Dear Esther is really not a game, it’s an experience. A BOLD experiment into what exactly a videogame can be. Although Roger Ebert may disagree that videogames can EVER be art, I definitely think that Dear Esther is taking a HUGE step into that direction. Here’s a couple of screenshots and a wonderful video.

I get the feeling that this game won’t look dated after a year like most games do. I cannot wait to experience Dear Esther in such a beautiful environment. Let’s hope my computer can handle it.

“I feel so fucking secure right now”.

Long crumbling Blockbuster Inc. (BLOKA) is starting to diversify it’s offerings. Over the last several years Blockbuster has been fighting a loosing battle with several other rental companies, including Netflix which offers movies through the mail at a flat fee, and Redbox (A division of Coinstar Inc.) which offers Kiosk-based movie rental for $1-a-day. In 2004 Blockbuster launched Blockbuster “Total Access” in an attempt to squash the quickly growing Netflix movie-rental service, but due to a lack of ad-campaign funding, along with a lawsuit filed by Netflix, for which Netflix has claimed was patent infringement, Total Access has maintained only a small following in comparison to Netflix’s 14+ million subscribers.

Now, in an attempt to offer their customers more variety, and compete with “Gamefly”, an online videogame rental service, Blockbuster has begun renting videogames through the Total Access program. We can only wait and see if this does anything to help the gradual downward spiral that is Blockbuster Inc.’s recent history.

Click here to take a look at Blockbusters new service.

A few weeks ago, “WiNGSPANTT” (Jon Tran) came up with a wonderful idea while getting  harassed continually by other players. You see, several days before, Jon had been one of the fortunate few to obtain a “Golden Wrench” randomly through the crafting system. Ever since then, he had been harassed by other players for friend invites, invitations to groups, and people wanting to chat. So, like many other Golden Wrench owners, Jon decided that it just wasn’t worth the time and effort anymore to have the worthless item. Fortunately for everyone else though, he’s not letting this “Golden” opportunity go to waste. Jon has set up a donations page for Child’s Play, a non-profit that purchases toys for children who are bed ridden or in the hospital for an extended stay, and depending on how much money he can raise, Jon as well as several other Golden Wrench owners will destroy them, never to be seen again.  On top of this being a GREAT idea to help turn a stupid novelty item into a positive force for good, VALVE has now officially endorsed the cause. One can only hope that they may promise to MATCH anything that these fine people manage to raise. I strongly suggest to anybody that reads this to go on over to Top Tier Tactics and donate ASAP for this good cause. Not only will you be helping make some children’s lives better, but you’ll be helping show the world that videogames can be a positive force in the world, and aren’t always about blood, guts, and death.

Zealot

Zealot is a complete remake of Halo: 2′s Midship, which was one of the most popular maps from that game. Bungie has, however, decided to update the new map and give it a third-level. So, while the bottom two levels are still pretty much the same, the new third-level is completely new. The third-level is entirely in outer space, so the opportunity for jet-pack abuse is quite prevalent. Gravity is lowered, so most of the time you’ll be fighting mid-air battles, struggling to move in the direction you want to. The outside area is separated from the two lower-levels my a semi-permeable shield that only allows your character through. Rockets and bullets won’t penetrate the shield.

Reflection

Reflection is a remake of the infamous “Ivory Tower”, also from Halo: 2. I remember spending long hours with my brothers playing the original because it was one of our favorites.  Anyways, Most things have stayed the same on this map with the exception of the proportions, which have been updated slightly to work better in the Halo: Reach engine. Some of the textures (as you can see) were updated as well, to give the map a more glossy look.  All of the old aspects are still there, such as the gravity lifts, the elevator, and most the weapons have been left where they were originally. All and all, I think this will be a much-welcomed addition to the Halo: Reach multiplayer experience.

Spire

Last but not least we have Spire. Spire is a completely new map created almost entirely for the new “Invasion” game-type. The map starts out on the beach, and eventually, as you progress, the defending force is forced to the top of the tower. There, they must fight off enemies being launched from man-cannons, as well as several aerial assault vehicles.  Spire looks quite breathtaking not only in game-play, but scenery as well. I’m personally looking forward to hours of pitched battles on this map.

