Weekend Gaming Movies

August 09, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Editorial

I got re-sick this weekend. I went a week with strep, and I guess my body knew I was half-assing it when I decided to down some Woodchuck on Friday night. That led to an uncomfortable Saturday with the bacteria rising from the dead to once again infiltrate my tonsils, and Sunday plopped on the couch to really allow my immune system to work without interruption. I don’t feel too bad because I was able to take my daughter out Saturday. I meant to do the same Sunday, but I instead filled it with movies, coincidentally, of the gaming variety – Tekken, King of Kong, and Second Skin.

A straight to video Tekken movie is really all most people need to hear to avoid it. As with my games, I’m one to give this stuff a shot. For instance, the DoA movie turned out to be one of my favorite films ever, and Tekken is quite similar. While darker, Tekken does a good job of sticking with the source material and giving the actors awesome costumes to match their virtual counterparts. People complain when movies don’t use likenesses, but then complain when they do because of the literal game to film translation – but I’m one that loves Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, so cheesy costumes are just my thing. Like DoA, the girls in this were pretty nice. In the past I wouldn’t normally admit to this kind of thing, but just enough skin on some hot girls and the movies got itself some bonus points. The actor playing Christie was smoking, and the pants she wore were quite a revelation. We need to get these in regular style. In the end, the movie was very enjoyable with very little slow-down and great visuals. Recommended for gamers…not sure about anyone else.

King of Kong is a documentary about how the world records for popular 80′s arcade games started and the people making those scores, along with current competition. I gotta say the idea of Twin Galaxies is awesome, as an international score keeping entity. But Billy Mitchell is an ass. While it started off showing him as a respectable badass gamer, he then shuns away from live tournaments out of fear. During this, an up and coming competitor, Steve Wiebe, scores higher but they wont accept it because it wasn’t live. Steve redeems himself live, but Mitchell sends a tape upping that score which the fucking Twin Galaxies accepts – total bullshit. Yeah, they went back and wrote Steve a letter apologizing, but as a gamer myself, Twin Galaxies will not be something I recognize. The in-people are the top scorers – shits gonna be fixed. Interesting movie, but pretty depressing representation of hardcore gamers.

Lastly, Second Skin. Not what I was hoping for, but this documentary followed around MMO addicts. People that met online, bonds formed, addiction, etc. It never really went anywhere instead of just pointing out what any addiction/obsession would do to you, but my favorite had to do with a guy from PA. He tried getting help but it didn’t work out for him. So on his own, he loses fifty or more pounds and gets a good job, getting his life back in shape. Good for him. But it brought up a point. For some of these people, if you replaced the computer with a TV showing a football game, you’d have the same damn thing. Society just doesn’t get that yet.

Now to get rid of the bacteria. I may just nap early…no gaming for me.

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August 08, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Twitter

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Review – StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

August 06, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Reviews

To start, I like RTS’s. Specifically, Base-Building Real-Time Strategy games, or, BBRTS’s.

And to rile a few of you up: 1/3rd of a game?

As most of you may know, I’m more of a Command & Conquer guy. There’s more of a raw and evolutionary feel to each match. StarCraft has always been much more methodical; time and math played a bigger part than actually micromanaging your different troops mid-battle, which was also done on symmetrical maps. That doesn’t mean I don’t like StarCraft, but I do like adding in variables to the BBRTS genre. StarCraft 2 doesn’t really add anything to it. But it sure as hell refines an aspect – and it isn’t the BBRTS-ing.

As I said, StarCraft 2 plays exactly like the first. To reminisce, my Dad and I bought the game on release at an Electronics Boutique (I guess technically he bought it since my $15 was allowance). We took it home, installed it, and I’d play until bed time – he’d stay up playing, slowly lulling me to sleep with the gurgling death of a zergling and the sweet sounds of the Terran’s theme music. It was a magical PC time. And while not meeting my demands as a C&C BBRTS-er, Battle.net really gave it the extra push to get games out of me – and by extra push I mean all day every day. Even with Brood Wars; Dad was out of town on business a lot, and I remember spending the Spring and on, on his computer, downloading Bruce Campbell sound files and watching the drop player screen on BNet. Ah. Ok, moving on.

