To be honest, I really didn’t think that there were very many handheld consoles out there, but after taking a look at this link, I have been convinced that there have been quite a few, but not many have had the right combination of consumer base, features, and well, software to warrant bothering with them. Before we stir, here’s a little history lesson for you. There are several cases to point to from the old guard (and the new), but I will stick to a few that you just might have heard of (wink).

It began here

Nintendo Gameboy (released 1989 in Japan, NA; 1990 in EU)

This is, and will always be, the first thought that comes to your mind when it comes to handheld gaming. I owned one, along with over 25 million others by the mid-90′s.

When Minoru Arakawa (CEO of Nintendo at the time) saw a demo of a little game called Tetris in 1988, the rights to the game were purchased SPECIFICALLY for this device. No more needs to be said. The birth of handheld gaming started here.

Too little, too late

SEGA Gamegear (1990 Japan; 1991 NA/EU)

Never had a chance. Sorry SEGA, but you showed up late to the party. By the time the Gamegear was out, Nintendo’s install case was of mammoth proportions and not looking back.

Rest of the Pack (pre-1995): Atari Lynx, TurboExpress, Bitcorp Gamate, Watara Supervision, Hartung Game Master

Due mostly to price and destroyed by the behemoth that was Nintendo’s marketing plan for the Gameboy, these barely hit the market, much less made a dent. Most boasted better technology than Gameboy, but with that came a higher price point.

Newer-but-still-older Guard:

Color time

Nintendo Gameboy Color (1998 globally)

Almost (Game.com came out beforehand) over before it started. No really. Before GBC hit shelves, Nintendo couldn’t keep up with the demand, from both sides. Developers wanted better hardware (GB and GB Pocket were putting constraints on what developers could do) and consumers wanted better games for their mobile companion (cell phones and mp3 players were a LONG way away). Nine (9) years after launching the original GB, Nintendo doubled the CPU and RAM, added a bigger screen (w/ COLOR this time), and basically strengthened its choke-hold on the handheld market.

Rest of the pack (1995-early 2000′s): Game.com, Neo-Geo Pocket Color, Wonderswan Color

Semi-old-but-getting-closer-to-current Guard:

Power up to Advanced

Nintendo Gameboy Advance, GBA SP, GB Micro (2001, 2003, 2005, respectively)

At this point, it was way passed child’s play. The cat had killed the mouse. More or less, endgame. This line gave a larger screen by moving the D-pad and buttons to the side and increased the power. Four (4) things is all you need to know: Final Fantasy, Zelda, Metroid, Sonic. Game. Over. Competition.

Enough with history, though. Wake up. I know it was boring, but humor me, would you? Had to visit the roots before we can discuss what’s going on in today’s landscape.

Console graphics in your hands, on the go

Now that you’re awake and paying attention, noticing a trend here? Good, because it doesn’t really start to get interesting until Sony enters the picture with their first-generation PSP. Some would say that Sony has barely made a dent, given the over-arching success that has been the Nintendo DS line of devices. I would be inclined to agree with them as well. Since it’s inception in 2004, the Nintendo DS (in its many iterations) has LEAD THE MARKET in devices sold. That’s 6 straight years (and primed to be 7 with this season’s 3DS).

2.3 out now; 3.0 coming...

Now that the mobile computing market is in full swing (Apple, Android, and WP7 all have games available on their respective marketplaces), the competition is actually fierce on the mobile gaming landscape.

Will Nintendo hold strong due to it’s killer hardware sales? Can we count smartphone purchases towards hardware gaming revenue? Will Apple parlay its success in the mp3 market into a true ‘media empire’ and dethrone Nintendo? Do Sony and Microsoft even have a chance?

All very pertinent questions. The crew from Platform Nation has thrown down with their thoughts and opinions on this topic. Here’s…

WHAT OUR WRITERS HAD TO SAY

Chris Forbis | MensaDad | Twitter |

3D Pokemon in your hands

I do some portable gaming on a DS – but not a lot.  I do see that changing soon.  I’m sold on the 3DS plus they recently announced that NetFlix will be available via the unit.  Oddly – that was the deal closer for me.  Now it not a matter of IF I get a 3DS but WHEN I get a 3DS.

Justin Keplinger | NinjaGabe | Twitter |

I love portable gaming, my first “system” was the original Gameboy, the brick, as it was better known. It was originally purchased for my mother to play Tetris, however once my father was convinced to buy Mario it was all over. Me and my sister would compete all the time to see who could get the furthest without a restart.
That began my love affair with portable gaming and some of my fondest gaming memories comes from portable games. There is something great about games that can still be fun, simple and yet extremely addictive without requiring a large learning curve.

King of the mountain

I currently own both the Nintendo DS and the PSP and they both get frequent use. I am as of this moment playing Golden Sun – Dark Dawn on the DS and plan on picking up God Eater Burst for the PSP when it comes out. I think it’s safe to say that will always try to own new portable systems, simply to be able to keep getting the games I love, however the verdict is out on the new Nintendo 3DS, and I have no idea what to think about the new PSP.

I’m not sure I want to “upgrade” the same systems for that amount of money, however I’m sure that all the new must play titles will be exclusive to the latest versions, thus forcing me to eventually fork over the cash. In summary, I love hand held systems and I don’t see that changing anytime in the future.

Stewart Loosemore | Stigweird85 | Twitter |

I have tried portable gaming systems and have used several over the years (Gameboy, Gameboy Colour, GBA, DS, Gamegear and PSP) While some have been used longer than others(the Gamegear and GBA) they all eventually suffered the same fate, which is to sit unused and unloved gathering dust. The problem for me is that developers have forgotten the idea of “portable” in a portable games system. Games need to be able to be played in short bursts or have frequent save points, I want to be able to play games on the bus or train between stops, so anything that delays actual game play is a downside for me.

