4. Tony Hawk's Underground [Video Game]

1. Bibliographic Information
Neversoft. (2004). Tony Hawk’s underground. [Video Game]. United States: Activism, Inc.

Rated Teen for Blood, Mild Violence, Strong Language, and Suggestive Themes

Console Played on: Playstation 2

Also available for Game Cube, Game Boy Advance, and Xbox.

ISBN: 1-58416-576-6

2. Plot Summary
Tony Hawk’s Underground begins with the ability to customize your player and skateboard. Users chose from a variety of aspects including face, clothing, and so forth. When you continue, your friend Eric Sparrow shows you a flyer for a Chad Muska demo. So you and your friend hit the streets of your New Jersey neighborhood to practice and explore new spots to skate. On the street there are numerous places to skate including the abandoned pool, Elm Street, and atop the roofs of the city. As you continue in the game, your moves attract the interest of Chad Muska who encourages you to get sponsored from Stacy Peralta. Once sponsored you tour the world skating in different countries such as Canada, Russia, and back in the United States. However, missions occur throughout the game and Eric is not always dependable. Play the game to see if you can gain the notoriety as a professional skater.

3. Critical Evaluation
Having little experience with video games, I found Tony Hawk’s Underground to be easy to pick up. Granted, the game was on “easy,” but unlike Half Life 2, the game provided beginners with a chance to become acclimated with the game. Moves can either be picked up via talking with other characters in the game or by trial and error by simply pressing buttons. For example, you can talk to other players in the game to learn how to jump off of your board to run on foot. With the game on easy, the custom player hardly falls, which allows the user a better chance of understanding the game. Missions are mostly determined by completing a move or a certain amount of points within a given time frame. While I did not necessarily complete all of the missions on the first try, the game did provide users with the ability to try again. Thus, the game felt like it was designed with the user in mind, emphasizing entertainment rather than complex strategy or moves.

4. Reader’s Annotation
Create your own skateboarder and impress Chad Muska in the fifth installment of the Tony Hawk videogames.

5. Information about the Author
Neversoft is owned by Activism Blizzard. It was started in 1994 by Joel Jewett, Chris Ward and Mick West, all of which used to work for Malibu Interactive. Neversoft’s most successful game franchises not only include the Tony Hawk games but also Guitar Hero and its subsequent releases.

6. Genre
Sports

7. Curriculum Ties
N/A

8. Booktalking Ideas
N/A

9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I think that teens aged 15-17 would enjoy playing this game.

10. Challenge Issues
The game is rated T for Blood, Mild Violence, Strong Language and Suggestive Themes. While I did not see all elements of the rating system, I did see blood and strong language while I was playing. I would advise adults to consult the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) found at: www.esrb.com for more information.

11. Why was it selected?
Not all teens play first person shooter video games, so I wanted to include a different type of game.

12. Citation
Entertainment Software Rating Board. (2010). Entertainment Software Rating Board. Retrieved from www.esrb.com.

Neversoft. (2010). About. Retrieved from http://www.neversoft.com/site/#/About/

Wikipedia.org. (2010). Tony Hawk’s underground. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hawk's_Underground

Picture from
Wikipedia.org. (2010). Tony Hawk’s underground. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hawk's_Underground

13. Awards
E3 2003 Game Critics Awards: Best Sports Game
GameSpot's Best And Worst 2003 Most Despicable Use of In-Game Advertising
MTV Video Music Awards's 2004 Best Video Game Soundtrack

9. Half Life 2: Episode 2 [Video Game]

1. Bibliographic Information
Valve Corporation. (2007).The orange box: Half life 2: Episode 2. [Video Game]. Rewood City, California: Electronic Arts, Incorporated.

“The Orange Box” is a bundled package which also included the games: Half Life, Half Life 2: Episode 1, Team Fortress 2 and Portal.

Rated Mature for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, and Language.
Console played on: Playstation 3
Other Consoles available to play on include: PC and Microsoft’s Xbox 360

Bar Code: 0-14633-0985-1-8

2. Plot Summary
Half Life 2: Episode 2 is the second installment of Half Life 2. The player starts as Gordon Freeman, a research scientist who is trapped in a sinking train outside of the Black Mesa Research Facility. Upon reaching the end of the train Gordon’s partner, Alyx Vance, opens the door where you both start your mission. It seems that previously Alyx has copied data about a portal which will help the Combine access the system directly through the citadel. The Combine, a nefarious organization who is attempting to rule Earth by using their army made up of humans and genetically mutated creatures. The overall mission of Alyx and Gordon is to get these plans to an enclave of the resistance, which is residing at the White Forest Compound. Along the way Alyx and Gordon must complete smaller tasks on foot and in a car through different terrain including caves, forests and other compounds. Battling the Combine’s army and creatures can you survive the journey to White Forest?

3. Critical Evaluation
Having little experience with video games, I found Half Life 2: Episode 2 to be a challenge. Since movement and line of sight were operated by two different toggles, it took me awhile to adjust to the controller. Furthermore, some controls forced you to use buttons simultaneously on the same hand, which was different for me as well. As a new player, it was difficult for me not to feel queasy while trying to operate the controls. In terms of the plot, this game seemed similar to the other action games I’ve seen people play. It is a linear mission with an overall goal, while the player is given smaller tasks throughout the game upon reaching certain “checkpoints.” While playing the previous games might have given more background in terms of the storyline, it did not seem to affect my ability (or lack thereof) to play the game.

I also asked a friend to act as a tester for me so that I could get well-rounded review, plus he knows how to play the game. He enjoyed Episode 2 because it offered him more freedom to do what he wanted. He felt that the game allowed him to explore different areas of the game and not be solely dependent upon the game’s overall mission. For example, in the forest area he could go off the road and a “wall” would not force him to stay on the trail. Thus, he felt that he was not strictly confined to the game-makers wishes. Ultimately, he liked the game, feeling that it was somewhat original and allowed him hours of mindless entertainment.

4. Reader’s Annotation
As Gordon Freeman join Alyx Vance to fight the Combine forces to deliver crucial information to the resistance in Half Life 2: Episode 2.

5. Information about the Author
Valve Corporation is a computer software and entertainment company. The company was founded in 1996 in Washington by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington. The company’s biggest selling game is the Half Life and its subsequent games.

Electronic Arts, Incorporated distributed the game.

6. Genre
Video Game: Action
First Person Shooter, Single Player Video Game

7. Curriculum Ties
N/A

8. Booktalking Ideas
N/A

9. Reading Level/Interest Age
I think that this video game would appeal to older teens as well as adults. I would recommend this game for 15 year olds and up.

10. Challenge Issues
This video game is rated Mature due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, and Language. From what I saw of the game, blood does “spurt” when people are shot, the creatures vomit and spill their guts, and while I did not notice any objectionable language, I’m sure there is. Nevertheless, this does seem to be standard to many of the first person shooter games I have seen.

Parents should be warned about the rating system of the game, and be cautioned before allowing their teens to play the game. However, if someone did chose to challenge this game, I would refer them to the ALA’s website on challenge guidelines and forms at:

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm

11. Why was it Selected?
I wanted to include an action video game.

12. Citations
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm

Wikipedia.org. (2010). The orange box. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box

Wikipedia.org. (2010). Valve Corporation. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valve_Corporation

Picture
Wikipedia.org. (2010). Half life 2: Episode 2. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2_Episode_2

13. Awards
Half-Life 2: Episode Two won four awards, including one Game of the Year award, and was recognized for excellent NPC (Non-player character) AI (Artificial Intelligence) level design, and story.