Oh yes another one of my rants against 3D gaming.

via playstation.com

Some people may experience discomfort (such as eye strain, eye fatigue or nausea) while watching 3D video images or playing stereoscopic 3D games on 3D televisions. If you experience such discomfort, you should immediately discontinue use of your television until the discomfort subsides.

It also goes on to recommend parents consult a pediatrician before allowing children under the age of 6 to view the 3D images. It all sounds like a big medication commercial. You know, those ones that half the ad is devoted to some fast talking guy spitting out all the things that could go wrong if you take that medication.

Warnings are nothing new to the gaming experience. Open up any game manual and you’ll probably see the warning about seizures. Most people who are prone to seizure activity are smart enough to stay away from some or all games that might aggravate their condition.

Eyes are a different story. As I’ve stated in past posts, 3D gaming can’t be good for anyone’s vision. Hardcore gamers who sit in front of their TVs for hours on end could end up ruining their vision with prolonged exposure (opinion). Those who get nauseous from FPS will probably be out too when it comes to the 3D experience. Their stomachs will not take too kindly to the 3D images.

As usual I end my rant with, just because 3D is the next logical step doesn’t mean it’s the right way to go.

Oh the memories I have from playing The Sims. Back before we had internet at my house and when our PC and PlayStation were my gaming devices. I played for hours sitting in front of the computer playing creating weirdo people with crappy houses (until we discovered the money cheat code). More expansion packs came out and out computer got slower until we just weren’t interested anymore.

Since those days The Sims have moved up and onward without us. Finally resting with today’s The Sims 3. With TS3 getting so much success on PC why not bring the party to the console players?

April 27, 2010 - Electronic Arts is taking one of its most popular PC franchises and moving it over to consoles. The company announced The Sims 3 will now be heading to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS this coming fall.  (via ign.com)

Apparently I have missed a lot between the original Sims and today’s TS3. So much has been added an improved from the same basic game I was addicted to in middle school. But PC gaming is not my thing anymore. Boom! EA announces The Sims 3 heading to console and DS. Will I buy it? Maybe. I have such fond memories of the original but I will need screenshots and gameplay video before making the final decision.

With that I leave you with one question…

What was your favorite original Sims moment?

I know I’ve touched on this subject before but it really does touch a nerve with me. There are countless reasons why 3D needs to stay out of video games. The first being that 3D itself is a novelty! It does not enhance game play or movies, it’s just another tagline on your advertisement. Popular movies like Avatar and Clash of the Titans made it to number one at the box office partially because you could see it in 3D. 3D sells. Period. End of story.

Next on my list of “I think 3D should stay out of gaming” is cheesy 3D effects. This goes side by side with “does not enhance gameplay”. If I’m going to spend $60 on a game, I want it to “wow” me. I don’t want lame action scenes created only to have things flying at you in 3D. That’s amusing for about five seconds to a 10 year old. I fear the 3D will only bring about said lame actions scenes and crappy games will be on the rise.

And what about the price of those special shutter 3D glasses . These are not the cheap kind you toss after the movie. These bad boys are well up over $100 depending on the brand. Not the kind of money I have laying around for a pair of uncomfortable glasses that I’ll want to rip of my face after 30 minutes.

So 3D gaming supporters my challenge to you is to convince me. Why should I be looking forward to the day 3D gaming invades my experience?

Want to get videos from Hulu and YouTube right on your console? Play On is the way to do it. Install some software to your computer and you are ready to stream videos right to your 360, PS3, or Wii!

I don’t mean to sound like an infomercial but this download is worth the money if you hate watching Hulu with strained eyes at the computer screen. For twenty bucks (if you use the code LIFETIME before the end of the month) you get the download with unlimited access to all of your favorite video sites.

So check it out. They have a FREE trial!

We all know that times are tough when it comes to money these days. But charging for a video game demo? Are things really that bad?

Electronic Arts is getting ready to start charging for what they call “premium” demo versions that could go for $10-$15. These demos would contain around 3-4 hours of the full version of the game.

I can say with confidence that I would never shell out any dollar amount for a fraction of a video game. And I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.

The whole point of a game demo is to play a little bit of the game before you decide to shell out the cash for the full version. Paying for a demo defeats the actual purpose of a demo!

Charging for a demo, regardless of the amount of content it holds, is taking advantage of the gaming community. Say a game like MW2 had a premium demo. Gamers everywhere would not hesitate laying down the cash to play before the release. Or it could go the other way. A terrible game has a premium demo. A handful of players would buy it and regret spending even a penny on it.

Find another way to make money EA. I’m sure there are better ways.

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The countdown to PAX East continues. One week until I can totally geek out for an entire weekend. It’s time to touch on a few things that I am most looking forward to at this, my very first video game convention.

