Review: Wii Fit Plus
Mar 10th
WHAT? The first update in the Wii Fit series, this title adds more games and exercises to the Wii Fit experience while tweaking the overall experience to make it more friendly to users.
WHY? While the update does provide the user with more games and exercises to play, the title feels a bit like a minor update of the original game. At $19.99, the game is rather inexpensive but it all feels like the content should’ve been offered by Nintendo as a cheaper download. I’m thinking five to ten bucks, tops.
WHO? If you love the original Wii Fit, you’ll appreciate the update. However, if you (like me) were just sort of curious about Wii Fit when it came out and were not a hardcore fan, you’ll want to pass on this. The title is PERFECT for libraries. WHY? It’s not worth buying, but it is worth giving a shot. Your patrons will appreciate that you’re lending out the title so they don’t have to spend $20 on it.
DEAR NINTENDO: This title is a good example of why downloadable games and content work really well. I love the Wii Shop and the Wii Ware titles. You’re doing a great job there. Let’s take the Wii Fit series to the next level and offer us some cheap downloadable add ons.
Review: Mega Man X Collection
Mar 8th
WHAT? Welcome to the Mega Man of the future. Taking place 100 years (I think?) after the original Mega Man series, he’s back and well, pretty much the same. Mega Man X offers players a whole new rich cast of characters and simple yet fun game play.
WHY? Collections are good, and this one offers 7 games for the price of 1. A collection is a wise investment for libraries to be making in times of tight budgets. You’re getting more bang for your buck.
WHO? The side scrolling action found in this series may have some more modern gamers looking for something else, but the beautiful game play in this title is where they’ll be hooked. Mega Man also offers such a rich history (lots of other great and not so great titles) that users who love this title will have no problem finding more.
For the more hardcore gamers out there: bonus points from 8BitLibrary if you can do this:
We don’t have all the answers
Mar 5th
I’m stumped.
In my never ending quest to provide quality games and gaming to my library users, I have hit a road block.
How in the world can I effectively let users borrow out peripherals at my library?
I’m really stumped on this one, so any input would be great. Let’s use these next few days to share any stories we have with lending out video game peripherals.
Gaming: All Libraries & All Ages, a free webinar presented by 8bitlibrary.com
Mar 4th
On Saturday, March 13th at 1:00pm EST (10am on the West Coast), 8bitlibrary.com will be presenting a weekend webinar free of charge to all of our loyal readers.
Gaming: All Libraries & All Ages
Gaming: All Libraries & All Ages will be a webinar highlighting collection development and advocacy issues that all libraries deal with when implementing (or planning to implement) video games into library collections and services.
Attendance will be fun and free. There will be an interactive chat box for the entire session, and the event will be presented as an un-conference collaboration.
All you have to do to attend is go to URL tinychat.com/8bitlibrary on March 13th at 1:00pm EST. We’ll have about 45 minutes of webinar time, with plenty of time after for chatting and collaborating. We hope you can be there.
An RSVP is not necessary, but there is a Facebook event which you can RSVP to here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150110150540521
Also, don’t forget to add 8bitlibrary.com’s feed to your RSS Reader, and during the webinar be sure to follow the hashtag #8bitweb on Twitter.
PLEASE help us get the word out by tweeting about it / sharing on facebook / word of mouthing it / posting to listservs. In a time of shrinking budgets, free education for librarians is good!
Share on FacebookReview: Street Fighter IV (PS3)
Mar 3rd
WHAT? It’s back. The game that changed how we look at the fighting game genre returns with Street Fighter IV. Now before you go on complaining about how this is just another rehash of the series (for you non-gamers out there: There’s been what seems like 70 different versions of Street Fighter that have come out over the past 10 years. Most updates just add new characters, stages, and tweak game play dynamics), I say SHHHHH! While the game keeps true to the Street Fighter dynamics we’ve all come to love, it adds a new layer and welcomes a new generation of players to the amazing series.
WHY? “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years” -LL Cool J. The series may have not been in the public eye much over the last few years (Street Fighter III was made for the more hardcore fan, in my opinion), but the shadow of Street Fighter has been felt in the countless other fighting games released. Street Fighter IV arrives at the perfect time, ready to reclaim the throne.
Plus, look at those graphics. BEAUTIFUL!
WHO? Street Fighter IV is the perfect blend of all the best qualities the game has offered over the years. It’s easy to pick up for those new to the series and regulars will feel at home with the game play. Street Fighter experts will also get a new challenge with this title. New characters, the addition of focus attacks, and more will give them something new to master.
As a longtime fan, I’m happy with the balance that Capcom has achieved with Street Fighter IV. Libraries should not hesitate this title to their collection.
