@The-PSC-Gamer: First rule of asking about law on the internet is never ask about law on the internet.
I am not a licensed lawyer, so I cannot answer your question. Even if I was, I would not be your lawyer. But if I was you, I wouldn't do it.
There is a case out there with similar facts, but I wouldn't look to it for much guidance. Truth be told, there's not only one law on the matter, but several intersecting areas of law. Two of them, the validity of website terms of service and fair use are two very ugly areas of law with a lot of inconsistent decisions and variety between jurisdictions.
Besides, having your own means suiting your own purposes, and not the companies. So even aside the law, it's a good idea to make your own.
BioWare has said that it is already working on Mass Effect 3, the supposed final chapter of the sci-fi trilogy.
"We are already at work on Mass Effect 3," said Project Manager Casey Hudson at CES. "Building the first bits of the story, putting that together."
And... that's it. The Mass Effect series has always been talked of as a trilogy, so Mass Effect 3 would effectively be the final Mass Effect game.
That's in the future though and for now, with Mass Effect 2 due at the end of this month, Hudson is also keen to talk DLC for the sequel. "We don't have anything specifically announced yet, but we basically plan for DLC pretty shortly after the release of the game and then a pretty intense schedule of downloadable content throughout.
"This is one of the big improvements that we've been able to do for Mass Effect 2. Lots of DLC and lots of really high quality DLC that players can look forward to."
Fingers crossed it'll be better than Pinnacle Station was...
The missus and I downloaded the Divinity 2 demo with the intention of poking fun at it. The Two Worlds demo provided laughs for a year solid, but as it's gone stale I've sometimes found myself dangerously close to buying the game. Thankfully, this strange little Dragon Age rip-off has come along, seeming like a promising replacement. We were ready to sing that Marilyn Manson song from the Dragon Age ad whenever Divinity posed as what it thought its big brother was going to be--grr! Edgy! We figured we'd have ten minutes of good fun at the expense of some cynical knock-off and move on to Borderlands.
That was five hours ago.
Ladies, gentlemen, confusing hybrids...I think we might have a good game on our hands. I can afford exactly one between now and Valentine's Day, and I guess I'll put my ass on the line and buy Divinity over Bayonetta. For science and Kotaku.
The tone is so warm and friendly. Inviting. Unjaded. The music booms and twinkles. The light blooms. It's like Fable's better adjusted sibling, one that's actually happy to be a fairytale.
Anyway, it got me thinking.
Have you noticed how bitter fantasy's gotten as a genre, with tropes and cliches slung at you like a lunch lady slinging slurry? Here, it's more like your grandma ladling chicken noodle soup. Sure, it's the same chicken noodle soup you've been eating your whole life, but the old lady's smiling while she's handing it to you because she knows you actually like it.
In most fantasy games, the tone of contempt takes center stage in the form of evil tracks which depend on nothing more than genre-induced sociopathy to justify their existence. Why would you join the Dark Brotherhood? Because you hate everyone. Why would you hate everyone? Because the developer was pressed into lovelessly devising yet more medieval bullshit. The subtext is that nothing in this world-that-needs-saving is worth saving. Fantasy hates itself.
When I was small, I had a cache of magical items: a wooden sword from a ren fair; a cardboard shield; a driftwood staff with a prism tied to the top; a pleather-bound spellbook and cloth map from Ultima IV; a bag of polished stones; on and on. My friends and I would run around the woods with said items, employing their arcane properties to the effect of saving Krynn or Prydain or Middle Earth or just reaching the Dark Tower (cap gun in hand). We found things, doing that: fishing holes, thickets that made natural domes out of ivy, rusted bicycles, half-built cottages. All of these things took on a life of their own. It was amazing.
To me, that will always be fantasy: violent scraps over your little sister's costume jewelry aside, I'm talking about the sense of wonder. And my point is that it's really a very innocent thing and doesn't have much to do with "epic." Epic is just what happens on the way to the unknown. Sure, you come home bloody from when you didn't block quite right and the blow caught your knuckle (and eyebrow...and knee...ten or twenty times), and sure, you're muddy from tip to toe, and your clothes are ripped you're catching hell for it, but it's worth it for what you saw: sewers were passages to the underworld; water towers were places where wizards resided; there was beauty and terrible evil, and you've brought some portion of it back to the realm of the mundane in the form of the odd scratch or interesting rock.
