#its a ratchet and clank reference

[cosmicgesture]

literally anyone: okay, let's try that again

me: night of the living squishies, act three, scene four. Ready ON SET?!

[puppydewmelon]

Ratchet and clank double sided charm I designed and then had a heart attack when I converted it to cmyk and never ended up getting it ordered. Another time, perhaps

[bearpillowmonster]

Transformers One

REALIZATION

I'm going to start with a response to my trailer reaction and either prove myself right or wrong with my expectations. So the design choices, yeah, a little bit disappointed, I think because they're so sheik and shiny, they look like they just spray painted in-between blows. There are parts that look better than others but hey. The action scenes especially and I mean there's some really cool action when it's there, from about half way down, it has short bursts of excitement, I just would've like a little longer spurts though the pace of the movie tried to speed things up. There were points where I felt like they took toys to model them and play with them to get those scenes.

(Paramount, if you do another one, pick me, so that I can make a movie based on toys WITH actual toys. That hasn't been done yet, has it? Even claymation would get the point across. PS if you steal this, I'm calling you out on twitter and pursuing legally)

It's not like they just walk into a cave and get powers, they aren't necessarily 'special' there are other ones that have that power already. They're all born with cogs just had them taken away then given only to specific bots. So they just had to find them to reactivate that power. Yeah, I just spoiled that but it was a concern of mine before seeing this so it's a helpful spoiler.

The toys…were real, the ball and all, it's not used a whole lot because the movie had a different structure than I imagined because it wasn't "Oh we got these crazy new powers and are exploring a whole new world" like the marketing made it out to be. I think that might be one of the points that I'd bring up as to the low ticket sales for this movie, is the misbranding of it…but at the same time it's on brand because of the jokey nature.

THE MAIN SCHTICK

The bad@$$atron joke was used again and again, more like stupid@$$atron (that would've been a clever follow-up and have actually gotten laughs) So the humor is off kilter, a few times I laughed but it's absolutely nonstop with it's onslaught of quips. I feel like it had more than Mutant Mayhem but because of the structure, it seemed like less than Ratchet and Clank (luckily, which I consider the worse of the worse mostly)

It's directed by Josh Cooley so a good reference would be to say if every character were Forky. And really, I liked the actual core of the story because I thought there was a lot of good stuff there to do with the characters but the dialogue squandered it away and made it seem less meaningful. I was asking myself if it'd make a difference if it was the same animation just redubbed but no, it wouldn't, because a lot of it is built around these gags and jokes like the Transformers struggling to form down a hill. This is where the cast doesn't really get to prove their salt because they have to force an overloaded serious speech (sometimes broken up with quips from the others) into one singular moment. You can actually sit and pick out "Oh, this is their one moment. Ok, back to the silliness." It does seem to ease up each quarter though which I semi-appreciated.

OVERALL & WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?

Is it a bad movie? No, there was an attempt, it was fun. 3/5. Not the best one of the bunch, maybe I'll make another post ranking them. My little brother is actually 7 years old (I was 8 when I saw the live action one) so while he knows what Transformers are, this was his first actual Transformers movie so I have a kid pov too. He liked it but he wasn't laughing at all the jokes, he liked the ones in Minions (which I also thought were stupid but they were to be expected from something like that) but it didn't seem to have any effect on him or succeed in its attempt to be 'kid friendly' or extra engaging, I think it would've been regardless.

[commenter2]

Talwyn & Clank: X-Spot

Happy Talwyn Apogee Day! Today we talk about our underrated Markazian Talwyn Apogee from the Ratchet & Clank video game series.

Today I want to post my idea for a story of spinoff game where you play as Talwyn Apogee who with the aid of Clank has to save the day after Ratchet gets injured. Long post warning.

I gave the name the title "X-Spot" cause it is about searching for an item, as well as a loose innuendo, but I have other titles for such a game like Talwyn & Clank: Vault Robber, a parody/reference to the Tomb Raider series, and “Treasured Chest” with a heart near it but we all know what it means. Heck maybe its referring to Talwyn holding a pic of a shirtless Ratchet XD.

I can see this game taking place before the events of the Lombax Dimension Game, or maybe even Rift Apart but I'm mainly writing this as its own thing. The story starts with Ratchet, Clank, Talwyn, and Qwark at a GrummelNet tech convention, as Qwark is sponsoring a new product while Talwyn is there to see if any of the gear can help the Polaris Defense Force (reminding us of that Talwyn is a captain of the PDF) and they got Ratchet and Clank access to check out all the cool stuff they are showing. Here you start the game playing as Ratchet and can explore the area kind of like those out of costume segments in the Insomniac Games Spider-Man games, till they watch a show involving GrummelNet’s latest battle machines which soon gets interrupted by thieves. The GrummelNet employees decide to use this attack to test out their new inventions but to their surprise the thieves’ leader points an odd looking device at it and soon get control over said machinery, and commands it to attack the building. Ratchet and Clank go after the new battle machine while Talwyn and Qwark (but mostly Talwyn) go take on the rest of the thieves, as we then switch to playing at Talwyn and starting the actual tutorial. While fighting these thieves, Talwyn notices that one of them has device similar to the one the leader used to hack the new GrummelNet battle machine and every time it is pointed at some tech, said tech would either malfunction or work in a way that benefits the thieves. This makes Talwyn wonder how this is possible, and it gets more curious when their tech doesn’t work on her stuff such as her jetpack or Aphelion who the thieves tried to take over but had no effect, I also could see a joke where Aphelion herself hurts the thieves as retaliation XD.

