What is horror? This is a question that has been the subject of voluminous tomes and endless documentaries and editorials. Horror is the psychological terror of Stephen King and the gruesome carnage of Clive Barker. Horror is the loneliness of Frankenstein's monster and the sadism of Freddy Krueger. Horror is a prison system that allows murderers to go free and imprisons marijuana smokers. For the purposes of the subject of this article, let's keep it simple--horror it that which scares you.
Unfortunately, even the best of computer games have been unable to evoke this seemingly simple emotional response on a sustained basis. Too many games go for the cheap, quick approach (i.e., the dogs bursting through the window in Resident Evil) rather than attempting to sustain and build upon a feeling of dread. Interactive adventure games are extremely immersive and time-consuming. An average of 30 to 50 hours may be consumed playing one game, as compared to an average movie length of two hours and an average of 8 to 10 hours to read a book. Computer horror also suffers in that the bond with that game is broken and must be reestablished every time that game is restarted. A good horror film is the equivalent of a two-hour roller coaster ride; a good horror game must whisper for your return to the monitor, regardless of the time of day. Yet the gaming medium has failed, with few exceptions, to elicit a strong emotional response. Once the industry begins to mature and realize that a great script should come before graphics and bloodshed, then, and only then, will computer games attain the level of respect that movies and books have obtained.
As is stands now, it is rare for a "game" to reach that level of emotional involvement.
The following five games all have something in common. Be it an underlying Lovecraftian theme, computer technology gone mad, a plot driven by psychological horror or a story penned by a well-known horror author and translated to computer imagery. They have all transcended the limitations of the genre and are most assuredly games you should not play with the lights out.
5. Bad Day on the Midway
Developer: Inscape
Release Date: 1995
This is not so much a horror game as it is a bizarre, surrealistic fantasy world populated by characters who would do David Lynch proud. Lottie the Human Log, Dagmar the Dog Woman, the IRS Man and Oscar the Racing Rat are but a few of the warped personalities dwelling about the Midway.
Bad Day on the Midway focuses on character development and the life stories of these misbegotten creatures. We can choose who we wish to inhabit as we meet with other characters and examine the various midway exhibits. You can play as the same character for the entire game or "jump" into another character's body and experience the world from a different point of view. Each character has a specific role to play toward solving a twisted mystery of murder and intrigue, but the outcome of the story is flexible and varies as you discover new storylines and subplots. This game gets under your skin and causes major discomfort.
Inscape described Midway as an anti-game in that it focused on the darkness of its characters in order to exploit the negative or darker sides of their personalities. Survival is the only obvious goal of this game, and the reward for surviving is the ability to leave this doomed whirlpool of pain and depravity. Inscape's creative process was, and still is years later, light years ahead of what the computer field is ready to accept.
4. Sanitarium
Developer: DreamForge
Release Date: 1998
Part allegory, part symbolism, Sanitarium is one of those games that, like the movie The Sixth Sense, you cannot say too much about for fear of revealing the plot twists. A story that begins as a B-movie clich�--Who am I? How did I get here?--slowly evolves into a horrifying story of self-discovery. You will embark on a surreal journey through grotesque yet strangely familiar environments populated by freakish denizens. The strange becomes familiar and the familiar strange as you slowly reconstruct your past.
Sanitarium is a story that propels you forward to piece together the unsettling answer to who you are and how you came to be an occupant of the sanitarium. A nice, tidy finish removes some of the game's edge, but overall Sanitarium is a well-constructed game that entices you to empathize with its main character.
3. System Shock 2
Developer: Looking Glass
Release Date: 1999
The genres collide! Adventure meets action; RPG meets first-person shooter... and the world still spins on its axis. System Shock 2 is the only game in this revered group to successfully combine not only all of the genres but also to utilize 3D sound and music to create the total horror experience.
In the original System Shock, we battled SHODAN--a computer with a God complex--and as with any sequel worth its salt, SHODAN is back--and of course this time she is stronger, smarter, and has brought along some help. The first System Shock is widely considered to be a minor classic that was limited by the technology of the time. Well, technology has finally caught up, and System Shock 2 exploits it to the fullest. 3D sound swells from the appropriate speakers, be it during combat or as you pass a whining piece of machinery that emanates only from the left speaker and is hauntingly sparse when traveling down the deserted ship corridors. Your efforts to hack a door lock will quicken as you hear footsteps shuffling from behind. The plot is basic sci-fi/horror. After attempting to contact an unknown planet, your space ship is attacked. When you awaken amid the ship's ruins, the entire crew seems to be dead or missing. You must now explore the deserted hull for clues. Sometimes simple is best.
