PCGP Episode #197: Do The Bifurcate
As one might predict this podcast is mainly about two things: MW2’s lack of dedicated server support & Borderlands. Consider everything else a super-fantastic bonus!
54 Responses to “PCGP Episode #197: Do The Bifurcate”
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October 22nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
1st, yet I win nothing
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Another late night assignment, another podcast. This page loads slow when logged-in; am I being hacked?
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I put a dunce face after that comment but it didn’t stick.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 am
Just tried to do my homework while listening to the podcast, and I accidentally wrote about Modern Warfare 2’s dedicated server controversy for a whole paragraph until I realized what had happened.
Oh, and preloading Borderlands. Can’t wait.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:04 am
Seriously, why is Gary not on the podcasts more often? I really enjoyed listening to his level-headed defense of PC gamers on the MW2 issue.
It was a good podcast guys. I love listening to Dan and Logan, but a job well done on managing a highly absorbing podcast without those two regulars.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:13 am
BTW, I just want to add that all of this is purely done out of fears of piracy. Since a lot of people pirated MW1 and played on their own private servers or whatever, IW have obviously come to a decision that dedicated servers and the like are out.
Whatever they have said about using this new matchmaking system to make things easier is just spin… that’s it.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:42 am
@Pugnate Good point about piracy. Though I do not pirate games myself, I know many people who do and it’s really sad to ask them why they do it and they go, “I don’t have to pay anything! FUCK THE DEVELOPERS!”
This is what happens when you do that and the developers are left with no choice.
Which is sad, because the first Modern Warfare was great online, and I was briefly excited until I heard all this chatter about the game costing $60 for the PC, having a closed-off matchmaking system, no mods, and I was sorely disappointed. Maybe when the game is really cheap, I’ll jump in and play it.
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:11 am
The lack of dedicated servers for Modern Warfare is a huge disappointment. If they really want to “make it easier” for some people, why can’t they develop the match making on the side, or have a “Play Now” function like BF2? Sure, the match system gets rids of Punk Buster, and I’m all for that, but as you guys said on the podcast; this is how PC gaming is done, don’t remove that.
October 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 am
I usually save the podcast for my Tuesday night work shift, but I figured I’d ask: Any discussion on the TV/web advertisements for Borderlands showing the PC version as being “Available Now”?
@Chris in Utica: Yes, the site is loading weirdly slow for me. It loads most of it, then hangs at the last bit for a long, long while.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:31 am
What are the details for the Killingfloor game night? I’d love to join. I never played it but I just downloaded the it from Steam for the free weekend deal. My Steam ID is LostVector.
Oh and I’m super excited for Borderlands. I have it pre-loaded from steam and can’t wait for it to unlock. I’m really looking forward to playing it co-op so if anyone here is as excited about playing co-op as I am and isn’t a loot hog and knows how to share and play nice then hit me up on steam.
On that note, why isn’t there a party/loot dice roll system like WoW in Borderlands. If the emphasis of this game is loot and co-op then why not? I’d be much more willing to take chances playing with strangers if I knew I wasn’t going to be cheated out of good loot. It’s hard to see how this issue will impact the larger Borderlands community. Game reviewers had the luxury of playing co-op with staff members and their online experience might be a bit different from the rest of us. I’m only speculating, and as a past MMO player I have a little more patience for grinding or replaying missions for the chance at good loot. However, I fear that those new to the RPG/group element may be inclined to be more twitchy when it comes to snatching up loot and I’d hate for the culture of this game to settle on “first come first serve” or “you snooze you lose”. Maybe that’s the point and it’s all part of the Wild West atmosphere
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 am
Tbh it’s not done outta fear of piracy, like Roswell and how they wanted everyone to believe it was a UFO crash cause they didn’t want Russia to know what they were working on. The whole Piracy thing is a smoke screen, specially when COD 4 sold well on the PC and you can’t play multiplayer without a CD KEY anyways. I mean sure people cracked the game to allow you to play over Hamachi or whatever but the same thing will happen with MW2. All it means is legit customers get burnt and it has no affect on Piracy.
