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Monster Tale Gets a Debut Trailer…

Dustin Spencer
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A few months ago we brought some information about Majesco’s upcoming genre bending title, Monster Tale. Now since it has been so long, you should actually get re-introduced with what Monster Tale exactly is. Monster Tale is a Nintendo DS title that is being developed by Dreamrift, creators of Henry Hatsworth and the Puzzling Adventure which launch to quite a following and a lot of praise a few years ago. What makes this title truly unique is how it utilizes the two screens of the Nintendo DS by using the top screen for platforming and the bottom screen for an in-depth virtual pet simulation game. It is quite an interesting concept honestly and the information that we have so far is making Monster Tale look quite promising.

The story follows a girl named Ellie and a newly hatched monster named Chomp who together set out to reclaim the Monster World from the Kid Kings and their enslaved creature pets. I have been extremely interested in this title for good reason since last year as it seems to be a unique title that is blending together two genres for an original yet fun experience. Dare I say this could even be a new franchise in the making? Majesco have released a brand new trailer for the game which you can check out below and you can expect Monster Tale to hit shelves sometime in March. For more information you can check out and be sure to “Like” the official facebook page for some exclusive updates on Monster Tale at www.facebook.com/monstertale

Play Skee Ball without going to the Arcade; Just use Halo Reach

J. Bradshaw
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Skee Ball is a great game.  But going out to the arcade, changing your money into specialty coins, and throwing balls that have been touched hundreds of times by who knows who is not great.  Besides, you just bought Halo Reach for $60 anyway.  Xbox Live member and Halo Reach content creator B0ANERGES created a gametype and map in Halo Reach that allows you to save money and be protected from the outside world, while at the same time playing Skee Ball.   His custom creation uses an inclined ramp leading to rings within rings.   Add some golf equipment in, and you got yourself a perfect cool down game after going 0-50 in that last, unspeakable match. This creation even includes an automatic ball return system. Ingenious! Download the map here and the gametype here.

Vizio to reveal Google TV, Android Tablet & Phone at CES

J. Bradshaw
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Vizio, a consumer electronics company that produces fairly high quality electronics at steep discount prices, has unveiled some interesting plans for CES, or the Consumer Electronics Show.  A 4 inch phone and 8 inch tablet running the Android OS with 1 GHz processors have been revealed.  New VIA Plus HDTVs and Blu-ray players with Google TV are also in the works.

The VIA Tablet and VIA Phone are rumored to have WiFi N, GPS, MicroSD slot, dual cameras and HDMI output. The 8 inch tablet will have similar features as those listed above, but without 3G connectivity.

Another feature coming soon to the company’s lineup are Vizio Internet Apps Plus.  They aim to provide a seamless experience from the handheld to the big screen, including the ability to pause and resume content across devices.   And that sounds awesome.

Now that we can get an iPad and (hopefully) an Android tablet without contracts,  lets see if we can get some Windows Phone 7 OS action without money strings attached.

Check out this amazing Metroidvania flash game, KOLM!

Justin Mienkiewicz
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So if you guys are like me, you love “Metroidvania” style games.  For those of you who don’t know what that means, its a game with an open world structure with various types of obstacles that require certain abilities to bypass, often requiring you to progress and explore to discover where you can and can’t go yet.  I love this style of gameplay, the perfect blend of exploration and item collection.  So this game is a “metroidvania” game, so what?  Aside from this (which is enough to at least try the game out) it sports a unique and compelling HUD system.  You watch your character through a series of cameras, punctuated by tilted views, screen tearing and some slight distortion at times.  Overall, its a cool effect.  You start out incomplete or broken, however you interpret it, and the game shows it.  You wobble forth, vision blurry, receiving messages from your “mother” egging you forward to complete yourself.

The entire game you are constantly communicating (scripted, mind you) with your “mother”.  You get a very eerie vibe from her, which definitely helps set the somber mood of the game.  The combination of her attitude and the melancholy music create a very unique atmosphere, much like Metroid itself did.  There is a small minimap in the corner, displaying the basic shapes of each room so that you never get too lost.  There are a plethora of upgrades and collectibles, some being optional to give a bit of an easter egg at the end.

For a flash game, this is incredible.  Admittedly, it is fairly short, taking 20-30 minutes to complete.  At the end you are given a score based on various parameters, allowing you the option to even track your friend’s scores.  This is a step in the right direction for flash games, providing meaningful and enjoyable content with a great deal of polish.  If you have some free time, try this gem out!

