It seems that my hopes have been crushed. Bionic Commando: Rearmed has been released but the Steam method is nowhere to be found. I was really looking forward to playing this game today through Steam, but it looks like Capcom has issues. I can wait a few days to see the resolution of all this. But I cannot guarentee that I can buy this game now since they refuse to release on the biggest online game distribution platform of the world.
Archive for the 'PC' Category
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You know that addition never fails. The PC version of Bionic Commando: Rearmed has been announced finally. But with an extra price point of $15. The other versions for XBLA and PSN are $10. I still don’t quite know how that works but I’m sure that royalties are a lot higher with Microsoft atleast. Anyway, I’m glad this is now confirmed and I can look forward to running this game in the ground from overplay.
The Confirmation: http://www.bioniccommando.com/us/blog_entries/view/331
IF you don’t know by now, you will soon. IF you own a G80+ series card (GeForce 8, 9, 200 series) then Nvidia is preparing a new driver that allows PhysX enabled games to use the Video Card as a physics card. Now the problem becomes not that it allows this, but explaining to people the difference between the new v177 graphics driver and the CUDA PhysX driver. Maybe this will all get sorted out in the end but having to explain that PhysX doesn’t affect the game unless the game supports it is annoying.
It seems that I am getting my wish. Another update to a game that I was looking forward to gets announced and…its a delay. Battlefield Heroes was pushed back to later this year into the heap of chaos that is Fall/Winter releases. I can easily see this get pushed into 2009.
Finally, Bionic Commando: Rearmed will be released soon. But what does that say about the PC version which seems to be absent from a particular blog announcing the XBLA and PSN versions.
For a while now I’ve been wondering where some games went.
Bionic Commando: Rearmed (PC, 360, PS3)
For example, I remember a Bionic Commando supposed to be released sometime this year. While I’m not impatient, they have been hyping this game for a while now and I’m starting to wonder will we ever get to see it. Its main remake, Bionic Commando obviously is going to be released in October this year which is not too far away now.
SSFTHD (PC, 360, PS3)
Another from Capcom coincidentally is Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix (now say that 10 times fast). This game is supposed to be released before Street Fighter IV which is now slowly taking the lead in development time. The Arcade version is already done and the console version is on the way. This game is going to become a foot note to SF4 if they don’t ramp it up.
Battlefield Heroes (PC)
The free MMO style Battlefield game with the new buisness model that is supposed to be a success is now in closed beta. The open beta is supposed to be this summer. Well, summer it is and the game still is not available to the immediate public. Those who I have read about in closed beta says the game is very ready for open beta. Though this is a free game, I am willing to wait but there are many other emerging free games being released this year more than anything. This can be overshadowed if they don’t make a move soon.
So, that was some E3 huh? I’m pretty sure that USA Today and Fox News will be buzzing about the latest Nintendo shovelware that was announced. The traditional market however is not that amused by what happened. Microsoft announced a casual focus including Mii ripoffs called “Avatars”. They have also mentioned a mega dashboard update which looks heavily derivative of Windows Media Center and Apple’s Front Row. Among the dark cloud’s sliver lining, Netflix compatibility, Gears Of War 2, a new game called Lost Remnant and a full fledged Final Fantasy game which was once exlusive to the PS3.
Speaking of the PS3, its announcements was as easliy boring save for a Little Big Planet, Powerpoint like display of Sony accomplishments. Resitance & improvements to the PS3′s online offerings has also has seemed to save the day.
Third Party Developers are the winners here in this aspect. Many popular 3rd party games were displayed and announced. PC gaming is also getting a lot of attention, where once developers on console would have never thought of porting a game to the PC is now porting them en masse. I guess you can thank Microsoft for that or the fact that the PC has always been a big platform with many potential customers. If you haven’t yet noticed this trend, then you need to look no further than world renowned Capcom Entertainment. Many of its top sellng titles are being ported to PC including Devil May Cry and Street Fighter IV which fully take advantage of the power available.
The most disappointing of the 3rd Party fun was Konami. The Rockband competitor called Rock Revolution looked lack luster and disappointing to those who have experienced both Guitar Hero and Rockband. Also, the showing of a Wii Castlevania fighting game that looks worse than Soul Calibur II on the Gamecube. A saving grace maybe was a showing of the DS title Order of Ecclesia.
Overall, E3 atleast to me is circling the drain before it falls through it.
