If You’ve Wanted A Resident Evil 6 x Left 4 Dead, Capcom and Valve Are Quite Obliging…

 

Well, this kind of came out of Nowhereland, but it’s really cool for fans of both franchises as well as those who’ve avoided either for whatever reason. Granted, the biggest issue is this is a PC-only thing for the time being, as L4D is a PC (and Xbox 360 exclusive). Microsoft’s exclusivity headlock on the series aside, I’m still trying to figure out who at Valve thought being joined at the hip to a single console with this zombie-busting masterwork would be a good idea forever and a day, as there are a few million Sony fans who’d LOVE to finally play both games in the award winning co-op and multiplayer-centric series on the PS3/PS4 (and yes, a custom Vita version would sell like gangbusters as well).

 

 

Feh. Perhaps ONE of these days the industry will figure out that more money can be made across multiple platforms if something is done right and all that legal nonsense regarding exclusivity go right out the window with DRM and analysts who over-speculate some game studios right out of business when a game doesn’t meet some ridiculous target even though it moves a few million units…

Lone Survivor Headed to PS3 & Vita. Lock Yourself In, There’s Trouble All Around…

 

I actually hadn’t heard of Lone Survivor until a friend raved about the PC version a little while back. But I’ve just been way to busy to get to the ton of indie games I already have and pushed this one to the back burner. Now, I have a reason to give it a try, as the game is headed to the PS3 and Vita this summer courtesy of superflat games (which is Jasper Byrne) with an assist from London-based studio, Curve (which is a few more people). The game is a retro-looking but decidedly modern survival horror game that can be played in almost any way a player chooses. You can complete the game without firing a shot or go all out and try to dispatch every undead thing you come across. However, your character’s mental state is a bit off (possibly from hunger, thirst and/or lack of rest) and not everything is as it seems. Innnnnteresting, to say the least and given Byrne’s complete love for Sony’s console and handheld, PS3 and Vita owners can expect some nice changes to the game that include Trophies, Cross-Buy and Cross-Play support plus MORE. What’s MORE you ask? Ha! That trick NEVER works here, kids.  You’ll see if you click on this PlayStation Blog post…

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Site Goes Live: Return To Greenvale (Weirder Version)…

 

DP_hold your breathRising Star Games is getting things (and perhaps a few heads) rolling with the official launch of the Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut website. This PS3 exclusive update to the former Xbox 360 exclusive that polarized fans and reviewers with its all-out bizarre tone, somewhat unpolished visuals and gameplay along with plenty of gore is getting an updated version that tweaks and adds many new elements (such as 3D TV and PlayStation Move support) while retaining the completely twisted plot and lead character.

Fans of scary games and/or David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and some of his other films will see an homage or three in this game, but it’s the general mix of offbeat comedy, horror and interestingly disgusting demises that will hook some new players in. Of course, that’s exactly what director Hidetaka Suehiro (Swery65) wants… so you just HAVE to oblige him, right?

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Call of Juarez Gunslinger Reveal Trailer: Techland’s Bounty on the Mutinous

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Veteran developer Techland’s games have always been visually incredible, so it’s zero surprise at all that this latest entry in the Call of Juarez franchise is gorgeous to look at and the violence is even more balletic in its post-ballistics delivery. What’s a tiny bit surprising to me is the focus on bounty hunting some of the Old West’s well known desperadoes. I’m not going to argue historical accuracy here at all (that’s for the crankier folks out there who apply arbitrary rules of reality to games at the most inopportune times. Still, this looks like it’ll do quite well among the amateur historians and fans of the series who wanted to see it go back to the wild western days and stay the heck out of the present. You’ll be able to saddle of for a quick ride at this year’s PAX in Boston or hang out at your O.K. Corral until the game ships out later this year.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Sorcerer Gameplay: Now, That’s How You Spell Trouble!

