Saturday, June 26, 2010

Normally, we don't cover Non-video game-related posts...

But this one is an exception.

Kevin Pereira of G4's Attack of the Show has done a Special Report on the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. You can take alook at them at the links below


http://g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/exclusives/71218/BP-Gulf-Oil-Spill-Devastation.html
http://g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/exclusives/71229/BP-Oil-Spill-Effect-on-Wildlife.html

Monday, June 21, 2010

Zzzz wha?

Wait. E3 is over already? And we didn't get a chance to cover the Sony panel?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

But anyway, for those of you who did look at E3 are aware of what Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft had to offer. Many sites claim that E3 belonged to Nintendo due to their Wii game lineup and the upcoming 3DS. But one magazine claimed that Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are completely out of touch with their fanbase, compared to Apple, who had NO showing at E3 this year

Microsoft's presentation on Monday set the tone for the week: There's a new Halo game coming out, but this time with space battles. The entire presentation reminded me of that Simpsons episode where Malibu Stacy gets a new hat. Halo: New Hat is due out sometime in the next year, will likely set some sales records, but will move the industry forward as much as a tractor on cinder blocks.

After the presentation, I called my old college hall mate who now works for Microsoft up in Seattle. We discussed the possibility of more Halo games coming out, including Halo racers, Master Chief themed pet games, and the potential for the faceless Halo protagonist becoming like Sonic, a bloated whore who has sold every ounce of dignity to produce increasingly irrelevant games. And we both realized we'd get paid handsomely for creating and covering these games. Maybe the industry doesn't need fixing.


Exactly. Halo is a franchise that keeps pumping out game after game after game, even though there are only 3 Halo games out on the 360 and a 4th is coming. I bet it can't catch up to the number that Super Mario Bros can get.

But something else bothered me. Goldeneye. What did Macworld have to say?

The saddest bunny that Nintendo pulled out of its hat was the trailer for a new Goldeneye 007 game. The reveal was met not by wowed enthusiasm, but instead with the sound of thousands of hands slapping a thousand foreheads. Electronic Arts tried to reboot/cash-in the Goldeneye franchise years ago with Goldeneye: Rogue Agent. Rogue Agent was a horrid mess of a game with a great premise; this new Goldeneye title looks like a horrid mess of a game with a bad premise. Nintendo is essentially trying to remaster a masterpiece while updating it with things like Daniel Craig's face.

There is no way the game can live up to the iconic Nintendo 64 first person shooter, and without the original developers from Rare, this new Goldeneye will be as well received as Blue Brothers 2000 or New Coke.


Of course Nintendo is gonna fail on their new Goldeneye. It's not like Activision is in charge of it and that Eurocom, who is working on this game, has hired former developers of the original Goldeneye. And how dare you compared this to Blues Brothers 2000 and the New Coke. Real men compare it to the Apple Pippin system that was a watered down Mac.

But finally, MacWorld looked at Nintendo's 3DS, and suffice to say, they're still stroking their iPhones

The Nintendo 3DS will sell like gangbusters but it still doesn't signal that Nintendo has any understanding of how the mobile market is changing. Sure, the 3DS has 3D graphics without glasses--but also without a sense of perspective. That is to say, Apple is eating their market and Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime is sitting in the white Buick with the devil as they go over the cliff, laughing, a la Thelma and Louise.

Of course it will sell like gangbusters but continue to suck. We've been saying about that for the Wii for years and yet it still continues to trounce the 360 and PS3 month after month. But what did they have to say about Sony?

Sony at least knows that the casual gaming market is gone to them. Apple's SDK can't be beaten by conventional platforms or conventional weapons, so at Sony's presentation, Sony reps took time to mew that their PSP platform is for "serious gamers." Which would explain the declining sales.

Exactly. Only serious gamers buy a PSP and/or a DS. Real gamers prefer to buy fart apps and other junk on their iPhone.

But Macworld had the final say of this.

The three big console developers, previously unchallenged in their supremacy, have become complacent swine, out of touch with the modern gamer. They keep making games that they already made because they know they will sell, not because they will be challenging, creative, or fun. How many times has Zelda been remade? Do we really need yet another Mortal Kombat, Twisted Metal, or Halo game? The snake is eating its own tail.

