I can't believe it has been almost a week since my last post. Last week was light in homework, and yet it still went by quickly and very much wore me out. I guess its because I managed to take care of a lot of non-class work that I wanted to do on time rather than leave to the last minute. Perhaps I can continue to stay ahead of myself through the week rather than getting things done by the skin of my teeth.
Family weekend just ended at the college, and it was nice to see the folks. We went down to Annapolis, which is much nicer than I thought it was. This was also y the first weekend this semester that I've just said screw it and had some fun. I may have to do it again sometime soon.
Looks like the Giants won today, and in a big way. We need those kinds of numbers from our offense if we are going to stay in the hunt.
Finally, it seems that I am now officially single, though there's not much to talk about. Its over and I'll certainly survive. As much as we all like to think that it was meant to be, sometimes you have to clear out your head and see if it really is.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Call of Duty 2
The Call of Duty 2 demo, as I said before, is out. It basically seems to be a prettier looking and more intense COD 1. The controls are the same, as is the pacing and strategy, though the improved engine means that the environments are much more complex and there are a lot more enemies on screen. An old preview in PC Gamer boasted that the missions will be a lot more dynamic in how they play out; events that look scripted may not actually be so. Still, if it any of that was going on I couldn't tell. I also saw no really solid examples of the game letting you take different paths through the level; it was pretty much linear all the way through.
It should be pretty good when it hits retail, but unless the game is of decent length or has some new multiplayer quirks I don't know if it will be worth the initial $50 investment. It still seems to be the best Single Player WWII experience out there, and it seems to explore some fronts that aren't often covered in games. But then again, it is another WWII game, and it looks like Day of Defeat Source is going to have the MP crown for a while.
It should be pretty good when it hits retail, but unless the game is of decent length or has some new multiplayer quirks I don't know if it will be worth the initial $50 investment. It still seems to be the best Single Player WWII experience out there, and it seems to explore some fronts that aren't often covered in games. But then again, it is another WWII game, and it looks like Day of Defeat Source is going to have the MP crown for a while.
DOD
So Day of Defeat Source is now out and ready to play. For some reason I never got into the original version, so I don't have much grounds to compare the two. I do know that this oen looks grand and plays well. A little more realistic than Call of Duty MP in terms of movement and accuracy, but it is still easy enough to hold your own. Balance wise it seems that each of the classes have their proper strengths and weaknesses. The only complaint I have so far is that both the Assault and Support classes have SMG's, but the Support can switch between full and semi auto, making him significantly more versatile.
But yes, I still need to play a couple more maps before passing judgement. The sole fact that the game only makes you wait a few seconds to respawn rather than waiting out a round like in Counterstrike means that I will probably be giving it a lot more playtime.
Hmm... I just played the Brothers in Arms demo, and DOD source came out today. Now I just learned that the Call of Duty 2 demo is out. So much WWII, but will it all be good?
But yes, I still need to play a couple more maps before passing judgement. The sole fact that the game only makes you wait a few seconds to respawn rather than waiting out a round like in Counterstrike means that I will probably be giving it a lot more playtime.
Hmm... I just played the Brothers in Arms demo, and DOD source came out today. Now I just learned that the Call of Duty 2 demo is out. So much WWII, but will it all be good?
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Demos
Might as well start a new post to discuss those game demos:
Serious Sam 2: There is no mistaking that this is a Serious Sam game. Same simple, challenging gameplay loaded with humor and violence. All the classic weapons are back, as well as some new ones. However, Sam 2 seems to benefit from the lessons developer Croteam have learned in making the original game. The demo showed a lot of variety in terms of the areas it forces you to fight through. It starts off in a wide open plaza, then pushes you into a cramped series of hallways. and then gives you a vehicle for engaging in some aerial combat. Each area played a little differently. The plaza allows you better vantage points and gives you the chance to distance yourself from enemies, while the hallways are only passable if you quickly take out the most threatening foes first. This is often easier said than done due to much better enemy placement; more powerful forces are often placed farther away and are guarded by lesser minions.
Overall, the variety and instensity of Sam 2's gameplay is impressive. Gone is the repetitive process of constantly backpeddling and firing that pervaded the original game. It may cost an extra ten dollars at retail, but I think the increase will be more than worth it.
Oh, and the Serious Engine 2 looks amazing. Tons of detailed enemies onscreen at once, all the while a huge cityscape, complete with traffic surrounds the level. All with hardly any major slowdown.
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. Didn't the original BIA come out this year as well? Yes it did. And this "sequel" plays exactly like it, and even features most of the same characters. If you like this kind of realistic, strategic gameplay, you'll have more to like here. Personally I couldn't finish this demo. Having a squad that can't shoot for shit and being sniped to death as I turn a corner is not fun, its frustrating.
Also, this game is proof positive of what is wrong with the industry. Here we have another WWII shooter, that also happens to be a sequel, being released in the same year as the original game. And of course, it details the journey of the 101st airborne, which if we were to believe the gaming world were the only people to fight during the war. This game seems to define cookie cutter. No thank you.
Indigo Prophecy: This is a new adventure game that puts an entirely new spin on the genre. I won't go into details about it, mostly because it is too hard to describe. Just go to a game site and download it. You'll thank me later.
P.S. - If you are a designer who makes RPGs, you should definitely be playing Indigo Prophecy. You would do well to learn that games can be loaded with cutscenes and story and still be incredibly interesting. Maybe you can figure out what you are doing wrong.
