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The Fall Of E3 & A New Discovery

Omega X — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:45:56 +0000

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.

Multiple Games…the flying of time

Omega X — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 23:37:36 +0000

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.

The full Revolution starts to materalize!

Omega X — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 22:00:57 +0000

The WTF Factor

What is that You Say? Well This is WTF:

At first glance, this has to be the MOST weirdest piece of hardware I’ve seen in a LONG time. This has to play games right? Yes IT DOES. And guess what, it does it well. By the looks of the many screenshots I’ve seen so far, its very capable. AND if you get a chance to see the videos then you should understand the concept. FOR those on the more imaginative side, they will not need a video to tell them after they read the impressions and seen the shots as I have.

Accessory King?!

This controller has motion sensing capability when aiming it torwards the screen. That, in conjunction with a gyroscope embedded, gives the player FULL 3D control of the game. Star Wars fans, think of it as a beam sword without the beam. Others, think of it as exactly interacting with the game at a physical level. The way that the controller is designed, it inherits depth perception. SO poking at the screen could possibly give a poke at what’s onscreen.

That’s not all folks. It has a trigger at the bottom of the controller which possibly can create many options expecially for FPS games. At the BACK of the controller is an accessory slot:

Yes, that is a possible steering wheel add-on for the controller. Turn the controller SIDEWAYS and you get the traditional NES button layout for playing those classic games. Also, there seems to be plans for an add-on for those who like the traditional controller layout that can possibly add more buttons to the layout. The possibilities are astounding. I can’t wait to see what developers come up with. Even IF you don’t like the new controller, the Gamecube controller IS fully compatible with the Revolution.

To those who pre-Judge…

There also seems to be a backlash of people or “haters” of this new controller. 1up reports that developers are amazed at the new design. The creator of the Metal Gear Series ADORED the thing. SO why so much hate? Is it the fact that people don’t understand it yet? OR are they just hateful that their “favorite” company has not thought of this? Well Here’s a message: (copied from my original reply on the boards here.)

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Its AMAZING that people don’t think that this will change the way we play games. Its AMAZING to think that there won’t be any 3rd Party Support. ITs AMAZING to me that the majority that FOUND an excuse to hate this controller has NO imagination whatsoever.

The Creator of MGS was DROOLING over this. You don’t think that it won’t spark a new way we play games? Nintendo will MOST DEFINITELY develop for this. BUT EA most definitely will want to also. That’s like 8 possible best sellers right there just with EA. Capcom AND Namco very well will invest a chunk of its resources. We could see a special version of Soul Calibur or a totally new types of games from any developer for that matter. Square-Enix and a number of others has already pledged support.

This won’t be another Gamecube. There is plenty of storage this time around, 20 years worth of titles, backwards compatibility to the Gamecube, FOUR SLOTS FOR TRADITIONAL CONTROLLERS, WiFi; Online Gaming. If you DO NOT see the possibilities, then you are BLIND and confused. IF you DON’T Think that competitiors will TRY to copy atleast ONE feature then you just don’t know the meaning of competition.

Dear gawd, if the only thing that people on this board can do but complain and flame then what’s the DAMN point of posting here? You obviously don’t want conversation. You most definitely want to get someone mad. You are MOST DEFINITELY NOT USING YOUR BRAIN when you do this. So why waste your time? To feel REASSURED that your choices were sound?

If Nintendo comes out second–or THIRD for that matters, WHO CARES. That means that nothing will have changed in your perfect little world. But for MOST of us who don’t have Psychological problems, we do see some relevance and promise in this new innovation. Will it cause a COMPLETE REVOLUTION? Who knows? Certainly not the wanna be Miss Cleos’ that I’ve seen in this thread predicting the future. But this will AND HAS so far–spark the imaginations of those who created the GTAs, the Halos, the Half-Lifes, the Final Fantisies, the Burnouts, the fighters, the adventures, the RPGs. It might sound like a complete speech to “you”. Yes you the ignorant ones. BUT NO ONE knew where the Video Game Industry was to go 10 years ago, and CERTAINLY not 20 years ago. Who would have known Sony to be the next big thing in videogames? Who would have known that Nintendo would have created all of that stuff? Who would have know of Microsoft becoming one of the Biggest corporations in the world? No one.

So get off of your skyscraper horses and learn to think and see what a lot of other people do. Learn to use your common sense, learn to use your imagination. Learn to be objective for once in your life.(this is most definitely going into my blog. )
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Just keep those thoughts in mind before you decide to hate something you don’t fully understand yet.