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Weekly Xbox Indies - 11/06/09

2009-11-06T16:00:00Z

Hey all you closet indie fans, why not come out and show your indie pride? Check out the new Xbox Indies app on Facebook and show off your favorite indie games to friends. It's a great way to show indie game support, as well as get back at your friends for clogging up your news feed with pointless personality quizzes.

Yay

Squid Yes! Not So Octopus! - 80 MS points. In my mind, the name alone makes the game well worth a look, but there's actually a very solid shooter here. Unlike the modern trend with shooters, SYNSO! does not use a dual stick control scheme. Instead you fire in whichever direction you are facing, making for a feel that is both familiar and refreshing at once, and just all around fun. There are also a ton of options in the game, ranging from difficulty level changes to how psychedelic the graphics will be. SYNSO! has actually been around for quite a while on PC, for free I might add, so you might also want to check it out (and it's sequel SYNSO!: Squid Harder).

Antigrav Racing Championship - 400 MS points. Do you wish that the Xbox 360 had a futuristic racing game like F-Zero and Wipeout? Well now it does thanks to Antigrav Racing Championship which boasts 8 vehicles to choose from on 20 well-designed tracks. Anyone looking for their futuristic speed junkie fix need look no further.

Space Milkman - 240 MS points. Space Milkman is a platformer with cute graphics and a nice selection of power-up abilities. Unlike other platformers, you can't just jump on an enemy's head. Instead you need to whip enemies in front of you, or use a move where you jump and slide into the enemies. This jump and slide move also becomes integral to navigating the levels since it is the only way to fit into smaller passage ways. The jumping physics felt just a little off to me, but it never caused a death in-game, and overall the game is just so fun that I can't not recommend it.

Mirror - 80 MS points. Mirror is a unique puzzle game. Each level gives you a line that acts as a mirror, and you are challenged to predict where objects will appear when reflected on the other side of the mirror line. It's a simple and surprisingly fun concept that I highly recommend for people to go out and give a try.

]]> Ay?

Lodestar 1000 - 80 MS points. Lodestar 1000 is a Simon-style memory game that uses not only the face buttons, but both analog sticks and the d-pad for commands. As far as Simon-style games go Lodestar 1000 is the best on the Xbox, but are there really that many people craving this style of game? I can see it as a mini-game inside a larger experience, but to me this style in general isn't worth a purchase on its own.

Snaker Ace - 400 MS points. Snaker Ace is a take on the classic Snake game. You collect eggs strewn around the level to make your snake get longer, which in turn makes levels more difficult to navigate without crashing into your own tail. The new twist on the game is both a blessing and a curse however with the ability to shoot venom projectiles. Shooting is a nice addition to the Snake formula, but shooting also causes your snake to careen at break-neck speeds so that you'll more likely crash into whatever you were trying to shoot.

Nay

Scare Me - 80 MS points. Huzzah! Another screamer app. Sarcasm aside, Setup a scare sequence then put the controller down and wait for the app to scream at you and flash weird/creepy images.

They Came From The Ground - 80 MS points. They Came From The Ground is yet another take on the Slime Volleyball style of gameplay. This version adds the ability to grow and shrink your character for maneuverability, but it doesn't save the core gameplay from being shallow.

Updates
Block Fight!
Puzzle DeFusion
Reef Rave
Light's End
CaveIn - Miner Rescue Team
Chick Chick Chicky
RC-AirSim
Project Alpha
Gamerbots: Third-Robot Shooting
Flash Cards for Kids

Hold It! Phoenix Wright Is Wii-Bound?

2009-11-05T16:00:00Z

Get ready to yell "Objection!" while striking a dramatic pose with your Wii remote, because it looks like the Ace Attorney might be venturing to Nintendo's console in the future. That is, according to Germany's USK rating system which recently posted a rating for a Wii Phoenix Wright game.

Currently, suspicions are that Phoenix Wright's first console foray will be a WiiWare rehashing of his first handheld adventure. Last year in Japan the first Phoenix Wright game was released via digital distribution for PCs, which would make for a fairly easy port to a WiiWare game. In Japan the PC version took an episodic form, breaking the game's 4 cases into 17 chapters. However, given that the German USK rating only lists one Phoenix Wright game, it would be safe to assume that we'll be getting the whole package in one shot. Now, fans of the series might have noticed that I just said that the PC game had 4 cases, while the DS game had 5. This is because the PC version was based on the original GBA game, which was lacking the DS version's touch-screen intensive 5th case.

While it is a bit disappointing that the first Phoenix Wright game to hit consoles will likely be an older port, it is good to see the franchise expanding to new platforms. Of course, nothing is official at this point, but please tell me I'm not the only one that gets really excited thinking about the possibility of presenting evidence with an over-dramatic flourish of the Wii remote. Maybe this will help to make up for Phoenix Wright's glaring omission from Tatsunoko vs. Capcom.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Coming To The Wii [GamerBytes]

Auditorium Bringing Musical Puzzles To Consoles Next Year

2009-11-04T16:00:00Z

Great news came for music and puzzle game fans today with the announcement that the fabulous indie game Auditorium will be making the jump to XBLA, PS3, and PSP early next year courtesy of Zoo Games. What is Auditorum, you may ask? Auditorium is a musical puzzle game in which you control a stream of particles to trigger music in the environment. Reading it back, that sentence probably made very little sense if you haven't played it, which I highly recommend you do, but trust me that it is simply an amazing audio experience.

Auditorium currently goes for $10.99 for the PC version (which is totally worth it), so expect the XBLA and PSN versions to be priced similarly. And though nothing has been announced specifically about it at this point, Zoo Games has a history of publishing on the Wii, DS, and iPhone, all of which would also be a perfect fit for Auditorium. Check out the full press release after the break.

]]> Indie Developer Cipher Prime Signs Multi-Platform Publishing Deal for Auditorium with Zoo Games

Zoo to Release 2BeeGames Competition-Winning Title in 2010

New York - November 4, 2009

Zoo Games, a publisher of casual and family-friendly video game titles, has inked a publishing deal with Cipher Prime, an independent, Philadelphia-based studio, for their award-winning title Auditorium. William Stallwood and Dain Saint, the creatives behind Auditorium, won the first 2BeeGames.com Indie Game Competition in July, winning the grand prize of $10,000 and a newly signed worldwide multi-platform publishing contract. Early next year Auditorium will be available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade, PlayStation®Network, and PSP®Go.

"Playing Auditorium is an experience anyone can enjoy, so we wanted this truly independent and homegrown game to be available on multiple platforms, reaching a wide range of gamers," said Mark Seremet, CEO, Zoo Games. "A game with the creativity and ingenuity of Auditorium doesn't come around very often and we're proud to have signed this project through our 2BeeGames Indie Game Competition."

