The latest update for Muffin Knight has been released, and the game’s developers, Angry Mob Games, have announced that the iOS version of the game will be available completely free (for a limited time, of course).
The update introduces a new Sumo Panda character, who comes with a set of new moves and special attacks, such as the ground stomp and the body slam. The update also launched with a contest being held over at the Muffin Knight Facebook page, where fans can submit videos of their Muffin Knight playthroughs. The funniest film, the most skillful player, and the most interesting multiplayer match will win participants either two iTunes giftcards or two Muffin Knight T-shirts.
To check out the game while it’s free, head over here.
Com2uS have announced a new partnership with Free Range Games for the release of their title, SummitX Snowboarding.
The game is said to mix realistic graphics and physics with excellent gameplay. As players hit the slopes in game, they will experience “the most beautiful, groundbreaking graphics ever on an iOS device.” And that’s a tall claim considering other titles, such as Infinity Blade, look simply amazing on Apple’s devices.
Don Lim, Manager over at Com2uS had this to say:
We are thrilled to work with Free Range Games, as they are enthusiastic and very talented. After the success of Homerun Battle 3D, we know that there’s a high demand for fun 3D sports titles. SummitX meets both those criteria, but also delivers unprecedented graphic quality, an understanding of what’s fun for players these days, and new tech such as Airplay so you can play on your TV for a better-than-console experience. We can’t wait to get it into users’ hands.
More details on the game will emerge soon, and it will premiere at GStar in South Korea next week.
Zombie Swing Developer: Althi Inc. Publisher: Althi Inc. Platform: iPhone Release: 4th November 2011 Price: Free (Get Here)
Overview:
There comes a time in every man’s life when he discovers a new way to “relax.” Now Althi Inc. plan on tapping into that market of “relaxers” with a their new “relaxation” title, Zombie Swing. A game that will help you “relax” by swinging about your little monster and infecting those it comes in contact with. If this sounds like a normal Saturday night for you, then you are sure to love Zombie Swing.
Gameplay:
It is a little difficult to take Zombie Swing entirely serious, but it is evident that Althi intended it that way. This game while being simple, does not fall into the trapping of many zombie games. That trapping that they have about as much personality as one of the brain-dead masses.
Zombie Swing manages to become something of a unique case. It is bursting with an immense amount of character, which is exactly what you’d come to expect from Althi Inc. Their titles all feature that unique personality unique to them, which is heavily influenced by the Japanese culture that surrounds Althi in their homeland.
I’m sure your wondering, how does this game even play? Well as Althi have said in their promotions for the title, “Zombie will swing, swing and SWING!” If that makes as little sense to you as it does to me, then I’ll give you a little explaination. Zombie Swing is essentially an on-the-go game, that really will not eat up a lot of time. It’s simple as iOS games come but manages to feature some deeper level of intricacy that can be easy to leave unnoticed.
You control a zombie, that has been split in half, with nothing but his intestines holding him together. You wiggle your finger about to swing him into helpless scientist, in the aim to infect as many as possible, whilst dodging obstable that can kill you… again.
It’s all rather straight forward, yet there is a certain skill required to play this game effectively. A lot of things occur simultaneously in this game. With so much going on, it can become very difficult to focus on things and you could often fall into the trap of random finger waggling. But to play this game you need to be able to play close attention, thus adding an extra level of difficulty.
In the end though, you will leave this game having fun, even if it’s not very deep fun. Afterall isn’t that really all that a game is supposed to do?
Visuals and Audio: Zombie Swing employs a unique visual style, that really could only be done by Althi Inc. You could consider it to be Little Dreamer zombified. It oozes personality out of every orifice. It is without a doubt one of the most visually appealing iOS titles that has come out in a long time. Heck it is one of the most visually appealing zombie titles in a long time.
The presentation on display in Zombie Swing, is a little tough to pin down. On one hand it is set out well enough, but at the same time, there is often just too many things going on at one time and it can be very confusing for the player who isn’t in the mood to try and figure out where each character and obstacle are at a time. While this does let Zombie Swing down, it doesn’t ruin the experience all in all. Unfortunately Zombie Swing does feature some rather lackluster music, which is unusual for Althi Inc. I had expected something more unique from the titlle, but instead we are subjected to generic and grating tunes, that really become irritating very quickly.
