Killing It with Jared Rea

The Beginning

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:17:38 -0400

Tonight I played my first online 1v1 game of StarCraft II ever and I won.

And then I won another

And then my boss ROFLStomped me. But that’s okay.

“Hi.” Yes, I only update my tumblr to post wrasslin’ jokes now.

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:32:57 -0400

“Hi.”

Yes, I only update my tumblr to post wrasslin’ jokes now.

trustmeimastomach: I maed dis.

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 01:43:02 -0400

trustmeimastomach:

I maed dis.

Help Me Put Halo in Order

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:49:00 -0400

This always comes as a shock to a lot of people, but it’s most definitely not a secret.. I am a huge Halo fanboy. Without shame or hesitation, I will fall upon the Chief’s energy sword in his defense. This all stems from my deep love for all things Bungie, but I’ve come to adore the Halo universe beyond one company. So whenever I see new footage or details of 343 Industries Halo 4, I get a little batty. To that end, I’m planning an epic Halo series run in preparation for the new game, only done so in chronological order as dictated by canon.

Where you come in to play is keeping this list honest. I’m a bit rusty in my Halo lore, so this list could very well have a couple of errors. Chime in with your feedback and I’ll edit it as needed. Then, as November 4 approaches, I’ll livestream this madness over on TwitchTV.

Chronological Halo Series Marathon

Not included: Halo Graphic Novel, Halo: Evolutions, Halo: Legends, Dead or Alive 4 (lolz) and some other comics I’m sure I’m forgetting. If you know where this stuff squeezes in (especially the Halo: Legends episodes), let us know!

Edits: Swapped order of Fall of Reach and Halo: Reach (Originally intended for the book to be first)

That awkward moment where the song you’ve been jamming out...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:17:36 -0400

That awkward moment where the song you’ve been jamming out to has a totally insane video.

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:37:37 -0400

Photo

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:24:21 -0400

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:03:55 -0400

Warning: Mass Effect 3 spoilers. Can this be the new ending DLC?...

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:26:20 -0400

Warning: Mass Effect 3 spoilers. Can this be the new ending DLC? Would pay a high price to see it implemented.

SOON

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:56:29 -0500

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:49:02 -0500

Behold. I have unlocked the fourth layer of yomi.

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:44:12 -0500

Behold. I have unlocked the fourth layer of yomi.

Feel Your Heart Melting

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:27:13 -0500

Question: I want to try and learn guitar this year. Is Rocksmith worth the time?

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 08:05:05 -0500

Question: I want to try and learn guitar this year. Is Rocksmith worth the time?

My Favorite Games of 2011

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:44:00 -0500

Hey guys, let’s make a deal. The headline is “MY Favorite Games of 2011.” So please do not tell me that x is missing or that I should really check out y because we’re not here to validate your opinions on things. That is the unbridled joy of no longer being a game journalist and putting together these lists. I don’t have to pretend to care about things I do not care about.

This was also a very busy year for me so there are a lot of “small” experiences on my list. If a certain game didn’t hook me immediately I would cut my losses and go back to playing iOS games on the toilet or something. There was a lot of toilet time this year.

I’d also like to say that, for the record, my 2010 Game of the Generation, Bayonetta, totally slays everything on this list. C’est la vie..

10. Batman: Arkham City (Xbox)

Let’s revisit something I wrote in 2009 about Batman: Akham Asylum-

“Arkham Asylum is a tightly wound piece of design that incorporates so many different elements and play styles that it almost feels as though it’s about to burst at any moment, yet it always remains in control with a laser-like focus.”

Arkham City is the exact opposite of its prequel. Rocksteady just sort of vomits up content at you and you’re expect to sort of catch it with a shoddy bucket. Or not. Hardly any of it is mandatory but they make sure you can’t ever forget it. Still, Arkham City is more of Rocksteady’s Batman and that’s a very good thing, it’s just also a very distracting thing that I slowly slogged my way through 20 minutes at a time.

9. Gemini Rue (PC)

This was the year I rediscovered my love for wonderfully abstract adventure titles and Joshua Nuernberger’s Gemini Rue stuck with me the longest. Its cyberpunk setting and suspenseful action sequences recalled some of the best moments of games such as Snatcher and Flashback, with a solid, intriguing plot to keep you hooked. Chances are you already bought this by accident via a Steam sale so you should go check that out.

8. Tiny Wings (iOS)

The other bird game that spawned a million clones.. Tiny Wings EVERYWHERE! On the toilet, in the car, standing on the commuter train when you only have one hand. Waiting in line for groceries, waiting for the trailers to start.. on the toilet at work. If you have 2 minutes or less to waste and you want to play an honest to god vidya game, Tiny Wings will make time for you.

7. Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP (iOS)

No one wants to make video games anymore, or at least get caught making a video game. They want to make experiences. The problem is that the word “experience” to most game developers somehow always translates to “quick-time event.” Sword & Sworcery is what a gaming “experience” should be. You cozy up in your bed, you put on your headphones and you basically shun the outside world and become immersed with the one inside your iPad. All the elements work together to create an experience that can not be emulated or recreated on any other form of traditional media. Best of all, no quick-time events.

