DVD REVIEW: APPLESEED EX MACHINA

I’m not the best guy to talk about Japanese stuff but this Appleseed Ex Machina (2007) I watched yesterday really make its stand.

I had several opportunities before to rent this DVD, which I was hoping it was just another weird anime. But, luckily, I ran out of options and bring this DVD to home to get the most gladly surprise.

The anime is not just beautiful, its breath taking. The story is well made (and easy to get, even for those who don’t know the manga or the first movie), the characters are well developed and – what can I say – the movie is flawless. Appleseed Ex Machina will be now in my altar of animes, alongside with Akira, Macross Plus and Katsuhiro Otomo’s Memories.

Rate 9/10

Wow moment: the gorgeous city view.

Best scene: the combat in the church.  

COUNTER STRIKE 2

COUNTER STRIKE 2 – AN OVERVIEW 
A game for PC and Xbox 360 
By Fernando A. C. Prado 

INTRODUCTION

This is an initial concept plan I made for the sequence of the popular game Counter Strike. In this document 4 points was taken special care:

• Similar gameplay: all the major gameplay features of the original CS (and CS:S) was kept, so the old fans and players can start playing CS2 without a long learning curve.
• Realism: there is a tendency in the market to value the realism. When CS was made, it was a water line in terms of realistic action. Now it is dated. The gamers are today much better informed, through and demanding.
• Evolution: why to buy a sequel? Because it is bigger and better. It's not enough to just update the graphics.
• Game value: there are 2 ways for keep people playing a game (besides the quality of the game itself): rewards/rank system and high customization. There will be support for both in this document.

NEW FEATURES

- Custom a Unit: the player can build a CT unit. When building a unit, he can choose which weapons it will use, but that weapons will cost 10% more to buy in game. Otherwise, if he chooses a standard unit, he can access the weapons of that unit for the regular price. Unit customization includes set of the uniform, country flag, name and unit’s badge (import image file). It’s important to allow the player to save its units (for sharing with other players). This feature in the game not only will make the fan community very happy as will increase exponentially the value of the game. Players all around the globe will make their custom units for their countries CT units.

- Statistics: like in TF2, there will be a statistics panel for the player. The player can earn medals for the completed achievements. Additional suggestion: military ranks and unlocks (this make wonders with Battlefield 2).

- (Optional) Mods: To reward those CS fans who make new weapons and player models, CS2 could have a simple and easy mod support. Using scripts, the modder can add this new art to the game. Of course, to play with these new features, a server running the mod is needed.

- Game modes: Campaign, Challenge and Classic. Each could be played alone (with bots) and/or with other players. Steam friends where never so precious.

- CAMPAIGN GAME MODE

• Counter Strike meets Rainbow Six (at least a very light version of Rainbow Six).
• The player chooses a standard or custom unit.
• The player will fight slightly modified versions of the classic maps, following a sequence of events. Additional suggestion: the Campaign could starts with a video showing a big terrorist attack to the country, so the CT unit is called to hunt down the terrorist cells around the world.
• Some maps would be for Rescuing Hostages, others for Defusing the Bomb (the bomb starts armed and there is a time for the CT to defuse it. Of course, the Terrorists will be on their way), VIP Escorting or even "Don't let the Terrorists escape" maps.
• The player will have bots (and/or other players) in his team. (Optional) He can buy the equipment and weapons for his bots.
• The enemy bots will be lightly armed in the early maps, and better armed in the last ones. The AI difficulty is also increased. To make things more challenging, there could be more enemy bots than CT team mates in every map.
• Only one round, so if all players are dead, the map ends.

- CHALLENGE GAME MODE

• The player chooses a standard or custom unit.
• The gameplay is similar to the Classic CS.
• The campaign starts with a random map. The bot AI is set for easy for the first map and increases for each map is played.
• In campaign, the objective is to win a certain number of rounds before the AI. For instance: 10 rounds.
• After winning all maps (the last will be in the Expert difficulty), the challenge mode ends. This could be recorded in the player statistics (rewarding a medal for that unit, for instance).

