Dragon’s Dogma Story Trailer Teaser

Posted on January 28, 2012 by geelw

Capcom’s been cooking this one up for a while and while the full version of this trailer won’t be revealed until 1/31, they’re releasing this short tease to get you all worked up (and rightly so). I’m also gathering they’ve been tightening up the gameplay significantly from the demo versions I played last year, as there were a few issues that needed ironing out. Then again, a demo is just that, and in no way signifies the quality of the final build. PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will get to see that for themselves as Capcom is promising a “flood of Dragon’s Dogma info on the way!”

Well, that means I’ll be posting it when it splashes around in my inbox…

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock “Monsters” Trailer & Screens

Posted on January 28, 2012 by geelw

Courtesy of the official PlayStation Blog, here’s a nice visual update from the upcoming PS3 and Vita exclusive. I got a chuckle imagining a bunch of Cybermen, Daleks, Silurians and Silence all showing up in a studio somewhere in England, punching in to do some hard work acting out scenes from the game for the dev team and having breaks for 10 o’clock breakfast (English Breakfast and scones) and a 4PM tea time (Earl Grey with milk, please, mum!) before clocking out and heading to a nearby pub for Guinness all around and some hot shepherd’s pie. Is that enough awful stereotyping here or what? Anyway, the game is set to land in March, but we’ll have a more informative update shortly as to what form the games will take. Fingers crossed for retail and download versions so more can hop aboard the TARDIS and enjoy the ride…

Nintendo Network Revealed For 3DS and Wii U: No Microtransactions Planned

Posted on January 27, 2012 by geelw

Nintendo had a pretty rough fiscal 2011, but this year, the company is determined to be a monster in the games world once again. In his lengthy financial briefing, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata discussed numerous topics that ranged from worldwide sales figures to the possibility of the 3DS going up in price at some point, to the introduction of the new and improved Nintendo Network. Iwata takes a guided shot directly at casual games that use micro-transactions to generate revenue in the report and makes what I think are some truly valid points that I hope gain traction in an industry where profit keeps stepping all over common sense.

Even if you’re not a Nintendo fan, the report is ABSOLUTELY worth a read and discussion, as it shows the company is focused on not only being more in step with the current digital era, it’s also focusing on how to bring more of its user base aboard while still keeping a retail presence that matters. Anyway, go grab a cuppa and have a seat, as the entire briefing is five pages long, packed with informative charts, graphs and some great info about the company’s past, present and future titles plus plans for this year and beyond.

DiRT Showdown Update: “Nevada 8-Ball” Gameplay Trailer Shows Off The Bash & Crash

Posted on January 27, 2012 by geelw

Funny. Just as I was restoring the post with the announcement trailer to Codemasters’ upcoming hybrid racer, I see that a new trailer has been posted, so here you go. This new (and extremely impressive) in-progress demolition derby footage reminds me a bit of Monster Games VASTLY underrated PlayStation 2 and Xbox title, Test Drive: Eve of Destruction. Granted, the amazing EGO-engine wasn’t around back then and that game didn’t have any actual drivers nor some of today’s top US rally racers doing donuts and taking risky driving to all new heights (pun intended). Anyway, I predict this one will be the biggest DiRT to date. One suggestion, though – PLEASE offer the option to turn OFF any and all video upload prompts when offline! They were a big pain in DiRT 3 for solo players (like me) who were trying to concentrate on winning a stretch of tough races and didn’t need the constant prodding for a feature we had no plans to use.

Luc Besson’s LOCKOUT: Sega (Circa 2000) Would Surely Be Proud…

Posted on January 27, 2012 by geelw

That’s a compliment by the way. No matter if they’re good, bad or somewhere in between, Besson’s films are always interesting to watch thanks to some excellent action scenes and fun casting choices. The plot to this upcoming sci-fi action film 9Which Besson wrote and produced) reminds me of a cross between John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, Besson’s own District B13 and Sega’s arcade hit, Dynamite Deka. That said, I don’t expect any sort of licensed video game tie-in at all. Granted, if this flick was made a decade or so ago, I’d bet we’d be seeing a game version pop up on the Dreamcast or PS2, Xbox and GameCube as a story-based beat ’em up/action game with the usual collection elements added for good measure. As the film is set for an April 20, 2012 release, don’t expect anything playable to pop up unless it’s some social or mobile/tablet game cobbled together quickly as a cash-in.

Armored Core V Walkthrough: From Keeps It Familiar (& Doesn’t Breed Contempt)

Posted on January 27, 2012 by geelw

Nice new visuals aside (go, From!), there’s just something supremely “old school” about this Armored Core V gameplay footage that made me think a bit of all the fun I had with the original game and its sequels back on the PlayStation. Granted, AC V’s more multiplayer-centric approach will make this latest entry a big draw for those who like their mechs going at it in team-based combat. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there’s enough of a single player campaign included for those of us who want to dive in and not have to deal with folks who make you want to throw a shoe (and a controller) at your TV…

Minor Update, Plus Some Advice For Nintendo…

Status

Still plugging away on the old post reformatting/restoration project, so bear with me for a bit if you decide to poke around the older stuff on the blog. My advice to Nintendo, who reported some major losses and expects more this year leading up to the Wii U launch: ASK your consumers what they want. Don’t just DO stuff and expect them all to jump aboard. That may help a bit, as believe it or not, new tech aside, some people just hate too many surprises or huge changes. Granted, it stinks to be a total stick in the mud diehard, but those are the folks you need to guide into your brave new world…

Capcom Reveals Surprising Exclusive Characters For PS3/Vita Street Fighter X Tekken

Posted on January 27, 2012 by geelw

Capcom has a really great sense of humor, that’s for sure… but I’ll bet real money a lot of Mega Man fans’ heads are exploding big time. The blue bomber is indeed a playable character in the upcoming Street Fighter X Tekken, but it’s the Bad Box Art version instead of the more familiar MM. Color me supremely tickled at this. Also amusing, seeing Sony’s Toro and Kuro (characters from a series of cute games never released in the US) and Pac-Man (!), who’s probably the biggest surprise of them all. Then again, now that I think about it, Klonoa should have been in the game as well as Tomba just to show some classic PlayStation love. Oh well, there’s always DLC or some sort of updated version down the road. Or heck, Tekken X Street Fighter, Namco’s companion piece to SF X T that’s still in development…

L’Arc-en-Ciel Celebrates 20th Anniversary With World Tour

Posted on January 27, 2012 by geelw

OK, I’ll admit it, I’m not much of a fan, but I know people who love these guys to death and beyond. Besides, I’m not one to disparage anybody’s musical tastes, so here you go. Plus, some big press release news for you below the jump! Amusingly enough, I have the chance to send some interview questions to the band, but I can’t think of anything to offer other than big congratulations on being around for so long.

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The Resistance Is NOT Over: Insomniac’s Ted Price Clears The Air…

Posted on January 26, 2012 by geelw

I’d been hearing rumbling on this for a while, but all were from under-informed fan sources or those who didn’t read further than what they should have as to what the REAL deal was. Yes, Insomniac is stepping away from the Resistance franchise, but it’s not going away at all. Watch the video for the facts and keep an eyeball peeled during this year’s E3, as I’d bet we’ll be seeing something interesting coming sooner than we think from Insomniac (in terms of new IP) as well as new Resistance developer Nihilistic…