The Week in Geek
Every time I see Jim Lee's Batman I want to yell 'I'm the goddamn Batman' at the nearest person
DC Universe Online whets the appetite of nerds everywhere
Sony Online Entertainment has begun the pre-release push for DC Universe Online this week. Available for pre-order on Steamworks (PC) or at Gamestop (PS3), this game has promise, if only for a short while. A stunningly well-written and animated intro cut-scene has been available for a while, if only to whet nerdy appetites. With the coming of more screen shots and in-game footage it’s evidently clear that this is basically City of Heroes without the copyright infringement. DC Online promises a unique MMORPG experience, Even if it is the exact same unique experience that every other MMO franchise offers. Save your 50 dollars, boys and girls, this one is going to be the same as the other SOE bombs. Everquest, Star Wars Galaxies & Final Fantasy XI were all babies of Sony and they all had records of incredible mismanagement. Sony likes money, so they find a reputable franchise, destroy it’s credibility and milk its fans ‘till they give up. Sadly enough, DC Online boasts a universe in the style of Jim Lee as it’s main selling point. I can’t say I’m excited for dudes with absurdly large pectorals and pencil-thin ankles. This geek predicts 6 months of booming gameplay and then franchise death within 2 years, tops. Oh, and you can’t play as, with against any of the big-name DC characters. They’re just set-pieces. – Ben Kessell
Xbox Live gets a little more awesome this winter
If you’re into video games, you’ve probably heard about Xbox’s new product called Kinect, which literally makes you the controller for your video games. The games that they’re putting out for the Kinect system are similar to Wii avatar games, as demonstrated by developer Kudo Tsunoda on Late Night By Jimmy Fallon. Great for kids but it means I’m not interested. If it doesn’t have space ships and guns I’m not going to play it. But Xbox has more than Kinect up it’s sleeve. Xbox Live users can expect some awesome upgrades this winter. Gold membership, which is Live’s ultimate subscription, is now offering three new additions to it’s members. In December, of course just in time for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa, Xbox Live will include ESPN and Video Kinect. ESPN is pretty self-explanatory. Users will be able to stream live coverage and watch recaps on demand through the Xbox Live network. Men everywhere rejoice. Your Xbox has now become almost everything you need in life – sports, gratuitous violence, and digital boobies. Video Kinect uses your Kinect system to let you chat with friends and family members for free – no headset or controller needed. Get ready to take shit talking to an entirely new level. Then Xbox Live launches Hulu Plus in 2011. Now offering even more reason to get rid of cable television, Hulu Plus lets you stream television shows through your Xbox without the use of a controller…if you have Kinect. You can also watch shows together through a Xbox Live party. But that’s kind of lame. Either way, 2011 harkens the year where I never leave the television. – Amy Dittmeier
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Aug 31, 2010 @ 11:11 am