Thứ Tư, 26 tháng 10, 2011
Woodland Heroes hits Facebook with furiously furry (and cute) strategy
Facebook games (and their developers) kind of have a thing for cute, furry creatures. Well, it seems more like an obsession at this point, and while start up studio Orlando, Fla.-based Row Sham Bow isn't exactly helping the situation with Woodland Heroes on Facebook. Though, at least its debut social game takes the furriness in a decidedly new direction ... one that involves catapulting pigs.
Something is a brewin' for the Angry Birds this Halloween [Video]
The clip sees three tiny blue birds dressed up to trick-or-treat (likely the largely useless cluster birds) come across a spooky camp ground and a bucket with, well, something inside of it. Since the update is undoubtedly Halloween-themed, we're going to guess that this is an update to Angry Birds Seasons. And it almost seems as if a new bird or enemy will join the peeved off little birds.
Gardens of Time nabs Best Social Network Game at GDC Online 2011
According to Playdom, "the award honors the best game launched on a social network, judged in terms of overall depth, execution and quality." While hidden-object games certainly aren't a new genre, but they are new to Facebook, with Gardens of Time being one of the first to hit the platform and garner a healthy 11.1 million monthly players. And Playdom is celebrating.
Snooki, Apps Genius to class it up with eight Facebook, mobile games
The first app, still shrouded in mystery, is set to land this November, while three more games are planned for release throughout the following year. We've certainly heard of games branded around TV shows, but this many games surrounding a single celebrity is certainly setting a precedent
Facebook updates formula for active users, player numbers plummet
The company goes on to say that the one-time drop will result in a perceived decline in the number of active users of its many social games and apps, but the number of users actually engaging with the apps is unchanged. But that's just it: Regardless of whether the same rough portion of players have been "actively engaging" with games like CityVille this month, this still means that nearly 20 million people merely visited the app in the last month and did not play the game. And that goes for not just CityVille, but Facebook games across the board.
Thứ Ba, 25 tháng 10, 2011
It’s Canon: Alistair Became King In Dragon Age: Origins
At NYCC last weekend, BioWare was in attendance talking about the upcoming Dragon Age comic series, which will follow Alistair, Isabella, and Varric as they perform some sleuthing into Alistair’s past. Well then, that’s three of my favourite characters doing stuff that certainly sounds fun. I’d love to see how virginal Alistair and worldly Isabella get on in particular.
This comes courtesy of BiowareFans.com, who also shared that according to BioWare’s Mike Laidlaw, the “canon” version of the events from Dragon Age: Origins resulted with Alistair becoming king and, presumably, the grey warden from the first game sacrificing him or herself to kill the Archdemon. Though actually, perhaps there was another way? I’ve lost track of the possible endings.
A comic is fine, but I’m hoping that Alistair makes his way into Dragon Age 3. I missed that guy, and stupid Anders was no substitute.
This comes courtesy of BiowareFans.com, who also shared that according to BioWare’s Mike Laidlaw, the “canon” version of the events from Dragon Age: Origins resulted with Alistair becoming king and, presumably, the grey warden from the first game sacrificing him or herself to kill the Archdemon. Though actually, perhaps there was another way? I’ve lost track of the possible endings.
A comic is fine, but I’m hoping that Alistair makes his way into Dragon Age 3. I missed that guy, and stupid Anders was no substitute.
The Wonderful Distractions, Sentient Glitches Of Skyrim’s Massive World
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is such an expansive game that even after spending three hours playing in its fantasy world last week I hadn’t learned enough to even worry over the laundry list of items Bethesda warned me not to tell gamers about.
The fact that my play session in a New York hotel room started nearly an hour into the game, may contribute to my lack of plot-harming details. But the real reason I don’t have to worry about that embargoed information is that Skyrim is so immersive and deep an experience that a person could play for a third of a work day and never even brush by the main storyline.
In fact, that’s exactly what I did.
My dip into the world started in a cave high on a mountain top. I don’t know how I got there or what I was supposed to do. I did have a chance to quickly create a character. I decided on an Argonian, a sort of lizardman that can breath underwater, and even if unarmed can attack with his claws.
After a brief look around in the cave I walked my character outside, a bloom of light giving way to an amazing wooded scene.
Where the pale blue, cloud-dotted skies of Rage as a fixed beauty, more painting that animation, Skyrim’s sky is filled with slowly drifting clouds.
The idea, I decided as I picked my way down the mountain side, is to find a nearby town and maybe someone who can send me off to collect something for them, hopefully getting into a fight in the process. A roadside near the foot of the mountain pointed me to three options. After deciding I’d head to Riverwood, I noticed the nearby river and decide to check out my character’s underwater breathing. The current pulls me along the bed, past Salmon. On a whim I target one and press a button, grabbing the fish as I drift by and adding it to my inventory.
Preoccupied with the underwater fishing, I don’t notice the rapids until I’m in them, getting pushed up above the waterline and then over an edge and down a short fall. I push my character out of the water and back to land.
Alright, I think, now to the village. Only then I notice another path going up into the mountains and figure, why not follow it. It leads me to a mine. A mine guarded by a mo-hawked woman with an ax in her hand. We fight, I win. I like how Skyrim lets you use the triggers to control your hands separately. I can dual-wield weapons, using the trigger pulls to attack left, right, left, right. Or I can place a shield in one hand, using that trigger to block. After some tinkering, I settle on a system that allows me to spew flames from my left hand and swing an ax with my right. It’s very effective.
After clearing out the mine of bandits, I finally make my way to Riverwood. Once there I wander around for a bit, chatting with the locals and getting my bearings. Eventually I head to the Sleeping Giant Inn where I catch the tail end of an argument between the couple who own the place. It’s a weird awkward moment that does nothing to propel the still absent over-arching story along, but adds a lot to the depth of the characters and this world.
I rent a room for the day, but then I can’t find it. I decide to wander around a bit more and discover the town’s merchant. He hands me my first quest, the hunt for a necklace. It’s dusk when I finally get out of town, heading for my first, story-driven mission. The sun is nearly down, little lights blink on and off, floating in the air around me. I hunt around for one, until I get close enough to identify. It’s a tiny “torchbug”, this world’s version of a firefly, I suppose.
I break free of the distraction of hunting around for more bugs and take after my quest on earnest this time. Making my way up into the mountains the night darkens as clouds roll in, obscuring the moon and stars. Snow begins to drift in the wind, then begins to churn as the wind howls, soon I’m picking my way through a blizzard. The weather breaks as I approach a tower.
“This is the place,” I think.
There are a couple of guards standing near the base, by a fire. I kill one by hot-swapping to a bow using my D-pad. And then switch spells to reanimate her corpse. She rises, shivering and stiff, her body floating for a second at an angle too sharp for her to be standing. Then she flops to the ground on her feet and begins to attack her once-allies. She fights until she is rekilled, her body turning suddenly to ash and drifting to the ground.
I clear the tower of bandits but discover that this had nothing to do with my quest. Distracted again.
I run back through the storm, chasing the swirling snow that seems to almost take shape just ahead of me. A momentary break in the clouds casts pale light on the ground in front of me, through it a shadow drifts. I stop and look around.
Was that a dragon? Something is up there in the sky, but then the snow fills the cap and it’s impossible to see again.
Finally, I find the temple entrance to my quest. I’ve been playing for nearly an hour now without real purpose. That hasn’t stopped me from enjoying myself immensely.
The quest is no less exciting, but not much more either.
I have a pack of grave robbers to deal with first. Once dispatching them and dealing with the one who left them in the lurch, I find myself facing the temple’s denizens. I die, a lot. I remember to save often. I tweak my character with new abilities and level upgrades. I swap out weapons to find the best combination both for my playstyle and the enemies I happen to be facing at the moment.
Eventually I succeed and am able to quick travel back to town.
I appear in the middle of Riverwood it’s not quiet here. I hear someone shout something. An arrow flies by, not particularly close, but I can’t see who shot it, nor its intended target.
Then four of the townspeople round a corner. There’s three men and a woman. They’re dressed not for adventuring or dungeon crawling, but for their daily tasks. Maybe one’s a butcher, another could be a tavern owner. I’m not sure, but they’re running right at me and they seem angry.
They are angry. I’m not sure why, but suddenly this angry mob is out to kill me. I run from them, trying to lose them in the town’s few roads. Eventually, I get enough distance to make my way to the merchant, to turn in my quest.
Seconds after starting my conversation with him, the room fills with the angry townspeople. They start attacking me, I can’t run or defend myself because I’m in the middle of a conversation.
I manage to break free and run away. They keep chasing me. I ask one of the real PR people sitting in a real nearby chair, of our real hotel room, to come have a look. Is this normal, I ask?
He seems surprised. Try running away, he suggests.
I run. They follow. We run up the mountain side, the angry mob chasing me. Eventually I turn around and use a bit of magic to get them to attack one another. Then I run away.
Solved, I say.
Only it isn’t. The survivors appear back in town a minute or two later, they’re still after me.
Did you kill someone, or attack someone? Maybe you stole something, the PR guy asks?
No. They just attacked me. Is it because I’m a lizard man, I ask half seriously? Maybe the game just doesn’t like me, I suggest?
I ditch the posse this time by jumping in the river. I can breath underwater, it seems they can’t even swim.
I travel to another town. But when I arrive a guard attacks me. Word has gotten round it seems.
I manage to pay off the guard and clear my surprise, apparently unwarranted warrant just in time for the play session to end.
It’s pre-alpha code, I’m reminded by the attending PR folks.
It doesn’t bother me. Even if it was a bug, it was an exhilarating one; one that created the illusion that no one knows what to expect from this game, not even the people who made it.
The fact that my play session in a New York hotel room started nearly an hour into the game, may contribute to my lack of plot-harming details. But the real reason I don’t have to worry about that embargoed information is that Skyrim is so immersive and deep an experience that a person could play for a third of a work day and never even brush by the main storyline.
In fact, that’s exactly what I did.
My dip into the world started in a cave high on a mountain top. I don’t know how I got there or what I was supposed to do. I did have a chance to quickly create a character. I decided on an Argonian, a sort of lizardman that can breath underwater, and even if unarmed can attack with his claws.
After a brief look around in the cave I walked my character outside, a bloom of light giving way to an amazing wooded scene.
Where the pale blue, cloud-dotted skies of Rage as a fixed beauty, more painting that animation, Skyrim’s sky is filled with slowly drifting clouds.
The idea, I decided as I picked my way down the mountain side, is to find a nearby town and maybe someone who can send me off to collect something for them, hopefully getting into a fight in the process. A roadside near the foot of the mountain pointed me to three options. After deciding I’d head to Riverwood, I noticed the nearby river and decide to check out my character’s underwater breathing. The current pulls me along the bed, past Salmon. On a whim I target one and press a button, grabbing the fish as I drift by and adding it to my inventory.
Preoccupied with the underwater fishing, I don’t notice the rapids until I’m in them, getting pushed up above the waterline and then over an edge and down a short fall. I push my character out of the water and back to land.
Alright, I think, now to the village. Only then I notice another path going up into the mountains and figure, why not follow it. It leads me to a mine. A mine guarded by a mo-hawked woman with an ax in her hand. We fight, I win. I like how Skyrim lets you use the triggers to control your hands separately. I can dual-wield weapons, using the trigger pulls to attack left, right, left, right. Or I can place a shield in one hand, using that trigger to block. After some tinkering, I settle on a system that allows me to spew flames from my left hand and swing an ax with my right. It’s very effective.
After clearing out the mine of bandits, I finally make my way to Riverwood. Once there I wander around for a bit, chatting with the locals and getting my bearings. Eventually I head to the Sleeping Giant Inn where I catch the tail end of an argument between the couple who own the place. It’s a weird awkward moment that does nothing to propel the still absent over-arching story along, but adds a lot to the depth of the characters and this world.
I rent a room for the day, but then I can’t find it. I decide to wander around a bit more and discover the town’s merchant. He hands me my first quest, the hunt for a necklace. It’s dusk when I finally get out of town, heading for my first, story-driven mission. The sun is nearly down, little lights blink on and off, floating in the air around me. I hunt around for one, until I get close enough to identify. It’s a tiny “torchbug”, this world’s version of a firefly, I suppose.
I break free of the distraction of hunting around for more bugs and take after my quest on earnest this time. Making my way up into the mountains the night darkens as clouds roll in, obscuring the moon and stars. Snow begins to drift in the wind, then begins to churn as the wind howls, soon I’m picking my way through a blizzard. The weather breaks as I approach a tower.
“This is the place,” I think.
There are a couple of guards standing near the base, by a fire. I kill one by hot-swapping to a bow using my D-pad. And then switch spells to reanimate her corpse. She rises, shivering and stiff, her body floating for a second at an angle too sharp for her to be standing. Then she flops to the ground on her feet and begins to attack her once-allies. She fights until she is rekilled, her body turning suddenly to ash and drifting to the ground.
I clear the tower of bandits but discover that this had nothing to do with my quest. Distracted again.
I run back through the storm, chasing the swirling snow that seems to almost take shape just ahead of me. A momentary break in the clouds casts pale light on the ground in front of me, through it a shadow drifts. I stop and look around.
Was that a dragon? Something is up there in the sky, but then the snow fills the cap and it’s impossible to see again.
Finally, I find the temple entrance to my quest. I’ve been playing for nearly an hour now without real purpose. That hasn’t stopped me from enjoying myself immensely.
The quest is no less exciting, but not much more either.
I have a pack of grave robbers to deal with first. Once dispatching them and dealing with the one who left them in the lurch, I find myself facing the temple’s denizens. I die, a lot. I remember to save often. I tweak my character with new abilities and level upgrades. I swap out weapons to find the best combination both for my playstyle and the enemies I happen to be facing at the moment.
Eventually I succeed and am able to quick travel back to town.
I appear in the middle of Riverwood it’s not quiet here. I hear someone shout something. An arrow flies by, not particularly close, but I can’t see who shot it, nor its intended target.
Then four of the townspeople round a corner. There’s three men and a woman. They’re dressed not for adventuring or dungeon crawling, but for their daily tasks. Maybe one’s a butcher, another could be a tavern owner. I’m not sure, but they’re running right at me and they seem angry.
They are angry. I’m not sure why, but suddenly this angry mob is out to kill me. I run from them, trying to lose them in the town’s few roads. Eventually, I get enough distance to make my way to the merchant, to turn in my quest.
Seconds after starting my conversation with him, the room fills with the angry townspeople. They start attacking me, I can’t run or defend myself because I’m in the middle of a conversation.
I manage to break free and run away. They keep chasing me. I ask one of the real PR people sitting in a real nearby chair, of our real hotel room, to come have a look. Is this normal, I ask?
He seems surprised. Try running away, he suggests.
I run. They follow. We run up the mountain side, the angry mob chasing me. Eventually I turn around and use a bit of magic to get them to attack one another. Then I run away.
Solved, I say.
Only it isn’t. The survivors appear back in town a minute or two later, they’re still after me.
Did you kill someone, or attack someone? Maybe you stole something, the PR guy asks?
No. They just attacked me. Is it because I’m a lizard man, I ask half seriously? Maybe the game just doesn’t like me, I suggest?
I ditch the posse this time by jumping in the river. I can breath underwater, it seems they can’t even swim.
I travel to another town. But when I arrive a guard attacks me. Word has gotten round it seems.
I manage to pay off the guard and clear my surprise, apparently unwarranted warrant just in time for the play session to end.
It’s pre-alpha code, I’m reminded by the attending PR folks.
It doesn’t bother me. Even if it was a bug, it was an exhilarating one; one that created the illusion that no one knows what to expect from this game, not even the people who made it.
Somewhat Awesome Battlefield 3 Film
Sometimes it’s not enough to just play a game — you need to really experience it, to live it, to re-create it. This is where the Aussie film-making duo behind Somewhat Awesome Films, Rob Hardy and Jarrad Cody, step in.
The two friends from Adelaide began making short films to enter into competitions; over time they started combining their love for gaming and film-making by doing video reviews and fan films, the Battlefield 3 flick below being their latest short film.
The two friends from Adelaide began making short films to enter into competitions; over time they started combining their love for gaming and film-making by doing video reviews and fan films, the Battlefield 3 flick below being their latest short film.
It’s Boba Fett. As A Viking
Boba Fett is not a viking. He’s a bounty hunter. But if he were a viking, he’d not only wear something like this helmet, but also have a truly magnificent beard.
Etsy seller Paul McCue created this wonder, called it “steampunk”. I’ll call it “awesome” and leave it there.
McCue’s site also has steampunk takes on Stormtroppers and Darth Vadar as well as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.
