Gabe Amatangelo is the lead PvP designer of Bioware’s online hit Star Wars: The Old Republic. With the Australian and Oceanic official release of the critically acclaimed MMORPG, a few very lucky members of the Capsule Computers team had the opportunity to meet with Gabe at a media launch event in Sydney. After a media presentation that introduced the game, community and changes since the initial US and European launch, we found ourselves extremely lucky to get to chat with Gabe in a private interview.
In our discussion, we covered the initial goals of the project, and what sort of game the design team had hoped to create. Gabe brought up the idea of evolving a genre rather than revolutionizing it, which allowed them to create a new MMO experience while still sticking to the roots of the genre. We also spoke about the development process, future direction, and the question had to be asked “Where DID the idea for HUTTBALL come from?!” Be sure to check out the interview for yourselves!
Those hoping to pick up the Silent Hill HD Collection next week will be disappointed to learn that Konami has chosen to push the title back a couple of weeks and is now planing on releasing the HD bundle of Silent Hill 2 and 3 on March 20th in North America.
I mean, in all fairness this is understandable considering the original March 6th release date of the Silent Hill HD Collection would have put it in direct competition with Mass Effect 3, which would unfortunately be a losing battle for the company. Then again, the Silent Hill HD Collection has been delayed a few times already so perhaps it is for a different reason altogether? Either way, fans can still expect a March month full of Silent Hill as Silent Hill Downpour comes out March 13th, Silent Hill HD Collection on the 20th and Silent Hill: Book of Memories on the 27th for the Vita.
Those worried about the anemic release line-up for the PlayStation Vita a few months down the line will be glad to hear that Sony has confirmed that they are about to reveal a slew of brand new unannounced Vita games within a few days.
To be more specific, Andriasang has discovered a webcast by Sony that will begin on March 9th and said broadcast is being called PlayStation Vita Game Heaven. The webcast will feature news about upcoming games and services for the handheld and they are even giving away twenty systems to viewers, though you will likely need to live in Japan to win. Any guesses on possible Vita games we will see announced on March 9th?
Simpsons fans have always been eager to see another video game dedicated to their favorite comedy. While the wait has indeed been a long one, there is now a brand new Simpsons game on the market… I’m speaking of course about EA’s The Simpsons: Tapped Out, a game available on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
The Simpsons: Tapped Out is a free game that has content that can be purchased in-game for real life money. Before you think that this is a simple cop out game, you better check what is in the donuts you are eating, because the app has been written and produced by the same writers and animators who handle the TV series. They even provided never before seen animated scenes and other areas of Springfield specifically for this game. You can catch the trailer for the app below or download it with iTunes here.
While Activision hasn’t said a single word about a Black Ops 2, we know that there is of course going to be another release in the series. So much so in fact that the game has already seen plenty of publicity from various listings appearing all over the internet at retailer websites.
Now of course, we have a Spanish retailer named Fnac who has nailed a release date on Black Ops 2, and that release date is sometime in November, which is sort of expected already as that is the biggest release window of the whole year. Now while this is not a confirmation that the game exists, it pretty much does is a certainty at this point…
Irrasional Games has revealed today that BioShock fans can expect to see BioShock Infinite appearing on store shelves on October 16th in North America and October 19th internationally. The title will be available on the Xbox 360, PC and the PlayStation 3, with the PS3 version featuring a free copy of the first BioShock game as well as PlayStation Move support.
Irrational Games Creative Driector Ken Levine stated that “After BioShock, we had a vision for a follow up that dwarfed the original in scope and ambition. BioShock Infinite has been our sole focus for the last four years, and we can’t wait for fans to get their hands on it.”
Rather than let rumors circulate about their upcoming Assassin’s Creed title and keep their fans guessing, Ubisoft has decided that the best way to announce the setting of Assassin’s Creed III is simply to upload the box art for the upcoming title to Facebook.
