Posts Tagged ‘PlayStation’

So I Pitched that Project

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

So last week I pitched that multi-platform project… I’m no longer calling it the “T” word because I was recently flooded with spam all related to this other, very similar “T” word.

The pitches went well. Obviously there are a few things I’d do differently but that’s a lesson for me. Let me tell you about a tool that helped me greatly.

I created a 2-page cheat sheet. Here are the sections:

  • Logline – Two sentence that told them about the project.
  • What We’re Offering – We listed what was completed [and how far long it was] and what was immediately on-deck. I didn’t list what we hoped to do here because I wanted to show them that we were serious enough to get the ball rolling on our own.
  • The Audience – We told them exactly who was gonna watch this.
  • The Platforms – As this is a multi-platoform project, I listed each medium and how we were going utilize it. This is where I looked to some cool things we’d like to do in the future (very pie-in-the-sky)
  • Who We Are – This was a quick bio of how we all got together and created this project.
  • The Executives – Not only did I list who they worked for but everything I could find from Google, from hobbies to friends in common.
  • What We’re Looking For – As we were pitching to three different executives, I wanted them to know that 1) we knew exactly who they were and 2) we knew exactly how they could help us.
  • Other Project – I had a logline for one more project in my back pocket.
  • Pitch Structure – As I was pitching with a partner, I broke down who answered what kind of questions, who pitched what and timed it out.

Sorry that I’m not including specifics but my partners want us to play our cards close to the vest, especially as we could still go out and pitch this project.

On an unrelated note, I’m sick again so my blogging this week might be inconsistent.

Also, you’ll notice something new on my sidebar. I’ve listed my PS3 trophies. I know it’s uber-nerd of me but as I’ve started talking about video games here I thought it only right of me to fly that flag. I really wanted the trophy card that showed you the last game I trophied in but that one wouldn’t fit in my sidebar. Solution: redo my blog design.

(I’m embracing my inner nerd)

Addiction Is Spelled B-O-R-D-E-R-L-A-N-D-S

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Yeah, I’m addicted to BORDERLANDS. I play it at home, I play it online, I’ve downloaded both Zombie Island (and beat it) and Moxxi’s Underdome (looking for an online buddy to tackle this with me).

So you can imagine my excitement when I saw that the latest DLC is being released today. Say “hello” to General Knoxx.

And say “good bye” to my free time.

Tomb Raider: Underworld

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Since I review all the other media I consume, why should my PS3 be any different? Exactly. Glad you agree. Therefore, let me introduce you to the first game I’ve completed on my new system.

TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD felt like a homecoming of sorts because I played the original on my PC about a dozen years ago (was it really THAT long ago?). The narrative is a bit of a MacGuffin but all you really want to do is jump and climb and hunt for treasures like an Indiana Jones in hot pants.

One thing surprised me: I don’t remember Lara killing quite so many animals in her last outing. Seriously, they could have called this “Tomb Raider: Nature’s Worst Enemy”.

Not everything about a reunion is roses.  The graphics are just how I remember them… which means they could have easily been so much better. No, wait, they’re improved, I know that, but I feel like I’ve seen the PS3 do SO much better. Also, occasionally the controls conspire against you (or maybe I’m still figuring out how to use all 20 buttons effectively). Lastly, the stupid camera often screws you more than it helps. When I’m standing against a wall, why is it only showing me rocks?  Why?!

But that’s me being nitpicky. The levels were expansive but the game was short and that suited me just fine. It was a great introduction to modern gaming without taking over my life.

Ooh, I also wanted to say that of all the things you can do in the game the best parts are swimming. I don’t know why but these levels were incredibly fun to play.

To wrap it up, this was a fun and great way to get me gaming without intimidating me.  Thanks ya sassy lassy.

Wasting My Life with PS3 Demos

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

I didn’t quite make a deal with the devil but I did get a PS3 (it came free with another major purchase) so it’s kinda like I let a devil child into my home and he won’t stop wasting my time.

What’s worse, my buddy Pat warned me that I could spend years playing all the free downloadable demos from the Sony PlayStation Store. All I heard was “free downloadable demos.”

