The Review Crew » Games

Latest COD Map Pack a Little Too Elite?

Sean Taylor — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:43:06 +0000

Membership has its privileges, we suppose. But the latest Call Of Duty DLC may be stretching that concept a little far. That is, at least, even according to it’s own EULA.

It turns out that the Call Of Duty Elite map pack that recently became available is locked down to only one profile on the console, says multiple users on various COD forum threads. Which means, if your bro or sis wanted to use the maps packs to boost their own gamerscore, it looks like they’re SOL.

Even under the conditions of the download, “You can use this item on the first Xbox 360 console you downloaded it to. Access to this item will also be granted to all users on this first console.”

We`re sure Activision will have a fix up and running soon, but as of yet… nada.

Resident Evil 6 Decapitating Consoles November 20

Sean Taylor — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:37:01 +0000

Word ran around the web pretty quickly today about the unannounced reveal that the latest in Capcom’s long-running Resident Evil franchise is dropping on Xbox 360 and PS3 just in time for holiday impalement this year with the PC version to follow.

Many outlets are reporting that the story will follow not just Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield, both of whom have partners to team up with, but a third unnamed playable character (not Ada Wong, but she’ll be in there playable later) and will be a globe-trotting experience not simply situated in one locale like many (many) of the games before it. All three player characters will be available from the outset and players can switch between storylines whenever they feel like it. Eventually, they all get together for a group hug, presumably.

Jump past the break for the official trailer featuring President Zombie!

The title is being developed internally at Capcom and the team is “aiming for a cross between the action/horror blend of Resident Evil 4 ……

Top Pirated Games of 2011

Mike Yawney — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:22:07 +0000

What do Mario and Marcus Fenix have in common? They both happen to star in the top pirated console games of 2011.

According to Torrentfreak, 1,280,000 people downloaded Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii over the past year. In fact it’s a double whammy for Mario as the same title also took top spot in 2010 as well.

Xbox pirates appear to love Marcus Fenix and the Gears of War franchise. Gears of War 3 was downloaded more than 890,000 times.

When it comes to pirated games, no console can compete with the PC platform. Just take a look at these numbers! Crysis 2 was downloaded for PC 3,920,000 times, while Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 had 3,650,000 downloads. Coming in third place we have Battlefield 3 with 3,510,000.

Apparently PC gaming isn’t dead, it’s just free.

Review: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Mike Yawney — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:32:40 +0000

Who would have thought back in 2007 the Uncharted franchise would turn into the monster it is today. At the time many thought it was a Tomb Raider clone, featuring a male lead character. Fast forward four years and we can now say Uncharted is without a doubt going in a direction the Tomb Raider franchise only dreamed of. Fast paced action, riveting story, Uncharted 3: Drakes’s Deception has a lot going for it. But can it possibly lead to the hype built-up by Sony and Naughty Dog?

Nathan Drake is still following in the footsteps of his ancestor Sir Francis Drake. This time he is traveling the globe in search of a legendary lost city, the Iram of the Pillars, the so-called Atlantis of the sands. Drake had apparently discovered the city 400 years earlier but for some unknown reason abandoned his quest and hid his trail. Nathan Drake is determined to find the city and uncover the lost treasure.

Gameplay will feel quite familiar with fans of the series. Expect plenty of running and jumping through the environment, puzzle…

Review: Kinect Sports Season 2

Mike Yawney — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:13:26 +0000

Almost one year ago Microsoft released a title which was expected to usher in a new era of gameplay; one without controllers. Kinect Sports proved you could play a game without relying on the classic controller but some gamers were critical, claiming Kinect Sports was nothing more than a collection of mini games. Despite the mixed reviews Microsoft teamed up with Rare once again to bring another round of sporting goodness to the Xbox 360 and Kinect. Does Kinect Sports Season 2 fair any better than the first. Once again it depends on who you ask.

This time around six new sports have been introduced. American football (sorry, not CFL rules), baseball, golf, tennis, downhill skiing and darts. Some of the sports feel right at home with Kinect controls, while others feel like a bit of a stretch. Get it? Stretch! Sports reference! Ah never mind.

Skiing is probably the easiest of all the sports to play. Leaning left or right moves your skier on the hill….

Rockstar Announces Grand Theft Auto 5

Mike Yawney — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:30:41 +0000

It’s official! Rockstar Games has announced Grand Theft Auto 5!

The developer revealed the game through a splash screen on its homepage. The teaser doesn’t mention which platform the title will be available on or a release date, only telling visitors to return on November 2nd to catch the first trailer.

Some are already speculating the lack of info means the game may not be released on current-gen consoles. Of course that may be a bit of a stretch but one thing is certain, don’t expect it this year.

Grand Theft Auto 4 was released back in 2008, so a follow-up title comes as no surprise.

The franchise has sold more than 115 million games since it launched back in 1997.

Review: Batman Arkham City

Mike Yawney — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:05:53 +0000

Make no mistake about it, we are in the midst of the holiday rush. Review copies of games continue to pile up in the office screaming out to be played. Yet I find myself playing one title over and over again. I know, I should be playing other titles but every time I open a new game up I find myself putting batman Arkham City back into my console telling myself “just another hour”. The next thing I know it’s time to call it a night. Yes, Batman Arkham City is that good. It’s not perfect, but damn it’s good!

