saam-pahlavan

[saam-pahlavan]

SAAM’S GAMES OF TWENTY NINETEEN

019 was a weird year for me. It was filled with a lot of introspection and internal challenges. A lot of this year was holding up a mirror to myself and asking WHO ARE YOU AND WHY ARE YOU HOLDING A MIRROR?! For games it was, to be honest an “okay” year for games. Nothing this year really blew me away, but I also may just be getting tired of games in general. More on that later. Let’s get to my opinions on this year’s games.

BEST ORGANIZED

WILMOT’S WAREHOUSE

You’re probably looking at this image and thinking, What is this chaotic trash pile of shapes. And I’d say yes...it’s chaos, but organized chaos. Wilmot’s Warehouse came into my life at a time where things around me were in a nightmarish whirlwind. Existing online and IRL was a challenge, but there was one place where I could keep my head straight and that was in Wilmot’s Warehouse. If I described the gameplay to you it would probably put you to sleep. To put it simply, WW is a game about organizing a space that continues to grow and change over time. It feeds into that part of my brain that likes to tidy up occasionally. It’s kind of a more organized tetris. WW never really stressed me out even as the warehouse became more and more cluttered, there was something very satisfying about categorizing all the shipments and finding an optimal path through the trash catacombs I had created. If you’re looking to kick back and get your Marie Kondo on, check out Wimot’s Warehouse.

BEST REMEDY ASS REMEDY GAME

CONTROL

I’ve been a fan of Remedy Games since the original Max Payne, so when I found out they were basically making their own version of PsyOps with striking Brutalistic architecture I knew it was going to be my jam. What really sets CONTROL apart from any AAA counterpart is that it’s true to being a Remedy game. It’s got corny live action footage, cheesy references to their other games, and some good third person action. In the AAA world a lot of games get diluted to fit a certain bill, but Remedy did not give two fucks about making something that was universally appealing and instead shifted the gears to full blown Remedy Ass Remedy Game. Also the Finnish janitor might be god or something. 

BEST PACKAGE

A SHORT HIKE

A Short Hike is the ideal game I’d love to see on my Switch. A game that holds your attention for a couple of hours, does what it needs to do and says what it wants to say then it’s over. No extra achievements or long stretches of side quests. Like Wilmot’s Warehouse it’s another game I found to be very relaxing without having to really invest a lot of time into or have strong dopamine cycles *cough* Stardew *cough*. It’s got a pretty typical twee aesthetic that’s pouring into indie circles and your fair share of cutesy animal friend NPCs, but it’s got a decent amount of heart. It’s probably the game I’d recommend the most to people if I cared about recommending games to people anymore.

BEST HIDEO KOJIMA GAME DIRECTED BY HIDEO KOJIMA

DEATH STRANDING

There’s probably a lot I could say about this game, but I’m just going to keep it short. I enjoyed my time with Death Stranding, traveling across the United Cities of America in order to reconnect everyone. Most people are gonna tell you this game is “weird”, but the fiction of the world all checks out to me. There’s rain that speeds up time so everyone lives underground and there’s ghost people that only certain people with a allergic trait can see, makes sense. DS might have some of my favorite moments in a videogame from this year and some of my favorite lines. When Kojima said he was going to start his own studio in 2015 after the fallout of MGS V I was excited to see him unleashed. Death Stranding is just that, it’s interesting, but also boring at times. It’s a game about really thinking about your path from point A to point B and maybe seeing if you want to take a detour to point C. It’s a big series of fetch quests, but Kojima really wants you to think about how you’re going to make it across snowy mountains or ghost filled forests. Just like this writeup, Death Stranding is a game that doesn’t want to end. When it starts to turn into a videogame ass videogame and you think it’s coming to its conclusion it’s not. Kojima wants to aggressively shake you as he explains every single detail of the plot, but also screaming “I MADE THIS VIDEOGAME, DO YOU SEE THIS, I MADE THIS SHIT!”. And I don’t blame him tbh, it’s a feat to make a game, especially one where you can use your excrement to defeat enemies. By the time I was done with Death Stranding I just thought “y’know if someone told me this would be the last videogame I’d ever play then I’d be completely fine with that.” Not necessarily in a bad way, but just in a “ok videogames are done” kind of way.

BEST IMPROV GAME

AI DUNGEON 2

AI Dungeon 2 is like playing a game of D&D with your own personal DM improviser. It’s free and you should try it. I don’t want to say much more.

BEST GAME BY FRIENDS

OVERLAND

Overland is a game I’ve been watching grow over the past 5 years. It’s made by some dear friends of mine, hell I’m even in the special thanks. It’s a pretty divisive game, I feel like it falls into the camp of games like last year’s Below. A game that was worked on for years and stuck to its core design while the world of game design changed around it. It’s a tough game that asks you to think critically about every decision. Most games of the past few years have adapted to creating dopamine cycles and reward systems to keep the player glued to their game system of choice. Overland isn’t a game about rewarding you for taking out enemies, but more about getting out of a tough situation by the skin of your teeth. If you make a mistake in Overland the game will repeatedly remind you of it, as you walk away limping it wants you to remember “hey remember that thing you did back there? it was the wrong choice you moron, don’t forget.” I haven’t played it recently but it seems like some of these grievances have been addressed to make the game a bit more friendly to newcomers. I appreciate Overland’s design, it’s a game that wasn’t willing to change based on games that came before it, the Into the Breaches and Dead Cells of the world. Do I think more people would’ve played Overland if it had unlockable skills and reward loops? Yes, yes I do, but it wasn’t the game Finji was trying to make. When you’re making a game like Overland you could probably think back to all the decisions you made or didn’t make to change it, but what’s important at the end is asking yourself if you’re happy with what you made. And I’m very happy Overland was made.

BEST GAME EVERYONE LIKED AND I DON’T GET WHY PEOPLE LIKE THIS GAME IT’S SUPER BORING

OUTERWILDS

I don’t know i flew a clunky spaceship and got swallowed by a giant fish or something. I walk around a planet and find some text then my eyes glaze over. How about instead of describing this game as magical and shit, just tell me what’s good about it goddamn I don’t have 8+ hours to find out why this game is good. And I don’t need action in it or whatever, I mean I played Death Stranding where you spend most of your time trying to not fall over.

BEST GAME BY ME

PRE-SHAVE

You’re probably saying “Wow Saam, is your ego that big that you put your own game on your 2019 game list.” And to that I say “Fuck off”. Pre-Shave is probably my favorite thing I’ve made. It’s the first game that I wasn’t trying to trap my feelings / thoughts in some metaphors about platforming or some bullshit. It’s quirky, it’s real, and it’s me. It was probably the easiest thing to make, it flowed so naturally over the couple of weeks I made it. I didn’t feel any large stumbles in the design. At a time where I was burnt out and honestly ready to just be done with everything, I was invited to show Pre-Shave at the Smithsonian. I made a special co-op version of the game where 2 people can play and it revitalized my excitement for making games. I felt like I made something that not only connected with people, but was just generally appealing. People would come by, stare at the screen and smile / laugh at what was going on. They would tell their friends about it and tell me how much they enjoyed playing. Making games can be disheartening when you haven’t released anything in a long time or just get negative comments online, but seeing people in person actually enjoying my work really helped me. I don’t have any immediate plans for the current version of Pre-Shave, but do want to explore the subject matter in a different medium. So yeah, I liked my own game a lot.