**shivers**

Another problem is that there is too much emphasis on trying to recreate the experience of a home console on a handheld. While I appreciate have some version available to play of the game I don’t want a simple downgraded port(Gun for example).Taking Gun as an example again, I loved the game on the PS2, but on the PSP is was near unplayable as it required two thumb sticks and it wasn’t the only game that suffered from the problem. The biggest design flaw on the PSP was the single thumb stick and I’m glad Sony learned their lesson with the NGP

Portable gaming as I knew it is dying, the 3DS and the NGP will sell, but I doubt either will be as successful as the DS (and I still don’t understand how that is still selling hundreds of thousands of units on a monthly basis, surely everyone that wants one has one) The future lies in the Smartphone, fewer people are going to carry around an extra device for games if they game play similar quality games on something they already carry. Add to that the average app price of $2-$3 compared to $40-$60 for a 3DS or NGP titles and the worldwide financial instability and suddenly the portable gaming system doesn’t seem so attractive.

Mike Murphy | Chibi_Mike | Twitter |

Work that brain

Here’s the thing about portable gaming for me: ultimately, I personally have no use for it. I have a DS Lite, and I love it, but I work at home. When I have some free time for gaming, it’s almost always going to be on my tv. The most use my DS gets is when I wind down in bed before going to sleep. Usually with Tetris or Mr. Driller. Don’t get me wrong though- it’s a great device. Touch Detective, GTA: Chinatown Wars, Layton, Dragon Quest… the past few years have seen some amazing titles exclusive to it.

Used to have a PSP. Sold it. Like the Wii, it just wasn’t for me. Never got any use out of it.

I’ve been portable gaming for years. I started out with a Sega Game Gear, moved to the Gameboy Advance, and enjoyed the Nintendo DS for several years. Recently, I’ve played on the iPhone. While I think the iPhone has brought some great innovation to the mobile gaming space, for every Angry Birds there are 10,000 awful games created for no other reason than to trick you out of your dollar.

Can WP7 stick?

Most recently I switched to the new Windows Phone 7 platform, due partly because of the integration of Xbox LIVE. The thought of having my gamertag on the go, no matter how rudimentary, was an enticing feature. Since making the switch, I have tried nearly all of the Xbox LIVE enabled games on the platform. Some are bad, and some have been a lot of fun. And while you pay a little extra for the ability to unlock achievements on the go, the try before you buy feature they’ve carried over from the XBLA has kept me from making any bad buying decisions so far.

WP7 may never catch up to the sheer quantity of what is in iTunes, but Apple’s Gamecenter will never be able to compete with Xbox LIVE when it comes to integration and achievement hunting. I’ve enjoyed being an early adopter of the platform and continuing my mobile gaming career. I hope Microsoft can bring more games to WP7, along with new features like multiplayer into the mix. The potential is there. Hopefully this won’t be the next Game Gear.

Sent from my Windows Phone<—Left in for emphasis

Ross Wigg | LostPoetB24 | Twitter |

Brings back memories

Portable gaming has changed so much since it first came around. I remember back in high school using the graphing calculators to play games that was what my portable gaming experience was. Yes I had a game boy too but never realized the true power of on the go gaming. When I bought my first PSP I was in love with being able to travel and game it was like heaven. Gaming on the Ipod touch was an odd concept the first time I tried it but quickly was easy to fall in love with it. New games that are coming out are incredible in both game play and graphics. Now with the soon releasing NGP and the 3DS portable gaming can only go up. New technology is going to push portable gaming higher towards being able to re-create graphics once thought to be capable only on gaming computers. I personally can’t wait to see how well the portable market comes to be in the near future.

Mark Withers | PN Markwithers | Twitter |

The PSP for me was my dream handheld, finally I could have home console quality on the go, but it never got the support that its potential had. The NGP has me excited in the same way and I just hope Sony really throw money behind making this a success. The Nintendo DS just never appealed to me and I really tried to like it. Apple for me are the winners with portable gaming and not becasue I think they offer the better system or even better games, they simply have the larger audience and the acessibility is ideal for most consumers.

My ideal portable gaming device will allow me to play a game at home on my console, then when I have to leave I can save it and simply pick up where I left on the portable device.

Jim Magers | jimmagers |

Complete domination?

Apple will take over portable gaming with $1 games. I look foward to seeing what Nintendo and Sony will do with the Nintendo DS and PSP respectively. Unless they make some big changes they might just lose this war. You can already play online FPS, RTS, and RPG games on the iPhone. Compare that to what Sony and Nintendo offer and it’s obviously they are far behind.

Sent from my iPhone<—Again, left in for emphasis

Mitchel Broussard | a long way down | Twitter

How angry are they?

I’ve loved portable devices since the Sega Genesis handheld game system (Sonic was my life). I’ve had every iteration of the Gameboy, the DS and dabbled in the PSP when it first came out. I have fond memories of all the Pokemon games that came out with each Nintendo system, and using those confusing cables to battle and trade with my friends on the old Gameboys. Of course nowadays it’s much more streamlined: Angry Birds for $4.99 on my iPad has given me just as much, if not more, playtime and satisfaction as any of those shovelware titles I no doubt bought in my youth naivete. And with the advent of the 3DS, portable gaming is really starting to rocket into new frontiers. I can’t wait for the Marios and Zeldas in 3D but, honestly, I’m most excited for Animal Crossing and the inevitable 3D Pokemon game. Ten years later and I still feel that itch every couple of years to catch em all, and in 3D? Sign me up.