I don't have a problem with reboots per say, so long as we also have new franchises, new titles, and new genres to explore. And that what was lacking at E3 this year. While the big boys were wrestling over who had the better motion controls and who could find the most obscure old game they could remake, quietly you began to wonder how long the industry could keep this up. Hiring models to promote your game and giving away free Xbox 360s to journalists is only going to keep the barbarians at bay for so long


Of course they don't know what modern gamers want. Hell, modern gamers don't know what modern gamers want. And the reason why we barely get new IPs, new Genres, new flim-flam, new yadda yadda yadda, is because we buy what we like. We shouldn't buy what we like. We should buy what Macworld says and support a 4th Swine. After all, everyone knows that the iPhone is better than the Wii, 360, PS3, PSP, DS and PC simply because you can play Katamari Damacy while struggling to get the controls down. Who needs proper controls when you can struggle just to get them down?

Works Cited: PC World

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

E3: Nintendo Conference

So yesterday's conference from Microsoft was kinda blah for many people. How does Nintendo stack up? Let's talk, shall well.

If there is one thing I'm hoping for from Nintendo, it's the 3DS. Come on Nintendo, show me the money. Show me the 3DS, Nintendo. I wanna see it in action.



OMG! ZELDA SKYWARD SWORD FOR WII! NOW I AM EXCITED FOR NINTENDO AND..

Wait. Wasn't I suppose to anticipate the 3DS? Come on Nintendo. Where is it?



EPIC MICKEY! OMG THEY GOT 2D/3D IN THERE.

Wait a minute. I wanted info on the 3DS. I mean, is it that hard to get info on the Nintendo 3DS?



OMG! GOLDEN SUN DS! GOLDEN SUN DS! NINTENDO LISTENED TO US!

Snap out of it, Saburo. You know better than to hype a current gen game when you're suppose to anticipate the 3DS. Now show us some real gold, Nintendo



GOLDENEYE! GOLDENEYE! GOLDENEYE! GOLDENEYE! GOLDENEYE!

Wait a minute. Why am I chanting to a Wii remake of an old N64 game? Come on Nintendo. Show us the 3DS Booty



OMG! KIRBY'S BACK! KIRBY'S BACK! KIRBY'S EPIC YARN!

No, bad Saburo. Bad, bad, Saburo. You're getting yourself distracted with this. Focus on the 3DS. Come on, 3DS, 3DS, 3DS



DONKEY KONG IS BACK! OMG IT'S DONKEY KONG AND IT'S A 2D DONKEY KONG GAME! I WANT IT I WANT IT I...

Okay, that's it. If they don't show the 3DS, I am gonna scream. So, SHOW THE 3DS GODDAMNIT!



YES! YES! YES! IT'S THE 3DS! FINALLY, NINTENDO HAS SPOKEN TO US!

So far, announced titles include a new Resident Evil, a port of Starfox 64, a new Mario Kart, a new Nintendogs, a port of Metal Gear Solid 3, Kingdom Hearts, and even *GASP* Super Street Fighter IV

So there you have it. For more info, go to Destructoid on the 3DS, Wii, DS and others. Special thanks to the Youtube accounts for providing the Trailers for the respective games.

Later on, I will post some info on the Sony conference.

Monday, June 14, 2010

E3 2010: Microsoft Keynote

Ladies and gentlemen, I am now ready to discuss about the Keynote of Microsoft. I mean, sure they have something to discuss about when it comes to their upcoming X-Box 720 or whatever its called, right? Who ever heard of this Kinect stuff or whatever it is.

Kinect for Xbox 360 is launching worldwide this holiday, beginning with North America on November 4th, 2010.

Okay. But sure there will be games to go with it, right?

The launch lineup will include over 15 titles, including Kinect Sports, Kinectimals, Kinect Joy Ride, EA Sports Active 2, Kinect Adventures, Dance Central, and a few others.

Does this sound familiar to you? It sounds like Microsoft is copying Nintendo. Surely they're coming out with a new hardware announcement and all. Ether that or continue to satisfy their little white X-Box

Don Mattrick showed off the new Xbox 360 hardware, and it's hella shiny. Here's what the slim 360 is packing: 250 GB hard drive, built-in 802.11n wi-fi, and it's supposed to be Kinect ready and "whisper quiet."

....

OMG! The X-Box has gone smaller and blacker. GLENN BECK WAS RIGHT! AHHHHHHHH!

