E3 2014: Dead Island 2 Trailer: Summer Never Dies. But Your Character Might Not Make It…

Posted on June 14, 2014 by geelw

While definitely a wee bit on the gory side, this trailer for Dead Island 2 is also quite hilarious and worth a view for the punchline at the end. The game is coming in spring 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC from publisher Deep Silver and one of my favorite developers, Yager (Spec Ops: The Line, Dreadnought). DI2 will be powered by Unreal Engine 4 and given Yager’s expertise in programming, I’m crossing my fingers for a visceral experience featuring highly destructible environments, plenty of mayhem and some grim laughs Dead Island is known for along with any new elements the team adds in. We’ll see what’s what as more info and movies pour out, of course. But I know Yager will give fans of this franchise a nice jolt or three when they finally wrap this one up with a bloody bow next year…

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Ink Hunt DLC Interrupts My Review! But That’s Fine With Me.

Posted on June 13, 2014 by geelw

So, I’m in the middle of writing a review for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing II (here’s a hint: BUY IT. It’s got some issues, but is fun once you get) when my inbox falls on my foot and out pops and email from NeoCore Games that they’ve JUST released a new patch AND some DLC along with it.

Sure enough, I check my Steam account and it’s downloading away in the background as it should. Well, so much for my review as it currently stands. I’d noted some issues that the patch looks as if it takes care of, so there goes THAT part on my very short list of tiny gripes. Granted, I haven’t played the game since the patch/DLC download, but I’ll get to it later tonight and see what’s what. I’m also in the midst of puttering away on some E3 articles, a review I needed to get up a day or so back and some columns for a few upcoming blogathons I need to yak about so some of you can join up and contribute to. Hokay, back to the grind for a bit before it’s back to the grind later, I guess…

Back in a bit. It’s Friday the 13th AND a full moon tonight. I’m NOT superstitious, but it seems that a lot of off-kilter people are out and about today. Yeesh…

E3 2014: Two More Nintendo eShop Future Hits, Indie Style!

Posted on June 11, 2014 by geelw

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a game I’m looking forward to because I can play it on the Wii U at home on a big screen and not have to worry about missing my stop on the bus or subway, someone clubbing me over the head to steal a handheld or some kid with better skills than me yelling at me from my left or right to jump faster. I hate it when that happens. Darn kids. Anyway, Wayforward Technologies is doing this 2D action/platformer up right as rain and it’s making me grin to see it all coming together so well.

Shovel Knight is another eShop soon to be classic I’m REALLY looking forward to playing. That “retro” aesthetic is in full effect as you can see – the game looks like it’s straight from the late 80’s (and that’s a good thing). The game is still in development and available to pre-order for PC already, but I’m holding out for the Wii U version as again, I’d like to save my eyeballs a bit longer and prefer playing on a TV and not a tiny 3DS screen or too close to a computer monitor. Then again, as rusty as I am at these old-school platformers, I just may as well hire some kid to play them for me, ha and ha-ha…

E3 2014: DESTINY E3 Experience Trailer: No Fate But What You Make, Huh?

Posted on June 11, 2014 by geelw

I’m not embarrassed at all to say that I can’t play Activision’s upcoming online only shooter DESTINY, although I’d LOVE to. The game is Bungie’s first since breaking off from Microsoft and the multi-million selling HALO franchise, but it’s not coming packed with an offline mode at all and my connection isn’t up to snuff at all. As with Titanfall (which I eventually played a chunk of at a friend’s place), ANY online-only console or PC game limits its audience by not including some sort of offline content, meaning a few million people WON’T be playing these games that NEED as many players as possible to enjoy them so that development money can be made back FASTER. Of course, that the game is for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 Xbox 360 and Xbox One means it’ll have a few million more active users at launch than other big franchises did when they got started (another great thing for Activison and Bungie to crow about), but the lack of solo play unless one is connected to the internet interests me not in the slightest. It’s too bad for me, I guess – this sure looks pretty damn cool.

E3 2014: Dragon Age Inquisition Gallery: Hold Your Jaw Up Before Viewing…

Posted on June 11, 2014 by geelw

Oh, the places you’ll go and the people you’ll meet in BioWare’s upcoming Dragon Age sequel. I’d gather that no matter which platform you’re buying this for, you’ll be treated to some wider open spaces and more overall freedom to explore, some great combat and of course, a memorable story with characters you’ll love, hate and love to hate.

