A Wii Players Conundrum

I am now confronted with a serious problem. I have been playing FPS shooters on the Wii for years. The muscle memory in my hands and fingers know just what to do to make my character perform the way I want him too, using the Wiimote and the Nunchuck on the Nintendo Wii. And now, Nintendo has decided, in the creation of their next generation console, to go back to a game pad approach for the controls on the new system. We have been told this new system will be backwards compatible with Wii games, to include Wiimote and Nunchuck use. However, new FPS shooters on the new system will invariably require the use of the new control scheme, and my hands just are not wired for that right now.

I do have Monster Hunter Tri (MHT) for the Wii, and I use the classic controller for that game, so at this point, I am wondering if I can map the controls on the classic controller for Conduit 2 (the latest FPS for the WII) to match, as nearly as possible, the way they are mapped for MHT.

My other thought, since an Xbox 360 snuck its way into our house some time ago, is to play Black Ops on the Xbox endlessly, until my brain begins rewiring muscle memory into my hands and fingers for an FPS game using a game pad. This seems to me to be my best hope. I have played Black Ops on the Xbox a few times, and I suck at it, for this very reason. However, it may be time to bite the bullet, figuratively and electronically, until such time as my hands figure out what they are supposed to do without me thinking about it.

For those interested in learning a bit more about muscle memory, follow the link below to read a Wikipedia article relating to the subject.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_memory

Nintendo Fans Wish List Becomes Reality?

So Nintendo fans are getting a new system. Release, according to IGN, is slated for April 2012. Currently the new console project is known as Project Café. There is also speculation that it will be known as the Nintendo Stream upon its release. I was all set to write a piece about what Nintendo fans should get in a new console, based on an article IGN put out a few days ago that addressed a storm of rumors about the new system. That article can be seen here: http://wii.ign.com/articles/116/1164332p1.html.

I was going to talk about controllers, Wiimote compatibility, hardware design, and the opportunity that Nintendo has to get this right and blow Xbox and Playstation out of the water. Based on a more recent article just put out by IGN (http://wii.ign.com/articles/113/1135489p1.html?RSSwhen2011-04-27_184200&RSSid=1135489&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ignfeeds%2Fwii+%28IGN+Wii%29), it appears that Nintendo does, in fact, know what they are doing and wants to get it right.

So……at this point, all that is left to me is to voice my desire to see at least one hard-core game released with the new console, either by Nintendo or a third party developer. More than likely, Nintendo will release a Nintendo game with the console, but I am afraid, as good as they can be and have been, that the game will lean more towards a family friendly game approach. What I, and many Nintendo fans would love to see, is a hard-core game that maximizes the power of the new console, to show the world what we Nintendo fans have known for years, and that is that Nintendo is the way to go. As a Nintendo fan, I would love to see Nintendo leave Xbox in the dust with the release of a beast of a hard-core game upon the release of its new console. Then all of us in Nintendo Land can say……"Na-na-na-na-na-na."

Twas the Week Before Black Ops

‘Twas the week before Black Ops and all through the clan,
Not a soldier was stirring, not one single man.
The controllers were hung by the Wii with great care,
In hopes that much greatness soon would be there.

The members were waiting by Gamestop that night,
While visions of Headbanging gave them no fright.
And Eagle on wings and d in his cap,
Had just settled down for a long boring nap.

When out in the world there arose such a clatter,
Uber sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the store he flew like a flash,
Tore open the doors and grabbed for his cash.

The clerks in the store stared out in wonder,
At so many guests who started to blubber.
When what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a shiny new game beside the cashier.

With a grumpy old man behind the store counter,
Wearing what else but large reindeer antlers.
With disarming speed so lively and quick,
He beat them all back with his giant boomstick.

Now Eagle, now Gunbar, now d and fine Uber,
On Nemesis, on Cat, nothing else matters.
To the top of the counter he stood mighty tall
With his lovely boomstick, fighting them all.

With many dry bones he made that stick sing,
Giving us all far more than a tap, more than a sting.
At the top of his lungs, above the high wall
He said “Take you your game, and dash away all!”

So out of the store the customers all flew,
With Black Ops in hand, all shiny and new.
Back to their house, and by their TV,
They inserted the game, right into their Wii

The old man in his store, waiting again
Ordered the doors shut by his trusty doormen
We still heard him exclaim, ‘ere the doors were shut tight,
“Happy Black Ops to all, and to all a goodnight!’