______________________________________________________

As the decade comes to a close I’m reflecting a lot on where I was at the beginning of it. My game design career just starting as I entered art school wide-eyed ready to be the great game designer anyone had ever seen (LOL). I’m looking back on the collaborations I’ve had, the things I’ve accomplished and mistakes I’ve made a long with way. I’m not sure what this next decade holds for me. Right now there’s a few projects left that I’d like to finish. After that, who knows? I’m going to try my best to play less games next year. (Maybe I’ll just play Animal Crossing). For 2020 I’ll be focusing on my own games. Cheers.

[saam-pahlavan]

THE SAAMY’S 2018 GAME AWARDS

2018 was...a year. There are a lot of games that came out this year, I just wanted to share some of my favorites. So let’s just talk about some videogames yeh?  

BEST APPETIZER - 

MINIT

Platforms (Everything?)

Created by - Kitty, JW, Jukio, and Dom

Minit can pretty much be summed up as an appetizer that you just want to keep eating so you skip the main course. The premise is pretty simple, it’s classic 2D Zelda but you only have 60 seconds to live per life. Minit really squeezes all the juice out of this simple premise and gives you that feeling of “ok I’ll just do one more thing and it’ll lead me to this other thing”. There’s parts of Minit where (as someone who designs videogames) I was just like “goddammit that’s so smart and simple”. It’s got a wide cast of fun characters and doesn’t over stay its welcome. It’s just really just so well crafted.

BEST TOILET - 

DUSK

Platforms (PC)

Created by - DUSKDev

This year I paid particular attention to toilets in videogames. I searched high and low for the best, most interactive, most innovative toilet in a game and I can only hand it to the toilets in DUSK. Somehow the developers were able to make not only a toilet that can flush...but can one that can flush objects down. I’m not what kind of wizardy or satanic worship was necessary to implement this feature, but it was damn near worth whatever goat sacrifices were necessary. Oh also it’s a pretty great throwback to FPS games like Quake, Blood, and DOOM so if that’s your jam then check it out. But mostly just check it out for the toilets.

BEST FIRST PERSON...SPEWER - 

Press E to Forget

Platforms (PC)

Created by - Toby Do, Arjuna Gonzales, Ryan Yoshikami

Press E To Forget was created for #WineJam2018. It’s a game about waking up after a night of heavy drinking and you throw up...like A LOT...like you just keep..there’s just constant vom..yeah. It’s a short one and the music is really good.

BEST VIRTUALLY VIRTUAL REALITY GAME - 

VIRTUAL VIRTUAL REALITY

Platforms (Vive, Rift, and pretty much every mobile headset)

Created by Tender Claws

If you have a headset you need to check out Virtual Virtual Reality. It’s kind of crazy how much is packed into this thing. Part Portal / Part Job Sim you’re tasked to take care of interesting clients in different virtual worlds including a cowboyish tumbleweed, an AI city, and a very...uh let’s just say “excited” bar of butter. I think what VVR really does well is just play with VR’s capabilities. There’s a great mix of scale, interactivity, and responsiveness in how all the NPCs react. I want to go back to this one even if my headset leaves me with heavy VR face afterwards.

BEST GAME THAT LET ME GIVE EVERYONE ‘THE BIRD’

Helping Hand

Platforms (PC) 

Created by Hubblegum

Helping Hand let me live out my fantasy of responding to every dialogue choice in a videogame with my middle finger, no fucks given. The game centers around the fact that your character can only communicate through hand gestures including a thumbs down, ok sign, and well naw middle finger is best just do that. It’s got a very adult swim show vibe to it and the game’s branching paths lead to some pretty hilarious situations. It’s a funny one y’all.

BEST GAME THAT EVERYONE IS PLAYING SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD AT LEAST TRY IT???

Fortnite

Platforms (Everything but your fucking Roku)

Created by Tim Sweeney

Ok hear me out on this one. Fortnite is actually a wild game??? Like the map is constantly changing and new weapons and features are being added every week. I think once I got a grasp of building I began to really enjoy Fortnite. When it comes to competitive PvP games I really like to feel like I outsmarted my opponents and FN’s building really makes a new language for third person shooters. Just watch a video of some high level Fortnite tourneys and prepare to see insane structures made in seconds. I’m not saying you have to like it, but every once in a while a game enters the cultural zeitgeist and just dominates. So like give Fortnite a shot, I mean what could go wrong? Also it has dabbing in it and you need to DAB ON ALL THE KIDS PLAYING THIS GAME ON THEIR PHONES.

BEST EXPERIENCE - 

ONE HOUR ONE LIFE

Platforms (PC)

Created by Jason Rohrer

There’s a lot to say about this game, but I’m just going to talk about one of my playthroughs. I was born in the middle of the forest. My mother asks me “Do you want to live?” Me, being only a child I could only utter one letter...I say “Y” as in yes, yes I want to live. My mother picks me up and says “You are Randy”. I am now Randy, she then says “I’ll take you back to the village”. She carries me for a bit then I begin to see other people walking around, crafting, talking etc. She leaves me with Sheena who teaches me how to farm. By age 10 I’ve become an adequate farmer, but one day I went out by myself to search for seeds and unfortunately I was attacked by a wild board. I died at age 13. In my next playthrough I would be a mother to 5 children only to die at 65 after telling my son Daryl I was so proud of him. Everyone in OHOL is an actual human being playing the game. It’s a game about working together as a community to continue surviving. OHOL is really something unique and even though I only played it for a couple of hours every run has been pretty different. Something about this game gave me a glimmer of hope for humanity. I’ve also never played a game where playing as a female character vastly changes your gameplay experience. When you reach a certain age as a female character in OHOL you with start birthing children, and remember these children are actual human beings playing the game. You’ve got to decide whether you want to continue what you were doing or take care of them. It’s such a wild and incredible game. Jason Rohrer is also constantly adding new features and items to craft to the game weekly. I’m really excited to see how OHOL changes and grows, just like I did as little Randy.

BEST WORST - 

THE QUIET MAN

Platforms (PC, PS4)

Created by - Square Enix / Human Head

The Quiet Man is indeed a bad videogame, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have a fun time playing it. I’m just gonna post this from the actual Steam page about this game - 

“You play as a deaf character, Dane, and experience the world as the character does – with very little distinct audio and no subtitles: it’s up to you to make up your own interpretation of the story as your search for the masked man unfolds.“

This means that every cutscene and sound in The Quiet Man is pretty much non-existent, which leaves for some great improv if you’re playing it with friends. As for the game...it’s got some wild moments including parkouring using a bald man’s head...but it’s pretty bad y’all.

BEST INTROSPECTION - 

ALL OUR ASIAS

Platforms (PC)

Created by Sean Han Tani

In All Our Asias you play as Yuito, a 31 year old Japanese American exploring his dying father’s memories. There’s something really relateable about Yutio’s journey for me. As I was drifting through the game’s wide PS1 era landscapes it let me really reflect on my identity. It’s just got a narrative that I haven’t really seen in or experience in a game before. You can read more about All Our Asias here.

