What's the Problem?

While trying to get tired enough to goto bed, I came across this news story.

From what I've gathered, the state of New York wants all video game consoles to have a lockout feature to make sure kids aren't playing games they shouldn't be, all games to have a rating on them to tell who is mature enough to play the game, and they want an advisory panel to study the non-existant corelation between video games and violence.

I have one question, why is this a problem? All three current generation systems have a lockout feature. PCs have a lockout feature if people are smart enough to actually restrict stuff using user accounts. This is a non-issue since the framework is already in place.

If I remember correctly, there's been a rating system for video games for at over ten years. I just checked Game FAQs and it looked like there was a rating block on the cover of Mortal Kombat II from 1994. So this really isn't an issue.

The one thing I can see people having a problem with are the studies to prove that video games do not cause violence. The only reason I can see for people not wanting this to pass is that they will lose their scapegoat. Can't blame video games if bad parenting is the problem.

Speaking of parenting, it is a problem. You'll have people claim that video games are too violent, and that violent video games are ruining today's youth, I'm looking at you Jack Thompson. No, they're not. Bad parenting is doing that. Last I checked, video games don't fly at kids and say, 'PLAY ME OR I'LL SHOOT THIS DOG! DO YOU WANT THIS DOG!" I'm not going to aruge that games like the Grand Theft Autos and the Mortal Kombats aren't marketted towards children. That would be a silly argument, because of course they are. Maybe not directly, but putting an M rating on a game is going to be more enticing to a child to play than something with an E rating. What does this have to do with parenting?

Kids cannot buy games. Well, they could if they had mommy and daddy's credit card or some cold hard cash, but that doesn't mean a retail place will sell them the game. Well, they shouldn't sell them because I would think that's a law suit waiting to happen if a parent doesn't approve. Besides, it's not up to the retailer to decide what children should be playing, it's up to the parents.

Parents need to make informed decisions. If your child is asking for a game, find out about it. If you're reading this and are a parent who is thinking about purchasing a game for your child, YOU HAVE THE INTERNET, READ UP ON IT! Make an informed decision. The rating system isn't there as the end all judgement as to whom can play a game. It is there as a guide. There are some eleven year olds that I don't think would have a problem playing Grand Theft Auto IV. There are some adults that I don't think can handle the game. Am I saying that no one should play it? Of course not. Am I saying children should play the game? Of course not. I'm saying that it's up to the parent to decide. I mean, you should know your child. You know what they're capable of, you know how mature they are. If you're not sure if they should play it, read up on the subject matter, most reviewers will tell you that.

Parents, sit down with your kids. Get to know them. Make an informed decision on your child's activities. If you think that killing nazis is completely healthy for your child, pick up that copy of Battlefield 1942. If you think your child can handle car jackings and mob crime, pick up any of the Grand Theft Auto games. If your think your child is a complete loser who can't handle anything? Well, you're probably a complete loser who can't handle anything, and you just brought up your kid to be exactly like you and you're just looking for something to blame your faults on.

I've also found this story.

The State of New York isn't the only one who think there's a problem with video games, apparently this is a job of the US Government! It's not like they have anything better to do that tell parents how to raise their children. All this big important people are afraid that other people's kids are going to grow up to be serial killers and kill their family (because as we all know, rich white kids don't commit crimes), so they HAVE TO DO SOMETHING! I know what you can do. TELL PARENTS TO STOP LETTING TV RAISE YOUR CHILDREN. I think I should run for congress, show them that an avid gamer can engage in civil conversation and not want to kill everyone in sight and rape and pillage.

Then I'll get up, call them all poopey heads and run away.

Cedar Point

I meant to get this up this morning before I went to bed, but I completely forgot to. I didn't get much game time in this weekend, as I was busy doing all sorts of other awesome things. I'd like to point out that Cedar Point is a bunch of asses when it comes to packing crane machines. On top of that, most of their crane machines suck balls. But hey, they have a few good ones, or I wouldn't have this guy:

Just cost me $1.50 to win him (three tries). I swear, I'm a master of crane machines. The Donkey Kong you can kind of see above him was won in two tries at Gameworks after I was told that crane machines are rigged. Mario isn't the only thing I walked away with at Cedar Point.





Have you ever wanted to club a baby seal, or at least club someone with a baby seal? Well, now I can, and I also have a really cool Pirate Turtle Bobble head. Yes, I know, you're jealous. I'm not sure which part you're jealous about, but I know you're jealous.

