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PC

Starcraft II: Legacy Of The Void Detailed!? Yes, Yes Indeed!

The countdown has already begun!

Starcraft II:  Heart Of The Swarm isn’t even a month old, but that didn’t stop Blizzard from detailing the last expansion in the Starcraft II trilogy – Legacy Of The Void.  GameVain has the scoop (along with the rest of the video game news world) and I’m happy as a pig in shit to detail it with you since I love the series.

 

*WARNING -  Paragraph ahead contains minor plot spoilers to Heart Of The Swarm*

 

Picking up where the Heart of the Swarm campaign left off, Sarah Kerrigan – now an even more powerful Queen of Blades than before – sets off with her Swarm to hunt for the mysterious Amon, an ancient Xel’Naga being that supposedly predates the first Overmind and has been resurrected to take control of the entire universe.  Well, at least the guy has ambition I’ll give him that much.  To be honest, I’m rather excited to see the resolution to the whole story and the history of the Xel’Naga.  Zeratul’s missions in Wings of Liberty, and his cryptic messages to Kerrigan have provided clues about what lie ahead for everyone in the upcoming expansion, but there are A LOT of unanswered questions with this race and Amon.  Kerrigan supposedly has a role to play in Amon’s destruction, that much is known from Wings of Liberty where Zeratul himself told Raynor to spare her life else the entire universe is destroyed.  My concern though is the main character for LotV – Zeratul.  Whereas Raynor and Kerrigan had a lot of character development to support their actions, little is known about Zeratul save the fact he’s a badass Dark Templar who can go toe-to-toe with Kerrigan and live to tell the tale.  Outcast from his race for reasons unknown, his story might be interesting, except half the entire Starcraft storyline has been about the relationship between Raynor and Kerrigan.  It’ll be interesting to see where Blizzard takes it.

Zeratul’s turn in the spotlight finally.

Blizzard’s creative director Ken Levine wasn’t exactly forthcoming about any plot spoilers either, although he did assure gamers that Zeratul would make for an interesting main character.  “I understand people have this view of Zertaul that, while he’s a cool fighter and is so mysterious, he has the emotional capacity of Keanu Reeves”  Levine said.  “When you look at his backstory, you realize how much he was shitted on by his own race, and we’re confident gamers will gravitate towards him just like they did Raynor and Kerrigan.”  Hey, as long as there’s more of him leaping in the air and kicking some Xel’Naga ass, I don’t mind!  And speaking of the main bad guys you’re going against, what races exactly will be your enemy this time around?  “Well the Xel’Naga used to actually subjugate all of the universe’s races, which is why they were after the Zerg to begin with.  So in the main campaign, you’ll be seeing enemy forces with a mix of Terran, Protoss, and Zerg all in one”  Levine explained.  “This will actually make players really think about tactics in the campaign, as opposed to just going A and Right-clicking their way through the singleplayer campaign.”

 

But what about multiplayer?  Here’s where things get a little annoying for the gaming community in general it seems.  “We are doing a separate multiplayer and single-player release for this game” Levine stated.  “I know fans are going to be angry, but we feel it’s best for the community as a whole.”  Asked to elaborate, Levine went on the say, “We’re seeing HotS [Heart of the Swarm] sales doing alright, but when we take a closer look at the numbers, we’re actually seeing a massive discrepancy to the people who are online and playing, and the actual number of units moved.  Basically, HotS turned out to be a very heavily pirated game despite what the sales figures tell you, so we’re making the shift to separate releases in order to have the multiplayer component require a constant internet connection [editor's note: aka DRM].  The singleplayer game won’t.  We felt this was a nice compromise for players as opposed to them getting fucked over the way they were with Diablo 3 and SimCity.  The pricing will reflect a change in the content, so each release will only cost $30 a piece as opposed to $40 for HotS.”

Shot of a yet unnamed Protoss unit similar in style to a Carrier.

Unfortunately, that means people who want to buy both versions (and that includes pretty much everyone) will have to pony up $60 for the entire package.  “Well console games cost $60 now, so why not this game?  People will still buy it”  Levine emphasized.  Yes, people will still buy it, but that’s still a crappy way to market the game.  Oy, I digress.  That’s another topic for another day.