Overall:
In conclusion, Zombie Swing is a game that is just some great dumb fun. There is no real level of depth to this game and there shouldn’t need to be. Althi have done a good job on the title, that is without a shadow of a doubt. However, it really does not match up to the quality that has come to be expected from this developer. If you are looking for a game that is dumb and fun, pick up Zombie Swing. Afterall, it’s not gonna cost you an arm and a limb.
Despite being a few weeks late, FUNimation and NicoNico.com have announced that they will begin streaming the first four episodes that have already aired of Shakugan no Shana III (Final). The series began airing on October 7th in Japan Shakugan no Shana III (Final) was announced for streaming earlier this month at NYCC as part of the Funico partnership between the companies.
Shakugan no Shana III (Final) is the final adaptation of Yashichiro Takanashi’s light novels which ended last month on its 22nd volume. The episodes can be found here on FUNimation’s website here. Subsequent episodes will be available every Friday at Noon and is expected to be simulcasted with the Japanese airing.
Today NIS America announced that they have picked up the rights to the second season of Arakawa Under the Bridge and they have also revealed when we can expect to see it brought to North America. The second season will be released under the name Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge and will be released as a Premium Edition that will contain both 2 DVDs as well as 2 Blu-ray discs.
The package will be released on February 7th next year and will also feature a number of bonuses. The whole package will come inside of a sturdy collectible slip case which NIS America is known for, as well as a full color art book that will contain character information, episode guides, artwork and even interviews with the cast and production staff. Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge Premium Edition will cost $69.99 when it is released, if you wish to check out our review of the first Season for Arakawa Under the Bridge you can do so here.
Skyward Sword is getting ever closer, and Nintendo are getting ever more spoiler like with their coverage of Link’s latest epic quest. The newest information from the developer covers the Lanayru Desert area of the game, so if you don’t want what amounts to a brief walk-through of the area then best stop reading!
The Lanayru Desert checks off the sand themed area box for Skyward Sword, taking over from past locations such as the Gerudo Desert and Desert Colossus – make sure and tell us what you think in the comments section below – is this just a copy of previous game areas? Read on to find out.
The barren and dusty area is littered with monsters – there is little left of the highly advanced society that used to dwell there. Echoing the revival of Hyrule in the Wind Waker, Link discovers a crystal that reawakens the area when he strikes it, drenching Lanayru with vibrant colours and bringing the old mining robots back to life.
There are familiar faces to be found in this vast surface region too – it’s always a happy day when there are Gorons around! Rollercoaster like mine carts wind around towers, and Link must take advantage of his newfound claw-shots to traverse the pillared landscape. Nintendo also mention that Link will return here numerous times – there is a Desert Sea to be crossed, which perhaps explains the presence of a giant Captain Hook robot in the trailer! (see final video)
The main attraction in Lanayru(other than pirate bots rather nifty trousers) is the Lanayru Mining Facility, the dungeon for the area packed with snake like monsters and less than friendly mining equipment. Link will pick up a rather unique new weapon here – the Gust Jar. It does exactly what it says on the tin, and unleashes a blast of air that can stun enemies or clear paths through sand. Lurking in the ever so subtle giant arena of death will be scorpion boss Moldera, who no doubt is slightly averse to being attacked by a certain windy container…
With all the hype surrounding the impending release of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, it just wouldn’t be complete without a bit of controversy and fluff ups. According to many rumours that have begun circling, some Kmart stores in the US had broken embargo and been selling copies of the Xbox 360 version of the game, way before its release. While the actions were not intentional, many of the copies have apparently found their way to EBay, selling for hugely inflated prices.
According to Joystiq, there is still one listing available at the time of print, with proof of purchase shown in the form of an original Kmart receipt. A quick check on EBay US showed many copies available, with most selling after the release date but there were many selling for price tags of $200 and over with express shipping.
