- MarkBOSS

www.youtube.com/markb0ss

www.gamers-unite.com

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Garvaos talks with Will Curley about the new exciting title from Tecmo Koei- Fist of the North Star.

Mark Boss talks with Tyrone Walcott about the new features on NMH2 and its possible future on other consoles.

- MarkBOSS

www.youtube.com/markb0ss

www.gamers-unite.com

www.twitter.com/markb0ss

Yup, here is mine. Arrived the other day. But this isn't the game I actually want to play.

As you’ve probably guessed, the real game I got this for is Halo: Reach. Yup, the beta is out next Monday May 3rd, and I CAN NOT WAIT.

I really like the gritty look of Reach, plus hey, everyone loves jetpacks. Halo 3 is STILL one of the most played multiplayer games on Live, and I myself can account for that. It’s a ballad of vibrant eye poptitude coupled with explosions and badass vehicles.

One of my faves is Sand trap on Big Team with several friends and the Mortal Kombat soundtrack on in the background. A great Sunday game.

My first experience of H3 came when the beta was released back in May 16th 2007 alongside Crackdown. I myself had just got in during the last weekend of the beta as I was for first time setting up my Gold account, but man what a great weekend. I felt like I was part of an exclusive club despite the beta being available to the public, it added to the overall enjoyment, everyone in the game was having a good time.

Later on there was the COD4 beta and much can be said about that experience too? I guess a lot of what makes a great beta is the game itself being awesome. Obviously.

Reach…looks awesome.

So if you don’t have your copy yet, hit EBay or Gamestation (in the UK for £12), grab ODST and wait impatiently till Monday. Cya on the green

-markBOSS

Comic Taken From penny-arcade.com

…cause its awesome and relevant. AND I almost counted it as a vote, but it wouldn’t of made a difference as you’ll soon notice.

HERE IT IS!

EBAY/KEEP/(EBAY LATERS)

Gamespot: 1/2/1

IGN:2/4/2

GiantBomb:8/13/5

1UP:2/1/0

Twitter/FB:1/1/0

PlusXP:0/2/3

TOTAL:14/23/11

KEEP WINS!

-These votes were shared across my Gamespot, IGN, Giantbomb and 1UP blogs along with votes from social networks and the site I contribute to PlusXP.-

Now there were ALOT of people whom didnt give a straight answer; something along the lines of- if you like it, keep it, if not sell it. Therefore I couldn’t count it as a vote, despite how much sense it makes. But thanks anyhoot.

Now onto the results themeselves. I am pretty damn surprised! Considering the general online consensus, I thought it was gonna be a landslide for ‘EBAY’. BUT of course theres the fact that it is signed by important dudes, which has become the main factor behind peoples votes.

As you can see theres also another category here ‘Ebay Laters’, which was recognised under the popular suggestion of waiting for it to gain value over time. And a damn good point too. I can’t help but wander that if I had that as an original category along side the others, would it have gotten more votes…

So yup thats that. I’m keeping FF13.

I have to say thanks for your votes guys, I was REALLY indecisive about it. Like literally today there were moments where I was hoping that the votes would be ‘KEEP’ and then an hour later I was wishing it would be ‘EBAY’. So yeah, I is indecided on stuffs. In terms of whether or not am I going to play it still? well I guess seeing as I’m keeping it, thats a no brainer. Here’s looking forward to that 30 hr cross over point into awesomes ville =D

-MarkBOSS

Disclaimer: The interviews for Inside Look are the ideas of the Plus XP Team ONLY and are not the ideas of the creators and developers of the games. All characters interviewed in Inside Look remain the property of the video game developers and creators. Basically we are sorry if we took your characters guys, we promise we’ll give them back.

Setting- Mark Boss sitting opposite Sonic the Hedgehog on set. Sonic is slouched down on his seat wearing sunshades with a lit cigarette limping between his fingers.

Mark Boss: Hey gamers, Mark Boss here about to speak to the one and only, ambassador of Sega, hero of small mammals, Sonic the Hedgehog. Now before I carry on I just have to say that, Mr Sonic, it is a REAL pleasure to have you here on with us. I am a huge supporter of your work and you’ve inspired me to accomplish so.. #interrupted#

Sonic: Thanks man, thanks. You know I totally appreciate your gratitude Mark means a lot to me brother. And please just call me ‘Sonic’. #takes a smooth puff from his limping Marlboro#

Mark Boss: yeah, cool #smiles#

Mark Boss (thinking to self) : OMG HE JUST MADE EYE CONTACT WITH ME! …through his shades.

Mark Boss: So it seems after a long void you’re appearing back on our screens with recent titles such as ‘Sonic Unleashed’ and even more recently with the upcoming title Sonic 4, how’s the break been for you?

