|
[img width=600 height=427]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/RFGen%20Blog/tv_zps2q0ywpgm.gif[/img]
If January seemed to fly by, then February zoomed by as fast as a spikey, blue weasel...... Welcome back friends to the March 2017 edition of RF Generation's Site News! In this issue, we announce April's community playthrough game and a welcome change to the playthrough forum, pronounce the death of our IRC chatroom and announce the birth of a new means of site communication, provide the new dates and location for Retro World Expo 2017, and of course, thank those members who sent in submissions to our site and registered approvals during the month of February. Thanks for adjusting your "bunny ears" and tuning in to this edition of the Site News!
REMEMBER: If you have any news about upcoming events or topics that you think the site needs to hear about, please PM singlebanana and put "RFG Site News" in the subject line. Who knows, maybe your news will make our front page!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continue reading All Our News Are Belong To You: March 2017 Edition
[img width=700 height=410]https://sickr.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/nintendo_switch_console.png?w=1200[/img] Image shamelessly linked from My Nintendo News.
CONSOLE WANT INTENSIFIES
As I begin writing this article, it is less than 1 week until the launch of the Nintendo Switch console. By the time this article is posted, the console will have been released. Because I didn't have the money to pre-order a Switch when the pre-orders were announced, I may well miss out on the launch of the console, unless I'm fortunate enough to score one from the nearest GameStop, Best Buy, or Target, the evening after the midnight launch. Barring that luck, I suspect it will be a few weeks before I'll be able to get my hands on one. However, with the Internet hype machine leaking information, and Nintendo themselves feeding the public little crumbs of info over the last few months, I've been sucked in like never before. I was intrigued by the launch of the Dreamcast, though hopelessly unable to afford one at the time, and I was very excited prior to the launch of the Wii U, though ended up not being able to afford one until nearly a year after launch, but with the Switch, and the possibilities it brings to the table, I have to say I'm more excited than ever.
Continue reading Why I'm Excited About The Nintendo Switch
I am very happy to report that in the final days of the donation drive, we were able to surpass our $1500 goal. With everyone's generous donations, we raised an incredible $1551 total! This means great things for our site, as it will keep our server's going and allow us to do some special things to help promote our site and improve your experience here. Thank you to all who donated in the final days of the fund drive and to all of you for your support! This is such a fantastic community to be a part of and I am glad that we can continue to help it grow.
A BIG thanks to all of the members who have donated since our last update!:
zophar53
G. Franzen
Fokakis79
techwizard
FatherJack
Duke.Togo
nupoile**
Grand total raised: $1,551.00
Continue reading 2017 Donation Drive - Final Update & Raffle
[img width=610 height=300]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/cisco678/games-bucket-list_zpsovgf6a0b.jpg[/img]
Courtesy sidequesting.com
Everyone has a bucket list of games that they want to play or complete, but can't find the time for. This year I decided to do something about it and picked five games that I want to complete before the year is over. Let's take a look at the games I picked and I would love to hear what's on your bucket list this year.
Continue reading My Video Game Bucket List for 2017
[img width=700 height=393]http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah83/zophar53/RF%20Gen%20pics/Virginia%20screenshots/374030_20170204063627_1_zps4hpwvroi.png[/img]
While the post-holiday game release drought seems like it's getting shorter and shorter every year, I feel like it doesn't provide enough time to catch up on big name titles from the previous year as it used to. Thankfully, even in the midst of the fantastic games we've already seen in 2017, not to mention the fact that the Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is happening this very morning, some of the games I wanted to squeeze in were smaller indie titles that I actually have been able to make time for.
One of these was a little gem by the name of Virginia. If you're not familiar with it, it's a narrative-focused, walking simulator-like game similar to something like Gone Home. Sporting a not-quite-cell-shaded visual style and a complete lack of dialogue, I was very interested in giving it a try and seeing how it compared not just to Gone Home, but also Firewatch, which regular readers of this site may remember as a game I had some pretty big issues with when I played it last June. I'm in the minority with my opinions on that game, but I appreciated what it was trying to achieve and was hoping for at least a similar experience from Virginia.
Continue reading Virginia, Where Less Is More
[img width=350 height=500]https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2111/32302133874_3b19110d66_c.jpg[/img]
As my collection has been growing, my acquisitions have been slowing. It makes sense that at some point, you will eventually reach a saturation point in your collecting in which it's harder to find titles that interest you than it used to be when you had less games. However, I still really enjoy gaming and collecting so I don't want it to stop quite yet. Over the last few weeks, one of my collecting goals has been to update my rfgen wishlist. Sounds simple enough. Yet, I found myself pouring well over 50 hours into this project. I wanted to make sure my list was comprehensive and accurate. This meant reaching out to trusted friends with expertise beyond mine for certain libraries, doing a fair bit of research, and watching a ton of YouTube playthroughs before assigning a coveted checkmark to the wishlist box.
