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EDGE Review

Joshua Moris
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EDGE
Developers: Mobigame, Two Tribes
Publisher: Two Tribes
Platform: PC
Release Date: August 11, 2011
Price: $7.99 – (Available Here)

Overview
Mobigame and Two Tribes joined forces to conjure EDGE to the Steam Network. Originally made as an iPod App, Two Tribes converted the touch and tilt controls to the PC by utilizing directional keys. By tapping the UP ARROW key, this review is well on its way.

Story
EDGE does not yield a compelling story about a kidnapped princess in a far, far away kingdom. However, EDGE provides a competitive nature that captivates a player just like a storyline. All a glowing cube needs is a nice colorful home.

Gameplay
Making up for a lack of storyline, the gameplay proves to be engaging and fast pace. The ultimate goal of EDGE is to move the cube to the finish area in record timing. An additional goal to the game is collecting prisms which allows the player’s cube to move faster. The prisms are generally visible but perhaps difficult to navigate. Once the player reaches the finish, a rank will be displayed along with several other stats. The ranks are as follows: D (slow), C (not too bad), B (good score), A (gamer), S (professional), S+ (edge master). To able to attain “S” ranks the player must collect all available prisms in the level along with a fast time.

Progressing through the 48 normal levels, the environments pose more obstacles to lead players to their certain doom. Bumpers, sliding cubes, and falling platforms can muddle times reducing ranks to C’s and D’s. But helpful hints are available for those “not-so-nice” areas. A question mark on the surface of a block will display a hologram upon touch. The hologram will show the player an instance of how to cross a certain path.

In addition to the 48 normal levels, there are bonus levels and achievements to unlock. The bonus levels test your mind a bit further through complex tactics. A method called “edging” must be used more readily and accurately to ensure a safe landing in most cases. Edging is a term used to describe the cube’s grip on an adjacent block. Any time spent edging is also deducted off of the timed run. Players can also unlocked achievements by edging for prolonged periods of time.

A competitive game would only be complete if it had leaderboards and in-game chat availability. And the player can do just that with Steam in the mix. By logging into the game under a Steam profile, a player may chat with other active players. As players complete levels, their rank and score is tabulated and stored. The tabulated score is then compared to the rest of the updated scores on the global leaderboard.

Graphics/Audio
While displaying very simple art assets, EDGE shines with bright glowing colors and old fashioned audio. The game itself was designed with the “8-bit” retro look in mind. The levels are created with cubes and platforms that are colored white to grey – simple and clean feel. The player’s cube is a consistently changing bright color to distinguish from the rest of the blocks. By collecting prisms, the color changes more frequently.

Upon entering the main screen, a soothing tune tingled my ears. The sensation only continued as I heard the sound effects from clicking from menu to menu. Normally, I would sense these effects to be annoying. Once I entered the first level, an upbeat tempo hardly prepared me for an abrupt start. But I gladly welcomed the variety of tunes as a retro platformer.

Overall
While the game entranced me in a continuous fight to the finish, I felt that Mobigame and Two Tribes proved EDGE would be great. I believe the game did not require a storyline strictly because a story could potentially over-complex the purpose. EDGE is meant to be a fast pace objective game that offers a plethora of levels to entertain the achievement seeker. Allowing players to test their metal against others on the Steam leaderboards, only adds opportunity for a growing community. Not to mention players will have a lot of ranks to pursue with 50+ levels of finger-eye coordination.

Finally, the graphics and audio adds the finishing touch. With a retro 8-bit look, the game brings back the appearance of older generation titles. Let’s just face the facts. Molding retro aspects with new flavor is just the EDGE we need.

EDGE gets

8-5-capsules-out-of-10

** SALE DEAL **

Two Tribes Pack

At the same time Two Tribes are launching the Two Tribes pack,  the pack contains 3 games – Toki Tori, RUSH and EDGE – and you get a discount of 20-25% depending in which country you are based

EDGE Contest:

Two Tribes is also hosting a contest surrounding there new title EDGE. If you have ever encountered someone planking, then you might have an inkling what edging is about. Grab onto a ledge and edge your way to some great contest prizes. The contest will end on August 15th, so make sure to get your videos posted! For more contest information click here.

For more Platformer news click here!

Is MegaMan Still Important To Capcom?

Joshua Spudic
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The blue bomber has certainly seen better days. The franchise lived up to its name since the beginning, featuring great gameplay, awesome music and providing hours of entertainment, even through its various spin-off series. However, given the recent treatment Megaman has received, it seems that Capcom might be losing interest in the franchise. However, according to Christian Svensson of said company, the blue bomber is as important as ever. Here is his response to the question “Is Mega Man dead?” during a video Q&A:

“Oh, absolutely not. The frustrating thing for me is I have nothing I can hold up and say, ‘Oh, here’s this other Mega Man thing’. Absolutely, we have other things… Mega Man is a very important brand to Capcom. We get questions [like] ‘Are you guys trying to kill the brand?’

