Safety's Off

The original Lost Planet was a game that resonated with a very core group of players, all of which loved the epic gameplay and strong multiplayer options. Unfortunately, I was never one of the Lost Planet fanatics, but now, with the interesting footage being leaked week after week, my curiosity has been sufficiently piqued. Lost Planet 2 looks like a stellar game, and hopefully Modern Warfare 2 doesn’t completely overshadow what looks like a very promising sequel.

Are you a Facebook nut? Unsatisfied with the lackluster video game applications available on the popular social networking site? Raptr is the solution, and no I’m not spelling that wrong. Raptr is a new Facebook-like service that enables gamers around the world to connect with each other on a unified networking system that spans across multiple gaming platforms. Currently, the service is in beta form, but the site is looking sharp, sporting an impressive feature set that allows you to publish or track your gaming stats with ease. Some of my favorite features include the time logs, which let the world (and yourself) know just how much time you spend playing Resident Evil 5 or Left 4 Dead. Interested? Read on.

Some of the more impressive, Facebook-like features stem from the compatibility systems in place, which attempt to pair you up with other gamers who have similar tastes in games. Each individual profile is rated relative to you, taking into account things like achievement scores and games, which gives the service a unique twist that other wannabe gamer networks have failed to really implement. Daily updates and constant status changes make the process mostly automated and painless, which adds to the appeal of Raptr. A lot of this stems from the intuitive interface, which feels like Facebook’s user-friendly environment and behaves like it as well. That’s a compliment, by the way.

The Raptr profile page.

Tying the whole thing together is the well-designed Raptr client, which is a free download that automatically scans your computer for installed games to upload to your profile. Again, the automated process keeps things insanely easy, and building your profile takes all of about 10 minutes of your free time. The downloadable program also acts as a friends list, and if you’re familiar with Xfire, Raptr is about what you’d expect. Although I’m not exactly sure if there is support for joining PC games via the client (although if there isn’t already, there should be in the future), there are free games available in the “Arcade” tab. Raptr also keeps all your games in one organized place, and are only a click away. Rather than hunt down your .exe for WoW, you can simply have Raptr load on startup, then boot it up straight from the client. The whole process is something that most other clients haven’t done with this level of simplicity and effectiveness. The stats aspect is also carried into Raptr, displaying useful information on the games you own, such as how many players are currently enjoying CS: Source (that use the Raptr client anyways) and what the usernames of those players are. Perhaps one of the best features of the client however, is the built-in file downloader, which claims to automatically download the latest patches and files that you request it to. In addition to that, there’s the obvious inclusion of an instant messaging system across the client users, which is just the cherry on top.

That being said, there are a few issues I take up with Raptr, most of them stemming with the site’s lack of design options. The customization is there, but it’s not entirely fleshed out yet. There are a few themes (which will probably get more plentiful as the service works out of beta) and simply not enough gadgets to add to your profile. The Xbox LIVE gamercard and other standard assorted goodies are included, but there is a ton of potential in this area. Should Raptr implement an online database similar to the gadget database on Google’s Blogger service or Apple’s App Store, Raptr could explode onto the networking scene with full force. Open up the API to allow developers to design their own gadgets to add to users’ profiles, and suddenly you have a never-ending site functionality that allows individual customization without the ugly side effects of clutter and slowdown. Fundamentally, however, Raptr is incredibly solid for how early it is in its lifecycle, and the feature set only looks to continue building.

This would all be a humongous waste of time if the site was ugly, and fortunately, Raptr is anything but. The design team has done a fantastic job of creating an original layout that is both intuitive and pretty, which makes navigation fun and stress-free. Although it takes awhile to fully learn the site, discovering the little nooks and crannies is rewarding in and of itself. Just recently I was thinking about how Raptr needed to implement Twitter or Facebook support, and through a little exploration, I discovered these exact features in the account settings page under the “sharing” tab. Things like this make users understand the face value of the page while at the same time providing “depth” for the user to explore. Essentially, the service is like a good, accessible video game: easy enough to learn and explore, but deep enough to “master” and understand. Raptr is a smartly designed site with enough functionality on the surface to entice new users, yet enough features to keep them.

