Steve Parsons
Articles by Steve Parsons
rFactor preorders
If race sims are your thing, you may want to bust out your credit card and/or your PayPal account. rFactor can now be preordered. If you've not yet had the pleasure of playing the demo, you can download the multiplayer test on the site as well, and see if the game will actually work on your system, or whether you have a computer that should be in a museum somewhere, gathering dust. If you do, don't be disappointed. In 100 years, it'll probably be quite valuable.
Konami release dates
Eurogamer has the scoop on a pile of Konami games coming down the pipe, including the latest in the much beloved Castlevania series. There is also one that sounds suspciously like a popular ABC drama that doesn't involve Desperate Housewives. Of course it has to be a coincidence, given that game development is like elephants mating, wherein: 1) It's done at a very high level. 2) It involves a lot of loud noises and wailing. 3) It takes two years to accomplish anything.
The Madden Challenge
No it's not to bore the crap out of millions of gamers with your asinine blithering. Nobody can challenge Madden on that. Nope, this is the yearly Madden Challenge, where hardcore Maddeners (Maddeneers?) get together to stomp each other senseless over a game of console football from the No Fun League. IGN has a list of venues where you can go and get your ass kicked by a 14 year old, unless of course you have the mad(den) skillz. Sorry, couldn't help it.
Metal Gear Solid Subsistence Online
It's hard to believe this will be the first time the Metal Gear franchise has gotten online. Of course, there has only been two titles this century, and it's a remix of the latest that will see the game finally get online. Some new info has come out on what we can expect from the online modes, and it's sure sounding nice. Sweet, sweet MGS online action. *drool* Now can someone PLEASE duct tape Uwe Boll's hands behind his head so he can't ruin one of my favourite franchises of all time? Oh crap, too late.
Killzone 2 screens
Okay, so the demo at E3 was a big scam. A 5 FPS rendering sped up to 60, but damn was it gorgeous! Gameplay? Not bloody likely. Sure was purty though. Sadly we can't offer gameplay shots today. In fact these new shots look suspiciously like the demo from E3 to be honest. There is a nice design rendering of one of the vehicles that's worth a look though. Is Killzone 2 the reason to buy a PS3? Depends if you liked the first one I guess. It's sure high on my list.
Top Ten hugely overrated games
Anyone who has been reading the site a while knows that I'm a Gran Turismo junkie. Have been for many years now. So seeing the game at number 4 on this list hurts. From what I've played of it, and heard others say, the claim that Forza is now the king is a little premature. It also pains me to see Metal Gear Solid 2 on the list. Okay, so the plot is complete rubbish, but I'm a complete mark for Solid Snake and all his adventures. Even if you are playing as boygirl Raiden. However, everything is redeemed by the number one choice. A game I chose as the most disappointing of 2004.
Mario: The Great Sellout
Mario Golf Advance on the GBA would be a great game, were Mario not stupidly shoehorned into it. As it is, it's a great golf game, sullied by the fact we're supposed to believe that a short Italian plumber is the best golfer in the world. A vital part of games is suspension of disbelief, and I'd almost forgotten I was playing a Mario game until that bit. So Mario has featured/been shoehorned into a lot of games. What are some of the worst moments? Read on. [via Digg]
Project Offset demo stuns. Wows.
Doom 3 engine? Was nice knowing you. UT? Old news. Source? Over there. We'll call you if we need you. You can all stand back, though. There's a new king on the way to town. Project Offset is a new first person shooter, and the developer is showing off what their new graphics engine can do. The movies are not pre-rendered. The developer says they're all real time. Wow! The demo, even the low quality link, looks amazing. Much higher quality videos are available at the official site. Link below goes to lower quality, thus smaller, video for the bandwidth impaired. [via Digg]
Ah-nold in trouble over T3 game
Remember when Arnie Schwarz was cool? "I'll be back!" Ah, those were the days. Then he got famous, started playing good guy robots, then made some really bad movies, (Junior, anyone?), became a governor, and that was pretty much the end of the Schwarz as we knew him. Now it seems the impending legislation against video games may have Arnie in a spot of bother. You see Arnie enjoyed financial gain from the recent T3 video game. (People actually bought that?!) He will also be involved in voting on legislation governing video games. Now, if he vetoes the bill, he'll be seen as a pawn of the game industry. If he signs it, he'll be cutting off teen access to Mature rated games, meaning the market for his Teen rated Terminator travesty will grow. At least, that's the theory of a San Diego law professor. Of course, it's a huge stretch to think Jonny Teenager will go "Damn, I can no longer buy GTA. Let's pick up this crappy licensed game based on a crappy movie instead." The professor is not much of a gamer it would seem.
Unofficial rFactor feature list
In the beginning, there was Sports Car GT, and it was good. Then came EA's F1 series. It was not quite so good, but was still pretty fine. Image Space Inc., or ISI to their friends, have been working on race sims for a very long time now. Sports Car GT is a classic of the genre. Having broken ties with EA, ISI are on their own, and producing rFactor. With the First Racing debacle of suing modders and their various other SS style business tactics (including changing their name), a lot of folk are turning to rFactor as the one true hope for PC race sims. An opinion not misplaced it has to be said, after all, ISI have always supported modding, unlike Kaemmer's gestapo regime, and modding is the lifeblood of the PC race sim community. Games with mods live. Games without die. Here's an unofficial feature list for ISI's upcoming opus. (Ironically posted on a forum that, to many people, appears to be run by Kaemmer's unofficial fan club these days.) The title is still in beta right now, so obviously these features will change over time.
