text:
Windows, Linux ARM servers are on their way to the data center
Microsoft joins a push towards ARM servers that have been building up for years.
Microsoft joins a push towards ARM servers that have been building up for years.
Microsoft is reportedly pondering an ARM-based flavor of Windows Server. The idea may just make sense.
With an enterprise technical preview coming in a few weeks, and an ARM-based test version due early next year, the next version of Windows is approaching rapidly.
Users with ARM-based Windows RT devices can now try Microsoft's RemoteApp service to access remotely line-of-business apps.
After close to a week with the Nokia Lumia 2520, what's this Surface RT user's first impressions?
Nokia's Windows Phone 8 have found a home at the Finnish arm of Swiss company ABB.
Microsoft has just released its new Surfaces, but how does the original ARM-powered Microsoft tablet fare with Windows 8.1?
Microsoft has temporarily pulled its recently released Windows RT 8.1 update for ARM-based devices due to an unexplained issue.
Intel today unveiled its new family of chips designed to challenge ARM in the tablet market - promising to deliver a two times performance boost on its earlier tablets and support a raft of new Windows 8 and Android tablets.
There are at least two new Windows ARM tablets in the pipeline: The Microsoft Surface 2 and Nokia 'Sirius,' according to evolving rumors.
Microsoft designed Windows RT to get its newest OS on tablets using the popular ARM processor. It did this well, but in the process crippled it, making it a no-go for the consumer.
The Taiwanese PC maker is saying goodbye to Windows RT.
Windows RT and Windows Phone 8 aren't doing well, but Microsoft can still make out with some help from Intel and Windows 8.1 If its great ARM experiment doesn't work out, supporting Microsoft's key applications on Android and iOS won't hurt.
Microsoft officials confirmed plans to make Outlook RT available on ARM-based devices, including Surface RT, in conjunction with Windows 8.1, codenamed 'Blue.'
While the original Yoga 11 ran Windows RT and was powered by an ARM chip, the new version offers Intel's Ivy Bridge processors and runs either Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro.
The computer maker accused Microsoft of "confusing" consumers with multiple flavors of Windows 8, such as ARM-based versions.
It's increasing looking like those with ARM-based Windows devices might get the option to put Microsoft's Outlook RT on them, after all.
Microsoft has delivered several non-security-specific updates for Windows RT, the operating system for ARM-based tablets and PCS including the Surface RT, as part of this month's Patch Tuesday.
The next time someone complains that Windows 8 touchscreens give you "gorilla arm," you have my permission to stomp on them like that ape in the old American Tourister commercials. The reality is that touchscreens work great on modern laptops, and you might even be able to retrofit touch support on your old trackpad.
Nvidia, like rival Qualcomm, delivered a strong quarter as ARM-based processor companies fare well. The fourth quarter outlook was light. The big unknown is Windows 8 uptake.
Classic Steve Jobs disses you can put on your next resignation letter
Windows 10
With new Surface Book and Surface Pro 4, Microsoft aims high
For privacy and security, change these iOS 9 settings immediately
Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book mean business, but no big threat to Apple
Windows 10
Might Microsoft's Lumia 950 and 950XL phones get more carrier love?


text:
"The best kept secret in Twin Cities Theater!"
– Mike Marcotte, Twin Cities Live
"There's a new company in town, and it's the Real McCoy."
– Janet Preus, "How Was the Show"
COLLIDE is a performing arts company dedicated to creating new works that are rooted in classical Musical Theater Jazz Dance and inspired by the influences of Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse. We bring together Twin Cities dancers, musicians, vocalists, actors, spoken word artists, playwrights, choreographers and directors to create original Broadway-style theatrical works.
Our mission is to create original, Broadway-style jazz dance musicals.
INTEGRITY: We adhere to achieving artistic excellent, honesty, and transparency in our artistic and administrative standards.
GRATITUDE: We recognize the work of each of our artists and seek to compensate them for their talent, passion and hard work.
ACCESSIBILITY: We understand that it is important to bridge the gap between the audience and dance, and we adhere to keeping our programming consistently entertaining, family-friendly, and inspiring.
NEW WORK AND COLLABORATION: We are committed to producing new, never-before-seen productions in Minnesota.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This week a group of experts advised the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to permanently retire more than 300 federally-owned chimpanzees, but also recommended leaving 50 behind who could be made available for experiments.
The announcement coincides with the first nine of 110 retired chimps from the New Iberia Research Center arriving at Chimp Haven, a national sanctuary, this week with the rest expected to make their way there over the coming months. Last month the NIH announced it would move them all to a sanctuary, instead of sending 100 of them to the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio.
The move to retire the 110 left more than 300 NIH-owned chimps available for invasive research while the NIH's Council of Councils Working Group decided on how many research chimps it would keep, in addition to evaluating research projects the NIH currently funds and developing strict rules for when they should be used.
The group was established to further debate the issue of using chimps in research after the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report in 2011 concluding that most research on chimps was unethical and unnecessary in biomedical and behavioral research, which was completed at the request of the NIH and in response to a congressional inquiry.
The final report issued this week advised the NIH to permanently retire all but 50 of the agency's chimps who are currently housed in facilities in Texas and New Mexico to a sanctuary, and that the NIH should begin planning for this "immediately."
The report proposed standards for their social and physical welfare, including requirements that they live in groups of at least seven, each have a minimum of 1,000 square feet, room to climb, access to the outdoors in all weather and opportunities to forage for food, reports to the New York Times.
The report also recommended stopping six of nine current biomedical research projects that involve immunology and infectious agents, while an additional six ended. There were also 15 less invasive projects that were approved, or conditionally approved, which will need to pass a review before receiving additional funding.
Additionally, the report advised against breeding, and set standards for future experiments, calling for the establishment of an independent committee that would approve study proposals after they pass the NIH's scientific review and experiments that are expected to be harmful must have a "very high" benefit to humans in order to be approved, according to Daniel Geschwind, co-chair of the working group and a geneticist at the School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles.
While the recommendations are good news, they are not final. NIH Director Francis Collins is expected to respond to them in March, after a 60-day public commend period.
"We are very pleased with the report. Of course, we'd want to see every single chimpanzee recommended to go to sanctuary, but this is a huge step in the right direction," Kathleen Conlee of the Humane Society of the United States told NPR. "So now it's time to roll our sleeves up and figure out how we are going to get all these animals to sanctuary and give them the lifetime of retirement that they so deserve."
Conlee also said the HSUS will be urging Congress to reallocate money being spent on research contracts to Chimp Haven for the care of retired chimps.
Unfortunately, these recommendations will also not apply to privately-owned chimps, whose fates remain unclear. Animal advocacy organizations are still pushing to get the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act passed this year, which will help the ones left behind by phasing out testing for chimpanzees currently in U.S. labs, along with retiring all federally owned chimpanzees and ending transport and breeding programs for great apes intended for research.
Take Action: Tell the NIH director to allow these chimps to retire!
Related Stories:
Sick and Dying Chimps Still Used in Research
Feds "Retire" 100 Research Chimps, by Sending Them to Another Research Center
Senate Committee Passes Bill to End Chimp Research
Read more: animal testing, chimpanzees, great apes, iom, nih
Photo credit: Thinkstock
All these animals must be released from their research duties.
Petition signed. Janice C. that's a brilliant idea to have webcams.
Let them all go since you don't even know what you are doing and give the money for the hungry, homeless. We are all paying for what you are doing and you are the ones who left our government in a hole all these years!!! Shame on you for the grants & Shame on our government!!
signed, thanks for sharing :)
Petition signed. Free them all!
The sanctuary needs to have webcams all around the facility so that the public can enjoy these animals and to keep an eye on their safety. The more people can see these primates playing and interacting, the more empathy people will have for them.
By the way, I've come to believe that it's a real possibility that the people who inflict horrific pain and suffering on animals, our fellow creatures that share this planet, are nothing more than psychopaths who are paid to masquerade as researchers.
It's obvious that people do not want or support primates used in research, or any animals for that matter. It's certainly good news to hear that some will be sent to a sanctuary but again I'm stating the obvious when I say that people want them all released. There's absolutely no question that primates or any wild or exotic animals should be allowed to be privately owned. It's hard enough getting many people to be responsible with dogs and cats.
I hope the sanctuary will be given enough funds to take care of them all properly, instead of just another hell on earth.
Yes, Shame on anyone who excuses such experimentation on animals. What is with those who "lean toward no"?? Sitting on the fence gets pretty uncomfortable after awhile, folks. Get some intestinal fortitude, for the sake of the animals.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Turn Back Blow by Roger Williams needs to be number 11 on this list.
I really think this entire department should be under the auspices of the EPA.
It is unfortunate that people have to live (or exist would be a better word) in the type of conditions…
Problem on this page? Briefly let us know what isn't working for you and we'll try to make it right!


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The Gameslinger's blog
on 06.10.2012
There Will Be Some New Additions to Games Obscura!
Greetings, followers, newcomers and, in general, readers of Games Obscura. Games Obscura has only been around for a few weeks, but I find myself dedicated to this blog, and have already been thinking of ways to make Games Obscura better. In particular, additions to this blog that will add variety, and keeps things fresh and exciting, while still remaining proudly dedicated to its focus on the obscure, forgotten, strange and underappreciated side of gaming. On that note, Games Obscura will be remaining strongly focused on my �Second Look At� articles for particular games, but there are also a couple of new sections and varieties of articles I will be working on, which I feel will spice up this blog and add variety, and be of great interest to readers of my blog and fellow lovers of the �obscure� side of gaming�..
