Battlefield 1 First Impressions

Battlefield 1 First Impressions

Disclaimer:  Personal opinion on the game, played bad company 2 and past two main titles.

Battlefield one open beta is here, feels very much like Battlefield.  DICE have learn lessons from the previous titles.  Best way to describe the game feels like old family recipe.  DICE have gone over recipe fixing any faults from past titles.  Strip away unnecessary parts reviewed what goes into the recipe. Previous titles suffered from bloat unnecessary ideas floating around.   Studio has refined overall recipe taking long look at the core.   Process behind production feels refined with only best ingredients included.  Many ways Battlefield one feels like team fixing mistakes going with safe sequel.   Design structure behind game feels planned.  Saying that title carries on series does best provides you everything you want.  Safe sequel title which returns game back to quality expected.  Various minor changes which only dedicated players would spot.

Whatever happened good to see DICE still know how to make great games.   Company suffered couple years back producing okay games on short timelines.  Something went wrong lost of focus when came to EA biggest studio.  Team behind Battlefield one feels rested full of creative life. Marketing material has put focus on WW1 theme, feels closer to WW2.  Freedom to explore the theme providing gamers with new experience.   Change in theme however does not change the gameplay.  Fans of modern shooters should enjoy this title.  Possible even non Battlefield fans many love this title.

First impressions

Good – Triple AAA game million dollar production values.

  • Art –  Styled to suit the theme, team have created world which fits together.  Graphics are what you would expect.  Realism overtones when comes to graphic design.
  • Sound – DICE known for great sound design,  weapons sound good.  Everything sounds great, talented sound artists have crafted a masterpiece.
  • Weapons – Feel unique each one has it own role.

Bad

  • Worries about amount content on the disc.

Ugly

  • Melee combat – Not fan current melee system being able instant kill over 50 health.

In conclusion

Nothing short of positive impressions hope launch day is smooth.  Enjoyed my time with the title,  DICE have a success.

Titanfall 2 Everything Wrong

Titanfall 2 Everything Wrong

Yesterday I posted some first impressions for titanfall 2.  First of all unable to play for more than 40 minutes total. Disclaimer I don’t think titanfall 2 is a bad game.  Clear change in direction compared to the original.  Under the shadows of other shooters, titanfall now limited in scope. Finally time to discuss what has changed in detail.

New style

Implementation strikingly rather different compared to the original.  Atmosphere different compared to the original.  No longer feels like a battlefield but more staged arena. Movement feels weighed over floaty unrestricted.  Fundamental concept behind the map design is different, movement a secondary objective not primary.  More grounded experience instead of the heavy mobility. Design philosophy completely different, minor changes reshape entire game.   

Smaller scale

Scaling back everything made titanfall unique. A shell of its former self with no direction or purpose. Seeking a slice of the tiny gaming audience that enjoys this genre. The compromises made turn Titanfall from being a unique movement shooter.  More grounded game that quite honestly seems boring.  Original erratic movement provided chaos to the winding careful compiled maps. Titanfall 2 throws away everything the original did reducing the chaos.  

Studio reviewed original game decided should not just be about hypermobility.  Making series of compromises based on feedback from every source.  Designers decided against heavy chaos caused by hypermobility.  Concepts revisited keeping some DNA, core concepts changed.  Fear the designers took wrong feedback created game nobody wants.

Movement gained weight,  total jump distance smaller, don’t gain as much momentum.  Movement changed based on feedback given interviews make clear the reason. Designers want slower less hectic gameplay, reducing what titanfall was. Only have rough numbers behind movement system changes.  Impossible to reach top movement speed all the time. Wild fluctuation compared to original, allowed constant speed. Fluctuation between speed when moving feels odd.  Pointless in combat compared to the original system. Extremely limited what you can do and what you want to do.

Titans

Titanfall after act of titans falling down.  Actuality titanfall feels like titans don’t fall often.  Required to earn titans no longer earn them after period of time.  Limited in total customisation with each titan sharing similar bonus traits.  Regeneration of shields now comes down stealing batteries.  Complete change titan rodeo mechanics no longer do damage but steal batteries.  Actuality titans are not really that threatening which is odd.  Low mobility feel forced use any extra mobility abilities.  Hope final version allows you change titan mid match and any customisation.  Problem facing titans feel rather pointless, takes ages to earn.  Limited impact each one feels similar not unique.  Unsure how make each one feel like credible threat.

