ismawi

Playstation 3 PSN - connection with unifi

Friday, August 27, 2010 11:08 AM Posted by Tremologuy

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I'm posting this so that in case somebody is looking for a solution to the Unifi PSN disconnection problem.

I recently installed unifi at my apartment and since I have cancelled my streamyx, was unable to get a stable connection to the Playstation Network. I would get disconnected every 5 minutes or so. and the error is often 8002AD3. A lot of searches on the internet proved that this has something to do with the internet connection itself and not the PSN network. Although connecting is not a problem and I was able to get Nat 2 and upnp, the disconnections were very annoying.

I tried a few solutions, using LAN connection, DMZ, port forwarding and nothing seems to work. That was until I stumbled upon a group of Unifi users who were discussing on ways to get around the unifi hardware. Apparently the dir-615 modem provided as standard by TM is not very good. Depending on the geographical area, your unifi connection might be stable enough to run the PSN. however, in my case, it wasn't.

So, A forumer on lowyat suggested a solution by bypassing the dir-615 as a bridge and using another router to do the pppoe and dhcp elements. You can find the guide here

http://unifi.athena.my/

enjoy!

Modnation Racer

Sunday, July 25, 2010 10:20 PM Posted by Tremologuy
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Little big planet was a very good game. I bought it, dabbled around in the idea of content creation and then when it got stale, gave it away. Perhaps my slightly above average gaming age doesn't allow me to have that much attention span to carry on creating stuff with all the marvellous tools available.

That is probably why modnation racer did not appeal to me at first. Despite the rave reviews by a lot of the websites out there, I was a little sceptical. So I took my time, and borrowed a copy of a friend to see if its a good game or not. A week later, I bought a copy.



It's a cute game and it IS LBP in a race car. It allows for almost limitless content creation projects from something as small as modding a driver, to the kart and eventually the tracks. But what makes it amazing and for me edge it over LBP is the competitive nature of the game. When in LBP it is more of a co-operative multiplayer, MNR is all out battle on tarmac. Trying to beat other races online on the stock tracks or avoiding traps clearly designed to give the creator an advantage are both equally stimulating and fun. I have to also say that despite the simplistic nature of the game-play itself, this is probably a more complex kart-racer compared to its predecessors like Mario-cart and that awful Sonic game. The fact that you can gain loads of experience points by blasting your oponents every chance you get is exhilirating. Even if you don't get first place, it doesn't matter that much. Style and aggression is valued almost as important as actually winning.

This is a great little game with miles of legs ahead. I might even consider keeping it as a permanent collection.

Reed Deed Redeemption

Friday, May 28, 2010 10:57 PM Posted by Tremologuy

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Sorry for the title :D but if any one had watched the Kiwis podcast on Youtube, then you would know what I'm talking about hehe.

I haven't had time to focus on gaming the last few weeks due to a sudden spike in the number of teaching hours. So my gaming has been sporadic and uneventful. This is a game that i felt I had to get. I have always loved Grand Theft Auto and despite R* saying that RDR is not a western GTA. It certainly is. And to be fair, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is not simply just another GTA game, however. It is western GTA. Cue coyote howls and banjo music, please.

You play as the typical anti-hero better known as John Marston, a gruff, rough and tumble gun slinger with an unexpected kind heart. But test his patience long enough and he'll turn on you like a cactus up your bum. As with many protagonists in Rockstar Games, John is a an easy character to like. Nico Belic is another example of this. They are not particularly chivalrous characters, but rather one who are thrown into the fray against their will. We like that indeed; best heroes are often made that way.

Why do I say its not such a bad thing that RDR is so GTA-like? Because as with GTA, you get to do a ton of things. Side quests and mini-games are endless and everywhere to be found.

The game is a little buggy for my liking though. My PS3 has the O button as its main selecting button but the game doesn't accommodate itself to this. It keeps confusing the X with O button and in some mini game like poker, it becomes almost impossible to play. There might be a patch later to fix this I assume. The horse rides can sometimes become very dull as there is nothing out there to see except long stretches of the wild plains. And to be honest after a while it becomes plain boring to see.

All in all, a good all round game with miles of longevity despite its minor bugs. Good story, likeable characters, and cool western action to boot.

First Impression - This is what my summer is going to be like

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 1:28 AM Posted by Tremologuy
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I finally managed to get a copy of FIFA World Cup South Africa and what a wait it had been. A lot of stores around the Klang Valley have increased the retail price of this game unexpectantly, considering that (according to some sources) that our retailers are now getting these games directly from the publishers. This basically means that we should expect to get certain PS3 games at cheaper prices. I give you an example, One very reputable (to some) dealer in a certain cinema based mall in Kota Damansara was charging a hefty RM189 for FIFA WC. Its neighbor is charging a lot less, but not cheap, at RM159. While all this is happening, PS3 game buyers in Malaysia have come across something exciting. Games Deliveries. It's like Pizza Hut but with Playstation games. A combination of two great things in life. But this formula is not entirely proven yet. Once I can ascertain the true value of this up and coming service, I will write about it.

Now, let's get into the game. I have to be honest, I am quite on the fence about this game. Despite the fanfare and the sleek design of the menus, there are a lot of noticeable components that are missing. The virtual PRO component has been replaced by "Captain Your Country" which chronicles your rise as a fringe national player up till you become the National Captain. This is a great addition except for the fact that you no longer have the download the game face addition. You supposedly can download it once you created a player, but evertime I tried the game kept telling me that I have no save data. Odd. There are a lot of other things that don't work well too. There is a slight bug in editing your CYC squad in the My FIFA WC sub menu. It says you can't edit until you have created a player. But I HAVE!!! wtf!? Maybe I'm not doing it right or there must be an issue somewhere. Nevertheless, I could hardly remember when making things work in FIFA games is so frustratingly hard.

Many buyers of the game look forward to getting into the game straight away especially online. I don't doubt this is a great game to play online. That is probably my biggest liking about this game. I had a torrid time getting FIFA 10 to run smoothly on the PSN. FIFA WC seems to be much more forgiving and less laggy. I do still get the old "stat report failed" error at the end of a game, which was never an issue in FIFA 09.

Gameplay wise, this game is fantastic. There's a new camera angle for co-op team play and Captain your Country which allows for a bigger field of vision of the pitch. If you have a 32" screen like me though (with bad eyes) you would still want to stick with the normal 'tele' camera angle. Oh, I can hear thunder. It's going to rain soon... Thank god my house is 5 minutes from work :D. Ok, back to the game. The controls are sharper and your players seem to be more skilful at controlling the ball. As with every new version of a football franchise, defending becomes harder to do and requires a little more thought and tactical planning. I can't really say if the FK bug has been fixed, because I haven't had people belting in FKs with 100% accuracy. I have always been rubbish at FKs so I can't really tell. 

Well, I'll update this article with a full review soon. Especially after I've had more time with the game. But for now, I got a feeling that it is going to be a good good summer. 

Heavy Rain - A prope game with a proper ending

Sunday, May 2, 2010 10:44 AM Posted by Tremologuy
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Lately, I've been a little frustrated with video games not having enough of a satisfactory ending to warrant a job well done for finishing the game. Look at GOW3 for example. No real conclusion to the tale and instead of answering important questions, more questions arose. It is probably just a way for video game studios to make more money by allowing a premise for a potential sequel; despite it being the final chapter of bla bla bla..



Let's have look at Heavy Rain. This is a game that is designed to be narrative based and a strong plot is crucial to the success of this game. The gameplay is quite new to me and I approached it with much skepticism. The first 20 minutes or so were quite dull to be honest and I suppose it was designed to ensure that the gamer is completely familiar with the games' mechanics. As the story progressed, it became harder and harder to put down. Each 'episodes' in the game peels away layers in the story and also allow the player to bond closer to each of the four characters. I have to admit, for the first time, I was not annoyed by any one of them! Usually a troupe o characters would include one or two annoying ones that just really get on your nerves. But even Madison grew on me eventually; and I know what you're thinking; its not ONLY because of the shower scene.

I realized that you're not really playing this game. You're simply moving the narrative along. The game is so forgiving at times and allows you quite a fair amount of time to do mundane tasks, while at the same time drives you into panic mode in chase or escape scenes. Playing Norman Jaden is probably the closest you'll get to actually experiencing a video game feel in the entire game; with his hi-tech sunglasses and virtual investigation rooms.

But what I like about this game is how it ends. If you play it right, all the loose ends will eventually connect themselves and gave way to a satisfying ending. I may not be able to comment on the possibility of a bad ending; but I am sure it would just encourage players to replay the game until a satisfactory one occurs. A lot of games like GOW3 focuses too much on how a game starts - the big boss fights 5 minutes into the game, the grand scale of it all, etc., yet fail to end it well. I think a lot of developers should look at quanticdreams and say to themselves; maybe they should not build the expectation too high in the beginning, only to let everyone down in the end.

Studio versus Publisher

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 8:25 PM Posted by Tremologuy
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latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-activision-20100428,0,7344613.story

latimes.com
Call of Duty crew sues Activision
Ben Fritz

April 28, 2010
The legal battle over one of the biggest brands in the video game industry has leveled up.

Thirty-eight former and current employees of Infinity Ward — the Encino-based development studio that makes the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare video games for Activision Blizzard Inc. — have sued Activision, claiming they are owed between $75 million and $125 million in unpaid royalties.

Last month former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella were fired by Activision and filed a $36-million suit against the Santa Monica publisher.

Many Infinity Ward employees have quit recently, including 21 plaintiffs in the new suit. Some joined West and Zampella's new firm, Respawn Entertainment.

The suit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Courtalleges that the publisher has withheld royalty payments for Modern Warfare 2 in order to keep employees from leaving before finishing work on Modern Warfare 3, planned for release in 2011.

