Well it's that time of the year again: The tail end of the year where I step away from this blog, this computer and indulge in off-time presented by the Christmas holidays.
So 2013: What about it eh? Well in retrospect it is something of a transitory year: the seventh console generation has shuffled off and the eight generation has stepped up to take it's place.
Not that it matters to me: Much of this year has been spent catching myself spending more time on the PC than the console. Indeed, I have found nothing of interest (...yet....) being offered by the Wii-U, XboxOne and PS4 so I think it's fair to say that the console race may continue but it can't make me care.
Continuing on the wavelength, 2013 will, for me, be defined as the year I discovered Steam. I tried my hand at it on an off-chance and found myself enamored off it (So much so I wrote an article on Steam for Muse Culture). Indeed, it is now difficult to imagine how I could've done without Steam. I have found a wide variety of games that I had previously been unaware of, indulged in a game distribution system that actually works and found an oasis when my interest in consoles was drying up.
Other highlights over the past twelve months was knocking down more titles from my Hall of Shame (I'll get on top of it one day!), obtaining the long-lost classic Blade Runner and playing my game of the year The Stanley Parable
So this post will conclude Game Tumour for 2013. So thank you to everyone who has visited this blog over the past twelve months - and I look forward to speaking to you all again in 2014.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Reindeer Games
Here we go with another WoW caption.
Remember this? Well it was begging for a witty caption, so here's what my Facebook friends came up with:
Remember this? Well it was begging for a witty caption, so here's what my Facebook friends came up with:
Monday, December 9, 2013
Riders on the Storm
Here we go with another WoW caption.
So I put this pic up on my Facebook page challenging anyone to come up wtiha funny caption:
And here are the results!:
So I put this pic up on my Facebook page challenging anyone to come up wtiha funny caption:
And here are the results!:
Friday, December 6, 2013
Elf pick up lines
Last week I posted this image on my Facebook page:
I then put forth the challenge of coming up with a witty caption to go with the image and these are the results!:
I then put forth the challenge of coming up with a witty caption to go with the image and these are the results!:
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
Ee Ay Redemption
The news of the moment is an announcement from EA Executive Vice President Patrick Soderlund stating that being voted, by The Consumerist magazine, the Worst Company for the second year running is a prompt for a turn around. A turn around of the massive variety as Soderlund intents on being voted the BEST company.
It's a massive task considering the laundry list of mistakes EA have made, namly:
o Swallowing up studios like Bioware and Westwood,
o Mandatory usage of Origin
o Removal of games on Steam
o Mandatory always online-functionally
o Methods of drawing more from the wallet of many a gamer,
o Mandatory Digital Rights Management
o Releasing many games that were barely playable,
o Mishandling of DLC
o Milking franchise’s for all it’s worth
o Kowtowing to shareholders knowing little about games beyond making a profit
o And treating customers poorly with absolutely zero concern to their needs.
Still I'll give EA credit: At least they're acknowledging that there is a lot of contempt for them and they're taking steps to correct it - which is more than can be said for the other despised companies. It may be massive task to be sure, one involving hard effort and sacrifices, but the removal of the Online Pass is a start at least.
But what i find most fascinating is the reaction to this news. There are many gamers outraged by EA, not without good reason of course, and their response has been loud and varied. Many are killing themselves with laughter, others are insisting it will never happen and others still seem intent on making sure it will never happen. I guess when one takes away a gaming geek's punchline, the vengeance is ruthless (Duke Nukem Forever anyone?).
Mind you I honestly would like to see EA turn things around. Yes I have no love for EA having burnt by them before, Yes it would be a near impossible feat to accomplish and yes it could do with more action than talk. But to wipe the smiles off the faces of all the nay-sayers? Now THAT would be hilarious.
It's a massive task considering the laundry list of mistakes EA have made, namly:
o Swallowing up studios like Bioware and Westwood,
o Mandatory usage of Origin
o Removal of games on Steam
o Mandatory always online-functionally
o Methods of drawing more from the wallet of many a gamer,
o Mandatory Digital Rights Management
o Releasing many games that were barely playable,
o Mishandling of DLC
o Milking franchise’s for all it’s worth
o Kowtowing to shareholders knowing little about games beyond making a profit
o And treating customers poorly with absolutely zero concern to their needs.
Still I'll give EA credit: At least they're acknowledging that there is a lot of contempt for them and they're taking steps to correct it - which is more than can be said for the other despised companies. It may be massive task to be sure, one involving hard effort and sacrifices, but the removal of the Online Pass is a start at least.
But what i find most fascinating is the reaction to this news. There are many gamers outraged by EA, not without good reason of course, and their response has been loud and varied. Many are killing themselves with laughter, others are insisting it will never happen and others still seem intent on making sure it will never happen. I guess when one takes away a gaming geek's punchline, the vengeance is ruthless (Duke Nukem Forever anyone?).
Mind you I honestly would like to see EA turn things around. Yes I have no love for EA having burnt by them before, Yes it would be a near impossible feat to accomplish and yes it could do with more action than talk. But to wipe the smiles off the faces of all the nay-sayers? Now THAT would be hilarious.
Friday, November 29, 2013
A Eulogy for Winamp
On the 21st of November 2013 it was announced that the long-running media player Winamp will be ceasing all updates and be closing down. And so, on December 20th 2013, updates to Winamp will cease and the program itself will no longer be available for download.
The message posted on the winamp website reads as follows; “Winamp.com and associated web services will no longer be available past December 20, 2013….Additionally, Winamp Media players will no longer be available for download. Please download the latest version before that date. See release notes for latest improvements to this last release. Thanks for supporting the Winamp community for over 15 years."
The news that Winamp will cease makes the end of an era. Winamp was unleashed on an unsuspecting world in 1997, when the rest of world was becoming aware of something called mp3s. It’s timing couldn’t be more perfect and, buoyed by a growing interest in mp3s, Winamp quickly became the most widely used media player around. The reasons for this announcement are unclear but it is believed that due to a lack of activity on Winamp’s part. It should be noted that Winamp was bought out by AOL and nothing of note has happened since – Indeed, many former workers on Winamp have described working with AOL as a disappointing experience. Sure there was the release of an Android device but that release was more a case of too little too late.
I myself was an avid user of Winamp and got a lot of use out of it. I remember when it was around during the afore-mentioned mp3 revolution and have used it many times in the decade that followed. And I never stopped using it: Whenever I got a new computer Winamp was the first thing I installed on it. I used Winamp so much that other media players, like ITunes and VLC player, came across as meaningless to me and inefficient to my needs.
Until the announcement I was unaware of the problems that Winamp had been facing in recent years. So it came as a shock – and I’m not alone. Many people have expressed dismay at this announcement - and it is indeed a surprise to find that so many other people had been using Winamp for the longest time. Indeed, if so many people have been using the same program for a decade and a half, then it says an enormous amount for the efficiency for the program itself and its success.
Personally, I still see Winamp as the best player for my music, and nothing I’ve seen can surpass it. And just because updates will cease is no reason to stop using it – I have the executable file of the latest version and I’ll be hanging onto it for a long time yet. And I can imagine many other people will be going to the Winamp homepage and find the latest version while they still can.
Why? Because Winamp is an excellent program and seeing it go is truly a terrible loss. So I ask you, the reader, to raise a toast to Winamp and fifteen years of magic.
The message posted on the winamp website reads as follows; “Winamp.com and associated web services will no longer be available past December 20, 2013….Additionally, Winamp Media players will no longer be available for download. Please download the latest version before that date. See release notes for latest improvements to this last release. Thanks for supporting the Winamp community for over 15 years."
The news that Winamp will cease makes the end of an era. Winamp was unleashed on an unsuspecting world in 1997, when the rest of world was becoming aware of something called mp3s. It’s timing couldn’t be more perfect and, buoyed by a growing interest in mp3s, Winamp quickly became the most widely used media player around. The reasons for this announcement are unclear but it is believed that due to a lack of activity on Winamp’s part. It should be noted that Winamp was bought out by AOL and nothing of note has happened since – Indeed, many former workers on Winamp have described working with AOL as a disappointing experience. Sure there was the release of an Android device but that release was more a case of too little too late.
I myself was an avid user of Winamp and got a lot of use out of it. I remember when it was around during the afore-mentioned mp3 revolution and have used it many times in the decade that followed. And I never stopped using it: Whenever I got a new computer Winamp was the first thing I installed on it. I used Winamp so much that other media players, like ITunes and VLC player, came across as meaningless to me and inefficient to my needs.
Until the announcement I was unaware of the problems that Winamp had been facing in recent years. So it came as a shock – and I’m not alone. Many people have expressed dismay at this announcement - and it is indeed a surprise to find that so many other people had been using Winamp for the longest time. Indeed, if so many people have been using the same program for a decade and a half, then it says an enormous amount for the efficiency for the program itself and its success.
Personally, I still see Winamp as the best player for my music, and nothing I’ve seen can surpass it. And just because updates will cease is no reason to stop using it – I have the executable file of the latest version and I’ll be hanging onto it for a long time yet. And I can imagine many other people will be going to the Winamp homepage and find the latest version while they still can.
Why? Because Winamp is an excellent program and seeing it go is truly a terrible loss. So I ask you, the reader, to raise a toast to Winamp and fifteen years of magic.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Shadow of the Colossus
Because WoW graphical glitches never stop being funny, may I present the insides of a colossus (for those who always wanted to know):
Monday, November 25, 2013
Padding out
Recently I obtained new device for my computer: A Gamepad.
Previously I've never seen the point of gamepads. I'd always thought they were the exclusive of the consoles. Maybe it's me growing up through the nineties but I always saw the consoles as the exclusive of action and sport games whilst PCs the place to go for adventure games, flight simulators and strategy games. And when these two exclusives try to mix, the end results tend to look fake and ill-conceived.
But I do indeed have some games which aren't available anywhere else, mostly off Steam, so there is some use for my Gamepad. And I would be interested to see if Dragon Age and Knights of the Old Republic would work with the Gamepad as it's what I used when I originally played them. Plus the Gamepad may also save my keyboard from a pounding (or significantly less of a pounding).
Mind you, as those who've been following my Ratpr profile would know, I haven't been giving my consoles much attention: These past few months have seen me use my PC exclusively. And purchasing a Gamepad, once a major difference between a console and a PC, one can't help but think that a major link between me and console has been severed. Coupled with my current lack of interest in the eighth console generation, one think my days as a console gamer are numbered...
Previously I've never seen the point of gamepads. I'd always thought they were the exclusive of the consoles. Maybe it's me growing up through the nineties but I always saw the consoles as the exclusive of action and sport games whilst PCs the place to go for adventure games, flight simulators and strategy games. And when these two exclusives try to mix, the end results tend to look fake and ill-conceived.
But I do indeed have some games which aren't available anywhere else, mostly off Steam, so there is some use for my Gamepad. And I would be interested to see if Dragon Age and Knights of the Old Republic would work with the Gamepad as it's what I used when I originally played them. Plus the Gamepad may also save my keyboard from a pounding (or significantly less of a pounding).
Mind you, as those who've been following my Ratpr profile would know, I haven't been giving my consoles much attention: These past few months have seen me use my PC exclusively. And purchasing a Gamepad, once a major difference between a console and a PC, one can't help but think that a major link between me and console has been severed. Coupled with my current lack of interest in the eighth console generation, one think my days as a console gamer are numbered...
Friday, November 22, 2013
Forgetting something?
Not much to say today but I will share my latest article for Muse Culture:
An announcement for The Forgetten Empires expansion for Age of Empires 2 being available on Steam
An announcement for The Forgetten Empires expansion for Age of Empires 2 being available on Steam
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Queen's Landing
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of striking another game from my Hall of Shame. Goodbye Flight of the Amazon Queen!
Now this game is indeed an oddity: I remember it when it was originally released and it seemed like someone was trying to take on the LucasArts brand at their own thing (nothing new in the earlier to mid-nineties). It is only years later that I found out the people behind this game were actually two blokes from Brisbane Australia - and Flight of the Amazon Queen is now distributed on the Internet as freeware. Good excuse as any to check it out right?
Well having played a lot of Lucasarts adventures this year it isn't hard to see that this game is trying to replicate what made the LucasArts successful. True imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but you can only take that so far: So does Flight of the Amazon Queen has something of its own to say?
