Wednesday, January 30, 2008
A Peek At The Prince Of Persia Graphic Novel
11:30PM Luke Plunkett | Last July, we heard a Prince of Persia graphic novel was in the works. Wasn’t going to have anything to do with the old games, though. Or the new games, or even the Jerry Bruckheimer movie project. It was just an idea, one which, according to game creator Jordan Mechner was going to “take Prince of Persia back to the mythic roots of the story”. If you’re interested, this here’s a page from it, courtesy of Wired’s Chris Kohler. Check Out The Prince Of Persia Graphic Novel [Game|Life] More »
Forget Waldo, Find the Game Characters
11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Okay! Quiz time. This picture features loads of character — mostly anime characters. But! There are some who are either game characters or who have appeared in games. And those ones are…? Impress us in the comments section. Bigger Version Here [Byonabiv via Danny Choo] More »
The Secret World Is, Ah, Less Secret
10:30PM Luke Plunkett | Funcom have announced a few more details on their upcoming MMO The Secret World, due sometime in the future for the PC and 360. And they’re all to do with the game’s story, and how they’re hoping to avoid relying on neither orcs nor spaceships. Because those are boring. All this is good to hear! Because when you show off a teaser poster with a beastie that looks a lot like Cthulhu you get my attention. Product manager Erling Ellingson: The setting for The Secret World is actually our own world… But there is something out there, another world beyond our own. In this world there are monsters and there are some very, very dark conspiracies. There are also many myths and legends from our own world, that may play a part in all of this.Hardly ground-breaking in its own right, sure, but at least it’s new ground for an MMO. Particularly when you consider the game will be using real-world locations like London and New York, giving certain players the very meta experience of strolling around the virtual streets their real-life arses are too lazy to stroll. The Ring inspires Funcom’s new MMO [CVG] More »
Fix People’s Bad, Bad Teeth
10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Geez, we’re not sure whether to be excited or cringe in pain. Complete with the high pitched drill shrill, developer Tamsoft is bringing the pain with SIMPLE DS Series Vol. 34 THE Dentist. Players fill cavities, perform root canals and pull teeth while trying not to cause too much discomfort. Fun! There’s also the typical medicine sim stuff like managing a clinic and trying to make it grow. Actually might pick this one up. Be A Dentist [Famitsu] More »
News
EU Loophole Means Games Are Now Art (For Tax Purposes)
9:30PM Luke Plunkett | Ubisoft boss, the exquisitely-named Yves Guillemot, is a happy man. Speaking with Gamasutra about a soon-to-be-approved French tax ruling that, in theory, will give French gaming studios a 20% credit on their taxes (capped at €3 million), he’s rapt that the French government has seen fit to decide games can have a cultural impact, and thus entitled to similar tax breaks afforded to things like motion pictures. Other European developers may be just as rapt: thanks to EU laws, now that France has given developers tax breaks on cultural grounds, other EU nation’s developers can apply for the same deal. Video Games: Officially Art, In Europe [Gamasutra] [Image] More »
Why Aren’t These Guys Making the Dragon ball Movie?
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | When you watch this fan made Dragon Ball Z showdown between super Saiyan Goku and bad dude Freeza, ask yourself this question: Why is Hollywood making a Dragonball film and not these guys? Just imagine what they could do with a proper budget and shudder at what Hollywood will do with one. DBZ Fan Movie [SWF Blog via Japanator] More »
Once, In The Past, Smash Bros. Had No Mario, No Link, No Samus
9:00PM Luke Plunkett | Nowadays, Smash Bros is awash with Nintendo characters. Indeed, it’s the primary reason Nintendo have been able to collectively jerk so many of you into such a frenzy over the game! But back in 1999, it all could have been so, so different. In another of their candid chats on Japan’s Nintendo site, Satoru Iwata and Brawl director Masahiro Sakurai are discussing the origin of the series. And how it didn’t contain any Nintendo franchise ring-ins. Not a single one: Iwata: Because we don’t often have the opportunity to sit down and talk about Smash Bros., I’d like to use the last part of this interview to turn back the clock and talk about the start of this series, beginning in 1999 with the Nintendo 64 title Super Smash Bros. You and I were responsible for developing this prototype. Sakurai: Right. We called it “Kakuto-Geemu Ryuoh” (Dragon King: The Fighting Game) Iwata: At that point in time, we weren’t utilising any Nintendo characters, and while you handled the planning, specs, design, modeling and movement, I worked on programming all by myself. In some respects, it was the ultimate handcrafted project. A Smash Bros not basted in self-referential Nintendo marinade? Amazing. Just imagine where you’d be, right now, if that had come to pass. What would you spend all your allotted excitement points on? Dragon King: The Fighting Game [Nintendo] More »
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Firmware 3.90 hits. Brings Skype! To get, PSP owners access the Network Update. 3.90 also expands support for PSN titles. Though, be aware: the Skype feature is only for Slim & Lite PSP-2000 series. Everyone else, you’re shit outta luck. Take that early adopters! New Firmware [PSP Fanboy] More »
9:00PM Luke Plunkett | REZ HD REMINDER – Just a quiockremunder tht Rez HD is now out on the Xbox Live Markwtplace. Im playing it eright now, actyuall. Its great, the vibrating contrl pads are bpth pleasurabl and theraptic, thigh they make typong a little difficult. More »
