In a disheartening turn of events, it was revealed today that Lego Universe will be no more and will close on January 31, 2012. Although the game went free-to-play awhile ago, the subscriber count was not enough to continue operating the MMO.
According to Jesper Vilstrup, Vice President of LEGO Universe, “The LEGO Universe team can take pride in having developed and launched a great LEGO experience that many players will miss. Right now, we have almost 2 million players in LEGO Universe, and we get extremely positive feedback from players. Unfortunately, we have not been able to build a satisfactory revenue model in our target group, and therefore, have decided to close the game.”
Over 115 employees, namely those of the ‘Play Well Studios’ in Louisville, Colorado and the game’s marketing function in Billund, Denmark will be laid off, although they will be offered assistance in finding new jobs. We wish them the best of luck.
Despite the shutdown, LEGO and Warner Bros. still have a strong relationship and plan to continue producing digital offerings.
Today the new European collector’s edition of Trine 2, the sequel of the successful sides-scrolling adventure game Trine, was unveiled alongside some stunning images from the upcoming title. The collector’s edition for PC and Mac includes the full game, majestic soundtrack, a gorgeous artbook featuring commentary by the developers from Frozenbyte and also the very first Trine game. The package will be sold for €19.99 (£14.99 in UK). For those of us outside Europe, we will have to be satisfied with the following brand new screenshots and the launch of a brand new promotional website, www.promo-trine2.com. The website contains information about the upcoming game, as well as plenty of images and gameplay footage.
Trine 2 takes players on another adventure alongside the powerful knight Ontius, the swift thief Zoya and the crafty wizard Amadeus. The three heroes embark on a brand new adventure, filled with terrifying monsters, physics based puzzles all while unraveling an epic mystery either on your own in solo or with others in co-op. Trine 2 will be available in Europe December 2011 for PC and Mac both online and in retail stores.
Game Name: Centipede: Infestation Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS (reviewed), Nintendo Wii Publisher(s): Atari Developer(s): Wayforward Genre(s): Arcade Shooter Release Date: October 25, 2011 (US) Price: $29.99 BUY NOW!
Over 31 years ago, Atari brought us the classic game of Centipede. While the property has achieved a legendary status in the world of gaming, I really feel like many have forgotten just how much of a legacy the classic bug shooter left behind as the original’s ideas still can be seen in many modern games released today. In the past few years however, Atari have been slowly rebooting their classic franchises, and it’s time for the multi-legged favorite to shine yet again on this generation’s line of platforms. Centipede: Infestation is a complete re-imagining of the arcade classic, and sets out to add in not only a substantial plot, but also a completely re-tooled yet familiar gameplay scheme that retro fanatics are sure to go “buggy” over. The old school minded WayForward were on task to deliver the goods for this reboot, so now the question remains of how well they pulled off making Centipede relevant yet again. What is the result? Here is my review for Centipede: Infestation for the Nintendo 3DS.
Story
Centipede Infestation is set in a post-apocalyptic world that is over-run by large insects and dangers around ever corner. Players take the role of Max, an orphan, a rebel, and our hero throughout this journey, who has made it his duty to protect what’s left of this wasteland while ridding the world of the buggy creatures that are causing a considerable threat to humanity. Along the way, Max runs into a sign of hope for the doomed lands by the name of Maisy. You see, Maisy has been planting gardens and restoring life wherever she digs her shovel. These brave actions must be protected, and your new goal is to ensure the safety of both Maisy and her green creations while finding out more about your rocky past.
While many reboots attempt to just tack on some light plot to add a general narrative, Centipede: Infestation’s tale stays genuinely interesting for the entire game and I even felt as if it were inspired by the likes of Star Wars and Avatar. That may be quite a bold statement, but the similarities of the characters within are there, and Infestation those ideas and makes them original in one easy to follow story.
