What I Learned Attending My First Game Conference

          I went to the Austin 2016 Game Conference last week with Zach and Mr. Lowther. I decided to go simply because it was an opportunity to learn from people outside of school. Also it’s good for networking, though I didn’t meet anyone this time. However, I took tons of notes on what the speakers had to say as well as what to remember next time I show up to a conference like this. For those of you who want to try attending a conference, here’s what I’ve got for advice:

          -Look for conferences: As obvious as it is, you can’t show up to something you don’t know is happening in the first place. Had I not heard about the Austin Game Conference, I wouldn’t have gone. There’s a site that has many conferences and conventions listed by month, day, and location. If you want to make plans for one, the site can be found here http://www.gameconfs.com/.

·         -Plan for travel: Rarely will a conference be in your local town. You may have to travel pretty far. Austin was a six-hour drive for us. Be sure to calculate costs for gas, food, and what hotels you’ll be staying at. Most conferences will reserve hotels for registered guests.

·         -Bring your resume and business cards: While I was there, several of the representatives at the information booths requested that we show them our resumes. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any printed. If you happen to have your resume on you, show it to the companies that you’re interested in and they will likely remember you later. Business cards add even more of an impression if you have them.

·         -Take notes: Every hour there was a panel with at least one person speaking. Sometimes there were multiple speakers talking about their experiences in the industry. Most have PowerPoint slideshows to summarize their talks, but writing down what you hear commits the words to memory. If you can, type up the notes via laptop. You’ll be glad you did.

·         -Try listening and talking with various attendees and speakers: This is probably the most important. If you meet somebody at the conference, they might can help you out in the future. I spoke with a woman who had built a game per week for an entire year and she had the most encouraging things to say. I also saw a small group of attendees gradually grow in size as more and more people joined in on the conversation. You might not make a ton of connections (read: friends) at your first conference, but it’s worth a shot.

          The conference was awesome. If I could, I would definitely go again. They’re great if you can attend, but it isn’t always an option. Tickets will usually run over $500 to enter (although we had a student discount). Attending every single conference or convention isn’t necessary, but you can learn so much compared to sitting in class.

Why You Should Think Before You Buy

          Ratings don’t mean anything to me. They’re only numbers that vaguely represent the quality of the product, but not the content. Plus, games have a strange dichotomy when it comes to scores: seven and up is good, six and below is terrible. There’s virtually no middle ground. So how do you know what game is worth your time and money? Reviews, of course. Video reviews might be even better as they can show you gameplay rather than relying on the reader to imagine it. There’s a large quantity of reviews for the same games and it can be tedious to sort through. The best advice I can offer is as follows:

 

·        -Look at more than one review of the title. Especially look at other reviews on other sites. Having multiple perspectives can help you formulate a better opinion.

·        -See if the game has anything negative mentioned about it. If the game sounds like it’s too good to be true, chances are it is.

·        -How long is it? If you can find out how long it takes the average player to beat it, you can wager how much time you will be investing in the game yourself. This is helpful if you’re looking for something short to play in one sitting or something to pour hours of time into over the next few months.

·        -If it’s multiplayer, how’s the community? Usually a toxic player base can ruin a gaming experience and a good community can make all the difference.

·        -How recent is the review? If it was reviewed over a year ago, chances are information needs to be updated as the game has likely gone through changes since then.

·        -Does the review actually tell you anything about the game? You’d be surprised at how many critics talk about the good parts of the game and the downsides, yet forget to mention what the game is actually about.

·        -Is there a trailer or advertisement of the game? These aren’t necessary, but they can tell you a bit about the game itself (if done properly).

Most importantly, think about why you want the game in the first place. Maybe you’re like me and you’re looking forward to Kingdom Hearts 3. I desperately want it because I loved the first two. However, I will need to buy a PS4 to play it and I’m expecting a lot out of this game. I could be wanting this game out of nostalgia. It has been over 10 years since Kingdom Hearts 2. I’ll be checking the reviews sometime after the game launches. Hopefully you will, too.

Why I Love Psychonauts

          Years ago I wrote a review on this game for a site called Multiplayer Fanatics. The site itself has changed much since then and I never have the time to write for them anymore. This was the first review I had ever written and it was more of a discussion rather than a critique. You can read the original review here. For this week, I want to discuss the game once more.

           Psychonauts is a 3d platformer based around the human mind. It was made by Tim Schafer and his studio Double Fine. I see Tim Schafer as like the Tim Burton of video games; they both make these strange worlds that are filled with things that should frighten you, but also make you laugh. Psychonauts existed in such a place that appeared normal on the outside, but the inside showed so much more of the bizarre and psychedelic. The best part: it played like a dream. 

          The story begins with Razputin, a kid with psychic powers who shows up at a camp that specializes in teaching children the ways of the Psychonauts. The camp counselors are not so keen on welcoming Raz at first, but upon sensing his psychic powers, they let him stay. The next day, Raz sees one of the counselors for his first lesson: infiltrating the mind. This is where the gameplay begins. 

          Inside the mind of Coach Oleander, we see a battlefield. Wired fences, trenches, artillery firing into the air, bomber planes soaring through the sky, unexploded missiles, and even tanks! This is the mind of a man who’s seen war. Upon navigating through the mind’s various obstacles, I come across some drawings. These drawings reveal the innermost thoughts of Coach Oleander. Turns out, he never did actually make it to the military. He was too short to qualify. And yet, he dreams of being able to join the army. It made me wonder why he was so obsessed with joining the militia. I did not discover the true reason until much later under… unusual circumstances. 

          The whole game plays like this: you enter the mind of a person, navigating their thoughts and emotions, seeing their past and most intimate desires. And seeing all of this, you realize there’s character development. The character’s themselves don’t have to tell you of their past; you get to witness it (or at least fragments and symbols of it). Some minds even show signs of disorders such as bipolar personality or schizophrenia. Upon clearing up the inner turmoils of these people, you effectively improve their lives. That always felt amazing; beating a level not just to complete it, but to make someone’s day better, if not their livelihoods. 

          It’s not only a journey into a series of twisted landscapes based on thoughts and feelings, but a lesson in psychology. You learn why certain people act the way they do, and in most cases they need outside help just to stay sane. Psychonauts is definitely one of my favorite games I’ve ever played. I would suggest anyone who can to try this game. It’s quite a trip.