'Guru' - The E-Mag For Hardcore Gamers!

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Garth
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Post'Guru' - The E-Mag For Hardcore Gamers!
by Garth » Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:02 pm

da_mighty_lizzimba wrote:'GURU' - THE NEW GR E-MAG!



Hi there!


The Games Guru Competition for 2007 is nearly at a close, but as the final task for the group, I charged them with different assignments designed to form together into one vision - a new E-mag called 'Guru'.

Eventually, four of these six writers will be voted by their peers to appear in the GGGCV Final next week, but the reason I have posted it in a separate thread is I want opinions on the quality of the e-mag in general - so please take the time to take a look at it and see what you think, and then comment.

It would mean a lot to six of the most passionate gamers on GR. They have done fantastically considering their assignments were given totally at random.


Thanks in advance for any comment, and happy reading!


- DML


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dodgy_dave wrote:
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(

It’s been a week of spin, defamation and corporate trickery but last weeks’ ‘rebirth’ of E3 was one hell of a mixed bag. Gone were the iconic E3 babes, gone were the earth-shattering announcements and in were some fairly lacklustre conferences from the three industry bigwigs. Whilst many people praised Microsoft’s alternate approach at focussing purely on what games consumers would be able get their hands on this year many people questioned whether that was purely due to a lack of games for 2008. Coupled with Peter Moore’s sharp exit on top of the reported 1.9billion dollar cost to extend to extend the Xbox 360 warranty the more cynical amongst us started to ask whether Microsoft (the leader of this new generation don’t forget) were falling apart at the seams. For the sake of the industry let’s hope not. Elsewhere in the show Sony rather embarrassingly decided to use their upcoming PSN software Home to present their conference whilst Nintendo chose to focus mainly on sales figures before unveiling their brand new hardware innovation Wii F... wait, why am I spoiling it all here?? Just flick a few pages over to our huge E3 feature!

Elsewhere in the mag you’ll be able to read our thoughts on Hotel Dusk, Nintendo’s latest film-noir style thriller for DS as well as hear our opinions on the Angry Video Game Nerd, the average albeit slightly geeky kid turned industry-celeb. We also take a look at video game customisation for the Facebook generation (be our friend! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2218932785) and how it can turn an otherwise normal game into an obsession. From putting stickers on your Mega Drive in the early 90’s to placing over 4000 layers of graphic onto each individual car in Forza Motorsport 2 it’s easy to see how individuality has become more and more important to today’s gamer.

And of course it just wouldn’t be right to go to press without mentioning this years’ GamesRadar Games Guru Competition. To celebrate the fifth edition of the contest we’ve put together a History of GGGC, a look through time at the laughs and the tears provided by the momentous competition.

And that’s your lot for this edition of GURU. Enjoy it? Didn’t enjoy it? Drop us an e-mail to let us know what you thought or just to have a rant about games in general and each month we’ll print the ones that stood out from the crowd. Who knows, maybe it’ll be you who gets their fifteen minutes of fame.

Until next time, d_d out.

dodgy_dave
EDITOR




!Deadpool! wrote:E3 Extravaganza!

E3 has long been the cornerstone of the games industry, a huge and extravagant showcase of the finest that the gaming world has to offer. We need only look at the past to see this, such great games as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Halo: Combat Evolved have debuted at the show, to the delight of journalists and critics in attendance. But this year, the E3 show has gone back to basics. Gone are the light shows, Miyamoto dressed as Link and the delectable "Booth Babes," and back are the no-nonsense, strictly games shows of old. As usual, the main aspects of the show were the conferences held by the big three. So here's a round up of the conferences:

NINTENDO
With the Wii being praised for it's innovating and fresh approach to this generation of games, Nintendo's conference focused on debuting several new peripherals for the console. The Wii Wheel was shown as an add on for Mario Kart Wii, which was also announced at the show. The wheel is small and easy to manouevre, but seems rather flimsy, and not well suited to the fast paced and manic racing style that is the trademark of the Mario Kart series.

The Wii Zapper, a spiritual successor to it's namesake, the NES Zapper, was also shown off, and it's revised design was revealed.The Wii nunchuk will fit into the back of the Zapper, making it's appearance like that of a Submachine Gun. The Zapper will be used for upcoming games such as Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, and Ghost Squad.

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Zap dem bugs! Zap em all!

