Author - Ripper71

Camping Manager 2012 – Review (PC)

2012/10/12

Ok so those of you who read us on a regular basis know I am a sucker for strategy and simulation games which are basically a strategy game using construction instead of construction and destruction. Sure when I agreed to review Camping Manager I figured I wouldn’t be building armies but I would be trying to strategically build a campground that would meet all the criteria to win. Building sim games are old and have been around almost as long as computer gaming and some are made in a way that makes you feel that old school nostalgia while having far better graphics. Excalibur Publishing has done just that in Camping Manager.

Storyline:

You have been given starting funds to create campgrounds all over Europe and must fulfill certain criteria to be successful to your investors. Succeed and you get to start up a new site with new funds, fail and you might find yourself living in one of the properties.

Graphics And Audio (Atmosphere):

There is a style to the buildable items very reminiscent of the old school building sims though with much cleaner graphic lines and variety of details. You can build multiple caravan designs for example though they are all the same size space and same amount of occupants. There are 50 different 3D objects to place on a nicely detailed map which leads to lots of variety. There are several different designs for the individual holiday goers as well keeping things interesting. Sound wise there is a general calming music that plays during the building which is nice since it doesn’t create tension in mission that are fairly long. The voice acting for the intro scenes to the missions is done well, though done in German which is a language I never studied. English is luckily available on the graphic page description so you know exactly what your mission is.

Gameplay:

You are given a map, a certain amount of start up funds and mission criteria and left to do what you think you need to to beat the mission. A great deal of creativity has to go into completing each mission of the simulation, sometimes trying to figure out such questions that every parent asks: how do I get a 70% satisfaction approval from teenagers? The mission criteria will often involve multiple elements like certain things build, approval levels, money earned, sometimes multiples of each. Quite often you will have a carefully mapped out plan of building then find yourself adding something willy nilly simply to try to complete a part of the mission. I have had beautiful campgrounds turned into a weird menagerie of items trying to get that last dollar or last bit of satisfaction.

The gameplay is remarkably addictive consider the subject matter. I know plenty of people who don’t like camping and would probably scoff at the idea of liking a sim game based on building a campground but if any of them are true sim or strategy fans they will find themselves sucked in trying to balance the right number of gardeners and wages to pay them with the amount of trash cans that need emptying and flower pots that need watering. This game actually should be called Resort Manager because you are actually trying to build a resort complete with disco, barbeque roundups and swimming and boating activities while deciding how many concessions to have, toilers, showers, it encompasses much more than some simple camp sites. The campsite layouts also follow community designs you might find in most city sims so if you just try to make some winding road to place your campsites on you will soon find yourself stuck for space just as you have to leave space around properties for lamp posts, trash receptacles and water taps.

There is also free play in case you just want to test your building designs without the concerns of completing mission objectives which can be really fun sometimes, just building what you can, creating the best place you can.

Last Call:

This game is surprisingly addictive and the name doesn’t do justice to the depth of play and necessity of creative strategic thinking. You aren’t just managing a campground you are building a camping resort using all your wits to complete missions which can have extremely difficult objectives. I recommend it for any one who considers themselves a sim or strategy fan, regardless of what subject matter they usually prefer. This game is just a solid example of the genre.

Trailer:

Gallery:

Ravaged – Preview (Steam/PC)

2012/10/12

Ripper71

News, Previews

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ravaged hadn’t showed up on some of your radars, but the gaming hardcore probably know it from it’s early days on Kickstarter where the gaming community reached out and TRIPLED the target donation amount. Early days might be simplifying it since the team that put it together have been working on it for three years, the kind of work that involves a day job, coming home and walking the dog, grabbing a bite to eat then working on the game until exhaustion kicks in and you pass out. New day, restart rotation. It was a game of love and already had some good signs of this when they reached out on Kickstarter. I can’t afford to invest in all the great ideas on Kickstarter so I just watched this game and saw those in the community that had the money invested. Money isn’t so much needed to create a project, it is needed to bring that project to the consumer and put a stable support system in.

So then I saw an advertisement here and there in the gaming magazines showing a rough and ragged bald fellow from behind looking across a wasteland with the word “Ravaged” in the upper corner. A nice looking ad but you figured not a gameplay shot, which it isn’t but almost could have been. So knowing my love/addiction to first person shooters when the opportunity to preview the game and chat a bit with the team came along my editor was right to figure he wouldn’t have to ask me twice. The moment I got the invite the game started downloading and the moment it was ready I was in play, and this is what I found.

Storyline:

Damn you solar flares! There you go creating an apocalypse, we appreciate the lack of need for a radiation suit but otherwise talk about the Big Suck! Ah well, some of us have watched the Mad Max, Planet Of the Apes, and Riddick movies enough to understand it is time to start hording resources, making lots of weapons and customized vehicles, and fighting over patches of dirt in the shadow of the destroyed Statue Of Liberty. In this case the Scavengers are a bunch of savages intent on ruling the wastelands and the Resistance is trying to maintain some order in this shattered world. In the end though this is really just a background storyline, there is a red team and a blue team and they each have their own special weapons and fight, fight and when that gets dull, fight a different way.

Graphics:

The graphics and detail are really nice, too nice maybe for some systems. They have actually been working on it the last few days to make the system requirements less graphic intensive so that more people can play and have done that without losing much in the way of detail or gameplay. If you look at the pics in this article they are not just beauty shots and cutscreens (which there aren’t) they are real representations of a third person front view of someone’s character. The vehicles all have their own feel, some more beat up than others and metal fatigue, patchwork and customization are all visually evident on the entirety of the vehicles and weapons. In other words things looks beat up and post-apocalyptic in a nicely detailed manner.

Gameplay:

A game can look as pretty as it likes but if the gameplay sucks it isn’t going to get played. In this case it even goes a step further, people invested their money in the project through Kickstarter so this game needs to be worth it to the player and investor alike. Luckily even at the beta stages this game is delivering. There is no leveling or leveling incentive, there are leaderboards and achievements for people who need that kind of incentive (ok I love achievements and sometimes I play a game a certain way to get them myself), but weapons are loaded out by class and can be picked up off the field.

