Blogged in FPS, Computers, Games by Matt on Tuesday September 4, 2007
Let me begin this by saying, Insurgency, you’re one of my favorite FPS games I’ve played in the couple of years, but why do you fail me? You were released, and promptly patched to fix critical problems, now it’s nearing two months later and you have yet to release a new patch nor any new content. We understand you’re wanting to expand the game while fixing numerous issues, but why not fix the “small” issues, and release the fixes, while you work on new content? I know you’re not being paid a salary for your work, but can you really expect to shove an unfinished game, technically a Half-Life 2 mod, to an eager, active community and not continue semi regular support?
I’m not a game developer, nor even consider myself an expert on the subject, but what I do know is what makes a game or mod successful in my view as well as many others. Producing and releasing a mod for any game is a task unto it’s self, but once you reach that milestone there has to be continuous support for the mod. For example, Counter-Strike and Day of Defeat both started as mods for Half-Life, but through their continuous updates and content additions they’ve grown to be full, retail games. Should we be expecting this kind of support from all mods that are released now?
The fact of the matter is development has to continue at a regular pace with regular updates to the game, otherwise your player base will gradually fall off, regardless of “larger” updates. You’ll gain a few back with the new “large” updates but it will NEVER make up for the amount of players lost while waiting. Releasing small patches, that fix a few bugs or address balance issues, consistently is a large factor in keeping players content. MMORPG companies have realized this since their infancy, considering it means even more when your customers pay a monthly recurring fee. You could say the bottom line is “Develop constantly, release often”.
The problem with Insurgency in this case is the small, underlying bugs that should have been addressed directly after the release of their 1.1 patch, instead as noted, they are currently aiming at a large release with 1.2 that will fix the current bugs and add new content. Gamers love new content, but they also want their game to play as well as possible, just look at Counter-Strike 1.6.
I guess the easiest way to summarize my issue with the Insurgency development cycle is; fix the bugs before you bring introduce new ones!
Popularity: 21% [?]
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Blogged in MMORPGs, Games by Matt on Wednesday August 29, 2007
On October 10, 2001 a game that in my opinion set the standard for all Player vs. Player combat in MMORPG was released, titled Dark Age of Camelot. Mythic Entertainment, once a small independent developer known for their various online games, took a huge risk in developing such a game, and when Dark Age of Camelot was released they saw their hard work pay off.
When DAOC was released it quickly gained respect and notoriety from the MMORPG industry as well as from the players. DAOC was the first MMORPG to tie PvP combat into an organized, objective based system. In games prior PvP was based around unregulated combat anytime and anywhere, leading to the frustration of griefing. When DAOC introduced Realm vs. Realm combat many players had finally found the perfect PvP middle ground they had been looking for.
Albions defending a hole in a keep from the dirty Hibernians!
Players in DAOC could choose one of three realms to join; Albion, Hibernia, and Midgard. Each realm had its own strengths and weaknesses, Hibernia being the masters of Magic, Midgard being the kings of melee, and Albion filling the middle ground on both fronts. However at release the game was anything but balanced. Midgard were the kings of PvP combat at release due to their ability to chain stun other players, rendering them useless in combat. However, Mythic was quick to address and fix this problem.
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Blogged in Consoles, Games by Matt on Wednesday January 31, 2007
Dave Karraker, a spokesman for SCEA, claims that the Wii does not belong in the same category as the Playstation 3 instead insisting that it’s merely an “Impulse Buy”.
“Wii could be considered an impulse buy more than anything else,” Karraker said. “The frenzy we saw at the holidays has subsided a bit.”
While I’ll admin the Wii isn’t the flashy piece of hardware that the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 is, what it does do well is bring a whole new style of gaming to the table. Perhaps Mr. Karraker is a bit pissy since his flagship Playstation 3 has bombed out in the market so badly. Then again most consumers don’t want to pay the $599 that the Playstation 3 costs. Hopefully we’ll hear a response from Nintendo in the next few days!
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/technology/….
Popularity: 76% [?]
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Blogged in MMORPGs, Games by Matt on Tuesday January 23, 2007
I’m not a fan of WoW at all, but to deny it the success it has had would be silly. The Burning Crusade, WoW’s first expansion pack came out last week, sold more then 1.2 million copies in the US alone in it’s first twenty-four hours.
Day-one sales totals on both continents were similar, with an estimated total of nearly 1.2 million copies sold on the first day in North America and an estimated total of more than 1.1 million copies sold in Europe within the first 24 hours of launch(a). By the end of the first day of availability on both continents, a total of more than 1.7 million players had already logged in and upgraded World of Warcraft to play The Burning Crusade.
That’s the kind of sales that only EXCEPTIONAL albums sell, now take a video game that does that. Boy those Blizzard fan bois sure are rabid!
Source: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070123/20070123005602.html
Popularity: 45% [?]
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Blogged in RTS, Games by Matt on Tuesday January 16, 2007
In London at a World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade launch event Itzik Ben Bassat, Vice President of Business Development International for Blizzard, hinted at a possible sequel for Starcraft.
“I’m a StarCraft player myself and I hope it’s not a decade, and we launched StarCraft in 1998, before I’m standing here again, celebrating the next game in the series,” Bassat stated.
Could this be a Starcraft sequel by the end of 2008? One can only hope!
Source: http://www.pro-g.co.uk/news/15-01-2007-4502-1.html
Popularity: 32% [?]
