Support NeoGAF

[Kyari]

I dunno, when Bradshaw says this to Polygon:

“With the way that the game works, we offload a significant amount of the calculations to our servers so that the computations are off the local PCs and are moved into the cloud. It wouldn’t be possible to make the game offline without a significant amount of engineering work by our team.”

And it goes unchallanged, combined with Arthur, it appears, even if it is just perception it is perception they are fine with. It isn't just that he doesn't like to admit he was wrong, but they have an angle that isn't consumer 1st, but publisher/dev 1st.

I think the sad take away of this entire event is going to ultimately be that gaf's furor isn't actually worth anything - and the enthusiast press will continue to not be held accountable by their readers because we (gaf and the like) are ultimately the vocal minority.

As much as I would love some longer lasting repercussions to this event, in a few weeks I feel like the gaming fandom as a whole will have forgotten about this entire fiasco and reviewers (for the most part) will continue to be their usual group of out of touch, self congratulatory PR mouth pieces; unwilling to admit mistakes or write anything other than what is expected of them.
It sure is hard to be paid to play video games for a living, you guys.

 

[Curufinwe]

New article.

www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/03/16/simcity-modder-tells-us-offline-regional-play-easily-done

 

[unbias]

New info regarding how easy it is to add regional additions offline in the OP. John talked to Azzer, the guy responsible for the offline mod on youtube, found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Bmce9oIxJag

 

[DocSeuss]

If you like John Walker's stuff, do RPS a favor and A) visit them more, B) whitelist them on adblocker.

 

[Aaron]

I think the real take away from this is Maxis doesn't have very good programmers, and building a new game engine is really, really hard.

 

[unbias]

Little bit FTA(added it in the OP already): http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/201...r-tells-us-offline-regional-play-easily-done/

So how simple does Azzer think getting an offline version going might be? “They could make an entire region single player offline with absolute ease. It would be as simple as coding in a switch saying, ‘Is this person playing single player? Take the power values of each city from local memory instead of ask for it from the server instead.’ The only thing missing is saving to local hard drive – but let’s be real, the code for saving your city already exists, I can’t imagine even that would take more than an hour to put into the client (and it probably already exists in the client for development builds), plus a little bit of time for the UI elements for Save/Load.”

“For an offline mode,” he continues, “instead of asking EA servers how much power is available from a fellow city in the region, it will simply have it in memory, as a small handful of values from another city. No live calculations done on them. Just raw values, all the EA servers send anyway. And as you’ll only be playing/simulating one city at a time in offline mode (cities you don’t play are “frozen in time”) – those values of how much spare power, resources, etc. other cities have won’t even need updating, until you change cities.”

 

[Y2Kev]

I dunno, when Bradshaw says this to Polygon:

“With the way that the game works, we offload a significant amount of the calculations to our servers so that the computations are off the local PCs and are moved into the cloud. It wouldn’t be possible to make the game offline without a significant amount of engineering work by our team.”

And it goes unchallanged, combined with Arthur, it appears, even if it is just perception it is perception they are fine with. It isn't just that he doesn't like to admit he was wrong, but they have an angle that isn't consumer 1st, but publisher/dev 1st.

I think you're right. I don't think it's just one or the other for sure. But, geeze, they have so blown it on this one you'd think they'd just cut their losses.

 

[unbias]

After reading the article, it looks like RPS's inside source and this modder is on the exact same page. This makes Athurs disregard for what was reported by RPS look even worse.

 

[unbias]

bu bu bu but you need to be online to play multiplayer! I will pretend that nobody would ever manage multiple regions by themselves!

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

It's unfortunate that I feel the need to make a donation to RPS, because this type of reporting ought to be the standard. But if my $10 might help move things along in that direction then I'm glad to do it.

 

[Mr. Luchador]

Walker, Internet Ranger. Ride on!

 

[Pie and Beans]

For those wondering "Why?" release a statement so obviously full of holes, it's because most the gaming press will credulously regurgitate.

 

[Sportbilly]

It's unfortunate that I feel the need to make a donation to RPS, because this type of reporting ought to be the standard. But if my $10 might help move things along in that direction then I'm glad to do it.

I felt exactly the same and finally decided to sub to RPS, and also whitelisted the site in my ad blocker.

I've always liked John Walker and was disappointed when he quit PC Gamer as his 'They're Back' round up of re-releases was the highlight of an increasingly bland mag. Good to see people sitting up and really taking notice of one of the few good guys in game journalism.

 

[Riggs]

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

Wow fuck this guy. What a jerk.