Auditorium is really all about the experience, both visually and aurally. There are no instructions to teach you how to play. The game is about exploration and discovery. Each level is a unique puzzle with several possible solutions. You play the game by manipulating "the Flow," a constant stream of moving particles of light and sound. The goal is to manipulate various controls in order to guide the Flow into Audio Containers. As you fill the containers, light transforms into sound. Given enough light, the containers will begin to sing together in a symphony, providing the ultimate Harmony of Flow.

"We always knew we wanted to create games professionally, but we never expected our first game to take off like this," said Dain Saint, half of the two-man team at Cipher Prime. "For us to be in a position to publish our first title on all these platforms is like a dream come true."

"Auditorium is our baby and we're so happy to see it growing up," says Will Stallwood, the other half of Cipher Prime. "Auditorium in HD will be a beautiful and breathtaking experience."

The full PC version is available now for $10.99 by visiting www.playauditorium.com.

Auditorium can be played by visiting www.2BeeGames.com.

Auditorium for consoles will be available beginning early in 2010.

About Zoo Games, Inc.
Zoo Games, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zoo Entertainment, Inc. Run by industry veterans, the company is focused on licensing, developing, and publishing a wide variety of casual and family-friendly video games for Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Playstation®2 system, PSP (PlayStation®Portable) system, iPhone™, and PC through their wholly owned subsidiary, Zoo Publishing, Inc. Product highlights include Order Up! and Deal or No Deal for Wii™, and multi-platform releases of titles for Showtime, Chrysler, and Jeep. Zoo Games, Inc. is headquartered in New York, NY and Zoo Publishing, Inc. is based in Cincinnati, OH. European publishing is through Zoo Entertainment Europe Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Zoo Games, Inc. More information on Zoo products can be found at zoogamesinc.com.

Safe Harbor
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Zoo Entertainment, Inc. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Zoo Entertainment, Inc.'s management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: general economic conditions; geopolitical events and regulatory changes; requirements or changes adversely affecting the businesses in which Zoo Games is engaged; demand for the products and services that Zoo Games provides, as well as other relevant risks detailed in Zoo Entertainment, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Zoo Entertainment, Inc. assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.

Video: Prince Of Persia Movie Trailer - Needs More Shirtless Gyllenhaal

2009-11-03T16:00:00Z

Let's face it, the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie is first and foremost an excuse to get Jake Gyllenhaal to jump around with his shirt off. And I fully support that. But what are we supposed to make of this trailer that was just revealed for the film? Not only does it feature very little shirtless Gyllenhaal action, but it actually looks like it might be a decent movie. This could disrupt the years of a cherished history where movies based on videogames are abominations not fit even to be used as torture.

Sure, the movie isn't following the exact plot of the game, and the game's signature acrobatic puzzles are nowhere to be seen, but I am still optimistic. Gyllenhaal's prince seems to take the Sands of Time character minus the angst of Warrior Within and Two Thrones, then adds a bit of the more recent Prince of Persia's snark. At the very least, it looks like it'll be a good popcorn flick to kick off the movies of summer when it hits theaters on May 28.

Nintendownloads - 11/2/09

2009-11-02T16:00:00Z

I don't know what the special occasion is, but this week Nintendo is releasing twice as many games as per a typical Monday morning. First up on WiiWare we've got three new titles. Carnival King brings all of the fun of a carnival midway to your home without any of the creepy carnies. "Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game gives you three challenging puzzle rooms to escape from. Meanwhile Family Card Games brings you popular(?) card games like Daifugo, Speed, and Memory.

The virtual console gets two new entries this week. Fighting Street is a TurboGrafix port of the original Street Fighter arcade game, which featured the first appearance of the fabulous Eagle. But if you're more in a mood to shoot things, then check out the classic R-Type, which this is the Master System version that had a bonus level not seen in the arcade or other ports. Then again, the near-perfect arcade port of the game is already available in the TurboGrafix version, so the Master System port may be a tough sell.

The DSi gets plenty of love this week with three games of its own. Sparkle Snapshots lets you add some glamor and glitz to your DSi photos. If you're more strategically inclined, Viking Invasion brings some Nordic tower defense action to the handheld. And to top things off, Battle of Giants: Dragons - Bronze Edition lets you, well, battle dragons.

WiiWare

Carnival King
Publisher: Incredible Technologies
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 700 Wii Points™
Description: Carnival King is a fun-for-all-ages video game that brings the spirit and energy of competitive carnival games to the screen. Players compete for top scores and prizes while visiting three different amusement parks: Arcadia, Dreamland and Lagoon Park. Each park has four sets of games and a Bonus Round to test players' speed and accuracy. For novices or sharpshooters, the games are continually challenging, and the difficulty level can be adjusted to match each player's growing confidence.

"Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game
Publisher: Ateam Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Play alone or with family and friends to solve this puzzling adventure game. Today is Milo's birthday, and he just got an amazing present from his dad: a room full of puzzles. Milo needs to solve all the puzzles to escape from the room. Shake, push and twist the Wii Remote™ controller to collect and use in-game items. There's plenty to solve - see if you have what it takes to figure it all out.

Family Card Games
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy are back for some good ol' card game action. Try your hand at one of three card games: Daifugo, Speed or Memory. Family Card Games offers appealing cel-shaded graphics, endearing music and friendly, competitive match-ups. You can play one-player Daifugo or play against up to three other random players in an online match. You can also view your ranking and see how you match up with players around the world. Test your reflexes against another player in Speed and see who truly has the fastest hands. Memory will test your mental capacity as you try to remember where cards and their respective matches are.

Virtual Console

Fighting Street
Original platform: TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM
Publisher: Capcom
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Blood, Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: A port of the arcade version of STREET FIGHTER, the legendary fighting game that started it all. Players control RYU or KEN and battle against unique fighters from all over the world. The first fighter to knock out an opponent and win two rounds is the winner. Power up your attack to three different levels - the longer you hold a button, the stronger your attack. Input commands to perform special attacks and deal serious damage to your opponent. Combine your normal and special attacks effectively to fight your way to victory.

R-TYPE™
Original platform: SEGA Master System
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: R-TYPE is a classic, side-scrolling arcade shoot-'em-up that was developed by Irem in 1987. It's the 22nd century, and you are humanity's last hope against the evil Bydo Empire. Your ship is called the R-9a "Arrowhead" and comes with a standard gun, but power-ups and upgrades are available in each mission. Navigate through eight challenging levels that will test even the best gamer's reflexes. The SEGA Master System version features an exclusive secret level not found in any other release.

