Sunday, March 3, 2013

News::Is frustration an essential part of game design?

Guardian - If a game makes you throw the controller across the room in anger and disgust, is it good or bad?



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185385/is-frustration-an-essential-part-of-game-design

News::Top 5 JRPGs That Should Return Next-Gen

"During the era of the PlayStation 1 and 2, JRPGs were one of the strongest genres on consoles. Over the past generation of gaming however, JRPGs seem to have dwindled off of consoles and focused themselves more on handhelds." | Explosion.com



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185313/top-5-jrpgs-that-should-return-next-gen

News::Have You got an Embarrassing Gaming Backlog?

Liam Pritchard of Brash Games writes "The sad truth is that we do not get time to indulge in our favourite button mashing past-time, usually due to niggling details like jobs, families, children etc As a result, the backlog is born. Not everyone will have an enormous backlog, as they may have had the sense to stop buying games the moment they knew they wouldnt have enough time to play them".



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185329/have-you-got-an-embarrassing-gaming-backlog

News::Review: V-Moda Crossfade M-100

I realize that the percentage of our readers that are legitimately in the market for a $300 set of headphones is fairly small, and honestly if you don’t think dropping that much cheddar is ever worth it, then I probably can’t convince you here and now.


If, however, you are crazy enough to want to spend a, quite frankly, irresponsibly large amount of money on such an accessory, then I genuinely believe it should be the M-100 for one reason -- they’re actually somewhat practical.


Review: V-Moda Crossfade M-100 screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/review-v-moda-crossfade-m-100-247554.phtml

News::Japanese doujin fighter Vanguard Princess now available

Vanguard Princess, a Japanese doujin fighter is now available fully localised.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185321/japanese-doujin-fighter-vanguard-princess-now-available

News::Whispers in The Dark Ep. 38: Podtoid is My Waifu

Rely on Horror: On this weeks Whispers podcast Kyle and I praise the Destructoid podcast, Podtoid. This leads to us starting a feud with the insane podcast in hopes to get attentionwere lonely. They told me to name this podcast Podtoid is My Waifu. I have no clue what this means. In other news, we discuss the PlayStation 4 a whole lot: what we think of the console and its features. I also talk about my Lets Play projects and my hopes to go to PAX East if funds permit. Rourke enjoyed Silent Hill: Revelation, so we talk about that, Whitney says another dirty thing, and lastly, theres a whole lot of talk about the next generation of video games.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185310/whispers-in-the-dark-ep-38-podtoid-is-my-waifu

News::Our Week in Games Week 29

Kevin writes: I find todays gaming trend of HD remakes and re-releases somewhat uninspiring. In most cases the new game actually brings nothing new to the table other than updated graphics. In return the end users are charged a premium price for a game that could be over ten years old. I understand the reasons that these games can sometimes prove popular, both for the fans and the developers. But honestly I would rather just dig out my old console from the attic and play the original, the way it was intended to be played. Whos with me? I can only imagine how this will carry forward into the next generation of consoles. Ten years from now could I still find myself playing an updated version of Skyrim or Halo? Anyway, thats enough of my sentimental ramblings, its over to Reticule Towers and Our Week In Games Week 29 where the guys have been playing the usual assortment of games.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185280/our-week-in-games-week-29

News::Here and Now Indie: Hero Core

GamesRadar - Lets face it: Your monochromatic game diet as of late has been abysmal. The cure? Hero Core, a black-and-white shooter that marries simplistic graphics to fantastic shmup gameplay. As the dinky rocketeer Flip Hero, youll explore a massive Metroidvania-style space station, encountering some reflex-testing bullet walls along the way. Incredibly, the games layout is completely up to you--but good luck taking on the games final boss right out of the gate. Its the kind of engrossing indie game that reminds us that great things can come in visually stark packages.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185095/here-and-now-indie-hero-core

News::Top Five Skyrim Mods of the Week - Kiss Me...Oh No, Not The Bees

GameSpot - Cam and Seb embark on another Skyrim mods quest, this time armed with killer bee magic and the power to kiss...EVERYONE.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185341/top-five-skyrim-mods-of-the-week-kiss-me-oh-no-not-the-bees