On another note, I came across a free game called TrackMania Nations Forever. TrackMania is a very good looking racing game that throws Mario Kart like tracks in the mix. The physics of the cars allows you to run through loops, half pipes, super jumps and multiple air tricks. The game also has editors for custom cars and tracks. ITs counterpart TrackMania United Forever is a retail game that unlocks several features. This game could easily be free across the board if the advertising placements were more robust. For now there seems to be only two types of banners in the game, one for Toyota and another for one other company. The TrackMania Forever games also has an online mode which lets you race against people via lan or the Nadeo servers. (Nadeo is the name of the developer.) I like the game for the most part but most of the one lap tracks leaves you wanting more.
Well, its been a while since my last post. But I’ve been somewhat preoccupied. Though, now I should be able to post more often. Especially about the recent games I’ve been playing. Let’s Start off with the most recent:
Crysis (PC)
Crysis is this marvel and mystery of a game. Non PC gamers see it as a complete failure. 
EA’s PR department trumpets the same tune. But despite the extra resources needed to play this game, and the doom speak of piracy, the game did sell well and has a sequel called “Warhead” coming in Fall 2008.
Crysis is this sandbox like FPS shooter that gives you missions and sends you into the fight. The thing is,
they won’t tell you how to defeat the mission or hold your hand despite them having a marker on the map that shows you where to go. Its up to you to use the tools at your disposal to get to the next point. I shouldn’t have to tell you that this game is amazingly beautiful. Your character, or “Nomad” which he is called is eventually forced to take out everything from common Korean troops to aliens.
There are some issues with this game like relentless AI for example, the Helicopters will become the bane of your existence. Vehicle combat is a little weird and weak as well and often times leaves you high and dry with frequent game restarts after you’ve died a ton of times. Then you decide to ditch the vehicle and win that way. (Unless its a dog fight in the air. Oh yes, dog fight. ) Above all, this game deserves all the praise that it has earned at various review outlets. And even if your old PC can’t run it, a current PC most definitely can. (I paid $700 for mine and runs this on all max settings pretty fine.)
Sins Of A Solar Empire (PC)
This is another completely out-of-left-field game. The game is a 4X game created by a small developer called IronClad and published by Stardock. (Yes, that company that makes Windowsblinds.) Anyway, the game is pretty a pretty Epic RTS/4X game and allows you to take over entire galaxies (with an “s”). Each galaxy can span from 14 to 20 planets and objects. Not multiply that times 3 on a bigger map and the game easily eats away your free time like acid.
The graphics are very decent and balanced and the interface to manage all of that conquest is also epic, allowing multiple zooms all the way up to god level in order to let you see it all. The combat itself is pretty straightforward and long. Which is not always a bad thing because it allows you to manage all of those planets and impending pirate raids that can seriously hurt if you don’t out bid your competition. The engine itself is surprisingly efficient and runs very smooth. You will have plenty of fun taking over the known universe in this game.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Did I ever mention that I managed to find a Wii? These things are hard to find. Anyway I bought a copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl to go with it and I love the game. SSBB is a non traditional fighter that pits 2 to 4 opponents on an often times floating stage. Every smack raises the percentage on the opponents damage meter. Once it’s high enough, it allows you to smack that person off of the stage earning a point towards an overall score.
Many hate this game series for obvious reasons, but the game is surprisingly deep and has plenty of advanced tricks and moves. On top of all that is a new Adventure Mode that takes at least 2-4 hours to finish. There is also multiple types of battles. So if the traditional smash play bores you, then you can switch over to stock battle or coin battle where the most coins wins. This game falls a bit short with the online modes. The online service itself falls short with frequent disconnects and a lack of other online players to battle against. Nintendo’s own friend code system makes this even more frustrating. ITs too bad that a great game like this is tied down to such a draconian online model. Despite the online affliction the game itself is both beautiful and fun to play, Especially with friends.
Company Of Heroes (PC)
Another game I’ve been playing off and on is COH. (Company Of Heroes) Its an RTS with some really good concepts on troop management and DirectX 10 compatible so it is equally as interesting to look at. Personally, I just cannot manage to grip this game like I can with others. It has to be something I’m doing wrong because so many others love this game. Maybe its because of the Single Player campaign that is weighing me down. Or maybe its the WWII style that they went with. Hopefully I will manage to learn more of this game or Red Alert 3 or Starcraft 2 will definitely sweep me away in no time.