Cayci Phillips | Meridian |

Whoa boy. When I saw this week’s STIR topic, I took a deep breath, stretched my fingers and thought “Where oh where do I begin?” So prepare yourself, this may be a lengthy rant. There have been two drastic changes in the gaming industry that make me extremely nervous, and that is the introduction to social and mobile gaming. I know mobile platforms such as the PSP or Nintendo DS have been out for a while, and despite the fact that I don’t own either one I think they’re great. I also think games like Angry Birds for mobile phones are great, because they’re nice for that time and place when we can’t access other platforms. However, I don’t like the idea of releasing triple A titles on cell phones (i.e. Infinity Blade, Final Fantasy) or incorporating controllers and touch pads into future mobile phones, like Sony’s NGP. Don’t get me wrong, the technology the NGP possesses is fantastic and impressive. But I fear that developers will start to focus too much attention on this new found fad, thus hindering the quality of bigger console games. I know I know, I’m over exaggerating and overlooking the situation far too much I’m sure. But this economy isn’t getting any better and consumers are drawn to cheaper price points, which mobile (and social) gaming do have. I suppose my concern stems from owning a low quality smartphone. These high powered games that are being released are way too much to handle for a simple phone like mine, especially on top of wi-fi capabilities and a handful of apps. And I can’t help to ponder: If this mobile gaming gimmick keeps up, better and therefore more expensive phones are going to be produced. And I’d rather spend $20-$60 for games to play on my console at home than shell out $400-$500 every year on a brand new phone just to keep up with games. But, I suppose were left seeing where the mobile brand heads. And like I said, maybe I’m just being silly and I should just let it go. This trend can’t last forever, right?

Sent from my PearPhone©<— not sure what a PearPhone is, but also left in for emphasis

MY FINAL STIR

Patrick Talbert | AzraelPC | Twitter |

To be honest, I love my WP7. No desire for anything with that evil white fruit on it (always hated Apple in general because of their high prices). I ended up getting my WP7 for free (thank you, Walmart.com and LetsTalk.com!). I owned an original Gameboy, but only remember playing Tetris on it, which was a blast. I actually remember finishing the highest level on it, which made me feel special *sigh*.

I was considering getting the Samsung Captivate from AT&T with Android on it, but then I  read about how Microsoft was rebuilding their mobile operating system from scratch (completely true, by the way). Completely redone. Throw out all of your previous thoughts and reservations about Microsoft from a mobile-computing standpoint. I haven’t had a chance to try as many XBL games on WP7, but I’m looking forward to it.

Here’s what it comes down to: my schedule. I wake up at 5:45 am. Leave the house by 6:45 am. I carpool with my wife, and we talk, so no time to game. No time to game at work (I’m not being paid to play games). Leave work at 5 pm. On the way home with my wife, we eat dinner out most of the time. More quality time, so no game time. Arrive home at roughly 6 or 6:30 pm. Then it’s playtime for our dogs, who have been confined to the kitchen all day and need to run around. So no game time.

Basically I get from 7-ish PM until I go to bed (anywhere from 9:30pm to 11pm, depending on how I feel, so between 1.5 and 4 hours each day) to do what I want. I watch sports. I surf the web and play fantasy sports on ESPN. Leaves me with very little game time. The little time that I game, it’s on my Xbox 360 and new 1080p 120Hz TV.

I will say this about mobile gaming. When I’m using the bathroom, Flowerz and ilomilo (Flowerz is free and ilomilo was free when WP7 launched) pass the time really well. Sorry for the TMI, there.

THE RULES FOR STIR ARE SIMPLE

I pick a topic and ask the Platform Nation writers, editors and staff to send me their opinions.  Thanks go out to all the Platform Nation writers who contributed to Stir this week.  They are all part of the best writing team in the industry and I couldn’t do this without them.

Now, drop down into the comment box below and let us know how you feel about your the portable systems that you enjoy or your overall perspective on portable gaming in general.

Stay Stirred Every Weekend & Follow Us On Twitter!

**Links are courtesy of Wikipedia, Walmart, LetsTalk, and Windows Phone Marketplace**

So it’s been a good amount of time since Sony and Microsoft released their motion controllers: Playstation Move and Kinect, respectively. This week’s topic stirs the pot in the new arena of motion-control devices where we are still in need of having something tangible in our hands (Move) or if we are content simply using our bodies to affect the action.

The Nintendo Wii (this will be the ONLY time it’s mentioned) was a must-own console in many gaming households due to its unique feature: the motion-control device and allowing players to ‘be active’ while playing a video game. All of us enjoyed Wii Sports (and, later on, Wii Sports Resort) because it allowed us to bowl, box, and play tennis or baseball without having to actually leave the comfort of our homes. Sony and Microsoft have seen this as a need and crafted motion controllers of their own. My opinion is that Nintendo’s console is now virtually obsolete. Only if you enjoy the Nintendo first-party franchises (e.g.: Super Mario Bros, Zelda, etc) will you feel the need to bother with that console.

At the moment, Kinect seems to be winning out in the motion-controller war, but the winner will truly be the platform that takes full advantage of the capabilities of the technology (see all of the Kinect hacks that are out there as the proverbial tip of the iceberg) and allow future games to utilize its functionality.

Being able to motion a grenade throw in a FPS that actually throws the grenade would be a fantastic start. Or maybe a certain motion in a future iteration of Dragon Age (for magic spells) and Mass Effect (for biotics) in order to use certain abilities. That would be absolutely amazing.

At any rate, the readers of STIR aren’t interested in just me. They want to know what the rest of the crew thinks. Here’s your weekly helping of P*N’s thoughts:

Mitchel Broussard | a long way down | Twitter

Mitchell, you are a hypocrite, sir.

Oh, I knew this would happen. Finally I have to admit that I am the biggest hypocrite in the gaming world. So, in September of last year I posted a largely (read: entirely) negative article about how much Kinect would suck. Then I played it at a Best Buy for 20 minutes and became a turncoat. It’s just one of those things (I think the 3DS will have this effect for many, too) that you just can’t possibly get until you play it. My family and friends had a fantastic time acting the fool with it over the holidays, and I just recently maxed out my rank in Dance Central (my personal favorite). I am concerned about what is to come, because I really only know one retail game I’m interested in and that’s Child of Eden. But with recent announcements of games like The Gunstringer, my prediction of the peripheral being perfect for download only games seems to have been spot on. So I turned out to be completely and utterly wrong all those months ago. Well, Kinect makes me happy, and as a great and unfortunately named man once said, “I’d much rather be happy than right any day.”

