Posts Tagged ‘course’

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E3 2009: The PC Perspective


Posted in Gamechangers

With this being my first E3, I couldn’t really gauge how much a compact version this was, but after hearing murmurs from the crowds and eager businessmen, this is miniscule compared to the gaudy insanity when E3 was still a ridiculous paroxysm of noise and overeager yelling over the latest trailers for the next big game.

I didn’t feel any of that. I thought E3 ’09 was massive, and I can’t imagine how much bigger it was in its glory days. It really put a lot of things in perspective. Games are a big deal commercially. That was always a known quantity, but seeing the profitability displayed over the course of three days, it really hits home. Games are a business, and it’s a serious one.

And sometimes, it can be a cold one. I always knew games were a business, but again, seeing the business side play out was impacting. As I walked through the food courts and meeting rooms where I could hear myself think, I heard about exclusivity deals, why a publisher should publish their game, and even about company bleeding out its wallet to just barely maintain itself. It was tragic to hear, as I sat there eating my overpriced cheeseburger. (more…)

On MMOGs and Skill


Posted in Gamechangers

It’s not uncommon to see MMORPGs criticized for being games that are decided solely on the basis of how much time you put into leveling your character, rather than your incredible skill as a player. We’re all familiar with this argument, raised once again in a recent article on GamerDad. The author extolls the virtues of PlanetSide because it brings the manual aim and fast reflexes required by shooters into a massively multiplayer online environment. Even if it’s not entirely fair to say that RPGs require no skill, it does bring up some interesting points about what makes a game enjoyable.

Before I go any further, I should point out that game “skill” is not necessarily limited to one’s proficiency with mouse, keyboard, and joystick controls. Knowledge of what works best in different situations, team organization, even the ability to be diplomatic with enemies, could be considered valuable skills in many games. Nevertheless, it is apparent that a lot of gamers find typical RPG combat somewhat lacking, so it’s worth looking at the relative strengths and weakness of combat in these very different types of games. Advertorial info : Printed Promotional Umbrellas (more…)

Gaming for Money: Trading Game Assets (1)


Posted in Gamechangers

In the world of MMORPGs, one thing you can’t help noticing is that player vs. player (PvP) combat is not typically the central focus of the game, even if they offer certain servers and options that make it possible. While there are almost always ways in which two players can have it out if they both consent, the focus of most MMORPGs so far has been player vs. environment (PvE), where groups of players fight cooperatively against computer controlled monsters. Furthermore, for a host of reasons, PvE is clearly the preference of the overwhelming majority of MMORPG players. Shadowbane set out to change all that by shifting the emphasis onto PvP, team on team conflicts, sieges, and territorial domination. Considering that, because of the obvious imbalances created by level differences between characters, PvP in most MMORPGs leaves a lot to be desired, this was a rather risky move. Today, some gamers consider Shadowbane the only decent option for serious PvPers, while others point to it as a perfect example of why PvP in MMORPGs is, quite simply, no fun.

Background
Player built cities and guilds are central to Shadowbane. Unlike many MMORPGs which have pre-defined realms warring with each other, in SB there are as many sides as players choose to form. Any player with sufficient resources may start a guild, found a city, recruit other players, and lead their kingdom to greatness. Advertorial info: fun games for girls (more…)

Battlefield Vietnam Review


Posted in Gamechangers

Let me begin by saying, no, it’s not an expansion pack, I repeat, NOT AN EXPANSION PACK for Battlefield 1942. Battlefield Vietnam, though it bears more similarities to Battlefield 1942 than just its name, is an entirely new stand-alone game and Battlefield 1942 is not required to play.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, you may have noticed that military themed first-person shooters are everywhere these days. Given the flood of titles and expansion packs that have been released in this area lately, one has to wonder how many such games the market can support. I couldn’t help marvelling at the ad for Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault on the back of the Battlefield Vietnam CD case.

Subsequently, your first impression of Battlefield Vietnam is likely to be one of deja vu. Battlefield 1942 players will find most of the features and game modes they are familiar with in a very immersive jungle setting. If you haven’t played BF 1942, the appeal of the game, in a nutshell, is that you can commandeer a wide variety of vehicles, including tanks, ships, and planes, on the front line. For the most part, this is accomplished with a very simple set of standard FPS controls which minimize the learning curve.

Advertorial info : Promotional Pens (more…)

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