 

Asked about changes to multiplayer and release dates, Levine was more noncommittal.  “Well we’re still working on tweaking the units and adding in new ones.  We’re getting a lot of player feedback from HotS, especially with this expansion being Protoss-specific, we’re actually focus-testing the units first with Team Liquid”  Levine stated.  For those of you who don’t know, Team Liquid is a top-tier Starcraft clan whose players primarily specialize in Protoss strategies for online play.  “We know they’re a huge group of dedicated, core players, and they’re the ones we want to appeal, not really anyone casual.  So we’re taking their suggestions really to heart.”  One of the newest confirmed units on the Protoss side apparently will be the Xel’Naga Fanatic, an evolved form of the Zealot.  It looks like it’s Blizzard’s way of making the Zealot a viable late-game unit, as they are effective against both light AND armored opponents – something not really seen in the unit list very often.  They will also have the ability to teleport to their target from long distance, enabling them to act as blitzing units and bounce from target to target in the blink of an eye (no pun intended).  I guess we can officially say goodbye to that annoying MM ball the Terrans use…but probably not.

Template for the new Xel’Naga Fanatic perhaps?

And finally here’s the kicker – the game is set to release in a year!  “When we made the announcement several years ago that Starcraft II would be split into three games, there was a lot of negative emotion to say the least *chuckling*.  Once we finished WoL, we set to work on the next two installments Peter Jackson-style and pushed to make them released within a year of one another.”  When asked about giving gamers time to enjoy the game and the impact it would have on tournament scheduling, Levine just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Fuck it we just want the money.”  I think he was dead serious too.

 

So all in all, the game sounds interesting, but I do have my reservations with the whole split package deal of the game.  In my opinion, because that’s what you came here for, Blizzard needs to be careful about the timing of the game, especially the multiplayer.  They could very well release the game, but only the singleplayer portion gets bought as the competitive players stick to HotS for a little while longer before diving into LotV.  I guess time will tell though.  Until then, we’ll be left until E3 of this year wanting for more details on units and gameplay.

 

In the meantime, check out the announcement trailer and full interview with Ken Levine in the link below.  En Taro Tassadar baby!

 

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/games/lotv/

 

Edit:  If you haven’t figured it out by the link, yes, this is an April Fool’s joke.  Rick Roll aside, Ken Levine is actually the creative director of by Bioshock franchise, the above template is actually for the Starcraft II Dark Templar, and the “unknown ships” in the picture above are in fact earlier models of the Carrier Protoss unit.  And no, Blizzard wouldn’t be so stupid as to split their game into singleplayer and multiplayer packages…yet.

Business Editorial PC PS3 Xbox 360

Dead Space: EA Strikes Back

That weapon was probably obtained for another $5 on top.

Remember all those people bitching and moaning how Dead Space 3 is jumping the ship to appeal to everyone in sake of it’s own design?  If not, do a quick Google search and you’ll probably find topic after topic on message boards across the globe from fans decrying EA’s hand in manipulating their favorite franchise’s design away from a survival horror-esque game to a horror/shooter/rpg/cinematic hybrid that looks more like a mutated toad than a fearsome chimera.  While that storm has subsided somewhat, EA decided to unleash fury upon its subjects for their outburst by bringing a free-to-play element to Dead Space 3…without the initial free-to-play.

 

In a rather dick move to the consumer, the free-to-play element Dead Space 3 will feature is microtransactions.  That dreaded word is usually only uttered for mediocre iOS, Android, and some PC games that have a free-to-play model;  meaning the initial start-up cost to play the game is nothing, but to progress further or faster, real life money will have to be spent at the game’s virtual storefront usually in the amount of a couple of bucks for a piece of armor, extra character, or experience orb.  So how the hell does EA plan to get away with microtransactions for a game that’s going to retail for $60 you ask?  By making people spend money when they want to craft their own weapons – a feature actually not seen in the series until now.

This used to only be limited to games on the iOS and Android…until now.

