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It's ladies night on The Weekly Geek, as Colette and Jinny join the very manly Chris and the always testosterone-heavy Mack in what is possibly the ladiest podcast ever. Is Guitar Hero IV going to rock Rock Band? Is Lost Winds Colette's favorite game evar? (Protip: it is!) Other topics include mini map dependence, Emerald City Comic Con, Crisis Core, and more great TV. Enjoy the brisk flavor of this special podcast... ladies.
Major Nelson has to be bored today, as he updated his not-usually-meaty blog with a group of source audio files for Bioshock, all shiny and waiting for your usage. Will you use the vending machine "WELCOME TO THE CIRCUS OF VALUES" audio as your ringtone? Or will you opt for the Gatherer's Garden sounds?
I love using little audio files like this, and appreciate the Major's efforts to bring things like the Crackdown energy orb sound into my inbox, furthering my horrible addiction to videogames.
[link via Major Nelson's Blog]
Yesterday I finally got through Vasoline for drums on hard in Rock Band, and even managed to five-star Green Grass and High Tides. It's neat to finally be at a place where I am comfortable with any song on the drums. For a long time I was sure I had no rhythm, but Rock Band has seemed to give me a rhythm transplant of sorts. I played a little bit this morning, just trying to get through the band world tour but every single setlist I have open is either ridiculously difficult, or ridiculously long. It's going to take much more effort to progress further.
After a bite to eat for breakfast, the lady and I went to Half Price Books to check out what treasures they may hold in the video game department, and lo! Check out this copy of Monkey Island 2 we scored! It's got big ol floppy disks and everything. This is going to make a fantastic prize for some future awesome contest of awesomeness. It's even got the original Lucasarts Newsletter, featuring a Sam and Max comic and everything! So exciting. Here are some pictures!
Today, however, is going to be spent playing Bioshock and trying to mop up the last few achievements for the game. I'll be playing through on Hard trying not to die. I haven't actually played the game since the last DLC was released, and never had a chance to check out the new plasmids and junk. Also, the lady hasn't yet had the chance to experience the awesomeness, as she tends to get a bit too freaked out hearing splicers raving up and down hallways. I don't really blame her. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time to get cozy and freak myself out.
Word of new plasmids has been slumming around the tube since someone with far too much time on the hands combed through the source code of Bioshock looking for...something, we're not sure what. Regardless, today the light of new plasmids and gene tonics dawns to warm our world weary shoulders.
The new plasmids and tonics are Sonic Boom which allows you hurl objects and creatures back with a blast of force, EVE saver which enables plasmids to use less EVE, Vending Expert which reduces prices in the vending machines, and Machine Buster which increases the amount of damage players deal to cameras, bots and turrets. In addition to new plasmids and tonics a new achievement by the name of "Brass Balls" has been added to Bioshock. In order to collect the achievement players need to complete the game on hard without using a Vita-Chamber once, good luck with that.
Last but not least, today's Bioshock update fixes the widescreen issues reported by many whinerbabies gamers, granting a wider horizontal field of vision, as well as additional enhancements to the game.
There are those that simply enjoy games, giggling at the points you were meant to giggle, laughing murderously at the points you were meant to laugh murderously. These are most people, I fall in to this category as I'm sure many of you do.
However there is another breed of gamer, one that has to get every single coin, star, mini-level, and achievement to really feel like they enjoyed a game. The pleasure isn't in just the game itself, but in the hunt of stuff. For the completionists I have great news. A super secret new achievement for Bioshock has been revealed by Gamertag Radio. The achievement is called Bullet Proof and in order to obtain it you have to play through the game on Hard without dying once. A tricky task, but one I think the inimitable hunstmen of the game are up to.
via GamingToday
A while back we reported on the rumor of some new plasmids for Bioshock and it would seem that these rumors are rapidly being validated. In a recent interview with 1up, Ken Levine of 2K Boston made mention of possible downloadable content for Bioshock. Thankfully it doesn't appear there will be any shoehorning of a new level into the game and thus wrecking what is currently a gorgeous and smooth game.
