Geezer Gamers Community Cast #65

Wait for the Credits

We’re back and further off the rails than ever before during my time with the cast. This week Furgus is disappointed by the credits at the end of the Gears of War 3 campaign, we meet Klyde99and find out that I stink as an interviewer, learn that Furgus is an Enchantress, and that we could have titled the cast “Mouth full of Crackers” among other things. Oh, and we actually work in some gaming talk as well….

So sit back, relax, and prepare yourself for 100 minutes or so of Community Cast goodness. Also, make sure you stick around after the end of the cast for some special treats mixed into the the music I choose to round things out.

—MidnightGhostGF

In case you forgot, Games on Demand sucks

A few months ago, Microsoft was getting ready to release a new Xbox disc format. Supposedly, the new format provides some more room on a game disc for developers. But, as they typically do before a new feature release, they wanted to get some volunteers to test it in the field before releasing it to everyone at large. So, they took sign-ups for a preview program. I like getting new features early, sometimes just so I can get my update before the servers are hammered with everyone else trying to get theirs on release day; so I signed up.

I was surprised that the disc they sent me to test was no less than Halo Reach. Although I already had a retail copy since its launch, my disc had developed a small crack on the inside hub, so I was happy to be able to use this alternative disc and not risk using a damaged disc in my Xbox.

It worked well enough up until last week, when 343 Industries released an update to Reach. I was surprised when I tried joining another player and saw a message telling me that they had an updated version of Reach. I received no notice to update, nor did the game kick me offline for having a non-updated version of the game. I soon discovered that, while the "format preview" copy of Reach was similar enough to allow achievements and online multiplayer, it was different enough that it did not get the same update distributed to everyone else.

I went back to my retail disc, updated the game, and started hoping again that the disc wouldn't shatter in the drive.

The next day, I was surprised to get an email from Microsoft. They apologized that my "format preview" disc would not get the update, and to make amends, they sent me a copy of the downloadable version of the game.

Not only did they give away a AAA title for a feature preview test, they apparently considered it important enough to continue supporting long after the preview program was over.

Although this was an unexpected pleasantry, it did call something to my attention.

Here is a portion of the Xbox Live Marketplace page for Halo Reach. You can see the price is listed at $59.99, the retail price of the game at launch. This copy of the game does not include a disc or case (obviously), or a manual (but you can download it online). It also does not permit you to resell, trade, loan, or borrow the game. Nor does it let you play it on any console in your own home except the one you first download it to, unless you sign in to Xbox Live on that other console; i.e., you can't give the disc to a roommate or other family member for play on another console unless it is connected to the internet and you sign on there.

Here are a couple product pages for the physical copies of the game, from Amazon.com and Wal-Mart. The game is being sold for $35.95 and $39.96, respectively, with the ability to get free shipping. It comes with a disc, which can be installed to the hard drive or USB on your Xbox console, but the disc is required to play the game. The game can be resold, rented, traded, borrowed, or loaned, and it works on any Xbox in existence, anywhere, online or not, playable by anyone.

To add insult to injury, Amazon also has the Limited Edition of the game for $54.99, which includes an exclusive DLC code for the Elite playable character, some in-universe collectibles, and Dr. Halsey's journal (notes about the creation of the Spartan program), in an ONI "black box" case — for $5 less than the digital download version.

It just underscores what I've said many times before. Digital downloads offer a less valuable product, at a price that doesn't change with the free market.

Geezer Gamers Community Cast #64

Hurry up, Halo is calling…

The Community Cast is back and while it’s a slightly abbreviated edition this week we still cover actual gaming topics a little more than usual. This week you’ll hear us talk about a number of items including the fact that Jeeps may have a Leia costume as well as discussions about Borderlands 2, the upcoming re-release of Halo CE, and Call of Duty’s XP event in LA.

—MidnightGhostGF

My lack of skill, in picture form

I came across this picture, and I think it perfectly sums up my enjoyment of video games.

The picture comes from the original demotivational poster site, Despair.com. Click the picture to be taken to their product site. This is an unsolicited post.

Geezer Gamers Community Cast #63

It’s been long time

Well, it has been a long time, since June I believe for some of us but we’re back to bore like never before. This week the cast includes Cyber, Medic, and yours truly MnG along with Jeeps blowing in from the south. This time around we cover a range of topics including DRM lunacy, some anniversaries of note, Activision reporting big earnings, and how the SCOTUS became a friend to all gamers this summer.

—MidnightGhostGF

Why 'always on' is an 'instant off'

The news has come out that Blizzard's upcoming Diablo 3 will require a persistent internet connection, even for single-player play. Their excuse is that this is necessary because of all the integrated online features in the game (including an auction house, where players can buy and sell in-game items for real dollars). We've seen before where companies use this requirement as an anti-piracy measure as well. In any case, the result is the same: I will not be buying it.

I have seen comments how this is no longer a big deal. Just about everyone has a constant internet connection anymore, and if anyone knows how to run servers so they're always available, it has to be Blizzard.

But that's not good enough.

Just recently, I had issues where my internet connection was going up and down quite a bit. Granted, this isn't normal behavior, and a service call from Comcast fixed this, but it does present the possibility that I could get kicked off of my game because of a bad internet connection. Indeed, as we were recording the Geezer Gamers Community Cast this weekend, my internet connection hiccuped and our Skype session was disconnected, twice. Even a fully-functional broadband connection isn't 100% stable.

And that's the wired connection. Chances are, I'd have to play this game on my laptop, as I doubt my 10-year-old desktop has the horsepower for it. And my laptop connects via wireless. That only compounds the instability issues.

Of course, there are other problems where bandwidth caps are concerned. True, game data uses very compact data packets by design, but requiring constant communication with a server on the internet will drive up data usage. Plus, if you go over your cap with Comcast, you'll find your internet service completely cut off, which shoots a hole in the "everyone has a constant internet connection" argument.

Even if you have absolutely no internet issues at home, requiring a constant connection means, simply, you can't take it with you. I used to bring my laptop with Diablo 2 on vacations to the in-laws, where persistent internet is less of a sure thing than in my own home. The need for a constant internet connection means I could not do the same with Diablo 3, thus this requirement reduces the game's value for me.

There are two possibilities here. Either I am just an "edge case", one of the truly dwindling number of people who doesn't have a 100% stable internet connection everywhere they game, and no one cares about me, so my lost sale is meaningless; or I'm right, and the people denying that it is a problem are either the "good edge cases" or are in for a rude awakening when they find their legally purchased game is constantly forbidding their play.

So, for now, it's a no-sale, and that way it will remain until after hackers figure out a way to remove the "always connected" requirement and restore value to the game.

Geezer Gamers Community Cast #62

Mad as Geezers

The cast of Mad as Hell Gamers Radio (who, through the magic of Skype, sound as if they’re broadcasting from an underground cavern) visit with CyberKnight to discuss all things E3.

—CyberKnight

This one was recorded and edited by me. ;)