Video Game Virtues

Dulcet Tunes - Metroid Title Screen

2011-02-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

I wanted to start a series of posts that could be completed quickly, and allow me to update the site a little more regularly... Enter "Dulcet Tunes", a place where I will post game music along with a memory or feeling that the tune elicits. What better way to start than with, what I beleive is, one of the most hauntingly original pieces in gaming, the title screen from the original NES Metroid:

The music, for some inexplicable reason, reminds me of Winter. Walking down an ice covered street having just visited the local video rental store to obtain a game for the weekend.
The sound of crunching snow, a slate grey sky, and the promise of new adventure.

Enjoy the music, and think back to when you first heard it.

Artist Spotlight - Cory Godbey’s ‘bit and run’

2010-10-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

I needed to call attention to the amazing work of Mr. Godbey. He’s been doing a series of Nintendo-centric comics for gonintendo.com, and this piece represents the finale of his run on the site. The work speaks for itself, and is truly awesome!

Check out the full comic here!

Old Controllers for Free Speech!

2010-10-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

The Video Game Voters Network is launching a campaign to "Let Senator Leland Yee know you stand up for your First Amendment rights".

Leland Yee is pushing for legislation that the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional many times over, but the fight to limit the sale of games with mature content continues.

The Video Game Voters Network is asking all gamers opposed to this type of legislation to send old, broken controllers with the phrase, "I believe in the First Amendment", emblazoned on the hilt directly to Senator Yee’s office! all the info can be found at the link above.

Righteous Victory – Mercury Steam and Castlevania Lords of Shadow

2010-10-06T12:59:00.000-07:00

Let me start with a statement…we live in an extremely jaded age of gaming. I have read some of the reviews for this game, and “journalists” are criticizing it for its jumping mechanics, (not sure why, I haven’t had a single jumping issue), it’s lack of Castlevania feel, (again, not sure why, see below), and the nature of its fighting system, (final time, I’m not sure why).

Not only is this game gorgeous, it controls well, the combat is smooth and nuanced, and I’ve run into numerous things that draw direct correlations to the greater Castlevania universe, (Werewolves, Wargs, villagers scared of the main character’s otherworldly powers, swinging with my whip, large stone bosses, secondary weapons, etc, etc), and I’m only 1 ½ - 2 hours into a 20-25 hours game.

What it comes down to is this, the passion and attention to detail shown in this game’s development is staggering. From the music, to the voice acting and simpler things, like the art and animations used in the quest book and character design, this game OOZES quality from every pore. It’s got re-playability up the ying-yang, and it just feels good to play it. Example, I was playing through the Bog level last night, and I was confronted with numerous branching paths and hidden grottos to find upgrades and items. I took my time, trying to find everything before I moved on. Slowly I made my way through, and I thought I was in good shape, so I finished the level. Do you know what my completion rate for that level was…46%?!?!

I thought I was at least in the high 80% or low 90%...but 46%! I didn’t see half of the level I thought I had scoured. In addition, after you complete a stage, the game opens challenges such as, "Defeat the Greater Warg with at least 1 villager remaining", or "Beat the level without using any health restore of any kind". I’m going to be playing this game for a long while.

As I’ve stated in the past, the true test of a great game is that yearning feeling you get when you’re not playing it…let’s just say, I’m yearning right now…I’m yearning real bad!

Interview with Eric R. - Writer/Director of the Metroid Audio Drama

2010-07-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

I recently came upon a fan project that was so unique, I had to contact the creator and extend an invitation to be part of the Video Game Virtues site.

Eric R., (FanOingo93), is creating a radio drama based on Nintendo's beloved Metroid franchise, and the quality and potential of the project is worth noting. Check out the prologue chapter here, then continue on to the full interview below, (read the full interview for a VGV exclusive preview of the next chapter in the Metroid audio drama).

Video Game Virtues - Could you give us a rundown of your film/art background, (The age you started, education, training, preferred genres, etc.)?

FanOingo93- I pretty much started working with film when I was around 7. I had gotten a video camera and I loved to film random things with it. It wasn't until I was 14 that I found out about Video Editing and YouTube that I started to see the potential in making bigger things. The only program I had at that time was Movie Maker. So I taught myself to edit video and I've been teaching myself ever since. Initially, I was fascinated by the amount of Voice Acting projects that people do online. So I used YouTube as a way to do voice acting. Around 2008, I found a site called Voice Acting Alliance. I loved how people could host any type of project there and get voice actors to audition. So I've been editing projects online for about 4 years now.
VGV - When did you get the idea to create the Metroid audio drama?

FanOingo93- Ahh, see that's a good question. The idea for the Metroid radioplay spawned from the idea of Metroid becoming a feature film someday. Its been my dream to create a film based on the series. A couple years ago, I had started working on a draft for a film script. But ultimately, what I had written wasn't any good because I felt that the fans wouldn't want the type of emotion that is in the series now. But last year, when Nintendo showed the trailer for Metroid: Other M, I had confidence that I could finally take the story into the emotional depths that I wanted.

But because of the fact that I'm only 17 and I'm not a filmmaker just yet, I can't really go with the film idea. So I decided to translate what I had written into an audio format and I set out to hire the cast via an audition thread on Voice Acting Alliance.

VGV - Who are your major film industry influences? Favorite movies?
FanOingo93- I'm heavily influenced by a mass of different film directors. But my biggest influences were the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Steven Spielberg. Though my #1 favorite movie of all time is always gonna be “ET”. Souly because it was the movie that made me decide that I wanted to be a film director. Though in my top 5, there's “ET”, “Porco Rosso”, “Willow”, “The Dark Crystal”, and “Ed Wood”. But my list could go on, so I'm not gonna drag you into that.

