Diablo III On PS4: Sizzling Indeed (And Has Some PC Fans Hot Under The Collar)…

Posted on November 8, 2013 by geelw

Hey, as a longtime fan of games and someone who appreciates a job very well done, I’m one of those smart folks who absolutely loves what Blizzard has done with their baby on consoles. As I keep saying, the main purpose of ANY port from PC to console isn’t to piss off those with computers at all, children. It’s to broaden the user base for that formerly “exclusive” game you who buy or build those big beefy gaming rigs thought you’d have all to yourselves. That AND these “ports” are here to make the developers and publishers some additional money when they DO succeed in delivering the goods. I say Blizzard deserves every damn penny because once you try it out with an open mind, you’ll be surprised at… How. Well. It. Works. Me, I’d rather give Blizzard (and any other developers who do it up right for gamers) money and keep them cranking out hits for as many platforms as possible if and when they please… Continue reading →

Need For Speed Rivals Gameplay: PS4 Versus Xbox One, Round 1…

Posted on November 8, 2013 by geelw

SO, it seems that resolution is the BIG thing for many gamers and journalists out there rolling around on the ground fighting with each other and it seems that the PS4 has an advantage on SOME titles over the Xbox One, which is the reverse of how it was on many third party titles throughout this past generation. While those folks fight it out in clouds of dust and misspelled diatribes, I’ll just post these two trailers from Criterion’s upcoming racer and let you decide which looks best. The BEST way to see these videos is at their highest resolution (1080p), so hopefully you know how to do that with YouTube videos.

Anyway, Here’s the PlayStation 4 version below:

Annnnd below, here’s Rivals on the Xbox One. Oh wait, look at your HAIR! Ha! Next time close the window and fasten that seat belt. Sorry, I forgot to warn you we were going to go FAST. Anyway, ready? Good:

Did you notice anything different? Do you even care? Are you wearing socks right nor or are they stuck to the wall on the other side of the room after being blown clean off (and if so, I’m SO sorry if you were wearing expensive panty hose!)? I guess the sales figures will tell at the end of the day, but system bias will rear its head even more as both consoles roll onto shelves and the knives come out once again. Hell, they’re ALREADY out and have been since before each new system was announced. No one wins in that war, by the way… but sitting on the sidelines with a load of popcorn makes for some fine entertainment for me before I get bored and go back to playing some of those games everyone else is nitpicking over because of a few flaws or whatever that some won’t even notice because they only have one console at home and just don’t care what the competition is up to…

Well, At Least My Vita Is Ready For The PlayStation 4…

Posted on November 8, 2013 by geelw

So, Sony’s most recent system update for the PlayStation Vita has a few nifty new additions to that XMB for owners including a PS4 Link feature that seems to allow PlayStation 4 games to be streamed onto the handheld most likely via a cloud service of some sort. HOPEFULLY, it will allow for system updates for that console to be downloaded and transferred TO the PS4, as I know for a fact that not everyone who wants or has pre-ordered that console has a broadband connection or decent internet access at home. That’s going to be a HUGE deciding factor for some in this upcoming console battle as we know that out of the box, the Xbox One won’t even play a game until a mandatory update patch is downloaded from Xbox Live (and nope, you can’t use a dial-up connection!).

I’m not lucky enough to have an early console like some sites out there (*grumble*), but I’m playing on picking one up and NO, not by trying my luck eating crappy “ethnic” fast food from a flimsy cardboard box (yuck!) packed and sold by people working for soul suckin’ jerks. I’d prefer a debug unit, personally, but it would seem no one at Sony even knows I exist these days so I’m a Joe Gamer type like the rest of you at the moment. Oh well, all that does is make for better reviews at the end of the day anyway. Although I’ll tell you now that I’m the hardest person to market stuff to because I buy and play what I like, I like very odd things sometimes and that’s not “mainstream” enough for some out there, I’d gather…

Ys: Memories of Celceta: The Vita Nets Another RPG Winner From Xseed Games

Posted on November 8, 2013 by geelw

Ha. Just as I’m starting up my Valhalla Knights 3 review (which I’m hoping will be a definitive one as it’s not filled with wrongheaded references to incorrect thought processes gone wild), my inbox is buzzing away and telling me that not only is there DLC for that game I need to download NOW, Xseed is also going to be shipping out Ys: Memories of Celceta for the PlayStation Vita on November 26, 2013.

For the uninitiated, the game is a very heavily reworked/remade retelling of Ys IV (one of the few games in the popular Nihon Falcom RPG series not yet released in English until now) and features an enhanced party battle system from Ys SEVEN, along with the insanity of Boss Rush mode. Are your fingers prepared? They’d most surely better be is all I’ll say…

As usual, this one is getting the triple threat treatment of a physical retail and PlayStation Network digital release for $39.99 as well as a special Ys: Memories of Celceta Silver Anniversary Edition for $59.99. According to the press release, it’s definitely omake time for Ys fans with this one:

This Limited Edition contains a 3-CD collection of original and arranged music spanning the entire history of the franchise, a cloth map detailing the lands of Celceta, a logo-emblazoned compass, and ‘Adol’s Travel Journal’ containing 130 pages of adventuring strategies and artwork, all within an exclusive commemorative package.