Two years ago Rocksteady created a solid fan base with its release of Batman Arkham Asylum. Solid gameplay and fantastic voice acing brought characters from the Batman universe to life. Batman Arkham City builds on that solid foundation.

While Arkham Asylum focused mainly on the Asylum itself, Batman Arkham City allows you to explore a bit more of Gotham. Let’s be clear, this is no Grand Theft Auto. While the city is a decent size, it’s by no means gigantic….

Playstation Network Attacked Yet Again

Mike Yawney — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:28:07 +0000

Sony says its Playstation Network has come under attack once again. The company issued a statement claiming intruders attempted to access more than 93,000 PSN accounts around the globe. Access to all of those accounts have now been blocked.

Sony says less than one tenth of one percent of customer accounts have been affected. Emails have been sent out to gamers who may have had their account compromised. Credit card information was apparently not accessed.

This is the second attack on Sony’s Playstation Network this year. In April a massive breach of Sony’s servers gave hackers access to more than 100 million accounts.

Sony says their servers were not hacked this time. It’s not certain whether the attack was led by a group or single hacker.

Review: Gears of War 3

Mike Yawney — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:42:28 +0000

To call Gears of War 3 one of the most anticipated games of the year for the Xbox 360 is a bit of an understatement. Microsoft has been throwing Gears parties for months to create a frenzy and it appears their work is paying off. More than one million copies of the game have already been pre-ordered which is understandable. This is after all the final installment in the franchise, at least for this story arc.

What began as a new startup franchise five years ago in 2006 is about to come to a dramatic end. Gears of War 3 marks the end of the trilogy, the end of a surprisingly emotional story that has captivated fans around the globe. So how do you wrap up such a beloved series? With a bang.

Gears of War 3 provides answers to those pressing questions that have plagued fans from the beginning of the series; a better understanding of the overall Gears universe. What lead to Emergence Day, what became of Carmine and protagonist Marcus Fenix’s father. That alone will be enough…

Review: Driver San Francisco

Mike Yawney — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:47:16 +0000

In the crowded videogame market it’s important to distinguish yourself against the competition. Some games come out with unique features, some with bonus content, and others rely on a concept that is so bizarre their game stands out from others in the genre. Driver San Francisco falls into the latter category.

Here’s how it plays out. A cop gets into a near-fatal car accident. As paramedics try and revive him he has an out of body experience and discovers he can shift into other people’s bodies, taking control of them. This sets the scene for one of the most unique driving games I have ever experienced on a console. On paper it sounds bizarre, yet I was pleasantly surprised to find it’s just crazy enough to work.

Driver San Francisco is the fourth game in the Driver franchise. The story brings undercover cop John Tanner back against his nemesis Jericho, the same villain he sparred with in the last game. Jericho has escaped from jail and it’s up to you and your partner to track him down. A…

Nintendo 3DS Sales Increase 260% After Price Cut

Mike Yawney — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:48:45 +0000

Nintendo may be able to salvage the 3DS after all. The recent price cut has resulted in an incredible sales boom for the struggling handheld comsole.

The company has announced a 260% jump in sales after it slashed the price on its newest system. You may remember when it debuted in April it sold for a whopping $250. Within a few months however the company slashed the price to a mere $169 after Nintendo posted a serious first quarter loss.

“Consumers are responding very positively to the new suggested retail price of $169.99 for the Nintendo 3DS,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “With Star Fox 64 3D and the new Flame Red color launching , and Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 arriving later this year, Nintendo 3DS will offer consumers cutting-edge …

Microsoft Bans Gamers for Xbox Live Marketplace Theft

Mike Yawney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 22:57:09 +0000

Microsoft has dropped the ban hammer yet again. This time instead of going after modified consoles it appears the company is targeting gamers who have illegitimately accessed Xbox Live Marketplace downloadable content.

There are numerous reports of gamers receiving emails from Microsoft alleging an infraction has taken place. The result is a permanent suspension from the online service.

“During the course of a recent investigation, we have discovered users who illegitimately accessed Xbox LIVE Marketplace downloadable content. Our investigation reveals that this access was intentional and not accidental, constituting a blatant violation of the Terms of Use for the service. We will not divulge additional information regarding individual suspensions for these offenses. Please know that we are being very careful regarding these suspensions, and have clear evidence regarding each account issued a permanent suspension from the service. We apologize for any frustration or confusion resulting from our inability to share individual details, and thank you all for your cooperation in this matter.”

Downloading free games from their Xbox Live Marketplace is no easy task. It involves modifying specific older consoles using special equipment; a process which is not for the faint of heart. That…

Review: Dead Island

Mike Yawney — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:44:26 +0000

Nearly six million people around the globe have seen the trailer for Dead Island. There is no denying it is easily one of the most compelling, dramatic trailers for a video game ever produced. A family vacationing on a island paradise fighting for their lives against a horde of zombies, played in reverse in slow motion set to dramatic music. It’s a marketing masterpiece which got not only gamers talking, but the general public.