Etsy seller Paul McCue created this wonder, called it “steampunk”. I’ll call it “awesome” and leave it there.
McCue’s site also has steampunk takes on Stormtroppers and Darth Vadar as well as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.
Thứ Hai, 24 tháng 10, 2011
Training With The Pros: Aaron Damiani
Battlefield 3 is coming soon, and when the game arrives the competitive scene will be ready for it. One pro-gamer who will be leading a Battlefield 3 team into the e-sports arena is Aaron “1MMort4L” Damiani, the current captain of the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 team at Team eXile5.
As well as being the captain of the Battlefield division, Damiani is also manager of Team eXile5, who are one of the big players in the Australian e-sports scene. So who is Aaron Damiani and how did rise to be the captain of one of Australia’s leading Battlefield teams?
Hey Aaron! Can you introduce yourself to the Kotaku community?
My name is Aaron Damiani, aka 1MMort4L, and I am the Captain of the Team eXile5 Battlefield division. I currently manage a family construction company, full-time on construction sites in Perth five to six days a week. Beyond gaming, I have competed in numerous sports at the top state and national level, from Mixed Martial Arts, Power Lifting, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to name a few. I am currently injured, and have taken time away from physical sports, and am focussing more on E sports to tie me over.
I started playing video games on my Dad’s Commodore 64, and one of the best games I ever played was Boulder Dash. In my teenage years, I played a lot of console games, on Nintendo 64 and similar, with my favourite titles at one time or another being Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat 2, and Mario Kart 64.
After that was the eventual progression to PC games, where I have fond memories of spending hours on games like Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem and Doom. From here, I started playing Battlefield 1942 and DC. My love for the Battlefield franchise was born! The vehicle warfare, and vast maps with the potential for strategic play… I was hooked! I became a hardened Chopper pilot in DC, and with the release of Battlefield 2, I focused my entire game play around operating helicopters, and was renowned as being one of the top pilots in Australia, eventually racking up close to 1000 hours, in the chopper alone!
When did you start playing BFBC2 competitively and what drew you to the game?
I begun playing Battlefield: bad Company 2 competitively upon the release of the beta in January 2010. Team eXile5 and I have competed in virtually every Australian and New Zealand BC2 comp since then. My love for the Battlefield franchise led me to playing BC2.
What kind of skills do you consider crucial to playing BFBC2 at such a high level?
Team work is the number one factor for any Battlefield game, followed by player awareness. These two attributes are what makes for successful Battlefield teams.
What’s your training regime?
Depending on what competitions are coming up, or what specific areas of the team need to be worked on, the training regime varies from five nights a week, and four hours a night, to just one or two practice scrims per week. If I could offer a training tip, it would be to keep training as productively as possible and to make the most of what you are learning and working on.
What are some of the rookie errors you often see people make?
One of the most common mistakes I see rookies make is focusing too much on an enemy they have injure, and being hell bent on getting the kill, even if it sacrifices the objective at hand.
Do you have any general tips for people who want to play at your level?
Playing e-sports at the highest level is very similar to physical sports, and success comes down to how much you put in. Practice makes you better, and fitting into the appropriate team environment is a necessary step. Start off in a team with players above your level, and feeding off anything you can from the more experienced players will be a major step in your progression as a player.
As well as being the captain of the Battlefield division, Damiani is also manager of Team eXile5, who are one of the big players in the Australian e-sports scene. So who is Aaron Damiani and how did rise to be the captain of one of Australia’s leading Battlefield teams?
Hey Aaron! Can you introduce yourself to the Kotaku community?
My name is Aaron Damiani, aka 1MMort4L, and I am the Captain of the Team eXile5 Battlefield division. I currently manage a family construction company, full-time on construction sites in Perth five to six days a week. Beyond gaming, I have competed in numerous sports at the top state and national level, from Mixed Martial Arts, Power Lifting, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to name a few. I am currently injured, and have taken time away from physical sports, and am focussing more on E sports to tie me over.
I started playing video games on my Dad’s Commodore 64, and one of the best games I ever played was Boulder Dash. In my teenage years, I played a lot of console games, on Nintendo 64 and similar, with my favourite titles at one time or another being Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat 2, and Mario Kart 64.
After that was the eventual progression to PC games, where I have fond memories of spending hours on games like Wolfenstein, Duke Nukem and Doom. From here, I started playing Battlefield 1942 and DC. My love for the Battlefield franchise was born! The vehicle warfare, and vast maps with the potential for strategic play… I was hooked! I became a hardened Chopper pilot in DC, and with the release of Battlefield 2, I focused my entire game play around operating helicopters, and was renowned as being one of the top pilots in Australia, eventually racking up close to 1000 hours, in the chopper alone!
When did you start playing BFBC2 competitively and what drew you to the game?
I begun playing Battlefield: bad Company 2 competitively upon the release of the beta in January 2010. Team eXile5 and I have competed in virtually every Australian and New Zealand BC2 comp since then. My love for the Battlefield franchise led me to playing BC2.
What kind of skills do you consider crucial to playing BFBC2 at such a high level?
Team work is the number one factor for any Battlefield game, followed by player awareness. These two attributes are what makes for successful Battlefield teams.
What’s your training regime?
Depending on what competitions are coming up, or what specific areas of the team need to be worked on, the training regime varies from five nights a week, and four hours a night, to just one or two practice scrims per week. If I could offer a training tip, it would be to keep training as productively as possible and to make the most of what you are learning and working on.
What are some of the rookie errors you often see people make?
One of the most common mistakes I see rookies make is focusing too much on an enemy they have injure, and being hell bent on getting the kill, even if it sacrifices the objective at hand.
Do you have any general tips for people who want to play at your level?
Playing e-sports at the highest level is very similar to physical sports, and success comes down to how much you put in. Practice makes you better, and fitting into the appropriate team environment is a necessary step. Start off in a team with players above your level, and feeding off anything you can from the more experienced players will be a major step in your progression as a player.
Rage Creators Weren’t Prepared For Tough Questions
You may recall that a couple of weeks ago, Gamasutra’s Brandon Sheffield ran an interview with id Software’s CEO Todd Hollenshead about Rage. In the interview, Sheffield expressed some doubts about the game, and wasn’t convinced by many of Hollenshead’s answers. It was a solid piece of journalism, and as our own Stephen Totilo pointed out, it’s the kind of interview we could use more of.
Sheffield has penned an op-ed about the interview and the response it prompted. In the piece, he recounts playing the game at a San Francisco event, and how as he played, time and again he found himself flummoxed by the design decisions that id had made. After playing, he sat down to talk with Hollenshead and Rage artist Andy Chang and asked about the issues he noticed.
The oddest thing was how unprepared Hollenshead and Chang were for my questions. How had nobody broached these subjects before? It felt as though the game had been developed in a bubble, where they were told everything they were doing was great, without question. I can understand that, it’s id after all. But Hollenshead seemed to genuinely appreciate that I had taken a laser-focus to the game’s systems, and the air in the room was contemplative, not hostile. We spoke for an hour, and smiled and shook hands at the end.
After the interview ran, Sheffield describes receiving an anonymous email from only identified as being from a “AAA creative director” that described his line of questioning as “hostile” and “clearly biased”, and claims to have instructed PR to refuse future requests form Gamasutra regarding their game. Sheffield doubts the veracity of this email, but all the same, wonders about the language used.
It’s out of respect for id that I called them out on what I saw. I gave them an early chance to defend issues with the game that others were undoubtedly going to have upon release. If treating someone else’s work the way you’d treat your own — that is to say with scrutiny and criticism — is disrespectful, then we clearly have different definitions of the word.
Sheffield has penned an op-ed about the interview and the response it prompted. In the piece, he recounts playing the game at a San Francisco event, and how as he played, time and again he found himself flummoxed by the design decisions that id had made. After playing, he sat down to talk with Hollenshead and Rage artist Andy Chang and asked about the issues he noticed.
The oddest thing was how unprepared Hollenshead and Chang were for my questions. How had nobody broached these subjects before? It felt as though the game had been developed in a bubble, where they were told everything they were doing was great, without question. I can understand that, it’s id after all. But Hollenshead seemed to genuinely appreciate that I had taken a laser-focus to the game’s systems, and the air in the room was contemplative, not hostile. We spoke for an hour, and smiled and shook hands at the end.
After the interview ran, Sheffield describes receiving an anonymous email from only identified as being from a “AAA creative director” that described his line of questioning as “hostile” and “clearly biased”, and claims to have instructed PR to refuse future requests form Gamasutra regarding their game. Sheffield doubts the veracity of this email, but all the same, wonders about the language used.
It’s out of respect for id that I called them out on what I saw. I gave them an early chance to defend issues with the game that others were undoubtedly going to have upon release. If treating someone else’s work the way you’d treat your own — that is to say with scrutiny and criticism — is disrespectful, then we clearly have different definitions of the word.
Batman: Arkham City’s Robin DLC Woes Should Now Be Fixed
Since the Batman: Arkham City street date break, we’ve had a barrage of email complaints about pre-order codes not working – particularly with the Robin DLC code. Many believed that it may have been some kind of punishment for those playing the game early, but that is apparently not the case. Rocksteady is aware of the situation and has apparently fixed the issue.
Via its twitter account, Rocksteady is attempting to keep gamers aware of the progress of the solution. According to Rocksteady’s twitter, the issues with the Robin DLC is now fixed. Apparently the issue was not on Rocksteady’s end, and the team had to work with both Sony and Microsoft internal teams to get things fixed.
Via the twitter, Rocksteady also left this message.
Via its twitter account, Rocksteady is attempting to keep gamers aware of the progress of the solution. According to Rocksteady’s twitter, the issues with the Robin DLC is now fixed. Apparently the issue was not on Rocksteady’s end, and the team had to work with both Sony and Microsoft internal teams to get things fixed.
Via the twitter, Rocksteady also left this message.
Thứ Bảy, 22 tháng 10, 2011
What do you think of Sony's rumoured direction with the PSP2?
Recently an article surfaced on a blog site (which was late with the news as I believe CVG and others had this news at E3! way before TGS) about supposed features of the PSP2.
In a way the sources have been varied, the PSP2 clearly exists as a unit, but Sony haven't refined it enough to have an early showing (or hype) as Nintendo were able to do with the Nintendo 3DS.
So it includes a HD display (similar to iPhone retina display? Or new technology?) and a rear touch panel. It has over-heating issues at the moment so a good guess is Sony are sticking with TEGRA and will perhaps have a propietary one made to circumvent the heating issue.
So I ask you to think of this device... What does the front look like? What does the back? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a rear touch panel? Is there enough unique elements to make it a worthy device to take on the 3DS (which I believe will be the FIRST consumer parallax 3D display at a nice price)?
My opinions are I think that Sony is going with the hardcore direction, the rear panel may be a subsistute for a second analogue stick. With graphical enhancements beyond what you think are possible on a handheld, we (that is you and I who read gaming sites) are near enough sold. What this will have over the 3DS is engine capabilities of a console - sophisiticated AI, complex graphics, online matchmaking and more.
But the fact Sony are including touch controls...? Could this mean we'll also have Android or some other handheld OS on the device? Sony could even create their own marketplace such as SlideME. This'll allow true indie developers to make games SPECIFICALLY for a Playstation platform. Meaning that we have potentially thousands of games, and other useful applications, on day 1.
So at this stage it's purely speculation with rumours you can't entirely trust. But I CAN imagine that this is the direction Sony would go... I'll obviously be waiting for Sony's next big conference hoping it's being shown. I also hope Sony can have something unique to give it the edge over the iPhone and 3DS.
In a way the sources have been varied, the PSP2 clearly exists as a unit, but Sony haven't refined it enough to have an early showing (or hype) as Nintendo were able to do with the Nintendo 3DS.
So it includes a HD display (similar to iPhone retina display? Or new technology?) and a rear touch panel. It has over-heating issues at the moment so a good guess is Sony are sticking with TEGRA and will perhaps have a propietary one made to circumvent the heating issue.
So I ask you to think of this device... What does the front look like? What does the back? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a rear touch panel? Is there enough unique elements to make it a worthy device to take on the 3DS (which I believe will be the FIRST consumer parallax 3D display at a nice price)?
My opinions are I think that Sony is going with the hardcore direction, the rear panel may be a subsistute for a second analogue stick. With graphical enhancements beyond what you think are possible on a handheld, we (that is you and I who read gaming sites) are near enough sold. What this will have over the 3DS is engine capabilities of a console - sophisiticated AI, complex graphics, online matchmaking and more.
But the fact Sony are including touch controls...? Could this mean we'll also have Android or some other handheld OS on the device? Sony could even create their own marketplace such as SlideME. This'll allow true indie developers to make games SPECIFICALLY for a Playstation platform. Meaning that we have potentially thousands of games, and other useful applications, on day 1.
So at this stage it's purely speculation with rumours you can't entirely trust. But I CAN imagine that this is the direction Sony would go... I'll obviously be waiting for Sony's next big conference hoping it's being shown. I also hope Sony can have something unique to give it the edge over the iPhone and 3DS.
Re: The Fall of Samus Aran Part II
"Later in the game, Malkovich goes on to sacrifice himself to destroy the Metroid infestation, as Samus is left helpless to do anything, locked in a damaged power suits. She resorts to begging, screaming, and crying at him to convince him to not go ahead with his sacrificial plans."
This is where Steve makes me think he just watched cutscenes of the game, cause not 2 minutes before this, we see that Adam shot her to disable her temporarily and explained that anyone who goes in there is going to die. In fact, the only way to destroy the Metroids, who were unfreezeable, was to activate the modules self-destruct program which involved it detaching from the bottle ship and blowing up. He also said that Samus was the only one could defeat Ridley, and that is why when it came to someone sacrificing themselves, it made more sense for him to do it than her. It was only in about every line of dialogue in that scene.
"The Samus I know would shoot that asshole in the leg and take care of business herself. She would find a way. This Samus? Team Ninja puts her in the position of a feeble, helpless little girl; a bystander to a man’s heroics."
As stated, said "main's heroics" involved dying and as I said above, Adam's reasoning was because only Samus could defeat Ridley, who was still alive at that point. Also, the Samus I know would never do that to anyone on her side, but just in case she would, Adam shot her in the back so that she couldn't stop him from performing his heroic sacrifice.
"But the the most shocking and insulting moment in the game is her confrontation with her old-time nemesis, Ridley. Other M is the last in the Metroid series, meaning Samus has mutilated Ridley’s ass around a dozen times by now."
No, the game is set before Fusion and sets up many moments for it. Also, I like you Steve says dozen when there isn't even a dozen games. In fact, before Other M in the Metroid timeline it rounds out to about 4. 5 if you count both the Meta-Ridely fight and the Omega Ridley fight in Metroid Prime 3. But they are Metroid, Super Metroid, Prime 1, and Prime 3. The first two games had limited story-telling gameplay and the latter two she had ample time to process his revival before fighting him. In Other M, he literally just pops out and starts wailing on Samus.
"But what does Samus do in Other M when Ridley confronts her? She has a panic attack and passes out. Ridley picks her up, and goes on to beat the living pulp out of her fainted body until she is rescued by a male character called Anthony. That is actually what happens."
Considering that Samus makes a special mention of Ridley finally being dead in the beginning, this doesn't come off as much of a surprise. Also, consider this because this was also mentioned in a long laundry list of things Samus had done at the beginning. Ridley was killed, his remains were destroyed on the planet she accidentally blew up, and the only people who could or had any interest in bringing him back were also all dead. Ridley's revival was an accident in this game. Samus had no idea he would back and so her guard was down when he showed up. Two more points: why does Anthony's gender matter and what about Rundus? Rundus saved Samus from Ridley's attack in the beginning of three. He was also male, ableit, an alien.
"[He] goes so far to scream at Ridley: “Don’t you know how to treat a lady?” A lady? This woman has committed alien genocide. She is the most feared person in the galaxy; Ridley is treating her just like he should be."
1) Anthony was being funny. He has also called Samus "princess" in nearly every other encounter with her. But, it wasn't insulting or derogatory, it was because they were friends. Also, calling Samus the most feared person in the galaxy is a bit of stretch. I understand where it is coming from, but how much of that is canon and how much of it is projection. The federation has been bossing Samus around as her employer in nearly every single Metroid game and this and Fusion are the only ones where she actively starts defying them, you know, character development.
"This single line isn’t the character of the game talking, it’s Team Ninja talking through him. This is how they view Samus, and likewise, all women."
That is perhaps the biggest piece of pretentious bull-shit in this whole mess of vomit. The fact that Samus did fight and defeat Ridley, was ready to do it again in the same game, defeated every monster in the game no sweat including a Queen Metroid, and was pretty much the only person the Eliminator couldn't get to, I would have to say that the rest of the game proves this statement wrong. Also again, Rundus. He even says "now you owe me one" and that was by Retro.