Chris Forbis | MensaDad | Twitter |

I am definately leaning towards the Kinect.  First off – I don’t have a PS3 (yet).  Secondly – I think the Kinect will get more use in my household since we also have a Wii, Move just doesn’t feel like anything new.

I haven’t purchased a Kinect yet mainly because I’m waiting for more games of interest to support it.

THIS could be the future...

Stewart Loosemore | Stigweird85 | Twitter |

I doubt that [Kinect hacking] will have any real impact on the gaming aspect of Kinect but it just goes to show the quality and potential of Kinect as a piece of hardware.

It does raise an interesting question, if you had the skill and ability to use Kinect in any fashion, what would you use it for and why?  I would probably do something to automate my room. Imagine if you could open your window by waving your arm? Turn the TV on/off with a vocal command,  switch lights on and off with a snap of your finger (oh wait you can already do that) Okay so not the best example but it could be the start of something big, either that or it’s  the first step towards the world predicted in Wall-E.

Mike Murphy | Chibi_Mike | Twitter |

I haven’t picked up either the Kinect or Move (it doesn’t help that I don’t have a PS3), and I don’t plan on doing so any time soon.

We feel you, Mike.

This is because I really don’t care about motion controls to begin with. I bought a Wii back in 07, and sold it not even a year later. Never touched it. Wii Sports was fun, and Mario Galaxy was a’ight (then again I don’t really like 3D Mario games to begin with), but other than that, I never got much use out of it.

Maybe this makes me a cranky old man, but I like what I like. And what I don’t like is putting any physical amount of effort into doing something that’s meant to be relaxing. I don’t want to dance. I don’t want to wave my arms around. I don’t want to simulate playing baseball. I just want to run around stabbing and shooting dudes in the face.
And you don’t need motion controls for that.

Ross Phillips | Ross77 | Twitter |

I would buy a Move controller – mainly because I have a PS3.  Would I buy a Kinect controller if I had a 360? Probably as I like the fact it is hardware free for those playing the games.

I do think both are let down buy a lack of “must have” titles though.  I’m not saying the Wii is any better off here but if it wasn’t for the fact my kids love Just Dance then I don’t think it would get used all that much.

Jim Magers | jimmagers

Anybody remember the Nintendo Power Pad? When I was little I used to dream about motion controls but now I’m older…fatter…and lazier… I honestly can’t handle it. Maybe I’m too “old school” but I really don’t like the idea of flinging my arms around. Put your hands up if you’re a coach potato like me!

**I’m with you, Jim.**

MY FINAL STIR

Most consumers that want motion controllers seem to lean to their preferred platform, obviously. Personally speaking, I probably would never buy Playstation Move even if (when??) I purchased a PS3.

I honestly want to know what the point of motion controls are if you STILL HAVE TO HOLD A CONTROLLER!! With the Wii (promise that’s the final time I’ll mention it), you had to hold the Wiimote which looks similar to the Move’s controller (aside from the colored tip, of course). You have to strap it to your wrist to make sure that you don’t throw it through the television.

It’s blatantly obvious that I prefer Kinect over Move. And that’s not because I prefer Microsoft to Sony. Not one bit. Well, maybe a little. Either way, true motion controls are only achievable using one’s body. That’s my final stir.

THE RULES FOR STIR ARE SIMPLE

I pick a topic and ask the Platform Nation writers, editors and staff to send me their opinions.  Thanks go out to all the Platform Nation writers who contributed to Stir this week.  They are all part of the best writing team in the industry and I couldn’t do this without them.

Now, drop down into the comment box below and let us know which you prefer (Move or Kinect… none of that ‘other’ console business down there) and why. There’s a war going on out there! Who’s side are you on?!

Stay Stirred Every Weekend & Follow Us On Twitter!

This time every year, men and women across the globe are professing their mutual  love for one another. This being my first Stir, I wanted to pick a topic that felt apropos.

I have been with my wife for over nine years. I knew that when I met her, I could stop looking. Stories in some of our games show examples of this as well. My personal favorite couple is Kaim and Sarah from Lost Odyssey. Both immortal, they can truly spend eternity together. To some, this may seem like it would get old and annoying, but people truly meant for each other will always find a way to work things out.

Immortals truly together for eternity...

Romance and love are almost never at the forefront of a game’s storyline. They really make interesting subplots, though. In the case of Final Fantasy X, love plays a very healthy role in the storyline. In the case of Gears of War, one has to work to see the role that love plays there. In other titles (Mass Effect franchise, Dragon Age Origins, etc), love isn’t even a mandatory part of the player’s experience, but a path that is available to them. If you are a completionist like me, though, you will end up with someone.

If video games are going to be treated as a serious medium on par with film, then I urge studios to incorporate the emotions of the heart more often. Red Dead Redemption is a fantastic story, mainly due to the fact that Marston is going through all of the game’s events in order to get back his son and wife, whom he loves dearly, regardless of their past. The Grand Theft Auto franchise has never really gone the ‘love’ route so much as the occasional smattering of sex (which doesn’t count, in my opinion).

That said…

WHAT OUR WRITERS HAD TO SAY

Cooper Bibaud | Thirsty Robot | Twitter |

(Spoiler warning)

Some may see this as cheating, but my personal favorite love story in a videogame is that which appeared in the smash indy hit, Braid. Not only is Braid my favorite videogame love story, but also happens to be one of my favorite games of all time.

Braid

For those of you that have played through Braid, and obsessed over its complex story, will find one so deep and rich, and most of all, unexpected. On the surface it appears to be simply about one man –Tim, who’s Princess was snatched up by evil, and as a result is left with nothing but ill feelings of regret. As you reach the end you as the player realize that things may not be how they seem. Your rescue mission ends up not being a rescue at all.