So, that’s about it for this article. Watch the IGN video below as it gives you an even more in-depth look at these three new maps. Thanks for reading.

The video really brought me back to the “Good Ol’ Warthog Launching” days in Halo 1 and 2. My brothers, my friends, and I would spend HOURS launching warthogs into the void and exploring areas of the game we were never supposed to. It’s kind of odd that often times what gives games lasting playability (not to mention creating so many fond memories) is doing things in them you were never supposed to. Pushing the limits of the game engine and terrain, along with doing things other thought impossible, is part of the reason games like Garry’s Mod for Half-Life 2 are still popular today. A part of me really misses those days. What about you guys? Anyone else remember having more fun just goofing around in a game then playing it through like you’re supposed to?

Getting better at videogames probably won't get your girl to do this, but you can try. Photo courtesy of Tjeerd via Flickr

The days of being able to simply redesign a controller and turn a massive profit have come and gone for 3rd party videogame accessory companies. Console developers have all learned from their mistakes and are good at giving the end-user what they want. Because of user feedback and advances in technology, we no longer have to deal with overly bulky Xbox controller design, Nintendo 64 Rumble Paks, and none-back lit Gameboy screens. This savvy on the console developers part’s have destroyed a large portion of the 3rd party videogame accessories market. Despite all this however, newer accessory companies have sprung up and found a market. Older companies have learned to innovate and expand. Together, they are reinventing the 3rd party accessories market. Here’s four types of accessories out there that are doing what gamers have always asked them to do:  actually improve their gaming experience and make them better.

4. Controller Grip Pads (Gel Skins, Griptile)

GripTile by Rocket Grips

Controller grips were designed to do one simple thing and do it well: keep your hands on the controller. Wii users have been experiencing why controller grip is so vital for a while now. Because of this, Nintendo now boxes new controllers with slid-on grips. Unfortunately, Microsoft and Sony have yet to see the light, and both the Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers are boxed without any gripping. Fortunately, there exists several companies who DO understand that there is quite a lot of demand for a none-slippery controller. Because of this, we have several products on the market designed to help keep your hands where they should be.

Several manufacturers have come out with controller grips, including the Pelican Gel Skins (for Xbox), Griptile by Rocket Grips (Xbox 360 and Playstation 3), and even a few others for your computer mouse. The advantages to most of these is obvious (better grip, decreased controller fatigue, etc.) but maybe the disadvantages aren’t quite as evident. Some of these products use an adhesive that has a tendency to become unglued over time and leave a sticky residue. Some (like the Griptiles) may hinder your ability to plug in accessories like the Xbox 360 Messenger keyboard. Others, like the Pelican Gel Skins, may make your controller quite bulky, which becomes a problem if you have small hands. Either way, gripping pads WILL probably increase your K/D (until they fall off at least). However, if you absolutely despise the idea of sticking something to your controller, there is always antiperspirant hand lotion.

3. Control Thumbstick Grips (Gel Tabz, Grip-iT)

Grip-iT Stick Grips

The same basic principle that applies to controller gripping pads, can apply to the thumbsticks as well. I’ve had problems in the past with my thumbs slipping off of the joysticks, and these products do a good job at rectifying this problem. There are several varieties of thumbstick “grippers” that will help you get a good grip.

The most popular are Gel Tabz (probably because they’re available at Gamestop), but there’s also Grip-iTs, and Caps4stix (the cheapest option). Gel Tabz are more rubbery than the other two thumbstick grips, and are more geared towards providing comfort than improving your game. Grip-iTs and Caps4stix are geared entirely to improving your grip. All of these products can help you repair worn or broken thumbsticks. However, some users complain about these products sometimes sliding off of the thumbsticks, or wearing down really easily, so don’t beat them up. Most users are quite happy though.

If I had to suggest one product it would probably be Caps4stix, but to ship them outside of the UK makes it a bit more expensive than Gel Tabz or Grip-iTs. So, for ease, and cheaper shipping, I suggest you get Grip-iTs. They’re only $5 and will give you a good grip while they last, so how can you NOT afford to try them.

