Show Some Appreciation - We Don't Have To Have Betas

... I love the metro.

The Battlefield 3 Beta has been live for about a week now for those who had early access, and somehow the complaining has been constant it seems. There is plenty that needs fixing but, hey it's a beta, not a finished product, and the whole point of having a beta is to see what is working right and what isn't. That said we're supposed to be as judgmental as possible so the developer can see what isn't working, and what people like or don't like about the game. This gives them time to fix things up a bit before the game is released.

But what I don't get is why people are complaining about what ISN'T in the beta.

I'm with you guys who want another map, it'd be cool if we could roll around in vehicles and uh....test that too. But at the end of the day, this is not the full game, and things are going to be missing, and we can't get the full experience until we buy the game.


Bu if you think that I'm just pointing out the people who just want a new map, your wrong. Some people were downright angry when DICE announced that Operation: Metro was the one, and only, map in the beta. There was such a negative reaction to the announcement that PR rep Daniel Matros went off on the EA forums for Battlefield a week and a half ago, saying, "The vibe I'm getting now is just that tons of ungrateful people don't understand how much work we are putting on this game how many overtime hours we are doing and also how many meetings we are in to ship a game like this."


He did go on to explain why they picked Metro, but the point is valid. I think we sometimes forget the hell developers go through in the final month of development. If you think it's some kind of joke, or don't believe the crunch is all that difficult, trust me, look it up sometime. The last month of game development is filled with all-nighters, late night meetings, last minute changes to complex part of the game, and in some cases this comes with very little room for error. It's not fun, and only those who truly love what they do would go through it. Now factor running a beta into that mess. Do you really think the developer needs to hear whining about what map the picked to put in the beta? 


I'm not saying you can be upset with things that are in the beta, or be disappointed by the map because you played it and didn't like it, but complaining before the Beta was even out, or complaining that they should "have to" release a map with vehicles on it isn't okay.

We've forgotten that Beta's aren't something we are entitled to have. It is a developers choice, and when people pull of the stunts they've been pulling with the Battlefield 3 Beta, it might make other developers hesitant about releasing one. For me, nothing is more satisfying then having played a game early and given feedback that will help shape the game in some way or form, so why do some people think it's a demo of a finished project, or that they should be getting more than what they are already given (for free I might add.) Yes it is a developers job, of sorts, to listen to the player during a beta. But not about why their map selection blows. That doesn't help make the game better. 


But maybe I'm a minority here, and that's fine with me. 


Battlefield 3: Ungrateful Fans Get an Earful From DICE

Alright, this will probably be my last chance to ask before the big day comes around, but I'm still looking for donations for Extra Life. It's coming up really soon (the 15th of October) and I really want to try and top the measly little dollar figure I got for Fletcher Allen last year.

The link at the top of the right hand page will take you to my donation page where you can learn more and donate. I will seriously be forever indebted to those of who put something forward. Every cent really does help, and the appreciation I have for every cent is huge.

Until next time people...

Crytek Takes Control of Homefront and Why It's A Good Thing

...The best looking modern war is right around the corner.

It's been awhile, but with no way to play games recently, and a dwindling amount of time at my disposal, it's been difficult. Luckily, both are being fixed (can you fix a lack of time?) so I should be getting a few more posts in here and there.

If you haven't heard yet, Crytek, the developer behind Crysis and Far Cry (the original one) has aquired the Homefront IP and will be making the next game in the series now that the original developer, Kaos Studios, has gone the way of the dodo bird. 

If you don't remember Homefront, it's probably because it wasn't a very good game. For me it was one of the biggest letdowns I've had in gaming in recent memory. Just listen to the story:

In 2013, after the death of that crazy wackadoo Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-un, the crazy wackadoos son, unites North and South Korea under a single banner. Over the years leading up to the game, China falters due to economic stagnation and the middle east gets into a war about oil (gee, ain't that original...). But the US gets the worst of the worst in the years before the start, dealing with the same economic stagnation China deals with, social unrest rises quickly, there's a Texas succession talk, and a deadly outbreak of a strain of bird flu that becomes known as the Knoxville Cough. In 2022 the US economy collapses altogether. Then in 2025, the Korean Republic launches a satellite and detonates an EMP above the US, knocking out all electronic devices. They then invade the US, taking Hawaii, dropping paratroopers into the midwest, and irradiating the Mississippi River to divide the US in half. And that's where the game open, with the US fighting to take back their country from the Koreans. 

For we Americans, we've never really had a game where we fought a war on our own soil (Turning Point DOES NOT COUNT....) so this game had the potential to really hit home for those of us playing from the American perspective. The game even had real life American stores and comapnies who had signs and buildings in the game, just to drive the point home. Many of the previews of the game made it seem like it was going to be one of the best games of the year, instead it was so forgettable, I actually had to double check that it was in fact released this year. What really bothered me about it is that I can see a great concept here, and the game has some good story ideas, but Kaos Studious just couldn't get the game to reach it's full potential. 

So why does the simple fact that Crytek is behind it change anything?

Well, for one thing, they will be taking a good chunk of time on the next game. The planned release isn't until 2014, and that's assuming it never gets pushed back. This gives Crytek time to take a look at the foundation Kaos built, and decide what should stay, what should go, and what needs tweaking. It also gives them plenty of time to actually make the game, and it will give Crytek the opportunity to be patient with things, something FPS games don't always get. 

Crytek's track record, while brief, is also reason to have hope. Far Cry is widely reguarded as one of the better games of the past ten years, and of course one can not talk about Crytek without their most incredibly beautiful game, Crysis. These games have been well received, and Crytek has proven that they are among the top-tier FPS developers, even if they are lacking a large track record. Crysis is usually among the best looking games ever discussion, and Far Cry is a beloved classic at this point, showing that their games also have longevity after their release. That is excellent news for a franchise whose first game has already been forgotten a few short months after it's release.

