Pop-up Videos Meet Video Games?

[MelFet Wart]

In a slightly new take on old way of doing things, About.com has posted a series of what they're calling Reviews in a Flash (http://nintendo.about.com/od/popupflashreviews/). They're like a combination of VH1's old Pop-up Videos, except instead of music videos playing in the background, they have video clips of the game being reviewed, and flash pop-ups that point out certain elements about the game.

They've only got two up at the moment, for Rainbow Six Lockdown (http://nintendo.about.com/library/popupflash/bllockdown2.htm) and Battalion Wars (http://nintendo.about.com/library/flashreviews/blbattlion.htm), but they're worth looking at. The Lockdown shows off some of the bad A.I., and the Battalion Wars one just talks about the uselessness of the map.

Editor: This works really well with games that are blatantly flawed, like Lockdown. Just watch q:D

[Heretic Machine]

You know, it would be cool if a game featured something like Pop-up Video... Like just something you could turn on and off in the config menu, and if it were on you could walk around and see comments from devs or facts about the game.

[KarmaGhost]

Pop-up Reviews is a kind of cool idea, but the video quality was gawd-awful. Also, it stopped for no apparent reason about half-way through.

[EvilBob46]

Anyone actually played Battalion Wars? I've loved some other squad-based games that were disliked by most reviewers (Hidden and Dangerous 2 DAMMIT!) and am thinking of buying this, maybe, perhaps, if it goes down in price. Opinions?

[TheKeck]

You know, it would be cool if a game featured something like Pop-up Video... Like just something you could turn on and off in the config menu, and if it were on you could walk around and see comments from devs or facts about the game.

I love this idea.

Pop-up Reviews is a kind of cool idea, but the video quality was gawd-awful. Also, it stopped for no apparent reason about half-way through.

I agree. Further cause for adopting Perigon's idea.

[bone_matrix]

Those were GREAT! I didn't realize that Lockdown's AI was THAT bad. I mean, I knew it was bad, but damn. How did that get certified by any of the 3 companies?

[Kefkataran]

I dig this.

You know, it would be cool if a game featured something like Pop-up Video... Like just something you could turn on and off in the config menu, and if it were on you could walk around and see comments from devs or facts about the game.

I agree, but I really equate that with the same thing as having the option to play a commentary track in games, which is becoming more and more popular. I love it, personally.

[DoubleUranium]

Those were pretty cool. I think they'd function nice as a highlight video accompanying a more indepth review.

[GrinR]

Cronicles of Riddick DVD: Directors Cut has this feature in game. Only problem is you need to FINISH the game to get to access it.

[zeeeg]

I was disappointed to find out that the FEAR director's commentary is just a video on the disk, not a feature in the game. Oh well, better than nothing I guess. I like these kinds of things.

[CapnBob]

Battalion Wars is enjoyable, but really screams out for multiplayer. The complaints about the map are horribly flawed though... the reviewer completely missed the point of the game. The change he is suggesting would essentially make it a top-down conventional RTS and remove the player entirely from the action. The balance and challenge of the game would have to be redesigned from the ground up to accomodate those features. This is a game more in the mold of the later levels of Freedom Fighters, with an emphasis on action and trying to maintain command in chaotic firefights from the view of a commander on the ground as opposed to the detached General directing each battalion from afar.

[The Iron Weasel]

Those were GREAT! I didn't realize that Lockdown's AI was THAT bad. I mean, I knew it was bad, but damn. How did that get certified by any of the 3 companies?

Seriously i've never had that happen in my game, not once, the AI is actually pretty decent in my game. I also took the game not as a Rainbow Six game so i'm still enjoying it. But in terms of the series Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield (the original pc version) beats the shit out of lockdown.

[Nessus]

Battalion Wars is enjoyable, but really screams out for multiplayer. The complaints about the map are horribly flawed though... the reviewer completely missed the point of the game. The change he is suggesting would essentially make it a top-down conventional RTS and remove the player entirely from the action and the balance and challenge of the game would have to be redesigned from the ground up to accomodate those features. This is a game more in the mold of the later levels of Freedom Fighters, with an emphasis on action and trying to maintain command in chaotic firefights from the view of a commander on the ground as opposed to the detached General directing each battalion from afar.

Agree completely. I found the map invaluable.

Edit: Also, I really hope they make a online multiplayer sequel for Revolution.

[The Iron Weasel]

Would you guys recommend Battalion Wars? I've had my eye on it for a while now.

[CapnBob]

Agree completely. I found the map invaluable.

Edit: Also, I really hope they make a online multiplayer sequel for Revolution.

The map as it is functions as a great bonus. For the purity of what they are going for they shouldn't even have it, but it does the job of alerting you to threats and letting you swap off your command with a different unit very nicely. It's a map, not an interface. The game they want it to be is Dawn of War.

[CapnBob]

Would you guys recommend Battalion Wars? I've had my eye on it for a while now.

It's a little on the short side... there is some replayability, and some of the missions are fun to screw around in. I haven't unlocked any of the bonus missions yet either. At a lower price point I would definitely recommend it, as it is I don't feel cheated but I'm really wishing it had multiplayer.

[Nerv]

You know, it would be cool if a game featured something like Pop-up Video... Like just something you could turn on and off in the config menu, and if it were on you could walk around and see comments from devs or facts about the game.
Isn't that what Valve are doing in Lost Coast?

[Kefkataran]

Isn't that what Valve are doing in Lost Coast?

Are they? I hadn't heard that, but it would totally make me even more excited about the release.

