So, I haven't blogged or used Gamespot for anything but random news and reviews for a a long while. Today I actually logged in for the first time in months, normally browsing secretly my gaming purviews. What I saw was that I was ahead of the game, ever so slightly, maybe the first to ever publicly talk about what is now Call of Duty: Elite. Here is my brainchild from January 2010:

"The easiest way to maintain a stranglehold on your market is to create a ladder, or another official ranking system, that restricts servers to use only official maps. With this system, players get one thing they want: stat tracking, meanwhile IW gets a secured revenue stream of DLC for 1st party maps and expansion packs. At the same time a great number of PC gamers get access to admined servers and all that goes with them. Naturally I am not an IW programmer, marketer or producer and I can't enumerate the cost or capability to create such a ladder system, but the dedicated server code is in the game already and would probably be fully functional with a minor patch. IWnet can persist doing what it does and IW can offload processing power to the masses, scaling with the game as it matures.

It sounds like a big win/win in my book, but who am I but just a non-prestige 4-star general."

This is all exactly what Elite is: DLC, ranking and stat tracking (granted with community tools, too). Perhaps I should look for royalties? :)

When it came out, Modern Warfare 2, gripped me and held me fast for a few weeks. I poured a lot of my very minimal free time into the beast and had a good amount of fun doing it. After a while, I cracked and renewed my subscription to World of Warcraft (mostly to see the new 5-mans, raiding isn't something I can commit to anymore) and I completely ignored my shiny new shooter. I knew it would happen and it just did this past week: WoW stopped offering me content worth logging in for. I did my duty and did my dailies and ran randoms until I couldn't gear myself with anything better (barring the cost-prohibitive Frost Badge gear) for my tank. I fumbled around with a lowbie paladin, which grinding those dailies allowed me to purchase heirloom gear for, but it just has lost it's stick. So I turned back to Modern Warfare 2.

It's been since mid-December since I last really played the game and I could tell very quickly that my skills had dulled. I was by no means a CoD master, I'd never even played the previous games (save a few sessions with my brother of W@W). I did however earn a small amount of notoriety in the small gaming circle I found myself in. Those folks are long gone, Prestiging or have fallen off the wagon for other games, and I'm left with what's left: post-Christmas novices, wildly experienced clanners, the semi-frequent cheat and 6 levels to 70.

Since returning to the game and playing a couple hours worth I have been able to reach a fairly close match to my pre-Christmas/pre-WoW-breakdown skill level--though it is now smattered with a higher percentage chance of a terrible round than before. I've had matches I blew people out and then others that I barely got out of kill cams. So, at this point I've come to the conclusion that the game itself is good--not overly so, but a solid game worthy of purchase. The environments are great, the multiplayer maps are diverse and tactical, the weapons (for the most part) are balanced and the sound/visuals are pretty good. The biggest drawbacks are the latency issues, odd matchmaking quirks, 1887's and the prevalence of cheating.

I can't tell if IW is really getting tough on cheating as VAC is such a sublte mechanism, but it'd sure be nice to have some control over your own game. Dedicated servers, whether they'll ever be available or not, would be a good way for a subset of the population to do what they please (cheat, practice as a clan, whatever) on their own dime. I would like to see them, I'll never admin one, but I'd be happy to toss $5 a month (or maybe more) to a server I like to play on. The most conjectured argument I see is that IW won't release dedicated servers as it will depreciate the profitability of future DLC--a point I concede seems plausible, but I disagree with it.

The easiest way to maintain a stranglehold on your market is to create a ladder, or another official ranking system, that restricts servers to use only official maps. With this system, players get one thing they want: stat tracking, meanwhile IW gets a secured revenue stream of DLC for 1st party maps and expansion packs. At the same time a great number of PC gamers get access to admined servers and all that goes with them. Naturally I am not an IW programmer, marketer or producer and I can't enumerate the cost or capability to create such a ladder system, but the dedicated server code is in the game already and would probably be fully functional with a minor patch. IWnet can persist doing what it does and IW can offload processing power to the masses, scaling with the game as it matures.

It sounds like a big win/win in my book, but who am I but just a non-prestige 4-star general.

...and I realize I haven't written anything about Liverpool in a long time. It's been an imperfect season and one of some note. It's odd how an under-performing team can get you to think. I guess it has something to do with the lack of euphoria, all you have is that stark reality of mid-table standings and losses to Portsmouth and a 3rd place finish in the Champions League. In these sober times it's easy to look, at least for me, at the positives and the negatives and (while still being slightly depressed) round out what's going on.

