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Friday , June 08, 2007 |
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Microsoft: Halo 3 to be Bigger than 'Gears 08:00 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(15 comments)
GameSpy wrangled up an interview with Microsoft's Shane Kim about Halo 3. Some points of debate include: pushing Xbox Live gold subs, the Halo universe, the end of the trilogy, and oh-so much more.
GameSpy: Gears of War was very successful for you. Does Halo 3 have to beat Gears? Are you aware of fierce competition between these developers to make the top shooter on 360?
Shane Kim: I'll answer your second question first. Yes, there's definitely competition between the teams, just like there would be between sports teams or any creative entity. And that's healthy and good, and we want to cultivate that. Everybody wants to be the best, and I only want to work with teams that want to be the best.
To your first question, Halo 3 is going to be bigger than Gears of War. There's no question about it. I know what the numbers are, and it's already clear that Halo 3 is going to be much bigger. That's no slight on Gears of War, that game is a mega-hit. It's a great new franchise for us and for Epic, and everyone should be proud of that. But Halo is in a world of its own, and like I said earlier, I do believe that comparing it to "Spider-Man 3" and to Harry Potter, from a consumer entertainment standpoint, is a fair comparison. That's a good set of analogues to use. That's not Gears of War just yet. There's nothing wrong with that, but it's just on another plane.
Thems fightin' words!
More BioShock Articles 07:56 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(0 comments)
Even more BioShock previews from a press event held back in April (talk about a long lead-time):
Supreme Commander Hotfix 07:37 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Real-Time Strategy
(4 comments)
A new patch is available for Supreme Commander, which you can automatically snag the next time you log into GPG.net. Thanks Supreme Commander Universe.
In other SupCom news, Chris Taylor poked up a new article called Reward Players, Don't Punish Them!
Halo 3 Weekly Update 06:23 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(0 comments)
Some topics in this week's Bungie weekly update include the difference between the various Halo 3 collector's editions, plus a little game update as well: The game is, after all, nearing some form of completion. Anyone with basic math skills can probably deduce that if we're going to be on shelves in September, and that it takes at least a few weeks to manufacture and ship disks, will be fairly well aware that we can only possibly have a month or two of core work to do on the game itself. And that's really starting to show now.
World In Conflict Screenshots 11:18 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Real-Time Strategy
(7 comments)
So very pretty:
(Click to Enlarge!)
Overlord Demo On Live; PC Version Coming 11:01 am
- Andrew Burnes
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(7 comments)
The PC demo's release has been delayed by a technical snafu, though it should be out early next week:
There's a Minion horde ready to pulse through your download pipeline as Codemasters today announced the release of the Overlord playable demo for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft.
Available for download now from Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the demo gives gamers their first opportunity to see just how truly evil a ruler they can be. Overlord is planned to release June 26th for the Xbox 360 and the PC, and is rated "T" (Teen - Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence - content suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB. A PC demo is set to follow shortly.
In the demo, players don the Overlord's illustrious armor and assemble a team of Brown Minions (the brawlers) to head off on a session of serious destruction in the once tranquil area of The Mellow Hills. Descending upon the unsuspecting populace and wildlife, the Overlord must use his loyal minions to gather life-force from the somewhat unwilling sheep, grow the size of his minion horde, and let the Halflings-gone-wild know there's a new boss in town. Top that off with Minion upgrades, including better weapons and pumpkin helmets, throw in some peasant intimidation and a show-down with the Guard Troll at the Slave Camp, and players will have a taste of the havoc that a Minion horde can wreak.
In the full version of Overlord, players will be able to amass armies of up to 50 Minions from all four Minion types to lead into battle. As the Overlord, players will have to explore and conquer the rest of the fantasy world's twisted domains, with seven corrupt heroes to defeat, a Dark Tower to rebuild, and the Legion of Terror and other spells to unleash as they strive to be proclaimed the all mighty Overlord!
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 02:21 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(3 comments)
Game Reviews 02:04 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(4 comments)
RPG Vault Goodness 02:00 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
In Other News... 01:58 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(37 comments)
Arg. Busy week coming up with the trip to D.C. and new website design launching. Just for the record, I'm not a huge fan of flying; but on occasion, I have been known to go out and about to check stuff out. The new website is pretty intimidating, so I have a feeling that I might be making more of these little house calls in the future just to keep it chock full of fresh souls features.
Today's question:
What upcoming games are you most looking forward to?
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Thursday , June 07, 2007 |
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The First Few Hours of BioShock 11:25 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action
(10 comments)
1Up has a big 3-page preview of BioShock which covers the action found in the first few hours of the game. So yeah, there are some spoilers. Here's a little blurb that doesn't relate to the story: So while there's been a lot of talk about whether BioShock is more of a shooter or more of an RPG, it seems -- in the first few hours, at least -- to be a first-person action game that involves a lot of shooting, but involves a lot of other stuff as well.