"She is just lady, a small orphaned girl one who should be coddled and held onto, and then rammed in the ass since that’s all she is good for."
Again, she killed every single monster in that game. Every single one. Most of which on her own. Also, because Steve didn't play this game and thus he couldn't possibly remember that this was the second time Anthony saved Samus, the first being against the monster that would be Ridley and in fact foreshadowed the second rescue by saying "the next shot is for you" (which also pinned him as a suspect for being the Eliminator).
"Just as offensive is the diction of Anthony, who is black. No, he doesn’t say “We need to find an exit” or “We have to get out of here!” in moments of peril. Instead, he yells “WHERE DA EXIT AT?!” and “YO SAMUS, RUN GIRL!” Because everyone knows that if black space marines were to exist in the future, they’d speak in urban ebonics while pointing at their gold chains. Duh."
I don't remember that. I remember Anthony talking pretty normally and having an ethnicity. I wish the writer would give some specific scene and examples other than the ones everyone who hadn't played the already knew. Also, games, movies, TV shows have done this...Steve needs to get out of that rocks he is under.
This is where Steve makes me think he just watched cutscenes of the game, cause not 2 minutes before this, we see that Adam shot her to disable her temporarily and explained that anyone who goes in there is going to die. In fact, the only way to destroy the Metroids, who were unfreezeable, was to activate the modules self-destruct program which involved it detaching from the bottle ship and blowing up. He also said that Samus was the only one could defeat Ridley, and that is why when it came to someone sacrificing themselves, it made more sense for him to do it than her. It was only in about every line of dialogue in that scene.
"The Samus I know would shoot that asshole in the leg and take care of business herself. She would find a way. This Samus? Team Ninja puts her in the position of a feeble, helpless little girl; a bystander to a man’s heroics."
As stated, said "main's heroics" involved dying and as I said above, Adam's reasoning was because only Samus could defeat Ridley, who was still alive at that point. Also, the Samus I know would never do that to anyone on her side, but just in case she would, Adam shot her in the back so that she couldn't stop him from performing his heroic sacrifice.
"But the the most shocking and insulting moment in the game is her confrontation with her old-time nemesis, Ridley. Other M is the last in the Metroid series, meaning Samus has mutilated Ridley’s ass around a dozen times by now."
No, the game is set before Fusion and sets up many moments for it. Also, I like you Steve says dozen when there isn't even a dozen games. In fact, before Other M in the Metroid timeline it rounds out to about 4. 5 if you count both the Meta-Ridely fight and the Omega Ridley fight in Metroid Prime 3. But they are Metroid, Super Metroid, Prime 1, and Prime 3. The first two games had limited story-telling gameplay and the latter two she had ample time to process his revival before fighting him. In Other M, he literally just pops out and starts wailing on Samus.
"But what does Samus do in Other M when Ridley confronts her? She has a panic attack and passes out. Ridley picks her up, and goes on to beat the living pulp out of her fainted body until she is rescued by a male character called Anthony. That is actually what happens."
Considering that Samus makes a special mention of Ridley finally being dead in the beginning, this doesn't come off as much of a surprise. Also, consider this because this was also mentioned in a long laundry list of things Samus had done at the beginning. Ridley was killed, his remains were destroyed on the planet she accidentally blew up, and the only people who could or had any interest in bringing him back were also all dead. Ridley's revival was an accident in this game. Samus had no idea he would back and so her guard was down when he showed up. Two more points: why does Anthony's gender matter and what about Rundus? Rundus saved Samus from Ridley's attack in the beginning of three. He was also male, ableit, an alien.
"[He] goes so far to scream at Ridley: “Don’t you know how to treat a lady?” A lady? This woman has committed alien genocide. She is the most feared person in the galaxy; Ridley is treating her just like he should be."
1) Anthony was being funny. He has also called Samus "princess" in nearly every other encounter with her. But, it wasn't insulting or derogatory, it was because they were friends. Also, calling Samus the most feared person in the galaxy is a bit of stretch. I understand where it is coming from, but how much of that is canon and how much of it is projection. The federation has been bossing Samus around as her employer in nearly every single Metroid game and this and Fusion are the only ones where she actively starts defying them, you know, character development.
"This single line isn’t the character of the game talking, it’s Team Ninja talking through him. This is how they view Samus, and likewise, all women."
That is perhaps the biggest piece of pretentious bull-shit in this whole mess of vomit. The fact that Samus did fight and defeat Ridley, was ready to do it again in the same game, defeated every monster in the game no sweat including a Queen Metroid, and was pretty much the only person the Eliminator couldn't get to, I would have to say that the rest of the game proves this statement wrong. Also again, Rundus. He even says "now you owe me one" and that was by Retro.
"She is just lady, a small orphaned girl one who should be coddled and held onto, and then rammed in the ass since that’s all she is good for."
Again, she killed every single monster in that game. Every single one. Most of which on her own. Also, because Steve didn't play this game and thus he couldn't possibly remember that this was the second time Anthony saved Samus, the first being against the monster that would be Ridley and in fact foreshadowed the second rescue by saying "the next shot is for you" (which also pinned him as a suspect for being the Eliminator).
"Just as offensive is the diction of Anthony, who is black. No, he doesn’t say “We need to find an exit” or “We have to get out of here!” in moments of peril. Instead, he yells “WHERE DA EXIT AT?!” and “YO SAMUS, RUN GIRL!” Because everyone knows that if black space marines were to exist in the future, they’d speak in urban ebonics while pointing at their gold chains. Duh."
I don't remember that. I remember Anthony talking pretty normally and having an ethnicity. I wish the writer would give some specific scene and examples other than the ones everyone who hadn't played the already knew. Also, games, movies, TV shows have done this...Steve needs to get out of that rocks he is under.
Disney XD News
DISNEY XD TO PREMIERE “FORT BOYARD – ULTIMATE CHALLENGE,” A REALITY ADVENTURE SERIES ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 17
Geno Segers (Disney XD’s “Pair of Kings”) and popular British television presenter Laura Hamilton (“Dancing On Ice”) host an exciting competition requiring brainpower, courage and teamwork, “Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge,” a 10-part series premiering MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET/PT), with a thrilling finale MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD. Based on the international game show phenomenon “Fort Boyard,” the series is set in a 19th century sea fort off the coast of France. It introduces six teams — 24 teens from the United States and the United Kingdom — who team up for a tournament where only one team will ultimately get the key to unlock the historic fort’s hidden treasures and win the honor of calling themselves “the conquerors of Fort Boyard.”
The reality adventure series marks the first kids’ version of the popular game show which premiered more than 20 years ago and has since been produced in over 38 countries worldwide.
In the premiere episode, team members from the Red Vipers and Yellow Scorpions compete in the first round of challenges to find out which team has what it takes to move on to become the conquerors of the fort.
“Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge” is produced by Zodiak Media Group’s production companies The Foundation and Adventure Line Productions, who created the concept for the original “Fort Boyard” and have been producing the series for 22 years.
The executive producers are Nigel Pickard and Ged Allen for The Foundation, Pierre Godde for Adventure Line Productions and Jamila Metran for CiTV. The producer is Steve Pinhay.
The series will be televised on Disney XD cable and satellite channels around the world (excluding France and the Nordics) and CiTV in the UK.
About “Fort Boyard”
“Fort Boyard” is the most successful adventure game show in the world, having sold to over 30 territories, while dominating France 2′s primetime summer schedule every year since 1990. The action takes place in an imposing fortress built in the middle of the ocean. This provides the perfect backdrop for strenuous, against-the-clock physical challenges and mind-boggling riddles, featuring strange characters and fearsome animals. All this and more awaits those attempting to reach the Treasure Room! Only the fittest and most intelligent contestants can hope to conquer Fort Boyard.
About Disney XD:
Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for Kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. Disney XD branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms. The programming includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser supported network that reaches over 78 million households via its basic cable and satellite affiliates. There are 22 other Disney XD Games channels around the world.
Geno Segers (Disney XD’s “Pair of Kings”) and popular British television presenter Laura Hamilton (“Dancing On Ice”) host an exciting competition requiring brainpower, courage and teamwork, “Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge,” a 10-part series premiering MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET/PT), with a thrilling finale MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD. Based on the international game show phenomenon “Fort Boyard,” the series is set in a 19th century sea fort off the coast of France. It introduces six teams — 24 teens from the United States and the United Kingdom — who team up for a tournament where only one team will ultimately get the key to unlock the historic fort’s hidden treasures and win the honor of calling themselves “the conquerors of Fort Boyard.”
The reality adventure series marks the first kids’ version of the popular game show which premiered more than 20 years ago and has since been produced in over 38 countries worldwide.
In the premiere episode, team members from the Red Vipers and Yellow Scorpions compete in the first round of challenges to find out which team has what it takes to move on to become the conquerors of the fort.
“Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge” is produced by Zodiak Media Group’s production companies The Foundation and Adventure Line Productions, who created the concept for the original “Fort Boyard” and have been producing the series for 22 years.
The executive producers are Nigel Pickard and Ged Allen for The Foundation, Pierre Godde for Adventure Line Productions and Jamila Metran for CiTV. The producer is Steve Pinhay.
The series will be televised on Disney XD cable and satellite channels around the world (excluding France and the Nordics) and CiTV in the UK.
About “Fort Boyard”
“Fort Boyard” is the most successful adventure game show in the world, having sold to over 30 territories, while dominating France 2′s primetime summer schedule every year since 1990. The action takes place in an imposing fortress built in the middle of the ocean. This provides the perfect backdrop for strenuous, against-the-clock physical challenges and mind-boggling riddles, featuring strange characters and fearsome animals. All this and more awaits those attempting to reach the Treasure Room! Only the fittest and most intelligent contestants can hope to conquer Fort Boyard.
About Disney XD:
Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for Kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. Disney XD branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms. The programming includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser supported network that reaches over 78 million households via its basic cable and satellite affiliates. There are 22 other Disney XD Games channels around the world.
My experience with Kinect
've decided to make a blog about my thoughts, impressions and hands-on with Microsoft's motion-controlled attempt, Kinect.
Also, before you start reading, I just want to point some things out:
- I've played 4 games. (roughly 10 minutes each)
- Not sure if the games are in their final builds.
- Kids were going crazy all over it!
Right, here we go!
-[Introduction]-
Microsoft's Xbox Kinect. Microsoft's answer to motion controlled gaming and their attempt to get into the whole motion market alongside the Wii and Playstation Move.
When it was first announced, I was quite curious. I had many questions in my mind:
- Will the device work?
- Will it have good games?
- Will it be cheap?
Now shifting straight to E3 2010 and Microsoft's abysmal press conference, I was starting to lose interest in the device. Fanboys from one camp are bashing it to oblivion while another is defending it with all their might.
Later on, they've announced the $150 pricetag, which was a turnoff for quite a hefty amount of games. They thought it would be a huge waste of money. It's gonna have casual games and nothing more. It's gonna bomb.
Leaving that aside, I said to myself: I'm gonna have to try this for myself before I hand down my verdict on this controversial device.
-[Gitex Shopper 2010]-
For the last 3 years, I've always wanted to go to Dubai just for Gitex. Due to some complications involving school or my dad busy with work, it delayed my dream, until last week.
So we skip to the 21st of October and realize that I'm in Dubai and I checked out the Gitex Technology Week 2010 event that was being held there. Electronics, gadgets and anything IT related EVERYWHERE!
Checked out some laptops. One of them was 3D enabled and let you use any standard passive-shutter 3D glasses (RealD glasses that you get in the cinemas for example). Glasses-less 3D screens (which work pretty well, but seem a bit blurry) and many other crazy shenanigans.
But anyway, that's not today's subject. I'm here to talk about...
-[Kinect: Eyes-on impression]-
So there it was, a sleek bar with a stand that sat on a table next to an Xbox 360. I was watching some kids playing some games. It looked fun, and I thought: How bad could it be?
But then, the ugly truth met me face to face...
-[TEH LAGZ!]-
For those who are still in denial, Kinect has an obvious half a second lag, and it's f*cking everywhere. It's in your games. It's in your menu navigation and to me, it was the ultimate turnoff.
I don't know if they're going to fix this issue before launch, but for now, it's f*cking horrible.
A short while later, it was my turn to play some Kinect games. I have played 4 games and here's what I think of each one of them:
-[Kinect Joy Ride]-
It wasn't too bad, but the lag just kills it for me. The cars are always accelerating, so all you have to do is steer, boost and occasionally, do stunts while in mid-air. Seems easy, but the crappy steering (thanks to the lag) kinda ruins the experience for gamers, but I'm pretty sure children wouldn't give two ducks about it and just have a blast!
In all honesty, I'd prefer this game if it was as it was back in 2009. A free racing game that uses a controller to play.
-[Kinect Adventures]-
I played this one with some guy who was standing in line with me at that time. The only stage we were able to play was the River Raft stage. Playing with a friend is pretty fun. You and your partner are gonna have to be coordinated for a good and fun experience.
Once again, like Joy Ride, there is lag, but you'll only notice it when you jump. While it doesn't really kill the experience, it can be a nuisance to see your avatar jump half a second after you do.
-[Kinect Sports]-
*sigh*.....Rare......f*ck you....
Now, I'm only saying this because they've decided it was a good idea to have Samsung logos and T-mobile bowling balls in the game. Now I don't really mind in-game advertisements, but come on Rare!
Anyway, the only sport I've played was Table Tennis (just to compare with what I've played on Sports Champions and Wii Sports Resort). It's pretty lackluster. It's not like you're moving your paddle. It's like your body is strapped right onto the Avatar. It feels and looks really crappy. Even the Miis playing Table Tennis look more decent than what the robotic puppets known as Avatars look like. They always glitch up and sh*t and it's just bleh. Gameplay wise, it makes Wii Sports Resort and Sports Champions 50 generations ahead of its time!
I've also seen some kid play bowling. It looked okay, but it seems that it was made to be noob-friendly since the kid was going ape sh*t and throwing strikes all the time! (and keep in mind that the kid was like 4 or 5?)
Also saw some kids play the 100m sprint. All I can say is that it's just running...while you're standing still.
While the lag may not be that significant like the other 2 games, it's still there and it's hard to ignore.
-[Kinectimals]-
........I dunno what I was thinking when I was pla.......SKITTLES!!!!!!
I'm kidding. It wasn't Skittles, but it was some Cheetah that I decided to call Derp...in my mind. Anyway, after the bizarre and awkward air stroking, it was time to play some ball!
Rules are simple. Throw the ball at your......Kinectimal.....and it'll hit it back. You must keep this up for 20 seconds to win. Simple, right?
All I can say is that, it was the most hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life period. Responsiveness was craptastic. Sometimes it works, but most of the time, it decides that it doesn't want to work!
Now, the lady working there told me that it could be because the sensor is overheating.....
-[Overheating]-
I kid you not. That's what she told me!
-[Conclusion]-
While Kinect may be a great peripheral to buy for the kids because they are gonna have a f*cking blast, gamers may want to back up on this one for now. If you're curious and you're thinking about getting one for yourself, I would recommend doing that when the price drops, more games are available and they fix that horribly God forsaken lag!
Also, before you start reading, I just want to point some things out:
- I've played 4 games. (roughly 10 minutes each)
- Not sure if the games are in their final builds.
- Kids were going crazy all over it!
Right, here we go!
-[Introduction]-
Microsoft's Xbox Kinect. Microsoft's answer to motion controlled gaming and their attempt to get into the whole motion market alongside the Wii and Playstation Move.
When it was first announced, I was quite curious. I had many questions in my mind:
- Will the device work?
- Will it have good games?
- Will it be cheap?
Now shifting straight to E3 2010 and Microsoft's abysmal press conference, I was starting to lose interest in the device. Fanboys from one camp are bashing it to oblivion while another is defending it with all their might.
Later on, they've announced the $150 pricetag, which was a turnoff for quite a hefty amount of games. They thought it would be a huge waste of money. It's gonna have casual games and nothing more. It's gonna bomb.
Leaving that aside, I said to myself: I'm gonna have to try this for myself before I hand down my verdict on this controversial device.
-[Gitex Shopper 2010]-
For the last 3 years, I've always wanted to go to Dubai just for Gitex. Due to some complications involving school or my dad busy with work, it delayed my dream, until last week.
So we skip to the 21st of October and realize that I'm in Dubai and I checked out the Gitex Technology Week 2010 event that was being held there. Electronics, gadgets and anything IT related EVERYWHERE!
