It's only been a month, but it feels like a very, very long time since I've updated this blog. I've been active in other areas of my online life, and I made the most of having a month at home—my first month without a cross-state road trip in years.
This Blog:
In keeping with the tradition of the last several months, I wanted to continue going down my alphabetical list of post topics when writing each new post. Unfortunately, the next one in line is "Mega Man", and my intention was to write a reflection on the long process of recording my Mega Man 7 videos for YouTube once the last one was done and dusted...except I didn't end up finishing the video in January as anticipated, despite putting in a lot of good recording time. So, the obligatory monthly Retrospective is all I have to show for myself here.
- Retrospective: December 2014
In keeping with the tradition of the last several months, I wanted to continue going down my alphabetical list of post topics when writing each new post. Unfortunately, the next one in line is "Mega Man", and my intention was to write a reflection on the long process of recording my Mega Man 7 videos for YouTube once the last one was done and dusted...except I didn't end up finishing the video in January as anticipated, despite putting in a lot of good recording time. So, the obligatory monthly Retrospective is all I have to show for myself here.
- Retrospective: December 2014
GameCola:
On the other hand, January was a busy month for GameCola contributions, including all the behind-the-scenes editing I do that doesn't get covered here. My one review (which just barely missed the cutoff date for publication in December) was intended to be the last substantial post for a while, allowing me to focus on finishing other projects instead of starting new ones. Then, as you'll see below, I started playing Space Quest: Incinerations, which I feel requires my journalistic attention. One more big review, then it'll be nothing but collaborative column participation and short video posts.
Columns:
- Q&AmeCola: The Future of Videogames
- The 2014 GameCola Videogame Awards (Part 2)
Reviews:
- King’s Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (PC)
Videos:
- The Second Annual GameCola HoHoHoliday LIVEcast Extravaganza on YouTube
On the other hand, January was a busy month for GameCola contributions, including all the behind-the-scenes editing I do that doesn't get covered here. My one review (which just barely missed the cutoff date for publication in December) was intended to be the last substantial post for a while, allowing me to focus on finishing other projects instead of starting new ones. Then, as you'll see below, I started playing Space Quest: Incinerations, which I feel requires my journalistic attention. One more big review, then it'll be nothing but collaborative column participation and short video posts.
Columns:
- Q&AmeCola: The Future of Videogames
- The 2014 GameCola Videogame Awards (Part 2)
Reviews:
- King’s Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (PC)
Videos:
- The Second Annual GameCola HoHoHoliday LIVEcast Extravaganza on YouTube
GameFAQs:
Here's something I haven't done in ages! GameFAQs got me into writing about video games, but my contributions tapered off after joining GameCola. Nowadays, I'll submit any screenshots used in my GameCola reviews if GameFAQs isn't already flooded with them, but anything requiring dedicated effort is typically a project for when I'm on vacation and not working on anything else. With no documentation whatsoever on GameFAQs about Space Quest: Incinerations, I took it upon myself to write a walkthrough that covers how to score every point and unlock every trophy in the game. Now, that information is available in a few separate places on the game's official website, but I basically wrote the guide for myself so that I'd have everything together in one place, and figured others would benefit from it. Hooray for selfish charity!
- Pizzarian screenshots
- Space Quest: Incinerations Point/Trophy Guide
Here's something I haven't done in ages! GameFAQs got me into writing about video games, but my contributions tapered off after joining GameCola. Nowadays, I'll submit any screenshots used in my GameCola reviews if GameFAQs isn't already flooded with them, but anything requiring dedicated effort is typically a project for when I'm on vacation and not working on anything else. With no documentation whatsoever on GameFAQs about Space Quest: Incinerations, I took it upon myself to write a walkthrough that covers how to score every point and unlock every trophy in the game. Now, that information is available in a few separate places on the game's official website, but I basically wrote the guide for myself so that I'd have everything together in one place, and figured others would benefit from it. Hooray for selfish charity!
- Pizzarian screenshots
- Space Quest: Incinerations Point/Trophy Guide
The Backloggery:
I set aside a little bit of mad money to pick up a few adventure games I've been meaning to try (thanks again to Good Old Games for stretching the value of a dollar as far as it does, and then putting everything on sale), and I discovered that professional developers still make original games that are free for download. I also discovered that control is the single most important factor in my enjoyment of a game (which I should have figured out sooner, being the control freak I am): The controls of the Kirby, Mario, and Sonic games on the list are so clunky, sluggish, and uncooperative that anything redeeming about the rest of the gameplay tended to get lost in the frustration. Sonic was the worst offender, but that's probably a story worth spending a whole post to tell. Any game with the rare and dubious distinction of getting kicked off my Backloggery altogether always has a story to go with it.
You'll hopefully read about Space Quest next month on GameCola. I've been toying with the idea of recording a playthrough of Gravity Bone for the GC YouTube channel, but I think part of the joy of it is discovering it for yourself. For me, it brings back fond memories of No One Lives Forever and pleasantly subverted expectations, playing out more like an experimental short story than a game. Great stuff. Lastly, I finally finished the Castlevania game I've been trying to beat since trying it out at one friend's house, then picking it up later at his house, then picking it up again as someone else's house...up until the outrageously unforgiving difficulty spike in the last couple levels, it's a fun romp, but the music is by far the best part.
New:
- Grim Fandango Remastered (PC)
- Gravity Bone (PC)
- Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail! (PC)
- Return to Zork (PC)
- The Longest Journey (PC)
Started:
- Kirby Super Star (Wii)
- Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
Beat:
- Gravity Bone (PC)
- Kirby Super Star (Wii)
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
- Super Castlevania IV (SNES)
- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Completed:
- Gravity Bone (PC)
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
Mastered:
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
Removed:
- Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
I set aside a little bit of mad money to pick up a few adventure games I've been meaning to try (thanks again to Good Old Games for stretching the value of a dollar as far as it does, and then putting everything on sale), and I discovered that professional developers still make original games that are free for download. I also discovered that control is the single most important factor in my enjoyment of a game (which I should have figured out sooner, being the control freak I am): The controls of the Kirby, Mario, and Sonic games on the list are so clunky, sluggish, and uncooperative that anything redeeming about the rest of the gameplay tended to get lost in the frustration. Sonic was the worst offender, but that's probably a story worth spending a whole post to tell. Any game with the rare and dubious distinction of getting kicked off my Backloggery altogether always has a story to go with it.
You'll hopefully read about Space Quest next month on GameCola. I've been toying with the idea of recording a playthrough of Gravity Bone for the GC YouTube channel, but I think part of the joy of it is discovering it for yourself. For me, it brings back fond memories of No One Lives Forever and pleasantly subverted expectations, playing out more like an experimental short story than a game. Great stuff. Lastly, I finally finished the Castlevania game I've been trying to beat since trying it out at one friend's house, then picking it up later at his house, then picking it up again as someone else's house...up until the outrageously unforgiving difficulty spike in the last couple levels, it's a fun romp, but the music is by far the best part.
New:
- Grim Fandango Remastered (PC)
- Gravity Bone (PC)
- Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail! (PC)
- Return to Zork (PC)
- The Longest Journey (PC)
Started:
- Kirby Super Star (Wii)
- Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
Beat:
- Gravity Bone (PC)
- Kirby Super Star (Wii)
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
- Super Castlevania IV (SNES)
- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Completed:
- Gravity Bone (PC)
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
Mastered:
- Space Quest: Incinerations (PC)
Removed:
- Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
So help me, if there's not a new Mega Man 7 video on the list when it's time to look back at February, I am finding someone's hat and eating it.
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