Dear THQ, WE Are NOT The Game Testers

Dear THQ. I'm glad to hear that you are doing all this work after your "community" has made you aware of various issues....... I'll say it before and i'll say it again: WWE 12 is a sexy new car.... with NO wheels. We've been trying to drive this beautiful car, but we just can't drive it the way it should be driven. Instead of pressing the gas and GO, we have to trudge out feet and drive this car like the Flintstones. We shouldn't have to do that. We buy the game because we're supposed to enjoy it, not have to put WORK into it. We work enough during the day.

I'll even give you that maybe you can't predict all the online issues, because of the mass amounts of people on the servers, bla bla bla..... but what kind of game testers do you have (if any at all) that they would miss OFFLINE glitches, like this!:

- DX entrance settings:
If you customize a wrestlers entrance with making their entrance DX style, the normal cut back and forth between the entrance video and the wrestlers walking down the ramp, is not there. Instead what you get is the video playing until your wrestlers enter the ring. In other words, you have a good minute or two where you don't know where your wrestlers are, because they are blocked and hidden by a full screen video. How can this even happen? The DX entrance has been in the game for years, and this year it happened to break? Worse off.... none of your testers caught this?

- Setting the Spray painted "World Title" to a wrestler doesn't work:
Instead what you get, is the wrestler walking to the ring with the WWE spray painted title. This takes even less effort to set up and test then an entrance, how was this missed?

- Viewing a Created Wrestler from the Community Creations Blocks Your Ability to edit:
So if you view a wrestler that you would like to download from the online community creation section, ya know, just to check him out and see if it's exactly what you want, it hinders your ability to edit that wrestlers moves if you download him directly after the view. Instead, if you want creative freedom, you have to view, back out, and then find the wrestler you want to download AGAIN and go straight to clicking download. Yes, the creator can choose whether they would like their wrestlers to be edited after they are downloaded or not. Most creators allow this, because they understand that not everyone wants the exact same thing. They know how it feels. But even when the wrestlers you downloaded have the ability to edit ON, this glitch still happens. This glitch was NOT present in the 2011 version of this game (Smackdown vs. RAW 2011)

- "Hero" Road to Wrestlemania storyline will enslave your CAW:
Ironically, the "hero" story in the Road to WrestleMania story mode will capture your created wrestler, and enslave it to be it's own - changing it's name and move set. So if you had dreams of taking your CAW through a wrestling adventure, think again. You instead have to create a BS CAW that you don't even want to use, just to be same, or else the CAW you would LIKE to use will get destroyed if you pick him. Why even ask the player to choose a CAW then, if them game if only going to destroy him? Another note: You won't be able to change your CAW's name back from the name it gives you either. Oh but don't worry, you can change the moves back... on a guy who you don't want anymore. Hope you have fun with all that useless work.


Just the other day I was playing in "Universe" mode: a Triple Threat match, using two CAWs (created-a-wrestlers, created wrestlers) and one stock wrestler. As the first CAW I made started to enter, I shortly saw that all his edited entrance features were gone. His theme song had reset to the first theme I had on him(?!!?!?), and I found out during the match, that all his moves have been set back to default as well! How the hell does this happen? It takes a good while to create a wrestler, thats enough work. Having to do it all over again for no reason is REAL work!

THQ just released a thread in it's WWE 12 forums that states that they are working on a "primary patch" to fix most of the games main glitches. They wanted to make it clear that the patch that they had already released (about a day ago) was NOT the "primary patch", but a minor patch that should help the online issues. They went on to thank "their community" for informing them of the issues with the game........

" Our primary patch will address some of the top-line bugs and glitches that YOU the community have helped us identify," - WWE Games

(NOTE: The servers for the community creations section in the online section of the game had been absolutly borken for the first several weeks. Only working about 2% of the time. And most of the time you couldn't even get on to do on online verses match either)
Online issues have been made better, but still have work to be done.

Mentioning all this though..... this is why I say, (even if you want to excuse the online being broken, which shouldn't be excused for the level of atrocity it is/was) I say this:


THQ. WE ARE NOT THE GAME TESTERS !


Even with the excuse that "We couldn't anitisipate the amount of people that would accupy the servers" there is still so many problems with the OFFLINE portion of this game! What kind of quality assurance is going on in this company? Obviously not enough help to have them finish the game.
Granted a lot of work was done to overhaul the game to "reboot" it, and a lot of that work is very impressive, but this game OBVIOUSLY wasn't finished. They want to make a game yearly, i'm not for it, but fine. But MAKE THE GAME. That intails FINISHING IT! Things like this need to be brought to light, because people are dropping $60 on ENTERAINMENT. I didn't know I was paying $60 to WORK for THQ?

