Join the Blast Away the Game Review Community on Facebook or Google+
Written by Annie Hunt (Hiwatt)

When I think of my go-to games, they usually consist of expansive worlds ready to be explored,  teeming with lore, and populated with varied enemies and interesting NPCs. Oh, and of course, lots of loot! So, why is it that lately I’m launching a strategy card game every time I sit down to play?

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft is a strategy card game that is developed by Blizzard Entertainment and is based on the Warcraft universe. If you’re familiar with Blizzard games then you know they are known for making hit games. Hearthstone is no different; it is entertaining and addicting. Experience with Warcraft is not required to enjoy what Hearthstone has to offer. The game takes a light-hearted and fun approach to the rich history of Warcaft. The colorful art is full of whimsy and the clever sound effects bring the characters to life.

There is no question that Blizzard has made another hit with Hearthstone. The game has reached over 30 million registered accounts and, according to Super Data Research, Hearthstone generates around 20 million dollars a month in revenue.[1] Hearthstone is currently available on PC, Mac, phones, and tablets which has significantly increased its popularity. The game is flourishing on popular streaming website Twitch.tv, where you can find hundreds of players streaming their games live for viewers at almost any time of the day. The competitive scene for the game is growing as well; the total prize pool for professional competitions now equaling more than 2 million dollars, even without a blizzard-backed professional league.[2]

As an “experienced” player I find the game to be fairly well balanced. There is an element of RNG to the game but players who know mechanics can perform well consistently. Certain classes or decks may seem overpowered, but new adventures and expansions can change that. Sometimes cards are not very strong but you are not forced to use them and they offer something else that is crucial to this game, flavor. At this point in my life, I love Hearthstone. It’s easy to play a few games on my commute (not while driving!) or to play a Tavern Brawl, a random weekly mode focused on fun themes, while watching a stream to relax. The games are quick, fun and stimulate my mind. The problems with Hearthstone will be much more apparent to those who are just starting out.

For new players, the biggest problems with Hearthstone are the tutorial, and the ever growing gap in the quality of card collections between beginners and more seasoned players. I’ve noticed these issues as I’ve tried to spread my love of Hearthstone among my friends and family. When I introduced the game to my mother-in-law (solitaire-only gamer) I knew she might have issues grasping the concepts of the game, but I was far more surprised when my friends who are veteran gamers had issues, which made me realize how flawed the tutorial and introduction to the game are. The tutorial matches you against “bosses” designed to gradually teach you the basic mechanics by name, but the experience ultimately does a poor job explaining the overall strategy of the game. It doesn’t explain what it means to trade minions efficiently or why using a damage dealing spell card on your first turn is a bad play. It’s like being taught to cook by sampling individual ingredients, but without anyone explaining why certain ingredients might go together in different ways to make a whole dish. After noticing the issues my friends had, I turned to the internet to find out what other new players found wrong with the game.

I read hundreds of one-star reviews on Google Play and iTunes and found that, besides technical issues (the game is quite large for some phones or tablets), the majority of those reviews were negative because the players were never taught to play the game effectively. Many bad reviews placed an emphasis on needing to purchase cards (instead of unlocking them through playing) to be able to win. To test this, I decided to make a second account and completely start over to see if it was impossible to win without buying packs of cards. I completed the tutorial and played “Solo Adventures” until I unlocked all the basic cards for the Mage class. I followed up by playing ten “Casual” PVP games in “Play Mode” where I won seven. I then played ten “Ranked” games and won six of those games. This was using the original default deck with no modifications. I faced off against many players with better decks during this time but I didn’t always lose to them. The problem isn’t fully with the quality of the cards but also with the player’s knowledge of the game mechanics.

“Pay to win. I’ve played since first release on pc and it has become painful. Would not recommend. Can’t continually win without paying money.”

This isn’t completely true. There are a lot of decks that are fun to play and can be crafted for cheap (with time, not money).[3] Arena is a game mode that lets skilled players potentially earn larger rewards than other play modes by drafting a deck from random cards from the game. With Arena you do not need to have a large collection but understanding the game is crucial to maximize the rewards. There are also players who spend money on the game but still lose because they don’t truly understand the mechanics. Learning to trade minions efficiently, when to use your hero power or what your opponent is capable of will increase your win chances. Many cards can be used in unusual ways that may not be obvious to new players. I am still not sure I fully grasp some of those plays. There is a definite advantage to buying packs, but the most beneficial thing a new player can do is learn more about the game.

“Parts of the story have to be unlocked by real money which gives cards. But here our beloved developers come and say u can pay 700 gold. 700 gold for a story part?? That is insane. And with real money its 20+ euro. This game is just a pay to win and u dont stand a chance if u dont. Dissapointed.

I’ve played this game for about 2 years now and I’ve only spent about $70 on it. I’ve bought both adventures and a few packs. I don’t think this is a crazy amount of money for a game that I play almost every day. I don’t understand the reluctance to spend money on a game you enjoy. If games were truly “free to play” then they would be collecting a ton of information about you. How could the developers continue to operate without making a revenue? Millions of people pay $60 for AAA titles that have about 20 hours of playtime, additional content sold separately.

Adventures would be a great purchase for a new player who has unlocked all the classes and basic decks. You can unlock the wings by doing your dailies or buy them. They teach you new mechanics and guarantee a certain amount of cards. Naxxramas came out in July 2014 and many of the cards from this adventure are still viable and often used competitively (Sludge Belcher, Haunted Creeper, Mad Scientist, Unstable Ghoul, Zombie Chow, Loatheb and more).[4]

“rng garbage. no skill required.”

There is going to be some RNG in a card game. Sometimes this will benefit you, sometimes this will benefit your opponent. The majority of the time RNG will affect one or two plays but with skill (and knowledge) the better player could overcome. Occasionally you might have a game or two where every single thing is against you, but know that this is not unique to you and happens to everyone. It is also worth pointing out that if there were no skill required then there wouldn’t be professional players or a competitive scene. These are players who constantly perform well despite the deck they are using.

“Weird nerd game.”

Okay. This one is true.

