Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: Power Play…

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Hey, guess what? FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York!) actually got his car yesterday and yes indeed, he got himself a little gift. But, hey… guess what? The power is OUT where he’s staying. Oops. How’s that for a nasty plot twist? Anyway, in true horror game fashion this means it’s out and about poking around the rainy woods avoiding danger and looking for the right generator to kick until it clicks back on. Here’s the thing, folks – you know York’s probably in the wrong place entirely because if the power were out, that generator room he’s in here would be pitch black as well. Unless it’s running on its own backup system or is powered by another cabin’s generator. Actually, the BIGGER issue here is the fact that our heroic investigator can’t be playing the game he’s in while he’s in it… but don’t you go tell him that now. He’d ask “Guess What?” and then bonk you on the head with that guitar he’s got in his inventory. I bet you’re a lot less tough than that Red Seeds Killer to take down, especially with a heavy electric guitar dent in your noggin.

DPDC PS3 US EFS 2D Real You know, you can just do York a BIG favor by picking up a copy of Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, coming exclusively for the PlayStation 3 on April 30, 2013 from Rising Star Games. Featuring over 100 improvements over the original, updated HD graphics, 3D TV and PlayStation Move support and more, this one will keep you in York’s shoes for as long as you can stand it. Which is probably a good thing for him, as he kind of needs a break from all that walking and running around in the rain looking for the right generator. Or the left one. Wait, which one is it again? Now I need an aspirin!

SWERY65_tiny And guess what? Game Director Swery 65 is probably chuckling to himself because he knows York all too well and he COULD call him up on his cell phone to tell him which generator is which… but it’s more fun to have him figure it out himself. Or even better, if and when YOU help York figure it out. I was going to say “And now you know how games are made!” or something like that to end this post, but that’s not quite the truth. It’s a hell of a lot more work than that (which is why it’s a damn good thing the coffee is really good in Greenvale)…

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: A Simple Question…

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So, what’s up with FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York!) today you ask? well, as you can see, the man NEEDS a car. Badly. Not because he’s got a line on that axe-wielding Red Seeds Killer, mind you. He got some spectacular news not too long ago and really wants to take a little drive out of Greenvale for a bit. Why? Well, dear reader… he just found out that there’s not a single video game shop in that sleepy, scenic little town and there’s a little something he needs to pick up for himself for when he’s finally got some down time. Hey, everyone needs a hobby and yep, York’s got a few of them. He loves good coffee, a ton of movies (good, bad and otherwise), pretty ladies to chat with over good coffee, some odd music and video games. And ladies, he’s sort of single the last time I checked. Well, save for Zach, his mysterious invisible friend who tags along with him and who he talks to on occasion. Sure, he’s quirky like that, but I bet YOU have a few things that you do when no one is looking that are a bit on the unusual side… Anyway, toss that man some keys, please – he’s got a long drive ahead of him.

DPTDC_UKYou, on the other hand don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own home if you’ve already pre-ordered a copy of Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, coming exclusively to the PS3 from Rising Star Games. Featuring over 100 improvements from the original, Upgraded HD visuals, PlayStation Move and 3D TV support, optional DLC that extends the gameplay, plus MORE. I say pick up two copies and give one to that jaded gamer you know who’s always whining about the games he likes being too short or more of the same or both. Once that pal fires this one up, he’ll want to become a permanent resident of Greenvale. Er, I’d wait until that Red Seeds Killer gets his and those pesky Shadows go away, as you don’t want to end up THAT permanent a resident… if you know what I mean…

Swery65_dOf course, Game Director supreme (and the honorary mayor/sheriff/bar owner/best tipping A&G Diner patron of Greenvale) Swery 65 hopes you’ll all buy at least one copy of this game just so he can finally get some much-needed rest from all that traveling around promoting this instant horror/comedy/adventure classic. It’s definitely hard enough work MAKING a game, but the touring gets tiring even with the best coffee in the world popping up like clockwork on a regular basis to keep him awake. You don’t want to disappoint him now, do you? I sure don’t…

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: Where Is Everybody?

