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Feb 8th, 2008 at 02:55:27 - Rock Band (360) |
GAMELOG # 2
Gameplay:
The second experience playing the game was just as fun as the first. This time, I was more used to the layout of the notes and guitar controller so I was able to have more fun playing the game. It was just as social as the first time, playing with a few of my friends, working as a team to finish the songs as well as we could. The experience flowed just as smooth as the first experience, playing a big variety of songs with ease.
DESIGN:
I had a lot of fun playing "Rock Band" because of the social factor and the feeling that you get when you play. This game is innovative because it incorporates new instruments into the popular "guitar hero" type video games. Instead of just playing with guitars, the players can play bass, vocals, and drums as well. The way the game is set up is also similar to "guitar hero" with there being different cities and gigs where the players play their songs. There is not much of an innovation in this aspect of the game, but there are more options than "guitar hero", allowing the players to unlock vans and airplanes to travel to further locations. The game is also less cartoony in its artwork, attracting a more mature audience. All of those design elements just described make the game interesting. It seems as if there is more thought put into "rock band", because the songs sound better, the background levels are less distracting, the characters and artwork is more appealing, and the instrument note layout is more eye pleasing and easier to follow.
There is not much to do with level design in this game because each level is essentially a different song. The way they designers show it is a different level is by changing the venues in the background. The players go from run down bars to sold out stadiums, with audiences increasing in numbers. The songs are varied by difficulty and the background venue varies in appearance.
The challenge that the game creates is for the player to play the songs as well as they can, earning more fans and money to gain more unlockables such as bonus levels, clothing, instrument skins, etc.
The game creates conflict by moving notes towards the bottom of the screen, as the notes pass an indicator, the player must strike that note at that moment to make that note heard. When too many notes are missed, the crowd begins to boo and the group is warned that they are failing the song. If they fail a set, they have to start all over again and lose fans and money. Although the game is fun, this creates the urge that players NEED to pass the song. That is also how the game keeps the players interested.
The game makes good use of space in the gameworld, using about half of the screen for the notes and the other half for the band playing at the venue. Each level has a different mood depending on how far the players are on their rise to rock stardom. The first levels are more gritty, with the later levels being more glamorous.
The game fosters intense interaction among players as they discuss their band together. Each person is a part of the band so if one person is doing worse, the rest of the band has to suffer. Players discuss favorite songs, instruments, etc. It is just a really social experience. I would change nothing about the game. It is really fun and immensely popular. The game does not give me any ideas for my own game because it is a completely different genre.
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Feb 8th, 2008 at 03:02:06.
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Feb 8th, 2008 at 01:53:19 - Rock Band (360) |
Summary:
In the game "Rock Band", players play with unique controllers similar to instruments, while hitting the buttons that come up on screen. While playing the game, notes come up on screen, which the player hits to create music. The instruments consist of vocals, guitar, bass, and a drum set. This wide variety of instruments gives the players the feeling that they are actually in a band.
Gameplay:
Being a veteran "Guitar Hero" player, a wanted to try out the new rival game called "Rock Band." Immediately, I was blown away. The guitar controller was more smoothly designed, with no gaps in between the buttons, allowing for more effective gameplay. The game was VERY fun to play, because you could play it with many people, each playing a different instrument. The whole band feeds off of each other, in the sense that each instrument is an essential part of the game.
The characters are all customizable by the players, allowing each player to create their own rocker. There are no built in characters. There is no real storyline to the game, but as you continue to play more shows, you unlock more cities, guitars, clothes, gain fans, fame, etc. You also gain different modes of transportation, such as buses and eventually private airplanes. There was nothing to like about the story, mainly because it wasn't really there. All the gigs and cities are just reasons to keep playing the game to unlock more items.
My emotional state while playing the game was really positive, because I felt like I was actually playing my respective instrument. I think why this game is so immensely popular is the feeling that you get when you play. You feel that you can actually play well. It's similar to playing real music, but a lot simpler, because there are less notes to hit, and a smoother learning curve.
