LINK
I had stopped playing GoW2 online after a month of frustration. From cheaters (lag switchers, wall hackers, etc) to funky connections with foreign gamers, it was pretty awful.
Now the latest update (#6!!!) is supposed to fix quite a few broken features/glitches. I could probably type up an entire 3 page post about how these changes will be great for a game like Gears, but I will let you read it all on the link.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
MW2 Resurgence Pack $15...Again?... Really?!
After reading this article I feel as if the world of online gamers have lost their collective mind.
Really Infinity Ward?! In the words of John McEnroe
"You can't be serious!"
Really Infinity Ward?! In the words of John McEnroe
"You can't be serious!"
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Online Pass - EA's Mission To Rape The Consumer
Ok, I am the first one to say that EA Sports makes a half-assed iteration of Madden football every year. As much as Ian Cummings (the lead designer of the game) likes to make it known that they can push all sorts of "new" technological breakthroughs every year. Now they have a new policy that will most likely help or destroy online gaming and used video game sales.
THE ONLINE PASS (Here is a brief article about it)
The problem is simple, if you don't buy the game brand new ($59.99) you will not get to play online by default. If you by the game brand new, you will be able to use a code on the back of the game manual to enter into the online gaming community as part of the retail purchase.
However, if you buy the game on eBay or Gamestop used - you will most likely have to fork over $10 to play the game online.
Much of this is coming from the study by EA that showed over 350,000 people played Madden 10 online once and never played it again. Apparently, they must think that making people buy the game new in order to get online play included is a good idea for the community as a whole.
I hate to be the harbringer of reality... actually, I don't mind it at all... BUT
Online gaming is a crapshoot no matter if you pay for it or not. Everyone that plays XBox live knows that $50 a year is enough to bring you gaming bliss or hours of rage quitting.
Madden is a different beast than Halo or Call of Duty though.
This is where I start to get scared. Because, if Halo or CoD end up charging $10 for online play, it will put the gamer into a situation that forces them to make a decision between single player or multiplayer. I feel that this will simply result in games becoming a bunch of microtransactions where you have to piece together in multiple purchases what you used to get for free.
Then again, Madden isn't worth a single transaction, let alone many microtransactions.
If you were looking for a reason to hate EA Sports, you may have just found it.
THE ONLINE PASS (Here is a brief article about it)
The problem is simple, if you don't buy the game brand new ($59.99) you will not get to play online by default. If you by the game brand new, you will be able to use a code on the back of the game manual to enter into the online gaming community as part of the retail purchase.
However, if you buy the game on eBay or Gamestop used - you will most likely have to fork over $10 to play the game online.
Much of this is coming from the study by EA that showed over 350,000 people played Madden 10 online once and never played it again. Apparently, they must think that making people buy the game new in order to get online play included is a good idea for the community as a whole.
I hate to be the harbringer of reality... actually, I don't mind it at all... BUT
Online gaming is a crapshoot no matter if you pay for it or not. Everyone that plays XBox live knows that $50 a year is enough to bring you gaming bliss or hours of rage quitting.
Madden is a different beast than Halo or Call of Duty though.
This is where I start to get scared. Because, if Halo or CoD end up charging $10 for online play, it will put the gamer into a situation that forces them to make a decision between single player or multiplayer. I feel that this will simply result in games becoming a bunch of microtransactions where you have to piece together in multiple purchases what you used to get for free.
Then again, Madden isn't worth a single transaction, let alone many microtransactions.
If you were looking for a reason to hate EA Sports, you may have just found it.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Applecrombie And Fitch - The Trendy Thing To Do
THE TYPICAL MAC USER
I wish I wasn't a hater, but I am and most (not all) Apple users have it coming.
Typically, I take it upon myself to look the other way when Mac users (in all their glory) give me some sort of condescending smile and reason as to why they own a Mac in the first place. It really reminds me of the South Park episode "Smug Alert" - picture above.
I wouldn't have a problem with anyone going with a Mac by simply saying "Windows Vista sucked so bad that I will never buy a PC again!" - There, at least you're being honest.
The problem I see in the computer world right now is that Apple has managed to convince a few people (a very small market share, really) that MacBooks are the best machines in the world and you should invest $2000 into their hardware/OS. By convincing a few people that their digital photos and 'artisic' abilities won't look the same or work the same on a PC, they have effectively lied about their product and what you can do with $2000 invested into a PC. With that much money, I could build a computer that would decimate this generation and the next generation of Apple computers.