Bodies swaying from nooses, a strange noise above that you cannot identify, ghostly apparitions reconstructing their death throes--these and much, much more contribute to your plight. Trapped on a spaceship billions of miles from earth with a mass murderer on the loose. Not to be played in the dark.
2. Amber Journeys Beyond
Developed by: Hue Forest
Release Date: 1996
Amber is without a doubt the least-played but most widely known horror game ever released. Created by a husband-and-wife team, Frank and Susan Wimmer, Amber is one game that should be experienced by all true fans of the horror/adventure genre.
Your friend Roxy has been conducting paranormal tracking experiments and has contacted you for help. Upon finding her unconscious, you explore the old Victorian house she has been monitoring and discover a headpiece that allows you to experience in-depth encounters with the supernatural. You will take an unprecedented journey into the world beyond as you unlock the mysteries of the past and discover the secrets of life after death by possessing the spirits of dead souls still not at peace with their situation.
If the thought of inhabiting the spirit of a dead child searching for his beloved teddy bear gives you a chill, then this is the game for you. Play Amber with the lights out, and snatches of the game will haunt your memory for months.
1. The Dark Eye
Developer: Inscape
Release Date: 1995
Inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe, The Dark Eye is a descent into the madness and mayhem of one man's twisted world. More of an experience than a game as you explore the minds of murderers, madmen and their terrified victims as almost every animate and inanimate object you touch draws you deeper into new levels of intrigue and horror. And what is it precisely that instigates this journey? A sniff of paint thinner.
The incredible 3D animated stop-motion characters that populate the multiple story paths are so lifelike and quirky that you can easily imagine them having a separate life outside of this game. Four separate stories cross paths numerous times and are eventually resolved in one satisfying, yet troubling, conclusion. The Dark Eye features the voice of legendary author William S. Burroughs and features memorable characters developed by animator Doug Beswick, who also worked on The Addams Family and Aliens movies.
How scary is The Dark Eye? (Major spoiler ahead!) It has the power to so involve that you forget you are playing a game. One of the multiple story lines concerns a woman who has a sleeping sickness and, mistakenly diagnosed as dead, is buried alive. As you are occupying the character's body, you are not aware of your desperate situation. All we as the player see is a pitch-black monitor screen, and all we as the player hear is our fingernails scratching the inside of the coffin. It was right at this point of realizing that I was buried alive that my son entered the dark computer room and, since I was wearing headphones, tapped me on the shoulder. There is still to this day an indentation in the ceiling from my head.
duminică, 13 noiembrie 2011
The History of Video Game Cheats
Not long ago, gamers had to look to the likes of Nintendo Power and GamePro to find codes to help them beat games that would otherwise be impossible. Who can forget the ubiquitous Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, B, A, start to dominate with 30 extra lives in Konami�s classic Contra. Then there were other cheats that took a little more skill and talent such as the 100 extra lives on the Original Super Mario Brothers on level 8-3 where clanking the two turtles on the final stairway into each other multiple times would result in up to 100 free lives.
Then came the next wave of cheats that were facilitated by additional hardware such as the Game Genie. These unique hardware adapters would change the code base of games on systems including NES, Genesis, GameBoy, SNES, Game Gear and could do far more than the simple manual codes gamers previously relied on. Whether it was facilitating gamer�s god complexes by giving them invincibility or make them invisible to enemies, Game Genie allowed gamers to fall back in love with their old favorites.
As a second coming of the hardware based approach to game cheats we were introduced to the Game Shark. This second coming is designed to not only help you find cheats within your games but also to back-up your games. Best of all there is a Game Shark fro virtually every system old and new.
Now in 2008, things have done a full 360 and video game cheats are going back to their ancestral roots. Thanks to the widespread proliferation of the web and the willingness of gamers to share what they know there exist a variety of dedicated websites that can provide you with everything from walk-throughs to classics like Phantasy Star 2 to cheat codes for Super Mario Paper. The future might even have us learning about ways to dominate our favorite apple store apps!
Learn more about http://www.gamecheats.com�">Game Cheats
Then came the next wave of cheats that were facilitated by additional hardware such as the Game Genie. These unique hardware adapters would change the code base of games on systems including NES, Genesis, GameBoy, SNES, Game Gear and could do far more than the simple manual codes gamers previously relied on. Whether it was facilitating gamer�s god complexes by giving them invincibility or make them invisible to enemies, Game Genie allowed gamers to fall back in love with their old favorites.
