The E3 Analysis - Microsoft

What could now be considered as cliche, every gaming publication gives their take on how each company could possibly "win" the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3. But with the conference a week away, the excitement is palpable and everyone is roaring to go. As opinions are tossed around like potatoes during a food fight, let the debate begin as to who could take the crown of this corporate battle-royale.

A disappointing lineup for the Kinect puts Microsoft in a great position to flaunt its prominence once more. The ten million sucked into buying the peripheral are screaming for something worthwhile and E3 is Microsoft's best chance to please the audience and silence the credits. Other than Kinect, we don't really know much about what Microsoft plans to showcase. We can expect word of the next Halo game, more gameplay of Gears of War 3, the reveal of what exactly Gears of War Exile actually is, Avatar Kinect and other features, and a Star Wars Kinect game. Mediocre conference at best, compared to what Sony and Nintendo are offering. But that does give the company the chance to surpass expectations and come out with some wild (and unexpected) news.

Now for the intangible, the unknown. Those dreaded rumours. It's difficult to fully comprehend how persistently annoying rumours are, because the smallest rumour catches fire and makes us more excited. There are two major ones floating around Microsoft's end right now: the Xbox finally embracing the 3D fad, and following closely behind Sony in introducing cloud saving. Why this is pivotal is because Microsoft is playing catch up. Sony set the awesome precedent for both of these new technologies, and Microsoft has been lagging in the innovation department. Sadly, the only thing we can really credit the company for is revolutionizing online multiplayer (and Kinect, I guess).

However, arguably, the rumour getting the most attention is the thought of a new console. While history dictates a new generation is imminent, that is unlikely to happen. Though Project Cafe could be considered the start of the next league of consoles. There is still untapped potential for the current lineup, and Sony and Microsoft look to fully monetize their consoles before dropping a billion on any new development. New consoles are obviously in the creative department of each respective company, but it makes more sense economically to first gauge what Nintendo presents. A release date of 2014 is a stretch; 2013 at the latest.

Microsoft has the most to prove but the best opportunity to surprise. The announcement I am most curious about is Exile; could it be the oft-rumoured Kinect spinoff? Microsoft has slowly eased more hardcore titles onto its peripheral, so it's quite possible this is the first major franchise. Next Monday should be very interesting.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Theme

Most of my posts are long rants about any topic I find interesting, but lately I've come across a lot of awesome videos and other media. I'll be posting those as much as I can as well. Watch out for both! The first entry is the theme from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I don't know why exactly, but hearing this theme sends a chill up the spine.

Sony's New Handheld - The PS Vita?

As I spend my days traversing the bunch of tubes we call the Internet, I find myself coming across some weird stories. And while some of these tidbits can be interesting, most are fraudulent and completely untrue. This is one of the major problems with video games journalism. The industry has built itself on the success of speculation, the rampant validation of rumour. And thus, our duty as news-givers is to pick through the rubble of defamation to find the absolute truth. What reporters claim as a trusted source could be an employee of GameStop planted by the corporation to solicit false information.

And, as I look over at my notepad for a solid topic worth blogging about, I'm baffled by one jot I made without a second thought. One site claimed to have a source who revealed the official name of Sony's next handheld. Sony would not dare give out that information prior to an E3 reveal so I felt obligated to click. The story wasn't from a site I had heard of, so I took the news being the skeptic I am.

The site claimed the new handheld from Sony was called the "PS Vita". Vita, according to the article, means "life" in Latin. A story this gargantuan would be picked up by every news source in existence, yet this site is only one I've come across carrying the story. Now the writer makes a case saying to take this info with a grain of salt, as expected, and I will rightly do that. This is why I hate the weeks leading up to E3. At the time I initially wrote this post, I forgot to push the Publish button. Turns out the story is making the rounds on smaller sites, but none of the heavily frequented sites have detailed the story yet. One blog (I'll include the link at the end of the post) claiming to have received pictures looks credible, but PhotoShop can be disastrous in today's technological age.

If this story is validated by Sony, then I'll eat my own words and apologize. But, there is an undeniable history of smaller sites claiming breaking stories only to be lying through their teeth. Sadly it's all about the traffic, and big-time stories generate big-time traffic. Sites like IGN get a million hits a day (because they are seen as the site of record for the gaming industry) while little ole' blogs like mine get screwed rectally in viewership (there's a great mental image).

I'll give my opinion on the questionable name choice if it's actually official.

Here's the link: http://megarockblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/everyone-knows-already.html

UPDATED: Dual Pixels is reporting that Vita is an official trademark of Sony, so the story is absolutely possible. I just gulped.

Here's the link: http://www.dualpixels.com/profiles/blogs/playstation-vita-is-an

A Short Post About Me

I try not to include my personal life in many of these posts (outside of my gaming career I mean). Ever since I started my quest to be a gaming journalist, it's been quite the interesting six months. Out of curiosity, I sent my blog out in a flurry to many websites hoping to get lucky, and I did.

RipTen, a site where I've gotten many ideas for my stories, now wants to take me on as one of their own. And this all happened overnight. Literally.

So stay tuned to A Video Games Blog to read my gaming adventures and my thoughts on the industry, but also check out RipTen if you want the most breaking news. Thanks.

Hurrah.

World of Warcraft - Rerolling as Horde! - Part 2

When I played the Alliance, my sole responsibility was to vanquish the nuisance that is the Horde. I did so, or to the best of my ability, on the tarnished battlegrounds of Warsong, Arathi and Alterac Valley. Through the trials of spilling Orc blood, I have served the Kingdom of Stormwind dutifully; but I wish to move on to bigger things. A beautiful change of pace, the constant threat of combat looming. Yes, I am indeed talking about transferring to a PvP (player vs. player) server.

For people meagerly knowledgeable in the field of MMORPGs, the term is simple: killed or be killed. Every player, regardless of class or race, is set for immediate combat, ready to strike if mob or loot be stolen. It's a thrilling experience and players can be full of angst and hellbent on destruction. Normally, such is the tale on any server, but on PvP realms the hatred is especially intense. The sweat glistens brighter, battlers conceive more skill and strategy and combat becomes more exhilarating.

As a previously dedicated Alliance soldier, it was incredibly difficult to enjoy PvP. Playing for both factions, I can now grasp why the Horde is so superior. First, the races look more barbaric, thus more geared for rage-filled combat. The racial abilities are specifically tailored to excel in PvP, like the Troll's Berserking (increasing attack or casting speed) or the Tauren's War Stomp (two second AoE stun); while the Alliances' race abilities more concern PvE (player vs. environment) combat like dungeons and raids. Though, the main Human racial ability (Every Man for Himself) is the most useful currently.

A great piece of advice (that I was given) I can give any players looking to reroll as Horde, is get familiar with the city layouts. The Undercity, the Undead fortress, is a giant circle and my first time in there was a mess. Thunder Bluff consists of three levels, and Silvermoon City is freakishly large. The head honcho, Orgrimmar, is wildly confusing, so guards will be your best friend. For the geographically challenged, go Alliance for sure. Don't even give it a second thought.

In retrospect, I won't completely disregard my time as the enemy faction. I met some cool people whom I hope to continue a friendship with, but being Horde is so much more awesome. The mounts are more awesome, the landscapes are more awesome, the races are more awesome and PvP is more awesome. Overall, the Horde are more awesome. I can't stress that point enough.

Just a great bit of information to pass along. I have yet to hear back, but I think I'll be writing for RipTen.com, a prominent gaming blog. I know the site pays for articles, so if I end up writing for them I won't discriminate this blog in the slightest. A Video Games Blog is still my baby and I plan to keep her operational for a long time. On another note, regarding my L.A. Noire review, I ended up not completing the game so I felt it improper to grade a game I haven't fully analyzed. Though we do plan to talk about Rockstar's latest on my podcast: http://belowradarpodcast.podbean.com. Check it out!