VGV - What equipment do you use to create the Metroid audio drama?
FanOingo93- I use Sony Vegas Pro 8.0 to edit all of my projects be it Visual or Audio. Some of sound effects were hard to come by, but I got some of them from Metroid Prime. The music, comes from a variety of different film soundtracks and game soundtracks as well.

VGV - How long did it take to craft the script for the work, from concept to final version, and what do you feel are the key steps of the process?
FanOingo93- When it finally came down to writing the script, It took an extremely long time because I wanted to make sure that what I was writing stayed true to the context as well as the spirit and atmosphere of the games. Obviously from the reception I've gotten, that doesn't seem to be that much of a problem.

Though it took even longer to get the final version completed because of how I was gonna transition this visual-heavy script into an audio production. It was a painstakingly difficult process and probably one of the hardest editing jobs I've ever had to do.

VGV - Besides the Nintendo series featured in your current fan project, what are your favorite video games? Favorite game creators/developers?
FanOingo93- That's a good question. Most of the games I love come from Nintendo, because I've been such a huge fan. But when I'm not playing Nintendo games most of the time, I love games such as Kingdom Hearts, DJ Hero, the Sly Cooper series, the Guitar Hero series, Final Fantasy VI, Mega Man II, Shadow of the Colossus.

Those in short, aside from the Nintendo games that hold such a place in my heart, are amongst some of my favorites.

VGV – Why do you think Hollywood finds it so difficult to translate rich video game stories and universes to the big screen?
FanOingo93- There could multiple reasons for it. But I think the biggest reason for it is that they choose games that don't have that huge of a story. Movies based on games like Street Fighter and Super Mario Bros. just don't work because those are games that don't have much of a plot. I think the only Video Game movie that got that right and ended up being fun was Mortal Kombat. See, I don't think anyone can mess up a Metroid film because it has such a long history of backstory that can fit easily into an 110 min. film.

VGV – Would you say the Metroid project, and indirectly video games as a whole, inspired you to become a better/more well rounded artist?
FanOingo93- I think it has personally. I've learned more from this project than any other project I've ever done as a whole. Its taught me how to become a better director and a writer I think. I have to thank all the people on Metroid Database for giving me all that great feedback because now I'm more knowledgeable of what I can do to make the quality of the project as good as it can get.

VGV - The purpose of Video Game Virtues is to espouse the creativity created by, and the positive affects of, the video game industry and in turn, the gaming community. Could you give us some insight into your feelings on the subject?
FanOingo93- I personally feel that Video Games aren't just a way to have fun. To quote Warren Spector, “We believe that video games can be used as tools to tell a magnificent story”. And ultimately that's true. Video Games can inspire so many people because they can take you into vast worlds and tell such rich and amazing stories. The media I think just does a poor job of expanding on that concept and instead decides to focus on the negative aspects of the gaming industry.

I mean not all M-Rated games are like Grand Theft Auto. There are M-Rated games that tell fantastic stories and take you into fantastic worlds, such as Bioshock! That's an amazing game that's not only brutal but takes you into this fantastic world.

See, games with all sorts of ratings can take you into these worlds be it E+10 or M. They're not just meant for having fun, because most of the time they already are.

VGV – Speaking of the gaming industry; for some reason gaming is still mired in the stigma of children’s plaything or colossal time waster for infantile adults. Why do you think the gaming industry is having such a hard time being taken seriously by the mainstream?
FanOingo93- Again, I think its because people don't see how gaming can inspire another person in an artistic way. There's games out there that help with numerous amount of things like some of the Wii title games like “Wii Sports Resort” or “Wii Music” to save a few.

I think its because adults just see games as a way to just occupy their kids. They see games as a way to babysit their kids. I think if more families were aware that the games that their kids play can inspire them to do more things not just artisticly, but in a moral sense, then I think gaming CAN be taken seriously.

VGV - Where does the Metroid audio drama go from here? What is the ultimate goal of the project?
FanOingo93- At this point, I can't really say where the radioplay is going. That would spoil the surprise I think.

But my ultimate goal is to tell a dark and rich story in the sense of “The Dark Knight”, which surprisingly is the inspiration behind the whole story, where the story focuses on Samus not just as a person but what motivates her to rise up against Ridley and become the hero that she's known as. Because to me, I see Samus as a person who's had to live with such a tragic memory torturing her and how she just wants to let go of it.

And I see her as this woman who on the outside appears to have no sense of compassion. But deep down, there is a sense of caring just waiting to be broken free but it can't because Samus' motivation is nothing but revenge.

And that's what this story is: its a dramatic tale of not just revenge, but also redemption. So I hope that the fans really enjoy the direction I'm going.

VGV - What other projects, if any, are you currently working on? What other game series do you think would be a good fit for this style of storytelling?
FanOingo93- Right now, other than the Metroid radioplay, I'm currently working on a Smash Bros. Movie called “The Day The Earth Stood Bound”, which is a Action/Comedy based around the Subspace Emissary mode in Smash Bros. Brawl.

But other than that, its nothing but fandubs. But the Metroid Radioplay is just eating my time away.

As for what other series would be a good fit for this style of cinematic storytelling, I think Zelda would be fantastic. If I get the chance, if Metroid is a huge hit, then I think i'll do that one next. =)

***

Many thanks to Eric for participating in this interview, and for providing Video Game Virtues with the exclusive preview of the next chapter of the Metroid Audioplay. Check it out here!

Smashing the Stereotype of Who's a Gamer

2010-06-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

The picture says it all!

Righteous Victory – Dead to Rights Retribution

2010-04-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

April 27th 2010 saw the third release in the cult action series Dead to Rights entitled “Dead to Rights Retribution”. Those familiar with the series will either condemn it for its cliché story, characters archetypes and its Max Payne inspired atmosphere or regale you with stories of the game’s intense violence, difficulty and non-stop action.

