The Force is Strong in This One

The MMO (massively multiplayer online) genre has been dominated by the World of Warcraft for many years. Many MMOs have tried and failed to stand up against the WoW juggernaut, but one has stepped away from the pack. Star Wars: The Old Republic is the recently released MMO by Bioware, the development company who has made games such as Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and the original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Promising an epic storyline with the fun social aspects of an online game, is the force really with this one?

Bioware has placed an emphasis on the fact the storyline is an integral part of the title and they were not kidding. Each character class you choose to play as has their own storyline with their own plot points and supporting cast. For once, you are given a clear direction and purpose in an MMO. The stories can be quite interesting, but I found many of the characters to be quite forgetful and shallow. In fact, there were many times where I would be involved in the intrigue of one character for twenty minutes, completing a mission or task they have requested me to accomplish. Afterwards, I would never see or hear them again, struggling to figure out who "what's-his-name" was or what "whatever-that-person" looked like. As it would seem, there are many characters that will come and go that the development team could have easily fleshed out.

But make no mistake, the game is fully voice-acted-- that is no small feat. Every single character has something to say and in a game with such a massive universe, that is an achievement worth taking note of. You are also able to participate in various cutscenes and choose dialogue options for your own character to say akin to the dialogue wheel of Mass Effect.

What is perhaps most intriguing is the companion system. Throughout your adventures, various characters will tag along for the ride and join your campaign. They can assist you in combating enemies, bring input to conversations, and go out and help perform your errands. The thing about MMOs is that there are things people can do besides fighting monsters and other beings and most games call this the crafting or profession system. Players can take various jobs that greatly influence an in-game economy in various ways. Want to take up armor crafting? Go ahead! How about making weapons? That's there too.

The concern many players have with crafting systems is that it forces them to sit out of combat and progress in the crux of the game. But in The Old Republic, you may send your companions out to do these tasks while you continue to do whatever it is you please. It's a very welcoming mechanic to the system.

When we look at the core combat system of the game, it is very similar to titles like World of Warcraft. Even though it may be unoriginal, it's a tried-and-true formula that makes for a fun experience. You have an "attack" ability that uses your equipped weapon to attack your opponent, but you also have various abilities to use to your disposal that can change the playing field.

In the end, if you are looking for a new MMO experience, this is something definitely worth trying out. If you are looking for a Star Wars experience, this is also something worth trying out. If you are looking for a title you would expect from Bioware, this may actually not be your cup of tea. But if you are willing to spend the $60.00 price tag, it is a unique experience that you shouldn't hesitate to venture into.

Gamer's Anonymous

Gaming has been burdened with a large stigma. Despite how gamified our society may be, there are many people who continue to have a sense of detachment to gaming and are mystified as to what hides behind the electronic veils of iPhones, 360s, and PCs. This has led many to make quick assumptions of gamers and one common claim is that many people are addicted to video games.

With so many video game rehabilitation centers popping up across the globe, we have to understand what is behind this gaming addiction that so many parents fear.

Teenagers and children are an important audience in gaming as nearly one-fifth of gamers in the US (according to a 2011 ESA report) are under 18. And accordingly, many of these game rehabs target specifically to these youth.

Parents or loved-ones may send their children to these centers for a gaming detox program. They believe their children have an addiction with gaming. Granted, each situation is different for each family, but it's not hard to think that there may be families out there unnecessarily placing their children in these programs.

If someone is neglecting their relationships and responsibilities, it may be time for someone to step in. But for many, gaming offers an opportunity to escape from reality. If someone is engrossed in an experience for hours in front of their television or computer monitor, why is it frowned upon while those who endlessly read books or paint are given applause?

While parents are becoming increasingly involved with their childrens' gaming habits, there are still those who just seem to stand by and become bewildered with what the kids are doing with that controller.

In the end, it is hard to judge if someone has an addiction to gaming if they just sit back and observe from the side. Parents need to understand how gaming impacts their child's life. Is it a strong passion that they have? Does it allow them to experience life in whole new perspectives? To really think about how harmful gaming can be to a child, parents need to analyze how beneficial gaming can be.

How Steve Jobs Changed Gaming

Steve Jobs may be considered as one of the most influential people in modern technology, but is he influential in gaming?

An opinion piece on Forbes states "to give Jobs the top honors over Gabe Newell (of Valve) and Shigeru Miyamoto (of Nintendo) is blasphemy, plain and simple."

This was a reaction to the fact that a survey of 1,000 London Games Conference attendees concluded that 26% of those who took the survey believed the most influential person was the former Apple CEO himself.

The man has helped craft a philosophy for tech and helped produce the iPod line of products. That itself has impacted gaming in an important way. The iOS has changed what mobile gaming represents. The App Store has become one of the most innovative platforms for gamers as it has allowed a tremendous amount of developers to publish their applications with much ease. It has certainly changed how we perceive "short-burst" gaming with quick shots at Angry Birds or Cut the Rope.

