Friday 23 May 2014

Games| Finished Recently: Gone Home and Child of Light


Let's start with this one, it's a story exploration game.
There is a huge debate between "gamers" whether Gone Home can be considered a game, because some consider it's merely an interactive story but not as saying that is not a bad thing and just consider as an interesting way to tell a story and others do consider as a story exploration game to tell a very human and very close to heart-warming story.
If you were expecting some horror exploration game or action, something of critical thinking and logical  game, win or lose game, danger, then this game isn't your cup of tea, it won't suit your tastes and you will find boring, because it doesn't have your own sense of "fun" there.
Now if you want to know a story, a human story, 90's nostalgia, you like to investigate and explore, examine as a way to explore the story, then you're in for a treat.
Now my own experience with the game, I did quite love the game, not my favourites in general, but is the only PC game I really enjoyed so far, I loved it because it was telling a beautiful story through exploring the house, knowing the characters, pick objects and notes and studying them and being the clues to understand the plot and  the characters, main character being your younger sister Sam and the player, the older sister Katie, the objective of the game is exploring the house to know what's has been going on while you were abroad, why is it empty and all this it's up to your own interpretation basing in what you find and search, in a very bad weather, which gives an very interesting experience.
I do consider as a game since gives an interactive experience, you explore the house, there clues piecing them up together tells a story, the more you advance in the exploration, the more you advance in the story and reach it's closure, in another words, story exploration game, with a different subgenre, drama.
to give you some idea before of thinking give it a try.

(if you're still unsure because of the price, you know there is ways to play for free right? :p)

Next is:

The current RPG of the moment, specially being a platformer Turn-based RPG, what's the best way to describe this game? Beautiful, charming and innocent.
This game is literally an fairytale in form of platform and RPG merged together in one, even though I don't like platformers (besides being terrible at them), the exploration and get items and open chests is platformer style, even being inventive by having a firefly friend Igniculus using his light to open specific chests and doors and slow down some traps(other special abilities such blinding enemies to avoid a battle, slow them down in battle and heal you and help solve the puzzle by using his light, which makes the game accessible), the RPGs elements it's in battle, HP and MP, each characters has attack moves and special abilities, so you can use different strategies to defeat your enemies and bosses and crafting.
But there is something different besides the exploration and finding chests, for example, in traditional RPGs, you can buy and sell items, but here is the opposite,you can't buy or sell them, you have to search for them and gain from battles) so besides relying on Robella (but requires MP to heal you) and Igniculus to heal you but it has limits, so balance it out so you won't rely too much on them so it won't waste their MP and energy, such as those plants to heal, the items (careful not wasting them since you can't buy them) you find and everytime you level up, you recover your HP and MP, so there is quite an well executed balance, making the game accessible.
Now the Story and the dialogue, there has been some minor complaints, such some thinking the rhyming dialogue was forced (try writing a rhymed dialogue for a less 30 hours long game then) and the story some found boring, others thought for rendered pretty story had an abrupt ending, some say it wasn't a complex story - I think the story is beautiful with it's imperfections (beauty doesn't mean perfection), when we think about it, most fairytales has abrupt endings, what makes the story pretty, it feels like telling a child a fairytale and this child is us and with it's beautiful illustrated watercolours-ish  like a pop-up fairytale books.
Child of Light has beautiful art, music (I love it, I listen to it almost everyday xD) and story, by the way, my favourite character is Igniculus, the firefly.


Let me advise you, before give a try to any of these mentioned or others, have low expectations, otherwise you will be disappointed by high expectations and don't follow blindly critically acclaimed and then be disappointed because isn't your kind of game or wasn't the way you wanted, many games or movies or animated series can be of great quality but maybe not suit your tastes, quality and personal tastes are different things.

Pottermore: Quidditch World Cup and speculations

we are all aware, even made some advancements, it's on the quarter finals now, with correspondences to Daily Prophet from Ginny Potter, there is also a few more things I want to add about this, I'm not catching up, I find reports about sports pretty boring, even Quidditch is no exception, playing sure, I didn't ever enjoyed really watching sports, specially collective sports or reading about them, it's not now it gonna change.

I have suspicions why they're taking this opportunity, besides giving extra info and knowing what is happening in the Wizardry World currently, unfortunately for me and those may not be connected to sports even including Quidditch, I think they're taking final preparations of the 17 chapters for the last instalment, it's heavy, we don't usually get this amount being 1st or 2nd or 3rd instalment, it's an unusual amount, also to give more time to advance with Order of the Phoenix, when they showcased some art concept of some of the last chapters moment, they shown creatures concept art for Order of the Phoenix, so they're close to the end.
So I suspect after the Quidditch Finals, we will get our last instalment of Goblet of Fire...

speaking of which, we know Ravenclaw will have for the first time ever, early access as Hufflepuff did previously...
now let's getting to where I think there will be high, medium and low chances of getting exclusive info...

