TGS 2012: SCE Japan’s Puppeteer: Another First Party Winner On The Way…

Posted on September 20, 2012 by geelw

Yet another PS3 exclusive I can’t wait to get some hands-on time with, Puppeteer also makes me hopeful that we’ll see such creativity on display (and more) from day one whenever Sony’s new console ships. I’m personally so weary of new systems suffering through dreary (but well-intentioned) launch titles that don’t at all show what a console can do. Developers for next-gen systems NEED to blow us all away right out of the gate and IMPROVE on high quality games in the near future or else we’ll have to keep hearing nonsense talk from PC-only gamers who, when you think about it, really only have graphics (and yes, keyboard/mouse controls in shooters) to babble about as “better”. But we all know that better looking games NEVER means better games at all, no matter how it’s spun. Overclocking a game so it runs at 200fps is all fine and dandy, but crap running at 200fps is still crap, correct?

Just a thought.

TGS 2012: Beyond: Two Souls & The Last of Us Trailers: On Muses, Mushrooms And Going Out On Top…

Posted on September 20, 2012 by geelw

Sony really has 2013 wrapped up in a nice bow with too many first-party releases to count, but as far as Quantic Dream’s and Naughty Dog’s instant classics, the worldwide appeal for these is clear, no matter what console is your favorite. These are two title that non-PS3 owners will wish they could play while the pure Sony fanatics will have more ammo to whip out when they need to make the case for the PS3’s staying power after so long. Without a doubt, Sony’s NOT going out of this console cycle with a whimper, nor by rendering their console obsolete before its time.

Even MORE Wacky EDF 3 Portable TV Spot Madness!

Posted on September 18, 2012 by geelw

OK, this is getting nuts, but in the coolest possible way. As I said earlier, I’m importing this Vita exclusive, but I’m keeping my fingers and toes (and eyeballs) crossed that D3Publisher of America sees fit to get it out here at some point (sooner than later). Interestingly enough, guess who’s coming to town on Wednesday with a bunch of new games? Yup, D3Publisher. Of course, THIS isn’t one of them, but I’ll be asking (or begging, depending on the level of potential alcohol consumption I do) them to make it so.

EDF! EDF! EDF!

Want More EDF TV Commercial Madness? OK!

Posted on September 14, 2012 by geelw

Hey, Minoru Kawasaki? You are a really crazy, crazy man (in the best possible way, though). If this game DOES get a US release, I say D3 should just use these spots as some sort of viral campaign. I’m still considering ordering a copy of this from Japan just in case it’s not localized, but I’ll hold out until after TGS and see if D3Publihser here makes any sort of announcement. My Vita is smiling, that’s for sure…

Earth Defense Forces 3 Portable Update: Creating The Live-Action TV Ad WIth Minoru Kawasaki

Posted on September 9, 2012 by geelw

Ah, that oddball Japanese sense of humor…. where would the gaming, no, entertainment world be without it? Famed “B” movie director Minoru Kawasaki is trying his hand at making EDF look even more cheesy than it intentionally is and based on these two videos, he’s going to succeed (and quite admirably at that). I’d forgotten to run the rather goofy announcement trailer for these spots a few weeks back (you get to watch the director drinking for the most part), but in a way, I’m glad that I missed posting it because these updates are such fun. Anyway, amusing stuff aside, HOPEFULLY we’ll have a seriously official word from D3Publisher of America after this year’s Tokyo Game Show on whether or not this reaches North America and Europe. In English, of course.

Hell, I’m importing it if it doesn’t and maybe even if it does because I’m such a huge EDF fan, but this is one of those titles I firmly feel will REALLY help the Vita out in terms of being popular worldwide.