Besides the cards in Adventures, all cards can be earned through grinding out dailies (another thing Blizzard is well known for). Purchasing packs can be helpful but is not required. If you enjoy the game then spending money on it should not be a concern. The problem with Hearthstone is that it doesn’t supply new players with the information they need to be successful. Most high ranked players will use the popular websites to help with building their decks, or will watch other players on a stream. There are tons of sites that could benefit players of all experience levels. Unfortunately many players may not know where to find those resources.

Here is my advice for new players! If you feel like you need better cards but can’t afford them, then look for sites that can help you maximize the free packs and free in game currency to help you avoid spending money.[5] Buy the Adventures (when you can)! Watch streamers! There are a variety of streamers that can teach you more about the game ((Here are some of my favorites: Kripparrian, Kibler, & Trump). Join the reddit community which has a large database of questions that a variety of players have asked and encountered already.There are tons of sites to help you create decks for constructed (casual/ranked games) like HearthPwn or Tempo Storm’s Meta Snapshot. If you are new to Arena you can try HearthArena to help you draft a deck.  Most importantly, remember to have fun!

Sources:
[1]https://www.superdataresearch.com/market-data/digital-card-games/
[2]http://www.esportsearnings.com/games/328-hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft
[3]http://2p.com/31728814_1/Competitive-Budget-Decks-for-All-9-Classes-by-Corey_T.htm
[4]http://hearthstone.gamepedia.com/Curse_of_Naxxramas#Pricing
[5]http://www.hearthstonetopdecks.com/hearthstone-gold-guide-maximize-free-packs-gold-dust/

---

About the Writer:

Annie is an avid gamer who takes her love for gaming to the written format with her thoughts, opinions, and discussions regarding games in their current state, but as well as the industry. With her insight to PC gaming, Annie is one step ahead of the team, and looks to keep it that way.

Join the Blast Away the Game Review Community on Facebook or Google+
Written by Dustin Murphy

There’s something special about attending the 20th anniversary of id Software’s famed event known as “QuakeCon”. Last year I was invited to QuakeCon along with several of our former members and it was there that I realized we were becoming part of a large tradition that had been going on for 19 years at the time, and this year – 20 years. As our second visit we decided that we would get our impressions out the closing night; tonight. Starting Thursday morning we went through the normal check-in where we signed for our press badges, thanked the staff, shook their hand, and headed on in towards the exhibition hall where we would stand in line for roughly twenty minutes among the crowd of thousands of gamers who were bringing their computers for the B.Y.O.C. attendance while others relished in the idea of simply seeing what is coming up. While many people were just as curious as we were about what was hiding behind the black silky screen, we quickly turned our attention away only to visit the vendor section. Here we were able to visit booths such as Modders Inc. whom had some of the most beautiful modded computers we’d seen, including one completely modded out in order to fit the Fallout feel. Among these were various other creations.

After a while David and I decided it was time to walk away, look at what’s there and head over to the Bethesda Store booth where we found ourselves quickly shelling out cash for some of the most unique items we’d ever seen; some of them exclusive to QuakeCon 2015 such as the 20th anniversary hoodie, Skyrim themed journal, wallet, and even my Vault-Tech messenger bag, but even a few other small things here and there that would go upon our office shelves. Something that was quite familiar last year and allowed us to once more turn our head as we glanced upon the floors before us. As the first day began to pass we walked around finding where vendors were and what they were up to. We got to once more meet up with friendly faces from the past such as Shannon Robb from Thermaltake Technology Inc. USA, Clay Causin of Nvidia, the guys from Tiger Direct, Altex, and many other companies. As the weekend began to go full swing there was something in the air that makes QuakeCon one of the most unique events that we’ve attended, which is that everyone there is accepted whether you are a new age gamer, classic gamer, or all of the above as gamers discussed how they started gaming in general. Some of them having stated it was because of DOOM, others Quake, some because of games such as Hexen, Heretic, Quake Arena, Daikatana, Super Mario Bros. or simply because they wanted to attend a rather large LAN party that would allow their games to be pushed to the max through AT&T’s gigabit powered internet, which truly proved a lagless experience.

As we walked the floor there was something unique about this place as our eye fell upon unique cosplays, computer mods, and even computers being built as attendees began to line up at the Modders Inc. booth. Here we would get to see some of the most astounding computers come to life and fans rejoice the moment they heard the entire unit boot completely up into existence. When walking past these booths there was a lingering hunger for having such a type of computer, but at this time the finances aren’t there, which lead me to admiring the handcrafted work these men, women, and children brought to fruition. While walking along the booths I found myself once more visiting the Nvidia booth where Clay Causin, the team he was with, and the fans were all surrounding the booth in order for attendees to learn about the new hardware, but also the ability to learn what potential their hardware has with these new pieces. Stepping away from their booth after a short while I decided to tail back to where I found the Alienware tour truck, which was loaded with Alienware Steam Machine Alpha ‘Consoles’. There I found myself taking on Mortal Kombat X on Ultra-High in 1080p without a hiccup, and even finding myself enjoying the setup they had. With how smooth the interface and controllers ran, the experience was pleasing, enjoyable, and allowed me to walk away with a pleasing experience after speaking with the Alienware team members.

After walking between booth to booth, I noticed something refreshing in the air; unity. Something this event has brought through with gamers from all walks of life, origins, and even different preference on game types as well as platforms. Admittedly finding myself as a console gamer, I was amazed by the sincerness that many of the gamers had when learning I prefered console platforms, but found myself flabbergasted by how welcoming they were to my preference. Discussing many of the games we played with them was an amazing feat, but there was something even more awesome, more creative, and even leaking beneath the surface. As the event went on through the weekend I decided to take part in the charity events they had going on outside of the DFW Nerd Night. Instead I found myself donating blood to the American Red Cross where I was awarded a unique water pouch themed around DOOM and colored blood red. From there I found myself donating to the Dallas Pets Alive charity in order to help them fund their cause. Afterwards? It was time to head back to the hotel and relax from the weekend I’ve encountered that included panels for Fallout (4/Anthology/Shelter), Retro to Real Time, and even the panel for DOOM where we witnessed Hugo Martin, Brad Bramlett, Marty Stratton, and Robert Duffy discuss DOOM and what it took to make it once more feel authentic for what it was known for. This is something we’ve become excited about over time while watching over this game for the past few years.

