I'm not being very consistent with this retro blog, am I? Well, the reason I haven't posted anything for the past few weeks, is because I don't have anything to post! That is not the case this week! I have some big news... sort of, to report!
Monday 4th November 2013
I was at CEX today after college, and I had found a great deal, I found 2 games for sale, Ace Lightning (Remember the show?) and Mall Tycoon, both for PC, and guess how much, in total, it costed me to buy both games... No, go on, guess... 45p! Ace Lightning costed 15p and Mall Tycoon was 30p! I thought that was a bargain! That was until...
I had installed both games, and I can see why they were both so cheap... Ace lightning was absolutely atrocious! I feel like I had been ripped off, that 15p could've bought me... erm... they have me there...
How bad is it? How does this sound? No mouse support, Tank style controls coupled with a Mario 64-esque camera, respawning enemies, space to jump, ctrl to shoot, and alt to swing your weapon... You have to do the spock hand to play this game, and it really puts a strain on my fingers after a while, and on top of all that, the game is boring to play... To give them credit, they captured the atmosphere of the show quite well, it feels like an Ace Lightning game. Another thing of note, they never got Ace Lightning's original voice actor for the game, instead, they got who sounds like Tom Clarke Hill, the voice of Cortez from Timesplttiers, the game's credits didn't mention the voice actors, and IMDB and Wikipedia have nothing on it either, so I'm not 100% sure, but I swear, it sounds so much like like him!
Mall Tycoon isn't a classic either, the controls are loose and clunky, and adding walls to is an absolute nightmare! For 30p, though, I can't complain, I got a bit of fun out of it once I got used to it... I tried a trial of Mall Tycoon 3 after playing it, and it's so much better, It'll be hard to go back to the original, so I uninstalled it...
Thursday 7th November 2013
I was at CEX again, and I saw all of the Smackdown Vs. Raw games as well as Smackdown: Shut your Mouth and Wrestlemania 21, all for £1 each, so I decided to nab all the games I didn't have, sadly, Smackdown vs. Raw (original) and Wrestlemania 21 don't work, everything else works perfect, though. Does anyone know if I have to go through buy or sell, or can I go through either to take what I bought back?
Friday 8th November 2013
I got a new console off of eBay, it came with 9 games (Including 2 copes of one game, the game I wanted this system for!), and 3 controllers, I thought I got a great deal on it.
I was never fussed about this console before, but then I saw someone put for sale on what's called "Facebay", which is a Facebook group where people from a certain city (they have groups for each city, I believe), sell stuff, for others in that city to buy and pick up at a meeting point, and vice versa, you can buy someone and go to a meet up point.
Anyway, someone was selling this console there, for a good price, it came with 4 games, and 2 controllers, so I was trying to make a deal with him, but he declined everything I offered, saying he'd get more on eBay and that he'd be "missing out", I got so exited to be getting this console as well, so I decided 'Screw it! I'm getting one off of eBay!' ...so I did.
What console am I talking about? I'm not telling you, I'll reveal it once it arrives... I bet youse are tempted to know what is it, aren't youse? No? Well, screw youse, I'm not telling youse either way!
Sunday, 10th November 2013
I had brought the Dreamcast to Grans this week, we didn't play much, though, I played a bit of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 with my brother, then I played a wee bit of Shenmue 2, I didn't get much further in the story, though.
Then I played a game of Chu Chu Rocket with my cousin: Steven.
Then my cousin: Giancarlo, came in, and we played some Ready 2 Rumble Boxing (Rumble Bumble!), and we had a blast playing it, then me and my (other) brother had a few matches. The graphics for that game still amaze me to this day, it looks like any regular PS2 or Gamecube game from the mid 2000s, and runs at 60fps, and this was in 1999, I can definitely imagine, somebody being blown away by the Dreamcast version of this game! I know I would've, it amazes me now!
The I had a wee game of NBA Showtime... that is all.
That's all we got up to this weel, maybe next week, I can bring that mystery console to grans, who knows?
Until then, BYE!
Showing posts with label PC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PC. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Sunday, 22 September 2013
Cobra!'s Retro Diary - 22/9/2013
It's been a long time since I've done one of these, but then again, it's also been a long time since I was able to bring a console to my grans house and play some golden oldies with my cousins!
I have been on a shopping spree with CEX and GeForce, it's kind of like Steams summer sale, only with physical games.... and it's cheaper! Most games sold there are really old, so don't give me that rubbish about cheating publishers out of their money!
The most notable game I got was Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX on the PC, it was only £2, I though it wasn't a bad price, even considering it's an Acclaim game.
Acclaim had made some brilliant games in their time, don't get me wrong, but most of their games were kind of... meh. So I bought it, thinking it wasn't going to be great, but I was pleasantly surprised! The game is so much fun, it has tight controls, a great soundtrack, brilliant physics for it's time (Ragdoll bails!), and it has features in the game that even the Tony Hawk/Mat Hoffman games haven't implemented at that point, such as trick modifiers, spine transfers, double trick variations and manuals! (I believe the game pre-dated Pro Skater 2 by about a month (I can't be bothered looking it up!)) The game was way ahead of it's time, and apart from the physics, I think the game has aged very well!
In my opinion, the game is almost criminally underrated and undervalued, it was the best £2 I had ever spent! If you can find a copy for £10 or less, jump at the chance, you won't be disappointed!
Sunday, 22nd September 2013:
I brought my Nintendo 64 to grans because I knew one of my cousins, Giancarlo, was going to be there, so I set the console up, and tested it, because I haven't tried the N64 I brought in a long time, it was covered in dust when I dug it up. So I put on Tony Hawk's Skateboarding, and apart from a slightly blurry screen (that might be just because I'm so used to watching Blu-rays and playing PC, Wii and Wii U games in HD.) it worked perfectly!
So after a wee session of that, me and my cousin had a few games of Goldeneye, and the memories it brought back! It has only been a few months, but it's felt like years!
After that, we watched one of the worst if not the worst film of all time, Troll 2! It was awful, we had so much fun watching it! That's one half of my goal fulfilled, now I just need to watch The Room, and decide what is the worst film ever!
That's it for my diary, I know it was short, but that's all that happened, sorry about that! I just hope I get to make diaries more often!
That's all I have, see youse in another few months!
-Cobra!
I have been on a shopping spree with CEX and GeForce, it's kind of like Steams summer sale, only with physical games.... and it's cheaper! Most games sold there are really old, so don't give me that rubbish about cheating publishers out of their money!
The most notable game I got was Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX on the PC, it was only £2, I though it wasn't a bad price, even considering it's an Acclaim game.
Acclaim had made some brilliant games in their time, don't get me wrong, but most of their games were kind of... meh. So I bought it, thinking it wasn't going to be great, but I was pleasantly surprised! The game is so much fun, it has tight controls, a great soundtrack, brilliant physics for it's time (Ragdoll bails!), and it has features in the game that even the Tony Hawk/Mat Hoffman games haven't implemented at that point, such as trick modifiers, spine transfers, double trick variations and manuals! (I believe the game pre-dated Pro Skater 2 by about a month (I can't be bothered looking it up!)) The game was way ahead of it's time, and apart from the physics, I think the game has aged very well!
In my opinion, the game is almost criminally underrated and undervalued, it was the best £2 I had ever spent! If you can find a copy for £10 or less, jump at the chance, you won't be disappointed!
Sunday, 22nd September 2013:
I brought my Nintendo 64 to grans because I knew one of my cousins, Giancarlo, was going to be there, so I set the console up, and tested it, because I haven't tried the N64 I brought in a long time, it was covered in dust when I dug it up. So I put on Tony Hawk's Skateboarding, and apart from a slightly blurry screen (that might be just because I'm so used to watching Blu-rays and playing PC, Wii and Wii U games in HD.) it worked perfectly!
So after a wee session of that, me and my cousin had a few games of Goldeneye, and the memories it brought back! It has only been a few months, but it's felt like years!
After that, we watched one of the worst if not the worst film of all time, Troll 2! It was awful, we had so much fun watching it! That's one half of my goal fulfilled, now I just need to watch The Room, and decide what is the worst film ever!
That's it for my diary, I know it was short, but that's all that happened, sorry about that! I just hope I get to make diaries more often!
That's all I have, see youse in another few months!
-Cobra!
Saturday, 17 August 2013
My thoughts on Games for Windows marketplace shutting down...
Just a quick one, If you haven't heard already Games for Windows Marketplace is shutting down, it's closing on August 22nd, and it seems everyone is celebrating about it, I don't share the same enthusiasm, I'm here to give me thoughts on it.
I wouldn't be surprised if I was the only person on this planet to actually liked Games for Windows Live! I've always though it was much better than Steam, normally, their games were cheaper, and their DRM wasn't nearly as restrictive, for one, you didn't need the internet to activate the games, digital or physical! Not only that, I thought it was awesome that it was virtually the same as Xbox Live, which meant I could add people from said service, and since most people I know own an Xbox 360, almost exclusively, this was a great feature for me!
I'm sad to see the marketplace go, they should have a closing sale, I might get a game or two from them, either way, I might just nab Mortal Kombat Arcade Collection before it closes anyway, it's £2 cheaper than it is on Steam, and you won't have Steam's DRM in place to restrict you from, say, grabbing the installer, or make an archive of the installed game, and store it on a memory stick for keeps!
On the flipside, Steam's former "boss", Jason Holtman, has joined Games for Windows, I'm assuming this means that Games for Windows isn't going to discontinue, at least not yet, in fact this could mean Games for Windows could become more popular, and more publishers will use it again, but on the other hand, I'm worried that Holtman might change GFWL for the worst, and make it as restrictive as Steam. We'll see what happens, I guess.
If he doesn't restrict it, and only promotes it, then to me, the may be some hope left in PC gaming...
That's all I have, I told you it would going to be quick!
-Cobra!
I wouldn't be surprised if I was the only person on this planet to actually liked Games for Windows Live! I've always though it was much better than Steam, normally, their games were cheaper, and their DRM wasn't nearly as restrictive, for one, you didn't need the internet to activate the games, digital or physical! Not only that, I thought it was awesome that it was virtually the same as Xbox Live, which meant I could add people from said service, and since most people I know own an Xbox 360, almost exclusively, this was a great feature for me!
I'm sad to see the marketplace go, they should have a closing sale, I might get a game or two from them, either way, I might just nab Mortal Kombat Arcade Collection before it closes anyway, it's £2 cheaper than it is on Steam, and you won't have Steam's DRM in place to restrict you from, say, grabbing the installer, or make an archive of the installed game, and store it on a memory stick for keeps!
On the flipside, Steam's former "boss", Jason Holtman, has joined Games for Windows, I'm assuming this means that Games for Windows isn't going to discontinue, at least not yet, in fact this could mean Games for Windows could become more popular, and more publishers will use it again, but on the other hand, I'm worried that Holtman might change GFWL for the worst, and make it as restrictive as Steam. We'll see what happens, I guess.
If he doesn't restrict it, and only promotes it, then to me, the may be some hope left in PC gaming...
That's all I have, I told you it would going to be quick!
-Cobra!
Oh no...
Remember that article I put up last month about my theory of the new Mortal Kombat on PC being DRM Free?
Well, I have a bit of bad news, I found a photo of the EU version of the game, look at the top right corner of the box...
"Requires Internet Connection to Activate"? This only means one thing... it uses Steam...