Nintendo DSiWare

Sparkle Snapshots
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Take photos and embellish them to your heart's desire with Sparkle Snapshots. Choose from a large variety of fancy frames, backgrounds, stamps and funny outfits to decorate your photos, or use the powerful paint program functions to manipulate them in detail. Want to take a new photo and add it to your collection? Adjust the lighting conditions and lens type to match your subject and even use a shutter timer to allow yourself some extra time to get everything perfectly in place. Save your favorite snapshots in your Nintendo DSi Camera album and use Nintendo DS wireless communications to send your masterpieces to your friends. It's all the fun of a photo booth - and more - in the palms of your hands.

Viking Invasion
Publisher: BiP Media
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: They come from the North, and they're about to invade your Nintendo DSi system. Beware of Olaf the Viking and his motley crew. Even now, their drakkars are sailing up the rivers to attack your castles. It's up to you to construct fortifications to prevent them from pillaging everything you own. The more you defend yourself, the more ferocious they'll become. Before you know it, they'll be invoking legions of fantastic creatures straight out of the mythical land of Asgard. Fortunately, the experience you gain will help you to build even more powerful defenses. Thwart all your assailants' ruses and unlock new kinds of buildings: tornado-blowing windmills to repel the ships, monoliths that strengthen your fortifications or canons that shoot studded shells. Discover more than 10 levels, tons of units, a Campaign mode, a Survival mode and three difficulty levels. There's even a little surprise at the end. Can you rise to the challenge and stop Olaf from taking your treasure home to his sweetheart Olga?

Battle of Giants: Dragons - Bronze Edition
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: As last of the noble and rare Bronze Dragons, you must defeat the evil SALMU dragons and reclaim the 25 exclusive bronze gems they stole. Explore 10 maps and travel through the great jungles of Earth, the scorched grounds of Fire, the frozen wastelands of Ice and the floating islands of Wind. Customize your dragon's appearance by changing its body, wings, tail shape and colors - even add stripes. Test your dragon's fighting skills against your friends in head-to-head combat or four-player tournaments.

Weekly Xbox Indies - 10/31/09

2009-10-31T13:00:00Z

Yay

Frequency - 240 MS points. Frequency is an action/puzzle/platformer. You play as a robot capable of firing three colored bullets, blue, yellow, and red. But you also need to keep your colored ammunition in stock, so your robot has the ability to absorb any of those colors from enemies or objects in the environment. Taking red ammo from a red car is pretty straightforward, but things get more interesting with color combinations. See some green grass? That grass can turn into both yellow and blue ammo. The ammo also acts as your health, so switching between colors quickly becomes vital to your survival. Think of it as Mega Man meets Ikaruga, except without the unforgiving difficulty. On top of all of this there is a great story for the game, which came as a complete surprise, but a very welcome one.

Amniotic - 80 MS points. Sure, Amniotic looks like just another (absolutely gorgeous) twin-stick shooter, but it takes the genre in an interesting direction by incorporating elements of the popular game Flow. Enemies will drop orbs when you defeat them, which can be collected and added to your cell like a tail. This tail acts as your health bar, and when an enemy touches you or any part of the tail segments fall off. The orbs collected by enemies also act as weapon upgrades, which keeps the pace of the game fast with your cell constantly getting stronger with each orb collected. The game mechanics are fun on their own, but it's worth mentioning that this game looks amazing, especially considering the file size constraints of the $1 price point.

Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! - 240 MS points. The second game in the Arkedo series is a puzzle game based on the Puzzle League/Tetris Attack formula. Colored blocks come up from the bottom of the screen, and you need to match them into rows or columns of three or more. The twin stick controls work surprisingly well, and the bright colorful graphics give it a great sense of style. If you're a puzzle fan, SWAP! is an excellent download.

Beat Hazard - 400 MS points. Beat Hazard is a twin-stick shooter that allows you to upload your own music to impact the gameplay. Your ship's rate of fire is determined by the beat of the music, so the better you know the track you're playing, the better you'll perform. The game comes with 10 songs for those that don't want to import their own, and they all work quite well for a fun experience, but the game gets really fun when your own music is involved. I tested the game with the Persona 3 soundtrack, and for the most part is worked quite well. You quickly learn that not every song will turn into the most fun experience, with the game favoring techno or hip hop beats over peaceful pianos. But if you have the music library to back it up, Beat Hazard will last you for a long, long time to come.

Run Away - 80 MS points. Run Away is a simple game where your doodle character seems to piss people off wherever he goes, forcing him to run away from the would-be attacker. The gameplay is incredibly simple, breaking down into either jumping over obstacles or rolling under them, but it is also undeniably fun.

]]> Ay?

SFG Soccer - 400 MS points. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not exactly the right person to judge SFG Soccer, seeing as I know very little about the sport. That being said, SFG Soccer seems to be a fully featured soccer game with several world teams (though clearly not accurate to each country's real-world equivalent) and the ability to upgrade your team through a career mode. Your enjoyment with the game will depend on your enjoyment of the sport, but soccer fans should at least give it a try.

Mr BeatLoop - 240 MS points. Mr BeatLoop isn't so much a game as a music creation tool, but it's a fun one at that. The process of setting beats with the game's 8 instruments is simple enough that someone with no musical talent (me) could even create some surprisingly impressive tunes. It's a lot of fun to play around with to create different beats, although how well it will hold your attention in the long run may be a different story. At least give the trial version a look.

GANBARE NATSUKI SAN - 80 MS points. In this puzzle platformer the gameplay hook is that you have, well, a grappling hook that lets you rotate around platforms in the levels. Japanese developer Alpha Secret Base has created some great Xbox indie games, but their latest effort with GANBARE NATSUKI SAN doesn't have quite the level of polish that their past games did. It's still a fun game, but I didn't get the same sense of overwhelming joy that past games like Green Island and Kaiten Patissier had.

Link Attack - 80 MS points. Link Attack is puzzle game with a "Communist propaganda style" that adds some much welcomed personality to the game. The puzzle gameplay revolves around linking like-colored blocks by shooting lines to connect them.

Pass the Pad! - 80 MS points. Pass the Pad! is a party game that is actually hardly a videogame at all. The game gives you a few letters, a theme, and tasks you and your friends to come up with as many words that include those letters and fit the theme. It's fun, but again this all takes place outside of the videogame so it's up to you and your friends to judge valid words and keep score. It's essentially a facilitator for a game rather than a game on its own.

Primary Attack - 80 MS points. Primary Attack is a puzzle strategy game where up to three players take turns placing their assigned color (red, yellow, or blue) on the board. The player with the most tiles in their color at the end of the round wins. Sounds simple, right? Things get more complicated with combining colors, so placing a blue tile next to a red one turns it purple, in which case no players get points. Likewise, if there's a purple block on the board and someone puts a red tile next to it, it will turn back to red again. This lends to a lot of strategic play as players block each other's moves to fill the board.

