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So What Is Groovin’ Blocks Anyway?

Mike Fahey — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:20:00 +0000

Has anyone else noticed that a large percentage of the WiiWare games released are titles we’ve heard absolutely nothing about? Take Groovin’ Blocks here, released today on WiiWare from developer Empty Clip. It’s a rhythm puzzle game that has you earning more points if you drop blocks to the beat. It sounds like exactly the sort of quirky little puzzler I like, yet I’m only hearing about it via a Nintendo press release the day the game launches. Meanwhile, on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN, we wait for games for months. Which is better? Part of me enjoys the anticipation, while another part of me enjoys feeling like I used to back before the internet, when I could walk into a store and be surprised by a new title. It’s a conundrum! Either way, I’ve gone ahead and posted the launch trailer after the jump to help us get to know Groovin’ Blocks a little bit better.

Halo Soapbox Invades Red Bull Derby

Brian Crecente — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Reader Adam sends word that there was a “extremely accurate” Covenant Ghost soapbox among the 34 registered teams and soapbox cars that took part in the 2008 Red Bull Soapbox Derby in Manayunk, Pennsylvania yesterday.

The Spartan Ghosts wore army fatigues on their maiden voyage down the steepest hill in Manayunk in their SoapGhost. Unfortunately, things did not go well. I’ll let Adam tell it from his first-hand account:

“The members of the team adorned army fatigues and set out to blaze down the steepest hill in Manayunk in the eerily detailed Ghost. They set out to do that, at least, but it’s very apparent that they neglected to hold the “L-trigger” and boost the vessel down because the ship went virtually nowhere before veering into the haystacks lining the track and coming to a complete halt. To all of our dismay, the ship wouldn’t levitate past us through to the finish line, 500m from the pit. It was carried. Well, pushed.

Let it be noted, too, that after crashing, the Ghost displayed no secondary explosion and if Halo has taught me anything it’s that the damned thing was still drivable. Oh, well. Here’s some evidence of the impressive model, anyway. I hope you appreciate it as much as I did!”

I know I did Adam, thanks for the fancy write up.

The Many Faces of Fable 2

Brian Crecente — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:00:00 +0000

The characters of Fable 2 are meant to be a reflection of the person playing them, to a point. The choices you make as you grow from childhood to adulthood in the game will change your character’s appearance. But, your character is highly customisable. Lionhead Studios says they have tons more clothing to wear (all of which can be dyed), you can put on make-up, jewelry, change hairstyles, add facial hair. You can also morph your base appearance by tinkering with strength, how fat your character is, their skin type. The end result, Lionhead says, is billions of different characters.

Cthulhu Is Calling Your iPhone

Mike Fahey — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:20:00 +0000

I knew the iPhone was powerful, but I had know idea it contained the sort of mystical energies needed to call for one of the Great Old ones. Mobile content developer Digital Jokers have just creating content for the Apple device, and their first effort shall be summoning the living embodiment of terror and madness in the form of Call of Cthulu: Darkness Within. It’s exactly the sort of point and click adventure that the iPhone needs to help important, on-the-go people look like they’re still on-the-go when they’re actually just goofing off with the elder gods.

The company will be demoing the game later this month. In the meantime, here are the first, oddly non-threatening screens.

Digital Jokers a company devoted to make content and marketing for mobile devices starts producing content for the platform I-Phone

Digital Jokers Mobile has more than 5 years of experience in development and marketing for mobile content. This gives them to be one of the most experienced companies in the market and enables them to ensure reaching the 98% of the devices fleet.

With the arrival of Apple I-Phone, will become one of the first Spanish companies to launch content for this platform. They will also offer its mobile marketing services to companies wishing to launch their campaigns in innovative telephone.

The first projects being developed by the company is adapting one of its most successful games (developed by the subsidiary Mayhem Studio), Call of Cthulhu, an adventure game that is perfectly adapted to its touch screen.

The demo of this game will be presented in September.

With this presentation, is intended to show the potential of the company for future investors and video game development companies or customers, for, in the words of Daniel Sanchez, CEO of Digital Jokers “to create the necessary technical department to allow carrying After all jobs that require any company to create new content or adapt existing ones to I-Phone with the greatest of guarantees “.

