From February 7th, brand new titles will be made available to all PlayStation Plus subscribers, the biggest of which is the kick-ass kung-fu filled ‘Sleeping Dogs’.
Released alongside Sleeping Dogs, for the PS3, will also be the Formula One style kart-racer ‘F1 Race Stars’ and puzzle-platformer ‘Quantum Conundrum’. The PS Vita won’t be missing out on some love either, as the futuristic racer ‘Wipeout 2048’ and the popular musical puzzle game ‘Lumines: Electric Symphony’ will also become available, on the handheld.
There is also a great promotion, the start of which will coincide with the above-mentioned titles’ releases, that will allow us all the opportunity to purchase a 3-month, or 90 day, PS Plus membership at 30% off. That’s a drop from $19.95 to $13.45, but only for the two weeks starting February 7th through to the 21st.
If you’re a fan of the original Metal Gear Solid title or just a fan of Gray Fox in general (I mean who wouldn’t be), then get excited because every copy of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance sold in Australia comes with a free code to redeem the original Cyborg Ninja! Included with this awesome download is the upgradeable Fox Blade itself, Gray Fox’s weapon of choice when dealing with anything from regular troops to the massive Metal Gear Rex.
All you have to do to get your hands on this suit and sword combo completely free of charge is to buy the game itself. That’s all there is to it. No pre-orders or Special Editions required here. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance cuts its way on to Australian shelves on the 21st of February for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. With a promised 60 frames per second, even the most hard-core hack-and-slash fan is set to be impressed by the smooth, fluid action and extensive Cutting features of this title.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment have released a new trailer for Injustice: Gods Among Us entitled “Versus”. And in it, we see some familiar faces from the DC Universe in action for the first time. You can view the video below the article.
First up is the war-suit-powered Lex Luthor, who is bringing some real firepower to the table. The glimpse is short, but he really does make purple a very intimidating colour. The second is The Joker. Now, remember, I said “in action” and technically I am right…there is a half-second long snippet that shows him getting tombstoned (not the wrestling move) by Solomon Grundy. Alas, none of his offense is revealed.
The trailer also features some nice soundbytes from each of the characters, which pertains to their outlook on their immediate situation, the lead-in story of which you can learn about before the game’s release on April 17th by purchasing the prequel comics. The first three issues are out now on Amazon Kindle, Comixology and the DC Comics App.
Check the ‘Versus’ trailer out below and let us know which characters you would like to see in the game that haven’t already been announced.
Red Johnson’s Chronicles Review Developer: Lexis Numérique Publisher: Anuman Interactive (Microïds) Platform: PC (Reviewed), PSN Release Date: Out Now Price: $14.99 (Available Here)
Overview
Red Johnson’s Chronicles is an investigative point and click adventure game by Microids, developers of the critically acclaimed Syberia series, as well as Still Life and Jules Verne’s Return to Mysterious Island 2. Having made its way to the PSN in 2011, Chronicles has finally been released on the PC. Is this a simple open-shut case for Red? Or will some further investigation be required? Read on to find out.
Story
Red Johnson is a private investigator in the city of Metropolis; a place where the police are incompetent and crime is rampant. Red finds out about a fresh murder on Drownedman’s Bridge (see, I wouldn’t use that bridge with that name) and arrives on the scene to find one Officer Robert flailing as he languidly observes the crime scene and unconvincingly claims to be in the midst of cracking the case. It’s quickly evident that Red will have to solve this murder case himself. The victim was shot, his lifeless body proceeding to fall into the canal. Red soon discovers the identity of the victim – Eddy Lexter.
Lexter was a common crook, but now it was time for Red to figure out who would want him dead and why. Along the way to solving the mystery, Red meets some colourful characters, such as Eddy’s non-grieving, abrasive widow Theresa Mitchelli, a homeless man living under the bridge named Ringo, hair-lipped gang boss Carlos Montoya and street-wise escort Sonia Diamonds. The story has those initial moments of intrigue, but plays out very much how you’d expect it to. But it does retain the air of a classic murder-mystery, which is nice.
The characters themselves are a mixed bag of realistic and caricatures. Ringo has some of the funnier lines and interactions throughout, being the stereotypical drunk, homeless man who’s maybe got a few screws loose. Theresa is the most grounded character, with Carlos and Sonia’s dialogue being slightly cheesy and typically derivative of their individual character types and Officer Robert being an exaggeration of the reputation of small-time police as lazy and incompetent. But, these personalities are all based on real-life observations and perceptions, so there is an established level of familiarity there.