News::Tomb Raider: Underworld retrospective

EuroGamer - You can tell a lot about a videogame character from the way they climb a ledge. Mario, for instance. He's a hyperactive, middle-aged toddler, hooking his leg around the ridge of a platform with the eager enthusiasm of a one-year-old clambering up the sofa all by himself for the first time. Nathan Drake meanwhile, with his amateurish swagger, heaves himself around with the kind of casual athleticism that derives from bravado as much as ability. But Lara, the old Lara, the Lara Croft of Tomb Raider: Underworld - she climbs ledges with style.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185343/tomb-raider-underworld-retrospective

News::Fox News Still Hasnt Fixed The Basic Errors In Its Latest Assassins Creed Story

Kotaku - Mainstream news outlets often get games wrong. This has been discussed. And discussed. And discussed, again, this week. The Assassin's Creed 3 article that Fox News published earlier this week is atrocious for so many reasons. Yes, it's xenophobic, somehow making the phrase "French company" sound like dirty words. Yes, Fox clearly tried to twist it into something that it's not. And to top it off it's chock-full of simple factual errors.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185345/fox-news-still-hasnt-fixed-the-basic-errors-in-its-latest-assassins-creed-story

News::Arma 3 Has Some Stunningly Realistic-Looking Signage

Kotaku - This set of new screenshots from within Bohemia Interactive's Arma 3 paints a very pretty picture, one filled with detailed sign textures and sexy lighting. The images were unearthed by the community as part of an ongoing augmented reality game, according to the fan site ArmaHolic.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185346/arma-3-has-some-stunningly-realistic-looking-signage

News::Street Fighter X Mega Man scores one million downloads

[Image by Christoper Hastings]


The fan-made, freely distributed, Capcom-backed mashup Street Fighter X Mega Man has crossed one million downloads, according to the game's creator, Seow Zong Hui. If it were to be counted as a full retail release, it would be only the fifth entry in the Mega Man franchise to achieve platinum status.


You can view this news two different ways depending on your level of optimism. On one hand, it could prove that there is still a sizable fanbase jonesing for more Mega Man goodness. On the other hand, it took a free game nearly three months to hit a target that certain paid games hit in much less time.


Back when SF X MM was first revealed, Capcom Senior VP Christian Svenesson said, "[I]f we get a million downloads of [Street Fighter X Mega Man], and certainly I think that's the floor I hope to see -- it's free, it should hopefully do more than that! -- that just helps raise awareness for the brand across the board and creates fertile ground for things to happen regardless of which direction that it kind of comes in." He seems to consider a million as the lowest acceptable performance, but I suppose there's still room for growth as long as the downloads remain active.


Might as well give the experiment a thumbs up, regardless. Let's see if this translates into a renewed effort on Capcom's behalf.


@SonicZH [Twitter via Rockman Corner]


Street Fighter X Mega Man scores one million downloads screenshot






via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/street-fighter-x-mega-man-scores-one-million-downloads-247638.phtml

News::he Art of Dead Space and Dead Space Graphic Novels

Gi - This grotesque collection of mutilated bodies and severed alien limbs makes for an excellent coffee table book. The Art of Dead Space begins with a touching forward by art director Ian Milham and leads over 300 images spanned across 150 pages of original and some never-before-seen Dead Space art. From initial concepts of Isaac Clarke to the evolution of the necromorph, the Art of Dead Space is a fantastic look into the creation of Dead Space. Commentary is constant throughout the book offering insight into different designs and explaining parts of the Dead Space story players and readers may have previously missed. With a glut of guts, gore, and interesting trivia this art book is an absolute must-have for Dead Space collectors.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185358/he-art-of-dead-space-and-dead-space-graphic-novels

News::DmC: Devil May Cry Review | GameBanana

GameBanana writes: If you are a fan of the previous games, check this one out and you will see it's not Dantes hairdo that makes the game awesome, and as for newcomers, you owe it to yourself to have this experience. Just make sure to buy all the previous installments afterwards.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185171/dmc-devil-may-cry-review-gamebanana

News::Guild Wars 2 Living Story: Evolution

Guild Wars2 Official: It's me again, Angel McCoy, from the Living Story team, and I'm writing this to share a bit more insight into what's happening and what's planned for our Living Story content. We've been working hard at it.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185184/guild-wars-2-living-story-evolution

News::WC - Assassins Creed III The Infamy DLC Review: Quality, Not Quantity

WC - The Infamy is ambitious. Its perhaps just as ambitious as Assassins Creed 3 itself, being unlike anything we have ever seen in the series before. It changes all mechanics associated with the series, and takes away the realistic nature always associated with it. And, most strangely; it works. The story can be argued to be more interesting than the original game, and what it gives to the gamer is a promising statement to what is more to come. Though it may lack the reasonable amount of content associated with a DLC of £7.99, The Infamys story and atmosphere is enough to make it an essential buy for fans of the series.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185350/wc-assassins-creed-iii-the-infamy-dlc-review-quality-not-quantity