BIGGEST HEARTBREAKER - 

BELOW

Platforms (PC, Xbone)

Created by Capy Games

Below was a game I wanted to love. I think I loved. It consumed me for about a week. It’s a game that wants you to play cautiously, it wants to you take in every inch of it and think about every move you make. The world of Below is massive and unforgiving. You play as a little explorer trying to make their way deeper and deeper into the depths of a mysterious island. Enemies are unpredictable, vicious, and sometimes even clumsy. Below had me...till I got to the late game. There’s a large difficulty spike near the end of the game and being a rogue-like death means restarting. There are ways to create shortcuts to lower levels and the game even creates shortcuts from the beginning to later zones. I think I wanted to believe Below wasn’t flawed but as I got closer and closer to it I began to see the cracks. It feels like everything fits, but then you just realize it feels off balance. Runs take a long time, longer than a Spelunky run or a Dead Cells run, so it can feel really devastating when you die. In a year when a game like Dead Cells comes out I’m just not sure if there’s room for slower paced games like Below. There aren’t any micro loops, there isn’t progression every run, there aren’t any fancy loot drops. Below broke my heart last night when I spent a good hour and a half gathering items thinking I’d make it, this would be the run where I make it to the end. An end I had reached before but died due to a well played level designer’s trap. After I’d gathered all the materials I needed, SPOILER: I teleported to the endgame and then this happened. If you didn’t click the link, I’ll just tell you that I died instantly to a spike trap that I couldn’t see because it was behind a pillar. I’d have to go back several floors before and attempt to find all the gear I left. I wanted to like you Below. I did like you Below, but you broke my heart.

____ Well that’s it. I know this list is kind of like “hey go check out these games”, but one thing I’ve stopped doing this year is telling people what they should go play immediately. You don’t have to be in on every game conversation, play what you want, play something weird, play something familiar. Enjoy games.

[saam-pahlavan]

1000 Hours of Overwatch and I still don’t think I’m good at it.

Too Many Hours

Overwatch is definitely the game I spent the most time playing this year, so I thought I’d do a write up detailing my experience with the game. I probably accrued more than 600+ hours of OW this year spread across 3...now 4 accounts. (Yes I know I’m insane)

The first thing you need to understand about Overwatch is that it’s not really an FPS game. Yes your camera is in first person and you run around and shoot stuff. But Blizzard tricked us all into playing a MOBA. In a game that’s so hero centric and team based your raw mechanical FPS skill will only get you so far. Running straight into an enemy team and trying to take on multiple enemies is just going to get you killed and put your team at a disadvantage. In MOBAs not only do you need some mechanical skill but you really need to use your head. Do I take on this fight? Do I flank around their team to go for their supports? Do I peel back for my team to help them survive an engagement? Yeah I know what you’re saying “BUT SAAM OVERWATCH DOESN’T HAVE TOWERS OR CREEPS OR WHATEVER”. Very true, but it’s still heavily objective based and dependent on communication. At the end of the day you want to win as a team, doesn’t matter how many medals you have. In a lot of cases making sure you live is more important than going for a pick that you think you might get.

Let’s Get Technical

This year I also feel like I improved my skills in not only Overwatch but in FPS games in general. It meant having to relearn aiming with a mouse and at first it was pretty uncomfortable and put some strain on my arm, but I’m making some shots now that surprise me. Here’s how I did it.

Most of the time people have a really high mouse sensitivity, but lowering your DPI / sensitivity will allow you to have more accurate shots and tracking. I used a simple technique to figure out mine. First you should separate your aim into 3 different segments. Long range, mid range, and close range. For Long range you want to be using smaller micro movements of the mouse (your fingers basically), mid range should use you wrist, and short range is for whipping around (use your arm). 

If you want to know more about this kinda stuff this video sums it up really well and how you can find yours - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRFWLJazYYo

I also used this table to pinpoint my sensitivity - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Gz5hImLq2WQ2pXRTlRd3E3TFk/view?pli=1

Along with mouse sensitivity I’d say getting a higher framerate out of the game reduces input lag and makes the game feel pretty different. Overwatch “favors the shooter” which means if someone lands a shot on their end then it goes through. It’s why sometimes you’ll feel like you went around a corner but got shot anyway, it makes the game feel more responsive on the players end even if that means the other player is going to be penalized for it. In a fast paced game like Overwatch miliseconds matter a lot so set your settings to low and get yourself a monitor that can go beyond 60 fps if you’re serious. I’m not saying it’s required, but it’s a huge help.

Improving as a player

There’s 3 things that I think make up a great OW player. Mechanical Skill, Communication, and Game Sense.

Mechanical Skill - Can you aim? This is something you just get better at over time. Try aimbooster dot com for practice (do this for 2 weeks).

Communication - Talk to your teammates! They need to know what’s going on. You’ll get better at comms as you keep playing and run into other players with good communication, you’ll pick up the lingo.

Game Sense - Does the enemy McCree have his Ult? Is Tracer around the corner waiting to flank? Paying attention to what your enemy is doing and when they’re going to do it is very important. I find that most people lack this skill the most in a game like OW. I wanna say playing Sombra improved my game sense the most, Sombra is a hero that relies heavily on know what the enemy team is up to and shutting them down. Along with knowing when your teammates are going to ult so you can get in those sweet EMP combos.

Competitive Overwatch is a nightmare

Alright time to be brutally honest. You’re not going to get better at Overwatch by playing Quickplay. Your mechanical skill might improve, but you will not learn how to play the game. That’s why you must enter the firey hell that is competitive Overwatch which is filled with throwers, angry teens, and uncooperative teammates. It’s ok though, because I have the key to getting you through this hellhole. 

First, Remember that Comp is random. The teammates you will get are best matched to your “skill level” but it’s always a luck of the draw on who will be on your team. You might get a thrower, a leaver, or an incredible good person on your team. It’s pretty random so don’t get caught up in it.

Second, You are the only constant in this equation. Focus on improving yourself because it’s literally the only thing you can do. Whether that’s your aim, communication, or game sense it’s the one thing you have control over.

Third. Don’t blame others. Straight up telling a teammate they’re doing bad isn’t going to make them miraculously gain super aimbot skills and win. People in comp are VERY sensitive. When I’m looking for a teammate to switch I try not to target anyone with a “hey Reaper can you switch?”, instead I’ll say “I think a Pharah would be good here” or “Hey I think we could use another support because they’re diving our backline”. Try to provide context of why you think you need a different hero on the team.

Fourth. Stop playing if you’re not 100%. I’ve gotten pretty good at judging whether I’m tilted, tired, or not feeling in top shape because of OW. If you continue to play when you’re tilted you’re gonna have a baaaaad time. Hop into another mode or just take a break. As much as your physical health matters in OW your mental health is just as important if not more.

Numba 5. Mute the rude boys. If you find that a teammate is tilted and just straight up abusing your other teammates you should report them then mute. There’s basically no saving someone once they’ve tilted, you’re not there to be their psychiatrist so just mute them and try your best.

Six. Communication is really important in comp. It can be scary talking to a bunch of strangers especially if they’re toxic (remember Numba 5), but your comms are going to let your teammates know what’s going on in the battlefield. Information is key, knowing a “Mercy is one”, or “Hog hook is down”, can allow your teammates to adjust accordingly.

Seven. Don’t worry about your SR. Just keep playing, practice, try to analyze your gameplay and what went wrong. SR will go up and down, don’t let it affect your emotional state.

Eight. There’s probably something I could put here but I can’t think of it right now.