It’s actually quite admirable how EA can take a shit down consumer’s throats and justify it at the same time.  Their reasoning behind it, aside from wanting to milk even more money from their cash cow, is that by spending money on weapon crafting, player’s won’t be able to buy their way towards the game’s more powerful weapons, but merely expedite upgrading their arsenal to the desired level at the player’s convenience.  The system is entirely optional, and all of the required components for crafting can be found in-game, so it’s merely one avenue out of many to get morepowerful weapons.  Because, you know, players may not have the time to scavenge for that rare ore they need to make the best shotgun the game has to offer, so why not give the ore to the player for a small finder’s fee?  EA, and the game’s developer Visceral Games, is simply aware that people have lives, and those lives may interfere with their gaming habits.

 

You smell that?  It’s the stench of week old shit covered in a cum shower the execs at EA and Visceral Games had when they thought up this brilliant money-making opportunity.  I’ve always believed downloadable content had its place in this generation.  You want additional characters or the ability to extend your game beyond the offered storyline?  Alright, pony up another $10-$20 for the privilege and time the developer spent crafting this extra content for you.  Want some extra cosmetic options on your favorite fighter or car?  Here’s a costume pack for $5, knock yourself out.  Wanna get some really powerful shit earlier in the game than you’re supposed to because we recognize you’re a lazy fat ass and we want your money?  Pay up bitch!

 

I guess this is simply one more way EA is trying to hit up the “casual” game market that was introduced to the Wii and got fat and happy with crappy iOS and Android games.  On one level, I have to acknowledge their business acumen.  After all, there will be people who will pay a lot of money to get through the game that much easier.  And those people are suckers for doing so.  That’s right, I’m calling everyone who is reading this article a sucker for shelling out more money than is necessary to enjoy a complete gaming experience that is meant to be challenging on some level – I mean, you already paid $60 for the damn thing, and you want to waste more money just to blow through the game that much faster!?  You’re getting ripped off for fuck sake!  It’s a shitty business practice that, rather than be relegated to a niche market, is starting to become more mainstream.  I understand that the cost of developing games has skyrocketed over the last ten years especially.  However, there’s a tipping point for how much consumers are willing to pay for a luxury such as video games.  Today crafting materials in Dead Space 3 are optional to purchase, but perhaps tomorrow you’ll be asked to fork over another $10 so you can progress to the next series of levels in a game that already cost you a tidy sum of money.

 

The future of Triple-A gaming? I hope not!

This is not to say Dead Space 3 isn’t worth your money or isn’t a good game.  You’re still getting a complete game for $60 – it’s just that microtransactions are a slippery slope and used to occupy only the handheld market until publishers started looking for new sources of revenue.  The problem is, developers and publishers alike need to reign in the cost of development for games.  As I just said, video games are still just a luxury – something that is expendable when budgets get tight.  Many publishers, EA especially, like to make that argument that since video games are a luxury, no one is being forced to buy them and therefore the publisher can do whatever they want.  Unfortunately, they fail to understand basic supply and demand economics, which means as the demand falls off because people get sick and tired of shelling out more money than is necessary for a video game – up front and/or in addition – supply increases, and profits will sink.  Continually raising the price of games isn’t going to help, nor will stupid microtransactions in an already-complete game.  Rather than try and Febreze the scent of your shit and pretend like it’s not as bad as it seems, treat the consumer with a little more respect and don’t take a shit in their face to begin with!

PC

Holy Stars, Microsoft Studios Brings 15 Games to Windows 8

Ready to “PLAY” on your new Windows 8 computer? Well, if you’re like most of us, you’re probably just going to stick to Steam, but if you really like your Xbox style achievements, this is probably going to be worth a gander.

Actually, it really does seem like the real incentive to play with Windows 8 would be to stay within the Microsoft ecosystem.

That aside, check out the trailer above to enjoy a brief teaser video. The real gem of that collection is Zen Pinball 2! You can play it lots of places, but it’s still a great pinball game! For more information, I suppose you could go to microsoftstudiosplay.com

Developments PC PS3 PSP/PSVITA Wii/Wii U Xbox 360

The Stew – User Interface Edition

Smelling better than it tastes since the Middle Ages.