In particular, there are two new �sections� or varieties of articles I will be writing, in addition to my �Second Look At� articles. The first of these new additions is something I�ll be calling �Consoles Obscura.� Essentially, second looks at particular consoles from the past which, for one reason or another, were unsuccessful, forgotten, or otherwise unappreciated. In these articles, I�ll take a look back at the history of a particular �obscure� game console, the console itself and the company behind it, its library of games, the reasons why it fell into obscurity, and what about it still makes it interesting/what games on it make it worth a second look.
Many consoles have shot for greatness, but fallen into obscurity. Pictured (left to right): Sega Genesis w/32X and Sega CD, TurboDuo, and the Neo Geo.
The second section I�ll be adding is �Future Obscura;� articles focused on in-depth previews and examinations of games that are upcoming, not-yet-released, or caught in limbo. These games aren�t receiving the attention of big-name releases for one reason or another, are odd or different, or perhaps are even having trouble getting out the gate, but are titles which fans of the obscure may find interesting to learn about. As such, these articles will shed some light on future obscure titles, and examine what they are, what�s interesting about them and why they are worth keeping an eye on.
Some upcoming games seem destined for obscurity, or may even be caught in limbo due to development troubles or lack of a publisher. Pictured: Eternal Light, aka "Witches."
So, curious and adventurous gamers, keep an eye out for future entries in Games Obscura! My �Second Look At� articles, to be clear, will remain the bulk of this blog. But I feel that these new varieties of articles will excite and inform fans of the obscure, add variety and excitement to this blog, and work well towards the focus and goal of Games Obscura. As always, if there is a console or game in either of these sections that you feel deserves attention, feel free to make requests or recommendations via PMs, email, or the comments section. Thanks for reading, and keep an eye out, I�ll be updating soon!
*edit/update: I've decided to change the name of my preview articles from "Future Obscura" to "A Look Forward At." It seemed to fit better alongside my "Second Look At" articles. "Consoles Obscura" will still keep its name.*
on 06.07.2012
A Second Look At: Koudelka
SNK, Infogrames
Release dates:
December 16th, 1999 (Japan), June 29th, 2000 (N.A.), September 29th, 2000 (Europe)
Cover art for Koudelka.
What Is This Game?
Koudelka is the original Playstation game which served as the predecessor to the cult Playstation 2 RPG series, �Shadow Hearts.� Koudelka created the universe in which the Shadow Hearts series takes place, and serves as the first entry, both in release and chronology, in what became the Shadow Hearts series. Koudelka plays quite differently than the Shadow Hearts series, however; the game can best be described as a hybrid of survival horror and turn-based RPG gameplay.
The story is set in the year 1898, and occurs mostly in and around the mysterious Nemeton Monastery in Wales. Koudelka, a young gypsy woman, arrives at the monastery after a series of supernatural visions, and soon encounters two others: Edward Plunkett, an adventurer and looter, and James O�Flaherty, a bishop there to investigate the mysterious ��migr� Document� at the monastery. Both end up joining with Koudelka to investigate the monastery for their own reasons, and end up uncovering the dark past and terrifying secrets of the monastery together, as their unlikely alliance slowly gives way to the companionship they will need to explore the monastery, and return from it alive.
Koudelka scales the walls of the Nemeton Monastery in the game's opening cutscene.
Koudelka was a game so obscure at the time of its release that it probably would have been totally forgotten by now, if not for the moderate cult popularity of its Playstation 2 successors, the Shadow Hearts series. At the time of its release, however, I recall being totally fixated on it. The rare previews I�d seen in various video game publications had completely grabbed my interest; a dark, gothic, M-rated horror RPG set in the 1800�s? Now HERE�S something different, I thought. Even when the game was released to average and mediocre reviews, I was still transfixed by the look and concept of it, and it did nothing to deter my fascination with this obscure and unique game.
The game proved oddly elusive to me upon its release, and whether it was bad luck on my part or an actual lack of copies produced or shipped, I have no idea, but within the first month or so after its release, I went through hell just to get my hands on it. None of the stores in my area were carrying it, so I, naturally, turned to the internet to acquire a copy; upon trying to order it from EBWorld, I found the game listed as out of stock, despite even a small advertisement for it on the side of their homepage. So I backordered it��and received an email a week or two later saying they were not expecting any more copies of it to arrive, and thus cancelled my order. So I turned to a number of other online retailers, including the once-popular Chips n� Bits, all of whom either had it backordered or not listed at all. I finally backordered it from Chips n� Bits and, after waiting a couple weeks for it to come back into stock, I FINALLY had a copy shipped to me. A strange sequence of events, for sure, especially since the game isn�t notably rare or expensive nowadays (not common, mind you, but not terribly rare), and it became more readily available within the following couple of months. At any rate, when I finally acquired the game, I was jonesing to play it, even with a slight paranoia that the mediocre reviews might be right�..and that I might be disappointed�..
Those fears were quickly washed away, however. Shortly after popping in the first disc, viewing the game�s beautiful prerendered opening, getting into the first battle, and then moving on and doing some exploring, I was sure; this was no mistake, I was going to love this game. Koudelka was, and still is, a game that is fascinating and unique, and lives on as one of my favorite games of the Playstation era. To be clear, it has some issues, namely with the battle system, which may deter some players, and its unconventional hybrid of the survival horror and RPG genres, while interesting, puts it into a weird niche that seemed to ensure its obscurity. However, these questionable issues and quips did little to take away from the fact that Koudelka is a memorable, atmospheric experience, with excellent characters, a fascinating story, and a dark setting and style rarely seen in RPGs of its time.
Koudelka is filled with a dark style and atmosphere unique to its genre.
History, Release and Reception:
Koudelka was developed by the somewhat short-lived and obscure developer, Sacnoth. Sacnoth was a development company founded by Hiroki Kikuta, who had previously worked as a musical composer for Squaresoft in the mid-90�s, and eventually decided to set out on his own to create his own video games. Sacnoth was the result of his creative venture.
Sacnoth founder Hiroki Kikuta has spent much of his career as a musical composer, his work including the soundtrack for the SNES classic Secret of Mana, in addition to his own score for Koudelka.
1999/2000 saw two releases from Sacnoth: the highly-regarded, but extremely over-looked and under-produced, NeoGeo Pocket Color mech-strategy game, Faselei, and Koudelka. Koudelka was to be Kikuta�s masterpiece and Sacnoth�s flagship game, it seemed. Kikuta felt that the RPG genre was generally plagued by immaturity, and that it had become stagnant, relying too much on repeated genre conventions. Koudelka was to be Kikuta�s masterpiece that would take the genre in a new direction and change all that. Indeed, none could claim he wasn�t passionate about it: he claimed to have read over 100 books on British history and took the design team on a trip to Wales, all in an effort to perfect his would-be masterpiece. However, disputes and disagreements between Kikuta and his team on the direction which the gameplay should take lead to an ultimately compromised vision. Kikuta wanted a more action-oriented battle system, whereas much of the team felt it would be wiser to stick close to the turn-based conventions established by industry giant, Squaresoft. This dispute is quite likely what lead to that which became the game�s heaviest criticism; it�s somewhat odd choice of a grid-based, tactical-RPG style, battle system.
Kikuta also created the mech-strategy game Faselei, but Koudelka was the game he envisioned as his and Sacnoth's crowning achievement.
Koudelka eventually was released to little fanfare and mediocre-to-average reviews. Most critics felt generally the same way about it; the prerendered cutscenes and environments were pretty, the concept original, and the characters and story intriguing. However, the main qualm most critics had with it, which was largely what dragged down its scores, was the aforementioned battle system, along with some of the more frustrating aspects tied to it. Due in part to its lukewarm critical reception, coupled with a general lack of coverage and awareness, Koudelka was quickly forgotten. A short-lived Koudelka manga sprang up in Japan around the time of its Japanese release as well, but only lasted for three volumes and was largely overlooked and forgotten due to the game�s lack of popularity.
The game enjoyed a bit of recognition when the Shadow Hearts series came around during the PS2 era, and developed a small but dedicated cult following. By this point, however, Kikuta had already left Sacnoth due to the aforementioned disputes and Koudelka�s lack of success. Sacnoth eventually ended up making three Shadow Hearts games for the Playstation 2, changing its name to Nautilus, and getting acquired by Aruze Entertainment along the way, before finally being announced as officially �dissolved� by Aruze in 2007. Koudelka, meanwhile, while by far the least known and most rarely mentioned game in the series, still managed some recognition amongst Shadow Hearts fans as the predecessor to the series and the origin of its tale. A bittersweet story, for sure, but at least, in the end, Koudelka managed to avoid being completely forgotten thanks to its ties with its slightly more successful successors.
Although Kikuta left Sacnoth after Koudelka, the Shadow Hearts series carried on the game's legacy, expanding on its story and universe.
The Game:
Koudelka really doesn�t have a lot of flaws outside of its battle system but, unfortunately, an RPG�s battle system can often go a long way toward making or breaking it.
