The list is what is considered to be Japanese games that are heavily inspired by the countries’ mythology, fictional history and the history of their culture. I was drawn in by theses games because of the inspirational background and the initial beauty and aesthetics of these games, which are probably this way, out of respect for their own culture’s beliefs and folklore. I am also interested in the fictional history.

Onimusha: Onimusha: Warlords (PS2)

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the Onimusha series heres a bit of an insight; consider the fact that there are sequels to this game that have alternate storylines. Onlimusha-Warlords is based around the game’s leading protagonist; Samaosuke Akechi, whose sole purpose is rescue Princess Yuki of the Saitō clan and annihilate the warlord Oda Nobunaga, who has been resurrected after making a deal with a demon. With his companion; Kaede, they travel throughout the Inabayama Castle to find the whereabouts of the Princess.

The Onimusha series should, in my opinion, go back to its roots with all that pre-rendered background goodness, moving on a fixed plane, which is obviously similar to the Resident evil franchise. (duhh.. same Creators)  The third-person versions of the games (both games) got old really fast. Plus I didn’t really like the lack of the puzzle solving aspects in the last installment of the series, although I can’t really argue that much because I didn’t play through most of the game.

Onimusha: Warlords Gameplay

They have been hints of reimbursing the Onimusha series. Christian Svensson; Capcom Business & strategic planner has hinted at the possibility of a reboot of both the Onimusha and Dino Crisis series – but not as likely for the DC franchise. So thankfully Capcom hasn’t forgotten the IPs. But as it stands; they aren’t literally any bright ideas to bring back the games and the narratives for that matter. After the last installment of the Oni series, Capcom has a lot to think about.

I hope they do consider the reboot of this great game but the process of forming a suitable gameplay functionality that doesn’t mimic the modern hack ‘n’ slash games (God of War, Devil May Cry, Dynasty Warriors) is going to be a hard and tedious process. There is a slight possibility that the game might even look like the past two Resident Evil games, in which the game play mechanics are focused around a third-person/ over the shoulder aspect, similar to Onimusha 4, which I despised.

Other Japanese mythological and historically inspired games from the older platforms:

Otogi (Xbox)

Otogi: Myth of Demons and Otagi 2 are other action/ hack and slash games that I had idolized.  The environments were impressive, especially that they were destructible, which was unique for the time the game was released. The Myth of Demons story is based on the main character; Raikoh’s quests for redemption and reassemble the seal that has led to the release of demons into the human world.

Otogi:MOD Gameplay

Otogi 2 Trailer (good trailer – like the soundtrack)

Genji: Dawn of the Samurai (PS2)

I had never actually played Genji: Dawn of the Samurai for the Playstation 2 but from the looks of the game, it leaves a good impression. But from reviews, the game seems too short in length which is apparently a disappointment. Genji is about the Japanese legend of the same name. The historic hero Genkuro Yoshitsune or his companion Benkei, a monk, set out on a mission to release the oppressed from forces of the tyrant warlord Kiyomori and restore the Genji dynasty to power.

Genji has actually had a release for the newest generation of consoles with Genji: Days of the Blade for the PS3. It does seem reasonable good, especially the graphics but the reviews say otherwise.

Genji PS2 Gameplay

Genji: Days of the Blade PS3 Gameplay

Okami (PS2 and now Wii)

Okami is a beautiful cell-shaded platform game inspired Japanese woodprints and Inks. The traversing of the vast landscapes comes close to comparison and equality of the Zelda games. I personally think that the game is one of the most original and creative games I’ve ever played. The story: “A darkness has fallen over the land. Unsurprisingly, it’s your task to rid the world of that darkness, which you do by taking control of Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess who has been incarnated in the shape of a white wolf.”(source-IGN-reviews)

Okami PS2 Gamplay

They are actually quite a lot of Japanese inspired games I like, but sadly there are in decline or being adapted for a more western audience for global sales.

Koei-Tecmo games are also fun if you like Japanese hack ‘n’ slash games. (Ninja Gaiden, Samurai / Dynasty Warriors)

Goo.

When there is a risk with creating original video-game content the developers offer to just remake or re-release a older more successful IP out onto the market. Why do you do this? You ask, it’s simple; nostalgia and familiarity Sells. These are your well established franchises; such as your Assassins Creed, Gear of War etc. But when it come to these specific games, the story is interpreted in many ways so that there is an option to leave an open ending, which sets it up for the sequel. The main inclinations for the publishers are that if the previous installment of the game sold substantially, why not carry on rolling in the revenue with additional installments of the game that spans the sequels across a number of games in order to complete the story.

