In an effort to strengthen the impact of the GamePro.com main site, a decision has been made to close all the BlogFaction.com sites, which unfortunately include DavinciGamer.com and my other hosted site PlaystationFanForce.com.

Although the BlogFaction.com is a great way to focus on specific areas of the gaming industry, it is apparent that strengthening GamePro.com is key here.  For this reason, I am prepared to move in that direction as well.  Expect to see me posting for GamePro.com and GamePro Magazine as well (for those who may have missed it, please check out my article in the October 2009 issue on Game Design colleges and universities).

Not only do I respect the decision of the GamePro staff, but I stand by it, and am more determined than ever to make GamePro.com an even bigger source for the world of video gaming that we all enjoy.  I will also be continuing DavinciGamer in another form, due for launch in spring of 2010.  At this moment, that direction is unclear, but rest assured that I'm currently in talks with GamePro to either continue DavinciGamer.com independently, or start a completely new site with a similar theme.

So, to make a long story short.......THIS AIN'T GOODBYE!  Rather, it's just "SEE YOU SOON!!"

Here at DavinciGamer, we focus on great games of yesterday with our "Classic Game of the Week" section.  We intend to expand on that by taking a look at the games of consoles long gone, to see which titles truly had some great artistic expression and memorable experiences.

Our first entry will focus on the Sega Genesis platform.  No introduction needed here.  The Genesis was the first 16-Bit console, and it took the world by storm.  For the first time, arcade-quality play experiences were a reality.  Our top 10 list showcases the true defining, landmark titles for the system.  Without further ado, here we go!

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When one thinks of fighting games, one thinks Street Fighter II.  No other game had as much of an impact as Capcom's sequel to their little-known 1987 arcade title.  The original was a chaotic, but well-intentioned mess of washed out graphics, poor sound effects and sloppy controls.  Nevertheless, a sequel was in the works by 1991.  

Michael Capps, the President of Epic Games recently made an announcement at the Tokyo Game Show regarding the status of the long-involved Unreal 4 engine.  Apparently, the new engine won't debut on the current generation of console systems.  This means a potential 3-5 year wait for Epic's next bit of eye candy. 

"We're very concerned that the next generation will be massively parallel and most engines won't be able to adapt for that," he was quoted as saying.

Not surprising, but it does raise the question of whether we'll see the Unreal 4 engine on the PC, before it is unleashed on consoles.  Either way, Epic Games faces massive licensing competition from CryTek's new CryEngine, also in the works. 

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It's one thing to say that you created a game that stands the test of time.  It's quite another to say that your game practically invented an entire genre of video gaming.  Yet, ID Software did just that with their 1992 release of the classic Wolfenstein 3D.  The premise was unique and eye catching.  It was the first true and proper First Person Shooter (there had been previous attempts at creating the formula, with varying results), mixing fast paced shooting action with heavy exploratory elements.

Bloody hell!

A UK Government report released back in June of this year had touched upon some interesting topics for a more digitally competitive Britain.  There was talk of putting current-gen broadband in every UK home while furthering the advancement of next-gen broadband through to the year 2017.  There's also talk of a more diplomatic approach to the rampant online piracy problem which has critics divided straight down the middle.  But the most seemingly harmless entry into the report is one that is scaring the UK game industry worse than an invading fleet of Daleks.

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For those old enough to remember, Sierra On-Line was the premier PC game company.  They churned out more continuous hits than anyone, and their name became synonymous with PC gaming as a whole.  The game that started it all was King's Quest I: Quest For The Crown.  It was the first true 3D (well, almost) adventure game, utilizing hand drawn backgrounds and character sprites to achieve the illusion of a traversable landscape.  Utilizing a textual interface, the player would type in commands such as "Look around," or "Take item," to progress and explore the world around them. 

If you think we're a species destined to become the real-life equivalent of the Borg, then you might be on to something!  Kevin Warwick is a British scientist and professor of cybernetics who has successfully managed to implant a neural interface directly into his nervous system.  His experiments included logging his nervous system onto the Internet and controlling a robotic arm from overseas during a visit to Columbia University in New York.  The experiment was so successful that his next plan is to implant a more sophisticated unit directly into his brain.  The purpose?  To share telepathic thoughts with another person who has undergone the same exact procedure.  

The frightening military applications of this technology are apparent, but instead of dwelling on a doomsday scenario, perhaps we should be taking a look at possible video game applications.  It has already been speculated that we'll be able to download and E-Mail our own consciousness across the country by 2050.  The geometric technological advances between the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 suggest a swelling of real life advancements that were once thought to be science fiction only.  Imagine plugging your brain into a 100% immersive video game where sights, sounds, and smells are commonplace.  Imagine not having to rely on a BluTooth headset to communicate to a myriad of players from around the world.  In the next 20 years, we could very well be on the cutting edge of cybernetic gameplay.  Are you scared?  Or are you excited?

He's a cybernetic organism.  Living tissue over metal endoskeleton.
Okay, okay....scratch that last part!

CryTek is taking a stance against a proposed new German bill that would outlaw the production and sale of violent video games in the country.  The powerhouse developer threatened to take their business elsewhere if the German government can't see the bigger picture.  CryTek's threat is just the latest in a string of public backlashes against the German government which culminated with a protest and a petition signed by 64,000 angry gamers. 

The fallout from such a move wouldn't detract from CryTek's sales or popularity, but it would strike a massive blow against the sort of increasing censorship seen in countries like Germany and China.  Whether you agree or disagree with the ban, it will be interesting to see what bad publicity and public anger can do to a government already in power.

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Blizzard had some frigid news for Starcraft fans today when it announced that the long awaited sequel to the original Starcraft wouldn't hit store shelves until 2010.  This is due mostly to a necessary overhaul of the Battle.net online engine to guarantee a better play experience.  Bad news, but nothing worth having is easy to get.  Blizzard assured gamers that the extra time will also allow them to better polish Starcraft II for it's delayed release.  Seeing as how the original Starcraft appeared in 1998, I'm sure a few extra months won't really matter. 

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