Chapter 21: The House-Elf Liberation - High
Chapter 22: The Unexpected Task - Low
Chapter 23: The Yule Ball - Medium
Chapter 24: Rita Skeeter's Scoop - Medium
Chapter 25: The Egg and the Eye - Low
Chapter 26: The Second Task - Low
Chapter 27: Padfoot Returns - Low
Chapter 28: The Madness of Mr. Crouch - Low
Chapter 29: The Dream - Low
Chapter 30: The Pensieve - High
Chapter 31: The Third Task - Low
Chapter 32: Flesh, Blood and Bone - Medium
Chapter 33: The Death Eaters - Low
Chapter 34: Priori Incantem - Medium
Chapter 35: Veritaserum - High (maybe there is even a chance to create the potion)
Chapter 36: The Parting of the Ways - Low
Chapter 37: The Beginning - Low

Sunday 23 March 2014

Pottermore News: Recent Exclusive J.K.Rowling entries and Pottermore House Cup

I'm sure you have read the recent ones, not much can say about it, except about there is a lot of intensity in Quidditch Games, specially in World Cups, not surprising, soccer for example the fans are quite intense.
Yes, I'm not into sports...

Now let's get down to business to talk about the House Cup...
so had passed 3 months and 1 week since the 2nd instalment had come out, so I guess the 3rd instalment is coming after the winner of the House Cup this season is announced, as usual the winner will probably will get 24 hours 3rd instalment earlier in these occasions.
How many chapters I think it will come out soon? I speculate around 7 or 8 chapters.
the Chapters I think it will have most likely Exclusive info:
Chapter 21, Chapter 23, Chapter 24 and Chapter 26.

So Good Luck on the House Cup!

Thursday 16 January 2014

Pottermore News: 2ND Instalment of Goblet of Fire is released - Thoughts and speculations

I believe many of already know that it's out.
it's from 12-20, 9 chapters in total, which now it can be confirmed it will be in 4 instalments with missing 17 chapters or unless the next one will be of 17, which I think is mostly impossible, one will have 8 chapters and the other 9, which will have which, seeing the missing chapters list, it's more likely the 3rd instalment be of 7 chapters and the last one be of 10 chapters.


Okay, the moments of the chapters of this instalment were...
AMAZING, beautiful artwork!!!!
I really love the slightly animated illustrations some of the moments, such as the famous Draco, the boucing ferret, it's pretty funny, it's fun to play around it, also the very well done Unforgivable Curses class, but the artworks that marked me most was...



They are really impressive and remarkable, I love how they animated the Abraxan's wings and the drawing of the carriage, the animated waves and the ship with full moon - it certainly gives a haunting and secretive feel to it, the animated fire and the sounds of the dragons and the dragons design, really cool.
You can tell how much the artists are having fun doing the moments for Pottermore.

Now the Exclusive info:

I will start with the one that less surprised me, Daily Prophet, because we have some idea what was around and what was most probably, if included it's origins would be more interesting.
Durmstrang, even though isn't surprising the combative focused magic school and we get to know there 11 magical schools of total around the world, which is a bit surprising, we know there is 3 schools in Europe, one on Japan, 2 in North America I think, make it miss 5 schools to go we don't know yet, also surprising during the time Igor Karkaroff as Headmaster made many parents not wanting their children in attending Durmstrang.
Now Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, I may say I was kinda surprised even though it's obvious, being myself Portuguese, it makes me wonder, in Portugal would have to be obligatory to know french at 10 years old at least, one thing being from a wizarding family and another from being a muggle-born because is most commonly learn to choose english, not both, which would be the most wise to chose both, I had french until I was 12 and always had some difficulties with the language, compared to english which was always easy to me from the start, many from certain countries would have difficulties to adapt specially muggle-borns, I would adapt better in Hogwarts.

Monday 13 January 2014

Pottermore News&Speculations: Celebration of Harry Potter in Orlando Resort and Pottermore

I believe you have heard of this recent news from Pottermore Insider:

For those of you who may have heard already, we can confirm that a few people from the Pottermore team are absolutely thrilled to be venturing from the London-based office over to Florida, to take part in A Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort.

Our very own Creative Director will be on hand to give a behind-the-scenes look at how Moments are made, from the first pencil stroke through to the final splash of colour. If you’ve ever wondered how you might make the sound effect for a spider crawling down its web, he’ll be talking about that too! And, he’ll be revealing beautiful new artwork from the final instalment of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
 

Perhaps most exciting of all, we will be sharing an upcoming exclusive audio clip from J.K. Rowling, in which she gives a mischievous backstory to one of her most colourful Harry Potter characters.  Who do you think it could be?

Throughout the weekend of the Celebration, the Pottermore booth at the Harry Potter Expo will be open for fans to visit.  They will be greeted by the largest print ever made of an iconic Pottermore Moment, measuring 14 meters high and 20 meters wide!   At the booth Harry Potter fans will be able to experience Pottermore.com for themselves and also watch an artist illustrate upcoming creatures from the fifth book - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  The Harry Potter eBook and digital audio book collections will also be available to read or listen to courtesy of the Pottermore Shop. 




