8/27/2005

How's this for corporate thinking!

"According to Microsoft, the issue is not a security vulnerability, but a function within the operating system that could be misused. Microsoft said it is not aware of the trick being employed to hide software."

What is the difference?  Really I'm curious.

8/22/2005

Someone estimated the cost of the next Xbox device and the final price tag for having a system that can do everything Microsoft has promised will be nearly $650.  For $650 I can build you a computer that will do most everything you need and for literally no extra cost you can have a keyboard and mouse for doing useful things too.  

8/21/2005

Want to know why the Quake 3 source code ran so well and was ahead of it's time back in 1999?  Apparently, some of the coding was done in assembler which of course is just one step (barely) above binary.  Carmack is SICK!

In a shocking development which surprised absolutely no one, the next console from Microsoft will not be backwards compatible with the current stuff unless you buy a hard drive or build an altar to Odin. Wow, I can just move hard drives to new hardware and I'm good to go for gaming.  Tough break console losers.  Screw consoles and screw Gamestop for hardly carrying any PC games anymore.  Two little shelves?  Gimme a break

Serious Sam 2 site is up and online.  If you do not comprehend the sheer fun of zombie stockbrokers then get the hell off my site!

8/15/2005

Think of the most humiliating thing that happened in your life.  Now quit crying and be in awe of this kid getting owned. By his mom.  In World of Warcraft.  I shit you not. 

Did you forget about Star Trek Online? So did I, but read some stuff anyway.

This preview of Quake IV must've been made while drunk because Quake IV did not wow me nor did it inspire me to think that this, unlike Doom 3, would result in a rash of new mods.  From what I understand, the Doom 3 source and tools is a beast to manipulate into new and exciting things. 

New screenshots for Age of Empires III. Just wow.

8/12/2005

Here's Friday's Quakecon coverage but a problem cropped up when we missed the damn keynote speech by Carmack at 2:00 PM.  My buddy Maulf's upset but the reality of it is that no one, and I mean NO ONE, can understand what Carmack says. He's just talking and talking about something tech related and undoubtedly a few heads explode from the information overload.  

8/11/2005

I just read that Serious Sam II will be shown at Quakecon!!! YES LORD THANK YOU!! 

And a schedule!  

I was a bit bored and started re-reading my own review about Everquest 2 and it got me to thinking about the payment structure for paying the game.  As it stands now, when you buy the game the price of the first month is included in the cost of the media. Ok, that's fair enough.  But after that you have to pay a flat monthly fee on the game.  So whether I play 10 hours a week or 30 hours a week I'm still going to pay about $20-25. Sure, Sony offers discounts if you sign up for their Station Pass but it's only a few bucks.  

Why not, and bear with me on this I've been drinking too, what if they did it more akin to a cell phone service where you have a certain amount of hours for a fixed rate but if you go over that you get billed.  The game already calculates your online playing time.

For example, they could have tiered payment systems.  If, for example, I think I'm going to only play about 10 hours a week then charge me $10 a month. But if I go over that then I'm off service and pay extra.  If the game is addictive (and Lord knows that EQ2 can be) then people will pay for more hours.  In fact, have a super elite tier where they get all sorts of goodies.  

If they really wanted to get fancy they could email charts of your playing time and make suggestions for what price plans are good for you.  Anyway just a ramble.

8/10/2005

Quake 2: Lost Marine is a mod made for Doom3 that redoes Quake 2 with the Doom 3 engine. That is akin to mixing chocolate and money together all wrapped up in hot sex. Best of all, it's going to be shown at Quakecon. You are going aren't you?

8/8/2005

Saura, who's participating in Ms. Quakecon this year, pointed me to the demo for a game called F.E.A.R. It has a graphical feel of a game like Alien v. Predator 2 (with nicer graphics of course) and the music, at least at the start, really stands out for me after so many games with tinny or non-existent music.  The intro movie is rather bizarre and I'm guessing that this slow-mo control that you can use will be utilized a lot.  

What I did like about the slow motion camera pertains to the fact that when bullets are fired at you, the aerodynamic disturbance caused by the bullets is displayed which gives the screen an interesting watery effect.  

What I don't like so far: more sewers and small buildings.  I'm pretty certain that software developers are virtual vampires who feel that virtual sunlight will kill them. Except for the folks at Dice whose BF2 is the antithesis of darkness.  But that's understandable since they are from some North Europe country where the sun is probably out 2 months of the year. 

8/6/2005

Damn it's a been a week since I posted?  

The enthusiasm of the Battlefield community has apparently outstripped EA and Dice's ability to keep up with it since they had to stop supporting public access to the stat servers. EA says they are working on it and I hope that's true.  Battlefield 2 stats are crack cocaine.

There's some game coming out called "Bully" which apparently Jack Thompson has once again jumped on and flapping his lips more than an old porn star. Here's the thing about the game.  First, it looks really bad. Second, if all this controversy had come up about the game I doubt anyone would care because of the first issue.  But now it will sell millions. 

Gamespot has an article about MMORPG and has it titled "Why do we play these games?" As a reformed EQ2 player I can honestly say, "I don't know."  But as a gamer why do we play any game.  If it makes ya happy, go for it, right?  Of course if it's not a shooter you are inferior to me though*

*One exception is of course the Knights of Old Republic I.