While not stating specifically what we can expect Levine did hint with this gem, "I think that certainly BioShock's combat experience is great, but it could be broader. I'm a little more confused as far as how to expand the narrative experience." It's probably a safe bet that within the next 6 months we'll all be playing through Bioshock again, this time with a whole new arsenal at our side.
via 1UP
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Yeah, we are blatantly copying everyone else with these weekly blog posts, but you know what? I'd actually like to know what you guys are playing this weekend! Me, I will be starting over on Metroid Prime 3, veteran difficulty was just un-fun hard for me. I will also be engaging in some online Worms on XBLA and maybe tucking into my large stack of Goozex games. Anyone else playing anything that isn't Bioshock?
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Today rumors abound about the possibility of the extension of top rated game (according to Metacritic anyway) Bioshock into a franchise ala 2k Games parent company Take-Two's Grand Theft Auto series. During a Q&A session Take Two chairman Strauss Zelnick hinted at the possibility of a two year release cycle for the proposed franchise, adding another GTA similarity. Considering the epic sales of the game itself combined with the record number of downloads of the demo they'd simply be foolhardy not to at least consider it.
Yet here is where the madness starts. Admittedly most of us love Bioshock, and we'd all probably appreciate some kind of sequel provided it's an actual improvement on the original (yes I did just intimate Bioshock has room for improvement). However a franchise of Bioshock games makes me tremble slightly, and not with the nervous excitement of an imbecile child on Christmas morning, I tremble with fear and trepidation and, perhaps, just a little excitement.
I love Rapture and all of the horrific genetic mutations it has to offer. Right now nothing provides me with the same glee I get from watching my character viciously stab a hypo of eve into his arm...I can almost hear the satisfied sighing now. However I am also finicky and bore easily, and while my adventures into the horrible blinding sunlight are few and far between I am told that many of my fellow gamers share my childlike attention span and temperament. It would be as easy as releasing one Bioshock franchise title that simply isn't up to the standards of the original to get me to turn my nose up at future offerings while proclaiming in high nasal tones, "I remember when Bioshock was good".
Now while I may or may not actually be the haughty, easily swayed, ne'er-do-well I just proclaimed, I will almost certainly eagerly take up any further Bioshock offerings, if for no other reason than to determine if they, like their forebear, are analogous to the second coming of Christ and the bringer of joyously shed life giving tears everyone seems to think Bioshock is.
Listen to us rant about Bioshock becoming a franchise on this week's podcast --Chris
Welcome to the most profane podcast you have ever heard! Chris, Grant, Mike and Colette are here this week to rock your world and burn your ears. Discussed is how horrible Blue Dragon is, franchising Bioshock, the new Wii Zapper, and caffeinated potato chips. There's more stuff discussed of course, but that's the gist of it.Download the podcast now and subscribe to the podcast in your favorite podcasting thing!
Rumors abound on these here tubular methods of electronic conveyance, as they are wont to do. Rumors regarding a possible expansion on the available plasmids in Bioshock. It would seem someone with far too much time on their hands decided that rather than playing Bioshock over and over as many of my comrades have taken to doing, it would be more rewarding to pore over the .ini files associated with the game. Just why someone would choose to do such a thing is simply beyond me, although the reasoning behind it may lie in the discovery. Sir and/or Madam, you will go down in the annals of time as a hero among "FIRST!" posters.
Just what are these new plasmids and how will we get them? Pound that little jump to find out.
I have been playing BioShock for a week and a half or so, just like the rest of you. Of course, the relationship between the Big Daddy and the Little Sister had been often discussed by the time the game was released, and everyone was already aware that there was a moral choice involved in harvesting or saving the Little Sisters. It sounded easy enough, and as I've killed plenty of innocents in my time behind the controller, it seemed the obvious route was to harvest the little girls and take them for all the Adam they're worth. We want to win at this game, after all.
