Wednesday 30 September 2009

Subway Experience + Left 4 Dead Crash Course


I was in Subway today, and as I was ordering my Sub the guys behind the counter were chatting about console to get. One guy wanted a Playstation, but didn't know whether the xbox was more worth it, what with it being cheaper. I really REALLY wanted to chirp in, but these guys looked like the kind of guys that probably wouldn't appreciate the opinion of a nerd in a tie at ten past one in the afternoon, so I just left it at that.

Is it just me who has moments like this? Where you know you can help, or you just feel the need to say something even though you know you REALLY really shouldn't?

Anyways..I played Crash Course today. All twenty minutes of it. Here's a quick summary of my feelings.

Good Stuff
  • It's free!
  • It's new content, no matter how much bad stuff you say about it.
  • Multiple pathways add for a better experience overall, especially on Versus mode.
  • New dialouge is pretty good.
  • New safe room graffiti!
Bad Stuff
  • What is it with Valve making Zoey look... weird on all of the new posters?
  • IT'S. ONLY. TWO. CHAPTERS. LONG
  • I feel very, VERY sorry for all the Xbox owners.
  • The end finale is a bit shit really
  • IT'S. ONLY. TWO. CHAPTERS. LONG
  • Bit buggy, but it has only just been released.
Overall opinion? It's ok, yea. Certainly adds more onto it, I can't deny that.

Tuesday 29 September 2009

Today Is A Good Day! Part 2!

A few VERY important things!

Firstly...


THE UNCHARTED 2 BETA IS OUT!

I'm downloading it now, so expect a full verdict tomorrow on what could well be the game that finally makes me cream my pants just by the loading screen. It could happen!

Secondly!
Crash course is out! The new Left 4 Dead campaign reared it's zombified head out of Valve's window. Is it any good?

.... I don't know I haven't played it yet BUT IT'S STILL OUT! I'll play it tomorrow, as seem as though I am desperate to play some Left 4 Dead as of late. I've been drooling over random mods on TF2 lately but there's enough to talk about that to fill a whole blog...

And lastly...


Charlie Brooker, who is my idol, has made a program that follows the same format as the quite frankly excellent Screenwipe that's all about games, the imaginatively named Gameswipe. It's on tonight at 10PM on BBC4 and I would recommended everyone who reads this blog to go and watch it. If you're reading after today, then I would run over to iPlayer straight away. It's going to be informative, funny and completely satirical. What more can you ask for?

Here's a sneek peak!

Monday 28 September 2009

Odd Need For Speed Shift Bug


Oh this is great.

A bug has been found on the Xbox 360 version of the new Need For Speed Shift that is just beautiful.

This guy tried to access the leaderboards or something, and instead it tried to take him to the Playstation Store. Yes, you read that right, the Playstation store.

Turns out it's quite common now as well. I bet Microsoft are VERY pleased :P

Sunday 27 September 2009

Dungeon Keeper


I always forget just how important this game is to me. It's like, what really pushed me into gaming when I was five years old. Doom, Theme Park and Sim City were all there but Dungeon Keeper... man.

I can never do this game justice, but I promise you all that one day I will try xD

Saturday 26 September 2009

Garry's Mod Gamemodes: 1

I was messing around on Garry's mod and I decided to have a gander at some of the gamemodes online, as seem as though I never do play it online.

Here are the two I played:

Flood

You build a boat from loads of different props, weld it together and then see if it floats when the timer runs out. Then, if it floats, you get a weapon and just go mental on other people's boats until they sink. Surprisingly enough I got absolutely addicted to this for about two hours, then went back on it a while ago for another few hours. Then I just got bored. Good premise, but something the destruction of other people's boats can be a bit... tedious.

Zombie Survival

I don't even need to explain this. Team of Zombies, Team of survivors. The Zombies have to convert all of the humans into Zombies. The last survivor standing winds. Great fun, until it just grates on you like a human sized cheese grater. I find this so irritating I want to scream until my throat bleeds. It's so BORING. May as well play Left 4 Dead, or even better Zombie Panic Source! It's free and just as good! Or Zombie Master for that matter!

