Half Year Analysis

Summer is hear and like always gaming news dries up, Game news companies recycle old news putting a new spin on it and I review all those games that I never got round to. For example Civ4. But firstly let me analyze the 1st half of 2006, the next gen year.

The biggest thing as always is E3, with both Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft wheeling out big guns. Nintendo and Sony both talked about their upcoming consoles and Microsoft managed to trump them by showing a prerendered movie showing no cool fights, just a battered master chief, some epic sounding music and Halo 3. The world is in unfair. Microsoft only have to publish a picture of their office and some fanatic will say he can see a halo 3 picture and then everyone will make up some rubbish about how from that picture they can figure out that Halo 3 will feature a revolutionary Co-Op mode or something. Nintendo put up the best show, with a highly impressive demonstration of the Wii. Sony's conference was made up a lot of stats that made no sense, the graphics that the PS3 has, were poorly demonstrated on a pixelated screen.

In the hand held market, both Nintendo and Sony have re-released their handhelds, Nintendo's was the only one that changed more than its colour. Microsoft have also said they will be making a handheld console, speculations that it will be massive.

Console Update:
Xbox 360:
Not much news hear, Xbox Live Arcade is taking off, and looks set to continue with more subscribers Evey day.

PS3:
The controller has been reverted to the Dual Shock except with slight modifications, so the controller battle is left wide open. The major difference is that it detects movement but only tilting - this shall be interesting as will still lure in people for a standard game whilst adding interesting interactivity; however it could be considered as neither here nor there, we shall see. PS3 is still pushing ahead with the blu-ray. Their Real HD argument might come crashing down as it is rumored that they will be releasing one on a lower spec for less. This will be hypocritical as they criticized Microsoft for having two launch types.

Wii:
Expected to launch this November at around £130. Legend of Zelda, Mario and a cool tennis game confirmed for launch amongst others.

Game of the Half:
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Game to Watch:
Splinter Cell 4: Double Agent

MSN Extras...

...Drive me insane. There are two I am going to go in to detail today.

MSN Plus

Stay away from this software. Ok it has some quite cool feautures like being able to leave a message to someone while they are offline and creating your own states. However, when you appear offline, it changes you to online and so hundereds of people had a go at me for being online but not. Also, it would just not send half my messages so people thought I was ignoring them. Worst of all there is no quick uninstall button and you have to go to Control panel.

MSN online

I tried using MSN online so that I would be able to go on Civ 4 and talk on MSN at the same time on my dads laptop, first I decided I would check it on my computer to see if it worked, first I tried it in firefox, but it didn't work. At first, I thought it was Microsoft being is usual selfish self, but I tried it in IE and I had the same problem. Basically, I went to the website and there was a button to launch MSN online, I clicked on it, it asked me to log in. Fine I thought, clicked log in and it took me back the the first page. I looked at the top right and it said signed in, so I thought maybe it was just stupid a little and went through the process again. Same result.

So in conclusion, the only reason why I am sticking with MSN messenger is because my friends are on it not due to quality.

Forums

Forums, the modern day equivelent of forums in Roman times. Every website has them now. Even nationwide (a bank) has one. Well, nearly. Forums are a place where hundereds of people can come together and produce amazing stuff just for fun. Forums are a place where one can learn new talents. Forums can be a place to make the friends. Sadly, the operative word is can.

In forums there are many different types of people. There are so called N00bs and newbs. There is a major difference between a n00b and a newb.

n00b
A n00b is someone who uses excesive text speak and "l33t" speak. These tend to be idiots.

A newb, however, is someone who is new to the forum/game ect. These are perfectly decent people just haven't been at the forum long.

Also, there are people who think any one who is new to the forum is a complete idiot, and that ansering their questions is a waste of time. Between these people and the genuine n00bs, forums have become a place where huge amounts can be acheived, but, like everything else in the world, a few people spoil it. I posted on a forum that suffers badly from the n00b/anti-n00b take over. You can read it here.