As an admitted fan of the series, I fall into the latter category. Let's get this out of the way, regardless of what any review site tells you "Dead to Rights Retribution" is an awesome video game. However, I didn't write this piece to talk about how awesome the game is. The name of this website is Video Game Virtues, so I wanted to draw attention to one thing that “Dead to Rights Retribution” does better than perhaps any other game; establishing an intense bond with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) character.
In the case of Dead to Rights, the character is your canine companion, Shadow. In no other game have I felt so emotionally tied to an AI companion. The first few levels of the game tell the story of how the player, Jack Slade, and Shadow came to be partners. Both characters are linked by a common quest for vengeance and ultimately rely on each other in order to achieve their goals.You can send Shadow on stealth missions to attack enemy characters, retrieve ammo or have him fight alongside you to gain an edge against stronger enemies.

After about an hour of play I came to one of Dead to Rights signature action sequences, and lacking the ammo needed to move forward, I sent Shadow out to maul a nearby enemy and retrieve the much-needed bullets for me. This is an action that I took lightly because, as an AI character, Shadow is only a means to an end for me to get ammo. However, as Shadow was returning with my ammo the enemy started shooting at him. I could hear his screams of pain.

Suddenly, a car exploded and I saw Shadow’s limp body fly across the screen in a heap of fur. An icon popped up indicating that Shadow was dead. Meanwhile I could overhead the enemy exclaiming its supreme satisfaction in killing my "Fucking Mutt". Never before in a single player game have I felt such rage. I immediately ran out in the open in a blaze of glory trying to get to my fallen companion only to be repeatedly shot and killed. As the screen faded to black, all I could hear were Shadow’s death cries, and all I could feel were pangs of guilt knowing I was the one responsible for his suffering. I will be more careful the next time.

It is rare when a game can successfully create a bond between the player and the character(s). At this, “Dead to Rights Retribution” succeeds admirably. I understand that this game is getting average reviews at best in the press. However, I encourage any fan of hardcore action games to give “Dead to Rights Retribution” a try. The gameplay is excellent and the character interaction is top notch. While it may not be a AAA title “Dead to Rights Retribution” is one heck of an exciting ride and I do not regret spending the 8 to 10 hours it took to complete this under-rated game.

Gamers Come Out in Force to Assist Fire Victim/Fellow Gamer

2010-04-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

On April 12th, a fire tore through a Chinatown apartment building in Manhattan, New York. Over 200 people lost their homes and possessions in the blaze, but the gaming community is always ready to help one of their own.

Chris Hu, a long standing member of the Shoryuken.com Street Fighter community, and his family were tenants of the complex. The Shoryuken community has set up a donation fund to assist in getting the family back on its feet after the devastating fire.

The story and the accompanying call for help is winding its way around the internet, and funds seem to be pouring in. While I have been unable to find a grand total for donations thus far, it is certainly in the multiple thousands of dollars by now.

Stories like this fly directly in the face of those who state that gaming is a solitary hobby, participated in by loners and maladjusted individuals. If you would like to learn more about the tragic fire or the donation to help the Hu Family, check out the links below:

Shoryuken.com Donation Page

News coverage

Info from Video Game Voters.org

2010-04-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to pass along some info I received from Video Game Voters.org. It's a worthwhile organization if you are at all interested in the advancement of interactive gaming in the greater social forum.

Soon, the U.S. Supreme Court may decide whether to hear a case that could have a lasting impact on computer and video games.

The case before the Court involves a law passed by the state of California attempting to criminalize the sale of certain computer and video games. Two previous courts rejected the California law as unconstitutional, but soon the Supreme Court could have the final say.

Whatever the Court's ruling, we must be prepared to continue defending our rights now and in the future. To do so, we need a large, powerful movement of gamers to speak with one voice and show that we won't sit back while lawmakers try to score political points by scapegoating video games and treating them differently than books, movies, and music.

If the Court decides to hear the case, we're going to need thousands of activists like you who can help defend computer and video games by writing letters to editors, calling into talk radio stations, and educating Americans about our passion for and appreciation of computer and video games.

You can help build this movement right now by inviting all your friends and fellow gamers to join the Video Game Voters Network.

Use our simple tool to send an email to everyone you know asking them to stand up for gaming rights:

http://videogamevoters.org/movement

You can also help spread the word through Facebook and Twitter, or you can simply forward this email to everyone you know and ask them to sign up at videogamevoters.org.

Time after time, courts continue to reject politicians' efforts to restrict the sale of computer and video games. But that doesn't mean the politicians will stop trying anytime soon -- in fact, it means they're likely to ramp up their efforts even more.

To stop them, we must make it clear that gamers will continue to stand up for free speech -- and that the numbers are on our side.

Help make sure we're ready and able to keep fighting for our gaming rights. Spread the word about the Video Game Voters Network right now:

http://videogamevoters.org/movement

Thank you.

-- Video Game Voters Network

Interview with Matthew from "Brawl in the Family"

2010-02-20T11:00:00.000-08:00

Matthew from the popular web comic "Brawl in the Family", was kind enough to participate in an interview with Video Game Virtues. In addition, Matthew created a unique piece just for the VGV's site and community. If you're a fan of his irreverent humor, or just looking for some insight into his background and the creative process behind "Brawl in the Family", read on!

Video Game Virtues - Could you give us a rundown of your art background? (The age you started, education, training, preferred mediums, etc.)

Matthew - I used to draw little spiders when I was three. They were essentially circles with lines sticking out, but it’s the earliest thing I can remember doodling. As I got a little older, I actually drew a lot of

Nintendo-related stuff—mostly Mario and Goombas. In 2008, I got my Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Graphic Design, but leading up to that point, I’ve always held a fascination in video games and animation. I prefer drawing with pencil, although lately, I’ve become a fan of digital design.

VGV - When did you get the idea to create the Brawl in the Family comic?

Matthew - I think it was back in 2007 or so during an art history class. It started off as just a series of doodles with a rather strange sense of humor. But I liked them enough to turn back to them about a year later and recreate a few just to show to a small community on the message boards at IGN. The reception was a lot more positive than I expected, so I eventually decided to make a site for them, and the project’s grown ever since!

