Tag: PC Gaming

Coffee Talk #389: Are We Living in a Post-PC World?

I’m not buying the whole “Post-PC world” rhetoric. I hate that phrase. It’s a clever bit of marketing that reminds me a bit of the term “Retina Display”. Apple, Steve Jobs in particular, has ingrained the terms Post-PC…

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, why animals freak out before natural disasters, Hustler’s rumored Rihanna sex tape, or paid Android apps that still have advertising (WTF?!?), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Like many of you, I spent a lot of time reading a bunch of reactions to Steve Jobs resigning as Apple CEO. One of my favorites was by Peter Pachal of PC Magazine. While I enjoyed the piece, there was a section that bugged me. Check it out:

The reason Jobs picked this time to leave active duty at Apple is apparent. He’s done. He’s finished executing a brilliant strategy of transitioning Apple from a PC-focused company to a company that’s leading the charge into what Jobs calls the “Post-PC world.” Over the past decade, Apple’s legendary success began with the iPod, evolved into the iPhone, and reached new heights with the iPad.

I definitely agree that Jobs changed Apple’s focus and transformed it into a drastically different company than it was in 1997. That said, I’m  not buying the whole “Post-PC world”  rhetoric. I hate that phrase. It’s a clever bit of marketing that reminds me a bit of the term “Retina Display”. Apple, Jobs in particular, has ingrained the terms Post-PC era and Retina Display to the point where a lot of tech writers think that the Post-PC is an actual era (after the Palaeozoic Era?) and Retina Display is an actual technology. It infuriates me. (For the record, I’m not accusing Pachal of either. His article just reminded me of the matter.)

See, I don’t think of products like the iPhone or iPad as post-PC. They’re just different kinds of personal computers. They’re personal devices, right? They compute things, don’t you agree? They just use different input methods, come in different form factors, and offer a different experience. I realize those sound like major differences, but I believe that my laptop, my smartphone, and my iPad are all personal computers. They’re just different kinds of PCs. Put it this way — my laptop is quite different from the Altair 8800, but they’re both considered personal computers.

Do you agree with me? Are smartphones and tablets just new kinds of personal computers? Or are they distinct device types that should not be considered PCs? Are you living in a Post-PC world? Are you a Post-PC girl? (Think Madonna.)

Kanye West Performing at Call of Duty XP Convention

As we discussed in yesterday’s Coffee Talk, renowned hip-hop artist and producer Kanye West will be performing at Activision’s Call of Duty XP convention. He’ll be taking the stage on September 3, 2011. My personal dream is that Taylor Swift shows up and interrupts his show…but I don’t see that happening. Here’s a clip from the press release:

In his first public performance since the release of his fifth #1 album, the global smash “Watch the Throne,” Kanye West is set to close Call of Duty XP, the only full-immersion fan experience for Call of Duty gamers. West will take the stage at 8PM on Saturday, September 3rd, capping an impressive roster of firsts for casual and hardcore Call of Duty fans alike, including the world premiere of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer, the first public hands-on with the title, the finals of the Call of Duty $1 Million tournament sponsored by Xbox 360, Call of Duty-inspired live action-experiences and much more. Call of Duty XP takes place September 2nd and 3rd, 2011, in Los Angeles, California.

What do you think of Kanye performing at a Call of Duty convention? Are there any recording artists that you think match up well with certain games? As I mentioned yesterday, Yasumi Matsuno is a Queen mark and litters his game with all sorts of Queen references. Ice-T has a connection with Gears of War. Jack Black is a known Grand Theft Auto homer. Name some recording artists and match ’em up with games (please)!

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Character Creation Screens

Here are a bunch of screens of the character creation process in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The screenshots show the facial presets for the game’s various races. Head shots of argonians, dark elves, nords, orcs, and more are included. Some of you will recall that Skyrim was in my E3 2011 personal top five. My head is currently swimming with character creation ideas. I want to play now!!!

How about you? What kind of character do you plan on playing as in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim?

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GameStop Removing OnLive Coupons From Deus Ex

The PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution comes with a coupon code for a free OnLive version of the game…unless you buy it at GameStop. You see, GameStop considers OnLive a competitor and has been removing the OnLive coupon from its copies of Deux Ex: Human Revolution. Yes, GameStop employees have been instructed to open the game and remove the “offending” coupon. GameSpy broke the news and received the following statement from GameStop PR:

Square Enix packed the competitor’s coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull and discard these coupons.

