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NGai Croal

NGai Croal's Recent Blog Entries

  • Just how much do music games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero owe to history, asks N'Gai Croal.

    One of my favourite things about Out Of The Game, the biweekly podcast that I record with three other former journalists and one current journo, is when a seemingly ordinary discussion of a recently released game veers into topics that are more provocative. Take the September releases of The Beatles: Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 along with the August release of the movie Inglorious Basterds, for instance.

    November 4, 2009
  • N'Gai Croal wonders whether the real battle of the current console generation wars is in interfaces, not silicon.

    When 31st century archeologists dig through the fossilised remains of the typical 21st century home, what will they find as evidence of how we once amused ourselves? Will 2005-2009 be seen as an explosion in interface diversity, from gestural remotes to plastic guitars, drums, wheels, microphones and balance boards? Or will this too be seen as prelude to the Age of the Camera – complete with a built-in microphone – and our glorious future of controller-free gaming?

    October 8, 2009
  • N'Gai Croal asks whether allowing players to set their own Achievements could take gaming into a new dimension.

    When Microsoft released the Xbox 360 in the autumn of 2005, with Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo’s Wii already announced but still a year away from store shelves, journalists like myself were focused on system specs, launch titles and initial shipment volumes. Few of us were thinking about Achievements and what they could mean for games.

    September 9, 2009

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Lewbaby's picture
from Lewbaby

Hey NGai Croal, I'm new to this site and hoping that you will receive this message. I read your blog about the Importance of Being Easy....really enjoyed it. I like playing games but even when I play on easy mode they usually take me a long time, which is cool with me (not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to video games). My favorite PS3 game, which I did finish, was Uncharted Drake's Fortune. I also have really enjoyed all the Silent Hill games as well as Bioshock. Sooo, my question...I've bought Dead Space & Fallout 3 for my PS3. I was wondering if you could recommend one for me...I'm a bit worried a/b them (a) becoming too difficult (even on an "easy mode") and then not being able to complete them and (b) the game being so challenging that it's not even fun. Once I start w a game I stick with it (usually referencing to a walkthrough). Overall, I'd call myself a video gaming novice. Thanks for any input....You seem really knowledgeable and I would be greatly appreciative for any tips. Oh...you can email a response to: Lewbaybe@yahoo.com. Thanks a million! Lew

bhoyt47's picture
from bhoyt47

Hey,
Enjoyed your latest post regarding "The Importance of Being Easy." Your comments in the last paragraph reminded me of an article that I wrote for Game Daily a little while back: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/features/my-turn-its-time-for-movie-mo.... I'd be interested to hear your thoughts...

Ben Hoyt
Sr. Producer
Paramount Digital Entertainment