After the rest of the thieves in the area are taken care of (minus the one with the other weird looking device) Talwyn and Qwark go to help Ratchet and Clank, where they see Ratchet fight the rampaging battle machine but during the fight, the leader of the thieves points the device at Ratchet’s gear causing it to malfunction like how the targeting system is turned off so it doesn’t hit its target and turrets deployed by Ratchet start shooting at him instead, making an opening for the new battle machine to deliver and powerful punch to Ratchet. Before it can finish off Ratchet, the thief leader gets a message and tells the surviving thieves it is time to leave, as we see them fly away with a lot of stolen tech but the heroes don’t care as they go to the wounded Ratchet, where Talwyn tells someone to call an ambulance before Ratchet becomes unconscious.

We then cut to a hospital where we see the heroes worried for Ratchet till a doctor comes out saying he is fine but will need to stay there for a few days. The heroes get to visit Ratchet where we get scenes like seeing Ratchet with some bandages here and there, a funny scene of a nervous Qwark trying to keep it together and telling Ratchet he looks fine, and a Talchet moment. We then see the heroes update Ratchet about what happened after Ratchet passed out, like news clips of the galaxy worried about how dangerous these thieves are if they have the means to control other technology and defeat Ratchet of all people. It was also discovered that while the thieves stole weapons, they strangely focused on acquiring things like digging equipment and devices used to map out landscapes and caves. The heroes agree that these guys need to be stop and destroy their hacking tech and because Ratchet is still injured, Talwyn states she will go stop them with Clank aiding her. While this makes Ratchet nervous, he trusts Talwyn to be safe and that Clank will protect her. I could see a funny scene following this where Clank tries to get on Talwyn’s back like he does with Ratchet but her jetpack is in the way making it impossible and leading to an awkward moment, so Talwyn promises to take it off for next time XD.

Talwyn and Clank check out a lead which eventually leads them to finding the main villain, Dr. Zenith, a techo-archeologist which is someone who studies the tech of ancient civilizations. Talwyn actually recognizes the guy as Zenith was an intern of her father Max Apogee years ago who only cared about finding great treasures that could get him rich and make him famous but was eventually fired by her father after he was caught planning to sell some artifacts. Since then he has become a mildly successful techno-archeologist as he was able to find some decently interesting items but not enough to give him the fame or fortune he wanted, or anything that made him better then Max Apogee who he still hates. He has been doing an excavation on an planet that was forbidden to go one without permissions as it is where a big battle happened between the Lombaxes and Cragmites, and good reason too as the heroes discover Zenith found an old Cragmite weapon’s lab filled with some abandoned Cragmite tech. While exploring the Cragmite lab, the heroes discover the files for the device the thieves used earlier, called the Hack-Jamstruptor, which has the ability to either hack into technology using ancient Wi-Fi signals (or something similar to that stuff) or release a frequency that can destroy the gear found in nearly every mechanical device. This explains why Talwyn’s gear and Clank and Aphelion aren’t affected by it, as Apogee Industries gear is made out of unique parts and use unique signals while Clank’s various upgrades/Zoni DNA, and Aphelion’s Lombax/Zoni tech makes them immune to it, or maybe immune to a degree.

After doing a bit more digging, Clank finds out the Jamstruptor’s blueprints in the lab aren’t the originals as the gear in the lab and that used by Zenith’s forces were the Cragmite’s attempts to reverse engineer the device where they only got so far. This surprises the heroes as this means the original device could be out there and can possibly be more dangerous than what Zenith’s forces have now. Clank does find a set of coordinates in the files that they plan on checking out but that is when  Zenith and his forces arrive and corner the heroes, where Zenith monologues about how the Hack-Jamstruptors he found has given Zenith the idea that instead of finding old items to get a mention in history, he will use said old items to MAKE history and has decided to try and take over the galaxy and he believes the true Hack-Jamstruptor is the key to it.  Of course Talwyn and Clank escape him, and the rest of the game is a race to find the original Hack-Jamstruptor before Zenith does.

While that happens I can see there being 2 more subplots happening involving Talwyn. One being her still getting over the loss of Cronk and Zephyr since Into the Nexus didn’t really cover that as much. The latter could also help with issues with her father like how she is mad that she left without even a call telling her what is going on.

The other could be Talwyn running into an old archeology friend of her father, where maybe they state how it’s a surprise Talwyn never got a degree in archeology like her father. We would later find out that she did try getting one but a mix of Emperor Tachyon’s regulations in the field of archeology (as he used archeologist to try and find the Lombax Secret at a time before he got impatient) and depression over her father made her give up, and since then she has put her effort into other things like when she was helping Ratchet and Clank and helping protecting Polaris.

I also can see a small subplot where Clank tries to find a way to make everything immune to the Jampstruptor, which will have more importance later on.

Eventually we get a big twist where it is revealed that the original plans for the Hack-Jamstruptor was made by the LOMBAXES! In a Lombax audio file discovered in one of the places Talwyn and Clank go to, the heroes learned that the Lombaxes worked on all kinds of projects during the Great War hoping one would be able to stop the Cragmites once and for all. The Lombaxes’ Jamstruptor had a powerful female AI that aided the device in doing things like temporarily leaving the device to hack into Cragmite machinery and safely sabotaging tech, but the AI soon became unhinged and became too destructive in its methods even killing not only Cragmites that had surrendered peacefully, but also Lombaxes as a way of fulfilling its programming. The Lombaxes agreed that device was too dangerous (luckily they made it so that the AI can’t permanently leave the device) and were going to destroy it alongside the remaining blueprints on a planet the Lombaxes were using at the time to dispose of dangerous inventions, but that was when Cragmites got their hands on the remaining Jamstruptor blueprints, causing the big battle on the planet where Zenith found the Cragmite’s Jamstruptors and thus the original Jamstruptor was stored at a secured base but its implied that no one every went back there to destroy it. I also could see the file implying that after the Jamstruptor failed, the Lombax council has decided to put all their effort in making the Dimensionator. I like this as it adds some lore to the Lombaxes and again reminds us that the Lombaxes specialize in all technology instead of just dimensional travel like Rift Apart did.