News::DmC: Devil may Cry review | Blogcritics Gaming

BC writes: This Dante is going to be around for a hell of a long time and whether you like that or not, I can promise you one thing; He couldnt care less.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185170/dmc-devil-may-cry-review-blogcritics-gaming

News::(WGB) MadCatz F.R.E.Q. 7 Dolby 7.1 Headset Review

Baden of Wolfsgamingblog writes: "Ive mentioned this before, but to me buying a good headset is one of the best investments a dedicated gamer can make. Sure, you can go out and buy a massive surround sound speaker system that costs enough to feed a small country for a few years, but for a lot of people thats not a great option due to a lack of space or neighbours who do not appreciate loud explosions and gunfire and stupid-o-clock in the morning."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185296/wgb-madcatz-f-r-e-q-7-dolby-7-1-headset-review

News::The 7 Hottest Characters from New Video Games

Was there really once a time when Ms. Pac-Man represented the height of feminine representation in video games?



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185107/the-7-hottest-characters-from-new-video-games

News::11 Best Video Game Intros Of All Time

GameRevolution: I don't know about you, but the way a game begins is nearly as important to me as how the experience resolves before the credits roll (some, even after). A solid introductionwhether that be through a gorgeous cinematic, enthralling gameplay moment, or a combination of bothnot only gives the player an incredible first impression, but fuels their curiosity and desire to dive deeper into the experience. It's not easy to craft a compelling opener, but the eleven games we've selected truly exceed in this area. NOTE: In favor of giving as many franchises as possible a moment in the spotlight, we've limited our selections to one game per series. Otherwise, this list would have likely been dominated by all of Mr. Kojima's handiwork.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185327/11-best-video-game-intros-of-all-time

News::The Mass Effect 3: Citadel DLC will be two downloads on Xbox Live only

Bioware revealed that the Citadel DLC for Mass Effect 3 will be two separate downloads on Xbox Live due to its size. As such, the Citadel DLC will be two different downloads for Xbox 360 owners while the DLC will remain a single download on the Playstation 3 and PC. It is rather odd to hear of a game, on any system, having to split its DLC pack into separate parts due to size of the add-on.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185316/the-mass-effect-3-citadel-dlc-will-be-two-downloads-on-xbox-live-only

News::Revelations HD Loading Times are Scary

From GamesReviews: "Players who want to finish Resident Evil: Revelations HD might be disappointed to learn that there will be more than a few pauses in their adventure; the game in its current state boasts loading times of well over half a minute. Although the 3DS version wasn't a great deal better, people willing to buy both the original and HD port of the game will have been hoping that a little optimization may have cut back on load times."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185309/revelations-hd-loading-times-are-scary

News::Bioshock Infinite: New Screenshots

If you are gearing up for Bioshock Infinite then check out new screenshots.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185307/bioshock-infinite-new-screenshots

News::Weekly CryEngine 3 Gallery [February 24th - March 2nd]; New shots from Skyrim mod for CE3

DSOGaming writes: "CryEngine 3 fans, today we bring you new images from modders XaKu, gametime, EliteGhost, JuninhoEcko, adlej1 and romich. However, the highlight of this week is Manuel Virks in-game models from Crysis 3."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185305/weekly-cryengine-3-gallery-february-24th-march-2nd-new-shots-from-skyrim-mod-for-ce3

News::The Dirtsheet The War Z, EAs Microtransactions, Assassins Creed IV: Pirate Edition

GodisaGeek: News of the PS4 is still coming out at a steady rate, but we here at The Dirtsheet arent one-trick ponies so well let that lie for a bit. Instead, wed rather look at The War Z creeping its way back on to Steam, EAs fans embracing microtransactions and Assassins Creed IV now with added swashbuckling."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185161/the-dirtsheet-the-war-z-eas-microtransactions-assassins-creed-iv-pirate-edition

News::Portal 2 Co-Op with Jon Part 1 and 2

Phelous and Jon tackle Portal 2's co-op mode.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185098/portal-2-co-op-with-jon-part-1-and-2

News::Alien Invasion Has Begun in Battlefield Heroes

An otherworldly invasion has begun in Battlefield Heroes! Odd-looking creatures with advanced technology are arriving by the hundreds and their intentions are sinister. They aim to further fuel the never-ending war machine and to arm the National and Royal armies in their on-going fight by selling their technology.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185163/alien-invasion-has-begun-in-battlefield-heroes

News::Far Cry 3 Is Better (and Cheaper) Than a Vacation

Guns, cars, and loose women. With all the action youll be seeing, Far Cry 3 wont even feel like a staycation.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185103/far-cry-3-is-better-and-cheaper-than-a-vacation

News::Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag Trailer: What Does It Mean For The Game?

