A few years ago whenever a large game from a popular developer was released, it wasn’t always expected that the game would come with two different versions. The standard edition of course and then the special edition which usually runs a few dollars more. Now it is 2011 and rather than announcing a special edition as news, it is actually news that a highly anticipated game isn’t going to have a special edition.
L.A. Noire will apparently not be having any sort of special edition according to a comment on Rockstar’s own website from Rockstar themselves:
@LiL.A.King There won’t be any special edition release of L.A. Noire, just the preorder bonus content with certain retailers as announced here: http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/14011/presenting-preorder-exclusive-unlockable-bonus-content-when-you-.html Also as mentioned, all that content will be made available as DLC after the game comes out.
So what do you think, was there a chance lost here to have plenty of detective gadgets thrown into a little bundle, or is it better that Rockstar is focusing entirely on the game instead of releasing a legendary/veteran edition of L.A. Noire?
In the world of video games, few voice actors can say they’ve had a character based on their appearance. Even fewer can say they’ve worked with Eliza Dushku and Michael Bay, and there is only one man who has done all that and had a successful career in sports: LaMonica Garrett.
LaMonica Garrett: actor, athlete, awesome.
Garrett is the man behind Fight Night Champion‘s main character, Andre Bishop, a boxer-turned-convict who was wronged by two corrupt cops. But if that’s not where you know his face, then maybe you’ve watched a few matches of slamball where he was the leading scorer, or flicked on the TV to see him on CSI: Miami or Queen Latifah’s new series Single Ladies. If it still doesn’t ring a bell (and you still haven’t Googled him, for some weird reason), then you will definitely know him after you see him in the new Transformers: Dark of the Moon movie which comes out later on this year.
We had a chat to him to find out what it was like playing a boxer, gaming, and his acting career.
Capsule Computers: Many people believe that sporting games don’t really have a deep storyline, but Fight Night Champion’s Andre Bishop has a complicated past which players have to play through in story mode. How did you play a character that is plagued with the stigma of an ex-con and is trying to prove himself to the boxing world?
LaMonica Garrett: Once I studied the script I really got to know who Andre Bishop was as a man. Realizing he was framed and the injustice he suffered but still held true to who he was, and maintained his positive outlook and integrity it was easy to bring this character to life.
Andre Bishop in Fight Night Champion. Notice the EA punchbag and the ‘Andre’ shorts?
CC: A lot of people find their role models and inspiration in characters from video games. After playing Andre Bishop, do you feel that your character is someone that people can look up to?
LG: I do think Andre Bishop is someone people can look up to. This story is a prime example of how sometimes bad things happen to good people. Instead of taking the fast track to a title shot through someone he knew didn’t have his best interest at heart he chose the much tougher route and showed great loyalty to his old friend and trainer Gus. Because of that he was set up, and wrongfully put in prison. Instead of complaining, pointing fingers and giving up he remained true to himself and stayed strong mentally and physically and fought through adversity. Everyone has their own storms to fight through,and usually people with positive attitudes are more successful with those storms. Andre Bishop has a great attitude.
CC: “Being a champion is about having heart. A fighter can get knocked down…a champion gets back up”. What impact would you say that coming from a sporting background had in your portrayal of Andre Bishop as a champion?
LG: Having played football for the majority of my life as well as slamball I was really able to relate to this character. I’m a firm believer in how sports mirrors life, how you respond in certain situations in sporting events is how you’ll respond to adversity later in life. Will you get up and fight back when the chips are down, or will you give up and make excuses? When everything is going your way its real easy to be positive and upbeat. What happens after that first loss? I’m always curious to see how people respond after defeat. To me that’s the true test of a champion.
“Everyone has their own storms to fight through. Usually people with positive attitudes are more successful with those storms.”
CC: Lots of actors also do a few voice acting roles for animated films or games. Do you find you need different skills in voice acting and working with CGI as opposed to the skills you use as an actor on screen?
LG: As far as standing in a booth and just doing voice over Im sure there is a difference. But shooting all the scenes for Champion Mode it felt like we were doing it for film. We physically performed every scene so I was able to able to work off the other great actors around me. I think it would be a little more difficult to pull that same emotion without being involved in the scenes and just standing in a booth.
CC: In film, the audience recognises the actor for the character he has played. In video games, the actor is hidden behind the animated character in the game. Do you feel like actors get less recognition in the video game world?
LG: Actors in the video game world do get less recognition, but if you do a good job people will ask who was that, then IMDB brings you to life. Thanks to EA I was fortunate enough to have my character modeled after me and it looks exactly like me. Even when I used to sport the fro back in the day! With that being said people still don’t recognize me as Andre Bishop, but as long as the game is getting great reviews like it has been that doesn’t matter all that much.