Why the f*ck did they makes us wait a f*cking month just to re-release the Steam version!? Why did they need an extra month to bring it out!? They already had the box art, and I assume they had the system requirements, a summary from the Steam page, and some screenshots, so what made them delay it!?
I am sick and tired of the PC platform DRMing every game these days! I promised myself that if Mortal Kombat Komplete game is DRM-free, I would stick with the PC for at least little longer, otherwise, I'm getting a PS4.
Sure, console game run slower, run on a lower-resolution, and aren't moddable, but they have one important factor to them that, for the most part, PC games no longer have: Game ownership!
You actually own your games, you're allowed to trade them in, buy a game used, and best of all, you will not be dictated by publishers! To me, the basics have higher priority than luxuries, sure, modding is fun, and I love my games to go 60+fps, but if you don't own any of your games, what does it matter?
I'll still get the occasional DRM-free (or dick-check) sports games and Telltalle games titles, like I always did, assuming they remain DRM free, and maybe the occasional indie off of GOG.com, and of course a bunch of oldies from the late 90s and early 2000s, but for the most part, I am done with the PC, it was once a fantastic platform, until Valve entered the scene with it's Steam, and corporatized it, turning into a measly rental service, turned it into the equivalent of a dictatorship!
Valve have made some gems, don't get me wrong, but the sad thing is, when Valve go, I won't be able to revisit any of their games (except for half-life 1), treasured memories of their games will remain just that, memories, never to be revisited...
If I ever find a game that doesn't use any of that DRM, I'll be sure to post them here, for those who feel the same way as me...
-Cobra!
Well, I have a bit of bad news, I found a photo of the EU version of the game, look at the top right corner of the box...
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"Requires Internet Connection to Activate"? This only means one thing... it uses Steam...
Why the f*ck did they makes us wait a f*cking month just to re-release the Steam version!? Why did they need an extra month to bring it out!? They already had the box art, and I assume they had the system requirements, a summary from the Steam page, and some screenshots, so what made them delay it!?
I am sick and tired of the PC platform DRMing every game these days! I promised myself that if Mortal Kombat Komplete game is DRM-free, I would stick with the PC for at least little longer, otherwise, I'm getting a PS4.
Sure, console game run slower, run on a lower-resolution, and aren't moddable, but they have one important factor to them that, for the most part, PC games no longer have: Game ownership!
You actually own your games, you're allowed to trade them in, buy a game used, and best of all, you will not be dictated by publishers! To me, the basics have higher priority than luxuries, sure, modding is fun, and I love my games to go 60+fps, but if you don't own any of your games, what does it matter?
I'll still get the occasional DRM-free (or dick-check) sports games and Telltalle games titles, like I always did, assuming they remain DRM free, and maybe the occasional indie off of GOG.com, and of course a bunch of oldies from the late 90s and early 2000s, but for the most part, I am done with the PC, it was once a fantastic platform, until Valve entered the scene with it's Steam, and corporatized it, turning into a measly rental service, turned it into the equivalent of a dictatorship!
Valve have made some gems, don't get me wrong, but the sad thing is, when Valve go, I won't be able to revisit any of their games (except for half-life 1), treasured memories of their games will remain just that, memories, never to be revisited...
If I ever find a game that doesn't use any of that DRM, I'll be sure to post them here, for those who feel the same way as me...
-Cobra!
Saturday, 13 July 2013
Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition [PC]: Could the retail version be DRM-free?
A Quick update, but I've had a thought recently, and it concerns the PC version of Mortal Kombat Komplete. As you all probably know, they mentioned the Steam version will be released in July (it's out now), but the retail version would have to wait a month later to see the light of day...
Why is that? The retail editions of the console versions are already out, they could've been like everyone else and released it on PC physically on the same day, but they haven't, do you think there's a reason for that?
Let's look at other games that had to wait for physical releases on PC, most notably, Telltale games. Whenever they complete a season of their episodic games, us retail gamers always have to wait months untill the retail version comes out, and every Telltale games creation have been completely DRM free! I have a lot of their games, and I love every one of them, they don't restrict me from doing anything to them, and they're good fun, what could be better? Some of their games were even published by companies that regularly use Steam or Steam-like DRM, such as Deep Silver and Namco.
It's not just them, Ubisoft have done something similar as well, as you may or may not know, Rayman Origins didn't get a PC release untill months after every other version, however, the PC version, even retail, is free of any DRM, and this is coming from the company who invented Uplay, amazing, right?
So I think what WB are doing, are biding their time, waiting untill the other versions sell, and make a profit, and then unleash a version that does nothing to stop trade ins or piracy, to make just a little more money...
Think about it, this is the "Komplete" edition, meaning it has all the DLC included, also suggesting the game may not have any more coming out, so they wouldn't have any use for Steam or Game for Windows to host and sell more DLC, would they?
The game apparently runs on the Unreal Engine (seeing that Arcade Kollection did, I would believe that), it would be easy to port to PC, the unreal engine's home, so with that said, development won't cost much, so I don't think they're at risk of losing money, as they wouldn't have as much to lose...
They say the most important time for sales is the first week, if not the first month, so I think Nehterrealm/WB gamesare waiting until that period is over, and sales go quiet, and then release their game DRM-free! I really hope so!
What do you guys think?... That's going to be a rhetorical question, isn't it?
Why is that? The retail editions of the console versions are already out, they could've been like everyone else and released it on PC physically on the same day, but they haven't, do you think there's a reason for that?
Let's look at other games that had to wait for physical releases on PC, most notably, Telltale games. Whenever they complete a season of their episodic games, us retail gamers always have to wait months untill the retail version comes out, and every Telltale games creation have been completely DRM free! I have a lot of their games, and I love every one of them, they don't restrict me from doing anything to them, and they're good fun, what could be better? Some of their games were even published by companies that regularly use Steam or Steam-like DRM, such as Deep Silver and Namco.
It's not just them, Ubisoft have done something similar as well, as you may or may not know, Rayman Origins didn't get a PC release untill months after every other version, however, the PC version, even retail, is free of any DRM, and this is coming from the company who invented Uplay, amazing, right?
So I think what WB are doing, are biding their time, waiting untill the other versions sell, and make a profit, and then unleash a version that does nothing to stop trade ins or piracy, to make just a little more money...
Think about it, this is the "Komplete" edition, meaning it has all the DLC included, also suggesting the game may not have any more coming out, so they wouldn't have any use for Steam or Game for Windows to host and sell more DLC, would they?
The game apparently runs on the Unreal Engine (seeing that Arcade Kollection did, I would believe that), it would be easy to port to PC, the unreal engine's home, so with that said, development won't cost much, so I don't think they're at risk of losing money, as they wouldn't have as much to lose...
They say the most important time for sales is the first week, if not the first month, so I think Nehterrealm/WB gamesare waiting until that period is over, and sales go quiet, and then release their game DRM-free! I really hope so!
What do you guys think?... That's going to be a rhetorical question, isn't it?
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
(Yet another) Rant: Steam, and similar DRM/Corporate schemes
If this post gets at least one reader (which it probably won't, let's be honest), controversy might follow, Steam fanboys will keep nagging and trolling me, throwing at me insults and complaints without taking 1 look in the mirror. (a.k.a. Steam) They all seem to do. I'm not trying to create a spark or trying to get an angry mob after me, I just want this off my chest, I am only laying out the facts for you, you can choose what you think of it after. As the Oracle from the Matrix once said: "You have already made the choice, now, you're beginning to understand that choice.".
I ranted here previously, about digital download games. Well, since then, my opinions have changed ever so slightly, I'm okay with services like GOG, not as a replacement to physical, but as a companion, for indie games and such! On the other hand, I don't think I'll want to buy any physical game that uses Steam, Origin or UPlay DRM ever again!
I'm not going to complain about Origin and Uplay, it's pointless, as, let's be honest, Steam inspired them, they're just copies, Steam is the real culprit! It's not just Steam either, it's it's fanboys, I'm sure there exist Steam users who are smart, and know what they're talking about, I have a few freinds who are hardcore Steam users, and they're okay.
Most Steam users I've seen online, are a bunch of stupid, hypocritical, inconsistent ar*eholes! I'll get to them later...
Steam and similar DRM don't accept used sales. Now, I've seen a lot of PC gamers complain about the Origin, Uplay and the Xbox One (the latter not anymore) for doing this, when Steam has the exact same restrictions!
Steam requires an online verification to install games, Steam requires an online check-in every week or so (not as bad as Xbox One, but it still means you're screwed if you lacked internet), it blocks used games, and companies have full and total control over what you can and can't do with your games. They can even just take the game away from you, without reason, and you can't have a say in the matter, and you can't sue them either, because Steam have made it so you can't do that!
I am willing to bet that this the main, if not the only reason more publishers have become interested in the PC, it's a publishers wet dream to have full control over the consumer! Steam, and similar "services", makes that dream come true!
When buying a physical game that uses Steam DRM, as my friend once said to me, and he makes a good point, the code inside is more valuable than the disc, the disc is useless, you don't even need it to install the game, you can enter the code without the disc inserted, Steam will register it, and download the game. Once the code is used, you're just as well burning the game, it's that useful!
Worst of all, people want their physical games DRMed, which makes no sense whatsoever! Do these people want their physical games to become useless after the code is used!?
Steam also does nothing to stop piracy, it's very easy to obtain a cracked .exe of a game, and a cracked client, even Gabe Newell apparently said that pirates are a "non-issue" (but used sales are!?), so all the Steam DRM does is forbid buyers from sharing their games, and it eliminates used sales. In other words, it punishes the good paying consumer!
You see, my point about the physical/digital debate is game ownership, where you own your games on physical, but not digital, it turns out, you don't even own the game when buying physical, at least not if it has Steam, Origin or Uplay DRM. They're licensed to you, and you know a fascinating fact about Licenses? They Expire! They are not permanent things, they can expire over-time, or it can be revoked from you for any reason. So esentially, when you buy a game from Steam or Origin, you're only renting it, because you can't keep it forever, can you?
Don't believe me? You can read the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
Like probably the majority of youse, I breezed through it thinking it wouldn't concern me, and accepted, but give it an actual read, you'll be shocked at it's contents! More specifically, read sections 2.A and 2.F.
Actually, Don't bother! I've done it for you! I've even highlighted the important parts, because I'm nice!
...and here's section 2.F:
You can say what you want about Microsoft, and I'm not a fan of them either, but at least their Games for Windows games doesn't require an online activation, you only need it to play the game online (You can create an offline profile), and even then, the key is tied to the physical copy, not on any account. By the way, I've tried this with Street Fighter X Tekken, I turned off the internet, and installed it, and right enough, I had no problems installing and playing the game! (Where as Steam, which is clearly superior, reuqires online verification just to install it and you can't do anything with your Steam games)
If you don't believe me read this!
They even reversed the Xbox One's DRM policies after complaints. What has Valve done when people complained to them? Absoluletly nothing!
It's ironic as well, Microsoft are bad guys and Valve are gods!? Sure, Microsoft have their slip ups, but at least they make up for it later on, Valve just bury their problems and pretend they don't exist, fooling the unsuspecting consumer, and it seems to have worked!
I've seen Steam users complain that the Xbox One stops the ability to share your software, the fact you are screwed without internet, and that it restricts it's audiences to the very rich! When Steam has the same restrictions, when I see someone complain about Steam for the exact same problems, they seem to always put the blame on the user, and defends their precious Steam!