Steve Jobs may have laid the path that led up to this innovation, but was he directly involved with how the iPhone would change how others view gaming? Of course not. This vitalization on the mobile platform was sparked by the iPhone but does not appear to be something that Apple or Jobs ever intended to occur.

While I believe that Jobs has greatly shifted mobile gaming, he seems to be a kind of unwanted hero. Whether he expected it or not, he has influenced what we play in one way or another.

Ticket to Reflection

For my class, I will have to reflect on my writing from time-to-time. My teacher has requested the class to analyze our strongest and weakest posts and I want to look at Gamer Girls in a Gamer World and 5 Games That Everyone Should Play.

Gamer Girls felt like my strongest and weakest post simultaneously. This post was the one I dedicated most of my time and effort to. I put considerable research into this post and I hope it showed. On the other hand, this was also the most difficult one for me to write. My final result turned into a jumbled mess I am a little ashamed of.

5 Games is also another post I feel has strong and weak qualities. I felt that the post was a prime example of understanding one's audience. Considering that a majority of my readers are high school students who barely play video games, I want to ensure that my readers are actually interested in what they are reading on Ticket to Game.

Trying to better tend to my audience is something I hope shows in my posts. But while that may work, I clearly have trouble making my opinions and ideas clear and concise which can be fairly evident in Gamer Girls. Over the course of six weeks, I hope to be a far more clearer writer. I need to be able to bring in depth into my posts and as of right now, I don't see any of that.

While I have outlined all of my previous posts, I think I need to spend a lot more time preparing my words. Paying more attention from the get-go will hopefully make me more conscious of how I am writing. Considering as games journalism is a vocation I wish to enter, I certainly have a lot of work ahead of me.

Gamer Girls in a Gamer World

The world is a larger place than playing Call of Duty and Halo with your "bros." The world includes playing Call of Duty and Halo with girls. A substantial chunk of women play games. In fact, 42% of gamers are female according to a report by the Entertainment Software Association. But while they are a large demographic in the industry, it is quite unfortunate to learn that they are like black sheep in a herd of gamers.

Despite what some are led to believe, female gamers don't play Imagine: Babyz or Detective Barbie. These games exist for younger girls, so don't expect a woman who plays games to own a similar title in their collection. Many girl gamers play games like Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and Rock Band. The list goes on and on, and if you were to make separate lists of games for guys and games for girls, you would be a fool. There's no escaping the fact that members of the opposite sex plays the same games.

But what is perhaps really unfortunate is the amount of abuse women seem to get while playing online with others. Sometimes they can be constantly insulted during an in-game chat or even receive extremely inappropriate messages on their profile. Perhaps the sense of anonymity contributes to the abuse and while online (for the lack of a better term) douchebags are prevalent, the amount of comments targeted specifically towards women are gravely disappointing and shocking.

Gaming is a fantastic hobby that everyone should experience and it's just stupid that others are getting in the way and hindering that experience. Hearing these horror stories of horrible comments have discouraged many from playing online (or even playing games at all). But like most hobbies and communities, there are resources out there to help women have a wonderful experience with gaming.

Throughout my gaming career, I have come across many girl gamers and they are by no doubt one of the nicest people I have ever met. There are many forum groups and gaming clans that feature several women who have experienced this abuse one way or another and these communities give them comfort in knowing that they can play games in a judgment-free zone.

One of the most interesting resources I have come across is a website called Fat, Ugly, or Slutty. It's a site founded by girl gamers who laugh off the comments they receive online. People can submit photographs and proof of abuse and the website developers will publish a few on their blog. What makes this particular blog interesting is that many of these photographs do not leave out the names of the people sending these messages as if they are victims of public shaming.

It is unfortunate that the female gaming community has to struggle through many things that men don't typically have to. Many have simply accepted the fact that this kind of internet behavior will not change anytime soon and simply brush off the abuse and misinterpretations to continue doing what they love: playing games.

5 Games That Everyone Should Play

This is one of hopefully not so many lists that will be featured on my blog. Knowing my audience (a group of high school students who may or may not play games), this week's list is all about games that everyone regardless of their gaming experience should certainly give a try. Some of these games may be familiar to you; other games may not be so familiar. Nonetheless, these are games that I have played personally and most definitely feel that you should as well.

1. Super Mario Galaxy 2

It's pretty hard at this point to not have played a Mario game at least once in your life. This is certainly one you should not miss. No other company has been able to master the platformer as Nintendo has with Super Mario Galaxy 2. A sequel to the original Galaxy game on the Wii, this title is leaps and bounds better than its predecessor. With glorious art design that is certainly one of the best on the Nintendo system, a fantastic level design that will please, stimulate, and challenge, and a polish so clean that this is perhaps the best game you can find on the Wii.

