Poking fun at the console RTS is like kicking a sick puppy. We’re all aware that controls, camera and gameplay are significantly weaker on a console than it is on the Computer. Despite popular knowledge, it’s still amusing to observe what each console RTS developer will be trying to do differently with their game. In an interview with CVG, Halo Wars lead designer Gaeme Devine stated he observed the aforementioned issues with console RTSs and purposefully designed a game to avoid them.

From the interview:

What we’ve seen before on console is that people try to take a Personal computer game and port it to a console. You end up with a half-way hybrid. There are a lot of things that we saw that were wrong – that we noted NOT to do.

He then went on to say that he didn’t think, “anyone’s done good console strategy games before” other than Pikmin and some crazy German Megadrive game called Hertzog Zwei. I haven’t had the pleasure of exploring the marvel that’s Hertzog, but I’m sure it’s astonishing.

Personally, I’m in the camp that thinks console RTSs could work if the context was actually considered. I think a game like Halo Wars (where the console was in mind the entire time) has the capability to break the “PC is better” wall we’ve been dealing with. What do you guys think? Will the RTS always be a Personal computer thing?

Via Destructoid

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At the same time as Epic was apologizing for Gears of War 2’s multiplayer screw ups, some statistics were shared about how multiplayer is shaping up. If you’re interested in meaningless numbers and percentages like I’m, then you might want to know these.

It’s interesting to note that, despite complaints about the shotgun being considerably weakened, it is still the most statistically lethal weapon in the game. With the amount of complaints you hear about the Lancer being too strong, it’s quite fun to see that it’s still not the most popular cause of death.

Here are the stats, in any case:

• Nearly 3 million multiplayer matches (excluding Private) have been played.
• Nearly 1 million screenshot pics have been uploaded to gearsofwar.com
• The most popular multiplayer mode is Horde.
• The most popular multiplayer map across all modes is River.
• The most lethal weapon is the Gnasher shotgun with almost 29% of all kills.

The popularity of Horde doesn’t surprise me, and it explains why it takes ten minutes for me to get a match started in that mode. The amount of matches being played on River also makes sense, since I tend to see that map more than most. I think it’s because everyone knows where the Boomshot is on that one.

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This week, Harmonix and MTV Games released the third retail expansion, Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2, for their Rock Band “platform.” (The second expansion was the Wal-Mart exclusive AC/DC Live Rock Band Track Pack.)

This standlone disc contains 20 songs, or as the box puts it, “20 All-New Epic Tracks.” That’s a bit misleading, however — all of the tracks on the disc are available for download from the Rock Band Music Store via your Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

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Since Gears of War 2 launched, it has earned massive complaints over problems with the multiplayer lobby, specifically with the length of time it takes to get a match started. While the launch weekend was generally okay, it has been pretty bad since then, and matchmaking can take a very long time indeed.

Epic has addressed this issue and apologized, calling the situation “unacceptable.” Senior producer Rod Fergusson has said that no one problem can be singled out as the cause, implicating “a number of factors” for the multiplayer frustrations.

Fergusson has promised that a permanent fix is underway, hopefully to be launched soon. In the meantime, the Epic man has provided some helpful hints to try and ease your online pain. Such tips include trying different playlists, starting matchmaking in celebrations of two, three or five, and hanging on to a celebration once you’ve played with it.

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First the really important news — you see that screen up there? It says that Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix will finally be hitting Xbox LIVE on November 26.

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Capcom sure knows its market for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix — guys and girls who still love the ironic silliness of Joe Esposito’s “You’re The Ideal.” Yeah, that’s me.

So that’s why Capcom has released a second trailer featuring the song made famous by The Karate Kid. Once again, it contains footage of people playing SSFIITHDR that are way superior than me at the game. The title still looks great — like a fancier, prettier version of the original — and that’s all we really need to get excited, right? Oh, and corny, inspiration rock songs.

And “what’s the problem?”, you might ask. The damned thing isn’t out yet. And no, we still don’t know when we’ll see it hit PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade, other than “soon.” Soon isn’t soon enough, Capcom. Make it sooner.

Via Destructoid

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[ Not streaming? Update your Flash player. New videos added daily! See the next 20 new videos ]

Capcom sure knows its market for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix — guys and girls who still love the ironic silliness of Joe Esposito’s “You’re The Ideal.” Yeah, that’s me.

So that’s why Capcom has released a second trailer featuring the song made famous by The Karate Kid. Once again, it contains footage of people playing SSFIITHDR that are way superior than me at the game. The title still looks great — like a fancier, prettier version of the original — and that’s all we really need to get excited, right? Oh, and corny, inspiration rock songs.

And “what’s the problem?”, you might ask. The damned thing isn’t out yet. And no, we still don’t know when we’ll see it hit PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade, other than “soon.” Soon isn’t soon enough, Capcom. Make it sooner.

Via Destructoid

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[ Not streaming? Update your Flash player. New videos added daily! See the next 20 new videos ]

Capcom sure knows its market for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix — guys and girls who still love the ironic silliness of Joe Esposito’s “You’re The Best.” Yeah, that’s me.

So that’s why Capcom has released a second trailer featuring the song made famous by The Karate Kid. Once again, it contains footage of people playing SSFIITHDR that are way better than me at the game. The title still looks great — like a fancier, prettier version of the original — and that’s all we really need to get excited, right? Oh, and corny, inspiration rock songs.

And “what’s the problem?”, you might ask. The damned thing isn’t out yet. And no, we still don’t know when we’ll see it hit PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade, other than “soon.” Soon isn’t soon enough, Capcom. Make it sooner.

Via Destructoid

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Seriously? Are enough people still playing this, and liking it enough to want to purchase DLC costumes?

Well, I guess when you’re barely doing any work for the potential revenue, there’s no harm in giving it a go. Thus it is, then, that LucasArts is this day offering a few new costumes for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on Xbox Live and PSN. If, for whatever reason, you are itching to play through the game again with a new skin, then here’s what you could proudly own for around five bucks:

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Seriously? Are enough people still playing this, and liking it enough to want to buy DLC costumes?

Well, I guess when you’re barely doing any work for the potential revenue, there’s no harm in giving it a go. Thus it is, then, that LucasArts is today offering a few new costumes for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on Xbox Live and PSN. If, for whatever reason, you are itching to play through the game again with a new skin, then here’s what you could proudly own for around five bucks:

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