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The Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, CA is in full swing, and developers like Firaxis are busting out the big guns. We’re talking Civilization 5 here. We were lucky enough to get a private screening of the pre-alpha build of the game and a quick Q&A with Firaxis, revealing surprising news regarding one of the game's greatest draws: User mods.
Guiding us through the presentation, Producer Dennis Shirk made it clear that Civilization 5 would ultimately eclipse the previous Civ in terms of modding tools and accessibility. Civilization 5 is built using a completely new engine made specifically for this title and, according to Dennis Shirk, will be shipping with a stand-alone editor. Players will be able to completely create their own scenarios and worlds instead of simply tweaking the existing Civilization game. Even more impressive, Shirk commented that these creation and modding tools are meant to be approachable by all players, not just for developers and hard core modders. Citing the famous “Fall From Heaven” mod, Shirk noted it is unfortunate that many fantastic mods didn’t get as much exposure as the deserve. Shirk stated that Firaxis plans on creating an entire online repository to host, promote, and distribute user generated content.
Overall, things are looking promising for the modding community, casual fans, and the hardcore Civ-heads alike of the Civilization series. Shirk took us through almost a full hour of the build, yet barely skimmed the surface of the depth of this game. Make sure to check out ourfull article on the full Civ 5 preview features.
While Twitters can be anything ranging from high profile updates to the most mundane "Tweets" about a boring day, one can't deny there's something inherently (and creepily) satisfying about having the voyeuristic power to "follow" people. With how sickeningly popular Twitter has become, it was only matter of time before geeks started poking fun at the latest social media craze with video game references. *Sigh* if these Twitter accounts were real maybe I'd actually start using my own Twitter more.
Posted up recently by Andrew B. & Conor McKeon via CollegeHumor, these fictional Twitter accounts of gaming characters range from stars like Yoshi to even "extras" like a hapless Liberty City Police officer. Here's our favorites:
Bahaha, extra points for the Water Temple reference. God I spent hours of my childhood lost in that labyrinth.
Wow, Liberty City Police Department better get damn good benefits/salary to work in those conditions. Maybe even on par with Raccoon City PD....
Personally, we couldn't stop laughing when we read these Tweets, and now I'm wishing I could follow these character's Twitters on a regular basis. Frankly its a lot more amusing than reading about peoples' daily trips to the supermarket. Reality FTL!!!!
After reading Vinyl_Vixen’s “Difficulties of being a girl gamer” I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to write a complementary piece for all us gamer guys out there. I fit quite well into the average age and gender demographic of the stereotypical gamer, but having a Y chromosome while gaming isn’t as easy as you may think Vinyl_Vixen!
As a guy gamer, I find myself constantly barraged with day to day annoyances and negative gamer guy stereotypes. So, naturally I felt the chauvinistic need to write a response to earn a little respect for gamer guys too. It's only fair to show girl gamers that being a guy who loves games isn't always a cake walk either. Compiled here are the top 5 difficulties of being a guy gamer.
5. Constantly having your masculinity called into question
While girl gamers get may get unfairly kicked from an online game, I’d much rather prefer that than having to have an in depth discussion of my sexuality for almost every action in an online game. Get a good kill? “You’re gay.” Play poorly on your team? “Why you such a f@&” Act too friendly? Yea, you get the picture. Even worse, when talking amongst other gamers, one’s masculinity is directly called into question depending on what games he plays! So what if I like to play Sims 3 and Cooking Mama, they’re damn fun thank you very much. And no, I am a girl or an effeminate lady-boy!
4. Scary girl gamers
I admit there are a lot of a$e$ in the gaming world. However, for every big jerk out there, there are plenty of normal guys who just want to get their headshot fix for the day. While I totally understand the aggressive attitude many girl gamers have taken because of thick headed guys, girl gamers tend to let it out on everybody who happens to have male genitalia. Though I know girl gamers often and rightfully feel like they have something to prove, that doesn’t mean you have to rub it in my face when you beat me! Seriously, I’m always terrified of the “tough” gamer chick. Not only that, but it’s a total lose-lose situation. Gamer girls give you crap if you treat them any differently, but if you lose to them, they still make it clear that you were “beat by a girl.”
3. Being compared to a 10 year old boy
While it may be upsetting for a girl to be naively mistaken for a boy online, it’s sure better than being treated like one in real life! Even though the video game industry has been around for decades and the average male gamer is in his 30’s, people still tend to associate gaming as a “kids thing.” Seriously, every time I mention or bring up video games in a mature conversation, people immediately scoff with the firm belief that I’m just an immature little boy.
2. Guy gamer stereotypes
Let’s just set the record straight here. While I do find gamer stereotypes amusing and know that stereotypes often have truth behind them, guy gamers have some pretty effin negative imagery associated with them. To sum it up in one sentence, a stereotypical gamer is a smelly, ugly, out of shape, pale, socially inept, and obsessive virgin. Hey com’mon now! I wear deodorant! I swim for exercise (and consequently I have a Speedo tan)! While gaming is a huge hobby and part of my life, I feel the need to emphasize the word “part.” Gamer guys aren’t all complete asocial losers, but fighting that stereotype is an uphill battle.
1. Negative mojo points with the ladies
For some reason, there is the firm belief that girlfriends/wives and gaming are destined to be in a divine conflict with one another. As much as girl gamers hate guys hitting on them because of a similar interest, guy gamers hate that most girls and games are like oil and water. The funny thing is, I find that many of my previous girlfriends refused to accept video gaming more on principle (because of the “gamer guy stereotype” )than an actual dislike of games themselves. I promise I won’t spread my nerd cooties to you, it’s not a freaking STD, get over it.
Overall though, I will admit that I agree with Vinyl_Vixen’s final conclusion. At the end of the day, all gamers should be able to duke it out and have fun. Gaming is both a fun hobby and a legitimate industry and art. As a gamer guy, I know that I am a “guy that enjoys games”, not a guy who is defined their negative associations. Let’s just get over the stupid stereotypes and gender differences and all agree that we’re on the same playing field for a fragfestOh, and boys pwnzords girls, 1337 status.
As faithful followers of geek culture, I'm sure most gamers out there have seen their fair share of creative tributes to video games. Be it a well done cosplay or a gaming themed wedding, no medium of geeky creativity is too absurd in this day and age. Then, an amazing artist went and 1-upped that absurdity level by creating the most detailed, full-size Bioshock "Big Daddy" sculpture known to man... out of a tree...with a chainsaw...while wearing a hockey mask. Wow.
Posted up on YouTube just a few days ago, this video was sent to me by a friend of mine, very much proving that nerdy talent truly knows no bounds. This 10 minute video shows the transformation and atristic process of mutilating a huge tree trunk into a full, 1 to 1 scale model of Rapture's own trademark Big Daddy. Seriously, just watch it:
Unfortunately I do not speak or read any Japanese aside from saying "ramen" and "Orenji Juice-uu" (that last one means "orange juice") so I have no idea whats going on, but frankly a man in a hockey mask with a chainsaw carving a Big Daddy transcends all language barriers.
It's weird though, why would they reboot a movie series when the last entry (spiderman 3) was the top grossing superhero movie prior to Dark knight. Hmm.Spiderman 3 grossed decent numbers but compared to the previous two movies with the exception of