A symbol of hope. And ridiculous graphics standards for PC users. 

Of course all of this simply means that all the potential that Homefront had now has a second chance. I'm truly excited by this move because now there is an opportunity for Homefront to become the franchise it looked like it could become last year. Games that don't succeed don't usually get this kind of second chance. Just ask Silicon Knights how that Too Human sequel is coming. But we still have a long wait before we see what Crytek can do with the IP and until we see some concrete evidence of what they're up to, we'll just have to let our imaginations do some work.

Oh and a side note, in case there was a shadow of doubt about it, Skyrim is indeed getting an M rating. I can't imagine why... 

Until next time...

P.S. Like the new changes? Nothing big but I think the blog looks much crisper now. 

News: Shepard Can Lose, Skyrim Same-Sex Marriage, and more!

...investigative reporting without the investigation.

This week was filled with interesting information reveals for games coming out over the next few months, as well as a Warthog preview in Forza. Yes, the Halo Warthog as it will appear in Halo 4 (supposedly)was show off in Forza 4. No you can not drive it. Not in Forza anyway...

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Will Allow Same-Sex Marrige
In case you didn't hear already, Bethesda is taking a page out of Peter Molyneux's book and allowing you to marry NPC's and have relationships with them in Skyrim. Skyrim will allow men to marry men, and ladies to marry ladies, if they so choose. As far as I'm concerned, good on Bethesda for not restricting marriage to men and women only. I also like their response that it's not even that big a deal. The same-sex part not the relationship mechanic itself. That part is supposed to be very useful, partially because your partner can accompany you around the game world, offer you relationship-specific quests, and probably some other things we haven't seen yet.

You Can Lose In Mass Effect 3

As much as I didn't want to read this, I already kind of knew it should be possible. Bioware has confirmed that if you play Mass Effect 3 and have been screwing things up royally from Eden Prime to the final showdown with the reapers, you can fail to stop them. Bioware has already said there are many possible endings for Mass Effect 3 and that it all comes down to the choices you've made, so really this isn't so much a shocking reveal as it is a confirmation of our suspicions. Still, failing so bad the entire galaxy is wiped out. How many games can say you can even do that?

Turn 10 Shows Off Halo 4's Warthog in Forza 4's Showroom
Turn 10 has made on hell of a crossover with Halo at Halofest, showing off the first look at Halo 4's version of the Warthog in Forza 4's car viewing garage mode. You can check it out yourself when Forza 4 ships this fall, but the Halofest execs stressed that you can not race the vehicle in the game (they say because it's too slow, I say because it'd be too much awesome) , and even unlocking the vehicle to view will involve some dedication from players. They haven't said what it will take to unlock it, but they have said it won't be easy.

Man Sues Microsoft for $500 Billion Dollars

I really wish I was making that up. To sum the story up for those of us non-legal folk, David Stebbins found a loophole that allows Xbox consumers to amend the Terms of Service. Microsoft, by law, has to respond to the letter by either adding the changes or (as per Stebbins terms) cancel his account. If they didn't respond in ten days, Microsoft would be forced to submit to the new terms. Stebbins' added in a 'forfeit victory clause' that said Microsoft would have to pay him $500 billion dollars if they did not respond within 24 hours of the new Terms going into effect. Guess what Microsoft did not do? Now let me be upfront about this: No matter the legal implications of this, there is no chance that Microsoft will ever be forced to pay all that money to this guy. I can't even speculate what the hell is going to happen with this, but I can tell you right now, this guy has a better chance of being bit by a shark, hit by lightning, winning the lottery, and winning a Nobel Prize in the space of five minutes, then he does of getting that money.

Thats all for this weeks news. Check back next week to see if Half Life 3 has been announced! (spoiler alert: it won't be.)

EA Decides Turn 10 Can't Use Porsche License - And Important News

...I prefer Ferrari's anyway.

This news is yet another example of why we the people can not have nice things.

Chances are that if your a racing game enthusiast you have played one of the Forza games, or at least know it is the Xbox equivalent of Gran Turismo. Turn 10, the developer behind the Forza games does not have the rights to use the Porsche likeness in a game. That sole exclusive right belongs to EA, and has for quite some time. Since the first title in the Forza franchise, Turn 10 has been able to put Porsche's in the game through a sub licensing deal with EA for the past three titles in the franchise.

The logo of pure evil. Or just, you know, people obsessed with money.

Not this time though.

For whatever reason (I like to assume because the EA execs are to busy swimming in their pool of money and gamers tears to pay attention) EA decided that one of the biggest racing games of the year doesn't get to have one of the most recognizable brands in the automotive world. Turn 10 has stated they have tried numerous times to get EA to change their minds about the decision, but to no avail.

Nobody is winning here. EA is not helping their image in any way by deciding that Turn 10 can't borrow their 'Porsche Ball' for a little bit. After all, they had no problem with it the past three titles in the series, what changed in the fourth? Maybe they think their own NFS franchise should have the perk of being the only game that has Porches. If that's the case, I see why they would decide to withhold the license.

I still think it's a bad move though. EA doesn't have an excellent relationship with hardcore gamers, and even some casual gamers know of EA's reputation to care more about the money than with game quality. I get that. Games are a business, but why can't we share? EA's not making any friends with this move, and it's bothering me that they are so unflinching in their decision. I'm sure Turn 10 is willing to pay quite handsomely to use the license so why not let us have our Porsches EA?

I'm not going to say EA will regret this move, but as I said, they aren't making any friends with this.

And...that's it. That's all I got right now. But starting Saturday's I'll be doing a weekly post on the various things happening in the video game industry. It's not a big thing, but it'll keep things flowing more here.

Until then.