January 17, 2012
If you're on this website, nothing else needs to be said. You're tech savvy and Internet-aware enough to know what's going on. If you don't, here's the short version: Internet censorship is bad!
Posted by Shelly Warmuth.
June 24, 2011
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Game Info
Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Neversoft EntertainmentPlatform: PS2Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Players: 1ESRB Rating: T (Teen)Release Date: April 8, 2003Intro: It’s not what the intro does; it’s how it does it. Splinter Cell tells
the story of two agents sent in behind enemy lines and captured. You
are then introduced to Sam, who will be sent in to rescue them. For a PS2 game, the pine cone and tree graphics blew me away. But here’s why Splinte... Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Action/Adventure
June 24, 2011
Playing and being well-informed about a variety of video games is
somewhat like being well-read in literary circles. Anyone can design a
game; really understanding great design is not something you can learn
in school. It's learned in the trenches; playing, working at it, and
sharing knowledge with other developers.
A DP Challenge Compendium takes a hard look at established video games and breaks them down for their design elements. This book is now available for sale on
Kindle.
Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Books
May 31, 2011
Posted by Shelly Warmuth.
April 21, 2011
Dante’s Inferno
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic ArtsDeveloper: Visceral GamesPlatform: PS3Genre(s): ActionPlayers: 1 PlayerESRB Rating: M (Mature)Release Date: February 09, 2010Intro:The
beginning of the game tells the backstory. Some of it is told in
narrative writing, some in a freakishly disturbing cut scene, and some
in an odd sort of comic style that seems out of place with the amazing
graphics in the game. Getting Going:The
comic gives way to action and we find Dante in the cen... Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Action/Adventure
April 9, 2011
#84 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Game Info
Publisher: EA SportsDeveloper: EA SportsPlatform: PS2Genre(s): GolfPlayers: 1-4 PlayersESRB Rating: E (Everyone)Release Date: September 22, 2003Intro:A
random golfer introduces the game as an EA Sports game with their
familiar motto: “EA Sports: It’s in the game.” In one scene, it’s a
famous golfer on a green. In another, it’s a golfer in motion capture
gear. The load screens gradually give way to DMX’s “Y’all Gonna Make Me
Lose M... Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Sports
March 2, 2011
#69 Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando 
Game Info
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Insomniac Games
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Platformer
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: November 11, 2003
Intro:Ratchet & Clank give
an interview about their adventures as champions of the Universe, which
is seen by someone in need of assistance. In no time, they are whisked
away on another adventure. The intro draws the player briefly into the
backstory of our two heroes without being dr... Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Platformer
February 28, 2011
#76 Viewtiful Joe
Game Info
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Clover Studio
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Action
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: August 24, 2004
Intro:Joe
takes his girlfriend to the movies to see a classic superhero movie,
his favorite. When his hero is defeated, the villain snatches his girl,
bringing her into the movie. His hero, grabs him from the seats and
takes him into the movie, as well, granting him the super powers to save
his girl and the day.Getting Going:Viewti... Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Action/Adventure
February 28, 2011
#58 Twisted Metal: Black
Game Info
Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Incognito, Inc.
Platform: PS2
Genre(s): Car Combat
Players: 1-4 Players
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)
Release Date: June 18, 2001Intro:There really isn’t much of an intro to the game. The beginning strains of Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones plays as cars careen and crash at the end of a street, which takes us directly to the load screen. Getting Going:Players
are given a choice of advancing through arenas in Story Mode, choosing a
car... Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Car Combat
January 22, 2011
Heavy Rain
Game Info
Publisher: SCEADeveloper: Quantic Dream Platform: PS3Genre(s): AdventurePlayers: 1ESRB Rating: M (Mature)Release Date: February 23, 2010Intro:The
camera pans across a man lying face down on the edge of a bed in
nothing but boxer shorts. Sun streams through the window. As the
camera moves in closer, the player takes control.Getting Going:The
player is prompted to get Ethan up. From there, various controls will
be explained as Ethan moves about the room and, eventu... Continue reading...
Posted by Shelly Warmuth. Posted In : Action/Adventure
The DP Challenge is a research project in which you play and analyze the top 100 games ever to hit your console(s). At the end of this project, I hope to be a better writer with a host of ideas for my own projects. I anticipate that I will learn more from the games that are in genres that I don't usually play or simply from games I wouldn't usually pick up than from the games I love. I'm looking forward to that education!
Information on the DP Challenge can be found at: http://www.dpfiles.com/dpfileswiki/index.php?title=THE_DP_CHALLENGE
**Note: As it takes a long time to evaluate 100+ games and new games are constantly being rolled out, my top 100 list continually changes. There will undoubtedly be discrepancies in the numeric rating of my list. As I catch them, I'll try to update them, but, I want to play all of the great games, so I know I'll be changing the list often.
