Call of Duty MW3 TV Spot: It’s Guy Ritchie’s Turn To Show He’s A Gamer Too…

Posted on October 29, 2012 by geelw

‘Ey! What’s all this now with popular directors tackling video game ads? First it’s David Fincher producing a wild and intriguing Halo 4 ad and now Guy Ritchie on this CoD MW3 commercial… hmmmmm. Well, I guess people need to work and hey, it’s always great to find out some quality movie talent are gamers, right? So it’s all good in the end. It’s also good that we’re not seeing these guys tackle adaptations of the games they’re doing ads for as full-fledged movies. I know I said in an earlier post that it would be a good idea to see longer form works from great directors based on games, but given that you’d end up with 21 writers trying to fit too much into a two-hour flick and the creative control disasters that would result from this sort of collaboration, TV spots and quick trailers are a better thing in the end foe gamers concerned about quality and continuity. OK, someone dial up Ridley Scott – I’d love to see him tackle some upcoming title (if he’s got an interest in gaming at all, that is)…

Okami HD Video: 5 Awesome Things In The First Hour (No White Rabbit Needed)…

Posted on October 27, 2012 by geelw

And all five things can be done before breakfast if you get the game when it hits PSN exclusively on October 30th and wait until early the next morning to play it. Well, that’s not going to happen, as Okami is more of a game you’ll stay up ALL night playing. With spiffy HD visuals, PlayStation Move support, many, many hours of gameplay (yes, there’s loads of replay value here as well) and more, chalk this up as yet another winner from Capcom.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted In Stores Now: The Fastest Way To Make New Friends (And Rivals)…

Posted on October 26, 2012 by geelw

Criterion’s new multiplayer-centric racing game (which also has a fine single player component) has some spectacular speed (the rock-solid smoothest 30fps racer you’ll play this year), a massive open world feel and constant action even when you’re blasting around on the way to events. Plenty of licensed cars, plenty of racing action and plenty of opportunities to raise havoc online of off means plenty of time spent sunk into your couch when you should be doing more productive things. Then again, getting to the top of your Autolog listing and staying there IS important, grrrr! EA has a winner here – go let them know it with a buy, I say…

Naughty Bear:PiP Update Adds Familar (And Furry) Horror Faces…

Posted on October 25, 2012 by geelw

Nothing like a bit more parody added to an already fun (and funny) game. Xbox 360 owners of Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise can now grab the Teddy Krubear outfit for a mere 240 Microsoft Points through Xbox Live. Next week, there’s a Friday the 13th inspired Jason Pawhees costume coming to XBL and PSN (240 MS Points or 99 cents, respectively) and on November 14, expect to see Pennybear the Clown (based on Pennywise from Stephen King’s IT, in case you’re scratching your head wondering) pop up out of the digital closet for the same low price point. Hey! Where’s Teddy Krubear for PS3-only owners? I guess he’ll show up in your dreams or something. Night-night (for what it’s worth… cue creepy music)…

Lost Planet 3 NYCC Panel: Watch and Learn (Once Again!)

Posted on October 24, 2012 by geelw

Spark Unlimited is really pulling out the stops to make Lost Planet 3 the best game they’ve done to date. This prequel has been getting some way out of place hatred from some who aren’t yet hip to the fact that the game doesn’t replace the LP they know with something new and different at all – it just sets up the world and events the other games will jump off from. Anyway, take a gander at this presentation from New York Comic Con which covers a few fun development facts including the great motion capture work that’s going into the final product. From the brief demo I played a few months back, it’s looking like the single player story will have memorable characters and plenty of exposition that could make this the most interesting game in the series for those who love a tale told well. The action’s not bad, either.

KontrolFreek’s FPS Freek Havoc & FPS Freek Infinity: The Science of Shooting Stuff Faster

Posted on October 23, 2012 by geelw

Whether you play a lot of console FPS games in online or single player modes, you know that getting the drop on that enemy before you’re ventilated is all that matters and everything you can do to make that perfect shot is a good thing. Atlanta, GA-based KontrolFreek has been around for a bit providing console FPS fans with some cool controller enhancements that actually improve performance without the need for spending a ton of money on a custom pad or taking apart your favorite controller. The KontrolFreek Havoc (inspired by Call of Duty Black Ops II) and KontrolFreek Infinity (inspired by Halo 4) are a set of analog thumb stick extenders that actually add more range of movement to your character while requiring less pressure on the sticks, meaning you can play longer and better as soon as you snap these onto your favorite gamepad. Hey now, don’t be such a skeptic! There’s actual SCIENCE here to prove it! Go, Science!