VGV – Speaking of a “rather strange sense of humor”, your comics have a comedic style all their own. Where do you think the irreverent style comes from? What are some of your comedy influences?

Matthew - BitF’s style is something I sort of grew into over time, and it’s based on a few factors. I quite like a lot of prime-time animation—the classic years of The Simpsons and Futurama are just hilarious in how they defy the audience’s expectations, while King of the Hill is great at more character-centric humor. What I find funny is often the type of joke that takes the viewer by surprise in the best way possible, so I try to be as unpredictable as I can. I also learn from things that I don’t find as endearing, such as excess swearing or gore distracting from a joke, or overt wordiness, so I try to stay away from those aspects. I didn’t want everything to be quite “setup/punchline” all the time either, which is why I often attempt to go for something a little more obtuse or peculiar. And finally, there’s not enough optimism on the internet these days, so I enjoy making the occasional strip just about the characters having a good time.

VGV - What are your traditional art influences? What/Who are your favorite video game/game artists, (individual artists, or series)? Favorite comics, comic artists?

Matthew - Whew! I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible. I’ve got to start by mentioning Nintendo and Mr. Miyamoto, who essentially helped shape my childhood interest in creation and design. Super Mario Bros. was the first game I played and still one of the best examples of game design out there. The Zelda series is my all-time favorite series and jump-started several other interests of mine in adolescence. I adore The Wind Waker’s visuals, to the point where I still probably prefer them to the look of any Nintendo game since. Oh, Mr. Itoi and the Mother series, of course! Those games are brilliant and border on obsession for me, and I love their simplistic and unusual art style. Clover’s Okami and Viewtiful Joe both do some great things with cel-shading, while older games like Super Mario Bros. 3 and Yoshi’s Island can be quite clever with thematic visual styles (a stage set-up for the former and the storybook/crayon look for the latter).

As for comics, I read the funnies a lot growing up, but to me, the finest of them (and I think most can agree on this) is the incomparable Calvin & Hobbes. Everything from Bill Watterson’s art to the writing and imagination makes for a truly excellent strip. I also enjoy The Far Side and FoxTrot.

VGV - What equipment do you use to create BitF comics?

Matthew - It’s usually pretty simple—a 2004 iMac, a Wacom Graphire tablet, and Photoshop are all I use. Most strips are done with a simple brush tool, although I’ll occasionally use a couple tricks for some nicer effects. For the musical comics, I head over to my parents and use my dad’s recording software and keyboard to get the songs ready.

VGV - How long does it take to craft a BitF comic, from concept to final version, and what are the steps of the process?

Matthew - This can definitely vary from strip to strip—it could be from 30 minutes to 30 hours! On average though, I’d wager it takes a couple hours. Some color strips take awhile to make, as do the large, multi-panel comics (like each part of A Mushroom Kingdom Carol). In nearly every case, I’ll scribble up an idea in my sketchbook, then start in Photoshop with a transparent “posing” layer to get everything placed and poised correctly. Then I’ll go over it with the final outline and, if necessary, fill in with color.

VGV – Do you prefer doing the short one or two panel comics, or the longer, more story oriented pieces?

Matthew - They each have their benefits—perhaps the biggest one is to keep BitF from falling into any one consistent style of humor. With the short comics, I can think of a simple, unusual situation and cover all sorts of games and ideas in a relatively brief amount of time. On the other hand, it’s nice to have the freedom to craft a larger story using these characters and also be able to input a lot of smaller gags in the dialogue or backgrounds. Overall, I’d say doing short comics for most of the year and the longer ones on occasion is what I feel most comfortable with.

VGV - Besides the Nintendo series featured in your comics, what are some of your favorite games?

Matthew - Final Fantasy 6, Perfect Dark, Resident Evil 4, Chrono Trigger, Skies of Arcadia, Banjo-Kazooie, Viewtiful Joe, and the Phoenix Wright series. Each truly excellent in its own way.

VGV - Did you ever think your pet project would become so well known in the larger video game community?

Matthew - The reaction is pretty surprising to me! I think part of it is that there are a lot of Nintendo fans out there, and there really aren’t too many Nintendo-centered webcomics. I mean, yeah, you have plenty of webcomics that focus on games, of course. But to me, Nintendo’s characters are so fun and well-designed that there’s so much you can do with them and the unusual rules of each character’s respective world. I try to make the cast act in-character, and I think it’s a testament to how near and dear viewers hold Nintendo’s characters that help BitF stand out. Sounds schmaltzy, perhaps, but really, who doesn’t love Nintendo?

Maybe some nut out there.

VGV - The purpose of Video Game Virtues is to espouse the creativity fostered by, and the positive affects of, the video game industry and the gaming community. Could you give us some insight into your feelings on the subject?

Matthew - Certainly. Video games are wonderful! Even in this youthful industry, they’ve managed to touch the hearts and inspire millions. There’s no doubt that gaming is a major factor in what kicked off my desire to create things. Just like any art form (yes, I’m one of those people), video games can entertain, amuse, touch, inspire, and motivate. Look at all the amazing fan-projects out there; the hundreds of videos, drawings, songs, prose, poetry, scripts, dubs, and webcomics that gaming in general has inspired.

VGV – Do you have any favorite fan projects that readers might be able to view online?

Matthew - I’m actually part of one! There’s a work-in-progress Ace Attorney musical, of all things, floating around out there, and it’s a link on BitF. It’s still in the process of being written, but it’s a pretty amazing community project that 50+ people contribute to on a regular basis. I’ve written several of the songs myself, even, and I’m also attached to it since it’s through the musical that I met my girlfriend. I also have to give a huge amount of credit to the outstanding community at Starmen.net, who have made up for the most dedicated collective fanbase of anything I’ve seen. Their crowning jewels are perhaps the Mother 3 translation and Guide Book, which are nothing short of professionally done. I’ve also seen a ton of amazing art and music by people that I can’t even begin to list.

