Mass Effect 2 is Epic

July 16th, 2010

I have been playing Mass Effect 2 for months now and currently own the PC copy, which I acquired through Steam. This game has one of the most epic stories I have ever experienced and I am looking forward to the third entry in the series.

Original planned as a trilogy, Mass Effect is set in space and revolves around the character Commander Shepard who is up against a massive force of sentient beings called Reapers. This sentient race hides in deep space and comes out every thousand years or more to wipe out the galaxy. This cycle repeats itself over and over but not this time; they didn’t expect to deal with the badass Commander Shepard who will not accept failure – even death.

Like the first game, Mass Effect further expands the character dialogue and gives players even greater control over right or wrong, making you the ultimate hero or renegade. I have been going down the dark side and never found more satisfaction in a game for being a complete jerk. New to the series, various quick-time events allow players to interrupt cut-scenes with either a good (paragon) or bad (renegade) action. This really adds a sense of personality to the game and I found myself laughing on numerous occasions – if you decide to be bad, of course.

The story is so engaging that I’ve found myself hard to put the game down. I am wishing for more and more. This game has the personality that made Star Wars so popular. It’s this special touch that will make the game memorable for years. In fact, I am hoping they keep this franchise alive and continue with the exceptional work.

Bioware, you are absolutely amazing. Thanks for such a great game.

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The Dedicated Server Problem

February 9th, 2010

On my last blog post, I commented on how Infinity Ward, the famous developer for the Call of Duty franchise, decided to drop dedicated server support in favor of peer-to-peer matchmaking for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. In light of this horrible move that ruined the PC community for this game, sales for this popular title couldn’t have been any higher. The LA Times states it has topped 1 billion in sales and is one of the most successful games in history.

It appears the PC boycott didn’t do much to hurt sales of the game as people came out of the woodwork worldwide to purchase the game. Many players of the original Modern Warfare, including myself, were furious about the lack of dedicated servers in the new game. The original game included the ability to join a fast dedicated server that has the bandwidth and power to handle the load of many players. This frustration has even spawned websites like Modern Warfail 2 as the PC community speaks out.

The peer-to-peer matchmaking service used in the new game picks a random player and turns their computer into a small non-dedicated server specifically for that match and others join their session. This is all fine and dandy but it is hard to say what the host’s internet connection is like and what they can handle. With this, you can also throw mods and custom server configurations out the window. Lag is a constant gripe with players and this technology has proven to be rather limited in comparison to its dedicated server counterpart.

Regardless of the lack of dedicated servers, the game sold better than ever which further gives Infinity Ward or even Activision the power to degrade their games even further, stripping out features of what makes a PC game live on for years to come: dedicated servers. These dedicated servers reinforce interest in an already popular game and allow it to live on much longer. Perhaps that’s the problem as Activision plans on pumping out new Call of Duty games every year. With that said, they just aren’t looking to support long term appeal for any Call of Duty game. It’s all about making people buy the next version.

This is very sad as Bioshock 2 adopted Infinity Ward’s take on multiplayer gaming. Hopefully this trend does not continue, otherwise the PC gaming community could suffer tremendously. Fortunately, we have upcoming titles like Battlefield Bad Company 2 which remedies this problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_warfare_2

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Infinity Ward Moves PC Gamers to the Back of the Line

November 7th, 2009

Infinity Ward, the popular game development house responsible for the Call of Duty series has been making headlines lately. Their recent game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, is scheduled to hit store shelves on November 10th. It is supposed to be one of the hottest titles this holiday season, as their last game, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare enjoyed tremendous success with sales and critics alike. However, the PC gaming community is not happy. What exactly is the problem?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will not support dedicated servers. What does this mean? It’s simple; fans of the game can rent servers that solely host multiplayer matches. PC gamers around the world can search for gaming servers and connect to this server for some great fun. But what is the benefit of having dedicated servers? A dedicated server allows players who connect to it have better connections (usually lower pings) to ensure everyone playing on the server has a decent multiplayer experience. Dedicated servers also give the community greater control over aspects of gameplay. For example, custom mods can be incorporated into the game and new multiplayer maps. This usually results in making the game more popular and gives it greater life. This is very good for any game and allows it to see a greater run of success. Hackers can be kicked easier from the server, thus allowing everyone a great experience.