Killzone Trilogy Trailer: Guerrilla Finally Brings It All Together (Almost…)

Posted on September 7, 2012 by geelw

Even though I own all three originals, like a lot of gamers, I’ll be shelling out for Killzone Trilogy for one reason: the chance to replay the first Killzone game in HD (thank you Sony!). That said, where’s Killzone Liberation? That excellent (and under appreciated) PSP exclusive was quite a solid chunk of side story action that, despite the third-person viewpoint and bird’s eye view camera angle, still looked and felt like it belonged in the canon (which it does). I’d have added it as a free PSN download if there were somehow no way to fit it on a disc, but we’ll see if Sony decides to give the game a proper fit somewhere as part of this great collection set to land on October 23 (October 24 in Europe). Between this and the massive God of War Saga, Sony is certainly making sure its main franchises remain in the minds (and libraries) of gamers who can’t get enough of them…

The Unfinished Swan PAX Story Trailer: When Games Are Indeed, Art

Posted on September 1, 2012 by geelw

I wouldn’t exactly call this soon to be released instant classic something that’s going to make the hardcore shooter fans fall away in droves from the games they like, but you can clearly see all the work that”s gone into making The Unfinished Swan a game for the ages. Of course, it’s another PSN-only game, so it’ll be seen as disposable by those who dislike digital releases. Hmmmm… I really do hope someone is preserving all this game code that goes up on these download sites for future reference, as physical media is still important to the industry (and will be for a while). Hell, they still need to transfer digital movies to 35mm film stock for proper preservation purposes all while the movie industry is rushing into dropping film pretty much entirely within a few years due to the cost of shipping heavy film reels around to theaters (for starters). That’s going to be one frightening time indeed, especially if all that digital data starts disappearing. Eh, maybe I’m worrying too much… but I don’t think so….

Video Game Appreciation 101, Scary Side: Roxy’s – A Little Slice of Silent Hill, Circa 1960…

Posted on August 29, 2012 by geelw

Edward Kienholz was an artist you may or may not have heard of (depending on your level of education), so if you know his work and happen to be a gamer, you’re smiling right now. For those of you who are scratching your heads, I’ll let you Google him and more of his work up at your leisure. Before that, take a peek at that image to the left. Go on, it won’t bite (I think)…

OK, maybe this should be ART Appreciation 101, huh?. It’s from Roxy’s, an environmental installation piece from 1960-61 (and the artist’s first large scale work) based (loosely, I hope) on the artist’s memories of a visit to a Las Vegas bordello in the 1940’s. Long story short, I’d seen this image years ago in an art book and it bugged the hell out of me for weeks. As in seeing that figure hovering around in a nightmare or two and maybe wanting to dig my eyes out with a cold spoon after waking up bugged…

Continue reading →

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Hands-On: Level-5 & Studio Ghibli Do The Genre Proud

Posted on August 29, 2012 by geelw

I’m not at all sure just how many copies of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will sell when it finally slides into stores on January 22, 2013, but if there’s any JRPG that deserves to fly off the shelves, it’s this one. Namco Bandai is handling the publishing of this Level-5/Studio Ghibli gem that’s bound to be an instant classic and remembered for its stirring story, outstandingly gorgeous visuals and really interesting take on the active time battle system originated in the Final Fantasy games.

My hands-on with the English demo made me wish for a time machine so that I could finally dive right into the story and lovely game world that’s going to be one of the best-looking you’ll see on the PS3.

Continue reading →

Buy It! The Art of Journey (or, My Psychic Powers Are Working Just Fine, Thank You…)

Posted on August 27, 2012 by geelw

Ha and ha ha. I recall telling some folks from thatgamecompany a while back at a press event that an art book on the making of their groundbreaking PS3 exclusive Journey HAD to be released along with the game on a physical disc at some point and guess what? both are happening. Awesome, especially for those of us who KNOW that this medium NEEDS both a digital and physical means to archive milestones like this particular game. It’s too bad that the pressure of making the game has broken up the team, but it looks as if everyone had landed elsewhere and at the end of the day, the game is still an incredible experience not to be missed.

Anyway, buy this book if you’re a fan of the game and hell, if you’re not a fan of the game and own a PS3, get the Journey Collector’s Edition when it hits stores and this book so you can see what all the fuss is about. Hmmm… Now I know what I want for Xmas (or a late birthday gift for myself, or an early retirement present, or whatever)…