Computer Support Blog

If you are a video game enthusiast, 2012 promises some incredible developments.  If you have not been someone who traditionally plays video games, the prevalence of handheld computer devices like smartphones, e-readers and tablet computers may be getting you curious about what video games have to offer.  The way portable computing devices have permeated every strata of U.S. society has eliminated many barriers between subcultures, so video game geeks are hardly a fringe group any longer.  In fact, game manufacturers court adults far more often for serious video games now and if you have not considered video games recently, here are some of the fundamental changes in the market in the last few years:

1. Graphics are vastly superior. If your perception of a video game is based on early 1980s Atari graphics or even mid-1990s Nintendo graphics, the video game world will absolutely dazzle you now.  Some of the least sophisticated programs on the market, like the free program Angry Birds have animation that is in league with cartoons as opposed to those classic video games!  Many games now have such sophisticated graphics that on non-HD televisions, they look like real environments and people!

2. Gameplay is more sophisticated.  The video game industry is now a multibillion dollar industry.  To keep competitive, video games now employ extensive casts of actors, have long segments of backstory and dialog and many even begin with a short movie.  The new Star Wars: The Old Republic game used one thousand actors and came online with three hundred gaming hours of play programmed in.  Considering that the Star Wars film saga totals approximately thirteen hours, you can see how much more complicated the one game is than the entire film story!

3. Cartridges? What are cartridges?! If you recall cartridges, you haven’t played video games in a long time!  Games now come on DVD-Roms and other discs reminiscent in form to CDs.  Controllers are very different, too.  Some of the most popular video games on the market even use controllers specially designed for only their game.  Some of the new systems even use scanning technology to scan your body and movements, making you the controller!

4. Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games.  With the prevalence of so many computing devices, massive games have sprouted up that allow players to play in complex virtual worlds over Internet connections.  You create a character and enter a virtual world where you are either a fantasy character, interact with super heroes or fight in great space wars.  Regardless of the platform, MMORPGs are subscription service video games where the longer you play, the more experience you build and the more powerful your character becomes.  Unlike the days of Super Mario Bros., there is no finite end to MMORPGs.  Video games, like life, never seem to end!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

There are many highly anticipated video games for 2012.  2012 marks the return of one of the most highly successful video game franchises of all time, Final Fantasy.  But as Final Fantasy prepares to make its next big leap forward with the release of Final Fantasy VIII – 2, it is worth looking back at how the popular franchise came to be.  For that, one needs look no further than Hironobu Sakaguchi.

Hironobu Sakaguchi is the creator of the Final Fantasy franchise and he is one of the most ambitious, creative, and successful minds in the video game industry.  Orphaned as a boy and then adopted, Sakaguchi had an unremarkable childhood in Japan.  However, while studying at Yokohama National University, he became fascinated with endeavors more creative than the electrical engineering he was studying.  At age twenty, Sakaguchi dropped out of college and joined the fledging software company Square.

It was at Square that Sakaguchi developed Rad Racer, a car racing game that Nintendo needed for commercial reasons to compete with Sega.  While Rad Racer was a commercial success, it was not the type of project that Hironobu Sakaguchi wanted to develop.  So, he developed Final Fantasy.  Final Fantasy was a role-playing game that Sakaguchi developed for the Nintendo platform.  He directed Final Fantasy, as well as conceived it, so his talents were embedded in every aspect of the game.  Prior to the release of Final Fantasy, Sakaguchi decided that his video game career would live or die with the product; if the game was a commercial flop, he intended to return to the university and finish his education.

The video game players of Japan and the United States had something else in mind for Sakaguchi!

Final Fantasy was a break-out success and that success compelled Nintendo to request a sequel, which was released the next year, with Sakaguchi directing that game as well.  With the success of Final Fantasy II, Hironobu Sakaguchi’s career was off to a roaring start.  He directed three more Final Fantasy video games and now, after twenty-five years, he is directing again with the newest game he conceived, The Last Story.  After Sakaguchi directed his last Final Fantasy video game, he continued to produce and develop other video games.  At least fifty different video games include Sakaguchi in their credits!

