Listen carefully ...
May 6, 2009
Top Ten Hottest PC Games for 2010
From gameplayer.com:
We know exactly what you’re thinking. It’s not even halfway through 2009 and we’re already telling you gaming folk what to look forward to in 2010. You may think it’s crazy, but you don’t have to delve too far into our Hottest 60 Games of 2009 article to realise that a fair chunk of those titles have already been released. While we still may yet have some quality titles yet to see the light of gaming day later this year, that shouldn’t (and won’t) stop us from having a look into the crystal ball and seeing what we have on offer in 2010.Quick question: is anyone out there (besides me) really looking forward to Doom 4?
Fallout 3: Broken Steel
Ars Technica has the best review I've found so far, in terms of the usefulness of the information it offers. Don't buy the expansion until you've read it (and yes: Broken Steel seems worthy of the "expansion pack" label, as it apparently extends the game beyond its original endpoint, continuing the story arc).
Shack News has the skinny on the Microsoft-generated problems with the DLC. Once again: don't buy it until you've read it.
(EDIT: looks like the problems have been fixed.)
And, as always, Game Trailers has the video:
Shack News has the skinny on the Microsoft-generated problems with the DLC. Once again: don't buy it until you've read it.
(EDIT: looks like the problems have been fixed.)
And, as always, Game Trailers has the video:
2 million console users paid for a CoD:WW map pack...
...that PC users got for free.
From gamesindustry.biz:
Why am I surprised that two million console critters shelled out $10 for a handful of new maps? It does make sense, given the the total absence of user-generated content (i.e.: mods and custom maps) on those platforms. And yet, I find the logic somewhat perverse, at least from the consumer's point of view.
On the other hand, Activision have yet to announce whether they'll release "Map Pack 2" for the PC. It would have to be another freebie, as it's unlikely that they could come up with a workable system to charge PC users for any patch-level content, since the the PC version of the game has a built-in content transfer mechanism (http redirect). Even if the developer could implement a protection scheme for paid-for DLC, it would create a catch-22 for server renters ... which class of player do you alienate with your map rotation: those who bought the new maps and want to play them, or those who didn't, and don't?
So, it's entirely possible that Activision will decide that a PC release isn't worth the effort. Going that route would be a significant step towards decoupling the franchise from its PC fanbase, but we've been moving in that direction anyway.
From gamesindustry.biz:
Downloads for the Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1 have surpassed two million sales, according to publisher Activision."This is a huge milestone and we are so appreciative of our incredibly supportive community who continue to play and enjoy the game," said Mark Lamia, studio head of developer Treyarch.
"We're hard at work on Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 and look forward to delivering that in June."
Figures are for downloads across the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live services.
On the other hand, Activision have yet to announce whether they'll release "Map Pack 2" for the PC. It would have to be another freebie, as it's unlikely that they could come up with a workable system to charge PC users for any patch-level content, since the the PC version of the game has a built-in content transfer mechanism (http redirect). Even if the developer could implement a protection scheme for paid-for DLC, it would create a catch-22 for server renters ... which class of player do you alienate with your map rotation: those who bought the new maps and want to play them, or those who didn't, and don't?
So, it's entirely possible that Activision will decide that a PC release isn't worth the effort. Going that route would be a significant step towards decoupling the franchise from its PC fanbase, but we've been moving in that direction anyway.
EA makes another good decision
Following on the heels of EA's release of a "deauthorization tool" for certain games fouled with SecuROM, BioWare has announced that the DRM scheme for Dragon Age: Origins will consist of a simple disk check. SecuROM will not be implemented on any EA/BioWare distribution of the game.
May 5, 2009
Valve's philosophical musings on the sniper update
I'd guess that for most people, analyzing the mechanics of any given game reduces neatly to "this is what I like, and this is what I don't." There's nothing wrong with that, since every game must inevitably throw its players into one of two categories: the ones that are entertained, and the ones that are not. As gamers, our subjective tastes are all that we bring to the development process ... no matter how much we'd like to think of ourselves as professional appreciators of the medium.
For those of you - and you are a surly breed apart - inclined to deeper ruminations over of your chosen game, this post on Valve's TF2 blog should be somewhat fascinating.
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