VGV – For some reason gaming is still mired in the stigma of children’s plaything or colossal time waster for infantile adults. Why do you think the gaming industry is having such a hard time being taken seriously in the mainstream media?

Matthew - I think the main issue is simply that this industry is still fairly young. Music, books, paintings, and to a lesser extent, films and television have all been around for a much longer time than games. It’s not entirely the mainstream media’s fault—people are susceptible to fads and sometimes it’s hard to say what’s here to stick around or vanish like so many pogs before it. Developers could also work a little more towards taking risks, however. Even so-called “casual” games like Wii Sports are a step in the right direction. As long as new players are being recruited and realizing that “Hey, maybe there is something to this video game hullabaloo after all,” I think we’re making progress.

VGV – I would agree that the youth of the industry is a major cause of negative stigma. There is definitely a generational gap as far as gaming is concerned. When/if you have children, do you plan to raise them as gamers?

Matthew - Yep—in fact, as people who’ve grown on the NES are getting married and having kids of their own, we’re already starting to see a new generation of gamers. I’ll do my part! Of course, I’ll start the kid off on Super Mario Bros. on the original NES.

VGV – Would you say the BitF project, and indirectly video games as a whole, inspired you to become a better artist?

Matthew - Undoubtedly. A constant goal for me with BitF is to continue to improve and not look back—this is why I get pretty experimental with the art and humor style every now and then. Video games themselves, as mentioned, kick-started my interest in drawing and creating, and games with a great style still influence me like any good art form would.

VGV - Where does BitF go from here? What other projects, if any, are you currently working on?

Matthew - At the end of 2009, I decided to try to do a couple of pretty “big” comics (Ode to Minions and A Mushroom Kingdom Carol). So for right now, I’m sticking to the strips roots for a little bit to keep the traditional spirit of the strip alive. However, I’ve settled on a new shading style that I’ll probably use until the next big stylistic change comes along, hehe. We’re also planning to expand BitF in a couple ways, most notably by opening a Store. There is a secret project I’m starting but…well, it’s a ways away so I don’t want to reveal it just yet.

VGV – You created a piece just for the Video Game Virtues site. I wanted to take a moment to thank you, and to ask about the origin and back story of the dual-assed character, Bunsen?

Matthew - Ah, Bunsen. Back in 7^th grade, I got the idea (for whatever reason) of a character composed of two lower torsos. I called him Bunsen and it got somewhat popular within my rogue’s gallery of unusual friends. Bunsen became the butt of many jokes, starting from the crack of dawn until the moon shone high in the sky. He disliked dancing (two left feet, you see) and getting his cheeks pinched by his grandma, but he could at least return home to his lovely wife Cheeky and twins Bunette and Bunson, and their dog Bunji, who watched Sailor Moon and read Left Behind…

Okay, I’ll stop.

*I would like to personally thank Matthew for contributing to the site and helping to spread the word.

Righteous Victory – Darksiders

2010-02-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

I wanted to start a new series of posts that shines a light on exemplary effort displayed by lesser known game developers / publishers, and what better title to start with than Vigil Games sublime, Darksiders. Sure the title takes a lot, (if not all), of its influence from existing, proven tiles, but it weaves them all together with such quality and attention to detail, that it’s hard to fault them using established conventions to tell their story.

Perhaps what the game does best is the feeling of growing power felt by the main character as he quests. War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, is falsely accused of starting the rapture here on Earth, and spends the remainder of the game trying to clear his name, and find the ones responsible while traversing familiar, yet decrepit and destroyed areas of Earth, (and eventually other vistas made popular by organized religions).

When first starting my quest, War had trouble dispatching even the most diminutive of shambling corpses, (and in turn, was killed numerous times), but by game’s end, I was tearing the wings off of armored angelic shock-troops, and laying waste to the “Chosen” with such ease and vigor, that I could not help but feel empowered. In addition, the game is rife with minute detail, (the flesh texture on War’s face is especially impressive…it’s eerily lifelike), and some of the character models are not only visually striking, but genuinely beautiful, (Azrael, the Angel of Death is a definite stand out).

For the reasons stated above, and for the amazing effort and love shown in the development of Darksiders, Vigil Games gets 2 big Thumbs Up of Righteous Victory. And with THQ announcing the sequel mere weeks after the original IP’s launch, you can tell they have taken notice of the quality work, as well.

-Chozoman

US Department of Defense - Gamers Simply Perform Better

2010-01-29T09:47:00.000-08:00

We’ve all heard the old adage, (perhaps even used it against an anti-gaming acquaintance or parent), that video games improve hand-eye-coordination and that they enhance problem solving skills. Well, we may finally have the empirical evidence to back up the claim.

The US Department of Defense has issued a release that outlines an apparent 10-20% increase in aptitude displayed by gamers in areas of “perceptual and cognitive ability”.

The most telling part of the report states:

"We have to train people to be quick on their feet - agile problem solvers, agile thinkers - to be able to counteract and develop counter tactics to terrorists on the battlefield," Perez said. "It's really about human inventiveness and creativeness and being able to match wits with the enemy."

"It's also about adaptability. Perez said this means "being able to work outside your present mindset, to think beyond what you have been taught, to go beyond your experience to solve problems in new and different ways."

While the report puts forward some incredibly convincing information, it could also serve to add fuel to the misguided argument that video games are nothing but “murder simulators”. As the military continues to investigate and invest in new uses for virtual training techniques, the benefits that gaming can provide will surely be tempered by the negative connotations associated with military training exercises. A double edged sword to be sure, but with evidence like this being published, the positive effects of gaming on a person’s problem solving abilities and adaptability to change can’t be discredited forever.

