- Culture
This Concept Art Has a Demon’s Soul
In addition to a bunch of other stuff, Hong Kong artist Michael Ting Yu Chang has also done some video game work with Japanese developers From Software. That means he provided concept art for the sucky Ninja Blade, yes. But it also means he’s provided concept art for crushing RPG Demon’s Soul and its upcoming…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Rumor: Fables’ Creator Working on Fables Game?
We haven’t heard too much about it, but there’s going to be a game based on the excellent Fables series of comics. If you like the idea of that, you’ll love this. On the eve of Comic-Con, a rumor on comics site Bleeding Cool says that Bill Willingham, the writer and creator of Fables, is…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Former Mega Man Producer Is Sorry about That Cancellation
This week, Capcom shitcanned Mega Man Legends 3. The game was supposed to be produced by Mega Man producer Keiji Inafune, but he’s not at Capcom anymore. Hrm, that might have something to do with it? On his blog, Inafune wrote, “Today’s cancellation decision is out of my control, but there’s something I’d like to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 -
UncategorizedThere’s a Downside to Deus Ex’s Robot Body Parts
There was a Deus Ex commercial earlier this year showing how awesome it would be to have robot arms, robot hands and robot eyes. Turns out it’s not so awesome, as this lengthy follow-up trailer explains. This live-action stuff really treads a fine line, doesn’t it? Sometimes it can really help give a trailer that…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Mortal Kombat Statues for Differing Tastes and Budgets
Collectible company Syco have picked up a license to release Mortal Kombat statues, so release some Mortal Kombat statues they shall. The company is releasing three different ranges, from 10-inch statues ($164) to 18-inch statues (US$300) to 1:2 scale busts ($200). You can check out each piece in more detail at Syco’s site, linked below.…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
This Is the World Cup of Gundam Model Making
This December, Bandai Namco is holding the “Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011”, the first international competition devoted to Gunpla, or Gundam model building. Between now and September, preliminary rounds are being held with competitors from 13 different countries: Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, America, and Italy. There…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Old Republic Pre-Orders go Live, Three Versions Available
As expected, pre-orders for Star Wars: The Old Republic have just gone live, customers able to choose from not one, not two, but three versions of the upcoming MMO. There’s the big one we showed you the other day, the “normal” one, and an edition that falls in between them, which lacks a fancy box…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
The Uncanny Valley is Now Scientific Fact
The notion of the “Uncanny Valley”, where artificial people are more disturbing the closer they come to “reality”, has been around for ages. But now, thanks to a research team in San Diego, it’s bonafide science. As reported on Wired, The University of California confronted twenty test subjects with a variety of videos showing a…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 -
UncategorizedSkyward Sword’s New Trailer Takes Flight
On the eve of Comic-Con, Nintendo has released this new, lengthy trailer for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword It’s got pretty much everything you could ask for in a Zelda trailer. Fighting, flying, weird characters. Even Gorons! The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the first proper Zelda game since 2006’s Twilight…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Is This the World’s Oldest Gamer?
Old people play video games. By old, maybe that means sixty years old? Seventy? How about 99 years old. Meet Umeji Narisawa. She’s 99 years-old, and according to Japanese TV program Nani Kore Chin Hyakkei, she plays nothing but Bomberman for hours everyday. And has for nearly the past 26 years. Bomberman was originally released…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
Activision Boss Says DJ Hero Helped Kill Guitar Hero
I like video games. I like turntables. I like DJ Shadow, I like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, the Scratch Perverts. Yet I’ve thought DJ Hero was a stupid idea from the moment the series was first announced. Not only did its lumping together of hip-hop, dance and electronica dilute the series’ focus, but being…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
TF2’s Rockets Explained: Pith Helmets, Ray Guns & Mutton Chops Ahoy
WETA, the special effects and design house behind movies like Lord of the Rings and District 9, has teamed up with Valve for a little cross-promotion, with some of its original designs to be featured in Team Fortress 2. For a while now WETA has peddled its own intellectual property (created by WETA’s Greg Broadmore),…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - CultureTotal Recall
The Real History of the Triforce
It’s one of the most iconic designs in the history of video games: three golden triangles combined to form a single larger one. The Triforce. The object that lies at the heart of The Legend of Zelda The thing is, Nintendo didn’t come up with the design. It’s been around for almost 1000 years The…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 21, 2011 - Uncategorized
America’s Pastime Is Japan’s Biggest Seller Right Now
High-definition, big headed baseball is currently the hottest thing in Japanese video games. Konami’s latest cartoonish baseball sim, Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2011, is the country’s number one game. According to sales tracker Media Create, the weekly software sales chart is ruled by superdeformed baseball on the PlayStation 3. Hot on the heels of that…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 20, 2011 -
UncategorizedPulling Action Figures Into a 3DS with Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure
Here is how you take a three-inch high plastic figurine and pull him into your 3DS, without wires, memory cards, or the device’s camera. Just set your character from Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure on that portal, and aim the 3DS at him, and wait for the beam of light. When I did it, I swear I…
By Owen Good Published July 20, 2011 - Uncategorized
Marvel and DC Hit the Bricks in LEGO’s Super Heroes Line
Comic book worlds collide next year, as The LEGO Group announces a pair of deals that bring DC Comics’ finest and the forces of the Marvel Universe under the banner of LEGO Super Heroes. Can new LEGO games be far behind? San Diego Comic-Con kicks into high gear tomorrow, making it the perfect time for…
By Mike Fahey Published July 20, 2011 - Uncategorized
Prototype 2 Makes It a Date: April 24, 2012
Prototype 2 will release for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on April 24, 2012, Activision said today at San Diego Comic-Con. A new CG trailer, the first of in a series of three, went up at the game’s official website. Shape-shifting superhero Alex Mercer and blade-armed badass Sgt. James Heller will also throw down at…
By Owen Good Published July 20, 2011 -
UncategorizedIs this the Motion-Controlled Swordplay You Actually Wanted?
Last week, I ran a video that showed a Nintendo rep playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword using the required Motion Plus advanced Wii Motion Control. I thought it was cool, but many readers expressed disappointment that you’re still using motion control to trigger the moves of your character in the game. You’re not…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 20, 2011 - Uncategorized
Madden Demo Details Coming Tuesday
With Madden NFL 12 moving its release date to Aug. 30 to be closer to the league’s opening day (assuming that happens), the game’s demo likewise skips forward a couple of weeks. Tuesday, EA Sports will reveal the demo release date, the teams it will feature, and any other details about the demo. If it…
By Owen Good Published July 20, 2011 - Uncategorized
There is Some Sort of Last Guardian Something or Other in the Ico/Shadow of the Colossus PlayStation 3 Port
There is “Bonus Content” in the new September 27-dated PlayStation 3 prettier versions of PlayStation 2 classics Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. Yay! It mostly involves dynamic PS3 themes and videos. Oh. Some of the video is about the games’ spiritual sequel, the long-awaited The Last Guardian. Hopes raised, by the official PlayStation Blog!…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 20, 2011