First and foremost what's not happening this season is Steven Gerrard. The guy is still a boat load of talent and on the night can make any game his. Frankly, I like the more human Gerrard. It makes me think that the club will have to work on the team instead of placing the responsibility fully on his shoulders. I always feared the day that Gerrard wouldn't be able to take the game by the scruff and pull it out, simply because I knew we wouldn't be ready for it. And boy were we not. Whether it be a nagging injury, a dip in fitness, or letting the game get to your head I don't think we'll see Stevie G like we did that fateful FA Cup final.

Secondly, we've seen that the club's in a bit of disarray. Most would blame the owners, I can't place blame simply because I don't know the whole picture. I do know that Rafa seems less confident and may not have the dressing room. His squad selections haven't bothered me, simply because the tactics haven't been as wrong as the players have been mediocre. I do fear that this dip will have an irreversible effect on his ability to manage the club going forward. The supporters back him, but if the team doesn't soon it won't be long before he will take a position he feels he can control again.

Another factor is that the squad is not deep enough. We do not need to be paying playboys to sit the bench, but we do need adequate cover everywhere. The only place I seen a modicum of battle for places is central defense. Central midfield is a mess, one would think there is plenty of competition with Aquilani, Mascherano, Leva, Gerrard... I feel instead of putting pressure on each other they are just cogs for certain machines, formations, opponents. The wings are OK, if people would be fit: Riera, Benyaoun, Aurelio, Babel (if he'd get over crying that he's not up front) and the younger lads who can do the job. Fullback is a position that needs a hand. Insua, who once shined, has looked behind the pace defensively and fairly one-dimensional going forward. Right back is fine if we can maintain enough horse placenta to keep Johnson fit, but the confidence he showed us at the start of the season has been replaced by what looks like fear--just look at his face these days, he lost something and just doesn't know where it went. Torres has been ill-fed up front, when he's been fit and Ngog has shown us that he's one to watch for the future, but with our midfield out of sorts there just isn't any service. But all is not lost.

At the end of the day we're a handful of points behind 4th place with a half of a season left. We're in no dire position. Sure we're out of the Champion's league, but it may just give us the inspiration to pull heads out of the sand and take notice that the league wasn't going to just hand us the trophy. I'll be hoping to see some conviction this Wednesday and watch the lads put Reading in their place. 3-0 Reds, Gerrard with two and Torres with the opener.

COME ON YOU REDS!

Original Post

I wrote, I guess, a rather lengthy response to this featured blog post and instead of throwing it out I thought I'd blog my answer and leave it to other readers to come here and see it. I'm sorry if the click wasn't worth it, but I wasn't about to drop 450 words just to fit it in the slot. =)

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Gaming is an irrational market. I'm not disagreeing with the author at all, but from it's core, we have absolutely no idea--barring actually playing a game in its entirety--if a game is a good purchase. Purchasing one arbitrarily because it's a 9.5, or not buying a game simply because it's a 4.0, without any other discerning information (not even looking at screenshots) is a rather silly idea. I doubt highly anyone searches for the top review scores, lists them and runs out to buy the game without at least reading a review. Supplementing your decision with guidance from others is a natural human behavior. There is nothing wrong with reviews or reviewing, there's a problem with bad reviews and bad reviewing. Telling the difference is where the consumer comes in.

"Time to market" of the vast majority of reviews should not be a problem. I am fairly confident that Gamespot does not wait in line to buy a game before reviewing it and that they have at least near-release material to work from before they even begin typing. Small shops don't have the ad revenue to force them to be quick, they do so at their own bidding--as any giddy child will be excited or dismayed at the first instant a present is unwrapped. The middle of the road sites, where there's some money being made is where I think speed would be a factor. They probably won't get games given to them, so they will purchase the game like everyone else and then in an effort to "be the first" or more likely, ride the first wave, they have to pressure themselves to review quickly. Small shops will try, but in the end they have little impact and they (and the advertisers) know it. All of this is gross generalization, but after years of reading these websites and paper publications before that has lead me to the conclusion that the reviewing world is somewhat like it is in my head. So the issue is not the content, it's who gives you the content.

