Activision could probably fund a new franchise that is virtually identical to COD and people will eat it up.
I disagree... COD is a big name and more than likely garners alot of sales based on that name and the hype it brings. Black OPS (arguably) is not nearly as good as a game as COD4 or even MW2 which was a step back in quality from 4. Treyarch is improving leaps and bounds each game they do (COD3= Doo doo sauce... COD WaW= Pretty decent) but without the COD name and the Activision marketing machine they wouldnt come close to the numbers they put up.
I hope IW wins the lawsuit... they deserve to. They lined Activisions pockets with millions(maybe billions) of dollars and were forced out in shady circumstances. A successful lawsuit against Activision would A. Give them at least a piece of the franchise they built and B. Knock Activision down a notch... perhaps make them a bit more humble.
I doubt a complete victory for IW though...
MistaCreepy on
PS3: MistaCreepy::Steam: MistaCreepy::360: Dead and I don't feel like paying to fix it.
Hot on the heels of the Homefront prequel novel, Homefront: The Voice of Freedom, comes THQ's announcement of a partnership with Random House Publishing. The agreement between the two publishers will see the creation of "original intellectual properties for publication across multiple mediums." The first such property is said to embrace the publishers' strong suits -- games and books -- with other mediums to be explored in future IP.
THQ also has big plans to build out story franchise bibles with Random House Worlds, the book publisher's "IP creation and development group." Bungie's Halo franchise is a prime example of a game's universe being expanded and curated through novels, and it's a "transmedia" success story that other publishers are likely to covet.
Accessories firm Gaming Zap offer "instant relief from headaches and dizziness"
Always quick to jump on any possible sales opportunity, the accessories sector has outdone itself once again by latching onto the 3DS dizziness debate.
Online accessories retailer GamingZap is currently taking pre-orders on what is called the 'Hed Saver'. Effectively it's a cooling patch that sits on a user's forehead and is designed to help prolong the gaming sessions of those left with a fuzzy head after staring at Nintendo's 3D screen.
The patches, which come in a double pack, work straight out of the box.
"Despite how great it is, the 3D display (as with all 3D displays) has been known to cause dizziness and headaches amongst some users," the site's blurb reads.
"This can be extremely uncomfortable meaning that you have to actually take a break from playing on the new 3DS! GamingZap has now come to the rescue with the Hed Saver Cooling Patch, specifically designed to relieve you from the headaches and dizziness that can be caused by the 3DS.
"With a special blend of materials designed to get you feeling refreshed and focused again, the 3DS Hed Saver is just what you need to go with your Nintendo 3DS. It will bring you back to full health, ready to game again."
We know what you're thinking. We're thinking it too. A late April Fools, right? Must be. Definitely. But you can order the things right now on the website...
Why because somebody is going to market a product that will 'help' people play through the pain? Or that people will buy these things thinking they're a good idea?
Why because somebody is going to market a product that will 'help' people play through the pain? Or that people will buy these things thinking they're a good idea?
You forgot option 3: the people who use it to 'play through the pain', then try to sue Nintendo when their vision ends up permanently bummed.
Headaches and dizziness are a pretty clear sign you should stop staring at that screen so much.
Bonus zinger: if the tiny battery life doesn't get there first.
Why because somebody is going to market a product that will 'help' people play through the pain? Or that people will buy these things thinking they're a good idea?
You forgot option 3: the people who use it to 'play through the pain', then try to sue Nintendo when their vision ends up permanently bummed.
Headaches and dizziness are a pretty clear sign you should stop staring at that screen so much.
Bonus zinger: if the tiny battery life doesn't get there first.
ProTip: When your head hurts too much to see straight, reach for the drugs!
It only mentions the Homefront novel as the beginning. It doesn't say that there will be future Homefront novels; it says that there will be cross media for IPs. Could be anything THQ does now or will do in the future.
Yes, let's flesh out a game with a 3-hour story mode campaign with novels and sourcebooks.
I don't see how this is different from movies that have been fleshed out similarly. Look what people did with 6 hours worth of Star Wars.
My point is that if they really cared about giving the game a fleshed-out, fully realized, engaging setting and story and appealing to people who want that from a game, one would think they might have considered trying to accomplish that in the game itself.
