I just received my copy of the May Gameinformer. The awesome shots of Assassin's Creed 2 were wonderful to see in their print form, and although I haven't had time to read the preview yet, I'm sure it's good. I usually take A LONG TIME to read the game magazines I still get, so this article really isn't about that.
One of things this article IS about is the article that's in the magazine entitled, "Searching for An Audience:: Video Games Struggle to Make It on the Small Screen." The problem with the article is the same problem that is with every article out there about video games on television. They basically go to the people who are failing at it or have failed at it for answers. I think the guy from Variety said the same thing this year about G4 as he did when the channel launched. I thought it was hysterical. They also managed to paint the concept in the worst possible way. Which is interesting considering Gameinformer, IS a video game magazine. The main problem with the execution of the video games on television thing is that all most EVERY TIME it's been tried it's been done in the most childish; silly way possible.
Perhaps it would be beneficial for the same crazy enthusiasm that seems to permeate every horrible video games on television project to not become a tamed down edition of a bad reality show or worse a G-Rated version of Girls Gone Wild. Gametrailers and X-Play do this the right way and both have been beset with problems and issues with advertising and space. Who watches a show that's only on after 11 PM? Probably not many. As for X-PLAY they are apparently being replaced by old movies that G4 is REALLY EXCITED about getting access to. I certainly love both shows and I'm sad to see X-PLAY going slowly the way of the dinosaur and Gametrailers is probably going to go all Internet one these days to join the other EXCELLENT, WEB ONLY SHOWS that all ready live on www.gametrailers.com.
Why is this a bad idea? How about having video game tournaments online? Well, they would be fun to have on television. Halo 3, Rock Band 2, Street Fighter IV, Team Fortress 2, Command and Conquer Red Alert 3, and there are probably more; would work well in the television arena. But they have to be done properly. First and foremost, the prize money must be large and it must be sponsored by some big name companies that aren't watching the first year of ratings like rabid dogs at the feeding trough. Perhaps companies that are all ready sponsoring tournaments; like Mountain Dew, NVIDIA, Microsoft, Sony, etc... Second, the coverage must entail entire play sessions that are explained but not play by play, rather a more second chair sports broadcasting style where the main competitors are discussed along with strengths and weaknesses. Also the people commenting MUST know the game. They cannot be people who were only handed the game three weeks before the show or some other nonsense. Perhaps former professional players of the game or maybe some ex-developer of the game. Third, do not show more of the people sitting there playing the game than the game itself. It's not like watching Kate Moss eat cereal people. I don't care what these folks, look like, I'm here to WATCH the GAME! I think some producers and directors fail to get this part, maybe because THEY don't care about the game. But without it, they wouldn't be there. It's kind of like watching the spectators at a sporting event. Unless they are topless super models, no one really cares. Enough of my suggestions, I've been saying this same thing for two years and obviously no one is listening. The new HORRIBLE video game show on SCFI is proof.
The other part of this article is why I'm writing this and not currently playing Fable 2. I restarted playing Fable 2 recently and I've found it a pleasant surprise over my initial impression which was that I thought it was poorly designed and executed. But It wasn't necessarily; it's a fun time overall. But a little unforgiving and a little TOO interested in turning your"HERO" evil. I'm not reviewing this title because it came out late LAST YEAR and really what is the point of reviewing something that even the contemplative sites have all ready reviewed. I'm playing this game purely for the experience and because I love RPGs.
I'm writing this because SO MUCH happened this week all ready and I really had to vent about Fable 2 a little. I've been playing tons of other games: Demigod, Resident Evil 5, BattleForge, Dishwasher, and probably something I'm forgetting. So I'm enjoying some quality stuff. But I hadn't played any good RPGs for a little so I was happy for one. I picked my copy of Fable 2 back up and I've made some descent progress. I'm basically leveling as a Will focused character but you still end up using everything else eventually anyway, which is fun albeit a little ridiculous. In any story you've EVER read in the fantasy genre has any character who isn't a god used a melee weapon, a ranged weapon, and magic? None right? That's why it's ridiculous. But that certainly isn't my problem with it. No my problem is with one particular quest. The one where this guy Ripper gives you a quest to perform by killing a farmer and his little army of defenders, because they want to get this particular treasure in the farmer's basement.
