You must be wondering. Did I get that FragFX deal through? I sure did, but the results aren’t that immediate like some of you may be expecting. No, I didn’t wipe the floor with the controller jockeys, nor did I get a 4:1 kill ratio.

When I got the controller, I tested it out on Call of Duty 4’s online multiplayer immediately. I did manage to kill three opponents at one game (as opposed to zero in several matches), but I was struggling with the product because it has a few quirks on the outset:

• R1’s sensitivity is iffy. It doesn’t always fire if you press it.
• R3 is outright annoying. For some strange reason, pressing it would also cause your gun to fire.
• The Triangle button is perhaps the most annoying button of all. It’s placed too close to your thumb, causing it to be pressed inadvertently when R1 is also pressed. This proves to be disastrous in CoD4 because at default, Triangle causes weapons to be changed.

There’s also the mouse’s overall sensitivity. When tuned all the way up, the crosshairs skip by a couple of inches or so. If you turn down the sensitivity, you have to move your mouse in bigger strokes. This makes targeting very difficult.

I ditched CoD4 for the moment and started playing Resistance: Fall of Man instead. I’ve breezed through the early levels and didn’t have to choose Easy like I always do when stuck with the Sixaxis. I chose Normal, and it’s been easy. At least until those buttons start acting up.

So yes, I did improve ever so slightly and this is better than nothing. Rome, after all, wasn’t built in a day.

Image for Resistance: Fall of Man is courtesy of SCEI.

Post from: EveryJoe

FragFX first impressions

Yes, he does own an Xbox 360 too, but it’s busted.

I finally got a chance to play his spanking new Playstation 3, and boy, was it an experience. Unfortunately, we had to make do with a standard definition TV, but it never made the romp less fun.

To warm up, my buddy put in Resistance: Fall of Man. I told him I didn’t want to play the game online. Just the thought of wrestling with a controller just to get off a shot and let a complete stranger walk all over me in the process brings a cold shudder down my spine.

We had only three controllers available for play—two Sixaxis pads and another one for the PS2. We had to use an adapter to get the older pad working, so a two-on-two capture the flag was out of the question. Not bad for a first-timer who knew nothing of the Manchester map. I ranked second against two experienced bozos.

I noticed that the machineguns I used in Resistance didn’t give me any recoil. I was trying to aim low and shoot short bursts, but I ended up with body shots. What’s a maniacal n00b to do? Run for the rocket launchers, that’s what. I may only fire off one rocket, but one is usually good enough to kill.

Next, we had a session of NBA ‘07, but it was too arcadey for my tastes. I can’t call for a pick, each pass causes a player to stop, and switching defenders were too stupid to find their man. I may have dominated by playing Golden State, but using the Spurs was a nightmare. Wasn’t that supposed to be the other way around?

My mood changed when we started playing Warhawk. The game’s textures alone made me drool. I was blown away by the fact that we were using a standard definition set, but the textures looked as good as those new games I’ve been playing in my PC.

Add in the fact that Warhawk was hilarious to play. Yes, it was tough, but if your teammates are capable of cooperating, things turn out even more fun. I enjoyed playing gunner when riding jeeps, but those jets were a bit challenging to pilot. It gets even more challenging when your enemy is good in flying those things.

One particular event that came to mind was when several of us in the team were hiding in a stone structure (I forgot which map), and a VTOL jet swooped in and circled the building—shooting everyone inside. The enemy did this a couple of times, but it felt like forever when you’re on the receiving end of an attack.

Several of us were taken out, but fortunately, I survived. Beginner’s luck, I’m sure.

Am I sold to the idea of getting this console? Sure! Why would I want to shell out money just to let some foul-mouthed kid frag me and describe my lack of skill using gamepads in shooters through their colorful language? If I’m going to get insulted, might as well not pay for it.

Post from: EveryJoe

My first foray into the PS3 and its shooters

Do you still remember the spat between the Church of England and Sony? Let me re-jog your memory: The church alleged that Sony didn’t seek permission for using the Manchester Cathedral as a level in Resistance: Fall of Man, the first good FPS in the PS3.

Well, BBC said the church leaders at Manchester Cathedral have forgiven Sony.

Sony did apologize for using the graphics, but didn’t withdraw Resistance from store shelves. BBC also revealed that after the game didn’t win at the recent BAFTA, the cathedral’s dean remarked “I think some important lessons have been learnt.”

Yes, there are. First-person shooters don’t win in artsy-fartsy awards. They just sell well.

Was this “forgiveness” given out of the goodness of the church’s collective heart? Or was it because the squabble caused an increase in visits to the Manchester Cathedral from young people and tourists?

Post from: EveryJoe

Church of England forgives Sony