I almost tweeted him but not worth my time. Polygon is horrible to employ such people.

 

[Dead Man]

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

Yes, you poor oppressed man, speaking out for truth and liberty.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

I hope John Walker takes this on as his own pledge too

 

[Htown]

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

oh my god this reply

Wow.

WOW.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

 

[unbias]

oh my god this reply

Wow.

WOW.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

This is my shocked face:

-_-

I mean really, it has gotten to the point where it doesn't get much clearer that games media is almost completely not on the side of the consumer.

 

[Pie and Beans]

oh my god this reply

Wow.

WOW.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

I remember Chandronait from the dying breaths of 1UP. He took tooldom to new heights with his attitude, so if you're getting tweet support from him its time to take a long hard look in the mirror and get a new tattoo.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

Wow fuck this guy. What a jerk.


I almost tweeted him but not worth my time. Polygon is horrible to employ such people.

I just wish I could adblock Gies's articles specifically. I almost tweeted him asking if that would be possible.

 

[Kyari]

oh my god this reply

Wow.

WOW.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

Aw, Matt I know he's your friend, but don't be that guy

 

[Y2Kev]

I agree that maintaining your integrity can be difficult...but I don't see how that applies in this situation (you know, the one with the corporate ballwashing).

 

[Riggs]

Just watch his friends will kiss his ass even more. Something something entitled gamer. Fucking schills.

 

[Riggs]

I just wish I could adblock Gies's articles specifically. I almost tweeted him asking if that would be possible.

That actually may be worth it to ask, I like your thinking!

Oops sorry for back to back posts.

 

[Sportbilly]

"Integrity breeds consternation."

That's just... er...I don't even....

It's like something out of the Ministry of Truth.

 

[unbias]

Walkers new tweet...interesting.

[URL="https://twitter.com/botherer/status/313033536112312320"]In case anyone is wondering where those mysterious positive comments about SimCity come from: http://bit.ly/15bdHvP [/URL]

 

[S1kkZ]

This is my shocked face:

-_-

I mean really, it has gotten to the point where it doesn't get much clearer that games media is almost completely not on the side of the consumer.

if you are surrounded by developers (at preview/review events) that tell you how great their stuff is and how hard everything is with the constant "whining" on the internetm i can see some "journalists" taking sides.

not defending it idiots like aegies, just looking for reasons for this stupid behavior.

 

[unbias]

if you are surrounded by developers (at preview/review events) that tell you how great their stuff is and how hard everything is with the constant "whining" on the internetm i can see some "journalists" taking sides.

not defending it idiots like aegies, just looking for reasons for this stupid behavior.

The problem isnt that they are on the publishers side, I could easily deal with that, it is that they essentially lie about being there for the consumer/reader. It turns the perspective on the ignorant reader that they are there for the readers benefit, while directing the consumer to the desired destination of publishers anti-consumer policies.

Just stop pretending, and we can start getting along...ya know?

 

[SpacedCadette]

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

Yes, keep showing total contempt for your audience whilst being just another passive aggressive Twitter twat.

Keep fighting the good fight!

 

[old manatee]

Man, Gies really went all in on this one.

 

[Saty]

Newell's words continue to ring true:

Do you think you can really disrupt the home entertainment space and compete with Microsoft and Sony?

The internet is super smart. If you do something that is cool, that's actually worth people's time, then they'll adopt it. If you do something that's not cool and sucks, you can spend as many marketing dollars as you want, [they] just won't.

 

[Kill Your Masters]

oh my god this reply

Wow.

WOW.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

Mouth full of publisher penis = integrity, gotcha.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

Gies has reached Denial Level Omega: no way to squirrel out with semantics, no way to spin it as unrealistic expectations or entitlement, just cherry pick your choice of Twitter, YouTube, or 4chan posts to retweet and prove that those sites are filled with idiocy all of your critics are morons and bigots.

 

[S1kkZ]

The problem isnt that they are on the publishers side, I could easily deal with that, it is that they essentially lie about being there for the consumer/reader. It turns the perspective on the ignorant reader that they are there for the readers benefit, while directing the consumer to the desired destination of publishers anti-consumer policies.

Just stop pretending, and we can start getting along...ya know?

they (at least some sites) need the publishers as much as the readers (adds, review/preview events/copies...), if not even more than the readers.

 

[Riggs]

Think he blocked me lol

@aegies you have no integrity, your attitude is horrible, and you cannot admit when you are wrong. Keep doing what your are doing though.

