Tag: Videogames

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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This Week’s Videogame Releases

After several dry weeks in August, there are finally some great games coming out! Deus Ex: Human Revolution has been getting a ton of hype. I loved the original and can’t wait to dive into this one. Gamers looking to show off their martial prowess online will want to pick up Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition. A lot of hardcore gamers feel that this game is the pinnacle of 2D fighting. On Sunday, Nintendo will have four great old games rebranded as $19.99 Nintendo Selects for Wii.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

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.]

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

My weekend will be all about reading and gaming on my iPad 2. I’m thoroughly enjoying George R.R. Martin’s A Dance with Dragons and hope to knock out several more chapters this weekend. To break things up, I’ll throw in some gaming too. Civilization Revolution is pretty much a daily thing for me. I’m really digging Groove Coaster too. Rage HD is free for a limited time, so I’m going to give that whirl.

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

Coffee Talk #386: Do Gamers Want Art?

First off, this isn’t one of those “Are videogames art?” columns. You’ve read too many of those already, I’m sure. What today’s column is about is whether there’s a high demand for videogames that are artistic. I’m talking…

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, naughty thoughts about Courtney Stodden, Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero making it in WWE, or dreaming of VPS, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

First off, this isn’t one of those “Are videogames art?” columns. You’ve read too many of those already, I’m sure. What today’s column is about is whether there’s a high demand for videogames that are “artistic”. I’m talking about games like Ico, Okami, Elite Beat Agents, Child of Eden, etc. Secondly, I want to discuss gamer apathy and journalist snobbery regarding these games. Let’s get to it!

You see, it all started innocently enough. I was hanging out with my friend EGM Paul, getting ready to devour some outstanding pastrami. We started talking about games like the ones I mentioned above. We discussed if games like these are similar to their theatrical counterparts. While there are certainly some gamers that are thrilled by games like Ico, there are simply more that are dazzled by Call of Duty or Madden. It’s kind of like how The Wedding Banquet is one of my favorite movies of all time, but I understand why Transformers is more popular. A lot of people are passionate about “art house” games and want them to take over the world, but the reality is that they’ll never be blockbusters.

One of the problems with these games is how journalists write about them. A lot of writers get way too uppity about these titles and the pretentiousness is amazing. Too many people write things like, “You’re not a real gamer if you don’t support this game!” or, “You don’t care about the gaming business if you don’t buy this title!” There’s a fine line between wanting to support games that are different and coming off like a prick. A lot of writers cross this line. What’s more alarming is that many of them feel that their stance is justified. (For any new readers, I am not a journalist, FYI.)

I understand why journos get worked up. A lot of gamers are apathetic. A lot of people say that they’re tired of sequels and want more original games. A lot of the same people don’t put their money where their mouths are. There’s nothing wrong with buying and enjoying games in the same series year after year. Games are entertainment and gamers should spend their money on whatever entertains them the most. However, people that bitch about Activision and EA pumping out sequel after sequel while doing nothing to support new IPs and original games should just shut the hell up keep it to themselves.

For my part, I try to support my favorite developers and original games that I enjoy. Even though I get games for free, I’ll go out and buy a BioWare title or an Okami game because I want to see more. My extra copy will go to a friend that I think will enjoy the game, but wouldn’t necessarily by it. In some cases, I’ve made news fans for my favorite developers and unique games. Bonus.

How about you? Do you enjoy so-called “artistic” games? Do you care about supporting original titles or small developers? Or do you just buy whatever makes you happy? How do you feel about journalist snobbery and gamer apathy concerning these games? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!

Noel Gallagher (Oasis) Blames London Riots on Videogames

Former Oasis lead singer Noel Gallagher knows the cause of the London riots — violent television and videogames. It’s fantastic that geniuses like Gallagher are providing astute analysis of the London riots, while Mensa members like Hulk Hogan are offering solutions. In a recent interview with Bang Showbiz Gallagher said:

We live in this age of violence — and I don’t care what other people say: Brutal TV and brutal video games are a reason for this pointless violence as well. The people are immune to violence, they are used to it.

As much as I’ve enjoyed Oasis music in the past, I’ve always thought that Noel Gallagher was a prick. His take on the London riots confirms his dickishness, as well as his idiocy. Also, he looks like Mr. Bean.

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Four Games Added to $19.99 Nintendo Selects Line for Wii

Nintendo will add four new titles to its $19.99 Nintendo Selects line for Wii: Super Paper Mario, Mario Strikers Charged, Punch-Out!!, and Super Mario Galaxy. The games will be available as Nintendo Selects titles starting August 28, 2011. Doing a quick search on Amazon.com, the current prices for these games aren’t anywhere near $19.99. They should be a sweet value for Wii owners that haven’t already purchased these great games.