The other variant of this is the modern remakes are what I call Nostalgia IPs. The older franchises that are catered to the nostalgia crowd are as a result of requests from the following fan-base. The game ends up being re-released or remade with updated graphics in order to fulfill the requests. Also this can be an opportunity for the publishers to win over the next generation of gamers. Whether they be the hardcore or casual gamers. Having these alternative motives can benefit the companies making them, the Mario Bros franchise is a good example of this particular cause and effect.

But which one is preferred? Reboot or Remake? If the familiarity of the classic game is re-imagined exactly the same and re-released to the same crowd. The consumers will feel as though they have been cheated into buying a game with minor changes to the original game that they have already invested a lot of time and money into. On the contrary, if the content isn’t similar to the original, there will be complaints and confusion when it comes to the initial purchases of the game. So there is symphony for the developers, they have a very awkward protocol when it comes to the reimagining of games.

That’s why they have to work closely with the community, especially the people whom the games were originally targeted for. So good use of forums and issued game beta testing is beginning to be a must for development feedback as well as distinguishing the flaws in the game.

Which one do you prefer? Reboot? or completely Remade?

Goo.

Shenmue was the pinnacle of mine and many other peoples’ gaming nostalgia. I had never played the original Shenmue and the sequel; Shenmue 2 for the Dreamcast. Although I came across the Xbox re-release of Shenmue 2 and was stunned by its now iconic open world. The series is about the protagonist; Ryo Hazuki’s quest for vengeance for his father’s murder and the significance of these two peculiar items, that hold some kind of mystical value. With the follow up to the story, I was in luck with the Xbox version because it provided a separate disk, with all of the story of the first Shenmue told through the use of all the in game film sequences (FMVs)

The Shenmue series creator Yu Suzuki has recently launched a social mini-game entitled Shenmue Cities. The game was released in Japan and for the PC and is obviously based on the series, with the inclusion of new story arks and characters, but further details haven’t been provided of late. According to Suzuki, the Shenmue series could be completed if the social game becomes exceptionally popular. It’s not set in stone but at least the hardcore fans have something to satisfy them. Also the game will apparently span across more than one game, that’s if they actually release it.

Shenmue 3 has been cancelled multiple times and I actually remember Sega releasing a S3 trailer which showed off some sort of online integration, was it true? Who knows?

I sincerely hope that Ryo will be able to finish his quest and exact revenge on Lan Di (?). If you want something similar to the franchise, the Yakuza games have been clinically compared to Shenmue and the GTA series. That’s if you have a PS3..and you don’t have a problem of importing the recent IPs; Yakuza 3 & 4.

Make the game Yu, Yu Know Yu want to. ( He does btw. )

Goo.

Here’s some Shenmue II Gameplay Footage on Xbox If you are interested:

The infamous Shenmue III Trailer:

References and Own Interpretation

(fire Stills)

FIRE in Adobe After Effects(my own interpretation)

Links to Tutorials:

Wuzzysbrand06‘s Adobe After Effects: Fire Tutorial

YouTube Channel : http://www.youtube.com/user/Wuzzysbrand06

ChadandToddPodcast’s TUTORIAL – Making FIRE in After Effects!

ChadandToddPodcast’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChadandToddPodcast

Mathew Kelly’s After Effects FIRE Tutorial (realistic fire)

VIMEO VIDEO LINK:  http://www.vimeo.com/1860130

Mathews tutorials is in my opinion, the more realistic of the three and it composites well with Live-action film. Nevertheless, all three tutorials are great to achieve the overall effect in the program. Also none of the AF plugins are required for the tutorials,which is always a plus.

But If you Do have the After Effects ‘Trapcode Particular’ Plugin, Here is another tutorial with the  adv. particle system at work:

After Effects Fire tutorial part 1

Ric’s Vids/YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/rikdevos

Check out their channels & videos of the creative lot.

Goo.

Rain Droplet Analysis / Test (working)

Rhys Works Tutorials – http://rhys-works.com

After Effects Falling Water Drop Tutorial

Rain over water tutorial part 1 – http://rhys-works.com

Go to his website or YouTube channel for parts 2 and 3.

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rhysworks

Website: http://rhys-works.com

Goo.

I’ve been working on a parody/tribute to a very old Amiga game named Terrican 3.

Instead of the Antagonist “The Machines” whom enslave the human race; all the Cats in the Galaxy are abducted. I’m not entirely sure how many people are going to get the reference. Well anyway, I am trying to recreate the Intro Sequence of the Game digitally using a combination of  Live-Action Film and Graphics, which are and will be created in these trusty adobe programs; After Effects, Premiere and Illustrator.

Here are some Screengrabs of the projects so far:

(there is still loads left to do, haven’t even started the Illustrations and Backgrounds for most of the shots. Jeez. Also in the 3rd image, the Color Bar is a placeholder for a photograph of a Cat)

As for the original -  Here:

Goo.