The game had a huge impact on me, and I delved deeper into the story once reaching the end and finding the mysterious clues strewn about, along with the hidden stars that need to be collected in order to get the real ending. You find that the Princess actually represents the atomic bomb, and the story is not only one of love, but obsession. If you’ve yet to experience the beauty of Braid, please download it, and play it with your Valentine. Your mind’s will be blown.

Also, download one of the songs in it, “Lullaby Set” by Shira Kammen and Swan, from Wild Wood.

Sarah Howard | FFXPrincess | Twitter |

Story of love and sacrifice.

Of course mine is Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy X. The storyline for that game is fantastic as far as a love story goes. Tidus finds out that Yuna has to give her life to save the world, but he refuses to let that happen and wants to find an alternative method. I won’t spoil the ending, but I cried!

Stewart Loosemore | Stigweird85 | Twitter |

The first thing that springs to mind about romance and/or love in games is the Mass Effect franchise. In both games the romance subplot has been well written and always felt natural without being the main story driver or something was tacked on to sell games and/or gain publicity (not that it didn’t also do this) From the two games my favourite “romance” was with Tali, her story seemed the most realistic having being developed over two games and multiple years (in game time)

As couples go, I liked the unsaid and unexplored bond that developed between Monkey and Trip throughout the Enslaved game and I hope that they are revisited in the future (but I doubt this will ever happen) a special mention has to go to Heavy Rain, not for merit but for most obvious and most tacked on romance plotline.

At the end of the day, I appreciate a good love story and I’m not ashamed to admit it, but it needs to feel real. If you want to tell the story of a couple then you need to tell the story of the couple. Both characters need to be developed; they both need personalities, thoughts and emotions. If one character only exists as a love interest for another then you will rarely get a believable story.

Alyx Vance

Finally, if I had to pick 5 characters who I would like to send a card to or receive one from the in no particular order:

1. Jade (Beyond Good and Evil)
   
2. Rikku (Final Fantasy X and X-2)
3. Alyx Vance (Half Life 2, and Half Life 2 Episodes 1 and 2)
4. Tali (Mass Effect 1 and 2)

5.   Zoe (Left 4 Dead)

Mike Murphy | Chibi_Mike | Twitter |

Balthier

Mike: Will you be my Valentine?

Mitchell Broussard | ChaosWalking | Twitter |

The things I do...

My earliest experience with how deep a romantic storyline can go, but yet staying pretty damn simplistic, was in Shadow of the Colossus. There are many reasons the game is one of my all time favorites (haunting open world, epic boss fights, simple yet engrossing game design) but it’s really always been the sweet and simple story of “save the princess” that gets to me. This guy brings a girl over from some other land, and commits to destroying 16 giant beasts just to bring her back to life? The two barely speaking a line of dialogue (well besides the endless amusement of mashing the “call horse” button) throughout the entirety of the game? That, to me, must be one hell of a devotion to someone. Seriously, when you know someone would destroy over a dozen ancient colossi for your undying love, lock that one down. It doesn’t beat you over the head with how much they’re in love (hell she could even be his sister for all we know), it’s about as subtle as you can get. It assumes it’s audience is grown up and mature enough to grasp these concepts, and for that reason alone the love story in it deserves to be called one of the best in gaming.

MY FINAL STIR

Patrick Talbert | AzraelPC | Twitter |

Love is an essential life function. People who have experienced the emotion know what I mean. Those few of you that haven’t experienced it, you have my sympathy. I’ve always made it my personal goal in life to find that special person that God (or whatever diety/higher power you believe in, or even the universe itself) placed in this universe. Many would perceive this as a ‘soul mate’, but I don’t really believe in soul mates. I believe that each person has a set personality that melds well with certain other people’s personalities. It just takes time (and sometimes, just dumb luck) to find one of those special people.

What do YOU think, Platform Nation?

THE RULES FOR STIR ARE SIMPLE

I pick a topic and ask the Platform Nation writers, editors and staff to send me their opinions.  Thanks go out to all the Platform Nation writers who contributed to Stir this week.  They are all part of the best writing team in the industry and I couldn’t do this without them.

Now, drop down into the comment box below and let us know your favorite couple, female or male character (that you would ‘love’ if they were ‘available’), or romantic storyline/niche to a game’s story or even universe. Basically, if it has to do with the emotion of love in video games themselves, it’s fair game, so hit me with it down below.

Stay Stirred Every Weekend & Follow Us On Twitter!

**Much thanks to YRPT at deviantart.com for the image of Sarah and Kaim, as I scoured the web and found no other images. Very well done, sir.**

Outstanding Achievement In Animation
God Of War III

Outstanding Achievement In Art Direction
Red Dead Redemption

Outstanding Achievement In Visual Engineering
Heavy Rain

Outstanding Achievement In Gameplay Engineering
Red Dead Redemption

Outstanding Achievement In Character Performance
Red Dead Redemption

Family Game Of The Year
Dance Central

Racing Game Of The Year
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit

Pioneer Award
Bill Budge

Jay Mohr Award For Listening To His Monologue
Some Dude In The Audience

Outstanding Achievement In Story
Mass Effect 2

Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
Mass Effect 2

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Heavy Rain

Hall Of Fame Inductees
Ray Muzyka & Greg Zeschuk (BioWare)

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Heavy Rain

Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack
Rock Band 3

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Limbo

Adventure Game of the Year
Limbo

Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play
StarCraft II

Action Game of the Year
Red Dead Redemption

Sports Game of the Year
FIFA 11

Fighting Game of the Year
Super Street Fighter IV

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
StarCraft II

Portable Game of the Year
God of War: Ghost Of Sparta

Casual Game of the Year
Angry Birds HD

Social Networking Game of the Year
CityVille

AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award
Bing Gordon

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Red Dead Redemption

Game of the Year
Mass Effect 2

Final Counts:

Red Dead Redemption – 5 (Action Game of the Year, Art Direction, Gameplay Engineering, Character Performance, and Game Direction)

Mass Effect 2 – 3 (Story, Roleplaying/MMORPG Game of the Year, and Game of the Year)

Also of note as multiple winners were LIMBO (2; Adventure Game of the Year and Sound Design), Heavy Rain (3; Original Music Composition, Visual Engineering, and Innovation in Gaming), and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (2; Online Gameplay and Strategic/Simulation Game of the Year).

