Dear Esther: Mystery No More (And Let The Waiting Begin)…

Posted on December 13, 2011 by geelw

Sometimes, you see a game that makes you smile and nod knowingly, not for anything amusing, mind you, but because it’s a solid case where a developer gets things down perfectly and the project is coming together like a dream. Dear Esther is one of those games and with its February 14, 2012 release date coming up, here’s a quick look at two work in-progress trailers that show off quietly spectacular detailed visuals powered by Valve’s “ancient” Source Engine (which goes to show it’s not the years, it’s the mileage a great developer gets out of it). It’s hard to believe that this game started life as a Half-Life 2 mod back in 2008 before a major reworking, but that’s the wonder of inspiration for you, folks… Continue reading →

Hey, Sony! Here’s How To Make Vita Memory Cards Less Of a Knife In The Wallet…

Posted on December 12, 2011 by geelw

With the announcement of prices for the PS Vita’s proprietary memory cards getting a lot of gamers up in arms (despite Sony recently stating that they’re not set in stone), I figure I may as well add my two cents here in order to help smooth things out a bit. There’s a simple solution Sony can use to quell some of that anger and get a few consumers to snap up multiple cards in the process. If the cards haven’t been produced yet, Sony can (and should) add a few free PSPminis to them as bonus content at retail or for those who have PSN accounts, add a voucher redeemable for their choice of minis as DLC when they register their card online. As we’re in the age where people want something extra when they spend what they feel is a lot of money on something they feel is overpriced, I’d say a bit of a reward for their loyalty (even though there’s not a cheaper third party solution in sight) will go a long way. Continue reading →

Hitman: Absolution VGA 2011 Trailer: IO Interactive Gets (Even More) Real…

Posted on December 12, 2011 by geelw

After the amazing gameplay trailer I saw at New York Comic Con (about 17 minutes of sheer excellence), I was hoping developer IO Interactive would show off more of its upcoming Hitman: Absolution before the year ended. Well, here you go. Agent 47 is most definitely back and better than ever. Anyone that says as a publisher, Square Enix is ONLY good for Final Fantasy games needs their eyeballs wiped but good. Preferably by a bald assassin with a bar code on the back of his head and especially after Deus Ex: Human Revolution, (still one of the best games released this year) showed that great games come from all around the world…

Tiny & Big Moves Up The Ranks!

Posted on December 12, 2011 by geelw

Well, alrighty then! Thanks to lots of support, the guys at Black Pants Game Studios are doing a happy dance as they’ve entered indie DB’s Top 100. You can still (and should still) vote for them in the second phase of voting just because they’re making a fun game (not because I say so, although it would make me feel better if someone actually listened to me for a change). Take a peek at the video above, go vote if you’re so inclined and help Tiny & Big become a bigger hit as it nears completion.

Er, you HAVE tried out the demo, haven’t you? If not, go get it! It’s a ton of fun and you get to laugh a lot as well!

The Last of Us VGA Trailer: Survival. Instinct.

Posted on December 11, 2011 by geelw

Naughty Dog’s been busy it seems (and what else is new?) and I, for one an actually really pleased that they’re not doing a Jak & Daxter reboot or showing off Uncharted 4 (just yet). Instead, the developer has moved into a more survival horror vibe with its latest PS3 exclusive. The Last of Us is looking pretty intriguing based on this brief peek and given the developer’s pedigree, it’ll be a sure-fire hit when it’s released. Radar has been activated, now I just need to wait for SCEA to shoot an invite over so I can see this up close and personal…

Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock Coming to PS3/PS Vita

Posted on December 10, 2011 by geelw

According to a posting on the PlayStation Blog by Simon Harris, Executive Producer for BBC Worldwide, Supermassive Games is working on a new Doctor Who game for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. No info was released as to what genre the game will be, although in the past two years, there have been two previous games featuring The Doctor made for the Nintendo Wii and DS that weren’t received too well. This new game looks to turn the tide as it’s being developed by a different studio and while no gameplay info or footage has been revealed, I’d imagine it’s going to be a mix of adventure and puzzle elements while being light on the action (given the good Doctor’s penchant for non-violent actions). We’ll keep an eyeball peeled for screens and updates as they become available. Fingers crossed that this one’s solid, as I’d actually love to see Torchwood get the video game treatment at some point on a console. Oh yeah… let’s HOPE this one comes out in an actual retail package, as too many digital-only games just get buried after a short time on PSN even with decent review scores.

Hyperdimension Neptunia* Mk2 Trailer: Fan Service, Plus Tax (Where Applicable)

Posted on December 10, 2011 by geelw

Yikes, Nippon Ichi is doing it again (and doing it again sooner than you think). Yup, the beloved (and mildly insane) Hyperdimension Neptunia is getting a sequel and yup, it’s looking like another otaku dream game come true. OK, I bought the first game and it baffled me mightily (I must be getting too old for certain things, eek!), but I just might give this sequel a chance just because the promised improvements look, well, promising!

As usual, NISA is pulling out the stops with a slick Limited Edition Premium Box at an excellent price direct from their Online Store (The best place to buy any Nippon Ichi games, I say). Yup, it’s NOW available for pre-order (as is the standard edition). Did I mention the NISA Online Store has FREE domestic shipping? No? well, it does! Hmmm. I bet February 2012 can’t get here fast enough for some more of you, right?

*And yup, it SHOULD be Neptuniaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa *cough!* aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!, but NISA probably hates when I do that…

Classic Gaming Expo 2012 Update: Vegas, Baby!

Posted on December 8, 2011 by geelw

And here you go: the first official update on next year’s CGE! I’d only been to the show once when it was at the Riviera a few years back, but I see the renovated Plaza Hotel seems to be the place to be next year. More news to come as it becomes available!

Resident Evil Revelations Updated Story Trailer

Posted on December 2, 2011 by geelw

Fear not, fans of the franchise who want a more traditional RE game that hearkens back to the classic trilogy you’re so fond of. Granted, you’ll need to have a 3DS in the house, as this is an exclusive for the handheld. But my, doesn’t it look fantastic? Gameplay is slower, more methodical at times and yup, zombies WILL get up in your face if you get caught off-guard. Of course, the gloomy, scary atmosphere and limited ammo (from what I played in the demo version) add to the tension and some of those undead don’t go down without a fight. Anyway, keep your eyeballs peeled for this one, as it’s coming on February 7, 2012 in the US and January 27, 2012 in the UK (lucky!).

Classic Gaming Expo Is BACK!

Posted on December 2, 2011 by geelw

Now, I just need to be able to afford to go, grrr! I got this note in my inbox and did a happy dance (despite my lousy finances, it’s great to see the show hath returned!):

YOU WERE THERE FIRST. Not enough time to get this to all of our outlets or properly document it on our website, so those of you here get to hear it first: Classic Gaming Expo 2K12 is ON, it’s August 11th and 12th in Las Vegas at our old stomping grounds, The Plaza Hotel. The Plaza has completely renovated everything from its rooms and casinos to the ballroom itself. We loved it, can’t wait to do this again! More details to follow.

And yes, I’ll be posting those details when I get them. Woo and hoo. Off to find some pennies!