E3 - How did Sony win?

Let's be honest, E3 failed this year. Don't get me wrong, it was awesome to see Mass Effect 3, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed Revelations and so many other much-loved titles in working order, but the press conferences from the big players in the industry really annoyed me. Microsoft would take to flogging Kinect to high heaven, Sony could do little more than give us some information on the NGP (now the PlayStation Vita, a name that I actually approve of), and Nintendo showed off a new console, which I have much to say about.

Admittedly the tech specs for the Wii U (stupid name right there) are awesome, a Nintendo console with HD graphics and some mean processing power, about time too. I have little quarrel with that, but with the controller for the Wii U, I must admit my ultimate hatred. I like revolutionary stuff, where new technology leads us into a brighter future and all that jazz, but the controller for the Wii U seems to me to be the ultimate gimmick, something that I am getting sick and tired of seeing.

E3 did bring to us many new games, some of them epic, some of them not so much, but for the most part I enjoyed each press conference and all the new games announced. So now I bring us to the point of this blog post, to discuss who I consider to be the winner of E3 this year. Let's face it, there's a developer or major player in the industry that outshines all the rest. This is a fact, and it becomes a contest to decide which one did the best and how they did this.


This year I believe the true victor was the underdog, Sony. Though they have suffered much by hackers and naysayers, they stood out as the most comfortable and most noble among the developers. I was half expecting them to talk about the hack and nothing else, apologising up and down and leaving, with a little bit of their dignity intact, by showing the price and release date of the NGP. We got so much more. First off, the fans were understanding and considerate, hailing Sony with applause instead of snubbing them.


Then Sony announced the new name for the NGP to be the PlayStation Vita, which I completely approve of by the way, gave us a price of about $250 (£229 for us), and just took everything in their stride. Well done Sony, many thanks and good luck with your future endeavours. As for Nintendo, your system is epic, but your controller is too big, and as for Microsoft, no-one likes Kinect, yet you throw it at us relentlessly. Thanks for Halo 4 (THANK YOU) but cut the crap with Kinect, this is boring us to tears.

The Call of Duty Question

To be honest, I have always been a Call of Duty fan-boy. To further this act of sacrilege I am also a dedicated fan-boy of halo as well. What can I say, I was raised on FPS games, they are my speciality, though I do enjoy the odd puzzle or RPG.


Let's look at the Call of Duty titles from various standpoints, rather than passing judgement on the series as a whole. Specifically, let us examine my latest acquisition, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the PC. From a technical perspective, this game is perfect, being not too high, nor too low of a specification. Visually, this game is spectacular, blending all manner of environmental features into a single scene, a very impressive and visually pleasing feat.


However, the crowning glory of Call of Duty titles has always been its gameplay. The gameplay of each title is diverse and enthralling, with the multiplayer standing out every time. Let's take Call of Duty 2 as an example for assessing the multiplayer. Though an earlier title, it boasted a highly intuitive multiplayer that was easy to adapt to and extremely fun to play. though it lacked the fast paced combat we know today, it provided an excellent stepping stone for Infinity Ward, and for the Call of Duty series as a whole.


Now let's look at how the games have evolved over time. One feature that has definitely not changed over time is the story. Each game features it's own unique story, sometimes played from multiple perspectives, other times really only seen from one. An example of a good story is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the one that started off the hype craze we've become accustomed to over the lifetime of Call of Duty.


This game was developed with the modern setting in mind, a change in pace for the developer as Infinity Ward decided to move away from the ageing World War Two setting. Admittedly, it benefited them well and they have moved mountains with this decision. It allowed them to develop their own story, with their own unique environments and characters, each memorable in their own right. It's something that has stayed with us, and something that we treasure as a dynamic point for the development of the Call of Duty franchise.


Though some may bitch and moan about the Call of Duty franchise, I feel that I can comfortably stand up and say that I am a Call of Duty fanboy and stand by my convictions. I look forward to the next game in the series with great anticipation. I guess I must, since I pre-ordered it the other day.

E3 Expectations

For gamers, E3 is like a religious holiday, where we see previews and exclusive gameplay of upcoming games, as well as bear witness to announcements and shock and awe moments where new games we hadn't even bet on are suddenly announced.


This is a very good event, that takes place from the 6 June this year. This year, we are destined to see some truly eye-opening material and mind-blowing announcements. First off, there's sequels-a-plenty ready for scrutiny and praise as we see the likes of Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, The Elder Scrolls V, Uncharted 3 and Mass Effect 3 take to the floor.


We can also expect to see Sony bending over backwards, attempting to earn everyone's forgiveness for their lack of security and subtlety with the PlayStation Network, as well as giving us a few more details about the NGP, including a release date and price.


Also, probably top of the list is Nintendo's proposed announcement of a new console. Too long has the Wii sat in the shadow of the Xbox 360 and the PS3, at last we may see a true Nintendo gaming console, that promises to deliver the power, performance and glorious High Definition output of it's competitors.


To be honest, we are looking at one amazing event over the course of the second week in June, one that gamers are likely to remember for a long while. Personally, I am most looking forward to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, as I have always been a dedicated fan of its predecessor, Oblivion. Also, the prospect of Sony and Microsoft having their arses handed to them by Nintendo is something to salivate over, and if the new console delivers what we are all hoping for, I may well buy one.


I am also intently looking forward to Battlefield 3, as DICE's new tech looks likely to shit all over Modern Warfare 3 and their fair-to-do hype. I am fanatical about real online shooters, and though I commend Call of Duty for its efforts, I know in my heart that I will take great pleasure in DICE showing them how it's really done.