There’s always a danger when you produce something so buzz worthy. It’s the same trap movies fall into. Can a title live up to the hype created by the trailer? In the case of Dead Island it certainly comes close, but falls a bit short.

Chaos and carnage has taken over the Royal Palms Resort on the tropical island of Banoi. A contagious zombie outbreak has sent the island into a frenzy. There are a few survivors, and those who are left are looking to you for help. For some reason you and three other tourists seem to be immune to zombification. It’s up to…

Review: Resistance 3

Mike Yawney — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:02:42 +0000

Nathan Hale is dead. The man who lead the war against the Chimera has now fallen victim to the virus he fought so valiantly against. Now a new man must pick up the fight.

It’s an interesting way to kick off the third installment to a widely popular video game franchise; kill off the main character which people have grown to know and start fresh with someone new. Yet Insomniac has chosen to do just that in Resistance 3.

Earth has been over run by the Chimera. 90% of the planet’s population has been killed and those who remain live in hidden colonies scattered across the globe. Humans are getting used to their new way of life, but nothing has prepared them for the biggest change yet to come. The Chimera are slowly changing the Earth’s environment. Terraformers have been brought in to cool down the planet’s temperature to make it more hospitable for the invading species to live. The temperature is becoming unbearable for humans. Now Joseph Capelli must begrudgingly pick up the fight, leave his family,…

Doom Finally Available in Germany…17 Years Later

Mike Yawney — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:10:07 +0000

17 years after launching around the globe Doom 1 and Doom 2 are finally saying Guten Tag to mainstream Germany.

The games have now received a USK 16+ rating in the country best known for beer and bratwurst. Up until now they have been indexed by the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons, making them essentially unavailable to the mass market. You could only find them in adult-only stores next to porn. No joke.

Companies can appeal an “indexing” 10 years after it is put in place. Bethesda thought it might as well make the request since it had nothing to lose. It argued the graphic violence depicted in the classic game doesn’t compare to what we see in other titles. In fact the pixelated graphics male it have far less of an impact as it may have back in the 90′s when the games were in their hay day.

According to the BBC, the ban was lifted because the agency now considers Doom to be “mainly of historical interest”.

Hackers Discover Glitch Hack for Xbox 360

Mike Yawney — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:37:46 +0000

Hackers tired of changing firmware on their Xbox 360 DVD drives now have a new method of attack; one which appears to be unbeatable by Microsoft.

By using various tools to slow down the console’s CPU, hackers have been able to confuse it by sending so called “glitch pulses”. This messes up the boot sequence which allows homebrew code to sneak through. Essentially it means you can run unsigned code on the console without changing the DVD firmware.

To prove the effectiveness of the attack, hackers posted a video of an Xbox 360 running an N64 emulator. Yes, F-Zero running on an Xbox 360!

Check out the video below.

The method doesn’t appear to be that simple to pull off by the average Joe. The real question is can Microsoft patch this method of attack? Time will tell.

Portal Creator Announces Brand New Game

Mike Yawney — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:37:12 +0000

Portal Creator Kim Swift has just announced she’s working on a brand new title with the folks over at Square Enix.

Quantum Conundrum will be an inter-dimensional puzzle game to be released on Steam, the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

The game’s description is a bit obscure, which it to be expected at this point. What we do know is players will have to enter different dimensions to manipulate objects around them. Each dimension will have its own unique characteristics. For example the Fluffy dimension makes objects 10 times lighter, so objects which were too heavy to be manipulated can be moved with ease.

“We wanted to create a fun, quirky puzzle game that anyone would want to play, regardless of age or gaming experience,” said Kim Swift, Creative Director at Airtight Games. “I’ve been working with an amazing and collaborative team on this project and look forward to coming into the office every day to hear new ideas, see what everyone has created, and dive in on my own pieces of the game. We’ve created something that we’re all extremely proud of and hope that people will enjoy playing…

Major Changes Coming to Playstation Home

Mike Yawney — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:57:14 +0000

Sony is offering gamers even more incentive to spend time at Home. The company has announced major changes are in store for Playstation’s gaming hub. In fact major changes may be too subtle. Sony says it will offer a complete redesign to offer “a new core experience” for gamers.

The all new hub is said to integrate games, quests, community events and user-generated content, while providing players with additional navigation, shopping, socialization and entertainment options.

“From the Hub, players can teleport to various genre-based districts, where they will encounter games tailored to their interests and style, while introducing them to a rich and diverse selection of game experiences” states the news release sent out by Sony.

Sony is already hinting at what districts we can expect. The Action District will have a gritty urban feel and act as a travel point to action and horror games. The Sportswalk will have a stadium feel and will act as a portal to sports titles. Adventure district will feature a lush tropical jungle and will launch directly into adventure-themed games. And finally Pier Park will be a water themed…

Review: Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Mike Yawney — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:38:41 +0000

With summer comes the annual gaming drought. Developers typically hold off until the holiday season before releasing their big titles to ensure they don’t miss the Christmas sales blitz. But as summer draws to an end, we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The games are slowly starting to arrive.