Well I will be honest: there were some slow moments thta put me to sleep but there are certainly some funny moments: I particularly enjoyed the interactions with the gorilla and the conversation with the puppet man. Also pleasing is Joe speech being delivered in a Brooklyn accent which certainly adds considerably to the bizarre situations within the game.
Comparisons to Indian Jones are inevitable but ultimately both are drawing from the same material: Pulp fiction from the 1950's - the difference is that Flight of the Amazon Queen is more willing to embrace the absurdity of such situations. And therein lies a counterpoint to Indaina Jones. Indiana Jones got absurd with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and thus came across as the bigger joke.
Furthermore, Flight of the Amazon Queen got in first with the Crystal Skull shtick.
Ultimately, I don't feel Flight of the Amazon Queen has enough bite to surpass the brilliance of the LucasArts games but I do admire it's spirit: It's the product of two guys built on a 'I can do that too' attitude. And for that reason Flight of the Amazon Queen can stand proudly on it's own two feet.
Now this game is indeed an oddity: I remember it when it was originally released and it seemed like someone was trying to take on the LucasArts brand at their own thing (nothing new in the earlier to mid-nineties). It is only years later that I found out the people behind this game were actually two blokes from Brisbane Australia - and Flight of the Amazon Queen is now distributed on the Internet as freeware. Good excuse as any to check it out right?
Well having played a lot of Lucasarts adventures this year it isn't hard to see that this game is trying to replicate what made the LucasArts successful. True imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but you can only take that so far: So does Flight of the Amazon Queen has something of its own to say?
Well I will be honest: there were some slow moments thta put me to sleep but there are certainly some funny moments: I particularly enjoyed the interactions with the gorilla and the conversation with the puppet man. Also pleasing is Joe speech being delivered in a Brooklyn accent which certainly adds considerably to the bizarre situations within the game.
Comparisons to Indian Jones are inevitable but ultimately both are drawing from the same material: Pulp fiction from the 1950's - the difference is that Flight of the Amazon Queen is more willing to embrace the absurdity of such situations. And therein lies a counterpoint to Indaina Jones. Indiana Jones got absurd with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and thus came across as the bigger joke.
Furthermore, Flight of the Amazon Queen got in first with the Crystal Skull shtick.
Ultimately, I don't feel Flight of the Amazon Queen has enough bite to surpass the brilliance of the LucasArts games but I do admire it's spirit: It's the product of two guys built on a 'I can do that too' attitude. And for that reason Flight of the Amazon Queen can stand proudly on it's own two feet.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Musings from Azeroth
Not much to say today but I will share my latest article for Muse Culture:
An announcement of the new World of Warcraft expansion Warlord of Draenor
An announcement of the new World of Warcraft expansion Warlord of Draenor
Friday, November 15, 2013
Jaded
Being a loyal devotee of GoG I naturally took advantage of their recent Fall Autumn sale. I didn't buy much as I've more or less got all the games I wnat from GoG but what i did buy was something previously encountered, Blood, and a familiar face, Jade Empire.
Why bother buying Jade Empire a second time? Well, it was cheap (about a handful of dollars) and it was special edition.
However this purchase could well be the final nail in the coffin of my love affair with Xbox. The Xbone has yet to prove anything else beyond a whole lot of disappointments, several games I've obtained for my 360 have recently turned up on my PC and I'm being fed up with going through the same old security BS when I try to access my 360 (I tell you being asked the same security measures over and over again is enough to turn anyone away).
So the 360 is currently gathering dust - alongside my PS2 and my Wii. Oh sure there are still some games I would gladly play but as a major concern? The Xbox 360's time has indeed passed.
In fact. the way I'm seeing it, the eighth console generation is looking kinda dull at the moment. Needless to say, my attention/devotion is up for grabs and Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony had better pull out something major to ensnare it....
Why bother buying Jade Empire a second time? Well, it was cheap (about a handful of dollars) and it was special edition.
However this purchase could well be the final nail in the coffin of my love affair with Xbox. The Xbone has yet to prove anything else beyond a whole lot of disappointments, several games I've obtained for my 360 have recently turned up on my PC and I'm being fed up with going through the same old security BS when I try to access my 360 (I tell you being asked the same security measures over and over again is enough to turn anyone away).
So the 360 is currently gathering dust - alongside my PS2 and my Wii. Oh sure there are still some games I would gladly play but as a major concern? The Xbox 360's time has indeed passed.
In fact. the way I'm seeing it, the eighth console generation is looking kinda dull at the moment. Needless to say, my attention/devotion is up for grabs and Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony had better pull out something major to ensnare it....
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Dragon Age Fail
Unfortunately my attempts to upgrade my Dragon Age games has come out rather badly.
You see I'd thought I'd be clever and buy the physical editions of DAO and DA2, thus bypassing EA and their Origin service. I mean I could've bought DAO on Steam but, as is my understanding, Steam isn't exactly friendly to mods.
So much for that move: DA2 worked fine in installation but I couldn't access the DLC - and the only way to do that of course is using a downloaded edition from Origin. And the DAO installer wouldn't heed the code I typed in - but it did recognise the code IF I'd be so kind and download it from Origin.
There is no words on earth that can describe this situation - although FAIL may be a good place to start. I'd heard bad things said about Origin and now it would seem they weren't kidding...
(please roll on GoG, you DRM-free wonder! All is forgiven!)
You see I'd thought I'd be clever and buy the physical editions of DAO and DA2, thus bypassing EA and their Origin service. I mean I could've bought DAO on Steam but, as is my understanding, Steam isn't exactly friendly to mods.
So much for that move: DA2 worked fine in installation but I couldn't access the DLC - and the only way to do that of course is using a downloaded edition from Origin. And the DAO installer wouldn't heed the code I typed in - but it did recognise the code IF I'd be so kind and download it from Origin.
There is no words on earth that can describe this situation - although FAIL may be a good place to start. I'd heard bad things said about Origin and now it would seem they weren't kidding...
(please roll on GoG, you DRM-free wonder! All is forgiven!)
Monday, November 11, 2013
Good Warlord!
Is it time for a new expansion to World of Warcraft? Blizzard seems to think so:
Hrmmm, I'm not sure about this one. Whilst is nice to see new additions to be made to WoW there is a sense that Blizzard may be worried their previously-untouchable crown has a good chance of being usurped - and as a result one can't shake the notion that new additions may end up cluttering the game. The presence of Keeps suggest the game is an interesting throwback to the series' RTS roots but it's unclear what practical purpose it offers. Instant leveling to 90 is enough to raise eyebrows but what I want to know is does profession leveling come with it?
But it is the setting that seems of greater interest: it seems to be taking at a time-traveling bent as players get to travel to Draenor - which was the previous name of Outlands - and meet historical figures. Okay a) what, people actually play WoW for the background? (actually they do and I know one such player) and b) so there's nowhere left for the people of Azeroth so we're resorting to time-travel? How much are Blizzard paying their writing staff? Or this the setup for an eternal loop/predestination paradox?
Of course, it's all too early to tell how this new expansion will look and, at this stage, the new features are relying on speculation. I've always maintained that the game becomes less interesting the further one gets from level 1-60 so I don't have high hopes. Still you never know...
Original video located here. Accessed 11th November 2013
Hrmmm, I'm not sure about this one. Whilst is nice to see new additions to be made to WoW there is a sense that Blizzard may be worried their previously-untouchable crown has a good chance of being usurped - and as a result one can't shake the notion that new additions may end up cluttering the game. The presence of Keeps suggest the game is an interesting throwback to the series' RTS roots but it's unclear what practical purpose it offers. Instant leveling to 90 is enough to raise eyebrows but what I want to know is does profession leveling come with it?
But it is the setting that seems of greater interest: it seems to be taking at a time-traveling bent as players get to travel to Draenor - which was the previous name of Outlands - and meet historical figures. Okay a) what, people actually play WoW for the background? (actually they do and I know one such player) and b) so there's nowhere left for the people of Azeroth so we're resorting to time-travel? How much are Blizzard paying their writing staff? Or this the setup for an eternal loop/predestination paradox?
Of course, it's all too early to tell how this new expansion will look and, at this stage, the new features are relying on speculation. I've always maintained that the game becomes less interesting the further one gets from level 1-60 so I don't have high hopes. Still you never know...
Friday, November 8, 2013
Stan the Man
This week I’ve been playing a lot of The Stanley Parable.
Like everyone else I came to this game through the some rather abstract descriptions of the game itself (that and everyone gushing about it). It seemed that everyone was recommending it but giving little to no explanation why. Well that’s enough to pique my curiosity so I picked up the game via Steam.
And I really enjoyed it.
Of course I’m going to keep up the trend via not going to give anything on this blog because doing so will most likely get me shouted down as ‘benefits of finding things out for yourself’ is the current trend on the Internet (I guess we can all blame Game of Thrones for that). But what I will say is that I think I enjoyed The Stanley Parable more than I enjoyed Portal.
I guess most of it can be attributed to my enjoyment of Portal being tainted with the ‘Cake is a Lie’ and ‘Still Alive’ jokes being run into the ground. This is not the case here: The rigidly little that has been revealed about The Stanley Parable beforehand has left me completely in the dark here and it’s worked wonders here. Thus there isn’t much more I can add here apart from giving credit to the narrator Kevan Brighting who really makes the game and delivers a VA performance to end all VA performances. In fact given a choice I would rather listen to the Narrator than GlaDOS (SHODAN was better anyway)
So in the end what The Stanley Parable proves is that there is indeed some value in allowing people to discover things for themselves. In fact I'm not sure how this game got greenlit by Steam but I'm certianly it did. I just hope nobody looks at The Stanley Parable the same way they did with the Companion Cube and sees a whole lot of marketing potential.....
Like everyone else I came to this game through the some rather abstract descriptions of the game itself (that and everyone gushing about it). It seemed that everyone was recommending it but giving little to no explanation why. Well that’s enough to pique my curiosity so I picked up the game via Steam.
And I really enjoyed it.
Of course I’m going to keep up the trend via not going to give anything on this blog because doing so will most likely get me shouted down as ‘benefits of finding things out for yourself’ is the current trend on the Internet (I guess we can all blame Game of Thrones for that). But what I will say is that I think I enjoyed The Stanley Parable more than I enjoyed Portal.
I guess most of it can be attributed to my enjoyment of Portal being tainted with the ‘Cake is a Lie’ and ‘Still Alive’ jokes being run into the ground. This is not the case here: The rigidly little that has been revealed about The Stanley Parable beforehand has left me completely in the dark here and it’s worked wonders here. Thus there isn’t much more I can add here apart from giving credit to the narrator Kevan Brighting who really makes the game and delivers a VA performance to end all VA performances. In fact given a choice I would rather listen to the Narrator than GlaDOS (SHODAN was better anyway)
So in the end what The Stanley Parable proves is that there is indeed some value in allowing people to discover things for themselves. In fact I'm not sure how this game got greenlit by Steam but I'm certianly it did. I just hope nobody looks at The Stanley Parable the same way they did with the Companion Cube and sees a whole lot of marketing potential.....
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Forever Blue
I recently learned that Lunar: the Silver Star has been converted to the IOS.
Those who know what I’ve previously said about Lunar would know of my eagerness to play it but being unable to due to a number of frustrating factors. I myself have no interest in IOS so would this be the great epiphany that makes me consider otherwise? I don’t know: Yes it would be nice to finally play, and complete, the damn game but on a small device? Would that hinder my enjoyment of the gorgeous 16bit sprites? How would I appreciate such a lovely soundtrack? And where is Eternal Blue?
Those who know what I’ve previously said about Lunar would know of my eagerness to play it but being unable to due to a number of frustrating factors. I myself have no interest in IOS so would this be the great epiphany that makes me consider otherwise? I don’t know: Yes it would be nice to finally play, and complete, the damn game but on a small device? Would that hinder my enjoyment of the gorgeous 16bit sprites? How would I appreciate such a lovely soundtrack? And where is Eternal Blue?
Monday, November 4, 2013
Back in Dragon
Well I did it: I bit the bullet and picked up Dragon Age 2 for the PC - not just because I want to play it but because of the modding opportunities that presented themselves.
