Do Games with Long Development are Worth to Wait?

We have two answers; yes for some games, but no for some other. As opaque as football match result, once we had interrogated games with promising features only to realize that it was another total disappointment. While we hardly believed Manchester United might surrendered to Manchester City, we have no difficulty to accept the failure of big heads in gaming industry. Games aren't as round as ball, but it still kick a strong effect.

The bad examples:
Daikatana(1997-2000)
A game by John Romero which explained the closedown of Ion Storm Dallas. Hasty designing, lack of professional touch, budget constrain, are only few of the aspects that caused delayed release. The outcome was neither success nor remarkable.

Prey(1995-2006)

Good start doesn't always lead to good ending, to describe what was happened to Prey. The positive appreciation by public hadn't accelerated the game's finishing, instead postponed it until several years. Prey should be a great game, if it isn't belatedly published.

TimeShift(2003-2007)

One example of a good concept without good caring is nothing. In Timeshift, the player has the ability to manipulate time: stopping, rewinding, or decelerating it at will without any impact in him. But in real life we can't manipulate time; engine trouble, bugs, unsteady publisher, give a serious impact for this game.

The good examples:
Max Payne(1997-2001)

Gamers would never forget the John Woo's slow motion style in-game, including the slow release. But luckily Max Payne was never in slow business, moreover the game is developing its third sequel.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl(2001-2007)

Don't push ourself. The idiom is also suitable to S.T.A.L.K.E.R., as looking back before the release year there is no technology or engine would capable to empower the game yet. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. did the right thing by a little awaiting, if not a little late. Even the game visual looks outdated, public doesn't troubled with that since the gameplay was so great.

Spore(2000-2008)

Sometime brilliant ideas are taking much longer time for the completion. Another sim game from Will Wright, and now it's about species evolution. Grow them, modify them, build colony, make friend or foe, etc. A little boring after hours of play, but the gameplay is more than sufficient to stick our interest in Spore planets.

Conclusion
There are slight differences between the examples above, but if these phenomenons accompany a game:

• Intense promotion.
• Disappointing beta versions.
• Unexpected postpone, but in many times.
• It's gone and never returned.
• Having no steady developer or publisher.

One question: will the game worth to wait?

Left 4 Dead Needs a Thumbnail

What can we expect more for this next gem of game? Developed by Valve Corporation which also developed Half Life series, this title is not for exception.

One exception I found at least. It's about the new section added: blog. Still as young as baby, the blog itself holds only first post, the introduction. Someone must find the new thumbnail.

Four fingers for five sections? That's not fair! We need the thumbnail! Graawr!!

Why Must WASD Gamers? (Conclusion)

So, after the long writing (here, here, and here), here I shortlisted the plus-minus in why WASD is still the best 'platform' to play games:

Plus

• Keyboard and mouse offer more buttons and maneuverability.
• With the issue above, more genre to install in your hard disk is possible.
• Freedom to tune the game setting to fit with your self-preference. What you see is what you setup.
• Improve the game with patches installment (consoles are following this step recently).
• Curious with other platforms but have no money to buy it? Use emulators! SNES, GBA, NDS, etc. although don't ever to think there will be the cure for Xbox, PS3, or Wii.
• You can save anywhere and anytime within the game with quicksave feature, one gold key only found in many PC games with only one push button.

Minus

• The limitation of market. Only stupid developer which releases a game exclusive for PC, except for genres that only playable in PC such as strategy games. This isn't prevail in consoles system.
• Not all kind of flexibilities in PC is good, one consequence unavoidable is the hardware. Owning the latest graphic card can turned us to a big boss. A damn expensive big boss.
• With the high-priced hardware, a PC gamer must have certain wealthiness. As new titles are flooding game stores, you are forced to follow the technology update. Do or die.
• Infected by social life disorder syndrome. Actually, this illness is also attacking other platforms; but PC gamers are known for having the most sufferer.

Why Must WASD Gamers? (Part-3-End)

Last word: whatever happened, WASD is the awesome post nuclear platform for post nuclear simulation!

