Those of you interested in the status of your favorite "is it ever actually coming out!?" game can check out the latest "Life Support" article over at IGN.
This lists the general status of several titles whose development status has remained amazingly questionable, for years in some cases. (Yes, Duke Nukem Forever is still on there, 13 years and counting!)
There is one interesting tidbit for readers of Higher Tech, Beyond Good and Evil 2 has had it's status bumped up to stable. However, no new details have emerged since HT last covered the game, so I'm not sure what caused the slight status promotion. But feel free to check everything out at the link above.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
New BioShock, same Tunnelvision
Well it seems that 2k managed to botch the widescreen in the PC version of BioShock 2. Hmm...this sounds familiar...
It's nice to see 2k getting on top of patching the issue in such a timely fashion, but didn't they learn their lesson last time? In case you missed the first BioShock (whaaaaaat!?) or just need a refresher, the game clipped off the top and bottom of the image when played on widescreen monitors or television. Normally, widescreen expands the sides of the image by essentially making the entire image smaller and then utilizing the extra real estate on either side to display wider image on the screen (get it?). This is what the "letterbox" effect is when you watch a widescreen movie on a normal 4:3 television. Same idea in a video game.
What 2k did with BioShock (and now Bioshock 2) however was simply leave the image at it's original size and clip a little of the top and bottom of the image, actually limiting the player's field of view rather than improving it. This is not how widescreen is supposed to work. (Any goldfish that might be reading this, see explanation above)
It's nice to see that 2K has the patch up today, supposedly, I haven't been able to find it. Regardless, why are we going through this again? This is the exact same issue that affected the original BioShock. Did the developers at 2k somehow forget the whole debacle in the 3 years between the titles? Maybe they should just start prepping the widescreen patch for BioShock 3 now. Especially because, with the first to being as awesome as they are, you bet I'm going to be picking that up as soon as it comes out, and I'd prefer that it work on my monitor right out of the box this time.
It's nice to see 2k getting on top of patching the issue in such a timely fashion, but didn't they learn their lesson last time? In case you missed the first BioShock (whaaaaaat!?) or just need a refresher, the game clipped off the top and bottom of the image when played on widescreen monitors or television. Normally, widescreen expands the sides of the image by essentially making the entire image smaller and then utilizing the extra real estate on either side to display wider image on the screen (get it?). This is what the "letterbox" effect is when you watch a widescreen movie on a normal 4:3 television. Same idea in a video game.
What 2k did with BioShock (and now Bioshock 2) however was simply leave the image at it's original size and clip a little of the top and bottom of the image, actually limiting the player's field of view rather than improving it. This is not how widescreen is supposed to work. (Any goldfish that might be reading this, see explanation above)
It's nice to see that 2K has the patch up today, supposedly, I haven't been able to find it. Regardless, why are we going through this again? This is the exact same issue that affected the original BioShock. Did the developers at 2k somehow forget the whole debacle in the 3 years between the titles? Maybe they should just start prepping the widescreen patch for BioShock 3 now. Especially because, with the first to being as awesome as they are, you bet I'm going to be picking that up as soon as it comes out, and I'd prefer that it work on my monitor right out of the box this time.
Friday, January 15, 2010
All Beyond Good & Evil fans: join me in saying "Hip-hip-huh?"
So apparently Beyond Good & Evil 2 is still in development, according to IGN and Ubisoft. This is stark contrast to comments made by Ubisoft president, Laurent Detoc, last July which gave the feeling BG&E2 had been put on indefinite hold or scrapped altogether.
At the time, Detoc said: "Whether or not it comes out remains to be seen anyway, but we didn't want to abandon that IP because it has a cache and authenticity about it," Detoc said at the time. "There's something very pure about that game and it's too bad that we were not able to build it as an IP at the time."
Wait...you're telling me that you're company is continuing to spend time and money on developing a game that you're not even sure will be released. Yeah, sure, that makes sense...to a crazy person. Although it's better than the alternative of the game being scrapped altogether.