I�ll be honest; I had no issues personally with Koudelka�s battle system. I understood the issues it had, why it detracted from the game for some, and that it did feel somewhat odd and out-of-place with the rest of the game. However, to me anyways, its flaws were not much of a big deal, and I even found myself enjoying the battles despite them. That said, the issues with it can�t be overlooked or denied, especially since enough people took issue with them that it dragged down its overall critical reception, and even the creator was apparently dissatisfied with it.
Koudelka features random battles which take place on a small grid which the player and enemies move around on. Think strategy-RPG, but on a smaller scale, with flat terrain. The battle system in and of itself honestly works, and it�s never unmanageable or too hard to tell what you�re doing, really. The problems lie much in its lack of explanation, slow-pace, frustratingly random breakable weapons, and, once again, the jarring transition to battle, and the whole feeling that the battles are disjointed from the rest of the game.
While random encounters happen at a completely reasonable rate, where you are never overwhelmed by them, the pace of the actual battles is still a bit too slow and protracted for most. During battle, certain actions, like spell casting, can take a while to load after selecting them. Moving each of your three characters around the grid, positioning them correctly for attack, watching the enemies do the same, then going through your menus and actually attacking takes a bit of time, too. While it adds an interesting element of strategy to the combat, it also throws off the pacing of the overall game by moving at its own, slower pace and once again, ultimately making it feel like the battles exist in their own little world, without a lot of connection to the rest of the game.
Koudelka's battle system employs a strategy-RPG-esque grid, which allows characters to move around and reposition themselves on the battlefield.
It doesn�t help to dispel this feeling of disconnection with the fact that battles visually appear to take place on a whole other plain of existence. The battlefields which random encounters transport the player to have no real variety, and are more or less just a small piece of land on which the characters move around, surrounded by darkness. One minute you�re in a side room or roaming the courtyard of the monastery, the next, a random encounter hits and your party is fighting enemies in a black abyss. It didn�t bother me to any real degree, but it�s a noticeable issue, and a bit more detail, backgrounds and variety to the battlefields would have probably gone a long way towards solving that feeling of disconnection between the bulk of the game and the battles.
Likewise, the game leaves the player to figure out the details of combat, for the most part. Again, the battles are manageable and menus and commands clear enough that most people shouldn�t have a lot of trouble operating them. However, it also makes some elements, like move and hit rates, and the power of magic and attacks, seem random at times. More troubling, however, and probably the element of battle I found could be most frustrating, were the game�s breakable weapons. Any weapon you pick up and use in battle can pretty much break at any time. While it�s not entirely random, and different weapons have different levels of durability, any old attack could break your weapon at pretty much any time. Before long, I found myself not using good weapons I�d picked up in all but the most important fights and boss battles, for fear of them breaking on some petty monster and being lost forever.
Koudelka's battle system was its greatest complaint from critics and fans. While some players enjoyed it, many others were unhappy with it, including Kikuta himself.
Besides the issues with the battle system, though, there�s really not much wrong with Koudelka. Yes, you could point out small things here and there. Save points can be a bit infrequent at times. The preset camera angles on some rooms can occasionally be a bit confusing, or make for a jarring transition between areas. But that�s something one could say for just about any Playstation game with prerendered environments, and rarely ever produced any real problems or confusion. Outside of that, the only real issue that springs to mind outside the battles is the requirements for getting the best ending (there are three endings total), or for completing a few other optional parts or obtaining some optional scenes. The game is pretty unspecific about said requirements, and the actions or items required for them, and it would be very easy to overlook a few of them without a guide or walkthrough. These are not numerous, particularly difficult or easy to miss for any player who is attentive or thorough, however, and simply looking at a walkthrough and quickly checking said requirements/optional actions or items solves the problem easily. Overall, outside of some qualms with its battle system, Koudelka is a well-crafted game that has a lot of great things going for it.
Why it�s Worth a Second Look:
Koudelka is worth a second look because, despite what differing opinions say about its battle system, it is otherwise a damn fine game and an incredibly memorable experience. The game is well-crafted, good-looking, and filled with style and atmosphere. It also has a wonderful and refreshingly unique setting, a great story, and excellent characters, all of which are fully voiced throughout the entire game. Not only that, but the voice acting, dialogue and writing are shockingly good, especially for a game of its time. And on top of it all, the Nemeton Monastery and its surrounding areas are an extremely enjoyable and engaging place to discover and explore.
Koudelka looks very good for a Playstation game. Its prerendered cutscenes look crisp and cinematic, and show off the game�s dark gothic style and great character and monster designs nicely. In-game graphics are pretty nice, too. Prerendered backgrounds are good-looking, and while they aren�t as crisp and clear as those in, say, the Final Fantasy or Resident Evil series, the environments are detailed and dripping with dark, atmospheric style. Character models are actually nice-looking and detailed for a 32-bit game, as well, and are very well animated during in-game cutscenes. Overall, the only area where the game stumbles graphically is in its lack of detail on its battlefields. Otherwise, Koudelka is a nice looking game.
Koudelka features many prerendered cutscenes, and all are cinematic and impressively detailed.
Speaking of visuals, one of Koudelka�s greatest strengths is in its style, artistic designs and atmosphere. Hiroki Kikuta certainly succeeded in his goal of creating a dark, mature and unconventional RPG, and it shows right from the beginning. Koudelka�s gothic architecture, gloomy environments, strange and disturbing monsters, and realistic character designs all come together to create a foreboding and mercilessly dark atmosphere. Further enhancing Koudelka�s dark and unique atmosphere are its sound and music. Subtle details in sound bring the creepy old monastery to life, with wind howling distantly in the background, fire crackling, and character�s footsteps and voices echoing through its seemingly abandoned depths. The sound is minimalist, but it should be; the game is often quiet, but is haunting in its silence. Koudelka�s music is similarly minimalist and atmospheric. Most of the musical tracks appear during battles, and while unusual in style, are befitting of the game�s atmosphere in a certain way. Outside battle, music is minimal, often relegated to cutscenes or dramatic moments. While critic�s opinions seemed somewhat divided on the music, I personally found it minimalist, unique and fitting.
Prerendered backgrounds are detailed and stylish.
Of all the game�s aural aspects, however, special note should be made of not just Koudelka�s surprisingly high-quality English voice acting, but also its extremely well-written dialogue. Not only is the writing and voice acting well above the standard of most games of its time, it�s still better than many of the games being released today. The game is heavy on dialogue, with many extended conversations, and that�s a very good thing, because not only are the characters interesting, but they are so interesting partially because the script and voice work do such an excellent job of bringing them to life. Conversations actually sound like conversations, not stilted dialogue, and help to develop the characters and story naturally.
Koudelka's cast is endearing and diverse.
Much of the writing comes off with a bit of a theatrical charm; which is a good thing. Since this is a Playstation game with prerendered backgrounds, and without the ability to create highly detailed character models, one could liken the presentation and effect of in-game cutscenes to that of a theatrical performance; while Koudelka�s prerendered cutscenes are, of course, very cinematic, in-game ones usually play out from a single angle on a prerendered environment, with all the characters of the scene on the stage of that particular environment. This creates an effect similar to watching a theatrical play, and so it seems appropriate, and works perfectly, that the voice acting, along with the animated, motion-captured character models, have the expressive, dramatic quality of stage actors during a performance. Not only does it make for consistently entertaining dialogue and cutscenes, it also makes up for the lack of subtle cinematic expression the fixed camera angles, prerendered environments and low-detail 3D character models of a 32-bit game lack. The one strike I could issue against the voice acting is that most of the accents are not native to the setting in which the game takes place; however, the writing and quality of the acting overcome this discrepancy easily, and it never detracts from the game or the characters.
Koudelka is fully-voiced, and the acting and writing are surprisingly good for a game of its era.
Koudelka is indeed a well-written and well-acted game, and on that note, the characters and story are creative, in-depth and thoroughly interesting. The story was fascinating, unique and well-told when I first played it, and time has not diminished it. After Koudelka, Edward and James come together, they slowly unravel an increasingly dark, tragic and twisted story, which they, in turn, become entangled in. I don�t want to spoil too much, since the story is one of the game�s driving forces, but the story becomes much more than a haunted house mystery; including elements of historical fiction, dark supernatural forces, the story of an old seafaring vessel, and plenty of tragic human drama tying it all together. Tied right into the story is the rich and three-dimensional cast. Koudelka herself is a great character and an interesting protagonist; she has a unique look about her, and a strong personality which truly evolves throughout the course of the game. Koudelka, Edward and James are fascinating to learn about, and just as fascinating in the development of their friendship and the excellent chemistry and character interaction between them. They are three people who are seemingly very different, and watching them converse, bicker and slowly develop from grudging comrades by necessity to companions who genuinely care about one another is satisfying and entertaining because of how well the game handles it.
The thing I loved the very most about Koudelka is the maturity with which it handles itself and its subject matter throughout the entirety of the game. There are no stupid gags, no comic relief characters, no ridiculously over-the-top moments. There are moments of humor, but they come in the form of realistic character interaction true to who the characters are and their relationships to one another. The historical setting has a coldly realistic look and vibe to it. The supernatural elements are handled with maturity and care, and never become an excuse for ridiculous superpowers or super-human fight scenes. The atmosphere and story stick adamantly to their dark and dramatic nature. The cast is filled with adult characters, who interact like adults, have adult personalities and problems, and are never over-dramatized nor become stereotypes or caricatures of themselves. In short, when Koudelka claims to be a mature game made with a mature audience in mind, it actually means it: this game is aimed at an adult audience. Even today, amongst the many games attempting to become a mature, adult, artistic form of entertainment, Koudelka still stands out as a rare example of a game that really WAS for adults, and not in a superficial sense.
