I have been playing a fun game on my phone called Tiny Tower. You build up a tower, opening different services on each floor, from apartments (which house your “bitizens”, who you can then employ in other areas of the tower), to shops and even a casino. It’s fun, and the pixel art style makes the thing enjoyable to look at.
The independent game developers, NimbleBit, have made quite a few fun games in the past, but to see them create such a chart topper in mobile gaming is a real testament to their skills.

Where things get sour is of course where Zynga comes in. After trying to buy NimbleBit (And being denied), they’ve come out with a brand new game.
The name? Dream Heights.
What’s it about? Exactly the same thing as Tiny Tower.

Indeed, as the screenshot below (borrowed from NimbleBit’s larger complete image) shows, the games share an awful lot of similarities. It’s obvious that Zynga merely copied the game and gave it a facelift and maybe tweaked one or two things, in an attempt to make it “better” than the original. People are outraged that a company with thousands of employees would line up all three members of NimbleBit and kick them in the groin.

I’m significantly less concerned, or angry. The reason behind my feelings is that anyone who is aware of Zynga knows they’ve been doing this exact sort of thing forever. Whether it be Farmville, Cafe World, or any of the other casual Facebook games they have “made”, most of the concepts are borrowed or shamelessly ripped from other developer’s already released games.

Yes, it’s fucked up that they can do this, but it’s just how game clones work. If we didn’t have game clones, we wouldn’t have half of the games we love today. Even Minecraft is a clone of another previously released game. Don’t believe me? Look up Infiniminer.

It’s terrible that Zynga are doing things like this, but at least they aren’t hypocritically suing people in this situation.

Messing around with my game a bit more, I decided to replace the placeholder sprites with my own art. Fantastic, right?

Last year I compiled a list of games that were released during the year that I had the pleasure of playing, and my thoughts on them. I thought it would be fun to do this again for this year. They’ll be in order of their release, of course. It’s the best way to organize these things.

You don’t need to know this, but this is being written while I listen to PPPPPP (The soundtrack to the game VVVVVV) in the background. It’s an amazing album that you too can listen to for free here, or buy here.

Back to the Future: The Game.

I love Telltale Game’s ability to make a great Adventure Game, and this is probably one of their best. The story was made with help from fans and a co-creator of the original trilogy, and could very well have been a fourth movie. It’s well thought out, and ties together with events from the movies while still forging a fantastic story that contains an amazing twist at the end of every episode that kept me playing all the way to the end.
Telltale impressed me with the amount of work put into this game, and although gameplay was similar to their earlier works (Hard not to do given they’re all the same genre), it was refreshing, and prompted an urge to watch the movies.

Pokemon White

Another Pokemon game. The visual style was very different, lowering the view to a more isometric one, giving the game more of a three dimensional feel. The “villains” were quite an interesting change too, being a group that were (apparently) against Pokemon being caught and used by trainers. That moral subject played an interesting part in the Pokemon universe, and while I haven’t finished it, the game is definitely one of the better in the series.
I’m hoping the 3DS Pokemon game that comes out next year is just as interesting.

Portal 2

One of the games anticipated most this year by PC gamers thanks to a clever alternate reality game on Valve’s part, it was nothing short of amazing. It extended the gameplay made awesome in the original Portal and finished off the storyline, while introducing a newer one with co-op characters. The game also pleasantly teased at Half Life 3, which got the juices flowing.
As with all Valve’s games post-TF2, it has also gotten official DLC along with countless user made maps, which is just a major plus.
The implementation of Steam on PS3 meant Portal 2 players could play co-op cross platform between it, PC and Mac. This is something that as far as I know has never been done before.
Unfortunately, I’m yet to set aside time to properly finish the co-op campaign and get the proper ending for the game.

Brink

People were making comparisons to Team Fortress 2 in a negative sense, but I grabbed the game anyway during a sale to see if it was really as bad as they all said.
What I got was a game completely different to Team Fortress 2. Unlike TF2, Brink makes clumsy attempts at parkour style movement, and follows an actual storyline. It has a unique art style but unfortunately wasn’t enough to save itself.
I imagine I’ll return to the game one day I’m bored, but for now it’s been sidelined for games that are actually interesting.

Terraria

A game that borrows from Minecraft that in turn Minecraft borrows from. A 2D exploration game where you mine, craft and explore a massive randomly generated world, fighting flying eyeballs and zombies when it gets dark.
It’s fun, but nothing that was able to hook me for very long.