6. Jetpack Joyride (iOS)

Halfbrick are the masters of mobile gaming. You know them best by their work on the Fruit Ninja series, but its their Barry Steakfries games that hold my interest year after year. Using the gameplay of Monster Dash as their foundation, Halfbrick powers Barry up with a customizable jet pack and all the obstacles he could ever hope to avoid. A very smart monetization and upgrade system keeps you addicted while you feverishly collect coins and slot machine tokens for your next fix. It is the iOS game I came back to the most and I still continue to play it regularly.

5. Orcs Must Die! (PC)

Let it be known that I hate tower defense games.. not because I don’t get it, but because I am positively awful at them. That said, Orcs Must Die! kept me firmly planted in my desk chair for days. What sets Orcs Must Die! apart from its tower defense cousins is the power of the player character. Armed with crossbows, swords and spells, you can make up for your poor planning with some well timed spells and headshots, all of which are extremely satisfying to perform. Now we just need a sequel with some co-op and I’ll never go outside again.

4. Saints Row: The Third (PC)

Saints Row: The Third is a game that makes me happy for a number of reasons, primarily for all the insane shit you can pull off along with the trademark humor of the series always surprising me with a laugh. But as a fan of Saints Row since the beginning, it’s great to see Volition finally, and without question, step out of the shadow of Rockstar’s GTA series with their own identity. I’d argue all their games have been better than Rockstar’s this generation, but I really don’t have to anymore. Saints Row: The Third is the proof.

3. The Binding of Isaac (PC)

Edmund McMillen is a sick dude. I think we all knew this after Super Meat Boy but the Binding of Isaac is on a whole other level. As disgusting as it is cute, however, McMillen and Himsl’s Zelda-inspired roguelike from Hell as as incredibly tight as it is infinitely replayable. I think Chris Remo said it best this year: “The Binding of Isaac has become something that I don’t just play, but something that I do.”

2. Minecraft (PC)

Oh stop, it was officially released in 2011. Minecraft is one of mankind’s greatest inventions, and I say that mostly without hyperbole. On a more personal level, Minecraft is also one of the only games I was able to play with my girlfriend and it quickly became one of the most powerful tools for expression in her artistic arsenal. I’ve seen first-hand how Minecraft can practically change lives through games and for that, it is one of my favorite games of the year. Oh, it’s also pretty fun.

1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (PC)

FUS RO DUH! I sort of hate myself for Skyrim being my favorite game of the year, but it’s also the most obvious choice. Skyrim represents the mistakes made in Oblivion, the lessons learned from Shivering Isles while bringing the best of the past (Morrowind) together with the best of their most recent efforts (Fallout 3) into one package that, for a Bethesda product, feels strangely whole. Yes, the community is still fixing massive issues with the game through mods such as the horrible PC interface (Skyrim was obviously built with consoles in minds) to massive performance increases, but out of the box it’s wholly playable in a way no other Bethesda game has ever been. For once, we are to reward them not for the promise of their titles, but for the actual execution of the product.

Honorable Mentions: King of Fighters XIII, DiRT 3, Battlefield 3, WWE All-Stars, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Bulletstorm

Favorite Songs of 2011

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:38:06 -0500

Pop trash, shoegaze, thug rap, joke rap, fish fillets and basic bitches. 2011 was a weird year for my musical tastes and instead of breaking it down on a per album basis, I’m listing the songs that stuck with me throughout the year. Spoilers: There are two Arcade Fire songs on here because I am hopelessly white and can’t help it. Also, these are in no order but if I was forced a favorite it’s a tough choice between “Niggas in Paris” and “The Suburbs.” They both make me tear up for wildly different reasons.

Yuck, “Get Away”

Summer sun says get out more
I need you, I want you

Das Racist, “Girl”

Girl — you’re really cool
Smart — that’s good at school
Pretty — you’re beautiful
And I heard you got a pool

Arcade Fire, “We Used to Wait”

Now it seems strange
How we used to wait for letters to arrive
But what’s stranger still
Is how something so small can keep you alive

Jay-Z & Kayne West, “Niggas in Paris”

What’s Gucci, my nigga?
What’s Louis, my killa?
What’s drugs, my deala?
What’s that jacket, Margiela?

Fitz and the Tantrums, “MoneyGrabber”

Blue rhinestone glass, all I see
You talking double

Cage the Elephant, “Shake Me Down”

Turn back now its time for me to let go
Way down had to find a place to lay low

Kreayshawn, “Gucci Gucci”

Bitch you ain’t no Barbie I see you work at Arby’s
Number 2, super-sized, hurry up I’m starving

Arcade Fire, “The Suburbs”

Sometimes I can’t believe it
I’m movin’ past the feeling

Peter, Bjorn and John, “Second Chance”

It’s a fraction of the whole but it’s hard to control

Nikki Minaj, “Super Bass”

He cold, he dope, he might sell coke
He always in the air, but he never fly coach

The Strokes, “Under the Cover of Darkness”

So long, my friend and adversary
I’ll wait for you

Nerds and Male Privilege - How many times have I attempted to argue this exists? Awesome article.

