Don't Forget the "Abuse" Game

Abuse Screenshot Promo. Taken from MobyGames.

Almost everyone probably had that moment when they couldn't recall a specific game. Either they've seen some gameplay of it, screenshots and overheard any kind of mention of it, but title's name got lost in their memory one way or the other (maybe they just didn't hear it in the first place). That was the case for me with Abuse: an old "run and gun" game from February 1996. Not only it has an interesting name, but as a whole that title seemed pretty curious to me.

So I've picked it as another "exhibit" for a post where I briefly talk about the game itself and its current status in the industry. Not only to show off Abuse to a few random readers, but so I can remember the game's name... Seriously, it was kind of hard to come up with a title for this "article". It was either something "too edgy" or "too save".

A Brief History of iQue Brand

Bland iQue Player Thumbnail. Based on Wikipedia's material.

Gaming industry is no stranger for copycats. Many individuals and groups in certain regions of the world dabbled on bringing specific consoles and games to their market in one way or the other. It could be done via official partnership with big company or not so official "borrowing" of the preferred system. There are many examples of that (probably more than I'm currently aware of), but I would like to start with one interesting brand I've somewhat interacted with personally back in "better times of my childhood".

Although that experience was limited to just one specific handheld, I would like to direct more focus on more unique exhibit of that peculiar company that managed to kind of stick around to this very day. Perhaps not in a way it operated before, but I will get to that.

March 2022 Update

Improvised "Hall Update" Thumbnail.

I'm not really sure where to start with this one. At this point of time. Previous update was full of hope and inspiration to keep going, to revitalize this blog. I hoped to gather enough courage and determination for great purposes with little chances for success, but worth giving them a try due to where they can lead to in case of success. The future was bright. The dream was alive. The hope was growing. More than a week after February's "report", everything changed in ways I never even imaged.

"Eternity's End": Empty Inside

"Eternity's End" Key Art.

We have reached the end of this saddening path, it seems. Life goes on, for better or worse, and so does World of Warcraft with its "popular" Shadowlands expansion. Similarly to my Chains of Domination coverage, I plan to glaze over some of its key narrative points to simply state an obvious fact of how bad things really are. I'm holding on to this personal bargain to go all the way until the conclusion of all this, and soon it shall be fulfilled.

It's rather curious to see the public transformation in terms of how they view this chapter of Warcraft. The vast majority of people are negative when it comes to Shadowlands for many good reasons, even though here I mostly "bother" with story/lore side of things. Not that it would be new or surprising to you no matter how good you're informed whenever through my posts or other means. Well, I suppose we should get it over with. Don't we?

Potential Future of Battle.net Launcher

Minecraft, Bethesda & Battle.net Launcher Icons.

With the debut of Battle.net Launcher through Open Beta on August 2013, young me "foresaw" the rise of individual launcher from other companies similar to Origin and Ubisoft Connect (at the time known as Uplay). This is a hot topic in the minds of many people for many good reasons, which can warrant a post of its own. Instead, I would like to look back at recent developments surrouding two launchers from the companies owned by Microsoft and what direction Battle.net can take once Activision Blizzard's deal will be finalized.