Mar 11, 5:03 pm
Every time a new game releases with a leading lady, it sort of makes me squeal inside.
So perhaps you can understand my unbounded glee with Final Fantasy XIII. And this isn’t purely based on the main character’s gender, though that has something to do with it.
First off, for those of you who have never played Final Fantasy, this is a nice place to start. Since the stories are non-linear, there is no need to worry about the previous twelve installments. I can sum them up as “you’re good, defeat evil, save the world”. The battle system is easy to learn, exploration areas are pretty straightforward and the story seems to move along smoothly. Thus far anyway, there’s only so much you can do in two days, especially while chasing around the kiddo.
Lightning as a protagonist is everything you’d expect from a JRPG – conflicted, strong, and determined. But she’s something very similar to the sort of leader we found in another major release this year – Mass Effect 2. When choosing to play as a female Shepard, players were granted a woman with focus on a survival beyond her own. As Lightning sets forth with a soldier’s efficiency, she sees no possible deviation from fulfilling her goal.
But what makes her separate from every other badass female on the scene? Because besides all that bravado and sword fighting, there is a human element – something that occasionally has a hard time sneaking in between cheeky one-liners. Lightning doesn’t start barroom brawls or cause trouble for the sake of it. Her mission is clear and her objectives obvious. But who commands this able soldier? Does she heed to a great government power, a wise king, or a jealous prince?
Lightning heeds her own orders, and her own demands. She must save her sister, regardless of the risk or futility. However, she maintains a severe sense of duty when things become more difficult. This solitary element is what makes Lightning so attractive as a role model.
When people infuriate her, does she stomp her feet, shout, cry, or behave in other inexplicable ways? Most of her conflicts are resolved with a series of severe slugs to the face. But does she spout emotions at every turn and work for your sympathy?
Instead, Square-Enix is portraying a strong woman in an impossible circumstance battling with the loss of both her family and entire way of life. She hides her insecurities in her strength. And manages to remain decently covered for a gender otherwise known for their lack as such.
Not only am I pleased with the game as a whole - the visuals are obviously amazing in their own. But I’m more impressed with the depth of a protagonist I can relate to, a woman barely into her adulthood and struggling to hold herself together despite all else. While others run or hide, she keeps forging one foot ahead of the next, concerned with stopping evil not out of ego but rationality. The fear of the enemy isn’t due to an overarching evil nature, but more of an irrational fear of that which is different.
Though I respect the countless other female figures in gaming who have spawned hours of debate over the years such as Lara Croft, Bayonetta and Samus Aran to name a few headliners, there’s an element to Lightning that feels more familiar and less contrived, despite the Fantasy tag. She reacts as I would expect any soldier without method to and protects herself as most actual girls do – through denial.
I think Final Fantasy raises some interesting elements worth discussing about society and culture, especially in the choice of Lightning to lead the way. In a series dominated with embattled male protagonists all these years it’s fun to see another perspective.
And all things considered, she’s still pretty badass!
Mar 03, 7:10 pm
Being a competitive gamer since 2002, I have searched for legit websites that allowed gamers to enter single or multiplayer cash challenges online. I tried a few websites such as gamersaloon.com back in the day but when I did, the site had crashed losing all my money so obviously I did not return(luckily it was only $5 but still!). I started losing faith until I came across a golden gem. I have found the sweetest website that will do everything I wanted and more without any worry of being scammed. Welcome to WorldGaming.com where it pays to have game<-- I love their slogan!
WorldGaming.com registration is 100% free to make friends, build your network, and increase your skill until you feel ready to play for real money. Once you feel like your skill is up to par and you are ready to enter cash challenges, you deposit money safely and securely by using Paypal or any major credit card to your account. Once you have your secure funds ready, you can either sign up for a tournament or challenge people to individual matches.
Now the first question that I’m sure everyone who reads this wants to know is, “Is this Legal?” Yes it is! All services and tournaments run through WorldGaming.com are considered “Games of Skill.” Games of Skill are games in which the element of skill supersedes the element of chance, as opposed to traditional casino games where the element of chance supersedes the element of skill. So now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the way things work on the website.
The layout on WorldGaming.com makes searching for an opponent simple and easy. All you do is click on the game of choice and browse all the open challenges or open your own challenge. Once you accept the rules and settings for the challenge you go online on that specific game, setup a room matching those settings and play. That’s it! No need to report scores because WorldGaming has a unique system that directly verifies game stats from each match played. Once the match is finished you can return to the website and see your winnings instantly in your bank…BAM!
About WorldGaming.com
“WorldGaming.com is a safe, secure global platform that gives console gamers the chance to win real money playing video games. Combining a passion for technology with an obsession with fairness, WorldGaming.com is built on a promise to give users the best possible gaming experience on the web.
