And I'd love to tell you how it plays, but there's currently several thousand people ahead of me waiting to get in.
Funny moment, there's a glitch in the counter that tells you how many people are ahead of you in line.. earlier today it went from 3200 (and counting down slowly), to 6366, back and forth. I even joked
"Go home, queue counter, you're drunk"
It's like a Microsoft install right now, you never know how long it's going to take.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
WATCH_DOGS given a release date, Game Dev Tycoon chastises pirates in a ironic way..
WATCH_DOGS is one of the more interesting games out there, and it looks to be a bridge title between current generation, next generation and PC systems. It raised a lot of interest with it's open-world hacker mythos where the game's antiheroes can actively hack electronic devices, learn details about people they meet on the street, and even more.
I've been waiting for this one a while, and I'll be waiting a bit longer, but at least there's a release date, today it was announced that the title would release on PC, Xbox360 and PS3 on November 19th. It also will be a PS4 launch title, and is scheduled for the NeXbox).
And I have to admit, that while I'm pretty anti-DRM, I have to give a thumbs up to the folks who made Game Dev Tycoon (now, admittedly, no points for originality, it's a PC ripoff of the iOS/Android game Game Dev Story from Kairosoft), but they released the game with no DRM, except for a very specific version they placed on a pirate site.
This version had a message where after a good amount of time, a message pops up:
"Boss, it seems that while many players play our new game, they steal it by downloading a cracked copy instead of buying it legally. If players don't buy the games we like, we will sooner or later go bankrupt"
From that point on, the company sales go down due to pirate copies, and the company's funds dwindle.
Now, I have a problem with the contents of the message, as no less then the Supreme Court has held that copyright infringement is NOT stealing/theft.. but at least they have a sense of humor about it.
I've been waiting for this one a while, and I'll be waiting a bit longer, but at least there's a release date, today it was announced that the title would release on PC, Xbox360 and PS3 on November 19th. It also will be a PS4 launch title, and is scheduled for the NeXbox).
And I have to admit, that while I'm pretty anti-DRM, I have to give a thumbs up to the folks who made Game Dev Tycoon (now, admittedly, no points for originality, it's a PC ripoff of the iOS/Android game Game Dev Story from Kairosoft), but they released the game with no DRM, except for a very specific version they placed on a pirate site.
This version had a message where after a good amount of time, a message pops up:
"Boss, it seems that while many players play our new game, they steal it by downloading a cracked copy instead of buying it legally. If players don't buy the games we like, we will sooner or later go bankrupt"
From that point on, the company sales go down due to pirate copies, and the company's funds dwindle.
Now, I have a problem with the contents of the message, as no less then the Supreme Court has held that copyright infringement is NOT stealing/theft.. but at least they have a sense of humor about it.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Why Steam is dangerous to my wallet...
This just happened:
"Hmmm.. wonder what's up on Steam "
*loads steam home page*
"Hey, Ticket to Ride is a Steam deal.. I'd never play that in board game form, too much buy in, not to mention I know nobody here who plays it... but for $6.00 with all the DLC.... sure."
(adds)
"Oh, another weekly deal, Defense Grid, the Awakening? With all the DLC for $5? Sure, why not."
"Oh, hey a couple new games, a new 4X game and it's 10% off because it's a new release.. *adds StarDrive for $30*" (See Footnote)
"And hey, Mars War Logs.. any sci-fi RPG that's $20 and gets compared to Mass Effect (the original) and doesn't get completely crushed in the comparison.. that's a must get right?"
All of a sudden, I'm $60 in the hole. That's the insidious nature of Steam. It pulls you in, and pushes the impulse buy button hard.
Footnote: I really wish I had read the community hub page for StarDrive before I had added it in. As a new game, MetaCritic and other such sites didn't have much on it when I looked. However, when I was installing the game, I went to the community hub page, and the consensus there seems to be "There may or may not be a good game in here, but there's so many bugs in the way we can't tell yet." Eek.
Friday, April 26, 2013
The Friday Funspot for 4/26
Well, things have picked up this week, and not always in good news, either.
1) EA enters the "Game of Knives" phase
What's the Game of Knives phase? It's where a company has started to go downhill, and folks realize that sadly, layoffs and restructurings are going to be the normal way of life going forward, so the rules are simple. Plant YOUR knife in their back before they plant theirs in yours.
Earlier this month, it was announced that EA was "refocusing" its mobile efforts, shutting down the Sims Social, and other such underperforming mobile games. This goes further. They're shutting down the "EA Partners" label, which was responsible for Rock Band. Two studios (PopCap Vancouver and Quicklime Studio were shut down entirely).
This is definitely a period of retrenchment and it will be interesting to see how (or even perhaps IF) the company pulls themselves out of this one.
2)The hottest MMO of the year 2025 will be...
Well, that release date may be a bit pessimistic, but honestly, when you announce a game in 2006, and it's still in pre-alpha in 2013.. Duke Nukem is looking at you and going "Dayumn.". This dubious accomplishment belongs to CCP Studios (who I think I'm legally obligated to remind you makes EVE Online), and the World Of Darkness MMO. This year, they're apparently working on "working on out-of-game web-based social tools, clothing systems, and PvE game environments. There are also plans to work on item creation, but direct crafting is probably not on the cards"
(pause)
Yeah. Don't hold your breath for this one to come out any time soon.
3) The board game based on the comic game based on the movie based on the comic book..
Wow. That's a mouthful. But that's what Cryptozoic's Arkham City: Escape board game is. One player controls all of the Bat's close friends and confidants (or in otherwords, all the loonies locked up in Arkham Asylum).. and the other player of course plays Batman. Low, scratchy growly voice hopefully optional. The baddies try to escape, Batman tries to beat people up, well you know how it goes. Batman is always trying to beat people up.
4) The XCOM Game that was XCOM then wasn't XCOM is now XCOM again as a prequel to XCOM
(Note to self: FIRE my Funspot headline writer. Wait, that's me? Nevermind).
Well once again, it is what it is. The XCOM game that gamers hated because you know, it wasn't XCOM, then was shelved because another XCOM came out that was actually XCOM, is now renamed as prequel to XCOM. It's going to be called The Bureau: XCOM Declassified and serve as the origin story for the modern XCOM initiative in the XCOM TBS game. Apparently you'll have a squad of agents who slowly find out that the biggest problem of the Kennedy Administration isn't the Reds, it's the Greys.
5) Don't expect huge news out of Nintendo at E3
One of the traditional post-E3 press games is "Who had the best press conference" This year, probably wisely, Nintendo is staying OUT of this race, as they will not have the big press debuts that Sony and Microsoft will have (instead focusing more on small directed playable gettogethers). Let's put it this way, the Wii U has some distance to go until it is just merely disappointing, and with the behemoths both having new shiny consoles with ubergraphics and wow moments galore, there's probably no way that Nintendo wouldn't be blown out of the water.
1) EA enters the "Game of Knives" phase
What's the Game of Knives phase? It's where a company has started to go downhill, and folks realize that sadly, layoffs and restructurings are going to be the normal way of life going forward, so the rules are simple. Plant YOUR knife in their back before they plant theirs in yours.
Earlier this month, it was announced that EA was "refocusing" its mobile efforts, shutting down the Sims Social, and other such underperforming mobile games. This goes further. They're shutting down the "EA Partners" label, which was responsible for Rock Band. Two studios (PopCap Vancouver and Quicklime Studio were shut down entirely).
This is definitely a period of retrenchment and it will be interesting to see how (or even perhaps IF) the company pulls themselves out of this one.
2)The hottest MMO of the year 2025 will be...
