Malik
(10/2/06)
Red Octane has finally
set some solid information on
Guitar Hero 2 for the 360. In particular, the game will indeed
come out sometime after we all change over to the new year. However,
beyond that, the controller for GH2 for the 360 will be wired...for
some sick reason.
While it makes sense
that the first part of that is true (the 2007 release date) since
GH2 was originally designed off of the PS2 architecture, the other
part makes very little sense to me. For one thing, considering the
massive size of a guitar controller, I doubt they simply ran out of
room for the wireless transceiver/transmitter in the controller. I
also doubt it's a price thing, since it really should cost that much
more (maybe about the $10 difference Microsoft charges for first
party controllers) to make one wireless. No...this makes no sense,
and it's pretty sad.
I was already getting
excited about no longer being told that I am rocking out too hard
when I yank out a controller cable during an intense solo. I know
I'm not the only one that thought with the 360 wireless in place,
that no game would benefit nearly as much as good old Guitar Hero.
After all, this is the type of game that is meant for
wireless...sigh.
Well, I'm still enjoying
the slightly under-rated Lego Star Wars 2. Damn! This is one great
game. While it may not be the visual feast that many gamers seem to
demand in the new generation, it more than fulfills all it needs to
be. For one thing, visually, if this game was improved much I don't
think it would feel right as a Lego based game. However, beyond the
visuals, there is simply nothing really important to dismiss about
this game (except the occasional freeze...which is true with all
games in the modern gaming era).
I've finished playing
through the entirety of the levels in story mode. This may not take
much time if you're only out to just beat each level, but it does
take some time if you're into finding each Easter egg (of which,
there are more than a few) and if you want to get a completed game
(like finding all collectables...which is actually fun in this
game).
I've also started my
journey through free play, in which I'm happily taking Boba Fett
through a journey to help the rebels. Now this mode is where the
game really shines, since it is this mode in which you can play as
whoever, whenever, with no holding back.
I think, despite having
beaten this game, I won't be done actually finishing this game for a
couple weeks...at least. There's just too much to do and too many
possibilities to enjoy. It's like watching the original Star Wars
trilogy on DVD/VHS/whatever...you may go through them once, but
you're not done. You're never done.
Speaking of
done...that's the best word to describe the Seahawk's winning
streak. I still can't believe how badly the game went yesterday. I
wouldn't have minded if the game was close, and if it came down to
something logical (like Alexander's absence leading to more field
goals as no one could rush the ball when it's 3rd down on the 6 yard
line)...but watching Hasselbeck throw interception after
interception...ouch. Unless something changes with tonight's game,
he will have the most interceptions so far this season.
It's not over or
anything, but if the last 1.5 games is any sign of things, something
is wrong with the Seahawks. I'll still be glued to my TV for each
game, but I am starting to feel like a change is in the air...and
it's probably not for the better.
Before I go for the day,
one last thing. Remember that Enchanted Arms
review I promised to show in the near future. Well, the future
is today. That review is up and running. Enjoy.
Malik |
Malik
(10/3/06)
For some reason, like a
train wreck, I cannot look away...especially when you can surprise
people, with stealth skills (or is that "skilz") with a tasty
Whopper. Yes, I'm talking about the new
XBox and 360 games from Burger King. While these games sound
about as high of quality as a modern shareware game (as opposed to a
demo of a commercial game), they just seem to grab my attention in a
weird and almost unsettling way.
Plus, when you
consider a $4 price tag from a fast food joint I'm already willing
to occasionally clog my arteries with, I think I may have to pick up
one of these...namely the Sneak King game. I know I want to jump out
of a trash can with a BK sandwich to surprise some unsuspecting
individual with tastiness.
On a side note, is
this some sort of message about their food? You have to sneak up on
people to get them to eat it...? It's perfectly find to hide in a
trash can with their food? It won't lower the quality or how safe it
is to consume? Wow! Now that's one heck of a pathogen encrusted food
item!
Anyway, despite
how silly this promotion may seem, I think it's actually pretty
smart. This is a perfect way to bring more fat asses (no offense
meant...I enjoy BK the most of all national fast food chains found
in my county) to the BK family, and it's a great way for both
Microsoft and BK to feed upon each other and the inbuilt audiences.
