Friday, November 19, 2010

Gaming Today

Gaming Today

Carmack: RAGE’s Vehicles the Focus of Next iOS Title

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 05:01 PM PST

RAGE: Mutant Bash TV, id Software’s iOS game to go with its upcoming first-person shooter RAGE, isn’t even cold yet and the company’s founder and technical director is talking about the next RAGE outing for iPhone and iPad.

Talking with Joystiq, John Carmack said the vehicles in the console and PC FPS would be the focus of the company’s next mobile development. Here’s a clip from Joystiq’s story:

“I think we have a really good idea of what we can do in this format, and I’m really excited about getting onto the next game, getting onto what we can do with another slice of Rage,” Carmack told Joystiq today, going on to say: “Taking some of the wasteland material and having riding along in the dune buggies, jumping over ravines, that kind of stuff. There’s more graphics stuff that we can bring in and add yet another level of improvement and polish to the visuals.”

Mutant Bash TV is already pretty impressive — it’s an on-rails shooter that runs $0.99 (or $1.99 for the HD version) in the iTunes App Store right now, which drops players into a post-apocalyptic game show and includes three levels. It’ll be interesting to see what id and Carmack can wring out of the iPhone as far as graphical capabilities.

Carmack also told Joystiq he’d like to do more with the iOS platform — specifically, a full-roaming shooter in the Quake Live region. He mentioned an arena game focused around Quake’s lightning gun; but, great as that sounds, it may not be feasible. Carmack’s already got his hands full with all this RAGE stuff, and he has no idea when he’d have time to do us all the favor of bringing Quake to our phones.

That’s okay, Mr. Carmack. Take your time. We’ll wait here patiently for whatever you want to give us. And I mean that completely sincerely.

Portal 2 Delayed; I’m Not Even Angry — I’m Being So Sincere Right Now

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 04:31 PM PST

Valve just handed out a press release stating we’ll be waiting an additional two months for Portal 2, in what it’s calling “the shortest delay in Valve’s proud tradition of delays.” The new release dates are April 20 for North America and Australia, and April 22 for Europe, according to Shacknews.com.

Originally, the co-op enabled Portal 2 was slated for release for the holidays (that’s right now!), then delayed until February. Now it’s April, but there will totally be cake there, too. And grief counseling. Just assume the party escort submission position.

Still, at least Valve was entertaining in their one-paragraph press release as they dashed all hope of my receiving Portal 2 for my February birthday (along with cake):

Valve today announced that Portal 2 — the sequel to the ground-breaking title that won over 30 game of the year awards, despite missing its original ship date — will now be available the week of April 18th, 2011. This two month slip not only marks the shortest delay in Valve’s proud tradition of delays, it represents the approaching convergence of Valve Time and Real Time. Though this convergence spells doom for humanity, it will not affect the new Portal 2 release date.

Half of GameStop Profits Come from Pre-owned Sales

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 04:08 PM PST

Apparently GameStop is doing really well this year, and half of that is because gamers prefer to buy pre-owned (read: cheaper) games. Who knew.

MCV reported that of all the profit GameStop dragged in from sales for the three months ending with October 2010, 47.5 percent is attributable to games they’ve bought back from players to resell.  That’s $528 million in revenue and $250.2 million made from reselling used games at a discount — which makes sense when you consider the buyback rates GameStop gives, which are never more than half of what a used game costs you to buy.

Meanwhile, new games (like the stupidly high selling Call of Duty: Black Ops) garnered a profit of about $182 million (21.7 percent of total profits) for the company, and hardware was responsible for another $21 million (7.9 percent).

Profit from pre-0wned games went up by about $10 million in 2010 over last year, and GameStop saw record-breaking sales of a total of $1.9 billion — up from $1.83 billion last year.

Should the company thank us for selling their inventory back to them at a big apparent loss? I think so, especially since my eBay sales of games I’m done with lately have been abysmal.

Via Destructoid.

id Founder Wants to Make a Kinect XBLA Game

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 03:23 PM PST

id Software founder and Technical Director John Carmack told Joystiq that id doesn’t have a game that’ll work with Kinect — but he would like to develop an Xbox Live Arcade game to work with the motion controller.

“I have an itch to make a Kinect title for Xbox Live,” Carmack said during an interview with Joystiq. He went on to say that he doesn’t have any idea what game he’d make, but he thinks the technology is perfect for a small-scale XBLA game.

Could be interesting, considering id just released an iOS game based on its upcoming RAGE first-person shooter. The iPhone’s RAGE: Mutant Bash TV is a rail shooter that contains three levels and goes for $0.99 in the iTunes App Store.

