thatgamecompany’s Journey – An Online Experience Like No Other

Posted on December 17, 2010 by geelw

Some games are so good, they just make me want to sing, so pardon me while I warble a bit before the actual preview…

Gonna take a Sentimental Journey,
Gonna set my heart at ease.
Gonna make a Sentimental Journey,
to renew old memories…

OK, I’m done, the judges have spoken and I got unanimously booted off the island (without a boat or a paddle, mind you). You may remove that cotton from your ears and read on.

One of the biggest and best embargoed surprises at Sony’s holiday event last week was thatgamecompany’s Journey, a downloadable PS3 exclusive that just may be one of the most innovative online experiences ever created. Taking a cue from the beauty, simplicity and ease of play found in flOw, Flower and Cloud, the game combines open world exploration, platforming and puzzle elements in an elegantly simple, yet extremely lovely package. While the build on display was only playable by the two tgc staffers present, it was immediately clear what was on display just might rewrite the book on Internet play. In a way, tgc has created the safest online multiplayer game in the world… and a gorgeously rendered one at that.

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Portal 2 Co-Op Trailer (Yes… and Yes)

Posted on December 16, 2010 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/A88YiZdXugA?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

Yes, it’s the PAX 2010 trailer (I wasn’t at PAX, so I’m seeing this for the first time) and Yes, Valve wants you to buy the game because they’re working on it harder than you think. Hell, they’ve got my money as long as i can walk into a game shop and buy it on a disc.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River Game Site Goes Live

Posted on December 16, 2010 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/wynpaq4sl-I?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

Codemasters’ upcoming PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 military shooter looks to bring a more realistic take back to the FPS genre with this upcoming sequel. Last year’s Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, warts and all, was definitely an excellent challenge. Red River looks to top that with even better Ego Engine-powered visuals

My one worry here – content. Dated visuals aside, the original OpFlash on PC and Xbox still trump Dragon Rising in terms of allowing for user-created content and I’m hoping PC and console gamers get that chance with Red River at some point either as part of the main package or some sort of expansion pack/DLC. We’ll see what happens as more news about Red River hits the inbox…

Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon 2011 Calendar Brings Warmth To The Holiday Season (and how!)

Posted on December 15, 2010 by geelw

So… guess what showed up today courtesy of D3Publisher of America? Yow-za. Now, D3 just NEEDS to answer that musical question: “Will Pale Wing be in EDFIA?” All kidding aside, that “exclusive interview” cover teaser, has me HOPING she’s added into the upcoming game as a playable character (and they’ve had Vicious Cycle use one of the lovely ladies in the calendar as a model for her). One can only hope! Note to D3: the more fan service the better!
By the way… What, NO screen shots at all in the calendar? (Just kidding!)

Actual Uncharted 3 Reveal Adds Even More Tease.

Posted on December 11, 2010 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/1kyktW8KcFI?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

Heh… oops. Well, this longer trailer only packs in a few action shots near the end, but that longer shot of the plane wreckage has me intrigued, as does who that hand in the sand belongs to. Again, it’s Sony’s year to lose in 2011 (if you count your games in a competitive manner). Gotta love the first-party studios SCEA has – they’re just cranking them out on a regular basis these days…

Uncharted 3 Teaser Makes Me Want A Second PS3

Posted on December 11, 2010 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/i7MKsyzox_c?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

Naughty Dog’s reliability is a TOTAL pain in the neck, isn’t it? Just when you think they’ve done their best work… well, here they come again, very quietly promising to blow the doors off their last effort while making us all get the drool cups out. This supremely tease-y peek at Nathan Drake’s new adventure shows nothing at all in terms of high action, yet quietly makes it look like one for the ages if you pick apart all the little details on that table. Hell, I may need to buy a new PS3 just in case my old launch model finally keels over as I’m installing the new game. Crap… I just jinxed myself… then again, I don’t believe in curses, so there!

Batman Arkham City Teaser (Yet Another Long Wait That’s Going To Be Worth It)

Posted on December 10, 2010 by geelw

Well, now we know it’s next fall as far as the release date goes. WBIE may be stingy with revealing assets, but heck, that’s not going to stop the game from being as good as (or even better than) the original, I say…

Bastion Trailer: Supergiant Is One More Indie Dev To Watch…

Posted on December 10, 2010 by geelw

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/mX48y24t9iU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0

Supergiant Games’ upcoming Bastion is the sort of game I’d pay good money for if it came in a boxed retail version. Sadly, like far too many indie games this generation, this gorgeous, innovative RPG looks as if it’ll only see the light of day as a digital download. Sure, that’s absolutely peachy for folks who can go that easy, breezy DLC route on PC and console formats, but some games (and particularly great-looking games such as this) should be available for the masses in as many (legal) forms as possible (grrrr, end of non-rant). Anyway, ogle the trailer above and keep a eye peeled for what’s looking to be one of 2011’s indie games. My radar is pointed in your general direction, Bastion… don’t let me down!

(Great, now I’m talking to as yet unreleased indie games…where’s my medicine?!)

Review: Need For Speed Hot Pursuit

Posted on December 6, 2010 by geelw

Platform: PS3 (also on Xbox 360, Wii, PC)

Developer: Criterion Games

Publisher: Electronic Arts

# of Players: 1 (online 2 – 8)

ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 +)

Official Site

Score: A-

In Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, Criterion Games' new Autolog feature is very much like a way too loyal robotic dog that lives on a diet of Red Bull-laced motor oil and rechargeable batteries, and that's a both a good and bad thing, boys and girls. If you absolutely THRIVE on competition, It's a good dog (Good dog! Goooood doggieeeeee!) because it keeps you on your toes, notifying you constantly that your formerly best times have been beaten, who beat you and yes, that you should drop everything and go get your record times back. Paradoxically, if you're a casual gamer who happens to plug into PSN or Xbox Live for some friendly competition (or a mere system update before playing the game) Autolog is a bad dog (bad dog! BAD! NO!), constantly interrupting your set racing schedule to let you know someone's peed or pooped all over your best times and how much of a LOSER you are for not going on ahead and racing every fool that's ready to take you down and leave the smell of virtual burnt rubber in your nostrils. Damn you, Autolog! Now go sit in your box… GO!

Sega Announces Binary Domain In Development For PS3 & 360

Posted on December 1, 2010 by geelw

Sega's upcoming sci-fi themed squad-based shooter may be early, but it's looking pretty cool to me in these screens (there's a nice Terminator vibe going on). Click on that nice logo above to hit the official site – the press release is below the jump.