13 responses so far ↓

• 1 Jonah Falcon // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:25 am

  All these horrific accidents that happen in your little circle… are you allowed to have any sort of insurance? If so, is the monthly charge higher or lower than a Lambourghini?

  Are you competing to win a Darwin Award? Is Jigsaw (from Saw) your Mayor? Do you have Itchy & Scratchy as pets?

  You guys should start a new reality series, called “OW, MY EYE!”

• 2 eni // Aug 13, 2009 at 7:06 am

  QoW prt.1:
  The first thing that came to mind when I heard about the Vitality Sensor was a game/mini-game wherein the objective was to lower heart rate and stress. However, when I thought about it more I thought that combining the Balance Board and Vitality Sensor to create some kind of Tai Chi game would be interesting. Because Tai Chi is designed to lower stress, and requires balance. So you could play the game whilst standing on the board, learning new moves and progressing slowly; meanwhile the Vitality Sensor logs your ‘Stress Progress’ at the same time. Then at the end of each chapter/level (depending on how you have the game set-up) you could show the player a graph of their stress levels throughout the game; hopefully showing a steady decrease from when they started, to when they finished. This is yet another way in which Nintendo could widen their already extensive trend of releasing ‘casual’ games and games accessories.

  QoW prt.2:
  My idea for helping Nintendo is however in totally the other direction. I think they should really push the Wii HD; because no matter what Wii fans say (and I count myself among them) the Wii’s-and therefore Nintendo’s-biggest problem is the Wii’s lack of raw power. Pushing a more powerful version of the Wii, ensuring that it is powerful to play games such as FarCry 2 (this is a lot to ask admittedly) would make the hardcore gamer look at the Wii again. If they do this, they must release the Wii HD soon, before MS release any more flavours of the 360 and before Sony release anything new in terms of tech for the PS3, and finally they MUST price it reasonably, because even the most hardcore gamer won’t necessarily fork out for anything new, just because its new… Well most of us anyway.
  I’d like to ask a question of you now:
  What is your favourite (if you have one) Real Time Strategy game? (I shall allow any of the Total War games as your answer, even though they’re not strictly purely RTS).
  Cheers for yet another great podcast lads and lady, peace;
  eni.

• 3 Jonah Falcon // Aug 13, 2009 at 10:37 am

  By the way, Derrick, World of Warcraft was released in 2004, not 1999. The game is coming up on its 5th anniversary.

• 4 Derrick Schommer // Aug 13, 2009 at 10:41 am

  It was RELEASED on 2004, but the graphics are not from 2004, they’re from 1999-2000. I know this as I watched it progress and get scrapped from some original ideas (that looked more like Warcraft 3 graphics) to something a little more cartoony and such.

  Art asset development didn’t happen on day-one, but it didn’t happen the week before release either. 🙂

• 5 Krud // Aug 13, 2009 at 12:58 pm

  However, many of the graphical features and resolutions that are possible in WoW were NOT available* in 1999, when the original GeForce first made its debut.

  (* – Not in games, anyway.)

  They have slowly and subtly upgraded the graphics engine with each new expansion. Their “look” hasn’t changed, for two reasons: one, they don’t want to lose their “low-end” audience (i.e. the people who may [or may not] have broadband but have the minimal graphics card), and two, the WoW world is so huge and detailed, can you imagine how much they’d have to invest in order to revamp it all while still maintaining a tone/feel that loyal fans are happy with? (I remember being a bit put off by the look of EverQuest’s “Moon of Endor” expansion, or whatever it was called. [Yeah, I know it wasn’t Endor. I just can’t be bothered to look it up, is all.]

  Is it on par with the latest games? No. But is it still identical to how it looked five years ago (artwork notwithstanding)? No. They likely figure if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. (The “5 million fans can’t be wrong” rule of thumb.)

• 6 Derrick Schommer // Aug 13, 2009 at 1:08 pm

  Yes, they’ve done subtle upgrades (I believe Dan, one of our old guildmates actually was unable to play WotLK on his older mac) but, let’s face it, they’ve upgraded to..what… 2003 graphics now? 🙂

  GuildWars blew it away (graphically) no its launch and most MMO’s to date are better in graphics. What I’m saying is, I think it’s time to create an MMO of this property, that has 2008-2010 graphics and really put any competition in the dust 🙂

• 7 eni // Aug 13, 2009 at 4:30 pm

  I agree with both Derrick and Krud on this one.
  Although WoW isn’t what you’d call graphically advanced (to say the least). They’d be unwise to update their current engine to the extent that they push out those vital ‘on-the-cusp’ users, who only have the bare minimum graphics wise. Equally however, it would be nice to see something new come from them. Although I’ve never played WoW, nor have I really had any wish to play it, I feel that if they released something that looks a little prettier, and less ‘cartoonish’ I might be tempted. And I’m sure they know all of this and that they’re not just working on new and more releases for WoW, but possibly an entirely different game that is updated and maintained ALONGSIDE, rather than INSTEAD of WoW.
  peace;
  eni