The story is dark and filled with mature and often disturbing themes.
On the gameplay side of the equation, opinions may be divided on the battle system, but the other elements are actually fun and satisfying. Exploring the Nemeton Monastery is exciting, intriguing and appropriately mysterious. Roaming its long hallways, dark side rooms, gloomy courtyards and forgotten depths should prove exciting to any gamer with a curious and adventurous attitude. There�s a real sense of discovery as you uncover items hidden in dark corners, read dusty old letters and documents, solve puzzles, and unlock doors which lead you further into the mysterious depths of the monastery. Random encounters are present throughout the game, but occur at a completely reasonable and well-spaced rate that rarely feels overwhelming or irritating, unlike in so many other games.
While opinions differ on the battle system, the leveling system, on the other hand, is satisfying and rewarding. Players are free to level and customize each character as they see fit by distributing points they earn at each level up into the areas of their choosing, and thus outfitting characters of their choice with magic, melee, guns, defense, MP, HP, etc. This, in turn, adds to the battle system and, at least for myself, made battles an overall enjoyable and rewarding experience despite their issues, as I visibly watched my character�s skill sets grow to my own liking.
Exploring the monastery is both mysterious and intriguing.
Koudelka is a game of decent size and length, and it is well-paced overall, without ending too soon or running on too long with fluff or filler. I�ve heard varying reports of Koudelka�s actual length, and I�m going to assume that it is a matter of playstyle coupled with the amount of battles and exploring you do. Personally, my file clocked in at around 35 hours by the end of it all, but I also explored every nook and cranny, including a few optional parts, and spent some time level-grinding after each boss fight, so I�m sure that increased the play time a bit. I�ve heard other sources say the game is closer to 20 or 25 hours, while yet others say they blew through it in around 15. Whatever the case, Koudelka felt just the right length to me. It never droned on or hit any ruts, and the story remained focused throughout. It should be noted that the game does have multiple endings; three to be exact. However, it should also be noted, without any spoilers, that the best one isn�t hard to obtain and is, well, the best ending to see (and of the other two, one is pretty much the "dud" ending). So most probably won�t find themselves replaying the game just to see the others, especially since another full playthrough would not be required to view them, anyways. I do not say this as if it were a problem, though; the ending wraps things up nicely and the game feels full and complete by the end of it all.
While the battle system has been a subject of debate, the leveling is deep, open-ended and satisfying.
In Conclusion�..
Koudelka may have been a compromised vision, which lead to some questionable decisions for its battle system, but even this couldn�t change the fact that Koudelka was an inspired game with real passion and a great idea behind it. And its creator�s passion and inspiration shine through to create an experience that is still unique, mature and fascinating today, if sadly overlooked and forgotten. Make no mistake, while the Shadow Hearts series are some of my personal favorite games, and I loved each of the entries in the series pretty much equally (including Koudelka), it is also increasingly clear with each entry that Kikuta was not behind those games. While the Shadow Hearts series is indeed strongly tied to Koudelka in its stories (which, in turn, enhances the stories of all of the games, in my opinion), it also delved, increasingly so with each of its three entries, more into the over-the-top events and superpowers, the RPG conventions, and the moments of slap-stick humor which Kikuta originally tried so hard to avoid with Koudelka. In this, Koudelka remains something all its own; a surprisingly mature, adult game which, while perhaps flawed or compromised in some areas, is still to this day a unique and inspired vision; a memorable experience worth rediscovering.
While Kikuta's vision may have been compromised in some regards, Koudelka still proves to be a unique, engrossing and truly mature game.
Who Should Play It?
Any fans of RPGs or survival horror looking for something out of the ordinary. Adult gamers looking for an intelligent, well-written story with a realistic style, or anybody with an interest in historical fiction or stories dealing with the supernatural or the occult. And, of course, any fans of the Shadow Hearts series owe it to themselves to check out Koudelka and see where the story began.
on 06.03.2012
A Second Look At: Velvet Assassin
Velvet Assassin
Alternate title(s):
Sabotage (working title/development)
Replay Studios
SouthPeak Games
Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows PC
Release dates:
April 28th, 2009 (N.A.), May 8th, 2009 (Europe)
Cover art for Velvet Assassin.
What Is This Game?
Velvet Assassin is a World War II stealth action game which follows the exploits of a British intelligence agent named Violette Summer; a character based on real-life French-British secret agent, Violette Szabo. The game starts off with Violette Summer lying in a hospital bed in a coma; after the opening, it dives into the memories of Violette, which is where the bulk of the game and its missions take place, as Violette recalls various missions against the Nazis which lead her up to this point. Velvet Assassin plays similarly to the stealth-action ninja series, Tenchu. With guards following set routes through environments, the player is tasked with sneaking behind walls and in the shadows, while finding the best way to either creep past them or, more often, sneak up on them and perform stealth kills, and the ultimate goal usually being to get from point A to point B as stealthily as possible.
Violette preparing to dispatch an unsuspecting Nazi.
I was one of the few people who was not only aware of this game since the first previews and screenshots of it surfaced, but was also very interested in it. Ya see, this game had me at first glance for two reasons: it was a World War II game that was NOT a first person shooter, and it was a stealth-action game. As a bit of a World War II buff, I love to see any World War II game trying something interesting or different. And as a fan of old-school stealth action gameplay (see: Tenchu fan), I�m always excited to try anything in the genre. Long story short, I ended up picking the game up within its first week of release.
From its very beginning, Velvet Assassin captured my interest with its rich style and atmosphere. Velvet Assassin is one of the most purely atmospheric releases I�ve played in a while, and while the story itself is minimalist, it creates a mood, style and atmosphere so unique, so thick and dark, that it almost feels like a horror game at times; which is a good thing. Velvet Assassin goes a long way towards showing how great art and sound design and creative stylistic choices can not only create a game that is moody and atmospheric, but can also look great graphically even without the highest tech in the business. The atmosphere it captures is one I�ve found nothing quite like in a World War II video game before, and it is in this that the game stands out as a unique and memorable experience, despite a minimalistic story and some dated (though, to be clear, still often very enjoyable) gameplay mechanics. Velvet Assassin is not a �perfect� game, nor is it particularly high-budget or �next-gen�, but it also hits many high points in areas big-budget, high-profile releases often neglect or take for granted�.
Velvet Assassin has some disturbing themes and images throughout.
History, Release and Reception:
Velvet Assassin was created by German developer Replay Studios, a studio found in 2002, but at the time of Velvet Assassin�s release, had only two previously released titles. Its development cycle was relatively low-key, and typical of a somewhat low-profile release. First announced under the title �Sabotage,� details and screenshots trickled out here and there, but the developers and, subsequently, the press, made a point to emphasize the game�s inspiration: real-life World War II French-British agent, Violette Szabo.
And, indeed, this is a point worth emphasizing, because Szabo was a very interesting woman, and a game inspired by her story was sure to be, at the very least, a unique and fresh idea. It should be clear, though, that the game is not ABOUT Miss Szabo herself, but is just that: inspired by her. The main character of Velvet Assassin is the fictional Violette Summer, and while Velvet Assassin takes places over six missions spanning 12 levels, the real Violette Szabo completed one successful mission, and was captured during her second, tortured, and eventually executed by the Nazis. To be clear, however, the developers were not deceptive on this subject, and made it clear in interviews that while the game was inspired by a real-life hero, it was, in fact, a fictional story. And it did indeed make for a game that stood out from the crowd to those who looked into it, despite its relatively low-profile prior to release.
Violette Summer (left) was inspired by real-life WWII secret agent, Violette Szabo (right)
The title was eventually changed from �Sabotage� to Velvet Assassin, and the game was released first in North America on April 28th 2009, and in Europe on May 8th 2009. Critical reception of the game was generally middle of the road, with scores ranging from mediocre to slightly above average. Gamespot gave Velvet Assassin one of its high scores, a 7.5, and noted, as I have, the game�s rich atmosphere and tense moments as positives. Meanwhile, IGN put it on the slightly less-positive side of the road with a 5/10, emphasizing the game�s �dated� mechanics and lackluster storytelling. Either way, the game was quickly lost in the shuffle and has been rarely mentioned since. Which is a shame, since it is a unique title which gamers interested in stealth action or World War II would do well by themselves to experience�.
The Game:
Velvet Assassin is not a terribly flawed or broken game, really; most setbacks it has are really just what you�d called �dated� or �last-gen� elements. Velvet Assassin works and looks fine, but just isn�t necessarily �next-gen;� a point that has proven to be a setback for many lower-profile games critically in the current generation, where large leaps forward in budgets, game design and mechanics for high-profile releases, as the industry moves closer to the �mainstream,� have increasingly widened the gap between big-name titles and smaller releases. While this has had positive effects for big-name releases, it�s also made for a tough critical environment for games like Velvet Assassin, which don�t have the budget for the highest tech, don�t have the quickest A.I. or are grounded in design choices that have quickly come to be considered outdated as the industry hurdles forward.