But hey, this blog is about reviews, right? Why don't I review something, other than how awesome my weekend is. Why don't I review Cedar Point?!

Cedar Point, the world's greatest amusement park located in nearby Sandusky, OH. This park has 17 roller coasters. That is not a typo. Many rides have held world records, fastest coaster (Magnum XL, Millenium Force, Top Thrill Dragster), tallest coaster (Magnum XL, Top Thrill Dragster), longest drop (Magnum XL, Top Thrill Dragster), longest drop on a wooden coaster (Mean Streak), and tallest wooden coaster (Mean Streak). I'm sure there are more records, but those are the only ones I can get from the rcdb.

Along with all 17 of those coasters, there are many other rides to ride, shows to watch, food to eat. There are many games to play, prizes to win. Cedar Point also has a water park attached to it called Soak City, if you're into that kind of thing. I've never been there, so I can't vouch for how awesome or shitty it is.

Overall, I highly recommend going to this park. I normally try to go at least once a year, and I plan on going again later this year. If you're a huge fan of rollercoasters (I know I am) you won't regret making the trip out here. Very fun, very awesome.

New Super Mario Bros

There really isn't much to this game. Do you like the original Super Mario Bros? How about 2? 3? World? Well, you'll love this one. You don't get any cool items like the cape or the racoon tail, but you do get the giant mushroom that turns you into Ginormous Mario and allows you to just lay down a path of destruction that hasn't been seen since Gozer unleashed the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

Really, there isn't that much to review for this game. It's pretty straight forward. You run, you jump, you get bigger, sometimes you shoot fireballs. The one great addition to this game are the minigames. I've probably played them for about the same amount of time as I have the actual game itself.

Yes, I know this is a short review. Sue me. I wanted to get a quick one in because I really didn't want to post two FFXI updates in a row, especially since I haven't done much since Saturday. It's a great game, and you should get it. Especially if you liked Super Mario World.

FFXI Update

I figured if one of my options for posting will be an update of my progress in FFXI, I should establish where I'm currently at in FFXI.

For those of you who don't know, Final Fantasy XI is an MMORPG by Square-Enix. I've been playing since the North American release in October of 2003. About two years ago, I've decided that I want to get a piece of gear that isn't all that great, but pretty much shows a lot of commitment and a lack of a life. On top of all of that, it looks pretty cool. :) That item is the Maat's Cap. If you look at the link, it shows that you have to beat Maat on the original fifteen jobs.




As you can see, I have seven jobs at 75. Six of those being Maat Jobs (Blue Mage, Corsair, Puppetmaster, Dancer, and Scholar do not count). I've gotten the itch to level another job, so as you can see, I've started up on Warrior.

Right now, out of the six jobs I have at 75 towards a Maat's cap, I've only beaten Maat with four of them. I still need to beat him with Monk and Bard. I have the item to do it, I just haven't gotten around to doing so. My current record against him is 4/9. I'm 1/4 on White Mage, 1/1 on Dragoon, 1/1 on Samurai, 1/1 on Black Mage, 0/1 on Monk, 0/1 on Bard.

I have a few other Goals for FFXI, but I'll list them later.

Introduction

Hello there. I'm Kenny, and I'm addicted to video games. Well, not really addicted, because addicts goto meetings. I'm not that far yet. On top of that, it would require admitting I have a problem, and so far I haven't killed anyone to play a video game, so I don't think I have a problem yet. I'd also like to point out that I can quit any time I want. Quit I tell you!

If you're here and I didn't tell you about this, you're probably wondering what is here. Well, I'll tell you what content you may find. I've been playing video games for 20+ years. I live video games. I breathe video games. Sometimes I sleep them (DAMN PRINCESS, GET IN THIS CASTLE!). I own several video game systems. I own a Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Game Boy Pocket, Nintendo DS, Wii, Sega Genesis, SegaCD, Sega Dreamcast, Playstation, Playstation 2, XBox 360, Commodore 64, and a PC. I know, that's not 15, like I said in my profile. I have Gameboy Advance games and Gamecube games.


When my friend Matt started up his own blog about System Administration, I got the idea to do something I knew a lot about. Considering I think FedEx might not like it if I start a blog about their internal workings, I figured I'd use video games as a subject. I mean, 20 years is a long time to become intimate with games. I also have a vast collection of games. I call it a collection because I probably haven't played half of them. With a quick glance, I can see that I haven't even opened two of them (.hack//quarantine and Final Fantasy X-2, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2 doesn't count since it seems that new games are opened by Gamestop, but that's for a completely different post).