Checked out some laptops. One of them was 3D enabled and let you use any standard passive-shutter 3D glasses (RealD glasses that you get in the cinemas for example). Glasses-less 3D screens (which work pretty well, but seem a bit blurry) and many other crazy shenanigans.
But anyway, that's not today's subject. I'm here to talk about...
-[Kinect: Eyes-on impression]-
So there it was, a sleek bar with a stand that sat on a table next to an Xbox 360. I was watching some kids playing some games. It looked fun, and I thought: How bad could it be?
But then, the ugly truth met me face to face...
-[TEH LAGZ!]-
For those who are still in denial, Kinect has an obvious half a second lag, and it's f*cking everywhere. It's in your games. It's in your menu navigation and to me, it was the ultimate turnoff.
I don't know if they're going to fix this issue before launch, but for now, it's f*cking horrible.
A short while later, it was my turn to play some Kinect games. I have played 4 games and here's what I think of each one of them:
-[Kinect Joy Ride]-
It wasn't too bad, but the lag just kills it for me. The cars are always accelerating, so all you have to do is steer, boost and occasionally, do stunts while in mid-air. Seems easy, but the crappy steering (thanks to the lag) kinda ruins the experience for gamers, but I'm pretty sure children wouldn't give two ducks about it and just have a blast!
In all honesty, I'd prefer this game if it was as it was back in 2009. A free racing game that uses a controller to play.
-[Kinect Adventures]-
I played this one with some guy who was standing in line with me at that time. The only stage we were able to play was the River Raft stage. Playing with a friend is pretty fun. You and your partner are gonna have to be coordinated for a good and fun experience.
Once again, like Joy Ride, there is lag, but you'll only notice it when you jump. While it doesn't really kill the experience, it can be a nuisance to see your avatar jump half a second after you do.
-[Kinect Sports]-
*sigh*.....Rare......f*ck you....
Now, I'm only saying this because they've decided it was a good idea to have Samsung logos and T-mobile bowling balls in the game. Now I don't really mind in-game advertisements, but come on Rare!
Anyway, the only sport I've played was Table Tennis (just to compare with what I've played on Sports Champions and Wii Sports Resort). It's pretty lackluster. It's not like you're moving your paddle. It's like your body is strapped right onto the Avatar. It feels and looks really crappy. Even the Miis playing Table Tennis look more decent than what the robotic puppets known as Avatars look like. They always glitch up and sh*t and it's just bleh. Gameplay wise, it makes Wii Sports Resort and Sports Champions 50 generations ahead of its time!
I've also seen some kid play bowling. It looked okay, but it seems that it was made to be noob-friendly since the kid was going ape sh*t and throwing strikes all the time! (and keep in mind that the kid was like 4 or 5?)
Also saw some kids play the 100m sprint. All I can say is that it's just running...while you're standing still.
While the lag may not be that significant like the other 2 games, it's still there and it's hard to ignore.
-[Kinectimals]-
........I dunno what I was thinking when I was pla.......SKITTLES!!!!!!
I'm kidding. It wasn't Skittles, but it was some Cheetah that I decided to call Derp...in my mind. Anyway, after the bizarre and awkward air stroking, it was time to play some ball!
Rules are simple. Throw the ball at your......Kinectimal.....and it'll hit it back. You must keep this up for 20 seconds to win. Simple, right?
All I can say is that, it was the most hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life period. Responsiveness was craptastic. Sometimes it works, but most of the time, it decides that it doesn't want to work!
Now, the lady working there told me that it could be because the sensor is overheating.....
-[Overheating]-
I kid you not. That's what she told me!
-[Conclusion]-
While Kinect may be a great peripheral to buy for the kids because they are gonna have a f*cking blast, gamers may want to back up on this one for now. If you're curious and you're thinking about getting one for yourself, I would recommend doing that when the price drops, more games are available and they fix that horribly God forsaken lag!
Thứ Sáu, 21 tháng 10, 2011
Effect of Other Media on the Gaming Industry
Let's face it, video games are demonized all across the board aside from the gaming industry themselves. Usually it's because some idiot either can't tell the difference between reality and virtuality or simply because he wants something to blame his behavior on. It is a sickening action that just makes other forms of media less welcoming to their younger brother.
Let's think for a second about one of the biggest media wars recently: The Medal of Honor debacle. As a game, Medal of Honor was good and the inclusion of the Taliban as the main enemies was a very ballsy move. On the other hand, you had newspapers, news stations, politicians, etc. that were downgrading such a brave game and helped Danger Close to pull out the fact that the Taliban were in multiplayer to replace it with "Opposing Forces". Meanwhile, we're still becoming demonized and heartless people who don't care about the feelings of those in the Middle-East.
As has happened for years. You have pretty much yearly killings in which the murderer blames Grand Theft Auto. You have minigames in-game (Hot Coffee much?) that allows the other media to call us perverts.
But what pisses me off the most is this: action movies have everything. Gratuitous swearing, gore, nudity, sex, alcoholism, smoking, vandalism, massive amounts of killing, and much more yet games are supposed to be "cleaner". Why the hell should we be? Because it's interactive? What does that matter? You're just destroying polygons or f*cking them.
Then you have the people saying "kids shouldn't play M games". While I agree to a certain extent (What's with all the 8 year-olds in Black Ops?), that's the parent's decision, not GameStop's and it sure as hell isn't the US government's. As far as I know, Parliament isn't constantly whining about games in the UK, so WTH?
In the end, everything "gaming" is being shunned and people are trying to push laws to block gaming from certain age groups or states or whatnot. Quite frankly, it's pissing me off.
Let's think for a second about one of the biggest media wars recently: The Medal of Honor debacle. As a game, Medal of Honor was good and the inclusion of the Taliban as the main enemies was a very ballsy move. On the other hand, you had newspapers, news stations, politicians, etc. that were downgrading such a brave game and helped Danger Close to pull out the fact that the Taliban were in multiplayer to replace it with "Opposing Forces". Meanwhile, we're still becoming demonized and heartless people who don't care about the feelings of those in the Middle-East.
As has happened for years. You have pretty much yearly killings in which the murderer blames Grand Theft Auto. You have minigames in-game (Hot Coffee much?) that allows the other media to call us perverts.
But what pisses me off the most is this: action movies have everything. Gratuitous swearing, gore, nudity, sex, alcoholism, smoking, vandalism, massive amounts of killing, and much more yet games are supposed to be "cleaner". Why the hell should we be? Because it's interactive? What does that matter? You're just destroying polygons or f*cking them.
Then you have the people saying "kids shouldn't play M games". While I agree to a certain extent (What's with all the 8 year-olds in Black Ops?), that's the parent's decision, not GameStop's and it sure as hell isn't the US government's. As far as I know, Parliament isn't constantly whining about games in the UK, so WTH?
In the end, everything "gaming" is being shunned and people are trying to push laws to block gaming from certain age groups or states or whatnot. Quite frankly, it's pissing me off.
Official Pokemon Game Coming To Smartphones
The Pokemon Company is set to bring an official Pokemon Online game to smartphone devices, marking the first time that an official Nintendo-copyrighted app will be available on the iOS and Android.
Called Pokemon Iie Tap (rougly Pokemon: Say Tap?), the app appears to be a rhythm game where players “tap on Pokemon indigo trading cards to the beat of a song from the anime,” according to a translation by consumer video game site GamesRadar.
According to the game’s official announcement, it will be available for most iOS devices, as well as Android devices running version 2.1 of the platform.
Though this is the first iOS or Android application to carry an official Nintendo copyright, it is not the first mobile app of any kind: a Pokemon mobile phone game called Pokemate was released in Japan in 2006.
Though it is a rarity, Nintendo does have a history of releasing official games on platforms that are not its own, including a promotional Flash game to promote its Tingle character.
A release outside of Japan has not been announced.
Called Pokemon Iie Tap (rougly Pokemon: Say Tap?), the app appears to be a rhythm game where players “tap on Pokemon indigo trading cards to the beat of a song from the anime,” according to a translation by consumer video game site GamesRadar.
According to the game’s official announcement, it will be available for most iOS devices, as well as Android devices running version 2.1 of the platform.
Though this is the first iOS or Android application to carry an official Nintendo copyright, it is not the first mobile app of any kind: a Pokemon mobile phone game called Pokemate was released in Japan in 2006.
Though it is a rarity, Nintendo does have a history of releasing official games on platforms that are not its own, including a promotional Flash game to promote its Tingle character.
A release outside of Japan has not been announced.
Nick Jr., MTVN expand in Asia
Rugrats and music fans in Singapore and Malaysia will be able to tune in to “Dora the Explorer” and 24-hour music videos, docus and concerts with the launch of Viacom’s Nick Jr. and MTVN HD in the territories in coming weeks.
Nick Jr Games. will bow on Singapore’s Starhub from May 18, while MTVN HD will air on Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s HyppTV in Malaysia from June 1.
Nick Jr. will be available on the StarHub TV’s Kids Basic Upsize Group, while MTVNHD will be available to existing StarHub TV’s Entertainment Basic Group customers who are subscribed to the Basic HD Upsize group.
TM will offer the two channels a la carte to its subscribers on HyppTV, Malaysia’s newest pay TV service.
The services will roll out to the rest of the region at a date to be announced.
Nick Jr Games. will bow on Singapore’s Starhub from May 18, while MTVN HD will air on Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s HyppTV in Malaysia from June 1.
Nick Jr. will be available on the StarHub TV’s Kids Basic Upsize Group, while MTVNHD will be available to existing StarHub TV’s Entertainment Basic Group customers who are subscribed to the Basic HD Upsize group.
TM will offer the two channels a la carte to its subscribers on HyppTV, Malaysia’s newest pay TV service.
The services will roll out to the rest of the region at a date to be announced.
Thứ Năm, 20 tháng 10, 2011
Adiction-simplicity ratio.
Remember Pac Man, Tetris, Asteroids, Pong?If your answer is yes, then you are the same as hundreds of thousands of gamers who have a memory relating one or more of those games.But since then,things in the gaming industry have changed,but does that mean that there are no longer programmers as creative as Toru Iwatani or Alexey Pajitnov?
I know what you're gonna say,graphics and advanced technology together with how they are being combined and utilized is creative, but do the games match that creativeness?Yes,today we have games such as Call Of Duty: Black Ops, Halo Reach, Metal Gear Solid 4, Little Big Planet, Fallout New Vegas,Assassins Creed etc. which are incredible games and have broken barriers in one way or another,however,can you compare the adiction-simplicity ratio with that of Pac Man?
Maybe it's the big companies that numb (in some way) the mind of the programmer,trying to be always ahead of the competition by focusing on ONE game and its yearly release (no offense).Maybe they should encourage the creativity of its programmers...who knows what some of them might come up with.
I know what you're gonna say,graphics and advanced technology together with how they are being combined and utilized is creative, but do the games match that creativeness?Yes,today we have games such as Call Of Duty: Black Ops, Halo Reach, Metal Gear Solid 4, Little Big Planet, Fallout New Vegas,Assassins Creed etc. which are incredible games and have broken barriers in one way or another,however,can you compare the adiction-simplicity ratio with that of Pac Man?
Maybe it's the big companies that numb (in some way) the mind of the programmer,trying to be always ahead of the competition by focusing on ONE game and its yearly release (no offense).Maybe they should encourage the creativity of its programmers...who knows what some of them might come up with.
The Next Generation...Sooner or Later?
With new portable consoles launching this year and peripherals launched last year designed to lengthen the life span of our current home consoles, many speculate that we wont see new consoles for another 5 to 6 years. This means our current generation would've lasted 10 to 11 years. I feel its time for new consoles to launch within the next year to year and a half. How do you guys feel about this?
Thứ Hai, 17 tháng 10, 2011
Nick Jr., MTVN expand in Asia
Rugrats and music fans in Singapore and Malaysia will be able to tune in to “Dora the Explorer” and 24-hour music videos, docus and concerts with the launch of Viacom’s Nick Jr. and MTVN HD in the territories in coming weeks.
Nick Jr Games. will bow on Singapore’s Starhub from May 18, while MTVN HD will air on Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s HyppTV in Malaysia from June 1.
Nick Jr. will be available on the StarHub TV’s Kids Basic Upsize Group, while MTVNHD will be available to existing StarHub TV’s Entertainment Basic Group customers who are subscribed to the Basic HD Upsize group.
TM will offer the two channels a la carte to its subscribers on HyppTV, Malaysia’s newest pay TV service.
The services will roll out to the rest of the region at a date to be announced.
Nick Jr Games. will bow on Singapore’s Starhub from May 18, while MTVN HD will air on Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s HyppTV in Malaysia from June 1.
Nick Jr. will be available on the StarHub TV’s Kids Basic Upsize Group, while MTVNHD will be available to existing StarHub TV’s Entertainment Basic Group customers who are subscribed to the Basic HD Upsize group.
TM will offer the two channels a la carte to its subscribers on HyppTV, Malaysia’s newest pay TV service.
The services will roll out to the rest of the region at a date to be announced.
Just revisited the game "Gun"
So, here I am, finding myself desperately waiting on Brink. Played through this, played through that....what's this!? "Gun", let's blow the dust off of this oldie and see what it was that made me buy this game in the first place. Wow! So, we know that "Red Dead Redemption" was a follow-up to the less-spectacular "Red Dead Revolver".....but in truth, the two games were so far apart in respects of gameplay, fun, and value (let alone graphics), would anyone have really known that they were connected? That asked, when we take a closer look at "Gun"....there isn't a doubt in my mind that the developers that worked on RDR were fans of "Gun" at a religous level.....if you liked RDR and haven't played "Gun", you must. This isn't a review for the game, but it's a reminder of just how good of a game that "Gun" really was, it is the game that RDR sequeled in spirit.... There may not be another Zynga game in which Energy is more important than in Adventure World. Every switch thrown, every puzzle solved and beastie whacked costs you the Facebook game juice. Players often find themselves without Energy minutes into an Expedition. But this isn't the time for whining--it's time to show you the value of upgrading your Tools and how to do it.
Tools: The Game Changer
If you noticed, each piece of debris and monster has a life bar, and normally take multiple hits with your Whip or Machete to whittle down. This, of course, quickly becomes a waste in later Expeditions purely due to the amount of obstacles in your path. But increasing the amount of damage your various Tools inflict against said baddies could considerably reduce the Energy spend in-game.
For instance, say a Snake has three hit points and is Level 5. Since monsters can hit back in this game, it could take three to five Energy before an enemy goes down. Now, imagine if you had upgraded your Whip to Level 2. Offing that Snake would take just two to four Energy with a beefier Whip. The same situation applies to Tools like the Machete.
Adventure World Tool Shop inside
And Now For Your How-To
Adventure World Tool Shop outsideUpgrading your Tools in Adventure World is simple. All you need to do is head back to Base Camp from an Expedition, and look for a makeshift hut that should already be in place in your headquarters. When you click on the Tool Shop, a window will appear featuring all the Tools you've found thus far on your journeys. Click on the Tool you wish to upgrade.
Once you click on a Tool to upgrade, you'll notice that each Tool costs Coins to upgrade. That's it--no asking friends to help you out with materials or farming certain crops for special items. Just the goods you find during your travels in search of El Dorado. However, Coins are actually quite rare in this game, so you'll need to save and spend wisely.
When you have enough Coins for an upgrade, just click on the appropriate icon to pay up. Tool upgrades are also level-locked, meaning you must reach a certain level for most Tools before being able to upgrade them using Coins. If you're feeling impatient, you could always unlock access to those higher level Tools early using Adventure Cash.
Just One Small Catch...
However, some Tool upgrades do require an extra boost: your Tool Shop. Yes, the building itself can be upgraded, too. And this time, you will need items from your friends. (Just think of how things work in CityVille.) Luckily, you only have to do this about twice to unlock access to all of the game's Tools. Then, it's back onto leveling up to access new upgrades for Coins.
Adventure World Tool Shop Upgrade
Upgraded Tools are hands-down the way to go, if you want to save precious Energy for the good stuff, that is. You know, exploring ... uncovering the secrets of El Dorado? That kind of stuff. Your wallet might thank us later.
Click here to find all of our Adventure World Tips in one spot >
[Source: Zynga]
Have you upgraded your Tools in Adventure World yet? What other Energy-saving tips might you have for your fellow adventurers? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
Tools: The Game Changer
If you noticed, each piece of debris and monster has a life bar, and normally take multiple hits with your Whip or Machete to whittle down. This, of course, quickly becomes a waste in later Expeditions purely due to the amount of obstacles in your path. But increasing the amount of damage your various Tools inflict against said baddies could considerably reduce the Energy spend in-game.
