originality in videogames in this current generations of consoles because they're have been some diamonds in the rough. But as for the vast majority, it's pretty damn obvious that most things are a rehash of the same damn game from last gen.

I mean, if you look at games within the past decade (that's this generation and last generation of consoles) the only thing that has vastly improved was graphics. That's a pretty big obvious with everything and your grandma is on 1080p. But graphics can only carry a game so far. There has to be gameplay that separates that from its competition and the overall experience should be unique. There been innovators yeah, I'm not shitting on their parade, this is for those whom harp on a dead horse well past it's original novelty. And the worst offenders are at times the originators themselves. I'll get more on that later. Lets start on what I think is a major player in this; first-person shooters and the blandness that they crap out day in and day out. 

It used to be that gamers were those who escaped into a world of fantasy and lure. Now it's appears to trend to gung-ho, frat-boy, meat heads who couldn't give two shits about where a game takes them as long as it makes them feel more like a man while they're blowing the crap out of zombies, terrorists, aliens, or any other moving target programmers could think of that would look good when it goes BOOM!!! And I'll admit I was caught up at one point when Counterstrike came out way back when, but I was enlisted during that time. I matured since then. And it wasn't the only thing I was playing (or doing) at the time. But it seems that it's was only yesterday that Call of Modern Warfare 15: Black Ops Opus with it's Sector Seven DLC which added on 40% more sand and brown crap and insta-nuke capabilities and it's being outshun by that Master Iron Chef that blows up aliens with their intergalactic insta-nuke. Don't anybody else see that it's the same damn game?!? It's friggin ridiculous what leaps and bounds his tripe keeps coming into peoples living rooms. I don't understand it, I don't believe it, I'm through with it. It's crap. Please, get me off this hell genre and on to the next fail before I die of a brain aneurism then get shot by an asshole meathead. 

Let's tackle something more my alley, rhythm games. When did these fuckin newbs think they get off thinking they're rock stars because they waste four months of their lives trying to finish Dragonforce and then declare themselves kings of rock? Pick up a real guitar and do that I tell them and do it, then I'll might consider you alright. Tapping on a toggle and frisbees with chopsticks don't make you a bad ass either. I swear it's like an electronic Dummies manual for those that walk a friggin straight line. Now I'll give credit with that game that's supposed to have an actual six-string as a controller, but if it's just a piece of shit novelty like the toy guitars I give my sons if they're good at K-Mart, than I'll let that be the last straw that kills this. Honestly, WE'RE RIPPING OFF OF SIMON!!! Who doesn't see this crap. I mean to advance as far as to adapt a memory version of Solitaire from the 70's?!? Im disgusted. It's just about as bad as those paper guitars... So lame...

As for public videogame enemy number three, the crapshoot goes to those that continue to shell out the same damn game but under a different title. The worst of the worst is sport games such as Madden, the 2K franchise, and NASCAR. Madden in my opinion haven't changed or even evolved since 2001 and in my opinion stopped giving a shit singe they've became the NFL videogame monopoly. That alone pisses me off cutting down some of the other variety to such a great alternative to the actual sport. I mean Blitz was a great variant much like NBA JAM did for basketball in the arcades. But now were left with mediocrity and lameness. Speaking of lameness, the 2K series of games are just that. Just a newer variant of what was originally perfected from the Dreamcast era of gaming. It was a golden nugget of gaming then, now it's just a nugget of feces where the only gold you can see is the corn I ate last night. Of course that could be my bias since I was a hardcore Dreamcast fanatic (still am), but hey, it's my blog. I fan be as bias as whatever the hell I want. And then of all the sporting games there's NASCAR (yes it is a sport). It's no Need For Speed or GTA, it's just turning left for hours on end and timing pits at the right time. It's just boring as a game. Doing it in real life is friggin exciting, but on a plastic steering wheel on your lap, hell no. Sport games are and will always be lame cause its meant to be PLAYED, not SIMULATED!!! And no, online poker is not a sport because it's not on ESPN, just real people playing with other real people.

But that's my grief in gaming for the moment. Next time I come back to talk about gaming, I'll bring up some goodness to talk about. Because let's face it, videogames are meant to be fun and enjoyable. Then again, it's also fun to bash on something that is in dire need to be put in it's place.

BootLeG sampler.. signing out...

Oh, and just to be fair, RPGs are all in the same damn mix too.  Don't believe me, here's a flow chart that proves me right.

