via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384422/activision-on-games-like-call-of-duty-people-appreciate-our-approach
Thursday, October 31, 2013
News::Activision on games like 'Call of Duty': 'People appreciate our approach'
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384422/activision-on-games-like-call-of-duty-people-appreciate-our-approach
News::Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z releasing March 2014
In North America, Team Ninja's Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will be hitting PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on March 4, 2014. There's a new trailer for the game which features Miss Monday, Yaiba's "in-game tour guide." You'd ... you'd better just watch it for yourself.
I probably should be in the market for this, as a fan of Ninja Gaiden, cyborgs, ninjas, and especially cyborg ninjas. For whatever reason, it hasn't been on my radar ever since the initial reveal. Maybe it's the game's juvenile tone? Yeah. Fairly sure that's not helping.
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/yaiba-ninja-gaiden-z-releasing-march-2014-264640.phtml
News::Rumour: Multiplayer Cut from the WiiU version of Watch_Dogs
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384319/rumour-multiplayer-cut-from-the-wiiu-version-of-watch-dogs
News::Atomic Ninjas Slashing Onto PC, Mac and Linux
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384481/atomic-ninjas-slashing-onto-pc-mac-and-linux
News::Major League Gaming will be bigger than the NHL in two years
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384420/major-league-gaming-will-be-bigger-than-the-nhl-in-two-years
News::Last minute 'Call of Duty: Ghosts' pre-order round-up
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384345/last-minute-call-of-duty-ghosts-pre-order-round-up
News::Destiny Devs Talk Space Travel, PC, And Microtransactions
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384358/destiny-devs-talk-space-travel-pc-and-microtransactions
News::Defiance DLC Coming this Winter, Halloween Patch Now Live
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384357/defiance-dlc-coming-this-winter-halloween-patch-now-live
News::Yaiba - Ninja Gaiden Z - Trailer #2
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384466/yaiba-ninja-gaiden-z-trailer-2
News::Halloween Special: The Best Horror Games of 2013 So Far
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384458/halloween-special-the-best-horror-games-of-2013-so-far
News::Clementine Is the Clear Choice for the Lead Role in The Walking Dead: Season Two
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384409/clementine-is-the-clear-choice-for-the-lead-role-in-the-walking-dead-season-two
News::First Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag PC Screenshots Look Glorious
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384374/first-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-pc-screenshots-look-glorious
News::Gore blimey: Total War Rome 2 gets some more bloody DLC
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384467/gore-blimey-total-war-rome-2-gets-some-more-bloody-dlc
News::The Stanley Parable | Review - AWESOMEoutof10
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384471/the-stanley-parable-review-awesomeoutof10
News::Softpedia- Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384383/softpedia-assassins-creed-4-black-flag-review
News::Xbox One game gifting may be coming after all
Back when the Xbox One was announced and all of that terrible DRM news came out of it, there was one pretty neat feature -- digital game gifting. Essentially, the practice allowed you to buy a game digitally, play it, then "gift it" to a friend on your Xbox Live friend's list.
It's something not even Steam allows, and I would have loved to have seen it on a console for the very first time. But after Microsoft pulled an Xbox 180 on their DRM policies, the idea was abandoned -- most would say that the good (the support of used games and the removal of always-on DRM)) far outweighed the bad, and they'd be absolutely correct.
But there may be light at the end of the sharing tunnel, as Major Nelson confirms that it's a "Great feature we'd like to add in someday, but it won't be there at launch." It's not concrete confirmation, but if enough fans rise to the occasion, it's possible Microsoft could support it in the future.
