I recall reading about this when it was first released many years ago, and call me sick and twisted but it always stuck in my mind as a cool concept with many social issues rooted deeply in its ideology. So without further ado I bring you the ultimate in sadistic gaming; The Painstation. The arcade gaming console (which has NOTHING to do with Sony and the Playstation brand), is an interactive device first designed by 2 student s in cologne and having several upgrades since, that delivers various degrees of pain to opponents while playing a simple Pong based game. Sounding cool yet? Well it gets better.
Players place their hands in the PEU or Pain Execution Unit (Yeah sure I’d put any body part in something called a Pain Execution Unit but anyway), which provides sensory feedback and can administer heat impulses, electric shocks and comes complete with a miniature wire whip. Removing your hand from the device counts as an automatic forfeit.
According to the team, initial legal issues as well as design flaws made a commercial unit hard to produce but they eventually got there adding various features and twisted benefits along the way. Safer whips have replaced the old wire mechanism which left large open welts on players (although much to their delight), and intensity meters can change the electrical output. The unit has also become more comfortable to players and taken on a more current feel and look.
One could only imagine the consequences if this unit made its way to the retail sector, I think DOCS and related child services would need to increase their staffing. Yet it does push the boundaries between what some might call pleasure and others would refer to as sick deprivation. Would you give the painstation a go or do you think its creators need a psychiatric evaluation?
Pendulo Studios (the studio who released such titles as the trilogy Runaway and The Next BIG Thing) announced their latest release, Yesterday. They’ve offered up a few screenshots and the graphics are looking pretty slick, with that cool stylized feel alone with interesting looking scenes.
The story is set in New York City, where beggars are disappearing and being found burnt alive. Along with these mysterious disappearances, Y-shaped scars have started to form in the palms of unrelated people. No one seems to be interested in these events except for Henry White and Cooper (two of the three playable characters, the third being John Yesterday who has a wiped memory).
I’m sure that this adventure will turn out to be just as enthralling and intriguing as the last. More information about the game will be revealed in the coming months so make sure to keep tuned to the site, we will definitely keep you up to date as the information comes out.
Namco Bandai has partnered up with SimBin Studios for the PC game, RACE Injection. RACE Injection takes the formula of RACE 07 and features from the Formula RaceRoom, WTCC 2010, STCC The Game 2, GT Power and Retro expansion packs. All of these things have been taken and mixed around to give us RACE Injection, which now has 85 individual car models in 43 separate car classes, and over 450 highly detailed skins. Not only is there a huge range of vehicles, but over 40 tracks from around the world and more than 60 different track configurations.
The RaceRoom online platform is put into great use in RACE Injection, letting up to 25 players race in online multiplayer games, with ghost racing feature letting players challenge their own and their friends’ lap times.
RACE Injection will be available on PC on November 18. If you’re into realistic racing, then this is definitely one to take a look at when it comes out.
Rescue City is a strategy line-drawing game that puts you in charge of helping the citizens of cities by driving ambulances, fire trucks and police cars. The three cars have different qualities and requirements, all of which you have to take into consideration while you send your cars out to take care of the city.
Rescue City is free for the first fifteen levels, with the other fifty-one levels unlockable by an in-game purchase. There are two modes, classic and arcade (which can otherwise be referred to as survival, since you just see how many you can rescue).
Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception needs no introduction, Sony’s current flag ship series is a juggernaut in the gaming industry and Uncharted 3 has some pretty big shoes to fill. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the most critically acclaimed games of all time. Will Nathan Drake’s new outing surpass it’s predecessor? Sony and Naughty Dog sure think so, and to be honest I’m not here to answer such weighty questions. What I am here to do is talk about the shindig Sony and Naughty Dog threw last night at the Sydney Opera House for the Uncharted 3 Australian launch. The event was kicked off by a video introduction of Nolan North, the voice behind Uncharted‘s main character Nathan Drake. After some witty banter (which North is famous for) we were greeted by our host of the evening Keith Guerrette, the lead effects artist for Uncharted 3. Guerrette divulged a lot of behind the scenes stories and insights about the production like sending the team to the dessert to do research on sand, persuading Sony to allow them to build an entire new capture stage so they can do mocap and capture dialog at the same time or how the sequence on the ship was originally planned on being created by just using animation before the team ultimately decided (Naughty Dog never being one to cut corners) it would be better to simulate an entire ocean. It’s these details that set a team like Naughty Dog apart from the rest of the heap. There’s an attention to detail that you don’t get in your standard fare. And that goes for how they throw a launch party. The Auditorium Sony occupied in the Opera House was completely decorated for Uncharted with nets, bullets and models dressed as Nathan and Elena. After talking about the game and showing us some behind the scenes videos, Guerrette demoed a short level for us. However, instead of staying on stage he moved into the audience and sat down so he can play it on the giant display that we were all watching on.