T-KARA - 80 MS points. T-KARA is a sliding tile puzzle game where you need to match shapes on the board to a designated pattern. There are times when frustration can set in if there is one piece out of place, but the satisfaction for actually completing the puzzles makes up for it. If you're the type of puzzle fan that enjoys Rubik's Cubes, then T-KARA is the puzzle game for you.

Nay

Guns Loaded - 240 MS points. Guns Loaded is a bullet hell shooter that is almost excellent. If only it were easier to tell when the enemies that fly in from the foreground and background were on the same plane as your ship. If only the bullets coming at you were in patterns to dodge rather than haphazard scatterings. If only the bullets weren't the same size and color as the stars in the background. Unfortunately, these aren't exactly minor complaints, and so it's hard to recommend the game.

Tiger Storm - 240 MS points. Tiger Storm is a fairly generic twin-stick tank shooter. There's nothing terribly bad about the game, but there also isn't anything in the game that hasn't been done elsewhere and done better.

Very Hungry Pumpkin - 80 MS points. Very Hungry Pumpkin is a cute kid's game where a pumpkin tries to collect candy while avoiding the onslaught of trick-or-treaters. the costumed throngs also collect the candy, so you have to be quick. The game isn't particularly challenging, and after a minute or two the repetition sets in, but younger gamers may have a fun time with it.

Equitunes - 80 MS points. Equitunes is a puzzle game that gives you a grid with filled and partially filled cells, and challenges you to fill in the nearby cells. The puzzles were decent, if not particularly challenging, until I realized that the game also allows you to move the filled cells around, which makes the game much easier than it already was. And as the difficulty vanished, the boredom set in.

Drinkards - 400 MS points. Drinkards is a drinking game, and a poor on at that. Each round the game gives you a drinking task that is clearly catering to a specific hetero audience. There is also a mini-game that is supposed to determine your sobriety, but it the controller sensitivity automatically loosens up with each progressive round, so it kind of cheats to make you seem drunk even if you aren't yet.

Halloween HD - 80 MS points. Halloween HD is one of the many blatant attempts to cash in on the holiday. It has 4 "spooky" scenes with accompanying sound effects.

omg cats game@#$ - 240 MS points. This is a screamer app, or at least that's the impression that I get. This means that you play for a while and then something appears on-screen screaming to scare you, or any friend you convince to pick up the controller. I can't say for sure, but the trial ends with a message saying that something "unexpected and scary" happens in the full version, and generally that's what it means. There's a base game to get to the screamer that consists of moving a ball through a pipe maze with pictures of cats plastered onto the background. It actually plays a lot like a PS1 game I used to have called Irritating Stick, which is about as fun as it sounds.

Updates
Horn Swaggle Island - price drop to 240 MS points. Camera zoom option and better visibility on SD TVs added.
Air Legends - price drop to 80 MS points.
SummerVacation
Remote Masseuse
シャイニング　ブラッド shining blood
Kodu Game Lab
Bobbin's Quest
Tarot
BlockBUSTER - price drop to 80 MS points.
Scrambled Egzz - price drop to 80 MS points.
Colosseum: Hammerball
Johnny's Minefield
Gamerbots: Third-Robot Shooting
The Headsman

Naughty Dog Teases Potential Halloween Treat For Uncharted 2 [UPDATE]

2009-10-30T15:00:00Z

'Tis the season for special Halloween goodies in games, and it looks like Uncharted 2 may be joining Demon's Souls with a bonus treat for players. Naughty Dog posted a tweet very late last night saying simply, "Working late tonight, got a ton of things that need to get done..." along with the image to the right.

If I had to wager a guess, it looks an awful lot like red-eyed skeletons might be joining in on some Uncharted 2 multiplayer action tomorrow. The big question at this point is whether this is a new horde-like game mode fighting waves of AI undead, or if the multiplayer teams are just getting a special Halloween re-skinning. If it is a treat for the holiday, then expect an official announcement later today. Then again there's always the possibility that this could be part of some larger DLC, so we'll keep you posted when more is announced.

[UPDATE]: Naughty Dog just announced via Playstation Blog that there is a title update for Uncharted 2 fixing several multiplayer bugs. In honor of the title update, Naughty dog also announced that from October 30 to November 2 will be a double cash weekend in Uncharted 2 multiplayer, allowing you to quickly earn in-game rewards. There will also be Naughty Dog devs online playing with red paws next to their PSN names, so be on the lookout for some of the game's creators for target practice. The post also hints at "something spooky around the corner" with a much clearer screenshot of the glowing-eyed skeletons. We still have no idea how the skeletons are going to come into play, but it's sure to be spoooooooky.

Hugh Jackman Top Choice For Uncharted Movie Lead

2009-10-29T15:00:00Z

Back in June we found out that a movie based on the Uncharted videogame series was in the works. But there was a big question about the movie still left in the air: which Hollywood hunk would play lead character Nathan Drake. I don't think I was alone in hoping that Nolan North would reprise his role for a film adaptation, but according to North himself that isn't likely.

"I would love to do the movie, obviously I'd love to do it as Nathan Drake [...] but I've done film and television and I understand the reality of the business."

It's a shame because North's performance really defines Drake as a character, making him one of the most charismatic and believable characters in gaming. Not to mention the fact that North is quite easy on the eyes and already looks the part.

So who is Nolan North thinking will play the part in his stead?

"[Hugh] Jackman is who I'd like to see. I think the producers would like to see Jackman too, because he has that tough guy exterior, but [...] there's also a lot going on behind his eyes. A lot of emotion and sensitivity on that brusque exterior, and he has great comic timing. He's a phenomenal actor. I just hope I get a part on the movie so I can work with Hugh."

Well, that certainly was unexpected. Personally I'm not much of a Jackman fan, but the more I think about it the more I can see him working in an Uncharted movie. Of course, nothing is set in stone at this point, but it's nice to see the level of star power that Columbia might be eying for the part. Let's just hope that Uncharted doesn't turn into another Van Helsing.

"No Need To Import" 3D Dot Game Heroes Getting U.S. Release

2009-10-28T15:00:00Z

Are you excited for 3D Dot Game Heroes, because we certainly are. And with the Japanese release date of November 5 approaching, many of you may have been scrambling to import sites so you could get your hands on this retro-styled PS3 gem. According to a tweet made by the Playstation Blog yesterday, that shouldn't be necessary.

No need to import - 3D Dot Game Heroes for PS3 is DEFINITELY coming to NA! Spread the word, more to come.