“Traversing the Twitterverse, and Beyond!”- A panel of some of my favorite tweeps, @majornelson, @fourzerotwo, and @XboxSupport giving gamers the low down about responding to the gaming community via social outlets such as twitter, facebook, and the forums.

“Girls and Games: The Growing Role of Women in the Game Industry”- Need I say more? The amount of women gamers out there is on the rise. Does this effect the future of gaming? What can we do to get more women into gaming?

“The Death of Print”- Being an English major and hoping to one day see my name in print, this I want to hear. I am aware that the internet is the future but I’m interested to hear what some gaming magazine editors see as the next step for their information outlet.

“So You Want to Get into the Game Industry?”- Why yes, yes I do thanks. With graduation coming up in May, this will be the perfect place to check out my options for post-grad gaming related jobs.

and of course…

“X-Play LIVE: A Show on Television”- Who doesn’t want to jump and down like an idiot just to try and get on TV? (Be on the look out for some insane girl jumping up and down waving her arms. That’s me! )

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Like most online outlets Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network are just another place that hackers can seal your personal information. Yes, online gaming is supposed to be fun but there are some things you need to think about to keep it that way.

One of the simplest ways to prevent hacking is to create a good password. A good rule of thumb is to create one with at least 6 characters and use both numbers and capital letters. With that I must stress the obvious fact that you should not give your password out to ANYONE!

No one from Microsoft will ever ask for your password. If you receive a message from someone stating that they are an agent from Microsoft and they need your Live ID and password, do not respond. File a complaint and block communications. They are posing only to get you to spill you’re information.

Most importantly, if you are a parent, you need keep an eye on what your children are doing if they play online games. It would also be smart to explain to them that just like real life they should not talk to strangers or give out any information to them. Children are most vulnerable to these online predators.

Online gaming is meant to be fun for everyone. Keep it that way by protecting yourself.

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As of yesterday Infinity Ward released this web page… Click me!

Those of us who are intelligent enough understood this as the official date announcement for Modern Warfare 2 ‘s new map pack.You may also notice that it only lists a date for the Xbox Live release. Back before the game was even released it was announced that Xbox would get the first map pack exclusivly for one month before the PS3. Therefore it is a possibility that the PS3 will have the maps somewhere around the end of April.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as excited as everyone else about the new maps. But shouldn’t a few more important things be fixed before DLC is released? Instead of creating new maps IW should have created an all inclusive patch that fixes some of the things the previous one missed.

IW should be working to fix their game not add to the chaos. How many glitches will come with this map pack? Hopefully IW didn’t rush the release of this DLC in the hopes of silencing the angry gamers. Any glitches with this pack will send players into an absolute uproar.

All I can say is that I and many other COD fans expected more from IW. Hiding in your office and turning off everything to hide from the consumers is useless. We will find you. Fix your game!

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With 3D movies on the rise and 3D TV on the way(some places already here), when can we expect 3D video games? Better yet is 3D gaming something we want?

Personally 3D gaming isn’t something I totally buy into quite yet. I am content with the amazing 2D graphics that are being produced right now. The thought of sitting down to some game time and having to wear glasses for it, is not particularly appetizing to me. After a 3D movie I am always ready to toss those things in the barrel.

Will 3D gaming  take over all games or just select ones?  It would be a great waste of money to create 3D games that are not enhanced at all by the technology. Is 3D Rockband something you would be itching to get your hands on?

3D does seem to be what is in store for the future of gaming. Hopefully developers take the time to put their efforts into the story of a game rather than just the effects. Visuals are only half the battle. They will need to continue to engage the player’s mind as well as visually stimulate them. One without the other is a waste of our time and our money.

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We are officially 20 days away from PAX East and I could not be more excited. This is the first ever PAX held outside of Washington State. It is going to be EPIC!!

For those unfamiliar with PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) here’s the deal… (from http://www.paxsite.com/paxeast/faqs.php)

PAX East is a three-day game festival for tabletop, videogame, and PC gamers. We call it a festival because in addition to dedicated tournaments and freeplay areas we’ve got nerdcore concerts, panel discussions, and an exhibitor hall filled with booths displaying the latest from top game publishers and developers.

So basically it’s a huge party for gamers everywhere to come play, network, compete, and just hang out. A place for all us gaming nerds to come together and be ourselves.

What could be better than getting together with people who love the same thing you do? Gaming is no longer just a hobby that some pick up for their free time. It is a living breathing industry that breeds millions of players and companies. Blogs, magazines, websites about gaming are everywhere you look. PAX is a place for all those outlets of people mix and gather information from each other.

I’ll be there all three days soaking in every moment. Who else is counting down to PAX East?!!

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