Trusting, blindly, a person's opinion or as an extension trusting their opinion as fact is the most damaging issue in any marketplace--video games or snake oil. Selling your wares through false pretense through, let's say, cajoled bank balances is what the original post looks to allude to. That hook's been catching suckers since the day money was invented. Spotting these charlatans is our job. If this is really what the author is stating as the cause for all of this: first to review, over-hyped, splashes of color with no substance that it is not the market's fault it's the way it is...it is us.

My pseudo-agreeing point is that the average consumer is under informed or completely ignorant about what's out there--that is why marketing exists--and the only way to get a decent handle on what's good and what's not is a balanced approach to becoming informed and to whom you give your trust to inform you. And the only way to do that is to be an irrational consumer, at least until you get burned.

Queue Gerstmann Gate and the other shake ups of the past few years. Hopefully we all learned a little bit of something from them.

Marcus Babel from the Echo:

"If we play with the same aggression I think we will make it very difficult for Middlesbrough to perform"

I whole heartedly agree. Play with aggression, lads! It may be a home game to lowly Boro, but please show us that you have the hunger. I would like to see a strong line-up tomorrow, something like:

Reina

Finnan Carra Hyypia Riise

Pennant SG Masch Babel

Torres Crouch

Or something even more dramatic, though I doubt we'd ever see the likes of a 3-5-2 under Benitez these days:

Reina

Arbeloa Carra Hyypia

Pennant Gerrard Masch Lucas Babel

Torres Crouch

The latter having Masch sit in front of the back three, linking up with Gerrard and Lucas to play into Torres. Babel isn't a born by-line crosser, his rampaging runs would be supported by Lucas and Masch, but I think he's the kind of person that can feed Torres in the box. Pennant on the other hand would be there for his flair and crossing ability, giving Crouch ammunition. I chose Arbeloa instead of Finnan for RB only because I rate his speed higher than Finnan's, both have been suspect at times this season, but with three in the back Arby gets my nod. Hyypia is a risk in a three-man back line, he's a bit slow, but he reads the game so well. Perhaps I'd put Carra on the left and Hoops in the middle. That back line would be able to mix around a bit.

Anyway, some pre-match excitement's gotten me thinking...

I didn't catch the whole game, just the Liverpoolfc.tv 15 minute highlights. It seems like even against 10 men we really couldn't break Inter down, until the end. I didn't get the feel for the game, perhaps someone can give me a better perspective, but it's nice that we did get the 2 goals and the win. I commented on a blog that Benitez really needed a positive result and I bet he feels slightly vindicated, but he knows he's still got more to prove than a one-off. If we can go to the San Siro and get another result, I may do flips.

Saturday's FA tie between Barnsley and Liverpool was pre-decided. Liverpool would win with a handful of goals and Barnsley would leave Anfield out of the cup, but happy to have gotten this far. That was definitely not the case. Barnsley came for victory and Liverpool let them have it.

As for many recent games, the Reds seem to play to their competition. "Beatable" teams are given time and allowed into the game, while Liverpool will face the likes of Chelsea with grit and determination. This, I believe, is the heart of Liverpool's poor form. It's easily determined, watch a Liverpool team playing against any "lower" club and you'll see no tempo, no aggression, no "heart" as they call it in the movies. They think they can sit back and absorb all the pressure, perhaps, but anyone who's anyone in football knows that one slip or one moment of luck can turn on a defensive side.

On Saturday, after Kuyt's goal, Liverpool let Barnsley come onto them. They didn't look hungry for a second goal and they surely let a "lower side" get the best of them. Personally the second goal was plain sloppy play; a defense waiting for the whistle, the same with the keeper. The stirke was good, but the shooter wasn't run down and was given the space--he did not earn it. Gerrard's coming into the game soured me, too. Even though it was quite obviously a tactical move by Benitez to try to get some energy on the pitch, it's pitiful that such a strong contigent of players (internationals, nearly to a man) can't do it without Stevie on the pitch.

What this club needs is to increase thier tempo, ignite their hunger for victory and pressure even the lowliest of sides. Until they do this, they'll continue to be the Club that was--forever holding onto those decades of brilliance. And we'll all wear our hearts on our red sleeves, continuing to hope just the opposite--that "this year is the year."