Talwyn and Clank realize that the original Jamstruptor is still around and if Zenith gets his hands on it, things will be worse than they realize. It also doesn’t help that later Zenith’s forces kidnap Ratchet from the hospital, as earlier Talwyn and Clank needed Lombax DNA to get a door open (a callback to TOD and an excuse for a joke about Ratchet shedding everywhere XD) and they realize Zenith is going to use Ratchet to open the area the Jamstruptor is at, so they rush to stop Zenith and save Ratchet, which could lead to another joke since Ratchet has saved Talwyn and Clank on multiple occasions in past games. The two groups meet up at the door of the Jamstruptor which leads to a boss fight where Talwyn fights Zenith, who uses all kinds of tech he and his forces have stolen including riding a modified version of the battle machine from the beginning of the game. The boss fight ends with the machine gets destroyed, but Zenith is still determined as he is able to use some of Ratchet’s fur to open the door and gets Jamstruptor where he adds it onto a set of power armor! Zenith tries to tell the AI to help him destroy the heroes, but the AI has had enough of taking orders from others and uses its power to eject Zenith from the suit and causes a statue to fall on him resulting in his offscreen death. The AI then proceeds to try and destroy the heroes after seeing Ratchet, but after getting her butt kicked leaves and gets “reinforcements” (AKA the rest of Zenith’s tech), but Talwyn and the aid of a different device Clank and co have been working on to counter the Jamstruptor’s abilities allows Talwyn to weaken the AI and its armor enough to finally destroy it AND the Hack-Jampstruptor. We see the heroes reunite and celebrate but the thieves working for Zenith the appear to try and finish them off, but that is when the Polaris Defense Force (for the first time) appear and actually take care of the criminals.

We cut to sometime later as the heroes and a fully healed Ratchet have destroyed the last of the knock off Hack-Jamstruptor and any data related to it. We get some closure with Talwyn as this adventure did help her get over some feelings about Cronk/Zephyr and/or her father, and she has decided to try and get her doctorate in archeology again, which Ratchet and Clank are proud of.  Again if this is taking place before Rift Apart. I could see there being a moment from Ratchet saying that he is okay with getting rid of another dangerous Lombax item so it doesn’t get into the wrong hands though he doesn’t see Clank having a weird look on his face. If this is before the Lombax Dimension game, I can see the heroes saying that this adventure has made them push back their plans of going to the Lombax Dimension and/or talk about how this adventure is something they can laugh about with the Lombaxes when they meet them soon, hinting at the next game.

The gameplay would mostly be the same as in any Ratchet & Clank game, as I can see Talwyn using a lot of the same gadgets Ratchet uses. I can see a funny cutscene from this where she tries using some of the gear but its either too big or small for her, so she goes out and gets the same gadgets but her size.

The attack at the convention has made GrummelNet update their weapons (both new and old) to prevent them from being effected, but this is mainly an excuse so that older weapon could have special effects/features via the adaptive trigger. Such a thing could be done in other R&C like games as well.

I think as a nice nod to the Future saga, Talwyn’s starter weapons are the pistol she used in TOD and QFB and a bomb glove that instead of having explosive bombs shoots out smoke bombs that disorientate enemies, just like the one she used on Slag and Pete.

One gameplay mechanic I can see specifically happening in a Talwyn spinoff is that in every level, Talwyn can find bits of an artifact where it be an old painting, vase, or something with alien hieroglyphs on it, and finding all the parts of said item it tells a story about a certain alien race’s past like for example explaining why the Agorians like war

Of course there would also be some Clank levels, but I could see them having a bit of fun with them by having some levels be similar to that temple level form Size Matters, like using older looking tech and avoiding traps. There definitely should be a segment in one of them where you as Clank run away from an Indiana Jones like boulder.

What are your thoughts on this story? Would you like there to be a Talwyn Apogee spinoff game one day? What could you see happen in such a spinoff?

[liugeaux]

The Best Games of 2004 | 20 Years Gone

A long time ago, in the late 00s, I REALLY wanted to be a Video Games Journalist. I was writing and podcasting for local tech website Techpedition and we even worked our way to E3 2009. I was able to parley my mask of legitimacy into getting a couple dozen free games from publishers, but was never able to break into the "business".

It's fine, I've still paid super close attention to the industry and have a handful of podcasts that I follow. One thing that I missed out on was creating the end-of-year best-of lists that have become so popular with pundits of video games. Partially because I didn't have a big enough outlet for it to matter, but more so because I didn't have the resources to play all the relevant games within their release years to render a judgment.

I typically get around to playing all the games I'm interested in, but it usually takes me about 2-5 years. It's partially a time thing but mostly a budget thing. So, what this is, is the beginning of my trip through the last 20 years of video games. I'll be creating a top 10 list for the last 15 years and going forward, I'll post a new list every year of the top 10 from 5 years ago. That is assuming I keep up with it, lol.

These will be written as if they were published the year of the list, so there will be no references to future games or better sequels, etc. Let's get started. Travel with me back to the year 2004 which, news flash, is now 20 years ago.

#10 - Metroid: Zero Mission

Not only is Zero Mission a solid remake of the classic original Metroid, but it succeeds at both making it feel modern and ultimately super-playable, which isn't something you can say about the old NES game.

#9 - Prince of Persia: The Warrior Within

Much more agro than its predecessor, The Warrior Within builds on the foundation of the standout Sands of Time and smooths out a lot of the jagged edges, specifically in the combat department. Your mileage will likely be tied to how much you like Godsmack-itude, but POP2 is a great sequel.

