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Magic Turns Old Pixel Characters Into Modern HD Characters
A pair of researchers, one from Microsoft and the other from The Hebrew University, have come up with something that will be either a game purists’ salvation or worst nightmare, depending on tastes. Johannes Kopf and Dani Lischinski are the men behind an algorithm that is able to take an 8-or-16-bit pixellated image—like those found…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 25, 2011 -
Oh, The Places You’ll See In Assassin’s Creed: Revelations
Like most other games in the series, Assassin’s Creed Revelations will take place in more than one location. So where will Ezio be visiting this time around? Well, aside from Constantinople, he’ll also be undertaking missions in the former Assassin fortress of Masyaf (which is in the first game) and, more interestingly, the Turkish region…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 25, 2011 -
You Can Now Buy Almost Every Final Fantasy Game Ever Made (For $15,000)
A guy from Thailand is selling his collection of Final Fantasy games. Normally, not so big a deal, but this isn’t your average collection, since it includes over 70 titles. eBay seller undkodlor is offloading Final Fantasy games from the Famicom, Super Famicom, Game Boy, DS, PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, GameCube, Wii, Xbox 360, PC,…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 25, 2011 -
Five Year-Old Girls Make The Most Adorable Video Games
Game developer Ryan Henson Creighton took his daughter to the recent Toronto independent game jam, and let her make a game (with some help). I hope your teeth are ready for all this sweetness Ryan’s daughter Cassie designed all the game’s non-player characters, did all the art, the game’s intro sequence and credits, and even…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 25, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallBefore They Were Famous: Bungie
Today is the first in a new “Before They Were Famous” series here on Total Recall, where we look at the games some of the world’s biggest developers worked on before they became some of the world’s biggest developers. First up is Bungie, creators of the Halo series. While most got their introduction to Bungie…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 25, 2011 -
Culture
The Man Who Creates Pokémon For a Living
Ken Sugimori may not be a household name, but the monsters that have flowed forth from his sketchbook certainly are. You see, Sugimori designs Pokémon He’s been involved with the mega-popular franchise from day one, having forged a friendship with Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri in the 1980s, when the pair both worked on a gaming…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
It’s Time For Some Good Old-Fashioned Driving Fun
You know, if you asked me to pick my favourite driving game of the past few years, it wouldn’t have the words “Turismo” or “Forza” in the title. That’s because my favourite driving game of the past few years is DiRT 2, which is fast, slippery, gorgeous to watch and, if you’ve got surround sound,…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
Dreaming of the Perfect Adventure Time Video Game
Adventure Time, possibly the best cartoon on TV right now, is full of video game gags, from the opening credits to a faithful companion. In this clip, we get to see the show’s creators talk about this at length Sitting on this panel (which took place at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival) are Phil Rynda,…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
The Star Trek Game That Was Actually an Austrian Music Video
Captain Kirk rescuing the Queen of Space from the Klingons? It’s not the plot to a Star Trek movie. Nor a Star Trek game. It’s kind of both. Look, just watch the video. It’s by 90’s outfit Edelweiss and is, well. Very European. In a good way. How Video Gamey Music Videos Used To Be…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
This Is as Classy as a Sonic the Hedgehog Tattoo Can Get
How, you must think, can a Sonic tattoo ever be classy? When someone uses their imagination, that’s how. A few years back, scientists got funny and named a protein that “enhances somite cell viability and the formation of primary slow muscle fibers” Sonic the Hedgehog Brian here has a tattoo not of the blue hedgehog,…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
Shiver Back Into Dead Space 2 With New Multiplayer Maps
With Dead Space 2’s multiplayer component suffering the same fate most of its peers—namely, being entirely forgotten shortly after release—EA reckons a couple of new maps might be enough to tempt you back into the game. The Academy and The Concourse are the maps, which will be available on Xbox Live on May 31 and…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
You Won’t Win Any Trophies With PSP Remaster Games
Later this year, the PlayStation Portable Remaster Series will become available (at least in Japan), offering HD versions of PSP games for your PS3. The games will come with a ton of extra content, but trophy support won’t be among them. While HD visuals, 3D compatibility, controller support and cross-platform saves will be included, the…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
Gaming’s Best Musicians Unite For Charity Album
The Play For Japan initiative has done a lot to help raise funds for those affected by last month’s earthquake and tsunami, but Play For Japan: The Album will be giving a lot back to you in return. Due for release next month, the album gets together some of the greatest composers working in the…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallWhat Do Warcraft, Optimus Prime and Zelda Have In Common?
Before its realm of Azeroth was brought to life in 2004’s World of Warcraft, Blizzard had tried once before to add a little depth to their fantasy franchise with a game that sadly never saw the light of day. That game was Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans In the late 1990’s, and seeking to…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2011 -
The PSN Attacks Have Cost Sony a Ton of Money
Finally putting some kind of official estimate on the damage caused by last month’s attack on the PlayStation Network, Sony has pegged the total cost to be around USD$170 million “Based on information currently available to Sony, our currently known costs associated with the unauthorized network access are estimated to be approximately 14 billion yen…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2011 -
Sephiroth, an Engineer and Samus Walk into a Bar…
The incredible Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII) cosplay you see up top is just a taste of some of the work on display in this week’s cosplay roundup, in which tribute is paid to games like Team Fortress 2, World of Warcraft and Dragon Age 2 Impressive stuff one and all, in fact one of the…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2011 -
You Will Not Believe These Star Wars Pictures Are Real
These photos (and they are genuine photos, not a photoshops), of Grand Moff Tarkin, were taken in 2011. Yet the man who played the Star Wars villain, screen legend Peter Cushing, died in 1994. How can this be? Because this is a sculpture. A 1:1, lifesize bust of the character, so impressive in its detail…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2011 -
Oblivion is Getting a Limited Re-Release
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, one of the most expansive and successful role-playing games of all time, seems set for a limited re-release, as retail listings for a 5th anniversary edition begin appearing online. It includes the material from the original Collector’s Edition (like map and bonus material discs), along with a discount coupon for…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2011 -
Over Ten Minutes Of Dead Island Footage Won’t Eat Your Brains
Upcoming first-person zombie game Dead Island has been promising a few twists and novel features outside the usual “run around and kill zombies” formula. Talking a good game isn’t as good as playing a good game, though, and while we can’t play the thing yet, we can watch somebody else do it. Which is better…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2011 -
Harry Potter On the Genesis Looks Awesome
There is of course no such thing as a Harry Potter game on the Sega Genesis. The series came about far too late for Sega’s old console. If you thought that would stop Chinese pirates, though, you don’t know Chinese pirates too well. These are the same people who can put Final Fantasy VII on…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 23, 2011
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