Interview/Gallery: Robo-Shambo

Posted on August 26, 2009 by geelw

“What the heck’s a Robo-Shambo?!” you ask? Nooooo, it’s not some sort of newfangled “European-style” late-night infomercial room cleaning device (“This is Vince for Robo Shambo!”), nor is it a wacky YouTube mash up of RoboCop and Rambo (although, that would be pretty darn hilarious seeing a metal-clad Stallone clanking around blowing holes in evil, evil men with .20 caliber rounds… “Adriaaaaaaaaaan!!!”).

Robo-Shambo is in fact, a game project by GearSphere, a small team of 17 young programmers and artists up at the Art Institute of Vancouver. The game is a a third person six-player LAN shooter (set for release on September 14, 2009) coded using Microsoft’s XNA Framework, which could mean a potential Xbox LIVE release down the road. And all this time you probably thought all they did in up in Vancouver was watch hockey, be Canadian and get free health care…

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Gallery: The Saboteur

Posted on August 25, 2009 by geelw

Did you ever find yourself walking home from a meeting, take a wrong turn down a dark alleyway (well, there WAS that ‘Detour’ sign with an arrow pointing right, so I detoured) and next thing you know, you wake up a short time later in a rumpled heap with a folder of screenshots in your hand and a hastily scrawled note that says: “éditez ces images, svp – des mercis, Devlin.” taped to your forehead?

No? Well, that happened to moi last night. I find out later that had I merely taken a left turn then three blocks to the subway and gone straight home, I could have picked up the same screens from one of EA’s helpfully handy PR folks and NOT get bonked on the head. Damn.

Need to find out who this “Devlin” guy is soon and give him the what-for, grrrrr…

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Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Ship Date, Awesome Pre-Order T-Shirt Revealed

Posted on August 25, 2009 by geelw

Leave it to Capcom to go and cook up one of the coolest, craziest pre-order T-shirts I’ve ever seen (beating even that insanely groovy tie-dyed Raz T-shirt from Psychonauts) and they know it. Gamers who pre-order Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles for the Wii from GameStop will receive a ridiculously versatile T that, when pulled over the head, turns into an instant zombie disguise.

The T’s were first introduced at this year’s San Diego Comic-con and of course, the killer reaction from the crowds meant more gamers will get the chance to nab one of these goodies. It’s goofy… but really effective at first glance, as you’ll see below: Continue reading →

Gallery: Dementium II

Posted on August 24, 2009 by geelw

The fine folks down at Austin, Texas-based Renegade Kid are at it again. The award-winning developer of two of the best technical achievements (and fantastic game experiences, by the way) for the Nintendo DS, Dementium: The Ward and MOON are set to scare your pants (and possibly whatever else you’re wearing) off yet again with Dementium II, set for a 2010 release through publisher Southpeak Games. This small team of talented guys really knows how to get the DS hardware to do just what they want and based on these early screens, DII could be their best work yet…

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Review: Cursed Mountain

Posted on August 23, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: Deep Silver Vienna/Sproing

Publisher: Deep Silver

# of Players: 1

Official Site

Score: A (95%)

sub·jec·tive (suhb-jěk’tĭv) adj.
1. a. Proceeding from or taking place in a person’s mind rather than the external world: a subjective decision.
b. Particular to a given person; personal: subjective experience.
2. Moodily introspective.
3. Existing only in the mind; illusory.
4. Psychology: Existing only within an individual’s mind.

Most horror-themed video games are extremely subjective in that each person who plays them will generally have a different overall experience. Those that frighten easily will baby-step through their play sessions, saving frequently, checking maps and trying their very best not to to die horribly. The more fearless, bolder gamers accustomed to faster-paced play will blaze forward, taking on all comers in a quest for kill counts while often blissfully unaware of the developer’s intentions in attempting to set a particular mood. This type of player generally never flinches unless the game adds in “jump” scares like those found in hundreds of horror movies or live haunted house experiences in some amusement parks. A third type of gamer takes the middle road, going into every game “cold” in order to fully appreciate every nuance as they let themselves become completely immersed in the game world.

