Hey guys, it's been a while. I just picked up my copy of NBA 2k15 and I'm here to let you know what to expect from the preorder package.
Let's start off with a photo:
That's ALL you're going to get from the PC preorder package. A case, and a plastic card with a CD key printed at the back. A sticker with a code to claim your preorder bonus is placed at the back of the case. There's no physical disc included. (The pack includes a sports bottle though, which will arrive in a week or two. It doesn't really make up for not having a CD but a freebie is a freebie) .That sucks for people like me who have slow internet connection. The game is a 40GB download from Steam, so it's probably gonna take a couple more days before I actually get to play the game.
That's it for my run through on the NBA 2k15 preorder pack. I'm obviously just doing this to rant about having to download the game as opposed to installing it from a CD. I hope you guys don't get too shocked (the way I did) when you get your copy of the game. Peace!
Hey guys! Joshua here. Just posting my reactions on Microsoft announcing that Rise of the Tomb Raider as an Xbox One 'exclusive'.
I've seen a lot of videos and posts expressing their dismay about the announcement during Gamescom 2014 that Rise of the Tomb Raider is to be an Xbox One 'exclusive'. People were like: "But I saw the cover of the game during the Sony press conference?!" or "I pre-ordered this during E3 only to find out a few months later that it's gonna be on Xbox One only? Ridiculous.". To clear the air, Rise of the Tomb Raider WILL BE RELEASED on other platforms as well but there is yet to be an announcement about a timetable for the release on the PS4 an PC.
Now for my two cents. I personally believe that this was (and still is) a bad choice not only on the part of Microsoft but also Square Enix. Why? Because they cut out two of the bigger platforms (PC and PS4). I honestly don't know what they talked about or what ridiculous number Microsoft gave Square Enix to have them release it only on Holiday 2015 ONLY for Xbox One. I mean, if they're after sales of the Xbox One, just keep chugging on. Its not like they're gonna go out of business that quick. I mean they have Forza! A really awesome racing game that doesn't only feature amazing graphics and a wide array of cars but also the depth of detail they put into the cars and the environments and even the car meets and whatnot. They also have the 'First-to-console' indie titles which would also rack up sales.
I just watched the IGN video about their reactions on this as well. They say that there are a lot of people that own PCs and PS4s that have already cancelled their pre-orders of the game because of the sheer dismay of having to wait longer just to play the game.
Being a PC owner, I really am disappointed about their choice. The flame might die out once it's released and sales might not be as good.
Logic here, with the first edition of my new column entitled: Gaming on a Budget. This one's gonna be about the PC gaming platform. I'll run you through the pros and cons of Desktop and Laptop gaming to see which one's best suited for your needs.
Credits to JTech for this photo
Desktop: Pros: Cheaper (relatively) - What I mean by this is that you don't need to go all the way up to the higher end components to get your desktop PC to max out game settings while maintaining a good enough fps. You can usually make do with "entry level gaming" video cards such as the Nvidia GTX x60s (e.g. GTX 560, GTX 660, GTX 760) to run graphics intensive games (an example of which is Crysis 3).
The price to performance ratio is much better - This is related to desktop PCs being "relatively cheaper." Being able to run games that demand a lot of GPU and CPU power using mid-level components enable you to spend less money to get what you want out of your machine. Can easily be upgraded or modified - So what happens when a game I want comes out, but my current mid-level components can't handle them anymore? If you have the money, you'll be able to upgrade the parts that need upgrading without having to replace all your other parts. The components desktop PCs aren't bound together (like a laptop) so you won't have much problems swapping them out when your GPU fries or motherboard bottlenecks your rig's overall performance.
Lasts longer - Since you can swap out parts that really need to be replaced quite easily, you'll be able to keep the more robust parts of your PC (monitor, mouse, keyboard, PSU) much longer. This is actually a big advantage versus laptops because of the amount of money you can save by keeping most of your old desktop components while replacing those that can't keep up with your demands.
Cons: Bulky - This speaks for itself and is one of the biggest cons of gaming on a desktop; it's simply not transport friendly. You can't bring it around because it's just too big. You won't be able to game on the go or bring your own unit to a friend's house for LAN parties (if you still do those kinds of things nowadays). Not everyone knows how to put a desktop PC together - Not all stores have PC bundles/packages that suit the buyer's needs. More often than not, you're going to have to mix and match the parts yourself. This could be a little difficult for some who aren't experts on component compatibility; which motherboard is compatible with which GPU or if a 450W PSU could power your dual GTX Titan. Hopefully, you have that one friend who could help you out in times like these.
My very own gaming machine. Pardon my photography skills.
Laptop: Pros: Portable - If bulkiness is the biggest con of a desktop PC, that aspect's where the laptop truly shines. You can bring your laptop everywhere you go, and you'll never miss out on those scheduled online matches with your friends as long as you have a laptop by your side. (Of course, you'll need internet connection too) Assembly usually not required - Other than those custom made-to-order laptops, most others are already put together when you see them. This really helps those who have neither the time nor the expertise to put together a PC. You also save time by needing to only look at one complete machine as opposed having to canvass part by part when shopping for a desktop PC. It's plug and play - Since most laptops are pre-assembled, you won't have to worry about finding the right drivers or software to make each component work. Those things are most likely already installed into your machine when you get it. This helps you avoid problems like display failure due to a missing or wrong driver for your graphics adapter (among others).
Cons: Usually more expensive than desktops specs-wise - Since laptops are just downsized versions of desktop PCs, the performance capabilities of the components also drastically decline. Thus, you're gonna have to climb higher on the tech tree (and reach deeper into your wallet) to get something that can handle those power hungry games. I don't think a GTX x60m card will give you performance at par to a GTX x60 desktop card. (That's obviously an unfair comparison, but I hope you get my point.)
Break one part, you break everything (for most laptops) - This is the biggest disadvantage (in my honest opinion) of having a laptop. If one of the components break or needs upgrading, chances are, you're gonna have to end up buying an entirely new laptop. This is because most laptops were never meant to be taken apart after they've been put together. You'll still be able to change basic components like the RAM and hard disk, but if it's your CPU, GPU, or motherboard that's giving you problems, then there's really nothing you can do but buy a new computer. Some custom built laptops don't have that same disadvantage but most other laptops do.
Well, that's all I have for today. Make sure you tune in for the next episode of Gaming on a Budget; where I'll be pitting a gaming desktop rig against a gaming laptop! Feel free to leave your comments below.
Hey guys! Joshua here. Since some of you don't have the time to watch the whole thing and some are just lazy to watch, I'm here to give you an overview of what happened during the Microsoft Press Conference in Gamescom 2014.
For those who want to watch it, I have the Youtube vid above. I'll also be putting the time stamps if you also wanna watch certain segments. Some additional info will be written and linked as well. Let's get to it!
0:00:52 - A trailer for the Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This info comes from the GameStop product details. It says:
"For the first time ever, The Master Chief's entire story is on one console. Featuring a re-mastered Halo 2: Anniversary, along with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4, new digital series, Halo: Nightfall, and access to the Halo 5: Guardians Beta, this is the definitive Halo experience.*
The Complete Master Chief Story - Honoring the iconic hero and his epic journey, The Master Chief's entire story is brought together as The Master Chief Collection. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, and Halo 4 are all included with Xbox One visual fidelity, 60fps, a total of 45 campaign missions plus more than 100 multiplayer (including the original Halo Combat Evolved maps) and Spartan Ops maps. Along with new prologue and epilogue cut scenes foreshadowing Halo 5: Guardians, this is the collection Halo fans have been waiting for, all on Xbox One.*
Halo 2: Anniversary - Celebrating the 10 year Anniversary, the iconic fan favorite returns. Featuring a fully re-mastered campaign with "Classic Mode" allowing you to instantly switch between the re-mastered game and the original game from 2004. Uncover new Halo 5: Guardians story elements in hidden terminal videos and utilize all new skulls to experience the campaign in a whole new way. Including 23 original multiplayer maps just as fans remember them, plus 6 completely re-imagined maps. Play the game that defined online multiplayer on consoles and get ready for the next Halo chapter.
Master Menu - Seamlessly navigate The Master Chief's story using the all-new Master Menu. Play all four completely unlocked campaigns, beginning to end, or jump around as you choose. Enjoy cross title themed campaign playlists created by the games' designers for new fun and challenging experiences. Easily find and play your favorite multiplayer game types from over 100 multiplayer and Spartan Ops maps. It's everything Halo, on your terms, simplified.
New Halo: Nightfall Live Action Digital Series - A strange and treacherous world exposes elite UNSC operatives to a much deeper danger in this live action series from 343 Industries and Scott Free Productions. Executive-produced by Ridley Scott and Scott Free TV President, David Zucker and directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan ("Battlestar Galactica" "Pillars of the Earth," "Heroes"), Halo: Nightfall is an exciting new story for Halo fans and fresh audiences alike.
Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta - Be among the first to experience a new generation of Halo multiplayer in the Halo 5: Guardians Beta. Gear up for the Guardians beta by unlocking exclusive content in The Master Chief Collection and Halo: Nightfall. These exclusive items will carry over into Halo 5: Guardians."
For more info on the product: here is the link to the Halo: The Master Chief Collection page by GameStop.
0:02:15 - The Halo 5: Guardians theatrical trailer. Nothing much to it. It also showcases the contents of The Master Chief Collection. At the end of the trailer, it also says that you would gain early access to Halo: Nightfall (the live-action web series) and access to Halo 5: Guardians Beta. I'm not entirely sure about whether or not you would get to play the beta but I guess you would be able to. The release of the Halo: The Master Chief Collection is on November 11, 2014.
0:03:04 - This is, basically, a showcase of some of the titles coming out on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC. Some of these are Xbox One exclusives, some are multi-platform but get early access on Xbox, and some are exclusive to both Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Some of these titles included in the video are:
*Sunset Overdrive, Forza Horizon 2, Project Spark, UFC, (this is one really long-ass title...) *Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper EX Alpha Edition, Fifa 15, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Lego's Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, Ori and the Blind Forest, Dance Central: Spotlight (Kinect required), Madden NFL 15, The Evil Within, *Quantum Break, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Battlefield: Hardline, Tom Clancy's: The Division, *Fable Legends, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Evolve, Assassin's Creed: Unity, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die, Crackdown, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
*Xbox One Exclusive
And possibly a lot more. These are just a few of the games that are to come out.
0:12:39 - Another trailer for Assassin's Creed: Unity. The game releases on October 28, 2014
0:19:07 - Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, now starts to pitch Fifa 15. He brings up exclusives such as Legends that you can play on the game mode Ultimate Team ONLY on Xbox (Xbox 360 and Xbox One). He also showcases an Xbox One bundle exclusive to European customers starting September 25, 2014. Pre-orders are now open.
The bundle includes an Xbox One Console, controller, and a digital copy of Fifa 15.
0:20:30 - Fifa 15 General Manager David Rutter introduces Manchester United and Denmark legend Peter Schmeichel. Schmeichel and Rutter then discuss a dream team they'd like to build for the Ultimate Team mode. They also include exclusive for Xbox players such as Peter Shmeichel himself, Sir Bobby Moore, the Laudrup brothers, and many more. Fifa 15 will go on sale September 23, 2014 according to their website.
0:25:51 - A video starts showcasing some of the independent games that are in ID@Xbox. The games shown in the video were:
Blues and Bullets, Cuphead, Dungeon of the Endless, Fruit Ninja Kinect 2, Funk of Titans, Gost of a Tale, Goat Simulator, Gunscape, Massive Chalice, Inside, Knight Squad, Lovers in a Dangerous, Spacetime, #IDARB, No Time to Explain, Plague Inc.: Evolved, Rivals of Aether, Smite, SlashDash, Space Engineers, Spectra, Pneuma: Breath of Life, Threes!, The Escapists, Volgarr the Viking, SpeedRunners, Superhot.
Those were just some of the titles coming to Xbox on ID@Xbox. There are more coming out. Their main pitch is the "First-to-Console". Which means that ID@Xbox would distribute some of the titles first before the other consoles.
Here are some of the trailers they have for some of the games that are First-to-Console on Xbox: 0:28:24 - First-to-Console on Xbox One trailer for Space Engineers 0:29:42 - First-to-Console on Xbox One trailer for Superhot 0:31:04 - First-to-Console on Xbox One trailer for The Escapists 0:32:29 - First-to-Console on Xbox One trailer for Smite 0:34:07 - First-to-Console on Xbox One trailer for Below
I have included links to the games with the First-to-Console trailers for more info.
0:37:54 - Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare single player gameplay on a map they call "Collapse". It's set in San Francisco, California. This is most likely some in-game footage from one of the campaign missions. At first it features some vehicle combat but it then transitions to first-person shooting on the 0:40:14 mark. The single player combat footage features:
Exo suit skills such as dashing from side to side and jumping, smart grenades, the HUD is some sort of hologram on the gun, car doors used as shields, and a bunch of other stuff.
The HUD displayed on the gun includes current bullets in mag, grenades, and special grenades.
0:44:54 - Phil Spencer (Head of Xbox) says that Xbox would gain access to add-on content of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare first before any other console. He also pitches the bundle for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.
The bundle includes a 1 Terabyte hard drive inside the console, Custom designed Xbox One Controller and Console, Digital copy of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare along with Day Zero which includes additional digital content. Pre-orders have been open since August 14, 2014. The game itself officially releases on November 4, 2014 worldwide.
0:46:21 - Phil Robb (Co-founder and Creative Director of Turtle Rock Studios) takes over and introduces Evolve. A 4 vs 1 player versus player game that features 4 hunters and 1 monster (yep, the monster can be controlled by a player).
0:47:14 - They then show some footage of a game that also shows the evolution of the monster, some gameplay mechanics like shielding, etc. The game goes into open beta only for Xbox One on January 2015 an releases worldwide on February 10, 2015. For all the DLC to come, Xbox once again gets access first before any other console. For more info on Evolve, click HERE
From this point on, they start showcasing Xbox "exclusive" games.
0:50:40 - Darrell Gallagher (Head of Product Development and Studios of Crystal Dynamics) introduces Rise of the Tomb Raider. He says that Rise of the Tomb Raider will come out Holiday 2015 "exclusively" on Xbox. I wondered what they actually meant. Then I searched around google and stumbled upon an article on Kotaku which says that what they mean is that it will come out FIRST on Xbox (both 360 and One) but it would also be distributed to other platforms later on. Just think of it like Xbox owners get to play it first then other console owners get to play it after a set period. At first I also thought to myself: "Oh my gosh. If they're gonna hog the game, that has got to suck for their PR.". Welp, that's marketing for ya.
0:53:09 - Sam Lake (Creative Director of Remedy Entertainment) presents Quantum Break. This game is a true Xbox One exclusive. It will only be released for the Xbox One.
0:53:32 - They have a live demo for the gameplay of Quantum break. Their main hook is having the ability to move through moments wherein time moves. Its pretty lengthy to explain so for more on this, click HERE to check out details being published by Remedy Entertainment on their site.
1:03:05 - The trailer for Fable Legends. Another Xbox One exclusive. Like Quantum Break, this one is only to be released for the Xbox One. The trailer shows some characters in combat and the like. It also shows that you can play a villainous character. Beta for Fable Legends opens October 16, 2014. For more info about this, click THIS link to check out their main site.
1:05:40 - The trailer for the brand new exclusive game for Xbox called Sreamride. It's a game that has you building roller coasters with the amount of screams to score it. It's basically a more sadistic version of Roller Coaster Tycoon. This game is reported to come out Spring 2015.
1:07:51 - Forza introduces new cars for Forza Motorsport 5 and the newer ones. They introduce cars such as the Renault Spark, Rolls Royce Wraith, and a few more cars for free.
1:10:58 - They then show a Forza Horizon 2 trailer explaining that this is the most social driving game ever made. They have features such as real-time tracking of online friends on the map, open world driving, "no wait" lobbies for games, creation of auto clubs whether they be competitive or non-competitive, car meets to show off your creations, online road trips for those who just want to enjoy the scenery, and online free roam (basically, free roam). The game releases on September 30, 2014. For more info on Forza Horizon 2, check out their site HERE.
1:16:39 - Thomas Mahler, Game Director of Moon Studios, present gameplay of Ori and the Blind Forest. A very beautiful platformer game. The game releases exclusively on Xbox One and PC during the Holiday 2014. For more info about the game, check their main site HERE
1:20:11 - The trailer for Sunset Overdrive. Another game exclusive only to Xbox One. The game releases on October 28 for North America and October 31 for Europe. They also showed another bundle.
The bundle includes a white Xbox One console and controller, the digital copy of Sunset Overdrive along with in-game items like weapons and costumes exclusive only to the bundle. For more on the game, check their site out HERE
By 1:23:03, all they talk about is Halo. The new Halo Channel for the Xbox One and more demos of the Halo 2 remastered graphics and the like. There isn't much to add onto what they've said about the Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo 5: Guardians.
Just an overview of their bundles
And an overview of the games coming out on Xbox One (not all of these are exclusive to Xbox One)
So there you have it. The overview of the Gamescom 2014 Microsoft Press Conference. I hope it helped some of you! I'll be putting up the EA Press Conference from Gamescom next.
