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Is Blizzard Creating an Already Outdated Game in an Evolving Genre

Is Blizzard Creating an Already Outdated Game in an Evolving Genre
The real time strategy (RTS) genre is on somewhat of a decline It doesn’t get the same level of media and consumer interest that it got a decade ago In the past few years, the only series that has held the RTS torch high is the Command and Conquer series . .Sure, there have been a couple of Supreme Commander games, but they appeal to a niche audience and the average gamer is overwhelmed by the ridiculous amount of unit combination’s The Command and Conquer games still follow the exact same formula set by Dune 2 that was released 17 years ago . .Supreme Commander, for all its complexity, is simply an expanded and upgraded Total Annihilation, a game that was released 15 years ago The fundamental problem with the RTS genre is that it’s horribly stagnant It has the same rock-paper-scissors units, base building and resource management that it had in the early nineties . .However, Relic Entertainment swooped in to save the day with the Dawn of War (DoW) series in late 2004 DoW was almost a complete rethink of how an RTS should be played It focused on the physical battles more than base-building for example . .Resource collection was made simpler, and the emphasis was put on the fun part of an RTS: killing the other guy in the most vicious manner possible Relic expanded this concept into World War II games with Company of Heroes, which managed to mix the fun of DoW with the tactics of a WW2 game . .Usually, WW2 games are complex and you need the patience of a Zen master to understand the games intricacies, which put the average gamer off completely Company of Heroes managed to dodge the bullet with its simple cover system and the general application of logical solutions to complex problems It was a phenomenal game and you should feel ashamed of yourself for not playing it . .Five years on, Dawn of War 2 came out and managed to redefine the RTS genre again by changing the nature of the single player campaign, and focusing on single groups of units and their abilities You can upgrade individual squads, and take them through the story instead of producing a mass of nameless soldiers like you do in every other RTS Relic is the new genre-leader, and DoW2 is breaking new ground in the pursuit of a new gaming experience It has been a commercial and critical success and I, as an avid RTS fan, am very grateful for Relic’s continued innovation . .This brings me neatly back to Blizzard Their contribution to the RTS genre has been rock-solid engines, excellent narratives and balanced gameplay StarCraft was their masterpiece that appealed to competitive gamers and people like me who think gaming should always be fun It was, in all honesty, a fluke that the South Korean market latched onto it as much as it did Eleven years on, it is still being competitively played . .WarCraft 3 is arguably a better game, yet that has fallen by the wayside DotA, a custom map for WarCraft 3, is the only thing that is keeping it relevant If the South Koreans didn’t fall over themselves to play and watch StarCraft, would it have been as successful and significant in gaming culture that it is today? I’m willing to say no, especially in light of WarCraft 3’s failure on the competitive gaming circuit . .Now we are on the cusp of their masterpiece’s sequel, and the hype could not be any greater People are buying the beta invites handed out at BlizzCon 2008 from eBay for about $200 a piece Yet, I think StarCraft 2, in the state that we have seen it, does little to take StarCraft to the next level Yes, it is gorgeous and there are a few new units and abilities and whatnot, but where is the true evolution? If anything, StarCraft 2 is shaping up to be StarCraft 1 5 If it was an expansion pack of sorts, I would be very pleased with it . .Wrath of the Lich King was a stellar expansion pack for World of WarCraft (WoW) and it did for WoW what StarCraft 2 is doing for StarCraft 1 - Better graphics, bits and pieces of cool new stuff, and a general evolution that keeps the game fresh and interesting StarCraft is 11 years old; its sequel needs more than bits and pieces of new stuff to reaffirm its position as possibly the greatest RTS of all time Dawn of War 2 has set the bar very high and I don’t think StarCraft 2 will reach it The single player campaign has yet to be unveiled, so perhaps that could be the real evolution that I am looking for The narrative could be mind-blowing and the campaign structure could be innovative and fresh However Blizzard refuses to tell us anything about it Until they do, I have my doubts . .To give you an indication of Relics rise as the market leader, The Escapist magazine had a poll where readers were asked to vote between Relic and Blizzard in an epic showdown After accusations of cheating (it’s a forum poll, why would people cheat?), and a draw, the poll went into overtime Relic won it by 0 1 of a percent The victory could not have been any narrower, but they toppled a giant .
Source: www.rsstnx.com

