It's ipod Apps review time !!.

Like I said before, I'm not using that much my ipod but it's really a nice multimedia handle object!

I updated the OS to rev. 3.0 without knowing really what was new (I must say i still don't really know except the "copy past" now available), but I recently started to buy some apps for 0.99, it took me some time after not founding any that i thought was really interesting more than the 5 minutes i had with the demos or lite version that i could found available on the store...

so, first, let's talk about the apps i bought, you will probably not found here some secret unknown apps, but hey, I want to share my points :)

• Peggle: I bought it because it's 0.99. I must say, i don't get what people like about this game, that i tried on PC back then with a long free demo few month ago. Anyway, i thought it was a good deal, probably a game more tight to the Iphod. After playing longer to the game now, i still don't get what is good or even remotely interesting or fun about this game. It's even pretty boring to play, but at least, I can see how it make you spent lot of time if you really have nothing else to do! The game is at least still really well polished, that's I think one of it's really high point, with it's horrible graphic art direction.
• Critter Crunch: A puzzle game soon to be released for PSN (nice trailer). There is a demo version of this game and until now, i stayed with it, but it was on sale recently for 0.99 and i thought that at this price, it was one of the title i would play sometimes if i had too. The concept is simple, the controls are nice and the graphics really cool. Nothing you can't do on a ds or any other platform, but it's a nice time killer for Ipod owners.

I bought some other game but haven't played them enough yet to really have an opinion again, so, more next time!

Now, let's speak about the one i tried and did not bought, or the free ones.

• Chase the dots, and One dot Enemies are free, very simple and well done enough for you to try. Both are very similar (touch the fastest you can a big or small dot) but really different in their concept. I kept them both on my ipod because i still launch them once in a while. I would not pay for those 15 second time killer. I just saw a demo of Retro player by the creators of ODE btw, Something i will not buy but i can see getting if it's dropping at 0.99 or for free. I give them both
• Zen Bound is one of the "Ipod exclusive" game to me, You can really see how the game is fit for the hardware it's been made on. I will pick it up once the price will drop, the reason i did not bought it already is because It's not completely my type of game and would not play it that much. The demo is really working well and you will know if you like the game of not after trying it.
• Idracula is really nicely done, but boring and repetitive after few minutes, with controls that are working, but are not fantastic compare to any game with an analog stick. Maybe this kind of game are simply not meant to be for this plateform. the demo is great to try though because it is a really pretty and well polished game.
• Zombieville USA is like Idracula, well done and simply fun, with horrible controls, and repetitive too. the free demo is really giving to me all I needed.
• Dapple is a puzzle game, a Bejeweld-like, with a original twist based on color, but i did not liked it at all.
• Brick breaker 3D revolution is an Arkanoid-like game in 3d, with some good idea but not really good control and average graphics. the demo if you even download it give you way enough.
• Sway is a 3d rip-of of Nintendo's GBA and Ds game DK jungle. The trailer was pretty neat and the concept a good idea for ipod, the game is everything but a success with horrible control... try the demo, you'll see how horrible it is.
• Up There, a simple idea of a game you will play 3 minutes and never launch again, the free demo is perfect to keep your money in your bank account.
• Race for home is a nice little game, but here too, the demo was way giving way enough for me to enjoy it 5 minutes and liking the ideas and game, but it's a game i will never launch again, so no point for me to buy it, even for $0.99.

Well, that's all for today!

I know I should have talked about Hardware price and analyze all this for the different consoles, and speak about what was next, but I may do that later now that every other website spoke about it recently too. I'm not paid by Wedbush Morgan to tell the future with more accurate knowledge than people they work with, so I'll just take my time for my point of view anyway :).

E3 was... great!
The best one I’ve been too, one day there, and lot of fun, not too crowded or noisy, awesome games, beautiful girls around (never bad), and some friends and ex-co workers met randomly too.
I will of course not make a huge article about all this, I have nothing really new to tell here that you would have read somewhere else, so let's cut to the only personal point I can bring, which are my "best of the show" and conclusions...

