E3 2012: Spec Ops: The Line TV Spot: I’ll Have a Shot Of Yager, Please…

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

2K Games and developer Yager really have a hit here, what with all that amazing sand technology and the source material (Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness) being perfect for the game they’re presenting. Here’s yet another example of a genre game defying the usual conventions and stepping outside of the box to do it differently. Like a few other titles pushing the envelope, I’m hoping gamers can free up a few extra brain cells to actually appreciate the hard work that went into this one without complaining about the experience NOT being what they “expected.” Hell, sometimes, it’s NICE to be surprised about a game, I say…

The Last of Us: Naughty Dog Breaks New Ground (Again). Deal With It.

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

Every time I see bits of this upcoming PS3 exclusive, I have to shake my head in disbelief. But, hmmmm… some fans still want these guys and gals to crank out a new Jak & Daxter game instead of going all out and making another new IP that might be a better move for the developer at the end of the day. I think they’re entitled to that opinion of course, but I also think they’re slightly bonkers with nostalgia. That and perhaps Naughty Dog has simply grown out of and away from making this sort of CG cartoon experience (no doubt thanks to the success of the Uncharted series). For me, outside of Ubisoft’s fun as hell Rayman franchise, some excellent 2D and 3D indie games and a bunch of cool handheld titles, mascot games and particularly, mascot based platformers are a dying breed. OK, save for the new Sly Cooper game coming, plus Mario and a newly revived Sonic doing their stuff on different systems.

Personally, I’d rather see a developer show what an “old” console like the PS3 can do by stretching the hardware as far as possible while doing something innovative and “adult” in the process. Look, I liked the Jak games on the PS2 and while Naughty Dog didn’t program the game, Daxter on the PSP is a classic for that platform. That said, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Vita J & D collection at some point. As it stands, unless there’s a supreme reason for bringing both characters back in an all-new game (for a new console), just beating a dead horse harder won’t make money come out of its ass…

Metal Gear 25th Anniversary: Meet Hideo Kojima & Yoji Shinkawa In NYC!

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

Do you LOVE the Metal Gear series? Are you going to be in New York City next week? Do you need some new (and really cool) T-shirts and don’t mind spending a little money? Well, here’s something awesome you can be a part of.

Er, cue the press release, as I’m buried under pre-E3 stuff:

©Konami Digital Entertainment

METAL GEAR 25th ANNIVERSARY UT T-SHIRTS GO ON SALE

HIDEO KOJIMA / YOJI SHINKAWA AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS (JUN 8 & 9)

WHAT:

UNIQLO Celebrates the Metal Gear 25th Anniversary and UT (UNIQLO T-Shirts) Collection by hosting Autograph Sessions with game designer Hideo Kojima and artist Yoji Shinkawa

WHO:

UNIQLO

Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., Metal Gear game designer – Hideo Kojima

Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd., Metal Gear Solid artist – Yoji Shinkawa

WHERE:

UNIQLO New York 5th Avenue Global Flagship: 666 Fifth Avenue at 53rd Street

UNIQLO 34th Street Flagship Store: 31 West 34th Street, bet. 5th and 6th Avenues

WHEN:

Friday, June 8th at UNIQLO 5th Avenue 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Saturday, June 9th at UNIQLO 34th Street 4:00PM – 6:00PM

DETAILS:

The Metal Gear series is taking over two UNIQLO stores on June 8th and June 9th to welcome the arrival of a special UT and UNIQLO T-Shirt collection in honor of the series’ 25th Anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, UNIQLO will be hosting autograph sessions at their 5th Ave and 34th street locations featuring the game’s designer Hideo Kojima and artist Yoji Shinkawa. For the first time in New York City, fans will be able to get autographs from both of the game’s key influencers at the same time! In order to get these coveted VIP autographs, both events require a minimum $30 UNIQLO purchase.

The limited edition Metal Gear UT merchandise will go on sale at UNIQLO 5th Avenue the morning of June 8th and then at 34th Street the morning of June 9th. All 10 exclusive designs retail for only $19.90 each!

Humble Indie Bundle Out NOW (And it’s The Best One Yet!)

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

HEY! You’ve only 11 days left to snap up one of the best deals in gaming (ever!). Pay what you want, get five amazing games which would normally run you $110 if you bought them separately. Yes, your brain is hearing that correctly and YES you can and should do this, I say. If you’ve never played Amnesia; The Dark Descent, Bastion, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery, and LIMBO, the deal is already a must buy, but add in Psychonauts and well, you’re getting not only one of the best games this century, you can also probably fire your therapist. Or at least, cut down visits to once a month (or less). Anyway, head over the the Humble Bundle site and download these awesome titles. Did I mention your purchase helps out the Child’s Play charity? Well, I just did, so there! Still, it’s too bad this deal isn’t on a disc or consoles, as I’d see it selling VERY well indeed at around $40 with some nice artwork and maybe a PDF manual for every game on that disc (or disc set).

E3 2012: Hawken Live-Action Trailer: Now, Everyone Will Want A Real Mech….

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

In a prefect world, this wouldn’t just be a free to play game that’s going to blow only the PC crowd away, but hey, I can always hope for the game to do well enough that some publisher throes money at Adhesive Games and Meteor Games to do some sort of console or portable version. Hell, it’s not as if we haven’t seen cool mech combat games before on a disc. Armored Core, the Xbox Mechwarrior games, Chromehounds, Phantom Crash (and so forth and so on) are a few examples of games I’ve enjoyed with a controller and a huge grin on my face, so a little Hawken would make me smile even more…

That, and I’d like to throw money at these guys who keep making games for free (and you should, too).

E3 2012: Soul Sacrifice Debut Trailer: Another Great Looking Vita Game? Sign Me Up!

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

OK, looks aren’t EVERYTHING (as I say when I look in the mirror each morning), but with Kenji Inafune (of Mega Man fame) and a bunch of talented artists and programmers working away like mad, this one’s looking like an instant classic in its own right. That’s fine by me, as the Vita needs as many solid games as possible if it’s to stomp away the blues and rocket up the sales charts a bit more. Keep ’em coming, Sony!

E3 2012: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Trailer: Level-5 At The Top Of Their Game

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

As I’ve said elsewhere, anyone saying the PS3 has “no good games” either doesn’t own a PS3, is a massive fan-troll with FAR too much time on their hands or just really doesn’t get out to the shops much. This latest trailer from Namco Bandai’s upcoming Level-5/Studio Ghibli collaboration shows off just how gorgeous a game can look when everyone behind it is dedicated to the project. This one’s not out for a little while, but don’t worry, NamBan has some other fine games for you to play (as do a bunch of other developers and publishers)…

Injustice: Gods Among Us Trailer: More DC Only On The PS3…

Posted on June 3, 2012 by geelw

But this time, it’s not a big deal MMO I have no interest in playing (thankfully!) exclusive is a new fighting game by NetherRealm Studios (yup, the Mortal Kombat folks). This one caught me by surprise, but thinking about it, MK vs DC was pretty well received, so this not quite follow-up is going to be huge. I’m hoping we see this on the Vita as well and YES, with cross-platform play of some sort, as Sony REALLY needs to start pushing those features and developers NEED to start using them. Anyway, this looks like a ton of fun…