Of course, that compass won’t help you navigate the game world on your Vita, but I think you’ll do just fine without it. Besides, you need TWO hands to use your Vita and if you wanted to be distracted by a second screen you’d be playing another system entirely, correct? Now, about Ys V and Ys V EXPERT… I’ll be definitely holding out hope that those get the remake treatment one fine day…

MUST-READS: Beautiful Lego Will Make You Want To Become A Plastic Architect…

Posted on November 8, 2013 by geelw

The cover alone of Mike Doyle’s Beautiful Lego is a showstopper, but inside this 280-page $29.99 paperback are some of the most incredible examples of LEGO art you’ll ever seen in such a wide range of categories and styles that it’s impossible to NOT be rendered utterly speechless every few pages. Doyle’s own work is spectacular and rages from that stunning cover image to gorgeously ruined half-destroyed homes constructed in black, white and gray LEGO pieces.

Many other supremely talented artists contribute work as well ranging from realistic looking buildings and vehicles, cute animal builds, plenty of surprising characters from comics and movies, sci-fi spaceships, robots and mecha and other creations ranging from mosaics to surreal “Meta” works. And if you happen to be a Monty Python fan, there are a few very humorous recreations of skits that will have you grinning before you read the captions. The question “Why LEGO?” is answered by some of the artists here and it seems the answers all go back to the core element of guys and gals wanting to make those hard plastic shapes do things they’re not made to do and some more in-depth answers that are pretty deep if you’re one of those who thinks LEGOs aren’t made for artistic purposes.

And yes, don’t be surprised if about halfway through this book you find yourself wanting to check that hall closet to see if there’s that dusty old box of LEGO bricks still hanging out on that top shelf. Of course, you’ll probably be a bit rusty compared to Doyle and the other outstanding artists here, but thankfully, there’s a book for that as well from the fine folks at no starch press. Hmmmm.. I do happen to have space to build stuff, but I need the time and LEGOs. A whole LOT of LEGOs. And a whole LOT of money to buy those LEGOs. And a willing assistant. Wait, do I have time for a new hobby these days? Hmmmm… OK, and a WORKING time machine (most probably made from LEGOs)…

Yes, Gamers DO Read Books. Blizzard Knows This, So You Get Two Tomes The Fun…

Posted on November 8, 2013 by geelw

Going to Hell is generally no picnic and I’ve most certainly been there more than enough times to not need a guidebook. That said, some of you out there who get lost at the drop of a hat (and need to keep buying new hats) can probably use BradyGames’ Diablo III Signature Series Strategy Guide (MSRP $21.99) the next time you do drop in. Of course, you’ll also need a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 and a copy of the Diablo III to get the most of this excellently handy tome of demon doom.

Authors Doug Walsh, Rick Barba and Thom Denick have put together a think 464 pages of comprehensively detailed info on every quest, a Bestiary to keep track of those things always hot on your heels, tips on items, loot drops, crafting and more all await those who require a held hand on that long, arduous trip down to the deepest deeps. Hell, your poor character may still die a few too many times, but at least you’ll be good and well-versed on just what did you in because you got a wee bit too eager in your poking about in that dungeon you needed a few more levels to clear. Even if you’re NOT a strategy guide guy or gal, getting this for that newbie to the dark world of DIII makes for a great holiday gift just so that giftee will leave YOU the hell alone and play the game without haunting your phone or inbox for sage advice. Yeah, we all know people like that, correct?

Meanwhile, back in Azeroth… to many millions of loyal players, World of Warcraft is their second home (or first for those even deeper into it) and when they come up for air, I’m sure they’ll be pleased as punch to know that Blizzard has them in mind to on the reads front. Publisher DK has recently released World of Warcraft: Ultimate Visual Guide (MSRP $29.99) is exactly what it says, a lushly illustrated 200-page hardcover featuring tons of gorgeous artwork from the games, some concise writing by Doug Wagner and plenty of lore that I’ll bet the more hardcore WoW fans out there will find some nits to pick about.

Yeah, you know how that goes with those uber-fans, right? That said, between the OFFICIAL according to Blizzard timeline that fits all those expansions together, a look into the development of the games and a too brief peek at the DC Comics series plus more, this one a great addition to the libraries of new players as well as hardened happy veterans of the seemingly unstoppable MMORPG.

That and the book weighs just enough to knock a goblin out with a sturdy swing, so maybe the dev team can add it to the game quickly as a backup weapon or something. Hey, stranger things have happened in the gaming universe, so getting clobbered by a book won’t be the goofiest thing to occur in the busy lands of Blizzard’s continuing cash cow…