GG

That's all I wrote, I wasn't trying to be disrespectful at all. People are calling him faggot (sorry about using this word but it's true he retweeted one of them), and all kinds of really rude shit. Is what I said that bad? Or is he just a total dick who cannot take criticism at all?

 

[endresults]

http://www.ayzenberg.com/#/work/all/case-study/ea-games/

That's some shady, dastardly shit right there. Yeah, all the big boys do it I guess, but damn.

RIP Glassbox.

 

[DTKT]

Think he blocked me lol

@aegies you have no integrity, your attitude is horrible, and you cannot admit when you are wrong. Keep doing what your are doing though.

GG

That's all I wrote, I wasn't trying to be disrespectful at all. People are calling him faggot, and all kinds of really rude shit. Is what I said that bad? Or is he just a total dick who cannot take criticism at all?

To be fair, I'm sure he gets a lot of shit on Twitter. He probably just doesn't have the patience to sort through the trolls.

And really, Twitter is probably the worst way possible to critique someone. You will always sound like an asshole with 140 characters.

 

[Kyari]

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

Also, to be fair, its not that I don't like Arthur. Its that I think he is bad at his job.

 

[unbias]

they (at least some sites) need the publishers as much as the readers (adds, review/preview events/copies...), if not even more than the readers.

I'm not sure that really is the case though, at least not anymore. The old style of internet games media doing business is failing, when it comes to how they presently do things, and you could easily blame the lions share on how games media has handled its readership.

 

[JDSN]

Jhon Walker cant stop digging shit up:

John Walker
‏@botherer
In case anyone is wondering where those mysterious positive comments about SimCity come from: http://bit.ly/15bdHvP

God damn.

 

[Riggs]

To be fair, I'm sure he gets a lot of shit on Twitter. He probably just doesn't have the patience to sort through the trolls.

And really, Twitter is probably the worst way possible to critique someone. You will always sound like an asshole with 140 characters.

Oh no doubt I hate Twitter , but fair enough!

I ll let John handle him lol.
Although I wonder if he blocked him too that would not surprise.

Seriously glad John Walker is getting press on this though because I always enjoyed RPS. One of the few game sites that does not seem bought and paid for.

 

[FryHole]

Someone needs to shop Gies' face onto Slim Pickens riding the EA bomb all the way to the ground.

 

[Y2Kev]

Guys, he likes it when he sees us mad at his twitter posts.

 

[Seik]

Heh, his new tactic: https://twitter.com/aegies/status/313027570952196096

i suppose the biggest "fuck you" i could give to people who don't like me would be to keep doing what i'm doing. so, i'll do that.

Keep being an asshole so that other assholes can lick them salty balls of yours clean.

oh my god this reply

Wow.

WOW.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

Yep.

Isn't Gies a poster here? I remember seeing him in some day 1 DLC and disc locked content threads (or something alike).

 

[unbias]

Jhon Walker cant stop digging shit up:


God damn.

Ya, it was so good, I had to add it to the OP.

 

[unbias]

Ya know, the more I read polygon stuff and read Arthurs tweet, it is like they are the Kanye West of the games media, when it comes to a warped self-important view, specially in light of the SimCity crap... It is funny and sad all at the same time.

 

[Riggs]

Ya know, the more I ready polygon stuff, and read Arthurs tweet, it is like they are the Kanye West of the games media, when it comes to a warped self-important view, specially in light of the SimCity crap... It is funny and sad all at the same time.

I said in another thread, this guy is the embodiment of everything wrong with games journalism. It's sad that he can't see it, because he probably is a decent dude.

 

[endresults]

Ya know, the more I ready polygon stuff, and read Arthurs tweet, it is like they are the Kanye West of the games media, when it comes to a warped self-important view, specially in light of the SimCity crap... It is funny and sad all at the same time.

I don't get why everyone is giving this guy the time of day. He's probably rock fucking hard from all the attention he's getting right now.

Wish we could all get back to hating EA/Maxis and Simcity.

 

[JDSN]

Dont pay any attention to him, is probably sees himself as the center of the controversy when he is just some little PR guy that took it kinda far. A delution of elocuence and seeing himself as the next Shawn Elliotts can make you say bad things.

 

[unbias]

I don't get why everyone is giving this guy the time of day. He's probably rock fucking hard from all the attention he's getting right now.

Wish we could all get back to hating EA/Maxis and Simcity.

Why? If he likes the attention that is fine, I care less about that. His enjoyment is of no concern, because he is going to act the way he acts. Awareness of that mentality and who is doing it though to me, is worth it. Besides, I don't think we have to try to get people focusing on hating EA for their shenanigans.