- CLASSIC GAME MODE

• Basically the Classic CS game modes. Defuse the Bomb, Rescue the Hostages, Protect the VIP, etc.
• (Optional) After a certain number of rounds, the teams are swapped. This is a very interesting (and fair) feature of the Team Fortress 2 (in maps like Dustbowl).

- CLASSIC GAME MODE (Clan battle)

• This could be done with simple server side settings.
• Each clan will play with its custom unit. This will greatly value the clans (Counter Strike golden years will surely be back).
• One team will play as CT and the other as Terrorist.
• (Optional) After a certain number of rounds, the teams are swapped.

GAME PLAY CHANGES

- Each map is played by a specific CT faction versus a specific Terrorist faction. For instance, the map de_dust should be Seal Team 6 versus Fundamentalists. Instead of choosing between the Seal Team 6, SAS, etc., the player will choose between slightly different versions of bodies for the same unit.

- Each unit is unique. Each unit has, for instance, 4 types of handguns (with one silenced and one heavy handgun), 4 types of smgs (with one machine pistol and one silenced), 2 types of shotguns (one pump action and the other semiauto), 4 types of assault rifles (at least one scoped), 2 types of sniper rifles (one bolt action and the other semiauto) and 1 type of machinegun.

- The weapons each standard unit has are based on accurate and updated information. No more SAS using Desert Eagles, for instance.

- The price of the starting handgun is discounted from the player starting money, for balance.

- There will be slots for the total of hand grenades. Suggestion: 2 or 3 slots (so the player may buy 2 HE grenades, for instance). This could also be done for equipment (defuser, extra ammo, medkit, lockpick, etc).

- Secondary mouse bottom (right bottom) will bring the iron sights/scope. Firing a weapon without aiming will make it much less accurate.

- The fire-mode of the weapons can be selected (for instance: semi-auto, burst, full-auto). How? Pressing the weapon number more times will scroll between the fire mode options (the standard in the full-auto).

- A tertiary bottom is needed (for putting a silencer in the weapon, for instance).

- Improve a weapon option (aka "Pimp your favorite gun"). Add laser aiming module, silencer, flashlight, etc. to an existing weapon. New modules could be unlocked by accomplishing achievements.

- Realist ballistics (very important). Each weapon fires a projectile in a certain velocity. Long range shots need to worry about projectile drop. Silenced weapons have projectile speed decreased.

- Weapon collision. So, in smaller spaces, handguns are more recommended than long rifles. This would add a complete new deepness to the game.

- Improved AI: Bots can't see clearly through smoke (from smoke grenades) and get confused when shot by silenced weapons (as human players do).

- Server customization: the server can choose a wide range of options, like the CT and Terror units of each map (good for clan servers), the allowed weapons and equipment, turn on/off Realistic Damage, Dynamic Prices, etc.

- More destructible environment. A challenge for the mappers BUT if you want to impress the gamers (and critics) today, you need to push the envelop.

- More realistic grenade behavior, physics, detonation time (can be cooked) and throw distance. A real grenade could be shot, kicked or thrown back.

- More player model hitting regions, like hearth (as critical as head).

- The players earn points for killing assistance (like in TF2). There isn't more annoying thing than you lost your frag just because other "finished" the target. Besides that, assistance points strength the team play.

- Player animations for climbing ladders. He can’t fire a weapon when doing this.

- To avoid the bad habit of jumping and shooting (which have nothing to do with reality), the crosshair should enlarge a lot when the player jumps.

- (Critical) Better Anti-Cheat capability. In CS, one guy using cheats may ruin the entire match. Question: Why TF2 has virtually no cheaters and CS:S has lots?

- (Optional) More realist damage. A wounded soldier would walk slower, leave a trail of blood, etc.

- (Optional) Locked doors. This lead to new equipment: lockpick tools. Of course, shotguns could be used to breech closed doors.

- (Optional) Medkits. This could be equipment for the Campaign game mode.

- (Optional) Unlocks. Better weapons could be unlocked trough achievements/ranks.

STANDARD CT UNITS:

I made a list of the small arms for each standard CT team, based on the real weaponry they use.

