Apr 3, 2013 | Game ON news

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

News::Ms. Splosion Man jumps to Steam, Game for Windows, WP7

Accompanying the just-released iOS version of Ms. Splosion Man, the lighthearted platformer is also now available for Steam (Windows only), Games for Windows, and Windows Phone 7. The pricing on those first two ports is $9.99, while the WP7 game takes the same approach as iPhone with its $2.99 asking price.

Based on Chris' review of Ms. Splosion Man iOS and my prior experience with the original Xbox Live Arcade release, I'd recommend going with the title on Windows proper for the cooperative campaign. The folks at Twisted Pixel know how to put together a solid co-op showing to the point where I enjoy those levels more than anything else in the series.

Ms. Splosion Man jumps to Steam, Game for Windows, WP7 screenshot

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/ms-splosion-man-jumps-to-steam-game-for-windows-wp7-250702.phtml

News::Dragon Quest X Wii U opening sales are really bad

Square Enix expressed disappointment a couple months ago with the performance of Dragon Quest X on Wii, despite the MMO outpacing the sales and subscription retention of Final Fantasy XI, the most profitable FF ever. With the release of the Wii U port around the corner, I was sure that those numbers would improve and turn Square Enix's frown around.

The game released last week, at its opening sales were... not good. Only 33,302 units sold, which puts it right under the Vita port of Muramasa: The Demon Blade. I wasn't expecting super huge numbers, considering it's a port and all, but a Dragon Quest game doing that poorly!? That is really disappointing.

Of course, the cynics will say it's because no one wanted a Dragon Quest MMO -- the hundreds of thousands of sales on Wii would say otherwise -- but I insist that it's because of the Wii U's continued software struggles. The only other Wii U release that week was Game & Wario, the first first-party title for the platform since Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U, and it only hit 22,491. Something needs to be done about this situation, but what?

「フェイト/エクストラ CCC」7万2000本。PS Vita版「朧村正」やWii U版「ドラクエX」なども登場の「週間販売ランキング＋」 [4Gamer via NeoGAF]

Dragon Quest X Wii U opening sales are really bad screenshot

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/dragon-quest-x-wii-u-opening-sales-are-really-bad-250722.phtml

News::PAX East: Rise of the Triad is f***ing awesome | StickSkills

StickSkills said, "Ive been longing for more classic feeling PC FPSes ever since I first played Painkiller back in 2005. With Rise of the Triad, my jowls are quivering in anticipation. Look for it this summer on Steam and DRM-free GOG."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224954/pax-east-rise-of-the-triad-is-f-ing-awesome-stickskills

News::MTV- Review: Bioshock Infinite

MTV:"Bioshock Infinite" is certainly the most literate game of this generation (or really, that I've had the chance to play), blending pop culture, turn of the 20th century history, and science fiction together into a mash of a competent first-person shooter. But as well-sourced the Irrational Games' Creative Director Ken Levine's vision is, and as clever as its twists are, this journey to the floating city of Columbia suffers the same big budget malady of interesting worlds undercut by the thin characters that populate them.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225032/mtv-review-bioshock-infinite

News::One thing you've probably noticed while playing BioShock Infinite is that Booker DeWitt is one hungr

One thing you've probably noticed while playing BioShock Infinite is that Booker DeWitt is one hungry fella. Hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy—he'll eat just about anything, even if he found it in the trash. Our friends over at Gourmet Gaming have posted a recipe for Finkton's Baked Beans so that you can make your own. Warning: May provide fuel for violent uprisings.

via Kotaku http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/drfvk_p8LdE/story01.htm