An Activision spokesman said, "Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for [Modern Warfare 2] and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times."

ben.fritz@latimes.com

Copyright © 2010, The Los Angeles Times

Anticipating Super Street Fighter IV

Monday, April 26, 2010 2:06 AM Posted by Tremologuy
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Street Fighter has to be the most recognizable franchise of all time. I still remember as a child of 11, getting fleeting glances of what Street Fighter was all about in smoky dark arcades in town. Of course we weren't allowed to enter those arcades because back then such entertainment was only available to those of 18 years old and beyond. Some of us were lucky enough to had an older brother who would sneak them in, or came across an arcade with less stringent policies about school uniforms and 'underage' gaming. So we circled around these fortunate ones and listen to their stories about the most orgasmic experience 20 cents could buy you those days.

Since this week's latest release is Super Street Fighter IV, I thought it would be nice to go down memory lane, and recap what an amazing game this was, and is.

The first Street Fighter game I've ever played was Street Fighter II. I found out a few years later that the version I played was doctored by a bunch of genius third party programmers who thought 'fireballing' with no delays was a good idea. Therefore, my first experiences weren't kind. I dismissed the game as barbaric and immature. It was designed for button mashers with no class or guile (see how I did that?). The stupid unwinable Guile's freezing whatever it was was a constant pain in the arse.


So I almost decided that Street Fighter, after all the stories I've heard from my so called 'learned' peers, was a shallow, meaningless game.

I was to be proven wrong. A friend of mine asked me to take a trip down to Kuala Pilah one fine weekend where a Street Fighter machine is to be found. And that it was an original code, no tampering by some 'genius' from Taiwan and it was in a video game shop, which meant, we could play it legally! So we went on that 1 hour bus ride from Jelebu to reach the sacred place. I was disapointed at first because it wasn't actually a real machine. It was Super Famicom rigged to a big screen and wooden slab joystick for two players. We didn't have to use 20 cents coins but paid for a whole hour. I believe it was 5 ringgit for an hour. We paid for two. We figured that since we made that long trip to Kuala Pilah, we might as well enjoy it to the fullest. That was probably the best day three of us have ever had. For KL folks, Arcade games like this is probably littered everywhere in shopping complexes back then. So it might be hard to imagine how ecstatic we were then, playing the game for hours (two in fact) for the first time, without a care in the world.

When I got my first Street Fighter on the MegaDrive, it was called Super Street Fighter II. The main difference between the code on the megadrive and the one on the SNES was that the MegaDrive was faster, so Turbo actually meant speed whilst on the SNES it was like turning off the AC in your Kancil to make it go a bit faster. However, the Megadrive couldn't make the SFX that the SNES could so voices were muffled and sounded a bit, shrill. But by then, I've had some practice due to my frequent visit to Kuala Pilah with my two best friends at the time. My parents were even suspecting me of taking drugs. So that by the time I arrived in England, I was the best Street Fighting Asian boy in the town of Loughborough, Leicester. Over in England, it was a common sight to see game shops with arcade games inside them. Most of the English boys were very bullish and their ego were crushed beneath my mighty quarter circling hands. I was pretty handy with Samurai Spirit too (Samurai Shodown in Japan) and pretty much cleaned house every evening after school. I have even been cornered at various places in school by boys who wanted me to play them; but by then I've already got myself a few bodyguards. My posse who protected my dainty Asian hands wherever I went.

But I was only good because they were very poor. Super Street Fighter II Turbo came out and by that time, everybody was playing the game and bringing out Akuma like it was second nature to them. This also meant that my popularity started to wane. But no matter, I enjoyed the fame while it lasted, for sure.

Since then, various versions of the great game had been released, Alpha (Zero), Alpha II, Puzzle, the successful versus series, Street Fighter III (which was good, but didn't push any boundaries), and the dreadful EX (Well, I hated it. It was clunky).  Honestly though, I can't say that I've ever been as excited about a game as I had been when SF4 was released last year. It brought back what we love about the game. The colours, the frustrations and the fun you could have playing with your best friends over a beat up SNES somewhere in Kuala Pilah.


Buying games online... is it safe?

Friday, April 23, 2010 5:29 PM Posted by Tremologuy
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I reckon so, yes. I've bought a few games and some of the forumers have as well. Reputable online game shops such as pla-asia.com is pretty good and efficient. But i'm not so sure if the price is any better than getting it locally at your shops. There are also risks involved such as a delay in delivery and lost packages. Make sure that the company you are buying from is reputable and provides insurance coverage on your game. This will make sure that if somehow your package is lost in the post, it can be replaced with a new one. Although this process usually takes up to 3-4 weeks at best.

So why buy online if it is slower, not cheaper, and risky? I actually have no idea.

Great RPGs that I love - pt. 2

Thursday, April 22, 2010 1:13 AM Posted by Tremologuy

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In the previous article, I wrote about how those early RPG experiences really hooked me into the world of gaming. Silver, with its slick graphic and story; Soleil, the first proper JRPG I played; Secret of Mana - The closest thing I got to a Square masterpiece when I was young; and Chrono Cross - An excellent all round RPG.

In all these games, however, I felt there was one thing lacking. Perhaps it's because I was too young to appreciate all the nuances in the plot and the multilayered emotions at play. I was too young to appreciate how important good storytelling was, and the kind of relationship that forms between a gamer and the main character. That all changed, when I picked up a copy of undoubtedly, in my opinion, the best RPG, in the world.