For example, when someone complains that they can't share their games with another user, or use the game on another machine/account, here's a comparison of what the average steam user says:
Xbox One: "Microsoft are a bunch of cheap, greedy b*stards! They just want more money, by treating us like criminals, taking away out freedom, and kills game ownership!"
Response to someone saying the exact same thing about Steam: "Fuck you! Do you want to give the game to another person and cheat the developers out of their money!?"
How many times have we heard both of those kind of comments from "PC gamers"? I see them a lot! They can't have it both ways! Are used games good or bad? Make up your mind!
Also, in response to the latter quote, which I get a lot myself, I only give a DRM-free game away if the other person isn't interested or ever plans on buying the game, either that, or I accidentally buy a second copy of a game new. (which is rare, but has happened a couple of times.) Either way, it wouldn't make a difference to sales whether or not a gave it away or traded it in...
Steam users also seem to talk about installing games anywhere as an advantage, which is a very poor arguement! You can do the exact same thing with a DRM-free physical games, and every download client on this planet, in fact, I'd be scared if you weren't able to do that with Steam!
What's that? Steam has an Offline mode? Well, you need be online to go offline, having online as a requirement in order to use a feature you're only going to use when you can't get online... It really defeats the purpose, doesn't it? Also, I'd like to see youse try to install a disc game offline, you can't!
Steam does achievements and leaderboards? So does Games for Windows, and even Raptr, which is an overlay for games, does something similar. I'm not fussed about achievements anyway, they're nice, but they're not something I need.
Really, the only great thing about Steam is it's workshop, it makes installing mods much easier, and you can easily uninstall them, that, I have to admit, is awesome!
That however, doesn't make up for everything bad about Steam, if I have to give up my digital right to make installing mods a bit easier... I'll stick with the traditional method if you don't mind...
I think everyone needs to wake up, and realize the PC is not the awesome platform it used to be, Valve are not the gods of gaming, they are killing the physical market, they are allowing publishers total control over us behind our backs! They are turning the PC platform into a corporatised rental service, if Valve were any better than EA or Ubisoft, and want to prove it, they would put an end to it all... because right now, getting a PS4 or even an Xbox One sounds quite appealing...
I used to love Valve, I have many memories playing the Half-Life games, and as much as I'd hate to admit it, I had fun with the Portal games and Team Fortress 2, but they're destroying the very market that made them...
I just hope that Mortal Kombat complete edition won't have any DRM, in fact, I reckon there's a chance, I might do another blog entry about why right after this, yeah, some good news to drown out the bad, I'll see youse then!
-Cobra!
I ranted here previously, about digital download games. Well, since then, my opinions have changed ever so slightly, I'm okay with services like GOG, not as a replacement to physical, but as a companion, for indie games and such! On the other hand, I don't think I'll want to buy any physical game that uses Steam, Origin or UPlay DRM ever again!
I'm not going to complain about Origin and Uplay, it's pointless, as, let's be honest, Steam inspired them, they're just copies, Steam is the real culprit! It's not just Steam either, it's it's fanboys, I'm sure there exist Steam users who are smart, and know what they're talking about, I have a few freinds who are hardcore Steam users, and they're okay.
Most Steam users I've seen online, are a bunch of stupid, hypocritical, inconsistent ar*eholes! I'll get to them later...
Steam and similar DRM don't accept used sales. Now, I've seen a lot of PC gamers complain about the Origin, Uplay and the Xbox One (the latter not anymore) for doing this, when Steam has the exact same restrictions!
Steam requires an online verification to install games, Steam requires an online check-in every week or so (not as bad as Xbox One, but it still means you're screwed if you lacked internet), it blocks used games, and companies have full and total control over what you can and can't do with your games. They can even just take the game away from you, without reason, and you can't have a say in the matter, and you can't sue them either, because Steam have made it so you can't do that!
I am willing to bet that this the main, if not the only reason more publishers have become interested in the PC, it's a publishers wet dream to have full control over the consumer! Steam, and similar "services", makes that dream come true!
When buying a physical game that uses Steam DRM, as my friend once said to me, and he makes a good point, the code inside is more valuable than the disc, the disc is useless, you don't even need it to install the game, you can enter the code without the disc inserted, Steam will register it, and download the game. Once the code is used, you're just as well burning the game, it's that useful!
Worst of all, people want their physical games DRMed, which makes no sense whatsoever! Do these people want their physical games to become useless after the code is used!?
Steam also does nothing to stop piracy, it's very easy to obtain a cracked .exe of a game, and a cracked client, even Gabe Newell apparently said that pirates are a "non-issue" (but used sales are!?), so all the Steam DRM does is forbid buyers from sharing their games, and it eliminates used sales. In other words, it punishes the good paying consumer!
You see, my point about the physical/digital debate is game ownership, where you own your games on physical, but not digital, it turns out, you don't even own the game when buying physical, at least not if it has Steam, Origin or Uplay DRM. They're licensed to you, and you know a fascinating fact about Licenses? They Expire! They are not permanent things, they can expire over-time, or it can be revoked from you for any reason. So esentially, when you buy a game from Steam or Origin, you're only renting it, because you can't keep it forever, can you?
Don't believe me? You can read the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
Like probably the majority of youse, I breezed through it thinking it wouldn't concern me, and accepted, but give it an actual read, you'll be shocked at it's contents! More specifically, read sections 2.A and 2.F.
Actually, Don't bother! I've done it for you! I've even highlighted the important parts, because I'm nice!
2. LICENSES
A. General Software License
Steam and your Subscription(s) require the automatic download and installation of Software onto your computer. Valve hereby grants, and you accept, a limited, terminable, non-exclusive license and right to use the Software for your personal, non-commercial use (except where commercial use is expressly allowed herein or in the applicable Subscription Terms) in accordance with this Agreement, including the Subscription Terms. The Software is licensed, not sold. Your license confers no title or ownership in the Software. To make use of the Software, you must have a Steam Account and you may be required to be running the Steam client and maintaining a connection to the Internet.
...and here's section 2.F:
F. Ownership of Software
All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the Software and any and all copies thereof, are owned by Valve US and/or its or its affiliates’ licensors. All rights are reserved, except as expressly stated herein. The Software is protected by copyright laws, international copyright treaties and conventions and other laws. The Software contains certain licensed materials and Valve’s and its affiliates’ licensors may protect their rights in the event of any violation of this Agreement.
You can say what you want about Microsoft, and I'm not a fan of them either, but at least their Games for Windows games doesn't require an online activation, you only need it to play the game online (You can create an offline profile), and even then, the key is tied to the physical copy, not on any account. By the way, I've tried this with Street Fighter X Tekken, I turned off the internet, and installed it, and right enough, I had no problems installing and playing the game! (Where as Steam, which is clearly superior, reuqires online verification just to install it and you can't do anything with your Steam games)
If you don't believe me read this!
They even reversed the Xbox One's DRM policies after complaints. What has Valve done when people complained to them? Absoluletly nothing!
It's ironic as well, Microsoft are bad guys and Valve are gods!? Sure, Microsoft have their slip ups, but at least they make up for it later on, Valve just bury their problems and pretend they don't exist, fooling the unsuspecting consumer, and it seems to have worked!
I've seen Steam users complain that the Xbox One stops the ability to share your software, the fact you are screwed without internet, and that it restricts it's audiences to the very rich! When Steam has the same restrictions, when I see someone complain about Steam for the exact same problems, they seem to always put the blame on the user, and defends their precious Steam!
For example, when someone complains that they can't share their games with another user, or use the game on another machine/account, here's a comparison of what the average steam user says:
Xbox One: "Microsoft are a bunch of cheap, greedy b*stards! They just want more money, by treating us like criminals, taking away out freedom, and kills game ownership!"
Response to someone saying the exact same thing about Steam: "Fuck you! Do you want to give the game to another person and cheat the developers out of their money!?"
How many times have we heard both of those kind of comments from "PC gamers"? I see them a lot! They can't have it both ways! Are used games good or bad? Make up your mind!
Also, in response to the latter quote, which I get a lot myself, I only give a DRM-free game away if the other person isn't interested or ever plans on buying the game, either that, or I accidentally buy a second copy of a game new. (which is rare, but has happened a couple of times.) Either way, it wouldn't make a difference to sales whether or not a gave it away or traded it in...
Steam users also seem to talk about installing games anywhere as an advantage, which is a very poor arguement! You can do the exact same thing with a DRM-free physical games, and every download client on this planet, in fact, I'd be scared if you weren't able to do that with Steam!
What's that? Steam has an Offline mode? Well, you need be online to go offline, having online as a requirement in order to use a feature you're only going to use when you can't get online... It really defeats the purpose, doesn't it? Also, I'd like to see youse try to install a disc game offline, you can't!
Steam does achievements and leaderboards? So does Games for Windows, and even Raptr, which is an overlay for games, does something similar. I'm not fussed about achievements anyway, they're nice, but they're not something I need.
Really, the only great thing about Steam is it's workshop, it makes installing mods much easier, and you can easily uninstall them, that, I have to admit, is awesome!
That however, doesn't make up for everything bad about Steam, if I have to give up my digital right to make installing mods a bit easier... I'll stick with the traditional method if you don't mind...
I think everyone needs to wake up, and realize the PC is not the awesome platform it used to be, Valve are not the gods of gaming, they are killing the physical market, they are allowing publishers total control over us behind our backs! They are turning the PC platform into a corporatised rental service, if Valve were any better than EA or Ubisoft, and want to prove it, they would put an end to it all... because right now, getting a PS4 or even an Xbox One sounds quite appealing...
I used to love Valve, I have many memories playing the Half-Life games, and as much as I'd hate to admit it, I had fun with the Portal games and Team Fortress 2, but they're destroying the very market that made them...
I just hope that Mortal Kombat complete edition won't have any DRM, in fact, I reckon there's a chance, I might do another blog entry about why right after this, yeah, some good news to drown out the bad, I'll see youse then!
-Cobra!
Friday, 22 February 2013
Sonic and All Star Racing Transformed [PC] - Download Only?
Just a quick updatem remember when Sonic and All Star racing transformed was first announced, they named all of the platforms it would be on, and they mentioned "PC Digital Download" instead of just "PC", suggesting that they would be no retail version?
For those who don't know me, I much prefer retail copies, I just don't like digital downloads at all, so this really p*ssed me off!
Despite this, Amazon had the PC retail version available for pre-order, so I thought I'd pre-order it, in hopes that Sega do make a retail copy.
Months after the game was released, I got an email saying my pre-order was dispatched! Either it was a mistake made by Amazon, or Sega have finally made a physical PC version.
The next day, it arrived! YES! I can finally try out Racing Transformed! I loved the original, great fun, I hope this one will be just as fun!
I'll try out out later on today, because I have my Driving lession today, and I'd guilty if I didn;t do something to my Rossies 3D project, but I'll definitely try it today!
*Insert proper outro here*
-Cobra!
For those who don't know me, I much prefer retail copies, I just don't like digital downloads at all, so this really p*ssed me off!
Despite this, Amazon had the PC retail version available for pre-order, so I thought I'd pre-order it, in hopes that Sega do make a retail copy.
Months after the game was released, I got an email saying my pre-order was dispatched! Either it was a mistake made by Amazon, or Sega have finally made a physical PC version.