As a second coming of the hardware based approach to game cheats we were introduced to the Game Shark. This second coming is designed to not only help you find cheats within your games but also to back-up your games. Best of all there is a Game Shark fro virtually every system old and new.
Now in 2008, things have done a full 360 and video game cheats are going back to their ancestral roots. Thanks to the widespread proliferation of the web and the willingness of gamers to share what they know there exist a variety of dedicated websites that can provide you with everything from walk-throughs to classics like Phantasy Star 2 to cheat codes for Super Mario Paper. The future might even have us learning about ways to dominate our favorite apple store apps!
Learn more about http://www.gamecheats.com�">Game Cheats
WoW - The Best MMORPG On The Planet
World of Warcraft (WoW) has enjoyed incredible success in virtually every way. For some reason, people have really been able to relate to this game, and it seems to have something for everyone. More players flock to it every day, and no one is hitting the breaks. The virtues of this game are many, and all play a major roll in how successful this game has been.
Forged in a Blizzard
As a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), World of Warcraft is a very well presented game with solid systems and playability. This is due in no small part to the exceptional quality control of Blizzard Entertainment. This company knows how to make a successful game, and how to do it better than most. Looking back on Blizzard�s past releases, you will find one top game hit after another.
Blizzard invested five years into the development of this game, with a team of 65 developers working on it. They held Beta tests to work out bugs and get feedback from experienced gamers. Their ambition and the quality of their work show in every aspect of the game.
Heir to the Throne
This MMORPG actually hails from an extremely successful franchise of games. Similar to the success Sony experiences from their Star Wars MMORPG�because it comes from a well-known franchise�so World of Warcraft comes from noble parents. There are three other Warcraft games that all enjoyed rave reviews and high sales. Taking these original games, with their existing multiplayer component, and evolving it into an online persistent world was the next step all the loyal gamers were waiting for.
Naturally, there were already loud, proud voices exclaiming the greatness of their favorite game series. I would think that if Blizzard released a movie in theaters, you would see long lines of people dressed as orcs and barbarians camping out for days waiting for the doors to open.
Good Stock!
On its own merits, however, World of Warcraft leaves little to be desired. It is a great game that does not need the goodwill of the franchise to survive. It is fun to play, entertaining to watch, and challenging at the same time. It sports strong characters and plush environments. The game world is called Azeroth, and it holds its own as a unique gaming universe that is full of eye candy graphics. Every game session presents a huge variety of things to do so players gain a sense of accomplishment at every sitting.
This game attracts players because it allows them to play a full compliment of characters, with lots of customization, so they can truly feel unique in world populated by so many other players. This is an important feature of a successful MMORPG.
You can be male or female from a range of different races. And you can customize your appearance as well. You can choose to be Alliance or Horde, so you can actually a hero or a monster.
It has Got Game!
Gameplay in World of Warcraft is nothing short of amazing. You can follow a storyline of quests, or wander off and do your own thing. Completing quests is a popular way to advance your character in skills and wealth. There are also ways to play against other players in what is called PvP (Player vs Player), which has become an integral part of the game. For some, it is the central focus of World of Warcraft. Battlegrounds are fresh and engaging, and offer exciting multi-player action.
A MMORPG with appeal on many levels, World of Warcraft is a welcome addition to the top ranks of the genre. With quality and playability in a game like this, there is bound to be many years of entertainment in that little box. The little box that opens the door to the whole amazing world of adventure and challenges that await you in Azeroth.
Check out the Ultimate WoW Guide http://parkheaven.warmil.hop.clickbank.net
Forged in a Blizzard
As a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), World of Warcraft is a very well presented game with solid systems and playability. This is due in no small part to the exceptional quality control of Blizzard Entertainment. This company knows how to make a successful game, and how to do it better than most. Looking back on Blizzard�s past releases, you will find one top game hit after another.
Blizzard invested five years into the development of this game, with a team of 65 developers working on it. They held Beta tests to work out bugs and get feedback from experienced gamers. Their ambition and the quality of their work show in every aspect of the game.
Heir to the Throne
This MMORPG actually hails from an extremely successful franchise of games. Similar to the success Sony experiences from their Star Wars MMORPG�because it comes from a well-known franchise�so World of Warcraft comes from noble parents. There are three other Warcraft games that all enjoyed rave reviews and high sales. Taking these original games, with their existing multiplayer component, and evolving it into an online persistent world was the next step all the loyal gamers were waiting for.
Naturally, there were already loud, proud voices exclaiming the greatness of their favorite game series. I would think that if Blizzard released a movie in theaters, you would see long lines of people dressed as orcs and barbarians camping out for days waiting for the doors to open.