Lumines Goes Supernova On PSN

Mike Fahey — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:40:00 +0000

I’ll say, it’s about damn time Q-Entertainment’s music-puzzle fusion title made it to the PlayStation 3! Lumines Supernova is an all-new installment of the game that has already graced the PSP and Xbox Live Arcade, and by all-new I mean mostly the same with a few new modes and skins! Along with the previously seen Skin Edit, Time Attack, and Puzzle Modes, Supernova also will also feature Dig Down Mode, which challenges you to reach the bottom of an already filled playfield, and Sequencer Mode, which allows players to create their own music using five different tracks with over 20 different sound loops each. The game is due out this spring, with the price yet to be determined.

The ultimate fusion of puzzle, lights and music arrives on the PLAYSTATION®Network this Fall

Indulge in the fusion of puzzle, lights and music! The latest installment to the blockbuster franchise from Tetsuya Mizuguchi and Q Entertainment comes packed with brand new skins and new modes, exclusive to the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Lumines Supernova combines puzzles, block-dropping beats and video entertainment to create an addictively-fun gameplay experience that will keep you playing day after day. The game offers 40 skins in the Challenge Mode alone, with several brand new skins keeping the Lumines experience fresh. Choose from several different single player modes, battle it out with a friend or create your own background music in the all-new Sequencer Mode.

LUMINES SUPERNOVA – GAME FEATURES / MODES:

* Skins, skins and more new skins: Enjoy unlimited gameplay and unlock up to 40 stylish skins in Challenge Mode, including brand new skins

* All-new Dig Down Mode: Using the falling blocks, erase squares from a playfield already filled with blocks as you dig down to the bottom. Show off your digging skills as your completion time is ranked based on clearing 20 consecutive stages

* All-new Sequencer Mode: Create your own background music using the sound loops provided in the “Sound Bank” – drums, bass, synthesiser 1, synthesiser 2 and effects each come with 20 different loops

* Skin Edit Mode: Customise your Lumines experience by creating your own playlist with your favourite skins

* Time Attack Mode: Test your skills and see how many blocks you can erase in a given amount of time and compete with your own record

* Puzzle / Mission Mode: Act quickly with the falling blocks to create shapes/designs and clear the playing field in just a few moves (100 puzzles and 50 missions)

Developer/Publisher: Q Entertainment
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 system (via PLAYSTATION Network)
Genre: Action Puzzle
Release date: Fall 2008
Price: TBA
# of Players: 1 – 2
Rating: RP

Snowblind Makes Death Tank Official

Mike Fahey — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:30:00 +0000

We may have gotten wind of it a bit early, but it’s always nice to back things up with an official announcement. Snowblind Studios, Inc. and Flat Games LLC have proudly announced Death Tank for Xbox Live Arcade, a classic game of tanks and trajectories redone with that special XBLA flair. People like to compare it to Worms, but I like to go back a bit further and compare it to an old addiction of mine, Scorched Earth, only with powerups, particle effects, and 8-player multiplayer via Xbox Live (4-players locally). We’ve got screens, a debut video after the jump, but no word on when it’s coming out. Can’t possibly be soon enough in my book. This is gaming right here.

Death Tank Official Page [Snowblind Studios via Gamerbytes]

Runes Of Magic’s Palatial Housing In Action

Mike Fahey — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:40:00 +0000

Here’s a video and some screens that highlight the player housing system in the upcoming MMORPG Runes of Magic. I talked at length about the housing features in my impressions of the title from the Games Convention last week, but I forgot to touch on several key points, such as everyone getting their own French maid who facilitates entering and leaving their home, or the fact that you can invite friends into your home, which certainly explains the very comfy bed seen in the clip. No more cybering in the subway tunnel between Ironforge and Stormwind for me people inclined to do such a thing!

The Art of Star Wars The Force Unleashed

Brian Crecente — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:00:00 +0000

With the Star Wars The Force Unleashed approaching, Lucas Arts sent along a copy of their new book about the game.

The Art and Making of Star Wars The Force Unleashed is a chunky, 168 page book filled with more than 300 pieces of concept art, two packs of character cards and plenty of behind the scenes details of how the title went from concept to game.

I’ve only had a chance to flip through the book so far, but what I’ve seen impresses. The book is divided up into six chapters that tackle the concept behind the game and early pitches, the story approval process, the characters in the game, the environments, the technology and a run through of all of the game’s milestones and how it progressed from greenlight, to alpha to launch.