“No, absolutely not. It will continue to be a very important brand for us. I wish I had something I could hold and display for you that that’s the case, but I don’t right now. But super, super important to us; I do want to express that.”

He also addresses the cancellation of Megaman Legends 3, the third instalment of the Megaman Legend series which was in development for the Nintendo 3DS, which did cause an uproar with the game’s fan base:

“The decision was not made lightly. Certainly, we knew there would be a lot of upset people and in spite of that, we still had to make that decision. That doesn’t mean we don’t care about you at all. I unfortunately can’t get into the details of it, but it was not a decision that was made lightly and I can tell you that no one is happy about that decision, but it was a decision that had to be made.”

Development for MML3 was quite rocky from the start, considering that this was a game made for the fans but wasn’t officially green lighted from the men in suits. It only got worse after Keiji Inafune left the company, despite the development team reassuring that the game would be made. The fan base was involved quite a bit, including choosing the design of the blue bomber. A paid downloadable demo, named the Prototype Version, was delayed and eventually cancelled with the full game. The demo was to be used to see whether development should continue.

What is also interesting is that there was no question about the exclusion of Megaman from Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. I would have believed that someone would have wanted an explanation, but unfortunately it wasn’t the case.

World Cyber Games continues re-launch in Australia

Kelly Teng
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Many of you may remember that back in April, World Cyber Games partnered with TLS and launched the 2011 WCG in Sydney. Well, since then the WCG in Australia has laid relatively low, but TLS have just announced the details behind the reinvention of the WCG in Australia.

With Australia vying to be the host for the 2012 World Cyber Games, TLS is most certainly going out of the way to ensure the WCG are bigger, better, and attract more attention than it ever has before. Qualifying for the WCG will take place over the next few months in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, and the final to decide Australia’s representative will be held at the EB Expo in October at the Gold Coast. Also, for those who can’t make it to qualifying, there will be two WCG FIFA 11 online qualifying rounds in August and September.

For more information on the 2011 WCG including dates and venues, check out the official site at http://au.wcg.com/.

Flame Red 3DS coming September 9th

Luke Halliday
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Following the news of the Nintendo 3DS price drop, Nintendo has announced that a Flame Red version of the 3DS will hit stores across North America on September 9th, 2011. Europe will see a release not long after.

Along side the release of this new coloured 3DS, will be the release of Star Fox 64 3D. As well as several other titles going on sale.

This is clearly another in a long line of attempts for Nintendo to ramp up hype and sales for the Nintendo 3DS come holiday season. With price-drops, new coloured consoles available, sales on popular titles as well as the release of big Nintendo IP games such as Star Fox 64 3D and Pokemon Rumble Blast, it is a better time than ever to buy a Nintendo 3DS.

Stripped: Greg Friedler’s Naked Las Vegas Review

Kelly Teng
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Genre: Documentary
Director: David Palmer
Featuring: Greg Friedler, Diane DeLuna, Frenchie
Running Time: 77 minutes
Available for purchase at: Madman Online Store ($24.95)

Overview

First things first – I have to say that a DVD with naked people (and blacked out body parts) on the cover is surely something to take notice of. When I was greeted by Stripped: Greg Friedler’s Naked Las Vegas, it was most definitely confronting. When I popped in the DVD, I realised that the cover was only scratching the surface of this documentary by David Palmer.

Stripped is one half an artist’s journey; the other half is a journey into humanity. For this very reason, it becomes a real experience that transcends the separation between film and spectator, and asks all of us: what really happens when we are stripped not only of clothes, but of our image and inhibitions as well?

Plot

Stripped sees David Palmer following a photographer, Greg Friedler, in August 2007 as he finds subjects and photographs them for the final book in his Naked series, Naked: Las Vegas. Friedler arrives in Vegas with no confirmed shooting plan, subjects, or a location, but over 30 days managed to photograph 173 different people for his book. Through the documentary, Friedler encounters people from all walks of life, including strippers, bartenders, accountants, lawyers, and the homeless. Friedler also struggles with his own issue of depression in Las Vegas, and the shoot is equally as revealing about the city and the artist as it is about humanity.

Welcome to the (naked) city of Las Vegas

The narrative is one that is simple, but compiled in a way that the entire tale is a coherent and developed journey – which can be difficult for documentaries. Palmer layers the story and as it unfolds, more and more is revealed about the façade of Las Vegas and what the city can truly do to people who live there. The inclusion of people from all different walks of life give Stripped a very human touch, and throughout the entire plot everything is kept down-to-earth and real.