#8 - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Paper Mario was a weird novelty and shadow follow-up to Super Mario RPG, but despite its clear creative direction, it was missing the character needed to fully succeed in the RPG space. The Thousand-Year Door has character in spades, and it will charm your staples off.

#7 - Sly 2: Band of Thieves

Making Sly Cooper into an open-world heist game took what was a decent platformer to the next level. Where the first game was a solid third place behind Ratchet and Clank and Jak and Daxter, Sly 2 makes the argument that it's a top-tier Sony series. Each mission matters and each of its characters is special.

#6 - Pikmin 2

Better than its predecessor in every way, Pikmin 2 shows the first game's primary game loop wasn't a fluke. The addition of Louie, as a second playable character who's played simultaneously with Olimar, adds a heightened level of stress, making each recovery mission a manic exercise in task prioritization.

#5 - Halo 2

Is Halo 2 as impactful as Halo: Combat Evolved? Not really. The story isn't stellar, and the surprise Arbitor missions are little more than a pallet swap, but dropping the proven Halo action onto the Xbox Live service is game and industry-changing. I'm not a multiplayer guy, but I enjoyed the single player and I recognize how important Halo 2's success is to gaming as a whole.

#4 - Mario vs Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong '94, on the Game Boy, is secretly one of the best games of 1994. Mario vs. Donkey is Nintendo fleshing out that idea and making an addictive puzzle platformer. It starts out simple and sweet and ends hard and satisfying. Had this been the direction the Donkey Kong franchise went rather than Rare's DK Country series, SNES games may have had a very different trajectory.

#3 - Spider-Man 2

Licensed games always suck. Movie tie-in games always suck. Spider-Man 2 is an anomaly on top of an anomaly and it's 100% powered by the Swinging mechanic Treyarch built for the web-crawler. It feels SO good to swing around NYC that it's hard to believe Spider-Man as a character wasn't created specifically for video games.

#2 - Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

R&C3 is undoubtedly a great game, I'd even say damn near perfect, but its placement this high on the list may seem a bit weird. That's where my opinion comes in. I'm a huge 3D platformer fan, it's probably my favorite genre. With that factored in with the depth and polish of this shiny new Ratchet game, #2 on the list doesn't seem so outlandish.

#1 - Half-Life 2

There's always talk of "importance" when it comes to works of art. Abbey Road is important, Michelangelo's David is important, and even A Clockwork Orange is important. Video Games, a medium that's still technically in its infancy, has only a handful of important titles. I'd say Half-Life 2 fits the bill. It's use of physics as a gaming mechanic is as technically impressive as it is clever. It's an FPS but it's not "just an FPS" and the mood and tone established throughout are as compelling as that of Blade Runner. Half-Life 2 is a stunner that will be studied for years.

Notable Omissions:

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - I've never liked GTA games. I respect their scope and ambition, but when it comes to playing them as games, GTA titles just stink.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - I've never gotten into the Metal Gear games and the more people yell at me to play them, the less I want to.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - This one technically came out in North America in 2005. So, with me being from the US, It will hit next year's list.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords - I might end up playing this one eventually, but as of 2024 I have not.

What are your favorite video games from 2004?

See you next time. Cheers!

[jupiterswasphouse]

WASP REVIEW - FENDERSAX/NEEDLE WASP (RATCHET & CLANK: RIFT APART)

[Image IDs: Two pieces of official artwork from Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart depicting the Fendersax/Needle Wasp /End IDs.]

Here's that personal pick I mentioned not too long ago! I actually really love the Ratchet & Clank games, having played through all the mainline games not too long ago. In fact, my playthrough of Rift Apart (One of my favorites in the whole series tbh) is what got me doing these wasp reviews in the first place. I sent a review of these guys to one of my friends while I was liveblogging through the game.

I wanted to say all that as a preface, though, as that initial review of these enemies (Which I will now be exclusively be referring to as 'Needle Wasps' since you hear that name more often throughout the game than 'Fendersax Wasps') didn't exactly end in a high rating.

First, a few things I can excuse just on the pure fact that these are aliens. They don't have antennae, are missing a pair of legs, have four eyes that are seemingly visually implied to be compound yet are still able to turn in their sockets, and don't have any ocelli.

In terms of the body shape, I'd say that, in terms of wasps, they most resemble those of the genus Baeus, with wings. But even then, I'd say that Needle Wasps are more comparable to flies in shape, apart from their four wings as opposed to the two wings and two halteres of a real fly. If anything, Baeus wasps remind me more of a particularly wide-bodied Zoni (from the PS3 R&C games)

[Image Sources: BugTracks, Tom Murray | Image IDs: A photo of a brown wingless wasp with blue eyes in the genus Baeus, followed by an official render of the Zoni from Ratchet & Clank Future /End IDs.]

Next, the "stinger", typically a modified ovipositor on a wasp, making its position, on the head, extremely awkward. Except, this is not used to sting. As for its defensive capabilities, it's used to shoot acid, which isn't exactly an unknown thing among wasps, with acid as a projectile being found in at least one wasp family, the ants (notably Formica and yellow crazy ants). However, outside of combat, the Needle Wasps are later found in Zurkie's bar, using this supposed stinger to drink, making it clear that these are mouthparts! This too is more similar to flies. While flies do not use acid defensively, they do use their spit for predigestive purposes.

The next thing you might notice, is that pair of fangs. It's clear to me that these are not the mandibles of a wasp, but the chelicerae of an arachnid, especially when combined with that inner pair of eyes almost creating a "second face", which is much more spider-like than the rest of the face.

[Image ID: A photo of a brown and black woodland giant wolf spider on a leaf, being held up to the camera by me /End ID.]