As the weekend came to an end after a good amount of time spent with DOOM, Bombshell, and Oculus Rift, there was something to be said about the experience I went through, which was one of the best parts of the overall convention outside of seeing friends, making new friends such as Alex Kurikh, Frederik Schreiber, Becky Taylor, fellow gamers, and a community come together as a whole in order to celebrate a 20 year legacy that id Software helped create/A 20 year legacy us here at B.A.T.G.R. are proud to be apart of. We look forward to the next 20 years of QuakeCon and can’t wait to look back on this day as both gamers and journalists.

We also want to give a special thank you to the folks of Corsair, Media Design School, Thermaltake Technologies Inc., MSI, FSP Group USA, Altex, Modders-Inc., 3D Realms, Tiger-Direct, In Win, Alienware, Teckknow, Bethesda Zenimax, and id Software for taking the time to talk with us and answer our questions!

---

About the Writer:

Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Join the Blast Away the Game Review Community on Facebook or Google+
Written by David Murphy

My gaming experience started back when my parents got me an Atari 2600 for Christmas. I was hooked. I played it every chance I got. Eventually I grew up got married had kids and gaming had taken a back seat. When my kids were very young we got them a NES. My oldest loved to play Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros.

I decided that they would need to be able to work on a computer as they grew so I bought an “upscale”computer for the time, it was a Pentium 2 and I upgraded the ram to 16MB from 4MB and the hard drive to 2GB from 256MB. We played Doom, Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein. What an upgrade from the NES.

Gaming took a backseat in my life at that point. I had a family to take care of so keeping up with the technology just wasn’t in the budget. As things improved I started getting back into games a little. It was mainly with my sons as a way to connect and spend time together. By this time I was way behind on PC gaming so I mainly played console games with them. We had so much fun and spent a vast amount of quality time together. The kids are grown now and moving on with their lives but we still keep our gaming time.

 This year my oldest son had me go to QuakeCon with him. I had helped sponsor his gaming page since it started and it was time I saw what gaming has become. QuakeCon was a whole different world. The line on Thursday for the people headed to the BYOC seemed to go on forever. I had never seen so many gamers in one place. The rigs they had with them were amazing.

Thursday afternoon I went through the BYOC just to look at the systems. These people must be some of the most talented PC modders out there. I saw a rig that looked like just like the proton pack carried in Ghostbusters. All the lights and cooling systems they had on these rigs had me in a trance. The longer we were there the more I had to have one.

Later that evening Bethesda had a wonderful get together at the House of Blues. I was sitting there with a beverage and people would stop by and just chat. I was so very impressed with the hospitality of all the people. We talked about the DOOM PvP, motorcycles and everything in between. I met Alex Kurikh (Cooke) from Russia. He was there for the gaming contest. He showed me that we are all just people with similar interest and there to enjoy life. Later that night my oldest told me who several of these people were who I had enjoyed talking with. They were high position people with the different companies at the convention. I think that impressed me more because they were so down to earth.

We spent two more days there and the longer I was there the more I appreciated the people within the gaming community. They were all there for the same reason. They enjoyed gaming and the technology. I know I constantly was asking stupid questions because I’ve been out of the loop for so long, but I was not once treated as a burden. If I showed an interest in something they would take the time to explain it to me. This sparked my mind and I’m now looking at building a rig of my own.

With so many people in the same place I waited to see how long it would be before someone with an attitude went off. The days kept going and I never once saw it happen. Instead what I saw were people helping each other. If someone had a problem with their system others would help them with it. They were all there to make sure that the best gaming experience possible was enjoyed by all.

The Doom PvP was phenomenal to watch. It was so fast paced and the fact you had to move forward to survive instead of hiding and reviving was something I liked seeing. It was gaming as it used to be. I got the opportunity to play the trial of a game called Bombshell. It was a short demo but this game will be a blast. Unfortunately for me the demo was on PC and my keyboard skills are weak but it was still fun. I can’t wait to try it on a console. Then there was the Fallout showing; it impressed me enough that I preordered it and the Fallout Anthology so I can work on the keyboard skills and learn the game.

In the end my experience at QuakeCon was time well spent. Everyone there was there for the same reason. You had several thousand people in the same place and I never saw a single attitude. Bethesda Zenimax, id Software, 3D Realms, Alienware, Modders Inc., MSI, In Win, Nvidia, XoticPC, DXRacer, Altex, Corsair, FSP Group U.S.A. and all the other sponsors and venders were the best. I can’t wait for next year. I plan on being more in the loop and ready for the thrill of the gaming word.

---

About the Writer:

David Murphy is an old school gamer that has recently stepped into a new world of gaming. When not playing games such as Fallout, Destiny, Diablo 2 or Diablo 3; he can be found sitting back stomping on Goomba’s on his classic NES or shooting down some pesky ducks on Duck Hunt.

Join the Blast Away the Game Review Community on Facebook or Google+
Written by Dustin Murphy

There’s no secret that PC gamers have some of the most unique games out there. Their games range from large named Kickstarter projects to games that have managed to go under the radar and never even be seen from there. In this case? I’ve compiled a list of several games that would be instant smash hits on the consoles due to their story, background with PC gamers, and even the overall appeal to them. Some of these games have been out for a while now while others are just now starting to pick up a steam. So lets get started with our top ten titles we’d like to see.

#10: Rust – Face Punch Studio

Many know Rust for its brutal online gameplay where players fight to survive against other players. You must scavenge food from animals, players, and even hunt down resources while trying to build alliances and stay alive. Get a big enough alliance and a town may just be possible if players stick together. The true danger is? No one knows who can be trusted once their back is turned and bridges are burnt. This would fit perfectly on the PlayStation platform thanks to how isolated games can feel at times due to party chats.

