Ocarina Of Time Nerd

E3 2014 Impressions: Alien: Isolation Will Make You Wet Yourself

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Joel

Coming off of an extremely disappointing showing with Aliens: Colonial Marines, Sega has a lot to prove this time around with Alien: Isolation. Footage has looked promising thus far, but we all know that the way a game actually plays holds much more precedence over its level of success. Fortunately, I was able to get some hands on experience with Alien: Isolation at this year’s E3 conference, which gave me a much better idea of what to expect when the game releases on Oct. 7. Make the jump to read up on my impressions.
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Posted in PS4, Survival Horror, Xbox One | Tagged alien, alien: isolation, E3 2014 Impressions: Alien: Isolation Will Make You Wet Yourself, Isolation, sega, the creative assembly | Leave a comment

Dark Souls – “I See Fire” by Ed Sheeran – Montage

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Joel

For my final project in my game studies class, I’ve created a montage of Dark Souls footage alongside Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire.” My goal in creating this video was to branch two unique forms of media together in a way that feels fresh and unique. Often times, video games are viewed as singular entities. I wanted to change that by bringing footage together from one of my favorite games and lyrics from one of my favorite songs in order to bridge the gap between the two different messages being produced. In “I See Fire,” Ed Sheeran talks about the desolation and destruction of fire, which makes sense since the song is about Smaug from The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. Dark Souls, on the other hand, views fire as a sign of hope and life, however grim its ulterior effects may be. When the lyrics of Ed Sheeran’s song are played alongside the video I’ve put together, we are able to see themes and concepts align to create something truly special.
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Posted in CS 108 Blog Posts, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged dark souls, Dark Souls - "I See Fire" by Ed Sheeran - Montage, dark souls 2, ed sheeran, from software, game, Gamer, Games, i see fire, microsoft, PC, PS3, rpg, sony, Video games, xbox 360 | Leave a comment

Why Dark Souls is a Better Game Than Dark Souls 2

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Joel

Despite its 2011 release date, I didn’t actually pick up the original Dark Souls until it went on sale for $5 on Xbox Live a few months back and after playing it, I can honestly say without any hesitation that it is easily one of my top five games of all time. That’s a pretty bold statement, so let me explain. Like any passionate Nintendo fan, I grew up loving games from The Legend of Zelda series, specifically Ocarina of Time. I remember jumping out of the car as a kid every day after school and bursting into my room where I’d slap my Ocarina of Time cartridge into my N64. You want to know why I was so excited to play that game? Because I was excited to go on an adventure – to get lost in a land of mystery, the very same reason I felt compelled to play Dark Souls each day after getting off work over the past few months. What Ocarina of Time did for me in my childhood, Dark Souls has done for me in my adulthood.
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Posted in Xbox 360 | Tagged bosses in Dark Souls, dark souls, dark souls 2, dark souls opinion, Demon Souls, editorial, from software, Gamer, gaming, Hidetaka Miyazaki, op ed piece, opinion, the game, the levels in Dark Souls, Video games, Why Dark Souls is a Better Game Than Dark Souls 2 | 5 Comments

CS 108 Digital Game Prototype – Post #4

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Joel

Game: Lumire

Role: Producer and Artist

exe. file: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzZcqgvn_9xPRTZKRkVwVVkzZjQ/edit?usp=sharing

My name is Joel and I acted as the producer and artist while working with Julian Zabala to create our digital game, Lumire. It is a simple platformer in which the player must ascend up a series of platforms to reach the top of the level.
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Posted in CS 108 Blog Posts | Tagged computer game, digital games, flash game, Gamer, gaming, Lumire, Video game, Video games | Leave a comment

Titanfall Review – Saddle Up Pilots, Mech Battles Have Never Looked So Good!