As you can see to the right, Assassin’s Creed III will take place during the American Revolution as you can clearly see the British and American soldiers fighting in the background and the old American flag waving as the yet un-named assassin prepares to take an axe to a British soldier. Ubisoft will be releasing more details on Monday so keep an eye out for more information at that time.
Studio: World Events Productions Publisher: Beyond Home Entertainment Release Date: 02/05/2012 Price:TBA
Overview:
Voltron Force: The New Defenders Trilogy is the first official DVD release of the Voltron Force series which started airing last year and is still ongoing. It contains the first seven episodes of the series, with the first three episodes packaged together as the ‘The New Defenders Trilogy’.
Voltron Force is a follow up to the original Voltron animated series that aired during the 1980s. While the original Voltron was animated by a Japanese studio, Toei Animation, the new Voltron Force series is animated by an American studio, World Events Productions.
The original Voltron series, at the time, was one of the most popular shows and was part of the golden age of animation. There was nothing quite like it back then and the show has aged really well as it’s as endearing today as it was all those years ago.
The new Voltron Force series aims to kick start the franchise for the new generation. While many elements of the original Voltron have been retained, it becomes clear from the opening minutes of the first episode that this is a whole new show that does things its own way.
The Voltron Force itself is a team of five pilots, namely Kieth, Lance, Pidge, Hunk, and Princess Allura, who each pilot one of the five ancient Lion robots that come together to form the humanoid-like Voltron robot. Think Power Rangers.
Story:
The story of Voltron Force is actually a follow up to the original series, as the characters, locations, and overall lore have all been retained and it stays true to the canon. Voltron Force takes place several years after the original, and although it’s not clear exactly how many years have passed, the returning characters have aged quite a bit. The New Defenders Trilogy, comprising of the first three episodes, sets the scene for the series as it shares a bit of the history, reintroduces the old characters, and also introduces some new characters that become the focal point of the show.
The story opens up with a brief retelling of how the Voltron Force, and their mystical Lion robots which together form the legendary Voltron robot itself, were able to vanquish evil and defend the universe. But soon a political conspiracy forces Voltron Force to disband, with the Lions locked away by the military. Some years have passed since that controversial incident and everyone seems to have moved on and dare not even mention it or Voltron.
This is where the new characters come in, with the first one being this thrill seeking boy named Daniel, who is huge admirer of the Voltron Force and continues to be inspired by them even after their disbandment. Upon enrolling in the military academy, he finds himself disappointed to see how the Voltron Force has been buried, even by the former pilots who seem to serve as instructors for the academy. However, a series of events soon makes it clear that the original Voltron Force pilots have been secretly working on their reunion. At the same time, a familiar evil force is regaining power.
This new series really makes a strong connection with the series’ past, as most, if not all, of the characters and even villains from the original make a return and the history they share is strongly referenced. That said, this show is meant for new comers, and as such does not demand knowledge of the previous story. Everything is about the same, however the Voltron Force pilots have been given a major makeover in their characterisation and the new characters, three young cadets who become honourary interns for the Voltron Force, become the main focus of the show.
The flaws in the premise and storytelling of Voltron Force become really clear from the start as the events in The New Defenders Trilogy happen far too quickly, especially the way the new cadets are introduced to the story in such a rushed and ill-thought manner. The worst part is that they’re just not very likeable. One of the cadets, Daniel, who essentially becomes the protagonist of the show, is the most unlikeable and annoying of all the characters and his behaviour will very quickly get on your nerves. The other two cadets aren’t particularly interesting either and overall, the three ‘New Defenders’ are the least appealing aspect of the show, as they just never jell into the Voltron universe well and their characterisation just isn’t very compelling. You’ll most likely end up not liking them after seeing some of the downright nonsense they pull and how they often fail to look relevant. Perhaps they fit in better as the show progresses, but as far as the episodes in this DVD collection goes, they just don’t.
As mentioned before, the original Voltron gang is present, and most of them have been given a major makeover in both design and behaviourisms. The creators have tried to remain faithful to the source material while adding their own fresh twist to it. Perhaps the best part of the show is the original Voltron Force team because as generic as they are, they can be charming and interesting. The dialogue isn’t bad as it has its moments and the humour is good for the most part, sadly the original Voltron Force often take a backseat to the new cadets, which as mentioned earlier, are more of a nuisance than a valuable addition.