#9: Niko: Through the Dream – Studio Paint

Niko: Through the Dream is a beautiful game that is recognized as a minimalist adventure that tells the tale of Niko as she attempts to return to her world. As you take on her adventure, players will travel through multiple islands where happiness, solitude, or fear are melted away with the games hidden riddles, traps, and dangers that will confront both the player and Niko’s abilities that require determination, ability, and even logic. With Niko’s adventure being told through colours, shapes, sounds, and small hidden items, the game is beautiful, sad, and even whimsical as her narrative is explored with each new adventure that comes forth on each island.

#8: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Collection – GSC Game World

Like in real history, 1986 was the host to one of the nuclear worst disasters to have ever occurred; Chernobyl. Amidst the nuclear meltdown the Soviet Union established a 30km Exclusion Zone around the nuclear wasteland to keep people out, but in 2006 the zone is rocked by yet another explosion that has brought all life in the ‘Exclusion Zone’ to an end and has pushed the boundary further out. From where the explosion had occurred something has come from the shadows: mutated creatures from the radiation, but also an anomalous energy source. Now cordoned off by the military, anyone that attempts to get close is shot on sight and the secret from this zone has become buried deep within the Zone. In 2012 a man has adventured into the heart of the Zone due to reports of strange ‘artifacts’ that have been imbued with this new energy source. In turn the military, mercenaries, and even bounty hunters have begun to compete against each other in order to obtain the artifacts and control the power they have, but while doing so? S.T.A.L.K.E.R.S. as they are called – will have to not fight against just each other, but against the creatures within as they seek to escape Chernobyl. This franchise would fit in quite well with the previous titles that had been released on the PlayStation 4 in the past year.

#7: Killing Floor – Tripwire Interactive

Killing Floor is just what it sounds like, a game that takes place in London, England after Horzine Biotech, a who has decided to work on mass cloning and genetic mutation has something go completely wrong in their labs. This incident leads to the human subjects turning into grotesque mutations that have also encountered a twisted set of disfigurements as the experiments continue on. After a few hours of the creatures becoming hostile, they begin to overrun the internal security forces and break out to the surface world. This is where our game begins as groups of four players seek to exterminate the mutations and even find their attempts fruitless as players attempt to survive each round, take out hordes of enemies and make their way to safety in order to possibly save the city from the brink of destruction.

#6: Warhammer 40,000: Regicide – Hammerfall Publishing

Lets just pretend one moment that you have no clue what Warhammer 40k is about, well that doesn’t necessarily matter in this new imagining of it. Thanks to the team at Hammerfall Publishing fans get to see Chess turn into a classic game of Warhammer in a very beautifully animated game that takes Space Marines and the likes only to throw them on a chessboard and allow newcomers to take on this classic game in a whole new look.

#5: The Forest (Confirmed – Date: TBA) – 

With the game being on early access via Steam Early Access, The Forest is a gorgeous game that is sitting in pre-alpha version and has been constantly updated sense with a new graphics engine, mechanics, and even having allowed fans to enjoy a game that emphasizes on survival as players take on the task of surviving an island that has been inhabited by cannibals. With the game not focusing on any form of set story or guidelines, it’s time for fans to brave the wilds of this island, gather resources, build a safe place, and explore the island around them including the wreckage of the plane they were once on.

#4: Rise of the Triad – Apogee Software and Interceptor Entertainment

Back in the 90’s it wasn’t uncommon to see games like this one where the objective is to kill as many enemies as possible without dying, but to also make it through various puzzles, landscapes, and the likes. During this era you wanted bigger guns, tons of enemies, and high paced action, and this variant of a classic throwback by both Apogee Software and Interceptor Entertainment is well worth it and one that definitely deserves a console launch for those who have yet to have a chance to play it.

#3: Wrack – Final Boss Entertainment

Just like before, Wrack is a highly entertaining and fun game that allows for a entertaining experience while utilizing a pistol, sword, shotgun, and even much bigger title as weapons are sought out in order to take out the enemies that Kain must encounter as players take on their quest. With cyborgs, aliens, and even mysterious enemies coming forth, players will take on puzzles, bosses, and well crafted encounters while attempting to pursue an amazing story. This is definitely a bullet hell title we’d love to see make its way to the consoles since its launch on PC by our acquaintances over at Final Boss Entertainment.

#2: Team Fortress 2 – Valve Software

You already know about the quirky game that has gotten more attention than Half-Life could ever get and has become easily one of the most played games next to CS:GO. Welcome to Team Fortress 2, the most ludicrous game I’ve ever played in my life. While the game was enjoyed for the most part on Xbox 360 and eventually PlayStation 3, Team Fortress 2 has remained at its heart a hysterical first person experience that relies heavily upon its mods, community, but also the fact its always evolving, which would fit in perfectly with how the PlayStation 4 handles the newer games that are releasing on it as free-to-plays.

#1: This War of Mine – 11bit Studios

War… War is something that can never be called beautiful even if it’s about liberation, freedom, revolution, or any of the above all at once. Unlike most war games, This War of Mine is a unique title that blends storytelling, consequence, and survival into an all-in-one title that will push fans to attempt keeping a group of survivors alive while food, medicine, and resources dwindle down over time and outside threats become a reality. With everything becoming harder and harder to find, your choices are serious, thoughtful, and can be just as punishing as ever if the right choices aren’t made before hand in this side-scrolling psychological title.

Closing Thoughts

While this is only a laundry list of the many great games that have managed to make their way onto the Steam store, we also know that many of these games have tons of potential thanks to the current gen consoles, but also the capabilities of the X86 architecture that both Sony and Microsoft proceeded to go with. If you are like myself, many of these games have been enjoyable on PC if you’ve had the chance to enjoy them through your own PC or even a friends PC. Regardless, the games are greatly imaginative and will push the mind of any gamer into the Twilight Zone whether they want to go there are not. What are some PC games you think would be good to make the jump? Let us know!

---

About the Writer:

Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Join the Blast Away the Game Review Community on Facebook or Google+
Written by Devon Day

Greetings fellow readers! Devon here, bringing you my tribute of an innovator, a legend, and a great man; Mr. Satoru Iwata. That out of the way, let’s get started.

