2K Games CONFIRMS Duke Nukem (Is No Longer Taking) Forever, PAX 2010 Audience Sees Playable Version, Flying Pigs, Hell Freeze Over Simultaneously

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

Holy “it's about flippin' time!” ladies and gents. Ever since the game was announced back in 1996 I've been having dreams where “Damn, those alien bastards destroyed my ride!” kicked things off and until now, all my hopes of Duke-ing it out with hordes of space pigs, floating heads and other uglies while hoping I've enough dollar bills to see digitized naughty bits have been smashed (smashed, I say!) by all sorts of obstacles for a few PC and console generations.

PAX attendees, however, are getting one of the gaming shocks of this century (so far) as 2K Games has not only confirmed DUKE NUKEM FOREVER exists, it's PLAYABLE (well, to those over 17, that is).

*Oink!* (flapflapflapflapflap!)

Yup, that was a pig. Flying. Shocking indeed. But Gearbox rocks (and they can make a damn good FPS) , so I'm happy as a pig in.. well, you know… Press release below, by the way.

DreamCatcher Reveals Arcania – Gothic 4 Demo Date + Pre-Order PC Version Discounts

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

Well alright – I've been waiting for news on a Gothic 4 demo and here it is. Two hour PC and Xbox 360 trial versions will launch on September 24 in advance of the game's October 12, 2010 release date. Between the incredible looking Arcania and a certain other European-style RPG (Two Worlds II), I'm going to be in RPG nirvana. The Gothic series has always been great for plenty of challenging open-world thrills and quests galore (and hell, I liked the original Two Worlds, warts and all).

Anyway, press release and links below – click away!

Hail To The King, Baby!!!

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

In the words of the great philosophers… OH. HELL YEAH.

That image is all you need to know (well, ’til I download the stuff in the email I got from 2K at 3:37 PM). Damn, I wish I was at PAX. Ah well, I’ll wait ’til the man himself hits NYC in demo form. Er, 2K… you ARE bringing Duke to NYC, right? RIGHT?

More later when I recover from the news. 2011 can’t come soon enough. Note to 2K Games and Gearbox Software: Consider the ground you walk on kissed.

Power Gig: Rise of the Six String Song List Revealed

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

Power Gig: Rise of the SixString Guitar Bundle
The upcoming multi-platform release, Power Gig: Rise of the Six String has me a lot more interested than other music games this year because it has an actual guitar peripheral and I just so happen to be a frustrated guitar god and previous owner of four electrics before I gave up my garage band dreams (I didn't even have a garage, ba dum bum! Thank you, I'll be here all week, two shows on Saturday). Will I get another chance to be a Twang Bar King (hell, at my age, that's the sound my back makes every morning when I get out of bed), or will I have to settle for air guitar lessons from a drunken Elvis impersonator at the bar across the street? We'll see this October, that's for sure.

Anyway, Seven45 Studios has dropped the set list in my inbox, so here's what to expect in-game once you excitedly crack open that shrink wrap:

Review: Mafia II

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

Platform: Xbox 360 (also on PS3/PC)

Developer: 2K Czech

Publisher: 2K Games

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: B

The original Mafia was an ambitiously cool, well-made PC game that made for a less than perfect (but still enjoyable) console translation. Seven years and a new console cycle later, 2K Czech's Mafia II is a heck of a lot more visually impressive, even more ambitious and offers up a far more interesting cast of wiseguys playing out their lives of crime to assorted results. The sequel is sharp as a new suit, but there are a few loose threads hanging that make it a bit less than a perfect fit. Those going into it expecting yet another cut & paste Grand Theft Auto experience will be in for a surprise. The pure story driven focus here means your enjoyment of the game relies on sticking to the script rather than going too far off the beaten path.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Hands-On

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

At Konami's Gamer's Nite NYC event, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow was clearly the star of the show. My impressions were that Konami, developer Mercury Steam and Kojima Productions are sending notice that in the right hands, the Belmont lineage is going to be just fine as a big-budget, highly cinematic action game experience. Everything I saw, heard and played on both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions was extremely high quality and extremely worthy of the Castlevania name. Yes, the game riffs on Shadow of the Colossus, the God of War games and a few other titles, but there are also visual and stylistic influences from Guillermo del Toro and some familiar Kojima storytelling elements that make the game highly engrossing right from the opening scene.

Lucha Libre: Heroes Del Ring GameStop Pre-Order Bonus Pics

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

I forgot to post these with my Heroes Del Ring hands-on a few days back, so here you go:

Shots of the rather awesome pre-order Luchador masks GameStop is giving away exclusively (one per customer) to those who plunk down a deposit. Very cool indeed and a well-made premium, to boot. If I'm not mistaken, they're made from nice and stretchy polyester (one size fits all unless you've a really tiny or really HUGE head) with vinyl detailing. They also lace up in the back like the actual masks for that extra touch of authenticity.

Valve’s "Three Big Titles in 12 Months" Gets Me Speculating…

Posted on September 3, 2010 by geelw

Gabe Newell intrigues me. He's a nice guy when you meet him in person (as are other Valve staff I've come across – Hi Doug!), but he sure can say some stuff that gets my head spinning. That's a good thing mind you – my head is generally on too tightly these days, so you go, Gabe.