This was done so they can charge for content on the PC like map packs and stuff instead of having to release it for free because all you woulda needed to do was place them in a folder… well now your account will have to show you own them.
I’m not buying the game but I don’t like COD multiplayer anyways… just think it’s a disgrace to cut out dedicated servers and mod support for the PC. Valve would be nowhere right now without their modders and listening to the community but IW clearly stated they don’t care.
I fucking hate match making I just want a fucking server browser, it’s not like L4D where theres only 4 people per server so it doesn’t make sense to have a server browser. You’re playing long sandbox like death match games with 32 - 64 players. I mean whats the player limit gonna be like on the PC now? Whats the pings gonna be like for people in countries where IW can’t host servers?
It’s just another nail in the coffin for PC gaming tbh, consoles have been dumbing down everything since this whole casual gamer craze and IW even said they’re doing this so people can’t actually play online…….. who has a problem looking at a server browser? you’d have to be very fucking stupid to not understand that.
October 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
@Just Be
“Casual gamer craze?” You mean more people playing games? You’re an idiot.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:53 pm
So if there’s no way at all to host your own game online in MW2, does that also mean there’s no way to play on a specific map?
EDIT: Nevermind, just got to that bit in the podcast! DURRR
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Check out Anti-TD for flash games where you play the bad guy in tower defense games. They’re pretty decent. Not heard of a TD game where you can play multiplayer though, I like the idea of it certainly!
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
awesome! loving the sound of the premium content of Dragon Age!!!!
I think PC gamer should definite focus more on that direction of game-extension support and exclusive previews instead of outdated review and “news” that everyone has already seen on the internet by the time they get the magazine!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Just to clarify, the jump in Halo isn’t high because of low gravity, it’s because you play a biologically augmented super soldier in a powered exoskeleton. In Halo 3: ODST, it’s high even though you’re just a regular human because of the precedent set by the other games in the series.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@LostVector We’re doing a Killing Floor night on Saturday. We don’t know what time yet, but I’ll make an announcement for it a few hours before it starts (expect the event sometime around 8 PM). It’s a free weekend so I hope to see y’all there!
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm
CoD4 interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfTR8PBrsE
I wish they still had this attitude.
October 24th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Sorry but the jump is because of the gravity because you float in the air for ages like you were on the Moon. If you just had the ability to jump higher it wouldn’t make you float around. However Halo is an overrated console FPS with poor level design so makes sense the game design sucks too.
With MW2 it’s like they took one step forward and two steps back. Like Woo great it’s using Steam and not GFWL or anyother shit and no more Punkbuster… but they have to find a way to ruin that somehow lol.
Dunno why people like Dragon Age cause everything I’ve seen of it has looked horrible. Animations, graphics, story, voice acting and the combat system and UI look to be as horrible as all of Biowares other games. Their only game with playable combat which is Mass Effect still did combat poorly. I just can’t take story seriously when you look at the characters and they have such stiff faces and animations.
Valve do story so well because they make the characters feel alive.
Speaking of Valve though did anyone see the new Left 4 Dead 2 trailer? Was really good… just wish’d they made a Single Player Left 4 Dead as epic as Half-Life cause I thought Left 4 Dead was so boring and just wanted a good story. Disappointed with L4D2 cause no gravity gun and tbh when I think of Source games I think of physics and I just wanna kill zombies and build forts with objects using my gravity gun.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:04 am
@Just Be
The floatiness is just to make using the jump easier (and more FUN) to use, the jump height has absolutely nothing to do with gravity, you even spend a great deal of the game on Earth in Halo 3. I knew I couldn’t mention Halo on a PC board like this without self-centered elitist dick-heads like you calling it down. There’s this thing called “taste,” and it’s different with everybody. I don’t like to insult people, but you’re one of the biggest jerks I’ve ever met, and you’re gonna have a real fucking hard time getting through life with an attitude like that. Get a fucking life.
