PC Gaming News
Conan is Here
By Jeff BucklandMay 19, 2008
Funcom's ambitious MMORPG Age of Conan launches this week. Those who pre-ordered got in a few days early, and so far the action has been fantastic and the game deep and enjoyable. Sure, the system requirements are rougher than your average MMO and having a WoW-capable computer isn't enough. A solid video card and 2GB of RAM are going to be pretty much necessary to get this game running well, but so far most players that are in are enjoying good frame rates and better graphics than pretty much any MMO released yet. The bloody, visceral fighting is a really nice change from the rest of the genre, and for those who can stomach it, there are multiple free-for-all PvP servers to choose from. And from what we've seen so far, this is a great game for the hardcore PvP fanbase. Overall, the launch so far has been excellent for Age of Conan; we hope it will stay that way as the rest of the players get to playing this week.
E3 this year
By Jeff BucklandMay 16, 2008
E3 in 2007 went on record as the most screwed up, disorganized mess that anyone in the gaming industry has ever seen. The attempt to decentralize it into hotels across Los Angeles was a fantastic failure as almost everyone was an hour late or more to their meetings, causing publishers to have to shift schedules and leave those who run smaller sites behind. Hell, even when E3 is all in one building it's still almost that bad, as most of the demos start late like that as well. This year, the group that runs E3, the ESA, is bringing it back to the LA Convention Center under one roof but keeping it invite only. And some publishers like Activision/Blizzard and id Software have pulled out of E3 already, but most will still be there. The ESA has also come under fire recently and a couple of publishers have dropped their support for them, but these guys will probably still show up at E3. Hopefully this will be the most productive one yet.
WoW graphic overhaul?
By Jeff BucklandMay 14, 2008
World of Warcraft producer J. Allen Brack recently told Eurogamer that they might at some point do a graphics overhaul for the game. He goes on to say that it hasn't really helped some games in the past (definitely true - Everquest's overhaul alienated players with slower PCs and introduced unpopular new character models) and that they need to be really careful about how they do it. It's likely that the game would likely get higher quality character models and new textures could be painted on everything, like items, characters, dungeons and terrain, but the actual landscape wouldn't very likely change. Then there's the possibility of keeping all the old graphics and models in, and the fact that WoW is already up past 7GB on people's hard drives. While I always thought the game's graphics could have used just a little more oomph in the technology department, half of its appeal comes in its low system requirements. I wouldn't expect a graphical revamp anytime soon.
Can Conan change MMOs?
By Jeff BucklandMay 8, 2008
Early pre-order people will be in the world of Hyboria, enjoying Funcom's new MMORPG Age of Conan on May 14th. Can this MMO game take a bite out of the Warcraft juggernaut? Well, the game is not likely to enjoy the immediate runaway success of Blizzard's beast, but it can certainly pull away players who are tired of World of Warcraft's story. It's been 3 and a half years for them, and while a lot has changed, it's still the same game. Funcom's certainly got something unique going for it, with more violent and action-oriented fights along with a bigger mix of open world, instanced, PvP, and PvE content out the door. That being said, based on the beta, Age of Conan isn't as polished as WoW was during its launch back in late 2004, much less compared to what it's like now. There's definitely a good game hiding under there, but it's up to Funcom to quickly get issues sorted out and listen to the right part of their fanbase to make the game something special.
Demo Time
By Jeff BucklandMay 6, 2008
This recent article on Shacknews discusses the study that recommended publishers release trailers for their games rather than demos. That may wind up being a good choice for console games where cash cows are their biggest and mediocre titles still manage to sell millions of copies, but it's a horrible strategy for the PC. For one, people need to make sure the game runs fine on their computer, a problem console gamers don't have. But beyond that, "emergent gameplay" is a really important thing for PC gamers, and that can only be created if people play - it will work in a demo, but can't be stuffed into a trailer.
Go ahead and release trailers, but if your game is good, we'll really notice it in the demo. If you're making an MMO, even one that's going into stores for $50, get us a trial. You need to pull those people in, and that's a good way to do it.
10 Rules for porting your console game to the PC
By Jeff BucklandMay 4, 2008
1. Support computers both slower and faster than the original console
hardware - put in lots of detail options.
2. Give PC gamers just a little new content over the console editions.
We love that stuff.
3. Release a demo.
4. Downsize the interface. Most of us play at resolutions way higher
than 1280x720.
5. Don't leave console-only control diagrams plastered over your loading
screens, menus, tutorials, or voice acting unless we're using a console
controller.
6. Use Steam, not Games for Windows. We hate GFW.
7. Make sure the mouse works well. See the Quake series for how
to do it right. Copy Gears of War's PC version if you're going
for third-person action.
8. Allow for mods.
9. Don't charge us a recurring fee to play a pure action game. Give us
the "DLC" packs for free. We're used to getting these things for free.
