Parents and the ESRB Rating System: The Death of Common Sense
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Editorials, Rants
Christian, family, and parental watchdog organizations are responsible for a discouraging trend lately by flooding the web with “parental buying guides for video games.” Take The National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF) for example. They recently released their 13th annual video game report card that includes a list of games parents should avoid in 2008. And another group, The Timothy Plan, has started their own little witch hunt of “evil-doers” in the gaming industry. Also, as we mentioned in Hey Did You Hear… last week, the ESRB has instituted a new policy that will require a detailed listing of the game’s content on their website (hello, spoilers!) in addition to the current rating and content descriptors so that parents can further understand what is included in a game. The more these organizations clog parent’s brains with these “games that are evil” guides, the less parents will rely on the ESRB rating system and make good parenting choices on their own. I’m not saying parents don’t need to be informed (because I know a lot of them are clueless). I’m saying these organizations need to focus on teaching the rating system, not demonizing games based on their content.
Tags: Editorials, ESRB, MPAA, National Institute on Media and the Family, NIMF, Rants, ratings, The Timothy Plan, Video Game Voters Network
Idiots at Wal-Mart on Black Friday Trying to Trample Each Other For An Xbox 360
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Editorials, Rants
We’ve all heard the sad and slightly terrifying stories about people getting trampled (literally) to death this past Black Friday. I mean honestly, is getting a good deal really worth the lengths these crazy people go to? Here is an example I came across that hit especially close to home.
Picture this scenario: one palate of Xbox 360 Arcades bundled with Guitar Hero III and a wireless guitar on sale for $199 + hundreds of ravenous Wal-Mart shoppers who have been standing outside in the freezing cold all night = pushing, screaming and much commotion. Watch (and learn) and repeat after me, “no deal is worth being squashed to death.”
Tags: Black Friday, Editorials, Rants, Wal-Mart, Xbox 360
GamezNFlix Sucks Ass. Do. Not. Want.
Posted by HCG Paco | Filed under Editorials, Rants
Who you say? E-X-A-C-T-L-Y.
When trying to usurp the king, you need to do what the king does - only better. Gamefly is king when it comes to snail mail game renting and they do it VERY WELL. They have incredible sales, they have great customer service, and the turnaround time is phenomenal. There have been times that I decided to keep my game on a Sunday, updated my queue and had a new game on Tuesday. It is that fast. Plus, the selection is huge and the queue for new releases are tolerable. When you decide to pay for a game and keep it, they send you a minty fresh manual and case. Not to mention the free cash they give you towards any used item or even your subscription periodically. Did I already say that they give you 10% off EVERYTHING, including your subscription after you have been a member for a year? Oh wait, I just did.
So if I am here to bitch about GamezNFlix why am I talking about all of the things Gamefly does really well? BECAUSE GAMEZNFLIX DOES NOT DO ANY OF THEM WELL.
Tags: Editorials, GameFly, GameznFlix, HD-DVD, Rants, Xbox 360
A Call To Arms
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Editorials, News
This Tuesday, there’s something more important on TV. Every week, you reserve some special time in your life for something important in your life…playing video games. We do too. This week, thehardcoregamer.com asks that you use your time Tuesday night to watch the 2nd presidential debate at 9 PM EST, and become an informed voter. That’s what we’ll be doing.
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If you aren’t already registered to vote, there may still be time. Deadlines vary by state, so check out Rock The Vote’s Election Center for a list of deadlines by state. Remember, if you don’t vote, you give up your right to complain about government!
Finally, check out the Video Game Voters Network. There are some fine folks over there doing good work for all of us gamers by fighting censorship in games. It’s your voice, people. Let’s hear it!
Tags: censorship, Editorials, Election 2008, News, Rock the Vote Election Center, TheHardcoreGamer.com, Video Game Voters Network, Vote
EA goes from Zero to Hero with Dead Space - Ultra Limited Edition
Posted by HCG Musashi | Filed under Collectibles, News, Rants, Trailers
Nearly two weeks ago Electronic Arts pissed off practically every PC gamer on the planet by releasing Spore with the same bullshit SecuROM protection they included with Mass Effect. Needless to say, that was not the best week for EA’s PR rating.
This week has been a whole different story. Not only do they lighten-up the copy protection on Spore and Mass Effect to somewhat reasonable levels, but then go on to announce one of the most truly limited editions for a game - ever.
Tags: Dead Space, Dead Space Collectibles, Dead Space Limited Edition, Dead Space Ultra Limited Edition, Editorials, News, Rants, Trailers, Xbox 360
MMO News Roundup and some long overdue rants about stupid assholes.
Posted by HCG Dreadsorrow | Filed under News, Rants
I’m such a lazy piece of crap that I have a backlog of game news to share. So instead of writing proper posts, I will just vomit out a bunch of links and soundbite commentary in a clumsy effort of actual work.
Stargate Worlds - Interview
Videogamer.com has a delicious interview with Dan Elggren on the Stargate Worlds design team. Chock full of yummy news, here is the interview: Part 1 Part 2
Tags: DC Universe, Editorials, Jack Thompson, MMO, MMO News Roundup, MMORPG, News, Rants, Stargate Worlds, Stupid people, Warhammer Online, World of Warcraft
UPDATE We were. - We are moving. Fast.
Posted by HCG Paco | Filed under Editorials, Raves
UPDATE - DNS transfer has stalled. we are waiting to hear back from mediatemple and godaddy.
This week is the week. It could be bumpy. It could be smooth. We won’t know until we try. So here goes.
Keep posting away, I’ll let you know when we export the posts. Wohoo!
Tags: Editorials, Raves, TheHardcoreGamer.com
The ever-blurring line between cheating and buying your way through a game…
Posted by HCG Musashi | Filed under Editorials, Rants
I can’t help but feel a double standard in the gaming industry is beginning to grow as of late and I wanted to know if others agree, or think I’m bat-s**t crazy…
Paying real-world money for power or status in a video game is nothing new. I still remember the craziness from the first eBay auction of an Ultima Online account. Since then, a cottage industry had sprouted up all over the world, providing MMORPG players in-game currency and rare items in exchange for real-world money. If you’ve got the money, practically every MMO out there has accounts for sale. Hell, you can even buy MMORPG characters like a loaf of bread these days…
What starting me thinking about all this was when a few weeks ago, the story broke about the Fable 2 - Pub Games Betting Glitch and the reaction it caused.
Tags: downloadable content, Editorials, Rants, Tales of Vesperia, Xbox, Xbox 360
Buffy MMO Gets a Greenlight - Firefly Fans Get the Shaft Again
Posted by HCG Dreadsorrow | Filed under News, Rants
News came out a few days ago about the folks at Multiverse being told to devote all of their attention to an MMO based upon the Buffy The Vampire Slayer IP. At the same time, we also learned that FOX is taking a massive steaming crap all over Firefly yet again.
Even though I never was a fan of Buffy and the bizarre menagerie of characters on that show, I didn’t hate it either. So a Buffy MMO would go into the huge pile of games that I have no interest in. Other people would like it, and I’m all for turning more people onto MMOs by whatever license will get them hooked. I also was not surprised that the Firefly MMO was getting delayed, because it just seemed too good to be true in the first place.
Tags: 3rd Person Adventure, Editorials, Games, News, Rants, Role Playing Game
Tabula Rasa - 1 Year Old Soon
Posted by HCG Dreadsorrow | Filed under Editorials, News
If ever there was an MMO that came with gobs and gobs of potential, it was Tabula Rasa. I tried the game when it first came out, and for the most part enjoyed it immensely. It was a new paradigm in MMO gameplay, specifically the combat. And while it did suffer from the usual birthing pains of MMOs, (lag, overcrowded newbie zones, griefers who should be food for the tigers at the zoo), it did not get its due respect.
Throwing out the combat sandwich completely, the action was very similar to the constant firefights of first-person shooters, interrupted by the occasional visit to an encampment for repair and resupply. The spontaneous events like invasions or base assaults were a blast, especially when you have 30-40 players in battle with a horde of nasty bad guys. This is a game that after I canceled my account, I really wanted to go back and give it another shot after it had been live for a few months. Now I am immersed in other MMOs, plus console game awesomeness, plus porn, so I have no time left for another MMO.
Anyway, I can recommend this game for people who like MMOs, but hate the slower, almost casual pace of other titles like World of Warcraft and Everquest 2.
So the point of my rambling, is to share the tidbit of news that NCsoft unveiling their 12-month veteran rewards. Two of them are pretty much useless gewgaws (new emote and special title), but the other two are pretty sweet. The Resupply Beacon and The Dropship Extraction Beacon, both pictured below.
From the official website (which you can see here).
“Resupply Beacon: This special beacon teleports an AFS Resupply Bot to your location, allowing you and your squad to purchase ammo, consumables, and repair your equipment. This can only be summoned once per hour.
Dropship Extraction Beacon: A portable dropship waypoint. This works for the entire squad of the person who deploys it, and allows one-way access to the local dropship network. It can even be used inside of instances! This can only be summoned once per hour.”
From playing the game, even if it was only for a little while, I know that the environments are pretty huge, so being able to summon a dropship to get you back home quickly is a good thing. And even when I would stock up on enough ammo to serve a warrant to a religious compound in Texas, continuous firefights out in the field can burn through it pretty quickly, so the resupply beacon would be really handy at times.
It’s nice to see an MMO really reward its loyal customers with a couple pretties that actually serve a purpose within the game. I don’t know if I will get to renew my Tabula Rasa account to see how improved the game has become since its launch, but I would definitely like to. Give it a try if you want to try a fun and different game.
Tags: Dropship Extraction Beacon, Editorials, MMO, NCsoft, News, PC, Resupply Beacon, Tabua Rasa
Race Across Azeroth
Posted by HCG Dreadsorrow | Filed under Editorials, Rants
Before you read anything below, please watch this video and form your own opinion.
First, here is the link to the article I am about to discuss.
Tags: Editorials, Engaget, MMO, MMORPG, Race Across Azeroth, Rants, Video
Double Shot - The Old and the New
Posted by HCG Dreadsorrow | Filed under Editorials, Rants
Today HCG Dreadsorrow is very sick. I have a bad cold right now, and am not in the mood for jocularity and tomfoolery. It is obvious to me that my immune system was compromised by the horrific experience of watching the final death-shudder of a great sci-fi franchise last Friday night when I saw that abyssmally shitty Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I would almost rather go down on Hillary Clinton than to sit through that oozing mecrob again.
Tags: Atari 2600, Editorials, Rants, World of Warcraft, Xbox 360
