How To Apply For

This Google search seems to be a fairly apt acknowledgment of the state of our nation.

Digital Distribution is the Future

Music files are small relative to our connection speeds. Ten years ago, in 1999, Napster really started taking off. The average user had a 56k modem with speeds between 2-7kB/s and a 3 MB .mp3 file took between 30 minutes and one hour to download. Today, the average user has a download speed of between 200kB/s and 1.0mB/s. Average game files (full retail games) are 2GB to 7GB and most games take between two to five hours for download. Ten years from today, average end user download speeds should be about four times faster than now (even thought similar speeds are widely available throughout the world already) and game files will seem smaller (even though they will be larger theoretically).

This is assuming server side services like OnLive fail and users still download game files from a server to install them on a system.

This argument is also ignoring the value to the publishers. Packing and shipping represent a significant cost in game production. The costs of delivering a packaged product to the consumer are much higher than the costs of uploading a file across the internet. By digitally distributing content the publisher effectively eliminates the majority of fixed production costs and reduces variable costs by almost 90%. These savings impact the bottom line (Net Income).

However part of this argument is right, there will always be game stores and physical media. Their roles will change, shifting from the central place you get your games into a more niche business, much like record (vinyl) stores of today.

Battlestar Finale Response

1. When the humans create life through technology they are wrong, but when this "God" figure creates life it's divine? God's life is just as flawed as the life that human create.

2. In the end Lee's solution to abandon technology changes nothing. It simply delays what the show wants us to view as the inevitable. Better to keep the technology and address the self destructive nature of humans.

3. More practically the fleet's abandonment of technology is only going to lead to their quick deaths. The environment, disease, hostile natives, and food shortages are just a few of the very real obstacles that the fleet's survivors are sure to face. Like early English settlers in Virginia, they are almost completely unprepared for their new environment.

4. What about the natives? The survivors are sure to bring several very deadly, hyper-evolved diseases with them. Any natives who come in contact with them are sure to contract these diseases and die. So much for spreading language and culture.

5. I find the total acceptance of Lee's idea a bit preposterous. The show tries to explain it away, but I still think a rogue element would find abandoning everything humanity has accomplished absolutely foolish.

6. Why in the hell is everyone separating? These people have fought and died for each other for the last four years(about right?) and now they just take off never to see one another again, it's absurd.

Criterion Knows How to Keep Fans Happy

After the release of te latest update, I couldn't help but put in the game and give it a go. I was initially impressed by the cosmetic change that the game received. The new look is appealing, but not a complete change. However, I was much more interested in the content of the update. Cagney included three new game modes, 70 new challenges and several bug fixes. The new modes are instantly appealing even for someone how hasn't played the game in months (unlike Halo or CoD).With the next update, formerly know as Davis, Criterion is going to include a full day night cycle, and add motorcycles to the game. The best part about the updates is that they are completely free. The inclusion of additional content with bug fixes is fairly new concept for console games and the majority of developers charge a small price for any new content. Gamers are generally more than willing to spend a few bucks on new maps, but what Criterion is doing is setting a new precedent on how to support your game after launch. We can only hope that other developers see the fan response and follow Criterion's lead.

Comments on Carmack

We all agree that first-party PS3 games look amazing, but if Sony can't support the needs of third party developers they are going to have a very real problem. Think about it, third party support is what made the PS2 one of the greatest gaming machines ever produced. How many great third party games are there on PS3? Sony made a choice when they decided to use non-traditional hardware, and they need to support that decision. Carmack even admits that they can make games look just as good, if not better on the PS3. He also says it is just a matter of how much time a developer is willing to spend.

Responce to IGN's Metal Gear vs. GTA 4 Grudge Match

I believe the film that Hilary is referencing is Salvador Dali's Un Chien Andalou (An Andalusian Dog). This is an interesting reference considering that this is a the work of a surrealist and nothing in the film was meant to symbolize anything. Kojima is obviously inspired but Hollywood style Formalism and imitates it to the best of his ability. However, he is saddled with a storyline that is both incoherent and nonsensical. It would be interesting to see what he might be able to produce given a clean slate and a writer who could reign him in.