No doubt, there’s also the pesky business of DLC from day one and onward, the bane of those gamers who don’t have a decent broadband connection at home and want to play this with every single bit of content. I suppose folks like that can wait for the inevitable Game of the Year or whatever it’s going to get called reissue to get them all that content at a cheaper price, but even that’s not guaranteed these days, as it seems even some reissues demand an online connection to redeem SOMETHING or just to get some information about who’s playing. Anyway, you can get your fix soon enough, as Dragon Age Inquisition will be in stores on October 7, 2014.

Back with more images to pore over in a bit…

E3 2014: Of COURSE Grand Theft Auto V Was Coming To PS4, Xbox One & PC. Who Didn’t Think It Wasn’t?

Posted on June 10, 2014 by geelw

Seriously. Rockstar Games isn’t stupid, folks. The figured out a while back that getting Grand Theft Auto V onto next-gen consoles and up to spec and then some computers was a no-brainer a while back and those who doubted them because they weren’t trumpeting that fact out into the wild from day one haven’t figured out how this silly games business works. Anyway, this versions packing lots of heat as it includes enhancements to the already impressive game world that include new wildlife, upgraded weather and damage effects, and more. New multiplayer content will also be part of the game as well as the ability for gamers with Grand Theft Auto Online saves to transfer characters and game progression to this version. Expect this one to rake in a few million more sales and possibly move some consoles this fall and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions drop a bit in price as the inevitable Game of the Year version most likely gets announced at some point sooner than later…

E3 2014: Star Wars Battlefront: DICE Is Still Working Away On A Guaranteed Winner…

Posted on June 9, 2014 by geelw

Yeah, that classic John Williams music got me as well, as did all the work in progress footage that’s way too early, but looks fantastic. Every gamer drooling over this one seems to be holding out for 60fps, but I’m not sure that’s possible with the multiplayer modes in this one. I’ll take a rock-solid 30 with no pop-in or other annoyances, the best visuals the developer can bring to the table, a solo offline mode and whatever multiplayer madness they can add to the mix, thank you much. Of course, I’m a patient guy, so that nebulous Spring 2015 teased at the end can creep up on me and I won’t bat an eyelash. I suppose I could just get myself frozen in carbonite until then, but then someone would forget to thaw me out and I’d miss more than this game when it finally ships…

Bundle Stars Says: “Who Needs E3? We’ve Got PLENTY Of Games Here!”

Posted on June 9, 2014 by geelw

Bundle Stars doesn’t care that you’re hunched over your monitor, eyes bugging out over all that E3 news. Nope, they want you to stop, drop and roll that mouse over to their site and buy another INCREDIBLE set of games. This new lot is called The Resurrection Bundle and for a mere $2.49, you get a whopping FOURTEEN Steam codes from outright classics to more current titles to games you’ve probably never heard of! I own a few of these already, so I’d recommend this deal just for Realms of the Haunted, Gunmetal and the flawed but jump-scare creepy Nosferatu: Wrath of Malachi.

Anyway, you’re well versed in the ways of these bundles, correct? Click away above, buy and be happy you’re getting new games for your backlog while helping charity. How can you go wrong here? Now, get moving – you have some (well, a LOT of) games to play!

E3 2014: Cuphead Makes Quite An Impression (Again!)

Posted on June 9, 2014 by geelw

I was wondering what was up with StudioMDHR‘s lovely retro platformer/shooter hybrid Cuphead and thanks to the Microsoft press conference, more people know know what’s in store for them when the game releases at some point. My oNlY issue with this one is currently, it’s scheduled for PC via Steam and Xbox Live, skipping the rather obvious choice of Wii U, Vita, PS3 and PS4 (for now). I’m hoping this is one of those “timed exclusives” as I really want to play this on a portable or on something I already own here. Eh, we’ll see what happens, but I’d love to be bouncing up and down in my seat when I hear this is headed my way how I want to play it…

Orphan Black S4:9 Preview: Another Clone? Oh Brother, Things Are Getting Sticky Here!

Posted on June 8, 2014 by geelw

Yikes, that last episode was QUITE a doozy, huh? That new clone being a shady guy with a mullet and hipster beard (and deftly played by Tatiana Maslany at that!) threw me for a loop, but that ending was a shocker. Then again, Cosima’s condition was always going to be an issue, so now there’s a week’s wait to see if she’s okay. Another twist? Donnie actually got a sympathetic scene that worked, but he and Alison are quite the messed up couple for sure. Anyway, Rachel’s cranky for a good reason, the other clones have issues popping up that will hopefully get ironed out with two shows left and I’m glad I’m a fan of this show. Whee!