In case you were running out of new things to kill in Fallout: New Vegas, what with the Dead Money and Honest Hearts DLC already under your belt, what is there left to do? Well in a couple of weeks you’ll have an entirely new area to explore because that is when New Vegas’ next DLC, Old World Blues, will be released.
On July 19th players will enter the Big Empty and find out that it may not be as empty as the residents of the Mojave wasteland may have thought. Today Bethesda released a handful of new screenshots for the DLC, which show off plenty of gunfire, but one little robot named Muggy who apparently really wants to have any mugs you are carrying. Or he could mug you, one or the other. The DLC will be released on the PC, Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 at the same time on July 19th.
Things have been a little quiet regarding the long awaited ICO and Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection, until now that is. Two new trailers have been released, one for each of the two halves off the collection. Below you can first see the trailer for the remastered ICO and below that one the trailer for the remastered Shadow of the Colossus.
Both of these games have seen a rather impressive visual overhaul as you can see. Unfortunately I have never had the pleasure of playing either of these titles back when they were released originally on the PlayStation 2, which makes their HD release on the PlayStation 3 all the sweeter, because now I will be able to play both with enhanced graphics. What do you think of the upgrade to the graphics and of the original games themselves?
News of an official Nintendo copyrighted app for iOS and Android has finally emerged. The Pokemon Company has announced the release of an official Pokemon game for smart phone devices. The game, Pokemon Iie Tap (Pokemon: Say Tap) is a Pokemon trading card rhythm game where players tap on Pokemon cards to the beat of a song from the anime series. While it might not be a whole Pokemon game it’s promising news for Pokemon fans that for some reason have failed to buy a Nintendo portable device. The app is set to be released this summer in Japan, and but sadly at the moment doesn’t look like it will be setting sail to other locations, similar to the only other (unofficial) Pokemon game for mobile phones, Pokemate, which was released in 2006. As unlikely as it may be that we get our hands on this free title here in Australia, we can still hope that an English version may eventually be released. This news comes directly from the official Pokemon website.
If you were worried that the success of ‘Splosion Man back in 2009 would increase the price range for its sequel then you can stop worrying now. Twisted Pixel announced today that Ms. ‘Splosion Man would only cost 800 MSP, or $10 in real money. The game itself will be available for purchase on the Xbox Live Marketplace on July 13th.
The press release in which they announced the price was humorous in its own right, you can catch the little part where they announced the price here:
The value of all life on Earth was originally placed at almost triple the amount of Microsoft points, but a surprise ruling from Twisted Pixel today cited a declining economy and a general disappointment in humanity as the root for assuring its destruction at the incredible price of 800 Microsoft Points.
You may have used your Japanese PSN account to download the Catherine demo all those months ago but you would have had to understand Japanese to get the true gist of what was going on during the demo. That won’t be the case next week because Atlus is going to be releasing an English demo for Catherine on PlayStation Network and the Xbox Live Arcade.
According to Siliconera, on July 12th players will be introduced to Vincent and have a chance to try out some of Catherine’s tower climbing puzzles. Also there will be some of the anime cutscenes shown off, giving players a small taste of everything that Catherine has to offer. The demo comes two weeks before the release of the game which will be on July 26th for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360.
While L.A. Noire has been out in stores for a decent amount of time now, news keeps leaking out about the team behind the development of the game. It has been reported in the past that Team Bondi had treated their employees badly, but now news comes out that even Rockstar had to deal with the unruly studio. So much so that Rockstar will not end up working with them again.
A source reported to GameIndustry.biz that things were going bad for the two’s collaboration for awhile before the game was released. The source says that Rockstar had a huge influence in the success of LA Noire by steering it away from disaster, providing financial support and providing Team Bondi staff to work on the game. Without the support, the source says Team Bondi would have shut down long ago and that the company also lacked animators which is why the game world is so bland.
While Rockstar used to think that Team Bondi could eventually become “RockStar Syndey” they became unhappy with Team Bondi, and Team Bondi grew unhappy with the amount of control that Rockstar was levying.