All that said, the biggest problem with the Voltron Force series is that the show is clearly targeted to a whole new audience, mainly children, and apart from staying faithful to the source material, it does very little to satisfy fans of the original Voltron series. The original Voltron is obviously a bit outdated in its voice acting and dialogue, but the overall demeanor of the show was something that allowed interested viewers of any age to really enjoy it for what it was. Voltron Force on the other hand seems to alienate longtime fans as the overall premise lacks the same appeal and maturity that made the original such a timeless classic. This is a show written solely for kids, and it succeeds in that regard, it just could have benefited more if it reached out to older fans that still hold fond memories from the original 1980s run.
Visuals and Audio:
This is where Voltron Force really falls apart. Visually and artistically, it is absolutely awful to look at as the animation quality and character designs look lazy and rushed to say the least. If you look at the original Voltron from the 80s, that character designs, animation quality, and artistic direction still hold up remarkably well, and it is in fact miles superior to what Voltron Force offers.
The 2D animation and character designs are awful to look at, and it looks like a typical low budget American animation from the 90s given a better resolution, and mind you, there was some really good animation from America during that era that still look superior to Voltron Force.
There are some subpar 3D effects and animation thrown in that mix awkwardly with the 2D animation. Worst of all, the artistic flair is practically nonexistent. The character designs have very little originality and personality, and the backgrounds and set pieces are horribly bland and poorly drawn. This just isn’t a pleasant show to look at, and it’s odd that the prequel that’s now over two decades old still looks leaps and bounds better.
The sound design isn’t anything special, as it tries too hard with generic rock music to look cool and edgy for the kids. The voice acting isn’t anything special but thankfully not unbearable either.
Overall:
Voltron Force is a missed opportunity. This was a franchise with so much history and such a good reputation that they could have created something special to win over both the longtime fans and the new comers. Instead this is a show targeted solely at young children, who are most likely going to be the ones who will beg their parents to buy the related merchandise that comes out in 2012. If that was their goal then they have succeeded, as Voltron Force is a show that children will have a lot fun with. As for fans that hold fond memories of the franchise and still to this day enjoy watching the old series, they are going to feel very alienated.
Who doesn’t love a good old classic arcade puzzler? Star Arcade has released a new version of the arcade puzzler, Star Diamonds Paradise. Not only do you get to play with an awesome upgrade of the game, you also get new features and content, and (for a limited time) is available for FREE with popular site Free App A Day.
In Star Diamonds Paradise you collect diamonds by sweeping around a chain of diamonds and capturing an area for yourself. Your aim is to capture the largest possible area (55%), turning the red areas in to blue. Special items are also available throughout to game to help you capture additional areas and take down your opponents. Plus, this new version has updated and awesome new graphics, chat, customizable themes, new and unique upgrades, and much more!
Star Diamonds Paradise is available on iPhone, iTouch and iPad for FREE (as long as you get in quick!). Grab your copy of the app HERE.
Calling all horror fans! The latest addition to the exorcist genre, The Devil Inside, has been released onto the silver screen! The Devil Inside had an advanced screening in Melbourne, and the reaction certainly didn’t disappoint! With people clutching each other, covering their faces, and gripping tightly onto those rosary beads (no joke, they were handed out glow in the dark ones before the flick), the overall impression is that this is definitely a fantastic one for those who love their horror.
The night started with an eerie warning from a priest, and ended with a group of terrified, but definitely pleased people. This is definitely not a movie for the faint of heart, though it might be a good idea for a date where you want someone clinging to you for dear life.
Check out the footage of the preview night below. What do you guys think? Are they just wusses, or is this a movie that will frighten even the most stoic soul? And does this make you want to watch it or run away screaming?
The Devil Inside is OUT NOW. You can catch it at your local cinema. Assuming they aren’t themselves scared.
