Three titles are available from the PlayStation Store with the PixelJunk moniker: Racers, Monsters, and Eden. I wasn’t that impressed with the first title. The second was interesting and had some strategic elements that gave it depth. However, the third title in this series is a sight (and sound) to behold.
PixelJunk Eden is a 2D platformer with visually engaging graphics and immersive sound that bely it’s simple premise. The visual experience is a less comical (but every bit as “trippy”) as LocoRoco. This E-rated title is conceptually abstract and involves freeing pollen to grow plants that allow you to access more of the garden and collect “spectra.” Yea, I’ve played the game and that description doesn’t make much sense to me either, but trust me, this is truly worth playing.
Eden also has a number of really unique features too. For example, if you own a PSP, you can play the game on it using the Remote Play feature. It also has multiplayer capability (for up to three people) so that you can share the experience with your friends. And to top it off, the title has a built-in video capture capability that allows you to record sessions to the harddrive and upload them directly to YouTube.
I could go on for a while on this one, but I put it right up there with flOw and Everyday Shooter. It is a simple title that is fun to play with others. Because of the potential for frustration, I wouldn’t recommend it for children under five. But it’s a great title to play cooperatively with up to two others in the household.
Many point to certain titles currently available and identify them as fine examples of gaming as art. This certainly qualifies and does so while still maintaining the emphasis on gaming. Enjoy!
I enjoyed completing Star Wars: Force Unleashed for the PSP this week. It was quite a treat! Having said that, I wouldn’t consider it a game for the young ones.
I remember my parents previewing the original Star Wars (known now as “Episode IV: A New Hope”) back in the summer of 1977 to see if they thought that it would be appropriate fare for my brother (9) and me (11). Ironically, we were at home hiding under the covers because we had been watching the 1953 War of the Worlds. (Man, those aliens were creepy!) As it is, the PG rating seems overprotective for what most see these days. Yet, my parents wanted to be sure.
Fast-forward 31 years and we are looking at a videogame that has gotten a unique George Lucas seal of approval. This title is the official bridge between Episode III and Episode IV. Granted, depending on your choice at the final battle, you can experience either the canon or non-canon ending. But my real question as I was playing it was, “What would my parents have thought?” Honestly, this title is much darker than any of the original trilogy. Episode IV-VI feel much more innocent as they tell the story of Luke Skywalker. Whereas the newer trilogy (especially Episode II-III) have a much more sinister quality in that they document the tragic fall of his father Anakin.
But Force Unleashed tells the story of a boy who Darth Vader turns to the dark side of the Force after killing his father. Even the premise begins darker. As you play this character, you are responsible for slaying Jedi Knights and, in one level, you are expected to kill virtually everyone with whom you come in contact (enemies and allies alike) to eliminate surviving witnesses. Now don’t get me wrong - I really enjoyed the game. However, it is not the story that my parents would have taken my brother and me to see back in the Summer of 1977.
I have had a chance to play the demo for the PlayStation 3 and it is gorgeous. The PSP version is very impressive considering the capabilities of the handheld in comparison. I’ve seen the Xbox 360 version and it appears to be every bit as beautiful as the PS3 version and the Nintendo DS iteration seems to be on par with the PSP. I hear that the Wii takes advantage of the Wiimote for lightsaber control (how cool is that?!?!). I have never played a Star Wars game in which I felt more like a Jedi (or a Sith) than in this title. Sure, the camera can get a little squirrelly and the targeting is less than perfect. However, the immersive experience and the sense of awe that you will have at the power of the dark side is downright intoxicating.
Yet, I must say that the ESRB Teen rating for this is appropriate. This rating expects the player to be at least 13 years of age and considering the lack of respect for human life and the protagonist’s questionable ethical foundation, I would not necessarily want this anti-hero to be a role model for a young child. His actions could be perceived as too exhilarating when, in fact, they are driven by evil and manipulative purposes.
In classic Lucas form, the opportunity for redemption becomes available in the end. However, by that point, I question whether or not the player can be redeemed. I know that after 15 or so hours of playing this character and using the Force Choke and the Force Lightning (both non-Jedi Force powers), I don’t know to what extent I would want to cease using the power of the Force as an offensive tool.
All in all, it’s an excellent story that reveals some interesting information about the time that passes between the two trilogies. I would not recommend it for the younger children. But for the teens and older in your household, it is quite a ride. I also believe that this could provide an excellent discussion tool for ethical decisions for those middle schoolers and high schoolers in your family.
