The song is Globus - Save Me. I accidently felt.
Trailer
Thứ Năm, 15 tháng 11, 2012
This Team Fortress 2 Saxxy Entry will make you feel
The song is Globus - Save Me. I accidently felt.
Trailer
Guild Wars 2 'Fractals of the Mist' dungeon unveiled
Tomorrow, Guild Wars 2 will experience The Lost Shores, the second update for ArenaNet's MMORPG that will "forever change the world" of Tyria. The update, which goes live tomorrow, introduces a slew of new features and a one-time only, multi-stage event.
Although the event is a mystery, ArenaNet is slowly revealing details about the "mini-expansion". Some of the new features include a new Ascended rarity type, Infusion upgrades, and a new monster called Agony who is found in the upcoming Fractals of the Mists dungeon. What's Fractals of the Mist you ask?
Up until now all we've known is that its a new dungeon, but today ArenaNet released the first details about the dungeon and how it will work. According to ArenaNet, it's "unlike anything you've played in Guild Wars 2."
Fractals of the Mist is comprised of nine mini-dungeons, called fractals, each offering a "distinct, separate experience with themes, mechanics, and art specific to that fractal." However, you'll only need to clear three of the fractals, which are chosen at random, for each run. Every other round, before returning to the Mistlock Observatory safe haven, you'll be faced with a bonus "boss fractal" similar to what you'd encounter with Tryia's world bosses.
Despite being intended to challenge level 80 players, the dungeon is designed to accommodate parties of any level. Additionally, to make things more challenging, the dungeon scales up in difficulty. Fractals of the Mist will remember your progress, and will poll the party's levels when you enter, scaling the dungeon to the "highest common attained level."
Your efforts will not go unrecognized, though. The higher the dungeon scales, the more rewarding the loot. At a certain point, you'll need to make use of the newly added Ascended items and Infusions to survive.
Over 1 million Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 units sold during GameStop midnight launch
Although we still don't have the official sales numbers, GameStop president Tony Bartel revealed that the retailer sold more than 1 million units worldwide during the midnight launch period.
"Black Ops 2 is shaping up to be our biggest game launch of all time," Bartel followed up. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise given that Black Ops 2 saw the highest pre-orders in GameStop history.
We're probably still a few days from Activision releasing sales numbers, but earlier this week the company said it was well on its way to a "historic launch."
LEGO The Lord of the Rings demo discs are the actual game
The publisher issued a statement after a number of game boxes were found with a disc marked "demo" inside.
WBIE said this error only affects certain shipments to Walmart, Target, and Toys ‘R’ Us, which it's recalling from the retailers. The mix-up doesn't apply to any other version of the game.
"Consumers who purchased a copy of the Xbox 360 version of the game with the disc labeling error can contact customer support via email at support@wbgames.com or phone at 410-568-3680 for a replacement disc," the statement read.
The goof does make you wonder how these things happen in the first place.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings released yesterday for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Wii and on October 30 for PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, and DS.
Overview Reviews News GZ Originals Screenshots Downloads Cheats Discussions News about 10 hours Ago Rockstar on releasing GTA 5 this console generation: 'We're a content company, not a hardware company'
Of course, there are definitely a few individuals wondering why the publisher didn't just start developing the game for the next generation of hardware. While it would be very easy for Rockstar to wait out the rest of the current console cycle and release its open world crime game on the next Xbox and PlayStation platforms, that isn't exactly the company's style.
"Rockstar is a content company, not a hardware company," explained Rockstar President Sam Houser. "We use the technology we have to create content, and we try not to let ourselves get beholden to the hardware. The fact that hardware's so mature right now is exactly why we're able to go on to the next level."
According to Houser, Rockstar has been able to really use the current technology to its full advantage to deliver a game of the utmost quality. "GTA 4 was our first attempt at a new platform and HD visuals, so the first part of development was seriously difficult," he said. "Now we know what the hardware's capable of, so it's become a lot easier to move things along and a lot more fun, too. GTA: San Andreas came out at the peak of the PlayStation 2's cycle, and we put out a really good game thanks to that."
San Andreas really was the biggest Grand Theft Auto game of its console generation. Houser's comparison between that classic and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 5 is sure to get fans even more stoked for the game. Rockstar has already stated that this will be its biggest entry in the franchise yet, and after watching the latest trailer, it's hard to argue with the fact that it certainly has the potential to be exactly that.
