Thursday, June 19, 2014

Gamer Corner: Abdul

Welcome to this week's installment of Gamer Corner, where Fangirl Review interviews a gamer and gets his thoughts on the gaming world and learning what he is enjoying at the moment.

Tell me a little bit about yourself? What rig do you currently game on? What kind of gamer do you classify yourself to be? ie. PC, Console, Tabletop, LARP as well as Hardcore, RPG, etc.

I'm 29, been gaming for about 25 of those years. I am currently gaming on the trusty 360. I'm somewhere between casual and hardcore, depending on the game and who I have to play with. I'm mostly a single player gamer these days, since they seem to be the only ones that hold my interest. I'm a very story based gamer so that's what I look for.

What is your first memory of gaming?

First memory of gaming, hmm? Has to be playing Super Mario Bros. on the original NES and who could forget Castlevania, lol... Good times, smh.


What game are you currently playing right now? Do you enjoy that game, why? How’s the overall game play and graphics?

I am currently rocking pretty hard on the RPG's these days. Bouncing back and forth between Eternal Sonata, Lost Odyssey, Skyrim and Mass Effect (all of them). Lost Odyssey being my favorite right now. I love it, reminds me of the FFVII days (it is made by the same guy). I love the depth of the characters. The graphics aren't bad, not perfect but, adequate. There's almost a hand drawn feel to them, very texturized which I happen to like. I don't generally like when graphics are to "smooth". The gameplay is reminiscent of Legend of Dragoon from the PSX, it's turn based and there's a target reticle you have to hit to do more damage. In any case, the storyline is amazing.


Would you recommend it, why?

I highly recommend both Lost Odyssey and Eternal Sonata for those of you who enjoy JRPG's they either dying out or mediocre as hell these days so, when you find a good one hang on to it. Characters that you'll feel for and get to know, like playing a good book. Revenge and retribution. It's all there and the graphics lend themselves well to the storylines and the gameplay, each is gorgeous in its own right.

Are there any games coming out that you are looking forward to?

There is only one game right now that I can say I'm truly anticipating and that game is Destiny (I refuse to get the X1 before its release). It's such an ambitious idea/project and I'm chomping at the bit for it. Big time.


If you could design your own game what would it be like?

I like the idea of a rewards based game, feeling like the decisions you make really effect the world around you. Active combat is EPIC but, I'd go with turn based because it is slightly more balanced in my opinion. I like the open world feel so, that would be a part of it as well. In my head I'm thinking a crazy mix of World of Warcraft, Mass Effect, XCOM and Final Fantasy. Sci-Fantasy storyline, magic and science, maybe a war between the two factions. Class based each faction with it's counterpart. Sounds like gold to me.

Thoughts on this new generation of consoles – Wii U, PS4, and Xbox One?

I think this new generation is mainly a transitional generation. The X1 is at the top for me, mainly because of the level of integration. It's moving forward with new ideas and new ways to use the old. The Wii U is second mainly because while Nintendo still fails to capture the "hardcore" audience they are trying new things and in the end, that's what progress is about. *sigh* PS4 is at the bottom of my list. They haven't done anything truly new or groundbreaking, they simply made a stronger PS3. I feel like Sony relies very heavily on the familiarity of their previous generations to carry them and in the long run, it will hurt them. It's the generation after this one that I'm really waiting for.

What are your thoughts on the gaming industry?

I think that in their attempt to make a profit they cater the lowest common denominator. Story and atmosphere just aren't a factor in the more popular games. Good graphics and a few "WOW" moments and BAM, we gotta game? This is in part due to the gamers, fair enough and they are trying to make a profit, I get it but, charging 60 bucks for a game with a sub par plot or in the case of TitanFall, no real campaign to speak of is just ridiculous. I don't feel like the creators make games to see their world come to life anymore. There's no love in it. No passion. When you played Bioshock or the first Halo you could tell the creators poured their souls into them. Honorable mentions to the ME series, the CoD: MW series (Price!!!).
10 years from now, where do you see the industry? Are you happy with that direction? If you had the power, what direction would you have the gaming industry go?

10 years from now, I expect total integration. I'm a fan. Motion and voice controlled. Holograms, probably asking too much but, I dug the voice commands of ME3 and I would like to see more of that in more games. Not just tacked on but, really in there. If I had my wish the "console wars" would be over and Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft would come together to make one mega console. A guy can dream, right?

Favorite Game (can include tabletop) of all time and why?

I have to give it to FFVII... I know, I know but, in terms of everything it was the first fully orchestrated soundtrack. It was the first time I truly loved a world and the characters in it,  wanted revenge when Sephiroth killed Aeris. I took that game to heart. Mass Effect also holds a special place in my heart, it was the first time you actually got to see you decision impact your world. I played all the games (and still do) inside and out and 6 ways from Sunday and still occasionally find something new no matter how small. The attention to detail was incredible, the characters/aliens looked like they evolved on the planets they came from. By far one of the most well thought out games EVER.


Additional Thoughts and Comments?

All of that said, you can still catch me on Halo 4, Borderlands 2, Gears 3, Dead Island, Super SFIV or Warface every so often. Besides that, I don't have much else to add but thanks for the opportunity and maybe I'll catch you on the virtual battlefield sometime.

Would you like to share your gamer tag and the system so others may add you?

XBOX Live: x AnWeeZy x

Thank you to Abdul for a fantastic interview. If you would like to be interviewed for Gamer Corner please contact me at fangirlcontact@gmail.com.

Post by Vikki
Twitter: ProfessorWhite

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