Also, the Star Wars movies were of average length for feature films. Homefront's campaign is pitifully short even by FPS standards. If the Star Wars movies were, say, a total of 20 minutes long, I think your comparison would make more sense.
Why because somebody is going to market a product that will 'help' people play through the pain? Or that people will buy these things thinking they're a good idea?
It only mentions the Homefront novel as the beginning. It doesn't say that there will be future Homefront novels; it says that there will be cross media for IPs. Could be anything THQ does now or will do in the future.
Maybe they'll push the translated Metro novels when and if Metro 2034 ever comes out. Then again, considering Metro 2033 was used as a throw-in freebie with Homefront...
Congratulations! You are now receiving the attention of Anonymous. Your recent legal actions against fellow internet citizens, GeoHot and Graf_Chokolo have been deemed an unforgivable offense against free speech and internet freedom, primary sources of free lulz (and you know how we feel about lulz.)
You have abused the judicial system in an attempt to censor information about how your products work. You have victimized your own customers merely for possessing and sharing information, and continue to target those who seek this information. In doing so you have violated the privacy of thousands of innocent people who only sought the free distribution of information. Your suppression of this information is motivated by corporate greed and the desire for complete control over the actions of individuals who purchase and use your products, at least when those actions threaten to undermine the corrupt stranglehold you seek to maintain over copywrong, oops, "copyright".
Your corrupt business practices are indicative of a corporate philosophy that would deny consumers the right to use products they have paid for, and rightfully own, in the manner of their choosing. Perhaps you should alert your customers to the fact that they are apparently only renting your products? In light of this assault on both rights and free expression, Anonymous, the notoriously handsome rulers of the internet, would like to inform you that you have only been "renting" your web domains. Having trodden upon Anonymous' rights, you must now be trodden on.
If you disagree with the disciplinary actions against your private parts domains, then we trust you can also understand our motivations for these actions. You own your domains. You paid for them with your own money. Now Anonymous is attacking your private property because we disagree with your actions. And that seems, dare we say it, "wrong." Sound familiar?
Let Anonymous teach you a few important lessons that your mother forgot:
1. Don't do it to someone else if you don't want it to be done to you.
2. Information is free.
3. We own this. Forever.
As for the "judges" and complicit legal entities who have enabled these cowards: You are no better than SONY itself in our eyes and remain guilty of undermining the well-being of the populace and subverting your judicial mandate.
We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not Forgive.
We do not Forget.
Expect us.
He only had access for a limited period, but a self-proclaimed "hacker" managed to finagle his way into Xbox Live policy enforcement lead Stephen Toulouse's Xbox Live Gold account over the weekend. The hacker calls himself "Predator," and has created a six-minute video showing off his exploits -- allegedly Predator used "social engineering techniques" and didn't employ any "programs," he told Joystiq this afternoon. Through Toulouse's personal website host, Network Solutions, Predator was able to alter Xbox Live account information after resetting Toulouse's password.
But despite the gentleman's actions, "Predator" says he didn't go do it for malicious reasons. "I'm simply letting them know I'm willing to help them secure accounts from future hackers," he explained. "All accounts are open for hacking." That last statement rings especially true in light of last year's hacking of Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's Xbox Live account.
And this isn't his first success, Predator claims. "I've done many illegal things on Xbox -- I've taken Trixie360's account, 15 Original Gamertags, 4 H3 Pro's [Halo 3 pros], and a few randoms," he told us. He also notes in his video that he's had "over 35" console bans, and points out that, as a result, Toulouse "had it coming, man." Predator, however, remains unconcerned about his own fate. He notes after explaining his past exploits that nothing has happened to him so far.
Microsoft didn't get back to us by publishing, and Predator says his offer to help with Xbox Live security stands.
Why because somebody is going to market a product that will 'help' people play through the pain? Or that people will buy these things thinking they're a good idea?
Battlefield 3’s campaign to be more tightly scripted than DICE's open Bad Company titles, says Patrick Bach.
