“There is no way of knowing where a survivor is, so you’ll have to explore to find them”
I like that. I really like that. I’m totally up for exploring every nook and cranny of this place. Of finding every survivor and combo-ing every combo. Except that now I’m afraid to explore. I know something is happening at four o’clock. I have no idea what four o’clock actually means in this world, though, and I’m pretty sure if I set off exploring, that Casio-watch alarm beep is going to sound and I’m going to find myself in the red and I’m going to have to start running.
Which is really too bad, because I want to do some good.
Though we never thought that we could lose,
There’s no regret,
If I had to do the same again,
I would my friend, Hernando.
At last, Dragon Dictate is now offering speech packs that will let gamers give voice commands to selected games, and yes, one of those games is Second Life. Furries everywhere are chirping with delight. The Boston Herald put Dragon Dictate through its paces:
Playing “Black Ops” with the speech pack was a big improvement from the moment the first mission started. I was used to dying frequently when relying on keyboard commands to do things like taking cover, switching or reloading weapons. But barking Dragon’s voice commands kept me alive longer and also freed me up to strategize more about how to complete my objectives.
In the “Mass Effect 2” role-playing space game, the action is not as fast and furious as a first-person shooter. But the speech pack’s voice commands for this game improved my attacks on opponents and helped me to control my squad more efficiently. The speech pack also really improved the immersion factor, the feeling that you are living in the game world rather than just playing.
I am looking forward to trying it out in PvP with World of Warcraft. “I said, ‘attack gnome!’ not ‘attack no one!'”
Other games that Dragon Dictate has speech packs available for include Starcraft 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Warhammer 40,000 Dawn Of War, Medal of Honor, Pacific Poker, Rainbow 6 Vegas, Splinter Cell Convictions, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
The game is Starcraft II played in a series of 1v1 matches, with the winner being the first to four victories. The map is Metalopolis, which features four starting positions behind narrow ramps, and two gold mineral expansions in the center. The races are randomly determined, just like real life generals. The players are Tom Chick, ranked 5th in his division in the silver league, and Kelly Wand, who has one of those dragon icons in Warcraft III but hasn’t even played the stupid campaign in Starcraft II.
-“Shouldn’t you be in school today?”
-“It’s Sunday.”
Welcome to Gamespotting. Here we not only spot games in other media, but we also consider the context. Videogames often appear as props, and gameplay is used as generic behavior. A couple of guys on a couch waving about controllers when they could just as easily be pointing a remote at a football game. But sometimes an artist includes a game and shows gameplay for a reason. Sometimes videogames matter. That’s what we’re looking for here.
PC Gamer, the UK version, has published the top 100 games of all time. The top five were posted in the Inquisitor. Here they are:
1. Deus Ex (2000)
2. World of Warcraft (2004)
3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (2006)
4. Team Fortress 2 (2007)
5. Half-Life 2 (2004)
I haven’t seen the rest of the list, but it appears as time edges onward the older games will be cited less and less in these kinds of lists, tumbleweeds rolling out of sight. Civilization, X-COM, Master of Orion, Doom, Red Baron, and all the other great games published before 2000, and not one of them made the top five? Not one?
For comparison, here’s the top ten from PC Gamer (probably the US version, but I’m not sure) back in 2005:
Stepan Yurov’s animated recap of Half-Life 2 isn’t just a cute exercise in fan art. It’s a reminder that the series’ sound effects are iconic. I don’t think it overstates the case to say that if more people played videogames, Half-Life’s sound effects would be every bit as well known as Star Wars’. The sound design is just that good.
And while I’m really glad Valve isn’t milking the Half-Life franchise with DLC and add-ons and quick n’ dirty sequels, Yurov’s short reminds me that I miss Dog and Alyx (I don’t really miss Gordon Freeman, because he was always such a non-entity, by design). But I mostly miss Valve’s world building prowess applied to single-player games.
I snap out of my haze to see a seven-year old with his face pressed against the sliding glass door of my office. I blink, wondering briefly if my eyes are registering bloodlust and if the kid, and now my son who has joined him, can see the television screen. We’ve always been careful about what we show our little guy, what we allow him to watch. I’m pretty sure exploding zombie heads isn’t on the list. I quickly realize that the two of them are at too extreme an angle to see any of the action, so I pause the game and wave them off. I’m working here. Honestly. Also, I can do without the accusatory tone, kid. So I’m playing a video game in the middle of the day? So what?
“You guys go play. That’s why we’re having a playdate. So you can play,” I say to them through the glass. “Go!”
They scatter. I lock back in. Previously on DR, I was sad. Today…today is a happy day.