Why Must WASD Gamers? (Part-2)

After reading the prologue reason of what has been happening in PC game world, I want to underline that there is no fanatic or sentimental pleasure to disregard consoles. I love gaming not limited only to PC, as there are some titles in consoles I like. To clarify this matter, let's say that someone loves to eat both steak and sandwich, but if he/she must choose one then the answer goes to sandwich even there is no dislike to the steak. Personal taste is different to each individual. PC games have its distinct identity by its prime usage to keyboard and mouse for the controller. One point we have: there are more 'buttons' and flexibility than consoles.
The consequence is, we have broader genre possibilities: action, strategy, RPG, etc. Maybe the strongest innovation in PC games controlling -and revolution in the game itself- is the introduction of WASD method. Combined with mouse, the method is like a canonical protocol in every genre. Long time before WASD, the common method used was arrow keys. But that was the time when mouse is not yet fully considered as a gaming controller. Gamers are complaining that the arrow keys position is too near to the mouse, thus made uncomfortable handling. The game entitled Quake was changed everything by offering W, A, S, and D keys replacing four directions of arrow keys (not counted with other minor alternatives such as QASD, IJKL, etc).
The initial trend later for the WASD was only applied to FPS or similar genre. The player controls the vision of the character with mouse while the movement will be handled by WASD (some additional controls are using other keys). Somewhat game developers realized that this method is very potential to other genre such as 3rd person action/shooter, RPG, and even RTS. PC games on the wind, especially with FPS and RTS genre. Several PC titles ported to consoles are ended in ridiculous navigation, but strangely until today some FPS and 3rd person games are still forced to release in consoles, compensated with analog controller.
Not quite a surprise for this astonishment if we know the origin of PC and consoles. People bought Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii, with sole main intention: to play games. In other side, the reason for people to buy a unit of personal computer was not restricted only to play games. There's a lot of things we can do with PC, and gaming is one intention. This affects commercial perspective, in why we don't need to show our irritated feeling if there is "PC version" in store after 4-5 months wandering in consoles platform.

Why Must WASD Gamers? (Part-1)

Don't get confused with the term; it wasn't something new at all. Rather than calling myself a PC gamer, a dub 'WASD gamer' is more comfortable embedded on my chest. This isn't because I'm a full anti-socialist, but our identity as a PC gamer today is approaching crisis. Unlike several years past, where PC's technology is on the paramount, having PC game is a pride; no other platforms could handle, or at least each platform has its own characteristics for the game titles.

But the dream was over with the born of Playstation 2 and Xbox. Consoles technology are equal to PC, even further. Game developers start to expand their income potential by publishing a game title to multiple platforms. Pluralism exchanged monism. This phenomenon shouldn't be blamed, a normal nature law. While consoles users have additional option in their games' favor, PC gamer seems conversely reduced in title and genre variation. Though there are still numerous game titles with deep satisfaction, no deeper creativity involved.

What I want to assert here is, PC platform turned to be the last alternative for game title release. Such an ironic reality when some PC-only games is in success state and then its sequel was later released in multiple platforms; with PC in the last priority. In my opinion, this is still acceptable for me as commonly the PC release eventually the best version than the console platforms. Game publishers are always in serious tension when they are faced with PC realm. A little glitch in visual or blurred texture is their nightmare, not included with bugs and crashes. Also mention the strict assessment in PC game reviewers.

At the end, I can conclude that developing game in consoles are a little easier and less-depressing; consoles public are always enthusiastic in new title no wonder how disappointing it will. At the opposite polar, PC public are grimmer and always expect the best in appearance -not in quality-, thanks to PC's upgradeable hardwares ability. Until now I'm waiting something struggling in PC game world that consoles unable to imitate.

Start a New Game

First post for the blog. I will write just like I play a game; trying to be consistent and get rest when I need some rest.

WASD Gmrs is a blog about PC Game. Why?
Because the only platform I have is a PC that my parents bought seven years ago, with not-so-progressive upgrade in graphic card, RAM, and hard disk. No need to describe what's inside my PC, I just give a clue: an old decent gadget but capable enough to run numerous games, of course with low setting.

But WHY?
Personally, playing PC game gives me different sensation compared to other platforms. No doubt modern games in Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, etc. are beating up PC games thanks to its creativity and inexplicable reasons, what these things never achieved (which PC does) is the purpose. PC Games are created and designed to be played, while consoles are to be ended. I'm not sure this is acceptable for everyone, but that's IMHO.

Does WASD Gmrs just a new about-game website in the blogosphere?
I hope not so close. In next level we will recognize this matter.

Why your PC spec is so pathetic?
Because I'm in eternal tight budget. Never mention the sensitive topic.