Beta Testing!

I am pretty privileged to be asked to join the Sony Playstation Beta testing crew as part of their recent intake.  This is a prestigious thing;  getting to play games months before their release, knowing time spent playing is helping the development of games via the feedback and bug/glitch notifications.

Im not sure if this means i will get to do so for a set period, or for the foreseeable future, but its exciting none the less.  Unfortunately, i can not discuss the Beta Testing Program outside the specific forums (sigh) but such is the cross i now bear.  Certainly, hands on experience with some the up and coming Playstation exclusives is going to be wicked and im hopefully going to get to play some games i may not have been interested in before!

Trophies!!

So Sony have decided that we PS3 players should join the ranks of countless Xbox360 players and collect little trophies for our in-game acheivements.  I said to myself “your never going to catch me chasing after crappy trophies just because the xbox kids do”

Oh My God – how wrong was I?

Addicted! – not very good, but totally loving the trophies addition to the xmb!  I am playing through Uncharted again.  An absolute gem of a game in its own right, now patched so you can acheive trophies as you earn in game rewards also.  I had already bought Buzz, Quiz TV but now that game has been patched to introduce trophy rewards too it adds the extra element this game needed to lift it in my opinion.  playing on your own now actually has merit!

With more games to be released with trophy compatability and older games getting patched it has added new leases of life to older games and is adding an extra element to new ones.  It is also a glowing testament to your gaming dedication.  For example, on Xbox you can earn acheivment points from all the easier challenges and level up, but earning an actual trophy (bronze, silver, gold and ultimately Platinum) it shows you have actually played the game to its fullest.

Doubt i will see that lingering platinum but im having a stab anyway – wonder ing Guitar Hero will ever get trophies??

Button Bashing for the next generation

Finger bandages at the ready – this one hurts! but in a fun, multi-discipline Track and Field kind of way.  It has been years since I have subjected myself to button bashing torture and I was curious to see the advancements made in this style of gaming – especially with the prospect of Online play.

35 events are offered up covering Track (sprint, longer distance and hurdles), Field (jumping and throwing), Aquatics (swimming and diving), Gymnastics, Shooting (archery, skeet and pistol) and a few random ones thrown in at the end (judo, kayacking, weightlifting, team persuit cycling, table tennis included) make for a great diverse game. You can also compete in heptathlon and decathlon events.

Obligatory button bashing is still ever present

Training Mode is available and should be utilised initially because different events have encorperated different techniques using the controller.  Of course the obligatory X and O bashing (PS3 users) is still ever present for speed events, but there is also an analogue stick abusing feature that works the same way.  Different events require you to master your controller in a variety of ways to get within a chance of a medal.  Challenging your speed, dexterity, stamina, memory, agility like any good Olympic game should

This is where this game comes into its own – Some events are easier than others, some are down right impossible…. at first!  the more you practice the better you become.  which is capturing the true essence of an Olympic Athlete in that to compete at that level it takes time and practice.  Not everyone is going to be able to pick this game up and work through the Olympic Career mode or break world records without practicing events along the way.  A fact, I am pretty sure, that has lead to many poor reviews for this game.

Being ambidextrous is a plus but isn’t a requirement

Online play works pretty well.  You can compete in a whole ream of different styles from single event tournements to decathlon competitions.  Its pretty smooth going and makes for a load of fun challenging your friends.  This is certainly adding to the longevity of this game.

General gameplay can be a little slow for those of you who want bang bang action and some peoples patience may not allow them to master the more difficult events (kayacking anyone!!)  Overall this game ticks all the boxes you want from a Track and Field style game without defering too far from the staple of previous offerings.  There is just something undeniably addictive about chasing high scores and fastest times that the gaming world can’t ignore.  If you have an urge to waggle an analogue stick faster than it was ever designed to be then you won’t be disappointed.  Being ambidextrous is a plus but isn’t a requirement!

2008 – Year of the Plastic Peripheral

My house is simply not big enough for all my plastic gaming extra’s!  It is actually getting beyond a joke, as my other half is threatening to move them all (including me) to the spare room where there is only an SD TV (gasp).  What started as a small box to hold my Wii nunchucks and classic controller has now developed into 3 boxes and that is not all of it in them – Plastic guitars need big boxes!

So we have always had peripherals.  Back in the days of the NES Zapper and the first ever driving wheels and pedal combos.  It is nothing new really.  Except this year we have seen SO many new “plastic” based products released into the gaming world it is taking over my lounge.  Some have been instant hits, some are just crap, some are in between.  Some enhance the game, some are essential, some are the biggest waste of your cash since an Xbox HD-DVD drive.

Nintendo forging the way in plastic add-ons

One of the biggest peripheral sensations so far this year is the Wii Fit balance board.  A Nintendo licensed set of bathroom scales that is actually taking the world by a storm.  My other half insisted we get one (i think that is the only reason I don’t live in the spare room yet), even my mum has one!  Keeping to the Nintendo Wii tradition this is aimed at the casual gamers and also at the politically correct “look video games are not as bad as you think and I’m actually getting exercise” population.  Unfortunately, like with the Wii, Nintendo seem to have an inability to manufacture more than 5 a week meaning demand is higher than Amy Winehouse at Glastonbury.

