Geeked: Free to Play and Loving It

You knew it was coming, right?  Yes, the Hearthstone propaganda is here.  Blizzard's free-to-play, Magic: The Gathering-styled, collectable card game became available on iOS for iPad this week, and so far, I am loving it.

I will dispense with some preliminary quibbles first.  I went in full well with the understanding that free-to-play wasn't the complete package.  While in the early going, that hasn't seemed to matter (I haven't spent a cent yet).  I am sure the more I play, the more apparent it will become and the more I'd covet that ability.  I'm the same guy that more or less refused CoD because I thought advanced weapons tilted gameplay balance.

I wish there were asynchronous gameplay.  First impression leads me to believe there is not even offline gameplay.  For me, both features are ones that just increase my opportunity to play and play with friends.  Given that must multiplayer gaming in my house is reserved for the console, Titanfall currenty, I see less opportunity to make Hearthstone appointment gaming with friends.  Then again, we did do that with Ascension.

The last is not so much a complaint as it is a matter of fact, there's a lot going on in the game and not a lot of explanation.  Gameplay is fairly intuitive and the cards themselves contain easily accessible information about their characteristics.  You have an attack number and health.  Each card requires an amount of mana to play.  Over the course of the game, mana increases round to round to a maximum of ten.  But building decks, discovering the rarity of cards, understanding how to craft cards, figuring out what the gametypes are, where you can get bonuses, where and how to buy, there's a bit of fend for yourself or find an online wiki or app here.  It speaks more to the game's depth of options and complexity than anything, but the same depth makes it a bit intimidating.

And now, the good news.  It's downright fun to play.  I was not in the beta, open or closed on the PC.  I've never played WoW.  I needed to get a Battlenet ID.  I downloaded the game for the iPad as soon as I was aware it was available, Wednesday evening I think.  Though I'm not sure of the actual number, I would say I've logged an easy six-plus hours of gametime.

Part of the early going was spent getting acclimated to how the game plays and feels.  I ran through the tutorial with some six opponents to detail the game's mechanics.  I then set about trying to unlock all nine hero types.  I think during that first evening, I made it through seven.  Playing on the Normal level, I had that feeling of learning as I played.  I could sense developing strategies that worked for me versus certain enemies and understanding the cards and their powers, what I liked and why.  I can't explain it, but the more I played, I had such a palpable feeling of improvement.

By the next night, I had unlocked all of the hero types and began trying to unlock all of the mage's basic cards.  I created my first custom deck and headed into the world of "Play" against live opponents.  There were both victories and defeats, and there was that dichotomy of "I outskilled you" and "You got lucky/cheap/OP cards" that frequently accompanied each.  All the while, I leveled up, gained access to new cards, earned gold to purchase new packs or access The Arena.  Incentives appear frequently and all without need to partake of the microtransaction process.

The short of it is the game feeds into the inner-geek.  It appears so noob-friendly but strategy and complexity lurk for those that want it.  Even in the early going, deciding strategy of attacking and defending, hero versus minion, using cards in combination, healing, hiding, forcing attacks, foregoing attacks.  It's not that the game is unique in doing so, but there's a feeling that's nice getting in on the ground floor.  Online, familiarity of the rules of course helps, but the game won't let you do something the rules don't allow.  It's like the ease of scoring Catan or Carcassone on XBL.

And yes, the animations are fun.  Picture Ron Weasley playing Wizard's Chess.  The attack animation, sparks, shakes, crumbles, +/- updated stats.  It adds that flair, especially when it's in your favor, that makes you smile.  I have always enjoyed seeing some bit of the attack animations, Advance Wars, Pokemon, Bravely Default.  There's action to the real world equivalent, "My mage will use four mana crystals to use Fireball to damage your hero six HP."  And yes, perhaps I did just that with a single flick of my finger on the iPad.  But it felt much cooler.  Especially in a win.

I'm not sure how long the fun will last in Hearthstone, but right now, there's no end in sight.  I'd be willing to pay, but at this point, there's been no need.

Improving Titanfall: Taking the Next Step

I have 20+ hours in Titanfall and am approaching Generation 3.  The thing is, while I really enjoy the game, I can't help but feel like the game could be so much more.  For me, console multiplayer need look no further than three mega-titles to find a recipe for long-lasting, addictive, competitive gameplay: Halo, Call of Duty, and Gears of War.  To ignore successful attributes from those series is to have the blueprint for the wheel and decide that one can improve it.