I’m not typically a big fan of these over-sized art books but there seems to be enough meat to the book to make it worth picking up. I still might have a problem dropping $US 30 for it, but I’m sure bigger fans of the franchise won’t.

New Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir Screens

Adam Barenblat — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:40:00 +0000

Hudson Does PAX

Brian Crecente — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Hudson Entertainment is bringing their A-game to the Penny Arcade later this week… and their B, D and F game too.

The publisher announced their PAX line-up this morning which includes pinball WiiWare title Alien Crush Returns, based on the TurboGrafx-16 title; WiiWare’s Bomberman Blast, Fishing Master World Tour for the Wii, and Deca Sports for the Wii.

I haven’t had a chance to check out the other titles, but my time with an early build of Deca Sports left me thoroughly unimpressed. Now you can decide for yourself if it’s as crap as I thought. Press release and gallery on the jump.

HUDSON ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES ITS LINEUP FOR PENNY ARCADE EXPO (PAX)
2008

Alien Crush Returns and Bomberman Blast WiiWare to Make First Public Appearances At Show in Booth 261

REDWOOD CITY, CA – August 27, 2008 – Hudson Entertainment, the North American publishing arm for HUDSON SOFT, today announced their lineup for the Penny Arcade Expo 2008 that takes place in Seattle later this week. The Hudson lineup includes Alien Crush Returns and Bomberman Blast both for Wii(tm) on WiiWare(tm) as well as Fishing Master World Tour and Deca Sports (both for Wii).

PAX takes place in Seattle Friday, August 29, and runs through Sunday, August 31. The company will be exhibiting in booth 261 all three days.

Information on each title that will be on exhibit at the show is listed below. For more information on Hudson at PAX or any of these titles, please visit www.Hudsonentertainment.com.

Bomberman Blast (WiiWare)
Bomberman Blast is an all-new Bomberman for digital download for WiiWare on Wii. Retaining the classic features Bomberman fans have come to love such as online multiplayer battles and numerous arenas, Bomberman Blast also incorporates new gameplay elements, including the use of Miis(tm) and 8-person online multiplayer – the first time for Bomberman on the Wii! Players can battle it out with each other worldwide going solo or as part of a team. By using their Mii character, gamers will have the opportunity to show off their Mii by suiting him or her up into a Bomberman costume, then blowing away the competition! Now who has the best Mii?

Alien Crush Returns (WiiWare)
Alien Crush Returns is a sci-fi pinball game based on the classic TurboGrafx-16 Alien Crush series. In extraordinary pinball fashion, the game offers gameplay spanning two screens, providing players a lot
of real estate to rack in points, multipliers, and bonuses. The game is played across multiple boards, all of which feature an eerie alien landscape and enemies that try to prevent pinball perfection. For
players who are confident in their alien crushing skills, they can go online to play against friends to see who can get the highest score!

Alien Crush Returns is the only pinball game for WiiWare that lets gamers compete head to head online. In addition, the game includesonline leader boards for score-obsessed pinball players.

FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR (Wii)
Coming to North America in Q1 2009, FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR offers over 200 different types of fish to catch, enabling players to catch fish in their native waters around the world in the first ever global fishing game on Wii. FISHING MASTER WORLD TOUR offers over forty different locations to fish from in seven different regions. Players can fish on Easter Island, under the Golden Gate Bridge, on the Amazon River and many more exotic global locations. Staying true to the first version’s realistic controls, anglers use the Wii Remote(tm) and Nunchuk(tm) to battle fish just like in real life. Pull the Wii Remote left and right as the fish fights from the end of the line and adjust the drag to avoid breaking the line. Once players have their skills down, they can compete with friends with four-person multiplayer modes, catch rare fish with exclusive boss battle controls or jump online in Wi-Fi leaderboards tracking the best players in the U.S.

DECA SPORTS(tm)(Wii)
DECA SPORTS(tm), a unique ten-sport game, exclusive to Wii(tm), is now available at retail for $29.99 SRP. Combining ten sporting events into one game, players can compete in beach volleyball, snowboard cross, badminton, basketball, curling, figure skating, archery, supercross, soccer and kart racing. The game offers a wide variety of sporting events and activities, some rarely seen in a video game. Designed with pick-up-and-play intuitive controls for the Wii Remote(tm) and in three sports, the Nunchuk, DECA SPORTS also includes advanced controls for power spikes, curls, and mid air tricks for the gamer!