Articles by Game-Boy
Just when I thought it was impossible to make a World War II game not called Velvet Assassin that could impress me, somebody at Digital Ranch Interactive had to go ahead and make this monstrosity. Asking a "What if...?" question I've only asked myself during my night terrors, Dino D-Day's teaser trailer gives us a brief look into a world were Nazi's (humanity's most terrifying villains) and dinosaurs (nature's most efficient killers) team up. As you can see in the video above, the result is nothing short of astoundingly awesome! From the sight of Uncle Sam choking a raptor, to the gameplay footage of punching a T-rex in first person, Dino D-Day is promising a lot. Let's hope that the game's 2010 release via steam is able to live up to the laughably heart racing action this trailer shows off.
You can check out more information on the reptilian horde at http://www.dinodday.com/
If there is one aspect of video game culture that makes me truly envious of our Japanese friends, it's the fact that just about every game to get a release in the land of the rising sun also gets a soundtrack release. Over here in the states, and many other places across the globe, we have to hope that the game is a big enough deal to get a soundtrack. This fact makes the rare occurrences of when an indie game gets a soundtrack release even more special. But even rarer is when these releases are filled to the brim with songs, behind the scenes content, and exclusive artwork.
The latest example of this all too rare phenomena is indie PC title Aquaria. The boys and girls at Bit Blot may have taken their sweet time in producing what looks like a glorious double-disc package, but it appears to have been worth the wait. This very full 50 track release comes with some extra music tracks and remixes inspired by the game. On top of that, you'll get a song from their current game in progress, Marian.
If you aren't familiar with Aquaria, there's no better time than the present to pick up this very unique "Metroidvania" styled adventure through Bit Blot, Steam, and out digital distribution channels.
[Aquaria: OST Launches Saturday W/ Live PJ Jam] Bit-Blot.com
While you might not recognize his name immediately, anyone that fondly remembers Ikari Warriors has seen his face. Leland P. Cook Jr., one of the founders of Tradewest, passed away earlier this month at the age of 75.
Cook graduated Texas A&M in 1956 with a football scholarship and entered the world of banking. He also played a key figure in an array of businesses that covered everything from newspapers to vending machines. In 1985, he and his son Bryon founded Tradewest to bring over import arcade games. Eventually the company would go on to publish an impressive catalog of console games that included Battletoads, Double Dragon, Solar Jetman, R.C. Pro-Am 2, and the handheld cult hit Sneaky Snakes.
[Tradewest Founder Leland Cook Passes Away] Gamasutra
Every month the numbers coming from the NPD Group give us a look into most of the retail world to see what's selling and what sometimes what isn't. While last month was notable for the release of Uncharted 2 and WiiFit+, one much hyped title didn't show up on the top ten: DJ Hero. While every October marks the beginning of the holiday season and sales traditionally pick up during that time of year, inevitably a few titles go unnoticed by the general buying public. But with all the marketing behind it and an incredible list of artists featured in its soundtrack, it many wouldn't have guessed that Activision's most recent extension of the Hero series to fall on deaf ears. Over at Ars Technica, Ben Kuchera has attempted to piece together this music rhythm puzzle and determine why more people are interested in picking up a Guitar instead of a turntable. While telling us the game is good, he is however quick to point some of the biggest flaws with the game that I feel are keeping players away. This mostly boils down to its single-player emphasis, unfamiliar "dj mixes," and, the most damning of all, price...
The Renegade Edition of the game was $200. The standard edition, $120. That's a tough sell in a market where price point is so important. For $80 more you can get yourself a Wii or an Xbox 360 Arcade model. Right now at GameStop you can spend $20 less and pick up a game, a guitar, a microphone, and drums with the $99 Rock Band 2 Special Edition. The music is more accessible, you can pay with friends, and you get more hardware for less money.
The turntable included with the $120 DJ Hero release is a high quality accessory; you won't feel ripped off if you buy the game. The trouble is that at that price, with only one accessory, not many people are going to be willing to find that out.
Amen, brother! My biggest issue with this game since it was announced was its obscene price tag. In some ways I'm glad that people are choosing to skip over this release because I think that Activision could learn a thing or two about music game pricing, but in other ways I'm sad that it has to be this game that teaches us this lesson. Not long ago I was trapped at a Best Buy waiting for what seemed like forever and I got a chance to play the demo myself. While I enjoyed what I played and the helped demo convince me to pick up the game up after a price drop or two, I can't help to agree with everything that Kuchera mentions in his article. What say you dear reader? Can DJ Hero be saved? What can be done to help bring a different kind of "music game with plastic instrument" in the crowded retail market?