All I have to do is look at my friends list and realize a majority of those friends were people I "met" playing Halo 2.  Ten years ago!  Ten years ago, Bungie created not only one of the great multiplayer games ever, but it helped establish an onine gaming communty with bungie.net.  While the forums were good, linkable stats to re-live gaming glory were great.  Waypoint and COD pushed not only the notion of tallying kills and wins but recording them.  Sure, we can take advantage of Twitch and Game DVR, but in Titanfall, it's almost like winning and losing isn't all that important.  Scores appear for such a brief instant, it's near impossible to process, and perhaps, more importantly, to gloat.  I mean, we see who's on top and bottom, but I feel like in exchange for the lowest lows for a terribly played game, we have given up the highest highs in victory.

And that's what we got in Gears.  The other night, we were playing Titanfall and at times, other than knowing we were in a party together, it was almost hard to tell we were playing together.  I rarely see teammates on maps.  I rarely feel like I provide cover or am covered.  There's less raucous moments of defeat and glory.  It's nice to win together and we've had some close games the last few nights.  But there's not a whole lot of sharing in the glory because how often do others get to see it?  In Gears, especially with the "death room," how many laughs and cheers went up seeing someone overcome a two-on-one situation?  How many times would we helplessly urge folks to abandon the sniper?  Last night, with an ogre and shield core and some nub opponents, I went one-against-two and lived to tell about it.  But no one saw the encounter and it lives only in my memory.

I'm not saying we need online stat tracking or even a "death room" to improve Titanfall.  But little things like letting you see the last game's stat, perhaps while choosing a map (!), and playing against each other so at least maybe the victim of a glorious titan takedown coud confirm, it creates a more shared experience as opposed to players sharing a map. I understand that Titanfall is a next gen shooter and perhaps wanting to take the FPS forward.  But with a few additions of not-revolutionary features, a good game can become great.

The Easy Carrot: Talking 'bout My (Re)Generation

Well, after some twenty or so hours of gameplay, I finally hit Level 50 in Titanfall and was presented with the opportunity to regenerate.  Having not played much Call of Duty, I wasn't completely familiar with the mechanics of the "prestige" other than to know it was something all the cool kids did.  And so why wouldn't I want to be a cool kid in Titanfall and regenerate.

I guess I should have taken the multiple prompts as hints that regenerating wasn't all that smiles and benefits.  No, in fact, to get the cool designation along your gamertag in Titanfall lobbies, you had to sacrifice game progress.  Weapon upgrades, challenges, customizations... all gone.  Level 1 is Level 1 with minimal benefits from the regen.  Having unlocked Ogre and Stryder class titans, those unlocks would be available to me.  Of course, I didn't really comprehend at the time of the regen that meant I still couldn't access them because Level 1 is Level 1 and there was no customization of Titans.  Actually, if you remember Level 1, that means not even having all three pilot types available let alone customization of pilots.  Players keep burn cards and XP is earned at a faster clip because of the regen.

So after the regen, I lost all my scopes and extended magazines, any of the bonuses that give the player that slightest advantage -- gone.  And for what?  To get the notation and to begin again.  It's so weird to begin at the beginning, where challenges aren't even readily available.

I will say leveling up seems to occur fairly rapidly as a couple of days and a couple good sessions later, I find myself sitting at G2, Level 10.  I did unlock the challenges a little earlier and at Level 10, regained the ability to customize titans.  I'm glad because I think I hit a very good strategy in LTS (chaingun + extended magazine + cautious play = quickly acquired damage core).  Of course, I was looking at unlocking/upgrading everything but find myself with factory issue weapons again.  I had unlocked all of the upgrades for the R101, the EVA-8 and Smart Pistol pilot-wise and the extended magazine, accelerator for the chaingun and upgrade for the ARC cannon titan-wise.  Gone, gone and gone.

It's not terrible but I do wonder for what reason... there, of course, is a chivo associated with the regen.  And in fact, there is a chivo for reaching Generation 10.  I do like the notation of having played enough to be past Level 50.  I suppose there is some behind the scenes reason.  Cynically, the idea of the regeneration creates artificial replaybility.  There's the carrot of the max level cap and players will want it, even if it is Level 500.  I guess perhaps more importantly and ideally crucial to the balance of gameplay, regeneration can even the playing field albeit temporarily.  What happens is a G2, Level 10 does not have the firepower of a Level 25 even and though theory would say the former has more experience and arguably skill, at least at that point, in working back up the ladder, he's still unlocking upgrades.  Maybe not such a bad idea after all...

And did I mention I'm the one in the lobby with the G2 designation?  Yes... that one.

Titanfall: Fun with Friends

I have played Titanfall every day since its launch and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  Certainly, what others have said about its balanced gameplay and general fun factor, I do not disagree with.  The tease and addiction of challenges and burn cards also give incentive beyond just playing to continue playing.  Whether those will eventually wear thin or unsatisfying or get to the point where they are not earned with the frequency they are currently doled out remains to be seen.  The game is a joy to play and I look forward to playing it whenever I can.