So far I'm actually impressed: The mods I've installed have yielded a far better game than the one I'd grown accustomed to on the Xbox 360. The graphics are better, the character clothes are diverse and the controls are much more accessible. Of course, it is unclear which has been added through mods and which is included with the PC version but there is enough here to maintain my interest.
Could this be enough to make a 'decent' game rise up from the rank from 'kinda crummy'? Well, there's only one way to find out....
So far I'm actually impressed: The mods I've installed have yielded a far better game than the one I'd grown accustomed to on the Xbox 360. The graphics are better, the character clothes are diverse and the controls are much more accessible. Of course, it is unclear which has been added through mods and which is included with the PC version but there is enough here to maintain my interest.
Could this be enough to make a 'decent' game rise up from the rank from 'kinda crummy'? Well, there's only one way to find out....
Friday, November 1, 2013
One Tribe to Rule Them All
Recently I revisited an old classic: Civilization 2! Yep, I played this a lot back in the day and I managed to get it working for my present-day PC! Okay, so I can’t spare the money for Civ 4 (the best in the series as is my understanding) but I’m content to blow dust off a classic and fire it up again (for now).
I played the Civ games a lot during my high school years: The first game was great and a lot of fun. And then came Civ 2 – and at the time it was recognized as something of a revelation. It had all the trappings of Civ but it was in isometric 3d! It expanded the game features dramatically! It even incorporated FMV and photo-realistic images! (or whatever you call it) Indeed, Civ 2 was highly regarded and suddenly became the game that everyone owned, everyone played and everyone loved. I didn’t bother with the Civ series afterward Civ 2 because a) I didn’t like Test of Time and b) as far as I was concerned, improving Civ 1 was a tall order but improving Civ 2 was looking more or less impossible (of course I could be wrong…).
Anywho I managed to get Civ 2 working through finding a fan-made patch. And it’s great to play Civ 2 again – after all, I’ve sunk several hours into this game already which should provide a testament to it’s addictive nature (World of Warcraft can go sit in the corner). Yet the patch has a drawback – it inspires the AI to be more hostile to me the human player. This does create problems that are funny when one thinks about it: The opposing civilizations break peace treaties and declare war at a drop of a hat and then afterwards they treat me like it was all my fault. And my Freight don’t have an easy time as they have to evade the enemy forces and any successful trade route established is usually an excuse for the opposition to declare war. And why is it that I get a reputation whilst the opposition doesn’t? Why are they allowed to get away with being aggressors when I can’t?
And now that I think of it, I wonder if this problem is resolved in the more recent Civ games – Do the other Civ games, Civ 3-5, have reputations akin to the player? Can anyone confirm this? If so, I think I may scrape the cash together for one of the more recent Civ games…
I played the Civ games a lot during my high school years: The first game was great and a lot of fun. And then came Civ 2 – and at the time it was recognized as something of a revelation. It had all the trappings of Civ but it was in isometric 3d! It expanded the game features dramatically! It even incorporated FMV and photo-realistic images! (or whatever you call it) Indeed, Civ 2 was highly regarded and suddenly became the game that everyone owned, everyone played and everyone loved. I didn’t bother with the Civ series afterward Civ 2 because a) I didn’t like Test of Time and b) as far as I was concerned, improving Civ 1 was a tall order but improving Civ 2 was looking more or less impossible (of course I could be wrong…).
Anywho I managed to get Civ 2 working through finding a fan-made patch. And it’s great to play Civ 2 again – after all, I’ve sunk several hours into this game already which should provide a testament to it’s addictive nature (World of Warcraft can go sit in the corner). Yet the patch has a drawback – it inspires the AI to be more hostile to me the human player. This does create problems that are funny when one thinks about it: The opposing civilizations break peace treaties and declare war at a drop of a hat and then afterwards they treat me like it was all my fault. And my Freight don’t have an easy time as they have to evade the enemy forces and any successful trade route established is usually an excuse for the opposition to declare war. And why is it that I get a reputation whilst the opposition doesn’t? Why are they allowed to get away with being aggressors when I can’t?
And now that I think of it, I wonder if this problem is resolved in the more recent Civ games – Do the other Civ games, Civ 3-5, have reputations akin to the player? Can anyone confirm this? If so, I think I may scrape the cash together for one of the more recent Civ games…
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tomorrow is always a day away
Far it from me to do a shameless plug but here is a recent article I wrote up for the new Sim City expansion Cities of Tomorrow.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Unsung Heroes
Well here we are: Post no.500. I still have no idea how the hell this blog has lasted so long nor how it's possible that I'm still coming out with posts like this. Quantity over quality maybe?
Well to keep up with the theme of a milestone every one hundred posts, I felt it was time to shine a light to the unsung heroes of this blog. Those that play small but vital contributions to the continued operation of this blog. That's right: My gaming equipment! yes after running so many games I feel it's high time they stepped out into the light.
So please put your hands together for:
And a salute to the fallen comrades:
So yeah - here's to the next hundred posts!
(And the next hundred post milestone will be better I swear!)
Well to keep up with the theme of a milestone every one hundred posts, I felt it was time to shine a light to the unsung heroes of this blog. Those that play small but vital contributions to the continued operation of this blog. That's right: My gaming equipment! yes after running so many games I feel it's high time they stepped out into the light.
So please put your hands together for:
PC Mrk 3 (2011 onward)
Xbox 360 (2010 onward)
Wii (2009 onward)
PS2 (2006 onward)
Dreamcast (2007 onward)
And a salute to the fallen comrades:
Commodore 64 (1989-1996)
Commodore Amiga 1200 (1994-2004)
PC Mrk 1 (1996-2003)
PC Mrk 2 (2003-2011)
Atari Lynx (2000-2004)
Super Nintendo (2005-2013)
So yeah - here's to the next hundred posts!
(And the next hundred post milestone will be better I swear!)
Friday, October 25, 2013
Striking a pose
Because WoW glitches will never stop being funny, Beldrath comes across the ultimate death pose (how does he manage to stay up like that?):
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
The March of Time
Here's something that caught my eye: A video from Sony chronicling a progression of time from the first Playstation (1995) to the present:
Thoughts? It's impressive to see the progression of time through four PlayStations (not to mention the changes to the room and the development of London in the background). I like the use of the various sounds at the beginning and was impressed to learn that this video was built around contributions made by fans to a Twitter channel.
Of course, my interest in Playstation died with the PS2 but I have to admit, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. As much as I hate the word and avoid using whenver possible hre I feel it's justified.
Meaning the video was indeed worth it
Original video located here. Accessed 23rd October 2013
Thoughts? It's impressive to see the progression of time through four PlayStations (not to mention the changes to the room and the development of London in the background). I like the use of the various sounds at the beginning and was impressed to learn that this video was built around contributions made by fans to a Twitter channel.
Of course, my interest in Playstation died with the PS2 but I have to admit, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. As much as I hate the word and avoid using whenver possible hre I feel it's justified.
Meaning the video was indeed worth it
Monday, October 21, 2013
Second Prize
Following on from the previous post, has there ever been a game I purchased a second time around? Why yes there have - and not just one. I'm sure I'm the only one who's purchased multiple games more than once but in some cases, not without good reason.
So here's a list of the games I purchased a second time - and some cases my reasons for doing so may make for fascinating stories by themselves:
Age of Empires
Had the original but seeing it on Steam was too good to miss (expect to see those words a lot ahead). Funnily enough I am still hanging onto the original disc seeing as Steam tends not to be kind to the modding community
Freedom Force
Got it on ebay but it didn't come with an install code. But then I saw it on Steam....
Dragon Age
In my previous post, I mentioned I was considering buying Dragon Age for the PC just to get my meat-hooks onto the mods available. But what would come as a surprise to some people is that my current version of Dragon Age Origins isn't the first: I got my first version of Dragon Age Origins second hand and Awakenings on the cheap. And then I found about about the Special edition....
So I got the special edition, with all it's DLC but to this day I'm still not sure if I saved any money from not buying the DLC on XBLA
Still one can't argue having all the DLC on a handy disc.
Half Life
In 2009, I was in Melbourne and I saw this in a store. I grabbed it and thought I was very lucky to get such a find. And then in 2013, I discovered something called Steam...
Pharaoh
I got Pharoah as a birthday present in 2001. Sadly, in recent years, the original disc disappeared on me so I got a new version. I was fortunate to find one in a Melbourne EB store for $10 - and this one had the Cleopatra expansion too!
Rock Band
I had a Wii at the time so naturally I'd download songs to use for it. But then I got a 360 and discovered that songs could be saved to the console's hard drive and utilized the songs from all the Rock Band games. So I got all the Rock Band games for the 360 and downloaded all the songs I liked a second time. A terrible lack of foresight true but at least I'm keeping certain musicians from going hungry.
Secret of Monkey Island
I managed to get this game working using Scummvm - only to go on Steam and finding the special edition/version.
Sonic CD
I got the Sonic gems collection on PS2 to play this - but then it reappeared on XBLA in HD graphics and with the original soundtrack restored.
Soul Calibur
Once again, it was nice in it's original format (Dreamcast) but to see it on XBLA in HD is even better (still bitter they dropped the Direct the Opening feature though....)
Stars Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Funny story: I purchased this game on the PC before encountering the Xbox and figure dit may be a better played on the console (stay with me). I played the Xbox version a lot but found, much to ym dismay that it wouldn't work on the 360. Solution? Download it on Steam
Xcom
Again: Had it on disc but then saw it on Steam
The GoG parade
Duke Nukem 3d, Baldurs Gate, Deus Ex, Thief 2, Rayman 2, Planescape Torment, Sim City 2000, Clive Barker's Undying, Fallout, Heroes 2, System Shock 2. Why buy them all again? Well I like that I have them all in digital format and they are continuously updated for modern OS by the tireless folk at GoG. Duke Nukem 3d is of special note: I had it on XBLA but then I saw a special event where GoG was giving it away for free for a limited time...
Looking back over what I've just typed, I can see a pattern emerging: If I've purchased games a second time it's largely down to two reasons: 1) a lack of foresight and 2) the game in question comes on a preferred format or system. The former can be dismissed as pure human error but the latter is more interesting: There is certainly a lot on offer for a digital format in that it is always in easy reach, it takes up less physical space than a boxed game (besides my 500g game hard drive isn't going to fill up itself) and, in the case of GoG and Steam, it's not going to disappear any time soon. And in some cases, sometimes it's better for some games to be played through gripping a console controller than bashing a keyboard. And at the same time, modded games can sometimes yield a greater experience than the restrictions imposed by a console game.
Still, once again, there is the thought that if I'm continually striving for the best than I deserve to be ripped off.
So here's a list of the games I purchased a second time - and some cases my reasons for doing so may make for fascinating stories by themselves:
Age of Empires
Had the original but seeing it on Steam was too good to miss (expect to see those words a lot ahead). Funnily enough I am still hanging onto the original disc seeing as Steam tends not to be kind to the modding community
Freedom Force
Got it on ebay but it didn't come with an install code. But then I saw it on Steam....
Dragon Age
In my previous post, I mentioned I was considering buying Dragon Age for the PC just to get my meat-hooks onto the mods available. But what would come as a surprise to some people is that my current version of Dragon Age Origins isn't the first: I got my first version of Dragon Age Origins second hand and Awakenings on the cheap. And then I found about about the Special edition....
So I got the special edition, with all it's DLC but to this day I'm still not sure if I saved any money from not buying the DLC on XBLA
Still one can't argue having all the DLC on a handy disc.
Half Life
In 2009, I was in Melbourne and I saw this in a store. I grabbed it and thought I was very lucky to get such a find. And then in 2013, I discovered something called Steam...
Pharaoh
I got Pharoah as a birthday present in 2001. Sadly, in recent years, the original disc disappeared on me so I got a new version. I was fortunate to find one in a Melbourne EB store for $10 - and this one had the Cleopatra expansion too!
Rock Band
I had a Wii at the time so naturally I'd download songs to use for it. But then I got a 360 and discovered that songs could be saved to the console's hard drive and utilized the songs from all the Rock Band games. So I got all the Rock Band games for the 360 and downloaded all the songs I liked a second time. A terrible lack of foresight true but at least I'm keeping certain musicians from going hungry.