Lets not forget to mention the countless threads on the message boards of people saying that they pre-ordered the special edition of the game, straight from THQ, and have not received it yet..... almost a month later. Once again, this is PRE-ORDERS not arriving a month later... of special editions.... that cost EXTRA money. - What the hell is going on at THQ??!?


So THQ, you want to thank your community for helping you find bugs? Why don't you hire a QA team to do that, so we feel like we're buying a video game, instead of feeling like we PAID YOU, to WORK FOR you - to inform you about bugs that a child could pick out. What does that say about your QA team?


I say this out of love, because I would have liked to see this otherwise beautiful game finished, but there's a line, and your at the point where you are taking advantage of people, and you have to hear our voices this time, because your not getting away with this one.


    Joey
-JcM




Read THQ's message to the community below,


source:
http://wwe.thq.com/go/thread/view/136083/28748793/xbox-360-title-update-released---this-is-not-the-patch-youre-looking-for

Why Sonic Hasn't Sucked Since SEGA, & Why

Maybe Console Sonic's havn't been up to par since Sonic Adventure for most. I can't understand that, being a big Sonic fan myself. Although I do not own "Sonic the Hedgehog" for 360.. or "Sonic Unleashed" for 360.... or "Sonic and the Secret Rings" for Wii........ OR "Sonic and the Black Knight" for Wii.... ok, so maybe you Sonic haters have a point! Although I caught a glimpse of "Sonic Colors" for Wii, and that actually looked like that game was starting some momentum again for "CONSOLE SONIC".

But anyway, even though Sonic haters might have a point about Sonic on the console since after the Sonic Adventure series, Sonic DEFINITELY hasn't sucked since then. Why? Well god dam, have you guys NOT been playing the GBA Sonic's and the Nintendo DS Sonic's? If you havn't, I feel bad for you.

Sonic Advance 1-3 (GBA)
Sonic Rush (DS)
Sonic Rush Adventure (DS)
Sonic Colors (DS!!)

You want REAL Sonic? WITHOUT FAIL? Play ^ Those games!

You guys might live in the "Sonic has sucked for a while" world, but not me. I've been having a great Sonic experience since SEGA... since I was 6 (or 7).... for about 20 years! Enjoying Sonic never stopped for me!

When Sonic Advance came out, I was BLOWN away! I was like "WOW! A true sequel to 2D Sonic!". I'm not taking away from Sonic Adventure for DreamCast here; What i'm saying, is that at that time, never did I think that Sonic was going to go back to 2D. And when it did, it was seriously the true predecessor to the 2D Sonic's, 1-3, and Sonic and Knuckles. Sonic Advance 1 - 3: Such great experiences. It was great see how Sonic "advanced" (see what I did there) in a true, TRADITIONAL Sonic sequel.

Now onto Sonic Rush. Another TRUE Sonic series, that took advantage of the DS' two screens in SUCH a RADICAL way! Yet even more "advancement" over the Sonic Advance GBA games, in the best way that it could.
Sonic Rush Adventure I actually never got a chance to play, but it got RAVE reviews! It was actually a Sonic RPG, that still played like traditional Sonic I believe, with a little added spice.

So you see... even though console Sonic (supposedly) "hasn't been good" since Sonic Adventure 2 , Sonic has never really died, and I just showed you why and how.

I actually have Sonic Generations (waiting to be opened!). First console Sonic in a while. The demo was great, so i'm looking forward to a good Sonic experience returning to the big screen! SO many AAA games this holiday with SUCH high scores to choose from to play! But I'm dying to get around to this new Sonic though. Couldn't pass up a game with CLASSIC Sonic in it! Can't wait to see how they do the story! (I hope they're not two different 'people'), but either way, I'm sure it's going to to great! Oh, and I also couldn't pass up a Super Sonic Avatar Costume (with the pre-order). I'm a sucker for Sonic.... what can I say ? =/

     
     Joey
- JcM

Nintendo Wii U Achievements & Mii World

Now that Nintendo has changed the world and how we play yet AGAIN! It's time to get back to the basics. Nintendo has basically gave birth, and mastered the "casual" gaming experience, now it's time to combine it's old powers with the new.