Well, that release date may be a bit pessimistic, but honestly, when you announce a game in 2006, and it's still in pre-alpha in 2013.. Duke Nukem is looking at you and going "Dayumn.". This dubious accomplishment belongs to CCP Studios (who I think I'm legally obligated to remind you makes EVE Online), and the World Of Darkness MMO. This year, they're apparently working on "working on out-of-game web-based social tools, clothing systems, and PvE game environments. There are also plans to work on item creation, but direct crafting is probably not on the cards"
(pause)
Yeah. Don't hold your breath for this one to come out any time soon.
3) The board game based on the comic game based on the movie based on the comic book..
Wow. That's a mouthful. But that's what Cryptozoic's Arkham City: Escape board game is. One player controls all of the Bat's close friends and confidants (or in otherwords, all the loonies locked up in Arkham Asylum).. and the other player of course plays Batman. Low, scratchy growly voice hopefully optional. The baddies try to escape, Batman tries to beat people up, well you know how it goes. Batman is always trying to beat people up.
4) The XCOM Game that was XCOM then wasn't XCOM is now XCOM again as a prequel to XCOM
(Note to self: FIRE my Funspot headline writer. Wait, that's me? Nevermind).
Well once again, it is what it is. The XCOM game that gamers hated because you know, it wasn't XCOM, then was shelved because another XCOM came out that was actually XCOM, is now renamed as prequel to XCOM. It's going to be called The Bureau: XCOM Declassified and serve as the origin story for the modern XCOM initiative in the XCOM TBS game. Apparently you'll have a squad of agents who slowly find out that the biggest problem of the Kennedy Administration isn't the Reds, it's the Greys.
5) Don't expect huge news out of Nintendo at E3
One of the traditional post-E3 press games is "Who had the best press conference" This year, probably wisely, Nintendo is staying OUT of this race, as they will not have the big press debuts that Sony and Microsoft will have (instead focusing more on small directed playable gettogethers). Let's put it this way, the Wii U has some distance to go until it is just merely disappointing, and with the behemoths both having new shiny consoles with ubergraphics and wow moments galore, there's probably no way that Nintendo wouldn't be blown out of the water.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
If you listen very carefully...
You can hear it, hissing through the series of tubes and trucks that is the internet (yes, that's a joke folks)
What is it?
People on the Internet, picking up torches and pitchforks, and prepared to rabble rouse, threaten boycotts, etcetera.
Why?
Because Mac Walters, the head writer of Mass Effect 3, announced that he will be taking the same role with Mass Effect 4.
Walters earned the emnity of a large group of Mass Effect fans by defending the game's controversial ending, stating that "he didn't think the majority of Mass Effect fans had an issue with Mass Effect 3's ending and that it was just a very vocal minority."
Of course, telling such a group that their opinion didn't really count for much, is probably not a great idea, especially when they're very vocal about it.
So, even though we're quite a ways off from Mass Effect's next release (he stated they're not going to call it Mass Effect 4), it's reopening some very painful wounds upon some of the game's most fervent fans.
I won't sugar coat it, I thought the ending sucked. I still do. I think they did a decent job in trying to fix it, but there are those that are upset, with pretty good reason too. I can't say this pitchfork and torches effort will go far (remember the group of fans who swore they'd boycott Left 4 Dead 2 because they felt that more free stuff should be in the original Left 4 Dead 1.. that group was actually more likely to purchase L4D2 then not)... but in the game of PR, it's probably not a great way to start.
(By the way, how much do you want to bet that the next Mass Effect game will be on the NeXbox as an anchor game to sell systems?)
What is it?
People on the Internet, picking up torches and pitchforks, and prepared to rabble rouse, threaten boycotts, etcetera.
Why?
Because Mac Walters, the head writer of Mass Effect 3, announced that he will be taking the same role with Mass Effect 4.
Walters earned the emnity of a large group of Mass Effect fans by defending the game's controversial ending, stating that "he didn't think the majority of Mass Effect fans had an issue with Mass Effect 3's ending and that it was just a very vocal minority."
Of course, telling such a group that their opinion didn't really count for much, is probably not a great idea, especially when they're very vocal about it.
So, even though we're quite a ways off from Mass Effect's next release (he stated they're not going to call it Mass Effect 4), it's reopening some very painful wounds upon some of the game's most fervent fans.
I won't sugar coat it, I thought the ending sucked. I still do. I think they did a decent job in trying to fix it, but there are those that are upset, with pretty good reason too. I can't say this pitchfork and torches effort will go far (remember the group of fans who swore they'd boycott Left 4 Dead 2 because they felt that more free stuff should be in the original Left 4 Dead 1.. that group was actually more likely to purchase L4D2 then not)... but in the game of PR, it's probably not a great way to start.
(By the way, how much do you want to bet that the next Mass Effect game will be on the NeXbox as an anchor game to sell systems?)
Xbox announcement coming on May 21st, plus further thoughts
Here's what we know.
The next Xbox will be officially announced 5/21, likely for a US Release in the holiday season 2013. We know some of the base specs. But there's so much we don't know. The price. A lot of the features. Whether it requires an always on Internet connection.
And the more I think about it, what may not be right now, may be right for the console long term.
Look, new consoles are going to be pricy. They are using relatively new tech, and the economy of scale means that until they can produce in such numbers to bring the individual pricedown, that it will be pricy. Even at the rumored price point for a full fledged box of $500, it's likely going to be a loss on sale for Microsoft.
And as for the Always-Online version, I still don't like it, but I'm understanding it more and more. Look, we're on the verge of revolutions when it comes to internet connections, even in rural areas, as well as a change in the way we consume content.
Stuff like Google Fiber has the capability to make the current speeds we get look like chump change. They are making the current Internet companies sweat.. not to mention uber-free wifi which is being pushed in some areas. Again, it's not here yet, so it may be onerous requirements now but it may not be at the future midpoint of the next-xbox (NeXBox?) lifespan.
And the media capability, well, you're definitely going to be needing an online connection for that, anyway.. and that seems to be the focus of the leaks so far, it certainly isn't games/gameplay, right now. I saw an article in a pop culture/sports website today that posits the theory that the way we consume media is changing. We used to buy physical items (CD's, audio/video tapes, DVD's), etcetera. Now, we buy a stream of bits and bytes (Netflix, Pandora, ITunes, Hulu, etcetera). And even now, the way we consume music is transitioning again, as streaming audio (where you don't even get a seperate file on your computer) is the fastest growing area in the music industry.
Who's to say at some point, you won't cut the cable cord, and buy channels "a-la-carte".. what if you just want HBO, Showtime, ESPN and don't want things like the Tennis Channel, Esquire TV, or the Fishing Network? If Microsoft is willing to torque off the cable TV companies, would you see such things being available through the Xbox Media Center? Who knows.
But I'll say this. I'm a Gamer. That's a capital G. PS4 talked about all the stuff besides games, which was relegated to a "Oh, here's Diablo III" sideshow in their presentation. All this extra stuff, to me, is nice, but it's definitely not going to affect the console I buy. I buy consoles to play games.
As the line from Jerry Maguire goes:
Show me the money.
And by that, I mean, show me a reason that I'll want to play games on the Nexbox. You only get one chance to make a first impression, Microsoft. Don't blow it.
The next Xbox will be officially announced 5/21, likely for a US Release in the holiday season 2013. We know some of the base specs. But there's so much we don't know. The price. A lot of the features. Whether it requires an always on Internet connection.
And the more I think about it, what may not be right now, may be right for the console long term.
Look, new consoles are going to be pricy. They are using relatively new tech, and the economy of scale means that until they can produce in such numbers to bring the individual pricedown, that it will be pricy. Even at the rumored price point for a full fledged box of $500, it's likely going to be a loss on sale for Microsoft.