October 24th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
No dedicated servers, no clan servers, no mods. These are the building blocks of the Call of Duty series. Greed is apparently over ruled common sense. “Them” picking with whom you play and on what server defeats the entrie principle of the online experience. If you want a console server restriction, then play on a console.
You will play here and you will like it. At least they say so….
Online gaming is essential a community. Without a community there is no game.
- {UNK}SayUNKLE
October 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I take IW/Activision actions as an attack on PC Gaming and intelligent gaming overall, and the attack is premeditated and I would say fraudulent due to the timing. The attack had to be planned for many months due to the coding involved, but they did not disclose anything to their loyal base of clans, squadrons and communities who use dedicated servers, mods, and play tournaments, matches etc. with the long list of CoD games. They allowed this loyal base to pre-order the game, spend money preparing dedicated servers etc etc, knowing that this move would destroy their type of PC Gaming.
I will no longer buy any games published or developed by these companies until they apologize for their organized attack on PC Gaming and the PC Gaming Community.
Regards,
October 24th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Speaking of Tower Defense game types:
The warcraft III map scene has every possible type of gameplay you can think of.
There was a group of maps that became popular precisely because it pit two teams of players against each other. You had to build defenses while also sending the units to break the other teams defenses. Meanwhile they sent units at you to break yours. It was quite fun. If oh so 2005-ish.
October 24th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Ah, I almost forgot…there is a multiplayer coop tower defense game called Iron Grip: Warlord
http://www.impulsedriven.com/irongripwarlord
It plays very much like a shooter, and you are able to purchase defenses (RTS style placement) and weapon upgrades for you character. It came out earlier this year, and runs on the Quake 2 engine, but still looks very nice IMO. There is a demo out for it. I’d say worth a try.
October 24th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Did I miss the part where they talked about Assasin’s Creed on sale for $5.00? I wonder how well that sale did…
October 25th, 2009 at 6:57 am
Well Halo is fucking shit.
- Patterned pre generated level design where all they did was copy and paste for the most of it. So you’re running through the same hall again and again.
- Levels lack detail it’s just like a few textures and nothingness, not even any easter eggs or anything kool to look at.
- 2/3 of the way through the game they make you backtrack through all the levels you’ve alreayd been through and it’s like WTF. So you give me this copied and pasted level design and do this shit?
- The story is like some kids sci-fi… really poor.
- The voice acting is poor and theres no characters you ever care about. I don’t understand why they made Master Chief not have a face so he’s meant to be you and then ruin it by giving him a voice.
- Also 2/3 of the way through they ruin the good AI and introduce the Flood which just ruined anything I found fun with the game.
- It didn’t have multiplayer
- The aliens were cartoony and sounded like some stupid alien teletubbie
The game sucked and the only reason why people liked it is cause the only thing the consoles had before that was Goldeneye and Red Faction.
October 25th, 2009 at 10:17 am
- Patterned level design appears in almost all covenant shps, halls, etc. Also, forerunner structures on the rings look similar. Is it not possible that each race has it’s own construction style? look at Human buildings in real life, many are VERY similar. Almost all high rise office buildings have the same layout, this is no different.
- I agree that the levels lack ambient objects, but remember the original Halo, which is the only Halo series game you seem to care about, was made when MANY games didn’t have ambient objects and details. Engines and hardware couldn’t support such detail as we have now.
- MANY games are like this, Devil May Cry 3/4 for instance, MANY games have you backtrack. It is a good way to artificially lengthen a game. Try playing any game that has more than 10 hours of solo gameplay and you will see similar level design. All dungeons in Oblivion look strikingly similar, this is because developers don’t have time to create 30 hours of unique landscapes and areas, besides, only so much information can be stored on a DVD or set of DVDs, and with digital distribution catching on noone wants to wait for a 20 or 30 gb download
- The story is indeed poor, but Halo isn’t about the story, very few shooters are. if you want story go play an RPG
- Voice acting is never as good as it should be. Sometimes they compress the sound badly, others, they don’t want to spend money on good voice acting. In Halo’s case the voice acting doesn’t add anything, bbut it also doesn’t take anything away. It’s not like you sit there saying “Cortana sounds so bad right now” no you just go on and do your next objective.