[singlepic id=10740 w=320 h=240 float=left] After the demo we all had a chance to go hands on with the game. I’ll spare you the details as not only am I sure you’ve read countless previews already, but chances are you’re already playing the game. Obviously Uncharted 3 is a big deal and Sony is certainly treating it as such. If you’ve played previous games then you know what to expect. I did however get a chance to check out the game in 3D, which I was surprised how well it worked. I must admit I’m not really a huge advocate of 3D in general as I find it only works for animated films but using that logic and now trying out a few things, 3D works remarkably well for games. I find it’s a natural evolution as you already have the assets working in a 3D space so moving it into stereoscopic isn’t a huge leap. In addition to 3D we also got some hands on with a 3D headset where you no longer need a TV. Everything is built right into the visor you wear. I was startled how well it worked as a display and obviously the 3D was quite smooth as it’s already rendering an image for each eye. Sony also had Uncharted: Golden Abyss for the PS Vita on demo with the same build from E3. However, it was my first time with the game so I’ll just say quickly that it’s jarring seeing the fidelity of what’s basically a PS3 game running in your hands. The game played well and the motion controls worked well enough. I’m still not sold on the idea of using them but they’re optional so at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. So what do we talk away from all of this? Well Uncharted is a killer franchise and it doesn’t look like Sony and Naughty Dog have shown us the last of Drake’s adventures. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is available for PS3 and is out in stores now.
Karkadann Games have released details on their fighting game based around Filipino star, Manny Pacquaio: Pound for Pound Volume 1. You control Manny as he searches for his lost friend in a long story that leads him into underground fighting pits and who knows where else. You carry out his infamous combination of pummeling punches and martial arts techniques and combos. You do so by interacting with the screen, swiping across the screen in various directions to unleash attacks and dodge, or using the keyboard and mouse for the Facebook version.
Check out the trailer below (there’s no gameplay but you get to learn more about the game and check out Manny Pacquaio in all his glory)!
Manny Pacquaio: Pound for Pound Volume 1 will be released on iOS, Android and Facebook.
The popular MMO game Civilization War has been given an update by Blue Onion Soft Inc. Civilization War gives users a chance to lead a nation from ancient times through to the modern age. You get the chance to go head to head with history’s greatest leaders, gathering armies, discovering new units and building the most powerful empire. Starting as a small country, you work your way up to world domination and who doesn’t love that?
The new version gives the game a thorough update, improving its performance and making it a better for for iOS 5. As well as the performance upgrade there have also been a few improvements to gameplay and five more countries to play for.
Civilization War is free so go grab the updated app NOW
Electronic Arts has announced the launch of Family Game Night 4: The Game Show. This gives families the ability to bring the fun of the Hub Network’s FAMILY GAME NIGHT television game show into their own living room.
Family Game Night 4 consists of five well-known games, BOP IT! Boptagon where you have to rely on your reflexes, Scrabble Flash which depends on your word skills, Connect 4 Basketball where your basketball aiming is put to the test, SORRY! Sliders, which is kind of like lawn bowls, and making sure to line up your ball just right in YAHTZHEE! Bowling. These games are hugely popular, bound to bring together the family and make it fun for the whole family.
Check out the trailer for the game below!
Family Game Night 4: The Game Show is currently available in Australia on the Kinect, Move and Wii for $59.95.
Infamous 2 Festival of Blood Developer: Sucker Punch Publisher: Sony Platform: PSN Release Date: October 25 2011 Price: $9.99
Overview:
Dear Developers,
Have you released a well received game recently? Why not stick some horror movie monsters in there for no apparent reason? I hear that the zombie bandwagon is pretty good these days!