The vehicles are purposely difficult to learn how to drive, especially aerial vehicles which is on purpose, it makes it so that FPS or TPS crazed players can’t come in and be instant masters of the field (average life expectancy on a noob copter pilot is measured in seconds) but because everyone comes in with a preload of weapons even a noob has a chance of scoring a kill. It is a really nice balance between difficult to master vehicles and everyone being able to have the same access to weapons that makes it so that you will see plenty of players on foot taking on vehicles and winning. You also learn which maps you can negotiate best on foot, with certain vehicles and which weapons will serve you best.

Maps are a fairly familiar format to players of FPS. There are two activities and two ways of winning. First the maps all have flags and resources, captured flags becomes spawn points and give points, resources can be captured from a neutral location or an enemy base, depending on the map. In the case of resources at bases you have to defend yours while trying to capture theirs. The team that has the most points when time runs out or gets 8 resources claimed first is the winner. So you can be blasting the heck out of the enemy and wind up VIP but you had better be paying attention to the supplies getting captured to or you can lose. I have been on some of the beta servers where the enemy has three players to my one but I know the map better and I am hustling to capture their resources while defending my own and won even with them capturing and guarding the flags.

I think there are plenty of times that the players are in it more for the fun fray rather than the win. That is one of the nice aspects of this gameplay, you can just jump into a game after a long day at work and just have some ass kicking fun. It is made so that you don’t have to take the game too seriously, you don’t have to worry about leveling so you can unlock certain gear. This is a point the developers wanted to strongly make. This game isn’t taking itself too seriously, heck today in a beta match I got killed by a harpoon. A harpoon! The person followed it up with a taunt, which are fun and while the statements are random the gesture is not…

And in a way that is kind of the point of the gameplay, it is just to have a bloody blasting good time. There is no single player campaign to drag their resources away from the multiplayer fights development as well as the fact people almost always have complaints about the single player games such as too short, not enough storyline, all of which get tossed out the window when the game is just multiplayer. Developing a good AI can also slow down the development process greatly and they wanted to make sure they made good on their Kickstarter promise of a good game by a certain time. This is an Indie team that is trying to put out a multiplayer game that is both fun and easy to jump in and play by the most of it’s gaming base (and investors) that it can.

First Round:

This game is still in beta and can go through some more changes and refinements by the time it releases in a week. That being said it is a fun game that as great to look at as it is to play. It is a mulitplayer post apocalyptic vehicular FPS as it claimed it would be on Kickstarter when it earned it’s funding and the attention of the gaming community, but it plays well with the big boys which shows a lot of heart put into the little shooter that could. It has all the play elements a player could ask for with 2 ways to win, 8 locations, 10 characters, 10 vehicles and 28 different weapons and up to 64 players in a match. I look forward to seeing how the game fairs after it releases and hope to see map packs and possibly expansions in the future to keep the game fresh, they already have the next vehicle planned.

In the meantime you can expect to see me plenty of times with the beta players.

Trailer:

Gallery:

Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights Review

2012/10/05

Ripper71

Halloween, News, Reviews

Let’s face it, The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA is creepy, year round. Voted #2 of The World’s Most Haunted Places by the Travel Channel, #3 in Scariest Locations in America by HauntWorld Magazine and #5 in 10 Great Places To Get Spooked by USA Today, Winchester has a disturbing history and feel that even SyFy’s Ghost Hunters had a hard time dealing with. So when they decided to add a maze to the grounds last year to go with their seasonal Flashlight Tours it was enough to have you peering into shadows without all the scare actors out there to give you extra goosebumps and terror jumps. But was it enough to bring you back for more a second year?

The Curse Of Sarah Winchester: The Resurrection

With an estimated 40 minute run time and over 100 scare actors, The Curse maze is one of the longer mazes to be found during the haunting season and utilizes massive amounts of the Winchester estate that normally isn’t seen by the average visitor. As you take in old machinery and buildings dating back to the early days of Sarah Winchester’s days of reign over the grounds you constantly feel you are being watched and most of the time you are right. As you wonder if a statue at one location is a permanent part of the estate, its head slowly turns and regards you emotionlessly. As you notice overgrowth trying to reclaim an old shack part of it lurches forward and a scare actor in a gilly suit gives you a start. You walk down the path made famous for Sarah Winchester sightings and around the corner walks a woman in white, slowly strolling with her face lit by a candle. For every one of these subtle creepy scares there is two jolting, terrorizing ones as at every turn there is something designed to scare the wits out of you. A white sheet on a clothesline suddenly has the worlds “Go Away” scrawled across it in blood only to have it fade away a moment later. A tricycle without a rider slowly pedals it’s way into your path as something moves in the bushes nearby.

If it seems like I am giving away all the scares, I am not. This is just a small sample of what you can expect on the extensive walk through the maze and the scare you get one time will have an entirely different one get you next time. It is unscripted and there are multiple ways to get you in any given location, especially since all the locations would be creepy to walk through even without scare actors and special effects. You are walking what is reputed to be some of the most haunted ground in the world, there is always a chance that the next scare you get might not be from an actor. The sets are built to use these grounds well too, sometimes making significant additions, other times just letting you walk through old machinery and chains that have been in disuse for decades. Some scares are designed to give a bit of a laugh, some to be disgusting but all to be scares and for a single maze The Curse Of Sarah Winchester: The Resurrection packs a lot of terror in for your buck as well as giving you an off the beaten path tour of this bone chilling estate. When you go, and we highly recommend you do, make sure to get the Front Of The Line VIP pass so you can get front of the line and go through multiple times because the maze is never the same twice. Between some very cutting edge scares, the appropriately haunting soundtrack composed by Southern California musician Jon Autopsy and the just plain old creepy natural environments of the Winchester House it’s almost like a maze was begging to be built here.

“Walk With The Spirits” Flashlight Tour

We have done the Winchester Mystery House tour a couple of times before and, though it is always creepy when you do it during the day with a big group, you often find yourself with at least a couple of people who were dragged along on the tour and really don’t care about it and spend the whole time talking about other stuff. When we took the Flashlight Tour a couple years ago we found a much more dedicated crowd as we all walked through the house led by a tour guide full of haunting lore and armed only with clunky old fashion yellow flashlights like something out of a Scooby Doo episode. We did it last year as well, soaking in the atmosphere and watching every shadow to make sure they moved from our flashlights and not of their own accord. You found you didn’t want to stand in the corners because someone in the group would inevitably get spooked and think you were… well a spook and hit you right in the face with the flashlight beam. It was creepy as heck and you really found yourself believing every story you had heard about the place and waiting for your brush with the supernatural.

