I’m not sure what I want to play this weekend. Deus Ex: Human Revolution should definitely be getting more attention from me. My Driver: San Francisco review is done, but I want to play more multiplayer now that real people have the game. Quarrel Deluxe and Civilization: Revolution are still getting daily play on my iPad 2. So many choices!
How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?
Remember when you’d buy a game at a store and that was the end of your spending? DLC, online fees like Xbox Live, monthly MMO subscriptions, item packs, etc. have made gaming more expensive than ever. I’m curious…
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 crappy playing conditions at the U.S. Open (tennis), celebrating Josh Beckett’s sprained ankle, or why people think Victor Ortiz has a chance against Floyd Mayweather, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Remember when you’d buy a game at a store and that was the end of your spending? DLC, online fees like Xbox Live, monthly MMO subscriptions, item packs, etc. have made gaming more expensive than ever. I’m curious to learn what game you’ve spent the most money on. Was it an MMO that kept you addicted for years? Was it an action game with consistently great DLC maps? I want to know!
As for me, it’s probably Dragon Age. In addition to buying the game, I’ve purchased all the playable DLC and an expansion pack. That’s more than $100 on a single game! I understand that the economics of gaming are different and BioWare has provided me with dozens of hours of entertainment, but damn! It just feels expensive when you add it all up (no regrets though, I heart BioWare).
So what’s the most you’ve spent on a single game? Kindly share the title and the estimated dollar amount. Was it money well spent? Or does looking through the retroscope give you buyer’s remose?
I’m going to be visiting my old stomping grounds of San Francisco this weekend, but only virtually. You see, I’m playing Driver: San Francisco and it will be getting the bulk of my attention over the next few days. My addiction to Quarrel Deluxe is still going strong, so that will be my “break” game. The gameplay is so clever!
How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?
Razer has unveiled the BlackWidow Stealth Edition, which offers the quality feel of a mechanical keyboard and Razer’s gaming enhancements, but without all the noise. This keyboard has all the excellent features of the traditional BlackWidow, but has “been refitted with a keyset that offers tactility but with a quieter feedback for the true silent assassins of gaming”. While you’re trying to figure out what a true silent assassin of gaming is, check out the specs from the press release:
- Full mechanical keys with 45g actuation force
- Extreme anti-ghosting
- Individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting
- 1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response time
- Programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording
- Gaming mode option for deactivation of the Windows key
- 10 customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching
- 5 additional macro keys
- Multi-media control keys
- Braided cable
- Audio-Out/Mic-In jack
- USB-passthrough
- Approx size (mm): 475(l) x 171(w) x 30(h)
- Weight: 1.5kg
I’ve been using the BlackWidow Ultimate for a few months and can vouch for its quality. It’s extremely well made and has a great feel. I’m a huge fan of mechanical keyboards; they simply feel better than squishy membrane keyboards. That said, I love all the noise mechanical keyboards make. In additional the superior tactical feel of mechanical keyboards, the satisfying clicks and clacks make me feel like I’m doing more than I actually am. That’s priceless.
Having said that, I know that the sounds generated by mechanical keyboards can (and more than likely will) annoy coworkers, roommates, loved ones, etc. The BlackWidow Stealth Edition seems like a good alternative for those that want the satisfying feel of a mechanical keyboard but don’t want to wake up the neighbors.
The BlackWidow Stealth Edition costs $79.99, while the BlackWidow Ultimate Stealth Edition costs $129.99. Both are available at Razer’s online store.
To steal a phrase from Beavis & Butthead, are any of you interested in picking up this silent-but-deadly keyboard?
