The Popular (and Absolutely Insane) Just Cause 2 Multiplayer Mod is About to Get a Steam Release Posted by Matt Byrd (12/02/2013 @ 12:20 pm)
While I have no problem calling “Just Cause 2” a good game, I’m hesitant when it comes to giving it praise beyond that. See if you attend the open world game design school, there’s really only two classes you can go to. One preaches using the large in-game world to provide a more intensely cinematic experience, while the other teaches the idea of using that same space to let players just go nuts with few (if any) design boundaries to limit or guide them. While neither is inherently a wrong pursuit, “Just Cause 2’s” firm attendance and devotion to the latter design philosophy meant that while the game was insanely large and incredibly fun to just mess around in, elements like mission quality and story structure were either limited or non-existent. Some time ago, however, a dedicated group of modders found a way to capitalize off of the built-in strengths of the game and give it a longevity that even a more cohesive and engaging storyline structure couldn’t do by simply adding a true online multiplayer mode to the game. It’s not an unprecedented occurrence for a single player only game to get a modded multiplayer component, but when you consider that this particular mod allows for up to 600 players at once within the absolutely gigantic world of “Just Cause 2,” and factor in the game’s already zany and ridiculously fast paced nature, perhaps you can see why this drew so much attention from users who would have otherwise most likely stopped regularly playing the game some time ago. Now it turns out it was not only individual users whose attention was caught by the mod, but the folks at Valve as well as it was recently announced that Steam will soon be making the popular multiplayer mod available for download as an official Steam release. This not only makes the mod much more accessible to the average person, but rightfully legitimizes it as an essential component of the “Just Cause 2” experience. While the only available release date is still 2013, regardless of whenever this does actually hit Steam it’s already a big win for everyone involved. This is especially true for us, the players, who will now get an even easier chance to experience a sandbox action multiplayer game that is without chaotic equal. Expect to see a popular new wave of insane YouTube videos and jaws on floors when “Just Cause 2’s” multiplayer mode is released by the end of the month Posted in: News, PC Tags: best mods, gaming, gaming blogs, gaming headlines, gaming news, Just Cause 2, Just Cause 2 mods, Just Cause 2 multiplayer, Just Cause 2 Multiplayer Steam, steam, steam releases, Video game news
New Feature Will Allow You To Share Your Steam Games With Closest Friends Posted by Matt Byrd (09/11/2013 @ 1:07 pm)
Valve announced today that they are developing the beta for a new feature called Steam Family Sharing that will allow you to share your Steam library with close friends, just like you are lending them a physical game. Though the full details are still unknown, the basic way the system appears to work is that up to 10 authorized friends can request to access your Steam account and download and play, through the cloud, most games you have available, and vice versa. To prevent abusing the system, if the user whose account you are borrowing from accesses their own account while you are using it, even if they are playing a different game than you are, you will be given a prompt that you have a few minutes to buy the game, or you will be kicked out. Further details reveal that not every game will be available for sharing, though the specific games are unknown, and that purchased in-game items will not carry over to sharing, though it appears that DLC will. Also actions that can affect reputation in a game that are done by the player borrowing said game will carry over to the lender. Though a few concerns and questions remain (Can a lender access his account when a game is installing to the borrower? If you’ve installed the game over the cloud and choose to buy it, does it have to be re-installed?) this is a tremendous idea that has been rumored for some time, but is still a welcome and exciting addition to Steam that provides a great opportunity to try out games that don’t usually have demos, as well as revive the borrowing concept, albeit in a slightly limited fashion. Steam is accepting early beta applications now, while the release date for the full version is unknown. Posted in: News Tags: borrow PC games, borrow steam games, gaming, gaming articles, gaming blogs, gaming headlines, gaming news, how yo share your Steam game, lend PC games, lend steam games, share your steam games, steam, Steam family sharing, Steam family sharing beta, Steam updates, Video Game Articles, Video Game Blogs, video game headlines, Video game news, Video Games
How Martin O’Donnell Got Paul McCartney to Help Him On Destiny Posted by Matt Byrd (08/02/2013 @ 8:43 pm)