Gameplay
When it comes to actually playing Centipede: Infestation, the style would best be compared to that of a twin-stick shooter. Each level offers different objectives to perform, but the gameplay usually revolves around taking out swarms of insects and racking up a high score in the process throughout various playing fields. Players will do battle on top of buildings, in vibrant gardens, and even on moving trains, but even with all of this change of scenery, these stages still keep that classic Centipede feel, with even a large centipede emerging upon nearly every stage.
To control Max, players will look no further than the circle pad. This stick works well for movement and can quickly guide your character around the level and out of danger with no error. To shoot enemies, all four of the face buttons will need to be used. Each button shoots in the exact same way, but have Max instantly turn direction based on input. For instance, Y shoots left, A shoots right, B shoots down, and X shoots up. You can also shoot diagonally by hitting two buttons at once, which may sound like a bit of a chore, but is actually an easy task to execute. This control layout threw me off early on but after just a short time, everything instantly clicked and the brilliance of the game’s unique style took off from there.
As I mentioned, most levels will have players blasting away at giant bugs. This is the main theme of the game, but that doesn’t mean Centipede: Infestation is a one trick pony. Some levels are just about killing off every enemy in sight, while others offer up missions to protect Maisy from any danger or to hit switches that rid all insects from the area. Since enemies differ in type, the player must constantly change up their strategy to simply survive. For example, winged bugs such as wasps fly towards the player and can dish out damage upon contact. Other insects prove to be a bit slower, but make up for their lack of speed by lunging multiple projectiles at once. When both are on the screen at the same time, the player must dodge the enemy fire while getting in close enough to effectively destroy their target. The giant centipedes remain nearly the same from the original version of the game and must be hit in the center of their long bodies to be broken apart, with the two remaining sections breaking off and offering up a whole new challenge. Everytime a centipede popped up I would get excited as that one lengthy bug provided some of the most enjoyable action in the game. Maybe this is partly some nostalgia from my love of the franchise, but I never felt bored by any of the combat to start with and while the centipede was quite simple to take out, they usually gave every stage a nice, rewarding finish.
To take out this mass amount of foes, your going to need a lot more weaponry than the standard gun Max carries. Luckily, an upgrade system is in place to offer some new gadgets while you are in the heat of bug warfare. Max’s standard gun works well enough to kill almost any enemy, but it can take quite a few shots to take out the bugs found later on in the game. Whenever an insect is destroyed, they can drop power-ups that enhance your arsenal for a limited amount of time. There is an ice blaster that freezes foes instantly, a flame thrower, and even a powerful sweeping laser (just to name a few) that all prove to be quite useful, even the most hectic of situations. If you pick up two of the same power-up, the power of the said weapon is then doubled. This allows your ice and fire blasts to fire further, your missiles to grow stronger, and lets your laser now fire in two directions for a much more devastating (and very satisfying) effect. The plants also get into the action, as some bugs drop shrubs that are armed with the same variety of powers and can defend a certain area of the stage for a short amount of time. Even though the game is technically a twin-stick shooter, I definitely got some tower defense vibes while playing and this element allows for a more addictive experience overall.
After you complete the many levels in the game, WayForward have made sure to keep the re-playability factor high as there are good number of both achievements and collectibles to obtain. Songs from the soundtrack, concept art, and even extra skins for characters are all unlockable and provide a nice incentive to go back in for more bug bursting chaos. The achievements are also quite creative, rewarding players for using certain weapons or defeating bosses in one specific manner. Exclusive to the 3DS version is a Streetpass function that has players swap data to receive unique “grab bags” of content, which can also be purchased with Play Coins as an alternative.