Well you would think that would be hard to top but this year they did. We found ourselves behind a very large group of babbling people, making a huge amount of noise and distraction, their flashlights shining in everyone’s faces and since the old clunkly flashlights have been replaced by handy and tiny black and red LED ones those lights really hurt the eyes. Then we got handed a wand and headset each. Wait, what was this? We smiled as the obnoxious, though enthusiastic, group walked away and we waited… to start our self guided tour. Stepping into the modern age of electronics The Winchester Mystery House people had invested in tour wands like you would see at LACMA or another large museum and now we were on a tour of two working our way through the house at our own pace, avoiding crowds of people and taking in the great voice acting of the narrator. The stories about the house were all there, told by the guides who witnessed the events in their own words while in between the creepy sounding narrator pointed out the key features of the house. Once a track of narration was done you could move onto the next location and continue the tour or you could stay where you are, maybe turn off your flashlight, and just take in the atmosphere of the room. If this wasn’t quite enough for you there were a couple scare actors at certain spots in the house to get your pulse racing a bit when you see their face in a dark crawl space peering back at you.

Last Call:

The Winchester Mystery House is a great place to visit any day of the week but if you really want to get the full experience of the house and its grounds the time to go is Fright Nights when you can do the Curse Of Sarah Winchester: The Resurrection Maze and the self guided “Walk With The Spirits” Flashlight Tour. With a 40 minute maze and a tour that runs around the same length depending on the individual you get quite a bit of time for your money and we highly recommend going through the maze more than once since it is never the same twice. Take your time, take in the extremely well done soundtracks throughout the maze, take in all the details both created and found on the grounds and keep an eye out for the man pushing the wheel barrel who looks out of place, he might not be part of the planned events.

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California’s Great America Halloween Haunt Review

2012/10/05

Ripper71

Halloween, News, Reviews

Cedar Fair implemented something nationwide which I think may be one of the smartest moves we have seen a theme park chain make: they created haunts. I’m sure there were some wondering about the wisdom in this but to haunt nerds like us they made it so that I want to tour all Cedar Fair parks sometime during the month of October. At this point, however, we can’t afford to travel too far so thankfully they implemented it at a second park in California and near Winchester Mystery House no less so that a fright-filled weekend can be had! This one is at California’s Great America and though they share certain elements with the other Cedar Fair haunts they have definitely made it all their own.

Mazes And Zones

Slaughter House Annihilation (Maze)

Description:

There’s too many people in the world and not enough food. This Slaughterhouse takes care of both problems. A constant feed of humans are being subjected to the grinders which keep the river of blood flowing through this dark complex. It’s a virtual cornucopia of bloody remains as parts are ground into a tasty meat treat, using a very special recipe which includes one very special ingredient … You. Do not let the fear paralyze you as you attempt to escape from the edge of Annihilation.

Experience:

Slaughter House Annihilation is a gross out maze and they do it really well. Using elements of the original Slaughter House maze at Knott’s Berry Farm which was about a meat processing plant for food chains that used “long pig” as well as regular pig, Slaughter House Annihilation has taken on Apocalypse aspect so that mixing humans into the meat is survival rather than appetite. It has gore and grinding meat all over the very unsanitary looking meat plant and the scare actors look like every backwoods horror movie nightmare. It is a good scare and an appetite killer all in one, especially if the thought of being sliced, diced and served up for dinner makes you nervous.

Club Blood: Revamp’d (Maze)

Description:

Follow the creatures of the night to the hottest nightclub around, Club Blood. This club has it all, the latest beats, the hottest dancers, but there’s just one problem…it’s overrun by hungry vampires waiting to feast on their next victim. Watch your neck or you’ll be next!

Experience:

Let’s face it even if they have a tendency to get a bit overdone, everyone enjoys a vampire maze, especially if it has some sexy female vampires. Club Blood takes you to a back alley club where you are on the drink menu and they think you would be good to the last drop. The club is the danger scare where sexy dancers and bulky bouncers make your blood start pumping before you are sent into the back room and back alleys where the jump scares show up in full force. The males in the group tend to lag behind a bit in the club but there are scares for the whole group once the poles are left behind. It didn’t seem that “Revamp’d” from previous years but this is still a blood pumping, rocking maze.

CornStalkers (Maze)

Description:

A cult of evil scarecrows lies in wait in this overgrown path of debris, hay bales and cornstalks. Guests must weave their way through this twisting maze of bedlam, dodging a series of dead ends and avoiding the stalkers who are “dead-set” on forbidding anyone to escape.

Experience:

In a poorly lit, back section of the park, CornStalkers gets a great deal of it’s scares through misdirection and the fact that it is so hard to tell a straw dummy from a person in a dark maze of hay bales and corn stalks. Even seasoned haunters in our group got some pretty decent scares in here as they expected the scare from one place and was completely caught off guard. The first year they had this maze there was a tractor horn and lights that paralyzed you, it is either an effect that didn’t work when we were there or isn’t done anymore due to it being so disorienting but I kind of miss it. There is also an animatronic at the end that could do for some repositioning or retheming. Otherwise the maze has a great hard working cast that know the ground so well they can constantly change up their scares and deliver a different experience each time through.

Werewolf Canyon (Maze)

Description:

Be careful as you venture deep into the murky woods through a hunter’s trail where the hunters have become the hunted. A pack of blood-thirsty werewolves have taken revenge on those who dare invade their domain. With only the full moon’s light to help you navigate through…can you make it out alive?

Experience:

Backwoods settings are always creepy because we have been taught by horror movies that bad things happen out there. There’s cabins, trails, and camps that have all been overrun and become the home of werewolves just waiting for some poor fools to go wandering out into nature during a full moon. Though you know you can mostly expect werewolves to be the attackers there is a nice variety of scare actors and the dense nature atmosphere gives tons of places to hide and scare from. This maze has lots of growls in it but they are usually followed by screams. Always a good scare.

