Rocksteady's Arkham Games Are All About The Joker

Batman is arguably one of the most popular, if not the most popular, super hero properties around. Mr. Wayne and the legacy of the Bat have traversed various mediums, from comics to novels to television shows to the blockbuster films with more success than any other vigilante out there. Though there are some less than great adaptations, Batman as a franchise has arguably been successful moving between mediums on every front, including video games, and none of the Batman games are as iconic as the Arkham franchise, and for good reason.

In 2009, with the release of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady did what many thought was the impossible: the studio put players into the shoes of Batman in a way that made them feel like the Dark Knight. Powerful enough to take on 10 men at once, but not impervious to bullets, with access to a plethora of wonderful toys on the utility belt that felt like natural extensions of the character for not only combat, but environment traversal and puzzle solving, Asylum set the standard for all super hero games going forward. It wasn't just the gameplay though. Rocksteady came into the world with a large respect for the mythos of the character and his world, with a strong story that was accented by the familiar voices of Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy that not only added quality to the project, but a heavy dose of nostalgia for anyone who grew up with Batman: The Animated Series. Hell, even writer Paul Dini jumped on to help flesh out the story. Asylum made everyone a believer again. There can be a good comic book game, and Batman can make a great setting for games. Though I could gush all day on the mechanics of the series, or the world that is set up in the franchise, what I really want to talk about today is the overarching narrative of the Arkham universe. Specifically the story of Batman and the Joker, because the Arkham games cover this relationship so well.

Mobile or Handheld, Sony Needs a Portable Presence

 

I really like this photo, so I had to use it again.

In a 2015 interview at EGX at the time President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida spoke about a successor to the PlayStation Vita not being viable in the current mobile-lead environment. Shortly after the interview hit the internet, the masses followed suite, stating that this is the proof that Sony is bowing out of the handheld race, despite Yoshida-san stating in following interviews that this comment does not confirm there will be no successor to PS Vita.

Regardless of whether he meant for his comments to be seen this way or not, the gaming public is now under the impression that Sony is dropping out of handheld gaming. While some are brokenhearted, many believe this is the only thing the company can do with it's flailing handheld sales. From an immediate financial standpoint, this thought process does have some merit. But Sony  having no mobile or handheld presence will only hurt the industry giant in the long game.

When Should A Game Be Episodic?

Image courtesy of TelltaleGames.com

Time is getting shorter for everyone. As technology progresses and entertainment becomes easier to obtain, it becomes much more difficult to portion out time for everything. So it's a natural progression for television shows, which are broken down into episodic chunks, to become more popular since they are easier to digest over small, broken out periods of time. Even games are moving in this direction. The popularity of episodic is on the rise, with talented developers like Telltale Games making engrossing stories that players can pick up over time. However, the trend is starting to move towards games that don't necessarily need this type of broken out form. So when is it right for a game to be episodic?

Time To Fix Nintendo's Membership Program

Image courtesy of PureNintendo.

Earlier this year Nintendo announced that the company would be ending it's Club Nintendo program and replace it with a newer, better program. This announcement came tied with the reveal that Nintendo would be developing mobile games, and the reason for ending the Club Nintendo program was to create a program that will work cross platform. Fast forward to today, and Nintendo still hasn't given too many details on what this program will look like, despite the fact that Club Nintendo's end is quickly approaching. So let's break down what would be the best changes Nintendo needs for Club Nintendo's successor. 

True Cross Platform Usage

Nintendo has already announced that the new program will be cross platform with not only the current Nintendo consoles, but PC and mobile as well. Aside from this fact, no other details have been announced, such as what this actually means. What Nintendo needs to do is make this a true cross platform experience that includes purchases that span multiple devices and saved data that can be accessed from multiple devices.

This is the start of Nintendo's vision. (Image courtesy of NintendoLife)

For years Nintendo fans have paid and repaid for the same game every time a new piece of hardware is purchased. On Wii, I purchased Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. On my 3DS, I have purchased Super Mario Bros. 3 and plan on purchasing the original Legend of Zelda. All of these games are trapped on the devices I have downloaded them on, despite the fact that all of these games are playable on multiple devices I own. 

This is the number one problem that Nintendo needs to address. The excuse at the moment is that Nintendo wants to keep the value of games up rather than discounting continuously to try to aim for more sales. It's a noble excuse, and one that has some merit, but it can only be used so much before it looks like a thin veil to not give up something that is making the company money. If the upper management feels that handing out multiple copies on multiple devices will bring down the value of the game, there could always be a cheaper license purchase for players who own the game on a separate device. So rather than paying $5.99 for Legend of Zelda on my Wii U when I already own it on my 3DS, I could pay $.99 to buy a license and utilize it to re-download the game on this new device. It's silly that players have to re-buy these games over and over again and, honestly, it feels a bit like a let down, as if Nintendo doesn't care that it's consumers have to re-purchase these games.

Having to purchase these separately is silly and kind of outrageous. (Image courtesy of Engadget).

