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The Way of the Game – Episode 20
Hey everybody!
We’ve got a long one this week! We may have gone off for a little bit too long on Blood Bowl. Just know that Alex edited out a lot more than he left in! We discuss the R.U.S.E. beta ever so briefly (which is a good description of how long we played the beta, as well), and then move into headlines before Alex can get distracted by his Games Workshop fanboyism.
Headlines:
“Nintendo Wii made me nympho!”
Microsoft has given MekTek.net clearance for the free release of MechWarrior 4.
Another free browser based game – this time Lord of Ultima.
Would you be willing to pay more for Xbox Live if you got television content through it?
Study claims that “brain games” do little to exercise that gray lump in your skull.
British video game retail chains owns its customers’ souls. MWAHAHAHAHA!
We’ve got a blooper this week, and remember all that Blood Bowl talk we skipped over in the episode proper? By popular demand, we tacked it on to the end of the episode. If you’re interested in our thoughts on future prospects for Blood Bowl, Cyanide, Games Workshop, and turn-based tabletop board game conversions, be sure to listen through the credits.
Wanna get in touch with us? We’ve got plenty of ways!
- Twitter: @StingRay02 and @Mollarom
- Email: feedback@thewayofthegame.net
- Voicemail: (203) 794-GAME (4263)
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The Way of the Game – Episode 19
Hello again, folks!
So, I think we used to have a schedule for our show topics. I’m not positive we still have that schedule. We’re wingin’ it, folks! Hope you enjoy the ride.
Games!
- Turf Wars Online
- iDuel Online
- Tiger Woods Online
- Blood Bowl Online
- Dawn of War 2 Online
- Magna Carta 2 Online
We also follow up on the ongoing melodrama between Activision and the former employees of Infinity Ward. I’d link to the articles, but there are a ton of them, and I am really, really tired. So, I’ll just link to Penny Arcade, and you can find the relevant links in their post!
Hooray for making use of other people’s work!
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The Way of the Game – Episode 15
This week Alex talks about beating Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, and has also reminded himself why he doesn’t speak to Madden anymore. Jonathan welcomes a slim, black, not-as-expensive-as-it-used-to-be addition to family, and gets some FFXIII on.
NEWS!
Rock Band 3 has been announced.
Ubisoft’s DRM has been cracked and their authentication servers have been under attack, adding new meaning to the phrase “paying customers.”
Activision has taken careful aim at their feet and opened fire, sacking the lead creative minds behind Modern Warfare 2.
Microsoft has decided it’s okay for gamers to come out of the closet on Xbox Live.
Gears of War 3 tech demo at GDC.
Gamers may not be as obsessed with achievements and gamer score as Alex has previously believed.
If you have a ton of money to blow on oversized, complicated, extremely cool gadgets, we’d each like one, too, please.
EA is expecting two million subscribers for BioWare’s MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic. Apparently they need one million subscribers just to break even. Good luck, EA. Good luck.
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The Way of the Game – Episode 14
A mix of news and reviews this week, because the Assassin’s Creed 2 Mega-Two-Way put a bit of a bump in our usual recording schedule. First up, big announcements!
Portal 2 has been announced!
Steam is coming to the Mac!
OnLive is scheduled to launch June 17! (And they’re taking pre-registration requests!)
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is coming to XBLA and PSN!
On the game front, Jonathan’s been playing a ton of indie games, Alex revisits an oldie but (maybe?) goodie, and we’re both psyched about our upcoming Greed Corp. two-way.
Links!
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The Way of the Game Presents: Mass Effect 2
The Writer reviews…
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
Studio: Bioware
Owned by EA? Yes
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The Way of the Game Presents: Dragon Age: Origins
The Writer reviews…
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
Studio: Bioware
Owned by EA? Yes
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The Way of the Game – Episode 9
News this week, but first up is what we’ve been playing.
- Assassin’s Creed 2 has Alex thinking in Italian.
- Alex is also having a hell of a game in Solium Infernum.
- Jonathan slept between recordings. What a slacker.
Headlines:
- Prolonged Gaming Blamed for Rickets Rise – News Media Still Looking for Next Scapegoat
- Final Fantasy 1 and 2 headed to iPhone.
- Bioware to release The Old Republic in Spring 2011
- Gran Turismo 5 the new Duke Nukem Forever?
- Duke Nukem Forever Not Dead (Again)?
- Cancelled Natal game’s design documents released by developer
- Game music to be included in this year’s Ivor Novello Awards
- Sony Defends Itself Against Equal Access Suit
Be sure to check out our next episode. We’ve got something special planned for our first foray into double digits.
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The Way of the Game – Episode 8
Why episode 8, instead of episode 7? Take a listen and find out!
