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11 Feb 06
I wish it weren't true, but I know some people don't check out the forum due to lack of activity. So I wanted to point out that Raggedyman has started a Rome: TW total realism AAR. Please check it out. While you're at it you might want to read all the other great stories there. It might inspire you (hint, hint). I also added a forum activity block on the right side of the news section so it's a little easier to keep track of what's going on there.
10 Feb 06
It's reader feedback day at Talk Strategy. Well, it would be if I got a little more. As it is, I'll go with what I've got. Surprisingly, no one wanted to be identified as associated with this site. I don't think we have a nasty skin disease or missing limbs, but you just never know.
Off we go. First, I get the question what is this 'critical mass' you keep talking about? Obviously, we're not actually talking about radiation. No, the idea is that if enough people keep coming here a sense of community will develop. People will recommend the site to friends. I'll get less hate mail. People will suggest stories for us to cover. There will be activity in the forums on a regular basis. When someone starts a discussion in a comment on an article or in the forum, different viewpoints will chip in.
That leads naturally to the next question, though I haven't really been asked it. It is how much is enough? If the theoretical people who asked that question had asked me back when I started the site, I'm sure I would have given numbers much more modest than the actual readership numbers we get here on a regular basis now. So the answer is that I don't know. I like to think we're close, but I can't be sure. Perhaps readers here are even more introverted than even your average gamer. Perhaps this place is too intimidating. Perhaps you have all joined in a telepathic link that my brain is too puny to comprehend. Perhaps everyone gets all their posting out of their system elsewhere. Perhaps no one really does want to be associated with this place. That begs the question, why do they keep coming back?
All right, last question (I told you I didn't get much feedback), it's also from an anonymous reader. Why is it that I almost never see any results of you 'behind the scenes' work on the site? Well, that's a good question. I could use a standard double talk answer and say if you aren't seeing anything that means I'm doing it right. But really, some of it is stuff to increase site efficiency or security. Hopefully that stuff is transparent. Some of my experiments fail, so they never get launched on the site. Some of it you will be seeing soon if everything goes according to plan.
Contrary to some people's belief, it's not all me goofing off. Unlike some people who deserve to be called web professionals, I learn most of this as I go. So it takes me a long time to do something that ultimately might be pretty simple. I'm struggling to figure out the who, what, where and why behind it all. Usually, that makes things go more smoothly in the future. I usually have a project or two going on in the background, but progress comes in fits and starts. If anyone would like to help, you know where to find me.
There you go. I hope you liked reader feedback. If you'd like to see more, well, you'll have to provide more feedback. As always, comments, the forum and email are open for your convenience. Have a great weekend.
Jason
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9 Feb 06
David was sick today. I can't believe how much that took out of me. He had a little cold. I worried more about that than anything I can remember since he got out of the hospital. Technically, I had time for some gaming today, but I only ran a race or two in PGR 3. I kept going to check on him while he was sleeping. So other than a few updates, I don't have much for you.
To anyone that it might be important, we're only a few days from Valentine's day. Trust me, it's better to scramble for a gift now rather than after the fact. If you're looking for something for a strategy game, I'd like to point out that GoGamer has the Heroes of Might and Magic III Complete available for only $12.90. That's a lot of gaming goodness.
Did you see the news post about Halo 2 on the PC? It's exclusive to Vista. It's pretty bad when your next generation operating system isn't a must have, and you have to resort to incentives to get people to switch. Actually, I'd be more interested in a firm date for Vista. I can probably hold out til then for getting a new rig. It's not that I need Vista. I just haven't had great luck with OS upgrades outside of Linux.
If you haven't already done so, don't forget to vote in the Talk Strategy Game of the Year poll. It looks like good turnout so far. Feel free to use the forum to make the case for your favorite.
Jason
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8 Feb 06
I don't know if you've been noticing, but the Xbox 360 have started to show up everywhere. They're not staying in stock yet, but with a little perseverance you can find them at brick and mortar or online. Personally, I can't see any reason to spring for one of the very expensive bundles now. Cheaper bundles keep appearing online, and I expect to see some unbundled units online this spring. I'd still recommend going for the premium (pro, platinum, etc.) model. You'll eventually want everything that's in there. I'd be surprised if there's a price drop before some time around E3 next year.