In the end, the most wasp-like thing about them might be something that's only implied, rather than shown. In a sidequest, you are intended to fend off a swarm of defending Needle Wasps as Chef Tulio extracts honey from a hive below the caverns of Blizar Prime. The hive itself is never shown, nor are any other hives outside of this one part of Blizar Prime despite these wasps appearing elsewhere, but at least there's one thing! Of course, many real world wasps create nests, and many also make and store honey (honey bees, several paper wasps, honey pot ants).

Now, in my review on Metroid Prime's War Wasps, I said that I couldn't rate them based them based on their merits compared to real wasps due to them being aliens. This time, though, I have to go against that. Metroid Prime came from a pretty good understanding of what wasps are, but the Needle Wasps, despite those few similarities, have too many aspects that don't line up with real wasps and/or aspects that more resemble other arthropods to be truly considered good representation of their supposed real world equivalents. I do find the design itself quite charming, though, at the very least.

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Overall: 3/10

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Leave your wasp review suggestion in the replies, tags, or askbox!

Make sure to tune in next week when we cover the Cazadores from Fallout: New Vegas!

[doom-nerdo-666]

The id Vault is one of the best features of the Q2 remaster because i always thought videogames could technically archive their own stuff like cut content, concept art and so on.

Like how the Ratchet and Clank series had museums.

D3, 2016 and Eternal had "art books" but there's still a lot of concept art and models not in them, so imagine if there was a more developed gallery with stuff you'd see in an artist's ArtStation/Twitter accounts or even unused music tracks.

(Or a music jukebox for every piece of music in case you barely hear something in a cutscene)

But all of it INGAME.

Imagine if even Classic Doom had its own official art book with cut/unused sprites related to D1/2/64/etc and stuff from press release versions of Doom and its alpha/betas, cut levels, leaked D64 stuff and maybe the mobile games.

Because Romero himself wanted to show more stuff (But ZeniMax being jerks, told him to stop sharing).

It'd probably use The Cutting Room Floor and some community members like MarphyBlack as helpful reference.

Then there's the artwork Adrian Carmack is posting and even stuff like the cancelled Doom 4.

(I also recall the Xbox version of D3 having a concept art video but imagine a version of D3 that even had a model showcase and photo mode like 2016/Eternal have)

And because of the recent focus on lore: Imagine digital versions/scans of official manuals/booklets and strategy guides, so people get to knore more of classic Doom "lore".

(Unless id really wants to recton the background of cybernetic demons)

Andbecause i mentioned "music that is technically used but you barely hear it", i even bring up visuals like how D2RPG's Holy Water Pistol has its pickup sprite cropped in the area where you find it.

[sp-epari-digitalmedia]

The Boy's Journal: Intertextuality as a Marketing Tactic

BLOG 3: SOURCES: INTERTEXTUALITY IN MEDIA

I've always had an inclination towards discovering Easter eggs in the games I play, often devoting extra time to find those little treasures. Most games introduce them gradually, but God of War Ragnarök did something completely different, and I was really impressed.

Kvasir's Poems, a collectible item that serves as a direct invitation to the gameplay's Easter egg universe. In contrast to other games, God of War Ragnarök reveals all of its secrets to you up front. I was captivated by this novel approach and couldn't help but gather and delve into the intriguing backstories of Kvasir's poetry.

About Kvasir's Poems (From God of War Ragnarök)

The mythological character Kvasir, who was created when the gods Vanir and Aesir united through divine spit, represents harmony between these heavenly groups. Born of Norse mythology, this figure became a poet beloved in all worlds and, in the end, became known as the God of Knowledge.

Kvasir is not a character that you meet directly in God of War Ragnarök, but he is mentioned frequently and is described as a highly intelligent person whose knowledge transcends the known worlds. In the player's journal, his poems are arranged neatly like priceless collectibles.

The creative way that each poem is incorporated as an Easter egg gives this story a brilliant touch. Not only do these verses improve the in-game experience, but they also subtly hint at the catalog of Sony PlayStation games. The strategic promotion at work is even more clever. Given that God of War was named Game of the Year in 2018 and enjoyed great success, the sequel serves as a dynamic platform for the promotion of other games. It's a mutually beneficial partnership: God of War Ragnarök's artistic merits gently promote Sony PlayStation's stellar lineup while providing players with an immersive experience.

Academic Framework

The term intertextuality is defined by Julia Kristeva as the transposition of one (or several) sign system(s) into another. Kristeva urges a departure from the 'banal sense of "the study of sources."' (Kristeva and Moi, 1986)

For instance:

Parody

Easter Eggs

Easter Eggs & Reference

Kvasir's First Poem

Title: The Sunrise of Nothingness

Reference: Horizon, Zero Dawn

Justification: The verse has the mention of creatures of metal and also the warrior's hair being red as blood. The verse also mentions the warrior's questionable origin and is clearly referring to the character of Aloy.

Kvasir's Second Poem

Title: Large Society Ground Orb: The Performance

Reference: Major League Baseball: The Show Series

Justification: The verse exaggerates the game of baseball as a war. The branch in the hand is synonymous to bat. It also mentions running and then stopping which is basically the rule of baseball. Additionally, it also talks about 9 nights and 9 Days which is synonymous to the innings in the game. Moreover, the picture beside the text resonates a baseball.

Kvasir's Third Poem

Title: We Who Remain: Part the Second

Reference: Last of Us II

Justification: The verse subtly embraces the emotional side while focusing on the key themes of cyclical revenge, destruction, and loss. Joel is referred as the bearded, cruel father and Ellie is referred as the surrogate daughter. There is also a reflection of Cordyceps virus and the moth on the cover holds a deep depiction.