The third peripheral shown off by Nintendo was the Wii Balance board. An odd peripheral, akin to a pair of household scales, the Balance Board is for use with Wii Fitness, a game close to my fat little heart. The scales will measure the user's weight and body mass index. Hilariously, an "American size" version of the Board is being considered for North America. Surely they're not all that big?

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Lose some weight, fatty!

Games were also high on Nintendo's agenda, as they showed off several large first party franchises. Mario Galaxy was shown in a video, and has been pencilled in for release on November 12th of this year in America. Metroid Prime was also shown, in near release form. An interesting puzzle game in development for both the Wii and the DS was shown, named DeBlob. The premise of the game is that the player controls the character of deBlob, "splashing" buildings with paint and therefore returning their colours.

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Best in show: Mario Galaxy

OVERALL VIEW: The big franchises look good, but the peripherals aren't particularly impressive. Above Average.

SONY
Sony's big announcement for E3 was that the 60GB Playstation 3 would be recieving a $100 price cut in the US, and a new 80GB unit will be introduced packaged with Motorstorm and retailing at $600, replacing the 60GB model. This cut will not be in effect in the UK though, which is unfortunate. Miserable sods, Sony are.

The other major hardware announcement from Sony's conference was the PSP's impending redesign. It will be slimmer, more compact and easier to use and carry, and was demonstrated during the conference.

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Will it look bigger and better?

On the games front, Sony did not disappoint, revealing Silent Hill 5 via teaser trailer during their conference, which should please horror fans everywhere. Elsewhere, Burnout Paradise was demoed, and is looking very easy on the eye, as was Killzone 2 and Ratchet and Clank: Future. The much anticipated Killzone is looking mighty nice, and hopefully will be a massive improvement on it's predecessor. And speaking of anticipated games, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was shown in video form, as were Gran Turismo 5 and Resident Evil 5. Resi 5 in particular was interesting, set in what looks to be an African town, with the protagonist being cornered by it's residents. This should prove to be an exciting prospect for fans of the Resident Evil Series.

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Best in show: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

OVERALL VIEW: The 80GB PS3 was met with indifference, but the PSP redesign has been welcomed. However, the most important part of the conference, the games, was all there. Looks pretty good.


MICROSOFT

Microsoft announced that the world famous Disney cartoon movies would be making their way to the XBOX video service, which is good news for fans of the classic films. This is sure to give the Live service a boost, with the possibility of more quality movies than ever on the service.

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w00t! Cartoons!

Microsoft have released details of the XBox 360 Elite's release in Europe, it will be released on August 4th for £329.99 in the UK.

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Are you Elite enough for the XBox 360?

A big piece of Microsoft news was that Gears of War will be ported to Windows Vista, with five brand new chapters. This was met with a lukewarm response from owners of the XBox360 version, as many are expecting these chapters to become available on the Live download service at no extra charge. Time will tell if this will be the case, but it's doubtful that Epic could get away with charging for content included in the PC version's price.

Microsoft's flagship Halo 3 title was demoed, along with a video for it's sister game Halo Wars, an RTS version of the Halo series. Halo 3 itself continues to look impressive, and the game is schduled for release at the end of September. Looking good!

Several other exciting titles were demoed by Microsoft, including Mass Effect, and Bioshock, both of which were looking decent. Rock Band was shown off by the company as well, with all of the new instruments being demoed as a live song was played on stage. This was a very good demo, showing off the multiplayer and co-operative aspects of the game.

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Best in show: Rock Band

OVERALL VIEW: A decent conference, very similar to both of the other companies'.


My overall view of the conference is that it's a great year to be a gamer. The big three companies flexed their proverbial muscles and showed off some very impressive games. Sony showed off MGS4, Resident Evil 5 and Killzone 2, Nintendo pulled their rabbits out of their hat with Metroid Prime 3 and Mario: Galaxy, and Microsoft did the business with Mass Effect, Bioshock and Rock Band shown off for the XBox 360. Roll on the winter months, where we'll all be curled up with a controller(or Wii-mote!) in our hands, and a bagful of AAA games in our consoles!



