Minorities are rarely featured video game characters

A year ago I wrote tongue in cheek list on black secondary video game characters who deserve their own game. The list got a lot of traction on the net, especially when kotaku posted the article in a their weekly Top Lists post.

A year later minorities are rarely featured in video games. A shake really, but understandable when games are tailored two the same cultural audience that movies, and television cater to.

Are there any solutions? Not really, unless the customers demand more diversity in video games.

http://www.bitmob.com/articles/top-five-black-video-game-characters-that-deserve-their-own-game

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El Crítico

The issue with critical game reviews, is the approach of attaching a numerical rating, because with the passing of time the game itself changes, and our contemporary critique becomes detached.     

 How does a videogame itself change over time?   Let take for example the Mario series, started out as 2-D sprite, side scrolling platformer with its' contemporary being a 3-d adventure played on a sphere.  Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy are two great games, based on a 3-D engine that scored roughly the same, with Edge Magazine giving a 10/10 and Gamespot placing a 9.4 and 9.5, respectively, scores.  If I were to replay Super Mario 64, I would recognize the charm, and the great joy that I experience in September 1996.  I fearfully cringe at the though of missing Super Mario 64, only to return to it in 2009, coming away from the experience as being a stepping stone or an innovator for 3-D platformers.  

 Both games are very similar in nature, 3-D, Mario controls the same, ice levels are slippery and boo shy ghosts chase when not seen.  These two games are, undoubtedly, favorites of gamers, but they are unfinished, as to say, another Mario will build upon the familiar and loved gameplay themes.  We are playing unfinished copies of our favorite games.  If the reader agrees, then placing a numerical value to a critique is pointlesss.

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Dead Space 2 Ad Campaign of Fisting Mothers

During the holiday season of 2008, when Dead Space came from a small unnamed studio buried in the swamp of Redwood Shores -- creators of the EA published Simpsons and Godfather games -- was one of those titles without a small ad campaign but reviewed very well in the video-game media.

With Dead Space 2 a week away of hitting store shelves statewide, the ad campaign debuted during the NFL divisional round playoff games. The ad campaign, YourMomHatesThis.com, has the social media networks and video-game blogs crying foul over the concept. Their point is simple, violent video games should not be marketed to kids (likes alcohol and tobacco).

The concept is a tongue in cheek riff of the popular Will Smith song “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and apparently, neither do vocal Internet gamers. If you have not seen the commercial, please do so now here. Do we ever see the game marketed specifically for anyone under the age of 18? Never.

Funny, right?

Well Isaac thinks so

Video-game podcasts were calling Dead Space 2008’s Bioshock, and as one does with praise, I picked up the title with no hesitation. As to find out, right before Christmas dinner, my mom hated Dead Space and she let me know it. In the early evening and before everyone had arrived, I was playing as Isaac Clarke; gunning, running and stomping necromorphs.

My mother, who once chided me for playing as the Middle Eastern faction in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare multiplayer -- because to her killing Americans for sport is a sin -- was again genuinely upset by Dead Space’s concept.

Limb by limb

Besides the modeled necromorphs, which apparently were design after hours of researching photographs of car crash victims, my mother complained of the terrible sound. The noise, the loud swoosh that sounded like two subway rail cars passing each other at top speed to the heavy breathing of Issac Clarke in his suit.

After the holidays, with mom at home, I proceeded to play and complete Issac Clarke’s adventure on the Ishimura, and how I enjoyed the game more than the popular Resident Evil series. As for the Dead Space 2 ads? Reminds me of the time when my mom did not understand.

Jersey Shore Season 3 Episode 2 Of I'll Pound You

As the viewers have grown accustom to, fights within the Jersey Shore cast are regular as fist pumping. In episode 2, we see Jwoww and Sami continue their epic hatred of each other as they fight once more. The cast heads off to Karma, there familiar hunting grounds and two of the boys are caught in unfamiliar territory. Rides on the boardwalk become awkward with the pouting of a young child and the cast begins their careers of t-shirt sales.