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:37:29 -0500

Nerds and Male Privilege - How many times have I attempted to argue this exists? Awesome article.

Sunshine, Lollipops and eSports

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:12:00 -0500

On Twitter the other day, Ultradavid said of me, “Jared isn’t even shy about having an agenda and wanting to stir things up.” That’s actually very astute as I’ve said all along throughout the great (?) fighting games as eSports debate that the only thing I’ve wanted was to have this debate out in public, in the open. All I wanted was to have key figureheads say their piece and to have the community engage with them. We’ve heard from just about everyone this year from the top players, major broadcasters and key community figures, along with eSports organizers, casters and journalists. At this point I think we’ve taken it as far as it can go and a lot of folks are starting to feel pretty tuckered out on the whole subject.

The only problem is that me simply wanting a debate is something of a half-truth. In kicking the hornets nest, I began to notice a trend amongst the responses from the fighting game community that didn’t sit too well with me.

That trend is negativity and inaction. In Tom Cannon’s article where he preaches the evils of eSports, the tone is hostile and in the end there are no solutions offered. How will we grow the scene, increase prize pools and ensure growth? I don’t know, but fuck those other guys. With over 10,000 words to his credit, Ultradavid, while striking a more positive tone for sure, doesn’t offer any solutions himself other than to stay the course. We’re going to be big and we’re going to go pro eventually, but we’re not really going to do anything different to get there. This entire debate started with the notion that we should already be as big, if not bigger than other games and that we need to figure out why that is and fix it.

Somewhere in the middle of this debate, StarCraft personality and professional player, EG iNcontroL wrote an article for TeamLiquid called “A Decent Proposal” that I encourage everyone to read. In this admittedly pie-in-the-sky article, iNcontroL preaches the power of social media, fan support and even what you can do to help encourage more and greater sponsorships in the future. It wasn’t a blueprint by any means, but even in its grandiose vision of the future of eSports, I’d consider it more positive and useful than anything produced from the other end. I know not to expect a business plan, or even a list of actionable items.

What I’m looking for is positivity.

There’s been hostility from both sides (What’s up, vVv Gaming?), but it’s not just that. The fighting game community seemingly thrives on negativity and it’s simply not a healthy way to operate. Everyone is so concerned with what they are not, what they will not and what they can not do, but not many seem willing to think of what they can and what is possible. “Fuck eSports” is not the path to growth. Even punk rock died out eventually with that attitude. The fighting game community is already known to have a certain edge to it, even seen as a bit hostile.. I don’t see the point in encouraging that perception.

I understand the fear and the outrage and yet, at the same time I don’t. Yes, change is scary and the past is a bit checkered. That part, I understand. What I don’t understand is this fear that, should the day come when Capcom inks a deal with a pro league, everything you know and hold dear will suddenly vanish. The cheers will be silenced, tournaments will cease to exist and Adam Sessler will commentate every match ever. That won’t happen because you won’t let that happen and it is your responsibility, as a community, to ensure it doesn’t. These are smart, nimble companies. Both IGN Pro League and Major League Gaming have a long history of involving and listening to communities, making sure top talent rises from players to production and catering to the audience. You are the Street Fighter audience. Without you, they will fail.

There’s this profound lack of confidence in the fighting game community that says eSports will poison the well and we’re helpless to prevent it. There’s this general notion that the eSports community is not ready for the fighting game community. Maybe so, but instead of accepting that and cowering away, that should be your badge of pride. Like a Raiders fan going to a 49ers game across the bay — it is your responsibility, as a fan, to bring the hype and show them what you’re made of. Cheer louder, cheer harder, support your game with as much ferocity as you can. There is nothing and will be nothing to prevent you from doing that. Why are we afraid of eSports poisoning the well when the opposite is just as true? As someone from the FGC, each and every eSports event I’ve attended has been something of a cultural exchange, introducing them to our quirks and idiosyncrasies and they are hungry for it. Their passion mirrors yours and there’s so much to learn from one another.

This little piece has gone on too long so I’ll just kill it here until 2012. We all agree that without Capcom, this rocket doesn’t leave orbit and we won’t know what happens until much later on. Until then, my advice for the fighting game community is this: stay positive. Stay positive, stay hungry, strive for something greater. Never settle for “good enough” and push yourselves creatively. I’m doing everything I can to encourage its growth through sponsoring events with TwitchTV and promoting the best of what is produced through promotion. It’s up to you guys to actually carry it into 2012 and beyond.

I don’t always update my Tumblr but when I do, I do it to...

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:15:20 -0500

I don’t always update my Tumblr but when I do, I do it to remind you that not all music in the 90s sucked.

I’ve been on a Jay-Z kick. Not that this is surprising at...

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:48:45 -0500

I’ve been on a Jay-Z kick. Not that this is surprising at the moment.