I’ve been gone for a few weeks; i should have mentioned this to all of you earlier, but i’m doing it now. I should be resuming normal blogging within the week. I had to take some time and enjoy what was left of summer, not to mention i’ve been in the process of moving to a new place, and starting a new Web Design job.

I’ll see you all very soon!

-Tanner

ello, my name is Gavan Woolery, and I am about to show you something impossible. While many sat idly and criticized the lack of creativity in the gaming industry, I spent the last two years trying to change things. In an era of eight-figure game budgets and hundred man development teams, I am attempting to prove that one [crazed] individual can compete. Whether or not my efforts are ultimately successful, my hope is that they ignite the spark of a revolution. At the very least, I would like to change people’s perception of what is possible.

And so begins the manifest of what i hope is a radical change in the way we play online. Permanent Deaths? Procreation? completely changable landscapes? Pipe Dream? I’d like to think not… But reading this manifesto i was reminded of my formitive years (camera pulls back, and pans out across the clouds.) I think it was around 1997-or 98, Ultima Online was king shit of the interweb, and everyone was scrampling to see what was happening next, Everquest was out as well, and i believe Asheron’s Call was on it’s way.

I remember i had played UO for a bit, but quickly grew bored of it’s repetitious and static world, plus i was ganked by my best friend… sob. When one day i came across a group developing something called “The Awakening Project” and promissing to bring “a fully realized 3D world to life, the size of the earth, fully changable evirons, permanent death…” real life, basically. I was in, i mean, at the very least it wouldn’t work out and i’d play asheron’s call - but i needed something to believe in you see, i needed a reason to wake up in the morning… Alas, it was all for not, and the project colapsed under its meager weight after only a few years of existence.

What did this teach me? A little saying that goes something like “I’ll believe it when it completely consumes all my free time and leaves me a friendless, jobless, wreck of a man.”

check out what’s left of the awakening project |here|

read about Genesis |here|

Interesting how both sites look like they were written in 1993?

Ok, so i know i’m in the minority of folks who still can’t get enough WW2. After the glut of games that have already hit the shelves, i won’t get into the entire list, but lets just say… battlefield, commandoes and Call of Duty. They were more than likely enough for everyone. Not this guy, something about WW2 has always sparked my interest, the locations, the valor, the terrible events, the guilty pleasure of pretending to live through something i’d never want to come close to experiencing, who knows really.

Well, for those of us who enjoy WW2 and RTS, we’ve got a treat in store for us now. Relic, makers of the kick ass Dawn of War, are getting ready to release their next efford entitled “Company of Heroes” evidently there are so many WW2 games and movies out there now that we have to start recombining the names… Whatever.

From what Gamespot is telling and the little blurry videos are showing me, this looks to be alot of fun, single player and at the next LAN party (direct connect perhaps?) Here’s the Score:

1. Much like Dawn of war, you have an economy based on holding locations, once you capture you can have more men, and a gain site specific advantages; the real world twist comes in the fact that whatever control points you capture, in order to acquire these befifits, you must be attached to a previous hold point, no capture random sites - there is a chain of reinforcment… multiplayer just got more interesting.
2. The AI is smart, (This i’ll believe when i see it, or rather, get my ass kicked by the PC) they retreat when out numbered and attempt to trap and lure.
3. Houses can be fortified (a la C&C generals.) this was alot of fun in Generals, and looks to be even more fun now - thanks to  point 4:
4. Destructable Landscapes and Buildings. Woooo hoooo - this is good stuff, taking fire from that garrisoned house? call in an airstrike, can’t get through that razor wire? send a tank through…

The possibilities are endless, and with a name like Relic behind it, we might just see a resurgence of WW2 fanaticism, maybe? |Gamespot Preview|

It’s funny that John Davison over at 1UP blogged about the same thing i was (and still am) going to write about - Oblivion, and it’s ability to suck you back in. Even after you’ve given up on ever beating it, even when you’ve rammed your head up against countless broken quests, gotten stuck on countless pieces of scenery - even when you have so much real work to be doing, friend’s (girl and otherwise) you are neglecting, and yes i’ll say it -more exciting games to be playing. Somehow, beyond all reason, that dark lady of temptation, Oblivion reels us back in.

Today was was monday, but my sunday, essentially, i had some things to do, sign my new lease, start cleaning my apartment, get ready to move, i even had plans to go see “A Scanner Darkly”. I had even started to clean up my sty, grabbing a stack of papers and books when a folded sheet of glossy paper fell out of the stack, i picked it up, unfolded it and to my suprise it was my map of Cyrodiil.

As i studied it’s windy roads, cryptic names and dense forests, emotions began to flood back towards me - memories swam back out of, well, oblivion. I never found out what became of Martin, i never closed all those damned gates, i never did see that fucking dragon, (did anyone really?) it’s been over a month since i watched a sunset from the hills, or watched my summoned minions make mince meat out of a horde of Daedra…
I dropped the stack of books, and doubled clicked the icon… 7 hours later, here i am, sweaty, exhausted, my trigger finger sore, my eyes bloodshot - and content once more, though temporarily - perhaps i won’t see Oblivion again for a while, but i know i will be visiting Tamriel again, and as i played back all the answering machine messages asking where i was, and why i was such an asshole, i couldn’t help thinking to myself… “Oblivion, why can’t i quit you?”