I thought this until I attempted my first harvest. Not only is the result profoundly disturbing, but you're left feeling dirty somehow, and the corpse of the fallen Daddy next to you is somehow ominous even after its fall. Even more clever is what happens if you choose to rescue the Little Sister - her reaction to your kindness is somehow sadder than any violent reaction could have been. Even after taking down many of these creatures, I realized I still could not perceive Big Daddy as an actual enemy, even though it was more than capable of pummeling me into a useless pulp. It does not harm the player when it is not aggressively attacked. What are we to make of such a creature?
Some would say we are emotionally affected by this experience because of morals or personal beliefs. Some perceive the Big Daddy as a father, even though it clearly has no relation to the Little Sister in a physical manner. It could also appeal to the empathies of parents who feel the powerful drive to protect their children. Since I have not experienced either being a parent or having the father/daughter connection as it is portrayed here, I know that I must be affected by something else, perhaps a more primal instinct.
The Little Sister test is one which may say a great deal about the player as he or she chooses the child's fate. Perhaps it can be explained away as simple empathy or the desire to take care of others. We are presented with a situation that is affecting either way it is played out. The lines are not as clear as good and bad though; there is a moral ambiguity present here. Is it wrong to kill something that's clearly evil?
If you've crawled out from under your rock any time within the last week then you've heard that Bioshock has had some "issues" with it's release. From supposed DRM on the PC release, widescreen squashing, piracy protection that only lets you install the game twice, and a small newspaper in Boston reacting to the option to kill the little sisters rather then save them.
Interestingly, all these reports came in not even 24 hours after the release, and some even before the release itself. Pondering this kind of madness conjures images of waifish teenagers, greasy haired, and shirt dusted with a fine layer of cheetos crumbs rushing home to find any perceived error they can, in order to claim the high prize of "FIRST!". You win little man, congratulations on ruining a fabulous game for yourself.
Another PAX has come and gone, and this year, in between panels, concerts, and drooling over Rockband and Eternal Sonata I managed to snap a few pictures. Keep your peepers peeled for more in depth coverage soon, in the words of my esteemed colleague Mr. Darigol, "Holy crap, I'm tired."
Hit the jump for pictures from this year's Penny Arcade Expo
I realize that nearly every retailer (on or offline) sporting game preorders has sold or will continue to sell people out from under their placeholder copies. It's a common practice, but this is the first time it's happened to me - so naturally, I'm effing cheesed! Especially when it happens on what is figuring to be the game of the year (maybe century), Bioshock.
So I used a birthday gift card I got for Best Buy to place my preorder. I think you can all guess where this is going - I arrive at my local Best Buy to discover that whoever did the preorders "didn't order enough." (Translation: "We couldn't wait 24 hours to hold your copy when a half-dozen walk-up customers were salivating over it.")
I figure since this thing is obviously selling like a free griddlecake special on a street corner full of hobos, that my chances are slim. Sears: Nice try, cigarless. GameStop: No dice. FYE (and perhaps the best denial): "Are you looking for Bio-something? No, we don't have it."
Finally, I stop in the Bellevue Fred Meyer. The answer: I saw it on the faces of the clerks before I even asked. But this time, I told my sob story to the two guys in the Electronics Department. Defeated, I rejoined my wife several aisles down and resumed food shopping. "At least maybe I can get some ice cream out of this," I thought.
One of the clerks caught up with me and said, "Hey, were you looking for Bioshock on 360?" I nodded, slightly more hopeful. "I was holding a copy for myself until I got paid on Friday," he continued, "but I'll sell it to you." Here was my ray of light, but not wanting to be a total douche, I replied, "No man, don't sell yourself out of a copy for me." He insisted and led me back to the register and I walked away elated.
I write this article for that kind, kind clerk (you know who you are dude, if you're reading this). Anyone in the Greater Seattle area, please: Drive, even out of your way, to give these guys in the Bellevue Fred Meyer your business.
Imma go play Bioshock now. Bye.
We give Bioshock a little break this week on The Weekly Geek podcast, moving on to bigger and better things. Only kidding, we talk about Bioshock some more. This week, Chris, The Geek (rebranded as Grant Darigol), White Mage (rebranded as Amy Darigol) and Colette (rebranded as Colette) gush over Bioshock, plan for PAX, hate on some Thundercats and contemplate Burning Man. Download it now! Or don't!
