Posts Tagged ‘PAX East’

Best Game Demo of PAX East:Gears of War 3 MP Beta

Posted: March 14, 2011 in Best of Pax
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There were many long lines at PAX East this past weekend.  No line that I waited in had a bigger payoff than the relatively short line for the Gears of War 3 Multiplayer beta.  The reason that the line was so short had nothing to do with the number of  people waiting to play it or less buzz about this game than others on the show floor.  Much of the credit goes to Microsoft for their extremely intelligent booth design.  The line was maybe fifty people long when we joined it and we were playing in 20 minutes.  Enough about the stupid line, already, what about the game?

You know what makes a good game like Gears of War 2 better?  It’s the small, smart changes that enhance an already great game.  Example?  The loading screen in GoW3 shows an overhead map of the level you are about to play in.  This map can also be viewed when you are killed in battle, a very useful feature, especially for new players as it also shows available weapons and team member locations.  Another small difference that packs a big punch?  Take a shotgun, here’s a hacksaw.  Do you see where I am going with this?

The sawed-off shotgun in this game is the most fun I’ve had with a boomstick since Action Half Life.  The sound this thing makes when you pull the trigger is one of the most satisfying explosions I’ve ever heard in a game.  It is great to see new weapons being added to the game that are super functional in certain situations.  The regular shotgun has decent accuracy at medium range, the sawed off does not, but nothing is better at quick, short range damage than the new sawed off.  I wish that I could have played longer to explore the additional weapons and game modes, but we were only allowed one quick round of team deathmatch.

The first thing that my friends and I noticed was that the game looks noticeably better than Gears 2, and Gears 2 was no graphical slouch.  I watched several other groups play and the lighting effects, in particular, were very impressive.  Also, how has it taken this long to make a muliplayer map out of a destroyed sports arena?  There is a scoreboard hanging down in the middle of the map!  One of the best executions of a new multiplayer map that I’ve seen in a while.

I walked into PAX expecting to be impressed with Gears of War 3, I didn’t expect to be blown away by it.  The game is being released on September 20th in North America.   That is when it will blow you away too, unless you pre order the game at Game Stop, or have purchased Bulletstorm, beta access is included with both.

Most Wanted:Rock Band DLC – PAX EAST CD Swap

Posted: March 11, 2011 in Editorial
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I am a Rock Band nut. I’m the guy who waits every Friday to hear what the DLC will be on the following Tuesday. I’m the guy why has a second 360 dedicated to Rock Band in the basement. I’m the guy who has the dual stage kit mod so my Rock Band parties feel like concerts. Yeah, I’m that guy. When I heard that Harmonix was hosting a good old fashioned mix cd swap, I thought that it would be a great opportunity to make a mix cd of songs that I hope make it to the Rock Band song library.

  • Avenged Sevenfold-Welcome to the Family

There are already a few great AS tracks available both on disc and as DLC. This is one of the best tracks from the new album. Great drum beats that vary throughout the song, lots of cool guitar riffs and fills, and fantastic vocal harmonies during the chorus.

  • Breaking Benjamin-Fade Away

I’ve been a huge Three Days Grace fan for years and several people have recommended Breaking Benjamin. “I Will Not Bow” is a great song that is available as DLC, and if you are into rock music with darker tones, these tracks will not disappoint.

  • Finger Eleven-Paralyzer

This song is just fun. When my wife and I were coming up with a list of songs for the band to play at our wedding, we came across this one. We looked at each other and decided to give it a try. It was a hit at the wedding and I can’t imagine that it wouldn’t get everyone at the Rock Band party dancing.

  • Fishbone-Sunless Saturday

I saw Fishbone perform this song on SNL when I was a kid and it blew me away. This song is dripping with energy. Pretty heavy focus on vocals and drums for most of the song, and then the guitar solo comes in…good luck.

  • Fuel-Untitled

I’ve always been a big fan of songs with sudden stops or breaks in the sound that give the band a chance to all come back in together. The main riff builds on this concept and transitions from a hard rock riff to a smooth melodic chorus.

  • Goo Goo Dolls-Naked

Yes, its kind of a blast from the past, but the Goo Goo Dolls played at the first concert I ever went to and this is the song I think of when someone mentions this band from Buffalo. Just a good early 90′s rock song that is fun to sing.

  • The Killers-Read My Mind

I am kind of partial to “All These Things That I’ve Done” but my sister’s favorite Killers song is “Read My Mind”, and it’s starting to grow on me. This is the first song on the list with a significant keyboard part. If you like The Killers, this is a no brainer.

  • Korn-Thoughtless

It’s hard to believe that there is only one Korn song available in Rock Band, and if you didn’t export your Lego Rock Band setlist, you would never have known. This song is a blast on a real set of drums, I’m sure it would be a blast on a Rock Band set. This is one of those songs that you can’t help but groove to when you hear the beat.

  • Nine Inch Nails-Wish

Put this song on right now. Crank up the volume. Allow yourself to get lost in the music. It is absolutely impossible not want to run around and break something. Vintage NIN industrial guitar tones, fast drum beats, and a keyboard interlude to gather yourself before you go crazy again to finish the song off strong.

  • Our Lady Peace-Will The Future Blame Us

It was very difficult to choose just one Our Lade Peace song. I ended up choosing this one because I feel that it encompasses what the band is all about. Raine’s unique voice, great vocal harmony, emotional lyrics, and one of the best drummers in rock music.

  • Ra-Do You Call My Name

This song is all about the riff. There is a pretty good intro that builds up to a great rock riff with wah guitar and a great bassline over the verse sections. Another one that gets better as you turn the volume up.