But enough talk about the hardware. Now the software.

First up is Metal Gear Solid Rising. In this Snake-less game, you once again play as Raiden, the white-haired Mama's Boy of the Metal Gear universe. From what I've heard, this game is more of a hack n slash game that allows you to cut your enemies into pieces.



Makes watermeleon slicing look fun.

Other games that are to look out for includes Call of Duty: Black Ops, Fable 3, and Gears of War 3. Unlike previous Call of Duty games, this seems more Metal Gear-like

Trailer at Activision's Youtube Site

And finally, Halo Reach. Halo's term "Combat Evolved" has gone up and out as this game finally introduces Space Battles. Ever wanted to frag your opponent's jet in a jet? Now you can



That's it for Microsoft's Keynote. You can read more information at Destructoid or IGN: Kinect Though I'd have to say that Kinect Star Wars game does look interesting. If only I had a real lightsaber.

Note: Nintendo and Sony's Keynote tomorrow.

E3 starts

Starting today, the press will be going down to E3 to get a sneak peak at the upcoming games from Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft and the 3rd Parties that support them. While I may not have an E3 pass, I will talk about each press conference in a nutshell and judge them overall.

Microsoft's press conference starts later today and I will discuss them much later in the afternoon.

What does Microsoft hold in store for the gaming industry? Stay tuned.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Pre-E3 Rumor: Monkey Madness

Folks. E3 starts tomorrow and there are rumors going about on what will be showing there. But one rumor that has my attention comes from IGN. There is word that Retro Studios, the same team responsible for the Metroid Prime Trilogy, will be working on a new Donkey Kong game.

The rumors start flying around this time, just days before Nintendo pops the lid off its hugely secretive line-up at its E3 press conference. One of the wildest, but certainly credible, rumors we've just heard in the halls from those in the know: Retro Studios -- the Nintendo-funded studio that created Metroid Prime and its two sequels -- is now working its magic on a Wii game starring Donkey Kong.

Now if this is true, they may have Donkey Kong get out his coconut gun and aim it in first person mode for the entire game much like Metroid Prime was. Imagine being able to fire Coconuts in Fire, Ice and/or Electric. And the next thing you'll know, King K. Rool will be forging his own Kremling Metroids to sick on our simian.

And then they'll be using the famous DK Rap in the game.

Works Cited
IGN

Friday, June 11, 2010

The kombat returns

Folks, back in 1993, Midway released a game that caused controversy among thousands of parents. And I wish it were Barney because that dinosaur reminds me of a friendlier Glenn Beck.

In case you're wondering, that game was Mortal Kombat. Ahh, Mortal Kombat. Nothing like ripping out your opponent's head with the spine still intact, or setting your opponent on fire with a skull for a head, or performing a cheap somersault and uppercut.

Cue to 2010. We are 1 week away from E3 hoping to see what new games come out from the rumoed Zelda Wii to Kingdom Hearts: Recoded. But Warner Bros games, who bought out many Midway licenses, decided to do something so reckless, it may have gotten the attention of the same parents who got pissed off over Mortal Kombat.

That's right. Mortal Kombat has been reannounced and it's gonna be a new title.

Confirmed characters include the following

The Large Ham Johnny Cage
The Elder God of Thunder Raiden
The Lin Kuei Assassin Sub-Zero
The former Shaolin Monk Kung Lao
The evil sister Mileena
The lizard bodyguard Reptile
The robotic assassin Sektor
The Native American shaman Nightwolf
And the Emperor of Outland himself: Shao Kahn

And now I conclude with the trailer to Mortal Kombat. Note: This game is not appropriate for those under 18. If you are under 18, I recommend you not see the trailer



Works Cited: Destructoid

Monday, June 7, 2010

SquareEnix goes Western

Folks, what we are witnessing is the greatest backstab to its fanbase since Final Fantasy XIII came to 360 in addition to the PS3(Instead of just being PS3 only). And I'm not talking about Dragon Quest IX on the DS.

That's right. I'm talking about Dungeon Siege 3 by SquareEnix, developed by Obsidian Entertainment. But the shocker comes from our friends at Destructoid.

The game will be worked on with help from original studio Gas Powered Games and will allegedly keep "the best features" of previous installments, as well as add "intuitive action gameplay" in an "immersive world where every decision you make has a consequence."