No doubt I'll play a few more over the next few days.

Friday 25 September 2009

Social Networking Sites: Games


So the recent boom of social networking sites was always bound to produce some sort of advancement towards videogames and I suppose in a way they have. I started playing Mafia Wars on Tuesday and I can be honest with you, it's great.

Now I know not a lot of people are that bothered about casual web games but Mafia Wars, and in some ways Farmville but I would class that as more casual, are very much in depth real time RPG's. Most of all however, they're time wasters.

Mafia Wars works in the same was as conventional RPG's. Do jobs, use some energy to do these jobs, gain experience and money but lose energy meaning you can only do a limited number of Jobs in a row. Same if you fight, except lose health and fight points but gain health and experience. The difference between conventional RPG's and these browser based ones however is that your energy points only refresh over real time, so you have to wait four minutes for some more energy. Same with your money income (You can buy properties) which refreshes every hour.

So far, so Kings Of Chaos, (If you remember what that is, then my God please leave a comment I need to hug you) but your backup or your "Mafia" is all of your friends on facebook who play it. Which is pretty nice, because you all gain experience, health and perks because of the simple fact that you're all very bored friends.

Anyway, I'm loving long Blog posts lately :P Now go! Henceforth! Play!

Ciao.

Thursday 24 September 2009

Are Games Films?




Uncharted 2 has recently been described as "A cinematic experience of epic proportions." and it's led to me considering a few things. Mainly, why are games compared to films so often these days?

Well firstly, I have to dismiss one important thing and that's the "These days" part of that last sentence. Higher production values, larger labour forces and of course modern day technology allow for games to stretch beyond the wildest imaginations of developers from as little as ten years ago, hell even five years ago and considering that's compared to let's say cinema, videogames are a VERY new medium of entertainment means that it's still a developing industry. I suppose HD gaming is like cinemas colour, or sound. It's only the first step. The thing is though, it has nothing else to be compared to, and because cinema is the highest grossing form of entertainment in the world right now (Gaming was for a brief period in 2007 I believe) videogames are often compared to cinema on a regular basis. But why?



The most obvious answer is of course, I would say, camerawork, voice acting, characterisation and of course narrative. Think of a game from early 80's, let's say Manic Miner. There was no narrative, it was simply riding high on the gimmick that was an interactive computer program even though it was released on what was effectively one of the first ever consoles. Ok, so there was a bit of narrative but you get my point. It was just to establish something.

Compare it to Xbox man fest Gears of War and the change is so astronomically advanced it almost seems silly me even comparing it, but think about it. We have a story so well rounded, so neatly and tightly packed within the games 6 hour playtime that it feels like a cinematic experience. The original Star Wars didn't have scenes where Luke sat and upgraded his weapons or, sat through a hefty piece of dialogue. Gears is none stop action, broken only by tiny little narrative "Reveals" you could say. It is pretty much, six solid hours of shooting. Yet it has depth, which is what makes in Cinematic in it's own right. I suppose these days, we need narrative in videogames because we've played every single gimmick that the industry can come up with and we're bored. We need something to entice us in. In fact, I think the only console that's got away with a gimmick for the past few generations is the Wii with titles such as Wii Sports and Dullness where you wiggle your hand like a tard. Even then, I highly doubt the Wii will last for the next few years. Sorry Nintendo.

