OK, that Vault 101 Hoodie and Vault 101 kicks combo? Yup, I feel the need for one (Size L) and a pair of those (Size um… 12?) even thought I usually hate licensed gaming wear. And suede anything. Then again, sinking close to 300 hours into Fallout 3 does that to a guy. Or girl, as I see both are popular Wishlist items on the newly launched site for both sexes. Anyway, the brand apanking new Bethesda Online Store has those goodies and MORE, all designed to steal your disposable income and make your closet groan under the weight of the swag you scored. Now, if only Bethsoft could whip up a working Vault-Tec unit, some talking Pip-Boy figures and a few other fun products, they’d be seeing some traffic from the future as well. Hey, once we’re all nuked into dust, those survivors won’t have access to the internet or mail order, for that (anti)matter…
Oh yeah, in case you’re taking bets, I’m betting the hoodie and sneakers are some of the first items to sell out completely. Don’t hold me to that or it’s a whole five cents I need to pay you.
Codemasters’ upcoming GRID 2 proposes a few interesting questions about the “what if’s” of a potential worldwide racing league based on assorted disciplines and yep, the game itself tries its best to answer some of those questions through its fictional racing series that takes players around the globe as they attempt to be the best and get that league a wider audience. Granted, in the real world, this would take some doing and a LOT of logistics that would cost a few tons of money, but that’s the great thing about video games, right? You can go anywhere and do anything from the comfort of your couch and not spend that much in the process.
GRID 2 ships out in May, but feel free to to that pre-order thing if that’s what you usually go in for…
Want more DEFIANCE? OK, here you go, and with the game hitting retail on April 2 and the show popping up on syfy April 13, it’s clear that all that hard work will pay off as soon as both pieces of this long in development project launch. As I’ve noted previously, the game is great fun, fast paced and NOT like any other MMO on the market (Yes, even SOE’s epic shooter Planetside, which some are comparing it to). While there’s NO single player offline component, hopping online and playing at one’s own pace or with a group is smooth and the world is constantly active with things to do. I’m gathering the eleven-day lead up to the show will see some really hardcore players try to break the game by power-leveling and trying to defeat some of those massive bosses or Hellbug spawns solo (good luck with that, by the way). But I think Trion has planned well enough ahead, as the PvP and other more MP focused elements all take place in the same world and can be joined or avoided as one pleases. Continue reading →
Veteran developer Techland’s games have always been visually incredible, so it’s zero surprise at all that this latest entry in the Call of Juarez franchise is gorgeous to look at and the violence is even more balletic in its post-ballistics delivery. What’s a tiny bit surprising to me is the focus on bounty hunting some of the Old West’s well known desperadoes. I’m not going to argue historical accuracy here at all (that’s for the crankier folks out there who apply arbitrary rules of reality to games at the most inopportune times. Still, this looks like it’ll do quite well among the amateur historians and fans of the series who wanted to see it go back to the wild western days and stay the heck out of the present. You’ll be able to saddle of for a quick ride at this year’s PAX in Boston or hang out at your O.K. Corral until the game ships out later this year.
In case you never saw the first film (or read the comic, for that matter)… drop everything NOW and do one of those two things. I’ll wait. (La la la, hmm hmm hmmmm… la la l..*ding!*) OK, got it? GOOD. Well, this isn’t quite more of the same hilarious ultra-violence, it’s just much MORE of it and a lot crazier. Which is a good thing, by the way. I’m still not convinced Jim Carrey is worth trotting out of the house over these days, but I can deal with him in something as nutty and violent as this flick, as it’s somewhat up his alley in terms of his older, wilder work. As always, we shall see… SO far, so good, though. Kick-Ass 2 should be in theaters August 16, 2013.
Who said magic-users were “bad” go-to characters in RPGs? As you can see in this latest trailer for Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, a good Sorcerer is indeed a major force to be reckoned with. A little “Disco Inferno” or “Lightning Strikes” would make this video even better, I say. Hey, if you played the original game, you know that rockin’ title song got stuck in your head for a few weeks. Anyway, keep this game on your radar, folks – I’m predicting another “sleeper” of truly epic proportions that just may beat out upcoming next-generation launch titles for sheer longevity and replay value. April 23, 2013 (April 26 in Europe) is only a short time away… are you ready? Those ridiculously tough and massive bosses aren’t going to kill themselves, you know…
With Carnage Heart EXA gone gold and headed to PSN March 19th for the PSP and Vita, I figured I’d shoot a few quick questions over to Natsume about the upcoming highly challenging strategy game. For the uninitiated, the game is divided into two modes: Plot sections, which introduce characters and advance the game’s story, and Briefing sections, where goals are established and enemies fought using OKEs (Overkill Engines), the highly customizable, programmable mechs that players will need to learn how to get up and running properly in order to succeed and survive some pretty tough missions.
Graham Markay, VP of Operations at Natsume got back to me fairly quickly with some answers, so here you go:
GW: How would you describe Carnage Heart EXA to new players as well as those older ones who remember the original PlayStation game hoping this is just as challenging?
GM: Carnage Heart EXA is a mech battling game with a twist — instead of simply controlling a giant robot, you can program your mech to do the fighting while you watch the action unfold! (Think of the old “Robot Wars” show that used to air on TV.) However, not only can you program your robot: You can also take control of your robo-battler manually, and take on the baddies that way. Therefore, if you’re a Carnage Heart veteran, or just getting into the series, Carnage Heart EXA offers something new for everyone!
