Well, I was all for my NFS game but playing midnight la recently I see that it pretty much covers all the points! From starting off in first person, choosing the car, the headlights flash for racing, garages, etc...oh well. I posted said idea on the NFS forum site and some liked it, but I'm just not thinking the NFS team is really planning on keeping the underground world alive anymore...times change of course, so the games with them, and honestly, it's amazing how games even become such hits, given that it takes like two years to make a decent game -the future projections wouldn't really validate that! Gaming interests, etc. change so fast!.... BUT, Underground 3 would be awesome right about next year! or so...alas, I'm still bitter about Undercover...I play it and just a soon want to stop. blah. to the new year! huugh!

NFS Rivals. (Street Race. Ultimate. Hardcore)
This is the culmination of pretty much all nfs titles -underground 2, most wanted, carbon, prostreet, and undercover- with a little of Juiced(a very underrated racing game in my op) thrown in there.
Starts out in 1st person (player actually controls the camera: you!), you're in a bus terminal waiting for your bus, all hiding and you see a slew of race cars pull up and guys going about searching, you hide quickly into a bus about to leave - so we instantly find out you're on the run -from street racers!
So, you're on a bus to somewhere, flashback scene while you dream: of you in a heated race where we see you lose ontrol of the car and wham! fly into spectators and ? crash? into them and cars? (Youtube Street Racing and you'll see what I'm thinking about here)... so a traumatic past, puts the player into needing to be a better and conscientious driver -guilt in the past.
Bus stops. you wake up and arrive in a city that looks either like Las Vegas or Salt Lake City: the idea is of vast stretch roads and close to canyon races and speed runs, etc...
So your first task: not getting picked up by someone -cousin or otherwise- but to steal a ride! so you're given an option as you walk to where you see two cars worth stealing:1 is a plain, no suped 240sx, the other a suped up 240sx. But, (a warning flashes) one car will not have any power or advantage, and you'll have to earn wins to get into garages and new parts (takes a while), the other will have some already, but at a price. There is a gang of street racers in this city and this car belongs to one of them -so if you steal this car, you have a ride, but so too do you then, for the rest of the game, make enemy of this gang! They will be relentless and if they catch you, you'll lose that ride -no if's or outs...it's gone! So, it adds to the gameplay. You decide how hard to make the game: to always have the threat loom overhead of being chased and lose your car or go easy and only get caught by the cops.
Of course you can get away from the gang, but hopefully it can be made to be very hard, or they'll (have a special) "emp" your ride, so you have no chance! hah. However, if you do get away, then not only do you get street rep, but as you evade and get away after a number of such encounters, you in turn get access to rare parts, and later, an emp of your own. But only for use in such pursuits -not for cops or in a race, else you get disqualified in races and the cops in turn get one of their own -so you see, the stakes are high with that one.
Races: I'm looking for
Canyon: the only tweak is the camera! God was that annoying in Carbon! ugh!
Speed: once again ala Prostreet. Man was that the most excitement I had in a racing game; the first time doing a speed race was just epic! Too bad Undercover lost that feeling completely.
Street racing: as in all NFS titles
Drift: ala Carbon in Canyon and Track, but against another racer! on both counts.
Drag: ala Most Wanted/Underground 2 -cars and street hazards in the way!
The city will not be open as in Undercover -hell no! need incentive to race and explore the city with markers on the map for most races, but special races will not be shown, instead as you drive and see street race cars parked somewhere -even off beaten paths- you approach and push up for race info and race option to join or not.
No more this instant jump into a race, as if cars just spawn for the race, but in the whole city not one car is found -what's up with that?! Undercover was based on illegal street cars and yet not one is on the street!
Garages will be all over the map like in Underground 2 -no jump to -you can jump to Safehouse though -to switch cars, etc. but not upgrade, etc.
The Undercover camera engine will be used -for the cool new moves- but car performance and handling will be that of Prostreet. The rendering will be that of Prostreet as well, no street reflection or bland cityscapes -make it Pop and yet uncluttered. The weather will also change, rain to not, and the time will be sunset with most of it all being in dusk.
The gangs will be littered throughout the city -not unlike Carbon- but more presence and intense -where you can always race any street racer you see in the city by flashing your lights and it's on. The race will vary depending on that racer (drift, drag, speed, street), and after you race them they will not disappear. The city is not divided into gang spaces, but will just have you racing to actually create your own gang! To dominate in a race and then be asked by other racers if you'd like them to join you -ala Carbon and Juiced- or you even ask them if they are available! Ask them to join you and try to break up other gangs! But you can't control them, they just get in the way, but the story will periodically tell you how their races are going and that one of them lost their ride, etc. so will you lend them a car or lose them to your gang if you decline, etc...stuff like this, a bit RPG into racing!
Cars: not all will be used or available, only the most commonly used will be in the game -what's the point of 55 cars when only 20 or so are actually used, so no, instead emphasis will be put into the great difference in handling for each car. A good cornering car will not be a good drag or speed, etc, so make players to use different cars for different races, especially for rival races -if racer chooses drag but you have a different car in use, then you will not be able to perform as well, unless player shows off mad skills -so incentive to be extra skilled! and choose wisely (in races and cars bought).
Point of game is to just race all and dominate most races, gang gets better, and so have own gang at end: choose the name, sig, etc. and that's the new gang in the city! This new city you happened to end up in. ENDS.
Replay value is to just race and have fun with new gang names, identity, etc...
Multiplayer: will actually have an option to race in teams and you and your codriver will race to win and dominate in races by points, placings, etc...or the other player -you can trade off- can opt to join as your gang and race together to dominate -like in Juiced. Multiplayer will not only be all vs all, but so too in partner objectives: get to a certain spot(checkpoint-like); get to a certain point and rack up the points (flag-like); stay in first for certain time/distances (points based); and just open driving -tour the city with friends and such.
That's NFS Rivals. Hope you liked. I tried sending it off to Black Box but no contact info, so we'll see. Here's to hoping they don't give up on NFS, but instead look at what makes a racing game fun, not mass appealing (which is what Undercover tried for and failed), and hope the story ideas change -because enough is enough already!