For instance, say a Snake has three hit points and is Level 5. Since monsters can hit back in this game, it could take three to five Energy before an enemy goes down. Now, imagine if you had upgraded your Whip to Level 2. Offing that Snake would take just two to four Energy with a beefier Whip. The same situation applies to Tools like the Machete.
Adventure World Tool Shop inside
And Now For Your How-To
Adventure World Tool Shop outsideUpgrading your Tools in Adventure World is simple. All you need to do is head back to Base Camp from an Expedition, and look for a makeshift hut that should already be in place in your headquarters. When you click on the Tool Shop, a window will appear featuring all the Tools you've found thus far on your journeys. Click on the Tool you wish to upgrade.
Once you click on a Tool to upgrade, you'll notice that each Tool costs Coins to upgrade. That's it--no asking friends to help you out with materials or farming certain crops for special items. Just the goods you find during your travels in search of El Dorado. However, Coins are actually quite rare in this game, so you'll need to save and spend wisely.
When you have enough Coins for an upgrade, just click on the appropriate icon to pay up. Tool upgrades are also level-locked, meaning you must reach a certain level for most Tools before being able to upgrade them using Coins. If you're feeling impatient, you could always unlock access to those higher level Tools early using Adventure Cash.
Just One Small Catch...
However, some Tool upgrades do require an extra boost: your Tool Shop. Yes, the building itself can be upgraded, too. And this time, you will need items from your friends. (Just think of how things work in CityVille.) Luckily, you only have to do this about twice to unlock access to all of the game's Tools. Then, it's back onto leveling up to access new upgrades for Coins.
Adventure World Tool Shop Upgrade
Upgraded Tools are hands-down the way to go, if you want to save precious Energy for the good stuff, that is. You know, exploring ... uncovering the secrets of El Dorado? That kind of stuff. Your wallet might thank us later.
Click here to find all of our Adventure World Tips in one spot >
[Source: Zynga]
Have you upgraded your Tools in Adventure World yet? What other Energy-saving tips might you have for your fellow adventurers? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
Thứ Sáu, 14 tháng 10, 2011
Top 5 worst games of this generation (that are successful)
In gaming, there will always be a best and a worst. This rant is not for the kind of bad game that gets insanely low reviews and sells 100 copies total. You all know not to buy those games. This list is for bad games that have suceeded in both the review and sales area as well as the respect of most gamers. This list will be controversial and many will argue with it, but ultimately its the truth so lets just pull the band aid off and get to it.
5. Duke Nukem Forever.
What more can you say about a game that has been hyped for 14 years? Fans hoped that this would be a winner and thier nostalgic dreams of the 90s would be reborn once again, but the completely unorganized development of this game ensured that it would be terrible from the start. Even with the obvious signs that this game would bomb, the old school gamers still defend this game despite the archiac controls, out dated graphics, and long load times that plague it. Duke Nukem is a painful reminder that nostalgia is only good if it stays in the past because if it is remade for your more complex adult brain, you will realize that the only reason you liked it in the first place was because you were just easier to impress when you were 12.
4.Metroid Other M.
This is not a game I would ever expect to be on a list like this. The Metroid Prime series was pretty much the best 3D transition Nintendo ever made with their series. Metroid Other M promised to mix the 2D and 3D elements we have come to love and for the most part they did that right. What they got wrong was the recharacterization of Samus. Samus has changed from a fearless bounty hunter who takes orders from no one to a submissive weakling. Samus now cowers in fear over enemies she has killed multiple times and takes orders from some dude who has no authority over her. This is the equivalent of making Rambo wear a tutu. Its embarassing to watch and soils the good name of the first real video game heroine. As good as the gameplay may be, the presentation is a deal breaker.
3.Bayonetta.
If you are looking for a game to prove to your parents that video games can be a mature and classy medium of entertainment, you are about as cold as the south pole. Bayonetta is the quintessential example of using sex to sell a game. You play as a woman with extremely long legs who constantly walks with a model pose and strips off her hair clothing when she fights while the camera zooms in to get the best angles of this. Did I mention this game is japanese? There is no coherent story or innovative gameplay here. This is all a visual spectactle for the gamers who are lonely enough to use this game as...aid. There is no class, no shame, and no subtley to Bayonetta at all. Bayonetta has only served to push the argument that games are just violent, sex crazed, and misogynistic when we were finally starting to shake off that image. Now that image will be stuck with us for many years to come.
2.Saints Row.
There have been GTA clones before it, but none of them are as shameless in thier cloning as Saints Row is. Saints Row is Grand Theft Auto in almost every way. Whatever its done, GTA has done before and better. The graphics are bland, the story is immature and nonsensical, and the gameplay is buggy to the point of nearly being unplayable. Saints Row is the original game for being unoriginal and has set a new low in the gaming industry for just how much you can steal from a sucessful game and get away with it. The industry has become full of uninnovative clones and Saints Row made it all completely acceptable with its success.
1.Wii Fit.
Here is a game I can barely even call a game. Wii Fit is more like what you would get out of a bad infomercial. You stand on a board and do some aerobics and this is supposed to make you fit? Not by a long shot. Nintendo Execs have even flat out said that the game is not supposed to make you fit at all. So what is the point of this game? To exploit the insecurities of our more rounded gamers? I thought games were supposed to help you escape the realities of everyday life, but this game takes life, throws it in your face, and calls you fat while doing it. Its like buying Portal 2...without the portals...just glados calling you fatty the whole time...and we pay for this.
Honorable mention: Beatles Rock Band.
The Beatles were the greatest band to grace modern music, but thier low tempo music does not make for a fun rhythm game at all. All the songs make you hit a button about once every 5 seconds (and this is on expert) guaranteeing fast boredom for even the most unskilled player. If you really want to rock out, GH Metallica is the way to go.
5. Duke Nukem Forever.
What more can you say about a game that has been hyped for 14 years? Fans hoped that this would be a winner and thier nostalgic dreams of the 90s would be reborn once again, but the completely unorganized development of this game ensured that it would be terrible from the start. Even with the obvious signs that this game would bomb, the old school gamers still defend this game despite the archiac controls, out dated graphics, and long load times that plague it. Duke Nukem is a painful reminder that nostalgia is only good if it stays in the past because if it is remade for your more complex adult brain, you will realize that the only reason you liked it in the first place was because you were just easier to impress when you were 12.
4.Metroid Other M.
This is not a game I would ever expect to be on a list like this. The Metroid Prime series was pretty much the best 3D transition Nintendo ever made with their series. Metroid Other M promised to mix the 2D and 3D elements we have come to love and for the most part they did that right. What they got wrong was the recharacterization of Samus. Samus has changed from a fearless bounty hunter who takes orders from no one to a submissive weakling. Samus now cowers in fear over enemies she has killed multiple times and takes orders from some dude who has no authority over her. This is the equivalent of making Rambo wear a tutu. Its embarassing to watch and soils the good name of the first real video game heroine. As good as the gameplay may be, the presentation is a deal breaker.
3.Bayonetta.
If you are looking for a game to prove to your parents that video games can be a mature and classy medium of entertainment, you are about as cold as the south pole. Bayonetta is the quintessential example of using sex to sell a game. You play as a woman with extremely long legs who constantly walks with a model pose and strips off her hair clothing when she fights while the camera zooms in to get the best angles of this. Did I mention this game is japanese? There is no coherent story or innovative gameplay here. This is all a visual spectactle for the gamers who are lonely enough to use this game as...aid. There is no class, no shame, and no subtley to Bayonetta at all. Bayonetta has only served to push the argument that games are just violent, sex crazed, and misogynistic when we were finally starting to shake off that image. Now that image will be stuck with us for many years to come.
2.Saints Row.
There have been GTA clones before it, but none of them are as shameless in thier cloning as Saints Row is. Saints Row is Grand Theft Auto in almost every way. Whatever its done, GTA has done before and better. The graphics are bland, the story is immature and nonsensical, and the gameplay is buggy to the point of nearly being unplayable. Saints Row is the original game for being unoriginal and has set a new low in the gaming industry for just how much you can steal from a sucessful game and get away with it. The industry has become full of uninnovative clones and Saints Row made it all completely acceptable with its success.
1.Wii Fit.
Here is a game I can barely even call a game. Wii Fit is more like what you would get out of a bad infomercial. You stand on a board and do some aerobics and this is supposed to make you fit? Not by a long shot. Nintendo Execs have even flat out said that the game is not supposed to make you fit at all. So what is the point of this game? To exploit the insecurities of our more rounded gamers? I thought games were supposed to help you escape the realities of everyday life, but this game takes life, throws it in your face, and calls you fat while doing it. Its like buying Portal 2...without the portals...just glados calling you fatty the whole time...and we pay for this.
Honorable mention: Beatles Rock Band.
The Beatles were the greatest band to grace modern music, but thier low tempo music does not make for a fun rhythm game at all. All the songs make you hit a button about once every 5 seconds (and this is on expert) guaranteeing fast boredom for even the most unskilled player. If you really want to rock out, GH Metallica is the way to go.
A look into Resistance 3 Multiplayer Beta
PSN users with Playstation Plus have been given a real treat in the latest PSN store update. The Resistance 3 Multiplayer Beta. I decided to take some time off from playing Witcher 2 and try it out and here are my thoughts.
The graphics in Resistance 2 were nothing revolutionary but they were pretty and the engine was able to deliver huge amounts of players and AI monsters on the screen at the same time. In Resistance 3 Insomniac has created beautiful maps with a color pallet consisting from multiple colors instead of gray and its shades. There are plants and signs of the alien invasion spread out the areas creating a proper mood. There are also radios that play the emergency messages and whatnot in some buildings which is a nice touch. One complaint is the human character models who look like they have gone over the edge and stare at the alien invaders eyes wide and with no emotion. In short they look creepier than the chimera.
The maps are large and they hold 16 players in the Beta, we will see if the huge massed battles of Resistance 2 make their way to the third. Map design is in general good and there are multiple ways to close in on your enemy. This at least in the Beta has almost completely removed all campers, some try but usually end up failing as you are easily able to get to them some other way. There are few positions created clearly sniping in mind but they don't enable the snipers to massacre the other team. All in all the maps are well balanced.
Guns and their sound design is solid with the carbine making a proper noise when fired where as the Bullseye makes a higher whining sound. Also the snipers make a distinct loud proper bang. Only weapon that lacks in the sound department is the Berserks gun that is a huge cannon but makes a muffled whump sound when fired. The weapons as the maps are well balanced counting out the mutator which seems little over powered. The problem with mutator is that it makes already a good impact damage and also poisonous damage over time. It also has the ability to turn enemies into rampaging mutated minions that attack and charge against their allies. The mutator is unlocked at level 20 which then can turn a low level game into a massacre. Hopefully in the final release or in luck already in the beta Mutator will be balanced properly. Guns each have their own stats and different secondary fire modes which to many are familiar from the previous games. Guns affect also your running speed which is a good thing that you can outrun or swiftly flank enemies carrying for example the mutator or Berserks.
The game now has perks and killstreaks. This has been an issue to some people and I understand why. They easily throw the balance out of the window and flip off the fair game in process. Luckily there are no overpowered perks for they range from from shooting a little straighter and extra clip size to body armor that increases your health but slow you down. There are few shield perks but they don't make you invincible and of course you are able to use them yourself. Killstreaks award you after three kills an assault shield for the resistance which blocks fire coming from straight ahead leaving your back vulnerable or to chimeras a cloak that disappears after firing at an enemy. Both have a time limit that is about 60 seconds. 6 kills award you then the Auger which was in the last two games very powerful so i can see why they made it a kill streak. It has the same old abilities. These are seeing the enemies highlighted trough the walls and being able to deploy a shield using the secondary fire. You can't shoot trough walls anymore or at least I didn't hit anyone, I'm not completely sure if I just didn't aim properly or has it been taken out. The last killstreak mutates chimeras into bigger, harder chimeras that you probably remember from Resistance 2 and they have this kind of a alien rocket launcher which is deadly but the ammunition don't move that fast and it has a fire rate of about 60 rounds a minute. The resistance fighters get combat armor and a slow chain gun which bears resemblance to the minigun in Resistance 2. It also fires explosive ammunition so there are really no big difference between the two streaks.
In general the multiplayer is just very well made and I hope Insomniac will keep supporting the game after the release and continue listening the community. If you have a chance to play the Beta i highly recommend you checking it out. This at least for me is a sure buy when it hits the stores in September.
The graphics in Resistance 2 were nothing revolutionary but they were pretty and the engine was able to deliver huge amounts of players and AI monsters on the screen at the same time. In Resistance 3 Insomniac has created beautiful maps with a color pallet consisting from multiple colors instead of gray and its shades. There are plants and signs of the alien invasion spread out the areas creating a proper mood. There are also radios that play the emergency messages and whatnot in some buildings which is a nice touch. One complaint is the human character models who look like they have gone over the edge and stare at the alien invaders eyes wide and with no emotion. In short they look creepier than the chimera.
The maps are large and they hold 16 players in the Beta, we will see if the huge massed battles of Resistance 2 make their way to the third. Map design is in general good and there are multiple ways to close in on your enemy. This at least in the Beta has almost completely removed all campers, some try but usually end up failing as you are easily able to get to them some other way. There are few positions created clearly sniping in mind but they don't enable the snipers to massacre the other team. All in all the maps are well balanced.
Guns and their sound design is solid with the carbine making a proper noise when fired where as the Bullseye makes a higher whining sound. Also the snipers make a distinct loud proper bang. Only weapon that lacks in the sound department is the Berserks gun that is a huge cannon but makes a muffled whump sound when fired. The weapons as the maps are well balanced counting out the mutator which seems little over powered. The problem with mutator is that it makes already a good impact damage and also poisonous damage over time. It also has the ability to turn enemies into rampaging mutated minions that attack and charge against their allies. The mutator is unlocked at level 20 which then can turn a low level game into a massacre. Hopefully in the final release or in luck already in the beta Mutator will be balanced properly. Guns each have their own stats and different secondary fire modes which to many are familiar from the previous games. Guns affect also your running speed which is a good thing that you can outrun or swiftly flank enemies carrying for example the mutator or Berserks.
The game now has perks and killstreaks. This has been an issue to some people and I understand why. They easily throw the balance out of the window and flip off the fair game in process. Luckily there are no overpowered perks for they range from from shooting a little straighter and extra clip size to body armor that increases your health but slow you down. There are few shield perks but they don't make you invincible and of course you are able to use them yourself. Killstreaks award you after three kills an assault shield for the resistance which blocks fire coming from straight ahead leaving your back vulnerable or to chimeras a cloak that disappears after firing at an enemy. Both have a time limit that is about 60 seconds. 6 kills award you then the Auger which was in the last two games very powerful so i can see why they made it a kill streak. It has the same old abilities. These are seeing the enemies highlighted trough the walls and being able to deploy a shield using the secondary fire. You can't shoot trough walls anymore or at least I didn't hit anyone, I'm not completely sure if I just didn't aim properly or has it been taken out. The last killstreak mutates chimeras into bigger, harder chimeras that you probably remember from Resistance 2 and they have this kind of a alien rocket launcher which is deadly but the ammunition don't move that fast and it has a fire rate of about 60 rounds a minute. The resistance fighters get combat armor and a slow chain gun which bears resemblance to the minigun in Resistance 2. It also fires explosive ammunition so there are really no big difference between the two streaks.
In general the multiplayer is just very well made and I hope Insomniac will keep supporting the game after the release and continue listening the community. If you have a chance to play the Beta i highly recommend you checking it out. This at least for me is a sure buy when it hits the stores in September.
Where's My Spectator Mode?
We all like challenge. Most of us who like challenge like competition. Those of us who like competition are likely to enjoy watching two sides go at it. So when you combine that with the love of video games, you get a very enjoyable and even a guide to those who don't find themselves doing well in a particular game. With what I feel is such a wonderful option to give gamers, why isn't it everywhere?
I didn't start playing online shooters until a few years after the currrent generation of console games had started. I was fairly new to shooters in general with only Halo 2 under my belt and a few others that aren't worth mentioning. When Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was nearing release, I decided to pick myself up a PS3. Aside from the fact that I turned out to be rather talented at the game, I enjoyed the game's offerings. One of those things was the cinema mode. What is more satisfying than watching myself or another player beast around a map other than doing it myself? It was a feature that I wish was in every multiplayer game, but found it wasn't.
Almost a year later, I pick up Resistance: Fall of Man. Now, this is easily my favorite single-player shooter ever, but I have to say the multiplayer left a bad taste in my mouth. I have nothing against it and I respect those who find it to their liking, but it just wasn't my thing. But while I WAS playing it (kind of), I stumbled across spectator mode, which allowed me to view other players' games. I thought this was probably one of the coolest features I'd ever run into in a video game, but it was even better because instead of just looking through an orbital camera, I was able to walk around and jump as if I was actively participating in the match. Then there's the ability to watch other player's race in Gran Turismo 5 - the only problem being is that you take up a space in the lobby even if you just want to watch, which can understandably annoy some people. But how cool is that?