Secret of Monkey Island
I managed to get this game working using Scummvm - only to go on Steam and finding the special edition/version.
Sonic CD
I got the Sonic gems collection on PS2 to play this - but then it reappeared on XBLA in HD graphics and with the original soundtrack restored.
Soul Calibur
Once again, it was nice in it's original format (Dreamcast) but to see it on XBLA in HD is even better (still bitter they dropped the Direct the Opening feature though....)
Stars Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Funny story: I purchased this game on the PC before encountering the Xbox and figure dit may be a better played on the console (stay with me). I played the Xbox version a lot but found, much to ym dismay that it wouldn't work on the 360. Solution? Download it on Steam
Xcom
Again: Had it on disc but then saw it on Steam
The GoG parade
Duke Nukem 3d, Baldurs Gate, Deus Ex, Thief 2, Rayman 2, Planescape Torment, Sim City 2000, Clive Barker's Undying, Fallout, Heroes 2, System Shock 2. Why buy them all again? Well I like that I have them all in digital format and they are continuously updated for modern OS by the tireless folk at GoG. Duke Nukem 3d is of special note: I had it on XBLA but then I saw a special event where GoG was giving it away for free for a limited time...
Looking back over what I've just typed, I can see a pattern emerging: If I've purchased games a second time it's largely down to two reasons: 1) a lack of foresight and 2) the game in question comes on a preferred format or system. The former can be dismissed as pure human error but the latter is more interesting: There is certainly a lot on offer for a digital format in that it is always in easy reach, it takes up less physical space than a boxed game (besides my 500g game hard drive isn't going to fill up itself) and, in the case of GoG and Steam, it's not going to disappear any time soon. And in some cases, sometimes it's better for some games to be played through gripping a console controller than bashing a keyboard. And at the same time, modded games can sometimes yield a greater experience than the restrictions imposed by a console game.
Still, once again, there is the thought that if I'm continually striving for the best than I deserve to be ripped off.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Mod the Dragon
Here's something I came across recently: A list of worthwhile mods for Dragon Age.
I don't have Dragon Age Origins for the PC: My copy is for the Xbox. However looking at this list it becomes clear that I've been missing out on a lot of worthwhile material.
Now I do indulge in some modding for my PC games but they're for old games like Baldur's Gate 2, Deus Ex and System Shock 2. Thus for the longest time I've seen modding as something of a Catch 22: On one hand, modding is a method to give aging games a new lease of life and to elevate them to a level comparable to more recent games. But on the other hand, there lies the thought that if anyone can mod then one would find a lot of dodgy mods involving a) doing silly things or b) a level of poorly written content on par with fanfiction. Therefore, it then becomes something of a chore to find the mods that are well done and actually worthwhile.
Look at the list though it becomes clear that I've been missing out on a lot. Somehow I thought one couldn't possibly mod something as complex as a recent game- largely due to the resources. I mean, anyone can easily integrate a mod into Baldurs Gate as the necessary dialogue and exposition is all conveyed in text. Therefore for a game like Dragon Age, it presents a monstrous challenge considering the modders are without the resources that the game makers had - Somehow, it seems doubtful that the likes of Claudia Black will be willing to help out some no-name modder and, for me, having everything voiced electronically will break the immersion considerably.
And yet, judging by the list, some people are willing to rise to up to the challenge.
.
Thus it now becomes quite tempting to pick it up the PC version of Dragon Age Origins - but in doing so I'll be throwing away a lot of XBLA achievements and 130 hours of game time. I may recreate my Xbox Grey Wardens but they won't be the same. I can do the same things all over again but you can only that for so long before it gets tiring.
And there is the thought that if I'm committed to obtaining the best possible experience out of particular games then I deserve to ripped off.
I don't have Dragon Age Origins for the PC: My copy is for the Xbox. However looking at this list it becomes clear that I've been missing out on a lot of worthwhile material.
Now I do indulge in some modding for my PC games but they're for old games like Baldur's Gate 2, Deus Ex and System Shock 2. Thus for the longest time I've seen modding as something of a Catch 22: On one hand, modding is a method to give aging games a new lease of life and to elevate them to a level comparable to more recent games. But on the other hand, there lies the thought that if anyone can mod then one would find a lot of dodgy mods involving a) doing silly things or b) a level of poorly written content on par with fanfiction. Therefore, it then becomes something of a chore to find the mods that are well done and actually worthwhile.
Look at the list though it becomes clear that I've been missing out on a lot. Somehow I thought one couldn't possibly mod something as complex as a recent game- largely due to the resources. I mean, anyone can easily integrate a mod into Baldurs Gate as the necessary dialogue and exposition is all conveyed in text. Therefore for a game like Dragon Age, it presents a monstrous challenge considering the modders are without the resources that the game makers had - Somehow, it seems doubtful that the likes of Claudia Black will be willing to help out some no-name modder and, for me, having everything voiced electronically will break the immersion considerably.
And yet, judging by the list, some people are willing to rise to up to the challenge.
.
Thus it now becomes quite tempting to pick it up the PC version of Dragon Age Origins - but in doing so I'll be throwing away a lot of XBLA achievements and 130 hours of game time. I may recreate my Xbox Grey Wardens but they won't be the same. I can do the same things all over again but you can only that for so long before it gets tiring.
And there is the thought that if I'm committed to obtaining the best possible experience out of particular games then I deserve to ripped off.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
The Perfect Drug
What is this coming creeping into my sights? Why, it's the latest ad from Sony for the upcoming PS4!:
Despite my contempt for Sony in recent years, I've always enjoyed the ads Sony pumps out. I don't know who the genius is Sony have got in their marketing department but they clearly aren't paying him enough.
As for the ad itself? Well it's entertaining and hilarious. But, being an avid watcher of the Gruen Transfer, I can't help but put a critical eye to this. Thus two things emerge: Firstly, it is kinda off-putting that we have a gaming ad game centered around a song about a heroin addiction.What are we handing the 'gaming as an addiction' activists ammunition?
And secondly, this is a very male dominated commercial. Female gamers do exist you know Sony!
Original video located here. Accessed 16th October 2013
Despite my contempt for Sony in recent years, I've always enjoyed the ads Sony pumps out. I don't know who the genius is Sony have got in their marketing department but they clearly aren't paying him enough.
As for the ad itself? Well it's entertaining and hilarious. But, being an avid watcher of the Gruen Transfer, I can't help but put a critical eye to this. Thus two things emerge: Firstly, it is kinda off-putting that we have a gaming ad game centered around a song about a heroin addiction.What are we handing the 'gaming as an addiction' activists ammunition?
And secondly, this is a very male dominated commercial. Female gamers do exist you know Sony!
Monday, October 14, 2013
You know, For the Kids!
Being a fan of the Rock Band games, I do indeed have all of them and a slew of DLC songs. I think it's great that the same songs can be played across the games but Lego Rock Band remains an intriguing case. As this is a game clearly aimed at a younger audience, the DLC songs that can be played are classified as 'family friendly'. Not a bad decision but there are some cases of 'family friendly' material that left me baffled as to how they managed to acquire such a tag. Namely:
Alice in Chains - No Excuses
What, did someone forget to inform Harmonix that this is a song about drug addiction?
Clash - I Fought the Law
One gets the impression that Harmonix was intent on inserting ideas into the minds of would-be troublemakers and already-there troublemakers.
Damned - Smash it Up
See above. In addition, I think it;s funny to see a song entitled Smash it Up in a game based around a toy dedicated to building.
Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want to
Hurrah for gay sex. Okay, so I see nothing wrong with parents teaching children about gays and explaining how people are different but the omission of the line "I blew him before you' is sure to puzzle some young minds.
Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of your Life)
Okay so there's nothing wrong with this one - but I'd just like to point out that's nice that Harmonix is there to remind us that there is a first half to the song title (even as so many people like deny it)
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxey lady
This is 'family friendly'? Now that i think of it I'm not sure. Or maybe I'm speaking as someone who was first exposed to the song as an eight year old watching Wayne's World at the cinema.
Megadeth - Hanger 18
Seems one can never be too young to be exposed to Thrash metal
Pearl Jam - Porch
Again some missing words may trigger some suspicions in the young child's mind.
Ramones - Teenage Lobotomy
And it seems that one isn't too young to be exposed to the Ramones either. Me, I'm not sure when I first became aware of the Ramones but I do know that I had heard the word lobotomy for years before I actually learned what it meant.
Stephen and the Colberts - Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)
Yes it may be a parody but surely a song about stalking would be anything but 'family friendly'?
System of a Down - Toxicity
Considering the hyper-politicized content and intensity of System of a Down's material it is indeed puzzling that they managed to get the 'family friendly' tick of approval.
Tenacious D - The Metal
One can imagine the kids would be familiar with Jack Black through Kung fu Panda - so needless to say they're in for a shock when they discover the music of Tenacious D.
Of course I'm not saying all of this to be some stick in the mud - after all, if a parent is doing the responsible thing in what their children can and cannot see then there is no problem - but has to wonder at the decisions being made in the Harmonix think tank.
Alice in Chains - No Excuses
What, did someone forget to inform Harmonix that this is a song about drug addiction?
Clash - I Fought the Law
One gets the impression that Harmonix was intent on inserting ideas into the minds of would-be troublemakers and already-there troublemakers.
Damned - Smash it Up
See above. In addition, I think it;s funny to see a song entitled Smash it Up in a game based around a toy dedicated to building.
Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want to
Hurrah for gay sex. Okay, so I see nothing wrong with parents teaching children about gays and explaining how people are different but the omission of the line "I blew him before you' is sure to puzzle some young minds.
Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of your Life)
Okay so there's nothing wrong with this one - but I'd just like to point out that's nice that Harmonix is there to remind us that there is a first half to the song title (even as so many people like deny it)
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Foxey lady
This is 'family friendly'? Now that i think of it I'm not sure. Or maybe I'm speaking as someone who was first exposed to the song as an eight year old watching Wayne's World at the cinema.
Megadeth - Hanger 18
Seems one can never be too young to be exposed to Thrash metal
Pearl Jam - Porch
Again some missing words may trigger some suspicions in the young child's mind.
Ramones - Teenage Lobotomy
And it seems that one isn't too young to be exposed to the Ramones either. Me, I'm not sure when I first became aware of the Ramones but I do know that I had heard the word lobotomy for years before I actually learned what it meant.
Stephen and the Colberts - Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)
Yes it may be a parody but surely a song about stalking would be anything but 'family friendly'?
System of a Down - Toxicity
Considering the hyper-politicized content and intensity of System of a Down's material it is indeed puzzling that they managed to get the 'family friendly' tick of approval.
Tenacious D - The Metal
One can imagine the kids would be familiar with Jack Black through Kung fu Panda - so needless to say they're in for a shock when they discover the music of Tenacious D.
Of course I'm not saying all of this to be some stick in the mud - after all, if a parent is doing the responsible thing in what their children can and cannot see then there is no problem - but has to wonder at the decisions being made in the Harmonix think tank.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Back in the Race
Last year I made a post pondering on which was the most popular race/class in WoW and eventually finding an answer.
So has there been any changes to this result, given time,a new expansion, a new class, the Pandariens and a slow decline of WoW subscribers? Well, once again, one need only ask:
Comparing this to the previous post reveals little in the way of surprise. None of the races have changed from their previous rank. But what is surprising is the Pandas themselves; There's an even split between the Horde and the Alliance and they're ahead of the Gnomes, Dwarves and Goblins.
The classes don't seem to have changed much but it is interesting to see certain classes being more popular with one faction than the other. It is surprising to see there are more Alliance Hunters and Warriors but hardly surprising to see more Horde Shamen and Warlocks.
Still considering the changes that Blizzard are constantly making to their game, along with the afore-mentioned decline in subscribers, it would be interesting to see what happens in the years ahead...
So has there been any changes to this result, given time,a new expansion, a new class, the Pandariens and a slow decline of WoW subscribers? Well, once again, one need only ask:
Source: Warcraftrealms
Comparing this to the previous post reveals little in the way of surprise. None of the races have changed from their previous rank. But what is surprising is the Pandas themselves; There's an even split between the Horde and the Alliance and they're ahead of the Gnomes, Dwarves and Goblins.