Gameplay
Red Johnson’s Chronicles has the rare distinction of being a point-and-click title that was first released on consoles, not PCs. So the controls have been adapted from an originally controller-based layout. However, you’d think that it would be a simple transition given the genre and its history of great, well-established gameplay mechanics and design for the PC. But, for some reason, the developer have taken the long route to doing everything in-game, making practically no use of the mouse’s right button or scroll wheel, and instead forcing you to unnaturally swap to using the keyboard in their stead.
Instead of simply being able to scroll down a list, you have to use the arrow keys. In some instances, instead of simply pressing the left mouse button to select, you have to press the enter key. You want to move across tabs in Red’s investigation folder, use the blacklight when looking for fingerprints or zoom-in when looking at an object? Forget the unassigned right mouse button! You must use the V, B and N keys! The only necessary use of the keyboard should be to bring up your journal/notebook, but otherwise, it’s frankly a very counter-intuitive layout that makes no sense to me. In fact, the gameplay is where Red Johnson’s Chronicles fails most.
It could have been alleviated with alternate layout options (like most games these days), but there are no such settings, which are very bare and relate only to the audio department. It felt like they were just trying to feign depth of gameplay, but in a point-and-click title, we know what to expect and accept that it’s primarily mouse-controlled…and there’s good reason for that. At other times, they give you more options than necessary too. For instance, if Red has 4 screws to remove from a panel, you are given the option to choose which order you want to remove them in, but order has no effect. Either way, the screws are coming out. It’s an illusion of choice that just isn’t required.
Speaking of puzzles, they are truly the highlight of the experience. They are clever “thinkers”, not “tinkers”. That is, you have to really use your brain in order to successfully complete them, and not just apply every possible part, piece or solution until something fits. Because of their difficulty, however, a hint system is present. This comes in form of advice from your friend Saul, a fly, hip “playa” character (gamer pun!) who you meet early on in the game. He, of course, doesn’t work for free. Every clue is going to cost you $100. You earn cash by passing a conversation or puzzle, with variations depending on your speed and amount of tries it takes you.
There are a few issues with this system. Firstly, you earn way too much dough over the course of the game, which has no other use, so you will always be able to afford to ask for help. You are basically encouraged to seek aid. I would have liked having to weigh up the advantages/probable disadvantages if I were stuck, had very little cash left, and thought to reserve my supply for future, presumably harder puzzles. A simple thing that could have been tweaked would be making each consecutive clue in a single puzzle more costly, because each one is at a flat price of $100.
Also, the clues themselves are often useless. Sometimes Saul would be absolutely redundant in his stating of the obvious. I know ‘I have to look at the design on this box, but what exactly am I looking for!!!’ …Sorry, rage flashback. Another annoyance is the conversation mechanic. Say you are given three dialogue options; one is correct, two are not (with one being utterly ludicrous). If I want to hear the conversation take a funny turn and choose the ridiculous answer, the conversation gets cut short and you “fail” the scenario, instead of continuing on with maybe a hit to your purse. You have to replay that conversation again. It’s not fluid and is very constrictive.
Visuals
The visuals, much like the story, are loosely inspired by film noir, but features more modern characters types. There are lots of brown hues, with the game transitioning to that classic film noir black and white for certain cutscenes and all quicktime/action events. It’s a nice touch, although character animations are quite stiff in those scenes. Seeing as the majority of the game is purely point and click gameplay from a 1st-person perspective, it’s understandable that less time would be allocated in development to the animations.
I think it’s a bit too transparent that Metropolis is actually planned-out like a nuclear warning sign. However, the 6 settings/environments that you interact within are well designed. Again, there are lots of earthy and somewhat muted tones, and when some brighter colours are used, it’s a welcome artistic flair that gives character to the world. The character designs are also an extension of the city’s personality, although Saul does stand out amongst the crowd, which I think is necessary to prevent absolutely everything from blending together and losing any individual flavour.
Audio
The music in Red Johnson’s Chronicles basically consists of one main theme, a dedicated theme for Saul and an audio cue that loops during the aforementioned quicktime/action events. The main theme is fine, and the Saul theme is funky and jovial, much like the character. The quicktime/action event cue, however, isn’t as effective and fitting, not because of its sound, but because it stops with every visual input cue, and then loops over until the next. The input cues come fast and steady, so the loop constantly breaks at an aurally jarring and displeasing point.
The sounds of Metropolis are mostly subtle, and the fact that there’s not a presence of loud ambience gives a better sense that the city is crime-filled and dangerous…almost like the expression “it’s too quiet”, referring to a deceivingly calm locale. No one would be leisurely walking these corrupt streets. The voice acting is much less subtle. Overall, it’s pretty mediocre, with the rare glaring mispronunciation that would likely be explained as a product of characters’ accents. But, I don’t think an accent can excuse “re-nigg-ing” (reneging) and “who’d-lums” (hoodlums).