Our New Home!

2010-01-26T17:51:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new home of Video Game Virtues. After trying to use a free site builder for some time, I thought it was a smart move to use the streamlined, easy-to-access blog format instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. Going to www.videogamevirtues.com will now bring you straight to this blog.

I hope the ease of use will allow for more posts and more interaction with people that espouse the same viewpoint as myself. In case you don't know, Video Game Virtues is here to spread the good word about gaming and the gaming community.

In a world where video games are blamed for everything from childhood obesity to mass murder, videogamevirtues.com is here to spread the good word about this most excellent form of entertainment.

With your help, we intend to make this a centralized database chronicling all the good that video games can and have done since their inception. In addition, Video Game Virtues will be an outlet to discredit those who manipulate facts and leverage horrible tragedies to further their own agendas.

Again, welcome and I hope you’ll join in on the discussion!

ARCHIVE POST - Interview with Grant Henry from Metroid Metal

2010-01-26T14:49:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, Grant Henry from Metroid Metal was nice enough to take time from his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his background, his musical influences and the amazing work he does crafting metal remixes of classic Metroid tunes. Enjoy the interview.

Video Game Virtues- When did you get the idea to create covers of video game music, and why Metroid?
Grant Henry – I didn’t have the intention of doing much in the video game music genre, but at the time I started, there really weren’t many rock redos of game tunes. I heard The Minibosses early on and it was just such an amazing thing. The idea of the retro kids growing up, becoming learned musicians, and paying tribute to those nostalgic tunes from their youth was attractive to me.
I popped in Metroid for the NES, and heard that theme music all over again. I knew that I had to try it, so I messed up the rhythms and do it almost exactly like the original melodically. I had no plans to record the entire collection of Metroid songs. I just decided to give the “rock treatment” to that tune, and it got a great response online. So I bought the url, did a few more tracks, and the rest is history really.

VGV - What was the first video game cover you produced? Is it available online?
GH – It was the title screen music for the original Metroid. It is by far one of the most memorable tunes from the series, and it’s still my favorite composition from any Metroid game.

VGV – I’d agree with you, I find the title screen of the first Metroid to be one of the most ambient, chilling songs in any entry in the series, (maybe in gaming all together). Which tracks from Metroid Metal are you most happy with?
GH – That’s a hard question. I have favorite original Metroid songs, and I have my favorite redos. My favorite songs from the Metroid series include the Title Screen Theme (NES), Phendrana Drifts (Gamecube), Kraid’s Lair (NES), and Lower Norfair (SNES). My favorite Metroid Metal tracks include The Ending (NES), Space Pirates (Gamecube), Metroid Prime 3 theme, and the Super Metroid Theme. Man, that WAS really hard.

VGV - Who are your traditional musical influences? What/Who are your video game/game music influences?
GH – I’m inspired even more by bands then guitar players. I do have my guitar heros though – Steve Vai, Satriani, Eddie Van Halen, etc. But I’m much more of a song writer than a guitar player. I have a list of groups inside and even more outside of the metal genre that have inadvertently molded my sound over the years. Some of my all time favorite groups include Self, Hum, Failure, Meshuggah, Cave In, Sikth, Opeth, Thingy, Shiner, and Faraquet. Even though the music I write doesn’t necessarily sound like those bands, there are bits of those bands in everything I write.
A far as game music favorites go, of course I owe so much to The Minibosses. The definitive list would definitely include Xoc, Vomitron, Goat, Virt, Arm Cannon, Temp Sound Solutions, and The Neskimos. I’m not really into electronic music, and when I first started, that was primarily the genre that dominated the video game music cover scene. More recently, there’s a PILE of rock groups that have shown up that give the love to old 8-bit tracks. It’s really cool to see.

VGV - What equipment do you use to create the tracks for Metroidmetal.com?
GH – I have one guitar, one amp, and one mic – a Carvin DC127 and a Peavey Deltablues, and a Shure SM57. Up until a few years ago, I still recorded tunes on my cassette 8-track, but now I use my computer with a program called Sonar. I also use multisampled drums using the kits from www.naturaldrum.com.

VGV - Were any of the Metroid Metal tracks recorded on your 8-Track?
GH – A good number actually. The entire NES soundtrack is included in that list. The last track I did with my cassette 8-track was Lower Norfair, and the first I did on my computer was Maridia.
VGV - How long does it take to craft a song for Metroid Metal, from concept to final cut, and what are the steps of the process?
GH – It can take a pretty long time. First, I wear myself out completely on the original tunes – to the point where all I really think about is variations of the originals in my head. Those variations may be rhythm or melody based. I always try to add something “else” to my tracks, and I certainly don’t play the songs just like the original. It’s more of an interpretation of those old tunes instead of remakes or remixes.
On some songs, I’ll start with guitar if that is appropriate. Other times, if I have a rhythm idea, I’ll actually start with the drum tracks first and everything else comes later. After I get basic ideas down, it’s just a matter of rearranging everything into a single idea that is somewhat cohesive. In the last half dozen tracks, my friend Dan Taylor played bass. I’ll send the mix to him last to lay down the low end. It’s always fun to see what he cranks out – he’s a great player.
From beginning to end, I can’t say how many man hours it takes for a single track. There is a lot up front and a lot of tweaking to be done near the end. But each track comes out any where between 3-4 months. The more recent tracks have really upped the bar regarding composition and production, so I’m trying to keep the quality up and not rush any one track if I can help it.

VGV - Besides the Metroid series, what are some of your favorite games?
GH – I love anything Nintendo makes. I only had a Wii up until recently but decided to take the plunge and get a 360. My most revered genres are probably action/adventure, puzzle, racing, and any kind of arcady experience. I’m not really into strategy or RPG games at all – mainly because I no longer have the time to devote to them.