Duke Nukem Forever

It came out, and I loved it. I’ve already written about this previously, but to sum it up again, it’s a great game for those that merely want to reconnect with the legend. It doesn’t stand too strongly against other recent titles due to it’s long development time that really didn’t add anything to it, however at least by getting it out of the way Gearbox Software can focus on making another Duke game that lives up to the name.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

I never played the original version on Nintendo 64, but from what I understood it was a “classic”. My partner was kind enough to give me a copy to play, and while I enjoyed it, Ocarina of Time isn’t really something that immerses me in it’s world. It feels too dated.

Age of Empires Online

I always loved Age of Empires. This helped rekindle that love by combining the awesome formula from the first two games with a beautiful cartoony style, and the quest-fuelled gameplay of modern online games. Unfortunately, Microsoft locked the game up too tightly with “YOU MUST PAY” restrictions, which ruined it for a few people and made me feel like they were choking us unless we forked out $20 for a single civilisation. However, there’s enough gameplay in there to merit the twenty dollars and keep a person playing for hours and hours.
I also wrote about this ages ago.

Dead Island

I’ve played very little of this game, but it’s good. The gameplay feels clunky as the developers seem to have gone for a “realistic” movement system, but they make up for it with combat, in which you can pick up almost anything and use it as a weapon; it’s extremely satisfying.

The Binding of Isaac

I have invested over seventy hours in this five dollar indie game. It’s just amazing fun. Once again, I’ve written about this earlier, but it merits saying that if you’re looking to blow five dollars on something, I highly suggest doing so on this game.

RAGE

I was so hyped for this game, as it was the first in house game developed by ID Software in years and years. I’ve been a fan of theirs since Wolfenstein 3D, playing everything to do with that franchise as well as the Doom and Quake series’ that so solidified themselves in making FPS what it is today.
How does RAGE hold up for the developer? It’s not bad. Not fantastic, but not bad. The graphics are amazing as are character animations, but sadly it just feels too much like another Borderlands. Not to mention it’s a whopping twenty one gigabyte game. I am yet to have another game that takes up that much hard drive space and yet feels so restrictive.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

This is probably my pick for best game of the year. For reasons I’ve mentioned earlier as well as all the usual ones, Skyrim is mind-blowingly good and it wouldn’t surprise me if I invest a couple of hundred hours in the game as I attempt to not just do all the quests, but also due to the inevitable DLC Bethesda will no doubt release.
One thing that excites me is that the PC version will have Steam Workshop implemented, allowing people to upload mods they have made, allowing people to install them at the click of a button and rate and comment on them as appropriate. This is what makes me pick PC over console; the user base and what they do with their games.

Minecraft

Everyone should know what this is by now. The other week the game got it’s “official” release, complete with major update adding lots of content to the game. It still feels like the same Minecraft we’ve been playing for ages, but bigger.
Jens, who has now assumed the role of Lead Developer for Mojang, has plans to continue developing the game, adding proper modding api and the like. I can’t wait to see how the game expands in the future.

Cave Story +

Cave Story, but updated with Steam Achievements and the like, with a small price tag. It’s a fun game and well worth the purchase. I’ve only just started playing it so I can’t say much else, but if you want to play it and can’t afford to pay for it, there’s the original free version floating around on the Internet, which can be downloaded easily via Desura.

There’s a few more games coming out over the next month, but I see nothing I’m really excited for. I don’t mind though, I have way too many games to get through as it is.

It stares into your soul.

Alternative title: “OH LOL AREN’T I FUNNEH? AREN’T I? Team Rocket?

I decided to take the plunge and purchase Project Zomboid to try out the Alpha. From what I’ve heard it’s a great isometric zombie game where you are guaranteed to die, and it is simply the story of how it happens. It’s an interesting idea, and lets face it, I do like zombies.

In my first play through though, I’m pretty sure I just did the wrong thing; in my search for bandages or something to make them from, I found a pillow. I thought that was what was needed to make them, as it’s made from material. Was I right in my assumption? Apparently not. Clicking on it, then clicking on the injured girl, I promptly smothered her.

Whoops. It was an accident I swear.

This year was a really fun convention. While we didn’t get to participate in either the Team Fortress 2 or Mario Kart Wii competitions like we had planned, there were a few great panels we were able to attend. We got to see Martin (More famously known as LittleKuriboh), who is famous for his internet show Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series and see his latest episode of the series before it goes live.
The other big panel was one that was particularly interesting. They had round up Jade Gatt and Ryan Lappin. While they may not be household names, they have a nostalgic value to anyone from my generation who grew up watching cartoons before school. These two thirty-something men were the hosts of Cheez TV, which was somewhat of a staple in my childhood. The panel consisted mostly of asking about their current lives, what they thought of current replacement shows like Toasted TV, and whether they were going to return in some form or another (Including a more adult show, or radio). What we got was that they may release a best of Jade and Ryan DVD if interest is great enough, and if they were being serious, the duo were involved in a live action One Piece movie. Interesting stuff.

