Whole Lotta Lovin' (of Game News)

Thanksgiving is over, we've had our fill of turkey and stuffing, so now its time to unload your wallet at your local Best Buy and come home with all these great gifts to save our economy. Well, for me not so much. I'm working. Anyways, there are a lot of things to cover today. Specifically GTA IV and the PC Gaming Alliance.

Well, a good six months after GTA IV for the console'rs was released, the PC folks are hotly anticipating their chance with Niko and Co. Well, maybe after the news drops, PC gamers might think twice. Rockstar games has decided to include SecuROM on their game. This is the same software that pissed off gamers with the launch of Mass Effect and moreso, Spore. With the bad also comes the good. Developers can choose what modules of the SecuROM they want to use with their game, and for GTA IV it looks like its going to be a one time internet activation and a required CD/DVD to play. All in all, its not too intrusive or obnoxious. It still is SecuROM, but at least its not taken to the rediculous extent that EA used in their games. Along with SecuROM, make sure you have room to install Games for Windows Live.

In other news, the PC Gaming Alliance President, Randy Stude was interviewed by PaperRockShotgun. He has some pretty good news as far as the PC platform is concerned. Definately a good read if you are a PC gamer. This tidbit somewhat quells that trembling in my stomach. At least I know that the PCGA is actually doing something rather than just looking for ways to sell hardware. Mr. Stude also said to expect a industry wide "minimum spec" to be released by GDC '09. In related news, Linux binaries have been found with the Left 4 Dead demo. Giving hope that PC Gaming doesn't just mean Windows gaming. I guess WoW on Mac counts too. Again, Valve is the savior of PC Gaming...I swear.

Also, news from Planet Battlefield about our favorite bastard shooter, BF2. Some news on the Battlefield 2 1.50 patch has surfaced. (It seems I was just bitching about that.) Anyways it looks like DICE is trying to implement some security features to prevent douche bags from stat padding and server exploitation. I'm gonna miss Gulf of Oman with Cartillery. HAH! More info as they get near release. Maybe Wired magizine should add the BF2 1.50 patch to their list of vaporware. While they are at it, BF: Heroes too?

WHOOMP! THERE IT IS!

I don't like to say 'I told you so,' but in this case: "I told you so!" Battlefield Heroes is delayed untill sometime in 2009. HA! This after going off on them for saying that the game was already out. BIG MISTAKE. Remember the perrills of Duke Nukem 4? We'll its almost 10 years later and still no game. Not sure who they are targeting with DN4? I'm hopeing they can pack it with fun gameplay instead of cashing in on the fanboys who buy the compolsory copy. DICE still owes for a BF2 patch by the way. They had a release a while back and still no sign of it.

Tonight is the eve of Left 4 Dead release. I think I am going to test it out at 12:01 AM. Hellz yeah! I got L4D to tide me over untill DICE can get thier game together. Thanks Valve!

Is There A Difference Between Democrats and Republicans

Today, I just felt the itch to write. This is something that has been nagging at me for a long time now. In the United States, we pretty much have a 2 party political system. You are either right or left, and never anywhere in the middle, so it seems. We always hear people screaming "the democrats are this" or "the republicans are that." The constant yelling never seems to end, fueled by the 24hour news networks and talking heads who have to dream up garbage to fill air time. I have recently come to the conclusion that we are under a 1 party political system with vocal nutjobs at the extremes of the spectrum. Nothing sparks my ire like the talk of violent video games, we will use this to demonstrate my point.

The Democrat party seems to be the party of "bleeding hearts" and socialists. I countless debates democrats talk of socialized medicine, safety nets for the poor, and other high dollar social programs on the back of American tax payers. That's all fine and dandy on paper, but we all know how the eastern block ended up. Anyways, from my experience the Dems want to protect you from yourself. They want heavy gun control so that guns can't harm anyone. They want to provide you with health care so that no one goes sick. If we look at the government track record, government pretty much sucks at doing every thing but nation defense and keeping a national currency. The Democrats want to enact a Nanny State that keeps everyone safe from harm.

Republicans on the other hand are stand for "Pro-business", "Pro-life", and "Traditional Values." Or so they think they do. The Republican party prides itself on "traditional values' something that is touted in every election, and spewed by pundits on Fox News. Now, I have nothing wrong with their stance, but when you start trying to legislate morality, you really hit the breaks. Trying to pass a law saying that "gay people cannot get married" or "creation must be taught in schools" is pretty much ridiculous. First off, marriage should not be a government function at all. It should be between you and whatever church or God you believe in. If you want to teach "creation" in school find me some hard evidence to back it up. Schools should be a place of fact and truth, not a place where religious ideas are forced on children. If you teach Christian creationism, shouldn't you have to teach Hindu, and Islamic, and Native American creationism as well? God, forbid that your child's eyes are opened to a wider world view.