[Innovating problems: why DJ Hero flopped] Ars Technica
Let's get the obvious "it's not even Thanksgiving and people are already doing this" out of the way and get to the good stuff. Proving once and for all that zombies, spies, and the ever so adorable Heavy have place in every facet of your life, Valve has put together some classy and totally dignified holiday cards that might have some people scratching their hands but leave nerds in stitches. The makers of Left 4 Dead and Team Fortress 2 partnered with Alexandria Neonakis to bring us four batches of the best holiday cards ever seen. With two sets of 10 cards devoted to TF2 and special sets for L4D and L4D2, you've got plenty to choose from. The hardest part will be picking only one set!
If you're a fan of Valve and greeting cards, then Neonakis' name might sound familiar, as she was the artist that brought us those absolutely charming Left 4 Dead Valentine's Day cards earlier this year.
[Holiday Cards] Steam
With Dragon Age recently shipping out to the hands of fans everywhere and Mass Effect 2 on the horizon, those players not caught up in Call of Duty have turned their attention to BioWare, one of the most prolific RPG makers in the business. The company's founder, Dr. Greg Zeschuk, got some time away from the insanity behind the scenes and sat down with 1up's Retronauts crew for an extended chat about what it takes to develop high profile games across multiple platforms simultaneously, what it's like to be part of Electronic Arts, and the origins of masters behind Baldur's Gate.
1up promises that the clip above is the first of three specials that will make me feel bad for not getting around to the first Mass Effect game yet. Look for the additional clips here and here.
For an iPhone owner, I don't purchase all that much. While the glut of free apps and trial/lite/demo versions of games will quench my gaming appetite when I'm not within reach of my DS or PSP, I've found the few titles I have purchased to lack staying power. However, I recent found a game that drew me in like no other on the platform. It's not exactly the most original thing around, but certainly isn't a complete rip off of a previously published title. It was just familiar enough to get me to swing into action.
As a tasty combination of Bionic Commando and the Indiana Jones movie series, Hook Champ is a delightful simple, but superbly nuanced game of skill that manages to be draw players in immediately with a simple premise: get out of the temple alive. As a Dr. Jones-esque explorer, you begin each level taking a valuable treasure from the absolute depths of ancient temples. This act unleashes a terrible demon that will then chase your every step. Your explorer's only hope of survival is to use his trusty grappling hook to swing from the walls and ceilings, eventually making it back to the temple entrance.
Controls are deliciously simple. You either hold a finger on the bottom of the screen to run left or right or tap in the upper corners of the screen to swing. You'll eventually be able to purchase a shotgun, which can be used to stun the demons chasing you (or give you that extra push to make those hard to reach jumps). I didn't have any difficulty getting into the swing of things and was amazed with how polished and natural the experience was. Blending some charming faux 8-bit sprites, some rock solid controls, and perfectly tuned swinging physics, everything about this game just comes together the way that it should.
Early levels will be inviting to players, but as the adventure continues they will encounter some serious challenges. Not like Demon's Souls obtuse hard, but the kind of challenge that one would expect out of a classic Mario game. When playing the title at my desk at work from time to time, I found myself saying "...just one more try" many, many times, but never felt aggravated by failure. This is in large part due to the game's comprehensive upgrade system that will allow players to purchase extended ropes, faster shoes, and more powerful shotguns.
When all is said and done, this is easily the most captivating experience on the iPhone that I have seen yet. It's a quality title that begs to be on any retrogamer's phone or Touch, and one that I cannot recommend enough to everyone else. For $3, you're not going to find a bigger bang for your gaming buck on app store.
10 out of 10
Try the lite version yourself here, or buy the full version here.
Let's start out by saying that the video above is NOT SAFE FOR WORK. This way I don't get any angry emails about people getting fired for watching this and you can skip over this item if it's not your cup of tea.
With the recent release of GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony the troublemakers at Rockstar were given another opportunity to ruffle a few feathers with content that ranges from extremely violent to the sexually explicit. While displays of violence in video game may be a bit passé, the concept and implementation of stories and gameplay with sex-related content is something that still manages to grab people's attention. Years after that overblown Hot Coffee business, how has sex changed in the world of Grand Theft Auto?
