Gears of War PC

I just read the following preview for the PC edition of the Greatest Video Game Ever Made (here is the link: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/gearsofwar/news.html?sid=6178908&om_act=convert&om_clk=multimodule&tag=multimodule;picks;title;3).  I would LOVE to play this game and the additional five chapters (which doubles the chapter total from the 360 version), but I am not confident that my laptop can handle the graphics without framerate issues.  Plus, there have been rampant rumors that the additional content will eventually be made available on the 360, either as DLC or as the beginning of Gears 2.  I would greatly prefer playing this additional content on the 360 and would be happy if Epic and/or Microsoft would just make their future 360 plans known as it relates to this additional content.  I am also disappointed that the "new" multiplayer mode is a VERY slightly modified version of annex. 

I understand that Microsoft desperately wants to develop the Games for Windows brand and they view this as a great way to expand XBL subscriptions, but don't forget about your core demographic in the process.  When this game is released, I will have just gotten my copy of COD4, so I guess that I can hold off on making a decision about whether to get Gears 1.5 until I get more info and am able to determine if my poor laptop can handle this game.  I really do not like the approach they are taking with this game (imagine if Halo 2 for PC had twice the content that the Xbox version had) and wish that I could say that I will not buy the PC version out of protest, but, alas, I am weak and will most likely give in and provide my financial encouragement to this bullsh*t cross-platform cash grab.

On an unrelated note, I read a preview somewhere for Mass Effect that said that it was an RPG version of Gears (with some battle based modifications).  Has anyone seen or read anything that would support this description?  I saw some gameplay and know that you can take cover, but is there more to the comparison than this?  I am not a big fan of RPGs, but a Gears RPG would probably make me part with my money.

Posted by BrodysDad46 @ 9:52 am EDT | Permalink | 4 Comments

Updated COD4 MP beta Impressions

I LOVE this game.  The learning curve is fairly steep because there is so much to the MP game, but that should keep it fresh for a longer period of time.  I know that a lot of people just got access in the last couple of days and it is overwhelming (I know because I got a late start), but if you keep playing, it gets more and more fun as you level up.  As I said in my initial impressions blog, I love the rewards for playing well.  It is exciting to add a new weapon, even if you try it once and decide that it isn't good enough to take the place of your primary weapon (I love the S.A.W., especially once equiped with the red dot sight).  I played a free-for-all match last night and finished second, by far my best result.  With the layers included in the MP version of this game, I think that I am more excited about COD4 than I am about Halo3.  If you haven't gotten a token for this game, you must do whatever it takes to get one.  Be patient when you start, level up a bit, and I truly believe that you will love this game (and you can't beat the price of the beta.  LOL).

Posted by BrodysDad46 @ 9:14 am EDT | Permalink | 3 Comments

XBox Live Issues - Sept. 10

As a proud member of Art of War, I was really looking forward to Monday Night Gears, but I couldn't get a connection when I would accept any of the many invites sent to me.  I had even tried to join a couple of public rooms and couldn't get a connection.  Figuring there must be a problem with Live, I went to XBox.com and, sure enough, the XBL support page said the following: "Users may experience intermittent issues trying to perform match making transactions on Xbox Live.  We are working to resolve this issue and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."  I am sorry to those many folks that sent me invites to matches, but the problem XBL is describing definitely affected me.

Hopefully, they will get it fixed by tomarrow evening.  If so, I will see some of you AoW guys and girls then. 

Posted by BrodysDad46 @ 11:29 pm EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

Call of Duty 4 MP Beta Impressions

I finally got my first crack at this game yesterday.  It is very Halo-esque in every respect.  The lobby and matchmaking are nearly identical to the Halo 3 beta's.  The gameplay is similar in that it is very fast moving (solid framerate) and knowledge of the maps appears to be vital.  Since I am getting a late start on the beta, it was a bit disheartening to get into my first match and to see 11 level 11 players (the current level cap) and me.  After a couple of games to get the basics down, I started leveling up quickly.  Still, I was playing so badly (at least relatively) I almost quit.  Later in the evening, I tried again and found some clanmates and got a couple of games in with them.  At this point (once removed from the Timmies talking into my ear), I started having a ton of fun and am now sitting at work looking forward to getting home to get some more games in. 

I was a little disappointed by the graphics, but it is a beta.  I am not saying that the graphics are bad, but, after seeing the in-game demos at E3, I thought that they would be a little better than they are riht now.  Showing a brief replay of your death is nice and should help newbs like me get better.  As for the bells and whistles, in all candor, I am a little overwhelmed by all of the layers involved in the game.  I am still trying to figure out how to employ some of the perks (for example, I equiped my assault rifle with a grenade launcher, but then couldn't figure out how to use it until about 3 matches in).  The airstrikes and other rewards for streaks are a nice touch, but they are tremendously annoying when you are just trying to learn the game (of course, I am sure that my opinion of this will change if I am ever able to call out an airstrike of my own  LOL).  As a Gears fan, I like the challenges.  I haven't completed any of them yet since I was trying to test out all the weapons and find what I was most comfortable with, but I like getting rewarded for success using particular weapons. 

While I can't envision COD4 MP overtaking Gears as my favorite online game, it is a lot of fun.  I look forward to seeing how the clan feature works (it is currently disabled).  I was pretty sure that I was going to buy this game, but I will now go ahead and drop a reservation on it when I go to pick up Halo 3. 

Posted by BrodysDad46 @ 10:59 am EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments

Getting up to speed

I am gradually getting my 2O2P account set up to reflect who I am.  This site is starting to feel like home to me in less than a week.  I have joined the Art of War clan and have already logged some hours playing Gears with my new group of good friends.  I have already figured out that I need to stay on the look out for vodkastains.  He kills me every time I lose track of him.  LOL.  I am grateful to AOW for welcoming me in with open arms. 

In my last blog entry, I voiced concern about taking a break from Bioshock to play "a couple quick games of Gears" and my concern was justified.  I have played Bioshock once since I joined this site last Wednesday (and that was Wednesday night).  I will get back to it though because I desperately want to see the other ending.

I have confirmed my "vacation" for September 26-28.  As far as my boss knows, I have enough vacation time that if I don't start using it, it will convert to sick.  Of course, everyone on this site knows the real reason that I am taking THAT half week off.

Finally, I got my Call of Duty 4 MP Beta token this morning at work.  I am going to run to the house at lunch and start the download in hopes that it will be ready for me when I get home this evening.

Hope all had as good of a long weekend as I did.

Posted by BrodysDad46 @ 12:37 pm EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments