Minor Tablet Reviews : TeamLava`s Story Franchise

Be it as much I love cafe Sims, the Sims of TeamLava are short term low key easily cranked out cloner games with short term appeal, and no permanent place in my collection.

I reviewed a grand total of 3 TeamLava games. Two being Cafe World clones (Restaurant and Bakery Story) and a different clone where you run a nightclub (Nightclub Story). The games are ok but lack a severe amount of depth and content. All the games do their job, they fulfill that need to run a diner or nightclub, but only at the most basic level. Where games like Cafe World excels, in that your options and possibilities grow as you play, this game quickly stagnates and falls apart.

Besides the minimal graphics you find almost from go your grinding hard with little e reward for all your efforts. Working hard to keep counters filled, and diners happy, it takes a long time to level up, much less unlock New machineslike ovens, stoves, drink makers and do on so you can grind out more and more recipes at a time. Worst, certain devices suck in terms of quick recipes that only take a few minutes making it longer waits to keep your counters stacked, which is made worst by the inability to stack recipe items to keep certain foods stocked on your counters. The idea of one cook item per counter is counter productive, but TeamLava went there not just in early releases but seemingly in every release. Why they went there, especially when Glu got it right with Tavern Quest, boggles the mind.

But wait, that is not all. Besides hard level progression it's hard to keep your counters stocked. Not only because of the one cooked item per counter limit, but also because the diner ai (underwhelming forgettable ai) eat like animals, quickly depleting your recipes. Also? Restaurant Story has an unforgivable very early task (2nd or 3rd) which cannot be completed no matter how long you play, tasking you to cook an item none of the cooking devices prepare. What a quick and early fail!

And if that is not enough, and Lord knows it should be, but the game is heavily dependent on three broken facts.

- One. The games are heavily dependent on premium currency in order to progress as a few later missions can't be completed or skipped without it.

- Two. The games are heavily dependent on making friends on either Facebook or the game site TeamLava uses. And you know what a pain that is especially since a few of these company owned things (looking at you GameLoft) are impossible to work with.

- Three. The games have too many long term items that take too long to finish, and not in so called game time mind you as most of the games we will be looking at play in realtime, and having far too much time heavy recipes to wade through (especially to complete early tasks) is such a pain.

Combine all that with lackluster gameplay and graphics and TeamLava really need to go back to the drawing board, and instead of grinding out 100 sad inferior games work on making 10 games, and making them well. Otherwise these games barely meet your needs, but will ultimately disappoint. A 2 out of 5 times 3.

This Playstation Life in development

The problem with presently upgrading to the PSVita? The cost, and the lacking budget to meet said cost, what with the usual suspects limiting that and all... but in This Playstation Life I'll tell you why, even if you are going PSVita, you should hold onto and continue to use your first gen (PSP-1000 to PSP-3000) PSP.

- UMDs. They got axed as of the PSP Go.

- The ability to convert and watch videos and movies from the internet using PSPVC.

- Might still be able to play homebrewed games (a dirty word of late in the big three)

Lately Sony has been following the trend, and turning their backs on stuff that benefitted the user... the first gen PSP is the last holdout before the purge began. So, if you can, hold onto it... if you must, buy it again used from amazon and the like.

First episode splits the chores of gaming and multimedia between the two, PSP and PSP Go, and compares the two and which one is best suited for what.

I just need a PSP Go and then I'll start scripting... coming soon, stay tuned.

Presenting Wii U Life, starting July 31st!

This July 31st track the coming 2012 launch of Nintendo's newest console, the Wii U, with Wii U Life.

UPDATE - Now scheduled as a monthly cast, Wii U Life follows the Wii U on its coming release mid 2012 (no doubt during the summer if not spring). Contributors welcome to join the cast.

Wii U Life Episode 1, coming July 31st, covers the full introduction to the Wii U, and questions being asked at present about next year's Wii U launch.

Stay tuned for updates on Wii U Life in the coming weeks.

That's it for the Independence Weekend

Well at least we got three casts out.

This coming weekend (July 8th to 10th) we are putting out Retro Game Boy Life Episode 2 (Saturday). Stay tuned for updates as we draw close to release.

July 2011 - Experimental Month of Minicasts

It's July 2011 and this month is an experimentation with 20 minute minicasts. Starting with the July 4th Independence Weekend casts.

The advantages of shorter casts is that it should mean more casts released in the month, as well as hopefully equal more downloads and followers... maybe. Anyway we started with Arcade Jukebox and Game As You Go, but will have a full version of the cast (both put together) out at the end of the weekend.

Later in the month we'll have more casts out of 20ish minutes, and if it works out we'll do it full time. We'll see. Updates coming shortly on the other casts.

Next Game Cast coming this weekend

This Friday the next new game cast, Game As You Go/Arcade Jukebox minisode 1, is set to release. Half mini-sode of mobile game reviews, half all video game music request show. Following that we should be putting out PSP DLC Life Episode 3 during the weekend.

As for Arcade Jukebox we are presently taking requests for music. Post requests in the comments section please.

Today's Podcasting Update

I didnt get as much done as I wanted, but I made some progress all the same.

Retro Game Boy Life Episode 1
All done, just need to finish assembling it and release it today (June 18th 2011)
Status - Assembling

Let's Learn Fail Whale Episode 1
Sure it is just a re-release but still, let's see if we can add onto it before Sunday...
Status - Post Production

Game As You Go Episode 1
I'm just about done with my present review cycle... and the casr may end up being 20 minutes long... mini cast? Combo cast with another series? Get more review stuff? I'm putting part of my thoughts on this puzzle this weekend, stay tuned for updates or post in the comments section your thoughts on it. All opinions and suggestions welcomed!
Status - 30% Complete

Working this coming week on PSP DLC Life Episode 3, Digital Scribbles Episode 4 and starting work on 3DS Life Episode 4 (the E3 2011 episode).

Stay tuned for updates!

3DS Life Episode 3 Now Available!

Episode 3 is now up and available! Featuring the following...

Reviews
3DS Classics Excitebike
Fast Food Panic
Gourmet Chef
Nancy Drew : Mystery of the Clue Benders Society
Pokedex 3D
Sushi Academy
Time Hollow

Commentary - The Disposition of the 3DS eshop and what can be done to improve it.

Next up it's Retro Game Boy Life Episode 1, hopefully the start of a long running series. Anyway updates all weekend so stay tuned.

Weekend Podcast Release Schedule

New podcasts coming out this weekend, knock on wood. Updates posted during the weekend.

Friday - 3DS Life Episode 3
Saturday - Retro Game Boy Life Episode 1
Sunday - Let's Learn Fail Whale Episode 1 (re-release)

Full information on casts as they release, stay tuned!