In its current beta stage, Raptr is shaping up to be a stellar networking service. To have discovered it relatively early has been a treat for me, and the only real problem is that not enough gamers use it yet so it’s hard to use the clever networking features available. I highly recommend at least registering for the site and giving the features a go, because once you realize the potential Raptr has, you’ll begin to spread the word just as I have. Give it a look, and be sure to add me as a friend!

-Adriaan Noordzij

In case you haven’t heard the news, Capcom’s latest installment in the Street Fighter franchise is getting an interesting update tomorrow. Championship mode releases for both PS3 and Xbox 360 tomorrow, bringing an all-new set of features to the online realm of Street Fighter IV. Prepare for replays (downloadable on the 360, “vote-able” on the PS3) as well as the new Championship mode setup, which allows players to compete in tournaments around the globe. Players will be awarded GP for their performance in tournaments, as well as other incentives that we’ll all have to discover tomorrow. The update is free on both the PSN and Xbox Live.

 Click to make big.

In case you didn’t read the title (and shame on you!) Left 4 Dead’s free Survival Pack DLC is available now, adding a hefty amount of gameplay to Valve’s frantic co-op zombie shooter. The pack includes two new Versus maps, which are the maps seen in the campaign mode of the game that needed some extra balancing before they could be used for Versus, as well as the brand spankin’ new Survival mode (along with Last Stand, a lighthouse map designed specifically for Survival). Survival mode is, in a word, insane. The already fast-paced style of gameplay in Left 4 Dead’s other modes is ratcheted up considerably in Survival mode, often times throwing multiple hordes of zombies at you all while Tanks and other special infected rip you and your teammates to shreds. Survival allows you infinite time to build up a game plan, and provides ample amounts of ammo, medkits, and best of all, propane and fuel tanks. After you’ve elaborately planted your impromptu explosives, you can trigger the horde and fend them off as long as you can. Good luck with that part, because Survival mode usually wipes every human out in less than ten minutes. Think you’re hardcore? Just wait until you’ve got one Tank after the other bursting through the walls while three or four hordes of zombies are smothering you.

What’s even nicer is that Survival mode adds a unified Leaderboard, allowing you to pit your best times against others. Judging by some of the scores I’ve seen so far, there are some insanely skilled L4D players, with some of the scores ranging past the 15 minute mark. On the negative side of the Survival Pack DLC, there are no new achievements to provide that extra bit of incentive for getting a gold medal. Aside from that, the Survival Pack is a great extender to your Left 4 Dead playtime. Plus, it’s free. Get to downloadin’!

Ever since Pong became one of the first mainstream video games to hit the market, gaming has been viewed as the preferred pastime of social outcasts, nerds, and undesirables. The mainstream media never really began to embrace video games until the last generation of consoles, when things like online gaming became overwhelmingly popular. Suddenly, gaming possessed a previously unseen social aspect, one that even the mainstream struggled to deny. Gamers have long considered themselves social creatures, whether it’s amongst themselves or over the internet with other like-minded players, but never has society fully accepted them as “normal”. Even today, gamers suffer from instances of social discrimination, and although there are some that take their hobby to an obsessive, unhealthy level, it’s worth mentioning that in this day and age, gaming isn’t just for socially awkward males who live in their mom’s basement.

When did this paradigm shift occur? It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment at which the gaming industry became culturally accepted by both mainstream society and the media. While games are rapidly growing in popularity and the industry has reached astronomical levels of commercial success, the respect for video games has never really followed suit. Ignorance of gaming as an entertainment medium has lead to incidences such as the FOX News Mass Effect “scandal,” in which FOX abruptly cut Geoff Keighley’s respectful explanation of the sex scene in Mass Effect on live television. While these occurrences are becoming increasingly rare, gaming has faced such incredible opposition in its induction as an “official” entertainment medium it’s miraculous we still have M-rated games and online gaming. The disrespect for gamers has been absurd, and it’s refreshing to finally see a change of pace in both the maturation of the industry as a whole, as well as the expansion of people who like playing video games.

