Game On?

I'm in the software biz.

I wish it was game development but I have to settle for more business-centric fare. Despite that fact, games are software and require the same processes as developing an accounting package or photo sharing web site.

I oversee a few development teams working on different products. One QA team handles testing of all these products. Thanks to varying degrees of delay, we are looking at three MAJOR releases in QA at the same time. My QA Manager's wife is also so pregnant that if she doesn't have the baby by Thursday's doctor's appointment, the doc will schedule an induction. Within seven days I am going to lose my QA Manager for two weeks.

Have you taken the time to look over the credits for your favorite game?

You should.

Developing software these days is a bitch! Windows XP vs Vista vs OS X. IE vs Firefox vs Safari. 1.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz vs 3.46GHz Dual Core.

360 vs PS3 vs PC.

I'm feeling sympathetic to the 2K Boston guys and the firestorm kicked up about the BioShock widescreen issue. I don't agree with how 2K handled the cropping, I just sympathize with a team that worked their ass off to build one hell of a game.

The same with the Silicon Knights vs Epic lawsuit. I've worked with licensed technology before and good code and support are critical to its successful use. I feel for both sides on this one. There is so much pressure to get more done in a shorter time frame while spending less money.

So I guess my point here is to show love to the folks working in the trenches. If you love a game, send email to the developer. Write a nice long letter about what you like. Those things get printed and pinned on bulletin boards and taped on cubical walls. It helps that animator or tester or designer or engine programmer put their best into the next game.

And aren't we all about the next great game?

Posted by SamuraiCoder @ 3:25 pm EDT | Permalink | 4 Comments

Where the Hell is my Bioshock?!

I usually don't preorder games. There are half a dozen EBGameStop(tm)(r) stores close by and a few BestBuy, CC and Walmarts to boot. Just wak in and get the game I want.

After the Bioshock demo dropped I preordered the Limited Edition at GameStop.com. I want a little Big Daddy doll to play with and enjoy! Anyway, I got the email showing it had shipped. The UPS tracking site shows it is on the damn truck driving around the suburbs.

Why wasn't I the first stop?! The driver must not be a gamer. Pussy.

Now I've seen on X3F that many of the Big Daddy figures are broken in their packages. I'm going to make the UPS driver stand there while I open the package to make sure it is in one piece. I can picture my neighbors looking out their front door as I scream at the driver while shoving a broken Big Daddy figure in his face. If the damn thing's broken I'll end up spending the night in jail instead of playing the game.

I'm going to clear my work schedule and sit on my front step.

 

Posted by SamuraiCoder @ 1:53 pm EDT | Permalink | 1 Comments

Waiting for BioShock

I was fortunate enough to see the BioShock demo on XBLM Sunday night when it posted. It was already late so I fired up the download and let my 360 finish the download overnight.

I spent my lunch hour on Monday playing through the demo.

It was much better than a stupid sandwich.

I played again Monday night and once per day since.

I'm a bit of a fan of art deco and the design of this game is amazing! The visuals, sound and game play work together with a fabulous story. I feel I can't do it justice. I encourage interested parties to visit Tycho's blog at Penny Arcade.

I'm so stoked I've also tried to win the early copy contests at Joystiq and X3F. I've already preordered the limited edition from EB but I wanted it now! Unfortunately, I didn't win. Curse the gaming gods! Maybe I'll have more luck with the Joystiq contest to win the BioShock faceplate and tee shirt.

I'm going to spend some time over the weekend geeting a few more acheivements our of GHII and then I'll be in Rapture until the end of September.

***

Posted by SamuraiCoder @ 7:30 pm EDT | Permalink | 0 Comments