My five best games of the show are:
5- Mario Galaxy 2 (wii)
4- New Mario Bros (wii)
3- God of War 3 (ps3)
2- Uncharted 2 (ps3)
1- The last guardian (ps3)

So what to say about this top 5
* Like you've guess, two games from this list were not playable during this E3, but I know those games will be awesome from what was shown.
* The two Mario games are there, but I'm a Mario Fan and a plateformer addict, so guess what? I'm going to play those Mario as soon as they'll be available.
* Three ps3 games at the top spot, that mean for the first time three games exclusive for this console I want and need to play, so, I will buy a ps3 soon then… And by soon, I, of course, mean as soon as the ps3 lite will be available if it exist, or at least, the price of the current one will go down (my next article will be about price drop btw).
* The last guardian is number one, way on top of all others! There is not even a slight hesitation in my mind, this is THE game I’m waiting for, it just crushes everything around, it is beautiful and I can’t wait to live this new experience…

Of course, their was a LOT of other really awesome game, yeap, it was impressive, and I will play a lot of them I hope in the year to come… so it's was a hard pick...but in a top 5, you can only choose 5 :).

To finish with this e3, this is some personal opinion I noticed during this E3:
* For the first time, most Wii games look way prettier than any PSP ones! And by itself, the PSP seems "old gen" too, even with the last games presented. Only Soul Calibur was looking and playing great, the rest seemed very disappointing and un-appealing to me.
* Nintendo changed video game for ever with the new way to play, and the wii motion+, Sony-mote and Project Natal will definitely play a huge role in the future, even if for the last two one, I can bet that they will not be available before Christmas 2010.
I’m sure we'll see them on the show floor next E3 and not until then, with real game to launch and a price, bundles and other announcement for sure.
* Microsoft with the project Natal might have the best new tech IMO. and new way to play. I'm impressed (by the idea), and not by the marketing videos making you believe that it is great and working perfectly... I’m sure it will be a push different enough from the Wii/Ps3stick for a real new way to play certain games. Congrats Microsoft for the effort, it’s up to you not to blow it…

The next gen is not even close to arrive in my mind, (I bet on Christmas 2012)… but it’s great! We all have so much to learn from this new generation still, in terms of gameplay, production, quality, size and type of project and market… So many things to learn during those exciting time… when you get back to your desk with these big challenges, new steps to climbs, and wondering: “now, how can I do this, and how can I do better!!!

HOME is an ode to the planet's beauty and its delicate harmony. Through the landscapes of 54 countries captured from above, Yann Arthus-Bertrand takes us on an unique journey all around the planet, to contemplate it and to understand it. But HOME is more than a documentary with a message, it is a magnificent movie in its own right. Every breathtaking shot shows the Earth - our Earth - as we have never seen it before. Every image shows the Earth's treasures we are destroying and all the wonders we can still preserve. "From the sky, there's less need for explanations". Our vision becomes more immediate, intuitive and emotional. HOME has an impact on anyone who sees it. It awakens in us the awareness that is needed to change the way we see the world.
HOME embraces the major ecological issues that confront us and shows how everything on our planet is interconnected.

Please, take the time to watch this important movie.

I'm sorry for the lack of news, but I don't have much to tell, and I started less an less to feel the needs to share my opinion with "everyone"... :).

Blogs are soooo last centuries :P... don't you think ?

If neither Tweeter or Myspace interested me, Facebook stole too my Internet time quit a bit, being a way easier tool to share things with friends than writing a all paragraph on blogger, or writing emails to friends... Facebook is a "all in one" that's the spirit.

Anyway, I wanted here to speak about lot of things, like my thought about the Ipod touch, but I must say that I don't use it that much in fact. It's a great tool, but you have to get use to it, and I see it more like an object you become "slave" from but that I don't really need. I can see it totally useful when I'll travel thought.
I tried lot of "lite" apps and game demos, and all of them bored me after 30 seconds! Fortunately, they were free. I haven't found an Apps or game that I wanted to buy yet... so no secret amazing game I found to share with you on it right... now :P.

I'm tempted to change my White Ds lite for a black DSI, mainly because I like the plastic material they used for it and the new interface too. I start to see how having everything on a hard drive instead of having multiple cart per game would please me too. I start to have lot of game for this console and it's almost take more space to bring them all than the actual console.
Changing the Disc every-time I want to play a new game start to bother me too, I'm a really lazy dude now :)... and last time, (yes, i know, it was a long time ago), I was wondering If Skype would make any sense on the soon (but now) available Dsi well, i guess I was not the only one because some others went further few weeks later after my post and ask directly to the right people if things are possible, .
I played quit a bit to Rhythm Heaven that i enjoyed a lot, and less to Space invader Extreme, a good game too.