Review: A Boy and His Blob (Wii)
Mar 2nd
WHAT? The sort of classic Nintendo game A Boy and His Blob is back, re imagined for the Nintendo Wii. The plot is simple: a boy has a friend who is a blog and together they attempt to stop the evil emperor from Blobonia. Simple, straight-forward, and lots of fun, A Boy and His Blob is a unique puzzle/action game that will no doubt bring much joy to the owners of the Nintendo Wii. This is a wonderful game.
WHY? I don’t want to say it sucked, but the first A Boy and His Blob was sort of average (see my review here). It was a great idea, but difficult and sort of cumbersome (yes! I finally used that word in this blog!). This re imagining of the game takes that brilliant concept and executes it perfectly. The game manages to be tricky yet fun and rewarding, a tough feat for puzzle/action games. To top it off, the animation and artwork in this game is absolutely beautiful. It’s one of those games where you don’t mind sitting back to let someone else play it just so you can watch. The backgrounds and characters are bustling with life.
WHO? The game is nowhere near as hard as the original, but I’m still gonna say that this title would be best for ages 10 and up. A must have for any library collection, this title will provide hours of enjoyment for many gamers. The uniqueness of this game will be its biggest selling point.
Share on FacebookSuper Mario Brothers in the Classroom (Part 2 of 7)
Mar 1st
1988 gave us Super Mario Bros. 2, one of the oddest yet ultimately rewarding titles in the Mario series. The game has an interesting history. When Super Mario Bros. 2 came out in Japan, the title was ultimately a remade version of Super Mario Bros. with harder levels. When it came time to release the game in the USA, Nintendo decided against it. Instead, the Japanese game Doki Doki Panic was taken and modified. Mario, Luigi, Toad, and the Princess were added and BOOM! Super Mario Bros. 2 was here for all to enjoy.
Since Super Mario Bros. 2 started out as a totally different game, the gameplay is not something you’d expect from a Mario game. Instead of finding coins, stomping on Goombas, and thwarting the evil Bowser, you’re picking up vegetables, stomping Shy Guy’s, and throwing eggs at Birdo. Weird stuff. The interesting thing about this is that while all the characters in the game were originally intended for the Doki Doki Panic franchise, as a result of Super Mario Bros. 2 the characters became integrated in Mario mythology. The Shy Guys now fight Mario alongside the Goombas.
Pushing the envelope even further, Super Mario Bros. 2 allowed the player to select a character other than Mario. Each character had its own attributes. For example, the Princess could fly for a short period of time while Luigi was an extraordinary jumper. This addition gave the series a new depth. Players could use the skills of each character to best complete a level. It was not just about getting from point A to point B anymore. Instead, players had to map out in advance who they think would best help them complete a level. If that failed, it was back to the drawing board with another character.
In a discussion of Super Mario Bros. 2, one could focus on the following:
- Compare and contrast Super Mario Bros. 2 and Doki Doki Panic. Besides the changes made to the lead characters in the game, what were any other changes? If the student does not notice any changes, why do you think that Nintendo decided to release the game as a Super Mario Bros. title instead of Doki Doki Panic? What do you think the public’s reaction to the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2 would’ve been if it had been released in the USA?
- Are there better characters to use for each level, or are the characters all basically the same? Students could be divided up into groups where they would focus on the play mechanics of one of the four characters. Each student would be given a level to play to test each character. Questions could be asked which focus on the difficulty of each level using a specific character. The students could then compare ideas that they had on specific areas of the game (EX: Level 1 with Luigi was quick and easy because of his super high jumps. With Toad, the level was difficult and cumbersome)
- Was Nintendo right in making the decision to translate Doki Doki Panic into Super Mario Bros. 2? Do you think that Mario would be as noticeable of a character if this title hadn’t been released?
How has Gaming changed the way you look at Libraries?
Feb 26th
Justin Hoenke invades Game Night at the Cape May County Library to ask the teens “How has Gaming changed the way you look at Libraries?”
Looks like we’re winning! :)
Have a great weekend from all of us at 8BitLibrary.
Share on FacebookPAX East Gaming Convention
Feb 25th
Hi 8bit librarians and teachers,
Some really cool news for you all. 8bitlibrary.com’s LibraryGuyCraig and JP will have press status at PAX East, which is the largest gaming convention in the country. wo0t.
We’ll being live-blogging here at 8bitlibrary.com, tweeting over at twitter.com/8bitlibrary, vodcasting interviews & such in FULL HD VIDEO at youtube.com/8bitlibrary, and posting lots of photos at flickr.com/8bitlibrary.
We will be the only press at PAX East that is specifically documenting the educational and informational value of gaming in schools and libraries, so be sure to follow us via RSS to stay up-to-date.
PAX East runs March 26, 27, & 28, 2010.
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