Tag: PC Gaming

Coffee Talk #360: How E3 Has Changed Over the Years

E3 has changed a lot over the years. When it first started, console and PC games dominated the landscape. As the PC market declined and the console market boomed it became all about…

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, Justin Timberlake rumored to be dating Ashley Olsen, the underwhelming Windows 8 debut video, or dishonest PR people you want to smack, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve been to every Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) save for one (I was having too much fun in Thailand and accidentally stayed there). E3 has changed a lot over the years. When it first started, console and PC games dominated the show. As the PC market declined and the console market boomed, it became all about the latter. Journalists for enthusiasts videogame outlets were shocked by the emphasis on motion at E3 2010; all the casual games for Kinect, Move, and Wii had several people proclaiming that the unofficial theme of E3 2010 was “It’s Not for You!”.

E3 2011 has more changes in store. The popularity of Android, iOS, and Facebook games has changed the market. I was surprised by how many meeting requests I received from mobile and social game publishers. I understand that these segments of gaming offer the most new opportunities, the most growth, and new money, but I was still surprised by all the cash these publishers are dropping on E3 2011.

Sitting back in my rocking chair and smoking my pipe, it’s fun to think about how E3 has changed over the years. How about for you as a gaming enthusiast? Have you noticed any major changes in E3? How has the show changed for you? Do you still see it as the Super Bowl of gaming? Or have events like PAX taken away some of E3’s luster?

Call of Duty Elite: To Pay or Not to Pay?

Activision has officially announced details on its Call of Duty Elite online service. Offering advanced stat tracking and social features, Call of Duty Elite will have a free version and a premium version with a monthly fee. The primary goal of the service (in my opinion, anyway) is to keep Call of Duty gamers away from other shooters by offering “sticky” features. Here are some bullet points from the press release:

  • Connect: Call of Duty Elite gives players unprecedented control over their multiplayer experience, transforming it into a true social network. Players can compete against friends, players of similar skill levels and players with similar interests, join groups, join clans, and play in organized tournaments. They can also track the performance, progress and activity of their entire network, both in the game itself, as well as through mobile and web interfaces. Elite will be an “always on” way for players to connect with the Call of Duty community.
  • Compete: Call of Duty Elite establishes the most exciting, competitive environment in a multiplayer game. Players will have available a constant stream of events and competitions, tiered to group them with those with similar abilities. Both in-game and real-world prizes will be rewarded to all skill levels.
  • Improve: Call of Duty Elite is like having a personal online coach. It provides players with a dynamic strategy guide that tracks their statistics and performances down to the most minute details. It can show gamers how they stack up against their friends or others in the community. Tools and information are provided so players can learn and up their game.

This is a brilliant move from Activision and a glimpse at the future of game publishing. The $60 buy-and-bye model is dying. DLC updates — both free and paid — help extend the lifespan of some games, but not others. Selling the socialization of gaming was the obvious next step, but it’s mostly uncharted territory for console game publishers. A unified system that allows you to stay in the game whether you’re on your console, work PC, mobile phone, tablet, etc. is genius for large, established franchises.

What do you think of Call of Duty Elite? Are you interested in the service? Would you be willing to pay for the premium service?

Coffee Talk #358: Your Most Wanted Games of E3 2011

The next few editions of Coffee Talk will be about E3 2011. Today, let’s talk about the games you’re looking forward to learning more about at E3 2011. A bunch of my industry friends are high on…

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 U.S. Postal Service nearing collapse, Apple’s iOS 5 announcement on Monday, or day trips to Chicago, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

The next few editions of Coffee Talk will be about E3 2011. Today, let’s talk about the games you’re looking forward to learning more about at E3 2011. A bunch of my industry friends are high on BioShock Infinite. I’m looking forward to learning more about Final Fantasy XIII-2. Comic book fans are psyched to get more details on Batman: Arkham City. A lot of people are expecting Hideo Kojima to announce a big release that will hit in 2012 — 25 years after the first Metal Gear game was released.

What games are you looking to learning more about? I’ll spend part of E3 2011 digging up info on the games you’re psyched for. So start naming them (please)!

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I finished my review run of L.A. Noire a few days ago and promptly started a new run just to enjoy the game. It fits into my wheelhouse way more than the Grand Theft Auto games or Read Dead Redemption. It’s more along the lines of Heavy Rain, but with more traditional gameplay. It mixes in elements of Phoenix Wright and Trauma Center with some light action. I really dig the game’s atmosphere — awesome music and a very cool black-and-white mode. Aside from that, I’ll be playing my usual assortment of iPad 2 games to break things up.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

Coffee Talk #356: Make Your Own Videogame TV Show!

