GamersVantage

DuncanR2N's post about Duke Nuke 'em 3D got me to thinking and poking around on the net. I started thinking about the 3D rendering of human beings and how up until now it has been somewhat cartoonish.

Don't get me wrong the 3D engines in many games have been really, really good. I've seen reflections in shimmering water, and I've seen textures that are photo real. However, the humans in most games that I've seen look so very fake. There is just something about them that is not quite right. Well, it turns out that there is a definition for this phenomenon. It is called the 'uncanny valley'. Which means the closer that a human character approaches realistic in a virtual rendering, the more fake that character looks. At least it used to be that way.

More...

I've been reading everywhere about this rumor that Gearbox is making the next Halo game for MS. Not only that, but its supposedly for the NEXT Xbox.

More...

"Shake it, baby!" That's right boys and girls, get out your wad of dollar bills, Duke Nukem 3D, one of the best-selling games on the good ol' DOS platform is coming to XBL. Simply put, you must play this game. This game helped set the bar for what the FPS experience can do. Following on the heels of the DOOM series, this game created and interactive world that actually felt (at the time) like it was 'real'. Toilets flushed, light switches turned on and off, light fixtures shattered when shot, and fire hydrants would flow if you took a missle to them.

More...

Now that Duncan has completed Metal Gear Solid 4, I can fix my gaze on the last member of GV who has yet to play through one of the best games of 2008. Now is the time, before the fall onslaught of titles. I won't mention any names, just that if he chooses to not play/finish MGS4 it'll be an epic....

I've been thinking about a few things this weekend and thought I'd post them up. As you may or may not know, Panzer's goading finally had the desired effect, and I've started playing MGS 4. Well, started isn't exactly the right word at this point as I've already finished Act 3. While there are a few things I would change, overall, it's been a fantastic experience. It's a shame that it doesn't have trophies, not because I want them, but because I fear that Project will never give this game the attention it deserves.

More...

Weren't we promised a unique ending? If so, what the heck was it, 'cause I sure didn't see it...?

After playing through the demo of the Force Unleashed, my initial reaction is that I love it. I love the powers of the main character and how you can react with and destroy the environment around you. There's also little details that really sell me on this game.

More...

Apparently the artists licensing out their music for Rock Band and Guitar Hero are enjoying quite the knock-on effect in terms of sales of their own musical back catalog.

More...

Nintendo has been slapped with a patent infringement suit.

I haven't reviewed the pleadings, but it's curious that it's happening so relatively late in the development cycle for the console.

One of the tidbits coming out of Leipzig (who holds a gaming convention in East Germany anyways...?) is that Microsoft has finally fixed the troublesome d-pad on the 360 controller.

More...