When I first heard of Iwata-Sensei, I really did not thinkof much of him at the time. Sure, I did hear of him regarding a certain game that would help me later on, but at the time, said name really meant little to me. After obtaining my PlayStation 3, I caught wind of his name once again. Naturally, as an adolescent, I had wondered who was this man and why was he continually mentioned. Soon after, one of my friends showed me one of Nintendo’s newest products: The Nintendo Dual Screen Handheld (DS as you may know it). At first, it looked quite odd. “Two screens on a handheld?”, I thought to myself. “Would it work?” Then, my friend showed me a game I had missed on the Nintendo 64: Super Mario DS. Playing near identical as the original, I knew I wasn’t missing out on said title this time. That being said, my journey towards knowing Iwata-Sensei began.

After saving up tons of money and obtaining good grades, the DS Lite would be mine on a cool crisp December 25 of 2007. At first, I was ecstatic. Having the successor to the DS was already a treat; getting the elusive Super Mario 64 in a remaster doubly so. Many long days were stretched as I figured out each level, stage, and challenge. However, as I was playing said game on an awesome system, one thing struck out to me. “If a person with a collective group of people made a great system, wouldn’t it be best to know more about him?” At that point, during the early days of January, I had toughed it out against chilly and snowy conditions to research who Iwata-Sensei was. His back story was quite interesting for me. Having owned the remastered variant of a game he helped developed was already a surprise for me. However, such research would help pave the way for much of my gaming hobby later on down the road; discovering games like Ballon Boy, the Kirby Series, and a game of a series I received in late January known as Pokémon. As time continued, not only would learning more about Iwata-Sensei help me learn more about games, this also gave me more appreciation for the developers and publishers of the games that I was playing; prompting me to research those as well. After getting a Wii later on in 2009, I had, for the first time, knew I was having some real fun with games like Super Mario Galaxy (even though my Call of Duty fix wasn’t satisfied at the time). All in all, the more I learned about Iwata and Nintendo, the more I appreciated others work.

Years would go by before I considered getting either a 3DS or Wii U. I didn’t have enough money like I did back in 2007-2010 to get myself many Nintendo products. However, while I coupe not get them, I did encounter a person who would later befriend me who did have both the Wii U and 3DS. While I only have played Pokemon X sparingly on the 3DS, my first game on the Wii U was the same series  I had received on the GameCube: Super Smash Bros. Naturally, being a rebel, my main character was Sonic (Gotta go fast!!). Having read about their rivalry, I still found it odd to see the blue blur again; even though I first saw him in Brawl. Either way, I do remember having a good time playing the game. Most importantly, Iwata-Sensei had helped delivered another grand slam console in my book. However, one game that I had always wanted to play always eluded me… until that day. Shortly after smashing things up, I had asked my friend if he had a game called “EarthBound.” To my astonishment, he indeed did. After some minor technical issues, I had finally got to play the game I had wanted to enjoy for over a decade, and I have to say, it was a decade worth waiting for. Everything caught my attention, even down to the wonderful cartoon esque pixel art. Knowing beforehand Iwata-Sensei had helped develop the game, my respect and admiration for him grew exponentially; an experience I will never forget.

This now concludes my tribute to Iwata-Sensei. Hearing the news this morning made me sick to my stomach; so much so I requested to postpone my interview for my new job. Multiple tissues lay beside my bed and many memories etched into my brain. That being said, he brought the power to Nintendo: Nintendo Power that is.

With that out of the way, what was your first Nintendo game that Iwata-Sensei was involved with? What did you like most about Iwata-Sensei? What would have been your final words to Iwata-Sensei had you knew today was his last day? Once again, thank you very much for reading! This has been a special tribute brought to you by the fellow writers of Blast Away The Game Review.

Rest In Peace Satori Iwata. You may be gone, but the memories and moments you shared with us all will never be forgotten.

Sunrise: December 6, 1959  // Sunset: July 11, 2015

Satoru Iwata, Former CEO of Nintendo

---

About the Writer:

A man growing up between the gaming boundaries on the 5th generation N64, but admiring the 3rd gen. NES and 4th generation Sega Genesis for their contributions, he always has something on his mind regarding video games and acessories. His first was a microphone for N64 for “Hey You, Pikachu!”, but expanded towards the next line up of gaming peripherals including the Astro A40, MadCatz MLG Pro Circiut Controller, MadCatz STRIKE 7, and many other gadgets. Now loving gaming tech more than ever, he sees this generation crucial to bring the full circle of social connectivity that the 8th generation of consoles have.

Join the Blast Away the Game Review Community on Facebook or Google+
Written by Dustin Murphy

When I tried to type this, I almost seem to be unable to finish, rather I can’t even begin due to the pain my heart feels. Many of you may know Satoru Iwata as the CEO of Nintendo, while many of us don’t see him as that. We see him as a developer, a gamer, a member of our community that changed gaming in many, many, many amazing ways that we can never expect to see happen again. Let alone was a he a member of a developer, he treated us like friends, and even his family rather he met us or not, which was the empowerment this man had over us as gamers, but also one of our very own. When I step back and wipe the tears from my eyes as I type this up almost a week after his passing, the tears have still not stopped falling as I feel myself choke up, but it’s not just because this man was one of us. It’s because the adventure he took us on that stopped before it could truly feel like it was finished.

As you may know, Iwata-san was a visionary, a man who loved challenges, but there is a man that many of you may or may not know about in his younger years before he took to Nintendo. As a young man in his years growing up in his home town of Sapporo, Japan, Satoru-sama grew up with his father taking place in a head of his district as municipal mayor. In those years, Satoru began to find himself interested in video games and technology as he would get bored, create video games on his calculator, and would soon begin distributing those games to his friends. Over the years Iwata found himself growing even more interested in computers and would be admitted to the Tokyo Institute of Technology where he took on multiple classes so that he could major in computer sciences, which would soon lead to him taking his unpaid internship at Commodore Japan, which lead him to taking a job with HAL Laboratory. There he would find himself becoming the head engineer completing tasks with technical and software development. This is also where he would begin freelance work as a programmer for HAL Laboratory, Inc., as a game developer and would collaborate closely with Nintendo, which inevitable lead to his departure from the company and finding himself at Nintendo. However, after graduating from the university, many wouldn’t know that he came onto HAL Laboratory as a full-time employee where he would become the coordinator of software production starting in 1983, and would help build a relationship between both HAL and Nintendo in order to produce games for the Famicom home console.

