Harvest Moon Perfect Game - Day 1

So I've began a play through of Harvest Moon 64.  You can follow it on YouTube in my Splash Dizzle channel or through the blog.  Either way, it should be a good time!

This is going to be an attempt at a perfect game.  So the videos will serve two functions.  One, its a fun way for me to play the game. Two, it should help you achieve a perfect game, especially if your struggling with a particular aspect of the game.

Follow the series on YouTube.  Please like and subscribe too!

Day 1 Commentary -

Took the tour of town and collected the flora and fauna, chopped up some logs, and went to bed.  Nothing to thrilling!

Your Average Battlefield 3 Gamer

So I decided to have a little fun and make a video spoofing a small population of Battlefield 3 gamers.  Let me know what you think!

If you don't have Battlefield 3 already, pick up a copy and support my blog at the same time! Click the game box below to help me out!

Facebook Gaming: Should the Gaming Industry Target Facebook More?

While doing my standard nightly gaming, both on Facebook and on my traditional consoles, something hit me.  I thought aloud, much to my girlfriend's dismay, "Wow.  What if Square Enix released a Final Fantasy MMO on Facebook.  I bet that **** would blow up!".  Besides the awkward stare from her, a poignant point was made.

Think about it, how often do you play a free game on Facebook?  Daily? Every other day?  Once a week?  Many independent companies have made their own games for the social network site, no surprises there, but big companies like EA have as well.

It makes complete sense for the big game companies to target Facebook more.

For one, they can reach non-traditional gamers.  Who knows of their aunt, mom, dad, grandma, etc., who plays a game or two on Facebook? Probably all of us. Mathew Ingram, a writer at Gigaom, found that the average social gamer is a 43 year old woman.

The big companies can also stay connected to their current fan base.  Game companies, like Electronic Arts, have realized that they can produce Facebook games (Madden Superstars based off the immensely popular Madden Football series) off their current console based franchises.  As such, it is a cheap way for game companies to keep their current franchises fresh in the eyes of their customers.

Lastly, the Facebook gaming market is in its infancy.  Companies like Zynga, unknown to us before their foray into the social gaming market, have made millions of dollars, while other companies are struggling.  Think if a company like Square Enix, Konami, or Blizzard, entered into the market.  Their financial security alone would change everything.

The potential for a more established game company to take over this sector of the industry is there, now we'll wait to see if a company will jump at the opportunity.   

What do you think?  Is Facebook gaming the future of the gaming industry?  Leave a comment and let me know where you stand!

Game Dev Story - iPhone Game Review

Who has ever wished they were an owner of a game company?  I can remember messing around with simple game making programs, like RPG Maker, as a kid and wishing that I could make a company that could rival SquareSoft.  Now I’ve had that opportunity!  Well, virtually at least…

Game Dev Story starts you out as an owner of a small software company.  You hire a new employee and then you produce a small PC game to get your feet wet.  As you make more money, you hire more staff, and make games for spoof gaming systems (my favorite being the Game-Box, spoofing the lovely Nintendo GameCube).  If your uber successful, you can even make your own gaming system.

Game Dev Story is a simulation game at its finest.  No story will really take place.  You will get updates through a game magazine detailing accomplishments you’ve achieved and letting you know when new staff and items become available. 

But, a good simulation game doesn’t need a story if the game play is top notch.  And trust me, you can easily lose an afternoon playing this game.  As you see your game sales rise, your company move to a bigger building to hold more staff, and you win a title at the game award convention, you’ll have a harder and harder time putting down your iPhone/Android.

You will, of course, get to develop games.  This essentially involves picking one of your employees, or a an outside contractor, to design a story, graphics, and the creativity of the game.  Each process is completed by a different employee.  Hiring the best employees ensures success within the industry.  Just like real life, eh?

That’s right; this game is for your iPhone/Android.  For next to nothing (I think I got the game for a few bucks) you can get one of the best simulation games I’ve played in years.

However, I will admit, this game is not aesthetically pleasing.  The graphics harken back to the SNES, but if you’re an older gamer, like me, nostalgia will only set in.  The music isn’t much better, your standard chirpy upbeat fare here, but you can always mute it.

One advantage this game has over others is its portability.  God knows I’ve sat in class and developed that new RPG for the Intendro gaming system.  In fact, the only thing you’ll probably have a problem with is not being able to put the game down.

