April 28, 2009

Dead Rising 2 First Full Trailer: omgwtfbbq

I don't think the developers realize how long I've waited for this game. My entire life, really.

... uh, I grew up very strangely.

Posted by William Vitka at 4:09 PM | Comments (0)

The Madden Curse

By Anthony Sulla-Heffinger
Last week, EA Sports unveiled the new cover for Madden '10 in Times Square, NY. For the first time in franchise history, two players would be featured on the cover of the most popular football videogame ever. EA chose Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, honoring each team from Super Bowl XLIII.

However, the Cardinals and Steelers shouldn't be celebrating - it is the other 30 NFL franchises who should be excited to see two of the NFL's best players on the cover of Madden '10. The reason for this? Along with the recognition players have received from gracing the game's cover, there is also the infamous "Madden Curse" that coincides with such a privilege.

Continue reading "The Madden Curse"

Posted by William Vitka at 3:35 PM | Comments (0)

Harley revealed in "Arkham Asylum"

Nope, she's not the Harley Quinn you remember from the comics. (Or rather, she's not the one I'm familiar with from the early morning Batman cartoons.)

She kind of reminds me of those strange Gothic Lolitas that used to wander around Tokyo's Harajuku in droves. Sadly, they're much less popular now than they used to be. (Ditto for the Hawaiian Barbies...they're totally out of vogue these days.)

Anyway. Expect to see good ol' Harley in "Batman: Arkham Asylum." Out in June. For Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)

April 27, 2009

inFamous trailer blows lots o'stuff up

And here it is. For the PS3. Due May 26. Hen-joy! (Try to ignore the lame pseudo-metal soundtrack.)

Posted by Maxine Shen at 5:54 PM | Comments (0)

April 24, 2009

Rhythm Heaven rox sox off tonight

If you haven't already had a chance to check out the new Nintendo DSi, here's your chance.

Nintendo is hosting a two-day event at the 300 New York bowling alley at Pier 60 tonight and tomorrow, where they're going to be demoing Rhythm Heaven (as seen in the commercials with Beyonce).

In the Rhythm Heaven lounge you'll get to play the game, see life-size versions of the characters from the game and listen to "funky" DJ music. You'll also have the chance to win special prizes and everyone who attends gets a little gifty.

The deets:
April 24-25, from 5 p.m. to midnight

300 New York
Pier 60/23rd Street & West Side Hwy.
New York, NY 10011

Check it out, fo'shizzle.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 1:42 PM | Comments (0)

Terminator: Salvation gameplay

A look at what you can expect from the game out on May 18 for 360, PS3 and PC.

Yee-haw!

Posted by Maxine Shen at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)

April 23, 2009

Star Trek game beams self onto XBL

Trekkie alert! "Star Trek: D-A-C" is heading to XBL in May and PSN and PC shortly after that.

It's supposed to be a fast-paced, top-down space shooter targeted towards online multiplayer or co-op battles. Up to 12 players can directly control a variety of ships and pitch battles between Starfleet and the Romulan Empire. There's also a single-player component too. Each mode has three different game types: Team DeathMatch, Assault and Conquest.

Players can choose from three ship types - Flagship, Fighter and Bomber - for each faction, including the new one featured in the "Star Trek" film. As an added bonus, you'll get music and sounds taken straight from the film.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 11:43 AM | Comments (1)

April 21, 2009

Fallujah me? Fallujah YOU! The Game

Konami semi-recently announced that they're developing a game called "Six Days in Fallujah" for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, due out in 2010.

It's a third-person shooter that's based on the real-life, "largest urban military operation in four decades." They're promising that the game will combine the action of a military shooter with the realism of a documentary film "to create a new kind of experience that is both historical and engaging." To do this, they partnered with over three dozen Marines to develop the game. Konami also got unprecedented access to battle plans, after action reports, photos, videos and satellite maps, all in an effort to make this game as authentic as possible.

A long time ago, I gave my Canadian cousin my old copy of "America's Army." He played it for a while and then turned to me and said, "This is totally propaganda for the U.S. military, isn't it." Well, yeah, as a matter of fact, it is. Call me crazy, but I can't shake the feeling that this "Six Days of Fallujah" game will produce the same feeling.

For more details about the game (straight off the release, y'all), hit the jump.

Continue reading "Fallujah me? Fallujah YOU! The Game"

Posted by Maxine Shen at 5:25 PM | Comments (2)

Last two eps of WCG Ultimate Gamer

Have you been following the WCG Ultimate Gamer series on the soon to be re-branded Syfy Channel? If you have, then you'll know that tonight is the penultimate episode. If you haven't, now you know. (And knowing is half the battle.)

Tonight's episode is the Gauntlet (ooooh!) featuring PGR 4, Rock Band 2 and Halo 3. The six remaining gamer/contestants are surprised with the knowledge that only TWO will survive the challenge, meaning they'll have to play harder than they've ever played before.

And, just for the heck of it, here's what you can expect to see during next Tuesday's finale: The Ultimate Showdown.

The two finalists will face off in the Samsung Stadium, playing Shaun White Snowboarding, Soul Calibur IV and Gears of War 2. The winner? Crowned WCG Ultimate Gamer.

