On Thursday, April 1, Sony will be releasing their 3.21 Firmware update.  It has been stated by Sony that the update will remove the ability of those who download it to install 3^rd Party operating systems on the console.  This will completely end the ability for owners to add Linux operating systems.  It is possible to avoid this end in functionality by choosing not to download the update, but in doing so PS3 owners will not be able to sign into sign into the Playstation Network.  They will also be unable to play Blue-Ray films or games that require the new version of Firmware, and copyrighted material from media servers will lose playback capabilities.

Spirit Competency: We all loved Soul Calibur. This is even better! In this rigid yet frugal fighting game, you test your wits again a horde of ornery opponents destined to…die. The game is so far very easy, and changing the difficulty modes only makes the announcer say the difficulty at the main menu. The announcer who by the way sounds like a homeless dude, but I’m sure they used a quality cast. Now to think of it, I think everyone in this game is the same as the announcer. Even the women. It’s probably nothing.

The game features a large cast of characters, but all must be unlocked. This is a bit of a hassle as the Sega Ultimate Communications Component System (S.U.C.C.S.) costs $5 per megabyte. They decided to forgo the need for a pay system for content, but ask that you cover the server costs. Unfortunately each character is four megabytes so…

Shamu: Yu Suzuki retired, killing off any chances for a Shenmue III. However, that didn’t stop Sega from getting a bunch of college students who slightly remember the original from doing a reboot of the franchise. In Shamu, you actually play as Shamu. I don’t know how they planned to explain the plot. They make several references to your character needing to return to Sea World, but he’s Hellbent on avenging his father’s murder.

The controls are pretty good actually. The game play is engaging, and even more responsive than the original. It’s a fun game, but don’t expect much exploration. You must return home after about fifteen yards of traveling or you will dry up in the sun. Even when it rains and you can travel further at your leisure, some areas are closed off due to Shamu not being able to fit inside buildings. We weren’t able to progress far, but it did strike a pretty big impression of us.

LESS GRANDIA II: I’m not sure if this was a reboot, a sequel or maybe a prequel? But it’s like everything we expect from a JRPG but worse. Despite nearly missing launch for heavy localization, the game is entirely in Japanese. The gameplay involves you leading your party through what we guess are a subnet of caves. We aren’t sure about the story, or even the controls. The graphics are a bit lackluster. Definitely the weakest of the launch line up.

UPDATE: We received word from Sega that the entire batch of LESS GRANDIA II US copies were mistakenly shipped with BETA code from Grandia 3. There’s no word on a replacement policy or refund at this time.

So that was the Dreamcast 2 launch! How will you remember it? I’m looking forward to the titles that didn’t quite make launch like Sonic: Fast Food Adventure and PolygonalGuy. Thank you 9/9/09! Today was better than Christmas!

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Thumbnail Art from AgentScarlet

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Death!

Look into its hideous eye and tell it that it doesn't exist!

Fifty-four percent! And I tell ye that the number is too low! The horseman of death rides his steed into your room and breathes his foul breath onto the soul of your console while you sleep. Your only retribution lies in the justice of a fuzzy towel with which cuddle your dying friend as you attempt to bring warmth back into its frozen heart. Nay, for thou can cast blame upon the messenger Microsoft in pure haste, but the true beast lies far below your feet. The devil’s hands are busy, and your cries of woe beckon his dark designs!

Conquest!

In haste for the quickest deal, Sony has sold your soul to the devil!

Be warned you sinner, for even though you bid your time for magic price of $299, you may miss out on the real treasures the Playstation 3 has to offer. In their sole conquest for winning the console war, Sony has saw fit to remove the added value that was the backwards compatibility. No more can one buy an older title on the cheap and reap the wisdom bestowed by timeless lessons of heroism and bravery. Whilst Jak and Daxter be cast aside for Tools of Destruction, the devil aims his sights not on your SIXAXIS, but your soul!

War!

Blinded by their chipset feud, the devil through his tools has supplanted all!

PC gamers! Your time grows short! For in Nvidia, AMD and Intel’s never ending battle for hardware dominance, an old foe has taken rise amidst the  chaos. No longer confined to mere blue screen, but a popup! A signal of dread! Terror grips at one’s chest as what was once a behemoth ice spewing alien turns into a more ominous error code. Not a foe built of pixels but of pure vile. When there is no more room on your hard drive, the dead shall walk the earth! In a Valve game no less!

Famine!