Eidos Montreal, a fledgling studio, has just released its first project to the gaming world. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a prequel in the fan favourite Deus Ex series. The franchise has a devote following; after all the series brought about many firsts. Deus Ex was one of the first titles to mix the first person shooter genre with RPG elements, allow players to explore multiple paths and introduce the idea of choice equals consequence.

Fans are ravenous for a look at what has happened to their beloved franchise since the last installment hit stores some eight years ago. Eidos Montreal certainly has some high expectations to meet. So does it deliver with Deus Ex: Human Revolution? Oh boy does…

Sony Announces PS3 Price Drop

Mike Yawney — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:08:35 +0000

This just in! Sony has announced a price cut for the Playstation 3!

Starting right now the PS3 system with 320GB HDD will retail for $299, down $50 from the original $349 price tag. Meanwhile the PS3 system with 160GB hard disk drive (HDD) which currently sells for $299 will now sell for $249.

Sony has also announced cumulative worldwide sales of the Playstation 3 have now reached a milestone of 50 million units as of March 29, 2011.

Microsoft Retires the Glossy Xbox 360

Mike Yawney — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:26:20 +0000

Sure your shiny Xbox 360 may be full of fingerprints and scratches, but you’ll be happy to know it will soon be a collector’s edition. Microsoft has announced it will be retiring the glossy Xbox 360 in the very near future.

Major Nelson (aka Larry Hryb) announced on his blog that the glossy Xbox systems will soon be phased out with the less wild matte finish.

“We are actively transitioning all our Xbox 360 S consoles to a matte finish. The consoles will start to arrive in stores over the coming weeks, so if you really love the idea of a glossy console don’t wait much longer.” Hryb stated on behalf of Microsoft. However Hryb didn’t give a reason for the swap out.

So, will you run out and buy a shiny Xbox 360?

Review: Toy Soldiers: Cold War

Mike Yawney — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:00:51 +0000

My heart is racing. I can hear the cries as they approach my position. My finger rests on the trigger, anticipating what is about to come over the ridge. Just how many there are is anyone’s guess. That’s when I see it, the first red flag appears in the distance. That’s when I open fire. One by one they begin to fall. I love the smell of plastic in the morning.

Toy Soldiers: Cold War is the follow-up to Signal Studios 2010 Xbox Live hit. The game asks the question what would have happened if the tension between the US and Russia escalated far beyond what it did in the 1980′s. A full out war? Perhaps, but this war is taking place in the safety of your home…with plastic toys.

The game is a real-time strategy title at it’s core, crossed with a first person shooter. You have a toy box in which you have to guard from the enemy, which will launch a wave of attacks. You must place everything…

Review: Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension

Mike Yawney — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 04:31:11 +0000

Whenever a game arrives in the office that is based on a movie a hush falls across the room. Video game reviewers know all to well the consequences of reviewing such a game. They’re typically rushed to market in an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of a known franchise. Developers often complain they didn’t have a lot of time to polish the game mechanics and as a result the entire experience falls flat. The person stuck reviewing the title must spend five or six hours slogging through a game that is more tedious than enjoyable.

It just so happens a new Phineas and Ferb movie has just landed on Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, and right along with it a new game. Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension plays out just like the movie, but does it fall into the same trap other movie tie-in games do? That depends.

Phineas and Ferb have found themselves stuck in another dimension. You must find enough power to fire up the Other-dimensionator…

Review: Fruit Ninja Kinect

Mike Yawney — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:30:04 +0000

As I type away on my laptop a dull throb is radiating down my upper right arm. The pain has been there for two days now and is only starting to subside now that I have abandoned my Xbox. My training to become a ninja has been thwarted, defeated by mere pieces of fruit.

Last year Halfbrick Studios took the mobile gaming world by storm with the release of Fruit Ninja for the iPhone. Gamers across the globe sliced and diced fruit by swiping their fingers across their screens. Now the blockbuster game has come to the Xbox 360, to recruit a new batch of ninjas. But just how well does it translate from mobile phone to console? Surprisingly well.

Playing Fruit Ninja on the iPhone was easy. All you had to do was swipe your finger to slice fruit thrown up in the air, dodge the occasional bomb and make sure you don’t miss more than 3 pieces of produce. If you succeeded you became a legendary finger ninja. The Kinect version of Fruit Ninja isn’t much…

PlayStation Vita Will Not be Released in North America this Year

Mike Yawney — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:42:43 +0000

We’ve been waiting on word from Sony when it plans to launch its upcoming PS Vita handheld in North America. Well we now have an answer. Unfortunately, it’s not the answer we were hoping for.

Sony executive Kazuo Hirai, announced in Japan on Thursday the PS Vita will not hit stores shelves in the US or Europe before the end of the year as previous thought. Instead the launch will take place sometime in early 2012.

The PS Vita however will see a 2011 launch in at least one part of the world. Japanese gamers will have the opportunity to purchase the system before Christmas.

Hirai did not go into detail on why the system will not ship in North America this year, but chances are it has to do with production issues.