There were a few other interesting things for us, including the Retrospekt panels concerning retro games. The first panel was a competition of sorts between games in the Super Nintendo and Sega Megadrive, in which the former was victorious. The second was focussing on games based on anime games. It was quite interesting, though I maintain the door prize draws were rigged!
There was also the Indie Games room. This was my first time exploring that room in the few years I’ve been going. The games in there was amazing. They ranged from simple and amusing flash games, interesting shooters, and one particular amazing platformer that I expect I’ll be talking about some time down the track. It was quite a site to behold, this room. Developers were talking to interested con-goers, exchanging information and explaining their games, plans, and various other little tidbits. I was really engrossed, and if it weren’t for the other panels I wanted to go to, I reckon I could of stayed in there for hours playing and trying games.
I collected business cards and leaflets for the games and their respective developers hoping to try out their games at later dates. Some of them should be really fun.

I only got a few photos this weekend, and a couple of low quality videos. My main goal this year was to try and get a photo of cosplays of every class in TF2. I only managed to find a few Scouts, a couple of Snipers and an Engineer. I was told that there were a Pyro and Soldier on Saturday, but I missed them apparently.

In order: A Red Engineer and Scout from Team Fortress 2, Myself with Mr Foster from Killing Floor, Gir from Invader Zim, Peter Potamus from Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law, a Scout from Team Fortress 2, and a Sniper from Team Fortress 2.

My favourite would have to be a fantastic title called Beat Hazard. The game plays a lot like the classic Asteroids game, but uses music chosen by the player to create the level. The player’s attack power is based on the volume of the music and collectable power ups. Additionally, depending on difficulty and the song, the level is filled with colours that react to things you destroy and the like. On harder difficulties this can lead to very distracting challenges.
The player has to last until the end of  the song, dodging and destroying asteroids, enemy ships, and boss ships.
As levels are finished, points are transferred to experience points, and there is a levelling system. As levels are unlocked the player receives more bonuses that make the game easier.

It’s an amazing fun indie game to invest a few minutes at a time into. I love boobies.

Well the update went live a couple of days ago and I got a chance to fiddle with a few of the new items, and additional things of interest. here is the last of my word vomit posts on the update.

Free for everyone forever.

One of the biggest pieces of news is that Team Fortress 2 is officially free to play, forever. If you didn’t already own a copy, you’re able to download and play to your hearts content. Free accounts will differ to “Premium” accounts, that status going to players who paid for the game, or buy an item in the Mann Co. Store.
While free players can play the entire game and not notice anything out of the ordinary, they lack certain features present for normal players. They get less backpack space, don’t get rare or hat-related items in their item drops, can’t trade and can’t craft as many items.
As an added bonus for paid users, everyone who owned the game prior to the Über Update received a hat called the Proof of Purchase, which is a nice little incentive.

Finally, you get to Meet The Medic.

Here he is. It is worth watching a million times.

Revamped Menus.

The menu has undergone a new makeover for this new era of the game. There is now a new game matchup system in which you choose your preferred game mode and the game matches you to the server it thinks is best.

The crafting system has been made over as well, and now you select what you wish to craft and put the required items into the specified slots. It’s easier in that we know all the recipes for items right off the bat, but it feels really messy in comparison to the original method.

New taunts!

With the addition of the Director’s Vision taunt, it was only going to be a matter of time before taunts were to be sold in game. Well with this update we’ve received two purchasable taunts. They’re rather simple ones, one called Meet The Medic which looks BEAUTIFUL, and an all class taunt called the Schadenfreude, which has the class laughing out loud at their opponent.

Strange items.

In the latest series of crates, players have the chance to discover “Strange” versions of other items. These weapons have no extra traits, but track kills made with them. At certain numbers of kills, the weapon goes up in ranking and it’s name changes. For example, hitting 10 kills with a Strange Eyelander causes it to be renamed Unremarkable Eyelander. These rankings hold no real purpose except bragging rights, but it’s nifty.

The Clinical Trial.

The Medic is the last class to get a set, and it’s a very nice one. The first item is one that has been tested in the Beta for a while alongside the Detonator and has finally seen a real game release. The Quick Fix is a new Medigun that heals and loads ubercharge faster than normal (40% and 25% respectively) and allows the Medic to run as fast as any class he’s healing.
The Ubercharge on the Quick Fix doesn’t give invulnerability, instead it triples the speed of healing and anything that “impairs movement” such as the Sandman’s bonk effect is ineffective.
There is only one negative, and that is that you can’t over-heal your target. This is an interesting and rather major downside for someone like myself who likes to over-heal everyone he can to give them maximum advantage. This seems like a situational item, like the Kritzkrieg, because in the end invulnerability is more useful that quicker healing in more situations.

