Thursday, November 18, 2010

Gaming Today

Gaming Today

Hahaha Microsoft Might Save Bizarre Creations

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 10:57 PM PST

When you’re a name studio, having a bad run, as Bizarre has had this year with the financial failure of Blur and the critical failure of Blood Stone 007, doesn’t usually mean you’re going under. Maybe the name goes away and everyone resurfaces somewhere else, but life goes on. Hell, Obsidian has put together some absolute horrors and they’re still in business.

Anyway, what I’m saying is that while everything looked bleak yesterday for Bizarre, but of course Activision would look to sell rather than shut them down if they could, and of course there are publishers who would love to have a team like Bizarre’s working under their banner.

Now, Develop has talked to a source inside Bizarre, and they say Activision folks held another meeting with them today to let them know that some folks are interested in making a purchase. And they say Microsoft is one of the groups that has reached out to Activision. This would be just about perfect, to my mind. MS needs somebody on Project Gotham Racing, and who better to do that than the folks who made the other four PGR games?

Pictured: What Totally Might Be a PSP2 Devkit

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 10:14 PM PST

VG247 has what they say are “the world's first images” of a PSP2 devkit. Logical fallacy aside, this is interesting. They note that this is not the current devkit, which they say is built as a single block like the PSPs we like rather than as a slider like the PSP we don’t like (the go). The pictures show us things we already knew about this thing (the dual sticks, the touchpad on the ass), but aside from what you can see on it, VG247 didn’t get any new or confirming info about the internal specs. Also, they tell us not to doubt them. Aight, my intuition tells me these pictures look way to s**t to be fake, because if you were gonna put up fakes the image would probably look a lot cleaner. More grainy photos are over at VG247.

Perhaps the person who sent in these pics is the same person who’s talked to them in the past.

Source: New Mass Effect is a Multiplayer Game, Not ME3

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 09:40 PM PST

As I sort of expected (in the dumbest and most rambling post I’ve made on this here website), today’s BioWare “world premiere” announcement was actually just an announcement that an announcement will happen at the VGAs in December. We don’t really know what it is, but the very brief tease (pictured) did feature a guy holding what looks like a Mass Effect 2 sniper rifle.

Anyway, Kotaku has a source saying the game to be announced is a multiplayer-focused Call of Duty-type game set in the Mass Effect universe. They say it will have single-player stuff not focusing on Commander Shepard. In the business, we call this a spinoff.

Does this seem likely? Well, we’re talking about EA here, so yes. BioWare has kept on hiring folks all year, and Zeschuk has said the trilogy isn’t all that there will be to the Mass Effect saga. And hell, Mass Effect is kinda a big deal, and they’d like to expand the audience as much as they can, considering there’s only so much draw for RPGs and sales in that genre tend to drop of precipitously after release.

“Dreamcast Collection” Heading to 360

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 08:59 PM PST

I think that picture there pretty much explains everything, but here’s some context: that listing was up earlier today, and it has since been pulled (but NeoGaf caught it). The proof is also readily available to all via Google cache.

GameStop is not in the habit of posting things that will never exist, and so there is about a 99.9% chance this is happening. The only question, then, is about what the hell is going to be on it. Likelihood is that it”ll be some stuff that’s already/will be available as downloads, like Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi and Soul Calibur. And for only $30, I think that’s a good bet. But I hope we’ll get some cool surprises, like, say, Jet Grind Radio or Shenmue. Or that Evil Dead game. JK/JK.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Metagame and Shop Quest Rewards

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 08:46 PM PST

As if Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood wasn’t complicated enough, it features an extensive metagame that allows you to save the city from the ravages of the Borgia clan. By repairing and opening various commercial enterprises, you can reinvigorate Rome’s flagging economy and earn yourself a tidy sum in the process. There are two avenues for helping the local merchants: doing quests and opening stores. We’ve got the details of each of these, below.