Uncharted Drakes Fortune was a prime example of my definition of cinematic gaming. Uncharted had beautiful cut scenes that just set the scene perfectly, all of the characters were so well crafted and relatable too that you really did get emotionally involved, and of course the story. Goddamn. Indiana Jones, eat your heart out. Oh and of course, it played well as a game. Which of course, is rather important. Now when I say MY definition of cinematic gaming, I mean this. These days reviewers tend to focus on one thing when they're claming that something is cinematic and that's narrative. Gears of War, had a very finely crafted story and It's the same with Mirrors Edge which was also classed as cinematic. However, if you were to put the game into the perspective of a film... well imagine how bland it would be. Actors charging around killing or just some Asian bird jumping from rooftop to rooftop... you see what I mean? It doesn't flow, it doesn't work. The narratives there, but it's not really there predominately throughout. The game only reminds you of it when it feels it necessary too. "Hey remember this guy? Well it doesn't matter if you don't, we're just gonna give you a quick motive for killing him and let you do the rest. Don't worry, we'll sum it up after you're done".

In Half-Life for example, there's always this motive hanging over your head. You're confused, you're being hunted ,hell , you're in HELL right now. All you want to do is survive. In Uncharted every things so well paced, every things timed perfectly. Instead of being reminded, the game sits you down every once in a while just to tell you a bit more, reveal something, shock you, excite you. It's a film, in a sense.

However this doesn't apply for all things. Everyone will argue that books aren't the same as films and it's the same with games. It's a different format, a different medium. It's interactive, it's more user based. You don't just sit and watch the events unfold. You unfold them. Well, in a way.

For this very reason alone, games like Final Fantasy can NEVER be classed a cinematic experience in my books. For starters, it's too long. The narrative, too stretched out. The characters, too two dimensional and the gameplay too slow. In no way am I condemning these games as bad games. They're just, not cinematic.

So, in conclusion to this uncharacteristically long post, in no way are games films and in no way are games trying to be films. They're merely adapting all of the conventions that work in films, and applying them to the medium of videogames. Who can blame them? It works, doesn't it?

Wednesday 23 September 2009

Oh My...

Wha... Wha... Wha...

Thanks to your feedback, we are excited to announce the God of War Collection for this Holiday Season. Now fans and newcomers to the series can experience the epic journey of God of War and God of War II in 720p HD form. Both titles have been remastered with anti-aliased graphics, running at 60 frames per second for a smooth gameplay experience, only on the PS3 system. Additionally, the Blu-ray Disc compilation will bring the PlayStation Network (PSN) trophy support to the franchise for the very first time.



Oh... Oh my. I ... Oh my..

Words cannot describe.

Tuesday 22 September 2009

PS2 Titles On PSN

So there's a rumour going round that Sony are planning for Playstation 2 titles to be put onto the Playstation Network.

Personally I think this is a great idea, as long as they're not as expensive as the Original Xbox titles. Overpriced much? Kameo for £20? When you can get it in a shop for a fiver? Pffft.

Anyway, I'm excited if it's true. I would love to play Metal Gear Solid 2 again!

Monday 21 September 2009

One Year and Counting.

So one year today, I started Original Dungeon Keeper. A friend of mine said, and I quote, "You'll never get past two weeks". Well to him I say, Booyah. One year and counting my friend, one year and counting.

So... well how to start this. Actually I know how. I've missed 76 days worth of blogging. That's two and a half months of just.... nothing xD But I know that at the end of the day it hasn't been that bad. At least, even though there have been a few dry patches, I have kept this updated as regularly as possible. But, with all things, life has a tendency of getting in the way I suppose.

But who cares about all that crap. As always, it's the games that this blogs about! Well, with the odd sidetrack to talk about other things I suppose. I've showed you the highs of gaming and the very lows, and every single time it's been drenched in opinion, cynicism and good old fashioned hypocrisy. Life will make a gaming journalist out of me yet!

So I suppose I should say thankyou to all those who have supported me this past year, and of course for just being generally pretty awesome by commenting and such like. Cheers guys!

Here's to another year of me, and what a good year we have ahead of us! Uncharted 2 and Modern Warfare 2 for instance, are gonna be pretty sweet and let's not forget last years posts which of course have been the basis of this blog. Below are just a few of my personal favourites, but as always, it's my humble and probably incorrect opinion :)

What was the last great game?

