General Discussion [ Page 67 ]

How much fun is too much?

I never played the first Saints Row, because I heard it was a mediocre GTA clone. The second one, though, got some good press and people claimed it was the spiritual successor to the PS2-era GTA games. Even though I thought GTA4 was the best in the series, many thought it put too much focus on the serious storyline and took away from the zany antics of its predecessors. So, anyway, I picked it up and it was a lot of fun.

The third game didn't hold a ton of appeal for me. I have it, I got it as part of one of the Humble Bundles at one point, but I have yet to play it. The zany antics took a front seat. You even have a melee weapon shaped like a giant dildo. The dick and... Read All

The Forest - Did You Hear That?

I just saw this pre-alpha trailer for The Forest on Kill Screen. Looks like it's up on Steam Greenlight. Survival horror, with a bit of craftiness. Doing a quick Google search brings up a Slender clone called Forest, which I believe is an entirely different game, though they look similar, I guess (you're in a forest, and you're supposed to be scared). This game doesn't appear to be a Slender clone. If anything, it looks like a photorealistic Minecraft experience.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=143803558

MMO Minefield

Oh, this is one of those games where you spend way too much time playing. Yup, it's normal minefield. However, it's MMO, you are playing on a giant field with other people all at once. You get points for clearing blocks and placing flags (and much larger negative points for placing incorrect flags or clearing a mine).

It's entirely HTML5, so plays right in your browser.

http://mienfield.com/

It's compelling, has leaderboards, and is fun. I recommend giving it a try.

New Humble Bundle

The Double Fine Humble Bundle is up. You get Costume Quest, Psychonauts with the soundtrack, and Stacking for whatever you want to pay; Brutal Legend and its soundtrack if you beat the average ($8.09 at time of this post); and access to the Double Fine Adventure game and a T-Shirt for more. Get in on this one.

http://www.humblebundle.com/

Wolfenstein: The New Order

http://zmi-cdnstatic.s3.amazonaws.com/bethblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/wolf-fb-cover-USA.jpg

MachineGames, a subsidiary of Bethesda Softworks, is working on Wolfenstein: The New Order. This game takes place in an alternate history 1960 after the Nazis won WWII. You play again as BJ Blazkowicz to take down the supernaturally charged Nazi war machine!

A notable omission from the news I've read about this today is that no mention is made of id software's involvement in the game. MachineGames is a relatively new studio made up of former Starbreeze Studios employees. Hopefully that means id is working hard on Doom 4 as we speak, but I was hoping the next Wolfenstein installment would be done by id themselves.

More info from the following sources:
... Read All

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/07/2013 at 04:34pm

POST WAR!

PS I Am excited about this game too :D

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/07/2013 at 04:38pm

Seriously, fighting Nazi robots in the future? Sign me up.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/07/2013 at 04:55pm

Day one purchase, no question. I'm bummed about the lack of id on it, but I trust Bethesda to give it a good home.

PS: don't read the comments on the Bethesda Blog post. It's full of people who don't get that one company can own multiple studios and that "YOU STOPPED DEVELOPING SKYRIM FOR THIS!?" isn't a valid thing to rage over.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/07/2013 at 04:57pm

I agree, it will be day one purchase for me too. Coming out at the end of this year too. So yeah, now I have a triple A game on my radar. :D

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/07/2013 at 05:30pm

Here's one guy who won't be playing it. Wow.
http://www.destructoid.com/warren-spector-so-tired-of-stuff-like-wolfenstein-253257.phtml

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/07/2013 at 05:36pm

I mean, does the world __need__ a game about anything? I mean gosh, we could funnel that time/energy into __INSERT THING HERE__ right?

Yeah so Master Spector isn't excited about a new Wolfenstein game. I understand that. But getting all huffy about is kind of strange to me. Warren, does the world need another Mickey Mouse thing? I mean obviously his answer is yes, but you know its a stupid question to ask in the first place.

People create because they do, personally people should do what they feel they must regardless of opining artists or anyone saying otherwise.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 05/08/2013 at 05:13am

The whole situation with Junction Point and Disney was unfortunate, and I would be bitter, too. I don't think anyone starts a company, just to be bought out by someone (a Disney-sized someone, no less), and then be expected to create what they are told to create (i.e. I don't think they wanted to make a Mickey Mouse game, but were under certain obligation to do so). Sounds very unsatisfying. If I were Warren Spector, I'd get my project on Kickstarter, if he's really struggling to find an audience.

I get his frustration. This new Wolfenstein trailer doesn't thrill me, but I've not been a diehard fan of the series anyway. However, his points that the gameplay and mood at first appear to be predictable and generic, are valid and concerning. I mean, the teaser is about as generic as you can get, and I don't think they were trying to be ironic. Then again, it could turn out to be an amazing game that pushes the genre in new directions. You know, like Aliens: Colonial Marines...