However, with reality comes confrontation and Stripped packs a big punch of reality from the first shot until the last. Images of people from all walks of life and people who have been beaten and torn down by life are especially harrowing to get through; it’s a real wake-up call to the truth of life in a city so fuelled by addiction and wealth. If you can get through the film though, there is most definitely plenty to be learned and sometimes in life, we need a shock or two to remind us of what it means to be human.

Characters

Of course, the main person involved in the documentary is the photographer himself, Greg Friedler. Friedler is the typical artist that wrestles with his art form and with depression, and of course, he can only find solace in his photography. While there is definitely so much respect to be held for Friedler through this entire doco, I couldn’t help but feel at times that he accentuated his role as a “tortured artist” of sorts for the camera – at times, he went from “tortured artist” to “annoying artist”, and his exaggeration of this aspect of himself really makes the documentary seem more like a docudrama in that respect.

Yes, she does get naked later.

The people who pose for Friedler all come and go, but in a sense they all represent one character: the human being. While all of them hold their own individual characteristics, mannerisms, and they come from all walks of life, it is these people who remind us of what it means to be exposed for the humans we are. In this respect, these nude models are the raw essence of the inspiration for Stripped: when everyone is stripped of the material and simply shown as a person, there is such a powerful reminder of equality between all people on this earth. Moreso, with their courage to strip, there is a reverberating beauty of each individual – regardless of their weight, height, or physical makeup – that transcends appearance. These models are the true shining stars of the documentary, in my opinion; while there is such a focus on the photographer and his project, what makes it come to life are the people who he encounters in Las Vegas.

Visual/Audio

As I mentioned earlier, the shots in Stripped are most definitely confronting. The inclusion of the naked body from start to finish encompasses what the film is about, though, and it would not have nearly been the same without it. The cinematography is fairly standard, but at some points there were low angles of Friedler just standing there or sitting in a pose that was clearly only inserted for visual effect. While I’m all for the beautiful shots, many seemed highly disjointed and out of place in Stripped – in fact, they actually took away from the confronting nature of it all.

Yet another one of those ‘arty’ shots…

In regards to location, Palmer did most certainly show both sides of Las Vegas through the eyes of the lens, which was a great spin on the conventional Vegas image of gambling, luxury, and excess. His shots of those who lived outside of the Strip truly exposed a different side of the city; with that being said, any shots of sensitive subjects (such as the homeless man or the couple who both had XXY chromosomes) were handled in a great manner to create a powerful image without belittling or condescending the subject.

Audio-wise, some people were hard to hear and I had to turn my volume up quite high at times. The soundtrack was nothing special – Palmer’s crew did everything by the book in this regard. There is sad music when there is supposed to be sad music, and uplifting music in moments where everything is going right. Nothing jumps out, and the music is subtle enough to support the narrative well.

DVD Extras

The DVD comes with no extras, and it is probably far too hopeful to wish for bloopers of funny things people said when they were asked if they wanted to pose naked. The documentary is great as a standalone and really doesn’t need any features to sell it, and I suppose at the end of the day watching naked people for over an hour is enough on its own anyway.

Final Comments

Stripped: Greg Friedler’s Naked Las Vegas is an interesting project that examines the true power of the naked form. While it is a great documentary to watch and the subject matter is interesting, there is nothing truly avant-garde about Stripped to make it resonate with viewers in the long run. All in all, it’s worth one viewing – but that’s probably the first and last time you will watch this film.

7-0-capsules-out-of-10

Risen 2 gets expanded website and teaser trailer

Jack Joly
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Deep Silver and and developers Piranha Bytes have expanded the website for the RPG Risen 2: Dark Waters. It is now online with more updates and additions to the new website to come. At www.risen2.com, adventurers now receive even deeper insights into the world of the RPG.

Apart from new details about the story and the continents, the Risen 2 website also provides background information on the nameless hero. In the coming months, the “World” and “Characters” areas will be further expanded, and descriptions of the game’s different creatures will be added. Fans will also find the latest news at www.risen2.com, as well as an interesting FAQ section, screenshots, wallpapers, and the downloadable CGI video. Visitors to the website can register for the newsletter and share their impressions with other players on the message boards or via Facebook.

A new teaser trailer can be accessed on this new website. Alternatively, you can watch it below.

Madoka Magica PSP Game Announced

Luke Halliday
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Dengeki Playstation magazine has announced that the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime series will be adapted into a dungeon-crawling action adventure game for the Playstation Portable.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica or Madoka Magica for short is a magical girl series of epic proportions. The anime made huge waves this year and has been critically acclaimed as a modern classic. With such high critical and fan praise it was inevitable that a video game adaptation would be made.