Many would not know his success with games he worked on such as Balloon Fight, NES Open Tournament Golf, EarthBound, and the Kirby franchises. As the company began to go into bankruptcy, Iwata was appointed as President of HAL in 1993 where he helped readjust the companies business strategies and stabilize the company once more into a successful company, which would strengthen the ties with Nintendo.

Let alone did Iwata help save HAL, he also helped found the company Creatures Inc., which was founded in 1995 by Tsunekazu Ishihara, which would lead to the successful titles Pokémon Gold and Silver for the Game Boy Color in the fall of 1999. While he also helped do that, many would not know that Iwata helped develop the future title Pokémon Stadium, but also helped make this possible by using code from the original Red and Green titles in order to re-work the code in order for it to function, but during this period he also created the compression tools that were used for Gold and Silver when they eventually launched on the GBC. Let alone did his legacy entail the franchises Pokémon, he was also known for some of the most popular Nintendo franchises such as Kirby, Super Smash Bros., Brain Age Games, Earthbound, Balloon Fight, but also the simple fact that he had re-innovated gaming thanks to his faith in the Nintendo DS where he would bring forth the new age of gaming where graphics didn’t matter, where games were to be enjoyed, and the fact that some franchises remain just as fresh as ever with small changes and new additions. This also made him a major hit with Nintendo, but also fans.

When looking away from his achievements as a developer, a CEO, we all know that there is a quote that Iwata-san gained our hearts with;

“On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer.” – Satoru Iwata, Former CEO of Nintendo

This quote has become a motto that Nintendo has since followed. Thus saying is one that Iwata would demonstrate with great love when working on the projects he was apart of when working with the teams at Nintendo around the world, but what is his impact with the world?

The legacy that Iwata leaves behind is one that is huge, in an instant we lost the biggest and most sincere person that could have ever been met within the gaming industry; the moment he had said, “Please understand,” it wasn’t because he was going to say something to shut the crowds up, it was because he was being sincere, loving, and truthful to the fans of Nintendo as a whole, but not just to fans. Instead he said ut to an industry as well as the world around him. When Iwata-san was around, people knew who he was, he was one of us, and someone that loved games just as much as we did regardless of graphics, regardless of console, but he enjoyed them because they were fun, creative, and enjoyable. His death has left a large hole in the hearts of the fans who loved him because of his character, his enjoyability of games, his passion, drive, and sincerity that could be seen in the Nintendo forums known as Iwata Asks.

Iwata-san was not just another suit, he was a man who was much like any of us fans of gamers no matter the graphics of games, the console that played them, or the genre. In truth, his death has impacted the world as a whole.

With my closing thoughts, I hope you take this and know, he was not a businessman, he was one of us, he was a gamer at heart, and he loved his fans just as much as they loved him.

“Iwata, you will be missed. Your legacy, creativity, love, and passion is something that shall be looked upon and remind us just how young we are in heart, as gamers, and as an industry. Your impact has truly been felt and won’t be seen for possibly decades till those who look back on you will see what you have done for us. I must truly say, my heart has broken as I feel I have lost a personal friend due to your sincerity, passion, and love that could be felt through both Iwata Ask’s and Nintendo Direct. You will be missed, you are loved, and you will be remembered for centuries.” – Dustin Murphy, President of Blast Away the Game Review

---

Satoru Iwata

– December 6th, 1959 to July 11th, 2015 –

---

About the Writer:

Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Hello,

Before I begin let us consider this a letter first and foremost. Two years ago Blast Away the Game Review started out as a mere Facebook Page, one that slowly reached 2-3 thousand reviews within its first year, but with some struggle, and even hardship, but also money none of the writers had to spend for us to get the views so we did it anyway. Unlike most places I don’t find myself on things like LinkedIn or even other places to find myself wherever I can be for professional purposes. Why? I guess I never got around to it, but that’s neither here nor there. It didn’t strike me till I got out of bed that Blast Away the Game Review will be a year old in less than 9 hours. In many ways it has just now begun to hit me in the chest with happiness, but in ways, resentment for what I’ve begun and what I continue to do. You may ask why that is, and it’s because being a writer is hard, it’s time consuming, you get to do a lot of unique things, write things you’d never thought would gain traction, but also the intoxicating satisfaction you get from just doing what you do.

Over the course of the past two years, it’s been surprising when I get to see the stats roll up on our Facebook, Google+, Twitter and even our website showing me how many readers that Devon, Sarah, and Myself have pulled in this year alone. Can you believe we’re averaging around 1-2k readers a month? That means this month alone, by August we will have averaged roughly 8.5k-9k readers in our second year, which is a lot when you are facing off against big names such as IGN, GameInformer, GameSpot, Yahoo! Entertainment, and others out there that are very well established, but also that there are small companies like ours popping up left and right as gaming begins to gain a lot of traction. The downside of this? For us it’s like walking on a thin layer of ice that is only covering a bed of blades for us to fall on, and that’s one Hell of a scary thought, but we do it anyways. No one started big, everyone started small, and some are like us – our bank accounts don’t benefit in anyway. We pay for almost everything we do, every convention we go to, every day we take off work and lose money from not having worked, but we do it simply because we love it, we love what we do, and we will continue to do so. The issue to some? You become absorbed in your work, self-centered, and even hard to be around because your work has become your hobby, your life, and everything you do; that’s not to say the team here and I don’t love what we do, but we do – it’s those around us that want stability, they want us to not think about games, deadlines, articles to be written, emails to be sent, the names we remember, the things we have queued into our heads so that we know exactly what’s coming up next versus what needs to be done now. But there is something darker in there, darker inside of us all as writers.

