Five for Friday: 10/31

The Rad Race

Fallout 3 came out last tuesday, and it's been hard for me to think about much else ever since.  Since the advance copy I got did not have the Live component, I had to start all over once I got the launch version so I could scoop up some achievements to bolster my gamerscore.  Right now I've just finished the Arefu missions, and I'm trying to help Moira write her book.  I'm holding off on checking the radio station for my father until I gain some levels and complete some more quests.  Although the combat system is more RPG than FPS, after getting used to it I'm really having a blast!

 

Trick or Treat, Warhammer Style

Warhammer Online launched its "Witching Night" Halloween event this week - it's full of new items like masks and capes, new public quests and ghosts of the fallen wandering the countryside.  As much as I liked the World of Warcraft zombie apocalypse, I have to admit that this event beats it.  First, players that don't want to participate don't have to (unlike WoW) and second the content seems richer and more compelling to me.  The even runs until November 5th, so if you're on the Drifting Castle server this weekend and see a handsome witch hunter named Socross, stop and say hi :D

NVNoob = Me

I've been checking out all sorts of gaming forums and blogs for a while now as part of my job.  This week rudedog of fpsadmin.com fame was kind enough to introduce me to the gang at nvnews.net - a bunch of rabid gamers and nVidia fans whose community just turned 10 this year!  They were extremely receptive and helpful, so if you're up for a hearty discussion on hardware (mostly nVidia based, but not exclusively) then head on over and tell them the nvnoob sent ya.  Also, if setting up servers for FPS games is your thing, definitely hit up fpsadmin.com - thanks rudedog!

FPS AFK

Sometimes I just need an FPS fix, but I don't have my gaming rig handy (like...when I'm at work...on my work laptop...umm...working hard...yeah).  Phosphor is a free, browser-based FPS that doesn't need an expensive graphics card to play.  Sure, you play against bots, but the graphics are decent, the challenge level is good and you won't have to listen to an angry German kid scream into his headset.

Gaming o' Lanterns

Chris Paladino over on the Xbox side sent me a link to a really cool Fable 2 Pumpkin.  Knowing there had to be more of this squash phenomena, I made the rounds on my normal gaming sites and it was Kotaku FTW.  My hat's off to whoever had the talent and the time to make these - I'm sure it wasn't easy!  When I try to make a jack-o-lantern, even nearby pumpkins can't help but judge.  Happy Halloween!

Comments

[David Kerr]

I have to say Ryan, you have your work cut out. I bought a decent PC rig earlier this year in the hope of getting back into PC gaming.

It has been a horrible experience with 3 games standing out that have massive bugs on launch day and no clear communication at the time on how they would be resolved.

Age of Conan - took 4 weeks to get this game to stop crashing.

Fallout 3 - purchased on Friday, I have wasted all weekend trying to get this working with no luck. Many people have issues with not being able to even get into the game.

Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 - More issues with crashing to desktop.

Some launch games have went well for me, Crysis: Warhead, Warhammer.

But the success rate is too low with PC games and keeping a system to be able to run them is very expensive.

Until studios and Microsoft can sort out the quality of PC games it will continue to decline.

I returned my copy of Fallout and bought it for the 360, I just want to play the game and I am fed up with needing to fiddle with games to get them to work.

Cheers,
David Kerr.
XBL Gamertag: kaodh

[dreamhunk]

yea I just got the game on firday. I confess I don't like windows live. What the is the point to achivments. I was thinking there was a pcp shooter online or something. another thing those games are they like free? the arcade ones any way.

[Ryan Miller]

Hey David,

My task ahead is truly daunting. I don't claim to be able to fix the problems with PC gaming, but I am in a position to bring them to the people who make the calls. Your post touches on my #1 issue with PC gaming - system requirements. Many game publishers simply don’t want the headache of having to make their game stable for the myriad system setups out there. As long as there are PCs there will be PC gaming, but for it to flourish we need to do something about this problem.

[Ryan Miller]

Dreamhunk -

While they're not for everyone, I like the achievements because they add to my gamerscore, which is an aggregate score from all my live titles. So while it’s pretty much just about bragging rights, I still feel like it adds a cool element to the game by encouraging players to explore all of the game’s content. After I’m done with this character, I’m already planning on playing again as an evil bastard – due partly for the achievements I can get this way.
Having said all that, I do prefer achievements that you have to go out of your way to accomplish as opposed to ones you get for doing something you were going to do anyways.