Mobile Gaming: Rule the Kingdom

Rule the Kingdom from GameInsight is available for free on idevices, Android, Windows, and Facebook.  Knowing my love of the RPG genre and games focused on questing I downloaded it to my Windows 8 tablet as soon as it became available.

The game is charming but it suffers from what I consider a fatal flaw: over monetization.  It is possible to play the game and not spend a cent but to do so you would have to have the patience of a saint.  Seriously, should your character die you have to flee to the castle and wait on hour before your can resume playing or your need to spend real world money to continue playing.  While I don’t mind spending money on good games, I do mind when every possible action almost in a title is possible to complete with cash.

So, while charming it isn’t going to get a recommendation from me despite the wide number of platforms the game is available on.  I would much rather have a small purchase price associated with a mobile game than have every move in the game monetized.  If you have children, then this game is a definite pass.

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PlayStation 4: Wrap-Up

Yesterday, Sony revealed that the PlayStation4 will release Holidays 2013 and was much more forthcoming with specifications.  However, what they did no show was the console itself.

Here are the specifications:

• Main Processor: Single-chip custom processor
  CPU : x86-64 AMD "Jaguar", 8 cores
  GPU : 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD next-generation Radeon™ based graphics engine
• Memory
  GDDR5 8GB
  Hard Disk Drive – no details were provided beyond the console containing a hard disk
• Built-in
  Optical Drive (read only)
  BD 6xCAV
  DVD 8xCAV
  I/O
  Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0) 、AUX
• Communication
  Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
  IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
  Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
  AV output
  HDMI & Analog-AV out
  Digital Output (optical)
• *Specifications are subject to change without notice.

There is an emphasis on social media with the PS4.  A button on the new dual shock controller instantly allows the player to share favorite moments via Facebook.  PS4 players will also be able to stream game play via UStream in real-time.    A light bar on the controller helps identify players and transitions the controller into a Move controller, although the Move is still compatible with the PS4.

The PlayStation Cloud will stream games from all previous PlayStation consoles.  It currently appears that the PS4 hardware is incompatible with older, legacy discs.  The PSVita will be able to play games from the PlayStation Cloud.  And FYI, current PS3 purchases will NOT carry over to the PS4.

The PS4 has eliminated the boot-up time of previous consoles.  The PS4 will power-down to suspend mode which eliminates the boot-up time and instantly allows the gamer to carry-on where the previous gaming session left off.  Background downloading  instantly allowing the gamer to play digital titles, and allowing the console to update while in suspend mode.

The PSVita is the “ultimate companion”, according to Jack Tretton, President and CEO of PlayStation.  Ultimate goal is to make most PS4 games playable on the PSVita.  In addition, PlayStation Applications are coming for iPhone, iPad, and Android users which will allow those devices to act as a second screen for the PS4.

Games releasing with the PS4, include (but of course are subject to change):

• Diablo III from Blizzard (also releasing for PS3)
• Destiny from Bungie (also releasing for PS3)
• Watchdogs from Ubisoft
• Infamous: Sucker Sam from Sucker Punch
• Killzone: Shadow Fall from Guerilla Games
• Drive Club from Evolution Studios

More details will be released in the coming months I’m sure.  There was no mention of pricing of the new console.

 

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Rumors of Cheating in The Secret War

 

 

It all started last week, will back and forth on the forums about automating the Facebook game to deploy agents around the clock.  There were allegations thrown around about all three factions (Templar, Dragon, and Illuminati) engaging in such deplorable behavior, however all indications are that the Illuminati are the most clearly defined faction cheating.  Member of their own faction have come forth to announce they have been encouraged to cheat, how to do so, and then denouncing the practice openly on the forums  Illuminati members have posted their strategies in the forum.

Funcom immediately issued a forum announcement concerning the cheating.  Now that there is a weekly prize all factions seem to be drooling over allegations of cheating are once again running rampant on the forums.  Templars won the battle for territory on the 4th and 5th of this month and the Dragon have offered their thanks while the Illuminati are tossing allegations of cheating and game fixing by Funcom.

Somehow I think in the hyper-competitive spirit of the modern world, and the conspiracy setting of the game players of all factions and all ages have forgotten that it is a game and the prizes are meaningless in real life.  Just because your faction wins the week, it doesn’t instantly transform you or your faction into the be all, end all of the game. 

Technorati Tags: THe Secret War,The Secret World,Templar,Dragon,Illuminati,Facebook,cheating

The Secret War Week 2

As many of you probably know, The Secret War has entered it’s second week over at The Secret World.  This week faction challenges were added as a component of winning the war.

Hubby finally got me to play it last week.  I’m still very ambivalent about the entire concept of marketing through Facebook games like this.  The amount of spam, well I consider it spam, the game sends out to the Facebook accounts of your friends is mind boggling.  Luckily, no one knows I have a Facebook account so they aren’t being buried by the posts.  However, it is also a really ingenious method of getting people to spread the word to other people without having millions invested in traditional marketing methods. 

However, given the declining popularity of Facebook it is a big risk on Funcom’s part.  Personally, I think they need to branch out the marketing campaign a bit if they want huge numbers at launch.

The Secret World went missing …

According to the official forums, the Facebook game has been temporarily taken down due to connectivity issues.  Funcom and Facebook are actively trying to resolve the issue and bring The Secret World back online quickly. 

Secret War on Facebook

Today Funcom released their Facebook tie-in for The Secret World.  With the release of the Facebook game they’ve also released an updated faction test. 

We haven’t played the Facebook game, mainly because we aren’t on Facebook.  According to the official forums there have been a couple of hiccups with the release of the Facebook game.  However, the smart player base of TSW has come up with many a work around and things seem to be working smoothly.

There are rewards from the tie-in that are usable once the game releases but apparently the clothing rewards are ugly which is just fine with me.  I could care less about the title reward from the Facebook game to be honest.