The game is set to be released for the PSP on March 25th, 2012 in Japan and will be published by Bandai Namco Games. Pre-orders are already being taken in Japan as this game is expected to be a big seller, based on the anime’s fanbase alone.

Nippon Ichi CEO On Disgaea 3 Returns & Interest in PSP Remaster

Joshua Spudic
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Earlier today, I reported that Disgaea 3 is heading to the Playstation Vita as Disgaea 3 Returns. It seems that there is more information since then.

Denegki Playstation interviewed Nippon Ichi CEO Sohei Niikawa and he revealed some new information in addition to reiterate the info which was included in the announcement (thanks to Andriasang). Here is a summary of the interview:

• He hopes that they will be able to present a playable demo at this year’s Tokyo Game Show next month. That would be exciting.

• Niikawa wants to implement positional information and touch capabilities, both possible on the handheld. This could lead to creative gameplay mechanics (i.e. picking up and throwing prinnies).

• Disgaea 3 Returns may have their own downloadable content in addition to the PS3 DLC already added to the game (and that’s all of the PS3 DLC).

• Visuals will not get an upgrade due to a focus on cramming in content. However, he has reassured gamers that the Vita version will still look beautiful.

• There is a possibility that the Vita version will load faster due to the handheld’s “advance capabilities and better memory management”.

• Disgaea 3 Returns may also be an experiment as Niikawa and his software company will observe the response to the game as an indicator in terms of what to develop for the Vita.

Niikawa also revealed in a separate interview with Siliconera that the company is looking into the PSP Remaster series:

“We’re looking into it right now. We’re investigating how the feature works and learning about the system. We’re happy about it too because we have a strong lineup on the PSP and we would like to change that to PS3, so we can have a wider audience.”

The PSP Remaster series is an initiative by Sony Japan to bring PSP exclusive games to the Playstation 3. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Version will be the first of such games, which will feature cross-platform features such as shared save games and connectivity with players of both versions, as well as 3D and additional content. SCEA will be releasing God of War: Origins Collection, PS3 remakes of the God of War PSP games, while Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker will be re-released by Konami as part of their Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection. However, the collection will be available on both the PS3 and Xbox 360.

NSW Attorney General Backs R18+ Classification For Video Games

Joshua Spudic
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Back in July, the state Attorney – Generals agreed in principle a R18+ classification for video games as they become a more prominent form of entertainment. However, the New South Wales Attorney General Greg Smith abstained from the meeting, despite the general attitude within the NSW Cabinet being positive to the idea.

Today signals the official backing of all Attorney – Generals in principle as Greg Smith announced that the state of NSW will agree to the R18+ rating.

Mr Smith had this to say in a statement published on the ABC website. I should point out that his reasoning to back the measure actually makes complete sense:

Few people would dispute the value of a classification system that helps keep adult material beyond the reach of children.

With strong classification guidelines in place, an R18+ rating should result in violent games currently rated MA15+ in Australia being reclassified as adults-only, as they already are in many other countries.

So what is next? The state AGs will now discuss the guidelines and draw up a draft that will be sensible and effective. That will happen at the next SCAG meeting. It is expected that these draft guidelines will be based on the MA15+ rating but more restrictive so that games rated for adults only overseas will be rated the same here. It will also be possible that some games, like Left For Dead 2 (uncut) and more recently Mortal Kombat, may be re-submitted once the Commonwealth introduces the rating. Just don’t expect to know the details until the AGs finalise them.

THQ closes two studios, halts MX vs ATV

Claire Phillips
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THQ closes two studios, halts MX vs ATV

THQ has today announced a major shakeup of its development teams, closing two studios in Australia and getting rid of one Phoenix based development team, leaving 200 people out of work.

Melbourne based Blue Tongue Entertainment and Brisbane’s THQ Studio Australia were both shut down with immediate effect. Neither studio’s website hints at any prior problem, with Studio Australia’s site currently under reconstruction as part of the “change, innovation and creative growth of THQ Inc.”

The restructure is intended to shift resources to “high quality owned IP”, with THQ intending to focus on their own high end titles such as Saints Row and Darksiders rather than movie tie ins and games licensed from kids TV shows. Blue Tongue Entertainment was best known for the cartoon style DeBlob series of games, and also worked on Nickelodeon licensed titles, as did Studio Australia.

The developer also announced that it will not be working on racing franchise MX vs. ATV in the near future.

The sudden loss of two studios adds to a bad day for the Australian games industry, already hit hard by rumours (now confirmed?)  that LA Noire developer Team Bondi has sold off all its assets to another Australian production studio following financial troubles.

 

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