FC Gaming

Xbox 360 Sales Reach 8 Million in Europe

chaspen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:09:00 +0000

I’m sure that most of you are already aware of the current economic crisis at hand. Despite the fact that investors and industries are losing money, the Microsoft Xbox 360 has proven itself to be a big seller in Europe.

Microsoft claims that it has seen 100 percent year-over-year sales growth in the region during the month of December. The company also claims that it has sold over 8 million units in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In terms of lifetime sales, Microsoft has sold over 23 million units! With that in mind, I am now more sure than ever that the Sony PlayStation 3 is losing major business. Even so, Microsoft has not really gone into detail about its performance in the market, and has not given the public any numbers except how many units it has sold. However, during the holiday season, Microsoft saw its biggest gains since its being introduced to the region in 2002. North American sales performance has not been updated yet, although it will be “coming soon”.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, the Nintendo Wii still outsells the Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3. The Nintendo Wii is still the dominating console, and may possibly continue to be for a while. Questions or comments? Do you feel that the Xbox 360 will outsell the Nintendo Wii soon?

Review – Fallout 3

chaspen — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:04:00 +0000

Story/Presentation: 6.5/10
The story Fallout 3 presents the player with starts off slowly, but I am happy to say that it becomes a bit appealing later. Playing the previous two games are not necessary, but it always helps. There are six endings in the game, which is a lot (at least for me), but the developers had claimed that there would be about 200 endings. The developers’ deceit was kind of obvious from the start; it was only a way to attract more buyers. There were not as many side-quests as I thought there would be, and the main quest in general is shorter than what I would have imagined. The characters are static, the dialogue is dull, and the interactions are pitiful. There are few, if any, dynamic characters. Bethesda needs to work on character development; it has been their primary weakness for a while. Quests need some tweaking too; you find them in the most random places with little indication of where they might be.

Again, this game is quite deceptive. The choices presented to the player may seem limitless or open-ended, but the truth is that many of the consequences are essentially the same. It is almost always the “hack a computer”, “kill the person”, “lock-pick a safe”, and the “use charisma to lie” choices you are presented with in the end, but they do not affect the outcome significantly. The story is stale and puts you to sleep, similar to your average college textbook. Overall, it is a shame that this tedious game (for the most part), should have such excellent graphics.

Graphics: 10/10
Yes, it deserves this score. The over world maps are detailed to the point where I absolutely love it. The graphics are breath-taking, and the enemies are quite a sight. The art style is similar to the previous two games, with Super Mutants, Mirelurks, and Jet looking exactly as they did in the past. Some of the animation is not perfect, but the combat is usually pleasing to watch. Fortunately, the effects do not get old after a few hours.

Gameplay: 6.5/10
The VATS system is an alternative to the real-time combat. In essence, you play with VATS or you play with nothing. The weapons are not accurate enough in real-time in order to make it an option. This, however, forces the player to think strategically, as in who should be killed or which part of the enemy’s body should be shot off first. The lock-picking portion of the game is all right, but the hacking definitely needs some work. Playing a mini-game with a bunch of useless text is NOT hacking.

As a first-person shooter, this game is not up to par. The gun takes an eternity to move around and pausing the game makes for easy killing of the enemy. It is nearly impossible for the enemy to ambush you successfully, and as a RPG, it fails. In terms of the level of fun though, it does succeed. If you dislike blood and gore however, then this game is not for you.

Sound/Music: 7.5/10
The music is decent and sometimes annoying to the point where you want to throw your controller at the screen. The audio will probably get stuck in your head for a while, sometimes because it is both disturbing and amusing. Although there is a lot of repetition, the audio, for the most part, is fresh. The background music is interesting at times, but not exactly excellent.

Replay Value: 6/10
All in all, I felt that there were not enough quests in this game in order to make me play it again. You can literally do everything in the game in under ten hours. The player can not do much about the speed of the game either; all you do is run, run, run. Getting lost in the subway system for an hour does not qualify for an enjoyable gaming experience. Your only company is the landscapes and maybe the occasional robot adversary. It might be cool to replay as a different character, but the endings are too similar and too disappointing to make it worth your while. Clearly, the Replay Value element needs some work.

