Gran Turismo 6

Racing Simulator... that is FUN!

At the beginning of the new year, my motherboard in my computer broke, leaving me unable to play my favorite computer games, which has let me go back to my favorite PS3 game, Gran Turismo 6 (GT6), and I thought it would be fun to give my thoughts on it, even though it came out a year ago.

Gran Turismo 5 is the game that really got me into cars. I got it when I got my PlayStation 3 and I played it nonstop for a while. I really loved playing the campaign races, making money, buying upgrades to my favorite cars, and racing again. On the box, it says "The Real Driving Simulator," which is technically true, as it has the most realistic drivetrain and suspension models in the genre as well as the most intuitive and in-depth controls. However, I have never found the game frustrating to play and win, as other "simulators" have done. I think the calming jazz that the soundtrack contains may have something to do with it...

Anyway, when I received GT6 for Christmas last year, I got super excited to play the successor to my favorite console game, and I am glad to report I am satisfied. After over 2,250 in game miles racing, I can confidently say that it is a worthy sequel to, in my opinion, the best racing series out there.

For GT6, the developers, Polyphony Digital, completely revamped the graphics, tire and suspension models, and UI in the game. They also added a ton of new tracks and cars, as well as some new multiplayer elements.

The new graphics in GT6 are really quite amazing, especially considering that Polyphony released it on the PS3, even when the PS4 was coming out very soon. They really took full advantage of the capabilities of the previous generation console and made an awesome game that was one of the last few on the PS3. I think the heightened graphics have really advanced the feel of the game and the immersion, as the cars look even more realistic than previous titles in the series. The sounds are also majorly improved, as developers actually recorded real car sounds and put them into the game, which helps immerse you even further into the life of a hardcore racing driver.

Amazing research on tire and suspension models have led to some improvements in the physics of Gran Turismo. I think the most notable change this has created is the body roll of cars with stock suspension. When you first buy a car in the game, the suspension isn't racing caliber, so turning into a corner really makes the car angle the opposite way, thus decreasing the cornering abilities of the vehicle. This element has forced me to buy new racing suspension on cars in order to improve the lap times so that I can win more races. For me, this just makes the game so much more realistic, because that is exactly what you would have to do in real life.

The online experience in GT6 is much more in-depth than in GT5. There are many more gamemodes that creators of a lobby can choose to include such as racing, drifting, cruising, and many more options. I think that this really adds more interconnectivity between players that are looking for specific game modes, allowing drifters like me to play with other drifters.

I have enjoyed playing GT6 and watching my favorite racing simulator evolve into a better and better game. I love the direction that Polyphony has taken and I can't wait for what they have to offer next.

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Weapon Skins in CS:GO

No Skin? No Problem!

Weapon skins in the game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) are nothing more than a form of aesthetic pleasure in-game. CS is a game focused on bringing out individual skill more than unlocks and skill trees. Therefore, guns that starting players can use are the exact same as guns that pros have access to. So, if you do not possess any weapon skins in the game, you are not less likely to get a kill on someone who has a skin. I just wanted to clear that up before I go deeper into the world of weapon skins.

You can acquire skins in CS:GO through random skin drops at the end of matches, earning cases that you can buy keys for and unlock giving you a list of weapons and probabilities for those weapons to be selected (kind of like a slot machine mini-game), trade your skins for someone else's, or just straight up buying skins off of other players for amounts of money dictated by the seller. Skins create an economy surrounding the game, as players will try to trade, buy, and open their way up to a certain expensive skin. Another thing players use skins for is betting them on professional matches through CS:GO Lounge, you can place skins on the team you think is going to win, and if they do win, you can win skins for yourself.

Skins are assigned different amounts of monetary value according to how valuable the player-base thinks the skin is. More intricate skins will be more valuable, whereas less complex ones will be less valuable. Skins can range anywhere from $0.01 to even $2,000.

Another aspect to weapon skins includes knives. There are 7 different knife types including the: Default knives, Gut Knife, Flip Knife, M9 Bayonet, Karambit, Huntsman Knife, and the Butterfly Knife. All of these knives have different skins and are usually very expensive ($100+).

In my opinion, skins shouldn't be in the game, but since they are, everyone gets sucked into them. In some cases it does create some interesting dynamics, but also make scamming and betting a reality in the community.

