I've got a new blog!

I've got a new blog/website over on WordPress called Phoenix Press

I'm thinking I might use it as my primary blog, so be warned!

How not to make Gravitus

Just imagine my surprise when a game comes to my attention, a game based in 16-bit/Snes-era graphics and gameplay, a side-scrolling Shmup that has all the markings of the classics like R-type and Gradius.

Hydorah is the game that I do not want to make.

Which is tricky, because it in many ways it is the game I want to make. Hydorah is the trap that I fear falling into, and that I must be wary of if I am to make Gravitus a reality.

This game is too hard. While I applaud any difficulty, and love the feeling of a challenge, I simply don't get that with this game.  All I get is frustration. 


Total props go to the design, (back)story of the game, and other obviously well thought-out aspects of the game.  The problem that I have is the type of game that it tries to be.

I don't want the dying-in-one-hit super hard arcade-like games, I want the SNES Console type games.  I want games that have leeway for error (because they don't get money by making you put in more coins) and that allow you to play your way, to some extent.


I want a game where making one mistake doesn't mean I have to start over, but that still punishes me if I'm acting stupid.

I understand the reasoning for the save feature, but I feel that a game like this would do far better to have a password system instead. (ideally, neither will be found in Gravitus)

Anyway, my somewhat-makes-sense-rambling will have to wait for another time.  I'll post more on this later (if I feel like it ;p)

Nintendo Direct and Zelda U

This....


This....

Sometimes I think Nintendo is purposefully trying to troll me.

Have you ever been abandoned by your childhood hero?  Have you ever seen what was once great fall from grace so completely so as to become almost unrecognizable as the greatness it once was?

I have been struck by a perverse apathy as of late.  I feel it is only fitting that I mention what has, at least temporarily, shaken me out of it.

It's in the mail, so we have yet to see if the purchase was remotely worth it.  I happend upon this find while wondering why on earth Amazon thinks I would want to purchase this abomination:

I hate this thing.  I despise all that it represents, and I loathe everything about what the series "The Legend of Zelda" has become.


I still feel a deep, burning rage every time I remember that the current producer of the Zelda series is the guy in charge of the infernal Water temple from Ocarina of Time.  A man who has admitted to not only never finishing the original Zelda games, but being unable to kill the octoroks.  This is the man in charge of the future of the series.  This man, whose experience of video games comes from Japanese PC 'adventure' games.

I must admit that Skyward Sword actually managed to be not terrible, though still vastly undeserving of its name  Although, every time I see its art style, I am always reminded of something.

Nonetheless, The Legend of Zelda and Theology looks promising, and I hope to post again soon with my thoughts on it.