After Rockstar left the Team Bondi logo off of the LA Noire logo last October, studio boss of Team Bondi Brendan McNamara wrote an email that was accidentally sent to everyone at Team Bondi saying “Every dog has its day and there’s going to be hell to pay for this one. I’ll never forget being treated like an absolute **** by these people.” More information can be found at the source itself, which shows further evidence that Team Bondi and Rockstar will most likely never work together again.
Hearing about a rather expensive Collector’s Edition isn’t anything unheard of. But usually the game that is receiving the expensive version is a game that has either been hotly anticipated or hyped extensively. Which means that the $130 CE of Lord of the Rings: War in the North is a bit puzzling to see come out of Warner Brothers.
The Collector’s Edition will come with an art book, a behind the scenes DVD for the videogames music, three songs from the game, the game itself, and a Ranger of the North Quiver Case. It is easy to see that the quiver is the whole expensive part for the collection. Purchasers of the 360 version of the CE will receive a Ranger of the North Avatar outfit, while PS3 buyers will receive a War in the North Theme pack.
Besides the Collector’s Edition, retail specific pre-order bonuses have been released for North America. Those who buy from Amazon.com will receive the second part of the War in the North digital comic and an in-game Orc Champion Sword. Those who buy from Best Buy will receive the Elf Theme Pack and access to the Lothlórien Challenge map. Those who pick up the game from GameStop will get the Human Theme Pack and access to the Osgiliath Challenge map. Target buyers will receive the soundtrack alone, while Toys ‘R’ Us will give buyers a War in the North poster signed by Jim Lee. Last we have Walmart, which gives players the Dwarf Theme Pack.
Blue Valentine Genre: Drama/Romance Platform:Â Blu Ray (Reviewed), DVD Directed by: Derek Cianfrance Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams and John Doman Classification:MA 15+ Running Time: 112 min Release Date: Dec 27, 2010 Price:BUY NOW on Blu-Ray: $39.95 BUY NOW on DVD: $34.95
Overview
Most people think of happy, heart-warming, mushy ‘boy meets girl’ love stories when they think of the romance genre, but Blue Valentine is one of those rare films that spits in the face of the mainstream, giving us a more realistic, gritty, love story showing that love hurts and isn’t as perfect as we normally expect to see in the average hollywood film. Blue Valentine is a very complex and mature look at a failing marriage between Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams) with very raw and realistic tones carried throughout, that will both warm the hearts of its audience and create feelings of discomfort. Writer/director Derek Cianfrance takes us on a complex journey of emotions, presented in a sophisticated manner that takes risks to challenge your feelings in ways you wouldn’t expect. Blue Valentine has been nominated for more than 15 awards including an oscar (Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-Michelle Williams), as well as winning a bunch of other good stuff. Blue Valentine is definitely worthy of its acclaim and is a masterpiece in film making, although may not be appreciated by all audiences. Regardless, Derek Cianfrance must be commended on his work, as it is engineered to be a believable and unique look on love, and creates an effective and rare experience seen in cinematography.
The dialogue is what really helps string the story and these characters together so well and the actors who preform it. Much of the dialogue is improvised, and on the most part works in favor of the movie. It creates this atmosphere of realism and believability making emotions fly high especially in heated arguments. In a few rare occasions where its easier to spot it doesn’t have such a strong impact, but it does work for the most part. The dialogue that does appear scripted however often can leave a lasting impact on you, with some lines that will show points of view and will make you think much like some of the more visual scenes in Blue Valentine. Take this quote for example:
I feel like men are more romantic than women. When we get married we marry, like, one girl, ’cause we’re resistant the whole way until we meet one girl and we think I’d be an idiot if I didn’t marry this girl she’s so great. But it seems like girls get to a place where they just kinda pick the best option… ‘Oh he’s got a good job.’ I mean they spend their whole life looking for Prince Charming and then they marry the guy who’s got a good job and is gonna stick around.-Dean (Ryan Gosling)
Blue Valentine contains a lot of detailed and realistic sex scenes that actually play a strong role in the film, as some of the most extreme points of plot come out here. In fact most sex scenes are not romantic or entirely sexual, but rather unenjoyable and end in arguments, somebody crying or an awkward situation. I can’t really say too much without giving away spoilers, but most of these scenes as well as a few others may disturb some viewers or make some feel uncomfortable or awkward. All I can say is that the actors make these situations pretty believable, and its often in these intimate scenes where the true colours of the characters come out and reveal sides of them you wouldn’t expect to see. While it may seem like Im criticising the film for this, my intent is to actually applaud it for these same reasons. A good film will make the audience feel something, and Blue Valentine did so effectively and strongly. Don’t think the entire movie is just a non-stop depression-fest though. The scenes of when they are younger and in love are also very heart-warming and romantic, and you do feel joy, which balances out the film as well. But these less uplifting scenes is what will impact you the most, and the contrast between the two stories of the birth and of the death of this love will leave you asking ‘what happened?’ and keep you engaged throughout film’s entirety.