Shop Quest Rewards

Seusenhoffer Pauldrons and Chest Guard – Complete the Exotica Shop Quest (Blacksmith)

Spada Lunga – Complete the Blood Money Shop Quest (Blacksmith)

Captain’s Sword – Complete the Faith Shop Quest (Blacksmith)

Vaticano Treasures Map – Complete the Trendsetting Shop Quest (Art Merchant)

Large Quiver – Complete the Pulling Threads Shop Quest (Tailor)

Fast Poison – Complete the Venomous Shop Quest (Doctor)

Metagame Rewards

Cavalieri Mace and Butcher Knife – Open 5 Blacksmith shops

Spadone – Open 10 Blacksmith shops

Knife Belt Upgrade – Open 4 Tailor Shops

Large Medicine Pouch – Open 4 Tailor Shops

Knife Belt Upgrade – Open 8 Tailor Shops

Large Poison Vial – Open 8 Tailor Shops

Auditore Cape – Complete the Rebuilding Rome metagame to 100%

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Paintings and Portraits

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 08:32 PM PST

Any game that takes place in Renaissance Italy is going to put an emphasis on art, and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood does not disappoint in this respect. There are two categories of collectible visual art available, and if you look below, we’ve unearthed the criteria for unlocking both of them.

Rare Paintings

Self Portrait – Complete Sequence 08 or collect 15 Borgia Flags; painting becomes available for purchase from the Centro Art Merchant.

Young Man with an Apple – Complete Sequence 08 or collect 15 Borgia Flags; painting becomes available for purchase from the Antico Art Merchant.

Christ Blessing – Complete Sequence 08 or collect 15 Borgia Flags; painting becomes available for purchase from the Campagna Art Merchant.

Portraits

Portrait of Cesare Borgia – Defeat the target to acquire his/her portrait. It will appear on the wall of Ezio’s hideout.

Portrait of Rodrigo Borgia – Defeat the target to acquire his/her portrait. It will appear on the wall of Ezio’s hideout.

Portrait of Lucrezia Borgia – Defeat the target to acquire his/her portrait. It will appear on the wall of Ezio’s hideout.

Portrait of Baron de Valois – Defeat the target to acquire his/her portrait. It will appear on the wall of Ezio’s hideout.

Portrait of Juan Borgia – Defeat the target to acquire his/her portrait. It will appear on the wall of Ezio’s hideout.

Portrait of Micheletto – Defeat the target to acquire his/her portrait. It will appear on the wall of Ezio’s hideout.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Cheat Codes

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 08:20 PM PST

If you complete the various sequences in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood with sufficient rigor, you’ll unlock a number of different cheats. Activate them in the Options menu while replaying memories, and you can breeze through those sections of the game with the help of your new-found potency.

Ride the Unicorn – Complete Sequence 01 with 100% Total Synch – All horses are turned into unicorns, all weapons have an added lightning effect.

Buns of Steel – Complete Sequence 02 with 100% Total Synch – Makes you immune to injury.

Killing Spree – Complete Sequence 03 with 100% Total Synch – Assassinations cannot be blocked.

Sisterhood – Complete Sequence 04 with 100% Total Synch – Makes all Assassin’s Guild recruits female.

Ultimate Guild – Complete Sequence 05 with 100% Total Synch – Raises all Assassin’s Guild recruits to the rank of Assassins.

Unlimited Assassin Signals – Complete Sequence 06 with 100% Total Synch – No cooldown timer when calling Assassins.

Desmond Everywhere – Complete Sequence 07 with 100% Total Synch – Desmond skin is unlocked.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Unlockable Outfits and Capes

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 08:03 PM PST

Cruise around Rome in style by unlocking these snazzy augmentations to Ezio’s default costume. There’s no prize for being the best-dressed assassin in the land, so you’ll just have to content yourself with personal satisfaction. Below, you’ll find lists of the criteria involved in accessing the cool threads.

