Technology Kills » Games

New PC GameSource Blog Up

madzoombax — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:01:23 +0000

I have opened a new site in the DE network--the PC GameSource Blog.

For now, this has replaced the official PC GameSource site, which has been under construction for far too long.

I will post articles (usually at least daily) regarding PC games, mods, game tools, developer news, and more. Already posted are articles regarding Wolfenstein, FOMS 2, and the Aion Open Beta.

Look for many more to come! Don't forget to leave your comments and suggestions on the site, and let me know if you have any issues.

FOMS 2 Development Help

madzoombax — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:21:49 +0000

I am almost finished with FOMS 2 Alpha 2 (Keep an eye on falloutmodsorter.com for details), but it's been requiring more time than I have available to give it.

If anyone is interested in assisting with FOMS, here are the things I most need assistance with:

Vector graphics - preferably in .xaml format (eg. MS Expression Design), but .ai (Adobe Illustrator format) is fine too.
Icons - FOMS has one icon -- it needs more themed icons for its various components
Website work - falloutmodsorter.com needs a lot of work on its theme (css and graphics), and a webmaster or maintainer who can help me keep content fresh, manage the "community" (non-existent so far), etc.
Marketing/advertising - FOMS 2 is open-source and will always be free, but we still need to let people know it's out there--without a large user base, FOMS can never grow to the one-stop Fallout 3 mod sorting application it could be.
C# and/or XAML (WPF) coding--I'm currently doing everything in this field, but it is taking up all of my time and not allowing me to focus on any of the other aspects of the app (see above)

On another note, plurliquid is doing a great job on the new template so far, and it will make its official debut in FOMS 2 Alpha 2. This has given me a lot more time to work on the backend and get FOMS ready for the next release.

You will be seeing the new release very soon (as usual, several weeks late)!

FOMS – Fallout 3 Mod Sorter

madzoombax — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:59:10 +0000

I have recently released an AutoHotKey utility for Fallout 3 called FOMS (Fallout 3 Mod Sorter).

Links:
FOMS on Fallout3Nexus
FOMS Wiki
FOMS Trac site (Development and bug tracking)
FOMS Source Code (SVN)

Current major beta release is 0.5.0, which support mod sorting, conflict and dependency tracking and resolution, user messages, backups, and more.

Coming soon: GUI and tray features, a Backup manager and Template manager, and more!

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin SP Demo At a Glance

madzoombax — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:56:56 +0000

I'll say it outright; this is a game that makes me happy to be a gamer, and it's only a short demo.

The demo is completely packed with everything we know and love about FEAR, plus a whole lot more in terms of large-scale action.

Not only is the element of fear still ingrained in almost everything you do, but the action and AI has been refined, and along with cinema-quality sound and awesome, complex graphics you've got yourself the best gaming experience so far of 2009.

I vow to be one of the first to purchase this game on Steam, and I am most certain I will not be playing anything else for quite some time after that.

All I want for Christmas is the Torque Game Engine Advanced

madzoombax — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:02:20 +0000

I have been just itching to put some of my more recent game ideas into fruition. While I love the Source engine and the Source development tools, and still plan to use it to release the Consumed Episodes (and probably Consumed itself), I am very interested in giving the TGEA a try.

Unfortunately I don't have $295 available to purchase an Indie license, which is what I'd need. Maybe after the holidays, I'll be able to start saving up for a license. I just hope it doesn't take too long, dammit!

More great games — still no new reviews

madzoombax — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:14:30 +0000

Sacred 2; Left 4 Dead; Grand Theft Auto IV; Prince of Persia; we're still on a roll this year with many great games released and several more still to come.

Unfortunately, I'm still spending my freetime playing all these games instead of reviewing them. Expect my previously promised reviews as well as reviews of all of these new games soon.

Forthcoming reviews at PC GameSource

madzoombax — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:00:08 +0000

In the coming days, I will be reviewing a number of games in detail over at PC Gamesource.

Though the site is still heavily under construction, I think it's important I get my thoughts down. The data will still be there when the site is up in its full cakePHP-powered glory soon.

A few of the games you can expect to see reviewed by me in the coming days:

I'm already part-way through both Dead Space and Far Cry 2, and will report my findings ASAP. Exodus from the Earth is released today, so depending on how long that takes to complete, I will post that review soon as well. Fallout 3 is due out on the 28th of this month, which is only four days away!

And don't forget; in less than a month, expect a full review of Left 4 Dead, the upcoming

Quantum of Solace Demo Review on PC GameSource

madzoombax — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:41:29 +0000

I have posted my initial thoughts on the Quantum of Solace demo on PC GameSource.

Check out the review at PC GameSource for full details. Note that I've kept the review very short, which is the same word used throughout to describe the demo.

Dead Space – It’s not Doom III!

madzoombax — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:32:09 +0000

I am getting tired of so many people who have not yet experienced the game (not that I have either) claiming it's a Doom III clone.

While it's obvious Dead Space takes a few cues from Doom III (already a classic horror shooter in my opinion), it's also obvious it's taken bits and pieces from other games in the horror and sci-fi genres as well, and it's the combination of those types that I find interesting.

So here are some of the games I think helped inspire Dead Space, and why. I may post a follow-up after I actually get to play the game, however.

Doom III: with graphics still good enough to impress someone today, over 4 years later, it's probably the sci-fi horror shooter of the new millennium. It did catch some flak for over-using complete darkness as a scare tactic. I find a similar type of tight-space twitchy monster killing goodness apparent in Dead Space. Luckily, it doesn't seem quite so dark.

System Shock 2: arguably the best sci-fi horror shooter of all time. When I see the atmosphere of Dead Space, I think of SS2. When I hear the top-notch audio, I think of SS2. This is a huge plus for Dead Space in my opinion.

Half-Life 2: HL2's story is an unflinching (first-person) narrative from start to finish. You don't stop for cutscenes or to progress the story. You experience everything from Gordon's perspective. Dead Space seems to have mostly adopted this narrative style, albeit in third-person. I can't wait to see how this works out.

Mass Effect: A great, modern Sci-Fi RPG. It definitely wasn't the first to use an over-the-shoulder perspective, but the style and perspective, and to some extent the atmosphere of the ship corridors, seem to be present in Dead Space. I'm sure Dead Space will be more twitchy, and this comparison is a little iffy since other games have taken this approach too, but it's just a feeling I have.

So there are four excellent games which seem to have had a hand in inspiring the developers of Dead Space. Not to mention I'm sure Dead Space will carve its own place in the sci-fi/horror genre, and maybe even bring some of its own innovations to the table that future titles can learn from.

First Oblivion Mod project – FCOM

madzoombax — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:27:14 +0000

PC GameSource will first be taking an in-depth look at FCOM. Specifically, what I like and don't like about FCOM, the ways I think it could be improved, and all of my custom OBMM scripting to make FCOM install and position itself in your mod list seamlessly.

So far, so good. I've got the base 5 overhaul mods working with FCOM and I'm working on integrating all optional fixes and installing the original ESPs for those mods.

As soon as I finish the PC GameSource website, I will be posting this information there instead, but since I'm impatient in many things, I have begun.