I also really enjoyed Warhawk, but during that time I probably played a lot more Confrontation and Killzone (mostly multiplayer).
The Starhawk Public beta presented (this is now after the event) one of the highest quality large (32 players) multiplayer games I have ever experienced. It is incredibly immersive with the right audio/video system. Games can range from fast and furious as you try to avoid panic as Hawkish hellfire rains down upon a base with inadequate air defense, to slow and intriguing as you outfit yourself with supplies and a vehicle and attempt to establish a new base of operations. The integration of RTS elements (you amass energy for structures and units), which you deploy in real time on the battlefield, feel like resources for which you are responsible. They even have cool and complex behaviors, and as fun as they are to pilot, they are just as hard to eliminate.
That constant sense of danger breathes some life into this strangely futuristic comic-book conception of a super-soldier. Heavily armed with a "hyper" sniper gun, a pest of a machine gun, a rocket launcher, a welding torch, sticky mines, and a beast of a short-range blast gun, you hop about with a jetpack, looking to pounce on flanking intruders. Hawks vie for air superiority, alternating between intense dogfights and the risky ground attacks (better to attack with a wingman!). Heavy "Ox" tanks are very maneuverable 6x6 that can quickly decimate fortified defenses. The Sidewinder jet-bikes allow for high-speed traversal of the terrain, perhaps to more quickly and evasively get home with the enemy's flag. What fun!
Definitely some of the best multiplayer I've ever played, but then there's SOCOM 4....
A year after its release, SOCOM 4 remains one of the best tactical shooters ever made (with one of the best peripheral implementations with PS Move), and it is very unfortunate that this beautiful, creative and innovative mashup of old SOCOM, MAG, Uncharted, Killzone, COD, Hitman, etc. didn't sell millions. The online competitive multiplayer is so damn good that it will go down as an all-time classic. The people who were dissuaded from exploring this game because of gunplay mechanics and aesthetics really missed the boat! The audio is especially standout with a very well-produced contextualized soundtrack and amazing environmental audio that needs to be heard to be believed. Enemy footsteps on the stone walkway will alert you to a flanking maneuver , or that machine gun that just invaded your spawn you give you pause before careless engagement. That bozo skinned as a fireman who is tormenting your team with a grenade launcher can be anticipated and taken out with a trap.
I played SOCOM 2 (another classic) for about 18 months back in the day, and it has absolutely nothing on this. Gunplay and stealth are about the best that console gaming have ever offered. Confrontation (which is a very good competitive multiplayer despite its many flaws, which I've played for two years) is far inferior to SOCOM 4, if not just because of how much better stand-off gunplay has become (very little of the ridiculous back-and-forth strafing of the old days). The copious quantity of cover in the game requires that teams work together to clear and hold strategic areas.
The single-player and CO-OP are also very worthy modes.
Forget MAG, SOCOM 4 was Zipper's masterpiece, and we will miss the developer that put so much love and thought into this bit of gaming history.
This is very much like Netflix streaming for music. I've been playing with the new Qriocity service (in NA) most of the day on my PS3, and while the feature-set is rudimentary, the interface is pretty straight-forward and the catalog has been extensive enough to hold my interest. Only the premium service (US$10/month) interests me, and so far it appears to offer considerable value to someone who wants a no-hassle music streaming service for their living room.
What is here (software and catalog) appears to be a good foundation for Sony's new service. It allows them to leverage both their existing customer-base with ease and their priviledged place in the living room. Of course, Microsoft offers a competing service called Zune Pass on the 360 (I've never seen it), and Apple is expected to launch something similar (streaming) soon. Furthermore, numerous other services compete predominately on the PC and in the mobile space.
Having played SOCOM: Confrontation and Killzone 2 extensively for the past year, and MAG and Uncharted 2 for the past month (all excellent online games), Killzone 3 MP is a welcome addition. The Move implementation is so good, I've barely played it with the DS3. My impressions are of course limited by the open beta, but I could easily migrate from KZ2 to this, appreciating the more powerful weapons (and bots), the new interface, the improved sound and the feedback when getting shot. Of course I'm going to really miss all of the KZ2 MP levels, especially the add-on content.