E3's A-Comin'!

Traversing the vast gaming universe, sometimes the lines of realism and rumour get violently blurred. Being an evil creator of false truths is a second profession for many gaming publications, and this melding makes it difficult to distinguish truth from trash. The month before E3 is legendary for rumour-mongering, so the task is with us bloggers to sift through the crap pile to find the most realistic and achievable tidbits. Speculation is always fun but sometimes the devil.

While some rumours are completely ludicrous, others turn out to be sadly true. One such rumour is making the rounds and it's a likely revelation. I am talking about news of Microsoft bringing three-dimensional gaming to the Xbox 360. Sony has had the option for over a year now (so just a little behind), and Microsoft is quite daring bringing this so late into the console cycle. The news comes from Eurogamer for those wondering.

The chirping about Nintendo's new console is getting louder and louder and I have a headache. I understand the urgency to report this once we learn of such valuable information, but for Nintendo to confirm the existence of a new console takes away from the shock value. Last year, there was speculation of a slim version of the Xbox 360 leaked, which Microsoft didn't confirm, and that's why the revelation got so much attention. And, unfortunately, that's the major reason why I am giddy to see what Nintendo reveals - to shut the speculators up.

Stories come-and-go, and as rumours pop up I'll do my duty of debunking the rampant idiocy before the actual conference. At least the conspicuous fodder gives me something to rant about.

My Wish List for Fallout 4

The Rapture ended up not happening, and to say I'm filled with disappointment is an understatement. I want to see the true capabilities of God's wrath: the imaginary wasteland we all envision someday. Natural disasters left-and-right, locusts patrolling the streets, and the Chinese Secret Police rounding up people who haven't paid their taxes. I saw it in a dream once. Before I forget, I don't know if this is a sign of the Rapture or anything, but instead of the deadly wrath of locusts, I got bit by a mosquito. That bug can burn in hell.

In celebration of the hyped-up end of humanity, I thought it would be appropriate to give my thoughts as to how Bethesda could possibly improve their darling franchise. It's been a long three-year period since Fallout 3, and since New Vegas was made by Obsidian (also known for the incredibly awesome Alpha Protocol) we could probably expect a new numbered iteration this year. The question is, however, could Bethesda possibly top the success of Fallout 3? Not if they don't follow my guide.

Let's start with the end. An odd statement, yes, but the sudden ending of Fallout 3 put a bad taste in my mouth. Or was that the perogies? To blatantly spoil an ending, the Lone Wanderer is assumed dead trying to rid the Capital Wasteland's water of radiation. An anti-climatic ending given the heroism of missions done previously. I expected an all-out battle between the Enclave and Brotherhood, though I felt some displeasure when the Lone Wanderer perished so gruesomely. Being able to cause chaos after the storyline is done has now become an expectation of many open-world games, and Fallout 3 was the rare case. A climax can be dramatic and awe-inspiring without someone losing their life or an eyeball, and I firmly believe Bethesda acknowledges this. They have joked enough in interviews about the solemn ending for us to expect a change come Fallout 4.

The Capital Wasteland was a beautiful place; many treasures to discover and areas to explore, full of people disjointed from the harsh reality, and the adaptedness of society to survive. A real post-apocalyptic world will no doubt show the tremendous darkness contained within humanity, and the struggle to live will turn comrades against comrades. Fallout 3 did a keen job of showcasing this struggle, but human interaction was often kept to a minimum with a lack of emotion in these dispirited characters. I wish for Bethesda to show the grittiness and brutality people will likely resort to in desperate times. It wouldn't be difficult in the right setting, so possibly a war-torn area where hate is fluent.

Fans of the franchise have become accustomed to seeing grandiose settings like Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Vegas. While the ruins of those metropolises are perfect settings for a Fallout game, these places have one similar characteristic - geographical location. Through the Fallout lore, though the war was between America and China, we can safely assume other countries were blown to hell as well. If Bethesda was so daring, they could have the next game set in Shanghai, or another city with global influence like London. England would be a picturesque candidate; imagine the destruction done to Big Ben, huge battles within the historical halls of the Westminster Palace, and a city inside Wembley Stadium. Rivet City was on a boat so the idea is not farfetched. The series has been too Americanized and its fanbase is global, so why can't Bethesda reach out to its international audience? Pay homage to them by having a location outside the United States.

While human interaction was largely ignored in Fallout 3, the citizens of New Vegas never lost the pride of their former city. Gambling and prostitution were legal and seemingly accepted as societal standards and the career path for those unlucky economically. The current Las Vegas is rife with sexual advertising and to think the populous lost that ideal is unjust. What I'm trying to get at is what Bioware did so well with Mass Effect and Dragon Age - the company was unafraid of putting sex scenes in their games. The Fallout universe has presented protagonists with many opportunities to get his/her freak on, but the scenes are blacked out and only moaning is heard. From my understanding the Fallout games don't shy away from having gratuitous (and entertaining) gore, so why is Bethesda so sensitive with sex? That sensitivity is the most ridiculous taboo surrounding our pastime.

My last addition could go a long way in shaking up combat. New Vegas made a sad attempt at weapon customization and combat suffered. There are a multitude of playing styles so a thorough revamping of the customization system could help players adapt to battle how they wish. An arsenal of scopes for guns, weapon attachments for melee weapons for a boost in damage, mixing weapons (like Dead Rising 2) to create some ridiculous combinations, and maybe a colour customization system. All is fair in love and war as long as you have a pink gun. The only limitation I'd say is keeping the weapon combinations to a relative believability and not getting too ostentatious. Then again I'm not a game developer. I just write.

And there we go folks. There's a ton riding on the next release in this franchise, and I wholeheartedly wish Bethesda follows my advice to a tee. If they do read this. If they don't, this article will get tossed into the collection of wannabe gaming critics. I'm fine with that. One last thing before I leave: three years is too long.

Hurrah.

Anonymous A Scapegoat?

I wrote this as my second feature for BrokeMyController.com, and I'm start posting them here the Sunday before my next feature is to go up. Enjoy!

What could be considered the most documented elongated maintenance in history, the downtime of the PlayStation Network has taught us gamers that our beloved industry isn't perfect. The attacks by Anonymous (according to Sony) or whoever is responsible will not stop, and the new firmware update released will be defeated shortly.

As of Sunday morning, parts of the PlayStation Network are currently operational in select areas, while others are questionable. While Sony is working tirelessly for Europe and North America, the company hasn't said a word about Oceania. This could be because both continents are where Sony makes the big bucks, or the company has identified the perpetrators and they are indeed from the area.

Anonymous has thoroughly denied the core of the Internet group was behind the attacks, and I have no reason not to believe them. In my years of following the saga of the Internet (nerdy I know), Anonymous has never denied anything. They were the ones that proudly touted they brought down the Australian government website, or waged their ongoing war with Scientology, or defended George Hotz. In their acts of aggression against the establishment, no act has been denied. And now, in what could be their most heralded achievement, they now claim no role? It just doesn't fit right.

The main idea of Anonymous, from my understanding, is going after the 'lulz'. Most attacks are first perpetrated by the group, but sects tend to get carried away and eventually shunned by the core. The attacks on Sony are one of those circumstances. It was in fact Anonymous who first went after Sony's website and the PS Blog last month, but according to the group that's when their involvement stopped. If that is true, the Sony attacks were initiated by another group not directly affiliated with Anonymous, and planted the file with the group's motto, "We Are Legion," to arouse suspicion.