Dress Up Games Getting Ready For Your Fashion Designer Debut
Young girls who aspire to work in the fashion industry can find a lot of helpful websites and a lot of information on the internet to help them get started It may sound impossible to begin your fashion career when you are only in middle school but you can do it, as many other girls have, if you know where to go online for information and what websites can help you . .Online Fashion . .Many young girls spend hours poring over fashion magazines studying all the new styles and the new designers that are out there With the availability online games focusing on fashion they can design clothes of all kinds with just a mouse and a keyboard . .Easy Fashion Games Online . .To play the online fashion games all you need is a computer that is connected to the internet There are no special computer accessories required and no sewing materials either You simply need to start up the computer and you are ready to go . .Online Dress Up Games . .You will be surprised at the number of different online fashion games and how much they have to offer You can find games that allow you to create fashions for your favorite celebrities or for Barbie or Bratz dolls There are also games with online dolls that are just there to show off your creative style creations These games that allow you to put together outfits will help you in your career goals . .Creating Stylish Outfits . .The many online fashion games available offer a wide variety of styles and colors of clothes as well as different accessories including shoes, hats and more Young girls can work on their fashion sense by creating unique and stylish outfits from the many different possibilities available in the online fashion games You will be able to use what you learn to create unique and stylish clothes that are all your own . .When you play the online fashion games you are exposed to different cultural styles as well as the newest and most modern styles of clothing and accessories You can find online fashion games from many different countries that will give you a taste of what fashion is like in other parts of the world and give you great ideas to use in your own designs You will be able to use what you learn to create unique and stylish clothes that are all your own . .The Importance of a Portfolio . .A portfolio is a great way to show potential bosses and clients what your fashion is all about The best thing to do is to make sure you keep a copy of your online fashion designs either on your computer or printed out and in a binder so you have a record of your creations You may not land your dream job in the fashion industry at age 15 but you can learn and grow as a designer and share your creations with family and friends You can also translate your designs into real clothes using things from local stores .
Source: www.rsstnx.com

Online Cooking Games Are Creating Quite a Buzz
What is it about online cooking games that are creating such a buzz? Kids of all ages really like to play them To be honest with you, many adults get a kick out of them too They are just like video games with the goal being to cook something or to create something Many of them require skills to make the products correctly and to also get them done in a hurry As your skills improve you are able to move on to harder levels and that keeps the games thrilling . .The fact that there are so many different types of these games on the site means that hours and hours of fun can be had These games are all free too which is refreshing Why pay for home gaming console cooking games when you can access them for free? The fun characters in them as well as the graphics are just as good as what you would get paying for them . .New cooking games are added all the time too If you or your kids play them often then you will definitely want to try out the new ones The rules for playing them are all explained too so there isn’t any guess work involve However, it can take some time to work out a strategy that works well . .Online cooking games aren’t the only ones creating a buzz though Many girls love to play dress up games from dress up games They get to step into the role of creating lovely designs for the characters to wear on a variety of events including vacation to the beach Finding the right scenario that is of interest means that they can mix and match items offered again and again until they have exhausted all of them . .Why not take the idea of dressing up a step further? This is what they can do with makeovers too at makeover games Here they can add make up, jewelry, sunglasses, and other accessories They also get to choose the color of the eyes, the style of eyelashes and more . .The internet offers plenty of fun ways for kids to have fun With cooking games like I mentioned above, many of them are asking for more computer time Any of these fun games though are a great way for them to be creative and to enjoy their free time .
Source: www.rsstnx.com