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Mass Effect 2 Is A “Shooter RPG”
The first Mass Effect tried to play like a shooter, but never really got there. Still, felt like an RPG, just one you played over-the-shoulder. The sequel, though, is going to be different. Or so developers BioWare hope. Speaking at GDC yesterday, BioWare’s Ray Muzyka explains that, of the “bigger buckets of things we’re working…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
Wii Fit Helps Men Talk To Their Families
Nintendo weighing game Wii Fit is a big hit. While it’s not guaranteed to make you healthy (it’s not an exercise device), it might help you talk to the family you ignore. “We also researched Wii Fit users here in Japan, and we found that this game has had a positive influence on users,” said…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
PAL PlayStation Store Update: On A Magic Carpet Ride
And again, the PAL PlayStation Store ends up with some interesting PlayStation 1 content. This week? A re-release of Bullfrog’s classic Magic Carpet. Sure, it’s not as good as the PC version was, but it’s better than nothing. Which, we may add, is pretty much what this week’s update would be were it not for…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
Sony Offering Better Terms, Cash Money For PSN Developers
The PS3 has struggled in a lot of areas, yes. But there’s one area it’s led the competition, and that’s in promoting a strong lineup of excellent, original content for digital download. So it shiver your timbers to hear that Sony are looking to expand their roster by offering cash for PSN games, with a…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
Gran Turismo Creator In PS3 Ad
Here’s the latest PS3 ad featuring a famous Japanese designer. Previously, the ads showcased Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and White Knight Chronicles designer Akihiro Hino. This time, it’s Gran Turismo‘s Kazunori Yamauchi turn. The ad is short, sweet and self-explanatory. Next up, no doubt inevitable ads with Metal Gear Solid mastermind Hideo Kojima and Final…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
Game Composer Tommy Tallarico Talks Music, Disease
Congratulations, Tommy Tallarico! You’ve just won a Game Developers Choice Award for your contributions to game music. Your prize? Sit down and answer some questions. Thankfully, those questions stuck to music, and not Tommy’s disease-riddled body. Ick.
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
Taito Bringing FPS To Arcades (Again!)
A first-person-shooter arcade game…for Japan? Why not, it wouldn’t be a first. Taito rolled out dual-joystick-foot-pedal-controlled networked FPS Half-Life 2: Survivor in 2006. Now, Taito has announced another first-person-shooter for arcades. Dubbed Cyber Diver, its described as an “original” take on the FPS genre with 5-on-5 networked play and a new game system that displays…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
The Science Behind World Of Warcraft’s Item Drop Percentages
Strip back the story and the inter-personal relationships, and really, World of Warcraft’s all about the loot. Killing things in return for things. But what’s the science behind those loot drops? In a talk today at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Blizzard have revealed that, when WoW expansion Wrath of the Lich King…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
Virtual Console Getting Game From Famous Japanese Game Hater
Beat Takeshi is a well-known Japanese comedian, actor, director, writer, painter and pundit. He also made a video game. Takeshi’s Challenge was designed by Takeshi and released by Taito for the Nintendo Famicom in 1986. It is hitting the Japanese Virtual Console on March 31. Takeshi’s Challenge followed a salaryman as he beat up yakuza,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
Project Offset LIVES!
Whhooaahh, Project Offset! Been a while. The fantasy epic, which may we remind you has been in development for a long time, reared its head this week and let us know it’s still kicking. Not only is there a new website, with the promise of announcements to come, but there’s a couple of trailers as…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
My Chemical Romance Writes Final Fantasy VII ACC Song
Legendary Japanese rocker Kyosuke Himuro, member of seminal band Boøwy, has joined forces with emo vocalist Gerard Way from the group My Chemical Romance for the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura is a big Boøwy fan. Back in 2005, Himuro’s tune “Calling” from his 1989 album Neo Fascio found its…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
Are These Box Art Designs Similar?
Folks are fluttering around on the Japanese internet about the boxart similarity between these two games. Kwinky-dink or sinister thievery? Namco Bandai’s Xbox 360 role-playing-game Tales of Vesperia was a big hit when it was released in Japan last summer, selling 161,070 copies. The game was so popular it caused the Xbox 360 to sell…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
The Art of LittleBigPlanet: Never Compromise
Media Molecule‘s Creative Director, Mark Healey, and Art Director, Kareem Ettouney, had an hour to try and explain the look and feel of LittleBigPlanet — it took them about two seconds and one trailer. But the talk went on for well over an hour as the two creative types gushed about their award-winning innovation. LittleBigPlanet…
By AJ Glasser Published March 27, 2009 -
Mega Man 2 Limps Onto The iPhone
Mega Man 2 has been released on the iPhone! Like, the full, proper, 1988 version! Cause for celebration, yes? As it stands, no. Cool your Mega Busters, kids. While the game retains all the levels and bosses of the original, some things are different. The controls, for one, which you’d expect from a touch-screen-only device.…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
How Sackboy Learned to Love Physics
Last night, Media Molecule’s David Smith accepted four awards for LittleBigPlanet at the Game Developers Choice Awards. I’m amazed he’s awake enough to lecture on the game’s physics this morning. Here are some key insights Smith had into the challenges of making a game where physics is everything and logic is next to nothing: “I…
By AJ Glasser Published March 27, 2009 -
Katamari Damacy PS3 Rolls Up A New Look
Katamari Damacy has already made a current-gen appearance, on the Xbox 360. It was a bit of a let-down, though. The upcoming PS3 title – Katamari Damacy Tribute – is at least trying something new. You’ll notice in the trailer that, apart from the fact there are animals providing a play-by-play, the graphics for the…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009 -
Triggerheart Exelica Limited Edition Set Shoots Up The Cute
Arcade shooter Triggerheart Exelica is getting a PS2 port, called Triggerheart Exelica -Enhanced-. There’s a limited edition version for the PS2. Packaged with a Exelica figure from figure maker Good Smile Company, the limited edition version includes a balloon for those who pre-ordered. The game includes new elements like an opening movie and new CG…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009 -
And You Thought YOU Combed Over The Modern Warfare 2 Trailer…
On the one hand, we really should scold Infinity Ward for their interactive Modern Warfare 2 teaser. It’s silly. But on the other hand, who can resist the opportunity to go digging for clues? Not us. And probably not you, either. But where our lack of both patience and Russian language skills brought our digging…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 26, 2009 -
New DSi Colors Are Fast
First the new PSP shades were slick race cars, and now it’s Nintendo’s turn to turn its colorful DSi in speed demons for the Japanese viewing public. Less a car motif and more a colored pencil one, this Nintendo ad is pleasant eye candy — though not has heavy on the glossy hardware sexy, but…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 26, 2009 -
PlayStation Store Update: I Smell A Riot Goin’ On
That odor we’re smelling? Crispy zombie flesh as Burn Zombie Burn shambles its way to the North American PlayStation Store alongside Worms. Not a bad Thursday on the PlayStation Network front, we’d say. Those two brand new games join a horde of Resistance 2 downloadables, with skins and maps abound for the PlayStation 3 shooter.…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 26, 2009