March into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights and you'll find more to play.

Nintendo fans! Beware! Seven years of bad games to be followed by seven days of good! The promise of classic remakes born anew dances in front of you, prompting you to snatch at them. But beware, dancing in front of you is not a promise but a hook. Its intent to reel you into absurdity, turning you into that babbling Wii fan who swears Nintendo does everything with his well being in mind! Do not pity him friends, for he is long gone.

]]> http://www.couchcampus.com/studies/horsemen-of-the-gaming-apocalypse/feed/ 5 http://www.couchcampus.com/studies/off-topic/call-of-the-crusade-wow-patch-3-2/ http://www.couchcampus.com/studies/off-topic/call-of-the-crusade-wow-patch-3-2/#comments Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:12:59 +0000 Axel http://couchcampus.com/blog/?p=1474 From the War Journal of Elvon, Blood Elf Paladin

Bal’a dash, malanore!

The Drums of war thunder once again. My Fellow heroes and I must travel to the distant land of Nothrend and gather our forces in Icecrown. Before we can battle against the Litch King and his Scourge army we must answer the Call Of The Crusade. The Argent Crusade is beginning to mount their offensive strike against our common enemy Arthas.

First we must prove ourselves in the Argent Tournament, our comrades in the crusade have captured the greatest foes of Azeroth and thrown them into the newly built Colosseum, they call the Trial of the Champion. I have been called to the great Colosseum and fight on my noble steed to prove my worth before Warchief Thrall and the leaders of the Horde, May the light give me strength when our strike against Arthas comes to fruition, so that I may hold my own in battle. In the Trials of the Champion I have fought many foes, Sentinels from Darnassus, Dwarfs from Ironforge, Guards from Stormwind, and those retched Gnomes. Nothing brings more pride to my heart than to hear my fellow Blood Elves cheering for me in the Colosseum. GLORY TO THE SIN DOREI’!!!

In my travels I have noticed a few changes in the land. In my recent battles in Wintergrasp, I have noticed that my Horde brethren have joined all of our 40 man squads into one big war effort. Our victories over the cowardly Alliance have been swift and ruthless. The Explorers of Azeroth have discovered a new Island rich with strategic value and full of resources, they call it the Isle of Conquest, Our Dalaran hosts have added a gateway portal to the island to guarantee safe travel. This God forsaken Island has 40 Horde and 40 Alliance battling each other with Goblin machinery in hopes that this new stronghold will be our saving grace for our final battle. It seems that even in our time of great peril the stubborn forces of the Alliance cant seem to see the importance of letting the battle hardened Horde control that land undisputed.

My Tauren Comrades have changed the way they look in their, hmmmm dare I say it primitive Cat and Bear forms. A glorious Blood Elf like my self wont be caught dead as one of those flea bitten beasts! But I must say they really bring out the Tauren pride with their beast forms. Those good for nothing Night Elves have also gone the way of the Tauren and freshened up their beast forms.

In what I’ve experienced my good old flying mount has finally stretched its wings and can now fly faster, by my calculations I say that he can fly up to 150% faster than my running speed rather than the 60% from before.  The Brown skin Orcs from thralmar have sent me a letter letting me know that he will train me in the Artisan riding skill for 5000 gold. Since I am at exalted standings with them I hope they can give me a discount.

In all my travels and battles I have learned a lot of myself and my people. I must excuse myself for I am being summoned to the Isle of Conquest.  Selama ashal’anore!!!

Shorel’aran!

Game - Aurora Feint: The Beginning
Overview - Call it a mix between Puzzle Quest and Planet Puzzle League with a unique iPhone twist. Create a character and travel the map completing puzzles using the touch screen; if you get in a bind you can always turn your phone to have the blocks slide in a different direction.
Pros - Great graphics, fun game play, free.
Cons - No multiplayer (future versions will as it’s being developed as an mmo), sometimes the controls are iffy.
Grade - A-
Price - Free!
Worth it? Absolutely!

Game - Black Jack (3-Hand)
Overview - There are 10 Black Jack games for the iPhone, while there are a few available for free, I chose the cheapest that featured the most hands. The controls are completely touch based and simulate real 21 by allowing you to tap or slide depending on if you want to hit or stand.
Pros - Easy to use controls, allows you to play up to three hands or substitute for AI, good graphics
Cons - Other versions available for free.
Grade - B-
Price - $4
Worth it? If you like multiple hand black jack, if not a free alternative will do.

