Yu-Gi-Oh! Box Buster, Shonen Jump, and Shenanigans

Yo gamers and geeks!

So I finally buckled down and decided to start recording videos since most don’t have the patience to read my long-winded posts (understandable).  I have a great webcam but my lighting stinks.  There’s going to be lots of editing before those hit the interwebz.

Until I get those videos out, I wanted to share my recent spree of Yu-Gi-Oh! purchases.  There’s quite a bit so I’ll just focus on the following purchases:

• 4 Order Of Chaos booster packs
• 1 Generation Force Special Edition box set

Before I dig into some of the goodies I got, there are three things you need to know before buying Yu-Gi-Oh! cards:

1. Yu-Gi-Oh! Special Edition box sets are often cheaper than buying booster packs and come with guaranteed super/ultra rare cards.
2. Being a Shonen Jump subscriber means you get access to awesome duel strategies and core deck builds..  Plus FREE Yu-Gi-Oh! cards – w00t!!
3. While buying single cards will guarantee you get exactly what you need, it’s often more cost-effective to go with structure/starter decks, lots, tins, or box sets.

Speaking of Shonen Jump, I am still disappointed they are going 100% digital but it seems they’ll still send out the occasional freebies, primarily for new subscribers and renewals.  Oh well..  At least I got this card in the second to last issue (EVER??) of Shonen Jump:

Thanks to this Shonen Jump Yu-Gi-Oh! freebie, I'm actually rebuilding and playing my X-Saber deck again!

 

Read on for Yu-Gi-Oh! box buster fun and other shenanigans!

A Look At The Gaming Industry, Gamer Motivation, And Social Media Marketing

For those not interested in the business side of gaming, skip this..  But I will say this: we gamers RULE!

I’ve been working on some projects lately with heavy social media and game mechanics involved.  Thing is, the majority of online marketers, brands, and businessses still do not see the massive opportunity here.  I think these numbers speak for themselves:

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[ Source: ESRB

 

What’s interesting to me here is that the data hints that socializers are the biggest group of gamers.  I look at everyone as a player, though not all players are necessarily gamers (being a gamer, in the more traditional sense, is more of a lifestyle choice, a conscious commitment)..  Yet we all play games in our lives: reward programs, social influence scoring platforms, sweepstakes, blogging, etc.

Socializers are driven by the interaction and engagement between others.  There is endless opportunity here for thought leaders, inbound marketers, brands, and, well, everyone.  I think the major paradigm shift here is in value propositions.  We’ve always thought of value and ROI in terms of dollars and cents (or traffic and visibility, the mass marketing, noise-making ways of old), yet Nexon, Zynga, FourSquare, and countless others have shown us that a virtual economy can ultimately be profitable, while keeping your overhead costs down.

These market leaders have also shown us that players may not be driven by achievement, high-level competition, or even curiousity.  As human beings, we are driven to feel connected, if not validated and accepted, even if we may be tagged as socially-recluse.  There is power in feeling like you’re a part of something bigger than you, a community, and networking with like-minded individuals..  even more so when we can meet our goals together!  Social is beating the pants off traditional marketing, especially for small businesses and start-ups trying to stay lean.

Zynga was valued at over 7 BILLION, last I checked..  their games are free and very similar to the myriad of mobile and Facebook games out there.  I’d say that should create urgency for us all.

Have you considered implementing game mechanics and design into your online projects?  How about now?

Box Busters, Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments in Augusta/CSRA, and MORE!

It’s official…

Yu-Gi-Oh! still rocks my socks!

I have been uber busy (and distracted) but the past few months have been so much fun.  I’ve had the opportunity to jam with my kids and Yu-Gi-Oh! Fans of all ages, thanks in part to the Augusta Book Exchange and their Sunday Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournaments.

Box busters are still in the plans but what I am looking to do is buy a few boxes of current-gen Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and share some of our personal favorites.  We are looking at Order of Chaos, Generation Force, and Hidden Arsenal booster packs, amongst others.  That will be in the more distant future, though.