- The flood, while having no great AI, the covenant didn’t have much good AI either. Halo’s biggest weekend in my opinion is it’s AI engine. so if you’re going to complain about AI complain about ALL AI.
- It DID have multiplayer on PC where have you been? It had dedicated server support and there was eve a Custom edition that was able to accept user-generated maps, though it did not have an automated downloader. the CE was free with a activation key and disc for the original game.
- what do you want form aliens? the developer didn’t want them to be your stereotypical aliens and so they made them different. the Voice acting is wierd, but that’s because we, as humans, can’t do alien voices, besides, you don’t knwo what a real alien looks like, do you? If you do, SETI wants to speak with you.
Now, I don’t like Halo, but what I don’t like more is people who incessantly attack a subject, game, or platform, due to A) ignorance, B) general hate without knowing what they’re talking about, and C) unnecessary bias.
Now, since you’ve said you give up on PC gaming several times, go take your computer and smash it with a sledge hammer and don’t come to the internet again, we don’t need more people like you here.
October 25th, 2009 at 11:37 am
@Just Be
You jerk-off-iness is blowing my mind. Don’t you have something better to do than argue that your opinion and tastes are the only right ones in the whole internets? Maybe play some games you actually enjoy, instead of just complaining all the time?
October 25th, 2009 at 11:45 am
@Just Be
Edit: No multiplayer? Every Halo game EVER has had split screen co-op, LAN play with 16 players (in 2001!), editable gametypes, and starting with Halo 2, online multiplayer, and Halo 3, online co-op and editable maps and map rules.
Also: go kill yourself.
October 25th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
@ Just Be, What games do you like, out of interest?
Halo is a good game. It’s not a fantastic game but it is a good game. I agree that Xbox gamers probably give it a lot of praise because it was pretty much all they had in the FPS department, but they also liked it because it was a good game.
Anyway what’s wrong with the AI? I thought the covenant was actually quite realistic for the time. I personally enjoyed the story. And the Covenant are IMO actually quite well designed aliens, better than what most games do.
And stop going on about how you think Dragon Age looks like crap. The graphics aren’t fantastic, but very few RPGs are about the graphics. The animations aren’t actually that bad compared to, say, Fallout 3’s. What’s wrong with the voice acting? Lots of games have bad voice acting and (because you keep on bringing this game up) Half-Life 2 was the exception to that rule. The combat system looks like it’s going to be very similar to Baldur’s Gate, a game you said was the only decent Bioware game. Finally, I’ve been playing Dragon Age Journey’s which has the same interface as the full game is going to have and it’s really really good.
October 25th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Oh yeah, wasn’t Perimeter 2 kinda like a tower defense game mixed with an RTS?
October 25th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
@Ride “if you want story go play an RPG”
:(
October 25th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
What I’m trying to say there Prentice is that not all shooters have a fantastic story, how many shooters do you know that have a completely engrossing story? not that many. Halo’s story is decent, it gives a premise for what you’re doing and why, but it is a typical shooter style story. I said play an RPG for story because in general RPGs have better stories and are much more story driven. Sure there’s some shooters with good stories, I won’t deny it, but in general a shooter is more about the gameplay than the story, the story is just the track so developers can know what to make levels like and so players know what is going on.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:49 am
If you want to play a really cool tower defense game try out the one I made:
http://www.lostvectors.com/prelude/
:)
October 26th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Warning to those that want Borderlands, it’s a great game, but it desperately needs a patch on PC. The interface is terrible for a mouse and keyboard, and it feels like it was designed for a gamepad. There’s also the simple PC features like Toggling “Aim down the sight” that is missing among others.
