GOG.com Weekend Sale: Some Great Odds ‘N Ends of the “Buy Me!” Variety…

Posted on April 26, 2013 by geelw

This weekend’s gog.com sale is a really cool one that features some classics from back in the day up to recent hits I all highly recommend and yes, they’re all at great prices. Psychonauts for five bucks? GET IT! You’ll fire your psychologist after a weekend with this game (seriously). Of course, FAHRENHEIT will make you hire that shrink right back. Tiny & Big: Grandpa’s Leftovers will get you wishing you were paying more attention in physics class while you groove on the awesome visuals and indie tunes from your screen and speakers, while Enclave will get you hacking and slashing with care, as playing it mindlessly will drive you back to a new shrink (or a second one).

Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded is simple and brilliant, bloodily effective at delivering the alien-blasting goods and the double-retro rainbow of Retro City Rampage and Hotline Miami are actually two VERY opposite poles of the same retro planet. One is a hilariously funny send-up of classic NES games and 80’s/90’s pop culture, while the other is a hilariously brutal and gory send up DEFINITELY not for the kiddies. Both are awesome. There are more games to check out, but stop reading this and go see for yourself. Less time reading, MORE time playing is a good motto today. That sale actually ends on Tuesday, April 30, so take an extra day off work if you need to. It’s OK… just tell the boss I said you could…

XCOM Remake Goes From FPS to Tactical Third Person. Change Is Good (Hopefully)…

Posted on April 26, 2013 by geelw

I actually didn’t mind at all that the initially announced (and formerly Xbox 360 exclusive) version of this was going to be a first-person experience, but some really stubborn hardcore fans of the classic PC game as well as misguided message board denizens who think ANY game with a FPS viewpoint is going to be a Call of Duty retread didn’t like the new direction at ALL. While all that turmoil was going on, veteran developer Firaxis was tapped to create a new tactical game in the series that followed and enhanced the gameplay of the original and as expected, it did quite well critically and (it seems) commercially. During all this, a poll was taken about the other game and fans basically asked it to be pretty much as similar as can be to what they “expect” and so, here we are… Continue reading →

Gallery: Resident Evil Revelations

Posted on April 26, 2013 by geelw

revelations_logo_r

Jill_Porthole_Artwork Jill Valentine certainly isn’t on The Love Boat this time out and this creature-packed cruise from hell she’s stuck on will surely make her long “OK, let’s NOT do that again” list along with her every other appearance in a Resident Evil game where she’s put through the virtual wringer. But where would you fans be if she wasn’t always in some sort of peril with half a clip left and something really ugly closing in for it’s dinner? Granted, if she’s out of ammo and on her last legs, that’s actually more your fault than the game, right?

Anyway, Resident Evil Revelations looked fantastic as a Nintendo 3DS game last year, but completely redone for consoles and PC, it’s definitely a visual showstopper for the long-running franchise. With a May 21 release date set Capcom has announced that yes indeed, a demo for the upcoming multiplatform game will be released soon over Steam (PC), PSN (PS3), Xbox Live (Xbox 360) and eShop (Wii U), so you’ll get to try this one out and see the horror for yourself. Or not see it, because you’re too damn scared to tiptoe into the next room. Hmmm… I wonder if there’s even a tiptoe animation in the game. I guess that’s my winning suggestion to Capcom for the next installment in the series…

Below the jump are a boatload of screens and a part one of a great developer diary that looks at how RE’s of the past have shaped this installment – do drop in and check it out, please… Continue reading →

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: Watch the Clock!

Posted on April 25, 2013 by geelw

There’s been a great deal of excitement in Greenvale this week, as it’s gone out on the grapevine that there’s going to be a LOT of new visitors starting next week. Actually, some people are there already from what I’ve been seeing around town, which is both good and bad. The good is business is absolutely BOOMING at both the A&G Diner and Swery 65 Bar, the tips are generous and there are lots of new friends being made all over town. The not so good? Well, try and get a good cup of coffee or a beer in a timely manner at either place and yep, it’s suddenly a pain seeing all those new faces. FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York!) isn’t happy with all these new people getting in his way while he’s trying to wrap up his Red Seeds Killer case file, but he’s about to get a little more unhappy as this overly thrilled employee of the Greenvale police force runs into him and knocks him down, as he’s just heard that there’s now a game shop in the town and there’s this new title he’s been hearing about that he’s just DYING to play…

And of course, that game just so happens to be Rising Star Games’ Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Those updated HD visuals, PlayStation Move and 3D TV support, new DLC, Trophies and more are all getting a few citizens of Greenvale quite hot and bothered. Of course, that means more PS3 sales and less people out and about once they get their hot little hands on the game, so perhaps York is going to get some relief after all. Well, once he gets up off the carpet and has the footprints cleaned from his suit, that is… ouch.

Did you know that Game Director Swery 65 is STILL celebrating the game’s release? I asked him about this after his sixth one and was told that he’s simply taking care of all his partying at one time because of the different release dates in a few territories. He said he plans to stop and rest for a bit once the North American version comes out, but I just realized he really doesn’t need to. Why? Well, dear reader… In Greenvale, the beer can’t get you drunk at all (it’s digitally created!), so you can drink as much as you want and never feel a thing. Of course, if you play around on the options screen, you can reverse that effect and pretty much pickle your liver in about three sips… but who the hell wants to do that? Enjoy responsibly, people!

