Merry Christmas and All That Jazz

I want to wish everyone a very (belated) Merry Christmas and hope that Santa got you what you want or that your family didn't drive you crazy. Anyway, it's been a while since I've posted and here's what I've been up and also a little gaming knowledge for the masses.

Sonic Ultimate Genesis Collection

For the past few weeks I've been trying to platinum this game. The only thing holding me back was Dr. Robotnik (or Eggman depending on your preference) Mean Bean Machine (or Puyo Puyo in Japan). I tried playing it legit (going through the 13 stages and ultimately beat the good doctor). Instead, I punched in the level select code and tried the hold right, then left and it didn't work. One early morning and about 15 loads from my save state and the chime for MBM and my platinum popped up. I never want to play Puyo Puyo or MBM EVER again.

On a lighter note SUGC is $20 at your local gaming store. The price-to-game ratio is insane and can only be beaten by emulating the games. At $30 (what I payed for it), I couldn't say no, plus I'm a sucker for retro games and games of my youth. The only game that I wish was included in the collection was Gunstar Heroes, however it's on PSN and XBLA.

Madden NFL 10

I finally got the platinum for this game thanks to jmowen and kdogg2010, who gave me jmowen's psn id, from ps3trophies.org. The only one I needed was the lateral trophy and I thought I had it, however, the game was set to pro. The requirement for all trophies was all-pro or higher and it includes the MySkill setting as well.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

This is what I expected Modern Warfare 2 to be, all-out chaos. The beta for BC2 is better than Modern Warfare 1 (which outside of Burnout Paradise and MLB 08: The Show) logged the most hours in my O.G. PS3. Right now as I type the collectors edition is selling for the price of the standard copy. If I was a betting man, the offer may end at the beginning of the year, so get to Gamestop, Amazon, or wherever you buy games and reserve it.

Valkyria Chronicles

If you like Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem, then you'll absolutely love this game. If you don't like anime-style animation, get used to it because the characters are modeled that way. *In the interest of full disclosure: I love anime.* I played the demo of it after hearing nothing but good things about it on various websites on the interwebs about a year later. Partly due to me not having a PS3 or having the internet to download PSN demos.

Closing Time

The next blog I'll write (before the end of the year), will be a two-year year-in-review. Since I missed a ton of games toward the end of 2008 until mid 2009. I'll be giving my annual awards (okay second annual because I used to do it when I was an active member of GameTrailers. Don't believe me type in my PSN ID on google and you'll find it on GameTrailers under the name 36PSWii.) Anyway before I go, two pieces of info I'll share.

First, Google Chrome pwns all. I still use Firefox for my video downloading (since my FF update things have been screwy and I don't want to use safe mode because it disables some of the most useful plugins that make the internet more enjoyable. I.E. no ads whatsoever.) Chrome isn't a resource hog like Firefox will always be. Since Chrome is a BETA, it does have some issues. Also since it's a Google product the issues will be ironed out (nothing major just some minor things that are annoyances that's all.)

Second, here a link from the greatest gaming website community blog on the face of the internet DESTRUCTOID.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday (whatever you celebrate) and remember Double XP weekend for Uncharted 2 last until Monday and also I got ModNation Beta (and thanks to kdogg2010). Later!!!

Madden 10 Patch #2: Did It Save the Franchise? Inital Impressions About Patch #2

I just got finished with a game of Madden 10 (on PS3) and I have some good news and bad. The good is EA has done a decent job with this patch. However, the same issues that many gamers have with Madden on higher difficulties (and not as much but happen less frequent on lower difficulties) still exist (holding cells, lineman getting beat off the snap, defensive backs swatting the ball and tackling at the same time, and the dreaded jumping airwalking catch just to name a few). Here's the link about the second patch and what it updated: Madden 10 Second Patch.


The Good:

• Flats are no longer as abusive: Linebackers and Defensive Back cover the flats pretty good. LBs (and DBs to an extent) break toward the running back and snuff out flats. *Side note: I had the Philadelphia Eagles and the CPU was the Tennessee Titans with Versuz2's settings Pro difficulty and CPU skills all at 100.* My stat line with Brian Westbrook, 10 catches 150 yards and a touchdown (that came on a 67 yard play to the flats). The flat routes that I normally would check down to weren't available (nice zone defense and the patch to thank) and I made throws that I normally wouldn't attempt.

• CPU runs a hurry-up offense under 4 minutes: I think that available on day one, but whatever the case, Vince Young had his men up at the line around the 30 second point on the play clock and hike it at between 25 and 27 seconds.
  

• QB sacks before the ball is thrown: This is great on Pro setting, however on All-Madden they still throw the ball down with zen-like precision. *Side note: Second game was between Colts (me) and the Seahawks (and their hideous lime green jersey).* I have yet to throw a ball out of a sack yet. I know that it can be done, but I need to figure out the timing and animation to do it from.

• Replay Length Increased and More Key Play Replays: This was something that I had wanted fixed in Madden 09, but it's better to have it now than not to have it at all. If you have a breakaway touchdown, then this is awesome. My (somewhat) minor complaint is when a tackle is made when the player is tackled while crossing the goal line. It still has the cutoff and looks unnatural (from a broadcast perspective). The other fix to replays was to add more 'big' play replays (i.e. converted 3 downs, sacks, and interceptions). It adds a little more to the presentation, I could have done without it, but it's there.
  