Left me for dead.
Categories
2009
Radscorpion

Sunday 20 September 2009

It's About Bloody Time..

The Fallout 3 DLC has been dated for the PS3! Starting this Thursday with Broken Steel. To be honest? It's been too long. I've been desperate to continue since I finished it about... early August time I think.

If anything this is just more evidence for my point the other day. If I didn't already have Fallout 3 on the PS3 I would have bought it for the Xbox by now, just because of the additional content. It's wrong I know, but I had heard that it was never going to be released for the Playstation.

Companies have a thing about Downloadable content lately. They seem to be getting it wrong. Whether it's making some of it exclusive to a console, or even holding back bits of the game until a later date. For example the latest batch of Gears of War 2 content had an additional level from the middle of the game that they didn't package with the actual game...

I think the worst culprit of all time has to be the Beatles Rock Band. I saw on the Xbox Marketplace the other day that you had to pay extra for "All you need is love", one of the most famous Beatles songs of all time... That's like releasing Nirvana Rock Band and leaving aside "Smells like teen spirit" as a £3 downloadable... it's ridiculous! Whether it's The Sims 3 trying to charge you for additional neighbourhoods or Dead Space charging you for the same costume only a different colour.

It just ruins it for the masses, and leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of the hardcore market.

Saturday 19 September 2009

Gamestation Win!


I've just found out, thanks to a handy little booklet I picked up in Gamestation the other day, that Mario kart DS and New Super Mario Bros would get me £32 if I traded them in.

Yes that's right. £32 for two games that came out over two years ago now... That's only £3 off me being able to buy Uncharted 2 on launch day!

Madness. But then again, I'm not complaining.

Friday 18 September 2009

The nFortress Scat-A-Thon

Just a short one today guys. Here's a video I shoved on Youtube yesterday about an nFort game we played a few days back.

Enjoy!

Thursday 17 September 2009

Modern Whorefare 2


I have this pre-ordered, and I'm in two minds. The first is so excited he could wee himself. The other is so bitter and disappointed he would make me wee myself out of pure shame...

See, this bitter side is angry for two reasons. The first, is the ridiculous price tag on the thing. £55!! What the FUCK! Wait... I'm actually willing to pay this?? WHAT THE DOUBLE FUCK!

Secondly, I'm getting it for the Xbox. Which... well I know for a fact that the frame rate and the graphics will be more superior on the PS3 but.. well I know more people on Xbox live. But the main reason for this decision is... they're only releasing the map packs on the Xbox. Oh yes, I lowered myself to the point where I will allow Activision to bend me over.

The gamer within me is going ballistic. It's telling me that it's just a ploy, they'll all be released for the PS3 a few months afterwards... but I'm not listening, and I don't know why D:

Wednesday 16 September 2009

LET IT BE HENCEFORTH KNOWN



For those with talent, there is...

GUITAR

And for those who can't play Guitar, there is...

GUITAR HERO

And for those who can't play Guitar hero there's....

DJ HERO

And for those who can't play anything, there's Spore.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Abuse! All of it! Nothing but abuse!


Since when did everyone on PC games get so abusive? Ok, so I can understand why Counter Strike is so ragey but Left 4 Dead? Hell, even Team Fortress 2?

Don't get me wrong, I've encountered my fair share of twats on both games but recently it's like every server I join at least one nut job has a go at me! Sometimes it's funny, especially when you just play along with them but sometimes it's just like "Woah, just let me play yea?"

For example, on Left 4 Dead today I was the tank and incapped about two people. It was an Ok job in my eyes, but then everyone on my team started with the whole "Oh God that was terrible" mumble mumble etc. Then this one guy just started spewing off a whole list of insults, literally it was a freaking novel!

I mean, ok I get it. I'm a bad gamer, but you don't have to remind me about it! I think I know how bad I am myself thanks!

