Since there are a ton of new games on the horizon (Fallout 3, Diablo 3, Chrono Trigger DS, Call of Duty: World at War, etc.), I though I would start a new thread to keep game-related topics separate from the news threads.  Enjoy!

-b0b
(...loves games.)

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/887/887829/call-of-duty-world-at-war-20080710103003771.jpg

Here's a mini-trailer for Call of Duty: World at War.  It looks pretty sweet graphically, but I'm not sure we really need another World War II FPS.  It's been done to death.

I'd like to see a "Cold War gone hot" FPS with the Call of Duty 4 engine.  That would be freakin' sweet!  Anyway, here's the trailer.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/35341.html

Unfortunately, the people making CoD:WaW are the same people that developed Call of Duty 3.  Which sucked.  Chances are good that this game will suck too, but it is too early to tell.


-b0b
(...will probably get it anyway, though.)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8179/d3ishere2yz8.gif

OMG!  Diablo 3!  With this many awesome games on the horizon, I'm going to be bankrupt by the end of the decade!


Quote:

After the Fire Dancers had left the main stage and the crowds has dispersed, many jubilant, I headed for the jam-packed press conference where journalists got to give Blizzard’s Jay Wilson (Lead Designer on Diablo III) and co-founder Frank Pearce a grilling about Diablo III. “It’s been in development for a few years. About four.” Wilson admits and of course, when asked the next Big Question: a release date, he gives the typical Blizzard response. “When it’s done,” Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce was quick to add that, even after four years, “it’s far too early in development.”

You can download the high-resolution gameplay video here.


-b0b
(...is glad they're sticking to the original theme.)

Yeah when I loaded up Blizzards page and saw the Diablo 3 logo I just about nearly crapped myself....true story b0b.

The new Call of Duty is going to be like CoD3 but with the graphics of CoD4. It'll be gay but look good.  IMO CoD4 is the best FPS ever.

Stick wrote on Jul 11^th, 2008 at 11:05am:

IMO CoD4 is the best FPS ever.

I love CoD4 as much as the next person, but I wouldn't go that far.

I might even be willing to admit that it's the best modern military FPS ever, but I definitely wouldn't give it the title of "Best FPS EVARRRR!!!!111"

Leave that title to the real FPS blockbusters, like the original Unreal Tournament.  That game single-handedly defined a new niche in the FPS genre.  Not even CoD4 can't claim that honor.

-b0b
(...w00t!)

I still find it odd that CoD3 was never released for the PC.  WTF?

X
(/unless I'm mistaken?)

ya i finally fired up cod4 on the xbox and after the first couple levels i gotta say its pretty amazing. Like playing a movie. kudos to the devs.

Yeah, I was absolutely amazed when I first fired it up.  I received it from my mother-in-law as a Christmas gift, otherwise I probably never would have played it.  It really took realism to a whole new level.

-b0b
(...schwing!)

Jus out of curiousity have any of you played the new Civilization: Revolutions?  It looks pretty neat from the commercials and I've been wanting to get a good strategy type game for the 360.  Thought about maybe checking it out, but I hate to drop 60 dollars on a game that sucks....

Any opinions out there on it?  Briney? Pat?...I don't want b0bs cuz he has a horrible taste in game in my opinion :)

It looked like a good regular civ game with a graphical update (finally) it has a sims kinda feel with the advisor's but it looks cool. I didnt get to play it much, we just had the demo at work. But I was thinking of picking it up on that alone. I think it is reviewing well so far.

The_Fat_Man wrote on Jul 12^th, 2008 at 2:41pm:

I don't want b0bs cuz he has a horrible taste in game in my opinion :)

Yeah, I've got horrible taste in women, too, but you should be thankful that I keep your mom in business.

I love real-time strategy games, but I'm not a big fan of turn-based games.  Might & Magic was the shiznit back in the day, but Civilization never really held my attention.  My attention span is too short for that kind of game.

Civilization: Revolutions looks pretty interesting, though.  Meredith loves the Civ series, so I might pick it up eventually.

-b0b
(...w00t.)

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19399


Quote:

As part of what it calls an initiative to "re-establish itself as an innovative leader," publisher Apogee (Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3-D) has announced it is working with mobile developer MachineWorks Northwest to bring a new Duke Nukem trilogy to unspecified handheld consoles. Apogee, which was a pioneer in PC 'shareware' gaming, and, it notes, "episodic gaming and online distribution," says it plans to revive "some of its legacy catalogue of 30+ releases as well as publishing all-new properties in collaboration with diverse creators and developers." To start, the publisher says it will be working with 3D Realms and MachineWorks Northwest on Duke Nukem Triology, a handheld title comprised of three episodes titled Critical Mass, Chain Reaction, and Proving Grounds.

Well at least we will get SOME version of Duke Nukem... Probably before the new game, heh.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19394

Wii Is 'Expensive Niche' Says Sony’s Stringer

Wii Is 'Expensive Niche' Says Sony’s Stringer Ahead of this week’s E3 expo and the all important pre-conference media briefings from the three console manufacturers, Sony CEO Howard Stringer has spoken out against the Wii – again dismissing it as not being a direct competitor to the PlayStation 3.

Speaking at a media conference, Stringer was quoted by a new Bloomberg report, as stating, "I've played a Nintendo Wii. I don't see it as a competitor. It's more of an expensive niche game device. We're selling a lot of PlayStation 3s now and it's still the best way to buy a Blu-ray player.”

Stringer dismissed the Wii as a director competitor due to its lack of media features and, according to the Bloomberg report, access to the Internet.





Quote:

"I've played a Nintendo Wii. I don't see it as a competitor. It's more of an expensive niche game device. We're selling a lot of PlayStation 3s now and it's still the best way to buy a Blu-ray player.”

Hahahaha! Proof that all sony is trying to make is a blu-ray player. Niche game device... haha What are you trying to make sony? I know microsoft and sony are both trying to push a super multimedia device, but at what expense?

Jan-May 2008 sales:

Ps3:   1.2 million
Xbox: 1.12 million
Wii:    2.8 million

Looks like people want  this "niche gaming device" more than your ps3, sir.

Wii is a niche game device...a crap game device.  However, what the douchebag said makes the PS3 a niche movie device.  Derrrrr!

X

MediaMaster wrote on Jul 14^th, 2008 at 11:30am:

Jan-May 2008 sales: Ps3:   1.2 million Xbox: 1.12 million Wii:    2.8 million

I always love to throw out sales numbers when people bash the Wii.  We own all three systems, and the Wii sees more game-related use than the PS3 and XBox combined.  Of course, my PC gaming is higher yet...

And what was the BS about the Wii not having Internet access?  Nintendo released the Wii browser back in May or June of last year, for crying out loud.

-b0b
(...what a moron!)

New Fallout 3 trailers from this morning at E3 2008.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36197.html
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36202.html

-b0b
(...weee!)

The Wii is a "niche" gaming device.  Its just a really big niche.  While most of the games on the Wii are boring to a serious gamer, the majority of people in the world are NOT hardcore gamers.

I know TONS of people who own and LOVE their Wii and you wouldn't probably even guess them as a gamer.

Nintendo is doing things smart, and it kinda pisses alot of gamers off lol

yea i think its silly that people become such huge fanboys of whatever console... What's the point. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Nintendo knows how to make money, knows how to market to people, that's what they do. Then you have Microsoft and Sony over in the corner trying to outdo each other in the graphics and media machine department.

Basically Sony has blu-ray, Microsoft has shooters, Nintendo has casual gamers (and the rabid nintendo fans). Pick your pleasure and quit raggin on what other people get.

But we can still mock Sony for Final Fantasy 13 going to the Xbox 360.

Why choose?  Buy all three!

-b0b
(...is kidding!)

Why buy a system that will move to the next generation in 3 years and limit backwards compatibility to their older games?

Buy none of them!

Nah, just hedge your bet with a decent gaming PC.

-b0b
(...so get all 4!)

and if you keep saying that youll just miss out on a buncha great games till you are 60 and buy the supermegadeluxe console that plays everything ever made and even generates 3d games from classic books like Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe and displays them directly into your brain!

...orrr buy a console and get some good enjoyment out of it for 3 or 4 years. Costs less than your computer upgrades in the same timeframe.

For what its worth, game consoles have a pretty decent lifespan, especially compared with a "gaming PC."  The average lifespan of a successful console if at 5-7 years, whereas the average gaming PC is lucky to make it 2.5-3 years.

-b0b
(...just sayin'.)

Quote:

and if you keep saying that youll just miss out on a buncha great games till you are 60 and buy the supermegadeluxe console that plays everything ever made and even generates 3d games from classic books like Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe and displays them directly into your brain! ...orrr buy a console and get some good enjoyment out of it for 3 or 4 years. Costs less than your computer upgrades in the same timeframe.

Or I could just not buy into the console war and find a way to run the games on a PC.

X

Quote:

Why choose?  Buy all three!

You're a consumer whore...and a real whore!

Patrick you are such a non conformist! I would wish I was like you but then I would be a conformist.

I don't care if you get a console or not, but if you see games that you want to play on them but wont because you "aren't buying into the console war" then you are dumb.

If you are going to get a 42" tv/monitor , why don't you wait for the OLED tvs that are half an inch thick, or whatever is coming next after that. Formats and technology change all the time, the important thing is you get whatever use out of them that you want, while they are out.

If you won't use it, don't get it. But don't knock those that get consoles because they enjoy playing the games that come out for them. Yes, even the Wii. Even though you think its stupid, its fun as all get out to play with other people. And even tho I think it's thin, some people enjoy playing the ps3 *gasp*

meh, to each his own. I'm havin fun with the xbox thats for sure. And when Fable 2 comes out... score!

As for emulation, they still haven't gotten all the ps2 games to work properly on the PC, except for the most powerful machines. So you will be very behind in that regard.

MediaMaster wrote on Jul 15^th, 2008 at 4:02pm:

...but if you see games that you want to play on them but wont because you "aren't buying into the console war" then you are dumb.

GEEK FIGHT!!!

Quote:

Patrick you are such a non conformist! I would wish I was like you but then I would be a conformist. I don't care if you get a console or not, but if you see games that you want to play on them but wont because you "aren't buying into the console war" then you are dumb.

Well there are cars that I want to drive but don't buy either.  Sure there are games I want to play, but I don't want to have to spend $800 just to play a $60 game and then have that $800 system be obsolete in 3 years.  I just can't see spending so much money for a game either.  I don't know why I'm really not into consoles, I guess after I bought my Playstation and saw a few years later, the PS2 come out for $300...I just didn't want to try and keep up.


Quote:

If you are going to get a 42" tv/monitor , why don't you wait for the OLED tvs that are half an inch thick, or whatever is coming next after that. Formats and technology change all the time, the important thing is you get whatever use out of them that you want, while they are out.

Oh come now, that's flawed logic and I hope you know it.  TVs will be able to be used no matter what new tech comes out.  The TV shows run just as well on 1950s TVs as they do today's.  I don't need the top of the line all the time, every few years I just want to catch up...as well as with my computer tech....I don't want to have to do it as often as I get an oil change.  I know I am of two minds, I want tech to increase but at the same time, I think it's kind of ridiculousness how the consumers seem to get screwed if they don't have the latest thing.

Quote:

If you won't use it, don't get it. But don't knock those that get consoles because they enjoy playing the games that come out for them. Yes, even the Wii. Even though you think its stupid, its fun as all get out to play with other people. And even tho I think it's thin, some people enjoy playing the ps3 *gasp*

Psh, I'll make fun of any and all the consoles I want.  I like making fun of people who think the Wii is the most awesomest thing like in forever.  I liken the Wii players to Fantasy Football players.  They make fun of D&D people for being nerds, yet they think they're cool.  I just can't stand all the hokeyness that the Wii has including gay little characters, Wii fit, and even the name itself.  I find flaws with all systems, even though I might play with them...and yes, I will continue to make fun of them all and all of you who play them.


Quote:

As for emulation, they still haven't gotten all the ps2 games to work properly on the PC, except for the most powerful machines. So you will be very behind in that regard.

Oh well, my computer is older than all the consoles out right now...and I can still play the new games today...just think about that.  XBox comes out with a chip you swap every 3 years and it makes it a new model...cheaper and efficient.  Plus...who has all the room for all these consoles.  N64, Playstation 1, 2,3, XBox 1,2, Gamecube, Wii, etc. etc. etc.  It just seems really ludicrous.  Who knows, if PlayStation keeps their backwards compatibility for their games, I might buy the 4th generation and then only spend $30 or less on the games that are out for the PS2 and PS3.

X

X wrote on Jul 15^th, 2008 at 4:56pm:

...but I don't want to have to spend $800 just to play a $60 game and then have that $800 system be obsolete in 3 years.

Where the heck are you buying your game systems?



Quote:

I just can't see spending so much money for a game either.

Sometimes, I also have a hard time laying out $60 for a game, but its really not that bad from a historical perspective.  I paid $60 for most of my Super Nintendo games, and I used to make about $60 a month during the SNES era.

Of course, some games are much easier to justify.  I paid well above $60 for some of my favorite titles like Chrono Trigger and Half-Life 2, and I don't regret those choices at all.

Ultimately, it's a matter of financial prioritization and personal preference, and I can't fault anyone for their economic choices.




Quote:

I don't know why I'm really not into consoles, I guess after I bought my Playstation and saw a few years later, the PS2 come out for $300...I just didn't want to try and keep up.

The US got the PS1 in September of 1995, and the PS2 in October of 2000.  I think 5 years is a pretty decent run for a game console, don't you?



Quote:

Oh well, my computer is older than all the consoles out right now...and I can still play the new games today...just think about that.

Really?  I didn't know there were any PS3/360/Wii emulators available yet.  I'd love to take a look at some of them!


Quote:

Plus...who has all the room for all these consoles.  N64, Playstation 1, 2,3, XBox 1,2, Gamecube, Wii, etc. etc. etc.

I do!  At the moment, Meredith and I have an NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Sega 32x, PlayStation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, and XBox 360 all hooked up to our TV and available for use instantly.  We also have a VCR and DVD player hooked up.

I bought a Sega Saturn on eBay last week, so that will be added to the collection any day now.

-b0b
(...should post a picture.)

Yeah I'm not sure why you think you need to spend 800 bucks on a console to enjoy the new age games.

I bought my Xbox 360, granted it isnt the uber Elite, for 225 bucks used and it works fine.  Aside from that I may have spent another 100 bucks on an extra controler, Xbox Live, MS points and a headset....none of which is REQUIRED to play my Xbox.  Just shit I wanted.

If you are using prices to justify your hatred of consoles you are nuts.  I spent more keeping my computer up to date enough to run new age games than I ever have on a console.

I know once I spend 300 bucks on the 360 I'll be able to play every game that ever comes out on it for 4 or 5 years.

I doubt you can say the same for your PC.

After writing that I realized we are all ganging up on Patsy.

Pat if you don't like consoles thats your choice.  It really doesn't matter to me.  Just try not to slander the console in the process :)

I rarely PC game anymore, but just because I don't much care for it, doesn't mean I think its crap :)

Quote:

After writing that I realized we are all ganging up on Patsy.

Ha! are you kidding he loves this!

Ya pc gaming is down due to piracy and crappy games and it seems mmo's and online games are the only things coming in the future. Sadness.

We need a lan.

MediaMaster wrote on Jul 15^th, 2008 at 6:33pm:

We need a lan.

That's the understatement of the century.  Should we try to set something up for late July or early August?

-b0b
(...is game.)

Quote:

The US got the PS1 in September of 1995, and the PS2 in October of 2000.  I think 5 years is a pretty decent run for a game console, don't you?

Not when I first got my PS1 where the money was reasonable to spend.  I got it with my first paycheck from detasseling corn.


Quote:

Really?  I didn't know there were any PS3/360/Wii emulators available yet.  I'd love to take a look at some of them!

I meant my computer can play the games that came out for the PC.  The point being, that I haven't had to upgrade in a while to even play the high end models.

X

Quote:

Pat if you don't like consoles thats your choice.  It really doesn't matter to me.  Just try not to slander the console in the process

Oh I'll slander your crappy consoles up and down your mom's hairy back all day long...I'll just try not to loose it in the "rough"

X

X wrote on Jul 15^th, 2008 at 6:53pm:

Not when I first got my PS1 where the money was reasonable to spend.  I got it with my first paycheck from detasseling corn.

On an unrelated side note, I also got my PlayStation from hard-earned detasseling money.  It was the first console I ever bought for myself, and it was well worth the money.

Wow, that was probably an entire week worth of earnings back then!

-b0b
(...remembers how much detasseling sucked.)

THQ released a new trailer for Dawn of War II today.

I got a ton of play time out of the original Dawn of War and its expansions.  They really made a new niche in RTS gaming, and each expansion was better than the last.

Hopefully, this new title will bring the same unique touches...

http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/1687

-b0b
(...Space Marines FTW!)

You know the funny thing about detasseling?

In my travels living in other areas of the country, I have yet to find anyone not from the MI, Indiana area that knows what the fuck detasseling is....

Trying to explain it to people in Colorado was amusing.  They all thought it sounded like the dumbest thing in the world, and couldn't understand why you had to pull the top of a corn stalk off lol.

Good times....

New Resident Evil 5 trailer...

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36585.html

I think it looks a bit corny, but I'm sure it is still a bit early in the development stage.  At least, I sure as heck hope that's the problem.


-b0b
(...hated baling hay more than detasseling, though.)

Here are a couple more trailers from E3.  These games are definitely going on my Must Buy list.

Dead Space

Resistance 2 - Reminds me of Cloverfield, awesome battle!


-b0b
(...drools.)

Last trailer of the day, I swear.  Of all the game trailers that have been shown at E3 so far this week, the trailer for Mirror's Edge is easily the most intriguing for me.

Mirror's Edge - Trailer
Mirror's Edge - Interview

It looks like it combines the clean beauty of Portal with the depth of Dreamfall, and manages to come up with something entirely different.  I'm really looking forward to this one.

What do you guys think?


-b0b
(...will watching this game closely.)

Wow that game looks amazing b0b.