Since these two games are so difficult to compare because they both mark the pinnacle of their respective series. To me it comes down to narrative and characters. Metal Gear's narrative makes no sense, and the world contains characters that could NEVER exist. GTA is more grounded in an exaggerated reality that is more similar to our own. Niko and his crew are easier to relate to and provide an entertaining story that actually makes sense. Putting all other elements aside (especially graphics Jeff) GTA is the better game.

GTA 3 Retroview

In anticipation of the April 29 release of Grand Theft Auto 4 I decided to attempt the incredible. My goal was simple. I would beat GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas with 100% completion by April 29. The following is an evaluation of the games that changed how we looked at gaming, and launched, if not a new genre, then a new gameplay mechanic.

On April 6, 2008 I popped GTA 3 into my 360. I was immediately impressed at how well the game has held up since its 2001 release. The first thing you notice when playing GTA on your 360 is the fact that it is widescreen. Unlike so many other Xbox games GTA was developed to support widescreen and in emulation supports 720p. However, the HD glory is a double edged sword. The upscaling involved creates a very noticeable drop in framerate. It isn’t enough to render the game unplayable but is extremely annoying. I do have to admit that I didn’t reach my goal of 100% completion. I reached 87% and right after that the game became unplayable. The framerate dropped dramatically, into the teens. It started giving me a headache and nothing I did fixed it. Another annoying aspect I encountered was random freezing while trying to save. Aside from these, the game is very playable and kept me busy for 40+ hours.

When you first sit down with a GTA game you’re amazed by the freedom Rockstar gives the player, but after playing the game you realize how superficial the freedom really is. Sure you can choose when you do missions (or to do them at all) and you have a huge variety of mission types. The missions however are extremely limiting in almost every way. Each mission follows a very genaric formula. If you try to be creative you’re punished usually due to the fact that the majority of the missions are timed and you’re deviating from the “right” way to do things. Another issue that tarnishes a great experience is the gunplay. The lack a precision makes the game much more difficult than it needs to be and only serves to take the player out of Liberty City. Not being able to target the gang member that is killing you is the definition of frustration. The experience is still great enough to overcome these shortcomings.

From the drivers in Liberty city to the over the top commercial radio, the world of GTA is a hysterically over-exaggerated look at American culture. So much of what the game does right is found in its humor and without the humor it wouldn’t be worth the frustration cause by the flawed gameplay mechanics.

Playing the game also brought up several questions about GTA 4 and how it will fix the aspects that limited GTA 3. From reading previews we know the game engine has been completely rebuilt to accommodate next gen graphic and physics. This is interesting and needed but my thoughts tended to drift toward the AI of Liberty City’s inhabitants. Do the citizens of LC still have little disregard for their own property? In real life people tend to try to protect themselves and their property. Occasionally someone might try to fight you for stealing their car, but they show little regard for the condition of their vehicle otherwise. They ram you and make no attempt to avoid you. In fact they will hit you head on and not flinch. This characteristic carries over to the police who chase you with reckless abandon. They are suicidal and infinite. I think it would be a much more interesting experience if in between wanted levels if there was a pause when you reached a new level and maybe you could reach a level where the police just give up. It might be interesting and I can’t wait to see how Rockstar has change things with the new wanted system.

Another question I often asked is just how much has the gunplay changed? Can we actively aim? From all the impressions I’ve heard it seems to be the case but without any gameplay footage it’s hard to tell. I know there is still targeting, but several previews have mentioned an active aiming system. We also know that cover plays a substantial role in the new system. I’m excited to see what they have come up with.

Although I ran into several minor glitches and one major game ending glitch I still had a fantastic time playing GTA 3. It is truly a classic, and I am looking forward to playing Vice City again. Check back next week for my impressions on how Vice City stands up today.