Hopefully Gearbox makes good and releases a patch soon. Also, the multiplayer on PC is a mess. Game locks up constantly when searching for a game(guessing from too many people creating games). Lots of people seem to be having this problem.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Borderlands is sweet. Does feel like Halo with the shield and the jumping, but that doesn’t bug me because the guns are meaty.
October 27th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I agree about the interface. And an intro movie barrage that can’t be skipped? Gimme a break…
Something that I feared has also made its way into this game…no support for a 4-5 button mouse. This is getting ridiculous. Its bad enough there is no lean function (and this game could seriously use it), but its freakin’ 2009! I get it that this is a console-lead, but what the hell were those extra days for that they could not add that bit of functionality? Its something so small, yet frustrating, at least for me. I just think Gearbox should have known better.
Its still a fun game, which makes it all the more annoying.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I got about 15 minutes into Borderlands last night and I can already say I love the game and the art style. The one problem I have is the stroke on objects doesn’t scale at all, you can be far away from an NPC and it will look like they’re a stick figure with a tiny bit of color in his/her extra thick limbs.
I agree with the above posts, the toggle crouch and the non-toggle aim are really annoying, but I can get used to them. I do love the trailer’s claim of “83 gazillion” weapons, and so far it looks like that very well may be the case!
On a side note, it seems that the UI isn’t the only thing in need of a patch, many many people are having multiplayer troubles.
So far I love the feel of the shotgun I’m using, big beefy sound and everything, delicious
October 27th, 2009 at 11:52 am
The lack of lean in FPS is pissing me off too. As for the mouse, I assign the [ ] keys for my thumb buttons. I’m having a freeze when I first search for multiplayer games, but it sorts it’s self out. Besides that it connects 1 out of 3 tries and runs fast. The voice chat sucks because I don’t have an off switch on my mic.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Would love to hear from Gearbox on why they released the game like this on PC, especially after a week delay…the only thing I can think of is that they focused their attention on the PS3 version after all the trouble they had with it last week, pulling resources from the PC version. We were promised a proper PC interface and a decent version. We’re also missing several features promised.
Read this quote from Steve Gibson at Gearbox:
“Gearbox’s Steve Gibson made an official announcement to Destructoid and stated that Borderlands would be released for download on Steam. Gibson also mentioned that the desktop release would include several features that will definitely not be seen on home console versions. Weapons can be exported via item cards in .jpg format, so if players collect a weapon of mass awesomeness that no one in their circle of friends has, they’ll be able to share it with them. In addition to that interesting feature, Borderlands for the PC will come with special menu and inventory systems designed exclusively around the mouse input option. Another little extra is the addition of timedemo benchmark software, which is exclusive to the PC. Last, but certainly not least, if played on a high-end system, the PC version of Borderlands will show off the most impressive graphics of all three versions of the game”
…..so far, the Graphics are the only thing he kept his word on. Maybe PC Gamer can get one of these guys on here and answer to the community. Would be nice.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Also: oh my god, everyone go buy Torchlight.
http://www.torchlightgame.com/
October 28th, 2009 at 1:11 am
@Doczilla - the weapon cards can be exported as jpgs, so that’s at least two things. I agree, the interface leaves much to be desired, but it is very workable and doesn’t really interfere with the enjoyment of the game once you get used to it. Also, ironsights (I assume that’s what you mean by “aim down the sight”) isn’t exactly a definitive PC feature - lots of console games do that. It’s definitely a conscious decision to omit it here, probably to better differentiate scoped weapons as the most accurate.
@DarthNader - I had no trouble mapping my 5-button mouse (Sidewinder X8). I have melee mapped to Mouse-4, for example. All you have to do is go into the settings and change the keybinding, then click that mouse button.
As for lean, this is a run-and-gun shooter, so I can see why they didn’t include it. They don’t want you hiding behind cover the whole time, they want you out and about.