Hopefuly it actualy plays as well as it does in that video.  Cuz I've seen a lot of bullshit trailers in my day

Yeah, I worry about that same thing.  If the gameplay is off by even a little bit, that game will be the sux0r.

---

For the most part, I've now complete my collection of Sega consoles.  I bought a Sega 32X a couple months ago for my Sega Genesis, and finally picked up a Sega CD last weekend to complete the set.  By the way, I now have an extra Sega Genesis (Gen 2) in case anybody wants one.

I also bought a Sega Saturn on eBay late last week, and it finally arrived today.  Here are the two beasts side by side.

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/SegaSide.jpg



Here's the entire game setup as it now stands.

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/SegaTV.jpg


The Saturn is out front for the moment, since it doesn't fit on the shelf.  On the bottom row is the Sega Genesis/CD/32X, the Nintendo 64, and the Super Nintendo.  The second shelf contains the PS2, FCTwin (NES/SNES), and PS3.  The top row holds our DVD player, VCR, and a video selector box.  On either side of the TV is our Wii and XBox 360.

Our next console targets are the Dreamcast, TurboGrafx 16 and Sega Master systems.  I've got a bunch of old school games to buy in the mean time, so we'll see how that plays out!


-b0b
(...thought he'd share.)

I didn't know you had a 360 elite and PS3!?  I think you need a 3DO... Most people never heard of them but my cousin had one, it was an early compact disk console.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_3DO_Company#Console_developer

The 3DO is on my list, but it will be awhile before I pick one up.  There aren't any 3DO games I'm dying to play, and I've never touched a 3DO system before so I don't have much sentimental attachment to it.

Worse yet, the system is rather expensive on the second-hand market.  Games are hard to find, and a complete core system is around $200 on eBay.  Even then, only a small selection is available for my perusal.

The system was way, way, waaaaay too expensive, and that killed it before it really even had a chance.  It cost $699 at launch, and that's in 1993 dollars!  The PS3 got flogged for having a $599 price tag, and that was 13 years later!

Moreover, the game selection kinda sucked on the 3DO.  I honestly can't think of a single RPG that was released for the 3DO, and that should have been one of the biggest pushes on the first major CD-based system.


-b0b
(...some day!)

I downloaded the Too Human demo from Xbox Live today and I have to say.

That game is going to kick some serious ass.  I recomend everyone download if you got the equipment.

Yeah, but... it was made in Canada!

Honestly, I've not been keeping up with that game.  I'm downloading the HD trailer as we speak...

-b0b
(...thinks he is going to be broke at this rate!)

Dude Too Human is what I imagine the outcome of Mass Effect and Diablo would be like if they had hot kinky sex and joined for all eternity.

It looks kinda... meh.  It's a souped up Diablo with a hybrid mecha-mythos plot.

Different, but not necessarily original.


-b0b
(...will wait for the real Diablo, thank you very much!)

Out of curiosity, have any of you guys done any dual-monitor gaming?  I bought a second monitor a few weeks ago and have been thinking about picking up Supreme Commander to try out the dual-monitor options.

-b0b
(...is curious.)

You bought a second monintor without a real plan to use it??


Wow, you're a huge lamer!

Dual monitors are awesome for multitasking.  Watching a movie and surfing the web is geek to the extreme!

X

Actually, I mostly bought it for school.  Even with a 22" monitor, it's a huge pain in the butt to switch between a window for the classroom, a window for the live seminar, a window for Google, and whatever Office app I'm currently using.

...

...

...

Okay, actually I just want to run a game on one monitor and half-heartedly pay attention to the seminar on the other monitor.

-b0b
(...busted.)

I have dual 19" widescreens at work and I refuse to use a single monitor for work now.  SSMSE on the right monitor, VS 2008 on the left monitor.  Once you do dual monitor.... you never go back.

Even after having it for a short time, I'm already wondering what I ever did without it.

It took awhile to get the colors and brightness/contrast on both monitors to look right, but I'm fairly satisfied with it now.  The only problem I'm having is that neither monitor has a height adjustment, and the second monitor is about 3/4" shorter than the first.  I'm going to have to correct that with the judicious use of a stack of paper.


-b0b
(...is very high tech.)

Yet another trailer, this time for a game called MAG (Massive Action Game) for the PS3.  I hate playing FPS games on consoles, but I have to admit this one looks pretty sexy.

The core component of the game is the large scale, with up to 256 players on a single map.  With 128 players on each side, you can have some pretty interesting squad and brigade-level interaction.  I haven't seen a game attempt anything like that since Tribes 2 hit 64-players back in ~2000 or so.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h4nxx4nPXEE


-b0b
(...nifty.)

World of warcraft does 80 players all the time

I think its funny how the squad size is 8.  Good ol computer science thinking there.

And EQ instances supported 512 players a year before wow went to beta...it is still cool to see in a FPS.

I would buy that game...if I didn't have to buy a PS3 to go with it.

Comparing an MMO running on dedicated hardware with a fair amount of latency leeway to an FPS is a bit of a stretch.

-b0b
(...actually has no clue how this will run.)

Actualy wow only does 80 people in an instance in ONE battleground.

Most Battlegrounds and instances are 5-20 people.

Just an FYI :)

The_Fat_Man wrote on Jul 24^th, 2008 at 7:27pm:

Most Battlegrounds and instances are 5-20 people.

Wow, really?  I think your mom runs bigger "instances" than that!


-b0b
(...hides.)

ya but you could still have zonewide pvp with hundreds of players

Nah, if hundreds of people started PVPing in one zone in WoW (Which they occasionaly try to do) the game gets so lagged out that it usualy becomes unplayable......

But in theory it is possible lol

So that's just one more reason WoW and MMOs suck.  Not only do you just run around or mine for gold forever, or build furniture for your house...but then you can't even kill a decent amount of people...and you have to get their permission first.

/snore.

X
(/ducks)

X wrote on Jul 26^th, 2008 at 12:03pm:

So that's just one more reason WoW and MMOs suck.  Not only do you just run around or mine for gold forever, or build furniture for your house...but then you can't even kill a decent amount of people...and you have to get their permission first.)

Worst of all, you have to pay for the pleasure - twice.  Once for the software, and again every single month for the service.

Honestly, that is one of the biggest MMO turnoffs for me.  It's not that $12-$15 is expensive or anything, but sometimes I like to pick up an old game after a few years and play it again for a couple days.  With an MMO, that's not really an option.

-b0b
(...is sure they've probably changed that.)

WoW is by far the best MMO when it comes to "Picking up where you left off" they've really made it casual friendly.  Much to the disapointment of the hardcore raiders ;) hahah

And on a pvp server you never need permission to kill anyone Patsy haha....only on non pvp servers....and thats your choice to choose from which type to play on.

I never minded the pay per month thing.  Mostly because I usualy spend FAR more than 15 dollars in a month to play a game.

Hell if I only buy ONE game a month that runs me 60 dollars.....and I've been known to buh 3 or 4 lol.

Quote:

In a conference today at Valve headquarters in Seattle regarding Steam, Valve's online distribution platform, the company announced a new remote storage solution for data from games. This free service, known as Steam Cloud, will extend the Steam service to allow you to save progress from games, options, keyboard bindings and possibly much more from your games on Steam. There will be no limit to the storage you can use, and all data will be saved automatically to the servers. Even video replays and screenshots can be stored. As you would expect, Valve's own offerings will be the first to support the Cloud system, including the Half-Life series, Counterstrike and Team Fortress 2. Left 4 Dead will support it from release. For any developers out there, Steam Cloud will be available in the Steamworks tools.

This sounds kinda nifty.  One of the "goals" behind Steam was to make games more portable.  You can install a game on your home desktop, your laptop, and your work desktop and play the game you purchased on any system (one at a time, of course).  With this service, you'll even be able to take your game saves and configuration options with you, which I think will be pretty handy.

-b0b
(...is moderately excited about it.)

I bought Soul Calibur 4 the other day, and I have to say...The Apprentice is bad assssss.

If he is half that cool in the Force Unleashed I'm going to poo myself.

I've never been a fan of the soul caliber games.  Street Fighter was fun because the button combinations were practical.  Now you have to press 20 button cominations in order to punch!

Doom 4 anyone?  The new engine will be sweet. Here is a sample of it from a game called RAGE.

http://www.gametrailers.com/game/5315.html

Speaking of Rage, I wonder what Briney thinks about Id's new mega-texture technology.  Is it as cool as it is hyped up to be?

-b0b
(...doesn't really get it.)

where they use a 30k by 30k texture? i guess its cool because they only have 1 texture lookup but i dont know much about it. Ill ask our graphics programmer.

Supposedly, id Tech 5 will support all the way up to 128k by 128k textures.  I'd love to see the file size on that bad boy.

Still, it's an interesting idea, and I'd love to find out how it translates into performance.

Let us know what your graphics guru says about it!


-b0b
(...wishes he had a graphics guru at work.)

Don't say guru, ever again.

Guru

http://www.impawards.com/2003/posters/guru.jpg

I don't get it...


...is almost the perfect setup.

http://www.moviewalah.com/files/Image/Guru_Poster.jpg

Has anyone ever watched any Bollywood stuff?  There are a few people I know who love the stuff.  I've never seen more than a few seconds of one.

X

Quote:

EA and Maxis Announce That Spore Has Gone Gold Long-Anticipated Game from Gaming Luminary, Will Wright, is Complete and in Production; Hits Store Shelves September 7 REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 14, 2008--The wait is almost over! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Maxis today announced that Spore(TM), the most anticipated video game of the year from the creator of The Sims(TM), has gone gold and will be available for the Mac and PC at retailers September 5 in Europe and September 7 in North America and Asia Pacific. Spore(TM) Creatures for Nintendo DS(TM) and Spore(TM) Origins for mobile phones will also be available globally September 7. Players who preorder Spore or Spore Galactic Edition from participating retailers will receive a coupon good for $10 off their next purchase of custom merchandise at www.zazzle.com/sporestore. For the ultimate Spore fan, the limited Galactic Edition will contain the 'Making of Spore' DVD, 'How to Build a Better Being' DVD (a 50 minute National Geographic Channel documentary DVD hosted by Spore mastermind, Will Wright), 'The Art of Spore' hardback book, an exclusive Spore poster, and a premium 100-page Galactic Handbook. "We are so excited to finally get Spore into the hands of fans and players," said Lucy Bradshaw, executive producer of Spore at Maxis. "The Maxis studio has had an absolute blast creating Spore, but the fun is just beginning. The most engaging stories are truly the ones people create themselves, and we can't wait to see how players not only craft and explore the Spore universe, but hear what stories they have to tell as a result." Spore gives players their own personal universe in a box, allowing fans to create and evolve life, establish tribes, build civilizations, sculpt entire worlds and explore a universe created by other gamers. Spore gives players a wealth of creative tools to customize nearly every aspect of their universe: creatures, vehicles, buildings, and even spaceships. Players can then seamlessly share their creations with the world via the Sporepedia(TM) and explore infinite new galaxies created by other gamers*. For all the latest Spore news, screens, videos community content, and to try out the trial version of the hugely popular Spore Creature Creator, visit www.spore.com.

I can't say Spore is all that appealing to me, but it definitely looks like it will be a blockbuster.

-b0b
(...might pick it up eventually.)

Ya know what this game reminds me of?  Anyone remember Virtual Pets?  Ya...Spore = Virtual Pet + The Sims

X

Have any of you guys played Crysis?  I got it free back in December with my video card, and just got around to installing it.  It's actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be, and it looks frickin' incredible.

The weapon system is really interesting.  As you find new weapons, you can interchange accessories (sniper scope, grenade launcher, flashlight, laser pointer, etc.) from those guns with other weapons.  It's a really simple concept, but it's a lot of fun (albeit not very realistic) to shoot a commie from 100 yards with a shotgun.

I'll post pics later if you're interested.


-b0b
(...loves any game that lets him kill commies.)

Quote:

(...loves any game that lets him kill commies.)

Yes but an even better game is one that lets you kill commie Nazis!

X

Yea I played it.  Multiplayer is not as fun as I thought it would be.  The level I played was huge and made it hard to find people.

Also, my graphics card only allowed me to play at 1440x900.At least I think it was the card limiting the game from allowing higher res. With that res I had all settings at high and didn't lag but only a few times.

Some folks at Sega stumbled across a long-disused storage room that contains every old-school Sega game ever made, along with a lot of hardware and prototype stuff.  Very cool!


http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2008/08/07/the-sega-game-archive/


-b0b
(...will have a rivaling collection some day!)

Red Alert 3 anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuQSNp24_Kk&eurl=http://cgi.fark.com/cgi/fark/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=3822697

Ghostbusters anyone?

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/36299.html

I really hope Red Alert 3 is a bit more developed that Command and Conquer 3 was.  The trailers was fun, but I want to see some gameplay (and tech trees!).


-b0b
(...will probably buy it anyway!)

Quote:

(...will probably buy it anyway!)

You are such a media whore!

spanky wrote on Aug 25^th, 2008 at 8:11am:

You are such a media whore!

What can I say?  Your mother taught me well.


-b0b
(...thinks he might have caught something, though.)

FarCry 2 is out, and it looks like a heck of a lot of fun.  Check out this trailer...

http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=app&AppId=5077&cc=US

That kind of pure chaos is what I really love about first-person shooters.  I'm still finishing up Crysis, and I definitely think FarCry 2 will be on my shopping list in October!


-b0b
(...can't wait!)

Wes, Too Human = Fail

Bahahaha, did I call that or what?!


-b0b
(...gloats.)

Stick,

The LAN is at my place tonight.  We're going to eat at Applebee's around 8:00pm tonight, so feel free to join us if you're up for it.

We should be back at my place around 8:30 or 9:00pm.  Here's my address...

112 North Lincoln Avenue
Three Rivers, MI  49093-2236
1 (269) 816-0865

Come down 131, turn left onto Michigan Avenue, then go down several blocks to Lincoln Avenue.  Lincoln is located between the Elks Lodge and the BP gas station.  Turn left, we're the fourth house down on the left side if you include the house/store on the corner.  It's a white house with a green roof and shutters.  Call me if you can't find it.


-b0b
(...mmm, cheese sticks!)

Also to make sure to look in the "Game Thread" and not the "LAN thread where this should be posted too"

:-P

X

Meh.

What was the site of the student/professor funny news, bob?

X

http://rateyourstudents.blogspot.com/

Im going to play warhammer online starting tomorrow.  Anyone else playing?

Hell no.

-b0b
(...yet another MMO = fail.)

Have any of you guys played Force Unleashed yet?  I really need a good game right now, but the reviews are a bit mixed.

Since I disagree with most reviewers, I'm hoping one of you guys can give me a heads up!


-b0b
(...is also considering Stalker: Clear Sky.)

Quote:

http://www.andhranews.net/Business/2008/October/18-Sony-recalls-video-69787.asp "Japanese electronic giant Sony has recalled a new PS3 computer game on the Koran because Muslims have taken offence to it.According to The Sun, the ultra-cute platform game called LittleBigPlanet was due to hit shop shelves next Friday, but hardline Muslims have expressed fury over a song, which quotes two lines from the Koran. The words used by Mali-born Grammy award winner Toumani Diabate, himself a Muslim, translate as Every soul shall have a taste of death and All that is on Earth will perish. London, Oct.18 : Japanese electronic giant Sony has recalled a new PS3 computer game on the Koran because Muslims have taken offence to it.According to The Sun, the ultra-cute platform game called LittleBigPlanet was due to hit shop shelves next Friday, but hardline Muslims have expressed fury over a song, which quotes two lines from the Koran. The words used by Mali-born Grammy award winner Toumani Diabate, himself a Muslim, translate as "Every soul shall have a taste of death" and "All that is on Earth will perish." Hardliners say the mixing of words from the Koran with music is deeply offensive and have asked Sony to take action that could cost the firm millions of pounds. The song has been on general release since 2006. Copies of the game will be returned from warehouses around the world. It will now be re-released sometime in November."

Seriously, WTF?  I honestly don't even know how to respond to this, other than to give Sony and the religious zealots involved in this story a huge middle finger.

-b0b
("...I hope you can see this, I'm doing it as hard as I can.")

Yea and think of all the games that have Christian lyrics, etc in them. Or things offensive to Christians. They don't care. But hey quote some Muslim verses and its over.

Hey Too Human was fine, it just didn't last very long, kinda like b0b.

Anyways...burn...

But yeah I'm playing Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning right now.

Game kicks ass, I kill people all day long, and then I laugh about it.  If you ever liked the Warhammer Universe then you owe it to yourself to try this game out.

I'll play WarHammer Online when I can be a Space Marine, and not a moment sooner!


-b0b
(...can't wait until the next WarHammer 40K RTS comes out.)

That is true, I do wish that they had kept to warhammer type characters.  Instead they resort to the classic elves and dwarves.  Ghey.  I am a level 27 witch elf, what are you Wes?

I guess this is more of a movie thread post than a game thread post, but there's a new Resident Evil movie on the horizon!  This one is all CG, and features Claire and Leon from the old Resident Evil games.  It looks kind of interesting, and I'll definitely be watching it.  Hopefully it makes it to theaters!

Official Website
Full Trailer

-b0b
(...wonders what Brine-Dogg thinks of the CG?)

Wow, Witch Elf? You play a chick, gay like b0b.

I'm a 28 Engineer and a 16 White Lion.

Could anyone hook me up with the Nintendo ROMs?

X

The_Fat_Man wrote on Oct 20^th, 2008 at 10:12pm:

Wow, Witch Elf? You play a chick, gay like b0b. I'm a 28 Engineer and a 16 White Lion.

You play a class called a "white lion," and you have the audacity to call him gay?  Maybe you should stick to the Elton John class instead.

-b0b
(...or the rainbow warriors, if that's your thing.)

Yeah he plays a dark skinned elf who wears a metal bikini top and a thong and carries two daggers. (And can only be female)

And my alt is a 7 foot Elf carrying a Great Axe, wearing chain mail , and who fights with a giant War Lion at his side.

And I'm the gay one....

Yeah.......


