Saturday, December 11, 2010

Gaming Today

Gaming Today

We’re Going to Liveblog the Goddamn VGAs

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 06:42 PM PST

I may not be the biggest fan of the Spike VGAs, but there’s no college football tomorrow night, and so I need something to do while I’m drinking tomorrow night. That thing, conveniently enough, is the VGAs, which I’m actually excited about if only for the Mass Effect 3 trailer I assume is coming. Anyway, some portion of the GameFront staff will also be watching, and we’re going to liveblog this bitch. The point here is not to be informative; nope, we’re just doing it so we can make jokes about it and to type a bunch of exclamation points when they show a cool trailer. We’ll be attempting to enhance your viewing experience, because Lord knows the VGAs need the help.

So if you’re going to watch the VGAs, be sure to check in at GameFront during the show. Pretty please.

Umloud in San Francisco, 12/9/2010

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 06:05 PM PST

I’ve been to countless concerts San Francisco’s DNA Lounge, but never one quite like this. Umloud is held yearly at the venue, raising holiday-season money for Child’s Play, a worthy charity that provides games and goodies to terminally ill children. Their main income stream last night was rock ‘n’ roll.

Bands signed up in advance, paying a hefty fee of around $100 for a shot at playing Rock Band 3 on the big stage. Once each band’s turn came, they strode excitedly up, bedecked in matching costumes and other quirky, extreme garb. A Harmonix employee situated stage right did his best roadie impression, stretching out the wireless guitar’s strap so it was easily donned. The lucky drummer got to ascend all the way to the riser, some ten feet above the rest of his cohort.

Once all the band members were settled onstage, the familiar Rock Band countdown clock began, and they launched into whichever song they had selected. For my taste, the choices were dubious — The Bee-Gees and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were both represented — but the level of verisimilitude was impressive, especially during the former’s balls-in-a-vise vocal harmonies.

Those without deep pockets could still play Rock Band in the “Lounge,” an area that usually serves at the DNA’s backstage area. I imagined all the hard-bitten musicians who had inhabited that area over the years, in stark, hilarious contrast to the bubbly crew I encountered powering its way through “Rainbow in the Dark.”

There were other charitable options as well, including a swag raffle and a silent auction that promised more prestigious loot, including a couple Halo: Reach review kits in snazzy metal briefcases. There was also a table of oddities for sale, which included all manner of forgotten curiosities, including a stack of PS2 games that are either collector’s items or drink coasters now.

I wasn’t slated for a main-stage appearance, and the line for the Lounge games was getting long, so I resisted the temptation to splurge on long-forgotten videogame novelizations at the oddities table by the door, and slunk off into the night. If you live in ‘Frisco and love Rock Band, consider it next year. If you don’t, keep your eyes peeled, in case it comes to your town.

GameFront Accounts: How to Sign Up, Login and Upload Files

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:49 PM PST

GameFront is different front other video game file hosting services. We do not require you to create an account to upload a file, a feature we’re proud of. It’s simple and fast. If you just want to upload your custom map, grab the link and share it with your friends on a forum, go for it. We won’t get in your way.

So, why create an account, you ask?

When you sign up for an account, you’ll gain access to a few account-only features. You get your own user account page, where you can view your full collection of files. You can also individually submit your files to the official GameFront collection. If accepted, your file will be moved to the official file hub for whatever game it is associated with. Your file will gain exposure, appear in public search results, all that good stuff.

Anyway, here’s some basic information on how to use all of these GameFront features.

Table of Contents


How to Upload a File Without Signing Up

  1. Just click the big, shiny “Upload” button. It’s pinned to the top nav, so you can get there from anywhere.

  2. Choose the file you want to upload. Bam. Done. Grab the link, and you’re ready to go.

How to Create an Account

  1. Click the “sign up” button, top right.

  2. Fill everything out. Bam. Done.

How to Login and Access Your Account

  1. Click the “Login” button, top right.

  2. Login with your username and password.

  3. When you click “Log In,” the system is going to kick you over to our “Latest Demos” page. Ignore that, and click the “User Info” link up at the top of the site. That’s how you get into your account!

