Words of Wisdom: Self-Discovery

Finding out who we are is a lifelong process


Unless you’re Face McShooty…then you’re kind of fucked on the
whole “self discovery front”

That’s why I find games are a truly unique technological treasure in our modern age, as we can use them for more than just passive fun or as idle time killers. Video games represent one of the most inventive mediums of the 20th century, and as tech continues to evolve in the 21st, so do we, whether it be our individual tastes, preferences, or curiosities. Humanity is an endless wellspring of possibility, and our potentials are as boundless as our options, but sometimes, we just don’t know it yet. That’s why something as simple as a video game can reveal our true selves, as they allow us to explore not only our hidden desires, but our most intimate dreams and deepest desires of who we are now, or who we think we want to be through experimentation and exploration. Maybe next time when you boot up a game, stop and really think to yourself: how do I want to play this? Or who am I really? And then go find out what makes you trule happy through the act of play.

Make sure to take care of yourself, and others.
~Pashford

Old Snake, New Tricks

Discussion involving the Metal Gear Solid series has not graced the presence of ATE for awhile now, which makes sense, as the series has been effectively dead since MGS V launched way back in 2016.


An ironically named entry in the post-mortem of the series

That doesn’t mean we don’t get the random morsel or tasty tidbit detailing the scraps that remain of the series in which we pathetically feast on what little is left to dine on. Last year, the master collection for the MGS series (Vol.1) dropped to some mixed reviews, as people were predictably celebrating what is arguably one of the best trilogies of all time getting a new repackaging, but the release itself was plagued with technical difficulties. The Vol.1 involved always had people looking towards the future at the potential Vol.2 in what it would contain, as the other three major installments, Peace Walker, MGS V and 4 would most certainly be the titles Vol.2 would feature.


Just don’t expect to see Act 3 of MGS V included as some kind
of bonus content included with the bundle due to some delusional
pipe dream as some maniacs online surely will

Vol.2 would be a big deal, as many before me have pointed out, due to MGS 4 being stuck in non-porting purgatory hell, as the title has remained stuck on the PS3 since 2008, not having seen a release on the PC in the following 16 years of it’s release. Many were excited by not only the prospect of Vol.2 for this very reason, but fuel has been added to the fire with a choice quote from Konami producer Noriaki Okamura chiming in with some not so cryptically comforting news:

“We definitely are aware of this situation with MGS4,”…”Unfortunately we can’t really say too much at the moment with Vol. 1 containing MGS 1-3 dot dot dot… you can probably connect the dots! “Right now we still are internally concerned about what we should be doing for the future of the series. So sorry, we can’t really reveal anything at the moment. But stay tuned!”


Seen here: Old Snake, seemingly channeling the entire MGS
fan base shouting “finally!” up towards the heavens

So…good news everyone! That is about as confirmed as it can get without directly coming out and saying it is happening, which is extremely exciting news. Since V and Peace Walker are still available to play on many recent systems, the big get here is obviously 4, with the Master Collection of Vol.2 being the first time the game will have received a new release and any update of any kind since 2008. The release date for Vol.2 has not been announced quite yet, so the earliest we may suspect it to be out is *maybe* mid 2025, though I think late next year would be considered highly doable with the context of the information surrounding the title. I doubt we will see any significant improvements involving 4’s inclusion into the collection, though considering how many bugs and technical hiccups plagued Vol.1 at launch, fans may be crossing their fingers that Konami does as little as possible to alter the title, so that it is largely problem free and just runs smoothly by the time it sees release.

Konami doing some heavy lifting in getting me to want to play their back catalog, as I also recently reported on the Castlevania DS collection seeing the light of day in the form of the release of Dominus, featuring Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia. All I have to do now is convince myself I have the time to go back and replay, think on, and write about six classic Konami games amidst a hectic schedule of already hype bullshit I have to attend to. Where there is a will, there is a way.

I leave you with a reminder that a mini MGS retrospective featuring David Hayter was released this year, and thusly provide you with a link to part 1 you can find here.

~Pashford

Quickie: Eat Me Alive

Hey Gamers.

Moving from examining curious to noticing the  hungry, gaming is never hesitant in trying to satiate all of our major sense.

Though, on occasion, gamers are force fed unnecessarily.

Is this even edible?

Among the delicious and less appetizing choices we have on the menu today, there is definitely something here for everybody. First up, I wish to mention that Kirby’s Adventure has finally been released on the Wii U Virtual Console. This title is just another in a long line of treats Nintendo has very leisurely sprinkled out to Wii U owners. Despite the digital titles slow release pace, the game is most certainly fun, and a NES classic that reminds us of the hay day of Nintendo Fare.

Not that Nintendo fans are starved for nostalgia.