@KrazIIvan - Voice chat is kind of a PITA. It’s most annoying because you can’t turn it off (without going into the ini file, anyway) and I like to use Skype voice chat when we play with friends because it’s higher quality.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Personally, I don’t care about dedicated server support. I don’t have a problem with support for them being in there for them, but using a server browser as the primary means for multiplayer support needs to go the way of autoexec.bat and config.sys tweaking. They served a purpose for a time, but really, objectively, they are a pretty inefficient way for me to play an online game. For me, playing a game that uses a server browser usually goes something like this: install game, finish single player, load the server browser, sort by ping then players, click a server and get a server is full message, click another server and get booted, click a lower player server and wander around with 3 people for a bit, get bored and leave. If the point of dedicated servers is a community and map and settings control, that can be accomplished in other ways (friends lists, clan support, virtual lobbies on a master server) and using someone else’s resources. I helped run a CS1 server years ago, and it was fun at the time, but it was an expensive project and I think it limits the audience to people that grew up with PC Gaming and for whom a server browser makes sense. If we want to attract console gamers to come over (and I think we do to keep the hobby alive) we need to adopt some of the playability and usability progress that has happened on that side instead of fearing change.
Bottom line - when I play an online FPS, my goal is to get into a nearly full server with a few friends quickly and without a lot of time wasting, and I don’t think the dedicated server system is a good way to do that. The IW system may suck too, and the lack of information about it is probably what is causing a lot of the angst here, but if it is done well, a central server system reduces piracy (good for PC gamers), allows for difficulty matching, automatic updates, and lets me get to gaming faster and have more fun with my free time than any server browser system that I have used.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Borderlands stuff you might find useful:
If you want to host a game be sure to forward some ports (see known issue in the readme file):
http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?t=77897
To turn off the intro movies in Borderlands:
http://boards.ign.com/pc_general_board/b5027/186353202/p1/
Some helpful tweaks for Borderlands (e.g. how to disable the mic)
http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?t=79043
It took some magic and praying to get a hosted game to work. Games would time out initially until I messed with the ports in my router. If you’re trying to get into a pickup game online using the server browser you’ll most likely see a bunch of games listed with three empty spots… This is because any user can have their public game viewable in the browser list but unless they open the ports and allow borderlands to get through their firewall then anyone who tries to connect will time out. This is really unfortunate since the majority of people either don’t know how or don’t have permission to mess with their router port settings. The deal with the ports is a “known issue” in their readme file so hopefully there will be resolution in a future patch. Luckily you don’t need to mess with ports if you plan to just join games. Just look for games that say something like “Ports Open” in the title or have more than just one person in it.
It’s a really fun game if you can get a good group together. It feels a bit lonely and slow when on your own. It’s too bad that a game with such an emphasis on multiplayer has some very inconvenient multiplayer problems. I think it’s awesome they still have a LAN option though
October 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am
I remember a few other games that used Gamespy that had to have ports forwarded, Empire Earth was a common one (all 3 iterations)
Also, thank you for the links they are most helpful. Especially the modification to remove the intro movies.
I found a real nice grenade mod today, They’re called Transfusion grenades, when they explode they don’t do initial explosion damage, instead a bunch of white projectiles come out and home in on targets, when a projectile passes through a target it removes some of their health, then the projectile becomes a string of red crosses and homes in on the player, healing them. Essentially they’re life stealing grenades.
Also, on the issue of features promised but not delivered, you can take screenshots of guns ingame, right click the gun in your inventory, you will get a menu with “drop, take screenshot, and cancel” I haven’t messed with it yet, but it should work fine
October 28th, 2009 at 11:10 am
@Dan: Actually the first thing I did was go into the the key settings to use my buttons, but they weren’t being assigned. Out of curiosity, I checked some of my other games and the buttons didn’t work either (except for Crysis). After a few hours I got it working though. I had to uninstall my mouse drivers in Windows 7 (64-bit) and let it find the right ones. I have no control panel for my Razor Diamondback 3G, but I’m content to leave it as it is for now. In any case, thanks a lot for letting me know that it does have the support for it. After FEAR 2 and Wolfenstein, I was starting to get worried.
