Bah!!!

Having to work the day after Thanksgiving really sucks.

Batman Arkham City PC vs Rage

What we have here are recent releases of two games that are both console ports to PC. One from ID software a company synonymous with FPS shooters on the PC and the other from Rocksteady who had a huge hit in Batman Arkham Asylum.

Thanks to the Nvidia deal on their GTX cards I got a free copy of Batman Arkham City. On Nov 22 the game was finally released and I finally got to play. Yes, PC gamers did have to wait over a month longer than Console players but I'm OK with it. It works when installed. I know this sounds like a silly statement but given my experience with ID Software's Rage.... its a big thing to me.  I have had some issues so far and I'm not far into the game but I've played as Catwoman, fought lots of thugs, and had fun all on the day I got the game.  Once I've gotten further into the game I'll try to make a better post about it.

I was never able to get Rage working  in single player mode on my PC. Multiplayer worked fine from day one but I wanted to play the single player game.  ID has tried to blame the issues on video drivers. If its video drivers why did the multiplayer work?? ATI does have to take part of the blame in the failure with Rage, After 4 driver revisions the single player just did not work on my ATI 4850 based card.  I installed my new card Monday night and low and behold Rage works. Had fun playing it too. So who's to blame for it not working AIT or ID? I blame them both.  ID should have known their was an issue and and worked with ATI to get it fixed before the release.  Releasing a game that was broken for so many on the release day and required so many tweaks and driver revisions should not be acceptable.

Batman vs Rage

The winner Batman Arkham City.  Kudos to Rocksteady you held the game and showed that just because its a port does not mean its half-assed. Its not without issues but it works. It looks good, plays well and I can have fun. Is it annoying to wait a month after the console version comes out? Yes. Is it annoying to have to exit the game to change the config? Yes. But the game works and its fun.

ID this is how a Console to PC port is done. Pay attention and learn from what Rocksteady has done.

Superior and Brilliant Mini reviews.

I just read issues 1 & 2 of Mark Millars Superior. While at one level its Capt Marvel(Shazam) and Superman wrapped into one story so far its very well done. If you have not checked it out its a fun read. I need to catch up on 3-5.

I also read issue 1 of Bendis's Brilliant. I'm not sure where this is going but its and interesting start.  The story seems to be set in the "real" world where their are no super-heroes. A group of students may have discovered how to make them. The 1st character you meet has already found a way to use them for personal gain. So we have our first villain but who will be the hero? It should be interesting to see how the group reacts when they see what he's done.

I'll be looking for issue #2.

Life really sucks some times.