Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Holiday Games Review!

It's been a busy holiday season so sadly I haven't had many free afternoons to try out some new games.  In fact I've been sucked back into classics like Civ V.  It's always a fantastic way to spend a long winter night with a glass of Christmas whiskey.  In addition I've played the odd game of Company of Heroes and Dawn of War.  It was a bit of a departure for me who usually snags a few Steam sale games to check out.

This year my acquisitions didn't live up to my expectations.  I had been into Open TTD and wanted more railroad games so I bought Sid Meier's Railroads!  It has potential but honestly it was a little less than I was expecting.  I also picked up Tom Clancy's EndWar since I'm a fan of any strategy war game.  That too wasn't quite the game I was hoping.  To be fair I haven't tried it with the voice commands in place yet which could change my opinion.

So my holiday buys didn't give me the gaming boost I was suspecting.  There's still New Years and some untouched titles in my library.  Maybe I'll discover some secret gems that will turn things around.

 

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Techy Non-Techy Toys

My daughter got two fake cellphones for Christmas this year.  Yes, it's cute to see her running around having fake conversations with imaginary people but truthfully it doesn't sit well with me.  I'm a tech loving guy but I don't really want her getting obsessed with a cellphone before the age of two. 

She already thinks my cellphone is magic because on rare occasions I let her play with the music apps.  She likes to make music.  I would rather she be obsessed with playing with blocks or reading pop-up books.  It's amazing how quick kids become attached to electronics and not their age appropriate toys. 

The last thing I want is for her to get obsessed with playing Minecraft on an iPad.  I would rather she become mildly interested in the far superior PC version of Minecraft.  I mean, the mobile version sill doesn't even have horses yet.  Terrible. 

Anyway.  I guess it's not horrible.  She did drop the phone toy for a coloring book so that made me feel good. 

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Gaming Sick

One of the greatest things about being sick is staying home and playing video games.  The house is yours, responsibility has been thrown out the window and you can game with complete freedom.  However there is a downside.  You're sick.  It's a win-lose situation.

I prefer a slower paced game when I'm sick.  Civilization offers many opportunities to blow the nose or take a trip to the bathroom.  Any turn based strategy game is a good choice.  Shooters are tricky since cold medicine dulls the senses.  Basically anything with ample opportunities to pause without hindering your game is ideal.

So far the console has been the ideal sick gaming platform.  Big screen, wireless controller and the comfort of a couch.  Thankfully it's getting easier to do a comfortable couch setup for your PC these days.  Wireless controllers, HDMI ports on graphics cards and all that make for a more comfortable PC gaming experience.  Now with the Steam link it's even easier!  I hope.  I still haven't tried it out.  I want to though.

So load up some Skyrim, go adventuring and enjoy the blurry eyed sick gaming.  It's the best way to pass the time and get on the road to wellness.


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Tech Slowdown?

Have we hit a tech slowdown?  Maybe.  It seemed throughout the 80's, 90's and the beginning of the 00's that tech completely changed every year.  Phones changed shapes and no company could dominate the market because things changed so much.  CPU's were gaining cores, new names and seemed to double in speed every two months.  Video game consoles were being released every few years and the games looked more astounding with every new version.  It seemed like technology was on an endless rocket ride to future tech we couldn't even imagine yet.

Then it all seemed to slow down.  I call it the 'mobile wall'.  When the smartphone came out and we finally merged the PDA, phone and computer into one device something happened.  Instead of creating new and wonderful inventions we turned to creating a more marketable mobile device.  Better mobile chips, more features and of course bigger screens.  This of course led to the tablet which was just a big phone.  Nothing new. 

Computer technology has continued to improve in the background.  However it does seem that the i7 has been around for a long time.  Doesn't it?  Yes it's gotten faster but we're still sitting at 4 cores.  AMD put out the hexa-core but that didn't do very well.  Eight core processors are out there but unless the machine and software are designed to utilize it the extra cores are useless.  Not practical for everyday computing.  The way things were shooting upwards I thought we'd be rocking eight cores running at 8ghz each in our personal computers.  I guess not.  The fact that I'm still using a computer setup barely different than what I had 15 years ago says something.   It's immensely more powerful but the technology is basically the same. 

There is hope on the horizon though.  We've seemed to crack some sort of magic code when it comes to storage.  Micro SD cards are smaller than my fingernail and hold mind boggling amounts of data.  A terabyte hard drive was a thing of pure fiction but now it's standard.  If I wanted I could buy a few five terabyte hard drives right now and plug them into my system.  Then there's the fact that the solid-state drive exists and has no moving parts.  NO MOVING PARTS!  Insane.

Virtual reality also seems to be finally becoming a real thing for the masses.  It has potential and could really take off.  Possibly the first new tech advancement in years outside the mobile market.  Hopefully it works well and becomes the 'next step' in computer evolution. 

