War Is Hell, But Waking Up Is Worse

Posted Mar 31, 2007 by TBO.com

Updated Mar 31, 2007 at 01:16 PM

The alarm clock went off at 5:15 a.m., interrupting a bizarre but lucid dream that involved my cousin Allison, former President Jimmy Carter and a peanut butter sandwich. It took me nearly a full minute of staring at the LCD to dig its meaning out of some recessed corner of my puny mind: Wes would be pulling up outside my house in less than half an hour.

Why do I let him talk me into this crap?

We were headed to MacDill Air Force Base in south Tampa for AirFest 2007, an annual showcase of our country’s military might. The draw? The America’s Army “Virtual Army Experience,” a video game-style simulation that puts you as close to real combat as you’re ever likely to get.

It sounded exciting when we talked about it earlier in the week. But as I stepped into Wes’ car at 5:39 a.m., I wasn’t so sure. The last time I was awake at this hour, it was because I hadn’t gone to sleep yet.

We found the media entrance at the base (headlights are a wonderful invention – is there anything they can’t do?) and stopped at the security checkpoint, where, after a brief headache over Wes’ expired auto insurance card, we had to get out of the car and wait while trained German Shepherds searched it for some manner of unspecified contraband. Apparently, amid the empty Red Bull cans and tattered issues of Game Informer, we had none, so they waved us through.

By the time we found the “Virtual Army Experience” tent, the sun was rising over the hangars and spreading across the tarmac. The civilians would be lining up at the gates soon, but for now, we had the whole place to ourselves.

Wes is supposed to post a more detailed overview of the VAE here later, but here’s my quick take: It ruled.

If you have a chance to get over to MacDill today or tomorrow, I highly recommend it. You go through an entire virtual anti-terrorist mission, along with a team of other “soldiers,” in a variety of possible roles. You might man a machine gun mounted atop a Humvee, operate the state-of-the-art CROW system from the back seat, or fire TOW anti-tank missiles from a covering position on a mountain. I spent a pretty good amount of time on the CROW (pictured at right), which is almost like playing a video game in that it’s remote controlled, so you’re viewing your targets on a screen. Right now it uses a helicopter-like joystick control, but Col. Casey Wardynski told me they might start using an Xbox-style controller because it’ll be second-nature to recruits when they come in to train.

So don’t let your parents/girlfriends/wives/therapists tell you that video games are a waste of time! You’re just in training. You have to play because you love your country … or something like that.

Of course, critics will say “America’s Army” and the “Virtual Army Experience” are “militainment” propaganda, recruiting tools that take advantage of kids’ attraction to video games while glossing over the uglier aspects of war. They’re right, of course, and the Army freely admits it. Why else would they be giving away free copies at the end of the virtual mission? Seriously, the guys we met—Col. Wardynski and Sgt. Tommy Rieman (who’s actually featured in the “America’s Army” game)—were refreshingly candid and open. I was expecting humorless Sgt. Hulka types, but these guys were really down-to-earth and fun.

By the way, we interviewed them for this week’s podcast, which should be posted no later than Thursday. In the meantime, Wes should be back with more details soon.

Now it’s time for a nap.

Thanks to Tribune photographer Michael Spooneybarger for the photos!

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God Of War II

Posted Mar 30, 2007 by Doug Buel

Updated Mar 30, 2007 at 03:51 PM

System: Sony PlayStation 2

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Reviewer’s rating: A

ESRB rating: Mature

Game type: Third-person adventure

Kind of like: “Devil May Cry”

Best feature: Everything in this game is epic, from the giant monsters to the apocalyptic story.

Worst feature: The game is completely linear.

The bottom line: It’s a testament to the awesome power of “God of War” that Sony has released the sequel on its previous-generation console.

It’s as if the company wanted to ensure that all the fans of the previous game — even those who don’t have a PlayStation 3 — would get to play the new one.

“God of War II” is as big and bad as the first game.

Kratos, the new not-so-noble god of warfare and battle, is tricked by the paranoid Zeus into losing his godly powers.

Fortunately, the titans have an interest in Kratos defeating Zeus. They reveal a way for Kratos to regain the power to defeat the king of the gods.

This game is a “button-masher.” Pressing the square and triangle buttons causes Kratos to whirl deadly blades on chains and attack enemies.