Visuals/Audio
The graphics in Centipede: Infestation are by no means going to blow anyone away, but they fit right in with the characters’ cartoon designs and feel appropriate for the post-apocalyptic setting. If anything, I would say one of the best features of the visuals is the way that bugs explode in a nice and juicy manner when killed. Cutscenes are also present to explain more pivotal parts of the story, and are almost like watching a western anime film. Not all of the story is told through these scenes though, as most of the dialogue is shown in a still-animation format. This method worked to tell the lighter parts of the story, but at times the characters expressions seemed a bit un-fitting to the emotions they were meant to portray (I’m talking to you, Maisy). The 3D effect is rather subtle as a whole, but flying insects do provide a reason to keep the slider up as they can often appear to be flying right towards the screen.
The music in the game was definitely one of the finer features of the entire experience, as each tune made the action more exciting and fit well with the futuristic setting. There is quite a bit of voice acting in the game as well and aside from the graphic mix-up, all of the actors do a decent job of bringing this plot to life. Each gun you use also lets out a distinct sound, which makes the abilities sound as powerful as they perform. Oh yeah, bugs go SPLAT when shot as well, giving greater reason to kill every legged creature in sight.
Overall
Centipede: Infestation retains every factor that fans of the Atari classic remember and throws in a ton of new elements that feel very fitting to the prestigious name of Centipede. The gameplay is fast paced and addictive and hearing bugs of all types explode never gets old. As you would imagine, it seems like a daunting task to perform when giving a proper plot to an over thirty year old property, but that is why Infestation is special. Not only is the story interesting, but I feel this tale could easily spawn sequels and could very well re-start the entire franchise as a whole, which is a feat WayForward and Atari should be very proud of. Drop your gardening tools and prepare grab your ice-gun, as Centipede: Infestation is one of the best 3DS games a two legged creature can find.
Deep Silver have announced that their upcoming winter sports game, Winter Stars, has now gone gold. This means development has been complete and the game has now gone into production. It will be releasing in stores on 25th November for Kinect for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 with PlayStation Move support, and Wii using the Wii Balance Board.
This new title enables sports fans of all ages and abilities to compete with one another or against virtual opponents in no less than eleven disciplines: paraskiing, curling, snowmobile, bobsled, downhill skiing, figure skating, biathlon, freeride skiing, snowboard cross, ski flying, and short-track. It offers four player multiplayer and given it releases on 25th November, just in time for Christmas, it could be an ideal party game for the winter months with friends and family.
Get Up And Dance has laced up its dancing shoes and is ready to step it up and dance; it’s boogied its way to store shelves and online retailers today. It includes dance hits from the likes of Nicole Scherzinger, Jessie J, Example & Rizzle Kicks, as well as classics like Salt-N-Pepa’s dance hit ‘Push It’ as Amy Childs did at the glitzy launch event in London last week. It features Group, Career and Shape Up modes, and tracklist housing all the official videos too.
Get Up And Dance is out on Nintendo Wii and PS Move for PlayStation 3 today.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 seems to really be stepping it up in terms of multiplayer! In this latest trailer, representatives of Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Beachhead Studios reveal the ELITE and Facebook integration to create multiplayer experiences like never before.
Facebook integration means players will be able to easily connect with their Facebook friends whilst playing, while ELITE will enhance the game by providing free tools that help players form, join, and organize clans. Shooting your best mate in the head and levelling up your clan isn’t the only things ELITE provides however-it also provides players with with tools to improve skills and opportunities to compete for prizing in the real world! For more, check out the video below.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is set for a November 8, 2011 release date.
In what many see as a positive move forwards regarding updating Australias archaic classification laws, proposed guidelines have been put forward for the introduction of an R18+ rating on games. The video game industry welcomed the proposal which was released today by The Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor. Currently Australian classification laws only permit a MA15+ rating on games, much to the anger of thousands of avid gamers country wide.
According to Ron Curry, CEO of Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA), there are many sensitive issues to deal with when making these kinds of decisions and a delicate balance must be found between those who are strongly for and against the new guidelines. “We are pleased to see this process moving forward and understand that great care has been taken to balance the concerns of those who have resisted an R18+ classification and adults who want to play video games designed specifically for mature audiences and readily available in other developed democracies.”