Sequels, sequels, and more sequels
Was the death of originality announced at a recent E3? Or was it aggreed upon in a secret meeting somewhere? Sequels rule the roost right now. If it's not a sequel, or a garbage movie license, it most likely doesn't stand a chance in todays gaming world. EGM, via 1UP, has an interesting piece on the subject, though I take strong issue with the comment that people who complain about sequels forget that it's all a business. People aren't that stupid. I'm quite certain most people realise that we're deluged with sequels BECAUSE it's a business, and that developers are too scared to take a risk, lest they lose money. Rather like Hollywood, it's left mostly to the independent developer to carry the torch of originality, though the occasional flash of mainstream originality comes through. (Katamari Damacy for example.)
Fifa '06 previewed
Despite being a Winning Eleven/Pro Evo junkie, and largely despising EA, the FIFA series, when they've got it right, has had it's flashes of being fun. Sadly, EA quite often screw the pooch and release a dire version of the worlds favourite sport. Winning Eleven 9 recently appeared in Japan, so obviously a new FIFA title isn't far behind. The choice of Ronaldinho and Rooney for the cover is deeply amusing. Not exactly going for the good looking guys. In fact Rooney often looks like he's been punched awake. It's also funny to see it said that PC fans have "enjoyed" Total Club Manager. Certainly no fans I come across have. There is only one king of the soccer management world, and it's ain't from EA. Regardless, you can expect the usual tweaks and fluff from EA to be added to their yearly soccer game. Read on so IGN can give you the scoop on what to expect.
PC in wrestling game shocker
The last somewhat decent, non-text based wrestling game I remember on the PC was the largely lamentable WCW Nitro. Consoles have had quite a few more, what with the WWE games, Legends of Wrestling, and perhaps the best of all, the Fire Pro series. If you had a PC though, you were, for the most part, screwed. So it's with quite some amazement that there is a new PC wrestling game coming! Gamespot has pictorial proof! It's a miracle!
Dungeon Siege II reviewed
Diablo II still retails for a ridiculous amount in most places. If you want the game and the expansion, it's pretty much in current new game price territory. Which leads us to Dungeon Siege II. A game which is very obviously inspired by the Blizzard produced classics. If you're going to be be paying almost full price for something, you may as well buy something new if it's worth it. GamePro give the new game the looky lou, and they like it. Will they like it as much as Diablo II though? Read and find out.
New Burnout Revenge screens for you speedfreaks
The time is almost at hand. Burnout Revenge arrives in a little over a month, barring any last minute delays. There better not be any damn delays. In my househould, Burnout is one of those rare games the whole family plays. Wife, son… Hell, even the mother-in-law has had a go. (Probably pretending I'm in one of the other cars.) Of course the final game won't look like the pictures, unless you get the Xbox 360 version of course. Gamepro have the same screenshots for all systems, but sometimes, you just can't get enough pictures of carnage.
Blizzard North closed
Diablo 2, despite being ancient, was given a new patch earlier this month. The hard work involved was rewarded with Blizzard shutting down the offices of the people who made it. Blizzard have closed their San Francisco office. The majority of the employees have been given packages to relocate to Irvine, California, and join the main office. (Note to minority: You have our condolences.) Said employees will be working on an unannounced project, which some seem to believe will be Diablo 3.
The best 22 games of all time
Charts. Gotta love 'em. No better way to inspire debate, anger, and vicious name calling. Netjak drop the love bomb, picking their best 22 games of all time. There's some interesting choices. Though I firmly believe Civilization should be higher on the list, but then, as if to prove the second sentence of this paragraph, that's just a personal preference. Civilization was the first game I was ever truly mad about on the Commodore Amiga, so it holds a special place in my heart. Won't spoil what's where on the rest of the list, but I notice some great titles that didn't make the cut.
The hidden bootcode of Xbox
Are you one of those people who needs to know how things work? If you're not, then you can move along to the next post, as this will, most likely, not interest you. Still here? Good. Here's a piece that details the terribly secret, or at least previously secret, bootcode of the Xbox. How it does what it does. It's a fascinating insight into exactly how the Xbox, by default, stops you running backups/copies, or homebrew software. Oh yeah, and a little OS called Linux. May make your head hurt a bit though.
PS2 Madden reviewed
Solitaire used to be the only game in town. (God I feel old.) Now add Madden to the list. Yep, it's that time. The time we all so vociferously wasted so much breath bitching about. The EA monopoly starts in 3… 2… 1… NOW! It's here. The only NFL game you're getting. GamePro has the scoop on if EA are coasting now they don't actually have to work at it. Doesn't sound like they are, though most people expected them to wait a year or two before they started phoning it in anyway. Sadly, nobody has euthanised the ever facile Madden yet. By that I mean the man, not the game.
Publisher smacks SG1 developer
A few months ago, a Stargate: SG1 mod for Half-Life 2 was cease and desisted by MGM. Then, a few days later, came news of an SG1 game. Well, fans of the franchise will now have to wait longer for a game to satisfy their Stargate desires, because the game, Stargate SG1: The Alliance, is no more. JoWood, the publisher, has bitchslapped the developer of the title, stating how they "have lost confidence in their ability to finish in time and sufficient quality." Ouch! There's more, and better, as well, but I don't want to spoil the surprise. Something tells me Perception won't be getting much work for a while.