10. Support both widescreen and fullscreen displays.
Get ready for free games
By Jeff BucklandMay 2, 2008
It seems kind of strange to say that we need to get ready for free PC games to come, but really, we do. There are a number of classic PC shooters getting a casual treatment via free games, at least two of which will work from right inside a web browser. I'm talking about Battlefield Heroes, Quake Live, and Fallen Empire: Legions. The latter one is a Tribes-style game by some of the original creators of the series. We need to get ready for these because these will not be your usual hardcore action game - they'll have somewhat simplified gameplay, may offer for-pay features later, run in a browser-based 3D engine that won't likely give cutting-edge performance, and may even include advertising. They won't likely be as rewarding for hardcore gamers as the more serious titles out there like Counter-Strike Source and such. They still look like a ton of fun for a lunch break or an hour to wind down after work, but I wouldn't expect too much more.
Mafia 2 could be great!
By Jeff BucklandApril 30, 2008
Illusion Softworks and publisher Take Two have released some new screenshots of their upcoming PC/PS3/360 action game Mafia 2. You know, the first one did have a few annoying parts, like having a big GTA-sized world but forcing you to drive the speed limit to keep the cops from giving you tickets, or that one stupid race mission early on that many players simply couldn't get past (which the developers did eventually address by releasing a patch to let you skip it...). But the next game in the series could be really great, as the Mafia has been overdone in movies and shows but not really in games. If they can deliver even half of what GTAIV promises to deliver but put it in a 1940s setting with tons of wiseguys, cops, and bosses and then put in and plenty of period-era crime, well, it could be an excellent game.
Devil May Cry 4 on PC
By Jeff BucklandApril 28, 2008
Capcom announced a few days ago that Devil May Cry 4 is getting a PC port this summer. New features are going to include the super-fast Turbo mode and some kind of mode called Legendary Dark Knight that's filled with enemies, and the frame rates will supposedly go at up to 120fps instead of what Capcom says is 30fps that the console versions ran at. Of course, that really depends more on the horsepower inside your PC, doesn't it? And the 360 and PS3 versions ran at well past 30fps, probably around 60, except in cutscenes. Oh well - either way, DMC4 is a solid title, but they didn't mention a fix for the rushed feel of the last half of the game where you have to retrace your steps a bunch of times and fight the same enemies over and over again. Now if they can ensure the controls, configuration options, and DX10 features are all top-notch, then maybe they've got a sale on their hands.
Detail is a dangerous thing
By Jeff BucklandApril 24, 2008
Back in the early days of PC gaming, graphics sucked. Well, at the time, we still thought they were impressive, because they were better than we'd ever seen. But things were simpler then, too. Back then, we didn't care if the characters in DOOM looked a little too shiny, because at that point, they were low-res 2D sprites; we were just happy that they looked like actual menacing monsters and soldiers. As graphics have gotten better in games, it's gotten harder for game developers rather than easier.
One example is Half-Life 2. Valve put years of work into making sure the characters lip synched and show emotion correctly. Did game developers in the 90s care about that? It wasn't a concern to them, as they were struggling to make their characters run correctly. So think about this the next time a game with ground-breaking graphics comes out. Maybe their leap in visuals has raised our standards and exposed some kind of new issue no one has ever dealt with. But they still raised our standards.
Mass Effect with Bring Down the Sky
By Jeff BucklandApril 18, 2008
Bioware just announced the other day that their upcoming PC port of Mass Effect, due on May 28 (June 6 in Europe), will include the downloadable module called Bring Down the Sky at no charge. It's a good add-on, one that 360 gamers had to spend $5 for, and since the PC port will come in at the usual $50, this is becoming an even better buy for PC gamers. Let's just hope that the mouse-and-keyboard controls, new interface elements, and adjusted mini-games all cater to what the PC crowd is looking for in an RPG.
From looking at the system requirements, it doesn't seem like we'll need monster computers to run it, but sometimes system requirements do lie. And while Mass Effect isn't quite the instant classic that Knights of the Old Republic was, it's still a fantastic game with a really interesting storyline and some great characters.
No Force Unleashed on PC? Damn
By Jeff BucklandApril 16, 2008
LucasArts has announced the release date for their next lightsaber-inclusive action game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: September 16th. It'll be out on every console and handheld, but not the PC. LucasArts used to be a major publisher for PC titles; titles like the X-Wing/Tie Fighter series cemented LucasArts as one of the greatest game publishers around. So why isn't The Force Unleashed coming to PC?
I know the game has been made fun of quite a bit for the developers' penchant for showing hand-holding Stormtroopers, but the videos do show the main character also using his lightsaber both as a sword (in a recent video) and as a deadly boomerang. The Force Unleashed looks impressive, and that's why it's painful to see LucasArts abandoning one of the platforms that really got them going in the first place.