I know there are extreme fans for any gaming platform (including the PC). However, right now, during a generational shift, is when they work themselves up to frothing at the mouth levels. It's when logic and sanity are left behind and anything and everything is said to convince people their chosen system is the best.
I should point out I like Xbox Live Arcade. It's a cool idea. I like the potential support for independent developers. It's great to have a game or two that you can play in short spurts. On the other hand, it's not the end all, be all some fans would have you believe. Marble Madness isn't the greatest game ever made. Geometry Wars will not make the wait for Halo 3 unnoticeably short. They're good fun for brief periods.
The problem is that we're in the post launch lull. It happens for all systems. Fortunately for the 360, it looks like some of the top launch games that slipped will make the wait shorter than normal. That's not enough for some fans. They're busy trying to convince people that Marble Madness and Crystal Quest are reasons to buy a 360. Crystal Quest is another two stick shooter (think Robotron which is also available), so what is that? It's like 40% of Arcade is made of two stick shooters. Let's get this over with now. Arcade is a nice perk. If they add any more free games, it will be a great perk. It is not a reason to buy the system. Well, at least until Street Fighter II is released. Just kidding, but it will be cool to play it online.
With Full Auto getting some mixed reviews, my hopes are resting on Oblivion and Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. I played the Fight Night Round 3 demo and was impressed. I don't know if I was $60 impressed, but if a good sale comes along. If Oblivion and GRAW slip or don't live up to hype perhaps The Outfit or Battlefield 2 will fit the bill. It really looks like from March on there will be some quantity and quality improvements in releases. Maybe we can put this (marble) madness about Arcade behind us.
Jason
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7 Feb 06
Man, the Civilization IV AI is blood thirsty. I'm still only on noble for those out there that might have a mistaken, inflated opinion of my gaming skill just because I run this place. I'm just an average player who happens to really love gaming, especially good gaming. This was a pretty good game.
I lost my space victory to Mao by six turns. Ouch. I actually had a spy in his production city to try to sabotage his last spacecraft part, but he had too many units guarding it. I had thought that would just reduce my chances of success, but the option was grayed out.
I learned a few things in the game. As I mentioned, the AI is blood thirsty. Generally, the strongest civ or two would antagonize the weakest civ. Then they would declare war. Then the next nation and the next. That weak civ would be wiped out. Then the strong civs would recover, reposition and do it to the new weakest civ. It was cold.
My plan had been to use my technological advantage to build up to get to space first. I'd reap the wonder and tech bonuses while turning my country into an industrial/commercial powerhouse. It mostly worked, but somewhere along there Mao and Catherine started swapping techs. They used their larger size and cooperation to leapfrog me technologically. That had the side bonus of improving their relationship ruining any hopes I had of a diplomatic victory.
Finally, it was just a matter of me committing too late for an all out drive to a space victory. If I'd started a little sooner and focused only on the techs I needed, I could have pulled it out. I was hoping their late war with Germany might slow them down, but they had production and units to spare, so that didn't pan out either.
I've noticed playing Civ IV that I don't have much luck. I don't win battles I shouldn't and sometimes lose battles I shouldn't. Solid strategy is the only thing that can save me. I don't think I'll be cranking up the difficulty any higher soon.
Jason
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6 Feb 06
I got so busy and excited working on other site projects, I forgot the game of the week. So today, I'll give you two to make up for it.
Speaking of making up for things, I'm trying to do that to a small, but vocal group (you know who you are) with the first game. It's Space Empires V (official site) from Malfador Machinations. Empires is moving into 3D (rendering, but keeping the hex based universe) and letting you take your fleets of custom ships into realtime (with pause) tactical combat. You'll also be able to form multi empire alliances this time out. Beyond that they aim to keep the space 4X goodness of the series. They plan to improve the mod support even beyond SE IV. Did I mention the world planning with ground combat? Look for Space Empires V later this year.
For this week, we'll travel from the future to the near present day for the next game. It's War on Terror (official site) from Digital Reality. War on Terror is a tactical real time strategy game. In the near future, they thought the war on terror had been won, but the darkness rises again. Lead your faction, The U.N., China or the terrorists to victory in a conflict that spans the globe. The game has six hero units with special skills that can aid your fight. Digital Reality is promising a dynamic, linked campaign and multiplayer with five game modes and random scenarios to spice things up. Look for War on Terror later this spring.
Jason
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