E3 2012: No New Consoles From Microsoft or Sony? No Problem At All.

Posted on June 5, 2012 by geelw

Between Ubisoft’s mind-blowing Watch_Dogs, Naughty Dog’s brutally beautiful The Last of US and Quantic Dream’s stunning surprise Beyond: Two Souls., it’s CLEAR that the current console cycle has at least one great year left in it. Granted, Rayman Legends had me tearing up from laughing so much and YES, Ubisoft showed off how well the Wii U Gamepad and new Pro Controller will work for multiplayer action there, but it’s going to be another might spectacular 2012 and 2013 for gamers who happen to just own a PS3 or 360. More in a bit. I’m still processing a ton of notes…

Steel Battalion “How To” Trailer: “First, You Buy A Kinect…”

Posted on May 24, 2012 by geelw

Ha ha… Well, that’s how it SHOULD begin for those who still don’t own a Kinect, right? Out of all the games for the thing, this one is the main reason I’m interested in the peripheral. I like that it’s set up as a simulation where you’re not just using the Kinect to do EVERY action. With gameplay taking place in and out of the tank, it looks as if there will be a wide range of things to keep players busy as they tromp and blast through some pretty deadly war zones. The sense of immersion looks off the charts and HOPEFULLY, the jaded folks out there will give this one a try even if they’re still whining for a special (and one use) controller. Look kids – that’s not going to happen, as it would be too expensive to produce and useless just for this ONE game. Sure, the first Steel Battalion got that great big 44-button monster, but Capcom was smart enough not to overproduce it. Still, I;m sure SOMEONE will hack their SB controller to work with the new game (good luck with that project!)…

Windows Update: The Old Normal Returns (Or: “What The What?”)

Posted on May 14, 2012 by geelw

It figures. I go ape online for a few hours redoing passwords and getting used to my files being reorgani-zized by Windows seeming at random, shut down my PC to get out for some air, come back a bit later, turn the damn thing on to resume my stress testing and BOOM. I see ALL my old stuff back where it was before I freaked out. DUH. But still, WTF, Microsoft? ake be bend over backwards, pull my hair out and run around screaming in circles, THEN let me know (silently) that all was not lost after all.

Hmmm… It’s like being married, but without the romance. Er, wait a sec…. Oh, never mind… Feh. OK, let me go glue my hair back on and resume my regular stuff that I was ALREADY behind in getting to! Grrrr…

Microsoft, I Hate You Quite A Lot More Now…

Posted on May 14, 2012 by geelw

OK, this means war. Or something. I didn’t ask for an automatic update that wiped my desktop clean by moving all my work into assorted folders, killed my custom wallpaper off and nearly gave me a heart attack when I turned my computer on only to see a mere eight icons and that stupid landscape staring back at me. But that’s the easy thing to fix.

Why I hate you deeply now is the fact that you also wiped my Internet browsers CLEAN, including all my bookmarks PLUS all the passwords that I’ve had for years (and changed a few times too many) or recently updated. So, Instead of working on new game posts, I get to waste all day digging up passwords or making new ones. Feh.

Steel Battalion Captivate 2012 Footage: Time To Get Kinected, I Suppose.

Posted on April 16, 2012 by geelw

Hmmm. Not only does it look as if I’ll be hopping on the Kinect bandwagon for this game (OK, and the new Fable and maybe some other stuff that doesn’t involve dancing around in front of the TV), I’ll also have to do a Game Appreciation 101 class on artistic stylization choices made by game developers, as way too many people don’t “get” that the game is SUPPOSED to look a bit rustic and aged and not all Unreal-y and shiny up the wazoo. It’s amazing to me that those who don’t get this, but hey… I guess here to educate and it’s a long, hard process for sure. Don’t worry, Capcom and From – I got your back.

Dragon Ball Z On The Kinect: “Kamehameha” Means “Heart Attack” In What Language Again?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by geelw

Well, “Holy Hmm…,” Batman, the rumors are true. There’s actually a Dragon Ball Z game hitting the Kinect in October, so make some room in the living room and pad the walls for those screaming sessions you’ll be having in front of your TV. All I’ll say is this had better be fun as hell or else Namco Bandai’s formerly impenetrable HQ will be stormed by angry DBZ fans wearing bright gold wigs and costumes they made in their basements (some with the assistance of a parent or very understanding significant other!). This could get ugly and fast. I can see the newsflash now: Angry Dragon Ballers Raging At Game Publisher’s Offices! Details at 11…

What? Don’t get offended, now. They’re NOT going to show up in person or post those angry rants on the internet while sipping a snifter of brandy and thoughtfully stroking their beards, if that’s the other direction you want me to go here. Eh, whatever. With a franchise like this, there’s sort of no middle ground unless you don’t take the series seriously enough to be upset about the Kinect getting a DBZ game. For me, there are more urgent things to be pissed off about (like the fact that I need to get a Kinect at some point, but I’ll probably need to punch a hole in a wall so I have enough space to use the damn thing)…

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.

Gallery Update: Steel Battalion Heavy Armor

Posted on March 13, 2012 by geelw

From Software and Capcom are getting set to release what’s looking like the next big Kinect game as well as what’s looking like the first that’s going to have appeal across a few genres. Fans of the niche original will be all over this one (and won’t have to break out that table-sized 40+ button controller the original had), military tank sim fans should be intrigued enough to take the plunge and I can even see FPS players looking for a more emotional (and cerebral) experience wanting to give this one a shot. Of course, the naysayers are going on about the Kinect’s price point just for ONE game, but that’s when I smack them (gently) on the back of the neck while suggesting a few other titles they may want to play that won’t make them look like marionettes in an asylum puppet show put on by unsupervised inmates

More on this one as new info becomes available…

UPDATE: Want More Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Footage? Here You Go!

Posted on March 6, 2012 by geelw

It’s really late, I’m really wiped out and REALLY too tired to run as long a post as I’d like here, but here’s the latest video from Capcom and developer From Software’s upcoming Kinect exclusive that’s set to hit retail in June. All I’ll say before falling into bed is those of you out there who’ve been kicking the peripheral around (or just hate the 360 for some reason) will more likely than not be taking a begrudging glance at the console once this game ships out. Or even before as the gameplay previews drip out…

OK, off to bed for me – I’ll be back later today!