XCOM: Enemy Unknown Deep Dive # 2: Know Your Enemy (Which Would Make Them LESS Unknown, Right?)

Posted on May 22, 2012 by geelw

Hokay, kids… I’m still buried under a bunch of games and stuff, so here’s an XCOM developer diary to ogle. October 9, 2012 is the release date for Firaxis’ turn-based strategy game and yes, it’s looking cooler by the moment. Granted, trying to please EVERY fan of the classic game series (or any series) for that matter in a total impossibility, but as someone who was around for the original game, I’m happy with what I’m seeing here and elsewhere. And hey 2K! Keep that other XCOM game in the pot, cranky comments from elsewhere or not. You spent a ton of loot making it, so you may as well finish it and get it shipped, I say. As long as it’s FUN, I won’t mind anything else…

Skyfall Trailer: Could This Be The Best Bond Film Yet?

Posted on May 21, 2012 by geelw

Well, the best MODERN Bond film, so as not to rile the Sean Connery die-hards out there. Hey, I’m old enough to be a fan from that far back, but I’ve always thought Daniel Craig’s version of Bond owes a lot to George Lazenby’s underrated performance in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (which you should check out if you’ve never see it before). Anyway, director Sam Mendes is certainly on the right track from what I’ve glimpsed in this teaser, which hints at an even darker Bond than in the last few Craig films. I guess we’ll see what’s what soon enough…

Dragon’s Dogma Arrives To Take Me Away From Hell For A Bit…

Posted on May 18, 2012 by geelw

Nice. I wasn’t expecting this to show up this evening, but well, here you go. First impressions: I can’t say, as the reviews are embargoed until MONDAY, but the title music cracked me up (let the first one play out and wait for the second, nicer theme). I’ve only put less than an hour in and yes, the game is quite a bit of fun and packed with detail and hidden loot. It’s a COMPLETELY different vibe than what some of you are probably thinking, but again – that’s content for the review.

OK, let me shut up and get back to it for a bit. I’ll be writing about something else in the next few posts so I don’t spoil any more…

You’re Not A Smart Ass When You Make Obvious Fun Of Sony’s New Vita Game’s Name…

Posted on May 17, 2012 by geelw

Hmmmmm. I’m betting Sony knew that a LOT of people on the internet, specifically message board denizens with too much time on their hands would see their new Vita game Smart As as “Smart Ass”. OK, it was funny when I thought I was the ONLY one who misread it, but I soon realized that it doesn’t take a genius to think up an easy pun like that. So, either this social-focused Brain Age-inspired game is really great with a lame name or it’s not great at all and needs a catchy/silly title just to get people talking about it using the same lame joke until it gets old. Which was about thirty minutes ago. Well, at least the video is really informative and makes the social element look quite fun. Check it out…

Prometheus “Quiet Eye” Viral: Getting Closer To The Truth (And Creeped Out, Too)…

Posted on May 17, 2012 by geelw

Yikes, it’s almost June, which means Prometheus will be getting into the brains of fans who will be talking about this one for quite some time. No doubt Alien fans from the first film will be debating new viewers who don’t “get” some of the stuff here, and I think both camps will be off by a mile if they try to base their arguments on the xenomorph aspect. At the end of the day, if the film is solid, it’ll be a go-to classic for years to come. Of course, that might also mean a new box set of Alien films at some point, with Prometheus being the “first” film in the series. And YES, the icky (and mean-spirited) Alien Versus Predator will STILL be left out of the canon.

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Is Pleased To Introduce Itself (Say Hi!)