So I'm not sure who these sources at Ubisoft are, but I wish they'd been a little more detailed. Anyways, enjoy the original teaser video (confirmed as being in-game by Ubisoft) as well as leaked footage that is, for some reason, still debated as to whether or not it's in-game, actually BG&E2, or even real at all. Courtesy of those crazy bastards at IGN.
For those of you that don't care because you didn't play the first game (which was the majority of you or the sequel wouldn't be on such shaky ground): the biggest, fattest "Shame on you" I can muster. Because you missed out on an absolutely FANTASTIC game. And since it came out on Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox AND PC I recommend you go pick it up right now and play it. Chances are you have one of those systems around, or a backwards compatible successor, if you're even at this site in the first place. Go. No, don't waste time watching these videos, GO! NOW!
Teaser
Leaked Footage
At the time, Detoc said: "Whether or not it comes out remains to be seen anyway, but we didn't want to abandon that IP because it has a cache and authenticity about it," Detoc said at the time. "There's something very pure about that game and it's too bad that we were not able to build it as an IP at the time."
Wait...you're telling me that you're company is continuing to spend time and money on developing a game that you're not even sure will be released. Yeah, sure, that makes sense...to a crazy person. Although it's better than the alternative of the game being scrapped altogether.
So I'm not sure who these sources at Ubisoft are, but I wish they'd been a little more detailed. Anyways, enjoy the original teaser video (confirmed as being in-game by Ubisoft) as well as leaked footage that is, for some reason, still debated as to whether or not it's in-game, actually BG&E2, or even real at all. Courtesy of those crazy bastards at IGN.
For those of you that don't care because you didn't play the first game (which was the majority of you or the sequel wouldn't be on such shaky ground): the biggest, fattest "Shame on you" I can muster. Because you missed out on an absolutely FANTASTIC game. And since it came out on Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox AND PC I recommend you go pick it up right now and play it. Chances are you have one of those systems around, or a backwards compatible successor, if you're even at this site in the first place. Go. No, don't waste time watching these videos, GO! NOW!
Teaser
Leaked Footage
Friday, January 8, 2010
Supreme Commander 2 details.
Fans of science fiction RTS rejoice! No, StarCraft II hasnt' been released early, sorry. Didn't mean to get your hopes up. However, IGN has details on Supreme Commander II and that's almost as good...kinda.
On a related note however, those unimpressed by SupComm 1's lacking story and those worried about the newly forged partnership with Square Enix can both find some solace in the knowledge that Square Enix's hand in the project will be to beef up the story. Or not, depending on your reasons for trepidation regarding the Square Enix partnership. The rest of you, however will likely be glad to hear about SupComm 2 being treated to "an involved story that features fractured relationships between a core cast of characters will be told, chiefly through brief in-engine cutscenes at the beginning of missions and, refreshingly, during the gameplay itself, with plot and character development coming over the radios as the plot-specific units chat to each other. " Sounds somewhat like that other big SciFi RTS of years past don't it? Emphasis on the "SciFi." This is still Supreme Commander so some of those characters are going to be robots, insectoid aliens, talking brains in jars and dinsoaurs wearing powered armor.
Besides the storyline focus, SupComm 2 will be making some changes to its multiplayer. Namely that GDG net is no longer a part of the game. Instead the game will be completely integrated into Valve's Steam software and utilize it's powerful, and popular, features.
Other things to get some simplification include the game's economy system. Gone is the complex web of SupComm1 and returned is the more traditional system of gathering, and saving, resources used to buy structures and technology upgrades. Much like the simplification that took place in Final Fantasy 7 (see what I did there?) the developers are hoping a simplification of the game's trickier mechanics will attract more players.
Even the code of the game itself has been simplified, allowing SupComm 2 to be played on PC's with lower specifications than the minimum requirements of SupComm 1. For those that missed out on the first game due to lack of a "serious" gaming rig or Xbox 360, this is fantastic news indeed. However, this did cost the game it's ability to support custom maps; though general modding is still possible.
Of course, this being a sequel and all, expect the requisite upgrades to graphics, maps and units. Did I mention that the game will have a canon that fires TANKS!? All in all, there's plenty of reason to get excited when the game releases sometime this March.
