Borderlands: visual virtuosity

The latest in a series of great trailers, this one makes me go a big wet rubbery one:

People always talk about the stylization of Team Fortress 2 as though it's the only game that looks that way on purpose. It's not, but it is the only game that carried its concept art all the way through to the finished product, and still caught on with such a large audience. There are a number of other reasons TF2 ensnared so many gamers - including the rock-paper-scissors balance to the gameplay and the pitch-perfect humor that permeates throughout - but it remains the only "mainstream" shooter that so enthusiastically gives the finger to visual realism.

If TF2 started a trend, Borderlands looks to be the next step in the evolution of gaming artistry. We can only hope that the game plays as well as it looks.

Flying buttresses

I'm certainly not the only one so thoroughly amused by this.

Somebody named "Wouter" just donated $500 on behalf of Server FFS to FLY GABE NEWELL. Color me stunned. That brings the total to $2560.22 ... more than enough to cover the trip for both Gabe and Erik (Expedia says it can be done for $2422). Adding to the amusement, Robin Walker, a programmer/designer at Valve, donated $100 to the cause:

This is Robin Walker, from Valve. The rest of us at Valve would sure appreciate a couple of days without Erik around, so thanks for organising this!

Quick question though: if I donated more, would you buy a one-way ticket for him?

Robin.

Joystiq.com says a Valve representative has confirmed that the original email exchange between Joe and Gabe is legit, and that the journey to Brisbane will occur if enough money is raised.

LATE UPDATE: The total is now $3,002.43.

The boycott goes bizzaro

Picked up this story on Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

So you've read about Valve's crafty counter-punch to the boycott. Well, the story (or a tangent thereof) just got better. An intrepid Australian named Joe has a L4D campaign in the works. Peeved that the two boycotters were rewarded for their efforts, he sent the following email to Valve's head-honcho, Gabe Newell:

Why the hell haven't I been flown to Valve?

I mean, you guys need to preview my campaign.

Mr. Newell responded:

We are boycotting your campaign.

Joe replied:

Does...does that mean I have to fly you here?

And Gabe's response:

Me and Erik.

Joe's rejoinder is just brilliant. He created a blog entitled "FLY GABE NEWELL" which is set up to accept donations for Gabe's and Erik Johnson's travel expenses to Brisbane, Australia. The site has already collected $947.59 (in American currency). Joe has promised to refund everyone's money, or to make a donation to the Child's Play charity, if the deal comes to naught.

On behalf of IUN, I sent the man $25.

UPDATE: The till has $1,757.21; enough for one plane ticket and one hotel room. IUN got its props.

Yahtzee on Wolfenstein

Still the best reviews out there, especially when want to hate a game.

L4D2: Shack interviews Chet

Some interesting stuff in there, particularly if reading between the many lines causes you to speculate wildly.

The slow death of PC games at retail

It's happening, before our very eyes. But there's hope yet:

"A lot of publishers are viewing digital distribution as the thing that is going to save PC," [Stardock CEO Brad Wardell] told Gamasutra during a recent interview.

The retail market for PC games is undoubtedly shrinking, as NPD sales figures reflect. "You can't get a lot of retail space on the PC," Wardell said.

But as that number declines, digital distribution figures are on the rise, and fast. Right now, Wardell roughly estimates PC digital distribution as about 25 percent of the total PC game market -- but based on its current growth, he expects that to double within a year or two.

Earlier this year, IGN reported Valve saw 97 percent year-over-year growth in its Steam revenues, while fellow digital distribution service Direct2Drive saw a 56 percent increase.

The Secret World: actual information (finally)

Rock, Paper, Shotgun has a quartet of hi-res screenshots, and scored an interview with project lead Ragnar Tørnquist. It's almost enough to make the game - a goddamned MMO, of all things - look appealing.

Bitch, and you shall receive

You'll remember the L4D2 boycott, if only from IUN's thrashing of it. It seems that Valve is more diplomatic.

From 1UP.com:

The announcement of Left 4 Dead 2 has been somewhat overshadowed by the L4D2 Boycott. Despite previews claiming that the new game is a significant departure from the old one, boycotters have remained unconvinced. So what can Valve do, except invite a few of them to let them try the game for themselves? That's exactly what happened recently according to a Steam Community post. Users Walking_target and Agent of Chaos had a day to try out the game, and reported their findings back to the community. "If the frantic pace which we had seen people working at is any indication, we're not going to be left in the dust [in regards to Left 4 Dead]," the post read. "As for L4D2, things seem balanced and 'tight' and did not feel like a rushed job. What we can say with confidence is that the quality of gameplay in Left 4 Dead 2 is not in question; and it will only get better."

