EA can’t issue their hated $10 pass for used games if the game has no multiplayer right? Well they can in a way but this time it is much more rewarding than simply having access to the online mode for a game. A few days back we mentioned that Alice: Madness Returns would ship with a downloadable code that can be redeemed by buyers to gain full access to the original Alice that was released on the PC.
The Online Pass Code will be redeemable only once so you will not be able to use it if someone has already managed to use it. Making the bonus exclusive to new purchases or lucky second handers that find an unused code. Though much like EA’s other Project Ten Dollar codes you will be able to download American McGee’s Alice on the PSN and XBLM for 800 MSP or $9.99 on the PSN if you buy the game new, or if you don’t feel like buying the sequel to play the original. The title will appear online the same day Alice: Madness Returns releases on June 14th.
Yesterday we reported that a Japanese tech website had stated that the PSP Go would be discontinued by Sony and would no longer be manufactured. Today it seems that Sony is finally pulling the plug on the much maligned handheld as Sony’s Japanese website has placed a statement on both the PSP Go white and black listings.
The only PSPs that are still being made are the PSP-3000s in black, white, pink, blue, silver and red so that means that the PSP Go is officially finished. Retailers are still selling the PSP Go in stores but due to the stoppage of shipments you will have to act fast if you want to buy one for $200-$233 depending on the color you want. Or you know, pick up a PSP-3000 for a hundred dollars less.
Team17, developers of the legendary Worms franchise, have released their latest creation on the Aplle App Store for free, Worms Soundboard.
The app is almost like a sound test program, with sound bites, speech and sound effects extracted from the game for your pleasure. Featuring catchphrases, taunts and the sound effects of explosive weapons from the Worms soundbank, such as “Incoming!”, “Stupid”, “Grenade!”, the Super Sheep ‘Fanfare’ and the Holy Hand Grenade ‘Hallelujah’, it’s everything a worms fan could wish for.
On a personal level, the sound effects have always been amusing, and I loved how you could select the accent of your worms before battle among the customisation options. Plus you can’t really argue with the non-existent price tag. Pick it up for free HERE
The newest game out on Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade is something I (and many others) have been looking forward to for a long time. Fancy Pants Adventures started its humble life as a flash game which circulated the web way back in 2006. Since then, gamers have helped Fancy Pants Man on his quest over 100 million times. The game, which features hand-drawn animation, has Fancy Pants Man running, jumping, and sliding through more than 20 levels of platforming action. This new console version of Fancy Pants Adventures marks the highly-anticipated release of the third episode of fancy pants action and boasts updated visuals (compare the flash version, above, with the console version, below) and several multiplayer modes like Coop, Racing, King of the Hill, and Tournaments.
Like it’s browser-based brethren, the console port of Fancy Pants Adventures will feature tons of secrets, unlockables, and customization options for FPM, including over 40 weapons. The game was developed by Over the Top Games in cooperation with Brad Borne, creator of the series, and EA2D, a small team within Electronic Arts. It’s up now on Playstation Network for 9.95 AUD, 11.50 NZD, or 9.99 USD and Xbox Live Arcade for 800 MS points. If you’ve never ventures into Fancy Pants land or if you’re wondering what awaits our stick-figure hero next, head on over to the Fancy Pants site and see what you’re missing. If you aren’t playing this title, I assure you that you are missing out. Run fast and run fancy, my friends.
Genre: War/Drama Produced by: Isabella Films and Fu-works Director: Martin Koolhoven Starring: Martijn Lakemeier, Yorick van Wageningen, Jamie Campbell Bower, Melody Klaver Running time: 99 minutes Language: Dutch, German, English with English subtitles Available for purchase at:Madman Online Store ($29.95)
Overview
The words “beautiful” and “war film” usually don’t go together in the same sentence unless you’re describing one that borders on romance. War films are generally more about history, heroism, and lots of explosions and men being seriously wounded, so it’s a breath of fresh air when a new film can maintain the best elements from the genre yet present something visually stunning at the same time.
Winter in Wartime fuses the war film with a new age of filmmaking – other films which did this include Atonement and Inglorious Basterds – and puts a spin on the traditional codes and conventions of the genre. What comes out is a unique and poignant film that strikes a chord with even the hardest of hearts, and opens up a new cinematic experience for anyone who watches it.
