Obvious Viral Is Obvious

Look, I get that companies figure viral is where it is at for getting a buzz going.

But when it is obvious? When it isn't particularly well done?

Not so effective.

Anyway, here's the link to Radical's attempt to get some buzz going for a game. Apparently an iPhone game.

Radical is a fine company. I enjoy a lot of their product. But a fake "intern" sharing secret info using a link meant to mimic the "you send it" file-sharing sites? Not really going to fool many folks. Might as well just pass the info directly to the places you want covering it, without the charade.

10 Reasons I Regret My Madden 10 Purchase

1. They still haven't seemed to get it to where hitting the button to toggle to another defensive player gives you control of the defender nearest to the ball or with the best angle to the ball carrier. Despite knowing this, I continue to make moves as if I was given control of the player I expected to get...only to have my defender embarrassingly flop to the ground away from the play.
2. I really don't see an improved presentation. Voiceovers are still choppy when they announce matchups. Non-game animations are still very obviously on a static loop. They've added some guy in a suit to introduce the halftime stats from other games. Whoop. Dee. Doo.
3. The AI for presenting proper commentary during the game has actually regressed. The halftime show just said Baltimore leads New York 21 to 21. Collinsworth remarked how Mark Sanchez was playing just like he has for years in the league.
4. They've added terrible, frustrating, time-wasting referee huddles on that are triggered even by obvious plays. It loses any charm and dramatic value it may have had when Dustin Keller catches the ball on the 5, trudges three steps into the end zone before being tackled and triggers the refs discussing if he was in or not.
5. So far, hard counts by my QB are 10-for-10 on triggering a false start if they cause anything to happen. 7 of the 10 coming in one game. That's patently ridiculous.
6. The soundtrack is disgustingly censored. "Jim" isn't allowed to be followed with "Beam". If I remember correctly, the word "dead" or "died" was censored out of Public Enemy's "Shut Em Down". The Cypress Hill track seemed to have the last word of every line by Sen Dog censored. I mean, what the (what the) is the point including songs that you are going to butcher that badly?
   
7. The soundtrack seems to largely be a mish-mashed greatest hits collection of various acts. This is admittedly the most nitpicky of my problems, but I really grew to appreciate their use of newer acts. There have honestly been songs on a Madden soundtrack 1-2 years before they got solid radio rotation.
8. In this day and age of the Wildcat, you still can't insert another offensive skill player into the 3rd QB spot on the depth chart. Brad Smith, for instance, has been used as a gimmick QB by the NY Jets even before the Wildcat. Heck, he and Cotchery were college QBs. I really don't get the point of limiting who can be slotted into those spots. This, also, goes for the inability to put a tackle-eligible player out on the field. Alright, I haven't tried that one on 10 yet, but if they didn't fix one problem, doubt they got the other.
9. It appears to really be designed for people making the most of the PS3's HD capabilities. HDTVs are generally widescreen which, I'm guessing, would allow a presentation that lets you see all of your receivers on the screen at once so that you can see coverage for short sideline routes. Sorry if laying out $300+ for my PS3 didn't leave me with a lot of money to upgrade the rest of my A/V setup, fellas.
10. And the most disappointing factor in my purchase: that the only reason I bought this product was because EA Sports has the exclusive NFL license. My continuing as their customer rewards them for that move, encourages them to continue renewing the license and dooms me to only have more lazy updates of this franchise to buy in the future. Oh, how I miss the ESPN NFL 2K franchise...

On a separate note, I'm kinda disgusted by EA's move to micro-purchases for add-ons. Thankfully, they're mostly for cheats I can live without.

I believe it is part of their moves to take some of the allure out of pirated copies. With other products, they are requiring confirmation codes from a purchased copy to validate your game and receive bits of the game they intentionally left off the hard copy product sold in stores.

With The Sims 3, it is a whole new town added to the game plus access to the Sims Store to purchase furniture, clothing, etc. With Madden, it is activating the Online Franchise mode and cheats for your franchise games. So far, there haven't been successful pirated copies of PS3 games that I'm aware of, so the only function this has specifically on the platform is preventing renters from participating in Online Franchises unless they pay $9.99 to EA. I guess that separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to renters who want to join your online league; if they spent $9.99, they most likely won't be returning the game and disappearing from your franchise any time soon.

There are some benefits to micro-purchasing when it is done right, but so far it appears that EA is just seeing it as a better way to bleed their customers that cuts out the retailer completely without necessarily providing a cost reduction to the consumer. That never sits well with me.

Oh and FYI for the next time you bitch at a comic book thread being closed...

EA closed a thread saying Madden 10 sucked with the following message:

Everyone's opinion is different. Closing thread.

And I can't even seem to find a way to get to the post that shows the 10 reasons the guy thinks Madden sucks...

You Got Served

Extra Value Combo Alpha by Lysol Jones
(hat tip to @cyborgturkey)

The DCU Online Game Has Irwin Schwabb?