Part of the reason more and more people are jumping on the video game bandwagon today is almost entirely due to the handsomer face of gaming. As unfortunate as it may be, America is materialistically obsessed with its pastimes’ appearances, and until recently, gaming has always been viewed as an “ugly” hobby. Today, however, game designers and gamers alike are disproving the stereotypical gamer’s appearance. People like Cliff Bleszinski of Epic Games are exhibiting their extroverted personalities in public events, something that the majority of people thought to be unlikely given the “typical” personalities of people like programmers and graphic artists. Hell, even Tim Sweeney gets up in front of a crowd of eager games journalists to discuss the exciting new features of their latest gaming engine. Some people have a hard enough time stepping in front of their English class to deliver a 5 minute presentation.

Cliff Bleszinski chainsaws Major Nelson. Oh noes!

In addition, gaming is beginning to receive ample representation through television, whether it’s through ads or the popular Sci-Fi special WCG: Ultimate Gamer. Either way, gaming is getting positive exposure, and it only benefits gamers in general. Another part of the wider adoption of gaming is also due to the wider audiences that games are catering to. Nearly every Wii game targets the mainstream “non-gamer” and even then the console acts as a kind of gateway drug for newcomers to get hooked on and discover the other things that gaming has to offer. Girl gamers are becoming more prominent, the average age of a typical gamer is on the rise, and the industry as a whole is maturing to a point that is beginning to rival that of the mammoth movie industry.

That being said, some consider the gaming industry to be taking itself too seriously. For a business that is centered around aliens getting pulverized by space marines and spiky-haired, sexually-ambiguous characters taking turns slashing each other, some find the analysts and critics to be a bit too much. The mere fact that some consider game design to be an art form is enough for some to immediately discredit the entire practice without a moment’s hesitation. Roger Ebert, an esteemed movie critic, has gone on record saying that video games aren’t art, even with sophisticated games such as Bioshock on store shelves. While there are still a number of trigger-happy, shoot-this-because-it’s-ugly narratives in games, the medium’s story-telling has increased in quality exponentially since the days of Donkey Kong. Morals, underlying metaphors, and other advanced literary devices are making their way into games, and to deny that the artistic styles of certain games is art is unbelievably ignorant.

Who says games aren’t art?

As the video game industry matures, so do its supporters and participants. Gamers today are different than the gamers of five or ten years ago, and things are only looking up. With each bold new step gaming takes towards earning its stripes as a legitimate entertainment medium in the eyes of the mainstream, gamers can begin to proudly admit their favorite hobby and the time they put into it. Whether it’s a new graphical leap, innovations in presentation, or even a new way of immersing the player in an interactive experience, gaming is constantly raising the bar for entertainment. It’s been a long haul, but we’re finally there. Here’s to the fantastic men and women who made my favorite pastime into a legitimate form of entertainment that I can constantly learn from and admire. Hell, I can even make a living out of it!

-Adriaan Noordzij

Do I even need to say anything? It looks fantastic, the battle system is intriguing, and the cinematics are gorgeous. What are you waiting for! Watch!

You read that right. Rumors are swirling around that Microsoft’s new Zune PMP will feature a touch-screen and better XNA support. Ever since a few pictures from an anonymous “tipster” were sent to Engadget, people have been speculating on whether or not Microsoft is readying a media player to rival Apple’s iPod Touch. While it remains to be seen what the “HD” phrase even stands for, or if there will be any touch-screen action involved, the pictures say a thousand words. The sleek design is sure to catch eyes of those who have ignored Zunes in the past, and if Microsoft can maintain it’s superior software and user-interface it’s stuck with in the past (with a few noteworthy improvements of course) we could be looking at the device that tips the scales in favor of Microsoft a bit. Think about the possibilities for the XNA games that the Zune utilizes as well. With a touch interface and strong XNA software integration, your favorite Community Games could go portable! Here’s to hoping that Microsoft takes advantage of the synergy present between its numerous development platforms and delivers something truly special with the hopefully-not-just-a-rumor Zune HD.