Anyway.  Maybe it's because I haven't been paying attention and I'm out of the loop on things.  Maybe things haven't slowed down as much as I think.  I hope so.  It seems the mobile market has hit a point where it doesn't really know what to do next.  Tablets are evolving back into laptops again.  The race is on to build a viable flexible screen to take the mobile device into the future.  It looks like we're trying to figure out what the next big thing will be.  The smartphone wasn't useful enough and a powerful computer still isn't mobile enough.  Maybe we'll realize we need multiple devices in our lives to do all the things we want.  There won't be any ultimate tech device that solves all our problems.  Not yet at least.  Just don't be fooled by the hype when the next mediocre attempt comes on the market.  If it still looks like a phone...it's still just a phone.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Company of Upgrades

I love a good World War II game.  Planes, tanks or ground combat it doesn't matter.  There's so much material to work with it's no wonder it's one of the most used settings in the video game world.  The problem is I'm also something of a amateur historian.  The two don't mesh well.

I reloaded Company of Heroes yesterday because I never played it much the first time.  After a few games I realized why.  It's the upgrades!  All those buildings and units that need constant rechecking to see if I can upgrade them.  What the heck?  This is where my little knowledge of history ruins my enjoyment of an otherwise fantastic game.

If you wanted to take a crossroads in 1944 you'd round up what units you could find, load up what gear you could scrounge and take it.  What you didn't do is send a single squad of engineers and expect them to build an entire forward command post in a contested area.  It just doesn't make sense.

You know what, that's okay.  If you want extensive, realistic World War II simulator then you can go play something like Hearts of Iron.  There's something for everyone.  Too much realism isn't always a good thing. So you know what?  Company of Heroes gets a thumbs up.  I did get to put a huge wall of artillery on a ridge and pummel Panzers.  There's nothing wrong with that. 

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Morning Dad Time

If you think sleeping in is the best thing to do with your morning you're missing out.  As you get a older and care less about sleep you find getting up at six in the morning everyday has it's rewards.  There is a brief yet magical moment you find in those early hours where the house is quiet and everyone else is still asleep.  In this moment you can make coffee and load up your favorite game for a few undisturbed moments. 

This is dad gaming.  If you don't have kids than you're happily gaming whenever you choose but that all changes once miniature people start living in your house.  There's no Counter-Strike when a little person is attempting to tear apart your kitchen.  In those early hours you can run a few matches or complete a few levels in peace.  It's not much but it's actually really nice.  Since you're not doing eight hour marathon sessions anymore an hour every so often seems like a vacation. 

Unlike the evening when you're tired or finishing up chores, the morning is calm and you haven't yet burned away your energy stores for the day.  After a little warm-up you might find you're playing better than usual.  No distractions, no nagging thoughts on your brain from the day, just coffee and gaming.  Good times.

OR....if you're in a gaming slump you write blog posts and re-watch heist movies.  That's pretty good too.  Play on my friends.  Play on in the brief peace of the early morning and discover what getting up early can do for you.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Sale of the Year

It's coming and I hope you're ready.  The winter Steam sale is coming soon and that means amazing deals on games. It's that special time of year when your game collection rapidly expands with AAA titles, indie gems and titles you have never heard of before.  If you've saved up your pennies throughout your years you could very well double or even triple your games library.

If you're in a financial pickle then the Steam sale could be downright depressing.  Seeing all those amazing games for so cheap but unable to purchase any can drive you bonkers.  I know there have been years where I desperately wished for a little more fun money to pick up just a few more.


We live in one of the greatest times in PC gaming because we now have access to more games in history at their lowest prices ever.  We should all benefit from this so if you're flush with cash this year then spread the love.  I'm talking about checking your friends wishlists and giving the gift of gaming.

When you can get AAA titles for under $10 and classic games for under $5 then think about buying one or two for a friend.  It's the cheapest and most rewarding present you can give during the holidays.  The enjoyment of a good game is priceless.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Toys!

Remember when you used to make your Christmas list by laying on the living room floor with a notebook and the Sears Wish Book?  Probably not if you're under the age of thirty-five.  Long gone are those days where you had a finite amount of options to choose from and you knew you were never getting the GI Joe aircraft carrier.

Today things are a little different in the way a big-wheel is a little different from a F-22 Raptor fighter jet.  Amazon.com is a 24/7 super catalog for kids of any age.  If I thought I wasn't getting the aircraft carrier on my list as a kid I guarantee you bet I won't get the $5,000 Minimoog keyboard.  How do you even make a list on Amazon when they have every conceivable toy you could ever want? 

I found it was easier to think about the little things rather than the big things.  You'd be surprised how many neat little things you can find that would be awesome to have.  Think of it.  Why ask for one two-hundred dollar present when you can ask for twenty ten-dollar presents?  You'd actually be surprised by what you get because you're not going to get them all.  Imagine that.

One year I was making my list and I was thinking about the the things that would be nice to have.  I was putting in a power supply or something and thought it would be great to have a new set of precision screwdrivers.  I put it them the list, got them for Christmas and they're awesome.  Sure it's not fancy but every time I use them, which is often, I remember how awesome it was to get them as a present. 

Imagine how many little things you would come across on a daily basis that would be neat if they had been gifts.  Think of all the big gifts you've gotten that collect dust now.  So if you're making a wishlist, look for some of those small things that it would be fun to have a special version of.  You'd be amazed how many common items have deluxe versions listed on Amazon. 