Plot
Let’s be honest here: the WWII Nazi storyline has been overdone, and it really is hard for directors to create films about war which aren’t just the same old, same old. Winter in Wartime is one part war film, one part arthouse, and one part coming-of-age, which makes for an interesting blend of cinema that captured my attention straight from the beginning.
The year is 1945, and Michiel is a 14-year-old boy living in Nazi-occupied Holland with his family and his Uncle Ben, who has come to stay in difficult times. When his next door neighbour Dirk gets arrested for trying to assist in the Resistance, Michiel is tasked with delivering a letter from Dirk outlining the hiding place for a crashed RAF pilot. However, the man who he was supposed to deliver it to is killed by German troops, and Michiel takes it upon himself to assist the injured pilot, Jack, in escaping to a safe part of the Netherlands. What Michiel doesn’t know, though, is that trying to save the pilot will turn into far more than just his own plight for heroism, and the cost is greater than anything he could have imagined.
The plot for Winter in Wartime is – like I mentioned – one part coming-of-age, and of all the aspects in the story this is what stood out to me as the most striking and unique. Any person who remembers their childhood days of watching movies and reading books will remember how exciting and glamorous being the hero of the story seemed; Winter in Wartime exposes us to the reality of being the ‘hero’. The film refuses to glorify war, but at the same time Koolhoven also exposes the beauty of humanity in the toughest of times: Michiel’s story is the perfect example of how kindness can go a long way in such extenuating circumstances.
With all that being said, it’s not a film without a bit of action and mind-twisting, and the one thing which did let the film down was a slightly predictable overarching story. While the film itself was gripping, suspenseful, poignant and dramatic, the ‘big plot twist’ left a lot to be desired. So often in cinema these days, directors and screenwriters put too much attention on generating a plot twist which attempts to surprise their audience, and eventually the taste becomes stale and unpredictability becomes predictable. While the story wouldn’t be what it is without the twist (of course, I’m not going to ruin it but you’ll probably guess it from the start like I did), it dulled the shine slightly on an otherwise beautiful storyline.
Characters
The other resonating feature of this film is how much it rings true to its time period: there are Dutch characters, British characters, and German characters which provides for an eclectic mix and a unique portrayal of the war. The film’s characters are both relatable and extraordinary at the same time, and it’s safe to say that they make the story what it is. While it’s all well and good to have a touching storyline, what truly captivates any audience and makes a film stand out are the characters who tell the tale.
First things first: I absolutely loved Michiel and I think he made the film go from good to great. There is a childish naivety to him which captures the youthful side of all of us; yet at the same time he is far stronger and more inspiring as a person than his fourteen years give him credit for. His desire to be a hero and to do good reminds us that he is just a teenage boy caught in an adult world. Koolhoven stresses through Michiel’s character that the effects of war reach even the youngest of people, but it is in times of war that the true side of humanity is shown.
Speaking of the true side of humanity, Koolhoven’s portrayal of the Germans was refreshing and realistic as well, and it makes the film stand out that much more. There is a tendency in WWII films to glorify the victors (the winners get to write the story, after all) and show Nazi soldiers as unyielding, cold, heartless people who only torture kill. While Winter in Wartime has a few of these Nazis, the film portrays many of the German soldiers as humans who have been forced into a terrible circumstance. On more than one occasion, the Germans have helped Michiel – a German soldier saved him when he fell into a river, and when the wheel from his carriage fell off Germans helped him put it back together – and Koolhoven reminds each and every viewer that these men aren’t as bad as they’re made out to be.
The rest of the characters are brilliantly portrayed, and the only one I was really indifferent about was Erica, Michiel’s younger sister. Her character was just a little too ‘blah’ (for lack of a better word to describe it) and to be frank, I had actually forgotten – on more than one occasion – that she was there.
Visual and Audio
The cinematographer deserves some sort of prize or acknowledgment in this film, I swear. The composition of the shots and the overall colour tone of the film give it a beautiful touch which other war films are just lacking. With a title like Winter in Wartime, there’s no doubt that the film was going to be shot in winter with snow, and this was most definitely a great addition which gave the film a unique touch. The snow covers a city which otherwise would be thriving, and presents a great metaphor for the ending of the war and the resurgence of a new beginning and growth within Europe. The characters’ clothing looks stunning in their contrast against the snow, and Jack, Michiel, and his father’s ice eyes will pierce you any chance they get.
