doejonathan

PSN Blog just posted some information about the upcoming Paul Cuisset (Flashback) title, Amy.  
 
Reading about the gameplay mechanics, it's odd to me that I'm excited about the idea of what basically is an escort mission spanned out over an entire game (a downloadable PSN title, but still). Perhaps it is the optimism that is usually absent in me that is the unsettling part. Hearing Ken Levine talk about Bioshock Infinite I'm starting to think game designers are coming to a better understanding of the crippling mechanics escort missions usually subject the player to. Yet, escorting an NPC can give the player a sense of responsibility, or even be more of a help that a nuisance. Maybe Cuisset recognizes this as well. It sure looks that way from the (brief) description of Amy. 
 
In short, you play Lana, a woman waking up one day (Flashback?) only to find out the world isn't how you remember it. Oh, crack cocaine, you're so feisty! It's the future (Flashback!), a comet hit the earth, people are zombies, cats and dogs...  And now it get's interesting: You are infected. You are stuck with a little girl named Amy. You need to escort her out. Amy has a trick up her sleeve that might entice you to actually care for her: crack cocaine... I'm mean healing powers. The infection isn't working out for you and to stop it you can hold Amy's hand to heal up, while feeling her heartbeat through the rumble to see if there's anything to worry about. 
 
  

It's Sunday, it's rainy, so that means it's picture time:   

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Sooo, yeah. I know we're all about having fun and the occasional paint exchange is part of said fun , but I feel really bad about the 2nd to last corner on the Top Gear test track. It wasn't meant to be a dickmove,  I'm just not used to driving without cockpit view. So, I feel a penalty should be in place here. (See pic.) 
  

Still no word from Valve?

I haven't gotten to it myself, but after watching some Starhawk footage I'm tempted to give it a try. 
 
To give you an idea on the current activity: http://myhawk.org/community-activity.html

There's already a thread about this with well over 4000 views and +160 replies. I do not believe you are the only one.

Really digging the new video layout. The shot of me and Ghorun going side by side over the hill on the Rahal straight at the 4:23 min mark looks and sounds awesome, although it doesn't quite beat the furious battle you guys had in the last lap.  
I was surprised by the amount of clean starts overall given the power output, but the opening lap at Nürburg made us look like pro's. We need to get paid for that... in helmets! 
 
Edit: The explosion of sand and burned rubber at 10:50 was worth the overall gut-wrenching experience, although some Mini's are nice to look forward to. 

Removal of both the star rating and the indication of whether your assessment of the suspect is right or wrong. LA Noire does an excellent job at not making too many concessions in trying to be a normal sandbox videogame. I feel they lacked the confidence in truly going all the way. If the emotion in the animation is really on par with reality, a gut feeling should be enough, instead of the instant checkboxing and overall scoring of the player.   
A somewhat deeper interrogation process wouldn't hurt either, where one mistake doesn't completely cut off the accusation. Perhaps the ability to keep the suspect under increasing pressure, something the Irish chief of police seems to allude to when you are presented with your first interrogation. While too much pressure could backfire. 
 
The chase sequences could do with some tweaking. A car chase is usually at it's most satisfying when you can catch up with actual driving skills, not by simply staying in range and following the scripted events.  
 
Although, would this make LA Noire better than it currently is? I don't know. I won't go into story details as I imagine there are still plenty of people in the middle of the game, but it could use a revision.

Reading this with the Whiskey Nerd voice in my head makes a difference.