Computer Hope
Software => Computer games => Topic started by: honvetops on January 17, 2007, 06:53:57 AM
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SAN FRANCISCO — After a preview party in a Hollywood cemetery, "Gears of War" storms into stores next week in one of the year's most anticipated video game launches with even its maker calling it "horrific."
German authorities' recent decision to refuse the Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) game a rating due its violence has fed into the anticipation — and also into the chance that the title could fail to live up to the hype.
"Gears," which puts you in the role of a grizzled soldier fighting off alien invaders, has tantalized gamers with graphically realistic faces, explosions and blood.
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The game carries an "M" rating, meaning it is for "mature" gamers aged 17 years and older. [It will not be sold in Germany.]
Microsoft has thrown substantial financial weight behind the game, which is exclusive to its Xbox 360 video game console, hoping to blunt the launches of rival systems from Sony (SNE) and Nintendo Co. Ltd.
"If it's not the most anticipated game of the year, it's up there," said Gerald Villoria, an editor with GameSpy, a popular gaming Web site. "It is riding a rollercoaster of buzz and hype, and the hype doesn't seem to be just smoke and mirrors."
Microsoft is staying quiet on how much it is spending to promote "Gears" or how many copies it expects to sell, but it is clear the company thinks it has a hit on its hands.
STRONG EARLY DEMAND
"I can say that the demand, at least in terms of preorders and support and demand from retail partners, has been outstanding all over the world," said Shane Kim, vice president of Microsoft Game Studios.
"For Microsoft Game Studios it is the number two behind only 'Halo 2.' That's a significant number," Kim said, referring to the wildly popular second installment in the flagship franchise of sci-fi shooters for the Xbox.
Attendees at a "Gears" preview party held at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery last week were eager to try the game.
"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" one gamer remarked as another pumped bullets into a dead body dangling from a chain.
"Gears" doesn't so much incorporate violence as revel in it.
A chainsaw mounted on your rifle quickly fillets enemies amid fountains of gore, and when an enemy goes down in a hail of hot lead, you can finish him off with a gruesome move the designers gleefully call the "curb stomp."
"It's pretty graphic because it's not just visually that you understand a head is being stepped on and squashed like a watermelon — you also hear it as well," said Dan Hsu, editor-in-chief of Electronic Gaming Monthly.
But the question gamers are asking is: "How does it play?"
Hsu characterized it as a mix of the twitchy-fast action of "Halo" and the cautious tactical style of "Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter," one of the most popular games on the Xbox 360.
Hsu said "Gears" shines in its single-player campaign, and will win praise for allowing gamers to play the story with up to three other friends over the Xbox Live online service.
But Hsu reckoned some aspects of the game may disappoint, such as its multiplayer mode, which is bound to be compared to "Halo 2," widely regarded as the gold standard of multiplayer first-person shooter games because of its highly customizable scenarios.
"People are going to like it a lot initially, but I don't think it's going to have the longevity of 'Halo 2'," Hsu said.
Villoria disagreed. He said the hype, buzz and graphics would draw players to the game.
"But what will keep people playing will be the multiplayer. It's the kind of gameplay that might just revolutionize shooters," he said
link to story* Has cool picture of a [highlight]Zombie Bad Guy [/highlight]
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227443,00.html?sPage=fnc.technology/videogaming
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I think Gears Of War looks amazing.
Unfortunately I don't have a 360, or I'd get it.
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Not surprising that Germany would ban it, brings back a past they are trying to forget.
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Not surprising that Germany would ban it, brings back a past they are trying to forget.
Don't be ignorant.
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if germany banned it, it wouldn't be surprising if australia banned it as well.
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The really funny thing is that some of the most horrific porn known to man comes from Germany.
Sorry if thats an ignorant comment,... wait no ..im not.
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I think Gears Of War looks amazing.
Unfortunately I don't have a 360, or I'd get it.
I AGREE, i really wish I could play these video games but I am mentally challenged and suck on the keyboard. I can't even get out of the sewers on Oblivion IV > gave the game to my son!
That pic did look awesome, I guess I just need to practive the video thing more.
I'm old school, if it ain't pinball/galaxian/ etc.. I can't do it! lol :-/
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The really funny thing is that some of the most horrific porn known to man comes from Germany.
Sorry if thats an ignorant comment,... wait no ..im not.
[highlight]How true !!! lol[/highlight]
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I think Gears Of War looks amazing.
Unfortunately I don't have a 360, or I'd get it.
I AGREE, i really wish I could play these video games but I am mentally challenged and suck on the keyboard. I can't even get out of the sewers on Oblivion IV > gave the game to my son!
That pic did look awesome, I guess I just need to practive the video thing more.
I'm old school, if it ain't pinball/galaxian/ etc.. I can't do it! lol :-/
I used to suck at PC games, now I'm pretty good.
I only recently got a decent PC that can play games though, and even more recently got some good games for it.
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I think Gears Of War looks amazing.
Unfortunately I don't have a 360, or I'd get it.
I AGREE, i really wish I could play these video games but I am mentally challenged and suck on the keyboard. I can't even get out of the sewers on Oblivion IV > gave the game to my son!
That pic did look awesome, I guess I just need to practive the video thing more.
I'm old school, if it ain't pinball/galaxian/ etc.. I can't do it! lol :-/
I used to suck at PC games, now I'm pretty good.
I only recently got a decent PC that can play games though, and even more recently got some good games for it.
*What would you recommend for me to try out? ??? I really want to get into something but; like I said, i SUCK. I have a decent puter ( 3.2 pent 4, 1 gig ram, 7600 gt and 19 lcd. Should I go get another Oblivion iv ? Warcraft ? whats out there with awesome graphics that middle aged farts can poke at ?? :'(
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Get Battlefield 2142.
If you're into FPS games, it's awesome. However, it can be a little hard to get into, because there's no training whatsoever.
But, if you look me up, I can teach you some tips etc.
Quake 4 is pretty good and easy to get into. Doom 3 is a little harder but also good.
What sort of games do you like?
They are a few of mine, I'm pretty into PC gaming so I can recommend loads, just depends what you like.
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you do NOT want to get into world of warcraft. let me show you an example of what happened to this poor fellow...
BEFORE PLAYING WoW
(http://www.film-erlebnis.com/images/pitt_brad.jpg)
AFTER PLAYING WoW FOR A MONTH
(http://www.jeffpidgeon.com/uploaded_images/geek-792748.jpg)
and pretty soon you will be talking gamers talk and using WoW similies in real life. such as, if you see a nice car drive by you on the street,"OMG!!! that freakin car pwns!!! it almost as cool as my new level 36 battle axe of destruction and my level 48 boots of healing!" ::)
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you do NOT want to get into world of warcraft. let me show you an example of what happened to this poor fellow...
BEFORE PLAYING WoW
(http://www.film-erlebnis.com/images/pitt_brad.jpg)
AFTER PLAYING WoW FOR A MONTH
(http://www.jeffpidgeon.com/uploaded_images/geek-792748.jpg)
and pretty soon you will be talking gamers talk and using WoW similies in real life. such as, if you see a nice car drive by you on the street,"OMG!!! that freakin car pwns!!! it almost as cool as my new level 36 battle axe of destruction and my level 48 boots of healing!" ::)
**ROFLMAO ** can't quit laughing !!! after watching south park on that episode, I dare not get into that (realm!!) :)
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lol. that episode was hilarious! ;D