What's up with the DLCs nower days...

Remember back when you actually got the whole package for the price you paid. There was none of this stupid DLC business. That's the biggest issue I have with next-gen consoles. Due to their online markets, different companies can exploit their loyal customers by releasing overpriced DLCs for games which usually aren't even worthy of the initial retail price.

For example - we all know that Activision are abusing this facility as they specifically release Call of Duty games with minimal maps, and then they hope to gain large revenue through the various map packs, usually consisting of 4 or 5 poorly designed maps. The worst thing is that people are actually prepared to go ahead with the purchase.

So overall, I think DLC is just pointless. The only case where I think it's good is if the game at hand requires DLCs (i.e. World of Warcraft) to extend the experience. Map packs don't extend the experience. You're just getting perhaps an extra hour of freshness, and soon you're interest span will decrease, rendering the DLC useless.

Very few games have got the DLCs right: GTA IV, World of Warcraft (also known as expansion packs rather than DLC) and Mass Effect. The DLCs actually added pretty substantial stuff to make the game much longer.

So what's your opinion of downloadable content? Is it just another gateway for big corporations to milk our wallets dry or do these so-called extensions actually promote themselves as being viable pieces of software?

....yes, you heard me right.

TF2 is now 100% free to download officially via Steam for Windows or Macs.

Hurry before they change their mind and join into the crazy fun this game has to offer!!

Isn't it kinda ironic how GameSpot pockets all the money from this big shot devs and then give crap reviews?

For example, DNF got horrid reviews on GameSpot but they're still advertising it on their sites.

Same with Brink and countless other games....

Are they even allowed to do that?

So I finally finish Duke Nukem, and here's my review:

http://uk.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/duke-nukem-forever/player_review.html?id=767210

So I do recommend it :)

For those who aren't as keen on Duke Nukem as I am, maybe wait a few weeks for a price drop. But that's not cause the game is bad or anything. It's just the fact that the game is likely to have a price drop soon as it's getting reviewed harshly for not being something it isn't.

This is not a rant about the quality of DNF but about the quality of all those negative reviews on Duke Nukem Forever....

Someone tell me what's wrong with these graphics??

I mean what the hell!? People expect this game to be something 'amazing'? It's a satirical FPS with the purpose of entertaining gamers and giving the user a nostalgic experience of one of the most iconic characters in the history of gaming.

90% of the reviews out so far criticizing the game is criticizing it for not being a COD or a BFBC. I mean come on!? People are complaining that the visuals are in par with a game that came out in 2007!? HOW THE HELL IS THAT A BAD THING!?? It's not like the graphics are so crap that the game is unplayable!! The graphics are FINE!!

The next thing is that the game is too old!! What were you expecting? A game scheduled to release in the late 90s, continued until 2009 something until it was dropped. It takes a lot of 'genitals' to resurrect something from the dead, and I praise Gearbox for completing what 3D Realms had started. They didn't plan to scrap everything and restart, they didn't promise anything new - they simply completed something unfinished. Without them, no DNF. It was all for the better.

I've played a fair amount of the campaign and must say they are varied. Once again, people hating DNF for not being a COD. I'm sorry but COD1 all the way to MW3 (judging by E3 footage and own knowledge) involves you following a white distance marker (so effing linear!!!) for the ridiculously short campaign and average multiplayer experience, yet people praise it and buy it at incredible prices!! I mean MW2 is still £45 ($60-ish) just cause it's overrated!!

Here comes a fairly lengthy campaign with tonnes of tongue-in-cheek humour (which does get repetitive I must admit) but offers a dynamic experience in which you can do anything such as throw poop at people or draw willies or explore environments and do something naughty.... like taking steroids!! Yet people find it repetitive and very linear although most environments are quite open....

What the hell!?

Seriously.... most the people complaining haven't even played the game yet make judgements based on the trailers etc.

The game was designed to poke fun at modern issues and to also retread on old 90s subjects. It wasn't meant to be took seriously, as you can tell by the ridiculous storyline (which is Duke kicking alien butts cos they jacked his babes) so why expect something serious and very in-depth....

Why??

As far as I can say, Duke Nukem Forever was a refreshing experience and was worth the money in my opinion. However, I recommend the standard gamer waits for a price drop (buy it in a months time) and enjoy. Fans of Duke Nukem or arcade games in general must buy ASAP.

My rating: 8/10

There ARE plenty of boobs....

Multiplayer is amazing by the way: shrink rays, jet packs and chicks instead of flags for CTF are novel additions to the experience :)

The purpose of this article is to inform those who are now hesitant to purchase the game or all those who have pre-ordered to not worry. This is one of those fine examples of a good game being negatively portrayed to death to put off sales. One such game would be Brink which was objective based and didn't follow the features of a conventional shooter, yet commercially it sold pretty well despite reviewers ranting about it not being like boring-old COD!