OVERALL: 7.3/10
A bit too generous, in my opinion, but it does not matter much. The combat will be satisfying, maybe the exploration and side-quests will be too. However, this game has little substance to it and its characters are emotionless and average. Experienced RPG players may even feel restricted by the lack of plot development. However, I will admit that it is enjoyable enough for this kind of score. Give me your thoughts, opinions, etc. What score do you think this game deserves?

Style of Review

chaspen — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:56:00 +0000

I know that many people have different opinions on how a certain video game should be reviewed, so just to give you guys a heads-up, here is how I do my reviews:

From MOST important to LEAST important:
1 – Gameplay
2 – Sound/Music
3 – Graphics
4 – Story/Presentation
5 – Replay Value

Many people are bound to disagree with me, especially concerning the importance of the last three. However, just because they are the least important, does not mean I barely consider them. They are just less important in comparison to the others above it.

Replay value is extremely subjective; there are thousands of other gamers out there who have different opinions on a video game’s replay value.

Gameplay and music are of utmost importance to me, mainly because these factors help me decide if I enjoy playing the game or not. Many other people prefer different types of gameplay (as well as music), but for me, real-time combat and strategy are my favorite types.

The story always helps me get into the game I am playing; if it does not have a certain twist to it or if it is too dull, then do not expect me to play this game happily through the end. I would have tied Graphics with Story/Presentation, but in the end, I decided Graphics was more important.

I am crazy about graphics! I just do not understand how a person can enjoy a game if the main character can some ow appear through walls and stick their heads into places where they should not be.

To sum it all up, my review system is based on an average of all five of those video game elements. I will go into decimals (tenths place), but I will not get too picky about it. Instead, how about telling me about what you think is important. Put them in order of most important at the top to the least important at the bottom. On that note, look forward to my reviews!

Sony PlayStation 3

chaspen — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:54:00 +0000

Lately, the Sony PlayStation 3 has not been doing well in terms of profits. Profits that are definitely lacking in comparison to the Nintendo Wii’s. It is a well known fact that the Sony PS3′s selling price point is the highest of the three major gaming consoles of this generation. However, most people do not recognize its strengths and leave it because of its selling price. Today, I’ll be discussing both its strengths and weaknesses, in order to help out those of you who are still trying to decide between the three.

The Sony PS3 comes with many features that none of the other two consoles really have. The Blu-ray Disc disc format is one of them. If you’ve seen any Blu-ray Disc DVDs, you will know why this is such a big deal. The video game graphics surpass those of the Wii and the Xbox 360. And of course, it now has a unified online gaming service, just like the other two consoles. Like the Xbox 360, the PS3 comes in different models, although most of them are now out of production (20GB-80GB). All of them feature a sleek black design as well. The PS3 controllers are also motion sensitive, which is pretty cool in my opinion. There are other great things that one could say about the console, like how the power supply is now integrated into the system, how its extremely quiet (unlike the Xbox 360), and how you can browse the web by just plugging in a USB keyboard! However, there are also some cons that people tend to see when comparing the PS3 to other consoles. Let us compare now:

PROS:
- Contains a Blu-ray Disc player
- Available in 80 GB and 160 GB models (the others went out of production)
- Quiet and has touch-sensitive power and eject buttons
- Has a hard power-off switch on the back of the system
- PS2 game files can be transferred to the PS3
- PSP will connect via Wi-Fi to the PS3′s hard drive

CONS:
- Expensive; Sony has lost money because of this
- Hard to program and no rumble feature
- Smaller selection of games
- Can have longer loading times (due to Blu-ray)

Even if the pros do outweigh the cons, the cons outweigh the pros in terms of importance. Personally, I think the Sony PlayStation 3 is a bit ahead of their time. The Blu-ray Disc technology needs to give the economy some time before its players become widespread and popular. They haven’t really replaced DVD players yet. Again, price is a major factor and so is the selection of video games. I would go for the Xbox 360 myself, but if you believe the PS3 is better, then go ahead and buy it. You might be disappointed, you might not; it depends on the type of gamer you are.