News::Evoland Review - GamesReviews

From GamesReviews: "Evoland is a love letter to a genre long past its golden age. By combining your favorite elements from The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy and Diablo, it manages to act not only as a nostalgic trip through some of the best gameplay features of the last twenty years, but also as a decent game in its own right. Youll laugh at the jokes, youll get the references, but youll also question why so many classic franchises are finding it so hard to re-find their identities, when a small studio like Shiro Games can sum it all up so succinctly. "If, as a child, you imagined yourself as the hero of Hyrule or the adventurer who took on the bad guy and saved the world, you owe it to yourself to try Evoland."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225037/evoland-review-gamesreviews

News::This week's new UK releases

GamesAsylum's weekly round-up includes Defiance, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, Toki Tori 2, BattleBlock Theatre and Double Dragon 2

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224975/this-weeks-new-uk-releases

News::Pricefall: Finding Deals for Niche Games | oprainfall

Just because a game's niche doesn't mean it has to be expensive.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225020/pricefall-finding-deals-for-niche-games-oprainfall

News::Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 Review - "A Dull and Dated Title" [NoobFeed]

Daav from NoobFeed.com rustles through the foliage and hides behind the crumbling walls of Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2. What sounds like a good idea, in reality is a painfully dull missed opportunity, both linear and stripped of imagination. It has brief heights, but a ton more lows and the multiplayer is preposterous.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225040/sniper-ghost-warrior-2-review-a-dull-and-dated-title-noobfeed

News::Uncharted and Tomb Raider would be better if they werent shooters

Every action adventure game that tries to have a decent storyline runs into the dichotomy of the protagonist having to shoot hundreds of people because of how the game is designed. The problem is a simple mismatch of genres.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225045/uncharted-and-tomb-raider-would-be-better-if-they-werent-shooters

News::Today in Japan: April 2, 2013

Grant from Denkiphile: "Today, we see that Japan surprisingly likes Korean RPGs, several game release announcements, an announcement for the Vocaloid fans out there, and that arcade centers all over Japan are going to get a lot busier this spring."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224354/today-in-japan-april-2-2013

News::Denied the chance to steal, people turn to violent games

A new study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University explores the relationship between criminality, frustration, and violent videogames, reports Science Daily. Based on a series of experiments, Brad Bushman and his collegiate team have found that people who are denied the chance to cheat, steal, or commit other socially forbidden behaviors, are more likely to be attracted to violent games. To come to this conclusion, an experiment was devised under the guise of a simple scholastic test.

Sampling over 100 male college students, the participants were tasked with taking a thirty-minute multiple-choice history exam. Each test taker received their exam in an envelope, but not all of the distributed materials were the same. Some participants were given a standard history assessment with all of the answers left blank, and the other half received a completed exam with a score of 100% gracing the top of the sheet, granting them the ability to claim the A+ as their own.

Denied the chance to steal, people turn to violent games screenshot

News::A Grittier, Darker Version of Calvin And Hobbes Works Surprisingly Well

I suspect that the video game industry's obsession with DARKER, MORE "MATURE" STORY might have influenced the way I look at stuff like this gritty re-imagining of Calvin and Hobbes by GrittyReboots.

via Kotaku http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/KMBPmIzRxQw/story01.htm

News::Everything I've Learned About The Witcher 3

News::Injustice: Gods Among Us makes a move onto iOS

Par for the course when a big game is about to drop, there is usually a mobile game or an app to go along with it. Injustice does the same, but with plenty of goodies on offer for those that take the plunge, there's little reason to resist. Plus Injustice on iOS is free, so that's cool.

Injustice: Gods Among Us makes a move onto iOS screenshot

News::Infinite Crisis brings DC Comics onto the MOBA stage

It seems like everyone and their mothers are getting in on the MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) craze. With League of Legends and Dota 2 dominating the market, and the continuing rise of eSports, it’s evident that this genre is here to stay. Shortly after the reveal of its new free-to-play MOBA at GDC, WB Games and the developers at Turbine packed a group of journalists into a room for a quick game of Infinite Crisis.

