The point of the whole piece is that game developers are now integrating “handicaps” into their games so that new players and hardened pros can all play together in a utopian gaming environment where n00bs don’t get pissed off at a game for being too hard and then they don’t bitch to their friends about how much they hated the game. No bitching=better sales and more new players playing the game.

You see this with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with the “you got killed too many times in a row so here’s some extra help since you suck” handicap. To be fair, that’s not what it’s really called but if the handicap doesn’t already have an official name, might I toss that suggestion into the proverbial hat? I think it has a nice ring to it. There’s just something about the way it rolls off your tongue.

It looks to me like handicaps are obviously geared toward new-to-gaming people and not just gamers who are new to a particular game.

Now, I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing to get non-gamers into gaming – cause it’s not. What I am saying is that tons and tons of people have come up the gaming ranks without these handicaps and cheats and have done just fine without the help. You take your lumps. You learn the game and then in a couple of weeks, you are now the one who’s laugh at the “new guys” as then dive into the game and get obliterated.

I get that making money is the ultimate goal of a game developer but making games “newbie” friendly might end up backfiring.

Image|rileyroxx

Post from: EveryJoe

n00bs and Hard-Core Gamers Play Nice

From the press release:

• PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system trophies
• Realistic graphics and sounds that make you feel like you’re on the actual game show set
• Nearly 9,000 puzzles to challenge your mind!
• Customizable characters
• Single-player, multiplayer and network/multiplayer modes
• Eleven different playable cities across America (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, New Orleans, Charleston, Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale)
• Studio sets and sound effects straight from the TV show!

Image|Sony Online Entertainment

Now, I’m not a big Wheel of Fortune fan, but there must be some out there for Sony to sock the $ into making this game and then releasing it. Then again, if you think about it, Sony doesn’t have to worry about packaging costs since they’re releasing it on the PSN.

Whatever.

Just because it’s not my cup of tea doesn’t mean that you won’t love it.

Post from: EveryJoe

Spin, Solve and Win with Wheel of Fortune

The action was smooth, the story line was entertaining, and the difficulty curve kept me engaged. So even with its gore, it is still a solid game.

The multiplayer however was less appealing.  The maps as beautiful as they are, feel cluttered and confined.

The amount of damage that characters can take is insane.  It took an entire clip to drop an opponent.  I know I was scoring head shots because they were dug in behind a car, and the only thing I could aim at was their head.

What is with the reload sequence?  The scroll bar thing that you have to time just right is stupid.  I didn’t know that the gun would jam it you screwed this part up.  I know it adds realism to the game, but HELLO, it has killer martians in it.  I don’t want a chainsaw! I have one of those in the back of my truck. I want a freaking laser! (Don’t have one of those. They ran out early during the black Friday Sale at NORAD)

I mean really, our military doesn’t use chainsaw bayonets because you have to be too close.  If I were fighting killer aliens I for damn sure would never be close enough to ever use the stihl strapped to the end of that gun.  The only use it would get from me would be during December.  I would make the barracks a little more festive by bagging an evergreen.

Before I digress any further let me say that it was fun, but not my favorite.

That’s all I have to say about that.

Image Source:sillygwailo

Post from: EveryJoe

FINE! I’ll Play.

More surprises by way of video. This time, the revelations come from Call of Duty: World at War, an upcoming first-person shooter that’s again set in World War II. While the setting may induce a lot of groans, the game does offer some interesting features for multiplayer, just like its predecessor, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

According to Treyarch producer Dan Bunting, the co-op campaign comprise of a story campaign, competitive campaign, and death cards, which allow players to earn points and modify campaigns. The use of points that can be earned via killing foes or finding bonuses is quite interesting. Bunting reveals more details in the interview, so do take the time to watch it.

I’m still on the fence regarding World at War, but this development may potentially change the way I view the game. Would it be worth the purchase? We’ll find out this November as Call of Duty: World at War invades store shelves.

Post from: EveryJoe

Call of Duty: World at War co-op gameplay seems to offer depth

Surviving in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’s online multiplayer isn’t just a matter of skill, or how quick you can pull the trigger. It’s all about being at the right place at the right time. To do that, one should be familiar with the maps. If you’re having trouble remembering things, then at least you should know the difference between a good hiding place and a deathtrap.