Overall, I feel that the Sony PlayStation 3 is lacking when compared to the other two. However, some of these disadvantages can be overlooked by some people. It all depends on you. No matter what people say, if you feel a certain console fits you better, then go buy it. Sony is not doing very well with the console though, and it’s kind of a stretch to say that it will come out on top this gaming generation. Despite these facts, there are still some terrific games out there for the PS3. Metal Gear Solid 4, of course, Fallout 3, and Grand Theft Auto IV are just some of the most popular gaming titles for the console. If you own or will own a PS3, what titles are you hoping to get?

Xbox 360

chaspen — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:54:00 +0000

The Xbox 360, Microsoft’s second video game console. Some background information in case you need it: it was released in 2005, the same year the PS3 was released and a year before the Nintendo Wii was released. In terms of design, I would say the Wii and the Xbox 360 are a bit similar, but nevertheless, the Xbox 360 greatly surpasses the Wii in certain areas.

The ever popular Xbox Live service is surely one of the reasons why gamers enjoy or buy the Xbox 360. Although its graphics are not the best (the Sony PlayStation 3 wins that one), it is better than the Wii’s. The Xbox 360 also comes in three standard types: the “Xbox 360 Elite”, the “Xbox 360 Pro”, and the “Xbox 360 Arcade”. Sounds sort of like Microsoft’s Windows Vista, doesn’t it? The “Xbox 360 Core” is a discontinued model, in case some of you thought I missed something. As one would guess, the Xbox 360 Elite is the most expensive, and it was not introduced until later. Here are some brief details about each of them:

Xbox 360 Elite – Includes a 120 GB hard drive and a black-themed design. Includes a wireless controller and a headset that matches with the design. Includes an ethernet cable. Good stuff.

Xbox 360 Pro – Includes a 20 GB HDD (hard disk drive), although it is now usually 60 GB HDD. There is compatibility with old Xbox games, downloadable content, and a free Xbox Live game. Also includes an ethernet cable.

Xbox 360 Arcade – Replaced the “Xbox 360 Core”; and like all the others, includes a wireless controller. Also includes five Xbox Live Arcade titles, several demos and trailers, and 256 MB of memory.

All of them comes with an Xbox Live membership of one month, and to clarify, the Xbox 360 Elite includes everything the Xbox 360 Pro has, excluding the smaller amount of space the Xbox 360 Pro comes with. Basically, the Xbox 360 Arcade comes with more games, but less space and no headset or ethernet cable. However, it IS the cheapest. One of the best things I like about the Xbox (in general) is the fact that it can play a wide range of media; it is more or less a TV. Unfortunately, like all the other game consoles, it does come with a wide range of cons, which I will now list along with the pros:

PROS:
- Graphics are better than that of the Wii’s, although not the best
- Xbox Live
- Comes in various forms; buy whichever fits you the best (also consider the price)
- Allows you to buy movies and TV shows online
- Cheaper than the PS3

CONS:
- Expensive accessories, people are hesitant to buy them and the accessories are rarely used; in addition, the accessories add up to prices similar to the PS3′s
- Intended audience: hardcore gamers
- Can overheat easily; power supply is especially big and ugly
- Volume of the system, turn it up in order to prevent yourself from hearing that constant whirring sound, although making it loud may be a problem as well

Please tell me if you feel I’m missing something.

The Xbox 360 is a great console; no lies. There are just a few things that bug me when I write about it. However, I will not say whether or not the Wii is better or worse. That is all up to you. You may even think the PS3 is the best. Even though I claim that the Xbox 360 is for hardcore gamers, some people may disagree and think otherwise. In my opinion, the Xbox 360 is intended to attract a more mature audience. If you think I’ve gotten it all wrong, go ahead and comment. I know some people that are considered to be “hardcore gamers”, but they buy the Xbox 360 anyway. I’ve definitely had some fun with the Xbox 360; some of my favorite games are Call of Duty 2, Tales of Vesperia (previously mentioned), and Halo 3 (although I was expecting a bit more from it). Opinions and comments, please.

Nintendo Wii

chaspen — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:53:00 +0000

Ah, the Nintendo Wii. I’m sure that for many of you gamers out there this console hardly needs an introduction. Released in 2006 and being Nintendo’s fifth family-friendly game console, the Wii can definitely be considered a success by some people. There are tons of things that I can say about this console, but let’s just talk about some of the main features of the Wii that some people can get very worked up about.