Web Integration
By Jeff BucklandApril 14, 2008
Why don't more PC games have web integration built right in? Here's an example: Why must we alt-tab from World of Warcraft to get to the WoW Armory. The site works well, but it's bloated and full of slow-running Flash that tries to make it look like the in-game interface. Wouldn't that whole interface would be even more easily duplicated right in the game? At least you can now inspect enemy-faction players without the need to run to the Armory, but still.
I remember the days of Tribes 2, a game which innovated community features with its addition of message boards and such right into the game interface. Even its ability to display official news was totally unique for action games, but you still see very little of it built into today's games. Even if it's not true browser integration, something close would be nice. Spore will have a lot of game integration built into its official website, but how much of it will be accessible without leaving the game?
MMO PR Board Warriors
By Jeff BucklandApril 11, 2008
It started off with this dev journal from one of the guys working on vapory MMO Darkfall Online, a game that's missed so many deadlines it can comfortably be compared to Duke Nukem Forever. The gist of the article is that Darkfall is great and other MMOs suck, and then an Age of Conan producer goes off with a long rant attacking him.
The first article is what we on the internet would call "trolling". I've no idea why they decided to try it, but, well, Darkfall has been in development for so long, maybe they're desperate. The fact that the Conan developer fell for it is one thing, but that he wrote this huge article without realizing what a bad move it was is another. No one cares about MMO developers and the promises they make in articles; they only care for what's actually delivered. Stop harassing each other and get us a game that really does beat World of Warcraft. Please.
Grim Fandango - Relive It
By Jeff BucklandApril 2, 2008
From the Something Awful Forums' "Let's Play" subforum comes a great set of videos: Let's Play Grim Fandango. This classic LucasArts adventure game tells the tale of Manny Calavera, a guy who sells "travel packages" to the dead as they enter the afterlife. Manny himself is dead, too, as well as everyone around him, and he and his coworkers are paying off some kind of debt for something they did in life. But his company is trying to screw him over, giving him the crappy clients while his boss threatens to fire him.
This set of videos runs through the game, capturing most of the great lines, all of which were done with top-notch voice acting. The backtracking and running around has been edited down to a minimum, so what you get is a video of a playthrough of one of the best PC games ever made. The imagination, humor, and plot are all incredible for PC games, and LucasArts reached a height with Grim Fandango that many say will never be seen again in adventure gaming. If you haven't ever seen this game in action, give the first 20+ minute video a try; I'm sure you'll be hooked.
The EEE goes mainstream
By Jeff BucklandMarch 31, 2008
This story on Laptop Magazine has word that Asus' little EEE PC ultraportable laptop is truly going mainstream. Best Buy will be carrying it in April and it'll include a 7" 800x480 screen, 4GB solid state disk drive, 512MB RAM, a low-power Intel Mobile CPU, wireless networking, and Windows XP for $399. It may not seem like much of a gaming machine, but the classics would work pretty nicely on it and the thing is simply tiny and weighs a slender 2 pounds. Good price too, and you can even modify the thing to increase its storage capacity and bump up the RAM as well.
What would I try and run on it? How about Diablo 2 and Starcraft? Civilization 2 and maybe a few classic LucasArts adventure games? There are a lot of great, older titles that would do just fine on the EEE, and the thing is so small and portable (and cheap!) that you could take it a lot of places that you wouldn't normally take a laptop.
Back to Shadowbane
By Jeff BucklandMarch 28, 2008
It's been 5 years since the MMORPG Shadowbane was released, and while the game wound up being a commercial failure, it still has a dedicated fanbase who enjoy PvP-oriented games where you can build your own cities and destroy your enemies'. The tale of the developers along with how publisher Ubisoft has decided to keep the game running is too long for this blog, but it's nice to see a publisher making a game free and then keeping it going anyway.
The developers recently wiped the server for the 5th anniversary and restarted the game, and players have been frantically playing to build cities, keep each other away from the money, and try and gain a foothold so that they can start taking out their rivals' towns. It's a fresh change from other MMORPGs where there are no consequences for losing a PvP battle; here, you can lose your whole livelihood. It sounds brutal, but those who work together best and come up with solid player builds and group makeups do very well. You'd be surprised how hard people fight back when they actually have something to lose in the game. Take that, WoW battlegrounds!
Nvidia Goes Mainstream
By Jeff BucklandMarch 26, 2008
Those of you into PC gaming have probably seen the launches of nVidia's video cards in the past. The most expensive one comes out first, often over $500, while gamers on a budget have to wait months for the slightly-slower versions that cost hundreds less. It seems this time that nVidia has changed their tune, as their first product to launch in the 9000-series was the 9600GT. At well around $150-$160 at many online retailers, this card is a bit slower than some 8000-series cards released a few months back (like the 8800GT), but it's still some of the best performance for the money you can get right now.