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has had a trailer leaked. Leviathyn got a hold of it before it was pulled to give you some information.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185274/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag-trailer-what-does-it-mean-for-the-game

News::PCGamer- Impire Review

PCG:Impire is not Dungeon Keeper. Its important you remember that. Although peopled or imped, if you will by long-eared, razor-toothed denizens, this RTS-meets-dungeon-simulator is less about running an evil underground empire than middle management in the lower echelons of a slow-witted, weight-watching hell.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185281/pcgamer-impire-review

News::Dread space: Why space sims scare me more than zombies

[For his Bloggers Wanted essay response, Destructoid community blogger TriplZer0 explains why the vast emptiness of space scares him more than jump scares ever could. Want to see your own words appear on the front page? Go write something! --Mr Andy Dixon]


Resident Evil and Dead Space aren't horror.


Now that I've got your attention, let me clarify that statement. Sure, those games are often classified as "survival horror," but they don't represent horror to me, and it has nothing to do with the more action-oriented flavor those series have adopted recently.


So what games do I consider truly scary? Oh, I dunno... How about ones that send you hurtling through the endless void of deep space? I'm talking about space sims. That's right, games like Freelancer and Tachyon: The Fringe terrify me more than any zombie ever could.


Dread space: Why space sims scare me more than zombies screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/dread-space-why-space-sims-scare-me-more-than-zombies-247473.phtml

News::Still Playing: DMC Devil May Cry

EDGE - Why were still playing Ninja Theorys brash, bold Devil May Cry reboot.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185092/still-playing-dmc-devil-may-cry

News::Origin Not Allowing Pre-Load of SimCity

From AnalogHype.com: "We are 36 hours away from the triumphant return of the city building classic SimCity, and the experience is already starting to sour for gamers excited to have everything ready to go the second the game is available. "



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185268/origin-not-allowing-pre-load-of-simcity

News::End The Wii U Hate - Podcast

End The Wii U Hate - A New NEX GEN SHOW from RealGamerNewz Where we last left you, the RealGamerNewz crew was speaking on topics from Mass Effect 3s ending to the next new IPs Destiny and Untitled from Bungie and Respawn set to take the gaming industry by storm. Now we bring you the next in line to our never-ending NEX GEN podcast. On this show we will discuss everything from the hate on the Nintendo Wii U and all of the features it has which gamers arent aware about to the longstanding legacy Zipper Interactive leaves behind at Sony as well as a number of other topics including the following: 30 cents for F-Zero on Nintendo Market E3 2013 Will Shock Industry Is Uncharted 4 a PS4 Launch Title? Could Slant Six Bring A New Socom 2 HD Remake Out for Vita, PS3, or even PS4? Zipper Canned: What Went Wrong? We anticipate the longevity of Call of Duty further into the future PS4 VS PC (Pros and cons, differences) Nex Gen things that Wii U Does that Xbox 720 and PS4 Don...



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185070/end-the-wii-u-hate-podcast

News::Why the First Mass Effect is My Favorite Game of the Franchise

Leviathyn.com | Although it may not be the best game of the series from a gameplay or technical standpoint, the first Mass Effect still remains Jasons favorite game of the franchise.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185278/why-the-first-mass-effect-is-my-favorite-game-of-the-franchise

News::Ultima VIII: The Lost Vale/Arthurian Legends RPG Interview

Sheri Graner Ray worked at ORIGIN Systems throughout the 1990s, and was instrumental to the core concepts and storylines in Ultima VII: Part Two - Serpent Isle, Ultima VIII: Pagan, and other titles at the highly respected company. Two of these other titles were Ultima VIII: The Lost Vale (an expansion pack that was cancelled between the time it went gold and would have been released to manufacturing) and an intriguing Ultima VII engine-powered RPG based on the legend of King Arthur.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185250/ultima-viii-the-lost-vale-arthurian-legends-rpg-interview