VGV - Your music has been used in numerous online features, (Game Trailers Metroid Retrospectives, radio show intro music and countless youtube tributes). Did you ever think your pet project would become so well known in the larger video game community?
GH – I really had no idea. The kicker for me was the Nintendo Power press from years ago. After I was shown proof that Nintendo had actually heard the tracks, the rest was cake. If the project was done tomorrow, I’d be satisfied with how far it’s come. I certainly had no idea that it would get to this level, but I’m glad there is a crew out there that is not only into Metroid, but is also into guitar rock and metal. I just hope that it satisfies them as much to hear it as it does for me to create it.

VGV - Could you give us a rundown of your musical background? (The age you started, education, training, instruments played, etc.)
GH – I started playing guitar when I was in maybe 4th grade, but I stopped in middle school because no one else was playing. I picked it back up in high school when stuff like the Spin Doctors and Blind Melon came out (ha!), and I’ve been playing ever since. I started recording my own tunes on a 4-track in 9th grade, and it wasn’t until the last few years that I dropped the drum machine I’d been using since I was an early teen.
I’ve been band hopping forever - playing drums, guitar, and singing on occasion. I’ve never been able to read music, so I ignored the music department in college for the most part. I did spent some time in the Recording Arts department though, and I graduated with a degree in Multimedia.

VGV - The purpose of Video Game Virtues is to espouse the creativity created by, and the positive affects of, the video game industry and in turn, the gaming community. Could you give us some insight into your feelings on the subject?
GH – Like any business or industry, the gaming industry revolves around money. For that reason, I think that at times, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes gaming great. You have larger companies overworking their employees. You have developers cranking out shovelware to piggy-back on the popularity of a concept or mechanic. At times it can be frustrating.
But, we’ve finally hit on some great things in the gaming industry. You have some of the greatest games of the year coming from indy developers or tiny teams. You have monsters like Microsoft handing tools to the public to make their own games. You have conventions all across the country calling for gamers to come together and enjoy what they enjoy the most. You have bands specializing in game music primarily. In the middle of all the industry numbers and nonsense, the spirit of gaming is more alive now than ever.
I just think it’s great that you’re creating a site that is rooted on this concept, and it isn’t just another gaming blog.
Even if the goliath gaming industry collapsed in on itself, under the rubble we would still have the creative force and the talent to make some of the best games ever made, and they would be made with passion and love. Sure they might all be freeware downloads, but they would still be made. And that says a lot about how far the industry has come.

VGV – Speaking of the goliath gaming industry; for some reason gaming is still mired in the stigma of children’s plaything or colossal time waster or infantile adults. Why do you think the gaming industry is having such a hard time being taken seriously in the mainstream media?
GH – I guess it depends on what you mean by “taken seriously”. The gaming industry is taken very seriously. It was over $9 billing last year and could be considered one of the more recession proof industries.
If you mean taken seriously as a form of entertainment or art, I think for every game that comes out that can be considered true art, there is a controversy that follows. For every adult playing a Mario game, there’s a 6 year old playing Resident Evil or Call of Duty. Unfortunately, me playing Mario does not equal news.
So until MMO’s stop ruining peoples’ lives, parents start being parents by controlling what their kids are playing, and game genres can tote more features than JUST violence, the gaming industry will never be taken seriously. Since none of these things will ever happen in my opinion, I don’t believe the gaming industry will ever be taken seriously.

VGV – Would you say the Metroid Metal project, and indirectly the Metroid series of games, inspired you to become a better musician?
GH – Indirectly, yes. I don’t think I’m a better guitar player because of this project, but it has definitely helped push my level of production forward, and I think I’m a better songwriter because of it as well. I’m 23 tracks into the project, and most of them aren’t the traditional verse/chorus/verse standards you hear in pop tracks. There have been some big challenges, and it’s definitely made me a better musician and engineer I think.

VGV - You’ve covered many great songs from the Metroid series and cultivated a very large fan base. Where does Metroid Metal go from here? What other projects are you currently working on?
GH – I will continue doing Metroid Metal as long as people keep listening to it. While I’m already done with the most popular Metroid tunes, I’m still getting requests for some of the more niche tracks. I’m actually getting more requests now than ever, which is interesting. I guess that’s because people see me branching out from the more popular stuff, and they think some of their favorite tracks might actually get made perhaps? Who knows? But that project will go on as long as it wants.
I released a full length album myself about 2 years ago. I plan on doing another EP soon of instrumental work. There are also several other collaborations I’m into right now, so we’ll see.

VGV – One more quick question. In the Item Room remix from the original Metroid, (http://metroidmetal.com/metroid_mp3/metroid_itemroom.mp3), you can clearly hear a voice talking in the background…What is he saying?
GH – Oh, that’s actually me reading the story of Metroid out of the NES instruction manual! I wanted this kind of radio noise in the background, and that is what I came up with. It just seemed appropriate in some weird way. You can only understand the first line or so, but that doesn’t really matter. It’s just ambience.

*A very special thanks to Mr. Henry for his amazing work and for the opportunity to interview him!

ARCHIVE POST - September 11th, 2009 - Remembering Gunpei Yokoi

2010-01-26T14:02:00.000-08:00

Vgchartz has posted a great feature about one of Nintendo's finest, (and by extension, the video game industry proper), Gunpei Yokoi. Today would have been his 68th birthday if he had not been killed in a tragic traffic accident.
Full Article Here

ARCHIVE POST - July 13th, 2009 - Penn & Teller take on Video Game Violence

2010-01-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

I know it's circulating the inter-tubes like mad, but I needed to post links to the "Penn & Teller Bullshit" episode that focuses on the negative social connotations of violence in video games, (and the asinine nature of the connection). It's a must watch!
Watch part of the episode here!