On a related note however, those unimpressed by SupComm 1's lacking story and those worried about the newly forged partnership with Square Enix can both find some solace in the knowledge that Square Enix's hand in the project will be to beef up the story. Or not, depending on your reasons for trepidation regarding the Square Enix partnership. The rest of you, however will likely be glad to hear about SupComm 2 being treated to "an involved story that features fractured relationships between a core cast of characters will be told, chiefly through brief in-engine cutscenes at the beginning of missions and, refreshingly, during the gameplay itself, with plot and character development coming over the radios as the plot-specific units chat to each other. " Sounds somewhat like that other big SciFi RTS of years past don't it? Emphasis on the "SciFi." This is still Supreme Commander so some of those characters are going to be robots, insectoid aliens, talking brains in jars and dinsoaurs wearing powered armor.
Besides the storyline focus, SupComm 2 will be making some changes to its multiplayer. Namely that GDG net is no longer a part of the game. Instead the game will be completely integrated into Valve's Steam software and utilize it's powerful, and popular, features.
Other things to get some simplification include the game's economy system. Gone is the complex web of SupComm1 and returned is the more traditional system of gathering, and saving, resources used to buy structures and technology upgrades. Much like the simplification that took place in Final Fantasy 7 (see what I did there?) the developers are hoping a simplification of the game's trickier mechanics will attract more players.
Even the code of the game itself has been simplified, allowing SupComm 2 to be played on PC's with lower specifications than the minimum requirements of SupComm 1. For those that missed out on the first game due to lack of a "serious" gaming rig or Xbox 360, this is fantastic news indeed. However, this did cost the game it's ability to support custom maps; though general modding is still possible.
Of course, this being a sequel and all, expect the requisite upgrades to graphics, maps and units. Did I mention that the game will have a canon that fires TANKS!? All in all, there's plenty of reason to get excited when the game releases sometime this March.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Psh! Nailed it! Dead Space
You know, I liked the original Dead Space, but I felt like it didn't quite live up to one of its promises: the weapons.
The weapons, for the most part were definitely cool, but what happened to the ideology that your main man, Isaac Clarke, is an engineer/repairman, not a soldier? What happened to not finding your standard 3rd-person-shooter weapons and having to make do with workbench tools? I'll give credit on trying to give story context to things like having a full-on flamethrower instead of, say, a welding torch, or for the massive "boss fight/large enemy" gun but some of the stuff...just no. I mean, I'll give you the Line Gun for cutting ore or whatever, these are miners, but when is a miner going to need timed mines (ooo, I get it) that shoot out spinning lasers and dismember everything within range? So with a sequel coming out that has such cool new features as multiplayer, how about fulfilling some of that "not your standard weapons" promise? Maybe something like a nail gun? I know Extraction had the rivet gun but that doesn't quite count since A) Extraction was a side story and B) it nailed things to the wall, not enemies.
Come on guys, plenty of other games have had such weapons, even if they didn't quite make sense when you stopped to think about it, why can't Dead Space? You could even make a specific battle out of it. Have a Necromorph with body parts that make their way back to the main body and rejoin it once dismembered. That way you've gotta nail those damn pesky...appendages to the wall/floor to stop the beast. Imagine the multiplayer smack talk applications!
"OOOhhh I just cut of yo arm bitch! And now it's nailed to the wall! What now, one-armed man?"
My vision's going all slotted just thinking about it!
Of course with news on the sequel slowly trickling out, it looks like the Javelin Gun coming in DS2 may fulfill my wishes. I guess we'll see when it releases in...when it releases.
The weapons, for the most part were definitely cool, but what happened to the ideology that your main man, Isaac Clarke, is an engineer/repairman, not a soldier? What happened to not finding your standard 3rd-person-shooter weapons and having to make do with workbench tools? I'll give credit on trying to give story context to things like having a full-on flamethrower instead of, say, a welding torch, or for the massive "boss fight/large enemy" gun but some of the stuff...just no. I mean, I'll give you the Line Gun for cutting ore or whatever, these are miners, but when is a miner going to need timed mines (ooo, I get it) that shoot out spinning lasers and dismember everything within range? So with a sequel coming out that has such cool new features as multiplayer, how about fulfilling some of that "not your standard weapons" promise? Maybe something like a nail gun? I know Extraction had the rivet gun but that doesn't quite count since A) Extraction was a side story and B) it nailed things to the wall, not enemies.