The classes don't seem to have changed much but it is interesting to see certain classes being more popular with one faction than the other. It is surprising to see there are more Alliance Hunters and Warriors but hardly surprising to see more Horde Shamen and Warlocks.
Still considering the changes that Blizzard are constantly making to their game, along with the afore-mentioned decline in subscribers, it would be interesting to see what happens in the years ahead...
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Eyes on the Loot Crate
What happens when you live in a country where Loot Cartes aren't available?
You get a friend to make one for you (thanks Aef!):
You get a friend to make one for you (thanks Aef!):
Monday, October 7, 2013
A Crown for a King
Recently I’ve been having a binge on the Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings HD version.
I’ve been hearing some bad things about this revamp, what with the proposed HD revamp results in graphics not looking much different, stupid achievements, much of the additions already done (and better) by the modding community and the entire package not being worth the price. Well I was lucky enough to get my version of Age of Kings HD at a decent price through a Steam sale. Of course there is a sense of bitterness to learn later that there is a healthy mod community and the Conquerors going for cheap on ebay but no matter: I’m satisfied with my purchase and at least having Age of Kings on Steam means I don’t have to go hunting for fan-made updates to keep it working. Or pull out the CD every time I want to play it.
Still at least having the Steam version allows me access to the Conquerors expansion for the first time. And I find it interesting that there are achievements listed for the Wonder Race. Funnily enough I figured that when it comes to RTS games, I figured everyone would be more interested in building an army and destroying everything than building buildings – thus having a scenario based around strict building conditions would come across as somewhat alien. Still at least having achievements may provide some incentive in playing the Wonder Race scenario.
I’ve been hearing some bad things about this revamp, what with the proposed HD revamp results in graphics not looking much different, stupid achievements, much of the additions already done (and better) by the modding community and the entire package not being worth the price. Well I was lucky enough to get my version of Age of Kings HD at a decent price through a Steam sale. Of course there is a sense of bitterness to learn later that there is a healthy mod community and the Conquerors going for cheap on ebay but no matter: I’m satisfied with my purchase and at least having Age of Kings on Steam means I don’t have to go hunting for fan-made updates to keep it working. Or pull out the CD every time I want to play it.
Still at least having the Steam version allows me access to the Conquerors expansion for the first time. And I find it interesting that there are achievements listed for the Wonder Race. Funnily enough I figured that when it comes to RTS games, I figured everyone would be more interested in building an army and destroying everything than building buildings – thus having a scenario based around strict building conditions would come across as somewhat alien. Still at least having achievements may provide some incentive in playing the Wonder Race scenario.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Best Kept Secrets
Here's something that caught my eye recently: Seeing this year is the twentieth anniversary of the classic game Secret of Mana, A project has arisen called Spectrum of Mana. Here, a team of nearly eighty musicians have banded together and have done some remixes on the soundtrack to Secret of Mana.
I myself rank Secret of Mana very highly and think the soundtrack is one of the best ever created for game so a remix project is certainly worth taking a look at - and to feel the love the musicians have put in for this classic mange. .
Thus I strongly urge you all to go check it out.
I myself rank Secret of Mana very highly and think the soundtrack is one of the best ever created for game so a remix project is certainly worth taking a look at - and to feel the love the musicians have put in for this classic mange. .
Thus I strongly urge you all to go check it out.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
Here I come to save the day
In my last game of Planescape Torment my Nameless One had a dramatic change of character: he turned Lawful Good. It was the latest step in a three step path that started at True Neutral and carried on through to Neutral Good.
I must admit I was surprised by this: I was all too aware that the player’s choices will ultimately build their version of the Nameless One but I was kind of expecting it to be ambiguously presented – I was kind of hoping that the alignment would be kept hidden away from the player until the very end, like in Ogre Battle 64, thus building suspense and not really giving them something to deliberately aspire to. But then again, Ogre Battle 64 is Ogre Battle 64 whilst Planescape Torment is Planescape Torment, so anyway…
But to be Lawful Good in a game like Planescape Torment is indeed an odd occurrence. This is a game that was deliberately setting out to break from tried-and-tested RPG tropes and seemed intent on making the player anything but the good guy. Indeed, it is hard to be the ‘good guy’ of many other RPGs when the world of Sigil isn’t really one of any grandiosity, the majority of party members are either Lawful Neutral or Chaotic Neutral, and the Nameless One himself has more than a few skeletons in the closet – and that may have well been precisely the point.
I know that there are some gamers that enjoy being the bad guy and doing appalling things - without any sense of a conscience whatsoever - that would make Joffrey Baratheon or Ramsay Snow envious. But I can’t do that. Maybe through playing games since the eighties being the good guy has been ingrained into my mind. Maybe I’m so used to being the good guy that I can’t bring myself to do anything nasty. Maybe I’ve too big a guilty conscience. Or maybe I’ve found myself being too wrapped up in the artificial world laid out before me that I can’t find it in me to go ahead and ruin it.
Yeah lets go with that.
I don’t think me being horrible in an RPG is a complete impossibility however. If anything I wouldn’t mind playing as a Lawful Evil character because a) it’s where honor walks hand in hand with self-advancement and b) therein lies a challenge worth rising up to….
…Just not now. XD
I must admit I was surprised by this: I was all too aware that the player’s choices will ultimately build their version of the Nameless One but I was kind of expecting it to be ambiguously presented – I was kind of hoping that the alignment would be kept hidden away from the player until the very end, like in Ogre Battle 64, thus building suspense and not really giving them something to deliberately aspire to. But then again, Ogre Battle 64 is Ogre Battle 64 whilst Planescape Torment is Planescape Torment, so anyway…
But to be Lawful Good in a game like Planescape Torment is indeed an odd occurrence. This is a game that was deliberately setting out to break from tried-and-tested RPG tropes and seemed intent on making the player anything but the good guy. Indeed, it is hard to be the ‘good guy’ of many other RPGs when the world of Sigil isn’t really one of any grandiosity, the majority of party members are either Lawful Neutral or Chaotic Neutral, and the Nameless One himself has more than a few skeletons in the closet – and that may have well been precisely the point.
I know that there are some gamers that enjoy being the bad guy and doing appalling things - without any sense of a conscience whatsoever - that would make Joffrey Baratheon or Ramsay Snow envious. But I can’t do that. Maybe through playing games since the eighties being the good guy has been ingrained into my mind. Maybe I’m so used to being the good guy that I can’t bring myself to do anything nasty. Maybe I’ve too big a guilty conscience. Or maybe I’ve found myself being too wrapped up in the artificial world laid out before me that I can’t find it in me to go ahead and ruin it.
Yeah lets go with that.
I don’t think me being horrible in an RPG is a complete impossibility however. If anything I wouldn’t mind playing as a Lawful Evil character because a) it’s where honor walks hand in hand with self-advancement and b) therein lies a challenge worth rising up to….
…Just not now. XD
Friday, September 27, 2013
Beating one's head into a wall
Because WoW graphical glitches will never stop being funny:
"You've got a wall in the way there, mate..."
"You've got a wall in the way there, mate..."
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
With friends like these
I went onto Steam this evening and I noticed there must be a bug in effect - for all my friends on my Steam profile are all credited with playing all of my games.
Still, bug or no bug, it was nice to see a large amount of people agreeing with my gaming tastes. And playing To the Moon
Still, bug or no bug, it was nice to see a large amount of people agreeing with my gaming tastes. And playing To the Moon
Monday, September 23, 2013
Don't look now
On the weekend, I was talking to someone who turned out to be something of connoisseur when it came to horror games. He spoke highly of Outlast, was aware of Slender: The Eight Pages and showed me Eyes upon his ipad. The latter was of particular note: It was claimed it was done by the same people who made Slender and, through a demonstration, Eyes revealed itself to be following the same formula of ‘run from a freaky creature with murderous intent’.
I myself am not into horror games – I myself play games to relax and it’s hard to relax when your Player Character is being chased by a psychotic with murderous intent. However I can see something of a formula begin to emerge through the games mentioned above. Tell me if the following doesn’t sound familiar: Trapped in a confined space with limited lighting? Threats in the form of antagonists that are of a mysterious nature? Constant danger that is practically relentless? The only action a player can do is running? Little to no chance of victory? Indeed, once one realizes there seems to be a formula to the recent wave of horror games it now becomes impossible to ignore.
I suppose the source of this wave can be traced back to Amnesia: the Dark Descent. Whilst it is kinda nice that that game was a success (for an indy game) and showed up the posers of the survival horror genre, one gets the sense that everyone else has since been looking over Amnesia: the Dark Descent’s shoulder and copying their answers. It would be nice to think that an indy game has become the benchmark for other horror games to follow but I think it more a race to see who can freak out players the most.
But suppose Amnesia: the Dark Descent is the new benchmark. It raises a question: Where can we go from here? Gaming history is littered with games becoming big hits only to inspire clones in their wake. – two such examples being Street Fighter 2 and Final Fantasy 7. Both are regarded as the finest of their genre and nothing that has followed has really matched it (although Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur may have a solid claim against Street Fighter 2). So if everyone seems intent on replicating Amnesia: the Dark Descent, does this mean the horror genre has nothing left to say?
Personally I think horror games work best when they sneak up from behind, pull the rug from underneath the player and gradually break the player’s will. Isn’t that right Eversion?
I myself am not into horror games – I myself play games to relax and it’s hard to relax when your Player Character is being chased by a psychotic with murderous intent. However I can see something of a formula begin to emerge through the games mentioned above. Tell me if the following doesn’t sound familiar: Trapped in a confined space with limited lighting? Threats in the form of antagonists that are of a mysterious nature? Constant danger that is practically relentless? The only action a player can do is running? Little to no chance of victory? Indeed, once one realizes there seems to be a formula to the recent wave of horror games it now becomes impossible to ignore.
I suppose the source of this wave can be traced back to Amnesia: the Dark Descent. Whilst it is kinda nice that that game was a success (for an indy game) and showed up the posers of the survival horror genre, one gets the sense that everyone else has since been looking over Amnesia: the Dark Descent’s shoulder and copying their answers. It would be nice to think that an indy game has become the benchmark for other horror games to follow but I think it more a race to see who can freak out players the most.
But suppose Amnesia: the Dark Descent is the new benchmark. It raises a question: Where can we go from here? Gaming history is littered with games becoming big hits only to inspire clones in their wake. – two such examples being Street Fighter 2 and Final Fantasy 7. Both are regarded as the finest of their genre and nothing that has followed has really matched it (although Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur may have a solid claim against Street Fighter 2). So if everyone seems intent on replicating Amnesia: the Dark Descent, does this mean the horror genre has nothing left to say?
Personally I think horror games work best when they sneak up from behind, pull the rug from underneath the player and gradually break the player’s will. Isn’t that right Eversion?
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Can you afford it?
Here's a car ad that played a lot on Australian TV back in early nineties. It was memorable largely due to an unforgettable jingle:
The reason I'm bringing this up is I always think of this ad whenever I see the loading screens to Burnout 3 - you know, the one's that seem concerned as to whether I have driven certain vehicles or visited certain locations.
That and I find the juxtaposition between such a cheerful sounding jingle against such a violent/intense/rage-inducing game like Burnout 3 utterly hilarious.
Original video located here. Accessed 18th September 2013
The reason I'm bringing this up is I always think of this ad whenever I see the loading screens to Burnout 3 - you know, the one's that seem concerned as to whether I have driven certain vehicles or visited certain locations.
That and I find the juxtaposition between such a cheerful sounding jingle against such a violent/intense/rage-inducing game like Burnout 3 utterly hilarious.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Sex Pistols
A punk rock version of the Red Dead Redemption closing theme Dead Man's Gun.
I'm sorry, what?
Original video located here. Accessed 16th September 2013
I'm sorry, what?
Friday, September 13, 2013
Trike up!
Recently in World of Warcraft, I managed to get my claws on a Goblin Turbo-Trike. Now I have no interest in generating a goblin character but I must admit it is funny to see some of my current characters use a mount that was not custom-made for them:
Rithendal may have done the hard yards to get the Turbo-Trike but it does present the problem of his feet forever touching the ground whenever he uses it. Expect many a shoe sole to be worn down
Meanwhile, Kyuzo looks hilariously unimpressed with his new mount.
