If you are paying attention to my site, I have to ask- why? But if you are- well then you would notice there is a brand new layout- new articles and much more been put up.
Trinest.com over the past few years has become more and more messy I guess you could say. It’s layouts in 2010 ranged from “pat on the back good” to “are you high on something bad”. In the last few months of the year I had been working on a new style- but for some reason it just never clicked with the site- so I decided to put the project on hold and work on The Chip Behind The Idea.
The Chip Behind The Idea, was a Video Game blog I had for a few months. The short lived adventure was something separate from Trinest.com, mainly because over the years the site has been riddled with horribly written articles and an identity crisis like no other.
That is where this new design comes in, its main goal is to clean up the site and once then start on brand new content. Which will only really start rolling once I get all these older articles up.
The older articles have to go through a process which involves checking to see if they are still relevant, what if at all did they offer at the time- and if it contains out of date information- is it informative to the reader? Lots of content on Trinest.com where in the ranges of Video Game blog posts and “hey I just made a new layout what do you think guys” types of posts.
Most of those posts- I’m ditching, reading them now- they either had resources which I no longer which to host- or they are quite pathetic recantations of something. Last year I did a similar thing which involved cleaning out previous posted posts. Which is happening again- but in a more striker manner. The site is a brand new clean install of word press, and I’m adding as I go what I want and how I want it presented. Once I pick the content, I have to make a header image- you will notice each article contains a header image. This will continue across the site.
The articles will also have to be fitted into the current range of categories. At the time of writing there are; Life, Video Games, Movies, Other, Projects, Downloads. This article is listed as Life- but usually something of its nature would be under Projects- as its detailing the site, what the site achieves etc. But I decided this post is more about me, then it is about the site.
In March 2011, it also marks the 7th year of a live website by me. This year I hope this layout lasts a year- instead of been replaced in 5 seconds, otherwise all this work would really be moot.
If you are wondering as well, at the time of writing I have only re-uploaded from March 2010 Articles. There are also articles within that section which haven’t been uploaded but their content will be reused some how on the site at a later date. For example the “Around the Web” articles, and some design based ones.
This year was hopeless for game releases. So many mediocre games- its like the whole pond is full of tadpoles and mostly ones with a third eye. I’m mostly a Nintendo gamer- so for me it was a quite disappointing year- so I decided to adventure to the PC and read up on other releases only to find the same.
It seems the consensus is that the year was quite disappointing. Even if there was a worthy title- it seems you can’t even remember it- thus making it- not worthy.
The past years my goal had always been to give it to Indie games, or sleeper hits- you know give them a helping hand- well it seems I can’t really do that this year- as the “crap” gene has reached everywhere. Also because I quite blatantly forgotten what games came out in 2010, I did a Wikipedia search and decided to narrow the list down to a few gems.
Cities XL 2011
Cities XL 2011 for the PC is probably one of the games most people wouldn’t consider a Game of the Year. While its disappointment is outweighed- overall it wouldn’t normally find itself on this list- but somehow its still a magical and enjoyable city simulator.
The game is a sequel to the original Cities XL- which was released in 2009. The original was plagued with problems and issues which sent the developer into a spiral of doom, which Cities XL 2011 was set to bring them out of. While it probably wont do that, it does offer the complainant and solid cities experience which was promised from the original, which was lacking then.
It is finally a city simulator which could replace Sim City 4 as the leader. But sadly it does a lot but seems to not do too much, a few extra ideas would of pushed it over the line and into the hearts of millions.
Pokemon: Heart Gold/ Soul Silver
A remake of the best Pokémon generation ever? Count me in!
Alas its doesn’t retain the nostalgic memories of the original- but it does get close. Giving a new generation the opportunity to play the best in the series.
I don’t think much more is to be said- considering it isn’t Game of the Year.
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
Dark Dawn is a sequel to Golden Sun, a series which started out on the Game Boy Advance. It continues the story from the second title, and puts it in the future with some brat nose kids.
But alas…wait you know what- I was going to write more, include some games like Amnesia and Just Cause 2, but the fact still remains what the end result is- so I’m giving up on this article and publishing it as is- enjoy the GoTY.
Game of The Year
Nothing
Seriously this year was disappointing so much there was no game worthy to give Game of the Year. Even GOOD games this year where riddled with problems and undesirable additions. So because of that- this years Game of the Year- is Nothing.
Previously I’ve given it to games such as Disaster: Day of Crisis and Little King Story etc.
This edition focuses on the above artwork, no doubt you have seen it by now. It has been having rounds on the internet lately, usually along side a Skyward Sword thread, with gamers saying “lol this looks cool, why can’t we have this instead”. It’s happened before and it will happen again- a fan art which just sparks the imagination, which may or may not be a worthy concept.
