Did you want to talk about Zagreb?

No, I want to talk about PES 2009 on the Wii. I got it last night, and I don't think I've ever been as lost and frustrated playing a sports video game for the first time as I was with that. I'm having a tough time getting used to the controls.

I did the training, and played a few games on the beginner level, and I'm still trying to get the hang of the Wii Remote + Nunchuk controlling. I can do the aim shooting (using the B button) in training, but couldn't figure it out in the game--I just made really damp squib passes. Also, I need to figure out how to do a one-time shot. A few minor things--family, job, etc.--mean I can't devote the time necessary to mastering the game as I would have in the past.

It's really good once you get it. The off the ball running is a thing of beauty.

OK, stupid question time. I got Battlefield BC 2 on Steam, and it doesn't seem to have come with a manual. Anyone know where I can find one? I've no fucking idea to use medkits etc, and I'd like to get more info on the unlock mechanics and stuff like that.

Ooh ooh, I saw you on BC2, I meant to see if I could add you.

It's not very transparent, but very rewarding. Basically, you don't start with any of the items you really need for each class. For example, your medic class doesn't come with the medkit or the (brilliant) chest paddles. So you need to play as medic for a good few rounds and try and rack up some XP. The best way is to join a good squad and focus on the team objectives, which is rewarding in itself.

At the end of each game, you'll get a summary of your performance, and you can click a menu bar at the top of the screen to view your unlock progress, and see how close you are to the next unlock. You can't choose what to unlock next, there's a linear progression.

The unlocks really change the game. Being able to instantly revive teammates with your chest paddles changes the way you play, you end up throwing smoke and running head down to screaming squad members rather than blazing away with you M60 for example. Or you begin vocally calling targets out as recon (sniper class) before bringing down a mortar strike rather than silently camping at the back of the map.

One of the early medic unlocks is the medkit. Before you spawn select it in your third kit slot, then simply select it like you'd select a weapon and throw it at your teammates.

Enough of my rambling. Apologies for any typos, am posting from a bus.

Or go to the main menu, multiplayer, stats, unlock progression, something like that.

Has anyone had a go on Perfect Dark yet? It was released yesterday.

Basically, you don't start with any of the items you really need for each class.

I'd figured as much out from reading the forums. It's a really stupid decision, surely. I mean, it just turns noobs into even more of a liability than they usually are, so they're going to get even more abuse from their teammates. Which will hardly encourage people to carry on playing and improve. I haven't encountered all that much voice chat on PC, but it must be a fucking nightmare on Xbox.

Also, I realise this is not an original complaint, but I really can't believe that in this day and age they've released a game with such a completely worthless server browser. It doesn't even show up the bloody ping on my computer (a common problem, apparently), it's fucking slow, and it does a global refresh whenever you change anything. Insane. This stuff was worked out a decade ago, for God's sake. And it's not like DICE haven't got experience with multiplayer - this is, what, the 10th Battlefield game?

Oh excellent, Dragon Age Awakening is out now.

I loved Perfect Dark at the time, but I find it really hard to go back to old shooters, especially console ones. I find Goldeneye totally unplayable now. I won't be picking up Perfect Dark. Anyway, Eurogamer likes it, while pointing out that the flaws mostly remain.

By the way, what servers are you playing on, Wolf?

I was really lookign forward to the first Bad Company but found it to be rubbish (especially after Battlefield 2: Modern Combat which is brilliant).

GY, things have actually improved since it was released. If you think things are bad now, they were teeth-grindingly awful at release. I cannot believe the server browsers etc are so bad. See also: AvP (at least in the demo).

But as to the other points, I think you're wrong, the noobs have really purpose in BC2, they have to play as part of a good squad, or play carefully, or they get nothing. I honestly think the unlock system is brilliant, as I mentioned before you can see people's playing style evolve as they progress, more so than in Modern Warfare 2 even, when people tend to ignore the unlocks that don't suit their style.

is this batman asylum game going to get any better? I haven't explored very far, but its all about punching/kicking etc so far

how passée

when do I get a decent weapon?

can I play it in first person view? batmans flowing cape is getting on my nerves

I do have a history of giving up on supposedly great games very early on as I couldn't get into it. gears of war, mass effect, assanins creed. left for dead ETC and even bioshock

all rubbish in my opinion. well bioshock wasn't rubbish, just weird

i am still playing fallout 6 months after starting (expansion packs), loved the vegas series. I thought wolfenstein was a great game btw

I fear I may be a "sun reader" of the 360 world.

isn't the new splinter cell out this month?

I haven't explored very far, but its all about punching/kicking etc so far


Have you read any Batman? He's all about the punching and especially the kicking.




Anyway, you do get to upgrade your batarang as you progress, and you get explosive gel, but the purpose of that is mainly to facilitate the punching and kicking. Which is awesome. I can fairly safely state that no brawler has done punching and kicking as well.

yea. I feared this may be the case


I have (as they say) never been a fan of the batman franchise, or any superhero fan sub culture, apart from jay bothroyd of course

I play on whatever Rush-mode server will have me. I was thinking about your point about voice chat, and while you're right that no-one seems to talk in game (I can't remeber anyone doing so outside of the usual 'gg' end-game chat) I wonder if that's because everyone's on TeamSpeak and Ventrillo etc, like my friends and I.

It's a incredibly vocal game for me, but that's because I'm almost always squadded up with at least two friends on TeamSpeak.

Nintendo announces DS successor. Details are pretty sketchy, but they claim it will offer 3D (as in stereoscopic effects, not polygons) without the need for glasses. I'm a bit skeptical, given that the current DS can barely handle 3D graphics, and there's no way Nintendo are going to be using cutting edge (and hence expensive) tech.

Also, Wolf, what's your exact BFBC2 handle? There's quite a few variations on Sniper Wolf in the player list.

Eurogamer speculates (informedly) on how it will be implemented. The article also points out that Nintendo has licensed Nvidia's Tegra 2 mobile processor tech, which is supposed to be pretty good.

The_Liquidator wrote:
Has anyone had a go on Perfect Dark yet? It was released yesterday.

Downloaded it yesterday, not had a chance to give it a proper bash yet though. Report to follow. However, the Mrs did give this fairly succinct review of the title screen; "That music is rubbish".

She has a point.