Anyway, just a ramble!

Monday 14 September 2009

Counter Strike! Why?!


Why? I've been playing CSS for the past few days and... I've been enjoying it! Goddamn it, I've been enjoying it! I don't even play it properly! I just go onto Deathmatch servers... Hell are those even official gamemodes? Are they Mods? I don't know! I just go on them, shoot people, get shot back and then realise I've been playing for an hour!

Why! Can someone at least explain to me what you're meant to do on CSS? Like... anyone?

D:

Sunday 13 September 2009

S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow Of Chernobyl

I bought S.T.A.L.K.E.R (feck it, I can't be arsed with the Dots anymore) about a year ago on one of those two for one deals at Game and for some reason never bothered to play it. I go with the whole "My PC couldn't run it" but it could, just not on full graphics.

Anyway, today I decided to install it and play it. First opinion? It's good! Atmosphere's incredible, weapons are all nice and realistic... kind of. The story seems to be the usual sort of, rugged manly affair and the characters are all lovely and Russian.

So far, so Fallout (well... with more Russians) especially as though everythings all irradiated and mutant... ey. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing of course, because it's a formula that's been proven to work extremely well. Shove it into a different, more realistic scenario and you have what could be effectively a very worthy contender for the throne of post apocalyptic role playing games. Ok, so Stalker isn't an RPG but you get the point.

More info as I play through it!

Saturday 12 September 2009

It's The Revolution!

Is it just me, or has the PS3 just sky rocketed in popularity since the launch of the slim? I remember reading somewhere that it's had something like a 200% increase in sales in the past few weeks, and that the BBC has claimed that 10% of all iPlayer users are now PS3 users as well as major publishers reporting a massive increase in sales for the system.

Now, I'd like to sit here and brag about how the PS3 is finally going to "Win the console war" and then there'll be a parade or something, but there's a more reasonable point to be considered.

I just think Sony have altered the price at the right time.

Let's face it, who doesn't have a Xbox these days? Pretty much everyone who just wants a games console goes for the Xbox, because it's cheaper and let's face it, everyone has one. Now however, with the Playstation offering a wider variety of games and applications, and with a brand new cheaper price tag it's looking more accessible then ever. It's all been about timing, and with Christmas coming up and the Xbox gouing through a bit of a dry spell for exclusives Sony couldn't have done this at a better time.

Or, it could just be because the Playstation's better. But I wouldn't be one to comment.

Friday 11 September 2009

Counter Strike

... And it's installed, straight from the flurry of files that have been awaiting their place on my shiny new PC. Here it is, the game I've always hated. Counter Strike Source. I'm sitting, the pointer hovering over the icon. The sweat pours, the questions arise. Should I click? Why did I install it? Hell, why did I even acknowledge it's existence in the first place?

Then it hits me., It's one of those games, the games that all the elites play, the games that keep your heart racing and your index finger literally twitching for a kill. So I click, and I leap into an online world so vibrant, so exhilarating that I only play it for about ten minutes before exiting and wandering off to... I dunno play with a cup and ball or something.

Thursday 10 September 2009

FIFA 10


May I just say, as a side note, that that there is the best cover you will ever see for a videogame.

t
tdToday conversation at college was about one of three things. The first, was the whole Derren Brown predicting the lottery which was absolutely phenomenal but not what I'm here to talk about.

The two important things were the FIFA 10 demo that was released today and the fact that Championship Manager 10 is available to buy for whatever price you want.

To me, I have no interest. Football games in my eyes are just utterly pointless. If you want to play sports, get out there and actually play it in real life. The reason I don't, is that I hate sports, and therefore choose to play games like Peggle or what have you.

Anyway, my point is that today was the most I've heard people talk about videogames in a long time. It was quite pleasing, but at the same time rather depressing as for once in my life, I wasn't in the know about a videogame.

Also, when I googled FIFA 10 wikipedia called it a "Soccer Game".

