Recently my house was connected to the NBN - this means my internet is now faster than ever!
And that's the good news.
The bad news is that an old cable had to pulled out to make it happen - one that ran around the house. And, ultimately, into my computer. What these means now is that my computer and the NBN router are now at different ends of the house. And on separate floors. Which in turn makes for a internet signal that may not be strong enough to handle matters concerning XBLA and MMORPGs.
And, somehow, dusting off my PS2 suddenly sounds like a very good idea....
Showing posts with label The Power of Three!. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Power of Three!. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2015
Monday, November 17, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
Too Tense
Not much to say for today so here's an amusing screencap from one of my recent escapades in ESO:
Monday, September 22, 2014
Roam Around the World!
Recently I've been having a crack at Rome: Total War.
Funny story: I purchased this game back in 2006 but it is only now that I've been actually playing it. Why the change of heart? Well I found out that if you enter retail codes of certain games into Steam, the games will recognized and added to your Steam account. And for a game a decade old (at time of writing) it is reassuring to know that Steam will make it work - as opposed to hunting down some patch.
Whilst not my first time playing Rome Total War, this is the first time I've tackled the Imperial Campaign. And I have found that this is the first time in a long time that I've been completely absorbed in a game - even to a point where I've lost track of time completely. Clearly I must be playing something good.
And the campaign itself (Julii) is a challenging one. I've made three attempts at it and each one has been different from the last. There have been unexpected developments and times when I have been going well only to have everything fall in spectacular fashion.
Needless to say, this is one game I shall be playing more of in future. Watch this space!
Funny story: I purchased this game back in 2006 but it is only now that I've been actually playing it. Why the change of heart? Well I found out that if you enter retail codes of certain games into Steam, the games will recognized and added to your Steam account. And for a game a decade old (at time of writing) it is reassuring to know that Steam will make it work - as opposed to hunting down some patch.
Whilst not my first time playing Rome Total War, this is the first time I've tackled the Imperial Campaign. And I have found that this is the first time in a long time that I've been completely absorbed in a game - even to a point where I've lost track of time completely. Clearly I must be playing something good.
And the campaign itself (Julii) is a challenging one. I've made three attempts at it and each one has been different from the last. There have been unexpected developments and times when I have been going well only to have everything fall in spectacular fashion.
Needless to say, this is one game I shall be playing more of in future. Watch this space!
Monday, September 15, 2014
Rise of the Goths
I recently obtained Gothic 2+3 from GoG - somehow having them both removed from the catalog for good seemed a good enough reason to grab them both.
However Gothic 3 has been giving me some headaches: Okay so there were some flaws on release? Well I'm all for modding so I don't mind hunting down some mods to fix this.
Okay so now there's some more quests? Well I'm fine with that.
And now there's some additional content? Well I'm willing to wade through some German to get there so why not?
And there's an increase for screen resolution? Well i have recently increased my RAM so hell yeah!
Oh wait the game doesn't work now. Damn. And after all the effort of finding and downloading these mods!
And and now I can't uninstall the original game?! FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
However Gothic 3 has been giving me some headaches: Okay so there were some flaws on release? Well I'm all for modding so I don't mind hunting down some mods to fix this.
Okay so now there's some more quests? Well I'm fine with that.
And now there's some additional content? Well I'm willing to wade through some German to get there so why not?
And there's an increase for screen resolution? Well i have recently increased my RAM so hell yeah!
Oh wait the game doesn't work now. Damn. And after all the effort of finding and downloading these mods!