I can only wish that more games would adopt a set-up similar to that found in FoM. I thought it was a great feature in a game that not too many people play anymore, but what if it was implemented in a new and/or popular game like Resistance 3 or Battlefield? Imagine the epicness of being able to soar across a huge map in real-time and witness a full-scale battle taking place. Wouldn't that be cool? Or maybe a more personal teabagging by a live player? Double the fun!
With a few more games giving cinema mode to gamers this year, I hope this starts a much desired trend in my future purchases. Having access to these modes regardless of what I'm actually playing would be like a dream come true. I might have to wait until the next generation or beyond, but I really hope I don't. These modes truly complete the multiplayer experience and give the community a stronger connection.
I think that if there was one thing I could make standard in all future multiplayer games, it would be to include a Cinema and Specator mode. You can learn, lay back, laugh, or watch a friend finish his game instead of waiting at an uneventful lobby screen. I'm sure I can find some people here on N4G that would agree with me, no?
I didn't start playing online shooters until a few years after the currrent generation of console games had started. I was fairly new to shooters in general with only Halo 2 under my belt and a few others that aren't worth mentioning. When Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was nearing release, I decided to pick myself up a PS3. Aside from the fact that I turned out to be rather talented at the game, I enjoyed the game's offerings. One of those things was the cinema mode. What is more satisfying than watching myself or another player beast around a map other than doing it myself? It was a feature that I wish was in every multiplayer game, but found it wasn't.
Almost a year later, I pick up Resistance: Fall of Man. Now, this is easily my favorite single-player shooter ever, but I have to say the multiplayer left a bad taste in my mouth. I have nothing against it and I respect those who find it to their liking, but it just wasn't my thing. But while I WAS playing it (kind of), I stumbled across spectator mode, which allowed me to view other players' games. I thought this was probably one of the coolest features I'd ever run into in a video game, but it was even better because instead of just looking through an orbital camera, I was able to walk around and jump as if I was actively participating in the match. Then there's the ability to watch other player's race in Gran Turismo 5 - the only problem being is that you take up a space in the lobby even if you just want to watch, which can understandably annoy some people. But how cool is that?
I can only wish that more games would adopt a set-up similar to that found in FoM. I thought it was a great feature in a game that not too many people play anymore, but what if it was implemented in a new and/or popular game like Resistance 3 or Battlefield? Imagine the epicness of being able to soar across a huge map in real-time and witness a full-scale battle taking place. Wouldn't that be cool? Or maybe a more personal teabagging by a live player? Double the fun!
With a few more games giving cinema mode to gamers this year, I hope this starts a much desired trend in my future purchases. Having access to these modes regardless of what I'm actually playing would be like a dream come true. I might have to wait until the next generation or beyond, but I really hope I don't. These modes truly complete the multiplayer experience and give the community a stronger connection.
I think that if there was one thing I could make standard in all future multiplayer games, it would be to include a Cinema and Specator mode. You can learn, lay back, laugh, or watch a friend finish his game instead of waiting at an uneventful lobby screen. I'm sure I can find some people here on N4G that would agree with me, no?
Phineas And Ferb 3D Game – Disney XD Games 63
The new game is available at the Disney XD discovery channel. Get ahead of the game before its officially released next week!
Disney is introducing the brand new DisneyXD game. Phineas and Ferb in: The Transport inators of Doooom!
Doofenschmitz is up to his old tricks again, and who has gone missing? Phineas! Help Ferb find his brother and try to help Agent P thwarth Doofenschmitz evil plans!
Check out this new exciting Disney XD online game before all others do at the Disney Cartoon network games website!
Check out Disney’s cartoon network to find a lot of amazing games and news. Disney offers a lot of cartoon games on their site. So head over to the Disney XD site and play the new Phineas and Ferb – The Transport-inators of Doooom! game!
Have Fun!
Disney is introducing the brand new DisneyXD game. Phineas and Ferb in: The Transport inators of Doooom!
Doofenschmitz is up to his old tricks again, and who has gone missing? Phineas! Help Ferb find his brother and try to help Agent P thwarth Doofenschmitz evil plans!
Check out this new exciting Disney XD online game before all others do at the Disney Cartoon network games website!
Check out Disney’s cartoon network to find a lot of amazing games and news. Disney offers a lot of cartoon games on their site. So head over to the Disney XD site and play the new Phineas and Ferb – The Transport-inators of Doooom! game!
Have Fun!
Play the Scary Maze Game With Your Friends!
Have you ever played the Scary Maze Game 8 now? If not, brotha you haven’t lived!!! This maze game is the most awesome game on earth! But in order to play it you MUST have a partner in the room with you. So go find a friend, co-hort, or even an enemy – it doesn’t matter! Then match your wits and your mouse skills with the game and see if you’re awesome enough to win the BIG prize at the end!
Thứ Năm, 6 tháng 10, 2011
FarmVille Friends feature finally launches; add neighbors without being Facebook buddies
For the past few weeks, we've been given you details about a then unreleased feature in FarmVille called "FarmVille Friends," which will - to put it simply - allow you to add new FarmVille neighbors without being Facebook friends. Finally, this feature has launched in the game, allowing you to browse through a list of possible neighbor suggestions to find just the right people for you.
You'll be greeted with this feature automatically once the update has rolled around to your game. From there, you'll have to take a trip to the "Add Neighbors" tab at the top of the FarmVille game page to see a list of five strangers at a time that you could add as FarmVille neighbors without actually adding them as Facebook friends. You'll see their first names, in-game levels, profile pictures (where available), locations and the last time they played. You'll then either have the option of sending them a neighbor request directly or visiting their farm to see if they have many of the game's newest features to be sure they're really an active player.
If you happen to have any mutual Facebook friends with that person, that information will be displayed as well, and you can tell who the mutual friend is by hovering over the orange banner, as seen above. If you don't wish to add any of those five strangers as FarmVille neighbors, you can click on the "See More" button at right to refresh your selection.
Keep in mind, as you're able to see others in this feature, so too can people see you. You may appear in players' groups of five, where others can add you as FarmvVille neighbors instead. You'll see these requests in the Zynga Messaging Center upon logging into the game, and can simply click to accept or ignore the request as you see fit.
If you'd rather remove yourself from this feature entirely (that is, remove yourself from the pool of possible neighbors, and not add any strangers as neighbors yourself), this is accomplished by scrolling all of the way down the Add Neighbors tab and unchecking the "FarmVille Friends" box, as seen below. Should you change your mind later, you can always check the box again to put yourself back in the pool.
Once you've become neighbors with these users, you'll be able to visit their farms and send them free gifts as normal, but it doesn't look like our interactions can spread much beyond that as of this writing. That makes this feature questionable in quality, but you can always try it out on a few neighbors to see if it positively changes your gameplay around the farm.
What do you think of this FarmVille Friends feature? Will you participate and add new players as neighbors? Sound off in the comments.
You'll be greeted with this feature automatically once the update has rolled around to your game. From there, you'll have to take a trip to the "Add Neighbors" tab at the top of the FarmVille game page to see a list of five strangers at a time that you could add as FarmVille neighbors without actually adding them as Facebook friends. You'll see their first names, in-game levels, profile pictures (where available), locations and the last time they played. You'll then either have the option of sending them a neighbor request directly or visiting their farm to see if they have many of the game's newest features to be sure they're really an active player.
If you happen to have any mutual Facebook friends with that person, that information will be displayed as well, and you can tell who the mutual friend is by hovering over the orange banner, as seen above. If you don't wish to add any of those five strangers as FarmVille neighbors, you can click on the "See More" button at right to refresh your selection.
Keep in mind, as you're able to see others in this feature, so too can people see you. You may appear in players' groups of five, where others can add you as FarmvVille neighbors instead. You'll see these requests in the Zynga Messaging Center upon logging into the game, and can simply click to accept or ignore the request as you see fit.
If you'd rather remove yourself from this feature entirely (that is, remove yourself from the pool of possible neighbors, and not add any strangers as neighbors yourself), this is accomplished by scrolling all of the way down the Add Neighbors tab and unchecking the "FarmVille Friends" box, as seen below. Should you change your mind later, you can always check the box again to put yourself back in the pool.
Once you've become neighbors with these users, you'll be able to visit their farms and send them free gifts as normal, but it doesn't look like our interactions can spread much beyond that as of this writing. That makes this feature questionable in quality, but you can always try it out on a few neighbors to see if it positively changes your gameplay around the farm.
What do you think of this FarmVille Friends feature? Will you participate and add new players as neighbors? Sound off in the comments.
FarmVille: Double Mastery on for this weekend on trees and crops
Even though there's no real holiday going on, that hasn't stopped Zynga from celebrating this weekend in FarmVille by turning on double mastery. This double mastery event will take place from now until Monday evening at 9:00 PM PDT. Within that time, all of your crops and trees harvested will count for double the mastery points, so there's a great opportunity here for mastery sign earning!
A couple of things to keep in mind: If you're going for crop mastery, you can activate a bushel when harvesting to earn three points of mastery for each square with this bonus. For tree farmers, you can also employ the orchard rotation technique, while earning double mastery on each orchard you harvest as well. Also, if you happen to own a Platinum Mastery Statue or recently re-released 2X Mastery Statue on your farm, this bonus will not stack on either crops or trees - you'll simply miss out on this event on that particular farm, as it only applies to those without such statues.
As one final note, this event does not give you double mastery points on animals. Why the FarmVille team hasn't decided to include our (mostly) furry friends in these updates hasn't yet been revealed, but I'm sure Zynga has its reasons. Either way, remember - this event will only last for the next couple of days. If you've ever needed extra incentive to play FarmVille on the weekends, this is about as good as it gets.
What crops or trees will you try to mastery during this double mastery weekend? Tell us in the comments!
A couple of things to keep in mind: If you're going for crop mastery, you can activate a bushel when harvesting to earn three points of mastery for each square with this bonus. For tree farmers, you can also employ the orchard rotation technique, while earning double mastery on each orchard you harvest as well. Also, if you happen to own a Platinum Mastery Statue or recently re-released 2X Mastery Statue on your farm, this bonus will not stack on either crops or trees - you'll simply miss out on this event on that particular farm, as it only applies to those without such statues.
As one final note, this event does not give you double mastery points on animals. Why the FarmVille team hasn't decided to include our (mostly) furry friends in these updates hasn't yet been revealed, but I'm sure Zynga has its reasons. Either way, remember - this event will only last for the next couple of days. If you've ever needed extra incentive to play FarmVille on the weekends, this is about as good as it gets.
What crops or trees will you try to mastery during this double mastery weekend? Tell us in the comments!
FarmVille Lighthouse Cove Model Farm rewards free items daily
While the Model Farm has long been a fairly useless feature in FarmVille, that merely lets you look at limited edition items currently available in the store in all of their "life-size" and (sometimes) animated glory, it seems that the FarmVille team really wants you to pay attention to this "neighbor" on your friends list, as they've taken to rewarding you for doing so. In this newest case, we see the Model Farm taking on a Lighthouse Cove theme, with plenty of trees, animals and buildings giving off that "resort town" feeling.
For visiting the Model Farm, you should receive 1,000 coins for free. Don't worry if the window doesn't pop up right away; there are simply tons of items to load (and plenty of price-tags as well), so it might take the game a few seconds longer than normal to reward you with your prize. We're not sure if the 1,000 coin prize is static across the game just for today's visits, or for your first visit to the Model Farm, so make sure to take advantage of the daily prize giveaways on this farm while you can.
We're told that we can "come back tomorrow to win again," and while the prize may just be more coins, free is free, right?
What sorts of prizes would make you want to visit the Model Farm, or are some free coins enough to do the trick? Sound off in the comments.
For visiting the Model Farm, you should receive 1,000 coins for free. Don't worry if the window doesn't pop up right away; there are simply tons of items to load (and plenty of price-tags as well), so it might take the game a few seconds longer than normal to reward you with your prize. We're not sure if the 1,000 coin prize is static across the game just for today's visits, or for your first visit to the Model Farm, so make sure to take advantage of the daily prize giveaways on this farm while you can.
We're told that we can "come back tomorrow to win again," and while the prize may just be more coins, free is free, right?
What sorts of prizes would make you want to visit the Model Farm, or are some free coins enough to do the trick? Sound off in the comments.
Adventure World Level Up Giveaway gives more prizes for fan page 'Likes'
Leave it to Zynga to release yet another giveaway in one of its games requiring players to Like that game's particular Facebook fan page. Such is the case now with Adventure World, as a "Level Up Giveaway" has now launched, giving players a chance to walk away with either 100, 200 or 300 Adventure Cash (the game's premium currency) as the page gains more and more "Likes."
As of this writing, the fan page has around 600,000 Likes, but when it reaches three milestones: 1, 2 and 3 millions fans each, a giveaway will be held between all people that currently Like the fan page, and also enter the contest specifically via email. Don't worry - you'll only have to send them your name and Facebook ID so they know who exactly to reward.
Again, there will be three giveaways in all, with the first giving 25 people 100 Adventure Cash each. The second will reward 25 players 200 Adventure Cash each, and finally, the third giveaway will reward 25 fans a whopping 300 Adventure Cash each. As energy is such a valuable commodity in Adventure World, this Adventure Cash would give you plenty of room to purchase Energy Packs to really push yourself along further in the story of unlocking El Dorado. For a complete look at the rules and how to send in your email entry, check out the game's official forums.
What would you do with 100, 200 or 300 Adventure Cash? Would you spend it on Energy, or would you purchase building supplies? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
As of this writing, the fan page has around 600,000 Likes, but when it reaches three milestones: 1, 2 and 3 millions fans each, a giveaway will be held between all people that currently Like the fan page, and also enter the contest specifically via email. Don't worry - you'll only have to send them your name and Facebook ID so they know who exactly to reward.
Again, there will be three giveaways in all, with the first giving 25 people 100 Adventure Cash each. The second will reward 25 players 200 Adventure Cash each, and finally, the third giveaway will reward 25 fans a whopping 300 Adventure Cash each. As energy is such a valuable commodity in Adventure World, this Adventure Cash would give you plenty of room to purchase Energy Packs to really push yourself along further in the story of unlocking El Dorado. For a complete look at the rules and how to send in your email entry, check out the game's official forums.
What would you do with 100, 200 or 300 Adventure Cash? Would you spend it on Energy, or would you purchase building supplies? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Adventure World: New chapters revealed after El Dorado
While we all know that Zynga's newest game, Adventure World, starts out as a quest to solve the mystery of El Dorado by gathering the Mastery Key and four totems, did you know that the game is far from over after this first mission is complete? That's right, after solving the mystery of El Dorado, Zynga announced that we'll be taken through Chapters 2 and 3 of the game (each likely as lengthy as the first - or longer).
While there's no way to guarantee when each user will make their way to these newest chapters individually, we do know their locations, thanks to a screenshot posted by the big Z on the game's Facebook fan page. Chapter 2 takes us to Egypt, where we'll solve the "Riddle of the Sphinx." Meanwhile, Chapter 3 is set in Tibet, where the "Mystery of the Yeti" waits to be solved.
Unfortunately, while we also know that Indiana Jones will showing up in the game next month, we haven't been told how great of an impact he will have on these two Chapters, if at all. It could be that we'll need to wait until Chapter 4 and beyond to see Indy come into the actual story of the game, depending on how far ahead the team at Zynga had developed the game before making this announcement.
Either way, we'll make sure to bring you continued coverage on the quests, expeditions and story missions in Adventure World, so keep checking back with us for more.
Are you excited to travel to Egypt and Tibet in Adventure World? How far have you made it in the story so far? Sound off in the comments.
While there's no way to guarantee when each user will make their way to these newest chapters individually, we do know their locations, thanks to a screenshot posted by the big Z on the game's Facebook fan page. Chapter 2 takes us to Egypt, where we'll solve the "Riddle of the Sphinx." Meanwhile, Chapter 3 is set in Tibet, where the "Mystery of the Yeti" waits to be solved.
Unfortunately, while we also know that Indiana Jones will showing up in the game next month, we haven't been told how great of an impact he will have on these two Chapters, if at all. It could be that we'll need to wait until Chapter 4 and beyond to see Indy come into the actual story of the game, depending on how far ahead the team at Zynga had developed the game before making this announcement.
Either way, we'll make sure to bring you continued coverage on the quests, expeditions and story missions in Adventure World, so keep checking back with us for more.