Score: 9/10

Developer: KairoSoft

Summer Springs - Facebook Game Review

Summer Springs is one of the many farming/city building games to have graced Facebook over the last few years.  This anime-styled game will have you harvesting crops, building factories to make items, upgrading your home, and recruiting new villagers to your town.  This game has many of the same aspects of other games in this genre, yet it also brings some fresh ideas to the table.

The gameplay is like every other game of this genre.  You’ll plant crops and then wait a certain amount of real time for them to grow.  After harvesting you can sell them, to real players or just back to the game itself, and then use your money to build new buildings.  You will repeat this process again, again, again, again, again, and well, again.  

One advantage is that there is no energy bar.  You read that right, no dreaded energy bar.  However, you don't have unlimited crop spaces (you unlock them as you level), but you can do as many tasks as you want too/can afford to do.  This is a huge advantage the game has over its competitors.

Much like other Facebook games one can buy game “cash”.  This cash can be used to make a crop instantly done, or to buy items instead of using in game gold. Sine, many of the items are ridiculously expensive they will take plenty of time to obtain.

Much like harvesting crops, you will also be able to use crops to get animal products, and then use the animal products to make a factory item.  For example, one can grow a pumpkin, feed the pumpkin to a pig, and then take the pork and turn it into a sausage.  While you will make more money this way, the process to make a pumpkin into a sausage will take nearly six hours.   

Unlocking items, buildings, and new crops, will require one to level up (one gains experience through the basic farming processes you will undertake), upgrade their home, and expanding their farm.  This all takes time and as you level up, it will only take more time.

Interestingly, the game has somewhat of a storyline.  You will embark on quests.  These quests are fulfilled by building a certain building, harvesting a certain amount of crops, etc.  As you complete these quests you will unlock new villagers.  Their back story will be shared in a little text based cut scene between a few characters.  It is a nifty way for one to feel more connected to the characters.  However, once you unlock these new characters they don’t really do anything.  They will walk around your farm and spout off funny one-liners, but that's about it.  So, while this is different, it certainly isn’t that amazing of a feature.

Graphically speaking, the game looks great for a browser based game.  I would liken the graphics to a Harvest Moon game on the PlayStation or N64.  The graphics are a little cutesy, and anime themed, but overall I think they look great for a free game.

However, the sounds and music are downright boring.  You will get your basic animal and chore sounds, and that is to be expected.  The music seemed a little out of place.  I felt like I should be at a little tiki bar on the beach, not on a farm.  But, one has the option to turn both off and I would honestly recommend it. 

This is a love it or hate it type of game.  If you’re into FarmVille or FrontierVille, this game will be right up your alley.  If those games already put you to sleep, look elsewhere!

If your interested in the game, or already playing, add me!  My facebook account is Gaming Grind.

Score: 7/10

Genre: Browser-Based/Simulation

Developer: Gaia Online

What this Grind is all about!

Hi all,

So I've been working on the blog and I realized that it may be helpful to let you know a little bit more.

When I review games I will be looking at the basic criteria all reviewers look at: graphics, sounds, story, gameplay, etc. I will then score the game on a 1-10 scale with a 10 being the best.  Nothing you haven't seen before!

However, I will admit that every reviewer has a bias and I am not immune to that.  I am more partial to western RPGs, JRPGS, MMORPGs, and action-adventure games.  But, I also like sports games, shooters, and racing games;  I just play them less often.

I also obviously don't have the budget that your big game review sites/magazines have.  As such, I'm going to work through my personal collection, rent games, borrow games, and do whatever it takes to keep content fresh on this blog.  I also welcome guest reviews and will happily link back to your blog or your site if your looking to get your reviews out to a larger audience.

The main reason I made this blog is to share thoughts on my favorite hobby.  I have been a gamer since I was four, which gives me 17 years of gaming experience to share.  I really hope this site becomes a place where passionate gamers can debate about their favorites or find new games to play.

For the next few days I'll be reviewing games and then posting them after I feel their up to snuff.  I will also be experimenting with the blog layout and all that fun stuff.

The Grind Fest

Hi all,

This blog is going to be focused on gaming, past and present.  I have no allegiance to any one console and as such, reviews will focus on games on of all generations and on just about every console.

I also will post important gaming news, my opinions on gaming and on the industry.

Hope you enjoy!