The counterpoint to GameStop’s stance is that it shouldn’t have sold the game if it had an issue with the OnLive coupon. Telling its employees to open boxes, remove coupons, and sell opened products as new is…not the smartest thing to do. It’s bad for its relationship with Square Enix and its PC gaming customers. I wonder if Square Enix or OnLive will take legal action. At the very least, I expect a class action suit from disgruntled customers.

What do you think of GameStop removing OnLive coupons from Deus Ex? Is it shady? Or is GameStop just protecting its interests?

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Steve Jobs Resigns, Tim Cook Named New Apple CEO

Huge news out of Cuppertino: the legendary Steve Jobs has resigned as Apple CEO and former COO Tim Cook has been named as his replacement. Jobs will still serve Apple as chairman of the board. As many of you know, Jobs has been suffering from numerous health issues over the last few years. Many believed that Cook would be his successor. Despite the inevitability of it all, it still feels a bit shocking. Apple without Steve Jobs steering the ship seems…not right. Before I get to some analysis and explanation, here’s a clip from the press release:

Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

For those of you not familiar with Cook, he is one of the biggest reasons that Apple enjoys the profit margins that it does. The man knows how to work supply chains, setting up favorable deals for components needed in Apple products years in advance. For example, Cook set up deals for high-quality LCD displays years before the iPad and iPhone took off. This helped Apple secure relatively cheap prices for these goods. A nifty side effect, particularly on the tablet side, is that Apple’s competitors have had a tough (and comparatively expensive) time getting LCD screens for its products.

The reaction from the stock market has been a completely expected overreaction. According to Wired, Apple shares closed at $376.18, but dipped to $357.10 in after-hours trading. I understand that people are jumpy on someone other than Steve Jobs leading Apple, but there’s no need to panic (yet). Jobs is still around and working for Apple. More importantly, Apple plans things out so far in advance that an immediate stock dip seems a bit stupid to me. I would be shocked if there were drastic changes to how Apple does business over the next five years (at least).

What are your thoughts on Steve Jobs resignation and the future of Apple? Is it a sign of an inevitable fall? Or is it simply due to health issues? At the very least, Tim Cook will do a better job taking over Apple then Steve Ballmer did taking over Microsoft, right? Is going with an “operations” guy instead of a “vision” guy the best thing for Apple’s future?

Coffee Talk #388: Make Your Own Videogame Convention

With Halo Fest taking place this weekend and Call of Duty XP in a few weeks followed by Blizzcon a bit later, I was wondering what the videogame convention of your dreams would be like. Would you want a convention…

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, your favorite shot of alcohol, Klatch’s Panama Carmen Estate 1750 Reserve, or Derek Jeter rocking it the second half of the season, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Today’s Coffee Talk is a quickie as I’ll be flying back to California by the time you’re reading this. With Halo Fest taking place this weekend and Call of Duty XP in a few weeks followed by Blizzcon a bit later, I was wondering what the videogame convention of your dreams would be like. Would you want a convention centered around a certain developer or publisher? Or would you want a convention all about your favorite gaming franchise?

This is never going to happen, but I’m going to dream about Matsuno Mania 3000. It’s a three-day convention that celebrates the games created by Yasumi Matsuno and his team. It’s full of Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics panels. Matsuno is a known Queen mark, so the surviving members of the band would be the musical guests (Brian May rules!). This sounds like the best event ever (in my head)!!!

What’s the videogame convention of your dreams like? Name it, describe it, and share it (please)!

Deus Ex: Human Revolution — The Clothing Line

Square Enix, Eidos Montreal, and musterbrand have teamed up for a clothing line inspired by Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Aimed to be a cut above the standard videogame t-shirts, this premium clothing line includes a trench coat, jeans, and a bandanna in addition to t-shirts. Here’s more from musterbrand CEO Knut Jochen Bergel:

Standard logoed T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats are the norm. musterbrand’s clothing lines are designed by top stylists, woven from the highest quality material, and cut so sharply they should come with a warning. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is already drawing praise for its unique design and playability — we’re aiming to replicate the game’s popularity with our clothing line too.

These Deus Ex: Human Revolution threads look really cool…but are probably too cool for me. I’m more of a sports coat and jeans guy. I don’t think I’m ready for clothes that are “cut so sharply they should come with a warning”. That could be dangerous.

How about you? Any interest in Deus Ex: Human Revolution clothing by musterbrand?

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John Carmack Talks Licensing, Mobile, Tools, and More

Gamasutra has a must-read interview with id Software’s John Carmack. The brilliant programmer covers a wide variety of topics in this four-page interview, including Rage, frame rate, the decision to stop licensing id Tech, the benefits of being acquired by ZeniMax, the true power of mobile devices, and more. I highly recommend reading the whole thing. You’ll be a smarter gamer for it. Here are some highlights:

Why the company stopped licensing its id Tech engine:

It’s interesting when you look back at our technology licensing — it was never really a business that I wanted to be in. In the very early days, people would pester us, and we would just throw out some ridiculous terms, and we were surprised that people were taking us up on it.

