September 27, 2008
Comics - By Trent Petronaitis at 7:31 pm
Comics - By Trent Petronaitis at 7:30 pm
Articles - By Trent Petronaitis at 4:15 pm
THQ and 5th Cell, one a publisher and one a developer under the wings of a growing empire which is starting to fall. The casual empire – what happens when a publisher has preconceived ideas on the demographic a game should be marketed and played towards.
5th Cell entered the gaming arena with mobile games. In the past few years it has become a small niche little developer under the wings of THQ and a market which it’s games failed and at the same time captured. From titles such as Drawn to Life to Locks Quest. What is under the development teams hat which killed the game from the beginning. Setting them up for a ride of money but at the same time nothing.
5th Cell put onto the market a few years ago Drawn to Life with the help of publishing giant THQ. A publishing company which since the bigger 3 have evolved stuttered down with likes of Atari to the casual market before anyone else. They had their own ideas to market a game which could of won on either ground.
Drawn to Life had a few problems, it wasn’t an AAA game and at the same time it wasn’t something to be treated as crap. The Nintendo DS title was released with hopes to become a success from both consumers and the development team. As well as the big publisher who was already counting in the money which didn’t happen.
Gamers first noticed the title when Drawn to Life was said to be a platform adventure simular to Mario and the alkies. But with a twist, you the player got to draw your own character and other objects in the gaming world.
Before the titles release many reviews and hands on suggested the title wasn’t going to be a blockbuster game. But the campaigns before release which THQ had could be the only things which they kinder did right. But they were far and few – partnering with only a small number of various publications who had sacks of money which could also back up the gamble which the company was going to do with the title.
Caught up in the mess of marketing, 5th Cells game Drawn to Life ended up having an identity crisis of who wants the title. In America the campaigns were broad and captured many demographics but only existed in few. One of the biggest was the short lived completion by IGN which people over 18 could make a character which would appear in the title. A nice idea if only the winner was from a younger crowd. THQ Australia chose a different approach which showed the kiddie aspect of the title.
THQ Australia couldn’t give a crap about who won the completion in America and the other achievements which the company did overseas. The Australian marketing campaign for the title pushed the title into magazines such as K-Zone. The magazine for little kids who think they are cool. Pushing money into competitions and other partnerships with the magazine for the title, which could have worked if they didn’t forget the adventurous and interesting path which THQ took in America.
Once the release in Australia was around the corner, THQ pushed out a pre order campaign of either a DS case or for some stores a note pad. It was interesting to the point that it drew in some sales, but if it was enough to satisfy THQ is another question…
5th Cell was quite for a bit, after they announced a new Nintendo DS game. Something different, something awesome they said. Well the game Locks Quest had some nice ideas but THQ’s marketing squished it down from tweens and teenagers to little kids and tweens. The marketing for the title which I have seen squished what hope anyone had of been able to walk into a game store and with a straight face ask for the title.
But before Lock came other title out of 5th Cell, released in the same month another title came out which was unexpected but at the same time was expected. Drawn to Life was back, and when the original hit the scenes many people suggested a Doodle Bob version. Well it seems they got their wish when the second title came out – a Sponge Bob version.
It had some quirks but overall the game was more watered down from an already very simple and slightly flawed engine. With many of the levels feeling unsatisfactory or uninteresting. The title was a bastard version of Drawn to Life with modals changed and the whole over world crapped up. A big fat Sponge Bob sticker was slapped on to it. It could of worked.
In fact right now it can’t be said if it will or not. It does have the famous duo splashed on it and for fans a Doodle Bob theme to it. But what is sad is the very simple and uncreative story behind the title. This game will probably sell to the tween demographic if THQ puts the name out a bit and then sits and watches as the crap is eaten up by people who don’t know any better. The simple and no effort feeling from THQ’s casual game marketing strategies will do well with a game with no content such as the Sponge Bob Drawn to Life. A stripped down version of the original with nothing more but Sponges and Bobs to replaced what could have been.
Locks Quest is something which has potential and made me interested in the title. But 5th Cell has scrapped what has made Drawn to Life good and started fresh with flaws where there shouldn’t be. The title could do well for anyone, it has a Lost Magic feel to it, but it will be lost like magic if THQ doesn’t put any pressure to other sections of the market they have for the title.
September 26, 2008
Played Pheonix to death, Hotel Dusk got you in head to much, the twisting puzzles of Another Code or Professor Layton. Konami has come out with a solution for you – Time Hollow the next best text adventure game.
Sox the cat – the best character. You can’t help but to not love him
The Nintendo DS has had its fair share of puzzle adventure text games. Some of them are sub-par, some of them are awesome and some should just not have been made. But Time Hollow is the one which keeps its charm all the way through and makes players enjoy the game to what it is worth. Making it one good game for the Nintendo DS this year.