Rithendal may have done the hard yards to get the Turbo-Trike but it does present the problem of his feet forever touching the ground whenever he uses it. Expect many a shoe sole to be worn down
Meanwhile, Kyuzo looks hilariously unimpressed with his new mount.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
A Heart of Iron
Here's something I would like to know, regarding the artwork to the latest iteration to the Kingdom hearts franchise.
Did anyone look at this and immediately think Sora was sitting on the Iron Throne?
Come on I can't be the only one's who thought this
Still I bet he made that throne from the swords of a thousand fallen enemies...
Original image located here. Accessed 11th September 2013
Did anyone look at this and immediately think Sora was sitting on the Iron Throne?
Come on I can't be the only one's who thought this
Still I bet he made that throne from the swords of a thousand fallen enemies...
Monday, September 9, 2013
Fun with Meta
Not much to say today. However on the weekend I went to a convention - MAIcon! And it was there that i saw this:
Friday, September 6, 2013
Bottom of the Barrel (no.4): Belial
It's been awhile since I'd last done one of these so lets talk some trash.
I want to tell you all about a game called Belial which appeared on the Commodore Amiga. Now, I may be cheating this time around as I've never played this game and only became aware of it through youtube. But what there is defies belief:
Original video located here. Accessed 6th September 2013
Where do I start? The entire game is a rip-off of Ghosts N Goblins! The graphics look terrible, the PC sprite is directly lifted from the Commodore 64 version of the game, the difficulty is absurd (perhaps more so than it's progenitor), the boss fights laughable and the whole thing stinks of being done by some pirates working out of their bedroom with a half-arsed approach and only concerned with sucking dollars from suckers.
But most striking of all is, for me, the music which is a recreation of Kraftwerk's 'Das Model'. Funny. i wouldn't have associated a song about consumerism to be associated with a horror-themed game. Mind you, it is peculiar to see this game from the passage of time - it looks bizarre, strange and, in a way, comical. Still, I hope Ralf Hutter took legal action...
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Armageddon it
In a way, it's kinda weird revisiting the dungeons of WoW at a higher level. For as is my understanding, it is where the bigbads reside and, subsequently, where the real narrative meat of the campaigns lie.
Therefore it is weird to go back to the dungeons now at level 90: Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Liche King and Cataclysm each faced some world-ending threat (not that Azeroth is a world worth saving) so one can imagine that because the player character wasn't there to stop it, Azeroth would've been trashed beyond recognition. So what did happen when the PC was elsewhere? Were the baddies all waiting for him/her to show up? Indeed, it is strange to consider an invasion force stagnating just because some particular sod went in a different direction. Or did the invasion force had to settle for someone else?
Therefore it is weird to go back to the dungeons now at level 90: Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Liche King and Cataclysm each faced some world-ending threat (not that Azeroth is a world worth saving) so one can imagine that because the player character wasn't there to stop it, Azeroth would've been trashed beyond recognition. So what did happen when the PC was elsewhere? Were the baddies all waiting for him/her to show up? Indeed, it is strange to consider an invasion force stagnating just because some particular sod went in a different direction. Or did the invasion force had to settle for someone else?
Monday, September 2, 2013
Fezes are cool...apparently
On the weekend I did something I've been putting off for a while: Obtain Fez from XBLA!
Boy has this game got a reputation. One where critical acclaim and behind the scenes trauma walked hand in hand. I've seen a lot of positive response and then I saw the difficulties involved in getting this game made (courtesy of ace doco Indie Game the Movie). A reputation of the intimidating kind? You could say that.
At time of writing, I've played about two hours and the game is so far proving to be charming. I like the graphics, the puzzles are challenging and so far a sense of depth is slowly creeping up behind me.
Not much else I can say at the moment but if Phil Fish has really quite making games then at leats now he has ten bucks to help him out on his way
Boy has this game got a reputation. One where critical acclaim and behind the scenes trauma walked hand in hand. I've seen a lot of positive response and then I saw the difficulties involved in getting this game made (courtesy of ace doco Indie Game the Movie). A reputation of the intimidating kind? You could say that.
At time of writing, I've played about two hours and the game is so far proving to be charming. I like the graphics, the puzzles are challenging and so far a sense of depth is slowly creeping up behind me.
Not much else I can say at the moment but if Phil Fish has really quite making games then at leats now he has ten bucks to help him out on his way
Friday, August 30, 2013
Take him to the dungeons!
So where am I with World of Warcraft at the moment?
Well as some of you may know I play on a regular basis as a trio with me using my firstborn Rithendal. However, we've reached the end of the game: We've done the majority of quests in Pandaland and, at level 90, there's not a lot left to do. Solution? Take up the dungeons.
Thus, for the past week and a bit, we've been traversing through the dungeons we missed the first time around. So far all of them have been in the Outlands but it's been great fun to wander around and take everyone out. Sure there's not much challenge being at a higher level but it notches up the achievements, builds up the rep for the Horde factions and, I can't state this enough, loads of fun.
Funnily enough I never really did enjoy the dungeons but to encounter them at a much higher level is actually really more enjoyable.
Of course this is an indication that my current time in WoW is numbered but if it were to end tomorrow then at least it'll be, unlike last time I quit, on a positive note
Well as some of you may know I play on a regular basis as a trio with me using my firstborn Rithendal. However, we've reached the end of the game: We've done the majority of quests in Pandaland and, at level 90, there's not a lot left to do. Solution? Take up the dungeons.
Thus, for the past week and a bit, we've been traversing through the dungeons we missed the first time around. So far all of them have been in the Outlands but it's been great fun to wander around and take everyone out. Sure there's not much challenge being at a higher level but it notches up the achievements, builds up the rep for the Horde factions and, I can't state this enough, loads of fun.
Funnily enough I never really did enjoy the dungeons but to encounter them at a much higher level is actually really more enjoyable.
Of course this is an indication that my current time in WoW is numbered but if it were to end tomorrow then at least it'll be, unlike last time I quit, on a positive note
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Destiny calling
I read that Bungie software and hoping that their new game Destiny would have the same cultual impact as Star Wars.
Sure they may be shooting themslevs in the foot for saying that but I give them credit for their ambitions.
So a cartoon:
Sure they may be shooting themslevs in the foot for saying that but I give them credit for their ambitions.
So a cartoon:
Monday, August 26, 2013
Eureka
Recently I've been playing Command and Conquer Red Alert 2: Yuri's Revenge (there's a mouthful for you).
I've played, and thoroughly enjoyed Command and Conquer Red Alert 2 numerous times but Yuri's Revenge seems more an area of contention. An area that makes it more like a bastard child. Whereas I enjoyed the cutscenes in the original game, in Yuri's Revenge the actors seem tired and lacking in enthusiasm - That and Tanya's no longer a redhead! What the Hell?!
I don't like the soundbytes either - somehow having different voices for the tanks units doesn't seem to sit well with me. I can't put my finger on it but to different soundbytes for familiar vehicles seems unsettling - like a psychotic axe murderer who's disguising himself as a friend. I'm not too fond of the difficulty either - Gatling Tanks? Gatling Cannons? Well fuck you too!
Nevertheless, playing Yuri's Revenge now, after a long absence, has done little to change my opinion of it. Didn't like it then and I don't like it now.
Guess you can't win them all
I've played, and thoroughly enjoyed Command and Conquer Red Alert 2 numerous times but Yuri's Revenge seems more an area of contention. An area that makes it more like a bastard child. Whereas I enjoyed the cutscenes in the original game, in Yuri's Revenge the actors seem tired and lacking in enthusiasm - That and Tanya's no longer a redhead! What the Hell?!
I don't like the soundbytes either - somehow having different voices for the tanks units doesn't seem to sit well with me. I can't put my finger on it but to different soundbytes for familiar vehicles seems unsettling - like a psychotic axe murderer who's disguising himself as a friend. I'm not too fond of the difficulty either - Gatling Tanks? Gatling Cannons? Well fuck you too!
Nevertheless, playing Yuri's Revenge now, after a long absence, has done little to change my opinion of it. Didn't like it then and I don't like it now.
Guess you can't win them all
Friday, August 23, 2013
Devil on your shoulder
A recent screen cap of Rithendal, Arendar and Jaewyn:
I've posted a lot of screen caps of World of Warcraft but this is one of my favourites. Aside from everyone sitting down in a row of seats, what I particularly enjoy about this is the placement of my Hunter pet - peering right over Arendar's shoulder.
"Don't worry: He doesn't bite.....much"
I've posted a lot of screen caps of World of Warcraft but this is one of my favourites. Aside from everyone sitting down in a row of seats, what I particularly enjoy about this is the placement of my Hunter pet - peering right over Arendar's shoulder.
"Don't worry: He doesn't bite.....much"
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Fire up the Engine
I've been saying a lot of positive things about the classic Amiga game The Chaos Engine within this blog. Well it would seem that it's making a comeback. Starting next week, a new version of the Chaos Engine will be touching down on Steam and other platforms.
However this is not a complete remake but instead a restoration - it's the original game but with a new coat of paint.
Well I'm happy with this news: I loved the game and it's great to see it get a new lease of life. I just hope that the people may be inspired to check it out with the praises I've been heaping on it. I don;t know if Abstraction Games know if this blog exists but it would be nice to think that they do - for the romantics amongst us at least.
Still I do long for the day that someone does a full-blown remake - seriously the six PCs have enough personality to justify a full-blown script and voice acting, But who knows? A restoration may be a step in the right direction......
However this is not a complete remake but instead a restoration - it's the original game but with a new coat of paint.
Well I'm happy with this news: I loved the game and it's great to see it get a new lease of life. I just hope that the people may be inspired to check it out with the praises I've been heaping on it. I don;t know if Abstraction Games know if this blog exists but it would be nice to think that they do - for the romantics amongst us at least.
Still I do long for the day that someone does a full-blown remake - seriously the six PCs have enough personality to justify a full-blown script and voice acting, But who knows? A restoration may be a step in the right direction......
Monday, August 19, 2013
Dead Man's Chest
Hi there. Yep, I'm back after a week off. This wasn't planned though: I've spent the past week having been hit by a virus. Not the type that wrecks one's computer - the type that makes some unfortunate sod stay in bed and throw up a lot.
Still I'm back now and feeling a lot better thank you.
However I would like to call a moment of recognition to a friend: Game Chest (mrk2)
Game Chest was retired last week. It was my hard drive where upon all my games were contained and the successor to the huge box of games I once had.
Game Chest arrived last year and was installed inside my computer. There, it made friends with the other drives: Amaranth, the home of the OS, and Planet of Sound, the survivor from the previous build turned music holder. Despite being the latest addition, Game Chest came across more akin to the Middle child, holding less than Amaranth but holding more than Planet of Sound.
Game Chest also had a past history: It was a second hand purchase but it found a new lease of life within my computer. It enjoyed twelve months of activity and, despite being small at 150 gig, managed to hold everything together.
We certainly spent many a great time together: Game Chest saw many games being installed, Mods being added, the advent of the space thief that is World of Warcraft and the arrival of Steam. It saw the placement of Scummvm and the completion of many games. It took on the role of game holder and did it's job with flair.
Towards the end of it's career, Game Chest was showing signs of age - it was making loud, uncomfortable noises and the response time was kinda slow. Eventually, it came to me that 150 gig might not be enough. So Game Chest was retired - in favor of the mrk3 version - a 500 gig hard drive. Thing is though it's not the same. Sure my new hard drive may have more space and may sound more healthy but somehow it doesn't seem the same, The ultimate irony is though that, so far, the new drive has yet to surpass the previous limit of 150gig of occupied space (ironic yes but how much space Elder Scrolls Online will fill has yet to be seen).
Still, I ask you, my readers, to raise your glasses to the mrk2 of Game Chest.....
Still I'm back now and feeling a lot better thank you.
However I would like to call a moment of recognition to a friend: Game Chest (mrk2)
Game Chest was retired last week. It was my hard drive where upon all my games were contained and the successor to the huge box of games I once had.
Game Chest arrived last year and was installed inside my computer. There, it made friends with the other drives: Amaranth, the home of the OS, and Planet of Sound, the survivor from the previous build turned music holder. Despite being the latest addition, Game Chest came across more akin to the Middle child, holding less than Amaranth but holding more than Planet of Sound.