Lets look first at what the artist obviously intended, the idea seems to be a Majoras Mask deal- in the sense that Link can transform into different “creatures” which gives him different powers. In this artwork its all about elements, with different elements giving Link a different power. Its unknown in this artwork if the artist intended Link to transform by some means such as a mask, or if this is something like a multiplayer concept- like Four Swords, different “coloured” Links for different players.
Now we have that out of the way, lets talk about if this concept would work in a Zelda universe. The answer to that in my mind is yes- but a very stretched yes. Zelda games hasn’t really focused around useable magic for quite some time. With the only real magic in the series been the goddesses spells. Which means in my mind- if Link started having magic it would feel out of place- but I do believe there is a way that it could work to a point.
When it comes to how Link achieved this magic, I think an evil guy cursing him would be such as shot in the leg. Its not something which gamers would want to see. While it could work- at the same time I don’t think it will work in the world of Zelda. Also Link been a “god” or part of a magical race would also seem like a copout.
In my mind the only way to achieve this power for Link is by giving him magic when he collects the temples artifices. Some kind of power inside them which gives the holder magic. Also in simple Zelda fashion might even be more greater then the triforce power combined- or some crazy thing like that. This way makes the magic gradual, and for the first dungeon Link could even be battling with a Sword and a Shield- but not the top of the range stuff, something unwanted, passed down and damaged. Once Link gets the first power, lets say its the “earth” power. Link would think its a blessing.
I think the gradual acceptance and growth of the range of powers is something that would be included. The fact magic at first would seem like something Link can use for good- but slowly feel less and less like its good- as in more like its a curse then a blessing. Links acceptance would dwindle and the characters development to avoid the magic rather then use it all the time is something which would enhance the gameplay. Think of it as a dark passenger, should Link use the magic- or should he use his weapons to advance in this area. Questions like that are something I believe are the only way this concept would survive.
I feel that the people in the game should shun the magic- know Links secret and be lest likely to talk to him- something dark and evil.
While I no doubt don’t understand the repercussions of such a market crash at the time and what it would happen in the current clement. I believe it if it did happen it would be a much needed “refresh” once the industry started back up again. Fixing many of the problems which currently plague the industry.
Less of a prediction and more of an observation, an obvious brittle industry is starting to emerge. We are getting more repeats then television these days, more antidote problems with development once again reported by mainstream sources, and more troubles with the general perception of the industry as a whole by “outsiders”.
Calling it quits and just letting it turn to shambles isn’t a bad idea in my mind as- once we have nothing we could then build once again with the ideas which worked- instead of just letting the ideas which didn’t work clog the pipes.
I think for this article it would be better if I explain what would be fixed in my mind and what would happen, that way if you know better you can smirk and laugh at it- and if you don’t- you can join my tin foil hat group.
One of the major problems I believe which we are facing is the social trend. It in my mind while for most people would say “its saved them”, for me I believe this will be one of the major reasons as the down fall of the industry. The output level faces many of the problems which the original crash was brought on by. A quick rich scheme with impeccable odds to succeed. The one major problem is that many of these are popping up as more clones then ever before, pushed out quicker then before and also- more dangerous as there’s one major problem with the whole social idea- while it can work as a get rich scheme, its “fad cycle” is quicker and more deadly then anything else.
Forgetting about the fads and diabolical schemes which the social field plays, we now look at the same thing which happens on the console side of things- but instead of been quick to pump out, its 10x slower, and 10x more expensive. Quick rich doesn’t exist here- and instead its “your lucky to make back your money”- at least with many of the major players in the fields.
Then you have your independents, which might be going great for one minute- but the next might be off the face of the planet with no explanation.
While I doubt a crash will remove all these problems- heck I expect they will still be there in the end. I believe it would instead of white washing the whole industry create a sort of atom bomb approach which just shakes it back to core principles, with the developers and publishers who survive the crash remaining to build it back up.
I expect many of the older IPs to just disappear, maybe with a few titles here and there- but they will no longer be successful- there will be new IPs in the field which have changed the ball game for the better- a relaxing bliss moment of gold.
In my mind- a crash is just a reset button, which lets a few slip by to rebuild- using new ideas to regauge interest and repopulate the ideals. The Video Game industry is one which seems so fragile compared to other entertainment industries which seem to be doing the same thing- but some how- it gets the most ass kicking- and it dam needs it. It’s like a family, books been the oldest brother, movies been the middle child- and video games been the young sibling which just wants to do what everyone else because its jealous it can’t do it yet.