2. Control Thumbstick Height Modifiers (KontrolFreek Products)

FPSFreeks on a PS3 controller, by KontrolFreek

These have to be my personal favorite because the concept is solid, and they’re really cheap. As far as I know, the only company that makes them is KontrolFreek. Their product is called “FPSFreek” and I personally use these. FPSFreeks snap-on over your existing thumbsticks to increase their length by about a half an inch. Now at first you may ask yourself “How will longer thumbsticks help me at any game”? Well, the basic idea is that if your thumbsticks are longer, it will increase your range of motion. For example, if your thumbstick is half an inch higher, and you move your cursor on screen, it will take slightly more movement to get the same result. Because of this, you get more “Wiggle Room” when attempting to place your cursor on the target. It essentially makes aiming much easier.

FPS Freeks help tremendously with accuracy and aiming, but a lot of people have said that they only work for some, not all. So, from what I’ve gathered, if you already rock, these probably won’t help. But if you’re not to great, these will most likely help a lot. As a precautionary, I’ve learned that some people get hand-strain while using these and this can cause sharp pains to develop while your playing, so be careful not to over use them.

FPS Freeks have a pretty big learning curve because of how much higher your thumbsticks become, and that takes some adjustment. But, once you get used to them, you’ll never be able to live without them. I highly recommend these because they helped me a lot. Occasionally you can catch them on sale at the manufacturers website, but it’s rare. Usually they are cheapest on Amazon (around $10).

As a side note, KontrolFreek also makes a product called “SpeedFreek” which fits more into the Thumbstick Grips category. They are designed for racing games but they’ll also keep your thumbs where they should be just like grips do. Their is also a combo pack you can get with both the SpeedFreeks and the FPSFreeks together.

1. Gaming Headsets (Turtle Beach, Tritton, Astro, Sennheiser)

Astro A40 with Mixamp

These have to be a favorite accessory of almost EVERYONE who plays FPS games. In most shooters, a headset will allow you to hear even the smallest detail, but most people simply like to be able to hear footsteps. Several of these products will deliver superb Dolby 5.1 (or even 7.1) sound directly into your ears and any volume you desire. However, they’re on the pricier side if you want a good pair, and sometimes they suck up a whole USB port and need a wall power source. Despite all this, most people say the advantages far outweigh the costly price and power hogging that may be required. I’m not a big fan of gaming headsets (although I do use my own version of them), and I think you can make a cheaper pair yourself (I explained how here), but by sheer popularity, these MUST take the #1 space on this list.

Their are several brands, but the most popular are probably Turtle Beaches. They aren’t the best (Astro A40s or Sennheisers probably are), but they are the cheapest and thus most available to the masses. Often times, if your good, you’ll get several small children yelling at you and asking if you wearing “Turtle Beaches” because they of how badly you whooped them.

Turtle Beach has several price-points, ranging from just under $25, all the way up to $150! Trittons range from $70 to $160 and are probably the least popular. But if your willing to spend the big bucks (think $170 to $260) to get a good quality product that will last and isn’t used by 12 year-olds (i.e. Turtle Beaches), then I would go for the Astros or the Sennheisers (with the Astro’s Mixamp). The Astros have a huge following amongst professional gamers, and are the headset that is used the most at official MLG events. Sennheisers are really more for audiophiles, and will not only deliver superb videogame sound, but will also double as an excellent pair of headphones. Both of these headsets are on the pricier side, but they are worth it. Although I’m not big into headsets, If I was to purchase any of them, it would be one of these two.

Conclusion…

Well, that about wraps up what I have to say on accessories. Most of these will really help your game if your not to great, but if you’ve found something that works for you and your happy, you really shouldn’t change. Since the advent of online videogaming, their has been more a pressure to really help improve videogamer’s abilities and no one has delivered better then the 3rd party accessories companies. What arguably started as simple force feedback packs, has now evolved into a thriving multi-million dollar market with many industry players and even more products. No matter what you think of these products I’ve listed here today, one thing is indisputable, the videogame world has been irreversibly changed. If that’s good change or bad change is up to you to decide.

Whats your favorite videogame/console accessory (present or past), and how did it affect your ability to play/have fun?