Visually, the game excels, but so did the last one. Some will appreciate the new look more, but I'm somewhat attached to the shiny and blurry old one which could hide some of the imperfections. On Frozen Dam, the mountains in the background can look a little flat. I hope everything else looks at least as good as this.
The notion that Americans are overweight (or obese) because of videogames (TV, reading books, movies, web surfing, etc.) does not account for the Obesity Epidemic which pretty much started in the early 80s. The biochemistry of fat regulation depends upon the quality of nutrients, whereas insulin is secreted in response to glucose, and it is insulin which drives the accumulation of fat. Cheap, abundant, robust, addictive, sweet nutrients such as sugars and starches look very much to be the primary culprits. And low-fat diets will tend to be high-carbohydrate diets because you're pretty much only going to eat protein, fats, and carbohydrates. So if you're avoiding fat because you were told repeatedly by nutrition authorities that it is harmful to your health (linked to heart disease), you might want to re-examine the scientific basis for that recommendation.
"Active" games will attract some fitness enthusiasts, but do not expect them solve our health crisis.
Smartbooks are an interesting class of device. Some of the popular features include:
+ low-power ARM cores in SoC configurations with less memory than x86 machines + phone/mobile OS and software + 3G connectivity + touch interfaces + battery life that lasts all day + very slim form-factors + 3lbs or less + intuitive interfaces + vendor app store + low maintenace/TCO + quiet/fanless operation + device remains cool during use
At the cost of:
- x86 compatibility - MS Windows (will change with Win Pho 7) - software flexibility (favors purpose-built mobile applications)
These are trade-offs that millions are obviously willing to make because the device gains usability. The iPad is essentially a smartbook slate with its own specialized software market. The industry is betting big that people will adopt these kinds of devices (ARM-based smartbooks/smart-slates) in place of x86-based netbooks, and I think they're right. Mobile telecommunication companies are going to start looking a lot more like ISPs with these flat-rate data fees. This is the mobile computing era, kicked off by the introduction of the iPhone.
And as for OLED, how well does it compare with LCDs as far as: - power consumption - lifespan - contrast - color accuracy - cost - visibility in daylight
It is my understanding that OLED technology is still immature and somewhat impractical.
How many tablets/slates coming out the next year will have an OLED screen? Does anyone believe that the next iPhone will have one?
Will the Compaq AirLife be a successful product? I have no idea.
Flash is a pervasive proprietary technology that is effectively controlled by one company. This is not good for what is essentially an open medium.
Apple's main competitive advantage comes down to user experience, and a cornerstone of that is the user-interface. Many people have complained about how long it has taken Apple to add "multi-tasking" to their iPhone OS, but it can be instructive to compare the UI responsiveness and smoothness of the original iPhone compared to the most recent Android, WebOS, or Windows Mobile phones running on far more powerful hardware. This I believe has been a key selling point for Apple, and why they remain so popular.
Consider the consequences of letting another company now dictate how your user experience is going to be? It basically removes Apple's competitive advantage, and that is why they are fighting so hard against Adobe. Apple and Google will make sure that HTML5 interaction is competitive with Flash, and you can bet that it will happen very fast.
With the introduction of Apple's iPad, several analysts feel that Flash is going to begin a downward spiral. Having briefly used the device the other day at Best Buy, I feel that I have finally experienced something that is superior to the mouse. I also have not seen a single tablet due out this year (even those based on Nvidia's excellent Tegra 2) that will present a significant rival. Every alternative to the iPad seems to comes with significant disadvantages, whether it is responsiveness, weight, screen quality, UI, or battery life. That said, many of the devices look very compelling, and should satisfy niche-market needs for openness, Windows compatibility, video conferencing, stylus input, Flash support, media storage, 1080p viewing, etc.
