Secret Weapons - XIM3

If you grew up playing PC shooters like I did, then you probably still can't quite get a handle on the whole idea of playing them with a controller. No matter what Jaison says, keyboard and mouse will always be more precise. That's just how it goes my friend.

Anyway, for people like us (non-freaks) who would love to use a keyboard and mouse to play on xbox 360, now you can. Thanks to the XIM3. What is it? Basically a little dongle that plugs into your 360 and translates the signals from your mouse and kb into controller inputs.

I know this isn't a new thing by any means. There have been devices like this before. What makes this one unique is how it translates the inputs. Here's a quote from their website.

Through Smart Translators, XIM3 is able to provide unparalleled mouse precision unachievable by any other gaming adapter available. The problem is simple: when the mouse moves, equivalent reticle movement on the screen should occur (i.e. 1-to-1 movement). This is the obvious result that all PC-gamers expect. But, before the creation of Smart Translators, was not possible on consoles. Every console shooter has its own unique look mechanic that governs how the game controls and feels to the gamer. Every game is different as they all have different stick dead-zones and geometries, variable sensitivity and acceleration regions, asymmetric sensitivity, non-linear movement, and more. Be cautious of any console mouse adapter that claims “PC-feel” without talking about how it solves all these challenges.

So yeah, it's a little more complex. Personally I would love one of these. I think it would make a world of difference for me. The problem though is with playing online. It's pretty much cheating. As much as I'd love to argue otherwise, it seems like a huge advantage. As little as I give a shit what people on XBL think of me, I'd still feel like a gigantic douche using one of these to win. The fact that it costs $150 doesn't help any...

Call of Duty Rage

Last night we were playing Black Ops and some asshole stole my crate that had dogs inside. I was not amused.

IGN Rating Scale Explained

DLC And It's Implementation

I was reading the latest Video Game Article over at Somethingawful.com and I thought it made some really good points. I often find the implementation of DLC in today's story-based games to be a little awkward at best, and down-right annoying at worst.

I look at a good game the same way as a book or movie. I experience it with all it's strengths and faults as a complete unit. Once I am done I am usually content to let it rest. I'm not a fan of beating a dead horse, and trying to shoehorn more content into a narrative after the fact can hurt the experience. You don't generally see authors selling an extra chapter that was cut from their book, or movies selling their deleted scenes one by one. In cases where stuff like this does happen in other media, it's usually shitty anyway.

DLC for other types of games doesn't bother me that much, though it can be frustrating knowing that you aren't getting the full product from the start. Day 1 and on-disc DLC are 2 things that can die in a fucking fire. I know developers and publishers have the right to make a couple bucks. But the fact that I am already paying them 60, and still not getting the complete package, is pretty insulting.

And don't get me started on games like Burnout Paradise and Bad Company 2 where I have to download a couple of gigs worth of DLC I can't even use just to play online. I only have 20 gigabytes to work with you assholes!

Custom DS Cases

If I have one weakness (Besides red kryptonite) it's that I like decorating my stuff way too much. One time at Toys R Us I found this neat clear DS case that came with a bunch of transformers inserts. I even printed a few of my own including this Scott Pilgrim one. I had a Seinfeld one made too but can't locate a picture of it.

Good Writing in a Military FPS?

The other night Jaison and I were discussing the under-rated gem that is Battlefield Bad Company's single player campaign. Sure it was basically Kelly's Heroes with a dash of Three Kings, but dammit, it was funny!

This was in part because characters all played off each other very well. Even though the jokes sometimes fell flat, there was enough charisma that you wanted to see what trouble the boys in Bad Company would get into next. The game never took itself too seriously with it's upbeat, jazzy soundtrack and snarky dialog. This is exactly the kind of self-awareness that I love to see in games.

I was really disappointed that they managed to cock up so badly with BC 2 and lose all the personality the first game had going for it.

It's Twister for the New Millenium

We Dare is a new game by Ubisoft that uses the Wii or PS3 Move to prompt people into awkward sexual positions in the hopes that someones better judgment will be lost. Then again just playing this thing probably confirms it's already happened.

Be warned though, it's only coming out in Europe and Australia. Cause North Americans are prudes and can't handle juvenile sex unless it's coupled with senseless violence.