Okay, so I may have been a bit cynical about the idea of Infamous 2 Festival of Blood, and am sick to the back teeth of the zombie trend that’s festering in the gaming world right now. But vampires? That’s a bit different. In Infamous, and I get to be one? Hmm…
I am happy to report that Festival of Blood has made me take back that initial cynicism, throw it on the floor and call to the mighty Cole MacGrath to strike me down with a bolt of electricity. For $10 it’s a heck of a lot of fun, and is a worthy addition to the world of Infamous that fans should definitely pick up. You don’t have to own Infamous 2 for Festival of Blood to work either, it’s a completely stand alone title.
Story:
Set in New Marais, Festival of Blood takes place at an undetermined point during Infamous 2. Cole’s ever present sidekick Zeke is loitering in a bar one night when lo and behold, an attractive woman grabs the stool next to him. Being a bit of an idiot Zeke’s chances are pretty non existent to start with, but he lucks out when he mentions his superhero pal. Thus begins a game that stems entirely from Zeke’s desire to get laid impress a girl.
Neatly putting the entire thing outside of official Infamous canon, Zeke narrates a tale of Pyre Night, a festival where the citizens of New Marais light bonfires to remind the evil undead that they have no place with the living. Cole finds himself in the catacombs beneath the city, rescuing revellers from a mysterious enemy. He moves ever deeper into the tunnel, and finds one last victim at its end.
Suddenly Cole finds himself the captive of a coven of vampires, and is brought face to face with a shrivelled old corpse on an altar. Powerless to escape their clutches he can do nothing but watch as the vampires slit his throat and revive their Mistress with his super powered blood. Transformed into a beautiful woman, the leader of the vampires plunges her fangs into Cole’s throat – making him one of her own.
With only 8 hours before the sun rises and renders him a true slave to Bloody Mary, Cole must battle through the vampires and find a cure for his curse – and a way to destroy the one who gave it to him.
It’s not exactly original – in fact it probably forms the plot of a hundred horror movies, but were the people in those stories ever electrified super heroes? There lies the key. Festival of Blood isn’t telling you a story about vampires to enjoy or to scare, it’s telling you a story about vampires so that Cole can get some awesome new moves. Bloody Mary is a waste of a villain though: a cliched old world vampire strongly reminiscent of the Conduit Sasha that Cole encounters in Infamous. She never really does anything, but thankfully the quality of the gameplay ensures that you’ll still whiz along through Festival of Blood.
Gameplay:
Cole still has the majority of his powers – he can throw rockets and grenades, propel himself through the air and clamber up buildings in fitting vampire style. All the ionic powers are gone though, replaced by a couple of new abilities that have you feeling like the Prince of Darkness in no time. Cole can drink blood, use his vampire vision to see human hearts, and most importantly, turn into a cloud of bats and fly across the city. All the vampiric abilities are fuelled by a blood gauge, which can be filled by drinking from the citizens of New Marais or by defeating vampires. Canopic jars take the place of Blast Shards, and collecting enough gives Cole a bigger capacity for blood.
This is where you would expect the Infamous morality system to step in, but it doesn’t feature at all. Whether you kill everyone you can or never touch a drop, there’s no impact on the storyline. You can leave all those innocent necks alone and still complete the game, but sticking your teeth in is the best way to enjoy Festival of Blood – you are playing as a vampire folks, take advantage and enjoy!
And the best way to do that is with the bat swarm ability. Sure, hunting down hidden vampires and stabbing them in the back is damn satisfying, but flinging yourself up into the clouds and plummeting back down to earth whilst the city rushes up to meet you is where it’s at. Combine it with the familiar electro hover and you can travel huge distances, flinging yourself around New Marais and killing vamps left right and centre. Awesome.
There are five different enemy types haunting the city, including grotesque and batlike Firstborns and minigun toting Harpies (below). Most of the enemies have the ability to teleport, and can be pretty fast on their feet. Harpies hang from buildings and cling to the gutters (sometimes getting a bit stuck and doing a little spasm dance on the walls), whilst others will leap from the ground flinging stakes and blades at poor old Cole.
The combat is as frantic and fluid as ever, and staking the screaming defeated vampires is a lot of fun. Combining the usual electric powers with the upgradable bat swarm rush adds a fresh flavour to the fighting, and nothing beats grabbing the nearest human after a chaotic fight and draining them dry. There are a few camera issues that can get you stuck or make you lose sight of the teleporting blood suckers, but that’s nothing to take away from the enjoyment of hunting down the vampire packs.
