I apologize for the lack of updates over the past couple days. Real life has intervened momentarily along with obsessively playing the BioShock demo. I thought I would compile my thoughts on the BioShock demo and then throw the mic out to you guys to see what your opinions are?
Let me preface this by saying that I LOVE this game. It has realized a masterpiece in so many ways. The intro was short, but sweet with the sudden plane crash. I also echo the sentiment that I was surprised to find out that the cutscene was no longer a cutscene when you surface at the water. This brings me to the water - WOW! Surely they had to get the water done properly in such a water-focused title, but just wow. The designers really seem to have gotten nearly perfectly how water ebbs and flows, and the slight shimmer without being overdone. I must say though, that I chuckled a bit inside regarding the fact that we just happened to crash near an apparent lighthouse ;p.
The bathysphere trip was enjoyable with the propaganda video thrown in for good measure to establish more backstory. The only thing I wished was slightly different was the overall lower detail of the underwater city when viewed from inside the bathysphere. It just seemed in general very low polygon, which suprised me, but perhaps was a demo only issue. But on to the game inside Rapture! The first splicer scared the heck out of me, and I hardly wanted to leave the metallic bubble. However, I did and watched her get riddled with bullets from the cute security bot.
The next fun part was when I obtained the electricity plasmid from the apparent candy-like dispenser. The cutscene that followed was enjoyable. The next area, after the airplane piece crashes into the inter buliding tube was wonderful (not to mention how well the crash/water was done in this intermediate area. In the next area, where a dead body lays on the ground near a window, I must say I became terribly nervous. It was dark and suddenly one hears the scraping metallic arm pieces of a slicer in the corridor. I backed against the wall and awaited his attack. One blast from my electricity and a smack with my wrench did the trick. I just have to say that I am very impressed with the A.I. throughout - it just behaves completely differently than any other shooter I have experienced. They do not merely stand and await attack, they run, dodge, hide, strike out, and more. I found it all very exhilarating.
I cannot forget to mention the oh so fun flame/fire plasmid. Very enjoyable to cook those splicers! The environmental interaction throughout is spectacular, laid atop the beautiful art deco graphical foundation. I must say I am going to really enjoy this game. I can’t wait until Tuesday!
August 18th, 2007, posted by David - Gaming Mirror
Out of curiosity and interest I want to know what YOU guys are anticipating in terms of upcoming games? Any system, of course. For myself I would have to definitely to include the following games on my list:
BioShock
Mass Effect
Heavenely Sword
Warhawk
Ah this year is going to end very well…. and what are YOURS?
August 12th, 2007, posted by David - Gaming Mirror
So, we finally get a look at the flamethrower. A weapon that was supposed to be in Halo 2, but apparently never made it. There was apparently not enough balance with the weapon and it was able to torch all of your enemies in a single puff. But it will finally make it into Halo 3. Below are a few images of the flamethrower and its ammo.
A Bungie devs tells us: “If you shoot a pillar, the liquid in the flamethrower will adhere to it and burn there,” O’Connor tells us. “Likewise with the floor and with bad guys. It will cause continual damage to a vehicle. When the flames start to cool down and evaporate, it stops causing damage. If you’re lucky enough to keep it on a Warthog, then you will in fact take it down with a flamethrower.”
He also said that the bubble shield will protect the user from the flamethrower as the flame will burn over the surface of the shield. Coolios.
Flamethrower Description
M7057 / Defoliant Projector Official Designation: M7057/DP Length (o/a): 116.8 cm (46 in.) Weight (empty): 45.8 kg (101 lbs) Weight (loaded): 55.5 kg (122.5 lbs) Cartridge: Pyrosene-V Max. effective range: 13.4 meters (44 ft) Magazine capacity: 9 x three-second bursts
Unit Replacement Cost: cR. 1,520.00
Description:
The M7057/DP is a standard chemical flamethrower, which projects and ignites a stream of a volatile, semi-liquid fuel. Flamethrowers are cumbersome and relatively difficult to use (psychologically as well as mechanically).
Observations:
Referring to the M7057/DP as a weapon1 is a bit of a misnomer as the dee pea in its nomenclature indicate that it is a defoliant projector—to be used to rapidly clear away heavy foliage for in-theater construction projects and to destroy new or persistent growth from emplaced and/or hardened military assets. That having been said; despite being all but obsolete militarily its effectiveness as a psychological weapon is undeniable—unfortunately the psychological effect is a double-edged sword.