It's been great to play with friends.  Probably for me, it hasn't been since Halo 4 when there was a game all of my friends were able to play and not only play but play together.  I smile deep inside seeing a friends list full of people all playing the same game, the game I am about to play.  But you know what's more fun than playing with friends?  Playing against them.

So there's of course talk that a future update will include the option of private matches.  And really, what better way to extend the life of a game that give us a reason to be better, to improve our weapons.  Sure, there's a leaderboard now that I can see for all of ten seconds before moving to the next stat screen.  But there's something about Halo and Gears of War and Call of Duty that Titanfall has not quite tapped into... the desire to best your friend.

I mean, what's the point of upgrading my chaingun if I can't unleash it and its extended clip on Tengaport's titan?  Why activate that rematch burn card if it's not to turn around, respawn where Reecer just took a hardpoint away, and surprise him with a comeback kill and accrue more defense time points?  While it's fun to teabag a random, it's that much more enjoyable when it's someone you know, you know?  I don't know whether the female Titan has that same capability, but don't we need to know?!

I like working together, but let's stop being nice and start "attritioning" each other.

Titanfail?: Day One with the Most Important Title in the Xbox One Lineup

Well, it wasn't quite what we were all expecting, was it?

First, the ugly and uglier.  Seems like I was even more right than I knew regarding that midnight launches would never be the same.  So I did what I could to see how close I could make it to the 12 a.m. PDT online availability of the game.  I wanted the digital download and don't regret having it for a second.  At 2:00 a.m. EDT, I couldn't make it and off to bed I went.  Up at 5:30 a.m., I began the download.  And it crept along.  At 9:00, when I had to head off to work, I think it was around 45% so I left the machine on.

I know there is supposed to be background and console-off downloading, but for whatever reason, I thought if it were on, it would download it more quickly.  I had turned off my auto off function in the settings.  When I returned around 3:30 or so, it was only about 70% complete.  Still no Titanfall for me.  No training, no nothing but a slow crawl that looked like maybe, it had even stopped.  So I hard-powered down and tried again and it seemed to move along a little better.  Around 5:00, I finally had the game and ran through the demo.  I hadn't completed the entire demo in the Beta so I figured I would, for the chivo if nothing else.

Went out for a bit and turned the Xbox One and system on around 6:30.  Had it on the rest of the night for listening to music, watching TV with the wife, and Titanfall later.  I would later discover that being on maybe saved me from a long night of grief, not that I still didn't feel awful for the way the Xbox Live failure and its blemish on the Titanfall launch ruined the fun a bit.

Logged in to XBL, I popped on about 9:30 p.m. and played until a little after 2:00.  I loved just about every minute of it.  There was some getting used to the party system and invites and it didn't take us long to discover that hitting the party limit of six will happen with more frequency than I'd like.  But the game itself feels great.  Win or lose, good game or bad game, I never felt frustrated.  I never felt over-matched or that a higher ranked opponent had better weapons or loadouts.  I never saw lag, perhaps the occasional framerate stutter, but definitely no occasion to cry shenanigans or toast.  Perhaps in the restrictions and set-up, that has been taken care of.  All this and with at least one or two people broadcasting the action on Twitch as well?  The future of gaming?  It certainly can be bright albeit with bumps on the road.  That's one thing we joked about last night, this idea that the game is still in process, that a later update will add options, fix or improve resolution, add gametypes and Voltron.

Is it the greatest thing since Halo 2?  COD4:MW?  Gears of War?  I don't know.  But what I do know is that I have a lot of friends playing it and that, to me, is a system seller.  That makes it worthy of the hype.  That is why I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. playing... oh, that and wanting to unlock the Stryder chassis for my custom Titan loadout.

War is Hell

Last summer, I endured this:

And then there was the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition discussion or Framerate-Gate:

How about a March 2, 2014 editorial about how Sony is winning the console war?  At least Microsoft offered Civilization Revolution and Dungeon Defenders in their Games with Gold program.  More power, lower price... focus on the gamers...

"Your Titan is ready."

Wait.. what?

Random Musings

Just a quickie here.  I am some thirty hours in on Bravely Default and I am really loving it.  I've actually logged more time with it than Pokemon X.  And while certainly the former has the "new shiny" effect going for it, there's something in the game that has made it that much more accessible -- the encounter slider.

Not since the Forza series introduced the Rewind button has a feature so increased my enjoyment of a game.  The encounter slider can be moved up or down increasing or decreasing the chance of encountering baddies while traversing the map.  It means choosing whether I want to fight extra baddies so it's easier to grind up or avoiding them altogether so I can head to town to spend a night at the comfortable inn, replenish all of my party's HP and MP and revive any KO'd member.

How awesome is that?  If you've ever run out of repels, you'll appreciate it that much more.  The game is great for reasons beyond that, but it's something that can really ease frustration and that's fine by me.