I’m introducing my new segment called The Stew.  In case you didn’t get it from the title, it’s about things that I’m “stewing” over.  HAHA!  GET IT!?  Stewing!?  The Stew!?  Alright enough of that, anyway I thought I’d start things off with a little something hardware manufacturers seem to have difficulty with – user interface.

 

This is still much better…

I routinely get asked by people why I’m playing a PS3 and not an Xbox 360, because apparently the 360 is far superior than any console on the planet and thus I’m a loser for owning a PS3.  After I fight down the urge to defecate on their shoes, I inform them that I obtained my PS3 right as the generation started for a variety of reasons:  Wifi capability right out of the box, exclusive lineup of games including Metal Gear, God of War, and Final Fantasy, the ability to play my old PS1/PS2 games (now defunct sadly), and oh yeah, a MUCH better user interface than the 360.

 

 

…than this, which is thankfully loads better…

The PS3′s Xmediabar (pronounced: Cross Media Bar) or whatever the hell it’s called is a port from the original PSP’s menu system, and it works quite well.  Your categories are graphically represented as well as written out, and everything you need is there in front of you.  The 360′s at the time was a convoluted mess of tabs and whatnot.  Since then, the new Dashboard for the 360 has been released, and rather than make it more user-friendly, it added a bunch of random crap on the screen to distract you from what should be an otherwise easy interface.  Arguably, the best user interface of the generation was from the Wii, which had a simple grid-based front-end that you literally pointed the controller to the thing you wanted to do.  It was so easy it’s no wonder why the Wii was the preferred console of choice of casual gamers at the time.

 

…than this pile of crap.

The problem is, Microsoft seems to still have a problem with creating a user-friendly interface.  Windows does a fine job of creating a nice graphical interface on the computer, at least until Windows 8 was released.  However, Apple is still king-of-the-hill though when it comes to crafting the best user-interface experience, even though the iTunes store front-end sucks.  You can even look at Microsoft’s continual upgrading of it’s Internet Explorer browser, and you quickly realize that the company just doesn’t get it.  How could a company that delivers the highest quality online experience on consoles still somehow screw up something like navigating menus!?  There’s a reason why Firefox and Chrome are succeeding as well as they are, and it’s almost like Microsoft just doesn’t care anymore.

 

 

I bring this up because the next round of consoles is almost upon us – and no, the Wii U didn’t usher in the next console era, deal with it – and as Microsoft and Sony are about to announce their next console lineup, they’re going to face competition from Valve, Nvidia, and the Ouya…hey I didn’t say it was going to be stiff competition.  I’m seriously thinking about jumping ship from the Playstation brand to Microsoft, mostly because the difference between the two consoles now is minor, and Microsoft does have a better online platform.  But one main thing standing in my way is the shoddy user-interface Microsoft has become known for.  I don’t want to fight menus just to play a game or talk with my friends.  So please, can everyone find a system that works and stick with it?  It’s really not hard, just ask Nintendo and Apple.

PC PS3

Oh, Now I Remember

 

As I sat in front of my computer trying desperately to come up with something to write about this week I found myself without any ideas. There was no real news I was excited about. There aren’t any games coming out in the near future that I’m all that excited about. The WiiU is right around the corner, but seeing how I abhor EVERYTHING Nintendo…that was out too.

 

Then I tried to think of why I even like video games, and one memory came to mind. It was the day that, after more than a dozen years of playing games, I feel I actually became a “gamer”. But let me start with a bit of background info…

 

I’m a huge fan of the show Chuck. One day I was searching some YouTube videos and I came across a video featuring Adam Baldwin (John Casey) and Yvonne Strahovski (Sarah Walker) doing voice overs for a game titled Mass Effect 2. I instantly looked on Steam and found a demo. After playing through the demo about a half-dozen times I bought the game. It almost instantly started gettin every spare moment I had, but really never more than 1-2 hours at a time, that is, until a snow-day kept me out of class one day.

