With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh creating the “big three” with the Miami Heat, people are coming up with all sorts of killer combos. Whether you’re talking about triumvirates in sports, television, or adult films, it’s fun to dream up “big three” combinations. Let’s do the same for videogame development! Who would be your videogame dream team?
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Intelligentsia’s Finca San Jose Nicaragua, Mel Gibson’s anger, or the RAW mystery GM, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
With LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh creating the “big three” with the Miami Heat, people are coming up with all sorts of killer combos. Whether you’re talking about triumvirates in sports, television, or adult films, it’s fun to dream up “big three” combinations. Let’s do the same for videogame development! Who would be your videogame dream team?
Perhaps a combination of Square Enix’s art direction, BioWare’s storytelling, and Epic’s gameplay would work for you. Maybe you’d love Cliff Bleszinski, Hideo Kojima, and Tomonobu Itagaki to collaborate on a videogame. The possibilities are endless! So let’s play this game. Come up with a combination of three developers — companies or individual designers — that would make your dream team.
Ready for more details and opinions of the Motorola Droid X for Verizon? Of course you are! In the first part of my review, I covered this Google Android phone’s build, user interface, storage options, and call quality. This time around I’m covering its screen, keyboard, WiFi hotspot functionality, and software. Let’s get to it!
Screen
The Droid X features an ample 4.3-inch TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 854×480. The colors are bright and vivid. Text looks very clear. TFT LCD doesn’t have the color saturation of OLED — which some people love and some people hate — but it offers true colors and a screen that’s much more usable in daylight. While this screen isn’t as technically impressive as the iPhone 4’s “Retina Display”, the size makes it more usable on a few levels.
Having a large screen is fantastic for web browsing. You simply see more of the web page. It also helps with the virtual keyboard. Having more space makes typing easier for most people. For example, I can type faster and with less errors on the Droid X than the HTC Google Nexus One, which has a 3.7-inch screen.
The Droid X’s resolution is atypical, which is good and bad. In portrait mode, it’s taller and narrower than the comparable HTC Evo 4G. This is great for looking at web pages in portrait mode and more comfortable when holding the phone for calls. It’s not as great using it in landscape mode, but it’s not a huge problem either; it just feels like there’s a lot of wasted space when watching videos and web browsing.
Most people will love this screen. It’s big and beautiful…like Oprah.
Keyboard and Input
There are a few keyboard options on the Droid X. Most people will opt for the virtual keyboard. This phone has one of the best virtual keyboards I’ve ever used, mostly due to the screen size and partially due to the efficient layout. If you like haptic feedback while typing, the Droid X offers some strong vibrations.
The phone also has Swype pre-installed. This nifty program allows you to trace words as the CPU figures out what you want to spell. Check out the video above for an example. It’s a great system that some people rave about, but it definitely requires a learning period. With practice, I’ve seen people enter text faster on Swype than with a physical keyboard. It’s not my cup of tea, but I totally get the appeal and it’s great that it comes pre-loaded on the Droid X.
WiFi Hotspot
Verizon charges $20 a month for tethering and WiFi hotspot functionality, with a 2GB cap. This is cheaper but more restrictive than Sprint’s comparable offering (though it doesn’t have 4G speeds). Setting up a WiFi hotspot is a snap; if you know how to adjust settings on a router than you can set up a hotspot with ease. However, your speeds will vary by location. For example, I was barely able to crack .5MB down in my apartment, but easily hit 1MB in downtown Los Angeles.
The WiFi hotspot feature is a nice option to have, but completely unnecessary if you can get by with a wired connection on one device. There are a number of third-party programs like EasyTether and PDAnet that allow you tether without subscribing to an expensive plan.
Apps, Games, and Goodies
My thoughts on Android apps and games haven’t changed since I covered it in my Evo 4G review. Since new people might be reading this, I’ll give a brief overview. In terms of apps, the Android Market should have most of your needs covered. There are a wide variety of apps for all sorts of entertainment and productivity needs. In terms of function, the Android Market has almost everything the iPhone App Store has, but the selection isn’t as broad.
