Xbox Live’s ‘Summer of Arcade’ Detailed

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Jason Bassett

It’s getting warm outside and that can only mean one thing. It’s time to play some more video games! Microsoft’s Larry Hyrb aka: Major Nelson poured on the details of this year’s Xbox Live Arcade’s Summer of Arcade today. Want to know more?

Here is the full list of when you can expect to grab these awesome games and what price they’ll be:

  • July 18 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD – 1200 pts.
  • July 25 – Wreckateer – 800 pts.
  • August 1 – Deadlight – 1200 pts.
  • August 8 – Hybrid – 1200 pts.
  • August 15 – Dust: An Elysian Tail – 1200 pts.
Note: If you buy the entire suite of games, you’ll get 400 pts. off of the purchase!

Be sure to put on some sunblock and shades, because it’s going to be a hot summer for Xbox Live!

Courtesy of Major Nelson | http://majornelson.com/2012/06/19/summer-of-arcade-dates-and-prices-2/

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Gratuitous Tank Battles | Review

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Ever wanted to just go down a street and just destroy everything in its path? I know you have, so did I. I would be lying if I didn’t. That’s where Gratuitous Tank Battle comes into play. If you ever wanted to tear down your city streets with mechs, tanks, and other cool military weaponry; then this game is exactly what you will want. Gratuitous Tank Battles is an action game that takes to a mix of different genre of gameplay. The hybrid set in place here is mixed with: Tower Defense to a Real-Time Strategy games that works very well. You have set places to place your units as they either march their way passed the defenders or explode in a fire bullets and sinew. Want to know more about it? Of course you do.Read More

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38 Studios Files for Bankruptcy

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios have declared chapter 7 Bankruptcy earlier today. Currently an FBI investigation is under way for the game developer for neglecting to pay their employees, according to a report filed by WPRI News.

During the development of Kingdoms of Amalur back in 2010, the development house agreed to a $75 million dollar loan from the state of Rhode Island in order to move its company and its employees to the state to create more jobs. Unfortunately, due to the strain of developing an MMORPG and the poor sales of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, the developer could not pay a loan back to the state. This set off a chain of events that lead to the closing of Big Huge Games that 38 Studio’s purchased in 2009.

To make matters worse for the employees, 38 Studios have said that they will not repay the mortgages that employees were told they wouldn’t have to pay back for houses still in Massachusetts.

On a positive note, Big Huge Games will be purchased by Epic Games and will hire each employee that was working with the company at the time.

Today, at least for now, the ugly story of 38 Studios has come to an end.

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Wonderbook Announced for PS3

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Sony announced today that Wonderbook will head to the PS3. The Wonderbook is a physical book that will be able to be used with the Playstation eye. The Wonderbook will be working with developers and storybook games. Moonbot Studios will be heading up developers to work on the book.

Diggs Nightcrawler was also announced for the Wonderbook.

Books of Spells has also been announced for the Wonderbook by JK Rowling. The book will also work in tandem with Pottermore, the website that focuses on Harry Potter lore. A demo was shown for Book of Spells, in the demo, there were two people kneeling down using their book. Using the Playstation Move, the user will be able to create spells by using the Move as wander; the Move will hover over the book to work with the Move.

Using the book, a dragon pops out of the book and on to the TV screen. A big fire erupts from the Dragon’s mouth. You can put the  fire out by using your hands. The next demo shows the Playstation Book as a player. Words are shown from above the book to following along with the story. You can then learn spells by using the Move to make gestures. When you learn the spell, you can learn a new gesture to cast it whenever you wish. Using the gesture, you can fight against the dragon that was causing havoc before.

Also explain, you can also take tests that will put your knowledge to the test.

Be able to control stories using the PS Camera Wonderbook

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Assassins Creed Vita Announced

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Assassins Creed III: Liberation is coming to the Playstation Vita. You  take the role of a female assassin in the same era of Assassins Creed III. Liberation will contain the world format and will be feature near sight functionality. Additionally, the there will be new ways to unlock things in the Vita and PS3, some of the things to unlock using the Cross Play functionality will be:

  • Cross goods unlocking Connors Tomahawk
  • character skin and multiplayer skin
  • ammunition pouches

More so, you will be able to buy a Crystal White PS Vita along with Assassins Creed III: Liberation.

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Quantum Dreams’ Beyond: Two Souls Announced

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Beyond: Two Souls was announced today at Sony’s E3 Press Briefing. It was mentioned that a character name Jodie Holmes who is searching  for herself and you will see her progressions. Played by Academy Award winner, Ellen Page, he will bring the character to life. All gameplay footage shown is in real time.

The game starts in a police station office. The facial animations are reminincent of LA Noire with the technology called MotionScan. Jodie is completely mute at this point as the officer is questions here. All of a sudden, a coffee cup on the table is shown shaking. What makes it interesting is the acting. All of a sudden, the coffee cup goes flying and the cop stunned; he then leaves the office. The facial animations are amazing and the MotionScan technology is quite amazing here.

We are then shown a SWAT team storming the police station. The cop is questioned to show them where she is; animations flow lovely and the the lights shine with a mystical glow a about them. After the SWAT leader looks in, the demo ends.

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Watch_Dogs Unveiled at E3.

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Update: Check out the teaser trailer and gameplay after the jump!

During the Ubisoft E3 Press Briefing, a trailer for a brand new game was shown. The trailer that was shown was a information centric. The trailer that was shown was named ctOS and it takes the open world game to a whole new level. Jonathon Morin, creative director at Ubisoft said that the city was your weapon.Read More

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Shootmania Shown at Ubisoft Press Briefing

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

In their E-Sports segment, Ubisoft unveiled Shootmania.  Their next game in the ‘mania series. Two teams were pit against each other in Elite mode, which was still in Alpha stage.