:(

Wednesday 9 September 2009

The Best Idea Ever

I was playing Tf2, and I realised the best way of making sure no one destroys your sentry. Get a friend to spray a 2 girls 1 cup tag right above it, and I can assure you, it will NEVER be destroyed.

So, as you're no doubt aware Team Fortress 2 is back on my list of games that make me scream like a little girl. I posted the other day about how it had changed a lot, and part of me still thinks a lot of the so called "Improvements" are too gimmicky to ever fit in correctly, it is still a fantastically fun game that really does keep making you come back for more.

Oh, and if you want to see a picture of the sentry blocker? Be aware, this thing isn't suitable for work in any way.

Click here, if you dare.

Tuesday 8 September 2009

New Pc + Moar Trailers

Thought I may as well post some pictures of my new PC while I'm at it today. They aren't great quality but I may as well show off while I can.




It's a good little machine, does everything I want it to which is great and I suppose it also means I can post truly equally now between all three consoles! Apart from Nintendo, of course.

Anyway, here's another trailer for you guys to look at. Personally, I couldn't care less about ODST but the trailers pretty well made.

Monday 7 September 2009

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

This is just... wow. This is easily going to be game of the year. I mena just look a it. Everythings perfect! The pace, the humour, the graphics, the gameplay.

I can barely wait for this game.


Sunday 6 September 2009

Three Thoughts: New PC

Few thoughts for toady's blog.

Firstly, I'm loving evil characters on the Sims 3. It's almost like a completely different experience. I must admit, this game does live up to a certain degree of the unlimited creativity promised in the press release. The only thing that still bothers me is the lack of decent hairstyles and there only being one neighbourhood.

Secondly, what's happened to Tf2? Everyone wearing halos and all sort of other hats. It's great! Thing is, I can't help but feel a little sympathetic towards those who believe that Valve have ruined the original charm. It does seem a bit busy, if that makes sense. Still, great game, but very different to the instant classic I fell in love with almost two years ago now.

Finally, I love Vista, to the point where I wonder why I've never had it until now. It's probably because I'm using pretty much the final build, what with Windows 7 just around the corner, but I don't have any problems with it whatsoever! Games run just fine, I love the interface and it's much faster than XP. Saying that though, could just be my PC.

Saturday 5 September 2009

Worms!


Surprisingly, this is my most played game on the PS3 lately for one sole reason. It's still as fun as it was back when I first started playing it in 1995.

All you need is you and preferably three mates, although one is enough, and you already have yourself around 30 hours worth of party fun. Literally, there is nothing funnier or more exhilarating than a game of worms and I know that sounds ridiculous but it can get so competitive at times, you actually fear for your life (well, in my case anyway.)

Also, the online play means that you can have as much fun by yourself! It's like the videogame equivalent of masturbation.

Wait.

No I'm actually going to stick with that.

Anyway, I'd buy it for your respectable console right this second!

Friday 4 September 2009

New PC!


So I picked up my new PC today and... wow. Crysis on high? Yes please!

So yea Crysis just looks.... wait. It's... average. Decidedly.... average.

*sighs*

Anyhoo, expect more PC related posts, especially as I'm going to be able to play Tf2 and Left 4 Dead properly for this first time in ages!

Wednesday 2 September 2009

New PS3 Update


Firstly, haven't been blogging a lot because It's been my birthday and I've also been living in my girlfriends house since Monday.

Anyway, a new PS3 firmware update came out yesterday and it did, as usual, sweet fuck all, but it did offer a really interesting new feature (apart from the BBC iPlayer).

Sony have seemed to have made all of the icons bigger as well as adding a "What's new" icon which lets you choose from even bigger icons depicting new releases etc.

It's all very Xbox...and this annoys me.

The Playstation was always the more sophisticated of the two, more professional and more adult ,but just these little changes have actually threatened of completely destroying this image.

Anyway, a little rant, but it's what you read this tripe for isn't it?