Something of that scale from id could be very cool for Kinect owners, since lots of people apparently bought it and Kinectimals can only keep you busy for so long. Seeing id dumping a little bit of time into iOS has been cool for us iPhone owners, but RAGE is probably going to keep Carmack busy for a while, so don’t expect anything Kinect-able yet.

Via Joystiq.

Voting For ModDB’s Mod Of The Year Has Begun

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 02:52 PM PST

It’s that time again. Mod Db’s Mod of the Year Awards are once again upon us. What is this, you ask? It’s their annual award show celebrating the best of the modding and indie gaming communities. Now in its 9th year(!!!), the venerable commemoration of DIY game development has added a couple of interesting new wrinkles to the festivities:

* Indies and Mods will now be awarded in their own separate categories (yay!)

This is long, long overdue – Moddb has begun to emerge as a vast clearing house for indie games, and these days you’re just as likely to see an indie featured on their slider as you are a true mod. Sounds to me like a perfect excuse for random speculation: Might we soon see Indie DB given double billing with the parent site? Who knows! But it’s fun to start fake rumors!

* The venerable “Editor’s Choice” category has been replaced with the all-new “Panel’s Choice”.

This one’s really interesting. A small number of Video Game press will be casting votes on both Mods and Indies. The panel features representatives from Joystiq, DIY Gamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and more. (Complete panel here.)

If you play mods and indie games, now’s the time to get your vote in. Just head over and find your favorite mod or indie and click the vote button. Those of you unsure how to vote, fear not – We miiiight be able to make a few reccomendations.

In the meantime, Modd Db? Next year, you might consider adding another panelist. Hint. HINT.

Witcher 2 Packaging, Preorder Details Released

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 02:45 PM PST

There are two versions of the PC RPG The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings available to buy when it comes out in May 2011, and both are packed full of extra stuff — even if you choose to go the digital download route.

That’s the Witcher 2: Collector’s Edition shown above. It comes with all manner of craziness, including a soundtrack, a making-of DVD, the manual, a game guide, an art book, a fold-out map, a pack of cards, a set of dice, stickers (yes!), two papercraft figures, and vendor-specific special DLC. It’ll run you $129.99, according to Amazon.com’s listing, but I’m sure you can pay several times that if you wait to buy it on eBay.

CD Projekt RED also offers a “Premium” edition of the game, which is actually the standard edition, but it also comes with the soundtrack, the manuals, the DVD, the guides, the map, the coin and the papercraft guys. Not to shabby, considering the whole thing retails for $49.99. Get the full list of features from The Witcher 2 website.

GOG.com and Steam are already taking preorders for digital copies of the Premium edition, which includes downloadable versions of everything listed except that coin, I guess. Both online services have The Witcher 2 listed at $44.99 as well.

U.S. customers can preorder a physical copy of the Premium Edition at GameStop or Amazon.com. GameStop has an exclusive DLC offer that Amazon hasn’t gotten (yet?) — but you’ll have to pay full price. Meanwhile, Amazon has the Premium Edition for two bucks cheaper. Decisions, decisions.

Treyarch Drops Update for Black Ops Multiplayer

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 02:07 PM PST

Treyarch has been updating Call of Duty: Black Ops every day or two since it was released and garnered insane sales figures, and yesterday’s update was a pretty big one, with significant changes made to both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 editions, and a couple in the works for PC as well.

Most of the changes are the same between both platforms, and are principally geared toward fixing issues with the online multiplayer mode. And not a moment too soon, as multiplayer for Xbox 360 (where I’m playing) has been frustratingly busted when searching for games with more than three friends.

It’s not clear whether connectivity issues between players have been fixed (which seems to be the culprit behind the problems with party matchmaking I just mentioned), as all the updates are a bit vague. Treyarch does make it sound like everything should be running better, however.

You can read the dev blogs on the updates for Xbox 360 here, and for PS3 here. Here’s the list of changes for multiplayer:

  • Improved matchmaking to find matches significantly faster
  • Improved matchmaking to ensure that players are more effectively matched to games with the best networking conditions
  • Improved host selection to ensure that the best host is always selected in the pre-game lobby
  • Improved party system to ensure that parties don't get broken apart
  • Disable ability to join Private Match, Combat Training and Theater lobbies when searching for Player Match games
  • Server-side and game-side changes to decrease the amount of failed Film uploads
  • Weekly and Monthly leaderboards will now track all kills, deaths and assists properly (All Time leaderboards were not affected by this)
  • Prevention of Combat Training stats getting crossed with Player Match stats under rare conditions
  • Prevention of temporary loss of functionality when a button was being held down at the point of a disconnect

There’s also another update in the works right now to fix some minor glitches — like Valkyrie missiles basically exploding in the launcher (I’d love to see video of that), the helicopter gunship going all Skynet and refusing to give the player control, and players being teleported into some kind of outside-the-map endless Purgatory.