On Thursday, the AnonOps blog posted information of a "Ryan Cleary" whom they suspect is responsible. This would confirm earlier reports by CNET, who attained the information exclusively while in a channel supposedly used by the Internet group. The chatters cited one hacker named "Ryan" and accused him of only attacking Sony to grab headlines. And, undoubtedly, he has  achieved that goal.

While the PSN becomes fully available over the next few days, its future remains uncertain. Will there be another attack, and can Sony's new firmware update protect the millions of users and their private information? Only time will tell.

A Saturday of Boredom

Such an uneventful night. Here I was preparing for the mighty apocalypse, prepping up my house for the coming destruction and reflecting on my life, and nothing surfaced. Or happened under the surface. And thus the same thing with gaming news. It's been a banging few weeks preceding E3, you know, with the attacks on the PSN and the unearthing of a new console. Nothing major, but that abundance of news leaves me in a predicament: a Sunday morning with nothing on the docket, drinking coffee and watching baseball highlights with no prominent subject to rant about. It's the life of a blogger and, well, it sucks sometimes.

The only meaningful news came from Sony's universe, and surprisingly, it didn't relate to the hacking. In lighthearted news, Sony has announced a "PSP remasters" program, bringing classic PSP titles to the PS3. The first will be Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, with the new version aptly named Monster Hunter Portable HD. This move makes perfect sense with a new handheld looming and the PlayStation Store getting up and running again, but I have one question. To my knowledge consoles aren't meant to be moved much, so why keep the Portable in the name? Gamers aren't that forgetful.

Being the avid World of Warcraft fan, I just wanted to state publicly that I'll be switching servers. If you want to find out where, just shoot me an email or leave a comment and I'll get back to you! My friends and I plan to start a Horde hardcore raiding guild, so please PST with your information!

Anywho, that's it for now. Check back later today for hopefully another post. Ciao!

Early Impressions of L.A. Noire

L.A. Noire throws players into the crime-infested world of post-WWII Los Angeles, and in typical Rockstar fashion, the game is magnificent so far. After completing disc one of the game on Xbox 360, the following is my first impressions. Spoilers ahead.

Cole Phelps (played by Mad Men's own Aaron Staton) is a Marine-turned-detective trying to make a name for himself on the wild streets of Los Angeles. Early cutscenes show an idealistic and opportunistic individual, banking on using a heroic act during the conflict to achieve fame and fortune. An unrealistic goal, of course, but he did end up winning a Silver Star for his actions (still not determined), and now he serves as the Los Angeles Police Department's finest detective. After solving several high-profile cases convincingly, he moves up rapidly through the ranks from a lonely Patrol cop to the Homicide division and the investigations get increasingly complex. In my upcoming review, I'll go into the underlying story a bit more.

The best term to describe L.A. Noire is a sleuth simulator. There are car chases, shootouts and on-foot pursuits, but all of these sequences can be voluntarily skipped if failed too many times. This give people solely looking to get their sleuth on the opportunity to do just that. And the game makes sure you understand that early. I don't mind a good car chase or two peppered in once in a while, but the prime aspect of the game is the investigative portion and L.A. Noire doesn't look sight of that. Playing through about eight story cases or so, the game presents a large variety of case to tackle - anything from a husband hiring someone to kill his wife, to a man faking his own death in hopes of running off to Seattle.

On the Xbox 360, the first disc plays until "The Golden Butterfly" (for those of you using a guide). To that point, there has been a lot of historical references, the most notable being to the "Black Dahlia." In one case, "Fuck You B.D." is written in lipstick on a body, and the conversation between Cole and his partner on the drive afterward is actually educational. Elizabeth Short was murdered six months ago game time, and the LAPD is stagnant in their investigation of "The Werewolf," a nickname given by the press. Phelps, always the optimist, says his fresh perspective could lead to solving the crime.

L.A. Noire is a one-of-a-kind game for several reasons, but surely the most important feature is how realistic characters act. Using a revolutionary technology called MotionScan, Team Bondi was able to transmit actors' faces into the game directly, so interviews could be conducted using body language. Human interaction feels real and that's something rarely, if ever, achieved in the digital world of video games. The studio has set an awesome precedent I hope many studios vow to replicate. Already, Valve and Remedy have taken notice, so maybe in the next Alan Wake game, we could see better facial animation. The weirdest thing was seeing an actor's face I recognized: being a big Mad Men fan I knew Aaron Staton, but also Adam Harrington who plays Roy Earle, Phelps' partner once he gets to the Vice division.

What makes L.A. Noire a thoroughly satisfying experience is just how difficult some of the cases are. In hindsight, I always judge myself for being timely when looking for clues, because being in the right place at the right time is a key to success. The worst part is reading the "Case Notes" after getting graded and feel stupid (which will happen often). Although some of the character animations are painfully obvious, the investigations are wonderfully crafted and present a unique challenge.

I'm expecting my thrill ride through L.A. Noire to be more of the same. I should have my full review up by Tuesday.

YouTube Gaming - The Real Online Multiplayer

I found this fantastic video on the video sharing site YouTube and it thoroughly explains the YouTube gaming community, and the impact Machinima has had on gaming.

Sony Attacked Again

Probably expected, but a new attack on a Sony service has just occurred. The site, repeatedly tweeted by Sony and meant for PSN users to change their password, has been brought down. The story was first speculated by Nyleveia (awesome name for a website) and later confirmed by Eurogamer. A trend that will likely continue, the string of PSN attacks won't be ending anytime soon, and this later attack doesn't affect the console network. Only the website is down at the moment.

It's a sad sight to see. Many PSN users are just looking to continue their gaming habit, and malicious people are refusing them that luxury. The people responsible are only torturing the gamers and not the company, and I don't think they realize this. Sony is a giant corporation and has unlimited resources at their disposal to quell a media blitz, and in due time their reputation will be restored. Their reasoning to take down Sony for whatever has happened is gone, so we can assume "Ryan" and his cronies are only doing this to grab headlines.

This really goes back to something I stated before: instead of perpetrating malicious acts of vengeance, why can't people with incredible computer skills work with companies to prevent these sort of attacks? Why waste talent on such a high level on something so diminutive when such skills can be used to further protect the world? If this "Ryan" character is truly the one responsible, what he is doing is not only lowering his standing with society (because we have found out his identity) but also he is being shunned by the "organization" that originally DDOS'ed Sony sites, Anonymous.

His intentions are still unknown, but his actions are far-reaching. On behalf of all Sony users, I politely ask you to stop and put your tremendous to good use. My proposal is nothing radical: try and work with the corporation you so intently hate to help secure the PlayStation Network and make it a safer environment. As I said, nothing radical.

Where to Find Quality Gaming News

In my pursuit of solid talking points for blog topics, I've come across some interesting sites. Some sites are clogged, look unprofessional and uneventful. But other sites present a vast array of opinion from highly-talented writers who's opinions I have jacked again and again. Most are my own, of course, and whenever I do take someone's idea I give credit. That's not only polite but shows integrity and respect to the original author.

When I first started a gaming blog, I really had no idea where to begin. I had my catalog of gaming blogs (Kotaku, Joystiq, Destructoid, CVG etc.) where the biggest information gets covered, but most of the stories are needless clutter and don't carry much weight. Kotaku is mostly responsible for this - posting cosplay (costume play) to satisfy the lonely gaming nerd. Joystiq and CVG avoid the clutter effectively; less posts means a lower number of worthless stories to sift through. My ambition for this blog was to cover a wide range of stories big and small, and pop in my own commentary once in a blue moon. Destructoid, well, the site gave Deadly Premonition a perfect ten; that's self-explanatory.