Anyways what I'm getting at here is that both parties want to nanny you one way or the other. Whether its telling you who to give your money to or who you can pray to, both parties want the same thing; control over you! For the video game industry, this is a big issue. Both political parties see violent games as a harbinger of death for youngsters. States around the country are trying to ban the sale of violent games to minors. From the outside, "knee-jerk" reaction it sounds pretty good. No more school shootings, no more bullying because kids aren't subjected to the extreme interactive violence video games provide.

Scientifically, there are varying reports saying that violent games affect/do not affect kids. However, I will not argue that a 10 year old probably shouldn't be playing Mature rated games (17years +). As with movies, mature rated games have profanity, violence, and some times adult situations. However, this should fall on the parents to make sure their children aren't playing these games, NOT THE GOVERNMENT. The MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) has voluntarily enacted the standards board that rates all movies released in the US. The government has no involvement with this, nor does it enforce any of its regulations. Then why does the government feel the need to enact laws against video games?

Parents and prospective parents, you need to sit down and think about this for a second. You want more government in your lives because you are too much of a lazy ass to watch what your kids play on a Saturday afternoon? People cite the school shootings as an example of what video game violence does to your kids. In the case of Columbine, the shooters were making Pipe bombs in one of the boy's bedroom. Holyshit, if I was making pipe bombs in 9th grade, my parents would have known. You're going to blame that on video games? I call BULLSHIT on you sir. I call out all you shit-for-brains parents who are so wrapped up in your own social lives you can't spend a few minutes with your children. Here is a FUCK YOU for blaming your mistakes and failings on something else.

Creating a nanny state ultimately removes personal responsibility from our society. Evidence?: trillions of ridiculous "I spilled coffee on my lap, sue McDonalds" lawsuits. I guess that's alright if you want to go around living with your head in the sand for your entire life. For the rest of us, keep your personal bullshit out of politics, I won't bother you if you don't fucking bother me.

P.S Ban all the guns you want! Criminals don't get guns legally anyway. That's why they are criminals. You're only limiting the means of protection for the average citizen. But thats another story.

ESRB Descriptors

So for this holiday season, parents and other video game buyers can now go to esrb.org and search a database of rated games. Along with the very easy to understand rating system, parents and guardians now have another tool at hand, content descriptors. The ESRB has unfolded their new scheme aimed at stopping democrats from stuffing red tape down the industry's throat. These new descriptors summarize types of profanity, violence, and situations that you may want to keep from your precious offspring.

The idea is all well and good, however you can't stop a freight train when the conductor isn't watching the tracks. What I mean is no matter how many tid-bits you put out to parents and guardians, it will never work unless they start looking at the ratings. There is a disconnect between how some parents see video games as a medium, and how the game industry sees itself. Most parents, from my seat, see a kids hobby and nothing more. Gone are the days that video games are like Megaman or Super Mario Bros; harmless side scrolling ports of crude arcade games. The game industry now covers as much, or more ground than the movie business. Gamers range from 9-35, maybe 40 years old. The market is a diverse place, and lets face it, as a 30 year old gamer, you don't always play your "Leapster" or Wii sports.

Parents need to understand that video games aren't just for Little Jimmy on Christmas Eve. If Jimmy asks for "BloodGuy 3" maybe you should look at it before throwing it into your shopping cart. If you shop at Wal-Mart or most of the big box stores, you have to buy your games from behind glass. That makes it a bit tough to read the back of the box. So I guess the descriptors are a good idea. However, this takes pre-planning, something a lot of parents lack these days.

Either way, its a step forward. It feels more like a C.Y.A move to me. If the game industry, publishers, and developers actively took arms against retailers who sold M rated games to minors, maybe we wouldn't have to worry about the Senate or Congress fucking us over.

I've noticed a trend lately that doesn't seem to help this either. Places like 7-11 and other quick-stop stores sell games. Some how I doubt that the caliber of employee that is hired at such an establishment is willing to take the time nor is paid enough to want to check an ID for a "stupid video game." Thus allowing little Jimmy to go get a Icee and a copy of GTA 4 with out mommy and daddy. Although, when I was still under my parents control, I never had 60 bucks to go blow on a damn video game.