So what happens when dedicated servers are axed? The game must rely on peer-to-peer networking in order to host a game and allow others to join. This usually means one player will host a game. Once this happens, the game is advertised as available to join. Other players around the world will join the game and then play. Sounds no different than dedicated servers, right? You couldn’t be more wrong! Since the game is hosted by an individual person, their internet connection may not be designed to offer the up/down speed required to host a decent lag-free multiplayer match. Thus, various players who connect will see speed issues and connectivity problems, depending on the host’s internet connection. This is a big problem.

Those who are involved in clans or groups of like-minded gamers on the same team, throw competitive gaming out the window. It will be much harder to orchestrate a match and allow two rival teams or clans to join a game and play competitively. This is a shame since Infinity Ward’s roots stem back to PC gaming. The community is what supports a game and allows it to thrive. Throwing out features that allow the community to grow is only going to make your game die faster.

So what’s the reason for all of this? I personally feel it’s a combination of things. First, console gaming on platforms such as the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 normally use peer-to-peer technology for game matches and no dedicated servers. This allows companies to save money as they don’t have to pay for servers to host their games on (regardless that the community pays for the majority of this cost with their own servers, anyway). Also, I believe the pirating of PC games has a lot to do this this as well. PC games tend to sell less than their console counterparts, thus Infinity Ward probably wanted to teach those who pirate PC games a lesson. Instead of spending more money on the PC gaming community and allowing dedicated servers, it’d be much easier to stick with the technology behind their console versions of the game.

It gets worse. I just read an article on Ars Technica (read it here) that states Infinity Ward is not allowing PC gamers the option of even further customizing their games as was allowed with their last Call of Duty game. Console commands will be axed, making fine tweaks such as adjusting FOV (field of view) and other graphical related settings out of the picture. Modern PC gaming has always enjoyed these kinds of features allowing us to fine tune our games to our liking.

So where does that take us? The PC community has already signed an online petition requesting Infinity Ward restore dedicated servers and has reached over 180,000 signatures (as of this writing). I am one of those people who signed this petition, as I am outraged by their actions and utter disrespect for the PC community. The PC community has long supported their games and making this kind of move will leave many PC gamers in the dust. It certainly has an impact on me; I do not plan on buying any Infinity Ward games again. I’m sure I’m not alone on my way of thinking. Until Infinity Ward makes the decision to earn back the respect of PC gamers, I have no intentions of ever supporting them again.

Even with the widespread piracy of PC games, Infinity Ward would have still made out better by including dedicated servers in its upcoming title. Piracy is indeed a problem that plagues the PC market, but their decision to axe dedicated servers and other PC specific options will undoubtedly do more damage to this game than piracy ever would. When it comes to consoles, users who enjoyed their previous title will see no difference. Don’t get me wrong, I have an Xbox 360 and love console games, but FPS games belong on the PC for its superior controls and customization.

Let this be a lesson to any game developer. Support PC gamers; if you don’t, you’re only disrespecting yourselves. Perhaps Activision is partially to blame. Regardless, this whole situation is utter BS.

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Disney Acquires Marvel for 4 Billion

September 1st, 2009

I can’t believe I am reading this. Disney is buying Marvel for 4 billion? You have to be kidding me. I am utterly shocked. Marvel characters are certainly not the type of content you would ever expect Disney to be a part of. Disney has been known for its family oriented, kid-friendly content. What’s next, Disney to acquire the rights to the Mortal Kombat franchise? In that case you’ll see Mickey handing Scorpion a flower or something silly.

I remember a long time ago Disney used to be cool. The old cartoons of the 1950′s were amazing in their content and art direction. Over the years, mainly after Walt died, Disney went downhill. Sure we have studios like Pixar that are amazing in talent but have went down the kiddie path. Disney is for kids, plain and simple. There are tons of people who would love to challenge my opinion and I invite you to do so. When it comes down to Marvel, I see their comic book characters as being for teenagers and adults, not any younger.