Plus, by only charging about $8 ($4 for the value meal and $4 for
the game), this is a cheap alternative to doing nothing at all.
Also, it will give some kid friendly games to the 360, which is one
thing that console is seriously lacking.
So, there's not
too much to talk about today. News is slowly trickling in, despite
the fact that we are only one month away from when all hell breaks
loose (the dreaded November rush is soon to befall us). I would
imagine more surprise news about now than just what Burger King is
doing with Microsoft and that Nintendo will possibly
only supply Wii kiosks to Gamestop around the middle of next
month. I would've expected some real excitement about now...but I
guess there's already enough to plan for with how chaotic November
will be for companies to not have free PR people to actually spread
some exciting rumors.
Anyway, PR people
are apparently no longer needed anyway. After all, it's the
executives of the big companies that are becoming instant
celebrities. Who needs any PR person to hype the Wii when
Reggie Fils-Aime will be selling the first Wii? The same
happened with Microsoft when Bill Gates was involved in selling 360s
at the Best Buy in my current home town. Maybe Kutaragi can sell the
first PS3, and also give out some friendly Kutaragi styled bullshit
at the same time of how the entertainment supercomputer will also be
able to do chores around the house...making it the cheapest Blu-ray
playing maid service in the world at a mere $600 dollars!
Well, it's another
day with too much to do, too much thinking needed (like needing to
finalize my job changing decision by 5 on Friday...I loathe
deadlines...), and not enough to talk about.
Malik |
Malik
(10/4/06)
When the 360 launched,
one of the big questions (besides "where do I get a 360?") was as to
the nature of the gamer points and achievements. In a nut shell,
these points served as a way to brag about how 1337 you are and
nothing else. So, no changes ever occurred, but many jaded gamers
and developers started to view these achievements as a way to ensure
longevity for their precious games. After all, how can you really be
done with Oblivion when you haven't scored the points for being the
leader of a certain guild (even if that guild meant nothing to you)?
Well, I'm still in
the position of thinking these achievements are completely
worthless. Hell...what am I going to care if I unlock some new gamer
points? Not one bit. In fact, just getting the damned pop-up
notifications of how I scored some gamer points is enough to bring
down the fourth wall and to keep me from truly getting into a game.
If these gamer points never existed, I could be a far happier geek.
I guess I'm
representing only
one side of the equation. After all, we now have levelmy360.com.
This group will actually earn gamer points at the "small" rate of 10
points for a dollar (assuming you want 1000 or more points...yes
$100 dollars to increase your GP...). I really, honestly, in my
heart, hope that this type of service fails. If this is the type of
service that can exist in a world focused on achievements, it first
of all means these GP are worthless (as I think already) to even the
more GP hungry of gamers. It also means that people really are
willing to throw away their money on anything, including the
equivalent of trying to score a new high score.
This is just the
type of thing that the new generation of gaming needs to NOT be
about; obsession over being the best in a skewed and unleveled play
field. I say that for two reasons. Wanting a high GP total is
actually rather petty and pathetic. More than that, some games are
far easier to score points on than others. Assuming I cared about my
GP, this would upset me since many sports games are just easier to
score points in. Trying to play 24 hours of Zuma is far more
annoying and challenging (from a patience perspective) than trying
to play 24 (I think that's the number) hours in Saint's Row. When
you look at some sports titles, it only becomes more insanely easy
to score GP and feel like you did something worthwhile.
Well, there isn't
much else to talk about today. I could go off about how Sony is
dropping in the stock market like an iron weight drops in the ocean.
I could go off about how many developers are starting to feel that
the PSP is a dying medium (like I felt when I sold mine about 9
months ago). I could find a thousand things to bad mouth about
Sony...but it's not really worth it today.
I could also go
off about how Microsoft is really not taking the initiative on the
new generation wars, since November could spell a lot of pain for
MS. However, that's not worth going into today.