Good Stock!
On its own merits, however, World of Warcraft leaves little to be desired. It is a great game that does not need the goodwill of the franchise to survive. It is fun to play, entertaining to watch, and challenging at the same time. It sports strong characters and plush environments. The game world is called Azeroth, and it holds its own as a unique gaming universe that is full of eye candy graphics. Every game session presents a huge variety of things to do so players gain a sense of accomplishment at every sitting.
This game attracts players because it allows them to play a full compliment of characters, with lots of customization, so they can truly feel unique in world populated by so many other players. This is an important feature of a successful MMORPG.
You can be male or female from a range of different races. And you can customize your appearance as well. You can choose to be Alliance or Horde, so you can actually a hero or a monster.
It has Got Game!
Gameplay in World of Warcraft is nothing short of amazing. You can follow a storyline of quests, or wander off and do your own thing. Completing quests is a popular way to advance your character in skills and wealth. There are also ways to play against other players in what is called PvP (Player vs Player), which has become an integral part of the game. For some, it is the central focus of World of Warcraft. Battlegrounds are fresh and engaging, and offer exciting multi-player action.
A MMORPG with appeal on many levels, World of Warcraft is a welcome addition to the top ranks of the genre. With quality and playability in a game like this, there is bound to be many years of entertainment in that little box. The little box that opens the door to the whole amazing world of adventure and challenges that await you in Azeroth.
Check out the Ultimate WoW Guide http://parkheaven.warmil.hop.clickbank.net
What You Need To Know About PSP Game Downloads
Tired of researches that bring you nowhere? Still searching for free PSP game downloads?
There are literally thousand of websites claiming to provide �the best� psp game downloads service available on the web, why are you still searching?
Well, you are right to keep searching and now let me explain why.
Many websites providing psp game downloads don�t keep their promises, most of them simply make you pay the membership costs and � once you paid � they don�t even answer to your questions.
The truth is: I tested 12 websites all claiming to provide free psp game downloads and 5 out of 12 were just a real full scam. After I paid for those memberships, I was redirected to a NON-Existing page and I could download anything; I couldn�t even see the website! And even worse, those websites don�t have a customer support so I wasn�t able to contact them: with those 5 sites I just wasted my money.
For other 4 out of 12 websites tested, fortunately, the things went better: they had a customer support and a good games and movies database; the only problem I found with those websites was that I often experienced slow download speed.
Instead, the remaining 3 websites tested kept their promises and I was able to download psp games at a fast download speed. The customer support on those 3 websites was also available and but just 2 out of 3 replied to my question after few hours.
With this article I just wanted to let you know that all that glitters isn't gold and there a lot of possibilities of being scammed when searching for psp game downloads. I�m not inventing, I�m just saying how the things really are.
I decided to publish the test results, to make them public and readable by everyone: if you are interested check out psp game downloads services reviewed.
If you have any questions, or just you want to express your opinion about what I said send me an email - I would be happy to answer.
You can contact me by the link �contact me� on the bottom line of my website at psp downloads.
PS: feel free to email me even if you want me to review any other psp game downloads service.
There are literally thousand of websites claiming to provide �the best� psp game downloads service available on the web, why are you still searching?
Well, you are right to keep searching and now let me explain why.
Many websites providing psp game downloads don�t keep their promises, most of them simply make you pay the membership costs and � once you paid � they don�t even answer to your questions.
The truth is: I tested 12 websites all claiming to provide free psp game downloads and 5 out of 12 were just a real full scam. After I paid for those memberships, I was redirected to a NON-Existing page and I could download anything; I couldn�t even see the website! And even worse, those websites don�t have a customer support so I wasn�t able to contact them: with those 5 sites I just wasted my money.
For other 4 out of 12 websites tested, fortunately, the things went better: they had a customer support and a good games and movies database; the only problem I found with those websites was that I often experienced slow download speed.
Instead, the remaining 3 websites tested kept their promises and I was able to download psp games at a fast download speed. The customer support on those 3 websites was also available and but just 2 out of 3 replied to my question after few hours.
With this article I just wanted to let you know that all that glitters isn't gold and there a lot of possibilities of being scammed when searching for psp game downloads. I�m not inventing, I�m just saying how the things really are.
I decided to publish the test results, to make them public and readable by everyone: if you are interested check out psp game downloads services reviewed.
If you have any questions, or just you want to express your opinion about what I said send me an email - I would be happy to answer.
You can contact me by the link �contact me� on the bottom line of my website at psp downloads.
PS: feel free to email me even if you want me to review any other psp game downloads service.
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