Yeah, I'm a dork. But seriously, the games that are coming out in 09 and such make the future of gaming thoroughly enjoyable...dark void, darksiders, bionic commando, velvet assassin, prototype, infamous, maybe assassin 2! yeap, just read it. French Revolution sounded great, at first, but then thinking about it, yeah, it might be lame...what all I think about is the lame outfits ala three muskateers...no thanks. also jumping about rooftops seems a bit of a stretch...and how to get away seemlessly as in ac1...? anyway, I loved the first and will love the second, I just hope they do a bit of variety and get more creative in side missions and loss points for dying -I mean, you are supposed to be an assassin, so...

Anyway, I've been playing Mirrors Edge and Undercover and world at war and well, Mirrors edge has me on edge -it is so much fun, but I'm fearing it'll be short. I'm already on the fourth chapter and only been at it for about 3 or so hours. World at War also seems short, but I'm not sure, you're in the pacific for a bit, and just as you're getting all jungle rot, bam, you're in a death pile in Russia!? waa? Undercover? damn it! I should have just rented it first! Damn it! such a disappointment. The sense of speed, as in speed run from Prostreet is totally gone, and the Most Wanted copy is ok, only that now the whole world is open and every race is at the push of a button...no, no, no. no incentive to explore, race, or even care for the storyline -is there a storyline? It seems they just keep repeating most wanted, carbon and now undercover...lame. Oh well. In my next blog I actually write up what I think would make a great NFS title...and yeah, it's what we all would want -Underground 2, Most Wanted, Carbon, Prostreet and Undercover all in one! how hard is that?!