And I don't know what you are talking about Stick. Since when are Elves and Dwarves not considered classic Warhammer characters?

One of the most famous Warhammer characters of all time (Gotrex) was a fucking dwarf for gods sake.

I think the most famous Warhammer race are the Greenskins, and they are right there with the rest as a playable race.

My witch elf is light skinned by the way.  And I'd rather look at a female character with very little clothes any day, where as you enjoy looking at a male midget.

Did you read what I said?  I said that dwarves and elves WERE classic character types.

So STFU newb.

Anyone getting Fable 2?

I see, that is some strange wording though...


What kind of races did you want? They covered most of the basic ones....

Whats left, halflings and wood elves?

Fuck that nonsense.

And Fable 2 is hotsauce

MediaMaster wrote on Oct 21^st, 2008 at 3:36pm:

Anyone getting Fable 2?

I'll probably pick it up eventually, but its probably the lowest on my list of big September games.  I bought X3: Terran Conflict this weekend but haven't really sunk any time into it yet.  Fallout 3 is #1 on my list of must-have games right now.

Unfortunately, Fallout 3 comes out next week, and I'll be in Bethesda, Maryland the entire week for training.  I might try to take off Friday, November 7th and have a three day post-apocalyptic gaming binge.  Bring on the cheetos!

-b0b
(...heck yeah!)

X wrote on Oct 21^st, 2008 at 12:13am:

Could anyone hook me up with the Nintendo ROMs?

I have all of the Super Nintendo ROMs at home, and I'm sure I could download the Nintendo ROMs for you if you're interested.


-b0b
(...thinks they might be on the FTP.)

Ya I plan on getting Fable 2 here soon, and Fallout 3 on release. Prince of Persia looks really nice artistically, and I will prolly end up getting that too.

I wish the Fable team would make a really in depth RPG with their art team and engine. Reviews all say the world is amazing and immersive but the story is not the strongest.

b0b wrote on Oct 21^st, 2008 at 4:01pm:

X wrote on Oct 21st, 2008 at 12:13am: Could anyone hook me up with the Nintendo ROMs? I have all of the Super Nintendo ROMs at home, and I'm sure I could download the Nintendo ROMs for you if you're interested. -b0b (...thinks they might be on the FTP.)

Both would be awesome, thanks.

FarCry 2 will be released on Steam at noon today.  I'm thinking about ordering it at work this morning and starting the download right at noon.

But, I'm not sure if I want to throw down $45.00 on it.

Decisions, decisions.


-b0b
(...choose your destiny!)

I couldn't resist.  I ordered it.  FarCry 2 will be waiting for me in all of its pixelicious glory by the time I get home!  I'll give you guys a preliminary review tonight!

-b0b
(...woohoo!)

I just hope Uve Bowl makes a movie out of this one too!

X
(/sarcasm)

Downloading now!  Can't wait to get off work!

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/SteamList2.jpg

-b0b
(...wants to kill some commies.)

It looks like a BioShock sequel is on the way.  A new trailer was just released yesterday.

http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/142/14240341/vids_1.html

I don't see it on GameTrailers.com yet, but I'll post a link there once it is up.

-b0b
(...hates IGN.)

As promised, here's the GameTrailers.com teaser of BioShock 2.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/41897.html

-b0b
(...still needs to get those wedding pics uploaded.)

Just out of curiosity Stick, what server do you play on and what is your character name?

I've been thinking of rolling up a Dest character to try out, mine as well do it on a server where I know someone.

Monolith is the server, character name is Phlebotomizer.  I've been thinking about doing the same, what is your info?

Here's my super, super preliminary review of FarCry 2.  I only got to play it for about 35 minutes last night, but it's definitely promising.

I can best describe FarCry 2 as a combination of Grand Theft Auto and Oblivion.  It definitely has the go-anywhere-anytime feel of Oblivion, but the mayhem is closer to GTA than anything else.  The graphics are beautiful, but not on par with the jaw-dropping visuals of Crysis and Crysis: Warhead.

The gameplay is pretty good so far, but there are a couple of annoyances.  You're inflicted with Malaria right off the bat and have to seek medicine constantly, which drives the plot along a more linear path than I'd like.  Hopefully that element will end soon enough so I can have a bit more freedom to blow crap up.

The physics engine is quite good, and the fire effects are incredible.  The game word is 50km², and I'm fairly certain you can get a couple square kilometers of it to go up in flames if you're determined enough.

The NPC AI is incredible.  If you shoot an enemy in the foot, they'll hop around clutching their foot in pain.  If you shoot them in the knee, they'll drop to the ground in agony.  It's very satisfying in a sadistic sort of way.

More later!

-b0b
(...needs to finish FC2 before Fallout 3 arrives!)

Well currently I'm playing on Heldenhammer, my character name is Beldagin.

The server is having population problems (as Mythic opened to many damn servers at launch).  So we might be transfering or some such next week.  But thats the info for now.

Bob, I know youre going to get Fallout 3. Can you post a review up after you've played it a bit? I have read a few, and it sounds awesome, but I cannot stand Bethesda's animators. Bethesda characters are lifeless and zombie-like and the absurd normal mapping they put on the characters just reinforces the plastic stiff look.

But reviews say its pretty in depth and a fun game, so I don't know if the bad animations will take away from it all.  Anyway if anyone has played it, let me know.

thanks

But the game has zombie-like people so they will be "zombie-like".

X

MediaMaster wrote on Oct 28^th, 2008 at 11:00am:

Bob, I know youre going dying to get Fallout 3.

Fixed it for you.

I'm stuck in DC and have no way to play Fallout 3.  All I've got is a tablet PC, so I doubt I could even get the splash screen to show (although I'm contemplating it anyway).

I'm going to do the same thing I did with FarCry 2.  I'll buy the game Friday morning and start streaming it from Steam, so it should be ready for me by the time I get back to Michigan on Friday evening.  I'll definitely post a review and some pictures later that night.  It's been several years since Bethesda released Oblivion, is it possible their animations have improved?

The only thing I can play on this darned tabled is Peggle, and that game is Ghey with a capital G.  Do you guys have any recommendations for other "minimal" games that are laptop/tablet friendly?

-b0b
(...needs his fix.)

To add insult to injury, I opened up my complimentary copy of USA Today at the hotel yesterday morning to find a full-page, full-color advertisement for Fallout 3.  I thought it wqas ironic that the wrecked husk of the Capitol Building was on the front page, since I just saw the Capitol Building in person for the first time the previous day.

-b0b
(...roffled a bit.)

Somebody posted pictures of their Fallout 3 character on AR15.com.  Check this out!

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/47/mccainoc7.jpg http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/7070/screenshot25sk5.png


-b0b
(..rofflecaked.)

No pictures for me...anyone else?

X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9COTOUH4qU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwlE1aASc4g

These show exactly how we make games at work. It's like they just dropped a camera in our office!

X wrote on Oct 30^th, 2008 at 9:29am:

No pictures for me...anyone else?

They work fine on my laptop via cellular and from a desktop running on a T3 at the training center, so it must be something on your end.  Can anyone else see them?

If not, I'll put them on the server.  They're that good.

-b0b
(...shrugs.)

ya i can see em... classic.  :)

MediaMaster wrote on Oct 30^th, 2008 at 4:07pm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9COTOUH4qU

Bahaha, Westwood College!  What a frickin' sham!

You know something is wrong with a college when the ad says "not valid in state X or Y" in bold letters at the end.

-b0b
(...weak sauce!)

OMG, only 24 more hours until I fly out of DC and get my hands on Fallout 3!  I'm getting the shakes here, guys!

I've watched every gameplay video on YouTube, read every review on MetaCritic, and slobbered over every screenshot on Google Images.  IT MUST BE MINE!

-b0b
(...contemplates downloading it now.)

OMG, downloading Fallout 3 now!  Only 21 more hours!  Gggggggggggegnerjgn;lngnsngerjg!

-b0b
(...aaaaaaand I'm spent.)

Why not just go...ya know...buy the game and install it?

Or do they not do that anymore? =p

The_Fat_Man wrote on Oct 31^st, 2008 at 12:34am:

Why not just go...ya know...buy the game and install it? Or do they not do that anymore? =p

I'm in DC on business, so I don't have a machine to play it on.  There is no way it would run on this crappy fed-issued tablet PC.

I was seriously contemplating buying a copy at midnight on Tuesday just so I could drool over the packaging, but I figured I'd buy it on Steam instead and preload it over the Interwebz.  That way, it'll be ready for me as soon as I get home tonight, instead of having to install it from a CD when I get there.

-b0b
(...giggity giggity!)

I've been sitting in DCA (Reagan National) for two hours now, and still have an hour to go before my flight arrives.  I'm going to break out in hives if I don't get some Fallout 3 action soon!

-b0b
(...must have it!)

W00t!  Just landed at KZO!  Meredith should be here any minute, then Fallout will be all miiiiiiiine!


-b0b
(...OMGWTFBBQ!)

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/Fallout3.jpg

Sweet sexy goodness.  The game is a bit too much like Oblivion at times, but it is shaping up to be a hell of a game thus far.  It's kinda neat to see the DC skyline and Chevy Chase (the city, not the actor) on screen right after seeing it in person earlier today.

I'll post more later when I'm not dead tired.


-b0b
(...is exhausted.)

I am just outside the vault at springvale or whatever. the game is definetly very close to oblivion, but thats not a bad formula. The VATS system rocks, the world is gritty and believable and i just keep saying wow.

I made it to Megaton last night before I forced myself to go to bed.  I'm not a big fan of the encumbrance system, but I tend to be a pack rat so that's my own fault.  They really polished the hell out of this game.

-b0b
(...is firing up FO3 now!)

By the way, here's a video of McCain killing a Super Brute outside of Megaton.

http://www.xfire.com/video/3b446/

-b0b
(...roffled.)

I just got my first house at Megaton.  Much like Oblivion, it looks like you can spend caps to upgrade your place.  Is there any benefit to doing this, or is like Oblivion where it was mostly aesthetic?

-b0b
(...needs to save up some cash.)

As though there aren't enough games to get lost in right now, the demo for Mirror's Edge is also out.  It features the theme song for the game, called - oddly enough - Still Alive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TERyxFfMqDk

Good song, but WTF were they thinking when they named it?

-b0b
(...*cough*Portal*cough*ripoff!*cough*)

Have you guys heard of Quake Live?  It's an official id Software project that looks like Quake 3 Arena, but it is totally browser-based.  I've got to say, it looks pretty impressive.  I wonder if they're going to use a subscription model for it?

http://quakelive.com/

-b0b
(...interesting.)

Gay

I played some Fallout 3 at Briney's this weekend and I'm on the fence with the game.  It's a good visual style and the setting is fun, but I just don't know if it would hold my interest and if the main storyline is interesting enough.  To be honest I haven't followed the main story too far because I usually tend to do every mission and find everything I can.  I might try it out on PC first before I finally make up my mind.

As for Mirror's Edge, it's nice to see game companies try to get away from the "normal" game genres but this game looks incredibly boring.  I saw the demo played and it just seems a lot of it is repetitive.

X

Interesting enough?  Are you crazy?  You get an opportunity to nuke the main city within the first couple hours of game time.  What's more interesting than nuking Megaton?

-b0b
(...yay!)

Just an FYI for you FO3 players.  I've read that when you complete the main story line it's game over.  You don't get to keep working on side quests and shit like that.

So make sure you handle your business before finishing the main quest line.

wow, good to know, thanks. I hope thats a good sign of a nice epic plotline. Odd that a free roaming open world game would do that.

I've heard the same thing.  That's kinda retarded if you ask me, but I guess you can't have it all.

-b0b
(...is going to get in a few minutes of FO3 before voting.)

This is the last McCain Fallout picture, I swear!

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3241/concessionhx4.jpg

-b0b
(...couldn't help it!)

The PC version of the Left 4 Dead demo is now open to the public.  I started downloading this morning, and I'll post some screenshots later tonight if I get a chance to play.  Have any of you guys tried it out yet?

Considering how addicted I am to Fallout 3 right now, I probably won't spend much time on it for awhile, but it looks incredible!

-b0b
(...still needs to beat FarCry 2!)

Wow, yea I played the xbox 360 demo for the first time last night and it was crazy fun.  The zombies are pretty motionless until you make noise or shoot at them, then they run fast like in "Dawn of the Dead". There are a few different more powerful zombies which mix the game up.  I was very bad ass though.  I only played the single player though, isn't there a multiplayer where you can play as the zombie or the human?  It's the best when they are running fast at you and you blast one in the head right before it reaches you.  It's a huge rush.  A must play in the dark game.

I also played the "Mirror's Edge" demo and was kind of disappointed.  The whole city runner thing was popular for about 2 months, now it's pretty retarded.

Mirror's Edge sounded really neat in theory, but the general consensus seems to be that the final product is a bit disappointing.  I'm definitely going to give it a try anyway, but it will probably be a post-Christmas purchase.  There are just too many excellent titles out there that are pushing Mirror's Edge off the map.

By the way, it was 28 Days Later that had running zeds, not Dawn of the Dead.

-b0b
(...thinks both are excellent zombie flicks, though.)

If you are referring to the old Dawn of the Dead then you are correct.  The new one has running zombies.

The running zombies from Dawn of the Dead have nothing on the running zombies from 28 Days Later.  If anything, they're merely "brisk walk zombies" by comparison.

-b0b
(...just out for a leisurely stroll.)

I pre-ordered Left 4 Dead on Steam tonight and bought a good headset from NewEgg so I can use the voice chat functionality.  If any of you are planning on getting the PC version, let me know and we can coordinate an online game or something.

-b0b
(...can't stop playing the demo!)

...on a side note, I also picked up a 1TB hard drive for $130.  They've gotten cheap pretty quickly!

Just an FYI, but I also saw a 1.5TB Seagate hard drive on NewEgg.  It got pretty crappy reviews, but the first drives are always a bit crufty.


-b0b
(...needs more room for his "collection.")

Anybody else planning on picking up a copy of Left 4 Dead tomorrow?  I'm thinking about taking off Wednesday so I can play L4D all through tomorrow evening and into Wednesday!

-b0b
(...wants it so bad!)

I'm probably getting it.

OMGZORZ, decrypting now!

-b0b
(...at 6:00am!)

Super Obama World!

-b0b
(...roffled.)

Just as an FYI, Valve is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the original Half-Life by offering copies on Steam for only $0.98.  It's normally $9.99, so that is a pretty good bargain.

The sale ends tomorrow at noon PST, so don't wait too long!

-b0b
(...is definitely picking up some extra copies.)

How does everyone feel about the New Xbox Dashboard? (I refuse to say Xperience... gay)

Anyway, Its cool, but I wish that stupid gray floor/sphere that takes up the bottom of the screen would go away. Its ugly. Streaming Netflix through the Xbox is awesome, I was watching HD programming in no time. The avatars *cough* Mii's *cough* are fun but serve no purpose. I think achievements will be tied to clothes for them or something.

Nice update, streaming Netflix through the Xbox ROCKS and the overall look is a lot less cluttered.

oh and heres my nerdy self... yea
http://avatar.xboxlive.com/avatar/DecimusOctavius/avatar-body.png

http://avatar.xboxlive.com/avatar/DecimusOctavius/avatarpic-l.png

I hope they tie achievements to clothes.

I have almost 6000 achievement points on my account, I'd be buying some hella nice clothes.

Oh and if you'd like to add me to your friends on Live, my screen name is MC Fluffy Nuts

The_Fat_Man wrote on Nov 21^st, 2008 at 1:48am:

I hope they tie achievements to clothes.

Ghey!

-b0b
(...hasn't downloaded the update yet.)

http://avatar.xboxlive.com/avatar/MC%20Fluffy%20Nuts/avatar-body.png

its uncanny!

Hey that's as close as I could get.

The options aren't exactly never ending!

I was mad because I'm pretty sure I don't look like a fat Eminem in real life.

He looks kinda feminine.

Very accurate.


-b0b
(...hah!)

Whats your live ID bob?

I'm pretty sure it is Meta4X, but don't hold me to that.  

The only games I have played extensively on the XBox 360 are Blue Dragon and Dead Rising, so my profile is probably pretty bare.  

I've got to pick up a wireless card for the 360 so I can get it back online.  Are any of you guys using the wireless adapter, or are all of you connecting via Cat5?


-b0b
(...is definitely a PC gamer at heart.)

This came out a few months ago, but I must have been asleep at the wheel.  It's a real, actual gameplay video from Duke Nukem Forever:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/226223.html

It actually looks pretty cool.  At this rate, it should be released about the same time as Briney's BFE video.

-b0b
(...will ROFL if DNF beats BFE OTD.)

Quote:

Sony to finally open its PS3 online universe tomorrow By Tim Conneally, BetaNews December 10, 2008, 9:40 AM Today, Sony announced that its PlayStation 3 virtual world Home will be officially opened tomorrow, two years after it was initially announced. The free online service is the first console-based metaverse. Creating a whole world for PlayStation 3 users is no small undertaking. First unveiled nearly two years ago, Sony's Home attempts to combine the online metaverse concept with the entertainment of console-based network gaming. Users create 3D avatars and home spaces where they can customize content, socialize, or play games. After several delays, and the passing of E3 with no major announcements, the final rounds of the service's beta tests began in October. Home becomes available to all PS3 users as a free download from the PlayStation Store tomorrow, but will remain in beta, according to Sony. The ultimate point behind creating the first virtual world for a console wasn't to compete with existing services like Second Life, or even to attract new users, according to SCEJ Vice President Junji Shoda. Like Microsoft's New Xbox Experience, Home is part of the gradual move toward a perpetually connected gaming environment for consoles. Home opens on Thursday in Japan, Europe, and North America, and will be offered in eight languages with region-exclusive content and partners. In North America, for example, the service will launch with game-themed environments for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and Far Cry 2 spaces where users can gather and share information about those games. With partners Activision, Disney Eidos, Electronic Arts, Lucas Arts, THQ, and Ubisoft, spaces for the Warhawk, Resistance, Guitar Hero and SOCOM series will be available. In Europe, video content from Hexus TV and Eurogamer will be available. Like other metaverses, not all content in Home will be free.

