Yes indeed. Just as the title says. It starts at 10am on Saturday, and you can register TODAY at the Mall up until about 9pm. So if you want to participate in any of the events, make sure to get down to the mall and sign up now. I look forward to seeing everyone there.
More details about this can be found on a earlier blog post. So make sure to check it out. And I'll see you all there!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
One of the hardest games of 2011... Dark souls.
Alright guys. Lets talk about one of the hardest games that will be coming out all year. And no, I'm not exaggerating here. Dark Souls. The second in the series of games. The first game was called Demon Souls. If you haven't played it, do yourself a favor and buy the game. It's for PS3 only though.
Dark Souls will be for both PS3, and 360. And just let me say this one more time. It's going to be one of the hardest games coming out all year. Think about how hard old games used to be. Think of those games. Dark Souls will be just like that. You die in a couple hits. You don't have your shield raised up, and you get hit, you could die. Easy as that. And when you are dead, you are at half hp, because you're in spirit form. So pretty much you die in one hit. The only way to get your body back, is to kill a boss.
Now the way you level up in the game, is when you kill things, you collect their souls. Now this is the currency for the whole game. Whether you want to buy items, weapons, new spells. It's all through Souls. And when you want to level up.. That's right.. It costs souls.
Now here is the catch on things. Which really sucks. Let's say you die. All the souls that you have are now on the ground right where you died. You lose them all. The only way to get them back is to walk to where you died and pick them up. Now here is the tricky part. Remember that when you die, you are at half health because you are in spirit form. Now if you die again on your way back to your body, and you didn't pick up your souls.. THOSE ARE LOST FOREVER! You can no longer get those souls back. Do you see why this game can be so tough? If you didn't spend your souls, or are saving up to level.. Yeah. You lost those. Can you see why this game is.. Unforgiving at times?
I've lost hundreds of thousands of Souls before. And it is.. Well.. How can I put this.. Very frustrating. Very very frustrating.
Can you see why this game can be tough? Now from what I have heard rumor wise, Dark Souls will be.. Much tougher then Demon Souls. Which honestly I can't wait for. The difficulty of the game is what really draws me in. I love a good challenge in a game.
If you want to get some practice before Dark Souls come out. Once again, get Demons Souls. I'm sure it can't be more then 30 bucks right now.
See Kris or Cory there and say Jonnie sent you to come pick it up. Say you read about it on the blog here and maybe you can snag a discount, I dunno. It's worth a shot.
-j-
Dark Souls will be for both PS3, and 360. And just let me say this one more time. It's going to be one of the hardest games coming out all year. Think about how hard old games used to be. Think of those games. Dark Souls will be just like that. You die in a couple hits. You don't have your shield raised up, and you get hit, you could die. Easy as that. And when you are dead, you are at half hp, because you're in spirit form. So pretty much you die in one hit. The only way to get your body back, is to kill a boss.
Now the way you level up in the game, is when you kill things, you collect their souls. Now this is the currency for the whole game. Whether you want to buy items, weapons, new spells. It's all through Souls. And when you want to level up.. That's right.. It costs souls.
Now here is the catch on things. Which really sucks. Let's say you die. All the souls that you have are now on the ground right where you died. You lose them all. The only way to get them back is to walk to where you died and pick them up. Now here is the tricky part. Remember that when you die, you are at half health because you are in spirit form. Now if you die again on your way back to your body, and you didn't pick up your souls.. THOSE ARE LOST FOREVER! You can no longer get those souls back. Do you see why this game can be so tough? If you didn't spend your souls, or are saving up to level.. Yeah. You lost those. Can you see why this game is.. Unforgiving at times?
I've lost hundreds of thousands of Souls before. And it is.. Well.. How can I put this.. Very frustrating. Very very frustrating.
Can you see why this game can be tough? Now from what I have heard rumor wise, Dark Souls will be.. Much tougher then Demon Souls. Which honestly I can't wait for. The difficulty of the game is what really draws me in. I love a good challenge in a game.
If you want to get some practice before Dark Souls come out. Once again, get Demons Souls. I'm sure it can't be more then 30 bucks right now.
See Kris or Cory there and say Jonnie sent you to come pick it up. Say you read about it on the blog here and maybe you can snag a discount, I dunno. It's worth a shot.
-j-
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
New DLC for Mortal Kombat.. And a Tournament in Butte
First things first, lets have a little chat about the Montana Melee Championships 2011, here in Butte Montana. If you are a fan of fighting games in general, you will want to keep reading. Here we go.
Montana Melee Presents: Montana Melee Championships 2011.
Games Include:
Butte Plaza Mall, 3100 Harrison Ave, Butte MT.
Registration via email June 9th - July 12th *Preferred!*
Late Registration Friday, July 15th, 4pm-9pm *On Site*
Registration Fee of $10, Plus $5 Per Event you would like to participate in.
All event frees will go towards top 4 prize money.
For more info, and registration, visit Montana Melee on Facebook, or email Montana melee@gmail.com
Now is that not exciting or what?! I'm pumped to be playing in this bad boy. And beware.. You could get.. SMOKED!
Well, as you all know, there are 4 Mortal Kombat characters that are coming out for DLC this summer for Mortal Kombat, and the 2nd of 4 was just released yesterday, and he goes by the name of Kenshi.
And he is a BEAST. Let me tell you what. If you haven't seen any video's for him yet, you should do yourself a favor, and go look at some.
I'll give you one to check out right now, how bout that?
Montana Melee Presents: Montana Melee Championships 2011.
Games Include:
- Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition
- Marvel vs Capcom 3
- The New Mortal Kombat 2v2 Tag Team (Partner Req.)
- The New Mortal Kombat 1v1 Singles
Butte Plaza Mall, 3100 Harrison Ave, Butte MT.
Registration via email June 9th - July 12th *Preferred!*
Late Registration Friday, July 15th, 4pm-9pm *On Site*
Registration Fee of $10, Plus $5 Per Event you would like to participate in.
All event frees will go towards top 4 prize money.
For more info, and registration, visit Montana Melee on Facebook, or email Montana melee@gmail.com
Now is that not exciting or what?! I'm pumped to be playing in this bad boy. And beware.. You could get.. SMOKED!