Audio & Visual
The film is scored by Brooklyn-based-based folk rock  band, Grizzly bear, and they’ve done a good job in doing so. Everything about Blue Valentine screams this underlining indie/hipster kind of feel to it, and Grizzly’s score helps to enhance that, giving it that unique, quirky and kind-of cute feeling in many scenes, in particularly the more happier ones. The couple have a personal song which stays true to the theme, a demo track by a group called Penny & The Quarters from the early 1970s. The trailer also contains an awesome romantic song sung by Ryan Gosling on a ukulele, originally by the Mills Brothers called ‘You Always Hurt The One You Love’. Check it in the trailer below!
There also tends to be more silences and less music in the more dramatic scenes, which actually places an emphasis on the acting, and you get this realistic tension between the actors you can’t really get from a soundtrack. Blue Valentine also features There is also many awkward silences placed throughout the film, and the director has chosen to keep these scenes continuing for uncomfortable amounts of time in the same camera angle rather than cutting away to another scene quickly. It really helps capture this claustrophobic atmosphere of the situations. This is just one of the examples of how Derek Cianfrance doesn’t play it safe with his directing, and how it does pay off well in the end. The film contains a variety of interesting camera angles, many of which often don’t seem to be the usual correct angle for a particular shot or scene, but it works effectively and places you in a feeling of what your not used to, but often can still appreciate. Many of the earlier happy scenes are filmed with a shakier, handheld cam feeling to it, and the failing marriage scenes being filmed with on RED and on a tripod, which helps to also capture the atmosphere, and gives it this documentary style feeling to it. Every shot seems well crafted to create this realistic feeling, but never feels crafted. Even the clothes worn by the actors seem believable. It’s not pretty, but Blue Valentine doesn’t want to be.
Special Features
Special features includes an audio commentary, deleted scenes, home movies, a making of feature, a Question & Answer segment. The deleted scenes and the home movies are interesting to watch, but you can really see why a few if them are deleted as most don’t really add anything to the story or experience, but it does show the immense amount of work that went into filming it. What really stands out is the making of feature. They speak of how the film took about six years to make, and how Cianfrance got to know the actors personally and set up situations to make them get to know each other while in character on screen, and filmed to document them getting to know each other. After filming this, they waited six years to film the rest, and the married scenes had a shared history, as the actors had lived with each other for about a month to create the feeling of a home. Many shots were done in one take, so everything you see is quite realistic, which is why it seems so believable. Its really is an amazing watch, and if you see the film I guarantee you watch it as well, as it creates a whole new level of appreciation for Blue Valentine. There is also a very interesting Q & A which expands further upon that.
Conclusion
Blue Valentine is a beautifully crafted film that is unique in almost every way. It is not the feel-good movie of the summer, but rather a gritty and realistic look on the birth and the death of a love and marriage that is most likely unlike anything you’ve seen before. At times it may feel almost too real for comfort, and won’t be appreciated by all audiences, but it is truly a great film with two amazing actors led by some very impressive directing, packaged on Blu-Ray with an interesting Q & A and Making Of feature that demonstrates this well. Blue Valentine delivers experiences in unexpected ways, providing a unique experience in cinematography, that will leave a lasting impression on its audiences.
