Faboi?

Tonight I just tried to play some Day of Defeat Source. It was a... Disappointing experience. First, I had to join a server. No big deal, right? Well, the first two tried I got into a fairly populated server. Except every single "player" were in spectator mode with a ping of 0. That drives me MAD. That is so annoying.

The next server I tried wanted me to download the bajillion sound files to help DoD sound like UT. Last I checked, it was kinda hard to get any farther away from the futuristic run-and-gun compared to the somewhat more realistic WWII infantry shooter. I'm sorry, if I want to hear "HEADSHOT!!! LOL!!!1!!" every time I get a frag, I'll go play friggin' UT. DoD is -not- UT. Annoying sounds doesn't make the game any better.

So the other alternatives? There were plenty of populated servers, but with custom maps or some kinda WoW mod. Jeez, I'm not sure what's worse, trying to fuse the game with WoW or UT. Ugh.

But I finally did find a server that had a handful of people playing. It was alright. Not a big crowd, the game wasn't too terribly exciting. But I was still surprised at how hard it was to find a decently populated vanilla game of DoD. Even then, the server I settled for had somekinda bonus point system.

Alas, I do understand all that is due in fault to the people running and adminning the server. I wish I could say I was still happy with Valve.

Things started off well enough. My peak of unwaivering love for Valve was probably a month or so after the release of DoD:S. I played and played that game. I was pretty good, usually in one of the top three spots for my team, if not the whole server. At first I was disappointed the classes had become so cookie-cutter. One of my favourite parts of the origional DoD was the Starcraft-esque balance between sides. They didn't have any exact copies of a class for each side. But that's alright. The game was gorgeous, the ability to deploy an MG anywhere was AWESOME, and it played great. For several months DoD:S was my favourite game.

And then it didn't go anywhere. And by that, I mean we got what... Two more maps? Three? I was waiting for maybe a ruturn to the original class structure. A British team. Maybe expand and add another nation (Italy or Russia perhaps?). And dod_charlie. Yes, it was my all time favourite map from the original. Imagine the true chaos of ragdolls being blows out of the trenches. Well, a guy can dream right?

None of those ever came. There were a handful of decent fixes and whatnot, but nothing that really made me able to say, "Boy, this game sure has gone far from where it started off!" Maybe it was never supposed to get too different. But nevertheless, I'm disappointed. The gameplay was (and still is) really good, but it just feels like it lacks the content. Sure, it was only $20, but for only being multiplayer... It could use some more.

Then there's 'Episodic Content'. The games won't be full length, but you won't have to wait nearly as long for them to be released! In and around six months! LOL. Okay, I didn't mind it with Aftermath. But having to wait a year and a half for the next installment? Does anyone else see the problem here? Valve was the big backer behind Episodic Content, but they've effectively shot themselves in the foot.

And then there's advertising. When I found out some people were putting ads into Counter-Strike, I was appauled. A Subway logo splashed across the outside of cs_office?! I don't think so! Surely Valve would intervene and bring an end to this aboination! And they did! And then they decided that everyone needed to be exposed to it! Now, I'm not a huge fan of ingame ads. Infact, I really don't mind them at all. In games like BF2142 or and of the recent Need for Speeds, the ads are put in spots where you'd expect them. Where they'd belong, had the games been an accurate interpretation of reality. (Yes, I know I'm saying that EA has done something right. Bear with me) But what does my dear Valve do? Well, they splatter it where ever they want it to go. No, heaven forbid they cover up some of the parody ads or posters the mappers originally put in. Nope, instead we get lovely ads on random walls. Hooray. I can't describe how incredibly disappointed I am at Valve for adding these ads in so tastefully.

And what do we get in return for having to put up with ads in a classic game? Uh, nothing. Let's bring EA back into the issue. Their games are still hella expensive, and they advertise everything they can possibly fit in. And their games are still priced more/less right on par with the other titles that don't have advertising. So you know what that leads me to believe? Either they're incredibly bad at rehashing the same game year after year that the consumer is actually getting a price cut for the advertising, or... They just keep the extra dough. Which seems more likely.

And keep in mind this will mean that CS, a game that hasn't been significantly updated since it was ported over to Steam a few years ago, will be significantly updated more recently then DoD:S. Anything to make a buck. How fitting.

Now don't get me wrong - There is *no* doubt in my mind when it comes to Half-Life content. I don't mind waiting as long as they maintain their incredibly high standards. The HL franchise is still my favourite video game. But it seems as of late my once unwaivering devotion to being a Valve Fanboy is crumbling away. Rather rapidly. Just a few small things that haven't had me too impressed with them recently. Yes, I have no doubt I will be blown away by Episode 2. Portal and Teamfortress also look incredible. But at the same time, I wish I could occupy the (rather long) wait with some new DoD content or classic Counter-Strike. Wishful thinking, right?
-Cril

Who's to say
What's impossible
Well they forgot
This world keeps spinning
And with each new day
I can feel a change in everything
And as the surface breaks reflections fade
But in some ways they remain the same
And as my mind begins to spread its wings
There's no stopping curiosity

Jack Johnson - Upside Down