The icing on the cake for BioWare’s night were the inductions of Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk into the AIAS Hall of Fame. Well deserved, indeed.

Source: AIAS website

On February 7 (next Monday) Gearbox Software will offer one happy gamer the chance to play the game months before the rest of us.  You are required to give a 100-word essay on why you should be chosen to attend the press party for Duke Nukem Forever in Las Vegas, NV.

From Gearbox Software:

The King of All Shooters is coming to Las Vegas on Monday, February 7 and is throwing a party with his closest friends.

Of course, The Duke is always looking for new friends to wrap their hands around his controller and experience his glory all up-close-and-personal-like.

So, if you’ll be in the Las Vegas area on Monday, February 7, are 21 years of age or older, and want to spend some time playing with Duke and Duke Nukem Forever, let him know by filling out the form below. Each and every note will be reviewed by one of Duke’s lovely ladies and the hand-picked best-of-the-best will be invited to party at his side.

Personally, I haven’t played the series much, as I’m more of an RPG lover, but getting to play a long-awaited game WAY before anyone else does? Sounds like fun to me. Especially if Gearbox Software is involved.

At any rate, the contest is only open today (Feb 3) and tomorrow (Feb 4), so get your F#*@ing entries into Gearbox. NOW!!

**link above also takes you to contest**

Source: Gearbox Software (link above)

For those of you familiar with ancient history, Julius Caesar was reportedly assassinated during the Ides of March. ‘Ides of Blood’ takes place during the same time period; however, there is a mixture of the undead (in the form of ‘Vampyre’ slaves) as well as humans. As the story opens, another member of the nobility is murdered by a vampyre serial killer called the ‘Pluto’s Kiss Killer’, and Caesar calls upon Valens (another vampyre, but head of the Praetorian guard) to track the killer down.

This comic series combines two of my favorite hobbies: ancient history and vampires. What’s not to like? The language is well-written and easily understood, but at the same time sounds like language that would be used in the period. The art is fantastic and care is taken to ensure the colors are perfect and match what the scene is supposed to depict.

I specifically enjoyed banter between Scipio and Valens. Scipio isn’t a vampire, but Valens is, and there is a camaraderie between the two that lends itself to true friendship and a feeling that each can be relied upon if needed.

If I had to pick a portion of the comic that could have been better, it simply could have been longer. I understand that 32 pages is normal for a comic, but I was pretty engrossed when it completed. Now I have to wait for the next issue. *Sad Face*

Overall Thoughts: If you are a comic enthusiast and enjoy the macabre as well as ancient history, you would be a fool not to buy this (and the 5 issues that will follow). If you aren’t really into non-superhero comics, then this likely isn’t for you.

For those of us who loved Dragon Age Origins and every expansion since, get your MSP now (unless you already have it, of course).

BioWare will be releasing ‘Golems of Agmarrak’ on August 10, 2010, for 400 MSP ($5). I found this first when I was browsing Xbox360Achievements.org, but it was originally posted on Joystiq.

From X360A:

Obviously, the game will include large and challenging enemies, most likely in the form of the titular rock golems, and will primarily focus upon combat, although there’ll be puzzles and treasures to unearth as always.

During ‘Golems of Amgarrak’, you’ll follow Jerrik the dwarf on a search for Brogan, his lost brother. If it’s a tough combat challenge you’re looking for in Dragon Age: Origins, then ‘Golems of Amgarrak’ will scratch that itch. And the few new dungeon mechanics and new story elements with Jerrik and Brogan, won’t hurt either.

There are screens below as well as a link to the add-on’s official site. Enjoy!!

Sources: Joystiq (original announcement), Xbox360Achievements.org (for the price), BioWare

Screens:

“Oh, Naughty. Poor Naughty. The other bears of Perfection Island decided to throw a birthday party for one of the bears and ‘forgot’ to invite you? For shame. Time for some revenge. Go grab that machete, axe, or pistol, and let’s go give them what for!” At least that’s the VERY basic premise of the game. Which is to say that the game has absolutely no other premise. There’s no underlying plot twist. Nothing else to do during the episodes. Zilch. Perhaps you speak Spanish? Then the operative word would be NADA. The game sounds incredibly simple. Which it is. You might be thinking to yourself: ‘Hey, this would be a game my kids can play.’ I pray to all that is holy that you do not allow your child anywhere near this heaping pile of you know what. With that said, let’s get started.

Get used to this. You'll be doing it. A. Lot.

There are 7 ‘episodes’ that you have the pleasure of playing through, each of which is tied to challenges (e.g.: Killer, Speed, Insanity, etc) that you can complete as well in order to unlock more costumes which grant upgraded abilities, weapons, or health. In each episode, you start in Naughty’s house on Perfection Island and are disturbed abruptly by ruckus coming from an event in which you are either uninvited, plotted against, or being made fun of in some manner, giving Naughty purpose to shed some blood, err, I mean stuffing (there’s no blood in the game, obviously). Each episode has a minimum of 3 ‘zones’ to progress through (and no backtracking, you completionists, so maximize your points before moving on). I say minimum because I completed two episodes and a few challenges a few times trying to get trophies before my brain turned to mush. May you fair better, brave souls.

In the challenges, you are given a set of parameters (Kill all bears, drive all bears insane, etc) and you have to fulfilled said objectives to complete the challenge. Not really too different from the actual episode, but not so exactly like it. Actually, I found the challenges, well, challenging, as you have to be specific in how you go about scaring/injuring the bears. Of course, the challenges have to be unlocked by doing well in the episodes, which can be simple enough as long as you understand how to accumulate ‘Naughty Points’.