Next thing you know, Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman, will be on High School Musical singing away to a horrible dance. This an awful day for comic book fans everywhere.

You are evil, Disney!

I heard about this from Shacknews.

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Nine Inch Nails Remixed

July 25th, 2009

I have discovered a new website created by Nine Inch Nails front man, Trent Reznor. This website is located at http://remix.nin.com. Here, users can download various NIN tracks, remix them, and upload them for everyone to listen to. These tracks are called multi-tracks as they have all the different sounds on separate tracks or channels so editing is a breeze.

I had the opportunity to listen to some of these remixes and I would have to say that they are excellent. Trent Reznor has even posted his own unique remixes. Some of the fans that have posted tracks have remixed songs so well that you could compare them to that of commercial quality.

So, what are you waiting for? Go check out the website and get remixing, soldier.

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Education and the Workplace

June 17th, 2009

I have heard the argument many times that work experience beats education hands down and that degrees or higher education is overrated. For example, how many times have you heard of someone who has a Bachelor’s Degree or higher and is struggling to find a job? I have looked into this argument and established a few interesting facts.

First, many employers look for a combination of work experience and education. For certain job roles, sole experience is much more important than a degree. Many employers would rather hire someone with years of experience without a degree rather than someone fresh out of college. Why? It makes perfect sense; someone with real world experience is likely to succeed more than a person without it. However, a candidate who has good solid experience with a combination of education is much more likely to get the job.

Second, certain job roles will completely ignore education and rather the work you can or have produced. The best example I can provide of this is a game development company seeking a 3D Modeler or 3D Animator. Candidates for these job roles submit demo reels to their potential employer which simply outlines their work and what is capable from them. If their work is on par with company expectations, you’re in, regardless of education.

Third, certain employers want education or a college degree no matter what the candidate’s work experience consists of. This is highly political and can be very wasteful in certain circumstances. Large corporations which have heavy standards and politics are usually the ones that fall in this category. It is what it is and if you are looking to advance you must take your education (if any) further.

Finally, in my opinion, someone with a solid work history and experience will not have a hard time landing a decent job. However, those who are looking to advance further in the ranks must consider education as it is the political norm these days. I have a solid work history in the technical field of computers but am continuing my education just to open my door to a whole level of possibilities.

Let’s face it, education is a must in today’s society if you wish to accelerate to the top. However, companies should not hold out on hiring a great person who has much experience without a college degree. Many times this person is much more capable of the job than anyone else.

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Twin Fury Duke Nukem 3D User Map

May 27th, 2009

Duke Nukem 3D came out in 1996 and was a major success and cult hit. I used to play it via LAN or serial with my friends. I would occasionally fire up the 56k modem and play that way as well. I loved the game so much that I started creating my own levels or maps for it.

Duke Nukem 3D uses the Build engine designed by Ken Silverman. 3D Realms hired Ken to create this engine which is the backbone of the game. What was so great about the engine at the time was its accessibility. Many people could fire this engine up and start creating their own levels to play in.

I created a user map or level called Twin Fury. You can download it from my Projects section on my main website. This is a very simple map which is for two players. Each player starts out at their own base or castle. The goal is to obviously blow each other up for the most kills. What made this map fun was the placement of health items which forced players into the line of fire. I suggest you watch the demo video at the end of this post to get an idea of what I’m talking about.

Since Duke Nukem 3D is an older game, you must have a Win32 or Windows port of the game to play it on modern systems. Since 3D Realms released the source code a few years back many people have created their own Win32 ports of the game. I suggest using EDuke32, as it has worked the best for me. You can download it by going here. You will need to own a valid copy of Duke Nukem 3D and must follow the instructions on the EDuke32 website to get it going.

I also suggest trying the High Resolution Pack that updates all the textures and models for the game to make it more modern and of higher quality. The play demo of Twin Fury uses this addon as well as EDuke32.

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Duke Nukem Forever Lost?

May 7th, 2009

I was informed today by a friend of mine that 3D Realms, the independent development company behind the Duke Nukem franchise has been shut down. The reason is due to lack of funds or so the article from Shack News claims. The article can be read here.