Everyone, who has loved RPG in one way or another would not dare argue with me. This is, the definitive RPG. Yes, perhaps compared to next gen gaming the pixels are a bit outdated and its maddeningly cliche, but it has all the ingredients to make a perfect RPG. An RPG is first and foremost about the story. It has to have a really good story to tell. XII, as a lot of us fondly call it nowadays, had the best story of them all. Set in a steam punk setting with a backdrop of an evil corporation, what is there not to like? It's like Gotham City meets Akira.

And you have to love how the game is paced. I believe that this is the main reason why I love 7 and 8 more than any other Fianl Fantasies. Both games let you play the game in your own preferred pace. You can decide to play it slow, or rush your way to the end. RPGs should grow on you, not forced upon. There is always a need for players to learn about each character and bond with them before the final leg of the journey begins. That is why episodes like "Gold Saucer", "Tifa's Kidnapping" and various other mini plots are vital to this brilliant RPG. In a way, you know that there is a backbone to the whole thing. Something that holds it all together. But it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy this game the way you want to. The main reason why I am so frustrated with 13. Such a disapointment.

Here's a secret. Why is FF7 better than the others? It is quite simple really. Violence. Violence in video games is memorable. Aeris death? Sephiroth attack on Shinra? classic memories that stick in your head for ages. It's not saying that I condone violence in video games. I've forgotten half of the violent scenes in GOW3, but what I mean is violence where it matters. Sometimes, the bad guy is just not bad enough if he weren't a violent person. Violence is part of our reality. It connects our emotions together from sadness to piety. Violence works as much as love does. FF7 had both. touche.

Designing a game is like building a car. If you are making an RPG, make sure it FEELS like an RPG. The new cars have all these gadgets and security widgets that takes away the experience of actually driving one. New RPGs are so concerned about ensnaring new audiences that violence in the game is no longer tolerable. Square has also assumed that video gamers no longer need to think; linearity has taken over. Just press up and you'll get to the end. Funnily enough, even the new GOW3 didn't have challenges that perk up your brain. Maybe game developers have found out something that we haven't. Maybe the future generation of gamers really don't want to think. They just want to point guns at things and shoot them. No wonder FPS sell so well these days.



Great RPGs that I love

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 9:24 PM Posted by Tremologuy
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I wrote in a previous post that I wished I hadn’t sold off my Dragon Age: Origins and now desperately wanting to buy a copy off of somebody. A lot of gamers of my age will never fault a decently good RPG and I would like to say that this statement is true, until this day. RPG is to me, undoubtedly, the best genre in a video game…….. ever……. in the world.

So, in this slightly longer than usual article (I believe short blogposts or microblogging as they call it nowadays – are rubbish excuse for laziness) I am going to list down some RPGs which have made my life as I was growing up, a lot better. You may not have played or seen any of these games as they were on a few different formats but a quick google would lead you straight to them. This is not a list of “Best RPGs ever etc etc”. It’s a personal list so bear with me if you please.

1. SILVER (PC)

Atari, Spiral House, 1999.

What a game this was! I played this game on my Pentium II 200 PC in my uni dorm room, circled by about 3 or 4 RPG enthusiasts. Silver was a unique PC RPG as it was one of the first RPG released exclusively on the PC, Dreamcast and Macintosh with strong Japanese RPG roots. It was released after FF7 got ported to the PC – Remember the 7 discs or something you had to install? I have to say, this is a great classic that a lot of people should play. Some great features of this game was the way you control the sword movements using your mouse, different slashes and clicks will perform different moves. Almost like a precursor to the wii! Except its wired lol.

Memorable moments: The amount of fun my friends and I had figuring out how to defeat each boss and cleaning the mouse tracking ball for smoother slashing moves. It was a game played by one, but enjoyed by many.


2. SOLEIL (SEGA Megadrive)

SEGA, 1994.

I got a Megadrive while I was living in England and envied my SNES owning friends to bits as I have always wanted one myself. My dad decided to pacify my gaming needs by buying the wrong console for my birthday (but don’t worry, later on I would eventually get a SNES). The thing about owning a SNES was the luxury of having a ton of RPGs to play. SEGA, however has a very limited number of RPGs at the time. Soleil is one of the game available on the cheap and since those days, you didn’t have the internet to check on reviews, I decided to get one. Fortunately, the game was a good one. It was unique and quirky. You control a hero who is aided by cute animals that would grant you special abilities (think cute GFs) as you play the game. Unfortunately, you can only control one hero throughout the game, so it is a little dull after a while. The storyline is simple but probably more suited to players around 13 years old. I was 14 at the time, so give or take.

Memorable moments: Getting stuck on a quest and having to restart the game all over again as it was a glitch. But persevered! It taught me that when you hit a dead end, retrace your steps and you’ll figure it out.