Not to speculate or anything but, *ahem* maybe that new Halo mobile project will start here?

 Click to enhance awesomeness.

via [Engadget]

Don’t you just love when a developer commentary points out all the flaws of the last game in the series and then says: “Hey! Look! We’ve fixed all that!”? I know I do. Fight Night Round 3 was a fantastic game, and Fight Night Round 4 is looking like it’ll follow suit with all-new immersive physics and graphics. My favorite? Dynamic blood splatters. Sign me up.

Is DLC a good or a bad thing? That depends on who you ask. While some might love the fact that their favorite games can be expanded through a simple download, others see the practice of releasing new modes and maps as an excuse for leaving content out of the retail copy. While DLC certainly is a double-edged sword, a lot of the content that developers release is met with unadulterated scorn and hatred. While there are a number of content add-ons that fully deserve this treatment, it’s unfortunate to see worthwhile paid DLC receive backlash from angry gamers.

Some noteworthy offenders of the DLC system are fairly well-known, such as the infamous Horse Armor download for Oblivion back when the Xbox 360 was first gaining traction with the DLC model. Everyone can agree that paying a few bucks for completely worthless skins for something that most people don’t even use (who rode horses in Oblivion when you had every location unlocked anyways?) is a complete waste of money, and such downloads are picketed by gamers’ wallets. Accordingly, many developers have been wary of the DLC model, worried that if they offer new content for their games, their reputation will be tarnished by the gaming press and forum-dwellers who pick apart any new content that hits the virtual marketplace. Not only that, but sometimes DLC goes too far, offering unfair benefits to players who plunk down the extra cash. While it hasn’t been done yet (the recent Prince of Persia DLC isn’t quite that extreme), some also speculate that eventually DLC will become such a nickel and diming process that we’ll be forced to purchase and download the final level in our favorite games. It’s extreme, but a possibility nonetheless. Gamers who oppose DLC also point to the opportunities it offers for developers to slack off, omitting certain aspects of a game that could very well have been included in the retail copy. Patches slip into this pitfall as well, allowing developers an opportunity to rush their titles out the door and fix the bugs after the mass audience has logged hundreds of hours of playtime and effectively beta-tested the final copy. Again, however, incidents of this type of misconduct have been few and far between, and do a few bad apples really ruin the bunch?

Bad DLC.

I say nay (see what I did there?). DLC may have a dark side, but the potential it adds to games is undeniable. Singleplayer games are no longer completely finished after you’ve slain the final boss. Multiplayer modes find expansion in downloadable map packs and modes. The pros of DLC far outweigh the cons. Many gamers take up arms when new DLC is announced for a fee, arguing that they already spent their hard-earned cash on the $60 game a few months ago. A valid point, but in the end, not very realistic. While there are some exceptions, DLC costs quite a bit of money and time to make, and the sooner gamers accept the video game industry is a business and not a charity, the sooner we will see more developers taking the extra effort to expand their hit titles. One of the most common examples I get in response to that argument is: “Every developer should take a page out of Valve’s book, they release everything for free.” Keep in mind however, that Valve owns the Steam platform, and makes money off of every game that they host on their servers. That means that Valve is making money off its own games, as well as other developers’ games, effectively giving them a continuous revenue stream all year round. Other, smaller developers don’t quite have that luxury, relying on commercial, brick-and-mortar sales of their products. It costs more money to print out thousands of discs than it does to load a game on a server somewhere. Although Valve deserves its recognition of being a developer for the people, it’s also important to not throw the blinders on and ignore the business logistics involved. If that means paying for my new content, I’ll gladly pony up the extra $10 to get some extra playtime out of my favorite games. One of the best examples of DLC is Harmonix’s Rock Band 2 platform, which offers up new songs weekly for a measly $2 a pop. It’s hard to argue that playing the same songs over and over again doesn’t get boring, and Harmonix almost single-handedly proves with its DLC business model that a company can put in a little extra effort and be rewarded while satisfying the general public. Everyone’s happy. Yet, when Resident Evil 5 receives a Versus mode DLC that was priced at $5, the world explodes. What a strange world we live in.