Andre Bishop or LaMonica Garrett? The resemblance is striking.
CC: Are you a gamer? What console do you own, and what are your favourite games?
LG: I consider myself a sports gamer. I’ve been playing on my PS3 for sometime now, but for Christmas I got a Xbox360. Back in the day I use to clean house on Punch Out. I loved playing 10 Yard Fight, and I was a beast at Tecmo Bowl! Madden has always been my favorite game though. I also like FIFA, ironically I’ve always played Fight Night, we would have tourneys at my friends house every time the new Fight Night would drop. I haven’t participated in the tourney this time around yet, gotta get my skill level up. I got dudes gunning for me right now for obvious reasons.
CC: Have you played Fight Night Champion? If you have, is it harder to play as the character in the game, or portray the character in acting?
LG: I have played Fight Night Champion and I would say it was harder to portray Andre Bishop than to play him in the game. I was really into it when we were shooting and I found myself really disliking Frost and I couldn’t do anything about it, so that was hard. In the game I can try and put his head in the first row, that’s fun!
CC: Your role in Transformers 3 is your first role for a major feature film. How was the experience of working in such a high profile film with a director like Michael Bay? Was there a lot of pressure, or was it more exciting?
LG: Working with Michael Bay on Transformers 3 was an adrenaline rush. I felt more excitement than pressure. Working on a film of that magnitude with a great director like Bay, and the great actors I worked alongside I had some nerves going. But they were the good nerves like when your coming through the tunnel for a big game. You settle down after that first big hit then its game on. Great experience, I look forward to that feeling again many times over!
“Will you get up and fight back when the chips are down, or will you give up and make excuses?”
CC: You mentioned in an interview with The Celebrity Cafe that your goal is to be an action star. What is it about action that makes you want to play that role?
LG: Growing up I always gravitated towards action films. If I were to sit here and name 10 of my favorite actors more than half would be from an action genre. Something about the physicality of it all. What Matt Damon did in the Bourne trilogy was masterful to me, as well as Liam Neeson in Taken. As an actor I love challenging myself with different roles but action will always be at the forefront.
CC: Plenty of websites have now said you are an upcoming multimedia star, and that your career is really taking off now. Is this where you see yourself? Is acting in video games going to be on the agenda in the future, or is it all film, TV, and film from here on?
LG: I’m extremely happy with the success I’ve had lately in film, television, and in the video game world. I’m blessed to be apart of a game changer like Fight Night Champion. Being labeled a multimedia star is flattering, but most important I just want to continue to do what I’m passionate about which is acting, and whichever avenue enables me to do that I’m all for it.
Thanks to LaMonica Garrett for taking the time to speak with us. If you want to have another look at Garrett in Fight Night Champion, we’ve included one of the trailers down below.
Upcoming fighter SkullGirls “Available in 2011 on high-definition home consoles”, has had new information released for it. Along with this info comes a new trailer, which shows the game in action.
The game has a story that follows players as they travel through the Canopy Kingdom in search of the Skull Heart, which is said to bestow wishes for those with a pure heart. However, those that do not have a pure-heart will be turned into a corrupted SkullGirl.
The game is developed by Autumn Games and Reverge Labs, featuring the art of Alex Ahad and input from fighting game champion; Mike “Mike Z” Zaimont. So we know it’ll look great and be incredibly balanced.
Key Features
Femme Fatales: Players can choose from eight inimitable characters, including amnesiac schoolgirl Filia and sassy circus performer Cerebella, as they fight their way through a gauntlet of deadly opponents in an attempt to control the enigmatic Skull Heart.
Pretty as a Picture: Using Reverge Labs’ proprietary sprite-based game engine, Skullgirls’ graphics combine 2D art with real-time lighting effects, a feature never before achieved in a game of its type. The Dark Deco visuals are drawn at twice the resolution usually shown on 1080p high-definition screens, allowing for more detailed characters and in-game effects.
As You Wish: Players have various ways to battle it out in Skullgirls, including VS mode, arcade mode, story mode and training mode, encountering different aspects of the fighting experience with each type of gameplay.
Battle it Out in the Canopy Kingdom: As players compete for the Skull Heart, they will fight in numerous themed stages throughout the Canopy Kingdom, including an evil underground labyrinth, an extravagant casino and a moving glass-windowed elevator with dramatic views of the city. Each stage combines static hand-drawn art with lively effects to create dynamic environments.
Bragging Rights: Players can easily share their in-game victories with the rest of the world. Replays and highlights of matches can be uploaded directly to YouTube or Facebook; ideal for tournament recording or simply boasting a successful battle.
The games Key Features look promising and this will hopefully lead to one of the best fighters seen on the consoles.
