Armchair Diplomat

Mad Moxxi, the ... titular character

Amongst it’s many other accomplishments (well, depending who you ask I guess), Gears of War 2 can be lauded for the popularisation of the “Horde” style of multiplayer.  Allowing players to team up against a superior-numbered AI controlled enemy force managed to hit a real chord with shooter fans everywhere, and has since spawned many similar modes amongst the FPS genre.

Borderlands: Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot puts it’s hand up and declares “us too”, by adding a completely new area based upon wave-style arena combat.

As the story goes, Mad Moxxi (the Underdome’s well-endowed, carnival-themed owner) has made her way through three husbands, all of whom didn’t seem to survive the relationship.  In the search for a suitable suitor for her fourth wedlock, Moxxi has constructed the Underdome, three huge arenas based upon different areas of Pandora.  There adventurers pit themselves against hordes of enemies, while the crowd watches on in the happy knowledge that, win or lose, violence will be plentiful.

The back-story sounds entertaining enough, but truth be told there’s surprisingly little Mad Moxxi to be had in Underdome.  After her introduction, she’s basically consigned to her role as announcer.  And although much of her commentary is amusing enough, it can grow old quite quickly for reasons I’ll explain shortly. Read more

Pfft, hoverboards don't work on lava ... unless you got POWA!

BioWare announced the next DLC pack coming to Mass Effect 2 today, and after long weeks of speculation it looks as if we’ll finally be getting our hover-tank on.  The “Firewalker” content package will include five new missions for you to explore, all utilising your new hard-fightin’, hard-drinkin’ hovercraft.  According to the updated Cerberus Network page:

The Hammerhead is a heavy assault vehicle that hovers over the battlefield at up to 120 kilometers per hour and features a guided missile system ensuring accuracy even during aggressive maneuvering.

I’m not certain what kind of “aggressive maneuvering” the new content hopes to contain, but if I understand this correctly you could be doing doughnuts in a Seven-Eleven carpark and still blow up your target with this baby.  Heck, Sherpard could be sans-pantsing the local cops out the window at the same time if he wanted to.

This might, however, just be a way of reassuring owners of Mass Effect 1, for whom “aggressive maneuvering” could entail driving upward at an 85 degree angle while trying to swivel the Mako’s turret.

Whatever’s in store, the Firewalker pack is due out late March, and will be free to those with Cerberus Network subscriptions.  Nice.  Head on over to the Cerberus page for official info and some more pretty pictures.

We're buying our way to victory, Mr. Bubbles!

One of several things I was impressed with on my initial playthrough of BioShock 2 was that 2K hadn’t lined up any release day downloadable content.  DLC has become somewhat of a necessary evil for developers, but nothing irks me more than seeing “bonus” gameplay packs available before you’ve even managed to wrestle the shrink wrap off a brand new title.  That’s not bonus content, that’s active customer gouging, and far too many games are guilty of it.

Well 2K have tipped their hand today to announce their first DLC package for the new BioShock installment.  What’s on the way?  Here’s some press release for you:

The single and multiplayer experiences of BioShock 2 will be enhanced with downloadable content that will add more glimpses into the award-winning world of Rapture. Downloadable content will be made available soon, beginning with the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, available this March on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Games for Windows–LIVE for 400 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation Network for $4.99. Future expansions into the world of BioShock 2 are slated to arrive over the coming months and will continue to expand on the stories of the denizens of Rapture.

Sinclair Solutions Test Pack contains a number of customization features that will allow players to further their character’s development in BioShock 2’s multiplayer modes and provide a deeper multiplayer experience. The pack includes:

- Rank increase to level 50 with Rank Rewards
- New playable characters Louie McGraff and Oscar Calraca
- 20 new trials*
- A third weapon upgrade for each weapon
- Five additional masks*
*Some items are only available after a player achieves a rank of 41 or higher.

