The Simpsons

[03.24.12] Get to know your gamers - Alex Bogh

Microsoft

Microsoft

 

 

For this week’s Get To Know Your Gamers, I reached out to a longtime friend of mine. We’ve known each other since grade school days and we still play video games together to this day. Besides being a great friend, he’s also a fantastic singing partner. If you think he’s talented at Halo, you should hear those pipes he’s got on him! Soak up everything you can from this article, because he’s probably going to be a famous singer in the near future. Then you can brag to your friends about how you knew about this kid before he was world-famous, and maybe even impress them by knowing what his favorite game is!

You might actually recognize him already if you find yourself frequenting the Iowa State Fair, because he’s sung there multiple times. You may have even seen him perform elsewhere. Until now, though, you probably never knew about his gaming si-

Wait, wait, wait… this all sounds very familiar doesn’t it…? That’s because you’ve already read this intro. Don’t worry though, you’re not seeing double. Well, ok actually you are, just not with the article. It’s all new this week, but the reason it sounds so familiar is that this week’s interviewee is last week’s brother; and together with their sister, they’re triplets. So yes, they may look very similar but as you read on you’ll see they’re very different. It’s fascinating to see how two people with the same roots and similar talents in real life take such different branches when it comes to video games; but don’t take my word for it. If you’d like a refresher on Adam Bogh’s interview, you can read up on it here; but for those of you who still have a vibrant memory of everything, here is his brother, Mr. Alex Bogh.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you like to do (besides play video games)?

I am from Coralville, Iowa. Besides video games, I enjoy designing, drawing, playing piano, playing basketball, and watching football. After graduating from Luther College this spring, I plan on moving to the Chicago area and working as a designer.

What got you into gaming and what was your first console or game?

My first console was the NES, along with my first game "Super Mario Bros.". I would say the first game that really got me into gaming on a regular basis was "Super Mario World" on the SNES.

Some people won’t play a game if the graphics are bad. Do graphics have that big of an impact for you?

I defiantly play some games for beautiful graphics, but bad graphics don't necessarily mean I won't play a game. Sometimes a really great game needs to sacrifice some graphic quality to have a better all-around experience, like faster load times or better performance. I think most companies have the ability to make the game look as lifelike as possible, but choose to better the playability of the game.

What do you look for in game / what makes a game ‘fun’ to you?

Along with long lasting playability, I look for a story that I can immerse myself in completely. The games I have the most fun with are games I can play with my friends, like any of the top FPS titles. However, when playing single player, I really enjoy RPG’s like Red Dead Redemption or Skyrim. Both of those games are good examples of a story you can really get lost in.

Do you consider yourself a ‘casual’ or ‘hardcore gamer?

I would call myself a casual gamer. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy challenging myself or that I’m not competitive. I just don’t put in the time like some gamers do. However, when it comes to any of the Halo’s or Super Smash Brothers, I geek out and study pro matches and train like a pro gamer. So my “hardcore” side shows every once in a while.

Do you prefer a solo experience or a co-op / multiplayer experience?

If my friends are online, I prefer a multiplayer game where we can all participate at the same time (depending on how big the party is). More than often now, I am not online at the same time as my friends, so I enjoy putting on some good music and blasting through a campaign. As I said before, I also really enjoy a good story that I can get lost in; like you’re playing through a movie. If I can do this with friends, even better.

What are you playing right now?

Right now I am playing through Borderlands again, because I’m getting so excited for Borderlands 2. I also waste many hours of my life playing Super Smash Brothers Brawl, a series I have loved since the first one on the N64.

What is the worst game you’ve ever played?

I have to say I was pretty disappointed with Call of Duty: Black Ops. It’s not because it was poorly made, but because I felt it played so different from any other CoD game. The only thing I enjoyed about the CoD’s made by Treyarch were the Nazi Zombies, and even the WaW Nazi zombies were better than the Black Ops.

What do you consider to be the best game ever?

The best game ever made is Red Dead Redemption. It was masterfully done by Rockstar. It was a great story with a good mix of drama and humor. Although the game was a lot of fun to play, I found that the reason I wanted to play the most was to be in the story and act out my role as a cowboy, and exploring my way across this huge landscape. Also, the soundtrack was fantastic as well.

What is your favorite game console/handheld of all time?

My favorite console has to be the Super Nintendo, as it was my first love. I have fond memories as a kid playing Mortal Kombat and Super Mario World with my brother.

What are some games you’re looking forward to?

I really can’t wait for Borderlands 2, since the first Borderlands was so well done and a blast to play. And of course, being a long time Halo guy, the idea of a new studio (343) doing another Halo is interesting.

What game would you like to see get a sequel that likely won’t happen?

I’m going to kick it old school and say “The Simpsons Hit’ n Run” deserves another game. I loved the “Crazy Taxi” play mixed with the Simpsons world (one of my favorite shows, although the new ones are awful). Even “The Simpsons Road Rage” was a great game, and I think deserves another title. Grand Theft Auto + Simpsons = awesome.

Random Thought?

I stick to the Xbox 360. However, if the Halo’s were on the PS3, and I could use an Xbox controller, I would switch to the Playstation Network right away, mostly because you don’t have to pay money for online play if you don’t want to.