The interactions with bystanders and players were both very interesting, because it was as if we were actually a band, and creating that sound together. We gave others a hard time if they were messing it up for everyone else, and felt accomplishment as a team when we got a good score on a song. My experience flowed really nicely because the songs got progressively harder, as we got progressively better. The game was very interesting to play because of the social factor, and all the new aspects of the game that "guitar hero" didnt have.
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Jan 14th, 2008 at 02:38:20 - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3) |
Second Entry:
Gameplay:
The second round of gameplay was just as intense as the first, with the enemies being just as challenging and the experience being just as enjoyable. What makes the game enjoyable for me is the realism and the feeling that you are actually in the game. The top-notch graphics help tremendously in achieving this effect.
Running through an open field with your team as mortar rounds explode all around you, some missing you by inches gives me the adrenaline rush that I look for in games. The gameplay varies from the intense, action-packed missions that I just described to the quieter, stealth/assassination based missions. COD 4 is packed with excitement, which any action/shooter gamer would enjoy.
Design:
This game is similarly based around the other COD games in that when you get shot, the screen gets increasingly red to warn that you have a few seconds to find cover before you die. The game is innovative in the way that new, advanced weapons are introduced and the player has new options such as calling in airstrikes and helicopters to help. The levels are massive, and make good use of the space available by using up the entire map throughout a mission.
The reward structure is that when you complete a mission, you can play it whenever you want, as well as finding out more about the storyline. You can also unlock cheats after collecting "intel" which are laptops dispersed throughout a level.
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Jan 13th, 2008 at 18:10:52 - Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3) |
Summary:
This game was truly amazing! The single player mode consists of intense modern warfare scenarios throughout the world as you alternate between the two main characters, USMC Sergeant Paul Jackson, and SAS Sergeant "Soap" Mactavish. This game is a first person shooter, in which the player must follow objectives in order to save the world from the threat of a nuclear apocalypse. The multiplayer mode is pretty intense as well, offering typical multiplayer scenarios such as "free-for-all" and "team deathmatch". A few original scenarios are offered as well such as "sabotage" and "oldcore". The basic multiplayer objective is to kill as many opponents as possible, while dying the least amount of times yourself. Multiplayer can be played with opponents online, or with friends at your house.
Gameplay:
The game plays through much like a movie, seamlessly connecting the storylines of the two main characters. Playing off of the current middle-eastern conflicts, as well as references to cold war russia, COD 4 gives the player an enjoyable experience, connecting past, present, and what could happen.
The storyline starts off with the player playing as a British Sergeant, "Soap" Mactavish raiding a ship in the Bering Strait with his team, looking for a nuclear device that is supposed to be on board. Your team learns that a russian terrorist by the name of Imran Zakhaev is stockpiling nuclear weapons and has helped to overthrow a fictional middle eastern country. The U.S. sends forces in to stop the uprising as well as to locate Zakhaev and his comrade, Al-Asad. One of the soldiers sent in to the action is Sergeant Paul Jackson, who is the other main playable character. The british SAS forces are trying to locate the enemy leaders as well. The rest of the game takes the player around the world, as well as into the past, right after the Chernobyl disaster where
terrorists are using nuclear technology found at the meltdown site.
This game has a lot of social interaction even in single player, because there is just so much going on. An onlooker would be just as into the game as the player, in awe of all the explosions and dangers going on all around the character. Multiplayer has even more social interaction, whether it is online or 1 on 1. Headsets allow players to communicate around the world, to taunt one another, or to give tactical orders.
This game was a lot of fun for me and appeals greatly to fans of first person shooters or wartime games. This game appealed to me for its realism and the intensity of the missions as well as the intensity of the multiplayer scenarios. It feels like you are actually in the game, with its amazing graphics and gameplay.
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Jan 13th, 2008 at 18:14:53.
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Jpiz has been with GameLog for 16 years, 10 months, and 12 days |
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