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Sadface.

This summary, and this interview indicate that Crytek - a PC-only game studio is now becoming a not-PC-only game studio... This response especially:

"...We are suffering currently from the huge piracy that is encompassing Crysis. We seem to lead the charts in piracy by a large margin, a chart leading that is not desirable. I believe that’s the core problem of PC Gaming, piracy. To the degree PC Gamers that pirate games inherently destroy the platform. Similar games on consoles sell factors of 4-5 more. It was a big lesson for us and I believe we wont have PC exclusives as we did with Crysis in future. We are going to support PC, but not exclusive anymore."

It's an important fact to learn when your thoroughly enjoying your freshly hacked 'n' cracked game, that, the enjoyment you are currently experiencing will doubtfully last much longer if things continue the way they are. Exclusivity is something that is key with gaming - one example on the Playstation is Gran Turismo (-yeah you've probably heard of it...), an outstandingly popular and truly exquisite game series - which, in my mind at least, down to Polyphony's exclusivity. Either that or some sort of satanic ritual*.

Gran Turismo would definitely not work on a PC - the game is made for the Playstation (literally and figuratively). And like Yerli points out in the interview, Crysis would not work on the consoles (again, literally and figuratively - hell, it barely works on the PC now). But, if the platform is a piracy-minefield for developers, then they will be deterred from it, or worse - driven to the consoles. Spit.

However, the most I can personally do is buy the games, and blog about these things like a petulant child - see above...

JB

*Note - I would like to make clear that - to my knowledge - Polyphony Digital DO NOT commit satanic rituals during the development cycle.

G-Day

Happy G-Day.

GTA Day. You know, like 'D-Day', but I changed the letter. Jeesh...

Yes tomorrow is the 'big day'. The internetz and all its associated webs are alight with buzz, hype, kaplowie, wazinga... whatever. A game that rates, in some cases, as literally the best game ever. With its driving and its flying and its shooting and its humor and its graphics and its... did I say driving?? That too.

I can't wait to disagree though. I'm going to be deliberately against this game - partly cos I have to be (remember - Exams!) Don't get me wrong though, its not that I'm not a fan of GTA/Rockstar, its just when there is this much hype surrounding something, sometimes I just love to bat for the other team.

Wait. That came out all wrong.

JB

Issues of Control

Another comic. Based around various stories about the PS3 version of GTA IV. This is a good example of the comics we're making pretty much from now on. Don't ask how they got copies of the game - we haven't written software piracy into their bio's, but we can't rule it out. I can't technically vouch for 2 bits of wire and PCB fixing a fault that sounds as annoying as it does on Kotaku.

I haven't had a chance to play on a Wii yet, but from my experiences with the Sixaxis controller, motion control seems like a big pile of wank. It just turns everyone into a 7-year old, physically jolting the controller to steer a car, which ends up looking more like they are fishing. Fishing for a TV. Anyway, enjoy. We have more lined up. I'm just waiting for the other guy to actually let me know the details.

JB

GTA IV

This video either is, or should be doing the rounds on the tubes and webs:



Its looking pretty damn good. The narrator says the best game in 10 years... So that encompasses (almost) both Half Life's, Halo, Bioshock. Hell, even Bejewelled. That's not a phase I would personally lay down lightly - unless - GTA is that good.

I certainly hope it is, but I hope I play it after the 17th May. Otherwise I fail my exams. Enjoy the video.

JB

Still here

A slight hiatus on the blog this week, as we both have had work due in, and exams to take. There is now the briefest of weeks as we roll up to the main exam season - lasting about 2-4 weeks through May. I personally have 4, the first being on the 6th (Internet Technology ftw). Expect a comic or two in the coming weeks, bore from the frustration of endless revision. Hopefully, they will be funny and joviality will ensue and the laughter of children will echo through inverse-eternity. God damn I've been spending too much time with 'Kreedle' again.

Thats all for now. Just some pico-bollocks for you to absorb on your current surf. I'm going to go and find something other than revision to do. Maybe overclocking a printer? Handwriting a CD using a modified laser-pen? Teaching 1337 to orphans/homeless ("b1G !55u3 loOLol!!1one")?

I could go on...

JB

This new Design

Hallo again. I've recently written up a 'timetable' of sorts, that seems to suggest I have no life for the next 4 weeks. This does not please me. However, this fortunately ties in with the new template for the comics I have designed.

