Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates |
- Next Xbox Rumored to Lack a Disc Drive, But is That So Shocking?
- [GDC 2012] CryEngine 3 battles with Unreal Engine 3
- Battlefield Heroes MMO Review
- MechWarrior Online Adds Depth to the Series
- MechWarrior Online Adds Depth to the Series
- Battle of the Immortals MMORPG Review
- Funcom goes all commando on MMO Culture
- SimCity Is Back
| Next Xbox Rumored to Lack a Disc Drive, But is That So Shocking? Posted: 11 Mar 2012 05:51 AM PDT Rumors regarding the Xbox 360′s successor are only going to become more frequent as we approach its announcement, whether that be coming at this year’s E3, next year’s, or some other point in time. The latest report suggests Microsoft’s third home game console will ship without what has been a critical component in the past: a disc drive. According to MCV, partners of Microsoft’s have been told the new system will make use of “some sort of interchangeable solid-state card storage” in lieu of the disc-based media that console owners have become accustomed to for many years now. This flies in the face of previous speculation and reports that Microsoft would abandon DVD in favor of Blu-ray and its superior storage capacity. This news has been mistaken by many as meaning the so-called Xbox 720 will be a digital-only system, ignoring the fact that — assuming this report to be true — games would presumably be sold both digitally and on SD cards or some proprietary equivalent. It’s a setup employed by the PlayStation Vita, which offers games both on flash memory cards at retail and through the PlayStation Store (with some games only being available through the latter). While many agree digital-only systems are the future, it’s hard to imagine such a future occurring in 2013, which is when MCV says the new Xbox will arrive. A system without a disc drive would certainly be a step in that digital-only direction without completely abandoning those who still have to rely on physical media. While many gamers do live in areas where it can be hard to find a spot that is not within range of a Wi-Fi connection, nationwide (not to mention worldwide) broadband penetration is not what some believe it to be. A digital-only system would also present a problem for broadband users who are saddled with a bandwidth cap, something that is becoming increasingly common. There are both pros and cons to a console abandoning discs, making it difficult to definitively state whether such a system would be good or bad. On the pro side, the removal of the disc drive is one less thing that can break. The Red Ring of Death was far and away the Xbox 360 issue that has gotten the most attention, but disc read errors and other issues related to the system’s optical drive have also been commonplace. Flash cards, meanwhile, can’t be scratched as a DVD can, lessening the likelihood of ruining one of your games in that way. (An SD card is, however, much easier for a dog to swallow… so swings and roundabouts.) But that same issue presents other problems. Without a disc drive your Xbox can no longer double as a DVD player, and you also would be unable to play any Xbox 1 or Xbox 360 games. It’s not impossible that something akin to the UMD conversion program Vita owners have available to them in Japan would be instituted to allow Xbox 360 game owners to bring their games over to the new system. What’s more likely, though, is that things work as they do for Vita owners outside of Japan — which is to say, digital games can be transferred over to the new system but physical games can only be played on the platform they were originally designed for. Load times for games located on solid-state media would surely be better than what we’re used to seeing from disc-based games, and the system would also be much quieter without a disc constantly spinning. However, discs are much cheaper to produce than memory cards, and with production costs on games likely to go up as the graphical fidelity of next-gen games increases, publishers aren’t going to be nice and take that hit themselves. If cards prove to be that much more expensive, we could see the standard price of games — at least those at retail — shoot up even higher than the $59.99 we’ve endured through this generation. There are other benefits to using flash cards as well, although many of them are only beneficial from the perspective of publishers. It’s possible the cards could be used to combat the sale of used games. A Kotaku report earlier this year stated the next Xbox would employ Blu-ray and some form of protection that would ensure a game could only be used on a single console. Many gamers found this highly objectionable for obvious reasons, but it’s easy to see why those in the industry would love it: Why face the criticism of employing an online pass (meant to dissuade the purchase of used games) when even more far-reaching restrictions could be implemented at the system level? It bears mentioning that not everyone