For those of you who wanted SquareEnix to evolve past its Mama's Boys and Emo Heroes, be careful with what you wish for. I mean, there's a reason why I want these freaky looking freaks over Steroid-induced Muscle men



So SquareEnix, you better think twice about Dungeon Siege 3. Otherwise I may have to do a Gmod take on 2 Muscle men kissing each other.

Works cited
Destructoid

Saturday, June 5, 2010

A delay in the NPD of May?

Every month, the NPD would release the sales of the previous month in terms of Hardware and Software. Which group did the best? Which the worst? Who sold the most software?

Unfortunately, there is word that we may not get the NPD this month at all. In fact, the NPD for May 2010 may be delayed till July. Is it because of the upcoming E3(Which we will talk about)? Is it because of pressure by the video game companies? Or have the NPD group replaced their employees with trained chimps?

Research firm NPD has noted today that they have been forced to delay the video game industry sales report for May as the company is upgrading its IT architecture.

An IT Architecture upgrade? That's what it has been all about? MY FANBOY SIDE HAS BEEN SHATTERED

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Works Cited
After Dawn

Note: This news article has also been confirmed by VGChartz and NeoGAF

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Triple Trouble: Colors, the Joker and the iPad revolution?

For some reason, I smell something in the air and it ain't pretty for the first day of June. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're in Triple Trouble

First up, last Wednesday, SEGA shocked the world by announcing "Sonic Colors," a new Sonic game that will have a multiple of Sonic's friends playable and....wait. Sonic's the only playable character? Well, lemme rebuke that. Sonic will have a new gimmick that allows him to change his color and...wait. You're telling me it's more of upgrades?

Well anyway. From what I heard, this game will be available on the Wii and the DS. Which is an outrage because if I want a Sonic game that silly, I'd rather have it on 360 and PS3. And by silly, I mean the following that is said to be off of the recent Nintendo Power

The game looks pretty nice, think of it as a prettier looking version of the Wii version of Unleashed, the two zones that were featured were Sweet Mountain zone, and Tropical Reservoir zone, and the former is a mountain of pastries, the said they wanted to include the crazy level designs from the old games, which is fine by me. It also said that in the 3D sections it will focus more on running from A-B akin to the Daytime stages of Unleashed, while the 2D sections will be more for platforming.
The DS version, can easily be called Sonic Rush 3, it looks exactly like those games, even the tension gauge is there, they said it would be similar to the Wii version.
Tails appears in the story but Sonic will be the only playable, they said the story is simple, light, and goofy, which is fine by me. Knuckles, and Shadow may also make an appearance in the game.


The FDA is gonna yell at SEGA over this.

Second off. Later this year, Batman fans will get another taste of the darker side of Batman on the 360 and PS3 called "Batman: Arkham Asylum 2." And once again, Mark Hamill will reprise his role of the Joker. But this time, it may be his final role as the Joker. In an interview with MArk Hamill from IGK UK, Mark has this to say.

Nevertheless, there's plenty to be gauged from his final remarks, certainly about the fate of The Joker in this second part. "This will be my last, there's no question about that. But it's the last hurrah."

Does that mean that Mark Hamill will be quitting his role of the Joker for good? Is this where the voice of the Joker since the Animated Series era ends? Or will it just mean the Arkham Asylum era and he continues on.

Mark, you did a great job with the Joker since Animated Series. Don't give up on us now.

And finally, the writer of Chrono Trigger, Masato Kato, had this to say when it came to the iPad, and to Nintendo.

"With the iPad going on sale, the epoch of Nintendo is finished, but with the DS and the Wii, it's been digging its own grave."

That's right. Even with sales that makes the PSP, PS3 and 360 look weak, the Wii and DS have been digging their own grave. Nevermind the fact that the Wii outsold the overall sales of the NES and the DS is the highest selling system, even beyond the Playstation 2. And nevermind the fact that the iPad is priced at $599, and even a Playstation 3 is cheaper than that.

And that's it for Triple Trouble. Before we go, a moment of silences as we remember Gary Coleman(Child Actor of Different Strokes), Dennis Hopper(Rebel actor of the Silver Age of theater. The Koopa King of Super MArio Bros) and Peter Keefe(Producer of Voltron).

Works Cited
TSSZ
IGN UK
GoNintendo