A spokesperson for Sony Playstation in Canada has confirmed it will not be hitting Canada before 2012.

Iwata Issues Apology to Early Nintendo 3DS Adopters

Mike Yawney — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:20:28 +0000

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata isn’t feeling too good about how the Nintendo 3DS is selling these days. He’s apparently feeling even worse about the “unprecedented” price cut Nintendo just announced for the handheld. So what do you do when you’re feeling down in the dumps? You issue an apology to your loyal fans.

Iwata posted a message on Nintendo of Japan’s website, which has yet to be fully translated or posted by Nintendo of America. Thankfully the folks over at Giant Bomb did the leg work for everyone and translated themselves. Here’s what he has to say:

To Those Customers Who Bought A Nintendo 3DS Before The Price Change

Greetings, everyone. This is Satoru Iwata from Nintendo.

Thank you very much for purchasing a Nintendo 3DS.

We have just announced a price drop for the Nintendo 3DS system effective on August 11 .

In the past, there have been price drops for video game systems some time after their release in order to broaden the user base further. However, never before has Nintendo chosen to issue such a dramatic price drop less than 6…

Review: Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

Mike Yawney — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:49:05 +0000

It’s been a long time since I played an old-school side scrolling shooter. And while it would be easy to lump Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (ITSP) into this category, gamers will soon find out there is much more to this game than meets the eye.

FuelCell Games has created a game which blends multiple genres. Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet can best be described as the lovechild of Gradius and Metroid. While you’ll have to keep your finger on the trigger at all times you’ll also spend much of the journey searching for hidden passages and power-ups to help you progress through the planet’s maze-like environment.

A dark spore has infected what was once a bright vibrant planet. Darkness has spread across the land, bringing with it mysterious organic creatures which are anything but friendly. Y0u get the task of hoping into your spaceship and exploring the planet to figure out how to stop the infestation.

The story is told with absolutely no narrative. Instead of hearing a narrator’s voice or reading…

Free-to-Play Games Coming to the Xbox 360?

Mike Yawney — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:24:47 +0000

Watch any television network aimed at children and you’ll be bombarded with commercials for “free-to-play” titles on the PC or Mac. The goal is to get them playing the games for free then persuade the youngsters to cough up money for in-game items. The concept works, maybe too well. And now it looks as though the free-to-play titles may be coming to the Xbox 360.

The big rumour circulating the Internets is that Microsoft is looking at relaxing its rules regarding Xbox Live to allow the free-to-play model. Where does this tidbit come from? A studio boss who is in the process of developing a free-to-play game for the PC and…Xbox 360.

Todd Harris of Hi-Rez Studios is in the process of getting Tribes: Ascend out the door for the console. He told EuroGamer his title is slated to hit the Xbox 360 but Microsoft first has to change a few rules.

Not only is Microsoft interested, Harris also mentions Sony is looking at the new model.

Would you play a free-to-play title on your home console?

Nintendo Slashes Price of 3DS and Profit Forecast

Mike Yawney — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:56:01 +0000

So much for banking on 3D gaming. Turns out the Nintendo’s latest 3D handheld has created some serious financial woes for the world’s largest video game maker.

Nintendo has announced a net loss of 25.5 billion yen ($324 million) in the second quarter of this year. That’s an even larger loss than last year at this time. On top of that, the company has now lowered its profit outlook for the next year by 80%.

There’s no denying the company’s latest handheld the 3DS has been a struggle. Sales have been lackluster both here in North America and Japan. To try and spur sales Nintendo is now slashing the price of the handheld by $90, bringing it down to $169.99.

“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Nintendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Nintendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great…

Hands On: Medieval Moves Deadmund’s Quest

Mike Yawney — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:19:40 +0000

Remember seeing all the press about Medieval Moves Deadmund’s Quest during E3 this year? You don’t? Unfortunately it was one of those titles which seemed to fall through the cracks, forgotten amongst the triple A titles such as Uncharted 3 and the next Gears of War. Deadmund’s may not be receiving the same publicity other titles are receiving right now, but that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked.

Deadmund’s is being developed by the same studio which brought us Sports Champions for the Playstation Move. In fact, many of the same play mechanics have been borrowed in this action adventure title.

“If you’ve played Sports Champions before you’re going to be familiar with them.” Bob Staite, Associate Producer of Deadmund’s Quest told me as he walked me through a demo. “We’re using them as building blocks not necessarily as a port. We’ve improved them from Sports Champions.”

While the actual story isn’t being given away, the game appears to be an adventure style title which has you exploring castles and other medieval themed settings in search of…

Hands On: Ico and Shadow of the Collossus Collection

Mike Yawney — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 06:13:31 +0000

If you’ve never played Ico or Shadow of the Colossus I have one thing to say to you. Shame on you! Although they are nearly a decade old (Ico was released back in 2001 on the PS2) they became cult classics for a reason. Fortunately for you you’ll have the chance to play them again when both get re-released this September on the Playstation 3.