The ability to carry over save files between devices is also something that needs to be addressed. As more of these games become available on multiple devices, the ability to pick up and play on the go only to come home and move to the big screen is important. Sony has mastered this with the PS Vita and PS4/PS3, and has even left it up to developers to implement into their games, requiring Sony only to ensure that there is a back end that works well. Even mobile games have cross save play so players can move from mobile to tablet to PC without having to worry about anything in between. This feature is a no-brainer and there really is no excuse anymore.

Keeping Score

Hate them or love them, Trophies and Achievements are important to PlayStation and Xbox owners. Not only is there evidence that games with these features sell better, these games often have longer retention, depending on how the feature is implemented. Nintendo won't create a similar system, nor should they. Keeping score between friends isn't really Nintendo's style and creates a competitive nature that sometimes leads to hostilities that Nintendo does not want to deal with in it's online community. However, creating a unique system to show off accomplishments and compare with friends online is some thing Nintendo needs to implement. 

This is a start, but keep it going Nintendo! (Image courtesy of games.niooz.fr)

The funny thing is, Nintendo has already started this system with the 3DS: the badge collection system. This is a system that is perfect for Nintendo, because players can earn badges by completing challenges within games without placing a score to it. The system isn't so much competitive with your friends as it is more about competing with yourself and showing off your cute little achievements to your friends. It is the core of what the Trophy and Achievement systems started as but have left behind for this score chasing game. Badges can be cute, customizable for your devices (including your smartphone) and can be shown off through a friend profile and street pass. I mean, how cool would it be to collect all 8 gym badges in a Pokemon game and be able to show them off on your gaming profile? It would be amazing! The ability to show off and compare these badges with friends can go a long way and keep the positive online environment Nintendo cherishes.

And if Badges aren't what Nintendo wants to do then something similar, such as Stamps or a Garden to collect plants that relate to these systems. Anything is better than nothing, and knowing Nintendo, the company can create some system that is not only creative, but undeniably charming and cute at the same time. Having this system to span all devices and Nintendo games would be fantastic.

Maintain the Miis

The biggest thing Nintendo has over Sony and Microsoft when it comes to social gaming networks is the Mii system. Miis can be kind of a joke, but ultimately they are the best solution to keeping Nintendo unique and can help maintain a social network specific to Nintendo games and products.  And unlike the Avatars that Microsoft uses for Xbox, Miis are utilized for Mii Plaza and other social areas. 
 

This is a start, but make it a little bit more interesting (image courtesy of Nintendo wiki).

Keeping this concept and expanding on it will create a creative and interesting gaming social network that can do the same thing as PSN and Xbox Live, but also create a social area to interact with other players. Sony tried this with PlayStation Home, but ultimately it was too separated from the gaming space that players start in. To get to PlayStation Home you have to go out of your way. It is too ambitious. Keeping it simple, but building on Mii Plaza, Nintendo can capture this social area interaction while keeping players close to the games they want to play.

Taking this concept to mobile and PC platforms would be simple as well. A Mii app for mobile phones that would allow players to customize Miis, chat with friends and even compete in mini games and show off their Badge Collections (SEE HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER NINTENDO!) would be perfect. Sony has it's own PlayStation App, which works well, but Nintendo could implement this and expand on it with it's own unique twist to create an experience players want to be a part of.

Online Essentials 

The final thing Nintendo needs to address is it's own mentality towards the internet and it's features. There are plenty of essentials that PSN and Xbox Live continue to build on that Nintendo refuses to utilize, namely communication. Voice Chat and better Messaging needs to happen. 
 

Let me talk with my friends while playing games, Nintendo! (image courtesy of zeldainformer)

Yes, the internet can be vitriolic. And yes, not every player is going to be nice to other players, but in order to make the Mii system expand and incorporate a trophy-esque system, the online social features need to be expanded to match that of the competition. Party matchmaking and social media integration is also a plus, but the voice chat and messaging are where Nintendo needs to start. Limit the usage or offer the option to turn these features off for specific games that are being aimed at a younger audience, but don't make everyone suffer to 'protect' the younger audience. 

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These are the starting blocks that need to be addressed. For years the company has taken hits for it's refusal to upgrade this system of online features and usage. From being unable to tie everything to one ID to the inability to use the gaming systems to communicate with friends online easily, it's time to change. If these features listed above can be implemented appropriately, Nintendo could not only catch up to Sony and Microsoft, the company could supersede it's competition as the leader in how to build a positive social structure within it's gaming world.

Why Nintendo on Mobile Makes Perfect Sense

Oh, what a tangled web they weave. Image courtesy of Gematsu.

Last Monday Nintendo dropped a bomb shell on everyone: the company is going to make mobile games. This is huge news! Not only is Nintendo making games for a piece of hardware that is not developed by the company, but these games will be on a mobile platform. This is also frightening, taking into account that sometime last year a report was published stating that individuals talking with Nintendo at an investor's meeting wanted to release a Mario game on mobile platforms that would require players to pay cash for jumps. But I am ever the optimist, and honestly, you should be too, at least with this news story. Not only is this a smart business decision that will earn Nintendo a lot of money, but it is the best future proofing strategy I have seen from any of the big name hardware developers yet.