Sonic: #rubs his stubbly jaw as he answers# Certainly Mark, well you know, I guess after saving the universe a few times, Sega realised maybe they should give me a break, #laughs#. And yeah, there was definitely a dull in my career, but I had a great run during the nineties and I am really grateful for all my all fans and their continued support even today.

MB: Fantastic, and how would you compare your work in the past with what you’re doing today? Obviously as the times have changed so has the games you’ve been in.

Sonic: Well the ‘PIECES’ I have done between now and then, have certainly changed to reflect the times man. I mean these days all the kids like the whole ‘Sonic X’ stuff, back then it was so much more naturally defined, you know what I mean dude?
These days it’s all about the pretty colours and the fancy 3D graphics. I mean like back then in the 90’s for example, it was just about the score man! Just about getting the rings, saving some small woodland mammals and BEATING Dr Robotnik! Back then there was that passion.

Mark: Right of course, now despite Dr Robotnik being your on screen arch nemesis, off screen you two have actually become quite close, especially in recent times.

Sonic: Totally man, you know, we’re all part of the same circle of life that perpetuates, and since I’ve taken up Hinduism after my much publicised drug taking during the failure of the… of the Dreamcast…

#PAUSE#

MB: Sonic… you were saying…

Sonic: Yeah, sorry kid, I was just starting to think about the Dreamcast.. god that console had so much possibility, if it weren’t for that damn stupid Pokémon craze…
But yeah, I am a changed hedgehog these days and I believe all life is precious. I mean I even invited Egg man himself to my wedding.

MB: Of course, now this would of been your marriage to Amy Rose, we’ve got some photos here of the event.

#photos of the wedding come up on the screen#

Sonic: Yup, there she is.

MB: What was it like getting married to your long time first love?

Sonic: Well, it was great till she divorced me and turned to prostitution. #takes a final swig of his cigarette and pulls out a bottle of unbranded whisky#

MB: ohhh, I’m sorry to hear it ended in such…

Sonic: YOU KNOW MAN! Tails was right, he was my best man you know! He told me never to trust her, that she was always getting herself kidnapped and stuff and it would never lead to anything solid!
I mean she was just so shallow you know Mark! First it was the fact that my new games weren’t getting the high review scores I used to get! Then it was the fact that I was appearing on a Nintendo system. I MEAN GET OVER YOUR SELF LADY! GET WITH THE TIMES!!!

MB: ohhh, well you..#interrupted#

Sonic: So yeah! We get married, she complains about stuff and then I find her in bed with Knuckles one night, apparently he can fly. So that was awesome. Yay Hinduism! #downs the rest of his whisky#

MB: Ok, well, you know Sonic, it’s not all doom and gloom, as I’ve mentioned you’ve recently found your feet back in the gaming world with great titles such as ‘Sonic Unleashed’..#interrupted#

Sonic: ERGGHH, WHO ARE YOU KIDDING MARK, I SLEEP ON A BED OF LIES! She was right! That whore was right, FIRST there was Yuji Naka leaving the Sonic team, AND NOW,  I mean they’ve got me racing against Mario on the Olympics for crying out..

#grabs Mark by the shirt#

Sonic: MARIO!? That dude jumps on boxes! And then they expect me too loose to him also!! Well F**K YOU NINTENDO! YOU HEAR ME MR MIYAMATO! SUCK ON MY BIG BLUE BALLS!

MB: Ok, well surely there’s something positive you can say about Sonic 4?

Sonic: Don’t buy it, it sucks.

MB: … ok, well

Sonic: Oh and another thing I don’t like f**king chilli dogs either, I’m a damn hedgehog!

MB: ok well that’s all we’ve got time for today. Erm, once again thanks for coming onto the show Sonic, really appreciate it..

Sonic: Yeah whatever. #staggers off stage behind camera#

-Mark Boss

Yup here it is. My signed collectors edition of Fantasy 13. I got it at the end of a fantastic game launch which I covered. My friends whom weren’t in the queue actually bought me the game and then handed it down to me so I could get it signed. Not only this but out of this years releases Fantasy 13 has been one of my most anticipated games to look forward to along with Alan Wake and Dead Rising 2.

And yet I want to sell it. Why?

YOU GUESSED IT! Cause it kinda sucks.

If your on the internet for longer then 15 minutes youve probably already heard about what the gameplay consists of – walk down a narrow pathway, battle sequence, press A (X), Walk down narrow pathway, cutscene, REPEAT.

And its true.

Screw this 30 hrs it gets better crap, I dont really wana go through that to get to the supposed good stuff.

Or do I? See Im kinda tempted to see if it REALLY does magically get better. Hence one of the reasons im in this dilemma. Plus theres the fact that ITS SIGNED by the producer and writer/director (not sure), which is a pretty cool thing to have. My first actual signed game I believe.

