Star Wars: The Old Republic fan update and some thoughts about the Latest WoW Xpack

So... It's no secret that I plan MMOs from time to time and one that I have been really excited about is the new Bioware Star Wars game. Just the other day, this video was sent out to fans that signed up for email updates.



Not a whole lot of really new info here, but some videos of some early pre-production was shown. I have to say, for a pre-production stuff, it looks pretty good. The details aren't really there yet and the armor looks like plastic, but this isn't even close to being finished. There was some discussion about the companion characters and what they plan to do with those. Overall, an interesting watch.

Now... As I said on the previous episode, I finally broke down and bought the latest WoW expansion. I really, really thought that I had it beat and wasn't going to buy it. Unfortunately, when I am bored, all bets are off.

The two things I will take away from this expansion are a wider variety of gameplay and a more in depth storytelling. With the new class, you start off in a new area and there are lots of new things. Firstly, this starting area changes as you go through the story. So every time you teleport to the starter area, things will be a little different. So, you'll see towns in ruins after you helped destroy them and things of that nature. This is a great step towards what Ryan and I have talked about in previous episodes about cause and effect, and there being consequences for your actions in game. It's not very big and I have only seen it put into play in the new starting area, but it's cool to see them take this step. I am not shocked to see that it was Blizzard were the people to push this out there first.

You will also find yourself doing things that aren't just you playing your character and grinding out your level. You steal horses, you shoot cannons and you even fly a dragon into battle shooting fireballs at the armies below you. It's nice to see this variety starting to pop up in the game. I hope they continue to add stuff like this. The mini-game feel to it all really helps break up what can really be a boring and repetitive game.

So, overall, I have to say the Lich King is a great expansion. New Profession, New Class, New lands and a new experience. Good job Blizzard.

Xbox 360.5?

So, I was a little under the weather today and called off. Being that I had the whole day to recoup, I decided to get in some Fallout 3 time (final thoughts still on the way for that.) When my system boots up it tells me that there is an update for the system. Color me confused. Today is the 14th and the New Xbox Experience launches on the 19th. Why would there be a patch before a patch? Come to find out, I was chosen for a preview for the new system software. So I load it all up and get ready.

Right out of the gate they give you some fancy little movie that implies all the new things you will be able to do without actually showing you. They show EQ bars for music and media, mountains and deserts that look like something out of a video game... nothing really special. Once the system loads after this video, it's all new. Everything is pretty much different and the point is cemented with you being forced to create an avatar for your Live profile. Seems silly to force people to do this, but as I like avatars, it wasn't an issue.

The avatars are really neat. They kind of hit a nice middle ground as far as style goes. They aren't as cartoon like or basic as the Wii avatars, but not quite as Second Life like as Sony's shots of their new home system. Within a few enjoyable minutes I had a nice little avatar that looked a lot like me.

With the avatar out of the way, I got to finally get to the meat and potatoes. The new interface is, well... an interface. Nothing too impressive going on. It is nice to have a tab dedicated to upcoming events, but little else has changed, at least for the positive. If anything, I would say it's a style step forward but a content step back. Where as you used to be able to switch the blade on your Xbox and get a screen that clearly lists all the content on the page, you now have to scroll up or down to find the tab you want then proceed to scroll left or right to see what content is listed under the tab. It seems like extra work. I would prefer a page that just lays everything in front of you and doesn't force you to hunt around at what it has to offer. I'm sure using it more will make me more familiar with the content, but it doesn't seem like it's needed. To Microsoft's credit though, I think it's pretty.

The only other real large addition to the service that I have been able to find though is the Netflix Instant Queue feature. Under the Video Marketplace tab there is a big old Netflix logo. Clicking on it will prompt you to download a new program, much like Channels on the Wii. Once downloaded, you start the program and are given a short code to enter into your Netflix account via your computer and blamo! Now you can watch selections from your queue instantly on your Xbox. I have a 15 Mbps connection for my network and I have to say that the video quality is really good and I actually get some of the content in HD... when it's working. At first I had no issues with the service, but later in the evening I kept getting an error simply telling me I couldn't start this movie. It's still not live, so I hope they fix the issue, but for a feature that I get for no additional charge from two companies that I already pay, I can't complain much. It's nice because it's not just movies. I actually watched the first couple episodes of the US Office Season 2 and finally saw Orgazmo. Overall, a really cool and fun feature, especially for no additional cost.

So overall, I have to say it's not an overall step backwards. I don't think it warrants as much hype as some people are giving it, but it's got some strong features so far. Once the scheduled events of the Primetime Games goes live, maybe there will be more to talk about. In the end, it really doesn't matter what I say, because if you want to keep your Xbox up to date, you're getting this new software.