It was BNet that got all the play out of me. So with StarCraft 2 you may wonder, what could they bring to the BBRTS genre? Dawn of War 2 limited BB and focused on individual units. C&C4 scrapped BB and required you to gain units through online matches. No, StarCraft 2 is pretty much the same, with as much new content as an expansion pack. But that’s not fair, really. The graphics here are great and run really well. But it doesn’t end there.

What is done here differently is in regards to the campaign both in terms of gameplay when on the battlefield, and gameplay when unfolding the plot. The Terran campaign, being the only one in this game, is quite large with included branching levels. You have a Commander’s Hub of sorts where you have access to an armory for unit upgrades and a lab for special ability unlocks. You also have access to recruiting mercenaries and can chat with different characters for story plot-points. It’s all very well done and does not feel like filler one bit. I would actually like to see this as a standard in future BB RTS’s. Even if I was the commander, an FPS view in my hub world would satisfy the feeling of being in command. I can see it now – the FMV of C&C games coupled with a point-and-click style adventure game between missions. The game also includes the infamous achievements system. And the tasks are pretty fun and will most likely have me going back through missions to earn them all. Pokemon.

Multiplayer is the real star here, even if not to me (hey, I’m an SP kinda guy), but there’s a ton going on here. Different game types, even more achievements to earn, but sadly, no co-op. After playing Red Alert 3, co-op in a BBRTS is something that can be done well in a campaign and works. Not sure why Blizzard left something like this out, but again – not much has changed since the original. What adds to the multiplayer component which again, same as the original, is the custom game types. Maps, mods, and game types, there’s so much that can be done and will be done. This will keep the longevity of the game going for sure. And I think what you’ve read here has pretty much cemented the notion that this game is not a 3rd of a game. It’s huge*. And an included Zerg and Protoss campaign would only overwhelm me (no, it wouldn’t). But don’t fret, those campaigns are on there way, but would they be worth the $60 asking price?

Because, Wings of Liberty is worth $60. While I personally prefer a different style of BBRTS-ing, SC2 is still fun and includes so much. If you can, grab the Collector’s Edition which includes a Jim Raynor dog tag USB drive with the original game and expansion, a giant art book, comic, DVD, and a few other things. There’s a lot of fun and gaming to be had, and I’m sure you’ll run into this game at LAN parties. It’s inevitable.

*That’s what she said.

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StarCraft 2 Is Just ‘Good Enough’

August 05, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Editorial

StarCraft 2 is a fun game. It’s within my favorite genre, real-time strategy, specifically the base-building variety. There aren’t many more base-building, resource-gathering RTS’s anymore. C&C 4 really changed that up, and DoW2′s base-building is extremely on the light side – in favor of unit customization, but still a ton of fun. But this is where my point comes in; StarCraft 2 is still the same game from 1998. That’s not a bad thing, but it doesn’t do anything new. But at the same time, base-building RTS’s just haven’t been popular anymore. They have their initial release, some campaign talk, then drop out of existance. That is, except for Blizzard’s StarCraft. But why?

StarCraft is easy. Maybe not against a bunch of Zerg AI or a Korean opponent, but the actually strategy involved is small. Though, the professionals have the math down. There are calculations for build order and such which then makes those higher-level matches about time rather than actual skill to stand your ground. That’s what I dislike about that type of RTS.

This is where Command & Conquer comes in. That RTS really had me pulled in and I’m sure I’ve played much more than StarCraft (though, I can only ever get people to play SC online so it’s possible my multiplayer time is higher in that regard). C&C always had factions with completely different unit types. While SC or SCII may seem that way, you can actually pick any unit and find its comparable counterpart from another faction. And micro-managing. Later C&C’s made it important to keep units alive in order for them to gain veterancy. Also, earlier C&C’s were really about skill in regard to maps. They were assymetrical and the resources were randomy scattered. Tiberian Sun even had a random map generator. It wasn’t about the map or how quick you were – maps were whatever – you just had to create a good army and good defense. I don’t know how to stress this enough – it wasn’t about the map, but how you manage your army.