Can I buy a game and gift it to a friend digitally? [Reddit via OXM]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/xbox-one-game-gifting-may-be-coming-after-all-264623.phtml
News::Gas Guzzlers Extreme Review | Geekenstein
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384315/gas-guzzlers-extreme-review-geekenstein
News::The Typing of The Dead: Overkill Review - Sega's Halloween Surprise a New Hit? | Entertainment Fuse
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384386/the-typing-of-the-dead-overkill-review-segas-halloween-surprise-a-new-hit-entertainment-fuse
News::Goodbye Deponia Review | TSA
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384408/goodbye-deponia-review-tsa
News::Battlefield 4 review - LogiaGamer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384398/battlefield-4-review-logiagamer
News::How to Pair Your DualShock 4 with a PC
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384346/how-to-pair-your-dualshock-4-with-a-pc
News::Top-13 the best Halloween games
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384202/top-13-the-best-halloween-games
News::Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Review | The Controller Online
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384382/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-review-the-controller-online
News::Arma III - Trailer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384384/arma-iii-trailer
News::Call of Duty: Ghosts is upscaled at 720p on the Xbox One
A lot of rumors have been flying around in regards to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of Call of Duty: Ghosts , and Infinity Ward's Mark Rubin has addressed them once and for all. For starters, Ghosts runs at 1080p on the PlayStation 4, and is upscaled at 720p on the Xbox One. Both versions are 60 fps.
Rubin is also happy about the reception with the game's alien-centric Extinction mode, so I hope it lives up to the hype. It'll be really interesting to see how Call of Duty and Battlefield 4 fare on PC versus the Xbox One and PS4, and how it changes the attitudes of major FPS developers going forward.
Mark Rubin [TwitLonger]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/call-of-duty-ghosts-is-upscaled-at-720p-on-the-xbox-one-264617.phtml
News::Check These Stunning New Dark Souls 2 Screenshots
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384299/check-these-stunning-new-dark-souls-2-screenshots
News::Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 Premium Edition announced, Dracula and Satan face off in new trailer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384324/castlevania-lords-of-shadow-2-premium-edition-announced-dracula-and-satan-face-off-in-new-trailer
News::Indie dev accuses global publisher of stealing game, forced to take it back
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384287/indie-dev-accuses-global-publisher-of-stealing-game-forced-to-take-it-back
News::Watch eight minutes of Call of Duty's alien horde mode
GameSpot has a quick look of Call of Duty: Ghosts' new Extinction mode, which seems to be Infinity Ward's take on Treyarch's zombies -- with aliens in it. But if you take a closer look at Extinction, it looks like there's a decent amount of variety within the mode to differentiate itself, with a full leveling system, classes, and an enhanced emphasis on co-op.
According to the developers, there's a focus on "base defense with wave based gameplay, and scavenging and leveling." Extinction encourages scavenging to find special items like flares (which distract enemies), hypno-knives (to convert enemies to your cause), and other items like electric fences.
All in all, it sounds pretty appealing, and I'm more than willing to give it a shot. I really like the part where the developers talk about breaking away from the Modern Warfare universe as much as possible to try something new -- we'll see how true that really is next week!
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/watch-eight-minutes-of-call-of-duty-s-alien-horde-mode-264616.phtml
News::'Batman: Arkham Origins' Review | Comics Alliance
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384348/batman-arkham-origins-review-comics-alliance
News::Football Manager 2014 Launches in PAL Territories
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384290/football-manager-2014-launches-in-pal-territories
News::Let's Play Pantsless - Outlast (PC)
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384318/lets-play-pantsless-outlast-pc
News::Male Wii Fit trailer revealed for new Smash Bros.
In Sakurai's "Pic of the Day" post in the Smash Bros . Miiverse section, he recently revealed a brand new addition to the pair of games -- a Male Wii Fit Trainer. In all likelihood the male version is not a new character, but a costume swap for the Female Trainer -- this is especially evident since the pair has the exact same movement in the screenshot.
At least, that's what I hope is the case, as it would be great to have as little clones as possible in the new Smash.