Word Count: 362

Space Engineers

Engineering... IN SPACE!!!

"A space engineer is a professional practitioner who uses scientific knowledge, mathematics, physics, astronomy, propulsion technology, materials science, structural analysis, manufacturing and ingenuity to solve practical problems in space."

-Wikipedia, 2077

Space Engineers is a fairly new voxel-based space exploration game that puts you in the space boots of a lost space engineer years into the future. 

I know that there have been a ton of new voxel-based games in the last few years, and trust me, I believe people when they say they are getting bored with that genre, but Space Engineers, however, brings so many new and creative ideas to the table when it comes the the voxel genre. First of all, it takes place in space, which for me is a major plus right off the bat. Secondly, the construction and destruction features are just so detailed and intuitive, and the building of structures isn't as complicated as many would think.

So, what makes space such an intriguing prospect? The ability to go anywhere and do anything in whatever orientation you choose! The size of the map can go all the way up to endless, which means a never ending environment of free floating asteroids to discover. This just gets me excited whenever I decide to boot up the game. I love the feeling of freedom that the amount of space gives you. Also, there are no limitations on what you can create. Your own imagination is the limit, and that is what I love about survival-sandbox games. 

Another element of this game I really enjoy is the level of physics that is being implemented into the title. As everyone knows, in outer space there is no form of gravity, which means there are no standardized ups, downs, lefts, or rights. In Space Engineers, this factor is exquisitely displayed, as many times I have gotten dizzy and disoriented from spinning around due to there not being any gravity. Also, objects are subject to this no gravity law, so if something goes flying, it won't stop unless you or something else does. I love this so very much.

Overall, I think this game has a lot of potential moving into the future, as it is still in early-access stage. A ton of players already enjoy this title, and I think that thousands more will in the future. I would recommend the game to anyone that has been interested in space or creating things in the past.

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Insurgency

Realistic, Intense, Fast-Paced, and FPS...

Sounds like it could never be true doesn't it? Especially with all of those shallow Triple-A titles out there (*cough* Call of Duty *cough*) these days that really ruin the FPS genre for me and a lot of other people. It is really quite hard to find a quality FPS with some real passion that went into the development and upkeep of the game. 

Insurgency is one of those hard-to-find games.

The developers of the game, New World Interactive, wanted to create a shooter that balanced quick-respawn action and tactical, prolonged fighting. I feel they really achieved this through their very realistic damage model, amazing suppression elements, and innovative respawn method.

First, I would like to address the sound of guns and explosives, as well as background noise, that the developers have used to add to the realistic and intense atmosphere. When I first spawned into this game, I was met with an array of elements that really immersed me into the environment of a modern battlefield, but none was greater than the sound. The whizzing and popping of bullets flying over your head, as well as the repetitive beat of distant shots, not knowing who shot or from where. I enjoyed the feeling of firing your gun as well, as the sounds made it feel heavy, like each shot had the weight of a life, and the ability to take one. Not many games do this these days, with the age of the arcade shooter upon us. I think it is a nice touch for games to make guns feel heavy and impactful, as it helps you remember what a real gun can do. Explosives also have this effect on the battle. When you are inside a building, thinking that you are in cover and safe for the time being, and all of a sudden a grenade goes off right outside, your character goes into shock mode and is very disrupted for a few seconds.

What I am trying to say is that this game really puts you in a hardcore, fast-paced, and intense military action.

What I also love about this game is the dedication that the community of players has towards the play style of the game. In my experience, everyone in the game follows the flow of battle, calling out locations of enemies and doing their best to take them out. People provide support such as grenades or suppression fire when necessary, even when they aren't asked. When someone does not follow the style and starts to troll, everyone on your team starts yelling at them, and to me that is a beautiful thing. Too many communities around games these days contain so many half-hearted players that really don't think about others when they do something that might be detrimental to their team and the immersiveness of the game.

Overall, I think that Insurgency has a lot of potential to become a very sought-after shooter that tons of people will love, as the developers are committed to their title, as well as the fan base.

Word Count: 514

ArmA II: Operation Arrowhead

The Ultimate Military Sim

The ArmA game series has been the primary military simulation game for 7 years. The title has contained the largest maps, the best ballistic models, and the largest selection of weapons. The most recent release by Bohemian Interactive, the standalone extension for ArmA II, Operation Arrowhead, includes a ton of improvements and additions to the second title in the series. The new map, Takistan, is placed in the Middle East region and features modern battles that are similar to the real life battlefields of today. 