Map design

Map design seems to focus more on a horizontal plane as opposed to vertical. Previous title focused on vertical gameplay hectic gameplay. Players exploited the map design to move about quickly. You could avoid touching the ground at all. Limited play time you seem unable to repeat this style. Designers appear to want to force you to play on the ground more. This would not be a problem if the combat was different. Open focus on the maps does not suit the movement system in its current form. The map design feels like a prison is instead of playground. Finally could be wrong new style requires players to look at the maps differently compared to past maps.

Titanfall One suffer from a lack content, need lots of weapons that feel different. You have to give players various experiences within the game to make sure that they stayed interested. Content displayed in public extremely limited at moment. Development team focused on the wrong sort of contents, added a linear progression system. It unknown whether or not the development team has produced shared content or unique content across every game mode.

Original view abandoned team didn’t have the courage to carry it on. Companies want cover production costs, producing products people want.  Shame original vision changed so much. Instead of safe sequel have risky second album, heavy metal to pop rock.  Seen couple titles go down the same route each one ending up not having any audience.  Development team may have identify the wrong problem.

Conclusion time
Change in direction lower focus on mobility more predictably. Grounded gameplay experience less focus on titans. Designers believe this was core problem, here and here. Remains to be seen if the studios gamble was right.

Titanfall 2 First Impressions

Titanfall 2 First Impressions

Disclaimer did not play the original titanfall.  Titanfall 2 feels like design team had no idea what they wanted to do.  Took bunch of feedback created giant mess cloning various ideas together.  Core result is giant mess which feels wrong.  Based on my limited playtime don’t like it.  Why buy this game when can buy call of duty which does everything Titanfall does.  Focus on player vs player in previous game was player vs environment plus players.  Level design forces you towards the ground no point in couple gameplay elements.  Titans feel like afterthought not core part of the game.  Fallen to the same mistake many studios make.  Following trends in game design instead creating new vision.  Understand companies want to make money, many first person shooter games not enough players.  Not a fan feels half baked trying to be something else.  Team at respawn have forgotten playerbase titanfall created.

Warframe thoughts

Warframe thoughts

Started to play Warframe on playstation 4.  Here some thoughts on the game.

Describing Warframe 3rd person action shooter free to play loot finder game. I think this is the best way to describe the design. Focus is entirely around numbers, finding right items in random loot table world. Featuring crafting system collect resources building new items don’t need always farm levels. Game core goal is item collection. Does feature lore feels trapped on. Combat is interesting blind dumb constant enemy waves. Biggest problem combat mechanics feel unnecessary. Point and shot constant waves sort of game. Biggest complain is empty combat being honest. Various unexplored possible routes combat could go.  Various ideas which could be expanded on.

Enjoy playing it however won’t be spending money.  Feels unfinished unrefined compared to many other titles.  Base game not bad with some decent quests even if they locked away hidden.  Shame can’t replay quests again.  Game is grindy one major time sink.

DC comics cinematic universe is one giant mess

DC comics cinematic universe is one giant mess

DC comics cinematic universe is one giant mess.   Never been comic book fan most my knowledge comes from wiki. DC comics have failed to reach same success as Marvel.  Various reasons why, fundamental problem respecting or understanding that success.  Marvel careful creates media based on source material, DC feels like box ticking.  Slowly crafting media bringing together franchises over time.  DC approach rush ahead creating terrible products which disrespect the material.

Last night decided to watch Gotham based on batman universe.  TV show is not bad whole approach is wrong.  Enjoyed pretty much every Marvel show based in the universe.  Gotham   production wise nothing wrong writing feels off.  Minor moments which feel forced don’t come together.  Show suffers from star syndrome over focus on anybody but James Gordon.   Gotham should be titled as ‘Anybody but Gordon’.  Pilot episode puts focus on James Gordon show later throws that out the window.  Rushing to include every single person in Gotham.  James Gordon has major source material potential.  Writers instead decide Gotham as whole should be the source material.  No story arc which brings everybody together just minor stories.  Disjointed storytelling approach fails bring anything new.

