Online matches of Modern Warfare 2 are all pretty typical. Sixteen players charge toward one another, firing guns and throwing grenades -- nothing special. But every once in a while, someone gets bored and decides to break the established conventions. YouTube user Wayne Wexford figured that snipers shouldn't have a monopoly on Claymore mines. Tired of using bullets, Wayne equipped a few mines and set himself to work. The following kills are the fruits of his labor:
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Does anyone who's playing the Starcraft 2 beta feel like it deserves an Adults-Only rating?
News Blips:
Editor's note: How much are you willing to pay for convenience in games? For some cute costumes or a few extra levels? Brendon examines his own threshold for buying downloadable content and wonders whether we should take a concerted stand against DLC. -Brett
On April 15, Blizzard added the Celestial Steed to its World of Warcraft online store, setting off a firestorm of message board comments.
For $25, WoW players can now be the proud owners of a flying star pony. The Celestial Steed will be accessible to all characters, present and future, on the purchasing account until the end of the world (of Warcraft). It scales with riding ability, which has historically been a trait reserved for expensive, rare, or otherwise hard-to-get mounts. It is your Mount of Forever, provided you’re willing to cough up the cash.
A few hours after launch, the download queue stood at 100,000 and change.
For every ten people buying one, there’s at least one player complaining about it.
It feeds on the addiction of mentally unstable fans, those critics say. They contend it marks a troubling turn for Blizzard, who has been slowly introducing paid conveniences over the past few years but said it would draw the line at anything that would directly impact gameplay.
It’s also too expensive. Some critics want it but simply can’t afford it.
Read more >>If you follow our Twitter account or our Facebook page, you may have noticed we're getting a little more social with our social networking. From time to time, we'll ask a question relevant to video game news. We're going to collecting the best answers in this new feature, Tweetbook Q&A.
It begins!
Is Splinter Cell: Conviction a day-one purchase for you?
Via Facebook:
James B. Walker on missing the mark: "You know, for all the ads and hype in the last couple of weeks, I'm amazed how many people have been honestly surprised it's coming out today. I am one of those people and also broke as hell, so no. No it is not."
Tim Hoffner on bad ads: "The ad from Gamestop for the preorder turned me off completely."
Kree Calhoun on trying before buying: "Day one rental for me."
Alex Martin on being oblivious: "It is? I guess not then."
Jose Abraham Espino-Arvizu with a not-so-short answer: "I was going to buy it, I already put down 60 bucks on it, but I heard it was a five-to-six-hour game and it kinda turned me away. And I didn't hear much of multiplayer. Taking my money back today, but I will definitely check it out later; I heard good things about it. :) answer is...no."
Best Crackdown 2 developer quote to take out of context (at 1:42): "There's nothing more satisfying than seeing bodies piling over the car and exploding into particle fireworks."
Video Blips:
In this episode, the Internet's ubiquitous funnyman/former Super Friend Seanbaby joins Bitmob's own Dan Hsu, Demian Linn, and Brett Bates to celebrate the Mobcast's 50th episode. The group discusses their favorite and least favorite games, frustrating experiences, great moments in video game history, gaming-related birthday memories, and which titles from the past and present will the crew still be enjoying in 2060.
Have a community topic you want to hear the crew discuss? E-mail your suggestions to letters@bitmob.com, subject: Mobcast.
Zune Link (must use Internet Explorer)
Direct Download (right click save as)
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Editor's note: A nerdy twist on a classic set up: Who would you want to make your perfect game? I like Chase's approach here, because I feel that the industry -- and games journalism -- needs to spotlight the talent behind the keyboards much more so than they do currently. -Rob
Since the dawn of time, humanity has entertained a little conversation starter. In it, you name three individuals you would like to invite to dinner. Some people restrict it to the living only and others allow anyone; really, it’s up to you what rules you want to follow.
My list has always consisted of Benjamin Franklin, Paul McCartney, and Conan O’Brien. But since this is Bitmob, let’s tweak the game a little.
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If you thought April is a historically light month for video games, you would be wrong. There are some major anniversaries coming up this week. This installment of This Week in Video Game History gives us an opportunity to celebrate a classic game that is still very relevant, curse gamers for avoiding two fantastic titles, and confirm that arcade cabinets are perfect for a show about nothing.
