Sony Playstation To Feature News & Weather

Sony announced that the Playstation 3 will release a service that will allow users to view news and weather, by pointing at a spinning globe menu. It will also offer movies, music and TV shows on download.

This great Sony is doing this. But Nintendo has news and weather, Xbox Live Marketplace has movies and TV shows. So basically they are just bundling them together what other consoles already have. But aren't they forgetting something? Oh yeah...that's right .. GAMES. Isn't that the most single reason why anybody buys the Playstation 3? Yet there have been very little amount of games released on PS3 compared with Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii. What happened Sony? You used to be on the ball, now you are just chasing it. Like someone has kicked the ball way over there and you're like a dog wondering where it has gone?


I don't think having news or weather is really going to sway buyers as to which next-gen console they are going to buy. I don't know anyone who downloads the movies on Xbox Live Marketplace let alone read the news on it. Sure it is great that all the manufacturers want to turn the console into a "family media hub", but think again. As I posted before, this could be the last age for the dedicated gaming console. Do more games Sony, because that will ensure survival for the next five years. Or you will end up being a Gamecube.

Easy Xbox 360 Achievements.

Beatles In A Video Game?

The Beatles representatives are in talks with Acti-vision and MTV Games about being in video game. I don't who they are but apparently they're old and sound like the English band Oasis. Who are Oasis ? Well apparently they sound like early U2. Anyway, whatever.

What interests me about this story is that The Beatles were around in the 60's. Who is going to remember them except people who were living in the 60's, which means you gotta be at least.. I don't know... say 65? That makes you around 25 at the time. If you are reading this and you happen to be sixty-five, congrats you are still interested in video games and reading this blog. But next time you go shopping are you going to buy Rock Band or Guitar Hero? No, you going to buy Gears of Wars 2 of course.

The Future Of Gaming

In the future, there will be no consoles. That is what a technology guru predicted a few weeks ago.You know what, I am inclined to agree. Think about. Both Microsoft and Sony spent untold millions on developing their next-gen consoles and have only just recently turned in a tiny profit, if any at all. Can you see them doing that again, for the next console? Neither can I.

The future lies with Network gaming.There are two roads that the gaming industry can take. Online or download. Already there are games that are totally online and 2006 massive RPG Oblivion, the talk is the sequel will be totally online as a MMORPG. As with downloads, we can already download Xbox originals from Xbox Marketplace, so why not 360 games?

The trouble with downloads is storage. Games are getting bigger and bigger, so your puny 120 GB hard drive will hold about 2 games in the future. As for online, the connections aren't too hot now on some multi-players, how will they cope in the future?

So do you know what my prediction for the future will be? Well I will definitely still will be trying to get 1000 points off Army of Two on my classic Xbox 360 Elite. I will be using a wired controller because I have smashed my up wireless during a boss fight on Lost Planet and they don't make them anymore. So whatever these techno gurus come up with, I'm sure I still be crap.

Deadliest Catch

The games industry is slowly but surely becoming like the movie industry. I don't mean budget wise either. I mean it has started to hitch a ride on the sequel train. Now I don't mind sequels, but you know when a developer doesn't take any risks anymore and releases the same formula four times. Steal a movie story, make them into Lego.

But a lot of gamers are guilty of wanting more of the same. I always get messages like "Medal of Honor sucks, all the controls are different", only because they were expecting another Call of Duty with the same controls. But Kudos Bonus Points to any developer who sticks their neck out and produce an entirely different game.

I am talking about Deadliest Catch : Alaskan Storm. Admittedly it is from a successful TV series on the Discovery Channel, but it is still a brave idea. I mean try selling the idea to a publisher. "I got a great game idea. It's about fishing" Now try selling it some gamers " Check this game out. It's about fishing" So can fishing be a game? I don't know. You throw pots over the side and catch crabs. But I am willing to try any game that is different than your normal blast-fest FPS. Now I probably get the game and the crabs have got guns.

Easy Xbox 360 Achievements

NTSC or PAL or Both!

There are currently 494 games that have been released or scheduled to be released for the Xbox 360. Of course some of these are only released in certain regions and can only be played on a NTSC or PAL system, which brings me to my problem.

Now I have about 37 odd games lying about my house, which doesn't include some rentals. Is that enough? No not really. But I am seriously considering buying two TV systems that play PAL as well as NTSC. Now why would I want to do that? Simple. I can play the same game twice and get double achievement points.