The behemoth of gaming news, IGN, is always a great resource, though their opinions are questionable. Regarding the recent attacks on the PlayStation Network, the site lambasted Sony for not doing enough to protect its users. Their basis was fair, but the way the site carried itself is forgettable.

GameTrailers, while often accused of playing favourites with certain franchises, has an extensive forum database with hundreds of posts every day. The 'General Gaming' sub-forum is a nice place to pick up a tidbit or two. Surprisingly, the site's post count is the highest collectively among the biggest gaming sites although it has a comparatively small audience. Maybe the users are all chatterboxes; who knows.

The best source of all, in my opinion, has to be N4G. The site operates as a gaming news roulette, giving smaller sites the opportunity to gain a fanbase and present their stuff to the world. The criteria is wide as well so most stories are acceptable. Stories come in every minute so it's a great place to get inspired or keep up with up-to-the-minute news.

And last, but certainly not least, you can check out BrokeMyController for the latest news anywhere. A shameless plug, I know, but I had to because I actually do use it sometimes.

So, for the aspiring gaming journalist out there, I encourage you to use this list of sites to your advantage and start ranting. Send me any links to blogs you start up, and I will update this post to give you some free publicity (and do the same for mine!). Any unique ideas I steal will be fully credited. Ciao!

P.S. If any links are broken, please reply in the comments or shoot me an email and I will fix them ASAP.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare - The End of An Era

It's true. As I've stated before over and over, Call of Duty isn't my favourite franchise in the world. It was, before the nuisance of annualized franchises became intolerable, and now is slowly becoming the norm. Assassin's Creed has now taken the insatiable bait, so what franchise will be next?

The rapid and unforeseen success of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare started a whirlwind of opinions stemming from every person in the lot. Every aspect was brought into question, particularly the alarming rate of younger kids playing. The game, opportunistically belittled at every stop in the media, became a symbol for gamers everywhere for its wonderfully crafted campaign and wildly addictive multiplayer. Even fans who detested the first-person shooter grew to appreciate the franchise's soon-to-be-realized success, but no one pondered just how successful the franchise could be with future releases. When I first picked up Modern Warfare in March 2008, I wasn't into sales numbers or figures; but as I progressed into the wannabe journalist I am today, I now understand the impact that release had on the future of gaming. That fateful day in March 2008, no one was saying that a Call of Duty game would have the highest-grossing entertainment launch in history. And here we are with Black Ops having achieved that goal.

Though Call of Duty has had an outrageous amount of success, its success is unique. In my days of gaming, I've never seen a formula for a multiplayer component be so persistently emulated. Every first-person shooter these days is compared to the latest Call of Duty release, even one that shakes up the genre dramatically. Some may disagree but Call of Duty has the perfect fast-paced run-and-gun action many players are looking for, or have grown to expect from the genre itself. The franchise has stuck to its guns (excuse the pun) over the years and will continue to until success wains.

And now that Modern Warfare 3 will dawn store shelves November 8, it's not just the end of a franchise within a franchise, but the end of an era. The existence of Call of Duty for the FPS is almost as important as Halo is to Xbox Live. The genre has been shaped eternally by the modern warfare conflicts happening around the world, and future games will reflect the future of warfare itself. Many rumours pinpoint a future in space combat, so I'm calling it right now: a crossover between Call of Duty and Star Wars: Battlefront.

Rarely do I do a post on one specific franchise, but Call of Duty is the poster child of gaming right now. Its success is undeniable and will surely set the course for future shooters and the future of gaming. Ciao!

Just Another Thanks to Everyone

When I started this little project of mine, I had no idea the sort of audience I could attain. And, to put it mildly, the reception has been a lot more than I anticipated. Needless to say I'm thankful for everyone that has taken a look at my lovely blog, from every region and corner of the Earth. The overwhelming reception adds to my enjoyment of writing a post every couple days.

Six months ago, I could have never imagined gaming fans from Singapore, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and France would ever find my piece of electric paradise. I guess I underestimated the power of the Internet and far-reaching a college dropout's opinion could be. Even if you are stopping by just once to look at my Gears of War 3 Beta Rewards post, I appreciate the view. For one of my posts to be the top link on Google is gratifying. Speaking of the beta, now that it's over, I hope most of you come back as I rant again and again.

The next eight months of the year should be an interesting ride and my desire is you take it all with me.

Thanks,

Filthcardia

P.S. My second feature on Brokemycontroller.com will be going up in a number of hours. I want the topic to be a surprise; be prepared for a shock. Or as shocking a gaming article could possibly be. Ciao!

The Life of a Poor Gamer

As games get better and better, and as games get prettier and prettier, I want more of them. I want to amass a giant collection of current generation games where people passing will be phased in awe, where legions of die-hard gamers will salivate at the very thought of owning title after title after title. And this is where I'm stuck. As a starving college student (still living at home but forget I said that) the unfortunate state of affairs where money is scarce is reality. Whether to go purchase that copy of Homefront that's calling my name or suffer through missing a hearty meal for some stale ramen noodles; sacrifices must be made.

I want to own all the games in the world, but thus it cannot be so. Does it make me weep, drenching my Mario pajamas and seeping into the deepest caverns of my soul? Occasionally. (I don't actually have Mario pj's, but now that I'm mentioning it, I'll be putting those on my shopping list.) My situation is the farthest from dire, and I am obviously overstating the seriousness of the issue, just so people know. Thankfully I have the ability to get a game any time I want to, and without monetary consequence. Just thought I'd pepper that in there so people don't start feeling pity.

The industry of which I hold most dear is certainly improving at a rapid pace - thirty years ago, graphically speaking, gamers then couldn't imagine the sheer beauty and depth a title like Mass Effect could present. And I am still astonished even to this day. Even after diving into the realm of consoles and fully accepting her sweet embrace, the memories of playing Risk on an old computer from 1995 with black-and-orange writing will never leave me. Needless to say I sucked at the game, and it wasn't until the invention of the Internet was my life truly complete. Now I must stop myself before I ramble on anymore.

My point is the video games industry has grown into something technologically superior, a business where stellar releases happen almost every month now, to huge sales and mass praise from various sources. And this pisses me off. By all means this is not a bad thing at all; it's great to see video games become wild successes seemingly overnight like Angry Birds. Competition breeds innovation, and innovation is an idea every developer should strive for (except Gameloft). You could say I am jealous in a way. I want to try every game out there and immerse myself in the fascinating world of many developers' creations, but I can't. Because I'm poor.

My 132nd blog post is a perfect place to announce I'll be setting a fund called "Filthcardia's Poor So Please Help Me Fund". The idea is simple: you give me money, I buy games, play games, and write about games. As easy as pie.


Breaking News: The "Filthcardia's Poor So Please Help Me Fund" has been closed. Authorities has discovered it was just some lazy kid desperate for one of them video games.

Well that's heartbreaking. My little venture didn't work out, and I'm sorry if I disappointed anyone. I'll get you a drink... of water. Ciao!

World of Warcraft - Rerolling as Horde!

Gotta love sleepless Monday mornings. After tossing and turning for a few hours, the first thing I resort to is my laptop to rant about the first thing that crossed my mind. It just occurred to me that in a few days will be my six-month anniversary of playing World of Warcraft (I know the exact date because I started playing the night of Cataclysm), and I've had a blast. But there's one problem: slowly I have become addicted to the world of player-vs-player combat, or PvP, and I play Alliance. And I play a Warrior. Both being useless toward a successful PvP career.