  4. On your account page, you’ll see a few things: a). every file you’ve uploaded, b). your user account URL, so you can share your account with friends, and c). the “Submit a File” button, which you can use to submit your files to the official GameFront collection.


Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Virtual Training Walkthrough

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:01 PM PST

The Assassin Animus is a powerful piece of technology, and among its many facets is the ability to provide you with a little extra training. There are so many skills involved in being a successful Assassin, and it helps to have a virtual reality program on your side that enables you to practice them all.

There are also tangible rewards for excelling at these virtual training challenges, in the form of medals. Get a a bronze medal on all of them, and you’ll unlock Raiden’s snazzy armor, and finally get to live out your Metal Gear Solid-meets-Parkour fantasies. Further acquisition of medals will earn you trophies/achievements — some of the challenges, however, are hair-tearingly difficult! Thankfully, we’re here to help. Starting very soon, our master Assassin/videographer will be filling this page with annotated video guides to all the challenges. Don’t miss a single one!

Walkthrough Weekend: Tron: Evolution, Epic Mickey, and More!

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 04:02 PM PST

The movie is still a week away, but you can get your Tron fix here with our full walkthrough — learn to dominate the virtual virtual gameworld! Below, you’ll also find information on other recent big releases.

Walkthrough Weekends is a recurring feature, so check back every Friday to read all the most useful hints, tips, guides and lists from the previous week. That way, you’ll be prepared when work ends and fun begins. Don’t spend your free time staring at loading screens!

Tron: Evolution

Walkthrough

 

Epic Mickey

Walkthrough

Pins

Film Reels

 

Splatterhouse

Walkthrough

 

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Walkthrough

 

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Walkthrough

Rift Locations and Puzzle Solutions

Follower’s Lairs

Side Quests and Rewards

Cheat Codes

Metagame and Shop Quest Rewards

Unlockable Outfits and Capes

Paintings and Portraits

Artifacts

Feather Locations

 

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Walkthrough

Intel

Codes

 

James Bond 007: Blood Stone

Walkthrough

Intelligence

 

God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Walkthrough

 

The Force Unleashed II

Walkthrough

 

Fable III

Walkthrough

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Review

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 02:24 PM PST

After ushering players beyond the Dark Portal and into the frozen realm of Northrend, the folks at Blizzard have taken time off from counting their money and unleashed a third expansion on the unsuspecting public. World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will return players to the lands of Azeroth, where familiar zones have been irrevocably — nay, cataclysmically — changed by the predations of Deathwing, the most evil evil force unleashed so far.

Wondering whether the expansion is worth the investment of time and money? Curious about the two new races, Goblins, and Worgen? Just have a need to experience World of Warcraft vicariously, now that you’re off the wagon? Whatever the reason for your interest, check back in this space very soon — our Level 85 Elite Writer Dave Moss will be posting a four-part series of mini-reviews, focusing on his experience with the brand-new Worgen race.

Magic: The Gathering – Tactics Trailer

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 02:03 PM PST

As an animated Planeswalker, Magic fans will be given the ultimate 3D online gaming experience as they command some of the franchise’s most iconic creatures including Serra Angel, Colossus of Sardia or Raya Dawnbringer. Whether using the Fireball, Doom Blade or Lightning, players can dive right into intense tactical battles featuring all five colors of Magic. You can download this video here or watch it below.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Extended Trailer

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 01:14 PM PST

Can this game look any cooler? Square Enix has released an extended trailer for Deus Ex: Human Revolution. This trailer features over five minutes of CGI footage. Do not miss this video! You can download this video here or watch it below.

Watch Machinima.com’s INSIDE GAMING AWARDS Tonight

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 01:12 PM PST

It’s award season everyone, and while the VGAs on Spike are tomorrow evening, Machinima.com wants a little piece of the congratulatory action tonight via a live webstream on ustream.