Recently, I played less on my consoles, well, I played and finished Klonoa for the Wii in one week end (around 5 hours), wich was good and entertaining, but definitely is a game for the younger audience. A fun polished game for the Wii, don't miss it!

I am still playing Re5 (well, not really), a really fun game when you're not fighting the camera. very polished but that is not interested me that much in fact. I tried too recently the last "Tomb raider Underworld" demo and I really liked it, I'll borrow or buy it to give it a deeper look.

I tried Madworld too, played couple of hours and went thru couple of levels and Boss. Same thing, the game is polished and original, but bored me a lot quickly, and definitely achieve my feelings on Japanese developers and game designer needs, to learn to make good and playable cameras for this kind of game... I will not go further with this one...

My next game on Wii is Punch out! anyway, probably one of the best sellers of those few years to come.

On PC (or Mac to be ore accurate ;), I finished my three yearly months of WOW game time... my main character reached level 60 at last... pretty neat ;)... 'time to rest and wait for next year for some more adventures!

I will now move on to DemiGod, as soon as I will be finished with the very fun and casual "Plant vs zombies".

Soon is E3... I will go there again, after all, it's 30 minutes from here!

not really thrilled about it, but at least one day to check it out, it's better to stay home and download trailer and video directly, or demo from your console anyway.

Anyway, you'll see, lots of big good things are coming from all over the world... it's going to be a big E3!...

Even if the only biggest and most important one to me is already leaked... yeap, I really can't wait!

To finish, this is some links on different subjects:

* My Brother is launching is own publishing company of French Comics called Merluche... that's pretty awesome. His first comics is available and another different one is coming out in September, I'm proud of him and happy he is trying to achieve one of his dream, so check it out too.

* I added couple of blog or Webside friends on the side, all of the are awesome, don't hesitate to click and take a look. Check out too, the "Release Candidate 0" of the Orx - a Portable Game Engine a Friend is doing on his own, it's a pretty awesome and simple (to use) 2d engine.

*And last but not least, this older link I wanted to share: the making of Playstation and an awesome game concept presentation: Shadow Physics.

Take care and see you here after E3! :).

Last week end was the DSI launch for Nintendo and i waited Monday to see and touch one for the first time from a Nintendo fan at the office :)... And I must say, the new design is pretty slick and the material used give a nice high quality feeling, pretty close to what the GBA Sp felt if my memory is right.

I don't have the need to buy one! my plasticy white Dslite will be enought right now, specially when i think about the amount of game I already have and not playing with... well, to add to this pile of game waiting to be finished (Zelda, Layton, Hotel dusk, FF tactics, FF4...), I order on Amazon Space invader Extreme and the awaited Rhythm Heaven...

I still think the price is not totally right, and I would have reconsider way more changing it if it was $149 than the actual $179... Until they do so, I don't see the DsI market getting big enough for third party to really get into what this update is really offering... we will see...

This week, I received a Beta key for "Battlefield Heroes", and that is a fun game to play, really more casual and fun than the Quake3-like called "Team fortress 2" to me. It's just a question of pacing: All in Team fortress is a one, max two shot kill. In BH, it's 2 to 5 shot to kill someone, you then have more fun, more time to use your abilities, and more strategie involved added to the reflex and usual abilities...
a really fun game close to the Battlegrounds of Wow (at low level), without the annoying part where you have to upgrade your character before... and with a more balance game from scratch without the different gears you may have or not.
Graphically, the game is very cartoony, and is close to "Battalion wars" from Nintendo. I would be surprise not to see the game appear on consoles, there is definitely a space in the market to take there...

Hardware-wise, I also received this week my Ipod touch, and I must say it's a pretty nice object. I am not a total freak about it, but it's definitely a nice object when Wifi connected and all services available. I tried some demo or free games from the "Top 25", and none of them impressed me at all, meaning all of them were erased after few minutes.