Good DLC.

If you don’t like DLC, you don’t have to buy it. The age old argument has its shortcomings, but it’s hard to deny that it’s true. Gamers that don’t want the extra playtime aren’t being forced to read about the DLC, buy the DLC, or even think about the DLC, so why complain? Perfectly satisfied with the stock Call of Duty 4 maps? I’m sure that you didn’t drop $10 on the Variety Map Pack, and you felt damn good about it didn’t you? Yet, others like myself decided that the retail maps were growing a bit stale, and DLC with the phrase “variety” didn’t sound half bad. Halo 3 is another example of the “don’t want, don’t buy” mantra, offering new playlists for the ones who want to play the new maps while still offering a hefty amount of options for those who opted to hold onto their cash. DLC is only as evil as developers and gamers make it out to be, and so far, it’s mostly the gamers that are giving it a bad rep. If you would rather kill every single NPC in Oblivion with your time than spend money on an all-new expansion pack (Shivering Isles), then that’s your thing. I, on the other hand, will support the developers that took the time and money to extend a game that I found truly special, and that’s the beauty of DLC.

Seacrest out.

- Adriaan Noordzij

While there is no official MOTD yet, there will be tonight at 12:30 AM PST, when GameTrailers TV reveals for the first time footage of Bioshock 2. Are you excited? You better be. The footage will be bringing the new “Big Sister” into the spotlight, as well as showcasing the graphics and any other cool secrets 2K Marin has in store for us. Here’s to hoping that Bioshock 2 will live up to the hype and precedent set by its predecessor.

Check out the promo show if you absolutely cannot wait to see this stuff. I’ll be posting an embed code as soon as is available.

UPDATE: The footage leaked early! Check it out:

Just when you thought you weren’t going to get a MOTD, BAM! Right there. This is one of the funniest videos I’ve seen from Black20, who does some great web videos. If Jim Henson had made a Resident Evil 5 movie featuring muppets, I’m positive that this would be the awesome (read: horrific) outcome. Enjoy!

In light of the recently released RE5 Versus mode, it’s time for a little footage to accompany the writing. Still on the fence even after reading the review? Watch the videos and head on over to IGN.com’s video page for more zombie/human killing action.

For the past few weeks, the announcement of Resident Evil 5’s Versus DLC has created a sharp divide between gamers. Some screamed “scam” while others defended Capcom for expanding the game. Now that the DLC is finally upon us, which group was “right” in their assumptions? The claim that the game was a $5 unlock code is unfounded and incorrect, as the DLC clocks in at about 1.86MB. While this isn’t a huge file by any means, it’s important to understand that much of the assets Versus uses were already on the disc. This does not mean Versus itself was on the disc. The $5 you pay for Versus adds a bit of code (1.86MB’s worth) that includes a new menu item, an intro screen, Leaderboards info, a new lobby, and that’s about it.. Everything else can be accessed from other aspects of RE5, with Mercenaries being one of the primary sources of in-game assets. To the uninformed, this makes it seem that the game included Versus to begin with, but in reality Capcom was simply resourceful with its implementation of this particular DLC. With that clarification out of the way, let’s touch upon the mode itself.