For a look at some of my more recent Yu-Gi-Oh! faves and “mini busters”, check out these posts:

http://duelpassonline.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/2011-yu-gi-oh-box-buster-preview-rise-of-destiny/

http://duelpassonline.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/yu-gi-oh-favorites-meklord-emperor-wisel/

Yu-Gi-Oh! deck building is still one of my favorite things but it’s tons of fun to try out new recipes too!

If you happen to be in the Augusta, Georgia or CSRA (Central Savannah River Area), I invite you to come check out the Augusta Book Exchange in Martinez, near the Bobby Jones Expressway Wal-Mart (which we like to call Wally World since it’s like a amusement park for some of us locals LOL).

This place reminds me of my favorite geek shop in my hometown of NYC: The Compleat Strategist.  InsiderPages describes TCS as a place where it’s cozy and easily to lose oneself for hours.  I agree and the Augusta Book Exchange is the same experience.

Will Modern Warfare 3 Steal Battlefield 3′s Thunder? Probably Not.

I’ve been so deep in Battlefield 3 that I almost forgot Modern Warfare 3 comes out next week. It was my fellow clanmate Joe Fisher (PhallicDragon on XBox LIVE) that reminded me. A small part of me is excited but, for the most part, this will be a game I will put on rotation so I don’t over-play Battlefield 3.

Every credible non-fanboy review I’ve read seems to point at the fact that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 feels more like an expansive map pack than a full sequel. While Joe and other fellow gamers say that Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 are too distinct to compare, I already know Battlefield 3 will be my main game. I also know that the Gears of War 3 Season Pass looks more tempting than a Call of Duty Elite subscription.

With that in mind, there are a few things that make Modern Warfare 3 and Elite subscription tempting…

This. Is. Sparta! Err, I mean Modern Warfare 3.

Game Design 301: Battlefied 3 Massive Update Opportunities (A Battlefield Wish List)

Battlefield 3 is by far one of the most fun games (of the MPOG variety) I’ve played online in a long time. KiNgDeeM describes Battlefield 3 as digital crack. Really, it’s that good and I’ll take Battlefield over Halo, Call of Duty, and even Halo!

But there are glaring issues with Battlefield 3 that are supressing the fan boy in me…

First and foremost, let’s be honest: Battlefield 3 has a nice single-player campaign (and CoD fan boys say it’s a rip-off Modern Warfare campaign).. But we’re here for the online multiplayer, regardless of whether you play on PC, XBox 360, or PS3. Now for my issues with the online stuffs in Battlefield 3!

Battlefield 3 Countdown: A BF3 Preview, Modern Warfare 3 Comparison, And Look At New Features

Tonight Battlefield 3 launches at midnight (well here in Augusta, GA, at least). If you happen to be one of the lucky folks with a midnight launch near you, we should jam. Add Yogizilla on XBox LIVE!

Now, I must say, this is one of the big games I’ve been looking forward to, along with Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Mass Effect 3, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and Silent Hill: Downpour. The Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 new release line-up looks darn good!

Note how I did not mention Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It seems you can’t mention Battlefield these days without bringing Call of Duty into the mix so I’ll join the crowd by saying I can really care less if Battlefield 3 will be a Modern Warfare killer. Quite frankly, Call of Duty has gotten old to me.

Of course, if you’re in a gaming clan like I am, Modern Warfare 3 will be the game to get for competitive purposes, whereas Battlefield 3 looks tons more fun. Time to rant and have some geekgasms as we count down to the Battlefield 3 midnight launch – w00t!

RAGE For The XBox 360.. Worst Ending (And Multiplayer) Ever?

Not too long ago, I wrote an epic first impressions piece on RAGE. Admittedly, the game took a backseat to Too Human and Gears of War 3 recently. I’m still a big fan of the game but I am disappointed, even after reading all the negative reports.

Friends that are Gamefly junkies beat the game in a day. Granted, they did not get into all the excursions of the game, that’s pretty impressive. The game’s length is just right but the climax lacks. Rather, story/campaign mode builds up a climax and then falls flat.

When one of my buddies said RAGE had the worst ending ever I said, “How bad could it really be?” I’m not playing the game for a story but I expected a big ending. I was wrong. No real boss battle. No epicness.. I was sad.