I’m totally charmed by these screens of Square Enix’s Quantum Conundrum. This puzzle-platform game is being made by Airtight Games. Some of you know that Airtight’s creative director is Kim Swift, co-creator of the outstanding Portal…
[nggallery id=71]
I’m totally charmed by these screens of Square Enix’s Quantum Conundrum. This puzzle-platform game is being made by Airtight Games. Some of you know that Airtight’s creative director is Kim Swift, co-creator of the outstanding Portal. Quantum Conundrum looks like a wonderful blend of creative gameplay and a cute art style. Here’s some info from the press release:
In Quantum Conundrum, players take on the role of a young kid dropped off on his uncle’s doorstep for the weekend; his uncle just so happens to be the brilliant, eccentric inventor, Professor Fitz Quadwrangle. Upon entering the Professor’s vast manor home retrofitted with crazy technology to test his latest hypotheses, players quickly realize their uncle has gone missing. Fortunately, players soon gain access to Professor Quadwrangle’s latest invention, the Inter-Dimensional Shift Device, which, at the press of a button, will shift the world around them to an entirely new dimension. In order to find him, players must use the newly found IDS Device to dynamically change the world to and from a variety of different dimensions to progress through the complicated Quadwrangle Manor. While on the journey, becoming adept at utilizing the various dimensions will help them trek from one bizarre and challenging room to the next. It might sound easy enough, but it is a tall order for a kid in a giant puzzle of a manor!
Sounds awesome, hey? Quantum Conundrum will be available for download in early 2012. It’s heading to PC (via Steam), PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live.
Anyone else psyched for this game?
My tech writer friends and I were talking about brands that were powerful 10 years ago, but are dead or dying in 2011. Names like Dell, Nokia, and RIM came up. It wasn’t that long ago when Michael Dell advised Apple to…
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, gratuitous use of chyrons, the scariest insect, or why my coffee beans are late, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
My tech writer friends and I were talking about brands that were powerful 10 years ago, but are dead or dying in 2011. Names like Dell, Nokia, and RIM came up. It wasn’t that long ago when Michael Dell advised Apple to shut down the company, Nokia was the leading high-end smartphone manufacturer in the world, and RIM’s BlackBerry platform was considered cutting edge. It’s crazy how much can change in a decade. These days Apple makes Dell look like a joke, Nokia is no longer a player in the high-end market, and RIM’s BlackBerry OS is considered an archaic piece of crap.
Other companies like Excite, Palm, and Yahoo! were discussed. I wanted to talk about gaming brands, but most of these guys don’t know anything about that world. That’s where you come in! Remember when the “big three” of gaming was Nintendo, Sony, and Sega?!? It’s crazy how Sega went from one of the biggest players in console gaming to a middling publisher.
What brands do you remember being juggernauts in 2001 that are dead or dying in 2011? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!
Razer has taken the wraps off of its Blade gaming laptop and it looks hot. Packed with high-end specs, aluminum construction, and Razer’s unique Switchblade user interface, the Blade appears to offer a unique blend of performance, functionality, and style. While I don’t want to get too excited until I can get my hands on one, I’m loving the Blade on paper. Here’s some additional info from the press release:
Razer, the world leader in high performance gaming hardware, introduces the Razer Blade – a full aluminum chassis gaming laptop featuring true portability, incredible performance, and an all-new revolutionary user interface. With the introduction of the Razer Blade – a feat of modern-day systems engineering and technology, Razer is reinvigorating technological and design innovation for the entire PC industry, and encouraging gamers and developers to return to the PC as the primary gaming platform of choice.
Mobile systems developed for gaming today compromise on portability and form factor for game performance. While such machines run games well, they are over 2 inches thick and can weigh more than 10lbs. The Razer Blade measures 0.88 inches thin, less than half that of current mobile gaming systems, and weighs only 6.97lbs, achieving a balance between portability and performance – making it the world’s first true gaming laptop.
Developed in partnership with Intel, the Razer Blade features a fast Intel® Core™ i7 processor and a high performance NVIDIA GeForce® graphics processor. The hardware was designed to run the most demanding games of today without sacrificing the laptop’s portable form factor. The Razer Blade also does not compromise on screen size as it comes with an incredible LED-backlit high-definition 17” display.
The Razer Blade features the Switchblade User Interface – Razer’s multi-award winning, highly intuitive interface technology. The interface is comprised of 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys for easier access of in-game commands, and an LCD capable of two modes: one mode that displays in-game information when a mouse is in use; and another mode that functions as an ultra-sensitive, multi-touch panel designed for gaming on the go.