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Blogged in Warhammer Online, MMORPGs, Games by Matt on Tuesday January 16, 2007
MMORPG.com recently held an interview with Erik Mogensen, licensing manager of Games Workshop, regarding the working relationship between Games Workshop and EA Mythic.
| MMORPG.com: |
When last we spoke Mythic was still operating as an independent company. How has the addition of Electronic Arts impacted the relationship between Mythic and Games Workshop? |
| Erik Mogensen: |
Heh heh, the toughest thing for me is remembering to call them ‘EA Mythic’ now! Honestly, that’s the most noticeable change, which I realize isn’t very exciting but there you go. I work directly with the art team, the designers, the content guys, the producers as well as marketing and PR and the truth is there’s been no major alteration to how we interact. EA clearly supports Mythic and trust their expertise as well as their relationship with us. All of GW’s contact with EA has been positive, and they’re clearly excited and fully behind the game. In actual day-to-day terms though, all the same people at Mythic and GW are working together just as before, only now with the world’s biggest publisher supporting us all. It’s a great place to be. |
The art, designers, and content isn’t what I’m worried about has mentioned previously what I’m worried about is the game play mechanics being dumbed down to the likes of World of Warcraft. WAR looks exactly as it should, gritty, dark, and the characters look exactly as they do in the various pieces of GW’s as well as the Warhammer Fiction.
| MMORPG.com: |
Do you have any expectations for Warhammer Online as far as lore goes. Are there things you hope will be in the game for players to experience that may just have to be left out? |
| Erik Mogensen: |
The Warhammer World is a very, very big place and there was inevitably some content that had to be left out. I think that together, EA Mythic and GW have done a good job of picking a cross-section of content to give a good representation of the world in an MMO context, while also keeping most of the Warhammer fans happy. I hope that’s what we’ve done anyway. I suppose we’ll find out later this year! |
The Warhammer story is an awesome piece of work in it’s self, and has constantly been the one thing that has kept me looking forward to WAR so much, Mythic has true to the Warhammer thus far and will likely continue the trend. The interview tends to be a bit vague with other details pertaining to the game, but is still a solid read in regards to Warhammer Online.
Popularity: 44% [?]
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Blogged in Consoles, Games by Matt on Monday January 15, 2007
Gabe Newell, founder of Valve, made it all to apparent of exactly what he thinks of the Playstation 3. In an interview with Game Informer Newell made it quiet obvious what he thinks of the Playstation 3.
“The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think It’s really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted.” Newell continued, “I’d say, even at this late date, they should just cancel it and do a do over. Just say, ‘This was a horrible disaster and we’re sorry and we’re going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it.‘”
While I’ll agree the PS3 has been a total disaster in terms of price, performance, and game availability, I wonder what makes Gabe Newell have such strong feelings, considering his company is a renowned developer. All reports have mentioned thus far that the PS3 is much easier to develop for then the PS2. I’m sure over the next few days we will here more on this little outburst. Gabe also mentioned that he “loves everything Nintendo is doing” and predicts they will have over 10,000,000 Wii’s in households. Who would’ve known Gabe was such a fanboi?
Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=155309
Popularity: 30% [?]
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Blogged in MMORPGs, Games by Matt on Saturday January 13, 2007
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past six months or so, then you’ve probably heard of a little game called Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (or WAR). WAR will be Mythic Entertainment’s second release of a MMORPG following their successful and very well produced Dark Age of Camelot. However this time around instead of playing the role of developer and publisher, Mythic has been gobbled up by EA Games to produce the title.
When the it was announced that EA Games acquired Mythic and would be publishing WAR, the MMORPG community immediately let their protest be heard. Then again, why shouldn’t the community fear for the future of WAR? EA’s track record with PC Gamers is tarnished past the point of repair, and why should this be any different? EA games are notorious for being buggy, unfinished, scrap heaps of games upon release. Combine EA’s track record with the fact that MMORPGs suffer from severe balance issues, bugs, and a myriad of other problems at release, and perhaps the worry will start to make more sense. (more…)
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Blogged in Games, Internet by Matt on Monday October 2, 2006
After playing various games with friends over Hamachi, I’ve decided to start a Ruined My Life Hamachi Network. As of now the network mostly consists of personal friends, however I’d love to expand it to have a large number of users to play various games, share files, and what not. Current games actively being played are as follows: Company of Heroes, Combat Flight Simulator 3, Silent Hunter 3, Dawn of War, and Wings over Europe, however this list is anything but conclusive. If you have a game you want to play join the Hamachi Network, and ask around!
Network Name: Ruined My Life
Password: ruined
Popularity: 88% [?]
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Blogged in MMORPGs, Games by Matt on Friday June 2, 2006
In mid and late 2004 the buzz started building around a MMORPG that promised to bring MMORPG game play and elements to players without a monthly subscription fee. Lofty goals and claims for a starter company, however some of these starters were lead programmers and designers from the brain trust known as Blizzard. This ambitious title is none other then Guild Wars by ArenaNet.
The beautiful graphics of Guild Wars, plenty of Blooming and Blurring to go around!
Guild Wars was billed to be a MMORPG that featured all the consistent updates and content additions as “traditional MMORPGs” all while managing to keep a more casual approach to MMORPGs without the cost of a monthly fee. Did ArenaNet deliver on their promise of making Guild Wars play and feel like a subscription based MMORPG? Depending on the elements you’d like to look at, the idea of Guild Wars being a subscriptionless MMOPRG can vary greatly.
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Popularity: 38% [?]
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