Rant: I Hate Boosters!

I hate boosters. I can understand where they're coming from: achievements are addictive and awesome. But don't ruin my game with your boosting. I hate those boosters the most.

I've played some Halo 3 this weekend to take advantage of the Double XP weekend and to check out some of the 1.2 goodness. It's been a while since I played.

I hadn't even realized that the total achievements you could get in Halo 3 were now at 79 achievements for 1750 gamerscore. That made my 920 look small. So I set about to play.

However, none of my friends were playing. Josh's disc is scratched. I don't know where Alana is. Roger's probably working. And they're the only ones who would really be playing anymore.

I played a little yesterday and finally got my Mongoose Mowdown. I'd been trying to get that forever. Before now, every time I hit someone with a Mongoose it doesn't kill them, it just knocks them out of the way.

I played some today, and in the pregame lobby, there were kids trying to get others to boost with them. The main achievement they were trying to boost? Came... From... Behind... which is assassinate 3 times in a ranked or social match. Any achievement that can be boosted in a social match should be so it's not disturbing the real gamers.

These kids kept getting pissed when I would kill them. "Stop shooting us, Jester!" That's the point of the game! A couple even left me negative feedback of "Unsporting" because I killed them while they were trying to boost in a public, ranked game.

Ridiculous.

Fable 2: The Patch - Coming Soon!

Fable 2 may have already gone gold and should be available to gamers October 21st. However, expect a patch (hopefully) soon after its release. Not all features will be available out the door with the released version.

What will be missing? Online co-op. You'll still see the orbs where your friends are in their games and you'll be able to chat and trade items with them, but you will not be able to actually join their game and adventure with them. Developers say the patch will be released within a week of the game's official release, but we'll see.

Interplay's Back!

Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes, Interplay has re-emerged onto the gaming scene with the official relaunch of their website. But with their relaunch comes news that they have still been working on their Fallout MMO (currently entitled "Project V13") that they talked about in the past.

Interplay had sold the rights to the Fallout franchise to Bethesda when they encountered financial troubles, but they kept the rights to an online Fallout game.

Interplay started in 1983 and is responsible for many games over the years including Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Earthworm Jim and Clayfighter.

Rumor: L.A. Noire to the Xbox 360?

When L.A. Noire was first announced in 2004, it was announced as an exclusive game for the PS3. But more and more rumors have surfaced this year that the game will also be coming to the Xbox 360. The newest information seems to give this rumor validity.

The president of the Game Developers’ Association of Australia, Tom Crago, mentioned at CG Asia 2008 that the game would be released on both the PS3 and Xbox 360. This is the closest to an official statement so far. The website for the game continues to state that the platform is "to be announced."

L.A. Noire takes place in the late 1940's Los Angeles landscape and players will be required to solve a series of murders in a sandbox styled detective game. The game is styled after the film noir genre of movies and is in black and white. The release date is 2009.

Fable 2 - Great for Boosters!

Boosters all around the world are probably rejoicing. Lionhead Studios has released the official achievement list for Fable 2. But these achievements are definitely different than most achievements. You can get an achievement simply by seeing another player complete the achievement!

This seems lame to me. I don't have to do anything to get the achievement? I just join a friend's game and follow them around and get achievements not by actually doing the thing? Lame!

Fallout 3 Now Edited for Everyone!

Remember when Australia banned Fallout 3? And then Bethesda edited the game so it could be played by gamers Down Under? Well, now that version is the only version that will be released.

It sounds worse than it is. The main problem Australia had with the original Fallout 3 was the drug use in the game. There have ALWAYS been drugs in Fallout. Your character can get addicted to drugs. And getting addicted to drugs in Fallout really, really sucks.

But apparently, the problem Australia had was that Fallout 3 referenced real world drugs. The edited version has changed the drug names to fictional names. This doesn't sound that bad to me. I don't really remember any real world drugs in the other Fallouts. There were drugs like Jet, Mentats, and Stim-Paks.

As long as these are the only real changes, it's no skin off my back. (Besides, I'll pretty much buy this game no matter what. Hell, I owned Brotherhood of Steel. I'm hardcore!)

Ensemble Studios to Close

Microsoft Studios has announced that they are closing Ensemble Studios after the release of Halo Wars. Some of the staff of Ensemble Studios have already announced that they will be forming their own game company. And Microsoft has promised to try to place many of the staff who do not move on to the new company.

The newly formed company will still be working with Microsoft and will be responsible for any Halo Wars updates or patches.

Ensemble Studios is the company that brought gamers other RTS games like the Age of Empires series and Age of Mythology. Microsoft purchased Ensemble Studios in 2001.

Jester013's Briefs: Mercenaries 2

Since I've been so busy and because I know more and more people have short attention spans(anything over 1 minute on Youtube is usually criticized as too long), I'm going to start doing brief reports on games instead of in-depth reviews. My first one is on Mercenaries 2.

Game: Mercenaries 2
Platform: Xbox 360
Plays Like: An updated and better version of Lost Cause
Fun?: Yes
Multiplayer: Online co-op exists, but I haven't played it yet
Graphics: Decent but not great
Bugs: Not too many so far other than my helicopter pilot thinking he's getting shot sometimes when he's not and if your guy falls down a big hill, he just keeps rag doll sliding until he's not moving anymore which can take a while
Weird Things: It was released in stores on a Sunday for some reason. And it's kind of hard to get killed in the game.
Worth Full Price: Unsure as of yet. I like it, but it seems like it might be a short game...