The main upshot here is that Kirby’s Adventure is only 30 cents right now, a gift by many standards. While I appreciate the generosity, and will enjoy playing through the game again, the question remains: does Nintendo realize what’s happening? That they’re once again falling into the very same rationing problems of consoles past? With important delay, after unbelievable delay, followed by saddening cancellation, you’d think Nintendo would be working hard to get us newer games faster, or older games to us less slowly. All of this in an effort, to at leaast try and reinforce the truth that “it will be different this time“,  and that “we won’t fuck the software release schedule up for the Wii U” <citation needed>.

Hmm…this all seems vaguely familiar.

In any case, I at least have my consolation prize, in the form of mass gluttonous fun with my favorite pink ball of puff.

Kirby, seen here about to mug Whispy Woods

Next on my list of good eats, involves the announcement of the Metal Gear Solid: Legacy Collection (PS3 Exclusive).

!

This massive compilation of the best in stealth action, is slated to hit in the not too distant future of June 2013. In this gargantuan gathering of gaming greatness, you have MGS1, MGS2 HD, MGS3 HD, MGS4 (with trophy support), Peace Walker HD, The VR Missions, Metal Gear 1 and 2, and two extra Ashely Woods digital graphic novels involving the MGS series.

Did I mention Snake Eater?

Mmm, Tasty.

While some of you may be miffed about having so recently bought the last MGS collection, give it some time. The amount of content all in one place here is staggering. I’m imagining with solid ports in the collection, and a modest price point, Konami will have people going absolutely ape over this.

The alternative situation a far grimmer one.

 Next up is a bit of an all you can eat buffet, with just another in a long line of indie bundles that represent delicious in all the right ways. The newest Indie Gala Bundle, offers up a host of great indie and AAA titles alike. For a measly five bucks, you can score yourself a slew of well spoken of indie titles, including Shank 2, a vicious good time. In a some what out of the ordinary move, a huge title, in the way of Mass Effect 2, is thrown into the mix. That game alone is worth more than five bucks, and you’re getting nine more titles for the same price. Not only that, but you can adjust what you pay, so if you want all of the money to go to the developers or entirely to a charity, the choice is yours.

The little guys need to eat too!

Lastly, with a mention that may ruin the appetite, is the most absurd mention of eats on today’s menu. While Microsoft has been known to commit downright horrific atrocities, I see they still have the chutzpah to try and top themselves, in an endless cycle of malice. With a most definitely overlooked intention, and intensely obvious repercussions ,  a Pizza Hut app has just gone up on Xbox Live, allowing one to summon any number of calorie orbs, directly through their dashboard, and into their dying faces. Microsoft assures us “It’s better with Kinect”, which is akin to reminding us that animal abuse is easier with a hammer.

Speaking of abuse that’s easier to do with a Kinect…

While I’ll ignore criticizing individuals on whatever diets they choose, however poor, I do believe Sterling observed it best: ” I’ll add this to the list of things I’ll crank out the next time Microsoft tries to pretend its Gold account scheme is oh so necessary because otherwise it’d have no cash.” While it hasn’t been stated that one will need a Gold account to access this app, the likely hood is incredibly high. The real problem here, beyond people using their bodies as toxic waste dumps, is the unavoidable bullshit related rationale the Pizza Hut app gives, in providing one more superfluous reason Gold costs $60 (as a reminder, the only way to enjoy mulitplayer experiences on the console).

The act of ordering pizza, which you can do on the phone, or via the internet, is already a free enterprise, like many other travesties advertised as premium on the Xbox Live Dashboard. This mention of pepperoni, and the promise of more cheese, is a sign of foreboding that Microsoft will once again, rationalize a higher price point, or somehow squeeze more inane finance, out of an already broke demographic, with an already broken system. The sad notion is some of us are gorging too hard to care, and others just can’t resist the taste.

Pictured: The Average Xbox Live User, after the Implementation of the Pizza Hut App on Xbox Live.

The PC guys laughed from moment one when they heard online gaming was going to cost gamers any money, let alone lots of it.. I turned a blind eye to the Xbox Live price point, and somehow deemed it okay, with the unavoidable truth that my friends had it, and I needed it too. As a person who enjoys all gaming, these truths of peer-pressure frighten me, in the notion I have no real power in my spending habits, when faced with all or nothing. I use the service an untold number of hours a year, and is the only saving grace here, though I’m always left wanting something more refreshing, wanting nothing more than walking away with a cleaner taste in my mouth. A higher price point is good, but the value must be just.

Microsoft never did learn how to temper the gaming masses, or how best to impress them with savory sweets.

You know how best to feed the hungry masses?

Feed them what they’re hungry for.

Happy Eating
~Pashford