Time Hollow came out in Japan in March this year, with Konami only just releasing the title in America on the 23rd of this month. The game features its lead character Ethan Karios in various situations due to the Hollow Pen he comes across.
Time Hollow is crafted using a deep anime influence, which many players were surprised that there was no anime to go with this game. The game features significantly detailed anime characters in the game. As well as with lots of cut scenes and voice over’s with a significant anime look and approach.
He has his own adjender. Can you trust him? What do your changes do to him?
The game plays simular to any other graphical text adventure on the Nintendo DS system. So players should not be left behind when it comes to understanding how to control and use the games GUI. But if you are unsure the game features a quick small introduction before the game starts running. Getting players used to the touch screen etc.
Once you’re into the game you and the main character will be enchanted by the time paradoxes which will push you deeper into the game and its mysteries.
Because the game relies a lot on its story, not much can be said in this review without giving away huge chunks of what is to come in the game as you play it. But you will experience lots of interesting problems and back stories to your friends you develop in the game. As well as your family and other minor characters. The time paradoxes effect all in interesting and crazy ways to keep you glued to the DS for hours on hours.
The game features a small music selection but it is easy to identify what happens throughout the game via the music pieces. The main music piece for the game is a very long Japanese anime style piece which explains the game in the form of the music.
The games time paradox system can disappoint at times. These times are when the game is very quick on the change, such as you for example will talk to a pair of people only to move to talk to another friend with time changing when you go to enquire to the pair again.
A great adventure game with villains you will expect and villains you don’t. The game keeps you on edge as you wonder who to trust and who to believe. When you finish the title the game has a quick path for you to finish the game even quicker. The ending was more than enough to work around another adventure.
Score: Thumbs Up
If you can keep up with the story and the game’s style as the game evolves into something more than just a book then this is a title for you to keep as the time goes by.
September 25, 2008
Articles - By Trent Petronaitis at 4:00 pm
Honey Cheese and Strawberry Jam Sandwhiches
Tired of your children eating stupid fast food? Or maybe you need some sorta zing in the school lunches? Meal ideas? Snack ideas? The Honey Cheese and Strawberry Jam Sandwhich could be for you…
I bet your wondering who would put such a thing together? Well who the hell puts penutbutter and jam together…eww.
Anyway I’ve always made this sandwhich. It’s just something which I liked and have always made. Now I’m going to share the acient secret of this sandwhich with you. As well as tips and tricks to make it taste the best and also why they are made like the way I say.
Get out the bread and make a sandwhich time! If you don’t want sandwhich you can also make Toast, but because of the flavors of this sandwhich, it will not taste right if you cook it so the bread is burnt. You must cook the toast so butter melts onto the sandwhich and keeps the heat in. With out getting any brown textures etc. This makes the bread very sweet and flattens it down so the honey can pentrate the bread.
Magarine is a big no no. Butter is the way to go with any sandwhich. But if you must go ahead and use your dirty magarine. Butter is the way to go, because it dosn’t take over the taste of the Honey and Jam + Cheese.
For bread, we do have types which we perfer to use. If you are going to toast the bread before making it. Use fresh bakery bread. Otherwise for a normal sandwhich stick with the cheep bread. As that keeps the flavor even when the bread is oldish.
I like to put the honey on first. There are some tricks with the honey part to make it taste perfect like other parts. This sandwhich seems simple, but there are lots of tricks and hints as I said before which make it work.
Rules with Honey:
# Honey must be always top slice
# Honey must always be on the crust
Otherwise there isn’t much to say about honey type. Any is good, but to make a true Honey Cheese and Jam sandwhich Iron Bark works the best.
Ah the Jam time. The true flavor to this sandwhich. While the honey gives the boost. The Jam is what is a base, as one of its rules is it must always be on the bottom of the sandwhich. This is so the flavor brust happens!
So the Jam, it is always spreadable Strawberry based Jams. Though I don’t mind the taste of using Apricot instead of Stawberry. But the true taste lies with the red jam.
Today we are using Bega cheese. Other days we use Coon. Some days (and the original taste) was with/uses Kraft Cardboard cheese. But one thing is common the cheese flavor must be tasty or extra tasty. Expecially if you use the cardboard cheeses.
Kraft’s cheese slices work well with this sandwhich only when it isn’t toasted before hand. Other brands such as Coon and Bega work much nicer/better when you have a toasted one.
And the rule of thumb here is put cheese on jam. This is because the jam will move the most when putting the peices together.
Now it is made. You can now fold it, cut it and prepair it how ever you want. And remember this garnteed a hit with the kids.
Best drinks to drink with it? Milk works, otherwise Coke or any other softdrink. Really it goes well with anything.
