[Update]Skyrim 1.2 patch out now for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC to follow
The next patch for Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is out now on the Playstation 3 with Xbox 360 and PC to follow the next day(Nov 30). This 1.2 patch is aimed to address the big issues especially seen on the Playstation 3. At the same time, the patch also addresses the Xbox 360 version of losing texture detail when installed on your console.
[UPDATE] - When PS3 and 360 version of the game is updated to 1.2, it helps the lag issue from PS3 and fixes the low res textures when installed on your 360, but it seems like it comes with a price. The patch provides game breaking bugs that's even worse of you ask me. Magic resistance seems to be not working anymore and Dragons fly backwards. It's so silly that Bethesda patches never work.
For 360 players, I suggest ignoring the damn patch and just keep playing the game without the installation. With PS3, it's harder to suggest to play without it because of the unplayable lag. Some say it greatly improves the performance but not you have no point in putting magic resistance plus those awesome dragons acting weird. Still need to do testing but I'll continue the game without it, feels safer.
Here's the full patch notes thanks to Bethesda's blog:
UPDATE 1.2 NOTES (all platforms unless specified)
- Improved occasional performance issues resulting from long term play (PlayStation 3)
- Fixed issue where textures would not properly upgrade when installed to drive (Xbox 360)
- Fixed crash on startup when audio is set to sample rate other than 44100Hz (PC)
- Fixed issue where projectiles did not properly fade away
- Fixed occasional issue where a guest would arrive to the player’s wedding dead
- Dragon corpses now clean up properly
- Fixed rare issue where dragons would not attack
- Fixed rare NPC sleeping animation bug
- Fixed rare issue with dead corpses being cleared up prematurely
- Skeleton Key will now work properly if player has no lockpicks in their inventory
- Fixed rare issue with renaming enchanted weapons and armor
- Fixed rare issue with dragons not properly giving souls after death
- ESC button can now be used to exit menus (PC)
- Fixed occasional mouse sensitivity issues (PC)
- General functionality fixes related to remapping buttons and controls (PC)
Testing still needs to be done if this patch actually fixes these issues but thankfully it has arrived. Xbox 360 and PC 1.02 patch is coming tom so can't wait to test if installing it is better now on my 360.
Battlefield 3: Gulf of Oman Trailer
If you got yourself a copy of the Limited Edition of Battlefield 3, then that free expansion pack that was promised inside your copy is coming real soon. Check out the new trailer coming from DICE showing one of the new maps aslo showcasing the added vehicles in the game. Thank god for that harrier type jet.
Back to Karkand will include 4 maps, 10 new weapons, 3 new vehicles, a new game mode called Conquest Assault, and a feature called assignments which is another way to unlock weapons. I believe most Battlefield 3 players have a copy of the limited Edition, but just in case you don't, you'll have to cough up $14.99 to get this expansion pack.
The expansion pack will come sometime in December with the Playstation 3 version getting it first a week earlier.
If you want a more detail about what certain weapons and vehicles are being included, check out the BF3 Blog.
Capcom's new IP, Dragon's Dogma now dated
If you remember back in April, Capcom's mystery game was revealed to be a new IP called Dragon's Dogma that gave us that Monster Hunter-ish gameplay where you go off to slay huge monsters. Well the game has finally been dated and whether it's not you're kind of game or not, a new title is always good to experience.
March 27 , 2012 is the release for the US with a Europe release following right after on May 1, 2012.If you've seen footage of the game when it was released, I'm sure you're also with me that this game is the one to look out for on 2012. Dragon's Dogma will be set in a fantasy world were you get to roam around the world, hunt down monsters with a group of NPC characters and on a quest to retrieve your heart stolen by a Dragon. Yes, I have no idea how that works but hunting for a dragon always sounds good. This will be an open-world game with Capcom revealing it to be around 30-100 hours long depending if you're a side quest junkie.
The key feature with this game is the ability to climb on this huge monsters.Inspired by Shadow of Collossus(must play btw), instead of just hacking away on creatures side, you climb on to either it's back, wing or head to deal significant damage. Clinging on a flying Gryphon to stop it from flying away with the help of your AI companions is what makes it unique from other games. I like this direction since the player get's to experience the full encounter of facing a huge monster.
The biggest question is, why no online co-op? With a game like this, it would seem rather ideal to place that as an option, even a main focus. Sadly, with regards to online capabilities - the only thing you can do online is grab other player's characters to be used as one of your AI controlled buddies. Hopefully they surprise us in the end that we can actually play this with a friend, but with the March release, seems unlikely.