It'll be interesting to see if PSN Home gives XBox a run for the money.  I'm wondering just how stable the Home environment will be.  Who knows, this could be the coup PS3 needs to gain some market share.

-b0b
(...will download it, but only because its free.)

Ya let me know how that is. We all had Home beta keys last year but I didn't have a ps3.

Bob how is fallout 3 going?

I think I've pretty much played it out for the time being.  I have a feeling it will be like Oblivion, and I'll get hooked on it four or five times before I finally put it away for good.  Honestly, I'm thinking about picking up Oblivion again once I get some time off for the holidays.

Have you had a chance to play Left 4 Dead yet?

-b0b
(...loved it.)

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/Fallout3DLC.jpg

Speaking of Fallout 3, Bethesda just released a ton of screenshots for their upcoming downloadable content package Operation Anchorage.  It looks like it'll be fairly story-driven, like Shivering Isles for Oblivion.

http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/568806/fallout-3/images/fallout-3-20081210103221985.html

-b0b
(...new weapons, sweeeeet!)

It looks like Dragon Quest X will be a Wii exclusive.  Although DQ never had much market penetration outside of Japan until DQ8 (which sold 500,000 copies), it is tied with Final Fantasy in Japan for market share.  DQ has been a Sony-exclusive title since DQ5 on the original Playstation, so this is a break from tradition.

I've always enjoyed the Dragon Quest series, even though it is generally much more light-hearted than Final Fantasy and other similar Japanese RPG's.

-b0b
(...isn't sure what to think of this yet.)




Quote:

Square Enix to launch Dragon Quest IX for Y5,980 Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:32am EST TOKYO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Japanese game software maker Square Enix Holdings Co Ltd said on Wednesday it plans to launch the newest version of its popular "Dragon Quest" game series on March 28 for 5,980 yen ($64.73). The blockbuster game is designed for Nintendo Co Ltd's DS handheld gear. It also said it is developing Dragon Quest X (Ten) for Nintendo's Wii game console.

Quote:

Breaking News: Dragon Quest X Confirmed For Wii 10th Dec 2008, Nintendo Long awaited announcement let slip by Dragon Quest creator At a Wednesday press conference in Tokyo, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii has let slip that the next Dragon Quest game, will be a Wii title. Here is a snippet from a liveblog of the press conference: 14:25 -- Horii: "We're currently developing Dragon Quest X on Wii." 14:27 -- Nintendo president Satoru Iwata takes the stage with a huge smile on his face! Iwata: "Thanks very much for announcing Dragon Quest X on Wii!"

It sounds like the new "Home" application on the PS3 blows chunks.  Here is Penny Arcade's take on it.


Quote:

The Beta for Playstation home is now available to everyone, and now you know what I know: this is what happens when your marketing department tries to make a game. Here is everything you need to understand about Home, if you should accidentally launch it from your XMB: press and hold the Playstation button in the center of your Dual-Shock or Sixaxis controller. From the menu that appears, select Quit. There are things about Home that are simply beyond my understanding. Chief among these bizarre maneuvers is the idea that, when manufacturing their flimsy dystopia, they actually ported the pernicious notion of scarcity from our world into their digital one. This is like having the ability to shape being from non-being at the subatomic level, and the first thing you decide to make is AIDS. If you approach an arcade machine and there is a person standing in front of it, you will not be able to play it. Likewise, if you see people bowling and think that bowling is something you might like to do, you probably wont be able to. Unable to play arcade games like Ice Breakers and Carriage Return the first several times we logged on, these games had begun to take on an epic stature in our minds. These were gushing fonts of liquid fun, habit-forming and dangerous - for the good of our virtual society, the supply had to be controlled. When we were finally able to play them, we learned that they were the equivalent of browser games. There is nothing about the experience of using Home to suggest that you are actually moving through a single, contiguous environment. It is very clearly a handful of walled off zones, where you are confronted by incessant load screens in a desperate search for stimulation. From the moment you enter one of their ultrahygenic "amusement regions," it's clear that all life has been burned away. You get the sense that this is a place in which no interesting thing could ever happen. There is already a growing school of Home apologetics, fostered by the same Order of Perpetual Masochism that lauded the rumble-free Sixaxis at launch and suggested, hilariously, that Lair and Heavenly Sword were videogames. They're under the impression that because something is free, this places it on some golden dais beyond censure. It's no virtue to give away something that no-one in their right mind would buy. Sony has no idea what this world is for, and that ambiguity infuses every simulated millimeter of it. This is the terrible secret that roils beneath their false universe: it is nothing more than a cumbersome menu, a rampart over which you must hoist yourself to accomplish the most basic tasks.

I suppose that isn't entirely unexpected.  Sony is losing the current console war in a bad, bad way.  The sales numbers for November were entirely dismal. Nintendo had the best November sales in console history by pushing 2 million units, and the XBox 360 was a distant second but still managed to double PS3 sales.  If that's not bad enough, PS3 sales were 20% lower than November 2007, even though the price has dropped by 20%.  That would indicate that sale have peaked, which is a really bad thing for Sony.


-b0b
(...still has only one PS3 game after ten months of ownership.)

It has finally been confirmed that any hope of seeing Knights of the Old Republic 3 is dead,


Quote:

"There are a lot of reasons why we decided not to do KOTOR 3, and why we decided to do this as an MMO instead," said Nichols. "The unique aspect of storytelling, which is really differentiated for this game, is something the KOTOR franchise did very well, and we felt that just doing a single-player experience with a new KOTOR really misses the opportunity to take this out to a much wider audience."

That really is the weakest excuse I've ever heard.  Why don't they just admit that it's all about the money?


-b0b
(...yet we still get Saber Duels?  WTF?)

yea money money...theyll regret it if the mmo tanks.

Home blows uber chunks we tested it at work. We had this stupid thing last summer in closed beta and they still haven't even addressed the stupid userability (its a word) of the app. It's bland, its boring, I can't believe I have to wait in line to play something, its yet another Sony failure.

Quote:

Electronic Arts Zaps Workforce Mary Jane Irwin, 12.19.08, 12:40 PM EST The video game maker will eliminate 1,000 jobs and close a development studio. Electronic Arts is demonstrating that the videogames industry is not, as all believe, recession proof. After warning earlier this month that its sales next year would fall below expectations, Electronic Arts announced new details of its plans to reduce headcount and close studios. Due to weaker-than-expected sales of its titles during the holiday shopping season, EA is increasing its layoffs to 10.0% of its worldwide workforce, eliminating 1,000 jobs; this is an expansion on its plan to reduce headcount by 6%, first announced in October. EA's shares rose 4.3%, or 72 cents, to $17.48 on Friday morning. The company is also closing or consolidating nine of its offices. The team at the Vancouver, British Columbia-based Black Box, which was most recently responsible for the racing title “Need for Speed: Undercover” and the Wii skateboarding game “Skate It” will be moved into a nearby facility in Burnaby. Riccitiello called out the poor performance of “Need for Speed” in particular during a briefing earlier this month. Black Box's move, said EA spokesperson Jeff Brown, was not punitive. And despite EA's decision to reduce the number of titles it has in production, it will still be making "Need for Speed." Stopping production, Brown said, "would be like Porsche discontinuing the 911." EA will be refocusing its efforts on producing only hit games, but it will still "be committed to taking creative risks and investing in new games." The Redwood City, Calif.-based company has busily tried to reinvent itself as an innovative and creative company ever since John S. Riccitiellotook the reins (again) in 2007. So far the new mantra has not quite taken with the company or the market. Electronic Arts expects the reductions to save it $120.0 million annually. In the near-term, the restructuring will cost between $55.0 million and $65.0 million. The plan will go into effect March 31, at the end of its fiscal year. On Dec. 9, Electronic Arts announced it would miss its year-end guidance of $5.0 billion to $5.3 billion in revenues due to weaker than expected sales. Currently analysts estimated its fiscal year revenues would ring in at $4.7 billion, according to consensus compiled by Thompson Reuters.

You know, I don't think Electronic Arts could possibly do anything to make me hate them any more than I already do.  Screw these guys.

I love how the author of the article blames EA's woes on the recession.  Maybe the problem isn't the recession at all, but EA's failure to put out a genuinely unique and interesting game this year.  Every time they get their hands on a decent game, they manage to screw it up.

Spore is a perfect example.  Sure, it wasn't as good as it was hyped to be, but I was planning on buying a copy anyway.  Then I found out about the draconian DRM they were bundling with it, and I opted to buy something else instead.  Suck it, EA.

Mirror's Edge is another example of a classic EA faux pas.  They take a really unique gameplay concept and shoot it in the head by mating it with a muddled story, crappy combat, and a mu-huh-huch too short game length.  If they would have play-tested the title and spent more time and resources on level design instead of advertising, this game could have been another Portal (which I think it was desperately trying to replicate).

Outside of those examples, just about everything else put out by EA is yet-another-rehash.  Yet another Need for Speed, yet another Madden, blah blah blah.  I understand these are "safe" investments that will yield guaranteed returns, but I think gamers (including myself) are getting awfully darned tired of playing Shoot the Gun to Kill the Nazis IV: The Shootening or Someplace Tycoon VII: Build More Crap.

In short, EA needs to reward innovation if they want to remain competitive.  Otherwise, their stock will continue to tank, and they'll end up spinning off some of the developers they've been buying up over the last decade (which would be a very, very good thing).

I'll get off my soap box now.


-b0b
(...wonders what Briney thinks of all of this.)

How about all the Maddens and NBA crap they put out every bloody year.  HEY EA! EVER HEAR OF DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT YOU PR*CKS!

X

You've got a point.  If a developer really wanted to stick it to EA, they could make a competing sports title and offer free "upgrades" via download for the next year or two that would include player and stat changes.  EA only releases a truly new title every few years anyway, with the intervening titles just consisting of gimmicky new features and roster changes.

Of course, last I knew, EA had exclusive contracts with most of hte major sports leagues, so this is likely just a pipe dream anyway.

-b0b
(...thinks sports games are retarded anyway.)

Those studios mostly are not spun off, they are just closed. Thats whats not cool with publishers buying out developers. It happened to the 1st iteration of this company, which made the Descent series. THQ then phased them out. Sigh.

MediaMaster wrote on Dec 19^th, 2008 at 4:37pm:

Those studios mostly are not spun off, they are just closed. Thats whats not cool with publishers buying out developers. It happened to the 1st iteration of this company, which made the Descent series.

Please tell them that I love them unconditionally.

-b0b
(...will buy any Descent revival title, any time!)

ha nice, ill let them know, The project lead then runs the game side of our company and one of the programmers is our lead programmer now. In a related note, Freespace and red faction spun out of the Descent series.

WTF is up with game installationss and patching?

I picked up a copy of the Neverwinter Nights 2 expansion Storm of the Zehir tonight.  I haven't installed Neverwinter Nights 2 or the first expansion, Mask of the Betrayer, on the Bobulator since my rebuild early last year.  So, I set out to install the original game and both expansions, along with all of the patches required for each.

The first game required at least ten patches, requiring a solid hour through the automated patch utility.  Even the patch utility itself had to be patched.  The second expansion, oddly enough, backdated the patcher to its original version, which then had to be repatched.

Every patch was consecutive and the concept of a patch "rollup" to speed up the process is seemingly foreign to Bioware, and forced me to download easily 1GB of files.  This means that many files were updated over and over again, instead of just installing the newest version of the file one time.  Since the main executable was updated by every patch, it was overwritten 10-15 times!  How efficient is that?

Besides, if a single game requires ~23 patches, chances are good that it never should have shipped in the first place.  It's a game, not a frickin' operating system!  This whole "sell it, then make it work" concept in PC gaming has got to go.

Imagine the pain that would occur if Microsoft never released a service pack or patch rollup, and required you to install every patch for Windows XP individually.  You'd be patching your PC for days!

In short, it took nearly two and a half hours to install and patch Neverwinter Nights 2 and both expansions.  This game better be worth it!  This is why I buy virtually all of my PC games through Steam.  Not only do I not have to screw around with easily damaged discs and easily lost CD keys, but the patching process is done automatically and can be performed off-hours.  Atari announced NWN2 was coming to Steam in March of 2007, but it still isn't available and they haven't mentioned anything since.


-b0b
(...is still patching!)

Trying playing an MMO again.

The first time I reinstalled Everquest 2 I patched for 5 hours.

Yeah, but I expect an MMO to be patched regularly.  It's not only a much bigger world where "sploits" must be patched immediately, but the user base demands at least occasional content updates/additions.  

For the most part, MMO's don't get patched 23 times because they were shipped prematurely (Age of Conan not withstanding).  They get patched 2,000 times because new content is being added, or some script kiddies found an exploit to take advantage of that needs to be fixed immediately.  It's a very different environment from an offline game that is expected to work relatively well out the door.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect a game as complex as today's blockbusters to be flawless.  All of the beta testing in the world isn't going to vet a game as thoroughly as the retail release.  That said, the vendor should be fixing critical and glaringly obvious problems after the product is sitting on the shelf (i.e. game-breaking bugs or broken quests).


-b0b
(...did finally get into the game, by the way.)

Quote:

Feds note gaming DRM woes: FTC to hold town hall meeting By Ben Kuchera | Published: January 06, 2009 - 07:10PM CT 2008 may become known as the year of digital rights management, thanks in no small part to EA's bringing the issue front and center with Spore and the ensuing backlash. These days gamers want to know what kind of DRM a game employs before they make a purchase, and for many people the inclusion of SecuROM means a lost sale. All of the sound and fury surrounding the issue has gotten the attention of the Federal Trade Commission, and the government agency is planning on holding a town hall meeting devoted to the subject of DRM on March 25.   The official page describes the meeting and its aim. "Digital rights management (DRM) refers to technologies typically used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, and copyright holders to attempt to control how consumers access and use media and entertainment content," the FTC explains. "Among other issues, the workshop will address the need to improve disclosures to consumers about DRM limitations." The agenda includes demonstrations of DRM-related technology, panel discussions about how these technologies affect consumers, legal issues surrounding DRM, and discussions on the potential need for government involvement to protect consumers.   You can get involved, as well. "The Commission invites interested parties to submit requests to be panelists and to recommend other topics for discussion. The requests should be submitted electronically to drmtownhall@ftc.gov by January 30, 2009....The Commission will select panelists based on their expertise and on the need to represent a range of views." If you would simply like to have your voice heard you can submit comments or original research as well. This is an excellent opportunity to make your voice heard on this matter, and to explain your feelings on the state of DRM in the gaming industry. Is this a matter that deserves government attention? Absolutely. Having standards for disclosure of what exactly you're installing with your software, along with easily available tools to remove those programs, would go a long way toward keeping publishers honest about what is shipping with our games. A recent class-action lawsuit filed against EA is indicative of the problem: "Consumers are given no notices whatsoever that the FREE trial version of [Spore] includes Digital Rights Management technology... Consumers are given no control, rights, or options over SecuROM," the suit alleges. "The program cannot be completely uninstalled." The suit lists some of the potential side-effects of having the program installed on a system, including disruption of fire walls and "complete operating system failure." Too often, customers have no clear picture of what else they may be installing onto their computer when they buy a game, or how those programs could affect the day-to-day use of that computer. There is no disclosure, no accountability, and very little education going on around the issue of DRM and its related technologies.   It's likely the discussion will be lively, with both publishers and consumer rights associations weighing in. The core issue is a simple one, however: consumers deserve to know what they're installing, and exactly what it does. It's looking increasingly likely that consumers may need the FTC's help to make sure what happens during software installations becomes as transparent and open as possible.   The town hall meeting will take place at the University of Washington School of Law, and will be free and open to the public, no registration required.

Although I doubt much will come from this, I hope it leads to better labeling on games (if nothing else).  If I purchase a retail copy or digital download of a game, I most certainly expect to know what is getting installed along with the game.  As a consumer, I have every right to know what is going to be installed with the game before I even make the purchase.

-b0b
(...StarForce and SecuROM in particular!)

I agree...SecuROM is the equivalent of ordering and paying for a 100 foot long sub and only getting to eat 3 inches of it before they take it back.

X
(3" shout out to Briney's dangle!)

Quote:

Gone, baby, gone: 1up sold, EGM killed, staff promptly fired By Michael Thompson | Published: January 07, 2009 - 12:42PM CT It's been no secret that Ziff Davis has been looking to sell 1up.com and its associated video game publications for quite some time. Rumors that the magazine publisher was shopping its video game publications around have been circulating for approximately two years; at one time it was even reported that Dell would be acquiring 1up.com. While that turned out to be false, Ziff Davis finally succeeded in unloading 1up to Hearst-owned UGO Network, whereupon things took a definite turn for worse. The sale, it was announced, would bring 1UP.com, Mycheats.com, Gametab.com, and GameVideos.com under UGO's control. In the official announcement, UGO CEO J Moses made it sound like his company wouldn't actually be changing too much about 1up: "The acquisition of 1UP, with its authentic voice, tenured editorial personalities and bustling user community, allows us to expand our base of quality content and represents a major step forward in UGO's mission to become the leader in the games space." The announcement also stated that 1up would, "stand beside UGO as a flagship brand." A few hours later, though, it was revealed that this was far from the truth, as Ziff Davis seemed intent on thoroughly gutting its online publications before it changed hands. Even though Ziff Davis CEO Jason Young claimed—via an internal e-mail sent to his employees shortly after the sale was announced—that, "many of our employees will travel with this business and become part of the UGO team," it seems that this was not to be. Gamasutra received some inside information that, at roughly the same time, a large percentage of Ziff Davis' Game Group suddenly found itself unemployed. According to various reports, 30 members of the editorial, podcast, and video production staff was promptly told that it was fired. The detailed list of those who are now jobless is rather staggering: this is well beyond a corporate bloodbath, it's a scorched-earth policy with only a few survivors. Adding another nail to the coffin was the simultaneous announcement that Ziff Davis would be shutting down production on its popular Electronic Gaming Monthly magazine, which has been in production for nearly twenty years: this month's issue will be its last. "With demand for print continuing to decline amongst both advertisers and readers," Young said in his email, "and the content being produced by 1UP no longer available for use in the publication, it simply did not make sense for us to move forward with this business any longer." When asked about the massive layoffs, 1up site director Sam Kennedy told MTV Multiplayer the answers lay with his former bosses. "Honestly, questions like that have to go to Ziff Davis at this point," said Kennedy. "All I can say to that is UGO held onto as many people as they could to run the business going forward and [kept] a lot of all-star key players." To say this news is staggering is to put it lightly. 1up has been one of the major players in the industry of video game journalism since it was launched in 2003, and it managed to survive for quite some time in spite of the deaths of several excellent sibling magazines like GMR, Official U.S. Playstation Magazine, and Computer Gaming World. Meanwhile, the fact that Ziff Davis is resorting to cost-cutting measures like these implies that things may be far worse at the magazine publisher than has been let known: while no one expected things to be pretty after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, it seems safe to say that no one saw this coming, either.