Swedish developer DICE has revealed that combat in its upcoming shooter Battlefield 3’s campaign more closely resembles the tightly-scripted likes of the Call Of Duty series, rather than the open, sandbox style of its previous Battlefield 2: Bad Company games.
Executive producer Patrick Bach told us: “I don’t see it as an absolute goal for all games to be sandbox games. We’ve been building sandbox games for quite some time and we’ve got pretty good at it, but I don’t see that as the only way of building games, because then we wouldn’t build campaigns at all.
“In some cases they aren’t, but in most cases sandbox games are hardcore, boring, hard to get into and they are not very popular.”
Battlefield 3 is powered by DICE’s new Frostbite 2 engine, meaning that the series’ trademark destructible environments will be even more impressive than before. Bach, however, points out that the technology is posing its fair share of problems during development.
“Just the fact that the environment can change dynamically creates a huge challenge for us when it comes to AI,” he explains. “[It] puts a lot of challenges to our AI code when it comes to finding new cover, reacting to the fact that it has disappeared, moving and flanking based on the new situation.”
We spoke to Bach as part of our first preview of Battlefield 3 in our next issue, E227, which will be with subscribers any day now and at newsagents on April 12.
Have JUST played through that level last week, I can tell you it's a false "nonlinearity" Basically you explore one area until to find a keycard, which opens up a new area that you explore to find a keycard, which opens up the last area you explore until you find the exit button.
It's not really any superior to the way games do things today, IMO. Just different.
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reVerseAttack and Dethrone GodRegistered Userregular
edited April 2011
Modern shooters eliminated the horrible, repetitive tedium of key hunts, and people complain about it?
Modern shooters eliminated the horrible, repetitive tedium of key hunts, and people complain about it?
Modern shooters haven't done anything of the sort. Any time you have to go to one place to unlock something elsewhere, that might as well be a key hunt.
Technically games like Dark Forces started eliminating the key hunt, but finding the power generator so you can turn it on and activate an elevator is the same thing. Same thing every time you have to take a detour before you get to go where you need to go.
It just feels slightly less boring because instead of finding the red key card and the blue key card, you're chasing down Jenkins for his security ID and turning on the backup power to open the doors.
Modern shooters eliminated the horrible, repetitive tedium of key hunts, and people complain about it?
A-fucking-men. Remember playing the old Doom and Quake games... before respawning enemies were chic... you could clear an area of enemies but get stuck trying to find the switch/key/slightly discolored wall and just end up wandering an empty area for god knows how long...
MistaCreepy on
PS3: MistaCreepy::Steam: MistaCreepy::360: Dead and I don't feel like paying to fix it.
The main difference between old and new map design is that the old map design didn't mind open arenas, multiple entrances to an area, and often fairly significant hidden areas. The first level of Duke Nukem 3d is a good example with that one video of one of the designers playing with someone else and showing off some of the shit in the levels he worked on showing the multiple entrances and secrets. Most FPS games have moved away from arenas and sometimes maze-like or at least multiple ways through a small subsection towards highly controlled movement from cover to cover.
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Dac VinS-s-screw you! I only listen to DOUBLE MUSIC!Registered Userregular
Modern shooters eliminated the horrible, repetitive tedium of key hunts, and people complain about it?
Considering "horrible, repetitive tedium of key hunts" is as much of a exaggeration if not outright falsity than the usual "endless corridors" criticism of modern shooters, yes.
Publisher says it intends to support Sony's NGP despite lack of launch software
It might not have any games pencilled in for the launch of Sony's PSP successor the NGP, but THQ has told MCV that it does plan to support the machine a little further down the line.
"We do have plans, but we just haven’t announced anything yet," president and CEO Brian Farrell said in an interview.
"So we were not part of that launch announcement. It is a way off so we have plenty of time to bring our products to that marketplace, but we weren’t ready to announce anything at that time."
This means jack shit other than that they will eventually make some games for it.
Yes, let's flesh out a game with a 3-hour story mode campaign with novels and sourcebooks.
Hey, I love that stuff. I did Dead Space (360), Dead Space 2 (360), Dead Space Extraction (Wii), Dead Space Downfall (movie), Dead Space Aftermath (movie), and Dead Space Martyr (novel). I even watched their little animated comic.