I was quite surprised at how more responsive games like Killzone 3, Resistance 3, Halo ODST, Metro 2033 and a few others I tried out with the Havoc and Infinity on a few different first and third-party pads I have around the home office were and both even work well with other genres where extended play usually brings tired digits. If there’s a FPS fan on your holiday gift list, either (or both) would make a perfect addition to their package. Grab a pair of either for $19.99 MSRP at a game shop near you, but if they don’t have these, you can order direct from KontrolFreek for $13.99, a savings of $6 with FREE shipping if you order $25 or more of merchandise. Sounds like a deal if you ask me. Anyway, get to it and maybe tell a few friends so they can get in on this. Of course, telling people you play AGAINST that you’re putting holes in them faster because of KontrolFreeks is probably not a good thing (but it will make the folks at the company happy, that’s for sure)…

Hey Sony! You’re Missing a HUGE Opportunity With Wonderbook…

Posted on October 22, 2012 by geelw

Here’s the second developer diary from SCEE about Wonderbook, but let’s forget about that for a minute. Four little words, Sony, just four little words:

Fifty Shades of Grey.

Grab the rights to this NOW. I’m just saying… that stupid book and its two sequels have sold in the millions and you have an untapped (pun not intended) source of potential female PS3 owners (that thinner cuter model you just introduced, y’know) who’d LOVE to have an interactive version of the book they can surprise their significant (or insignificant) others (or other selves) with. Sure, the kid books will do OK, but get a dev team to whip out (no pun intended) a version of the first book with some nice PS Move bells and whistles, get it in a limited edition package with a coupon from Trojan Vibrations and BOOM – watch the money rollllllllllllll in.

I’m just saying – tap that market fast before the movie hits and the fad wears out. No charge for this idea – you can thank me later.

Sega Model 2 Collection: Virtua Everything (Now, Let’s Get This Stateside!)

Posted on October 21, 2012 by geelw

Hmmm… looks like Sega is finally going to unleash more of its arcade history on gamers soon (well, in Japan, at least). Hopefully, Sega of America and Sega of Europe are on the case in getting these out over PSN and XBLA. Personally, I’d prefer to see these all pop up on a single disc so I don’t have to worry about any online issues and heck, these NEED to be Vita and Wiiware bound at some point just because gamers who haven’t heard of these hits should absolutely be playing them. I’m betting Sega Rally is coming up next, as are some other Model 2 games not in this initial batch… it’s going to be fun seeing these roll out, that’s for sure…

Review: Naughty Bear: Panic In Paradise

Posted on October 21, 2012 by geelw

Platform: PS3 (also on Xbox 360)

Developer: Behaviour Interactive

Publisher: 505 Games

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 & Up)

Official Site

Score: B (80%)

A much more improved update to the original Naughty Bear (one of the great guilty pleasures for me this console cycle), Naughty Bear: Panic In Paradise adds more of everything fans asked for plus whatever wackiness developer Behaviour Interactive (formerly Artificial Mind & Movement) cooked up to make this a bigger and better game experience. While the visual style is the same (deceptively plain for the most part), the amount of content here is staggering, particularly if you’re a gamer who has to unlock every single piece of gear and uncover every secret. Add in a budget price point and you’re getting a ton of game here for not a lot of loot, always a good thing in this day and age.

Continue reading →

Need For Speed Most Wanted Live Action Trailer: Adrenaline Drive, Indeed…

Posted on October 19, 2012 by geelw

Here’s yet another cool look at Criterion’s upcoming open-world racer, this time it’s a fun live action ad that’s kind of like Carfight as the OK Corral. Well, in an urban setting, of course. I love the editing here and how the focus is on a handful of the many types of licensed rides awaiting players in the final version. I played another nice chunk of this at EA’s Naughty or Nice event last week and it’s just as fun as the first time I picked up a controller. The mobile versions I got to try were equally spectacular, so keep an eyeball peeled for those if you’re looking for one of the best portable racers out there.