Author: Steve Murray

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Weekend Geek Links of the Week

It’s been almost a year since Disney killed off LucasArts and turned it into a licensing division rather than a video game developer and publisher. However, the death of LucasArts had been a decade in the making. [Game Informer]

Popular YouTuber TotalBiscuit explains the downside of being famous on the internet. [/r/CynicalBrit]

In something of a surprise, the internet has reacted favourably to The Escapist reviews editor Jim Sterling being cast in Volume. How does he get a pass but a Jessica Chobot and IGN get raked over the coals? [Stick Twiddlers]

Good news for people who are roughly my age: Tony Hawk says that Activision is working on a new Tony Hawk skateboarding game. Just make a game and use the soundtracks from THPS1 & 2 and you’ll be fine. [IGN]

FYI: GOG is moving to a regional pricing model at the request of publishers. That probably doesn’t benefit anyone who is now subject to regional pricing. They say it’s necessary so more publishers will release DRM free on the service. [GOG.com]

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1 Comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

Titanfall Beta Impressions: Pilots and Rockets and Mechs, Oh My

titanfall-bannerOne of the most hotly anticipated games of 2014 just wrapped up its beta testing period. For the majority of interested gamers, this was their first chance to play the heavily hyped and critically acclaimed Titanfall.

I somehow managed to get into the beta despite the fact that I rather detest multiplayer in first-person shooters. Granted, that’s mostly a function of my being terrible at FPSs. Single-player campaigns, like BioShock, I’m fine. Throw me into something like Planetside 2 and I’ll be into a sub-0.1 K/D ratio. Could Titanfall convert me from FPS neophyte to another shooter junkie? No but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still fun.

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Titanfall Data Miners Uncover New Game Modes and Maps for Full Release

titanfall-headerWhen the internet is excited about something, people are going to find a way to find out more about it. Yesterday, intrepid data miner and NeoGAF user, RazorUK, discovered two new multiplayer game modes not seen in the beta, a number of new weapons and perks for both pilots and titans, and 12 new maps that will be available in the game at launch.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Almost Time to Go Home

So with the SI Swimsuit Issue out yesterday, I’ve been wondering if I can say that I was right. I did predict a group cover, even if I called it an “All-Star Cover.” I think I should get double points because I had Kate Upton ranked second on the list and she was on the back cover.

However, today’s set of links isn’t going to feature any of the Swimsuit cover girls. Let’s start this off with the living legend Heidi Klum.

Russia isn’t the only place the world that hates gays. The Kansas government has created a law that allows business owners to discriminate based on sexual orientation. Not only is the law terrible but their reasoning is too. (The Dish)

Just because I’m boycotting the Sochi LOLympics doesn’t mean that others are. Some folks are tripping over themselves to praise these Olympics and Vlad Putin. (Toronto Star)

An Italian transgender former-MP was arrested for protesting that it was okay to be gay at the LOLympics. It is okay to be gay. Just not in Russia (or Kansas). (The Daily Beast)

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What If Doctor Who was an American Show?

When the ill-fated Doctor Who TV movie was made back in 1996, it was a co-production between the BBC and the American network Fox. The movie was made as a pilot for a revival of the show that would be produced by Fox for an American audience. However, while the movie was a success in Britain, it was a flop in America which meant that the series was never made.

But what if Doctor Who wasn’t just revived as an American series? What if the whole of Doctor Who was produced in America? Maybe these American actors would have played The Doctor. What do you think?
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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Humour, Sports

Olympic Fails of the Week

In my continuing efforts to point out how terrible the Sochi Organizing Committee and the IOC are as a result of everything happening at Sochi and in Russia, we once again look at some of the more embarrassing moments for the Sochi Olympics over the last week.

So here are eight pictures and tweets of Sochi Olympic fails from the week that was at the LOLympics.

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Sunday Link-Off: The LOLympic Dream

kate-mara-gq14-02We’ve reached the midpoint of the Sochi LOLympics and I understand that Canada is doing well which is nice. On the other hand, I’m mildly perturbed that people don’t take my boycott and the reasons for it seriously. Mostly family and coworkers at my day job but it’s still discouraging that sports trumps the rights of gays, dogs and the people of both Syria and Sochi.

Anyway, I suppose that since it’s Sunday, we should do the links. Let’s start with Kate Mara. You know, I really should watch House of Cards.

The US Labour Secretary has a good point. How can some smaller companies thrive despite paying livable wages while the big ones who make a mint thanks to low wages say they’ll go under if minimum wage gets to a livable level? (Daily Kos)

Subscribers to Newt Gingrich’s email list get an odd assortment of “news items” sent to them. These include stories about alleged cancer cures, Obama’s secret mistress (it’s Beyonce like the tabloids already told us so it’s not a secret) and The Illuminati. And you wonder why many people consider the GOP to be a laughing-stock. (Media Matters)

It’s kind of amazing how quickly a story disappears. One year ago, a kid on Facebook made a joke about shooting a school. He was quickly arrested because some people don’t have senses of humour. Now, he faces 10 years in prison. I know that’s a sensitive topic but some people just take life way too damn seriously. (Dallas Observer)

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Weekend Geek Links of the Week

What do some scientists think humans will look like in 100,000 years? Like characters out of manga books. [Mother Nature Network]

Some important Microsoft investors are telling Microsoft’s new CEO that he should drop Bing, Surface and Xbox from the company’s portfolio. [Washington Post]

Developer Jeff Vogel explains why Dong Nguyen pulled down his wildly popular Flappy Bird and how the vitriol from both random folks on the internet and the gaming media can get to you. [The Bottom Feeder]

EA’s Chief Creative Officer doesn’t see the problem with the SimCity and Battlefield 4 launches because the games sold well. It looks like EA is trying hard to win a third-straight Worst Company in America award from The Consumerist. [Rock, Paper, Shotgun]

If they go with a more Olympic-style model, could the World Cyber Games be revived and thrive? [eSportsMax]

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

Contrast Review: Now That’s Not Thinking with Shadows

contrast-headerIt’s only appropriate that a game whose review on Valentine’s Day has a love story. Okay, that’s probably a bit of a stretch when it comes to Contrast seeing as the game is a puzzle platformer where a man trying to win back his family is only really of minimal importance to the game. However, it’s there so I’m calling Contrast an appropriate game to review today.

When Contrast was released, it certainly carried some big expectations. While Compulsion Games was a rookie developer, the game had been selected as one of two free games on PlayStation 4 at launch for PlayStation Plus members. Was Contrast worthy of such a distinction as being on of Sony’s featured launch titles?

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Leave a comment Posted on by Steve Murray Video Games

WRC Powerslide Review: The Spin-off Doesn’t Spin Out

wrc-powerslide-headerMilestone’s WRC series and I have a long history. I’ve played each of the four games and reviewed the last three. The series has evolved from TV presentation to arcade presentation. It’s tried to be rally sim and tried to be a WRC-licensed Dirt game. Every time it makes a change, they take two steps forward and at least one step back.

With WRC Powerslide, Milestone has completely gotten away from proper rallying. Instead, Powerslide is a WRC karting game. While I’ve been looking for the proper WRC series to embrace being a proper rally sim, Powerslide proves that you don’t actually know what you want from gaming until you get it.

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