In this game, you are pitted in a maze-like arena, the game is like a Team Deathmatch style. The game is in first person view when you’re playing. Once all players are eliminated and then the rounds ends. The pace of the match is fast, you have a massive long jump that will take you to almost the middle of the map. When playing in teams, you are Team Red and Team Blue. In this game, each team had rockets to take out each other in about one shot.

You also could capture bases in the game and once a base is captured the game is over. A pretty fast paced game that will sure bring the Trackmania fans happy!

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Assassins Creed III Is Bloody Good Fun

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

A trailer shown at Ubisoft’s E3 Press Briefing shown off today gave us a glimpse of what we could expect to see during our playtime. Featuring a badass killing spree by the main protagonist, you will also run into George Washington, who was shown during the trailer.

Also shown was footage of the gameplay. You are Conner as he is sprinting along the cliffs of New England. You then take control of Conner and start to run off of trees, eventually, you will start to hunt wildlife. A wolf comes by and “greets” you by attacking you. You are then tasked to evade a pack of wolves eventually taken another one of the out. The snow on the ground sounds natural as you walk across it coming to a camp full of wounded.Read More

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ZombiU Announced!

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

ZombiU was announced for the Wii U today during Ubisoft’s Press Briefing today. The game was definitely more catered to the core gamer and looks like the game will be very bloody. At one point, you will be able to decapitate somone using a gun sword.

Consider us, psyched!

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Rayman: Legends Wii U Shown at E3

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

If you wanted your Wii U news,  well now you’ve got it! Rayman: Legends for the Wii was shown today and boy does it look fun. Using the Wii U Gamepad, you can control a new helper buddy named Murphy. You can do cool moves cooperatively. The colors of the game are bright and adventures. In the Wii U version, you can use the original Wii controllers as well. The game also supports the Wii U Controller Pro.

Asynchronous gameplay was also shown where Rayman and Murphy team up and a wasteland to collect a bunch of colorful rabbids. What made this even coolers is that there is an excellent (okay, kinda cool) guitar riff as you collect these rabbids. Tons of platforming elements are shown as well with falling boulders. You will also descend to also to get to other platforms.

Rayman: Legends for the Wii-U is shaping up to be one of the best games to be on the next system from Nintendo.

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Far Cry 3 will Pump You Up!

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Ever wanted to be the leader of your own tribe? Well, in Ubisoft’s Far Cry 3, that is exactly what you will be doing. The demo starts while you’re seductively tranced by a mistress wearing…not all that much. You then, are then swimming to get to your destination. As your walking through the jungle, you take out a baddie with the a  knife. You’re doing all of this stealthy-like. You finally make it to an abandoned shack. There you see some screens with a mad man screaming out you.

The gameplay then gets fast and furious. You’re in a huge battle with a bunch of baddies with guns. You take a guy out with your gun and stab a few more along the way. Then a guy with a flamethrower is intimidates you. After dealing with the baddie, you scream out looking for someone. After getting stabbed with an item, you begin to hallucinate.

You’ll be able to do a lot whole more when game comes out!

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Starhawk | Review

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Jason Bassett

There is nothing better than shooting down vehicles in flight; the fiery mass of technology spiraling though space with only a bad ending in sight. Starhawk is the successor of Warhawk, and Lightbox has delivered a ton of new features that will make your next trip to space one of the best on the Playstation. You are Emmett Graves and you are dealt with the unenviable task of saving the galaxy. Who are you saving it from? Your brother, Logan, who is pretty pissed off that you’re against him. As you use an arsenal of gadgets to help you along the way, especially when you need to destroy the mess of baddies.

What makes Starhawk truly unique is the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) style of gameplay mixed with a third person over the shoulder gameplay that mixes really well and offers a great challenge. There were times where I thought I would be able to clear though a bunch of enemies in an area, but found myself overwhelmed with areas by scabs and needed to build a huge wall (using multiple walls will connect them) along with a few turrets. What makes the game very fascinating is the using different equipment to maneuver through the air. One of the machines you can use is a Jetpack where you can hover around the area for a limited time. The jetpack is used very well especially in later levels. By far, the best part of the game is when you obtain a Hawk.Read More

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Jason West/Frank Zampella vs. Activision Avoids Jury Trial

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Jason West and Frank Zampella have officially settled their case with Activision for their mistreatment of workers during the development of Modern Warfare 2. This ends the year long struggle both Activision and the Infinity Ward studio heads have endured. Zampella and West, in their final hour, decided to settle their dispute before reaching a jury trial.

If you haven’t been following this fiasco when it started, West and Zampella sued Activision for the a number of bonuses (rumored to reach over $10,000,000 for both West and Zampella), included in that deal were all the staff that worked on Modern Warfare 2. Following their departure from Activision and Infinity Ward, Jason West and Frank Zampella opened their own studio and to work on a new game with Electronic Arts. During the struggle of making Modern Warfare 2, West and Zampella were outed for having met with Electronic Arts prior to releasing the game.

While the results are currently closed to the public, it was noted by The Verge’s Michael WcWhertor, that Jason West was said to be in a happy mood and “smiling in the courtroom”.

Source: Settlement reached in Call of Duty’s billion dollar West v. Activision lawsuit.

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New Gears of War to Show Up at E3?

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Jason Bassett

Game Informer has just released a teaser cover for their upcoming August issue.  But the cover shot doesn’t really tell us much. They have mentioned however,  that it will indeed, be a new Gears of War game.

Microsoft will have Gears of War, Halo 4 and plenty of other goodies during their press conference. For now though, just enjoy the teaser cover for you to go crazy over. Try not to ruin your computer chair.

Reminder: Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference is on Monday, June 4th @ 9:30AM PST

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