 

What's happening with Shyamalan?

"Run for your lives (from this movie)"

The Happening (2008): here is the name of the new creation of M. Night Shyamalan. Remember the name of this movie, so you won’t lose your time watching it.

After writing, directing and producing the fantastic The Sixth Sense (1999), Shyamalan got a deserved respect. “Oh, this man is a genius; let him do what he wants.” But movie after movie (except for the good The Village), Shyamalan disappoints.

This The Happening is the worst. Probably Shyamalan is surrounded only by fans and people with no opinion, or someone would tell him “this won’t work”. And that’s the problem of the movie: it doesn’t work at all.

A poor idea (the plants decide to kill the humans), a lack of any kind of working suspense, several scenes of bad taste and no twist in the end (a trademark of the author): it’s the reunion of the worst Shyamalan you can’t find around. And it leads to nothing.

Shyamalan must be desperate to make a movie like this. And many people (including myself) won’t believe him anymore.

The (at last) Dark Knight

"Here is my card."

I was a real fan of the Batman comics until the first movie, down in 1989. Owner of the graphic novels The Dark Knight and Asylum Arkham, I felt that the movies never caught the right spirit of the hero. And it gets worst and worst until the final insult: Batman & Robin (1997).

Well, I was thinking: so much for the Batman. But when Batman Begins arrived, I could not enjoy more the idea of reset, of “let’s try it again”. Batman Begins is indeed a watchable and decent move. But when I gone to watch The Dark Knight… WTF? It really got me unguarded.

Though the older fans like me could complain about the Two Face, the movie is dark like the title, and that’s refreshing.

And, come on. Heath Ledger not only made the best Joker someone could ever conceive, but stole the film! It could be called Joker – The Movie. He is insane, he is frightening and he is funny. It’s a tragic loss for the industry that this great actor died so young.

Rate: 9/10

Wow moment: the ending.

Best scene: The magic trick.

Most awaited games

Here are some games I'm looking forward to play:

- Warhammer 40,000 Online

- Red Alert 3 

- Diablo 3 

- Dawn of War 2

- Star Craft 2

- Spore (almost moving it to the "Most Disappointing Games" section).

Most disappointing games

- Quake 3 Arena – A good game, if you are a bot. 

- Quake Wars: Enemy Territory – Like Quake 3 Arena, this game has no soul! I played once and uninstalled it.

- Counter Strike Source – I was hoping the game would be improved, adding more (and best picked) weapons, iron sights, more equipment, more complexity. But the game is only an updated copy of the old Counter Strike. Sequels need evolution, Valve.

- Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy – the worst adaptation from a console game to PC I ever saw. Basically, the people who converted it never played a PC game and hate PC gamers. First, I tried to decently control my character. Failed! Then I tried to change the controls for something useful. Failed. Then I shot some guy by mistake. Shit! Then I tried to quit the game. Failed! Help! I really couldn’t quit the game! Oh my god, I had to use Ctrl+Alt+Del.

- Age of Empires III – Don’t get me wrong, the game is gorgeous in all senses, and the Colony system is very clever. But there is something missing. There must be something wrong when you continue to play the previous game after a sequel.

- Medal of Honor Airborne – Beautiful game, but a great disappointment. If EA Games just leeched the gameplay from Call of Duty, it would be great, but instead, they made a combat game that you don’t get any pleasure in combat. Not to mention the too many effects in the players view that make me dizzy. Played 10 minutes, died, played more 5 minutes, died, quitted, uninstalled.

- Mechwarrior 3 and Mechwarrior 4 – Mechwarrior 3 have updated with merit the combat system (it was very fun in multiplayer), but simply trashed the universe background. Mechwarrior 4 was made by people who don’t like Battletech at all.

The games of my Life (aka "My Foundation") Part 4

OTHER GENDER

- La Abadía del Crimen (MSX version, 1988) – This game brought all the mystery of the movie, considering the resources. It was really magic. There is a terrific remake here.

- Simcity (1989) – Will Wright is a genius. Who could imagine building things is much more fun than destroying.