In relation to the consequences of playing the game early, Stephen Toulouse, Microsofts Xbox Live main man, has stated via his Twitter that although originally there were plans to ban accounts, no action will be taken but does urge everybody to wait until the release to play against others.
Need for Speed the Run is shaping up to be a very interesting package indeed, with developers EA throwing just about every promotional and gameplay feature that they can think of at racing fans:
Fast cars with functioning doors. Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks and Sean Faris of Vampire Diaries fame. The Black Keys on music duty. Battlefield 3 engine Frostbite 2 for graphics. It’s own pair of Adidas shoes (yes, you can have Need for Speed themed feet, the world we live in).
And now a trailer from Transformers director Michael Bay. Well done EA, well done.
To celebrate EA have released a behind the scenes video that showcases Bay at work with the developers and explaining how he got involved in the first place. The director – who seems familiar with the franchise – comments on the increasingly film like qualities of today’s games, and the growing involvement of Hollywood actors and directors alike in the industry.
Unveiled just a few days ago, the rather aweseom trailer was unlocked early by an army of Need for Speed fans on the game’s Facebook page. It’s just what you would expect from the action savvy director (movie fans will be able to check off a good few Bay hallmarks), and you can’t help but wait for one of those cars to start transforming.
The game hits store shelves on November 15, and will be released on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS and PC.
Australian Bond fans need wait no longer – the classic title Goldeneye is now available on PS3 and Xbox 360 – almost a year to the day since the Wii reimagining of the Nintendo 64 original. Of course the big selling point here is that the game is in full HD, and it was even built on a brand new engine to ensure the best possible action.Daniel Craig is still on duty as 007 – a move which I appreciate but have never understood – and Judi Dench is along too as the ever patient M.
“This is the epitome of a classic reborn,” said David Oxford, Executive Vice President at Activision Publishing. “We know that fans love the original GoldenEye film, so our team worked closely with the original screenwriter and film talent, along with the devoted developers at Eurocom, to create a modern reimagining tailor-made for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gamers around the world.”
There are other additions too, with Eurocom and Activision out to recruit gamers into Mi6 Ops missions that are brand new to the single player experience. The ever popular multiplayer is also now online, allowing 16 man matches that will no doubt see dangerous levels of addiction. PS3 fans will also be able to use the Move peripheral for some sharp shooting gunplay.
The Guild Season 1 and 2 Directors: Jane Selle Morgan, Greg Benson, Sean Michael Becker Starring:Felicia Day, Vincent Caso, Jeff Lewis, Amy Okuda, Sandeep Parikh, Robin Thorsen Composers: Don Schiff Producers: Felicia Day, Kim Evey, Jane Selle Morgan Distributor: Siren Visual Price: $19.95 – Available Here
Overview: Yes this was released quite awhile ago, so for someone who quit playing WoW in 2009, going back in time to the year when I first saw the guild was a bit bizarre. Maybe the guild inspired me to quit? I can’t remember to be honest, but one day after 4 years of on and off playing, I just stopped. But I still remember the lingo and understand the references, so something like this is still enjoyable to watch.
To take the idea for a show based around the community of WoW and run with it is a pretty brave thing to do, and it obviously worked rather well. It’s even mentioned in the commentary by Felicia day, “you need a target able audience” and WoW certainly has one of those. Vulnerable horny males, who cream at the thought of a pretty girl playing WoW…? No, I think just gamers in general enjoy it.
Story:
It helps that it’s really quite clever and well made; the first season is based more around the game and the issues surrounding having an addiction, while the second season broadens the appeal once the characters are fleshed out. If you aren’t a gamer or a WoW Player, I suppose the first season might weird someone out a little. The intro is charming, but a bit juvenile, and might give people the wrong idea.
Felicia Day’s performance is probably the standout, (although Zaboo’s mother is noteworthy, as well as Zaboo himself) she acts as a bridge between the audience and the show, and Felicia Day nails it. The train of thought, facing camera style isn’t easy to do, but she manages elegantly. As for her writing, it’s sharp, creating a number of wildly diverse personalities that bounce off of one another, while balancing the in-jokes about WoW with the norm.