August 11th, 2007, posted by David - Gaming Mirror
Here is a another cool gameplay trailer for all of you - Call of Duty 4. It is amazing that this is going to be released in November! When all these other games seemingly are delayed over and over. Enjoy.
August 11th, 2007, posted by David - Gaming Mirror
Everyone point their browsers over to Amazon for what appears to be quite a deal for an Xbox 360 premium. On top of the $50 dollar price cut by Microsoft, Amazon is taking even more off the top to a lovely $329. It is likely that Amazon is attempting to sell off their remaining “old” premium stock that does NOT have HDMI. But it is still definitely a good deal - one which I would be biting at if I did not already have a 360.
All three of the big console gaming companies - Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have in some way or another hyped to no end the huge revolution in gameplay, graphics, and more for the so-called “next-gen” consoles: 360, PS3, Wii. They were hardly alone is perpetuating this fiction, as game developers jumped on board the hype train in press interviews. The problem is that the current generation of hardware has not made any sort of revolutionary change in any of the developing areas of video games (i.e. graphics, sound, A.I., story, gameplay, etc.) All we have with the 360, Wii, and PS3 is an incremental advancement in technology from the previous generation. In the case of the PS3 and 360 we have an all around improvement in every gaming area from graphics to gameplay. While the Wii has improved very little in graphics but has focused on controller modification. The problem is that people are constantly waiting for “that one game” that will be the penultimate, zenith of next-gen gaming. It will never arrive - sure games will be improved upon, A.I. will improve, graphics will be shinier, and sound will become richer. However, the hype does not equal the subsequent performance.
WHY IS NEXT-GEN A MYTH & DECEPTIVE MARKETING PLOY?
1) Each new gaming generation has utilized similar terms to express that that particular generation is the ultimate experience and tremendously advanced over the previous when in reality we see a steady incremental increase in video game technology between generations. It may seem a tremendous advancement when one has become used to the current generation - however your eyes deceive you. Comparing PS1-PS2-PS3, Xbox-Xbox 360, N64-Gamecube-Wii; we see a very steady and incremental development which do not constitute tremendous leaps nor live up to the hyped “next-gen” concept.
2) The myth of the “next-gen” leads people to wait for that perfect game which shows off all that was promised. [this reminds me of those viral videos that Sony released online with narration by the actor from Aliens [”Bishop”].] However, that perfect game never arrives. Sure we can push the technology to its limit at the end of perhaps the 5 year gen cycle, but this is different from the often practical under-delivery on the hype. I die at the though of Gears of War being brought up as the perfect example of this generation. Sure its a fine game, looks great, and uses a lot of new technology. It, however, fails to perform at the level created by the hype “next-gen” mythos.
3) Often years before the current generation of gaming is over, the console companies begin hyping and marketing their “next-generation” of console hardware and how IT will be the ultimate in gaming. It is patently obvious how this is a self-repeating cycle with an empty promise at the end. Before the promises from the previous generation may be fulfilled, the companies direct consumers’ attention to the next piece of hardware.
4) Let’s not forget this whole video gaming business all really just comes down to money. It is the stratagem of many companies to over-promise but under-deliver. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are likely not immune. It is blatantly obvious when viewing old press interviews the extreme amount of promising and you realize, watching it years later, that none of it came true. Not to harp on Sony - but this reminds me of the “Toy Story Graphics” comment for PS2. This advances the idea that the “next-gen” hype is really a marketing ploy.
5) The “next-gen” ploy is extremely deceptive in that it promises something unreachable to reach a sales goal. The deception becomes even darker when we realize number 3 (above). People forget the previous generation, those old promises, and move on - gobbling up the hype for the next generation.
Sure, not everyone relies on hype nor cares. However, it is an extremely deceptive marketing device that many video gamers are spoon fed. Perhaps it is time for everyone to wake up to the harsh realities of this “business”.
All I can say is that I cannot wait for this game to arrive at my doorstep (which it shall). It is utterly gorgeous. Enjoy more exclusive gameplay yumminess.
Not much to say - but go DOWNLOAD AND PLAY! BioShock!