The transition to a non-Flash web will certainly be more painful for some, particularly smaller sites that have made significant investments in this technology. In the end, users will benefit by having a far more open medium.
PSA: Starhawk Beta open to all
Apr 4th 2012 7:05PM (Joystiq)The Starhawk Public beta presented (this is now after the event) one of the highest quality large (32 players) multiplayer games I have ever experienced. It is incredibly immersive with the right audio/video system. Games can range from fast and furious as you try to avoid panic as Hawkish hellfire rains down upon a base with inadequate air defense, to slow and intriguing as you outfit yourself with supplies and a vehicle and attempt to establish a new base of operations. The integration of RTS elements (you amass energy for structures and units), which you deploy in real time on the battlefield, feel like resources for which you are responsible. They even have cool and complex behaviors, and as fun as they are to pilot, they are just as hard to eliminate.
That constant sense of danger breathes some life into this strangely futuristic comic-book conception of a super-soldier. Heavily armed with a "hyper" sniper gun, a pest of a machine gun, a rocket launcher, a welding torch, sticky mines, and a beast of a short-range blast gun, you hop about with a jetpack, looking to pounce on flanking intruders. Hawks vie for air superiority, alternating between intense dogfights and the risky ground attacks (better to attack with a wingman!). Heavy "Ox" tanks are very maneuverable 6x6 that can quickly decimate fortified defenses. The Sidewinder jet-bikes allow for high-speed traversal of the terrain, perhaps to more quickly and evasively get home with the enemy's flag. What fun!
Definitely some of the best multiplayer I've ever played, but then there's SOCOM 4....
Sony confirms Zipper Interactive closure
Apr 4th 2012 2:27PM (Joystiq)I played SOCOM 2 (another classic) for about 18 months back in the day, and it has absolutely nothing on this. Gunplay and stealth are about the best that console gaming have ever offered. Confrontation (which is a very good competitive multiplayer despite its many flaws, which I've played for two years) is far inferior to SOCOM 4, if not just because of how much better stand-off gunplay has become (very little of the ridiculous back-and-forth strafing of the old days). The copious quantity of cover in the game requires that teams work together to clear and hold strategic areas.
The single-player and CO-OP are also very worthy modes.
Forget MAG, SOCOM 4 was Zipper's masterpiece, and we will miss the developer that put so much love and thought into this bit of gaming history.
Sony: PS Move ships 10.5 million units
Mar 8th 2012 3:34PM (Joystiq)- MAG (super MMORPG FPS action)
- Killzone 3 multiplayer (among the most immersive FPS experiences available)
- Tumble (very challenging physics-based puzzle game)
- R.U.S.E. (an amazing and underrated WWII RTS game)
Anybody enjoying SOCOM 4 w/Move or w/o? I have never tried it.
PS3 'Qriocity' music service available in US today
Feb 19th 2011 3:42AM (Joystiq)What is here (software and catalog) appears to be a good foundation for Sony's new service. It allows them to leverage both their existing customer-base with ease and their priviledged place in the living room. Of course, Microsoft offers a competing service called Zune Pass on the 360 (I've never seen it), and Apple is expected to launch something similar (streaming) soon. Furthermore, numerous other services compete predominately on the PC and in the mobile space.
Killzone 3 review: Third time's the harm
Feb 5th 2011 5:20AM (Joystiq)Visually, the game excels, but so did the last one. Some will appreciate the new look more, but I'm somewhat attached to the shiny and blurry old one which could hide some of the imperfections. On Frozen Dam, the mountains in the background can look a little flat. I hope everything else looks at least as good as this.
PlayStation Move strategy to focus on 'more core titles,' says Sony's Koller
Jan 15th 2011 6:43AM (Joystiq)Tumble is an original, well-produced, and low-cost puzzle game that is well worth its $10 price from PSN.
Sports Champions is supposed to be pretty good, and I thought the demo did a good job of showing off its interactive subtlety.
As others have perhaps noted, MAG with Move is quite an awesome, large-scale, tactical FPS.