Well, that's all well and good. But I'm a HERO of some Renown and I figured I could just talk with this farmer and his men and we could all ambush Ripper and his friends or worse comes to worse I could just not do anything when confronted by the farmer and then go back and kill Ripper at THAT point. This is a kind of quest that you MIGHT find in Elder Scrolls Oblivion. It would probably involve you walking up to the farmer and getting into some kind of conversation you just hauling off and starting to kill people right off. This is because in ELDER SCROLLS they WANT you make a CHOICE; not just follow the script. And your actions DO cause repercussions. Maybe the farmer is a SUPER powerful guy or maybe he is friends with the mayor of a big city near there. Maybe if you kill the farmer you won't be allowed into the town or they might throw you in jail. Or any number of things. But you can also save one time before and once after making the decision to see how it turns out. I only bring up Elder Scrolls because it seems that much of the main story quests from Fable 2 seem rather similar to Oblivion so it MUST have been an influence.
All of this was NOT the case in the critically acclaimed and incredibly recent Fable 2. Now remember Elder Scrolls came out like in 2006, this is 2009. I went off to see the farmer and his men. I walked down the road and when reached a little ways from the farm in broad daylight; my dog started growling. I was like,
"Huh? Are there monsters near, did the bandits go ahead without me and do the deed all ready?"
The dog continued to growl as he moved farther down the road and when I could see the farm. There was a virtual army of men there. And immediately they began shooting at me. I asked myself,
"I haven't done ANYTHING why are you shooting at me, do you shoot everyone that comes down this road? Fine, DIE then!"
What was I supposed to do, they would have just killed me. I guess I was supposed to attack Ripper and his men at the bandit camp or maybe not take the quest at all. I don't know, but there was NO WAY to tell. Fable 2 seems VERY interested in holding your hand. They have a no fail mode, they have a shining fairy dust path that shows you where your next quest is; but in something SO important they didn't even give me a hint.
The worst was yet to come, I was unable to gain access to the house, which had again an unbreakable door even though I shot the door, I hit the door with my shoulder multiple times, and finally I used a spell on the door that would have burned down the whole house had this been real. So the whole thing basically killed the suspension of disbelief thanks Lionhead for that. So I walked around to the open cellar door and got in that way. But the cellar isn't attached to the house, at least as I could tell. I opened the chest and pulled out the treasured book. Only to be greeted by Ripper and his men who THEN wanted to kill me for stealing his little bauble. Well, I killed them all. So there were no witnesses to my killing of all of these people, not even one. In Elder Scrolls this would have made me evil but no one would have known except maybe the Assassin's Guild. Not in Fable 2.
No for some reason EVERYONE EVERYWHERE knows of my killing the farmer and his men. I'm branded a mass murderer. Oh, and by the way. The book I picked up from the quest is worthless. But my punishment is simply to every complain about it everywhere I go. Well, I guess I know why there are SO MANY bandits around, there doesn't seem to be any law enforcement in this world.
So, I'm STILL going to keep playing and with information from a guide on the intenet I'm going to maybe find the legendary weapon in the farmers house. But I think the damage is all ready done to my respect of Fable 2. I wasn't trying to be evil. I didn't want to be. So I tried to donate my way out of the evil I'd done. This helped but I guess I need to donate ALOT more to clear my name. Which in Fable 2 usually means doing a job and while doing it, listening to everyone complaining about you being a mass murderer. Well, I guess it's fine to kill hundreds of bandits for money and treasure but when you start killing trigger happy farmers your in trouble. Oh, and just to REALLY make a point here. If the townsfolk thought that I REALLY was a mass murderer, I don't think it would be a good idea to make the SUPER POWERFUL HERO who is EVIL mad. You know, maybe it's not something you should KEEP bringing up every second. If there wasn't an autosave there were times when I wanted to kill EVERYONE in a particular tavern just to make this point.
All of this from people who live in a country where only Police carry firearms. I really don't understand the morality in the game and I really don't want to read the book on the morality in the game, in the game. Which if your wondering what I mean; then you probably haven't played much Fable 2. I shouldn't HAVE to read the book, it SHOULD be logical. This ISN'T logical. Maybe when Lionhead was making their cruddy expressions system they should have instead written in some dialogue tress, because obviously all this silence is only creating these ridiculous situations.
Fable 2 has many things going for it, but suspension of disbelief isn't one of them. Everything is very game-like, especially the respawning enemies. Not to be a jerk or anything, but if your experience system requires enemies to respawn ALL the TIME after you've JUST killed them the day before, maybe you need to lower the XP requirements for said levels.
So I hope I haven't bored you with my rant and there WILL be more videos, reviews, and even some more interesting articles to come; fear not. But you probably won't be hearing too much more about Fable 2; unless it gets ALOT better. I'm probably only about a third of the way into the game. The next article I write might be about my other GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT of the past couple months. Fallout 3, oh man, don't get me started...
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