Anjin Unleashed

Thursday, January 26, 2012

If you haven't yet, you really should watch the Quick Look that Giant Bomb posted for the new SSX coming out at the end of February. Actually, let me help you with that.

I haven't been this excited about a game in years. It was actually thrilling to watching the producer fly down those mountains. From the tricks to the speed to the style, I could feel my anticipation building as the video went on.

When I've looked at screenshots or preview videos in the past, I was decidedly "meh" about the game. I wanted to like it, but nothing was coming together for me. That has all changed looking at the near-final product.

EA Canada seem to have really nailed a style with the game. It hits a tricky intersection of realism and exaggeration that is important for SSX. The interface looks clean and attractive, pulling up all kinds of data to propel you to the next event. I just hope that I can get enough friends playing that I have some challenges to go after.

In the meantime, I'm getting out my Xbox and playing a little SSX 3 to tide me over. See you on the snow.

This post is not meant to be ammunition in any arguments. It is not a sign or a data point. It just is.

I unsubscribed from Star Wars: The Old Republic. It was an easy decision. It has nothing to do with the game itself. I was enjoying my time on Ord Mantell, even though it took several sessions to even leave the planet. Having just arrived on Coruscant, I'm actually disappointed that I won't be returning.

I suppose that, if you were a terrible person, you could fault Bioware for not making a game that is so good that I would neglect my family and job. Hmm... I'll just leave that there.

With a tip of the hat to Hunter, the best source for GW2 info, Mike O'Brien, the President of ArenaNet, has announced that Guild Wars 2 is on track to release later this year. As well, the first beta test is complete and the next test are expanding in scope.

There could be no greater news. With the release of Guild Wars, ArenaNet showed that they are one of the few developers who could think outside of the box when it came to the problems inherant with EQ style MMOs. The industry obviously went a different way, but we were still left with an amazing game. And its sequel is sure to be as challenging as we've come to expect.

If nothing else, we can count on Guild Wars 2 to be thought-provoking. And discussion-provoking as well, I hope.

Now that I think about it, I'd better get back to my Farewell To Ascalon posts. I would be embarassing if I don't clear Pre-Searing before GW2 releases.

It was inevitable. Once Lord of the Rings Online converted to free-to-play, it was only a matter of time before Turbine started selling gear in their cash shop. They say that they are filling a need for their customers due to a lack of low level gear in the auction house. Goldenstar from A Casual Stroll To Mordor tells us that there is no need to worry just yet. Heck, the worst part is that you can't Try It On to see how it looks on your character first.

Folks, the building is burning down around us and Turbine is trying to convince us that it's a nice way to keep our hands warm. There was a line, a line that everyone agreed was limit of what we wanted to see in a cash shop. After toeing the line pretty heavily with stat tomes and PvMP gear, Turbine has stepped boldly over and is telling us that we invited them to do so.

Let's examine their stated rationalization: a lack of good armor at low levels. In a free-to-play game, the obvious answer is to sell a solution. If a subscription game had the same problem, they would have to take the time to acutally fix the lower level content so that difficulty matches the available gear or they would update quest rewards and world drops to give better gear. This is exactly the nightmare scenario everyone imagines when a game goes free-to-play. Turbine has shown that they place their income above improving the gameplay experience for players.

Aw, forget it. There is no point in complaining because this is a lost cause. As Julian Murdock said on the Gamers With Jobs Conference Call this week, we're not just on a slippery slope, Turbine has strapped on the skis. Low level cash gear will lead to mid-level cash gear will lead to end game cash gear.

I'm not playing LotRO anymore, but please let me know when raid gear is available for sale. I'll make the popcorn and we can watch the drama together.

Earlier, Rob Zacny tweeted this Wired article by Jason Schreier. In it, Bioware heads Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk discuss how multiplayer be playing a greater role in their future singleplayer RPGs.

When asked whether Bioware was moving away from singleplayer games, Muzyka responded that it depends on your definition of singleplayer.

My definition of single-player gaming involves me not playing with any other people. At all. And that's pretty much it. If I have to deal with other people, that's not what I want from a single player game.

Zeschuk is quoted as saying that multiplayer in Mass Effect 3 makes the whole experience better.

No, no, no, no, no. Do not bolt your multiplayer mode onto my singleplayer game. And absolutely do not lock my singleplayer content behind your multiplayer idiocy. Sure, release your online shooter all you want. Trying to convince me that I'm the one who is wrong because I'm not eager for this new experience is downright offensive to me.