Burn, baby, burn!!!

Basically, each time to sabotage or destroy something (I recommend sabotage, by the way) you start building a multiplier which increases when you perform naughty acts in succession. If you continue doing the same things, you get less points, so variety is the spice of life. Want to trap one in a bear trap and Super Scare them (RT when they are trapped), go for it. You can also outright kill them by hitting LT (performs an Ultra Kill move), but you lose your chance at many more Naughty Points by doing that. Doing said acts in public where more bears can see the humiliation nets you even more Naughty Points, so make a public spectacle of everything.

Keep in mind that I really wanted Naughty Bear to be good. It’s just not. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t pros. One of the very few pros about the game is the fact that the manual is built into the menu, so if you have no clue how to do something or maybe how a particular challenge works, then the instructions are right there. The only other ‘pro’ (if you can call it that) is that this is extremely easy to pick up and put down. You don’t really need to ‘get into a groove’ like you do with story-heavy RPG’s or online MP titles. This is one of the few retail titles that fall into this category. Which leads me to the areas of improvement.

Now look who's being naughty.

Where CAN’T Naughty Bear improve? The graphics are on par with launch-day PS2 titles. The camera movement is downright putrid. If the original Xbox had an arcade, this would be a great title for that. The only reason I can fathom why a DVD was wasted for this was because of the collectibles across 5 parts of 7 episodes. But in order to get all of the collectibles, you’ll have to numb your mind by grinding through each episode and challenge over and over to get the hundreds of millions of Naughty Points needed. The controls aren’t horrible, but that’s more because the story is so simple that the control scheme had to be simple as well.

Patrick’s Final Say: Naughty Bear is the perfect example of a great idea somehow being overwhelmingly underdeveloped and then, miraculously, published and sold on retail shelves. Now I’m as accepting and patient as the next gamer (actually, probably more so), but I cannot recommend Naughty Bear for a rent, much less a purchase. Maybe when it hits the bargain bin at $7.99, I could say give it a whirl, but by then, the next three-dozen better titles will have hit and this will be an afterthought.

In today’s gaming industry, making a game that performs truly well in every aspect is difficult. But I’m not here today to talk about that.

I’m here today to talk about one thing: STORY. For me, the gameplay can stink worse than my puppies’ latest ‘gift’ and the controls can be weird and wonky. However, as long as the story is amazing, I WILL play it to the end. And, depending on the type of game, I may do it multiple times, if nothing more than for the achievements that I missed the first time around.

Needless to say, the following is a list (in no particular order, of course) of 10 titles or series that have set the proverbial bar for story. Of course, this is my opinion (gotta love that First Amendment here in the good ol’ US of A). Also, I’m sure that I’ve missed quite a few titles/series as well, so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post your favorites in the comments section below.

That said, here we go:

1. Alpha Protocol

I know what you are thinking. How can I put Alpha Protocol on this list when the critics just dragged it through the mud not less than a month ago? Not to mention SEGA has all but said that it won’t see a sequel because it sold so poorly.

I can put it on this list for one reason: the story is absolutely bloody amazing. The writers crafted a story the easily rivals the Bourne films, Bond films, and any spy novel you’ll pick up in the local library or bookstore. Believe me when I tell you that ‘putting up with poor gameplay and graphics’ is 1000% worth it for the story. Heck, with it being an RPG, you can put up with it multiple times because the story twists and turns on a dime when you make your choices. Once this title hits $20, you’d be an absolute fool not to buy it. Trust me on this.

2. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2

KotOR 1 was arguably the greatest RPG to grace the original Xbox. Heck, there’s not even an argument from me. It’s the best, hands down. BioWare took some of the deepest and best material that the Star Wars universe had to offer and crafted a masterpiece, plain and simple.

While the second entry didn’t exactly strike the same chord as the first (sequels are rarely as good as the original), it offered another perspective within the Star Wars universe that we nerds know and love. The ending to the second left a lot of questions unanswered, but (hopefully) the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO (to be released this summer) will provide at least some closure.

If you haven’t played KotOR, you owe it to yourself, simply for the story. It’s likely dirt cheap on STEAM.

3. Mass Effect series

What Star Wars KotOR was on the original Xbox, Mass Effect is on the Xbox 360. When BioWare was finishing up KotOR, I’m sure the creative minds were thinking collectively: why borrow someone else’s source material when we can simply create our own? God, am I glad that BioWare hires these people. They gave birth to our generation’s Star Wars and Star Trek in Mass Effect. Spawning a planned trilogy as well as a comic mini-series (I own all 4 comics because I’m a nerd like that), a series of prequel and bridge novels, and a possible film or television miniseries, Mass Effect has quickly become one of the most robust, awe-inspiring universes ever created. Mass Effect is likely under $20 now and Mass Effect 2 is $30.

Go get them. REALLY.

4. Too Human

While many say that it’s development time is what doomed it (began development in the PS2/Xbox/Gamecube days), I’m in the school of thought that it simply wasn’t what the masses wanted. The control scheme had a steep learning curve for starters.

However, the reason why it makes this list is flat out originality of story. Weaving Norse mythology of old with technology of the future gave birth to a society that was more gray that clear-cut black and white. Many gamers already know who Thor and Loki are (from Marvel comics), but who knows who Baldur is?? Telling the story from his perspective was absolute genius. If you enjoy games with lots of looting and gear, then you may enjoy the gameplay as well.

You can complete this story in a weekend. If you can find it at a local game rental store, or see it for ultra-cheap at GameStop or Play’N'Trade, it’s worth a playthrough, only to see the story play out.

Also, there’s a slim, outside chance that we will see a sequel. Personally, I’m hoping for one.

5. Grand Theft Auto 4 and Tales from Liberty City
Niko Belic. Johnny Klebitz. Luis Lopez. Three unlikely ‘heroes’. Three different perspectives. Only one Liberty City.