Too much management not enough vision or clear directions. Which can only be described as a box ticking exercise. Filmmaking is an idea factory not a film printing press. Marvel has a deep connection to it characters. DC comics fear minor characters characters are uninteresting. Incredible that we had a film like dark Knight rises from DC. Gotham had so much potential and yet wasted as another Batman spin off. DC Comics right now feels like a bunch of management trying to be film makers. Spending millions of pounds does not mean you’re going to end up with a good production. I wish that DC comics slowly introduced others into the fray. Marvel did just that and as result was fantastic. DC I feel like there rushing to try recreate the same formula and success.  Flaw needs to be corrected because quite frankly frustrated Marvel only game in town.

Not seen the following movies Man of Steel,  Batman vs superman and Suicide squad.  Flash TV series something avoided due DC comics past.  Should watch them fear going to be disappointed. Loved Batman reboot from Christopher Nolan dark version of gotham.

 

Paragon First impressions

Paragon First impressions

First impressions of Paragon, platform of choice playstation 4.

Paragon is lacking something, gameplay is rather boring.  Gameplay often comes down to hold R1. Nothing different on offer compared to many other titles within same genre.  Feels forced compared many other titles mechanically.    Lacking new ideas which make game unique.  Card system is uninteresting item system.   Jungle however feels like jungle, full of life. Stealth zones various experience camps hidden under fog.  Core problem facing the game does not add anything new.   Not bad game from production point of view.   Abilities feel similar everything feels similar. After 40 minutes can’t be arsed to play anymore.  May do livestream later just to show how boring it is.

Not a fan of the game at all.

Concern about Corbyn

Concern about Corbyn

Membership was right were right voting for Corbyn!

Frustrated about the Labour party membership voted for serious change. Party was unable answer voter concerns, submitting to poor choices. Organisation failed to understand, membership wanted organisation to think differently.  Clear membership won’t be conned or fooled many want guarantees.  Party won’t return to the good old days of immigration mugs.

Many corbyn voters have bunker mentality, organisation done same in the past.  World is against you, wants to destroy what you started. Many feel party wants to go back to the good old days without you. Narrative of Westminster Elite who hate what you done.  Creating some of mental bunker won’t help must address any critics.  Criticism is healthy thing but many offer uncritical defence avoiding substance behind it.  Avoiding the criticism failing to provide, solutions or address anything.. Dangerous position cost us power in the past.

Many ‘moderates’ willing to admit that Corbyn voters were right.  Started something which many believed was not possible.  Should be respected channelled into effective direction with strong machine behind it.  Mass membership lacks clear direction to be any advantage.  Organization however must make effective use of this movement.  Massive membership does not mean mass movement has started.

Many joined the party under the same principles.   Throwing insults freely around won’t help you win any arguments.   News flash millions voted conservative insulting voters won’t get votes. Corbyn voters must understand people with doubts are not blairites.  Critics are not evil vampires,  valid amount of criticism should not be ignored.

Family spoke fondly of Labour growing up, remember meeting Labour councillors. Membership history joined after GE 2015 defeat.  Welcome Corbyn standing opened up the internal party debate. Still believe Corbyn standing was the right thing to do.   Corbyn gained my 2nd preference vote with Yvette first choice.

Lukewarm support

Corbyn had my lukewarm support,  hoped he would do better.  Tony Blair moment forced Labour rethink how organization was run, thinking differently to win. Given Corbyn time but can’t support Corbyn him.  Unable to grow within the role of Labour leader.   Lacking leadership skills required to lead.  Based on reports with general performance largely ineffective with no internal debate.   Organization has taken on bunker mentality, worse time any group could do it.  Various reports ranging former advisors to MPs saying the same thing.  Concerning Shadow ministers not having discussions can’t get hold of him. Corbyn voters complained party did not listen, now Corbyn is doing the same thing.  Incapable of leading if you can’t have internal policy debate.

Necessary to unite the party around your leadership in order to fulfill role of opposition leader. Can’t be successful playing tennis on chessboard.  Ineffective in getting his message to general population rather incompetence within westminster.   Failed in his daily duties making Labour party suffer as organization.  Real risk that Corbyn could split the party. Corbyn greatest gift to Labour won’t be his leadership what comes next.

Nobody wants to let the Tories do whatever they want.  My generation likely to feel pain for decades due constant weak opposition.  Choice in front of us reunite the party, reform it creating effective election winning machine or crack it apart.   More than willing to support Owen Smith, who can finish the job Corbyn started.  Corbyn needs plan to deal problems not just slogans.  Smith must offer guarantees to the membership.   Both leadership candidates need offer solutions to problems facing the party.