Don't miss it tonight: Sci Fi Channel, 10 p.m.

Check out the trailer for the series to see what you've been missing.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 5:20 PM | Comments (0)

Rabbids get standalone brand, whee!

How great is this? The plunger-wielding, psycho albino rabbids are getting their own standalone brand this Holiday season.

Ubisoft will be releasing the comedy-adventure game, "Rabbids Go Home," which is being developed by the folks behind the original "Rayman Raving Rabbids" game. They also did "Beyond Good & Evil" and "Peter Jackson's King Kong." (I'm seriously crossing my fingers that the new Rabbids game won't be anywhere near as aggravating as King King was, though.)

Anyway, it's going to be a Wii game, which probably means that there'll be plenty of ridiculous arm-waving action involved. And, as we all know, that's what makes these Rabbid games so funny. That and the incessant screaming.

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!

Posted by Maxine Shen at 4:36 PM | Comments (0)

Sheep and aliens? What the Flock!??

"Flock!" for XBL/PSN/PC reminds me of "Destroy All Humans!"...except with less butt-probing. I'm guessing.

The whole point of the game is to herd farm animals to a mothership/UFO through a variety of puzzles...including a "plushie"-like environment. (If you don't know what a "plushie"-like environment is, I suggest you get a hold of the Vanity Fair story that ran in 2001. It scarred me for life. For a less icky look at the phenomenon, watch the "CSI" episode, "Fur and Loathing.")

To succeed in the game, you need to be able to predict and manage the quirky responses that animals have to the UFOs. I could say intimate knowledge of their behavior, but I won't. 'Cause it sounds wrong.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 4:00 PM | Comments (0)

Frat days are back: iPhone Beer Pong

So, like, I was watching "Greek" on ABC Family (shut up, it's really funny) last night, where the guys of Kappa Tau were playing beer pong. Today, I come across this: Beer Pong for the iPhone/iTouch.

As the release for the game says, "Get ready to get your balls wet!" You can download the app - Beer Pong: BPONG 2009 Edition - right now, for $1.99.

Features include:
-Taking on your friends (via hot-seat multiplayer) or a computer-controlled AI (with three different difficulty levels)
-Male and female AIs verbally assaulting you with trash talking zingers
-Outstanding graphics, with a life-like bar background, officially branded BPONG.com cups, tables and balls.

The game says that it takes its name from BPONG.COM, the official governing body of the annual World Series of Beer Pong (WSOBP), the largest Beer Pong tournament in the world.

Who knew such a thing existed? Certainly not I.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 3:55 PM | Comments (1)

April 17, 2009

'Gears' developer talks, you listen

"Gears of War's" senior level designer Andrew Bains (at Epic Games) is going to chat about the theory of level design and how it informs everything he and his team do. He's also going to share tips on how to find a level design job in the gaming industry. It's all part of the Game Developers eXchange, hosted by the Savannah College of Art & Design.

Andrew's speech will be live streamed at SCAD.tv at 5 p.m. EST.

Follow the speech or ask questions on twitter.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 2:47 PM | Comments (0)

April 16, 2009

Assassin's Creed II: vengeance for all

This is Enzo. He's a privileged young noble living in Renaissance Italy who's been betrayed by the rival ruling families of said country. He's on a quest for vengeance. Which, of course, makes him perfect for the hero of the new Assassin's Creed II game.

Due out this holiday season, Ubisoft says that the game will be open world (like the 2007 game) and feature an epic story. This time around though, they'll offer more variety during missions as well as new game play elements, diverse weapons and "profound" character progression that'll appeal to original franchise fans and newbies.

Anyway, Enzo looks cool - probably for the best to not have him wear the hose and hip-emphasizing pants that were so popular during the period. Heh.

Posted by Maxine Shen at 12:03 PM | Comments (3)

April 14, 2009

Zombie Apocalypse on its way: hide

Have you read "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" yet? No? Reading not really your thing? Hmm? Okay.

Konami announced that they're releasing a XBLA and PSN game called Zombie Apocalypse sometime in the next few months. (Q2 if that makes it more precise for you.)

Here's what you can expect: Heavily equipped gunslingers on a mission to destroy as many zombies as possible in order save the last remaining human survivors. You'll have up to 11 lethal weapons including assault rifles, flame throwers and a teddy bear (dude, seriously) filled with C4 explosives. Up to four players can play locally or via the Internet. Players can use a chainsaw to melee zombies and protect themselves against becoming one of the undead. They can also use environmental hazards to crush, burn, slice, or cause other types of destruction on the masses of zombies.

Wanton acts of mass destruction, y'all!

The action-packed, arcade-style shooter will test gamers' dual analog stick shooting skills and ability to survive 55 days of battles across seven environments, all the while attempting to not become a brainless zombie. Upon completing the mission, players can re-live the apocalypse with seven challenging unlockable game modes.

Just for laffs, here's a little story about how a zombie apocalypse might actually occur. According to a certain nerd's beloved "science."

Posted by Maxine Shen at 12:09 PM | Comments (2)