I didn’t want to be in the process of supporting a lot of outside teams — because we feel beholden to not make radical changes, and pull the rug out from underneath lots of other people. If it’s your own team, you can make the sensible decision of “It’s going to be worth it. It’s going to suck for a while, but we can make our way through it.” But you don’t want to do that to other people.

Why Microsoft gives its Xbox 360 developers expensive tools for free:

Microsoft has got some pretty good static analysis tools, and normally they make you buy, like an $8,000 professional edition of Visual Studio, but they give it for free to all Xbox developers — which I think says an interesting thing about this stuff. Where Microsoft figures that, well, nobody blames them for crappy software on Windows, but they do blame Microsoft a bit for crappy software on 360, so it’s in their best interest to put more static analysis tools available there.

One of the biggest problems with PC game development:

It’s pretty sad, the fact that we have these PCs that are sometimes 10 times as powerful, and we have more trouble holding 60 frames per second on the PCs because of drive and OS unoptimalities. And there are reasons for all of them. I’ve done enough driver work on OpenGL to understand why things wind up the way they are.

And sure, on the PC, you can go ahead and you’re running two megapixels. You can turn on anti-aliasing, and you can have much bigger page tables for the virtual textures, and all this stuff. But still, if you want it to get done in like 16 milliseconds, the graphics drivers are a huge hindrance right there.

As I said before, it’s a fantastic interview. Carmack is awesome. I guarantee you’ll learn at least four things from this story. Now go read it!

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Coffee Talk #387: Games That All Look the Same to You

Are there any game genres that look all the same to you? For example, I have several casual-gamer friends that can’t tell the difference between Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Medal of Honor. They see all World War II…

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 rebellion in Libya, Klatch’s El Salvador Yellow Bourbon, or the brawl between Georgetown and the Bayi Military Rockets baseketball teams leading to World War III, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Are there any game genres that look all the same to you? For example, I have several casual-gamer friends that can’t tell the difference between Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Medal of Honor. They see all World War II first-personshooters as the same. The issue isn’t restricted to casual gamers either. I have friends in the videogame business that think all Japanese RPGs are the same. They see some effeminate male protagonist with impossible hair saving the world against some generic evil guy.

As for me, all the tower defense games in the world have blended together into one unidentifiable mess. I’m sure that there are plenty of differences between tower defense games, but aside from South Park Let’s Go Tower Defense Play! I can’t tell these games apart. Part of it is due to a lack of interest and part of it stems from the overwhelming tower defense choices on Android and iOS. There are just too many of them!

Now it’s your turn! Are there any game genres that all look the same to you?

Mark Cerny: Traditional Single-Player Games are Over

Mark Cerny is one of the sharpest guys I’ve met in the videogame business, so when he says that traditional single-player games aren’t long for this world, I listen. At a recent Sony Computer Entertainment event during GamesCom 2011, Cerny had a lot of say about how a “connected” world is changing single-player videogames. Here’s a quote from Eurogamer:

I believe the traditional single-player game experience will be gone in three years. Right now you sit in your living room and you’re playing a game by yourself — we call it the sp mission or the single-player campaign. In a world with Facebook I just don’t think that’s going to last.

We’re already seeing the wall starting to crumble a bit. Demon’s Souls, even though on one level it’s a single-player game, as you’re walking through the world you’re seeing the ghosts of everybody who died in that world via the internet. You can leave messages for them. They can leave messages for you. There’s actually a boss you fight in that game which is controlled by another player.

I think he’s right to a large degree. Videogames on consoles and PCs are definitely moving in that direction. Will they become the norm in five years? I’m not sure, but Cerny is exponentially smarter than I am, so why not?!? As for the “traditional” single-player experience, I’ve been using my iPad 2, PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo 3DS for gaming that’s more along the lines of what I grew up with. The portable consoles are becoming more social, but “real” gaming on phones and tablets is in its infancy. While phones and tablets are obviously connected devices, they still offer that solitary experience I’m used to because the development environment isn’t as sophisticated as consoles (yet).

A lot of you know that I’m a Cerny mark and won’t question his word (I’m slightly exaggerating). With that in mind, please let me know what you think about his prognosis. Are traditional single-player games done? Does a world that has become smaller through social networking require single-player videogames that are more connected? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!

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[I wanted to post this story yesterday, but my crap web host decided to take the day off. Never use AnHosting.]