And as for the Always-Online version, I still don't like it, but I'm understanding it more and more. Look, we're on the verge of revolutions when it comes to internet connections, even in rural areas, as well as a change in the way we consume content.
Stuff like Google Fiber has the capability to make the current speeds we get look like chump change. They are making the current Internet companies sweat.. not to mention uber-free wifi which is being pushed in some areas. Again, it's not here yet, so it may be onerous requirements now but it may not be at the future midpoint of the next-xbox (NeXBox?) lifespan.
And the media capability, well, you're definitely going to be needing an online connection for that, anyway.. and that seems to be the focus of the leaks so far, it certainly isn't games/gameplay, right now. I saw an article in a pop culture/sports website today that posits the theory that the way we consume media is changing. We used to buy physical items (CD's, audio/video tapes, DVD's), etcetera. Now, we buy a stream of bits and bytes (Netflix, Pandora, ITunes, Hulu, etcetera). And even now, the way we consume music is transitioning again, as streaming audio (where you don't even get a seperate file on your computer) is the fastest growing area in the music industry.
Who's to say at some point, you won't cut the cable cord, and buy channels "a-la-carte".. what if you just want HBO, Showtime, ESPN and don't want things like the Tennis Channel, Esquire TV, or the Fishing Network? If Microsoft is willing to torque off the cable TV companies, would you see such things being available through the Xbox Media Center? Who knows.
But I'll say this. I'm a Gamer. That's a capital G. PS4 talked about all the stuff besides games, which was relegated to a "Oh, here's Diablo III" sideshow in their presentation. All this extra stuff, to me, is nice, but it's definitely not going to affect the console I buy. I buy consoles to play games.
As the line from Jerry Maguire goes:
Show me the money.
And by that, I mean, show me a reason that I'll want to play games on the Nexbox. You only get one chance to make a first impression, Microsoft. Don't blow it.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
There's no business like..
Slow business.
We're in a slow period right now, and I'm working on a follow up to my DRM article, trying out all the different sports sims that are out, and generally falling flat on my face when I'm not working.
But I have a couple ideas for columns, expect to see them in the coming days.
We're in a slow period right now, and I'm working on a follow up to my DRM article, trying out all the different sports sims that are out, and generally falling flat on my face when I'm not working.
But I have a couple ideas for columns, expect to see them in the coming days.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
It's cheaper to add bells and whistles..
Then it is to fix or improve gameplay.
That's the thought I'm getting after seeing a ton of stories on what's new in NCAA 14 this year.
When you're stuck talking about halftime marching bands, and the "Oh, oh oh oh oh.." chant from Seven Nation Army.. yeah, you've run out of things to talk about.
We need competition in the video game market, and we're just not getting it.
That's the thought I'm getting after seeing a ton of stories on what's new in NCAA 14 this year.
When you're stuck talking about halftime marching bands, and the "Oh, oh oh oh oh.." chant from Seven Nation Army.. yeah, you've run out of things to talk about.
We need competition in the video game market, and we're just not getting it.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Friday "Fun"spot for 4/19
Sheesh, another crazy day, as my city is basically locked down. But hopefully it's all over soon. The Fun must flow!
Next-Gen Xbox Kinect to be integrated, feature face tracking?
Saw several stories that the next generation xbox (Durango, Xbox 720, or just plain xbox) will have built in Kinect 2.0, and will possibly have a feature to use facial recognition technology, for example, to pause the video when you look away. Maybe I'm getting old, but this sounds incredibly creepy to me.
Free Xbox Live weekend begins...
Well, I'll be a cynic and say they're doing this so people realize that being online is a cool thing and that it's a good thing that it's always on for next-gener.. nah I can't pull that off. Cool thing. Xbox Live will be free through Monday.
Patent Troll gets "edged" out..
I hate patent trolls. Look, I understand that we must defend the right to innovation, but we have a subclass of businesses that does not innovate, they patent wild-ass stuff and do nothing with it then squat on it like a spider and wait for future iterations to come up with something similar, and then extorts money out of them. So cheers to Electronic Arts, the so-called Worst Company In America (which just proves that video game geeks can complain very vociferously online repeatedly) for smacking down a magazine publisher who named his magazine Edge, and then decided to sue EA for making's Mirror Edge, and a couple independent video game companies for having the word Edge in their titles.
The good news is they lost, completely and utterly.
The bad newes is, it took six years to complete.
And finally..
As hopefully the last bits of the week dribble out, my thoughts are with people in Boston, my home city, as at the time I'm writing this, we look to be in the closing stages of the whole thing. Hopefully it's over, and at some point in the near future, we will reopen the Boston Marathon course, from the town I work in (Hopkinton), to Boston, and we show those who attempted to terrorize it that we will not cower in fear. God bless.
Next-Gen Xbox Kinect to be integrated, feature face tracking?
Saw several stories that the next generation xbox (Durango, Xbox 720, or just plain xbox) will have built in Kinect 2.0, and will possibly have a feature to use facial recognition technology, for example, to pause the video when you look away. Maybe I'm getting old, but this sounds incredibly creepy to me.
Free Xbox Live weekend begins...
Well, I'll be a cynic and say they're doing this so people realize that being online is a cool thing and that it's a good thing that it's always on for next-gener.. nah I can't pull that off. Cool thing. Xbox Live will be free through Monday.
Patent Troll gets "edged" out..
I hate patent trolls. Look, I understand that we must defend the right to innovation, but we have a subclass of businesses that does not innovate, they patent wild-ass stuff and do nothing with it then squat on it like a spider and wait for future iterations to come up with something similar, and then extorts money out of them. So cheers to Electronic Arts, the so-called Worst Company In America (which just proves that video game geeks can complain very vociferously online repeatedly) for smacking down a magazine publisher who named his magazine Edge, and then decided to sue EA for making's Mirror Edge, and a couple independent video game companies for having the word Edge in their titles.
The good news is they lost, completely and utterly.
The bad newes is, it took six years to complete.
And finally..
As hopefully the last bits of the week dribble out, my thoughts are with people in Boston, my home city, as at the time I'm writing this, we look to be in the closing stages of the whole thing. Hopefully it's over, and at some point in the near future, we will reopen the Boston Marathon course, from the town I work in (Hopkinton), to Boston, and we show those who attempted to terrorize it that we will not cower in fear. God bless.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Further proof that the current console market for games is unsustainable..
Capcom knows what they need to do to make the money they are used to rolling in. No, not make better games that sell more (although that would be nice). No, it's pulling more stuff away from the customer and making them pay again if they want it. And this is from a company that already locking stuff away on the DISC that you buy, to make you pay for it!
As the destructoid article says.. the plan is to aggressively increase the amount of DLC sold for a game.
Honestly, at this point, why not go all the way and say "Upgrade Ryu's Hadoken to unlock its full potential! Only 400 Microsoft Points".
Ridiculous.
As the destructoid article says.. the plan is to aggressively increase the amount of DLC sold for a game.
Honestly, at this point, why not go all the way and say "Upgrade Ryu's Hadoken to unlock its full potential! Only 400 Microsoft Points".
Ridiculous.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Resuming normal service...
Just a bit of dribs and drabs, as we resume normal service here at 8 bit mind:
Another strike against the Ouya was released recently.. they tested the Ouya console against other devices (such as tablets and smartphones), and the Ouya was listed as the 49th most powerful device. This falls well short of devices currently in the hands of the public such as the Galaxy Note S III, the HTC One XL, and Google's Nexus 4. And the upcoming generation of devices, coming out later this year, are benchmarked at twice as fast as the current ones that the Ouya was tested against. This probably means the Ouya, at least in its first generation, will be a proof of concept, with a limited market aimed at homebrewers, emulator enthusiasts and the like.
