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This Months Techy Ramblings - By Clickster |
It's another quiet month for the Tech world in terms of news but that is mainly because this is where the Christmas rush starts! September is where it's at people! There have been very few big announcements sadly just a few minor bits of news and a bit of mudslinging in the games world. As I said though, this is the month where we get to see the good stuff and not just hear about it.
Sadly most of that stuff hasn't come out yet and what has been released has received lukewarm receptions but I shall do my best to filter out some of the stuff that you should be spending your money on to help make life a bit easier for you.
The biggest release this month in the world of gaming is a tossup between FIFA 12 and Gears of War 3. I have spoken about FIFA before and I genuinely can't wait. The manager mode has been given an overhaul as has the defending in game. No longer are the hoover style tackling moves allowed that suck your defender to the opposition player and take the ball from him. Now you have to tackle using your own ability to time it correctly. This should mean for a lot more genuinely competitive matches, particularly online where people can no longer exploit this way to stop attackers running onto them. The other new feature this year is that during manager mode players can pick up knocks during the game that may fail to materialise an injury straight away and could rear their had later in the game or later, just like real life. This should bring a lot more realism to the game and not simply be a case of putting your best 11 on the field. Now there will be a tactical reason to rest player and make changes. It's going to be massive.
Gears of War 3 is also out and is destined to also be massive. This is the final chapter of the story of Marcus Fenix and look sets to be just as epic and bombastic as the previous two. Having loved the previous two you would probably think that I would be itching to get my hands on this one too but the truth is I am not. This may be because I have fallen out of love with my Xbox 360 of late and swaying more towards the PS3 but I would prefer to think that is because I have become tired of the same shooter games being released year in, year out without any innovation whatsoever. Call of Duty is the main offender here but Gears of War 3 looks to be doing the same thing as it did in both 1 and 2. The only changes seem to be a few different aliens to shoot and a new playable female character! A female character?!?!?! That's never been done before! Oh hang on it has. It may turn out to be an awesome game that didn't need to innovate but this apparent lack of change and the fact I despised the online mode of the second game has meant I do not feel compelled to buy this game on release. For me it will be a purchase further down the line when the price has dropped. That will inevitably annoy the big fan base that Gears of War has but it is my opinion and I won't apologise for it!
Other notable games this month are Bodycount (looking like an average shooter - yes another one), Warhammer 40k: Space Marine (guess what? another shooter that’s a bit better than average by the looks) and Formula 1 2011. Personally I enjoy F1 and love playing F1 games, driving the qualifying and then buzz of the big race is really enjoyable but the release of this game in September confuses me no end. The F1 season is currently drawing to a close, the winner is all but crowned and any hype surrounding F1 is mainly about what next season will hold. Therefore the decision to release a game that will be out of date, in terms of drivers and teams, in 2 months’ time seems crazy when they could have scheduled the release at the start of the season (like FIFA) and get the full season's worth of hype and excitement. Having said that it does look good and I look forward to playing it.
Aside from the games releases Sony and Microsoft look set to start their Christmas punch up early after someone at Sony accused Microsoft of deliberately holding back gaming with inferior technology. Their logic being that the Xbox is now out of date specification wise and developers, who are capable of producing so much more, are forced to ensure it runs on the Xbox 360 if they want their game to make more money. I haven't seen a response from Microsoft yet and I'm not sure we will, I think their response will come in June 2012 when it is likely they unveil the next iteration of the Xbox.
Sony and Nintendo have also seen fit to drop the price in their hardware these past few weeks as well. You can now pick up a PS3 for around £170 if you shop around and a Nintendo 3DS, which was only released in March this year, for just over £115 in the supermarkets. The 3DS looks a good buy for that price but personally I am a little wary that dropping the price so soon in the life of a product spells problems and the 3DS could be doomed. It is certainly in a difficult market now that it is competing with Smartphones for the mobile gaming market. The PS3 however looks a steal at that price. You could easily pay that price for a decent Blu Ray player but you would also be getting the most powerful games console currently available which still has a good few years left in the tank before a replacement is released!