And and now I can't uninstall the original game?! FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
Friday, July 25, 2014
An Ode to Ico
Something I put together in anticipation for Good Game's greatest game special:
Favorite game? Ico. On the PS2
No joke: you’ve heard exactly what I’ve said
Not for me Portal, Halo and Wow too
No, give me a lad with horns on his head
Who meets a princess in a big fortress
Who can open doors and make black shapes dead
Both doomed to die: A fate to readdress
So an escape Ico and Yorda plan
Hand in hand through the castle they progress
Contending with: puzzles, solved as they can
And bashing, with a wood stick, black shadows
And, worse of all, Yorda’s attention span
Under bloom lightening the game flows
Showing Legend of Zelda how it’s done
Along with a loneliness this game knows
Oh Ico, you poor selling ball of fun
Father of Shadow of the Colossus
Now on the PS3 for everyone
Ico: Who does so much more with so less
Who proudly passes the ‘game as art’ test
And a real tear jerker I must confess
Yes, my favorite game’s Ico. It’s the best!
Mood, emotion: There’s nothing quite like it.
Even though it’s one big long escort quest
Favorite game? Ico. On the PS2
No joke: you’ve heard exactly what I’ve said
Not for me Portal, Halo and Wow too
No, give me a lad with horns on his head
Who meets a princess in a big fortress
Who can open doors and make black shapes dead
Both doomed to die: A fate to readdress
So an escape Ico and Yorda plan
Hand in hand through the castle they progress
Contending with: puzzles, solved as they can
And bashing, with a wood stick, black shadows
And, worse of all, Yorda’s attention span
Under bloom lightening the game flows
Showing Legend of Zelda how it’s done
Along with a loneliness this game knows
Oh Ico, you poor selling ball of fun
Father of Shadow of the Colossus
Now on the PS3 for everyone
Ico: Who does so much more with so less
Who proudly passes the ‘game as art’ test
And a real tear jerker I must confess
Yes, my favorite game’s Ico. It’s the best!
Mood, emotion: There’s nothing quite like it.
Even though it’s one big long escort quest
Monday, April 14, 2014
Rain keeps falling
So here's my ESO avatar. Presenting my first born Darthrain!:
As you can see, he's in the early stages (hence the rather crummy looking armour) but it's a start.
I've gone for a Dragon Knight because I like the idea of flinging around fire magic. And having a mage that can wear armour is better still.
Seriously, what's not to like?
As you can see, he's in the early stages (hence the rather crummy looking armour) but it's a start.
I've gone for a Dragon Knight because I like the idea of flinging around fire magic. And having a mage that can wear armour is better still.
Seriously, what's not to like?
Monday, March 24, 2014
Gridlock
With the recent release of the FFX/2 HD version on the PS3, I decided to take a trip down memory lane and dig up some of my old save files on my PS2 (yes I still have them).
Make no mistake: The high point of the entire game was, for me, the sphere grid. Say what you like about the game's graphics/voice acting/plot/combat/linearity/limp mini games, the biggest thrill for me was abusing the sphere grid and sending all seven members of my party into a whole manner of directions beyond their original path - Who would've guessed that both Tidus and Yuna would've made such effective thieves?!
And hey, when you're grinding to level up your characters and it never once feels like grinding then something must've worked.
They say that to get the most out of the sphere grid one needs to approach it with a plan in mind and that certainly rings true here. My approach is that I nutted out what each character needs to do and when they need to do it (actually I just looked at a All-Thieves guide I found on GameFAQS).
Once I had my plan I put it into action: This involved sending characters in certain directions, utilizing particular spheres and, in some cases, leaving characters waiting before they're allowed to claim the advances that awaited them. It took patience and precision but damn it was worth it.
And it the effect it had on the game was indeed pleasing: I found that with certain abilities, everyone had something to contribute to the party's functionality. My party started functioning like a well-oiled machine with everyone playing a part and no one being useless. Characters I found annoying (like Tidus) were getting a lot of mileage and characters I had no idea what to do with (like Kimahri) ended up getting used a lot. And with certain skills being duplicated across the party, never once did I feel like there was a problem that couldn't be solved.
And it was fun seeing characters develop in strange and fun ways: I particularly enjoyed making Tidus into a thief and then beefing him up by sending him in Auron's direction. It was great to make Kimahri into a thief and then into a white mage. It was fun sending Auron down Tidus' original path and give his speed a necessary boost. And I offset Yuna's White Magic and Aeons with Thieving skills and Black Magic (hey she's got the best magic stat after all) effectively making her a one-man army (she is the game's driving force after all).
