Well everyone, welcome back. We’ve been revived. After anextremely long period of renovation, I am proud to present you with The Hyrulian Network, version 3.8. Just some quick information about this layout, it was created and coded by me (finally!) and hopefully will be our layout for a while. Next on today’s agenda are our affiliates. Affiliation with a lot of our old sites have been terminated. Affiliation is currently closed, and will be reopened in the future. Since I’m starting afresh, I’ve decided to keep those affiliates who really kept in touch and interacted with me-in other words, affiliates who truly are, affiliates. Now, our concept here at The Hyrulian Network is a bit different. While our last version focused on everything: Walkthroughs, images, news, media, etc. nothing really got done. So I guess you could say that The Hyrulian Network will now be a more fan exclusive site. Created by the fans, for the fans. Of course, the backbone of things will always be the same, and some other areas may resurface in the future. Now, a major reversion I would like to talk about are my rants. After looking at the archives from when this site was first released, I realized how mundane and insipid my rants have become. They’re more technical and really lack the zest and fervor that The Hyrulian Network once had. I’d like to change that. I will continue to update on the latest Zelda news, but I’ll leave the technical formalities to “big” sites out there like Zelda Universe and Zelda Dungeon. I guess my disgust for “big” Zelda sites is finally showing. Not only are the webmasters unfriendly, but the sites themselves are no longer fun places to be. Being “big” sites, they look down upon the smaller Zelda sites in the community. I honestly believe however, that it is our smaller sites, the sites who are devoted to bringing the fans exclusive content, that really shape our community. Anyone can spit out news; however, it takes real people and real sites out there to do it in a unique and interesting way. My hope is that The Hyrulian Network will become like that. On that note, I’d like to commend some of the bigger sites out there that I’ve noticed-consistently retaining humanity and sanity while trying to please the fans. Please check out Exploding Deku Nut and Zelda: The Grand Adventures, sites that continue to radiate pure excellence and quality, despite their colossal popularity. Great job guys.So, a new start, almost another new year. Our downtime was so bad, that we missed our second birthday (October 22, 2005). Happy Birthday THN! ^_^
Now that that’s out of the way, I’d like to get started on a rant I’ve been thinking about for a while. Thanks goes to Linker from DNL who actually initiated my thought process.
You know, I really think that our video gaming world is in serious declination. If you take a look at all these new games coming out now days, they seriously lack certain elements that define what a good videogame really should be. These games not only lack plot, but they are missing that certain game play and experience that really makes you go, “wow, that was a great game!” Once again, I’ll reiterate that a game should not be all about the graphics, but about the experience when playing the game. From time and time again, and still to today, I think that the finest example of this is Ocarina of Time. That game just made me go, woah. Never invested a better 30 dollars in my life. But today’s games? They are simply graphically centered, lacking plot, lacking in-depth characters, lacking everything essential that makes that game play experience. And worst of all, not only are they so simple that a two year old could beat them, but they take out a heavy chunk of your paycheck and leave your wallet considerably lighter. More often than not my friends will spend 50 dollars on a new game, only to beat it within a week or two. The video game industry has really fallen to a new low, and it is up to us fans, now, more than ever, to keep the true spirit alive. And so far, I’ve found only one sure fire solution. One that not only helps you enjoy your games more, to experiencethem, but one that also is much easier on that wallet.
It’s easy enough to understand. Play old videogames. Seriously. Just listen to me for a moment: not only do these old games shout gameplay experience in your face, but they are extremely easy to find and cheap to buy. A good N64 costs maybe 20 dollars now days. That’s less than all of these new crap games coming out. Games for the N64 are like 5-10 dollars. And we haven’t even gotten to the days of the SNES or NES yet. Point is, this is where experience lies. In the long forgotten systems of the past. Remember what it was like to play those games all day long? To be so into them, into the experience? The days where, instead of yelling, “I just pwned that n00b” you would yell, “Go Pikachu!”. Remember? Remember? If you don’t, then you seriously need some rejuvenation. It’s the holiday season and things couldn’t be more affordable. Go get yourself a classic system if you don’t have one already, and sit down and play some games. Some real games. Relive the classic moments and I’m sure you’ll find, just as I have, that the old games are much much MUCH better than these new games. If we can get not just the Zelda community, but the video gameing community in general to realize this, we can truly help define the quality and standards of video games today. Remember, each and everyone person counts. Do yourself a favor this holiday season and go relive the experience.