Are you excited to travel to Egypt and Tibet in Adventure World? How far have you made it in the story so far? Sound off in the comments.
Thứ Ba, 4 tháng 10, 2011
FarmVille: Limited edition Cows come back to the barnyard (again)
No, you're not experiencing deja vu farmers, Zynga has yet again re-released a set of cows into FarmVille, giving you guys a chance to fill your collections in anticipation of what looks to be a Cow-centric breeding habitat coming to the farm. We last saw some of these Cows back in August, when Animal Mastery hit the farm, but there are some different options for your shopping pleasure this time around.
As usual, you'll only have a week to do any shopping associated with this re-release of Cows, so here's a complete look at those that have been re-released:
Autumn Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Blue Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Robot Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Western Longhorn - 20 Farm Cash
Devon Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Mohawk Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Fairy Cow - 24 Farm Cash
Hereford Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Highland Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Chrome Cow - 24 Farm Cash
Unfortunately, there aren't any coin-only Cows in this update, so you'll have to spend some of your hard-earned Farm Cash to stock up on any of these animals. Unlike previous animal habitats, the upcoming Cow building will allow you to breed Calves, rather that duplicates of these Cows, so if you don't want to waste time waiting for those Calves to grow inside your Nursery Barn, you might want to buy these Cows as is.
We'll make sure to let you know when the next animal habitat launches in the game, and hopefully we'll be able to bring you the news very, very soon.
Will you purchase any of these Cows for your farms, even if you don't place them in a storage building? Which ones are your favorites? Sound off in the comments.
As usual, you'll only have a week to do any shopping associated with this re-release of Cows, so here's a complete look at those that have been re-released:
Autumn Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Blue Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Robot Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Western Longhorn - 20 Farm Cash
Devon Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Mohawk Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Fairy Cow - 24 Farm Cash
Hereford Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Highland Cow - 22 Farm Cash
Chrome Cow - 24 Farm Cash
Unfortunately, there aren't any coin-only Cows in this update, so you'll have to spend some of your hard-earned Farm Cash to stock up on any of these animals. Unlike previous animal habitats, the upcoming Cow building will allow you to breed Calves, rather that duplicates of these Cows, so if you don't want to waste time waiting for those Calves to grow inside your Nursery Barn, you might want to buy these Cows as is.
We'll make sure to let you know when the next animal habitat launches in the game, and hopefully we'll be able to bring you the news very, very soon.
Will you purchase any of these Cows for your farms, even if you don't place them in a storage building? Which ones are your favorites? Sound off in the comments.
FarmVille Cow Pasture: Everything you need to know
A fifth breeding building has started rolling out in FarmVille, and this newest animal habitat comes in the form of the Cow Pasture. Yes, I know we all probably have plenty of Dairy Farms on our farms to store cows (note: with the launch of this feature, Dairy Farms are no longer available for purchase in the market), but with these new buildings, we'll have a chance to store and breed cows even without bulls, by simply having one of a particular animal inside it. Of course, you'll need to first build your Cow Pasture before you can use it, so let's get straight into the guide.
The Cow Pasture requires 30 ingredients: 10 each of Hay Bundles, Stones and Tin Sheets. Unfortunately, these Stones are the same items you'll need to continue to repair the cove in Lighthouse Cove, so you'll need to once again decide which item is more important at the time: building this Cow Pasture, or repairing the Cove. Once the Cow Pasture is built, you'll be able to store 20 different Cows inside (perhaps you'd like to fill it with some cows that were re-released this evening). You'll also receive a free Irish Moiled Cow for completing it.
What makes this Cow Pasture different than other animal habitats is that you'll breed calves, rather than duplicate animals of those placed inside your Cow Pasture. With this comes the announcement that Calf and Foal mastery is "coming soon," so you'll want to have as many of these calves appear on your land as possible to prepare for that. While that may not give you a chance to easily stock up on fully grown Cows, I suppose you could place these extra calves in your Nursery Barn in the hopes that they eventually grow up.
Alternatively, you can click on the "Grow Up" button on your new Calves to grow them manually into adults by paying Farm Cash. Yes, this feature only costs Farm Cash and is currently unavailable for coins. The only positive that comes with this is that you won't need to collect Animal Feed, and can then use your excess Feed on the many, many babies you probably already have on your land.
For the record, it doesn't look like this Cow Pasture will do anything to your existing Dairy Farms, so feel free to keep those on your farm for easy storage of existing Cows on your farm(s).
Check out the rest of our FarmVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of the Cow Pasture feature? Are you looking forward to calf and foal mastery? Sound off in the comments.
The Cow Pasture requires 30 ingredients: 10 each of Hay Bundles, Stones and Tin Sheets. Unfortunately, these Stones are the same items you'll need to continue to repair the cove in Lighthouse Cove, so you'll need to once again decide which item is more important at the time: building this Cow Pasture, or repairing the Cove. Once the Cow Pasture is built, you'll be able to store 20 different Cows inside (perhaps you'd like to fill it with some cows that were re-released this evening). You'll also receive a free Irish Moiled Cow for completing it.
What makes this Cow Pasture different than other animal habitats is that you'll breed calves, rather than duplicate animals of those placed inside your Cow Pasture. With this comes the announcement that Calf and Foal mastery is "coming soon," so you'll want to have as many of these calves appear on your land as possible to prepare for that. While that may not give you a chance to easily stock up on fully grown Cows, I suppose you could place these extra calves in your Nursery Barn in the hopes that they eventually grow up.
Alternatively, you can click on the "Grow Up" button on your new Calves to grow them manually into adults by paying Farm Cash. Yes, this feature only costs Farm Cash and is currently unavailable for coins. The only positive that comes with this is that you won't need to collect Animal Feed, and can then use your excess Feed on the many, many babies you probably already have on your land.
For the record, it doesn't look like this Cow Pasture will do anything to your existing Dairy Farms, so feel free to keep those on your farm for easy storage of existing Cows on your farm(s).
Check out the rest of our FarmVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of the Cow Pasture feature? Are you looking forward to calf and foal mastery? Sound off in the comments.
Kabam study suggests hardcore gamers are flocking to Facebook
Have the tables finally turned? Not quite just yet, but slowly and surely they are, a study released by Kabam suggests. The Redwood City-Calif.-based creator of Facebook games like Dragons of Atlantis and Edgeworld recently commissioned a survey of 1,412 "hardcore" gamers to find just how their behavior has changed since the dawn of Facebook games.
Dubbed the "Social Gamer Study," Kabam found that the demographics of the average social game fan are slowly changing--more young to middle-aged men are playing Facebook games. And a whopping 82 percent of them come from the console game space, which is terribly important. This is because 27 percent of those surveyed report playing console games less often.
And perhaps more importantly to those looking to make cash from hardcore games, those surveyed reported spending 50 percent less on console games. Of course, Kabam threw in that players of its games are even more dedicated to Facebook games than console games: 55 percent reported playing console games less and spending 65 percent on the games.
Social Gamer Study findings
According to the study conducted by Information Solutions Group, 72 percent of these hardcore social gamers are playing two or more games at once, and 47 percent are playing three or more. If you've ever played a game like Kingdoms of Camelot or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters, you know that this is quite a lot to keep up with--much more so than, say, FarmVille.
Not to mention that this growing sub culture of Facebook gamers plays far longer game sessions than the 30 minutes or so your average Bejeweled Blitz player sits down for on lunch break. A massive 68 percent reported playing social strategy games for three hours or longer a day, and 30 percent said they play for longer than an hour per session.
Of course, it's important to keep in mind who commissioned this study: a developer and publisher of hardcore Facebook games. Vested interests aside, it's undeniable that a new breed of Facebook game fan is emerging, and fast. And you have to assume, with advances like download-free 3D gaming on the horizon, these numbers will only grow. Check out the study in full here.
Are you part of this growing portion of Facebook gamers? Do you think social game creators like Zynga, EA and wooga have anything to worry about? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
Dubbed the "Social Gamer Study," Kabam found that the demographics of the average social game fan are slowly changing--more young to middle-aged men are playing Facebook games. And a whopping 82 percent of them come from the console game space, which is terribly important. This is because 27 percent of those surveyed report playing console games less often.
And perhaps more importantly to those looking to make cash from hardcore games, those surveyed reported spending 50 percent less on console games. Of course, Kabam threw in that players of its games are even more dedicated to Facebook games than console games: 55 percent reported playing console games less and spending 65 percent on the games.
Social Gamer Study findings
According to the study conducted by Information Solutions Group, 72 percent of these hardcore social gamers are playing two or more games at once, and 47 percent are playing three or more. If you've ever played a game like Kingdoms of Camelot or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters, you know that this is quite a lot to keep up with--much more so than, say, FarmVille.
Not to mention that this growing sub culture of Facebook gamers plays far longer game sessions than the 30 minutes or so your average Bejeweled Blitz player sits down for on lunch break. A massive 68 percent reported playing social strategy games for three hours or longer a day, and 30 percent said they play for longer than an hour per session.
Of course, it's important to keep in mind who commissioned this study: a developer and publisher of hardcore Facebook games. Vested interests aside, it's undeniable that a new breed of Facebook game fan is emerging, and fast. And you have to assume, with advances like download-free 3D gaming on the horizon, these numbers will only grow. Check out the study in full here.
Are you part of this growing portion of Facebook gamers? Do you think social game creators like Zynga, EA and wooga have anything to worry about? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
GameHouse hopes to build buzz on Facebook with Bayou Blast
This might be the first and last time you see these words from me: I cannot wait to hit the bayou. GameHouse just announced that its next Facebook game, Bayou Blast, is scheduled to hit the platform this October. Keeping with the recurring "Blast" theme started with Collapse! Blast, this game tasks players with matching gems to make them explode. Sound familiar?
Of course it does, but judging from an early look at the game courtesy of GameHouse CEO Matt Hulett, Bayou Blast brings a fresh twist to the sub genre. You are Bayou, the last remaining firefly of the swamp who must save his friends from a voodoo frog that has captured them in various gems. But rather than simply matching them à la Bejeweled Blitz, you must draw lines of lightning through as many identical gems as you can to destroy them.
Bayou Blast takes this hook and crams it into 60-second game sessions in a race for the high score. Much like its competitors and previous offerings from GameHouse on Facebook, Bayou Blast features weekly tournaments between friends and power-ups that unlock over time and can be bought using either in-game currency or Facebook Credits. These include staples like time extensions, exploding gems and score multipliers.
Bayou Blast gameplay
The game takes on a charming, cartoonish art style, and rewards players for blowing up gems with greater speed. In fact, match fast enough and the game board will burst into flame, which we assume means much more points. "We've really focused on the quality of the game," Hulett tells us. "I've got people outside my office who are constantly looking at different art effects. Like, 'Is the lightning looking the right way when [players] drag the mouse cursor?' The amount of detail they're putting into this game is really great."
According to Hulett, games like Collapse! Blast and soon Bayou Blast mark a significant shift in where the company is headed. About 50 percent of the GameHouse staff is now focused on creating social games for Facebook and mobile devices. (GameHouse was originally focused on downloadable casual games.) Speaking of which, both of these games will receive Facebook-connected versions for the iPhone and iPad early next year. And Hulett is confident that GameHouse's new direction will pay off.
"We have a good shot of being in the Top 10," Hulett gushes. "I think we've gotten really good at Facebook games over the past three to five months. Maybe Bayou Blast will be our first game [with 1 million daily players]." We'll see if Bayou Blast lives up to Hulett's ambitions this October. Until then, check out the trailer below.
Are you psyched to play Bayou Blast on Facebook? What do you think of GameHouse's approach the world of Facebook games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
Of course it does, but judging from an early look at the game courtesy of GameHouse CEO Matt Hulett, Bayou Blast brings a fresh twist to the sub genre. You are Bayou, the last remaining firefly of the swamp who must save his friends from a voodoo frog that has captured them in various gems. But rather than simply matching them à la Bejeweled Blitz, you must draw lines of lightning through as many identical gems as you can to destroy them.
Bayou Blast takes this hook and crams it into 60-second game sessions in a race for the high score. Much like its competitors and previous offerings from GameHouse on Facebook, Bayou Blast features weekly tournaments between friends and power-ups that unlock over time and can be bought using either in-game currency or Facebook Credits. These include staples like time extensions, exploding gems and score multipliers.
Bayou Blast gameplay
The game takes on a charming, cartoonish art style, and rewards players for blowing up gems with greater speed. In fact, match fast enough and the game board will burst into flame, which we assume means much more points. "We've really focused on the quality of the game," Hulett tells us. "I've got people outside my office who are constantly looking at different art effects. Like, 'Is the lightning looking the right way when [players] drag the mouse cursor?' The amount of detail they're putting into this game is really great."
According to Hulett, games like Collapse! Blast and soon Bayou Blast mark a significant shift in where the company is headed. About 50 percent of the GameHouse staff is now focused on creating social games for Facebook and mobile devices. (GameHouse was originally focused on downloadable casual games.) Speaking of which, both of these games will receive Facebook-connected versions for the iPhone and iPad early next year. And Hulett is confident that GameHouse's new direction will pay off.
"We have a good shot of being in the Top 10," Hulett gushes. "I think we've gotten really good at Facebook games over the past three to five months. Maybe Bayou Blast will be our first game [with 1 million daily players]." We'll see if Bayou Blast lives up to Hulett's ambitions this October. Until then, check out the trailer below.
Are you psyched to play Bayou Blast on Facebook? What do you think of GameHouse's approach the world of Facebook games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
FarmVille iOS Update: Sail to Lighthouse Cove on iPhone, iPad
FarmVille for iOS is keeping up with the Joneses. Zynga just released Version 2.3 of FarmVille for iPhone and iPad, a major update that grants access to the brand new Lighthouse Cove expansion. Now, you can take your coastal farming village with you on your iPhone and iPad. The update doesn't contain much else, but let's not look too ungrateful--these updates are rare.
The update also includes "a barn-full of bug fixes and crash fixes," but what's more important is now we can finally hit up Lighthouse Cove on our tiny, touchy screens. To access the new content, just touch options button on the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and then "Travel to..." and Lighthouse Cove. The transition is surprisingly smooth.
However, you need to have already visited Lighthouse Cove on FarmVille for Facebook before you can check it out on your iOS device of choice. The mobile version of Lighthouse Cove even comes with a brand new theme song that sounds decidedly western, oddly enough.
FarmVille iPhone Lighthouse Cove
While you can access all the new crops, animals and trees the expansion has to offer, you won't be able to fix the place up while playing from your iPhone or iPad. Hey, at least you can keep up with things while in line at the grocery store, you know, buying real fruits and vegetables.
Click here to download FarmVille for iOS Version 2.3 Now >
Have you visited Lighthouse Cove through your iPhone or iPad yet? What do you think of how Zynga handles the mobile version of FarmVille? Sound off in the comments. 3 Comments
The update also includes "a barn-full of bug fixes and crash fixes," but what's more important is now we can finally hit up Lighthouse Cove on our tiny, touchy screens. To access the new content, just touch options button on the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and then "Travel to..." and Lighthouse Cove. The transition is surprisingly smooth.
However, you need to have already visited Lighthouse Cove on FarmVille for Facebook before you can check it out on your iOS device of choice. The mobile version of Lighthouse Cove even comes with a brand new theme song that sounds decidedly western, oddly enough.
FarmVille iPhone Lighthouse Cove
While you can access all the new crops, animals and trees the expansion has to offer, you won't be able to fix the place up while playing from your iPhone or iPad. Hey, at least you can keep up with things while in line at the grocery store, you know, buying real fruits and vegetables.
Click here to download FarmVille for iOS Version 2.3 Now >
Have you visited Lighthouse Cove through your iPhone or iPad yet? What do you think of how Zynga handles the mobile version of FarmVille? Sound off in the comments. 3 Comments
Chủ Nhật, 2 tháng 10, 2011
FarmVille Cow Pasture: Everything you need to know
A fifth breeding building has started rolling out in FarmVille, and this newest animal habitat comes in the form of the Cow Pasture. Yes, I know we all probably have plenty of Dairy Farms on our farms to store cows (note: with the launch of this feature, Dairy Farms are no longer available for purchase in the market), but with these new buildings, we'll have a chance to store and breed cows even without bulls, by simply having one of a particular animal inside it. Of course, you'll need to first build your Cow Pasture before you can use it, so let's get straight into the guide.
The Cow Pasture requires 30 ingredients: 10 each of Hay Bundles, Stones and Tin Sheets. Unfortunately, these Stones are the same items you'll need to continue to repair the cove in Lighthouse Cove, so you'll need to once again decide which item is more important at the time: building this Cow Pasture, or repairing the Cove. Once the Cow Pasture is built, you'll be able to store 20 different Cows inside (perhaps you'd like to fill it with some cows that were re-released this evening). You'll also receive a free Irish Moiled Cow for completing it.