Now, I have always wanted a forum for people who make constructive coments but I don't have the right sort of friends, so if there are any reader who know of a forum where this dream has been acomplished, but where there are still interesting people, or if there are enough, we could make our own.

DON'T SPOIL THE INTERNET

Blog Update & Quick Reviews

Now as all of my reader[0] are aware this blog appears to have run dry. Well it hasn't. I have found a time when I am just killing time and that is when I will post to my blog.It is monday so that is when you will find new posts. In the news recently. E3. Was going to do coverage of it, but got to hooked on the gamespot coverage and didn't have time. However, I am going to post what happened at the nintendo confrence, and a summary of sonys. Sorry Microsoft, but you get a whole post about Halo 3, which was all your confrence was about. Also, in the news, DS lite is out in England and looking good. With a selection of good games like Metroid Prime it looks to be a summer hit. Also, Sony have made a mistake with the PSP. They have launched a new one. The problem is the only change is it is white. Firstly, the black looked better, secondly, no one is going to trade in their old one and pay money to have it changed to white and finnally, they won't capture a new audience because the black one is cheaper. If it wasn't bad enough for Sony, their UMDs are being trashed by movie companys as it is too expensive for such a small market. Looks like the PSP will have to prove itself as a games console now, Sony should have planned for that one.

I went to France on an exchange[full post coming later] and bought Splinter Cell: Chaos theory for 9 euros. Bargain. I'll do a review of that after Civ 4. It is rumored that SC 4 will be an 18+ on the 360. This will irate me to no end if it is the same case on the Xbox, are they just doing away with stealth. Rome Total War has a free expansion pack as I belive I have mentioned earlier called Alexandria, I'll bring you the lowdown of that next week.

And finally, The World Cup. No blog has gone without mentioning it somewhere. Love it or hate it it is taking over the world. England are through to the quaters, Owen is injured, leaving us with lanky, walking wounded wayne and the kid who is bunking lessons to come along. We won't get past the quaters, so that is the end of that.

Quick Reviews
Black
Ok, it is a long time since I played this but I think this review should still be adequette. I played on the single player. The graphics are simply stunning, esspically considering it is a PS2. The physics, the AI everything. It has the feeling of a well polished game. It is a bit like GRAW. The problem with the game is sometimes it can get very frustrating, there is this one bit where there is an invisible sniper and you have to run past it. But in conclusion a solic SP game but lacked MP which was a shame.

Oblivion
A stunning RPG. My friend got this at the same time as I got Fable so it made Fable look small and pety. In fable, one of the missions you played you got to fight in a arena, in Oblivion you can go to the arena any time and even watch it and place bets on the result. In fable you could walk from one edge of the map to the other in an hour. In Oblivion it would take the best part of a day on a horse, riding at full speed and not being attacked by any bandits. Oblivion is so deep I can not really review it, I will try and get my friend to review it, I doubt I will succeed.

Thats all because I have forgotten what other games to do.

Da Vinci Code

"Hanks looks and performs like a lump of dough in a wig" and "THE WHOLE THING GOES ON FOR HOURS AND HOURS" are 2 of my favourtite quotes from the review on the BBC website for the Da Vinci Code. I have many posts upcoming but I will post this now. I am being the last person in the UK to read the book. As far as I can tell, it is a fictional book that weyone took litterally. Particually the Church. I have read 1 of his and found it good but stupid. I have enjoyed books by Isacc Asimov because there is a puzzle and then he solves it cleverly. The problem with Digital Fortress is that it is the same but not nearly clever enough.

Blog Update

Hello. Sorry about the lack of posts, I have been revising for SATS in the time where I would normally post to my blog. Anyway I am back, with loads of stuff to write about. As I have prior mentioned, I have got quick reviews for Oblivion, PGR3, Ghost Recon, Black and many others. Also, I WILL review Civ 4 as well as Fable Lost Chapters and bring you the low down of E3. Now does that make up for the lack of posts or what. Been playing on Delta Force 2 MP recently, particularly the team death match. This was partly inspired by playing Half Life at my friends. Hopefully, I may play MP red Alert 2 over there as well, t'would be awesome. Also, I will be, hopefully, be telling you about the expansion packs to both AoE 3 and Civ 4.