The next day, it arrived! YES! I can finally try out Racing Transformed! I loved the original, great fun, I hope this one will be just as fun!
I'll try out out later on today, because I have my Driving lession today, and I'd guilty if I didn;t do something to my Rossies 3D project, but I'll definitely try it today!
*Insert proper outro here*
-Cobra!
Friday, 8 February 2013
Retro Diary - January 2012
It's been a while since I've posted on this blog, and I had a retro diary in the works, but I stopped working on it because I was busy with other things, I'll psot whatever I've done, which is like 3 scentences:
There you go, not much, but I suppose it's better than nothing, right?
I'm afraid the thing is, my life is a lot busier than I first thought, so I might not be able to post on this blog anymore, maybe once college is finished, and my game is released, I might be more active here, but right now, I have no time at all to post here...
I guess this is goodbye... *sheds tear*
Cobra!
Okay, before I start off, I'll only be doing these blongs monthly now, and with less detail, because I'm busy with college and Rossies 3D. but hey, monthly is better than never, right?
On the 5th of January, me and my cousin, Steven, played a few games of Robot Arena 2 vis GameRanger, it works great, neither of us have had problems with it, if you want to play Robot Arena 2 with a friend online, GameRanger is the way to go!
The interesting thing about this night was that we didn't say a single English word to each other, we both spoke Scots the entire night!
There you go, not much, but I suppose it's better than nothing, right?
I'm afraid the thing is, my life is a lot busier than I first thought, so I might not be able to post on this blog anymore, maybe once college is finished, and my game is released, I might be more active here, but right now, I have no time at all to post here...
I guess this is goodbye... *sheds tear*
Cobra!
Monday, 31 December 2012
2012 Year Review
So, 2012 is coming to a close, and 2013 is right around the corner. Usually, I feel upset about it, and I still kind of am, but not as much as I usually would. Maybe I used to feel upset because it mean't it's one year further away from what I call "The good old days!", but if 2012 showed me anything, is that todays days can be as fun as the "good old days", if that makes sense.
The only thing news-wise I want to talk about is the 2014 Scottish independence referendum being made official, that, to me, was the only bit of news that stood out.
I don't know about anyone else, but after doing a lot of research, I support independence, from what I've read, Scotland can survive, even the head of the anti-independence campaign said we could, and not only that, it seems we'll all be better off. For starters, we can say bye bye to paying the BBC's stupid TV license...
Besides, I'd rather be Scottish than British personally, and I want to hear Scottish accents and the Scots language on TV!
2012 was a great year for video games, I'll list my favourites this year:
Train Simulator 2013 - I never thought I'd find a game like this to be fun, but here we are. I've been hearing a lot about the Train Simulator games all over the internet, and I even have a good few friends who have the game, and say they love it, so I thought I'll get this year's game, and see how it is, it's surprisingly addicting, however, I ended up spending over £50 on DLC just to get all of the Scottish trains and routes, and that was while the sale was on!
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD - It's a nice throw back to the classic Pro Skater games, and even though I have them on practically every system they were released on, I still
enjoyed HD, mostly for it's havok physics bails, in 60+ FPS!
Back to the Future: The Game - I know what youse are thinking "Wasn't the game released in 2011?!", Yeah, the downloadable episodes were, but I get physical copies, and the physical copy, which comes with all the episodes, came out in early 2012, so it counts! These games live up to the TellTale name in being absolutely amazing! Well, that and the episode actually came out on time *cough*Sega*cough*, *cough*Valve*cough*
Sleeping Dogs - Everyone has been talking about it, and playing through it myself, it's no wonder, it's a GTA clone, that I think is better than GTA! It's set in a fictional Hong Kong, and you play as an Undercover cop, sounds awesome, right? Well it's better than it sounds, the game has a combat system, that actually works! I never thought beat-em-ups could ever make it into 3D and work, but Sleeping Dogs achieved it!
Also, 2 games came out for the Playstation 2 this year! FIFA 13 and PES 2013, they're the exact same as their previous year counterparts, but at least the PS2 got games, also, apparently Square Enix is coming out with a Final Fantasy expansion for the PS2 next year, sure, it's technically an expansion, but since the PS2 out of the box doesn't have a hard drive, it'll probably be standalone, so it counts! It'll be out early 2013, Only in Japan...
2012 was also a brilliant year for movies, I'll go as far as to say it's the best year for films ever! Many fantastic films came out this year, the new Muppets Movie, Men in Black 3, the Avengers, Brave, The Dark Knight Rises, Ted, all amazing films in their own right!
As for the music of 2012, all I have to say is: OPPA GANGNAM STYLE!
As for what I've been up to this year, it's been crazy for me, all sorts of things have happened to me.
I've started development on a new game, as Stated before, called Rossies 3D, which will be a first person shooter that will run on the Unity engine! I am working with fellow Rossi member, and this guys a nutter, so with him on board, the games humour is guaranteed to be intact! I am very exited about the game, and so are others I've told.
I've discovered a new language, it's known as
So esentially, I'm fluent in a second language, without putting in any effort to learn it, brilliant! My guess is that we learn it through neds and it being used as "slang", so like English, we learn it as we grow up, kind of making it a second first language, if that makes sense.
Knawin the Scots leid wioot tryin tae lear it is afwu braw! Nou Ah can pit aw o ma gemmes intae this leid! Ah'll e'en pit thaim intae Spainyie and Italian an aw!
If you understood that, then give yourself a pat on the back, you know another language!
Aside from them, and playing a bunch of awesome retro games, not much happened, just all kinds of little stuff happening.
Overall, I think 2012 was a great year, almost as good as the old days! I hope 2013 will be just as good!
The only thing news-wise I want to talk about is the 2014 Scottish independence referendum being made official, that, to me, was the only bit of news that stood out.
I don't know about anyone else, but after doing a lot of research, I support independence, from what I've read, Scotland can survive, even the head of the anti-independence campaign said we could, and not only that, it seems we'll all be better off. For starters, we can say bye bye to paying the BBC's stupid TV license...
Besides, I'd rather be Scottish than British personally, and I want to hear Scottish accents and the Scots language on TV!
2012 was a great year for video games, I'll list my favourites this year:
Train Simulator 2013 - I never thought I'd find a game like this to be fun, but here we are. I've been hearing a lot about the Train Simulator games all over the internet, and I even have a good few friends who have the game, and say they love it, so I thought I'll get this year's game, and see how it is, it's surprisingly addicting, however, I ended up spending over £50 on DLC just to get all of the Scottish trains and routes, and that was while the sale was on!
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD - It's a nice throw back to the classic Pro Skater games, and even though I have them on practically every system they were released on, I still
enjoyed HD, mostly for it's havok physics bails, in 60+ FPS!
Back to the Future: The Game - I know what youse are thinking "Wasn't the game released in 2011?!", Yeah, the downloadable episodes were, but I get physical copies, and the physical copy, which comes with all the episodes, came out in early 2012, so it counts! These games live up to the TellTale name in being absolutely amazing! Well, that and the episode actually came out on time *cough*Sega*cough*, *cough*Valve*cough*
Sleeping Dogs - Everyone has been talking about it, and playing through it myself, it's no wonder, it's a GTA clone, that I think is better than GTA! It's set in a fictional Hong Kong, and you play as an Undercover cop, sounds awesome, right? Well it's better than it sounds, the game has a combat system, that actually works! I never thought beat-em-ups could ever make it into 3D and work, but Sleeping Dogs achieved it!
Also, 2 games came out for the Playstation 2 this year! FIFA 13 and PES 2013, they're the exact same as their previous year counterparts, but at least the PS2 got games, also, apparently Square Enix is coming out with a Final Fantasy expansion for the PS2 next year, sure, it's technically an expansion, but since the PS2 out of the box doesn't have a hard drive, it'll probably be standalone, so it counts! It'll be out early 2013, Only in Japan...
2012 was also a brilliant year for movies, I'll go as far as to say it's the best year for films ever! Many fantastic films came out this year, the new Muppets Movie, Men in Black 3, the Avengers, Brave, The Dark Knight Rises, Ted, all amazing films in their own right!
As for the music of 2012, all I have to say is: OPPA GANGNAM STYLE!
As for what I've been up to this year, it's been crazy for me, all sorts of things have happened to me.
I've started development on a new game, as Stated before, called Rossies 3D, which will be a first person shooter that will run on the Unity engine! I am working with fellow Rossi member, and this guys a nutter, so with him on board, the games humour is guaranteed to be intact! I am very exited about the game, and so are others I've told.
I've discovered a new language, it's known as
Scots, and it turns out that I can understand this language perfectly without studying it or anything, and speak it quite well, most Scottish people can!
So esentially, I'm fluent in a second language, without putting in any effort to learn it, brilliant! My guess is that we learn it through neds and it being used as "slang", so like English, we learn it as we grow up, kind of making it a second first language, if that makes sense.
Knawin the Scots leid wioot tryin tae lear it is afwu braw! Nou Ah can pit aw o ma gemmes intae this leid! Ah'll e'en pit thaim intae Spainyie and Italian an aw!
If you understood that, then give yourself a pat on the back, you know another language!
Aside from them, and playing a bunch of awesome retro games, not much happened, just all kinds of little stuff happening.
- Most Played Game Platform: PC
- Most Played Game: The Sims 3 [PC] (According to my Raptr)
- First Game Played in 2012: Motorstorm: Artic Edge [PS2]
- Last Game Played in 2012: Bully: Scholarship Edition [PC]
- Favourite Game of 2012: Sleeping Dogs [PC]
- Favourite Film of 2012: Men in Black 3
- Favourite Song of 2012: PSY - Gangnam Style
- Favourite Gaming Moment of 2011: Me and Steven playing Robot Arena 2 for the first time (Not recorded on Blog)
Overall, I think 2012 was a great year, almost as good as the old days! I hope 2013 will be just as good!
Retro Diary - 31/12/12 - Last Retro Diary of the Year
I've been thinking of redoing the blog for a while, I kind of missed it, to be honest.
I will do them again, however, I won't be as active as before, 2013 is going to be a busy year for me, for starters, College is starting to take up a lot of my free time, having to do all sorts of assessments and test at home, (At least I can't say I have too much free time, I won't be looked down on as much, but not sure if that's a good or bad things, though.), and I'm working on my new game: Rossies 3D, which will be made using the Unity engine, so it will be easier (but it's just as genuine) to make games, so I hope I won't give up on this one...
Anyway, next year, you might be lucky to get more than 1 post in a month, but hey, being not very active is better than being inactive, right?
So without further delay, let's begin:
To sum up what happened between my last post and now, PC games, lots and lots of PC games! Most notably the Tony hawk games, which all have insane modding communities, making the PC a great platform for the Tony Hawk games.
I'll tell youse what I got for Christmas:
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland [PC]
The Orange Box [PC]
Train Simulator 2013 [PC]
Skateboard Tycoon 2003 [PC]
Snowboards Tycoon [PC]
Sonic 4: Episode 1 & 2 [PCDL]
Sonic Adventure 2 + Battle [PCDL]
StarFox Adventures [GC]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocerina of Time [N64]
Incredible Crisis [PS1]
A new PS2
and a bunch of Blu-Rays
May seem like a lot, but most of them didn't cost that much, so that kind of balances it out.