It does sound fishy, doesn't? could be there a chance that will come this week or the next, right before or after the Celebration of Harry Potter, with behind the scenes of how the moments are made and also reveal an artwork of the final instalment of Goblet of Fire, we're  getting finally the 2nd instalment?
it's probably before, because it sounds stupid an artwork of the final instalment when the 2nd hasn't come out yet...
also this" upcoming audio clip"...it kinda proves it can be after this celebration, the 2nd instalment, not sure, it's very fishy, it can be from the last instalment, if they are almost done with the Goblet of Fire, by the sound of it, and seems starting with the concept arts for the Order of the Phoenix.
Nice way to tease us...and also seems recent teaser from Pottermore with the new cover on Facebook...



that green quill looks way too familiar, Rita Skeeter's quick notes quill... it can be confirmed it will be divided in 3 parts..., the next 2 instalments will be around 13 chapters, that's plenty, it doesn't usually go by this amount, which is pretty good, makes perfect sense, since the books get thicker from here on... so I'm not sure, I think it's quite possible the 2nd instalment coming before the celebration. Also these creatures illustrations for the Order of Phoenix in the Pottermore Team artists booth, I hope one of them to be Thestrals, I found them fascinating creatures and really cool (Please, I seriously hope for Exclusive info for them, it would be so cool, in Order of the Phoenix, which the chances are pretty High). Now this mischievous character backstory audioclip, I think I do know already :D...Rita Skeeter!

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Games | Playing: Pokémon X ---------- Pottermore Speculations

I finished the game yesterday (17th December, Tuesday), now I'm on the exploring part, I did have won 1 battle in Battle Maison, then I did go capture some pokemons I always wanted Honedge, Eevee (to evolve into Jolteon) and I got a mystery gift being Torchic together with his megastone, neat!
I have intentions of collecting all mega evolutions from Pokemon X and fight the 4 sisters.
Yes, I'm having a lot of fun with the game.

Sorry but I kept the boots, I just think are very cool.



Pottermore Speculation

Now about Pottermore, I believe most of fans suspect there is a big chance of the Next instalment of Goblet of Fire will be around this week or Monday 23rd December, my bet is will be about twelve chapters to reach Yule Ball, after all happens on Christmas, I suspect they gonna give special touch on the Yule Ball moment (I do seriously wonder how it will turn out the illustration)  and I'm sure this moment will also be featured at Playstation Home Pottermore.

which chapters I speculate most about which will have exclusive info:
Chapter 12: The Triwizard Tournament - High chance
Chapter 13: Mad-Eye Moody - Very High chance
Chapter 14: The Unforgivable Curses - 50% chance
Chapter 15: Beauxbatons and Durmstrang - High Chance
Chapter 16: The Goblet of Fire - Low chance
Chapter 17: The Four Champions - Low chance
Chapter 18: The Weighing of the Wands - 50% chance
Chapter 19: The Hungarian Horntail - Very Low chance
Chapter 20: The First Task - Very Low chance
Chapter 21: The House-Elf Liberation Front - 50% chance
Chapter 22: The Unexpected Task - Very Low chance
Chapter 23: The Yule Ball - 50% chance

in another words the chapters I think it has the highest chances are the chapter 12 (from how it started the triwizard tournament), Chapter 13 (not hard, bio of mad-eye, maybe?) and Chapter 15 (about the schools).

Sunday 8 December 2013

Games | Playing Pokémon X

Yep, I got a week ago, that's why I haven't been posting lately :p

I'm loving the game so far, I usually played Pokemon games on GBA emulators, I did liked them, but it's not the same, I'm pretty sure you know that playing the same game on a emulator of the handheld and in the handheld gives a different feel, also I'm not a PC person when comes to play video games, I'm into consoles (whether is home or handheld console).

I do have now 5 badges, now 3 to go...
I think Mega Evolution is pretty cool, I love the animation of the mega evolutions and also the attacks of the Pokemons and special effects of certain moves, it's hard to take way your eyes off it, my favourite so far is Electro Ball, Flame Charge and Fly.
Now when it comes to Pokemon, I'm loving Talonflame (it's kinda like an hawk+phoenix), it's a very cool fire bird...
I do also love Charizard Mega Evolution X, it's very cool...I love the Black+Blue in Charizard


I chosen to start with Chespin, since the other two is very popular, it's kinda cool and cute, it has an innocent look.
Now I intend to train my aerodactyl because he has an mega evolution, but I don't know if have the right stone or not...

now take a look at my trainer:
I'm a girl but I chosen the boy, I like the boys clothes more than the girls anyway and I named him Calem, as it's named when he is your neighbour, the picture I took with my Lapras female that I named Aqua.