in the industry would necessarily be in favor of such a scheme, as there are those who believe used game sales (like piracy) can turn a used-game player into a future new-game buyer and/or DLC buyer. That rumors of a Blu-ray drive being used would not pan out is not a shocking development. Microsoft is clearly in favor of a digital future, and not supporting Sony is simply an added bonus. Some have suggested two different models of the system could be made available: one with an optical drive and one without. That would alleviate the concerns of those who do not want to be without a disc drive, but it would also result in a great deal of confusion. While the multiple SKU setup did work for Microsoft with the Xbox 360, it also caused a number of problems, and those would be even worse in the case of a system that may or may not have a disc drive. Would retailers have to stock games on flash cards and discs? What happens when an uninformed mom or dad walks into a store and purchases a disc-based game for their child who has the system that doesn’t take discs? As you’d expect, Microsoft didn’t offer much of a comment regarding the report, simply telling MCV, “Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend its lifecycle like introducing the world to controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention. Beyond that we do not comment on rumors or speculation.” By even lasting this long Microsoft has already defied the typical lifecycle of a home console, so launching a new console later next year remains a distinct possibility. Whether it will indeed abandon discs is hard to say; some may see it as an undesirable scenario, but that hasn’t stopped things like online passes from becoming an oft-used scheme. A system where used games no longer exist and downloads are pushed stronger than ever may not appeal to everyone, but with the way things are going it would hardly be a major surprise. [Image courtesy of Edge.] Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
| [GDC 2012] CryEngine 3 battles with Unreal Engine 3 Posted: 11 Mar 2012 05:51 AM PDT
Unreal Engine 4 is currently being shown to a selected group of publishers, with a spokesperson saying that next generation game consoles will still be using Unreal Engine 3, while the “bigger scale” games will probably be using the sequel. A recent Unreal 3 Engine online game will be Blacklight: Retribution (link). I am not sure why, but I personally enjoy CryEngine 3 better with my recent experiences in ArcheAge (link) and Warface (link). Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
| Posted: 11 Mar 2012 01:27 AM PST Battlefield Heroes is a 3D third-person shooter with stylish cartoon graphics. Players join either the National Army (the Germans), or the Royal Army (the Brits) in this casual World War 2 era shooter. Each faction has the same three class choices – Commando, Soldier, and Gunner.
Publisher: Electronic Arts – EA Digital Illusions CE Website: http://www.battlefieldheroes.com/en/ Pros: +Stylish graphics. +Casual, humorous atmosphere. +Simple controls, optional tutorial. +Vehicles including tanks & airplanes. +Achievement system. Cons: -Only three class choices. -Must launch from website. -No lobby. -Can't switch roles or sides during battle as you could in previous Battlefield titles.
Battlefield Heroes is the latest in the popular Battlefield series, and the first to be offered free-to-play. Unlike previous titles, Heroes has a third-person view, cartoony graphics, and is aimed at a broad, casual audience with streamlined controls and low system requirements. There are two factions to chose from – the National Army and the Royal Army, both of which have access to the same three classes. Players earn valor and hero points as they play the game, with which they can purchase new weapons and items. Each class has multiple guns available for purchase, and more are likely to be added in future updates. As of the open beta there is no lobby system. Instead, Battlefield Heroes relies on match-making, though players can hop into the same room with others added as friends. Vehicles, which have always been a big part of the Battlefield experience, make a return in Heroes. There are currently three vehicle types, including jeeps, tanks, and airplanes, all of which can be easily used by players. The three classes are: Commando - Sneaky fighters who rely on cunning and subterfuge to achieve their objectives. Their starting gear includes a long-ranged rifle, TNT, a knife, the stealth ability, and a self heal ability. Soldier – The standard soldier on the Battlefield! Soldiers have diverse abilities that make them useful in all situations. Their starting gear includes an assault rifle, shotgun, TNT, a self heal ability, and a group heal ability. Gunner - The heavy class of Battlefield Heroes. Gunners have the most health of all fighters. Their starting gear includes a machine gun, shotgun, TNT, a self heal ability, and an absorb damage ability.