The live event takes place at 10pm Pacific Time and presents the website’s choices in all the usual categories. After the event, we’ll have full coverage of the award winners but if you can’t wait until we repost the results then ustream is there for you. The footage will also appear on the site’s YouTube channel in an archived form.

Machinima.com started out as a creative repository for video game films built by community members using video game tools but has expanded into more traditional video game coverage lately. (Making it competition for us I guess.. but hey, we’re a friendly sort here at GameFront.)

Here are the categories and games in the running this year:

Game of the Year

  1. Halo: Reach (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios)
  2. Call of Duty®: Black Ops (Treyarch, Activision)
  3. Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  4. God of War® III (Sony Santa Monica, SCEA)
  5. Mass Effect 2 (BioWare, EA)
  6. StarCraft® II: Wings of LibertyTM (Blizzard Entertainment)
  7. Assassin's Creed® Brotherhood (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft)
  8. Super Mario GalaxyTM 2 (Nintendo, Nintendo)

Best Trailer

  1. Halo: Reach Deliver Hope (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios)
  2. Deathwing World of Warcraft®: Cataclysm™ Trailer (Blizzard Entertainment)
  3. Homefront™ E3 (KAOS Studios, THQ)
  4. Deus Ex: Human Revolution E3 (Eidos Montreal, Square Enix)
  5. Star Wars®: The Old Republic™ E3 (BioWare Austin, LucasArts)

Best Multiplayer

  1. Call of Duty®: Black Ops (Treyarch, Activision)
  2. Halo: Reach (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios)
  3. BlurTM (Bizarre Creations, Activision)
  4. Assassin's Creed® Brotherhood (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft)
  5. StarCraft® II: Wings of LibertyTM (Blizzard Entertainment)

Best Narrative

  1. Alan Wake (Remedy Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios)
  2. Heavy Rain™ (Quantic Dream, SCEA)
  3. ENSLAVEDTM: Odyssey to the WestTM (Ninja Theory, Namco Bandai)
  4. Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  5. Call of Duty®: Black Ops (Treyarch, Activision)

Best Art Direction

  1. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (MercurySteam, Konami)
  2. ENSLAVEDTM: Odyssey to the WestTM (Ninja Theory, Namco Bandai Games)
  3. Kirby’s Epic YarnTM (Good-Feel, Nintendo)
  4. LIMBO (Playdead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios)
  5. God of War® III(Sony Santa Monica, SCEA)

Best Animation

  1. God of War® III (Sony Santa Monica, SCEA)
  2. Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  3. Shank (Klei Entertainment, EA)
  4. Call of Duty®: Black Ops (Treyarch, Activision)
  5. BAYONETTATM (Platinum Games, Sega)

Best Game Cinematography

  1. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (MercurySteam, Konami)
  2. God of War® III (Sony Santa Monica, SCEA)
  3. Heavy Rain™ (Quantic Dream, SCEA)
  4. Halo: Reach (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios)
  5. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction™ (Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft)

Best Indie Game

  1. LIMBO (Playdead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios)
  2. Minecraft (Mojang Specifications)
  3. Amnesia: The Dark Descent (Frictional Games)
  4. VVVVVV (Terry Cavanagh)
  5. Super Meat Boy (Team Meat)

Most Compelling Character

  1. Jack (Subject Zero) – Mass Effect 2 (BioWare, EA)
  2. John Marston – Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  3. Ethan Mars – Heavy Rain™ (Quantic Dream, SCEA)
  4. Alan Wake – Alan Wake (Remedy Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios)
  5. Jim Raynor – StarCraft® II: Wings of LibertyTM (Blizzard Entertainment)

Best DLC (best content pack/expansion content)

  1. Undead Nightmare – Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  2. Lair of the Shadow Broker – Mass Effect 2 (BioWare, EA)
  3. The Secret Armory of General Knoxxx – Borderlands (Gearbox Software, 2K Games)
  4. The Sacrifice – Left 4 Dead (Valve Software)
  5. Minerva’s Den – BioShock® 2 (2K Marin, 2K Games)