That said, there are two apps that are headed to Android but are testing my patience with their annoying wait times — TweetDeck and Skype (real Skype, not the BS Skype pre-loaded on the phone). For now I’m content with twicca, WordPress, Barcode Scanner, Foursquare, AIM, Facebook, Yelp, Pandora, Amazon, 3banana, GameFly GameCenter, Engadget, IMDb, Huffington Post, Amazon Kindle, Qik, and Speed Test on the Droid X.
Naturally, Google apps are best on Android than any other platform. Google Maps — with the free and excellent GPS Google Navigation, Google Voice, Google Goggles, Google Earth, etc., are brilliant on Android.
That’s it for part two of my Droid X review. As always, fire away any questions and I’ll try my best to answer them. Stay tuned for comments on the phone’s still image and video capabilities, complete with samples!
Last week LeBron James pulled off one of the most thorough heel turns in the history of heel turns. He went from a basketball player that was loved by some and liked by most to one of the most hated people in the NBA. One of Bill Simmons’ readers compared it to Hulk Hogan’s heel turn at Bash at the Beach ’96. It’s a funny analogy, but it totally works. James’ heel turn is so unbelievable that it could pass for a WWE storyline. I’m pretty sure halfway through the season, Pat Riley is going to take out Erik Spoelstra with a steel chair, spray paint his back, and take over as head coach.
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the World Cup finals, Jesse Jackson accusing Dan Gilbert of seeing LeBron James as a “runaway slave”, or BP’s efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
What are some of your favorite heel turns? Whether they’re from WWE shows, sports, videogame storylines, or real life, betrayals are powerful things. From Cain betraying Abel to LeBron betraying his hometown franchise, I want to know what some of your favorite heel turns in history are.
The “Leliana’s Song” downloadable content for Dragon Age: Origins is the best post-launch DLC Bioware has released for its outstanding 2009 RPG. In addition to the things you’ve come to exepct from Dragon Age DLC — new items, new companions, new villains, etc. — “Leliana’s Song” stands out for its excellent voice acting and storytelling. If you’ve ever been tempted by any Dragon Age DLC, this is the one to download before any of the other post-launch content.
(Spoiler alert for anyone that hasn’t played the original!) “Leliana’s Song” is a prequel that examines the titular character’s past as an Orlesian spy. The DLC recounts the circumstances that lead her to chantry life in Ferelden, focusing on the betrayal by her mentor and lover Marjolaine. (And yes, fans of lesbian make-out scenes have something to look forward to.)
The storytelling is well done, thanks to a strong script and some excellent voice acting. Leliana and Marjolaine steal the show, while companions Sketch and Tug add some decent support. If you’re a Leliana fan — and lots of Dragon Age players are — then you’ll enjoy experiencing her past as a manipulative, cutthroat bitch bard. It’s such a great contrast to the seemingly dopey, bless-the-maker character you first encounter in Dragon Age.
The DLC adds some new music that’s completely appropriate for the adventures of the bard. Some of the exploration and battle tracks are lute driven, which is just cool. Along with cowbell, videogame music needs more lute.
In terms of gameplay, there’s nothing new. It’s the same action-RPG combat and exploration that made the original so enjoyable. Most players will be able to beat the DLC in less than two hours. It takes considerably less time if you skip through the dialog and cutscenes (in which case you’re kind of missing the point). Beating the DLC nets you some nifty armor (Battledress of the Provocateur) that can be used in Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Origins Awakening. Next to the Felon’s Coat, it’s the second-best light-armor in the game.
Most diehard Dragon Age fans have already purchased “Leliana’s Song.” If you’re on the fence about it due to disappointment in the other DLC then I recommend taking a chance on this one. It’s another dose of that lovely BioWare combination of fun gameplay and great storytelling. Out of all the Dragon Age DLC, “The Stone Prisoner” and “Leliana’s Song” are the best. This DLC is a nice prequel chapter in the Dragon Age saga that offers a few hours of fun and some nice armor that can be used in the full game.
There are a bunch of you that don’t like playing games on portable systems. I’ve never really understood this position. To me, a great game is a great game — it doesn’t matter if it’s on a PC, home console, or portable console. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on Pokemon games and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is one of my favorite games this generation. I love that I can play a portable gaming system in bed, on an airplane, in the dentist’s office, etc. I feel like a lot of you are missing out.