BIG SLOPPY TEARS!

1Up.com was one of few commercially-viable sites for hardcore gamers.  Their reviews were harsh but fair, and they didn't pull any punches with games produced by their sponsors.  That's probably one of the reasons why they're going down the tubes.  Of course, their most popular venue by far was their virtually unmatched podcasts, which probably cost them much more money than it brought in.  It's hard to get any advertising revenue from a podcast.

The real tragedy, though, is the loss of EGM.  I have several issues of EGM from the late 80's, featuring such "awesome" game systems as the TurboGrafx 16 and Sega Master system.  Later issues vaunted the awesomeness of the upcoming Sega 32X (which ended up sucking), the TurboGrafx CD (virtually impossible to find), and the Sega Neptune (never released).

The only other loss of a gaming outlet that could make me this sad is PC Accelerator (PCXL).  Long live the combination of scantilly-clad women and hot new video games!

-b0b
(...pours a 40 on the ground in their memory.)

PXCL's last issue i saw on the newsstands and cried a little.

All it said on the jet black cover was:

It's over.



man that was bad.

I remember that Briney, I saw you go through all five stages of grief in 5 minutes.  Denial was my favorite - "Ha Ha *nervous laugher* these guys are funny.  They always do stuff like this."  Then the tears.

It's just sad that Hearst now owns ANOTHER part of a great media complex.  Yellow journalism never died...it just changed colors.

X

I still have the last several issues of PC Accelerator.  Its one of few magazines I ever subscribed to.  I remember opening the bag it came in and seeing that same black cover.  So sad.

Did you see the special PCXL edition that came out in September of 2007?  I nearly screamed with glee when I saw it on the newsstand at the airport when Mere and I were flying out to Disney World for our honeymoon.  It was supposed to be the rebirth of PCXL in a "quarterly" format, but it was the only issue that was ever published.

In good ol' PCXL format, the cover article was all about the Frag Dolls.


-b0b
(...wants more!)

I have subscribed to EGM since I was in 7th grade.  I have several tubs full of EGM magazines and for awhile EGM2 magazines.

I frankly am devastated to learn of its demise =/  However I did see it coming for a long time now.

Quote:

ELYRIA, Ohio – Although a teenager's obsession with a violent video game may have warped his sense of reality, the boy is guilty of murdering his mother and wounding his father after they took "Halo 3" away from him, a judge ruled Monday. "I firmly believe that Daniel Petric had no idea at the time he hatched this plot that if he killed his parents they would be dead forever," Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Burge said. Nonetheless, Burge rejected the defense attorneys' argument that Petric, 17, was not guilty by reason of insanity. The defense didn't contest that Petric shot his parents in October 2007 after they took the game away from him, but insisted that the teen's youth and addiction made him less responsible. Petric may have been addicted, but the evidence also showed he planned the crime for weeks, said Burge, who found the teenager guilty of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and other charges. Tried as an adult, Petric faces a maximum possible penalty of life in prison without parole. The judge didn't set a sentencing date. The teen's mother, Susan Petric, 43, died of a gunshot wound to the head. Her husband, Mark Petric, a minister at New Life Assembly of God in Wellington, also was shot in the head but survived. After the verdict was announced, Petric turned to look at his father seated behind him in the courtroom. Mark Petric, who previously said he has forgiven his son, gave an encouraging nod. Mark Petric and other relatives left the court without comment. Prosecutors said Petric planned to kill his parents because he was angry that his father would not allow him to play the video game, in which players shoot alien monsters that have taken over the Earth. On the night of the shooting, Petric used his father's key to open a lockbox and remove a 9 mm handgun and the game. Mark Petric testified that his son came into the room and asked: "Would you guys close your eyes? I have a surprise for you." He testified that he expected a pleasant surprise. Then his head went numb from the gunshot. Deputy prosecuting attorney Anthony Cillo argued during the trial that the teenager had planned to make it appear to be a murder-suicide by putting the gun in his father's hand. Defense Attorney James Kersey said that when the teenager fled the grisly scene, he only took one item with him: the "Halo 3" game. Bungie LLC, once part of Microsoft, developed the Xbox 360-exclusive Halo 3, and Microsoft owns the game's intellectual property. Microsoft declined to comment beyond a statement: "We are aware of the situation and it is a tragic case."

It's a sad commentary when a kid would kill his own mother for Halo 3.

Unreal Tournament?  Maybe.  Oblivion?  Sure.  Mass Effect?  Understandable.  But Halo 3?  That's just sick and twisted.


-b0b
(...hopes the judge teabagged him.)

What the fuck is wrong with people? Seriously

And how is Halo 3 considered violent?  Oh no...purple blood and you kill things that look like puppies!

X

The game console sales numbers for 2008 are finally in, and it looks like Nintendo dominated the competition by an even greater degree than anyone imagined.

The Wii sold 10.18 million units, and DS moved 9.95 million more.  The XBox 360 came in a really, really distant third place with 4.74 million, and the PS3 and PSP both moved approximately 3.5 million.  Ouch.

The top ten selling games really bring that number home.  The top four titles were all Wii games (Wii Play, Mario Kart, Wii Fit, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl).  The PS3 only had one top-ten title, and that was the multi-platform Grand Theft Auto IV, which undersold the XBox 360 version by about half.  Interestingly, the number ten title was Mario Kart DS, which came out over three years ago.

At this point, I think Sony is going to have an incredibly difficult time getting the PS3 back on track.  Their hardware and software sales numbers are so far behind XBox and Wii that they'll have to pay out the butt to get any more exclusive titles.  At this point, I think its time to start working on the PS4 in the hopes of reforging their reputation in the next console generation.

You can get the full story with a bunch of pretty charts here.


-b0b
(...loves charts.)

I really really wish the Wii fad would die a horrible death. Nintendo only cares about making money. They stick with safe titles that are already proven to make money. The only successful games are Nintendo released anyway. Third party Wii games stink terribly.

Most of people i know with a wii just let it gather dust until friends come over anyway. Other than that they go play their Xbox or ps3's where the REAL games are.

pfft.

MediaMaster wrote on Jan 16^th, 2009 at 10:33am:

I really really wish the Wii fad would die a horrible death.

What's wrong with a bit of competition?  Nintendo is really making Microsoft and Sony earn every dollar, and I'm okay with that.



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Nintendo only cares about making money.

Well, they are a business.



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They stick with safe titles that are already proven to make money.

That's not necessarily a bad thing.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that all of these subpar games bring in guaranteed cash, which can then be used to support newer, more experimental titles.  Every Final Fantasy sequel pays for ten The World Ends With You experiments.  Every Sonic the Hedgehog game paves the way for a MadWorld.

Besides, derivative titles can be really, really good.  Take Mario Kart, for instance.  The Wii and DS versions of the game are a heck of a lot of fun and sold like gangbusters.  Nobody cares if they are the 573,382nd iteration in the series.  As long as they continue to be unique, interesting, and fun, all the more power to Nintendo!

On the other hand, some of the new, unique, and truly interesting titles don't sell for crap.  The Square-Enix DS title I mentioned earlier, The World Ends With You, is a perfect example.  The developer took a gamble and made an incredibly unique RPG the likes of which I had never seen, and it paid off in terms of game quality.  The title was excellent and was easily one of the best handheld RPG's I had ever played (not that I play many handheld games).  It received excellent reviews and lived up to the hype.  But guess what?  It didn't sell for crap.  It only moved 140,000 copies in North America to date.

If people choose to buy derivative games of dubious quality over truly unique games with excellent production values, why even bother?  It's cheaper to license a stale property for the thousandth time, and the payoff is higher.  You can't blame anyone for making that choice, painful as it may be for us "true" gamers.



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The only successful games are Nintendo released anyway. Third party Wii games stink terribly.

From NPD:  "More 3rd party units were sold for Wii than any other home consoles in December for the 2nd consecutive month."

Considering the Wii has outsold the PS3 and XBox 360 combined, that shouldn't be surprising.  Nonetheless, you definitely can't say third-party titles aren't selling on the Wii.  You know they're selling well if they outsell third-party titles on the 360 and PS3, which don't have much of a first party market to begin with.



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Most of people i know with a wii just let it gather dust until friends come over anyway.

I know of several people with Wii consoles, and most of them play the Wii regularly.  We have all three systems, and because of Meredith the Wii probably sees four or five times as much action as the other two.  I'm a hardcore PC gamer, and don't touch the consoles very often.

As you've stated, one of the biggest selling points of the Wii is the party-friendly aspect.  It is fairly rare that we don't turn the Wii on when friends come over.  Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are perennial favorites.

If the PS3 can harness the multimedia friendliness and network support of the 360, or if the 360 can adopt the hardware openness and free multiplayer support of the 360, the Wii might actually get some competition in terms of overall sales.  Unfortunately, neither of those seem terribly likely in this generation of consoles.



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Other than that they go play their Xbox or ps3's where the REAL games are.

...and I thought I was a gaming elitist!

Like I said, I'm a hardcore PC gamer and will take a PC port over a console port any day of the week.  That said, if I have to play on a console, the 360 generally wins my vote.  I abhor having to pay for multiplayer support and the ridiculously overpriced accessories (namely, the hard drive and wireless adapters) make my blood boil, but the XBox dashboard, media support, and game library beat the crap out of the PS3.

I'm not a Nintendo fanboy by any stretch of the imagination, but I think the Wii is a fun system that has carved out a "blue ocean" market for itself.  I can guarantee you that Sony and Microsoft will try to grab a piece of this market for themselves as start working on their next generation of consoles.

Competition is a good thing, and so is innovation.


-b0b
(...will always be a PC gamer at heart, though!)

Yea I agree with you there bob, I just don't want Microsoft and Sony to go backwards as far as technology is concerned. Nintendo just put out a modified gamecube with motion sensing and a retartedly good marketing plan. I have argued with Patrick before because he loathes the wii, but the Wii has its own niche and its own style. My problem with it is that it is not on par with the other two. I don't like it being grouped with them, the wii and the ps3 and 360 and pc are two different groups, and gaming styles.

And sorry for leaving the PC out of the comparisons before, it is still my platform of choice. It's just become the work machine lately.

I guess I don't want to see Microsoft and Sony want a piece of that casual market and shift their focus at all. But like you said they will want to, as the new Xii's and that awful Home.

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Dawn of War II goes gold, will land early By Frank Caron | Published: January 19, 2009 - 10:20AM CT Kicking off the year's blockbuster RTS games is Dawn of War II, the sequel to the original Warhammer 40K RTS which established Relic as a key player in the genre. The company has gone on to have a successful stint with action-oriented RTS games, and Dawn of War II looks to be the next leap for the company. Luckily for those anxiously awaiting the title, Relic has announced today that the game has gone gold and will hit stores earlier than expected. The game, which was originally scheduled to hit stores on February 23, will drop on February 19. The multiplayer beta will begin this Wednesday for those who purchased Dawn of War: Soulstorm and will then open to the public the following week on January 28. Changes that result from the beta will be pushed out as a post-release patch. Though Starcraft 2 is the talk of the town, Relic's more action-oriented approach to RTS gameplay, which focuses more on using the environment for tactics and cover than on micromanagement and resource gathering, has always been exciting, and Dawn of War II looks to continue that tradition. Watch out for some impressions of the beta later this week and a full review when the game hits stores on February 19, exclusively for the PC.

Hopefully the reviews will start trickling out soon.  Relic has become the masters of the RTS genre with Company of Heroes, so I've got high hopes for Dawn of War II.

Hopefully, this will wash away the bad taste left by "Soul Storm."  That expansion was total crap, and it is still overpriced.


-b0b
(...w0rd.)

http://media.arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.media/darko1k.jpg

This is concept art of a dark Obi Wan, from an "alternate history" of the Star Wars universe.  It's from Star Wars Battlefronts III, which is "in limbo" at the moment since the developer went out of business.  The game was picked up by another studio, but there is no confirmation of whether or not dark Obi will be cut.


-b0b
(...would definitely buy this one.)

Relic is selling the third Dawn of War expansion for 75% of through next week at $7.50.  If you pick up the expansion, you can get in on the Dawn of War II exclusive beta.

I picked up my copy a couple hours ago.  Both the expansion and the DoW 2 beta are installing now.  I'll give you guys a quick review tomorrow!


-b0b
(...can't wait to kick some Eldar butt!)

We know what you really want the butt for...ya nasty sum'bitch

I hear they removed like most of if not all of the base building function in DoW2.

I hear its almost completly moving your soliders around now, and that a LOT of people are very displeased with this.

Wes, still playing warhammer online?  What are your toon levels at now?

I had a heck of a time even getting into DoW 2 last night.  The post-install "setup" process took almost twenty minutes.  Once I got into the game, my microphone was locked open in-game even though I didn't have a microphone connected.  I had to disable the "What You Hear" port on my Soundblaster X-Fi to get it working properly.

By the time I was done with all that jazz, I just gave up and went to bed.  I'll jump on tonight and give you my impression.


-b0b
(...didn't think it looked all that much better than the latest revision of DoW.)

No I quit about a month or so ago to go back to Everquest 2.

Before I quit though I had an R40 RR53 Engineer and a R40 RR43 Warrior Priest.

EQ 2...Lame.  EQ1 all the way.

There is no point in fighting, guys.  EQ1 and EQ2 are equally gay.

I finally got a chance to play a little bit of Dawn of War II tonight, and I'm even more disappointed now that I actually got the game to run correctly.  I just  can't get into it.  

DoW2 has almost completely eliminated base building!  You throw up a quickie structure on the front lines which you can "upgrade" twice to spawn more powerful units, and you're done.  Each game starts with your single "base" structure already built for you.

The game has a strong run-and-gun feel to it, and if you hold back and try to build up a sizable force you'll get wiped in an instant.  As you guys know from Empire Earth and Earth 2150, I tend to be a bit of a "turtle" when it comes to RTS games, so I really don't like the direction they've taken.  By eliminating the base building and focusing on incredibly combat-intensive gameplay, it's like they've disemboweled your girlfriend and put a pair of shiny sunglasses on her.  She might look a little better at first glance, but she's just not the same.

I also don't like some of the design choices the developers made.  The microphone is always on and there is no "mic button," so you have an open mic at all times.  One or two players have left their mics on every single game I've played, which is incredibly annoying.  The only way to block the sound is to open their "Games for Windows" profile and mute them entirely.  Have I mentioned how much I hate Games for Windows?

The game is also incredibly laggy.  That would be a problem for any RTS, but especially so for a fast-paced RTS like DoW2.  The game displays a message if one of the players is lagging out the rest of the server, but it never does anything about them.  From what I can tell, other players don't even get the option to vote on kicking the offender, ala Left 4 Dead.  You either quit and look for another group (thereby screwing over the rest of your team) or you deal with it.

Hopefully Relic will get their act together before the game goes live next month, but I highly doubt that will happen.  They'll likely push the game out and "fix it later" via patch.


-b0b
(...seriously, who the heck makes a game with a mandated open mic?)

I told you DoW2 was gay, all the reviews said the same thing =p

And EQ2 is not lame dumb ass =p

I would argue that EQ2 is the most balanced, well designed MMO on the market.

And I would know, actually having played all of them and not just guessing like the rest of you nubs.

The_Fat_Man wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 8:55pm:

I told you DoW2 was gay, all the reviews said the same thing =p

I'm afraid I actually have to admit you were right.  I just don't understand what audience Relic was aiming for with Dawn of War II.  If I just want to kill a bunch of bad guys without much thought behind the process, I'll play a first-person shooter.

Don't get me wrong, a good RTS will always offer a "shoot first, think later" option.  The infamous "Zerg rush" strategy from StarCraft is a perfect example.  I think most RTS players, however, choose other strategies (research, fortification, espionage/sabotage, etc.).  Dawn of War has always been biased toward tactics and constant combat, but to make that the sole aspect of gameplay is somewhat retarded.



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And EQ2 is not lame dumb ass =p

Well, at least I didn't have to wait long to disagree with you again!


-b0b
(...on the bright side, at least it's not WoW!)

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Gears of War DRM Prevents Players from Accessing Game Gamers who tried to play Gears of War on the PC Thursday ran into a slight snag: it seems that the digital certificate that allows the game to run expired on January 28, 2009. Basically that means if you keep your PC's clock up to date, you can no longer play the game. The official Epic forum is ablaze with complaints about this issue, as the still-kicking community becomes enraged. "I had this problem this evening, I had to change the date and time (from PM to AM) and I am able to get in just fine," one frustrated gamer posted. "I also changed it back to the current date and time and it didn't work. Change it back to yesterday AM and it works fine... EPIC games won't be on my list anytime soon...." Unfortunately, DRM can sometimes feel like a rug that can be yanked out from under our feet at any moment. Epic Games is aware of the issue, but don't expect much hard news about what to do about the inability to play the game. "We have been notified of the issue and are working with Microsoft to get it resolved," a super moderator posted on the forum. "Sorry for any problems related to this. I'll post more once we have a resolution." (Microsoft is the publisher, and GoW is a Games for Windows release.) Until then? You can either fiddle with your computer's clock or not play. Neither choice is much fun. Did Epic assume no one would be playing the title once 2009 came around? It's hard to understand why there would be an end-date hard-coded into the title's DRM, especially one that came less than three years after the game was released. Many PC gamers are leery of any kind of DRM that must dial into a central server to authenticate, wondering what happens if those servers are shut down. Now we know—in this case, the game shipped with DRM that was essentially counting down until the game would cease to work. While it's not rare for games to ship with bugs every now and again, it's pretty shocking when one ships with an issue that causes the title to stop working for everyone who paid. Those who pirated the game, as usual, continue to play with no issues.