So, Injustice, the DC Heroes fighting game by the makers of Mortal Kombat is out. First impressions are pretty much the same as the demo, and it's a bit disappointing, as it could be so much more. Give me an open world super heroes game with recognizable characters and the depth that this fighting game has apparently gone to, to tell a story, and I'd be a happy guy.
Looks like the Divinity series will be getting another game in the series, as the kickstarted game Divinity: Original Sin has more then reached their $400,000 goal with nine days to go. If you want to kickstart the game to reach the stretch goals (they are currently at a bit over, $500,000), you can click here.
Neverwinter's final beta weekend (open to founders) has passed, and the game will be entering open beta, open to backers on the 25th through 27th, depending on level of purchase, and then open to all, free to play on the 30th. We'll see if this staggered start helps the usual server meltdown on opening days.
And finally, a bit of a laugh, someone's suggested a new game mode in Counterstrike with the addition of a joke setup that allows you to play a Mario Knockoff in Counterstrike (yes, a game in the game). One player tries to complete a level of the Mario knockoff, and the rest of the team tries to protect him from the other team, who wins if the player loses all his lives or times out.
Anyway, that's the bit for today, Happy Middle of the Week Day.
Another strike against the Ouya was released recently.. they tested the Ouya console against other devices (such as tablets and smartphones), and the Ouya was listed as the 49th most powerful device. This falls well short of devices currently in the hands of the public such as the Galaxy Note S III, the HTC One XL, and Google's Nexus 4. And the upcoming generation of devices, coming out later this year, are benchmarked at twice as fast as the current ones that the Ouya was tested against. This probably means the Ouya, at least in its first generation, will be a proof of concept, with a limited market aimed at homebrewers, emulator enthusiasts and the like.
So, Injustice, the DC Heroes fighting game by the makers of Mortal Kombat is out. First impressions are pretty much the same as the demo, and it's a bit disappointing, as it could be so much more. Give me an open world super heroes game with recognizable characters and the depth that this fighting game has apparently gone to, to tell a story, and I'd be a happy guy.
Looks like the Divinity series will be getting another game in the series, as the kickstarted game Divinity: Original Sin has more then reached their $400,000 goal with nine days to go. If you want to kickstart the game to reach the stretch goals (they are currently at a bit over, $500,000), you can click here.
Neverwinter's final beta weekend (open to founders) has passed, and the game will be entering open beta, open to backers on the 25th through 27th, depending on level of purchase, and then open to all, free to play on the 30th. We'll see if this staggered start helps the usual server meltdown on opening days.
And finally, a bit of a laugh, someone's suggested a new game mode in Counterstrike with the addition of a joke setup that allows you to play a Mario Knockoff in Counterstrike (yes, a game in the game). One player tries to complete a level of the Mario knockoff, and the rest of the team tries to protect him from the other team, who wins if the player loses all his lives or times out.
Anyway, that's the bit for today, Happy Middle of the Week Day.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Thoughts, hours later
I don't know if I'll ever hit publish on this post.... but it's one of those things I have something in my head, and I need to write it down to get it out of there.
We're now at a point where a lot of the basic facts are known about today's tragic incident. Over a hundred injured, and at least two dead from a senseless, cowardly attack on an international event that celebrates pushing the limit of the human body, will and spirit.
I couldn't take anymore. I turned off the TV, and did what I normally do when I need a distraction from the world. I loaded up my steam game list. And then I realized that I couldn't hit play.
I had tried a new F2P shooter game called Warframe last night that I liked. Couldn't hit play. Binary Domain. Company of Heroes. X-Com. See a trend there?
It's easy to talk about kill/death ratio in shooters, or how we fought off 100 to 1 odds in some fantasy war games.. or complain about how unrealistic the latest game's weapons are.
For a lot of us, on PC and Xbox, we disappear into video games to insulate us from a world that can be cruel and unfeeling. Tonight, I don't think I can disappear into that alternate world. Because it reminds me too much of the world we live in.
Hug your loved ones tonight. And to the first responders whose response was to run towards disaster to treat those gravely injured, rather than away, as most of us would.. Thank you. You are the best of us.
Needless to say..
Today's horrific events in Boston (my home city) preclude any writing about anything about video games today.
Prayers and thoughts for those affected.
Prayers and thoughts for those affected.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
DRM: What do you accept, and what do you expect?
Recently, the Shadowrun Returns team (one of the kickstarter-backed games that I follow) announced their release date, and announced that they had worked a deal out with Steam to allow a central place to download community created content, so you could download and install material created by the editor. This meant the game would be sold through Steam, as one of the conditions that the license from Microsoft (who owns video game rights to the Shadowrun Universe) that the game would at least have to have some DRM attached.
They realized that they had promised their backers that a no-DRM version would be available, so they worked out a compromise. The base game (and the first DLC, additional content and an additional campaign, set in Berlin) would be available to backers via a seperate, DRM-free download, but the deal with Microsoft required that any additional content post-Berlin would only be available through steam. Additionally, if someone used content that was only available through Steam, then of course the resulting content would only be playable through Steam.
A reasonable compromise.
Except then a minority of backers LOST THEIR FREAKING MINDS.
They accused Harebrained Schemes (the creator of Shadowrun Returns) of bait and switch tactics. They angrily demanded refunds, saying that they wouldn't accept any DRM in any case. They even said that the release of a DRM-free game with the backed DLC was a "Gimped, non-supported copy".
Unreal.
That gets me to my question.
Now, maybe it's because I come from the real bad old days of DRM, but I find this stance (that no DRM is acceptable) to be overblown, and ridiculous.
Anyone remember Starforce, the company that attempted to make your DVD or CD writer drive unusable? Or later versions, that demanded core-rootkit access? Or the Sony DRM that WAS a rootkit in disguise? Even the small sellers of sports text sims nearly all rely on an activation key that if you suddenly suffer a machine failure, you need to go back to the developer and ask for a new license! Or if you're looking at the olden days, the days of code wheels and "enter the third word on Page 22 of the manual, line 8?"
At least Steam mitigates its protection and small effect on the paying customer with a plethora of positives (The ability to redownload your software on a new computer), and the ability to keep your game patched and up to date automatically). The fact that it adds on an easy place to manage content and easily add it to your game is an added bonus/
So, that's the question I pose to you, my readers.
What kind of DRM do you expect on games these days, and what kind of DRM do you accept?
They realized that they had promised their backers that a no-DRM version would be available, so they worked out a compromise. The base game (and the first DLC, additional content and an additional campaign, set in Berlin) would be available to backers via a seperate, DRM-free download, but the deal with Microsoft required that any additional content post-Berlin would only be available through steam. Additionally, if someone used content that was only available through Steam, then of course the resulting content would only be playable through Steam.
A reasonable compromise.
Except then a minority of backers LOST THEIR FREAKING MINDS.
They accused Harebrained Schemes (the creator of Shadowrun Returns) of bait and switch tactics. They angrily demanded refunds, saying that they wouldn't accept any DRM in any case. They even said that the release of a DRM-free game with the backed DLC was a "Gimped, non-supported copy".
Unreal.
That gets me to my question.
Now, maybe it's because I come from the real bad old days of DRM, but I find this stance (that no DRM is acceptable) to be overblown, and ridiculous.
Anyone remember Starforce, the company that attempted to make your DVD or CD writer drive unusable? Or later versions, that demanded core-rootkit access? Or the Sony DRM that WAS a rootkit in disguise? Even the small sellers of sports text sims nearly all rely on an activation key that if you suddenly suffer a machine failure, you need to go back to the developer and ask for a new license! Or if you're looking at the olden days, the days of code wheels and "enter the third word on Page 22 of the manual, line 8?"
