Da Iceman Cometh

     We know about “Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess” and “Metroid Prime 3.”   These games I’m sure will do well for the Nintendo Wii but there is another game floating under the radar, “Trauma Center: Second Opinion.” Trauma Center did something to me a game hasn’t done to me for awhile and that is say “WOW!”   Atlus Software originally created this infectious game on the DS Lite and it took the world by storm.  Now on the Nintendo Wii, gamers can expect to get extensive ER workouts while using the Wii –mote. 

     You take the role as up and coming surgeon Dr. Stiles.  Dr. Stiles is immediately placed in the Operating Room with over a dozen medical utilities ranging from scalpel to defibrillator. You get an adrenaline rush from saving lives in the Operating Room while dodging malpractice suits.  Trauma Center isn’t visually stunning and there isn’t any multiplayer action but the game play will definitely sell the game.

     Video games sometimes don’t get enough credit.  Games like “Call of Duty” and “Trauma Center” actually help groom teens.  “Call of Duty” teaches history in a visual re-enactment while the player learns from a first person point of view.  Trauma Center teaches the gamer medical terminology while doing routine and major surgery; also you are developing responsibility and focus.   Plus the wii –mote controller makes it unrealistically fun.  Imagine a future doctor admitting that “Trauma Center 2^nd opinion” gave them direction for their profession.

     It is unfortunate that “Trauma Center: Second Opinion” will be one of those games that will never get the credit it deserves.  Despite the innovation of Trauma Center games like Gears of War, Final Fantasy XII and Metal Gear Solid 4 will steal headline and achieve game of the year nominations. 

Da Iceman Mental Note:

Buy the damn game….

     The Xbox 360 is better than the other next generation consoles even though the Nintendo Wii or the PS3 haven’t been released.  You want an explanation as to why the 360 is better; I’ll explain.

     If you look at the Nintendo Wii’s strategy, at first glance it’s great.  Second glance you have to ask, “What are you guys doing?”  A gaming company won’t succeed by building an online strategy solely around old games.  Sony & Microsoft will offer classic games but they will also offer new games not to mention downloadable content.  Who would pay eight dollars for “Donkey Kong Jr.?”  This may sound fun for the fanboys but after awhile one must realize they are buying an old game to play on a new console.  Nintendo’s online strategy can only go so far.  Only a complete “DOPE” would waste a lot of money on old games while there are new games to be conquered.  I think Nintendo’s single player strategy is sound and will do well but in today’s world online service is key to victory.

     Sony’s PS3 really disgust me to a whole new level.  Why does Sony market it’s PS3 like a freaking computer?  The PS3 is clearly a video game console so why would I pay $600 US dollars for a gaming console. Stupid!!!  Sony has only 400,000 units ready for the US 4^th quarter. This will surely make Sony fan boys hover over EB games and Best-Buy like vampires stalking their prey.  If you think “Dead Rising” was frightening, imagine the kid walking to his car after purchasing a PS3.  I believe Kaz Hirai has lost his damn mind and is driving all his company faithful insane too.  Is a Blu-Ray really needed when normal DVD’s are still current?  PS3 gamers only benefit from Blu-ray is additional content on the disc?  If PS3 graphics are better than the 360’s that still doesn’t make the PS3 better, graphics can’t save a bad game.

     I love how the Xbox 360 expresses itself to gamers.  The 360 says, first and foremost I’m a video game console with the ability to play DVD movies. I will be the first console to cross platforms (to the PC), first to develop a real online strategy and expand the game genre in every direction; then concentrate on High Definition movies. While the 360 has its faults it holds up as the only console made for gamers.  You have to respect the 360 even if it doesn’t win the console war.

Da Iceman’s Mental Notes:

Needless to say, the battle in Japan will be strictly between the Wii and PS3, for obvious reasons.  If the Nintendo’s online strategy was a bit stronger Nintendo would mop the floor with both Sony and Microsoft.

Wake up Call!!!

Sony Corp is the real Bad guys.  Okay, we like their products but if Sony succeed with their unorthodox form of price gouging; all gamers will suffer.  This is starting to happen already with Nintendo.  The Nintendo Wii should be priced at $199 but since Sony raised the price bar; Nintendo capitalized from a minimal price jump.  Just imagine console prices in 2010 if Sony succeeds.