MHT: Monster Weaknesses

I decided to make a post about MHT Monster Weaknesses. Sure, you can find the information on the MHT Wiki, but it takes a bit of time to go through it all. This post is intended solely for the purpose of a brief but informative list of what the monsters are weak to, an "At a Glance" guide, so to speak. I hope it is found to be useful. I am not going to concern myself with the minion (little) monsters, for two reasons. For beginners, it would be irrelevant due to the fact that even if they did have elemental weapons to use on small monsters, they would not be very strong yet. And for experienced hunters, the elemental weaknesses of small monsters are irrelevant because experience and skill more than make up for what kind of weapon is chosen to fight them with (in other words, if you're good, it does not matter what weapon you use on the small monsters). I am also not going to list the weaknesses for Great Jaggi and Qurupeco, for the same reasons stated above. I am going to begin with Royal Ludroth, and go on from there. I will list the monster, followed by a colon, after which I will list the weakness for that monster. So here we go.

Royal Ludroth: Fire, Thunder

Barroth: Water, Fire

Rathian: Dragon, Thunder

Gobul: Thunder, Fire

Great Baggi: Fire

Gigginox: Fire

Barioth: Fire

Uragaan: Water

Rathalos: Dragon

Diablos: Ice

Lagiacrus: Fire

Agnaktor: Water

Deviljho: Dragon, Thunder

Caedeus: Dragon

Jhen Mohran: Ice

Alatreon: Paralysis, Dragon (In Flight), Ice (Ground)

There you have it. Happy Hunting!!

MHT Room Names

Either my understanding of room names is way off, or people just have a total lack of respect and consideration of room names. I guess it could just be me. Maybe it's just that people like me so much, even though I am not on their friend roster, that everyone wants to be my friend in rooms created for Friend Roster play. Or maybe when I create a room for solo play, they think I am lonely and am desirous of companionship. Maybe someone here can help me decipher what's really going on.

Here are my questions. Why do folks enter a room created for friends who is not on my roster, then complain when I politely explain that the room is for me and my friends? I just don't get it. Or why do people enter a room I created for solo play, and leave after a few minutes when they get bored because I am on a lengthy solo quest? What did they expect when they entered? That I would just be sitting in the tavern, waiting for three more players to show up for a party? Is that the real definition of solo play? I don't know. Someone help me out here, because I really don't get it.

But the strange thing is, the reverse does not happen. When I create or go into a room for everyone (Everyone Welcome), I run into all sorts of folks not on my friend roster looking to create a party for quests. That's kind of what I expect, so I guess I am just not getting what the real etiquette should be.

Unless I am way out there in my understanding of room names, GET A CLUE PEOPLE. Don't enter a room for friends only if you are not on the friend roster of someone there. If you enter a solo play room, don't expect to form a party. I don't know about anyone else, but when I create a room for solo play, that's exactly what it means.

Get a frigging clue folks, and respect room names.

Video Games ARE Good For You: Part III

So, here we are on the last leg of this three part series. If this were a horse, it would have been shot and put out of its misery long ago. Fortunately, no angry parent has come chasing after me with a gun, so let’s wrap this up. In this final post, I’ll discuss how video games can help with visual development and look at a real life application as a result of playing video games. And finally, I will provide a brief summary of what we have learned.

Visual Development

According to one study, “Action video games may train our eyesight so we have a better contrast sensitivity function (CSF), which is our ability to detect shades and colors that differ from the background”. The study goes on to explain how video games may even help improve the physical process that take place in the brain behind the eye balls. In another study, it has been shown that playing video games not only helps with the physical process of visual development, but they also contribute in a positive way to increasing visual attention. In other words, playing video games might also help improve focus for people. Unless, of course, a child is sitting in a boring math or history class, and all he or she can think about is playing games after school. But don’t worry parents, as long as your child can graduate, regardless of the grade, playing video games can be a step in the right direction for young people entering the work force. We’ll look at that next.

Real Life Application

So here’s the crunch, the punch line, the benefits of having played video games in a very real and concrete way. Mom and dad, listen up. Guess who wants children who have been raised on video games: none other than dear old Uncle Sam. That’s right, the military has found that those who have played video games adapt very well to their electronic world. A report put out by CBS states: “In short, video games made better soldiers and sailors faster, safer and cheaper.” So while some may say that video games today are violent (and I would not disagree), these same violent games, the war games especially, are actually teaching our young people the same military tactics that the armed forces teach.