[02.08.12] Review: The Simpsons Arcade Game

Konami

Konami

The Simpsons Arcade Game

Rating:

5 Stars

The long awaited console port for The Simpsons Arcade Game has finally arrived after 21 years and for just $10, fans can get all they want of America’s favorite yellow family. If you grew up anywhere near an arcade in the 90’s, you’ve probably spent many an allowance on the coin-operated arcade cabinet, hoping that someday you could buy one of those cabinets for yourself. Well, now you can in a sense. That’s because The Simpsons Arcade Game is out now on Xbox Live and the future Sony Entertainment Network. As an added bonus, PlayStation Plus subscribers can get the game free.

This classic side-scrolling beat-‘em-up has Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Bart on a quest to save Maggie who’s been kidnapped by Mr. Smithers and Mr. Burns after a diamond heist gone wrong. The story is a little bizarre, seeing as Mr. Smithers isn’t exactly known for robberies or wearing a cape for that matter, but it’s the Simpsons, so who really cares? This game came out during an era where there wasn’t time to develop a story because you were probably trying to beat the game while your parents finished their dinners. The main users also didn’t have enough quarters to afford enough game time for an in-depth story, so with the likes of Crus’n USAGalaga, or Pac-Man, players became used to the idea of just simply accepting the story for what it was. This time around it’s not really about the story either but rather the supreme feeling of nostalgia that this game will stir up for repeat players.

The Fun Stuff:

As mentioned, there’s nothing that matches the fond memories The Simpson’s Arcade Game will bring back for those who grew up playing the game. If you can still vividly picture it in your head, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that the game is an almost 100% perfect reproduction of the coin-op classic. The developers for the console port, Backbone Entertainment, did a fantastic job of recreating the game with an attention to detail down to the pixel. Every sound effect and cut-scene is brought back exactly as you’ll remember it, as does the soundtrack which sounds so much better through your TV than it did on the old, run-down arcade cabinet.

The developers also realized the advantages to keeping things simple. You can control your character with either the joystick or d-pad, and use just one button each for jump and attack. If the default button choices (A for jump and X for attack on Xbox or X for jump and Square for attack on PlayStation) don’t feel right for you, you can remap them to suit your taste via the settings menu. Speaking of customization, there are also tons of options for playing the game, including 4 difficulty levels, 4 different game modes, and the possibility for local or online gaming. Of course, you still have the option of choosing between the 4 original characters as well.

Beating the game with each of them unlocks a unique reward as well. They’re not much, but they’re still a nice gesture. Depending on whom your Simpson of choice is, you’ll unlock a sound test, music test, character pictures, or a brief history of the development of the game plus a couple images of promotional art from the original release in 1991. The best item you can unlock is actually the Japanese Rom for their original arcade cabinet.

The Frustrating Stuff:

It’s been sought after for many years, and ironically it’s also one of the most frustrating parts of the game. Not because it was designed poorly or has some sort of flaw, but rather because it brings a startling revelation. The Japanese Rom is actually considerably easier than the American version. The Japanese version adds in multiple weapons such as a nuke and Smither’s bombs. There’s also more food scattered throughout the game including some fruit that randomly pops out of nowhere. Yet the only changes to the gameplay are minor alterations to a couple bosses’ attacks and a slightly different ending, which is really more of a presentation tweak.

The only other complaint will come from diehard fans who will notice the smallest details that are missing, such as damage that came from the first boss belly-flopping to the ground. There’s nothing that truly breaks the game though so the lack of inclusion, although disappointing, is minor and hardly relevant. There’s plenty of accurate game replication and bonus material to keep any fan happy.

Bottom Line:

It may have taken over two decades, but it was well worth the wait. This console port of The Simpsons Arcade Game is exactly what the fans were begging for and a little bit more. Detail was the key, which explains why the quarters modes have exactly 40 credits: 40 quarters = $10, the price of the game. Regardless if you’re an old expert at this classic beat-‘em-up or just a fan of The Simpsons who is new to the experience, it’s one you’re not going to want to miss. This is some of the best arcade gaming out there and an all-around fantastic representation that’s about as close as you can get to the real thing.

The Simpsons Arcade Game was developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Konami. It was released in North America on Feb. 3, 2012 for Xbox Live Arcade and Feb. 7 for PlayStation 3 with an E10+ rating from the ESRB and an MSRP of $9.99.This review was based on a Xbox 360 version of the game purchased on the release date.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you!

 

[02.03.12] The Simpsons Arcade Game now on Xbox Live

Konami

Konami

If you grew up around Iowa City, then you’ve probably eaten at Godfathers Pizza. If you have, then there’s absolutely no doubt you poured every last quarter you had into one machine there: The Simpsons Arcade Game. Year after year, other games in the little arcade were swapped out, but fortunately, it stood its ground, and you can still go down there to this day and play it. If you’d rather not make the drive, you really only went for the salad bar, or you’re just tired of showing up only to find out that your favorite character was broken again, you’re in luck because today The Simpsons Arcade Game has launched on Xbox Live.

It’s not a re-imagination or a different game with the same name, but rather a straight up port of the classic, arcade cabinet included. For just 800 Microsoft Points – that’s 40 quarters, or $10 – you can own this classic and play it right on your own TV. Almost everything is original, with the exception of the music. There a couple of new features as well, including online play and the support of Xbox’s achievement system. This means that even if your best friend that you used to play with has moved across the country, you can still play with him via co-op across Xbox Live. As a reminder, there’s a free Xbox Live Gold weekend going on right now too, so if you’re not a regular Gold subscriber, this is your opportunity to get out there and buy this arcade game as well as maybe get a little online play in with your friends. If you’re a little hesitant about this port, there’s a free trial you can download which will let you test the waters, but if you’re ready to dive head first into the nostalgia, you can buy the full game now and start saving Maggie.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he would love to hear from you!