This is particularly applicable to Velvet Assassin�s �problems� because many of them are either elements of �last-gen� game design, or are small issues that would have been forgiven or overlooked much more readily just a few years ago. Essentially, I understand the issues which some have pointed out with Velvet Assassin, but feel that, to anybody who has enjoyed video games for more than the past five or six years, and can still have fun with a game from a previous generation, Velvet Assassin�s �dated� game design will most likely be very enjoyable, and its inherent flaws will seem miniscule and forgivable to fans of the genre.
Velvet Assassin's gameplay is reminiscent of older stealth-action titles from previous generations.
Velvet Assassin does have some moments of foolish or basic enemy A.I. that will be immediately familiar to fans of the stealth action genre. Guards follow set patrol routes through areas of environments, and if the player is spotted, will chase them for a moderate length of time (or call for help, if you�re unlucky), enter a state of �searching� when they lose them, and then eventually return to their original patrol as if nothing happened. It�s the player�s job, as in most titles of this nature, to dispose of the guards without being spotted by or, if they are spotted, to run away, hide, and try again when they calm down. While fans of old-school stealth action will take no issue with this type of enemy A.I. and the gameplay process surrounding it, it could also be seen as old-fashioned and a bit rusty to others.
While the aforementioned A.I. and old-school stealth game design choices are less flaws and more a matter of taste, Velvet Assassin does have a couple of other minor, but more legitimate, gameplay flaws. In particular, I found it odd that, in a stealth action game of this type, there was no way to press up against or move along walls, and as such no real way to peer around corners naturally. Theses staples of the genre are almost expected and, while the game is designed around the lack of them well-enough that they�re absence is rarely too much of a problem, it�s still an odd choice to exclude such a basic function, and can at times leave you wishing it was there.
There�s also a general lack of replayability to the game, which isn�t a huge issue with the experience itself, but still means you�ll have little reason to go back to it after your first playthrough. Aside from different difficulty levels, there�s not much to unlock or see after finishing the game, and stages are, of course, the same the second time as they were the first. Clocking in at around 10 hours on your first playthrough, with 12 missions, the game isn�t terribly short, but isn�t terribly long, either, and without any real incentive to play through it again, besides earning extra achievements or finding some mostly inconsequential collectibles, there�s a good chance the game will end up shelved after your first playthrough.
Velvet Assassin�s other, more noteworthy and serious problem, is with its storytelling; or lack thereof. While the game and its cutscenes are extremely heavy on atmosphere, style and mood, and do an excellent job of establishing these elements, what they fail to do is convey a real, cohesive story with any real characters or dramatic effect. As mentioned earlier, the bulk of game takes place with Violette in a coma, recalling in her mind the missions which lead up to this point. And from that point on all we really get in the way of story is Violette�s narration during cutscenes explaining what each mission was about and the events surrounding it; while the cutscenes are filled with stylized visuals to underscore Violette�s narration, we never get a real story out of them; Violette�s narration is the only real speaking role we get, and the story is told more as a series of diary entries than it is a cinematic, progressive story. I am all for non-traditional storytelling, especially in a game so focused on style and atmosphere, but the result really is that the story never feels fleshed out or fully engaging. Which is a shame, because with such an interesting concept, such a mesmerizing style, such dark and serious themes, and such an interesting person serving as inspiration, the game could have made for a fascinating tale. Instead, by the end, I was left feeling as if an amazing story about a really fascinating character had just happened��and the game hadn�t really bothered to fill me in on it.
Velvet Assassin's cutscenes are stylish and pretty, but do little to convey the story dramatically.
Why it�s Worth a Second Look:
Storytelling issues aside, Velvet Assassin really is a fun, satisfying and unique game, and it has a lot going for it which make it more than worth a look. While the storytelling left a bit to be desired, the style and atmosphere the game so expertly creates go a long way towards making up for that shortcoming. The game oozes dark style and atmosphere, and establishes an incredible sense of darkness, dread and evil surrounding the main character. Many games in the horror genre could, in fact, stand to learn something from Velvet Assassin. While Velvet Assassin is not a horror game, it creates a mood and atmosphere so oppressively dark and, sometimes, morbid, that the game is genuinely depressing and scary at times. Which works great, too, because this oppressive atmosphere makes your enemies come off as all the more dangerous and the situations you are placed in that much more dire. This does a great job of unnerving the player and creating a fitting sense of danger as they sneak behind enemy lines and carefully attempt to avoid detection.
Velvet Assassin's visuals are filled with dark, brooding style and the game is heavily atmospheric.
Contributing to Velvet Assassin�s powerful atmosphere are its beautifully stylish visuals and understated but highly effective sound and music. Visually, the game is vibrant and rich. While the graphics aren�t high-end technically, they prove that great art, environment and character design, along with great lighting and shadows, and a vibrant color palette can more than offset such shortcomings. Violette herself�s character design is unique and appealing, and while Violette is meant to be a darkly beautiful woman, the game doesn�t exploit her, or feel like it�s trying to make her the �sexy female lead.� From her hairstyle, to her costumes, to her perpetually sullen face, Violette is a visually unique and striking heroine. Likewise, enemies have a tough and menacing look about them; most of them look like mean sons of bitches that�d kill you without hesitation, and that�s good, because when you�re sneaking around trying not to be spotted, it�s good to feel like there�s a reason for it.
Violette Summer is a unique and visually striking heroine.
Environments look great and are possibly the graphical highlight of the game. Colors are rich, and even bright environments have a rich darkness to them thanks to a choice of deep, dark, rich colors; colors that look almost ready to bleed off the screen. For a game so shrouded in darkness, its impressive how simultaneously rich and vibrant its color palette is. Even in its darkest environments (which there are many of), the game still never looks dull or drab. The use of shadows in the game look great, too; and since hiding in them is a central element of gameplay, they serve as more than just an cool effect. Buildings, people and objects cast long, dark shadows which both provide cover AND add to the nightmarish ambiance of the game. Meanwhile, the trippy, time-freezing �morphine mode� sequences continue to add to the dream-like effect with saturated colors and overwhelming brightness.
Environments are vibrant and richly detailed, and the game in general often looks gorgeous. Proof that great artistic design and style are often more important than a huge budget.
Cutscenes, while they may not do a great job of conveying the story, still look great and add to the dream-like (or nightmare-like) atmosphere of the game. With some gorgeous stylistic choices and interesting camerawork and visuals, Violette�s cold, depressing narration and good sound work, they may not convey the story as best they could, but still look good and are just as atmospheric and moody as the rest of the game.
Speaking of sound, the game�s sound work and music are at times minimalist, but always effective and well done. Distant screams and gunfire often add to a sense of uneasiness in outdoor areas, while indoor environments echo with damp footsteps, dripping and clanking, and the resounding echo of enemy soldier�s voices. Gun sound effects are fitting and give off a satisfying sense of impact and power. Music is incredibly effective and stylish and contributes greatly to the sense of unease and horror throughout the game, as well. Filled with creative and unusual sounds, I would compare much of it to the soundtracks of the Silent Hill series. The music can fade into the background at quiet moments, and then become overpowering and frightening at more tense moments. When sneaking around, it does a great job of subtly heightening the tension in the background, while in more tense moments, or when the player is spotted, it can become overpowering and intense; in any instance, it�s always fitting and contributes heavily to the sense of unease and horror throughout the game.
Gameplay-wise, the game may be a bit dated, but that doesn�t mean it isn�t satisfying or enjoyable. Anybody familiar with old-school stealth-action will feel right at home, and especially fans of Tenchu will find the pattern of sneaking around, finding enemies, observing their routines, and waiting for the right opportunity to execute them as satisfying and enjoyable as ever. Some may point out that the gun combat when caught in a firefight is a little clunky, but since this is a game which emphasizes stealth, that is less a flaw, and more a gameplay element which encourages and rewards stealth and strategy over going in guns blazing. The element of gunplay is really the difference between Velvet Assassin and Tenchu�s gameplay, and while the majority of the time it is most effective (and satisfying) to sneak up on an enemy and dispatch them with your knife through a brutal stealth kill, your silenced pistol makes it possible for dispatching enemies at long-range with stealth, and will inevitably help you out of some of the game�s tighter situations. The only time gun combat became a bit frustrating is in the game�s few moments where an unavoidable firefight occurs, but these moments are few and far between, and overall it is never a major issue, nor is the gun combat broken to any degree that it is an unforgivable problem.
Stealth kills are brutal and satisfying.
While the absence of a mechanic which lets you creep along walls is a bit odd, the game�s other stealth elements are well-implemented and provide for a good amount of strategy and variety to the stealth gameplay. Carrying and hiding bodies is possible, and often essential, to not alerting the enemy of any disturbances. Use of disguises in certain levels is also a fun and different way of eluding the enemy, and acting casual in said disguises is key to not giving yourself away. Peering through doors, or creeping underneath objects or through small openings is also a strategic element which allows the player to scope out and assess the environment ahead of them while developing a good strategy of how to navigate the upcoming area and take out the enemies in it. You can also hide inside certain object or behind doors to get the jump on enemies that are close by.
The ability to disguise yourself as the enemy is available in some stages.
