Review
The Inside Scoop on Gamecrush
Everyone thought paying a girl to play video games was a ridiculous idea but shortly after GameCrush initially launched, the GameCrush servers overloaded from all the traffic. It took GameCrush a long time to get running again but they have relaunched the site in a limited beta. At any given time, a girl can be found playing one of their simple java games for money. Even in their beta, it looks like GameCrush has proven itself to be a successful business model. The question is how does GameCrush do it?
The Basics
The premise is as old as time itself. Guys want to have a little fun with a beautiful girl and lacking the skill to whoo one, they pay. There are thousands of sites similar to GameCrush, that allow you to privately talk to a girl on camera for money; yet the addition of Java and Xbox games changes the game. Guys, aka Players, buy credits in 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 packs. The players can then trade 400 credits for either a 10 minute Xbox game without webcam or a 6 minute casual game including checkers, battleship, pool, connect four, and tic-tac-toe. If you play a casual for over 6 minute, you will be charged 60 credits every minute after.
The GameCrush Girl
GameCrush Girls are independent contractors, so anyone can sign up to be one. They are given a profile and are in charge of earning their own money, which GameCrush takes a portion of. The reason GameCrush girls are on the site are about as diverse as what they are willing to do. There are girls who are just interested in finding people to play games with, some looking for friends, and some just seeking some easy cash. There are even a few girls who will give you their gamertag if you simply ask, no money needed.
Flirty vs Dirty
The difference between Flirty and Dirty Game Mood is as simple as clothes or no clothes. Dirty girls will remove clothes or do “mature” things, but most girls will make you work for it requiring you to win a game. Flirty is just about everything else and includes everyone from librarians (yes, actual librarians) to party girls.
Why They The Do It
I spent a lot of time asking every girl I could find on GameCrush why they joined the site. I was surprised at all the variety of answers I got. Sukiie was there because she needed extra money since her family wasn’t doing well, ColdFairy24 needed something to do since moved to a new town and didn’t have many friends, and of course there were several girls who simply said “I like playing games and liked the idea of getting paid to do it.” It was the few who seemed to be genuinely interested in just finding people to play games with instead of the money that stood out. They are few and far between, so if you find a girl willing to offer her gamertag without the promise of cash, count yourself lucky.
Tools of the Trade
GameCrush Girls have a few tricks up their sleeve to help earn them cash. GameCrush doesn’t openly announce this information and is only aware to the GameCrush Girls themselves. If a guy views a girl’s profile, she can view the player’s username and amount of credits in the chatroom. She can use this decide which guys to encourage to play with her. GameCrush Girls have access to a private forum that allows them to discuss their experiences with the site, talk about improvements, and even discuss specific players. If a player is creating a disturbance or otherwise creating problems, the girls can mark them as disrespect or report them to get banned.
The Downside
On a good week, a girl could earn enough money to pay her rent by playing video games but it isn’t all sunshine and lollipops. The girls give up 40% of the money they earn to GameCrush so they only earn $4.50 off a $6 game. If they want to play Xbox games on GameCrush, they need to provide their own account. This means if you a girl plays a single game with a guy, they will have their gamertag from then on. It is a small price to pay for an overall great gig.
The Guys
The Good
After asking the GC Girls why they joined, I asked them how they have enjoyed the site. I received overall happy responses, a few dissapointed at the limited selection of games, but most enjoyed talking to the many guys who visited the site. I saw girl’s have long conversations with random patrons about everything from their World of Warcraft characters to memories of old school video games. It seemed some of the people interested in GameCrush, a site with such a bad reputation, turned out to be pretty decent geeks.
The Bad
GameCrush is like a party where everyone is welcome. You get geeks, jocks, party animals, and the jerks. Especially when they know the “dirty” girls will be there. It doesn’t take long before jerks try and get a flirty girl to get a little dirty. It was a common occurrence for a guy to wander into a “flirty” girls room and try and get them to play some strip battleship. The ones who tried offering a big tip for some skin made me realize why GameCrush is viewed as nothing better than common webcam porn to some people.
The Ugly
I am all for equal rights and stuff but I there are a few things both sexes can’t do. It didn’t stop some guys signing up for GameCrush trying to cash in just like all the gamer girls. GameCrush has no objection to their presence and even allows you to search for male or female users. I’ll still be surprised if a guy can earn enough to be a candy bar, little alone rent.