I love Punch-Out!! and Super Mario Galaxy. Those are easy recommendations. I enjoyed the original Mario Strikers and am willing to give Charged a go for $19.99. I’m actually a bit shocked that I haven’t played Super Paper Mario. I’ll have to take care of that some time after August 28.

Are any of you down to purchase any of these four new Nintendo Selects games?

Coffee Talk #385: Pick the Best Final Fantasy Pet!

Inspired by the latest batch of Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens, I started thinking about what it would be like to have an FF animal as a pet. Yes, I actually thought about this as if it were an actual possibility. There are so many great ones to choose from! Whether you’re looking…

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, Jorge Posada’s fluke six RBI game, whether CM Punk can keep his heat, or incompetent web hosts (AnHosting!), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Inspired by the latest batch of Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens, I started thinking about what it would be like to have an FF animal as a pet. (Yes, I actually thought about this as if it were an actual possibility.) There are so many great ones to choose from! Whether you’re looking for a cuddly companion, a stalwart defender, or a pragmatic pet, the creatures of Final Fantasy have all the bases covered. Let’s take a look at a few before making our selections.

Chocobo — The highest-profile creature in the FF universe, Chocobo’s blend characteristics of birds, horses, and dogs. They’re loyal companions that are strong protectors and great for transportation. If you’re lucky enough to have a black chocobo, you can be transported over sea, air, and land. This is particularly useful for people with visa issues. Having a black chocobo means you can ignore borders and visit any country you want.

On the down side, the feathers are messy. They get everywhere. Chocobos are usually cute, but molting chocobos can be a nightmare. Then there’s the mating thing. Forget rabbits. They have nothing on chocobos. You can count on your chocobo being insatiably horny at least three times a year. When that happens, watch out!

Moogle — One of the cutest creatures in the world of Final Fantasy, moogles are more than just adorable faces. In various FF games, moogles have shown useful healing abilities and a penchant for delivering mail. These animals are a great choice for people that like to exercise; the aches and pains of a strenuous workout instantly disappear after a dose of moogle magic. (The rumor is that they can also remove any traces of steroids and HGH.) Moogle owners never have to use USPS, FedEx, UPS, or DHL everagain. Moogle Net is faster and more reliable than any of those service.

Unfortunately, moogles are a bit vain and prone to tantrums. Like the best looking girl in high school, moogles know that they’re awesome. They know that they’re cute and useful. If you don’t show a moogle enough attention then it will stop healing you and delivering your parcels until it feels like it’s being appreciated. They have incredibly useful abilities, but like they say in Thailand, “No money, no honey!”

Cactuar — These desert creatures are great for people looking for protection, as well as those that don’t have the time for a high-maintenance animal. Cactuars are incredibly sweet to their owners, but if they detect the slightest threat to the ones they love then thousands of needles will be launched unto assailants, both real and imagined. Young women that live in big cities will always feel safe with a cactuar by their side. As an added bonus, cactuars don’t eat and only require a bit of water every few weeks. Leaving on a business trip for a few weeks? Don’t worry, your cactuar will be fine on its own (though your sofa will probably be torn to shreds when you get back).

While cactuars are fierce defenders, they’re also poor choices for physically affectionate people. Trust me, you do not want to hug a cactuar. Hell, people have been sent to the hospital from simply trying to pet a cactuar. This is one of the rare cases when saying you love something is much better than showing it.

Tonberry — Another fine choice for people looking for protection, tonberry’s are great for older people that want to feel more secure. Equipped with deceptively powerful knives and lanterns, tonberries will slice your enemies to shreds and make the darkest alleyways bright as day. Unlike cactuars, tonberries are slow creatures and don’t require a lot of energy to tend.

Out of all the animals mentioned in today’s column, tonberries have the highest chance of killing their owners, by far. It’s not even close. Despite generations of breeding, there’s just something ingrained in tonberry DNA that makes it want to kill. It doesn’t even need a reason. Also, it’s weird that they all have knives and lanterns. After centuries of research, nobody knows why tonberries come equipped and where they get their gear. Some researchers believe that tonberry accessories have demonic origins. The world may never know the truth.

I Choose…. — Now it’s time for you too decide! Pick the Final Fantasy pet that you like best. And for the record, bahamuts were not included because…well, they just make crappy pets.

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Final Fantasy XIII-2 Screens are Moogletastic!

I’m loving the latest batch of Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens. They’re full of moogle goodness! Several of the shots show the game’s moogle in cutscenes and in action. In addition to being awesomely cute, the moogle fits into the combat and puzzle aspects of FFXIII-2. There’s also this cool shot of Serah wielding a comically large bow. It’s amazing that her skinny arms can even lift it!

Anyway, please check out the screens and share your thoughts on ’em. Kupo!!!

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