Words cannot express how much this game needs to be remade or re-released. Even creating an entirely new IP (Intellectual Property) based off its narrative.

Just LISTEN and WATCH.

(CC World Map)

Chrono Cross (game intro sequence)

Gameplay Demo.

Some of my favorite soundtracks from the game:

Dream of the Shore Near Another World

Voyage

Plains of Time

there’s a few others as well; Scars of Time, Radical Dreamers and Chronopolis.

With a cult following, a great soundtrack and a prestigious development company to back it up, it will flourish.  It deserves to be put under a new light. The Final fantasy series; in my eyes is a dying franchise, so if this is the era for the reboots, the answer is staring SquareEnix in the face.

Goo.

Seen as though the concept of Trading In games has become an integral part of purchasing games, I think I might actually get rid of the games that I either haven’t played in a while or have completely lost Interest in. Only one game comes to mind and it is quite funny to say it’s COD: Modern Warfare.

The lack of community support for the game has in my opinion ruined a fairly good game. So that is why I sincerely hope the developers at Treyarch (COD:Black Ops) are more supportive when it comes to user feedback. I’m guessing that my opinions don’t differ from the opinions of the other probably 10 million game owners. That’s if they actually play the online multiplayer, which the majority solely does. MW2 was one of the eminent bestselling games of 2009, it didn’t fail to impress and frustrate us, but it will be solely missed, that’s until its replacement comes along. Therefore starting off the vicious circle once more.

Trade In

Currently as more games are actually being bought as a result of Trading In older ones. The games are credited to a data credit check to check its worth; including the deductions in price and tax. Inevitably the game development companies are effected by this because the resale of their product (pre-owned games) doesn’t actually register to them as an initial purchase. So it doesn’t count as a sale, which as a result compromises the developer’s revenue for the games. The Game Overthinker explains it perfectly, that the development companies don’t actually benefit for the games that they make that are previously owned and traded in. So the best thing to do to help the games industry is to prioritize in buying brand new games when possible from preferably indie stores. He outline a revolutionary guide for gamers to actually make a difference to the nature of how new games are made and released out onto the market.

link site: http://screwattack.com/videos/TGO-Episode-41-The-Revolution

link video: http://v.giantrealm.com/saf/272828ab50091da6eb1ae85133def12ae9a44eb4

Until the mainstream games stores have a functional trading in system where the developers benefit from re-sales, only the retailer’s end up benefiting from the flawed system.

Goo.

Gooster – A Machete Tribute

(Its the Grindhouse fake trailer- “Machete”. But I have superimposed my face onto Machete’s star role Danny Trejo. Its only the last 20 seconds of the trailer because of the painstakingly hard masking I had to do for some of the shots. I also created the grindhouse intro at the start of the short, but with a different animated background. Most if not all was done in After Effects.)

cD

(In this short I basically just wanted to experiment with the After Effects’ Timewarp effects. RAM was a big issue and the fact that my notebook isn’t as reliable as it used to be. I could only reduce the speed 50% for the pouring slow-mo bit without my comp crashing. The music is composed by an awesome instrumental band- “God is a Astronaut” And the track name is “Lost Kingdom”.)
Strobe Trees & Trees Again

(In Strobe Trees I filming a sunset from inside the house, with a very low shutter speed. So it strobes quite a bit. In Trees again, I did the something quite similiar. I zoomed into the horizon outside and used a different filter and color corrections. After Effects has amazing features regarding video and color correction. Music used: Andy Mckee’s “Ebon Coast” and Don Ross’s “Elevation Music”.)

Thanks for viewing and byeee,

Goo.

Video Copilot: http://www.videocopilot.net/

(amazing After Effects tutorials and resources)

Creative Cow: http://www.creativecow.net/

(All manner of tutorials for a lot of programs)

Lynda and Gnomon sites: http://www.lynda.com/

http://www.thegnomonworkshop.com/

(There are a few free tutorials available on the sites, but the content is though rough in all aspects if purchased)

Adobe site: http://www.adobe.com/training/

(Adobe’s official website has great support and training for adobe users)

Youtube: www.youtube.com (no need to explain this internet phenomenon and no-doubt you already know this if you’re interested in motion graphics or remotely anything computer related)

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A few examples of Goo’s work

And finally, here are a few examples of my work; they are far from being masterpieces but they are reasonably good. I like to make up random Logo Names and Idents to use a basis for creating things in After Effects and Illustrator. Also I’m currently thinking of a film company name and layout for a friend, hence the recurrence of the word “Film”.

(Follow the link to watch the Idents in motion: (animated in after effects)

Goo.