Gears of War 2 – Thoughts on the Title Update March 26, 2009
Posted by Archbishop Xero in : Action, Articles, Misc., XBOX 360 , add a commentMy gaming crew have been super stoked in anticipation of the new Gears of War 2 title update. With all the improvements, bug fixes, and everything, we were convinced it was going to be a whole new gaming experience. And it was… to a point. It was refreshing to see several tweaks and improvements, and they definitely made the game play differently.
I have to admit that I like the new experience system. It has given me a small sense of accomplishment, as I’d never gained that elusive 2nd Rank in the prior experience system. However, a major complaint is that I can no longer quit out of a game after the gameplay is officially over — forcing me to wait 25 seconds before being dumped back into the lobby. If I exit before I am put in the lobby, I get docked 1500 experience points. WTH? I finished the match, why penalize me?
But I do have to ask, is it too much of an issue to patch some of the geometry issues in the maps (specifically the one in Pavilion allowing cheaters to hop a shield through a shuttered doorway)? Or find a way to keep us from consistently getting sucked into cover when trying to run past a corner? I can’t tell you how many times I have been stuck on columns trying to get to a certain point.
And while the game does play significantly better, I just wish there was a way to effectively eliminate cheaters. I don’t care if I win or lose, as long as I have a fighting chance. I’d rather been firmly shutout by a skilled player or a frakkin’ lag-switcher that leeches all the fun out of the match.
(Yet) Another Ode To Portal February 6, 2008
Posted by Archbishop Xero in : Misc., Puzzle , add a commentThere once was a buggy AI
Who decided her subject should die.
When the plot was uncovered,
The subjected discovered
That sadly the cake was a lie.
~ Source Unknown
Playing with your Cake? March 20, 2007
Posted by xerocube in : Misc. , add a commentAlways on the lookout for the slighty odd and humorous, I can across a gaming site for the masses. Well, maybe not everyone, but definitely those who love gaming… and cake.
Spawned from many numerous cake postings over at Kotaku.com, the site GameCakes.com presents the world with pictures of edible portraits of popular games. The site is in its infancy, but in it’s first post gives us a tasty look at the classic Hyrulian shield for the Legend of Zelda.
Go give it a look!
XNA Game Development February 26, 2007
Posted by xerocube in : Misc., XBOX 360 , add a commentMicrosoft released the XNA Game Studio back in December of 2006. This has placed the ability to create games in to the hands of the casual main street gamer. While I have not yet taken the jump to create my own game, I have started looking into what it would take for me to start. In my quest for knowledge, I stumbled across this site: www.xnadevelopment.com.
This site includes many tutorials on the basics of game development from character state to 2D image scrolling. From a beginner’s point of view, this looks to be a great starting point for me. I will keep you posted on my journey into this new potential hobby.
Xbox Live Diamond Membership Card February 18, 2007
Posted by slippyweasel in : Misc., XBOX 360 , add a commentAre you married, and your wife (or husband) doesn’t support your gaming habit, need to save a little money on your gaming-related gear, need to save on food or clothes (so you can afford your gaming gear), and you have an Xbox Live gamertag, then you should sign up for the Xbox Live Diamond Card. It is free, and well worth it if do crazy things like eat, wear clothes, use a computer, or (most importantly) play games. It is accepted by companies like Quizno’s, Papa John’s, Circuit City, Gamestop, and Tivo as well as many other retailers selling everything from shoes to surround sound systems. Check it out here!