I love my current Warrior character, but the abundance of Frost Mages has, for the most part, made the class useless. After every patch people complain that Warriors are overpowered, then the class gets so nerfed that it becomes unplayable. I'll continue playing the character for player-vs-environment scenarios (raiding, heroic dungeons, previous content), but I need a stable Horde character to satiate my eagerness to make people miserable. After gathering many an opinion, fellow Horde players I ask you: Which class should I roll Horde as?

The people who first got me into the game play Alliance, previously playing Horde, and are strongly considering going back to their original side. And I am strongly considering going with them as well. Probably not a transfer, but making a new character entirely. Here's my dilemma: I once told myself if I ever got into World of Warcraft, I'd be a Shaman no matter what. But the two Alliance races capable of being Shamans - Dwarves and the Draenei - aren't the most desirable. So I played it safe and went Human Warrior. But rolling Horde gives me the ability to level my favourite class, and do so proudly. The three Horde races who can play Shaman (Orc, Tauren and Troll) are all awesome, so it's the racial that decides it. Since I want to be an Enhancement Shaman, Troll stands out because their Berserking racial is a self-Heroism and the cooldown is tolerable. Ultimately, this is still up to debate in my head.

My next choice is Druid because I love the variability in styles of play the class presents. It gives the option to be anything, so I can switch between a caster and melee class without having to make a new character. Druid is a great starting class for the player unsure of what he/she wishes to do, and both Horde races are fitting for the lore buffs. For the aspiring tank, Tauren would be the better choice, but either race is suitable for any role. Being a person who hates responsibility, I would most likely play a damage-dealer, so feral spec, therefore the Troll's racial is more fitting. I really like Trolls!

My last choice is the Death Knight. The class is exceptionally credible in PvP because of its uncanny ability to spread diseases to a large group of players, and strategy plays a big role. The racial of the Tauren, War Stomp, stuns all players within a certain radius for two seconds. That's more than enough time to do massive damage and even a killing blow if timed properly.

Chances are I will go Shaman, because it still gives the variability of a Druid (without the tank spec), and the class kicks ass in PvP. But I want you guys to way in! Shoot me an email at filthcardia@gmail.com and help me decide.

Aside from my very difficult decision ahead, my second feature goes live on BMC tomorrow. I'll get some flak for it but I swear my opinions are valid. Check it out at http://www.brokemycontroller.com. Ciao!

Modern Warfare 3 Leaked

Today has already been eventful with Blogger being down for an extended maintenance, and now we get word that Modern Warfare 3 has been leaked story-and-all. Kotaku first published the story, detailing the entire plot and multiplayer details in what has been an unprecedented leak - made even worse by involving gaming's premiere franchise.

Being early in the morning, this news hasn't hit the main gaming populous yet, but social commentary about this will be rampant. EVERY site in existence, including my lovely little blog, will become a platform for people to fiercely tout their opinions on whether Kotaku should have published all this information, even before the game's official announcement. No one expects the gaming blog to reveal its prized sources, but Kotaku better be able to withstand Activision's legal team. A court case here is brewing, people.

As journalists, it is our foolhardy duty to keep digging and digging until the purest form of the truth is revealed. But what this comes down to is the discretion of the journalist: to be able to withhold the temptation of such a massive information leak, considering how damaging a story of this magnitude could be not only for the journalist but the publication as well. Such a story will have its benefits, of course, like a large boost in viewership and streaming ad revenue. And this is where I think the writer is mistaken. The long-term consequences potentially arising from this greatly outweigh the short-term success, and it's my hope Kotaku considered all angles before deciding to run the story.

Whomever leaked the story to Kotaku has to be an employee of Activision, because the publisher wouldn't possibly risk being embarrassed. A rogue designer, no longer loyal to the tyranny of Activision, or somebody else close to the game? Through this debacle we probably won't find out unless Activision sues. There is one outstanding factor that remains fishy, however. With Call of Duty being the publisher's cash-cow and the franchise's reputation waning, could this grandiose leak be intentional? An attempt to take all the buzz away from Battlefield 3, Gears of War 3 and other series getting headlines currently? If that were to be true, it certainly has worked. Otherwise I'd probably be blogging about my limited experience in the Gears 3 beta. Any news involving Call of Duty is BIG, and I can't stress that enough. That's why I'm sure Kotaku soiled themselves when they received this boatload of information.

Going into the journalism world, a gargantuan leak like this makes me question the nature of our business. As writers we rely on developers and publishers to feed us information and we report it as we see fit. It's a two-way relationship. And I think Kotaku has strained that relationship. Developers will be wary of giving us information, thinking we'll go digging for more. Out of respect for those developers, we don't dig too much. Kotaku has basically spoiled the "WOW" factor of a Modern Warfare 3 at E3, though we all knew it was going to happen. Using the details presented, it seems Activision is attempting to push the limits of its franchise, given the unrivaled hype for Battlefield 3. Call of Duty may not be my favourite franchise but I will give Activision credit for trying something new.

In the coming weeks, gaming journalism is going to be different. Developers will be more careful on what information to divulge to us, so that means less interesting stories. What Kotaku has done will affect the industry for a long time.

Microsoft Acquires Skype, Satellites Riot

Eight billion dollars is a lot of money. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out. And while it saddens me to see companies frivolously bathe in cash while families struggle to feed their children, I realize the words of one man cannot change the system. That's why the acquisition of Skype by Microsoft is of much interest not only to the gaming community, but the tech community as well.

Free ain't so free anymore.

Microsoft's intentions are blatantly obvious - use the service to enhance the Avatar-based chat system announced in January, Avatar Kinect, and not make the feature useless. The purchase is a smart one, but a heavy investment. Unless Microsoft really feels interaction between Kinects is threatened, they have no reason to buy Skype. The technology is easily implementable on its own and requires no expertise from the guys at Skype. Hell, Microsoft even showed a working demo when the technology was first unveiled to the world.

There is also the distinct possibility Microsoft plans to integrate the service into Xbox Live. Currently Skype is a free service, but the inclusion of a paid-monthly version of Hulu (also a free service) is evidence Microsoft is looking to transform its console into something bigger. An entertainment center, a hub for a family's technology needs - trying to figure it out makes my brain hurt.

Do people not know how to connect computers to their TVs?

The price is the biggest talking point of this whole deal. For the eight years Skype has existed, the company has rarely held steady profits or even profits at all. Given the size and prominence of Microsoft, there's no reason not to believe the company could build a VoIP-type service from the ground-up cost-effectively. Whoever pulled the trigger for this deal to fall through either was in a rush or did not consider all possible options.

The deal is questionable. Microsoft is definitely in a rush to do something, yet we have no idea what. The company certainly has the resources to make its own service, but refuses, so they resort to something immediate. A timely decision. And before E3. A correlation maybe? We'll find out in a month.

Five Powerful Brands in Gaming Today

Adding pictures to my posts did seem like a good idea before I realized how iffy-iffy Blogger's posting template is. There was a good response to my previous post about patch 4.1, so I'll keep doing it. Though it is mildly frustrating.

Millward Brown Optimor is a leading global consulting firm, and every year the firm releases what it sees as the most powerful corporate brands. The rankings include not just how ubiquitous the company is, but its reputation and annual profits as well. Basically an amalgamation of how society perceives the businesses. The corporate junkies out there (you know who you are) are drooling bucket-loads, so I felt I should rank the top five gaming brands of today. This is only of today, the current generation, so franchises from the past will not be considered UNLESS the games are still relevant as of this posting. For anyone reading, please keep in mind this post will go into the business side of the industry, so be forewarned if business doesn't interest you - you'll get bored fast. But, it could still be an interesting read. Okay everybody; let us sit around the conference room and talk business.