One of the most noteworthy strategic elements of stealth in the game, though, is the �morphine mode.� Since the majority of the game takes place through Violette�s memories while she is lying in a coma, most stages (with the exception of the last couple) allow you a limited number of morphine shots; which essentially freeze time momentarily, while the game enters a dream-like visual state. This allows you time to gain the advantage in tougher situations, and to reposition yourself to a safer spot, or run up on an enemy and quickly dispatch him. The limited time and number of uses make it a good mechanic for getting out of sticky situations, but also requires the player to make careful us of it and save it for times when it is most needed. Plus, it makes for an interesting and stylish visual effect.
Morphine mode creates an interesting visual effect.
The game also employs a basic leveling system which lets you upgrade Stealth, Strength and Morphine levels. It�s not of huge consequence, but does allow for you to adjust Violette�s abilities to your playstyle a bit. While basic, it is still a welcome enough addition.
The core element of stealth in the game relies on darkness and a good hiding place, however. Shadows and darkness play a key role in the game, and taking out the lights in an environment or sticking to its shadows are essential for remaining hidden. The darkness can mean the difference between an enemy spotting you or walking right past. Like much of the enemy A.I. in old-school stealth action games, it�s not always completely realistic all the time, however, it does make for fun gameplay that is satisfying, while not utterly overwhelming.
Light and darkness play a huge role in stealth.
In conclusion��
Velvet Assassin is a stylish and atmospheric game with a unique setting and concept. Its old-school stealth gameplay may be labeled as archaic by some, but to old fans of the genre, it will probably feel more like a welcome return to genre conventions than a broken or outdated gameplay style. However, while fans of the stealth genre will no doubt find fun and satisfaction in the gameplay, the real star of this game is definitely its dark, moody style and atmosphere. The game shows that high tech isn�t all it takes to create a good looking game, and its great lighting, environments, stylistic effects and character design, along with eerie and unique music and sound work, combine to create a game with a visual and aural style that is strong and original. The game isn�t terribly long, but provides an experience that is fun, refreshing and different. With the game currently all but forgotten, and its price tag not much more than ten dollars, curious gamers should check this one out: it�s a dark, atmospheric experience that you won�t find anything else quite like.
Velvet Assassin's gameplay may be "last-gen," but it still proves to be an intense, extremely stylish and unique experience.
Who Should Play It?
Fans of stealth-action titles, namely the �Tenchu� series and similar games. Those interested in World War II video games, especially if they are looking for one that is out of the ordinary, with a unique style and genre. Also, some fans of horror video games may find the extremely dark and sometimes eerie or frightening atmosphere intriguing.
on 05.26.2012
A Second Look At: Deadly Premonition
Deadly Premonition (N.A. and Europe)
Alternate titles(s):
Rainy Woods (development), Red Seeds Profile (Japan)
Access Games
Ignition Entertainment (N.A.), Marvelous Entertainment (Japan), Rising Star Games (Europe)
Xbox 360 (N.A., Europe, Japan), Playstation 3 (Japan only)
Release dates:
February 17th, 2010 (N.A.), March 11th, 2010 (Japan), October 29th, 2010 (Europe)
Cover art for Deadly Premonition.
What Is This Game?
Deadly Premonition is part open-world adventure game, part survival horror. Deadly Premonition follows a main story arc, but takes place in an open world that allows the player to wander and explore freely, featuring a day/night cycle, side quests, secrets, shops, and even fishing. The story follows FBI Agent Francis York Morgan as he arrives in the small town of Greenvale to investigate the bizarre and unusual murder of a teenage girl. Shortly after his arrival, he finds himself working with the Sheriff, George Woodman, and his deputy, Emily Wyatt, as they try to unravel the mystery behind it all. There is more to this investigation than it seems, everyone is a suspect, and the town has a dark past that it has been trying to forget. Before long, Agent Morgan (along with the mysterious voice in his head, Zack) finds himself in for a long stay in Greenvale as he unravels an increasingly sinister mystery.
Agent Francis York Morgan looks down the road to Greenvale after the game's opening scenes.
Deadly Premonition has gained a sort of notoriety this generation for its cult status and, as such, has become a sort of poster child for obscure, low-budget games the past few years. And for anybody who goes into it with the right mindset, and gives it some time, it becomes very obvious why. In some ways, Deadly Premonition is an incredibly flawed game, however, and it is an easy one to get off on the wrong foot with. The game starts off with what is essentially a protracted �dungeon� area, which places an emphasis on its less-than-stellar combat and movement controls. The graphics, likewise, are sub-par. They�re generally very bland, with dull colors and a lack of detail, and animations are stiff and robotic much of the time. Likewise, the game comes off as incredibly cheesy at first, with dialogue that seems absolutely ridiculous and the vibe of a clich�d, low-budget B-movie. To top it off, Agent Francis York Morgan, the player�s character, seems like a complete goofball��.but then something happens.
You get past the first area, and suddenly�.what�s this? This game is open world? You begin to wander a bit, and realize the town of Greenvale, in which Deadly Premonition takes place, is actually open for exploration and investigation. You spend some time with the game, and you realize it�s filled with places, side quests, items and characters. Sure, the characters are ridiculous, but now it�s clear there�s a bit more to this game than you initially thought�..So you play it a bit more, and realize the story is actually becoming something more than you thought, too�.what you thought was a parade of B-movie horror clich�s is now becoming an engrossing mystery with supernatural elements�..Then, you roam the town and progress with the story a bit more. You get to know the people of Greenvale, and Agent Francis York Morgan�..and slowly it becomes clear that they are not bad or clich�, but instead hilariously, intentionally quirky and eccentric, and surprisingly likeable and deep. Slowly, the game�s technical flaws are forgotten��and, whether intentionally or not, somehow become part of the game�s strange, quirky, oddball charm. It all just works! But how did it work? What�s this game�s deal? Let�s take more of a look and find out��
Just like the mysterious red seeds, there's more than meets the eye to Deadly Premonition.....
History, Release and Reception:
Deadly Premonition was floating around in development for quite a while under the title �Rainy Woods.� Its trailer premiered in 2007, and I personally recall watching the trailer and thinking��wait, is this a �Twin Peaks� game? Apparently I wasn�t the only one who thought this, because so many people noted this that the development cycle was prolonged and the release date pushed back to revise the game and lessen some of the similarities between it and the show which served as its inspiration. The game fell off the radar for a while, and when it finally resurfaced, Ignition Games announced it would be releasing the game under the title �Deadly Premonition� in the U.S. The game was released on February 17th 2010; but the brilliance of its release was its super-low-budget retail price of $19.99. This almost certainly lent a huge hand to its surprising success as a cult hit. Twenty bucks? Heck, why not pick it up? I know for a fact that was why I ended up buying it. There I was picking up a copy of Bioshock 2 and�.hey, what�s this $20 horror game I�ve never heard of? Might as well get it, it�s only twenty bucks! (funny thing, too, that I ended up putting aside Bioshock 2 to play the random budget game I bought alongside it). In any case, the strategy worked, and the game sold surprisingly well. It was released about a month later in Japan under the title �Red Seeds Profile� and in Europe in the fall.
Maybe even more surprising than the game�s sales was its critical reception. Even with its myriad technical flaws, Deadly Premonition�s quirky charm and underlying genius earned it a generally good reception from a number of major publications and websites. Many major publications and websites gave it good scores and noted its charm and good qualities in spite of its flaws, and Destructoid even gave it a 10/10 and called it a �beautiful trainwreck.� On top of that, Game Informer liked it enough to mention it a number of times throughout the following year, including a few awards at the end of the year. IGN, on the other hand, outright bashed the game, giving it a 2.0; but then doubled back later in the year with a U.K. review that gave it a 7.5. Deadly Premonition seemed to force a bit of a revolution in critical analysis of video games, in any case, and a bit of appreciation rarely seen for similarly flawed or low-budget games. The game did so surprisingly well that its creator, �SWERY,� is making a director�s cut, and has even mentioned a sequel. Who doesn�t like a good underdog story, huh?
Deadly Premonition may not be the best looking game, but beyond its technical shortcomings lie an engrossing open-world and fascinating story that earned it praise from a number of major gaming website and magazines.
The Game:
There�s no beating around the bush, so let�s get the negative stuff out of the way: And that�s that, from a technical standpoint, Deadly Premonition is a pretty flawed game. From graphics to controls to gameplay mechanics to sound and voice work, Deadly Premonition comes off as low budget, clunky and awkward at first.
As I mentioned earlier, graphics are bland, with drab colors and a general lack of detail. In addition, character animations are often stiff and robotic, and some facial expressions come off as weird and even a bit creepy.
Voice work comes off as a mixed bag with some weird writing at first, too, especially before you begin to realize that much of that quirky awkwardness in the dialogue is actually intentional. It�s not a flaw, really, but can be a turn off before you realize what direction the game is going in. Sound effects are also limited and at times unfitting. One hilarious instance of this which immediately comes to mind is the squirrel in the opening cutscene that Agent Morgan swerves off the road to avoid; it makes a monkey squeal. Also worth noting is how, every time you land a headshot on an enemy, Agent Morgan remarks on it with �Nice!� or �Great!� or something along those lines; which becomes pretty funny when you�re using an automatic weapon and he says it for every single bullet that hits the enemy. Music also tends to overpower voices during cutscenes sometimes, and is oddly unfitting at times, as well.