Best Downloadable Game

  1. LIMBO (Playdead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios)
  2. Monday Night Combat (Uber Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios)
  3. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (Crystal Dynamics, Square Enix)
  4. Dead Rising® 2: CASE ZERO (Blue Castle Games, Capcom)
  5. Pinball FX2TM (Zen Studios, Microsoft Game Studios)

Most Original Game

  1. Kirby’s Epic YarnTM (Good-Feel, Nintendo)
  2. Minecraft (Mojang Specifications)
  3. LIMBO (Playdead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios)
  4. Heavy Rain™ (Quantic Dream, SCEA)
  5. Space Invaders Infinity Gene (Taito, Square Enix)

Best Control

  1. Call of Duty®: Black Ops (Treyarch, Activision)
  2. Halo: Reach (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios)
  3. Super Meat Boy (Team Meat,
  4. God of War® III (Sony Santa Monica, SCEA)
  5. EA SPORTS MMA (EA Canada, EA)

Best Innovation in Game Design

  1. Call of Duty®: Black Ops – Wager Matches (Treyarch, Activision)
  2. Dance Central™ – Full Body Recognition Dancing (Harmonix, MTV Games)
  3. Heavy Rain™- Interactive Cinematography Experience (Quantic Dream, SCEA)
  4. Halo: Reach – Forge 2.0 (Bungie, Microsoft Game Studios)
  5. Rock Band 3 – Pro Guitar Mode and peripheral (Harmonix, MTV Games)

Best Original Score

  1. ENSLAVEDTM: Odyssey to the WestTM (Ninja Theory, Namco Bandai)
  2. God of War® III (Sony Santa Monica, SCEA)
  3. Mass Effect 2 (BioWare, EA)
  4. Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  5. FINAL FANTASY® XIII (Square Enix)

Best Weapon

  1. Lasso – Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  2. Grappling Hook – Just Cause 2 (Avalanche Studios, Square Enix)
  3. Drill Arm – BioShock® 2 (2K Marin, 2K Games)
  4. Chainsaw Bike – Dead Rising 2 (Blue Castle Games, Capcom)
  5. Scarborough Fair – Bayonetta’s Guns (Platinum Games, Sega)

Best Sound Design

  1. Red Dead Redemption (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar Games)
  2. Medal of Honor (EALA/DICE, EA)
  3. Alan Wake (Remedy Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios)
  4. BioShock® 2 (2K Marin, 2K Games)
  5. LIMBO (Playdead Studios, Microsoft Game Studios)

Mass Effect 3 Has Been Accidentally Announced (PLOT SYNOPSIS INSIDE)

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 12:57 PM PST

A lot of times, retailers will f–k up up game announcements by posting listings for the games before they’re announced. That kind of thing happened today, but the perp this time is none other than the official EA Store, which today posted a listing for Mass Effect 3. It’s still there, in fact. This isn’t particularly exciting, since we expect a real announcement tomorrow and because of f–king course Mass Effect 3 is on the way. But this is still kinda exciting because the listing has a plot synopsis for the game, as you can see in that image. The text:

“Earth is burning. Striking from beyond known space, a race of terrifying machines have begun their destruction of the human race. As Commander Shepard, an Alliance Marine, your only hope for saving mankind is to rally the civilizations of the galaxy and launch one final mission to take back the Earth.”

Well, I guess BioWare isn’t dicking around in regards to moving the plot along this time. Now, if you’ll excuse me…

oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k oh f–k

via Joystiq

f–k

Spike TV and Philo Team Up for VGAs

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 12:32 PM PST

Spike TV knows you’ll be watching for the big reveals during its Video Game Awards Saturday evening so, in an effort to  add achievement points to real life, the channel is teaming up with Philo (a mutant version of foursquare for TV – not Phil O, one of our writers) to let gamers share their common excitement during the exclusive trailer segments during the event.