While a competitive online multiplayer mode for a Resident Evil game sounds like a disaster, it’s not as bad as you might think. The stop and shoot gameplay is very much intact here, but there are a few safeguards in place to ensure that once one guy gets the first shot, you’re not repeatedly stumbling from the damage you’re taking. You will continuously take damage, but you won’t stumble like you do when hit by a Majini. During the time you’re stunned, your assailant can either punch you in the face, or you can recover, run away, and try to get a bead on your opponent from another angle. Close combat is, as just about everyone expected, pretty awkward. In order to play the Team Survivors mode (which has players fighting against each other directly), you really need to ignore all the things you do in other multiplayer modes, and not go running in guns blazing. Hunt or be hunted is the name of the game here, and whoever has the better shot will usually come out on top. One of the more interesting aspects of Versus is that powerful weapons are scattered throughout the levels (all of which are the same as the Mercenaries modes) and are designed to give you a leg up on the competition. What’s important to note about Team Survivors is that it’s not all about killing the opposition. Hitting an opponent racks up points, whether or not your opponent stumbles from the hit. So while the damage and stumble are applied to ensure that you’re not just shooting each other for hours on end, the more important task at hand is dealing damage with different weapons for points. Survivors is a battle royale consisting of up to 4 players facing off against each other much the same way as they do in Team Survivors. Is it fun? Yes, but it has its flaws. One on one battles tend to be a bit awkward, usually involving one party running away for what seems like forever, followed closely by the other player until a Majini interferes. Also, like I mentioned, shooting each other at close range can be a bit obnoxious, but overall, the gametype works really well. This is mainly due to the addition of the Majini while fighting other players. Honestly, this is the game’s saving grace. Without the random Majini mixing things up and distracting players, Team Survivors could have been a real disaster.

Then there’s the Mercenaries spin-off, Slayers, which comes in both team and free-for-all flavors. If you like Mercs, you’ll love this one. Slayers has two teams (or you and a single opponent) competing against each other for more kills in what is essentially Team Mercenaries. There is a twist however, in that you can damage your opponents to distract them, which adds considerably to the intensity. This mode will surely be a hit with the Mercenaries crowd, provided they plunk down the extra $5 to get it.

As it stands, Versus is a blast if you can accept it for what it is. It’s not the next Call of Duty 4 in terms of multiplayer components, nor is it even close, but it provides a fun and exhilarating new gameplay style that should greatly extend your play time with Resident Evil 5. Personally, I enjoyed Team Slayers a little more than Survivors, but both gametypes are definitely worth your $5. Plus, the music is just badass. Let’s hope that this isn’t the last DLC Resident Evil 5 receives.

The Verdict: Although a little awkward at times, Versus is well-worth the asking price. Plus, new achievements!

This is fairly old news, but as of right now, the 360 version of RE5 has just received its new achievement set related to the Versus mode DLC. You can take a look at the new achievements on the dashboard or visit Xbox360Achievements.org to see details and pretty pictures. Come back tomorrow to see whether or not Versus is worth your 400 Microsoft points or not.

While Assassin’s Creed 1 wasn’t what everyone expected, it was still a decent game, if a bit repetitive. Ubisoft has been working on this one for some time now, and gamers are hoping that all the feedback they’ve provided in the last year or so will work towards making the sequel to the free-running original a much greater success than its predecessor. Check out the teaser, and make judgments for yourself.

I don't know what it was about Fallout 3, but nearly everything about the game turned me off. Ugly environments, disgusting animations, and some of the most mind-numbingly boring combat I've ever experienced made my time with the game headache-inducing. While the scope of Fallout 3 is admirable, ultimately, it ends up hurting the game. Such wonderful features as repetitive scenery,  game-killing bugs, and a whole lot of frustration with the “survival” aspect that Bethesda implemented had me wondering what all the fuss was about. While Fallout 3 isn’t bad, there is far too much credit being given to what is undoubtedly an overrated game.

The analogy that Fallout 3 is essentially “Oblivion with guns” is true to an extent, considering that F3 uses the same engine that Oblivion ran on in 2006. Back then however, the Oblivion engine was revolutionary in its own right, delivering gorgeous environments that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Due to the recent release of home consoles, the lackluster animations and occasionally muddy textures were forgiven in favor of the impressive environments for the time. Fallout 3 attempts to emulate that same awe-inspiring feat with its expansive wasteland, but despite having an improved frame rate and some higher-resolution textures, the engine isn’t capable of being as graphically stunning as it once was. Whether or not this is due to the difference in environmental objectives, or just the effect of technology becoming obsolete at its insanely fast-paced rate doesn’t really matter, especially when we’ve seen other open-world games do graphics so much better. GTA IV managed to render a near replica of New York City with relative ease, and that game was much more populated with NPCs than Fallout 3 is. Either Bethesda got lazy and decided to work off of its existing accomplishments, or they felt that the wasteland environment was respectably suited for the Oblivion engine. That’s not the point, though. What does matter is that Fallout 3 is not a game that looks or feels like a next-gen game, which brings me to another interesting point.