I can’t say that there isn’t a secret that we have slowed down from time to time, but there was sometimes something more sinister crawling inside of our skin. We wanted to quit, throw in the towel, send out the emails, and walk away to find a normal life outside of being writers. To become what we were before two years ago so that we can be watching our checkbook balances go up and down in a fluctuating dance to match our spending habits, but also the fact we grow tired, we grow irritable, we grow annoyed at times that we make no money doing what we love to do since there just isn’t a sponsor there to help bring in a paycheck for us, but there is something that brings us back every time; You. You have become one of the most important factors in why we do what we do. Not just you the reader, but you the companies we work with, the developers we have, and still have yet to meet. The games, hardware, accessories, and the individuals behind them that we want to show that their hard work has been well earned because of. The men, women, and families of those men and women that have sacrificed their time away from those individuals so that we as a community and an industry can have what we want or what we need in order to keep growing in this age of technology.

Most importantly there are a few things that need to be said before I continue on with what can be considered a rant. There are thank yous that need to be served out, while many may or may not see it, they are there, they deserve it. I can’t say my parents, my brothers, or even my closest of friends didn’t play and don’t play a huge role into this, but I have to thank someone special for their speech; Cecil Paul Metcalf. Much like an uncle to me, he gave me the encouragement, wisdom, and pep-talk I needed in order to start Blast Away the Game Review; he gave me the final nudge I needed to start chasing my dreams instead of just letting them sit there and wither away. I also want to thank our former co-founder Jesse Olvera, former founding member, Josh Turner, Aaron Johnson, Jonny Walker Red, Angie Morrison, Casey Neal Todd, Shannon Cusick, Kennard Daniel Prim, Chris Barsoum, Devon Day, and Sarah Gibson.

But I want to give one very big special thank you to someone who has been there for me to keep me motivated, trying, and more goal driven than ever in the recent months; my dad, David Murphy. Had it not been for his patience, understanding, and curiosity about gaming we wouldn’t find ourselves where we are now. Where we can go from here; the sky’s the limit.

But even with all the hard-work I put in, the website, our work, our partnerships that allow us to review games also deserve a huge thank you so I want to recognize the following companies that are helping us shape our future and continue to do so everyday. I want to thank Nintendo of America, Ubisoft, Spellbind Studios, Final Boss Entertainment, OnePR Studio, Capcom, Comcept USA, Atlus, Inc., NIS America, Mr. Tired Media, Bandai Namco, Sega and the many other and wonderful companies we have worked with and will continue to work with in the future. I also want to give a major thank you to Bethesda Zenimax, XSeed Games, Koei Tecmo, and OnePR Studios for helping us get started as our first press contacts ever. Because of you, we wouldn’t have started off as we did, and we owe you a major handshake for that. Again, thank you, and we look forward to our future works with you.

With the thank yous in order, I want to discuss what the future of Blast Away the Game Review may look like in the upcoming weeks and even months ahead.

As many of you know, we are unpaid, which in ways sucks for us, but it gives us an insight that many don’t have. In the upcoming months, we’ll be working on a new design for our logo, which means we also might look at branding T-Shirts, Hoodies, or even patches once the time comes around for it. We also look at doing more giveaways based upon reader interaction, commentary, and the likes when it comes to our Facebook page, Google+, Twitter, and even our website as this helps us get an idea of what you – our reader wants, which means we have a chance to possibly partner with the companies we work with to do a few unique giveaways. The idea of a PS4 + a game in the future sound lovely? Your help is what can make this possibility, a reality, and one that we look forward to doing in the future. However, we will cont

But in the words of my friend Stu Hrovarth of Unwinabble, “I’ll keep walking with you, as long as you want the company.”

If you want to wish us a happy birthday as a company? Feel free to contact us through our Contact Us here on our website!

---

About the Writer:

Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter @GamingAnomaly, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Join the Blast Away the Game Review Community on Facebook or Google+
Written by Dustin Murphy

---

Editor’s Note: Please note that this article does not represent us as a team and that any view points expressed within this article are purely that of the writer.

---

Kickstarter. The name for many will ring a bell of crowdfunding in order to make lifelong ambitions become true. For many this can be projects such as working on a book, taking a trip for professional studies abroad, and or simply making a game of any form, but with one thing; Backers get a piece of the experience in some form or another. Had you asked me a few years ago if Kickstarter existed, I would have said no, and it’s the simple truth; I didn’t. I wasn’t interested. Simply put? I was ignorant to anything outside of mainstream game development. I knew indie developers had a 50/50 shot to make it or break it with their title. While some lifted off, I played others that were horrible, and should never have been released. On the other side of the coin? I played games that were amazing, some of the best ever, and even out did games that I would have sworn were triple A titles. And now? We have a platform for that to happen: Kickstarter.

Kickstarter has been and seems to be the place to go for independent developers who have no backing in order to have a chance to make their game; be it tabletop in the format of board game, card game, or on screen as a video game for whatever platform the developer chooses. Over the past year we have seen some major titles make it or break it on there, one was a title I wrote about called Ashen Rift, which unfortunately did not make it, and is a title to this day I could only wish to see come to life. Over that time we have also spoken about games such as Rogue Wizards which was awarded as “Best of Show” at GDC 2015, which is amazing, and something we can only hope to see more of from independently developed games. But what is the problem with Kickstarter as of late?

The best example? Shenmue III, the game that has started this controversy, and unfortunately has broke the seams to a once amazing place to crowdsource funds for indie developers. 14 years ago, we got to experience a new legacy as Shenmue II. The game was a sequel to the highly successful open world martial arts title, that left us with a tale spun around drama, martial arts, and high-end graphics for that time. Even this day the graphics still hold up quite well, but most of all, we were given an incomplete story once Shenmue II launched on Sega’s final console the Dreamcast, and Microsoft’s first; Xbox Classic. Over the years fans began to rally and become louder, louder, and even louder for a new Shenmue title. As their noise got louder a console developer and a video game publisher by the name of Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) began to listen in. At E3 2015? We got to see just how much they had been listening when Sony’s own presenter Adam Boyles stepped out on stage to discuss the game after they  let the trailer roll. We got to see the beautiful animations and familiar faces of both Ryo Hazuki and Ling Shenhua on screen. Even with the brontide of fans trying to hold back their excitement, Sony and Yu began to discuss how the game would be funded, but somehow be published on the Sony PlayStation 4, and now it’s no secret that the game was merely a test to see what the player interested would be by using Kickstarter as its “interest test”.