Drive-by Humor

I was out with the wifie and kids earlier in the week and I noticed something that was a little odd on a particular object of my affection.  A pool table (or billiard table for those that want to be snobby) at a local Goodwill.  It would draw any normal red-blooded man to its attention.  I wanted it but knew two things: 1) I didn't have $130 to spend and 2) I don't have the space for a pool table.  I would still want to look at it.  But something caught my eye about the table.  It didn't make it a valuable table but it did make it one thing that I do love.  It made it a fail.  And I love fails.  So I posted a video about it to my Youtube account.  Worse case scenerio, it gave me practice on using the camcorder on my mobile to do it right next time.  Here it is...

And trust me, this is just the first of many more videos to come.

BootLeG sampler.. signing out...

Starting to get busy again

Starting to get busy again in my life as its slowing me down with actual humorous posts so I decided to give you all a little bit of an update. First and foremost I was a little bit under the weather the past two weeks if you weren't following me on Twitter. Finally getting over that but if that wasn't enough, I have other commitments that I have personally with my family. And in the whole scheme of things, family's first. Without the wifie and kids, I'm just at a lost.

That is just a quick synopsis of what's been happening this past week or so. Not to worry, I'm gonna try to get stuff out on a regular basis for this thing I call a blog. More to come, keep on the lookout.

BootLeG sampler.. signing out...

Sent from my mobile thingy...

List O' Reasons Why we Still Listen to Metallica

You know, after a string of WTF's and other random stuff, I realized that I've neglected some key points to my blog. One of which (if you couldn't have noticed with the title) are my infamous List O' posts. So I'm here to resurrect it from it's slumber. The other is my passion for music. So here's two birds with one stone. In the process of creating new topics to dissect, digest, and whatever follows that; I was on my way to work and had my music collection playing on random. I thus noticed that it seems like even though it's on random, certain tracks seem to be coming up. Ones I haven't heard in a while and others I've keep hearing from other people or the radio. Just so happens that this time it was Metallica I was hearing. And it got me wondering, "why do we still listen to Metallica"? I don't know about you, but here's my reasons why. Maybe your reasons are similar; but this isn't your blog is it... (j/k) So here are the List O' reasons why we still listen to Metallica. Oh, and just a FYI, I'm not numbering them in importance this time or limiting them to a set number like any others List O's from before, so let's all be surprised on how far this thing can go.

• They rock (or at least they did). Hell, you can't tell me if you ever were a fan of rock music for the past 25 years that you've never listened to a Metallica song. You're a liar and a poser if that's the case. Maybe (well, most likely) you're a fan off of anything they did up to their infamous "Black Album", and maybe you're like me and like the latter as a musical evolution / experimental avenue they took. The fact is that they still exist because they have a fan-base. They're practically irresistible because when we go to their shows we hear a little of all they offer. The old and the new. And in my opinion, it's all good (more on that on later bullet points to come).

• They're one of the most storied bands in history. It's no surprise that Metallica had it's ups and downs in one fashion or another. From it's beginnings with Dave Mustaine's drug and alcohol issues. To it's scare of the bands demise with the death of original bassist Cliff Burton. To the direction of their Load/Reload albums. The falling out of their second bassist Jason Newsted. To battles with rehab and Napster (again, more on that later). It appears that they're the Energizer battery of rock, just keep on going and going. I salute the band (not the individuals in the band because its Metallica that we're talking about) for their perseverance.

• Lars F'n Ulrich. The enemy of the torrents. Kinda like the anti-sampler.. in the fact that he's all about the Napster being legit and having DRM in all digital media. That's just my cup of tea as well as many others. Sure he's a phenomenal drummer and sure St. Anger was WAY TOO MUCH SNAIRE for most people (honestly I liked it, mostly) he'll be known for that douche that put Napster down and made it a paid service. He's an asshole for that, but hey, that was like almost 10 years ago, let it go already. If it wasn't for Bob Rock taking a shit on the production of their albums (you'll see which albums in the next bullet point), Lars would've been King of the Assholes.