The game is Starcraft II played in a series of 1v1 matches, with the winner being the first to four victories. The map is Metalopolis, which features four starting positions behind narrow ramps, and two gold mineral expansions in the center. The races are randomly determined, just like real life generals. The players are Tom Chick, ranked 5th in his division in the silver league, and Kelly Wand, who has one of those dragon icons in Warcraft III but hasn’t even played the stupid campaign in Starcraft II.
The score so far: Tom: 2, Kelly: 1
This week’s two big releases are Little Big Planet 2 and Mindjack. Little Big Planet 2 looks like Sony’s attempt to make Little Big Planet something other than a venue for people to drop stuff into a level and hope other people will move from left to right through that level. Here’s hoping that works out, because it’s about time Sackboy got an actual game. Mindjack is a shooter with a twist (TM), published by Square/Enix. Here’s hoping for another Kane & Lynch 2 instead of another Front Mission Evolved.
So, yeah, uh, The Green Hornet. Another January release. If you’re worried about The Green Hornet spoilers, such as how terrible it is, skip ahead to this week’s 3×3 at the 44-minute mark for our discussion of the best meal scenes in movies.
The second Pinball FX 2 tourney is now live! To enter just fire up Biolab. Your highest score between now and January 28th will be logged. I was going to list the prizes for first, second, and third place, but please. None of us is going to win any of those. We’re just jockeying for position with each other. So I’ll see you on the leaderboard.
By the way, Pinball FX developer Zen Studios also released some info about the previous Secrets of the Deep tournament.
There were 26,339 official entries in the Secrets of the Deep High Score Tournament, with ancient_of_war taking first place.
Based on that figure, I did a little quick math. I’m happy to report that I placed in the top 92%. Suck it, 93% and below!
“WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT!” I yell to Frank, laughing in delight as we leave the bathroom and I notice, for the first time, the huge arrow hanging over my head in the center of the screen. “That’s gonna be helpful, I think,” I mutter to myself.
“Duh,” says Frank. Well, no he doesn’t. Not really. He’s taken to ignoring me at these moments. I sense he doesn’t have a great deal of respect for me, and I don’t suppose I blame him since my inability to manage the clock keeps getting him arrested. So my delighted laughter is short-lived, quickly transmogrifying into a chuckle of humiliation, and just as quickly disappearing altogether as I remember that we’re in the red zone. We’ve got to get a move on.
The game is Starcraft II played in a series of 1v1 matches, with the winner being the first to four victories. The map is Metalopolis, which features four starting positions behind narrow ramps, and two gold mineral expansions in the center. The races are randomly determined, just like real life generals. The players are Tom Chick, ranked 5th in his division in the silver league, and Kelly Wand, who has one of those dragon icons in Warcraft III but hasn’t even played the stupid campaign in Starcraft II.
Curious Sense, the developer behind the unforgettable REO Speedwagon game Find Your Own Way Home, is now taking on one of the most iconic bands in the American music scene, the Grateful Dead, according to Rolling Stone magazine. The game will be playable on multiple platforms and devices, though no mention is made of the commercial videogame platforms.
The developers think that the Grateful Dead are “one of two or three perfect bands for this kind of multi-channel game experience,” according to Adam Blumenthal, CEO of Curious Sense, who added that blending digital and real world elements are planned. From the Rolling Stone article:
Examples might include “playing scavenger hunt bingo with mobile phone cameras” where players try to find a Grateful Dead sticker on a Volkswagen camper. Still early in design, many of the game’s core facets remain undefined, but he says the title will reflect themes prevalent in Grateful Dead lore, including Americana, the old west, gambling, Biblical tales, nature, space and journeys. Rather than one single play style, the title is intended to bring many together under a single banner of red, white and blue skulls and dancing bears.
Upon entering the online game, ostensibly designed for play foremost on personal computers, enthusiasts will reportedly be greeted by an interactive, high-tech Grateful Dead universe. Adaptable to individual preference, the game world will be divided into regions filled with mini-games, activities and social events. Settings from familiar songs will host highlighted digital diversions, with familiar characters from popular songs featured throughout.
“Whimsy, surprises and pranks will delight,” says Blumenthal. “There will have to be a Miracle button.”
The Grateful Dead have enjoyed a unique relationship with their fans for decades. Ultimately, the game is about what will drive this special relationship forward into the digital age:
“We want a Deadhead Uncle to be able to buy a Grateful Dead Games gift card at Target to give to his nephew who will redeem the credits and special privileges in the game.”
Yeah, yeah, this is the time of year when everyone runs a list of teh most anticipated games of 2011!1 or whatever. Not that I’m above doing what everyone else is doing, but I can guarantee that several of the games I’m about to show you aren’t mentioned on those other lists. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’ve either forgotten about or don’t even know about a couple of them.
Does that pique your interest?
After the jump, it’s 12 — well, 13 — games that will make 2011 awesomeContinue reading →