Assassin's Creed 3 for PC to be less buggy
The PC version of Assassin's Creed 3 will contain fewer bugs than its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 counterparts, promises Ubisoft.
A second patch (the first released on day one) is in development and will eliminate problems on all versions — from disappearing enemies to floating muskets and a host of others Ubisoft fixed at launch. The PC version will include any patches made from now until its launch and has a special patch to help it run as smoothly as possible.
"We've added extra DX11 support for the PC version," said Assassin's Creed 3 community manager Gabe Graziani in a developer Q&A on Reddit, "so you'll notice some significant increases in texture resolution (double-res in most cases, but quadruple in some), tessell"ation (which is like, the new DX11 hotness), and some other shader improvements that will have an impact, but aren't all that sexy to enumerate in a Reddit post, hehe."
The upcoming patch will be detailed in the next week or so and feature one fan-requested change — for Connor's hood to be raised post-game.
A second patch (the first released on day one) is in development and will eliminate problems on all versions — from disappearing enemies to floating muskets and a host of others Ubisoft fixed at launch. The PC version will include any patches made from now until its launch and has a special patch to help it run as smoothly as possible.
"We've added extra DX11 support for the PC version," said Assassin's Creed 3 community manager Gabe Graziani in a developer Q&A on Reddit, "so you'll notice some significant increases in texture resolution (double-res in most cases, but quadruple in some), tessell"ation (which is like, the new DX11 hotness), and some other shader improvements that will have an impact, but aren't all that sexy to enumerate in a Reddit post, hehe."
The upcoming patch will be detailed in the next week or so and feature one fan-requested change — for Connor's hood to be raised post-game.
How Call of Duty: Black Ops II succeeds where Medal of Honor: Warfighter fails
Originals
And here we go. This is probably going to be one of those articles
where the Electronic Arts fanboys come flying out and explaining how
their game is superior and Call of Duty is a lump of shit. But after
playing both games thoroughly, I can honestly say that Call of Duty:
Black Ops II, despite being an "umpteenth sequel" from the likes of
Activision, is a better experience overall than EA's Medal of Honor:
Warfighter.
And influence has nothing to do with this. Yes, Activision did fly out a select few journalists to play the game beforehand, but the fact of the matter is I could've been sitting in the middle of a cold hotel in Hoboken with a 32" display and would've come up with the same verdict. It's all about the game you play, not the surroundings that Activision went all out for – though I am appreciative for being selected, don't get me wrong.
I've chosen to break down each game, category by category, to explain the differences between the two titles, and where I think Warfighter went wrong in a certain kind of way with each one. So hold your "F*CK WORKMAN'S EXISTENCE" hatred comments for a minute and hear me out.
Let's start with…
Where Medal of Honor Warfighter's story went wrong wasn't on the dramatic side. We realize that Tier 1 soldiers are human too and have their experiences just like the rest of us when it comes to family trauma and emotional fallout – even more so due to their circumstances. But the game's fault is that it tried to push the story too hard, and make us care about characters instead of establishing them. As a result, it was hard to feel any sort of connection to Preacher and his crew, despite what they were doing to keep their country safe.
With Black Ops 2, Activision went an extra mile to assure strength with their story, as they brought David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight Rises) to help put it together. As such, it felt a bit more established, I believe. Not only do you get to see what happened to Mason and Woods over the course of events following the first game (Woods has become an angry old bastard, and for good reason), but you also feel a certain connection with the main villain, Raul Menendez. There's a reason he's so driven, compared to past villains from the Modern Warfare series, and at one point you actually step into his shoes and see what kind of madness he's going through, even if it is a bit over-the-top, in a Scarface sort of way. It's better established than Warfighter, and by the time you reach the conclusion, you're actually factoring in choices and deciding on how you finish it, where Medal of Honor just…ends.
Some people will obviously feel that Warfighter's story is just fine, and from a military perspective, makes more sense than the future "psychobabble" that Black Ops II serves up. And they have their opinions, of course. But in my eyes, the story in Treyarch's latest just clicks better, and makes you give a damn about what's happening, and what you become from your decisions.
But here's the thing. Danger Close did make an interesting stride with Warfighter, and that's with the driving stages. Racing through city streets while keeping close tabs on your mark is excellent, and, for that matter, the stealth-like stage is ideal too, and feels utterly realistic. As for the shooting and other vehicular stages (like the remote sentry), they're not bad, though there are times the flaws are just too apparent, like occasional collision detection problems that stop you from lining up a rocket strike on a distant building, or the sniper stages where you think you have a target lined up and it sails into the wall.