Hironobu Sakaguchi transformed video games by infusing them with a richer sense of storytelling than video games had prior to the release of Final Fantasy.  Sakaguchi was interested in developing characters in video games and telling stories.  With that view of the potential for what video games could be, it is no surprise that Hironobu Sakaguchi dabbled in directing films following the success of his many video games.  Unfortunately, his first major feature film, Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within was one of the worst box-office failures of all time.

Always resilient, though, Hironobu Sakaguchi today runs his own video game studio, Mistwalker, which provided some of the most successful games for Nintendo’s DS platform.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

It is a rare thing for a CEO of a computer company to be seen working in the art department of the company they run.  No one would expect to see Tom Cook, CEO of Apple Computers, at a drafting board adjusting the design of the next iPod!  And yet, Satoru Iwata periodically works on art for Nintendo software . . . despite the fact that he is CEO of Nintendo!

The board of directors of Nintendo promoted Satoru Iwata to CEO following the resignation of Hiroshi Yamauchi.  Members of the Yamauchi family had, historically, run Nintendo and the promotion of Satoru Iwata to CEO and President of the company marked a profound shift for the company.  Why did Nintendo change its longstanding tradition? Quite simply, there was no one better for the job than Iwata!

Satoru Iwata began working for the software laboratory, HAL Laboratory, right out of college.  HAL Laboratory was only three years old when Iwata took over as coordinator of software production, developing the Kirby franchise from the ground up for Nintendo.  With many successful projects under his belt, Iwata became president of HAL Laboratory.  He served as President for seven years before Nintendo wooed him to become their head of corporate planning.  He served in that capacity for only two years before Nintendo’s board of directors promoted him to CEO and President of Nintendo.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Satoru Iwata has seen Nintendo through some of its most profitable years, with no foreseeable end in sight!  Black Friday 2011 was the company’s most successful sales day for the Wii gaming console.  This might seem un-extraordinary until one considers the console has been on the market for six years now!  To have a bestselling game console after six years is an exceptional business feat.

As well, the Nintendo portable system, the 3DS, became a remarkable commercial success.  While many other video game companies were altering their business models to put their games on smartphones and other portable devices, Iwata saw an opportunity to reinvent dedicated portable video game hardware.  Iwata’s vision was prophetic as the 3DS and its related software had exceptional sales leading up to Christmas 2011.

More than anything else, Satoru Iwata is a man of vision.  He is an expert planner and his willingness to take calculated risks in a traditionally unstable market has made him a world leader in the video game marketplace.  As CEO of Nintendo, he has plans to keep the company growing for years to come and if history is any indication, he will be wildly successful.  Still, that does not mean you won’t find him working on the artwork or game design for the next Legend Of Zelda release!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

In 2011, Lenovo had a lot to be happy about.  Rescuecom named the computer manufacturer Lenovo one of the most reliable computers on the market in the First Quarter 2011 Reliability Report.  As the creator of one of the most reliable PCs on the market, Lenovo is looking to broaden its horizons.  Lenovo has chosen to branch out into the gaming console market and 2012 may well see the first Lenovo gaming console.

Lenovo announced the iSec and is planning to release the console in May of 2012.  The iSec, which is an acronym for “Sports Entertainment Center,” will be released first in China.  Chinese citizens are not allowed to purchase or own most of the popular gaming consoles they manufacture in their own country.  As a result, Lenovo’s iSec will not be competing with the Wii, Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 for the hearts and minds of China’s consumers!  Not having to compete against the big consoles that dominate the U.S. gaming market gives Lenovo hope for a successful product launch.

