TheMacJedi

I’ve written several articles about the similarities between TV shows, LOST and Earth 2, Kyle XY and John Doe, including a few small ones. Today’s article is about two video games that have too much in common for it to be just a coincidence.

One of my favorite games of all time is Fable for the original Xbox. I loved the atmosphere of the game, the music, the mystery. It might not have been everything they originally intended it to be but that didn’t concern me. The game is very much an Action RPG. Since I don’t care for your typical RPG I was surprised how much I like it.

So a couple months ago I picked up Crackdown for the same reason most people picked it up. What I didn’t know was that Crackdown was an Action RPG. But not any Action RPG, an Action RPG that was separated at birth from Fable.

There are so many similarities that I can’t believe no one has written about them. So let me provide a few similarities and differences.

Similarities:
1. Central hub of the world, (F) The Guild, (CD) The Keep.
2. Several cities to explore, with different missions for each.
2. Killing enemies releases glowing experience orbs that follow you and are used to level up.
3. As your character levels up they physically change in size.
4. Attacking Guards or Peace Keepers will have all of them attacking you.
5. Use Cullis Gates and Supply Points to move from one locations to another.
6. You level up several major areas of your strength, skill, agility and will.

Additional Similarities:
First - In both Crackdown and Fable, your character never had a definitive persona to him. Roughly speaking, neither of them carried an actual “name,” but instead were referred to as the “Hero” (Fable) or “Agent” (Crackdown). In addition, although each character shared the exact same personality or skills as every other “character,” you could alter their appearance without changing overall gameplay or story.

Second - There were a variety of mini-games that despite not adding or subtracting to the game’s storyline, they offered a larger scope to overall gameplay that aided in boosting your stats to make progression through the game easier or quicker.

Third - Both characters neither talk nor show a certain degree of individuality among the environment and other characters (NPCs), more so in Crackdown than in Fable.

Let’s discuss the differences:
First - In Fable, there were several NPCs and essential characters that furthered the story and provided a deeper involvement in the overall gameplay, common in the RPG genre. However, in Crackdown, there was little to no association with any NPC or other character that contributed to the plot.

Second - In Fable, you could choose a path to follow that changed the scope of the game in either a hero or villain fashion depending on your general choices throughout the game as a person. However, in Crackdown you had no choice as to what path to follow, but were confined to a more linear gameplay, in which you played the “bad cop” or “antihero.”

Third - In Fable, you had a two-weapon scheme, in which you carried one melee weapon and one long range weapon, albeit their are more archaic variations to more modern armaments. In Crackdown, you still retain a two-weapon scheme, but are not limited as to what should be carried and, thus, more modern weapons are utilized with a more long range combat tone to the overall gameplay.

Well there you have it, these games actually have a lot in common. I would like to thank Stephen Jenkins for his help on the Similarities and Differences. Since we both played each game a lot I knew he would be able to provide accurate info.

If you have any additional Similarities and Differences please send them through my contact form.

Nelson and Natalie are an awesome team. They’re very entertaining and worth your time if you crave Xbox news.

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I’ve never owned a stand alone DVD payer, we got one for my daughter several years ago but she was the only one that used it.

So how did I play DVDs? Let’s start with the list.
1. 1999 iMac with built in DVD player, no remote. First DVD, The Matrix.
2. 2000 PowerBook with S-video out to my TV, no remote.
2. 2001 Playstation 2 with 3rd party remote.
3. 2002-2005 Xbox with DVD remote.
4. 2006-current Xbox 360 with extended remote.

So what’s next? Well as long as my game systems play DVDs I won’t need one.

I plan on getting a Wii which doesn’t play DVDs, but that’s OK since I’m not giving up my 360.

Xbox Live Arcade will be one of it’s big selling points.

I believe that a handheld Xbox will incorporate the exact same XLA (Xbox Live Arcade) games that you can currently get through your 360. What’s cooler is that you will probably be able to browse and download demos directly to the handheld. These will be the exact same games and since the handheld will probably be wide screen you will get the benefit of the wider games.