It shows little or no effort on my behalf to create good looking and interesting images - such as the 'Infinite Monkeys' comic, or the 'Maximum Joy' episode - where backgrounds and characters were all done on-the-fly. However, I feel that as we get nothing back from this, then we are providing a free service, that hopefully, one day, literally dozens of people will see and think - 'you know what, these guys be banging.'

So I cordially present the first glimpse of the new style, new template, and - yes, new character (design)!


I have included some commentary on the design, as well as some humour. This is nice and simple, as the (actual) template only needs text, bubbles and the eyes/eyebrows/mouth to be included. So, a 1-hour comic now takes 15 mins. It also means the onus is on the writer to get it right. Less pressure for me. Woo.

JB

Back at Uni

You know when your back at Uni when:- 'You play games and watch films all the time, regardless of looming exams'.

That is my mantra. Well, I don't want it to be, but that is the case.

I have spent some time working on a reliable comic format, so that the output can be satisfactory, but reduce the physical workload on me and the boy. That process also involved some character changes. Again.

I seem to be settling on the archetypes now, so its just nailing the visual representation. They are clearly defined now, both visually and in character. Only thing is, after months of discussions and research, we haven't settled on names for them - however, as I only see the comic containing these two characters for the time being (both as a general rule & as recurring elements) - I don't really see why they need names...

I will update once the first is done, to get the peoples persons reaction.

JB

The Phantom Menace

Expect me when you see me.
T/K

Return of the Jedi

I'm back in Uni diggs after our 3-week break. Its good to be back!

Thusly begins a term of 'revision' - in that I really want/need to revise, but will definitely be tempted by video games/barbeques/social activities, and hopefully for you lot, some comics/drawings.

In the meantime, we can all play a game - I call it 'Where the fuck is the other contributor?'. Catchy. I'm simply not interesting enough to hold this blog up on my own. Having said that, I haven't spoken to him in a while...

We wait with baited breath at the return of the other-guy...

JB

Untitled Post

I've added a super-duper useful link system on the side of the page, for direct links to images and comics - saving time and general bandwidth, so you don't have to search for the right post, then open the image from that. As soon as I have fixed my site how I want it, this wont be necessary - all images here will be hosted on dotgif.co.uk and the image on this blog will be a link to the main site. I hope this makes it easier for you to see what you want.

Lord of the Rings ans le stage

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of seeing the Lord of the Rings stage show, in London. You may remember me mentioning it. It was incredible. Being a sarcastic and sightly skeptical lad, thats not a sentence I use lightly.

There were some excellent theatrics, acting was mostly good, and the stage systems were incredible - its a 15-20m wide circular stage that rotates - this i knew when entering the theater, what I didn't know, is that the stage rises, in sections, allowing a massive variety of stage scenes available if needed - need a big round table - sorted. Need a rocky crevasse - sorted.

Then act 1 ended...

If you've been to see the show, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Its the scene where Gandalf says "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!", cept with smoke, fans paper streamers and a 10m high Balrog. Seriously, even if you sleep through most of it, be there to see that one scene!

On a lesser note, our excursion allowed me to stop off at Leicester Square - where the 'big' Odeon cinema is - and where, 11 years ago, a 9-year old went with his father to see the Special Edition re-release of the greatest sci-fi epic ever told, and an experience that completely changed his life forever.

If I'm being too ambiguous here, I mean me, and I mean Star Wars IV.

JB

Holy-webcomics Batman, another... err.. Comic?!

Holy hell, I must be bored - chunking out comics at a near professional rate... This one is an idea that is veeery old. The original punchline for death was going to be "I'm also Cisco certified." But we realised that the fact that Death would be thusly certified, would only be funny to us in our little cult group of friends. And that most people don't really know what Cisco is, and those that do may/may not know that they offer certification.

Keeping it simple then, could have just said that..

Hope you enjoy, this, the 2nd comic within 10 days.

JB

P.S - now you mention it, I realise I have forgotten some of the effects I wanted to put onto this comic - however, have no fear. I have a plan. (I borrowed this plan from George Lucas). I'll wait ~30 years, then, when I have the technology (or I personally run out of money) I'll add the effects to the comic, using the futuristic methods, and completely ruin it for everyone.

Gutted

Link (...haha)

IGN's April fools joke. If only.

JB