Have you ever done a LAN party? It is not as common as it used to be, for a few reasons: computer games are not as popular as they once were, most multiplayer games are played online and well, as we get older and move further away it is harder to get together with our computers.
To celebrate the release of StarCraft 2, myself and seven other people got together in a well organized basement to play StarCraft 2. Of course, we had to log onto Battle.Net and we were, in fact, playing over the Internet. But speaking over a microphone or typing a few lines of text are definitely not the same as a shared experience. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who were present. That was one of the most fun weekends I've had in a very long time. I have also learnt a lot about the game, knowledge that will come in handy as we continue playing together on a regular basis.
Most importantly, an immense thank you to Corsaire for organizing everything (the lodging, the basement, the tech support, the food, etc.).
I hope we get to do this again sooner rather than later because it was, EPIC!
Jeff, signing out and logging on Battle.net!
Showing posts with label Starcraft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Starcraft. Show all posts
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
So Silent Hill 2...
So yesterday, Chris showed me Silent Hill 2, from start to finish. It was an interesting experience, watching a game be played, a classic at that. Aside from the small glitches due to the 360 emulation, I found the game interesting.
Now, gameplay and design wise, the game is definitely showing its age. Fetch quests in gorgeous environments are one thing, in bland buildings with glitchy textures, not so much. However, I do not believe this is what this game is about. If there was a game to which we can apply the onion analogy, this is it. Silent Hill 2 is meticulously crafted. The characters are there for a reason, the enemies look the way they do because of who the main character is, the places you explore are significant and the atmosphere still oozes out of your screen.
I am fairly certain that the game would stand on its own, even if it wasn't part of a famous series. On the other hand, I'm glad I was not playing but simply watching. I do not think I would have finished the game, it's pace is too slow for what I like to play now. Although... I think I would get a blast trying to go after the UFO ending.
This experience was very interesting, seeing someone's favourite game being played from start to finish with running commentary to boot. I'm hoping we can turn this look at the other's favourite games into a monthly feature or something.
On to another 2, StarCraft. I'm loving it so far. We are having a "LAN" party this Saturday and I get that feeling that it will be, wait for it, legendary (I'm also watching How I Met your Mother again). Sunday's post will most likely be about
SC2.
If you are wondering what is happening with Episode 2, our podcast will return near the end of August / beginning of September.
Until next post, this is Jeff, saying good game.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Now, gameplay and design wise, the game is definitely showing its age. Fetch quests in gorgeous environments are one thing, in bland buildings with glitchy textures, not so much. However, I do not believe this is what this game is about. If there was a game to which we can apply the onion analogy, this is it. Silent Hill 2 is meticulously crafted. The characters are there for a reason, the enemies look the way they do because of who the main character is, the places you explore are significant and the atmosphere still oozes out of your screen.
I am fairly certain that the game would stand on its own, even if it wasn't part of a famous series. On the other hand, I'm glad I was not playing but simply watching. I do not think I would have finished the game, it's pace is too slow for what I like to play now. Although... I think I would get a blast trying to go after the UFO ending.
This experience was very interesting, seeing someone's favourite game being played from start to finish with running commentary to boot. I'm hoping we can turn this look at the other's favourite games into a monthly feature or something.
On to another 2, StarCraft. I'm loving it so far. We are having a "LAN" party this Saturday and I get that feeling that it will be, wait for it, legendary (I'm also watching How I Met your Mother again). Sunday's post will most likely be about
SC2.
If you are wondering what is happening with Episode 2, our podcast will return near the end of August / beginning of September.
Until next post, this is Jeff, saying good game.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Metal Head filled with Sick
Getting sick is never fun. You take time off work, you lie down for long periods of time, sleep in, play some games... alright, getting sick isn't all bad. Coming down with a fever and sweating from head to toe, THAT is bad.
Heavy MTL was really fun. At first, what with that surprise bill popping up (discussed in a previous post) I wasn't even planning on going anymore, but the room mate decided to buy me a ticket for the Sunday show.
For those who aren't in Montreal (or hate metal music), Heavy MTL is an outdoor concert designed around rock music, usually in the heavier variety. The first concert was in 2008, and it was going to become a yearly thing, however 2009 already saw a lot of metal acts perform in Montreal (or near it, although if any band plays Canada, and they hit Toronto, they usually hit us too), so they pushed it to this year promising that it would be bigger and badder than ever.