At least Steam mitigates its protection and small effect on the paying customer with a plethora of positives (The ability to redownload your software on a new computer), and the ability to keep your game patched and up to date automatically). The fact that it adds on an easy place to manage content and easily add it to your game is an added bonus/
So, that's the question I pose to you, my readers.
What kind of DRM do you expect on games these days, and what kind of DRM do you accept?
Friday, April 12, 2013
Before I forget..
The 8BitMind Forums are now open! Chat video games or whatever...
Click here to go there
Hope to see ya there!
Click here to go there
Hope to see ya there!
A good week for Sports Sim Fans.. 3 new releases this week
For a while, we were kinda in a rut in the text sim scene. For a while, all we had was the latest graphical releases from the usual suspects, and trust me, there's nothing sadder then a text sim gamer who gets disappointed by a graphical game not playing the way it should, or producing unrealistic results.
But that sadness has gone away, for text simmers as three newreleases this week have come out, and filled the void.
First off, is the latest game in the Out of the Park series of baseball text sims. The latest version, which shipped today to preorders (with a full release scheduled for Monday), allows the intrepid baseball fan to replay all of baseball history, from the days of Tris Speaker, Honus Wagner, and Babe Ruth, to the modern superstars today. Ever wonder what would happened if the trade of Joe DiMaggio for Ted Williams (that nearly happened in real life) happened for real? You can do that here. Plus, there's a random start option, that can see all the players in history jumbled up, so your 1975 league could see Cy Young pitching to A-Rod, with stats expected in the era (so you can find out how many homers Hammerin Hank Aaron would have in the early 90's, when anyone could hit 30)
Then we switch to golf.. for those of you who aren't joystick junkies, Action PC Golf is scheduled to release this week offering season replays and a bunch of photo-realistic courses to play on. It's a nice change from Tiger Woods, as you sometimes get the feeling that the game's playing you, not you playing the game (that you can't trust the other results it's generating, because you have no idea how the other golfers scores are being generated).
And finally, also in the vein of "throwing a sport's history into a blender and seeing what happens as a result". comes Fast Break Pro Basketball 2013, the latest game in the very highly regarded Fast Break Basketball series. This too, offers a random start setup if you so choose (Jason Kidd to Magic Johnson, who feeds it inside to Wilt Chamberlain for the jam?), but the series has been known for ultra tight, and realistic game play, and indepth player generation (you can generate a player in the series college games, export it as part of a draft class, and then import it into FBPB13 and it remembers all their college history.
So, for the text simmer, these three games, along with perennial favorite Football Manager (what we Yanks call soccer), the beta of OOTP Developments hockey sim (Franchise Hockey Manager) and rumors of continuing work on the front runner Front Office Football series, it's gaming nirvana.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Early Friday Funspot for 4/12
Since I'm about running on 20% efficiency thanks to this cold, and these things usually get worse before they get better, you're getting a Friday Funspot on Thursday, just to make sure you get one, if I'm up to it, normal service will return tomorrow.
Microsoft executive behind controversial statement resigns
Saw the news that the Adam Oerth, the Microsoft executive who made the controversial #dealwithit comment on Twitter (regarding rumors of an "always-on" connection being needed for the next generation Xbox) has resigned. I'm not sure if this is a good thing (he had already apologized, and it's not necessarily anything that should get one fired), but I do think this. If the next generation Xbox doesn't need an always-on Internet connection, then Microsoft is doing themselves a grave disservice by not saying so now. We'll know more next month, but there's a ton of rumors out there right now, which brings us to our next bit..
Next Gen Forza game to be part of Xbox release
Ran into this story over at the Verge.. which states that a next generation Forza title will be part of the launch window release for the next generation Xbox. Driving games can be a big seller, and the Forza series hasn't disappointed me yet, so I'm looking forward to this. Less so "Ryse", a game that was shown as a demo at E3 in 2011, and didn't really set the world on fire, but apparently has been retooled, and according to the developers, is being positioned as the next-generation Halo or Gears of War. We'll see.
PVP/Assassination a big thing in Pathfinder Online?
Came across a story on Massively, which discusses the upcoming Pathfinder Online, and highlights what's sure to be an interesting mechanic. Players will be able to post a bounty on other characters.. which I'm sure will be used for good, not evil (that's a joke).. but a dedicated assassin class, dedicated to killing other players? Eeek. That sounds like a perfect excuse for every griefer out there. "Sorry about killing your character several times in a row.. I'm just roleplaying my class."
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is so 80's over the top..
The recently released trailer for Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon starts with a retro open, as if it's a VHS tape playing, and then it gets even more 80's from there. Let's put it this way, if you removed some of the foul language from it, I would have told you it was the opening to a 80's cartoon, not a video game. But a $15 stand alone? I like it. I'll have to play it, just to see if it reminds me of the days of eating Sugar Coated Frosted Bombs before Saturday Morning cartoons. You can watch the trailer here.
And Finally...They May not be a Deaf Dumb or Blind kid..
But the contestants at the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association's Circuit Finals are playing a mean pinball right now, you can follow the finals live via GamerGeek streaming at http://www.geekgamer.tv/live/
Microsoft executive behind controversial statement resigns
Saw the news that the Adam Oerth, the Microsoft executive who made the controversial #dealwithit comment on Twitter (regarding rumors of an "always-on" connection being needed for the next generation Xbox) has resigned. I'm not sure if this is a good thing (he had already apologized, and it's not necessarily anything that should get one fired), but I do think this. If the next generation Xbox doesn't need an always-on Internet connection, then Microsoft is doing themselves a grave disservice by not saying so now. We'll know more next month, but there's a ton of rumors out there right now, which brings us to our next bit..
Next Gen Forza game to be part of Xbox release
Ran into this story over at the Verge.. which states that a next generation Forza title will be part of the launch window release for the next generation Xbox. Driving games can be a big seller, and the Forza series hasn't disappointed me yet, so I'm looking forward to this. Less so "Ryse", a game that was shown as a demo at E3 in 2011, and didn't really set the world on fire, but apparently has been retooled, and according to the developers, is being positioned as the next-generation Halo or Gears of War. We'll see.
PVP/Assassination a big thing in Pathfinder Online?
Came across a story on Massively, which discusses the upcoming Pathfinder Online, and highlights what's sure to be an interesting mechanic. Players will be able to post a bounty on other characters.. which I'm sure will be used for good, not evil (that's a joke).. but a dedicated assassin class, dedicated to killing other players? Eeek. That sounds like a perfect excuse for every griefer out there. "Sorry about killing your character several times in a row.. I'm just roleplaying my class."
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is so 80's over the top..
The recently released trailer for Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon starts with a retro open, as if it's a VHS tape playing, and then it gets even more 80's from there. Let's put it this way, if you removed some of the foul language from it, I would have told you it was the opening to a 80's cartoon, not a video game. But a $15 stand alone? I like it. I'll have to play it, just to see if it reminds me of the days of eating Sugar Coated Frosted Bombs before Saturday Morning cartoons. You can watch the trailer here.
And Finally...They May not be a Deaf Dumb or Blind kid..
But the contestants at the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association's Circuit Finals are playing a mean pinball right now, you can follow the finals live via GamerGeek streaming at http://www.geekgamer.tv/live/
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Next Batman Game in the Queue, other news
After Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, we wondered if the next step up was going to be something like Arkham State, or Arkham Nation (maybe Arkham World), but they're going old-school for the next Batman Title.
Literally.