With that, StarCraft II isn’t doing anything new or interesting, and it’s selling like mad. I think that’s good for the name of base-building RTS’s. I hope to see more devs working on BBRTS’s. Though, I hope they add some innovation. Like in Act of War, purchasing an upgrade that allows troops to use non-lethal combat, so you could then capture enemies and gain a secondary income source. See? That’s micro-managing. Or how about attaching commanders and/or squad leaders to groups of units for bonuses? For the record, I’m not a fan of building infantry as squads. Ew. But, Dawn of War is fucking fun.

What StarCraft 2 did right was with the campaign. It is large, with many possibilities. Path-branching, upgrading, and very story-driven. There’s gameplay here between the missions. It is very cool. I’m about the finish the game so hopefully my review will be up soon.

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August 01, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Twitter

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SCII Now – GameStop Redeemed Itself

July 28, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Editorial

The last post was a whiny bitchfest. But I thought I was justified in my bitching. Out of fucking nowhere, StarCraft 2 is at my door this morning, delivered by UPS. So, to back up a bit, GameStop had my order on 5-10 day shipping. They were then offering free three-day shipping to CE purchases. I contacted them to see if I could get the three-day shipping, but they said my order has been processed so it’s too late. That sounded like BS.

But now, the very next day, StarCraft 2 is at my door? Either they listened to my bitching and fixed the shipping without telling me, or this is just the way the shipping was the whole time – still not telling me. Still lacking in the customer service, but hey, I now have the game. And it is beautiful.

The CE on my desk.

This is how a Collector’s Edition should be. I wish more games did this as I like gaming memorabilia. There’s a soundtrack, behind the scenes DVD, giant art book, comic, and a USB flash drive that looks like Jim Raynor’s dog tag that has SC and Brood War on it. That’s epically awesome.

As for the game, so far they are doing things right. It runs beautifully, looks gorgeous, and adds just enough – not too much – to keep it more of the same. In between missions, you are in a hub-like environment with little story tidbits throughout and options for upgrading your troops. Kind of like DoW2, but unfortunately not that awesome. The full base-building of SC2 and the customizing of DoW2 would be the greatest RTS ever…if it was in the Tiberian universe (hehe).

I’m not surprised StarCraft 2 is awesome, but there’s a part of me that wants the upgrading of the single-player to some how work in the multiplayer, only to give the multiplayer that deeper level of play. C&C4 tried it, but they didn’t really make a game with that one…

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StarCraft II Midnight Launch – How Gamestop F’ed Up

July 26, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Editorial

I’d normally be at something like a ‘StarCraft II Midnight Launch’. But I’m not this time. I mean, I guess I could be there to watch everyone buy the game and take it home to play, but I won’t be a purchaser. I’d feel left out. See, back in April Gamestop had a promotion where you could buy the Collector’s Edition of SCII for only $80 – a good $20 off the regular price. This Collector’s Edition is pretty badass. I’m all for waiting on the shipping. Though, at the time there was an option for free 5-10 day shipping. I was down with that. Now, there’s an option for free 3-day shipping. I contacted Gamestop about changing the shipping, but they say they can’t since the order is already processed. I say that’s a bunch of BS. My account doesn’t even show the game as shipped. There’s a two day processing…process as well. That seems like plenty of time to change the shipping.

I’m pretty pissed.

I don’t need it right away, but after all the good Gamestop has been doing as the largest gaming retailer, a little customer service problem like this should have been handled similar to – oh, I don’t know, how Amazon works?

Something as simple as changing shipping on an order that is still ‘open’ with a two-day processing…process, should be taken care of.

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July 25, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Twitter

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Bluecast Episode 37 – Adam Is Douchebag Of The Month

July 19, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Podcast

Yeah, it has been a few weeks since the last show, the Comicon show. Lots of personal things, but also a small change for how the Bluecast is done. It was fun going to the radio station and broadcast – but it was costly. And since this is done for fun, not every cast member can make it every time. So this episode, we try our hand at TinyChat. And it sucked. Delays, quality – and that pretty much did it. Not to mention the 100+ degree heat. Yes, as hot as it was in the studio, my A/C just happened to go out for the show.

All in all, I’m the douchebag. This does mark a solid return for the Bluecast though. We might go old-school and start Skyping it again.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:00 — 49.4MB)

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July 18, 2010 By: Adam Blue, Editor-in-Chief Category: Twitter

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