Overall
Red Johnson’s Chronicles has some great qualities, especially in the puzzles department. However, it’s plagued by completely nonsensical controls and secondary game design elements. The controls wouldn’t be an issue if there were customisable options in the settings menu. They, along with some other details, irritate and pull you out of the immersion. It’s disappointing because the fundamentals are there, but the execution has not been nailed. The puzzles may just override these issues for some, but for me, it may just be case closed…We will be reviewing the sequel, ‘One Against All’, and if it is a marked improvement, Red Johnson’s Chronicles may just be worth buying in the bundle pack.
Beeline Interactive Inc. and Sony Consumer Products have released a new Ghostbusters game or the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. You will be in charge of your own Ghostbusters franchise where you send your team to different parts of the city to make their way through a haunted tower.
You will find and trap pestering ghosts with your Ghostbuster gear, and then later research your ghostly captives. Researching the ghosts you catch will unlock upgrades for your equipment. You can also hire new people for your team who will aid you to rid every single haunting and ghoul in the city.
To stay updated on the game, you can like beeline on facebook, or follow them on twitter.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fans have been enthralled with the brand new anime adaptation which has thus far covered the entirety of Part 1: Phantom Blood and half of Part 2: Battle Tendency.
The question still remained though whether we would see Part 3: Stardust Crusaders, it looks as though we now have an answer.
The latest trading card series has revealed artwork of various Part 3: Stardust Crusaders characters including the third JoJo known as Jotaro Kujo and his stand ability Star Platinum. You can see the trading cards in the gallery below.
What do you think of these designs for Part 3: Stardust Crusaders? Are you excited for what is to come in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure the animation? Let us know in the comments section below.
This is an opinion piece and does not reflect the views of Capsule Computers, just my own. When Feminist Frequency first started her kickstarter, I really believed in her. I wanted the vision she showed us to come true. I stayed silent through most of the criticism she got, thinking it was just an average reaction to such things. I even stayed silent after she didn’t release videos for her kickstarter after her promised released date. Note: I have been assured by people who have donated to her kickstarter that she does update them on the status of the videos. She wants to keep those updates private and I will respect that. That does not mean that there is no progress on the videos, this is not an article to entice harassment in any way. Harassment is wrong no matter what the circumstance is or who it is directed at.
However as I have followed her over the months, I have begun to feel that she brings up inflammatory comments and points without a follow up. I am starting to feel that rather than trying to bring up real issues and change, she brings up controversy in order to get more coverage. That isn’t what feminism is, that isn’t what feminist and women gamers want, from my perspective.
I thought the videos were going to calmly point out the overlooked parts of video games that rub women the wrong way when they play the games. Bring up the facts and interpretations from a women’s point of view without trying to start a flame war about it. Bring up how a lot of things from a woman’s perspective are overlooked in video games, and how sometimes video games can be alienating in otherwise solid titles. You have to be careful with how you criticize games, because gamers are extremely defensive for good reasons seeing as video games are often a scapegoat for larger issues. This is not what I am getting from Feminist Frequency.
I have not gotten any new videos, and what I’ve gotten instead is more and more controversy. At first I really did think it was an over reaction to her desire to make these videos about sexism, and to a point it was. Lots of people legitimately did over react and send her extremely inappropriate comments and messages. And for that, the gaming community needs to held accountable for and learn from. But now I read the things she comments on, and it isn’t constructive in my opinion. The things she has been saying have not been bringing up discussion and the spread of ideas, but rather arguments and hate. She either does not do enough research into a topic, or does not put enough effort into bringing up support for her statements. If you want people to take your point that a certain thing is sexist seriously, you have to say why you think that in deep detail so that other people can actually have the chance to understand where you are coming from.
Honestly the more I have seen of her previous work, the more disillusioned I am with her. Her analysis of Sucker Punch has an inflammatory title, and concentrates on how sexist the movie was. I know this woman is smart, and she completely missed that Sucker Punch was actually a movie of satire towards the typical fanboy movie. She ignores the many metaphors and mirrors of the audience in the movie, and goes straight to how terrible to women the movie is. That is the point, the movie was a commentary on exactly all those things and she missed all of it in favor of making a controversial review video. She makes broad blanket statements that entice people to a reaction, rather than thought out points that bring people to understanding. She covers a lot of topics in the media, but sometimes it is clear to me that her knowledge of it is superficial or new. I feel as if she is selling out feminism and creating straw feminists for the rest of us to battle.