- Prince of Persia (1989) – Talking about magic... All in this extremely difficult (for the newbie I was) game is perfect.

EDIT: I was watching the game on Youtube, and it is really merciless. I miss that time when games weren't made for 8 year old kids...

- Alone in the Dark (1992) – Oh it really scarred me. It had a formula that was lost in the sequels: all the time you fell fragile and terror was real.

- Prince of Persia 2 (1993) - The most beautiful graphics and soundtrack I could imagine. Video of the start of the game.

- Ultima VIII: Pagan (1994) – My first Ultima game: it really impressed me. This was open, long, complex and cruel game. One of the few games I played extensively and never finished.

- Diablo (1996) - A new standard in the video game industry. Blizzard = gold.

- The Sims (2000) – The greatest virtue of The Sims was to bring the female public to video games. Yes, it's like playing with dolls. Yes, the (dozens of) expansions doesn't worth what they costs. Yes, the game gets incredible heavy as it is expanded. But none can deny it's a fantastic idea (and a money factory).

- Neverwinter Nights (2002) – Not only the singleplayer was great, but there was a fantastic feature: co-op campaign!

EDIT: I never really played Baldur's Gate or Baldur's Gate II... some say they are better than Neverwinter Nights.

- Knights of the Old Republic (2003) – A very involving story, with one of the best plots I ever saw in a game. Unfortunately, there is no multiplayer support.

- Guitar Hero III (2007) – Very fun and uncompromised game. When you are stressed, a quick Guitar Hero match can clear your mind. The song selection and the artwork are unbeatable.

- World of Goo (2008) - What a refreshing game! Best than any high budged similar. Trailer here!

The games of my Life (aka "My Foundation") Part 3

VEHICLE SIMULATION

- Elite (MSX version, 1988) - You can fell the depth of the space. Remarkable moment: been surrounded by the Targoids for the first time.

- Stunts (1990) - Fantastic racing game even four years later when I got the game.

- Red Baron (1990) - Another terrific game I managed to play only several years later.

- Frontier: Elite 2 (1993) - Elite improved in all ways.

- X-Wing (1993) – The magic of Star Wars space battles. I needed to play it in my friend's house, because I didn't have a PC at that time...

- Strike Commader (1993) - Great fighter simulator with simplified controls, very impressive graphics, gameplay and story.

- Tie Fighter (1994) – Better than X-Wing, even though you play with the bad guys. I felt like an badass Empire legend - and that's really good.

- Wing Commander 3 (1994) – My dad brought me from the USA, but I wasn't able to play it until I got a CD-ROM player, months later. I knew the manual by heart before even playing the game and kept the box as a biblical relic: and the game worth it all.

- Wing Commander Armada (1994) - This game was release before the Wing Commander 3, but I just got it long time after. So, the graphics wheren't exaclty impressive, but the multiplayer feature was awesome.

- Descent (1995) - Another great ship combat simulator.

- Mechwarrior 2 (1995) – Initiated me to the Battletech universe. It was really exciting to customize and pilot those big machines, and been part of the coolest story events. And yes, I became khan in both campaigns in the harder difficulty.

- Mechwarrior 2 Mercenaries (1996) – Now you don't fight for honor, as in MW2, but for money! To manage the mercenary company through the most important events of the Inner Sphere was an amazing experience. Activision, do a remake!

- Freelancer (1999) – This game was so well made and so good that I wonder why there isn't a sequel. I never played a decent space simulator after this one. By the way, the graphics where breath taking.

The games of my Life (aka "My Foundation") Part 2

FIRST PERSON

- Doom (1993) – Ok, Castle Wolfenstein was the pioneer in FPS, but Doom and Doom 2 made nightmares come true. A real horror show and it had LAN support, what more could we want?

- Dark Forces (1995) – At that time, Lucas Arts released only masterpieces. This one is fantastic, especially for a Star Wars fan like me. The unforgiving feature: no multiplayer at all (haven’t these guys learned something with Doom?)