I guess this would constitute an EPIC fail!

Get it?  EPIC fail?  No?

This is a perfect example of why DRM is so incredibly irksome.  With games that require constant authentication, you're not really buying the game when you throw down your hard-earned money.  You're just renting the game until the vendor decides to take down their server.

We'll see how quickly Microsoft and Epic get their acts together.  Considering Microsoft's problem with the Zune 30GB's breaking on New Year's Eve, this appears to be an increasingly common issue for them.


-b0b
(....puts another notch on his anti-DRM belt.)

I've been playing an oldie but goody the last few days.  I bought Sid Meier's Pirates on Steam for $10.00 and have sunk several solid hours of gaming into it.  I'm really surprised that the 2004 title received so little press attention (or maybe I just missed it).  It's a fairly complex game with bits and pieces of several genres rolled into one fat package.  You get to build your own fleet, build up your crew, hire specialists, and purchase improvements for your ships.  You can represent one or more of the four kingdoms (Spanish, English, French, and the Freaky Deaky Dutch) and attack their enemies, progressing through various ranks with each country.  As you progress through ranks, you gain benefits at home ports and receive entitlements of land from the King.

You also have to contend with pirates, indians, and religious entities.  You can invade cities with your pirate crews and ransack them for gold, and slowly build your own empire if that's your gig.  There are other pirate leaders on the sea, though, and once you gain enough recognition you'll be sure to catch their attention.

All in all, it's well worth $10 and I'd highly recommend grabbing a copy if you're up for something non-traditional.  You can only play so many FPS/RTS/RPG rehashes before you need something a little different!

So what are you bums playing these days?  Hopefully something other than WoW has captured your collective attention?


-b0b
(...thinks we need to set up an online "game night" or something.)

ya i have that on the psp, even susie got into it! A game night sounds like fun we have hamachi set up to go to play empire earth. patrick, eric and i have hit it up every now and then and it would be fun to get some more games/people on there.

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Online task force: Adults shouldn't play Animal Crossing An online Missouri task force has suggested that adults who play Animal Crossing should be viewed with suspicion, as they are likely up to no good. One of the great things about the majority of Nintendo developed games is that they appeal to such a wide variety of gamers. Take Animal Crossing, for instance. While it is suitable for younger and casual gamers thanks to its adorable characters and setting, more than one so-called hardcore gamer has lost plenty of hours trying to pay off the nefarious Tom Nook. However, in spite of this, the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force believes that AC is not a game that should be played by adults. "There is no reason an adult should have this game," Andy Anderson told ABC News, via GamePolitics. Anderson believes that any adults playing Animal Crossing: City Folk on the Wii are most likely doing it for the wrong reasons, suggesting that the majority of these adult gamers are actually child predators. It's a curious decision to select AC:CF as an example of a dangerous online game, especially considering the limited online interactions players can have, something that is aided by the use of Nintendo's infamous friend code system. While parents should most certainly be aware of what their children are doing online, to suggest that this means that adults can't enjoy specific forms of entertainment is ludicrous.

I suppose I should tell Meredith to go down to the police station and register herself as an "offender."  What a bunch of nonsense.  Sure, it isn't my type of game, but to say imply that an adult that plays Animal Crossing is some sort of child predator is unabashedly absurd.

The best part of this whole thing?  The only way an Animal Crossing player can interact with another player is if they swap Wii codes.  In other words, for a predator to stalk a child in Animal Crossing, he would first have to contact them in some other way (i.e. chat forum, instant messaging, etc.) and ask for their code.  If they can already contact the child in some other fashion, this is really just a moot point.


-b0b
(...sighs.)

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I suppose I should tell Meredith to go down to the police station and register herself as an "offender."

Wow, that is a surprise.  I seriously would have pegged bob as being a child molester before mere.

...guess I owe pat $5.

spanky wrote on Mar 20^th, 2009 at 6:45am:

...guess I owe pat $5.

While you're at it, will you drop off the $2.50 I owe his mom?


-b0b
(...wonders why Spanky is up so early?)

Woo hoo! $7.50 for the college fund!

X

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Rockstar announces Max Payne 3 Rockstar has announced that Max Payne 3 is officially in development at Rockstar Vancouver, and should be released later this year. Not long after announcing a sequel to Red Dead Revolver, Rockstar has revealed that it is working on the third entry in the Max Payne franchise. The game is currently in development at the company's Vancouver studio and is expected to be released later this year. "We're starting a new chapter of Max's life with this game," Rockstar's Sam Houser said. "This is Max as we've never seen him before, a few years older, more world-weary and cynical than ever. We experience the downward spiral of his life after the events of Max Payne 2 and witness his last chance for salvation." Virtually no details have been released about the game, but it will have players take on the role of a retired Max in a much more violent and darker version of New York City. The first image of the game (below) is a piece of concept art that shows off a grizzled Max splattered with blood. With Rockstar's history, we most likely won't see much more information until we're closer to the game's actual release. Max Payne 3 is going to be released next winter for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

OH MY GOD!  ERGEHORHG!  #$@%(@#KFKWJEFEKWF~!~!!

DSJRGSHIERHgsergpsoei4jt43093it34t!

Egreg@#463567443reger@##$qa@!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...annnnnnd I'm spent.


-b0b
(...got a little excited.)

yes...Yes...YEs...YES...YES...YES...YES...OH YES!!!!!!!!!

X
(anyone have a towel?)

The first teaser trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was released after the GDC awards show last night...

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47178.html

It certainly looks... interesting!


-b0b
(...two w00ts for Infinity Ward!)

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/MaxPayne3.jpg

This might be the most retarded product I've ever seen.

http://www.gillette.com/en-us/#/home/FusionGamer/en-US/index.shtml/


-b0b
(...seriously, who buys this crap?)

So...I should take mine back for a refund?

On-board Microchip for consistent power.  How could you say no to that?!

I call BS.  Everybody knows you've got no facial hair to shave.


-b0b
(...unless it isn't facial hair you're trying to shave!)

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Everybody knows you've got no facial hair to shave.

Yes I do.  I have at least 4 of them!

http://www.closerangegame.com/

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Between battles, the story: Dave Arneson has passed on The joy of role-playing comes from the ability to do anything you want. The dungeon master can only put a situation in front of you, and it's his job to deal with your creative decisions to get through—or around—those obstacles. This is something Dave Arneson knew very early on. This is the man who helped create Dungeons and Dragons, and he has died of cancer. We know how Arneson dealt with history lessons in college, and it's telling. "We created the Continental Congress and because I knew things the teacher didn't share with the students we ended up not having the Continental Congress, Delaware rejoined the Empire and New York and New Hampshire were at war," he told GameSpy. "Anyway, (laughs) I was accused by my professor of perverting his exercises… and well, it was true I did, and he was mad at me. The same thing happened with the French Revolution, and he accused me of introducing these random events that were of no historical interest at all." We should be continually happy that so many bright students aren't dimmed by their teachers. Arneson understood that these things were of historical interest; history stands on the edge of knife, and a few different decisions one way or the other and the world would be a completely different place... we only forget that because we're comforted by putting historical events in a neat order. Arneson wanted to get into the heads of these people and play "what-if." Arneson understood that real stories came from what happened between the battles. Remember that Dungeons and Dragons came from wargaming; it just filled in the blanks after each war, the epic struggles that made up the majority of gaming at that time. "In our own games we got tired of taking the town, or the hill. So we started thinking about other objectives in a scenario, and to do that we had to give our Generals personality... We found that by doing that players started to identify with them. So, we'd role-play diplomacy and how they'd act out there on the battlefield." Why a fantasy setting? It cut down on players arguing on what was historically accurate. Why dungeons? Because it was easy to set up on a grid and you had finite space to work in. Much easier for everyone involved. This is yet another example of the limitations of gaming leading to breakthroughs, and Arneson's love of social gaming and imagination helped to steer the ship where it needed to go. What we love about Dungeons and Dragons comes from Arneson's intuitive ability to make gaming stimulating and intriguing, even with no battlefield in sight. While he left TSR in 1975 after a falling out with Gary Gygax, he continued to work on his Blackmoor games, but his name remained tied to the game that made him famous. "So what's my involvement? I do all the conventions. I talk about it. I use it for my classes. I think I've still had a lot of influence on rules in spite of not being officially involved but it was not until Third Edition came about and they involved me in the playtesting that I again had any direct involvement in D&D." Arneson died Tuesday night, after a long bout with cancer. He is survived by his wife and daughter. His name may not have been as well-known as Gary Gygax's, but his influence still touched every aspect of both table-top role-playing and video gaming. He helped to create an entire world and industry by asking the simplest of questions: what are these characters doing when they're not fighting? Get out your classic rule books. Invite some friends over. Keep a chair empty for a fallen friend, and play for a few hours. Not online, in person. Order a pizza. Buy your kids a rule book and some dice. Remember Dave Arneson, a man who wasn't satisfied with the game when his parents brought home an Avalon Hill title. When he began changing the rules, he began changing the world. We'll miss you, Dave.

First Gary, now Dave.  The world is an emptier place without them.

-b0b
(...rolls a d20 in salute.)

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Left 4 Dead PC DLC Out Now April 21, 2009, 2:45 pm - Valve - Product Update The Left 4 Dead Survival Pack is now available for the PC and Xbox 360, free of charge to all owners of the game. The full change list for the PC release is below. In addition, both the retail and Steam versions of the game (PC and 360) are now available for a special price. Check Steam and local retailers for pricing details. For more information about L4D, please visit www.l4d.com Survival Mode New gameplay Mode 16 maps including Last Stand Leaderboards 7 new achievements Versus Changes 2 new versus campaigns Fixed a case where versus team score would continue to be recalculated after the score panel was displayed Fixed an issue with recalculating the versus score health bonus for a player when they are rescued from being incapacitated Fixed being able to start a swing as an infected, then teleport to the survivors and have the claw swing hit a survivor Fixed a case where teleporting to the survivors would not reset the ability timer Fixed an exploit where you could load the chamber of a weapon with bullets by holding down the melee key Fixed a case where it was not possible to join a game while it was in a finale Fixed a rare case where listen servers would speed up the game over time Removed convars related to melee fatigue Fixed a case where infected players would get a respawn time on their initial spawn into a map Server Changes Made ms_force_dedicated_server not require cheats Add a message when queuing a heartbeat Simplified setting of game mode Removed convars director_no_human_zombies and director_holdout_mode Added mp_gamemode [coop,versus,survival] General Added lobby join and leave messages

I spent the entire night working on a paper, so this will have to wait until tomorrow.  I'll let you guys know how it goes!


-b0b
(...is psyched!)

Awwww, I wish I was home to download it!

Hope to try it this weekend though.

http://static.arstechnica.com/assets/2009/04/Guerilla-thumb-640xauto-4660.jpg


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Red Faction: Guerilla demo is out now, worth your time The demo for Red Faction: Guerilla is out now on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, and it's much better than we were expecting. Go give it a try, and be pleasantly surprised. By Ben Kuchera | Last updated April 23, 2009 10:39 AM CT In the Red Faction: Guerrilla demo that is now available for every 360 and PS3 owner—even if you didn't preorder the game—you can take control of a massive walker and use it to simply walk through buildings. It is, very simply, glorious. For a while, the demo was only available to preorder customers (because who doesn't want to put down money on a game to see if they'd like it) but now the demo is available to everyone, free and clear. I heavily suggest you give it a try. The game wasn't much on my radar before; I found the original merely competent, but in the demo there is a mech, a turret section, and a small area where you can use your throwable explosives to blow up buildings, gas tanks, or people. Yes, the ability to stick the grenades onto someone's face and watch them run around in a panic before detonation is still there. It's still as good as it ever was. Watching an enemy take cover, only to blow up that cover and then smack the baddie full on the chest with your hammer, is an experience everyone needs to go through at least once. I won't bore you with other things you can do, leaving you to explore for yourself, but the destruction is wonderful, the physics feel great, and the weapons are satisfying. This one went from "Eh, I hope to see it at E3" to "give me more NOW" in a matter of minutes. Go give it a download and let us know what you think, or if you pre-ordered and this is old news, feel free to make fun of the rest of us. Red Faction: Guerrilla will be released on June 9 for the 360 and PS3, and August 25 on the PC.

Interestingly, Red Faction: Guerilla is still showing up on Steam's "Coming Soon" page.  I sincerely hope this game really does appear on Steam in August.

I'm a bit peeved that I have to wait 2½ months longer than the console gamers, though.  I doubt there is any technical reason for the delay, and this is likely a move to lessen the impact caused by piracy.  Any insight, Media Master?


-b0b
(...is going to download the XBox demo tonight!)

Yea, not at liberty to say anything on that , sorry. I have to check out the demo myself, I've heard mixed feelings from people who tried it. I'm just sad there's no tunneling into the ground anymore. Glass house ftw!

Yeah, I figured you wouldn't be able to say anything.  Such is the burden of a worthwhile career, eh?

My brother-in-law and I just spent about two hours playing the demo.  It's only a ~15 minute demo, so that should speak volumes!  As usual, I suck balls at console FPS titles, but blowing stuff up in the walking robots was incredibly fun.  As the review I posted earlier posits, throwing sticky bombs on enemies is an absolute riot.

Volition really nailed this one out of the park.  I can't wait until the demo hits the PC, and I hope they don't make us wait until August to get a peek at it!


-b0b
(...loved it!)

Stalin vs. Martians!

This game looked so darned cool that I just had to pre-order it on Steam today.


http://stalinvsmartians.com/screenshot0008.jpg
http://stalinvsmartians.com/screenshot0009.jpg

On a side note, you can pick up The Orange Box for only $10 on Steam this weekend.  The sale runs through Sunday evening.  If you don't own it already, you owe it to yourself to pick it up!


-b0b
(...is buying a copy for Mere's Steam account for LAN parties.)

.... is that a monster sized Stalin?!

I don't know, but I'll find out when it ships on Wednesday!  Full details forthcoming!


-b0b
(...mecha-Stalin!)

Quote:

Bioshock movie put on hold due to high budget Due to concerns over rising costs, production on the Bioshock film has been put on hold. Looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer before we get to see Rapture visualized on the big screen. By Michael Thompson | Last updated April 27, 2009 11:00 AM CT The Bioshock movie that was announced a year ago seems to have hit a bit of a snag: it's been put on hiatus due to budget concerns, and everyone involved is working to reduce costs. Unsurprisingly, the Gore Verbinski-directed film was set to have a fairly substantial budget, but Universal started getting nervous when projected cost raised to $160 million. As a result, things are on hold until the finances get sorted out. Verbinski, who actually passed on directing the next Pirates of the Caribbean to helm the Bioshock adapation, explained the situation to Variety. "We were asked by Universal to move the film outside the U.S. to take advantage of a tax credit," he said, adding, "we are evaluating whether this is something we want to do. In the meantime, the film is in a holding pattern." The movie has generated a great deal of excitement from fans of the game, particularly because of the combined talent of Gore Verbinski and John Logan. While it's disappointing to hear that the film has been delayed, fans should take heart that the movie itself hasn't actually been canceled. According to Variety, "All parties vow that Bioshock will not become another Halo, the would-be live-action adaptation of the Microsoft game that was cancelled when U and Fox got cold feet over budget fears." If the film does eventually make it through these budget concerns and into theaters, gamers will probably be OK with the delay so long as the final product is better than most of the game-based movies that have been released so far.

At this rate, if the movie does make it into production, it'll be another Doom/Streetfighter/Mortal Kombat catastrophe.


-b0b
(...is sad in his pants.)

Quote:

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58519 A very reliable source close to Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms today confirmed to Shacknews that the company has been shut down. The closure came about as a result of funding issues, our source explained, with the shut down said to affect both 3D Realms and the recently resurrected Apogee name. Employees of both entities have already been let go. Phone calls and e-mails to various 3D Realms veterans have thus far gone unanswered, with publishing partner Take-Two likewise unavailable for comment.

I guess this means we can't bust on Duke Nukem Forever anymore.  Alas, poor 3D Realms, we hardly knew ye!


-b0b
(...super sad frowny face!)

Another teaser trailer is out for Modern Warfare 2.  It's still looking pretty sexy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvha8Dz_G_E

Mother of God.

I just spent $32.00 on... *cough*Games for Windows Live*cough*...

I can't stand that darn interface, but I just had to have the Fallout 3 expansion packs.  I'm such a consumer whore.


-b0b
(...somebody hold me.)

The first screenshots of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have been leaked.  Enjoy!

http://www.xboxic.com/news/5283


-b0b
(...wants to see some decent in-game video!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9boF-JZKcU


Are you guys as excited about this as I am?  I might have to save up and buy that GTX 285 I've been drooling over when this comes out.


-b0b
(...is still using an 8800 GTS 512.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9boF-JZKcU


Are you guys as excited about this as I am?  I might have to save up and buy that GTX 285 I've been drooling over when this comes out.


-b0b
(...is still using an 8800 GTS 512.)

Hells yeah, I will definitely be getting that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTj6tauY1JU

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/AVP3.jpg

Sega has announced a deal to publish Aliens vs Predator 3.  You can find a handful of screenshots and a teaser video here.

I wonder if this will finally get Eric back into gaming?

-b0b
(...wants more video!)

Microsoft's big E3 announcement today was that another Hideo Kojima production is on the way, and it is coming to the 360!

http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/next/

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/941008078931/inlineimg/Y/kojima.jpg

And for the sleuths among you, here's the meta tag from the website:  

[code]<meta name="keywords" content="Hideo Kojima, MGS,METAL GEAR, NEXT, game, konami, kojima game, KJP, Kojima Production ">[/code]

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/ga/ul/677003388931/inlineimg/Y/bigboss.jpg

-b0b
(...hmmm!)

