DLC Achievements: Phooey

By Fartknocckker
Sythbane Squadron contributor

Since achievements were launched with the Xbox 360, they have changed the way a lot of people play games. They not only boost your Gamerscore but record your accomplishments.

Gaining 1,000 out of 1,000 points gives you a sense of pride from finishing the job 100 percent. When downloadable content (or DLC, as gamers call it) is released that includes new achievements for that same game, your 100 percent completion status is automatically stripped away. The only way to regain it is to buy the new content and earn the new achievements. It is a brilliant strategy to increase sales of DLC.

Back in June, I was on track to unlock my last cheevo for Call of Duty: World at War –- reaching 10th prestige in multiplayer. I had been working on it for seven months. This feat would put me at 100 percent. On June 11, Map Pack 2 was released with -- guess what? -- new achievements.

Bye-bye, 100 percent!


Map Pack 3 has been released with yet more achievements. These two releases of DLC has dropped my 100 percent to 68 percent complete.

To add insult to injury, the new fall update will display the number of your completed games. This means that number will always diminish as DLC with achievements is released for games in which you have already acquired the original 1,000 points. Your completion status is taken away, and you have to pay to get it back.

Downloadable content is a great way to enhance games. I know in the grand scheme of the universe, this completion percentage gripe is not a big problem. But it nevertheless leaves me 100 percent annoyed.

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Sythbane Squadron contributor Fartknocckker always gives 110 percent.

Transformers blows up good

My review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen -- The Game is up on Techcetera. I know all of you SB-S folks love the robots as much as I do. Please check it out and leave comments!

You can take the controller out of my hands when you pry my cold dead thumbs off the sticks!

By Fartknocckker
Sythbane Squadron contributor

Have you ever seen or heard about something that is so new, so cool, so fresh and exciting that it blinds you to the fact that it’s ... well ... not?

I'm speaking of the motion sensing technology that began with Nintendo and is being copied and improved by Microsoft and Sony for applications in console gaming.

Don’t get me wrong; the demos these companies put on at E3 were an impressive feat of technology. Sony had the most accurate tracking and quickest response, matching players’ movement 1 to 1.

This is not about bad technology. When I said this began with Nintendo, I was referring to the U-Force. That was bad technology even for its time. The Wii, which was the catalyst for the current motion-tracking trend, is good technology. My concern is the extent to which these companies push the technology on players.

Nintendo capitalized on casual gamers, made millions and once again secured their spot as top dog among the big three. For this reason, I understand why Microsoft and Sony want in on the action. However, they should take heed and remember that casual gamers are a small percentage of the nearly $21 billion industry. Nintendo already has most casual gamers in their pocket. The core gamers who built Sony's and Microsoft's empires will not embrace this new way to play. It will be treated as a novelty.

From Pac-Man to Call of Duty, core gamers take pride in their skill on the sticks. A physical, tactile controller in which short, quick movements are made by the thumbs and fingers is far superior, when it comes to control, to flailing arms, turning hips and basically jumping around like an idiot. No, I am not calling you an idiot. People who like motion tracking games -- casual gamers -- just have a different definition of fun than core gamers.

Do I think, for example, that Natal should be nurtured and encouraged? Absolutely. Innovation breeds competition. Competition equals better products. Do I think research and development dollars should be diverted from great games to accommodate this trend? Companies should not jump on the bandwagon in the guise of innovation.

In the end, the market will ultimately decide which technologies will dominate. But give me a controller with a couple of sticks, triggers and buttons any day of the week. As we say in the South: If it ain't broke, don’t fix it.

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Below, Big Daddy Ogre, Fartknocckker and Dmanitman dare defend their Constitutional right to keep and bear controllers.

A precious baby Predator

This beautiful, bouncy baby would make any mother smile. I bet if you this cute little Predator perched on your shoulder, you wouldn't even need an optically aimed laser cannon to destroy your enemies.

The picture comes to us from James Gunn's blog, where you can find lots of funny stuff.

A Falcon in the Basement

Cousin Crownshend has been building models in my basement while he visits our family on his summer break.

By day, he's "busting tables" or washing dishes at his summer job at The Restaurant at Campbell's Field. In the evening he's been disappearing for hours at a time, and then he emerges with a sci-fi work of scale model art.

He also spent a few Republic Credits at the local lightsaber store recently. You can see him perfecting the Jedi ass-parry below.

He has his eye on a Rebel Snowspeeder kit that's been collecting dust on my shelf for several years, and I think I might let him have a go at it. He's even working on a scratch-built Super Star Destroyer at his home base on Dantooine.

Check out Crownshend's various modeling projects at Cinema Models. If you leave comments, tell him you're with SB-S!

Prototype review posted

Take a look at my review of Prototype over at Techcetera. I enjoyed the game, which can show other games a thing or two about character movement!

As a bonus, we also have an account by our SB-S friend Arc Dream about how to eat him in the game. Seems a buddy of his was on the development team for Prototype and wrote him into the game -- as a pedestrian you can consume!

The Wind Beneath My Monkey Wings

Happy Birthday, Flying Monkey Joe, my furry, feathered friend. May your grubby little wings beat with happiness as you soar over the castle walls, in unending service to your Ape Overlords.

Here, I got you a banana. Please don't perch over my car to eat it.