Capes

Auditore Cape – Complete the Rebuilding Rome metagame to 100%

Borgia Cape – Collect 100 Borgia Flags

Medici Cape – Reach Level 30 on the “Assassin’s Creed: Project Legacy” Facebook game

Venetian Cape – Reach Level 30 on the “Assassin’s Creed: Project Legacy” Facebook game

Outfits

Raiden Skin – Receive at least a Bronze Medal in all Virtual Training challenges

Florentine Noble Robe – Purchase 2 tokens through Ubisoft’s Uplay service

Altair’s Robes – Purchase 2 tokens through Ubisoft’s Uplay service

Armor of Altair – Purchase 2 tokens through Ubisoft’s Uplay service

NBA Jam Launch Trailer (360 and PS3)

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 07:25 PM PST

NBA Jam is here, guys. And when I say it’s “here,” I mean it’s finally hit the Xbox 360 and PS3 (as an apology by EA for not delivering NBA Elite) after having been released on Wii a little while ago. But this time it’s in HD, which makes it the “real” version. Anyway, you may be on the fence about this one, and launch trailers exist to try to convince you to hop off that damn fence and buy the game already. While this NBA Jam launch trailer may not  be the great launcher I’ve ever seen, it does show off pretty much every aspect of the game in 90 seconds, so it’s pretty effective in that way at least. Here you go.

download

Fable III PC Version Still Coming

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 06:40 PM PST

It’s already been more than three months since Microsoft told us to “expect news soon” about the PC version of Fable III. They said that on August 3, and they haven’t said s**t about it since. They only whisper we’ve heard about it, really, is Amazon Germany listing a release date for it. But now we have some words out of Lionhead about this very subject in the form of a “shut the f**k up, stupid nerds” tweet. Apparently all the geeky message boarders have been acting like those hollowmen pictured above. Tweet:

Fable 3 PC Version is still in development here at Lionhead so PC GAMERS don’t panic. We’ll announce details when we’re ready to do so.

OK OK! Sheesh! We’ll just chill until you let us know something! Gaaaaawwwwwwwllll!

Listen to a Great Voice talk About Enslaved

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 05:31 PM PST

Guys, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is really good. Unfortunately, it’s been lost in the AAA shuffle known as Fall 2010 as bigger titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops and Fallout: New Vegas and Fable III have owned the spotlight since Enslaved’s release. But it’s not quite time to bury Enslaved, because they’ve still got some DLC on the way which lets you play as Pigsy. Speaking of Pigsy… that character is performed by none other than Richard Ridings, who happens to have one the great voices And here I have a short little BTS video of Ridings in the studio recording stuff and talking about the game. Appreciate this, y’all.

download here

The Best Black Ops Kill You Will Ever See

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 04:39 PM PST


Best Black Ops Kill So Far – Watch more Game Trailers

Here’s a little proof that the Call of Duty: Black Ops Theater Mode is a gift to humanity. It’s an amazing kill video that piles on the injury while lovingly spooning in a mountain of insult. That said, as someone who has suffered from torsion, I find this hilarious kill to be in extremely poor taste. I certainly didn’t watch it twice, while engaging in… terrified “cupping”.


Easy games are the most challenging of all

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 01:48 PM PST


(This is another edition of “</RANT>,” a weekly opinion piece column on FileFront. Check back every week for more).

Like most of you, I’ve been playing videogames for a very long time. The Commodore 64 was my very first computer (I’m not that old, I was just that poor!) and games like Dizzy Prince of the Yolkfolk, Wizball and Green Beret were the games I grew up enjoying. Eventually I scrabbled together enough coins to get an NES, and then a Sega Mega Drive (or Sega Genesis, if you prefer), and quickly fell in with the likes of Super Mario Bros. and Shinobi. Many so-called “hardcore” gamers complain that the titles of yesteryear were a lot tougher than the games of today, and looking at my own history, I can’t necessarily refute it. I still remember an era without checkpoints, where one hit meant the loss of a life, and Battletoads was considered acceptable entertainment and not some brutal form of child cruelty.

