Fire the steel and make ready to bring down the mountain, its time for another skirmish of EpicBattleCry! This week, we’re flying audio-only so we can fit in all the latest from GDC 10. We start with a look at the DLC battle brewing between Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Modern Warfare 2 (whose first DLC pack was detailed earlier today), then we check out plans for a browser-based Battlestar Galactica MMO, Valve‘s official lineup of games coming to the Mac in April, and the Dead Space 2 ‘Get Dismembered’ contest.
With GDC 10 now just a memory, we look at two of the biggest announcements of the show. First up, the beleaguered OnLive is finally launching in June; we chat about the potential for game services and whether OnLive can deliver the goods. Next up, we take a stab at the latest generation of motion controls with the PlayStation Move. Is Sony’s new wand just Wii HD, or a paradigm shift in how we play games?
The Battle Cry of the Week goes to the apparently non-existant Gran Turismo 5, the too-late-for-its-own-good F1 2010, the people having way too much fun writing the Bodycount press release, and Ubisoft’s Uplay-Points system for giving us what games used to just include.
If you’ve got a comment on this week’s skirmish, sound off below. If you’ve got a Battle Cry you’d like us to read in next week’s episode, leave us a comment on this week’s Battle Cry topic-starter post. Stay sharp.
LONG LIVE C.O.P.S!!!!
Oh and DK sue them asses
I hope u say good things about the dildo thing!! i have really high hopes about that
where’s the vid?
Is this where I post my battle cry? My battle cry goes to all these music games that come out every week,they’re are all exactly the same and they could be DLC instead of being full price games. And Why are all the music games about pressing buttons to the music, where’s the creativity? Make a different music game! Like a action/adventure or something where the music plays a big part in the game? Perhaps a Michael Jackson game where you play through levels based on his songs/videos, now that would be Off The Wall or it could be Bad!
My cry goes out to the folks over at EA and DICE. Not only have they released a solid game with a fun online multiplayer…they’ve given us a free map pack of old maps…and are releasing another free map pack on the 30th for those of us who bought a new copy of the game when it was released. I think it’s great that we’re rewarded like this. As opposed to Infinity Ward and Activision who are charging 1200 ms points for thrown out maps from COD4…and maps that actually made it INTO COD4. Why anyone would pay money to play old maps…is beyond me. It wouldn’t be as bad if MW2 had not been infested with hacked leaderboards, hacked servers, modders…and hacked prestiges. If anyone buys this map pack…they will be supporting a powerful corporate machine that is no longer looking out for the community…but more so trying to impress and outdo themselves in sales.
Grate show. But i think that the whole Projekt Natal is like a realy bad. Because when i play a game i dont want to jump around like a fucking crazy person with a seizure. I play games to relax and have fun or just because i want to.
Like they said in last weeks Battlecast, this one is audio only… They’re kickin’ it old skool
the track tony was talking about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpdwWIfKr6s
hehe yeah i noticed that XD i posted before i started listening, my bad
edward g robinson voices at the start… magic
The music in the GT5 trailer is Borrowed Time by TC(feat Sub Focus)
You guys gotta get over innovation. Nothing is innovative anymore.
jolly good show chaps. i agree with everything Tony said about Move, stoked to hear Brent is also an F1 fan, and Daniel? yeah well there we go.
coming back to F1, i understand that all of the stats re performance etc can’t be coded until after the season cos all the cars handle differently and all have different pros and cons and you have to see where they finish first before deciding which is the best in the game , but i believe the following would be sweet:
F1 2011 the game is available for the start of the 2011 season, and as the season progresses you have updates for the game race by race (real race by race) that puts you in a championship table with the real drivers, so, if you can drive the Bahrain GP in a faster time than Alonso did this weekend, you would get relative points n shit like that. the new Lotus team are expecting an aero update for the Bacalona GP, and so an update becomes available improving the performance of the Lotus car in game.
now this is probably the most ambitious and most problematic, but, after the real race, the starting grid, timings, pit stops and DFNs etc are available to update, you can pick your car and race as any one of the real drivers in a “re-run” and see how you do. obviously that kinda thing is a way off, but there’s a massive F1 audience and it would definately make money. it would also maintain interest in the game after release for the whole season. maybe. i don’t expect to see anything like this for years if at all.
Nintendo knows how to use its motion control great. But it’s the other developers (third party) that don’t. I think this will be the trend with the PlayStation move and Natal as well.
I agree, motion technology is so “in house” that if it EVER evolves, we might not see anything until the next generation consoles
i enjoyed the audio only version had time to focus on heart gold… go pick it up
Dk u shoulda gone all modern warfare 2 on their asses!!! Dk no russian money shizzle them nizzles!
