MMO's: Getting back into it.. but there's too much choice?!

Once again, I'm feeling that unmistakable itch within the gaming cortex of my brain (yes, ofcourse it exists..). The itch that continually nags at me to start playing an MMO again, until the inevitable happens and I give in.

My one problem? Which one do I choose? Do I do the unthinkable and re-subscribe to WoW (maybe not). Perhaps Rift, but then again, with the new Star Trek film that has just come out, I also feel drawn to a dabble in Star Trek Online.

This is amongst many other options I could take. Is there just too much choice these days? If so, is this nessacerily a bad thing?

One thing is decided though, I may as well not go back to Rift until the free to play model is put in place in June.

Is Playstation Plus Worth It?

I've been pondering over the Playstation Store recently and have gained an interest in Playstation Plus.

For £39.99 a year, you gain a subscription to play upwards of 30 games a year (changing each month) for free. Some of these are highly rated and popular, whilst others appear to be standard arcade-like games. You also gain 2gb (1gb each on the Vita and the PS3), where you can save game data.

All in all, it doesn't seem like a bad little package and its certainly tempting. Considering you pay near enough the same price just to play online on the Xbox, it seems justified.

Maybe, maybe not, room for thought.

How Time Flies..

Before I know it I'm racking up to 80 hours of gameplay on Far Cry 3, from a game that I just bought on a whim. The other option I considered at the time was Forza Horizon, I doubt I would of got as much value for money for that instead. Good choice I'd say!

Bioshock Infinite and COD..

Can these two even be compared into the same class, even though they are considered to be in the same genre? The depth and complexity you find in a game like Bioshock cannot be compared to the stale reinvention of a game franchise that has failed to truly progress game after game in many years.

Bioshock Infinite is very different to its predecessor and lends a unique art style, imagination, humour and emotion that can be rare to find in today's first person shooter selection. Games are sometimes mainly considered to be a source of viable income for developers, but occasionally, some can still do this but can also strive to take considered risks to make their games even more unique and fun, and this is how the industry will truly progress.

Is it just me or is Skyrim that bit harder than its predecessors?

I feel Skyrim has taken a leap up from its most recent outing on Oblivion. Either my gaming prowess has taken a nose dive or there has been a considerable rise in difficulty this time around..

Games That Suck You In..

No matter how hard you try, some games can get their grubby little claws into you and you'll be hard pressed to be able to let go. These are games that either have so much content, addictive gameplay or rewarding goals that we all play them time and time, and time again.

To name a few:

- The Elder Scrolls Games.. Oblivion being particularly greedy with my time.
- WoW
- Fry Cry 3
- Fuel
- Just Cause
- Simcity
- Anno

I'm sure we can all name our own few games that seem to of stolen many hours of our lives without us even realising it. This is likely to be the future of gaming and we are likely to see much more addictive 'RPG' like factors applied to almost every style of game going forward; for better or for worse (very much for worse with concern to things like DLC).

Xbox vs PS3

The Xbox and PS3: Is there an overwhelming winner in the battle for console supremacy?

Personally, I think it ultimately comes down to which one you happen to like that tiny bit more at the time of purchase and it has nothing with regard to specifics. You may also happen to be a fan of one in particular from the start and that may be the sole reason you continue to stay loyal. Putting these aside, is there any real benefit from having one and not the other?

I'm currently having this debate as I own both consoles and am thinking about moving from the Xbox to the PS3. This is due to differing social circles and also the fact it's nice to have a change.

- Exclusivity. As much as a single game can affect your console preference, exclusivity is a minor concern for me. There are games which ofcourse are exclusive and remain that way for the duration of the series (i.e Gran Turismo, God of War), but the majority of games will now port over to the other console in due course. It just requires a little patience.

- Functionality. Both work in different ways, the PS3 has its scroll bar, whilst the Xbox has its tiles. Both work as they should with no issues. There is no plus from having one over the other. One thing I would note however is that the Xbox applies updates/downloads extremely quickly when comparing it to the speeds of the PS3. You may find yourself unable to play a PS3 game for an hour or more, merely because of a compulsory update that needs to be applied upon booting up.