Rockband hit the UK recently on the Xbox 360 only (Microsoft exclusive period!) and people were buying Xbox’s just so they could buy it and the way over priced “band-in-a-box”!  Coming in at just under twice as expensive as our US counterparts (£189 = over $350) your Rock band in a box was not a cheap purchase but the potential drumming related blisters, and an extra set of fret buttons tempted a massive amount of people.  Although not taking the place of our beloved Gibson GH controllers which still sit proudly next to the TV (i have even pushed the boat out and decorated my own faceplate!).  For us PS3 owners though, the news of Guitar Hero’s World Tour package has reached us in time so we can save ourselves from Rockband and go straight to GHWT.  There is no way my missus would let me have two plastic drum kits in the house let alone the spare room. 

O  R  A  N  G  E  !

 Another new plastic peripheral to hit the gaming world this year has been the new Gcon 3 gun for use with TimeCrisis4.  Now, this one takes the preverbial plastic biscuit – its bright orange!  not even an attempt to make it look remotly cool has been made.  Orange!  of all the colours in the world it has to be orange.  I for one will not be buying it.  Attached to the side of the ghastly coloured thing is a nunchuck styled joystick and button combo making the whole thing incredably uncomfortable to hold and making you look just as stupid at the gun (except slightly less Orange).  My love of the Time Crisis series can’t even save this one.

 One of the Wii’s most anticipated game releases since its launch hit the streets this year complete with yet another plastic attachment for your Wiimote.  (I haven’t found a need to attach tennis racket, golf club or even fishing rod attachments to my Wiimote – but a lot of people have!)  The Wii Wheel is actually a lot of fun to use, if not a bit daft looking.  The controls took a little while to get used too, but once you learn to steer subtly not stupidly your good to go.  It certainly made the latest “plumber in a go kart” edition worth while getting.  Also, Mario Kart Wii signaled the turning point for Nintendo with regards to on-line gaming.

It seems that even the handheld devices are getting in on the Plastic Peripheral business thanks to Guitar Hero: On tour!  a plastic guitar grip with 4 fret buttons plugs into the GB port of your Nintendo DS and even comes with a guitar pick shaped stylus!  Genius!  what ever next…  a finger drum kit?

The Ace Combat 6 Flight controller for the Xbox 360 is a fighter pilots dream…..kinda.  My friend has one and its well…quirky.  He enjoys it, bless him, but then again he has flight simulation games for his PC with what can only be described as a cockpit peripheral for them!

Hey lets not forget my 2 Singstar microphones and my PS3 Eye toy camera, plus my Wii zapper.  And we best not forget the eagerly anticipated wireless Buzz! Quiz TV controllers I pre-ordered ready for delivery this week!  I haven’t mentioned the dvd remote, the external hard drives, or the controller charging units. They are going to have to design me a huge peripheral to store all this crap in.  Either way I’m in danger of needing a bigger house!

Glorified Bathroom Scales

Full on Plastic Goodness

O R A N G E

Portable Guitar Shredding – and only four buttons!

Wii Tat!

Crossbow this aint!

Life Beyond Rock Band

This week see’s the release of 2 new editions to the Guitar Hero family – but i doubt i am the only one who is still waiting for the most promising GH of 2008!

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is the first (only?) GH game focusing on one band or artist.  Following their rise to fame, the game takes you back to high school for Aerosmith’s early days up too their biggest hits of recent years.  On the way there are plenty of non-Aerosmith songs to aid the variation without straying too far from the vision of keeping it about one band.  Personally, I’m not an Aerosmith fan and there isn’t enough in this GH3 spin off to make me buy it.  Maybe i will rent it, and see if i change my mind.

Guitar Hero: On Tour is the breakaway venture taking the GH franchise to the handheld devices.  Designed for the Nintendo DS, the revolutionary ”guitar grip” attachement allows for mobile shredding.  I got my hands on one of these today in a Gaming Shop, and it isnt as gimicky as it sounds/looks but god forbid you are left handed!

These two new games are a sign that Guitar Hero is not going to fold to Rock Band’s pressure.  In fact, this is just the begining.  The next installment of Guitar Hero will be their “World Tour”!  A sublime leap forward for console rhythm gaming.  I was all set to go out and purchase an XBOX 360 just so i could get Rock Band (it is only available on 360 in the UK at the minute!) but before i could relieve myself of £189 ($300+) plus the price of another games console i read about GH:WT!  I will be saving my hard earned cash and purchasing the superior music/rhythm game.

I mean come on, be realistic - how many plastic based peripherals do i “actually” have the room for?   that sounds like a whole other discussion to me!