Elsewhere there is no official news still on the iPhone 5 but internet rumour based around the big mobile phone retailers stock levels, ordering systems etc. suggest an October 21st release date. Whether this is just America or Worldwide remains to be seen.
As far as the iPhone goes though the big release this month has to be the hens.org iPhone app! Coded by yours truly for the UK's biggest provider of Hen Night packages it is a must-have App if you're attending a Hen Night! Just £1.49 and available from the AppStore. Just search for hens.org or BezzApps or have a look on www.clicktickboom.com for the link!
ClickTickBoom - August updates - By Clickster |
My little corner of the Rabbit Den is difficult to write this month for a few different reasons but the largest is that it's the summer period. It's the typical time when games companies shut off for a bit as they know that releasing a game at this point is foolish when there is all that Christmas cash just around the corner. The only time that changes is when there is hardware (consoles) to shift that normally gets released in a September. With no consoles being released in this country this September (of rest of year for that matter) it really is a sparse time.
But the games on the horizon really do excite me!
The new FIFA 12 game looks a good one. It's football at the end of the day but they are now having fun with it. The realism has been ramped up so that players' individual limbs are now able to pick up a knock which appears harmless at first but can trouble a player later on in the game. This may be a small thing but its something that excites me as will bring a whole new dimension to the league aspect of the game which is where I mainly spend my time.
The big shooters on offer will be a 3 way fight between Gears of War 3, CoD Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3. Gears of War 3 is shying away from the straight fight by releasing a month earlier than the others but is shaping up to be a good one. I have concerns of what extra it will bring to the party on top of GoW 2 if I am honest and I don't think the plot is exciting enough to run out on release day. It will definitely be one I pick up later on though when the price drops. The real fight of the shooters will be between Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 though. If pre-order reports are to be believed Battlefield is picking up ground on the Call of Duty behemoth but not enough to dethrone it as the biggest selling shooter. Whether this makes Call of Duty the better shooter though remains to be seen. Personally my money will be spent on Battlefield 3, I feel that Call of Duty is resting on its laurels now and churning out the same cash cow each year to please the 15 year old swearing Americans out there. Battlefield 3 actually looks as though it's trying to do new and exciting things in my opinion by creating destructable environments to prevent "campers" for example.
This cash cow nature of Call of Duty has now also given birth to Call of Duty Elite. A new subscription based service which is additional to the Call of Duty games. What this will offer is additional content on top of the normal Call of Duty experience available with the game. Activision are keen to stress that nothing has been removed from the Modern Warfare 3 game and you will still be able to play online with it without the subscription to Elite. What Elite will give you though is extra matchmaking options, more detailed statistics and extra non-essential content. Some people may like it and think its going to be worth an extra £5-10 a month. Personally I think it's just another way for Activision to squeeze more money out of its loyal following.
Other games that are shaping up to be great this year are the titles Batman: Arkham City, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and Uncharted 3. The details I am able to provide on these games though is a bit thin on the ground. That isn't from the publishers doing however, it is through my own. These titles are guaranteed to engross, entertain and excite me and I do not wish to spoil that through leaked information. All I know about Batman is that Robin and Catwoman feature heavily. Joker and Penguin are the villains and it's set in Arkham City. Uncharted 3 again features Nathan Drake and Sully, features a level on a boat and a level in a burning building. Skyrim is huge and features dragons. I do not wish to know more information than that quite frankly other than the release date and the cheapest place to buy!
Aside from the games world the other big information to be aware of is the release of ClickTickBoom's first few iPhone apps!! There are some fun things for the kids and even an app to make sure your Hen Night or Girl's Night Out goes with a bang! Just search on the AppStore for "BezzApps" to find more information on them!