Too Human (XBox 360) Review & Mini FAQ: Too Human To Quit?

Recently, I’ve heard a lot of people talk about Dark Souls and how it is one of the hardest games ever. Apparently, you die a lot, which would explain the teaser site PrepareToDie.com. This is not the sort of game you want to play if you can’t commit to a few hours of gameplay at a time.. Or just hate losing.

While I don’t have Dark Souls (yet?), I have been playing Too Human and it shares in the feeling of being (mostly) alone and dying lots. Here’s a game I picked up in the bargain bin and initially dismissed over a year ago. After some more extensive playing (and much frustration), I am pleasantly surprised.

Too Human (XBox 360) Cover

I would say Silicon Knights took Halo, Mass Effect, and Diablo, put them in a pot, sprinkled on some Nordic (or is it Celtic?) folklore, and cooked it all together to come up with Too Human. The fighting itself is more akin to Devil May Cry and Diablo, with a nice balance between arcade and RPG feel. The crafting, equipment, and inventory systems feel more like Mass Effect.. Yet the game feels like an MMO, as you may find it necessary to grind a bit to get past certain parts and, really, partying up is key for the group buffs. Alas, only two-player support in this one..

Guardian Heroes HD Remix (XBox 360): A Classic Sega Saturn Beat-Em-Up Reborn!

Guardian Heroes FTW!

Looking for a Guardian Heroes co-op pard? Add Yogizilla on XBox LIVE! We can help each other out and squash tons of baddies together!! I’ll be removing some friends, especially those that think “Guardian Heroes is wack”. *wink*

Samuel Han of Guardian Heroes HD

When I saw Sega re-releasing classic games from the Dreamcast and Saturn eras, I got excited.. But I never expected Guardian Heroes to come back. After the initial announcement (and being teased by the undownloadable game in the marketplace), I waited patiently for Guardian Heroes HD to drop.

Guardian Heroes HD is now officially out on the XBox LIVE Marketplace – REJOICE!

Guardian Heroes For Newbies

If you’re new to the game, think of it as Castle Crashers with more epic battles, arena combat (hordes of enemies provided for your power leveling needs), deeper RPG elements, an insane combo system rivaling the Street Fighter and Marvel Vs. Capcom series, and multi-branching storylines. This game is multiplayer bliss, whether you play locally or online. What the game foregoes in terms of a deep story it makes up for with a fluid battle system, unlockable characters, and tons of replay value.

What makes Guardian Heroes special is gameplay, not story.. Though I find the story suitable for this type of game (it’s worth getting the seven different endings). When people ask what the game’s about, I ask them if they’re looking for a story or tons of fun. Guardian Heroes is in the latter camp.

I’d put this game ahead of the Streets of Rage, Gauntlet, and Golden Axe series (each of which I loved greatly – I particularly loved Guantlet IV on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive), mainly because there are so many more moves and combos to unleash, adding much more depth to go alongside the rich co-op gameplay and arcade feel. Guardian Heroes may appear to be a mere button masher but the battle system is quite refined. In the remix, they’ve added air dashes to make aerial assaults even easier to chain.

Rage (XBox 360) First Impressions

Get some RAGE!!

When I went to pick up Rage for the XBox 360 about an hour ago, I did not know what to expect. DOOM and DOOM II changed the FPS genre forever so I believe in anything iD does; however, as much as I love Bethesda (of Fallout 3/New Vegas and Oblivion/Skyrim fame), I worried this kick-ass union would result in another Brink WHOOPS!

I was wrong.

Rage is a game that grips you from the very beginning.. And it’s more than just eye candy.

As always, iD Software delivers unique characters (and weapons) that often ilicit WOWs and perhaps some cringes too!

I’ll be honest: I saw a few gameplay videos and read some previews here and there but, for the most part, I went in blind. The moment I picked up my pre-ordered copy, I noticed it was heavy. Rage comes with 3 discs. WOW!

Final Fantasy XIII was the last game I played with so many discs. Oh wait.. Mass Effect 2 (can’t forget that one), too.