• 8 Ivan // Aug 13, 2009 at 5:50 pm

  If I was the head of Nintendo Wii’s gaming development i would focus on making good games instead of trying to make additional new and hip Accessories. I think Nintendo have done a good job having their target audience as family, which is a very broad and safe approach but I think they should consider making some original RPG’s and FPS games for hardcore gaming, which I think wont take away that the Wii is a good console for kid’s. It would just open the Wii to more Mature Audience and hardcore gamers…….But if I was really getting paid 300k per yr to save Nintendo’s ass cuz they spent millions on this vitality sensor and balance board, I guess I could incorporate the two accessories into Wii Fit. So the game can record your weight and pulse and if you are unfit or struggling it can use the new interactive constructive criticizer to spam you insults to get you into gear and also if you vital signs are dead would get the result of GAME OVER!. if all else fails make a Tarzan game with stamina and balance cuz that would be Friggin Cool.
  That’s all from me Over and Out

• 9 Krud // Aug 14, 2009 at 1:24 pm

  Oh yeah, Eni? Well I agree with you, Derrick AND me. ‘;D

  Derrick, you’re right, the graphics are currently on par with what in 2003/4 was “high end.” (Which is, in my opinion, a bonus to people who aren’t using ancient GeForce3 cards but don’t yet have a Radeon HD 2800, or whatever the latest ones are called.)

  I agree that Guild Wars blows WoW out of the water, graphics-wise (as it should be, being almost half WoW’s age.) But it’s a different style of game, and though I may be presuming too much, I’ve always figured that most WoW fans actually LIKE the look of WoW, otherwise why play it? (I personally enjoyed the graphics, and even though we currently have LOTRO, whose graphics also excel far beyond WoW’s, I don’t find the visual style nearly as engaging or endearing. It’s impressive, but… sterile.)

  Warcraft has always been a bit cartoony, CG cutscenes notwithstanding, and I doubt that will change even in future games. At least, I hope it doesn’t. (Its sense of humor is probably why I preferred it overthe Command & Conquer series back in the day.)

• 10 Krud // Aug 14, 2009 at 1:32 pm

  What they really should pull the plug on, expansion-wise, is EverQuest. Every used car owner knows that there comes a point when it’s not worth your time or money to upgrade an old beater that’s on its last legs, and instead put those resources toward something new.

  (I don’t know that WoW has reached that point yet. Close, perhaps, but not quite. When they stop making money hand over fist, that’ll be their cue.)

• 11 Derrick Schommer // Aug 14, 2009 at 1:38 pm

  @Krud, I don’t mind the cartoonish nature, but you can do a lot now when it comes to polishing polygons, advanced physics and, most importantly, spell/weapon sound and effects.

  You can still keep the style but make it look 100 times better. We don’t need to copy GuildWars in that respect, but guildwars is an example of where “yesterdays” gaming was at…and WoW is a generation below that.

  Why do gamers still play WoW considering the graphics and such? Because they’re addicted. That’s like asking why a coke addict continues to use coke knowing they’re going to die. It’s not about one element, it’s about them all 🙂

  Gamers that have played continue to, but it’s going to be harder and harder to gain new followers if people are just looking at what the game “looks” like in graphics. Eye candy sells, content keeps the sale and the continued re-sales on future products and services. Imagine a hot girl, her body “sells” her (first impressions and all) but her attitude and personality will either make it or break it after that.

  WoW has the personality, it just needs a really big makeover. The replay value isn’t really that good when you want to create yet another character of another race… you always seem to end up in Crossroads 🙂 But yet it still keeps people playing or at least paying (I know folks that pay but never play)

• 12 Derrick Schommer // Aug 14, 2009 at 1:40 pm

  I try not to compare WoW graphics to another MMO that’s failing and equal graphics to gameplay.

  You can make a good graphic game that doesn’t suck… but it seems that’s a huge challenge for non-blizzard folks.

• 13 Ivan // Aug 16, 2009 at 9:17 pm

  Congratz on the podcast i continue to enjoy. i think what makes TD gaming Podcast better then others is because its honest, the host are being genuine. I don’t really like to listen to a host who is playing in Character (unless its realli funny). This seems more real to me. Remember what makes a good piece of Art Work is not that every1 loves it or hates it; more that you can split the room in half with for and against because that creates discussion thus a good piece of work. (I’m referring to the reviews and Opinion side of the podcast OFC you want the gaming news just to be fact.) Rock on, keep the episode numbers rolling.
  Cheers

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