Rockstar went all out for GTA4. And they didn’t disappoint. I can honestly say that I haven’t played a single second of the multiplayer modes in any of the three episodes. Heck, I didn’t have to. The story-telling done by Rockstar in GTA4 is only trumped by their newest hit title: Red Dead Redemption. Playing through the original story as Niko, you encounter both Johnny and Luis as events play out. Then, when you fire up Lost and Damned, you get to see the same events play out from Klebitz’ perspective. The same with Lopez in Ballad of Gay Tony. You get not only a great set of events here, but also THREE perspectives!! I call that winning the lottery from a story angle.

Needless to say, GTA4 is still worthy of a purchase, simply to feel yourself enveloped in the life and times of Liberty City.

6. Gears of War Series

Oh, Cliffy B. How I and millions of other gamers out there love you. You are the person who, while on a paintball field, wondered how it would feel to be in the same position in a video game. Thus, Gears of War was born.
Many say that its shooting mechanics are amazing and the multiplayer is fantastic. And they would be correct. However, I’m here to talk about the story.

From the first moment that Dom opens that door in the prison and you (as Marcus Fenix, of course) start chainsawing Locust, it’s a non-stop thrill ride. Still going, in fact, as Gears of War 3 hits next April. Some weren’t exactly pleased with how the story of the second entry went, but that’s their opinion (to which they are fully entitled).

Gears of War has also given birth to a set of novels and there will always be talk of a film (RON PERLMAN FOR FENIX, PLEASE?!?), so this universe, while birthed on a paintball field, has come to rival the best universes in our generation’s sci-fi canon.

Well done, Cliff. Well done, indeed.

7. Halo

Of course. Why not? It’s only one of the greatest-selling franchises in the history of gaming. I’m pretty sure that I would be cyber-crucified if I had left it off.

We were first introduced to Master Chief a few months after the launch of the original Xbox. Heck, without Halo and Halo 2, I’m pretty sure that Microsoft would have packed it in from a console standpoint and left Sony and Nintendo to slug it out. Xbox Live wouldn’t be what it is today without the Halo franchise. On those merits alone, I humbly thank Bungie for breathing life into Halo.

Like Mass Effect and Gears of War, Halo has given rise to a set of novels and never-dying rumors of a feature film. But who would play the Chief?? Who cares. He won’t be taking his helmet off anyway.

8. Lost Odyssey

If a story makes you cry multiple times like a little girl, it makes this list. Period.

If you have played this title, and didn’t cry once, then I have to wonder if you have any humanity in you. If you DID shed even one tear, please comment below and we can share stories.

9. Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII is the sole reason many people STILL own a PS2.

Without Cloud Strife, this game would have been ho-hum. Insert Cloud Strife. One of the greatest games OF ALL TIME. For those of you who know me, you understand my hatred and loathing of Sony.

But FF7 is one of the greatest RPG’s ever created. And the story played a VERY large part in that.

10. Vagrant Story

I’m sure that many of you who are reading this haven’t even HEARD of Vagrant Story, which is understandable. It was one of Square’s lesser-known RPG’s from the original PSX. It’s in my top-10 games of all time list. If you email me at patrick.talbert@platformnation.com, I’ll be happy to give you the reasons why. But I digress.

Forgetting the fact that it has ‘STORY’ in it’s name, there are quite a few reasons why VS’ story makes this list. One, it involves Ashley Riot (a dude). With a name like ‘Riot’, what’s not to love about him. Also, the story’s setting is a Medieval one, with castles, kings, nobles, and peasants. Riot is a part of a group of secret soldiers who are investigating the goings-on in a castle that’s been taken by a cult. Needless to say, there are several wrinkles which unfold before the glorious finale.

Oh, and one more thing. When you finish your first playthrough, you can use EVERYTHING in your second. It’s one of the very first titles with a ‘New Game +’ feature. Thank you, Square.

There you have it, folks. Please let me know what you think in the comments section below. See you next week!!

At any rate, this week, my thoughts drifted songs that are used with game trailers. When marketing departments release trailers, often the trailer is paired with a song that sets the tone for the events in the video.

Dragon Age Origins — Marilyn Manson — ‘This is the New Sh*t’

When I listen to this song now, I can just imagine myself getting ready to carve up some Darkspawn with my daul-wielding Rogue. And isn’t that the most important part of Dragon Age? Indeed. Well done, EA/BioWare.

Battlefield Bad Company 2 — Queens of the Stone Age — ‘Millionaire’

The best part about this pairing is that it’s an uptempo track for an uptempo game. The tune perfectly suits the events of the trailer.

Lost Odyssey — Jefferson Airplane — ‘White Rabbit’

I’m sure that when Jefferson Airplane wrote ‘White Rabbit’, they didn’t expect it to be paired with a Japanese RPG, but that’s what happened, and it made for one of my (and other’s) favorite game trailers ever. If you listen to the words of the track, and have played the game, you can completely understand the pairing and why it was chosen. Amazing work.

Gears of War — Gary Jules — ‘Mad World’

It truly is a mad world in Gears’ fictional universe filled with ruined human cities and Locust-filled tunnels below. I can practically smell the Immulsion in the proverbial air. At any rate, the tune set a fantastic mood for the story that we would see unfold in Gears of War 1 and 2, and which we will see continued in Gears of War 3 next April.

Mercenaries 2 — Wojahn Brothers — ‘Oh No You Didn’t’

This track was specifically written for the trailer and I don’t think another team could have done a better job. The Wojahn’s did the track completely a capella (and did it quite well, to be honest) and it’s perfect. OH NO YOU DIDN’T!

Crackdown 2 — Richard Swift — ‘Would You’

This is one of the newer trailers on this list, but it’s on here because the track perfectly suits not only the events of the trailer, but also because there’s a lot of blowing stuff up throughout the entire game.

What’d you think of my list? If you can think of any that I missed, please leave them in the comments!