March 31st, 2010 by dace

World of Warcraft is an enormously popular game that has experienced success beyond what anyone might have expected. It has become a mainstream triumph and has widened the audience for its genre and for gaming in general. It has also had an effect on the game industry, and in many ways is a surprising and remarkable title.

What World of Warcraft has done is to make the multi-player game more popular. Before it arrived, the majority of people playing multi-player online games were usually teenage and twenty something males. World of Warcraft has broadened the gaming audience considerably. All sorts of age groups and individuals are now playing it. In particular, it has brought much younger gamers towards the genre.

World of Warcraft has appealed to people who aren’t normally into gaming. It is quite common for someone to try it because they have a roommate or a friend who has it, and then they themselves become hooked. An academic study, The Daedalus Project by Nick Yee, has examined people who play the multi-player genre. Almost 20% of people now playing these games have had little prior experience in video gaming. World of Warcraft’s role in attracting such people can not be underestimated.

World of Warcraft has appealed to women, who are not the typical audience for multi-player titles. Women either actively seek the game out, or try it because their boyfriend or husband is a fan. Around half of the women who play games like Warcraft are playing with their partner. In general, women now make up around a third of the overall number of people who play online multi-player games. World of Warcraft is often the key title in introducing them to the genre.

World of Warcraft has made gaming a social experience. People play the game together in groups. Couples play it together, and around 25% of people who play games like Warcraft are playing with their romantic partner. Families also play together, and it is common for people to experience it with a family member. Parents play World of Warcraft with their children, and brothers play alongside each other in the game. It has a clear, universal appeal that encourages such interaction.

One factor that has assisted the popularity of World of Warcraft is the availability of free trials for the game. While it was in development there were beta tests that introduced the game to players. Most significantly, though, the game’s developer Blizzard has held free trials for the game since its release. This has ensured that anyone can try it and play it. Most people who sample the game want to continue with it, and are likely to buy the game and sign up for the monthly subscription.

The vast audience for World of Warcraft has been of interest to the game industry. Before the game came along, game companies felt that the multi-player genre was full and that there was no more room for a new title. The game has proven otherwise and has shown that the market can actually expand and grow. Game companies have been impressed by its success, and are very interested in why it has taken off to the extent that it has. They had not realised the potential in the online role-playing genre.

World of Warcraft has shown that there are actually many possibilities for the genre. Game companies are now looking to make multi-player games that are more accessible and easier to play. They want to appeal to more casual players who may not have the time or inclination to spend all their time on a game. They are also examining how multi-player games are designed. They used to be serious and overly demanding titles. Warcraft has shown that they can be purely entertaining and fun.

World of Warcraft then is a title that has broken new ground and increased the market that multi-player games can have. It has been popular with different types of people and has made the game industry rethink their whole approach to the genre. It is a very accessible game and it has developed a broad, mainstream appeal as a result.

March 17th, 2010 by dace

1. Half Life 2
Publisher: Vivendi Games
Developer: Valve
Platform: PC
Year: 2004

Half-Life 2 showed the difference between playing as a character and being a character better than any game ever had before, and arguably ever has to date. It was linear, but never felt constrictive. It told a story without telling it to you. It led you by the hand, but you always felt in control. Not a single great FPS in the last 5 years would have reached its potential without Half-Life 2 showing them how to do it right.

2. World of Warcraft
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform: PC

Like it or not, World of Warcraft brought the MMO genre to the masses with its easy-to-play-but-tough-to-master game mechanics, astounding art direction (even by today’s standards) and unparalleled support. Ever since its release, other games have claimed to be the “WoW killer”, and yet still it stands, strong as it was in 2004.

3. Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic
Publisher: LucasArts
Developer: BioWare
Platform: PC , Xbox
Year: 2003

Before Knights of the Old Republic, BioWare’s take on RPGs was as a crafted PC experience, made entirely with a keyboard and mouse in mind. With Knights of the Old Republic, the studio took the action down to the ground, and crafted the best Star Wars story since the original trilogy, to bring in a whole new legion of fans. The genre hasn’t been the same since.

4. Grand Theft Auto III
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: DMA Design
Platform: PS2
Year: 2001

As genre-defining moments go, few could argue against the indelible mark that Grand Theft Auto III left on PlayStation 2 owners in 2001. Rockstar North, through the combination of tight script, intense action, freedom and violence, gave players a revolutionary new way to experience mature-targeted action games. A true classic.