And PC gamers have a few graphical and online search fixes coming, as well as a fix to make Zombies sessions stop becoming “unavailable,” when they’re really totally available and just lying to you. Get the list of PC updates here.

Via VG247.

New Kevin Butler Ad Claims Gran Turismo 5 Might Actually Be Released

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 12:42 PM PST

No, really. Kevin Butler says Gran Turismo 5 is coming out, they’ve printed the discs, and we have a release date and everything, so nothing could possibly go wrong.

Plus, this new KB ad is kind of hilarious (as they often are), and would Sony’s marketing department expend the kind of energy to add a joke into a commercial if they weren’t serious about the game? It’s totally happening Nov. 24.

According to the Official Playstation Blog, you can see the ad on TV during various NFL games on CBS, including the Indianapolis Colts vs. the New England Patriots game Sunday.

Or you can just watch it right here.

New Deus Ex Gameplay Trailer Shows off Augmentation, Ass Kicking

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 12:38 PM PST

The last Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer we saw was from Tokyo Game Show, and it rocked. Still, it didn’t feature much in the way of gameplay.

Now, our need to see gameplay is at last satisfied. In this new trailer, you’ll get a glimpse of how augmentations can affect gameplay. You’ll also get to see some serious ass kicking.

Enjoy the trailer below, or download the high-res version to your PC on our fast, free servers.

Borderlands Game of the Year Edition Heading to Mac

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 12:19 PM PST

Gearbox and Feral Interactive just dropped a press release saying Mac users can finally get in on the Borderlands goodness.

The Borderlands Game of the Year Edition jumps platforms on Dec. 3 and will run U.S. customers the standard $49.95 in stores. It’s available for preorder on Feral’s website. The GOTY edition comes packed with all four downloadable content expansion packs, plus a fold-out map of Pandora. No word on a downloadable version of the game, however.

Psyched yet? Well, slow down a second before you go running off to click that preorder button, and check out the Mac system requirements below.

Minimum system requirements call for a 1.8 GHz Intel Mac with at least 2 GB RAM, 128MB or better graphics card, DVD drive, and Mac OS X v10.6.4 or later. The following cards are NOT supported: ATI X1xxx series, NVIDIA 7xxx series and Intel GMA series.

Okay, now go hit that button.

PSN to Get Co-Op-only Little Big Planet Spin-Off, Plus Beta Invites

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 11:54 AM PST

You’ll only have to wait for Dec. 14 if you’re itching for a LittleBigPlanet 2 fix, although you’ll need at least one friend and Playstation Move. I don’t know if you’re really that itchy.

In the run-up to LBP2, Media Molecule is releasing a stand-alone spin-off game called Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves, a 10-level co-op only Playstation Network download title.

Here’s what the Official Playstation Blog has to say about Sackboy‘s dinosaur-themed adventure:

Throughout your mission you must take on challenges engineered by Terrance Dactyl – and you're going to some need help, so put on your bear skins and grab up to four friends to navigate the tough terrain of the tropical jungle dodging erupting volcanoes and other environmental hazards standing in your way.

One player will use Move to control things, while up to three other players get standard DualShock controllers. According to the Playstation blog post, “The player with the PlayStation Move controller leads the charge, flicking switches and triggering platforms to help the other players, using DualShock Controllers, through each level.”

That sounds to me like the DualShock users will be controlling various Sackboy-type characters, with the Move player providing support in the environment by interacting with things using a cursor — not an actual character. But that’s totally speculative.

Regular PSN users can catch the game for $5.99 on Dec. 14, while Playstation Plus members get the game for free on Dec. 7. In addition, Playstation Blog says “thousands of LittleBigPlanet supporters” will get Prehistoric Moves for free, but doesn’t give any more details than that.

Also in early December, a bunch of new LBP 2 beta invites are going out to Playstation Plus members and community members, and it sounds like some will be given away in contests as well. Again, Playstation Blog is being a tease and holding back further details until next month.

One last thing: Dec. 21 will see the release of a new LBP 2 story mode demo on PSN. Mark your calendar.

