God of War: Ascension Trailer Goes Back to the Start

Strange how these trailers come in waves; first we had the Dishonored trailer and now God of War: Ascension (which was leaked early, to no big surprise) is making its landfall. Ascension apparently tells the story of Kratos before he became the Ghost of Sparta.

I’m not the biggest fan of God of War, but I know that it’s on the most widely-praised character action games of the last couple of generations so any news about a new title is a big deal. Are you guys excited about God of War: Ascension? How do you feel about it being a prequel?

Is Gameplay More Important than Art?

David Jaffe

One of the big things that we all hear game developers talking about these days is an emphasis on narrative and story. They’re looking for better ways to convey emotion, bigger ways to connect with an audience and new avenues to tell their grand tales. But has this come at the price of gameplay? David Jaffe, creator of God of War, thinks so.

In his PAX keynote last weekend, Jaffe spoke at length about the idea that many AAA games these days have sacrificed gameplay and mechanics for the sake of trying to tell a story/act like a movie. He argued that it’s the games like Pac-Man, Tetris and the like that will really stick with us in 50 years’ time, more so than the titles that just play like interactive cut scenes.

Jaffe definitely raises some thoughtful points here. As much as I love a story, I’ve long been unhappy with the way that games handle their stories. And really, even the best story can be undone by boring or rote gameplay. The games with great stories that I remember are the ones that were coupled with great mechanics and a style of play I enjoyed.

What do you guys think of this? Do you agree with Jaffe? Are stories getting in the way of gameplay? Does it need to be an either/or discussion? Go!

Source – Gamasutra

GamerSushi Top Six: Freed Franchises

freedomWell folks, it’s time for another GamerSushi Top Six, where Anthony and I dissect the gaming world and come up with a list of six spectacular things. Why six? Because six sells. Our feature this week even has a holiday theme.

In the spirit of Independence Day, when us Americans threw off the shackles of tyranny by some other snooty country that nobody even remembers the name of, we have compiled a dream list of franchises that could be liberated from their current developers and sent to live with someone who will treat them in a way they’ve never been treated before.
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Today’s WTF: Guitar Hero Movie?

Rush Hour and X-Men 3 director Brett Ratner wants to take his franchise ruining stick and beat Guitar Hero with it, according to MTV Multiplayer. Ratner has featured the game in several different projects as of late, including a Miley Cyrus music video. His dream is to make a Guitar Hero movie. WTF?

I’ll give you a second to brace yourselves for the super-spectacular plot…

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Sony Fanboy Rant: Trophies vs. Achievements

DISCLAIMER: ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS COLUMN ARE SOLELY THOSE OF A TYPICAL SONY FANBOY. GAMERSUSHI.COM IS MERELY A VEHICLE FOR THIS CONSOLE WARRIOR TO WIELD HIS BLADES OF FURY AT MICROSOFT AND NINTENDO. SHOULD OTHER FANBOYS WISH TO OPINE, THEY ARE FREE TO DO SO.

For eons it seems, I have been forced to listen to 360 fanboys declare the glory of Achievements. What a joke. Achievements? Anyone can achieve something. Just think of Little Lebowski’s Urban Achievers. Proud we are of all of them? I THINK NOT. Aren’t Achievements what they hand out at the Special Olympics in lieu of medals?

Continue reading Sony Fanboy Rant: Trophies vs. Achievements