August 2007 - Posts
This one is from a site called CampaignHD, and is obviously a very pro-HD-DVD site working to encourage publishers to support the standard. Just want to be very upfront about that as this article is definitely down on Blu-Ray and quite positive on HD-DVD.
I'd normally not share because of that, but I did find the sheer number of documented links in the Blu-Ray issues section to be interesting. Worth taking a read if you're following this struggle - but make up your own mind on the merits of the supporting links.
Yep, sad but true... started (on casual) almost a year ago and got distracted by many other games. Had a chance to start playing again with a friend on co-op, and am having a blast! Yes, the story is weak, and the dialogue worse, but visually the game still has chops - even post Bioshock. I suspect I'm preaching to the choir here, but if you never played co-op, try it. Good stuff!
Also managed to finish Bioshock with the "good" ending (save all the little sisters, no harvesting). Immensely satisfying, and I hope you've all had a chance to try it (either through the demo or the full game). About the only thing I could criticize is that the ending is a bit short - but it's also touching, and looking back I struggle to think of what could be added that wouldn't be fluffy. It might just be that almost any ending would seem to pale to the epic game that proceeded it. <shrug>
Been pretty busy lately with work and attending PAX, so haven't had a chance to write much. Hopefully that'll change in the future, but just wanted to say hi in the meanwhile. 
Full props to Jerry at Penny Arcade for pointing it out, but you must go watch this new Escapist feature called Zero Punctuation. It's a commentary on the recently released Heavenly Sword demo for PS3, and is quite sincerely the funniest thing I've seen in years. I kid you not, I spit coffee on my monitor this morning laughing! Check it out!
[Edit: Found that the creator had done several other videos before being picked up by the Escapist. You can find them here.]
You've probably been hiding under a rock if you don't already know, but a demo of Bioshock was just released to Marketplace last night. (And if didn't know, turn in your Gamercard already! 
)
Reviews of the demo are highly positive, and for good reason. The game is stunningly beautiful, with a deep backstory, and some truly unique gameplay ideas all tied together into a cohesive whole. I can't say it any more simply than to state that you really feel as though you're exploring a ruined underwater city with danger lurking around every corner.
Do yourself a favor and check out the demo even if you don't think you have any interest. And check out the first few seconds when the game is playable (won't say more so as to avoid spoilers). I spent 30 seconds thinking I was watching the in-game cinematic before I realized it was real-time, playable, and awaiting my input. Amazing.
Definitely looking forward to what N'Gai might write up about Bioshock, and how it may well reflect as "art" to even the Eberts of the world.
Just wanted to highlight a great article from Gamasutra about PR and the games industry. It speaks for itself so I won't editorialize here, but it's worth reading if you don't know much the interactions of the two!
Was just sent this article from PC World highlighting some of the strangest things people have found in Google Earth's satellite images. The huge rabbit is cute, but the elephant and camel shots are amazing in their detail. My favorite, though, probably is the landscape formation that appears to show an Indian listening to an iPod.
Anyone know if there are similar images or articles from other satellite imagery sites such as Microsoft's? Just curious if the different database sets = different finds.
As least according to this Gamasutra article (quoting an email to GamePro):
Writing in an e-mail to consumer website GamePro, Pachter commented that “consumers may hope for improved graphics, and my guess is that Nintendo will comply.”
Continuing, he suggested that "in two or three years, commodity prices for graphics processors and CPUs may decline to the point that a High Definition Wii could be introduced. If so, Nintendo will likely introduce one.”
It's an interesting idea. My initial gut feeling was that this would be unlikely as releasing a new system (assuming it has a significant visual leap forward) would also require publishers and developers to basically add yet another development platform to the mix. It would also potentially reduce interest in the original Wii platform. That's something partners would be very disgruntled about as they're just now investing deeply in it. That said, there might be some synergy gained by using HD assets from other platforms, as well as possibly having a common SDK with the original Wii. And if the price point were relatively inexpensive, it's possible one might see another wave of (HD) Wii interest.
Who knows? Not going to really land on an opinion on this one as I could see it go either way. But it's an interesting idea that would certainly call the whole concept of 5-10 year lifecycles into question.
Had problems with Feedburner, and frankly, have never really understood the point of it anyway. I've reenabled the basic Community Server RSS feed going forward. Some of you might prefer that anyway as it's a full-text feed - let me know what you prefer!