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Behind the scenes: Wii game testers
With the new, innovative control scheme presented by the Wii, no doubt game testers and QA folks are getting a work out. Not only are they now charged with pushing buttons, but must also add in the spectrum of movement with the Wiimote. How does a fast swipe react in-game compared to that of a slow, long swipe? How about thrusting? Clearly, it's a tough job that even rocket scientists request no part of.In the behind the scenes article, associate designer Mike Chrzanowski commented that initially his game, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, had around 20 different gestures translating into in-game actions. This caused a lot more harm than help, however, which then dropped the 20 down to a more modest and manageable 5. Obviously, including more gesture-based gameplay leaves a larger possibility for error, so in cutting it down to 5 the player need not worry that when Spidey is supposed to do a web swing, he instead does another signature, albeit less-popular, maneuver in the patented getting beaten to death by multiple thugs move. [Via Joystiq]
Details on Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
IGN confirmed during an interview with producer Evan Skolnick of Vicarious Visions that the Wii build of the game won't be totally lacking. The biggest let-down from the piece is that the game will offer no online support whatsoever, meaning that we will not see any WiiConnect 24 features utilized as well as no online co-op play. On the bright side, however, is that the game will be a launch title and retail for $49.99 US. Evan also commented that the game's controls on the Wii will differ from the other console versions of the game, something we were horribly mislead to believe wasn't happening. Turns out that while in other console versions of the game you can only map two super powers to the controller at any given time, on the Wii the game will allow the player to use any power whenever they wish simply by performing a specific gesture with the Wiimote.
Screenshot explosion: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
When we found out that Marvel: Ultimate Alliance would not use the exciting and innovative control scheme that the Wii offers, many a Fanboy staffer cried, ever so softly, in the corner huddled in the fetal position, sobbing heard long into the night. Without a Wii controller in hand, their realistic interpretation of Spider-Man's web-slinging and Wolverine's claw-slashing would only make them look like a fool. With the controller in-hand, at least they could say they were playing a game. OK, fine...that staffer was me.Regardless, for those of you who have large amounts of sanity on tap, you may still be looking forward to this title. Surely, with such super-dudes as Ghost Rider, Blade, Spider-Man, The Thing, and Thor, there's plenty of reason for you to want to pick up the Wiimote and beat down a henchman or thirty. If that's the case, then go ahead and drool over the 39 new screenshots after the link.
New Alliance race: the latest rumour
It's all been a bit quiet on the new Alliance race front as of late. However, this image (courtesy of the forums) will help stir up some of the rumours again: it's a very good Photoshopping, in my opinion, but it may spark a few seeds of doubt. Of course, as several other people have said, if the race is Murlocs then I'm switching back to the Alliance.[Thanks, CapAmerica]
Breakfast Topic: Would you trade?
An interesting hypothetical question came up in guild chat recently. When new to WoW, you have to make a decision that can persist for months -- the decision whether to go Horde or Alliance. I've met players who frequently switch sides, and others who have never deserted the faction they chose when they first ran the game.What if you could switch? Trade in a level 60 of one faction for an equivalent of another? Would you do it, and why?I'm not sure that I would; I personally enjoy seeing new scenery from both sides, levelling up through both factions. I know some players who role-play would love to, for example, turn a human into one of the Forsaken, but somehow I don't think it's a game feature that's ever going to happen.
A Seller's Market
After playing on a number of different servers of varying types, it's becoming clear to me that, just as there are two very different factions in WoW, there are also two vastly different economies at work, aswell: the Horde economy & the Alliance economy. Any Horde player who has decided to roll an Alliance alt immidiately notices one thing upon his first trip to the auction house: things are far more expensive on the Alliance side.A stack of re-agents that might sell for 20 silver in Orgrimmar might go for more than a gold in Ironforge; enchantments are far more expensive when bought from Alliance players, and although the NPC goods & services cost the same for the two factions, the inflation on the eastern continent makes for a very different playing experience on the side of the Alliance.The question is: why the big price hikes?