Drumstick wrote:The Evolution of Customisation

Thanks to the ever increasing levels of customisation available in games it has now been made possible for many around the globe to create their own games without getting into the games industry itself. Be it via modifying the actual code of a game, or just personalising an existing game to get the maximum amount of enjoyment from it. In the last decade in particular, gaming has been revolutionised in many respects, one of those being customisation. You now have almost complete control over every aspect of your gaming experience – almost everything in games is now fully customisable! Customisation can now be found in almost every genre, whether you're looking for it or not, it's there.

For instance, in FPS games you have a great wealth of options, almost everything is customisable! Levels, weapons, match types, essentially you decide exactly how the game will play out – whether it be a quick and explosive game on King of the Hill; a decidedly slow and tactical affair of Capture the Flag; or your fast paced race to a predetermined kill count. It all helps to make a tense, atmospheric and crucially a tactically fun game. It's everywhere, in every genre.

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Goldeneye – the original ultimate multiplayer experience.

Let's take a less obvious example, soundtracks. How many games now feature generic track listings with no original music being created especially for the game and being attributable to it? In recent years; this has unfortunately been on the rise. Perhaps a good example of this would be the Burnout series. Some enthusiasts claim the series lost its sparkle with the third installment, Takedown, and instead their preference usually lies with the preceding game in the series, Point of Impact. Perhaps on a first glance a soundtrack isn't the first thing you'd take into consideration, but it helps establish an identity the game can claim as its own. Just try and compare the lush sounds of Big Surf Grove and Sunrise Valley to Takedown's 'EA Trax'. In fact many of Point of Impact's race tracks have unique soundtracks that give an even greater feel for the location: coastal roads are filled with sounds that coincide with surfing and electric guitars, whereas city circuits usually have fast-paced, techno-based music.

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Big Surf Grove, how we miss you.

Creating your very own personally designed player for any given game has been possible for a long time now. Way back just after the launch of the fabled Nintendo 64 when WWF Warzone was released - it came with one of the first fully intuitive Create a Wrestler systems, which was then built upon in its various sequels and then the Smackdown series that featured heavily on the Playstation 2 after it. Look at today's example, Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 which is the latest in the series. Its Create a Wrestler is the most expansive and complex yet seen in a wrestling game, even ousting the behemoth of a system included in Day of Reckoning 2. While Warzone's system only allowed for limited options, like only be able to take on entire move sets of one character, now you can choose any move possible which is applicable to your character's weight zone. Another example, instead of merely choosing a specific face, you can customise the exact look of your character's facial structure to perfection, even to the point when you can create a pixel perfect version of anyone of your choosing. Got a grudge against someone? Perfect! Simply create them and start taking your frustration out on them in the ring. You can also create your own entrance complete with instantaneous previews even when you make an alteration, and specifically set the timing for camera angles, pyrotechnics and various other effects.

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See how accurate CM Punk looks?

No feature on customisation would be complete without at least a glance into the world of game modifications. Mods are generally made for the public, by the public; essentially after some practice coding you could well be looking at completely changing the way a game looks, replacing enemies, weapons, vehicles and just about any other interactive element confined within a game. One of the most well known mods is Garry's Mod. Implemented for Half Life 2; it enables the player to completely manipulate the objects and features of the Source engine except for the background features. It can also be used as map editing tool when used in conjunction with Valve's proprietary editing software Hammer which allows you to add items, and encourages users to interact with their map.

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The utterly sublime Half Life 2 – along with Garry's mod on the right.

Of course, mods have been used in various other ways, one example being the Hot Coffee incident concerning Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – a player hacked around the original code to reveal the hidden game which was mistakenly left in by publishers Rockstar. In the original version of San Andreas, all you will see is an exterior view of the protagonist's girlfriend's house while hearing muffled voices. However, the Hot Coffee modification replaces this portion of the game with a minigame which allows the player to actually enter the girlfriend's bedroom and control what happens thereafter.

And with the dawn of the new generation developers were still conceptualising new forms of customisation. The Xbox 360's Dashboard feature enables you to download new gamer pictures and entire themes to the system's hard drive, allowing you to alter your gamer profile to your own precise specifications. The console's exterior also allows for the default white faceplate to be replaced with something perhaps more stylish, trendy or a design depicting your favourite game appearing on the system. While faceplates are a mostly aesthetical pleasure – they can also serve other purposes including protection for the DVD tray and memory slots.

Yes, customisation has come a long way in recent years – and more importantly – it doesn't look like slowing down any time soon. Which leaves the question: what else can be done?