--Clickster
ClickTickBoom - July 2011 Rumours - By Clickster |
It's been a quiet month in the tech world so it's difficult to know what to talk about in this month's column in all honesty and with nothing much in the way of facts to be going on I will be discussing rumours and conjecture. Let's face it though, we all love a good gossip!
Rumours of the iPhone 5 continue to rumble on with a release date of September this year currently being touted as the release date. Whether this will be a fully fledged iPhone 5 though is open to debate depending on which rumour source you put most faith in. Rumours range from a slight update in the same style as the iPhone 4 with no drastic changes other than more memory and a faster processor (the same one that's in the iPad 2 most likely), a drastic change which means a slimmer phone that's a complete change from the current styling with updated components or another suggestion appears to be there won't be an update, what they will do is keep the iPhone 4 going as the fully fledged top of the range phone and then release an entry level iPhone (a baby iPhone if you will) to compete with the entry level Android devices that are so popular currently. So which of these is right? Only Apple know, and as usual they are keeping tight lipped. Personally I think they are missing out on a market in not supplying an entry level device for the people who want an iPhone but can't justify/afford the high premium you must pay. This is where Android are becoming so popular after all. Instead of paying £500 for an iPhone you can get a HTC Wildfire which still allows you access to email, internet and Apps for around £150. For the user who is uncertain of how much they will use the device this is a no-brainer. Having said that, it's not Apple's style to compete on price, their MacBooks have been more expensive than a laptop for years and this hasn't harmed their profit margins. In fact it is right up their street as Apple like to have their consumers think they own an elite product, a baby iPhone may have a detrimental impact on this. If I was a betting man I would suggest that the new iPhone will be announced in September for an October launch just in time for Christmas and will be no major update to the current iPhone 4, I have no real basis of which to say this other than my gut feeling though so please don't quote me.
Elsewhere in Apple-land there are already rumblings of a new iPad (aka iPad 3). The rumours are thin on the ground but essentially point to a Retina display on the new one. To be honest there isn't much to this rumour that a small chimpanzee couldn't have figured out. I was surprised that the Retina display wasn't put in the iPad 2 as it was already in the iPhone 4 which had been released 12 months prior to the iPad 2! The only reason I can see that it was left out was because they wanted to hold something back as they knew they were short on stuff to enthuse over in 12 months for the iPad 3. Since we are a good 6 months away from a new iPad though anything could happen and I am sure the rumours will continue to roll on. By December it will probably be rumoured to play holographic porn with smellovision!
One other rumour that caught my eye this week is the rumour of Playstation 4. For a rumour it's quite bold in all honesty as it claims that the Playstation 4 will be released in 2012. Yes that said RELEASED not announced, RELEASED. Once again I must re-iterate that these are only my opinions and this rumour has been published by a fairly well respected news site but I cannot understand how this could possibly be the case. At this year's E3 press conference Sony had some apologising and smoke-screening to do to move attention away from the fact that the PSN had been hacked and unavailable for a month. Achieving that goal would have been so much easier for them if they had announced a new Playstation 4. They didn't do this so to now think that they are going to just release a new machine next year seems ludicrous. Typically when a new console is about to be released it goes through a 12-18 month hype cycle before its released. They announce it at E3 generally in July of the first year and show some tech demos and some games that are in the works, the following E3 they show some more "finished" games and wow people a bit more ready for release in the September a few months later. To think that Sony are going against this and chose to ignore an opportunity to redeem themselves a bit at this years E3 is implausible to me. Playstation 4 ANNOUNCED in 2012? Yeah I will buy into that. Playstation 4 RELEASED in 2012? Do me a favour.
For more from the world of tech visit my blog www.clicktickboom.com!
--Steve
ClickTickBoom - By Steve |
Welcome to my new blog posting for TheRabbitDen.com. Most of you won't know me too well but I hope to be bringing you regular updates on the world of gaming and technology, so that you are all kept up to date and know your iPhone's from your Wii. This column is a condensed version of what can be found over at ClickTickBoom so if you want more details or wish to discuss at length please head on over there and join in!
