Ask Gauss

Happy Easter everyone! Or just happy Sunday to everyone just sitting around enjoying their weekend. Not matter what you are doing you are here for a reason. That being to see the questions I am answering this week, or maybe even seeing if your question was one of the ones I decided to pick. If you are unsure how to send those questions in there is a bunch of ways on the right side of the page to get a hold of myself or you can just email me at gaussafication@gmail.com with that taken care of let's get to the questions.

What was your favourite April Fools joke this year?

There were quite a few good ones this year in games and out, but I always tend to get the biggest laugh out of random patch notes from games. This year didn't disappoint with this epic line from the Hearthstone patch notes

The spell Blizzard now causes enemy minions to attack Soon™

I know it is funny but I probably laughed way too much at it.

Do you think difficult games like Bloodborne will ever catch on?

I am not completely sure what you mean by this. If you mean everyone will want to play them then I think it is where people expect it to be. I think some of the changed they made from the souls games to Bloodborne made it less punishing in terms of the death, but the game itself is not easier. Games out now always have a specific audience that really is great about gaming now there is something for everyone. Also games that tend to be part of a too large of an audience normally always fail at making specific audiences happy. I think Destiny is the perfect example of this. If you like a game should be happy with that making others wanting to play it can have a bad effect of the quality you like.

I was sad to see no April Fools joke form yourself

Maybe that was the joke?

There you have it questions for the week all answered. Hope the answers were good for the ones asking and for those of you reading. If I did not get to your question I will eventually if I answer it on here or not.

Ask Gauss

Sunday! Yes you are not dreaming your weekend is over. At least next weekend is a long weekend, so you have that going for you! As is the case every time the weekend is nearing an end it is time to go through my emails for the week and answer some questions. So let's get right to that.

Is it just me or has Sylvanas been in like every Heroes game I have played this week?

We were just joking about this the other day when we were playing as a group of 4. Every game our 5th ending up being Sylvanas. Now this wasn't always a bad thing as some people actually could play her. In other cases though it was quite sad. To me I don't know how you can justify playing your first game as a new hero with other people. You have no idea what the abilities do and you are just testing out the character. It really only will lead to you been a drain on your team. Sure by the end of the first match you might have a better idea but you really could have ruined the game for everyone else on your team.

Do you think Bloodborne really just shows that PS4 is the better choice?

Now Bloodborne is a great game I will give you that, but it really isn't a game which can decide a console war. Why? Well it isn't a game that everyone can get into. It is a hard game which not everyone will be able to get past. Sure it isn't as punishing as the Souls game, but it is not easy by any means. I really think Uncharted 4 is the one that will affirm this generation will be PS4's victory but will have to wait till next year now to see that come.

Why do games have to be exclusives?

So companies have nice things to fight over.

There they are this week's questions and their answers. Hopefully you all got something out of it and know to those who sent something in and I did not get to it yet, I will eventually! Enjoy what is left of your weekend everyone!

Am I Good?

Friday! Yes it is here and we are all waiting for what the weekend has for us. Many of us will be playing a variety of games this weekend and some of us will be still be playing Bloodborne. A game which tests your limits as a gamer. For this week's Reader Post Gilly sent me in not only a review of Bloodborne, but also his take on if he is in fact good enough to play it. Have a read!

Am I "good" at games? I don't know.

I'm 30 years old: I've been playing video games for 25 of those years, give or take. I spent two weeks this year completing Mega Man 1 through 4. I've sunk hundreds of hours into Spelunky. Whether I'm "good" at games is up for debate; I love challenging games. Despite this, I've never loved the divisive, feverishly adored/hated Souls games. Their challenges felt too great to overcome, their systems too inscrutable, their technical issues too great in number. They felt frustrating instead of challenging.

Bloodborne -- the latest entry in the series and the first without a "Souls" moniker attached -- changes that. This is a game I love to hate. But I mostly just love it.

So, what makes Bloodborne different from previous series entries? It's not nearly as much of a dick as previous games. Yeah. Really.

I'm not trying to be flip -- that's a totally serious statement. While previous games punished players incessantly with compounding measures, Bloodborne encourages you to keep trying. That is a crucial difference in game design, and one that should make it more appealing to a much larger audience.

I used the word "inscrutable" earlier in reference to the systems of previous games. Bloodborne is, by contrast, concise and easily understood.

Also, maybe don't fight the electric beast first thing

In the first part of Bloodborne, you've got two main pathways to go: toward two different bosses. One is hard, but beatable. The other is nigh impossible in the early stages of character development.

Again, maybe I'm not very good at games.

Instead of pushing me down, Bloodborne forces me to play smarter. And it doesn't make me feel like a jerk when I don't. I don't know if I'm good enough for Bloodborne, but I'm trying to be.

I will agree it is much more forgiving then the Souls games, but not in a way which makes it easier. With that in mind enjoy your weekend no matter what you are playing!

It Is All Worth It In The End

So here I was playing Bloodborne and obviously dying quite a bit. Not that I am opposed to dying, because in a game like Bloodborne and those like it you learn from your deaths each and every time. If you don' then you really are going to be overly frustrated and then just end up raging, and maybe even loosing a couple remotes in the process.

Now when all this was happening I was trying to think to myself why I enjoy playing games that are difficult. Now when it comes down to it I always love a challenge. I think most gamers do. They tend to do things, which others never think would be impossible. This is why we have trophies and achievements, to show how messed up and demented we can be. It is not only the challenge though. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment that what I am doing is not going to be done by everyone who picks up a game. I like the fact that I was able to pull that off after the time I put into something. I love the fact that I scream yes, jump for joy, clap, or give myself a pat on the back. I love doing something that warrants a screenshot or an instant text to a friend.

