Articles by Sgt. Sausagepants
I am salivating over this one, Platinum Games, which we mentioned earlier today is partnering with Sega and is made of former members of Clover, has released some details on one of its first games. Infinite Line, a sci-fi themed RPG for the Nintedo DS.
The game is built around two key concepts: Players command (1) a "highly-customizable" spaceship through (2) a "large and expansive" world that encompasses two galaxies. The team has prepared over 150 ship models, as well as more than 150 potential crew members that can be stationed around the ships. The insides of the crafts are modular, so players can place the bridges, engineering rooms, fire control rooms, etc. as they see fit.
I have lost entire weekends to games that allow customized spaceships, just editing layouts. The idea of rearranging everything in the ship, including crew, as a strategic mechanic, gives me goosebumps. I am eagerly looking forward to more information about this game.
Screenshots will apparently be released soon, hopefully as pretty as the Homeworld-esque concept art here.
Infinite Line RPG announced for DS [Joystiq]
This isn't gaming related, but is very important to us here at GayGamer. At just after 10am this morning. The California Supreme Court ruled that the state ban (approved by voters in 2000) on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
The California legislature has since passed laws to make gay marriage legal, twice. State Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed them each time, saying that the issue needed to be decided by the courts. However, in 2004, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom (god bless him) authorised same-sex marriage licences, claiming existing legislation was discriminatory. The resulting marriages were nullified, (and remain so), but the event set the stage for this lawsuit, and this landmark judgment.
This isn't the end of the fight. This will most likely go to the U.S Supreme Court, who have never ruled on the issue. There is still a fight to avoid a national ban on same-sex marriage to deal with as well. But for now, for all you GayGamers who live here near the western wing of GayGamer castle, congratulations. Now go spread some love.
California ban on same-sex marriage struck down [CNN.com]
The CA State Supreme Court Ruling [EQCA.org]
Details on the convention itself are sketchy, but we know WHEN it will be now.
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for its third BlizzCon™ gaming convention, to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California on October 10 and 11. Tickets for BlizzCon will go on sale in the next few weeks at a price of $100 USD per person. As the event draws closer, further details will be announced on the official BlizzCon website: www.blizzcon.com.
That's right, once again it will cost Blizzard fans at least a hundred bucks to see things a bit in advance. If Blizzard follows their tradition, convention goers will get some sort of in-game perk for WOW, possibly trading cards, etc... (some of which can apparently be ebayed for large sums of real-life gold). Also available will be...
* Hands-on play time with upcoming Blizzard Entertainment releases
* Discussion panels with Blizzard Entertainment developers
* Competitive and casual tournaments for players to showcase their talents
* Areas and activities devoted to licensed products such as the World of Warcraft® Trading Card Game
* Costume, machinima, and character sound-alike contests with great prizes
* Commemorative merchandise based on the Blizzard Entertainment franchises
* A silent auction
* More exciting activities to be announced
Is it worth it? Will you be forking over a Benjamin Franklin to get in? Or will you wait for media coverage?
BLIZZCON™ 2008 ANNOUNCED [Blizzard.com]
With the impending release of the Warhammer MMO, we've finally starting getting information on what will eventually be it's spiritual and science-fiction sucessor, Warhammer 40K. PC Gamer snagged an interview with some of the developers.
PC Gamer: Besides the obvious distinction of being science fiction as opposed to fantasy, how will you distinguish yourselves from the Warhammer fantasy MMO from EA Mythic?
David Adams: The fact that Warhammer 40,000 is science fiction and not fantasy goes a long way to distinguish the game from other Fantasy MMOs, such as Warhammer. Besides the obvious visual differences, the setting also affects many aspects of the gameplay.
First off, unlike a fantasy MMO, guns play a major role in the dynamic of combat. The gameplay will be much more intense, focusing a lot on fire-fights, tactics, cover and general brutality (which is befitting a game set in the grim future).
Secondly, the sheer scale of Warhammer 40,000 lends itself to experiences players have never seen in an MMO. The term "Battleground" takes on an entirely different meaning. Our battlegrounds will be more epic in scale, more intense, and more true to a game with the tagline, "In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war." This doesn't preclude the more intimate battlegrounds that other MMOs have, only that we will also be including more grand affairs, that give a player the sense that they are immersed in an actual Warhammer 40,000 battle.
The game is years away at this point, but check out the full article for some sneak peaks at what they are planning to put into the game.
Warhammer 40,000 Online [PC Gamer]
[via: Kotaku]
That's right, she's back, bringing some friends with her! This week we get more Blondie, Clash, and Sonic Youth for our weekly Rock Band fix.
"Hanging on the Telephone" by Blondie (master)
"Train in Vain" by The Clash (master)
"Kool Thing" by Sonic Youth (master)
As usual, all three songs are master tracks, and will be available for $1.99/160 points on Tuesday for Xbox and Thursday for PS3.