 

DDA_PS3FOB XBOX_360_OWP_v4.5.inddWho said magic-users were “bad” go-to characters in RPGs? As you can see in this latest trailer for Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, a good Sorcerer is indeed a major force to be reckoned with. A little “Disco Inferno” or “Lightning Strikes” would make this video even better, I say. Hey, if you played the original game, you know that rockin’ title song got stuck in your head for a few weeks. Anyway, keep this game on your radar, folks – I’m predicting another “sleeper” of truly epic proportions that just may beat out upcoming next-generation launch titles for sheer longevity and replay value. April 23, 2013 (April 26 in Europe) is only a short time away… are you ready? Those ridiculously tough and massive bosses aren’t going to kill themselves, you know…

Drunk of the Dead: Zombeer Now Set to Creep Onto PS3 (& YOU Can Be In It… Sort Of)

 

Annnnd, Speaking of nights gone to hell, folks…

zombeerOK, for a while I thought this in development PC and Mac game was a very well-done Internet joke, but it seems to exist and is now also headed to the PS3 soon. Zombeer: Zombies & Beer, a “first-person-survival-horror-comedy-shooter made BY fans of the zombie genre FOR fans of the zombie genre”, according to the press release. Spain’s Moonbite Studios is cranking away on this and it does look pretty wild in a retro sort of way. The developer is also doing something special for Steam Greenlight supporters in creating a hidden Easter Egg scenario (one of many planned for the game) and putting all those names into the game’s extended credit sequence, which they say will be “the looooooooooongest and BIGGEST end titles of history of videogames”. Eeek. I can think of a few games that had insanely long credits (Super Burnout on the Atari Jaguar springs to mind, as do a few RPGs with massive staffing across many studios). Click HERE if you want to be a part of the madness. And absolutely read that Greenlight page, as the game description is hellishly priceless…

FUSE Character Profiles: Four You’ll Want Fighting For Your Side

fuse_PS3fuse_360Insomniac is finally rolling out some cool video profiles of the four playable characters from its upcoming PS3/Xbox 360 game FUSE, set to hit stores this spring. So, without further delay (other than making your way through my scribblings) here’s a look-see at Naya (above), Izzy, Dalton and Jacob (all below the jump). Hey, ladies first, I say. Especially if they can kick a bunch of butt around the room like these two can. Continue reading

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger Teaser: Techland’s Back in the Saddle Again

 

After the bumpy detour into modern times (the well-intentioned but flawed Call of Juarez: The Cartel), Techland is taking its wild western series back where it’s always belonged and if the comments on the YouTube channel are any indication, fans of this series are (so far) more than pleased. March 14 will see the full version of this trailer drop and perhaps some gameplay will show up as well. Given the developer’s expertise in producing some incredibly stunning looking visuals, there’s absolutely zero doubt that this will be a mighty fine looker. Of course, it’s ALWAYS the gameplay that counts and I’m gathering the team has been busy polishing that to a new badge shine. As always, we shall see…

Metal Gear Rising Mural Project: Games As Art (And Lesson of the Day)…

 

It’s always really cool to see and type of video game art go up in public as advertising and a way to get a few artists noticed by folks who’ve never heard of them. Here’s Yoji Shinkawa’s incredible line art brought to life by artist Jim Vision (EndoftheLine) in this slick time-lapse video. I’m sure there’s a Metal Gear fan out there buying up cheap airline tickets and trying to pack a hammer and chisel in that carry-on bag. Of course, the SMART thing to do is bring an empty bag, BUY the appropriate tools in each city, crate up and ship your prize back (via seamail) before you leave (which will be a few weeks to years, as you’re going directly to jail for taking down the side of a building just to get that piece of amazing art for your collection)…

FUSE Hands-On: Insomniac Wants You Up All Night With Their Co-op Focused Shooter

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fuse_PS3fuse_360In a way, FUSE is probably Insomniac’s most important game to date. The veteran games studio is well know worldwide among critics and PlayStation fans (and anyone else who happens to be console agnostic) who knows everything the developer has done has been of the highest quality. Sit down with any Insomniac title and you’ll find plenty of outstanding design, excellent visuals, and games that are just pure fun to play. Much of that work has held up over time (yes, even Disruptor) and as their first multi-platform release, the game looks to the carry those traditions to both the PS3 and Xbox 360. EA had a new demo of the game up and running at their spring press event a few weeks back and it was one of those cases where I walked up to the demo setup with a huge grin and left holding the top of my head so it wouldn’t fall off because that grin got a wee bit too wide. The co-op focused shooter formerly known as Overstrike looks spectacular, controls like a dream and more importantly, is certainly geared towards expert players.

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