With all the leaks and early hype these days, E3 rarely throws out a true surprise.  I have to say, I didn't see this one coming.  Valve has announced Left 4 Dead 2 and has released a couple of gameplay trailers.  Apparently, the next game will take place in New Orleans...

Docks Gameplay
Incendiary Ammunition
Melee Weapons


More awesome E3 trailers:

Alan Wake (Looks less cool than it used to...)
Metal Gear Solid: Rising
Halo: Reach
Front Mission Evolved



-b0b
(...lurves L4D!)

I have absolutely no interest in the Star Wars MMO, but this has to be the most bad-ass trailer I've seen in years...

Star Wars: The Old Republic

The attached video description is very true: "This cinematic is better than Episodes I-III combined."  If only Lucas could make a movie trailer that interesting!


-b0b
(...suddenly finds himself in need of a change of pants.)

I was also impressed with the SW:TOR trailer.  I am just wondering if it will be a sequel to KOTOR or if they're just banking off the namesake.  If it IS a sequel...I will hyperventalate, I loved those games.  There was so much to do and so many paths to take.

X

It's being produced by the same folks and it's set in the same timeline, so I'm sure there will be a lot of tie-in.

That said, it's yet another MMO, so it will ultimately be EverQuest with a Star Wars skin on it and a few unique features thrown in for good measure.


-b0b
(...at least it can't be as bad as Star Wars Galaxies.  Zing!)

http://www.leatherheadckd.com/images/tetris.gif


Tetris turns 25 today!  I think I'll have to bust out my copy for the original Game Boy and have some old-school fun!


-b0b
(...bam!)

http://static.arstechnica.com/Gaming/miyamotozelda.jpg

A final teaser image from E3.  Miyamoto has something up his sleeve!


-b0b
(...w00t!)

Anyone getting Prototype tomorrow?  I think the game looks pretty good, there hasn't been much hype.  I may wait 1 day to buy it until I check all the reviews.

Stick, did you pick up Prototype?  How is it?

I might get it on Steam this weekend.




Quote:

Bethesda Softworks parent ZeniMax Media buys id Software In a somewhat surprise move today, Zenimax, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, has acquired id Software, famed developer of the Doom and Quake series of games. Both companies promise to maintain the status quo at id Software, with all the executives from the company signing long-term contracts to continue their roles with the studio. “This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” said John Carmack, who will continue to serve in his current role as Technical Director. “We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them. We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am." Zenimax is a private company, and now has Doom, Fallout, Quake, Oblivion, Rage, Wolfeinstein, and Brink in its stable of content. Robert Altman, the CEO of Zenimax, stated, "Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best—make AAA games. Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand.” The interesting bit? EA has already signed to publish Rage, leaving Zenimax with little to do when it comes to id's upcoming title. While this news is surprising, both companies have sterling reputations in the gaming world, and if id had to be acquired, there were much worse places for it to go—no, we won't name names... We'll continue to follow this story and update with any new details as they emerge.

I guess I didn't see this one coming at all.  I had no idea id was on the market.  It's sad to see a stalwart lose their independence after twenty years, but they could have done worse I guess.


-b0b
(...at least it was Bethesda!)

I got it, found it kind of boring because I really like games where you can compete online against real people.

I generally dislike games that require me to play online against other people, because those people are generally dicks.


-b0b
(...is an asocial gamer.)

That makes it all the better when you crush them and feed upon their tears.

The_Fat_Man wrote on Jun 26^th, 2009 at 1:06pm:

That makes it all the better when you crush them and feed upon their tears.

That's very true for competitive games, but for co-op games like Left 4 Dead where you have to play together it just sucks.

The next time some 12-year old punk intentionally shoots me in the back of the head, I'm going to reach over TCP/IP and bitchslap him.


-b0b
(...isn't bitter.  Really.)

Quote:

The next time some 12-year old punk intentionally shoots me in the back of the head, I'm going to reach over TCP/IP and bitchslap him.

Hey, bite me!  You started that.

Or maybe you mean...byte....me?  mawhahahahaha!

Quote:

RTS misery: StarCraft 2 officially pushed into 2010 Activision Blizzard has sent around a quick blast of news detailing its second quarter financial results. The short of it is that the company is doing well. The expected huge franchises continuing to perform well, with big-name games still on the way. Then the bad news: StarCraft 2 won't make it this year. "As we prepare for next year, we have moved the expected release dates for two games, Activision Publishing's Singularity and Blizzard Entertainment's StarCraft II, into 2010," Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick stated. "However, we are increasing our calendar year earnings-per-share GAAP outlook and reaffirming our calendar year earnings-per-share non-GAAP outlook and still expect to deliver record non-GAAP operating margins." In other words, the company expects the games it will be releasing in the coming months to see it through. StarCraft 2 will be released in the first half of the year, to coincide with the re-launch of the new and improved Battle.net, a process that's proving rockier than first anticipated.

When are they going to change the name to Starcraft II: Forever?


-b0b
(...has mostly given up on it.)

They are too busy rolling in the money they are making from World of Warcraft.

It'll be released around the same time Ironman gets to play Duke Nuk'em

A few AAA games are being moved to 2010 because of recession fears. They all want their titles to be released when people are actually buying a lot of games. A few have even been pushed out of the Fall/Christmas release time.

On a side note, Red Faction: Guerilla is now available for pre-order on Steam.  I'm picking up my copy tonight!

To help boost orders, they've released the original Red Faction and Red Faction 2 for $10 each, but you get both free with a pre-order.


-b0b
(...can't wait to kick some butt on Mars!)

There's a new MechWarrior trailer out, and it looks decidedly badass.  Check it out!

http://pc.ign.com/dor/objects/18954/mech-warrior-project/videos/mechwarrior_trl_phoenix_70709.html


-b0b
(...wants it now!)

Quote:

Diablo 3 coming in 2011? The 2010 Blizzard two-game mystery It looks like the speculation can finally come to an end; Blizzard has made it clear that we will in fact see two big releases in 2010... and unfortunately one of them is not Diablo 3. That's right, the game will be coming in 2011, or later. Shacknews has the scoop. "Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime has confirmed that just-revealed World of Warcraft expansion Cataclysm and StarCraft II are the two titles the company expects to hit in 2010," the site reported. With StarCraft II coming in 2010, Blizzard claimed on the Activision Blizzard earnings call that we can expect two big Blizzard releases coming in 2010, but we were then warned not to make any assumptions about what those two games would be. While we guessed—incorrectly, it turns out—that Diablo 3 would be the other title, our dreams have been crushed.

Activision can suck it.  We've been waiting patiently for Diablo III since it was announced several years ago.  I get the whole "It's done when it's done," but at this point its rather obvious that Activision is forcing Blizzard to delay the game simply to flatten out the release schedule over a longer time period.

Sure, it makes business sense, but it definitely sucks for the customers.


-b0b
(...NERD RAAAAAAAGE!)

Blizzard are a bunch of vagina's now.  They've already pussied (is that a word) up World of Warcraft, and I imagine that Diablo 3 will come out AFTER The Old Republic does.

An impressive feat consider Old Republic was announced after D3, and is a fucking MMORPG.

OMG Red Faction: Guerrilla finally came out for PC today!  It seems like it's been a century since I pre-ordered it on Steam!


I'm downloading it now, and will provide a cursory review sometime tomorrow(ish)!


-b0b
(...it's about damn time!)

let me know how it goes!

From what I've read, they did a fairly decent job on the PC port.  There were only a handful of reviews out yesterday but most of them seemed positive.  I guess the development team put some effort into amping up the graphics for the PC platform, which is a nice change from the usual "port and release" policy of console-first titles.

I'm incredibly excited about giving it a shot tonight.  Last night was our anniversary so I couldn't really take a gaming break.  ::)  If it's good enough, I might take off Friday just to get a solid gaming session in!


-b0b
(...is rambling.)

Briney worked on Red Faction for the PC.  So I'm taking bets it will look horrible.

;D

Anyone have a good torrent link yet!?

It was a fun game to play on Xbox

Dude you could download it before it was even out on the PC lol.

I was gonna download it and run the installer, just so I could take a screenshot and send it to Briney!

yea its funny reading bob say development team. we made in prettier in parts, theres a couple things getting fixed in 1st patch that are giving some folk trouble.

oh and HEY don't torrent it. stupid russians.

I got to play it for all of five minutes last night, and it looked decent.  I'm having trouble with the sound though.  The wind and other ambient noise is loud as hell, and tweaking the sound configuration in the game settings doesn't seem to affect it.

I'll play around with it later.


-b0b
(...shrugs.)

You are using 5.1 surround sound i assume? A patch will fix that soon, but for now switch to stereo so it doesn't sound like your in the middle of a bloody sandstorm.

That's seems like the kind of thing you'd catch during testing without too much trouble...  :D

-b0b
(...bahahaha!)

meh we didn't do most of the testing, plus im sure there were more important errors to fix.

*In anchor's voice*

That's right, Bill, here we have the famous "scape goat" play.  This rookie has to be pretty crazy to play that card so early in his season.  The fact that sound is considered probably 1/4 of a video game...he's really got to be reachin' with the whole "more important things to fix".  Back to you, Bill, and we'll keep you updated on how this rookie will try any other Microsoft excuses in the future.

X

we sent it to them to certify before making the finished build...

so they didnt catch it...

hows that? ;D

My response:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb0CqAhLWWs&feature=channel_page

Only you, Stewie, would think of that particular song first.


-b0b
(...has removed his ear drums with a pen.)

Do any of you guys play D&D Online? Let me know if you want to meet up! =)

Left 4 dead teletubbies mod.

http://www.break.com/game-trailers/game/left-4-dead/left-4-dead-teletubbies-mod-gameplay.html

I picked up a G13 Advanced Gamepad today for use with my MMOs.

I have to say, I am one step closer to being a cyborg with this thing.

Microsoft finally admitted what we always knew: PCs are the ultimate gaming system!  Check out this e-mail I received from MSFT...



-b0b
(...attached!)

---

If you want to check out Briney's work, Red Faction: Guerrilla is 25% off on Steam this weekend.  It'll be $29.99 through Sunday evening.


I started playing it a few days ago and I'm having a blast.  The 5.1 sound issue hasn't been fixed yet, which is kinda gay, but the game is incredibly addicting.  Think of it as GTA set on Mars without hookers and with the ability to blow up darn near anything.


-b0b
(...should review it or something.)

microsoft takes their own sweet time to review anything for approval. hence the patch taking forever.

Out of curiosity, why does Microsoft have to review a patch for the PC port?  Is this a requirement for Ga(y)mes for Windows Live?

By the way, if I pay extra, can you put the hookers in?


-b0b
(...just wondering.)

yea games for windows live is extremely frustrating to work with. They have to review any changes and do their own testing. There usually is a min of a 2 week wait, but right now its longer cause they have so much stuff to test for the fall season.

It would have been nice to just stay on steam and do online there, but gamestop would not allow it (retailers have a HUGE say in game releases these days). They dont want people making exclusive purchases/upgrades through an online medium they cant control. at least thats my understanding. It's pretty stupid if you ask me.

It'll be great when publishers can just give retailers the finger.  We'll probably pay more of a markup for consoles and accessories that need retail space, but if the PSP Go and PSN/XBL downloads are any indication we're (finally) moving toward a largely download-based marketplace.  I'll be a very, very happy man when GameStop dies in a fire.

It's been a long time since SatellaView and XBand hit the market, so it's about darn time!


-b0b
(...will dance on GameStop's grave.)

Oh, and it'll be even better when developers can give publishers the finger.  


-b0b
(...of course, that will probably happen right about the time artists give big media the finger.)
(....which happens to be the same day Hell freezes over.)
(.....which will be right after users start putting their files on #%^@ing network drives.)
(......which is about the time fairies start handing out gumdrops on lollipop lane.)
(.......which will all happen before Briney finishes BFE.)

Ha Ha...I see what you did there!

BATTLEFIELD EARTH!!!! *shakes fist at the heavens*

The demo for Left 4 Dead 2 went live for those that pre-ordered the game.  The only problem is that it doesn't seem to work:

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/L4D2Error.jpg

I'm sure Valve will get this fixed quickly, but it's still sort of embarrassing.


-b0b
(...ha!)

We got our first "Red Ring of Death" on the XBox last night.  Lovely.  I'll call Microsoft later tonight and see what it takes to get it repaired.

I like to think of myself as a bit of a Microsoft fanboy, but their hardware has always been pure crap.


-b0b
(...bah!)

They will send you a box that you ship the Xbox back to them in, and then they send you a new one or a refurbished one to replace it.

I've seen it happen like..oh 40 times.

As much as I want to go all NEEEEEEEERD RAGE on Microsoft, it's entirely futile.  We ordered our shipping box today, and we'll see how it goes.  As long as I don't get some scratched-up refurb, everybody can walk away unscathed.


-b0b
(...bastages.)



http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD1.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD2.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD2a.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD3.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD4.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD5.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD6.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD7.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/RRoD8.jpg

In case anyone was wondering, the demo for Left 4 Dead 2 is amazing.  It's very much the successor of Left 4 Dead, but the game play/graphics improvements, new characters, new weapons, and new locations are completely worthwhile.

Although I probably won't get around to playing when it hits the shelves in two weeks due to tomorrow's release of Dragon Age: Origins (&*#$ yeah!), it's definitely on my short list of games to play.

I can't tell you guys how stoked I am about Dragon Age.  I checked out the Character Creator the other day so I could get my in-game freebie item, and I beat the mediocre Flash game Dragon Age Journeys three times so I could get more in-game freebies.  I frickin' hate Flash games.

I finished preloading the game on Steam yesterday.  I wish I was a teenager once again so I could stay up until the midnight release and get in an hour or two of game time, but sadly Real Life™ makes that impossible.

I took four hours of vacation time tomorrow afternoon, though, so I'll get to game and get paid for it.  Take that, teenagers!


-b0b
(...is a consumer whore.)

I tell you what b0b.  You buy me Dragon Age over Steam and I'll play it ALL DAY for you, promise.

OMG decrypting now!  20% complete!

79%!

92%!  Great googly moogly, it takes forever to decrypt 15GB of data!

Here's a screenshot of my character right after starting the game, complete with my hard-earned helmet.  Best caster helmet ever!

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/Tharanth.jpg


-b0b
(...can't see a thing!)

Quote:

The Xbox 360 breaks five times as often as its closest failure-prone competitor, the PlayStation 3, a print edition-only Game Informer survey found. The poorly manufactured, red ring of death-prone console has a 54.2 percent failure rate, compared to 10.6 percent for the PS3 and the Wii's 6.8 percent. The magazine surveyed nearly 5,000 readers to get the data. And while the 360's rate is alarmingly higher than the others, it's still bafflingly low because it blows the mind to imagine that 45.8 percent of the consoles have not broken. Also, Microsoft's numbers are inflated because 360s are used the most of the three consoles. Results said 40.3 percent of 360 owners use the console three to five hours a day, compared to 37 percent of PS3 owners. Meanwhile, the plurality of Wii owners (41.4 percent) play their consoles less than an hour a day. Microsoft also seized the gold medal for unhelpful customer service, taking nearly a month to repair or replace a console, while Nintendo and Sony stuck closer to a week. Only 37.7 percent of Microsoft customers found the company's customer service was "very helpful," compared to 51.1 percent fo Sony and 56.1 percent for Nintendo. http://consumerist.com/5338852/xbox-360-failure-rate-is-542-percent-game-informer-finds

Wow, the repair time really sounds harsh.  Wes, is this in line with your experience?


-b0b
(...a whole month?!)

I got mine back in about 10 days, but I do know my buddy Andy didn't get his back for almost a month.

Quote:

Modern Warfare 2 for PC: It's Much Worse Than You Thought Infinity Ward needs to realize that talking to people in the PC community does not end well for the buzz around its game. The lack of dedicated servers was "announced" during an interview with a gaming podcast, and the interviewers were stunned into silence when they were basically told their community, as they knew it, was dead. They would have to learn to adapt to Infinity Ward controlling all aspects of the servers, or move onto another game. More recently, Best Buy hosted an online chat between gamers and Mackey McCandlish and Ryan Lastimosa from Infinity Ward. The floor was open for questions, and the pair systematically crushed any hope that the PC version of the game would even attempt to make gamers happy, or allow for what the community has been taking for granted for years. We're going to take a look at some of the more telling questions from this session, and give our thoughts on why this is bad, bad news. [quote]   Josh111: PC Question... What will the max amount of players per map be for PC multiplayer on IW.net    Vince-IW: 9v9

No matter how good a connection the host has, no matter how powerful your dedicated server was, the maximum number of players online is 18. If you have a larger clan, you're out of luck. If you're waiting for someone to create a custom map to allow larger groups, don't bother. There is no news on mod tools or the ability to add your own content into the locked-down server structure.

Infinity Ward says the maps are balanced for only nine players per side, but they also say there is no lean in the game because the game "isn't balanced for lean." Remember, you can easily answer any inconvenient questions by saying it would ruin the game's balance.

Somehow, I doubt between the past games and this one they've forgotten how to implement lean. Likewise, with the ability to run your own servers players can decide what size games they'd like to play on, or use new maps that are larger. As the system is set up now, however, that is simply not an option.


Quote:

Q: Is there a console in the PC version of the game, so we can change our field of view from the xbox's default 65 FOV to 80 also can we tweaks the weapon damage for each gun, removes perks, graphical debris, breathing sway, also thru console like we where able to before or is this all gone?    Vince-IW: We would like you to play the game the way we designed and balanced it.

The lack of console commands is going to be something that may not make the headlines, but may be one of the most annoying omissions to the game. The ability to tweak and adjust your play experience through the console is something PC gamers have enjoyed since... well, since there has been modern gaming.

There is a long list of adjustments and tweaks gamers can make to titles like Borderlands on the PC in order to adjust settings. Now you're locked into whatever options Infinity Ward sees fit to put into the menus.