“They were great games back in the day and I think they still are. But the fact is they’re both Playstation 2 games and it’s difficult to find new copies now, even used. It’s very difficult to get a hold of them” said Senior Producer Tsubasa Inaba. “Plus, how many gamers or people still have their PS2′s still active? Maybe they own one but they put it away because their main system is now a PS3 or what ever it may be. We thought why not revisit this.”

Inaba was proud to show me what Bluepoint Games has been working on over the past few months. As I played the remastered collection he anxiously stood over my shoulder, making sure…

Hands On: Journey

Mike Yawney — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 21:20:27 +0000

How do you describe a game like Journey? Beautiful certainly comes to mind. So does relaxing and experimental. But if you were to ask Executive Producer Robin Hunicke it would be none of the above. She says it’s easier to tell gamers what Journey isn’t rather than what it is.

“It’s not collaborative, but it isn’t competitive. It’s not co-op but it’s not solo. We often say journey is not a lot of things” Hunicke told me as I sat down to play the game at a recent Sony event in New York.

So what is it really? Most gamers would refer to the upcoming PSN title as an online adventure. Set in a beautiful desert landscape, gamers will find themselves waking up in a mysterious world filled with blowing sand and mysterious ruins. A mountain towers in the distance. You don’t know who you are or why you are there but you feel compelled to make your way to the mountain to try and figure out the story behind the mystical landscape.

Like flOw and Flower, two of That Game Company’s previous titles, Journey…

Activision Resurrecting Guitar Hero

Mike Yawney — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:14:18 +0000

Well that didn’t take long. Only five months after Activision announced its once popular Guitar Hero franchise was going into retirement, the company has announced it will be making a comeback after all.

Activision Blizzard Kotick has told Forbes the game is hibernating, getting ready for a new launch to a new audience.

“We’re going to take the products out of the market, and we’re not going to tell anybody what we’re doing for awhile, but we’re going to stop selling Guitar Hero altogether. And then we’re going to go back to the studios and we’re going to use new studios and reinvent Guitar Hero. And so that’s what we’re doing with it now.” said Kotick.

Harmonix seems to have done the same with its competing music-themed game Rock Band. While many gamers expected to see a new version at this year’s E3, the company mentioned nothing about the Rock Band franchise, rather emphasized its new dancing game Dance Central 2 which utilizes Microsoft’s Kinect.

Kotick isn’t giving us any hints on when the franchise will see the light of day again.

Would you be willing to explore another…

Netflix Arrives for the Nintendo 3DS Tomorrow

Mike Yawney — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:07:54 +0000

Netflix has certainly been stirring the pot south of the border by increasing the price of its monthly plans, but that hasn’t stopped the movie rental service from taking on yet another platform. Starting tomorrow you’ll be able to stream Netflix on your Nintendo 3DS.

The application will be available through the eShop as a free download. As long as you have WiFi and the appropriate subscription plan you’ll be on your way to watching movies.

Do you plan on streaming movies on your 3DS?

Playstation 4 Slated for 2012?

Mike Yawney — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:49:55 +0000

It seems a bit early but word out of Taiwan is Sony is readying a brand new console for 2012.

Component manufacturer sources have told DigiTimes the company is already gearing up for production of the Playstation 4 later this year.

Foxconn and Pegatron Technology are expected to assemble the new console, the same team which put together the PS3. More than 20 million units are expected to be produced for retail stores in 2012 alone.

The same sources have also told DigiTimes the PS4 will have Kinect-style controls, an interesting move since Microsoft is having trouble selling controller-free gaming to hardcore gamers.

Review: Shadows of the Damned

Mike Yawney — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:34:45 +0000

It’s quite clear Suda 51 doesn’t think like the rest of us. Not many game designers would have the balls to design a holy cross which resembles male genitalia, show demons eating a woman’s vagina or have a hero crawl into a women’s behind to enter the next level of the game. No this is not Duke Nukem Forever, this is the latest twisted creation from Suda 51.

Notorious for his phallic symbols in his games, Suda 51 has just released what is truly one of the most bizarre and twisted games I have played in months. Shadows of the Damned will not only scare the Bejezus out of you, but make you second guess what you just saw and heard. “Taste my big boner!” Um, I’ll explain that in a bit.

Shadows of the Damned follows Mexican demon hunter Garcia Hotspur who travels to the depths of Hell to bring back his true love. Paula hangs herself in your bedroom and her soul is whisked away to Hell by one of the main demons of the underworld. With no…

Media Molecule Steps Away From LBP

Mike Yawney — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:28:44 +0000

Holding your breath for Little Big Planet 3? You’ll be holding it for a while. Media Molecule, the developer behind the hit franchise admits it’s stepping back from the franchise.

Instead of focusing on a fourth game (there have been two for the PS3 and one for the PSP) Molecule is planning to begin work on a brand new yet to be announced project.

The studio wants fans to know Little Big Planet is far from dead. It recently tweeted it plans to return to play a role in the development of more LBP, but when that will happen is anyone’s guess.

Is Media Molecule making the right decision? Are gamers tired of Little Big Planet? What do you think?