Entiteld Arkham: Origins, the sieries will focus on the Batman's younger days as a hero, with eight super-assassins, looking to put a premature end to the Bat's career fighting crime. We'll see the game (and knockoff 2.5D fighters for handheld systems) in October.
In other news.. yet another horror story by an independent developer in trying to get their game on Xbox Live. Retro City Rampage was pulled from the market in a fit of pique by Microsoft (because the developer complained about the process and the fact that it took so long to certify). He then had to wait six months and get an outside publisher to assist to get the game back in the queue. This is turning into what we were afraid of with Microsoft. An overagressive corporate "grinder" making life hard for independent developers and publishers. You can read more about it, and a possible exodus of independent games from Xbox to Playstation, at Wired.
Just following up on the Kickstarter's we've been tracking, the Lord British Avatar game ended up over two million, and the Torment spiritual sequel became the most funded video game in Kickstarter history, with nearly 4.5 million in total. And with several other gaming kickstarters in the pipeline, it looks like it's not going away.
Saw some interesting news on the Shadowrun Returns kickstarter, it looks like they're moving on to making sure the phsysical rewards will be ready a few weeks after launch day, and announced Steam Integration (which sounds great, as Steam is a great way to distribute the CCC (that's Community Created Content). Hopefully we'll hear more about when that launch day is.
I'll be in the final closed beta for Neverwinter this week, and I'm investigating when the NDA ends on gameplay, so perhaps look for something on that early next week.
And finally, this follows on a bit from the "review" of Scarlet Blade I did the other day.. but it's kinda sad to see the video game market seemingly actively ignoring half their potential customers (that is, when they're not actively insulting them). Saw this in the Escapist.. where the creator of "The Last of Us" had to go back to their focus testing group and tell them.. "Don't only test the game with male gamers". The "Dudebro" market is very strong currently, and apparently the only females they want to see in games are A)Damsels in Distress B) Scantily Clad or C) both A and B.. but failing to test your game with ALL your potential customers, as well as actively trying to remove strong female protagonists from games does us all a great disservice.
Literally.
Entiteld Arkham: Origins, the sieries will focus on the Batman's younger days as a hero, with eight super-assassins, looking to put a premature end to the Bat's career fighting crime. We'll see the game (and knockoff 2.5D fighters for handheld systems) in October.
In other news.. yet another horror story by an independent developer in trying to get their game on Xbox Live. Retro City Rampage was pulled from the market in a fit of pique by Microsoft (because the developer complained about the process and the fact that it took so long to certify). He then had to wait six months and get an outside publisher to assist to get the game back in the queue. This is turning into what we were afraid of with Microsoft. An overagressive corporate "grinder" making life hard for independent developers and publishers. You can read more about it, and a possible exodus of independent games from Xbox to Playstation, at Wired.
Just following up on the Kickstarter's we've been tracking, the Lord British Avatar game ended up over two million, and the Torment spiritual sequel became the most funded video game in Kickstarter history, with nearly 4.5 million in total. And with several other gaming kickstarters in the pipeline, it looks like it's not going away.
Saw some interesting news on the Shadowrun Returns kickstarter, it looks like they're moving on to making sure the phsysical rewards will be ready a few weeks after launch day, and announced Steam Integration (which sounds great, as Steam is a great way to distribute the CCC (that's Community Created Content). Hopefully we'll hear more about when that launch day is.
I'll be in the final closed beta for Neverwinter this week, and I'm investigating when the NDA ends on gameplay, so perhaps look for something on that early next week.
And finally, this follows on a bit from the "review" of Scarlet Blade I did the other day.. but it's kinda sad to see the video game market seemingly actively ignoring half their potential customers (that is, when they're not actively insulting them). Saw this in the Escapist.. where the creator of "The Last of Us" had to go back to their focus testing group and tell them.. "Don't only test the game with male gamers". The "Dudebro" market is very strong currently, and apparently the only females they want to see in games are A)Damsels in Distress B) Scantily Clad or C) both A and B.. but failing to test your game with ALL your potential customers, as well as actively trying to remove strong female protagonists from games does us all a great disservice.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Xbox going for a $500/$300 release point for Durango?
Came across this post in Forbes Magazine.. from a Microsoft analyst that states the next generation Xbox (commonly called Durango or the 720), will be sold at a $500 price point, or a lower version for $300 (plus a mandatory subscription to Xbox Live.)
I swear, if this is the last generation of pure consoles, it will be because the main players completely misread the market, or worse yet, ignored their core markets while trying to expand it to new areas.
Combined with the recent issues where a Microsoft executive made some bizarre statements to try to defend the rumors that the next generation Xbox would be an "always on" console.. it really makes me shake my head.
We're in a time frame where they should be building interest to the new console, and all they're doing is taking out the trusty foot gun, and putting it on automatic.
I swear, if this is the last generation of pure consoles, it will be because the main players completely misread the market, or worse yet, ignored their core markets while trying to expand it to new areas.
Combined with the recent issues where a Microsoft executive made some bizarre statements to try to defend the rumors that the next generation Xbox would be an "always on" console.. it really makes me shake my head.
We're in a time frame where they should be building interest to the new console, and all they're doing is taking out the trusty foot gun, and putting it on automatic.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Scarlet Blade.. or Boobs, the Free to Play MMO.
Thanks to 8BitMind reader Kat for this. (and Kat, I'm going to find a way to get you back for this)
You have to love a MMO that knows their audience Well, no I don't in this case, but you know what I mean. Scarlet Blade is a new Free to Play (F2P) MMO from Aria Games, who've done respectable games (if knockoff) like Lords of Ultima, Dynasty Warriors Online, and Tribes Ascend.
The flimsy story: Mankind has clubbed itself underground due to apocalypse. The time has come to reclaim the surface. To help do so, they have developed genetically enhanced creatures named Arkania to do their bidding above the surface. Of course, because apparently male chauvinists were the primary survivors of the apocalypse, all Arkania are scantily clad females.
When I called this Boobs the Free to Play MMO, I wasn't kidding.
You can even buy (with real money) a "Lingerie Unlocker" to allow your Arkania to remove their lingerie (supposedly to put on a different set, of course).
It's rated M (17+), but I think it should be rated IM for Immature, as a large part of their fan base will be 17-21 year olds who want something different than Pornshire and Cybermoon City in WoW (pet names for two starting areas in Warcraft where people gather for "erotic role-play" (ERP)
You have to love a MMO that knows their audience Well, no I don't in this case, but you know what I mean. Scarlet Blade is a new Free to Play (F2P) MMO from Aria Games, who've done respectable games (if knockoff) like Lords of Ultima, Dynasty Warriors Online, and Tribes Ascend.
The flimsy story: Mankind has clubbed itself underground due to apocalypse. The time has come to reclaim the surface. To help do so, they have developed genetically enhanced creatures named Arkania to do their bidding above the surface. Of course, because apparently male chauvinists were the primary survivors of the apocalypse, all Arkania are scantily clad females.
When I called this Boobs the Free to Play MMO, I wasn't kidding.
You can even buy (with real money) a "Lingerie Unlocker" to allow your Arkania to remove their lingerie (supposedly to put on a different set, of course).
It's rated M (17+), but I think it should be rated IM for Immature, as a large part of their fan base will be 17-21 year olds who want something different than Pornshire and Cybermoon City in WoW (pet names for two starting areas in Warcraft where people gather for "erotic role-play" (ERP)
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Funspot: The Arcade Gamer's Happiest Place on Earth
There are certain things that would be at the top of my list if I should ever invent a time machine.
First off, is to convince John McNamara that he should bring in anyone but Bob Stanley and take out Bill Buckner in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
Up until recently, a close second on that list would be to go back and time with wad of money, and buy all the old classic arcade games when they were fresh and new, and make them available to folks in the present day.