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Hmmm… for a big deal FBI Special Agent, Francis York Morgan (just call him York!) can occasionally be as clueless as a headless chicken. A frozen headless chicken, at that. Case in point: today, he’s been running all around Greenvale’s lush outdoors looking to wrap up a few loose ends in his Red Seeds Killer case file, but there’s been NO ONE around to talk to. Let’s just say that the man is even more confused than usual and it took him the better part of the day to figure out what was going on. If only he’d thought about backtracking to where he started his day at the A&G Diner, he’d have seen that most of the townsfolk were hanging out there waiting to surprise a certain special someone with a big blowout birthday party… and it wasn’t York!

Which, by the way is a damn good thing, as he won’t roll back thataway for something like another two hours to grab a cup of that great coffee they make. And boy will he be surprised when he finds his mystery for the day is partially his fault. Hmmm… I hope he at least remembered to bring a gift. Something old from the glove compartment just won’t do at all…

DP_Preorder I know you forget things too (as do I), but you’d better NOT forget to PRE-ORDER a copy of Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, coming exclusively to the PlayStation 3 on April 30, 2013 from Rising Star Games. Featuring over 100 improvements from the original, Upgraded HD visuals, PlayStation Move and 3D TV support plus MORE, this is going to be a gaming experience that you (wait for it) won’t soon forget (ba-dum-bum!). Thank you, thank you… I’ll be here all week. No cover charge, two cup of coffee minimum!

DP Espresso Speaking of coffee and surprises… I actually needed MORE last week when I noted it was Game Director Swery 65’s birthday. OOPS. It’s actually tomorrow (or is that TODAY in Japan?) and I thought of a great present for him… but Rising Star games beat me to it because they weren’t running around Greenvale and had the time and money to have these AWESOME themed mini-Espresso jars and an A&G Diner mug made up for the birthday boy! Awesome. Of course, NOW I need to get my grubby paws on some of that coffee swag and that mug, but I’ll probably have to settle for pretending I’m in Greenvale and hanging out after the party is over. Hopefully, that stupid Red Seeds Killer won’t muck things up and all those creepy looking Shadows will be well-behaved…

Gallery: Castle of Illusion – Disney and Sega Want Your Nostalgic Bones Smiling Away…

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8149CastleOfIllusion_PackFront_XBLA_no arcade banner copyOK, I can’t stay too annoyed at Disney, as this latest blast from the past actually looks quite good. Granted, this one SHOULD be on MORE platforms (those high resolution screens on the Vita and Wii U Gamepad are begging for more love), but I guess Disney is going first and foremost where they’ll rake in the most immediate sacks of loot. Granted, I’d bet a LOT more Disney fans without Xbox Live or PSN accounts (or a fancy tablet) would want to throw money at this on a disc or cartridge of some sort (with that DuckTales reboot tagging along), but no one ever thinks of catering to that crowd these days unless it’s some crowdfunded project that grabs the collectors where they like it.

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Anyway, the game art and logo above look nice enough and that teaser video is just that (and too short!):

 

but those screens below are dipped in yummy chocolate and ready to eat (and they’re freakin’ HUGE when you click on them – go ahead… you KNOW you want to):

COI Announcement screenshot (1) COI Announcement screenshot (2) COI Announcement screenshot (3) COI Announcement screenshot (4) COI Announcement screenshot (5)

Look for this one this summer on PSN and Xbox Live Arcade. Will Disney Interactive, Sega of America and Sega Europe be able to recapture the glory and thrills of the 1990 Sega Genesis classic? Well, we’ll soon find out, right? So far, it’s looking like a real winner…

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…

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: Caffeine Vanity

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Another Sunday in Greenvale, another cup of coffee for FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York!) as he’s still in town on the hunt for the Red Seeds Killer. Speaking of coffee, there’s a jukebox under an old green sheet in the basement of the Swery 65 Bar that used to be in the A&G Diner for about thirty years until it was moved a few months back. It was supposed to go upstairs IN the bar proper, but it was damaged in transit and is a bit to expensive to repair. If you were to get it running and feeling a bit moody, you’d probably drop a quarter in and play B17 first, which just so happens to be “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. You know, that song with the lyric that goes:

“I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and…”

Interestingly enough, as York is sitting there contemplating, Bonnie Tyler’s “Clouds in My Coffee” just so happens to be playing in the background. THAT song isn’t quite the classic Simon’s tune is, but it does have this line going for it:

“The reflection I saw in your coffee
Was a bitter reflection of me”

Does this mean anything at all? Probably not. Nevertheless, it’s just a bit more serendipity to keep an otherwise sleepy Sunday rolling along. Coffee makes a terribly ineffective mirror, by the way. The image that looks back at you is always ugly or murky and constantly changing. Which is why one drinks it to enjoy what’s IN the cup and not on the surface…

DPDC PS3 US EFS 2D RealBy the way, if you’re NOT a coffee drinker, I’d say playing Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, coming exclusively to the PlayStation 3 from Rising Star Games, will drive you to drink some. Featuring Featuring over 100 improvements over the original game, refined HD graphics, PlayStation Move and 3D TV support, all-new DLC and more, you’ll be staying awake ’til the wee hours saying “just ten more minutes…” as you put on a fresh pot when the clock strikes midnight. And if you’re not a caffeine fiend at all, I’m sure you’ll find some other way to stay away that’s legal and somewhat aromatically addictive… Anyone for a nice peppermint tea with ginger?

swery65_igramI know for a fact that Game Director Swery 65 loves coffee quite a lot, but I don’t know what’s his favorite brand or how he takes it. Then again, that’s a bit creepy to know that much about a person you don’t PERSONALLY know (well, I think so). However… as we all (well all us caffeine addicts out there) know, your favorite barista at the local coffee emporium probably knows way too much about you and your personal preferences than your closest relative, spouse (if you have one) or psychiatrist (if you have one). Now, THAT’S what I call creepy. But that black gold is oh, so delicious (dilate, dilate, smile…)

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: Art Appreciation (2)…

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As far as I can tell, Greenvale doesn’t have much of an art “scene”, but if you look around, you’ll see art in the strangest places. Sure, you can stroll about and see the occasional park sketch artist of passers-by and trees and such, and yes indeed there are pet painters and a few brave folks who paint in public for all to admire (or not). But I’d say the most gruesomely gorgeous art has to be by the Red Seeds Killer, who’s a bit hard to track down for a one-on-one interview session. Granted, posing for one of his works means you’re probably not going to make it home for supper, but chalk that up to him being a truly modern artist reinventing the medium on a few levels because he refuses to die for his art like some have done in the past. Of course, killing one’s models in order to create is kind of a not so nice way to make a living, so it’s a great thing he’s only in a very strange video game and not a real-life personality. Er, don’t go telling this to FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York!), as I think that would upset his investigation somewhat…

DP_PreorderCan you EVEN imagine a documentary about an artist who kills his or her subjects but becomes hugely popular because of that way of making art? Yikes. Of course, this isn’t going to happen (well, not THIS year), but you can kinda sorta pretend you’re part of a crazy performance art piece when you play Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, headed exclusively to the PlayStation 3 from Rising Star Games. Featuring over 100 improvements over the original game, refined HD graphics, PlayStation Move and 3D TV support, all-new DLC and more, it’s basically an art appreciation AND game appreciation class all in one for less than it costs to hit a few real museums (well, if you only go to museums where you have to pay admission to get in)…

SWERY65_tinySpeaking of artistic things, Game Director Swery 65 often gets into the picture in a few ways even if he’s not doing anything but waking up in the morning. Thanks to his controversial creation, fans are always sending him artwork of all types and to any creative person,  this sort of praise by creation is more often than not a welcome thing to experience. If I were a LOT less busy strolling around Greenvale and seeing the sights, I’d try and whip up a little something of my own to share with him. But alas, I’m so tied up with stuff to do that I can barely get these daily updates out on time. Man, if I could only think up SOMETHING clever to show him I’m just as big a fan of his work as anyone. Hmmm… I’ll come up with some way one of these days….

Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut Random Screenshot of the Day: It’s A Dog’s Life…

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“Spotted dogs have appeared throughout history in Europe, Asia, and Africa, credited with a dozen nationalities and as many native names. The dog we know today as the Dalmatian has been a dog of war, a draft dog, shepherd, ratter, fire-apparatus follower, firehouse mascot, bird dog, trail hound and retriever. Most importantly, he is the original and only coaching dog. His affinity for horses remains a basic instinct to this day and the breed is a natural follower and guardian of the horse-drawn vehicle.”

Source: American Kennel Club

So, now that you know you don’t need 101 (or 102) Dalmatians at all to keep a child safe, ladies and gents… just one really well-trained one. The again, I’d bet a forest full of those spotted dogs would be keeping that creepy Red Seeds Killer a bit more at bay (pun intended) and FBI Special Agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York!) a lot less busy…

DPDC PS3 US EFS 2D RealAnyway, make sure you don’t go howling at the moon yourself because you missed out on picking up a copy of Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut, headed exclusively to the PlayStation 3 on April 30, 2013 from Rising Star Games. Featuring over 100 improvements over the original game, refined HD graphics, PlayStation Move and 3D TV support, all-new DLC and MORE. You’ll only find out what a dog and small child are doing mixed up in all this only if you play the game (no, the ghost of W.C. Fields isn’t in the game at all, but it would be funny to those who remember his work), so now that you’re curious, you can get on board the same train to Greenville a lot of us are already riding.

swery_birthday to youOff topic (woof!), Yesterday was Game Director Swery 65’s birthday! For real! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  OK, because I didn;t know about this until after the fact, I didn’t get him a gift at all. Er, except that post I wrote for that day, so I feel a bit bad about that. The again, he really liked the post, so it’s all good in the end. I suppose it WOULD be bad form to let him know what MY birthday is (it’s coming up next month), but if he asks me, I’ll let him know right away…

Mystic Chronicles: Meet The Heroes (1): Four On The Floor, Ready For Action…

With Kemco’s “old-school” JRPG Mystic Chronicles coming to the PSP this summer from Natsume, the company is dropping a few names and giving players a chance to meet the cast and learn a little bit about them. Say hello to them below and check out the screenshot gallery I posted back in February for some images of the gameplay. All we need now are some videos of this in action and that particular triangle is completed…

Anyway, here they are:

Lux

Lux is the main character of Mystic Chronicles, and the player will control him for the majority of the game. This young man may seem like a simple village boy, but he’s surrounded by a mysterious past that may come back to haunt him. He’s very close to his sister, Fina…

 

finaFina is a nun who players will meet early in the story. Strangely, this woman of the cloth looks a lot like Lux’s sister, Fina. Is there some sort of connection between the two ladies? Lux is determined to find out…

 

Ray

Ray is a mysterious member of the ancientDarkClan – and whether that connection will be blessed or cursed remains to be seen…

 

 

Alberto

Alberto has known Lux since he was a child. A mentor to the youth and a captain in the Holos Guild, Alberto’s guidance will become pivotal in some of the difficult decisions Lux’s journey will lead him to make.

 

Hmmm… My nostalgia sense is REALLY tingling now… all we need is a release date. Natsume won’t disappoint on that end, but you’ll need to wait a bit because that’s how they roll. Back with more on Mystic Chronicles as news arrives – stay tuned…

GRID 2 Multiplayer Hands-On: It’s Like Lightning (But With Better Handling)…

The single player in GRID 2 was quite thrilling in that demo from a few months back, but Codemasters knows that many will be snapping up this one first and foremost for the multiplayer modes and fortunately, the game shines even more here. A few members from the dev team rolled into NYC with a new demo that just so happened to be on the same day and in the same hotel as Namco Bandai’s Global Gamer’s Day, so it made for an exciting start to a long day packed full of great upcoming titles. The Xbox 360 version was set up (and looking fantastic, by the way), but being the only writer to pop up at this first session meant playing against the people working on the game and only having the slimmest of chances of beating any of them during the bunch of races about to take place… Continue reading