Toy Factory (Maze)

Description:

Once a place where dreams were made, this toy factory is now a place where nightmares come true! The maniacal factory workers are manufacturing a variety of disturbing new toys and novelty items for their demented amusement, using any part available, including human parts. Buyers beware as your favorite toys have now been turned against you, or you’ve been turned into one of them.

Experience:

This maze has the most addictive theme song I have ever heard. Ever, ever? Ever, ever. The moment you hear it you get a bit of goosebumps and the rest of the night you will be humming the tune. The Toy Factory uses a variety of scares, often a false sense of security or distracted amusement followed by a good solid scare. The make up and masks range from something you would expect to see in a Disney parade to a Rat Fink character and they all have something creepy to say or do. The mazes twisted take on childhood toys and games makes it one of the most popular mazes in the park and consistently there is a line so if you see it short jump in! The maze also has one of the longest claustrophobia hallways we have ever seen, we have seen it reduce guests to tears and seen seasoned haunt veterans decide not to go through the maze a second time because of this daunting hall.

CarnEvil 3D (Maze)

Description:

Hurry! Hurry! Step right up and don’t be shy! The most gruesome carnival is back in town. Get ready to face your worst childhood fears as demonic clowns and other freaks of nature terrify guests at every corner where they have turned the tables to make you the attraction!

Experience:

This maze has taken a bit of a beating over the years and is a little worse from wear. That being said it has excellent 3D and a strong cast of scare actors that take your mind off the aging set pieces and get it back on the disorienting 3D and unique scares that only can happen with the limited vision caused by 3D glasses and environment. I have seen people go through without glasses and unless you have a massive clown phobia you lose most of the experience that way. The actors know their space, they know what looks scary, freaky or disorienting when you are wearing the glasses so spend the buck to do the maze right.

Dead Man’s Cove – Forsaken Souls (Zone)

Description:

The Captain and his crew have been joined by ghastly creatures from the depths of the Abyss. Lost for all eternity these forsaken souls wander Dead Man’s Cove in search of treasure. Only this treasure isn’t your ordinary booty, it’s your soul! And, if you are not willing to join, they might just have to make you.

Experience:

One of the smaller scare zones but full of hard working pirates with lots of great lines and character development. Some go for the startle scare but the menace scare is what you find a plenty as you work your way through the fog and cursed sea folk. They have an organ that looks like it could have come right out of a Pirates Of The Caribbean movie and cannons that have long since been silenced stand sentry over the scare zone.

Underworld Alley (Zone)

Description:

In an age of darkness, at a time of evil, as night falls the Army of the Dead is awakened from their graves, looking to wreak havoc on those brave enough to enter their graveyard. These recently departed and tattered souls are lost in a world of transition and searching for the next soul to join them in a horrifying syndicate of wickedness known as Underworld Alley.

Experience:

An extremely short scare zone consisting primarily of a graveyard, it is stuffed full of lively undead folks that make sure to give you a spook or a laugh. Since we atr so hard to scare we mostly got the funny lines from the dead but there was still a surprise or two as we went. Working with such a small space the talent really had to work to get their scares and they did getting plenty of screams and laughs.2

The Gauntlet (Zone)

Description:

Deep within the fog, screams of pure panic pierce the night, as never before in the history of man have such bizarre creatures been seen. You see a strange traveling carnival has made The Gauntlet their home. The forces of darkness manifest themselves in a strange collection of freaks and oddities fueled by the haunting melodies of the nearby CarnEvil. There is nowhere to run and nowhere to hide in this playground of terror.

Experience:

This seems like the longest scare zone though in the dark looks can be deceiving. The name doesn’t seem to conjure up a demented side show to me but the theme and costumes fit outside the big top of CarnEvil perfectly. We would almost prefer something like “The Dark Side Show” or something like that but the name matters a lot less than the experience. The talent is constantly moving through the fog and getting scares, all with their own technique based on their character which made this a really good scare zone. All three of the scare zones are well done, we just think it would be nice to see them bigger.

FEATURED MAZE:

Madam Marie’s Massacre Manor

Description:

Money does not always buy happiness. For Madame Marie, this could not be more true. As Louisiana’s wealthiest heiress, Madame Marie has perfected the art of Voodooism. Enter her Manor with caution as there is nothing richer in her eyes than blood. Your visit in her lavish home will leave you breathless.

Experience:

This maze was the strongest maze we have seen so far this year and will definitely top our list at the end of the season. Having traveled to New Orleans we know the folklore behind the maze’s story and the maze designers and scare actors did a tremendous job of creating this Voodoo experience. From the exterior which has a definite French Quarter feel to the piano, plate setting, every single little minute detail that is created to the point that it really feels like you are walking through a decrepit abandoned house that has become the residence of ghosts and dark magics. Besides having terrific detail there is also great use of effects, one projection effect we saw was one of the best uses of the effect we have ever seen. With this perfect stage set the actors work to flesh out characters until they seem to inhabit the space rather than just haunt it from time to time. This was truly the standout maze of the year at Great America and sets a new standard for mazes to come. Our hopes are for some mirror or Pepper’s Ghost work to go along with the projections, this maze should be the start of a whole new level of production.

Shows:

Overlord’s Resurrection

Description:

Bow down to the Overlord as he unleashes his fury onto California’s Great America! No one is safe from his army of minions…you can run, but you can’t hide.

Experience:

The opening and closing ceremony each night of Haunt, the Overlord is risen high in the air to give his speech, then lowered at the end of the end of the night speech (he is quietly lowered after a while between speeches). A nice way to set the Haunt in motion each night.

CULTure POP

Description:

Someone is messing with the Overlord’s minions, and he is angry. For those who enter his theater, be prepared to suffer his side-splitting wrath as he unleashes the most heinous monsters around…and we’re not talking about the cast of GLEE!

Experience:

This is the pop culture satire show that many parks have under different names. Always good for a few laughs and usually better toward the end of the season when the jokes have been fine tuned.

Ghostly Glow Party

Description:

Ghouls just wanna have fun. Come take a break from the madness and swing by the party while our spell casting DJ puts you in a trance and Ghostly Dancers awake your soul. Wear neon clothing to attract the spirits in this all new atmosphere.

