Anti-Kinect Campaign: Tsk tsk

Pardon my lateness on this issue: Sony began an anti-Kinect campaign under the name "Yay Buttons!". It's not directly stated that it's against the Kinect, but considering how Kinect is the only controller-less gaming option in style right now (the original was the Playstation Eye-Toy; now how ironic is that?)

Honestly, I don't know what to say about this whole Move vs. Kinect situation. On one hand, I understand Sony's claim about how buttons give the user exclusive, precise, button-matched control over the game. But on the other hand, Kinect, though still rough around the edges, has the potential to revolutionize gaming (kinda like, again the Eye-Toy, except Sony didn't continue to develop the idea, and instead gave it the boot). One step closer to Tron, I say.

The article seems to mention that perhaps Microsoft is anticipating the release of some sort of handheld peripheral to accompany the Kinect, to which I have to say: why come full circle? You went out of your way to shed the bonds of a controller to make a handsfree experience, only to come back and mimic what the Wii and PS3 are doing. Doesn't seem like such a good investment there.

Sony raises an extremely valid point, that buttons give control. But still... don't be hatin'.

Think Fast!

The University of Rochester recently conducted a study that showed that FPS gamers make decisions 25% faster than gamers of other genres (as well as perhaps non-gamers; this was not mentioned). Fortunately, accuracy was not sacrificed - FPS gamers got just as many answers right as the opposing group.

This is a great step for FPS games, but it fails to provide an answer to one of the prominent arguments against it - that FPS games promote violence, and increases the chances of violent tendencies. This study only shows that FPS gamers can answer faster than others in a test where only questions with definitive answers are provided. Should the test have included morally ambiguous questions with answers that ranged subtly from pacifist to violent, the results of the study may well have been different.

Don't get me wrong, I'm an advocate of FPS's (even though I don't (have the time to) play them) - I support the results of this study. But someone should look into the real problems that plague shooters, and address them.

I'm Back!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am finally back from my long hiatus. Like I said in my previous post, I was in China for the duration of the summer break. as Blogger is blocked in China, I had difficulty accessing it. Aside from the one post I made to inform you of the hiatus, I didn't feel the urge to go through all the trouble to post. (Does that make me a bad blogger?)

Let's start off with something controversial that happened over the summer - the Manila Bus incident. I'm pretty sure I share the same opinion with the majority of the world when I say: Police of the Philippines - what were you thinking? Every single step of the rescue process was either completely nonsensical, or poorly executed.

First of all, why in God's name would you ever, ever deny the appeal of someone who has a bus load of hostages, with an M16 to shoot them? That doesn't make any sense! At least

Next, if you're planning a rescue operation, wouldn't you bring in another bus of the same model, and study it to formulate a plan. Oh, you did bring in a bus? Was it the same model? No? Again - what were you thinking?

When the hostage situation started, I think I speak for almost everyone when I say that we expected it to end without bloodshed - the man would either be placated and arrested, or executed with minimum collateral damage. But look out it turned out...

Way to go PNP, yet another mark on your already tarnished record.