Sum It Up
GameCrush is still working out the kinks in their beta and their future will be decide within the next year. If they create presence for themselves in the gamer community similar to the Fragdolls, it might turn their simple idea into something powerful. Their first step is going to prove that they are more than simple flash games and webcam porn, but before all of that they need to get their site running again. Until then you can head over to GameCrush and sign up for a chance to enter the beta and check out the site for yourself.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
This is the reveal trailer for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 4 game originally titled “Project Needlemouse.” It returns to classic Sonic game play from the Sega Genesis. The game is said to be a direct sequel from Sonic 3. It will be available to download on Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 and a rumored 4th platform in July.
(via Geekologie)
The Good, The Bad, And The Heartless
A hero’s journey can begin in unexpected places taking you from a quiet existence playing with your friends and exploring your small piece of paradise to another world putting you face to face with people you never expected to meet. Some will take this journey with the wide eye innocence but some may allow the world outside their front door to corrupt them. The corrupt become the villains, but the heroes will stay pure and innocent when they are surrounded by the darkness.
Kingdom Hearts is an action roleplaying game for the Playstation 2 video game console. The game puts you in the shoes of Sora and sends you on a journey from your idyllic island paradise to many worlds of the Disney universe. After your home is mysteriously destroyed by the dark heartless creatures, you become separated from your best friends and find Mickey Mouse’s loveable sidekicks, Donald and Goofy instead. After Sora shows his skills with the powerful keyblade weapon, they decide to join you on your mutual goal to defeat the Heartless. Along your quest, you will fight along side well known characters like Jack Skellington, Squall from Final Fantasy, and the mighty half-god Hercules. You will enter different worlds, focusing on a major Disney film, and bring order back to chaos returning the innocent characters to their normal stories.
Most people may be put off by the idea of playing a game with Disney characters, known for the childish appeal but the Kingdom Hearts defiantly puts a more mature spin on these old stories. This game appeals to everyone, fans of Disney and those who have never seen a Mickey Mouse cartoon in their life. The simplified gameplay makes it easily accessible to new players but the engaging storyline, complex strategies, and puzzles will draw in skilled players as well. You will find yourself fighting not to defeat the enemy or finish the game, but to help Sora, Donald, and Goofy find their friends and defeat the Heartless. Your attachment to the characters and you desire to see them succeed will far outweigh your own desire to succeed.
I’ve always loved video games, but I had no idea I would find as much enjoyment from Kingdom Hearts as I did. Most Disney games are aimed at the younger generation; but since Square Enix, the creators of the Final Fantasy games, developed this title I found the game to be as deep as engaging as the Final Fantasy games. The Disney characters and enduring storyline has even attracted women and non-gamers to Kingdom Hearts. I’ve found every minute of the game to be fulfilling and the incorporation of the Disney themes made me want to watch the classic cartoons again since the video game had made me even more attached to this characters I already knew. On occasion, I will find myself longing to play Kingdom Hearts like an urge to see an old friend you haven’t talked to in awhile. Kingdom Hearts will make a fan of anyone who picks up the game.
(Written as an essay for my English 101 Class)
Is it Worth it: Metal Gear Solid LBP Level Pack
The Metal Gear Solid Level Pack for LittleBigPlanet introduces a new costume, 5 new story levels, a new challenge level, along with tons of new stickers and gadgets to enjoy.
The story levels bring a totally new feel to LittleBigPlanet with a the help of the Paintinator. Instead of the usual jump, drag, swing, and hope not to die, the gun allows you to shoot switches and enemies you would normally have to jump on to defeat. The Metal Gear Solid levels rely more on paintinator and cover to provide action shooters rather then the standard platform levels.
Though I finished all the levels pretty quickly, I had a lot of fun playing them. From the first level, which played more like a LBP cutscene then an actual level, to the final boss I couldn’t get enough. These levels produced my first adrenaline filled moments in LittleBigPlanet. “The Mission” was my favorite level of all 5. It felt more like playing the first contra game then MGS, so much so that I couldn’t resist taking on the elevator with a friend.
While the levels are fun, the goodies are best reason to invest in this DLC. The new gadgets will provide creators with a lot more possibilities far beyond the platform genre. I’ve already seen several well designed levels within the first hours of release and am expecting to see many more once people have a chance to build their masterpieces.
The question is the Metal Gear Solid Level Pack worth the $6 price tag?
The new tools, stickers, and music will defiantly please any LBP creators. For those of us who are too lazy to build our own levels, the costume and levels bring enough new gameplay and replay value that won’t leave you regretting the christmas present to yourself. Overall, with all the new content, the level pack is well worth its $6 price tag. Though if you still aren’t sold and want to check things out before you buy, remember you can still join a game hosted by someone who has the level pack to play any of the story levels and can play any level published that uses the new tools on your own.
For more information on the Level Pack, check out the Playstation Blog.