Why didn't anyone tell me that Ambush Bug is actually in this game? That's a much more thorough approach than I was expecting!

Now This Is The Dogfight Game For Me

GEARS OF WAR: Locust Drone Maquette Final Version Images Released

TriForce Releases Final Version Of 1:1 Scale ‘Gears of War’ Locust Drone Design Maquette
Sculpt By Epic Games Art Director Chris Perna; Paint Work By Jordu Schell

(November 7, 2008 New York, NY) - TriForce Sales, LLC announced today that it has finalized work on its 1:1 scale Gears of War Locust Drone design maquette. The piece was sculpted by Chris Perna, art director, Epic Games, and painted by highly respected special effects and creature creator Jordu Schell. The bust stands 19 inches high, weighs approximately 15 pounds, and will be available to ship by the first quarter of 2009. View us on the web at www.projecttriforce.com.

“We wanted to give fans a chance to own a true piece of video game history,” said Drew Seldin, a spokesman for TriForce. “By using a design maquette created by Chris Perna, we knew we were giving fans the truest version of the Locust Drone possible. To complement Chris’ design, we brought in Jordu Schell, a special effects master who has worked on some of Hollywood’s most memorable creatures.”

”It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with Jordu Schell and TriForce on the full-scale Locust Drone sculptures,” said Chris Perna, art director of Epic Games. “We hope Gears fans and science fiction enthusiasts alike will be pleased with these pieces, as we put great effort into every last detail.”

"The opportunity to work with Chris Perna and TriForce was a unique and exciting one," said painter Jordu Schell. “I pulled out all the stops with the coloring; after all, it's not every day that you get a chance to be a part of one of the biggest games ever created."

Gears of War 2 tells the story of humanity's last stand against the nightmarish, underground Locust Horde, and is the follow-up to one of the most popular Xbox 360 game s in history. Gears of War 2 blends best-in-class third-person shooter action with unsurpassed high-definition visuals, all layered on top of an engaging story of survival, loss and retribution. Gears of War 2 will be available worldwide on Nov. 7 exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. For more information, visit http://gearsofwar.com.

About TriForce

TriForce Sales, LLC based in New York, NY is a high-end creator of officially licensed 1:1 scale replica from some of the most recognizable video games, feature films, animation, television and comics. TriForce uses state-of-the-art process, equipment, materials and techniques to create the most realistic products available on the market today. To view and purchase products or learn more about TriForce visit us on the web at www.projecttriforce.com

About Epic Games

Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and cross-platform game engine technology. The company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in its Unreal series, most recently shipping Unreal Tournament 3 for PC, PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox 360. Epic’s breakthrough game, Gears of War, sold 5 million copies and won over 30 Game of the Year awards. The highly anticipated sequel, Gears of War 2, releases worldwide Nov. 7, 2008. Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 is the current holder and three-time consecutive winner of Game Developer magazine’s Best Engine Front Line Award. Additional information about Epic can be obtained through the Epic Games Web site at www.epicgames.com.

Epic, Epic Games, Unreal, Unreal Tournament and Gears of War are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SCHWAPP!!!@TheMovies: MAX PAYNE

A really short review of the film.

SDCC: DC Comics Video Game News

And Then They Make Sure Shazam Is The Only Reason...

The MK Vs. DC panel was covered by Newsarama right here. No complaint with the coverage whatsoever.

The complaint I do have? Joker is going to be in the game. A fighting game. Because, you know, Joker is known for entertaining one-on-one fights.

Seriously. You have Superman, Batman, Green Lantern (just announced), Shazam and others. You really feel like you needed to include Joker? I'm just dying to use the acid flower, mallet, joy buzzer and gun. Yup. No better pick than Joker. No sirree, Bob.

Ugh.

I Feel The Need...The Need For Speed

In better news, JK Parkin gets a hands-on demonstration of DC Universe Online MMORPG. He manages to get across an enthusiasm about the mechanics of the game in such a way that nullifies some of my concerns about it being more Marvel Ultimate Alliance MMO than World of Warcraft.

And For The Only Reason I'll Likely Buy MKvsDC

Sweet! The kid in me always wanted a game with Captain Marvel in it. That alone will probably be enough to make me compelled to buy it.

It Might Just Bring Me Back To MMORPGs

As long as they make it run like an actual RPG and not a game that rewards the person with the best hand-eye coordination and ability to pull off combo moves, I'll be one drooling geek when this comes out.

Bonus? If the AOL Buddy Icons are any indication, Martian Manhunter will still be in THAT universe.

Still trepitatious about Sony's involvement, given how much I wound up unhappy with Star Wars Galaxies and all.

Gotta Love The GTAIV Glitches

Bought the game myself. Haven't hit a lot of these glitches, just the occasional freeze...but it is still damn annoying.