Well, as you all know, there are 4 Mortal Kombat characters that are coming out for DLC this summer for Mortal Kombat, and the 2nd of 4 was just released yesterday, and he goes by the name of Kenshi.
And he is a BEAST. Let me tell you what. If you haven't seen any video's for him yet, you should do yourself a favor, and go look at some.
I'll give you one to check out right now, how bout that?
More Mortal Kombat Videos
Watch it, and that's just a little bit that he can do. Will he be overpowered at first? Yeah, most likely. Is he a versatile character? Indeed he is.
But can you be good enough with him to win the tournament? Who no!
See you guys there on Saturday.
Leave a comment to let me know what you think!
-j-
Watch it, and that's just a little bit that he can do. Will he be overpowered at first? Yeah, most likely. Is he a versatile character? Indeed he is.
But can you be good enough with him to win the tournament? Who no!
See you guys there on Saturday.
Leave a comment to let me know what you think!
-j-
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Sony redesigning the PSN?... And more
If a report from Reg Hardware is to be believed, Sony is currently working on a visual redesign of its PlayStation Network service. The makeover will apparently place PSN more in line with Steam and Xbox Live as opposed to its current text-heavy style.
Interesting... Right? Now honestly, I don't use the store a whole lot. Why? Well, there isn't anything that I would really buy.. I used to buy a lot of Rockband DLC, but I just used the link through the game, as it was much easier that way. Maybe that's one reason they want to switch it up? Make it easier for people to download through their store, instead of using the link through the game they are playing. Interesting...
It would seem that these changes would affect the PlayStation Store rather than the main XMB. A source tells the website that Sony is trying to de-clutter the service in favor of "an aesthetic layout with logically marked sections and rolodex lists". New features include a live search that shows more results with each character entered along with database-like listings for both games and movies, showing details like developers or cast on the right side of the screen. The blue background will also be eschewed, to be replaced by a black one, with brighter colors highlighting content. A 'deal of the week' section will also accompany the relaunch, the report claims.
You know, I still haven't used the whole welcome back program thing yet that we got since the network was down for.. EVER. I need to do that before it expires. What are some things that you would like changed with the store and such? One thing that I really want, is VOICE CHAT! I want to be able to have several friends in one chat and be able to just talk to them. Not having to rely on the game we are playing to support voice chat. Other wise, it's just very annoying to even play the game having to type out everything. Keyboards help, yes, but they are just a nuisance to used compared to just.. Talking.
What other things come to your mind about the PSN Store?
Let me know in the comments below.
Another thing that I would like to touch on real quick, is that they are saying the PS4, and next XBOX could be coming out in 2012.. Is this true? Personally, I don't want it to. Yes, it would be cool if they did come out with another power house of a system (both Sony and Microsoft) but why? They are still selling 360's and PS3's, and I would like to get at least another 2-3 years outta my console, and not have to drop 400 bucks on a new one. Because right now, I don't have that kinda cash! Advancing the gaming technology would be great. But with the reasons I stated... NO!
Digitimes, a Taiwanese manufacturer has claimed that the PS4 is on track for a release in 2012, and that it will feature "body movement-based control like Kinect". The source indicated that manufacturing duties will fall to Foxconn and Pegatron Technology, the company that made the PS3, with a minimum of 20 million units planned to ship in 2012. The report comes after weeks of speculation that the next Xbox will also be released next year, after being unveiled at E3 2012.
I'm not too worried about it coming out next year, partly because it flies right in the face of Sony's much-publicised ten-year strategy for the PlayStation 3, and partly because Sony has been so very vocal about how un-bothered they are by Kinect and Wii U. A 2012 PS3 successor would be more than a little premature.
But still, Sony, if you are pondering about releasing the console next year... Hold off!
That's all for today kids.
-j-
Interesting... Right? Now honestly, I don't use the store a whole lot. Why? Well, there isn't anything that I would really buy.. I used to buy a lot of Rockband DLC, but I just used the link through the game, as it was much easier that way. Maybe that's one reason they want to switch it up? Make it easier for people to download through their store, instead of using the link through the game they are playing. Interesting...
It would seem that these changes would affect the PlayStation Store rather than the main XMB. A source tells the website that Sony is trying to de-clutter the service in favor of "an aesthetic layout with logically marked sections and rolodex lists". New features include a live search that shows more results with each character entered along with database-like listings for both games and movies, showing details like developers or cast on the right side of the screen. The blue background will also be eschewed, to be replaced by a black one, with brighter colors highlighting content. A 'deal of the week' section will also accompany the relaunch, the report claims.
You know, I still haven't used the whole welcome back program thing yet that we got since the network was down for.. EVER. I need to do that before it expires. What are some things that you would like changed with the store and such? One thing that I really want, is VOICE CHAT! I want to be able to have several friends in one chat and be able to just talk to them. Not having to rely on the game we are playing to support voice chat. Other wise, it's just very annoying to even play the game having to type out everything. Keyboards help, yes, but they are just a nuisance to used compared to just.. Talking.
What other things come to your mind about the PSN Store?
Let me know in the comments below.
Another thing that I would like to touch on real quick, is that they are saying the PS4, and next XBOX could be coming out in 2012.. Is this true? Personally, I don't want it to. Yes, it would be cool if they did come out with another power house of a system (both Sony and Microsoft) but why? They are still selling 360's and PS3's, and I would like to get at least another 2-3 years outta my console, and not have to drop 400 bucks on a new one. Because right now, I don't have that kinda cash! Advancing the gaming technology would be great. But with the reasons I stated... NO!
Digitimes, a Taiwanese manufacturer has claimed that the PS4 is on track for a release in 2012, and that it will feature "body movement-based control like Kinect". The source indicated that manufacturing duties will fall to Foxconn and Pegatron Technology, the company that made the PS3, with a minimum of 20 million units planned to ship in 2012. The report comes after weeks of speculation that the next Xbox will also be released next year, after being unveiled at E3 2012.
