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Gears of War has, literally, the worst writing in gaming?
Well it's easy to argue that it's far from the best, but the worst? Lindsay Bell Chambers digs deeper into the fray and churns out some interesting information on Chuck Beaver's verbal vomit earlier in the week.
In the final entry in Gaming Irresponsibly's storytelling in games series, Matt Beaudette takes a look at the quality of writing present in most games, and speculates about where storytelling can go in the future of games.
Part 3 in a series examining different method of storytelling used in video games. This week is a comparison of tradition cinematic cutscenes and interactive scripted events.
"There’s something about certain games that naturally draw me in. This is considerably easier with any sort of RPG that involves decisions and progression that allow you to influence not only your character, but the actual game itself. I’ve spent so much time with these games because I’m able to make the character my own, affect the environment, and play the game almost exactly how I want to play it."
"In case you haven't heard there was an article posted on VentureBeat about how the upcoming game Space Marine rips off the Gears of War series (Here is the article in question). So instead of just going through and ripping apart the article in a fit of rage (like the fan boy in me wants to) I have decided I would talk about how Space Marine and Gears of War are both similar and different and who is ripping off whom."
"I had the pleasure to meet the man who voices not only Dom from the Gears of War series, but also from the Assassin’s Creed’s Leonardo Da Vinci, Carlos Ferro. A voice actor, DJ, performer, and all around great guy, Ferro was the guest of honor at the Gamers Gone Wild Party hosted by the awesome gaming communities 2 Old 2 Play and SFX-360."
"George Lucus struck gold when he cast Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy but today Mark Hamill could be known best as the brilliant Emmy Award winning voice behind The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: The animated series. Mark Hamill has an amazing career as a voice actor and has contributed to numerous animated TV shows such as Batman, The Hulk, Fantastic 4 just to name a few. Marks voice is well known for multiple video game characters none more so tha..."
Love him or hate him, Cliff Bleszinski has become a huge influence to the gaming landscape the past few years. From the Gears of War cover system to the new features in Bulletstorm, he has brought some new and exciting features to the industry. However, not everything he has done has been for the greater good. Check out the full story to get all the details. Cheers!
"So it has been a few months since the first few comparisons that we did in Part 1, so it is once again time to compare a few sequels and their respective predecessors – some new and some not so new.
As previously discussed, games do have it a little easier than films in that they can rely on game play to make a game better, not simply the characters and plot line.
If a games plot and characters are weak, it is still possible for it to be a successful and even good game – if the plot an..."
"This letter comes straight from the programme Lorraine Kelly Live in England which airs practically every weekday on ITV, a channel that is freely available to everyone who has a television set without subscription. Personally I find this absolutely disgraceful - it seems that the stigma against gamers and deeming us all violent psychopaths is determined to continue until gaming has been drummed squarely into the ground forever and ever. Give me a break. In fact give me the biggest break poss..."
"Gears of War 3 is still a year away. I’m expecting great things, but you know my thoughts on the relationship between skepticism and faith. So, I’ll still have to see it to believe it when it comes to this game. But knowing that Epic has been listening to us all along gives me this sense that, when it comes to GoW3, we’re all in this together. And there’s something comforting in that."
"Dear readers, it has come to my attention that I need to get something off my chest, something which will make me seem like less of a man. You see I have a secret. I am a coward, a wuss, why? Because I play games on Easy.
Throughout my gaming life I’ve always wanted to keep pace with my friends, those with somewhat superhuman abilities for completing games on Normal or Hard – or so they say. I didn’t want to miss out on discussions at school regarding a certain narrative point in Final Fan..."
"It’s been a staple feature of a huge number of games over the past couple of decades regardless of the genre: Boss battles. Whether it be from First Person Shooters to RPG’s, Action Adventure or through to Third Person Shooters and more, boss battles have been there since day 1.
Whether it’s the frustration of reaching the boss back in the arcade days of Street Fighter with only one life left, or reaching the boss with you on minimal health, they have etched themselves in the memories of t..."
"1. My prison number was 098356-GX. But, you can call me Marcus.
2. I preferred jail. At least I was getting three squares.
3. Those circles on my chest are actually speakers. Kind of a weird design huh?"
"The saga of the COGs that has played out over the course of the last 4 years has been a wild ride as we have followed Marcus and co. above and below ground in their final stands against the Locust. After the conclusion of GoW2 it became quite obvious that we would be seeing our ragtag group of heroes once more, most likely in a stunning conclusion and the final, final…final stand of the citizens of Sera. Sure enough, our main man Cliff Bleszinski will no doubt be announcing that we won’t have..."
Gears of War is no doubt one of the biggest titles on the Xbox 360. With the first being an absolute smash hit and the second, whilst selling like hotcakes, being slightly disappointing, the third game in the series, which some expect to be announced at this years E3, has huge expectations on it. Can it be the definitive Gears of War experience? We hope so. In this article, John from All Age Gaming looks at his wants, expectations and possible surprises for Gears of War 3.
"Every so often I hear people talk about how they miss the days when Japan ran the game industry. I don't think they so much miss the days when Japanese developers were on top of the world as much as they miss the days when Japanese developers/publishers actually worked in large to promote creativity rather than just follow trends. Those days have faded. While many great games still come out of Japan, thanks mostly to their always shrinking console market and a lack of knowledge on how to revi..."
"During the development of a game, there are numerous ideas and concepts that either get left on the cutting room floor, or go unnoticed by the general public. Just as interesting as these are the stories and rumors that surround a game after its release, ranging from developer inside info, to random tabloid mentionings. In this series, we pick five random, little-known facts about a game franchise and present them to you for your brain's consumption."
"As the Xbox 360 gets further along into its lifespan as a gaming console, many in the gaming industry and community at large begin to question when exactly a replacement will be on the horizon. However, in the years since it was released, Microsoft has notably proven that the console is capable of evolving, being adapted to the needs and wants of gamers as well as developers. For instance, Project Natal will allow the Xbox 360 to compete in the realm of motion controlled titles. This, on top ..."
"The Xbox 360 launched four years ago today in Europe, ushering in the current-generation of videogames consoles and putting a full stop in the life of the original Xbox. Only a handful of games for Microsoft’s first console made it to UK shores after 2nd December 2005, as the Xbox 360 began its life as the company’s definite priority."
While the Gears of War series has been a massive success on the Xbox 360, is it time for Microsoft to make the decision that the 3rd game in the trilogy will NOT be released on the Xbox 360, but on the next Xbox?
Anyone that plays games knows that receiving demos via Xbox live or PSN is never a bad thing. Consumers play the game then go out and buy it right?, but what if playing that demo that someone was excited about changed their feeling about the game in a negative way. At this point was the demo a good idea to even release knowing they just lost a sale? Here are a few reasons why demo's can either help or hurt game releases.
"In the Gears of War games, civilization has been decimated by the Locust Horde and small faction of elite soldiers are engaged in a desperate battle to prevent the extinction of the dwindling human race.
It’s hardly an uplifting premise.
Fortunately, a little levity to this miserable situation is provided courtesy of the vast assortment of comical, entertaining and often cheesy lines that are consistently delivered by Marcus and company."
With Epic disappointing many Gears of War fans with the multiplayer mode in Gears of War 2, should they re-release the original Gears of War as a stand alone multiplayer game with updated Graphics and new maps? It would certainly be a good seller!
If you haven't noticed yet, most recent games have a certain look to them. That dark, grey brown look, where everything looks dead and old. Well it seems to be a trend in most shooters and some non-shooters this generation. Many of us would think that this is just a new art style that the developers are into, gamasutra thinks there is more behind it. And that is the technology of the consoles.
"Apparently Sony is going to reveal the new PlayStation 3 Slim, but what about Microsoft? Will they take a step in the motion sensing direction that I mentioned in a previous week's article? Or will they physically change the appearance of the Xbox 360? Think about it, the all new Xbox 360 Slim! Trade in your old console and x amount of games to get the new Xbox 360 Slim for $99! If Microsoft could successfully decrease the chance of getting the RROD and implement that into a smaller Xbox 360,..."
"Cover systems aren’t exactly something that have been there since the start for the shooter genre. My own first experience of the cover systems are the snap-on cover mechanics used in Metal Gear Solid, and also the flawless chunky cover system in Gears of War for the Xbox 360. I am a huge fan of developers implementing cover systems into any shooting games, but then again I may be outspoken. For example, a massive number of gamers may play Gears 2 online which may suggest that covers systems ..."
In this article All Age Gaming look at five console games that have been released on either the Wii, PS3 or 360 that have helped to shape this generation of gaming.
"Shooters truly are a haven for folks that enjoy inflicting massive amounts of pain on the enemies they encounter in games (read: not in real life). It’s good, harmless fun and a nice way to release some pent-up frustration without causing any property damage (or doing anything else you shouldn’t do that would land you in hot water).
Of course, there are certain weapons that are much more adept than others for this purpose. So here is a look at some of the most sinister weapons that we’ve c..."
"While the Xbox360 and Wii have a considerably lower price and larger install base than the PLAYSTATION3, the console isn’t all that far behind the competition. However, since 2006 Sony has been taken a good pummeling by the media (especially in North America) because of the high-price and gaudy promotional campaign for the third-generation PlayStation console. It’s still not uncommon for a lot of journalists and gamers alike to rant on Sony, claiming that their console is “dying” or “failing”..."
"It is unfortunate that in the real world, there are certain types of people who just look like sex offenders. Whether they are or not. Peter Jackson, for example, wouldn't look out of place with his trousers round his ankles, running through a nursery and being sick all over himself. Same goes for Geoffrey out of Rainbow. There are certain people that, should it come to light that they've been arrested for some hideous sexual misdemeanor, we wouldn't be surprised. This is why it's so easy for..."
By now I'm sure we're all aware of Resident Evil 5's racism issue, but racial stereotyping is an issue that seems to go beyond beyond just one game.
Darion White, from Edge Online, takes a look at the way black characters are portrayed in video games, both the positive portrayals and the negative ones.
The article mostly focuses on newer titles, such as Resident Evil 5, Final Fantasy XIII and Metal Gear Solid 4, while also taking a look at the games of a decade ago, including Final Fantasy...
Binge Gamer's Intern Perry takes a look at the elements that make a game and provides a guide for future games to follow. Listing examples, both good and bad, on some obvious subjects and some not so obvious that need to be taken into account: Play Control, Characters/Writing, Graphics/Glitches, Depth/Replay Value, Atmosphere, Licensing, Hype, Initial concept, Sound and Music. Hit up the source for the in depth read.
"Since the dawn of time, game players could be categorized as one of two things -- winners or losers. If you perform well, you win a game. If you dont, you lose. Its as simple as that. Lately, however, weve seen a paradigm shift; now we are seeing games you cant lose. Or, more accurately, games that dont have any clear, defined "losing" state. Were used to the tried-and-true "game over" screen, but what if you cant get a game over? Would it still be a game?"
I don't own either game in the franchise, but from I've heard Gears of War and its sequel both had large amounts of problems with their online modes, and Saul Berenbaum has had enough. He recounts his own experiences with laggers, glitchers and just down right cheaters and wants it to stop. As he quite welly sums up "For the love of God, men, you should be in control here, not 12-year-olds and quarter-assed wannabe hackers"
"So here's the thing, Wii Fit has mass-market appeal, and Wii Sports comes packed in with the Wii, so it's understandable for them to outsell AAA titles from the other consoles. Wii Play, however, isn't even a GOOD GAME. No one will tell you that it is. Yet the fact that it comes with a Wiimote for only $10 more has encouraged nearly 20 MILLION PEOPLE to drop down their precious cash for the thing. More people own this game than Halo 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Gears of War COMBINED.
I think..."
FPS players play FPS games for a reason, they like to get stuck in hard and fast! This is why tutorials have always been a bit of an annoyance. The gamers would much prefer to just leap into the thick of it and learn as they go.
This is because spending ages learning all the controls is boring and can lose a lot of gamers fast. If the tutorial isn't really engaging, players will just let the game go as they want to immerse themselves in that world as soon as they can. Ghost Recon Advanced ...
"People keep asking me if doing the installation is worth the trouble. Are loading times that much better?
I tested Microsoft's claim on four games, using my NXE-enabled 360. Above, you can watch the initial loading for "Grand Theft Auto IV," DVD vs Hard Drive. After the jump, check out loading comparisons for "Fable II" and "Gears of War."
...Each of the games took about 11 minutes to install and required between 6.6 and 6.8GB. It shaved off about nine to 15 seconds off the initial load..."
This topic has already been covered fairly well (see: The Problems with Game Criticism, and The Problem with Game Reviews Part 1 & 2), but until we're in a better state, it's always a positive thing, yeah?
Anyhow, Variety's Ben Fritz offers his take on the situation (as a response to Variety critic Leigh Alexander's recent blog), saying we nitpick too much and actively look for things to criticize in games instead of really valuing what needs to be valued and not letting the little stuff (...
Sniper Rifles are something you love and hate at the same time. You love it when you own someone halfway across the map with a headshot, and you hate it when your on the...well receiving end. Sniper Rifle's have existed since the dawn of FPS's and beyond and this article examines the god like weapon. It's history, its ups and downs, and a list of some of the best of these beastly weapons every to grace a game are all present here.
GameInformer, the popular magazine about all things gaming that has somewhere near three million subscribers, always has a different game on the cover each time. MTV wanted to see if there was a GI cover curse, so they looked back into the past and pulled out magazines from 2-3 years ago.
One game titled Superman Returns didn't so well, receiving 6/10's. That's nothing compared to Fear and Respect, which was at one point on a GI cover, but ended up being canceled!
All in all, the game...
"On a personal note this was the hardest list I've ever attempted to write. All of these girls are villains in some way, with exception of the Horde. It was a ridiculous quest to find a female in a video games who wasn't attractive. And not just attractive, drop dead, unrealistically gorgeous. I hate to ruin a simple list like this, but why? Why are there no normal to ugly looking females, let alone fat ones. I mean I hate to break it to you people, fats real. People are bitching about how the..."
"Most of you have seen by now that Gears of War is coming to the PC (bet you never saw that one coming.) Having been able to see (and play) the game first-hand last week, all I can say is "I think I'm in love... Again..."
The game looks amazing on the Xbox 360, but on Windows Vista, running at 1280p (1900x1280 resolution) it is jaw-dropping. I sat there with my mouth open as CliffyB and Rod Ferguson explained the controls to me. The roadie-run controls (double-tap W, A, S, D to run OR u..."
![Box shot of Gears of War [North America]](http://i.neoseeker.com/boxshots/R2FtZXMvWGJveF8zNjAvQWN0aW9uL1Nob290ZXI=/gears_of_war_frontcover_small_InE8FQmwbnZYr0E.gif)