Console wars again? No, this is a look at why the DS took the PSP by storm and how the PSP finally learned to fight back using the same methods.
Month: October 2008
CoD: World at War Nazi Zombie Gameplay
Since Treyarc announced CoD: World at War’s Zombie co-op mode, I’ve been dying to see a little bit more gameplay. What you see here is some of the basic components of the mode, including the economy system, where players can buy pieces of lumber, furniture, etc, to barricade the zombies from attacking.
To me, the cool thing is that it’s all of the WWII action tropes combined with something you don’t always play. Plus, it’s limitless, so that’s a good time. Looks like a blast.
Little Big Planet Has Arrived!
Went to the mall today to see a movie. The Duchess, for those that care. Not bad, I liked it.
 As we passed by Gamestop, I felt a great disturbance in the Force. I went inside and asked the clerk when they would be getting Little Big Planet in. She replied that they had them come in today! That sound? Was my mind blowing!
So yes, been playing for an hour and it is FUN! Have not gotten to make anything yet, as you have to watch the tutorials and stuff, but just playing it is a lot of fun. Go out there and get this game!
Call of Duty: World at War Announces Zombie Mode!
Wow, this may have just solidified my purchase of Call of Duty: World at War. Treyarc just announced on GameTrailers TV that there is going to be a Nazi Zombie co-op mode, where 4 players man a base against an endless wave of Nazi zombies.
Players fend them off for as long as they can, moving up in levels as they do so. There’s also a money system that allows players to buy materials for barricades, ammo, different, guns, etc.
If you want to watch the whole thing, head over to GameTrailers and check it out. I’d post the whole thing, but they don’t split up the eps for a few days.
Who else things this is freaking cool? I mean, zombies enhance everything, right?
Source- GameTrailers TV
Want to Preview the New XBox Experience?
Apparently, some folks are going to get a chance to check out the new XBox Experience a little earlier than others. For those of you who don’t know, the NXE is the dashboard update to the XBox 360, and personally I think it looks really slick as it’s supposed to add some cool new features like streaming Netflix, 8 person chats, etc.
If you want to participate in the early preview, and you have a Windows Live ID, head over to Microsoft Connect and sign up, then head straight to the New XBox Experience survey, and answer the questions that they’ve got for you there. If they pick you, they’re supposed to let you know over e-mail. I already signed up tonight, so here’s hoping I get in! Seeing this thing in person at PAX was definitely cool- the videos don’t do it justice.
Go sign up!
Source- Major Nelson
A Pleasant Trip to GameStop
Wow. After all these years of loathing GameStop, I think they may have softened my heart of stone. Tonight, I finally decided to bite the bullet and trade in a big pile of games in order to save money on some of the upcoming Winter releases. I figured full well that I might get ripped off (last year I traded in 6 games for a total of like 35 bucks), but that I needed to save wherever I could, lest the wife take out her vengeance.
I was pleasantly surprised.
Dead Space: Protagonist Video
Who here has gotten to play Dead Space? I’m still waiting for it to get to me in the mail with GameFly. I’m not always into survival games (on the count of me acting like a wuss), but I’m really curious to see this one, because of the cool sci fi setting. I loved this new video about the main character.
Anyone played it yet?
Are We Really Ready For Next Gen?
Over the years, I’ve owned a lot of consoles. At one point or another I’ve been the master of the NES, Atari, Sega Saturn, Sega Genesis, Sega Dreamcast, Sony Playstation (uno, dos, tres) the GBA, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 64, XBox, GameCube, XBox 360, PSP, the PC and Nintendo Wii. I like consoles, and the games that come with them. Each console represents a unique period of my life, in which I had a chance to become familiar with the system like a new friend, watching as they grew into their own.
The newest generation of consoles is starting to gather its steam, and so far things have been decent. However, as of late, more and more people are starting discussions about the next generation beyond the 360, the Wii and the PS3, speculating about development and wanting to know when the new systems will drop. My question is: is it time to be talking about this already? Have the big 3 earned an investment in a new console just yet?
Army of Two, the Movie?
In yet another case of making a video game movie that nobody even cares about, it seems that EA is talking to Universal about a possible Army of Two movie. Sigh.
Right now a writer from the Bourne Ultimatum is on the project, with EA holding on to the producer rights. While this is all well and good, I wish that somebody would tell people to stop making movie games that nobody is interested in.
Instead, they keep turning irrelevant games into irrelevant movies, and everybody’s confused as to why these things don’t succeed. Oh well.
Thoughts? Did anyone actually play Army of Two? Maybe this movie will have awesome high-five action!
Source- The CutScene
Rumor: PS4 Specs?
So once again, I wonder aloud- is it already time for the next gen (you’ll see more about that this weekend)? A rumor has been going around about the potential PS4 specs. Apparently, Sony has sent out some stuff to developers asking for feedback on a few specs that they have in mind.
When is Sony planning on launching this? 2011, by the looks of it. Wow.