Serious Sam 2: There is no mistaking that this is a Serious Sam game. Same simple, challenging gameplay loaded with humor and violence. All the classic weapons are back, as well as some new ones. However, Sam 2 seems to benefit from the lessons developer Croteam have learned in making the original game. The demo showed a lot of variety in terms of the areas it forces you to fight through. It starts off in a wide open plaza, then pushes you into a cramped series of hallways. and then gives you a vehicle for engaging in some aerial combat. Each area played a little differently. The plaza allows you better vantage points and gives you the chance to distance yourself from enemies, while the hallways are only passable if you quickly take out the most threatening foes first. This is often easier said than done due to much better enemy placement; more powerful forces are often placed farther away and are guarded by lesser minions.
Overall, the variety and instensity of Sam 2's gameplay is impressive. Gone is the repetitive process of constantly backpeddling and firing that pervaded the original game. It may cost an extra ten dollars at retail, but I think the increase will be more than worth it.
Oh, and the Serious Engine 2 looks amazing. Tons of detailed enemies onscreen at once, all the while a huge cityscape, complete with traffic surrounds the level. All with hardly any major slowdown.
Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood. Didn't the original BIA come out this year as well? Yes it did. And this "sequel" plays exactly like it, and even features most of the same characters. If you like this kind of realistic, strategic gameplay, you'll have more to like here. Personally I couldn't finish this demo. Having a squad that can't shoot for shit and being sniped to death as I turn a corner is not fun, its frustrating.
Also, this game is proof positive of what is wrong with the industry. Here we have another WWII shooter, that also happens to be a sequel, being released in the same year as the original game. And of course, it details the journey of the 101st airborne, which if we were to believe the gaming world were the only people to fight during the war. This game seems to define cookie cutter. No thank you.
Indigo Prophecy: This is a new adventure game that puts an entirely new spin on the genre. I won't go into details about it, mostly because it is too hard to describe. Just go to a game site and download it. You'll thank me later.
P.S. - If you are a designer who makes RPGs, you should definitely be playing Indigo Prophecy. You would do well to learn that games can be loaded with cutscenes and story and still be incredibly interesting. Maybe you can figure out what you are doing wrong.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
TeeVee
When I returned to campus this fall, I discovered that we had all brought a plethora of Televisions. We had three rather large tube, and my trusty little 13 incher. Not needing all of them, we hooked up the largest in the common room, one in a bedroom, and my little guy went back home. That left one not-as-large-but-flatscreen (not flat panel mind you) TV sitting on the floor for almost a month. After the suggestion of one of my roomates, I decided to lug the sucker to my room. It was at this point that I really began to appreciate the slim model PS2; standing it vertically, it fit snugly between the TV and my phone, something I couldn't do with any other console.
So yeah, a TV, PS2, and my computer right next to them. If I can get the A/C to work I won't have to leave the room for anything but eating.
After I finish a project for class tonight, I'll edit this post with my impressions on a couple of game demos that have recently come out.
So yeah, a TV, PS2, and my computer right next to them. If I can get the A/C to work I won't have to leave the room for anything but eating.
After I finish a project for class tonight, I'll edit this post with my impressions on a couple of game demos that have recently come out.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Encore
Opera, the browser that many people have sworn about but no one wanted to pay for, is now completely free of charge. I'm trying it out right now to see how it compares to Firefox. Here's what I have so far:
Pros:
-Nice clean interface.
-Loads MUCH faster
-pretty much all the same features
Cons:
-Couple of interface and shortcut quirks that I think FF does better.
-Doesn't seem to load all images correctly
Still, I'll need to experiment more before I make any serious decision. The fact that it seems to load that much quicker is a big deal though: FF seems to crash and/or take forever to load up sometimes, and that's a pain when I'm trying to play a game and keep a browser window up at the same time.
Pros:
-Nice clean interface.
-Loads MUCH faster
-pretty much all the same features
Cons:
-Couple of interface and shortcut quirks that I think FF does better.
-Doesn't seem to load all images correctly
Still, I'll need to experiment more before I make any serious decision. The fact that it seems to load that much quicker is a big deal though: FF seems to crash and/or take forever to load up sometimes, and that's a pain when I'm trying to play a game and keep a browser window up at the same time.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Moving on up
According to this article, game development costs could double in the next generation. On one hand, that makes me think that a potential $10 increase in game prices is a bargain. On the other hand, it could also mean that prices will rise even more for premium games. Also, it will probably make profit margins even slimmer. Do we really want an industry where only million sellers can survive?
I am almost finished with Mega Man Zero for the GBA. Expect a review sometime very soon; it won't be too hard for me to say what I mean for this one.
Also, I started work today, grading homeworks for one of the C.S. professors. Despite some of the amusing answers I have seen to some questions, I will refrain from displaying them in a public place like this. Everyone has to start from the beginning at one point or another.
Despite the fact that I much prefer Coke over Pepsi, I'm actually drinking the latter due to their contest where you can win an Xbox 360. The chances of winning are ultra slim, but the gamer inside me won't pass up the chance to win a brand new system for free.
I am almost finished with Mega Man Zero for the GBA. Expect a review sometime very soon; it won't be too hard for me to say what I mean for this one.
Also, I started work today, grading homeworks for one of the C.S. professors. Despite some of the amusing answers I have seen to some questions, I will refrain from displaying them in a public place like this. Everyone has to start from the beginning at one point or another.
Despite the fact that I much prefer Coke over Pepsi, I'm actually drinking the latter due to their contest where you can win an Xbox 360. The chances of winning are ultra slim, but the gamer inside me won't pass up the chance to win a brand new system for free.
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