Other reasons to listen? We’re talking about games this week!
We’ve played some multiplayer, host-on-host Brütal Legend and Blood Bowl this week. Jonathan died. A lot.
Jonathan’s list:
Alex’s list:
- GameFly (not technically a game, but it will be… it will be…)
- Bayonetta Demo
- Vandal Hearts Demo
- 1 vs. 100
- Texas Hold ‘Em
- Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Can you tell who’s been on vacation recently?
Alex is editing next week’s episode, so that one will release on time. See ya then!
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The Way of the Game – Episode 2
Episode 2 is here! Fewer editing problems this week, but more of me passing out halfway through getting everything prepped to distribute.
First thing’s first; we changed the name of the show. You’ll find explanations for the decision within.
We discuss some of our first-episode hiccups, and how we’re working on them.
This week, we talk about a few of the games we’re playing. This will be a biweekly occurrence, alternating with discussion of video game news.
Alex discusses:
- The Xbox Live Update (Twitter, Facebook and Last.FM)
- Panzer General: Allied Assault
- 1 vs. 100: Season 2
Jonathan discusses:
- Dragon Age: Origins
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii
- Auditorium
In our feature section, we start a “new” recurring feature by discussing the upcoming month’s new releases. For December, we’re just not all that impressed.
Take a listen, and if you disagree, leave a comment or come to the forums and set us straight!
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Avatar Golf packs a wallop for a small greens fee
EA has locked down the console golf game for years with its Tiger Woods powerhouse. With the official PGA license, a ton of features, near photorealistic environments and the big man himself, Tiger Woods PGA Tour comes out like clockwork every year, tempting gamers to plop down another $60 for what seems like last year’s title, only with a few extra bells and whistles. However, what about those console golf fans who just want to play the game? What options are available for those who simply don’t need dynamic weather, precision putting and official courses? Xbox 360 gamers have a choice, and it’s as close as the Indie Games section of the Xbox Marketplace: Avatar Golf.
Xbox 360 gamers are well aware of Avatars. Since they were unveiled in the Dashboard update last year, they’ve been customizing their online personas with hairstyles, clothes, and more recently props like lightsabers and remote control Warthogs. Those who have played 1 vs 100 have gotten used to seeing their avatars incorporated into game shows. Avatar Golf puts them on the golf course.
The game itself is reminiscent of Mario Golf. Swinging the club is a matter of employing the “three-click swing” method, where one press initiates a power bar, the next press determines the strength of the swing and the third determines its accuracy. Landing in the fairway allows the player to make their next shot with a reasonable degree of accuracy, assuming they can handle the three-click swing method. Landing in the rough or the sand hurts the strength of the next shot to a random degree, so players are never quite sure where they’re going to wind up on the next shot.
Putting in Avatar Golf again employs the three-click swing method, only there are two default putt settings, one for up to 25 feet and another for up to 50 feet. The power bar is just as speedy while putting as it is for when players drive off the tee, so players may be surprised at first when they overpower short putts. Once they get the hang of it, they might find the putting downright forgiving and start sinking 25-foot putts with ease. Pressing the Y button will display the contours of the green in shades of light and dark to allow players to read how their putts will break. However, don’t expect the super-realistic physics that has puts just dancing off the lip of holes like they do in Tiger Woods. If you get the ball reasonably close to the hole, it’ll go in. If it doesn’t, there’s no replay that shows you just how close you were, so just take another stroke and get it over with.
Avatar Golf won’t win awards for graphics. The holes are as graphically detailed as the avatars themselves: not much. Trees are static, no matter how strong the wind is. The holes are like three-dimensional planes suspended in air and surrounded by decorative art ranging from sunny days to cities to even outer space. Balls shot out of bounds actually fall farther than the “ground,” as if they had been shot off the edge of the world. And for some reason, the indicator that shows where your ball should land is represented by something that looks like a barber pole.
Avatar Golf approaches multiplayer in a novel way. If more than one player is playing on the same Xbox 360, they’ll play sequentially much like typical golf games. However, if they play online, every player plays at the same time. That means no waiting to make your shot while others make theirs. Everyone plays at their own pace.
Despite its rough edges, Avatar Golf has something great going for it: a price of $5, or 400 MS Points. For that price, Xbox golf fans will get gameplay that’s well worth the price, along with several golf courses and a golf course editor. Gamers will be able to let their inner golf course maker run wild and create holes as easy or as difficult as they’d like. When they’re done, they’ll be able to share their courses with their buddies online. If you don’t mind the stripped down graphics and gameplay, there’s still the essence of a great console golf game here. That, along with multiplayer online support, a robust editor and a screaming deal of a price point, make Avatar Golf a highly suggested title for all golf fans.