This week the ESRB has announced a new campaign (press release). They are partnering with the Parent Teacher Association to help parents within the community to recognize and utilize the rating system in order to identify appropriate game content for children. The initiative includes a booklet (view the electronic version) that will be distributed throughout the 26,000 PTAs nationwide.
We at Game Apparent always encourage families to look for the ESRB ratings on games before purchasing them. It’s a simple way to help parents filter media for which their children aren’t prepared. It’s good to see the ESRB engaging in proactive initiatives like this and the Game Search Widget (see the yellow box in the upper left corner of our main page).
For those who need a refresher, check out our original article about M.A.M.E. We will soon be posting our next episode of Game Apparent TV which will focus on my mindless rambling about the work that went into converting the Space Invaders cabinet we acquired in Episode 2. This is an opportunity for me to offer some technical details with some of the rambling filtered out.
In creating the M.A.M.E. cabinet, I had three essential jobs:
Building the cabinet (or modifying a non-functioning original)
Configuring software (the emulator and the games themselves)
Building and wiring the interface (including the control panel and display)
There are a number of sites with relevant information for all of this. However, I would like to focus on the third step. The first step is mostly wood-working. Though it’s challenging, it’s fairly straightforward. The second step is pure computer stuff. Except for picking a front-end interface, this was the easiest for me. However, the third step was the most intimidating. (For those of you who haven’t wired before, be sure to view the upcoming episode to see the bundle of spaghetti that hides underneath the panel!) Though the cabinet itself may seem like the element that brings authenticity to the arcade gaming experience, I contest that it’s the interface more than anything else. If the interface is right, once you begin playing everything else will just fade away…
Let’s hear it for people who are passionate about their beliefs! Adam Sessler shared this soapbox video on G4TV about parents playing games with their kids. He reacted to the same study that we reported here on November 12th. The big issue that he is pushing here is that parents should be involved with their children. I would hope that this concept does not seem foreign to anyone.
He provides a great analogy to his own childhood experience with Star Wars. (Check out the great Darth Vader in the corner of the scree capture!) He never knew that his parents didn’t like it because they watched all the movies with him. They wanted to be involved with their child and understand his interests. This is a crucial point that I know I have been at risk of overlooking - It doesn’t matter whether or not we (the parents) like something. We should take interest in all of the things for which our children care.
My wife has already demonstrated this on a level reserved for martyrs. She hates bugs. Really - Hates - Bugs. (Especially water-bugs and these wicked-fast silverfish things.) If something found its way into our house, she didn’t even want to look at it. Our son is now four years old and he adores bugs. He spends summer days turning over rocks to study them and begs us to go to the insectarium. My wife will go with us and read books that have pictures that show spider fangs blown-up 100x. She hates bugs, but she loves our son. Since he loves bugs, she plays with him and helps him draw pictures. Heck, even last spring she showed great restraint when she helped him hold a giant centipede at a special event at the local butterfly house.
The fact is, whether it be games and television shows or bugs and sports, we need to stay engaged with our kids. Gaming is just one opportunity to bond, but if it’s an important part of your child’s life, you owe it to your kid and yourself to try to get involved. Even if you don’t play the game, ask questions about it and find out what the draw is. You may be surprised at what lessons can be learned and what opportunities can arise.
To all the families, to all the gamers, and to all the families with gamers - Happy Thanksgiving from Game Apparent!
Sony seems to have wished PS3 owners with the PSEye a Happy Thanksgiving as well. Two new titles appeared Tuesday of this week just in time for your holiday gathering. Both are kid-friendly too!
The first is Aquatopia and I would describe it as an electronic fish tank. It’s very pretty and you don’t have to worry about cleaning the water! The Eye makes it look as though you can see your own reflection in the tank. Many of the fish are attracted to movement so when you move your hand, some fish will follow it. Also, moving your fingers at the water’s surface feeds the fish.
It may be a simple diversion, but at $1.99 USD it’s hard to beat. Also, it might give the kids something interesting to do while you’re dealing with the after effects of the turkey and it’s tryptophan. (Yes, I know that the effects of tryptophan within turkey are exaggerated, but for whatever reason, we’re always exhausted.)
The second download is a little more ($4.99 USD), but it offers a more traditional game experience. It’s called Operation: Creature Featureand it’s a lot like Lemmings with an Eye interface. You basically guide these little creatures with your hands in order to get them out of harms way. Each level poses new challenges. It’s very simple to learn and it poses enough of a challenge that young and old will find some entertainment value.
I know that we have much for which to be thankful and I hope that you all do too. Take care and enjoy your families!