Smash Bros. [Miiverse]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/male-wii-fit-trailer-revealed-for-new-smash-bros--264618.phtml
News::Xbox One Dev: All Those Saying Theyll Buy Titanfall on PC Forget Who Makes the OS
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384334/xbox-one-dev-all-those-saying-theyll-buy-titanfall-on-pc-forget-who-makes-the-os
News::Deadly Premonition: Director's Cut review | Lazygamer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384337/deadly-premonition-directors-cut-review-lazygamer
News::8 Horror Games That Will Have You Wetting Yourself
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384340/8-horror-games-that-will-have-you-wetting-yourself
News::Three Maps That Need to Return in Battlefield 4
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384286/three-maps-that-need-to-return-in-battlefield-4
News::American Civil War 2 Review {Critically Sane}
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384323/american-civil-war-2-review-critically-sane
News::Gas Guzzlers Extreme Review - BootHammer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384325/gas-guzzlers-extreme-review-boothammer
News::EA financial figures show abysmal Wii U software sales
For quite a while now, some people have been knocking EA for not supporting the Wii U -- and with some new information, it's not hard to see why. Currently out of all of the total software sales in the last quarter ($695 million), only three percent are from the Wii and the Wii U.
Conversely, the Xbox 360 comprises 54% of sales, whereas the PS3 is sitting at 42%. Of course, this presents a "chicken and egg" scenario where both EA and Nintendo potentially lose. On one hand, the Wii U needs support to succeed, and releasing a scant few games this year on the Wii U and Wii will of course equate to low sales.
On the other, EA has an obligation to stay in business, and spending tons of cash on the development of something responsible for 3% of your profits doesn't make much sense. It'll be interesting to see where the Wii U is at after the holidays. Hopefully EA wises up and legitimately considers an exclusive with some effort put into it before ignoring the Wii U for good.
The 1%: Why EA ditched the Wii U [MMGN]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/ea-financial-figures-show-abysmal-wii-u-software-sales-264619.phtml
News::ZTGD | Batman: Arkham Origins Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384316/ztgd-batman-arkham-origins-review
News::Dark Souls II is Coming | Preview XPStar
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384227/dark-souls-ii-is-coming-preview-xpstar
News::The Halo Booletin: 10.30.13
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384217/the-halo-booletin-10-30-13
News::Borderlands 2 $100,000 Loot Hunt Week Three
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384107/borderlands-2-100-000-loot-hunt-week-three
News::Ed Boon teases Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks HD
Once upon a time, Midway Games made a Mortal Kombat themed beat 'em up called Shaolin Monks. It starred Liu Kang and Kung Lao in an epic quest to defeat Shang Tsung, featuring full co-op, RPG elements, and a story. Surprisingly, it did rather well both commercially and critically, which might be why Ed Boon is teasing an HD version of Shaolin Monks over Twitter.
Jokingly, Boon tweeted a picture of a Shaolin Monks strategy guide, stating "Someone put this on my desk. WTF? Do they think we're doing an HD version to download ... um.. or something." I don't think I'm alone in saying I would easily buy a $10 downloadable version for the co-op factor alone -- and with a number of Mortal Kombat games coming to Steam recently, a PC release could sell very well.
I for one love these MK spinoffs, and as wonky as it was, I was also a fan of Mortal Kombat: Mythologies Sub Zero -- there's something about that game that drew me in over the course of an entire week.
Ed Boon [Twitter]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/ed-boon-teases-mortal-kombat-shaolin-monks-hd-264615.phtml
News::DmC's Dante is a Bad Character
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384210/dmcs-dante-is-a-bad-character
News::Disgaea 4 Return gets a debut Vita trailer
Disgaea 4 is coming to the Vita in the form of Disgaea 4 Returns , and you can get a quick look at what's on offer in this new trailer from developer NIS. The franchise's signature style is all here, including Prinny costumes, anime cutscenes, and stylish combat.
Although Disgaea 4 isn't my favorite in the series, it's still very much a quality strategy RPG, and a great addition to the Vita's lineup in 2014.