Train Simulator 2013 was easily the best game I got, it's brilliant, although it didn't come with any Scottish trains or routes, I had to pay about £50 worth of DLC to get them, and this them on a sale with 50% off, so usually, it would cost me about £100! The game is still fun though, speeding trains, derailing them, making them crash into things, it's good fun!
Sonic 4 is pretty good, but I can't help but think it's just a shoddy attempt to recreate the original games using 3D graphics, Generations is far better! in my opinion at least.
Sonic Adventure 2... It doesn't work, if Sega are going to be putting out 10+ year old games, they could at least make them work, they are lucky I didn't buy myself and that a Steam sale was on...
I only got Orange Box for the unlikely event that Valve goes bankrupt and you can't download their games anymore...
I've yet to try out the console games, but I look forward to once I get around to it.
As for the PS2, the one I had broke, it stopped reading discs, so I had to get a new one.
Did you know that the PS2 went through another redesign? Yeah, it did! They even made a new box for it, take a look:
I love how it's the same blue theme as the PS Vita and new PS3 and PSP boxes! It's clear Sony haven't forgotten about their good old PS2!
The PS2 itself went through a redesign as well, now the left of it is entirely piano black, and caught dust and fingerprints after 5 minutes! The only problems I had were that the power and eject buttons are now very small and hard to reach, and that it only came with an EU plug, it didn't even come with a converter! Luckily, I had one myself:
Looks alright, doesn't it? It works great, so all is good!
That same day, we were going to our grans for a Christmas dinner, so I brought the new PS2 along, seems only fitting, right?
We played a bit of Timesplitters, and that was about it... We spend most of the time chatting and watching Doctor Who, hopefully, we can have a proper week next year...
Well, that's all I have to say, see youse.... in my 2012 year review!
I will do them again, however, I won't be as active as before, 2013 is going to be a busy year for me, for starters, College is starting to take up a lot of my free time, having to do all sorts of assessments and test at home, (At least I can't say I have too much free time, I won't be looked down on as much, but not sure if that's a good or bad things, though.), and I'm working on my new game: Rossies 3D, which will be made using the Unity engine, so it will be easier (but it's just as genuine) to make games, so I hope I won't give up on this one...
Anyway, next year, you might be lucky to get more than 1 post in a month, but hey, being not very active is better than being inactive, right?
So without further delay, let's begin:
To sum up what happened between my last post and now, PC games, lots and lots of PC games! Most notably the Tony hawk games, which all have insane modding communities, making the PC a great platform for the Tony Hawk games.
I'll tell youse what I got for Christmas:
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland [PC]
The Orange Box [PC]
Train Simulator 2013 [PC]
Skateboard Tycoon 2003 [PC]
Snowboards Tycoon [PC]
Sonic 4: Episode 1 & 2 [PCDL]
Sonic Adventure 2 + Battle [PCDL]
StarFox Adventures [GC]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocerina of Time [N64]
Incredible Crisis [PS1]
A new PS2
and a bunch of Blu-Rays
May seem like a lot, but most of them didn't cost that much, so that kind of balances it out.
Train Simulator 2013 was easily the best game I got, it's brilliant, although it didn't come with any Scottish trains or routes, I had to pay about £50 worth of DLC to get them, and this them on a sale with 50% off, so usually, it would cost me about £100! The game is still fun though, speeding trains, derailing them, making them crash into things, it's good fun!
Sonic 4 is pretty good, but I can't help but think it's just a shoddy attempt to recreate the original games using 3D graphics, Generations is far better! in my opinion at least.
Sonic Adventure 2... It doesn't work, if Sega are going to be putting out 10+ year old games, they could at least make them work, they are lucky I didn't buy myself and that a Steam sale was on...
I only got Orange Box for the unlikely event that Valve goes bankrupt and you can't download their games anymore...
I've yet to try out the console games, but I look forward to once I get around to it.
As for the PS2, the one I had broke, it stopped reading discs, so I had to get a new one.
Did you know that the PS2 went through another redesign? Yeah, it did! They even made a new box for it, take a look:
I love how it's the same blue theme as the PS Vita and new PS3 and PSP boxes! It's clear Sony haven't forgotten about their good old PS2!
The PS2 itself went through a redesign as well, now the left of it is entirely piano black, and caught dust and fingerprints after 5 minutes! The only problems I had were that the power and eject buttons are now very small and hard to reach, and that it only came with an EU plug, it didn't even come with a converter! Luckily, I had one myself:
Looks alright, doesn't it? It works great, so all is good!
That same day, we were going to our grans for a Christmas dinner, so I brought the new PS2 along, seems only fitting, right?
We played a bit of Timesplitters, and that was about it... We spend most of the time chatting and watching Doctor Who, hopefully, we can have a proper week next year...
Well, that's all I have to say, see youse.... in my 2012 year review!
Saturday, 29 September 2012
"Retro" Arrivals: FIFA 13 [PC & PS2] & F1 2012 [PC]
I know I said I'd stop doing articles dedicated to stuff that arrived in the mail, but I had to make an exception!
FIFA 13 didn't arrive on Friday, but both of the PC and PS2 version arrived today! and I was met with a pleasant surprise with the PS2 boxing, Apart from RC Revenge, do you know of any PS2 games with a picture/logo on the spline instead of plain text? Well, at the end of the PS2's life, it finally got one with FIFA 13's case, look!
This was just a quick update to say they've arrived, and look great! F1 2012 arrived as well, which is awesome!
Well, I don't have time to write much more, I have some FIFA 13 to play!
-Cobra!
FIFA 13 didn't arrive on Friday, but both of the PC and PS2 version arrived today! and I was met with a pleasant surprise with the PS2 boxing, Apart from RC Revenge, do you know of any PS2 games with a picture/logo on the spline instead of plain text? Well, at the end of the PS2's life, it finally got one with FIFA 13's case, look!
This was just a quick update to say they've arrived, and look great! F1 2012 arrived as well, which is awesome!
Well, I don't have time to write much more, I have some FIFA 13 to play!
-Cobra!
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Retro Diary - 23/9/12 - "HA! Beat THAT!"
Monday 17th September 2012
I've completed Sleeping Dogs today! It was an epic game! I really hope they make a sequel!I got a 6-pack of AA Batteries because my TV remote needed new batteries as it wasn't working, or so I thought, they don't work, so that means the remote is broken, so I can't play any console games until either the TV gets fixed, or I get a new one. The batteries I got came with a free download of the London 2012 game for the PC, well, a demo of the game, but you can only get it through getting the batteries, so I did that, gave it a shot, and I have to say, I wasn't entirely impressed, the game seemed average.
Wednesday 19th September 2012
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD is now on PC!!!Sure, it's only a download game, sure, it's a remix of an old game, and sure, the reviews aren't brilliant, but it's the first time in years a
newTony Hawk game has come on a platform that I have!
It's been years since I've had that feeling of getting that new Tony Hawk game near Christmas time! Just to get that feeling again, I might just get it!
Friday 21st September 2012
Before I write anything, Happy 5th Birthday Gamerstorm!I've been trying out this thing called "Game Gain", which is supposed to improve performance for your games, I've tried this before, on Stranglehold, but didn't see any difference, but that was a bad game to test it on, as it ran on 60+fps normally. Since I have a lot more games that can't run 60fps on high settings, I thought I'd try it out again, and I actually noticed a slight increase in performance, nothing major, but it's impressive how they improved performance at all with the same specs as before.
My Copy of Space Station Silicon Valley for N64 has arrived, too bad I don't have a working TV to use to play it, I ordered the game before I found that my TV is broken...
I've tried out the F1 2012 demo, because I found that along with FIFA and PES 2013, people were buying F1 2012, so I thought if there's a demo, I'd try it out, I really enjoy Codemasters' racing games, not just because you can select Scotland as your country, they're genuinely fun games, and also I like F1, not the sport itself, as it more for the money, at least these days, but I have a lot of F1 games so I thought combing the two, it should be good.
Initially, at the country selection for your profile, it was at "United Kingdom", I thought, "That sucks!", but then I found you can still select the countries in the UK, so that's good, but why anyone from the British Isles would choose the UK, which isn't a country, over their actual country, is beyond me.
I've only tried the tutorial stages of the game so far, and first impressions are good, like all Codemasters games I've played on PC, it's very well optimised, it can run 1080p on high settings on my PC easily, and the game itself is quite fun from what I've played.
As if by a miracle, my TV started working again! So I had a shot of Space Station Silicon Valley, and it's great fun, but after seeing the first cutscenes, I had to make this!:
Saturday 22nd September 2012
Pro Evolution Soccer for PC has arrived today!I've just opened up the box, and the manual and disc look really cool!:
The manual is also in full colour! Which I haven't seen in years! It feels so good to not be reading in black and white:
I've played the game itself, and it's the same fun game as last year only... the same, it controls and plays the exact same! Oh well, Hopefully next year's game will be different/better with their new
Fox Engine...
Sunday 23rd September 2012
It's PS2 week this week.I played a couple of levels of Transformers until Giancarlo and/or Steven came in.
Then I played a couple of games with Giancarlo.
Then we played Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam.
Then we played a few fights of Mortal Kombat Armageddon.
Then we and Steven played a few games on Timesplitters 2, then me and Steven played two levels (Wild West & Atom Smasher) in Co-Op Mode.
Then we played 4, (yes, 4!) games of Horse in Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder, The first two Steven had won, then we decided to change the handicaps around (usually I'm set to lowest and he's set to highest) and I won that time, so in the final match, we set both of our handicaps to +5, and it was good fun, we were both equally matched, I say that, I mean he still annihilated me... Although the horse name then was "YASSS", making me a YASSS, YASSS!
It's 17-8 to me, he's catching up, I see this as good, I love a balanced battle.
After that, we had to go.
Next week is Xbox week.
Article By: Cobra!
Help Provided by: Steven (CobrbDB)
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Retro Diary - 16/9/12 - "Great shot, CPU! Oh, CPU, you idiot!"
Monday 10th September 2012
I was a G-Force after college today (No surprises there.), and I bought 3 Sega Saturn games, Sega Worldwide Soccer 97 and 98, and Virtua Fighter (1).I saw a model 1 Mega Drive with a Mega CD attachment, it had no price tag, so I asked at the counter how much it was, and she said if it works (they had yet to test it), they said it might be £60 for both, which sounds really good. I liked it up on ebay, and to buy model 1 Mega CDs on their own on eBay costs £240! I'm getting that Mega CD out of G-Force as soon as I can! I know the guys won't be interested in getting it before me, I trust you guys, but you're wanting it, I'm not overly fussed, the race will be on!
I came home to be greeted by 2 parcels! One that looked like one that a strategy guide book would go in, and the other was actually pretty big, but it had Japanese writing on it, so I knew exactly what that was!
The guide was the Sleeping Dogs strategy guide that I ordered alongside the game, I only do that to games I really want.
The game was Digimon Tamers Battle Spirit 1.5 for the Wonderswan Colour, the box was actually taller than a Black & White Wonderswan game, it was actually the size I initially expected them to be, the rest of the box was just paper and bubble wrap, it seems the Japanese aren't big fans of the environment.
I've played Battle Spirit, and it's brilliant, even better than I hoped! Visually, it looks amazing, just like a GBA game!