Occasionally a game has managed to evoke that same feeling, the most vivid example for me being Secret of Mana (even the name of which captures the essence of Saturday afternoon). Link to the Past is another, reinforced by a thick sepia coating of nostalgia (a week off for snow, a begged rerental). But the closer to now I get, the fewer the examples. There was a Gamecube game called Baten Kaitos that sorta had it going on. And Lost Odyssey's treatment of mortality is a close cousin to what I'm talking about. But both were still mistaking epic for the entree, rather than the wine that goes with the meal of wonder. Even Zelda's starting to get confused about what's important.
Certainly good fantasy gets some of its effectiveness from "the conflict between good and evil," but like I said, doesn't that come from the wonder? Certainly out there in all that mysteriousness, there's going to be some super terrible thing, and discovering it makes it your job to see it dealt with.
So much fantasy now is unromantic, too self-conscious of every invisibility ring's place in a heap of identical magic trinkets, every lich's thunder stolen by another lich, every princess' destiny as rule 34. And as is the law of insecurity, it's covered by toughness. Dark! Rawr! Blood! Cue Manson. (Look up the words to the song some time. Remember the Target commercial with Devo playing? Oblivious or satirical, ad guys are unbelievable.)
And here's Divinity 2, happy just to be roaming the countryside getting in mischief and maybe turning into a dragon (ooo!). I don't expect developers will rediscover wonder in the genre. I'm just hoping this demo is a sign that they've started loathing loathing, too.
Call of Duty: Vietnam is scheduled for release in November, according to CVG.
"It's going to be November again - just as with World At War and Modern Warfare 2," a senior UK trade source told CVG.
"Activision believes that it can own Christmas again, just as it has in the last two years. Development is on course - and Treyarch have been told the game must be ready to hit shelves before the gifting season."
No real surprises there but it's as good as an official confirmation for now, while the same source also added that the game would indeed be set in Vietnam.
Well, later this year I'll be part of the Halo bandwagon again, as will many of us, but what exactly makes Halo so damn successful? I've tried to answer this question on more than one occasion but each time I hit a brick wall.
Of course, there are the obvious attributes to any good game: great gameplay, a sound online setup, graphics, weapons and longevity but a lot of these can be found on any other game, but those other games just don't have what it takes to keep up.
Call of Duty: MW 1 & 2 are both exceptional games. They are masterpieces of gaming creativity and both have provided me with bucket loads of entertainment. The same goes for GTA4 and Gears of War, but despite impressive sales, especially with GTA4, we still don't have a game that can stand out as an iconic title as much as Halo does.
I know what some of you will be saying "He's just a Halo kiss ass, a fan where nothing else will do" but that's not true. Believe me. Halo has its faults. It's far from perfect. It lacks the realism of the two Modern Warfare games, the graphics of GOW and there's not as much freedom as GTA, and the online play features the occasional glitch or bug as well – sticky grenades fail to stick or explode and despite several shotgun blasts to the face an opponent can simply walk up to you and take you out with a pink fluffy pillow. Or if you're really unlucky you'll be killed by a predatory traffic cone.
Halo, I believe, is different to all of the other games because of two main aspects: an enigmatic storyline and longevity. Bungie have managed to create a universe that is vast and mysterious beyond comprehension but at the same time keep it relevant to each individual game without overwhelming the player. You are placed into the boots of an extraordinary soldier, usually the Chief, but you're always left in awe of everything around you - a small cog in a very big machine.
No other game seems to achieve this as well as the second level of Halo: Combat Evolved. The one where you crash land on the surface of Alpha Halo and are presented with an apparently normal landscape, all except the surface of the large ring-like structure that you are standing on stretching off from the horizon and into the dark beyond of the sky above. As a character you've just gone from a genetically enhanced, battle hardened super soldier and mankind's last, best hope to something the size of an ant.