While I respect and admire the videogame television programming produced by G4tv, Greedy Productions (Electric Playground), and Spike TV (GTTV), I’m still waiting for my videogame dream show…

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, T-Mobile HSPA+ 42 launching today, Oscar De La Hoya in rehab, or changing your name to Lord RaRa, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

While I respect and admire the videogame television programming produced by G4tv, Greedy Productions (Electric Playground), and Spike TV (GTTV), I’m still waiting for my videogame dream show. It’s a total rip-off of ESPN’s Around the Horn, but hosted by Adam Sessler and featuring a rotating panel of gaming journalists and one verbal entertainer. Adam would be the perfect host for the show and it’s not hard to find game writers that are full of opinions. It would be weekly since it doesn’t have as many stories to cover as a general sports show. The show would be relatively cheap to make too. I think it would be a blast for the price!

How about you? What’s your dream videogame television show like?

Coffee Talk #355: Where’s the Hot Battery Tech?!?

Phones have dual-core processors these days. Handheld consoles and tablets are capable of displaying high-resolution images in 3D. Yet most devices are still using some form of relatively old lithium battery tech.

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, Verve’s El Salvador La Montañita, the countdown to Lady Gaga’s new album, or Lady Gaga’s new album cover making her look like a Terminator reject, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Why hasn’t battery technology improved as rapidly as other technologies? Phones have powerful dual-core processors these days. Handheld consoles and tablets are capable of displaying dazzling high-resolution images in 3D. Yet most consumer electronics are still using some form of relatively old lithium battery tech. This results in amazingly powerful devices…with single-digit battery life hours. Just look at the HTC Thunderbolt and Nintendo 3DS for example.

I’ve been reading about incredible advancements with hydrogen, polymer, and zinc batteries for years, but none of these technologies have found their way into consumer electronics. Let’s get on it battery people! Electronics are becoming more powerful and portable every day, but they’re being handcuffed by old battery technology.

I want my phone, laptop, tablet, and portable consoles to have battery life that’s measured in days, not hours. At the very least, their battery life shouldn’t be measured in single digits, don’t you agree?

Coffee Talk #354: Multiple Gamer Personality Disorder

Do you guys have multiple PlayStation Network and/or Xbox Live accounts? A lot of videogame journalists have two or more — one personal account, one work account for playing with readers, and…

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, David Beckham’s underwear line, the awesome NBA conference finals, or the diving prices of 3D HDTVs, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Do you guys have multiple PlayStation Network and/or Xbox Live accounts? A lot of videogame journalists have two or more — one personal account, one work account for playing with readers, and one work account that’s private. This explains why several videogame journalists are a step away from insanity. It’s not easy juggling three personalities.

I’m pretty sure that most “normal” people stick to one account, but I wanted to check with you guys and girls. So how about it? Do you have multiple online gaming accounts? Or are you one and done?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Like millions of other gamers, I’m going to be spending a large chunk of this weekend playing Rockstar Games’ L.A. Noire. To break things up I’m going to play a bunch of Let’s Golf 2 and Chaos Rings on my iPad 2. The latter is actually on sale for a limited time, so if you want some Square Enix RPG excitement on your iOS device then this is a great time to pick it up.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

Coffee Talk #353: Game and Movie Check-Ins

Check-in services are hot right now — I’m talking Hansel hot. One recent trend in the check-in space is allowing people to check into the media they’re enjoying. More than one-million people use…

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 sucking, the return of sucky AJ Burnett, or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bastards, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

As some of you know, I enjoy foursquare, the check-in service that lets you keep tabs on your friends and discover new places. Check-in services are hot right now — I’m talking Hansel hot. One recent trend in the check-in space is allowing people to check into the media they’re enjoying. More than one-million people use GetGlue to check into the movies and television shows they enjoy. The recently launched IGN Dominate allows people to check into their games. Would you use any of these services?

For some people, all of this is nonsense — just new ways and new toys to waste time. Some people get checking into physical locations; foursquare is a great way to discover new restaurants, spas, coffeehouses, etc. Checking into media seems strange to some, but totally cool to others. You can discover new games, TV shows, and movies to enjoy, similar to how you can discover new physical venues with foursquare.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on all these services. Would you use them? Do you find them useful? Do you think they’re weird? Or is this all just a technologically advanced way to waste time?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I’m supposed to spend this weekend playing one of the biggest releases of the year. It’s a huge title from one of the hottest publishers in gaming. Can you guess what the game is? Naturally I’ll be taking iPad 2 breaks to clear my head. I’m still loving Civilization Revolution and Final Fantasy III.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?