In the coming months, 2K Games will also be publishing downloadable extensions of the single player experience, providing new insight into the world of Rapture. These packages will include more narrative, new tools and new challenges that extend the lore and fiction of the failed Utopia under the sea.

So while the $5 price tag ain’t so bad, I really have to wonder: I’ve been playing the BioShock 2 multiplayer fairly constantly since I purchased it, and I’m only now tipping the edge of the currently capped level 40.  I mean the majority of us (excluding boosters of course, bless their hearts) have only just reached the level cap, is there really so much demand that it go higher already?  I haven’t even had time to feel superior to all those lowly level 36′ers yet.

What does concern me is that this, in theory, means that people who buy themselves the DLC will have a completely unfair advantage over all the vanilla retail players.  We won’t know exactly how the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack will effect the game’s balance until we find out the specifics of the upgrades, but this all seems a little stupid to me.  While they’re at it, they may as well package and sell the “BioShock 2 Multiplayer Anti-Freezing Patch” that allows you to play through more than two rounds without a console freeze.

Now there’s an unfair advantage I’d like to see.

Head on over to the 2K International site to check out the official PR.

It’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it, and don’t mind poking around inside your savegame.  YouTube user HarroSIN has managed to unlock the final DLC character from Mass Effect 2 for use in the suicide mission towards the end of the game, and has video’d the results for all to see.  Say hello to Kasumi … or her voice at least:

As you can see, it’s unlikely that Kasumi’s player model has been inserted into the game yet (she looks like a run-of-the-mill FemShep), but you can hear plenty of her voice-over work which is obviously just waiting to be activated inside the code.  Here’s HarroSIN’s notes on how this all works:

- She cannot be added to the party. If you attempt to do so, the game will remove her with a warning message but will still allow you to continue.

- After adding her to your squad, the Port Side Observation Deck will become available, although there is nothing currently present besides empty space (the outside of the level map).

- Being a tech expert, she can successfully navigate the pipeline during the suicide run. She can also be used to escort the remaining Normandy crew back to the ship.

- It is possible for her to die during the suicide run if you do not upgrade the Normandy’s armor.

Along with all that, this video also seems to confirm that Kasumi has trouble determining the difference between a military commander and an old Elvis Presley song, but who knows what dark secret in her history caused that.  So at this point, unless someone is very good with their shooping skills, I’d say we can double-dog confirm that Kasumi is our final character.  Now if BioWare would just stop acting so shady about it all!

Check out the original video (UPDATE: or don’t bother, EA has had it removed), and thanks to One Last Continue for the heads up!

Shouldn't Cerberus Assault Armour come with three helmets?

Only a couple of days back we were speculating over the possible content included in the next free DLC pack for Mass Effect 2.  Well today Bioware’s community co-ordinator Chris Priestly has spilled the beans via the official forums, and they didn’t come in hovertank flavour:

On Tuesday February 09 2010 Mass Effect 2 fans will be able to get the new Cerberus Assault Armor and M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun DLC for free through the Cerberus network. It should be available for all fans, both on PC and Xbox 360 at 12:00pm Mountain Standard Time.

Cerberus Assault Armor
Cerberus assault armor is designed for shock troops, turn the tide of battle against creatures or forces that would decimate normal soldiers.
Increases heavy weapon ammo capacity by +10%
Increases shields by +10%
Increases health by +10%

M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun
The M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun is a longer-range shotgun with armor-piercing loads. This design also violates several intergalactic weapons treaties, so the M-22a is not distributed to militaries.

-Chris Priestly, suggesting you suit up

So now, while this wasn’t what everyone was expecting (and eight out of ten Salarian science teams apologise for building you up), further on in the thread Chris drops another post to set overzealous would-be tank owners at ease:

This is the next piece (or pieces since you get 2 things) of Downloadable contant coming for fans of Mass Effect 2. We still have more DLC on the way, such as the mentioned Hammerhead and other rumors, and we’ll have more information on more DLC in the future. Stay tuned.