Kvasir's Forth Poem

Title: Tool and Bang

Reference: Rachet and Clank

Justification: This verse brings out the friendships that are formed because of the need of the hour. Here, steel and fur are referred to as the eponymous heroes from Ratchet and Clank. There is clever correlation of how Ratchet carried his robotic buddy with him throughout the series with the lines of the poem.

Kvasir's Fifth Poem

Title: Afterlife Abandonment

Reference: Death Stranding

Justification: Hideo Kojima’s divisive titles are often considered to be complex and bizarre, but this poem brings along a humorous nod to its introduction. A map of America is on the cover, highlighting the connections between colonies that these task players need to build up.

Kvasir's Sixth Poem

Title: Visions After Rest

Reference: Dreams

Justification: The title ‘Vision after Rest’ quite literally means Dreams which refers to a lesser-known game, Dreams. There is a controllable imp as the cover highlight. There is a lot of creative liberty that the players are given to design and remix worlds and characters as the poem lines also mean that the limit is our own imagination.

Kvasir's Seventh Poem

Title: Spirits Within Walls

Reference: Concrete Genie

Justification: By mentioning ‘a gentle boy and his brush’, the poem makes direct comparison to the game of Concrete Genie which is based on the imaginative graffiti-based game. It pays importance to the overarching gameplay and that takes the story forward and pushes Ash to save his hometown by bringing the art to life.

Kvasir's Eighth Poem

Title: Celestial Construct

Reference: Astrobot

Justification: The cover of this poem directly depicts the Astro bot, making it one of the easiest poem puzzles. It is instantly recognized by PS5 players because Astro Playroom comes as ready to play. However, the words have been specifically inspired from the Astro Bot Rescue Mission.

Kvasir's Ninth Poem

Title: Upon Pursuing a Place Not Marked on Maps

Reference: Uncharted

Justification: This poem is a direct reference from the Uncharted, highlighting the franchise’s key hunting premise and adds humor to Nathan Drake’s tendency to destroy things. The lines ‘strengthen your fingers’ refer to the climbing sections. There is an inclusion of the phrase ‘from small beginnings’ which is also a part of the Latin inscription of Nathan Drake’s famous ring, thus leaving the fans amused.

Kvasir's Tenth Poem

Title: Trip

Reference: Uncharted

Justification: With strong reference to the Indie Gem Journey, this poem’s cover also showcases a musical chime which signifies the only mode of communication for the players. There is a strange sense of solidary and companionship that the game manages to bring out.

Kvasir's Eleventh Poem

Title: Eastern Specter

Reference: Ghost of Tsushima

Justification: The verse is a Haiku which is written by the protagonist through the game of Ghost of Tsushima. There are elements like standoff and wind which are the primary nuance of the game. The image tagged along is a half-mask which is the iconic symbol of the game.

Kvasir's Twelfth Poem

Title: An organization: In the Future

Reference: The Order 1886

Justification: The verse clearly points towards the clash between Halfbreeds and the knights which is the entire theme of the game, 'The Order 1886'.

Kvasir's Thirteenth Poem

Title: Sanguinity

Reference: Bloodborne

Justification: The mention of city being a prison is a direct reference to the city of Yharnam. The first line Kill, and die is referring to the tough gameplay of the game too,

Kvasir's Fourteenth Poem

Title: The Dead Do Not Ride

Reference: Days Gone

Justification: Horses of steel is a clear indication of the bikes. The mention of Brothers is also indicating towards this game as it is a major nuance of the game. Moreover, the cover image is the symbol of the protagonist's motorcycle club too.

Conclusion

The study of God of War Ragnarök's worlds via the prism of Julia Kristeva's intertextuality has revealed a complex narrative terrain. The skillful integration of diverse sign systems in the game, which avoids a traditional source analysis, indicates a deliberate involvement with narrative. With its thoughtful intertextual strategy and captivating verses from Kvasir's Poem, God of War Ragnarök invites players to explore deeper levels of meaning, turning gameplay into an educational adventure. This narrative skill highlights the significant influence of academic frameworks in the dynamic realm of gaming while also enhancing gameplay and subtly hinting at broader cultural elements. As we come to an end, it's clear that the game's deft use of intertextuality is evidence of the potential for intellectual depth and artistic expression within the gaming realm.

Reference

Kristeva, J. and Moi, T. (1986) The Kristeva reader. https://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA00525868.

IGN (2023) God of War: Ragnarok - 12 important easter eggs and references. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfN-CXjvbz8.

[mundancheemudomo]

The “objectively” bad movies that I love (Vol.3)

Vol 1 / Vol 2

Ratchet and Clank (2016)

How to adapt a video game? Don't do like this movie. Which means, choose a too childish atsmosphere compared to the games and therefore what the players are used to, and explaining anything to the new audience. The simplistic story could have allowed as compensation a development of the universe and environments, a bit like Avatar, but this is not the case. Everything is going too fast, and therefore the slightest important scene is rushed, including the relationships between characters (which means the two mains characters too). The references to the games are painful for the players, and incomprehensible for those who don't know.

So what can save a movie with a messed up story, development and humor? The very pretty animation, even if it lacks memorable shots, and paradoxically some characters. This naive, innocent version of Ratchet is quite endearing overall, as is his desire to make himself useful even if it's misused, and Elaris' new character is so adorable and bursting with energy. Too bad that she's relayed in the background, even if the few scenes that she shares with Clank are cute. And Grim has potential, but he too is underutilized.

Wait, i forgot to talk about the message ! Not the hero thing, to vague, but about guilty. Feel guilty after a mistake is useless. Doing better next time thanks learning your fails is the solution. An excellent message i think, especially for youngest part of audience !

As a fan of Ratchet and Clank franchise, i'm sad in a way this movie is a big fail, 'cause this universe has many potential for an other movie or even a serie. But this one is just a goodie for 2016 game.

