Petition To Stop PlayStation Network Charging For Online

Yesterday I received a circular from someone on PlayStation Network; it was a petition detailing that PSN where going to start charging for use of the systems online capabilities. I tried to take this with a pinch of salt, but a small amount of digging showed it to be more than just harmless rambling.

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Street Fighter IV Review: Kickin’ It Old School

“Since this title is a direct sequel to SF II, things like air blocking and exceedingly long air combos do not exist…”

Before I begin this review I would like point out something: I don’t believe in reviews without adequate exposure to a proper title. I say “proper” because it’s almost impossible to do a review without an unlocked title these days. Indeed you can buy a game on release day, and begin your review process to submit it by your deadline for release week, but that would go against my beliefs. My point being that one can only appreciate the nuances of a title with adequate time spent with it. Even though “Street Fighter” has been around for decades, a rushed review does not make sense.

As a matter fact, it’s been about ten years since the Roman numeral in the “Street Fighter”’s title changed. With stiff competition from its predecessors, and other titles from SNK and the Guilty Gear team, “Street Fighter IV” has to bring more than just fireballs and shoryukens. Regardless, the title turns out to be pure genius for some, and bittersweet for others. What it does bring to the table is everything you know about “Street Fighter II” as well as some new mechanics. The new stuff comes in the form of a new tech move dubbed “Focus Attack” (hold medium punch and medium kick), ultra combos, and some new fighters that aren’t just fireball throwing heavies. Add that to the fact that the game runs in 3D, adheres to its 2D heritage playing field, and visually flared with a Japanese Ink brush, intense colors, decent sound effects and has a fan questioning soundtrack. All of these aspects coalesce to make one of the better fighting games to be released in a long time. Nevertheless, it is just another fighting game, but it’s one that’s done very well. At times the game clings to its roots too strongly, yet with time you come to acknowledge the conjugated old and new mechanics. [Continue Reading]

F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin Review: Alma’s Back

I’ve been waiting for a sequel to the original “F.E.A.R.” since I finished that game. The first title was a such a rush, and at the time there was nothing like it with memorable gun fights and online battles that tended to get very intense when the rooms were maxed out. In the official second installment “F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin,” starts out some thirty minutes before the events of the original “F.EA.R,” and the single player campaign delivers on every front. For anyone that might pick up this game for the console, you’ll be in a new nightmare during your online multiplayer adventures.

First, let’s get the bad news out of the way. Several other gamers I’ve spoken on the PlayStation Network all concluded that the online needs some work as there’s something that’s just not intuitive about it. After playing multiplayer most of last week and the weekend I realized what that was; it’s the design of the lobbies, matching, and party selecting – they were all was designed with the PC in mind. I’d bet my bottom dollar on that, because I played “F.E.A.R.” online extensively for two years, and still occasionally play it even now on my PC. I can’t say the same for the MP on PS3 though: users seem to be quite frustrated with the way you match up, as they spend countless hours trying to get into a game. [Continue Reading]

BIONIC Commando – Rearmed for the Gaming Networks

[youtube width="425" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALGdrMl7WLA[/youtube]

I’ll have to admit that capcom’s effort on remaking classics is not a bad idea. The well known company has been around for a a while and sees no problem in bringing out the big, and the small guns.

Truth be told, Capcom is closer to many of our hearts than we may be ready to admit. Turns out there was a side project going on for the gaming networks in the form of a side scoller called Bionic Commando – Rearmed.

Take a look at the video here and rest assured that this one will surely bring back those when flat plane was all that stoof between you and ultimate victory.

Wipeout HD Part I: High Rez Images

L’esfants at Playfrance.com put some seriously draw dropping images of the soon to be released PSN title Wipeout HD including an interview with Studio Liverpool. To say the least, the screens look good and of course is by far the best looking Wipeout port ever made. Though I’m still having fun kicking back with Pulse, it was great to finally have the ability to see more on the HD upgrade.ÂÂ Online will support 6 man bouts and given the break neck speeds that I experience on the PSP, I can see why the cap is so low. Expect to hear complaints though SCEE since I’m sure PSN players will request more as time goes by.