Well, just today I tried going into HOME and man, I'm still impressed. I don't have much friends on PSN but if I did HOME would be so much more fun! A sorta downtime in between games! You've played R2, met someone cool, 'Hey, let's go over to HOME and waste time on pool or bowling or whatever and just chat, while my other friend comes online.' It's just too much! Sure the ads are lame -they're just placed in really stupid spots- and there isn't much filling the environment, the idea of it though, can really be exciting. The creation of more rooms, maps, locales, ways to show new media -psn arrivals- is pretty neat. I do think there will be harassing problems to arise, people were swearing left and right sometimes, and boy avatars would just follow and be 'stupid' to girl avatars -yeah, it's all in fun, but underneath it shows serious ill behavior. In all, I'm excited and I posted the following thread in the ps 3 section. Here's to hoping they don't lock it. I really want to see what other people have to say.

nov 25, 3:28pm

Only one week into it and I definitely feel it puts NXE to shame! and this coming from someone a year ago was totally blasting the ps 3 for not being broad enough...Now? I think Sony is trying to create its own PC. Really. A web browser, media player of all sorts, blue ray player, and now virtual environments! too much. I'm in on the beta and it has much potential - bad as good. Already the vulgarity level is showing its face, and so too all the lame ads. This wouldn't be so bad if they changed the ads every day and put them in different places, but we'll see. It seems to have a venue for new trailers (maybe even movies with friends party option), exclusive videos to the PS3(I hope), preview music (a music kiosk of sorts is there), the thing I'm thinking though is that the environment might be too small! Yes there isn't that much to do, most people would run from one place to another but that was exploration. After the first run through, what will have people to come back? There needs to be a changing environment a la Little Big Planet. People need to feel more interactive than just lame body gestures and text bubbles. Chat is good and just walking by lets you in on their rants -man, someone is going to just stand there and preach a la corner loon, you just watch! You can change clothes, appearance, sex, any time you want and connect to friends seamlessly. You can make parties/clubs, start games from inside (as long as that game is in the drive), and jump from map to map (mall, theatre, bowling alley, room). But then what? It'd be nice if the player could furnish their 'room' like in Saints Row 2 and then have other people come into it. Sorta like house parties in HOME! It's a stretch but how cool would that be.

I do see problems, like when you quit a game and try to go back to HOME (it asks you in the XMB!) it did give me an error (87 I think it was), but overall if the content comes, then yeah, HOME will definetely make '09 Sony's year. Move over xbox (I now only care for it because of Gears, and don't want to do that because of all the problems NXE had; yeah, I'm scared, so what?). Of course, there will be bigger problems, age restictions aren't enforced and that might be its downfall -idiots are out there and this might be a way to vent their foolishness; it can get ugly. But yeah, it definitely has hurdles to meet and come across, but so far, I'm very impressed. The graphics are as good as Mirrors Edge, and hopefully they'll take that a step forward and actually create rooms, environments similar to big Ps3 games! MGS 4! Killzone 2! how awesome would that be? Also, I do hope they change the trophy screen/profile box. It says nothing about the person nor relevance to the type of gamer they are or player. A simple personal text area would be nice. Anyway, start the thread. HOME beta users and non, please. This can really be the beginning to a great PS 3 adventure!

Wow, just saw the trailer for kuf2 and I gotta say, man, I hope it lives up to that...I mean, lair was supposed to live up to what it was showing, and nope, it didn't -and all because of the gameplay -at least for me. I loved crusade and heroes, and circle of doom was fun, even if it was repetative...the graphics were nice, and as long as I get to play as celine or morene, I'm good...wonder what the story will be for this one -just one big soap opera in my opinion...anyway, the combos looked nice, hopefully they'll do more with the increase in levels makes for different combos; I'm actually hoping that different weapons also adds to that...anyway, I can't wait. maybe sometime next winter it'll come out...show more trailers in the meantime...:D

A thought and question on how long does a game producer last in the game industry? Or for that matter how many games do they do before they call it quits or just fade away? I mean how many game producers that have more than three games to them are there? The thought comes from, yes what happened to Jade Raymond, but also, what happens to producers who blow it on the game they worked on? Or the whole team for that matter? I'm thinking of Golden Axe here. Yes, I'm playing it and it annoys me on so many levels it's not even funny -but the game industry knows that gamers are a compulsive bunch and so are tapping into that like leeches! They have to! Look at the cra@ they put out sometimes even when the gameplay/mechanics aren't all worked out. So I ask, Who is to blame for such final product? Anyway, it'd be nice to get actual replies from people in the industry but....