You better like a whole lot of gray and brown. 

When classifying Fallout 3, it’s hard to really shoehorn the game into a single genre. Is it an FPS? An RPG? Fallout 3 is frequently described as being a hybrid of both genres, but it isn’t a fantastic or even great game in either of them. As an FPS, Fallout 3 is clunky, ugly, and anything but action-packed or tactical. The VATS system is pretty cool, but unfortunately it becomes a “search and destroy” tool for players as they roam the wasteland, mindlessly tapping RB to get the jump on any upcoming enemies. As an RPG, the game fares a bit better, but the clunky inventory management and limited level system make the player feel like he/she is being denied the right to become a certified badass. As a matter of fact, for the first few hours, Fallout 3 keeps you on a very tight leash. Despite the Capital Wasteland’s expansive look and the game’s inherent desire for you to explore every nook and cranny that it has to offer, you can’t even dream of reaching a new area without being decimated by Super Mutants. It’s not that Fallout 3 is a hard game (although it’s not easy either) it just suffers from mixed signals. The game seemingly encourages you to get out in the wasteland and explore, but then decides to make you throw your controller in frustration as you waste every round you’ve just managed to scavenge into the obnoxious baddies scattered throughout the world.

Yawn.

This is one of the reasons why the presentation of Fallout 3 is so hit and miss. While the story is truly original and interesting, there are so many gameplay elements that serve to hinder that strength. For the first 5 or so hours (purely story-wise), you are following your dad from city to city, only to find that he’s moved on to somewhere you’ve either already been or a city that seems to be miles away. Bethesda intends for this element to increase the suspense and anticipation of finally finding your dad (whom Liam Neeson voices wonderfully I might add) but it only makes the experience feel contrived and forced. Rather than getting a new hint at every city, it would’ve been much more beneficial to have sprinkled these events much farther apart throughout the course of the story. What this results in is a fantastic concept dumbed down to make it painfully apparent what your next step needs to be. While a sense of direction and progress in an open-world, story-driven game is critical, it should be more of a nudge than a shove.

More than anything, Fallout 3 is a game that suffers from an identity crisis. While it alienates the hardcore Fallout fans for its sharp departure from typical Fallout games, it also attempts to appeal to those who enjoyed Oblivion. Some of those players might be enjoying the game right now, but many others who found Oblivion to be an engrossing game with a world that you could lose yourself for hours in have already tried their hand at Fallout 3 and moved on. Is Fallout 3 a disaster? Not by any means. Is it deserving of all the GOTY awards it received last year? Not by a long shot.

-Adriaan Noordzij

Hate this article? Couldn’t agree more? Feel free to leave a comment!

I have to admit, Epic Games knows how to make an engine look phenomenal. While it takes some decent hardware and isn’t the most efficient engine out there, it’s still worth mentioning that the engine has been making strides towards optimization and continues to push the envelope with its gorgeous looks. This new trailer, shown at GDC ‘09, showcases some of the cool new features that Epic is working on. Even though I haven’t had any real experience with the UE3 editor, the content browser shown in the trailer looks pretty handy, and the mod-making community will surely appreciate the database of sprites, textures, and models to use for their own custom creations.

In addition to some of the absolutely awesome articles you’ll find on Safety’s Off, you’ll all be treated to a video or picture of the day, every weekday until the interwebz go down. Starting with Halo (All I Play-Oh) you can expect to see cool, funny, or even just downright weird gaming-related media once a day here on SO. While you bite your fingernails in anticipation of tomorrow’s super sexy picture or video, take a look at the cleverly written Halo (All I Play-Oh), a parody of the Red Hot Chili Peppers hit song, Snow (Hey Oh). Enjoy!