When I talk about Sucker Punch or video games in general, I want to talk about my opinions about it. I don’t want people jumping down my throat with things she has said and not followed up on. That is much the fault of people assuming I’m a shape shifting lizard creature that represents the collective all “feminists”, as it is hers for making controversial statements for the sake of controversy. I am not feminist Frequency and she does not speak for me. I want to talk about real topics in gender issues in media without people assuming what my opinion is because Feminist Frequency said something about Dr. Who and refrigerators.
To wrap things up, she has been discussing the reaction to her project of making her series on women in video games rather than making the actual videos. Her doing interviews and discussions on that subject is important for the community to realize it’s own dark underbelly. But so long as she does not do what she set out to do, her arguments are not going to be taken seriously by the people she is trying to reach. Her entire career is now centered on reacting to the reaction of her actions. I don’t want that, that isn’t what the gaming community needs. What the gaming community needs in terms of feminist gamers and communicating real ideas and discussion, is for there to be action. The continuation of analyzing the reaction to her project is diminishing the validity and credibility of her real ideas on the project itself. Her TED talks and interviews with other media outlets are not addressing the gaming community; she is talking to people outside the gaming community. These people have nothing to do with gaming, they only know superficially what the issues are. She needs to be addressing us, the gamers. I don’t want to be arguing with people over the points she brings up half way when I try to bring up sexism in gaming. I want her to finish her project so I don’t have to be left to fight the straw feminists she leaves in her wake.
‘The Sims 3 70s, 80s & 90s Stuff Pack’ is now available in Australian stores and also as a digital download through Origin.com.
The pack includes fashion items, hairstyles, décor furniture and other miscellany from each of the three eras. Known as the “groovy 70s”, the decade’s iconic flare jeans, bell-bottoms and wide-collard suits (like the ones that well quaffed disco-dancing dude above is wearing) have been included. And of course, you can’t dance the night away without first having your very own Starlight Party Ball. Get to boogying down!
Now the outrageous 80s trends such as the famous (or infamous?) big hair, brightly coloured leotards, leg-warmers and headbands are also at your disposal. You’ll be ready to film a terrible fitness video in no time! But, you can also be dressed for success with the old-fashioned shoulder-padded suits (Ladies! You remember them. They weren’t primarily for men. I think my Mum has a few tucked away in a closet somewhere…). You’ll also be getting those awesome old-school arcade game machines seen in the picture above!
And finally, we’ve got the decade of my Birth, the 90s. Grunge really exploded in the 90s, and now it’s set to do so again in The Sims 3. With tattered jeans, flannel t-shirts and layered tops, you’ll be rockin’ in style! Then again, you can opt for the 90s casual-chic style and don an asymmetrical hemline handkerchief skirt with a slick rockstar hairdo. Still rockin’. To further cement your status as a rock God, you can outfit your homes with distressed and metal furniture!
The Sims 3 70s, 80s & 90s Stuff Pack is Rated M for Mature and you can download it via the Origin link above (PC Only) or buy in stores for the PC or Mac.
Playlithium has announced the release date for the upcoming Domo The Journey for the iOS devices. The game sees players escorting Domo-kun through various environments in a sidescrolling game that will feature many fun and challenging things for the player.
The game comes out on the 31st of January, which is a Thursday, and is the day before February. It features 25 levels and the titular and popular Domo character, big in Japan and with hipsters. We also have a few images and a teaser trailer embedded below for your amusement. Be sure to check those out below.
Thanks to Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions, in association with Hasbro, a 4-minute, 3D preview of G.I. Joe: Retaliation will be shown in front of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunter 3D showings across the globe, starting from January 24th and running through to the end of Hansel & Gretel’s theatrical run.
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters will be released here in Australia on February 7th, so we’ll have to wait a tad longer to get to see the movie and the G.I. Joe preview, but it should be worth the wait. The preview will be shown across all Hansel & Gretel screenings in RealD 3D, IMAX 3D and Digital 3D locations around the world. To celebrate, Paramount AU have provided a 90 second chunk of the preview for your viewing pleasure. The video can be seen at the bottom of this article.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation’s national release is March 28th. Here is the official synopsis for the sequel to the box office success that was G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra in 2009:
‘In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The film stars D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Jon M. Chu, and produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Brian Goldner, from a screenplay by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe characters.’
A fan of the G.I. Joe franchise? Had the classic action figures? Then you’ll likely be excited for this film, so visit and ‘like’ the official AU G.I. Joe Facebook page. For some of our prior coverage of both films, check out the related articles section below. And don’t forget to check out the 90 second preview trailer!
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fans have been enthralled with the brand new anime adaptation which has thus far covered the entirety of Part 1: Phantom Blood and half of Part 2: Battle Tendency.