What I am playing on this month: Civ 4, Delta Force 2

Thought of the month: "I have finished my last SATS ever, ever ever,
woooot"

Revlution Renamed - Wii

The new console from Nintendo has changed its name! At first I thouht it was a poorly shortend title for the news item and that it was an improvement to the wifi or something but no. I am still trying to work out their reasons behind it. They say it was the anser to the name revolution but I am not blown over by it. Although I have nothing against the name itself, I feel they have left it too late to change it as everyone knows it as the revolution. Apparently the 2 'i's are meant to represent their controller and playing together. Hopefully the name will grow on me.

Sorry for not writting recently, I have a lot on with SATS and everything, hopefully after next week I will get back to frequent writting, starting with quick reviews for : Black, Oblivion, PGR3, Gost Recon Advanced warfighter and others. Also, full length revies of Civ 4 and Fable the lost chapters.

AoE 3 Expansion

For all of you who bought Age of Empires 3 I have news. There is a new expansion coming along fairly soon after E3. It will include 3 playable native factions, new units/techs etc. for European civs, a new single player campaign and improved home cities.

The Native factions are designed to play differently to the European factions. They will not have the technology of the Europeans but each one will have a unique way to deal with them. Ensemble Studios did not make it clear if they would have a home city but I think they will have an equivalent. They will have an entirely new building/tech/unit charts as well.

As with every expansion pack there will be numerous new stuff. The new stuff will include a range of military units, mercenaries, new cards for your cities and some other stuff.

The new campaignis going to be based around history this time round. Apparently last time it was mostly fictional.

They did not say how the cities were going to be improved, merely said you will find out @ E3.

I will do a post like this for the Civ 4 Expansion when more information is available. Oh yeah, the expansion is called 'WarCheif" Which is one of the special units available to the natives.

Blog Update

There probably won't be many posts now until after May due to SATS. Having said this I still hope to review both Civ 4 and Fable: The Lost Chapters but I can make no promise.

I have decided to group all my gaming and technology internet items under one name:'Veteran Gamer'. You can view the website at homepage.ntlworld.com/robert.kiley/vg.swf. It will move and be placed in an HTML file soon. Because of this this blog will go over a re-design to feel much more contemporary. Firstly, I will just change the colour scheme, but when I get round to it it will be a full redesign so keep your eyes peeled.

To the joy of many, the relief of others and the disappointment of a few the new law prohibiting children under the age of 17 being able to M rated games has fallen through on the grounds that it goes against the US. Constitution of Free Speech. This will mean that it is unlikely that this law is going to have any side effects in the UK. Phew. You can read the full story here.

Also this month I might give a low down on the PS3 and Nintendo Revolution. It ain't looking good for Sony is all I can say.

My new Google group has launched so if you want to try and get in go to the webpage mentioned above a cycle round to Google group.

Thought of the month: "Revolution Vs. 360, sorry what was that Sony, you want to be a part too, maybe when you are older"

Blog Update

I was inspired this morning to write this post because someone I don't know has left a comment related to the blog. [Update: I then checked my other mail box and discovered I do know him :(] I was going to write it any way but I never got round to it.

His question was "I have heard that the PS3 is coming out next Christmas, is this true?"

Sony originally said that it was coming out around about now in Japan, despite EA saying "What, are you crazy, you haven't even given us development software yet" Sony stuck to their guns. Recently they have come out and said "yeah you were right" At the moment there is only one confirmed release date and that is November, but before you get your hopes up that is just in Japan. My theory is because Sony say it will be 10x more powerful that the X360 and still be cheap they won't have enough money to launch world wide simultaneously as they need to make some money from the games before they can make more. Because of this it is unlikely that, unless Sony sell millions of games and consoles very quickly it is unlikely it will hit America before March, even later for Europe. Having said this all news behind the PS3 is very liquid at the moment and so not even the confirmed dates are set in stone. We will have to wait and see. In conclusion, if you live in Japan you might get it next Christmas, if you don't it is almost impossible you will get it before Christmas

Also I have now been on a Xbox 360. It was awesome, I will interview him and the other person who I know to have one. The reason this is so late is because I have had my French Exchange student here. Although it was hard work having to constantly look after some one it was great fun. I am looking to going over to France where I will play tons of Xbox 36o with him as he has one.