One of the most notable features is the wireless remote that the Nintendo Wii comes with, also known as the Wii Remote. The WiiConnect24 is also another feature that is very unique to the console. It allows the player to remain connected to the internet while the Wii is in standby. The last thing I would like to mention is the Wii Menu’s concept of “television channels”; although it is not really a feature, it enables players to download various things from the Wii Shop Channel. The Virtual Console is also somewhat popular because it lets players purchase software and other games (mainly those of SNES, Nintendo Gamecube, NES, etc.). In my opinion, the idea of visiting and playing games from the past is quite appealing.

Interaction is a major factor in the Wii’s success as a gaming console. Many gamers like the idea that if they are playing a tennis game, they can swing the remote like a racquet, or if they are playing a baseball game, they can swing the remote like a bat. The Wii is also compatible with the Nintendo Gamecube, which is always a plus. Its compact and light design as well as its price point (lower than both of the other consoles) are also two other great things about the Nintendo Wii. I can go on and on about the Wii, but for your sanity, I will just list out the pros and cons:

PROS:
- Sold at a lower price point than two of its competitors
- Includes a pack-in game, something that two of the other consoles have not yet done
- Simplicity in the Wii Remote, designed to appeal the average gamer
- Compatible with the Nintendo Gamecube
- Interaction with the gamer
- WiiConnect24, which lets the console remain connected to the internet while in standby
- Downloadable access to many of your favorite games in the past

There are definitely some other pros that I am missing here; feel free to comment and tell me right away. I will update the list immediately. Now let’s talk about the cons.

Unfortunately for the Nintendo Wii, its graphics are nothing to brag about. Compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360, the Wii is behind in terms of graphics. That’s probably the only major con I can think of right now. The other is probably its lack of internal storage capacity. 512 internal flash memory just won’t cut it these days, which definitely shows in the PS3 and Xbox 360. Remember that the Nintendo Wii’s main purpose is to “bring gaming back to the masses”, or to appeal to gamers of all ages. I can’t say it’s not working, but if you are one of those gamers who prefer the more violent and bloodier types of video games, then the Nintendo Wii is probably not for you. The Wii is more of a crowd pleaser, less R rated games and more E for everyone’s.

CONS:
- Lacks internal storage capacity (512 internal flash memory)
- Graphics are weak compared to the PS3 and Xbox 360
- More suited towards children than the teenager who prefers a bit more violence

Again, if you feel as if I am missing something, I will be glad to hear your comment.

Overall, I consider the Wii to be a success in the gaming industry. There are some things I would like to tweak here and there, but its pros outweigh its cons (or so I think). I would recommend this gaming console to almost everyone, because it is friendly to people of all ages. However, if you just hate the sight of childlike games, then I suggest looking at other gaming consoles which are a bit more “mature”. To wrap today’s post up, I would like to mention some of my favorite games for the Wii, as well as the ones I look forward to: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Mario Kart Wii, and the up and coming Tales of Symphonia sequel for the Wii. Now tell me, what are YOUR favorites?

FC Gaming – Why Subscribe?

chaspen — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:03:00 +0000

Many of you are probably thinking, why subscribe to this blog? I realized a moment ago that I had not provided an incentive for my readers to subscribe. For all the people who don’t know, subscribing to FC Gaming will allow you to receive the latest published posts, directly from my blog. Like I had previously said in a blog post before, it is extremely convenient and definitely worth it. Instead of typing up the URL and checking what I have posted every day, you can just visit your Google Reader and see all of your subscriptions in one place. You can read my articles whenever you want and where ever you want. It just saves you the extra effort and the extra time you need by subscribing. There are two main methods that most people use in order to subscribe:

Method One: Subscribe to RSS Feeds; articles and blog posts are sent to a web feed reader, such as Atom or Google Reader.

Method Two: Subscribe via Email; articles and blog posts are sent directly to your email address, so that you can read them whenever you check your mail.

