Kotaku: disappointment

Microsoft Slightly Addresses Missing Fable II LE Codes

Mike Fahey — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:20:00 MDT

What McWhertor posted last night as a rumor is definitely not a rumor. I found out last night after getting my Fable II Depressing Limited Edition from GameStop that yes, the card was missing from the game. It was pathetic enough to go from that majestic-looking LE package to a game in a paper sleeve, and now this? Yay. Here's what Microsoft has to say about the issue on Xbox.com.

We have identified that some copies of the "Fable II" Limited Collector's Edition are missing the downloadable content (DLC) cards, which give access to in-game bonus content. This represents a small fraction of the total number of "Fable II" games shipped and sold, and is contained to the Limited Collector's Edition of the game in North America. We are currently investigating the scope of this situation and regardless the outcome of the investigation, we are implementing a plan to address it. We will have a means to deliver replacement codes by Oct 28th so please check back then. We apologize for the inconvenience.

It represents a small fraction, yet they are currently investigating the scope of the situation? So how do they know it's a small fraction if they are still investigating? Good old doublespeak. Anyway, salvation hopefully comes on the 28th.

Some copies of Fable II Limited Collector's Edition missing downloadable content cards [Xbox.com - Thanks Nicky!]

Rock Band 2 Jukebox Mode Died

Mike Fahey — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:20:00 MDT

Remember back during E3 a couple months back when I got a chance to go lungs-on with Rock Band 2, telling you about all of the nifty new features coming, including the ability to just let songs play in a randomized Jukebox Mode in the background while you do other things? Yeah, not happening.

Lastly, some folks have been asking about the status of the previously discussed Jukebox Mode. This mode was removed from Rock Band 2 in the final stages of development. We have no immediate plans to bring this feature back to the platform in the future.

I am majorly bummed. Jukebox mode was going to be the background noise and images to months and months of news post writing, and now I am lost like a ship without one of those ship-steering dealies. I guess it's back to hooking my MP3 player to the Xbox. Oh well. At least I've still got 20 free DLC songs coming my way eventually.

20 Free DLC Tracks Note/Jukebox Mode Clarification [Rock Band Forums]

Kojima Disappointed With Metal Gear Solid 4

Mike Fahey — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:00:00 MDT

Looks like Kojima Jr. isn't the only one disappointed with Metal Gear Solid. The latest issue of the UK's Edge magazine contains an interview with Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, who expresses disappointment with the latest game in the series, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It isn't so much the gameplay itself as it is the graphics.

"Game-wise, it's pretty close to the original vision: you sneak into the battlefield and can choose whether to do a stealth game or interfere with the battle more directly. But the graphic, side things like motion-blending and the size of the map, totally was not accomplished to my original vision - to my satisfaction.

Now Kojima is a well-known perfectionist, but it is a bit disturbing to see him voice his dissatisfaction with what is supposed to be the masterpiece of the franchise. So where does he lay the blame for not fully realizing his vision?

"When we first showed the game engine at TGS, the staff were really proud and happy. PS3 was a dream machine, y'know, and we were going to work on this and that - and we had so many ideas. But when we actually started developing the game, we realized there were a lot of restrictions and so it turned out how you see it today. The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress.

So there was certainly progress made, but not enough progress...or more specifically, not enough power for progress. Apparently the team overestimated what the PlayStation 3 was capable of.

I remember saying three years ago that we wanted to create something revolutionary, but in reality we couldn't really do that because of the CPU. We're using the Cell engine to its limit., actually. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the PS3 machine, it's just that we weren't really aware of what the full-spec PS3 offered - we were creating something we couldn't entirely see.

Well there you have it, straight from the man himself. Metal Gear Solid 4 is not revolutionary. Personally I think the man is being a bit hard on himself, but that's what great minds do.

Check out the latest issue of Edge for the full story, as well as a 6/10 Mario Kart Wii review. Eep. Thanks to mescalineeyes for the scan and the info!