First Impressions: Fallout 3

So, today I went and picked up my reserved copy of Fallout 3. Being a fan of both the original Fallout titles and the recent Elder Scroll games, I have to say I was looking forward to this title. Every preview, teaser or viral video made me want the game even more. It is gritty, gory and dark which is exactly what I want out a Fallout game.

First off, the action is pretty fast paced even when the VATS (Vault Assisted Targeting System) is used. First glance would make you think that a system that stops time and allows you to target would slow down the game, but after about 4 hours of playing it really doesn't seem to be the case. The forced "cut scene" that happens after the VATS selection would also seem to lend it to slowing down and being repetitive, but again isn't the case. Every time I use VATS to blow a limb off an enemy, I get a little bit of that gib crazed giddiness that I haven't had since my old days of playing UT and TFC on my computer.

So far, skills such as repair and science really don't seem to lend themselves to anything more than hacking a computer here or there. I am still early in the game and the pay offs might come soon, but as of right now it just seems to be best to make yourself as skilled as possible with guns.

The story is very fun, the dialogue is clever and the environment is very engrossing. It really feels like a place where people used to live, but was completely destroyed and left in shambles.

So far, it's up near the top of my list for Game of the Year. Tune in later for more thoughts and a full review of the game.

First Impressions/Review: Rockband 2

We'll make it no secret that we here at Kneel Before Pod are huge fans of Rockband. We're also huge fans of Harmonix in general. We loved the first two Guitar Hero games. After Harmonix left the franchise we kind of lost interest in the series, but found it's spiritual successor in their new series. So it is with a heavy heart, that I must say.... Rockband 2 ROCKS! Heavy heart? Maybe Heavy Metal Heart! Hells yeah!

Lets get down the the nitty gritty, there will be some people out there that will say this is more Rockband 1.5 or an expansion pack. They honestly wouldn't be too far off. I wouldn't say that it's a bad thing though. Unlike other games that will charge you $60, give you little to no new features and around 40 new songs, Rockband 2 delivers an all around better experience.

Lets just start off with the obvious. This title gives you over 80 new songs including the unlockable bonus tracks. Not only is this just a downright huge amount of songs, but they are also a wide range of genres. From Elvis Costello to Motorhead, Blondie to Panic at the Disco!, and even from Bob Dylan to Beck. There will be songs that you like on this disc. And I do mean that as songs plural. I promise you that you will find multiple songs that you like and fine even more that you enjoy to play even though you never heard them before this game.

Speaking of songs, do you own Rockband 1? Do you like the songs on it? Do you hate having to switch between discs just because your favourite song is on the old version of your music game? Well that need not be a problem any longer. With the latest update to Rockband 1 you can actually download the music content on your hard drive and use it with future versions of the game. All you do is pay a very small licensing fee (which goes towards paying the rights of the songs and is around $5) and you can play almost all your RB1 songs on RB2. Pretty sweet no?

Also, did you download a ton of DLC for it? I know I did (I'm looking at you Grateful Dead and The Who pack). Well, good news, that content all works on Rockband 2. So the tons and tons of money that you have sunk into the Marketplace for those song packs will not have gone to waste. This means with your back catalogue, the new songs from the RB2 disc and the weekly downloads, you will have nigh infinite replayability. Life is sweet.

So we have all the music covered, so lots talk about what's new. Well, the single player experience has changed a lot. The solo tour now plays like the band world tour in RB1. You form up a band using a name of your choice (which you can add people to later in multi-player) and start off in your hometown. You play gigs and choose different setlists whilst building up your stars and fanbase. As you progress you get bigger venues, more fans and more equipment. Overall, it is a much more entertaining process than the previous Rockband which pretty much just had you playing through a list of songs with no real progression with the exception of just going to a different town. There is also the inclusion of a new "challenge" system in place which gives you a setlist, if you pass it you unlock new songs and new challenges. So some solid and positive growth in the single player has occurred between the two versions of this game.

The biggest news for this title is that you can now play the multiplayer band world tour mode over Xbox Live. That means that if you and your friends don't always want to be forced to schedule a physical meeting or dedicate a whole night to Rockband, you can now just team up at your own home and play whenever you want. This is great for friends that are long distance or just have conflicting work schedules. Ryan and myself have yet to try this out, but I'm sure we will talk about it on the podcast once we do.

To continue on the multiplayer, the party game potential has been increased with an addition of a "no fail mode." When this is put into place, your band can't fail out of a song. This means that if you have friends with delusions of grandeur or friends that have never played a music game before, you can play without the pressure of ruining it for everyone involved. The game can be especially overwhelming for the new player and this will help bring in more of your friends into the experience, which is always a good thing.