Nintendo's next console, the Wii U, will be a Wii, with the idea of it's older systems..... but WITH MORE POWER!.... PLUS MORE even! Ah, what every one has been waiting for, even developers. An HD, POWER PACKED Nintendo console. The possibiltys are limitless. Especially with the new "tablet esc" controller for the new system. A controller with a touch screen right smack dab in the middle of  a normal controller's buttons that we all know.  But.......... although new is good, a lot has evolved on the hardcore scene since the GameCube.

Not the that Wii is a stranger to hardcore games even, but we all can admit (even me, the most hardcore Nintendo fan) that some things that we've come to love about systems like Xbox 360, were not as prevalent on the Wii. And we want to see it, we want Nintendo to reach it's full potential. So if Nintendo is going to put in the true potential of their other side (the "hardcore" side) back into their new system, now-a-days, a lot of people will raise the question - "How will Nintendo do achievements?"

Achievements are not important to everyone, but theres no doubt that there is a HUGE amount of people that they do mean something to today. Maybe Nintendo will make achievements exclusive to each game. Well, if they did do a console wide achievmenet system, there's SO much potential. Imagine this:

"The Nintendo World Channel"
Prizes
Awards
Medals

Nintendo World Channel:
A place for Mii's to gather, show off the gifts they have received for their achievements, and a place to start a voice chat. Also, a function or channel that can run in the background, so you can run other apps in front of it.

Prizes: Little gifts for your Mii for accomplishing tasks in games. A game specific hat, or shirt for your Mii? Maybe a posters to hang on your Nintendo world hang out spot. Little models to place around your hang out?

Awards: Imagine, beating Batman: Arkham City, and receiving a letter and a box from Alfred himself in your Nintendo World, and having a Batman suit pop out of the box for your Mii to wear? Or even receiving a new "hang out", a Batcave for your Mii's to hang out in? How cool would it be to feel like you've actually taken something "home" from the journey you've been on in your games, as if you had really been on an adventure. Like a war vet, now you can litterally say "I got this back in NOMMM", if you've scored "achievements" in a certain Call of Duty game you've played on Wii U.

Medals: Lets face it, game developers make some achievements a pain. So how about receiving a less cool gift to show off, but something that is more prestigious at the same time. Medals, for the most deserving gamer. for maybe completing 100% of a game?  Something meaningful for those who like to go all the way, and something that wouldn't mean too much for people that just want to have fun and get the cool gifts that the prizes and awards would serve.

"Phsycal" items are way more fun then simple score board. Imagine, instead of having a 50,000 gamerscore, you can have a whole city filled with artifacts you've received from your gaming journeys. Games would mean something again, instead of running through a game, not even enjoying it, just for some points......... that get you nothing but bragging rights. But instead, imagine receiving letters, or boxes at your Mii home of things you can actually don on your Mii. Use. Swings swords, drive Mario Karts, maybe even play little mini games to be active while your chatting with your friends.
Imagine - "This Mini game requires a sword to play", so then you say to yourself "Hmm... I need to visit the Sand of Time in Prince of Persea!" Even from a buisness perspective, then people want to go out and buy a Prince of Persia game, or rent it, to collect a sword. Go on that journey, bring something back from it that you can use, and make it mean something.

For me, games are a place I go to save a world, do something that I might not be able to do in real life, but then still be able to do it... because i'm playing the game ;). Ya know what I mean? Why do you think people used to LOVe to push graphics as "true game advancement" back before this past gen? Cause ALL people that play prob think like this on some level, and want to feel like they're looking at something that actually puts them "there". So now lets have an achievement system that we can look back on, or show off, that allows us to say "Wow! You really did take down Darth Vader! Because you have his lightsaber!"

- JcM
joeyjcm.com

Nintendo 3DS Player - It's Now Possible to Bring Your DS to Your TV!

Basically every Nintendo home console since Super Nintendo, there has been a device that allowed you to play Nintendo's handheld of that same era (all versions of the gameboy so far) on your television.

This tradition seems to have hit a little speed bump though though with Nintendo DS, and now 3DS..... UNTIL NOW.

How you may ask? My answer to your question is simple: the future release of Nintendo's next home console, the Wii U.
The Wii U has many functions, and can use all original Wii remotes for gameplay. The main Wii U controller however (if you havn't heard by now) sports a 6' touch screen, smack dab' in the middle of a traditional style modern controller. The touch screen is the key!
..... Now bring your mind into the handheld universe for a second..... but keep it open! 
Think about a Nintendo DS or 3DS. Stay with me .......  the bottom half of a DS system (when opened to play mode) is basically acts as a mini Wii U tablet control. Traditional buttons, and a touch screen in the middle. Now, the top half of DS systems basically acts as a "television" screen. RIGHT!!?

