The PC Spotlight 10.09.08
Posted by Chris Vicari on 10.09.2008
Free PC games, KOTOR MMORPG info coming, Spore add-on inbound, and much more.
Welcome back to another weekly installment of the PC Spotlight. There's a lot of stuff going on in the industry this week and I'll be adding a few extra bits to the column as well. Also, as I'm sure most if not all my readers are happy with, I submitted last week's Duke Nukem poem to a poetry competition and I won the million dollar grand prize. I apologize to any serious poets out there who I embarrassed, better luck next year. In any case, it's pretty quiet on the release meter. Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway just came out a couple days ago, and there is absolutely nothing good coming next week except for maybe Saints Row 2, but I've never played the original.
Last week was a good one for PC Gaming enthusiasts as two games, thought to be long dead, received some media attention. Duke Nukem Forever got a couple of screenshots thanks to the Duke3d XBLA release and Alan Wake's new gameplay trailer will be shown before the Max Payne film. It's nothing phenomenal like a release date, but knowing that development still progresses for these two games is certainly a good thing. Let's see if this week is any better.
Knights of the Old Republic MMO info soon. The next Star Wars Galaxies?
Ever since last October when BioWare studios announced they were working on the "next-generation entertainment product", rumors flooded about the possibility of the game being a KOTOR MMO. Since then, BioWare has kept a tight lid on the situation and managed to stay quiet for some time. It wasn't until this past July were the rumors finally validated when EA CEO John Riccitiello briefly mentioned that a KOTOR MMO was in the works. To this day, there are many EA higher-ups who refuse to speak about the game and there is still a shortage of information out there. Now, after several months of more waiting, BioWare and LucasArts are ready to divulge.
"LucasArts and BioWare invite you to attend the official unveiling of the game that's been rumored about for years," read an invitation sent out on Monday. The gathering occurs on October 21 in San Francisco during the afternoon. One has to wonder if this game will take Star Wars Galaxies' place as a justifiable replacement or if it'll be just like everything else out there. I guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks.
If I can play alongside HK-47, I'll be happy.
Fox News article claims World of Warcraft helps kids in school
I never thought I'd hear one day that World of Warcraft would be considered a viable candidate for education. But lo and behold, an article was released on Monday claiming just that. The study was conducted by Constance Steinkuehler, an educational researcher who started an after school program for boys to play MMOs.
According to the article, Steinkuehler first examined forum postings on the official WoW forums, and found that 85% of the conversations showed that players had decent levels of scientific literacy. In the article, "scientific literacy" was a link to another story about genetics and evolution which didn't make much sense, but basically, according to Wikipedia, scientific literacy is "the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity." Basically shit that everyone knows. So according to what they found, the WoW forums consist mostly of human beings.
The article continues, "Players used reasoned arguments, backed up hypotheses and even brought statistics to bear on issues that they faced near the higher levels of the game." Of course, the article doesn't mention how well-written these posts were, if the statistics were accurate as 99% of all stats on the internet are made up on the spot, and it left out how many times "QQ more nub", "LOL", or "WTF" was uttered. I just had to laugh at the next line though, "However, the high level of thinking represented in the forums still confounds expectations that most online chatter represents lowbrow mom jokes and gossip." I think the hilarity speaks for itself.
The article makes no revelations about anything and it does not provide anymore of Steinkuehler's research as I believe it is still being conducted. Before the article closed there was one sentence which caught my eye that I must comment on, "Steinkuehler has found the greatest success in following the interests of her students, rather than forcing educational content on them." Well no shit. Obviously kids are going to respond better when it's on topics they're into.
If you're willing to read the rest for yourself, you can find it here
And that's enough of that.
Warhammer meeting expectations
It's been a couple of weeks now since Warhammer Online went live and the reviews are finally starting to roll in. So far, the game has received immensely positive reviews mostly due to the game's stability and PvP environments. GameSpy gave it 5 out of 5 stars and claimed it, "has hit the ground running with one of the best MMO experiences we've had in a long time." Gamespot gave it 8.5 out of 10 and said that players looking for PVE may not be able to find what they want here, but lauded the game's PVP opportunities. Warhammer Online has an aggregate score of 88% on both metacritic.com and GameRankings.com. No information regarding subscription numbers have been released thus far.
While it remains to be seen if Warhammer can indeed top WoW, even though I personally don't see that happening, the game's initial success certainly cannot be denied. Who knows though, it may go the road of AoC and crap out after a month or two. I have yet to play it, but I've played enough MMO launches to know that it's best to wait a couple months before jumping in. I'm sure the game is filled to the brim with Chaos Chosen and Orc Black Orcs at this point. Hopefully the classes that were cut will make a return to help mix things up.
Get your fresh Spore milk here! Only 20 bucks a pop!
If you're the biggest Spore fan in existence then this week is much better than the last. Not even a month after Spore's release, news broke this past Saturday that an add-on for the best-selling game is already in the works and is due as early as next month. It seems that this information was preemptively released by Gamestop, who listed the game on their website, but removed it soon after. For those already familiar with EA's market scheme evidenced by what they did with The Sims, expect the same results here. Dubbed the "Cute & Creepy Parts Pack", it provides as advertised: worthless body parts for your critter during the customization process. Whoop dee shit.
For the measly price of $20, since everyone has money to blow on useless crap, you too can enjoy Spore's Creature Creator even more than you do now. If you're expecting additional content, look elsewhere. This pack will in no way alleviate the game's repetition or make it challenging. It's your standard milking strategy, just a little quicker than usual.