I’m not sure I agree with you on the leaning, however. I say that because there is a sniper class (at least a class path) and sniper weapons. Also, there are many area in the various levels designed specifically for cover. Not just for the enemy, but you as well. They also have the crouch function as a toggle instead of as a key press (I haven’t seen any option to change that), which I think goes against the “run and gun” style a bit. If this was a design choice, I think its an odd one to at least not have the option, unless it made things too easy.
Still, part of me feels that it was because they couldn’t get those functions on the gamepad to work in a convenient way for gameplay.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Ugh, stupid edit limit…
@Evan: I’m really finding the Torchlight demo to be a nice surprise. I didn’t care much for Mythos when it was in beta (although I liked Hellgate: London a lot, and they shared much in common in certain mechanics) and wasn’t expecting to like this much more but I will definitely be picking it up. I hope these guys really do well after the whole thing with Flagship.
With games like League of Legends, the former Titan Quest devs working on a new title, and others out there, I was wondering what you guys think about more of these veteran developers forming studios to create PC games that are not huge budget spectacles. It might be too much to hope for, but I know I’d like to see games from these guys become the norm on the PC, as well as get much more coverage (nudge, nudge). I also hope this is where the PC finds it footing in a gaming environment that is becoming evermore console-focused when it comes to the AAA category.
October 28th, 2009 at 11:54 am
@Ride
“Throw a Tranny grenade!”
“A WHAT?!”
October 28th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
@Ride
No, I know, it just makes me sad.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Now… if only if only there were a push to talk function in Borderlands… Or, better yet, a way to have a push to talk key set up in Windows so that if a game doesn’t have it you can set it up that way… I can see people using services like Skype or GSC or Vent with Borderlands more now that someone figured out the tweak to turn off mics.
I think I may stick to solo more than attempting coop on Borderlands for now because of the multiplayer issues. Let’s all hope for a patch!
Apparently L4D2 demo early access starts today, but I haven’t gotten it preloaded yet.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
To anyone that remembers the old FMV game, Star Trek: Klingon
http://www.youtube.com/user/UnanimousDelivers#p/a
You can actually play the game on Youtube! I Can’t believe PC Gamer gave this a low score back in the day
October 29th, 2009 at 8:50 am
just picked up borderlands cant wait to frigin play it!
on another note does anyone know of anymore demolition games like this (flash or not)
http://www.flashninjaclan.com/zzz4215_Demolition_City_2.php
October 29th, 2009 at 9:12 am
@Evan Re: Torchlight
Nice recommendation Evan!
When I first read about this game in preview in PC Gamer I was excited but a bit skeptical. It looked appealing in the screenshots and I love the Diablo Action-RPG formula with all the loot and dynamically generated terrain, but as a $20 game I was afraid the developers would cut corners. I was pleasantly surprised.
Torchlight is a nice Diablo III appetizer. The type of appetizer you might order as a full meal
The game is surprisingly addictive. I felt like I was playing an HD version of Diablo II with some cool new gameplay mechanics and a WC3/WoW art style. The effects of the spells look beautiful - Vanquisher electro bombs ftw!
The controls are straightforward and the interface improves upon its predecessors. I love the pet and the ability to have him run home and sell excess loot while you continue to fight.
I only have some minor gripes. There were some instances when the ally NPCs had trouble with path finding, and I often felt too powerful never having to heal even though I was on Normal difficulty. Luckily there are Hard and Hardcore difficulty settings.
There’s a free demo for Torchlight on Steam so go get it right now!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:59 am
um i’ve been out of the loop for a while so these questions may seem dumb to you but anyway i recently picked up an issue of pc gamer mag at the store and like no one i know is in there anymore and i dont see pcg dan its only dan, can someone tell me whats going on