Clarkman wrote:‘Angry’ Gamers – Scourge of the industry?


Stereotypes surround the gaming industry. These ‘barriers’ are being broken down, but it’s time that will have to heal the wounds that they’ve caused us. The disintegration of ‘The Angry Gamer’ may be one of these stereotypes that takes the most patience to see the back of. While some could argue they’re a scourge on the industry, to label them as a united body would be somewhat ignorant.

Halo 2 – A multiplayer triumph in gaming, yet home to some of the most hated players. Who cares about pirates when you have foul mouthed American kids heckling your headshots? It could be said that Bungie’s masterpiece has been ruined by the angry gamers. They are frowned upon, disowned by communities; but what could be the cause for this built up hate in the ruffians?
The answer has little to do with videogames – That’s for certain. Though concerned parents would like to lead you to believe that the negative impacts videogames can have (like addiction and irritability), are the sole cause of this blotch on our moral hygiene, they’re simply passing the blame off real cause of the children’s indignation: bad parenting.
Choosing to supply minors with software beyond the suitability of their years, the parents open up a portal of behavioural disorder. Exposing children to violence and bloodshed, in whatever context, be it home life or the media, will leave torment. As videogames secure a place in mainstream entertainment, they’ve become a scapegoat for these parents. Studying themselves on the philosophy that interaction equates to a higher level of exposure, they happily lead a crusade against our hobby.
While most are ignorant, some standout to lead: Jack Thompson is one of many concerned parents, however, Jack has developed and unhealthy vendetta, not against gamers, but against his countrymen. Eager to point out flaws in parenting, the generation of gamers weaned on the foundations of our hobby rebel, they are, as Jack likes to call them, the Pixelanties. While they may point out flaws in Jack’s theories, they’re also willing to co-operate, unlike the current generation of videogamers, who take it upon themselves to fit Jack’s stereotype of all that is wrong with gaming, mindlessly wrecking any attempts made to better our treatment in the eyes of the world.
Though it may seem illogical at first, the ‘Angry’ gamers are rebelling against the stereotype they create for themselves. It’s a circle of hypocrisy and until parents start acting and taking responsibility for their children’s behaviour, the cycle cannot be broken.
Are ‘Angry’ gamers all children though? In the sense of those people who ruin online play, they DO make up the majority. If not children, they’re young adolescents, misinterpreting the meaning of games. In this case, it’s not the fault of parents, but the gamers, for being so damn stupid. It’s hard to pity them. Luckily, most can overlook these men as lunatics.

Gamers, on the whole, are unaware of our uniting bond. A depressing truth that we’re all aware of, at least subliminally; that while is constantly in place, is seemingly always overlooked: gamers are never satisfied.
Satisfaction comes to us through things which are ‘new’ and ‘shiny’. Before a game is even released, we long for the sequel, begging producers to push for more. Few of these people can pick out their ‘favourite game’, in fear of it being surpassed and having their emotions distorted.
Anger is built up towards to systems that provide our entertainment. Rivalries emerge; people willingly assign themselves roles in great battles between companies. Though gamers have little affiliation with the corporation, the love they feel for the experiences they’ve provided them are enough for them to fight their cause. This fighting is done over the great playing field that is, the internet.
Anger seems to be much more willingly expressed when there is minimal risk. The internet offers a medium for conveying this twisted emotion vividly. Expressing the sentiments of hate and putrid loathing through words becomes its own cliquey language. How many other forms of media require words made specifically to insult?
These cyber ruffians again fit their stereotypes of geeks, sat in huddled masses over keyboards venting their frustration at innocent n00bs. The cycle theory is again put in place.

So, is there a solution to ridding ourselves of ‘The Angry Gamer’? But of course! Finding and successfully monitoring them as much as possible. Combine this with a new generation of gamers brought up by parents who appreciate the hobby (even art form), and we could see the demolition of extremists.

Counter acting the anger is a new theory. Seeing the rise of ‘The non-gamer’, a great rival to ‘The Angry Gamer’, is like witnessing a battle of good and evil. Combat Guns with Dogs. Bombs with fishing. Controllers with remotes.
This theory remains unproved, but it shows that even within the industry there’s an urgency to discredit the stereotypes.