DLC Week of May 13th [Rockband.com]
We've already told you about Adult Swim's humorous Trauma Center parody, Alan Probe: Amateur Surgeon. It's a game of saving lives and rescuing freaks and hobos, all with a pizza cutter.
Well, the third and final act has been released, bringing the trilogy to an end. It's a fantastic Friday time waster. (If you don't have a squeamish stomach) Check it out!
If you are unfamiliar with Marvels "Super Hero Squad" line of toys, I'll explain. It's a series of small figures, usually sold in packs, with tiny, super-deformed figures of various Marvel heroes and Villains. The catch is, every single damn one of them is grinning like a madman. Even the bad guys. It actually freaks me out a bit because Galactus, Sentinels, Apocalypse... these are villains who actively try to commit genocide. Seeing them look this... happy... is just creepy to me.
Now it looks like they'll be in a series of games from THQ. I'm guessing the gameplay will probably be similar to the recent Lego games. Personally, I'm not sure I can handle the cute.
THQ Licenses "Marvel Super Hero Squad" Franchise [GamaSutra]
According to a post on the id Software homepage, production has begun on Doom 4. This time, the battle moves from Mars to Earth.
The last Doom game drove sales of the first generation of DirectX 9 video cards, can Doom 4 do something similar for DirectX 10? More importantly, will it be able to overcome the shadow of Doom 3's lackluster "stuff jumping out at you from secret hidden doors" gameplay? (Yeah it was scary at first, then it just got predictable).
Even more critical, does this mean another movie with The Rock? Now THAT's scary.
Back when Portal got announced, several fanboys decided they couldn't wait, and made a 2D, flash-based version of the game based on what they'd seen in the trailers.
Now one of the creators of Portal: The Flash Version, Hen Mazolski, has one-upped himself with the Portal level editor. He's ported the entire flash game to 3D and made it available as a map pack to be played in the full version of the game.
This time, experience Aperture Science from a different perspective, before the time of the original Portal, as a different test subject.
This mappack includes ALL 40 levels from WCS's Flash version, additional bonus levels and features. All together, we've got here over three and a half hours of amazing gameplay.
Obviously it's not going to have all of GlaDOS' witty and cutting dialogue, but more Portal based challenges is never a bad thing.
The advertising execs over at Activision have really been working hard lately, now not only do we have the embedded widget, Guitar Hero (more specifically, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Edition), is being cross promoted on Slurpees.
In an online contest at www.slurpee.com, visitors can enter codes found on specially marked 22-ounce Guitar Hero-branded Slurpee cups for a chance to win a copy of the new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith videogame, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, or Microsoft Points to purchase content from Xbox LIVE® Marketplace. One copy of the new Guitar Hero: Aerosmith game will be awarded every hour throughout the month of May, for a total of 744 games. In addition, 10 lucky winners each will receive a prize package that includes an Xbox 360 console along with a copy of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. Finally, more than 711,000 Microsoft Points will be awarded.
I love the idea of winning stuff for buying my favorite semi-frozen flavor water, but apparently the codes are on the bottom of the cups. So what's to stop people just writing down the codes and not buying? Not to mention, you can apparently play once per day, free, by using the code 'SLURPEE ' at Slurpee.com Still, It'd be fun to win some more Microsoft Points. Which flavor will you get?
Slurpee® Rocks the Store with Guitar Hero [Business Wire]
[via: Joystiq]
This week's downloadable Rock Band content is the Scene Pack, featuring three trendy modern bands. We continue the streak of master tracks as well, which is fantastic.
"This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" by Fallout Boy (master)
"Date With The Night" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (master)
"It Hurts" by Angels & Airwaves (master)
Each song is of course the standard $1.99/160 Points, or available as the Scene Pack for $5.49/440 points. You'll be able to download these songs Tuesday for Xbox and Thursday for Playstation 3.
DLC Week of May 6th [RockBand.com]
This is kind of big news, from an industry standpoint. The Entertainment Software Association, the trade association which represents US game publishers, is losing Activision and Vivendi as member companies. The two merging companies are also apparently abstaining from E3 this year. (which is hosted by the ESA, of course) The ESA has released a statement.
While the Entertainment Software Association remains the preeminent voice for U.S. computer and video game publishers, we can confirm that Activision and Vivendi Games opted to discontinue their membership.
The ESA remains dedicated to advancing our industry's objectives such as protecting intellectual property, preserving First Amendment rights, and fostering a beneficial environment for the entire industry. Our high level of service and value to members and the larger industry remains unchanged.
Activision has apparently commented that this move is for business reasons. Whatever their motivation, this could potentially be a pretty decent financial blow to the ESA. See the full write-up over at GamePolitics.
BREAKING (UP): Activision and Vivendi Jump Ship From ESA [Gamepolitics]
And girls who like girls who like rumble packs!
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