Finally, I simply cannot wait for Mass Effect 3. Again, a series I am a devoted follower of, I am very much looking forward to the final instalment in Bioware's epic sci-fi fantasy adventure, and look forward to further news and some gameplay footage of Mass Effect 3 with great enthusiasm.


That about covers it for what we can expect from E3 2011, which is sure to please all who attend and those that view this wondrous event as it occurs by way of the Internet. Sit back and relax my friends, this one's going to be epic!

Minecraft?

Minecraft? What is this game? This is the question that the eleven of you who have yet to buy this game are constantly asking. Allow me to elaborate on how epic this game is and why every one of you should buy it. Admittedly, Minecraft can have a catastrophic effect on your computer, but usually only if you fill the map with TNT.


This is not advisable, but the overall point of Minecraft is to have fun exploring, surviving attacks by evil creatures that come out at night, or just building anything you can imagine. The latter is the main appeal of Minecraft, where harvesting blocks using tools you have created means you can re-purpose these blocks to create structures, and even intricate works of art.


This isn't the only appeal mind you, as Minecraft puts the player in a randomly generated world, which in total is about three times the actual size of earth. This creates an extremely varied landscape, allowing for untold dimensions of exploration and construction. This is a fascinating mechanic, one that has established Minecraft as a truly unique and thoroughly enjoyable game.


The game itself was created by a Swedish programmer working for a company called Mojang Specifications. The programmer's name is Markus Persson, who commonly goes by the alias of Notch, and has become infamous by this title. He is the founder of Mojang, and the inspiring force behind the team, which has since grown after the creation of Minecraft.


Minecraft has achieved more than 7,000,000 registrations since its inception, and more than 2,000,000 people have actually bought the game. Minecraft has also spawned some rather interesting let's play series' on YouTube, coming form the likes of Seananners and the Yogscast.


These are both greatly entertaining and very useful for a novice to learn their way about the game. For instance, avoid Creepers at all costs and don't build a house without torches, or you will never see the light of day again. All in all, I'd say that Minecraft is a very enjoyable game, one that fits the bill of an internet phenomenon any day. If you haven't yet played it, go play it. I assure you, you won't be disappointed.

Digital Distribution - The Way Forward

First off, allow me to point out that I am a dedicated Steam user. Steam has brought into our lives a digital medium we could never have foreseen in the past. And thus was born the era of digital distribution, where people can simply download games via a dedicated platform like Steam, Games for Windows or even the EA Store.


I love technological advancements, and I love looking back and realising just how far we've come. When you think about it, the prospect of e-mail would have been unbelievable 30 years ago, and now look where it is.


Digital distribution is advantageous for a number of reasons. Firstly, it requires minimal effort, it's quick and easy like internet shopping. Secondly, it's often cheaper than buying the actual game through retail. However, it's sometimes better to have the physical copy to hand, and Steam deals are only cheaper if they're on offer, otherwise they're the normal retail price and their prices don't change with demand or depreciation.


All in all, I'd say that Steam is an excellent platform. Don't think I'm some kind of insane Valve fanboy, as I don't like waiting six years for a game either, but I will say that I like Steam, and would recommend it to any gamer, casual or serious. Keep in mind though that it's not just Steam, even though Steam is probably the dominant platform. consider EA, GOG or Games for Windows, as they all offer great deals from time to time.

Mass Effect Review

Mass Effect is a sci-fi third-person action-RPG set in the distant future. This game takes a different spin on the sci-fi setting and sees humanity as the newcomer in the galactic community, with the governing body made of a representative of each of the three major powers in the universe.


The player assumes the role of Commander Shepard, an enigmatic figure, given a task of epic proportions. One of the Citadel Council's top operatives has betrayed them and is consorting with an evil entity to bring about the annihilation of all sentient life in the galaxy. This is where things get interesting. Although the game has a seemingly awesome backdrop, there are a number of issues that need addressing. In the interest of fairness, I will address the negative points first.


Firstly, Mass Effect suffers from regular drops in the frame rate, which can be annoying at times, but bearable. Secondly, the textures will sometimes not load properly straight away, giving a fleeting distorted appearance on certain surfaces. These are mainly technical issues, which are unfortunately not the only problem with Mass Effect.


The combat mechanic is uneven, with decently balanced weapons not available until the player reaches a high level, otherwise they are forced to use weapons that suffer from terrible accuracy and a bad field of fire. Also, the inventories are difficult to navigate and are easily cluttered from the amount of weapons, armour and mods the player can find.


Don't worry though, as Mass Effect's flaws are easily countered by its superb dialogue and magnificent story. This game features one of the best narratives I've ever seen in a game, an epic sic-fi fantasy tale spanning a galaxy's worth of mystery, action and tedious elevator rides. The characters are immaculately voiced, and this game features hundred, if not thousands of lines of dialogue, each one comprehensive and perfectly enunciated.


Yes, it's true that Mass Effect suffers in some areas, but graciously makes up for them in others. With a superb story, memorable characters and innovative, yet somewhat clunky technology behind it, this game makes for one hell of an action RPG that will live on for a very long time.

Exam Hatred

Allow me to voice my disdain for exams. It's not as though they're useless, but I see them only as a test of our memory of subject material we've spent the last year processing through our minds. Granted, they allow us to get good grades and go forward to higher places, but the premise of exams leads to a great deal of work and an unnecessary amount of stress.


I can handle this, I don't like it, but I can handle it. I feel sorry for others though, as exams can leave some people in a very bad state of mind, leading them to contemplate too much, and even sow the seeds of self-doubt and pity. Stand strong my friends, I have an exam the very morning I decide to write this. If an idiot like me can do it, then believe me, you can do it.