Rock Band World Tour Offline Only

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:20:00 MDT

One of Rock Band's most attractive features, the ability to play Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead Or Alive" alongside other virtual musicians over the internet in the fake band of your own design, may be more limited than originally thought. The deep adventure mode-style Band World Tour feature, one that allows for the formation of a band that tours dozens of venues for cash and in-game prizes, will be a strictly offline affair. According to a posting on the official Rock Band forums, uncovered by the team at Shacknews, was cut due to time restrictions.

The only good news to come from this heartbreaking confirmation is that the online World Tour option is "something [Harmonix] are totally working for in the future" according to the company's community manager Sean Baptiste. He adds that band quick play and other competitive modes will still take advantage of online play.

When asked whether the feature would be included in a planned sequel or simply an update to the first edition of Rock Band, Baptiste responded "I don't know."

Yes, I'm quite crestfallen that my planned virtual band, The Wet Look, will not be rocking out over the internet tubes. I'm starting a crossed fingers vigil that will last until the feature returns to the game, something that will make typing and toy guitar playing a challenge.

Uh Oh... [Rock Band Forums via Shacknews]

Age of Conan Hits 100,000 Beta Testers

Brian Crecente — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:00:27 MDT

More than 100,000 people signed up to help beta test the upcoming Hyborian massively multiplayer online game Age of Conan over the Easter weekend.

Crap! I totally forgot to sign-up. And I need my heart broken but quick.

"We're naturally very pleased to see that so many dedicated gamers are signing up for the 'Age of Conan' Beta at such a rapid pace," says Trond Arne Aas, CEO of Funcom. "With more than 100,000 gamers signed up in such a short time-frame our confidence in the game's potential and its ability to be a major contender in the MMO genre continues to be strengthened."
"We've been developing this incredible world for years now and today more than 150 people are working hard on achieving the ambitious goals we set out for the game," says Gaute Godager, founder of Funcom and Game Director on 'Age of Conan'. "The team is very excited about the number of gamers who have signed up for the Beta so far, and we can't wait to see them charging into the brutal battlefields of Hyboria!"

I'm planning on hopping over to the sign-up site just as soon as I finish writing this. I also plan on being royally let down by the game because, well, that's happened with every MMO I've played in the past year or so. Brian Crecente

Beta Application [Age of Conan]

Clip: Sonic and the Secret Rings

Mike Fahey — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:40:21 MST

At this point I completely refuse to get excited about anything involving Sonic the Hedgehog, no matter how much guitar-heavy music you put behind it. This here's some gameplay footage from Sonic and the Secret Rings for the Wii.

There's this tiny part of me who felt a little stir watching that, which I am going to have taken out back and shot later to avoid disappointment. The mini-games look interesting, but I've got plenty of those on the Wii. It's going to get to the point where Wii games lose a review score point for not including random mini-games. The Secret Rings should be hitting towards the end of this month. Michael Fahey

Sonic and the Secret Rings (Japan) [GameBrink]

Good News? Diablo Trilogy Announced

Michael McWhertor — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 10:54:45 MDT

Bad news? It's a bunch of books. You know, Blizzard, I play games so I can avoid the crushing boredom of looking at black ink on paper, not so I can pretend to be literate. When I want to read something, it better be a game FAQ or an instruction manual.

In Birthright, the first book of the new Diablo trilogy, The Sin War, the eternal conflict between the angelic forces of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells has spilled over into Sanctuary — the world of men. Now, Sanctuary's destiny, and that of every mortal soul, lies in the balance.
A must-read for gamers and fiction fans alike, The Sin War trilogy, written by New York Times bestselling author Richard A. Knaak, lays out the basic foundation for the lore of the Diablo universe. The second novel in the trilogy, The Sin War, Book Two: Scales of the Serpent, is forthcoming from Blizzard and Pocket Books.

Okay, I'll admit to actually partaking in the occasional metaphysical detective novel or sociological non-fiction title. But please, I'm begging you, announce Diablo III so we can all move on with our lives! Michael McWhertor

Diablo: The Sin War: Book One: Birthright [Blizzard Online Store]