Retro Swag: Haunting Leather Jacket (Polterguy’s The Prize…)

Posted on February 2, 2012 by geelw

I guess you could technically call this airbrushed (and hopefully one of a kind) Haunting Starring Polterguy leather jacket a Sega collectible (sort of). Or perhaps it’s an Electronic Arts collectible, as they’re the ones who sent it my way along with a copy of the game. Anyway, I won this for entering art in a Diehard Game Fan contest back in 1993. The goal was to finish a Haunting-themed comic strip based on elements in the game with a final panel that showed some sort of scary monster. I actually entered on a whim, not even thinking I’d win (or make the deadline) with a creature that had mouths where its eyes were and eyes in his mouth (eek). Unfortunately, I didn’t make a color copy of the panel I painted nor did I get the issue the panel was in thanks to the issue it appeared in not showing up (and I was a loyal subscriber, too!). But I think I may have a crappy faded black and white copy buried in a bunch of old art around here. If I manage to dig it up, I’ll post it here.

Syndicate TV Spot: The Corporate Wars Are Getting Closer…

Posted on February 1, 2012 by geelw

Nice. I’m sincerely hoping Starbreeze Studios and EA have their collective fingers in their ears and (their bulletproof vests on) when it comes to the silly trolling their baby is getting in some online circles. As noted on the other blog, once you try out the Syndicate demo and things start clicking into place, you’re hooked in and set to roll with whatever the final version packs. Me, I’ve been aboard since last year when I played the demo, so I know the game proper will be outstanding. To those still making Deus Ex: Human Revolution comparisons… well, you’ll just have to see for yourselves that while yes, there are some visual similarities, it’s not even close in terms of a few other key points. Well, there’s not too much longer to wait, so you’ll get the chance to see what’s up shortly… provided you can uncross your arms and look down at a controller instead of sticking your noses in the air…

Gallery: SSX

Posted on January 16, 2012 by geelw

EA Sports’ Communications Manager Duke Indrasigamany looked pleased but slightly annoyed the last time I saw him a few months back at EA’s Holiday event here in NYC. He’d spent the better part of the day playing through a demo build of SSX for small groups of game journalists and it seemed that only a few of them were coming away excited. I passed by the demo area when I entered, planning to loop back around and get some hands-on time with the game, but it took me a while to get there. After a few hours of playing SWTOR (excellent), Syndicate (REALLY surprising), Mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3’s multiplayer modes (awesome), Funcom’s amazing The Secret World (great, but needs an offline mode), and the Dragon Age II expansion (featuring Felicia Day, everyone’s favorite gal gamer/multimedia star du jour), I finally made my way back to the SSX station and sat down with Sir Duke for a bit of fun in the high mountain air…
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Syndicate Trailer Twofer: Agent Tech/Agent Tools

Posted on December 16, 2011 by geelw

Two more excellent trailers from Starbreeze’s upcoming reboot of the PC classic, set for a February 21, 2012 release on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. I actually broke out the 3DO version earlier this week for a bit of nostalgia and as noted in my preview, both the old and new game feel like very close relatives, but from a different perspective. I kind of like the whole not worrying much about how the game plays part and hope some of the more stubborn folks out there decide to PLAY this rather than criticize the game unfairly because it’s not the same genre (when in fact, it slyly IS)…

EA Just Keeps it Coming…

Posted on October 13, 2011 by geelw

A quickie post before I keel over, as I need to bounce out of bed bright and early for day one of New York Comic Con. EA has some really nice surprises coming up this year and next in pretty much every category. Battlefield 3 multiplayer on the PS3 was amazingly fluid and controls like a dream (seriously, Call of What?). There was a really nice Mass Effect 3 surprise I can’t share just yet (as it’s embargoed until10/27). Speaking of surprises, Syndicate is going to make even the most hardcore fans of the PC classic bow to Starbreeze’s skills. They nailed the dark feeling of the original but as a first-person experience (it’s not a Deus Ex: Human Revolution clone either, which is even better). SSX is another shocker – don’t let the more realistic visuals fool you at all – the game is SUPER fun to play (the tricks flow off the controller) and the mountains are massive. SWTOR is an instant addiction (I had to stop playing before I got hooked) that’s sure to be huge once it ships (look out WoW!). The Secret World brings a fresh, modern take to the MMO (and NEEDS to come to consoles with a single player offline mode, as there’s a lot of good under the hood that begs to be explored). There’s a LOT more to yak about, but that’s for later – i need my beauty rest…

SSX “Defy Reality” Trailer (Things To Come, And Soon)

Posted on October 8, 2011 by geelw

Nice new trailer, guys. I’ll have the chance to play three stages from EA’s upcoming extreme snowboarding reboot in a few days at their Naughty or Nice press event. Patagonia, Siberia and the Himalayas are on the agenda at the event, so expect a hands-on shortly afterward. Given that New York Comic Con is the day after, I don’t expect to have a preview up until the weekend, but I may skip the final day of the convention just to make sure I’m home for The Walking Dead Season 2 premiere (which means yes, I’ll be reviewing this season’s episodes as well).

Battlefield 3 Caspian Border Trailer WIll Make You Want To Upgrade Your PC

Posted on August 18, 2011 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/m8S_eEv_A5k?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

Even though I have zero interest in online shooters (no matter how good they are), it’s hard not to (actually, it’s IMPOSSIBLE) not to say anything against them when Dice is running the show. With up to 64 players on maps like this amazingly huge showcase they’ve whipped up (LOVE the jet action!) and that incredible Frostbite 2 engine doing everything it needs to do (and really darn well at that), this one’s going to be an instant hit. Yes, on consoles as well, even though the player cap is a “mere” 24 (which is nothing to sneeze at, mind you). All Dice needs to do is find a way to make some PC gamers less lame jerk-ass braggarts about building their own systems and showing off to the point of embarrassment and the would will be a happier place.

BioWare TV Gamescom 2011 Livestream

Posted on August 12, 2011 by geelw

http://cdn.livestream.com/embed/biowaretv?layout=0&autoPlay=false&width=624&height=366

Man, this modern technology is really neat, isn’t it? Lame joke aside, definitely check out BioWare’s LIVE feed from the EA area at Gamescom for updates and live interviews with game producers for Battlefield, Mass Effect, SWTOR, Need for Speed, gameplay footage and lots more. It’s like watching TV, but not really because your TV is in the other room. Or it’s in the one you’re in now, but you’re not paying attention to it.

Battlefield 3: Thunder Run E3 SP Gameplay

Posted on June 9, 2011 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/9UwOrl036_A?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

Dice’s proprietary Frostbite 2 engine is probably the best one I’ve see to date (and I’ve seen a LOT of game engines at work). I’d love to see it applied in a few other genres, but I’d gather the folks who made it can get the most out of it. As you can see above, for example.

EA E3 2011 Press Conference

Posted on June 8, 2011 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/nELXefM2kZg?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0

Yup, it’s the whole darn thing warts and all, so pull up a chair and grab a nice cold drink if you haven’t seen it yet. I’m buried under news, trailers and assorted updates, but who isn’t? Off to NOT raise some hell and look at more games – back later…