Enter, The Dragon (Again): Shadowrun Is Coming Back!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by geelw

Yikes. Just when I get to griping about underfunded indie games that NEED more notice, along comes this news, which I gather will make people forget all about that last post. I guess I need to pay more attention to Kickstarter, huh? Anyway, a bunch of ancient mariners behind the original game (you HAVE to love the name they chose for their studio: Harebrained Schemes, LLC) are getting together and bringing the FASA classic Shadowrun back with an all-new title called Shadowrun Returns.

Of course, the project is already doing SUPER well as it zooms toward its funding goal of $400,000. Amusingly enough, I kind of wish they were doing an English translation of the Japanese Sega Mega-CD version, as that’s one of those completely unique versions of the game that was only released on one platform and a pretty hard game to track down even if you happen to own the proper equipment to run it on.

Oh, don’t worry, I’m not complaining at all or anything. Er… other than wishing the economy was a hell of a lot BETTER for the games industry so that all of these projects could appear as physical product at a fair price point so MORE people would be able to buy and play them…

Two More Awesome Malevolence Videos: C’Mon, Where’s The Indie Love The Usual Suspects Are Getting?

Posted on April 5, 2012 by geelw

Hmmmm. While all that talk about indifference and snobbery amongst the hardcore crowd about supporting adventure games and indie games got a kick to the face thanks to crowdfunded Kickstarter projects such as Double Fine Adventure, Wasteland 2 and a few other excellent titles, it seems there’s some nose in the sky attitude from these supporters towards projects like this that deserve the same respect and attention. Hell, I wish I could give these guys what they need to complete their game and get it out to whomever wants to play it (which I’m sure would be a LOT more people if certain sites a great deal bigger than my lowly blog actually promoted the funding project). Clearly, this team has TALENT and is making a great game worth watching (and playing). But are they getting much love from the folks who SHOULD be waving the flag for games like this and sending money their way? Not enough, I say… (grrrr)… $6,000 to go. 11 days left.

Avengers Black Widow Clip: Hold The Phone And Have A Seat, True Believers!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by geelw

Hah! There are probably a few too many guys out there who WANT to get beat up like this by Ms. Scarlett. I’m not one of them, though (hey, I bruise easily and don’t do my own stunts!). I’m sure we’ll see some dopey YouTube video of someone trying this for real (ouch!), but I won’t be watching that particular pain-fest at all. Remember, kids – movies are movies… reality bites back hard! But of course, you’re not listening – it’s time to make that video, right? Before you break out that camera and chair and get your gal to doll up in a skin-tight outfit, you may as well check out the latest TV commercial for the upcoming film as well…

Some Stupid Things About Rumors And Speculation (Which Is Why I Don’t Cover Them)…

Posted on April 4, 2012 by geelw

Blah, blah, blah… With all this info leaking elsewhere around the Internet about everything from the Wii U release date to the next Xbox and PS3 consoles blocking used software and requiring an always online connection even for single player games, I figure I may as well let you guys and gals know… I really don’t care and won’t until I actually have a controller in my hand and can get some actual answers about a few things from folks who can spill it without spin. For me, there are too many other important things to cover like actual games and cool stuff that doesn’t involve getting into arguments with random strangers about some dopey rumor mill nonsense that makes less sense the more you look at it.

Continue reading →

Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Tutorial: From Software Shows How To Make The Kinect WORK

Posted on April 4, 2012 by geelw

One of the near-constant gripes I hear about Kinect from some “core” gamers who hate it is that they feel it’s not for the games THEY want or like (or want TO like, for that matter). Well, thanks to From Software and Capcom, a few of those already made up minds may change a bit. The upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor will be on display at PAX 2012 this weekend and will be playable, so I’m expecting a few folks to be hopping on board for this one once they get their hands on it. No, it doesn’t use the Kinect as the sole means of control – From has integrated both a stock 360 controller and Kinect controls together to make one of the most immersive game experiences using the peripheral to date. Hell, I’d MUCH rather be buying a Steel Battalion Kinect Bundle than that Star Wars deal that’s just a cash cow for Microsoft with a not so hot game strapped into the cockpit. Ah well, in a perfect world, this one would get more hype… Go From! Go Capcom!

Call Me Crazy, But Wouldn’t The Move or Wii Remote Be BETTER For A Star Wars Game?