Review: Alice: Madness Returns

Mike Yawney — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:47:06 +0000

“It’s time for tea Alice!” With that classic line the Mad Hatter lifts up a tea cup in one hand pushes it towards the lips of one of his guests. Both the Dormouse and the March Hare lay awkwardly at the Mad hatter’s side, neither one moving a hair as the Mad Hatter insists they drink. The guests remain quiet, after all you can’t speak when you’re dead. Yet the Hatter continues to pour tea down the March Hare’s throat, ignoring the fact that his guests are only corpses, victims of Alice’s rage.

This is the twisted vision of Wonderland American McGee brings to console gamers for the first time in Alice: Madness Returns, the follow-up to the cult classic Alice released for the PC back in 2000. The game sold more than one million copies and became a collector’s item. It’s easy to see why. The dark take on the classic children’s tale showed us a side of Alice Disney would never allow.

McGee’s follow-up is just as dark and demented as the original game, yet it’s not the perfect…

For Sale: Portal 2 Propulsion Gel

Mike Yawney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:54:08 +0000

The interactive gels found in Portal 2 play a key role to your survival as you make your way through test after test through the Aperture labs. Now you can bring these gels into your own world.

ThinkGeek has recreated all three gels found in the game. The blue Repulsion Gel will let you jump higher, the orange Propulsion Gel help you run faster, and the white Conversion Gel will allow any surface to accept a portal.

Unfortunately they don’t really work as advertised, however they do have some cool characteristics!

This putty is very strange, behaving like a liquid and a solid. It drips, bounces, stretches, shatters, and all sorts of other weird things

Each gel sells for $14.99 or you can purchase all three gels for $39.99

Breakup Letter to Duke Nukem

Robin Kuniski — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:54:15 +0000

Dear Duke,

I’m sitting here wondering what to say to you, what to do with you … You know when we first met you were awesome! I couldn’t wait to leave work and run home to take down aliens left, right and centre. Kicking ass and chew’en bubble gum. Oh, those were the days Duke, but now, now it feels like you never pay attention to my needs. After so many years of promising we would be together “Forever” you let me down.

Duke you had almost 15 yrs. 15 yrs to up date your graphics, polish your moves, develop a story and dazzle me again with the awe of ground breaking material, yet you seemed more interested in insignificant details like flipping a light switch on or dilly dallying around playing pool and what’s with having to piss every bathroom you see eh? That’s called debilities dude, you need to get that checked out. I thought we were over this part! I know you like your woman and beer buddy, I do too, but there comes a time where you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself…

Happy 20th Birthday Sonic!

Mike Yawney — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:22:21 +0000

20 years ago today, SEGA unveiled a lightning fast hedgehog named Sonic. My how time flies. Seems like it was only yesterday when we first curled up into a little ball and performed our first spin attack.

Through the years gamers developed a love hate relationship with our blue hero. While many wanted to love him many of his games…um…to put it mildly sucked. Lets hope Sega can fix that in the upcoming Sonic Generations due out this fall.

Here’s to Sonic who is still one year away from legal drinking age in the US. Pssst. Come to Canada and you can drink all you like!

PS3 Hacker Runs Out of Money; Heading to Jail

Mike Yawney — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:17:54 +0000

George “Geohot” Hotz made headlines after he hacked the PS3. He made even more headlines after Sony took him to court to hold him responsible to opening its console up to hackers. Hotz may now be off the hot seat after settling out of court but a fellow hacker may not be so lucky.

Alexander “Graf Chokolo” Egorenkov focused a lot of attention on returning Linux to the PS3 after Sony removed the feature to protect the console from hackers. He’s been fighting Sony in court but has now run out of money. His last resort? Go to jail.

Egorenkov posted on his blog he will fight for what he believes in, even if it means going to the Pen.

“Going to jail soon probably because I cannot pay court costs. But I’m ready to stand up for everything I said and go to jail for that too. It’s not important to win, more important is to show them that we are ready to fight, that they cannot scare me off that easily. I’m ready to go to jail for my beliefs and my principles.”

The outcome really…

CBS: “SEGA Genesis Hacked”

Mike Yawney — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:29:51 +0000

SEGA is the latest gaming company to fall victim to hackers. The company has confirmed nearly 1.3 million SEGA Pass user details were compromised on Friday including names, email addresses, dates of birth and encrypted passwords.

It’s great to see main stream media picking up on the story. That being said it’s sad to see producers not doing their homework.

CBS was quick to report on the hack, however if you take a look at the screen capture above you’ll note they are referring to the SEGA Genesis being hacked, a system which hasn’t been sold at retail for many many years.

Seriously?

Review: Child of Eden

Mike Yawney — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 04:18:53 +0000

Geometry Wars on Acid. That’s the only way to accurately describe Child of Eden, Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s follow-up to the highly acclaimed Rez for the Dreamcast and PS2. It’s a psychedelic shooter which will have your jaw dropping and your eyes bugging out of your head.

The story is a hard one to follow. Scientists are attempting to create artificial life within a futuristic version of the Internet. Within the system are memories from Lumi, the very first human born in space. Unfortunately those memories are under attack by a virus. You must enter the system and ‘purify’ the parasites. Clear as mud?