     Da Iceman remembers back in the day when the gaming business was legit.  Nintendo and Sega released a console that provided great games at an economical price for its consumer.  Fast-forward to the 21 century and the major console developers have promised us the world and has fell short every single time.  Before Da Iceman goes on his tirade about console quality, I will point out the pros.  First let me say, “God Bless Microsoft.”  Microsoft xbox stuck its proverbial foot in Nintendo’s and Sony’s @ss with its hard drive.  What the hell were these masterminds at Sony and Nintendo thinking when they came up with memory cards?  These money grabbing suites developed memory cards to take our money with every game large game save.  I know I’m not the only one who tried to save “Paper Mario ten-thousand year door” and it used the entire card.  How about saving your Madden 2005 on a memory card?  Huge,huh!!  Get’em Microsoft, you bring a smile to Da Iceman’s face. By the way, Microsoft, thank you for a TRUE multiplayer online service.

     Nintendo makes the more stable console of the three.  While the xbox or ps2 will malfunction at will.  My NES or SNES will still power up  and in some cases work better than any MS or Sony console.  I would even suggest buying a Nintendo console without insurance because Nintendo consoles don’t break.

     The Sony playstation library IS HUGE!!!  Sony has maintained its 3^rd party support well into the 21^st Century.  While Nintendo struggle with having one release per month and  MS can’t seem to think beyond FPS.  Sony has never disappointed its fans, while providing us with a wide variety of games from Action-Adventure to Dance.  Sony has made very inclusive games that appeal to different nationalities, races and gender

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     So why would next gen console quality decrease instead of increase?  I’ll tell you why Money.  The gaming industry is a 10 billion dollar a year industry and companies need to sell themselves as top dog.  The hype of these consoles is usually a publicity stunt used to draw interest and gain headlines.

     Microsoft Xbox 360 exploded on the scene…literally.  Microsoft boasted about their online service being eons ahead of its competitors.  MS Live couldn’t download more than 1 file, video or game demo at a time before a patch was invented.  Then MS gives its almighty 360 a 20gigabyte hard drive.  MS has tons of downloadable content, why on earth would they only give up 20 gigs, why is backwards compatibility a big deal?  Sure it would be cool to play my unfinished xbox games on my 360 but it’s not mandatory.  MS needs to stop playing with our emotions whether you make the xbox library backward compatible or you don’t.  You can’t only do 50% of the library and say it was a job well done.  This isn’t an issue I’ll complain about much because I’m not like the Sony dopes whom will play their PS1 games on their PS3.  Let’s keep thing next generation gamers.

     Our friends at Nintendo Corp will suppose to have free online support and a library of older Nes, Snes and Sega games.  Sure there is a market for the classic games but the money is in the new downloadable games.   Playing “Duck Hunt” and “Altered Beast” will get redundant really fast when there are next gen quality games waiting in the wind.  I would rather play “Resistance Fall of Man” any day and twice on Sunday before I play “Bionic Commando.”  If Nintendo online library doesn’t provide and equal amount of new downloadable games; I fear they way fall behind Sony or Microsoft.

     Sony falls deeper in their pile of feces every week.  It started at E3 when they announced the price of the consoles at $500 & $600.  Then they excluded the rumble feature, modified Nintendo’s motion sensor and is excluding HDMI cables with its console.  The list goes on and on with Sony.  It seems like a never ending landslide for Sony.  Sony fan boys aren’t deterred by all the bad news; Fan boys are now saying that Sony is making the PS3 strictly for its hardcore fans.  My advice to the BG21 faithful reader is to stay away from the PS3 for at least 2 years.  In the mean time buy a 360 or a Wii odds are you won’t miss the PS3.

Final Note:

The Ps3, Wii & 360 will have some great title this 4^th quarter.  Da Iceman’s problem comes with the initial performance and quality.  If the 360 is suppose to be backwards compatible then let it be on release.  You shouldn’t release a console and do patch increment  periodically after release. I fear the PS3 will be worse than the 360.  Very little come from the Sony camp when talking about its online strategy and its hardware seem to be vexing.  There are questions about the PS3’s load time, software pricing and bundle package.  Bring back the days when you knew exactly what you purchased out of package.

Remembering:   Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter)

Steve Irwin was a REAL reality show superstar.  Irwin’s TV special made him renowned for bravery and watching Steve became an adrenaline rush. Steve instantly became a household name without using special lighting, neither a script nor 7 strangers.  Steve made a living using his love for wildlife and charmed us with his admiration for even the most vicious creatures.  Steve Irwin inspired me to believe that every man has a mission in life.  Steve’s mission lives on in his work and Steve’s death will only inspire others to love and respect wildlife as he did.  Da Iceman will truly miss Steve Irvin. 

http://games.techwhack.com/546/enough-playstation-3-units/

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/728/728788p1.html