Experience:

Hot go-go dancers with club music. There is a place to dance but most of the folks there just wind up watching the dancers because they are less scary than the ones in Club Blood. Could turn into something later in the run when people get a feel for it, there are always people ready to go somewhere wearing glow sticks and light up clothing.

Blood Drums

Description:

Out of the beauty of the night Blood Drums is tapping into the simple and complex rhythms of fright. You will find yourself being taken away to a magical and frightening place. When the drums reach a fever pitch and the blood boils with revulsion, the mind has no compulsion. The leader will have no need in seizing souls as they will have succumbed, gladly offering up what is there for the taking. Blood Drums a mesmerizing amalgamation of cadence and sound. Brought to you by Street Drum Corps!

Experience:

These guys rock! People wander toward their stage from all over the park for an industrial found object sound (think Stomp) as these guys pound away in thick fog and lots of metal and speakers. Must see even if just a pause while passing.

Shocking Side Show Of Freaks

Description:

It’s all real – freakish acts that take the human tolerance for pain to new levels. The 7 foot 3 inch, George the Giant and Robin Marks will amaze onlookers as they exhibit their out of this world act of torment and anguish using fire, sledge hammers, swords and anything else they can get their hands on.

Experience:

We have been fans and followers of George the Giant for a really, really long time so we make a point of seeing him and Robin Marks appear whenever we can, usually a couple times a year. We have seen pretty much all of their sideshow shocks at this point but that doesn’t stop us from coming back for more. To us old fans of George seeing him is an important part of every season.

Last Call:

So we have listed and covered just about everything California’s Great America Halloween Haunt has to offer in as quick and concise manner as possible and this is still a long article! Is this park a great deal? Yes, especially if you go multiple times and get a season pass. If you get the Platinum pass you can get into all Cedar Fair parks for free with free parking and into their haunt events for discounted prices but admission to Great America’s Haunt is free and included with either the Gold or Platinum season pass. We are so glad that Great America started doing their haunt and hope that with the new 49ers stadium coming in, literally across the parking lot, that they will just get bigger and better!

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Tritton AX Pro+ 5.1 Surround Headset Review (XBox 360/PS3/PC)

2012/10/03

Ripper71

News, Reviews

Sometimes when it comes to doing a product review it takes a little longer than usual because you can tell this product is a next step, that the company that made it plans to show it proudly to the world and that this product will be showing up on the competitive circuits. You have to take a little more time with such a product to make sure it performs up to the company’s claims, that is is thoroughly tested and that it can be a new standard. That’s why it took a little longer to review the new Tritton AX Pro+ 5.1 surround headset.

Features:

True Surround Sound headset with a microphone that will work with your PS3, Xbox 360, and PC/Mac. For the audio or movie enthusiast, the AX PRO+ is also compatible with any device that features a digital optical or 3.5mm analog 5.1 outputs. Built on the successful AX360 Platform, the AX PRO+ features hardware Dolby Digital decoding and eight independent speakers to deliver true 5.1 surround sound audio. Upgraded speakers have been repositioned to provide crisper sound and more accurate 3D positioning. The vibration feature of the AX360 has been replaced by a new subwoofer that delivers improved low end punch and skull rattling bass. Other advancements include an easy to use illuminated inline controller with a microphone mute switch, independent volume control for game/chat, and the ability to custom tailor volume levels. With the ability to connect the microphone via the Xbox 360 controller port, USB, and analog 3.5mm inputs, the AX PRO+ is the most versatile headset on the market and the only headset you’ll ever need.

True 5.1 Digital Audio Headset
Detachable microphone compatible with Xbox Live, Playstation Network (PC/Mac in Europe)
Digital audio connection for DVD, PC, PS3, XBOX360, and all other devices with Optical digital audio or analog 3.5mm
Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic Certified
8 speakers, 4 in each ear cup
Illuminated In-line volume adjustment for Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer controls
Separate volume control for voice chat
Inline microphone and volume mute switches
Adjustable time delay for center and rear speakers
Dynamic Range Control
Includes external 5.1 audio controller with analog 3.5mm
Lightweight headset with deep circumauraul design allows for comfort even during periods of extended gaming.

Installation:

This system has one of the easiest setups I have ever seen, the directions literally show a single diagram with where to plug everything into everything else. It took minutes to set up and once you have gone through the setup procedure resetting it up or setting it up on another system only takes seconds. The only concern I have with the setup is it assumes you have experience with optic cables and know to remove the rubber tips on them before trying to plug it in. It won’t work if you don’t so you can figure it out pretty fast.

Testing:

Here is where things become pure joy. There is nothing quite like throwing on these headsets and jumping into a game such as Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron and hearing explosions all around you or your favorite FPS (I don’t have a favorite so I tore through a whole bunch for this review) and listening for every sound detail to locate the enemy and hopefully get the drop on them before they get the drop on you. With a headset of this quality not only does your experience become more immersive but your gameplay should improve because of 3D sound enabling you to better locate enemies. It won’t make the young gamer on heads sound any less whiny or make the complainer’s expletives any less annoying but with independent game and chat sound level controls if they get too annoying you can turn them down and the game up. If you aren’t sure if you are coming through clearly when you tell the team they should flank left and they run right down the middle you can adjust your headset so you hear yourself in it and know it was just stupidity. I ran this headset through both XBox 360 and the PS3 on these paces and the only signs of game audio weakness turned out to be the game itself, when a headset is this good you can tell which games took the extra time to make sure their sound was exceptional. I found it particularly enjoyable playing Damage Inc. Pacific Squadron WWII Collector’s Edition which came with a Saitek Pacific AV8R Flight Stick because the immersion was intense and complete as if they were made to go together.

After getting some game time in I started streaming some Netflix as well as watching a couple DVDs and removed the microphone which locks on but is easy to take back off. There is just something about Dolby Digital Surround Sound which just makes everything SO much better. When you don’t have it you think “meh everything sounds just fine, I don’t need it” which has been our case since we don’t have a surround sound system in our living room. Then playing games or watching movies with the extra dynamic in sound makes it hard to go back to not having it. I purposely chose shows and movies with dramatic soundtracks or explosions and got so into them I nearly jumped out of my skin when someone walked into the room. Removing the vibration feature for a subwoofer was an excellent move and the configuration of the speakers physically places the sound in the locations needed for surround sound truly recreating the experience.