Most triple titles are either a sequel or a game that has a number right after its title, especially this year. That's good and all but I actually prefer fresh titles coming out more often. To have a good mix of the well known and the unknown. Wouldn't you want to take a risk and surprise yourself on how blown away you were? or prefer to play it safe and purchase a title that you know will be worth you're while? Depends, I know. With games priced at the standard $59.99 or PHP 2,000+ range, playing it safe is the preferred choice for most nowadays which is why most company's stick with what works if they find that golden title. Is Dragon's Dogma worth the risk though? I definitely think so.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Impressions
A lot of people say that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the greatest Zelda game of all time. But with Nintendo’s latest Zelda incarnation, some people are saying that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword can rival or even exceed the greatness of Ocarina of Time. Now that’s a pretty big claim but after playing a bit of Skyward Sword, I can definitely say that it’s giving Ocarina of Time a run for it’s money.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the latest Zelda game that Nintendo has graced us with and was released on the year of Zelda’s 25th Anniversary. Taking a mix of both the art styles of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, we have a grown-up Link done in a very gorgeous cell shaded style. I think this is a great middle ground between the light heartedness of Wind Waker and the dark and gritty theme of Twilight Princess and it suits the Zelda franchise very well.
Despite being properly proportioned (lol Wind Waker melon-head kid Link), characters show a great deal of emotion and it really brings out a lot of personality in this game. I found it funny when a shop keeper sighed and frowned as I walked away from his shop while not buying anything. The graphics of this game also pushes the Wii’s ability to its peak. Environments are very bright and colourful and are generally just fun to run around in.
Combat was never really something to talk about in previous Zelda games. In the 2D ones you’d just press a button and Link would swing his sword where he is facing. In past 3D Zelda’s you’d have the Z targeting and just mash B till the enemies died. Future people, takes notes cause this is how motion control is done. Skyward Sword still has Z targeting but since we have a legitimate right-handed Link and 1-to-1 motion control with the Wii Motion Plus, combat is a little more interesting this time around. Link would swing his sword in accordance with the direction you swing the Wiimote for the most part feels very good and responsive. What also adds to the tension of combat is that your shield has a durability gauge so aside from having to watch your opponent, finding their weak point, and striking with the right slashes, you also have your shield durability to worry about. Oh and taking damage from enemies costs 1 full heart. Swordplay in past Zelda games wasn’t really bad but it was mostly just more of the same and sometimes a chore but in Skyward Sword’s case, it’s pretty interesting and keeps you on your toes.
Some controls do feel a little awkward at first such as having to hold the sprint button, run and then shake the nunchuck to roll is still a bit confusing to me as I have to do all that while watching the spring meter at the same time but I’m sure it’s something that I will get used to.
I’m about maybe 3+ hours in so far but I am having a blast which is more than I can say for Twilight Princess’ first few hours. If you own a Wii and haven’t picked this up yet then what the hell is wrong with you? Go out there and get this game now because it is not something you want to miss.
If you are worried about not having a motionplus, you can pick up a bundle of the game with comes with a golden Wiiremoteplus (the wiimote with the built-in motionplus) and I think also includes an orchestrated soundtrack as well as an art book and a cloth map. Speaking of soundtracks, this game has a kickass one.
Mods: The reason to why it's better to play on a PC
So, it's almost been a month since we were given the gift of Skyrim. With that said, there has been a whole lot of time for the great modding community to work on their mods! Now, if you're anything like me, the first few mods you'd be looking for are the texture mods (better facial textures, surroundings, and bodies), and that's exactly what I did.
You can get easy access to community mods at Skyrim Nexus. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are other places to get mods, besides nexus, but nexus offers us lazy skeevers something other sides don't; a download manager. If you're familiar with the Curse Client, used for WoW addons, then this won't be a new thing to you. All you have to do is click on the download link (found in any of the pages in the site), and the manager does everything else for you. Please keep in mind, that not all mods work together, so make sure to read up on the specifics, before installing stuff!
For this test, I decided to run with the following mods:
Now, since the game is still fairly new, you can expect the mods to be somewhat buggy at times. In my case, I experienced a minuscule amount of frame-rate drops, but only during large scale fights, in intense weather conditions. I also encountered an odd bug, with regards to models bugging, and not being rendered properly.
Apart from that, all the other mods worked pefrectly! The blood-spatter seemed more realistic, the environment was a little more detailed, and the NPCs were more detailed too! Just once word of advice before modding: MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR CURRENT FOLDER! Some mods require you to install them the old-fashioned way, meaning you'll have to cut and paste stuff onto your Skyrim folder... and if the mod doesn't work properly, you get royally screwed...so yeah, make sure that you make a backup folder, before modding.
Happy (dragon) hunting!