They also talk about the save system, but the paragraph its in chats about a boss fight.
Update - More spoilerific features are in from: TXB, PC.IGN, GameSpot & Eurogamer.
PC Gamer vs Penny Arcade Drama 10:35 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Adventure
(5 comments)
I haven't seen the issue in question, but from what I gather, The Vede was bagging on -- or perceived to be bagging on -- Penny Arcade in his monthly 'letter from the editor' feature. Odd, since they had a PA cover. Regardless of what happened, the PC Gamer website popped up a letter after getting flamed about it: I wrote a Letter from the Editor in the July issue of PC Gamer (our Penny Arcade issue) that some folks are misinterpreting — enough of them that I feel it's time I tell my side of the story.
First things first: I don't hate Penny Arcade. Nothing I hate goes on the cover of PC Gamer. For that matter, nothing I'm merely lukewarm on goes on the cover, either.
In my Letter, I say about Penny Arcade: "…I actually find a large number of Gabe's and Tycho's strips genuinely entertaining, and I recognize their talent." Later, I say that their upcoming game "look[s] and sound[s] really damn fun." Moreover, Dan Stapleton's feature (which I assigned to him and which I edited) is unequivocally positive.
11 Most Heinous Gaming Habits 10:23 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(4 comments)
Gamerhelp (not to be confused with Gamehelper) posted up an entertaining list of 11 Most Heinous Gaming Habits. Here's number 7:
7) Turning into Mel Gibson - This is a more severe form of being a crybaby, but it deserves its own category. Dropping the N-bomb, J-bomb, F-bomb, or whatever you use all over Xbox Live isn't gonna make you suck any less. As a matter of fact, it makes you look much, much worse.
The Witcher Interview 10:17 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action / Roleplaying
(0 comments)
GameShark interviewed CD Projekt Chief Designer Michal Madej about The Witcher, an up-and-coming RPG that should need no introduction by now.
Gameshark: Anything else you'd like to add that our readers may not be aware of?
Madej: Every year, there are a number of interesting games that have great graphics, spectacular combat, or an intriguing storyline. However, I can count on the fingers of my hand the games that offered a stunning treat for the player at the game's completion, one which would be remembered for long and which would be the crowning achievement of satisfaction gained from reaching the very end. We believe "The Witcher" to be such a game worth playing from the very beginning to the very end. And a few times, at that.
Gamecock Presents Dungeon Hero 10:02 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Action / Roleplaying
(6 comments)
Gamecock -- don't ask, don't tell -- announced that it is publishing a new hack-n-slash themed action/role-playing game from Firefly Studios called Dungeon Hero. Today Gamecock Media Group announced Firefly Studios' Dungeon Hero will be releasing on the PC and Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The first dungeon-based game to realistically depict underground life, Dungeon Hero promises all the danger, intrigue and daily routine of an actual subterranean community. Combining HD graphics with incredibly detailed environments completely immerses players in their newfound surroundings, complete with goblin cheese merchants, jailed troll miners and helpful imps just looking for peace.
"Dungeon Hero sets itself apart from every dungeon game that has come before it," said Rick Stults, Console Chief for Gamecock Media Group. "We love the realism that the game portrays, the living breathing dungeon aspect is something unique that hasn't been done anywhere before and that's the key to the innovation we're looking to promote."
Dungeon Hero provides players with a fresh take on the classic dungeon based game. The in-game world is a totally functional, living, breathing community in every way. Eat, sleep, chat, socialize, trade and travel as you would in any civilized place - after all dungeon creatures are people too! Fierce adrenaline pumping close quarters combat against a multitude of enemies drives the player deep into their heroic role. The battle system is intense with savage encounters that will leave enemies wondering where they went wrong. Dark times call for one to stand against many, will you be the one strong enough to become the Hero of the Dungeon? "The first dungeon-based game to realistically depict underground life." Sign me up! Lets all play as blind, albino mole-people.
CNC3 v1.05 Patch Released 05:58 pm
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Real-Time Strategy
(5 comments)
EA has released the long-awaited v1.05 patch for Command & Conquer 3. This 60-meg beast can be grabbed online via the game's auto-updater, or picked up from your favorite file site. (the manual patches are a bit larger, coming in at around 111 megs).
Assassin's Creed This November 12:59 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action / Adventure
(14 comments)
It'll either get delayed, or Ubisoft will push it out the door regardless to hit that Xmas market.
Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced the worldwide launch for the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Assassin's Creed will be November 2007.
The Assassin's Creed franchise will make its debut on the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC. Assassin's Creed is being developed by an all-star team from Ubisoft's world-class Montreal studio. As a testament to its pre-launch following and buzz, the latest Assassin's Creed gameplay trailer, released on May 23, exceeded more than 1.3 million downloads via GameTrailers.com in less than a week.