The special effects were also wonderfully done, although there weren’t that many explosions to showcase – the film is more about the people caught in the war rather than guns and bombs anyway. However, one of the moments where the special effects really shine is when Michiel’s father skins a rabbit and you see the skin come off and the muscles underneath exposed (sounds appetising, doesn’t it?).
The standout audio feature in this film for me – aside from the soundtrack, which did great to heighten the suspense or jerk at heartstrings – was actually the mix of Dutch, German, and English. It doesn’t seem like something huge, but it really made Winter in Wartime that much more believable and realistic. The best part is when Michiel speaks to Jack in English: I could pick out a few words, but without the subtitles I really would have been absolutely lost and to be fair, I don’t know how Jack understood him.
DVD Extras
The DVD contains the theatrical trailer of the film which I had seen on Youtube already, so there wasn’t really anything ‘extra’ for me. I would have loved it if they had made a “Making of” feature to introduce the actors, as well as to show how some of the scenes were shot. Deleted scenes would have also been a good idea, because there were plenty of funny moments in the film and I’m sure there would have been a lot more that didn’t make the cut.
Final Comments
Winter in Wartime is a great war film and should be watched by war film buff, but even those who don’t like the genre can appreciate it for its genuine human portrayal. While Koolhoven may have fallen a little bit short in terms of his plot twist, the experience of watching this film was both touching and inspiring. This is definitely a new take on an old theme, and the beauty of it has left me still staring at the cover in awe…even though I finished it more than 3 hours ago.
Three exclusive new additions have come to Activision’s DJ Hero 2 in the Ultra Mix Pack, available to purchase and download now. It features remixes of hits from club sensations Deadmau5, Benny Benassi and Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP.
The Ultra Mix Pack is available on the Xbox Live Marketplace on the Xbox 360 for 640 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation3. All tracks are also available as downloadable singles for Nintendo Wii, priced at 300 Wii Points each.
Ultra Mix Pack features:
· “House Music” by Benny Benassi (Remix by FSG)
· “Sofi Needs a Ladder” by Deadmau5 (Remix by FSG)
· “’We No Speak Americano” by Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP (Remix by FSG)
2k Sports have released their first Playstyle trailer for their new release game, Top Spin 4.
The trailer showcases the baseline attack strategy commonly used by tennis players such as Rafael Nadal. Baseline players use speed and power to force their opponents to make mistakes. The trailer features Nadal an Federer playing against each other, with Rafa demonstrating baseline attacking.
After playing many hours of Top Spin 4, I can safely say that it’s pretty good to learn these playstyles because it really helps in both career mode and exhibition mode. Once you play a little bit more, you come to see different players’ strategies, but baseline play is a simple and safe way to ensure a win. Check out the first Playstyle below, and we’ll keep you updated on the next one!
Today, Mastertronic announced the release of Heroes of Might & Magic Complete collection will be coming to PC on 21st April under license from original publishers, Ubisoft. The Heroes of Might & Magic Complete collection brings together the first five Heroes of Might & Magic titles, plus seven add-ons and expansion packs, offering great value for money with huge amounts of potential play time from 5 games, all for the price of one game.
The series is popular for its strategy battling, with a turn-based mechanic in place. Players take control of a variety of mythical themed armies, battling various characters and creatures over a fantasy setting.
For those who aren’t familiar with the series, how about a run down of each game and its expansion packs before it releases on PC tomorrow, April 21st:
Heroes of Might & Magic: A Strategic Quest
In the first title of the series, players are challenged to conquer new lands in the first venture into the virtual world of Hereos of Might & Magic. Warlords have risen to test leadership and tactics, as players carefully manage their resources, gather armies and recruit heroes as they strive for victory. Lord Morglin Ironfist is forced to flee his homeland through a magical portal, because his cousin, Ragnar, had usurped the throne after his uncle, Ragnar’s father, killed Ironfist’s father, the legitimate owner of the throne. He finds himself along with his few followers in a strange and uncharted land, called Enroth.
Heroes of Might & Magic II: The Succession Wars
Featuring twenty scenarios of challenging gameplay, players can use powerful spells to wipe out enemies, build massive armies and fight to the last man in epic battles. Lord Ironfist is dead and the kingdom is plunged into a vicous civil war by his feuding sons. At stake is the ultimate prize: control of the land and the royal thrown.
