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BigDo6

BigDo6's last update: Drunken forum posting since July 21, 2008.
If you notice any bugs, please give us a shout in the forums.

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Nov. 18, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 3 achievements in Assassin's Creed II

2 days, 4 hours ago

Nov. 17, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 4 achievements in Assassin's Creed II

3 days, 6 hours ago

Nov. 10, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 1 achievement in DJ Hero

1 week, 3 days ago

Nov. 8, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 1 achievement in Borderlands

1 week, 5 days ago

Nov. 5, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 2 achievements in SmackDown vs. RAW 2010

2 weeks, 1 day ago

Nov. 1, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 3 achievements in DJ Hero and Borderlands

2 weeks, 5 days ago

Oct. 31, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 7 achievements in DJ Hero, Forza Motorsport 3 and Borderlands

2 weeks, 5 days ago

Oct. 30, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 4 achievements in Forza Motorsport 3

3 weeks ago

Oct. 29, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 5 achievements in SmackDown vs. RAW 2010, Forza Motorsport 3 and Borderlands

3 weeks ago

Oct. 28, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 15 achievements in DJ Hero and Forza Motorsport 3

3 weeks, 1 day ago

Oct. 27, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 2 achievements in Borderlands

3 weeks, 3 days ago

Oct. 26, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 2 achievements in Borderlands

3 weeks, 4 days ago

Oct. 25, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 4 achievements in Borderlands

3 weeks, 5 days ago

Oct. 22, 2009

BigDo6 unlocked 1 achievement in Borderlands

4 weeks, 1 day ago

Is Conan An Immortal?

Added by BigDo6 on Feb. 11, 2009

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One of our first posts was entitled R.I.P Age of Conan and it detailed my sadness at the passing of what I felt was a great game. This sadness notwithstanding, I was unable to remain a subscriber to the game; I gave into the same issues that had driven away so many. Like them I moved on, chalking up the experience to a fond memory of an opportunity lost. I assumed that Funcom wasn't up to the task of fixing the game's myriad of problems or reproducing content that was of the same quality as the areas that had originally memorized me. But, MMOs are unique in that they get more than one press cycle.

The first of these cycles was a mixed bag for Age of Conan. Sure the game got positive reviews, netting a game ranking score of 81.0%, but the word of mouth was atrocious. I was unfortunate enough to experience this negative reaction first hand, when close friends of mine who I bullied into trying the game, would return with nothing more than a list of game breaking bugs, hard reboots, and visually disturbing graphic glitches. Some of these graphic glitches were actually fairly humorous, I find myself recalling one in particular that caused the breasts of female NPCs to dance up and down much like the lemurs in the film Madagascar. But, on the other hand some were infuriating, causing the world to be drawn in only low res muddy textures, or having your avatar’s hair either change color for entire log ins, or completely disappear. Although one was only able to enjoy these visual bugs when you were able to actually play the game, which the crushing memory leaks, and the hardest of hard locks made more difficult than necessary. But, just as the positive reviews disappeared under a mountain of negative press, so did the game’s problems disappear in my absence.

I really didn’t expect it on my return. I figured I would play it for 15 minutes and then uninstall it, as I am known to do with old PC games. Slowly however, I noticed that the bugs that were once mocking in their persistence were gone. As that realization sunk in I began looking for other bugs I remembered, to prove to myself that I hadn’t counted Funcom out too early. But, in my search I realized that almost every bug of any significance was gone. Not only that, but the game had improved from a reasonably objective standard as well.

The horses that were originally punitive in their pricing were now absolutely attainable by the lonely solo player. The graphics in A.O.C. are the stuff of legend, but required a computer of an equally mythic proportion. But, upon my return they seemed to be much better optimized. Frame rates were up by about 10 in every zone, textures that had previously popped in like a Gears of War 2/Halo 3 cut scene now appeared immediately after loading. The quests which before seemed to peter out after about level 27, now seemed to ooze from every zone I could make it to. These improvement though impressive aren’t what has me the most doubtful of my previously prognosticated demise of A.O.C.