According to Sony's Jeff Rubenstein, it was the game's yet-unknown publisher that made the announcement through Sony, and it will not be Sony who is actually publishing the game. Considering that From Software's last niche RPG, Demon's Souls, received local publishing by Atlus, and was a huge success, it seems that Atlus is on the top of the suspect list for 3D Dot Game Heroes. Atlus and other publishers have been contacted for confirmation, though as of yet have not made any comment.

This is fabulous news, at least for those of you living in the U.S. and Canada. There's no word yet on whether European and Australian gamers will be forced to import the game or not, so hopefully that news will follow the North American announcement.

Video: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Gets 3rd Person Online Mode

2009-10-27T15:00:00Z

Yesterday this video started making the rounds showing what appeared to be a 3rd person perspective option in a leaked PS3 copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The video, unfortunately, is of extremely poor quality because it was recorded from a live stream of gameplay. Try and pretend that the lag isn't there, and that the picture isn't fuzzy, and you'll get the idea. But turning Modern Warfare 2 into a 3rd-person shooter? That can't be right.

Except that it is. Official word has come down from Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling that there will be new 3rd person gametypes for online multiplayer. As Bowling explained:

"3rd Person is a new playlist mode in Multiplayer. So you can play your favorite playlists [or] game types, like Team Deathmatch just standard, or in Hardcore mode ([with] limited HUD and increased bullet damage) or in the new 3rd Person mode, which means you and everyone in the game is in 3rd person."
"When you're in a 3rd Person playlist you can't toggle in and out, you're always in 3rd person, you can't toggle 3rd person view on or off in a standard game type either, people in 3rd person can't play with people in 1st person, they're entirely different game modes. This is just another way to play the game."

So just to clarify, 3rd person will be a completely separate gametype in online multiplayer. That means no 3rd person in single player, and no people playing in 1st person against people in 3rd person. Why does this matter? Well, for one there's the fact that a 3rd person view allows you to look around walls without poking your head out from cover, which could give 3rd person players an advantage in a mixed game.

I'm pretty neutral on the 3rd person addition. It's nice to have the option, but I imagine that there will be significantly fewer players in the 3rd person playlists so finding a match will be a chore. But so long as it doesn't interfere with the 1st person experience, then I say the more options the better.

What do you think? Are you going to hop into the 3rd person mode, or is that a direction that the series should stay clear of?

Modern Warfare 2's Third Person Mode Is No Rumor [Kotaku]

Nintendownloads - 10/26/09

2009-10-26T15:00:00Z

With Halloween coming up Nintendo is unleashing quite the digital lineup to celebrate. WiiWare gets Ghost Mansion Party and Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3. The former is a family-friendly party game in a haunted mansion, while the latter continues the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood (mighty pirate) against the villainous ghost pirate LeChuck.

Meanwhile on the Virtual Console it's time to break out the water gun and 3D glasses with an all time classic Halloween game: Zombies Ate My Neighbors! For those wondering, this is the SNES version, so blood is green instead of red, but it's still Zombies Ate My Neighbors! The Virtual Console also sees the release of the arcade version of Golden Axe, which while isn't Halloween themed, is still quite awesome. The DSi misses out on the Halloween theme, getting a trick more than a treat. Picturbook Games: The Royal Bluff kicks things off with EA's version of Sudoku completing this week's DSi Ware offerings.

WiiWare

Ghost Mansion Party
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 1,000 Wii Points
Description: Fazzy the ghost has been locked out of his mansion by some evil spooks, and he's willing to give his treasure to anyone who can chase them out. Work cooperatively and competitively with friends and family to defeat the ghosts and discover a huge hidden treasure. Travel around this wild mansion in board-game fashion, landing on mini-games that everyone can enjoy. You'll even engage in challenges on the board itself as you try to collect magic scrolls and hints to reveal the secret word that will open the doors to the treasure. Get your Wii Remote™ controllers ready - you're about to play with them in ways you've never imagined.

Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3
Publisher: Telltale Games
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Comic Mischief, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: In the third Tales of Monkey Island chapter, Guybrush gets in deep - literally - as his quest for the voodoo exfoliating La Esponja Grande takes a scenic detour through the guts of a giant manatee. Our hero encounters a surprising band of castaways, including the long-lost explorer Coronado De Cava. Can the Mighty Pirate win the suspicious De Cava's trust? Will sexy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay prove to be a ruthless enemy or an unlikely ally? Will the group find La Esponja Grande in time to save Elaine from the rampant Pox of LeChuck? And will the world be crushed by the gnashing teeth of a certain demonic skull? Tales of Monkey Island's moist and absorbing third episode, "Lair of the Leviathan," will answer some of these urgent questions and raise even more as the five-month adventure builds to its epic climax.

Virtual Console

Zombies Ate My Neighbors™
Publisher: LucasArts
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: You will play the game as one of two brave kids: Zeke or Julie. Both kids use the same control scheme and have the same characteristics. If you're playing in two-player mode, each player must pick a kid. You can't have two Zekes or two Julies. Each player starts with three lives. When your life bar runs out, you lose a life. There are hidden 1-Up bonuses in the game. You may also earn bonus lives if you have 10 victims left when you finish a level. Get ready to conquer 48 levels of giant ants, mad scientists and big babies. Find seven bonus levels (look for the question marks), earn points and stockpile your water pistols and other weapons.

Golden Axe
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Fantasy Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: In this original arcade game that launched the popular Golden Axe series, the evil Death Adder has invaded your land and taken the king and princess prisoner. Three mighty warriors step forward to bring the villain to justice: powerful fighter Ax Battler, Amazon warrior Tyris Flare and mighty dwarf Gilius Thunderhead. They will use their weapons and magic to fight their way through Death Adder's hordes. Along the way, they'll mount fearsome, fire-spitting beasts to help even the odds. Team up with a friend and enjoy two-player simultaneous game play for a better chance of survival.

Nintendo DSiWare

PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Aristocratic opponents square off in PictureBook Games: The Royal Bluff, a game of strategy and deceit. Compete for points by adding or subtracting colored chips from rows on the game board and trying to guess each of your opponent's secretly assigned chip colors. Once you're confident in your deduction, issue a Call Out attempt to earn bonus points - at the risk of giving your opponent an extra point if you're wrong. Three modes of play (Tournament, Free Play, DS Wireless Play) offer a variety of options, from facing off against an assortment of computer opponents to competing in a wireless match with up to four players. Throw Trick Cards into the mix and you've got a winning combination of tactics and trickery that's sure to score points.