Lenovo also has a potential advantage in China with its interface.  Lenovo is continuing to pioneer motion capture technology with its iSec.  Your body will act as the controller for the iSec; there will not be any external controller to play the games the programmers are developing for Lenovo’s new platform.  Lenovo is showing real forethought in its market with the controller-less approach to launch its gaming system; the Asian markets have shown a strong predilection toward physical video games.  Dance video games, which are sweeping through the popular youth culture of the United States now, were hugely popular in Asian countries before the U.S. “discovered” them.

Eedoo Technology, a Beijing-based partner with Lenovo on the iSec, is not limiting its software developing to sports-related projects.  Already, eedoo has showcased a fantasy adventure program for the iSec, which broadens its appeal in the gaming community.  As well, the iSec features an interface with the user’s home stereo system.  This transforms the iSec from a gaming console into a full entertainment system.  The first major application that makes the iSec into a full entertainment system allows the gaming console to be used as a karaoke machine.

Whether Lenovo is successful with the iSec or not, the company seems to have done its homework in designing a gaming system that enters a rather flooded market with some new ideas.  If the iSec is successful in China, Lenovo could release the gaming consoles in the United States in time for a late-2012 release.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Geeks love swag.  It’s true.  The only thing that truly separates the shopaholics who cannot resist when their favorite department store bundles an obscene number of cosmetics together at a discounted price and the geek community is what the different demographics are spending their money on.  Comic book geeks thrill over variant covers, cinephiles will hunt down exclusive packages like the Inception briefcase and fans of Katy Perry shelled out extra cash for a bonus package of her c.d. Teenage Dream that included a baby-t.  Video game enthusiasts are no exception to the overall geek culture.  In 2011, there were some exclusive packages and incentives that will make video game geeks salivate.  The best include:

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Collector’s Edition.  Video game fans wildly anticipated Skyrim in advance of its mid-November release.  To build on the hype and merchandise it, Bethesda released a Collector’s Edition of Skyrim that includes a statue of one of the primary characters from the game, a book on the artwork of Skyrim and a “Making Of Skyrim” DVD, none of which are available elsewhere.  This remains fairly available, probably because it is still such a new game.

Batman Arkham City Collector’s Edition.  Comic book geeks and video game geeks truly synergized for the release of Batman Arkham City this year.  Warner Brothers banked on the long history of comic book readers wanting exclusives to boost the video game’s sales.  The Collector’s Edition appeals to the comic book-loving geek with its inclusion of an exclusive statue.  The Collector’s edition also includes a DVD of Batman: Gotham Knight, collectible art book, digital album of music inspired by the game, a map and an exclusive skin.  This has been very popular with both types of fans.  Past history with this sort of exclusive has illustrated they appreciate well after they sell out in the primary market.  Because of the sheer number of exclusives, this is likely to be a great gift even for those Batman fans that do not play video games.

Battlefield 3 VIP Kit.  EA, the producer of Battlefield 3, produced a limited edition VIP kit for celebrities.  This rare item is highly sought after, as Battlefield 3 was one of the bestselling games of the year.  Only fifty of the kits were made, which makes sense because the exclusive package is a metal military trunk!  Inside, EA – the producer of Battlefield 3 – included the game, a controller, an Apple TV, a watch, dog tags and a hollowed out grenade.  Unless you know a famous rapper or game player who got one of these, odds are this will remain the holy grail of video game exclusives!

Fans of video games will want to hunt for the best possible version of the game they love . . . or suspect they will love before they make their initial purchase.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

If you are doing last-minute shopping for a video game player this year, it might help you to know what video games, across all platforms, have been the bestselling of the year so far.  While Mario Kart 7 has been tearing up the global gaming sales charts for the past week, Nintendo came shockingly late to market with the game.  It did not even register on the top ten bestselling games of the year!  Sure, that could change in the last few weeks of the year, but it would have to overcome several titles like Batman: Arkham City and Just Dance 3, which are desperately clawing their way up the Top Ten list for the bestselling games of 2011.  What might well surprise video game enthusiasts is that in 2011, three of the top six bestselling games of the year were not released in 2011!  The Top Five bestselling video games in the world (across all platforms) for 2011 are:

5. Wii Sports.  Beating out Wii Sports Resort by just over one hundred thousand units, the exceptionally popular game for the Nintendo Wii managed to add over five million sales to land in the top five, even after five years on the market!  Nintendo rightly realized that video game enthusiasts are not adverse to moving around and people who like sports enjoy them even as a video game!