I'm not too worried about it coming out next year, partly because it flies right in the face of Sony's much-publicised ten-year strategy for the PlayStation 3, and partly because Sony has been so very vocal about how un-bothered they are by Kinect and Wii U. A 2012 PS3 successor would be more than a little premature.
But still, Sony, if you are pondering about releasing the console next year... Hold off!
That's all for today kids.
-j-
Thursday, June 30, 2011
If you haven't tried out WoW, and always wanted to, now is the time to do so
That's right. The game that steals peoples lives away and ruins relationships and marriages. And does many other countless things that we will not touch on, is sorta, in a way, free to play. That is, until you reach level 20.
From what I have heard, WoW can be played completely free up until level 20. And that's good news for people who might have wanted to try out the game but never got to. Or you just don't want to fork out the 15 bucks a month to play the game. You know, I played the game for years. Off and on. I haven't touched it since Cata came out though. I was able to down Lich King, but then from there, I quit playing.
Now that everyone has a chance to play, and have all the available features up til level 20, you have a shot at trying out the game that... Well pretty much dominates all other MMO's. Give it a shot. You never know.. The addicting could spread onto you, and before you know it, you'll be past level 20 on your way to having a character that is epic'd out. The choice is yours.
Keepin' it short today.
-j-
From what I have heard, WoW can be played completely free up until level 20. And that's good news for people who might have wanted to try out the game but never got to. Or you just don't want to fork out the 15 bucks a month to play the game. You know, I played the game for years. Off and on. I haven't touched it since Cata came out though. I was able to down Lich King, but then from there, I quit playing.
Now that everyone has a chance to play, and have all the available features up til level 20, you have a shot at trying out the game that... Well pretty much dominates all other MMO's. Give it a shot. You never know.. The addicting could spread onto you, and before you know it, you'll be past level 20 on your way to having a character that is epic'd out. The choice is yours.
Keepin' it short today.
-j-
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Why there needs to be a Final Fantasy 7 remake
Now honestly, if you have never played Final Fantasy 7, you are missing out. I know the game is about 15 years old or so, but the game is one of the best RPG's ever. Not even kidding. Yes the graphics aren't very good either. But the story makes up for it all, and it draws you in. Trust me on that one. FF7 is on the PSN. Not sure how much it is exactly, but you can buy it, and you totally should. Not question about that.
Now after you have played the game, you can see why so many people want a remake of the game. Me being one of those people.
About 1 year ago, I played through FF7 again. And got pretty much everything in the game possible. Maxed all my chars, got all their secret weapons. And it was so much fun doing. When you first play the game, the story can be a little bit confusing. Which is why if you played it a couple times through, you will really start to understand the story a lot more, and catch onto things you didn't the last time you played through. And with a remake, I personally think they should add more scenes to the game and explain things a little bit more. Just so it's more.. Clear. Ya know? I just love the whole story line in the game. And they need to make more games like this one. More RPG's. That's what I really want to play, and that's one of the main reasons I got a PS3. Because of Final Fantasy. I did enjoy XIII, but I wish it was more turn based, ya know? Like the good ol' days. This will be a long shot in the dark, but have any of you out there ever played FF2? I think it would be 4 here in the states. I had to for SNES. FFII. It has to be one of my all time favorite FF's. Not the remake on DS or whatever. But the real classic FFII. Amazing. Do yourself a favor and play it. You won't regret it. If you haven't played really any of the Final Fantasy's... You are missing out.
Now I'm going to post what IGN has said about a remake of FF7. Lets take a peek.
Five years, Dirge or Cerberus, Kingdom Hearts titles, Crisis Core, and Dissidia's later, how does it look and sound now? With the exception of a Yuffie and Aerith, all of the voice actors have been maintained through all of these titles. 3D models have been kept the same as well throughout all of these games. Not only have we seen Midgar and other locations in Advent Children, but we've seen many of them in other titles now, in all their 3D glory. Music has also stayed constant, getting the rock cover or fully orchestrated treatment depending on the film or game.
What I'm trying to say is the 3D remake of FF7 is all but already made. Characters, voices, locations, and music have established in our minds what the game would look and sound like. There's no need to go to the drawing board for this one! Simply take the existing models to the bank and give the people want they want!
Now, let it be known that I actually enjoyed Final Fantasy XII. However, was it all that it should have been? Absolutely not. I remember them talking about FF13 for years, and how it just kept getting delayed and delayed. I remember how it was going to save the FF name and make us all believe in Square Enix again. I bought my PS3, anxiously awaiting the day I'd get to play FF13... And then it came out... and then the backlash began.
Make us believe again in you, Square Enix. Let us save you from the financial turmoil you are in. Help us, to help you. Give us what we want! Show us the Final Fantasy VII remake! Give us a remastered version of the game that changed RPGs, caused people to buy over 4 million DVDs, caused millions to download a 15 year old game on the PSN, and is at least heard of by almost every gamer on this planet. Help us to remember why we loved you once.
Limit Breaks in a FF13-esque battle system? Yes please. Leveling up instead of Crystarium garbage? Definitely. Summons and magic requiring MP instead of TP? Oh yeah. Running around Midgar and the 3D world in a non-linear manner (a la Crisis Core and Pulse)? Boo-yah. Tifa in all her 3D battle glory while The Black Mages blast some serious FF7 music?... need I say more?
Could Dissidia even be used as a possible model of combat? Why not make a true RPG with some Dissidia action?
In addition to story, some elements could be better explained. Throughout these titles, for instance, the explanation of things like Zack, Jenova and her cells, SOLDIERs and their creation, and Sephiroth's wings have evolved over time. Many of these things were only partially explained in the original FF7, and have been built upon later. How about adding Genesis, Angeal, and those guys from Dirge of Cerberus into the mix? A new FF7 could take the time to explain some of these more confusing elements by adding new dialog/scenes to the game. I'd love to see a clear-cut description of some of these things in one game.
What about when Jenova fell from the sky? The Cetra and "the man" who walked among them making them sick (Sephiroth)? What about what Rufus says in Advent Children about "bring your Jenovas and your Sephiroths" as a future tie in? Just saying...
.