News::Expeditions Conquistador Review | PopMatters

Expeditions Conquistador is an alternate history, in which the player is put in the position of South Americas conquerors. Most of the game is centered on exploration and resource management with some sparse but important combat and dialogue trees mixed in. To say the least, its extraordinarily bold to handle such sensitive material in such a game-like fashion.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185181/expeditions-conquistador-review-popmatters

News::AMH Network - Dead Space 3 Review

Check out AMH Network's review for the controversial Dead Space 3



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184591/amh-network-dead-space-3-review

News::Most Anticipated New Releases of March 2013

BagOfGames.com's choices for most anticipated game of March 2013. This one has a clear winner.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1184959/most-anticipated-new-releases-of-march-2013

News::Dead Space 3 Review from Popcorn Frog

Can Dead Space 3 live up to the acclaim of the previous titles? Follow Isaac Clarke as he once again tries to save the world from the Xenomorph markers and find out.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185218/dead-space-3-review-from-popcorn-frog

News::Artists Wanted: 'Winter' recap and your next topic!

[Every month or so we post a new art assignment for the Dtoid community. Fun! Here's a recap of the latest. You have until Friday, March 15th to finish your next project, which is detailed at the end of the post! ]


Welcome back! Last time around, I asked you to draw something inspired by WINTER . I expected some random drawings depicting the snow levels in games or maybe something Ski Free-related; turns out, I had no idea what I was in for!


Hit the jump to see all the wonderful entries!


Artists Wanted: 'Winter' recap and your next topic! screenshot


Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/artists-wanted-winter-recap-and-your-next-topic--243855.phtml

News::Omerta: City of Gangsters Review | PopMatters

The more one plays the larger economic game, the more one admires the game's commitment to marrying its mechanics to its themes.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185183/omerta-city-of-gangsters-review-popmatters

News::Dead Space 3 Review | PopMatters

This is sci-fi action interspersed with some of the most memorable disaster sequences ever seen in a game. Theres little to no horror, and thats a good thing.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185180/dead-space-3-review-popmatters

News::First 'Assassin's Creed IV' Trailer Disappoints with a Lack of Assassination

Forbes - Do you like pirates? If the answer is yes, chances are youll like Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag (AC4), which promises a Captain Blood (1935)-style adventure on the high seas. If you dont like pirates, youll likely be disappointed. And if you like the AC saga, youll be disappointed even further: In this two-minute trailer, which has been leaked before its official release on Monday, theres very little here that resembles the series we know and love.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185101/first-assassins-creed-iv-trailer-disappoints-with-a-lack-of-assassination

News::Top 10 Hottest League of Legends Female Characters

League of Legends (LoL) is one of the most played games in the world and it currently has more than 110 available champions, amongst them many female heroes but which ones are the true beauties of the league?



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185084/top-10-hottest-league-of-legends-female-characters

News::DMC: Devil May Cry Review | einfogames

The whole fiasco with hating DmC because of an early design of Dante a few years ago is pretty harsh now; perhaps understandable back then but for those gamers still sitting on the fence, wondering if DMC Devil May Cry is in fact any good? Ignore the haters and give it a go; you may surprise yourself with just how good it turned out to be.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185175/dmc-devil-may-cry-review-einfogames

News::The Showdown Effect Preview Yippee-ki-yay [Gamesta]

Daav from Gamesta.com joins the online fight in The Showdown Effect. Fast-pased 2D action and explosive combat can be highly entertaining, given a few connection and control issues are overlooked.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185195/the-showdown-effect-preview-yippee-ki-yay-gamesta

News::1up - The Waking Dream of Proteus

1up - You wake up at sea. The quiet water around you melds into the peaceful tones of a horn-based melody. You spot an island in the distance, and decide to swim towards it. Once you step foot on the warm sands of the beach, the music changes into something less ephemeral and more tangible. You spot a group of crabs just down the way, and when you approach them, the sound of bongo drums enters your ears. As they scurry away, so does the percussion. You distance yourself from the water and head towards a grove of cherry blossoms in the midst of a snowfall of petals. Immersing yourself in the floating colors brings entirely new instruments into the mix of sounds. This is Proteus.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185112/1up-the-waking-dream-of-proteus

News::Ten Best Games of This Generation

Bag of Games takes a look at the ten best games of this console generation.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1185078/ten-best-games-of-this-generation