4. Kinect Adventures! A late-release in 2010, this adventure game had a strong 2011.  While it might have only sold 5.3 million units in 2010, Microsoft has a real hit on its hands with over 12.5 million units sold total!  It might not have sold as many units as the Wii Sports games, but Microsoft is showing it knows how to produce successful sports games as well.

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.  Who says every sequel stinks?!  Not video game players!  Bethesda Softworks hyped the fantasy role playing game for over a year and when it released in mid-November, the market was primed for it.  With just under six million units sold, Skyrim is a very safe bet for fantasy game enthusiasts if you need a late gift!

2. Battlefield 3. Almost seven million people decided that being a first-person shooter along the Iran/Iraq border sounded cool.  As U.S. troops were withdrawing from Iraq, gamers across all platforms were experiencing virtual combat situations through this game.

1. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. This first-person shooter game buried its peers.  With over 16.3 million units sold, the latest installment in the Call Of Duty franchise outsold even Battlefield 3 by almost ten million units!  With the Internet-based companion service, Call Of Duty: Elite, it is unlikely that video game enthusiasts will run out of interest in this game and franchise, promising Activision a good 2012 as well!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Software companies are beginning to market some of the best video slot machine games from casinos for home use.  While online video slot games can lead to grave concerns over Internet security, home computer software for video slot machine players offers the thrill of video slot machines without the threats, hassles or gambling debts.  The coolest video slot machine game on the market is IGT’s Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania.

Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania is a collection of 20 IGT video slot machine games released for PC and Mac by Masquepublishing Software.  Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania includes Cats, Stinkin’ Rich, Betti The Yetti, Carnival Of Mystery, Da Vinci’s Diamonds and other games that are instantly recognizable to anyone who has been to a modern casino.  There are also more obscure games like Price Check and Frog Princess that may not have been part of IGT’s staple line-up.

The interface for Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania is instantly cool.  Before going to any machines, you enter the virtual casino where you can see banks of the video slot machines.  It is a cute gimmick and it is enough to get anyone who likes video slot machines into the mood to play.  Masquepublishing also includes ambient noise from the virtual casino to make the experience more vivid (that may be turned off without losing the sound effects from the game you want to play if that is not your thing).  When you pick out the game you want to play, you click on the video slot machine and your screen becomes the cabinet for the game.

Like most of Masquepublishing’s IGT video slot machine games, Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania allows you to take your virtual winnings with you from machine to machine.  As a result, you may feel like you are winning more and more in your virtual casino.  The software may be set for ideal odds which allows you to build up your bank fast and experience bonus games more frequently.  With ideal odds, you win more often.  The software may alternatively be set for the casino odds, which could be a great object lesson for young children enchanted by the idea of gambling that you want to disenchant!

What is extraordinary about Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania is that it includes games that have bonus games much more sophisticated than the standard IGT releases.  Instead of just free spins, games like Betty The Yetti include bonus games that tell a story and build upon themselves.  On Betti The Yetti’s bonus game, players watch their multipliers and “adventure bonus” increase as Betty walks around her park!  Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania also includes Da Vinci’s Diamonds, a cascading reel video slot machine that is an exciting mechanic not available on any of the other IGT games released so far.

Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania installs easily from CD-ROM without the need for any additional computer support.  Gambling can be costly, stinky (all that smoke!), and involve travel: Masquepublishing and IGT make it fun and risk-free with Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com