I bet there are many of you reading this who have played that very level that did the same as I – gazed in wonder at the world around you only to be rudely interrupted by a strange, and very alien looking, tuning fork shaped craft.
Then there's the matter of longevity. Its how a game continues to entertain long after the immediate battle is over. Halo 3: ODST started off so well. It had all the hallmarks of a great Halo game, only to be let down by a substandard lifespan. Firefight was a brilliant idea and was a much needed element of Halo despite the success. But as Firefight featured no sort of matchmaking facility of any kind the numbers dwindled very quickly. It simply couldn't compete with the Horde mode of GOW2. But then I've always said, just as Bungie have, that ODST is simply an add-on. It's not really a game in its own right. So I suppose I can let them off just this once. The rest of the Bungie made Halo games, however, had all the right elements for a long and healthy life. Forge, theatre and an online set up that provides endless possibilities.
I suppose in reality you can't really sum up everything that makes Halo a monumental success but at least this is a start. I hope, as many of us do, that Bungie continue to use the right ingredients and the right formula for Halo: Reach. But things are looking good so far. #speakoutReply
@FlugelMeister: Well, MW2 certainly has just as much longevity as any of the Halo games, perhaps more depending on who you talk to, but I think your first point makes a lot of sense. Bungie have created an expansive, mysterious world that people want to keep coming back to, and that is something MW2 and other 'realistic' games lack.
@Wolfnave: I don'think we can compare the longevity of Modern Warfare 2 to Halo 3 yet- the game simply hasn't been out loing enough. Halo 3 is still a top played XBL game despite being nearly 2.5 years old.
@FlugeMeister:
The other thing about the Halo franchise longevity is the commitment to community that Bungie dsiplays. From the stat tracking of b.net, to the abiltity to take and upload screenshots, maps, videos, gametypes - Bungie has created and facilitated an enviroment that has players and fans extending the reach of the game (pun not intended). I can always find a new and innovative gametype, a new map creation to try out, and awesome screenshots and videos. ANd each creation inspires others to create something even cooler in what seems like perpertuity. That's a piece that otehr game developers and publishers seems to forget. The only other company I can think of that does something similar is Blizzard.
Why is the tag on the main bar #speakout instead of the more prominent #speakup ? It'd be a lot more practical to have speakup on it seeing as that's what's auto-inserted when you click into the Share Box.
Videogame Development Marathon in Colombia (Colombia Game Jam Internacional)
It's a contest where about around 120 participants will develop a videogame in 48 hours. It doesn't matter if you are professional or amateur. Will take place batween January 29 . 31 in Bogotá and Medellín.
It's being organized by the SENA (the national service for education) and the "Gamers On" magazine.
People intersted in participating can send videos showing previous works to www.tecnoparquecolombia.org
Ever wish Zelda: The Occorina of Time's complete soundtrack had been done with real instruments? I'm talking about everything--even the tune played when you get a heart piece.
These people did it, took a few years, but it's done.
Remember when Disc based games were just coming out and publishers told how inexpensive games would be? I remember an excellent article in an old GamePro magazine that had a lovely little pie chart and details. We were going to start paying $20 for games to put them in line with movies. Things didn't work out quite like that though, did they? Thoughts?
Instead of charging money for the PSN I have an idea for Sony.
Start making servers with the intention of giving every PSN user 100gb of space. Now you charge for that space. Say $20 per year for 25gb of space. $35 - 50gb. And $60 a year for 100gb of space.
What is this space good for? All of our data. At anytime a PSN user can send everything on his system to this Sony cloud he's paying for (20gb, 50gb, or 100gb.) If he has more data on his local hard drive than he is paying for he'll need to delete some stuff or be allowed to select what he wants to back up.
Now his saves, game data, games, PSN downloads, friends, everything at all, is backed up. He can sell his PS3 now, in a pinch say, and then re buy it later. This too increases the likelihood he'll buy new and not used since it could be after an upgrade or some bundle or who-knows-what.
You asked for Uncharted 2 but grandma got you .hack? Did you receive that prestige edition of Modern Warfare 2 you asked for? Is your Christmas console broken already? Celebrate or vent about your gaming Christmas gifts right here.