Ice age 4 : Continental Drift (2012)

As the saga progresses, the episodes sink a little deeper into the absurd. The third film is already a big representative of this, but the absurdity is largely compensated with the humor, largely thanks to Buck, the emotional moments especially those with Manny and Ellie, the colorful or, on the contrary, sinister environments, and epic music.

The absurdity of the fourth opus is not balanced by all the new characters, except Shira and Louis, almost all are not interesting. Those two ones are very cute and touching, even if Shira should have participated more at the end of the story. The humor is forced, even embarrassing. The stakes are far too catastrophic in physical terms (continents move and change shape because of a stupid rodent aka Scart, or how to present the stakes very stupidly), and despite the many dangers, there is no tension.

And yet, even if the story has no sense, it still has beautiful scenes. Some with Peaches, although clichés, are touching, her friendship with Louis is lovely, the bond between Diego and Shira is cute, it's great to see more in depth the tender and emotional side of Diego. And Sid's grandmother is the character who makes me laugh the most in the film.

World War Z (2013)

A typical American random action movie with its too long list of cliches. The camera constantly shakes in the action scenes and there are far too many cuts. The choices of some characters don't make sense (like, "be careful, the zombies react to the slightest sound, what if we were driving through a contaminated military zone with old creaky bikes?!"). Some supposedly important details are useless, like the eldest daughter with asthma, but that doesn't add anything to the story, because the only time she has an asthma attack is during a scene where all characters are in a safe place.

But what saves this movie is the last third of the story, in the laboratory. Very few action, and a lot more tension and angst instead, like any good serious zombie story should be. And the solution against the pandemic found is smart. Two tracks by Marco Beltrami and two pre-existing music by Muse also add a lot to the atmosphere.

Small reminder: the word objectively is not in quote marks for nothing. Even in the worst movies, you can find a quality that will make you love it. Don’t be ashamed of your tastes, whether it’s for the movies or whatever.

[nept00n]

OMG is your blog title a ratchet and clank reference!!!!!

Yeah it is!!!!!! :D

I periodically just replay the first three ratchet and clank games on my ps2 there's something about them that's just idk they scratch the brain itch and also they're nostalgic for me but last time i was doing this i kept saying the ratchet and the metal guy line out loud after playing in the arena for a while and I realized i didnt have a blog header so! Now its there!!!

[knickglobal024]

Next-Gen Gaming: The Best of VR Game Development in America

Introduction 

 The Best of VR Game Development in America" delves into the forefront of virtual reality (VR) innovation within the United States. This exploration showcases pioneering companies, visionary projects, and transformative trends driving the evolution of immersive gaming experiences. From cutting-edge technology to groundbreaking narratives, America leads the charge in shaping the future of interactive entertainment through VR.

VR Game Development

 Leading VR Game Development Companies

 Oculus Studios

Oculus Studios, a subsidiary of Facebook (now Meta), is one of the most influential VR game development companies in the USA. Known for its Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest headsets, the company has developed and published some of the most acclaimed VR games, such as "Beat Saber," "Lone Echo," and "Vader Immortal." Oculus Studios' commitment to pushing the boundaries of VR technology has solidified its position as a leader in the industry.

 Valve Corporation

Valve Corporation, renowned for its Steam platform, has also made significant contributions to VR gaming with the development of the Valve Index headset. Valve's flagship VR game, "Half-Life: Alyx," has been hailed as a milestone in VR gaming, showcasing the potential of immersive storytelling and interactive environments. Valve continues to innovate, driving the next generation of VR experiences.

 Insomniac Games

Insomniac Games, known for its popular titles like "Ratchet & Clank" and "Spider-Man," has also ventured into the VR space with games like "Stormland" and "Edge of Nowhere." Based in California, Insomniac Games leverages its expertise in creating compelling narratives and engaging gameplay to develop immersive VR experiences that captivate players.

 Groundbreaking VR Projects

 Beat Sabe

"Beat Saber" is a critically acclaimed rhythm-based VR game where players use virtual lightsabers to slice through blocks in sync with energetic music tracks. Developed by Beat Games, it offers a visually striking and physically engaging experience, blending precise motion controls with addictive gameplay that has captivated VR enthusiasts worldwide.

 Half-Life: Alyx

"Half-Life: Alyx" represents a groundbreaking milestone in virtual reality (VR) gaming, developed by Valve Corporation. Set in the iconic "Half-Life" universe, this immersive VR title offers players a deeply atmospheric narrative experience. Through innovative VR mechanics and stunning graphics, "Half-Life: Alyx" redefines player interaction, delivering a compelling blend of storytelling and gameplay that has set new standards in the VR gaming industry.

 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

"The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners" is a gripping VR survival horror game set in the iconic universe of "The Walking Dead." Developed by Skydance Interactive, it thrusts players into a post-apocalyptic New Orleans where they must navigate moral dilemmas, scavenge for resources, and confront hordes of undead. With realistic physics and intense combat, this game offers an immersive and suspenseful experience that tests both strategy and survival instincts.

 Trends Driving VR Game Development

 Increased Accessibility

It refers to the improved ease of access and usability of products, services, environments, or technologies for individuals with disabilities or diverse needs. This concept aims to reduce barriers to participation by ensuring that people with varying abilities can engage fully and independently. 

 Enhanced Interactivity

It refers to the advanced level of engagement and responsiveness in digital environments, particularly in interactive media such as games and simulations. This concept encompasses technological innovations that enable users to interact more intuitively and dynamically with virtual elements. 

 Social VR Experiences

The rise of social VR platforms is another significant trend in VR game development. Games and applications that facilitate social interaction in virtual environments are gaining popularity, providing players with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and compete with others. Titles like "VRChat" and "Rec Room" exemplify the potential of social VR experiences to create vibrant virtual communities.