Fast-forward to 2010, and one of my favorite games released this year is also one of the easiest ever made. Kirby’s Epic Yarn, despite being an intensely charming platformer full of clever ideas and truly inspiring level design, has been shot down by many gamers for being too easy. You cannot die in the game, and this lack of “challenge” has caused the game to be written off by those calling themselves “real” gamers. Instead of applause, the game is derided as a “kiddy” or a “casual” game, not fit for consumption by the hardcore crowd and best left for the soccer moms and infants.

Kirby’s Epic Yarn is an “easy” game, but if you look past the rather shallow point that you cannot die, you’ll find that this title is actually one of the most difficult titles ever — because it challenges your very idea of what “difficult” in a videogame actually means.

To those of us who grew up with games, we already know that challenge = death. If a game “kicks your ass” and kills you more times than you can remember, then it’s a classic example of a “real” game with “real” challenge. This is what most of us think when we imagine a hard game, and given our wealth of experience with interactive entertainment, I cannot blame anybody who has difficulty divorcing the concepts of difficulty and death. Epic Yarn, however, tries to do something different, to be challenging in a far less established, threatening way. It presents its challenges in a way that demands we leave our outdated preconceptions behind and that, right there, is one of the hardest things anybody could do. It was hard for me to do, until I finally “got” it.

Epic Yarn’s myriad traps and enemies do not kill you. Yes, you can walk from point A to point B, take as much damage as you like, and get to the end of a level through sheer attrition. However, to do so would be to miss the point of the game entirely. Epic Yarn’s challenge comes not from survival, but from mastery. Surviving is a moot point, it’s not something you have to worry about. Completing a level with a gold medal, however, is where Kirby’s Epic Yarn throws the gauntlet, and it’s your prerogative to pick it up. In order to gain gold medals, you have to collect — and keep — the gems scattered throughout each level, while also finding hidden treasures. Taking damage means losing a number of gems, thus decreasing your score and your chance for a medal. Bosses even throw in platinum medals, which ramps up the challenge.

Despite not killing you, this makes the enemies and traps of Kirby’s Epic Yarn more dangerous — that is, if you allow your brain to bend that way and go with what the game wants to do. In my own experience with Epic Yarn, each hit I took from an enemy felt like a stab to the soul, and I was constantly fretting over ending the level with enough points to get that gold. My completion of the level was never in question — that was inevitable — but whether I would beat the level with my arms raised triumphantly or my head hung in shame was the real issue.

Another of my other top picks for Game of the Year is Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. This, too, is a game often despised for its ease. Enslaved features many climbing and platforming sections, but unlike the environmental shenanigans found in Prince of Persia and Uncharted, these sections have not been designed to test the dexterity of your thumbs and the measure of your patience. In fact, barring some later sections of the game, it’s practically impossible to die in these sections. Protagonist Monkey effortlessly swings from poles, clambers up ledges and jumps over chasms, with no risk of failure. Monkey safely stumbles rather than falls off cliffs, and if you mistime a jump, he simply won’t attempt it.

Your “real” gamer struggles with this scenario, unable to find enjoyment from a climbing section that doesn’t present the risk of failure. Once again, however, this is missing the point of Enslaved. Enslaved would rather have you feel confident and empowered rather than frightened. I love Prince of Persia games but it’s often hard to appreciate the flowing elegance of the platforming when you’re carefully lining up jumps and are afraid to make jumps without first pondering where to leap without getting killed. There is certainly nothing wrong with that type of game (Sands of Times is one of my favorite titles ever), but it’s not the type of game Enslaved is. Enslaved is a game that wants you to take in its beautiful environments and pay more attention to the fact that you’re looking and feeling absolutely awesome, like a muscular ninja, as opposed to slipping down chasms or being too worried about circular saws and pits full of spikes to enjoy yourself. You can’t die — but you can be distracted by some of the most gorgeous post-apocalyptic environments that a videogame has ever had. The enjoyment isn’t to be found in dying, it’s to be found in simply experiencing a world.