The latest Final Fantasy VII installment (Crisis Core) is 4 years old, so strike now while the iron is hot! If you wait too long, people will begin to lose interest and forget about the FF7 name. We've seen countless remakes of FFIV, and even multiple platform remakes of FF1, 2, 3, 5, and 6... but no VII. Square Enix's most successful title is sitting there, rotting, and the people are demanding.
Square Enix, we've got your stimulus package in our wallets, and it's waiting for a new Final Fantasy VII.
Now tell me, what do you think about a remake of FF7? Will it ruin what was a true classic? Or will it build onto it and make the game even better?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on things.
Now after you have played the game, you can see why so many people want a remake of the game. Me being one of those people.
About 1 year ago, I played through FF7 again. And got pretty much everything in the game possible. Maxed all my chars, got all their secret weapons. And it was so much fun doing. When you first play the game, the story can be a little bit confusing. Which is why if you played it a couple times through, you will really start to understand the story a lot more, and catch onto things you didn't the last time you played through. And with a remake, I personally think they should add more scenes to the game and explain things a little bit more. Just so it's more.. Clear. Ya know? I just love the whole story line in the game. And they need to make more games like this one. More RPG's. That's what I really want to play, and that's one of the main reasons I got a PS3. Because of Final Fantasy. I did enjoy XIII, but I wish it was more turn based, ya know? Like the good ol' days. This will be a long shot in the dark, but have any of you out there ever played FF2? I think it would be 4 here in the states. I had to for SNES. FFII. It has to be one of my all time favorite FF's. Not the remake on DS or whatever. But the real classic FFII. Amazing. Do yourself a favor and play it. You won't regret it. If you haven't played really any of the Final Fantasy's... You are missing out.
Now I'm going to post what IGN has said about a remake of FF7. Lets take a peek.
1. It's Already All But Made
Remember when Advent Children came out in 2006? Remember how it felt and looked weird? Remember how the characters didn't look quite right, or didn't sound quite the way you had imagined them to sound in your head? I know I thought everything seemed a little strange, or at least not how I imagined it, which is a very normal thing to experience the first time something is brought to life through picture and sound.
Five years, Dirge or Cerberus, Kingdom Hearts titles, Crisis Core, and Dissidia's later, how does it look and sound now? With the exception of a Yuffie and Aerith, all of the voice actors have been maintained through all of these titles. 3D models have been kept the same as well throughout all of these games. Not only have we seen Midgar and other locations in Advent Children, but we've seen many of them in other titles now, in all their 3D glory. Music has also stayed constant, getting the rock cover or fully orchestrated treatment depending on the film or game.
What I'm trying to say is the 3D remake of FF7 is all but already made. Characters, voices, locations, and music have established in our minds what the game would look and sound like. There's no need to go to the drawing board for this one! Simply take the existing models to the bank and give the people want they want!
2. Square Enix Redemption
And this I mean in two different ways: 1) Fiscally, they are not doing too well, as was reported by IGN a short time ago, and 2) Let's face it - Square Enix has dropped the ball in all sorts of ways over the last few years, especially when it comes to Final Fantasy.
Now, let it be known that I actually enjoyed Final Fantasy XII. However, was it all that it should have been? Absolutely not. I remember them talking about FF13 for years, and how it just kept getting delayed and delayed. I remember how it was going to save the FF name and make us all believe in Square Enix again. I bought my PS3, anxiously awaiting the day I'd get to play FF13... And then it came out... and then the backlash began.
Make us believe again in you, Square Enix. Let us save you from the financial turmoil you are in. Help us, to help you. Give us what we want! Show us the Final Fantasy VII remake! Give us a remastered version of the game that changed RPGs, caused people to buy over 4 million DVDs, caused millions to download a 15 year old game on the PSN, and is at least heard of by almost every gamer on this planet. Help us to remember why we loved you once.
3. New and Old Together
Now, I'm not saying that FF7 should just be completely rebuilt. Here is a golden opportunity to give us the best that the newer and older Final Fantasy games have to offer. Why not create a FF7 game with the world, characters, and story we love, but with a modified FF13 battle system? Keep the intense active battle system we saw in FF13, but add Materia, full party control (instead of just controlling the leader), and please, please drop the chain building/breaking. We don't need Paradigm Shifts or Saboteurs - just an even more intensive customizing Materia system and the full party control we once knew.Limit Breaks in a FF13-esque battle system? Yes please. Leveling up instead of Crystarium garbage? Definitely. Summons and magic requiring MP instead of TP? Oh yeah. Running around Midgar and the 3D world in a non-linear manner (a la Crisis Core and Pulse)? Boo-yah. Tifa in all her 3D battle glory while The Black Mages blast some serious FF7 music?... need I say more?
Could Dissidia even be used as a possible model of combat? Why not make a true RPG with some Dissidia action?
4. Story Continuity and Explanation
For those that have seen/played FF7, Crisis Core, Last Order, Advent Children, and Dirge of Cerberus, you know that there are a few continuity problems with the story. I'm pretty sure I've seen Nibelheim portrayed in 3 or 4 different ways, each with a slightly different twist. Now is the opportunity to set the record straight. Show us what happened. Please, my brain would like a definitive answer.
In addition to story, some elements could be better explained. Throughout these titles, for instance, the explanation of things like Zack, Jenova and her cells, SOLDIERs and their creation, and Sephiroth's wings have evolved over time. Many of these things were only partially explained in the original FF7, and have been built upon later. How about adding Genesis, Angeal, and those guys from Dirge of Cerberus into the mix? A new FF7 could take the time to explain some of these more confusing elements by adding new dialog/scenes to the game. I'd love to see a clear-cut description of some of these things in one game.
5. Final Fantasy VII-2/Agito/Versus/Duodecim
Now here's a FF#-2 I'd like to play. I'm sure FFX-2 was fine, and who knows what XII-2 will be like, but I'm positive I'd love to see a VII-2. Heaven knows Square Enix likes making these "spin-off/sequel" titles, so why not make one we'd actually like to see? How about what happens after the story between FF7 and Advent Children? Between Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus? Remember that "500 years later" movie? Midgar gets that way somehow, and I'm pretty sure 500 years is a sufficient window to make a game's story about.