Tuesday 11th September 2012
It's worth mention first, R.I.P. to those who died in 9/11, it's been 12 long years.Remember when I said I saw a Model 1 Mega Drive+CD there and said it might be £60 once they're ready to sell it? Well, I went back there today, and they had it for sale for £100, but it came with 2 6-button controllers and 3 games, technically 4! I was a bit sceptical at first, but they mentioned that they do a 3-month guarantee, which isn't too much, but with an old console, you'd be lucky to have a guarantee on it at all, it also means if it breaks within those 3 months, you can take it back and get a refund, which sounds alright. They also mentioned that chances are, it'll go in a couple of days, they rarely come by, hard and expensive to find on eBay, and it's on high demand.
Believe it or not, £100 is a good price for a Mega CD, To buy one on it's own, without the Mega Drive itself, any games, or controllers, would cost you a whopping £240! and that's not including delivery! £100 doesn't sound so bad now, does it?
So I decided to get it, if it doesn't work, I could just take it back, so I might as well give it a try.
As I bought it, they were explaining to me some things I would need to know about the Mega CD, like that it uses it's own power, that the reset button opens the tray and start closes it. I knew all of this, but it was awesome that this shop hires people who know what they're talking about. Unlike a certain other store...
The console works perfectly, although the display is a little off, but it turns out it was the Mega Drive itself with that problem, because I get the same display quality when playing a cartridge game, which of course doesn't require or involve the Mega CD.
The games I have for it at the moment aren't that great, except for one, I got Prince of Persia, Jaguar XJ220, Cobra Command (Which, sadly, sucks! ='(), and Sol-Feace, which is actually pretty fun.
Now that I own a Mega CD, that opens doors for me to try out those really bad FMV games, like Night-Trap! I can only get Sonic CD, with the proper music the EU/JP version had, as opposed to the US one Gems Collection had.
I downloaded and tried out the FIFA 13 demo for the PC, I downloaded it from Origin, because, where else? The game's just as fun as FIFA 12, maybe slightly better.
Wednesday 12th September 2012
I got Space Invaders for the PC today out of CEX, expecting it to be just like the PS1 version, only supporting bigger resolutions, sharper graphics and a much higher framerate, well, only 1 of the 4 are right...Transformers for the PS2 arrived today, and it's just as good as it was when I first played it years ago!
Friday 14th September 2012
Black Mesa is finally out!
I've been looking forward to it for years, and I'm not disappointed, it's a great game!
Sunday 16th September 2012
It was a Mystery Console this week, I didn't reveal it until my cousins had finished their lunch and came in, it was the Sega Dreamcast, to make up for thee fact we didn't really play it last week.Steven brought back my copy of Stranglehold that I let him steal, after he completed it.
Me and Steven started things off by playing Chu Chu Rocket!
Then we had a few games of Metropolis Street Racer, Steven and Giancarlo had a game as well. I changed my name from "CobrbDB", which I probably put it there for a joke, the misspelling came from Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii, to "Cobra!". Steven changed his nickname from "Steven" to "CobrbDB", which is practically his new nickname, and we changed Giancarlo's name to "Ya555555555", which is mostly what he uses these days.
Then me and Giancarlo played Virtua Fighter 3TB.
Then me and Steven had a game of Virtua Tennis.
Then we played Virtua Tennis 2, Giancarlo joined in after us realising you can have 3 players, the game was just pure madness! I think we have found our new favourite multiplayer game, at least on the Dreamcast!
Then me and Steven had a game of Horse on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, we played on the Skatestreet level, the "horse" was "RJIBYAHHBZ", Steven lost, with me having "RJIBY", 15-5 to me!
Then we played Le Mans 24 Hours.
Then we played Sonic Adventure 2, our- well, my favourite! We had a race on the Go-Karting, which he won out of us 2. We had a couple of shooting battles, We both won 1, then we had a 2 races, again, we both had a win.
Then we played Ready 2 Rumble, our reality that live and Australia, and they were watching us play this, he loves to watch boxing, we had 2 game, I think we both won 1 game each.
At this point, we were aiming to have played all of the game we had, we almost done it before, but this time we had much more time, we it was possible.
Then we had a game of WWF Attitude.
Then we had a race of Sega Rally. Which I lost!
Then we played Sega GT.
Then we played Mortal Kombat Gold.
Then we played Re-Volt, we had a race, which he won, somehow...
Then we played NBA Showtime, we had no choice to play as a team, and we lost by 10 or so points...
Then we had a game of WWF Royal Rumble.
That was us played all of the games, so we celebrated by playing some more Virtua Tennis 2! We played doubles, both of us on separate teams, but most points were by either the CPU being good, or them making a stupid mistake!
It turned out that we missed a few games, we played some UFC, the graphics were fantastic for a Dreamcast game, it looked stunning, but the gameplay kind of sucked.
Then we played another horse game on Tony Hawk's Skateboarding, this time, the "horse" was "GLQTEZWZY", for some reason, we could change it this time, last time, we had to stick with "horse".
Steven got GLQTEZWZY, but I ended up getting a G, was this the glimmer of hope Steven needed? Nope, He got a Y right afterwards, I win, 16-5!
Finally, we had a game of ECW Hardcore Revolution, which I won.
That was certainly an active week, next week is PS2 week, WWE All Stars time!
Article By: Cobra!
Help Provided by: Steven (CobrbDB)
Sunday, 9 September 2012
Retro Diary - 9/9/2012 - Happy Birthday (NA) Dreamcast!
Monday 3rd September 2012
I've ordered a Wonderswan game off eBay late last night, after realising I had some money, it's called Digimon Tamers Battle Spirit v1.5, and it's for the Wonderswan Color. Just thought I'd tell you.My first day back in college, and I bumped into one of my old high school friends on the train, he says he goes to the college I go to now, which is awesome. We were talking about a few things, mostly games, and My Little Pony, because he recently became a brownie, not that I have a problem with that, he can like whatever he wants.
He mentioned to me how it's weird that sometimes our opinion changes drastically about a certain thing, one time you might hate something, but later on, you might love it, and he was right, that's the case with me and games like Mirrors Edge and Grand Theft Auto IV, I hated them when they came out, but once I actually played them, I fell in love!
I came across another friend of mine, it's been years since we saw each-other, first thing he said to me was that he got a Dreamcast, good on him! I see he's still as into games as I am, that's good to know. We were talking about Dreamcast games for a good while, then we talked about the Max Payne games, funnily enough, the original game was planned for the Dreamcast, but that was cancelled.
I finally have a Wonderswan!
It has arrived today, and wow! it's tiny, it's smaller than I expected even after seeing one of it's games! Here's a size comparison between it, and a Game Boy Color:
Also, a size comparison between the console, and a box for one of it's games:
Of course, being that it came from Japan, the text/writing on the parcel was in Japanese, however, it was just a sheet of paper stuck on the cardboard, so I took it off, and there was another one, took that off, and there was another one, took that off, and they were all off, but then the last sheet of paper turned out to be two stuck together! Did they really need 4 sheets!? Since I have a thing for , I guess you could say, Exotic parcels/packages, I decided to hang them on my wall!
I've had a go on Klonoa: Moonlight Museum on it, everyone seems to think this game is mediocre and only for collectors, I partially agree with the latter, as it rarely pops up on eBay, and when it does, it goes for over £30, which is ridiculous for any Handheld game. However, once you get past the first world, which is dull and boring-ish, I'll admit, it really gets interesting in my opinion, you get new monsters and block that you'll recognise from the other Klonoa games, and makes the game a little more interesting and fun!
Tuesday 4th September 2012
Anyway, last week at that shop, I saw a copy of RC Revenge, boxed with manual for only £2 because the case was cracked, but I didn't get it because I ordered it from Amazon. That copy didn't arrive, and I got a refund for it, so I decided to visit the shop again if I get the chance, and get it if it's still there, it was!I also found 007 The World is Not Enough for the PS1 there, it looks completely different from the N64 version, so I wanted to get it, because I love the 007 games, and wanted to get something new, well, new to me. It was £5, so I thought why not, at that price, it must be in pristine condition, the disc, I mean, they take out the discs when displaying them to avoid theft.
I also saw Viruta Tennis 2, I got the first game from there last week, loved it, so I thought why not get this one, it was also £5, the same as it is on Amazon, not too bad.
After that, I went to CEX, I found Resident Evil 4 for both Gamecube and PC, the PC version being £3 and the Gamecube version was £12, I also saw Theme Hospital for about £2.50, I was going to get them, but the line that particular day was massive, and I was killing enough time as it was, so I thought forget it, I would probably get them all cheaper on Amazon anyway, if not, I'll get them the next time I'm there, which I guess will be Thursday, when I go back to college, I'm off tomorrow!!!
When I got back home, I got 2 parcel today! I got Max Payne for PC and 007 Agent Under Fire for the Xbox!
I played a few matches of Goldeneye Source with my cousin, Steven, it was almost as fun as the original! There was funny moment we had, in a match where the weapons were set to explosives, I threw a bunch of remote mines in a certain spot, and Steven fell right into the trap, I detonated them just as he was running over them, I found that hilarious, truest me, it's funnier than I'm making it sound...
Friday 7th September 2012
Max Payne 2 Arrived Today, I haven't installed or even opened it yet, I'm waiting until I complete the first game.Saturday 8th September 2012
Sleeping Dogs, Inversion and 007 Everything or Nothing Arrived today!Sleeping Dogs is fantastic, I'm very addicted to it!
Inversion, however, isn't quite up to that level, it seems it's another shoddy PC port, you have no option to turn off Motion Blur or Depth of Field, why don't games give you the option any more!? No one likes these effects, sure, some don't mind, but there's a difference between that and actually liking them. All they do, is blur out the game and slow it down, they're not good for anything! I know no one's going to listen to me but, developers, get some common sense, and don't use these effects! This is one of only 3 PC games Namco have ever released, and they all have this problem! I love Namco, but they're not cut out for PC games!
I expected Everything or Nothing to be just like Nightfire on consoles, only improved further, but nope, they've ditched that engine, and gone third person, why? It never works, only Blood Stone years later got it right. It plays just like 007 From Russia With Love, which was okay in multiplayer, but was kind of rubbish in single-player, trust EA to screw franchises up, eh? Luckily Activision got their hands on the 007 licence and got things right again!
As you probably imagined, I was playing Sleeping Dogs all day.
Sunday 9th September 2012
It's the 9th of the 9th, the Dreamcast's birthday! Well, the North American Dreamcast anyhow... but it was the perfect excuse to bring along and play the Dreamcast!Well, that was the plan, but my brother brought his PS3 as well, and we, or rather they, were mostly playing that.
When Steven came, he gave me back my copy of 007 Blood Stone for the PC... just thought I'd mention that.
Me and Giancarlo were playing Virtua Tennis and Virtua Tennis 2, and a game of Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, that's it.
Then for the rest of the time there, they were just playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band on the PS3.
That sums up today in a nut shell, next week, I'm not sure what we'll do.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be playing some Sleeping Dogs...
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Retro Pick-ups: Virtua Tennis 2 [DC], RC Revenge [PS1] and 007 The World Is Not Enough [PS1]
On the way home from College, I popped into both G-Force and CEX.
When I was at G-Force, I saw a couple of Japanese tourists, or at least I think they're Japanese, I can tell they weren't Chinese, I doubt they'd be in game stores, so they were either Korean or Japanese, either way, it's the first time I've seen Asian tourists here in Scotland. I could tell they were tourists, because they were speaking a foreign language to each other.
Apparently, we get Japanese tourists in Scotland all the time, but it's first time I've seen any, why would they come here anyway, I could understand going to the Highlands, I imagine it's nice there, I want to go there myself, but why Glasgow?