1. Yeeeeeeeah. I'm not the biggest fan of this franchise, but you can't argue against the brand power of Activision's cash cow. The series claims the biggest entertainment launch in history with Black Ops, and the past four games have sold over ten million copies each. Call of Duty, regardless of how you perceive the franchise, is the star of gaming currently and that won't be changing for a while. When competitors in the genre all compare their sales to your franchise, you know you have made it big. Probably a stretch, but THQ's boss says Homefront could achieve such sales in the future as awareness for the brand grows. DICE has said more than anyone about Call of Duty, and they firmly believe Battlefield 3 could take the sales crown this round. The CoD fanbase is strong, so sales won't dissipate as quickly as people would like, and the brand can't sustain the success forever. Everyone looking to dismantle Call of Duty through sales will need to wait a few years.

2. No list about power in the industry could go without a mention of Nintendo. The company manages to continuously revolutionize their platform, bringing back gaming from its darkest days to embracing the 3D trend. It's numerous franchises have sold millions and are notable to even the most remote fan of gaming. The masterful way Nintendo has spread its consumer awareness is really unprecedented in the gaming industry, taking advantage of the roaring triumph the NES was and maintaining prominence to this day. The Wii may be increasingly irrelevant, but the 70 million proud owners of the console aren't complaining. Motion control has brought gaming to a whole new audience and opened up a mess of possibilities. Talk of a new console has excited even the smallest of gaming fans, and I can't wait to see how the brainiacs at Nintendo could topple the Wii.

3. Valve has played more of a passive role in releasing games in recent years, but their brand remains just as powerful. The growth of Steam as one of the leading digital stores for computer games has elevated previously unknown studios to arcade dominance, like Team Meat and their excruciatingly difficult platformer Super Meat Boy. Unfortunately Valve doesn't publicly release how much the store makes, so it we can't exactly gauge its dominance. Portal 2, the developer's most unique franchise, is the highest rated game this year and the game should hold the crown until the Christmas shopping season. And, there is the ever-elusive baby of Valve's catalog, Half-Life. Any shred of information for a new game gets huge attention and Valve has been toying with us for years over an Episode 3. The developer will remain a mainstay in the industry as long as PC gaming exists, so forever.

4. The last two took me a while. There are a number of established franchises and studios that could fit the very last two spots, so I'll maybe do a second part to this list. When Mass Effect was first announced, when we saw the first glimpse of Commander Shepard's impending battle with the Reapers, no one knew what to think. But more and more details spilled out and hype for the game grew tremendously. On the verge of an explosive finale, Bioware's treasured franchise has transformed our vision of the space-faring action RPG. The colourful cast of characters, an engaging story and streamlined combat and gameplay have led to a brilliant trilogy where the adventure is truly your own. Every decision made has an impact, both good and bad, on how squad-mates and society see Shepard. Bioware has set a standard that future games in the genre will try and measure up to which will be a very strenuous task.

5. Some people will question this decision, so hear me out. The sales of Assassin's Creed have been incredibly strong, and the overarching story has captivated audiences everywhere. Ubisoft's crown jewel has not only set itself apart for its uniqueness, but also has lifted Ubisoft out of obscurity. Before the success of Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia were getting progressively worse with each release. AC was the breath of fresh air Ubisoft needed, the perfect antidote for the developer's failing reputation. The series has since been annualized with Revelations coming later this year, and there is still much to explore in the ageless war between the Templars and Assassins. The historically accurate representations of each city are visually impressive, adding some sense of believability. And, last but certainly not least, even if you are running around avoiding death at any turn, how often would be to go back in time?

There it is folks, logos and all. This is solely my opinion, so if you have any quarrels with my choices, please shoot me an email at filthcardia@gmail.com and explain your reasoning! If anyone bothers to respond I'll reply to their issues in a separate post. Also, look for my first official feature on BrokeMyController.com to go up later today (about 6PM EST, I think) on why games should be cheaper. Thanks everyone. Ciao!

World of Warcraft - My Thoughts on 4.1 So Far

A good friend suggested I do this, yet it feels wrong since I have only played World of Warcraft since the launch of Cataclysm. So, from an amateur, noob, beginner, whatever derogatory gamer term you can think of, the following is my interpretation of Patch 4.1, Rise of the Zandalari. (This will be a particularly long post, but maybe I will break it into two parts if it gets too long. Stay tuned.)

It's an awesome cutscene.

As a faithful Alliance player and try-hard PvP'er, it is painful to help any Horde scum. Especially the Trolls - lanky bunch of bastards. But the once proud race is in a tough spot. After Deathwing unleashed his destruction upon any and all who reside on the tumultuous world of Azeroth, the Trolls feared execution. Swallowing their pride, the Zandalari (the tribe from whence all other tribes came from) seek to unite all Trolls and rebuild their mighty empire. The Gurubushi and Amani nations, with the Zandalari's help, have started re-imagining their capital cities (the two new heroic instances) and are actively looking to expand their territory. The Darkspear Trolls, the tribe aligned with the Horde, are asking both major factions to aid in quelling the looming rebellion before war breaks out. Simple enough, I guess. And, as expected, Blizzard doesn't disappoint once again with a stellar first cutscene which I'll include at the end of the post.

Now, as a new player, I can't speak for the changes to other classes except warrior. Maybe in the future when I become more familiar with what does what, I can rant all day long but for right now I'm sticking with what I know. Also being a new player I cannot compare the new Zul'Aman and Zul'Gurub instances to what they previously were, so this is a fresh perspective. I like the dungeons, don't get me wrong.

Lucky bastards.

Before I get into the new content, there are some drastic changes to the way heroic queues operate. And being a damage dealer, I can't agree with the way things were handled. To help lower queue times, Blizzard introduced a Call to Arms within the Dungeon Finder. Basically, if an insufficient number of people queue as one specific class (tanks), subsequent-queuing players can earn rare mounts, gold, gear and other goodies for playing the game properly. On paper this system may seem to work, but it doesn't directly solve the problem of long queues. If tanks are needed, there will be a mass shift for tanks but not enough healers, and vice versa. Only when both groups are awarded is the queue substantially lowered, and still I have to wait upward of 30 minutes. Blizzard obviously didn't do enough testing when implementing this.

The best new function added is the Guild Finder system. A menu presents a new player with plenty of choices, all with different characteristics and options for PvP, raiding, leveling, questing, etc. It's great for new players (a little late for players who came with the Cataclysm) but a great function nonetheless. The timeliness of its release has made the function useless, but for later updates and expansions, Blizzard will fix issues with the system to give the most usefulness. For right now, I've strongly considered leveling a PvP-centric Horde toon (losing all the damn time isn't fun as Alliance and frankly I am tired of it). Guild challenges are also a nice touch. The inclusion of challenges really encourages guilds to work together and these runs create a greater unification within the guild itself. My guild is fairly isolated among the selected raid groups, but slowly I've seen more people asking for the new heroic runs. In future updates I would like to see more unique guild challenges, maybe week-specific ones, like downing bosses in a certain time limit or in a particular way. Blizzard is allowed to get creative here.

Overpowered much?

Warriors are always extremely adjusted after every patch; casters claim the class to is overpowered, while warriors tout the class is powered enough. Being bias I am forced to go with the latter, but not directly because of the changes to the class itself. Frost mages, as many PvP'ers will agree, are the most overpowered class in the game, and with the amount of people having frost mages as their main PvP character, every battleground has at least two. Once, five times in a row there was three or more. I wouldn't have the right to complain if it was just one, but going against three frost mages (as an Alliance player) is an impossible task. As a warrior, since Charge and Intercept now share a cooldown, it has even made regular casters impossible to take down. There's not much a warrior can do except charge to warrant a caster without magic, otherwise we are sitting ducks. It's discouraging and the reason why I am leveling a Shaman right now to be my main PvP character (at least that's the plan). Patch 4.1 gave a boost to all three specs of mages, including a big boost to frost damage. I understand Blizzard's intention to try and make Frost a viable PvE spec, but not every spec necessarily needs to work in both environments. Tweak frost and make it more fitting for a player vs. player setting, the same as the arms spec for a warrior.