I like the audio but I find myself getting distracted by other things since I’m not staring at my monitor…
great show guys, keep the lame puns and funny discussions coming.
okay you guys really need to do the next one in your 1930s gangster voices lol i talk like that all the time to complete strangers…”why are you talkin like that,” ‘talkin like how see’ “like that?” ‘thats how i talk see’…its so funny that sometimes people will believe me
DK!
Watch This Video about OnLive! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL4OzUpYSkE&feature=channel
In part 5 Steve Perlman explains how the they gonna charge the end user.
this week`s audio skirmish was good but really really missed the video podcast.
Please do the video podcast from now on.
I didn’t miss the video as I normally just listen anyway.
I think you make a good comment regarding the release date of the F1 2010 game – It is far too late.
I appreciate Codemasters won’t get a lot of notice about the specification of the cars and teams involved, so it’s never going to be released at the start of the season, but surely they could make an effort to get it released at the mid-point?
However I’ve seen some screenshots and it looks phenomenal, I just hope the driving model is as realistic as it looks!
natatall, lol
hey guys, check out Johnny Lee and what he is doing,
seems like he is M$ employee, so maybe he is working on something?:) yeah but you are right, they should show something, unless they are far away to release natal, so showing off some great ideas would be oportunity to copy(steal) them
about brents battlecry:
totally right man,
i would love racing weekends when i can play the actual track with the actual teams and riders, and also get to know those tracks before watching the actual race
Awesome except for the natal stuff. any camera could do that? um, dont think so.
No talk on Bioshock 2′s “DLC”?
Once again you turned my frown, upside down…
My BattleCry goes to The Ragnarok of hardcore gaming…
If Move and Natal becomes just as successful as Wii, how will that effect the hardcore games in the future? If you can make a cheap game like “Wii Sport” for Natal or Move, and it turns out so sell 2-3milj copies; Why wouldn’t Sony & MS keep on doing those kind of games? It’s cheap, easy and it sells like butter. Why spend 40milj dollar on a God Of War game, when you can do something like “Move Party” or “Natal Party” for a total cost of 2miljon dollars..?
I don’t think Nintendo expected their console to become some kind of Party consol for kids and grannies. But since NO hardcore games are selling on the system, why stop making the party games?
Even if Natal & Move doesn’t becomes as successful as Wii. How much effort will Sony & MS put into their new “casual-audience”? And how will that effect the hardcore gamers? Nintendo is, for sure, not interested in their loyal hardcore base… But what will Sony & MS do?
Since the ps3′s development, sony has been nothing more but a hybrid of micro-wii ideas. Where’s the originality.
With Natal, you could implement lean into console FPS games. I would seriously consider buying it to get that advantage.
I love that Mac users will finally realize what overpriced pieces of crap they bought when they can’t even run HL2 and L4D with maxed out settings properly…and then they’ll want to update – but they won’t be able to – ’cause they’re using Macs.
On Valve-to-Mac: they also mentioned that any of their own titles you buy (and I hope also that have bought in the past, as well) on one platform will be available to you on the other one for free, this in relation to a quip to the contrary in the last show.
On the BSG MMO, it’s actually three things that make the show what it is and I think missing even one would make it a less than appealing product: the writing, the actors and Bear McCreary. And the actors will not be involved in a way that would exploit their contribution properly.
On OnLive, sure, maybe a monthly fee may not sound as goog as an xbox or ps3, but think about how online rental of content is taking on, how hassle-free it is, and this has the same appeal: don’t get a big box, don’t get media, don’t go to the shop. I think it’s not really a matter of business model, not yet.
On Move, the colored ball will be a major aid to the camera to figure out what tge player is doing, believe it or not. At the very least it’ll know what to look for. But yes, who cares about that when you can’t figure out what it’s for. On the other hand, things don’t progress without these experiments applied to the public. iPhone gaming wouldn’t have made sense either (and I accept that it still doesn’t for some) without it actually having happened and been tried and appreciated by people, but it’s now a growing market on its own.
Amen!
My Battlecry goes up to UbiSoft and atrocious DRM-schemes on PCs.
Their latest DRM-scheme requires the player to be constantly connected to their servers while playing the game on ones PC (http://tinyurl.com/yamtwat). If the connection drops, so does the game. All savefiles and information about your character is stored on their servers as well. This would work in theory except for the fact that their servers went down for days making the game impossible to play and adding immense frustration among gamers that purchased the game.(http://tinyurl.com/yz5oqpx) The winners in thise case are the pirates who were able to crack the game and play it fully without being connected to the DRM servers. If the publishers and developers are serious about stopping piracy they should reward people who buy the game, not punish them. Inflicting DRM-schemes like these rewards the people who can circumvent the DRM and makes it worse for the legit user. Its things like that advocates piracy. Gamers should be rewarded with free BETA keys for other games (like they do on console) or map-packs or exclusive content that is unavailable for pirates at launch day. I’m all against combating piracy with new and cunning methods but not with harsh DRM that makes everyone frustrated. Thanks for a great show!