Game Chest also had a past history: It was a second hand purchase but it found a new lease of life within my computer. It enjoyed twelve months of activity and, despite being small at 150 gig, managed to hold everything together.
We certainly spent many a great time together: Game Chest saw many games being installed, Mods being added, the advent of the space thief that is World of Warcraft and the arrival of Steam. It saw the placement of Scummvm and the completion of many games. It took on the role of game holder and did it's job with flair.
Towards the end of it's career, Game Chest was showing signs of age - it was making loud, uncomfortable noises and the response time was kinda slow. Eventually, it came to me that 150 gig might not be enough. So Game Chest was retired - in favor of the mrk3 version - a 500 gig hard drive. Thing is though it's not the same. Sure my new hard drive may have more space and may sound more healthy but somehow it doesn't seem the same, The ultimate irony is though that, so far, the new drive has yet to surpass the previous limit of 150gig of occupied space (ironic yes but how much space Elder Scrolls Online will fill has yet to be seen).
Still, I ask you, my readers, to raise your glasses to the mrk2 of Game Chest.....
Monday, August 12, 2013
She'll be coming 'round the mountain
Continuing the trend of posting screencaps of hilarious glitches in World of Warcraft, Grimcrag finds something odd in Northrend:
Friday, August 9, 2013
Hail to the Chief
As many World of Warcraft players would know, a poll has been circulating asking, in light of recent events, who will be the new Warchief of the Horde?
Whilst I like the idea of offering the players a chance to make a decision that will ultimately shape World of Warcraft in a major way, I have doubts it will actually work in that fashion. In my research, I’ve found that the real antagonists in Azeroth are the Orcs, Humans, Undead and Night Elves – everyone else is bound by alliance. Whilst I like the idea of having a member of an ‘ally’ race leading the Horde it won’t work because a) the players of the other races may cry foul that their favorite wasn’t selected and b) having a non-Orc Warchief would be moving away from familiarity and towards the weird.
Still I voted for Vol’jin – not because I actually care but I personally like the idea of the Horde being led by someone who speaks in a Rastafarian accent.
Whilst I like the idea of offering the players a chance to make a decision that will ultimately shape World of Warcraft in a major way, I have doubts it will actually work in that fashion. In my research, I’ve found that the real antagonists in Azeroth are the Orcs, Humans, Undead and Night Elves – everyone else is bound by alliance. Whilst I like the idea of having a member of an ‘ally’ race leading the Horde it won’t work because a) the players of the other races may cry foul that their favorite wasn’t selected and b) having a non-Orc Warchief would be moving away from familiarity and towards the weird.
Still I voted for Vol’jin – not because I actually care but I personally like the idea of the Horde being led by someone who speaks in a Rastafarian accent.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Wrestling an idea out of my mind
I've never been big on wrestling games. Sure they're good to have when you have some friends around and keen to have one-on-one punch ups but that's a niche that is easily filled with the fighting game genre. Thus there isn't anything wrestling games can offer that can't be fulfilled by the likes of Streetfighter or Soul Calibur.
But, in my book, if there is gaming genre that's not going anywhere then it is ripe for some reinvention. So how would I do a wrestling game?
Simple: I'd embrace the sheer absurdity of ti all. Now we all know that wrestling is all fake and the wrestlers are merely running through a series of staged movements. So why not build a game around that? Seriously, I'd like to play a wrestling game where it's the players role to build up a list of staged actions and then watch them all play out! It'll be like the Opening Direction option in Soul Calibur expanded into a full blown game!
Of course it may sound limiting but with some thought it can work: The player starts out with a small time wrestling stage but, through careful planning, can build up a staged wrestling match. Success is determined through audience reaction and generates money which can lead to bigger audiences and more elaborate matches.
Of course is this but a germ of an idea but with the right amount of polish it can work.
Any takers?
But, in my book, if there is gaming genre that's not going anywhere then it is ripe for some reinvention. So how would I do a wrestling game?
Simple: I'd embrace the sheer absurdity of ti all. Now we all know that wrestling is all fake and the wrestlers are merely running through a series of staged movements. So why not build a game around that? Seriously, I'd like to play a wrestling game where it's the players role to build up a list of staged actions and then watch them all play out! It'll be like the Opening Direction option in Soul Calibur expanded into a full blown game!
Of course it may sound limiting but with some thought it can work: The player starts out with a small time wrestling stage but, through careful planning, can build up a staged wrestling match. Success is determined through audience reaction and generates money which can lead to bigger audiences and more elaborate matches.
Of course is this but a germ of an idea but with the right amount of polish it can work.
Any takers?
Monday, August 5, 2013
Come to Tasmania! Come to Tasmania!
As established previously in this blog I come from a magical land known as Tasmania – a land mass located off the arse end of Australia and is largely ignored by the rest of the world. Yet Tasmania is known for pristine wilderness and its natural beauty.
Such is the wilderness associated with Tasmania, I’m often wondering why many game developers aren’t looking there for inspiration. Here, is plenty of inspiration for any landscape-developing team and I’d like to see one rise up to the challenge.
In fact, I would like to see a shooter set in a Tasmanian-esque landscape. I kinda liked how, in Oblivion, how enemy encounters are sparing within the game world itself – the scenery creates such an immersion that when a bad guy does show up, it’s a real big deal. Considering how shooters are more or less a kill-fest, it would be an interesting, and indeed welcome, change of pace to have long pauses between enemy encounters.
Indeed, I’ve had this idea ever since I saw Zone Hunter nearly twenty years ago. It will also be a welcome change from a genre associated with settings like deserts and more ruins than the Battle of Stalingrad. Of course it would be strange to have a heavily armored space marine stomping around a pristine wilderness but somehow one would think that the point….
Such is the wilderness associated with Tasmania, I’m often wondering why many game developers aren’t looking there for inspiration. Here, is plenty of inspiration for any landscape-developing team and I’d like to see one rise up to the challenge.
In fact, I would like to see a shooter set in a Tasmanian-esque landscape. I kinda liked how, in Oblivion, how enemy encounters are sparing within the game world itself – the scenery creates such an immersion that when a bad guy does show up, it’s a real big deal. Considering how shooters are more or less a kill-fest, it would be an interesting, and indeed welcome, change of pace to have long pauses between enemy encounters.
Indeed, I’ve had this idea ever since I saw Zone Hunter nearly twenty years ago. It will also be a welcome change from a genre associated with settings like deserts and more ruins than the Battle of Stalingrad. Of course it would be strange to have a heavily armored space marine stomping around a pristine wilderness but somehow one would think that the point….
Friday, August 2, 2013
Spiked up
No matter how many times I see it, the approach to the Blades' Edge Mountains is still such an ominous sight:
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Mechin' Hell
Another thing I did last weekend was finally succeeding in getting an old game working: MechWarrior 2!
I recall in the mid-nineties that this game was one of the big ones: Everyone played it and those who did still have fond memories of it. I however missed out on it and it's only in the last coupla years that I finally got a copy (the Titanium Trilogy no less!). But boy has it been a bitch to get working.
Yet even if I managed to finally get Mechwarrior 2 working it is not without it's troubles: the 3dfx, which was the major promise behind the Titanium Trilogy, isn't working out too well and as a result much of the graphics look hideous.
Oh if ever there was a game to get a HD revamp......
I recall in the mid-nineties that this game was one of the big ones: Everyone played it and those who did still have fond memories of it. I however missed out on it and it's only in the last coupla years that I finally got a copy (the Titanium Trilogy no less!). But boy has it been a bitch to get working.
Yet even if I managed to finally get Mechwarrior 2 working it is not without it's troubles: the 3dfx, which was the major promise behind the Titanium Trilogy, isn't working out too well and as a result much of the graphics look hideous.
Oh if ever there was a game to get a HD revamp......
Monday, July 29, 2013
Wii are no longer here any more
This weekend I went to a quiz night. Whilst my team didn't win i did however score a minor victory by answering a tricky spot question. And what did I get for my effort? An envelope of gaming vouchers! Yep, everytime I convince myself I have too many games and I should cease getting more, something comes along that chnages that perception around.
Anyway, the vouchers themselves were for Facebook games, Club Penguin and the Wii. And of course it was the latter that had the greatest sway for me - so I fired up my Wii and went to check it out.
But it must be said: it was damn weird coming back to the Wii in this late hour - when Nintendo have moved on and are now focusing their attention on the Wii-U. The Nintendo Channel is dead and whilst the the Marketplace is still there it is frozen in time - and looks to remain that way. Indeed, in the case of the latter, it is bizarre to see something I spent a lot of time using is now kinda non-existent.
However I suppose that is the toll that time takes, when things are discarded by the wayside by the passage of time. And gaming technology may well be the worst offender seeing how quickly the technology moves and how quickly things are forgotten and subsequently claimed forever. True we be slowing down somewhat with the seventh generation of consoles being the longest yet but in the case of the Wii marketplace, it is weird to see so many games on offer but the audience has since stopped caring.
It is indeed a thought of whether the Marketplace screen will still look the same five or even ten years from how...
Anyway, the vouchers themselves were for Facebook games, Club Penguin and the Wii. And of course it was the latter that had the greatest sway for me - so I fired up my Wii and went to check it out.
But it must be said: it was damn weird coming back to the Wii in this late hour - when Nintendo have moved on and are now focusing their attention on the Wii-U. The Nintendo Channel is dead and whilst the the Marketplace is still there it is frozen in time - and looks to remain that way. Indeed, in the case of the latter, it is bizarre to see something I spent a lot of time using is now kinda non-existent.
However I suppose that is the toll that time takes, when things are discarded by the wayside by the passage of time. And gaming technology may well be the worst offender seeing how quickly the technology moves and how quickly things are forgotten and subsequently claimed forever. True we be slowing down somewhat with the seventh generation of consoles being the longest yet but in the case of the Wii marketplace, it is weird to see so many games on offer but the audience has since stopped caring.
It is indeed a thought of whether the Marketplace screen will still look the same five or even ten years from how...
Friday, July 26, 2013
I think I'm a clone now
Rithendal meets a double:
Seems that with so many people playing World of Warcraft, there will be SOMEONE that has an avatar looking very much like yours.
Seems that with so many people playing World of Warcraft, there will be SOMEONE that has an avatar looking very much like yours.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Take the Controls
Seems Homeworld isn’t the only IP getting a new lease of life: Stardock Entertainment has picked up Star Control for a revamp. Inspired by the success of the recent XCom reboot, Stardock wants to reboot Star Control and is even looking to draft some of the original development team in for the job.
I assume that this will be a reboot of Star Control 2 – for the original game was a ‘space battle’ game whilst its sequel builds upon the previous game incredibly (there was a Star Control 3 but people choose not to talk about that one….). I myself am delighted by this news I’ve been playing Star Control 2 a lot this year and found it much to my liking. True the game is already available for free online in the form of the Ur-Quan Masters, but if this reboot generates new interest in this classic then I’m all for it (It’s been a long time coming too).
In fact it would be interesting to see how this reboot stands up, when everyone’s been busy playing Mass Effect. Sure the element of space exploration may invite comparisons but whereas Mass Effect is an action RPG built around a central character, Star Control 2 is more about building a fleet, finding locales to visit, ship combat and building relations with other alien races so they’ll join your cause.
Mind you considering how many goofy alien races populate the Star Control 2 universe, one can only wonder how they’d work in a 7th/8th generation game.
I assume that this will be a reboot of Star Control 2 – for the original game was a ‘space battle’ game whilst its sequel builds upon the previous game incredibly (there was a Star Control 3 but people choose not to talk about that one….). I myself am delighted by this news I’ve been playing Star Control 2 a lot this year and found it much to my liking. True the game is already available for free online in the form of the Ur-Quan Masters, but if this reboot generates new interest in this classic then I’m all for it (It’s been a long time coming too).
In fact it would be interesting to see how this reboot stands up, when everyone’s been busy playing Mass Effect. Sure the element of space exploration may invite comparisons but whereas Mass Effect is an action RPG built around a central character, Star Control 2 is more about building a fleet, finding locales to visit, ship combat and building relations with other alien races so they’ll join your cause.
Mind you considering how many goofy alien races populate the Star Control 2 universe, one can only wonder how they’d work in a 7th/8th generation game.