The camera fades away from the violence only to show cast reactions to a girl fight that is quickly broken up by security as Mike sends his one-night-stands home. The season seems to be headed of a Sami and Ronnie break up with the other cast getting into drunken trysts and a lot of fist pumping in Seashore, New Jersey.

Ronnie and Sami know they are the troublemakers, as Sunday church is on their radar as they take one of the two cars. This completely ruins Mike's plans, not sure how, but he says it does. We see the guidos go to the gym, tan and shop for Sunday dinner. Deena cooks, everyone seems to survive Sunday dinner.

And as Vinny raps his one-hit single "T-Shirt Time" he begins to attracts the stalkers. And neck-suckers, three kissing blondes, and a girl who is DTF. The proverb of the night, is no better said by Mike the Situation, with Vinny locking him out of a potential threesum, "sharing is for caring." We all wish Mike.

Pauli, rather falls into a background like Justin Beiber dancer, never to be seen or heard again. Oh wait, he cracks a few jokes here and there. As he says, "Come home missing Sunday dinner with a big banana and expect everything to be peaches" to a standoffish Sami.

With Jenni, we begin to see issues with her long time boyfriend, Tom, who gets upset over a forgotten anniversary. Does he not know, his honey is getting paid to hang out and sell shirts in Seaside? Give her a break.

Deena and Snooki, like Starsky and Hutch, are two peas in a pod or two meatballs of fun. They are each other's Robin without a Batman. Deena quote of the night, " I am down for the get down." Yes babe, we know you are a walking holiday.

The show ends with, surprise, Sami and Ronnie still fighting over the events of season 2. When will these two kids ever learn...

Goal of the year and possibly the decade

Naples and Uruguayan striker Edison Cavani possibly scores the goal of the year.

The video replays the goal over and over and each time I finger it more incredible with each view.

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Jersey Shore Season 3: Book of Proverbs Episode 1

The MTV runaway hit about eight Italian Americans or Guidos and Guidettes living in a shore party house, started their third season Thursday night. Their influence on American culture is known. The housemates create their sanchismos (ironic Proverbs, and crude humor). And last their was a plenty.

Snooki, when referring to her wandering eye hump buddy Vinny, who was flirting with the new housemate Deena, if he was to sleep with her (Deena) she (Snooki) was to "done all ties." Now of course "cut all ties" is the popular saying, heck, US cut all ties with Cuba years ago but down them? Hilarious.

Now Deena, the new girl, who later picks an argument with Sammie, calls herself a "blast from the glass" and no omw really knows what she means. Is she comparing herself to a shot glass or just the red plastic cup. We know she hijacked "the blast from the past" but Deena is nothing to blast at.

The season just begun, so with each new episode I'll update you all with latest Jersey Shore proverbs and sayings. Oh, cuca, the goodies, hooha and vayjayjay all mean the same thing. Vagina.

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San Francisco Auto-Show 2010

Enjoy.
Some of the cooler looking rides at the Moscone Convention Center

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Cholula's Hot Sauce Review

On Thursday night, there was a thick fog lay out across the San Francisco Bay and with only Cholula Hot Sauces to keep warm. From Cholula’s Original Sauce to Chili-Garlic, Chili-Lime and Chipotle, each flavor offers a great bold taste without sacrificing the original flavor. The calm night called for savory treats in the form of deep fried taquitos to be topped off with Cholula’s powerful sauces.

Cholula’s Original sauce offers a spicy taste that goes well with taquitos, popcorn and other savory appetizers and dishes. The original sauce is clearly a fan favorite, as the dinner party left a close to empty bottle by the end of the night. The charm of the original sauce is the spicy, but not too hot flavors. Chips, popcorn, tacos all can use the flavorful spice of Cholula’s best sauce.

Cholula’s Chili-Lime sauce was the second sought after bottle of the night. The citrus flavor bursts in each drop of sauce. Great with chicken, or pork sided with vegetables but can be easily be edible paired with fruits -- apples, mangoes and a jicama salad is a must try with Chili-Lime sauce!