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/disgaea-4-return-gets-a-debut-vita-trailer-264613.phtml
News::Sanatana Mishra Interview - Eurogamer Expo 2013 | The Indie Mine
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1384252/sanatana-mishra-interview-eurogamer-expo-2013-the-indie-mine
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
News::Mortal Kombat DooM Gets New Footage
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383705/mortal-kombat-doom-gets-new-footage
News::Gaming Cynic: Dont Be Scared, Call of Duty Wont Hurt You
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383719/gaming-cynic-dont-be-scared-call-of-duty-wont-hurt-you
News::Call of Duty: Ghosts preview - Grainger Games
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383678/call-of-duty-ghosts-preview-grainger-games
News::Techland Pushes The Release Of Hellraid Into 2014
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383701/techland-pushes-the-release-of-hellraid-into-2014
News::EA's Data Says Titanfall Will be a Very Highly Rated Game
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383564/eas-data-says-titanfall-will-be-a-very-highly-rated-game
News::Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Review | Gameplanet
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383704/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-review-gameplanet
News::Exclusive Hawken Invasion Update Details: New Mech, New Game Modes + More
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383666/exclusive-hawken-invasion-update-details-new-mech-new-game-modes-more
News::Nether Now On Early Access
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383248/nether-now-on-early-access
News::The Taxi: An Evolution In Grand Theft Auto
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383385/the-taxi-an-evolution-in-grand-theft-auto
News::GameStop ad (10/30 - 11/5)
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383573/gamestop-ad-10-30-11-5
News::Etrian Odyssey Untold European release detailed
Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl recently blazed a trail on the 3DS platform in the US, but it looks like Europe is getting a piece of the action too. While there is no solid release date in sight, Millennium Girl is coming in 2014, and it will be a dual physical and digital release.
Should you find yourself on the fence, a double-dungeon demo will launch a little bit before release. For those who were wondering, NIS America will be handling the European localization.
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/etrian-odyssey-untold-european-release-detailed-264546.phtml
News::Lost at sea? why BioShock and Irrational could become victims of their own success
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383641/lost-at-sea-why-bioshock-and-irrational-could-become-victims-of-their-own-success
News::Orc Attack: Flatulent Rebellion Review (X360Gamer)
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383677/orc-attack-flatulent-rebellion-review-x360gamer
News::Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Review | TSA
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383675/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-review-tsa
News::Battlefield 3: My Week In Batters vol. 13
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382972/battlefield-3-my-week-in-batters-vol-13
News::Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag: Check Out All Edward Kenways Costumes in this Video
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383667/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-check-out-all-edward-kenways-costumes-in-this-video
News::Starbound Beta Announced, Set to Take Off 'Very Soon'
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383630/starbound-beta-announced-set-to-take-off-very-soon
News::Review: The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition (DarkZero)
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383627/review-the-king-of-fighters-xiii-steam-edition-darkzero
News::HonestGamers Review // Nihilumbra
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383661/honestgamers-review-nihilumbra
News::Titanfall, Killer or Clone?
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383620/titanfall-killer-or-clone
News::Slender - The Arrival - Launch Trailer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383654/slender-the-arrival-launch-trailer
News::Why Batgirl Would Make the Batman Video Games Better
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383648/why-batgirl-would-make-the-batman-video-games-better
News::Digital Downloads vs. Physical Disks
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383632/digital-downloads-vs-physical-disks
News::Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition Gets Some New Media, NPC 'Hexxat' Revealed
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383645/baldurs-gate-ii-enhanced-edition-gets-some-new-media-npc-hexxat-revealed
News::In-depth Review: Alien Rage - Electronic Theatre
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383550/in-depth-review-alien-rage-electronic-theatre
News::Top Ten Pirates In Video Games
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383640/top-ten-pirates-in-video-games
News::Review: The Inner World (New Gamer Nation)
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383572/review-the-inner-world-new-gamer-nation
News::Should you spend your next-gen console cash on a PC instead?