Thankfully, that's already been done for me (the arcade games not the time machine).
I just got home from a trip up to Laconia, New Hampshire, which this time of year, is like a grumpy old bear trying to shrug off the effects of hibernation. The ice on Lake Winnpesaukee has lost its grip on the shore, but is fighting valiantly to hold on in the water.. all the tourist traps are closed waiting for the usual influx of tourists starting in May, and they're two full months away from Bike Week, where thousands of motorcyclists flock to the town for nine days of biker bacchanalia.
So, what caused this pilgrimage to this tiny town?
The largest arcade in the world, of course.
Funspot has been a landmark in Laconia since it opened (As Tarlson's Miniature Golf and Arcade) in 1952. Of course, an arcade in 1952 was very different than one in the 70's and 80's, and even more different than today.. they started with a 9 hole indoor mini golf course, and it spread outside with a full 18 hole mini golf course in 1964, then opened a pool room, and even a slot car track, but in 1978, it started hosting the latest craze of the day.. Arcade Games.
That's something it does to this day, and boy, does it ever.
Funspot is the home of the American Classic Arcade Museum (ACAM), which features over 300 newer and classic arcade games, some of which were part of the arcade for years, and some of which were donated. You name it, they probably have it. Do you think I'm being overblown? Check it out for yourself. It goes back to the original arcade games, Computer Space, and Pong (and the lesser known Atari Basketball and Pong Doubles), to newer games, like the ticket-dispensing Deal Or No Deal arcade cabinet, and the Mortal Kombat series. It even has old style skeeball and other ball rolling game.
(Just a couple of the photos I took while I was at the arcade)
Never mind that place down in Florida, if you have a love of arcades, THIS is the happiest place on Earth.
I have to admit, I spent a lot of tokens on the games there, and yes, they still have their indoor mini golf course ($3 for a round, compared to 35 cents for a round back in 1952.. cheap at the price).. but one of their store items says it all... this is Classic Video Game Heaven. Each year, they host the International Video Games Tournament (This year's tournament, held from May 30th through June 2nd, will be the 15th annual tournament). Funspot was the location for a lot of pivotal events for the movie "The King of Kong".
I admit leaving a $20 in the donations box on my way out (it takes a good deal of money to keep these games repaired and serviceable). If you can make the trip, do so. If you can't, then I suggest you go to the ACAM website and making a tax-free donation.
Their store has an item that states Funspot and the ACAM is "Classic Video Game Heaven". I agree. And heaven is a place on Earth.
First off, is to convince John McNamara that he should bring in anyone but Bob Stanley and take out Bill Buckner in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
Up until recently, a close second on that list would be to go back and time with wad of money, and buy all the old classic arcade games when they were fresh and new, and make them available to folks in the present day.
Thankfully, that's already been done for me (the arcade games not the time machine).
I just got home from a trip up to Laconia, New Hampshire, which this time of year, is like a grumpy old bear trying to shrug off the effects of hibernation. The ice on Lake Winnpesaukee has lost its grip on the shore, but is fighting valiantly to hold on in the water.. all the tourist traps are closed waiting for the usual influx of tourists starting in May, and they're two full months away from Bike Week, where thousands of motorcyclists flock to the town for nine days of biker bacchanalia.
So, what caused this pilgrimage to this tiny town?
The largest arcade in the world, of course.
Funspot has been a landmark in Laconia since it opened (As Tarlson's Miniature Golf and Arcade) in 1952. Of course, an arcade in 1952 was very different than one in the 70's and 80's, and even more different than today.. they started with a 9 hole indoor mini golf course, and it spread outside with a full 18 hole mini golf course in 1964, then opened a pool room, and even a slot car track, but in 1978, it started hosting the latest craze of the day.. Arcade Games.
That's something it does to this day, and boy, does it ever.
Funspot is the home of the American Classic Arcade Museum (ACAM), which features over 300 newer and classic arcade games, some of which were part of the arcade for years, and some of which were donated. You name it, they probably have it. Do you think I'm being overblown? Check it out for yourself. It goes back to the original arcade games, Computer Space, and Pong (and the lesser known Atari Basketball and Pong Doubles), to newer games, like the ticket-dispensing Deal Or No Deal arcade cabinet, and the Mortal Kombat series. It even has old style skeeball and other ball rolling game.
(Just a couple of the photos I took while I was at the arcade)
Never mind that place down in Florida, if you have a love of arcades, THIS is the happiest place on Earth.
I have to admit, I spent a lot of tokens on the games there, and yes, they still have their indoor mini golf course ($3 for a round, compared to 35 cents for a round back in 1952.. cheap at the price).. but one of their store items says it all... this is Classic Video Game Heaven. Each year, they host the International Video Games Tournament (This year's tournament, held from May 30th through June 2nd, will be the 15th annual tournament). Funspot was the location for a lot of pivotal events for the movie "The King of Kong".
I admit leaving a $20 in the donations box on my way out (it takes a good deal of money to keep these games repaired and serviceable). If you can make the trip, do so. If you can't, then I suggest you go to the ACAM website and making a tax-free donation.
Their store has an item that states Funspot and the ACAM is "Classic Video Game Heaven". I agree. And heaven is a place on Earth.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The Friday Funspot for 4/5
Let's see.. What do we have in the Funspot this weekend..
Steam Greenlight gets the Booby Prize: Agarest Generations of War
A few years ago, a company brought a JRPG to America.. that's not unusual, companies bring great series over all the time, but this series was.. slightly different. It featured a ton of fan service over several "generations" of characters per game, and it embraced the fan service both in the game and in it's special edition goodies. One game came out with a mouse pad featuring one of the game's characters, with gel pads where her.. yeah.. you can probably guess. It also featured a full body pillow cover of another game character. So, yeah, they knew their audience and what that audience wanted.
Well, the game series has appeared now on Steam Greenlight, as Agarest: Generations of War. Thankfully, no weird extras, but having the game appear on your steam now playing list may be bad enough. If interested you can check out the Steam Greenlight page here.
No Injustice, No Peace: Injustice: Gods Among Us Demo
I see the demo for the Netherrealm Studios DC Heroes game "Injustice: Gods Among Us" has released, and the game looks fun, but I feel like the previous demos emphasized the environment so much (and knocking your opponent from one area to the next), that when it looks like "DC Heroes Kombat", you lose a bit of enthusiasm for the project. Not that I think it's BAD, mind you (just about any game out there would love to have the level of play the MK series has.. but one of the greatest things about the trailer is it emphasized how much OTHER stuff that superheroes and villains can do other than punch punch kick. But, again, the demo only has three characters and no story mode, so we'll see how it goes.
And dooowwwwnnn the Kickstarter stretch they come...
Two games that I've been tracking on Kickstarter have hit the final hours of their kickstarter. One has far surpassed their goals, and the other.. has got there, but hasn't shocked the world. One is Torment: Tides of Numenera, a in-spirit sequel for Planescape: Torment by Inxile Entertainment. They're aiming to break the record for most money raised in a gaming kickstarter, and they're close too, entering the final 20 hours (at the time I write this) of the kickstarter at 3.75 million pledged so far.
The other one has been Lord British's Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues, which has succeeded in its funding goal ($1.4 million of a $1 million goal with the weekend yet to go), but it's been a rocky road as Richard Garriott has made some comments which probably caused a backlash against the game (and the fact that they apparently have decided to make five games in the series already, with the first one coming out in October of 2014, and the next four yearly after that).. We'll see how they finish up.
Neverwinter "release" date announced...
It looks like Neverwinter will reach "Open Beta" status (ie, you can pay us for stuff, and everything counts, but if things go kablooey we can just say "It's still just a Beta) on April 30th. We'll see how that goes.