The star of the show, the two new (well, reworked) instances may be past raids, but work incredibly well as five-man instances. The dungeons present a suitable difficulty above the regular Cataclysm heroics, and often I am forced to run with guild members so I am (almost) guaranteed a clean run. PUGs (pickup groups) are unreliable and will likely lead to a painful headache lasting hours and a mounting numbers of deaths. The new heroics also give double valor points equating to double the difficulty, and now can be done in sequential order instead of daily. This is a welcome change, as not every player can log on every day. A missed run of valor points is wasted time to get better gear.

Ain't it purrrrrrrrdy?

Raids are an essential part of the WoW experience as player would say, and the runs are meant to be tough. It's not all about getting new gear; it's also about the feeling of elation after defeating a tough boss, or the thrill ride if things go down to the wire. Recently my raid group took down Ascendant Council of the Bastion of Twilight in what is a thrilling finale. A damage race before your entire group is annihilated. Pop every cooldown and potion, and hope for the best. Raids are meant to be difficult. I'm not the only player to complain about this, nor will I be the last, but in Blizzard's effort to make the game more accessible to new players the company is destroying the traditional WoW gameplay. Players bitch-and-moan about how truly difficult the encounters are, the way these battles are meant to be, yet Blizzard goes against their own will and nerfs the encounter anyway. If the developer was that scared to lose their audience, why not just hold daily giveaways for gear instead of having us earn them?

Patch 4.1 improved on many things but faltered unnecessarily. Some nerfs shouldn't be made, yet the changes are, because people bitch about the game being too perplexing. No wonder RIFT was such a massive hit; all the hardcore players have left to a game more complicated.

The Evolution of the Single-Player Experience

Valve made us all angry a few days ago by saying Portal 2 was the developer's last single-player experience. The comments were thankfully misconstrued, and Gabe Newell expanded on the idea by calling future endeavours "single-player plus, not no more single-player." The remarks sharply heightened the ever-insane hype for the next Half-Life game, whether it be Episode 3 or the ending of the trilogy. Valve has always been one for toying with its rabid fanbase, but I think these comments crossed the ethereal boundary surrounding the studio. It's godlike presence in the gaming world just may be shamed for eternity...

Volatile comments aside, what Newell said did send a message. He emphasized the point of every gamer being involved in the trend of social networking, and that games today aren't taking full advantage of the intangible unity. And he's right. The only game in recent memory (my unreliable memory, I mean) to be single-player but allow interaction with the community was Demon's Souls, where players could drop hints to other players of a hard upcoming battle or gifts. And, to the unfortunate noobie, other players could drop right in and start slaughtering anything in sight.

In my opinion, bigger releases are moving away from the isolated single-player experience and are showing signs of a new standard. Not necessarily a new standard of eradicating single-player outright, because that will never happen, but a gradual shift in thinking toward embracing the community without entirely embracing the community. What I said will make no sense first reading, but read it over and think for a second. Top franchises like Assassin's Creed are including Facebook games in the mix, not only to capture a new audience but also to excite the established audience. These games are cheap to produce and, really, free advertising for over 500 million people. It's the future of advertising and video games are leading the charge. Playing Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy gave bonuses to Brotherhood, enhancing the multiplayer experience.

The prominence of Facebook allows developers the unique opportunity to present their platform in a cheap, marketable way that won't bankrupt small studios. It levels the playing field for smaller developers to start building a reputation. Five years ago, Zynga would be left in the dust. But now the company is raking in billion dollar profits just from Facebook games! The company is even planning an initial public offering! This is an evolution of the way the single-player experience is handled, and further changes will only amaze more.

Call of Duty Going Free-to-Play?

Weird for big news to come out late on a Friday, and so soon before the actual announcement. First reported on Rock, Paper, Shotgun, through trusted sources, the website says Activision is expected to unveil Call of Duty Online on Monday. Normally I'd consider something like this ludicrous (Activision releasing a product free I mean) but persistent rumours over the last couple years convince me otherwise.

It's only sensible Activision would eventually go into the free-to-play realm. Battlefield Play4Free, its main competitor, had a huge response in the open beta with 200,000 accounts made. Also, games like Lord of the Rings Online that in a past life were pay-to-play, have seen a major increase in profits since becoming free. Before, that type of thinking would be considered a last resort to milk profits for big-budget games on their last breath, but the proof now exists the payment model can be a success.

Activision is always actively looking to crush competitors and the Battlefield franchise is its biggest one. The response from Battlefield Heroes was probably a main catalyst in Activision first making the decision, judging by the amount of time of the rumours being around. It pains me to say it but Activision is the leader of the FPS genre, and I'm surprised it took the company this long to determine free-to-play could be successful.

Stay tuned on Monday for more details.

A Third PSN Attack Imminent?

Sony has been hacked and the gaming world is on edge. Even almost three weeks later, gamers are still wondering if their credit card information is secure. Furthermore, to make the situation worse, reports are surfacing saying that a new attack will take place this weekend. The PlayStation Network isn't fully operational a month after the first attack, so Sony better be prepared. An extended shutdown of the service would be devastating, and not only because of the obvious implications, but gamers still haven't had the chance to play Mortal Kombat online. The code given is tied to the PSN, and the service is still down. Fighting with friends is fun for the short term, but the PS3 is the preferred platform for fighting games because the Xbox controller's directional pad is terrible. At least it gives gamers time to tackle the Challenge Tower.

The "Welcome Back" program is a nice touch, one I was thoroughly impressed by, but will be useless if the service is down again. A new firmware update won't be released in time to limit the scope of a new attack, therefore granting the hackers free access to use the same method as before. I hope the crisis response team for Sony works fast.

The hackers haven't said why they continue to fight with Sony. The company has hired two investigative firms and intelligence departments of the US government to search for those responsible. They will be caught eventually; it's only a matter of time. But one thing worries me: Sony wrote a letter to the United States Congress claiming Anonymous was to be held accountable. Sony falsely accused the Internet group because they are the "obvious" culprit. Being a keen follower of how Anonymous rules the Internet, I have never heard the group deny anything. Not in their ongoing fight against Scientology or when the Australian government website was taken down. Moreover, the core of Anonymous (though their actions can be extreme) are pursuers of free speech and won't do anything unlawful for personal gain. Sony is blatantly using Anonymous as a scapegoat only because they can't find who is actually responsible. The group culpable is either an offshoot of Anonymous or not affiliated with the group at all; just some dishonest individuals taking advantage of a situation.

CNET, who first broke the story, said the hackers "told" them a new attack will happen soon. I wouldn't expect the reporter to divulge who told her or how she was approached, but it hints at the hackers exploiting the gaming media the same way Sony did against George Hotz. So, this could be an act of retribution to belittle Sony in the public eye and for monetary gain? If that is the intention, Sony has a fight on their hands. Interestingly enough, the comments are calling for Anonymous to help Sony. That won't happen.

Sony better be prepared.

Anywho, aside from this blog post, I just rented Homefront so I'll be writing a review. Unfortunately I won't get the full experience because of the stupid online code already being used. Damn person was cocky leaving the code in there. What a dick move. Here's to hoping a Homefront review is still relevant. Drinks ahoy. Ciao!

Could Gaming Be An Educational Tool for The Times?

This will be a somewhat odd article. It's an idea I've had for a long time, and I felt I should do something special for the 123rd post. Hope you enjoy.