Resident Evil 5 Interview
Well, one game that is managing NOT to find its way into the public sphere over the next month is Reisdent Evil 5, which actually doesn’t come until March of 2009. Good thing, too, because I’d hate to miss it while playing the other 80 games on my plate (that’s an exagga-lie).
Anywho, a new video interview is out, going over the control schemes found in RE5 as well as some other tidbits. Lots of sweet gameplay footage (the graphics are ludicrous), including co-op and even some vehicle combat. Good times.
Sackboy’s Plea For Pluto
Looking for a cause to believe in? Tired of cynical politics? Well, Sackboy has a cause for you! Seems the newest video game mascot is more political than the others and has a website devoted to restoring Pluto (the planet, not the dog) back to planet status.
You might be asking yourself, who is this pile of burlap? I’m SackBoy and I’m a maverick, an outsider, someone who always hopes for change. But more than that, I’m a champion of planetary rights.
“End Segregation of Our Solar System”
Check it out and sign the petition at http://www.propositionpluto.com/index.html
Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams Teaser
So this video has been going around the Internet for about a week or so, but that was crappy handheld footage. This is a teaser trailer for Bioshock 2, buried within the PS3 version of Bioshock that just recently released. Looks like little sis is all grown up.
Portal: Still Alive Released
I’m not sure how I missed this one. Portal: Still Alive was released on XBox Live Arcade today. If you’re not aware, this game includes all of the original Portal plus 14 new bonus levels. Pretty sweet deal for just a measley little 15 bucks over XBL.
The download itself is pretty huge, which people are making a big deal about, but who cares? It’s more Portal gaming goodness, and I’m pretty pleased to see that it’s finally here. I’m just surprised that it made such a small splash, news wise over the last week or so. Have people gotten over Portal so fast?
Who’s getting this?
Source- Destructoid
Warcraft Retrospective, Part 1
I’m a huge (if I could write that word really big and spray fireworks off it I would) fan of the Retrospective series of videos from GameTrailers. They’ve tackled Star Wars, Final Fantasy, Zelda, and so much more. Each one bringing its own sense of nostalgia, along with some great nerdy info you couldn’t get without reading loads of wikipedia pages, no doubt.
The newest entry into the Retrospective series is titled “WarCraft: The Drums of War”, and is the first in a several part series which will chronicle the many iterations of the universe of WarCraft, as well as its evolution. Definitely informative and pretty interesting, even if like me, you’re not into WoW.
Penny Arcade Episode 2 Out Next Week
As if there’s not already enough great games to play, Penny Arcade’s Xbox Live Arcade and PC title, “On the Rain Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 2” is going to hit next week, on October 29th. It will run about $14.95 in moneyz or 1200 MS Points, depending on which medium you choose to play it in.
Supposedly it totals in at around 6-10 hours of gameplay, with more levels than the first, new areas, and new jokes, of course. I’m not sure how many of you guys were able to play the first game, but I found it to be pretty enjoyable, especially for an XBLA title. I’d definitely recommend checking it out if you’ve got the MS points, or if you’re a fan of PA in general.
Also, Episode One is finally hitting the PSN this week as well, so if you’re a Sony guy, you can finally experience that.
Source- Kotaku
Alan Wake Trailer Has Extra Sizzle
So Alan Wake is a game that made quite a splash a couple of years ago, but has been scarcely seen since then. It boasted a unique atmosphere, cool cinematics and what looked to be an interesting story about an author whose books take on a life of their own, apparently.
Finally, some more news has resurfaced, with a brand new trailer out that shows some pretty awesome cut scenes. Obviously, we’d like to see some more gameplay, but what’s going on here is relatively hot, and looks to be in real time for at least a few of the shots. Looking forward to more info on this.
Bioware Announces the New KOTOR MMO
Ah, at last we have arrived. Even though people have known about this project for months, it’s finally official: Bioware is indeed working with LucasArts to create a new KOTOR MMO titled The Old Republic. It takes place about 300 years after KOTOR, and centers on the war between the Old Republic and the Empire.
IGN has a writeup of one of the pillars of the game– characters and story, something that’s lost in MMOs typically. Bioware’s goal is to let you feel like you are actually part of the narrative. Rather than having some big general story that everyone kind of participates in, there is an overarching story for each class. Sounds incredible and ambitious.
Sexy Metal Gear PS3 is Sexy
In what may be one of the hottest and most awesome custom consoles I’ve ever seen, Morpheon Mods has listed a Metal Gear Solid themed PS3 on EBay. The console and controller are fitted with all kinds of crazy modifications to make this thing sleek as hell, and you can even view the design at night, because of a bunch of LEDs fitted to it. Oh yeah- Kojima signed, it too.
In addition, it comes with a bunch of MGS goodies, some of them rare and unique. On top of all of that, 15% of sales will be going to the Penny Arcade “Child’s Play” charity.
I am seriously in awe. Go check out the pictures!
License to Suck
In our latest feature, I will examine Licensed games, how much they suck and how developers can improve them using current game engines.