SOOOOOOOOooooooo....

Up until the Wii U's announcement, it was basically impossible to bring the DS to the television, via something like a "DS Player" (as the "GameBoy Player" and the "GameBoy Advance Player" brought Gameboy games to the television on the Super Nintendo and GameCube systems). Even the N64 allowed you to bring Gameboy to the television in one way or another with the "GameBoy Transfer Pack". but now with the Wii U tablet it is possible, and makes perfect sense! In order to bring the DS to the television, Nintendo would have had to create a contrller with a screen on it.... but now thats EXACTLY what they have with the Wii U!

Imagine using your television screen as the top screen to your 3DS/DS, and the Wii U tablet controller as the bottom half your 3DS/DS system. 

It is now possible to bring the DS to the television. To see your DS and 3DS games on the big screen! Nintendo seems to have had no problem scretching out the DS screen with the release of the DSi XL system. Why not stretch it out alittle more and go for the big time on the television?

With the release of the 3DS, handheld Nintendo games have officially made it to 3D home console status graphically, and Nintendo basically has a portible N64/GameCube on their hands. Take me for example: my original DS games I used to keep all in one DS designated little box. Now with my 3DS games when i'm not playing them, I put them in their respective game cases. I treat them like they are console status games, and they basically are, and can be if this thought is made true!

For me this is a great thought that now this is REALLY possible. I'm all about maximizing the experience. I know the difference between an S-Video wire and component dammit!So it's really cool imagining taking a DS game and advancing it to a home console experience. We should get the whole universe to foward this message to Nintendo. (as if we needed to buy another peripheral.... but, you know we would).

Hope this gets your juices flowing and imaginations running wild! I hope to see petitions for a 3DS players starting............... NOW! ;P

HoLLA!
- JcM

JcM's Wii U Prediction that Could Have Been, and Why It Wasn't.

So first I just want to mention, the inspiration for this editorial comes from the fact that I had to get my information about my predictions out faster. I came VERY close to the mark on predicting what Nintendo's next console was going to be, but it wound up being a missed opportunity. I was planning on making my prediction in video form. It is to my disadvantage though that I cannot bring myself to do a simple vlog style video, because that is just... not my style. And if I were to make a vlog esc video, it would have to have the proper JcM flavor to it. I finally had a proper JcM way to release the information about my prediction in video form, but unfortunatly, more pressing matters were presented to me. Long story short, time goes by, and E3 2011 came and gone. It was too late to mention what my prediction for the next Nintendo console would be, but by god it was DAM CLOSE. Scary even. Therefore I have decided to release my prediction information in blog/editorial form. If I can make a video about my predictions before it is too late, I would love to. But sometimes you have to make the right decisions, even if it's against what you want to do. I would love to have my predictions made in video form, but time is of the essence, and I need to start releasing my secret weapons soon.

May this message serve as an invitation to join me on yet another form of entertainment and leisure activity I will be providing. And here, next... is alittle story of the prediction that could have been.......

Way before E3 2011, when the first Wii U details were released at the Nintendo E3 press conference, I just about predicted what the Wii U was going to be...and I was VERY close. My prediction of the next Wii was a system that had a screen on it. Very similar to an iPad. Something you can carry around with you, but also hook up to the TV as per usual home videogame console. 4 USB ports for multiplayer (if you chose to do wired remotes), or carry the system around with you where ever you wanted.

Further, I predicted that it would be a system you can take on the go with you not only for gaming purposes, but it would also expand on the brain age idea, and be something that would help kids out with their education process. A tool for learning, maybe something to help out with homework, along with being something kids can enjoy. Alittle Nintendo system companion.

In sort, my prediction was a Nintendo home console with a screen on the system itself, that you can take around with you if you wanted.In theory, I predicted the Wii U controller to the T technically.

Ofcorse this is the prediction that could have been. Now people who are reading this have a choice whether to believe me or not, rather then saying "Wow, the force is strong with him!" ;P So consider this the bottle that christens the prediction ship, so I can have my predictions post up as soon as possible in the fastest way... for when I do prediction editorials of course.

Here's to seeing the future! (And reporting it asap so I look awesome!)
- JcM