Posts Tagged ‘multiplayer’

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Supreme Commander 2


Posted in Gamechangers

Recently, I had the chance to speak with Chris Taylor about the upcoming Supreme Commander 2, which is poised to take real-time strategy gaming to a new level. I want to thank Chris for taking the time to answer my questions and for Barandon, at Mav PR, for arranging the interview.

Questions from Gareth Von Kallenbach
Skewed and Reviewed


1. What is the background and setting for the game?

The game takes place thousands of years in the future. The old Earth Empire that has ruled for so long became split into three factions, fought the Infinite War and then joined forces to fight the Seraphim. But this peace didn’t last, the Coalition leader is assassinated, and hostilities are renewed. You take turns playing one of three Commanders, each one, old friends, and how this friendship impacts the decisions they make while fighting on the battlefield. (more…)

Blood Bowl


Posted in Gamechangers

Back in 1987 Games Workshop took the Warhammer universe to the football field, with the result being Blood Bowl, a tongue-in-cheek miniatures game that was easy to learn, play and get addicted to.  In the mid-90’s a PC video game version of Blood Bowl was produced with disappointing results.  In mid 2009 a new PC version was launched via digital download, but now, early in 2010, a boxed and patched version that includes a new, playable race is available at retailers.  For those that have seen the new, boxed edition, the easiest way to describe Blood Bowl is a turn-based NFL Blitz with Orcs, Elves and Dwarves.
“…a heck of a lot of fun in some areas, and a heck of a lot of frustration in others.”

Cyanide, the publisher of this latest version of Blood Bowl, has produced a title that is true to the board game, a heck of a lot of fun in some areas, and a heck of a lot of frustration in others. (more…)

Supreme Commander 2 PC Review


Posted in Gamechangers

Tech levels are entirely gone, too, as now your units can be upgraded through a separate Tech Tree window. As you build Research structures you’ll gain tech points faster and faster, and you can then spend them to upgrade units, your ACU, or your structures. You’ll also unlock new units like gunships or shield generators, and eventually on to the powerful experimental units. One of the best parts of the tech system is that once you have the research points, they can never be taken away by a nuke or a throng of enemies breaking stuff in your base; the tech you research is always available to you, and it doesn’t increase the cost of the units you pump out from your factories. What this means is that you’ve got some chance of recovery if your base is nuked, although you’ll likely need help from a friend to get you back on your feet.

The removal of tech levels also means that the number of units in the game has been reduced. Now, any upgrades you achieve immediately switches your force over entirely. Gas Powered Games also tried to differentiate the races more with entirely different tech trees, unique abilities like the UEF’s focus on artillery, the Illuminate’s hovering land units (they have no navy at all), or the Cybran navy’s ability to sprout legs (all of them, this time) and walk on land. This is a disappointment for some fans, especially those who like to make lists of everything that has been removed from the first game. And frankly, it’s a very long list, although I think it’s debatable whether most of the items on that list actually made it better. (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…)

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