The way we love games

 We are gamers. It is in our nature -- as humans  -- to learn and develop skills through ludic activities, right from our early childhood to the future of our lives, wherever that may take us. Were we playing purposefully with our hands and feet even before we were born or were we preparing for our emergence in life? What about the times we played with our brothers, sisters or with our friends and we got all competitive? Did we love the game more than the people that are close to us? Was it that important for us to win and prove that we are better than them? For us it was, for all of us, even for our brothers, sisters or our friends. Our genes tell us it was important, our parents agree, the society agrees too, as long as things don't escalate too much. That never meant we didn't love them. And we loved to play. We played all kinds of games with family and friends, from hide-and-seek, charades and board games to video games and sports, helping with our social skills, enhancing our ability to communicate with others, sharpening our dexterity and focus, bonding with our loved ones.

My trial and error with MMOs

 I must admit that it's hardly my place to speak of MMOs since I'm not in the range of their tractor beam (or "taget market" how some would say), but I do feel the need to dissect my experience with this type of game. So feel free to comment, rectify and even scold, if you find the need to do so, but remember that this is only an expression of my opinion.

Starting with a bit of my history as an MMO player, I have to mention that I have not started with Ultima Online or Warcraft Orcs and Humans as many of my age did. When those came out I was around the age of ten. No, I started my first quest with RuneScape, one of the most mediocre titles of 2001. Why RuneScape? Three reasons: 1. accessibility, because the game was browser based, running on java; 2. it was free, need I say more? and 3. because it somehow reminded me of Nox, one of my favorite games to date, or it was so probably because I needed something fresh - but still familiar - after a few playthroughs of Nox. But RuneScape showed me what an mmorpg is, with both good and bad. Those factors that drove me away from this type of games are still there, altered or the same, but they still exist. Of course, once in a while I come back, but they still never draw me in.

Review: 007 Legends (PC)

It's a shooter. It's bad! I wish I could say more in the introduction for this game's review, but it's that bland, stupid and generic that makes Duty Calls look like a serious full-fledged game. In fact, 007 Legends is far for being fully developed. It's nothing but advertisement and not only for the upcoming Skyfall movie, but for other brands. I'm not saying the previous games had a lack of advertisements, but this is one of the worst product placements in gaming history.

Let's talk about the gadgets first, shall we?

Review: Need For Speed Most Wanted - A Criterion Game (PC)

A Criterion game, unfortunately. Don't get me wrong, I love Burnout and I found their vision of Hot Pursuit to be quite a gem. Criterion really knows how to make a great arcade driving game. Their racing games have a certain trademark, a genuine imprint that's visible in the handling, the graphics and environment. What's so unfortunate about it? Their vision of Most Wanted is nothing like the Most Wanted we remember. If I were to play this game without knowing the title or that was ever in the remaking process, I'd definetely say it's the latest Burnout game. It's not The Run 2 (not a Criterion title), because this one is open ended and has no story, none whatsoever, and it can't be Hot Pursuit 2 because it's not as linear nor you can play as a cop. In fact, Criterion's Most Wanted has everything in common with Burnout Paradise. Bilboards to smash, scatered ramps, the exact same cop chase mechanics, service quick-fix and no story. I get that it's their own take on the old Most Wanted and EA knew for some time this was a fan favorite demand, but the only resemblance to it it's the Most Wanted part where you race and get cops to chase you until you reach "numero uno" on the list.

Review: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction (PC)

Do you ever have the feeling that you're too smart for a certain game? Well, Splinter Cell Conviction gave me this kind of feeling. I'm not saying it's a bad game in that perspective and I'll come clean with how much I loved this game, but it has some flaws no one can get pass. For example, the simplicity of the entire campaign. I'm not a Splinter Cell veteran, although I've given each game a try, but never managed to finish one, except Conviction. At first, when I heard of this game, I wanted to see a better, well done Alpha Protocol. Let's face it, we all want Alpha Protocol 2 in some form or the other.