What about when Jenova fell from the sky? The Cetra and "the man" who walked among them making them sick (Sephiroth)? What about what Rufus says in Advent Children about "bring your Jenovas and your Sephiroths" as a future tie in? Just saying...
6. It's a New Generation
It's now almost been 15 years since the release of Final Fantasy VII, and there are many that have never played it. Sure, it's out there on the PSN, but the game hasn't aged that well (though I still love it). The 3D models on the 2D landscapes was pretty awesome for the time, and the 3D battles with blocky modeling was cutting edge back then, but now people demand more. We've seen how good FF13 looks, and how cool Dissidia and Crisis Core are (even for a handeld), now there's a whole new generation of gamers who could get exposed to FF7. It's got the name power, now give it the face that we'd expect to see from games nowadays, and gamers both experienced and new to Final Fantasy will want to try it.The latest Final Fantasy VII installment (Crisis Core) is 4 years old, so strike now while the iron is hot! If you wait too long, people will begin to lose interest and forget about the FF7 name. We've seen countless remakes of FFIV, and even multiple platform remakes of FF1, 2, 3, 5, and 6... but no VII. Square Enix's most successful title is sitting there, rotting, and the people are demanding.
Now tell me, what do you think about a remake of FF7? Will it ruin what was a true classic? Or will it build onto it and make the game even better?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on things.
Friday, June 24, 2011
New Patch On 360, Live For Black Ops. Bye Bye Unstoppable Famas
Alrighty guys, if you haven't heard by now, yes it is true. The Famas is getting... NERFED. I first heard about it from Panisko, but now that I have looked into it, it's true. Now what did they do to it? Lets take a look.
Changes include tweaks on the ADS raise time, hip fire accuracy reduction, more gun kick (so less accurate) and slightly slower re-center speed. But the good thing is, if you are a famas user, the rate of fire, damage, range, and magazine size will all stay the same.
Other then that, here are the other patch notes for 1.10 for the 360
If you aren't feeling the Famas anymore, honestly, you should give the AK47 a shot (pun intended), if you enjoy using assault rifles. If not, I enjoy using the Spectre and MP5K. Don't forget if you need class set up and other tips, make sure to check out our earlier posts on our blog about Black Ops.
-j-
Changes include tweaks on the ADS raise time, hip fire accuracy reduction, more gun kick (so less accurate) and slightly slower re-center speed. But the good thing is, if you are a famas user, the rate of fire, damage, range, and magazine size will all stay the same.
Other then that, here are the other patch notes for 1.10 for the 360
- Security Updates.
- New playlists – Flags and Bombs
- C4 can no longer be warped to player carrying bomb in S&D and Sabotage.
- Removed erroneous “Reset to Default” message when trying to load a DLC map you do not have.
- In-game icons (care package icons, etc) no longer appear in the Create A Class menu.
- Support for Annihilation map pack, available June 28th on Xbox LIVE!
- Fix for a rare crash related to weapons.
- Game no longer crashes when Xbox LIVE servers are down.
If you aren't feeling the Famas anymore, honestly, you should give the AK47 a shot (pun intended), if you enjoy using assault rifles. If not, I enjoy using the Spectre and MP5K. Don't forget if you need class set up and other tips, make sure to check out our earlier posts on our blog about Black Ops.
-j-
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Dungeon Siege III
There has been a lot of talk lately about Dungeon Siege III. First off, one of my good buddies really wants me to buy the game. I'm sure that he has already bought the game right at midnight at Walmart. And before I took that leap of faith with him, I wanted to read some reviews on the game and see what the talk is all about. So here we go, lets take a look at the game.
Now first off, a dungeon crawler without good loot, like Dungeon Siege III, seems to be missing something... essential. Dungeon Siege III's bits of loot come with all kinds of statistical bonuses, and a multitude of special effects like elemental damage or chance to stun. But it's rare to ever get a strong sense that swapping one item for another has a significant effect.. Also, and this totally bums be out big time, many items have near identical visual designs. And no piece is moddable. And it seems like.. After not too long, getting loot begins to feel like you're collecting garbage.
There are four characters you can choose from, and each of the four character classes gets nine core abilities. Three defensive, and the other sex offensive and split across two fighting stances. All the abilities can be evolved by gaining exp and leveling up, for instance giving Anjali's AoE firestorm a healing effect, or Reinhart's glyph magic a chance to slow enemy movement. Though the total number of abilities per class feels small, and you're not forced to make significant either/or choices about which to acquire, you won't receive enough points to fully customize all of them, meaning by the game's end, another player's Lucas Montbarron build won't be the same as yours. The addition of ability mastery, where more powerful versions of abilities can be unleashed if you use them enough times, adds more variety to the system. Each ability serves a well-defined purpose, so there's minimal filler. Movement around the battlefield is just as important as proper ability use. Stance shifting to access different abilities is quickly done with a single button press, and the waves of enemies that swarm into battlefields force you to make frequent use of your dodge ability to get out of tight spots and slip away from magical projectiles. There aren't any potions in Dungeon Siege III, so your survival isn't based on stocking up at shops and spamming them when necessary. It feels more like an action game, then a traditional dungeon crawler. For example, Anjali can spawn a field of fire and summon a demon dog to help her ranged form, then switch to melee and perform a spinning heel kick over the flames before jumping into the sky and slamming down to devastate enemies. If any remain alive, she can dodge back and poke them a few times with her spear, or swap back to fire form and shoot more fire. Using abilities like this helps to keep up interest in the combat, where the loot system fails.
Due to the lack of potions, Dungeon Siege III also doesn't make it feel like you're wasting resources by using abilities. Every standard attack you land builds focus, the resource abilities consume. By constantly attacking you can quickly gather enough focus to often use your most powerful stuff. The fun doesn't last the whole game, however. Even though Dungeon Siege III regularly tosses new enemy types at you throughout a variety of environments, leveling up after you've unlocked a class' entire ability set doesn't feel nearly as rewarding. All you'll be able to do is tweak abilities and talents, adding higher percentages to critical hit damage or reducing the focus cost of special skills, which isn't exactly thrilling.