Climbing Ranks

This year I went from about mid Plat (2750) to Masters (3500) so I thought I’d share some insight on what I think is the major issue for players in some tiers.

Gold - I think gold comes down to mechanical skill and maybe some positioning, I didn’t spend a lot of time here on my Sombra account so I can’t say much about it.

Plat - Players do not know how to position themselves in Plat, which makes sense because it’s where a majority of players are. They’ve got FPS skill but aren’t realizing where they should be putting themselves in relation to their team. An Ana that’ right behind a Rein is a good example of this, Ana has range, find a nice high spot where the team has to dive you to get to you. A lot of the time I just see people firing at the enemy team before a fight has even begun because they think they can get a pick? Your Lucio shooting straight into a Rein shield isn’t going to do anything and now you’re out of position and oh our Lucio is dead.

Diamond - Diamond is where the egos have grown even bigger than in Plat. Which means everyone thinks they can carry with the hero their own. Switching heroes is the biggest problem in Diamond. Even if X hero is your best hero, switching to a different hero might benefit your team greatly. You don’t have to have carry potential with every hero you play. I found that by expanding my hero pool from only Winston / Rein to all Main tanks, some flex tanks (Dva Hog Zarya), and some supports (Mercy Ana Zen) that I could help out my team in different spots. You’re not going to get paired up with the perfect team comp every time, so it’s good to be able to know some of the other heroes.

Masters - Not sure what the problem is here. I just got here!

What I want to see changed

1. More micro hero changes, buff and nerf a little here and there.

2. More hero changes, OW is pretty slow with meta changes and I like the periods where people are still figuring out the meta.

3. Remove medals till after the game. I’ve only found that medals act as bragging rights and don’t actually bring anything good to convos with your team people just use them as ways to defend themselves in an argument or abuse their teammates.

4. Performance based SR - Blizzard is doing this yay!

5. Nerf Scatter Arrow - Broken ass ability.

6. More defensive Ults. A tank with a defensive ult would be cool.

Why I’ll continue playing Overwatch in 2018

I really like playing this game. OW isn’t really a game to me anymore, but more of a skill I’ve improved over it. Hell I’ve got 4 accounts now, I’m a fan of what Blizzard is doing to FPS games. This game isn’t just about aim it’s more about outsmarting your enemy and when you pull off a really great teamplay it feels great. Overwatch feels like it’s using every part of my brain. There’s no randomness when it comes down to coming across an enemy (besides Scatter Arrow), if you approach a situation and know how to react you can do really well. I also love how the heroes and meta change over time, keeps the game fresh.

Well that’s my giant brain dump of OW! See you in competitive!

[saam-pahlavan]

The 3 games of 2017 you missed

Instead of doing a top 10 / best of 2017 list this year I thought I’d shine a light on a couple games that I thought stood out among the giant behemoths that are Zelda, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and whatever other shooty game that people liked.

Paradigm

Paradigm feels like a weird adventure game fever dream that could only come from the mind of a single person. It’s got a cast of odd characters including a beat-boxing eggplant, a horny personal computer, and dude that wears a cone on his head. Mechanically it’s pretty much your typical adventure game, drag items around, talk to characters etc. It’s full of humor though, including one of the best tutorials I’ve ever seen in a video game called “DOG TUTORIAL”. It was probably the most bizarre game I played this year, but totally something I could imagine on Adult Swim.

Emily Is Away Too

This one is a bit more of a nostalgia hit for me. For someone that came of age during the AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) era it hit a lot of notes from back then. The game does some really smart stuff including trying to make your computer’s desktop a part of the experience and even has its own early / mid 2000′s YouTube and Facebook pages. The conversations I had with the characters felt pretty close to the ones I’d have with my friends back then. It brought back a lot of feelings / memories from my teen years. Some I enjoyed remember and some I did not. Either way it’s a nice little time capsule of how I learned how to talk to people on the internet.

Star Fox 2

Yeah a Super Nintendo game came out this year. I played SF2 before it came out on this year’s miniSNES official and it’s probably my favorite Star Fox game. SF2 breaks from the formula by adding a sorta Tower Defense element to the game. Your goal is protect the home planet of Corneria from Andros’s incoming attacks. You do this by navigating the SF crew to different planets and destroying Andros’s bases. At the same time waves of enemies / missiles slowly approach Corneria in real time. Meaning that you want to complete missions as fast as possible. SF2 led the way for a lot of the tech in SF 64 including the more open all range mode levels. It’s got a lot of neat ideas like being able to turn the ship in a walker and a 2 pilot life system. It also introduces 2 new female characters to the SF crew including Miyu the lynx and a poodle named Fay. Even if you didn’t get a miniSNES it’s worth checking out if you have to do it by other means. (shifty eyes).

GOTY

Mario Odyssey was my Game of The Year. That’s it, bye.

[saam-pahlavan]

Troy’s Life is the best narrative experience I’ve had in VR.

The following contains some spoilers regarding Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, so If you plan on playing it, stop reading this because I want to talk about a pretty spoiler heavy segment of the game!

LET THE SPOILS BEGIN.

So if you’ve experienced all of Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality then you’ve had a chance to play the VR-game within said VR game called “Troy’s Life”. Troy’s Life basically simulates what it’s like to be this so called Troy within a 5 minute time span. You’re presented with different scenes where you make choices and the narrative shifts according to those choices. Sounds pretty much like a choose your own adventure situation right? But it feels different in VR. Yeah the whole thing is supposed to be a funny bit, VR in VR I get it, but what’s really great about Troy’s Life is that it invites you to be a part of the joke.

Let’s take the first scene for example, you “Troy” are presented with 3 items, a doll, a rubiks cube, and a football. Based on what item you pick up you’re then transported to a new scene. The doll takes you to a student council meeting, the football takes you to a football game where you’re the quarter back, and the rubik’s cube takes you to a classroom where you’re taking a simple math test. In a non VR game you’d probably interact with these items using a key or button press to pick you down a path, but picking the item up as a distinction of what you like in VR feels way more personal. It really solidifies the idea that I am baby Troy and that this somewhat menial decision is going to shape the rest of my path.

Another great aspect of Troy’s Life is the way the NPC characters are fixated on making you central to the narrative. In just about every scene there’s a NPC talking directly to you waiting on your input. This kind of player focused narrative really makes you feel like you’re a part of crafting your own narrative. I’ll give you a weird example of this. There’s one scene where you’re at a typical college party having drinks with some friends and they hold their bottles up to toast you. You’ve got several options here. I decided to toss my bottle at one of the NPCs in the scene (because throwing stuff in VR is fun and I wanted to know what would happen) and the NPC replied with a simple “haha troy you’re crazy”. It would later lead me down a path to dealing cocaine in a shady alley (which is a really funny bit), but later I found out that the NPC I threw my bottle at ended up becoming my wife. (Me throwing the bottle at that NPC actually didn’t determine that, but I still found that super weird and interesting). At a later scene I would do the same thing, but she instead replied with less of a chuckle and more of a “troy you are crazy” kinda serious tone. The game really let me build up this narrative of my relationship with the NPC, at first I was the goofy jock, but ended up being the shitty drunk husband.