Likewise, controls and various elements of gameplay are awkward and tough to manage at times. Vehicles in the game, which you�ll use often to navigate and explore the world, control like tanks and can be pretty tough to steer. But when the controls are most problematic is probably during the combat, which you�ll usually encounter during the dungeon-esque �otherworld� sequences. Aiming guns is twitchy and the clunky movements make combat tough, especially when there are multiple or faster enemies. These �otherworld� sequences are also a bit prolonged and repetitive, due to the lack of enemy variety, repetitious environments, and generally straight-forward nature (lots of hallways and finding keys). The boss fights later on in the game are pretty hard to manage, too.
Combat can bit a bit awkward at times.
However, what may be a bigger gameplay-related issue is the confusing and disorienting town map. This was the one problem that actually managed to get a bit frustrating, even for me. Ya see, you can only zoom your view of the map out to a very limited degree; meaning that you can never get a full view of the entire game world on the map, or even a quarter of it, for that matter. It�s just locked on your location and you have to move it around manually to try to get an idea of your surrounding area. But what�s worse than that is that the view of the map is CONSTANTLY readjusting itself based on which direction the Agent Morgan is facing; in other words, when you look at the map one second, and are facing north, you�ll see it one way. Then, when you unpause, turn your character around, and go back to view the map again, you�ll find the entire map has flipped itself upside down. This issue never impairs your progress with the main story or with finding your next objective, as those are clearly marked, but it does make navigating and exploring the town very disorienting and, in a game that so heavily encourages exploring, finding secrets and side quests, and getting to know its world, can become frustrating when you are trying to do just that.
Deadly Premonition was obviously made on a very limited budget, and much of these flaws are likely due to that. However, what�s worth noting more than anything, is how most of these flaws become part of the game�s quirky, strange, low-budget charm. After a while, they almost work FOR the game, not against it. Strange as it seems, this game knows what it is, and almost everything about it, even its low-budget, graphical flaws, hilarious voice and sound work and clunky controls, begin to fit right in and become part of it all. It�s almost uncanny how well it all works, in all its outlandish, low-budget glory. Which leads us to��
Deadly Premonition is filled with quirky dialogue and characters.
Why it�s Worth a Second Look:
Despite all its flaws, or, maybe even partially BECAUSE of them, Deadly Premonition is greater than the sum of its parts. It rises above its flaws because it is filled with genuine creativity and passion, and because it handles itself, even its rough spots, with a certain grace, dignity and insane genius. There is a lot to love about this game.
The story and characters are undoubtedly some of the game�s greatest strengths. What starts out seeming like a bad knock-off of every horror video game ever slowly reveals itself to be anything but typical or predictable, with a genuinely engrossing supernatural murder mystery and a whole town full of fascinatingly quirky and surprisingly deep characters. A long list of side quests do a lot to flesh out the smaller characters, while the main story does a great job of taking the core cast and exploring who they are. Many of them seem strange or stereotypical at first, but as the story progresses you�ll realize they are anything but. Rarely have I cared so much about a cast of characters in a game, and few games I have played take as much time and care as Deadly Premonition does to get to know it�s characters, spend time with them, develop them, and flesh them out. There are a lot of quiet but introspective moments and small but important conversations between characters, and it all serves to create an incredibly likeable and endearing cast. By the end of the game, you�ll find yourself really caring about Agent Francis York Morgan and the strange bunch around him, and it makes for some very powerful and emotional moments later on.
The cast is filled with deep and likeable characters. And conversations and interactions between them are always interesting.
It helps, too, that the story these characters are at the center is so engrossing, and surprisingly well thought-out. Deadly Premonition is a rather long game, and that�s a good thing. It takes its time and invites you into its world. And as you spend time and grow to care about it all, it slowly reveals more of itself to you. It hooks you, drags you into its world and keeps you wanting for more; wanting to see more of the town, wanting to know more about the characters and wanting to know just what in the hell is really going on. The pacing is excellent, and it keeps you intrigued. On top of that, by the end of the game, I was actually impressed by how well thought out and neatly woven together the whole story was. I won�t spoil anything, but the way the characters, the town�s dark past, the axe wielding �Raincoat Killer� and supernatural elements all wove together to create such strange yet fascinating story was actually pretty impressive; and Agent Morgan and his own past were equally interesting. Impressive stuff coming from a game I expected very little from in its humble beginnings.
The story is filled with twists and turns and will keep you guessing throughout.
The game�s world is just as endearing and interesting as its characters and story; which is good, since it is so strongly tied TO its story and characters. The town of Greenvale is surprisingly large and intricately designed. The amount of care put into the game world itself goes to show that, low budget be damned, the game�s creators really cared about this game. The game features a day/night cycle, and that cycle really does affect the game. The townspeople move about town each day on their own schedules, going places, running errands, walking the dog, etc. Shops, bars and restaurants open and close at different hours and the player even has a schedule to keep: get up in the morning, grab some coffee (which Agent Morgan not only loves, but sees premonitions of the future in!) move about town, investigate, send your clothes to the laundry for cleaning, and try to get to bed at a decent time back at the hotel. The town even goes crazy after midnight, and �otherworld� creatures and giant demon dogs come out until morning.
On top of all that, the game is filled with side quests, secret items and areas, and the ability to go off investigating on your own; peering into people�s windows, talking to them for information and trying to find clues. Side quests, likewise, are varied and interesting, and help you get to know the town and its people. Some find you driving a crazy old lady who thinks her �pot is going to get cold� if she doesn�t get home in time, while others have you investigating haunted areas of town. In any case, they are abundant and full of variety. On top of that, there are also a slew of min-games throughout town, including darts, fishing and even vehicle time trials. There�s even collectibles (trading cards!), secret weapons, and hidden items. There�s a lot to do and see in Greenvale.
There's no shortage of things to do in Greenvale. Mini-games, secrets and side quests are everywhere. You can even go fishing!
The music of the game is wonderfully unique and often delightfully unfitting, too. Yes, I know, I mentioned this up in the �flaws� section too, but as with so much of what may be perceived as flaws at first in this game, it ends up becoming a part of the game�s strange, quirky charm. Music ranges from eerie horror undertones, to swanky jazz, to soothing guitars and humming, to a hilarious, jolly �whistling� theme. It�s all so varied and odd, and yet fits the game perfectly. Likewise, the voice acting and dialogue, as mentioned before, may seem silly at first, but as you realize the tone and atmosphere of the game, they too become a perfect fit for the strange and delightful cast. Speaking of the dialogue and voice acting, another delightful point of the game are the numerous conversations and moments referencing classic film and B-movie history. Agent Morgan, and his �friend� Zack, are films buffs, and the conversations and references which spring up because of it are often absolutely priceless.
While the �otherworld� scenes, where Agent Morgan suddenly is transported into supernatural dungeon areas, can be a bit prolonged and repetitive at times, they are also worth it for their better, more intense moments. In particular, your encounters with the murderous �Raincoat Killer� are truly intense and frightening. Often requiring you to mash buttons, perform QTE�s, run for your life, or find a hiding place and hold your breath so he can�t hear you breathing, these scenes are tense, pulse-pounding affairs which make the slower parts of the otherworld scenes completely worthwhile. The feeling of �Oh crap� every time the Raincoat Killer shows up never goes away, and it does a great job of establishing him to the player as a menacing villain.
When the Raincoat Killer shows up, its time to run like hell.
All of this amounts to a very unique feel and atmosphere for Deadly Premonition that really makes it a unique experience. And indeed, the game is very atmospheric; with its own, weird atmosphere. Its gloomy and foreboding at all times, but interspersed with humor and moments of fun. And yet even in its lightest moments, with all the silly characters and humor, there�s still an underlying feeling of dread and mystery in the background. It works, and it keeps you in the game�s world the whole time you�re playing.
In conclusion��
Deadly Premonition is a game worth a look by anybody ready to overlook its shortcomings, and maybe even some who aren�t too sure. It defies the odds in that, by all means, it shouldn�t be as damn good as it somehow manages to be. This is most likely due, at least in part, to it being a work that seems to have clearly had a lot of love put into it by its creators. It doesn�t feel like a game trying to please or cater to anybody; and maybe that�s why it ended up with such a miniscule budget. And yet, despite its limitations, it proves that passion and a good idea can overcome a game�s shortcomings or technical limitations. Its true brilliance is really in how well it makes everything work as a whole, even in areas where it is flawed. The depth and intricacy of the game�s world, characters and story is impossible to deny, and overshadows what the game lacks in graphical or mechanical prowess. Deadly Premonition is a pretty long game; between 25 and 35 hours, depending on how much wandering, exploring and side questing you do; and that�s good. Greenvale is a bizarre and engrossing town to get lost in. If you can overlook the technical problems, you�ll find a unique and fascinating game in Deadly Premonition; one that overcomes the odds to become a truly memorable gaming experience.
For all its flaws, Deadly Premonition still manages to come out as an incredibly likeable and engrossing game.
Who should play it?
Any fan of adventure, horror or open-world games, or those with a love for strange and quirky games. As long as you can look past low-end graphics and some faulty gameplay mechanics. Also, any fans of the �Twin Peaks� television series will probably appreciate the inspiration the game draws from that series and the homage it pays to it, as well.
on 05.24.2012
Welcome to Games Obscura......