Think about this, Geometry Wars Retro Evolved in your hand. Sounds damn sweet.

They will release a handheld with the benefit of dozens of games that it can already play. If you bought it on your 360 you can play it on either system because it will log into the internet to confirm your account. You should also be able to buy from the handheld and then play it on your 360.

XLA is an awesome platform that they are going to take advantage of, think of the fighting game about to come to XLA.

Like the 360 the handheld will probably also include a similar blade like interface and yearly updates. I think it’s safe to assume it will play music but if they tout it as an iPod killer it will die.

Will it play movies? Yes, but what kind? Definitely MOVs, WMVs and those types but what about Hollywood Movies? Probably but don’t expect another proprietary format like the UMD (bad move Sony). They may be working on a downloadable format similar to what Apple is rumored to be doing right now.

What’s in a name? I’ve said in the past (and I was correct) that the Xbox name would be like Nintendo in the fact that it precede the device name (ei. Nintendo DS, Xbox 360).
With that kind of logic we can assume that it will start with Xbox and end with it’s own name. Examples, Xbox Orbit, Xbox Orbiter, Xbox Satellite, Xbox Comet, Xbox Radar, Xbox Nucleus (my favorite), Xbox Portable, Xbox OTG (on the go), Xbox TriPod (just kidding), Xbox Hero, Xbox Gauntlet, Xbox Matrix, Xbox Hugo (handheld unlimited gaming online), Xbox UHGO (pronounced “you go” (unlimited handheld gaming online), Xbox Punch, Xbox Sandbox, Xbox Icon, Xbox Thunderbird, Xbox Caffeine, Xbox Micro, Xbox Jammer, Xbox Carbon, OK that’s enough.

Robby Bach, if you pick one of my names I get a free handheld, only fair.

Will it browse the web and check your email, probably. Will it have a touch screen, probably not but I think it would be cool if it did or at least a keyboard or virtual keyboard. Anyone who has used the PSP to browse the internet knows what a pain it is without a keyboard.

Will it survive with Arcade games only, not a change. So what else will this thing do? They will give it an awesome gaming engine but i imagine they will through every other feature possible at it to make it compete with the DS, PSP and iPod.

How big will it be? I think it will have a very similar looking screen to the PSP but the device will not be as tall or wide. Mostly due to the lack of a disk drive like the UMD. It could have a removable hard drive though.

If I’m only a little close to some of the specs it will rock. Handheld Halo anyone.

The contest was to find someone to take to E3. Below was my entry.

This is a great contest… For me to poop on. LOL

Here is why I should be the Xbox.com Apprentice.

Because I’m your Mother and I said so.
Because I’m the only person that can get Gary Coleman to say “Whatchu talkin bout TriXie”.
Because Cliffy B needs a pounding for that Pimp Daddy suit.
Because I want to show Bill Gates my new iPod Shuffle.
Because someone needs to tell J. Allard to get lasik.
Because I got some sort of rash from making in the bushes.
Because I want to kick Reggie’s ass and take his name.
Because my birthday is April 14th and taxes suck.
Because I want to get Trip Hawkins to sign my 3DO, NOT.
Because I want to meet Nolan Bushnell, that one’s for real.

Because my Mom’s in the hospital and needs a transplant.
Because I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.
Because I want to travel across the US in a soda can with wings.
Because that which does not kill you, makes you wish you were dead.
Because I have a special hat I want to give to Adam Sessler.
Because Steve Jobs never invites me to MacWorld
Because this will be the best damn E3 ever, with me there.
Because I Love You.
Because of Winn-Dixie.
Just because.
Because you’re worth it.
Because I’m beautiful.
Because of possible health risk.
Because my nephew (Stephen) is evolved and beats my ass at Halo every damn time.

My wife (Karen) made this cake for Stephen’s 13th birthday, 01/26/2002.

And finally, How many pancakes does it take to cover a doghouse?
None, because there are no bones in ice cream.

Thank you.