Argh! There goes my productivity. Now that I’ve downloaded a ton of demos allow me to share my abbreviated reviews.

  • Bayonetta – Um, this game is too… it isn’t for me. Plus I find it disturbing that you’re playing a gun-toting, uber-stacked version of Tina Fey that, when she performs certain combo moves, has all her clothes fly off. Very disturbing
  • The Lord of the Rings: Conquest – I now understand why gamers complain about video games based on movies. This was so not fun. More than that, it was just awful. Terrible.
  • The Simpsons Game – I think I can say the same thing about TV shows made into video games. It should have been more fun to play Homer and Bart but instead it was cumbersome. Plus it was difficult to figure out the level objective.
  • Wet – Think KILL BILL the video game. Yeah, I know, not very inventive but I kinda liked it. It might just be worth buying… if it were on sale.
  • Dead Space: Dismemberment – Not a particularly fun demo and after a couple of minutes I felt queasy. Just too gruesome for me.
  • The Last Guy – I tried this indie game based on a recommendation and while I kinda like some of the style and humor, it’s something I’d play for 5 minutes and then never play again.
  • Conan – It’s okay but if I could play the version where I’m a skinny, red-haired host battling the evil forces of Mr. Big Chin, now that’d be cool.
  • Stranglehold – I am the target audience for this. Chow Yun Fat in a John Woo movie that I can play? This should be f**king awesome. Unfortunately, the demo loses sound halfway through and crashes. Boo! Still, I might rent this game (yes, I love John Woo that much and you should too. He’s easily one of the coolest action directors around.).
  • Iron Man – Did I say that the Lord of the Rings game was the worst? Well, it is, but this places a close second.
  • Trine – I heard good things about this 3D side scroller and they’re mostly right on. This pseudo-puzzle-game-meets-Castlevania is fun. I wasn’t addicted but I’d consider buying it for a discounted price.
  • The Bourne Conspiracy – You know what, I liked the simple brutality of this game. I’d buy it at a heavy discount.
  • Turok – I know folk loved the original but this incarnation is boring. How can killing dinosaurs be this tiresome? What a shame.
  • Red Faction: Guerrilla – I know some people love this game but it just didn’t appeal to me. It has a great premise and setting but after trying the first level and dying minutes later I wasn’t compelled to pick up the controller again.
  • Mirror’s Edge – This game gets big points for being a cool, different kinda game. I know, some of you are sick of Parkour but by moving the action into a FPS framework this game amps up the thrills. Absolutely worth a look
  • InFamous – All signs point to this being a great game. My only complaint was that I got killed so often that I grew frustrated with the game but maybe that’s just me. I haven’t owned a system since the original NES so I’m a terrible player.
  • Kane & Lynch: Dead Men – If HEAT were a video game, this would be it. Worth checking out, if only as a rental (I could see this getting monotonous).
  • Heavenly Sword – A decent hack ‘n slash (I’m not a huge fan of games with 200 combo moves, which this has, probably because I’m a terrible gamer; see above) but I do love Anna Torv. Therefore, I won’t outright dismiss this game.
  • Zombie Apocalypse – This only makes me wish Left 4 Dead was available on the PS3.
  • Watchmen: The End is Nigh – Oh man, yet another awful game… and movie… but I love that comic. Seriously, this game is just dumb. No art.
  • Wanted: Weapons of Fate – What at first seems like the perfect comic/movie to port into a game gets butchered by lame controls and weak gameplay (hey, I almost sound like a real gamer).
  • God of War 3 – Now this is a crazy, bloody hack ‘n slash I could get into!

Phew, thank goodness I got that out of my system. Wait, not yet. I have one more demo to play but I got one problem. I really want to try the Army of Two: The 40th Day demo but I need someone to play with me. Want to play online? Hit me up.Want  to come over? Just say when.

And I conclude this post with a trailer for a game that affected me emotionally. I… just watch it first.

I don’t know why that fusion of imagery and song hit me so hard but… ah, I know why. It’s been a hard few months and I’m particularly sensitive these days. I know, it’s kinda the anti-game, or game as art, but it looks like I’m gonna have to download it.

ANYWAY, what other games should I be checking out?