If there is one thing lacking then it’s a strong big bad boss fight. As mentioned before, Bloody Mary isn’t the best of villains, and there’s never really any difficulty unless from overwhelming numbers.
Some players may find Festival of Blood a bit on the short side, but you have to remember that this is a $10 game. Taking things at a normal pace with a bit of collecting gave me about four hours of gameplay and 71% of the trophies upon plot completion – but I’d be more than happy to dip back into it to get 100%. $2.50 an hour is no bad thing considering the length of some full retail price titles.
There is some replay value offered with the User Generated Content from Infamous 2 included, which gives you a few more options for creating your own episodes of the game. It is also Move compatible, but being behind on the motion control times I am not currently equipped to test it out!
Audio & Visual:
Fans of the series will have seen the New Marais environment before, but the atmosphere has been cranked up a notch for the Pyre Night festival. The people wander the streets with grotesque masks and neon glowsticks, fire jugglers perform and music blares from random parts of the city as fireworks light up the sky. The atmosphere is perfect, taking you through subterranean tunnels and graveyards as well as the inner city. Fans of Infamous 2 may clamour for the other half of the island, but I honestly didn’t feel that New Marais was suddenly small.
The cut scenes are fairly minimal and keep to the usual Infamous style, with Cole and Zeke providing some good banter throughout the game. The music is either a non entity or kick ass vampire killing tunes, and there are plenty of moments where everything comes together to make you feel like a proper undead butt kicker.
BUT – where’s the blood? Sucker Punch promised a darker take on the Infamous world, but no one seems to bleed when getting their throat torn out. It’s a shame that the game was probably toned down for a younger rating – can we have a patch with a nice little blood toggle please?
Overall:
Festival of Blood is a strong shot of Infamous gameplay. The vampire twist is made to work by letting the player in on the supernatural action, and as Zeke says, Cole is kinda badass as a vampire! Fans of the series should have no hesitation in picking this up, and it would serve as a great introduction for newcomers to the Infamous world.
Personally it’s nice to see vampires get a bit of the action – down with the zombies I say. It’s a rare thing indeed to be able to free roam in a New Orleans-esque city as a vampire who also happens to be an electricity wielding super hero. It doesn’t happen enough Sucker Punch, hint hint.
In an acquisition that looks like it will definitely have benefits for both parties involved, Ubisoft have announced it has acquired Redlynx, the Finnish based developer of both Trials and Drawrace2. Redlynx are very well established, especially within the digital games market, with over 100 top notch titles under their belt across a multitude of platforms from PC’s through to mobile technology. “Trials” is a highly realistic physics based game, that after initial success on PC, has moved on to become one of the best ever selling XBL Arcade games with over 2 million downloads. Drawrace 2 is the bestselling racing game in both Europe and across the United States.
On the acquisition, Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft said “The team at RedLynx has developed exceptionally strong digital brands that stand out for their high replay value, their long tail sales and their multiplatform positioning. We are delighted to welcome RedLynx to the Ubisoft family. Their expertise in asynchronous online games and physics-based game mechanics provides us with a great opportunity to bring their powerful brands, most notably Trials, to an even broader range of fast-growing digital platforms.”
The team at Redlynx also sees the move as a step in the right direction, and hope to extend their exposure, brand recognition and leverage across all distribution channels. “The team at RedLynx has developed exceptionally strong digital brands that stand out for their high replay value, their long tail sales and their multiplatform positioning. We are delighted to welcome RedLynx to the Ubisoft family. Their expertise in asynchronous online games and physics-based game mechanics provides us with a great opportunity to bring their powerful brands, most notably Trials, to an even broader range of fast-growing digital platforms.”
Ubisoft have been quite busy lately in the acquisition department and Redlynx should only enhance their continued move towards being a major online player in such a changing market. The success of The Smurfs and Co. Facebook game is testament that they are moving in the right direction and collaborating with studios that can carry them into the more mobile gaming market. Other studios now part of the Ubisoft family include Massive Entertainment who specialize in multiplayer titles, Nadeo who created Trackmania, Quazal whose technology powers Assassins Creed Multiplayer as well as Owlient whose expertise lie in online community management.