Now, I've always been told that religion and politics are two things you should never bring up in conversation, because someone will always get pissed off that you don't share their opinion. Music is starting to be the third leg in the tripod, so to speak. However, this is the internet, a land where fact and opinion get rearranged faster than a guy and a girl in a chick flick. Suffice it to say, without pulling out the trusty Soapbox, I enjoyed myself thoroughly at the concert. Seeing Rob Zombie live twice within 7 months didn't dim the performance, KoRn played a lot of their older stuff so I wasn't upset seeing them either. Lamb of God played well, I only ever heard one of their tracks (Laid to Rest), and that was thanks to a video game (Guitar Hero 2, before Activision milked the franchise to stagnation) and always wanted to hear more. They didn't disappoint.
Considering this was a metal concert, it stands to reason that my throat would be completely destroyed by the end of it, and that my neck would be hanging on a thread. Sadly, I didn't really feel anything until two days later, while I was at work. The day that Starcraft 2 came out.
So there I was, heading home early because I felt completely wiped, and I couldn't even play the game that was (arguably) twelve years in the making. Instead, I had to wait until the next day, where I called in sick because I couldn't talk, and could barely move.
A quick side note before I talk about SC2: How the hell did they expect me to "call" in sick when I couldn't talk? The strangeness of things.
Anyways, so I jump into a little campaign, and the first thing I notice is "wow... my PC can actually run this thing!" Unfortunately, with my huge gaming collection (805 games and counting), as noted earlier this month, I rarely get a chance to play and beat my games before new ones come out. While I am taking steps to rectify that (IE I'm not buying any new games until they are cheaper or until I beat ones I already have) that still leaves me with the original Starcraft and Brood War expansion unbeaten on the backlog.
Thank God for collectors editions coming with their older game counterparts. SC2 CE came with a USB stick that had the original games on it, so I installed them and started playing them again. I'm up to Mission 6 on the Terran campaign in the original, and even now, the game holds up really well.
As far as SC 2, I've played a few multiplayer matches with my Room Mate (she picked up a regular edition for herself), and ... well, we get crushed pretty fast by the CPU.... set on Easy. Le Triste. I need to practice building faster, and getting a strong defense up. Hopefully, with us playing a few games a night, I'll get into it a lot more than online on the first game. But that's another issue for another day.
The campaign I haven't touched much, since I haven't beat the first games yet. I am upset to see that the Medic unit isn't available for online yet, but I'm sure a patch will fix that... or their holding off on making all units available until each races campaign comes out. >_>.
I will say this: It seems pretty Activisiony that Starcraft 2 is being released in 3 installments, but to be fair, the way this campaign is (26 missions long, with 3 choices in game that affects which mission you end up doing for a total of 29 missions to do), I can see why you need it in separate games, rather than all in one. Still, I'd rather it all in one. What, I'm a greedy person who wants all his game in one shot, sue me!
Well, that about wraps up another exciting edition of me typing for too long, I'm Chris Taylor wishing everyone a pleasant Gammage.
Heavy MTL was really fun. At first, what with that surprise bill popping up (discussed in a previous post) I wasn't even planning on going anymore, but the room mate decided to buy me a ticket for the Sunday show.
For those who aren't in Montreal (or hate metal music), Heavy MTL is an outdoor concert designed around rock music, usually in the heavier variety. The first concert was in 2008, and it was going to become a yearly thing, however 2009 already saw a lot of metal acts perform in Montreal (or near it, although if any band plays Canada, and they hit Toronto, they usually hit us too), so they pushed it to this year promising that it would be bigger and badder than ever.
Now, I've always been told that religion and politics are two things you should never bring up in conversation, because someone will always get pissed off that you don't share their opinion. Music is starting to be the third leg in the tripod, so to speak. However, this is the internet, a land where fact and opinion get rearranged faster than a guy and a girl in a chick flick. Suffice it to say, without pulling out the trusty Soapbox, I enjoyed myself thoroughly at the concert. Seeing Rob Zombie live twice within 7 months didn't dim the performance, KoRn played a lot of their older stuff so I wasn't upset seeing them either. Lamb of God played well, I only ever heard one of their tracks (Laid to Rest), and that was thanks to a video game (Guitar Hero 2, before Activision milked the franchise to stagnation) and always wanted to hear more. They didn't disappoint.
Considering this was a metal concert, it stands to reason that my throat would be completely destroyed by the end of it, and that my neck would be hanging on a thread. Sadly, I didn't really feel anything until two days later, while I was at work. The day that Starcraft 2 came out.
So there I was, heading home early because I felt completely wiped, and I couldn't even play the game that was (arguably) twelve years in the making. Instead, I had to wait until the next day, where I called in sick because I couldn't talk, and could barely move.
