Archive for December, 2007

Namco Museum

Video games have for long been a great source of killing time, at times an obsession and in cases merely a past time. Individuals from age eight to eighty have been hooked to these video games and the scenario hasn’t quite changed with the progress of time. In fact with the coming of computers and newly improved technologies, the graphics and techniques have made the games even more alluring.

Namco Museum is the video game which was introduced by Namco compiling the various games in PlayStation since the 1990s and is now supported by the Wii video gaming console for its usage. While it cannot be denied that Namco Museum received mixed responses upon its initial inception, but somehow there was certain amount of noticeable success which facilitated the release of multiple versions of this game.

The first of this series was Namco Museum Volume 1 which contained the various games from the 1980s like Galaga, New Rally-X, Rally-X, Pac-Man, Pole Position etc. The second volume followed in the same year and this series contained Dragon Buster, Grobda, Mappy, Xevious, Super Pac-Man etc. This was followed by Namco Museum Volume 3 which featured Dig Dug, Pole Position 2, Galaxion and Ms.Pac-Man which became popular in the United States of America in the year 1997. Volume 4 of this game contained Assault, Ordyne, Pac-Land etc. This was succeeded by Volume 5 containing Dragon Spirit, Metro Cross, Pac-Mania etc. Other versions of this game include the Namco Museum Advance, Namco Museum Encore, Namco Museum 64/DC, Namco Museum DC, Namco Museum Battle Collection, Namco Museum Remix etc. The Namco Museum Battle Collection contains some of its best known games like Pac-Man and Galaga and was introduced in the PlayStation Portable. All the games referred to in the above mentioned list included both single and multiplayer options and the multitudes of sequels of this series only justify its popularity.

The Sims refers to a premier video game series which was initially released to be played in PlayStation but is also available now in Xbox variants. It is more of a strategy based game designed by Will Wright consisting of 2D and 3D graphics and it gives an account of the diurnal activities of a group of virtual people called ‘Sims’ in course of living their lives in SimCity. Awarded as the best computer game in the year 2000 by GameSpot, The Sims has been emulated and reproduced in the form of compilations and sequels like The Sims 2 and upon its inception, it is estimated to have sold a whopping amount of around 16 million copies, thus entering into the pages of history as the best selling game ever.

In order to enlighten eth prospective players about this game, it is necessary to refer to the phrase which its creator Will Wright had rightfully commented once that it is a ‘digital dollhouse’. This is quite true as unlike the various computer games which are goal oriented and has definite missions, this game is on a different plane, dealing entirely with the life and times of the inhabitants of the fictional city called SimCity. The characters are already designed and the player usually has the control over the members of a family, consisting at the most eight individuals and his aim is to help the Sim attain his personal objectives. The game is definitely a way of testing the intelligence, presence of mind and strategic abilities of the player in case of similar real life situations. A notable innovation in the game is the language of the Sims which is known as Simlish language. The game does not provide translations into English and in many instances it has been noticed that the players themselves have indulged in re-interpreting the language and thus create dictionaries of their own to refer when needed.

Madden NFL07

Various video games have been launched modeled on the popular sports and the Madden NFL07 is the latest version of the very famous Madden NFL series replicating American soccer matches. The Madden NFL 07 is supported by the Xbox 360gaming console and it has been the first of the Madden series to make its appearance on the Wii and PlayStation3 consoles. The latest version has got certain new additional features. These include the use of jukes and spins, two for each by the players to deal with their rivals, use of highlight sticks, FreeMotion controls and Hikes, Runningback, Quarter Back, Kicker or Punter and Wide Receiver which are available on the Wii versions and can be used in accordance with the Wii Remote. The Lead Block Control is also a latest inclusion which aids the players to sweep past their unpleasant rivals at the time of positioning only. A huge variety of musicians have lent their voice and musical prowess to add to the effects of the game.

Since its inception and arrival in the world market, Madden NFL 07 has earned immense popularity and awards. In august 2006, it was adjudged BB& B’s Sports Game of the year. In the G4 television series X-Play it was again awarded as the Best Sporting Game of 2006. The Spike TV Guy’s Choice Awards, it won accolades for being the Game with the most Game. Moreover, Madden NFL 07’s Wii version was announced as the Best New Control Scheme and the Best Traditional Sports Game of 2006. This award was further facilitated by the exquisite new technical tools like the Wii remote which allowed various upgraded techniques like FreeMotion controls, hikes etc to be introduced as part of the game. So the Wii gaming console too here has a substantial role to play.

Resistance: Fall of Man

Resistance: Fall of Man is at times also referred to simply as Resistance or Fall of Man or RFOM in abbreviation. This game was released in the United States in 2006 and was a first person shooter video game manufactured by Insomniac Games for PlayStation3. From the time of its release, this video game has garnered lots of praise from the critics and has won a series of awards. These include GameSpot’s winner of the Best PlayStation3 game in 2006, being designated as Gameinformer’s one of the top 50 games of 2006, Best First Person Shooter on PlayStation3, Best Original Score, Best Graphics Technology and several more.
The crux of the game is held together by Sgt. Nathan Hale who has the undaunting task of combating the alien invaders who have furtively invaded Britain. The game is set in Siberia and it is interesting to note here how some of the major historical and political incidents of the twentieth century like the Great Depression, World War 1 and 2 and significantly the Red curtain phenomenon in Russia which was penetrated by the Chimera forces, have found their voices indirectly through this game. In the game, chimeras are extraterrestrial or celestial creatures’ whom the human forces guided by Nathan Hale have to contest. Apart from the aerial Chimeras called Angels, another enemy is the Clovens. This is a science fiction game and some of the arms and armaments used have an uncanny similarity with those that were in vogue in the 1950s. There are also certain fictitious weapons and each has separate functions of its own. RFOM allows multiplayer support with a maximum of 40 players.

This game despite its popularity was embroiled in controversy regarding the portrayal of the Manchester Cathedral in the game which shows it as a backdrop of gun fights and bloodshed and this fact was condemned by the church authorities forcing Sony to apologize on behalf of the manufacturers.