SUDOKU
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: SUDOKU offers hundreds of number-crunching puzzles that will stretch your brain power to the limit. Take it even further by playing in the exclusive Newspaper Mode. Add a daily puzzle from your favorite paper and build your very own collection. From Easy to Insane, a total of five different levels are available for novices and masters alike. Enjoy a host of grid designs that will keep you coming back for more. This worldwide phenomenon delivers an exhilarating game of logic that's not only challenging, but also surprisingly relaxing. It's everything you want for a quick puzzle getaway. Make life easier by taking advantage of smart features like automatic annotation for effortless calculation of your achievements. Stumped? Get help with error-checking tools and friendly cell hints. Track your stats and test your reaction time with the in-game timer. This addictive brain game has been polished to perfection and renders a sleek design that's easy on the eyes.

Weekly Xbox Indies - 10/24/09

2009-10-24T16:00:00Z

Heads up about this week's update: all games that were 200 MS points have been dropped to 80 MS points. That's only $1! After the jump you'll still find the games that have been updated, but since over 100 games have dropped in price you won't find all of the price changes. For the full list of price changes check out here. But since some awesome games are now much cheaper, after the jump there will be a buyer's guide for the best games that were included in the price drop.

Yay

Minigolf Mania - 400 MS points. Minigolf Mania is the game I have been secretly dreaming of for a long time. There are plenty of arcade-style golf games, but until new there hasn't really been a good minigolf game, with moving obstacles and winding greens. Minigolf Mania fills this niche with 4 courses that range from the typical windmill holes to ice-covered greens to make the ball skid. In addition to the main golf game there is safari golf, which puts animals on the course that you need to collect before going for the hole. It's an odd diversion, but a fun one none the less. Minigolf Mania is a joy to play, and I highly recommend it to anyone else who has been secretly wishing for a fun game to putt around in.

Echoes+ - 240 MS points. Echoes+ is what would happen if Asteroids was reborn as a twin-stick shooter with Geometry Wars-esque neon glow. And though it may look like Geometry Wars, Echoes+ surpasses it in just about every way. Asteroids, moons, planets, stars, and black holes fly into the level for you to destroy, crumbling into smaller pieces to be destroyed. Unlike similar games, Echoes+ uses a health bar rather than a 1-hit kill policy, which is much appreciated when hundreds of tiny asteroids are floating around the level. There are a number of gameplay modes such as classic, time attack, survival, and more for unique challenges like dodging meteors and fighting snake-like asteroid belts. On a final note, it's also the sequel to the awesome freeware PC indie game Echoes, so be sure to check that out too.

Astro Match3 - 240 MS points. Astro Match3 is a fun twist on the typical Bejeweled clone. Whenever 3 or more shapes are matched together the background of those squares changes color, first to red, then blue, then gold. The level is then complete when all squares have been changed to gold. This traditional mode is fun on its own, but there is also an alternate mode that only lets you move the shape from wherever your last selected square was, but that shape can be swapped with any other square on the board. This mode adds a whole different way of strategic thinking that is refreshing from all of the "me too" puzzle games out there.

Banana Split - 240 MS points. Banana Split is a 2D platformer starring a dapper banana in a top hat. I was sold right there, but it turns out the gameplay is actually good on top of the great concept. The jumping does feel a little heavy at first, but it doesn't take long to get used to it. If you're in the mood for some classic platforming action, then give Banana Split a try.

Crate Expectations - 240 MS points. Crate Expectations has very high production values with a great visual style crisp, clean graphics. The game is a competitive sliding block puzzle, where ~~two~~ up to 4 players try to slide crates into the other player's base. There's a lot of strategy involved since crates can block the opponent's path, or temporary ice blocks can be placed on the level to act as walls. Thankfully there is a single player mode so solo players can still get in on the fun, or practice for multiplayer matches, but the game truly shines in multiplayer where it encapsulates the mantra of "easy to learn, tough to master."

Carcophony - 400 MS points. Carcophony is a puzzle game that has you directing traffic on 5 different city streets. You only actually control the traffic lights at intersections, trying to get all of the cars to where they want to go while trying not to cause major traffic jams. It's highly addicting. It may be priced a bit high, or perhaps I'm just spoiled because I have a similar game on my iPhone that was only $1 (Gridlocked, for those wondering), but regardless of price it's just a well made fun game.

Pumpkin Chop - 80 MS points. I went into Pumpkin Chop expecting it to be a simple pumpkin "carving" app where you put the equivalent of decals on a picture of a pumpkin. This is not the case. Pumpkin Chop is a very versatile little app that lets you design pretty much any pumpkin design that you can think of. Give it a try, you'll be impressed by all you can do with the simple interface.

]]> Ay?

Crosstown - 400 MS points. Crosstown is a retro styled game right down to the opening video of a person loading up a mock Commodore 64 disk. The gameplay is addicting, new enemies and gameplay elements are added almost every level, the narration is funny, and overall the game is a lot of fun. I do think that at 400 MS points it's priced a bit above where it should be, but it's definitely worth at least giving the trial version a download.

Influence - 80 MS points. Influence is a highly original twin-stick shooter. Instead of killing enemies by shooting them, you convert them to your team, and once the entire enemy team has been converted you win the level. It's an excellent concept, and I would love to see it explored more in other games. As you progress you can also upgrade attributes such as your speed, rate of fire, and weapons. There do seem to be some AI issues with your allies still firing at converted enemies or converted enemies still firing at you, but hopefully future updates will fix that.

Krisotron - 80 MS points. Krisotron is yet another twin-stick shooter. The gameplay hook this time around is ability and weapon upgrades. The game is quite good if you're in the mood for a mindless blast-fest, but there are so many twin-stick shooters already on the 360 that most gamers will probably feel like they've already played this before. If you haven't gotten your shooter fill though, Krisotron is definitely above most of the pack.

HuntersLunch - 80 MS points. HuntersLunch is a Japanese Sokoban/sliding block puzzgle game. It has an interesting twist with rocky terrain that can only be traveled while in a jeep, but while in the jeep you are unable to move blocks (which seems odd that a jeep is weaker than a person, but it works for gameplay). There are also enemies to avoid, and tools that can be used to dig holes, build bridges, or smash large boulders that come into play in the puzzles. Just be prepared to restart the levels over and over and over again, as there is a lot of trial and error involved.

Powa Volley - 400 MS points. Powa Volley is a high production value take on the popular slime volleyball web browser game (which has also appeared on the Xbox indie games channel). This version adds some new features, like a cast of well designed characters each with special abilities that can impact gameplay. There is also a collection of mini-games, which it is always nice to see a developer put in the extra effort. Would I pay $5 for it, not likely. But the trial version is fun enough that I could imagine a fair amount of people who would pay.