The post ends with a promise to stick with the boycott community as they see if Valve addresses their other concerns. Predictably, the community wasn't too kind in its response. It's already filled with accusation of hypocrisy, selling out, gay slurs and racial epithets. And on the internet, no less! Who would have guessed?

UPDATE: the boys of cott have dished on Valve's plans for additional L4D1 DLC (after the release of Crash Course), which may include a new special infected. So speaketh Shack News.

Bat News

The Los Angeles Times reported today that Batman: Arkham Asylum has already sold 2 million units - in less than a month. The figure does not include sales of the PC port, which is due on September 15. That's what happens when marvelous Metacritic marks meet massive marketing monies.

On 1UP.com, the first murmur of piracy (of the PC version, of course) is already to be heard:

According to MaxConsole, user Cheshirec_the_cat wrote on the Eidos Forums, "I've got a problem when it's time to use Batman's glide in the game. When I hold "," like it's said to jump from one platform to another, Batman tries to open his wings again and again instead of gliding. So he fels down in a poisoning gas. If somebody could tel me, what should I do there.

After another user reminded Chesirec that Arkham Asylum isn't even available on the PC yet, administrator Keir took the time to explain the problem.

"The problem you have encountered is a hook in the copy protection, to catch out people who try and download cracked versions of the game for free," he wrote.

"It's not a bug in the game's code, it's a bug in your moral code."

At least this DRM only breaks your game.

And You Think Your Ping is Bad...

Just be glad you don't live in South Africa. Apparently, their internet connections are so slow, a company used a carrier pigeon to send a flash card with some data on it. According to this link, the total time for transfer onto card, 50 mile flight, and download of data was 2 hours, 6 minutes, 57 seconds. And how much data had been sent over the net in that same time? About 4%. It doesn't say how much data was transferred, but I wouldn't imagine it could be much. Perhaps we should all pitch in and get DOA a flock of pigeons. It couldn't be worse than his current connection.

Singularity: developer walkthrough - Part II

I'm still not sold on this game, for a lot of reasons. If, however, the time manipulation mechanic is indispensable, rather than an occasional gimmick, I'm in.

Video Games | Singularity | Exclusive Developer Walkthrough: Part 2 HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Claptrap

The Borderlands guys continue to impress me:

A bit more on "The Secret World"

You'll remember the dark and mysterious CGI trailer from Friday. Wikipedia has a well-sourced article on the game, which is apparently a MMORPG. I had no idea.

After announcing the development of The Secret World, Funcom project director Jorgen Tharaldsen informed the press that the game uses the same engine as Age of Conan.[1] According to Funcom, the game will blend elements of MMO gameplay with alternate reality gaming and social networking.[7]

At GDC 2009, Tørnquist gave an interview to GameSpot regarding TSW, revealing more about its gameplay.[2] There will be neither levels, nor classes in the game; instead, the character building will be skill-based. This way, the developers plan to avoid level grinding, allowing new players to join the game more easily.

Monday Music VI - totally unrelated

Rage Against the Machine - Killing in the Name



The 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me



The Libertines - Don't Look Back Into the Sun

L4D2: carnies are indeed scary

Valve showcased another L4D2 campaign, dubbed "Dark Carnival," at the PAX 2009 gaming expo this weekend. The level will have its own "uncommon common" infected, the Clown Zombie:


A new special - the Jockey - was also revealed. 1UP has a preview:

The other new special, the jockey, could be the best new addition to the game. He leaps on your back but instead of doing heavy damage he "rides" you taking over control of your movement. You get to fight against him by trying to move where you want to break away and the struggle feels very believable. It's a seesaw battle that rocks from almost having no control at all to moments where you have it back. All the while he's not just taking you away from the group; he's running you into the thick of the zombies or toward the other special infected. Oh, and he especially likes to take you to witches.

People who pre-order the game will have access to additional melee weapons (and so will their teammates while everyone's on the same server). Interestingly, one of those weapons will be an electric guitar.

And there's video. I highly recommend watching this with the sound off.