All sorts of deadly, violent moves are possible with different button combinations. These result in grisly deaths for any nearby gorgons, cyclopes or other monsters who are blocking the way.

One feature that returns for the sequel are context-sensitive attacks. When fighting certain enemies, a button symbol will suddenly appear on the screen. You must quickly press it to cause Kratos to subject the enemy to a grisly attack. For example, Kratos might begin to climb a giant cyclops and attack its eye. More button symbols appear, and you have to hit the right button to keep the attack going.

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MotorStorm

Posted Mar 30, 2007 by Wes Phillips

Updated Mar 30, 2007 at 03:47 PM

System: Sony PlayStation 3

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Reviewer’s rating: B+

ESRB rating: Teen

Game type: Racing

Kind of like: “ATV Offroad Fury” meets “Road Rash”

Best feature: The photo-realistic graphics deliver as promised. Playing in first-person mode assures that you’ll be trying to squint through gobs of mud all over your windshield.

Worst feature: There is no split-screen multiplayer. The game’s online multiplayer is a welcome addition over the Japanese version, but “MotorStorm” lacks the ability to face down foes in your own house.

The bottom line: In “MotorStorm” you don’t have to worry about racing lines, shifting gears or the simulation of any real-life driving conditions. And that’s what makes “MotorStorm” the most fun experience on PS3.

Big rigs, dune buggies and dirt bikes all race on the same perilous desert tracks to reach the finish line first. Sure there may be some pushing, shoving and slow-motion explosions along the way, but the game remains very simple. Anyone can learn to drive the larger vehicles within a matter of minutes. (The bikes take a little more skill.)

However, that simplicity is also the Achilles’ heel of “MotorStorm.” While it is fun and easy to pick up, there isn’t a large selection of gameplay modes or tracks to satisfy beyond the 20-hour mark.

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‘Sopranos’ Mirrors Real Life

Posted Mar 30, 2007 by Kevin Walker

Updated Mar 30, 2007 at 09:34 AM

Among the many brilliant aspects of the HBO series “The Sopranos” - the final episodes begin airing next month - is the show’s honesty about money. That differentiates the show from most of pop culture. Honesty about economic realities just isn’t fashionable.

For instance, it’s unlikely you’ll see a movie trailer that begins, “In a world drowning in consumer debt,” or that features a guy looking at his credit card bill and howling: “Nineteen percent interest! Nooo!!”

But “The Sopranos” constantly deals with such everyday financial realities. The central character is New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, but the show is really about a father and businessman hitting middle-age and dealing with career and family issues.

Finances are a big part of those issues. Money constantly affects decisions on “The Sopranos.” Those who produce cash are rewarded, those who don’t, aren’t. Disloyal employees are, ah, terminated. Midlevel managers scramble to impress the big boss and grab the biggest piece of the pie. Corporate America, anyone?

The show also takes an unblinking look at the unsavory side of money. Giving a Porsche helps make up for infidelity. Evicting poor people is necessary to close a six-figure real estate deal. And obtaining a gift bag worth $30,000 drives someone to punch Lauren Bacall. Not realistic? Let’s say your company offered a $30,000 bonus, but only one person can get it. How far would people go?

Some find this unsettling. Discussing religion, politics and sex is no longer taboo, but money remains so. That’s one reason “The Sopranos” has been so refreshing.

As former HBO executive Chris Albrecht says in the latest issue of Vanity Fair: “Where’s the next ‘Sopranos’? There is no next ‘Sopranos.’” I’m afraid he’s right.

Kevin Walker can be reached at (813) 259-7975 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Sound off on The Rail online at TBO.com, Keyword: Rail.

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*Yawn* ... The “GTA IV” Trailer Is Here

Posted Mar 29, 2007 by TBO.com

Updated Mar 29, 2007 at 10:38 PM

So, Rockstar finally released the first trailer for “Grand Theft Auto IV,” and you can watch all 50 seconds of it exclusively on their site.

Maybe I’m alone on this, but considering that it doesn’t show any gameplay ... what’s the big deal?

The game’s due out on Oct. 16, and as a huge fan of the series going back to “GTA 2,” I’m sure I’ll play it as obsessively as I did the others (i.e., ordering pizza for dinner so I wouldn’t have to stop), but this does nothing for me.

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