Continue reading Collecting Wishes
Since our last update, we have seen an overwhelming amount of generosity from our members. I am incredibly proud to report that with the recent influx of donations, we are now at 95% of our goal! There are only two more days in February, so please help us eclipse this goal (you can donate here: http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?action=paypal). In order to push us through the finish line, we are giving away two Steam codes to the donor who breaks the $1500 mark! Even if you have already donated, you can donate again and be eligible for these Steam codes.
Also, be sure to donate so that you can get in on the raffle of great prizes donated by our staff. You can find a listing of all the raffle prize lots HERE. A BIG thanks to all of the members who have donated since our last update!:
toze3
Guile
douglie007
Duke.Togo
TheAncientHero
Soia11
NeoMagicWarrior
Sigoya
sydpinkfloyd
Pam
98PaceCar
flyingclimber
Socialiste
bronson66
Lazyperson
Nik the Russian
EngineerMike
Wylaf Beulbe
phalnx
starfox387
neimad
Ze_ro
T. Trycieki
beakerman
Raidou
Thank you all! Please remember to PM me with your screen name and the email address you donated with, (or include your handle with your donation) so that we can properly thank you during our weekly updates and provide you with the proper number of raffle tickets. If you donated recently and do not see your name, you may have donated after we pulled numbers. If you don't see it, just send me a PM and I will check on your donation status.
Grand total raised so far: $1,431.00
[img width=457 height=579]http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/14/149200/2267149-kaeru_no_tame_ni_kane_wa_naru.jpg[/img]
As a kid growing up in the early to mid-90s, videogames were a huge part of my childhood. Like many kids from that time, I had a Game Boy and played it most often while away from home. However, there was one game I owned for the Game Boy that kept me playing whether I was at home or on the go: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Link's Awakening was an important game for me growing up, taking the formula of A Link to the Past, one of my all-time favorite games, and condensing it to Game Boy form meant it was an automatic hit in my book. It also helped that a good friend of mine at that time was also playing the game, so we would often compare notes and help each other along throughout the game.
But wait! This isn't an article about Link's Awakening, so why am I spending so much time talking about it? Well, it has come to my attention recently that the topic of this article, a game by the name of For the Frog the Bell Tolls, and Link's Awakening have a lot in common. Specifically, both games share the same engine, so the aesthetic as well as certain gameplay mechanics are nearly identical between these two games. With Link's Awakening being a game that is so near and dear to me, I knew I had to check out For the Frog the Bell Tolls, so I bought an original Japanese Game Boy cartridge of the game and popped it into my Retron 5 complete with an English language translation patch so I could enjoy this adventure firsthand!
Continue reading For The Frog The Bell Tolls
[img width=650 height=520]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c394/bombatomba77/newfail_zpsmxp7v7k1.png[/img]
pic from mitchellhperkins.blogspot.com
Video games have the ability to draw from the full range of emotions and reactions from the human mind, and can still be considered good even while focusing on drawing out such reactions as frustration and annoyance into its core design. It feels good for the mind to overcome a challenge, so the feeling of relief that comes after the period of high challenge feels all the more sweet. There are a variety of ways to accomplish this, whether building the game from the ground up to be in this way, or to give a robust set of free form tools that allow for a unique experience with each new map. Horror games and games designed to be tense, difficult experiences can easily feel like they're drawing from the natural curiosity of humans to see what lies behind the next door.
Continue reading How to Make Failure Fun
[img width=700 height=393]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_pWGiI11jHo/maxresdefault.jpg[/img]
I'm not sure about you, but "you gotta believe" I'm a sucker for a good rhythm game. Game mechanics are usually boiled down to "hit this button at this time", but in reality all games are the same; rhythm games are just more explicit about it. Since I've moved my gaming stuff into the basement, I've been able to enjoy them a fair bit more than normal, and I figured it would be a good time to go through a few of my favorites (in no particular order).
Continue reading We Got the Beat - Rhythm Games
RF Generation is currently holding its annual fund drive to help with the server costs for 2017. So far, we have had a good turnout and I am happy to report that with our donors' generous pledges, we are at 54% of our goal! There's only one more week left in February, so if you are considering donating, now is the time (you can donate here: http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?action=paypal). Be sure to donate so that you can get in on the raffle of great prizes donated by our staff. You can find a listing of all the raffle prize lots HERE. A BIG thanks to all of the members who have donated since our last update!:
bsr241
The Burnin8or
erikescapade
Marriott_Guy
Wempster
Thank you all! Please remember to PM me with your screen name and the email address you donated with, (or include your handle with your donation) so that we can properly thank you during our weekly updates and provide you with the proper number of raffle tickets. If you donated recently and do not see your name, you may have donated after we pulled numbers. If you don't see it, just send me a PM and I will check on your donation status.