When it's good, it's really good. The movies were a bit lackluster though, but no foul there since I Netflix'd them. The novel was actually well written.
The main difference between old and new map design is that the old map design didn't mind open arenas, multiple entrances to an area, and often fairly significant hidden areas. The first level of Duke Nukem 3d is a good example with that one video of one of the designers playing with someone else and showing off some of the shit in the levels he worked on showing the multiple entrances and secrets. Most FPS games have moved away from arenas and sometimes maze-like or at least multiple ways through a small subsection towards highly controlled movement from cover to cover.
It can also be argued that the early FPS games felt more open because they added up and down to the movement. So levels were designed to go all over the place.
Over time, however, it's been distilled back to the basic element: Get from point A to point B. Suddenly the games are shorter because exploration has, for good or bad, been removed. The novelty is gone, more or less. But that also means less general frustration when the player cannot immediately figure out where to go for the next plot coupon.
There's also the whole thing about linearity permitting denser, more designed experiences, and if people want that sort of experience, you can't do it in an open world.
He only had access for a limited period, but a self-proclaimed "hacker" managed to finagle his way into Xbox Live policy enforcement lead Stephen Toulouse's Xbox Live Gold account over the weekend. The hacker calls himself "Predator," and has created a six-minute video showing off his exploits -- allegedly Predator used "social engineering techniques" and didn't employ any "programs," he told Joystiq this afternoon. Through Toulouse's personal website host, Network Solutions, Predator was able to alter Xbox Live account information after resetting Toulouse's password.
But despite the gentleman's actions, "Predator" says he didn't go do it for malicious reasons. "I'm simply letting them know I'm willing to help them secure accounts from future hackers," he explained. "All accounts are open for hacking." That last statement rings especially true in light of last year's hacking of Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's Xbox Live account.
And this isn't his first success, Predator claims. "I've done many illegal things on Xbox -- I've taken Trixie360's account, 15 Original Gamertags, 4 H3 Pro's [Halo 3 pros], and a few randoms," he told us. He also notes in his video that he's had "over 35" console bans, and points out that, as a result, Toulouse "had it coming, man." Predator, however, remains unconcerned about his own fate. He notes after explaining his past exploits that nothing has happened to him so far.
Microsoft didn't get back to us by publishing, and Predator says his offer to help with Xbox Live security stands.
It can also be argued that the early FPS games felt more open because they added up and down to the movement. So levels were designed to go all over the place.
That would be a pretty terrible argument considering most of them were still pretty much 2d with rooms over rooms being a rarity with most early FPS games.
Tretton: Japan Quake May Delay Sony's NGP Past 2011 In Some Regions
SCEA president Jack Tretton said production delays caused by the recent Japanese earthquake may delay the release of the company's code-named Next Generation Portable past the end of the year in some regions.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Tretton cited damage to several of Sony's factories in Northern Japan, as well as shortages from other Japanese parts suppliers, in speculating on the production delay.
“It may be the straw that says ‘maybe we get to just one market by the end of the year,’” Tretton said of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and accompanying tsunami that hit off the Eastern coast of Japan March 11.
This is not the first time Tretton has warned the NGP may not launch worldwide this year. In a January interview, he told Engadget the "holiday 2011" target first discussed when the system was unveiled was "ambiguous for a reason," but would apply to at least one region.
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I disagree... COD is a big name and more than likely garners alot of sales based on that name and the hype it brings. Black OPS (arguably) is not nearly as good as a game as COD4 or even MW2 which was a step back in quality from 4. Treyarch is improving leaps and bounds each game they do (COD3= Doo doo sauce... COD WaW= Pretty decent) but without the COD name and the Activision marketing machine they wouldnt come close to the numbers they put up.
I hope IW wins the lawsuit... they deserve to. They lined Activisions pockets with millions(maybe billions) of dollars and were forced out in shady circumstances. A successful lawsuit against Activision would A. Give them at least a piece of the franchise they built and B. Knock Activision down a notch... perhaps make them a bit more humble.
I doubt a complete victory for IW though...
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/43813/Introducing-the-3DS-Hed-Saver I hate this planet.