The guidelines have apparently also brought up the age old argument of whether video games have a greater propensity to incite violence due to their interactive nature. This is despite an Attorney Generals published findings that showed no such evidence. “There will be continued debate about whether the interactivity of video games has a greater impact than other forms of media, and we will continue to refer to the lack of the evidence to support these claims. With that being said, we welcome the commitment from all parties involved to seek a reasonable outcome to address this longstanding issue. We now look forward to the Commonwealth, States and Territories implementing these guidelines in an expedient manner,” said Curry.
With all this said and done, I wouldn’t start rejoicing yet Australian Gamers, thinking that you will be soon be slicing Sub Zero in half and sending him to hell and back. Games like Mortal Kombat are non classifiable and therefore banned under any current or proposed Australian system. The main issue with the current laws is that many games that were originally deemed objectionable worldwide for various reasons have had the decision overturned. The result is that they receive an R18+ rating in every country but Australia that slaps a MA15+ on it as that is the current highest rating reserved for video game media.
At least Brendan O’Connor has made responsible decisions to allow adults to enjoy games that were clearly developed for them, in the same manner as any other form of entertainment. Australian governing bodies are so hung up on sexual content, especially within gaming titles that they lose sight of the bigger picture. I’m more offended by war based games and the glorification that goes with it then I am by games like GTA and Saints Row which just have a different feel to them. I guess what I’m getting at, is this argument is too subjective. As a result I resent the fact that other adults are making the decision for me as an adult as to what they think I should or should not be subjected to. Stephen Conroy would do well to take note of Mr O’Connors responsible decisions that are not based purely on his own beliefs and intent to enforce them upon others.
“We need a classification system that protects young minds from any possible adverse effect, while also ensuring that adults are free to make their own decisions about what they play, within the bounds of the law,” Mr O’Connor said.
With over 250,000 units sold over three platforms (XBLA, PSN, Steam), Trendy Entertainment is seeing great success for the tower defense RPG – Dungeon Defenders. A whopping 200,000 units were sold on the PC alone!
Now Trendy would like to give back to their fans by providing free weekly events to win exclusive in-game items. For the Xbox 360 and PS3, players will be able to join games with the developers and compete against each other for prizes.
Before we get too in-depth to this preview, I must state that I could only play through the first two chapters of Afterfall: InSanity. While I haven’t experienced the entire game, I believe I can give gamers enough insight to either pre-order or simply buy a different game.
Setting
It’s 2035. In a post-apocalyptic earth, humans have dug themselves in large underground complexes to escape the instant greenhouse effect of the above world. The Third World War brought massive devastation, and the few fortunate citizens of the Republic have made sanctuary in the prepared shelters. Secluded in the underground facility, time weighs heavily on the survivors of Day 0.
In charge with the care of residents’ mental and physical nature, Dr. Albert Tokaj finds himself faltering to the same distress. Beyond normal depression and sleep deprivation, Albert will come to face an unknown plague that may forever change his already damaged world.
Gameplay
As the protagonist, you take the role of Dr. Albert Tokaj. Forced to perform psychiatric evaluations for the Republic, Albert’s job becomes easily overwhelming. The opening scene portrays the psychiatrist dozing off while in session with one of the facility’s residents. Startled as the resident confronts him, Albert seems physically and mentally exhausted. Once the scene ends, you are free to roam your living quarters with and objective to find your handheld PDA. And the action horror begins…
Afterfall: InSanity starts off slow by giving the player a tutorial on basic gameplay. Players will develop their own personal feel, but the basics are essential. For instance you must use “E” as your interaction button, and movement is your standard W,S,A,D. So if you are ever walking by a vending machine and care to use “E”, a can will fly out of the bottom and land on the floor – only to mysteriously disappear after 10 seconds.