Howdy, internet wanderers, and welcome to Games Obscura; a blog dedicated to the underrated, the forgotten, the under-appreciated, and the downright weird. I'm The Gameslinger; lifelong gamer and video game aficionado. I've been wielding a controller since I was just three years old, when my parents dusted off their old Atari 2600 and gave me a shot at it. Since that day, video games grew to be one of my greatest and most passionate interests, and a huge influence on my life and who I am.
In my gaming travels, I've played many games, and learned a decent amount about them; including their industry, their history and the talented people who create them. I�ve played many of the classics and mainstream hits; from Mario to Gears of War to Final Fantasy. But, as a curious and adventurous gamer, I also have made it a point to stray from the beaten path, to seek out the lesser known, the under-appreciated; even the poorly received or panned; and to give them the honest chance many of them deserve. There is more to the gaming scene, or even to an individual game, than one might see at first glance�.
Some games were truly great, but fell by the wayside. Some are barely even heard of. Others were flawed, but had some very interesting ideas or elements to them. And some are just so weird you have to love them.
In that spirit, that is essentially the mission of The Gameslinger, and the topic of Games Obscura; to seek out games that are, for one reason or another, forgotten, under-appreciated, strange, or even poorly received, and give them a good, honest second chance. Some of the games I�ll talk about are amazing games; simply lost in the shuffle and left behind. Others are just plain weird; and yet still unique and enjoyable. Yet others are games that have been poorly received, meeting with lackluster reviews and press; and yet have positive, interesting or original concepts or aspects that make them worth a second look, even despite their flaws. (So, no, this won�t be a blog for discussing ridiculous dredge like Cheetahmen.)
Deadly Premonition is a perfect example. Quirky, low-budget, technically flawed, and met with a mixed critical reception. Yet it carved out a hardcore fanbase among gamers who picked it up, and found a game that was far more than meets the eye.
This blog will cover at least one game each week, with the objective being an in-depth, honest look at the game in question. I�ll discuss flaws, but emphasize the positive aspects of the game and what makes it worth a look. I�ll also discuss the facts and/or history of it, and my personal opinion on it. The goal is to remain objective and honest, but to keep a positive overall; there�s enough bashing and negativity towards games on the internet already, so this blog will attempt to remain positive instead. Readers can also rest assured that any game covered will be well-researched and played thoroughly; in addition to negativity, there�s also too much uninformed or under-informed ranting and raving on the internet, and this won�t be another place for that. In most cases, to fairly judge and discuss a game, one needs to invest time and effort into it. With this blog and the articles in it, I�ll do my very best to do just that.
Illbleed for the Dreamcast. A truly bizarre and incredibly unique game.
With all this in mind, I also would also like to say that I encourage community involvement on this blog! If you have anything to say about a game I�m discussing, feel free to comment and express your opinion on it, or discuss it with others. Love it? Hate it? Never played it, but think it looks interesting? Got questions? Think I�m nuts? I encourage discussion, just as long as it�s (obviously) nothing hostile.
Most importantly, if you have suggestions of games you think I should look into and write about in this blog, then let me know. I�m completely open to suggestions and requests for games to cover. And while I might not cover them the very next day, ( like I said, I like to spent time and effort to fairly discuss a game), rest assured I will respond to all requests and do my best to research, play and cover as many as possible.
Send any requests to:
[email protected]
So, if you have an interest in the underrated, the forgotten, the strange, or the obscure side of gaming, then stick around, and keep an eye on The Gameslinger and Games Obscura. I�ll be updating regularly. Hope to see you here.
Follow The Gameslinger's c-blog
About The Gameslinger
One of us
since 11:43 AM on 05.02.2012
The Gameslinger's blog, Games Obscura, is a blog dedicated to covering strange, obscure, underrated and overlooked games. Some games covered are amazing games that were simply overlooked or forgotten. Some are flawed or poorly received, yet have interesting aspects or concepts that make them worth a second look. Others are downright weird; but fun and interesting, too. In any case, all are worth digging up and taking a second look at, and that's what this blog is all about: In-depth second looks at games that are worth rediscovering, for one reason or another.
I take requests and suggestions! If you know a game that was underrated, obscure, strange, overlooked or poorly received, and you think that it is worth discovering and giving a good second chance, then let me know!
Send any requests or suggestions to:
[email protected]
You can also leave suggestions in the comments section, or send them to me via a PM.
Feel free to browse through all my articles; the material in them generally isn't time-sensitive, and I check comments on all of my articles, new and old!
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To mention that I was hoping that would help to speed up the delivery process. It is so frustrating, I hate begging for something like that, and most in this condition, ugly and fat. ; (
To mention that I was hoping that would help to speed up the delivery process. It is so frustrating, I hate begging for something like that, and most in this condition, ugly and fat. ; (
It doesn't help his ex was a stripper and I can't help but illogically dwell on how her body must have been better than mine.... Right that's preggo logic for u. I have so much more to offer, a pretty good bod, a grad education... I guess it's the pregnancy talking.
Ok that was more about me sorry lol- just saying I feel ya!
Do you know why he doesn't want to have sex. Maybe he feels like he is going to hurt the baby. Some guys just don't know this stuff like us and they won't read about it. I would suggest asking him why he doesn't want to and if it's because he doesn't want to hurt the baby then you can educate him or have him go with you to your doctors appointment and have the doctor educate him. I don't think it's because of your baby weight I mean it's normal your belly will grow because you have a baby inside and it's not unattractive. Hang in there and the best you can do if let him know how you feel and find out how he feels.
We have only had sex a few times since the baby started moving. It freaks my husband out a bit. Also, he is afraid of hurting our son (even though on a rational level that won't happen). When we have had sex over the past few months it was because I initiated...and then it is barely worth it because I can tell he is just humoring me .
FWIW, we have been together for 5 years, married 3. And he is cuddling a lot with me and otherwise spoiling me rotten. If your SO is making an effort to make you feel loved and cared for I wouldn't worry about the current lack of sex.
My SO is weirded out by it now that i have lost my plug. and how i keep talking about me ripping during labor and all this gruesome stuff. hes like you better stop talking like that if you still want me to have sex with you. which did kind of hurt my feelings for a min because im sorry that truth about whats gonna happen to my bodys turns you off :( its gonna happen either way. how are you gonna feel once it does happen...are we never gonna have sex again?
But seriously,
regardless if you were together 3 months before you got pregnant or 10 years, communication is everything..If you're feeling unattractive & your feelings are hurt because he isn't sleeping with you, you need to say just that!
I dated my SO for 5 months before pregnancy. And he's the same, no sex during pregnancy. He was able to until about the end of month 7 but it was hard for him to focus because he kept thinking about LO and if baby moved... we were done. I was almost in tears on Saturday night cuz I wanted it sooo damn bad. He said he feels terrible saying no to me but he just can't right now. And of course I'm a hormonal mess so that really doesn't make it easier for me.
"Here's where it starts to get weird." -Keepmymouthshut
Loving life with Adrienne Young 7/9/13
Baby boy Due August 2015!


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text: http://forums.cpanel.net – Hi, I have crated a cpmove-test1.tar.gz file using the script at /scripts/pkgacct for the user test1(test1.com) in a server. Same User of test1 is having another account as test2(test2.com) in another server and want to move all his domains in test1 to test2. I have copied the cpmove-test1.tar.gz file to another server in which test2 resides. So my question is, Can i use the command /scripts/restorepkg test2 to copy all test1 websites to test2. I have used this before but at that time both had same username. But here it differs. Please help. Regards, G (HowTos)


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|Dornith Doherty - s t o c k p i l e
at Holly Johnson Gallery through December 23
by Todd Camplin
Dornith Doherty is making mythical, scientific, visually imaginative, and intellectually stimulating
digital chromogenic lenticular photographs. Her work, exhibited at Holly Johnson Gallery, gives
back to the viewer so much more than just the surface image.
|© 2007-2011 moderndallas.net. - all rights reserved.
|Dornith Doherty's work is about photography in the way the medium is used to explore an object in
a very technical manner. The images in the show are shots of x-rayed seeds. The process and
technique really shine through in these works. I see most photography as plot driven. Doherty
follows this tradition through the story of a particular collection of seeds and about their storage
to keep our food supply and other botanicals biologically diverse. Doherty traveled to these Banks
that collect and store seeds, where she collected portraits of individual little pre-plants. She finally
displays them like a science museum might store specimens in a drawer, only hers are on the wall.
In the work "Millennium Seed Bank Research Seedlings and Lochner-Stuppy Test Garden," she
created multiple sized rectangles which are collaged in a grid. The white objects seem to glow
brightly against the very dark blue background.
|previous articles
Todd Camplin
|Millennium Seed Bank Research Seedlings and Lochner-Stuppy Test Garden (2011)
Digital Chromogenic Lenticular Photograph
79 x 36 inches
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our charities
Digital Chromogenic Lenticular Photograph
29 x 48 inches
|Poppy (2010)
Archival Pigment Photograph
39.5 x 39.5 inches
|life look so ghostly pale under the x-ray, but the very stark white background seems to punch this
spiritual effect quite effectively. Once again, display becomes a key factor in these works. Doherty
arranges the objects to maximize their effect on your attention. Some are displayed into patterns,
yet others feel dropped and capture in a moment in time. I highly recommend this photography
show that is much more than photographs. Find yourself over at Holly Johnson Gallery before
December 23rd.
|Doherty's work is about display of knowledge shrouded in mystery. Associate curator of Ringling