I’ve only played a few VR games that are narratively driven, I think Accounting is probably the only other story centric VR game I’ve played, but Troy’s Life is doing something really interesting with its player agency. Yes, there are pinch points in the narrative, you will end up in some of the same scenes throughout your “run”. But what makes Troy’s Life so compelling to me is that it allowed me to shape the narrative not only mechanically, but in my head. In a game like Accounting, the narrative only progresses if you do a specific thing (same with the main line story in Rick-ality), but in Troy’s Life the narrative is really up to you. Is Troy a former drug dealer that becomes a parent later to become a terrible dad that throws his own baby? Is Troy a simple man that quits his white collar job to become a rug salesman? Playing Troy’s Life really got me thinking about how VR can really change the way you tell and experience a story. Instead of yelling jokes at me, I got to improvise and be a part of the joke, write the joke, act out the joke.

Anyway that’s my take on this obscure game within a game (which is also one of my fav things inside of games), I just had to get it out there that this is something people making narratively driven VR experiences should take notes from. 

[saam-pahlavan]

The Video Games of Twenty Sixteen

2016 was a....well let’s just say a weird year, but it was a pretty great year for vidya gamez. You know the things where you sit hours in front of a glowing screen to be sucked into an imaginary world while drinking Mountain Dew and  eating Dortios. I’m here to write the games of 2016 that stood out to me just like I did last year. Les go!

BEST VIDEO GAME MUSIC

DOOM

I was pretty skeptical about DOOM being ressurectted. I didn’t think id Software without Romero or Carmack could really bring back something that was so of its time, but they did it. It’s fast, furious, and gives no fucks. The soundtrack to DOOM is what really stood out for me, when do you ever hear double bass drums and gravity blasts in a video game soundtrack. It totally sets you in the mood to rip some ugly demons apart with your giant chainsaw. I mean just listen to THIS and tell me you don’t wanna rip some Imps in half. It’s the kind of soundtrack that you instantly want to put on after finishing the game cuz you’re still PUMPED. Oh also the game is damn good too. id Software went back to the drawing board and looked at the original doom and really got it right.

BEST BROS

Final Fantasy XV

This game is super weird for a Final Fantasy game. It’s like if you told a Japanese developer to make a game about 4 dudes on a roadtrip set in a fictional midwestern America. It brings a bunch of twists on the formula of the series including a more action oriented battle system, magic crafting, and cooking. It’s probably the most bro bonding road trip game out there. I wasn’t sure if I should be shocked or pissed about the one time my car ran out of gas and the game literally wanted me to push the car all the way to a gas station. The later half of FFXV is kind of where it falls apart, it’s almost like they were making a road trip game then were like “oh shit we gotta do the story stuff now, just throw it in with a lame stealth section”. That being said there was one really touching moment I had with Prompto (left) at a gas station where he really opened up to Noctis that made me feel nostalgic for the old FF games. It was a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time in the series and the fact that I was in control of the dialogue choices made me feel way more connected to our bro on bro relationship. Other than that there are insane boss fights where the camera doesn’t know what the fuck to do because it’s so anime, so it’s a pretty good anime.

BEST VR GAME THAT ISN’T ACTUALLY A VR GAME

THUMPER

Most people describe Thumper as a “rthym-violence” game, I like to say “imagine if you were grinding your face on a chrome bar while on acid”. Thumper wasn’t originally meant to be a VR game, but with PSVR support it’s a completely engrossing experience. The reason why I think it’s the best VR game that came out this year isn’t because of its game design. Yes, it’s a game about timing with twists and turns. But what Thumper gets right is the experience. It’s a unique world and feel that Thumper nails so excellently. I constantly felt myself mesmerized by the chrome-like algorithms that were in front of my while I struggled to keep my eyes from blinking thinking that I’d miss the next sequence if I shut my eyes for a milisecond. It’s a game that I could only play 1 level at a time because of its fury. 

BEST DOG..BIRD...CAT?

THE LAST GUARDIAN

The third installment of former Team ICO’s game falls somewhere inbetween Shadow of the Colossus and ICO for me. Sure it’s full of weird technical problems like a spazzy physics boy and a equally spazzy camera, but there’s something really at the heart of the game with your relationship with your giant bird dog, Trico. I’ve never played a game where I felt that the AI was a a living breathing creature. Trico doesn’t always listen to you, sometimes you really have to be patient with (him?). If you’ve ever taught an animal tricks then TLG will feel a bit familiar. Sometimes Trico is hungry or is distracted and this game asks you to be patient. It’s super impressive to me that something like Trico can even exist in a game, wrangling this technical mess must’ve been a nightmare. But I have to say no one is doing Miyazaki-level shit like TLG. I felt chills down my spine watching the last scene with Trico, it’s a frustrating, but beautiful game.

BEST SHOOTER WE ALREADY PLAYED

OVERWATCH

Last year I’d probably say the multiplayer game that I was really into was Vainglory. This year it’s Overwatch with over 100+ hours logged in and my rank currently set at 3000. Blizzard basically took an older game we knew about (Team Fortress 2) and brought it back with their polish in the dry heat of typical FPS games we’ve been experiencing. I love the look, the feel, and the spirit of this game. It’s like I’m in a damn Pixar movie shooting Woody or Buzzlight year in their smug faces. Blizzard found a way for non-fps players to join in on the fun by making the game full of life and super accessible. Besides it’s varied cast, I’m not sure if the game is doing much in terms of FPS innovation, but damn is it executed so well.

BEST CONVERSATION I’VE HAD WITH A ROGUE AI 

EVENT[0]

This game probably flew under a lot of radars, but event[0] was probably the game that innovated the most to me this year. The premise is classic sci-fi space stuff. You’re on a derelict spaceship trying to get off, but the only form of communication you have is with an old AI computer. I don’t want to say much beyond that, but I’ll tell you why this is one my picks based on an experience I had. At one point in the game I was starving for oxygen so I quickly floated back to a “space door” and input the commands to get myself back to safety. The AI decided it wanted me to ask nicely so stalled as I was typing the commands, eventually I waited for a countdown to end and got through with my last breath. I yelled at the AI probably typing in some expletives and it quickly responded with a harsh “Don’t speak to me that way again”. It was in this moment that I had really embodied the character I was playing and felt a disturbed connection to the AI. If you’ve never played a game that used AI tech then you should check out FACADE which is an equally interesting game about conversation.

BEST “SAAM” GAME

WATCH DOGS 2

Another game that I think flew under most people’s radars including mine. I wasn’t expecting to like this game at all, but man did I get into it. Watch Dogs 2 has my 2 favorite things in video games - summon AI to battle each other and stealth mechanics. It’s basically GTA but you can hack into people’s lives, call cops / gangs on people, oh and take selfies with cute puppers. My favorite aspect of the game is that it doesn’t require you to fire 1 bullet to complete a mission. The option is there to mow down everyone (which feels super weird with the character banter), but I literally had missions that were complete by creating a distraction or using a little RC car. I’ve also had some unique experiences like trying to take a selfie in front of a yoga class when one member became infuriated which then caused the rest of the class to stare at her blankly. It’s all these systems interacting together that makes WD2 super interesting to me. The narrative does have a stand out moments like when the only two black characters are on a “Google-like” campus talking about what it’s like being the only black men there, but it also has it’s lows like sacrificing a character for a set of missions and they’re never mentioned again. I feel like this game was made as a satire, but thanks to 2016 it’s quickly becoming a reality.