Battlefield Heroes System RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specifications: http://www.battlefieldheroes.com/en/ |
| MechWarrior Online Adds Depth to the Series Posted: 10 Mar 2012 04:48 PM PST The Game Developers Conference is far from over — actually, the show floor just opened today — but if bumping into people over the past couple days has been anything to go by, a PSN game called Dyad seems to be getting the best word of mouth at the show. Well, let me try that again — the Halo announcements, SimCity, Quantic Dream’s bundle of joy, and the Independent Games Festival probably win this award I just made up. But for the underdog word of mouth, I’m going with Dyad. A couple days ago, I was able to play it for about an hour. Developer Shawn McGrath invited some media to try the game in his hotel room, each alone, with the lights off — “the cool kids’ way of playing it,” he said — which seemed odd, but made sense when I realized the game is a weird mash-up of Rez, a light show, a kaleidoscope, and a racing game. “Weird” is his word, by the way. Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
| MechWarrior Online Adds Depth to the Series Posted: 10 Mar 2012 04:48 PM PST The Game Developers Conference is far from over — actually, the show floor just opened today — but if bumping into people over the past couple days has been anything to go by, a PSN game called Dyad seems to be getting the best word of mouth at the show. Well, let me try that again — the Halo announcements, SimCity, Quantic Dream’s bundle of joy, and the Independent Games Festival probably win this award I just made up. But for the underdog word of mouth, I’m going with Dyad. A couple days ago, I was able to play it for about an hour. Developer Shawn McGrath invited some media to try the game in his hotel room, each alone, with the lights off — “the cool kids’ way of playing it,” he said — which seemed odd, but made sense when I realized the game is a weird mash-up of Rez, a light show, a kaleidoscope, and a racing game. “Weird” is his word, by the way. Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
| Battle of the Immortals MMORPG Review Posted: 10 Mar 2012 01:29 PM PST Battle of the Immortals is an action oriented 3D fantasy MMORPG. The game mixes Norse and Chinese mythology to create a unique game world and lore. Play as one of 5 classes, each with their own special armor sets that grow along with the character.
Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment Website: http://boi.perfectworld.com/ Pros: +Interesting pet system, catch any monster. +Auto-Navigate system makes questing simple. +Soul Gear & weapons that gain levels. +Good music. Cons: -Poor character customization. -Interface could be better. -Botting system & auto-walk too much automation.
Battle of the Immortals is an action MMORPG that blends Norse mythology with a Qin Dynasty era Chinese game world. The game has many staple features such as pets, mounts, PvP combat, and an auto-navigate system but also has plenty of new innovations. Among these is the Soul Gear system in which equipment gains experience and grows with use. Additionally, the Zodiac System grants characters special powers at certain times depending on their character's selected birthday. Classes: Berzerker – Ruthless fighters that excel at physical combat and demoralizing opponents. Berzerkers can dish out consistently high damage and have high physical defense. They are vulnerable to magic attacks. Champion - Disciplined warriors who excel at defense. Champions use shields and have high physical and magical defense. They can draw enemy attacks away from their allies as well. Slayer – Silent stalkers with high dexterity. Slayers execute quick strikes and deliver critical blows. They make up for their lack of defense with evasive abilities and skills that disable their opponents. Magus – The masters of elemental magic. Magus can deal heavy damage to a single or multiple targets in an area. They have low physical defense and rely on allies for protection. Heretic - The priest class of BOI. Heretics control the flows of life and death with their spells. They can protect and heal their allies, or corrupt enemies with shadow skills. A must-have in any serious group.
Battle of the Immortals System RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specifications: |
| Funcom goes all commando on MMO Culture Posted: 10 Mar 2012 10:48 AM PST
What the hell is wrong with the gaming industry nowadays? Whenever we talk about community, isn’t it fair to just give someone an email and at least 24 hours notice for something to be done before doing something drastic? MMO Culture is not a big site by all means, I did not know anything about the embargo until 30 minutes ago. Funcom, Blizzard… Being in the Community Department of an online gaming company myself, this is something I will make sure which will not happen to any of our fans. Education always comes first, then the tough love. Seriously, the “big” companies should really brush up on their community engagement work. 1 for the “good guys”, 0 for the baddy. Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
| Posted: 10 Mar 2012 10:48 AM PST
Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
EA has announced a new game in the SimCity series. It's a reboot, simply called SimCity that will be familar to SimCity fans with updated online and social features, including the ability to affect your friends' cities and cities within the SimCity community. Check out more details on the 
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