Booting up “Halo: CE” for the first time was just one of those moments. While the thrill of playing a new console (the Xbox) and the hype the game had generated shortly before release were enough to amp you up before you even booted the game, it was the moment the main screen appeared that you immediately realized you were about to embark on something special. That’s because it was the moment you heard the “Halo” theme in all its glory. Not only does it remain one of the best gaming themes of all time, but to this day it stands as one of the few musical themes across all mediums that manages to perfectly convey the material it represents, as its haunting intensity can flood memories of long nights of play into your conscious with no more than a note. It’s the kind of work a composer could hang his hat on and call it a career, but that isn’t the case for “Halo’s” composer Martin O’Donnell, who has continued to work on the famed series, and who’s newest task sees him composing the theme to Bungie’s new game “Destiny.” That’s no small task considering that Bungie is trying to work with a clean slate not reliant on any previous success, meaning they’ll need a theme as epic as the one in “Halo,” but without being the one in “Halo.” To help him in this herculian task, O’Donnell has recruited a man that’s had more than a little experience in producing hits over changing conditions. Sir Paul McCartney working on an FPS with the composer of “Halo” may sound like an odd (or even dreamlike) scenario, but its roots are much more humble. As O’Donnell explains it, he was talking with a friend that worked on “Rock Band” when McCartney was helping that team out, and the friend mentioned that they could name drop O’Donnell to the rock legend. O’Donnell said why the hell not and since McCartney had played “Halo” with his grandkids (imagine that for a moment) knew O’Donnell’s work and took the chance to assist him with “Destiny.” According to O’Donnell, McCartney is always excited to work on new ventures, and has brought a fresh perspective, as well as his tape loop machine used on Sgt. Peppers and years of experience, to the process. The combination of these great minds, has to date produced a 50 minute soundtrack which, according to O’Donnell, tells its own story within “Destiny” and will be released separately ahead of the game. From the ambitious looking footage, its clear that Bungie has no interest in selling “Destiny” as a carbon copy FPS with “From the makers of Halo” stamped on the box, and this move to reach out to, and attract, a legend like McCartney is further proof of that, and that even in a crowded gaming line up we should all be keeping an eye on “Destiny” and an ear on its theme in anticipation of one of those moments. Posted in: News Tags: Best Videogame Music, bungie, Bungie Destiny, destiny, Destiny Soundtrack, Destiny Theme, gaming, gaming blogs, gaming headlines, gaming news, halo, Halo CE, Halo theme, martin o'donnell, Monks Chanting Halo Theme, paul mccartney, Paul McCartney in video games, Paul McCartney working on Destiny, Video Games
Signs Point Vaguely to a New Bully Game on the Horizon Posted by Matt Byrd (07/31/2013 @ 8:56 pm)
Despite being known for a few distinct franchises (like that Grand Theft Whatsitsname), the fine folks at Rockstar have historically never been afraid to abandon their laurels and attempt to create new, and exciting properties. While some of those attempts turn into “Rockstar Table Tennis” (which is still fun in its own right), many more become noteworthy, if flawed, titles like 2006’s “Bully,” a game which tasked you with taking the role of a mischievous 15 year old at a pristine boarding school, as he pranks, learns, and generally tries to figure out his young life through a series of misadventures. It was a cult classic type game that certainly had its fanbase, but didn’t set the world on fire like that other Rockstar franchise. This was mostly due to an overreliance on fetch quest missions, and a general unevenness brought about between a conflict between the games more structured, but enjoyable aspects (such as attending classes, and seeking out side missions) and a determination to force the “sandbox” style gameplay in, though it often felt out of place. Still though, it had potential, which may be what publisher Take Two thinks, since they’ve filed a trademark registration for the “Bully” property indicating, among other possibilities, a potential interest in returning to the franchise by releasing a sequel. Now this is far from a guarantee, but it does make since considering Rockstar’s history of reviving franchises with potential once they feel the current technology allows for it with typically sterling results (See: “GTA III,” “Red Dead Redemption,” and “Max Payne 3”). Considering “Bully” had so much going for it initially, then the thoughts of a similar revival on par with those examples is exciting, and is enough to request everybody keep their fingers crossed that this news be confirmed soon so we can all enjoy the results. Plus, success for a future “Bully” title, could mean the revival of “The Warriors.”
Because I Freaking Loved That Game Posted in: News Tags: Bully, Bully 2, Bully Scholarship Edition, Bully Sequel, Bully trademark registration, gaming, gaming blogs, gaming headlines, gaming news, New Bully game, rockstar games, take two, Video Games, video gaming
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