In regards to this article. Not directly related, but just my feelings on Hardcore Console Gamers.

Went to a "Focus Group" last night for an unreleased game that happened to be a game where you shot people from a first person perspective, and the question came up, what incentive would make you want to buy this game... Some idiot (actually just about everyone but me was nodding) said, "I think promise of DLC would help."

Really?

They also asked who was going to buy Call of Duty: Black Ops (no it wasn't CoD:BO we were playing) when it came out, everyone but me raised their hands.

Hard core gamers are stupid as fuck. Most of them there thought that multiplayer gamers were in the majority, when polls state that most games are made or broken on single player content. I was seriously probably the only one there that knew the Treyarch was doing Black Ops, and it will probably be nothing new.

How do console gamers justify spending $60+tax+DLC for a rehashed video game every 8-9 months?

Look at PC, Look at Steam, look at those weekend sales where you can get great games for 75% or more off. If you stop buying crap, eventually someone will drop the prices.

I will admit I spend big bucks on Blizzard Collectors Editions, but I LOVE the art books, I consider them worth $50, but if the other 2 StarCraft "Expansions" come out for $60, then f___ you guys.[url]

Woke up, dragged my butt into work, sat down and remembered... "Hey, doesn't Spore Creature Creator come out today?"

Web browser, Yeah Firefox 3, great looking program.

Website:
http://eastore.ea.com

Result:


I guess a million plus users trying to download a program was a bit much for EA. I think the digital distribution was handled by "Digital River Inc." At least that's the name I see on my receipt, but I guess I'll have to stick with the trial version for now (which is still up at spore.com). Maybe i'll jump on Pirate Bay and get it from there.

[Update: Apparently the game isn't out yet. I spent an hour, yes 1 HOUR trying to get to my purchase receipt so I could get the game link that unlocks EA Downloader, but EA Store would not take my login. So I suckered it into letting me in by finding the link to the receipt in my browser History.

I got in, and there's no link. Either it's not there yet, or EA sucks, or both. I don't know, but I think we've been waiting long enough for this game, yes?]

[Update: Just got an email with the link, it actually doesn't look like a link, but it starts with ealink:blabblabblab... I pasted it into my address bar and EA Downloader fired up and Spore be downloading. Life resumes.]

http://www.centraldark.com/

Looks like Alone in the Dark has got it's URL groove thing going.

Looking forward to seeing this game. I like the idea of combining items to complete certain tasks. I only hope it doesn't turn out to be a puzzler/adventure type game where only one combination will get you safely or sucessfully past whatever danger you face.

Either way, check out the site.

(Edit: Guess the site has been up a while, but has been updated with some background stories about The Illuminati. Still, check it out.)

via Armchair Arcade:



Matt Barton has a new book on the history of Computer Role Playing Games (CRPG) called Dungeons & Desktops, and it's now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

The book talks about a lot of games, has interviews with various artists and game developers of the day, and even goes into emulation and running these classic games on current hardware.

Haven't read it yet, but I imagine it'll be a nice history lesson for anyone interested, and some of the games, even today, have truly stood the test of time as classic games.

Can't think of anything else to say. Being of the older generation, I remember playing a lot of these games for the first time so I know I'll love this book, but would be interested in hearing from anyone who's never played, The Bard's Tale, Pools of Radiance, or Eye of the Beholder, or whatever. Does something like this pique your interest?

-A.