• Death Magnetic. I'll admit, even though I liked Load, Reload, Garage Inc. (to a point), and S&M (more on that later), after St. Anger (all of which Bob Rock produced) I had my doubts that Metallica lost its "Metal" because it was trying too hard to be the best. I almost lost interest within 'tallica if it wasn't for their excellence in their earlier, heavier, ballsier stuff. Their songs used to tell epic stories with each riff, and I felt that they lost touch with that. Then Death Magnetic came out, and it was good. Pretty damn good. Rick F'n Ruben good. It was a breath of fresh air with a new producer and a clear head on where they knew they stood. They went back to what was they were known and good for, while still keeping it fresh and evolved. They even brought back an instrumental track (its only been since 1989 since we had that from them). So if you dismissed them for the sins of their past, give Death Magnetic a listen and you'll be hooked again.

• The potential of being the next bassist for Metallica. It seems to be that they go though bassists like my kids through baby teeth. They're bound to be out of the picture by age 10 or so. Which means it's just a few more years for them to consider BootLeG for their outfit. I mean, I can hang with most of their stuff on bass, and I really tear it up on "Bells" and "Orion". Gotta love keeping it old school. But knowing my luck I'll die in a bus accident in Prague or something. (I apologize to the memory of Cliff Burton for that joke, but that's probably what would happen to me).

• S&M. It was in my opinion a pretty damn good concept. Something straight outta left field if it wasn't for the late Michael Kamen who worked with other rock acts before (including Metallica with Nothing Else Matters). But fact of the matter is that it was a damn good production. It was an excellent effort in showing that they could take their music into any direction, and yes I love the concept of incorporating classical sounds into modern rock music. I want to see more acts like this. Screw playing unplugged, play with brass. They could call it "brass balls". I just wish they did three things with that project. One: did it more than a one time event. Two: made studio recordings of "-Human" and "No Leaf Clover", because those rocked a little more than most of what was on Load and Reload. Three: did more of their B-sides in that concert instead of the singles. Those three things Metallica, that's all I ask.

And that was the List O' that was. I hope that it gave you a little more insight to the phenomena that is Metallica from a fan and critic standpoint. Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna get my 'tallica on...

BootLeG sampler.. signing out...

WTF PEOPLE!?! Apps

I'm willing to concede that we are living in such an advanced time where there seem to be an app for everything if everyone else is willing to concede that the apps have put us into a symbiotic relationship to them.  It's just that simple people.  I know it, you know it, we all know it...  We just don't want to admit it. Hopefully this will shine some light to the matter.

I've talked about apps briefly in a previous post and I still stand by that.  But like technology does so must apps too, and evolve.  It seems that we are tethered into having an app for daily living as well as an escape from our reality.  There's games, music, games, organizers, games, social networks, games, and other crap that is mostly ridiculous.  Oh, did I mention games. A whole friggin boat load of them. And yes I seem to be addicted to them. I've fallen into the Matrix people, just start converting me into a AA right now...  Where should I start in this shenanigan, more of an accurate question is when.

It was about a month ago I finally broke down and stepped into the realm of smart devises.  Browse a few sites while texting, listening to my music collection, checking my email, running the whole gauntlet of what comes standard with these things.  It was euphoria. Finally realizing what I was missing. Then I started to think, "what else is this thing missing?". APPS!!! Pretty much the other main function is loading it with a bunch of multi-touch games and other crap. And in my brief time with this I've noticed that there are a few that are helpful, some are a good use of wasted time, and others are just a waste of gigabytes. 

But mostly they're a waste.  I've had the opportunity to look into some apps.  And the term " for what it's worth" couldn't be more appropriate. Angry Birds, Texting Of The Bread, and Fruit Ninja was probably the best $.99 I spent so far with this while The Price Is Right was an addictive purchase because I'm a sucker for game shows.  And some of the free apps are decent at best, such as Pandora, Facebook, and Twitter; which I seem to be abusing every chance I get. But as all free stuff goes, 99% of it is total crap. Being that it is either ad filled and you would have to pay to get rid of (if it even gave that option on some apps) or have to pay to unlock certain features (which I am guilty of doing on a rare occasion; damn you "oh my balls"). But I can see everyones obsession with these damn things.  It's the new wave of technological crack cocaine we've came to embrace. And embrace we shall until the next new thing come out.

Believe me this is just the peak of the iceberg. It's what within the apps that draw us together. The obvious are the social networking apps but the games (which I have been mostly doing) can share, compare, and brag about all the smack you're doing in the game. Then again, a lot can be said about all the Playstation 3 achievements on my friends Facebook's wall.

So let me stop before I lose my friggin mind on all this app talk and get back to other means of entertainment, like watching Netflix on my TV instead of my mobile device.

BootLeG sampler.. signing out...