I really enjoy playing this game when I am in the mood for experiencing some hardcore military action. I will admit that the game takes a LOT of patience to get into. The controls are a pain to get used to and the action is a lot slower than most of the modern shooter games. However, if you really commit to a tactical viewpoint on the game and interact with friends like a real soldier would, the immersion that you can find is immense. The game looks quite good, if you have a good enough machine to run the massive amounts of processor perquisites necessary. Seriously, if you don't have a pretty hefty processor and graphics card, you are in for some choppy gameplay, as your frame rate will drop incredibly. 

The single player experience is very good when the artificially intelligent characters (AI) aren't being stupid. The missions are well put together, as all of them are staged on the same massive map of Takistan. I think this element of the game really gives me a feeling of the larger perspective of the war, as I can actually see the progress I am making through the progress on the map. The AI can be very helpful at some points as long as they are following orders given by you or the squad commander. Most of the time, however, they are running around the map doing whatever they feel like, ruining the immersion and overall experience.

The multi-player online play is where I think this game shines. The game developers are highly supportive of the modding community, which improves the longevity of the game. My favorite times played in this game have been in a very popular mod called Takistan Life, which puts you in the role of a civilian, cop, or terrorist trying to make a living in the map by legal or illegal means. When you find some good people to play with, the game is extremely fun and rewarding as completing a goal or taking an objective leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment and inspiration to take on another challenge.

Overall I think this game can survive for much longer (even though its successor, ArmA III is out) due to the very active modding and online community as well as the mission editor (where you can make your very own missions). If you enjoy a slower and more tactical shooter, I definitely recommend this game to get into the genre.

Word Count: 503

Operation Vanguard

A New Year...A New Campaign

Valve released its yearly Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) Campaign back around Thanksgiving, and I have been playing around with its new content for a couple months now.

I know what you're thinking. Campaign must obviously mean single-player missions, right?

Wrong.

The way CSGO campaigns work goes like this: you buy an access pass to play the content for $6 (yay more money for valve!), you receive an operation journal that tracks your stats and shows you missions that you can complete in official Valve servers while playing against other people, and you get an Operation Coin that you can upgrade throughout the Campaign (Bronze, Silver, and Gold). What missions, you ask? Well inside the Operation Journal you can choose between different missions that take place on one of the newly made maps for the operation. The missions can be anywhere from win 10 rounds on a map in competitive mode to kill 20 chickens in deathmatch mode.

I don't really think this is worth your money.

My experience with the missions has been...mediocre. Sure they're a fun thing to do when you are bored playing competitive matches over and over again, and sure you get random case or weapon drops when you complete a mission, but there isn't a special server for you to complete these missions. My least favorite experience so far has been trying to complete a chicken mission. There I was, minding my own business with my knife out, trying to find a chicken to kill, when all of a sudden some rude person in the deathmatch with me KILLED ME. I mean come on, couldn't he see that I was trying to win a gun drop? Seriously the nerve... *record scratch* This is the problem. I have joined deathmatches that have had half of the people running around slaughtering chickens and the other half have been actually trying to get kills on people. And when someone shoots a person that is just trying to get chickens, all hell breaks loose. The same story is true for un-chicken related missions. I think that Valve should really create games where it is just people trying to complete these missions when the next Operation comes out.

On the other hand, I do enjoy some of the maps that have been released. My favorite one is Workout, which is a massive sports complex map that is grounds for a hostage mission. I like this map because it puts a new flavor on the CSGO map scene. It contains a lot of bright colors and open spaces that a lot of other maps just don't have.

Some of the guns skins are also very unique, and are some of the best skins for that particular weapon. For instance, the M4A1-S Basilisk is, in my opinion, one of the best skins you can get for that particular weapon. It features a rustic looking body with a metal etching of a dragon-looking creature (a basilisk).

I also really like the new P250 Cartel skin, which has a lot of cool designs and a skull on the grip.

By the way, all of the maps and skins are completely free for anyone to use. So, in my opinion, I think that if you want to run around killing chickens, get the Operation. If you like the maps and skins, just stick to the regular game.

Word Count: 568