Vanquish... the PC

Shinji Mikami and Platinum Games are soon to release a new game called Vanquish.
Vanquish was initially developed for PC but was later changed as PS3 became the game's primary focus. Not that any of us saw that coming.
So at at this current point in time, Vanquish is limited to console: PS3 and Xbox 360. Whether or not it will have a PC release is currently undecided.

"Obviously each console has its own unique requirements and limitations, but we feel if we can create a good enough presentation on PS3, we'll be off to a good start."
- Mikami

I saw some of the footage available for this upcoming sci-fi shooter and thought it looked pretty neat, but if this is "ported", it will just be yet another FPS/TPS thrown away and onto the scrap pile.

The story line looks basic as hell and somewhat slaps me in the face with spitting images of the all time classic film, Judgement Day. But nevertheless, the jet-boot-skootin', frontflip-shootin' and explosion filled atmosphere looks for some promising game-play. I am thinking of Ratchet & Clank right about now... Especially Gladiator.

The trailers look most impressive and that they may have spent some serious dollar making them. But teasers are often, as we are far too familiar with, deceptive.
But don't let this theory get you down. If you pre-order the game from Gamestop [ Click here! ] you get an exclusive 3 weapon download pack! I would assume this is for Multiplayer content. Or you could save yourself US$59.99 and wait for a sale at Electronics Boutique.

Check out the trailers:




I'm pretty sure the voice actor of the first dude is in Dawn of War II.

Look out Fiddy Cent!

One of my mate's showed me a video clip of a song by an upcoming rapper called Bangs. It was called 'Take U To Da Movies'. And WOW IT WAS AMAZING!

Bang's real name is Ajak Chol and was born in Sudan in 1990.
Bangs moved to Egypt when he was little and then arrived in Melbourne after emigrating from Egypt in 2003.
He started his new life with a hard passion for music and a wild dream to take over the world with his music.
At the point of me discovering this 19 year old rapper, his debut album entitled HARD TO BE UP was still in the recording process.
When the album was released, I had to get my hands on a copy.
The CD is so emotional lyrically, catchy and powerful musically and overall has a very unique feel.
His topics range from courting to ranting about the Australian Immigration system. (Trollolol)
His hit single TAKE U TO DA MOVIES put his name in lights practically overnight.
A video clip has been filmed of Bangs' singing in front of a green screen showing various pictures of Lamborghinis and city skylines.
I reccomend EVERYONE buy this CD. You won't be wasting your time.
Bangs is an inspiration to everyone and should find a place in everyone's heart.

/sarcasm.
Or was I serious?
Choose for yourself.

BANGS - TAKE U TO DA MOVIES (Offical Video)

It's like COD, but with bow 'n arrows.

Okay, so you've all played Paradox Interactive's Mount & Blade, right?
If not, here is a brief review.

Mount & Blade is a sandbox Hack-n-slash RPG. You create a character, kill people, complete quests, get more money, get better equipment, get more badass and get more control.
The game's primary aspect is to create a 'party'. As you get better, your troops increase in skill and quantity.
It does not contain a story-line and does not have any fantasy elements like that found in most RPG's such as Elder Scrolls and Neverwinter Nights.

But the game truly shines in it's battle sequences.
The graphics are impressive, the combat is good fun and the battles range from your character vs 3 outlaws to massive full scale battles and sieges with up to 6 different factions.
The player has a choice to join one of 5 kingdoms or can choose to go neutral.
Each kingdom has it's Pros and Cons and are all based on real-life Dark Ages communities. For example; Nords, Mongolians and Arabians.
As you progress, if riding under a banner, you can become a Lord and own your own castle and villages. But if you ride under a banner, expect to be under pursuit from enemy factions.
The game has a huge array of weapons, clothing and attributes which can be mix and matched to create unique and devastating combinations.



That is enough, I am here to discuss the latest expansion pack; Mount & Blade: Warband.
The expansion pack brought Multiplayer to the single player RPG, which sounds like a great addition. But when I sat down and joined a server of high latency, I quickly drew the conclusion that it is quite horrible.
Paradox claimed that the graphics were increased from it's predecessor, but I actually see a downfall is visuals.

But that is not what irritated me. What made me quit after about 15 minutes of play was that the game heavily resembled COD (oh no...) in that vast majority of players assume the role of archers. The resemblance to Call Of Duty (Modern Warfare 1 and 2 obviously because heaven forbid playing any of the earlier games) is the 'snipers pitching tents' aspect.
The archers sit on top of a hill and shoot arrows all day without being a man and charging in with an axe and slicing the enemies' heads in half. Which, to me, sounds like much more fun than standing in one spot clicking endlessly and shooting arrows.

In terms of kits, it is kind of like Battlefield where there are preset kits, but having the option to customise.
You choose a fighter type and spend your cash (say 1500 gold pieces) which is earned by stacking up kills and winning rounds to buy different weapons and armour.
The fighter type you choose limits the options available. So choose an axe based character if you want a axe. Pretty basic stuff.
And there is an option to mount a horse.

In conclusion, the Multiplayer isn't so great but the Singleplayer is hours and hours of fun and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys RPGs.

My first and last experience with Games for Windows Live

On the weekend I bought Red Faction: Guerrilla, finally, after hearing alot of positive feedback from it's destruction system and general good fun.

But what makes this game a waste of time is the absolute joke system 'Games for Windows Live' (GfWL).
Basically, the system means you MUST create a profile to obtain the simple task of saving and loading your game.
What the fuck?!
So when I went to start a new game, it asked me to create an account.
It took me to the Xbox website (wait, what?) to create an Xbox gamer tag.
Okay so I HAVE to make an XBOX account JUST to save and load my game?
I should have stopped there.
After pissing around for an hour and a half I eventually got the shoddy system to log me in.
I then played the game...

Fuck it is actually alot of fun.
Being able to blow up everything basically made me jizz on my screen.
The story line is extremely unoriginal and the combat system is unrealistic and shoddy (typical 3rd person shooter). But albeit it's very entertaining.
Throwing remote charges on a bridge and blowing them up and watching the rubble crush thine enemies is fucking fun.

But anyway, I digress.
I played the game for a fair while in one session.
I then saved and quit the game. To my suprise, no worries: It approved and let me quit.

Later, I went to play the game again.
So I attempted to sign in. This took bloody forever.
When I finally signed in, my save games were deleted.
O_o and my god what a surprise it won't let me sign in the next day to start a new game.
Fuck. What a joke and an absolute waste of time.

NEVER buy anything that has 'Games for Windows Live' on it. EVER.
Save yourself the pain.
Fuck you THQ. Take some lessons from Valve.
Actually no, just leave the industry to those who know what they are doing.

/rant.