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The Incredible Machine on iPad

One of my earliest favourite games has been given an iPad release.  The Incredible Machine was released for PC in 1993, and has been spruced up with a new visual style.

Disney gave details at E3, and the app, developed by the designer of the original game, is due for release this month. If you don’t remember the original, players were tasked with constructing a Rube Goldberg machine, wherein random items work together to create elaborate chain reactions to achieve certain goals. Watch Ok Go’s video clip for This Too Shall Pass for a fantastic example.

Anyway, players are asked to perform some small task like getting a mouse home or turning on a light switch, and are given several random items to chain together to achieve this. The game presents 60 challenges and offers almost 100 random items to complete them.

It was a fun puzzle game in the ’90s, and I’d love to see this reach a new audience.

UTV announces a couple new games for the Nintendo 3DS

A new game announced by UTV Ignition at E3 promises to blow Nintendo 3DS players minds when it launches in early 2012.  A classic platformer at heart, Fractured Soul 3D will require gamers to play across both screens of the system at the same time, “switching between the two screens regularly to dodge incoming bullets, outsmart enemies, and ultimately complete each level.” 20 levels across 5 worlds including inverted gravity, damage, wind, ice, and underwater complete will complete the experience.

UTV also announced that a new Planet Crashers is being developed for the 3DS in 2012 and for mobile platforms and browsers later this year. Based on the original Planet Crashers this “classic quest-oriented gameplay with light-hearted RPG combat.” Multiplayer and customizable characters will be included.

Konami announces Leedmees for Kinect on XBLA

With the string of Kinect games announced at this year’s E3, Konami has joined in with a new title: Leedmees, a puzzle-solving game which will be available for download on XBLA.

Players bodies become the level design.

The title will involve players using their bodies to save a race of creatures (who else could they be but the Leedmees?). In each level, the Leedmees are walking towards their doom, and the gamers must use their movements to create bridges and walkways to save the Leedmees from their fate. Instead of players being the character in the game, this time your body is the level design. Arms become bridges, legs can flip switches, and players will have to move across different parts of the screen as more Leedmees appear on the screen.

While most of the games released on Kinect have been action or sports titles, Leedmees appears to be a different title which will broaden the Kinect’s spheres. Leedmees is due for release in Summer 2011 on XBLA.

Dragon’s Crown coming to PS3 and Vita

UTV Ignition Games announced at E3 2011  that Dragon’s Crown, developed by VanillaWare, will release in 2012 for both the Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita. With real time online 4 player coop gameplay, Dragon’s Crown is set in a medieval world with dungeons, treasure and “sword & sorcery action.”

Other features of the game include easy to learn controls, 6 customizable character classes and addictive looting. The game will have all the social aspects and other features on both the PS3 and PSV.

I have got to say, those screenshots do look they have some nice artwork, and if Sony and  VanillaWare can pull of the PSV and PS3 connection, it has a chance to be something special.

Kirby Mass Attack Details and Screenshots

With last year’s fantastic Kirby’s Epic Yarn and the upcoming return-to-roots Kirby Wii, the little pink marshmallow thing is getting a lot of work lately.

Last month we showed off the Japanese cover art and the few details we had on Kirby’s upcoming DS adventure, and as expected, Nintendo revealed much more at E3.

The game’s title has been confirmed as Kirby Mass Attack, and will be released onto the Nintendo DS on September 19 this year.

The story goes that an evildoer with a magic cane has split Kirby into ten pieces, and Kirby must work with his duplicates to find a way to return to his normal self. The player will control up to ten Kirby characters at once with the stylus; tapping a location will make them all rush to that point, swipe across the screen to launch the group into a swarm attack against enemies, a flick of the stylus will send a Kirby flying into the air.

The Kirby series is known for trying new play styles, and this certainly sounds like a fun concept. There are some questions left unanswered, but a little mystery is a good thing. How does the player acquire more Kirbys? Do the multiple characters work as some kind of health system – get hit, lose a Kirby? Will we have access to Kirby’s trademark ability to copy his enemies’ powers? And why does Nintendo refer to it as a “Side-Scrolling Real-Time Strategy” game?