Is it the OS? Do you like the pretty shades of pastels that greet you as the original wallpaper?
Is it the glowing Apple icon on the back?
Or are you so superficial that you only bought a MacBook in order to fit in with the other 'indie' kids at the campus coffee shop.
You should be ashamed.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Competitive Gaming - Welcome To The Thunderdome
The first thing I thought I when I went to MLGPro.com on my initial visit was "Am I really this big of a nerd?". The answer was a resounding yes.
Now I find myself in a funny situation. I am still playing video games at 26 and I am still screaming at my TV (when my wife isn't home). I still crank up my surround sound in hopes of hearing my next victim try to sneak up on me from my left flank. I am still inviting friends over to talk trash on my headset whenever they come across a pre-pubescent voice talking about Pokemon. I am still a nerdy gamer.
The biggest difference between gamers and people that play video games is this: Gamers play to win and people that play video games play to have fun.
I would be willing to bet most Wii owners are people that play video games. I would also be willing to bet that most Halo 3 and Call of Duty owners that play online are gamers. Don't get me wrong, I have a great time and a lot of fun playing Wii Sports with a group of friends. However, I usually always prefer to play a first person shooter online against other insanely competitive people.
I use to be the kid that would sit in front of his TV and play Mario Brothers 3 and fly over every level in my squirrel/raccoon costume for the hell of it. Basically, more available high speed internet made me into an online gaming addict. I went from Metal Gear Solid to Call of Duty 2 and 4 faster than you can say "56k blows".
Now I am spending most of my free time blasting people away in real time and loving every minute of it. The next step is a true professional league for gamers. MLG would like to think they have a firm grip on the competitive gaming world, but they don't.
I have been working out the kinks on what I believe will be the next step in competitive gaming. The project is not yet finished, but once it starts to come to fruition there will be a changing in the guard once again as MLG and it's broken Minor League system (Gamebattles) comes tumbling down and bows before the brainchild of Outspoknpoet.
Now I find myself in a funny situation. I am still playing video games at 26 and I am still screaming at my TV (when my wife isn't home). I still crank up my surround sound in hopes of hearing my next victim try to sneak up on me from my left flank. I am still inviting friends over to talk trash on my headset whenever they come across a pre-pubescent voice talking about Pokemon. I am still a nerdy gamer.
The biggest difference between gamers and people that play video games is this: Gamers play to win and people that play video games play to have fun.
I would be willing to bet most Wii owners are people that play video games. I would also be willing to bet that most Halo 3 and Call of Duty owners that play online are gamers. Don't get me wrong, I have a great time and a lot of fun playing Wii Sports with a group of friends. However, I usually always prefer to play a first person shooter online against other insanely competitive people.
I use to be the kid that would sit in front of his TV and play Mario Brothers 3 and fly over every level in my squirrel/raccoon costume for the hell of it. Basically, more available high speed internet made me into an online gaming addict. I went from Metal Gear Solid to Call of Duty 2 and 4 faster than you can say "56k blows".
Now I am spending most of my free time blasting people away in real time and loving every minute of it. The next step is a true professional league for gamers. MLG would like to think they have a firm grip on the competitive gaming world, but they don't.
I have been working out the kinks on what I believe will be the next step in competitive gaming. The project is not yet finished, but once it starts to come to fruition there will be a changing in the guard once again as MLG and it's broken Minor League system (Gamebattles) comes tumbling down and bows before the brainchild of Outspoknpoet.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Macbook Wheel - I Dare You, Mr. Jobs!
The Macbook Wheel isn't real - but I wish it was. I feel similarly about other stupid things I would enjoy seeing come to fruition just to see the inventor/whack-job fail miserably.
For those of you who haven't seen The Onion's story about 'The Wheel', here is the link.
Every time I hear about Microsoft rolling out a new operating system I get angry. Not because it is usually (always) buggy software waiting to get hacked but because it is just too blatently selfish. When the price of software reaches $500+ (even $50+) most people just look, laugh and go to bit-torrent or their friendly neighborhood pirate (arrgh!).
When it comes to pissing me off beyond Microsoft - Apple is always #1. Not only have they managed to convince nearly every rich suburban white kid that Macbook is the coolest thing since Vanilla Ice but they venture into other realms of stupidity. I can understand Microsoft jacking up prices on poorly designed software and ignorant people buying into 'the next big thing'. However, I can't understand how Apple manages to convince people to buy all their little gadgets and then make them believe that they actually need them.