Dead Island Riptide Launch Trailer: A “Staycation” Was A Much Better Idea…

Posted on April 25, 2013 by geelw

Yeesh. I’ve heard of vacations from hell, but this is REALLY ridiculous. Granted, the original Dead Island had that whole “island paradise gone to zombie hell” vibe going for it from that first CG trailer everyone fell over backwards over that wasn’t quite what the game was about, but this one looks like it’s got more of a story. And more crazy undead to put down before they eat your skin. Did I mention this game isn’t for kids or those who faint at the word BLOOD or sight of it (even if it’s fake)? Well, it is. So there. Oh, wait…. you fainted dead away, so now I’m typing this to no one. Rats. Well, as long as you didn’t crack your head open when you fell from that chair (and don’t come after me as a zombie), it’s all good…

Defiance 1:3 Preview: “The Devil in the Dark”

Posted on April 25, 2013 by geelw

Short and longer previews of next week’s episode, anyone? I like that the show picks bits and pieces from all over and cobbles them together into something entertaining that makes those who get all the references nod and wink at their TV screens. I’m not tracking the ratings at all, as that’s a useless thing to do for any show that SHOULD get a full season and story arc to find its place. I hear that the game has been having some bumps that are being ironed out through patches, but that’s the online space for you – nothing ever goes THAT smoothly even if that’s the best intention of all involved. It’s a really good thing the show is so much fun to watch and both products can stand alone while enhancing the overall experience if one has the means and connection speed to play.

Iron Man 3 Updates: Clip Joint, World Premiere, And Wait… A New Game, Too?

Posted on April 25, 2013 by geelw

Hmmm… you know, “Roll out the Barrel” should be playing right about now, what with Marvel in full non-stealth mode dropping all these Iron Man 3 videos. of course, they’re just doing what they need to to get fans excited (well, more excited) and non-fans reaching for the remote or finding a new site to poke around that doesn’t have ads for the film all over it. Good luck with that or even better, just embrace the madness that is marketing. Hell, it’s not as if Marvel is going to send people to your home in order to drag you to that theater…
Continue reading →

Aggronautix’ Debbie Harry Bobblehead Makes Me Feel Simultaneously Younger and Older…

Posted on April 25, 2013 by geelw

aggronautix_logo

Wow. How’s this for bringing back those late 70’s and early 80’s music memories? Aggronautix is adding this cool Debbie Harry Bobblehead to their lineup of punk rock icons and I’ll bet it’s going to be a fast mover among some really dedicated Blondie fans out there. I’d say that Whomever sculpted this figure over at Drastic Plastic probably deserves some sort of medal, as it’s one of the better ones in Aggronautix’ nicely sized lineup. Of course, Debbie looks a lot better than G.G. Allin, Iggy Pop and a bunch of those other living and dead punkers. Yeah, Iggy is still rocking out these days, so don’t get in his face and tell him his Bobblehead is scary-looking to children and small animals.

Pre-orders are up now on the site and the figures will ship out in August, which is more than enough time for some of you to set up that shrine you’ve been planning for some time that just needed ONE more touch. And if you’re some kid asking “Um… Who’s Debbie Harry???” Pull up a chair, grasshopper and viddy this ancient live footage well:

Of course, that means your Wendy O. Williams Bobblehead has to get moved to a different location, as you don’t want it to see your new acquisition when she arrives in that striped box. I don’t think you want Wendy mad at you, so make sure you give her some space as well somewhere prominent…

Do We REALLY Need A Ratchet & Clank Movie? I Guess We Do. Maybe.

Posted on April 25, 2013 by geelw

OK, I know I’ll get beat up by the more cranky fans of this franchise, but I’d much really rather see whatever money that’s going into this otherwise SPECTACULAR looking new film (set for a 2015 release, mind you) go into a new game (or games) instead starring these characters. Or even better, a game that combines this look (which the PS4 can handle with no trouble, I’d bet) in a game that’s packing movie-quality looks and gameplay flawlessly. Sure, this will absolutely rake in the megabucks as soon as it hits theaters, but I know that there’s an audience for CG animation that automatically shows up and buys into that first weekend or two just because it looks cool. I know that if the film references the older games too much, most of those jokes will soar over the heads of that non-gamer crowd while those who DO know what’s being talked about will be falling into their buckets of popcorn laughing.

On the other hand, this COULD be the best thing since sliced hamcheesebread if this is some sort of trial balloon for a future animated series or new game tie in. THAT said, it’s going to be interesting to see if this video game series that got its start on the PlayStation 2 eleven years ago is still relevant two years from now. I’d like to think Insomniac Games would want to move onto better and brighter things, but try and tell that to the rabid fans who want them to churn out the same types of games endlessly and gripe if they want to do something different. Then again… it’s kind of hard to pass up on making more money from something so cool if there’s enough of a demand for it. Ah, the eternal cycle continues, I suppose…

Wise Alec & Wise Alec Junior: “Smart” Can’t Quite Compete With Wise

Posted on April 25, 2013 by geelw

No, I’m not slapping around the eggheads some too often disrespect out there for knowing so much, folks. We all kind of need those stupidly smart people who know more than we do, as left unchecked, we’d all be quite dead and still trying to sue someone who didn’t fix that badly-made or never repaired bridge that fell on our heads or can of beans that was a wee bit too spoiled when it was put on that rickety shop shelf. Thankfully, Canada still likes us, as Griddly Games’ Wise Alec and Wise Alec Junior will get brains knitting away with their mix of “Oooh, I HAD it!” trivia and random acts of oddball activities you’ll be tasked with completing. Hey, it’s better than camping out in front of the TV sucking in awful cable news for an evening…

What’s cool about both games are you’re getting a ton of fun at home that some schools won’t let kids have these days. Hey, someone might yell a bit too loudly when they get something right or get overly-excited enough after a win that the on-site security will need to pack them up and put them in a broom closet until you drive down to bail them out. Hmmm… I do recall that sort of giddy behavior USED to be called HAVING FUN back in the day (before the age of Ritalin and other kiddie meds)…