Posted on April 3, 2012 by geelw

I mean, come on Lucasarts! Sure, that new Xbox Star Wars Kinect Bundle Is extremely cool and all, but hell… Sony’s Move and Navigation Controller combo and/or the Wii’s stock controller/Nunchuck would have allowed for some better (and actual) gameplay elements such as character movement through a better designed game world and hell, swinging a lightsaber instead of an empty hand at your TV set.

That and what Star Wars fan worth his or her salt would pass up the chance to own MULTIPLE Move Lightsaber Controllers (or removable controller skins) on those two platforms or a C-3PO and R2-D2 Move wand/Navigation Controller set with a Black Darth Vader PS3 or Wii? What makes Microsoft fans exclusively Star Wars fans in your eyes? Anyway, I’ll shut up now and let you guys go count your money. But next time, think of EVERY gamer out there with a console and make a better set of games for us ALL.

Devil May Cry HD Collection Rolls Out Today For PS3, 360

Posted on April 3, 2012 by geelw

Hear that loud screechy wailing sound? It’s a bunch of folks who’ve already played these games to death cheering that they get to do it all over again, whee! Just kidding. Anyway, Capcom’s got those folks by the nose (and has for years), but now they need to bend those noses down from their turned up positions and point them all to Ninja Theory’s upcoming DmC so they can see and play something that takes a different look and Dante’s past. There’s nothing wrong with nostalgia at all, kids… except when you let it cloud your heads so much that you refuse to want to even try something different and then complain that games never do anything new. Remember this.

Total Recall Trailer: Get Your Ass To The Theater (See You At The Party)…

Posted on April 2, 2012 by geelw

Confession: I’m one of those few who didn’t think the Verhoeven original was exactly a “classic” (the tri-boobed Martian hooker, excessive violence and hilarious Swazenegger one liners aside, it’s always been a weird flick to enjoy for me), so I had zero hopes for this reboot. Turns out I’m wrong again, as it looks pretty decent so far. Well, in a Fifth Element meets Minority Report kind of way. Like most of these blockbusters, I probably won’t spend a dime to see it in a theater unless it’s for a subway trip I get premiere tickets to. I can wait for the cable debut for anything these days (well, except Prometheus – that BEGS to be seen on a huge screen). Anyway, I like Colin Farell a lot as an actor, Bryan Cranston? Yup, awesome (Breaking Bad is a killer show any day of the week). The ladies? Well with Jessica Biel AND Kate Beckinsdale in this (AND fighting each other), it’ll be a fanboy’s dream flick. Me, I’m in it for the story, which I HOPE is closer to the Philip K. Dick source material. As usual (repeat after me, kids): We. Shall. See…

Sniper Elite V2 Hands-On: Rebellion’s Latest Is Dead On Target.

Posted on April 2, 2012 by geelw

Who knew one good cure for an aching back would be a bullet to the eyeball?

My poor old back was a bit out of whack after some lugging some heavy stuff to the airport shenanigans the previous morning, but after sitting down to a nice bit of the Xbox 360 version pf Rebellion’s superb Sniper Elite V2 last Thursday, I left the Edison Hotel with a spring in my step (but scanning high windows and rooftops for snipers). 505 Games is fortunate enough to be publishing Rebellion’s followup to their 2005 PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox sleeper (later ported to Wii in 2010) that’s still one of the most challenging and tightly focused war games ever put on a console. Sniper Elite V2 ups the ante with an even more phenomenal proprietary graphics engine, excellent sound design and gameplay that’s going to surprise a lot of people who’ve never experienced the original…

Continue reading →

Orcs Must Die! 2 Announced: Now With Co-Op Play For Twice The Fun!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by geelw

Packed full of all sorts of big changes and tweaks to the already winning formula plus a new playable character, Robot Entertainment’s upcoming sequel looks to be a huge time eater fans of the first game will want to grab as soon as it’s released. THis will also be playable at this year’s PAX, so if you’re going, line up and get ready for a blast. Hmmm, still, why this team doesn’t justdo a full-on action RPG using this great mix of humor and gameplay is beyond me, but perhaps its in the cards one fine day. Hell, this would even make an EXCELLENT Vita game, that’s for sure. Hey Robot! Get on that ASAP (and add the first game as a bonus)…