 

I was going to school fulltime, so after driving my wife to work I came home and sat down in front of my computer, cup of coffee beside me, and started in on my usual 1-2 hours. Before I knew it I looked at the clock and I had been playing for 4 hours. I refilled the coffee and sat back down. I clocked a total of about 8 1/2 hours that day…way more than I had ever spent in one day playing video games. I experimented with new weapons and new powers. Got in a grove with certain squad mates (usually Miranda and Thane or Miranda and Garrus). Went further and further than I’d ever gone. Developed an affinity for sniping, which I had previously hated in games, and developed my most defining quality as a gamer…sitting there all by myself saving the universe.

 

 

Now this is a relatively boring story, I’ll admit it, but for me it was the day that I picked up the gamer tag and haven’t put it down since. No, I didn’t grow up loving a lot of the older games, nor do I own dozens of different games…but I’m a gamer none the less. Gamers come in all shapes and bends.

 

So what’s your story? When did you pick up that gamer tag? Let us know in the comments.

Business Developments Mac PC

Is Half Life 3 Just Around the Corner?

Big news dropped last week from one of the industries fan-favorite developers, and it came in the form of a recent job listing. Valve Corporation is looking for an industrial designer with a background in “product design and manufacturing, ergonomics, usability, aesthetics, and surfacing,” according to a report released from Gameindustry International. In the past rumors have frequently surfaced about the company moving into the hardware market, including a rumor about working with Apple to develop a console, but this job posting seems to be a little too specific to have nothing to do with that end.

Most would assume that a console from Valve would utilize its popular Steam format, but that’s not the rumor that sparked the most amount of interest when I learned of this job listing. Just a few short hours after the news released I started hearing rumors that this may be what Valve has been waiting for in regards to releasing the long (very, very long) awaited Half Life 3. The Half Life series really helped to cement Valve as one of the majors hitters in the gaming market and fans have been clamoring for more Gordon Freeman for nearly a decade since the franchises second game dropped in November of 2004. To add a little more fuel to this rumor, official Half Life 3 shirts have been reported popping up in several game and comic conventions this year.

So what do you think? Would you want a Valve console, or are you happy with Steam for PC and Mac? Is this rumored console the vehicle for the next Half Life game? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Developments Game Reviews PC

Is Guild Wars 2 Good?

I mentioned it last week on my last article and thought I’d give it a week before I really got into what the game is like, you know, let it marinate in my mind and in the minds of others before delving into the nitty gritty.

So: is it good?

It’s different. It has its goods, it has its bads, and coming into the game as a casual player of GW1 without even touching the beta or looking at gameplay videos I felt like I was playing a completely different game and this is true. The game is COMPLETELY different compared to the old one. It is a lot faster paced in regards to traditional questing and leveling but the time it takes to level seems about right for a casual gamer.

What I mean by fast-paced questing is that there is no “!” or “?”. Just “<3″. And if you’ve played it, the joke should make sense.

Basically you don’t pick up quests, you run into “events” that just so happen to spawn while you’re wandering the world. Anyone can step into an event and start one or join one that’s already happening. It enhances the experience, making a world feel more “alive” in that these people aren’t going to wait for you, the hero, to start a quest before shit goes down, no, if an army of ghosts attack a camp, you better be there or else the mission is failed. And when this happens, you have something like 5-20 other players doing this quest so it turns into this whole giant group quest where the reward is experience and karma. Pretty cool if you ask me but at the same time, you may miss a lot of mini-stories just jumping into events like this.

The map is very nicely detailed. You can zoom in and out and see all the important markers as well as the not-so-important ones. This was one of my peeves about the game. It was really nice to see all this detail and stuff on the screen but at the same time, there’s just so much stuff you miss what you’re looking for. That is, until you notice that tiny eyeball on the lower left of the screen which you eventually find out is the filter. The map is really user friendly though and isn’t limited so much on the area you’re loaded into. Navigating from one way point to another is as simple as clicking and paying the toll, no need to run to a way point first to be able to use it.

The skill system is also a little strange. Each set for the skills is limited to the weapon you and to be able to use that skill you’d have to first level up the weapon and learn it. This can get annoying when you got that really nice weapon upgrade but you can’t use it right away because you’d get rid of four of your five weapon abilities. At the same time, though, it forces you to change up your fighting style, try new things, etc. I mean, a mesmer, (the illusionist class) was basically a ranged support mage in GW1, now you have them in the front lines with detonating clones. Also, the healer class is completely gone. Every class has their own healing spell that works differently depending on their class.