The Overdose is a new needle gun for the Medic. It’s relatively simple and gives incentive to bring out the Medigun. The gun does 10% less damage than the traditional Needle Gun, but gives a speed bonus depending on how much Ubercharge has been charged up (Capped at 10%).
I can see the speed bonus being useful in a situation where your healing target just died and you need to make a hasty retreat, but apart from that I don’t see any particular incentive to use this weapon.

Finally, the Medic gets an interesting item called The Solemn Vow. This is an interesting melee weapon -which requires 8 Jarate to craft!- that allows the Medic to see the health of enemy players. This opens up a whole new level of strategy, as he’d be able to communicate such important information to his own teammates, and make good decisions on who to target.
It worries me that this is yet another melee weapon for the Medic with no actual downside. I’m sure there’s one i just can’t see right now, but it seems too good to be true.

Final thoughts.

While I’m extremely disappointed to see the Engineer get absolutely no love in this update, I’m still liking everything that has been added. I just hope they have a Neglected Class Update where they give the Engineer a heap of items.
Now if you’ll excuse me I need to get enough Jarate to craft a Solemn Vow.

The third day of The Über Update has revealed something unexpected; two packs for the same class, and one new weapon for the Pyro. Additionally, they’ve claimed that “We only left out the Engineer”, worrying me that while there is obviously incoming Medic items tomorrow, there will not be any for the Engineer. I don’t like the sound of that, as the Engineer hasn’t gotten a set of items that come with a set bonus either. It seems like he is constantly missing out.

The General’s Formals.

This is definitely the more interesting set to me. The first item in the two piece set is a pair of boots called The Mantreads. They give the Soldier a 75% resistance to “push force taken from damage”, which I assume is specifically tailored to the push generated by the Scout’s Force-A-Nature, and possibly explosives. Additionally, any player you deal damage to by landing on them is tripled.
I see this as a good and bad thing. On one hand it’ll reduce the chance of being thrown into an environmental death or similar, and allow you to control yourself better. On the other hand, since the Mantread-equipped soldier won’t be launched far from where he’s hit, the enemy has a better chance of hitting him and killing him. Additionally, this sounds like it will be impossible to rocket jump. That and the lack of a less-passive secondary item are both pretty big negatives that will probably be enough to keep me sticking with the shotgun.

The Disciplinary Action is the first Soldier specific melee item since the Equalizer in his class update eighteen months ago. It’s abilities are very interesting and team oriented. While this item, which is appropriately modelled as a riding crop, does 25% less damage than stock melee weapons, it gives a speed boost to both the player and whatever teammate is struck with the weapon.
It sounds like a good idea, and I hope to get whipped by plenty of friendly soldiers in future games. Winky face.

Airborne Armaments.

There are many Soldier players who are nothing but amazing with their arsenal. This seems to be a set of weapons to cater to those. To start things off, The Liberty Launcher is a new rocket launcher that has only 3 rockets per clip, but fires those rockets 40% faster.
This rocket launcher makes me think of the Direct Hit, which had 80% faster speed. This new weapon is slower but still has splash damage, which will probably result in it being a popular choice.

To accompany this launcher is The Reserve Shooter, a shotgun built specifically to work with a Rocket Launcher. Half the clip size is lost in exchange for a slightly faster weapon switch. The best thing is that for the first three seconds after switching weapons to The Reserve Shooter, any targets shot that are in the air will take mini-critical damage.
The obvious scenarios where this is perfect is against enemies thrown up into the air by rockets, or the scout double (and I guess now triple jumping) to dodge. It’s going to be interesting encountering Soldiers who use this effectively.

Finally, the second melee weapon the soldier gets in this update is The Market Gardener. It’s a shovel that deals out no random critical hits, instead dealing out guaranteed critical hits when rocket jumping.
It’s obvious when this weapon would be effective, but I’m expecting Soldiers to take advantage of the The Rocket Jumper.

DETONATOR.

The Pyro gets one whole weapon in the form of the Detonator. It’s been in the beta for awhile but is finally getting a proper release. It’s a Flare Gun variation that allows the player to remotely detonate and explode the flare in mid flight. When the flare explodes it will light up any enemies in range.
The best part which excites Pyro players, is that it can be used to flare jump. If a Pyro jumps, and shoots and detonates a flare below him, he’ll get extra height. This means he will now be able to reach places he was previously unable to. It is a great day for players like myself who main Pyro.

I cannot wait for tomorrow.