All this isn't for bragging rights though. It really is how you are proud of what you were able to do. Now non gamers will say this is stupid and why would you ever be proud of something you did in a game. The fact of the matter is, why shouldn't you be?

So yes. Hard games can drive you insane. They may cause deaths that will make you not even want to touch a game for days. They may cause a sudden burst of anger, which will leave you explaining why that mark is on the wall. What they also bring though are those memories of the first time doing that, and the struggle you went through to get there.

If a game is easy you will never have any of that. Sure you will remember the game, but you won't have those moments where you overcame something you thought you would never do. So play those hard games, push through the frustration and it all will be worth it in the end.

You Fail At Being Ready For Bloodborne If...

Fail Day! Yes it is here. That can also be said for the Bloodborne, which you are either taking a break from or waiting to get your hands on it. That is unless you know nothing about it. This is the fact which leads us directly into today's Fail Day. So here we go

You Fail At Being Ready For Bloodborne If...

• You just said "Bloodborne what?"
• You don't have a PS4
• You prefer games that are all sunshine and rainbows
• You are not prepared to die continuously
• You are easily frustrated
• You think excess gore makes a game less interesting
• You don't have a replacement remote for when one gets thrown into a wall
• You like to be coddled
• You don't know what it is like for a game to punish your muscle memory
• You didn't know when you bring someone into your world it summons a boss
• You are not pumped up for transformable weapons
• You thought Dark Souls II was easy

and finally

• You have never really played a game which was "Hard"

There you have it. This week's edition of Fail. Enjoy you multitude of deaths throughout the day!

Ask Gauss

Sunday! Yes the weekend is coming to an end. It's sad, but you will live to do it all over again. With that in mind I have gone through my emails for the week and picked out some questions I think many of you might get some use out of. So here we go.

Do you think the Campaign will be playable with the LotV trailer?

The will probably have parts of it playable. I an't bring myself to spoil the story so I don't see myself playing it if I get in. I will though play the multiplayer endlessly. I really think that is more of what they are concerning themselves with anyway. The campaign is a story there are units that won't see the light of day in multiplayer. Mulitplayer on the other hand is the Esports bread and butter and they want to make sure that everything with it as well and good.

Is it just me or does gaming seem more popular this year?

I really just think it is the world we live in. People enjoy spending their time how they like. I feel there are games for everyone now and not just for specific people. This makes it easier for anyone really to "get into it". People want to feel as if they have spent their time wisely on something they enjoy and they are doing it. Now this doesn't mean there are now suddenly millions of people deciding to play 16 hours a day. because that isn't true. It is though true there may be millions spending one or two hours checking out something they wouldn't have before.

Bloodborne this week!

Yes you don't have to tell me. Will be right into it come Tuesday.

There they are questions for the week. Hope to those that got their questions on here they accept the response and for those who didn't I will get to your questions eventually. Enjoy what is left of your weekend everyone!

Ask Gauss

Sunday! Yes it is here and we are left wondering where the weekend has gone off to. That and how we have now entered March people got tons of plans already in the making. All that planning aside though do have some questions to answer. So let's get to it.

Did I hear we are going to get Sylvanas in Heroes?

Apparently yes! She will be a ranged Specialist from what I am hearing. Also will be here as a Dark Ranger probably with a High Elf Skin. Without knowing her specific abilities hard to comment, but I don't doubt in her being a favourite.

So with The Order:1886 released. What do you think is the next biggest new title coming?

Well that would have to be Bloodborne. Game that I can't get enough of every time I see it. That plus the Dark Souls type difficulty it plans on bringing to the table I don't see how I couldn't be excited for such a game. I know it won't be for everyone though, but I believe those who do get it will be the ones who will talking about it for a long time. In both a good and bad sense.

Are you just going to post your next week's list on Ask Gauss every week now?

No.

There you have it questions answered for the week. Hope you all got some information you can use in one way or another. Thanks to everyone who sent something in if I got to it on here or not as always wouldn't be possible with out all of you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

So What Do You Think?

Here we are smack dab in the middle of the week looking for something to look forward to. With it the start of the year and everything to it really is a great time to look forward to the things to come. So honestly coming up with a list this week was rather simple. What things am I looking forward to the most in the next year gaming wise? Well let's just have a look shall we.

5. Bloodborne

There are few games which I know nothing about and can watch the first 10 seconds of a trailer and now I want to play it. This game will be challenging and unforgiving and is going to make me rage endlessly again and again. And all that couldn't make me happier

4. The Order: 1886

This game has interested me since it was announced. The backstory, the gameplay the attention to detail just have me crazy with anticipation. Then, of course, came the Silent Night trailer and it just re-enforced the point home I had to play it even more.

3. Final Fantasy XV

There has never been a Final Fantasy game I wasn't excited to get my hands on. This is no exception. You can call me a fanboy all you want but I really have never been angry with the time I have spent playing one of them. They always lead to comparison but they never disappoint.

2. The Witcher 3

It physically hurt me when this game was delayed till May. One thing I do know though is the game will not be released until they feel it is ready and people will get the most out of it. So if that means I have to wait a few months I guess I will have to accept that.

1. Uncharted 4

I wish this came out tomorrow. Ever since Uncharted 3 ended I wanted to play Uncharted 4 even if ending at 3 actually made perfect sense. Drake makes every game interesting and fun to play in a variety of ways. Also Naughty Dog is Naughty Dog.

There they are, agree? Disagree? You know the drill let me know either way. There really is much to be desired this coming year and I am hoping they don't disappoint.