Okay so maybe it may have made the game kinda dull in the later stages with the spreading of skills resulting in a breaking down of character distinction, but I like the idea that this was a party I had built up, was my own unique one (sort of....) and I was beating the game on my own terms (fitting when one considers just how linear this game is compared to it's predecessors).
But ultimately my abuse of the sphere grid was something that I could never replicate - and it is for reason that I'm not rushing out to get the adore-mentioned FFX/2 HD version and a PS3 to use it. But perhaps it shouldn't be. I can't recall each and every planned step I made or what spheres I used and when. But I don't care - because I still have my saved games and they still stand as proof of my clever customization. The fact that I can still fire up my PS2 and still have a bash using my awesome party, is indeed proof that it was all worth it.
And to wrap this post up, I was so proud of my abuse of the sphere grid that I actually used one of my saved games to help a friend through some of the tougher areas. Considering I made precision movements through the grid, I can only wonder what steps she subsequently took....
Make no mistake: The high point of the entire game was, for me, the sphere grid. Say what you like about the game's graphics/voice acting/plot/combat/linearity/limp mini games, the biggest thrill for me was abusing the sphere grid and sending all seven members of my party into a whole manner of directions beyond their original path - Who would've guessed that both Tidus and Yuna would've made such effective thieves?!
And hey, when you're grinding to level up your characters and it never once feels like grinding then something must've worked.
They say that to get the most out of the sphere grid one needs to approach it with a plan in mind and that certainly rings true here. My approach is that I nutted out what each character needs to do and when they need to do it (actually I just looked at a All-Thieves guide I found on GameFAQS).
Once I had my plan I put it into action: This involved sending characters in certain directions, utilizing particular spheres and, in some cases, leaving characters waiting before they're allowed to claim the advances that awaited them. It took patience and precision but damn it was worth it.
And it the effect it had on the game was indeed pleasing: I found that with certain abilities, everyone had something to contribute to the party's functionality. My party started functioning like a well-oiled machine with everyone playing a part and no one being useless. Characters I found annoying (like Tidus) were getting a lot of mileage and characters I had no idea what to do with (like Kimahri) ended up getting used a lot. And with certain skills being duplicated across the party, never once did I feel like there was a problem that couldn't be solved.
And it was fun seeing characters develop in strange and fun ways: I particularly enjoyed making Tidus into a thief and then beefing him up by sending him in Auron's direction. It was great to make Kimahri into a thief and then into a white mage. It was fun sending Auron down Tidus' original path and give his speed a necessary boost. And I offset Yuna's White Magic and Aeons with Thieving skills and Black Magic (hey she's got the best magic stat after all) effectively making her a one-man army (she is the game's driving force after all).
Okay so maybe it may have made the game kinda dull in the later stages with the spreading of skills resulting in a breaking down of character distinction, but I like the idea that this was a party I had built up, was my own unique one (sort of....) and I was beating the game on my own terms (fitting when one considers just how linear this game is compared to it's predecessors).
But ultimately my abuse of the sphere grid was something that I could never replicate - and it is for reason that I'm not rushing out to get the adore-mentioned FFX/2 HD version and a PS3 to use it. But perhaps it shouldn't be. I can't recall each and every planned step I made or what spheres I used and when. But I don't care - because I still have my saved games and they still stand as proof of my clever customization. The fact that I can still fire up my PS2 and still have a bash using my awesome party, is indeed proof that it was all worth it.
And to wrap this post up, I was so proud of my abuse of the sphere grid that I actually used one of my saved games to help a friend through some of the tougher areas. Considering I made precision movements through the grid, I can only wonder what steps she subsequently took....
Monday, February 24, 2014
Its! My! Blaaaawwwwwwwwddddddd!!!