Bad news for fans of super stylized platformers because Atlus has just released information that stated that Trine 2 would be delayed until late summer when it was originally scheduled to arrive sometime this spring. Fans of platformers should remember when Trine released on the PC and PS3 and became one of the best looking platformers ever to be released as a downloadable game.
Unfortunately at that time there was no Xbox 360 version released, but this time Trine 2 will be arriving on the Xbox 360, PC and the PSN. Despite the delay Atlus also released a new trailer to show off the puzzle mechanics and upgraded physics that will be returning in Trine 2. This way we can at least play the trailer over and over again until the next trickle of information comes out of Frozenbyte and Atlus.
Hello there all you Warhammer fans. We bring good news. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution will be receiving a free update on the 6th of April. Included in this update is additional content that will set you back a whopping $0.
Also, the Last Stand game mode, a cooperative survival arena, will add 12 new new achievements to its rosters on Steam. In addition, each unlocked achievement will grant the player a new piece of war gear.
In summary, players of the game will be granted an update, 12 achievements and new armor upgrades for their character. Well done THQ. Well done.
One day as I was walking down the street and a little bird flew up to me and started singing a song. The song was beautiful and the bird was beautiful as well, I wanted to keep the bird; however, the bird was not free and was owned by someone else and all I could do was watch and listen as the bird was taken away.
This week has tons of new stuff for all audiences and the contents have absolutely nothing to do with the bird, unless of course it is some kind of ghost bird singing about a whole bunch of swarmites and the owner is sonic; but that doesn’t sound very realistic.
Both Swarm and Ghostbusters:Sanctum of Slime release this Wednesday on XBLA March 23rd. Swarm will cost about 1200 Microsoft Points, and Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime is set at the lower price of 800 Microsoft Points.
As for the deal of the week week, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I is being reduced from 1200 Microsoft Points to a lower price 800 Microsoft Points. This deal oddly goes live tomorrow, rather than today; but I am sure the wait isn’t really hurting anyone.
As for the Retail releases around the world, take a gander!
North America
Crysis 2
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
Mayhem 3D
Asia
Crysis 2
Arcania: Gothic 4
Eschatos
Fighters Uncaged
Otomedius Excellent
Australia
Crysis 2
MotoGP 10/11
Europe
Crysis 2
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood – Da Vinci Edition
Also, check out the video below; because you know you want to.
In an effort to show off the options a player will have to solve different problems they are faced with in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Eidos and Square Enix have put together a video that shows three different ways that the first mission in the game can be completed. Obviously watching the video will show you how to complete the first mission and will contain spoilers as to what happens.
The first run through consists of Adam using everything in his arsenal to kill the people in his path while the second playthrough is more stealthy and involves Adam sneaking around to avoid combat and hiding from enemy eyes. Finally the last route involves avoiding the main entrance entirely and going through a secondary entrance. The variety shown off in this video makes it so that no matter how you play, you will be able to advance through the story when the game arrives on consoles and PC on August 23rd in the U.S.
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime is being released tomorrow! Atari has resurrected the license and promises to deliver the greatest game they can make around it. The new game will feature 4 character multi-player, and it will include the same great charm that made the franchise a success. Although some have said that the Xbox 360 market is too full of twin stick shooters, we are sure that you can make room on your hard drive for just one one more, right? If that still doesn’t convince you, maybe this trailer will:
Get the game on Xbox 360, PSN or PC. You can also check out the official forums for a chance to win game related materials for free! Check here: http://www.atari.com/gbsanctumofslime/
So it seems that the DLC has finally come around full circle. First released back on the Xbox 360 back on February 1st and then the PlayStation 3 on March 3rd, it is time for the PC gaming group to get a chance to take part in the First Strike. Or is it the Third Strike…. would there even be a strike almost two months later?
Regardless of this fact, the CoD: Black Ops on the PC will be getting the first map pack DLC on March 25th and players can pre-order the digital content right now on Steam. If a player does this, they will end up saving a $1.50 on the price of $15. So if you were going to buy the DLC anyways then doing it now would at least save you enough to pick up a soda or two.
Having good news dropped on us out of nowhere is always a good start to the week. Especially when it involves Square Enix padding out that PSOne classic section of the PlayStation Network. In a surprisingly sudden release, the Legend of Mana would be arriving on the PSOne Classics Tuesday, which is tomorrow.
Fans of Square Enix’s games may remember the storyline but for those who don’t, or never had the pleasure to play the original it takes place in the world of Fa’Diel and players must find special artifacts scattered across the world in an effort to rebuild the world after the Mana Tree was destroyed. No price was given at the moment of announcement but it will most likely follow suit of other Square Enix games and be priced at either $5 or $6.
