• 1Dec 07

  Going away

  Even after a few days, I'm still very shocked by what happened to Jeff this last week. CNET will deny it, Jeff probably can't talk about nor can the other editors do, but it seems clear enough that Jeff's firing was probably related to his review andultimatelythis is unacceptable. If a gaming review site can't be trusted for its reviews, then the site is absolutely useless.

  Because of this and in support of Jeff and the other editors, I've decided to cancel my Total Access Subscription to GameSpot for the first time since I started paying 3-4 years ago. I don't usually believe in massive internet petition or ban, but in this case I cannot let this be and continue paying for this site. Over the years, GameSpot has hired some of the best editors in the business and the "old gang" with Jeff, GregK, Rich, Bob Carrie and all the others made this my #1 choice to get gaming news. This week, CNET showed what it has in store for GameSpot and I have no respect for such business decisions. What a sad day.

  It's too bad that new management seems to have screwed this up. Whatever happens next, I wish the remaining editors and staff good luck and I hope GS can return to its former greatness. We never know, the uproar over Jeff's firing may actually cause CNET to review its policies and make it up by returning control over editorial content to the actual editors instead of having marketing and biz-relation run the show.

  To all the editors, thanks for all the hard work and good luck. Seems to me you'll need it.

  • Posted Dec 1, 2007 9:30 pm GMT
  • Category: Editorial
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• 12Apr 07

  Timely DLC

  When the current generation of console started, I jumped on it from day one,in part because I like shiny new gadgets but mostly because of the fact that consoles would be connected to the Web with updates available. To me, it seemed like something the PS2 and XBox should have done, but this gen would bring all new posibilities.
  
  Some of the stuff was unexpected like Achievements. Pretty nice. One thing that was expected is downloadable content. I think that's great because when I finish a great game, I'm always bummed that I have to wait at least a year if not more to play more of it. My biggest problem with DLC, at least so far, is that they come out way too late. So there will be new playable characters in Marvel Ultimate Alliance ? Great! But I'm done with the game. In fact, I've been done with the game for a long time now and have no interest in playing it again because I have a lot of other stuff to play.
  
  I understand that these things takes time to make. I really do. But several months after the game is out is just too late. Crackdown is in the same position. I loved that game, but if the DLC doesn't come out soon, I will probably not care anymore.
  
  Seeing new songs in Guitar Hero 2 so quickly after the game came out was great. A little overpriced, but that's another debate. I like how they decided to release new songs every month. I think other publishers need to take note. I'd certainly buy more stuff if they came out sooner. 
  • Posted Apr 12, 2007 8:20 pm GMT
  • Category: Games
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• 1Apr 07

  Now that's an achievement

  I've discussed the Xbox 360's achievements system before, but tonight it's not until tonight that I was able to fully appreciate the what it could truly do. Crackdown has been on my mind lately. Not because the game I can't stop playing the game -- the new DLC really is needed -- but because I finally got 2 important achievements. Master Agent and, most of all, Free Runner, the one where you need to get all 500 Agility Orbs.
  
  
  I was really pissed of at that thing and had actually stopped playing and had migrated to the PS3 to play Motorstorm and God Of War. Tonight, while trying to finally get Master Agent status, I happened upon the last orb. I had been at 499 for a few weeks now, been around the tallest building in the game at least 10 times and I finally found it tonight. It just happened to be located in Lost Muertos, 2 feets above the ground, in the middle of the starting island.
  
  While I'm kinda pissed about having missed it the first 30 times I went around that island, it really made me appreciate the concept of achievements. It's not really about the total gamerscore, it's about what it can do to push yourself to play further and to do more. I never would have attempted to do this on any other system.
  
  Can't wait to see what Sony does with the Trophies system in Home. Hopefully that accomplishes the same thing and if it can do that without computing a final score, it might just end up even better. Now if only Nintendo would do the same please. 
  • Posted Apr 1, 2007 11:12 pm GMT
  • Category: Games
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