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Charlie Can’t LogOn to Server …

… and so goes the saying as gamers joke around about their recent inabilities to hit up an online multiplayer fiesta via Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. What gives? Not sure really but perhaps Infinity Ward was not expecting the hits that their servers got after they released the beast that is CoD4 mid last week. Gamers are thoroughly unforgiving, especially when they are told they will get an A and they get a B. “Charlie don’t Surf” but apparently he can’t log on to a server either as the XBOX 360 owners and the PS3 owners moan from the lack of a proper online session. [Continue Reading]

MotorStorm 2-dot-0 [Patch] Out … in Europe?

Looks like Evolution Studios, the UK developers of MotorStorm, may have heard the cries of several gamers and myself about a few issues with a great game. It would seem that an update was confirmed for the EU market this past Tuesday where owners can download the patch dubbed Version 2dotO. Included in said update are:

1. Vehicle Select enhancement to your last-used vehicle in each class will now be presented as the default choice during vehicle selection: Well, that’s great but does it solve the initial loading of the game. This is a good way to attempt to solve a problem that is perhaps irreparable but kudos for trying … now doesn’t that contradict the fact that some cars only work well on some tracks guys?
2. Assigned player colours are now displayed in the lobby to make keeping track of your friends and rivals easier during online races and Eliminator matches: A sensible cosmetic update I think.
3. Further Player-Stat Improvements: Vague
4. Purchasers of Coyote Revenge can now race this track in Online and Time Attack: Cool
5. Purchasers of Eliminator Mode will find results from this mode also contribute to their Fame Ranking: Cool
6. Track Exploits for Grizzly and Raingod Mesa have been addressed: Cool
7. Headset support An occasional firewall conflict with headset communications has been resolved: I didn’t even know this was a problem, wow.
8. Headset support voice comms output now available exclusively through headset: Never heard of this one, but okay.
   
9. Many other improvements and tweaks throughout the game: Vague

The list comes straight from Sony. You can see it on their blog site. The thing about MotorStorm is that it’s a great game but those little things listed about were always an annoyance to players. I doubt the loading problem will be tackled as hoped but it’s cool that Evolution Studio’s was nice enough to even consider a fix for this game. I hope Factor5 will take suit.

PSN Update

It looks like you’ll have a great weekend if your a PS3 owner. Several new items have been added to the PSN store. This includes Super Puzzle Fighter HD, and the long awaited network add-on for Tekken 5 – Dark Resurrection. One thing to note though about Tekken is that its’ a full game, so there is not demo for it. Finally, the menu looks more like a Tekken menu with the following modes – arcade, ghost, vs, online[new], survival, practice, gallery [new], and options. Included in practice mode, is a new style called defensive training, for those turtles out there.

For online you have several modes to select from, opti match, quick match, custom match, friend match, ranking and profile. I really hate this part in profile, I can’t select my own countries flag. A trend I find common in a lot of games, as if the other countries of the world didn’t matter. You can easily find a database of flags on the internet for use in games like this but ah well, that’s my rant. Anywho, online is everything I thought it would be … tekken online. You can use voice chat but be for-warned that if you don’t have a descent online connection you’ll experience lag. By now, I’m guessing most PS3 owners use broadband. You have option to turn off/on voice chat when you make a room. But I’m happy about that since I had my ass handed to me on my first bout cuz I would never have heard the end of it. All the tekken bs also exist here but at least it’s not accompanied by lag – which was a surprise but then again this was just an update to a PS2 game right. Still, its’ good and paves the way for other versions.

You can DL the demo/full game for Super Puzzle Fighter HD, which I might add is not slouch, especially if you’re into puzzle games. We all know that this game became cult hit, to cult classic and this version, in high def, is all that you would expect from Puzzle Fighter.

FINALLY! TEKKEN ONLINE!

Kick me in the face, someone with ballz has finally decided to make an online brawler. I bitched about the existence of “no online” fighters and those that exist suck major donkey balls and you know it. So, w00t to Bandai/Namco for announcing that Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection HD will receive an update that will allow for online bouts. And you frame rate loving virtual fighters should know that playing brawlers is not about no f’ing frame rates, it’s about kicking the ass out of your opponent, with or without style! What to expect from this update, if you haven’t downloaded the game already is as follows:

• VS Mode Online
• Leader boards
• Online trash talking for an online brawler [i can't wait!] ^_^
• Survival Mode Online
• Ranking Mode Online

All that for 7.99 to kick your friends ass across the globe. Finally!