Philo is a way for fans of TV events to hold “virtual viewing parties” and to comment with other folks globally about the event as it happens. For the VGAs Spike and Philo have some contests set up to coincide with the exclusive trailer and teaser content that will be revealed amidst the hubub of the awards. Spike is teasing new footage surrounding Batman: Arkham City, Thor: God of War, Gears 3 and the new Bioware announcement that we’re convinced is Mass Effect 3.

Spike and Philo are offering “exclusive badges” to participants surrounding the events 13 special revelations. Starting today fans can also sign up to win a Kinect prize package by visiting the Phillo/VGA webpage and registering.

Philo is also available as an Android and iPhone app, though users can just log on through the website to participate in real-time.

Final Fantasy XIV Free Till It’s Fixed for Subscribers

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 12:11 PM PST

Final Fantasy XIV has had probably the worst launch of any MMORPG I can recall.

From the critical lambasting it took among my peers and I, to the overall negative impression it has left with gamers, it seems nothing has gone right for the title. Effective immediately those who own and play Final Fantasy XIV are getting their free play time extended indefinitely.

Square-Enix has admitted this several times but extending the introductory time period twice now. Today though the company demonstrated a huge amount of humility and publicly reaffirmed its commitment to righting that sinking ship. In a post on the Official Final Fantasy XIV website, Yoichi Wada, President and CEO of Square-Enix outlined some big changes and the company’s intent to effectively remake and restructure the game, including a delay of the PS3 console version.

Wada also announced that designer Naoki Yoshida would take over as the game’s producer and director during this restructuring. Yoshida  replaces the games original producer Hiromichi Tanaka. Tanaka was very vocal about the game’s flaws over the two months since launch and laid out the original remediation plan.

The mid-December update spoken of before is still in development and reportedly on target for release. How this restructuring will ultimately change the core systems of Final Fantasy XIII is the big mystery here. Can the game be redeveloped while players are still running around inside it? If you need any proof this can happen, look at Sony’s Star Wars Galaxies. Let’s just hope however that Final Fantasy XIV doesn’t repeat Sony’s mistakes and lose what little support it has from players.

Don’t Get the New Entertainment Weekly If You’re Looking for Uncharted 3 Content

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 12:09 PM PST

Yesterday when we were talking Uncharted 3, I noted that the Playstation blog said there would be a bunch of extra new goodies in the new edition of Entertainment weekly. Here is the tease: “Be sure to hit up your local newsstand tomorrow and pick up a copy of the December 17 issue of Entertainment Weekly – you'll find a ton of additional details on UNCHARTED 3 and the new art shown above in glorious, full color print.”

I bet Sony is mighty pissed today.

Said edition of EW arrive in my mailbox this morning, and nothing described in that quote was present. What we got was a brief tease to check out their Uncharted 3 content at EW.com, and the only Uncharted 3 stuff there is the post we discussed yesterday. So, yeah, don’t get this issue of EW if you’re just looking for that stuff that was promised. Man, what a freakin’ penis tease.

What the hell happened? Print publications are always hurting for space for content, but damn. It would have been a pretty huge deal for Uncharted 3 to be featured in a very popular general entertainment magazine like that, but, hell, EW doesn’t even have a games section on their web site, so this kind of spurnage shouldn’t be too surprising. Still, some PR person over at Sony is probably weeping today.

Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Super Sports Content Pack Trailer

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 12:08 PM PST

This trailer unveils the Super Sports DLC pack for Need for Speed Hot Pursuit which features 13 new race and pursuit events and three of the world’s fastest supercars: Porsche 911 GT2 RS, GUMPERT Apollo S and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. You can download the video here or watch it below.

Conquer Online: The Returning Light Preview Trailer

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 10:55 AM PST

The preview trailer features the kind of frantic martial arts players have come to expect from Conquer Online, showing off the brand new bosses, in-game improvements, and footage of the much anticipated Monk class in action. You can download the file here or watch it below.
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