Welcome, dear reader to Deep Silver’s incredible Wii exclusive, Cursed Mountain…

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Dragon Age: Origins Update #2: The City of Haven

Posted on August 21, 2009 by geelw

In this week’s Dragon Age: Origins reveal, we’ll take a trip to what looks like a fairly normal village similar to what you’d find in any typically grand role-playing game. However, as you’ll read (and as life in a BioWare RPG often teaches us), sometimes what looks perfectly normal is often far more sinister once one lets one’s guard down. With that, welcome, dear readers to… Continue reading →

Gallery: Wet

Posted on August 21, 2009 by geelw

PARTIAL TELEPHONE TRANSCRIPT: ONE WAY, TRACED
DATE: FRIDAY, 8/21/2009
TIME: 5:42:38 AM EST
DIALED FROM: REDACTED
DIALED TO: REDACTED
————————————————-

(phone rings)
(phone rings)
(phone rings)

Hello?

No Rubi, I didn’t forget about you… it’s just been a bit busy here – one man operation and all that. Yes, dear… no, put down the gun. No, please don’t shoot up the phone like last time – I couldn’t hear right for a week. Thank you, Rubi…

What was that… there’s some static going on, what? … Yes, I’ll run those WET screenshots now.

Right, right… I know Bethesda is publishing the game and the team at A2M (also known as Artificial Mind & Movement) are developing it.

Yes, uh-huh… September 15, 2009 is the release date.

Yesssssss,I also remembered your birthday, Rubi. No, i’m not telling you what I got you… it’s a surprise. No it’s not a new knife… you “left” the last one I gave you in someone’s head, remember?

Anyway, you want me to run that press release on the blog as well? “Just the good parts?” OK. Uh-huh, right. I gotta go now – don’t want to keep a lady waiting, right?

No no! I was talking about you! Rubi, wait, don’t shoo…(*click*)

DISCONNECTED
END CONVERSATION
DATE: FRIDAY, 8/21/2009
TIME: 5:44:01 AM EST
LOGGED BY: REDACTED
————————————————————————————————-
Women – can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em, right?. Well, at least she didn’t shoot the phone this time. Now let’s see if I can do this right: Continue reading →

Astro Boy Game Taps Kristen Bell For Voice Cast

Posted on August 21, 2009 by geelw

Never have friends over when you’re trying to work. As I was typing the original version of the above headline, I hear a loud voice from behind me “ASTRO BOY TAPS KRISTEN BELL…?!!” then a big hearty horse laugh. Let’s just say someone got a big boot to the ass and ended up on the other side of my front door. Besides, eleven games arrived between this morning and afternoon, so I’ve a LOT of work to do. *Ahem* – now where was I? Oh yeah: Astro Boy game news…

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Texas Cheat ‘Em PC Giveaway! (CLOSED!)

Posted on August 21, 2009 by geelw

UPDATE: ALL CODES GONE!!!

Attention poker fans: we’ve got a really cool giveaway thanks to the fine folks at D3Publisher of America. They’ve given us FIVE download codes for the FULL PC version of Texas Cheat ‘Em (a $9.99 value) over Valve’s STEAM game service. (broadband digital distribution at its finest, folks!). What’s the catch? Well, nothing! STEAM is absolutely FREE (go download it now, if you haven’t already) – all you need to do is shoot me an e-mail at geelw2@gmail.com and you’ll get your download code!

Heck, I could ask you to join up as a DAF follower using Google Friend Connect, but I’m keeping this giveaway as hands-off as possible. That’s how I roll!

In case you haven’t heard of the game yet, here’s a quick description and screenshots…

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Zen Pinball SFII Tribute Table Now on PSN

Posted on August 20, 2009 by geelw

Zen Studios has launched its Street Fighter II Tribute expansion table for its popular PlayStation Network hit ZEN Pinball. The table, currently available for $2.49 US (1.99 Euro, if you’re in Euro-pe) features all your favorite World Warriors from Capcom’s classic fighter, plenty of fantastic, lightning fast pinball action and of course, Zen’s amazingly realistic physics model that really sucks you into the fun. It’s cheap, it’s a treat (zero calories!) and most importantly, it’s yet another good Street Fighter game. So what are you reading this for? Go buy and download it if you’re a fan of either SFII or pinball. If you’re NOT a pinball fan – well, you’ll most likely become one after a few rounds with this new table, that’s for sure…