I'm actually akin to gamespot adding a section every so often that lets gamers post questions or debate with actual game industry professionals. I mean, yeah, sure they are busier making the game etc.. but it'd be nice to actually form a discussion in trying to better the industry and the material/content -if nothing, the actual final quality. It's a long shot, but it'd be nice.

gears of war baby! got blocked! I've been blocked before, can't recall what the other one was for -I think my thoughts on games future, or something, now it was for posting about gears 2: weapons and such, gameplay I see to be in store, ya know...anyway, I think it's funny. gamespot is all good and all, it's an outlet for the gaming community, but this a community. it's about sharing and putting out one's ideas about one's game experience, habits, etc, but no, I see it is about selling games, and that's good, but the forums, well, that is open to all aint it? anyway, whatever. gears is out and its time for some fun.

here's the blocked post:

Changes: of course there is more story, but here we care about mp.

Guns-the mulcher: high fire power/rate, slow to carry around, slow to start to rev up, and when shooting, takes a placement action so beware. the mortar: to fire with precision is an achievement in itself, but it lays a waste to all in its falling path. for the ai they fire almost instantly and at an insane angle, you, no matter what, it's going to fall somewhere in front of you; locust burst: five or so instant burst shot, stops, reshoot, and another, so be quick on the reshoot else you're running 'softly,' also reload is hella slow. the locust cannon gun/machine gun/whatever is powerful, like a 357 but in machine gun form, quick to empty out, also slow to reload; everyone's favorite - the hand gun: same, only this time a nice little touch -if active reload perfectly it actually becomes almost semi-automatic- so go crazy with that one, it is FUN.

Traps: oh the traps that are to come. with a grenade equipped, if you go down, and can't be helped, then pull the right trigger and lay a little surprise for whoever thinks they can get to you and finish you off- achievements in this one. tag the wall with any grenade and wall mine; use the ink grenade to cut off entry or exit points; mortar is a carpet bomb in the waiting; and well, that's all I can think of right now. There is a portable shield but it's heavy and well, just makes you a more of a target than anything, but if you're going up against only one other than yeah, it might be useful, if against many, no -to much open access but from the front.

The maps are crazy fun, but not as intense as the first. there's avalanche which is just that, an avalanche through the middle of the battle field; then there's the tarp one, forget, but here if you're caught out in the open, fun, you get slowly cut to shreds! how awesome is that! find some cover sucker, but overhead that is! anyway, how excited are you for Gears? what kind of player do you think this will make you? to grab someone as a cover is a good thing, but also bad, since you can't do anything so long as you are held shield, so, no respawning, no helping the team, you can see where I'm going with this: if everyone takes one of the opposing team hostage, then it's game over for annex, king of the hill, etc....so here I think it would have been good to put up an interactive, like in Blitz 2, where you can counter to take them down or whatever....anyway, see you online, and lets have another two good, fun, exciting, years before gears 3! ah, man I'm already counting down the days!....

gears of holy war 2!!! is upon us once again, and so begins another chapter in the sweating, cursing, jumping, sniping, lancing, battling, ahhh, orgy that gow has become!...seriously, no other game creates the excitment and frenzy that gears does. nothing. sure, there's fun, and stuff, but no, not like gears.

