Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Why We Play Episode 1: The Broad Judgement

bloodwall (2:13:01 PM): all aboard the failboat

mavrixx (2:13:02 PM): this girl found me on match the other day

mavrixx (2:13:04 PM): TOOT TOOT

mavrixx (2:13:11 PM): and she wanted to talk

mavrixx (2:13:13 PM): so im like

mavrixx (2:13:17 PM): fine

mavrixx (2:13:20 PM): so i IM her

mavrixx (2:13:28 PM): and were talking about ourselves and what not

mavrixx (2:13:33 PM): and i said something about how i game

mavrixx (2:13:35 PM): and she goes

mavrixx (2:13:36 PM): OH NO

mavrixx (2:13:38 PM): RED FLAG

mavrixx (2:13:42 PM): me: ...

mavrixx (2:13:56 PM): so i told her that i LOVE being judged

bloodwall (2:13:58 PM): she actually said that?

mavrixx (2:14:02 PM): and being painted with a broad brush

mavrixx (2:14:06 PM): and i went and got rock band.

Mass Effect Achievements - How they help!

Normally, going for all achievements in a 360 game earns Mavrixx mocking. Gamerscores are for epeens. However, the folks at bioware made the achievements in mass effect actually MEAN something.

This is taken from a NEOGAF post.


AI Hacking Specialist --- Unlocks Talent 'Reverse Engineering' for future characters.
Assault Rifle Expert --- Unlocks Talent 'Assault Rifle' for future characters.
Barrier Mastery --- Unlocks Talent 'Barrier' for future characters.
Charismatic --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Completionist --- +5% Experience Reward Bonus
Council Legion of Merit --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Damping Specialist --- Unlocks Talent 'Shielding' for future characters.
Distinguished Combat Medal --- Unlocks Insanity Difficulty and Gamer Picture(Final Boss)
Distinguished Service Medal --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Dog of War --- +10% Health Bonus
Extreme Power Gamer --- Another XP bonus (Reach Level 60)
First Aid Specialist --- First-aid/Fitness for all (150 Medi-Gel Uses)
Geth Hunter --- +10% Shield Strength Bonus
Honorarium of Corporate Service --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Lift Mastery --- Unlocks Talent 'Lift' for future characters.
Long Service Medal --- 5% Weapon Damage Bonus
Medal of Exploration --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Medal of Heroism --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Medal of Honor --- Unlock Hardcore Difficulty, Unlock Levels 51-60
Medal of Valor --- Gamertag pic (Beat Insanity)
Neural Shock Specialist --- Unlocks Talent 'Medicine' for future characters.
Overlord Specialist --- Unlocks Talent 'Electronics' for future characters.
Paragon --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Paramour --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore (And Sweet Lovin')
Pistol Expert --- Marksman Duration +25%
Power Gamer --- +10% Experience Reward Bonus (When combined with RIch, allows purchase of Spectre Weapons at grade X)
Renegade --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Rich --- Spectre Weapons available for Purchase
Sabotage Specialist --- Unlocks Talent 'Decryption' for future characters.
Search and Rescue --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore
Shotgun Expert --- Unlocks Talent 'Shotgun' for future characters.
Singularity Mastery --- Unlocks Talent 'Singularity' for future characters.
Sniper Expert --- Unlocks Talent 'Sniper Rifle' for future characters.
Spectre Inductee --- No Benefit other than Gamerscore.
Stasis Mastery --- Unlocks Talent 'Stasis' for future characters.
Tactician --- +10% Shield Strength
Throw Mastery --- Unlocks Talent 'Throw' for future characters.
Warp Mastery --- Unlocks Talent 'Warp' for future characters.



Very...very cool.

Trek Online - Doomed?

Well...this could be bad. Perpetual, the development house tasked with making the big leap for Star Trek into the MMO world has been purchased by a "media company" looking to break into the video game market. Not the way a big franchise like Trek should be pushed into the world. Not only is the big management change a shocker, but apparently they are looking to drive it more towards a micro transaction model instead of subscription fees in hopes that it will draw a more casual crowd.