Kicking it old school!
My Battlecry goes out to a game called Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon that released in the US and UK yesterday as of today. It is a game for the wii that originally released last year in japan. This game caught my attention when I watched a japanese preview of it and now it won’t let me go. There is a prevailing sense of loneliness throughout each and every video I watch of it. The amazing music coupled with the beautiful graphics that create a dreadful world make it add up to something that means much more than whatever Final Fantasy 13 tries to create. Despite this being a wii game, it was able to get that sense of loneliness even with the hardware limitations. I wish developers would try creating something more meaningful instead of spending more time creating something that’s just skindeep and meaningless.
My BattleCry this week goes out to Sony and the Playstation Move. While I know to a lot of us hardcore gamers it isn’t that clear how this will actually enhance our gaming experience, I think this tech really is perfectly posed to really open up gaming to a bigger audience.
Obviously I’m NOT talking about giving people more casual shovelware since thats the Wii’s homebase. Rather, what I’m talking about is their potential to really bring in gamers to the more mainstream games. Specifically I’m talking about shooter games (but this could extend to other games too). First of all, I know most gamers nowadays have no (or little) problem with the standard controller + 2 analog stick mechanism, but to be honest, I really dislike it. The only thing that makes me play these FPS games is if they’re really a quality title, and really I’d actually end up playing these games online for hundreds of hours if they had controls like Resident Evil 4 or the Metroid games on the Wii. As it is I just go back to the PC versions when I can but with support for that going down so much of late, the Move is my main hope now.
Furthermore, really think about the experience people new to gaming have when they try to play one of these games. I’ve tried to intoduce tons of my friends and family to 3d games (most of em did like the 2d ones back in the day) and they just STRUGGLE with controlling the camera with one stick while moving with another. Seriously my brother just could not get the hang of using both sticks with any ease, and his reaction was that he got embarrassed for doing so poorly, and then rather than continue adn eventually gaet the hang of it, he just gave up. So the Move could provide people like this with the opportunity to naturally enjoy this kind of gaming without having played tons of games and having years of practice.
I think the reason this isn’t happening more on the Wii already is that the Wii doesn’t have that 3rd party support for the simple reason that they can’t design a game well for it and then port it to the other consoles and still have the standard of graphics/control expected on the 360 or PS3 (There are some ports down from the other consoles to the Wii like MW1 and if you look at that, its usually described as a better control scheme but the lowered quality going down to the Wii makes it a worse experience). So Reggie and Nintendo might go on saying that they won’t develop another console until a developer can’t do something with the Wii (besides HD graphics) but the reality is that developers don’t WANT to even try since they can’t make it multi-platform. This is strengthened obviously if Sony is actually being genuine that its not that hard to implement the controls while STILL retaining the traditional controls for those that prefer that (and I believe that since A. I read an interview with I believe a Naughty Dog exec and they said they’d be able to put it in if they wanted (yea they’re probably gonna back Sony but I don’t think they’d overtly lie), and B. The PS3 is totally powerful enough to handle that kind of processing in the background). Its just up to the developers, and now they actually have incentive to put it in with the Move that they didn’t with the Wii. The proof that it enhances the gameplay experience is already there with games like RE4 so I hope they do follow through.
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Tios son la hostia, cada semana veo o escucho (dependiendo de ustedes) su programa, ustedes en verdad expresan lo que un gamer piensa sobre la industria!!! damn!! you guys Rock
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[...] EpicBattleAxe » Blog Archive » EBC – Skirmish 067: Lick Colored Balls | Gaming New… [...]
My battle cry goes to getting screwed over.
i got my have on a new copy of Mass Effect 2 months late and i was excited that my brother, who is the one who bought the game since the xbox we play on is his, got it new at gamestop which means that we would get access to the Cerberus Network and all the extra Gamestop exclusive stuff, or so i thought. after my brother played it for a while and went to work it was my turn. When i tried to enter the code my worst fear was realized.”This code is already on use”. Needless to say, i was pissed. Even more so when i realized my brother isn’t as much into video games as i am and he doesn’t play for more than an hour whereas i can play all day. It sucks that even though we play on the same console yet he get all the extras and i have to pay $15 for the Cerberus Network not to mention all the DLC.