It's almost the tenth anniversary of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, and the death of Osama bin Laden has given many people hope we'll see an end to terrorism one day. Obviously this is terrific news and an important moment of recent history, but his death changes nothing. Al Qaeda still exists and attacks will be more abundant in retaliation.

When I was in grade six, as we were recapping our lesson on long division, the teacher next door burst in and said the towers were hit. Immediately I felt a vomiting sensation and ran to the bathroom. An assembly was called instantaneously and the whole school watched in awe as the second plane hit. We saw the towers fall, people fleeing in mobs to safety, and the beginning of one of the most fearful decades in human history. I had been told about the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing in a limited fashion, what McVeigh thought he represented, and how some parts of the world recognized the United States as a domineering force. 95% of the students in that gymnasium didn't know the context of the attacks, including me, but I understood the intention. When the name Osama bin Laden was tossed around, the loud whispers of students echoed through the room asking if the person next to them knew who he was. Nobody did.

The events of last Sunday night have a different meaning to different people, but the littlest of us were asking "Who?" Parents everywhere avoided the topic or had to awkwardly present a long and complex history. Being that young, kids, preteens if you will, don't have the attention span to question governments, so obviously they won't care about a tragedy that occurred ten years ago. Therefore, with gaming taking up a majority of the time for these kids, why not take advantage of the situation and teach them about the world?

They see the images of soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, and don't realize the seriousness of each situation. They don't understand why the Taliban harboured terrorism; or why Saddam Hussein was executed; or why rebels are marching on the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Gaming can be used, carefully, to help inform the younger audience of the history of each conflict, and why each case is relevant to the very soil they stand on.

Gaming can be used as a constructive tool if applied properly, but there's one thing holding companies back: sensitivity. The tragedy of September 11 is still relevant, and those involved are still living with the effects ten years later. The backlash from Medal of Honor where the Taliban were playable almost got the game banned in the United Kingdom and the military refused sales within its stores. The Taliban's name in the multiplayer mode was eventually changed to the "Opposition Force", making it just another generic first-person shooter. Six Days in Fallujah was another victim of sensitivity; based on the Second Battle of Fallujah back in 2004, the game drew criticism from war veterans and Konami then refused to publish.

It's unavoidable, but if the industry were to take another approach toward current events, video games could become an educational tool. I don't have any suggestions, though; if I was actually paid maybe I could use my incredible genius to think of something, but only do I mindlessly blog for now.

Ubisoft Launching A Movie Division?

More games could be gracing the silver screen in due time because Ubisoft has launched a movie division. The Montreal-based developer is one of the better studios to take a crack at simulating their games for the mass audience. Franchises like Assassin's Creed have massive fanbases, so there is a guaranteed audience, and also the company's games tend to have overcomplicated plots. The pure mystery factor of Assassin's Creed is enough to make me tune in. Ubisoft's new division would also produce TV shows; we could see the same success seen from other nerd staples like HBO's new hit show, Game of Thrones. It got a second season after the first episode aired and Ubisoft is looking to replicate that success (assuming a Ubisoft-produced show is good).

Undoubtedly, the spark for this was how Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time triumphed in the box office. The film definitely had faults, but its proof video game franchise movies can be successful. An Assassin's Creed movie could be a thrilling experience; portraying the fight for survival against a tyrannical corporation with ties throughout history. Seeing the real city is better than some pixelated copy from the 1400s, and the plot has written itself. Other established series like Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell could really show the possible chops of a gaming movie franchise.

Although we haven't seen any gameplay yet, just the thought of an I Am Alive movie titillates the nerd senses. Stranded in the wasteland of Chicago, the whole point is to survive. Imagine the psychological effects of being alone in a destroyed massive city, knowing you are only one of few who is still breathing. Seeing that on screen would be fascinating. Make it happen Ubisoft.

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The PSN Hacking and E3 - The Timing is Perfect

The biggest conference in gaming, E3, is set to take place in just shy of a month. I'm excited, everyone's excited. But the lead-up to the conference has been a troubled time. The hacking of the PlayStation Network has put everyone on edge, and as more and more people report credit card fraud, things will get worse. The future looks bleak for Sony's console, many gamers protesting and abandoning the PS3 outright. Until the numbers show how many accounts have been closed, Sony is in dire straits. That being said, the timing of this debacle is impeccable, with E3 just around the corner. The breakdown of the PSN will certainly change what Sony has planned for the conference, but how drastically? Will the reception be positive but all the while shrouded in worried customers and police investigations?

It will no doubt be a tense atmosphere when Sony's spokesperson struts onto the stage. The aftermath still has yet to be seen, but it doesn't take a psychic to tell us the position of Sony in the coming months. Sony's presentation will be closely watched by both media and gamers alike, but not for the obvious reasons. We'd all love to see what Sony will grace us for the next year, but honestly, I'm more intent on hearing more of any beefier security updates or if Sony will even mention what has transpired.

It would be nice to have the company open the presentation with a redesigned PlayStation Network, or the blueprints of one. Sony desperately needs to reinvent their image and beefing up security on the service would be a step in the right direction. E3 is the best platform to do so, and as I said before, the timing is impeccable. Then, to ease the tension, have Kevin Butler come out and crack a few moderately funny jokes. Make fun of Microsoft's poor lineup this year and praise the PS3's. Then move on to games and other goodies. A playable demo of The Last Guardian will be the talk of the conference, or just any gameplay at all would suffice.

Sony can use the marvelous mix of games to their advantage, diverting the attention away from the last two weeks. It's plain and simple. Now when Xbox Live gets penetrated, Sony can sit back and laugh.

Sony's "Welcome Back" Program - Have Some Free Stuff

I have to give a hand to Sony. Normally I wouldn't show appreciation to any gaming company for any reason, but Sony has responded to this debacle with class. Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President of Sony, held a press conference six hours ago detailing what PSN users can expect once the services goes back online. Though, what he said was incredibly vague. The few confirmed details we know are everyone is getting a free month of PS Plus (as expected), and region-locked "selected PlayStation entertainment content" for free download. The "Welcome Back" program name doesn't seem to fit; I don't think many PSN users ever left.

One thing I can fully respect about the company's handling was that they were open and honest about what happened. It might have been a number of days after, but corporations aren't known for their good timing. Ultimately accepting the blame and actively pursuing those responsible is all we can ask, and I hope they find them soon. Because if they don't, the chances of another attack are high. I don't mean to scare PSN users, but your trust with Sony will waver the next couple months. Current projections say all services will be up-and-running by the end of May, where regular online play will be available next week. Only the PS Store will have the longest maintenance.

Sony did exactly what everyone expected. Although I didn't expect the company to go as far as to give everyone a month of PS Plus. That's the most surprising thing to come out of this ordeal. Sony had no responsibility to people who aren't paying for the online service, and yet they still were rewarded. Over the last five hours my perception of the company has changed drastically. With their reputation reestablished, they better get working hard on some new security or something to stop another attack.

Out of the 78 million accounts on the PlayStation Network, ten million entrusted Sony with their credit card details. The company couldn't outright deny private information was tampered with, but a man on the NeoGAF forums claimed to have $12,500 stolen. To tackle the validity of the statement, the man provided a picture of his bank statement proving the money was indeed taken. But how many of those ten million have we not heard from yet? There could be hundreds or thousands of victims, and if that is the case, Sony will have a giant lawsuit on their hands.

Sony has reacted favourably but we have yet to see the full damage of the hacking. The PSN may be coming back up soon, but gamers' faith in the service is deteriorating slowly. The next month should get real interesting. I find it funny how usually gamers are fussing over the announcements to be made at E3 around this time and nothing else.