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Side Quests and Rewards

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 11:51 AM PST

Cristina Memories

A Second Chance – Achieve 15% Total Synch

Last Rites – Achieve 30% Total Synch

Best Man – Achieve 45% Total Synch

Persona Non Grata – Acheive 60% Total Synch

Love’s Labour Lost – Achieve 75% Total Synch

Copernico Memories

The Copernico memories are exclusive PS3 DLC. They can be begun once you have reached Sequence 03.

False Censorship

Expedited Post

Out of Orbit

Man in Red

Intelligentsia

Sitting Ducks

Honorary Degree

War Machine Quest Rewards

Tank Model – Complete the Hell on Wheels War Machine mission

Bomber Model – Complete the Flying Machine 2.0 War Machine mission

Machine Gun Model – Complete the Outgunned War Machine mission

Naval Cannon Model – Complete the Loose Cannon War Machine mission

Parachute – Complete all four War Machine missions

Guild Mission Rewards

Courtesans’ Guild Crest – Advance the Courtesans’ Guild to Level 2

Thieves’ Guild Crest – Advance the Thieves’ Guild to Level 2

Mercenaries’ Guild Crest – Advance the Mercenaries’ Guild to Level 2

Maria’s Dagger – Advance the Courtesans’ Guild to Level 3

La Volpe’s Bite – Advance the Thieves’ Guild to Level 3

Bartolomeo’s Axe – Advance the Mercenaries’ Guild to Level 3

Assassin’s Guild Crest – Complete all Assassin’s Guild Challenges

Sword of Altair – Complete all Assassin’s Guild Challenges.

Templar Agents

Down to Earth – Available in Sequence 06

Excommunication – Available in Sequence 07

Red-Handed – Available in Sequence 07

Counter-Propaganda – Available in Sequence 06

Firing Line – Available in Sequence 07

The Ringer – Available in Sequence 06

Dagger and Armor of Brutus

Collect all six keys from the Followers’ Lairs (see this page). The treasures can then be found in a vault below Prospero da Siena’s Borgia tower.

Wizards of the Coast Unveils Online Character Tool

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 09:51 AM PST

Fans of the long running pen-and-paper RPG Dungeons & Dragons now have a new tool for managing and creating 4th Edition and Essentials characters. Earlier this week Wizards of the Coast released the new online D&D Insider Character Builder. Subscribers to the company’s web-based Dungeons & Dragons Insider can use the new tool through the D&D website and create new characters for their offline games.

The online-only Insider Character Builder replaces the earlier downloadable program.  This new version is compatible with Macintosh computers and Windows PCs and is based upon Microsoft’s Silverlight web application technology.  It supports importing your previous character files into the new redesigned interface and stores them in a software cloud, much the same way Google stores documents and mail so users are never without access to character files provided they can get online using a Mac or PC.

There are a few differences from the old tool like a limit on the number of characters you can assign to your account (the old tool was effectively unlimited, currently this tool only allows 20 characters), and aside from PDF you’re not going to have offline access to your character data. Now, users have broader access to characters without having to lug around the exact PC they built them on and Wizards is promising more timely character option updates when new books are released.

You can find out more at the  Dungeons & Dragons website about the online tool and the D&D Insider program required to use the tool.

OnLive Microadapter Console Available December 2, 2010

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 09:10 AM PST

Software as a Service is not a new concept to business, but it’s somewhat of a hard sell to gamers. OnLive, the subscription gaming service that promises to stream high-end PC games to subscribers home systems has a new microadapter available in December to facilitate their service delivery.

The mini-console concept is that gamers who subscribe can hook up the small piece of hardware to their Internet service  and TV via Ethernet and HDMI. An included wireless battery-powered gamepad serves as the interface. The new version of the service adapter will ship December 2nd and cost $99. For a limited time, those who order the new hardware will get a voucher for a free game available to play on the system.

OnLive currently uses a rental model, but the company also promised to add a subscription-based offering in 2011. (In many ways returning to the original way the service was solicited) There are a limited number of game titles available now for purchase or rental on the service with 100 game promised shortly. Unfortunately, the company did not share the terms or pricing for this future subscription model.

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean Announced

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 08:47 AM PST

Disney has announced the newest property that will be getting the LEGO treatment: Pirates of the Caribbean.

Set to be released in conjunction with the newest PotC movie in May 2011, LEGO Pirates will of course be developed by TT Games. The story of the game will include all three existing Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

LEGO Pirates will feature two-player co-op, as well as the series’ normal freeplay mode, which lets you replay completed levels to find more secrets. The game will feature over 20 levels and more than 70 different characters to unlock.

If you’re a fan of the LEGO games (and it’s OK if you are – there’s no shame in it), you should really mark May of next year on your calendar. It’s due to be available on DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.
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