3. Chrono Cross (Playstation)

Square, 2000

Before Square was Square-Enix, they made great games. The original Final Fantasy series, the Mana series and ultimately the Chrono Series. Chrono Trigger on the SNES was one of the sought after JRPGs. It was even declared to be one of the best on the 16 bit system. I, unfortunately, never got the opportunity to play Chrono Trigger on the Playstation so I was thrilled when I heard about Chrono Cross. This is a really big game. The number of playable characters is massive and with each character the expansion of your quests keep growing bigger and bigger. It is impossible to enjoy this game to its fullest without a game book and I immediately bought one. It was my first strategy guide. With the trusty book at my side, I ploughed through each quest and collected almost all the hidden characters in the game. It was one of the most industrious times in my gaming life. Unfortunately, the main protagonist, Serge was a little lifeless and boring to play. He didn’t have the pull that some of the others have.

Memorable moments: The first fight tutorial and trying to understand the elements and the colours and the wtf! Taught me that if you that books will always matter even with us having the internet and everything. In the end, all the answers will still be in books.


4. Secret of Mana (SNES)

Square, 1993

This has to be the game that got me hooked to RPGs. Before owning this game, I often frequented to my neighbour’s house. He already had a copy and we continuously played the last level (you know the one before you go and meet the biggest boss) over and over again to level up. The key word here is: ‘WE’. Yes, this is probably the first ever Multiplayer co-op RPG. You should thank Square for your WoWs. In this game, you can link up to three players using a multi-tap converter. Each player controls one character on-screen and plays it independently. Previous Square games relied on the slow turn-based system, but for Secret of Mana, its all active combat. You see it, you slash it. Super moves are executed by charging the attack button up to level 8 which unleashes a very powerful attack. You can also cast buffs and debuffs on you characters. You collect magic by traveling to temples and palaces around the world and liberating tiny magical creatures called Elementals. This game is romantic and envisages Square’s ability to tell fantastic stories. Shame about what had happened in the last few years.

Memorable moments: Flying on a white dragon to reach parts of the map. First experience of 3D gaming for me! I learned never to underestimate the SNES.

Have to get back to work now.
To be continued...

PSN Network ID theft!

6:51 PM Posted by Tremologuy

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Hi guys, I want to draw your attention to this news that I read today. Sounds really dangerous and I think we should act upon it immediately. Delete your PSN codes like those that show trophies to avoid theft such as this one. Or you could also remove your Credit Card details from your main account to avoid theft. Read on:

http://www.ironstarmovement.com/profiles/blogs/the-playstation-network-is

Be careful out there!

Missed a game you sold?

8:12 AM Posted by Tremologuy

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Here's a thought. I was browsing through the WTS thread and found that somebody was selling Dragon Age : Origins! Has to be one of my favourite game of all time. I decided to sell it off almost as soon as I completed it because I was anticipating the upcoming release of Final Fantasy xiii. Now that Final Fantasy xiii has turned out to be a bit of a bombshell, I am starting to miss my old Dragon Age game again. I wish that I could have it back, right now.

The thing I like about Dragon Age is how immense the game world is, and the fact that you can customize your character into anything you wanted; makes it more personal and meaningful. It's like baking your own cake, and eating it too. There is also the never ending list of quests that I could have done. I'm pretty sure I did a large part of it, but when I snooped around the net, it turns out that I had barely scratched the surface. It baffles me how they could cram all that into a single disc. I am tempted to go and get the copy of DA just for the fun of it. To have it in my collection next to the games I will never sell, Metal Gear Solid 4 and strangely enough, Fight Night 4.

First Impression of Heavy Rain

Sunday, April 18, 2010 7:37 PM Posted by Tremologuy
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  I did a game exchange yesterday with a fine fellow called Peter. I gave away an excellent copy of Battlefield Bad Company 2 and in exchange I got Heavy Rain, the dramatic thriller by Quantic Dream. I was really excited to play this game since it was released a few months ago, but it was quick off the shelf and other blockbuster games were also on offer. I decided to let it slide first until an opportunity such as this one comes along. Seriously though, trading is absolutely excellent! I have only played about 4-5 hours worth so far (since I am quite addicted to this other game namely Fottball Manager - which I can't put down) and I have to say that I am very impressed.

This is a big thing to say as my previous game had been God of War 3, a very good game. Choosing a game to play immediately after such a great title is hard as you might have very high expectations which would never be met. I won't give away spoilers as I myself have not finished the game. I probably need to go through a few more hours to really get the hang of this game. My first impression was how good it looks. The game truly takes advantage of the PS3 hardware and yet again proves that Playstation exclusives are always great buys. Look at GOW3 and Uncharted 2 for example. Great graphics. You are treated to loading screens which reminded me much of the Metal Gear Solid ones with closeups of Snake's face while he's having a cigarette. This time, however, you are treated to a beautifully rendered face of the character you are about to play in glorious HD!