Posted on May 17, 2012 by geelw

[youtube+http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMmwOhdLdfk]

It’s funny writing out the ENTIRE name of this upcoming sequel each time I post about it, but being lazy and abbreviating it to DEM2:TPoT is actually worse. Anyway, here’s a look at what’s in store for this next installment, from the co-op play to the big musical numbers and refined camera system. It would be awesome to see the first game get fixed up in HD for the PS3 and 360, but I don’t think that’s in the cards anytime soon, if at all. For those who still haven’t played it because you don’t own a Wii, ah, go buy one already! There are a bunch of very cool games on the system and you’d be surprised at how not EVERY motion control game is a dance or exercise game that will make you trow fits because not a shot is fired and there are no explosions (other than the top of your head popping off from touching a Wii Remote)…

Dragon’s Dogma “Pawns Unleashed” Trailer: And Hardcore Pawns, At That…

Posted on May 16, 2012 by geelw

A ha ha ha, I’ll be here all week, folks – two dollar cover, two drink minimum…. Anyway, the game ships out soon and it looks as if it’ll be successful despite the crankypants-ing about the paid DLC being on the disc to be unlocked at a later date. Hey, I don’t care as long as the main game is long enough to keep me not griping about having to pay for more. Capcom just needs to say “Hey, it’s basically the way things are done today”, or “we’re not the only ones doing it,” or “it’s an “expansion pack” that’s not on a separate disc”… and so forth and so on. Or maybe it’s time for a shift to more transparency throughout the entire industry, as they’re far from the ONLY publisher doing this. Of course, if the game does well enough, I expect to see a Game of the Year edition with everything unlocked. Right Capcom?

Lollipop Chainsaw TV Ad: Just About All You Can See During Primetime…

Posted on May 16, 2012 by geelw

I really like that WBIE didn’t fall over themselves trying to whip up a tame and unremarkable commercial for Grasshopper’s upcoming game. Yes, if you’ve been ogling the trailers before, you’ve seen most or all of this footage already. But this spot isn’t for YOU, silly rabbits. It’s for those folks who haven’t pre-ordered on heard of the game for some reason and are seeing all that weirdness for the first time. Hell, I’d buy this if I saw this ad and didn’t know a thing about the game just for the comedy bits alone. I predict a nice summer for Juliet if the game does well (and everyone involved will be happy as well)…

Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox Lives! (Or: Kickstarter, Ahoy!)

Posted on May 15, 2012 by geelw

Nice news from Down Under, as I just got the word that Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox is now a Kickstarter project. This great looking old-school turn-based RPG has gotten a few big pushes this past week or so thanks to a great and funny article that goes into game design and manages to bring Kevin Bacon into the mix without him actually being involved in the project. Er, go read it, as it makes more sense that me explaining it. Anyway, the new digs over at Kickstarter, plus the boost from Kevin Bacon (hee hee) has helped the game see a nice kick towards its goal, so go do the right thing and support these guys and gals! We need more Infinte RPGs like this, I say!

The Amazing Spider-Man “Super Preview” Trailer. Big, Loud And What Else Ya Got?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by geelw

I dunno…. maybe I’m just too jaded (and yes, Spider-Man 3 pretty much annoyed the hell out of me), but out of all the summer movies in theaters on the way, this one isn’t making my “gotta see it!” meter dance around at all. Sure, it looks great and expensive and New Yorky as all hell (I’m allowed to say this because I live here), but I think Spidey needs a rest for a bit. Between the awful Broadway musical and all the controversy it caused (sure, it was a “hit” for the tourists, but no Noo Yawkuh I know has seen it) to the new Spidey having too much hair for my tastes, I’m sitting this one out until it hits cable. Also (and this bugged the crap out of me in The Avengers), what’s the deal with all the secret identity exposure in these flicks. Is it in the contract that we NEED to see the actor’s face when it SHOULD be covered up because someone will say “hey, that’s so and so” if that hero guy or gal was on the street not doing the hero thing?

Eh, whatever. ot’ll make a mint, so my opinions are moot at the end of the day. That said, I have the feeling that the game Beenox is working on for Activision might actually be a lot more fun than the film and I’m VERY excited for that (if that’s any consolation to you Spidey fans out there)…