I could also ask
some questions about if Nintendo is really getting ready for the Wii
launch with the right level of enthusiasm...after all, Nintendo
executives selling Wiis may seem sorta interesting (if you also find
the average sit-com interesting), but it's not the same as trying to
really crank out the wow factor in light of how a Wii, which is
meant for multiplayer action, is going to be insanely pricey with
the cost of Wii-motes ($40) along with nunchuks ($20 each) and
classical controllers (~$20 each). I just don't feel like it today.
Malik |
Malik
(10/5/06)
It's not even mid to
late November and it's already begun. I'm talking about the rumors
of how the PS3 is overheating (based on reports from TGS) and how
the hardware will be prone to technical problems from day 1 (or is
that day -45?).
Well,
Sony has a reply on these issues. Is it any surprise that the
Sony response is that these issues are imagined? Is it any surprise
that Sony will not owe up to any issues? Is there really an issue?
Well, the first two questions are almost hypothetical since they are
so damned obvious from the PS2 and PSP launches. However, the real
question that should remain in all of our minds is if these issues
are real.
In the end, I
think it is obvious that two things will probably occur on the
actual launch. First off, there will be heat issues. Seriously, with
how much new technology is being crammed into these small (ok...the
PS3 is a behemoth) new consoles, heat is a major issue for all to
ponder. It's like when new PC mobos, video cards, and CPUs hit the
market, usually the first generation is heat plagued. Secondly, a
new console will always launch with less than perfect results. It's
a simple fact that if you buy a first generation console of a new
generation, the bugs will not have been worked out.
In fact, if anyone
buys a launch PS3 and doesn't think that the two old problems
(technical failures and not enough good games) won't exist, then
this person is a Sony fanboy and is not willing to face reality. I
still laugh each time I hear of someone with a less than a year old
360 complaining of not enough good games. There is no console in
recent (about 10 years) history that actually launched with a solid
line up. In fact, I think the SNES is the last console that had more
than two noteworthy games (F-Zero, Super Mario World, Pilotwings,
Actraiser, FF4) in it's first year...although the Wii may change
that.
On a different
note, this goes to the rock-aholics out there in Seattle; Alice in
Chains is playing the day after Thanksgiving! F$#@ YEAH! Tickets go
on sale soon, via Ticketmaster, and the pre-order is today. I am
already there!
Besides what I
said, I really am lacking for anything to say. I couldn't even play
some buggy levels of Lego Star Wars 2 last night, due to how driving
a whole 2 miles resulted in 2 hours being killed when I simply
needed to hit the grocery store.
If you didn't
catch that, I did say LSW2 is buggy. I did so because it is. At
least the 360 version fits this description. Sometimes you can play
for 5 hours at a time and not have an issue, but other times the
game will die, crash, and freeze...many times. Especially bad is
that it most often happens on Super Story mode (in which you play
all the levels of a given movie with a set one hour time
limit)...and then it happens in the last few minutes of the last
chapter/level. Talk about a nice little feature. I guess that's
called a reason to replay old levels...and then replay them
again...and again...and then throw the DVD down the garbage
disposal.
While I do enjoy
LSW2, this is not even my first real issue with the 360 version. The
largest issue is that the LSW characters are included on the disk
(obviously they are since the download for these prequel characters
is only a few hundred k), but you have to pay real money to unlock
them. Viva microtransaction!
Ok. Enough
complaints. I've got enough bullshit on my mind to be able to get to
caught up on this whole BS. So, I'll focus on the good...Alice in
Chains!
Malik |
Malik
(10/6/06)
Peter Molyneaux is at it again. At least that's how most people
seem to see things when he does this type of thing. He will be
working on a new game, like Black and White 2, Fable, or whatever,
and he will happily tell everyone who will listen about his novel
and amazing new ideas. However, in the end, he usually delivers just
a fraction of what he's excited about delivering.
It's definitely
not how I see it. Personally, even if he doesn't deliver all of the
goods, I still love to hear what's on this gaming god's mind. He is
one hell of an inspirational force in the gaming industry, and this
is what the development side of gaming needs; people who actually
love what they do and get honestly excited about it. After all, even
when Molyneaux doesn't fully deliver, it gives other developers
higher goals on what they will strive to achieve.