The WorldGaming.com platform combines a number of unique tools that automatically verify results, ensure secure payouts, and accurately reflect the skill levels of potential opponents. Registered members also gain access to a number of rich community features including member pages, clan support, stats tracking, and invitations to some of the biggest gaming tournaments in the world.
For every gamer that has dreamed of holding a controller high above their head and proclaiming they are the greatest freaking player alive, WorldGaming.com is the ultimate destination to play for real money against gamers from all across the globe.”
Console and Games Supported
Now Playing - XBOX 360: Halo 3, Madden 10, FIFA 10, NHL 10, NCAA Football 10.
Now Playing - PS3: Fight Night Round 4, Madden 10, FIFA 10, NHL 10, NCAA Football 10.
Coming Soon: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Gears of War 2, NBA 2k10, Forza Motorsport 3, NBA LIVE 10, Warhawk, Lost Planet,Resistance: Fall of Man, MotorStorm 2, PGR4, GTA IV, and more.
Tournaments
Tournaments are run all throughout the week with smaller scale (4-8 player) tournaments during the weekdays and larger scale (16, 32, 64 player) reserved for weekends.
Get your accounts made and let’s get this party started! My WorldGaming account is xShe_Devilx, add me if you want to challenge Muahahahaha!
Feb 05, 8:00 pm
Welcome to the first Podcast of 2010! For our first podcast of the new year, my sidekick, Epidemic and I interview the #1 Modern Warfare 2 player, Brandon aka Fear Punisher! He shares with us his history as a gamer and his secrets to staying on top! Not only was Punisher a top 5 CoD4 player, he has continued to dominate the CoD world by going straight to the top on MW2. Punishers next competition will take place February 19th-21st in San Francisco for the Gamestop 1v1 Finals where he is among 15 other finalists for a chance to win $5,000! So pull up a chair, sit back, relax and enjoy the podcast.
*You can download the podcast HERE
Fear Punisher’s Achievements on CoD4
MLG A Champ-$750
MLG B Champ-$150
NxG Pro Ladder Champ-$300
NxG Steelseries Champ
CombatArenas Champ-$100
Cevo2 Champ-$125
MLG PCL2 Champ-1000
Gamebattles Season 1 Champ
Gamebattles Season 2 Champ
OldSpice Swager Series Champ-$1250
PCL3 2nd place-$500
Gamersaloon-$700
MLG Vegas-$450
MLG PCL3 09 Champ-$300
Dr Pepper 2v2 Champ-$1500
MLG Anaheim-$700
Cevo3-$175
Fear Punisher’s Achievements on MW2
Winter Classic4v4
MLG Holiday League 2v2 AR SND
WCG 2nd
Gamestop 4v4 3rd
Gamestop 1v1 Finalist (finalists get all expense paid trip to San Francisco on Feb 19th-21st)
Jan 27, 10:29 pm
2010 is here and boy do we have some great game titles coming out this year! Since gaming with friends is one of the best ways to enjoy a video game, I have decided to compile a list of my most anticipated multiplayer games of 2010. And the games are…
MAG:
Platform: PS3
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Developer: Zipper Interactive
Online Multiplayers: Up to 256 players
After playing and really enjoying MAG at E3 and reading many reviews on how great the final version of MAG is, I am thinking about buying it. Most everyone that I know that has played MAG has raved about how kick a$$ it is. A game that takes teamwork and has lots people to shoot, SIGN ME UP!
“In the near future, governments are supposedly at peace. A shadow war, fought by private military corporations, emerges. You are dropped into this unprecedented war – the first to have battles of 256 real players on a global battlefield. Prove yourself alongside your 8-man squad and become an elite fighter or earn the right to lead a squad, platoon or ultimately an entire army of players. Your calling awaits.” –Gamestop
Bioshock 2
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: February 9, 2010
Developer: Take 2 Interactive
Online Mulitplayer: 2-10 players
I don’t even think I need to tell you all how awesome the first Bioshock was as I am sure you all have played it and know for yourselves. So to add multiplayer to a game that was already great can only make it that much better. Hurry Bioshock 2, I want to play you NOW!
“Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. You are the very first Big Daddy as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and your own survival.” -Gamestop
Battlefield Bad Company 2
Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Developer: DICE
Online Multiplayer: 2-24 players
The Battlefield Franchise has always brought us great games and I am expecting great things from Bad Company 2. There were a few things that bothered me about the first one that I really hope they fix for the second game, the biggest being able to host private matches. I mean come on, what game doesn’t allow you to host private matches! I played the demo for a bit and being able to blow up EVERYTHING was awesome! But besides that, the gameplay was smooth and the graphics looked beautiful. The motion of the character did seem like it needed to be tweaked some but other than that it looks like a very fun and enjoyable game.
