Do I think it worked? Somewhat. and visual have been improving, becoming next sense to involve. Plus, the tactile Certainly, during the demonstrations, more and more realistic, so much so that nature gives a feeling of doing, rather people got very into the fights – they we’ve pretty much reached a point of than just watching. It makes the game Fighting with a broadsword is hard. First cheered and crowd favorites were diminishing returns, when comparing more of an experience, and isn’t there’s all the trouble of swinging a large chosen. Afterward, we got tons of financial input to visual and audio output. experience what it’s all about? steel object around with one hand, much questions: How heavy is the sword? In addition, we’ve reached a point where less one that requires two hands. And Quite. Isn’t it hard to move in the many of the games’ offerings outclass the Cheers, then add on top of this the trouble of armor? It is. Did you know that sparks hardware on the gamers’ end – graphics armor; whether you use chain mail flew from the swords? Yep. Can I have a are now only as good as a player’s HDTV, (which is silly heavy) or you use leather picture with you? Um, sure. People were if he even has one. (lighter, but a little more stiff) you just getting that this wasn’t something that really don’t know the extent to which was something you could walk off the Where does that leave us when we are until you’ve been there. Trust me. I’ve street and do easily. But they still didn’t looking to improve the gameplay done it. get it. They were just watching. experience? It’s time to start incorporating the other senses. And Yes, I’ve donned the leather armor and Now, had we been demonstrating moves since Smellyvision hasn’t really caught To the Editor: How many best of issues stepped into the ring. I’ve used a one- and having them mirror us, they may on (can’t imagine why), and developers are you guys gonna put out? This is handed sword, and a two-handed one to have gotten it a little better. True, they will be hard pressed to get a gamer to getting a little ridiculous here. Do it once more success. I’ve dealt with the relative wouldn’t have had the armor or the stop drinking Bawls long enough to taste a year, not once every few months for inability to duck or twist my upper body weight of the sword, but they would some blood-on-your-lip-ambience, we’re christ’s sake. to anything approaching my full flexibility have been moving, employing the left with touch. range because of the armor, while mechanics and touch sense. And that - Ryan wielding a several pound steel blade. extra stimulus would have conveyed And really, the touch output is the one more, been more of an experience. over which a developer can have the Editors’ Reply: Thanks for dropping us These were not fully choreographed most control. Games like Guitar Hero a line (and for being so honest with your demonstrations our troop put on, but What is the nature of “experience?” Do prove that a gamer will go out and buy a feelings). We appreciate all of the rather, a few choreographed moves we not experience the world through our controller made for one game and one feedback we get, even the negative stuff. inserted here and there into a contest, senses; are these not our inputs game only, provided it’s a great much like that of a fencing match. We describing what is around us that our experience. So, it makes sense that this First, allow me to suggest the possibility were attempting to show audiences what brain might better understand? Thus far, is the next step in game design, why that you’re confusing our Issue 60 battle in medieval times may have been games have focused mainly on two: sight we’re starting to see more games “Editor’s Choice” with a “Best Of” issue. like, using replica equipment and moves. and hearing. Over the years, the audio involving movement. It is the easiest The two are actually very different. Issue 60 was all-original content from our full issue of all-original content next created a bustling market for add-ons various contributors - it just didn’t fit week, and that we have no immediate purchased online. Many of the games into any one category. (We have more of plans for another “Best Of” anytime soon. eschew subscription fees in favor of those coming up, so prepare yourself.) allowing no-payers to play, but be Thanks for reading, significantly handicapped through game- A “Best Of” is what we published [last] mechanics (didn’t buy that turbo week, and it is, in fact, a reprint of - Russ boost?), or socially handicapped in the material previously published. But it is world (their avatar isn’t decked out in only the second such issue we’ve ever In Response to “Gran Turismo: the latest sprite fashion). published, and we don’t publish those Game Not Included” from The lightly. The fact is that we’re determined Escapist Lounge: I think the idea of to provide our readers with fresh, micro-transactions for that much content original content every week, but is one of two things: retarded or sometimes we just can’t. complete genius. If it were to come in large packs for cars and maps for The last time we published a “Best Of” example - all the rally stuff for 5 dollars, Issue was in May (Issue 45) while we supercar 5 dollars etc. - and there was a (and everybody else) were attending E3. clear price difference where it evened out This time around, as Julianne Greer to the price of a full game I could deal. describes in her Editor’s Note, we had planned to do an issue that didn’t pan - Lex Darko out, and decided coincidentally that this would be a nice time to give some of our In Response to “Gran Turismo: staff their first vacation in over a year. Game Not Included” from The So we did. Escapist Lounge: Disclaimer: I bought a PS2 to play Gran Turismo 4. I also The most ironic part of all of this is that bought the Logitech Racing Wheel. You the most frequent criticism we receive is could say I’m a fan. that we produce *too much* content, and most readers simply can’t keep up. A micropayment strategy for online Clearly, you are not among them, but games is still novel in the US; compare rest assured that we will be presenting a that to Korea, where developers have It is my understanding that alternate I’ll play it no matter what unless I’ve forms of payment, like gamecards or heard that it’s really really terrible. charging items to your mobile phone account makes billing less painful (and - DrRosenRosen more impulsive). The bottom line is that this model is appropriate for some types In Response to “Microsoft of online games. Reimburses first-run Xbox360 Buyers” from The Escapist Forum: - Steven Rokiski It’s nice to hear that MS is going to take a bit of a financial bite to assuage the In Response to “How Do You Read complaints of costumers who got a lemon Game Reviews” from The Escapist from the first run, but what about some Forum: I only read reviews once I’m of the inherent design issues? Namely actually playing the game. When trying putting a hot, power-hungry system in to decide what I want to play I go to such a small poorly-ventilated case? gamerankings.com or metacritic, look up the game, discard the highest and lowest I know it is quite a challenge to satisfy scores and then find the mean of the customer design expectations with the remaining scores. Then I’ll see if I like real engineering constraints inherent in the game’s subject/style/genre. For computer design, but until they get more instance, I’m not a huge RTS fan so an efficient components inside the case, the RTS has to be pretty freakin’ awesome to 360 will still have problems. interest me. Alternatively, I really like horror based games so I know something - heavyfeul like Call of Cthulhu will be of more interest to me despite mediocre reviews. Of course, if I can get a game for $2 brand new like I did with Max Payne 2 from Gamestop.com a couple weeks ago, When talking about “hands on” gaming, there are multiple avenues of respectable journalism to pursue, as my colleagues in this issue will ably demonstrate. There is, however, really only one road down which my own mind was willing to travel, and not because and practically zero maintenance to both road and mind are seedy, dimly-lit operate, making them perfect for corridors bypassing all that is right and insertion into a phallus … or a game good with the world (which is controller. Or perhaps, as some nevertheless true). enterprising minds have discovered, a game-controlled phallus. Rather, it’s because the mechanisms and theories of force feedback and tactile- First called “teledildonics” in the 1980s responsive videogame play - the by Ted Nelson (the same man who vibrating motors, ergonomic designs and coined the term Hypertext), the field of tactile response actuators - originated, electronically-enhanced cybersex has or were perfected, for use in sex play.