Furthermore I got Fable Lost Chapter this weekend. It is an open ended RPG for the Xbox. I hope to review it after Civ 4. I will do quick reviews when I have been round to my friends’ house and played on black.

Finally, if you are in the Guildford area, go see The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe at the electric theatre.

Quick Reviews coming soon which will include Black

Thought of the month: Why is the day only 24 hours long?

Link

Blog update coming soon, just a link for a friend. I also plan to do quick reviews soon, maybe a double, got to go, here is the link.

homepage.ntlworld.com/robert.kiley/radikaltrade.swf

Windows Vista

Microsoft have announced their new OS to be released at the end of this year : Windows Vista. Apart from all the usual upgrades in security/performance ect. they are turning Windows style up side down. Windows are translucent, effects 3D and altogether has a very flash website feel to it. Other improvements include live search. ie, as you type a letter in it instantly comes back with the results. This was first used by Google with Ajax and is available at google suggest. If you have Fire Fox with Grease Monkey then you can get a script for it that will use it on the home page.

Another update to the searching it that you can apply 'meta tags' to the file. These are basically key words so you don't have to know what the file name is to find it.

In the gaming world one of the most exciting things about Vista is it will ship with DirectX 10. Microsoft claim it will offer 6-8x the graphical power of DirectX 9. The implication of this is if you are looking to get a graphics card, wait until the big companies release their DirectX 10 cards.

Another feature is the multiple browsers. For example you have a media browser which lets you view images, watch movie clips and listen to tracks, there is also a games browser which will allow you to sort by numerous things. I think they will both be a like iTunes/WMP in the sense that, as far as I am aware, get information of a server that says all the pieces of information.

Stay tuned for more Vista updates and don't buy a new computer unless you have to, hold off until Vista.

Legend of Zelda Wind Waker and Ico

My friends were arguing over some game graphics and as gaming is my one real hobby I thought I'd step in. The two games were Legend of Zelda Wind Waker and Ico. The argument wasn't between which one was better though. They were arguing about whether the above mentioned Zelda game had decent graphics. Ico was only drawn in as an example to show what 'decent' graphics are. Here is my verdict on both of them:

Before anyone goes "They are rubbish because they are cartoony/any other style" I would like to say graphic qualitly has nothing to do with style, it is to do with how smooth a circle is, how far things are drawn and how good the textures are.

Legend of Zelda Windwaker

It is fair to say these graphics are meant to be cartoony. This may put some people off and is certainly not the most widely used style for a reason. The curves are very good and non main features have been blurred to great a soft feel. Textures are possibly the downfall to this graphics. They use plain colors with few gradients and a lack of realistic repeating plans. Also, the water is not very good. The game was released in late March 2003.

Score: 3.5/10



Ico

This was used as the example of 'Good Graphics'. To say that at first sight these look amazing. Upon closer inspection how ever you discover that the textures are not repeated but just stretched to create pixelated texture. As with Zelda, water has been done fairly poorly. When some one gets in water it ripples, it is not a solid mirror. Also, they have completely missed out shadow and it does not handle distance at all well. On the other hand, the main characters are beautifully rendered and the textures at a distance look very nice. Because the game is fairly new I would also expect individual blades of grass not a stretched texture called grass.jpg It was released early December 2005.