Loosely based on the popular Crisis on Infinite Earths and Infinite Crisis storylines, the various dimensions of the DC Universe collide and parallel versions of famous hero and villain characters must battle it our for supremacy. Taking cues from other established games while putting their own spin on the popular genre, the devs at Turbine plan to create an engaging and fun MOBA title, while at the same time making a love letter to DC Comics lore.

Infinite Crisis brings DC Comics onto the MOBA stage screenshot

News::Madden's Cover Vote Sees Two Nominal Upsets, but the Favorites Still Rule

News::Lucasarts Closing Down Could Be A Good Thing (From A Certain Point Of View)

News::Patrick Bach Opens Up on Battlefield 3: Single-player, The Lack of Mod Tools - AusGamers

AusGamers spoke to DICE Executive Producer Patrick Bach a day after the reveal event in San Francisco, who provided some insight into why the developer has made some of the choices it has, and the studio's goals moving forward with the series. "Theres several reasons why we reveal with single-player. One is that its really hard to showcase multiplayer without giving hands-on, and we dont feel like were ready right now, to give hands-on with the game. Its also hard to, in seventeen minutes --like we did now, which is quite a lot for a first reveal-- to prove a point with multiplayer. Because like you said, multiplayer you play that for hundreds of hours, and it might not be until after 10 hours, where you actually start to feel like Ok, now I know what this game is."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224324/patrick-bach-opens-up-on-battlefield-3-single-player-the-lack-of-mod-tools-ausgamers

News::Dead Island Riptide Has Gone Gold

The much anticipated sequel to the zombie smasher Dead Island is set to release on the 23rd, and we just received word that it has gone gold.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225014/dead-island-riptide-has-gone-gold

News::From Solid Snake to Sam Fisher, it seems there's a case of "New Voice Actor-itis" going around.

News::Geeze, Can You Even Imagine The Walking Dead Without Clementine?

Clementine, the little girl that Lee Everett has to raise during a zombie apocalypse, is the bulk of what makes The Walking Dead so excellent. Telltale managed to create a character that we cared about, so much so that many of us shed tears by the end of the first season of the franchise. And yet according to Eurogamer, Clementine was almost scrapped from the game.

via Kotaku http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/TZ2bWEsNmpo/story01.htm

News::Tim Schafer, One of the Most Celebrated Game Creators in LucasArts History, Pays Tribute

News::Challenger Approaching: Pretty in Pink!!

This week's Challenger Approaching takes a look at one of Nintendo's come back kids. A character that few thought would ever see the light of day outside of his 1994 Super Nintendo sequel.

via Kotaku http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/nWS2BKVe1zQ/story01.htm

News::Dispatches From Northwatch - Part 14: Solstheim Smithing (3 of 4): Nordic Carved Armor

The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim official guide author, David Hodgson tells you how to get yourself fit for some Nordic Carved Armor

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224988/dispatches-from-northwatch-part-14-solstheim-smithing-3-of-4-nordic-carved-armor

News::Blizzard Establishes First Ever Global StarCraft II ESports Ranking System

As anyone who follows the burgeoning world of eSports, or professional gaming, knows, its sometimes difficult to track down whos on top in the competitive StarCraft II landscape. Blizzard Entertainment, a division of Activision Blizzard Publishing, hopes to make things easier for pro gaming fans this year with the launch of the new StarCraft II World Championship Series (WCS).

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224974/blizzard-establishes-first-ever-global-starcraft-ii-esports-ranking-system

News::GameStop ad (4/3 - 4/9)

GE: "This week's GameStop ad has gone live."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224767/gamestop-ad-4-3-4-9

News::onPause Interview: Papers, Please developer Lucas Pope

The onPause team was able to ask developer Lucas Pope some questions about his upcoming game Papers, Please

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224714/onpause-interview-papers-please-developer-lucas-pope

News::Highborn -- Oh, Good Comedy, Where Art Thou? | Twinfinite

You will often come across a game that really wants to be funny, throwing jokes and anecdotes all over the place. Seldom do you come across that game only to find it trying too hard and ultimately bursting into a horrific blaze of awful jokes. Still, at times it might squeeze a chuckle or two out of you. Add turn-based strategy and thats Highborn. While this game is chock-full of constant attempts at comedy, its a good thing its humor is only a single aspect of the game, which is better by comparison. In its transition from mobile device to PC, the well-received Highborn received the 3D graphics treatment and kept everything else intact, for the most part. However, is this revamped version on Steam worthy of your time?