That's right, I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. Skrtel WAS up for the Chelsea match. He put on a solid display. A no-nonsense defensive buffet normally served by Carragher. Crouch looked good--should have scored. Masch was my MotM, ever running and breaking up play--and creating some mischief of his own. Gerrard was Gerrard, his heart playing for him at times--other times isolated. Babel could have caused more problems, but he looked bright. Leiva continues to impress me on his composure at such a young age. Kuyt put in his usual 105% effort, if only he was faster he'd be a great winger--his control while holding the ball up is great. Riise/Finnan/Carragher did their jobs, nothing flashy, but Finnan did look a bit dull compared to his old self. Reina, well, did he even have to make a save?

Chelsea weren't sharp at all. Liverpool should have put three points on the table today. Lampard wasn't match-fit. Anelka seemed to want to take everyone on himself, but never could. Joe Cole's normal spirited display was marred by inaccurate passing and some fine acting. Ballack could have scored, can't fault his game really. Ashley Cole is always tricky, but none of it payed off. Alex/Carvalho were solid. SWP looked good, don't know why he came off for Malouda--who didn't really add much beyond fresher legs. A team with so much potential, only to squander it, must be very difficult to watch in a blue shirt.

In my opinion 2 points wasted and more "draw despair" for Liverpool. Torres probably would have made all the difference.

There are two thing that I have been shrugging of with a whimpering "meh:" Gamespot and Liverpool's failed attempt at a push for the Premiership crown. After the whole Gerstmann "thing" I've paid passing notice to Gamespot, their output has slowed to a trickle and a glance at the front page has been enough to sate my needs of the site. Liverpool on the other hand I had to lick salt and bite into a lime to get over.

After a blazing start, the Reds have slumped into mediocrity. There have been bright spots, here and there, but successive draws to clubs that Liverpool should be able to break down and clumsy last-gasp 1-nil victories have stabbed my heart into submission. I still crave the weekends, every weekend, that I can tune into a Liverpool match, but gone is my passion for "this is the year." Right now I'd settle for a 4th place slot, but I would much rather see them go on a tear and grab third. I just don't think they can catch Arsenal or ManUre. Chelsea are lame ducks this year and I see getting the better of them as a secret lust in most Reds fan's hearts. Not that we don't ALWAYS want to beat Chelsea, but I think in this "off year" sitting atop them in the table will make us feel a little bit better about not taking the crown.

Speaking of Chelsea, this weekend will set the tone for the rest of the season for Rafa's campaign. If we beat Chelsea, there is no alternative in my book, then I think the energy created by the win will carry us through a strong spring. If the unconvincing win over Sunderland isn't enough to spark Gerrard, et al., into action than fans will have to be content with hand-wringing and spending time painting up "Yanks Out" banners.

I don't think Rafa has a "best squad" like everyone thinks he does. On paper, in the best conditions, he might. At the moment the team looks broken and disjointed. Even the spritely Torres has been looking defeated on the pitch--Gerrard's simmering flame non-withstanding. That said, I'd like to see a continued Crouch/Torres partnership for a few weeks. I don't know why Rafa didn't use this option more earlier in the season. Was Crouch bound for the auction block until Rafa found himself with a handful of misfiring strikers?

My team for the weekend is: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Benayoun, Crouch, Torres.

I think Riise gets up for games like this. Skrtel's progressing, but I don't think he has the mettle for a Chelsea match. Pennant was spectacular against Sunderland--but that was against Sunderland. The Masch/Gerrard partnership is a must if we want Stevie rampaging and creating. Benayoun on the left, because, well, because. I really like Kewell, at least the promise of his old form. He's shown it time to time. If we could loan him out for a season to get more matches in I think it'd do everyone wonders. Babel is not a winger, he's a striker. He's great for impact on the wings later in the game, but not from the start.

Either way, this weekend at Chelsea is a must win. Anything else is begging for another "hope and pray" end to the season, when we're not in control of our own future. There's only so much one can take of that in one season...

Due to idiocy I was unable to watch the entire Liverpool v. Marseille match, but of what I did catch I noticed:

• Gerrard is solidifying his game even more. Gone are the tepid displays of earlier this season.
• No one's figured out Torres just yet, opposition-wise. He's always a threat. Marseille looked like a beer league club when Fernando scored.
• Kewell's edge and fitness are coming back. Many slated him as injury prone and unlikely to recapture his form. He's proving them wrong.
• Babel sure does like to score coming off the bench. His run for the goal showed his pace and the flick around the keeper showed that he has finess. If he can put it all together for 90 minutes we're going to be a happy Kop.
• Hyypia, Carragher and Reina weren't really tested, but they we're solid at the back.

Next time I'll remember to set the DVR...