Gamers can all go on about getting 1000 points while I brag about getting 2000 points. Pwnd that boss. Twice. Been there, done that. Twice. 

Easy Xbox 360 Achievements

Leroy Jenkins Revisited

Now I know I have posted this before, but I didn't post the video. If you are wondering why I suck at Call Of Duty or Halo 3 Multi-player, it is because I used to play like Leroy here. Why do I STILL suck at multi-player ? Because I am always getting shot by some n00b's who don't know how to play.

If you don't know what a n00b is, it is someone who is new to a game, or website or online game. They seem to find me. Seek me out. Then shoot me. As for Leroy here, he still the most famous World Of Warcraft player in the world, for acting like a n00b.

Wii joins the Darkside

More news about the Wii. I know. But this is is something I always wanted. Lucas Arts have announced a light sabre game called Star Wars Clone Wars : Light Sabre Duels. Can you picture it? Well actually picture me in a long flowing dark Jedi robe swinging away, claiming to have joined the Darkside, my padawan.

There's no details of whether there would be a controller shaped like a light sabre yet. Er..why not? Another marketing opportunity missed. Imagine if they had them in deep carbon black maybe with a red or green neon light at the top. They would even sell them to non-Wii owners!  

The story takes place in the Clone Wars which means there will be no duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Another blunder. I know it is probably being released to coincide with the animation cinema release, but they could at least added as a classic battle or bonus level. 

Actually, you know what. I am glad I haven't got a Wii with this game. Sounds like it is gonna suck. I will just stick with my black xbox 360 controller and pretend it is a light sabre when Star Wars Force Unleashed comes out. Don't worry, I am still going to wear my long flowing dark Jedi robe when I play. 

Hack The Wii Fit Board

Check this You Tube video. Never mind the eighties music or haircuts, these dudes are doing what I have wanted to do for ages. Hack into the Wii Fit. Except I don't want to use it on World Of Warcraft. No, I want to use it on Tony Hawks on the Xbox 360. Maybe even Gears of War!

To be quite honest, I have no idea what these guys are up to. They sound like geeks / businessman trying to sell a you a hack. The German Research Center For Artificial Intelligence. I mean what the ....? Sounds like a front to sell hacks and I am sure the office is rented for the day. But hey when you guys make your millions, and I am sure you have already told your bank manager that, get it to work on the Xbox 360. Then I'll be there.

Lost Job More Gaming

This blog hasn't been updated for a while, not because I have been lazy, but because recently I lost my job. Yes, I was made redundant. Don't worry, it's not all doom or gloom. 

People ask me, "Oh my God, what are you going to do?" "Game more" I say. Now I have or should have more time to finish off that pile of shame. That pile of games where I am just short of 1000 points. Then I'll move on to my pile of horror. Games that I bought cheap, but were actually horrible to play, but there must be some easy points in there somewhere. This includes Eragon and Jumper. Then of course my piéce de résistance. Pile of extreme torture. This includes games that never completed on insane difficulties. Lost Planet Hardcore, Gears of War Hardcore and still Mile High Club Veteran on Call of Duty 4.

Then there's the tricky part. Looking for another job that will give me more time to finish these games. Any bosses out there who want to give me a job?     

List Of Achievements On The Cover

Most media products, like DVD's or CD's have a visible play list on the back. Sometimes, an artist or a movie marketing team try to more creative and don't give you a play list, but some trendy artwork they pass off as art from a tortured artist. But generally, there is a play list somewhere. Even if you download an album, you get a play list.

As far as games are concerned, we get a synopsis or a brief outline of the game and some screen shots. We, as gamers are dubious of a game if there are no screenshots. But why, on Xbox 360 games, they don't include an achievement list? It has been shown in consumer studies that some gamers will choose a game on the basis of achievements. So why isn't this great marketing device not marketed on the cover of games? It seems developers have missed a trick here.

Imagine a achievement addict gamer is standing at the counter with two games in his hands, but only can afford one. He eyes up the screenshots and reads the synopsis on both. Both look similar. What sways him to buy one and not the other? The one with the easy achievement list to net him 1000 points of course!

I don't any gamer who really cares about the artwork on the back cover of a game. If they took away some of it, it wouldn't be missed. So if any developers are reading this, get your marketing team to put an achievement list on the back cover of your next Xbox 360 game. It may just help you to sell more copies. 