In junction with the tutorial, you will learn how to fight in a bar. With several people cheering you on, your first attempt at fighting is with bare knuckles. A left mouse click will cause the character to make a jab while a right click will initiate a block. Using left and right movements while jabbing will cause chain attacks and add fatigue to your swings. Chaining attacks is effective but is a learned process and not explained in the tutorial. A final kick with “V” will ensure that your opponent does not get up – and it is rather hilarious.
Upon defeating your first foe, you get to try your luck at using weapons. Using your interaction button, you may pick up weapons like firefighter’s axe, pipe, and even a broom to whack at your opponents. Players can chain attacks similarly to the first fight in the bar yet fatigue weighs in faster. Eventually you will pick up some badass guns like a pistol, shotgun, tranquilizer, and assault rifle.
Why would you need these kinds of weapons? As Dr. Tokaj, you will investigate a matter on a different level of the facility. Ordered by the high command of the Republic, an immediate quarantine was issued to address the unknown situation. Accompanied by two elite guards – one was only a bouncer, Albert will assist in decentralizing any contacts they meet and investigate the reasons for the lock-down. Walking around proves to be very informative as you will find security cameras and data logs on computer consoles. The guards make you do all the work and want you to unlock the bay doors to access the level further. Upon opening the doors, an enraged humanoid attacks the group. One of the guards physically retrains the being and slams it to the ground. Laying motionless the guard starts stomping on the humanoid which does sit well with Albert. Taking a shot from the tranquilizer gun, the guard falls to the ground. The standing guard motions over and yells at Dr. Tokaj for unnecessary measures. Being ordered once again, Albert must venture further into the quarantined section or else face the wrath of HQ. HQ might have been nicer.
The changed humans you end up meeting look deranged, mutated, and muscular. At first I did not think that some of the weapons would suffice in killing the humanoids , but even a broom can be considered a weapon in today’s society. After beating one of these baddies down, you can even initiate an execution.
Puzzles make Afterfall: InSanity an even more enjoyable experience. Some devices like door panels can be hacked by using your PDA. Your PDA creates a link and can decode the device by using the directional keys. Trial and error mixed with luck creates the enjoyment of hacking terminals. Gears will appear once a correct directional is pressed but will reset once an incorrect command is given. For example, (W,W,S,D) may be correct until “D” and will reset once the “D” is pressed. Trial and error will show that “A” was the correct choice when the player enters (W,W,S,A). The lock will open, and you will continue on with your adventure.
Final Thoughts
Third person fighting tactics meshed with challenging puzzles holds my attention very well. You will want to explore every room to see what kind of weapons or data can be found. Whenever I see that “E” pop up, I have to test the device out – even if it turns the lights off.
The environments feel realistic and emanate the confined attribute of claustrophobia. I find myself always checking my back just in case someone decided to drop in for tea. I don’t want to let go of my firefighter’s axe, but I might give it up for a shotgun. Shooting first and talking later is not common practice for a psychiatrist, but these are troubled times.
If you want a great third person action horror, I think this is a must on your shopping list. There is not a multiplayer function that I know of, but playability is increased with increased difficulties and achievements (achievements were not in preview). Additionally, if the pre-order limit of 10,000,000 is reached, the game will be available for only $1. If the limit is not reached, all of the money from the pre-orders will go to charity.
Ubisoft has announced the next installment of the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 franchise ‘Rainbow 6 Patriots’. In this installment will tackle a touchier subject: home-grown terrorism. Whist not a complete far cry from previous Rainbow 6 storylines of international terrorism.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Patriots single player will forces on the reality of modern-day terrorism, with the story told from multiple characters’ perspectives.
A homegrown terrorist group called the “True Patriots,” threats to reclaim America as their own as they believe that the American government is irrevocably corrupted by greedy politicians and corporate special interests.
The Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 franchise has sold over 25 million copies and is still going strong, and is interesting to see the franchise take this new and perhaps controversial direction.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Patriots is set to be release on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC sometime in 2013.