Kenshi, a blind warrior robbed of his eye-sight by Shang Tsung, is back for revenge and available for download on Mortal Kombat via PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Joining the recently released downloadable blood-thirsty warrior Skarlet, Kenshi is the second of four new downloadable combatants and comes with a unique move set, an arcade ladder story ending and two brutal fatalities. Kenshi is available on Microsoft Xbox Live for 400 Microsoft Points, for download as a part of the Season Pass program or for £3.19 on PlayStation Network. Additionally available today is a free compatibility pack featuring two klassic skins – Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3- inspired Noob Saibot and Smoke.
Every single year, EA churns out a new FIFA title with enhanced controls, better graphics, and an improved AI. However, it can be hard to decide whether to upgrade your old FIFA game to the ‘new and improved’ model, or to keep the old title with your old team, scores, and career. That’s why we have compiled up all we know so you have key information on the latest FIFA release. Should you trade in the old and purchase the new, or keep FIFA 11 until the next worthy competitor comes out? Have a read below and figure it out for yourself.
And just because we know a picture says a thousand words, we’ve included videos where possible so you don’t just have to take our word for it – you can have all the videos on FIFA 12 here in one place.
The Latest Information (Updated 01/08/2011)
EA Sports have just announced who will be gracing the cover of FIFA 12. Australia’s cover will include Everton player and Aussie, Tim Cahill, Manchester United’s Rooney, and Real Madrid’s Kaka – the exact same three players from FIFA 11‘s Australian/New Zealand cover.
Other players that will be featured on the cover from other countries includes Jack Wilshere from Arsenal, Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid, Pique from Barcelona, and Mexes from AC Milan. These players will – as they are every year – be integrated into the marketing campaign for the title before and after the launch on September 29 (Australia) and September 30 (New Zealand).
What’s the most basic information about FIFA 12?
FIFA 12 is a football simulator by EA Sports. The title releases every year, and this year’s will be released across a variety of platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS2, PSP, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad. The game will be available for sale on September 27 in the USA, and September 30 in Europe and Oceania.
Who will feature in FIFA 12?
No, they’re not two random men I found off the internet…introducing the commentators, Martin Tyler and Alan Smith.
EA never provides a concrete list of players this early on, however there are over 500 clubs in the game. One prominent change in FIFA 12 (that everyone will notice at some point in the game) is that Sky Sports commentator, Alan Smith, will replace Andy Gray in the broadcast booth. Along with Martin Tyler, these two commentators will provide a new experience in the game.
But don’t take our word for it – here’s an interview with Martin Tyler and Alan Smith.
At the end of May, EA Sports announced the introduction of the new AI: a physics engine that promises to simulate real-world physicality on the pitch. Precision Dribbling has a higher fidelity on touch for strikers and will hopefully see a big improvement in movement with the ball, while Tactical Defending means that CPU players will work cohesively as a unit in order to build up a strong defense. The new engine is described by Kaz Makita, the executive producer of FIFA, as being “evolutionary, not revolutionary” and the improvements in technology are said to generate a more authentic experience.
Not only is the physics engine enhanced, but EA Sports have really taken it to the next level and continually pushed their AI to simulate real-life player decision-making. When CPU players approach certain situations, they will calculate – based on their own aptitude and skills, and the skills of the players surrounding them – the best possible move to benefit their team. However, the AI can do even more: players who have better vision (such as Xavi) will be able to spot teammates further away, while players with poor vision will be limited to their surroundings.
Career Mode
FIFA 12 will also have an enhanced career mode. The storylines are taken from the real world of the sport, and elements such as player morale, on-pitch form, and league position will all affect how your player plays on the pitch.
In addition to the AI components that have been enhanced, EA have also taken a closer look at developing the social side of FIFA. The new Football Club will be available for FIFA 12 on Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC (sorry Wii, 3DS and PSP gamers!), and provides a new way for players to interact around the world. Gamers can now sign up to support a club, and everything that occurs in their own games will affect how their supported club fares on the League tables. Best of all, it’s free.