The remaining two sauces, Chipotle and Chili Garlic, are two distinctive flavors remarkably different than the others. Cholula’s Chipotle sauce is strong, musky and smoky taste that paired remarkably well wit the chicken taquitos. The Chipotle’s smoky taste may be too much for some eaters, but perfect for chickens wings and pork ribs. Cholula’s Chili-Garlic is, unfortunately, a garlic lovers dream. Unlike the other Cholula’s sauces, use the Chili-Garlic sparingly as the taste goes a long way which may not be a negative on how much one loves their garlic.

Overall, Cholula’s brand is a bit stronger with their newer flavors. Combined with any of you favorite comfort foods, Cholula is guaranteed to add a little of spice to all of your taste buds.

SF Auto Show Range Rover

Daily updates and photos of San Francisco Auto Show

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Lucha Libre AAA: Héroes del Ring Review

When I first heard about a lucha libre wrestling/fighting game, with a Mexican publisher and Latin American developers, I was estatic. Growing up Latino in the US during the 1980s is a mirror of racial harmony and backlash. As a young kid, I wanted to fit in with the kids in school, but not made fun of the food I ate at lunch. Young latin kids, to this day, must find a balance between this dualness or veilness. Because of the aforementioned ideas, Lucha Libre AAA is a very important IP to the young latin kids the game will undoubtedly be marketed to.

The company, Slang, who is behind Lucha Libre AAA is based out of Mexico City and has been in the video game distribution business for countless of years in Latin America. An interview with myself and Federico Beyer of Slang, detailing their motivations is hosted on bitmob. Lucha Libre AAA has enough features to hold its targeted audience of adolescent boys and young men who are into the wrestling and fighting genre, but the game has key critical flaws.
One of the core features is the build your character. While other games like UFC and Fight Night, only feature certain subset of physique options. In Lucha Libre AAA having the option to build costumes and masks, hours could be spent alone in creating ones character. The options continued with a customizable ring-set of moves. While wrestling moves seem similiar, there are unique moves to Lucha Libre like La Hurucana and La Campana.

The story mode campaign, which must be played to unlock wrestlers, are actually two. One side you play as a technico or as rudo. As one progresses, the technicos are the heros and the rudos are the heels. The game awards players with star-points (move sets are based on reward points labeled as stars) all leading up to a finishing move. As a tecnico, fairness and highflying moves get extra points, whereas a rudo, gets awarded points for fighting dirty and outside the ring.

The culmination of winning matches, with your custom wrestler, is the historical/documentary style video of Lucha Libre. These vidoes show the beginning of Lucha Libre in Mexico, the Super Campeonato and the dynasties of Mexican luchador families. The hometown heroes, as my mother is from La Cormaca Lagunera, is the Wagner Family; Dr Wagner, Dr Wagner Jr and Silver King.

It is also interesting, but not relevant to the review, Silver King played as Ramses in Nacho Libre and recently, change his name to Silver Cain. Dr Wagner Jr, recently has a feud with his brother Silver Cain, with Cain showing a video of their deceased father claiming Cain is the better wrestler. Drama.

Lucha Libre AAA does indeed have its flaws. Besides the miniscule glitches; sound going off and on, long loading and multiple screens between fights. There are two issues that plagues the game. First, the difficulty level balance. Easy is too easy and Normal is ridicously hard. While playing on Normal, the AI countered every move, and while knocked down on the canvas, repeatedly pressing X to get up was tiring and frustrating. On Easy, the notch of difficulty was as simple as a few body slams, and then the finishing move all within a quick minute. For future iterations, there must be a better balance between the difficulty levels.

The second issue was the relaince on the counter move, where counters are super important in Dead or Alive and other fighting games, in Lucha Libre the counter relies on a time press of the L1 Button. Too early or too late, your wreslter gets hit. But when one becomes the master of the counter, the later stages of the story mode the game becomes a one button-fest. And with the later stages reling solely on countering, frustation starts to set in as the timing seem to be off at times. Forget in trying to attack the AI, as the computer controlled wrestler will counter every move.

Lucha Libre is a good game, even with ill timed game-breaking flaws, the highlights outweigh them. The wrestling and fighting genre is thick marketplace, but Lucha Libre AAA has enough quality attributes to give a chance on. For Latinos living in the US, with enough support, we may see Slang try for an encore American release in the near future.

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