Games of this type typically don't offer much in the way of story, so it's certainly welcome to see how much attention it gets in Dungeon Siege III. Characters interact in conversation with a Mass Effect-style interface and decisions made throughout the course of the game can actually affect events later on. Those used to bland bubbles of quest text will appreciate this, though it's tough to really care what happens because the personalities, even the main villain, have little depth. These characters exist solely to play flat, plot-necessary roles, not to entertain with their dynamic personalities. Dungeon Siege III does a better job than many other loot games to establish motivations for quests and make it feel as though your actions affect the story, but it's not a story worth remembering.
It's also worth forgetting this game has a multiplayer component because of the restrictions in Dungeon Siege III's online suite. The game plays out entirely in two-character co-operative mode with the partner class of your choosing controlled by a capable artificial intelligence that will make use of a variety of skills and revive you when necessary. You have full control over the skill development of the AI characters and can equip them with gear, but as soon as you go to play online, none of this matters. By hopping into the game of another through the game's online browser you can't import your main character. Instead, you're forced to select from whichever character classes aren't already active in the game (two of the same class are not allowed), and won't have any control over skill development while you're disconnected. While this might work if you want to play with close friends, it makes Dungeon Siege III's online mode near useless if you're looking for a random partner to pair up with and make progress.
The rules of online play also aren't appropriately customizable either, since if you open up your single-player game for another to join, that random person can speed over to a vendor and sell off all your inventory items before bailing out. Such behavior isn't the fault of Obsidian (the company who made the game), but failing to put in safeguards against this kind of thing is. Though four-player online play is possible, it's also a chaotic mess. The camera incessantly jitters as it struggles to follow the action, the spell effects, as bright and colorful as they are, make it overly difficult to discern what's actually happening onscreen, and the arenas of combat feel far too small to accommodate more than two.
Two can play the game offline with a drop-in co-op system, which can be good for a little while, but the inability to transfer your character, items and progress out of another's game for your own individual use is still frustrating. Dungeon Siege III also features no unlockable new game+ mode and swiftly funnels you through what amounts to one long corridor until you reach the end. It's not the type of loot game meant to be played over and over, does little to encourage exploration, and while it can be decent fun as you toy with the combat system, there's no long-term incentive to continue hacking away.
All in all, the core combat system is well-designed, offering a small, but useful set of abilities for each character class. But other then that, the loot isn't impressive, and the store is mediocre at best. There isn't really that feeling of "epicness" that you can get from other games. And with no new game+, once you're done with the game, there isn't much else that you can do. It's a bummer.
Don't let all this keep you from buying the game though. The game will still be fun to play, and even funner if you have a buddy to play it with.
-j-
Now first off, a dungeon crawler without good loot, like Dungeon Siege III, seems to be missing something... essential. Dungeon Siege III's bits of loot come with all kinds of statistical bonuses, and a multitude of special effects like elemental damage or chance to stun. But it's rare to ever get a strong sense that swapping one item for another has a significant effect.. Also, and this totally bums be out big time, many items have near identical visual designs. And no piece is moddable. And it seems like.. After not too long, getting loot begins to feel like you're collecting garbage.
There are four characters you can choose from, and each of the four character classes gets nine core abilities. Three defensive, and the other sex offensive and split across two fighting stances. All the abilities can be evolved by gaining exp and leveling up, for instance giving Anjali's AoE firestorm a healing effect, or Reinhart's glyph magic a chance to slow enemy movement. Though the total number of abilities per class feels small, and you're not forced to make significant either/or choices about which to acquire, you won't receive enough points to fully customize all of them, meaning by the game's end, another player's Lucas Montbarron build won't be the same as yours. The addition of ability mastery, where more powerful versions of abilities can be unleashed if you use them enough times, adds more variety to the system. Each ability serves a well-defined purpose, so there's minimal filler. Movement around the battlefield is just as important as proper ability use. Stance shifting to access different abilities is quickly done with a single button press, and the waves of enemies that swarm into battlefields force you to make frequent use of your dodge ability to get out of tight spots and slip away from magical projectiles. There aren't any potions in Dungeon Siege III, so your survival isn't based on stocking up at shops and spamming them when necessary. It feels more like an action game, then a traditional dungeon crawler. For example, Anjali can spawn a field of fire and summon a demon dog to help her ranged form, then switch to melee and perform a spinning heel kick over the flames before jumping into the sky and slamming down to devastate enemies. If any remain alive, she can dodge back and poke them a few times with her spear, or swap back to fire form and shoot more fire. Using abilities like this helps to keep up interest in the combat, where the loot system fails.
Due to the lack of potions, Dungeon Siege III also doesn't make it feel like you're wasting resources by using abilities. Every standard attack you land builds focus, the resource abilities consume. By constantly attacking you can quickly gather enough focus to often use your most powerful stuff. The fun doesn't last the whole game, however. Even though Dungeon Siege III regularly tosses new enemy types at you throughout a variety of environments, leveling up after you've unlocked a class' entire ability set doesn't feel nearly as rewarding. All you'll be able to do is tweak abilities and talents, adding higher percentages to critical hit damage or reducing the focus cost of special skills, which isn't exactly thrilling.
Games of this type typically don't offer much in the way of story, so it's certainly welcome to see how much attention it gets in Dungeon Siege III. Characters interact in conversation with a Mass Effect-style interface and decisions made throughout the course of the game can actually affect events later on. Those used to bland bubbles of quest text will appreciate this, though it's tough to really care what happens because the personalities, even the main villain, have little depth. These characters exist solely to play flat, plot-necessary roles, not to entertain with their dynamic personalities. Dungeon Siege III does a better job than many other loot games to establish motivations for quests and make it feel as though your actions affect the story, but it's not a story worth remembering.