When you look at titles like ‘Bully’- it’s hard to imagine they’ve been created by anyone other than ‘Angry Gamers’. Of course, that’s only looking at the titles. Inside the industry, are people with passion for their work. Urging you not to discredit their art, not to judge the interactive books by their covers. They want nothing more than to provide memorable and timeless experiences, making their games renowned as marvellous, wonderful and magnificent. If some idiots wish to buy for the wrong cause, then so be it. As long as the games are enjoyed, the producers have fulfilled their goal.

To conclude – ‘Gamers’ no longer just experience anger at being stuck on a puzzle; they’re forming rivalries built on new technology: enabling them to show emotion on a widespread and damaging level. They’re causing a schism within the industry. As responsible and dedicated gamers, it should become our duty to stamp out the boundaries between us. There are solutions. Some simple: ‘Don’t feed the troll’, some from the industry itself, some from a certain lawyer. Most however, may as well have come from a certain un-dead carpenter.
I’ll leave you with an example we could all do well to avoid – The epitome of the angry gamer. A little German, who once was loading Unreal:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kBVmfIUR1DA



NovaStorm wrote:Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (Nintendo DS)


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Hotel Dusk is a place full of dark secrets. It is up to the protagonist of this story, ex-cop Kyle Hyde, to find out the truth behind the characters of this shady place. He knows none of the people who stay within its walls on New Year’s Eve of 1979, however, each person’s story is intrinsically linked to each others and ultimately to Hyde’s. The games foundation is on its gritty storyline, a mass of lies, deceit and secrets. It has puzzles of the kind that were found in Cing’s Another Code, but the storyline takes priority. It is more of an illustrated, interactive book than a game but rather than being a negative thing, what we have here is a compelling piece of crime fiction that you will be eager to see out from start to finish.

The game is played throughout with the DS on its side; the top screen becomes the 3D viewpoint of Hyde and the touch screen controls his movement, puzzle solving and other interactive elements. Gameplay is very straightforward; simply approach the person or area of interest and tap the talk or search option. There will be a number of items you must use at certain points, but again these are fairly simplistic. Despite the ability to get game overs at certain points, you are guided through the game for the most part. If you have been paying enough attention to the story, you should get the answers right, even at the most critical parts of the game.

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The answers don't just present themselves, you have to look!

The Point-and-click genre is the closest parallel to a book in gaming and so the importance of a good story is paramount. Thankfully, this is where Hotel Dusk really shines. It adopts a film noir style, creating a tense and enigmatic atmosphere. Initially, the hotel seems innocent enough, but you soon discover that all is not as it claims to be and the secrets you uncover all have an eerie link. Added to the background story and the conversations you will have, most objects you click on will be accompanied with a witty caption from Hyde, which is a nice touch. The story is fantastically written, which is a credit in an industry where the textual content is not normally praised, and is absorbing, if a little longwinded at times.

What makes the story so much more believable is the intriguing characters. Hyde himself is a complex character. Whilst initially portrayed as someone to dislike, you will begin to empathise with him and see his more positive qualities as the story develops. Each character has an intriguing, complex set of emotions and secrets that intertwine with the others. Each character responds to Hyde differently too. Some are polite, some are rude and some are intrusive, but none are generic. You will find yourself developing an opinion of each character, judging them and empathising with them. Ultimately, you will care about them, and that is saying something for a video game.

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Some characters are charming, some are rude. Which is she?

There are a number of puzzles which you must solve, offering a break in the dialogue. The puzzles use all manner of rewarding DS controls, including one that uses the hardware in a particularly interesting way. They may have you stumped for a little while, but, by and large, you won’t be troubled by them too much. These are interesting additions that break up the reading sections well and only make the game better.
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Puzzles range from simply opening a suitcase to more challenging experiences

Another area which ticks the box is in the graphics department: They are superb. The 3D graphics of Kyle’s viewpoint are basic but effective and the 2D map on the touch screen is also perfect for its function. Where the game really comes alive though is with the character designs. Each character is presented in hand drawn style, and they have a number of different reactions and animations. The graphic artists behind the game have done an excellent job in giving the characters ‘life’, allowing the artwork to pulse somewhat, so that the character designs appear to be in motion, even when they are idle. It is superb and suits the game’s genre and foundation perfectly.