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225012/highborn-oh-good-comedy-where-art-thou-twinfinite

News::Lissandra, The Ice Witch Announced as Next Champion for League of Legends

Riot Games has revealed the next champion in the pipeline to join the League of Legends roster. Her name is Lissandra, The Ice Witch. Lissandra has been floating in the winds for a while now as she has been slightly revealed during the Sejuani and Trundle revamp news. Her appearance on the roster is looking to be great with an exaggeration around ice cold temperatures and abilities to go with it. Have a look at what she has to offer:

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1225006/lissandra-the-ice-witch-announced-as-next-champion-for-league-of-legends

News::Telltale's King's Quest canceled, Activision planning something

Telltale confirms that they are no longer working on King's Quest while Replay Games explains that Activision have plans for the series permitting them the ability to produce remakes of the original game.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224969/telltales-kings-quest-canceled-activision-planning-something

News::Top 5 Game Trilogies This Generation

GXC: "If this had been a typical console generation we probably wouldnt have seen many trilogies, but since it seems like its the generation that just wouldnt die, we have been bombarded with trilogies. It seems like all franchises need at least three games to tell the whole story, some of these trilogies werent worth the disc they were printed on, but in the case of this list, some were amazing games that helped define one of the best generations in gaming."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224881/top-5-game-trilogies-this-generation

News::EA Announces NCAA Football 14 For PS3 and Xbox 360 (PC Is Forever Doomed)

EA Sports is at it again with the this years installment to their NCAA Football franchise. NCAA Football 14 is set to launch on July 9th for both Xbox 360 and PS3 Consoles. Thats all fine and dandy, however, the folks at EA continue to neglect other platforms like the PC.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224960/ea-announces-ncaa-football-14-for-ps3-and-xbox-360-pc-is-forever-doomed

News::Divinity: Original Sin Kickstarter Rewards Backers With Underpants

The latest Kickstarter update, for the ambitious Divinity: Original Sin, is a bit pants. Larian Studios have announced that Zandalors Trunks will now be rewarded to anyone who backs their Divinity: Original Sin Kickstarter. This fetching two piece was originally available to the first 5,000 backers. The fabulous trunks will allow players to unlock a Easter egg within the full game.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224295/divinity-original-sin-kickstarter-rewards-backers-with-underpants

News::One Late Night, Developer Interview

One Late Night is an independent-horror game designed by Linus Jönsson, and is centered around a character spending a night alone in an office, while a supernatural entity moves about. Its a terrifying game, and really bores into your mind while playing, and doesnt shy away from hitting you at a psychological level.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224214/one-late-night-developer-interview

News::The Strength of BioShock Infinite's Tutorial

Leviathyn.com | Theres nothing quite as experience-killing as a bad tutorial. Thankfully, BioShock Infinite doesnt have that. In fact, its pretty dang good.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224978/the-strength-of-bioshock-infinites-tutorial

News::IGN- Warframe Review

IGN:Warframe's co-op missions are repetitive, but it makes it quite fun to kill things and watch them die.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1224993/ign-warframe-review

News::Over at Unwinnable, they've posted a list of "The 40 Most Impressive Displays of Facial Hair at GDC

Over at Unwinnable, they've posted a list of "The 40 Most Impressive Displays of Facial Hair at GDC 2013." It was a pretty beardy event. To the side here is Ubisoft level design director Phillippe Bergeron. The beards just get more elaborate from there.