If the ESA and ESRB want to keep government regulation out of their industry, they are going to have to start taking proactive measures with retail outlets at the forefront of the battle. Work with retailers to educate employees and shoppers that games are just like movies. Some are for kids and some are not. If the MPAA can enforce the same sort of rules without government intervention, the video game industry can do the same.

Fun With the AI Director

Well, clever little gremlins seem to have found a way to somewhat cheat the AI Director. On the No Mercy Demo, we decided to fool around this evening. We found a way down from the roof of the first scene totally bypassing the building. However, the AI director does not seem to like that very much sending a horde of nasties flying at you from every direction. Your teammates on the roof can do little to defend you so they must rush through the building at their own peril. It always seems that in these times, when the group gets split up that really bad things happen. We've been pinned down, with all for bosses flying at us. We have yet to see a tank on the first act, but things can get nuts. I think the game is playing us so to speak.

Left 4 Dead

Alright. I'm convinced. This game rocks. I think I've played the demo more than 40 times. I'm still not bored of the game. I think I'm calling it Game of the Year. I guess it might be a bit too early to start saying that, but the AI director is pretty sweet. Every game is different, even though you are playing the same level. I wasn't planning on pre-ordering, but holy crap, its pretty amazing.

I wrote Gabe Newell an email the other day. I was just so impressed by the 5 minute video. Well tha game is the same way. I told him that Valve games are not made, they are crafted.

PROs:
-4 player co-op mode for story mode.
-AI Director: Every game is custom tailored to your performance.
-The game immerses you from the start. Dripping with atmosphere.
-Team work is a must. Lone wolfing will get you a hunter on your back or a smoker around your neck.

CONS:
-Demo's interface is too much like the console. I'd much rather have total steam integration for chatting and game finding.
-AI team will take pills and health before letting players get powerups.
-No Melee weapon! (hehe)
-Users cant effectively draw the attention of a tank from a teammate.


I feel really sorry for the zombie panic source mod, because this blows it out of the water. With a 4 player co-op game, the action is focused and you can't neglect your team.

BOOYA! Sorry to be such a fan boy, but I think this game is going to give PC game a good shot in the arm. I think anyone playing FallOut 3 is going to drop what they are doing and head to L4D. However, on the console side, I think the story is a bit different. The console version of L4D is going to have to be toned down so much because the lack of freedom to move and aim. The controler severely limits reaction times. Fighting the rush of zombitos coming at you from behind is going to be difficult when you turn about as fast as a roast duck on a spit. Also, i think that the console market is flooded with shooters constantly. If you got a gaming PC and activly purchased games, you'd save money by sticking with the PC than the 360. 44 dollars vs a 60 dollar price tag. Not to mention, im getting exclusive access to the demo before the douches in 360-land can even touch celophane.

Well, I shouldn't be celebrating untill I'm out of the city, cause I just crossed the street.

"Groovy"

Zombies: Check; Oh and Rainbows Too

Wow! That pretty much sums up my expirience with it. Today Valve posted the 5 minute intro video to Left 4 Dead. If you thought the "TF2 Meet the:" videos were good, this will blow you out of the water. I don't know who is doing the videos for Valve, but they sure as hell know what they are doing. Its a five minute clip, but the action is just nonstop, and to tell you the truth, builds a lot of tension in that short time. I'm really looking forward to the AI director. Random spawns of baddies in a 4-player co-op environment sounds awesome.

A few of us just picked up Rainbow Six: Vegas 2. We saw it on Steam for a meager 20 bucks. Not a bad price for a console port. It uses the Unreal 3 engine. Runs well on my machine even though its a few generations old. The game is less tactical than other R6 games. You don't have to do the mission planning and way points. In the single player mode its already laid out for you. I think its neat to have online Co-op for the single player story mode. You can jump in and jump out of games online. We've been doing quite a bit of terrorist hunting lately. Pings good, even playing with pals 3/4 of the way across the country. R6V2 uses a similar cover system to that of Gears of War. It makes for interesting fire fights, taking cover, making sure you're out of the line of sight. The AI is questionable at times, but for the most part delivers a solid performance. They try to flank you, ambush you and curse you out. "That's pretty good assholes!" For 20 bucks I can't find any qualms. It's crashed to desktop a few times, and there are some minor sound glitches with a machine gun sound sticking. Other than that, check it out!