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!

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:

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!)

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?):

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:

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

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.

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.

The Perfect Drug

What is this coming creeping into my sights? Why, it's the latest ad from Sony for the upcoming PS4!:

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!

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.

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:

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...

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!):

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.

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.

Cousins?

Whilst in Northrend, Rithendal finds out his pet has family: