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Consoles losing out in Battlefield 3 , ...
Battlefield 3: Console Restrictions

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You play games casually...hardcore? , ...
First Blog!!!

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Could Vita Revive the PSP Library? , ...
PSP Game Revival

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How little does it take to get people to buy? , ...
SWToR

Battlefield 3: Console Restrictions

Posted by Hunter4Bradley

The Console vs. PC battle has been going on for a loooong long time, and PC is starting to lose. In a poor economic environment more and more developers are finding it easier to mass produce for consoles and leave the lesser used PC by the wayside.


Programmers only need their games to run on one playstation 3, instead of the endless variety of possible PCs that exist (and that's not even bringing Macs into the picture). On top of that consoles are relatively cheap, and have worked their way into the living room of millions of people across the globe. PC's capable of the intense needs of modern gaming, on the other hand, are incredibly expensive, and few and far between. 






Being an avid PC gamer I'm on the short end of the stick here, as I can see that we're fighting a losing battle. More and more PC games as of late have just been poorly ported versions of those on the consoles: Assassin's Creed 1 and 2, Darksiders, ugh my poor GTA IV. I'm not going to get into the details of why I hope PC gaming can stick it out and stay relevant, but here's a little taste of why I love it. 


Battlefield 3 has already been stated as having a 30 fps cap on the console versions, a let down but not a deal breaker. Due to console memory restrictions I'm sure there will also be a lower texture quality (usally one of the first things to go for consoles) and get ready for the jagged edges because Anti Aliasing packs quite a processing punch. 


All of these things are superficial though. The kind of changes you appreciate once you see them. But... if no one told you they were there? You probably would enjoy the game just as much. If someone hadn't shown me Bad Company 2 running on PC, would I have known the Xbox version didn't look as pretty? Nah probably not. So who cares? Just suck it up, you'll forget you're playing a lower quality product as soon as you get your first headshot. Unless of course that experience is fundamentally different.


Bet you can't guess which version this is


BINGO, Battlefield 3 has unfortunately had to make that kind of concession. Understandably so, Multiplayer matches had to be toned down from a player limit of 64 to 24 (ouch!) on the console versions. EA claims this won't fundamentally affect your experience and I suppose that that argument can be made. However, it cannot be denied that players of Battlefield 3 on the console will be missing out on the epic super large battles of 32 vs. 32.


Unfortunately, unless we can get an uplifting boost to PC gaming (come on Guild Wars 2 and Diablo 3) some day you may not even realize that you're missing out on features from the PC version, because the PC versions will be a thing of the past. 


Source: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/118/1184288p1.html





Wednesday, July 27, 2011
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The Old Republic Breaks EA Records - Release Date August 2036

Posted by Hunter4Bradley

Ok so I was kidding about the release date being in 2036, but as of the time of this writing there still is no official release date for this game. What was once November 2010 is now...supposedly... Holiday Season 2011.Which holiday?! I'm hoping for Halloween.


Apparently this doesn't affect fans, as pre-orders for the game broke EA's  previous record holder (which I assume had to be Nerf N-Strike for the Wii). http://bit.ly/ncbdqz


Doesn't this just scream record breaker


This surprises me for a couple of reasons. 

A) Apparently Star Wars, a franchise which began in 1977 (that's 34 years ago folks) is still in incredibly relevant. I'm upset because Saturday Night Fever, which came out the same year, didn't spark such a future video game frenzy. Undoubtedly it would have made a great MMO :( 

B) Consumers don't give a crap about being jerked around for years about the release date of this game (which still has not been given). They are also more than happy to throw their money at Bioware in slim hopes that some day they can run around as a Darth Maul look-alike screaming that their Midichlorian count is "OVER 9000!!!"



C) Fans of Bioware that are also fans of Star Wars have complete and utter trust in the company to give them an authentic Star Wars experience that is enjoyable and effectively 'Massively Multiplayer'. I say this because there are very few people that have had a chance to play this game for any period of time, and most of those are still under a non-disclosure-agreement (which I have to believe just said "Don't tell anyone there isn't actually a game"). 

So no one really knows much about this game based on a movie from 1977 that may or may not be released, but no worries because EA is still more than willing to accept your money in advance. Um....this business plan is working well?

I for one plan to wait it out to see how this actually plays out, and whether or not this monster can actually live up to the beastly hype it has created. 

Ah who the hell am I kidding...I'll take the $150 Collectors Edition please. 

http://amzn.to/qOmFQj


Tuesday, July 26, 2011
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Could the Vita save the PSP? By Killing It!?

Posted by Hunter4Bradley

Let's face it, even for those of us that loved the PSP it was a flawed system. Only one analog stick, the fact that that analog stick was actually a nub, UMD in general (ugh), general lack of infrastructure mode multiplayer, the list goes on. Well it seems like Sony has learned from their mistakes and is releasing one of the most exciting pieces of hardware for gaming since the N64 (it's rumored to have Jurassic Park level graphics!).

Enter the Playstation Vita.  

In case you've been hiding in a closet because your recent replay through Silent Hill still has you scared shitless, here's a rundown of the Vita. This shining beauty of gaming excitement has a touchscreen, the usual sony style 4 buttons on the right, d-pad, left and right shoulder buttons, a touchpad on the backside, and most importantly 2 full analog sticks. I have yet to get the opportunity to test out these shining beacons of hope myself, but from what I've read they sound smooth, comfortable, and responsive. 

These 2 analogs that first appeared on the PS1 dual shock changed gaming as we know it, allowing for simultaneous control of movement and camera control in a comfortable way. It seemed like a no brainer that the PSP would attempt to add this functionality, allowing for a broader scope of gameplay options.

Well they didn't, and one nub on the wrong side of PSP is all we got. If it had at least been on the right we could have moved with the dpad while scanning with the nub on the right....but oh well. Instead we got a system that lead to some of the clumsiest control options known to date... I'm looking at you Monster Hunter.

(Shit how do I spin that camera again?) 


Some of the best games I've played (on any system) were basically stabbed in the back from the start because of the lack of a second analog stick. Monster Hunter, Portable Ops and Peacewalker, and hell any of the other ports that came from the PS2 or later the PS3. The system could have been a PS2 in your hand, but due to one design flaw could never reach that potential. 

Now with the Vita on the horizon, I find myself almost equally excited to replay PSP games on the crisp new OLED screen with fully functional dual analog sticks as I am to play new Vita games. Rumor is that PSP games will allow the use of the sticks for new control schemes, opening up an entire market of incredible games held back only by their painfully crappy camera controls. Previously mentioned Monster Hunter, Portable Ops and Peacewalker, and a myriad of other titles that I probably didn't even look at at the time. 

(wait when did this happen?)


With these games now looking better than ever, priced dirt cheap at the end of the PSP life cycle, and freshened with comfortable controls, a whole new library of titles has opened up. The Vita will be the final nail in the coffin for the PSP, but the games for the system may see a resurgence and actually return to life. 

With any luck the Vita will be a raisega to all of the dieing 5 star games you might have missed on Sony's first handheld. Goodbye PSP, sorry but with your big brother on the way...you won't be missed. 

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Gaming Casually Hardcore and David Hayter

Posted by Hunter4Bradley

I love video games. I love the industry, I love the systems, I love intense PC hardware that skyrockets framerates way above what the eye can actually see, and I love talking about all of it.


I hate blogs.

Or at least I thought I did, two weeks ago.. I have my friends to talk to about stuff, who needs to share with the rest of the world wide web? Unfortunately, it seems that those friends I used to talk to actually have things to do now, and apparently have other things they like to talk about besides the latest rumor updates for Skyrim and Guild Wars 2 (seriously though who's pumped?!) 

So with my outlets for video game discussion slowly moving off to bigger and better things (I love Fantasy Football too guys but come on the season hasn't even started) I was finally driven to blogging. Ironically, right now the only people reading this are the close friends that drove me to blogging.... as at the start of this blog I have no followers. You lovely people out there who are reading this are about to start getting the incredible thoughts and opinions of yours truly on everything from "WTF happened to Nintendo" to blowing stuff up in the Frostbite 2 engine is for Battlefield 3.  

(neat)


I chose Hardcore Casual Gaming because that's where I'm at right now. I'm a hardcore gamer at heart that no longer has time for it. Real life caught up to me, and now my 6-8 hours a day has turned into 1-2 (my gaming life needs a Raise III). Being my first blog, this is sure to be utter crap, so I'm glad you're following.

So let me know it sucks, send me messages saying "You're the worst blogger ever" and "You'll never be anything" because the people that get sent those messages in movies always end up with their own show on Spike TV or something ("I did it and no one thought I could! blah blah blah"). Also, tell your friends how much it sucks so they can follow and send me messages too telling me how stupid I am for not being excited about Batman: Arkham City.

You have something to talk about? Hit me up with a message, I've got tons of free time at work so I'll probably respond. You can also follow me on twitter @Hunter4Bradley. There isn't a Genre I haven't at least toyed with, and I've used almost every type of gaming tool you can think of. So whatever medium / game / game company / David Hayter you have an interest in let me know. 

Welcome to Hardcore Casual Gaming

Monday, July 25, 2011
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