The box lists compatible devices with this model of the headset as being the XBox 360 and Playstation 3 but since I read it was PC/Mac compatible in Europe I decided to plug it into the PC and see how it works. During this entire writeup I have been listening to a bunch of my favorite songs with the headset on, trying ones with dynamic sound and ones with bass to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. I have been in my own world of writing and music thoroughly enjoying all at a nice level without waking up sleeping members of the household.

All this time testing on different devices brings up comfort as well which is insanely important during long term gaming sessions. The headset is truly lightweight and comfortable with padding around the ear cups and at the bottom of the bridge where it makes contact with your head. I could almost see getting caught up in your own thoughts and walking away from the computer/game system with them still on. Luckily you have 12 feet of cord to realize what you are doing before they will get yanked off your head. Usually I have a complaint about wired headsets due to them limiting the range from your device at which you can play but this longer than normal cord length is quite comfortable.

Appearance:

Appearance really shouldn’t matter that much in a headset since performance is really what makes or breaks it’s effectiveness but I would be remiss to not point out the new angular white shell on the headset which looks like it could be a part of a stormtrooper’s gear. I had it sitting next to my Star Wars XBox 360 and a clone trooper bobblehead and it looked damn sexy.

Last Call:

The Tritton AX Pro+ 5.1 Surround Headset is the only headset you will need from now on. It is perfect for gaming, movies, music, anything you could want the headset for and it’s connectivity allows the freedom to use it where you want. I plan to do some traveling with my Xbox 360 and laptop in tow, and this headset is definitely going along for the ride!

ArmA II – Army of the Czech Republic Review (PC)

2012/09/27

Ripper71

News, Reviews

In a world of FPS there are certain franchises which deliver excellent gameplay but due to the big boys never get the light of press. Everyone has heard of CoD and Battlefield but there has been another very active franchise which has been pulling in enough of a following to keep the DLCs and sequels coming out and has recently hit the spotlight with their zombie mod DayZ which is being further developed. ArmA ,from the Latin word for weapons (not the often mistaken belief that it is for Armed Assault the first game), has been around since 2006 when it was first developed by Bohemia Interactive whose big standout wound up being the Flashpoint series stateside but boomed decently with both titles in Europe. There the ArmA series thrived and grew with their third ArmA title on the way, an extremely well received expansion to the second game called Combined Operations and DLCs based off of it. It is one of these that Bohemia recently released, Army of the Czech Republic, that shows just because they have ArmA III and DayZ in development doesn’t mean they have given up on their previous title.

Storyline:

Civil War is just coming to an end in the fictional Bystrica and members of the Army of the Czech Republic are sent in to help bring the peace and round up war criminals. Things turn out to be a bit more complicated than at first thought as the game develops into a 15 mission storyline over two fictional territories. You will have state of the art equipment to help you in this fight but wits and strategy win the day in every scenario because your elite team is outnumbered at every turn.

Graphics and Sound:

The graphics in this game are excellent though objects in the distance lose definition which is probably intentional. An enemy standing still in camouflage among the trees for example blends in as they well should, and if you are advancing through foliage or in the middle of the road the enemy is going to spot you first, possibly while a canopy is still in your way. While this may prove frustrating it is accurate and up close the graphics show very nice and clean definition. The real gem of atmosphere is the sound though which is amazing realistic. I left the game for a moment to get a snack and came back and froze in the middle of my living room. It sounded just like my grandfather’s house out in the middle of nowhere in Southern Oregon. Crickets were chirping but it was more than just that, they perfectly captured the sound of nature being nature. It is almost hard to explain, like explaining the sound of nothing but that was it. When you move your sounds are accurate whether on roads or in brush and the gunshots are perfect as well but what really left it’s greatest impression was capturing the sound of isolated nature.

Gameplay:

The first thing you will discover with this series, and the Flashpoint games as well to a lesser extent, is that they are not trying to be another CoD or Battlefield clone. You can say sure, whatever, but until you play the training missions for ArmA you really have no idea how unique the game is when it comes to controls. Any person raised on American FPS controls will be immediately at a loss on how to do most things in this game. ACR is terrific but not a jumping in point. I believe there is a legitimate reason this is an expansion: the gameplay expects you to know this foreign control system. Here were some actual moments that happened when I tried to jump directly into ACR. I was stuck in a car unable to open the door while the enemy surrounded it and shot it up like the Bonnie and Clyde car (look it up if you have never seen it). I couldn’t change weapons when I ran out of ammunition so I stood there with an empty gun and got shot up. One of my men was shot to the point of near death, I was looking into his bullet holes and our medic just stood there checking the perimeter. Unable to use my sniper scope I stared uselessly at a forest as a sniper picked off my team one by one. These are just a few issues I found, the list went on until I went back and did the training and took a very long look at the controls section. ArmA didn’t go with some industry standard, they blazed their own trail in many ways and if you want to play it you need to embrace that. This game is so foreign that in ACR they don’t speak English, if you want to know what is being said you have to read the subtitles.

ArmA, and ACR in particular, doesn’t try to put in a bunch of cinematics or trails you have to follow, actually in most cases it is the opposite. If you find your own way, the often longer way to a location, you have a better strategic advantage. This game is all about the strategic advantage. Heading straight for an enemy from a road is the direction they expect you. Sneaking up wide and approaching from the side opposite the road is much more likey to take them by surprise. If you are on the high ground ducking can keep you from taking bullets while the enemy on the low ground has less defensible cover. These are real life standard tactics that are often lost in games so it is nice to see that most of the gameplay is realistic in that sense. Much like the real world this is a sandbox environment with many, many ways to get a job done and your most valuable weapon is your brain, though if you like other types of weapons this game adds all the latest weapons, vehicles and aircraft you could want and allows you to use them in mission or just having fun mode.

