GRID 2 Cote d’Azur Gameplay: Sightseeing At 140 MPH (Or So)…

Another day, another GRID 2 video, which is always a good thing to see. Of course, as the release date rolls up, the not so good thing to see is just as the amount of interest is rising, also rising as are the obstinate flame-throwers who still want a dashboard view despite Codemasters stating from the beginning that it wouldn’t be an option. Blah, blah, whine, whine. Just don’t buy the game, I say. Or buy a real car instead if you want a dashboard in your face. The game DOES support a number of steering wheel peripherals, so hopefully that’s a consolation to some of that crowd… we’ll see, I suppose.

GRID 2 Gameplay: Algarve and Brands Hatch Laps To Lap Up…

Just about a month to go, so Codemasters is getting these GRID 2 gameplay trailers out like clockwork. Of course, the curse of the Internet Troll is still hitting the developer, as rants from the “no dash cam, no buy” crowd are still popping up (like clockwork as well). Well, I like the game as is, and I don’t thing threats of not making a purchase, begging for a patch (which would take a while if you add in the number of cars and other changes to the engine) or other complaining will fly right on over the dev team’s heads until they decide to re-implement the viewpoint into a different racer. As I’ve played bits of the solo and multiplayer modes, I can safely report that you really won’t miss the viewpoint (much) because the speed and handling are still there. But, whatever to those who still are screaming to the heavens. Tantrums like these keep me off message board sites and wondering if anyone bitching so loudly about ANY game they don’t plan on playing actually has a hobby outside of being a human soapbox…

Defiance 1:3 Preview: “The Devil in the Dark”

Short and longer previews of next week’s episode, anyone? I like that the show picks bits and pieces from all over and cobbles them together into something entertaining that makes those who get all the references nod and wink at their TV screens. I’m not tracking the ratings at all, as that’s a useless thing to do for any show that SHOULD get a full season and story arc to find its place. I hear that the game has been having some bumps that are being ironed out through patches, but that’s the online space for you – nothing ever goes THAT smoothly even if that’s the best intention of all involved. It’s a really good thing the show is so much fun to watch and both products can stand alone while enhancing the overall experience if one has the means and connection speed to play.

GRID 2 Presents: A Few From BMW To Whet Your Appetite…

Only about a month plus to go before Codemasters’ superb sequel rolls out, so here are a few BMW’s to “Mmmmmmmmmmm…” over. I do recall the one I drove in the demo a few weeks back handling like a dream, but it was definitely on a tough track to make it around without some deft braking and proper acceleration when required. The game isn’t a sim at all, but you can’t just jam on the gas and expect to make it through a race with a decent position. Then again, you’d probably NOT want to be sitting in a real BMW or any other car with me, as I don’t drive in the real world (but skills picked up from gaming have helped me move a few vehicles over the years)…

Defiance Episode 1 Recap/Episode 3 Preview: Fun With The Past, Bugs In Your Future…

I like how syfy is poking a little fun at their big hit show in that recap above while keeping things interesting in the more serious preview below. Of course, titling your third episode after a classic Star Trek episode kind of reeks of unoriginality, but I’m betting if there’s a decent homage paid out during that episode next week, it’ll fly right on over the heads of anyone who’s never seen the old Trek show previously. Thank goodness for the Internet, right? Well, unless you’re a classic Trek fan angrily typing out some threats in Romulan or Klingon to send to the network…

Still, it’ll be nice to see which types of Hellbugs pop up in the show on Monday, as the game has a few nasty varieties that are pretty relentless once they start chewing on you. And, nope… that can of Raid on the shelf in the kitchen is NO help at all…

Gallery: Dark Souls II

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DarkSoulsII (1)As noted last week, Dark Souls II is looking quite spectacular for a work in progress. FromSoftware is toiling away like mad to give fans what they want and MORE, with the focus being on getting to the good stuff (combat and survival) faster, eliminating some of the overly tedious backtracking and beefing up the visuals, enemies and overall level of challenge to new extremes. Casual players looking for a simple hack & slash and those not wanting the thrill of barely making it past some brutal death traps, enemies and bosses will want to tread lightly here (or tread not at all), but everyone else looking for the King of Pain and willing to roll the dice here will be in gaming heaven (and more often than not, hell) when this one ships out for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 once it’s all done…

For anyone who plays, however… expect to feel DESPAIR (and frequently, if you rush around like Kratos on a caffeine jag)…

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GRID 2 Customization: My Fairlady (And Yours, Too!)

The brilliant car customization in Codemasters’ upcoming racer GRID 2 is one more really awesome feature that will get and keep this racer on many play lists for a while. I didn’t get to tinker with it during my two hands-on sessions, but that’s probably a darn good thing. I tend to take ages to trick out a ride and usually end up with something that’s understated yet a monster on the road. Of course, with the amount of online competition this will no doubt have way too many great racers breaking records every few minutes or less, but I’m going to hit solo mode and break in every car I can on as many tracks in the game as possible. May 28, 2013 will be one of those “flu” days for some folks, I’m betting…

Four Minutes of Next Week’s Defiance Episode: Hey, Time Travel WORKS!

Well, not in this clip from the upcoming episode, “Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go” mind you, but in the fact that you’re able to (*gasp!*) actually SEE into the future here and catch the first four minutes of the show before it airs ( that footage is below the jump – we’re building suspense here!) PLUS two teasers for the show. Hey, now you can roll home four minutes late and not feel as if you missed anything!

Er, of course, given that the show gets repeated right afterward (and at least twice), you just might get called really goofy by your friends and relatives for pretending that time travel DOES exist. Oh well… dreaming is fine, but reality works much better when you’re in the right groove… “OK, get to the good stuff!”, right? Alright, alright… Continue reading

Defiance: Brave New World With Some Familiar Themes (Take Two!)

OOPS. I actually accidentally “wallpapered” this post (as in posted OVER it!) by accident when I got booted offline with a couple of posts in progress open in separate windows, then mixed up when restoring and fixing things. So, here we go again – but completely rewritten, as nothing got saved and I HATE redoing articles because I can’t recapture the same tone – yaaaah!)

SO, Defiance seems to have survived not only its first episode with the biggest audience ever for syfy, it also survived an assault by a rather large enemy force thanks to a bit of Deus ex machina that was for me, a rather humorous homage to the first Star Wars movie. That or it was some fine lazy writing by the team that needed to wrap things up and had to fall back on their big action scene to satisfy the fans who wanted their big battle. Still, it was a fine pilot overall, even with way too many characters to keep track of. This of course, will settle out as more episodes air and we get to know who’s who and where their alliances lie. OK, OK, fo those of you who didn’t get it, I’ll get into the Star Wars moment(s) below the jump… Continue reading

GRID 2 Multiplayer Redefined Trailer: Yes, Indeed It Is…

It was actually really funny to be the first and only person at the early appointment to see the innovative multiplayer mode in GRID 2 and get some great hands-on time, as I could tell the assembled team was itching to let people coming in play the game and see what was what. Still, I had to go through the entire team’s rehearsed presentation before my hands-on time, which was cool to hear, but I’m that sort of guy who “gets” stuff without the boxcar pitch games get. Of course, I’m not complaining one bit, folks – once you play this one, it’s going to keep you busy for some time, especially if you go full-on into the RaceNet functionality. May 28 is rushing up really quickly and for once, I’m not so ticked off at time zipping by…