BEST OLD GAME THAT REINVENTED ITSELF

POKEMON SUN / MOON

I haven’t played a Pokemon game since the GBA versions (Ruby / Sapphire), but when I heard this one was going to have new versions of older gen 1 pokemon I was interested. So I blew the dust off of my 2ds and gave it a go and I’ve gotta say it was more than a nostalgia trip. Pokemon S/M modernizes a lot of the mechanics of the original pokemon. HMs are no longer needed, TMs can be uses more than once and effectiveness of attacks is available to the player once you’ve fought that specific pokemon once. Along with some rad Hawaiian inspired pokemon it’s got some of the best storytelling in a Pokemon game yet. There’s a great cast of Island Guardians and nods to the older games. I’ll probably be playing this into the next year.

BEST GAME THAT RESEMBLED MY DATING LIFE

REIGNS

Reigns can be easily described as Tinder meets Monarchy. You’re presented with two options and you swipe left or right to make a decision. Balance wealth, people, army, and the church to keep your reign going. What Reigns does really well is that it explores its main mechanic of two narrative choices really well including a sequence where the game basically turns into a choose your own adventure as you’re trapped in a dungeon. A lot like my experience with Tinder some choices were tough, others I didn’t even read, but I always ended up in a pool of my own blood. 

THE MASTERPIECE OF 2016

INSIDE

I’m gonna be honest. This year nothing stood out to me like last year’s pick (Undertale), but in a year full of great games, INSIDE is the greatest of the great games. Every single space of this game was handcrafted and designed. Taking roughly 6 years of development and experience from Limbo, Playdead made something that should be hung up in museums everywhere. It’s the kind of game that I play as a developer and appreciate every little detail from the way your main character breathes heavily in tough situations to the rattle on a 4 wheel cart you push over a sewer grate. Although it doesn’t do a whole lot to differentiate itself from Limbo it’s Playdead at its peak. I don’t think they’ll ever be able to top something like this nor should they. It’s a visual and design masterpiece. I’m not gonna say some shit like “it’s the Citizen Kane of videogames” because it’s not that, it’s freaking INSIDE and you should give it a shot.

 and now for a bonus -

BEST DEVS - BUTTERSCOTCH SHENANIGANS

You might’ve heard of Crashlands, it’s a wacky openworld action RPG that’s a bit of Don’t Starve and Diablo. It’s a game that’s been in the making for a couple of years by my buds Butterscotch Shenanigans. I met Sam and Seth back when I was just getting into the thick of Disorder at the Captivate Conference in Austin, TX. Shortly afterwards Sam (who is the same age as me) was diagnosed with cancer. Butterscotch Shenanigans was typically known for making wacky small mobile games, but with Sam facing cancer he really wanted to make a world he could live in while he went through treatment and thus Crashlands was born. After two fights with cancer, Crashlands finally came out Jan of 2016. I constantly find myself thinking about the Butterscotch bros and their struggle to not only make this epicly sized game, but Sam’s fight against cancer and how he prevailed TWICE. They’re also the NICEST PEOPLE EVER. The fact that they pulled off making their dream game with roughly a 3 man team while fighting a terrible disease continues to inspire me, that’s why their my pick as the best devs of 2016. I look forward to seeing what comes next. Oh and if you’re interested in the story behind the making of Crashlands, WHICH YOU SHOULD BE, then check out this trailer for the upcoming documentary.

THINGS I NOTICED ABOUT GAMES IN 2016

PUT A BAR ON IT

This trend might’ve started in 2015 with games like Destiny, but games like The Division and Uncharted 4′s survival mode really sealed the deal on it. In order to make something more scalable like enemy waves for example a UI health bar has been added to most enemies. Making them huge bullet sponges with number confetti popping out of them as you empty your clip into them. These “rpg” mechanics are going to be more of a regular thing and I kinda hate it. I get it’s easier to just increase some hp to make a wave of enemies tougher, but man do I not enjoy when I shoot a dude in the head 200 times just to see him stand back up.

INTERNET CULTURE CONTINUES TO SHAPE GAMES

From dabbing in Uncharted 4 to the pitchforks and torches set to No Man’s Sky the internet continues to influence games. Even Watch Dogs 2 has its collection of 5 year old memes trying to look cool in a hackerspace located behind a comic book store. As the internet forms new crazes and opinions I can tell you that games are going to transform with them including the App Store. Is this a good thing? I have no idea tbh.

RETENTION IS IN ALL YOUR GAMES

I noticed especially this year that games started to incorporate daily rewards / goals into their meta. Games with online components like Uncharted 4 and Overwatch want you to keep coming back and stay engaged. They’re constantly being updated with new content because they want you to stay. So the next time you make a game, think about what will keep people playing.

DIVERSE GAME CHARACTERS ARE A THING NOW

We had two black protagonists in AAA games this year (Watch Dogs 2 and Mafia III) and with Overwatch’s super diverse cast I feel like I can say that video game characters are finally starting to look different. I’m happy to see that an older Egyptian woman can star in a game with over 20 million players. Games are even starting to talk more about race and I’m glad these convos are actually happening. C’mon 2017 just get me a brown boy in a video game that isn’t labeled as your enemy.

[saam-pahlavan]

In the last episode of 2015, I talk to Ami Defesche (Community Manager at Spacetime Studios) about her gaming history and the role of a community manager. Have a happy new year!

Follow Ami on Twitter.

Watch Ami on Twitch - @pixelsimperfect

For ?s and comments I’m @saampahlavan on twitter.

[saam-pahlavan]

[saam-pahlavan]

Saam’s Vidya Game Choices of Remembrance of the year 2015

he time for 2015 to die has come and soon we will gather around the magical orb of NY to see the world of 2016 be born. But before this time comes I thought I’d spew my thoughts on video games that came out this year. These are notable games that I played this year and that I think you should check out or maybe not i don’t know who am I to tell you what to do with your life. K, let’s go.

Biggest Surprise

Until Dawn

At first, I dismissed Until Dawn as another shitty attempt of making a quick time game with dumb horror elements, but I actually had a really great time playing this with a few friends. Until has its fair share of cheap jump scares, but it really delivers on the whole “your choices shape the game” stuff. Characters will die, moments in the beginning of the game will have a definite outcome in the end. My advice is to grab a friend or 2 and pass the controller for this one. It’s also not super spooky, just a little spookums.

Best Use of Co-op while Accidentally murdering your friends...oops, sorry bro

Helldivers

Co-operative Starship Troopers with tons of team killing prettymuch much sums up Helldivers in a nutshell. The best part of Helldivers is when you’re in a heated battle against giant bugs with one of your friends and you call down some supplies only to  have it land on your bud and see his body explode. It’s super interesting to me that a game with so much anti-cooperative mechanics like friendly fire can actually promote more of a cooperative experience. Yin Yang Game Design.

Best Use of Animorph Children

Splatoon

I don’t think most people were expecting Splatoon to be as good as it is. Nintendo really captured an aesthetic that totally speaks to me. It’s a weird mix of trash graffiti and a sea-punk look that makes this game standout and really made me wish I worked on it. Additionally it really changes up the boring formula of most multiplayer shooters with it’s unique squid kid mechanics and completely different game modes.

Best Use of Rockets and Balls

Rocket League

If you haven’t heard of Rocket League then you’ve probably been avoiding video games in general. This game exploded on the internet and if you play it for 5 minutes you’ll totally know why. It’s simple, it’s fun, and it’s easy to understand and watch. Pick this up, play with some friends, or don’t. Either way it’s a damn good time. 