Actually, just wait until I patent the idea first. I'll only put a buck royalty rate every time you publish an achievement list on the back cover. 30 million units sold, and I'll be happy.

Easy Xbox 360 Achievements

Game Cut-Scenes Don't Make Any Sense

I do like Japanese action games. They are always so stylish and the stories have so much depth. But then again, I never paid much attention to stories in games. I just want to shoot.

Games like Lost Odyssey and Final Fantasy are all epic like, with all amazing cut-scenes. In fact, I know some people who just play them just to watch the cut-scenes and don't really care too much about game-play or points. If you ever played Metal Gear Solid, then you know about the ten minute cut-scenes it would generate. Now I have watched all these cut-scenes, and yes they are stunning, but I couldn't make sense of them. Does anyone else have this problem or is it just me?

This is why I have steered away from these kind of games since getting my Xbox 360. I am into shooting, whacking and smashing. If cut-scenes get in my way, I press "A" to skip. Maybe this is why I am crap at these games. Because these cut-scenes occasionally give you a clue where to go or a weakness in a boss. But I am too busy skipping because they never make any sense.  

Game Cheats

Why is it that when a developer provides cheats for a game, there is always a complex button pressing combination. Hold Left Trigger while pressing X, then Y, Y, B, A, then tap lightly but not too fast the Right Stick while dancing around your sofa. Why can't they just make a one button push?

Is it to discourage us from using them, because it will seem too long and complicated? Listen, if someone is going to cheat, you are not going to change their mind about it. If they have taken the time to find the cheat, then they will use it no matter what. Gamers spend hours sometimes looking for glitches to make, say a boss fight easier, so they will be desperate enough to push a button combination. But if it is too complicated, then it becomes annoying and the developer is seen as sadistic and holding a carrot in front of a donkey.

Is it because it involves releasing a code that can't be accidently activated? Hey, that could be excused if you were still playing an on Atari ST. Buts what's wrong with just "X" in the menu to enter Cheat Menu? Then just select the cheat? Call of Duty 4 did a perfect job of involving a collection achievement and been rewarded with cheats. So why are all the other developers still living in the eighties with cheats?

I don't know anyone who has ever used a cheat feel that guilty about it. It is conscience decision between you and your God. You use it, then move on. You probably don't tell anyone if you unlocked a hard achievement, but I do. Do it with a grin.

So all you developers who have bothered with actually providing cheats, stop making them complicated. How's an honest guy supposed to cheat properly if you make it hard?  

Game Delays

Games these days are getting so complex, that it seems the norm now when there is a delay, sometimes up to year, before they are released. Grand Theft Auto IV was pushed back several times, and now that it is here, we forget about the long wait.

I know developers want to get it just right when it comes out, with as few as little bugs as possible. There is a delicate balance however from waiting too long or compromising the gameplay. Delay the game too long, especially a franchised game, and the punters will find an alternative title to play which could be even better and they forget about other title. Compromise the gameplay and push it out quickly, especially a franchise, and they will never touch your product again if it sucks.

During the eighties, big budget movie productions used to be delayed a lot. They used to have the idea, you throw enough money at a project and it will succeed. After a few big flops,they got there fingers burned. Nowadays, they get nervous when they spend over 100 million. Look at Superman Returns. 300 million it cost to make. Where did that go? Can you imagine now if a movie gets delayed over a year? People will automatically assume it must be pants because they must be re-editing huge chunks of it. 

Games on the other hand are closing in on spending millions in development. However for the time being, gamers are being patient. But soon they will be saying the game must be pants, if it is delayed for more than a year. 

 

Love To Cheat. Sometimes.

Someone once told me, that if I cheat at games, I cheat  at life. I think it was my dad actually. Well, he taught me well, because I now run a website about cheating. I love to cheat. Not in life obviously. I wouldn't cheat on my girlfriend or cheat to get something I want, but sometimes, I cheat in games.

I think in games, cheating is sometimes acceptable. I mean it it weren't, why do developers supply you with cheats? Because they know, to make then game less frustrating and enjoyable, cheat a little. Although you should NEVER cheat or glitch online as that is unfair. It will just create an unpleasant experience and give you a bad reputation.

But there is nothing like coming up in a boss fight and defeating the boss with a little unknown cheat. On rare occasions, I have discovered a sneaky way all by myself and give a little evil grin and chuckle. "Not so tough now, huh?" I would cry.  You know, where you find a corner or sweet spot where they can't reach.