I think the biggest achievement this game has done is blurring the ever nearing gap of cinema and video games. This game reminds me a lot of those old RPG games like Larry Suite and Treasure Island, but it is so much more than that. At times, it doesn't feel like a game; and yet, it doesn't feel like an FMV either? Let's take the Metal Gear Solid games for example. The games take advantage of well-directed cut scenes by Kojima. However, they were mere cut-scenes. There is no interaction as you sit idly as a passive watcher. God of War and Uncharted are similar in some ways too. Heavy Rain, however, is basically (as of now) a playable FMV. The 'world' is limited to that particular scene and your decisions will eventually affect the outcome of the movie. There is no telling how the scene would end. I'll give you an example; in one scene, you play an old P.I. who is trying to weasel out some information from a prostitute. I chose a few commands and I suppose I failed to get anything out of her. As I walked out, a client of her started to cause problems and voila! who's your knight in shining armour baby! I didn't get anything out of her still, but I feel that somehow karma will reward me later in the game.

Well, so far Heavy Rain is quite impressive. It is slow, and your gameplay is limited to scenes from the overall 'movie'. But the narrative and plot is very strong and every single thing you do in the movie seems to have a foreboding purpose to it. I can't wait to rush back home to continue the story. will write more soon!

Adios amigos!

Playstation 3 Games Trading in Malaysia : Part Deux

Thursday, April 15, 2010 12:09 AM Posted by Tremologuy

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So you found a game you like on one of the WTS forums and are now ready to deal. Make sure that you have scouted around for the best deal. There are sellers who charge a slightly higher price for games which are Region 1 or 2. Region 3 usually fetch a lower price compared to R1 or 2. In most cases, there aren't that many differences between the different regions to be honest. The instruction manual might not be in English and there might be some online issues, but besides that, all is golden. The play-code is usually the same so there is no need to worry.

Start by personal messaging the seller in a friendly and cheerie tone. I hate it when people who want to buy from me act rude or lack courtesy. Do not be afraid to state your preferred price straight away. Offer a price that you are prepared to pay. Most sellers who are selling 'new' or 'hot' games are usually not willing to haggle. So prepare to be disapointed. Next, you need to work out your payment method.

COD

Cash on Delivery or COD is probably the most preferred method out there. It is almost 100% safe and neither party needs to stick his or her neck out on the line. This is also where you can cut a little bit of cost to your purchase. Arrange to meet where it is most convenient for both of you. Choose a place where you visit often during the weekends such as shopping malls. Some buyers also like to meet at LRT stations which are near to places they commute to and fro. Sometimes, even if you can score a great discount from a seller, it doesn't mean anything if you have to travel really far to collect the game. You end up not saving any monet at all. So choose sellers who live close to where you are and negotiate for a win-win situation.

POSLAJU / FEDEX

Poslaju is a great tool for a lot of active sellers. It also means that buyers from outside of Klang Valley can join in the fun of trading. I like using Poslaju as it is really convenient and quite safe. So far I've never had any lost packages. Be wary though, you ought to check the reliability of the seller before you agree to a payment. Check the seller's posts to make sure that he/she is an active member of the forum. A lot of sellers also post their succesful trade list to establish credibilty. Do check these sellers out. The most important thing you need to get from the seller is the tracking number, which you can cross check with the POS Malaysia to find out where your package is. It usually arrives the next day.

TRADING

I love trading. It saves a lot of trouble of money exchanging hands and you usually can get a really good deal. Your unwanted game might well be another man's treasure. Search for WTT threads in these forums and look at what they have to offer. You might sometimes need to top up some cash in order to make it work, but it usually is a win-win situation. This is a great way to get rid of a game that you thought were going to be good, but just wasn't your cup of tea. For example, the guitar hero games are great for trading. There are so many of them and players tend to want to play new songs all the time. Since the gameplay is relatively the same, why not trade? Guitar Hero World Tour for Rockband as an example.

A lot of Malaysian gamers are great individuals. If you get a chance to meet them, don't forget to take down their PSN ID and phone number. You might end up establishing a great long lasting relationship with fellow PS3 gamers. They might even think of you first when they have more games to sell!

Playstation 3 Games Trading in Malaysia

Monday, April 12, 2010 7:36 PM Posted by Tremologuy
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Let's face it, PS3 gaming IS expensive in Malaysia. Each games costs the player an average RM160 - RM200 brand new depending on where you live. Gamers outside of KL and Selangor often complains of limited stock and higher than average prices from local retailers. This is to be expected as the demand for games in cities like Penang and JB might be robust, but not enough to inspire a saturated market.

It doesn't mean that KLites and Selangorians have it easy. We also have to constantly be on the lookeout for bargain buys and building rapport with traders have helped a tremendous deal. My particular favourite shop is TECHQ in cineleisure. They might not be the flashiest, but the guys are friendlier and more down to earth than their neighboring store - you know who you are! It sells games at a very reasonable price and you always get the satisfaction of haggling for the almost mandatory 10% discount. I suppose a shop gets its vote based on the level of convenience, service and most importantly the price of games.

Unfortunately, the PS3 gaming library is fast growing and no less than 2 or 3 major titles are released each month. This can become quite a strain on the old wallet. It would mean that a player might need to put aside as much as RM500-RM600 per month solely for games. Now, most PS3 gamers I have met are young professionals ranging from the age of 20 - 30 and even though this amount is relatively affordable, it doesn't really inspire economic sense. So at most, our wives will allow us to buy 1 or 2 games a month, depending on how we ask them. This brings me to my next point: trading.