Not much according to this video that collects the sinful pleasures awaiting players in Liberty City. Sure, there are people bumping uglies, but for one reason or another, as Destructoid's Conrad Zimmerman points out, no one seems to be caring all that much. Is it because the game is DLC? Maybe it's the fact that people expect adult content in a game named after a crime? Or maybe there weren't enough alien ladies involved? Personally speaking, I'm just wondering why we aren't seeing any man on man business in this clip. Judge for yourself and tell us if you think games have gotten to the point where mature content can be present without news reporters freaking out or if they just aren't aware of it.
They might not have the best reputation right now, especially around these parts, but things like this definitely help Activision Blizzard's recent publicity issues. Coinciding with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the publishing giant will be donating $1 million to the Call of Duty Endowment, a new charity organization that seeks to help veterans find jobs.
I know I was somewhat shocked to hear earlier this week that the US unemployment rate is now over 10%, but vets have an even tougher time than most people. The Washington Post reports that unemployment for men and women who have served the US Armed forces since 2001 has crept up to 11.6%. Sensing a serious issue Bobby Kotick, who's perhaps best known to gamers for his comments on "fear and pessimism," took some time weigh in on the subject...
"The joblessness rate that [veterans] should have should be far less than the national average, not more," said Activision Blizzard chief executive Bobby Kotick. "How do you expect people to actually join the military if when they leave the military they can't integrate back into the free market they're supposed to be protecting?"
Let's hope that this is a sign of better things to come from Activision Blizzard and that Call of Duty's social missteps are behind them.
[Game developer's newest 'call of duty': help vets find jobs] Washington Post
This may be one of those announcements about an announcement, and it isn't directly related to video games (yet), but it sounds like the long rumored localization of RPG/Football hybrid (not to be confused with Handegg), Inazuma Eleven just got one step closer to European audiences. An announcement coming form WorldScreen.com has relayed the message that Spanish media distributor Arait Multimedia has finalized a deal to bring the 100+ episode anime series to Europe and Africa. With the TV show getting an official release, it should be only a matter of time until players can enjoy the game the show was based on (and for angry US players to import it). Arait Multimedia won't likely be publishing the game themselves, but will almost certainly sell the license to capable hands.
For those unfamiliar with the title, the Inazuma Eleven series is a stylus driven Football game with some unique RPG elements that makes every pass a battle with power ups and abilities you might see in Shaolin Soccer. The series is developed by Level 5 (better known as the folks behind Professor Layton, Dragon Quest 8, and Dark Cloud) and sports some impressive DS visuals. Check out some gameplay footage after the jump.
[Arait Multimedia to Rep Dentsu Series] Worldscreen.com
Were you one of those people that wanted to give BlazBlue a try earlier this year, but then remembered you don't have a PS3 or 360? Maybe you're the type that just couldn't get enough of the fighting action? Either way, Arc System Works is hoping to solve both of these issues with the release of BlazBlue Portable for the PlayStation Portable.
According to a scan from Famitsu and delivered to us by Siliconera, the PSP version of the over the top fighter will be available on February 25th next year with a UMD and PSN release. Players will be able to throw portable punches at each other with ad-hoc multiplayer and will include a new "Legion mode," which will have folks fight their way across a branching map. The best part of all is the fact that they'll be squeezing all twelve playable characters found in the original into this tiny brawler. Hopefully Arksys Games, the console version's original publisher in North America, will be encouraged by its fervent fan following and bring this over here.
[Arc System Works Bringing BlazBlue To PSP (Update)] Siliconera
I must confess a guilty pleasure of mine that I have not shared with people. After the sun goes down and the shades are drawn, I indulge in my most shameful gaming addiction. No, I'm not trying to Catch 'Em All, but rather I'm trying to catch the biggest one of them all. That's right, dear readers, I have a slight obsession with the fishing game genre. It all started for me back on the Dreamcast with the classic Sega Bass Fishing. It was so simple, so natural, so entrancing! I've only attempted the real activity only a hand full of times in my life without anything to show for it, but in the virtual realm, I am a master of the sea...
What? Don't give me that look! It's perfectly natural to enjoy these games. In fact, so many people enjoy these titles that 1up's Justin Haywald put together a little handy guide on the best games and accessories that will help novices get into the action. No matter if you fancy yourself a big bear hunter (cruising The Eagle doesn't count, boys) or dream of reeling in the biggest catch, this hunting and fishing game guide offers you all you need to know about this niche, but growing genre.
[Open Season: Hunting Games Round-Up] 1up.com
And girls who like girls who like rumble packs!
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