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383637/should-you-spend-your-next-gen-console-cash-on-a-pc-instead
News::Dark Souls II gets retailer specific DLC in Japan
From Software has revealed the new Japanese boxart for Dark Souls II , and has uncovered retailer specific weapon DLC in the process. Based on the outlet you reserve the game at (such as Geo, Best Denki or Amazon.co.jp), you can obtain certain pieces of DLC listed in the gallery -- thankfully nothing huge is in there.
Whether or not these pre-order bonuses will make it to America is unknown, but you can currently reserve the Collector's Edition, which nets you a 12 inch figure with a display box, a hardbound art book, a microfiber map, the soundtrack, and a metal case.
Store Announcement [Dark Souls.jp]
Read more...
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/dark-souls-ii-gets-retailer-specific-dlc-in-japan-264545.phtml
News::Nvidia Flagship GTX 780 Ti Specs Leaked - Full Power of the GK110 Unleashed
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383598/nvidia-flagship-gtx-780-ti-specs-leaked-full-power-of-the-gk110-unleashed
News::Project Eternity Accidentally Revealed as Pillars of Eternity
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383609/project-eternity-accidentally-revealed-as-pillars-of-eternity
News::Raven's Cry: Finally a good pirate game?
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383606/ravens-cry-finally-a-good-pirate-game
News::RT News - October 29, 2013
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383415/rt-news-october-29-2013
News::Mega Man V hits the Japanese 3DS eShop next week
It appears as if the Mega Man Game Boy collection (referred to as Rockman World overseas) will be complete next week in Japan, as Mega Man V is hitting their 3DS Virtual Console. Celebrated by fans, Mega Man V is often considered to be one of the most unique, and best games in the franchise, eschewing many established tropes in favor of an item shop, and a lack of Robot Masters.
As far as we know, the US is still slated to receive the entire Mega Man Game Boy lineup, in addition to the Game Boy Color games Xtreme and Xtreme 2.
Rockman World 5 Rockets onto 3DS in Japan Next Week [Mega Man Network]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/mega-man-v-hits-the-japanese-3ds-eshop-next-week-264548.phtml
News::Gas Guzzlers Extreme Review | 6aming
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383570/gas-guzzlers-extreme-review-6aming
News::Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag PC-Exclusive Graphics Are Gorgeous
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383421/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-pc-exclusive-graphics-are-gorgeous
News::Slayer and Faust join the cast of Guilty Gear Xrd: Sign
Arc System Works continues to reveal more characters for the upcoming Guilty Gear Xrd, and now fan favorites Faust and Slayer have been confirmed through the game's website. Faust is still rocking the paper bag head, and I'm sure more than a few people are excited to play as this loveable serial killer.
So far, the partial cast is confirmed as Axl, I-No, Potemkin, Venom, Ky, Venom, Sol, Millia, Chipp, Faust, and Slayer.
Slayer [GGXRD.com]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/slayer-and-faust-join-the-cast-of-guilty-gear-xrd-sign-264544.phtml
News::Fondling DOTA 2
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383592/fondling-dota-2
News::ZTGD | FORCED (PC) Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383590/ztgd-forced-pc-review
News::Battlefield 4 PSA: Please Report All Red Screen Of Death Issues To EA's Forums
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383534/battlefield-4-psa-please-report-all-red-screen-of-death-issues-to-eas-forums
News::Gone Home: A Game for your Consideration
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383557/gone-home-a-game-for-your-consideration
News::The Weekly 5: Most Badass Playable Characters
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383364/the-weekly-5-most-badass-playable-characters
News::Football Manager 2014 Review - Midlife Gamer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383556/football-manager-2014-review-midlife-gamer
News::Mike Bithell Interview - Eurogamer Expo 2013 | The Indie Mine
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383532/mike-bithell-interview-eurogamer-expo-2013-the-indie-mine
News::Assassins Creed: The Evolution From Bad to Good and Back Again
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383345/assassins-creed-the-evolution-from-bad-to-good-and-back-again
News::HearthStone: Heroes of Warcraft Chinese Rip-off on Mobiles Already
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382810/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft-chinese-rip-off-on-mobiles-already
News::Battlefield 4 server browser shows maximum of 68 players