Trading has been around for a while and most people in Malaysia have traded and CODied in one form or another and at some point or another in their lives. In my opinion, it is the best way to experience PS3 gaming. For us professionals, we do not have the luxury of spending countless hours in front of the TV like we used to. Not only are we less energetic, we also suffer from a dwindling attention span. I used to be able to replay MGS many times in different Snake outfits. Nowadays though, I would have to labour through the first play through and get as many things done before I finish the game. I suppose deep in my heart I knew I won't have time to play it again.

A quick search will bring you to two popular sites http://forum.gamerzunited.net and http://forum.lowyat.net . It doesn't really matter which one you choose as most forumers post identical ads on both sites anyway. Both sites have a user friendly user control panel and Personal Messaging system. Great tools and very internet friendly.

PART I: BUYING

How do you go about it? The most important thing to think about is supply and demand. Go through the forum to find out how many of a particular game you are looking for is on sale. A new game with a very good review from popular internet sites such as IGN and Gamespot will usually have a higher demand.

Big Titles


Big titles and PS exclusives are also in high demand. This means they usually fetch a higher price. Right now its April 2010 and God of War 3 has just been released for a few weeks. Retail price of a new game stood at around RM195 and second hands are going for as high as RM170! The sellers believe that there are a lot of people looking for this game and even a tiny reduction of 10% would interest buyers. If you can't wait and really want to play the game, get it straight away. Even if you only save 10-20% of a brand new game, it is still worth it. PS3 users are very careful with their games and the condition is usually almost brand new bar the plastic packaging. Getting a second hand game early mean that you can actually resell it at almost the same price when you bought it. Try to negotiate as much as you can. Usually sellers will give a small discount (but I've rarely gotten anything above RM10) for these popular games. Look at the date of the post and how long it has been on the forum. If it is still fresh, it would be harder for you to negotiate. A post that has been around for more than a week might mean that the seller is a little bit more desperate to sell as the market starts to become saturated. More and more people will want to sell and the price will slowly drop. I estimate that the price drops about 10-15% a month and plateus at the RM120-140 mark for a few months. Then after, when it has become a 'classic' it will remain around the RM100 mark.

Series

This means that the title is part of a series e.g. Assassin Creed, FIFA, BioShock etc. There's a general guideline that most sports game become obsolete as soon as a new one hits the shelf, so most gamers will start selling their old football games 1-3 months before the new one comes out. If you are not particularly sussed about playing a previous version of a sports game, then it shouldn't really be a problem for you. Most FIFA and PES series can be bought at around RM80-90 a few months before the new one is released. Sometimes, even less. The other types of serial games however, adopts a weird formula. They usually follow the normal depreciation rule, but a few months before the next instalment arrives, they suddenly rise slightly in value. This is probably due to new gamers who had not played the previous serie and wishes to do so before the new one comes out; therefore increasing demand in the market. In this case, you might want to hold off buying this type of games as you might be paying more than you ought to.

Under-rated Games

There are a lot of games out there which are very good and received favourable reviews but never sold well. Games such as Infamous, Far cry, Brutal Legend were all great to play, but they are very genre specific and therefore doesn't appeal to many people. Snap these up on the trade market as soon as their value drop. You can really score a whole lot of bargain here. Just make sure that you haggle for the lowest price. These games won't trade well, so seller might be more accomodating to your needs.

New PS3 users

New PS3 users are a lucky bunch. You guys get to buy a lot of really great games for less than half their original prices. Scour around for great classics such as Metal Gear Solid 4, Grand Theft Auto 4, Warhawk, etc which at the moment should be selling at low prices and they are fantastic games with a very long shelf life to boot.

I'll continue this article later and talk about dealing with sellers. Have a good week~

Games for SALE

Sunday, April 11, 2010 3:19 AM Posted by Tremologuy

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Hi all,

Just an update on this blog here. I am selling my God of War III and Battlefield 2. Visit this link on lowyat to find out more! http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1377074/+140

FIFA 10

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 9:22 PM Posted by Tremologuy
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FIFA 10


Before the time of Playstation 3, the FIFA franchise had never really interested me. Pro Evolution Soccer was taking over Playstation 2 and everything was well. We were treated with strange updated versions of the WE/PES series every 6 months or so and whether each version was an improvement of the latter had not really been an issue. WE would win over FIFA in a fight on any given weekend. Unfortunately, and apologies to die-hard WE fans, Konami did not ‘bring it’ when it came to the next-gen console installments. WE 2007 and WE 2008 were both quite disappointing in a lot of areas, specifically in terms of branding and licensing. You see, it didn’t really matter to PS2 users that Konami never got any of the licenses for their games because the fact of the matter was that the gameplay triumphed over any other football simulations out there. With PS3 users however, HD gaming demanded more attention to detail and gamers were less forgiving. That was when EA released FIFA 08 / 09 which in my view was the nail in the coffin for the WE/PES franchise. Slick player movements combined with intuitive dribbling made the game so enjoyable to play and with EA’s longstanding licensing agreements with major leagues around the world and FIFA, which meant that you get to play Roberto Carlos instead of Roberto Larcos.