This is just a list of some of my personal favorites, but there are of course, a myriad of awesome games out there.
And last but not least, an affiliate update, The Random Planehas released a new game called “HyperPumpkin”. Check it out to satisfy your late Halloween cravings.
Just some closing comments, I know this has been a very long rant, I apologize, but I thought kicking our fresh start off with some energy would be beneficial. Until then, enjoy your holidays, and remember to go play some Zelda in the meantime!
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12/17/2005; 11:44AM; InformeroftheSages
Now that that’s out of the way, I’d like to get started on a rant I’ve been thinking about for a while. Thanks goes to Linker from DNL who actually initiated my thought process.
You know, I really think that our video gaming world is in serious declination. If you take a look at all these new games coming out now days, they seriously lack certain elements that define what a good videogame really should be. These games not only lack plot, but they are missing that certain game play and experience that really makes you go, “wow, that was a great game!” Once again, I’ll reiterate that a game should not be all about the graphics, but about the experience when playing the game. From time and time again, and still to today, I think that the finest example of this is Ocarina of Time. That game just made me go, woah. Never invested a better 30 dollars in my life. But today’s games? They are simply graphically centered, lacking plot, lacking in-depth characters, lacking everything essential that makes that game play experience. And worst of all, not only are they so simple that a two year old could beat them, but they take out a heavy chunk of your paycheck and leave your wallet considerably lighter. More often than not my friends will spend 50 dollars on a new game, only to beat it within a week or two. The video game industry has really fallen to a new low, and it is up to us fans, now, more than ever, to keep the true spirit alive. And so far, I’ve found only one sure fire solution. One that not only helps you enjoy your games more, to experiencethem, but one that also is much easier on that wallet.
It’s easy enough to understand. Play old videogames. Seriously. Just listen to me for a moment: not only do these old games shout gameplay experience in your face, but they are extremely easy to find and cheap to buy. A good N64 costs maybe 20 dollars now days. That’s less than all of these new crap games coming out. Games for the N64 are like 5-10 dollars. And we haven’t even gotten to the days of the SNES or NES yet. Point is, this is where experience lies. In the long forgotten systems of the past. Remember what it was like to play those games all day long? To be so into them, into the experience? The days where, instead of yelling, “I just pwned that n00b” you would yell, “Go Pikachu!”. Remember? Remember? If you don’t, then you seriously need some rejuvenation. It’s the holiday season and things couldn’t be more affordable. Go get yourself a classic system if you don’t have one already, and sit down and play some games. Some real games. Relive the classic moments and I’m sure you’ll find, just as I have, that the old games are much much MUCH better than these new games. If we can get not just the Zelda community, but the video gameing community in general to realize this, we can truly help define the quality and standards of video games today. Remember, each and everyone person counts. Do yourself a favor this holiday season and go relive the experience.
This is just a list of some of my personal favorites, but there are of course, a myriad of awesome games out there.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time --- N64
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask --- N64
- Super Mario World --- SNES
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island --- SNES
- Earthbound --- SNES
- Banjo Kazooie --- N64
- Banjo Tooie --- N64
- Golden Sun --- GBA
- Golden Sun: The Lost Age --- GBA
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past --- SNES
And last but not least, an affiliate update, The Random Planehas released a new game called “HyperPumpkin”. Check it out to satisfy your late Halloween cravings.
Just some closing comments, I know this has been a very long rant, I apologize, but I thought kicking our fresh start off with some energy would be beneficial. Until then, enjoy your holidays, and remember to go play some Zelda in the meantime!
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12/17/2005; 11:44AM; InformeroftheSages