Chances are you have been hearing about the “Wii 2” rumors that have been surfacing as of late. Rumors run the gamut from being technically superior to the 360/PS3, having GTA V as a launch title, having a 6 inch screen on the/as a controller and being revealed at this years E3. The Wii is certainly showing its age, being the most inferior (technologically) of the big three this go around, so these rumors aren’t totally unfounded.
One of the rumors, given by a trustworthy leaker who has a track record of revealing these things, is that this new console is codenamed “Project Cafe”, as well as stating that it will be technically superior and sport that questionable 6 inch screen for a controller. I have no doubt Nintendo is up to something (as all console makers surely are, in some capacity) but I have a hard time believing that Nintendo is going to do anything this radically different from their tried and true “casual/low cost” formula they’ve adopted for this generation.
Despite my preconceived notions, however, I’m finding myself beginning to slowly believe this more and more if only because of the explosion of rumors that have been popping up. Also, this leaked image showcasing the Cafe prototype might have something to do with me believing these. Maybe.
Unfortunately, these images are pretty rough and don’t capture the entirety of the prototype. What they do show is the basic shape of the console itself (basically a rounded Wii), the controller (essentially a gamecube controller with the aforementioned 6 inch screen) and drops the Cafe codename. Again, no proof if these are genuine or not. Take this with a grain of salt, fanboys.
Regardless if these specs and rumors are true or not, let’s hope Nintendo comes up with a better name for their console for this new generation. Maybe a name that’s actually a word instead of, ya know, Wii.
Huh… well Atlus’ current lineup for the 3DS only consists of the re-purposed Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked so it seems that they will be adding another game to help flesh out their lineup. Of course this game may be seen by some as a bit of a questionable move as Mahjong certainly isn’t as popular in the U.S. as it is in the Eastern world.
Either way Atlus is going to be localizing Sunsoft’s Shanghai 3D Cube and naming it Mahjong Cub3D in an effort to minimize the title name. Players will be able to match mahjong tiles in Cube Mode to help solve the cube puzzle or play the average Classic Mode where the pieces are lying flat on a table. 200 puzzles will be included and multiplayer will be available through Download Play. No release date besides Summer 2011 or price has been announced yet but hey, at least it is another game coming out for the 3DS at some point this Summer.
Shift 2: Unleashed is set to receive its first downloadable content pack “Legends” next week. Players can expect to receive a range of iconic cars and tracks. Thirteen classic cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s, distinctively known for their powerful engines, technical handling capabilities and dramatic car designs will be added to the current 145 strong car lineup. Along with five new tracks which will reflects racing’s golden age.
Legends pack contents:
Cars
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA (1965)
Austin Mini Cooper S (1965)
BMW 3.0 CSL Gr. 5 (1975)
Ford Capri RS3100 Gr.4 (1974)
Ford Escort Mk1 RS1600 (1971)
Ford GT40 Mk.I (1965)
Ford Lotus Cortina (1963)
Jaguar E-Type Lightweight (1963)
Nissan Fairlady 240ZG (S30) (1971)
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R (C10) (1972)
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0 (1974)
Porsche 914/6 GT (1970)
SHELBY COBRA “DAYTONA” COUPE® (1965)
Team Need For Speed Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0
Tracks
Dijon-Prenois (1972)
Hockenheim (1982)
Monza (1958)
Rouen-Les-Essarts GP (1966)
Rouen-Les-Essarts Short (1952)
Silverstone (1975)
Shift 2: Unleashed Legends content pack will be available on April 26 for 800 Microsoft points on Xbox Live and for $9.99 on the PlayStation Network.
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!