Drawback?:

I mentioned above that there was the moment when I was standing there next to my wounded comrade while my medic stood around checking out the scenery. This was frustrating as I managed to get the medic to try to heal me but couldn’t get him to heal the guy full of gaping wounds. My first thought is this is a major drawback to the game, I want my medic healing the team. When I think about it if we are under fire I would want my medic to do what I choose, return fire or heal the teammate depending on what I felt was the priority. So in that case I felt that the medic should only heal when I say so. But when the firing stops and we are regrouped I honestly felt the medic should heal the injured team member. Once I got the hang of issuing the order it just became a part of every post engagement assessment but at the same time it felt like telling a toddler he could go potty now. Maybe this is something that will be addressed in ArmA III.

Last Call:

ArmA II: Army of the Czech Republic is an excellent DLC on an excellent game. It requires a learning curve which if you have the patience for you are rewarded with hours and hours of great and challenging gameplay. My guess is that DayZ probably will have the same system so if you want to play one of the hottest zombie FPS properties around when it is fully fleshed out you may want to pick these games up for that alone, while others are stumbling around getting devoured trying to figure out the gameplay you will be boomsticking your way to Groovyville. If however you just want to play an extremely well built military FPS you can’t go wrong with this franchise and this DLC in particular.

Trailer:

Tryst Review (PC/Steam)

2012/09/27

Ripper71

News, Reviews

I got really busy for a while there, too busy to play all the games I wanted. I know a lot of you out there who know me think that only happens during October when my grin glows in dark lit places, but I truly do get busy during an unofficial and little known season: “Beta Season”. There is a certain time of year when everyone is trying to get their beta work taken care of so they can hit a fourth quarter release or in some cases see if it needs a push back. It is at this time that I am often my happiest because I don’t just love the games, I love the process. I wish I knew how to create games so I could do it for a living. The part that so many in the industry dread, beta testing, is when I shine. I revel in finding AND reporting a bug (rather than exploiting it), making sure I can reproduce the exact conditions over and over before reporting it. I have a collision error so you don’t, I document that sitting in a jeep made me go into a environmental fall loop so you don’t have to exit the server at a key moment. So at one point this year I was in seven betas at the same time when suddenly I had a work surge and some had to fall to the side. It broke my heart that Tryst was one of them.

Then an assignment crossed the desk that made my week. Sure I wasn’t going to get to be part of the beta team, but at least I was getting to review it!

Storyline:

Humans have gone into space to explore for alternative means of energy, along the way they came across a technologically advanced species known as the Zali and two groups decided that the best plan would be to simply become allies. When they discover a planet named Ishtonia IV has massive amounts of the energy source Lohum diplomacy turns to war and no one can get along anymore. Much as is often the case in such moments, the humans find themselves underdogs fighting not just for energy but for the survival of our very species. Looking like the Zerg and Protoss had a lovechild, the Zali use insectoid machines against our utilitarian military looking buildings and units, often in zerging fashion.

Graphics And Sound:

No doubt the developers would rather we didn’t compare their game too much to StarCraft but the sometimes that really isn’t a bad thing. If you imitate certain elements of the game generally credited with “Best In Show” then you guarantee that at least those element will be liked and enjoyed. So with a similar running storyline to StarCraft there is also a very similar graphic style. The landscapes look very similar, the heads up looks very similar, units as well though as I mentioned above the graphics for the enemy seem a cross between the two StarCraft enemies. Even the voice acting has a lot of similarities, though these also have some common threads with Command and Conquer. The sound effects also bear commonalities. All this does not necessarily add up to a bad thing though, these were all successful aspects of the genre, and StarCraft in particular, so these when combined can make a game feel comfortable and instantly engaging, it is then up to the gameplay and mission qualities to make it a success.

Gameplay:

This is where the game will either be a hit or a failure with players, the irony will be the same for both reasons. The mechanics are easily picked up because they are very similar to all the big RTS games, the maps and play set up are just like most RTS including StarCraft. It is to the point that it will be called a StarCraft clone but before someone dismisses the game for that reason consider how that is actually an extreme compliment for a game and it’s similarities help contrast the differences.

So for example some of the best and finely tuned AI went into StarCraft. If your AI works well enough to be compared to StarCraft then you have a solid strategy title that should give you a good play regardless of “the packaging” and something to be proud of. This game has it. If the units have similar strengths and weaknesses and unit development is based on similar building systems you have a good play. Again this game has it. Then there should be some differences combined with the similarities, the enemy has a classic siege tank whereas the humans have a spider walking turret. The humans have a unit that can lay mines but it isn’t limited to three, instead there is a cooldown and less damage done requiring entirely different dispersal patterns. There are talent trees for units and some buildings but most ot them will lock out one talent when you take another.

I can go on but multiplayer, skirmish and single player campaign all have very much the same feel as StarCraft with just slight differences.

Last Call:

Tryst’s strengths can also be seen as it’s weaknesses by others. It is very much like StarCraft with just enough differences to separate itself. It is a solid RTS game with great graphics and, if you like StarCraft, you should like this game (unless you don’t like games that are too much like StarCraft because they like StarCraft too much). That seems weird to type but people will dislike it for that very reason. If you like StarCraft and want a slightly different experience but one that feels very much like it, this is a great play for you.

Trailer:

Gallery:

Massive Fury DLC Hits Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron (Review/XBLA)

2012/09/27

Ripper71

News, Reviews

The latest Massive Fury DLC for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron doesn’t bring any new maps with it but it does bring some love for the old school Transformers. The features include being able to play Retro Optimus Prime in single player campaign mode as well as the following:

Multiplayer

Kickback (Flying Insecticon)
Sharpshot (Flying Insecticon)
Hardshell (Beetle Tank Insecticon)
G1 Retro Optimus Prime Skin
Autobot Hound

Single Player

G2 Bruticus Skin
G1 Shockwave Blast Cannon weapon
G1 Megatron Pistol weapon

Last Call:

This pack was a lot less about weapons as it was about being able to climb into some fresh skin. Playing as an Insecticon or as Retro Transformers is fun but not much more than cosmetic which is pretty much what the pack is about. If you picked up the previous DLC then you have Dinobots to choose from as well or you may get lucky like I did and wind up in a multiplayer mission where I was playing an Insecticon next to Retro Optimus Prime as we charged some Dinobots. Playing in the single player campaign has a novelty as Retro Optimus Prime and Retro Bruticus but it does seem a little weird in the futuristic world of Cybertron to be cruising around in a semi truck. The DLC is a real blast and if you are fans of either set of additions to the Transformers world I recommend it but don’t expect any real change in content, it appears we have to wait a little longer for that.

