Crackberry.com got their hands on the up coming Blackberry 10 OS Check it out! Hope developers embrace this!
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Monday, 24 September 2012
The World is Saved - Danny Wiessner
Came across this awesome song last year during ep. 200 of Podcast Beyond. I feel it captures those moments games live for so sit back and enjoy!
Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Battlefield 3 Server Update to Fix Gunship and More
Today on Twitter Dice had announced the release of a server update which is based on community feedback. Server update R31 is due on September 20th at 8:00 UTC. The update will address:
• Fixed a bug where a new squad leader wasn’t chosen when the current squad leader left.
• MK1A3 fix to add flechette rounds instead of frag rounds in gun master mode for premium players(Non-premium already have flechette rounds).
• Fixed a bug with Squad Rush on Sharqi Peninsula where the user was spawned out of combat if they spawned in shortly after the first MCOM exploded.
• Stationary and mobile AA cannon damage has been reduced by 30% versus the Gunship.
• Jet cannon damage has been reduced by 50% versus the Gunship.
• The delay before moving the Gunship forward to a new base in rush has been increased from 15 to 30 seconds.
• The Delay between Gunship spawns has been increased from 90 to 120 seconds in rush.
• Initial delay before the Gunship spawns in rush has been increased from 15 to 60 seconds.
It will take about a day for the change to be in full effect.
Sources: Twitter - @Battlefield
Battlelog - http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/forum/threadview/2832654348234531856/
• Fixed a bug where a new squad leader wasn’t chosen when the current squad leader left.
• MK1A3 fix to add flechette rounds instead of frag rounds in gun master mode for premium players(Non-premium already have flechette rounds).
• Fixed a bug with Squad Rush on Sharqi Peninsula where the user was spawned out of combat if they spawned in shortly after the first MCOM exploded.
• Stationary and mobile AA cannon damage has been reduced by 30% versus the Gunship.
• Jet cannon damage has been reduced by 50% versus the Gunship.
• The delay before moving the Gunship forward to a new base in rush has been increased from 15 to 30 seconds.
• The Delay between Gunship spawns has been increased from 90 to 120 seconds in rush.
• Initial delay before the Gunship spawns in rush has been increased from 15 to 60 seconds.
It will take about a day for the change to be in full effect.
Sources: Twitter - @Battlefield
Battlelog - http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/forum/threadview/2832654348234531856/
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
NHL 13 - Online
Its that time of year again hockey fans, NHL 13 is out. I've been playing this for a week now and I find it is a great improvement over last years game. The biggest additions to the game have been the new dynamic goalies, smarter A.I, and the new skating system which focuses on the players momentum and speed. This review is not of the entire game but the online portion as this wouldn't have been addressed to those with per-release copies. So lets get into it!
Every Stride Matters!
The first thing you will notice when you play NHL 13 is the new skating system that has been implemented this year. In recent years the skating has been more of an arcade style with quick stops and starts and the ability to turn on a dime at full speed. This model was not very realistic to say the least. This year the new skating system is based on momentum and speed of the player. When travelling at a high speed players won't be able to make sharp turns or handle/ shoot the puck very well. If players want to be able to shoot accurately and handle the puck well they will need slow down. Travelling at different speeds allows different advantages. Having high speed can allow you to beat the opponent to the puck or on the outside, but slowing down will allow you to deke better and make sharp cuts to open up new lanes when attacking. This new style takes a bit to get use to but it opens up a new way to play the game instead of just relying in speed itself. The new backwards skating allows those creative players to become more creative and create chances that wouldn't be available in earlier years. I enjoy the new skating model as its adds new dynamics to the game and think it's a step in the right direction.
What a Save!
NHL 13 introduces Dynamic Goalies 2.0. This year the goalies have the ability to make greater saves as their limbs are independent and not stuck in an animation. This makes the goalie make insane saves when it counts,or when its not needed. I've had a couple incidences when the goalie will make a save doing the splits when its not really needed. But I've also seen some crazy saves so it's definitely for the better.
With improved player A.I the goalies are now able to read the entire play and not just the player with the puck. This helps stop the notorious one-timer which was a go to for previous generations of NHL. This doesn't mean that its not possible to score on a one-timer, its just not as easy as before.
I find that the new goalies have made the game better then ever and more realistic. I've pulled some awesome goals off with just simple shots that simply beat the goalie.
No more Pylons
NHL 13 has revamped the player A.I which allows the players to read the entire ice and make decisions based on what the see. The new A.I also allows the addition of new forecheck and defencive systems such as the infamous 1-3-1 used by Tampa last season. I've noticed the players will have better sticks to take away passing lanes and use their abilities to make a play (fast players rush outside to be the defender).
Overall Impression
This year I have found myself enjoying NHL 13 more then any other iteration. Versus provides a better game this year as you can score off almost anything, compared to a few sure fire ways in NHL 12. The EASHL is also back and this for me is where the game is its best. Playing with up to 12 players (6 aside) and using team work to beat your opponents is the best feeling, knowing you out skilled them or just caught a lucky break.
NHL 13 is a refreshing experience and is a no brainer if your a fan of the series. If you haven't picked this up, do so, you won't be disappointed.
NHL 13 gets a 5/5
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Pocket Planes Review - IOS
Recently I decided to pick up pocket planes for my iPad as well as my iTouch. Pocket Planes is by the creators of such games as Tiny Tower and Pocket Frogs. I found this game to be a joy to play and found myself always coming back to it whenever I had a free moment.
As I started up the game I noticed that like the Tiny Tower, Pocket Planes uses an 8-bit style animation. I like this style as it doesn't try to use all of the devices power but keeps it simple and puts the focus on the game play. As I played the game more I noticed that it recreates pop culture characters such as a Storm Trooper from Star Wars known as "Trooper" and even simpler forms as in names, I came across one passenger named L. Armstrong. This was pretty relevant to today as he was in the news a few weeks ago.
When I began to play I was immediately put into a small tutorial which was very basic. I learnt how to load a plane and then send it off to it's destination. After that I was prompted to select a starting city (region) and began my own airline. I decided to set up in Asia and quickly established a line from Sapporo to Hong Kong with airports in between. I did this using the two forms of in-game currency.
Pocket Planes uses a free to play system. It includes two forms of in-game currency know as coins and Bux. Each currency has its own purpose in the game. Coins are used to pay for your planes fuel as well as purchase or upgrade airports to help expand your airline. The premium currency Bux can be purchased using real money to help the player speed up their games process. Bux are used to purchase aircraft, parts for aircraft, and upgrades for them as well. Player however do not need to purchase Bux as opportunities come up to earn them by delivering special cargo/ passengers or placing well in a contest (more on that to come).
When you begin the game you make quick flights, 10 minutes tops. Once your reach higher levels and start expanding your airline you begin making larger and larger flights. You begin to need better aircraft that are faster and can travel longer distances. You can choose to make smaller flights but these are less rewarding financially. This is where layovers can come in to use. If you need to fly in an opposite direction just unload the passenger or cargo for a later flight. Don't worry about leaving them for awhile they will wait forever.
Pocket Planes has a social aspect to it as you can team up with friends and start your own flight crews. Flight crews become important if you want to compete in the events across the world. The most productive flight crews will be rewards Bux and/or parts depending on their performance. The larger your crew the better your chances are of placing high in the standings.
One downside to Pocket Planes was that on the Itouch it can be kind of hard to navigate around the world as destinations are tiny blips on a large map. You can zoom in but this makes scrolling slower. On the Ipad I did not find this to be an issue.
When you start to grow in levels you begin to have more and more downtime in game. This is a different feeling compared to early levels where flights are quicker. If there was something to do while flights were in progress it would keep the player more engaged. But then again its nice to be able to set down your IOS device and still have the game progress.
I found Pocket Planes to be an enjoyable IOS game. At times I couldn't put it down and I wanted to keep growing, expanding and reaching the next level. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who wants something fill time or enjoys the micro-management style of games.
Over all I give this game a 4/5
Cody Anderson
As I started up the game I noticed that like the Tiny Tower, Pocket Planes uses an 8-bit style animation. I like this style as it doesn't try to use all of the devices power but keeps it simple and puts the focus on the game play. As I played the game more I noticed that it recreates pop culture characters such as a Storm Trooper from Star Wars known as "Trooper" and even simpler forms as in names, I came across one passenger named L. Armstrong. This was pretty relevant to today as he was in the news a few weeks ago.
When I began to play I was immediately put into a small tutorial which was very basic. I learnt how to load a plane and then send it off to it's destination. After that I was prompted to select a starting city (region) and began my own airline. I decided to set up in Asia and quickly established a line from Sapporo to Hong Kong with airports in between. I did this using the two forms of in-game currency.
Pocket Planes uses a free to play system. It includes two forms of in-game currency know as coins and Bux. Each currency has its own purpose in the game. Coins are used to pay for your planes fuel as well as purchase or upgrade airports to help expand your airline. The premium currency Bux can be purchased using real money to help the player speed up their games process. Bux are used to purchase aircraft, parts for aircraft, and upgrades for them as well. Player however do not need to purchase Bux as opportunities come up to earn them by delivering special cargo/ passengers or placing well in a contest (more on that to come).
When you begin the game you make quick flights, 10 minutes tops. Once your reach higher levels and start expanding your airline you begin making larger and larger flights. You begin to need better aircraft that are faster and can travel longer distances. You can choose to make smaller flights but these are less rewarding financially. This is where layovers can come in to use. If you need to fly in an opposite direction just unload the passenger or cargo for a later flight. Don't worry about leaving them for awhile they will wait forever.
Pocket Planes has a social aspect to it as you can team up with friends and start your own flight crews. Flight crews become important if you want to compete in the events across the world. The most productive flight crews will be rewards Bux and/or parts depending on their performance. The larger your crew the better your chances are of placing high in the standings.
One downside to Pocket Planes was that on the Itouch it can be kind of hard to navigate around the world as destinations are tiny blips on a large map. You can zoom in but this makes scrolling slower. On the Ipad I did not find this to be an issue.
When you start to grow in levels you begin to have more and more downtime in game. This is a different feeling compared to early levels where flights are quicker. If there was something to do while flights were in progress it would keep the player more engaged. But then again its nice to be able to set down your IOS device and still have the game progress.
I found Pocket Planes to be an enjoyable IOS game. At times I couldn't put it down and I wanted to keep growing, expanding and reaching the next level. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who wants something fill time or enjoys the micro-management style of games.
Over all I give this game a 4/5
Cody Anderson
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