“Get ready for the most spectacular FPS multiplayer experience ever! Battlefield Bad Company 2™ brings the spectacular Battlefield gameplay to the forefront of next-gen consoles and PC - featuring best-in-class vehicular combat set across 8 huge sandbox maps each with a different tactical focus. New vehicles like the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and the UH-60 transport helicopter allow for all-new multiplayer tactics in the warzone, extensive tuning ensures that this will be the most satisfying vehicle combat experience to date.” -Gamestop
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Platform: PC, Xbox 360
Release Date: April 1, 2010
Developer: Ubisoft
Online Multiplayer: Co-op Mode
This has been a long awaited game for me. I am a HUGE fan of the Splinter Cell franchise and after having a chance to play it a little, I can truly say that Splinter Cell: Conviction will be the best SC game made to date! The new style of play and co-op mode will have us glued to our consoles for a while!
“Coming exclusively to the PC and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction is the highly anticipated sequel in the multimillion-selling Splinter Cell series and one of the most critically acclaimed Xbox franchises of all time. An investigation into his daughter’s death unwittingly leads former agent Sam Fisher to discover he’s been betrayed by his prior agency, the Third Echelon. Now a renegade, Fisher finds himself in a race against time to thwart a deadly terrorist plot that threatens millions.” –Gamestop
Lost Planet 2
Platform: PS3, Xbox 360
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Developer: Capcom
Online Multiplayer: Up to 16 versus, 4 player co-op
This will be a great game to play both co-op and versus with friends. Games are finally getting it right by adding 4 player co-op modes thanks in large part to Halo 2.
“Lost Planet 2 is loaded with extensive multiplayer modes. The intense and action packed campaign mode comes with the ability to form teams of up to 4 players online to clear mission objectives with friends. The grappling hooks that made the gameplay in Lost Planet a true 3-D experience are back, allowing gamers to gain tactical advantage by quickly scaling buildings. No action game would be complete without an arsenal of weaponry, and Lost Planet 2 has a huge variety of hardware for you to unleash on unsuspecting enemies. Machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, lasers, sniper rifles, grenades and a host of other weapons are scattered across the game. However, Lost Planet 2’s biggest weapons come on two legs: the heavily armed and armored robotic Vital Suits return in greater numbers and variety than the first game. There are VS that transform into other vehicles, hold up to three players and some that even take multiple players to operate.” -Gamestop
Halo: Reach
Platform: Xbox 360
Release Date: September 1, 2010
Developer: Bungie
Online Multiplayer: TBA
Halo franchise is in need of some fresh new blood to make it shine once again like it used to. Let’s hope that Halo: Reach is the game to reclaim the top. Bungie tends to think so “We’re keeping the faith that Reach will be nothing short of a minor revolution.” –Bungie
Now I know there are a ton more great games coming out this year that I did not list such as Gran Turismo 5, Final Fantasy XIV Online, World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm, Demon’s Souls, and Star Trek Online to name a few. These all seem like great game but for me personally the ones up top are my personal most anticipated games. What are yours?
Jan 13, 10:00 am
The Frag Dolls and our awesome community host a Community Gaming Night on a different game every week. This is a great time to play with friends and newcomers who are interested in meeting the Frag Dolls and our community in some friendly games. Below are the general guidelines and information to help get you started in our weekly Community Gaming Nights. We hope to see you there.
Next CGN:
Game: Rainbow Six: Vegas 2
Date: Sunday January 17th, 2010
Time: 7pm-9pm PST
Post Gamertag Here
Signing Up for Community Game Night
If you’re interested in joining us for Community Game Night & have or can obtain a copy of this week’s game, all you need to do is post a reply to this thread & make sure you include your Gamertag, either in your post or in your sig.
Replying but failing to add your gamertag (having your gamercard in your sig is fine) will result in you not being added to the list. Exceptions are generally made for people who often participate as their gamertag is already known.
Joining the Game on Game Night
On the date of the event, send a Friend Request or Xbox Live Message to the host of the game. The games are usually hosted by Phoenix or Mcmax3000.
Note from Mcmax3000: For some reason, I frequently receive random friend requests on Xbox Live so if you’re adding me to play in Community Night, please send a (text) message with the request so I know who you are & why you’re adding me
If they are not hosting, someone will usually post a reply in this thread indicating that they will host the game. Send them an Xbox Live message to get in on the action.
You will also want to make sure that you have any required downloadable content for the game that is being played. Marketplace links to the required content will be available in the original post in this thread. The only required DLC is generally the free content that is available for that title unless we’re playing a game specifically to try out the new content.
One a side note: I wanted to give a BIG THANK YOU to Mcmax3000! CGN would not be the same without his help! We love you Mcmax3000!!!