The environments are beautiful. A lot of work was put into it and I guess this is the only real part of GuildWars 1 that carried over to the new game. Its nice to be able to see some mountain in the distance and actually run over to climb it (and actually jump… yes you can jump and fall of ledges in this game).

And what’s really really nice is that you have a lot of different starting areas. Five different races + different factions within each race = a lot of different story lines. The Charr alone have three with different heroes as mentors depending on who you pick.

All in all: The game sucks because you can’t draw penises on the party map anymore.

 

Culture Developments

The Tryhard and You

In the competitive gaming world there exists a spectrum where all players fall in between: the noob and the tryhard. Like all extremes, there’s a lot more grief to be had than actual enjoyment. We all know what a noob is. They can’t play worth shit, they work under the rationale that this is all a learning experience, their play style is slow, and they always seem to be on your team. You’ve seen videos, flame wars, etc. calling out these players so its nothing new. But what about the other end of the spectrum? Meet the tryhard:

(thxgg)

There’s a lot of different ways to explain exactly what a tryhard is. Urban Dictionary does quite a good job in explaining the kind I’m thinking of:

“7. Tryhard

In regards to recreational activities or video games, someone who must put forth 100% effort to come out victorious. As opposed to someone who doesn’t need to do their best to win a game or contest.”
(thxud)
So where do the professional gamers stand? Pretty high up there in the spectrum. But they make money out of what they do so it’s excusable. I want to focus on the average, everyday gamer: that one guy in your team that just won’t shut the fuck up and complains about every single fault you make no matter how well you actually do. They’re the guys who like to latch onto one guy and chew them out, calling them noob, telling them to uninstall, making sarcastic remarks, and basically making the game just unbearably annoying even if your team is winning.
So what do you do when you have a tryhard in your team? The most obvious answer is just to not suck and maybe they’ll leave you alone. But what if it’s you they’re targeting? Unlike noobs, these assholes are really easy to troll because of their volatile personalities, especially when the rest of your team just about had enough of him. Just do exactly what they don’t want you to do… like a majority vote to /surrender a winning game. I guarantee you it’ll be one of the most satisfying loss you’ll experience ever. Spite is a wonderful thing.
And that’s it. Tryhards suck. And remember, kids, if you feel like raging at your own team:

Culture Developments

Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut Bust

 

 

Let’s face it, if you’re visiting GV you’re probably familiar with the controversy behind one of the biggest games of the year, Mass Effect 3, which saves me from having to give a lot of back story. Let’s just say when the game ended people weren’t happy, names were called and lawsuits were filed. So in an attempt to keep the masses happy ME3 developers BioWare decided they would release an extended cut DLC that will help clear things up and offer some closure for the gamer, many of which have spent years with their Commander Shepard.

Before I go any further I want to say that I’m going to try to be super light on the spoilers. I mean, I’m not a dick or anything.
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Culture Developments

Free-to-Play: Suddenly I’m Broke

(thxgm)

Wanna play League of Legends? It’s absolutely free. You don’t gotta pay shit. Absolutely nothing. You can get the same gaming experience as anyone who pays money for this game. So why bother paying for it? It’s stupid right? All it takes is a bit of patience and a bunch of games to be able to unlock what paying customers can unlock right away with the right amount of money. But you won’t break. All these guys got their special skins and you’re still running the classics. It’s fine. Skin doesn’t equal skill.
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Developments iPad iPhone Mac Mobile PC PS3 Wii/Wii U Xbox 360

Top Ten Shittiest Characters


These are characters I feel are stupidly useless or annoying, which may be worse. Most games have something redeeming but we´ve all played games that featured buzz kill personalities that ruin the experience. Here are my top ten shittiest characters.
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Game Reviews PC PS3 Xbox 360

What to Play When You’re Bored…..Try This!

Blades-of-time
So now that I’m on my break from college [fuck yes!] I now have time to check out a few games and download some new jazz. Recently I stumbled upon 4 games I’ve been really wanting to check out. And I think you guys might like them [if you haven't already played them]. Here they are!
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