Heroes of Might & Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia, with expansion packs Armageddon’s Blade and The Shadow of Death
When Erathia’s King is murdered, his daughter Queen Catherine Ironfist returns to her homeland to discover that her father’s kingdom has been invaded. Catherine becomes the one and only hope for victory and a return of prosperity in Erathia. Recruit your heroes, prepare your spells, and fight to restore her family’s rightful reign.
Heroes of Might & Magic IV, with expansion packs The Gathering Storm and Winds of War
The story of Heroes of Might & Magic IV unfolds through the game’s six campaigns. Each of the campaigns centers on a faction leader, and tells the story of how that leader came to prominence. Choose from eleven classes of Hero, five schools of Magic and eighteen adventure-filled campaigns, with multiplayer battles available via LAN and internet.
Heroes of Might & Magic V, with expansion packs Hammers of Fate and Tribes of the East
An unexpected demon invasion interrupts the wedding of King Nicolai of the Griffin Empire and Lady Isabel, and soon the forces of the Griffin Empire are at war with the demons of Sheogh. Heroes of Might & Magic V challenges players to master 6 factions and more than 80 creatures and lead them into intense tactical combats with both turn-based and new dynamic battle system introducing real time decisions. Rage into five multiplayer modes including Ghost mode which allows you to play during the enemies turn or the Duel mode where only the most cunning prevail.
Looking for a present for your mum’s birthday this June? Look no further. Madman and XYZnetworks have announced a new home entertainment partnership, which will see selected titles from the four LifeStyle channels on DVD.
Launching on June 15, the DVD releases will kick off with four releases: property show Selling Houses Australia, gardening show Garden Angels, and two cooking shows, Neil Perry Fresh & Fast and Bills Food. Future releases will include titles such as Moar Gardening (and no, that’s not internet speak for ‘more’, the dude’s last name is Moar) and travel/cooking series Tobie & Matt (Asia & Europe).
We know the mums are going to love this (pre-order the DVDs as a Mothers Day present, maybe?), and being in the good books with the mothers means more games for Christmas! Check these upcoming releases out on the Madman site here.
After just pulling off a wonderful reboot with Yars’ Revenge, Atari is now out to revive another classic from their archives with Centipede Invasion. This 1980 release is now preparing to see new life with a release on both the Nintendo Wii as well as the 3DS. Now if you haven’t played Centipede before, it worked a bit like a shoot-em-up, in which the player had to destroy off every section of the arthropod and prevent it from reaching the ground. In true style, this new title will completely change what we know about the classic version with a brand new story as well as a whole new way to play the game itself.
Developed by Wayforward, this new version puts the player in a setting taking place twelve years after a nuclear war. Taking the role of an orphaned teenager hero named Max, you must now fight off mutated insects and killer centipedes as you trudge through the wasteland with an ally by the name of Maisy and try to grow new life into the rubble by planting seeds which will restore Earth’s resources once and for all.
Atari have also opened up today and elaborated a bit more on the way this re-imagining will actually play out:
Players will be swarmed by mutated spiders, beetles, grubs, caterpillars, moths, and boss insects across the game’s expansive world of seven environments and 40 stages. To defeat these mutant species and restore mankind, players will have to use an array of weaponry –Lightning Orb Gun, Nuke Cannon, Freezethrower, Mine Launcher, and more – as well as power-ups to fight through the invasions.
Like the toadstool of the original Centipede game, each insect has a unique defensive object that it can leave behind, as a ‘special’ variation.. These defensive objects are short-lived combat tools that distract, attack, or block insect assaults during battle.
Additionally, the game allows players to team up with friends to fight off even more bugs with 2 player co-op multiplayer features. Nintendo 3DS players will be able to take advantage of unique StreetPass™ features that enable them to uniquely share content between passingNintendo 3DS users. Centipede: Infestation for Nintendo 3DS will also feature gooey 3D visuals and ad-hoc multiplayer for 2 player co-op.
I have said it time and time again, but Wayforward really have a knack for creating retro-like experiences on current consoles, with the new trailer released today for Centipede Invasion, it looks like this one will go straight to the roots of the shoot-em-up genre and offer a nice, nostalgic arcade feel to the whole control scheme. Centipede Invasion drops for the Nintendo Wii & 3DS this fall and you can check out the brand new trailer for the game below.