And people wonder why so much stuff gets pirated. What a waste of money.
Stargate Worlds MMO entering closed beta, needs play testers
The MMO based on the popular sci-fi film and TV series is preparing to enter closed beta testing on October 15. Players can now sign up for beta access through the game's official website. As always, if you don't get in initially, they'll be plenty of more opportunities for you to get in. In an official statement released by Dan Elggren, the Stargate Worlds Studio Head, he writes, "From now until launch, everything we do is about polish and fun." He added, "We've laid a great foundation for the beta testers and their feedback is a vital part of the game development process."
So far, there has been very little information about the game save for a few pieces of decent information, which I will list below:
- It adds to and follows the back story of the SG-1 series
- 7 "classes" have been announced ranging from Soldier and Scientist to Goa'uld and Asgard
- Enemy AI will be ramped up to provide a significant challenge (heh, we'll see)
- Combat mainly utilizes a modern ranged-weapon combat system
- Two expansions have been discussed: Stargate Atlantis, and one dedicated to space and space flight
Thanks to Gameshell and the companies that released the games, there is finally an instance that goes against the old adage, "Nothing good in life is free." Full Spectrum Warrior and Area 51 are now free to download from the Gamershell website. You can download each game from their respective links below:
"THQ has released for free Full Spectrum Warrior, allowing you to enjoy the PC version of this tactical-action military game developed by Pandemic Studios. In the game, players will command and coordinate the actions of two infantry squads leading them through a hostile urban warzone, as they outthink, outmaneuver and battle enemies through thirteen levels of intense combat. In addition, players can also go online and team up with a friend for two-player co-op gameplay. Full Spectrum Warrior is based on a light infantry-training simulator designed by Pandemic Studios for the U.S. Army as a tool to reinforce Army combat doctrine and squad tactics among troops."
"Midway has released for free Area 51, allowing you to enjoy the PC version of this sci-fi FPS developed by Inevitable Entertainment. Area 51 features the voice talent of David Duchovny as Specialist Ethan Cole of the Hazardous Materials Division, Powers Boothe as Major Bridges, and recording artist Marilyn Manson as Edgar, the gray alien. As Cole, players,will delve into massive levels within the confines of Area 51, discovering a deadly mutagenic side effect of the virus that controls the minds of those infected, as well as an ancient alien colony buried beneath the facility. With a multitude of human and alien weapons, players must explore chilling conspiracies such as the extraterrestrial crash at Roswell and the faked lunar landing, in order to solve the enigma of Area 51 before the viral mutagen is released and irrevocably mutates all life on Earth."
Both games have been fairly well-received by critics so it's definitely a good deal.
That's a wrap for the news
Below the Radar
A game which goes by the name of Space Trader - Merchant Marine caught my eye the other day. Strangely enough, the game's description sparked my interest as there is zero coverage on the game whatsoever except for a couple of screenshots and the game ships next week. The description reads, "As a trader, you will attempt to amass a fortune beyond your wildest imagination, buying and selling commodities and taking up arms against the oppressors. You can even accept bounty missions, hunting down crime bosses and their thugs."
The premise sounds pretty unique and reminds of X3's and EVE: Online's market opportunities. If you aren't familiar with the two, you can basically start your own business, accrue untold amounts of cash, and spend it on whatever you want. The game is clearly geared more towards the budding industrialists out there more so than anybody else.
Regardless, I can't say if the game is promising or not when all there is to go on is a couple of screenshots and a two-sentence description. It might be worth looking into. Just a heads up
I just noticed after editing my column for the 50th time, there is an overabundance of MMO news this week. To stay with this little trend, I've decided to spotlight a very good MMO that doesn't fit the mainstream.
Welcome to the universe of EVE-Online, a place where players can engage in daring acts of piracy, take part in galactic warfare, mine for undiscovered riches or become a full-scale arms dealer who manufactures weapons of war. The choice is yours. With EVE's unique skill system where skills can be trained offline and require no form of leveling, one can specialize in anything they desire. The only limit is imagination.
First released in 2003 by Icelandic developer CCP, EVE has received many awards for its robust content, completely player-driven economy, graphics, and player vs. player combat. One other reason EVE is garnering so much attention is its ability to support all of its players on one server. Unlike other MMORPG's such as World of Warcraft, where players are spread out across multiple servers, EVE gives its playerbase the opportunity to interact with everyone currently logged in. As of this writing, there are currently 31,739 pilots in the game, a fairly slow day.
If you're looking for one of the most in depth and challenging MMOs around, EVE: Online certainly fits the bill.
Free 14-day trial accounts are available and you can sign up here
Current Offers Peggle Deluxe- $9.99, regular $19.99 (50%)
Sales on New Releases Project Aftermath- $17.99, regular $19.99 Offer ends October 10th
man, screw a KOTOR mmo, if i wanted a WoW clone in space, I'd wait for World(s) of Starcraft.
Give us freaking KOTOR 3.
Posted By: Post (Guest) on October 09, 2008 at 01:30 AM
Completely agree with Post. Give us KOTOR 3 before a fucking MMO. The worst thing though is from all the rumours i've been hearing is that the MMO is fucking KOTOR 3. I hope it fails dismally like the first Stars Wars MMO did.
Posted By: Craig (Guest) on October 09, 2008 at 02:23 AM
WoW helps people with their grades, huh?
Pretty sure my grades were on a slump when I got addicted to WoW...
Posted By: Drew Robbins (Registered) on October 09, 2008 at 08:00 AM