Let’s talk about evil word called compromise

Milk comes in various varieties whole fat, semi skimmed, skimmed and other called fat 1% milk.   Example you like whole fat milk,  don’t have the income to buy semi skimmed or whole fat.  Rest of your family does not mind the cheaper skimmed milk.  Normally people compromise take into account majority view and minority view. Politicians are required to compromise ones who don’t have means to avoid it.   Talking about politicians who can avoid making unpopular decisions.  Can still have principles doing any compromise.  Pragmatism is required dealing with many real life problems.  Reforms without pragmatism get overruled later down the line compared to solutions which do.  Best modern example which comes to mind NHS. Service has many compromises in place in order to exist.

Trying to make the point that compromises are not pure evil.  Should not dismiss view of others if they disagree with your own views but find common ground.   Instead make arguments which allow you get the compromise you desire. Can all disagree over bits of policy without insulting each other.

End of the day can still have principles when making any compromise.   Humans are irrational we all make bad decisions and choices.  Labour party made series of terrible choices post 2008. Compromises which was made in bad faith against reality.  Undermined economic link to European union which provided us with Brexit result.  Helped caused defeat twice in row made us question many values we hold as a party.

Centre ground problem

Centre ground large majority of voters who come together on series of issues. Political victories require compromises can’t win over any majority without it. Majority made up vast groups of voters, can’t win without winning large groups.  Each group has own set of concerns, values and ideas. Worse certain groups are more likely to vote compared to others.  Polling suggests Corbyn is deeply unpopular with every voter group.  Weak support with young voters which is declining.  Almost no support with big important voter demographics.   Can’t reach every group using social media echo chamber.

Opportunity

Opportunity post Brexit building majority of voters. Party must be willing to listen, learning from the past.  Fear small minority within the party, who don’t wish take advantage.  Current leadership unable use movement it created. Hate terms like right/left wing apologize in advance for next sentence. Right created majority could times in row.  Bringing together key groups to bring us Brexit vote victory.  Left have created a movement, which must listen not become echochamber. Series of compromises is required can’t ignore that.  All wings must come together can’t ignore each other. Left keeping the right honest giving it much needed courage.  Right giving the left must needed lesson can’t change everybody minds.  Compromises are required to rule and get what you want done. Leadership challenge provides Labour with major opportunity for us to work together again.

Big opportunity post Brexit and post Corbyn.   Speaking for majority who clearly not happy.  Very real opportunity to get the compromises required that so many desire. Very real opportunity to be destroyed.

Yes man

Corbyn greatest achievement could be Owen Smith.  Like many of you don’t know anything about Owen Smith.  Understand how some feel that Owen is just another PLP yes man who does not care. Every MP cares which why they decided to stand for public service.

Would you want job which get tons of abuse from the public?  Death threats even the real threat of violence?

Already done job like that gave me mental breakdown.  MPs are just normal people doing this role due caring. People can make choices you disagree with however they still care. May disagree with choices being made by these MPs but does not make them bad people.  We all make choices which many don’t agree with.  Understand how some feel that Owen is just another PLP yes man who does not care.  Every MP cares which why they decided to stand for public service.   Viewing them as the enemy won’t get us far. Rejecting viewpoints as bad faith does not win people. Labour party needs MPs to function within westminster.  Stop treating people like dirt you would hate to be treated the same.

Dislike the show

Don’t dislike the politics of Corbyn however do dislike his leadership.  Failed to turn the Labour organization around into winning machine.   Media operation lacks the talent using mainstream media and social media to full effect.  Total disregard for appearing on TV stations during prime time.  Backroom operation needs complete redesign bringing in the best talent.  Can’t place the blame at somebody else’s door forever.  Can’t go on blaming the ‘media’ for various mistakes you done. Party is not functioning correctly time to change operation behind it. Journalists have reported finding it difficult meeting Labour leadership. Labour Members of Parliament reported the same issues.  Press releases hours late, Journalists given it to late. Can’t name single new Corbyn policy discussed by Labour.  Just views held by Corbyn on subjects quite frankly don’t care about.

Failed create clear coherent position which voters can remember.   After European referendum made clear current operation is broken.