• Pursuit Angles "Fixed": CPU Players still take 'the less optimum' route to the ball carrier. For instance (referring to the Eagles/Titans game), I was running an inside zone running play and when I break to the outside there's the safety and a corner back (it's hard to picture without picture, so bare with me). In a real football play the lead corner would come down at angle and force the RB toward the sideline (in effect ending the play without giving up more yards) and give the safety a chance to finish the play (best case scenario). Instead, he and the safety are running parallel with each other (the safety is ten yards ahead of the play) and the corner runs toward the safety giving me more room to turn up the field. However, on All-Madden they make the 'correct' football play, with motion-shifting, time shift tackles, etc.

• Chain Gang Cutscenes Reduced: Pre-patch, the chain gang comes out on EVERY close play and measures the yards gained. We know that there's two sets of first down markers (the 'official' first down markers and the 'ones Madden acknowledges'.) Sometimes, you know that you've gotten the first down by clearly crossing the marker, but the 'Madden' first down marker says otherwise. Now, the chain gang appears on plays that are too close to call (even though I know the outcome based on what cutscene is shown).

• Players 'actually' blocking: This shows up on the Pro setting (players maintaining their blocks), however those who know about All-Madden know that blocking does not exist.
  

The Bad:

• Hitched animations for Wildcat: In goal line QB draw situations, I can understand that. Now EA has ruined the Wildcat formation. The HB Direct Snap is pretty abusive and I think that they should have focused more on that than the Wildcat. I wanted to see what changes were made to the Wildcat (referring to Eagles/Titans game), so I called two plays; one was QB Power which I ran successfully, the other QB choice was effectively blown up before it was snapped. Without that hitch animation, Jeremy Maclin gets around the DE and gets a nice 6-10 yard gain, instead hit for a loss. I'll do some more testing with Miami's Wildcat and let y'all know if it hurts or helps it.

• Best of Both Worlds Not Fixed: This animation can be fixed, as evidence see the hitched animations topic, but we know EA is busy with Madden 11, so I had hope that it would be fixed, but it wasn't. Apexisfree is probably gonna made a video about this not being fixed.
  

• The Airwalking Catch Still Exists: I really hate this animation, even more than BoBW. We know in real life that catch is impossible to perform, let alone attempt. Again something else Apex is gonna talk about.

• Holding Cells Still Exist on All-Madden: If you don't know what a holding cell is look at my blog about fixes madden needs to make.

Conclusion:

I haven't tried out the franchise mode stuff yet, because of the issues with the core gameplay. I'm pretty sure it works, I'll probably try within the coming weeks. Madden 10 is still needs some things done to make me stomach playing All-Madden once again. All I want is an accurate simulation of football, and apparently EA is STILL attempting to simulate football (since Madden 06 at least to me). I'm pretty much done with Madden and I won't be getting Madden 11. I would reserve judgment to when the demo comes out, however I've seen this story before and the outcome is going to be the same. Lies about EA Tiburon improving the game, only to find out more flaws are exposed. I'll play some games of Madden to get my football fix in. Until Backbreaker comes out, my football fix will be watching games on Sunday with my folks. The last Madden that I bought was Madden 08 (with Vince Young as pitch man) and it was completely different from the 360 version. Madden 10's very slow might be the equivalent of how Madden 08 (on PS3) ran. That was maybe the most fun I had in a football game since the 2K days.

This is Kennedy singing out and remember the power that we consumers have can have an impact on everything. Also anyone who makes Ian Cummings or his team go into depression is a good guy by me. Later!!!

Downloadable Content: Easy Way for a Quick Buck or Something Else?

I've been reading a ton of articles about downloadable content and how gamers feel about it. Personally, I don't mind it IF, it adds something extra that extends the life of the game and it's reasonably priced. Most DLC is a quick cash grab with things that should have been free, on the disc, or patched in day one (for instance Dragon Age's DLC).


Assassin's Creed II has a dicey situation. The game has 2 memory sectors blocked. The new DLC has those two sectors. I don't know what the cost is but it definitely extends the life of the game. I personally have mixed opinions on AC2, haven't played it yet. If Ubisoft improved the complaints of AC1, then I'll buy it. For now, if I walk into a rental store and it's in stock, I'll rent it.

Madden 10 (and NCAA 10) were the dumbest pieces of DLC EVER (there may be some even dumber, if any exist, I'll post my comments about it). The online franchise should have been free or at least $4.99, however it is half-baked and not even worth it (I didn't buy it nor was I planning on buy it). The second pieces they had were things that were in Madden 09 and were free. The AFL Legacy Pack was a decent get, though had I known there were codes to get it I would have gotten it for free ($6.99 was steep should have been $4.99 like the Fight Night Pack).


Speaking of other EA products, Rock Band, Burnout Paradise, and Fight Night Round 4 have some of the best DLC values. All three are completely optional, but they definitely add life to the games and have good values. These three games are high on my games list.

This wasn't one of my "well-thought out" blogs, but it was something that was on my mind. If you'll excuse me I'm gonna play some Fight Night and wait for PS Store to update so I can get Smells Like Teen Spirit on Rock Band. Later!!!