Excuse this continuation of my recent cynicism here. How exactly did they research the potential of something that doesn’t really exist yet? I’m sure it will take of ala iTunes, and it’s about damn time, but stating that movie downloads will be worth 60 million five years from now? I want whatever crystal ball they’re using, it is a damn fine one indeed. Either that or it isn’t just analysts who are paid too much to make stuff up.
Definitely off the wall but some enjoyably absurd humour in there too. I thoroughly approve. Go see.
Just found this nice little look at multiple endings and just how pointless they tend to be. They’re certainly a great idea that’s still yet to be done particularly well. Not that it’s easy, mind.
The method of reaching each different ending tends to be too obscure, or mostly based on decisions near the end of the game (as in Blade Runner and Fahrenheit) or based on a blatant good/bad swingometer. None of these methods are ideal. Deus Ex came closest by giving you a clear, varied choice (albeit at the end again) - I took forever making my first choice of ending, it seemed so important.
I finished The Getaway: Black Monday and only found out about the multiple endings afterwards. The ending I reached was astonishingly weak and I couldn’t even tell you what the turning point was. I have no idea if the other conclusions were better and I find my self not caring either.
How about two or even three critical moments in the game where the story branches based on clear but difficult choices. I’m not talking about branching into entirely different places and scenes (which would waste a lot of dev time and shorten the overall experience), rather changing character reactions and situations based on your earlier decision.
Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines altered how you were perceived right from the beginning based on which clan you picked - that’s a start. Deus Ex: Invisible War also did a nice job of basing faction reactions on your past treatment of them. Gamers love choice. The earlier we get to make worthwhile decisions during play the better, and if they have a tangible and clear impact on the ending of the game, perfect. Pipe dream? Possibly. Maybe I’m just somewhat tired of the formulaic and linear.
Out of nowhere, screenshots arrive alongside a rather bare website. Good to see Obsidian is making this - despite KOTOR 2’s failings they’re still one of the few developers I’d trust to continue Bioware’s work.
So say I. Doesn’t take himself too seriously and has some interesting thoughts on game development. He blogged a while back about horror games and wanting to do one himself. I’m not sure to what extent Gears of War has frightening elements though it sounds like there will be some. Anyhow, nice interview here on Gamasutra. It’s a face-to-face interview that flows nicely unlike your typically flat email interviews. Great quote here too:
GS: I like that arc on the grenade [in Gears Of War].
CB: My logic here is that we give you a cursor for your gun, why not give you an arc for your grenade? If you’re a soldier, and you’re going to have a good idea of the weight of the thing, and how far it’s going to go, so why not just give you a visual indication of it?
GS: How would you do that with the Nintendo Revolution?
CB: Just throw the controller at the screen.
I had no idea they custom built the chip on such a short deadline - 14 months compared to the years that Cell is still taking, even though both CPUs are primarily from IBM. There are lots of other interesting facts about the processor’s development in this piece I spotted on Blues News.
Alice spotted this piece on the Hollywood Reporter. Seems a strange choice for a TV series, the story and characters really weren’t all that great. It worked out for Earthworm Jim though so you never know.
You hear that? It’s out. It’s done. Finished. Released. Never thought I’d see the day.
Actually, I’m really happy for Head First. They’re like a magnet for game delays and publisher trouble, first with Simon the Sorceror 3D (a sadly dissapointing end to a classic adventure game series), then this. Unfortunately, it seems it’s Xbox only for now (PC is due later) though reviews so far are positive enough.
By Uwe Boll. Can a movie of an already abysmal game by a decidedly abysmal director really be any good? Postal 2 was offensively bad. Not because I was offended, but because it so desperately wanted me to be. And, ironically, that offended me far more than the game content itself. I’m sure you’re following me here.
iPod autopsies are good, but buying one at an Apple store and smashing it to pieces there and then is, well, pricelss actually. Photos only so far, there’s a video coming later. Even better, next up they’ll be doing it with an Xbox 360 if they get enough donations. SMASH, BREAK, DESTROY (then video it for the internet to enjoy)!
There’s something terribly geeky about this. You really need a 640×480 Pocket PC for this to be worthwhile (my e740 won’t even fit WinAmp) but it does mean your docked Pocket PC suddenly has a use.
One squad of heavily armed soldiers, one near invisible attacker with a knife. Apparently one of the scariest multiplayer games around. I’m downloading it already.
I always thought AvP 2 deathmatch should be like this. Sadly, if you were a skilled Predator all the marines just got shirty and ganked you with cheap rocket shots.