- Graphics. Yes, yes. The PS3 trumps the Xbox ever so slightly, but its nothing that can't be overlooked at a glance.

With the PS4 and Xbox 720 just around the corner, the debate will likely become fearsome once again soon enough.

Is there any reason for debate. What ultimately made your decision?

Call Of Duty: What About Aliens?!

Call of Duty has been going for many many years now and there clearly isn't a financial, or any real reason to change a winning formula (rather than the imminent tweaks and little additions year on year).

I'm also aware that Call of Duty seems to like to keep itself within the possible (or at least the normal, bar the zombies addition of-course).

What would everyone's stance be on the Call of Duty franchise delving into a sci-fi feel. For instance, the inclusion of an alien invasion in one of their future games. Fighting am alien bombardment rather than merely just another country. A step too far perhaps?

Personally, I feel with all the maps and story lines, there is room for new originality. A company with such a large wallet, thanks to the success of this franchise, is a company that surely should be pioneering into new things. It should be one that is able to breed originality into the gaming industry. The smaller developers lack this as they cannot financially undertake such risk as its too consequential to their entire operation.

You may say that aliens is hardly a new and original concept in any regard. It's at least something new to try and something I think would be just as addictive, if not more so, with the Call of Duty mechanics running in the background.

What Is The Formula In Making A Long-Standing MMO?

There are various different aspects that affect the longevity of an MMO and when it's date with imminent death is. These include:

- The game becomes stale (same old stuff, just remade in a slightly different way)
- No user support or very little
- Playerbase never takes off so it doesn't last outside of a year
- Competition
- No unique selling point

Take a look at the below article which tells us more about what Guild Wars 2 is planning to do going forward to try and maintain their playerbase. The factors they discuss are fairly common sense, however, even with the best laid plans it may still prove futile.

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2013/03/07/how-guild-wars-2-plans-to-survive

This is because the MMO genre can be very fickle, purely because there are so many options available. It's very easy to be able to move onto different adventures.

So what makes an MMO stick? What do you love about your favourite MMO that means you aren't easily deferred onto something else?

Typing Errors In Games..

Whether it be within dialogue, random text or through any other means. Finding a spelling mistake in a game when just starting out can have a considerable affect on your first impressions, especially if its joined by errors two and three shortly thereafter. It doesn't in anyway reflect the final product necessarily, however it doesn't bode well.

I have been recently playing Anno 2070 and have come across many instances in the few short hours I have played. When you consider the mainstream MMOs have page after page of text to check but don't often make errors, you find yourself thinking there wasn't much attention to detail during development and testing.

Can you think of any other games where you have found the elusive, or sometimes, obvious error?

On another note, if there does happen to be any spelling errors in this post.. please ignore.

Review / My Thoughts: Far Cry 3

Is this game worth paying out for at the moment or is it something to find in a bargain bin in the near future? Ultimately, this purely depends on the type of gamer you are. If you are looking for a engrossing single player adventure then Far Cry 3 should be your choice without doubt. If you are looking for a multiplayer gunfight, then your best option is probably with Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2.



Graphics/Gameplay: Graphics aren't the be all and end all of a game but they help tremendously to a games appeal and sticking power and especially when it comes to this game. The main reason it is so important here is because the environment is an active part of the game itself. It feels alive. You could be hunting anything from a tiger, to a pig, or a Komodo dragon, or be on the verge of storming an encampment when suddenly something random happens that changes your plans. The game surprises you.

There are certain aspects that you may find repetitive and tedious, however there are many different options and ways in which you can play so it is very easy to move onto something else should you wish. There is the main storyline, but then you can also storm encampments, hunt animals, do time trials or go around collecting things. Your attention can be grabbed by something new quite easily.

Co-op: Good for a mess around and a nice little adventure but this can get highly repetitive. Kill pirates, move along a bit, kill pirates. Kill more pirates. The thing is, because you don't have the different things to do than what you do in single player, this gets old rather quickly. It's nice to have the option for split-screen however as most games do not include any kind of local splitscreen support these days, which is a real shame.