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The graphical style is unique and beautifully compliments the style of the game

Sound-wise, the game does its job well. The jazzy, ‘shopping centre-music’ style of the hotel whilst exploring contrasts interestingly with the more dark nature of the plot, creating an almost eerie feeling, creating the sense that the hotel is under the guise of normality whilst you reveal what is really going on. The shifts of music, especially where the more serious moments are concerned, fit the mood well.

There are, of course, flaws which present themselves throughout the experience. The game itself is quite linear in nature. You can collect some items before you need them but for the most part the next part of the game makes itself manifest to you. Frustratingly, if you want to complete a different objective to the one the game wants you to, you will find that the person you want to speak to is strangely out or the item is unusable at the time. Also, Hyde recaps his findings at the end of each chapter, which whilst a solid concept, is done in a slightly monotonous manner, using a very basic quiz system to keep you paying attention. You may well find yourself just tapping the screen to skip as much as possible and get on to the next section of the story.

Despite such flaws, however, Hotel Dusk is a game that takes advantage of the hardware at hand to blend a compelling plot with fascinating characters and interesting puzzles. The DS has brought in new genres but has also revitalised old ones and this game takes full advantage of it. It is a different experience, and ultimately, an immersive one. Anyone who dismisses the game due to its genre is missing out on a thoroughly enjoyable mystery indeed.

8/10




Dalagonash wrote:And what is GGGC?

First thing first, this delightful magazine (Guru) would not exist if it wasn’t for this competition (GGGC) and as such, this topic is held close to Guru’s heart as an important feature of its creation.

The first ingredient required for any GGGC is the almighty Ben Justice, or da_mighty_lizzimba as you may know him. A resident of Cowplain, Hampshire, he has had an illustrious educational career including his recent teachings in the methods of animation at the arts institute of Bournemouth. DML, as he is commonly known, has run three previous GGGCs as well as a menagerie of other forum games including the epic ‘are you a werewolf?’

The second ingredient would be the challenges, ranging from the typical gaming quizzes to the polls of doom! To Blockbusters, GGGC has tested everything from pure gaming knowledge to writing ability to that inner game designer. GGGC has had tasks relevant to the here and now of gaming as well as some that hark back to an age gone by. These challenges have etched themselves in the minds of those that compete, with certain people being synonymous with certain challenges, such as plastic coated with the polls (where everyone suggests answers to questions, with duplicate answers being removed and the individual answers being put to the polls) and Invincible and Raze with Blockbusters.

And the Third? That would be the contestants and to name them all would take an age, but they know who they are, whether they went out in the first round, through non submittal or have taken it all the way to the end, the contestants make a GGGC worth running and competing in. From the arguments, falling out, brutal disappointment and elated joy at victory, the contestants stand strong as Guru material.

In a special exclusive, Guru has managed to receive comments from GGGC I and II champion, Invincible (who walked out of GGGC V, shocking tens of people) and Orochimaru (also known as Raze) the champion of GGGC IV. Unfortunately, the surprise winner of GGGC III, Falcon, was not available for comment.

When asked about his victory, Vince said that, ‘Winning the 1st ever GGGC was an amazing experience. From what I can remember, I was always being referred to as a total outsider, at no point was I considered a real contender to actually win.’ And win he did, securing two GGGC victories, but ever the modest champion Vince has said, ‘throughout all the GGGC competitions that I've taken part in, I've had more highs from competing than actually winning’. Vince also reminisced upon his epic battle of Blockbusters in GGGC III against future winner Raze, as well as the creation of the Snap DS which made worldwide gaming news due to being so brilliantly designed, ‘definitely one of my favourite moments, where the influence of GGGC was felt around the world. Amazing!’

Upon contacting Orochimaru, he was slightly less vocal than the slightly eccentric Vince, but he was appy enough to comment on his victory, ‘There's only one thing I can say to sum up my feelings on becoming Guru. In the words of our absent extra terrestrial friend; I felt more alive than a baby priest.’ Orocimaru also presented us with his favourite GGGC rounds, ‘Rounds of note: Blockbusters with 'vince was amazing in GGGC 3, as was the final of 4 with rinks. And that round where we had to move the puppies around.’

As I’m sure you can see from these two landmark competitors, GGGC has its fans. While the competition hit rocky ground in recent years after a brief flirt with Press Start forums, the return to Games Radar has seen new life injected into the competition, with new competitors and new styles of rounds (such as music identification). The future of GGGC is secured in the hearts of its faithful competitors, and they should know that even if you get knocked out, you are part of the elite that take part in the most gruelling Gaming test in the world. The Games Guru World Cup.