"Assassin's Creed is going to be a huge launch for Ubisoft this year along with the added prestige of being the start of this exciting new franchise that is bringing something completely new to the market," said Tony Key, vice president of marketing, Ubisoft. "We're confident that Assassin's Creed will exceed expectations as a 'must-have' title this holiday season and will achieve both critical and commercial success."
The game is set in 1191 AD, when the Third Crusade was tearing the Holy Land apart. Shrouded in secrecy and feared for their ruthlessness, the Assassins intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict. Players will assume the role of the main character, Altair, and will have the power to throw their immediate environment into chaos and truly experience the art of a master assassin.
In 2006, Assassin's Creed received the Game Critics Award: Best of E3 2006 for "Best Action-Adventure Game" and swept the "Best PS3 Game" category across numerous video game Web sites.*
Assassin's Creed will be available in North America at the MSRP of $59.99 with the Limited Edition priced at $69.99 - ESRB rating is pending. For more information, please visit www.assassinscreed.com.
Lego Goes Massively Multiplayer 12:54 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- MMOG: General News
(8 comments)
Auto Assault. That's all I'm gonna say.
The LEGO Group today announced LEGO Universe as the official title for the upcoming MMOG being developed by NetDevil to further engage the company's dedicated and active community. LEGO Universe, currently planned for launch in the fourth quarter of 2008, is designed as the first MMOG professionally developed for LEGO fans and supported by community members from around the world.
"LEGO Universe ties together all aspects of our community and line of products in an online environment that can be enjoyed by LEGO fans of all ages," said Mark William Hansen, Director of Business Development, LEGO Universe. "By merging the online world of social interaction with the LEGO concept of play, LEGO Universe will provide our community with an entirely new way to experience LEGO and connect with other players in a fun and imaginative setting."
The full-featured MMOG will be complete with character advancement, expansive social and community features, and will provide a child-safe alternative to other MMOGs on the market. As a player, you'll be able to customize your mini-figs and interact in the universe as any character you choose, providing unique opportunities for players to expand and explore with their creations.
"LEGO Universe is being built as a place where fans and community members can discover nearly unlimited play possibilities," said Ryan Seabury, NetDevil Lead Producer on LEGO Universe. "Given the strength of the LEGO community, a large part of bringing the game to life will be working hand in hand with them to ensure that the core values of creativity, connectivity, and imagination are reflected in the end product."
GRAW 2 PC Demo Now Available 12:50 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Games: Action
(7 comments)
Please be aware that the PC edition is not identical to the much-lauded Xbox 360 one and that the required system specs are rather high.
Download here.
Multiple Demos Hit Live 12:44 pm
- Andrew Burnes
- Consoles: Xbox 360
(6 comments)
Today's a good day for Live demos:
- Shadowrun
Download Shadowrun's multiplayer demo, an intense FPS experience that rewards cleverness and split-second improvisation through a unique combination of modern weapons, ancient magic and advanced technology.
Size: 1.07 GB
- Tenchu Z
Tenchu Z Demo includes a single player mission and pre-selected ninja accessories from the full game. Master the Ancient art of Stealth in Tenchu Z using your keen senses and wide array of Ninja weaponry to become the Ultimate Ninja Assassin.
Size: 641.8 MB
- Vampire Rain
Vampire Rain combines stealth, survival horror and shooter aspects of your favorite games as you lead a black ops unit to secretly eliminate the deadliest supernatural enemies you've ever faced. Nightwalkers are intensely fast with super agility and they are converting humans to their kind at an alarming rate. Traverse all areas of an eerie and rain soaked city by moving across rooftops and through back alleys to avoid detection and enable the best strategic use of your weapons. It's up to you to protect the innocent and find the evil source of this invasion before it's too late. Demo includes 2 full missions and 2 experience trials along with an Xbox Live multiplayer experience unlike any other where you can experience the power of a Nightwalker first hand.
Size: 844.7 MB
Only available in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore.
To coincide with the release of the VR demo, the game's publisher has announced a July 3rd release.
World in Conflict Screenshots 02:55 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Real-Time Strategy
(18 comments)
A new batch of World in Conflict screenshots. It's Anti-Aliasing gone wild!
(Click to Enlarge!)
         
Hardware & Tech Nuggets 12:54 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- hardware: General News
(1 comment)
Game Reviews 12:28 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: General News
(0 comments)
RPG Vault Goodness 12:24 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- Games: Role-Playing
(0 comments)
In Other News... 12:15 am
- Robert 'Apache' Howarth
- In-House: In Other News...
(33 comments)
That dude scoring a goal in his own net last night in the Stanley Cup finals was one of the funniest things I've seen in hockey. I haven't been much of a fan since the last lockout, but for whatever reason I had the game on and managed to catch that little gem in all of its embarrassing glory.
Today's question:
What are some of the biggest blunders in video/pcgame history?
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