5. Super Mario Galaxy
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EAD Tokyo
Platform: Wii
Year: 2007

Did Super Mario Galaxy top Nintendo’s revolutionary Super Mario 64? That’s open to debate – but what is certain is that Mario Galaxy is the Wii’s finest gaming experience. Drawing on more than twenty years of platforming expertise, Super Mario Galaxy masterfully blends an absurdist level design with compulsive and extremely polished gameplay. Stunning.

6. Counter-Strike
Publisher: Sierra Studios
Developer: Valve
Platform: PC
Year: 2000

It’s still one of the best online shooters around. Though other games have passed it by in terms of graphics and the range of options, few have even come close to capturing the near-perfect pacing and balance of this online FPS. Ten years later, people are still playing this one.

7. Fallout 3
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Platform: PC , PS3 , Xbox 360
Year: 2008

It’s tough for a studio to take over a beloved franchise from another group of developers. Bethesda’s Fallout 3 is a roadmap to success. Blending elements of old with its patented open-world design, the group that cut its teeth on The Elder Scrolls franchise brought back a classic while taking it to new heights.

8. Okami
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Clover Studio
Platform: PS2
Year: 2006

Okami was released the year after high definition gaming was introduced on Xbox 360 and it still managed to steal the hearts of gamers with its beautiful artwork. Its original and whimsical approach to the adventure genre was refreshing not only for the way gamers would paint their attacks, but also the way actions brought the world back to life.

9. Battlefield 1942
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Digital Illusions CE (DICE)
Platform: PC
Year: 2002

Judged purely by the amount of time we spent playing, there are few multiplayer games that were as popular among the IGN staff as DICE’s intense online shooter. Combining land, sea and air combat with lots of vehicles and different infantry kits, Battlefield 1942 brought World War 2 to life in a way that no other game ever has.

10. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog Software
Platform: PS3
Year: 2009

It seemed unlikely that Naughty Dog could develop an even better game than the original Uncharted, but the studio did so with flying colors. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was a virtually ideal sequel: it continued all the great traditions that Uncharted began and also implemented a full suite of multiplayer options. To call it a “must-buy” is an understatement.

March 10th, 2010 by dace

1. Half Life 2
Publisher: Vivendi Games
Developer: Valve
Platform: PC

It was a long time in coming, but Half-Life 2 delivered everything it promised and more. Between the level design, multi-layered characters, stunning visuals (remember going up the citadel spire for the very first time?) and the impact of the physics-based gameplay, HL2 displayed just how involving a first-person-shooter could be.

2. World of Warcraft
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Platform: PC

Like it or not, World of Warcraft brought the MMO genre to the masses with its easy-to-play-but-tough-to-master game mechanics, astounding art direction (even by today’s standards) and unparalleled support. Ever since its release, other games have claimed to be the “WoW killer”, and yet still it stands, strong as it was in 2004.

3. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami JPN (KCEJ)
Platform: PS2

A franchise prequel, Snake Eater sets most of the events of the Metal Gear series into motion and redefines its stealth action gameplay. The player’s environmental surroundings were vital in this Cold War tale set on the brink of nuclear war.

4. Ninja Gaiden
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Team Ninja
Platform: Xbox

It’s one thing to bring back a classic. It’s another to re-invent the game entirely and set a new standard for an entire genre. Ninja Gaiden could be soul crushing in its difficulty, but this was due to lightning fast gameplay and incredible AI. Tomonobu Itagaki made a game that was better than you, and he wanted you to know it.

 
5. Halo 2
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bungie Software
Platform: Xbox

Xbox Live ushered in a new era of online console gaming, and Halo 2 helped Microsoft lead the charge. In addition to its high-octane single-player campaign, Halo 2 allowed gamers to compete online for glory. It was an instant success, and Bungie rode the wave to online multiplayer stardom.

6. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar North
Platform: PS2

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas gave you everything the other GTA titles did, but then it added in about 400-percent more. Now you could eat fast food to become fat, workout to get jacked, ride bikes, fly planes, date, skydive, and get lost in the story of Carl Johnson’s return to Los Santos and all of the headaches that came with it. The story, violence, and open world of GTA was back, and it was amazing.

 
7. Rome: Total War
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Creative Assembly
Platform: PC

Creative Assembly has proven in the past that it could fuse turn-based strategy gameplay with large-scale, real-time battlefield management, but never before was the chaos of battle brought to life as it was in Rome. Buoyed by a number of gameplay refinements and a massive graphical upgrade over previous series entries, Rome proved to be one of the prettiest, deepest, and most satisfying gaming experiences ever made.

 
8. Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Retro Studios, Inc.
Platform: GameCube

While developer Retro Studios may have fallen short of expectations set by the first Metroid Prime, the team’s sophomore effort, Prime 2: Echoes, remains an impressive, landmark release in the GameCube library. Retro’s talents in marrying classic gameplay appeal to modern presentation and immersive environments evolved with Metroid Prime 2 to stunning, if not revolutionary, effect.