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382802/battlefield-4-server-browser-shows-maximum-of-68-players
News::EA denies it's rushing Titanfall development
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383539/ea-denies-its-rushing-titanfall-development
News::Doctor Who: The Adventure Games approved for Steam
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383533/doctor-who-the-adventure-games-approved-for-steam
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
News::Top 5 Horror Games You Probably Havent Heard Of
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382112/top-5-horror-games-you-probably-havent-heard-of
News::Infinite Crisis - Closed Beta Phase Announced
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383008/infinite-crisis-closed-beta-phase-announced
News::Football Manager 2014 Review (Invision Game Community)
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382950/football-manager-2014-review-invision-game-community
News::Batman: Arkham Origins Review | GamerLimit
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382903/batman-arkham-origins-review-gamerlimit
News::Blood Knights Trailer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383005/blood-knights-trailer
News::Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Gameplay Review | OutsideXbox
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383019/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-gameplay-review-outsidexbox
News::'Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag' Review - An Assassin's Life For Me | Forbes
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383021/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-review-an-assassins-life-for-me-forbes
News::Lost at sea? why BioShock and Irrational could become victims of their own success
Every important game franchise starts off as something smaller. With Call of Duty, it was 2007′s Modern Warfare that ended its history with World War 2 and sparked this generation’s obsession with high-tech global war. Bethesda did the same for open-world fantasy with Oblivion, and Naughty Dog for third-person world-hopping with Uncharted. And Irrational did the same with BioShock.
BioShock’s success story isn’t unique, but like every super-successful series, there comes a point where the shine that made the original such a stand-out success – be that on new console, or in the world of games in general – starts to rub off. Innovation gives way to formula; novelties become familiar. The games become automatic purchases for a fanbase that knows what it wants and what it can expect to be given, and the studio becomes known as ‘those people that do that game’.
BioShock got hit with that criticism early on this generation, when instead of jumping off from the original to new horizons, 2K Marin developed a sequel once again set in the dank corridors of post-collapse Rapture. Infinite took the franchise further with Columbia, even while taking criticisms from fans and critics that the series’ staple mechanic – the interplay between guns and Plasmids/Vigors – didn’t make as much narrative sense as in Andrew Ryan’s congruously transhumanist Utopia. Now, with the release of its first piece of story DLC, Burial At Sea, BioShock is going back to Rapture for a third time, tossing another troubled hero with a murky past into the middle of a superpowered gunfight with enemies we’ve battled before.
At around two hours long, it’s a compact, challenging and typically well-written BioShock story. But as a fan of the series, there’s a niggling voice in my head that wants to know: is Irrational becoming ‘that BioShock studio’?
The Rapture you explore in Burial At Sea isn’t, to give it its dues, a simple copy-paste job of the city you’ve seen before. Speaking with the DLC’s producer, Don Roy, he explains that the sections of the city that Booker and Elizabeth can explore have been completely rebuilt.
“We do art completely differently to BioShock 1,” he says. “We can now have vistas; when you look out the window, those are 3D models [that you're seeing]. Inside, we took lessons from Infinite’s town centre and fair – how we populate a world and how we tell a story through the people in that world. Now we can go back to Rapture before the fall and show what the citizens were like before things went bad.”
The new Rapture blends gameplay from the original and Infinite – although the balance is definitely slanted towards Infinite’s combat-heavy style. It’s also less claustrophobic, aside from its new open areas in which jarringly lucid and non-murderous citizens gossip and talk politics. It has also taken on Infinite’s vertical gameplay, thanks to the inclusion of freight hooks and sky-lines. Visually, Rapture feels softer and darker – just different enough to sell the idea that the story is playing out in one of Elizabeth’s alternate realities.