It's also worth forgetting this game has a multiplayer component because of the restrictions in Dungeon Siege III's online suite. The game plays out entirely in two-character co-operative mode with the partner class of your choosing controlled by a capable artificial intelligence that will make use of a variety of skills and revive you when necessary. You have full control over the skill development of the AI characters and can equip them with gear, but as soon as you go to play online, none of this matters. By hopping into the game of another through the game's online browser you can't import your main character. Instead, you're forced to select from whichever character classes aren't already active in the game (two of the same class are not allowed), and won't have any control over skill development while you're disconnected. While this might work if you want to play with close friends, it makes Dungeon Siege III's online mode near useless if you're looking for a random partner to pair up with and make progress.
The rules of online play also aren't appropriately customizable either, since if you open up your single-player game for another to join, that random person can speed over to a vendor and sell off all your inventory items before bailing out. Such behavior isn't the fault of Obsidian (the company who made the game), but failing to put in safeguards against this kind of thing is. Though four-player online play is possible, it's also a chaotic mess. The camera incessantly jitters as it struggles to follow the action, the spell effects, as bright and colorful as they are, make it overly difficult to discern what's actually happening onscreen, and the arenas of combat feel far too small to accommodate more than two.
Two can play the game offline with a drop-in co-op system, which can be good for a little while, but the inability to transfer your character, items and progress out of another's game for your own individual use is still frustrating. Dungeon Siege III also features no unlockable new game+ mode and swiftly funnels you through what amounts to one long corridor until you reach the end. It's not the type of loot game meant to be played over and over, does little to encourage exploration, and while it can be decent fun as you toy with the combat system, there's no long-term incentive to continue hacking away.
All in all, the core combat system is well-designed, offering a small, but useful set of abilities for each character class. But other then that, the loot isn't impressive, and the store is mediocre at best. There isn't really that feeling of "epicness" that you can get from other games. And with no new game+, once you're done with the game, there isn't much else that you can do. It's a bummer.
Don't let all this keep you from buying the game though. The game will still be fun to play, and even funner if you have a buddy to play it with.
-j-
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Games To Come. . .
First off, I want to talk about Battlefield 3. There is sooo much talk going around about this game, and how it will compete up against MW3. Honestly, it's hard to say. We don't have our hands on either of the games right now. So the ball is up in the air. The CoD franchise is huge, and the most popular one. And Battlefield in my book comes close, if not second place. Which one will reign supreme? We'll have to wait and find out. But my guess is that MW3 will still be on top. Being that it'll be on the same engine as MW2 and Black Ops, plus, all the teenagers will stick to what they like to play. Battlefield 3 will be a lot more realistic. And more people in their 20's and up will buy the game.
That's what I am guessing will happen. Another thing about Battlefield 3, is that on PC, it'll run at 60 fps. Very smooth. And on console, it'll run at half that. 30 fps. Don't get me wrong, the game will still look gorgeous and beautiful, but won't be a super super smooth, and there is bound to be some fps drops somewhere, making the game lag a bit. Since the CoD franchise is sticking to the same engine, it will run at 60 fps, like the others. 30 and 60 fps sounds like a huge difference, but it's not. Any lower then 30 though, you start to feel the lag.
Now lets talk about Guild Wars 2. Are you a fan of MMO's? Play WoW on a daily basis? Well, here is a MMO that is going to change things, and in a big way. First off, there will be no grinding! That's right. No more grinding for those levels. Sounds kinda weird, right? ArenaNet has removed the bell-curve traditionally applied to leveling, so that gaining levels from 40 to 50, for example, isn't any more laborious than leveling from 1 to 10. The upshot is that you won't be forced to remain in an environment long after you've worn out its content just to accumulate enough experience to move forward.
No dedicated roles! In GW2, every class can heal, but they can also do so much more. They can control the battlefield to lock down enemies ('tanking' without the vulgarity of being a meat shield), throw up barriers to protect others or duck and roll and use cover to protect themselves. It's called 'active combat' (or in other genres, just 'combat'), and it means that a group can effectively take on a dungeon or boss without hiding behind someone dressed like a human battering ram. It means that you can play the class you want without worrying about your potential usefulness to a group. It also encourages a great deal more environmental awareness than WoW's 'don't stand in the fire' approach to raiding - although, admittedly, Blizzard has evolved such mechanics significantly in recent months.
No quests! Which will be a strange concept to get used to. There will be no "Kill 15 Goblins" in a remote section of the map that without a mount, would take you ten minutes just to run there, then another ten to run back. You will have to.. Well. Explore. Here a quote from IGN. "In the persistent worlds of tomorrow, crazy stuff is out there happening every second - villages being razed, armies being amassed, pub brawls being started - and you're just going to have to go out there and see it for yourself." GW2 calls this crazy stuff dynamic events. Dynamic events will unfold tangibly in front of you, and your intervention could change the outcome and create a domino effect with other events across the landscape. Very interesting, right?
So pretty much there is a huge change coming to the MMO scene in gaming. Will it stick? Who knows. We'll have to wait and find out.
Alright folks, that's all for today. Enjoy the weather too! It's beautiful outside here in Butte and SW MT.
-j-
That's what I am guessing will happen. Another thing about Battlefield 3, is that on PC, it'll run at 60 fps. Very smooth. And on console, it'll run at half that. 30 fps. Don't get me wrong, the game will still look gorgeous and beautiful, but won't be a super super smooth, and there is bound to be some fps drops somewhere, making the game lag a bit. Since the CoD franchise is sticking to the same engine, it will run at 60 fps, like the others. 30 and 60 fps sounds like a huge difference, but it's not. Any lower then 30 though, you start to feel the lag.
Now lets talk about Guild Wars 2. Are you a fan of MMO's? Play WoW on a daily basis? Well, here is a MMO that is going to change things, and in a big way. First off, there will be no grinding! That's right. No more grinding for those levels. Sounds kinda weird, right? ArenaNet has removed the bell-curve traditionally applied to leveling, so that gaining levels from 40 to 50, for example, isn't any more laborious than leveling from 1 to 10. The upshot is that you won't be forced to remain in an environment long after you've worn out its content just to accumulate enough experience to move forward.