The story really doesn’t matter here. What really matters is the experience which you embark upon. Child of Eden is arguably more of an experience than an actual game. You shoot enemy parasites as you float through a neon wonderland filled with electronica beats. As you destroy each parasite a musical tone is released adding to the musical soundtrack.

You have two different weapons…

Robin Williams’ Daughter Stars in Nintendo Commercial

Mike Yawney — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:42:11 +0000

Robin Williams is a huge Zelda fan. In fact he loves the games so much…he named his daughter after Princess Zelda. Now Zelda Williams is starring alongside dad in the TV commercial for the 3DS port of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Take a look at the cute commercial below.

Commentary: Hacked To Bits

Sean Taylor — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:27:31 +0000

Recently, I walked into a local bank and asked to see someone in charge of new accounts. I was ushered into a private office where I was asked what they could do for my banking needs. I told them I sometimes travelled internationally, had multiple sources of steady income, and could supply a stable residence and address. I was promptly asked for my VISA numbers, a passport, my Social Insurance numbers plus email and phone number.

By the middle of the conversation, I was almost walked out the door by the arm by security if not by my own prowess in tongue-wagging.

It’s because I know my rights, what they need to know and what compromises my own security if leaked.

When you give someone/a company/employer/a forum even the slightest tidbit of information about you, that data can be used to glean thousands more nuggets. Got a Facebook account? Here we go. You’ve heard about the horror stories of employers finding drunken pictures of you on the Net (even if not LinkIn) and then finding some ridiculous fiction to fire you with. You can’t blame them; that’s H.R.s job in a…

Review: inFAMOUS 2

Mike Yawney — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:38:42 +0000

I’m a firm believer in Karma. What comes around goes around. Maybe that’s why I find it so hard to do the devious deeds I’m tempted to do in inFamous 2. I hate street performers, yet I can’t muster up the courage to electrocute one. And I can’t stand by as the Militia escorts civilians in New Marais to their death. I always step in and play the hero. Unfortunately I know this means I’m missing out on half the fun that is to be found inFAMOUS 2.

The story picks up a few months after inFAMOUS with Cole MacGrath nearly dying at the hands of The Beast. Cole doesn’t have the power he needs to destroy the molten-lava giant. To do that he must make the trip to New Marais, which sets the scene for this new adventure.

If you’ve played inFAMOUS then you’ll have a slight advantage over everyone else. You can import your save data from the first game. How you did and whether you were “good” or “bad” will determine what bonuses you start with. I…

BioWare Hit by Hackers

Mike Yawney — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:06:15 +0000

What is going on!? Yet another game developer has been hit by the hacking stick. This time it’s Edmonton-based BioWare.

The company known for games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age says one of its old community servers associated with the Neverwinter Nights forums was targeted by hackers. Approximately 18,000 accounts were accessed, revealing information such as user account names and passwords, email addresses, and birth dates.

BioWare has now released the following statement on it forum:

We take the security of your information very seriously and regret any inconvenience this may have caused you. If your username, email address and/or password on the Neverwinter Nights forums are similar to those you use on other sites, we recommend changing your password at those sites as well. We advise all of our fans to always be aware of any suspicious emails or account activity and report any suspicious emails and account activity to Customer Support at 1-866-543-5435.

No one has claimed responsibility for the hack.

Crysis 2 Un-Steam’ed

Sean Taylor — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:29:56 +0000

Crysis 2 has been removed from Steam, the mammothly popular digital distribution site for all games PC, which begs the question… What other EA games will not appear on Steam?

A little more than a week ago, EA launched its own online portal for digital distribution called Origin. It seems as though EA Games is trying to groom Origin as a platform not unlike Steam or PSN or X-Box Live, by tying some of its upcoming major releases (like the upcoming MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic) as being available for download only through Origin.

An EA spokesperson had this to say about the removal of Crysis 2:

“Steam has imposed a set of business terms for developers hoping to sell content on that service – many of which are not imposed by other online game services. Unfortunately, Crytek has an agreement with another download service which violates the new rules from Steam and resulted in its expulsion of Crysis II from Steam.”

I like to spread my credit card information around the web as much as the next guy (especially after the PSN debacle and the now constant string of hack-attacks…

2K Games Fires PR Firm Over Duke Nukem Forever Fiasco

Mike Yawney — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:57:35 +0000

2K Games has fired it’s PR firm looking after its Duke Nukem Forever title after an off the cuff comment on Twitter.

Last night Jim Redner of The Redner Group tweeted “Too many went too far with their reviews… we r reviewing who gets games next time and who doesn’t based on today’s venom.” Essentially he makes reference to blacklisting media outlets who give poor review scores, something which we know happens but isn’t openly talked about.

Of course many outlets picked up on the story and this morning two things happened. First, 2K Games sent out a tweet of their own stating “2K Games does not endorse or condone the comments made by @TheRednerGroup and confirm they no longer represent our products.” And then this hits our inbox.

Hey,

I would like a quick moment of your time to humbly ask for your forgiveness. I made a major error in judgment. I acted out of pure emotion without any thought to what I was saying. It is with a sad heart that I come to you now asking that you forgive me. I posted a Tweet this…