Perhaps the three most important of the supporting roles are Zaboo (Sandeep Parikh), Vork (Jeff Lewis) and Clara (Robin Thorsen). Although the first season does focus on Codex’s problems with herself, both seasons still follow the concern of Zaboo’s obsessive love for Codex, which he expresses in strange/hilarious ways, such as moving into her house without warning. Other sexy one liners such as “I just dropped 8 gigs of ram down my pants” in an attempt to turn Codex on are pretty funny, to which Codex replies “In life, you are a starting character”. She then tricks Zaboo into moving out by telling him he needs to gain more manly attributes and “level up in RL”, Zaboo then accepts the “quest” with the hope that he’ll become sexually appealing to Codex, things like this are why the guild is so charming.
Zaboo then turns to Vork (The Guild Leader) for manly guidance, and agrees to move in with him, Zaboo pays rent in WoW Gold, instead of real money. Vork is one of the more bizarre characters of the guild, and that’s saying something because most of them are bizarre. He is an unemployed 40-something trying to run the guild, while “cutting the fat” from real life to get by. He also lives in a house without any electricity, but manages to steal that along with Wi-Fi from his Alzheimer’s-afflicted neighbor.
Meanwhile, Clara, the slightly overweight cheery, neglecting mother of three attempts to provide advice to Codex while she tries to cope with Zaboo’s obsessive tendencies and her new love interest (Stuntman). A trio forms between the girls as the new stuntman is introduced, including Tink (Amy Okuda) and the show turned into boys vs girls towards the end of the season. The WoW servers go down for maintenance (plot device?), so the Guild essentially has nothing to do, so they then decide to have girls and boys night. In the commentary Felicia Day mentioned this wasn’t intended, but that’s just how the script panned out in the end.
As such, interesting truths about females came from the shows plot that I didn’t except, such as admitting two males fighting over a girl is an enjoyable idea (Codex), or guys are just “tools to use” (Tink). Although the admissions are something that highly annoys me, you can’t help but admire the way they’re put together within the context of the show. It is after all based around a WoW guild, and those two truths are something that happened inside the WoW community, mostly because of the vast difference in numbers between males and females. Applying the social dynamics of a virtual world into the script works surprisingly well, especially if you’ve played WoW, you only appreciate it more.
Vincent Caso (Bladezzz) and Amy Okuda (Tink), in my opinion are the less-likable characters, although Bladezz does develop some positive aspects in Season 2 during guy’s night. However Tink’s dismissive manipulation of Bladezz’s does makes her the less likable character out of the two, Blades does get her back in the end by deleting her WoW character, which I enjoyed.
The seasons ending feels natural, making you wonder what will happen next, and I almost went ahead and starting watching season 3 straight away. I think that sums up The Guild’s quality, it sucks you in.
Video and Audio: Season 1’s 1.33:1 and Season 2’s 1.85:1 anamorphic wide-screen presentations look decent for a transfer of web series. The Guild’s production values up the anti in the second season, which is nice to see, especially with lighting the scenes. But this is a web series, sometimes you’ll be reminded of that as you’re watching it. Audio is Dolby 2.0, and it’s primarily devoted to dialogue, the standard isn’t too bad with minor drop outs. Despite being a low-budget DVD, this set contains English subtitles on all 22 episodes; The Guild’s theme song is also quite catchy.
The Extras: You get a wide ranging chunk of extras in the Guild DVD, which is nice. Such things as cast & crew interviews, audition footage, gag reels, audio commentaries, the scripts (in PDF), subtitles, a note from Felicia day and the gaming term glossary for the non-gamers. You can see the hard work put into this DVD and it pays off for any guild fan, as well as viewers who haven’t seen the show before.
Verdict: Considering this started out as a web series, you can’t help but feel impressed, especially since the backbone of the story revolves around online gaming (not exactly cool). The Guild is not only good, but it’ll go down in history as one of the first and most successful web series, as well as making strides for gender equality in gaming and woman’s film making. Not to mention that it could be considered a social commentary about online gaming addiction, which isn’t something that many people approach. The downside is people might already own the content of the DVD and some others won’t see the need to pay for what they can see for free online, but for everyone else, this set gets a solid recommendation.
