Sparky's Update is tired of being sick, and sick of being poor.

OK, if you get that title reference, I want you to go out and get yourself a cookie.  But not just any cookie - the biggest damned cookie in the universe.

 
Oh, yeah, that's right, hotpants McGee, I'm back and I've got a lot to talk about.  Sorry for the absence (like you really care, right?).  I had all sorts of personal issues to work out over the last two weeks, including a fun bout with the noro virus (spelling?).  Let me tell you what, that's just a fantastic little sickness there.  I'm glad I'm still young.  Well, young-ish.  That shit can apparently kill you - literally. 
 
This week, I'm talking about my admiration for Tales of Vesperia and how end-game material should be done correctly.  I'll also be doing a quick rundown on some gaming events and news in a new section I'm giong to call Tidbits.  Original, I know. 
 
Waiter, There Are Tales in My Vesperia

 
The title "Tales of Vesperia" is apt.  The main quest itself is ridiculously long, almost negatively so at times.  It's pretty standard anime-RPG fare with the same cliched JRPG stereotypes you've come to know and expect.  But this isn't meant to be a review of the game - this is praise for what the game does right.  There is a metric shit-ton of side-quests, mini-scenes, optional character development, collectibles, optional bosses, and an insane amount of monster hunting to be found here.  It's not all just limited to the end, either.  This is all spread out through the various chapters of the game, so if you're like me, you've missed at least three-quarters of the good stuff on the first playthrough. 
  
I recently took a look at a FAQ designed for Vesperia's side quests.  Holy shit, was I blown away.  Nothing in its own right is spectacular or entirely original, but all of it combines to add a hell of a lot of meat to an otherwise bland game.  And that's not even dipping into the New Game+ material, which allows you to spend your hard-earned alternate currency "grade" on things like bonus experience, carrying over abilities, and all the items or costumes you've obtained so far. 

• If the makers of this game can learn to create some original characters and a good-to-great story, they'll have one of the best RPG systems I've seen to date.  It's stunning how much there is to see and do in this game, and I really applaud them for spending so much time on what would otherwise be considered trivialities.   Which brings me to my point.  If your game doesn't have some sort of great replay value naturally built into the product (i.e. multiplayer), then you'd damn well better make sure you spend some development time adding some in.  It's the difference between the GTA IV's and the Saint's Row 2's of the world.  GTA IV might have a great story and is polished, but it's Saint's Row 2 that compels me to keep playing, thanks to its awesome extra content and wide range of fun mini-games.
   
  And mini-games aren't even necessarily the answer.  Sometimes, it's just adding in a little extra character development on the side.  Or maybe it's some evolving and interesting sub-plots and stories, as in Lost Odyssey or any number of adventure games.  Straight-up story-telling is fine, and can make for an awesome single runthrough.  But if you're looking to keep your gamers hooked and avoid a used game craze, make damn sure you've got some great bonus content.  Bones it, Tales of Vesperia creators.  You've done it right.  Booyah.
   
  Tidbits  
  
• *The goddamn ordered and unordered lists are still not working properly in GB.  Any thoughts or ideas on how to get them to work properly?  It doesn't even create the list as I ask.  It just ends up on a blank line.
   
• --Picked up both Deus Ex games through the Steam sale this week.  Hoping to pick up Final Fantasy XIII Monday.  We'll see what happens.

 
--I managed to get my 360 up and running by banging the hell out of the case when it loads disks.  Not happy with the solution, but for now, it works. 
 
--Marvel vs. Capcom 3?  Hell yeah!  Hoping to build my dream team of Venom, Captain America, and Deadpool.  I'd love to see Thanatos, Quasar, and Wonder Man make appearances, but that's pretty damn doubtful.   Oh, and more Psylocke in skimpy outfits, please.  Yep, she's a comic and digital.  Yep, she's still hot.  Piss off.
 
--Some good deals on games right now - Direct2Drive is holding some weekly sales on quite a few of their games.  Steam has Trine for $5, and Left 4 Dead 2 for $20.  Hell yeah. 

--GOG.com continues to impress me with their offerings.  Can't wait to pick up a lot of those old adventure games.  Gabriel Knight, baby.  Gabriel Knight. 
 

What You Should Be Reading Right Now 
 

It's been hard for me t sit down and read a lot of the blogs these last few weeks, and I'm really sorry about that.  I had hoped to be able to highlight blogs from each week, but unfortunately I've only been able to catch up with more recent ones.  Here you go. 
 
The winner of this week's I'm-Not-Worthy goes to ProfessorEss, for his astoundingly good blog on the used games industry.  Check it, fools.  It's a hell of a good read, it's short, and it needs more comments and readers!

 
The runner-up this week goes to Dalai, with his insightful blog on the so-called end of the consoles.  Again, a great read by Dalai, and well worth your time.