I once saw someone misread the title of the Starcraft expansion Brood War as Blood War
Some thoughts:
- Well if it's war of course there's going to be blood spilt...
- Its a war fought over blood? Hasn't the regular human being got enough of it?
Some thoughts:
- Well if it's war of course there's going to be blood spilt...
- Its a war fought over blood? Hasn't the regular human being got enough of it?
Monday, January 27, 2014
Feel Good Hit of the Summer
At time of writing, it is summer time here in Australia. Meaning there is a lot of sunshine and warmth - something that means little to the average gamer as gaming is a (mostly) indoor activity. Still at least being inside keeps me from getting sunburn.
Anyway, I'm an adamant believer in the notion that certain games require a certain atmosphere. Certain games work in certain environments, that indeed add considerably to the experience, but others don't. By way of example, would anyone play a horror game like Amnesia the Dark Descent in a brightly lit room? I don't think so.
So what games do I like play/revisit during the summer months? Well, I like games that really fit the summer mood: There is no set criteria but bright colors certainly help and generally a mood of warmth and/or tropics.
With this in mind here's what I designate as Summer games:
Pharaoh
It's set in a desert and based around a civilisation building itself around a river. How can this not be a summer game? It's also in possession of a sense of warmth that has never been before or since.
Secret of Mana
More of a personal choice on my part: I played this during the summer of 2005 where my interest in gaming was subsequently rekindled. Somehow, with such bright graphics and glorious soundtrack, playing this game during the winter months seem pointless.
Secret of Monkey Island
It's got pirates, a well realised setting and a reggae soundtrack. Sounds like a great game to play during the summer months to me. It being chock full of hilarious moments doesn't hurt either
Skies of Arcadia
Once again, bright colours, a brilliant soundtrack and great environments. Throw in a great sense of exploration and it's little wonder why this is game that I keep finding myself returning to (not to mention a good enough reason to hang onto my Dreamcast).
Sonic the Hedgehog
I've fond memories playing this game during many a summer and I suspect I'll have more. I don't know why this game works so well as a summer game but it just does. And therein lies the thought that if I think about this too much it may be ruined.
World of Warcraft (Stanglethorn)
Blue skies, beaches, and perhaps the best-realised jungle environment I've ever seen in a game. Come for the questing, stay for the sunsets ;)
Anyway, I'm an adamant believer in the notion that certain games require a certain atmosphere. Certain games work in certain environments, that indeed add considerably to the experience, but others don't. By way of example, would anyone play a horror game like Amnesia the Dark Descent in a brightly lit room? I don't think so.
So what games do I like play/revisit during the summer months? Well, I like games that really fit the summer mood: There is no set criteria but bright colors certainly help and generally a mood of warmth and/or tropics.
With this in mind here's what I designate as Summer games:
Pharaoh
It's set in a desert and based around a civilisation building itself around a river. How can this not be a summer game? It's also in possession of a sense of warmth that has never been before or since.
Secret of Mana
More of a personal choice on my part: I played this during the summer of 2005 where my interest in gaming was subsequently rekindled. Somehow, with such bright graphics and glorious soundtrack, playing this game during the winter months seem pointless.
Secret of Monkey Island
It's got pirates, a well realised setting and a reggae soundtrack. Sounds like a great game to play during the summer months to me. It being chock full of hilarious moments doesn't hurt either
Skies of Arcadia
Once again, bright colours, a brilliant soundtrack and great environments. Throw in a great sense of exploration and it's little wonder why this is game that I keep finding myself returning to (not to mention a good enough reason to hang onto my Dreamcast).
Sonic the Hedgehog
I've fond memories playing this game during many a summer and I suspect I'll have more. I don't know why this game works so well as a summer game but it just does. And therein lies the thought that if I think about this too much it may be ruined.
World of Warcraft (Stanglethorn)
Blue skies, beaches, and perhaps the best-realised jungle environment I've ever seen in a game. Come for the questing, stay for the sunsets ;)
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...
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!)
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.
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
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
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:
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:
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...
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