Why because somebody is going to market a product that will 'help' people play through the pain? Or that people will buy these things thinking they're a good idea?
You forgot option 3: the people who use it to 'play through the pain', then try to sue Nintendo when their vision ends up permanently bummed.
Headaches and dizziness are a pretty clear sign you should stop staring at that screen so much.
I don't see how this is different from movies that have been fleshed out similarly. Look what people did with 6 hours worth of Star Wars.
ProTip: When your head hurts too much to see straight, reach for the drugs!
You don't understand. Homefront is a shitty, shitty game. And Star Wars...isn't.
So one thing is totally worth mockery!
My point is that if they really cared about giving the game a fleshed-out, fully realized, engaging setting and story and appealing to people who want that from a game, one would think they might have considered trying to accomplish that in the game itself.
Also, the Star Wars movies were of average length for feature films. Homefront's campaign is pitifully short even by FPS standards. If the Star Wars movies were, say, a total of 20 minutes long, I think your comparison would make more sense.
It is a real life chipotleway.
Maybe they'll push the translated Metro novels when and if Metro 2034 ever comes out. Then again, considering Metro 2033 was used as a throw-in freebie with Homefront...
PSN is down today.
Twitter
Stuff like this usually ends well.
One got expelled for downloading child porn and the rest got banned from the computer labs for piracy.
Good kids.
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That isn't an April Fools joke?
More like Sony vs People with Two Week Attention Spans. Sony just has to ignore this and Anonymous will move on to whatever new that chaps their ass.
Nothing can possiblye go wrong!
From all accounts, Homefront is an average game, not a shitty one.
And, frankly, Star Wars is just above average. I still love it, but saying that it's amazing is a bit far.
Yea, famous last words.
*Kicks a hornets nest on the ground* "Hmmm...nothing has happened so far!"
Nintendo Network ID - Brainiac_8
PSN - Brainiac_8
Steam - http://steamcommunity.com/id/BRAINIAC8/
Add me!
I think you misread what I posted. Try it again.
Anyone?
No?
Okay then.
Have JUST played through that level last week, I can tell you it's a false "nonlinearity" Basically you explore one area until to find a keycard, which opens up a new area that you explore to find a keycard, which opens up the last area you explore until you find the exit button.
It's not really any superior to the way games do things today, IMO. Just different.
Modern shooters haven't done anything of the sort. Any time you have to go to one place to unlock something elsewhere, that might as well be a key hunt.
Technically games like Dark Forces started eliminating the key hunt, but finding the power generator so you can turn it on and activate an elevator is the same thing. Same thing every time you have to take a detour before you get to go where you need to go.
It just feels slightly less boring because instead of finding the red key card and the blue key card, you're chasing down Jenkins for his security ID and turning on the backup power to open the doors.
A-fucking-men. Remember playing the old Doom and Quake games... before respawning enemies were chic... you could clear an area of enemies but get stuck trying to find the switch/key/slightly discolored wall and just end up wandering an empty area for god knows how long...
Considering "horrible, repetitive tedium of key hunts" is as much of a exaggeration if not outright falsity than the usual "endless corridors" criticism of modern shooters, yes.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/43811/THQ-has-plans-for-NGP This means jack shit other than that they will eventually make some games for it.
Hey, I love that stuff. I did Dead Space (360), Dead Space 2 (360), Dead Space Extraction (Wii), Dead Space Downfall (movie), Dead Space Aftermath (movie), and Dead Space Martyr (novel). I even watched their little animated comic.
When it's good, it's really good. The movies were a bit lackluster though, but no foul there since I Netflix'd them. The novel was actually well written.
I'm that guy they target.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/
I write about video games and stuff. It is fun. Sometimes.
It can also be argued that the early FPS games felt more open because they added up and down to the movement. So levels were designed to go all over the place.
Over time, however, it's been distilled back to the basic element: Get from point A to point B. Suddenly the games are shorter because exploration has, for good or bad, been removed. The novelty is gone, more or less. But that also means less general frustration when the player cannot immediately figure out where to go for the next plot coupon.
Nostalgia filters everything.
StepTo's response.
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God I just hope they give it a real name soon. If they end up keeping NGP as the name... ugh.