ARCHIVE POST - June 15, 2009 - Spotlight on Video Games Live

2010-01-26T13:57:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a few moments to draw attention to an organization that truly embodies the ideals and forward thinking that Video Game Virtues tries to espouse itself, but that has the ways and means to advance the stance. Last Summer I was lucky enough to live in a city that was part of the Video Games Live concert tour. It was an amazing show and a great time was had by all in attendance. As the Summer concert season is well underway, what better time is there to call attention to a show you might pass over in favor of a more traditional venue. If you're not familiar with the concept of Video Games Live, be sure to check out their site and look around. If you're a gamer and the tour comes to your hometown, you owe it to yourself to check it out. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

ARCHIVE POST - March 12, 2009 - Tragic School Shooting in Germany Tied to Gaming

2010-01-26T13:56:00.000-08:00

It only took a day for the tragic events that unfolded in Germany on March 11th to be linked to the shooter's fondness for video games.

With the country's already strict regulations against violent video games, Germany is perhaps the worst place this could have happened. So opposed to violent games is the government of Germany, that the Interior Minister is now calling for an outright and complete ban of so-called "Killer Video Games".

This issue infuriates me to no end. Drawing a correlation between ultra-violent conduct with the enjoyment of video games is like connecting this behavior to a person's proclivity for going to the bathroom; there are so many people that do it, it's hard to make a case that stands up to scrutiny.

ARCHIVE POST - March 9th, 2009 - Fight back group aims to bring down UK propoganda ads

2010-01-26T13:50:00.000-08:00

The government of the United Kingdom has launched a stark anti-gaming ad campaign that basically draws a correlation between playing video games and an early death. If you're looking to fight back against this ill-informed, stereotypical fear mongering, please join the cause at the "Change4Life-gamers fight back" group on Facebook.

UPDATE:
Game companies fight back!

Sony is thinking about legal action against the group that released this ad for the use of a Dual Shock controller. Go get 'em!

Codemasters, Konami join Change4Life debate:

Future attacks ‘crass and misleading’ Change4Life ad:

Government defends Change4Life ad:

Tiga submits formal Change4Life complaint:

Now Atari denounces Change4Life:

Sega slams Change4Life ad:

MCV has complained to the ASA and encourages us all to the same:

ARCHIVE POST - October 10, 2008 – A pair of studies: Video Games as Teaching Aides

2010-01-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

I wanted to point out two studies that recently came to my attention that bear consideration. The first study deals with Mark Seidenberg and a hypothesis that games can be used as a stepping tone or gateway to entice children and young adults to read. An interesting concept and one whose validity I can attest to from personal experience. While the idea has its share of critics, I can say without a shred of doubt, that playing video games at a young age spurred me not only to read, but to write, research and retain information, (especially the worthless bits of little information about characters, their back stories and exploits).

The second piece outlines Microsoft’s plan for the creation of the Games for Learning Institute, (G4LI), and the utilization of specialized games to teach children.

“G4LI research will focus on the potential of videogame as tools to teach sciences and other technology-related subjects to middle school children, particularly girls and minorities, according to Microsoft.”

While I don’t see why the institute, and ultimately the study, should focus more heavily on minorities than the population as a whole, I find the concept incredibly intriguing.

"Technology has the potential to help reinvent the education process, and excite and inspire young learners to embrace science, math and technology,"
-Microsoft chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie said Tuesday.”

ARCHIVE POST - October 2, 2008 - Allstate launches Insight Program; Reduced Rates for Gamers

2010-01-26T13:43:00.000-08:00

Wow! We've all heard the age-old argument that playing video games increases one's hand-eye coordination, but I never thought I'd see an international corporation put the notion into practice.
It seems Allstate is going to use a suite of custom games to gauge a driver's mental agility and help reverse "age-related cognitive decline". Take that, Mom and Dad...I told you my game playing would pay off eventually! Hello 1.75% premium decrease!

Information Straight from Allstate

Piece on Insight Program

ARCHIVE POST - September 28th, 2008 - Scientific Pro-Video Game Studies

2010-01-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

Today I just wanted to make a general post and list some of the pro-video game studies that have been done that you probably did not see on the evening news. I also wanted to make quick mention of , Jack Thomson's disbarment

While I don't like to see anyone's livelihood damaged, it's nice to see that not all members of the judicial system are easily swayed by misinformed lawyers and their opportunistic, fatally flawed lawsuits. (Considering how many careers Mr. Thompson tried to destroy during his own, all I can say is: Karma's a bitch!)

Fordham University Study shows gamers can improve problem solving, dexterity

A Video Game Improves Behavioral Outcomes in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer (Stanford Hospital)

Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked, (Great article!)

Teens, Video Games and Civics, (Pew Research)

Game Studies, (a fantastic resource/archive for peer-reviewed studies on video gaming)

ARCHIVE POST - September 24, 2008 - Are games this eras escapism of choice?

2010-01-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

Hey, look at that! My first entry into the Video Game Virtues archive. Before I continue, I’d just like to say welcome to the site, and I hope enjoy your stay.

NPR posted an interesting article, (seemingly from the future, if the story’s date of 9/30 is to be believed); about the role video games play in these times of economic worry. It’s been argued in the past, that the, video game industry is recession proof, but exactly why is that?

The author of the story compares the video game industry with that of motion pictures in the 1930s, stating that the news-weary populace is seeking an escape from the economic doom-and-gloom of the day in the welcoming embrace of interactive gaming. If anything, I believe video games have an advantage over movies in that they can be played and replayed infinitely, and by numerous people, theoretically measuring the entertainment cost per hour in cents as opposed to dollars.

One fact remains constant, in times of financial and social upheaval, people will always seek an escape in some form of entertainment, and while the great depression helped create the movie industry juggernaut we know today, could the downturn of 2008 help propel video games to a loftier position in the collective unconscious? I suppose only time will tell, but consider this, as the housing market collapses, and economic mainstays are sold off or broken up and picked apart by financial vultures, the sale of video games are up 43% from the same time last year. That’s an amazing indicator of the strength of the industry.