- Duke Nukem 3D (1996) – I wish there was a remake of it. The game was dirty, immoral and brilliant (especially level design). I can still remember the maps, enemies and weapons…

- Quake (1996) – The second mark in the world of FPS. Cool soundtrack, beautiful art and graphics, deep environments and an unbelievable multiplayer support. Not to mention the clever idea of keep good mod support, which allowed the creation of…

- Team Fortress – mod for Quake (1997) – the patriarch of all class based multiplayer FPS. One of the best games of all times (with one of the best intros too).

- Amulets & Armor (1997) – Graphics was very dated even for that time, but the game was delicious. Wide character customization, long campaigns and a good multiplayer: the first great FPS RPG I knew.

- Out Laws (1997) – Awesome soundtrack, very challenging (and diverse) levels, pretty cartoonish graphics (even if not completely 3d). Another game who deserved a sequel or a remake.

- Rainbow Six (1998) – Very complex and well designed game. It brings a whole new vision of how to combat in a game. The true tactical FPS.

- Half-Life (1998) – In HL we had a glimpse of what the games would become in the next years. It’s like a sci-fi movie, but the player is the leading actor. If we think of the mods for the HL engine, this is one of the most important games of all times.

- Unreal Tournament (1999) – Much better than Quake III Arena (a soulless shooter)…

- Counter Strike – mod for Half-Life (1999-2000) – It changed the way first person shooters are played. And it deserves a true sequel (not the fair but unimaginative Counter Strike: Source).

- Battlefield 1942 (2002) – A true step ahead in FPS. It is so advanced that recent games are still trying (mostly unsuccessful) to catch it. It has also a great mod support allowing the community to keep it alive until these days.

- Natural Selection – mod for Half-Life (2002) – The union of RTS and FPS is a genius' idea. It's strange that few games tried to follow it.

- Jedi Academy (2003) – One of the last great games of the Star Wars franchise. Great customization and alternative story lines makes you wish to play again and again.

- Call of Duty (2003) – A blockbuster, a true symbol of singleplayer FPS and the one of the few games to effective put you into the horrors of war. Pure shock and awe.

- Battlefield Vietnam (2004) – Here is a very misunderstood game. It is very good, but its very problem is to be the successor of the excellent BF1942. Even with more cool vehicles and weapons and an awesome soundtrack, the thematic (Vietnam War) is not as attractive as the WW2… I made a mod for it.

- Half-Life 2 (2004) – Another standard of quality, with unbelievably beautiful environments (specially the open space levels), impressive physics and terrifying history. Half-Life 2 is essential to be played.

- Vampire Bloodlines (2004) – Merging RPG with shooter was a very ambitious task and Troika almost made it. Although greatly conceived, with a very cool storyline, this game was plagued by bugs and rushed, barely finished levels. With some extra development time, extra money and extra skilled workers it would be one of the best FPS ever.

- Battlefield 2 (2005) – A true success. As the developers are moving to the console public and knowing the next releases (Battlefield Bad Company and Battlefield Heroes), it looks like this is the last Dice's masterpiece.

- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006) – The best first person RPG ever. Open spaces, great story, hundreds of missions, good freedom, amazing landscapes… it have it all. But there is no multiplayer. With little adaptations, it was possible to add it and make the game just perfect.

- Dark Messiah of Might & Magic (2006) – It's unfair to compare this game with Oblivion. It has a very different focus and does very well what it proposes. Except for the ridiculous powerful kick, the combat system is wonderful. Great game, but more RPG would do well for it.

- Portal (2007) – A game for exercising brains and reflexes. A funny villain and a most charming ending. Pity it is so short and has no multiplayer…

- Team Fortress 2 (2007) – The game I'm playing and recommending now. Simply a most have.

The games of my Life (aka "My Foundation") Part 1

STRATEGY

- Dune II (1992) – I remember I played little this game in a friend’s house (got a PC just few years later), but it looked magic to me. The different (and expressive) factions, the unit’s management… it was the first real-time strategy I played, and it marked my imagination.

- Lords of the Realms (1994) – With a hotseat game mode (multiplayer in the same PC), this was a favored to play along my sister and friends.