Arguably one of the most anticipated titles of the year finally hits the Xbox 360 and PC this week: Bioshock. Whereas other first person shooters have been focusing on multiplayer fragfests, capture the flag and other competitive testosterone-fueled madness, Bioshock perfects the single player formula making the most significant impact on gaming since Half Life 2. I had the privilege of playing the game early, spending my entire weekend probing the inner depths of the underwater city of Rapture. It's a fantastic, mysterious, spooky place - but it's not without its flaws (both metaphorically and physically). We've gushed about Bioshock for months now here at The Weekly Geek, and personally I haven't looked forward to a game this much since the original Metroid Prime on the Gamecube. Simply put Bioshock is one of the few hyper-anticipated games that actually lives up to the hype. I'll try to keep the spoilers low in my gushing review.
Spoilers? You betcha. After playing the demo the first three times, my awe has finally fallen to a manageable level. What's the next logical step (beyond going to stand in front of a game retailer until the day 2K's masterpiece is finally available)? Why, to scrutinize every bit of the demo for bits and pieces of minutia, clues to the story, and of course things we were too excited to notice the first time.
Before I get into the blow by blow, let me mention that if you are able to watch the title screen for a few minutes, you will actually see a preview for the game that is well worth watching in terms of atmosphere and overall feel for the adventure about to come. As we pan down into our first glimpses of Rapture, the charismatic voice of Andrew Ryan speaks to us for the first time:
"A man has a choice. I chose the impossible. I built a city where the aristt would not fear the censor, where the great would not be constrained by the small, where a scientist would not be bound by petty gravity. I chose to build....Rapture. But my city was betrayed by the weak. So I ask you, my friend...if your life's price was to kill the innocent, would you sacrifice your humanity? We all make choices...but in the end, our choices make us."
Hit the jump if you're ready for more. Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS WITHIN.
continue reading "Bioshock demo examined under fanatical microscope"
The release of Bioshock is only a week away, and here at Geek HQ we can't be any more excited. Literally, we are so excited we are peeing your pants. Today Chris, Colette and special guest Flynn DeMarco talk about the recently released Bioshock demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The art, the atmosphere, the gameplay, everything about this game is amazing. If you wanna hear three geeks gush about the game of the decade, you've come to the right place. Hit the jump for some show notes and some cool Bioshock links and goodies.
continue reading "Podcast for 08-13-07 | Bioshock Obsession"
After playing the demo this morning on Live (which is the same demo I played at E3) I literally can't get this game out of my head. Watch the launch trailer that aired on Spike and TRY to wait till next Tuesday. I dare you.
It's well documented how I feel about the Xbox 360 and the two painful red ring incidents I've been suffocated with. I won't rehash that. After all, my pals at the Microsoft Customer Service Team have been more than adequate in their dealings with me and every other 360 owner encountering this problem.
My question is: When does is stop becoming about how Microsoft has treated us (extended warranties and such) and start becoming about how much gaming time we're losing to multiple console failures? My coffin is on the way for my second broken machine and the estimated time it'll take for my third box to reach me, with the current influx of dead machines barraging Microsoft, will be 4 to 6 weeks.
With games like Bioshock, Mass Effect, Eternal Sonata, and Blue Dragon on the horizon, having my console gone for upwards of a month is just crippling. And what happens when i get a hard lock in the middle of one of these upcoming titles? Can I keep trusting these shoddily refurbished models and throwing away more time I could be playing these drooltastic games?
I ventured, in jest, that my console will get back just in time to break again before Bioshock. I really hope I'm wrong.
Sometimes good things can come from G4, honest! XPlay did a preview of Bioshock the other day, and if you weren't already excited for this game, this movie will definitely sell you on it.
All I can do is sit here and stare at my Bioshock Dashboard theme and bounce up and down, waiting for Bioshock like a kid on Christmas Eve.
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