A quick side note before I talk about SC2: How the hell did they expect me to "call" in sick when I couldn't talk? The strangeness of things.
Anyways, so I jump into a little campaign, and the first thing I notice is "wow... my PC can actually run this thing!" Unfortunately, with my huge gaming collection (805 games and counting), as noted earlier this month, I rarely get a chance to play and beat my games before new ones come out. While I am taking steps to rectify that (IE I'm not buying any new games until they are cheaper or until I beat ones I already have) that still leaves me with the original Starcraft and Brood War expansion unbeaten on the backlog.
Thank God for collectors editions coming with their older game counterparts. SC2 CE came with a USB stick that had the original games on it, so I installed them and started playing them again. I'm up to Mission 6 on the Terran campaign in the original, and even now, the game holds up really well.
As far as SC 2, I've played a few multiplayer matches with my Room Mate (she picked up a regular edition for herself), and ... well, we get crushed pretty fast by the CPU.... set on Easy. Le Triste. I need to practice building faster, and getting a strong defense up. Hopefully, with us playing a few games a night, I'll get into it a lot more than online on the first game. But that's another issue for another day.
The campaign I haven't touched much, since I haven't beat the first games yet. I am upset to see that the Medic unit isn't available for online yet, but I'm sure a patch will fix that... or their holding off on making all units available until each races campaign comes out. >_>.
I will say this: It seems pretty Activisiony that Starcraft 2 is being released in 3 installments, but to be fair, the way this campaign is (26 missions long, with 3 choices in game that affects which mission you end up doing for a total of 29 missions to do), I can see why you need it in separate games, rather than all in one. Still, I'd rather it all in one. What, I'm a greedy person who wants all his game in one shot, sue me!
Well, that about wraps up another exciting edition of me typing for too long, I'm Chris Taylor wishing everyone a pleasant Gammage.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Need a Light?
Sorry for the late post, Ladies and Gents, but I came down with a fever last night, and I was so delirious that I was talking to people I didn't know, while in a dream that wasn't a dream. So, with that in mind, this post may be a little more ramble-y than usual.
Now, on a much more positive note, Starcraft 2 seems to run just fine on my PC. Just fine of course just means that I tried it for all of 2 minutes during the combat tutorial, but the point still stands. No chugging, no lag, nothing. Will probably play more tonight, if I can actually concentrate on one thing long enough to play.
Not only did I pick up Starcraft 2, but it was the Collector's Edition. From now on, I'm only picking up CE's of games if they are worth it, and this one is totally worth it. Massive hardcover artbook, soundtrack, it even comes with the original game on a USB stick. I just bought three games in one package, now that is a deal if I do say so myself.
Lastly, for those that don't care about Strategy games, Blazblue: Continuum Shift was also released yesterday... or at least, it should have been. Chances are, if you live in Quebec (or even elsewhere in Canada for that matter) you're going to have to wait a little while before getting yourself a copy.
That's all from me, now I'm off to bed again... or maybe some Starcraft >_>.
Now, on a much more positive note, Starcraft 2 seems to run just fine on my PC. Just fine of course just means that I tried it for all of 2 minutes during the combat tutorial, but the point still stands. No chugging, no lag, nothing. Will probably play more tonight, if I can actually concentrate on one thing long enough to play.
Not only did I pick up Starcraft 2, but it was the Collector's Edition. From now on, I'm only picking up CE's of games if they are worth it, and this one is totally worth it. Massive hardcover artbook, soundtrack, it even comes with the original game on a USB stick. I just bought three games in one package, now that is a deal if I do say so myself.
Lastly, for those that don't care about Strategy games, Blazblue: Continuum Shift was also released yesterday... or at least, it should have been. Chances are, if you live in Quebec (or even elsewhere in Canada for that matter) you're going to have to wait a little while before getting yourself a copy.
That's all from me, now I'm off to bed again... or maybe some Starcraft >_>.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Why I care about StarCraft
What is StarCraft, beyond the game? I am not talking about the licensed merchandise, the books, the boardgame and other such things; I am talking about when you played the game. Was it late at night in a LAN party? Were you a crack player on Battle.net? Were you simply into the narrative and single player experience?
For me, StarCraft was like many blockbuster games, an impulse buy. If memory serves right, I picked up the Protoss box. I nerve finished the single player campaign nor did I play much of the multiplayer. In fact, one could say that this game was not a significant one for me. I recall saying at some point that I preferred the look of Red Alert (I was a foolish young man once :) ).