Nintendo, Please Bring SNES Games to the 3DS Virtual Store

Will this only be a fantasy? Image courtesy of Primagames.com

I have held off for quite some time on buying a Nintendo 3DS. There wasn't anything wrong with the 3DS per se, but there wasn't a truly compelling reason to buy one other than Pokemon Y and X when they released. I like Mario just fine and I'm interested in trying out some other games, such as Bravely Default and Kingdom Hearts 3D, but for the longest time the PS Vita simply had the games I wanted to play. It still does. I can count on two hands the games I want to play on 3DS, yet I need to setup a spreadsheet for all the PS Vita games I can't wait to play. 

That being said, I've finally snapped. I picked up the New Nintendo 3DS in New Red, and I am a big fan. The screen size is nice. The hardware feels solid and playing Pokemon in 3D for the first time on a handheld literally took my breath away. But there is one glaring misstep that I can not let go of when it comes to the 3DS: The Virtual Console.

Game Length Does Not Drive A Game's Price, Ever

Image courtesy of NEOGaf.

Over the weekend, on Valentine's Day, a YouTube account leaked 16 videos that made up a complete walkthrough for Sony's newest exclusive, The Order: 1886, which will be out this Friday. The total running time for these videos combines at around 5 hours. This leak has kicked off an angry and vitriolic conversation across the web as to whether or not this game should be a full blown, $60 title. So that begs the question: Does play time really amount to the price of a game? 

My Games of 2014

The year is coming to a close, which means it is time for Game of the Year voting. Rather than creating mine own poll here, I'd rather talk about the different games I've played this year that have risen above the rest and really stuck with me. This year has been a great year for games, despite all the problems this past holiday season brought on, so let's take a look at the cream of the crop for 2014:

Is PlayStation Now the Future?

The future...?

The end of July marked the launch of Sony's new digital rental service into a public beta on PlayStation 4. Through PlayStation Now, gamers will be able to stream a library of PlayStation 3 games to play on their PS4, eliminating the need for backwards compatibility or keeping your PS3 hooked up. The streaming service is being created from Sony's acquisition of Gaikai two years ago, and though there are still many questions to be answered about how the service will work, the public beta gives us an idea of what to expect. After a week of gaming on PlayStation Now, I can report that the service has promise, but there are still kinks to be worked out.

Vita Games That Need to Come to the West

There's a secret that a lot of gamers don't know: The PS Vita is awesome. Though the handheld hasn't sold well and Sony has announced that less first party games will be coming to the system, there are still plenty of great games out now for the Vita. The future of this amazing gaming device is in limbo right now, with Sony's uncertain of what to do with the device while most developers are taking a 'wait and see' approach towards development with the system, and that frightens me.

There is so much great about the Vita, and so much potential to be pulled out of the handheld. Japan is finally starting to get why the Vita is so great, as game releases are starting to ramp up in the Land of the Rising Sun. With all the recent and soon to be out releases available for Vita owners, I wanted to point out a few great games that need to come to the West. Not only will these titles add to the already great library the Vita has, I personally believe that these games will be able to help drive sales for the handheld and push developers to creating more games for the system.

Virtual Worlds: Video Game Locations I Want to Visit

Videogames have always been this interactive form of escapism. For years I would play my Game Boy Color with Pokemon Yellow while riding in the car between Ohio and North Carolina to dive into the world of Kanto and avoid the boring real world drive. Over the years, as my game tastes have expanded, I've come to find so many different worlds that I would love to go and visit. Here are a few:

Ideal Developers to Tinker With Nintendo Franchises

If you've been paying attention to the video game industry at all this year, it's not hard to see that Nintendo is behind its competitors, at least in the popular vote. I'm not saying that Nintendo is losing. You can never count out a company that is over 100 years old that started out making toys. Nintendo is great. The games that do come out are typically enjoyable, but they are typically few and far between. Recently, the game company has announced plans to lease out its franchises to other developers to bring some new life blood to them, starting with The Legend of Zelda, which is going to have an iteration created by Tecmo Koei. This got me thinking about my dream third party developers lending their talents to the franchises. Here's what I came up with:

How Sony Can Improve the Vita

I’ve always had an affinity for handheld gaming, probably because my first real gaming experience came from playing Link’s Awakening on the original brick GameBoy. The first game I ever beat to completion was Pokemon Yellow on my purple see-through GameBoy Color. Even as I get older, I still tend to game on my handhelds as much (if not more) than my consoles. I love my Vita. It has great graphics, awesome experiences and I can play it pretty much anywhere. Having said that, it’s not a perfect system. There is a reason why it’s being outsold (by huge margins) to the 3DS in every available market, including Japan. So what can Sony do to match its competitor in the handheld market?