No dedicated roles! In GW2, every class can heal, but they can also do so much more. They can control the battlefield to lock down enemies ('tanking' without the vulgarity of being a meat shield), throw up barriers to protect others or duck and roll and use cover to protect themselves. It's called 'active combat' (or in other genres, just 'combat'), and it means that a group can effectively take on a dungeon or boss without hiding behind someone dressed like a human battering ram. It means that you can play the class you want without worrying about your potential usefulness to a group. It also encourages a great deal more environmental awareness than WoW's 'don't stand in the fire' approach to raiding - although, admittedly, Blizzard has evolved such mechanics significantly in recent months.
No quests! Which will be a strange concept to get used to. There will be no "Kill 15 Goblins" in a remote section of the map that without a mount, would take you ten minutes just to run there, then another ten to run back. You will have to.. Well. Explore. Here a quote from IGN. "In the persistent worlds of tomorrow, crazy stuff is out there happening every second - villages being razed, armies being amassed, pub brawls being started - and you're just going to have to go out there and see it for yourself." GW2 calls this crazy stuff dynamic events. Dynamic events will unfold tangibly in front of you, and your intervention could change the outcome and create a domino effect with other events across the landscape. Very interesting, right?
So pretty much there is a huge change coming to the MMO scene in gaming. Will it stick? Who knows. We'll have to wait and find out.
Alright folks, that's all for today. Enjoy the weather too! It's beautiful outside here in Butte and SW MT.
-j-
Thursday, June 16, 2011
New Map Pack For Black Ops To Be Released June 28th, And More
The third Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack, dubbed Annihilation, releases on June 28, Activision said today.
Launching first on Xbox Live, Annihilation includes four new multiplayer maps and a zombie map. "With Annihilation, Black Ops fans will get four exciting and unique multiplayer settings with Hangar 18, Drive-In, Silo and Hazard," said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia.
"Players will also enjoy an all-new Zombies experience, Shangri-La, an exotic and mysterious map filled with deadly traps, dark secrets and innovative gameplay that will challenge even the most daring Zombie hunters."
Pricing details were not revealed, though Annihilation will likely cost $14.99, the same price as the previous two map packs.
Now honestly I find this kinda strange a the way. Last map pack, there seemed to be a lot more.. Spark I guess. More talk about it. With the leak and everything that happened. And now, there doesn't seem to be any hype about things. That's the vibe that I am getting at least. They only gave us a 12 day heads up. That just doesn't seem like them. I thought for sure they would say something at E3. Or maybe to them, it wasn't big enough to announce then. I'm not sure. But a bigger heads up would have been better. At least I think so.
Besides all that, if you are a fan of Mortal Kombat, you will be happy to know that Skarlet will be the first DLC character. You can download her starting June 21st.
Here is the trailer for the new character. If you have played up the ladder in single player, you will notice that she is chained up in the background, along with Kitana. The trailer goes on to tease three additional characters. Kenshi, Rain, and a fighter to be named later. Either character will be released individually this summer. A compatibility pack will accompany each release so that players who do not purchase the DLC will still be able to see online opponents using the DLC. These packs will be free and come with two skins (the first pack contains Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3-inspired Cyrax and Sektor). If you straight up buy the character DLC, you get the free skins as well.
I myself am pretty pumped for the new characters. Because well, MK is a lot of fun. And with a new fighter, that means more combo's and such that you get to learn and use. And with a new character, it's always fun. She reminds me of Mileena, but with her weapons always out, and not materializing in her hand. They are just there. Looks like a fun character to play. I can't wait.
Another game I would like to touch on very briefly is Dark Souls. The game will be released on October 4th. It's the second one in the serious. If you have a ps3 and haven't played Demon Souls yet, do so. Just keep in mind, the game is tough. Don't let it get to you though. Play that so that you can get used to the difficulty, and then when Dark Souls comes, you can (hopefully) plow though it at a decent rate. I heard this one will be even harder then Demon Souls. I'm pumped for it.
That's all for today folks.
-j-
Launching first on Xbox Live, Annihilation includes four new multiplayer maps and a zombie map. "With Annihilation, Black Ops fans will get four exciting and unique multiplayer settings with Hangar 18, Drive-In, Silo and Hazard," said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia.
"Players will also enjoy an all-new Zombies experience, Shangri-La, an exotic and mysterious map filled with deadly traps, dark secrets and innovative gameplay that will challenge even the most daring Zombie hunters."
Pricing details were not revealed, though Annihilation will likely cost $14.99, the same price as the previous two map packs.
Now honestly I find this kinda strange a the way. Last map pack, there seemed to be a lot more.. Spark I guess. More talk about it. With the leak and everything that happened. And now, there doesn't seem to be any hype about things. That's the vibe that I am getting at least. They only gave us a 12 day heads up. That just doesn't seem like them. I thought for sure they would say something at E3. Or maybe to them, it wasn't big enough to announce then. I'm not sure. But a bigger heads up would have been better. At least I think so.
Besides all that, if you are a fan of Mortal Kombat, you will be happy to know that Skarlet will be the first DLC character. You can download her starting June 21st.
Here is the trailer for the new character. If you have played up the ladder in single player, you will notice that she is chained up in the background, along with Kitana. The trailer goes on to tease three additional characters. Kenshi, Rain, and a fighter to be named later. Either character will be released individually this summer. A compatibility pack will accompany each release so that players who do not purchase the DLC will still be able to see online opponents using the DLC. These packs will be free and come with two skins (the first pack contains Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3-inspired Cyrax and Sektor). If you straight up buy the character DLC, you get the free skins as well.
I myself am pretty pumped for the new characters. Because well, MK is a lot of fun. And with a new fighter, that means more combo's and such that you get to learn and use. And with a new character, it's always fun. She reminds me of Mileena, but with her weapons always out, and not materializing in her hand. They are just there. Looks like a fun character to play. I can't wait.
Another game I would like to touch on very briefly is Dark Souls. The game will be released on October 4th. It's the second one in the serious. If you have a ps3 and haven't played Demon Souls yet, do so. Just keep in mind, the game is tough. Don't let it get to you though. Play that so that you can get used to the difficulty, and then when Dark Souls comes, you can (hopefully) plow though it at a decent rate. I heard this one will be even harder then Demon Souls. I'm pumped for it.
That's all for today folks.
-j-
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