But the problem is that, for all those subtle pieces of visual storytelling, this is still Rapture. After the DLC’s opening, in which a decidedly prickly Elizabeth gives Booker a new case to investigate, he follows her out of his gloomy office and into the glittering brilliance of Rapture, all golds and reds and turquoise ocean views. It’s cleverly directed and beautiful. But all I could think as the scene played out was how much more breathtaking it was seeing the city for the first time, from the window of the bathysphere as it descended from the lighthouse to the sound of Andrew Ryan’s opening ‘Sweat Of His Brow’ monologue.
Burial At Sea’s opening is clearly designed to call the original BioShock’s to mind, and playing off that kind of nostalgia is a common theme throughout the DLC. Irrational producer Roy goes so far as to call the game an “ultimate love letter to the fans”. But that’s a double-edged sword. There’s always a thrill to revisiting an area you’ve explored before and seeing it in a new light – the brief jaunt through Rapture’s corridors in the closing moments of Infinite’s story produced a great fan response, according to Roy. But more than once, Burial At Sea strays from a tribute into pure fan-service. Of the two new weapons, one is the Tommy Gun from the original BioShock, and Booker only receives one new Vigor to fight splicers with, which leaves an awful lot of slack to be taken up by the new story and the backdrop of Rapture 3.0.
The next instalment of DLC continues the story and for the first time lets you play as Elizabeth, making use of her ability to create dimensional tears. But with such a focus on Rapture, even with Infinite’s new mechanics and a new protagonist, aren’t Irrational worried about typecasting?
“Our main focus is always ‘what compelling story can we tell?’” says Roy. “That doesn’t have to be a BioShock game; it really lives and dies with the direction that Ken [Levine] wants to go.”
When I ask if there aren’t certain things that fans expect from the studio – first-person viewpoints, guns, superpowers – and whether the studio could ever stray away from this formula, he is more evasive. “To be honest with you, I don’t know. The only thing I know is that we’re not bound by any rules. It’s what’s necessary to tell the story we want to tell, and that could come about in a lot of different ways. We’re not closed off to any options.”
I hope that turns out to be true. But I’ll throw down a gauntlet and say Irrational will never send its next Jack or Booker into a globe-spanning, third-person treasure hunt, and another to say that Nathan Drake isn’t ever going to topple the leader of a fascistic dictatorship with bees hatched from his forearms. Developers playing to their strengths is what gives gaming its most successful franchises – straying away from them and onto another series’ turf just doesn’t happen that often.
Burial At Sea is exactly what many BioShock fans will have wanted, but despite the studio’s reassurances it still raises questions about how bound Irrational already is by its past successes – and how that will affect its games in the future. No doubt, another romp around a retro-futuristic dystopia, gunning down human crazies with one hand and fire-blasting automatons with the other would reap a handsome return for the studio. But the same would have been true of Uncharted 4 – while Irrational has given us essentially more of the same with its latest story, Naughty Dog gave us The Last Of Us.
Most gamers will give Burial At Sea a free pass for wearing its fan service on its sleeve, and for being DLC rather than a full-release game. That’s fair. But as a fan of the franchise, watching it step, however briefly, backwards rather than forwards is uncomfortable. That tantalising set-up of countless worlds to explore at the end of Infinite makes a return to Rapture feel like wasted potential; a studio resting on its laurels, sticking closely to formula and declining to push boundaries in the way that earned the BioShock series the reputation it has today. That’s a familiar road for successful series – I just don’t want it to become BioShock’s.
The post Lost at sea? why BioShock and Irrational could become victims of their own success appeared first on Edge Online.