 
9. Burnout 3: Takedown
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Criterion Games
Platform: PS2 , Xbox

Criterion took everything we never knew we wanted from a driving game and stuffed it all into Burnout 3: Takedown. In Crash mode, we used cars as virtual weapons, destroying our surroundings. In Road Rage, we took out our latent driving aggression, pushing cars off the road with manic glee. Fantasy fulfillment at its finest.

10. ESPN NFL 2K5
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Visual Concepts
Platform: PS2 , Xbox

As a slap in the face of EA’s Madden series, ESPN NFL 2K5 managed to grab and hold onto a firm legion of NFL fans. The game, which – you know – involves two teams on a field running headlong into each other while carrying a synthetic ball, remains as playable and enjoyable as ever – even if the presentation has taken a hit over the years.

January 19th, 2010 by dace

This is the fourth part of the Dungeon finder guide in the 3.3

Let’s set some ground rules…

The first rule of the Dungeon Finder is that it does not work on raids.
The second rule of the Dungeon Finder is that it does not work on raids.

Blizzard added a new interface for joining raids. The Dungeon Finder helps you find parties for dungeons using everyone in your battlegroup regardless of server. Being as raids are still going to be same-server only, that means you won’t be using this tool for it. Plus there’s the fact that you can’t use this tool for it. Raids have their own new interface that’s very similar to the specific dungeon interface. See the Raid panel of your Social window for more info on that.

The old Looking for Group channel now has nothing to do with the Dungeon Finder. Looking for Group is now just a channel like trade available in all major cities. That means anyone who is currently spamming trade with group information can now do that on a channel actually designed for it.

You can choose to queue for one of the following at a time, but no more than that: dungeons, battlegrounds, arenas. Pick your queue of choice and commit to it. If you want to queue for a dungeon, get done with that and then queue for an arena or battleground afterward, that’s perfectly fine. You just can’t queue for Halls of Lightning and Alterac Valley at the same time.

Need before Greed is the law of the land. Blizzard put the random dungeon loot requirement as need before greed in order to help prevent as many loot disputes as possible. If you don’t want to use that for your loot distribution, then you’ll have to create your own group by hand. Sorry.

Disenchanting is now a type of roll, but only if you have an appropriately leveled enchanter in your party. This is considered a greed roll. If you happen to win, the game automatically shards the item and puts the resulting mats in your inventory. This might rub a lot of enchanters the wrong way, because of long standing traditions on their servers, but there’s not much you can do about it. The good news is that this should help reduce the price of enchants on the market as more mats should start being available.

The randomness of the random dungeon dailies aren’t completely random. While the text does specify the dailies as random, they’re not really. The system tries to make sure you aren’t running the same dungeon over and over again. With random mode on, it will allow you to bypass your normal heroic lockouts. This means if the dice gods are against you, that random dungeon could be one you really don’t like. However, the system tries really hard not to do that.

If you’re choosing specific dungeons through the interface, it will still take your heroic lockouts into account, so you can’t just choose to run new Icecrown heroics over and over again. Now, if you’ve selected random dungeons and everyone else has selected the new dungeons specifically, like on oh, I don’t know… patch day. You might be able to get the new dungeons over and over again. But that’s just luck if it happens and don’t count on it.

January 19th, 2010 by dace

This is the third part of the dungeon finder guide in the 3.3.

The Slow and Meticulous Dungeon Runner…

Let’s say that you’re trying to get a weapon from Heroic Trial of the Champion, a set of legs from Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle, and a belt from Heroic Nexus. That’s all you need. You just want to run those three instances. You can do this, but you can’t do it with any of the perks of doing a random dungeon.

Just hit that little drop-down in the upper right hand corner of your Dungeon Finder frame. It’s the one between the quest and the role icons. Select ‘Specific Dungeons’ from the dropdown and you’ll get a list of all of the dungeons available to you.

Uncheck the box next to the headings of each group and then only check the dungeons or heroics you really really need.

Once you’re done, just hit ‘Find Group’ at the bottom and everything will proceed from there like the random dungeons do. The only difference is that you won’t get any rewards from doing it this way other than those things that drop in the dungeon. No extra badges, no bags of goodies, no extra gold.

However, since most people will be hitting the random dungeons you’ll be able to find a group much faster. The program behind the scenes just picks one of your specific dungeons and grabs 4 people wanting to do random dungeons and tosses you all into a group together. Yes, that means even if you want something from Oculus, you’ll still be able to find a group.