One recent game that has really typified this sense of experience is The UnderGarden. Released just last week on PC and Xbox Live Arcade, The UnderGarden is a game that, like Kirby’s Epic Yarn, presents no life-threatening harm to the player character. The aim of the game, at least the only real aim that the game deigns to infer, is to make each level bloom with plantlife by spreading pollen around. Although there are environmental puzzles, they exist purely to keep you busy rather than impede your progress. None of them are very hard. One of the game’s loading screen messages reads, “Sometimes it’s just fun to float around”, and it actually is. Once again, however, it’s easy to write the game off as a dull  casual title that’s far too easy. As always, you’re missing the point.

Getting 100% of the plants to bloom in any level, not to mention finding each stage’s hidden crystal and secret flowers, is a lot harder than it looks. The only major difference between these tough tasks and a “hardcore” game is that The UnderGarden doesn’t force you to do anything. You don’t have to find the crystals or the flowers. You don’t have to get all the plants to bloom. You don’t have to do anything. But if you set yourself the goal of doing more than floating around, then the game will put up a fight and make you think.

And this is where I claim that so-called “hardcore” games are easier than so-called “easy” games. It’s easy to play a game that throws tons of bullets at you and call yourself a hardcore gamer. It’s easy to get into something like Devil May Cry or Ninja Gaiden and have your challenges mapped out in front of you, telling you exactly what you need to do. What’s hard is to pick up a game like Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Enslaved or The UnderGarden and take them at more than face value. It’s incredibly difficult to restructure the entire way you view challenge in games. The UnderGarden never tells you what to do. It never spoon feeds you instructions by demanding that you must perform X action Y amount of times in order to proceed. It tells you what you can do, not what you have to do. It’s up to you to decide how much work you want to put in.

Twenty years ago, videogames were limited in the scope of what they could do. Nowadays, we have thousands of different games doing thousands of different, wonderful things. A videogame is more than just a challenge now. It’s more than just dying, and conflict, and trial-and-error. Sometimes it’s about exploration, it’s about emotion, and it’s about challenging yourself, rather than letting a game do it for you. Appreciating, understanding and embracing that is more difficult than Demon’s Souls could ever hope to be.

First Fallout: New Vegas DLC Details Emerge

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 10:21 AM PST

Fallout: New Vegas has been one of the more popular titles of this gaming season, and now Bethesda is releasing some new content to keep you busy in the Mojave.

On December 21, the first DLC pack for New Vegas will appear exclusively on XBox Live. Titled Dead Money, the DLC will cost you 800 MS Points. What’s it about? Well, here’s the official line:

As the victim of a raw deal you must work alongside three other captured wastelanders to recover the legendary treasure of the Sierra Madre Casino. In Dead Money, your life hangs in the balance as you face new terrain, foes, and choices. It is up to you how you play your cards in the quest to survive.

All this means is that you now have just over a month to finish up all the on-disc content in New Vegas. If you’re stuck, you should give our New Vegas walkthrough a look.

If you’re into reading press releases, you can do that here.

Batman: Arkham City Premiering at Spike Video Game Awards

Posted: 17 Nov 2010 08:44 AM PST

As if the Bioware teases weren’t enough to get us moderately interested in Spike’s Video Game Awards show on December 11, now there’s more.

Through his Twitter account, GTTV’s Geoff Keighley has now confirmed that the VGAs will also be showing off the world premiere of Batman: Arkham City.

This has all of us here at FileFront very excited, especially considering that we gave Arkham Asylum a a 95 in our review. I guess we know where we’ll be on December 11.
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