Byrd's Nest #9: How Sports and iTouch games saved my gaming life.

Posted by Byrdie On Monday, October 25, 2010 3 comments


When school started this year realized something. My daily habit of killing aliens, Nazi's and other generic polygon inhabited foes would be disrupted by a minor annoyance called homework. Alas my horrendous foes would be playing second bannana to triangle therom proofs and the crafting of a literary analysis. And as the school year has progressed into October I realized something. I have not an alien and/or Nazi since August. I have simply been too tired/busy to continue that art for the time being. What have I been doing with that time? Playing Madden and Doodle Jump.
These games are the perfect solution to any gamers bust schedule. Doodle Jump is maybe the most addicting thing mankind has invented since the invention of illegal narcotics. My precious seconds of no homework are squandered on the perfecting of platform jumping and alien killing. Doodle Jump is just a perfect game for you busy gamers.
Secondly when I actually get a chance to play a console game. I will usually put in my most coveted game (at the moment) Madden 11 (review coming shortly). Madden's shockingly improved gameplay which makes playing an exhibition match as quick as possible, along with the fact that I am a sports fan has allowed me to waste away weekend hours simply scoring touchdown after touchdown while taking bragging rights from my father.
I know what you're going to say. I'm not a "true gamer" beceause I'm only playing "casual" Madden and Doodle Jump and if I was a true gamer I would put games before grades. Blah Blah Blah. Yada Yada Yada. You know what? I don't give a crap. I love games but simply don't have the time to play traditional shooters and action games. I still love video games and am currently enjoying games that allow me to quickly play an enjoyable game before I go back to my busy schedule. And who knows. I might have some time to kill Nazis soon.
-Matthew Byrd Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

iTunes GameCenter Review

Posted by Byrdie On Tuesday, October 5, 2010 0 comments



Itunes's GameCenter is a good idea executed poorly. GameCenter is basically Xbox Live for the iTouch/iPhone. You have a username, freinds, games and achievements all controlled from a central hub. This is controlled by Apple. Think of it as an Apple sanctioned Open Feint. The games on it, although limited, are great ranging from favorites Angry Birds and Tetris to newcomers like Plunderland and UFO on Tape.

Now there are a lot of bad things about GameCenter. It activates very weirdly as it only activates when you start a game and it only does that periodically. Achievements are not officially sanctioned by Apple so games achievement number, achievement points and value vary wildly from game to game making it very annoying to keep track of achievements. Also for all you iTouch owners GameCenter only works with an internet connection so unless you're at home you'll probably lose achievements if you decide to game outside the house.

Despite the difficulties, GameCenter is a great concept that if fixed could bloom into a great gaming interface for all Apple mobile devices.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95