First off, changes: slower active reload, slower - in an annoying way- the actual beginning of a reload, full on, no tired roadie run, less agro on ai in insane mode! (before they'd actually attack, now they tend to sit back and wait)....um, the things I notice is that it was changed more so to include the novices or those that didn't like the frenetic pacing of Gears 1 - ie. ai, reloads, take more damage, although, now you actually get slowed down while getting shot, which is cool; no more roadie running into cover and then cover-slide into it, now it slows you down and you better pray you can cover-slide into cover in time, else you're screwed...
also the handling of the guns seems tweaked...sounds are different -to some this mights seem better, but dunno, I miss the original sound of the lancer shooting...
guns though, oh the sweet new weapons! yes, yes and yes. harder to find and less about in mp maps, but that's a good thing, now there's a higher risk and fight for 'em...
the graphics are a nice change -better lite and colored all over, and the story is more, but to me that kind of takes away from the over all gears experience, now it's all, boo hoo, and you have to watch lame animations in the trying to convey emotion and caring... I care about them in the fight -when they're covering my back, not when they're crying -empty- about missing a loved one...but I see their point and fine, it's cool, just give me more aggressive AI...or more of them actually! that's what I was actually hoping for. not that they can take more damage, but that more of them come at you, and more aggressive-like - keep you on your toes, so to speak.
I am going to play online of course (I will say though that I'm hoping for more maps, the modes are awesome and well designed) and there I know I'm going to be made to cry and break some knuckles in punching floors, but man, my hats off to Epic and Cliff...Gears is so our Star Wars - for gamers- and seriously, I hope 2 does as well as the gaming community hopes it does.
Also, if you can, check out this write-up in the New Yorker -not a plug, just thought it was interesting so....
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/03/081103fa_fact_bissell

aw, man, the trailers and leading upto gears has been sad, nothing like Assassins Creed had, but man, am I excited! It is definitely going to be a good holiday! I have missed the PC material and wish I had access to it, but whatever.

I hear that there have been some modifications, but well, until it's played, I won't comment... I haven't played gears 1 online, but definitely with gears 2 I'm going for the addict phase! i play rv2 on ps3 all the time, but I notice that less and less people are online for it, so, I guess we'll jump to gears...everyone else I guess'll do confrontation and res 2...

one week to go...what numbers do you think it'll hit? go easy on this newbie! hah!

So, starting to read the latest Play magazine, I notice the topic I've been thinking about lately...where are games to go now...first person runners, mmo in the fps, 2-d games as major contenders, etc...I guess there is such a diversity that it doesn't really matter such topic or opinion...but no, the idea is that the creativity is spawning new game ideas and game 'realitys' -ie cod4, rv2, HALO, all become an entity unto itself- that it is quite exciting to think and discuss just what is around the corner.

The reason I'm actually posting this is, I want to ask and wonder, what companies are really out there? I mean, there's EA, Microsoft Studios, Ubisoft, ID, etc and so, are these enough? are these the places where the next great game experience is to come from? or are they just going to spew the same types as their last great creation -not necessarily great seller though. Madden, COD, MotoGp, games that are rehash, and trying to be 'great' again, but come on, long time players are sticking around because the feeling is you want to try a little new, but slowly realize it's all just wack....madden nothing; cod wow seems to be a step back; halo is still a big contender, and is actually branching out into rpg/mmo territory -balsy! so, what are we, as gamers, looking for? wanting? Mad World seems the most extreme jump out in gaming in a while, but 2-d games are just as unique and creative, but from where? what parts of these big companies? Is the money, like in music/movies, what makes or breaks a game? or like with music/movies, is it the packaging/PR? Assassins Creed gets rave reviews over its trailers and marketing, but the game too delivers -not greatly, but still a year later I'm impressed with the graphics and just the immersion of the experience; and I figure that's what delivers with a game -does it have the Bioshock, Halo 2, Ninja Gainden, FF, 'life altering' community or the Lair-types annoyance and dissapointment? Maybe the future holds for big companies -above mentioned- to start supporting smaller studios in a way that music did -movies did once, but realizing they can just put out a bunch of items and retail, they went with the least expense and most return.

Anyway, Activision, Vivendi, who knows what else, were, and now not so much are - and yeah, they probably didn't deliver incredible games, but they were games that had some great elements -think back to rogue trooper- that in an industry that is like the software it uses, change comes more periodic than how often your 360 freezes while playing madden...awah, I'm off to play saints row 2 beeatch...