So what’s so bad about this to be exact? When boiling down to the very basics of thing; it was a scam. We now know that Shenmue III already had Sony in its pocket, and they are going to be helping all the way through the games launch and post-launch requirements to ensure the game works. Yu Suzuki had known that fans would eventually find out and the most shocking part? The fact the apology came out quicker than his smile did. As originally stated by Stu Hrovarth in his article called “Bad Penny” on Unwinnable (definitely a worthwhile read), he states that the videogame industry has a silent and terrible force that has been awakening over the past few decades, and now it’s getting worse, a fandemonium created by companies, but also the fans. The prime example of this is how fans will follow the “piper’s flute, pouring money down a corporate maws, joyous, without question”, which in essence is very true once I read and went over Stu’s article several times. Quoting Stu there? Is honestly the best damn way it can be said when looking at the growing problem of consumerism as a whole.

This problem he and I are now both speaking of? Has been caused by platforms that are being abused such as Kickstarter, but also being caused by armies of fans who are unthinking, unquestioning, accepting of half-assed released games, which feature pre-order content to lure fans in, while the others are questioning, patient, and laying siege to the corporations whom don’t listen to fans, who launder their many in half-assed products, and even well placed consumerism. The problem? This will destroy the very industry we know, and this Kickstarter campaign I so quickly backed? Is a great example to this terrifying force that is exponentially worsening with every minute.

When looking at the Shenmue III setup that both Sony and and Suzuki-san used, it’s hard not to see that they wanted to know if fans were interested, something that Gio Corsi, third party director of Sony Entertainment has stated was there, and something that was most well received when they saw how fans took to the announcement of Shenmue III. In the interview session on the PlayStation Live Show, many fans would not be surprised to see both Gio Corsi being joined by Yu Suzuki to discuss the success and reception of their joint project. To pour salt on the wounds that have already been scratched open to a painful depth? Take a look at the Kickstarter project’s original information:

“The real challenge now is to deliver a sequel that we will all be satisfied with after 14 years of waiting. After much research and planning, we set the funding goal at this level believing it will make possible a fulfilling Shenmue experience.

With regards to development of the game, we have an experienced team, deeply connected with the Shenmue franchise. With modern tools, experienced professionals, and the community of Shenmue by our sides, we have set ourselves up for success.

We will do our absolute best to deliver Shenmue 3 and the rewards by their respective deadlines. However, there is always the possibility that problems may arise which could affect reward delivery. There may end up being changes in game or reward designs. We may press right when we are supposed to press left and get hilariously head butted and kneed in the groin.”

With this information it was clear that Sony was never mentioned as a form of backing, financial gain, or even a form of co-development to ensure the game would see the light of day. Instead? Backers were given the idea that Yu Suzuki would be using the funds in order to finish the game with his team, to bring it to light the question is? Just how much of a partner is Sony to Ys Net and how much of the game did they actually fund? That part will largely remain unnamed, but it does bring forth an even larger pressing matter; pre-release ordering of games that haven’t released.

For years now companies such as Amazon, GameStop, EB Games, Wal-Mart, Target, Toys ‘R Us, and many, many other stores have been a place of pre-ordering games, music, collectibles, tv shows, movies, books, comics, etc, and they have always included little bonuses for doing so. Be it a poster, a lithograph, a piece of memorabilia, and nowadays, digital content such as movies, DLC, or even free copies of the item bought through a form of digital access. It’s not unfamiliar to many fans who have purchased games such as Warner Bros. (publisher) and Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Knight, D.I.C.E.’s Battlefield 4, or even the overly troubled title by 343 known as Halo: Master Chief Collection. Fans who had pre-ordered these games, even purchased them from the get-go had one in common, and one thing that is the most deceitful piece of owning video games; a broken title that is riddled with bugs.

For months EA and D.I.C.E. battled issues with Battlefield 4 that ranged from game crashes, save corruptions, rubberbanding lag, frame rate stutters, and even other performance issues that left fans with game breaking bugs. Unfortunately, this isn’t a first in video game history since the launch of online updating for consoles. Except the most recent problems? Are on a much larger scale, even Bethesda Zenimax had a few issues with Skyrim for PlayStation 3, which left much of the game broken, bugged, and suffering rather large systematic underlying issues that kept even the long awaited DLC from launching with minor bugs. Another example as stated is the Halo: Master Chief collection that 343 Studios and Microsoft teamed up to release, and did so for the Xbox One. The issue with this one? Same ordeal as Battlefield 4. Much of the game was broken, unplayable, and even lead to some rather frustrating moments when fans wanted to go online in order to play against each other or simply play some co-op with friends across the games multiple titles within the collection. As an apology? 343 Studios and Microsoft later launched Halo 3: ODST HD Remake for the Xbox One as a free gift for early adopters as an apology. Hell, even Batman: Arkham Knight has been suffering issues of its own such as an early removal from the Steam Store due to how broken and unplayable the game was. So how has this even become acceptable? Is pre-ordering the issue or are companies getting too dependent on update systems to fix the problems that should have been found in Q&A (Quality Assurance)? The long-term answer is? Yes, we are the problem as a gaming society, we’ve caused this issue and allow for it to continue to this day at the helm of getting a few small bonus items and features from the companies will lure fans in with.

While Kickstarter is used for the right idea for many and some for pre-orders it’s time for fans to begin questioning their stance as consumers and begin deciding if they are the problem or if it’s the companies they’ve devoted their many to. If anything has taught us that we are the issue? It’s the Shenmue III Kickstarter and the failed launch of Batman: Arkham Knight on PC. Though none of these will ever be the singular titles to have bugs, issues, and even fixes that cause more problematic things to occur.

---

About the Writer:

Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter @GamingAnomaly, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.