Grand total raised so far: $809.00
[img width=700 height=393]https://media.playstation.com/is/image/SCEA/yakuza-5-listing-thumb-01-us-13nov14?$Icon$[/img] Image courtesy of Playstation.com
I've been a big fan of the Yakuza series since back in the Playstation 2 days. If you've never heard of them, the games put you mostly in the shoes of Kazuma "Kaz" Kiryu as he deals with the trials and tribulations of being a leader in the Tojo Clan of gangsters. Like the Persona series, Yakuza, while localized for American audiences, is baked in Japanese culture. The gameplay, contrary to popular belief is nothing like Grand Theft Auto but more like Shenmue only a thousand times more exciting and fluid. The series has spanned the Playstation 2 through the Playstation 4, and even has a few PSP titles that never made it out of Japan. I feel like I have to stress that for as much as I adore this series, it is certainly not for everyone. Only the first game has English voice acting so if you don't like reading subtitles, see you later! The brawler-style combat engine is not updated enough from game to game so many people have understandably criticized it for becoming stale. The graphics, while colorful and detailed, always feel a little bit dated. If you don't like long cutscenes you also might want to pass. They're not in the same league as the Metal Gear Solid series, but they're certainly in the realm of "put down your controller and watch for a while."
Continue reading Yakuza 5
[img width=700 height=393]http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c394/bombatomba77/1_zpsevqaseaj.jpg[/img]
I've been at this for about thirty hours now, and I'm not sure exactly about my goal. I mean, I know what the next quest is that I should be going on (as far as the story is concerned), rather it's my personal goal that's in question. See, as I move around the landscape on my way to someplace, I find myself distracted by literally hundreds of various caves, grottoes, castles, outposts, bandits, camps, giants herding woolly mammoths, and dragons. I've been doing this for thirty hours. And here is another keep, which I (of course) have to clear, for no reason save to get a "clear" mark on my map. Man, is that mountain pretty, bathed in the morning sun with the clouds partially concealing the peaks, yet clearly moving...
Oh, man. Where the heck was I even going?
Continue reading Lost in Skyrim
[img width=450 height=338]http://us.123rf.com/450wm/scottff72/scottff721408/scottff72140800013/31034827-people-who-are-gamers-large-group-of-people-in-the-symbol-shape-of-a-gaming-controller-on-a--white-b.jpg[/img]
Pic from 123rf.com (stock photo)
I consider our stacks of Nintendo Power, EGM, Game Players, GamePro, and other old video game magazines to be as personal a treasure as my childhood Turbo Duo. Not just for the inherent nostalgia or dated (but awesome!) art, nor even the chance to remember a hidden gem of a game I haven't played in awhile. Flipping through these old slices of gaming's past also reinvigorates my passion for our industry in a way that modern sources just cannot do. Sure, part of it is my love of these older eras of gaming, although I immensely enjoy the current generation of consoles. But what I think takes me back time and again is the purity of those old video game magazines. In those magazines there is not universal praise, nor is there a lack of critique or appropriate negativity. There is a passion, even at times an adoration of the magic of video games.
Continue reading On The Importance Of Neutral Ground
[img width=700 height=437]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Podcast/PlayCast_zpsmi6bsclk.jpg[/img]
Join RF Generation Playcast hosts, Rich (singlebanana) and Shawn (GrayGhost81) as they discuss one of the most beloved RPGs on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Secret of Mana. Join these playthrough gurus as they review their maiden voyages through the game and try to determine what makes classic gamers dote upon it so. Topics discussed include: the general story, the revolutionary menu system, upgrades, general enemy and boss battles, and of course, the musical score. Having recently played both of Square's "Secret" SNES titles, Rich takes a few minutes to discuss the verbal war that often rages between Secret of Mana and Secret of Evermore fans and whether or not either argument holds water. Which game is better, and would either of our hosts recommend this particular title? Be sure to listen to this episode of the RF Generation Playcast to find out!
As always, we are happy to hear your thoughts on this game on our discussion page (linked below). We will respond to your comments and are always happy to discuss the game more. We hope you enjoy our show. Please be sure to rate and write a review of the show on iTunes to help us increase our listenership. Thanks for the listen!
Episode 34 discussion thread: http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?topic=17592.0
Get the show on Podbean: http://www.rfgplaycast.com/
On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/...ion-playcast/id1038953364
On Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/p...ation-playcast?refid=stpr
And follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfgenplaythroughs
And Twitter: https://twitter.com/RFGPlayCast
Continue reading Episode 34 - RF Generation Playcast
|