Other notable information – a brand new menu system for faster navigation, better graphics, improved online servers, and over 500 officially licensed clubs.
The new menu for FIFA 12…and Kaka.
FIFA 12 on the 3DS – a yay or nay?
One of the most intriguing developments in the franchise is the plan to release FIFA 12 on the Nintendo 3DS. While FIFA’s rival, Konami’s Pro Evo Soccer, released their 2011 title with a 3DS version, there have been no reports so far about PES 2012 supporting a 3DS version of the game. The 3DS version will use touch controls (optional, of course): players choose a spot from the player’s viewpoint on the lower screen, then finalize their aim for a shot.
The 3DS version also comes with 3D Street Football. The Street Football Mode houses a curved pitch and a lower camera view to display enhanced 3D planes. The matches will be 5v5 in street and indoor locations, and fans can even take their created player from the Be a Pro mode to the streets. The other modes that will be included are Career Mode, Training Mode, and Tournament Mode, as well as head-to-head online matches.
While FIFA 12 on the 3DS is shaping up to be an innovative version of the game, it’s hard to believe that EA will get it right the first time around. As Peter Trenouth, the producer of FIFA on the 3DS, describes it, the title will be a “unique” experience; however, the touch controls seem to slow down the actual gameplay. The 3D elements of the game will definitely bring simulation to a new level, but the 3DS screen is ultimately not big enough – nor does it appear cohesive enough as a unit with the two screens – to provide for a fully immersive experience. Instead, the experience appears to be disconnected. It’s definitely worth giving FIFA 12 a go on the 3DS to experience a new form of video game football, but, truth be told, the game should probably be tested out as a demo in a store as opposed to at home in your bedroom.
What about FIFA 12 on other platforms?
Anyone who has played FIFA before will know that, while EA releases the title on a number of consoles, the experience is hardly ever identical. Console players have often had the upper hand (FIFA is designed first and foremost as a console game, after all), while Wii, DS, and PC gamers have missed out on improvements and have to make do with what EA gives them.
Believe it or not, this was taken from the PC.
With FIFA 12 though, PC gamers will have something to celebrate: they’re not getting left in the dust. FIFA 12 on the PC will also come with the Player Impact Engine, Pro Player Intelligence, and the social tool, Football Club. Actually, FIFA 12 on the PC will have an identical features set and engine to its PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts – there’s some awesome news for you PC footballers! With this development, we’d have to say that the PC version is looking to be a fair improvement over previous years and hopefully this can be the year that FIFA on the PC receives rave reviews.
FIFA 12 is also available on the Wii, PS2, PSP, and iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad. The Wii and any form of Apple platform is probably the worst to play FIFA on as they receive very little focus from EA and really do not provide any major enhancements. In fact, unless you have no alternatives (i.e. if you’re completely decked out with a Macbook and an iPhone), don’t get FIFA 12 on those platforms as you will hardly receive a positive experience. The PS2 and PSP versions will be a slight improvement over the Wii and Apple titles, but with the improvement on the PC version that seems like the safest alternative to the PS3 and Xbox 360.
What pre-order bonuses will I get?
EA Sports have just announced exclusive pre-order bonuses for Australia and New Zealand retailers. Each retailer will have different bonuses, so it’s worth taking a look at them all and deciding which one you’d like. We’ve included our pick of the bunch, which is the FIFA 12 Ultimate Edition, available exclusively from EB Games.
Our pick: FIFA 12 Ultimate Edition, available from EB Games
This pack of goodies come with 24 FIFA 12 Ultimate Team Gold Packs (4 gold packs a month for 6 months), a FIFA 12 Steelbook, and a size 2 soccer ball.
Here’s a few Q&A’s with David Rutter, FIFA’s Line Producer. It’s definitely worth watching for answers to some more detailed questions – plus, it’s just easier to watch videos instead of read.
Join in the conversation, and let us know if you’re planning to upgrade to FIFA 12, or stick to FIFA 11/10/whatever else you have. What are you most excited about? What would you like to see? We’re always keen for a conversation about football, after all.