Naturally, the Blade uses the customary black and green colors found in other Razer products. I’m anxious to get my hands on the machine in order to get a sense of its build quality For now I’m digging the Blade’s looks. Check out the image gallery below and let me know if you like the Blade’s aesthetics.
[nggallery id=70]
I know that a lot of you are spec whores, so here are the Blade’s digits:
Price: US$2799.99
Availability: North America Q4 2011
Product Specifications:
- 2.8GHz Intel® Core™ i7 2640M Processor
- 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 Memory
- 17.3″ LED Backlit Display (1920×1080)
- NVIDIA GeForce® GT 555M with NVIDIA® Optimus™ Technology
- 2GB Dedicated GDDR5 Video Memory
- Built-in HD Webcam
- Integrated 60Wh Battery
- 320GB 7200rpm SATA HDD
- Wireless Network 802.11 b/g/n Compatible
- 16.81″ (Width) x 10.9″ (Depth) x 0.88″ (Height); 6.97lbs (Weight)
Again, I’m trying not to get too excited…but I can’t help it! The Razer Blade is the most exciting non-Apple laptop I’ve seen in years. Keep in mind that I was reviewing laptops for PC Magazine and Computer Shopper in the ’90s before I started writing about games. It’s extremely rare for me to be this jazzed about a Windows laptop and here I am drooling over the Blade. Ha!
How about you? Any of you ladies and gents interested in the Blade?
[Updated at 2:21PM PDT with the promo video below.]
I hate the question, “Is PC gaming dead?” Of course it’s not. As long as people are using PCs, they will also use them to goof off, and one of the best ways to do that is gaming. I was reminded of this stupid question…
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, Minka Kelly and Derek Jeter breaking up, hurricanes, or NY bagels, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
I hate the question, “Is PC gaming dead?” Of course it’s not. As long as people are using PCs, they will also use them to goof off, and one of the best ways to do that is gaming. I was reminded of this stupid question when Razer took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal that proclaimed PC gaming is not dead. It’s just a teaser for a product announcement later today, but it plays on the whole PC-gaming-is-dead thing.
Just to make sure we’re clear on this issue — PC gaming is not dead! Don’t believe me? Well, ask John Carmack. He’s exponentially smarter than either of us. He recently told Gamasutra:
When you look at all the MMO money on there, there’s still a lot. And when you include Facebook games and stuff like that, and all the web games.
It’s just, I think people regret the migration of the hardcore action game, which clearly has taken a move towards the consoles. But gaming on the PC, there’s probably more hours of PC games going on now than there were five years ago.
While there might not be as many “enthusiast” games on PC as there used to be, there are more people spending more hours gaming on a PC than ever before. The market has changed and the audience has evolved. There are casual-game publishers that are being valuated in billions of dollars (USD). With all the people participating and all the money to be made, I don’t see how anyone can think that the PC market is “dead”.
Normally, I would ask for your thoughts on the question of, “Is PC gaming dead?”, but Carmack just owned the question. Of course I must end today’s column with this: And that’s the bottom line, because John Carmack said so!!!
I hope to get some quality time in with Deus Ex: Human Revolution on PlayStation 3. I’m also reviewing the Razer Chimaera 5.1 headset for Xbox 360 and will definitely need your help playing some stuff on Xbox Live next week. Getting in the way of my home gaming is an overnight trip for a quickie shoot. Of course I’ll have my iPad 2 with me and will spend most of my airtime playing Civilization Revolution.
How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?
Bethesda vice president Pete Hines confirmed that there will be an option for same-sex marriage in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Replying to a fan on Twitter, Hines wrote, “Not making a huge deal out of it. You can marry anyone.” Some of you will recall that some BioWare fans were not pleased with the homosexual romance options in Dragon Age II. I’m curious to see if Skyrim will elicit a similar reaction.
I love that this is an option in the game. It is, after all, role-playing. I think it’s great that homosexual gamers have an option to play as a character that reflects their lifestyle. Same-sex marriages happen all over the world and it’s fantastic that a videogame reflects modern society. I’m sure Bethesda will get some unnecessary heat for having same-sex marriage in a videogame…and I’m sure a lot of it will be based on stupidity.
What do you think about same-sex marriages in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?