Trailer:

Gallery:

New Map Invades Battlefield Heroes

2012/09/18

Ripper71

News, Reviews

There is a possibility you haven’t played this game. It is free to play and combines the best elements of the Battlefield franchise in a cartoony, irreverent way. So you can use a sniper rifle to take out an enemy at the other side of the map… while dressed as the Easter Bunny. Or maybe you want to wear a cowboy hat, mime makeup, a tshirt that says “I’m with Stoopid,” a kilt and motorcycle boots while firing full auto with your PKM at a person jumping around dressed as a samurai. I’m not making this up!! This game uses Battlefield physics, weapons and vehicles while allowing massive individualization of your character’s look.

Most of the time you will find me as Santa Claus or Saint Nick blasting a machine gun and spouting such lines as “bad boys and girls now get lead instead of coal!” It’s addictive, both the gameplay and the costuming (which really surprised me), mainly because the team at Easy Company spend such love and time making every aspect of the game. That’s why when a new map comes along it is huge news… and when the new map has a new vehicle that is massive.

The new map which was named by the Battlefield Heroes community is called Inland Invasion and has the Royals (Allies) storming the beaches while the Nationals (Axis) defend from the cliffs above. It is a flag capture and control map with multiple flags and for the first time boats used to land the Royals on the beach under heavy fire. Imagine Saving Private Ryan with everyone dressed in Good Will rejected clothes and you get a fair idea of what is involved as the Royals try to take the beachhead and work their way inland.

The damage index on BFH is purposely soft to give players longer survival time. So no single head shots while still on the landing craft and the different weapons, vehicles and skills make for a great variety of damage and kills. The best part is the game is free, though those with a competitive streak or fashion flair will find themselves in the company store picking up guns and duds.

Last Call:

I have been playing and recommending this game for years, it is an excellent Battlefield shooter that happens to be free to play so you can give it a try and if you don’t like it don’t play anymore but you owe it to yourself to give it a try. The new map is very Battlefield franchise in it’s larger scale and though the boats are just making an introduction I could see them getting implemented much more. Who knows, maybe you will come face to face with a gun toting Santa saying “Ho Ho Ho, Merry Deathmas!”

Trailer:

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Goblin Zeppelin Ambush Review (Mega Bloks)

2012/09/18

Ripper71

News, Reviews

When it comes to these product reviews we make a request for a product by just asking for “a sample” and it is a surprise what arrives. So it was like A Christmas Story when a Mega Bloks Goblin Zeppelin Ambush arrived. I do believe my exact words were “Wow! A zeppelin!” and from the moment I got my hands on it I carried the box close to me until I had a chance to get working on it like I was afraid it might disappear. It didn’t and I now have plans to display it proudly over my computer while I hang out in Org and throw Papa Hummel’s onto my pets (you don’t have to be a WOW geek to truly appreciate this set, but it helps). It was the best set I could have hoped for and I have no doubt it will bring a smile to my face for years to come.

Have A Work Space:

For those of you out there like me who have done puzzles with thousands of pieces before 310 sounds like a nice cake walk number to work with, maybe something to make on your lap while watching television. Danger, Young Will Robinson, Danger! This set prides itself in detail and that detail is comprised of pieces that are so small they would be a swallowing hazard for a newborn kitten. There are two node pieces in this set that are curved so not only are they easy to lose but if you drop them they will hurt really, really bad when you step on them. So best plan is to clear a space, make sure there are no newborn kittens around, and get to work. Experienced puzzle builders have done it in around an hour, less experienced it has taken a couple hours so you probably want to put the time aside to do it in one sitting too so you aren’t having to pack part of it away to come back to.

Use The Instructions:

Once upon a time this section would have been mostly dedicated to the guys who won’t stop to ask for directions at a gas station and who when they build a bookcase or entertainment center always have pieces left over or have to do it twice. Those jokes no longer apply to the male half of the species anymore and with that comes the greater number of people who don’t read directions. If you open the instruction book you will probably smirk at the fact that there are only 30 steps and start putting things together that obviously go together. STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! *smacks hands* each section of instructions requires multiple pieces to be put together so step one may be one picture but six pieces are put together. When you think about the fact that is comes with 310 pieces that means over ten pieces per step average. Take your time and make it right the first time, don’t wind up with extra parts and a wonky zeppelin.

The Results:

Ok I won’t take you step by step through the process, that would be silly. Follow the directions and you wind up with an awesome piece of WOW merchandise with tons of display options. The three figures come with removable armor and you have both factions represented including the two newest races. You have the zeppelin with a cannon and a ground crossbow both which fire to give fun battle possibilities, or to shoot at someone (never aim for the face!) whichever you are most likely to do. The zeppelin is loaded with movable and removable parts such as it’s rudder, blades, cannon, even sand bags. I have purchased several WOW things in the past and this is by far my favorite, where most of them will just sit on a shelf I have plans to try to make this one hang from my ceiling by fishing line, maybe even go in circles if I can get things just right. It truly is a great way to fly your geek flag.

Downsides:

There really aren’t many with this set, it is so awesome. I did notice that the color on a couple pieces didn’t seem to have mixed properly so I went to check to see if that was a common issue and it seems to be to the point of it maybe being intentional, you can see it in the brown section above. It is a bit pricey but you tend to pay a bit more for nicer toys. The secret loot was a little underwhelming since it was a toy loot rather than an in-game loot which would have been a lot more fun, but I now have another weapon to interchange with my figures!

Last Call:

If you are a WOW fan this is definitely a set you will want to have. The complete “assembly required” I think actually adds to it since you have the feeling of accomplishment afterwards. Just follow the directions and be careful with the pieces because though your kid may find it fun to play with too the pieces suck to step on. Best plan is to hang it high so you can look at it with pride while doing the latest raid or like me playing with your pet “Nuts” in front of the auction house. Now who is going to help me talk my wife into letting me get the rocket set? Pleeeeaaaasseee!

Trailer:

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