Hot Heart

I only used them for their powers...or their looks in Miranda's case.

Considering all the extra effort going into the combat I can see how it might work. It looks very Gears-like. And I mean, single-player already has squadmates, now powers can be split across actual players. Are you asking why tack it on for free (for new purchasers) instead of selling it separately? I imagine they are 'testing the water' rather than trying to sell it on its own merits. The game's release was pushed back supposedly for this (plus Kinect features?) so I doubt there is any focus taken from the single-player. (And, of course, Vargras sums it up well before me) Basically, major overreaction going on.

Playing through Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Maybe it's always been like this, or perhaps the bonus objectives highlight it, but the mission design is, at times, so terrible. 'Don't kill anyone before doing blah blah' Why? I kill every other guard. What is so special about these ones? OK then, I'll use the unarmed takedown because that doesn't seem to kill guards, and it never raises Notoriety (unlike stabbing and other methods for killing guards). 'Nope, that counts as a kill. FAILED!' ...still fun though. And the scenery is beautiful.

It's a good song.

I'm not really bothered about other people's reactions. Always bound to be a negative vocal reaction to any new thing. I think it will at least be interesting to see, and why shouldn't BioWare try some co-op third-person-shooter stuff? Not even as if it impacts on the single-player...despite possibly delaying the release. And here is a thing confirming the 'co-op missions' element. http://twitter.com/#!/CaseyDHudson/status/123465882281320449

Apparently, co-op is supposed to be a separate mode. Seems to be a popular thing recently with CoD and Rage doing it (I'm sure there are earlier examples too).

If you view the magazine cover picture it says 'Fight alongside your friends...'

http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/2011/10/pcpp197-on-sale-october-19/

Yeah, that's the one. Although, obviously, this was the NES version so it only allowed two people. They released the arcade version on XBLA, which had four-player but was missing some of the levels from the console version, sadly. That game had some great music too.

Such an awesome game. Music was great too. I would use it as my first taste of co-op in a way but I'd already played TMNT II: The Arcade game. That would go in my 3x3 if I ever get round to it.

Finished reading Y: The Last Man.

Yeah, I thought it was common knowledge that another team was porting it, since Rockstar had already said they would never work with Team Bondi again. If I recall, Rockstar Leeds are handling the PC version.

Not much to add because I think Ethan and T-Next have covered it well but... Yant is making a distinction between a creator (in this case a developer) and a publisher. Tim Schafer might be OK with you pirating Psychonauts because Double Fine now own the publishing rights and such, plus it's an old release that everyone who would consider buying it at a beneficial price probably has by now. I doubt he'd encourage you to pirate Brutal Legend because EA put money into its development and published it. And the same goes for musicians. Record companies may not pay them a lot for record sales, but they do a lot for the bands. Chances are, they still cover the actual touring costs and arrangements. So while musicians may like to make money off merchandise and shows, there are still people behind them who need the income from music purchases. Of course, it's not all black-and-white, because of how certain developers or musicians work (they may be independents that publish and manage their own stuff) but otherwise I think that is what Yant was trying to say.

Thanks! Hmm, might have to adjust my article a little then.

Since you never check the PXOD GDocs, and you're the perfect person to ask, I shall do so here. In an article I am writing I mention the threat indicator that Double Agent uses (with green, yellow and red being used to signify whether you're safe, have a chance of being spotted or have been detected). From what I can see, this was not in the earlier entries in the series but I'd like confirmation from someone who has experience with them. Thanks!

Whether publishers would like used sales made illegal is neither here nor there. I'm sure any business would like people always paying full price for their products. And it hasn't happened anyway. And I'd just like to clarify, I'm not against people 'pirating to try' and then purchasing right away if they do intend to play it. I would never hold that against people, and I know you guys are generally pretty good on that front. It's just important to understand both sides. I think the biggest problem, as is the case with Ubisoft and PC sales, is this failure of the publishers to understand the situation. People may be pirating to try games and then purchasing, but all they will look at is how many people have torrented the game and decide DRM is the answer. And the only way around that, it would seem, would be to follow the alternatives such as buying cheap or used.

As far as I can see it, from the publisher's side, they'd rather you follow the available legal channels. Not sure on a game? Then wait until it goes down in price, see what other people have to say, buy it pre-owned if you have to. Sure, if you did pirate and then buy it straight away, that's more money to them but I don't think that's how publishers like to look at it. In EA's case they're still looking to make money off things like DLC and Project Ten Dollar because those cover the legal options available. In a perfect world, there wouldn't be restrictions on lending games to friends or stifling DRM but, unfortunately, that is the case. In the end, it's entertainment, not a necessity. No one needs it right away. And if publishers fail to get a full-price purchase out of you because of a lack of a demo or whatever, then that's their fault and their problem.

In Spain, during the 'everybody get drunk' part of the wedding. Clearly, I am showing off my glowing tan. Damn, I am pretty.

It was originally reported that the Joker Carnival Challenge map would add 4 hours of content but the actual promo vid, and later discussion, seems to imply that it is simply what it is called: a challenge map. Because the PC version has been delayed I guess, on the plus side, that I can wait it out and see which pre-order bonus is supposed to be the best. Because while I got a good price for my pre-order I wouldn't mind paying a little more for the Robin DLC and avoiding the SteelBook edition I'm supposed to be getting. Mainly I'd like to avoid the SteelBook though.

Hate to get involved in this but... Wait until it drops in price? You'd have to go back to T-Next's statement, like Yantelope says.

Yeah, sorry, should've been clearer. I know Ubisoft realised how dumb they were and rectified that later. Wasn't sure if it had happened to II before Brotherhood though. Damage had been done either way. I think Johnny and Ethan understood anyway.