Thursday, August 7, 2008
News
Godfather II Is As Much RTS As It Is GTA
11:20PM Luke Plunkett | Godfather was…OK. Not awful, but then, didn’t really live up to the name, either. So it’s thoroughly unsurprising to hear that, for the second game, they’re ditching the GTA-style gameplay in favour of something a little more…unique. The latest issue of the UK’s Xbox World 360 mag says the game’s a little more like “Scarface meets Total War”. Confused? Explanation follows: while the action/GTA bits remain, they’re only part of the action. There’s also a “Don’s View” element to the game, much like the world map for the Total War games, where you can inspect and tweak stuff on a more strategic level (this time across three cities: Miami, Havana & New York). Could get messy, but then, anyone who’s played X-Com may also find something to look forward to if EA can successfully manage the split between the planning and action sections. We’ll be checking out the game first-hand next week, so stay tuned for our impressions. Godfather II: First details [CVG] More »
The BioShock PS3 Trailer
11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | While game site IGN says the PS3 version of BioShock will have “cleaner high resolution textures for every facet of the game”, we can’t really see difference from it and the Xbox 360/PC versions. Then again, maybe it’s one of those you gotta play it things or one of those you gotta run them side-by-side things. We’ll have to wait and see until October when the PS3 version’s released. [Via NeoGAF] More »
Ex-Nintendo Exec Talks ‘Thin Line Between Gimmick And Great Gameplay’
10:40PM Brian Ashcraft | David Gosen used to be the head of Nintendo Europe. He is not anymore. He is now Microsoft’s VP of Strategic Marketing and LIVE for the Continent. He has this to say about his former employer, Nintendo and upcoming Xbox 360 title Lips: I think it’s really important that you don’t underestimate the knowledge base of the consumer. What Nintendo have done with the Wii is truly fantastic — there is no question about it. But I think sometimes there is a thin line between gimmick and great gameplay. We’ve seen some research that says 60 per cent of people who bought a Wii Fit play it once and don’t play it again. So we have to get the balance right, because what we are doing is bringing new consumers into the market for the first time in their lives they are playing games sometimes — and we have to treat them with respect. Seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to say! Here’s that 60 percent poll Gosen is talking about, which we first broke from Japanese news site IT Media. (Note: David Gosen left Nintendo back in 2004. You know, back before they printed money.) Q&A: David Gosen, Xbox [Develop via CVG] [Pic] More »
BioShock PS3 Looks Better, Plays Harder (Say IGN)
10:20PM Luke Plunkett | The PS3 version of BioShock is a little different to the 360/PC one. It’ll have downloadable “challenge rooms” for starters, but it’ll also feature a new difficulty mode, “Survivor”. Which is a stupid name. It should really be called “Will Kick Your Arse Up And Down Rapture”. Instead of tweaking things like AI, they’ve instead decided to cut off pretty much all of your ammo, leaving you in many instances to pick up a gun with a single bullet in it. It’ll also jack up the price of plasmids, reduce the amount of health vita chambers give you and just generally make the game, oh, impossible. That’s one of the main gameplay additions covered, but IGN are also reporting that that the PS3 version features improved visuals, with “cleaner high resolution textures for every facet of the game”. They also say the water effects look “much slicker” than what we’ll assume is the 360 version. So, improvements all round, then! Question is, PS3 owners: does this make up for the long wait? Bioshock Survivor Mode Hands-on [IGN] More »
To LOVEru Loves The Touching
10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | We first heard of the DS version of manga/anime To LOVEru last spring. To LOVEru follows the adventures of a high school boy and an alien girl named Lala who one days appears out in his home of nowhere buck naked. The game is rated 15 and up. Hit the jump for one of its touching mini games. Titled To LOVEru Waku Waku, the game is out in Japan later this month. More »
Macross PSP Trailer
9:30PM Luke Plunkett | We’ve had our PSPs dusted off for a few weeks now in anticipation of this. Same for our emergency Japanese catchphrase guides, along with the URLs of our favourite Japanese importers. Because really, if you’re a Macross fan, how can this not already look like the best thing to happen to the PSP? [via Matix @ NeoGAF] More »Tonnes of New MotorStorm 2 Screens, Concept Art
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft |
You’re No More A ‘Gamer’ Than You Are A ‘Listener’, ‘Watcher’
8:30PM Luke Plunkett | I’m posting this because it’s been something that’s been bugging me for a while, particularly when I’m talking about my job to people who aren’t that big on games. People who just presume that because I play a lot of games, I love all games, and cock an eyebrow when I respond “eh, 3D fighters, I hate that shit”. Writing on Edge, Steve Poole asks: Do you know anyone who likes books and likes all kinds of books, from popular exegeses of quantum mechanics to Mills & Boon romances? Do many people like all genres of film, or all genres of music? It’s very rare. We ought to consider it a tribute to the increasing breadth and maturity of the videogame medium that there are people who only play hyper-realistic FPSes, or games featuring talking fluffy animals. Well put. Chances are, you’re no more a “gamer” than you are a “reader”. Time for a change in your self-labelling, “gamers”! Suggestions for amendments below, right after you read the entirety of Poole’s great piece. Loving, Hating Videogames [Edge] More »
Swedish Plant Destruction Blamed On… Grand Theft Auto (Apparently!)
8:00PM Brian Ashcraft | From killing sprees to the decay of society, Grand Theft Auto has been blamed for a lot of things. Add destroying plants. Swedish park supervisor Gert Axelsson is tired of the plants being destroyed in the park he oversees in Lulea, northern Sweden. “I am very much considering getting surveillance”, says Axelsson. And what does he blame for the plant destruction and increased vandalism? GTA “where you wreak havoc in the city”. He’s totally right, you know. Because the potted plant mission is my favourite. Heck, I’ve been kicking over plants all week. Whenever I see a flower bed, I immediately think uproot uproot. Just like I was taught in GTA. We’re surprised that people are just catching onto this now. People are so slow sometimes. Meningslösa skadegörelser i blomsterlådorna [NSD Thanks, John!] More »