But the best cheat I think is when you able to get loads of money or gold, and totally use the amount to an unfair advantage. Like in Oblivion, where there was a cheat to get loads of gold without working, and use it to buy awesome weapons to defeat bosses easily. Yeah, I always look for a money cheat. Absolutely love them. Maybe because I am broke most of the time and this is my way of getting rich.

Easy Xbox 360 Achievements

  

 

Sony Playstation Live?

Sony Playstation have announced Qore. Gamers on the Playstation Network can subscribe to exclusive Multi-media news, access to game demos, add-ons and other downloadable game-related content. First off, the name. Qore. Why don't they just call it Playstation Live? I mean if you gonna imitate Xbox Live, you might as well take the name as well.

Where do they get these names sometimes? I mean Qore. Does anyone know how to pronounce it properly? Sony shouldn't worry about stealing anyway. Microsoft did it when with Windows Vista. A lot of the features looked suspiciously like Apple's OS X. OS X had Widgets, Vista has Gadgets.  

Microsoft aren't immune to stupid names either. Check Zune. I think it was supposed to sound like Doom the game or something. It was actually a MP3 player to rival iPod. But could you seriously go to a department store and ask for a "zune"? 

Sony, just steal like everyone else. You won't look so stupid coming up with stupid names. I used to love my Playstation 2 and Playstation Portable. What happened? If you bring out achievement points (we know you will) don't call them "Entitlements" like you were planning to do.  Just call them Playstation Achievements. Don't give anything with them either. Just make them as useless as Xbox 360 Achievements and I am there.

Xbox 360 Guzzles Electricity

Apparently, according to an Australian consumer study, that gaming consoles and hi definition plasma screens consume more electricity than a list of 16 household devices, including laptops and stereo systems.

Ok, tell us something we don't know. Have you seen the power supply that comes with the Xbox 360 ?  It looks and feels like a Grade A stone brick. It is by far the most biggest external power adapter I have ever seen on any consumer product. As soon as I took it out of the box, I said this is gonna leave some serious carbon footprint. 

My girlfriend at the time, when I got my Xbox 360 couldn't understand why I needed a 32'' plasma screen. I told her I couldn't understand it either. I should have got two 42" with a signal splitter. 

Now before you environmentalists burn my house down in protest, I have significantly reduced my carbon emissions this past year. I only have got one small fridge instead of nine.

Bugs in Xbox 360 games

Isn't it amazing how dismissive and intolerant gamers are towards games sometimes. They forget that the developers spend a year or two coding, polishing and crafting each aspect and every angle. The days, nights and long weekends they work and hours testing to make sure the product is released bug free and on time. Then some 16 year old kid, with a mouth full of pizza, two minutes after sticking the disc in, cries "This game sucks, the controls are stupid"

You only have to look around forums of how deeply critical some gamers are over the most trivial thing after release. Like the absence of an item held in previous games. "This game sucks, where's the flame thrower?" Then on the Xbox 360, if an achievement is bugged or glitched and doesn't unlock. They get mighty angry. "This game sucks, where's the achievement?"

Well, so they should. There is nothing more frustrating after spending hours defeating a boss or level, for then the achievement not to unlock. Then re-do it again like five times, thinking you have missed something. Forget the story or characters Mr Developer, we live for that little message to pop up. Yes, we know you spent months on the nice color and trees, but did you test the achievement? 

Otherwise one day it will happen. Someone will take the disc out, get a 26 inch pump shot gun and shoot your disc. "This game sucks, no achievements" 

Madden 09.

It's June, and with lisps of leaves and ripple of rain, we say goodbye to spring and hello to summer. Oh, spring, how you inspired us to quote Rilke in original German " Fruhling ist weider kommen" I have no idea what that means, but I am sure it was about spring or something.

Anyway, as the summer begins, it is that time of year for Madden NFL football preview to be released soon. That's right Madden 09. (Actually it is released in August, but for the purpose of this blog, stick with me here) What's new? It features snow. Snow in June. Apparently with the gameplay graphics, you can see footprints be made and covered, and it piling up on the sidelines. How cool is that? I can hear the squelching already. 

I love Madden football. Always trying something new and always (I hope), EASY achievement points. There are apparently 85 new features in Madden 09. How do they do it? They probably took 85 things that were broke in previous releases and fixed them. But who cares, I still love them. Unless they take away simulating seasons or games, (easy achievements just by pressing the "A" button) then I definitely will hate it. So fickle, aren't I?