Seriously, though, I think he was just targeting this announcement as a metaphor for the state of the triple-A scene. If it wasn't for the Indies, you have to admit we'd have a lot less options for new experiences.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/08/2013 at 04:28pm

Warren Spector created Junction Point studios and sold it to Disney. If one doesn't want the man running the show then don't sell to the man. Selling your company typically means the man throws money at your face to put in your checking account, something I typically don't lament when it goes south.

That said, I see your point with "churn FPS's" and Warrens point as well. I can understand why people would want all video games made they way they would see fit. I want the market to cater to me as well. Thing is, I don't typically get upset at seeing "yet another grind triple A title" or "yet another vapid pop star gaining popularity." If I got upset whenever something happened that wasn't my style I would be upset often. There are people that get upset about things they can't change a lot, I wish them luck with that.

I agree with you about Indies but I would say that point entirely is keeping gaming interesting, for me anyway. Until the new Wolfenstein reveal, I had no triple A games on my radar I was interested in other than indie games.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/08/2013 at 04:31pm

So, yeah did this Wolf. reveal showcase anything we haven't seen before? No. But its part of a Marketing cycle where you tease something, then keep the drum beat up until release. Its a good strategy and works pretty well.

When I watched the trailer, because I am a Wolf. fan I ate it up. Well until the Hendrix music, it didn't seem to fit the whole future robot thing. But whatever, I had stylistic points with Terraria and Anodyne too.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/09/2013 at 11:34pm

http://www.gamespot.com/features/rewriting-history-in-wolfenstein-the-new-order-6408113/?tag=Topslot%3bSlot1

So the game will take place in the 60's. Huh. Id rather a time travel plot, but ok. Excitement waning.

Travis Admin Post Author wrote on 05/10/2013 at 01:50am

Waning? That actually makes it more interesting to me.

jdodson Admin wrote on 05/10/2013 at 04:14am

Yeah, I am going to still get it, but time travel with Nazi robots? Something about going absurd while trying to remain serious appeals to me.

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Disney and EA partnering up for Star Wars games

Disney and EA today announced a multi-year agreement for game development. DICE and Visceral will be the two new studios involved in game development, with Bioware continuing what they've been doing with Star Wars already.

Visceral makes sense. Games like Dead Space show their chops. But DICE doesn't make as much sense. Since 2005, they've pretty much been making only Battlefield games, with a brief break from that for Mirror's Edge. Maybe they'd be a good fit for a Star Wars: Battlefront type of game.

Full press release:
http://ea.newshq.businesswire.com/press-release/company-news/walt-disney-company-and-ea-announce-multi-year-star-wars-games-agreement

The Firehose: Guns, Starbound Ore & LoD Updates

PC Gamer recently crowned the Flak Cannon as the best FPS gun of all time, video linked above. I totally agree.

The Ore list for Starbound was recently leaked on Reddit. While it didn't make Chucklefish too happy it does show off how much awesome stuff there will be to mine, like the infamous Obtainium.

http://i.imgur.com/bJ4dXrK.jpg

Legend of Dungeon developers showcased some new mobs for the game to be added sometime before Beta is finalized. Unicorns, Leprechauns and Gorgons!

http://robotloveskitty.tumblr.com/day/2013/04/23/

Unreal Indie Bundle

Steam released the Unreal Indie Bundle recently that contains Dungeon Defenders, Primal Carnage, Q.U.B.E., Sanctum, The Ball, Unmechanical and Waves. The bundle is listed as being available for a "limited time" so if you are interested you might want to pick it up soon.

http://store.steampowered.com/sub/27231

That Firehose: StarDrive, River City Ransom 2 ++

StarDrive is now officially released on Steam. If you love space battles with intense strategy, you need to check it out as well as my review with its creator.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/220660/
http://cheerfulghost.com/jdodson/posts/1085

Combit Studios is releasing the follow up to River City Random that will not be called River City Ransom 2. One of the most beloved NES titles is now getting a fresh new take.

http://combitstudios.com/2013/04/river-city-ransom-announced/

Portal 2: Dilapidation is a recent level pack for the awesome puzzle shooter. Taking place in the ruins of Aperture Labs the game looks fairly accessible and claims to only take about 3 hours to... Read All

Super Mario Bros. Crossover 3.0 trailer

Super Mario Bros. Crossover is getting a new version soon. There was a sequel to Super Mario Bros. released for the Sharp X1 computer in 1986. This new version adds those levels to the game. In addition, it adds more settings and music to the game, to make the levels look like they would have if they were in SMB2, 3, Super Mario World, Zelda, Castlevania, the list goes on.

The original Super Mario Bros. Crossover took the internet by storm a few years back when the creator, Jay Pavlina, posted a Let's Play of him playing the game. His humor got people watching the video, which made people want to play the game. You can see that here if you haven't. And if you haven't,... Read All