2. World of Warcraft
Most people consider World of Warcraft as the mother of all MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online Games). With over 11 million subscribers (and deservedly so), this game has taken a HUGE chunk out of the MMO market. Since it's debut in 2004, the game has released three different expansions and a plethora of patches and updates to continually tweak the game.

While the game may look like one reserved for the "hardcore" only at hindsight, it is one of the most approachable games ever crafted. World of Warcraft is certainly accessible to the mass audience. It's simple to play and simple to learn. The game is crafted so well that everything new you need to learn and do comes into your face so progressively that there are very few times where you are stressed with so many or very little things to do or learn. The first 20 levels (out of a smackdown 85) are free to try out, so it's worth a shot!

3. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
Pac-Man: eat dots, eat fruit, chase ghosts, repeat. Sounds like the same old Pac-Man, right? What Pac-Man Championship Edition DX does is refine a three-decade old formula into something that is surprisingly fresh and new. On top of that, DX improves upon what the original Championship Edition failed to achieve. While you have probably played Pac-Man in some form or another, you have yet to play it like this. And trust me, you will not be disappointed.

4. The Sims 3

The Sims series is one of my guilty pleasures. It's a fantastic game with a premise so simple yet so intriguing. Who wouldn't want to play as God and control people under your own command? Again, The Sims 3 is the most polished and refined game in the series and why I recommend it over the others. While the series is one of the most accessible ones out there, The Sims 3 is the most accessible one in the series.

5. Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is one of the most raved-about PC shooters in the past few years. And what the game was when it first launched and what it is now makes it seem like two totally different games. It's a classic Red versus Blue scenario where you are forced to play as one of nine classes. Hell, they're not even classes at this point, they're characters. From the Bronx-frinetic Scout to the Scarlet-Russian Heavy, each class is a unique and entertaining character full of personality.

And besides, each class plays differently from each other that one can be fully engulfed in playing a single class for hours. Plus, there's always unlocking new weapons for your classes, so if you thought the game was starting to get stale, you finally have something new and fresh that can dramatically change your gameplay. And the best part? It's free! So you really have no excuse to give this game a shot.

Plus, you can collect hats to wear in the game, and everyone knows that hats are awesome.


There are so many more games I can think of off the top of my head that would be perfect on this list! But perhaps more games will be for another time. I'd like to know which games you think are ones that everyone on the planet should at least give a shot.

Up, Down, Up, Down, Chu, Chu Chu!

Many have games that are near and dear to their hearts. For some, a game may have gotten him through a difficult time or allowed him to discover his future wife. For me, there is one game in particular that is significant to my life. If I was never exposed to this game, I may have never grown into the person I am today.

Rewind eleven years ago-- the iPod has yet to exist, Friends and Frasier were still on the air, and Simon Cowell never stepped foot on primetime American television. But most important to our story, the Dreamcast was still in style.

The Sega-produced box was a monster at the stores selling like hotcakes. With games like Power Stone, Soul Calibur, and Sonic Adventure on the initial lineup, the Dreamcast was expected to have a fantastic career.

I was only a tiny child starting in kindergarten or grade school back then. I remember perusing through the games section at my local Blockbuster when an odd title caught my eye. It featured these strange aliens in the background and a pink-haired chick in an orange and metallic costume. I still can’t remember why, but there was something about the box that made me go out and rent it.

When I got home, I popped the game into my console and I was utterly confused. Apparently the strange aliens on the cover were invading Earth and it was up to the woman in the metallic costume, Ulala, a report show host, to save the day. Although I didn’t know it then, I soon learned that the game was called Space Channel 5.

The game is an intricate masking of a simple mechanic: Simon Says. When I first played the game, I had no idea what I was doing and when I heard the aliens (called Morolians) shout out “Up, down, up, down,” I had to repeat their commands on my controller. After having my sister teach me how the game actually worked, I was still horrible at it. I had no sense of timing or rhythm and I still did not realize the game was something along the lines of Dance Dance Revolution for the hands or Parappa the Rappa without the rapping. But when I did realize how important music played into the game, I absolutely fell in love with it.

The game is incredibly charming. The choreography felt cool, the music was full of retro and funkified groove, and the whole package was full of spunk. As the whole game premise centered around dancing, it didn’t take long for my petite childhood self to start dancing to the game and mimicking their moves.

Along with being one of my personal favorite games ever made, it has established the greatest passion I have ever carried apart from gaming: dancing. Ever since playing that game, I have always enjoyed dancing. Although I was never trained in dancing for many years, it is something I have loved every second of. Although I originally wanted to take up pop and hip-hop dancing in the same, groovy style of Space Channel 5, I have morphed into a beginner ballroom dancer who hopes to compete competitively in the future.

If there is one characteristic all of my cohorts and friends know me by, it is with my passion for dance. They know it is something I love doing regardless of whether I actually do it right or not. And without Space Channel 5, dance would have never penetrated into my life and shaped up who I am. It is impossible for me to think of who I would be without Space Channel 5, and honestly, I don’t think I want to.