What else, I tried recently Mad world, and even if the game seem fun kinda fun, the japanese team developent have really to understand that in 3d, the camera is now a MUST have, and that they need to see what US and european teams are doing... it's a shame a game that seems to be good averall is destroyed by such bad cameras... Anyway, i might borrow it but will definitly not buy it to play more. It's like Re5, I should have borrowed it, because the game annoy me so much i'm having a hard time to get back to it to finish it... and i should have bought Dead Space instead, because this one ways seems cool.

Well, time to enjoy the rest of this sunday and check out the sunny outside...

Hey guys... long time no see.

I must say i was not in a mood to write, Facebook and some Wow battles took all my Internet time, and had nothing to really say anyway...

Well, I'm back and during those past few month, I finished the new Pop on Xbox2 and I must say that even if some good friends worked on this one too, it's a real disappointment, specially when you can appreciate the amount of work needed and done to at the end produce a such annoying and un-interesting game that nobody will remember in few years. It happens for lot of products anyway, but this one at least had the ambition and was trying it best to become a reference, a must have or a milestone for this IP in the game industry... it will be just an amount of miss opportunities settled by an uninspired game design, a simple copy of few awesome games without the good cook to make the ingredients work together... It's too bad most people will not see the nice ending (SPOILER: even if the choice not to save Elika (like i would have done) would have been awesome (and closer to the character too in my mind) and raised the bar in the end)... too bad.

I started too Re5, and well, you know... there is of course the "Africa" / killing black people things that soe might raised. Well, I'm happy the questions are raised, that's important and part of a democracy, but sometimes, the conclusion of this interesting debate scared me... I will not come back to this huge and particulate debate, just will say that I was not strike by any remorse or shame when killing digital African zombies as far as I played right now (chapter 3.2). OK so to come back to the game, it's a nice technical and polished game, but so far away from it's amazing predecessor Re4... And someone in a recent 1up show kinda explained it better that i would have: there was in between not one, but Two gears of wars, that became the standard and the pupil that beat the master... and I agree. GeoW was an attempt to get the best of Re4 but did not succeed, GeoW2 was, and changed, not that's it's perfect either, but did succeed to change the way controls and pacing was for OTS action games.
so I'll continue to play RE5, but will probably will sell it very fast after to get Madworld that i think I will not like.

I am going to buy for my birthday (that was last month) an Ipod touch, mainly because Skype was recently release on it. It's funny to think that Skype is available on PSP (well, i don't have the new models but anyway, would be the same) and that I don't care at all. I think it all come from the fact that the design of the PSp is "last gen" compare to the Ds and Ipod. And when I'm hearing the rumors of the "PSP 2" from GDC, I must say that if it's a reality, i will be certainly a early buyers: downloadable PSP games AND skype on a cool interface and small console without crappy UMD? can't wait to know if it's real...
It made me wonder too if Skype will be available on DSi too one day. I mean, with the camera on the right side facing the screen, it would be a must have apps on DS for sure... This camera is really what's missing on Ipod touch right in my mind now. those three (well, 4 if you include the Google phone) platforms are really gonna battle for a big same market with their different Pros and Cons and particular uses, it will be tough and interesting... can't wait for E3 :)

to finish, I had thru Steam gift services from a friend the awesome "Harvest, Massive Encounter" and if you guys like Tower defense games, try this one, it's an awesome one, i spend way too many hours on it already :).

and i bought Bit.trip.beat a really fun Wiiware that you should check out, specially if you're an old olg gamers from the 80's.

take care and have a good week!

THIS is why Wii rulez :)...

It was unfortunately expected, despite the good sales of last year, It's layoff time almost everywhere, and the video game industry is like others, striked hardly, with lot of guys now facing unemployment.... it sucks, I have the chance to have a Job today, And I still think every day how lucky i am and how it could be something different tomorrow, and how it is probably difficult for thoses hundreds of people looking for a job right now!
I hope for the best for everyone...

Well, It's not much, but we're hiring.