via Edge Online http://www.edge-online.com/features/lost-at-sea-why-bioshock-and-irrational-could-become-victims-of-their-own-success/
News::Review: Red Sabre: Takedown Review (New Gamer Nation)
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382982/review-red-sabre-takedown-review-new-gamer-nation
News::Need for Speed Rivals - Ultimate Cars, Speed and Rivalry Trailer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382919/need-for-speed-rivals-ultimate-cars-speed-and-rivalry-trailer
News::Guild Wars 2 Tower of Nightmares DLC Live, Preview New Screens
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382981/guild-wars-2-tower-of-nightmares-dlc-live-preview-new-screens
News::Battlefield 4 Review | Digital Chumps
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382884/battlefield-4-review-digital-chumps
News::Batman: Arkham Origins Review | Edge
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382983/batman-arkham-origins-review-edge
News::Battlefield 4 Review | The Slanted
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383006/battlefield-4-review-the-slanted
News::Face Noir [Review] | Mash Those Buttons
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1383014/face-noir-review-mash-those-buttons
News::German PC website recommends BF4 on PS4
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382996/german-pc-website-recommends-bf4-on-ps4
News::NGB | Football Manager 2014 Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382961/ngb-football-manager-2014-review
News::Batman: Arkham Origins Review | Spong
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382985/batman-arkham-origins-review-spong
News::Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag is this the Assassins Creed game weve been waiting for?
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382747/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-is-this-the-assassins-creed-game-weve-been-waiting-for
News::Why and how 'Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag' is better with PS4
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382937/why-and-how-assassins-creed-4-black-flag-is-better-with-ps4
News::How Ubisoft humbled themselves in 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag'
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382940/how-ubisoft-humbled-themselves-in-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag
News::Vandal- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382797/vandal-assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-review
News::Battlefield 4 Review | OXM
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382917/battlefield-4-review-oxm
News::Neverwinter Shadowmantle Expansion Revealed
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382921/neverwinter-shadowmantle-expansion-revealed
News::Battlefield 4 Review | CheatCC
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382631/battlefield-4-review-cheatcc
News::Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut Is Locked At 720p On PC, No Graphics Options Provided
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382864/deadly-premonition-the-directors-cut-is-locked-at-720p-on-pc-no-graphics-options-provided
News::Deadly Premonition Comes to Steam
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382922/deadly-premonition-comes-to-steam
News::Battlefield 4: China Rising expansion pack releases December 3
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382762/battlefield-4-china-rising-expansion-pack-releases-december-3
News::Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Review | NowGamer
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382851/assassins-creed-4-black-flag-review-nowgamer
News::Halo: Spartan Assault Coming to Xbox One, Xbox 360
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382881/halo-spartan-assault-coming-to-xbox-one-xbox-360
News::Assassins Creed IV: Enormous, but ultimately empty | ARS
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382883/assassins-creed-iv-enormous-but-ultimately-empty-ars
News::Disco Takes Over the Indies
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382856/disco-takes-over-the-indies
News::Final Exam Preview | GamingLives
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382744/final-exam-preview-gaminglives
News::MMO Halloween Events Suck
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382808/mmo-halloween-events-suck
News::Football Manager 2014 Review - Zero1Gaming
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382825/football-manager-2014-review-zero1gaming
News::Fondling Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382880/fondling-angry-video-game-nerd-adventures
News::Reiza Studios' Ayrton Senna game unaffected by GT6, still in development for PC
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382495/reiza-studios-ayrton-senna-game-unaffected-by-gt6-still-in-development-for-pc
News::Football Manager 2014 Review - The LAD Bible
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382819/football-manager-2014-review-the-lad-bible
News::Battlefield 4 Dog Tags Locations
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382723/battlefield-4-dog-tags-locations
News::Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Review - The Digital Fix
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382792/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-review-the-digital-fix
News::3Djuegos- Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag Review
via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1382803/3djuegos-assassins-creed-4-black-flag-review
News::Mega Man board game shows off Proto Man mini
Jasco's Mega Man board game is shaping up quite nicely, with a new miniature shown off in the form of Proto Man. A Kickstarter is also planned this week to help fund more extras like this, but rest assured the board game is coming regardless of the crowdfunding operation.
For those who are wondering, the "give our fans a Break" line in the Twitter announcement refers to Proto Man's alias in Mega Man 3 -- Break Man. He uses this disguise to hide himself from Mega Man and company.
MegaManBoardGame [Twitter]
via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/mega-man-board-game-shows-off-proto-man-mini-264478.phtml