Not that Black Ops II is perfect either, as you could shoot a guy three times and he's still somehow standing in very light circumstances. But at least with Activision's game, you have a few gameplay options. A stage where you're riding around on a horse while firing a rocket launcher has some nuance to it, though it's definitely a far cry from Lawrence of Arabia. Then there are the Strike Force stages, where you manage allied forces from above before jumping into soldiers and vehicles, to fight them from any angle. It's quite good, and you can actually succeed or fail in these missions. As for the shooting itself in the series, it's standard. You've seen it before, but it's so effective you can jump in, slash necks and shoot people in the head like a pro.
So each game has something to offer here, but in terms of accessibility and interesting scenarios, Black Ops II pushes a little further.
But judging on their own merits, let's see how each multiplayer experience sums up, shall we?
Medal of Honor: Warfighter does provide you with plenty to do, between unlocking various Score Chain awards depending on your performance, working with a paired partner in Fireteam, and trying out different modes that will challenge you, including the eSports-directed Home Run, which has become a favorite amongst the more hardcore fans.
However, there are small problems. The connection with the service runs fine, for the most part, but there are times your Fireteam tactics are questionable, forcing you to fall back to avoid certain death in some cases. (Also, it doesn't help if you're paired with an idiot.) For that matter, rewards can take a little longer to earn.
At least customization has its place here, with six classes to mess around with and various units to unlock and perfect. I just wish there was a way to really switch between them effectively in a match, just in case certain weapons and tactics aren't working for you.
Now, on the other side of that coin, Black Ops 2 brings a ton of familiarity. Fan favorite modes like Kill Confirmed, Team Deathmatch and Domination return, but Treyarch has livened things up with the inclusion of Party Games. Sticks and Stones stands out from the pack, mainly because you're only armed with a crossbow and a knife. You have three exploding shots in all, and once you're out, you'll have a heavy reliance on running up to people and going stabby-stab.
Now, Warfighter has some variants to consider, lots of customization, and plenty of worth in its own multiplayer, but Treyarch seems to have a better understanding with its options. Sure, their multiplayer isn't perfect when it comes to connections (the servers are being put to the test tonight), and there are occasional "what the fuck!" moments when it comes to you suddenly getting killed (though, let's face it, sometimes it's your fault).
But with Black Ops II, there's a better understanding with the outreach to eSports community, I believe. And if you don't quite "get" what it's about, some tools can point the way. The Call of Duty Elite service, which is now free, provides various gameplay videos that show the pros in action, and can teach you a thing or two. If you think you're ready to show something, you can also take advantage of the free live YouTube streaming service, to capture gameplay video and show everyone just how good – or sucky – you are. (And you don't even need game capturing equipment, just a valid YouTube account and an understanding of the rules.) And let's not forget Zombies, which is a great exercise in co-op, even if the later stages get to the point you're screaming at people in the name of survival. ("No, guard THAT door, you shithead!")
EA fans can say how dedicated their multiplayer is, but Treyarch just stacks the options like crazy. There is literally something for everyone – unless players are banned from their service, that is.
We didn't really get too much into graphics and sound because, honestly, both games did a serviceable job with that. Black Ops II does run a little faster when it comes to speed, though both games run into their fair share of glitches. (Nothing surmounting to the point where you'll say "The game's broken" but you get my point.)
I do think Warfighter's voiceovers aren't really that great. The characters' voices just grate after a while, and every attempt they make at adding something to the story…it just doesn't work. Black Ops II, on the other hand, doesn't try to go too far over the top. Kamar de los Reyes is a real standout as Raul Menendez, giving his voice a gruff sense of conviction, yet not going into silly James Bond-like villainy. And it helps to have Michael Rooker in your cast, no matter what the case. (One negative, tho. As cool as it is having Tony Todd on the team, he says "cocksucker" wayyyyy too often.)
It's hard to judge the DLC for the games thus far, as Zero Dark Thirty hasn't released yet for Warfighter and we have yet to hear what Treyarch has planned for Black Ops II. That said, at least both games are receiving ample support, even though Warfighter hasn't sold as highly as EA was expecting.
Now, where the battle goes from here will be interesting, as in this coming generation, we'll really see what both sides have to offer. EA will have Respawn Entertainment's first title soon, along with DICE's Battlefield 4 and whatever else Danger Close works on. Activision, meanwhile, has Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and the top-secret project that Bungie (the creators of Halo) are toiling away on.