This week, some guys spread false and unverified information about us btw. Thx for the free ad based on nothing... (yeap, i'm not giving your links, No free click in return for me :). Ho and to finish, Mister Dan Whitehead (yeap, no link for you either :), your arguments on Re5 are really... annoying to me right now. Yes, you have play the game and i haven't, so i'll wait to have my final opinion on your "racist" interrogation when the game will be in my hand, but "bordel de merde" (yeah, i hate american trash talk, base on "Holy" and "religious" things that i don't believe in :)... You better be right, because if you're not, I will not go easy on you (meaning you just be insulted on my blog, not that important I guess :).

on a more constructive subject, please check out this very good free video analiser... Kineova
I'm testing it since few weeks and We will try to use that to criticize the work of other animator in our cinematic department, we'll see if it's bringing something and help us improving our animations.

check out too An interesting video of David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of the Ruby on Rails framework (Never heard of that but i guess seems to be known :) giving insight into creating a profitable startup company, and, Learning and Working in the Collaborative Age: A New Model for the Workplace where Pixar University's Randy Nelson explains what schools must do to prepare students for jobs in new media.



To finish this week, a reallly cool game you have to try... Auditorium. (thx to Romain for the link).

and some fantastically restored memories of good old time...

Nintendo, new impressive leader of home and handle console that nobody was expecting to be alive four years ago, is sure to be the leader in Japan, with the two best selling titles to come, Dragon Quest and Monster Hunters. When you see how much this one is selling on PSP, it's of course a fantastic opportunity for Capcom and Nintendo to both sell their new products. And even if MH sold like crazy on Ps2, The question can be ask, since the success become a killer aps on PSP, to wonder if MH is like Pokemon, a product working and made for portable device, and that will perform way less on a home console in the living room of every Wii owner... We will see i guess, but i really wonder if this Monster Hunter 3 will be such a deal on the Wii. A sucess, certainly, because of the name, but a selling storm equivalent to FF or DQ? I guess it will be their real test!

Last week, I finish updating my website www.Nicolasriviere.com.
It's not impressive and kinda old webdesign, but I updated some Video-reel and pictures, so, it's now more up to date and clear... I'm working, from home every week-end, on two personal game projects too, we'll see how it goes. Nothing new or impresive, just two little ideas I had and I found some friends who wants to code and help me to do some prototypes to see how it can work, things are going forward slowly but well, it's promising.

to finish this post (I think i will post once every two weeks from now on), some links I would like to share:
- the little Online game of the week for me was: Puzzle quest galactrix.
- I discovered Stargazer, the new Killer demo from Andromeda. If you're computer is too old to make it run, check out the video.
- The Blog of Julien Charles, a friend(fom Supinfocom) making a cool short Movie.


And Ready at dawn Studios is looking for some Senior Animators and other jobs too for our next two projects, so contact me or them directly if your interested.
Have a nice week!

Hi everyone

Well, to start with, I would like to wish you a very happy new year. It seems that the time to come might be stressful for lots of us, so I hope things will go for the best, specially when it comes to Health and love, the most important things when it come to go through other hard events.

I will start this year by a list of the games i played and not played, liked and didn't like in 08, a sum-up with a small comment when there is something to say about a title.

Old games played in 2008:
Pac man Championship Edition (360)--> My second Favorite Xbox live Arcade after the Geometry wars games, so addictive and fun, the first Pacman I ever liked.
Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) --> finished this one in February 08, Best plateformer of this generation, one of the best ever in 3d.
Tomb Raider Anniversary (360) --> Finished this one in February too on 360. good game with a lake of polish and a bit too long.
Black and white 2 (Pc): yeap, it's an old game but i played and finish it this year, It's an impressive engine but a repetitive game. Better in terms of gameplay than the first one, but unfortunately less “Tamagoshi” than the first one.
Assassin's creed (360) --> I finished this one in April, I liked it a lot, even if way too repetitive at the end... You really have to like collective flags to enjoy this one :).
Trackmania (pc) -> This game is awesome, and free on the Steam service, I liked it so much i bought the extended version, It reminded me my old time favorite “Stunt car” (Amiga, St), really cool...

