Evil Controllers Marks February As Girl Gaming Month With New Camo Mod, Contest

Posted on February 1, 2011 by geelw

Evil Controllers, makers of some pretty awesome custom modded Xbox 360 controllers is kicking off this month as Girl Gaming Month with a new custom Pink Camo Xbox 360 controller imaging, a Girl Gamer Evil Bundle and a pretty cool contest for the gaming gals out there who want to show off their skills. Even better, a portion of sales from each controller purchased through the site will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of breast cancer research.

It's really great to see companies such as Evil adding a more socially aware vibe to what they do, so definitely support them with a purchase if you're a 360 owner looking for a top of the line controller mod.

Anarchy Reigns: PlatinumGames’ Multiplayer Brawler Takes The Fight Online

Posted on January 30, 2011 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/8jhFbWcRdfs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

PlatinumGames' newest Sega title set for a Fall 2011 release, is going to be a multiplayer-focused brawler that (based on this too short and non-gameplay packed teaser), looks as if it's going to have some wild characters and at least one double-bladed chainsaw (ouch). As long as it's not another Iron Phoenix (and let's hope we see some sort of offline play, puh-lease!), I'm sold.

Three screens and basic game info below the jump, more news on AR as it comes out…

L.A. Noire Website Now Live

Posted on January 30, 2011 by geelw

Rockstar’s game site designs are always great, and the newly-launched official site for Team Bondi’s upcoming crime drama is no exception. Poke around the age-gated site for a look at the character file on Coroner Carruthers as well as a look at the Homicide Desk lead character Cole Phelps works in. Nice screens, game art trailers and even a few film noir recommendations for those gamers who want to expand their horizons a bit before the game ships in May. My own noir choices will be the subject of an upcoming article next month, so check back in for that…

Gallery: L.A. Noire

Posted on January 27, 2011 by geelw

Oops. I'd forgotten to post these lovely screens of Team Bondi's crime drama a few days back, so here you go. I think a LOT of folks will be surprised when they play the game, as Rockstar is known for shaking things up. I hate speculation and “expectation” in most previews, but as a fan of classic noir films myself as well as updated takes on the genre such as Chinatown and L.A. Confidential, I have a feeling this one's going to be a great deal more about story than too much open-world rambling about. We'll see…

More screens below the jump.

Gallery Update: RAGE

Posted on January 26, 2011 by geelw

OK, it’s only a mere three new screens, but yikes. That idTech 5 engine is sure pumping out some glorious-looking images, huh? RAGE is slated for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in North America on September 13, 2011 and across Europe on September 16, 2011. More updates to follow, of course…

Gallery: Silent Hill: Downpour

Posted on January 26, 2011 by geelw

Konami has released the first batch of six Silent Hill: Downpour screens as well as a single, short and nicely creepy music track from Dexter composer Daniel Licht. According to the press release, this newest installment developed by Vatra (the awesomely fun Rush ‘N Attack – Ex-Patriot)…

starts as Murphy Pendleton, the game’s main character, finds himself lost and alone in the woods after his prison transport bus crashes near the town of Silent Hill. What happens after is up to the player as they traverse an all-new Silent Hill environment that is expansive, yet claustrophobic. And though this sleepy town may feel desolate, the player is never truly alone.

OK, I’m in. hell, I’ve been a Silent Hill nut since the first game, so I’m ALWAYS in. The game ships this fall for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Back with updates as they come in.

Duke Nukem Forever Gets May 3rd Release Date, Hell Freezes Over Again (Well, It IS Winter…)

Posted on January 22, 2011 by geelw

So much for the few remaining skeptics out there, huh? 2K and Gearbox are finally getting the news out that The Man Himself will be landing in retail stores for PS3, PC and Xbox 360 on May 3, 2011 in North America and May 6 everywhere else those alien bastards are trying to take over (as in the rest of the world). Groovy, I say. Time to go stock up on bubble gum and dig out the old combat boots once more. What, the store's all out of bubble gum? Well, there's only one thing to do then, right?

Full press release below the jump because I'm too damn lazy to cut 'n paste excerpts (Well, I'm writing two reviews at the moment, too!)…

Homefront: Future History Trailer

Posted on January 20, 2011 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/fAF1Tg-FGyI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

One of the many games of 2011 I’ve also had on my radar has been THQ’s Homefront, a story-driven FPS (with multiplayer modes, of course) developed here in NYC by Kaos Studios (Hi Irania!). While not a sequel to the excellent Frontlines: Fuel of War, Homefront uses topical and ‘alternate history’ events along with a John Milius (of Red Dawn fame) script to present a darker, more realistic tone to its North Korean-invaded US game world and how players get to stage a resistance. From what I’ve seen so far, the game looks to be a visceral experience on a few fronts and I truly hope that those in the FPS fan base “get” what’s being done here and NOT simply snap this up because it’s just another shooter where you can hop around like bunnies online or camp out with a favorite gun and chuckle away a few hours.

Review: Fighters Uncaged

Posted on January 17, 2011 by geelw

Platform: Xbox 360 (Kinect)

Developer: Ubisoft

Publisher: Ubisoft

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: D

As a launch title for Microsoft's otherwise interesting (and multimillion selling) Kinect, Fighters Uncaged suffers from a case of “good idea, poor implementation” but sadly, this didn't have to be the case. If you're feeling the need to compare, unlike Sony's PlayStation Move brawler The Fight: Lights Out, this is a supremely below average game that's quite undercooked and shows its flaws as soon as you start playing. The Fight does indeed have its own flaws, but it's at least actual fun once you get the hang of it, supports two players and can be played online. Fighters Uncaged is strictly a solo affair, which makes little sense for a game in the genre these days. The generic, poorly told “story”, stereotypical enemies straight out of a bad Final Fight clone and wonky Kinect controls all beat up on you as you're slogging through, making it a total chore to complete. It's not all bad news, however. It's certainly a game that's not getting a sequel (unless too many Kinect owners new to motion control gaming snap it up and make it a mega-hit).

Commentary: Why We ALL Need Wizardry Back!

Posted on January 14, 2011 by geelw

Sometimes, I just hate Japan, but in a decidedly more “grrrr… how come they get THAT game?” manner (and not anything more overly dramatic than that, mind you). While the Wizardry franchise hasn’t seen a new Western-developed PC game in the states since the ill-fated, (but mostly well-rated) Wizardry 8 (back in 2001!), since the late 80’s, Japanese gamers have had nearly 40 ports or completely original Wizardry games and side-stories created by an assortment of developers for a number of consoles, portables and even cellphones.

More recently (as in a big, fat “what the what?!”), the Nintendo DS in Japan has gotten their own original Wizardry games in the form of three titles that will probably never, ever see the light of day in English unless they get fan-patched translations (*grrrr!*). You can keep your Angry Birds, and other “casual” games, folks – I’d rather play something with real meat on its bones.

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