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Free to Mech!

I've been in a little gaming slump lately so I decided to check out Mechwarrior Online again after my graphics card update.  My first try at it was disappointing since I wasn't able to finish one match due to FPS and lag issues.  This time however I'm happy to say it was a better experience.

If you're a fan of the Mechwarrior franchise then I highly recommend checking out this game.  I was a big fan of the franchise and disappointed when it was sold and stripped down.  The complexity was gutted and it turned into a vehicle for arcade shooters.  A sad, dark time.  Now it seems they've turned back the clock and given back some of it's classic feel.

I should be careful though and not give you too much hope.  It is after all a free to play game and not the best.  It's not horrible but it could some polish, some tweaking and of course less pay only options.  Lag is still an issue and for some reason it will throw you on European servers which gives everyone insane pings.  Graphically it's nice but can cause some problems if you're not running a beefy computer.  I would imagine there's some optimization that could be done to clean it up but I wouldn't count on them focusing their attention on it.  At least it runs and is playable despite these issues. 

The good things about this game are the options that have been given back to the players.  You'll notice right away this is not a pick-a-mech and start blasting type of game.  Weapons can be swapped, heat must be managed and of course you always have to keep an eye on it's tonnage.  It's that great classic formula where you spend more time configuring your load-outs than you do battling.  This might sound odd to some of you youngsters out there but it's something we loved back in the 80's and 90's. 

Other than the customization that's returned there really isn't much to praise.  Battles are chaotic, unorganized and usually consist of two groups of mechs slugging it out in the middle of the map.  I think this would be a great game for organized clan matches but I would imagine the time or money investment to get to that level is considerable. 

Buying mechs is of course expensive and they tempt you into buying premium credits to unlock the money only ones.  You do earn a decent amount of free credits as you play but it's not as generous as other free-to-play games.  The World of Tanks or Warthunder model is far better at keeping the non-paying player interested and they have better polish on their games. 


If you're an old Mechwarrior fan I say give it a shot.  You'll have some fun and enjoy bolting a million lasers to a mech just to watch it shut down from heat.  If you're not a big fan of the franchise then I'd recommend trying out something else.  World of Warships is out right now and a much more rewarding free-to-play experience.



Friday, December 11, 2015

Fair Game

I just checked some stats on Steam that are a little amazing. Peak player count for Counter-Strike was over 700,000 while the count for Black Ops III was only 30,000. Those are some crazy numbers. That's over twenty-three times more people playing Counter-Strike over the AAA super title. Why is Counter-Strike so big? Fair games. It's a concept that's been thrown to the wayside by almost every other franchise except for a select few.

 I'm talking about a game where anyone can jump in on a game and be on the same level as everyone else. No upgrades, no perks, no golden guns or pay-to-win features. Jump in, grab an AK and start shooting. Sure you'll probably get blown away by someone with super-human skills but at least it wasn't because they had a helicopter gunship in their back pocket. The idea of leveling in those types of games makes no sense outside the game itself. I always had an issue in Battlefield where if you didn't have enough experience in fighter jets they wouldn't give you missiles. Really? I can just imagine the conversation that would take place on the runway between the crew-chief and the pilot.

 "Excuse me son. What's your rating on the F/A-18 Super Hornet?"
 "Sir? Uhhh...level one."
"Oh, that's too bad. JERRY! Take the sidewinders off, this guy isn't that good so we have to take away the one thing that might help him actually survive a fight."

A modern combat aircraft without missiles? That makes absolutely no sense. The ground game is also pretty bad.

 Just starting out? Here's a standard issue rifle with iron sights. Your opponents? They get full-auto combat shotguns with laser sights, night vision, radar beacons, attack dogs and C-130 gunships. Too bad you didn't pre-order the game and play constantly for three weeks straight so you could keep up. Maybe next time since we'll be releasing a new version of the game in about six months. Even then you're not going to have the legacy bonuses so you'll eternally be behind the times.

These are the frustrations that cause so many gamers around the world to stick with a classic like Counter-Strike. It and games like it are more popular because the game can be fun no matter what your time commitment. I myself am a huge Day of Defeat fan. I can not play for months, start it up and continue playing like I never left. Playing a rifleman? There's my trusty M-1, rifle grenades and combat knife. Assault? Good ol' Thompson, grenades and face punching power. Same trusty gear and I'm assured to be playing against opponents with comparable equipment. That's balance.

 I know, I know...how boring is it to play the same game over and over again? What's the purpose if you can't level up and get that better gun? For myself and apparently 700,000 other players today it's the challenge itself that's the purpose. Maybe I'm getting old and feel like winning on even terms is a far better feeling than winning due to having advantages my opponent didn't. Maybe I just like my games to make sense. Why would a tank have different equipment depending on who was driving? Why would air support only come when it's soldiers are winning? Wouldn't it make more sense to call in air support if you're in trouble? It's all backwards and frustrating.

"If you don't like it then don't play them!" That's fair. There's room enough in the digital wastes for every game type. I just thought the numbers were interesting and they made me smile knowing that I'm not alone in thinking that sticking to the basics is always a smart move.