When I told Matt that I should do this, he was completely supportive. I mean, I know games about as well as he knows networks. I've been wanting to get a plan together, and get a place to put it up. Blogger seemed to be working for him, so I dusted off my account that I forgot I had and here we are.

I was kind of hoping to play a few newer games and write up some reviews, but alas, I really only have one newer game. I'm playing through a newish game right now, and I should have a review up in a week or so. But I digress.

I would like to lay out a few ground rules for myself right now.

1. I'd like to have at least one post a week. I read some webcomics that claim they update so many times a week, and it annoys me that they don't. Like Daniel Craig said in Layer Cake, "Make a plan, and stick to it." Even if it's not a review, I'd at least like to put up an update or a preview of my next game or two that I have lined up. Just something to let people know what's going on.

2. Try to stick to current games. While I don't always have the money to go out and get every game made, I still want to restrict myself to current games. I've been wanting to get a Gamefly account or at least a Blockbuster account for a while, this gives me a reason to do so.

3. Two words, retro week. Yes, I know this goes against rule two, but its' too much fun to not do. Remember that collection I mentioned previously? Well, that's what Retro week is for. I can bust out one of my older games (C64 FTW!) and review it. Sure, it probably has already had 20 reviews from well respected gaming outlets (I'm not looking at you, IGN), but I really don't care. It hasn't gotten my personal touch!

4. Put at least 20 hours into the game. You can't really say much about a game if you don't know much about it. In my personal opinion, if a game isn't at least 20 hours long, it's not worth playing. I mean, I put at least 80 hours into my first play through on Final Fantasy Tactics. My first time through (and currently only time) .hack//infection was only 10 hours. I can't tell you how disappointed I was with that. If I have less than 10 hours in the game, you'll get a preview. 20 hours, you'll get a review. The only way I'll give a review for less than 20 hours into the game is if I beat it in less. I most likely won't be scoring highly.

5. There will be no system of numbers. I hate number systems for ratings. I mean, ratings are subjective in the first place, but what's the difference between a 5 and a 7? What's the difference between a 9.5 and a 10? There's just too much wiggle room between the numbers.

For example, Nintendo Power just released a top 20 list for all Nintendo systems for their 20th anniversary. If there was a difference between a 9 and a 10, then Metroid Prime 3 and Smash Bros Brawl would have been fighting for 1 and 2 on the top 20 list, instead of fighting for 3 and 4. Both games recieved 10s, while Mario Galaxy and Twilight Princess recieved 9.5s. I'm not trying to say anything bad about Galaxy (I haven't played it) or Zelda (I loved it), but you'd think 10s would trump their 9s.

Another reason why I hate point systems, there's no such thing as a 1 (if that's your lowest, 0 if that's your lowest) or a 10. There is no such thing as perfect. A rating of 10 signifies perfection. Everything else must compare to that. If something becomes greater than that 10, it becomes 10, and the previous 10 must step down. You have something new to compare to.

You might argue that a 10 means it's a must have game! I've played some 8s that were damn fine games, might even be a must have. Arbitrary numbers, that are completely subjective to the person reviewing, are not a valid basis for a means of rating. I mean, sure, a review behind the number helps a lot, but I know people who only rely on that number to buy games, and I think they're idiots. Words speak more than numbers, so all of my ratings will be words.

6. Above all, have fun. That's my main goal in life, to have fun. Nothing is worth doing unless you can get some enjoyment out of it. It's my motto for life. I'm the type of person who never says goodbye, because I hate seeing people leave. So I always tell them have fun, because if it is the last time I see them, I'd like to give them some worldly advice before leaving.

Overall, I think this will be a fun endeavor. I think I currently have enough source material to get a few weeks in, and I'm looking forward to playing plenty of games. I just hope I can tear myself away from Final Fantasy XI enough to do so. Right now, my current queue of games is Blue Dragon, an RPG from Mistwalker; Professor Layton and the Curious Village, a puzzle game from Level-5; and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, a tactical RPG from Square Enix. I'll also have a retro game lined up, but those are going to be secrets.

I'm hoping to have my first review up by Aug 4th (Monday seems like a great day to post reviews). If I can have it up sooner, then so be it. Until then, I'll be releasing FFXI updates. Until Monday, have fun!