StarCraft 2

StarCraft II : http://www.starcraft2.com/

The videos are mint, as you would expect. There are some protoss units to preview but since Starcraft 1 still reigns as my all time favorite RTS, SC2 has some big shoes to fill. Needless to say... I feel ecstatic about their progress. Blizzard has finally leveled up. ;)

For an elaborate example check out this Developer Gameplay Overview: http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?r=1&type=wmv&id=19827

22 Mins long and quite intense. This is surely a game to keep one busy.

Update: Gamespot Video

What you will see:

• Zerglings: MASS ZERGLING Attacks! These beasties are back and can now mutate in the field very quickly to green hued exploding Zerglings. While slower this allows them to take out larger targets.
• Mutalisks: Are in, but not much is revealed. Pictured in the video and they look awesome.
  
• Protoss Ability: Units can teleport anywhere where they have power. (And they get a new unit that allows them to set up power anywhere even without a pylon)
• Protoss Zealot: Definitely in, with a new charge ability which allows them to close to melee distance very quickly. Also graphically overhauled for the new engine.
• Protoss Immortal: Looks like the new dragoon. When hit by heavy weapons though a special forcefield activates which allows them to take very little damage.
• Protoss Colossus: An Amazing unit that takes out small unarmored units very quickly. It can also step up and down and over terrain gaps.
• Protoss Stalker: A unit that can Blink instantly a short distance away. Ideal for catching units that are trying to flee.
• Protoss Pheonix: Air Superiority fighter meant to deal with smaller ships. This thing can overload which fires at all units within range but then becomes helpless for a short while.
• Protoss Warp Ray: The longer it fires the more damages it does. (Sounds silly but its damage increases exponentially the longer it focuses on one target making it ideal for dealing with heavily armored units or buildings)
• Protoss Mothership: WOW. It can time warp, SLOWS DOWN ALL PROJECTILES, It can make a Black hole which sucks in all fliers or it can attack the ground obliterating everything in its path. You can only have one and it runs out of energy after the use of 1 or 2 powers. (It recharges)
• Protoss Phase Prism: Mobile Pylon. It can fly about and then deploy to power things anywhere. Awesome for teleportation or fast base expansion.
  
• Terran Reapers: Dual Pistol Wielding, Jump pack equipped Marines. Awesome for hit and run.
• Terran Siege Tanks, Terran Ghosts, Terran Marines, Terran Battlecruisers: All featured but not much is said about them.
• Terran Nukes: You do get to see three nukes go off. Awesome.

Release Date: 10/1/08 (Its a guess but its based on EBGAMES)

Blogged with Flock

Well I beat the flash game!!!

That Flash Game is a RTS Game that is actually pretty cool. The game is called Sea of Fire and I think they did a pretty good job capturing the essence of current RTS games. This is in stark contrast to games that were remarkedly better, games like Age of Empires 2, Rise of Legends, Age of Mythology and Starcraft.

I would imagine Starcraft 2 will break the mold as well. Anyways this game was a lot of fun for what it is, I enjoyed playing about 30 skimishes in addition to the campaign.


Heres the codes (Bad Guys):

• c1e80
• c1ec0
• c1fc0
• c1fc2
• c1fc3
• c1fe3
• c3fe3
• c3ff3
• c3ff7
  

Heres the codes (Good Guys)

• 4000c
• 4001c
• 4001e
• 4001f
• 4003f
• 4203f
• 4243f
  

technorati tags:flash, games, gaming

Blogged with Flock

RTS Flash game rocks

Pretty cool flash game. I beat on hard but medium seems to be the most fun. Its real time strategy! Woot!

You can try it here: http://fpflashfarm.com/FB49PFBFFKJ42BF/13888_seaoffire.swf

hahabeatonhard.bmp on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Permadeath Poll for future MMORPGS

Take a moment and read this to get a feeling for what I mean when I say permadeath and for what each system means.
http://shawn-gaming.blogspot.com/2005/03/permadeath.html

Permadeath is perfect for gaming? Every year Baseball gets their stats reset and try to fight there way back to the World series... And not every team is winner is it? There can be only one. Same with hockey, football etc.... By current game rules the logic goes if the yankees lost the World series they should get naked, have a time out and goto the locker room and come back ready to rock for another go at the world series.... When people lose THEY LOSE. Game OVER. The system Baseball uses now is almost EXACTLY what people are asking for in game. Think about it because it paradigms almost as well as boxing.

Like baseball there should be a short ramp up in terms of skills and a refocus of the game on actions. You can have a game with a progressive leveling system and a stuff system but you surely can't design the game to revolve SOLELY around that. If you do, you get wow... I guess there's money in it but to me its just a commercialized remake of the last game with no substance and nothing worthwhile to do. I had a max toon before and lots of stuff... you got something else to offer besides new graphics and classes?

Even the AI among games is the same.

People love it, they make millions for giving you a shiner model every few years with no innovation. Some of us want to get back to the CORE roots of the game and innovate and redesign it for the masses with a focus on the game and not all the focus just on yourself, your stuff and your level.

Think of the treadmills at your local gym... Now paint one blue and call it wow,
another green and call it eq2 and another brown and call it daoc. Some are newer
and have different levels of incline and various speed levels but their all
treadmills and players walk all over them ignoring all the shiny features after
the honeymoon and work on walking as quickly as possible to get them and their
avatar in shape.

These games, quite frankly, suck. The show a lack of imagination and exploit the honeymoon period as a way to sink the hook and reel your mastercard in. It works as a business model, but MMORPG is supposed to be filled with gamers who expect more then the last game regurgitated and reconsitituted as the New Coke. Even leaving permadeath aside, the industry has not innovated anything new since UO unless you count 2D to 3D and the two games that feature voice chat lol.

I expect more and Im passionate about getting a new game to entertain me before Im dead.

Does a Permadeath MMORPG Interest you? YES! Yes, if done correctly I'd try it, esp if they had a free beta. No Free polls from Pollhost.com

Which Permadeath System do you like Best? PDoT: Subclass A PDoT: Subclass B Ironman: One Life No Ressurection Ironman: One Life Ressurection is Ok Watch your Step - No Rollover Watch your Step - With Rollover 1up System (See Comments in permadeath post) None. I have my own permadeath system. (Leave a comment describing) None. I hate permadeath of all kinds. Free polls from Pollhost.com

If you want more background I have another post here:
http://shawn-gaming.blogspot.com/2005/05/damion-schubert-and-permadeath.html