GW: Other than the English localization Natsume is handling, are there any new features coming to the game?
GM: There aren’t any differences between the Japanese and the North American version. However, North American players will also have access to the SATLOKE server, which will allow players to download and upload their own OKE designs, teams, and match data. The Japanese and North American data is 100% compatible, so you can trade with other Carnage Heart EXA players, both foreign and domestic!
GW: From what I’ve seen so far, there are some fantastic mech designs in so many varieties here. Do you have a favorite robot or robot type that’s in the game?
Personally, I like the four-legged, jumping mechs, like the Grasshopper mech. Their quick jumping ability allows you dodge faster, and the weapons they can equip are relatively strong. Therefore, they’re probably the most balanced of the mechs, in my opinion.
GW: The original Carnage Heart was definitely not for more casual gamers looking for a quick action experience. However, EXA offers a Manual Control combat option that may appeal to certain players. What advice would you give to those new users who buy this or are interested in buying it in terms of starting out?
GM: Carnage Heart EXA has extensive, easy-to-understand tutorials in the Story Mode of the game, so even if you’ve never played Carnage Heart, the game explains everything in a simple, straightforward way. And if you’re still having trouble, there are example programs you can use and look at to try to figure out how to write at the perfect program!
GW: The series has continued in Japan in a few iterations (such as the two Zeus games and the later PSP entries). If EXA does well, would it be possible for those older titles to be brought to North America as updated versions?
GM: Never say never! Obviously, like you say, a lot of it would depend on how well Carnage Heart EXA does, but if it does well, nothing’s off the table!
GW: Silly question time! If you had your own robot in real life, what sort of design would it be and what tasks would you program it for?
GM: Since I’m not usually trying to fight off evil-doers, I think my own robot would be more domestic… I could have it make my meals, clean my apartment, and take out the garbage. That way, I’d have more time to focus on other things… Like playing Carnage Heart EXA, coming to the PSP this March!
Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom # of Players: 1 – 2+ ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) to T (Teen) Official Site Score: A
Capcom’s little experiment in reworking some of its many arcade games back into the minds and hands of gamers around the globe is definitely working, folks. Capcom Arcade Cabinet (so far in its second wave of three games) is not only a must-buy collection whether you do it now or in May when the entire set of 15 titles becomes available as a single purchase, it’s probably going to be the way to go should other companies decide to get HD versions of their classics out onto consoles (*cough* Konami! Sega! Tecmo! *ahem* for starters). Sure, there’s no Wii U, Vita or 3DS version on the way as far as I know (a bit of a sticking point for those Nintendo-only gamers or Sony fans who’d LOVE to take some or all of these on the road), but for sheer nostalgia value, this trip down memory lane will have your fingers and brain merrily tapping and plotting away as you take on some oldies that still pack a mean punch. Continue reading →
video courtesy of Youtuber rynnjacobs.com – Thanks!
While it hasn’t got gallons of blood spilling all over the place nor a high body count to rival later and much more exploitative genre flicks, there’s a constant and nicely weird vibe that runs throughout Nicholas Gessner’s 1976 film The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane that makes it one of those slow burning “horror” flicks that lingers in your brain after the credits have rolled. The movie is more of a mystery/suspense hybrid than an actual horror film, but it’s easy to see it falling into that latter classification because of one particularly sudden death and part of one or two other scenes. Then again, it’s also one of those great oddball movies where the people who do die get their just desserts and probably won’t be missed even by the most pacifistic film fan.
Wii U and 3DS owners are doing the happy dance around that blazing campfire (or they’ve cut a hole in a carpet to start one) today as Capcom has finally gotten the eagerly awaited Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate into retailers. 3DS owners who bought the game from the wonderful Capcom Online Store got a pretty cool bonus system case you’ll see in that video below. I usually hate unboxing vids, but it’s been a looooong day of still fruitless waiting for UPS and not getting much done, so I’m tired and a bit cranky because I didn’t get all the posts up I needed to. Hell, at least the Post Office delivers close to the same times each day, bleh… Well, tomorrow is another day, but I’ll be playing catch-up so I can stay on my target for the month.
OK, that Vault 101 Hoodie and Vault 101 kicks combo? Yup, I feel the need for one (Size L) and a pair of those (Size um… 12?) even thought I usually hate licensed gaming wear. And suede anything. Then again, sinking close to 300 hours into Fallout 3 does that to a guy. Or girl, as I see both are popular Wishlist items on the newly launched site for both sexes. Anyway, the brand apanking new Bethesda Online Store has those goodies and MORE, all designed to steal your disposable income and make your closet groan under the weight of the swag you scored. Now, if only Bethsoft could whip up a working Vault-Tec unit, some talking Pip-Boy figures and a few other fun products, they’d be seeing some traffic from the future as well. Hey, once we’re all nuked into dust, those survivors won’t have access to the internet or mail order, for that (anti)matter…
Who said magic-users were “bad” go-to characters in RPGs? As you can see in this latest trailer for Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, a good Sorcerer is indeed a major force to be reckoned with. A little “Disco Inferno” or “Lightning Strikes” would make this video even better, I say. Hey, if you played the original game, you know that 
With Carnage Heart EXA gone gold and headed to PSN March 19th for the PSP and Vita, I figured I’d shoot a few quick questions over to 
Developer: 
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 