So in comes you guys, my fellow gamers. GAMERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! I reach across to you, across the highway of the interwebz for your input. Across four gaming blogs. leave a comment and VOTE!

EBAY OR KEEP?

-MarkBOSS

Mark Boss hits the Oxford Street HMV for the launch of one of the biggest games of the year.
On his own and midly ill he tours the queue armed with only a Microphone (named Susan) and his camcorder.
This actually turned out to be one of my favourite event coverages so far, and a great start to the year.
HUGE thanks to all those in the queue that doubled as my camera person. That includes you Pete!
Uber cool points for my Tecmo Koei family Chin and Julia for actually getting me the collectors edition of the game whilst I was in the queue to get it signed!
And also a huge ‘I want to adopt Becky and David’, you guys are just awesome.

me and the gamers after the event on 'official xbox magazine'

-markBOSS

http://blogs.ign.com/markB0SS
www.twitter.com/markb0ss

The advertising tag for this was 'is your tv big enough', a great comment on how games were changing beyond the TV's they've always been played on.

At the time it could have been seen as a sign of things to come, however the immediate after-flow of games seemed only to work on what these games have done rather than completely redefine its genre such as Super Mario 64 did with the platform genre. To look back it is apparent that it is the leap in 3D graphics at the time meaning that it would actually take another huge technological leap to re-invent the games/genres we play today. Gaming technology has always driven the possibility and differences of new gaming genres and this is what I wish to explore on this article.

Likewise with both Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7, there was a huge leap on what these games could accomplish to their predecessors. It was the jump to CD ROM that allowed the scope of FF7 possible and the Hollywood combination of visuals and sound in MGS.

The same effect of new technology into great games can be seen also in the late 80’s where gaming had changed due to the first successful home consoles such as the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), offering something different to that of their arcade parents. Primarily the first video games ever created were basic reflex and aiming endeavours. And as technology has evolved so have the game mechanics and genres to it, as well as the audience. Only kids could have been marketed with a game like Super Mario Bros (1987) on the NES, with its cartooned visuals, which were all that was capable at the time. But as time went by, more was possible through advancing graphics technology; therefore more was possible contextually allowing for a possible older age range in gaming. The very definition of what gaming is in its time seems to reside on the technology of its time.

A glimpse into the future for Nintendo perhaps?

There is always the matter of game play over visuals, but ultimately Video games is technology and it is with new technology that we can expect the most likely groundbreaking games and new genres.

It has always been these games at the spear point of change that are often herald as the best games of all time or given that elusive 10/10 score which so many sites/ magazines hold for the best of the best. And rightly so, these games have more than the advantage of being state of the art, their usually ground breaking in content, opening up the possibilities for the ever expanding world of video games entertainment.

And now it seems we’re once again in the front line of gaming evolution. With the success of Nintendo’s Wii motion control, the physical practice of gaming has changed from its long running gamepad peripherals. The ease of use with it has also enabled the industry to expand into different age groups. Blu-ray game discs and DVD allow games to reach new heights in visual scope and scale. Gaming Graphics are getting closer to the CGI found in films allowing performance to be an attribute, such as that found in Heavenly Sword. Online multiplayer has reached a new mainstream audience with the successful online networks on consoles such as Xbox live. These are small advances compared to the jump from arcade to console, or 2D to 3D, but important ones that mould the current gaming generation into a more ’serious’ one. After all it was not too long ago when games consoles had names such as Mega Drive or Game Boy, names aimed for the toy market in comparison with the now family/adult targeted names of (DS) Duel Screen or Wii.

So what does the rest of the future hold for us? With Project Natal and 3D gaming on the horizon, we can be sure of some exciting developments in ‘what we play’, rather than the obvious ‘how we play’. Well, so long as it’s nothing like the Virtual Boy.

I personally, like to think the greatest turning point in gaming would be the implementation of full virtual reality or a Star Trek style ‘holodeck’ room in gaming. This could put gaming into a full mainstream phenomenon, even more so then it is now. And as for the first few games that are released on it, those will most likely change the ever debatable definition of video games.

-MarkBOSS

-markBOSS

A show Reel Of The EAG Expo 2010.

Mark Boss tests out one of the more impressive cabinets at the EAG expo. The Vulcan M. Now at London Trocadero

-Warning this video has 87%’EPIC’ concentrate-

I talk to Bandai Namco about their new arcade release ‘TANK! TANK! TANK!’

Our favourite game of the expo.

Videos for PlusXP created by video production team ‘gamers-unite.com’. Coming soon.

Videos Created By Mark Boss and Francisco Okakwu

-MarkBOSS