This is, for all intents and purposes, a console game that plays on your PC. You won't be able to make any tweaks, you can't adjust anything, and even better? You won't be able to make recordings of your matches. The question in the chat showed just how far the gulf between what gamers want and what Infinity Ward is giving them has become. "Is there a /record feature? Answer yes... please. We're trying to give you a 'chance'," the gamer asked. The answer was a simple "No."


Quote:

DudezTY: Since we cannot kick people in ranked matches, how will we stop hackers who get past VAC?    Mackey-IW: Our goal is to ban hackers from the game.

It's a shame that it's impossible to show a jaw dropping on an online chat. There will be no way to kick players, and Infinity Ward seems sure they'll simply be able to keep hackers and cheaters from playing.

That's a pipe dream, of course, but with no control in the hands of the players, no ability to control who is hosting, and no ability to kick or ban players from your game, you're just going to have to take their word for it.


Quote:

kaRMa: Please give me a direct answer. On the PC version. Are all games hosted by players, and is there a five-second delay when host migration is in effect?    Vince-IW: yes.

Why is this a problem? Because Infinity Ward also revealed in the chat that the game will pick who hosts. You have no control over it. If the host leaves, there will be a five-second delay while the game picks the next best host. Players have no way of controlling who is hosting, and of course we know there will be no dedicated servers.

The host will of course have a ping advantage, which should be mitigated by the software "having a great tolerance for latency," and a five-second pause if the host rage-quits before the game restarts will ruin any flow the game enjoyed until that point.

What's more interesting is that they said ISPs will have to deal with you hosting games, even if there is language against running servers in their usage agreement. Infinity Ward's response is that since this isn't a "permanent" server, they have to deal with it. When someone else asked what would happen if their ISP throttled traffic that comes from running a server, they were told that "only players capable of hosting will host."

They better hope that no ISPs get upset, because there is no way for any player to control who hosts. You can't opt out of hosting. If the host quits, the game stops for five seconds while the next one is selected by the software. This is good for gamers... somehow.


Quote:

Moriarte: Ignoring IW.net, is the PC version a direct port of the console version?    Mackey-IW: No, PC has custom stuff like mouse control, text chat in game, and graphics settings.

This is the amount of work that went into the PC version: you are given the ability to use a mouse, to use text chat, and to adjust graphical settings. Are your fears now put to rest?
To sum it up

We thought the lack of dedicated servers was bad, but now we can add the lack of console commands, the inability to have a say in who hosts the game, a lengthy pause while the game migrates to a new host if the currently selected host quits, no leaning, no option to record matches, and no way to kick or block trouble players, hackers, or cheaters.

You have to wonder if there are any actual PC gamers working at Infinity Ward, as it will be a challenge to find any member of the PC gaming community that will stand up for any of these omissions, not to mention all of them bundled together. At launch, this will be one of the most locked-down, inflexible, and gamer-unfriendly game ever created.

It won't stay that way, of course. The pirates will have the game up on the torrent sites soon, if they haven't already, and the code will be ripped apart and modded to allow everything gamers want. How quickly will dedicated servers pop up for these pirates? It's hard to say... but we have a feeling it won't be long. Those that buy the game legally will have no choice but to play exactly how the developer and publisher want them to.[/quote]


You guys know that I'm a PC gamer at heart, so reading this article really feels like a whomp in the jibblies.  I really enjoyed the first Modern Warfare, but this gaming is getting a definitive skip.  It's really unfortunate this is coming from Infinity Ward because they were always one of my favorite developers.  It's amazing how fast a company can flush years of goodwill down the toilet with one utterly retarded decision.

9v9 on a PC is an absolute joke.  I remember playing Tribes 2 with 64 players almost a decade ago.  Removing the console and leaning from a PC FPS is absolutely ridiculous.  I can't even think of the last FPS on a PC that didn't ship with these features.  People simply aren't going to play it.  I'd be surprised if this game is on the PC sales charts at all after Christmas.

The first nail in the coffin is still the largest, though.  The lack of a dedicated server for the PC version is unacceptable.  First, I don't feel like wasting my bandwidth hosting a bunch of other scrubs.  Second, I don't feel like playing a game hosted on somebody's crappy cable/DSL connection.  There is a reason why people pay money to host servers in actual data centers.  Finally, I don't want my "fast paced" FPS to pause for five seconds every time some 12-year old decides to rage quit while hosting the game.

What a crock.


-b0b
(...won't be buying this.  Ever.)

Oh, and the price!  $59.99 for a digital download that is completely gimped?  Only Activision would have the balls to charge $10 more for this abomination than every other PC game on the market.  They're going to charge us an extra $10 but they aren't going to give us dedicated servers, the ability to kick players, a console, leaning, etc?

Suck it, Activision.


-b0b
(...NERD RAGE!)

Dragon Age has thoroughly captured me in its sweet, sweet embrace.  I've put just about every moment of my limited free time into this game.  I don't think I've been this hooked in years!

I picked up a second copy for PS3 so Meredith could play too.  She's loving it, although she's playing the game in a very different manner.  In short, if you buy Dragon Age and you're involved in a long-term relationship, make sure you get a copy for your Significant Other too.  Otherwise, she'll start wondering why you've fallen off the face of the planet.

For the love of molasses, get this game!


-b0b
(...is addicted.)

---

bob questions

Do the online suggested specs line up with what you think is needed to run the game without making it look horrible?

Basically I really wanna grab this game but am slightly on edge about how well my computer can run it.

(....doesn't put the kind of money into his computer that he used to).

My computer is two years old and I can run everything cranked to the max.  I've yet to read of a complaint about it running poorly on even mediocre equipment, as long as you turn the eye candy down a bit.


-b0b
(...whatcha got?)

King's Bounty and it's expansion are only $11.25 this week on Steam, if you haven't played these games before I highly recommend picking them up.  They are a blast, and at that price you'd be retarded not to grab em!

I picked up both of them during the holiday sale.  Is the expansion/sequel any good?

What's your Steam ID, by the way?


-b0b
(...beat Borderlands last night.)

I still haven't played all the way through King's Bounty, so I haven't given Armored Princess a try yet....but I hear its pretty much the first game with some minor improvements.  I just don't have the time to play as much as I want to...still working on Dragon Age, and playing WoW at the same time so lol.

My steam ID is WesDowner

The_Fat_Man wrote on Jan 14^th, 2010 at 11:46am:

I just don't have the time to play as much as I want to...

I'm definitely in that same boat.  Between work, school, and a killer commute I just don't have time for games like I used to.  Once I wrap up my undergrad this fall, I'm planning on taking a week-long vacation just to catch up on all of the stuff I haven't had the chance to play.



Quote:

still working on Dragon Age, and playing WoW at the same time so lol.

Forsake WoW and devote your entire existence to Dragon Age.  It's such an incredible experience that nothing should get in the way of it.  I got so engrossed in the game that I had to buy Meredith a copy so she could play, too.  I'm now avidly looking forward to the expansion in March so I can get back into the game.




Quote:

My steam ID is WesDowner

It's highly original, I'll give you that!  I'm TheAmazingBob.  I'll add you tonight.


-b0b
(...w00t!)

lol I've learned that if I don't keep my IDs for shit simple, I forget them.....in this modern age I only have like 7000 user names and passwords to keep track of.

Muahaha, now we just need to get Briney to move to the dark side of Steam.


-b0b
(...just noticed Mass Effect 2 came up for preorder.)

By the way, here's the running list of Steam IDs:


Bob - TheAmazingBob (Alias: Meta4)

Meredith - MerryRogers

Nick Bordine - Krazed_Kobold

Craig - Spanky

Stewie - AgentX216

Eric - EBriney44 (Hasn't been online for a year)


-b0b
(...w00t!)

Eric hasn't been on in a year?  You're fired Eric!

I was unable to find your username on Steam Wes

???

X

I edited my name and it seems to be working now, I added some of you haha.  Except when I added Craig I got some weird guy who's ID had the word "foreskin" in it...so I deleted it...

Did you click to the community page bob linked?  I pulled that page up and that one is me...don't know about the one you found though.

Quote:

StarCraft II private beta testing has begun By Eric Bangeman | Last updated February 17, 2010 3:26 PM It's on. Blizzard has started the closed beta for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty in advance of the game's launch sometime around the middle of the year. If you signed up to participate in the beta, check your Battle.net account, as the developer says that invitations have already started to go out. Beyond testing StarCraft II gameplay, testers will get an early look at the revamped Battle.net service that will allow gamers to talk to one another across World of Warcraft realms and Blizzard's other titles. Players will also be able to purchase add-on content and other Blizzard releases via the new Battle.net. StarCraft II will bring a completely rethought single-player experience to go with the online multiplayer. Single-player missions are organized differently and the way items and units are unlocked makes solo play much more exciting. Unfortunately, there won't be support for LAN play.

I think I'm going to take a vacation day for this one!


-b0b
(...can't wait!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v478/Beltfedleadhead/wiicarbine.jpg

It's official!

http://static.arstechnica.com/Gaming/8461.portalwrap1.jpg


This is a triumph!  I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS!

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/FF13Release.jpg

Happy Final Fantasy XIII release day!  Mere and I picked up our copy for the PS3 after work today.  So far, so good.  It's definitely Final Fantasy!


-b0b
(...w00t!)

But there's no towns!!!   how is that FF!?

In other news, I'm off to GDC in San Francisco for the weekend, I'll be sure to post cool pictures. I'm going to the Sid Meier presentation, and Patrick wants me to get him to sign my copy of SMAC. And of course, ask why The white team is so much more powerful than everyone else.
...we should play smac.

I think we've played enough SMAC for two or three lifetimes!

I expect a ton of awesome pictures.  If the forum is crushed under the burden of hosting your pictures, you will fail at life.


-b0b
(...thinks the verdict is still out on FF towns.)

I beat FF13 yesterday, and while its a pretty good game, I sold it this morning lol.

Mass Effect 2 is WAY better.

Oh btw, my new computer is up and running so I'll be back online (and in the state of Colorado!)

Meredith is playing like crazy, and near the end of the game.  She is enjoying it.

I'm having a hard time getting into the game.  I'm on chapter five and the battle system just isn't doing it for me.  Life is pretty hectic right now, though, so I don't have the time to really get into the game.  I'll give it a fair shot before too long, though!


-b0b
(...also has Mass Effect 2 on the back burner.)

Yeah the entire game is very slow paced.  Had the game not had amazing graphics and a kick ass story I would probably have given up on it a long time ago.

Honestly though, if you have ME2, I'd highly recomend ditching FF13 immediatley for it.  ME2 is easily one of the best games I've ever played.

http://static.arstechnica.com/assets/2009/06/starcraft2_soldier-thumb-640xauto-6732.jpg

StarCraft 2 - July 27th!


Only three more months!


-b0b
(...is more excited about Diablo III.)

Smoking in a spacesuit can't be safe!

X

Just in case any of you don't own Portal yet, Steam is offering it for free if you download it before May 24th.  Just jump on Steam and click on the "Portal" button on the right side of the screen.

Steam launched on the Mac platform earlier this week.  I'm definitely not a fan of Mac, but I'm glad to see that Steam continues to expand.


-b0b
(...anxiously awaits Portal 2!)

Thanks b0b.  Picked it up.  Another game I will "play when I have time"....which is to say probably never.

It looks like there is a decent remake of Mortal Kombat on the way.  It's about time!  Here's an eight-minute teaser that has been assembled to promote the game.  I recommend clicking on the embedded video and watching it in all it's 1080p glory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_MqZn7E-mk


-b0b
(...nicely done!)

I just got a boner.

Too bad it's for a game and not a movie.  That looked better than both those cheesy movies while still being over the top!

New trailers from E3!


Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVM558UI0y4

X-Com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdVb4UnqO7A

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAY4vNJd7A8

Homefront
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5yyWZ2Z6Ps

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG4oLZR3Qx8


Homefront sounds like an incredible plot, but the lack of gameplay leaves it strongly in the "maybe" category.  X-Com looks like crap, and I'm sad to see the original IP so blatantly abused.

Enslaved looks absolutely amazing, and I am going to call it the most promising new property I've seen so far.  We'll see what the rest of the show brings!


-b0b
(...schwing!)

I agree with you on Homefront...yes, plot is important...but show us a little gameplay!  I mean is it Final Fantasy RP mixed with Command&Conquer plot objectives?  FPS that makes it another rip off of Call of Duty?

I liked Assassin Creed 2...but I'm not sure we need another one.

X

A new XBox 360 model has been announced.  It's a fair amount smaller than the existing system, consumes less power, and apparently is practically silent.  It ships with a 250GB hard drive (still proprietary, dang it!), integrated 802.11n wireless, and a powered port for the Kinect (formerly Natal) device.

http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/XBoxSlim1.jpg
http://www.TWNCommunications.Net/Other/XBoxSlim2.jpg

The system also comes with a new power brick that is supposedly much smaller than the existing one.  That's a nice touch, but I'd really like to see an internal power supply.  This isn't 1985.


-b0b
(...kinda likes it.)

Oddly enough, the xbox is upside down in that image for some reason.

It better be silent. I swear the original 360 has a jet engine in it. Lack of a swappable hard drive kinda sucks.  Also, is that a broken iphone in the picture?

Just remember how much louder they were before the NXE firmware patch!


-b0b
(...thinks a silent 200mm fan would do the trick.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0RuR3FREFw&;

someone please let these guys direct any new star wars content


and last years e3 trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjhJcm-lpjc

for good measure.

So the republic dude and the bad guy both took a grenade to the face, and they were cool with it?

Awesome trailer, though!  I definitely think Lucas needs to hire this guy to direct the next movie.  They should probably call it Star Wars: Redemption.


-b0b
(...or Star Wars:  Sorry We Ruined Your Childhood.)

Briney!  Does this belong to you?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtZMfZlFneE

http://www.redfaction.com


-b0b
(...OMG more Red Faction!)

More E3 goodness!


The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alsWeDp_z0k

Kirby's Epic Yarn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvULlC9c7xg

Shank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez1b11htakc

Rayman Origins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvhwWXF-LfU

Child of Eden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzoxiZeGGO8

Project Dust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8nABQLSfmU

Portal 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TMLWRQiC-4


I have to say, these trailers were really surprising.  Zelda: Skyward Sword looked surprisingly bland, while Kirby's Epic Yarn and Shank looked surprisingly gorgeous.  I love the art direction that both of those titles are taking.  I would like to see more gameplay from Shank, though, to see just how well that graphical style looks during extended play.

Rayman Origins looks like yet another campy Rayman title, but Project Dust looks somewhat promising.  The producer of Another World is working on Project Dust, so I'm somewhat psyched to see where they go with it.

Portal 2, of course, looks absolutely amazing.  That said, I'm a total Valve fanboy (and I've been replaying Half-Life 2 lately), so take that with a pinch of salt.  I'm anxiously awaiting the November 2nd release date!


-b0b
(...w00t!)

I wish I could say Nintendo would fall like their suckling child Sega.  My proof are these horrendous games at E3.  Heck I even like the concept for Epic Mickey...but that and Kirby "Epic" Yawn (see what I did there) seem like a rehash of Mario Is Missing and 3d Mario and a bit of Little Big Disappointment...I mean Planet.

However, Nintendo with their Wii system has open the market to the untapped consumers everyone wants. Those that don't play games, aka the casual gamers, the new gamers, the older folks, the adults who have never picked up a controller in their entire life, and party goers.

These untapped markets, as long as Nintendo will coddle to them, will do well. Because the controls suck, there are no "real" games, and no 3rd part support...Nintendo deserves to fall. Seriously, go to any store and look at the games and tell me one game that is a real game that could appeal to the hardcore gamers? Ya, none...whatsoever.

Please, Nintend...just make one game that I can point to and say, "Yes, I'd break my 26 year and counting pledge of never touching a Wii because I only want to touch real game console"...and FIX YOUR CONTROLS!

X

X wrote on Jun 18^th, 2010 at 3:50pm:

Seriously, go to any store and look at the games and tell me one game that is a real game that could appeal to the hardcore gamers? Ya, none...whatsoever.

Here are a handful of Wii titles that I personally found very enjoyable.

• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
  
• Super Mario Galaxy
  
• Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
  
• Mario Kart Wii
  
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii
  
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl
  
• WarioWare: Smooth Moves
  
• Mario Strikers Charged

I'm not sure what your definition of "hardcore gamer" is, but I'm pretty "hardcore" if you ask me.


-b0b
(...pwn3d.  Next!)

Quote:

* The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess    * Super Mario Galaxy    * Metroid Prime 3: Corruption    * Mario Kart Wii    * New Super Mario Bros. Wii    * Super Smash Bros. Brawl    * WarioWare: Smooth Moves    * Mario Strikers Charged

Let's look at these games:

Zelda and Metroid Prime sequels and the rest are Mario games.  Nintendo is just remaking old crap we've all bought in 1993.  Where are the FPSs, the RPGs, the RTSs?  Games that don't look like a leprechaun threw up rainbow puke on a TV.  Where are the games for the gamers who want more M rating and something with a coherent storyline that doesn't even a Princess being put to sleep or taken away?  Nintendo just can't hold up anymore and has stopped being unique and creative.  I'm sure some of these games are fun...but like Hollywood they are just remakes and sequels.

X

microsoft = cool games
sony = look our machine can do everything!
nintendo = cash machine... or Hey! let's repackage a gamecube with the same regurgitated franchises and oooo motion controllers!  

Don't get me wrong, I'm a PC gamer at heart and I don't hold any special love for the Wii.  That said, Nintendo has two game systems on the market right now that are practically printing cash.  I'm also a little tired of Yet Another Mario Game™, but if I were running Nintendo today, I'd be walking the exact same line as the current administration.

I would also offer Square Enix a million billion kajillion dollars to make another Chrono Trigger sequel on my platform.


-b0b
(...but that's just me.)

It looks like Interplay has finally gotten off their collective butts and put together a website for the Fallout MMO.  I'm not a fan of MMOs, but I do love me some Fallout!

http://www.fallout-on-line.com/


-b0b
(...shrugs.)