It's actually the perfect time to be starting this column since the big video conference E3 has just taken place and the developers have shown their hands on what can be expected over the next 12 months. The big announcements to come out of this was the successor to the Nintendo Wii named the Wii U. Some confusion surrounded the machine as to whether it was a new console entirely or just a new controller with a 6inch screen embedded in it. Nintendo have since come out to clarify that it will be a new machine but this hasn't stopped their share price falling. For my money it looks good but I will reserve judgement until they have some games to show running on it, as currently it’s just tech demos of the possibilities.
Elsewhere Sony said an apology for getting hacked recently and announced the PS Vita its new handheld console. It's looking gorgeous in all fairness and the games look impressive. Sadly I think it’s doomed to failure since iPhone and Nintendo seem to have the handheld market all sewn up currently. Microsoft seemed to whimper along in their press conference sadly and, in the absence of exclusive big games, were keen to push the Kinect as a serious gaming choice. They did have a Modern Warfare 3 demo but since this is multiplatform it’s not Microsoft's to claim. Their big announcement was Halo 4 but personally I tired of Halo after Halo 2.
Games-wise E3 was indeed the year of 3. Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3 and Uncharted 3 are looking gorgeous and every ounce the great games they will inevitably be. Even Far Cry 3 is looking brilliant! Elder Scrolls: Skyrim looks like a beautiful massive RPG that will suck away your life and Batman: Arkham City is looking a worthy successor to the awesome Arkham Asylum from 2 years ago. Additionally, FIFA 12 looks like it will continue to dominate the football genre and Tomb Raider could be back to its best with its rebirth of the franchise. A notable addition here would also be Bioshock Infinite which is also looking good even if the second one disappointed earlier in the year.
A short hop away from E3 in San Francisco another conference also happened last week held by makers of the world's most expensive toys Apple. Widely expected/hoped by many to announce the iPhone 5 they ignored this elephant in the room and promoted the features of their updated OS for Macs named Lion. I would list them here but frankly they are all too geeky and only Apple fanboys/girls will get excited about them. They also announced their new iCloud service coming by the end of the year which will enable you to sync your iPhone, iPad etc all at once without needing to connect them with a wire providing they have a wireless connection. All very fancy and I look forward to seeing this in action.
All in all, it was a big week! As a whole I am disappointed with E3 due to its lack of surprises, everything that was shown was announced weeks before (with the exceptions of Halo 4 and the Wii U but they were both rumoured anyway) so the show lacked any moments of a jaw dropping nature. However, it's quite clear that without these moments we will still be in for a gaming treat over the coming months. It's just a shame my wife won't agree when I am still shooting things at 2am.
Thanks for reading and don't forget to check out my website,
-- Steve
Wow, this is the geekiest post I have ever read, hehehe!
I'm not that into techie stuff (or knowledgable AT ALL) but you have a very easy to read writing style so I can't wait to read your next article!
Kate xxx
p.s. checked out your website and I loved the little weemees you use to identify who posted...cute!! 
COD: Black Ops – It was always going to be good - By Jimmy |
Black Ops was always going to big, no doubt. It had very big shoes to fill since Modern Warfare 2 broke nearly every gamer record going. There’s an increasing number of FPS’s being released and it’s felt for quite some time that it’s hard to tell where one starts and another finishes; there’s often little originality and clear distinction between them.
Then once in a while a game comes along and rewrites the rules on how to make a game. My complaint with Halo REACH in my last post was that you wander predictably from point A to point B then to point C, encounter predictable foes, and then it ends without you remembering anything about it. Black Ops however, keeps you guessing every step of the way, unlike the usual linear progression, your cast backwards and forwards in time, reliving memories of missions in different countries, with different objectives, with different vehicles and weapons, and even as different people. The story is gripping and the graphics, adrenaline pumping game-play, and sense of satisfaction all together make this a game worthy of praise!