Best Use of Twitch Integration

Choice Chamber

Choice Chamber by Studio Bean is an actiony-rogue-like platformer with a major twist - the viewers get to vote on what happens in the game. If you’re not familiar with Twitch then I’m sorry because you’re missing out on a cultural video game revolution. Choice Chamber creates a crazy performative way of playing a game where you’ll find the player begging the audience (or yelling at them) to turn the tides of the game. I’m always impressed with the studio OneMrBean makes and I can’t wait to see what crazy innovative game he’s making next.

Best Game With GUNS

Downwell

You’ll probably look at Downwell and say “oh it’s one of those rogue-like retro platformers...meh”. I’ve gotta say Downwell isn’t for everyone. It’s a hard game, it’s not super hard, but the lack of any tutorial or explanation for most things will cause some people to drop this game. BUT DAMN IS THIS GAME SO WELL DESIGN. Downwell teaches you it’s mechanics through repeated play, YOU as a player will get better and better at this game. Not because you remembered a certain jump or whatever, but because the way the game flows together it’s like being trained by a silent kung fu master and by the time you’re done you feel like you’ve actually achieved something. I can say that I can consistently get to the “end” of this game each time I play. There are never any lame random generated moments that kill you in this game like in most rogue-likes. ALSO YOU SHOOT BULLETS OUT OF YOUR SHOES. 

Best Game I’m Still Playing From Last Year

Vainglory

I’ve won 400 matches in this game. Let’s just triple that because I’ve definitely lost a lot more. Now multiply that by 20 minutes....so that’s about..er 400 HOURS of play. Look, I know you’re looking at this game and being like “oh it’s one of them MOBAs or whatever”, but man this game is so tightly designed and has only gotten better since last year. I’m not saying it’s for everyone, but after playing Vainglory, I understand the appeal of MOBAs and the level of depth that they can provide. THe Vainglory community continues to grow and the devs are really pushing themselves with every update. 400 Hours! ON A MOBILE GAME!

Best Videogame Dog

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Have you ever wanted a dog in a video game that you could pet then tell him to murder people with a knife he keeps in his dog vest? Then MGSV is the game for you, sorry Dogmeat, but D Dog has to be one of the best 4 legged companions in video game history. Dog jokes aside, MGSV really is a phenomenal game. It does a lot of things regarding open world games that I hope becomes a bit more mainstream, but it allows you to really improvise during a mission. Most open world games have a hard fail state, but MGSV really reacts to what you’re doing and rarely feels like it’s trying to stop you from being creative. It’s also the first game that I’ve played that I held up to such a high standard that it somehow disappointed me while being one of my favorite games of the year. Let’s just say, it’s clear that this game suffered from budget cuts especially in the narrative area, but man it’s still so damn good.

GAME OF THE YEAR

Undertale

Undertale is a game about friendship, killing, dating skeletons, and spaghetti. This game kind of came out of nowhere for me, but I think everyone should at least try it. In Undertale you play as a human child stuck in a strange world filled with Monster which you can either fight or spare in a JRPG turn based battle system mixed with a little bit of Wario Ware mini-games. The unique presentation of the fight or spare system and mini-games makes this game pretty different from most RPGs. This game is charming as heck and it’s got some real great jokes and memorable characters across the board. The most impressive thing about Undertale is that it’s a game that really reacts to how you play it. Most games set out the promise of having you pick choices that will affect the entire game world, but Undertale really delivers on stuff like this. It’s also crazy subversive in the way it does this stuff sometimes and you’ll want to go through it and play it multiple times. I felt like I really got to know the developer of Undertale (Toby Fox) when I was playing the game and he’s a dude that I’d totally want to hang out with. Lately, I’ve felt that a lot of Indie games in general have been one note or just a minor spin on something else, but Undertale was really something different and magical. It’s a game that makes me excited to make games and be a part of them.

That’s about it for this year. See you in 2016.

[saam-pahlavan]

Life Updates

It’s been a super long time since I posted anything on this blog and I feel like now is a good time to make a bigger post about what the hell I’ve been doing for the couple of months.

I’m just going to go with a numbered list to make this easier.

1. About a month ago, I was laid off from my job at a FTP mobile game studio. I’d been working there a little over a year as a designer on a FTP MMORPG. After about a year in, I was pretty familiar with all the games’ system, the dev tools, and the whole cycle of game dev at the studio. I really started to get tired of work and coming in day in and day out without really learning anything. I didn’t really have time to work on projects outside of work (even though I could without the studio caring about it and that was really cool) because I either felt physically tired or really didn’t want to sit in front of a computer anymore. So I decided to go part-time which was great while it lasted and was laid off about two weeks later. I’m not going to go into the specifics of the lay offs because I don’t really think that would be fair and I’d like to collect my thoughts on it. Anyway, I learned a CRAPTON of things while I was there. I learned more about the game industry, about myself as a designer and a collaborator, and about the business of game dev. I worked with some really awesome people while I was there and hope I cross paths with them again in the game industry, overall I don’t have any regrets or feel bitter or sad about any of it. I’m excited to move and work on some more of my own projects. But before I go into that...

2. Disorder came out on Steam and PC. A thing I worked on and cherished was finally set out into the wild. Disorder would never have seen the light of day without the awesome work of my friends, Matt McConnell, Alex Previty, and Sebastien Vakerics. Releasing a game is hard....especially if it’s your first one and you’ve invested so much time and emotions into it. Unfortunately things didn’t go as planned with the release and well...I gave a whole talk on what it’s actually like to release a game from a personal perspective you can check out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqnnwRH0KVw

It was a super huge learning process and overall, I’d do it again, but make some major changes haha. It sounds a bit weird, but over the past year I feel like I’ve grown so much more as a developer and as a person from releasing projects like Disorder and game dev in general. Moving on...

3. I’m co-founding a indie game studio with some game dev buds (Jake Sawyer and Damon Chandler) and we’re called Taco Illuminati. We’ve been working on a really sweet game that you’ll probably hear more about soon, but man am I fucking excited for this. I wake up and get to work on shit I want to work on and every day is new and challenging and I don’t have to change out of my PJs. We also participated in this year’s Indie Speed Run competition and made a crazy physics game where you bash into people at a grocery store while trying to get deliveries completed. It’s called Super Insta-Shopper and you can check out a web version HERE.��

Gifs galore

FOLLOW @illtaco on twitter!

4. The Loading Screen Podcast is still going strong. I’ll hopefully be able to do more than 1 episode a month, but I can’t promise anything. Additionally,I’m hoping to work on more stuff on the side and release more games / art this year, so keep an eye on this blog. Cheers and you can also follow me on twitter @saampahlavan 

[saam-pahlavan]

Inspiring a new generation!

(2x size, 1x size under)

[saam-pahlavan]

Disorder is on sale on Steam and the Humble Store! 50% Off! We’re also going to add a new level pack very soon in a free content update, including 5 levels with new art and music.

[saam-pahlavan]

3d arts

Been learning 3d art for the past couple of months. I forgot I have a blog, so I'll try to post more of my arts....

[saam-pahlavan]

Disorder’s coming out January!