- Adriaan Noordzij

The fact that the guy in the background can even keep a decent rhythm of Snow is pretty awesome in and of itself. Take a look for yourself, it’s pretty funny, especially if you listen to the lyrics. Might as well

- via IGN

We’ve all seen it happen before. Whether a game is destined to tank, or if the money well just runs dry, sometimes interesting games are lost at the hands of the video game gods. This generation, we’ve seen a few games that were announced early on, but were either canceled, or have slipped into the shadows for years with little to no mention of progress in development. Not to mention the fact that there are several games still waiting to either be finished with a true sequel, or some franchises that are basically screaming for a new installment. To keep things fairly manageable, let’s take a look at some of this generation of gaming’s MIAs.

Frame City Killer

Remember this one? You know, the Namco-developed open world shooter? It wouldn’t come as a shock if you don’t. Frame City Killer generated quite a bit of hype during its time in development, mostly because it appeared to fill the absence of any next-gen Grand Theft Auto at the time. While the game featured some fancy graphics and lighting, some of the concepts looked a bit shoddy, and it’s understandable that some internal testing might have made it painfully apparent that the game just wasn’t going to be a hit with the mainstream. While no one will ever know what Frame City Killer would’ve been like, it’s a safe bet (especially after watching this trailer from 2005) that Namco probably made the right choice in pulling the plug.

Oh sweet Jesus that’s ugly.

Splinter Cell: Conviction

Ubisoft got a lot of flak after announcing that its newest rendition in the Splinter Cell franchise was going to take an even more drastic turn away from its stealthy roots. Myself included, many Splinter Cell fans felt that the departure from the classic Splinter Cell gameplay in Double Agent was borderline blasphemy, yet not quite crossing the line. Sam Fisher as a hobo was that final straw. Fighting police officers in broad daylight also wasn’t something that fans were thrilled with. While the reinvention of the gameplay to keep the things fresh and new was admirable, Splinter Cell never really got old to begin with. I know I speak for a number of people when I say that it’s about damn time for another classic Splinter Cell to hit current-gen consoles, iconic NVGs and all. Fortunately, Ubisoft announced that it plans on doing just that. Can I get a collective “hell yes?”

We’re still waiting, Sam.

Huxley

This is one of those games that got me really psyched for the next-generation of consoles back in 2004. The mere prospect of a MMOFPS with stunning graphics (powered by the Unreal Engine 3, no less) was something that really blew me away, especially since the only thing I had ever really seen that was relatively close was the inspired, but flawed PlanetSide. Huxley’s developer had a lot to say on the game at the numerous conventions, until one day, it just disappeared. Murmurs throughout the industry are pointing to this year’s E3 for more info regarding the game, but until then, mum’s the word on this promising MMOFPS. I know I’m excited to see what WebZen is up to, but you owe it to yourself to check this one out (video was released 2006).

Definitely an UE3 game.

GRAW 3

It’s a little strange that Ubisoft has been keeping quiet on its bigger franchise while working on building new IPs such as H.A.W.X. and EndWar. While both games were decent, they never came close to reaching the popularity and success of the GRAW franchise. Both GRAW 1 and 2 were phenomenal games, pushing consoles with gorgeous graphics and refined gameplay, and it’s puzzling to understand why we haven’t seen ANYTHING regarding GRAW 3. After such a cliffhanger ending in GRAW 2, you’d think that Ubisoft would’ve been working on the sequel right off the bat, but it seems their attention has been directed elsewhere. Perhaps we’ll see some sort of official announcement at E3 ‘09?

C’mon Ubi, keep this one going!

- Adriaan Noordzij

Is there a game we missed? Got something to say? Leave a comment in the section below!

Aaron Miller, a.k.a hallower1980, has graciously donated his talents and posts to Safety’s Off. You can expect to see great quality posts from Aaron, which will all be credited both to his personal website and stored on Safety’s Off. You can check out Aaron’s website, and follow him on Twitter. Thanks for your support Aaron!