So, this time,
Molyneaux is telling about Fable 2 and what the game will allow us
players to do...at least what we can do if everything he wants is
included. The largest parts of what he's excited about this time
fall into two categories.
Before that,
however, there is one other small piece of news that may make half
of the fans happy. You can now be either male or female. So, if your
a woman/girl who's sick of always playing the role of a guy, then
things are looking up. Also, if you're a complete pervert and you
want to get your lesbian fantasies into the Fable world of Albion,
then you are going to be able to.
First off, he
wants us to be able to buy anything in Fable 2. See that shop? Want
it? Buy it! See that entire town? Buy it too! If you want to
purchase something, Molyneaux aims to deliver the ability for us to
buy anything we could possible want to own. While this will probably
ultimately fall upon us only buying a limited number of locations
from the final total (I doubt we'd be able to buy dungeons, ruins,
caves, etc.), it should be a cool idea to let us own keeps and
shops, along with houses and the usual lot of accessories.
Secondly, he wants
the player to be able to have children. Not only that, but your
children will love you, the avatar (or chicken-chaser, ranger,
paladin, or whatever your titles is in the game), unconditionally.
This means that if you are seen being an evil bastard, your kids
will imitate you and be bullies. If you are a great hero, your kids
will become mini-paragons of virtue. At the same time, your spouse
will always want the better life, and this will give you more side
quests (of obtaining a better quality of living).
I like what I'm
hearing, but I have one small concern; age. In the first Fable, you
aged with each new power or stat increase. This means that, for many
player, you reached the maximum age long before you even started the
second leg of your journey. I know I was a 65 year old man, both
times I played Fable, before I ever even found the fate of my
sister...which is still early on in the game. Hopefully, if you're
going to have children, who have to age some to go from infant to
adoring admirer, you won't be 65 and withered before you even start
being a role model.
I would suggest
that this time the game should age you according to something like
how many quests you've done. That would make more sense. After all,
the first game made experience too easy to obtain, and thus you
would level uncontrollably at the start of the game. Along with how
the first increases in an ability increased your age the same as the
more expensive master levels of a skill, you would simply age by
spending tiny amounts of XP in an attempt to learn every spell early
on.
I also hope that
you are not the only one who ages this time. It always felt a bit
silly that I went from my teens to my 60's in the same span that
everyone else aged not a single day. Of course it was always amusing
to be 65 with a hot trophy wife :P
My other question,
since there are now children in this game, is what will happen if
you play as a female character and you get pregnant. Will you stop
adventuring, or will you be running through a dungeon with a giant
belly? Will time just automatically pass from conception to child
birth? I'm honestly curious about this. On top of that, will same
sex couples have children, and will they allow it through some sort
of adoption, or will it just magically happen? I am seriously
curious how Molyneaux will tackle some of these matters, which may
end up facing the chance of being controversial.
I have to say that
I hope Molyneaux has learned a lesson of only saying things that
will actually be in the final product. I don't say this for my own
expectations (I've never been disappointed in any game he's
designed...honestly), but rather so that his anti-fans could shut
the f#@% up already. I really can see a genius at hand when
Molyneaux does his thing, but I think it's an honest shame that so
many people attack him for something as honest and innocent as
getting excited over his line of work. I wish I was more able to be
as excited as Molyneaux when I'm working...and I think 95% of the
Earth's work force feels the same.
Well, on that
subject, I've turned down a job offer this week. It's been the only
offer I've received in my 16 months of searching for a new job. It
was hard to do, but it's a position that would consume far more than
40 hours a week, every week, without compensation, and would have
been way too unchallenging for me. I need to be challenged by my
job, and while I would like to make a few thousand more dollars each
year (which this position would've given), I just can't stand the
thought of having the science equivalent of an assembly line job.
So, if things go well, I'll be missing more days between now and
whenever at job interviews...oh...I hope I get a lot of interviews
and some more offers. If you're a well wishing sort of person, send
some of your happy thoughts in my direction...and on that hippy
sounding logic, I am out. Good weekend to you all.
Malik |
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