Poker Blinds - 240 MS points. Poker Blinds is a poker tournament management application. I'm not an avid poker player, nor do I know anything about how to run a poker tournament, so honestly I can't rate how well it functions.

Nay

Boring Space Shooter - 80 MS points. Boring Space Shooter is a twin-stick shooter that is anything but accurate to its title. There is a constant stream of enemies coming at you keeping the intensity level high. To help with the overwhelming odds your ship has a time rewinding ability mapped to the A button, as well as time freezing bombs. Unfortunately there are lots of little things that bring the experience down. The hit detection for your ship seems to be some invisible aura around your ship, since I often died only to see that the enemy never touched my ship. There's also the fact that enemies explode into millions of little blue dots that are the same color as your own bullets, making it difficult to aim if you happen to have killed more than 2 enemies in a row. The time abilities help alleviate the on-screen confusion, but they have limited usage, leaving you blind.

Epiphany in Spaaace! - 80 MS points. I never expected to find a text adventure in the Xbox indie games, but here one is. It tries to be a comedy, but the writing and jokes often fall flat. It pokes fun at Sci-fi archetypes by simply giving you Sci-fi archetypes with a wink as if to say "see, look at this cliché, isn't that hilarious?" Yes, I see it, but just because it is a cliché doesn't mean it's funny, you actually have to do something funny with it.

yOm - 400 MS points. yOm is a game that seems to draw it's inspiration from Pac Man, but doesn't live up to that inspiration. You control a monster eating different colored clovers while pigs swarm the level trying to kill you. If the pig is the same color as the clovers you are eating then you can eat the pig, but otherwise the pig takes away a life or a large portion of your score. These pigs are also changing color completely randomly, so there is no way to plan a safe route. Sometimes instead of stealing lives or score from you a pig will initiate a minigame to press the prompted button as fast as you can, but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to what causes this to occur. There's just too many random elements at work in this game to be any fun.

LOL Runner - 80 MS points. LOL Runner is a racing game based on pressing buttons as fast as you can. The game will show a button over your character's head and you need to press it as fast as you can followed by whatever the next button above their head is, and so on. Mashing random buttons in random order usually isn't fun, and LOL Runner is no different.

Speed Factory - 80 MS points. Speed Factory tries to be like Dance Dance Revolution for your thumbs. Buttons come from the middle of the screen and when they reach either the right or left side (depending on which player you are) you have to press them in time with the music. The better one player does, the more the middle bar moves toward the opponent's side of the screen, giving them less time to react to the button presses. It's a great gameplay mechanic, but unfortunately the button presses don't seem to correspond with the music that is playing, which can quickly kill a rhythm game.

Night of Doom - 80 MS points. Night of Doom is a very basic FPS that has you fighting off zombies. The zombies have to be the least animated reanimated corpses I've ever seen, with a whole zero frames of animation. Presentation aside, the zombies are in far too few a number in far too large an area for any sense of tension to excitement to build from shooting them. Give Night of Doom a pass.

Updated Games
Physics Sandbox
Sol Survivor - added 3 new maps and a number of bug fixes
BounceCrazy
Sudoku X
Meet UR Match
Pastels Squares
Galactic Escape
Minesweeper Mayhem

Price Drop Buyer's Guide - The following games are now 80 MS points.
Light's End
Halfbrick Echoes
Skwug
Maladras
Nebulon
World Revolution
ZP2K9
Scallywags
Spy Chameleon
Dock'em
Rabid Gophers
Writer's Block
Machiavelli's Ascent
Bloc
Lines

Dragon Age Journeys Browser Game Is Up, Unlock Origins Bonus Items

2009-10-23T15:00:00Z

Last week I told you that Bioware was planning a browser game that would tie into the story of their upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins. Yesterday the first episode of that browser series, Dragon Age Journeys: The Deep Roads, was unleashed onto the web.

In case story background details wasn't enough incentive to check out the browser game, Bioware is including some special items for Dragon Age: Origins that can only be obtained by unlocking them in Dragon Age Journeys. Those items are:

Embri's Many Pockets, a ring that provides +5% Fire Resistance, +5% Cold Resistance, +5% Electricity Resistance, +5% Nature Resistance, and +5% Spirit Resistance.
Helm of the Deep, a helmet that provides +2 Constitution, +10 Mental Resistance, and +10 Physical Resistance.
Amulet of the War Mage which provides +5% to Fire Damage, +5 % to Cold Damage, +5% to Electrical Damage, +5% to Nature Damage, and +5% to Spirit Damage.

In order to claim these unlockables you will need to sign into Dragon Age Journeys using an EA account so that you can save your progress, and then once you've unlocked them in Journeys just sign into your EA account in Origins and the items should be transferred. Presumably, future Dragon Age Journeys episodes will include similar unlockable items.

Even without the bonus items, RPG fans should definitely give Journeys a try. I spent a little bit of time with it yesterday and really enjoyed the quick grid-based battles and dungeon exploration. It also gives you a sneak peek at some of the class skills that you'll be able to use in Origins, so you can already start to figure out how your character will progress. See for yourself over at the Dragon Age Journeys site.

Review: Machinarium

2009-10-22T15:00:00Z

About a year ago I heard about a point-and-click adventure game in development featuring a quirky little robot and some astounding artwork. In preparation, I decided to check out some of the developer's previous work, and was introduced to the wondrous world of Samorost. It had a refreshingly minimalist gameplay style while still having more personality and character than most big budget games. And so I waited, not very patiently, for Machinarium to come out and bring more of Amanita Design's unique touch to the point-and-click genre. Now that Machinarium is finally out was it worth the wait, or is this little robot destined for the scrap yard?

]]> The story of Machinarium is a difficult one to describe. You play as a robot in a world full of robots (even cats and birds are robots), and that's really all you're given at the start of the game. There is no dialog or text (with the exception of menu text) in the entire game. And it works brilliantly. In place of text you are given character actions to observe, and in place of dialog you are given thought bubbles that show a short video of what that character is thinking. All of these portrayals are utterly charming, and immerse you in the game's bizarrely mechanical world.

The game's nameless hero is a particularly adorable little robot. I don't think that I need to tell you just how adorable he is, the screenshots speak for themselves, but allow me to at least say that throughout the game his animations and interactions truly bring him to life. It's hard not to root for the little guy as he travels from place to place. Don't be surprised if the urge just to spend more time with him becomes just as much a motivation to continue playing as the story and gameplay.