So, for now, the victory goes to Activision…but who knows where it'll go from here.
And influence has nothing to do with this. Yes, Activision did fly out a select few journalists to play the game beforehand, but the fact of the matter is I could've been sitting in the middle of a cold hotel in Hoboken with a 32" display and would've come up with the same verdict. It's all about the game you play, not the surroundings that Activision went all out for – though I am appreciative for being selected, don't get me wrong.
I've chosen to break down each game, category by category, to explain the differences between the two titles, and where I think Warfighter went wrong in a certain kind of way with each one. So hold your "F*CK WORKMAN'S EXISTENCE" hatred comments for a minute and hear me out.
Let's start with…
Story
Okay, in a first-person shooter, story seldom makes a difference, as most people go rushing into competitive multiplayer just for the sake of "pwning" their friends. But to some, story can be an influential part of a game. Ask anyone who's played Halo 4.Where Medal of Honor Warfighter's story went wrong wasn't on the dramatic side. We realize that Tier 1 soldiers are human too and have their experiences just like the rest of us when it comes to family trauma and emotional fallout – even more so due to their circumstances. But the game's fault is that it tried to push the story too hard, and make us care about characters instead of establishing them. As a result, it was hard to feel any sort of connection to Preacher and his crew, despite what they were doing to keep their country safe.
With Black Ops 2, Activision went an extra mile to assure strength with their story, as they brought David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight Rises) to help put it together. As such, it felt a bit more established, I believe. Not only do you get to see what happened to Mason and Woods over the course of events following the first game (Woods has become an angry old bastard, and for good reason), but you also feel a certain connection with the main villain, Raul Menendez. There's a reason he's so driven, compared to past villains from the Modern Warfare series, and at one point you actually step into his shoes and see what kind of madness he's going through, even if it is a bit over-the-top, in a Scarface sort of way. It's better established than Warfighter, and by the time you reach the conclusion, you're actually factoring in choices and deciding on how you finish it, where Medal of Honor just…ends.
Some people will obviously feel that Warfighter's story is just fine, and from a military perspective, makes more sense than the future "psychobabble" that Black Ops II serves up. And they have their opinions, of course. But in my eyes, the story in Treyarch's latest just clicks better, and makes you give a damn about what's happening, and what you become from your decisions.
Gameplay
Now here's where the two games kind of get a little more balanced. Some people trashed Warfighter's gameplay as being somewhat unoriginal, where Black Ops II gets picked on frantically for being a bit too easy for some folks out there.But here's the thing. Danger Close did make an interesting stride with Warfighter, and that's with the driving stages. Racing through city streets while keeping close tabs on your mark is excellent, and, for that matter, the stealth-like stage is ideal too, and feels utterly realistic. As for the shooting and other vehicular stages (like the remote sentry), they're not bad, though there are times the flaws are just too apparent, like occasional collision detection problems that stop you from lining up a rocket strike on a distant building, or the sniper stages where you think you have a target lined up and it sails into the wall.
Not that Black Ops II is perfect either, as you could shoot a guy three times and he's still somehow standing in very light circumstances. But at least with Activision's game, you have a few gameplay options. A stage where you're riding around on a horse while firing a rocket launcher has some nuance to it, though it's definitely a far cry from Lawrence of Arabia. Then there are the Strike Force stages, where you manage allied forces from above before jumping into soldiers and vehicles, to fight them from any angle. It's quite good, and you can actually succeed or fail in these missions. As for the shooting itself in the series, it's standard. You've seen it before, but it's so effective you can jump in, slash necks and shoot people in the head like a pro.
So each game has something to offer here, but in terms of accessibility and interesting scenarios, Black Ops II pushes a little further.
Multiplayer
Here's something that's sure to be a dividing line with the hardcore players out there. On the one hand, there are those who are so devoted to EA products after being "turned off" by what the Call of Duty games did, they'll defend whatever they release to the end. (These are usually folks banned from the official Call of Duty servers, or think it's full of "cheaters", if you will.) On the other, you have those that live and breathe Call of Duty, barely breaking away to play anything else – including Halo.But judging on their own merits, let's see how each multiplayer experience sums up, shall we?
Medal of Honor: Warfighter does provide you with plenty to do, between unlocking various Score Chain awards depending on your performance, working with a paired partner in Fireteam, and trying out different modes that will challenge you, including the eSports-directed Home Run, which has become a favorite amongst the more hardcore fans.