Anyway, last week at that shop, I saw a copy of RC Revenge, boxed with manual for only £2 because the case was cracked, but I didn't get it because I ordered it from Amazon. That copy didn't arrive, and I got a refund for it, so I decided to visit the shop again if I get the chance, and get it if it's still there, it was!
I also found 007 The World is Not Enough for the PS1 there, it looks completely different from the N64 version, so I wanted to get it, because I love the 007 games, and wanted to get something new, well, new to me. It was £5, so I thought why not, at that price, it must be in pristine condition, the disc, I mean, they take out the discs when displaying them to avoid theft.
I also saw Viruta Tennis 2, I got the first game from there last week, loved it, so I thought why not get this one, it was also £5, the same as it is on Amazon, not too bad.
All the discs look in fine condition, I've already tried Virtua Tennis 2, and it works just fine. I've yet to try the others, though.
After that, I went to CEX, I found Resident Evil 4 for both Gamecube and PC, the PC version being £3 and the Gamecube version was £12, I also saw Theme Hospital for about £2.50, I was going to get them, but the line that particular day was massive, and I was killing enough time as it was, so I thought forget it, I would probably get them all cheaper on Amazon anyway, if not, I'll get them the next time I'm there, which I guess will be Thursday, when I go back to college, I'm off tomorrow!!!
When I got back home, I got 2 parcel today! I got Max Payne for PC and 007 Agent Under Fire for the Xbox!
Right, I'll be off, I have so many games to play, but so little time...
When I was at G-Force, I saw a couple of Japanese tourists, or at least I think they're Japanese, I can tell they weren't Chinese, I doubt they'd be in game stores, so they were either Korean or Japanese, either way, it's the first time I've seen Asian tourists here in Scotland. I could tell they were tourists, because they were speaking a foreign language to each other.
Apparently, we get Japanese tourists in Scotland all the time, but it's first time I've seen any, why would they come here anyway, I could understand going to the Highlands, I imagine it's nice there, I want to go there myself, but why Glasgow?
Anyway, last week at that shop, I saw a copy of RC Revenge, boxed with manual for only £2 because the case was cracked, but I didn't get it because I ordered it from Amazon. That copy didn't arrive, and I got a refund for it, so I decided to visit the shop again if I get the chance, and get it if it's still there, it was!
I also found 007 The World is Not Enough for the PS1 there, it looks completely different from the N64 version, so I wanted to get it, because I love the 007 games, and wanted to get something new, well, new to me. It was £5, so I thought why not, at that price, it must be in pristine condition, the disc, I mean, they take out the discs when displaying them to avoid theft.
I also saw Viruta Tennis 2, I got the first game from there last week, loved it, so I thought why not get this one, it was also £5, the same as it is on Amazon, not too bad.
All the discs look in fine condition, I've already tried Virtua Tennis 2, and it works just fine. I've yet to try the others, though.
After that, I went to CEX, I found Resident Evil 4 for both Gamecube and PC, the PC version being £3 and the Gamecube version was £12, I also saw Theme Hospital for about £2.50, I was going to get them, but the line that particular day was massive, and I was killing enough time as it was, so I thought forget it, I would probably get them all cheaper on Amazon anyway, if not, I'll get them the next time I'm there, which I guess will be Thursday, when I go back to college, I'm off tomorrow!!!
When I got back home, I got 2 parcel today! I got Max Payne for PC and 007 Agent Under Fire for the Xbox!
Right, I'll be off, I have so many games to play, but so little time...
Sunday, 26 August 2012
Retro Diary - 26/8/12 - The most active Sunday EVER!
Monday 20th August 2012
I downloaded this thing called "Game Room", which is a virtual arcade on Xbox live, however, I learnt that there's also a Games for Windows Live (PC) Version, so I downloaded that to try it out, and it's rubbish, you can't do anything cool unless you're willing to give Microsoft all of your money, this is why I hate free-to-play games...Quantum of Solace Arrived Today! Thankfully, the lag/stutter that was in the demo isn't here! It's still full of bugs, and it runs choppy on my PC, and no matter what the setting are, it runs the same, and this PC can run Blood Stone on High Settings at 60fps! Once you look past the flaws, it's a brilliant game, it's no wonder it got so much praise back when it came out!
I also got Rugrats: Search for Reptar on PS1 today, I used to have this back in the day, which is why I bought it again, I expected this to be one of those games I loved back in the day, but wouldn't enjoy now, but surprisingly, it's just as fun now as it was back then!
Wednesday 22nd August 2012
I was at an induction to my college course today, and on the way back, I popped into G-Force, because I had plenty of money left, and wanted to spend some of it on something, because I've run out of things I really, really want.I found a few things I wanted, and were all cheap too!
The first game was Mission Impossible on the N64, I've recently become a fan of the Mission Impossible series, and I've been tempted to get this game, luckily, G-Force had it fully boxed with manual and inlay for only £5! A Steal!
The second game was Beyblade for the PS1, again, I've been slightly tempted to get this, and this game was only £4!
The final game was Virtua Tennis, this I wanted for a long time, I always heard good things about the Virtua Tennis games, and wanted to give it a try myself. This was only £3!
All 3 games came to a total of £12 roughly.
I remember leaving the store and checking the game, and it had no disc, so I went back in, and they put the disc in, I probably should have mentioned there was no manual either...
I've tried out Mission: Impossible, and it's a pretty good game, one thing worth of not is that it's one of the few N64 games to support widescreen!
Thursday 23rd August 2012
I got Blur and Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box for PC today.Both games have a similar problem, registering, the games install just fine, but you need to register the games when you start them, but guess what, servers for both games are down, so I couldn't, thankfully, for both games, you only needed to register the key to play multiplayer, and seeing how both servers are down, that's not a huge loss.
However, because both games are no longer online, it's be hard to patch them, burnout paradise wasn't a big deal, you can download the patches from websites that host patches no problem. Blur, however, you could only download the patches from their servers, which are offline, and the latest update further optimises the game (makes it run smoother), so it was a big deal, eventually, I managed to download the patch after literally hours of research.
Both games are terrific! So much fun, and it's great to know that you can play them after the servers are down and the game has ceased production, because it's already happened!
I've completed Quantum of Solace today, and what a game it was, although the final boss was too easy in my opinion, even for easy mode.
Friday 24th August 2012
As if by some miracle, I was suddenly able to connect to the Blur servers, and registered my game! Yes! Although no one is online... Oh well, at least I was able to connect to my Facebook account, that has to count as something right?You'll never believe this, but I was able to connect to the Burnout Paradise servers as well! I couldn't register, because it turns out it used your Origin account, or so I assume, so I did this and I'm connected with that as well, although the thing that kind of annoyed me was that because I did that, I got extra content, I can't help but feel that they took them out for those who can't connect to the burnout servers on purpose, I just have a gut feeling...
Saturday 25th August 2012
My brother got Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock on PS3 today, I had a shot, and it's a lot harder than it looks!Sunday 26th August 2012
It was PS3 week this week, because my brother requested it, well, it was supposed to be, but before he could even take it out of the bag it was in, we had to leave, we were only there for half an hour! Shortest console week summary, ever!That's it for this week, I hope next Sunday will have more happening, I decided since it's my last week on my summer holidays and until I go to college again, I'm choosing what console to bring, I'm stuck between PS1, N64 and Dreamcast...
After that, the console weeks will go back on schedule, so in case I forget, I'll remind my future self, we're at PS2!
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Retro Diary - 19/8/12
Monday 13th August 2012
Batman Arkham Asylum arrived today! It's just as awesome as the demo made it out to be! I've been playing that all day.Tuesday 14th August 2012
Quoted from the Retro Pick-Ups video posted that day:I was spending the day with my friend, as a sort of birthday get together, as his birthday was coming up, while we were out, we went to CEX, which a store that people bring old games, CDs and DVDs and they sell them, my cousin, Giancarlo, goes in there a lot, and says it's a great store, so I went in, and disappointingly, it was mostly PS3 and Xbox 360 games, I managed to find a section that had 6th gen console and PC games, so I browsed around that part for over half an hour.
I got 007 Nightfire on both PC and Gamecube, because I heard that the PC version was cut-down from the console versions, but I wanted to try it anyway, it was only 75p anyway, so why not? The Gamecube version was £1.50.
I also got Reservoir Dogs on the PC for £1.50, I'm a big fan of the film, I have it on DVD, have it's soundtrack ripped to my PC (Turns out my dad used to have it, well, we found it at our old house.), and I always wanted to play the game, now was my chance.
Lastly, I got RC Revenge Pro on the PS2, just because I can!
Nightfire on the Gamecube was brilliant, it got every right, it's not as good as Goldeneye, but it's definitely up there! The PC version, however, is actually kind of rubbish, they've changed the game completely! The only thing that remained is the story, and even then, many scenes have changed, everything else is completely different.
Reservoir Dogs was badly optimised and was an extremely shoddy console port, but it's good fun in my opinion, so I'll probably be playing it to the very end.
I've still to play RC Revenge Pro, I want to get and complete the original RC Revenge on the PS1 first
Wednesday 15th August 2012
I tried out a demo of Need for Speed Underground 2 on the PC, owning it on the PS2 and Xbox wasn't enough for me!Well in all honestly, I loved the game, but didn't like how it ran slow and looked rather blurry, after realising there was a PC version, it shouldn't have surprised, need for speed originated on the PC and 3DO and every game in the series is available on PC.
It was much better than the console versions in my opinion, it runs much faster, you can turn all the blurring effects off! However, it doesn't support widescreen resolution, but the beauty of PC gaming is the modding community, and low and behold, there exist patches (user created), that make it support whatever resolution you want, so I installed one, and it looks great!
Thursday 16th August 2012
I got a pack of 3 games today, all Codemasters racing games, all with creative titles, they are DiRT, GRID and FUEL!The awesome things about DiRT and GRID are that when it comes to selecting your profile, you get to choose your nationally, and you can choose to be Scottish! Finally, games that acknowledges us a separate country! The games are a lot of fun as well, I had a bit of trouble running DiRT at first, but once I was sorted, I was off!
Saturday 18th August 2012
I got a Need for SpeedCollector's Packtoday, which contained Need for Speed Underground 1 & 2 and Most Wanted, I've only played the Underground games, I loved them both on the consoles, and it's only made better on the PC because of the higher framerate and the ability to turn off those annoying blur effects, the only downsides to them is that don't support widescreen resolutions, so I get thick black bars on each side, but you get used to it.
Saturday 19th August 2012
It was PS1 week this week, and Steven couldn't come, and Giancarlo had to move all of his stuff to his new flat, and only had time to play a game for 5 minutes. Basically, like every other week recently, everyone's either not present or don;t have the time.I played a bit of Jinx and Formula 1, then me and Giancarlo had a few games of Tekken 3, then he played a game of Vib Ribbon.
After that, he had to leave, is it me or are we not playing games nearly as often as we did when I started this?
I'll see next week if we get time to play next week's consoles (I'm leaving it to my cousins), to see if the time and effort put into packing them and setting them up is worth it.
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Retro Pick-ups: Stuff I got from CEX.