Government in waiting

Labour right now does not look like Government in waiting.  Corbyn does not command the support of the party.  No clear coherent policy position,  opponents have defined us.  Labour needs rethink current approach organization requires deep reform.  Being honest can’t see anyway Labour can be in power.  Principles are sound execution is incoherent, amateur student politics.  Members of Parliament have tried hold Corbyn to account.  Members who voted for him must hold him to account stop blaming others or media.  Now in control of the party do something about it.

Political opponents have in past defined you, now time to define your own image.  Clear coherent narrative is required.  Fear small minority not up to the challenge.  Corbyn Labour failing in the same way as new Labour did in the past

Way forward

Journalist Owen Jones produced this post on medium.  Corbyn needs to address points by Owen Jones with solutions.   Chris Dillow produced various blog posts on Labour.  Most interesting talking about common aim shared by left/right wing view points.   Radical idea floating around shared leadership, great solution which Corbyn could do.    Shaking up the backroom operation at Labour is required.  Organization should seek out talent over like minded yes men.  Organization should combined resources upgrading digital backbone.  Begin to address the communication problems between leaders office and party whips.  Seeking out better ways to communicate with membership.  Seeking out yes men who have no experience or talent won’t help.  Locking people into small bunker does nothing.  

Supporting Smith

Unwilling to offer unconditional support to Owen Smith.  Leadership bid had better media management compared to Corbyn.  Early days yet Smith showing strength even with social media. Addressing problems facing us plus providing solutions.   Saying going to do better is not enough. Clear plan is required bringing on the best talent.  Corbyn allies have blamed poor performance on others.  Smith cannot be allowed to do the same.  Do believe Smith is better suited and has solutions.

Sleep

Sleep one of the most overlooked elements of life.   Lack of sleep can cause serious mental and physical problems.  Good night sleep can provide you with so much.   Rather important given this 24/7 connected world many overlook it.  Longest period had terrible sleeping pattern, used to bed at various times not getting enough sleep.  Based on my memory sleep schedule used to look something like this.

6am – 4pm

3am – 9am

1am – 7am

 

Past 6 months much better sleep schedule going to bed around 11pm waking up at 8am. Combined with much better mattress feeling loads better.  Results are rather striking better mental health and physical.  No longer feeling super tired all the time, less grump in the morning.  Still not a morning person but situation has improved.   Now understand overall importance of bedtimes.

Mobile Phone Games

Mobile gaming suffering from one big problem.  Platform has various limits when comes to what genres can exist.  Worse still certain phones are better for gaming compared to others.   Biggest problem is most games are rather simple not that complex.  Great time wasters with little to no depth turn out to be money sinks.  Open secret that studios seek whales or cash cows.  Exploiting certain customers habits to earn money from them.

Last night decided to sit down and play jetpacker fighter from Hi Rez.  Studio behind the game has another game, ongoing promotion between the two games.  Often avoided mobile games due gameplay mechanics being lackluster.   Quite enjoy jetpacker fighters from Hi Rez.  Gameplay is simple based on timing more than anything.  Biggest criticism I have of the game is the server quality can be iffy at times.  Causing serious latency issues which end up killing you.   Not sure could be my network causing the problems.  Gameplay wise you move your finger across the screen avoiding being hit by the environment and hitting the robots.  Enjoying this title makes me think of Sonic hedgehog series.  Fast pace game which works on the mobile platform.  Soundtrack is rather good simple set of music which fits into the theme.

Curious on what mobile phone games most people play and how long on average people play. Various other questions like have you spent an money on these games.  Here a small list on all the games played one my OnePlus One so far.

Hearthstone – Card games are good fit for the mobile platform. Collectable card which you can battle against others using various cards and deck designs.  Works quite well on the mobile platform, even played it at the train station.  Quite like hearthstone but suffers from grind problem many free to play games do.

Pokemon GO – Turns your world into pokemon filled world based on your camera.   Landmarks become important places to visit in order to earn pokemon and items.   Rather basic as an idea missing many features from previous pokemon games but nice throwback.  Fun game allowing you to collect every pokemon you loved as a kid.

Marvel Puzzle Quest – Not sure how to describe this game.  Liked it however found it to be boring after some time and hate puzzle games.

Pew Pew – Genre wise multidirectional shoot them up.  Works on mobile platform oddly enough.

Voxel Rush – Racer game that free to play.

Play hearthstone the most out of these titles with rest only have couple hours logged.