Sorry, there isnt jack shit thats casual about Trek fans....except their "Enterprise" watching habits.

I smell bad things. Maybe the death of this IP?

Update: Star Trek Online to Become "More Casual," Developer Perpetual Acquired by New Ownership - Shacknews

Monday, November 26, 2007

Our UAV is Online!

I don't want to be too premature though seeing as how Drake, Mass Effect, and Mario Galaxy are still ahead of me, but thus far....

Call of Duty 4 is my game of the year. I'm still playing it, I'm still enjoying it. I love it. Buy it. Now. Any console or the PC will do. Just go.

Level 52. When I switch to prestige, I'll get started on those other games. So good. I knew it would be when I got a taste of the beta, but it as exceeded all expectations. So excellent.

Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Review


TRIFECTA OF MAV REVIEWS! REVIEW ONE!

So, not to be outdone by Bloodwall, here is my CoD 4 Review. Its a bit late in coming, but any of you console/pc gamers out there know that the past few weeks has been INSANE for game releases. Add thanksgiving on top of it all....BUSY. Anywho, here it is.


Gameplay: Having only played SOME of CoD 3 before picking up CoD 4, i wasnt overly familiar with the control scheme. Id say i was comfortable, but it wasnt 2nd nature. I got the 2nd nature ingrained in my head while playing in the MP beta, then appropriately lost it all by playing halo 3. The gameplay for CoD can be broken into a few different areas. COntrols are solid. Smooth, easy to understand and a shallow learning curve. Mission flow is kind of jumpy at points. I wont say that it is poorly designed, it just doesnt flow that well. You basically play 2-3 different characters(counting some of the bit parts) but focus on a new SAS recruit and a Force Recon Marine. No spoilers in the review, but you jump back and forth between the 2 at different points in the campaign, and it can get somewhat confusing depending on how close you pay attention to the dialogue. The first most interesting mission would have to be the Gillie suit mission where you have to use stealth and sniping to infililtrate and enemy position. Coming in a close second is the AC-130 mission as a gunner where you are covering the character you were just playing on the ground and helping the team escape. It seems very lifelike and real, done in simulated IR black and white. Very classy. Otherwise, great mechanics, almost exactly like CoD 3 mechanics.

Graphics: While CoD 4 suffers from the same bad press that Halo did regarding its resolution, since it is not running at 1080 or even 720p, but the way that Infinity Ward coded the game made sure that it looks great and runs at a consistant FPS. Some lighting is kind of wonky, and some of the physics can get pretty wierd, otherwise, its the most photorealistic FPS ive ever played. Detail is amazing, weaponry looks great and the little details make this game great.

Audio: Great dolby surround mix. Not a single complaint.

Replayability(is that even a word?): The ability to have a semi RPG component in multiplayer for this game is amazing. Gaining levels/ranks that give you new weapons and perks makes the multiplayer experience more like another kind of game. However, once you come down to it all...its still just running around and shooting. I couldnt ever get into another kind of game besides team deathmatch, but those might be interesting to try. COD4 is close to the top MP game on XBL right now, and its easy to see why. Great design, the graphical reduction is so minimal its not even funny. All in all great replayability.


Overal score: 6 out of 8 intel briefcases.


I would have liked to see a longer single player campaign...5 hours is pretty lame. Otherwise, serious GOTY candidate.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Shooter Burnout : Part 2

Whats the cure for shooter burnout?


Mass Effect. Man. Incredibly Awesome so far. Been playing it this week while on vacation. Hence not alot of posting with the holiday and all.

I know i havent posted my CoD 4 review either, ill hit both of these next week.

Who knows what bloodwall is doin.



Gobble, gobble, readers!

Friday, November 16, 2007

Ghostbusters Gameplay

Actual gameplay video from the upcoming Ghostbusters game.

Holy crap this looks awesome.

G4 - The Pile