My Epic Battle Cry goes to these new controller schemes, I’m not alone with everyone else in this regard. I’m on the fence with this maneuver to tackle the Wii audience who may not even be interested in getting an entirely new console + a new controller.
Wii users appear to be perfectly happy with their consoles and the only reason I would see them jump ship to the 360 or PS3 is to acquire an entirely new game library that doesn’t take advantage of the new motion controllers. And if that hasn’t sparked their interest already; would a new controller even matter?
I don’t think the motion controller is the sole reason for the Wii’s success. I believe that their success stems from the library of games that use that scheme and the theme of those games. Wii’s motion controls are not gimmicks that the PS3 and 360′s seem to be dangerously close to being; furthermore I feel this is inevitable because of the strength of their existing game library that don’t need Move or Natal, at all.
Everyone even a neophyte to consoles wants to know that the console they are getting is loaded with great games. What exactly does Microsoft and Sony intend to do about this concern that doesn’t turn their new controllers into gimmicks.
Thanks for broadcasting guys, EBC is the only podcast that matters to me with gaming.
My Epic Battle Cry Goes out to Tony. Quit being a PS3 fanboy you get all giddy over the light up dildos but bash natal any chance you get. The Natal is light years ahead of the Sony wands and also has unlimited potential in the gaming universe. You guys may see these peripherals as a ploy towards the casual gamer but I see them as the first steps towards Virtual Gaming. Stop blaming all 3 console makers for lack of innovation and instead point your finger at the developers and publishers who refuse to innovate. That is all! BTW love your show but Tony needs to quit bashing DK$. Also DK yu should have explained the situation better I wanted to know why you were kicked off. Good show guys suprisingly almost as good as a video cast.
My EBC goes out to Modern Warfare 2!
What is up with MW2 these days? Im sit down at my pc, excited to play some mw2 and when I join a game, it gets ruined by cheaters. Almost every game is ruined by cheaters. Aimbots, wallhacks, speedhacks etc. What happened to PunkBuster which you have to install to play MW2?
Seriously, fix the cheater problems before releasing a new map pack. Imagine a new map pack comes out, and 80% of everyone who owns MW2 wants to try it (imagine how many cheaters have quit and maybe they wanna try mw2 again with the new maps).
BC2 1 – 0 MW2
My Epic Battle Cry goes out to whatever you guys were smoking
the music that was used in gt5 night trailer was used in a forza trailer a long while ago. it’s also in the forza game. u guys don’t play games.
anyways, it’s called Borrowed Time by TC.
Hey guys, PocketStation over here…
I just want to state that I don’t think you guys need to fear those motion sensing game interfaces too much. I know some folks are a bit scared that real (hardcore) games will get less attention from platform holders like Microsoft and Sony.
However I think we don’t need to worry at all. Let me explain this a bit, cause there are two reasons to substantiate this statement.
1. A company like Microsoft’s main goal isn’t to bring games to us. For MS that’s a means to an end, in order to dominate the central multi-media network hub in every household. Probably MS is using Natal mainly to facilitate this goal, not so much to make ‘awesome’, ahum… games.
2. Companies like MS and Sony apply a ‘Gillette’ revenue model (selling the console below production costs and earn money on all the games sold. Now remember they also earn money from license fees on third-party games from the likes of Activision and EA). Those companies know that ‘casual’ gamers who like to play Wii Fit, Just Dance and Farmville don’t buy more than perhaps 1 or 2 games per year. With such a low attach rate they would never be able to make money on all the incurred R&D investments. However, what they want to do is let household decision makers, such as moms, dads and anyone else with an income choose their console as the main entertainment machine and internet hub (and trust me when slate computing like the iPad and motion stuff like Natal become really big – Bill Gates even stated he wants to apply it to PCs – then you’ll see websites accommodating this by adjusting their layout to facilitate easy ‘touch/motion’ interfaces, instead of a precise mouse pointer interface). And these mom’s and dad’s have kids that rather sooner than later get bored from all that casual garbage… and then they’ll start begging for Ratchet and Clank, Mass Effect 3, God of War 4 or Halo 6(?). And for Sony, they also hope to increase the Blu-ray compatible installed hardware base, because they also earn licensing fees on every Blu-Ray movie that’s being sold. And that’s how they probably expect to crank up their attach rates, and print out more Benjamins.
So in the end we ‘real’ gamers don’t need to worry about all that motion tech stuff that’s standing around the corner too much.
Feedback and alternative perspectives are always welcome!
Cheers,
PocketStation
http://coomrarunodaya.com
Where do you download some blue ray movie trailers in HD ?`~”