Score : 4/5

Blog Update

Hello everyone
Hi Dr. thk123

I am truly addicted to playing Civ 4 and now I have played all forms of multi player have run out of excuses of why I have not reviewed it. I will try to review it this month but I have a lot on:

• Playing Civ 4

• Lion, Witch wardrobe rehearsals

• Playing Civ 4

• Paper Round

• Playing Civ 4

• Writing to my French Exchange student

• Playing Civ 4

• Having a social life (what ever)

• Playing Civ 4

• Doing HW

• Playing Civ 4

I rest my case. Also, I hope to write some questions for people who own a X360 and so when I get the replies to them I will post them.

I went to the Surrey Skills Festival Yesterday. SSF is this thing for people in year 9 to help them make choices about later life. It was really fun as I got to be on the radio, TV, record stuff, video stuff and loads of other great stuff. (yes there was a competition to use 'stuff' the most times in one sentence.)

In other gaming news Creative Assembly, the genius's behind Total War, have said they are making 'Medieval 2: Total War.' Why not Rome Total War or Shogun Total War. I will get it at some point but as far as I can tell it is Rome Total War in Medieval Times.

Also, Splinter Cell 4 has now been named Splinter Cell : Double Agent. It is now slightly RPGish. I quote the advert "How far will you go to succeed". Basically you are an double agent and you will pretend to be on the badies team. I don't know if this will work. It will still be a good game is my reckoning thought because the original people are on the job and so far all of theirs have been AMAZING.

I would like to draw your attention to my new blog that will soon be changing its address. Currently it is at http://starwarsep7.blogspot.com/. Basically it is me and a group of my friends making a movie. It will probably collapse fairly soon but what the hey. Read it to find out more.

Xbox 360 Quantity Update

Now, as you all know, there is a massive shortage of Xbox 360s in England. Microsoft have claimed they sent more than 40 but but some how I doubt it. Unfortunatly this meant that there were alot of unhappy people. Up until now Game(shop.game.net) have been saying they will release theirs in early Febuary and are taking no bookings. HMV (www.hmv.co.uk) on the other hand are selling as they come in and are taking bookings. The problem is, in HMV it will be June before they catch up on the amount of preorders. And that is if know one else calls in. I saw this poster in Game which may show the turning of the tide.



If the picture appears garbled click on it for a clear picture)

This picture was taken on the 13/01/05 on Game on Guildford High Street. If I get any more info (I might phone Game and HMV and record the conversation providing it is legal) I will tell you.

Quick Reviews

Alot of the games I am reviewing are X360. I played them at my local game. The graphics really are as good as they claim to be and once you have got used to the controller it is wonderful. But what about the game play?

Kameo :Elements of Power - Xbox 360
Wonderful. I really enjoyed rolling about in a rock a jumping huge jumps and then digging under the enemy as a plant and smashing them away. It is very linear and not particularly revolutionary in game concepts but is fun none the less. What I particularly like is that you have to think how are you going to tackle particular enemies. Like there are these ones which roll around then hit you with a club. When you attack the normally they just roll up in to a ball for a bit a suffer no damage. What you have to do is to make them go in to a ball and then roll them into this pit of lava.

Call of Duty 2 - Xbox 360
Thankfully it does not have the ridiculous sub name 'Big Red One' like it's PC/PS2/Xbox versions do. The particle effects are so cool to watch, but if you do you will find your self dead. This game is so intense that you find your self shouting at your men and when a grenade explodes you almost dive away from the console. The game has 2 main weaknesses. One, it has already been done about a million times before and two you die about every 4 seconds. What sets this apart from all other FPSs is that you have to think everything through to stay alive. For instance, you might have to chuck a smoke grenade out in front of your truck. Swing your self over the side, stumble about blindly until you find something to hide behind. So in this scenario you have to work out where you are going. Plus, you have to asses you targets. A great game, I highly recommend it for your 360.

Peter Jacksons King Kong : The Official Game of the Movie - Xbox 360
This game is terrible for a number of reasons. For one the title is too long! For 2, unless there is lightning the graphics are mediocre for an Xbox. HELL THIS IS AN XBOX 360. It is unclear what you are meant to be doing and then you die. I like the idea of playing as the beast and the human. But the beast you just press RT and with the men you find your self laughing at the fact these people are yelling at you to do what they might have told you but probably while there was thunder. On the plus, the movie is good so all credit to Peter Jackson

My friend leant me a few Xbox games because he has sold his xbox so that he has enough money for a 360. He said I could have the games that won't work on the 360 and borrow the ones that will. I will review 2 this month and one next month.