So why am I so excited about StarCraft 2? "Friends" is without a doubt the answer. Friends who now live far away, friends I cannot see as often as I'd like, friends with whom gaming is always a blast. Sure, the single player campaign sounds fantastic, the game fascinating, the story exciting, the extra pet for World of Warcraft... But what it all comes down to is having a regular gaming night, with friends I've shared so many things with...
This entry is for you guys, let's hunt some Zergs!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
For me, StarCraft was like many blockbuster games, an impulse buy. If memory serves right, I picked up the Protoss box. I nerve finished the single player campaign nor did I play much of the multiplayer. In fact, one could say that this game was not a significant one for me. I recall saying at some point that I preferred the look of Red Alert (I was a foolish young man once :) ).
So why am I so excited about StarCraft 2? "Friends" is without a doubt the answer. Friends who now live far away, friends I cannot see as often as I'd like, friends with whom gaming is always a blast. Sure, the single player campaign sounds fantastic, the game fascinating, the story exciting, the extra pet for World of Warcraft... But what it all comes down to is having a regular gaming night, with friends I've shared so many things with...
This entry is for you guys, let's hunt some Zergs!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Weekend-er
Huzzah folks. Sorry for the downers of the last two of my posts, it was just something I felt needed to be said.
This week has been pretty non-game related on my end of things. Me and the Room Mate started playing Warriors Orochi a couple of days ago, it's pretty much your standard Dynasty Warriors fare, with a little bit of Samurai Warriors thrown in because lets face it, you need 77 different characters in a game like this. There really isn't much of a storyline, so much as there is an excuse for a bunch of characters with funny looking weapons (case in point, one guy uses his own, elongated nails) to beat the crap out of each other, and their similar looking army's.
Aside from that, Loco Roco 2 has been in my PSP. Think Katamari, but side-scrolling. You control a little yellow dude, and he gets bigger the more things he eats. You use the shoulder buttons to move the world, so that the yellow dude can follow along the route set out for you. Sometimes you need to squish through a tiny little hole, so at the push of a button you go from big yellow dude, to several smaller yellow dudes. Haven't gotten that far, (actually, only did one level) but it seems fun and I can't wait to play more.
As far as what I've been doing outside of gaming; Work has decided to give me more responsibility. Instead of having a small section, I will now be in charge of about half the store... well, in terms of inventory and stock stuff. I won't be management again, I flat out refuse. It's just not in my DNA.
I've also been reading again. I'm up to book 7 of the Harry Potter series, the only book so far that I haven't read yet. Seems good so far, but it also seems to drag a bit. Still in the first hundred pages or so, we'll see what's what when I'm done.
Lastly, Pokemon Cards. I've been reorganizing that all afternoon. I've got a metric ton of cards, so sorting them out has not been a picnic.
Starcraft 2 is out this week, as is Blazblue 2. I'll be picking up SC on payday, but Blazblue will have to wait until it becomes cheap. Until next time, I'm Chris Taylor, wishing a pleasant Gammage to all.
This week has been pretty non-game related on my end of things. Me and the Room Mate started playing Warriors Orochi a couple of days ago, it's pretty much your standard Dynasty Warriors fare, with a little bit of Samurai Warriors thrown in because lets face it, you need 77 different characters in a game like this. There really isn't much of a storyline, so much as there is an excuse for a bunch of characters with funny looking weapons (case in point, one guy uses his own, elongated nails) to beat the crap out of each other, and their similar looking army's.
Aside from that, Loco Roco 2 has been in my PSP. Think Katamari, but side-scrolling. You control a little yellow dude, and he gets bigger the more things he eats. You use the shoulder buttons to move the world, so that the yellow dude can follow along the route set out for you. Sometimes you need to squish through a tiny little hole, so at the push of a button you go from big yellow dude, to several smaller yellow dudes. Haven't gotten that far, (actually, only did one level) but it seems fun and I can't wait to play more.
As far as what I've been doing outside of gaming; Work has decided to give me more responsibility. Instead of having a small section, I will now be in charge of about half the store... well, in terms of inventory and stock stuff. I won't be management again, I flat out refuse. It's just not in my DNA.
I've also been reading again. I'm up to book 7 of the Harry Potter series, the only book so far that I haven't read yet. Seems good so far, but it also seems to drag a bit. Still in the first hundred pages or so, we'll see what's what when I'm done.
Lastly, Pokemon Cards. I've been reorganizing that all afternoon. I've got a metric ton of cards, so sorting them out has not been a picnic.
Starcraft 2 is out this week, as is Blazblue 2. I'll be picking up SC on payday, but Blazblue will have to wait until it becomes cheap. Until next time, I'm Chris Taylor, wishing a pleasant Gammage to all.
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