Just remember, this is Duke Nukem. It wasn't designed to give you a state-of-the-art experience, but it is a commercial package to entertain the masses, and those who did enjoy titles like Bulletstorm will definitely love Duke Nukem Forever. It's pure arcade action with a lot of attitude.

The genuine errors in the game were long load times (30 seconds each on average), bland textures (but not a biggy; not huge enough to put me off the entire game like many reviews claim), only 2 weapons can be carried which is totally not Duke, cheeky one-liners become repetitive after a while.... I accept that the game could've improved in these aspects, but many of its other features make up for these errors which are mostly technical errors rather than gameplay issues. I mean, if a Duke Nukem game was to be made in modern times, THIS is how it can be. It cannot become something which it is not. Compare it with Duke3D and you will find the same patterns. Although the final quality of the game is something that took 13 months to make rather than 13 years, the game is still a memorable experience. I say go for it.

'The problem with these reviews is that they criticize the old-school concept. It's fair to hate the graphics, but the throwback concept is a GOOD thing. These Call of Duty loving critics don't get that it's an intentional thing. DNF is NOT supposed to be a typical modern day shooter.'

Accurately sums up my rant (credit goes to some lass who posted it on Facebook)

My beautiful Balls of Steel edition of Duke Nukem Forever has arrived at my door step. The most awesome thing is that I only paid for the standard version :)

I still haven't opened it but I'm sure I'm not gonna be sleepin' for the next couple of nights...

My review will be up as soon as I complete the game cause DNF cannot be critiqued unless fully played.

MGS 2 & 3 coming in an HD format along with Peace Walker to the 360!!

YAY!! Really looking forward to this....

And I also ordered Duke Nukem Forever. The visuals looks kinda dated for something being made for 13 years but then again, they're not too bad either. With Gearbox in control, this game will definitely succeed.... I'm just hoping for a lengthy campaign with high replay value rather than anything else.... and oh yeah, got great expectations for the multiplayer mode but then again, I doubt DNF was designed with the multiplayer mode in mind....

Hmmm.... yeaahhh..... loads of elipses.....

Loads of good games planned to release in 2012, and a few good games coming out this year....

And I'll be getting Arkhum City on September 30th if I'm lucky (as I am a voluntary game tester :) ) so the review will most likely be up as soon as GameSpot permits user reviews for the game.

Bye!!

Started playing the game yesterday. Really fun, but will get slightly boring like GTA did after excessive playing.

Overall, I'd recommend it for purchase at the current retail price. Still haven't seen what the multiplayer has on offer so will do in the weekend.

Review for the game will come soon.

And as I don't have time to do reviews as soon as they release (although I play most of them by release), I'm gonna do more 'First Impressions' posts like this one, and eventually will be followed by a full review.

Edit: Ooohh... It seems that the game has no multiplayer mode. Unexpected but whatever... the game is still worth purchasing if you want a lengthy game to enjoy during your summer holidays...

Whatever it is, I'm not really diggin' this new look.

Feels too much like IGN with stuff cluttered everywhere.

If by any chance people agree with me, make this post famous cause personally, the older design was a bit more simplistic.

We all have games which we love. Most the games I enjoyed thoroughly were titles that release back in the times of the PS2. Games back then weren't particularly expensive in comparison to prices today (i.e. 5 hour games like Black Ops with minimal replay value are priced at £50, even now, months after it had released).

So as usual, I decided to head over to the nearest CeX store (a shop which trades and sell electronics in the UK), and picked up half a dozen video games, many of which were PS2 games, and many which were 360 titles.

The games I picked up were:

- Hitman Blood Money (for the 360 as I sold the PS2 version after completion)

- Destroy All Humans! (PS2)

- The Orange Box (X360, which is completely worth it cause you get loads of games in it, which are all quality titles by Valve)

- 50 Cent Bulletproof (which is a piece of crap which I knowingly bought, and that too the PS2 version, but it's scratched :S)

- God of War (for the PS2, another game which I sold upon completion as it had zero replay value after finishing)

- Left 4 Dead (I only had it on Steam but wanted it on the 360 as many friends have it on the 360 system)

And I REALLY, REALLY want Portal 2 and L. A. Noire but cannot stand the prices because I don't have the time to play frequently and so see it as a waste to pay full price now instead of waiting a few months by when the prices should've halved.

Have any of you played Portal 2? What's your opinion of it? It looks cool but pretty short and straight forward. The first one was pretty fun but never completed it cause I felt pretty nauseous (is that how you spell it?) after playing (basically really dizzy) but that's cause I increased the sensitivity to the max and shook the mouse about everywhere like a retard.