Forza Motor Sport - Xbox
This racing game got a great deal of praise from Gamespot and will get a great deal from me. Although I prefer unrealistic racing games like PGR. I really enjoyed this one. It has many strengths. The most noted one is the fact you can customize every car to the extreme. From put a cool paint job on it to practically putting a Enzos engine in a Mini! My favorite strength is when you are racing at 200 MPH, the thrill is unbelievable. Spinning cars and watch them smash in to cars miliseconds behind, trying to get control of your car when you are spinning. I love it. It is because of the realism that this exists. What I need is a realistic racing game. PGR3!!!.

Secret Weapon over Normandy - Xbox
This is a 3rd person plain shooter with awesome plane explosions in single player. The game is great fun, puts you in a variety of different missions. From destroying speeding missiles or infiltrating a German bas to destroy its landing craft its there. The multi-player, although fun. Is not as fun as it could be. Yes it Versus and co-op. But versus becomes boring and there are no way enough missions. Plus, all planes blow up in same/similar ways.

King Kong and my Gaming Mood Board

You have to go see King Kong. I went to see it on Saturday and it is the kind of Movie where it won't be nearly as good at home unless you have a home cinema system. You won't get the branches cracking behind you as you are running through this forrest or the deafing roar echo all around you. Aside from the experince the film is AWESOME. When Kong grabs those planes. Just go see it. I recomend it.

Also, for my Textiles we had to make a mood board. I did it on gaming. So here you go. It is a supplment of CONSOLE WARS.

Blog Update

Happy New Year everyone.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and got what they wanted. I GOT CIV 4. And after many days spent trying to get it working I am now officially addicted. A full review this month. Here is a taster of the review.

"Many people have described this game as addictive, smoking is addictive and people quit smoking."

Also, my friend who was going to get an Xbox 360 has the money now just needs a place to buy it that is around the RRP rather than £600! so we will just have to wait until February.

This month also:

• Quick Reviews - Featuring 3 Xbox 360 games

• Current Generation Wars - Console wars supplement examining the Xbox, PS2 and NGC.

• If your lucky Alpha Centurai Review

Thought of the Month :"Is the total amount of Xbox 360s in England more than 5 or not?

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Happy Christmas all my readers. Stay tuned for blog update Jan 1st as usual.

Xbox 360 Update

I got to play on an Xbox 360 a couple of days ago. No none of my friends have one but the game in town does so when I walk home I play on it! The only game I have got to play is Call of Duty 2. Let me review the console itself rather than the game (I will review it in quick reviews as it is only a demo)

The Controller
The controller is probably going to be the best controller this generation. But then it would have been that if that hadn't changed it at all. The others are absolutely rubbish (more in CONSOLE WARS) So, how does it compare with the current controllers. It is far superior to the Xboxes controller. It is unfortunately a blatant copy of the NGCs but it is a bit better than it because it has 2 shoulder buttons instead of one. The dual shock controller was undoubtedly the best controller ever made. It was the right size, all the buttons were easy to reach and two clickible analog sticks. The X360 however has all this but triggers. I think they are now on equal levels as the PS2 still has a slightly nicer feel to it. For most Xbox users it will very small at first. Those triggers are far smaller and can be pushed not nearly as far. I think this is bad because it means reduced control when it is pressure sensitive like driving games. But on the flip side it does fit n to your hand a lot better.

The Graphics
Yes the graphics really do look amazing. You use the binoculars at 1ft and you can see tons of detail on one of your mens face. The physics are incredible. When you chuck a grenade all the men recoil in a different way. The graphics are NO let down.

More info on game play extra will be in the quick reviews. I will make it an extended 'quick reviews'