So not only is the Hammerhead on the way, but “other rumours” too.  The only other major rumour circulating the DLC track is the final recruit, the thief “Kasumi”, which BioWare remains tight-lipped about.  That is, of course, unless Chris is for whatever reason taking into account a bevy of Shepard/Wrex reuniting slashfic, in which case one of the next DLC packs could be very disturbing indeed.

While “in the future” may not sound like a particularly reassuring time frame for the next announcement either, keep in mind this first pack is only a fortnight out from release, so BioWare’s DLC schedule is obviously rolling out steadily at this point.  Or at the very least, in a more timely fashion than Mass Effect: Pinnacle Station.

So enjoy your free armour and shotgun, folks.  There’s no concept art for the shotgun yet, but the Cerberus Armour has already recieved it’s entry in the Mass Effect Armoury page for you to peruse.  It’s already the 9th down here in Australia, but I guess we’ll have to wait for you Standard Mountain types to wake up.  More news if we get it, but until then all you can do is read over the announcement.

Concept art for the Hammerhead tank, as found in the Collectors Edition art book

The crew over at BioWare have been all a’Twitter this week, with the release and almost universal acclaim for the new Mass Effect 2.  Well a little while ago, they’ve also announced that a second DLC pack will be making it’s way to the game in the next couple of weeks.  And the best part of all?  Just like the Zaeed Massani content, it’s completely free for those already signed up to the Cerberus Network.  Nice to see that there’s still a developer out there who doesn’t mind adding the word ‘free’ to their DLC, BioWare.

As to the upcoming package’s content, there is all manner of speculation over the internet.  Eight out of ten Salarian science teams agree that this pack will be adding the M57 Hammerhead Hovertank, which was originally designed to replace the literally-all-terrain vehicle Mako from Mass Effect 1.  If so, then this means that we might actually get some planetary exploration back, instead of long, drawn-out scanning for minerals.  Quickly, launch moar probes while you still can!

Other rumours point to the 12th recruitable member of Shepard’s team, who is discoverable using a little debugging with the PC version.  The last member, known only by her placeholder name and image “Kasumi”, is a thief of some variety and is definitely probably not a crossover character from Dead or Alive: Paradise.  To my mind the tank seems more likely at this point, as we haven’t even heard BioWare discuss the last crew member, but there’s still an empty slot on the selection screen and a spare room in my Normandy, so they might surprise us yet.

I guess we’ll find out in the next couple of weeks.  For those with Twitter accounts, it’s no doubt worthwhile following the BioWare feed.  Gameplay developer Christina Norman is usually also quite free in her insider info.  Those wanting our opinion on Mass Effect 2, hold tight for the time being, as Stu is currently mopping the drool off his floor before writing his review.

Fracas of Forli would have sounded cooler

A short while ago I wrote an article praising Ubisoft’s new achievement based DLC system UPlay. It’s unique and promising way of allowing a player to earn extra content really impressed me. So imagine my disappointment when I downloaded the new DLC chapter for Assassin’s Creed 2 this week, only to find it short, shallow and devoid of charm.

For those who’ve played Assassin’s Creed 2 (and by now, most of you really should have), you’ll recognise Battle of Forli as DNA Memory Sequence 12 (I guess Battle of Forli was a punchier name) which was originally missing from Ezio’s memory. To hear Ubisoft’s Patrice Desilets tell it in a recent interview with Kotaku, both Battle of Forli and next month’s Bonfire of the Vanities were cut from the original release due to time constraints and were marked as future DLC.

To put it bluntly, it shows. Upon booting up Assassin’s Creed 2 with the new DLC, you’re treated to a little Rebecca and Shaun banter telling you that Sequence 12 has been restored. You’re then transported to Forli and, after a short cut-scene, tasked with hiding the recently acquired Apple of Eden. To this end, you have to meet up with Niccolo Machiavelli, who you may remember from Ezio’s initiation, and Caterina Sforza, who you’ll no doubt remember for being inexplicably trapped on a rock in the middle of a lake.