And it continues, too, as the currently unreleased 9800GTX has been benchmarked (page translated from Chinese). It's faster than anything out right now, but not by much - some hardware enthusiasts have seen this as an affront to their sensibilities, but this card will very likely be released for hundreds less than past flagship video cards have.
And for those who really do want to spend $600 on a single video card, don't worry, the 9800GX2 is shipping very soon.
Play Supreme Commander! (or Forged Alliance)
By Jeff BucklandMarch 24, 2008
When Supreme Commander was released about a year ago, it was reviewed well but many gamers out there hated its demanding system requirements. The game's very demanding on your CPU, but now that many gamers out there have dual-core CPUs (which SupCom takes advantage of better than any other game currently), it's time to give it another shot. Actually, the stand-alone Forged Alliance expansion, released last November, is a really good choice too if you just want to do single player and skirmish action. It actually runs better than the original due to many optimizations, and it offers gameplay you simply can't get in Command & Conquer 3 or Sins of a Solar Empire. Where else can you send hundreds of units at a time into a firefight, while sneaking huge, lumbering robots underwater into your enemy's base? (While setting up a nuclear missile, of course, and having bombers in flight to take out his nuke defense right before you launch.)
The simple fact is, no recent strategy game out there does what Supreme Commander does, and none come close to the huge scale of it. If you've recently built a new gaming PC, do yourself a favor and give this one a(nother) try.
New Project Origin Trailer
By Jeff BucklandMarch 21, 2008
In a bizarre twist, when F.E.A.R. creator Monolith split away from publisher Vivendi to go to Warner Bros.' game division, they were able to take almost all of their game with them. For some reason, Vivendi gets to keep the F.E.A.R. name, but Monolith gets to make a sequel with the characters and storyline of the original game intact. Titled the rather bland name Project Origin, Monolith has released a pretty good trailer for this first-person sequel, showing off more creepy environments, horror moments, and a bit of gameplay footage. Let's just hope that this time they're able to integrate the horror and the action better instead of always interrupting one for the other. And it does look like we'll finally be fighting out in city streets a bit more (with some kind of post-apocalypse environment), breaking away from the repeated abandoned offices and warehouses of the original game.
Read you some PDFs
By Eric HansonMarch 18, 2008
Valve had several presentations at this year's GDC last month, and they've posted their documentation for them up in PDF format on their site. I know, you're probably wondering why you'd ever bother, but these are actually pretty good. Well, the guy that goes on for many pages about different types of shading on characters in Team Fortress 2 can get dull, but you can at least see the inspiration behind the art style. And Erik Wolpaw's presentation (name seem familiar? He was one of the guys behind classic PC gaming humor site Old Man Murray) on Portal has a lot of funny stuff thrown in. If you've never seen a Powerpoint-style presentation that was actually funny, check these out. Hell, reproduce the jokes for the presentations you have to make in your intro BCIS class. You never know who's a Portal fan.
World of Warcraft - We want to quit
By Eric HansonMarch 18, 2008
With ten million subscribers playing World of Warcraft, it's one of the biggest success stories in PC gaming. But let's be honest here. It's not the end-all, be-all. It's just the best game out there right now. Contrary to the beliefs of those who don't play WoW, a lot of us actually want to quit and play something else.
Yes, we tried D&D Online and Vanguard, and they were terrible. WoW's not unbeatable, it's just a very, very good game that also happens to be an MMO. To all publishers out there: we'll quit WoW and play something else if you give us a solid and long-lasting reason to do so. We swear. Don't give up hope. But damn, it really is taking you guys a long time to figure out how to make a better MMO. Maybe Age of Conan or Warhammer Online will do it, but we'll wait until we see them.
Will GTAIV come to PC?
By Eric HansonMarch 18, 2008
If we follow how Rockstar has done PC ports of its most popular games in the past, then it seems likely that we'll see a port of Grand Theft Auto IV on the PC. Some time after the April 29th release on PS3 and Xbox 360, Rockstar will announce that it's sold some zillions of copies of the game, and they might also announce that a PC port is in the works. If history is our teacher, then the PC release will come six to eight months after the original release; hey, it did happen this way with the last three GTA games. All the ports have been solid so far, but the last one - San Andreas - had terrible flight controls with a keyboard and mouse. Simply put, if they're going to work on another GTA on PC, they will need to look at games like the Battlefield series for flight controls. And things like the already-announced online multiplayer? We can only hope that makes it in, too, in a way that seems "right" to the PC crowd.
Exclusive with EA: Spore Impressions
By Eric HansonMarch 10, 2008
Here it is the long awaited video footage from my evening with Electronic Arts.
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