It was a foregone conclusion that a lot of WE fans were shamelessly crossing over to FIFA in 2009, albeit quietly. Deep down in their hearts, they were gunning for the little guy to come up with a miracle of a football game come 2010. A lot of us were muttering around street corners “serves them right” and “they’ll think twice before coming up with that shite again”. Nevertheless, by the time FIFA 10’s demo came out, everyone was already sold.

I am not going to a review because there are a lot of reviews out there already. I would just like to write down the reasons why I think the FIFA franchise is on the up and up.

First of all, unlike other genres, sport games are all about simulation gameplay. Prime examples can be chosen from the likes of Grand Turismo, the Madden and NHL franchises and various Tiger Woods reincarnations. One thing FIFA has done well over the years is to ensure that all their products carry the unique authentic quality of a live sport telecast. Everything from camera angles, motion captures, down to the commercial aspects of the sport had been given the full attention it deserved. Most football fans all over the world do not have the luxury of watching their favorite teams week in week out in England. We have had to make do with live telecast from ASTRO or gratuity from a nearby mamak franchise. And to be honest, sponsorships and the commerce is a big part of the game today. Tell me that you weren’t secretly rooting for Norwich when they had Proton as their sponsors.

Secondly, presentation. Believe me when I say that I bought WE 2008 when it was released, and as soon I got to the menu, I immediately thought “I must be dreaming, its 2005 and I am playing on my PS2”. A lot of people would agree with me when I say that the menu was a lot left to be desired. EA, however, has had years of experience when it comes to this. Even before the new millennium, their menus were slick and tidy, reminiscent of Apple commercials with their white backgrounds and silver trims. FIFA 09 and FIFA 10 both benefited from a well designed menu, and as I have mentioned earlier, HD gamers demand a lot more value from their games today. We buy originals nowadays and they are not cheap.

Third, gameplay. In ancient past, this was the single bastion of why you would always choose PES over FIFA any day. The speed of a PES game combined with its intricate movements and realistic team play crushed FIFA’s sluggish and awkward gameplay. I was talking to my fellow gamers about what they remembered most about the old FIFA games and one thing made us laugh: the invincible goal keepers. You couldn’t score if the game didn’t want you to score. There were cheap goals abound too. Solo runs from the center circle, ridiculous long shots etc. The new game changed that completely. FIFA 08 and 09 intuitive dribbling system was superbly done. FIFA 10’s 360 player control however, pawns. Finally it felt like you are playing on Playstation 3, and not the old Playstation 2. The Virtual Pro addition is remarkably and insanely good. After Fight Night 4’s image upload became an instant hit, the same concept was brought over to FIFA 10. To be honest with you, it is a really underrated technology. As I was reviewing a lot of reviews on the internet, not a lot of them really scrutinize this new element in gaming. I am predicting that in the near future, most games will incorporate this into their gameplay. I see a lot of massive potential in RPGs and the GTA series.


The game is however, not without fault. The EA server, is in my opinion unforgiving to Malaysian Streamyx users. In my experience, frequent disconnections from the EA server is common and lag issues remained unattended from the previous version. FIFA 10 actually felt worse online compared to FIFA 09. The copy that I got suffered from jittered replays which didn’t flow as smoothly as the FIFA 09 version. Free kicks are too easy to convert. Stoke City will convert their free kicks 100% of the time. I kid you not. But you guys know that already.

Alarmingly, however, EA is customarily releasing a World Cup version of its game. This is truly worrying and potentially disastrous. It is hoped that this move is not merely economical, but substantial too. April 27th is the day to get this game, and foolishly, I will get a copy and gleefully I will do it too.

dualshockthree online!

8:56 PM Posted by Tremologuy

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here's the deal, i am really iffed at reading reviews on ign, gamespot and other mainstream video games websites that are clearly biased towards certain types of video games genre, developer, country of origin etc. trust me they have caused me to make so many bad purchasing decisions. in kl and most parts of malaysia, we are blessed to have a lot of internet communities that service our needs and wants. excellent forums such as lowyat.net and play-beyond.net are great places for discussions and banter; exactly the kind of outsourcing capability that we gamers need. because truthfully, we spend too much time indoors, and do not have many friends. well, its true!

so what i really want to do here is just add another ingredient into this soup. if the forums above are the meat and potatoes, this blog would be the celery; an easily forgettable component, but vital for a good broth.

i'll be posting about basically whatever i want! and that's the fun part. everytime i go to these forums, there are so many restrictions and regulations. a lot of fanboyism too. slagging the right analog stick for example will get you murdered in some cases. i'll start with short reviews and recommendations of all the ps3 games that i have ever purchased and played. since i do not have the financial means to play all ps3 games ever made, i'll try and get my friends to contribute to my reviews as well. and hopefully all of you lucky enough to stumble into this blog would have a jolly good time!

see you soon


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