And Finally.. the Funspot is headed to Funspot
If you're like me, of a certain age, and you have fond memories of heading to the arcade and playing all day, and you're in the Northeast US, you simply must make a trip to the small town of Laconia, New Hampshire and Funspot, the largest arcade left in the world. Not only does it have a ton of "newer" games, they also host the American Classic Arcade Museum, which has over 100 games that simply don't exist anymore outside of private collections. It's a must do, and it'll be great to head up there this weekend and get my game on. Heck, if you're there, and ya see me, say hi.
Steam Greenlight gets the Booby Prize: Agarest Generations of War
A few years ago, a company brought a JRPG to America.. that's not unusual, companies bring great series over all the time, but this series was.. slightly different. It featured a ton of fan service over several "generations" of characters per game, and it embraced the fan service both in the game and in it's special edition goodies. One game came out with a mouse pad featuring one of the game's characters, with gel pads where her.. yeah.. you can probably guess. It also featured a full body pillow cover of another game character. So, yeah, they knew their audience and what that audience wanted.
Well, the game series has appeared now on Steam Greenlight, as Agarest: Generations of War. Thankfully, no weird extras, but having the game appear on your steam now playing list may be bad enough. If interested you can check out the Steam Greenlight page here.
No Injustice, No Peace: Injustice: Gods Among Us Demo
I see the demo for the Netherrealm Studios DC Heroes game "Injustice: Gods Among Us" has released, and the game looks fun, but I feel like the previous demos emphasized the environment so much (and knocking your opponent from one area to the next), that when it looks like "DC Heroes Kombat", you lose a bit of enthusiasm for the project. Not that I think it's BAD, mind you (just about any game out there would love to have the level of play the MK series has.. but one of the greatest things about the trailer is it emphasized how much OTHER stuff that superheroes and villains can do other than punch punch kick. But, again, the demo only has three characters and no story mode, so we'll see how it goes.
And dooowwwwnnn the Kickstarter stretch they come...
Two games that I've been tracking on Kickstarter have hit the final hours of their kickstarter. One has far surpassed their goals, and the other.. has got there, but hasn't shocked the world. One is Torment: Tides of Numenera, a in-spirit sequel for Planescape: Torment by Inxile Entertainment. They're aiming to break the record for most money raised in a gaming kickstarter, and they're close too, entering the final 20 hours (at the time I write this) of the kickstarter at 3.75 million pledged so far.
The other one has been Lord British's Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues, which has succeeded in its funding goal ($1.4 million of a $1 million goal with the weekend yet to go), but it's been a rocky road as Richard Garriott has made some comments which probably caused a backlash against the game (and the fact that they apparently have decided to make five games in the series already, with the first one coming out in October of 2014, and the next four yearly after that).. We'll see how they finish up.
Neverwinter "release" date announced...
It looks like Neverwinter will reach "Open Beta" status (ie, you can pay us for stuff, and everything counts, but if things go kablooey we can just say "It's still just a Beta) on April 30th. We'll see how that goes.
And Finally.. the Funspot is headed to Funspot
If you're like me, of a certain age, and you have fond memories of heading to the arcade and playing all day, and you're in the Northeast US, you simply must make a trip to the small town of Laconia, New Hampshire and Funspot, the largest arcade left in the world. Not only does it have a ton of "newer" games, they also host the American Classic Arcade Museum, which has over 100 games that simply don't exist anymore outside of private collections. It's a must do, and it'll be great to head up there this weekend and get my game on. Heck, if you're there, and ya see me, say hi.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Clearing out the floatsam and jetsam of the video gaming world..
Saw the first trailer for NCAA 14, which will be using an iterated version of the same gameplay engine that Madden 13 used. Will be very interesting to see how it plays out, but I'll wait to see if they fixed the niggles this time around.
And apparently the new big mode in NCAA 14 will be Ultimate Team mode, just like the modes in FIFA, Madden and NHL. It's going to be interesting to see how they do this, because the big selling point of these other games having Ultimate Team is building a team out of real players, which of course, is verboten in NCAA titles (even without the threat of the billion dollar lawsuit about using college athlete's likeness in games that's currently running)
It's a shame to see LucasArts shutdown the games division. It's safe to say the developer never hit the heights that they hit in the 80's and 90's (Sam&Max, Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, the X-Wing/Tie Fighter series, etcetera), but still, it hurts to see the game shut down, not just for games now we'll never see (the rumored Star Wars Battlefront sequel, and the at one point heavily hyped Star Wars 1313), but for the fact that it's likely what will be replacing them will be typical licensed shovelware.
Glad to see that Bioshock Infinite is getting a bunch of top notch reviews. While I've been very vocal about the danger that I see with so many big budget big name titles needing to be monster hits just to break even, it looks like this game is in a good spot so far.
And apparently the new big mode in NCAA 14 will be Ultimate Team mode, just like the modes in FIFA, Madden and NHL. It's going to be interesting to see how they do this, because the big selling point of these other games having Ultimate Team is building a team out of real players, which of course, is verboten in NCAA titles (even without the threat of the billion dollar lawsuit about using college athlete's likeness in games that's currently running)
It's a shame to see LucasArts shutdown the games division. It's safe to say the developer never hit the heights that they hit in the 80's and 90's (Sam&Max, Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, the X-Wing/Tie Fighter series, etcetera), but still, it hurts to see the game shut down, not just for games now we'll never see (the rumored Star Wars Battlefront sequel, and the at one point heavily hyped Star Wars 1313), but for the fact that it's likely what will be replacing them will be typical licensed shovelware.
Glad to see that Bioshock Infinite is getting a bunch of top notch reviews. While I've been very vocal about the danger that I see with so many big budget big name titles needing to be monster hits just to break even, it looks like this game is in a good spot so far.
Monday, April 1, 2013
The Day the Rock Band Music died...
Somehow, it feels kinda perfect that after 281 consecutive weeks of new music, and literally thousands of songs available (both from Harmonix as official DLC, and band sponsored efforts, through the Rock Band Network), the last scheduled song for Rock Band 3, and it's the classic "American Pie" by Don McLean.
When Rock Band was released in 2007, we all wondered how it would respond with the public. We knew that the public wanted guitar games, thanks to the popularity of the Guitar Hero series. We wanted more. More songs. More options. More difficulty.
'
But we didn't know how to take a full band game. I mean, everyone wanted to be a guitar player... but how many people wanted to play drums? How many people wanted to sing? Heck, in later versions, who wanted to play keyboards?
But we loved it. Not only were there tons of Rock Band parties, the ability to play with your friends over Xbox Live, PSN, etcetera.. that was great. We were a nation of rockers.
But like all great rock star stories, it ended up being too much too soon.
There was a new Rock Band the next year, and then again in 2010 (with pro mode available, for those who decided that the equivalent of Through The Fire And The Flames wasn't hardcore enough) Activision flooded the market with band specific Guitar Hero games. The market was overloaded, and then with the recession hit , no one wanted to buy $75 peripherals anymore.
But truly, Rock Band has made a great run. Will we ever see another game like it? I don't know, but it didn't die with a whimper. It died with a huge explosion, with fans far and wide oohing and aahing at the pretty colors.
So, for the bands I've discovered through Rock Band, the Xbox Live group I regularly played with, and sung for (horribly over the past six or so years), we celebrate the end of the Rock Band series. And it's not a stuffy, solemn get together. It's as it should be, one heck of a rocking tribute to a game series that took music games to 11. Personally, I think it's a fitting tribute..
So bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the Levee was dry..
Them Good Ol'Boys were drinking Whiskey and Rye
Singin "this will be the day that I die....."
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