Games of 2008 I played and finished
Geometry wars 2 (360) --> My game of the year. I continue to play it few minutes when i have the time, so addictive and fun...
Gear of war 2 --> one of the best title of 2008, I finished it on a single player mode, it was really good. then played some co-op levels, and all the different modes online, really good too (and even more when all the bugs, or most of them will be out). Just too bad you have to pay Live to play online.
Loswind --> One of the best game of the Wii this year, I loved everything about it, even the length.
Soulcalibure 4 --> really fun as usual, if you have friends to play against of course... for the rest, haven't played online and not really hard core enough to continue to play to be better at it.
Audiosurf --> fun 4 minutes, and... well, too late, you bought it because they desarved it a lot! A pure casual game.
Mariokart Wii --> I played a lot to the game during one month, since then... Well, definitely don't have the time anymore for anything, dan it, one of the best game of this year, specially with the excellent free online added.
Portal (360) --> really cool game and concept... maybe 15 minutes too long on the last level.
Rez HD (360) --> Not as awesome as fans are saying, but definitely fun and different.
Spore --> Probably the Most Disappointing title of last year, I played it one week end since then, Never launched it again.
Pop (wiiware) -> Alright casual game, I played with it perhaps one week.

Games I just try or started or not finished yet:
World of Goo (Wii)--> the best game of the Wii for me this year, with Mario Galaxy.
Little big planet (Ps3)--> I played this one with friends only, and i was very disappointed! Awesome visuals and shaders thought, the prettiest game of 2008.
No more heroes (Wii) --> fun, but not my kind of game, really intensive boss fight thought, and a good use of the Wiimote.
Castle Crasher (360)-> lots of fun when you play with friends
Left 4 dead (Pc)-> I liked the demo, not enough to buy it though.
Team Forteress 2 (Pc) -> I play some short games sometimes, way to fast for me, I prefere the Gears of War pacing.
Castelvania Order of Ecclesia (Ds)-> the game i Played on DS this holiday season, not yet finished but awesome, i like it a lot.
Prof Layton (Ds)-> awesome, I love it !!!
Prince of Persia (360)-> In progress, even if i'm not that motivated to get back to it. really pretty but so boring.
Wario Land the shake dimension (Wii) --> I almost at the end of this one, it's a good 2d old plateformer game, but i don't have the time to put into it to really appreciated the really deep game design when it come to found all the tricks hidden in levels.
Zak ad Wiki (Wii)--> I bought it the first day it came out, and it still on my desk, I putted one hour into it, it seemed awesome.
Tales of Vesperia (360): I stopped after 4-5 hours into the game, too boring and childish for me.
FF tactics A2 (Ds)-> So good, but will i ever finish it ?
Zelda Phantom Hourglasss (Ds)-> Awesome, but i stopped, I hope i will have the time to come back to it.

Game of 2008 that I missed but that i Will Try:
Gta 4 --> not played yet, but.. will I? I should make an effort, still haven't play a GTA game yet...
Dead Space --> The game i will try to play after I will have finished Pop
Tomb Raider --> I will certainly try this one someday
Patapon --> still un-open on my desk... where is my Psp btw?
Rhythm Tengoku --> Because seems SO fun.
Mirror's edge --> the demo is cool, I might borrow the game from the office to try it more and see if I get into it. Really cool and original graphical point of view for this strange title for me... When it came to platform and video game in general, I prefer Mario and Third person or 2d point of view then FP view...

Game I want to try or play but I don't have the time for:
De blog, Bomblox, Braid, Pixeljunks, The last guy, Echocrome, Wipeout 3, Fable II, Bangai O spirit, Motorstorm Pacific Rift, Fallout 3, valkyria Chronicles, Dragon quest Ds, chrono trigger, space invader extreme, Fire Emblem: shadow dragon, Warhammer online, Lost odyssey, Condamned 2, Shaun white wii, Viva Pinata 2, Trauma Center new blood, Wii Fit.

Good game I missed on Purpose because i'm simply not interested at all:
Metal gear solid 4, GT5 prologue, Burnout paradise, Ace attorney, Crysis, Farcry 2, Mass effect, Super smash brother, Resistance 2, Persona 3, Loco roco 2, Megaman 9, Penny Arcade Adventures, Bionic commando rearmed, , Disaster, Top spin 3, Unfinite Undescovery, The last remnant, Devil may cry 4, Battlefield: bad company, Haze, Alone in the dark, Banjo Kazooi, Guitar hero 4 and Rock band 2, Wii Music.

Games I wish i'll play in 2009:
Re5

Team Ico game

Diablo 3.