Sforza’s problems have grown far worse than lake strandings since last time you saw her.  While she’s happy to help Ezio conceal the Apple, it’s not long before you discover that Forli itself has been overrun and her family is now in danger. Read more

Borderlands, now sponsored by the Jeep Cherokee

Information on Borderlands‘ third DLC installment has started flowing today (I think Destructoid were the first to the punch), which is to be titled “Secret Armory of General Knoxx“.

This would seem to be the update that Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford hinted at a long while ago when talking with Game Informer, that will raise the level 50 cap, although no word yet on how far.

But if the PR and new promo screens are anything to go by, then we’re assured new enemies, new weapons and at least one new type of vehicle … which sort of looks like something you’d choose to go kangaroo shooting in.  Or something that John Leguizamo challenge you to a sound system contest in (illustrated here at 2.22).

Given that actually finishing Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot could still be nine years away for me and Moose, this could provide a fun (and maybe even completeable!) little distraction.

Check out the official details over at Gearboxity.  No word yet on release dates, but I would imagine a PR push means sooner rather than later.  More details as they emerge … provided I can tear my eye sockets away from Mass Effect 2 for more than 5 minutes.

Zombies improve everything. It's science.

It was only a short time ago we got our hands on the RPG-shooter Borderlands, and we’ve been loving it ever since.  So naturally when it’s first DLC chapter, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, was released I automatically put up the points to buy it.  Why?  Well most likely because I’m a good little consumer who’s been deeply ingrained with the compulsion to hand over his money.  But that aside, what’s the best way to make a great game even better? Why you add zombies, of course.

Once downloaded, the new chapter isn’t too hard to access.  Jakob’s Cove, where the action takes place, can only be accessed via a New-U station’s fast travel menu.  It should be noted that you can travel there before even technically activating the fast travel service in the game’s plot.  I suppose this early availability is required, however, as Jakob’s Cove is a completely stand-alone area (hence the “island” part of the name), and the only way to enter is to fast travel.

Once you’ve made your way to the island, you’ll be greeted by the local Claptrap, who wants you to take care of this rather bothersome zombie apocalypse they seem to be experiencing lately.  He points you in the direction of the camp’s doctor, Dr. Ned (who totally isn’t Dr. Zed, as the game keeps reminding you) and from here on inwards you’ll be up to your armpits in undead minions.

Read more

This title has also been released under the standalone "Episodes from Liberty City" pack

Long time readers may be well aware of my disappointment when it came to “the greatest game of all time ever” Grand Theft Auto IV being released. Despite the jump in visual quality, to me it seemed like Rockstar had stripped a lot of the really fun elements from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas out and replaced them with questionable gameplay mechanics. Gone was the expansive feeling of the game’s world, replaced by a cramped three-island city without much to explore. Also gone was a lot of the crazier mini-games, which had been replaced by compulsory bowling/theatre-going to keep your contacts happy.

So when I heard that Rockstar’s latest DLC episode, The Ballad of Gay Tony, was going to return skydiving to the game, I was interested to find out if they were looking to recapture the feel of their older games.

The result, however, was a very confusing mix of both good and bad choices when it comes to gameplay. In a sense, it truly is a ballad, a narrative set to music, but the music is distracting and the narrative doesn’t jump in to pick up the slack. I’ll explain what the hell I’m on about in just a second, suffice to say that in the end I didn’t really enjoy our second DLC story in Liberty City.

In The Ballad of Gay Tony, players take the role of Luis Lopez, the brawn of a business partner relationship with the titular “Gay” Tony Prince. Gay Tony owns two of the most popular nightclubs in town, one gay, one straight, but is up to his eyeballs in debt and has effectively sold the clubs to two seperate groups. During the game, Luis has to attempt to keep the nightclubs afloat amongst pressure from several warring factions who want to control them, and keep Gay Tony from getting killed, killing himself or overdosing on perscription pills.

Let it not be said that the life of a nightclub manager was always going to be an easy one.

Read more