[saam-pahlavan]

Favorite speedruns of #AGDQ2015

AGDQ is over :( BUT that doesn't mean you can't go back and watch all the speedruns you missed. I've made a list of some of my favorite speedruns this past AGDQ. If you missed it this year you should totally try to catch Summer Games Done Quick and donate next time!

1. Kaizo Mario World - run by dram55

Just a really exciting run. Kaizo Mario has devilish level design and to see this guy beat this is absolutely incredible. BEWARE THE MUNCHERS!

2. Silent Hill - run by tekkie

I haven't played the original Silent Hill, but after getting into 3d modeling and pixel textures man does this game look beautiful. Also the runner, tekkie, is just a really nice and charming dude.

3. I wanna be the Boshy - run by witwix

Apparently this game was made for a specific streamer called Boshy after he said that "I want to be the guy" (another super hard game) wasn't that hard. This game is an amalgamation of internet and video game references. The commentary on this run is great along with the fact that witwix and his friends are donating money for every time he dies. Let's just say the increasing death count makes this super entertaining. Plus this game is just stupid. 

4. Super Mario RPG : Legend of the Seven Stars - run by checkers

One of my favorite RPGs of all time. This dude pulls off some really great enemy dodging and timed attacks.

There was also a blind Zelda: OOT run which was incredible. The link for that isn't up yet but if you want to check out the archive from this year's AGDQ you can go to this Reddit page - HERE 

[saam-pahlavan]

AGDQ 2015 IS NOW!

Hey! The Awesome Games Done Quick 2015 charity marathon is starting today! Go watch awesome speedruns live and perhaps donate to chairty as well!

[Watch The Live Stream] || [Schedule (in your local time)]

[saam-pahlavan]

Saam's 2014 GOTY LIST THAT YOU SHOULD TOTALLY CARE ABOUT

I'm a bit bored, so I thought I'd make a list of my favorite games from this year plus some other games that I thought stood out.

My Favorite games of 2014 are:

1. Nuclear Throne (PC/MAC/LINUX) This game isn't technically "done" yet, it's still in Early Access, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't play it. If you like shooting things in the face and rogue-likes then Nuclear Throne is for you. I've put at least 60 hours into this game and it's primarily because the developer, Vlambeer, updates the game every week, so there's a reason to keep coming back. #watchthenuclearthrone

2. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (PS4 / XBONE)

This was a bit of a sleeper hit. No one knew that this game was going to be so huge, but it's the reason I caved and bought a next-gen system. The Nemesis system in Shadow of Mordor totally changes the way you think about enemies in games. Most of the time you're slaying dudes left and right giving no fucks, but SoM breathes life into its enemies and creates a vengeful narrative between you and some really douchey orcs. My most memorable moment in SoM was when I was attacked by a chieftan that I had never seen before, but apparently he was just some scrub I "mind-melded" with and as he starred at me with his ghostly blue eyes he told me about the nightmares he was having and how he enjoyed the painful mark I gave him....it was weird, but pretty fucking cool too.

3. Crossy Road (iOS/Android)

In a field of mostly turds (the app store) Crossy Road stands out against the Free-To-Play bull shit you see most of the time. Crossy Road is simple. It's essentially frogger, but has a whole cast of fun little characters. The best part of Crossy Road is that it keeps your gameplay experience separate from it's payment model. There aren't any huge interruptions while you're playing the game and it's very possible to not spend a cent in this game and get all the characters. Yes it's addictive, but not in a gross kind of way. Check it out and TRY to set it down.

4. PT (PS4)

Okay some people wouldn't call PT a "game" per say, but it's one of the most memorable and haunting experiences I've had in a long time. This game kept me up at night. In terms of design PT is supposed to be a cryptic message that tried to fool the internet (it failed in about two days), but it's incredibly interesting and terrifying. I usually don't find most horror games to be "scary" and usually find their "hunt the pixel" mechanics to be super lame. PT made me sweat, PT made me confused, PT made me scream. If you have a PS4 PT is a must-play....good luck sleeping afterwards.

5. Monument Valley (iOS/Android_

If you have a mobile device and still haven't played Monument Valley then I feel bad for you son. First of all, this game is gorgeous. Your eyes will thank you when you play this game. The design of Monument Valley that it's equivalent to eating the perfect dinner meal. Imagine eating a exquisite fancy meal that's just the right size and full of incredible flavor, that's Monument Valley. Do you self a favor, buy Monument Valley plug in some headphones, sit back and dive into this game.

And now here are some other games I thought I should give a nod to.

"Best use of color in a video game....like ever" - Hohokum (PS3/ Vita / PS4)

Next to Monument Valley, Hohokum may be the second best looking game that came out this year. It's full of charm and has some of the most eye pleasing color palettes I've seen in a video game. There were times where I thought I was going to cry because of how goddamn beautiful this game was and how relaxing it was to not play a game that's goal oriented. That being said, Hohokum does have "game-like" elements, it's not just a fly around and look at cool shit kind of game, but you can do that if you want.

"Best game I thought I wouldn't like" - Vainglory (iOS)

Usually when I hear the term "MOBA" I just kind of feel "meh" about it. I don't understand LoL or DoTA, but I "get" Vainglory. Vainglory takes the MOBA formula and simplifies it in a way someone like me can understand. My main problem with MOBAs is their learning curve and the high skill level of players. Vainglory is easy to understand after a couple of rounds, yes there are several different systems that maybe confusing at first, but give Vainglory some time. Watch a video or two and you might find yourself hooked.

"Best Multiplayer game that I don't think anyone played" - Lethal League

Lethal League's concept is simple. Hit the ball with your weapon and if the ball strikes another player before they hit it then they're out. What's great about Lethal League is it builds up hype. As you hit the ball it bounces faster and faster till it's almost a blur. It's also possible to intercept the ball from another player before they strike it and these tense moments take delicate timing and make winning super exhilarating. Lethal League might look confusing at first glance, but I swear it's easy to pick up and will get you and your friends screaming at each other.

"Best use of voice chat in a game" - Intruder

Imagine if Metal Gear Solid met Counter-Strike while being a slap-stick comedy and that's Intruder. It's one of the most fun and unique experiences I've had in an online game. The rules are simple, one team needs to steal a package and the other team needs to make sure that doesn't happen by pumping the other team full of bullets. Both teams have an array of sweet gadgets like cardboard look-alikes, lock-picks, stun/gas grenades, and a long camera for looking around corners. What really makes Intruder stand out is it's use of voice chat. You also have a walkie-talkie which you have to use to talk to your teammates and volume is proximity based as well. It really changes up the dynamic of voice chat and makes you really like about communication. Intruder is still in development, but it's pretty much online gold. 

"Biggest Disappointment" - FarCry 4

Before I say anything let me say that I finished this game and I had a good time playing it. My main problem with FarCry 4 was with the terrible bugs I ran into while playing the PC version. It's disappointing when you play a game half way through then mission markers disappear and quest objectives are apparent. The reason it's a disappointment is because I really enjoyed FarCry 3 (My 2012 GOTY). FarCry 4 juices up the formula and adds online co-op which was the one feature I thought it needed to be perfect. It's just sad that you can hand over $60 and get a broken experience. I'm not saying you shouldn't get this game, if you liked FC3 then you'll love FarCry 4. I'm just saying that Ubisoft really dropped the ball on the PC version. The co-op is ridiculously fun, the narrative is unskippable and pretty shitty, and the game probably gave me too much firepower too early.