[Nerv]

Found it (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4891&).
Also, nice sig, that was my one of my favourite issues of Transmet.

edit: Valve's post (http://www.steampowered.com/Steam/Marketing/August5.2005/?l=english).

[Imperator]

Those were GREAT! I didn't realize that Lockdown's AI was THAT bad. I mean, I knew it was bad, but damn. How did that get certified by any of the 3 companies?

Oh yeah, it's awful. I hated how bad this game was. It should really embarass Ubisoft to pump out something like this. Thankfully, Far Cry Instincts made up for the horror of Lockdown.

[Royal Fool]

Yeah, I could totally dig commentaries modes/features in games. I've often had ideas for them swimming around in my head, like having a small window pop up in the corner that shows concept art/video from the developer's offices, along with subtitles perhaps. Or just an icon that appears in the corner and if you press the corresponding button you'll get some fun facts or comments about the area/section you're in.

There's tons of ways to do it, but I suppose it might not be something that publishers care about very much, and therefore it's never really made it into the games proper (Except for the occasional bonus disc with a small amount of extra stuff that could be likened to commentaries, like they did with F.E.A.R.).

[TrackZero]

Damn, and I was looking forward to picking up Battalion Wars at some point. I still like it's look, but if I gotta be manually telling shit what to do from a 3rd person perspective, that's just no good.

[Liquidize105]

I don't know, can't you hide behind the tank in Battalion Wars, like in BiA?

That's the first thing I thought about when the review said he died from being too busy standing still and assigning orders.

[Ravana]

The Rainbow Six review was pretty amusing. I had no idea about.com was a real website, every time I stumble across it I close the page, probably because it looks suspiciously like one of those websquatting pages. You know the kind, you spell a website wrong and you get some search engine page with the heading "Find the best ______ on the webs!"

[trip1eX]

I like those reviews.

I have Battalion Wars tho and they are a little off. The girl's voice is annoying, but voices can be turned down low or off.

Also like someone else said the whole balance of the game would change if you turned it into a top down rts.

Also the review failed to mentioned you can hit the d-pad for a bit of a more zoomed out view and then give orders from that view by selecting your untis and pointing to where you want them to go and clicking the button.

They are right that some parts are pretty hard and you'll find yourself replaying a few missions. And you'll probably blame the controls.

[ElectricMonk]

there is commentary in stubbs that appears as floating icons the next time you play apparently, you run into them to hear commentary. that's probably the best idea i've seen for this.

i think this pop-up review thing has potential but is better done in the video reviews that ign and gamespot do. the popup thing could work better in a slide show presentation format i think.

[Thenetcase]

I really liked the review of Lockdown. It was waay more informative at showing the AI problem than a written review could have been. It's one thing to read a review that says "This is the worst AI ever"; it's something else to see it in action. Oh, and it is definitely the worst AI I've seen. PACMAN had better AI than Lockdown.

-TNC-

[Major Dan]

I liked it, it was a real nice, new, novel way to do a review. It made me laugh too.

...Thanks for pointing it out!

[The Iron Weasel]

The best part is, the AI is actually quite good if you play the game like the old rainbow six games. Its almost like there trying to tell us something. Whatever I'm still enjoying the game.

[Kefkataran]

Also, nice sig, that was my one of my favourite issues of Transmet.

Completely off-topic, but thanks! Always nice to meet another Transmet fan.

[Nessus]

I haven't beaten Battallion Wars or come anywhere near, but what I played I really enjoyed. One mission had you escaping within a time limit, took us a few tries, but overall I really enjoyed it. Can't wait to play it some more (my friend's copy of the game). If they discount it $10 I'll get it.

It's so suprisingly tight and refined for a game that was recieving really luke warm responce prior to release. And I can't wait to try out the missions where you play as the vampire people.

[Oversized Landmass]

The comment about duck hunt was hilarious

[Frogleg Special]

Rainbow Six: Letdown

[vivafletcher]

I think this is way better than a commentary track in a game. I don't want the producers telling me how awesome their game is when I know it has flaws. I want someone to tell me-- and show me-- what's bad about a game in their opinion.

The "more damage behind cover" thing was classic. They wouldn't point that out in a commentary track. Good idea for a review.

[Stormwatcher]

The video could be better, and the stupid comment about Battalion Wars' name change are kinda bad. But the idea is excellent. Much better than the somewhat boring videoreviews in Gamespot. I mean, is there anyone who WANTS to look at those guys faces? better show just the game. with popups.

[Kefkataran]

I think this is way better than a commentary track in a game. I don't want the producers telling me how awesome their game is when I know it has flaws. I want someone to tell me-- and show me-- what's bad about a game in their opinion.

Well, as much as we've compared them in this thread, I think they're two things that are pretty incomparable. Commentaries by game creators serve a very different purpose -- namely, to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the game and talk about its development and such.

I hope they do more of these pop-up reviews though. I dig them plenty.

[Demize99]

Sooo... how does R6:LD still get a 2.5 with AI that bad?

[mister_slim]

Battalion Wars is enjoyable, but really screams out for multiplayer. The complaints about the map are horribly flawed though... the reviewer completely missed the point of the game. The change he is suggesting would essentially make it a top-down conventional RTS and remove the player entirely from the action. The balance and challenge of the game would have to be redesigned from the ground up to accomodate those features. This is a game more in the mold of the later levels of Freedom Fighters, with an emphasis on action and trying to maintain command in chaotic firefights from the view of a commander on the ground as opposed to the detached General directing each battalion from afar.
Game Informer did the same thing, the "We'll review it as it existed in our head rather than what's on the disk."