What makes this Cow Pasture different than other animal habitats is that you'll breed calves, rather than duplicate animals of those placed inside your Cow Pasture. With this comes the announcement that Calf and Foal mastery is "coming soon," so you'll want to have as many of these calves appear on your land as possible to prepare for that. While that may not give you a chance to easily stock up on fully grown Cows, I suppose you could place these extra calves in your Nursery Barn in the hopes that they eventually grow up.
Alternatively, you can click on the "Grow Up" button on your new Calves to grow them manually into adults by paying Farm Cash. Yes, this feature only costs Farm Cash and is currently unavailable for coins. The only positive that comes with this is that you won't need to collect Animal Feed, and can then use your excess Feed on the many, many babies you probably already have on your land.
For the record, it doesn't look like this Cow Pasture will do anything to your existing Dairy Farms, so feel free to keep those on your farm for easy storage of existing Cows on your farm(s).
Check out the rest of our FarmVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of the Cow Pasture feature? Are you looking forward to calf and foal mastery? Sound off in the comments.
The Cow Pasture requires 30 ingredients: 10 each of Hay Bundles, Stones and Tin Sheets. Unfortunately, these Stones are the same items you'll need to continue to repair the cove in Lighthouse Cove, so you'll need to once again decide which item is more important at the time: building this Cow Pasture, or repairing the Cove. Once the Cow Pasture is built, you'll be able to store 20 different Cows inside (perhaps you'd like to fill it with some cows that were re-released this evening). You'll also receive a free Irish Moiled Cow for completing it.
What makes this Cow Pasture different than other animal habitats is that you'll breed calves, rather than duplicate animals of those placed inside your Cow Pasture. With this comes the announcement that Calf and Foal mastery is "coming soon," so you'll want to have as many of these calves appear on your land as possible to prepare for that. While that may not give you a chance to easily stock up on fully grown Cows, I suppose you could place these extra calves in your Nursery Barn in the hopes that they eventually grow up.
Alternatively, you can click on the "Grow Up" button on your new Calves to grow them manually into adults by paying Farm Cash. Yes, this feature only costs Farm Cash and is currently unavailable for coins. The only positive that comes with this is that you won't need to collect Animal Feed, and can then use your excess Feed on the many, many babies you probably already have on your land.
For the record, it doesn't look like this Cow Pasture will do anything to your existing Dairy Farms, so feel free to keep those on your farm for easy storage of existing Cows on your farm(s).
Check out the rest of our FarmVille Cheats & Tips right here.
What do you think of the Cow Pasture feature? Are you looking forward to calf and foal mastery? Sound off in the comments.
1 Comment Kabam study suggests hardcore gamers are flocking to Facebook
hardcore gamers
Have the tables finally turned? Not quite just yet, but slowly and surely they are, a study released by Kabam suggests. The Redwood City-Calif.-based creator of Facebook games like Dragons of Atlantis and Edgeworld recently commissioned a survey of 1,412 "hardcore" gamers to find just how their behavior has changed since the dawn of Facebook games.
Dubbed the "Social Gamer Study," Kabam found that the demographics of the average social game fan are slowly changing--more young to middle-aged men are playing Facebook games. And a whopping 82 percent of them come from the console game space, which is terribly important. This is because 27 percent of those surveyed report playing console games less often.
And perhaps more importantly to those looking to make cash from hardcore games, those surveyed reported spending 50 percent less on console games. Of course, Kabam threw in that players of its games are even more dedicated to Facebook games than console games: 55 percent reported playing console games less and spending 65 percent on the games.
Social Gamer Study findings
According to the study conducted by Information Solutions Group, 72 percent of these hardcore social gamers are playing two or more games at once, and 47 percent are playing three or more. If you've ever played a game like Kingdoms of Camelot or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters, you know that this is quite a lot to keep up with--much more so than, say, FarmVille.
Not to mention that this growing sub culture of Facebook gamers plays far longer game sessions than the 30 minutes or so your average Bejeweled Blitz player sits down for on lunch break. A massive 68 percent reported playing social strategy games for three hours or longer a day, and 30 percent said they play for longer than an hour per session.
Of course, it's important to keep in mind who commissioned this study: a developer and publisher of hardcore Facebook games. Vested interests aside, it's undeniable that a new breed of Facebook game fan is emerging, and fast. And you have to assume, with advances like download-free 3D gaming on the horizon, these numbers will only grow. Check out the study in full here.
Are you part of this growing portion of Facebook gamers? Do you think social game creators like Zynga, EA and wooga have anything to worry about? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
Have the tables finally turned? Not quite just yet, but slowly and surely they are, a study released by Kabam suggests. The Redwood City-Calif.-based creator of Facebook games like Dragons of Atlantis and Edgeworld recently commissioned a survey of 1,412 "hardcore" gamers to find just how their behavior has changed since the dawn of Facebook games.
Dubbed the "Social Gamer Study," Kabam found that the demographics of the average social game fan are slowly changing--more young to middle-aged men are playing Facebook games. And a whopping 82 percent of them come from the console game space, which is terribly important. This is because 27 percent of those surveyed report playing console games less often.
And perhaps more importantly to those looking to make cash from hardcore games, those surveyed reported spending 50 percent less on console games. Of course, Kabam threw in that players of its games are even more dedicated to Facebook games than console games: 55 percent reported playing console games less and spending 65 percent on the games.
Social Gamer Study findings
According to the study conducted by Information Solutions Group, 72 percent of these hardcore social gamers are playing two or more games at once, and 47 percent are playing three or more. If you've ever played a game like Kingdoms of Camelot or Kixeye's Backyard Monsters, you know that this is quite a lot to keep up with--much more so than, say, FarmVille.
Not to mention that this growing sub culture of Facebook gamers plays far longer game sessions than the 30 minutes or so your average Bejeweled Blitz player sits down for on lunch break. A massive 68 percent reported playing social strategy games for three hours or longer a day, and 30 percent said they play for longer than an hour per session.
Of course, it's important to keep in mind who commissioned this study: a developer and publisher of hardcore Facebook games. Vested interests aside, it's undeniable that a new breed of Facebook game fan is emerging, and fast. And you have to assume, with advances like download-free 3D gaming on the horizon, these numbers will only grow. Check out the study in full here.
Are you part of this growing portion of Facebook gamers? Do you think social game creators like Zynga, EA and wooga have anything to worry about? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
GameHouse hopes to build buzz on Facebook with Bayou Blast
This might be the first and last time you see these words from me: I cannot wait to hit the bayou. GameHouse just announced that its next Facebook game, Bayou Blast, is scheduled to hit the platform this October. Keeping with the recurring "Blast" theme started with Collapse! Blast, this game tasks players with matching gems to make them explode. Sound familiar?
Of course it does, but judging from an early look at the game courtesy of GameHouse CEO Matt Hulett, Bayou Blast brings a fresh twist to the sub genre. You are Bayou, the last remaining firefly of the swamp who must save his friends from a voodoo frog that has captured them in various gems. But rather than simply matching them à la Bejeweled Blitz, you must draw lines of lightning through as many identical gems as you can to destroy them.
Bayou Blast takes this hook and crams it into 60-second game sessions in a race for the high score. Much like its competitors and previous offerings from GameHouse on Facebook, Bayou Blast features weekly tournaments between friends and power-ups that unlock over time and can be bought using either in-game currency or Facebook Credits. These include staples like time extensions, exploding gems and score multipliers.
Bayou Blast gameplay
The game takes on a charming, cartoonish art style, and rewards players for blowing up gems with greater speed. In fact, match fast enough and the game board will burst into flame, which we assume means much more points. "We've really focused on the quality of the game," Hulett tells us. "I've got people outside my office who are constantly looking at different art effects. Like, 'Is the lightning looking the right way when [players] drag the mouse cursor?' The amount of detail they're putting into this game is really great."
According to Hulett, games like Collapse! Blast and soon Bayou Blast mark a significant shift in where the company is headed. About 50 percent of the GameHouse staff is now focused on creating social games for Facebook and mobile devices. (GameHouse was originally focused on downloadable casual games.) Speaking of which, both of these games will receive Facebook-connected versions for the iPhone and iPad early next year. And Hulett is confident that GameHouse's new direction will pay off.
"We have a good shot of being in the Top 10," Hulett gushes. "I think we've gotten really good at Facebook games over the past three to five months. Maybe Bayou Blast will be our first game [with 1 million daily players]." We'll see if Bayou Blast lives up to Hulett's ambitions this October. Until then, check out the trailer below.
Are you psyched to play Bayou Blast on Facebook? What do you think of GameHouse's approach the world of Facebook games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
Of course it does, but judging from an early look at the game courtesy of GameHouse CEO Matt Hulett, Bayou Blast brings a fresh twist to the sub genre. You are Bayou, the last remaining firefly of the swamp who must save his friends from a voodoo frog that has captured them in various gems. But rather than simply matching them à la Bejeweled Blitz, you must draw lines of lightning through as many identical gems as you can to destroy them.
Bayou Blast takes this hook and crams it into 60-second game sessions in a race for the high score. Much like its competitors and previous offerings from GameHouse on Facebook, Bayou Blast features weekly tournaments between friends and power-ups that unlock over time and can be bought using either in-game currency or Facebook Credits. These include staples like time extensions, exploding gems and score multipliers.
Bayou Blast gameplay
The game takes on a charming, cartoonish art style, and rewards players for blowing up gems with greater speed. In fact, match fast enough and the game board will burst into flame, which we assume means much more points. "We've really focused on the quality of the game," Hulett tells us. "I've got people outside my office who are constantly looking at different art effects. Like, 'Is the lightning looking the right way when [players] drag the mouse cursor?' The amount of detail they're putting into this game is really great."
According to Hulett, games like Collapse! Blast and soon Bayou Blast mark a significant shift in where the company is headed. About 50 percent of the GameHouse staff is now focused on creating social games for Facebook and mobile devices. (GameHouse was originally focused on downloadable casual games.) Speaking of which, both of these games will receive Facebook-connected versions for the iPhone and iPad early next year. And Hulett is confident that GameHouse's new direction will pay off.
"We have a good shot of being in the Top 10," Hulett gushes. "I think we've gotten really good at Facebook games over the past three to five months. Maybe Bayou Blast will be our first game [with 1 million daily players]." We'll see if Bayou Blast lives up to Hulett's ambitions this October. Until then, check out the trailer below.
Are you psyched to play Bayou Blast on Facebook? What do you think of GameHouse's approach the world of Facebook games? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
FarmVille iOS Update: Sail to Lighthouse Cove on iPhone, iPad
FarmVille for iOS is keeping up with the Joneses. Zynga just released Version 2.3 of FarmVille for iPhone and iPad, a major update that grants access to the brand new Lighthouse Cove expansion. Now, you can take your coastal farming village with you on your iPhone and iPad. The update doesn't contain much else, but let's not look too ungrateful--these updates are rare.
The update also includes "a barn-full of bug fixes and crash fixes," but what's more important is now we can finally hit up Lighthouse Cove on our tiny, touchy screens. To access the new content, just touch options button on the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and then "Travel to..." and Lighthouse Cove. The transition is surprisingly smooth.
However, you need to have already visited Lighthouse Cove on FarmVille for Facebook before you can check it out on your iOS device of choice. The mobile version of Lighthouse Cove even comes with a brand new theme song that sounds decidedly western, oddly enough.
FarmVille iPhone Lighthouse Cove
While you can access all the new crops, animals and trees the expansion has to offer, you won't be able to fix the place up while playing from your iPhone or iPad. Hey, at least you can keep up with things while in line at the grocery store, you know, buying real fruits and vegetables.
Click here to download FarmVille for iOS Version 2.3 Now >
Have you visited Lighthouse Cove through your iPhone or iPad yet? What do you think of how Zynga handles the mobile version of FarmVille? Sound off in the comments. 3 Comments
The update also includes "a barn-full of bug fixes and crash fixes," but what's more important is now we can finally hit up Lighthouse Cove on our tiny, touchy screens. To access the new content, just touch options button on the bottom right hand corner of the screen, and then "Travel to..." and Lighthouse Cove. The transition is surprisingly smooth.
However, you need to have already visited Lighthouse Cove on FarmVille for Facebook before you can check it out on your iOS device of choice. The mobile version of Lighthouse Cove even comes with a brand new theme song that sounds decidedly western, oddly enough.
FarmVille iPhone Lighthouse Cove
While you can access all the new crops, animals and trees the expansion has to offer, you won't be able to fix the place up while playing from your iPhone or iPad. Hey, at least you can keep up with things while in line at the grocery store, you know, buying real fruits and vegetables.
Click here to download FarmVille for iOS Version 2.3 Now >
Have you visited Lighthouse Cove through your iPhone or iPad yet? What do you think of how Zynga handles the mobile version of FarmVille? Sound off in the comments. 3 Comments
Adventure World rockets to over 9 million players, thanks to promotions
Adventure World Mafia Wars promo
And it did so in just under five days. According to Appdata, Zynga's newest release, Adventure World, has finally found its second wind, gaining over 8 million players in almost five days. If you remember, Zynga Boston's debut game sat stagnant at under 500,000 players for over a week after its release. This wild growth is likely thanks to one thing: cross promotions.
Zynga has finally taken advantage of (some of) its 267 million players to give Adventure World some much needed exposure. During its first week on Facebook, the game enjoyed little to no cross promotion between the company's existing games aside from banner ads and the like. But now, Adventure World can be found in games like Mafia Wars through special promotions.
In this particular case, Mafia Wars players have until Sept. 30 to reach Level 5 in Adventure World and receive a special item for their digital mafia don, an Ancient Hammer. While the item won't exactly wow veteran Mafia Wars players, it at least has value to collectors. Before that, we saw hints of Adventure World being advertised within FarmVille, which has yet to happen.
So, you can only imagine how far Adventure World would go if such involved promotions were featured in FarmVille, CityVille, Pioneer Trail and Empires & Allies. However, we were under the impression that this type of cross promotion was through with the release of RewardVille, Zynga's cross-game achievement system that rewards players for using all of its games daily.
Unfortunately, it seems as if the developer can't avoid such arguably invasive practices if it wants all of its games to succeed. And that could ultimately rekindle the ire of its players, many of which are already fed up with resurgent demands to enter new games for items within their favorite games. (Hence the creation of RewardVille.)
Zynga looks like it's more dependent than ever on its swath of existing players, but the developer might want to cook up a more elegant solution of getting those players to play its new games. If not, Zynga might run the risk of losing its most powerful method of growth: the players it already has.
What do you think of Adventure World so far? Do you think players would up and leave if Zynga turned up the heat on its in-game cross promotions once again? Sound off in the comments. 3 Comments
And it did so in just under five days. According to Appdata, Zynga's newest release, Adventure World, has finally found its second wind, gaining over 8 million players in almost five days. If you remember, Zynga Boston's debut game sat stagnant at under 500,000 players for over a week after its release. This wild growth is likely thanks to one thing: cross promotions.
Zynga has finally taken advantage of (some of) its 267 million players to give Adventure World some much needed exposure. During its first week on Facebook, the game enjoyed little to no cross promotion between the company's existing games aside from banner ads and the like. But now, Adventure World can be found in games like Mafia Wars through special promotions.
In this particular case, Mafia Wars players have until Sept. 30 to reach Level 5 in Adventure World and receive a special item for their digital mafia don, an Ancient Hammer. While the item won't exactly wow veteran Mafia Wars players, it at least has value to collectors. Before that, we saw hints of Adventure World being advertised within FarmVille, which has yet to happen.
So, you can only imagine how far Adventure World would go if such involved promotions were featured in FarmVille, CityVille, Pioneer Trail and Empires & Allies. However, we were under the impression that this type of cross promotion was through with the release of RewardVille, Zynga's cross-game achievement system that rewards players for using all of its games daily.
Unfortunately, it seems as if the developer can't avoid such arguably invasive practices if it wants all of its games to succeed. And that could ultimately rekindle the ire of its players, many of which are already fed up with resurgent demands to enter new games for items within their favorite games. (Hence the creation of RewardVille.)
Zynga looks like it's more dependent than ever on its swath of existing players, but the developer might want to cook up a more elegant solution of getting those players to play its new games. If not, Zynga might run the risk of losing its most powerful method of growth: the players it already has.
What do you think of Adventure World so far? Do you think players would up and leave if Zynga turned up the heat on its in-game cross promotions once again? Sound off in the comments. 3 Comments
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