VU Games Gives Away Ground Control, Soundtracks

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to the free download page for PC RTS title Ground Control over at FilePlanet, "released for free" to help promote newly released Ground Control II, in a similar move to the recent free availability of VU Games' Tribes I and Tribes II. VU Games has also released the soundtrack to The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay for free download, as composed by Gustaf 'Lizardking' Grefberg, and previous free MP3 soundtracks have included Metal Arms: Glitch In The System and The Hobbit.

Comments

Gamers and fighting

[ObviousGuy]

When confronted with the concept of alternative gaming, I doubt that American gamers would have any idea beyond Tetris and Minesweeper as to what kinds of games would be big hits. For them, FPS shoot-em-ups are about all that exist. Throw in a couple Starcrafts and Simcities, and you've defined the American gaming world.

However, outside that, there is a whole world that waits to be explored. From games where you drive a train, to games where you undress cute girls, all sorts of games exist outside the small gaming world of the American gaming bubble.

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with war games (the article is about another war-based scenario game), but that there is only so far you can stretch the concept until you run out of ideas.

Realistically, any real-life activity which involves a benefit/punishment reward system can be modeled into a game. I just wish that American gamers would get their head out of their collective asses and look around at the possibilities.

I would normally say that it was the game companies' problem, but it is clear that the game companies are just pandering to the lazy audience. It would be impossible to see a game house come out with something revolutionary and untried.

I encourage gamers who think that FPS is the only gaming that is worthwhile to broaden their horizons a little and see what is out there. There is a whole world of games out there untapped by American players. Even if Americans don't like the games that are available, the study of foreign games is invaluable when thinking about what kind of games ought to come next.