Speaking of gameplay, Machinarium makes an effort to streamline the point-and-click adventure genre to alleviate frustration and keep the game moving at a steady pace. And with only one exception (more on that later) it succeeds magnificently. Each screen of the game is essentially a self-contained puzzle. There are the rare instances where an item may be carried from one area to the next, but for the most part all the tools you need for a given puzzle are provided without backtracking through several screens. And when I say puzzles, I mean both of the "bring object X to character Y" variety as well as the "align colored pegs on a grid" logic puzzles that are synonymous with the Professor Layton series of games. These latter logic puzzles are integrated seamlessly into the game as a method to open a door or activate a piece of broken machinery, and add some nice variety to a genre often bogged down by fetch quests.

Movement in Machinarium is also somewhat restricted for the sake of streamlining the experience. The little robot can only interact with objects that are within his arm's reach. He has the ability to stretch and squash his body to help reach high and low objects (and for solving a few puzzles as well), but this means that you will be moving the robot around a lot. However, you will quickly find that you cannot move the little robot anywhere you wish in the environment. Instead he will move to pre-determined points in the environment where the objects that you can actually use are located. If you can move somewhere, then most likely there's something you need to do there to help solve a puzzle. If you've played many adventure games before then you know how frustrating it can be to pixel hunt for exactly the right place to stand or which objects you can interact with. Imagine how much more fun the game would be if that frustration were gone: that's what Machinarium is.

This is not to say that the puzzles are easy in Machinarium. Just because the game guides you to specific locations doesn't mean that you will always know what you need to do there, nor what order you need to do things in. Some experimentation is needed to see how items interact with each other, with a keen eye for detail often being your most valuable puzzle solving tool. In case you do get stuck, which happened more than a few times during my playthrough, there is a well integrated hint system in the game. For quick help you can click on the thought bubble hint, which shows you either the first or last step of a room's puzzle. These hints are helpful for keeping you on-track without giving away a puzzle's full solution. At one point the thought bubble showed the robot electrocuting a robotic cat. Even with the hint I still needed to figure out on my own how to electrocute the cat, and then what exactly I was supposed to do with the shocked feline once it was in my inventory. These hints act as a signpost to help you focus on a particular part of the puzzle and never felt like they approached the realm of cheating. And if you do feel like they are cheating, then simply don't use them.

If you manage to get completely stuck on a puzzle there is another type of hint which will show you a storyboard of exactly what you need to do to complete it. However there is a price for this level of enlightenment, and that price is one of the most boring and tedious minigames you will ever see. You'll probably use this method once or twice for particularly challenging puzzles, but the minigame is terrible enough to discourage any player from using the hints as a crutch for every puzzle in the game. Personally, I feel that it works perfectly. The puzzle solutions are there if you need them, but if you aren't going to be solving the puzzles on your own the game punishes you with a few minutes of boredom.

I suppose it's about time I finally got around to addressing Machinarium's visual style. Simply put, the game is gorgeous. Every inch of the game has been painstakingly hand drawn, resulting in one of the most hauntingly beautiful games in recent memory. The robot world is built with mechanical precision, and yet also contains the subtle dilapidation of a scrap yard. I first fell in love with Machinarium a year ago based on the visuals alone, and after finishing the game now I only love the graphics more. And to accompany the stunning visuals is an amazing soundtrack that adds even more atmosphere to the environments, as well as some catchy beats. As a bonus if you order the game from Amanita Design's site, the game comes with the full soundtrack in MP3 form so you can listen to it outside the game, something I have been doing non-stop for the past several days. (Note: the soundtrack may also be included if you download through Steam, but I cannot confirm this since I didn't use Steam. The Steam page for Machinarium doesn't mention the soundtrack though, so I would assume that it is not included).

Machinarium is not without its faults though. The little robot, adorable as he may be, isn't exactly built for speed. Walking from place to place can get tedious toward the end of the game, and doubly so if you have stretched or squashed him for a puzzle, in which case he moves twice as slow. It's a minor gripe compared to an overwhelmingly amazing game, but it's worth mentioning. What isn't such a minor gripe is one particular puzzle about a third of the way through the game. This puzzle is more of a minigame in which you must win a 5-in-a-row game similar to Go before you can continue. This minigame is devilishly hard and took at least 40 minutes before I managed to win a match. Considering that the entire game clocks in at around 3-5 hours, a 40 minute lull being stuck on a single puzzle is a significant amount of time, and was the only point when the game's pacing felt anything other than perfect.

The last issue with the game you might have noticed in that last paragraph: it's only about 3-5 hours long. It took me just barely over 4 hours to complete, and that includes the time with the hated 5-in-a-row puzzle. The game is short, and feels even shorter because of how engrossed you become in the experience. Is 4 hours worth $20? Everyone may answer differently, but it's an issue you should be aware of before diving into the game.

Even with those complaints, I can recommend Machinarium to anyone without any hesitation. It might be short, but the experience is well worth the trip. The atmosphere is impeccable and the characters, even minor ones, are bursting from their metallic seams with personality. If you have even a passing interest in adventure games or puzzles, then you owe it to yourself to spend some time in the robot world of Machinarium. It's this year's Portal: a short but unforgettable game with a healthy dose of puzzles and wit thrown in. Simply put, Machinarium is one of the best games released this year.

9.5 out of 10

Machinarium is available through Steam and Direct 2 Drive for Windows, or from Amanita Design's website for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Video: Unexpected Awesome - ReBoot Movie Incoming In 2010

2009-10-21T15:00:00Z

Do you remember ReBoot, that 90's CG cartoon show about the lives of the sprites living inside of computers? Wasn't it awesome? Oh sure, now anyone with a few weeks tooling around with Maya or 3Ds Max could probably do better, but at the time ReBoot was at the cutting edge of CG video. And now it looks like ReBoot will be getting a...well, reboot in the form of a new movie set to hit theaters sometime next year.

The movie is in the works at Rainmaker Entertainment, formerly known as Mainframe Entertainment and the original creators of the ReBoot show. Here's the official word regarding the new movie:

Season 4 of ReBoot ended on a famous cliffhanger. While some aspects of that cliffhanger were resolved in a three-part web comic series, the theatrical feature film will be a departure from the series in this regard. It is our intention to create a new ReBoot adventure that seasoned fans will enjoy exploring while simultaneously introducing the rich world of Mainframe to a whole new audience.

As a fan of the show, it does worry me that the movie is supposed to be a new take on ReBoot, and probably won't follow the story from the show. But a glance over at the ReBoot fansite that Rainmaker put together shows that pleasing the old fans is their highest priority. And even though the above trailer reveals almost nothing, so far I am very, very pleased. As a point of reference for what Rainmaker is capable of nowadays, they're the ones behind the pre-rendered cutscenes from Ghostbusters: The Video Game as well as the spiffy Splinter Cell Conviction trailers.

Hit the jump for a refresher of ReBoot from the very first episode, and check out some of the best CG animation that the early 90's had to offer.

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