Overall, this is just a great game. Rockband 1's gameplay was nearly perfect to begin with and Rockband 2 doesn't fix what isn't broke. The added features such as full online co-op, band vs band online competition, backwards compatibility, no fail mode, expanded single player and the fact that one created character can now play any instrument makes this a clear improvement over the previous title. Is it a true sequel? Though it can be debated, I personally feel it is. It has shown more growth than other franchises (looking at you Madden) and lot of added content. What I think everyone can agree on is that either true sequel or glorified expansion pack, the price is right and it's still the most fun you will have with a music based game.

Carl's Rating: 9/10
Ryan's Rating: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9/10

Spore: First Impressions

Playing God isn't a novel concept to gamers. Building cities in the Sim series, or nurturing whole eras of humanity in the Civilization games. You could actually include any game where a main character can "die," or is forced to kill other creatures to survive. But the first games to really bring this concept, Digital Divinity, were The Sims and Black & White. Whereas in The Sims, you controlled every aspect of one character's life, in Black & White you were actually a God. It took the Sims basic idea, simplified it and deepened it at the same time. A race of people were yours to command, benevolently or maliciously, through your giant, fuzzy avatar. The Sims, obviously, was a giant success, with the third iteration of the series already in the works. Black & White, however, saw some success, but little hoolpa even as the sequel was released. Will Wright's Spore, which hit shelves September 7th, blends these two games into something that is infinitely complex and childishly simple at the same time.

The game begins deep in the ocean. A meteor fragment breaks open and you, a simple celled organism, swims out. Your objective is this: Eat, and by eating, Survive. You have the choice before the game even begins as to whether you want to be a herbivore, sucking in plant particles, or a carnivore, feasting on the remains of your kills. But eve this is not set in stone, since the frequent upgrade drops enable you to "equip" both types of mouth and live as a herbivore. Whatever you choose, once you crawl out of the sea and into the Creature Stage, your path is set.

At this point, you establish a nest, meet the other members of your species, and find your mate. Your basic goals remain the same: Eat and Survive, but the added ability to befriend or make extinct the other species on your planet forces your play style to change. Instead of just eating and upgrading, you have to decide how to upgrade. Do I choose these feet, which look ridiculous but up my dancing skill, or these hands, which strip away my ability to grasp objects but let me deal more damage.

Once you've established a few new nests, and made allies or enemies enough to up your brain power, you enter the Tribe Stage. As of this posting, that's where my creatures, the Rynus, are. Ready to begin building towards a post-modern civilization, and later intergalactic colonization.

One of the coolest features of Spore is the game's tendency to automatically integrate any creatures you made in the Creature Creator. A cheap buy at around $10, the Creature Creator is basically a paired down version of the in game creator, which allows you to go crazy and make any creatures you want or can imagine. Already I've befriended a couple of my creations, exterminated a couple, and seen two stalking around as Epic Creatures.

I'd say that a serious gamer could reach this point in the game in a good day of playing simply to play well. But the magic of the game is in the customization of your race. Definite replay-ability.

If I were rating this game, and I am, it would easily be a 8.5 out of 10.

First Impressions: Star Wars Force Unleashed Demo

So leading up to the show we recorded this week, Ryan and myself were frantically checking Xbox live for the new Star Wars: The Force Unleashed demo. Unfortunately, the demo didn't go live in time for us to play it before we recorded. I have since downloaded the demo and played through it multiple times. First off, I have one large complaint with the demo... It's too short. I know it's only a demo, but I still would have liked just a little more. Maybe give us at the very least two levels so we can explore the powers and how they grow during the length of the game. It actually took me two play throughs to finally get the idea of combining the powers and get the hang of the force grip.


So now that I brought it up, lets talk about the force grip. Force Grip is basically your Force telekinesis. It allows you to pick up crates, grenades that are thrown at you or even whole people then manipulate them in space and eventually just throw them. This results into some fun little ragdoll effects with Stormtroopers flying about and flailing their arms as they take their last flight. The thrill of this might fade and this segment of the gameplay might grow into feeling a little bit like a gimmick, but as of yet it has not. I feel also as that power increases and the combinations that are possible with other force powers in the game will keep the Force Grip fresh.


Overall, the action is rather fast but never to the point that it is a frenzied blur that leaves you wondering what just happened or at least in a bad way. One nice thing about the physics of this game is that you can often times just throw one barrel and trigger a chain reaction of near Rube Goldberg proportions. The Lightsaber action isn't too shabby, but I think you will find yourself fiddling with The Force more than anything else in this title.

Overall, I think I have to say I am looking forward to this game. I'm not sure if it will be a buy on day one, but it might be something I pick up before Christmas. It will be hard for me justify it though with games like Rock Band 2, Fallout 3 and Fable 2 all coming out this year though.


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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed releases multi-platform on September 16th, 2008 in North America
All pictures are Property of LucasArts