- Warcraft II (1995) – I played little the first Warcraft, so this one is stronger in my memory. The art, the story, the gameplay: everything was amazing.

- Civilization II (1996) – After (near) mastering this game I wasn’t the same anymore. It was like opening my eyes.

- Age of Empires (1997) – A very beautiful and well planed game. The best real-time strategy of his time.

- Starcraft (1999) – Not the storyline, not the graphics, the most amazing feature of this game was the completely different factions. Even today people are trying to do this, unfortunately without that much success.

- Age of Empires II (1999) – Age of Empires upgraded in all senses. I played this for years. The multiplayer was tasty.

- Heroes of Might and Magic III (1999) – I remember the long matches in hotseat mode with my friends… I could drag my girlfriend to play it, so it is remarkable.

- Red Alert 2 (2000) – A great game that guaranteed fans for the C&C series for long time. By the way, the nuclear explosion was orgasmic.

- Warcraft 3 (2002) – A whole new level of quality in real-time strategy games. It planted the seeds for the WoW blockbuster.

- Command & Conquer Generals (2003) – With its expansion, it was perfect. The RTS I would bring to a desert island.

- The Battle for Middle Earth (2004) – The best adaptation of a Tolkien’s work to the games. Great singleplayer campaign, wonderful “meta-map” gameplay.

- Rome Total War (2004) – The singleplayer is complete, but it would be the ultimate strategy game if there was a meta-map for the multiplayer.

- Dawn of War (2004) – The title was much improved by the later expansion Dark Crusade (because of the new races with distinguish strategies and especially the meta-map), but the impact of this 2004 release was impressive. As a fan of Warhammer 40k universe, I was completely marveled. And what an intro movie!

- Hearts of Iron II (2005) – Besides the crude art (if you can call that art), it’s an amazing work of research and game design. The game is very hard core though, scarring most starting (and experienced) players.

- The Battle for Middle Earth II (2006) – Basically, an upgraded version of the first game, but the addition of the new races is very attractive. Also, the meta-map gameplay in the Rise of the Witch King is the best of its gender.

- Company of Heroes (2006) – Next generation RTS. What can I say… 2 years old and no RTS matched it yet.

- Making History – The Calm & the Storm (2007) – Very simple presentation and graphics but… one of the most addicted games ever. A (welcomed) simplified version of the Hearts of Iron. BTW, I still use to make scenarios for this game.

- Sins of a Solar Empire (2008) – It really lacks a story line, single player campaign and a more attractive fictional universe, but there are great lessons that made the game through this list: 1) you can really simplify things for the player, avoiding repetitive tasks and too much micromanagement. 2) it's possible to unite a meta-map campaign with real-time strategy combat (I wished the Star Wars: Empire at War was as much successful on that). I guess this is the future of the RTS.

Favorite Literature

Favorite Literature

• J.R.R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion)
• Umberto Eco (The Name of the Rose)
• Bram Stoker (Dracula)
• Stephen E. Ambrose (Band of Brothers)
• Antony Beevor (Berlin – The Downfall, Stalingrad)
• Fritjof Capra (The Turning Point)
• Philip K. Dick (The Man in the High Castle)
• Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club)
• Alan Moore (Watchman) 
• Erich Maria Remarque (All Quiet in The Western Front)

Favorite Movies and Series

Favorite Movies

• Star Wars IV – A New Hope (1977)
• Alien (1979)
• Star Wars V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Aliens (1986)
• Shadowlands (1993)
• The Schindler’s List (1993)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Gattaca (1997)
• The Thin Red Line (1998)
• The Matrix (1999)
• The Blair Witch Project (1999)
• Fight Club (1999)
• Amelie (2001)
• Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
• 25th Hour (2002)
• Syriana (2005)
• Atonement (2007)

Favorite Series

• Band of Brothers
• Rome (first season)
• Enterprise (second and third season)
• Nip/Tuck (first and second season)
• House (second season)

For everything there is a beginning...

I will post here about my four passions: Games (mostly PC), Movies (including Series), Books (including Graphic Novels) and Music.