I love analogies, so here is my analogy of the day.
Microsoft is a used car salesman - You know they are full of shit. You know they will do almost anything to make you buy from them (including making 'fixes' that demolish your car (PC)). You know they are going to make you pay extra for anything that you may have problems with in the future...but you will go ahead and buy the car and try to fix all the problems on your own.
Apple is a snake oil salesman - They tell you their product is perfect. They tell you everything they have is something you need. They tell you they will always be around to give you more snake oil (any new Apple product) that they come up with. They manage to convince you that you need other oils (gadgetry - iPhone, iPod, Macbook Pro, Jaguar, Leopard, Panther, Kitten, Sabretooth, ViBrator, Macbook Wheel...the list goes on). And lets not forget - they all become obsolete, they all eventually break and they are all WAY overpriced.
So, I dare YOU Mr. Jobs - make the Macbook Wheel. Watch your faithful Lemmings walk off a cliff for you. Then I will laugh as I watch you make the biggest mistake since the Pippin.
For those of you who haven't seen The Onion's story about 'The Wheel', here is the link.
Every time I hear about Microsoft rolling out a new operating system I get angry. Not because it is usually (always) buggy software waiting to get hacked but because it is just too blatently selfish. When the price of software reaches $500+ (even $50+) most people just look, laugh and go to bit-torrent or their friendly neighborhood pirate (arrgh!).
When it comes to pissing me off beyond Microsoft - Apple is always #1. Not only have they managed to convince nearly every rich suburban white kid that Macbook is the coolest thing since Vanilla Ice but they venture into other realms of stupidity. I can understand Microsoft jacking up prices on poorly designed software and ignorant people buying into 'the next big thing'. However, I can't understand how Apple manages to convince people to buy all their little gadgets and then make them believe that they actually need them.
I love analogies, so here is my analogy of the day.
Microsoft is a used car salesman - You know they are full of shit. You know they will do almost anything to make you buy from them (including making 'fixes' that demolish your car (PC)). You know they are going to make you pay extra for anything that you may have problems with in the future...but you will go ahead and buy the car and try to fix all the problems on your own.
Apple is a snake oil salesman - They tell you their product is perfect. They tell you everything they have is something you need. They tell you they will always be around to give you more snake oil (any new Apple product) that they come up with. They manage to convince you that you need other oils (gadgetry - iPhone, iPod, Macbook Pro, Jaguar, Leopard, Panther, Kitten, Sabretooth, ViBrator, Macbook Wheel...the list goes on). And lets not forget - they all become obsolete, they all eventually break and they are all WAY overpriced.
So, I dare YOU Mr. Jobs - make the Macbook Wheel. Watch your faithful Lemmings walk off a cliff for you. Then I will laugh as I watch you make the biggest mistake since the Pippin.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
How To Destroy A Camper
You creep around the corner. Trigger finger ready to squeeze a few rounds into a known enemy. The corner slower disappears to the right side of your screen.
BOOM!
You have become the latest victim of the camper. Chances are good that if you have ever played a first person shooter online you have been the perpetrator or victim of this 'strategy'. The process of finding a great camping spot is an imperfect one. Typically it will be in a low traffic spot of a map.
If you find that you are the victim of such map dominance you need to make sure you have communication with your teammates. This also requires a strategy reminiscent of Velociraptors discussed in the movie Jurassic Park.
Make sure you have the location of the camper known to a certainty. Then organize your teammates to come from both sides of the camper. Pull the attention of your opponent towards a focal point out and away from the sides - it also helps to throw frag grenades within his/her view field to distract even more. Then let your teammates destroy the camper and enjoy the spoils of tapping your crouch button repeatedly on the dead foe's face.
BOOM!
You have become the latest victim of the camper. Chances are good that if you have ever played a first person shooter online you have been the perpetrator or victim of this 'strategy'. The process of finding a great camping spot is an imperfect one. Typically it will be in a low traffic spot of a map.
If you find that you are the victim of such map dominance you need to make sure you have communication with your teammates. This also requires a strategy reminiscent of Velociraptors discussed in the movie Jurassic Park.
Make sure you have the location of the camper known to a certainty. Then organize your teammates to come from both sides of the camper. Pull the attention of your opponent towards a focal point out and away from the sides - it also helps to throw frag grenades within his/her view field to distract even more. Then let your teammates destroy the camper and enjoy the spoils of tapping your crouch button repeatedly on the dead foe's face.
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