Other Notes: The theme song from the commercial "Oh No, You Didn't" is awesome. I saw the same commercial once with just some classical music playing. It was definitely not as good.

September Game Releases

School's back in session and everyone needs something to do other than their homework. Maybe something with Force powers...
 

DS Titles

September 2
• Picto Image

September 7
• Spore Creatures

September 8
• Lock's Quest
• Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir
• Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise

September 9
• Bratz Ponyz 2
• Hell's Kitchen
• Mazes of Fate
• The Price is Right

September 15
• Dragon Quest IV

September 16
• Igor
• Line Rider 2 Unbound
• My Secret World
• Pony Friends: Mini Breeds Edition
• Red Bull BC One
• Slingo Quest
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

September 22
• Brain Quest Grades 3 & 4
• Brain Quest Grades 5 & 6
• Di-Gata Defenders
• Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition
• Drop Cast
• Kirby: Super Star Ultra
• My Little Pony Pinkie Pie's Party
• Nancy Drew: Hidden Staircase
• Sim City Creator

September 23
• Barbie Fashion Show: Eye for Style
• Dinosaur King
• Disgaea DS
• Hi! Hamtaro Ham-Ham Challenge
• LEGO Batman
• Margot's Word Brain
• My Japanese Coach
• My SAT Coach: Princeton Review
• Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
• Shaun the Sheep
• Time Hollow

September 30
• Army Men 'Soldiers of Misfortune'
• Paint by DS
• Pop Cutie: Street Fashion Simulation
• Princess Debut
• Rollin' Rascals
• Sonic Chronicles: Dark Brotherhood
• Tornado

PC Titles

September 2
• Baseball Mogul 2009
• FlatOut: Head On
• Ford Racing Offroad
• GTR Evolution

September 3
• Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

September 7
• Spore

September 9
• Cabela's Big Game Hunter: Legendary Adventure
• Cooking Academy
• CSI: Super Pack
• Hell's Kitchen
• The Price is Right

September 15
• Naked Brothers Band
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

September 16
• Crysis: Warhead
• Discovery
• Everlight
• Igor
• Line Rider 2 Unbound
• Nancy Drew Ultimate Bundle
• Operation Mania
• Pure
• The Settlers VI Gold
• Warhammer Mark of Chaos/Battle March Bundle
• Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
• The Witcher Enhanced

September 22
• Command & Conquer 3
• Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization

September 23
• Battlelord: King's Bounty
• Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
• LEGO Batman
• Nostradamus

September 25
• Guild Wars Trilogy

September 30
• Can You See What I See
• Etch A Sketch
• Hardy Boys: The Hidden Thief
• Zoo Tycoon 2 Ultimate

PS2 Titles

September 8
• NHL 2K9

September 9
• Cabela's Legendary Adventures
• Dragon Ball Z Trilogy
• TNA Impact!
• Yakuza 2

September 16
• Dance Dance Revolution: X
• Namco Classic Fighter Collection
• Naruto Ultimate Collection
• Pac-Man Power Pack
• Speed Racer
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

September 23
• Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009
• LEGO Batman
• Warrior's Orochi 2

September 29
• Mortal Kombat Kollection

PS3 Titles

September 2
• Rapala Fishing Frenzy
• Vampire Rain: Altered Species

September 3
• FaceBreaker
• NFL Head Coach 2009

September 8
• NHL 2K9

September 9
• NHL 2009
• TNA Impact!

September 16
• Armored Core: For Answer
• Pure
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

September 22
• Baja: Edge of Control

September 23
• Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
• Buzz Quiz TV
• Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009
• LEGO Batman

September 30
• Legendary
• Silent Hill Homecoming

PSP Titles

September 9
• Cabela's Legendary Adventures

September 16
• B-Boy
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
• Yggdra Union

September 23
• Buzz Master Quiz
• LEGO Batman
• My Spanish Coach

Wii Titles

September 2
• Rapala Fishing Frenzy

September 8
• NHL 2K9

September 9
• Active Life Outdoor Challenge
• Cabela's Legendary Adventures
• Hell's Kitchen
• The Price is Right

September 12
• Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party 2

September 16
• Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility
• Igor
• Kidz Sports: Crazy Golf
• Rebel Raiders
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

September 22
• de Blob
• Sim City Creator
• Wario Land: Shake It

September 23
• Battle Rage
• Brothers in Arms: Double Time
• Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009
• Circus Games
• LEGO Batman
• Lost in Blue: Shipwrecked
• Margot's Word Brain
• Pitfall: The Big Adventure
• Samba De Amigo
• Twin Strike: Operation Thunder

September 30
• Army Men: Soldiers of Misfortune
• North American Hunting Extravaganza
• We Cheer

Xbox 360 Titles

September 2
• Infinite Undiscovery
• Rapala Fishing Frenzy
• Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise
• Warhammer: Battle March

September 3
• FaceBreaker
• NFL Head Coach 2009

September 8
• NHL 2K9

September 9
• NHL 2009
• TNA Impact!
• Zoids Assault

September 14
• Rock Band 2

September 16
• Armored Core: For Answer
• Battle Fantasia
• Pure
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

September 22
• Baja: Edge of Control

September 23
• Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
• Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009
• LEGO Batman
• Warriors Orochi 2

September 30
• Guilty Gear 2: Overture
• Legendary
• Silent Hill Homecoming