How to Subscribe
If you are subscribing via RSS Feed, then I recommend Google Reader. It is easily one of the most popular web feed readers, and its layout is simple and organized. After signing up (which should take a very quick five minutes), you should see the Subscribe tab at the top area of my blog. Click the tab, and you should be able to add my blog to your Google Reader in a few seconds. If you are subscribing via email, then you need to fill in a legitimate email address in the box at the top right corner of my blog and click Subscribe. You will then see a window pop up looking like this:

All you have to do once you get to that step is type in your email address and enter the captcha code that is being displayed. You will then receive an email sent directly to your mailbox, and from there you confirm your email address by clicking on the provided link in the email they sent you. After you’ve done either method, then congratulations! You have subscribed! It is a relatively easy process and should not take a huge chunk of time.

After subscribing, you will recieve only one email everyday. The email will contain all the articles published that day in the format of a newsletter. Regardless of how many articles I publish, all of them will appear in one email. So for all of you people worried about a stuffed mailbox, stop worrying. One email a day is enough, correct?

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If you are having trouble subscribing to me, then please feel free to send me an email. My email address is chaspen@gmail.com. I’ll be delighted to help anyone in need.

FC Gaming – Blog Introduction

chaspen — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:52:00 +0000

Hey everyone, welcome to my gaming niche blog: FC Gaming. My name is Chase, and I am a college student majoring in the business field. I aspire to be a successful entrepreneur. However, when I have the time, I enjoy playing video games. Badminton is my type of sport, and I also play the piano. In case you guys wanted to know, FC stands for Fusion Core, something my cousin came up with. I know it sounds corny and a tad immature, but it is expected to change. For now, it will do. Now, since you guys probably want to know what I’m up to with this blog, here is a “brief” overview.

Purpose
Well, this is quite simple actually. Over the course of my blogging career, I will give reviews, opinions, tips, advice, or some extra tidbits of information involving games of a variety of consoles. Most of you can probably name the ones most popular right now. Remember that this blog is for gamers of all ages. It does not matter if you are a light gamer who likes to play video games once in a while or if you are a hardcore gamer who likes to try and buy videos games for the sake of competitiveness or entertainment; either way, FC Gaming is for everyone. In addition, remember that I am also trying to create an environment where gamers of different types can get together and discuss or recommend video games in general. I would also encourage giving people feedback about games that they have liked in the past; I will do the same with video games I have personally tried out. Don’t limit yourself to only games that you’ve played, ask me or anyone else about games that you are planning to buy or rent. I will try to do my best to help each and every one of you out!

Feedback
I am very fond of constructive criticism, so feel free if you have anything to say about my blog. However, I dislike criticism solely for the sake of making someone else feel bad. Also, if you have a gaming related blog as well, then why not comment on one of my posts so that I can check it out. I will comment on at least one of your posts, giving you some personal feedback. Remember that feedback ALWAYS helps the blogger and the person commenting. I will definitely subscribe to some of your guys’ blogs if I find them extremely interesting!

Posting
In order to satisfy my readers, I will try to plan posts ahead of time. That way, I won’t be too far behind or too far ahead. Posts should be expected every couple of days, although sometimes I will post on a day-to-day basis. I will make an effort to have at least two posts within a week. I would also like to say that the subject of my posts vary from time to time. Maybe two weeks will be entirely dedicated to the Nintendo Wii, maybe a month covering the Sony PSP’s most popular video games, it all depends on my mood. I DO listen and consider suggestions for future posts, just leave a comment and I will get back to you ASAP.

Final Words
I hope to see more and more readers become more active as FC Gaming grows older. Overall, this gaming niche blog is for you guys to benefit from. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me. I usually reply to questions within a day. If you want to know more about me, just click on the About tab. The following days to come should be days where I establish myself as a blogger and you as a reader. Again, feedback is recommended! Whether or not you play video games, it does not matter. If my readers are satisfied, then I am satisfied. If you like what I have to offer, then why not subscribe to my RSS Feed? It is a simple process, and it is extremely convenient for many readers like yourself. Of course, if you are having trouble subscribing, then please check here for help. Happy gaming!

Question of the Day:
What are some of your favorite video game titles? Name a series or even your favorite console. If you are feeling extremely passionate, then you can recommend some games you think we’d like to try out! Some of my favorites are the Tales series and the Fire Emblem series. Specifically, the upcoming Fire Emblem remake for the DS and the new Tales of Vesperia for the Xbox 360.