  • The Smashing Pumpkins-Hello Kitty Kat

There is so much fuzz on the guitar in this song that you can barely recognize that is it a guitar. One of my favorite drum intros of all time, simple, twangy snare, just one chord with a hammer-on/pull off.

  • Social Distortion-When The Angels Sing

When I was in high school, a friend game me a Social Distortion album for my birthday. You know how sometimes you want an album because of that one song, and all of the other songs are just as good or better? That’s how I feel about this album. This song, in particular, has a great emotional tone to the lyrics with that signature Social Distortion sound.

  • Stabbing Westward-Shame

One of the creepiest and funniest music videos of the 90′s was “Shame”. A mix of industrial and rock, the vocals are the main draw of this one. The main riff is very cool, but it is your singer that will make or break this song.

  • Three Days Grace-Break

I joke that the very beginning of this song kind of sounds a little like Billie Jean. Like I said before, I love Three Days Grace and would welcome ANY 3DG DLC. This is the first single from the new album, great all around rock song. Out of every band I wish were in Rock Band, these guys are at the top of that list along with…

  • Tool-Vicarious

The intro has two separate parts for the guitar and bass, the main guitar riff is simple enough, but the time signature isn’t standard 4/4 so it may take just a little getting used to. This song has it all, especially crazy drum sections. If you love Tool, you already know what I mean, if you don’t already love Tool, you are about to.

And that is my Most Wanted:Rock Band DLC. If you are attending PAX East, swing by the Harmonix table and grab a GamersLikeMe mix cd for the low, low price of free! I know that people’s taste in music is incredibly varied so you don’t have to leave any comments or tweet about how much my music selection suxors. If you have a different opinion, make your own mix, and share it. Rock on.

PAX East:I’m Shipping Up to Boston

Posted: March 10, 2011 in Upcoming Events
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PAX East begins in less than fourteen hours.  Just like in the Lion King, there will be more to see than can ever been seen, and more to do than can ever be done.  I am attending the show with my wife and our two best friends.  If you are at the show, throw me a tweet (@GamersLikeMe), if you aren’t at the show but have a question for a developer or game company, hit me up with those and I’ll do my best to get you an answer.  In the midst of all of the craziness, I will try my best to post my impressions of each day.  Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll even throw in a surprise or two…

PAX East Countdown…6 days…

Posted: March 5, 2011 in Upcoming Events
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As we get closer and closer to PAX East 2011, I thought it would be cool to go over some of the awesome extracurricular activities that will be going on at PAX East this year.  Here we go…

  • There is going to be a mix cd swap at the Harmonix booth.  I’m currently putting together a mix cd full of my most wanted Rock Band DLC (I will be posting the track list here soon in case you are curious).
  • Joystiq Podcast LIVE!  As a regular listener of the Joystiq Podcast, I’m pretty excited to see Chris, Justin, and Ludwig in person and probably get a hug from at least Justin.
  • Metroid Metal concert.  If you are like me, and I think that you are, you love Metroid.  I’m not talking about that “Other M” debacle, I’m talking Metroid.  Some of the best, creepiest, and most haunting music to come out of games in the last 20 years is found in the early Metroid games.  I really can’t wait to check these guys out live because they sound awesome.
  • The party to end all PAX parties looks to be Gamers Gone Wild.  Special performances from DJ Spin, DJ Xyanyde, and The Domfather get things started.  After you indulge in funky beats,  pro gamers Fatal1ty, Prod1gy, and Justin Wong will take challenges from anyone who would like to know what it’s like to lose miserably in front of a large crowd of people.  Add in swag bags, numerous contests and raffles, and throw in a couple of charities for good measure and you’ve got one hell of an event that I wouldn’t miss.
  • Joystiq’s Second Annual Blueberry Muffin Tops Breakfast.  Even though Friday is a late night with the Metroid Metal Concert and the Gamers Gone Wild Party, getting out of bed will be easy because I know that there is a bowl of delicious Muffin Tops waiting for me.

That’s just the beginning.  I hope to see you there.  I’ll be the guy walking around like a kid in a candy store.  Yum.

PAX East

Posted: January 26, 2011 in Upcoming Events
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Retail is not an easy industry to be in.  Retail during the holiday season is a crazy time.  I would imagine that most gamers, like me, were drawn to the allure of working in a store that deals in all the things that gamers consider to be awesome.  Long hours wouldn’t be a problem.  We’re talkin long hours of talking about games.  People would come in and not know what was awesome, and you would get to have this amazingly deep conversation about your passion for a certain game and why you feel that others should experience the sensation you felt when you first played this masterpiece.  The customer would then counter with an opposite yet respectful retort that may make you rethink your position, or at least modify it, allowing yourself the chance to open up to experiences you would not have considered had it not been for this chance conversation with a stranger.  After about 4 minutes of working at a retail store that sells games, the hard truth sinks in: No one cares about what you think or have to say about video games, the new graphics card, or the latest indie game that is amazing, but no one has heard of.

I worked at Babbage’s years ago before it became Gamestop and it was ok work for a teenager who loved games and needed a little extra money, but it is surprising how rare it is to find a job in video games outside of retail.  It is a dream of mine, and of countless other bloggers, podcasters, enthusiasts, and retail employees to be able to make a living celebrating the love we all have for not just videogames, but the gaming lifestyle.  Part of the reason we all love going to events like PAX and Blizzcon is to find those awesome people who you thought you would get to talk to every day when you are trying to sell a pre-owned copy of a 60 dollar game for 55 dollars (Bullshit, by the way, with a capital B).  One of the major reasons that I am attending PAX East in Boston this March is to be able to see products in my area of interest that are new or not yet released, play some games, sit in  on some panels with some extremely smart and entertaining people, and to have a fun evening with my best friends.  The other reason I’m going is to meet Gamers Like Me.  I hope to see you there.