Gran Turismo 5 – Prologue

A vast proportion of my existance has been donated to Gran Turismo releases in the past.  In fact, Gran Turismo 2 on the PSone once got me and a collegue through a 3 month stint working in Spain.  We completed the massive game, all licences, all races, all endurances, all dirt ralleys.  We even had a garage full of British made cars (all in British Racing Green no less) that were tweeked to within an inch of their lives!  The visuals in this game were considered genius at the time and were fairly inspiring at the time.  Driving the Nurdburgring was as close as we were getting to the real thing i can assure you (3 days in a transit van from Dover to Alicante does that to you!).

GT5-Prologue is a far cry from that game.  The visual impact from inserting the blu-ray until being forced to turn it off is stunning.  Stunning!  The first few races were interupted by cries of “look at that!”  Once i had got the hang of the subtlety needed to control the vehicles i was able to complete a race without careering of the course at some speed-wobble induced spin.

Using the analogue sticks; left to steer (gently!) and right to accelerate and brake (again gently does it!) is the only way to do it i think.  using the x to accelerate doesnt give you the variations in speed you need to negotiate the corners well.  Its going to take some getting used to after tearing around Liberty City using a completely different control method and without a care in the world.

GT5-Prologue is a tease of a game!  hinting at what a masterpiece of driving excellence we can expect next year when the full game is released.  plenty of time to get used to the controls before they are put through their paces on licences and varied events!

Damn! i need a HD TV!

Guitar Hero World Tour officially announced

Release date – October 2008

I have been waiting for Rock band to come to the UK (and to PS3 now i have one) but i think this puppy has just blown Rock band out of the water for me.

better looking and more realistic wireless drum kit, compatible with guitar hero 3 guitars, customizable to the extreme (as in regards to your character etc – a lot more than previous GH versions). You can even “write” your own songs. All we need is a kick ass song list and downloadable content to match rock band and these guys will prevail as victors of music instrument based gaming.

by the time rock band hits PS3 it looks like this baby will be released – maybe in the USA only but someone somewhere will be able to compare them making decision making much easier.

Price tag better not be hiked!

Playstation 3 – Owned!

So I have finally gone out and got myself a PS3.  no longer was the PS2 cutting it in my gaming requirements, which is kind of sad after the number of years of enjoyment that games machine has provided me.  What is even more saddening is the fact that the wireless guitar controller and guitar hero 3 game i traded in when purchasing the PS3 was going to redeem me more cash than the incredably well kept PS2 slim.  Insane!  Needless to say i yanked the PS2 out the blokes hands and decided to give it a new home instead of discounting myself a few quid on the 40gig shiney black game haven!

My neice (7) and nephew (5) are now proud owners of a PS2 slim gaming system complete with a preowned driving game (outrun), fighting game (tekken tag), platform game (jamespond), Family game (buzz) and a dance mat with games.  This is their first console and the entire family (brother-in-law and Sister included) are the latest edition to the gaming world. 

Anyway – back to the PS3!

Deal i got was pretty good.  40gig unit, GTA IV, Heavenly Sword and Hitman the movie on BluRay.  Traded the PS2 guitar hero 3 and controller and a couple of PSP games to get GH3 game and controller again for the PS3.  Well worth it.  What a great game – and as a guitarist its doubly great.  The added online play on the PS3 has just made the purchase worth while.  A couple of hours spent on a bank holiday monday getting your arse kicked on battle mode by your friends 7 year old son is not everyone’s idea of a good time but it Rocked!  Even going to dabble in the world of modding (if you can call it that) and spray paint my own face plate for the guitar too!  will buy a spare one first though so if it does turn out like a bag of shit i dont have to live with it!  Going to have to start the game again but its worth it!

Grand Theft Auto games have always ranked high on my list of favorites.  From the original birds eye view games on the PSone, the depth of play in the Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas PS2 editions, and even now in the “stories” converted to PSP.  But GTA IV is just sublime!  the graphics, the rendering, the handling of the characters/vehicles, is just above my expectations.  And there is even online play! (faints).  I have only given it a few hours of my life so far but this game demands and will whole heartedly deserve a lot more over the coming weeks and months.

Heavenly Sword is yet to make but a “check it works -load it up” cameo but already it intrigues me.  Again the graphics are out of this world. 

Damn it i need a HDTV, preferably a 32 inch flat screen with wall mount and digital surround sound system.  As with all purchases, One always leads to Three.

British Bloody Summer Time

Why does one measly, piddly, poxy hour make such a huge difference!  the clocks go forward, I lose and hour in bed and my whole routine is smashed!  The world better watch out this morning……. and depending on how long it lasts; this afternoon too!

PSP Baby!

Logged onto the office wireless network today using my PSP – installed the new firmware update and it installed Skype!  what a genius piece of kit the PSP is!  not only do i have a 4gb card of music, 4gb card of movies/videos, i can now RSS and skype, oh and yeah play games!  It officially blows iPods out of the water for entertainment options and value for money

 In other news, Have taken receipt of a 22inch wide screen monitor at work.  The new device sits prominently on my large desk without looking out of place, but i am having to sit at arms length of the desk so as not to go cross-eyed.  It is like a movie screen!  i can hold 2 pieces of A4 paper over it and still see screen around them! so when i say 100% i will actually see 100% muhahaha