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Joel

Titanfall is, without a doubt, the breath of fresh air the first-person shooter genre has needed for quite some time now. Gameplay is fast, action-packed and keeps you coming back for more, while diversity between the game’s Pilots and Titans make for dynamic combat scenarios that play out like intense Chess matches. As a whole, Titanfall’s unique concept and ability to execute as strictly online-multiplayer game make it an incredibly addictive game to play. Still, it is by no means a perfect game, as a rather flat campaign mode and lack of personalization options make it feel somewhat hollow at times. All of the pieces are there, but could have been fleshed out at a much deeper level.
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Posted in Reviews, Xbox One | Tagged cloud, EA, EA Games, Gamer, Games, gaming, Mech Battles Have Never Looked So Good!, mechs, microsoft, Respawn Entertainment, Technology, Titanfall, titanfall review, Titanfall Review - Saddle Up Pilots, titanfall xbox one, Video games | Leave a comment

CS 108 Playtesting Five Different Games – Post #3

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Joel

A few weeks back, Kevin and myself played a variety of different games on our computers, each of which had something unique in terms of overall gameplay.
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Posted in CS 108 Blog Posts, Gamecube | Tagged aegis, aegis wing, board games, CS 108 Playtesting Five Different Games - Post #3, Games, gaming, oregon trail, super puzzle platformer | Leave a comment

The Best Scary Moments From Thief’s Forsaken Asylum Level (Chapter 5) on Xbox One

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Joel

Playing through Thief’s Asylum level was probably one of the most terrifying events of my life. The entire level is built incredibly well and creates an incredible sense of distress and denseness in the atmosphere. Check out the video I put together and see for yourself!

-Ocarina of Time Nerd

Posted in Xbox One | Tagged Angry Video Game Nerd, Asylum level, creepy, eidos montreal, game, Gamer, scary, scary games, Square Enix, Tech, Technology, thief, thief asylum, thief chapter 5, thief ps4, thief reboot, thief scary, thief the forsaken, thief the forsaken asylum, thief xbox one, top 10, top ten, Video games | Leave a comment

Dark Souls 2 Collector’s Edition Unboxing (Xbox 360)

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Joel

So, as I was picking up my Titanfall Collector’s Edition last night, my friend Aaron was picking up his Dark Souls 2 Collector’s Edition, and it is absolutely amazing. Take a look at the included statue, as well as some other goodies that were also included in this awesome bundle!

-Ocarina of Time Nerd

Posted in Xbox 360 | Tagged Collector's Edition, dark souls 2, dark souls 2 collector's edition, dark souls II, from softward, game, Gamer, gamer girl, Games, microsoft, namco bandai, rpg, Tech, Technology, Video games, xbox 360 | Leave a comment

Titanfall Collector’s Edition Unboxing (Xbox One)

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Joel

I did it. I purchased the Titanfall Collector’s Edition and I regret nothing! It was insanely difficult fitting the box into my truck after picking it up at midnight launch. Good times, good times…

Anyway, enjoy the video and I hope to see you on the frontier!

-Ocarina of Time Nerd

Posted in Xbox One | Tagged adventure game, Collector's Edition, EA, EA Games, first person shooter, fps, game, Gamer, gamer girl, Games, mechs, microsoft, pilots, Respawn Entertainment, shooter, Technology, Titanfall, Titanfall Collector's Edition, titanfall pc, titanfall xbox one, titans, Video game, Video games | Leave a comment

Thief Review: A Game That Should Have Stayed in the Shadows

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Joel

As I vaulted my way from rooftop to rooftop through Thief‘s opening sequence, following my imprudent protege, Erin, through The City’s malignant homesteads, my sense of anticipation for what Eidos Montreal’s Thief had to offer was at an all time high. Swirling mantles of mist caressing dingy city streets and moonlit rooftops paint a beautiful picture for the player to get lost within. Unfortunately, that’s where the game – for the most part – ceases to impress, as its intricately crafted setting can only fool the player for so long before he or she grows tired of Thief‘s redundant gameplay and decrepit storyline.
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