Summary

Ok, so this is where I put the stupid disclaimer stuff and provide a summary. I should probably mention that there could be just as many studies found that portray the negative side of video game addiction as there are that show the positive side. I didn’t do that, because I didn’t want to. I could say that if you play too much, you may end up with thick, black rimmed, coke bottle glasses, hands permanently cramped as if holding a game pad, and a bottom that has become irrevocably numb from sitting in the same position for hours on end. I should also mention that many of the studies included in this three part series did suggest that not all video games provided the benefits as discussed. In terms of the benefits, some games are more beneficial than others. You can read about this for yourself if you really want to. So…for the rest of the summary:

1. Cancel your Prozac prescriptions.
2. Find a way to convince your parents that you are doing your homework by playing video games.
3. Understand that you will actually be more social and have more friends as a result of playing.
4. Who needs an eye doctor? Just play video games – it will do your vision a world of good.
5. Continue to play video games, and get a job.

P.S. For some reason that is beyond me, I am having a problem with the links in this post. The links for the studies mentioned in this post are as follows:

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/03/action-video-games-improve-eyesight.ars

http://powerusers.edc.org/materials/Green-BavelierQuestionAbstract.pdf

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/08/eveningnews/main672455.shtml

Video Games ARE Good For You: Part II

Last week, we began this three part series by examining a study that showed the medical benefits of playing video games for those struggling with depression and other health issues. This week, we are going to look at how playing video games help children learn and develop social skills.

LEARNING

Let’s move on to the area of learning. In an article entitled “Why Video Games Make You Smart”, “According to some scientists and academics, video games can actually make you smarter. The strategic thinking and problem solving involved in video games makes them good learning machines.” The article goes on to explain a little bit about how video games work, how the brain learns, and how video games make learning fun. The study goes on to say: “Gamers must deal with immediate problems while keeping their long-term goals on their horizon. "'Probing' refers to the strategic thinking and complex problem solving of video games, according to James Paul Gee, professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Gee says that playing a video game is similar to working through a science problem. Like students in a laboratory, gamers must come up with a hypothesis. For example, the hidden treasure is in the castle. They engage in an action by hunting for the treasure. Gamers discover if their hypothesis is true or false when they search the castle. If they don't find the treasure, they revise their hypothesis the next time they play."

Well DUH!! Who wants boring? If I had a choice to learn logic and puzzle solving through textbooks vs. video games, I choose video games any day. And moms, think about it. Wouldn’t it be easier to get your kids to do their homework if it was a video game? Rather than fighting to get them off the games, you could actually be proud of what little Susie is learning with a game pad and joystick in her hot little hands. You may read the full article I reference in this section by clicking here. Let’s move on to social development.

SOCIAL SKILLS

How many times have you heard anyone say, or read somewhere, that playing video games can harm social development and social interactions? That sitting in front of a television or computer playing a game is harmful because it leads to a more solitary life and will stunt social growth? WRONG ANSWER!

"By providing places for social interaction and relationships beyond the workplace and home, MMOs have the capacity to function much like the hangouts of old," they said. And they take it one step further by suggesting that the lack of real-world hangouts "is what is driving the MMO phenomenon" in the first place.” In addition, MMO games can provide a deep, rich, entertaining, and valuable social structure for those who embrace them. “The researchers, Constance Steinkuehler and Dmitri Williams, claim that MMO’s function not like solitary dungeon cells, but more like coffee shops or pubs where something called ‘social bridging’ takes place.”Furthermore, MMO’s “reward players for cooperation and the formation of long-term player groups or “guilds”, (and) is part of the game. Game play in MMO’s is not a single solitary interaction between an individual and a technology.”

In fact, from personal experience, I can tell you that I have have met folks of all ages from across the globe. Video games can also help make the generation gap disappear, and bring people together who otherwise would never meet. There is also something to be said in learning to work together in teams to accomplish a goal impossible to achieve in solo play.

So mom, listen up – while sweet little Johnny is sitting in front of the television beating up bad guys, he may very well be doing it with online friends, meeting new people from different cultures, and reinforcing what he was taught in kindergarten. That is, how to share and play nice. Again, you can read the full article I reference in this section by clicking here.

I will wrap up this three part series next week when we look at how video games can help with visual development, and then finally examine a real life, ADULT application as a result of playing video games.