I was spending the day with my friend, as a sort of birthday get together, as his birthday was coming up, while we were out, we went to CEX, which a store that people bring old games, CDs and DVDs and they sell them, my cousin, Giancarlo, goes in there a lot, and says it's a great store, so I went in, and disappointingly, it was mostly PS3 and Xbox 360 games, I managed to find a section that had 6th gen console and PC games, so I browsed around that part for over half an hour.
I got 007 Nightfire on both PC and Gamecube, because I heard that the PC version was cut-down from the console versions, but I wanted to try it anyway, it was only 75p anyway, so why not? The Gamecube version was £1.50.
I also got Reservoir Dogs on the PC for £1.50, I'm a big fan of the film, I have it on DVD, have it's soundtrack ripped to my PC (Turns out my dad used to have it, well, we found it at our old house.), and I always wanted to play the game, now was my chance.
Lastly, I got RC Revenge Pro on the PS2, just because I can!
Nightfire on the Gamecube was brilliant, it got every right, it's not as good as Goldeneye, but it's definitely up there!
The PC version, however, is actually kind of rubbish, they've changed the game completely! The only thing that remained is the story, actually, I'm going to do a new series, where I play through 2 versions of the same game at pretty much the same time, I complete 1 level on one platform, I do the same level on the other, and compare my experiences and I'll explain the differences
Reservoir Dogs was badly optimised and was an extremely shoddy console port, but it's good fun in my opinion, so I'll probably be playing it to the very end.
I've still to play RC Revenge Pro, I want to get and complete the original RC Revenge on the PS1 first.
Anyway here are photos:
I got 007 Nightfire on both PC and Gamecube, because I heard that the PC version was cut-down from the console versions, but I wanted to try it anyway, it was only 75p anyway, so why not? The Gamecube version was £1.50.
I also got Reservoir Dogs on the PC for £1.50, I'm a big fan of the film, I have it on DVD, have it's soundtrack ripped to my PC (Turns out my dad used to have it, well, we found it at our old house.), and I always wanted to play the game, now was my chance.
Lastly, I got RC Revenge Pro on the PS2, just because I can!
Nightfire on the Gamecube was brilliant, it got every right, it's not as good as Goldeneye, but it's definitely up there!
The PC version, however, is actually kind of rubbish, they've changed the game completely! The only thing that remained is the story, actually, I'm going to do a new series, where I play through 2 versions of the same game at pretty much the same time, I complete 1 level on one platform, I do the same level on the other, and compare my experiences and I'll explain the differences
Reservoir Dogs was badly optimised and was an extremely shoddy console port, but it's good fun in my opinion, so I'll probably be playing it to the very end.
I've still to play RC Revenge Pro, I want to get and complete the original RC Revenge on the PS1 first.
Anyway here are photos:
Sunday, 12 August 2012
Retro Diary - 12/8/12 - My birthday week
Monday 6th August 2012
I saw the Dark Knight Rises today, and it was brilliant, it's my favourite film this year, and seeing how brilliant all the other films I've seen that came out this year, it's saying a lot!I've downloaded the Batman Arkham Asylum Demo today, but at first, it didn't work, but I manually installed a patch for it, and it worked just fine, and I loved the demo, I am without a doubt getting the full game as soon as I can, preferably the Game of The Year Edition!
Tuesday 7th August 2012
I've finished Stranglehold today, and what an epic game it was! As I keep telling you...Wednesday 8th August 2012
I went to a Basketball summer training camp with my friend, Jamie, or "Midfield Maestro", as he likes to call himself. I'm mentioning this because he's staying with me for 2 nights after that, when we got home, the first thing we did was play FIFA 12 on the PC, the second thing we did... was play more FIFA 12! Then we played PES 2012 on PC. Then FIFA. Then Fronte Del Basket 2, Then FIFA 12, then NBA 2k12, which he somehow beat me at, his big ego never shuts up about it, then FIFA 12, then we watched some videos, and finally, some FIFA 12! Finally, we watched some Fawlty Towers.Thursday 9th August 2012
Both me and Jamie watched some Spongebob Squarepants, just thought I'd tell you that.We played FIFA 12 all morning, then one of my old friends came up, it's been years since I've seen him, and he hasn't changed one bit! For this purposes of the blog, and since I don't have permission to use his real name, I'm going to call him "Rydo".
The three of us played FIFA 12 and PES 2012 on PC for most of the day, then my cousins came along, and we played a bunch of games, I forgot the order we played them and we played some of them at the same time, a couple played one, while the rest played another, here's what we played:
- Metropolis Street Racer [DC]
- Mashed: Fully Loaded [Xbox]
- The Sims 3 [PC]
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 [GC]
- FIFA 12 [PS2 & PC]
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 [PS2 & PC]
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater [N-Gage]
My mum got my birthday cake, she showed it to me, at first, I expected, since I was 18, it would be about some rubbish about beer/alcohol, even though I'll never drink, I hate the idea. However, it turned out it was a cake modelled into a PS1! Brilliant!
Friday 10th August 2012
It's my birthday!!!!!!
My mum said she would give me my "Main" present early, it was a 160GB Ipod Classic! I always wanted one of them! What has it got to do with this blog? Who cares!I got an Atari Flashback 3, what that is, click here.
I got a whole bunch of games and Sims 3 expansion packs, which are:
- TimeShift [PC]
- Grand Theft Auto IV [PC/Games for Windows]
- Dead Rising 2 [PC/Games for Windows]
- Strong Bad's Cool game for Attractive People [PC]
- Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures [PC]
- Sims 3 World Adventures [PC]
- Sims 3 Late Night [PC]
- Sims 3 Generations [PC]
I've been playing them pretty much all day.
Sunday 12th August 2012
Instead of going to grans this week, since she was at England, along with my cousin, Giancarlo and his family, to watch the closing Olympic ceremony, my cousins came to our house for a barbecue, a perfect opportunity to play some games with Steven, and anyone else who might want to play games.We played some Atari 2600/Flashback 3 games first, Starting with Combat, then Sprint Master, and finally Maze Craze.
Then we played WWE All Stars for the PS2, we played a few games.
Then we played a 10 minute game of Goldeneye for the Nintendo 64, then unfortunately Steven had to go, he wasn't there for long...
Before he left, I gave him a lend of both Stanglehold and Blood Stone 007, since they were DRM-Free (Well, DRM in the anti-used game sense.) and I completed them, he said he had always wanted to play Blood Stone, but was waiting for a Steam sale (All digital gamers are the same!), so I gave him a retail copy to borrow!
Next week we'll be back at grans, instead of doing PS2 week, I'm brining a mystery console, I haven't decided on what it is yet, so as of now, even I don't know what it is!
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Retro Diary - 5/8/12 - "Sega of Antartica!?"
Monday 30th June 2012
I've downloaded the TimeShift demo last week, and it didn't work, no matter what I did, it turns out that it's because my CPU is quad-core, the game was designed for Single and Dual-Core, and the company that made the game went bust, so there is no fix as of yet, I'm going to find a way to run my CPU on 1 or 2 cores to get this game running.At that time, I cancelled the order for the full game, but just today, the idiots sellers dispatched it, they should have been checking their inboxes...
Tuesday 31st July 2012
Since it's Dreamcast week this week, I decided to play a game on said console right now to make sure it's in full working order, so I popped in Metropolis Street Racer and had a game or two on it, and the Dreamcast was working perfectly fine, thankfully. (Touchwood.)Me and my brother watched Batman Begins on Blu-Ray, never seen it before, but I've seen The Dark Knight, and Batman Begins was brilliant, in fact I thought this was better, but that's just me, everyone else seems to beg to differ.
Thursday 2nd August 2012
I finally got the TimeShift demo to work! Although if I wanted to play the game now, every time I do, I have to change my CPU to run on single or dual-core, reset my PC to make the changes, play the game, make the CPU run on all cores again, and reset again, it seems like a lot of hassle for just one game, I'm trying to find a better solution.I watched a bit of The Dark Knight on Blue_Ray with my brother, but I wanted to go to bed about half-way though, seriously, that film is way too long!
Friday 3rd August 2012
I was going to see the Dark Knight Rises in theatres today, but me and my brother had a row (that he started, honestly), over a stupid sock, sound ridiculous, right? Well, tell my brother that...I asked about the TimeShift situation on Yahoo! Answers, and I only got one answer saying that the method I did was the only way to get it to run, but mentions that the game is worth it, I decided that I'd only play it then if there's nothing else to play... then I realised that, that's kind of what happening right now, I want to play something, but don't have a game at my disposal to play, except maybe Stranglehold, but that didn't occur to me at the time, so I decided to set my CPU to dual-core, reset my PC, and played through the demo, and holy sh*t, was it awesome! I might go as far as to say it's one of the best FPSes I've ever played! Seriously! I'm glad that full game has been dispatched, and arrived!
I played a bit of Soldier of Fortune on the Dreamcast, again, to check if it's functioning properly, and it still is!
I found out that Telltale games made a game based on Wallace and Gromit called "Wallace & Gromit: Grand Adventures" and, like most TellTale games, had a compilation of all episodes (Yes, all 4!) on a physical DVD, so I decided to try out the demo of episode 1 before I get the full game(s?), and like all TellTale games, it was brilliant, so I'll be getting it for my birthday!
I've decided to watch the rest of The Dark Knight, and it was just as awesome as the first time I watched it! While I was watching it, I thought I wouldn't make through the rest of the film in one sitting and that very soon I was going to turn it off for another time, but nope, I sat still, and watched it.
Saturday 4th August 2012
I tried out the demo for Batman: Arkam City for the PC, just to see how it ran because according to both Game Debate and Canyourunit, I don't meet the recommended requirements and wouldn't be able to run the game on high settings, I put all setting on high, and it ran just fine! In fact at some points it goes up to 60fps! Maybe my CPU and RAM make up for the graphics card... ?I played a bit of Le Mans 24 Hours to check if my Dreamcast was still in full working order, so I did a simple 3 lap race, which lasts about 10 minutes, and it was working perfectly fine the whole way though!
Sunday 5th August 2012
It's Dreamcast week this week, however, for most of the time, we were just watching the Olympics.I played a bit of Shenmue II, progressed a tiny bit further, as in I now know what to do and where to go, hopefully I won't forget that, because I don't play it often.
Me and Giancarlo played a few races of Metropolis Street Racer.
Then we played a game of Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, which I surprisingly dominated, only got knocked down once, whereas he got knocked down constantly.
Then me and Steven played Metropolis Street Racer we played a few normal races, then we had a shot at "Pursuit", where within a time limit, one player has to catch up with the other, I was the one running away, and he was to catch me, and I lost...
The we had a few games at the Kart races on Sonic Adventure 2, then a few Sonic/Shadow action stages, then we decided to give the Dreamcast a rest, as it was getting too hot.
As we were playing those game, I mentioned to them, that apparently there exists a Sega of Antarctica, no, you did not misread that, I mean that continent at the bottom of the world that has virtually no population.
There's no website about them, but they are a few articles floating around recently about them addressing a rumour around SA3.
It's probably fake, I mean obviously they wouldn't gain anything from having a division in Antarctica, but I'll probably pretend it's real for a joke.
After the Dreamcast got it's "rest", all 3 of us had a few games of Chu Chu Rocket.
After that, Steven had to leave. Then me and Giancarlo played Virtua Fighter 3 TB.
Then finally, we played Re-Volt, we had 2 races, I won one race, he won the other.
Next week is PS2 week, what games do I have that we play on PS2?... Oh yeah, WWE All Stars!
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