Regardless, this looks to be a fun addition to a classic series. Check out the scrrenshots below.

Ubisoft is bringing it ALL to the Wii U

 

After supporting the Nintendo Wii for the last few years, its hard to be surprised that Ubisoft is also supporting the Wii U, Nintendo’s next console.  After all, the extreme sales of Just Dance on the Wii speak for themselves.

“Nintendo is an industry reference for game design and accessibility. We are very honored to be a strong part of this new chapter of the videogame industry,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “This new console is an amazing new source of inspiration for our developers. With the combination of technologies brought together by this console, our creative teams will be able to take the Ubisoft vision of developing rich, immersive and innovative gaming experiences for all audiences even further.”

Ubisoft is developing and publishing Assassin’s Creed, Rabbids and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online, as well as two new IPs for the console. One is an FPS that will be exclusive to the system, and the other is a sports game for family night.

If you happen to be at E3 check out Ghost Recon Online on the Wii U on the showfloor.

 

‘Beacons’ coming to Xbox Live

After the Microsoft E3 2011 press conference, it was revealed that a new feature was coming to Xbox Live.  This feature would be called Beacons, and it would enable you to connect with your friends on Xbox Live and Facebook in an easier fashion. Once a Beacon is set, it apparently tells  XBL and FAcebook that you want to play a game. Subsequently “Xbox LIVE lets you know when friends are playing or want to play the same game. With Beacons, no matter what you’re currently doing on Xbox LIVE your friends know that it’s ok to ask you to play your Beaconed games. It’s about making it easier for you to share and discover games and multiplayer opportunities with friends on Xbox LIVE.”

So, hooray for more annoying achievement sound pop-ups that don’t signal new achievements?

Hole in the Wall coming to XBLA this year

The latest E3 Xbox Live Arcade reveal is that of Hole in the Wall, a Kinect-enabled downloadable title based on the popular television programme of the same name.

For those who don’t know, Hole in the Wall is a gameshow which pits two teams against each other who score points based on how well the managed to make the necessary shape and fit through the cut-out shape on the wall. With the pressures of time as the wall creeps towards you, you have to think on your feet and make the right shape or end up in the drink.

This is so incredibly suited to Kinect, I can’t believe someone hadn’t considered it sooner. Fingers crossed the developers behind it can pull it off, because if they do it convincingly, it could be a real hit.

‘Yoostar on MTV’ coming soon, previewed at E3

Yoostar’s social “video karaoke” performance platform introduces a new way for fans to interact with the MTV universe as Yoostar Entertainment Group (www.yoostar.com) and MTV today announced Yoostar on MTV.  Making its debut this week at the 2011 E3 Expo, Yoostar on MTV utilises the Kinect to offer players fun and excitement as they are transported directly into some of the best and most memorable MTV shows, programming and events. I can already imagine some scenes from ‘The Hills’ which have potential to be amusing.

In addition to unveiling the new content of Yoostar on MTV at E3, Yoostar will showcase its new technology upgrades.  VGS 2.0, a revolution in Yoostar’s performance video technology, working in conjunction with the Xbox 360 Kinect to enhance in-game image quality and deliver virtual green screen performance like never before.  Yoostar on MTV will also include full support of the Xbox 360 4GB Console, giving players the ability to save and upload their scenes without the need for a hard drive.

Yoostar on MTV will be on display at the 2011 E3 Expo in meeting room #309 in the Yoostar Entertainment Private Meeting Room #309 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.  To highlight the public E3 debut of the game, Snoop Dogg will be making a public appearance on Wednesday, June 8 @ 11:00 a.m. in the Yoostar Entertainment Private Meeting Room.

To-Fu expands due to free update

To-Fu: The Trials of Chi has just received its first free update – making the martial artist’s adventures even more expansive.

Developer HotGen has unveiled the latest version, which adds Game Center support complete with 22 unique achievements which are sure to please fans and newcomers alike. In addition, adjustments have also been made based on player feedback, the biggest of which is the ability to now skip To-Fu’s – slightly shorter – death sequence.

As you can see from our review of the game it’s well worth picking up, especially now the planned update has arrived to subtly improve the game.