RUSE is an RTS that is quite cool with the Move.
Killzone 3 and SOCOM 4 will be here shortly, and they both look like they are going to be big.
Sorcery is a Move exclusive, and it should be out by summer.
Under Siege is a new RTS coming out soon on PSN which will feature Move control.
Sony's new interface will likely have a long and bright future.
Check out our PlayStation Move hub!
Jun 16th 2010 5:50PM (Engadget)"Active" games will attract some fitness enthusiasts, but do not expect them solve our health crisis.
http://www.why-low-carb-diets-work.com/low-carbohydrate-diets.html
Science writer Gary Taubes' historic nutrition lecture at UC Berkeley from 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVvZP2av5Mk
Marvell shows off 10-inch Android tablet at Netbook Summit
May 25th 2010 6:07PM (Engadget)Didn't Apple create a dedicated marketplace for this new form factor?
HP Compaq AirLife 100 specs revealed (Updated: still no plans for a US arrival)
Apr 21st 2010 12:58PM (Engadget)+ low-power ARM cores in SoC configurations with less memory than x86 machines
+ phone/mobile OS and software
+ 3G connectivity
+ touch interfaces
+ battery life that lasts all day
+ very slim form-factors
+ 3lbs or less
+ intuitive interfaces
+ vendor app store
+ low maintenace/TCO
+ quiet/fanless operation
+ device remains cool during use
At the cost of:
- x86 compatibility
- MS Windows (will change with Win Pho 7)
- software flexibility (favors purpose-built mobile applications)
These are trade-offs that millions are obviously willing to make because the device gains usability. The iPad is essentially a smartbook slate with its own specialized software market. The industry is betting big that people will adopt these kinds of devices (ARM-based smartbooks/smart-slates) in place of x86-based netbooks, and I think they're right. Mobile telecommunication companies are going to start looking a lot more like ISPs with these flat-rate data fees. This is the mobile computing era, kicked off by the introduction of the iPhone.
And as for OLED, how well does it compare with LCDs as far as:
- power consumption
- lifespan
- contrast
- color accuracy
- cost
- visibility in daylight
It is my understanding that OLED technology is still immature and somewhat impractical.
How many tablets/slates coming out the next year will have an OLED screen? Does anyone believe that the next iPhone will have one?
Will the Compaq AirLife be a successful product? I have no idea.
Adobe says iPhone / iPad adoption and 'alternative technologies' (cough, HTML5) could harm its business
Apr 9th 2010 3:46PM (Engadget)Apple's main competitive advantage comes down to user experience, and a cornerstone of that is the user-interface. Many people have complained about how long it has taken Apple to add "multi-tasking" to their iPhone OS, but it can be instructive to compare the UI responsiveness and smoothness of the original iPhone compared to the most recent Android, WebOS, or Windows Mobile phones running on far more powerful hardware. This I believe has been a key selling point for Apple, and why they remain so popular.
Consider the consequences of letting another company now dictate how your user experience is going to be? It basically removes Apple's competitive advantage, and that is why they are fighting so hard against Adobe. Apple and Google will make sure that HTML5 interaction is competitive with Flash, and you can bet that it will happen very fast.
With the introduction of Apple's iPad, several analysts feel that Flash is going to begin a downward spiral. Having briefly used the device the other day at Best Buy, I feel that I have finally experienced something that is superior to the mouse. I also have not seen a single tablet due out this year (even those based on Nvidia's excellent Tegra 2) that will present a significant rival. Every alternative to the iPad seems to comes with significant disadvantages, whether it is responsiveness, weight, screen quality, UI, or battery life. That said, many of the devices look very compelling, and should satisfy niche-market needs for openness, Windows compatibility, video conferencing, stylus input, Flash support, media storage, 1080p viewing, etc.
The transition to a non-Flash web will certainly be more painful for some, particularly smaller sites that have made significant investments in this technology. In the end, users will benefit by having a far more open medium.