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Yankees possibly picking up Cliff Lee, Harry Potter vs. Twilight, or the wrath of Dan Gilbert, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
There are a bunch of you that don’t like playing games on portable systems. I’ve never really understood this position. To me, a great game is a great game — it doesn’t matter if it’s on a PC, home console, or portable console. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on Pokemon games and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is one of my favorite games this generation. I love that I can play a portable gaming system in bed, on an airplane, in the dentist’s office, etc. I feel like a lot of you are missing out.
So explain it to me! Tell me why you love or hate portable gaming. It’s totally cool if you don’t dig it. I’m just trying to understand why. While you’re typing your answers, imagine “Getting to Know You” from The King and I playing in the background. Ha!
So I’ve spent a little over a day with the Motorola Droid X for Verizon. To kick off my not-a-review, I’ll give you my first impressions of this excellent Google Android phone. Today I’m going to talk about the phone’s build quality, user interface, storage options, and initial impressions on call clarity.
Build Quality
The Motorola Droid X is a well-made phone. I really like it’s style and lines. The front of the phone is mostly glass, with four plastic buttons and two strips of rubberized plastic. It’s all wrapped by a metal band, which gives the phone some heft and adds to its quality feel. The back is all rubberized plastic and offers a good grip.
The phone has been getting a lot of flack for its reverse chin — the top of the phone has a noticeable bulge that houses its camera mechanism, which gives the Droid X’s otherwise slim form factor a funky look. The people that hate it are overreacting; it looks way more pronounced in photos than it does in real life. The phone is just as pocketable as the similarly sized HTC Evo 4G for Sprint.
One obvious side effect of the phone’s design is that it’s top heavy. I liked how the phone felt in my hands when making calls and using it in portrait mode. The balance takes some getting use to in landscape mode, but I suspect most users will adjust after using it for a few days. I do suggest being careful about where you place this phone. I left the Droid X and the Evo 4G side by side on the arm of my couch and more than a dozen times in the last 24 hours the Droid X took a dive because of its balance (that or it’s actually alive and prefers to sit on the couch instead of the couch’s arm).
Along with the original Motorola Droid, the Droid X is one of the most well-made Android phones available in America. The only minor nitpick I have is that the battery cover creates a lot of space for dust to settle. I hate dust.
User Interface
The Droid X uses a customized version of Google Android 2.1. It’s not full-on MotoBlur, which is a good thing. Blur is a great idea, but I don’t like how it has been executed and I really don’t like that it delays Android OS upgrades. The UI on the Droid X is close to stock Android, but with enough enhancements and widgets that make it a wee bit friendlier.
I’m a big fan of HTC Sense. It’s the best customized version of Android I’ve used. Compared to that, the UI on the Droid X feels a little clunky and inelegant. It’s not bad by any means, but it doesn’t add the smoothness and good looks that HTC Sense does.
If I had to choose between this customized version of Android and the stock model, I’d go with the latter. Vanilla Android is just fine and Motorola didn’t add enough enhancements to make OS delays worth waiting for. The good news is that Motorola has promised that Android 2.2 will be available for the Droid X in August, but after that who knows how long updates will take.
The UI on the Motorola Droid X is much better than what I’ve seen from Samsung, but not as good as HTC Sense.
Storage
One area where the Droid X trounces the competition is storage. The phone has 8GB built in, solely for Android apps. That’s more than enough for most users and I commend Motorola for being so generous with on-board memory. It doesn’t stop there though; the phone also comes with a 16GB microSD card for additional storage. Again, that’s more than enough for most people’s music, video, and photo needs.
Compared to the Evo 4G, which comes with 1GB of internal memory and an 8GB microSD card, the Droid X’s 24GBs of storage is massive.
Initial Impressions on Call Quality
Even though I’ve only had the phone for a day, I’m already impressed with the Droid X’s call quality. In my opinion, the Motorola Droid is the best Android phone in America in terms of call clarity. I’m 98-percent certain that it will be ousted by the Droid X. The phone has two noise-canceling mics that block out background noise. Just for the hell of it, I made some calls standing on the sidewalk of Wilshire Boulevard with dozens of cars and buses zipping by. My friends said that I sounded great.
Noise-canceling magic aside, my friends said that my voice sounded very clear. By comparison, they said I sounded a little louder on my BlackBerry 8900 but just as clear. Compared to the HTC Evo 4G, I sounded louder and clearer. As for them, they sounded great on the Droid X’s earpiece. However, there were some gain issues when the earpiece was turned up to its highest level. The good news is that if your hearing is decent then you’ll rarely need the volume turned up that high.
Remember, your results may vary. While the noise-cancelling microphones are undoubtedly a huge benefit on the hardware side, call quality greatly depends on how well Verizon works where you live, work, and play. I’ve only tested the Droid X in two neighborhoods in Los Angeles. So far, the results are fantastic.
That’s it for part one of my Motorola Droid X not-a-review. I’ll be testing out the phone’s other functions shortly, including photos, videos, additional call quality tests, and more. If there are any aspects of the phone you want me to pay special attention to, please let me know in the comments section.
BioWare has revealed the initial details on the hotly anticipated Dragon Age II, which is due out in Q1 2011. The sequel to one of my favorite games this generation, the game appears to be going in a different direction than the original Here’s a clip from the official site:
Experience the epic sequel to the 2009 Game of the Year from the critically acclaimed makers of Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. You are one of the few who escaped the destruction of your home. Now, forced to fight for survival in an ever-changing world, you must gather the deadliest of allies, amass fame and fortune, and seal your place in history. This is the story of how the world changed forever. The legend of your Rise to Power begins now.
BioWare claims that it will be using a different combat system and art style for DAII. While I thoroughly enjoyed the combat of the first game, some felt that it was limited and old fashioned. The graphics in the original weren’t bad, but were hardly cutting edge. The visuals in the sequel should be more modern. Here are the bullet points from the official site:
Embark upon an all-new adventure that takes place across an entire decade and shapes itself around every decision you make.
Determine your rise to power from a destitute refugee to the revered champion of the land.
Think like a general and fight like a Spartan with dynamic new combat mechanics that put you right in the heart of battle whether you are a mage, rogue, or warrior.
Go deeper into the world of Dragon Age with an entirely new cinematic experience that grabs hold of you from the beginning and never lets go.
Discover a whole realm rendered in stunning detail with updated graphics and a new visual style.
The game’s story isn’t as transparent as the original’s. Instead of playing a point-of-view character with the name and origin of your choice, DAII uses a set protagonist. The game’s press release gave more details:
Dragon Age 2 thrusts players into the role of Hawke, a penniless refugee who rises to power to become the single most important character in the world of Dragon Age. Known to be a survivor of the Blight and the Champion of Kirkwall, the legend around Hawke’s rise to power is shrouded in myth and rumor. Featuring an all-new story spanning 10 years, players will help tell that tale by making tough moral choices, gathering the deadliest of allies, amassing fame and fortune, and sealing their place in history. The way you play will write the story of how the world is changed forever.
I’m super psyched for the game (duh), but a little disappointed that it isn’t a direct sequel. I put a lot of time into my DA characters and their relationships. I was under the impression that I would learn the fate of my character’s decision with Morrigan. While I’m sure the repercussions will be addressed, it would have been more meaningful to experience the direct consequences.
Having said that, I can’t wait to learn more about Dragon Age II! The first trailer hits on August 17, 2010. Now where’s my countdown clock???
People are torn about LeBron James announcing his “big decision” on a one-hour special on ESPN. Some feel that it’s a brilliant move that takes advantage of modern media. Others feel that it’s a disgustingly egotistical move, despite the advertising proceeds going to charity. Should a player with seven years of NBA experience and zero championship rings be making that big a deal of himself?
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the American Idol tour failing to sell tickets, Bobbi Eden’s World Cup oral sex challenge, or Stumptown’s Guatemala Finca El Injerto, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
People are torn about LeBron James announcing his “big decision” on a one-hour television-special on ESPN. Some feel that it’s a brilliant move that takes advantage of modern media. Others feel that it’s a disgustingly egotistical move, despite the advertising proceeds going to charity. Should a player with seven years of NBA experience and zero championship rings be making that big a deal of himself?