Monday, July 22, 2013
We're on our way home
I heard it through the grapevine that Gearbox, having purchased the license to the Homeworld series, are now going to release new versions of Homeworld 1 and 2 - and in HD new less.
My response?
YES!
My response?
YES!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Getcha motor runnin'
Because WoW graphical glitches never cease to be amusing, may I present this - Rithendal being dragged around on the head:
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Si Amiga
As established previously in this blog I spent much of the nineties being the proud owner of a Commodore Amga 1200. Of course, the word ‘proud’ is indeed an understatement as the mid –to-late nineties were not a kind time to the venerable company known as Commodore. At the time, everyone had PCs and a wider, and better, selection of games. I had a lot of trouble trying to find something that would work on my machine, let alone something decent, and I was made a laughing stock in amongst my classmates at school. As is often the case with gaming, one need to pick a tribe and hope it isn’t the wrong one because if it is the wrong one you’re going to be up shit creek. And as it so happened, I picked a wrong time to be an Amiga owner – I can only wonder how my brother managed to persuade my father to shell out for an Amiga 1200.
Still I had some good times using my Amiga – I remember blowing an entire summer to complete Soccer Kid and I’ve since regretted nothing. I got into Worms via the Amiga and I even tried my hand at animation with the Amiga. I did try to keep abreast with developments via magazines but much of the time spent there was looking at games that looked ace but being forever out of reach – and settling with demos that didn’t do enough to fill the void. Still, I’ve had a soft spot for the Amiga ever since.
Now I recently received the news that Amiga Games Inc has been bought out along with the rights to over 300 games. The purchaser, the Writers Group Film Corp, now has plans to rerelease these titles to modern platforms.
Well this is good news for me on multiple fronts. It is good news as a former Amiga loyalist that interest in the Amiga is still being maintained. It is good news as an advocate for gaming preservation as the games in question are being preserved and not claimed by the march of time. But it is especially good news as someone who missed out on playing many of these games the first time around. As stated above, I never played many of the games that were available at the time and could only gawk at screenshots in magazines (of course some of the games I wanted to play from that era have now been obtained through Steam and GoG). As such I can list many games I’d like to try my hand at: Ruff N’Tumble, Chaos Engine, Bubble and Squeak, Valhalla, Final Odyssey, Alien Breed, Dragon Stone, Shadow of the Beast, Super Stardust, and Shadow Fighter among others.
Of course, it is unclear at this stage which games will be given the greenlight for release –it is entirely possible that the games released will be the crummy ones instead of the much more worthy titles mentioned above. That being said, don’t mess this up Writers Group Film Corp!
Still I had some good times using my Amiga – I remember blowing an entire summer to complete Soccer Kid and I’ve since regretted nothing. I got into Worms via the Amiga and I even tried my hand at animation with the Amiga. I did try to keep abreast with developments via magazines but much of the time spent there was looking at games that looked ace but being forever out of reach – and settling with demos that didn’t do enough to fill the void. Still, I’ve had a soft spot for the Amiga ever since.
Now I recently received the news that Amiga Games Inc has been bought out along with the rights to over 300 games. The purchaser, the Writers Group Film Corp, now has plans to rerelease these titles to modern platforms.
Well this is good news for me on multiple fronts. It is good news as a former Amiga loyalist that interest in the Amiga is still being maintained. It is good news as an advocate for gaming preservation as the games in question are being preserved and not claimed by the march of time. But it is especially good news as someone who missed out on playing many of these games the first time around. As stated above, I never played many of the games that were available at the time and could only gawk at screenshots in magazines (of course some of the games I wanted to play from that era have now been obtained through Steam and GoG). As such I can list many games I’d like to try my hand at: Ruff N’Tumble, Chaos Engine, Bubble and Squeak, Valhalla, Final Odyssey, Alien Breed, Dragon Stone, Shadow of the Beast, Super Stardust, and Shadow Fighter among others.
Of course, it is unclear at this stage which games will be given the greenlight for release –it is entirely possible that the games released will be the crummy ones instead of the much more worthy titles mentioned above. That being said, don’t mess this up Writers Group Film Corp!
Monday, July 15, 2013
Two's Company and Three's a Crowd
An age-old debate: 2d platformers or 3d platformers?
Honestly this question isn’t something I really need to think about: 2d all the way. I grew up with eight bit and 16 bit games and, as far as I’m concerned, they did the job nicely and still do today.
My experience with 3d platformers has been varied: I recall the first time I played Super Mario 64 on the N64 and, having enjoyed both Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros 3, experiencing some kind of culture shock: I had no idea what I was supposed to do with Mario or where I was supposed to go. Consequently much of my time in Super Mario 64 was spent running around like a headless chook. Latter still I found many 3d platformers seemed unclear as to not only where to go but how to get there: At times my experience with 3d platformers was awash with difficulty in distinguishing what was a ledge and what was scenery – And anyone who tells me they haven’t slipped up a complicated jumping onto something they thought they could hang onto is a liar.
I also didn’t appreciate the fact that much the graphics looked really ugly – a fact not helped years later as many fifth generation games have not aged well in the graphics department. And matters were not helped by a wonky camera that seemed to refuse to go where the player wanted it to.
And that pretty much sums up my feelings towards 3d platformers: Unclear paths, hideous graphics and a resentful camera. Major problems that, to me, was more than enough as a deal-breaker. And having come from the 16-bit era, these flaws came across as being a major regressive step – why try and ruin that which was working so well already? Indeed, these problems were, and still remain, the reasons why I loved 3d platforms: The screen moved with the PC, they looked nice (some even hold up really well today) and it was always clear where the player was meant to go (not to mention the thrill of finding new paths to get to the exit). That and they were tremendous fun to play.
Now that’s not to say that I’ve found 3d platformers that I’ve enjoyed – Prince of Persia Sands of Time comes to mind – but that had a great narrative and a fun time-rewind mechanic to back it up. In fact I’ve found that when a 3d platformer is offering something else, I will latch onto the ‘something else’ and lo and behold, I find I can really enjoy the game itself (ie Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, NiGHTS and God of War).
As for the 2d platformers, I love them and I still do. And I suspect I’ll still be enjoying them ten years from now. I still finding some being made today (Eversion anyone?) and they are still as compelling as ever. I think that is how I feel about the conflict between 2d and 3d – I’ve become so accustomed on 2d so for 3d to grab my attention it had better offer something else on top.
Your move 3d platformers
Honestly this question isn’t something I really need to think about: 2d all the way. I grew up with eight bit and 16 bit games and, as far as I’m concerned, they did the job nicely and still do today.
My experience with 3d platformers has been varied: I recall the first time I played Super Mario 64 on the N64 and, having enjoyed both Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros 3, experiencing some kind of culture shock: I had no idea what I was supposed to do with Mario or where I was supposed to go. Consequently much of my time in Super Mario 64 was spent running around like a headless chook. Latter still I found many 3d platformers seemed unclear as to not only where to go but how to get there: At times my experience with 3d platformers was awash with difficulty in distinguishing what was a ledge and what was scenery – And anyone who tells me they haven’t slipped up a complicated jumping onto something they thought they could hang onto is a liar.
I also didn’t appreciate the fact that much the graphics looked really ugly – a fact not helped years later as many fifth generation games have not aged well in the graphics department. And matters were not helped by a wonky camera that seemed to refuse to go where the player wanted it to.
And that pretty much sums up my feelings towards 3d platformers: Unclear paths, hideous graphics and a resentful camera. Major problems that, to me, was more than enough as a deal-breaker. And having come from the 16-bit era, these flaws came across as being a major regressive step – why try and ruin that which was working so well already? Indeed, these problems were, and still remain, the reasons why I loved 3d platforms: The screen moved with the PC, they looked nice (some even hold up really well today) and it was always clear where the player was meant to go (not to mention the thrill of finding new paths to get to the exit). That and they were tremendous fun to play.
Now that’s not to say that I’ve found 3d platformers that I’ve enjoyed – Prince of Persia Sands of Time comes to mind – but that had a great narrative and a fun time-rewind mechanic to back it up. In fact I’ve found that when a 3d platformer is offering something else, I will latch onto the ‘something else’ and lo and behold, I find I can really enjoy the game itself (ie Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, NiGHTS and God of War).
As for the 2d platformers, I love them and I still do. And I suspect I’ll still be enjoying them ten years from now. I still finding some being made today (Eversion anyone?) and they are still as compelling as ever. I think that is how I feel about the conflict between 2d and 3d – I’ve become so accustomed on 2d so for 3d to grab my attention it had better offer something else on top.
Your move 3d platformers
Friday, July 12, 2013
Come Out and Play
So with a new Nintendo console comes the announcement that a new iteration of the Super Smash Brothers is on it's way.
The Super Smash Bros series and I have something of a weird history. I became aware of the series through the first title on the N64 - but the first game I played in the series is Melee. But I could not get into it: I've played many fighting games and enjoyed them - even if I've been relying on the time and tested tactic of button mashing. But the Super Smash bros is a series that will have none of that: As such I was both flattened time and time again and puzzled by how the game works (how many hits can this asshole take?! Oh so being knocked out is instant death....). As such it's kind of embarrassing for me to see people who have every character worked out and mop the floor with me.
Still I did end up obtaining Brawl for my Wii and whilst I did have a hard time getting into the swing of things, I did enjoy it (even if I'm no more wiser as to what the hell I'm doing). In addition I also acquired the original Super Smash Bros from the Virtual Console but somehow it didn't really make an impression on me.
Yet somehow it is kind of telling that Brawl, the maligned of the series, is the one that did indeed make a connection with me....
Anywho, with the latest Super Smash Bros, more and more cast members are being teased out as 2014 draws nearer. Yet this is coming in the wake of Brawl which featured a large character roster and reports are indicting that said roster will be trimmed of the less unique characters for the new game. Reports also indicate that deciding which characters get the flick is not a decision made easily.
Personally I'm in two minds over this: On one hand the shortened roster will be easier to keep track of certain faces and remove any duplicate characters. But on the other hand I've used each and every character in Brawl and I don't mind them (except maybe Wario) so somehow having a familiar face been given the boot would be disarming to say the least.
So far we have mainstays Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, Samus, Kirby, Fox and Pikachu. Bowser, Pit and Olimar are also making a return. But in the terms of newcomers we have Mega Man, Villager and Wii Fit Trainer - the latter of course being an odd choice.
Still this is but the early stage - what more will eventuate between now and the release date would be interesting to say the least...
The Super Smash Bros series and I have something of a weird history. I became aware of the series through the first title on the N64 - but the first game I played in the series is Melee. But I could not get into it: I've played many fighting games and enjoyed them - even if I've been relying on the time and tested tactic of button mashing. But the Super Smash bros is a series that will have none of that: As such I was both flattened time and time again and puzzled by how the game works (how many hits can this asshole take?! Oh so being knocked out is instant death....). As such it's kind of embarrassing for me to see people who have every character worked out and mop the floor with me.
Still I did end up obtaining Brawl for my Wii and whilst I did have a hard time getting into the swing of things, I did enjoy it (even if I'm no more wiser as to what the hell I'm doing). In addition I also acquired the original Super Smash Bros from the Virtual Console but somehow it didn't really make an impression on me.
Yet somehow it is kind of telling that Brawl, the maligned of the series, is the one that did indeed make a connection with me....
Anywho, with the latest Super Smash Bros, more and more cast members are being teased out as 2014 draws nearer. Yet this is coming in the wake of Brawl which featured a large character roster and reports are indicting that said roster will be trimmed of the less unique characters for the new game. Reports also indicate that deciding which characters get the flick is not a decision made easily.
Personally I'm in two minds over this: On one hand the shortened roster will be easier to keep track of certain faces and remove any duplicate characters. But on the other hand I've used each and every character in Brawl and I don't mind them (except maybe Wario) so somehow having a familiar face been given the boot would be disarming to say the least.
So far we have mainstays Mario, Link, Donkey Kong, Samus, Kirby, Fox and Pikachu. Bowser, Pit and Olimar are also making a return. But in the terms of newcomers we have Mega Man, Villager and Wii Fit Trainer - the latter of course being an odd choice.
Still this is but the early stage - what more will eventuate between now and the release date would be interesting to say the least...
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