Come on guys, plenty of other games have had such weapons, even if they didn't quite make sense when you stopped to think about it, why can't Dead Space? You could even make a specific battle out of it. Have a Necromorph with body parts that make their way back to the main body and rejoin it once dismembered. That way you've gotta nail those damn pesky...appendages to the wall/floor to stop the beast. Imagine the multiplayer smack talk applications!
"OOOhhh I just cut of yo arm bitch! And now it's nailed to the wall! What now, one-armed man?"
My vision's going all slotted just thinking about it!
Of course with news on the sequel slowly trickling out, it looks like the Javelin Gun coming in DS2 may fulfill my wishes. I guess we'll see when it releases in...when it releases.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Gamez rulez commercialz!
So Adweek recently held a voting on the best commercial of the decade (I know, I wasn't told either) and, in a move that will probably have your grandparents shaking their heads if/when you tell them, two gaming commercials actually managed to make it into the top spots.
One of these was Sony's "Mountain" commercial from the heyday of the Playstation 2 which...well I thought was kind of lame. But that's probably due to my unexplainable dislike for anything involving Shirley Temple. Check it out and make your own decision.
The second of these commercials was from the Halo 3 "Believe" campaign (although this particular ad is apparently called "Diorama") and is pretty rad. I can't ever watch this commercial without thinking to myself "Man! I want all of those things and the time to set up that exact scene!"
Feel free to check out the other, non-gaming commercials as well. From serious political statements to commercials that make you say "Wait...what?" to the ones that just make you say "WTF!?" Enjoy.
One of these was Sony's "Mountain" commercial from the heyday of the Playstation 2 which...well I thought was kind of lame. But that's probably due to my unexplainable dislike for anything involving Shirley Temple. Check it out and make your own decision.
The second of these commercials was from the Halo 3 "Believe" campaign (although this particular ad is apparently called "Diorama") and is pretty rad. I can't ever watch this commercial without thinking to myself "Man! I want all of those things and the time to set up that exact scene!"
Feel free to check out the other, non-gaming commercials as well. From serious political statements to commercials that make you say "Wait...what?" to the ones that just make you say "WTF!?" Enjoy.
The Missing Piece...of DLC. Assassin's Creed II
Anyone else notice that memory sequence 12 AND 13 were missing from Assassin's Creed II? Ok...ok..OK!! Stop yelling, I get it, you all noticed. Well Ubisoft has got those missing sequences coming to all of you (wth internet connections) as DLC titled "Battle of Forli" and "Bonfire of the Vanities," respectively.
The Battle of Forli tasks you with defending Forli from a group of brothers looking to hand the Piece of Eden over to the Templars and apparently rebuilds/revives the flying machine. And I think we can all give a w007! to that.
Bonfire of the Vanites will team Ezio up with Machiavelli to off the mad monk Savonarola and his underlings with the aid of a new move: the "spring-jump." Not sure exactly how many different ways a person, digital or not, can jump, but hey, I'll give it a chance. "Battle" will cost you $3.99 while "Bonfire" will cost you $4.99. The extra dollar must be to cover liability for the spring-jump.
The Battle of Forli tasks you with defending Forli from a group of brothers looking to hand the Piece of Eden over to the Templars and apparently rebuilds/revives the flying machine. And I think we can all give a w007! to that.
Bonfire of the Vanites will team Ezio up with Machiavelli to off the mad monk Savonarola and his underlings with the aid of a new move: the "spring-jump." Not sure exactly how many different ways a person, digital or not, can jump, but hey, I'll give it a chance. "Battle" will cost you $3.99 while "Bonfire" will cost you $4.99. The extra dollar must be to cover liability for the spring-jump.
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