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"Well that’s obvious" I replied while stuffing the remaining meatball Sub into my mouth and slowly sipping on a still-too-hot cup of tea. "When it’s developed alongside the game, instead of after launch".
With a smile, I waited smugly for a reply knowing full well my superior argument was about to make this a very short lived conversation. Never could I predict how quickly and efficiently I was about to be schooled.
"But what if it was developed using extra funds only granted with DLC sales in mind?" he said oh-so-casually.
I stopped chewing, I was stunned, perplexed. Could that one sentence change my gaming habits forever? I almost expected him to follow up with an offering of a red or blue pill.
Okay, I’m exaggerating a little but there was definitely a momentary pause between chews while I processed this potentially game-changing nugget of information.
Brought about by recent revelations from an Assassin’s Creed II developer regarding DLC ([kotaku.com] paragraph 14), that was a snippet of a conversation I had with my friend and co-worker over lunch today when he asked, at what point do I feel cheated by DLC?
The conversation coincided nicely with my recent experiences with Dragon’s Age: Origins. A game so expansive, I could never imagine myself needing DLC for it in the near future.
However, only a few hours in, my inherently packrat nature got the best of me and my inventory was full. "To the bank!" I thought, to which the game replied with "Credit Card, kind Sir!". Bummed out this young level 6 dwarf warrior was.
For those inexperienced with this mammoth of a game, the only way to gain access to a ‘party chest’ (the de facto bank) is to purchase the Warden’s Keep DLC, a small dungeon which offers the chest as a reward for completion (as well as some additional lore and loot).
I wasn’t happy. I felt, rightly or wrongly, the aforementioned chest should be part of the shipped game and that it was an underhanded method of weaseling extra DLC sales.
Naturally my distaste did not stop me from purchasing said DLC and I ended up hating myself for all of 5 minutes.
It seems packaging game mechanics in with DLC is not something that is going away anytime soon, as Gearbox have announced that their next $10 Borderlands update will include a bank for all those guns you just can’t bring yourself to part with. My first, albeit cynical, reaction was at least they didn’t try to sell it at launch.
So fellow Kotaku-ites, I ask you, when (if ever) could DLC be presented in such a way that you refuse to part with the cash on sheer principle?
@Zaph31: Surprised no one has jumped on this, cause it's an excellent question. And unfortunately I'm in the middle of Christmas Eve chaos and cannot formulate a lengthy reply, but know that it's coming. In the meantime, I pose to you a counter question: at what point do you refuse to buy the core game because of what is left out and offered as DLC?
@James Henderson: Ouch, playing that in black and white seems like it would make it even MORE challenging. Regardless, don't let the first area discourage you! Those first few hours are intentionally brutal, designed to weed out the tourists from the truly committed. Just keep at it, keep refining your skills, and at the end of the day you will be filled with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment that is rarely present in games nowadays! Good luck!
@raffleking: I'd say it is! Well, I'm just guessing that, but cleverly camouflaged all-grey enemies do have a habit of jumping out at me from nowhere :P
First few times though I had a habit of just walking slowly with the shield up, just in case, but now that I know my way around the first main area (Boletarian Palace I started in) and know where to expect the enemies when I go back it's not too bad.
The hub/dungeon crawl style, so far anyways. sort-of reminds me of Dark Cloud a bit, only without random maps. For some reason, the way I had heard it being talked about I had expected to be led to the slaughterhouse already but I've only died about 4 times so far so it's steady progress, but at the same time I'm not too overconfident yet because I have a bad feeling I'm going to get served on harder quests.
@James Henderson: Yeah, I feel like with all the talk from reviews and peer evaluations since it's come out focusing on the difficulty, many people may have the impression that it's an absolute nightmare type of difficulty. It's not...it's just that the game has strict rules, and the punishment for failing to abide by those rules is steep. But each time you die, you realize that it's entirely your fault; the game wasn't being cheap or unfair, you just either got careless or over confident, or simply made a dumbass mistake. It's unforgiving against things like this, but that's also why it's a nice type of challenge as opposed to one that is difficult simply for the sake of being difficult. It's definitely a refreshing and interesting title, and is the dark horse candidate in my GOTY running.
Woops.
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