The video above provides some good hiding tips. Of course, there are just too many crevices in Call of Duty 4 to mention. Bottom line, it’s all about making sure that no one would be able to sneak up from behind. The best hiding places provide impeccable cover from the rear. At the same time, the spot isn’t isolated from passers-by as well, since it’s useless to just hide and not score any kills.

Of course, if your Call of Duty 4 skills are nonexistent like mine are when using a controller, then that great camping site hiding place you just found useless.

Post from: EveryJoe

Clip shows suitable hiding places in Call of Duty 4 multiplayer

According to Infinity Ward director of communications Robert Bowling (aka Fourzerotwo), Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’s online multiplayer community is 10 million strong. This figure corresponds to the sum of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 players. Unfortunately, Bowling made no mention of CoD4’s PC community and its contribution to the overall total.

10 million players? That’s insane. In case you read the title wrong, I’m referring to CoD4, not World of Warcraft.

Bowling added that Infinity Ward is working on some new multiplayer playlists to “breathe even more life into multiplayer,” on top of a few other things that he “can’t talk about just yet.” As to what Bowling can’t talk about, we can only speculate. I hope it’s a new Infinity Ward-developed Call of Duty. In space.

Image for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is courtesy of Activision.

Post from: EveryJoe

Call of Duty 4 online muliplayer is 10 million strong

How unlucky can one get? TimeShift, a sci-fi FPS, is a veritable ghost town when one tries to play online multiplayer over at PlayStation Network. Interestingly, I’ve had the same experience while playing The Darkness. That’s right, no one is around for anyone to play with.

I took a picture as proof (see image), but it’s a bit blurry. From what can be seen, there is one game available but it can’t seem to be accessed no matter what.

Is this the price that PlayStation 3 owners pay for choosing free multiplayer? Does Xbox Live weave a different tale when it comes to TimeShift’s online multiplayer?

I sure hope not, especially since Xbox Live players pay a premium. If the Xbox Live premium is the price that gamers must pay just to get some online multiplayer action for TimeShift or The Darkness, then I just might make that change, provided that Microsoft can produce a RRoD-free Xbox 360.

Image: FPS Rantings
TimeShift is developed by Saber Interactive and published by Vivendi Games.

Post from: EveryJoe

TimeShift is another PSN ghost town

If you’ve been browsing the Internet these past few days, then you may have chanced upon the new “multiplayer” video for Killzone 2, which was shown over at the Leipzig Games Convention. There has been talk regarding its authenticity, since it all sounds manufactured.

Here are top 10 reasons why the Killzone 2 multiplayer video is a fake:

1. The voices actually sound like that of grown men, not of twelve-year-old kids whose certain reproductive parts haven’t matured.
2. Only minor swearing was heard.
3. There were no references to one’s sexual orientation.
4. Players used teamwork.
5. No one used strafe-jumping or bunny hopping.
6. Beaten players didn’t complain about lag.
7. The medic healed a fallen teammate.
8. Nobody uses “Bam” as an exclamation in multiplayer.
9. Nobody took down another player using a melee attack.
10. No teabagging.

Post from: EveryJoe

Top 10 reasons why the Killzone 2 multiplayer video is manufactured

More from 2008’s QuakeCon—this time, it’s the new Wolfenstein. What does those bright energy beams remind you of? If you say Ghostbusters, you deserve a lollipop. Wolfenstein seems a lot darker this time around, thanks to the new next-gen current-gen technology.

Would the new Wolfenstein blow us away like 2001’s Return to Castle Wolfenstein? It depends on how good multiplayer is. This, I believe is the key element that would get people’s attention. It looks like the single player campaign would also be worth the admission, based on what I’ve read at least.

According to GameSpot, a superimposed alternate dimension called “the veil” will figure prominently into the new Wolfenstein. Agent B.J. Blazkowicz returns for an encore and gets special powers like faster movement, and special vision to see secret paths, among other things.

As for multiplayer details, it’s said that Wolfenstein would have the familiar team-based and class-based gameplay. The combat would also involve fighting over specific control points, plus all the weird supernatural powers that we get to see in the trailer. Sounds fun.

When is the new Wolfenstein coming out? No idea.

Post from: EveryJoe

New Wolfenstein gets supernatural in QuakeCon trailer

Remember the first video tutorial for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare that I showed? Well, we have the second part right here. This time, the maps tackled are Bog and Bloc. I don’t think this batch is as good as the first one, but it still provides good insight on the levels nonetheless.

Post from: EveryJoe

Call of Duty 4 multiplayer tips for surviving Bog and Bloc