Apparently, the publisher behind Duke Nukem Forever, Take Two, has ceased funding for the game. An official comment from the company is listed below:

“We can confirm that our relationship with 3D Realms for Duke Nukem Forever was a publishing arrangement, which did not include ongoing funds for development of the title.” – Alan Lewis, VP Communications, Take Two

Considering the game has been in development hell since 1997, this does not surprise me. I just wrote another blog about the potential state of Duke Nukem Forever and out of nowhere, this happens. 3D Realms has been doing other side projects here and there since 1997 but you have to wonder how they made it through this long with their current budget without releasing the game. Since Take Two still owns the publishing rights, hopefully someone will pick this up and release it to the gaming public. Otherwise, this is one Duke Nukem title that will apparently be LOST FOREVER.

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Duke Nukem Forever: My Synopsis

May 2nd, 2009

Many games have come and gone over the years. Some take many years to develop and finally are released to their anxious fans. However, some publishers in conjunction with their game development counter-parts are much more relaxed about getting a game to the market. Duke Nukem Forever has been a conversation piece about this for it seems, forever.

Vaporware is software that ends up disappearing and never sees the light of day. StarCraft: Ghost is a prime example of this where a development house announces a title and out of the blue, cancels it. StarCraft: Ghost was supposed to be a third-person shooter based around the StarCraft universe by Blizzard. Generally, the canceled title never sees the light of day unless another party comes along and buys the work and all associated content.

Duke Nukem Forever has been given Wired’s Vaporware Award and Lifetime Vaporware Achievement over six times and continues to be a topic of heated debate. It has been in development hell since 1997 and many versions of this title have been created only to bite the dust. Originally 3D Realms licensed the Quake II engine and later switched to the Unreal engine. Whenever any core technology is changed or reconstructed, valuable development time is wasted and money goes down the drain. Presently, Duke Nukem Forever is running off a completely overhauled Unreal engine codebase and seems to be coming along without issue.

December 2007 saw the release of a Duke Nukem Forever teaser trailer which showed Duke lifting weights while combining various small clips of the game in action. It was a very short trailer but restored faith in the game for some fans. To many of us, we will believe the game exists once it is finally released. Once this title is released, 3D Realms will have to rethink its way of developing future games if it wants the support of publishers and fans alike.

Update

It has been brought to my attention that last month George Broussard of 3D Realms released a post on Twitter that updated us on the status of Duke Nukem Forever. Here is what he had to say:

“Closing out a milestone this week. 71 more tasks to do and we started with probably 800-900. Been a good push. Next one starts Monday.”

What does this mean? If they keep on going like this, we just might see Duke Nukem Forever early next year. Stay tuned!

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The Importance of Cooperative Gaming

March 28th, 2009

Cooperative gaming is the concept that a game can be played with more than just one person. Usually, a friend will fire up a game and connect with his/her buddies and have them join in on the action together. Most new games today have intriguing story-lines and there are times when they are so much better when experienced with a friend.

A good example would be the latest action movie. When we see a great new movie that blows us away, we usually give it a bunch of praise and tell all our friends. When you see a movie with your buddies, it’s generally much more entertaining. I feel the same applies with cooperative gaming.

One of the best technologies available today that takes advantage and really utilizes this principle is the Xbox 360. Just about every game has some type of “play together with your friend mode,” hench cooperative gameplay. Now cooperative gaming is not to be confused with playing a game where you jump in with your buddies and blow each other up to compete for the highest score; this would be considered basic multiplayer. Cooperative gaming is when the single-player mode is shared between more than one player.

PC gaming has really been behind on this type of gameplay for many years. Granted, there are great games that take advantage of this and you can view a list here. One of my most favorite PC cooperative games is Duke Nukem 3D. It has always had a place in my heart for the sheer fun factor and originality. Unfortunately, cooperative gaming on the PC has diverted over to consoles lately and good titles with this feature are becoming scarce.

Luckily, development companies working on the latest PC gaming projects are realizing the potential of coopertive gaming and are incorporating this into their games. A good example are the recent titles Call of Duty World at War and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3. The more games that ship with cooperative gaming will boost sales and help the PC market which is dominated by MMORPGs and the like.

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