 Cross-Platform Integration

Cross-platform integration refers to the capability of software or applications to operate seamlessly across different platforms or devices. In the context of gaming and software development, cross-platform integration allows users to access and interact with the same content, features, or services regardless of whether they are using a PC, console, mobile device, or other hardware.

VR Game Development

The Prospects for American VR Game Development

It appears that VR game development in America has a very bright future. With more money pouring into the VR market and technology continuing to evolve, developers should be able to produce even more innovative and immersive gaming experiences. The USA is positioned to play a significant role in determining the direction of virtual reality gaming due to its leadership in VR innovation and booming gaming business.

conclusion

  Next-Gen Gaming: The Best of VR Game Development in America illustrates the transformative power of virtual reality (VR) in the gaming industry. With visionary companies driving innovation and pushing technological boundaries, VR games are not just entertainment but a gateway to immersive, interactive experiences. As America continues to pioneer new frontiers in VR development, the future promises even more groundbreaking advancements that will redefine how we play and experience games.

[commenter2]

I've noticed that a few of the latest PlayStation exclusive games such as the 2 recent Spider-Man games and God of War Ragnarok have had the option at their title screens to watch a recap video explaining how things got to where they are in the game, instead of having something like it at the beginning of said game's story. It looks likes its going to be another common thing shared among modern day PlayStation exclusives, which I don't mind but I don't think that should be an option for the next Ratchet & Clank game, especially one that is about the heroes going to the Lombax Dimension.

I've said it before but I think the writers of Rift Apart really missed the opportunity to help the new fans of Ratchet & Clank catch up on the main events of the series and how its different from the 2016 game and movie and it not only hurt the story of Rift Apart by not including characters like Talwyn Apogee and making simple references/dialouge to things like Tachyon and Alister Azimuth, but could possibly damage future game plots unless they do something about it.

Ratchet & Clank did do a recap in A Crack in Time to explain the rest of the Future trilogy installments and it was both educational and funny at the same time since it was done with Qwark, so I could see the writers doing something similar in the next game. I would LOVE to see Qwark tell his version of several previous games to Rivet and Kit before they all leave for the Lombax Dimension.

Also after seeing how BIG Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 was, I really want a game about our heroes having an adventure in the Lombax Dimension to be the biggest Ratchet & Clank game yet to a point the cutscenes alone (not counting in game dialogue and end credits) should be about 2 1/2 hours longs.

Do you agree with any of these thoughts?

[dumbfinntales]

There are many old video game series that I‘d love to see return in the modern times. But there is one that I especially don’t want to come back and that’s Jack and Daxter. A beloved series from the PS2 days. This series and Ratchet and Clank series felt special, and I loved how they were somewhat connected. Not literally, but I think both studios helped each other out and even made references.

Jak and Daxter started out as a 3D platformer, but turned a bit more gritty and GTA like with the sequel. Also guns, because why not, but the series still managed to keep its charm and stay a platformer for the most part.

But the reason I don’t want it to return is simply modern Naughty Dog. The people who worked on the original trilogy most likely aren’t even there anymore, and even if they are their perspective on games have changed. I have no doubts that if they’re going to make a new game it’ll be a reboot, with more realistic graphics and a heavy focus on the story.

I’d be surprised if they made a cartoony looking game (like modern R&C) that kept the spirit of the original, but I don’t see that happening. Naughty Dog did play around with the idea of a reboot, but if you look at the leaked concept art it looks pretty much like I thought it would. So I hope they stick to their highly cinematic movie games and let the past be past.

[robereuto3]

A PC still can't compete against the biggest advantage of PS5 and Xbox, but that may change in 2023 thanks to this game that will arrive at the end of January There are many aspects in which a PC is unable to compete against a PS5 or Xbox Series X | S (and vice versa). For example, computers cannot offer the value for money that new generation systems have; and, in turn, the users of these consoles cannot modify their elements to improve their performance over the years. For this reason, the GameStar colleagues have wanted to delve into an aspect in which PCs cannot compete: loading times. However, as stated in their article, this situation may be reversed throughout 2023 thanks to a highly desired tool and a highly anticipated game. Thus, in said note they refer to DirectStorage and Forspoken, the Square Enix title that will arrive on January 24, as "spearheads" of the new wave that will arrive on PC in the coming months. As they point out, going from the non-existent loading times of proposals like Demon's Souls, Marvel's Spider-Man or Ratchet & Clank: A Separate Dimension to the "15 seconds or more" of titles like The Witcher 3 on PC can cause boredom among Players. However, the high requirements of Forspoken and the possibilities of DirectStorage may be the key to a revolution in PC that marks the future paradigm. PC can't compete against PS5 and XSeries load times As they point out, the arrival of Forspoken and its high demands show that it is necessary to have the right hardware to take advantage of the possibilities of the new generation of video games. Therefore, they state that it is crucial to have a computer with an NVMe SSD, a graphics card from the GeForce RTX 2000 or Radeon RX 6000 series and, finally, Windows 10 or Windows 11 (preferably the latter). By having these tools, as a recent study showed, it is possible to reduce loading times from 5 seconds to half a second, an option that would take the PC to match the greatest advantage of the new generation of consoles. In short, both this portal and other specialized ones are already beginning to see 2023 and works like Forspoken as the candidates to mark that change that PC gamers https://www.instagram.com/p/CnuBnILrHRg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[pestopascal]

fkn hate trophies like ‘level up your weapons’ im broke in game and in real life i cant afford to upgrade these stupid weapons i dont even want to use a sniper rifle its BORING jfc its just gonna be a matter of constantly smacking that replay challenge mode button again