About a week ago leaked tech specs of the Wii made their way out to the gaming worlds hands. And were found to be a bit underwealming by most; though this isn’t as much a bother to Nintendo fans, as Nintendo are known not for their raw horsepower, but ingenuity. Reguardless, Ars Technica have gone over those details with a fine tooth soldering iron, and have come to this conclusion:

1. The MaxConsole specs are someone’s idea of a joke.
2. The Wii really is just an overclocked GameCube with a DVD player, in which case the joke’s on Nintendo.

If you’re interested in knowing why, head over to Ars Technica and read the details.

While for most games mod’s are an option, extra’s for fanboys, or people who’ve finished a game and want to have a little more fun - but for Oblivion, mod’s are essential. Without them, well… lets just say you might be left with an empty feeling when you beat the main question at level 3.

There are hundreds and hundreds of oblivion mods out there, and more are springing up each day - if you’re just getting into the game, it can be overwealming. While the majority of the mods are simple game tweaks, more gold for kills, less weight for potions, some of them change the way the game plays in drastic ways… stylisticly, as well as visually - before you install one of these mods you should do some research.

If you don’t have all the time in the world, a guide like Gamehelper’s is a good place to start; their new weekly oblivion mod’s guide should be a bookmark you keep checking. While i use most of the mods featured this week already, i find these two to be very impressive:
Kumiko Manor is a home just off shore and offers the player a home to keep their things (for the right price). This isn’t any old house though, this thing is fully realized, and as detailed as anything bethesda will sell for 2.99. Check it out.

Cheydinhal Petshop lets you buy a companion animal - i’ve seen mods that give the world cats, but i’ve not seen anything this developed till now. Not only do you get a selection of animals, different types of cats and dogs, wild animals, and even a skeleton, but they obey your commands, eat, sleep and advance in levels like yourself, growing stronger and large in time. How’s that for free content?

You can check out all the other recommended mods here (Gamehelper)

If you’re an oldschool adventure gamer like i am, and also have an appreciation of all things Cthulhu in nature, than might i suggest checking out the old Infogrames title “Prisoner of Ice”. You’ll need dosbox, but if you can get it up and running you’re in for a treat. it’s all there, dark corners of the earth and all, nazi’s to boot.

Johann Walter @ Adventure Gamers had this to say:

The action takes place in 1937, and begins as a British submarine is returning from having rescued a scientist from a German base in the Antarctic, where it also recovered two mysterious crates, frozen in ice. Unfortunately, the submarine gets attacked, fire erupts in the hold, the ice protecting one of the crates thaws, and out springs the titular prisoner: a blue, tentacled monster clearly intent on killing everybody on board – starting with the captain. You, as lieutenant Ryan, an American secret service agent who was part of the rescue mission, take control of the sub and must find a way to save yourself and the crew from the monster.  (The Full Review)

computerandvideogames.com (that’s a long one…) are featuring some new info on the upcoming sequel to one of my all time favorite RPGs. There is alot of talk about the character development system, but the real juicy bits come when they dicuss the “Stronghold System” whereby your character will have as her/his home. A home you build, stock, fortify and defend - as Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart puts it:

“Who you meet, how you treat them and how you solve their problems determines what recruits you can gather to help defend your stronghold,” remarks Avellone. “You can also have miners, farmers and architects join your ranks to improve your home base.”

Get the rest of the scoup at CVG

For the Wii that is. My Wii fantasies just got a new roomate in my head. Check out this video here, then go check out Nibris’ website and read up all you can. There isn’t much to know about this game right now other than it’s excellently styled in black and white, has creatures based on slavic legend and follows in the footsteps of Silent hill style atmospheric horror games.

“Sadness is a novelty on the video games market. Both the story and the presentation of the game [are] going to be a surprise for a player. You must forgive us [for] the fact that we present so scarce information about Sadness, but we hope that once you play it you will understand our circumspection. We do not want to spoil the fun,” says Nibris’ Adam Artur Antolski

The real clincher though is watching the way you control the heroine of story, using the Wii remotes; by batting at the air infront of you you’re on screen character attempts to fend off a torrent of rats with a torch, in another scene you use the controller to pull crates down behind you as you flee. The best moment in the preview came when the player raises her controler along side of her face and pushes a button, while on screen, the character raises her umbrella and extends it, brilliant.

Nibris made it clear that this game will be fore mature audiences, asking on their website for age verification just to view the preview material. This is a good sign that Nintendo is finally willing to start marketing games for mature audiences…
Amazing. Wii can’t wait.

Nibris

Trailer

Linux baby!

That’s right, Wii will be running on it’s own version of the Linux operating system, allowing for expanability, stability and new functionality to be added as time goes on. Wii will also be running a version of the Opera browser, similar to version running on the the DS. Makes me think i should be trying out this browser… if it’s good enough for Nintendo…
Here’s what Kiyoshi Saruwatari had to say:

Wii will have software based on a industry standard platform that’s open source. Linux. You read that right. Wii will have Linux as operating system with proprietary GUI and applications based on commonly open source for Linux programs. This probably make you all think of homebew and hacking and things like that, but the final system in closed and will allow only signed code etc and will be very secure, even though it’s technically compatible with a world of already existing software. You can count on a lot of 3rd party add ons, much like Opera. By default, Wii will not have a window manager, but a easy to understand and simple interface, similar to what other consoles have. Underneath is a powerful and stabel Linux kernel which keeps it all solid.

It’s almost as if Nintendo have listened to ever gamer (worth his or her salt) and responded with all the right answers.