Multiplayer: Standard stuff really. No real difference from its predecessor and so it results in being a rather dated feeling affair. With the mechanics that we find in Battlefield and in Call Of Duty, it feels subpar, but it still stands as an adequate experience none the less.

Overall: Buy it if you liked the previous one as it has only improved, and if you like games such as Just Cause for their single player experience. If its multiplayer that you seek, seek elsewhere.

PS4 Reveal.. With No Reveal..

So the PS4 was officially announced in a two hour conference where they went through various different aspects of the software, developers and its current possibilities. I guess it was no surprise that the console will be more focused on being a social gamer. With the ability to share direct from the controller and considering the onslaught of social media in recent years, this seems to be a natural progression.

The controller however was the only piece of hardware that was shown. Personally, one of the most intriguing aspects of the conference was to see what the console itself would look like. Yes, yes.. you may say it doesn't matter, who cares! Well I guess I shouldn't, but it feels that when you are revealing something, its important to see its face and know what it looks like in the flesh.

Why have they not revealed it? We're they running the demos from a metal shell of a console hid in the back because they currently don't have a final design? Unlikely.. considering the console has been in development for approximately five years.. I just find it very surprising.

Elder Scrolls Online Will Be A Third Person MMO..

I know the traditional way of playing MMOs is via a third person perspective, posed high above your character and being able to see in all directions and know what is going on. With Elder Scrolls Online having been confirmed to be in this same third person perspective, although it has its obvious advantages, surely this takes away one of the main selling points of the Elder Scrolls series (from Morrowind onwards).

When I first heard about this impending MMO, my first thought, as like many others, was how good it will be to play the game in first person, a bursting flame of fire hovering in one palm, whilst a sword is held in the other. This was its unique selling point and now this isn't the case, this seems like it may just be like any other MMO and could very well go the same way as SWTOR, which originally had lofty ambitions.

Surely the disadvantages of such a view could be overcome by introducing new gaming dynamics, a small picture in picture interface or maybe just to provide the choice. If everybody has the same point of view, then there is no unfair advantage (at least in PvP).

I hope I find further reason to look forward to this game with new announcements in the future, but I can't help but feel a little deflated.

MMOs On Consoles, Could It Work One Day?

A new game by the name of Destiny may be developed by Bungie as an open world first person shooter (or an adaptation of). This is exciting as it opens up the possibilities for the future of the genre and for gaming as a whole.

Thinking more along these lines and to varying extremes. How long do we think it will be before the MMO genre is converted (successfully) over to the console market? I know its already had its attempts (such as DC Universe on PS3 or Final Fantasy), but it isn't what could be classed as successful when comparing it against its PC counterpart.

It's not impossible ofcourse, the only restraint I can foresee is the sheer size of the files and the need for them to constantly be updated, but also the lack of buttons you have when using a controller. I think there is a market ready to be dialled into which is begging for the next big thing.. The first MMOs that will hit consoles and be the equivalent of WoW, or stand side by side with the popularity of Call Of Duty at least.

Is this just dreaming? Will we ever see this happen? Who knows, but I can't see it being too long before the console market is attempted more vigorously by the major MMO developers.

Dayz Addon For ARMA 2

I have just come across the Dayz addon for ARMA 2. Although this is merely an Addon and not what you would call a fully fledged MMO, from what I can see, this is a very good attempt at the concept, and a good move in the future direction of MMOs.

Much like many thousands of others, I feel compelled to buy ARMA 2, just so I can give this Addon a try. Has anybody played this and if so, what are your thoughts?

Please see:

http://dayzmod.com/

Saints Row vs Grand Theft Auto

Which one is for you if you could only pick one? Both games, in essence, are the same type of game. An open world environment where you are free to live it and cause havoc, to the best of your ability (whether this be getting a six star wanted level or perhaps getting involved into the gritty plot lines).

I know, I know. Although these games are 'similar', they could also not be further apart in the direction they take when creating the gameplay. Grand Theft Auto is serious (mostly) with realistic graphics, gritty backdrops and fulfilling plot lines. Saints Row however is somewhat different and takes a more laid back approach to the whole affair, making fun almost at the differing aspects of the genre, but it is definately invested in raw fun, rather than complex realism and to this end, is onto a winning formula. At the end of the day, we play games to have fun.

Which one would you want if you could only have one? I've lost count of the amount of times I have become bored with GTA and so would purposely create a four star wanted level and recreate a chase like you want see on TV. If not that, but with the use of cheats, you could fly high above the cities, invincible, with unlimited ammo and guns. A careless fun element adding fun which you find more in Saints Row. So I guess, if you couldn't input cheat codes, would it be Saints Row or GTA?

Personally, GTA will always be my choice. From playing the best in series, San Andreas, I have been a fan ever since, and await anxiously the release of GTA V.

MMOs: What Is The Best Character Class?

Whether you want to be a Rogue, a Warrior, a Mage or choose from many other options, what is the best one to choose?

Is there actually a preferred one, or has each got its own merits and downfalls? Does it matter what game you are playing (for instance in some games, there is the option to undertake class customisation, rather than be restricted to certain elements purely because of your class.)

An experienced MMO player would of meddled with some, if not all, the classes on offer to see what each one is like. Are Warriors and Mages all there cracked up to be.. or is the priest/healer class just as riveting?

Personally, my favourite class at the moment is the rogue-like class, with the ability to deal damage from afar but still have sustainable armor and also a companion to help you in your travels (speaking from Rift).

Will World Of Warcraft Always Be At The Top?

Don't get me wrong, World of Warcraft is a great game, with great support and it has an in depth world to explore, great gameplay/crafting systems etc etc.. But is it time that something else took the MMO throne.. It has been 8 years (approximately) so surely we should be crying out for something different by now?

At its peak I believe the subscriber number was around the 11 million mark, which has dropped to somewhere around the 9.5 million mark in recent times. This sounds like a large shift, but when you relate these figures to other MMOs, World of Warcraft stands clearly as the victor.

What's your stance. Is it time that World of Warcraft lost its dominance? Are there any other games out there that you think would rightfully deserve it more?

Personally, there are games like Rift, for instance. Rift is similar to WoW in a lot of ways, but in a lot of others also improves on it (graphics and randomly generated rifts in the world for instance). Maybe Elder Scrolls Online could topple it? Extremely unlikely.

Is it possible that upwards of several million people are too far invested in WoW now, with their characters maxed out and so forth, that moving on would just seem crazy? This could be a good reason why WoW would remain at the top (not to mention it is still a top performer in its genre, even 8 years on).

Driving Simulator 2012.

If your thinking of learning to drive or are currently in the process, please do not refer to this game. The link below is a good, hilarious summary of what makes this, in no way, what you would call an accurate simulation.

http://uk.gamespot.com/shows/random-encounter/?event=driving_simulator_201220130205&tag=Topslot;DrivingSimulator2012;DrivingSimulator2012;WatchItNow

Camping, it's in-tents!

Games Gone By - Road Rage

Does anybody remember Road Rage? The madness in getting onto your pixelated motorbike and zooming through vast valleys and cities in a chain whipping, leg hurtling frenzy of a race.

What makes the game so memorable for me:

- The characters. Each biker has its own character, its own traits and its own personality. This fills the game with more depth and makes it somewhat more satisfying when you beat them (sometimes literally off their bikes).

- The music. The background music is very memorable and it lends well to the fast paced nature of the gameplay.

- A linear game with multiple choices. Should you take the motorway or nip through the valleys? Should you turn left or right? What seems a standard thing now, was so new back then. Ultimately a linear experience has the feel of something more, just with little additions like this.

- The locations. They are varied and each is unique. Napa valley is my favourite.

The game just didn't take itself so seriously and I think we lack that in games developed these days. Basic, straight forward fun!