However, there are small problems. The connection with the service runs fine, for the most part, but there are times your Fireteam tactics are questionable, forcing you to fall back to avoid certain death in some cases. (Also, it doesn't help if you're paired with an idiot.) For that matter, rewards can take a little longer to earn.
At least customization has its place here, with six classes to mess around with and various units to unlock and perfect. I just wish there was a way to really switch between them effectively in a match, just in case certain weapons and tactics aren't working for you.
Now, on the other side of that coin, Black Ops 2 brings a ton of familiarity. Fan favorite modes like Kill Confirmed, Team Deathmatch and Domination return, but Treyarch has livened things up with the inclusion of Party Games. Sticks and Stones stands out from the pack, mainly because you're only armed with a crossbow and a knife. You have three exploding shots in all, and once you're out, you'll have a heavy reliance on running up to people and going stabby-stab.
Now, Warfighter has some variants to consider, lots of customization, and plenty of worth in its own multiplayer, but Treyarch seems to have a better understanding with its options. Sure, their multiplayer isn't perfect when it comes to connections (the servers are being put to the test tonight), and there are occasional "what the fuck!" moments when it comes to you suddenly getting killed (though, let's face it, sometimes it's your fault).
But with Black Ops II, there's a better understanding with the outreach to eSports community, I believe. And if you don't quite "get" what it's about, some tools can point the way. The Call of Duty Elite service, which is now free, provides various gameplay videos that show the pros in action, and can teach you a thing or two. If you think you're ready to show something, you can also take advantage of the free live YouTube streaming service, to capture gameplay video and show everyone just how good – or sucky – you are. (And you don't even need game capturing equipment, just a valid YouTube account and an understanding of the rules.) And let's not forget Zombies, which is a great exercise in co-op, even if the later stages get to the point you're screaming at people in the name of survival. ("No, guard THAT door, you shithead!")
EA fans can say how dedicated their multiplayer is, but Treyarch just stacks the options like crazy. There is literally something for everyone – unless players are banned from their service, that is.
The Rest
Medal of Honor: Warfighter requires a 2 GB install, mandatory, for HD textures, where Call of Duty: Black Ops II does not. For some folks, this isn't that big a deal, but if you have a lower-count hard drive in your PS3 or a 4 GB Xbox 360 model, it does.We didn't really get too much into graphics and sound because, honestly, both games did a serviceable job with that. Black Ops II does run a little faster when it comes to speed, though both games run into their fair share of glitches. (Nothing surmounting to the point where you'll say "The game's broken" but you get my point.)
I do think Warfighter's voiceovers aren't really that great. The characters' voices just grate after a while, and every attempt they make at adding something to the story…it just doesn't work. Black Ops II, on the other hand, doesn't try to go too far over the top. Kamar de los Reyes is a real standout as Raul Menendez, giving his voice a gruff sense of conviction, yet not going into silly James Bond-like villainy. And it helps to have Michael Rooker in your cast, no matter what the case. (One negative, tho. As cool as it is having Tony Todd on the team, he says "cocksucker" wayyyyy too often.)
It's hard to judge the DLC for the games thus far, as Zero Dark Thirty hasn't released yet for Warfighter and we have yet to hear what Treyarch has planned for Black Ops II. That said, at least both games are receiving ample support, even though Warfighter hasn't sold as highly as EA was expecting.
In conclusion...
Again, I need to reiterate that neither company's treatment had an effect on this article. This is based on the weight of the products themselves, which were provided for review and analysis coverage. And the truth is, as hard as Danger Close tried with Warfighter, it just doesn't stand out like other first-person shooters this year, despite the military tactics and the serviceable multiplayer. With Black Ops II, Treyarch sticks mostly with what worked so well in Black Ops, but fine tuned the options available to players in the multiplayer section, and throwing in some interesting segments in the single player (again, horse + rocket launcher = crazy). It just feels better overall, in spite of EA's best efforts.Now, where the battle goes from here will be interesting, as in this coming generation, we'll really see what both sides have to offer. EA will have Respawn Entertainment's first title soon, along with DICE's Battlefield 4 and whatever else Danger Close works on. Activision, meanwhile, has Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and the top-secret project that Bungie (the creators of Halo) are toiling away on.
So, for now, the victory goes to Activision…but who knows where it'll go from here.
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