April 18
1994 -- Super Metroid is released in North America. Usually, I will list the first worldwide appearance of a game, but the Metroid series has had a very unique relationship with North American audiences. Of the many noted Nintendo franchises, Metroid seems to be one of the few that is more popular in North America than Japan. This game, however, stands on its own, and has become one of the highest regarded games of all time. The heart of Super Metroid is still beating strong, inspiring modern releases like Shadow Complex. For more, head over to Area 5 to see a great discussion about the game by notable journalists (including Hsu).
2006 -- Final Fantasy 11 makes the leap to the next-gen with its Xbox 360 release. Two days later, it hits store shelves in Japan, but no one noticed.
2006 -- HD-DVD makes its North American debut. Again, no one noticed.
Time to roll up the ice. You don’t need to play any NHL playoff games this year, because Chicago’s got it in the bag -- according to EA Sports, that is. The company ran a simulation on their award-winning NHL 10, and according to the results, the 'Hawks will defeat the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in a seven-game series [via Icrontic]
This reminds me of the 1996 Sports Illustrated cover that said the Super Bowl would be between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers that year. It wasn't.
In defense of EA Sports, they do a little more than just predict Chicago winning the 2010 Stanley Cup. Video-game companies do simulated seasons on many sports titles every year. For this season, the sports-game juggernaut took the concept a step further. They conducted a computerized simulation using artificial intelligence that takes into account player ratings, line combinations -- even unpredictable occurrences like injuries and hot streaks. Sounds like it's time to take a trip to your local sportsbook! Check after the jump for video highlights of the virtual finals.
This week's Reviews Spotlight pokes fun at Japanese blondes, examines the charm of a talking meatball, and starts feuds in the name of White Knight Chronicles.
For What it's Worth: ATHF Zombie Ninja Pro-Am
By Ryan Conway
Aqua Teen Hunger Force is, without question, the strangest show on television. The surreal, sometimes morbid antics of Frylock, Master Shake, and Meatwad require a particular sense of humor to enjoy. But because I happen to be an admitted fan of this off-color show, I assumed that a video game based on the property seemed like a good idea. Fortunately for me, Ryan remedies that assumption. Hailing it as "one of the worst games" he's ever played, this Bitmobber takes readers on a hilarious ride, explaining why Zombie Ninja Pro-Am is worth less than a cup of coffee. If you're curious about the show, watch this.
One of the Best Games You Never Played...Startopia
By Tony White
For a game that lampoons sci-fi legends like 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Startopia has gone relatively unnoticed by the mainstream gaming media. Tony explains that this BAFTA (basically, the British Oscars) nominee deserves a close look. From sly pop culture references to a challenging metagame, Startopia seems to have covered all possible bases. One question though -- what's a Turrakken?
Modern Warfare 2 is an amazing and great-looking game. Still, quite a few of us miss the good old days of explosive side-scrolling action. Thanks to Pixel Prospector, we can all enjoy the fun only a platform shooter can offer. Introducing Call of Duty 6 (2D Remake)!
Although the game is short, you will control a stationary machine gun, take a spin in a helicopter, race around on a snowmobile and a speed boat, and direct a remote-controlled missile.
The developer of this free, 2D remake claims he may consider making the game longer and adding an online mode. After Activision dropped the nuke on Infinity Ward recently, this guy might want to worry about being their next target!
Read more >>At the time, I used the name "Bookman." I was well-known in my Counter Strike 1.6 community, especially as a sniper. Within the familiar confines of our server space, I made friends, sharpened my skills, and met new players. But last week I returned to our once-famous server to find it completely empty. Everyone had moved on -- the clan had separated and the server was a ghost town.
Due to their very nature, communities expand and deflate. Human beings either make a concerted effort to maintain social connections or they move on. Unfortunately, most online communities fail to live past their first anniversary. In fact, most multiplayer games don't maintain a fan base large enough to justify server costs. As the fictional antagonist in the film AntiTrust put it, "This business is binary. You're a one or a zero. Alive or dead."
The question remains, however, how do we prevent this death? How do we stop burgeoning online communities from turning into ghost towns 12 months down the road? Well, I have a few ideas. Here are three practical steps any developer can take that will increase the longevity of their game and maintain a decent-sized fan base:
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