Game - Chopper
Overview - A side scroller where you control a helicopter tasked with picking up civilians and blowing up baddies. Use the accelerometer to control where you go, and on screen buttons to fire weapons.
Pros - Great movement controls, okay graphics, fun and addicting.
Cons - Wopen controls are awkward, the game was designed as more of an arcade game so it is abnormally hard and you must start from the beginning when you die.
Grade - A
Price - $8
Worth it? I’d say it’s one of the best games on the iPhone.

Game - Dizzy Bee
Overview - Move your iPhone around to control your character through a puzzle trying to collect flowers and avoid bad guys, did I mention your movement controls them too?
Pros - Awesome graphics, smooth controls, tons of levels, very innovative use of platform.
Cons - Sometimes I feel like an ass frantically twisting my phone around in public.
Grade - A+
Price - $3
Worth it? Best use of $3 you’ll ever spend.

Game - Labryinth
Overview - The classic get the ball in the right hole while avoiding the other holes game. Tilt your iPhone to control the ball.
Pros - Demo version available, controls are good for what it is.
Cons - The graphics are plain, it’s painfully hard, and the games menu doesn’t switch when your phone is on it’s side (which is how the game itself it supposed to be played)
Grade - D-
Price - Free demo, $7 for full game.
Worth it? Try the game out for free, if you like it, your either a surgeon or a serial killer.

Game - MotionX Poker Dice
Overview - A Yahtzee type dice game, shake your iPhone to roll the dice, select which ones to hold and roll again. After three rolls if your dice are a higher poker hand than the dealer (the dice either say 9, 10, J, Q, K, or A there are no suits) then you win coins. There are unlockable tables, dice, and achievements.
Pros - Great graphics, plenty of things to unlock, fluent controls, easy to play.
Cons - Only one game mode can get boring after a while, it boils down to luck, no multiplayer
Grade - B+
Price - $5
Worth it? If your looking for something simple to play, and you like these types of games.

Game - Othello
Overview - The classic game on the iPhone! The controls are all touch.
Pros - None.
Cons - To many to list, there isn’t even multiplayer.
Grade - F
Price - Free
Worth it? Not even a little.

Game - Paper Football
Overview - Have you every thought to yourself, man I wish I could play paper football on your phone? Me either.
Pros - Has multiplayer, touch controls are cool.
Cons - No real challenge, marginal graphics, repetitive.
Grade - D+
Price - $5
Worth it? There are better ways to spend your money.

Game - Super Monkey Ball
Overview - Use the accelerometer to get to the end of the level.
Pros - There are monkeys, they are in balls… 2d balls
Cons - Only allows you to save every 10 levels if you ever get that far, the difficulty shoots from baby easy to insane of the course of 3 levels, the controls are way to sensitive
Grade - F+
Price - $10
Worth it? For being so hyped, I’d say stay away.

Game - Tap Tap Revenge
Overview - As music plays hit the falling notes to gain points, uses touch controls.
Pros - Multiplayer, fun, challenging but not too hard, like Gutair Hero or Rock Band, intresting use of online content in a game.
Cons - Not a large selection of music, you can’t use the songs on your iPod
Grade - B
Price - Free.
Worth it? Worth a try, but needs more content.

Game - Texas Hold’em
Overview - The one and only game released by Apple features a wide range of features and sets the standard for games on the platform.
Pros - Great graphics, easy to use touch controls, multiplayer, plenty of modes, really fun.
Cons - First person mode is useless, multiplayer is only available for people on the same network.
Grade - A+
Price - $5
Worth it? If you like Texas Hold’em, this is your best bet.

Game - Zen Pinball: Rollercoaster
Overview - From the makers of  Pinball FX, the pinball game on XBLA, it’s basically the same thing.
Pros - Good graphics, fun, solid pinball game.
Cons - Suffers from frame rate issues, controls are awkward at times, only one table.
Grade - B
Price - $5
Worth it? If you liked the game on XBLA or need a pinball fix on the go then yes, but there’s nothing here to convince you otherwise.

Game - 300 Bowling
Overview - A basic bowling game, the controls allow you to slide your finger across the screen.
Pros - Easy to use controls, has multiplayer
Cons - Even with the difficulty all the way up I find it too easy, getting strikes seem random
Grade - B-
Price - $4
Worth it? As a fan of the game on other mobile platforms, I enjoy it. But there are definitely better games available.