In the last post I didn’t review the multiplayer, mostly because I wasn’t interested enough to play it. However, it’s the multiplayer that defines modern FPS’s, unlike MW 2 where you’re cast into any map and any game type from the start, in Black Ops you have to work hard to unlock most games building up your XP points, in many ways that’s a good thing, means the noobs can get in the practice in the lower levels and the pro’s can battle it out in the higher levels. Not that I managed to get that high as my Xbox scratched the fucking disk!!
It seems the major difference in Black Ops vs Battlefield 2 multiplayer is that Black ops is short-lived, on small maps and literally a few minutes of utter bloodshed, you can’t stand still for a second without someone stabbing you in the back or fraggin’ your ass! Very little in the way of tactics or strategy. Battlefield is the opposite, long games on big maps, tactics and strategies. In Black Ops, it’s hard to find a game where you could actually make use of a sniper rifle or any large machine gun, in Battlefield you can and I like that. In Black Ops you have a lot more flexibility in customising yourself and your kit, you can set what kill-streak rewards you get and can also make wagers on your battles so it’s all swings-and-roundabouts, it’s really hard to pick a winner. Let’s just say they both win. HALO still fails.
-- Jimmy
I'm gonna have to disagree. The game is flawed in so many ways. Team mate AI is shocking in places and some levels are just broken (the vietnam level where you go down the hill for example).
Jumping through time doesn't make the game original as gameplay wise it is still going from point A to B to C. The story itself is needlessly convuluted and silly.
Sorry just my thoughts
My brother just read this and loved it as he hated halo too! Good work Jimmy :)
HALO Reach review – Worth the hype? - By Jimmy |
There was a lot of hype and build up to the release of HALO reach, as much as there was for the release of Modern Warfare 2. I’ve never really played any of the previous HALO’s, just the odd multi-player sessions with friends who loved the games. I do love FPS’s and I do like futuristic sci-fi genres, so it should have easily made my top 5 games…but it didn’t.
A lot of people these days are quite happy to buy shooters just for the online multi-player gaming, I do, but I also think the campaign should be up to scratch, it should be the defining factor of the game!
I’m finding it hard to put a finger on what exactly it was I found so disappointing! It may be that I considered it to be sub-standard when compared to other games that have been on the scene for a while. It didn’t have the story-line or scenery of Gears of War or the heat-pumping realism and variety of Modern Warfare 2.
I only completed it a few days ago and I can’t even remember what the campaign was even about, maybe that is because the storyline was weak or maybe it was because the game as a whole didn’t keep me interested enough to pay attention to what was going on. My lasting memory of this game will be trundling along the same environment, running into battle after battle with the same enemy characters…and that’s it. No variability in missions to complete, enemies to vanquish or vehicles to thrash around in, and the choice of weapons was also sorely lacking.
I found the controls profoundly lacking when compared to how natural the controls feel in other FPS’s like Battlefield: Bad Company 2, particularly aiming through the scopes; having to push down the same stick used to control your view just seems senseless and results in jerky imprecise aiming. I eventually gave up and just shot from the hip. If I was interested enough I might have taken the time to change the controls around, but I wasn’t, so I didn’t…and that says it all really.
Anyway, to end on a positive note - Bring on Black Ops!!!!
--Jimmy
I am a proud citizen of Apple-land!
....sorry....
Very informative post Steve, you clearly know your stuff. Looking forward to your next update.
Jesus, the new iPad had better wash the dishes and take the kids to school! If it's just the iPad 2 but a bit more shiny i'm gonna scream! Fucking Apple taking our hard earned cash.
I agree with the PS4 thing, why miss such an excellent opportunity to regain a bit of affection from all of the hacked off (ged it?) fans by announcing a new console? Doesn't add up.
Loving your posts, keep um coming fella!