It’s the content that lies just around the corner. Funcom earlier in the games life announced it was cutting employees due specifically to the falling subscriber numbers. But, these cuts were apparently not aimed at the content design team, since a quick search of what they are working on is impressive in its quantity. A new zone Y’mir’s Pass was just recently released along with a sweeping pvp update. This pvp update is being followed up by a second expansion in the next patch, which is scheduled to come out in the third week of February. In the near future Funcom has announced a new zone called Tarantia Commons District where the game play is said to mimic Assassin’s Creed with on-roof fighting and movement. As someone who knows the game’s engine well, this is really exciting. Additionally they will be adding, more items through the three new raid dungeons they are introducing, the pvp ranking system they will continue to flesh out, and their commitment to completely redesign all of the dungeons in the game made for 6 man groups. This redesign will include more engaging boss encounters that are said to be inspired by World of Warcraft and traps inspired by action movies (one includes I gigantic rolling border careening down a narrow stair case once it is sprung). So was my previous lamenting premature?

I don’t think anyone, even Funcom, knows that yet. The game has two chances at a “re-launch”: One when the new Conan Movie comes out in 2010 and the other when the Xbox 360 version of A.O.C. arrives. Either of these events will give a large shot in the arm to a game that is really ready to present itself to the world. And, until this “resurrection” takes place, or the world comes crashing down around my avatar’s head, I will be enjoying Hyboria.

This post is cross posted from http://videogamestheory.blogspot.com/

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Disappointed with the Giant Bomb crew.

Added by BigDo6 on Jan. 21, 2009

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Placing Bob's Game on the front page of the site succeeds in not only in fomenting such behavior in the future, but it also rewards Bob himself for this self destructive insanity.

P.S. Note, that I did not link to the game. A hypocrisy trap in the making.

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The forgotten console?

Added by BigDo6 on Jan. 12, 2009

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Damn you Killzone 2.

Click here now!!!!!

Welcome back... Damn, doesn't that look sweet? I guess I'll be using my PS3 soon.
/sigh

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Diablo 3 Video

Added by BigDo6 on Jan. 4, 2009

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Hype/Caution

Video here - http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/19701

Well it looks, well a little strange. The graphics look have the feeling of a high-res Diablo, but for me the Barbarian just doesn't look right. His animations seem odd, like they are running on an 8 direction framework. But, I suppose that might be because it is running on a PC. Other then those visual irritations, it looks like it is going to be epic and easily addicting. I look forward to seeing the rest of the classes, Necromancer anyone? The gear looked appropriately drool enducing. Also, the concept of class dependent gear-designs is a game mechanic I miss.

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Was it a rational fear?

Added by BigDo6 on Jan. 3, 2009

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2008?

       The year has finally wrapped up, and what is the first thing on every gamers mental agenda when the new year begins? Dread and fear of coarse. We aren't afraid of our oncoming return to school, or the possibility that our holiday sales job might disappear (though the recent economic downturn might make that a close second). We fear instead a fate worse than death. Months upon months without any new games worth playing. In 2008 this same fear gripped us all. Was it rational?

       One could not be blamed for prognosticating a disappointing 2008, with the best year in gaming history still fresh in our memory. But, when you compare the games released
in both years the disparity seems to vanish.

Games of 2007:

Halo 3
Rock Band
Mass effect
Crysis
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Assasin's Creed
Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lion
Super Mario Galaxy
God of War 2
Bioshock
The Orange Box
Uncharted: Drakes Fortune

Games of 2008:

Gears of War 2
Fable 2
Midnight Club: Los Angeles
Call of Duty: World at War
Prince of Persia
Fallout 3
NHL '09
GTA 4
MGS 4
Dead Space
Soul Calibur 4 (sorry Jeff, this game kicked ass)
Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe (but, so did this one)
Little Big Planet
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Burnout: Paradise

           So in retrospect 2008 turned out to be a great year for gaming. But, as the holiday season wears off, the fear is reborn. In forum surfers, podcast wielding critics, and our own creeping sub-conscience we see the dread of months without quality gaming return. Are these fears rational? We will see...

Edited for mistakes: I apologize for those maimed during my posting.

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BigDo6's Reviews

It's just different. (X360)

Surprisingly, I am the only person currently working here at Head Asplode that enjoys the Grand Theft Auto series and as such, it fell to me to review it. Never have I been tasked with a sweeter, more rewarding assignment. From the very moment I first loaded it up, ...