Then there’s Kevin Durant, who gave James’ detractors another talking point by announcing his sizable contract extension with a simple Twitter post. Yeah, the situations are very different, but the contrast can’t be denied.
Personally, I think LeBron is making himself look like a knob; making a spectacle out of his employment decision seems callous when so many Americans can’t find jobs. How do you feel about ESPN’s LeBron James Free Agency Summer Spectacular? Is it sheer genius or a dick move?
My friend Cliff Bleszinski, the amazingly talented designer from Epic Games, sent out a tweet praising an excellent article by Kotaku’s Stephen Totilo. It was a great read and Cliff was right to call out Totilo’s superior work. The second half of the tweet amused me. Cliff wrote, “Take note blogs, more of this, less rumors and flame bait please.”
Gaming blogs do spend too much time reporting rumors and…encouraging debates. Those kinds of articles generate the most traffic and reader comments. I fully admit that I post both types of stories (though I’m a verbal entertainer, not a journalist, so it’s totally cool). For most blogs, it’s what the readers and advertisers want.
The thing is, unlike most people that read gaming blogs, Cliff is in a position to do something about the type of writing that gets page views and advertisements. That’s why I tweeted back, “Tell your publishers to advertise on sites with quality writing and there will be less flame bait/rumors.” Certainly he can’t tell Microsoft, “You’re only going to advertise Gears of War 3 on Gamasutra, The Escapist, and The Huffington Post,” but he can nudge his publishers in that direction.
Our brief exchange — which I’m positive he didn’t read until I pointed it out to him — reminded me of this moment at DICE 2009. Several high-profile developers were on panel and complained about the quality and type of writing most game journalists produce. My friend Tom Russo, former editor-in-chief of Next Generation, quickly spoke up and told the developers that Next Gen had the content they wanted but publishers didn’t support it with advertising. If that’s what they really wanted then they should have done something about it. (By the way, this was a moving speech that’s up there with Bill Pullman’s rally in Independence Day.) I’m sure there were other factors other than what Tom mentioned, but I’m also sure that the lack of publisher support was a major reason Next Gen shut down.
So yeah! A lot of people — developers, publishers, gamers, chimney sweepers, etc. — claim that they want smarter coverage of the gaming business. A lot of people say they’ll read quality articles with plenty of thought. Few people are in a position to support web sites that offer such writing. Cliff Bleszinski is one of the people that can help quality writing flourish. So how about if Cliff? You going to help your publishers put their money where your mouth is?
(On a related note, since I’m a verbal entertainer and not a game journalist, a special amount of Gears of War 3’s advertising budget should go to my site. Gears can have all the ad slots on the site for a year for a special price of however much it costs for me to live/work in Koh Samui for a year.)
In the last ten days I spent two hours waiting for a PSP game to download and four hours waiting for an Xbox 360 game to download. In both cases I was annoyed and agitated that it took so long to download a relatively small amount of data. Six hours for a little over six GBs?!? That’s a step above cavemen banging two rocks together to start a fire!!! But you know what? It beats the crap out of the alternative.
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the NY Knicks signing Amare Stoudemire, Team Armstrong vs. Team Landis, or the the super pretentious Paris Apple Store, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
In the last ten days I spent two hours waiting for a PSP game to download and four hours waiting for an Xbox 360 game to download. In both cases I was annoyed and agitated that it took so long to download a relatively small amount of data. Six hours for a little over six GBs?!? That’s a step above cavemen banging two rocks together to start a fire!!! But you know what? It beats the crap out of the alternative.
Waiting two hours for a PSP is much better than going to a mall, dealing with crowds, and interacting with funployees. The four hours the Xbox 360 download took is much better than waiting for a package to arrive. I’m so ready for digital distribution to be the norm. I can’t wait for console companies and crap-bag ISPs (like my friends at Time Warner Cable) to get their acts together so that digital distribution can happen now.
I know that some of you still have issues with digital distribution and that a few of you still love boxes (I don’t get it). Are you anxious for digital distribution to hit? Or is waiting okay with you?