Dalagonash wrote:Letterbox

Letters are nice; they make Guru feel loved. Here are the latest and greatest from our adoring fans.

STAR LETTER!

Dear Guru

Today I sat down with my Xbox 360 wireless controller and had a browse through the Xbox LIVE marketplace. I stumbled upon the latest games to hit the Arcade. I then began to wonder about downloadable content and what it's doing to our industry. On the one hand, it brings us media much faster and obviously saves on packaging etc. However, I find myself at a loose end. I am the type of gamer who likes to collect games and proudly display them on my shelf, and can't bring myself to download/buy any gaming media without it coming in a box?

Please tell me I'm not alone Guru.

Yours

Fred Flintstone
Bedrock

-Of course you are not alone Fred, many people prefer the tangible feel of a DVD case, and the smooth slide of disc into tray, but it is obvious that downloadable content is become a larger slice of the industry pie. Naturally, it has pros and cons like all things in life, the downloadable content is normally cheaper and does a lot to prevent the resale of ‘pre owned’ merchandise which is an obvious blight on the gaming industry, but it also comes with the Hard Drive space requirement (we’re looking at you Oblivion content) and of course, the fear lack of any real tangible content. That said, you shouldn’t feel shy about downloading it, there are some cracking titles on the live arcade for your coppers, but you are not alone with your worries.
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A thing of the past?
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-Guru

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I really can't understand the negativity so many are showing towards Nintendo and Wii Fit. The 'Nintendo are destroying our hobby!' comments come across to me as childish and selfish, as though games not necessarily suited to these gamers aren't allowed to exist. And how is Nintendo exactly turning away from its fanbase? Do games like Super Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros Melee, Zelda Phantom Hourglass etc. not show that they're still tailored towards gamers? It's not as if Wii Fit or Big Brain Academy suddenly stop the more traditional games existing.
The Wii hasn't had a slew of games, I'll admit that, but regardless of whether you're a granny or a super hardcore gamer, good times are ahead for the console as far as I'm concerned.

James Reid, Swansea

-Your correct that the Wii has some stunners on the way, but does it not strike you as odd that in an important press conference, Super Smash Bros Brawl received fifteen seconds of screen time while Metroid got played by a gamer with about as much skill as a drunk Jack Thompson? Nintendo’s focus is shifting. That said, Wii Fit does look entertaining but, as the people here at Guru are saying, how much of a game is it? If that pressure pad is used in other games then sure we will be happy with it but, be honest now, who still plays Brain Training daily? We know Wii Fit will be an entertaining piece of kit but we have our reservations as to whether it will be as captivating as a Miyamoto game should be.
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The Wii balance board, single game gimmick or game controller innovation? (1080 would rock!)

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Dear Guru,

Regarding the Manhunt 2 debacle, wouldn't you agree with girl gamers like me that we should have more videogames and less videoshames?

Yours respectfully, etc.

Rhianne Actionary.

-A very short and sweet letter Rhianne and yes, we think there should be more videogames and less videoshames. Manhunt 2 being banned should show developers that just because you can put it in a game, it shouldn’t be done for the sake of putting it there. Unfortunately, the staff here at Guru have not been able to experience Manhunt 2 firsthand and as such can’t offer a true opinion, but needless to say it should open more developers eyes to the side affects of including gratuitous scenes in their games.

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Dud of the Month

Dear Guru

I loved your recent article showing why 360 is the real next gen.

I recently got my own 360 and I have to say I agree with you.

360 has got the most mind blowing graphics ever and you are right in saying those others are never going to be able to do what 360 does.

Finally, I really liked your article on "Criminal activities in a 3d world with loose women" - you showed why that can only be done properly on 360 because of its clearly superior unspecified technology.

Keep doing the good work.

Cheers,

Kevin T from Cornwall.

-Unfortunately, we don’t know what happened here! Guru tries to be as well rounded and un-bias as possible but it appears some of Bill’s money slipped into !Deadpool!’s pocket while he was penning the console war article last issue. We are not saying the 360 is a bad choice, far from it, we are just defending the honour of our staff! Apart from !Deadpool!, he will be receiving a slap with a wet fish. Please send any additional wet fish to the usual address.
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He must be punished, send us some fish![/img]

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