KOLM

Two Worlds II rated by the ESRB; spikes and butts included

Travis Bruno
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Who needs previews of games when the ESRB gives us a nice little summary when they rate upcoming games? It certainly seems like they have been covering a lot lately and we’ve been following them just as much. We’ve seen plenty of different descriptions and for the most part they’ve all been hilarious. This one may not be quite as funny but it still does contain a bit of humor, including a minor preview of what one can expect.

Apparently it seems Two Worlds II will allow players to attack innocent people in town, while not something very new in itself, looks to be a nicely done endeavor with the townsfolk running in fear. Also it contains enemies and different creatures being impaled on large spikes and that is always a plus for gore lovers. Plus it seems that the hero will be seduced in some way or another with a female character as the game contains sexual themes and a bit of butt exposure. Two Worlds II is getting an M rating, but this is most likely for the violence and not so much for the adult themes. The exposure itself will probably be less than people may have seen in Mass Effect, if even that much. Catch the full summary from the ESRB below.

This is a fantasy role-playing game in which players assume the role of a warrior who must complete quests throughout the land of Antaloor. Players use swords, maces, arrows, and magical spells to defeat human soldiers and fantasy creatures (e.g., orcs, demons, mummies). Injured enemies grunt or scream in pain and emit large splashes of blood that stain the ground; some attacks result in bone-crunching sound effects.

Players can also slash at unarmed townsfolk who cry out in protest (e.g., “No, please! Stop it! Get away!”); some cutscenes depict creatures that have been impaled on large spikes. Other sequences include references to prostitution and sexual material (e.g., “Men pay women for their company, nothing more. It never becomes physical unless the girl wants it to” and “[He] did force himself on me. He invited me over under the false pretense of discussing an exam I failed.”).

One quest allows players to access journal entries that reference explicit sexual fantasies of submission and bondage. In one cutscene, a female character’s buttocks are exposed as she seductively approaches a male character. Language such as “f**k” and “sh*t” can be heard in the dialogue.

6 minute trailer for Disgaea 4 shows off some battles

Travis Bruno
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Nippon Ichi has released a very long trailer to show off various bits and pieces of their upcoming TRPG. Disgaea 4 looks to retain much of what the series is known for with plenty of over the top battle scenes and even more over the top attacks. Also shown are some bits of standard gameplay and what looks like characters making a human slinky to move around a map. Not sure exactly what that part was myself but catch the Japanese trailer below.

Also it looks like there will be plenty of politics to go around this time, as Disgaea usually has political overtones, but this time around it sounds as if it is even more prevalent. For the most part however we see Valbatoze, a vampire who looks to be a main character, Fuuka a girl wearing a Prinny outfit, and a medley of other different characters that will be joining your fight. We’ll know more as time goes on but we already know that Disgaea 4 will be released in February in Japan with an US localization happening sometime in the Summer.

Keep your 3DS steady says Kid Icarus developer

Travis Bruno
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Doesn’t seem like a big secret that the best way to experience most portable gaming systems (excluding iDevices) is to be able to see what is going on. What I mean is that most people don’t shake their DS or PSP around while they are playing. But then again it is always good to be reminded I suppose?

Masahiro Sakurai commented recently on this fact. He is the director of the upcoming Kid Icarus Uprising game for the 3DS and says that the best way to enjoy the experience is to have a stable place to play the game, either firmly in your hands or in your lap. Or also in a nice little peripheral device that holds it for you. This recommendation probably follows recent news about how straining the 3D effect of the 3DS can be on your eyes so maybe it is worth taking note when you are considering purchasing the latest in Nintendo’s portable gaming system.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 announced for release March 29th

Travis Bruno
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Even though Tiger Woods may not be having the best luck with his golf game lately that doesn’t mean that EA isn’t sticking by him. This is evidenced by the fact that they just announced that they will be bringing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters to consoles on March 29th for the US and then April 1st for everyone else. Hope there won’t be any April Fool’s jokes related to that date.

You can find a list of new features below, but what isn’t mentioned is the fact that the game will be released on all consoles which on its own isn’t very big news. But what is interesting news is the fact that the PS3 version will be including Move support as well as a collector’s edition for $70. The collector’s edition isn’t just going to cost extra for nothing, as it will include 5 extra undisclosed courses. So even though golf may not appeal to some people, there will be yet another Tiger Woods golfing simulator coming out in just a few short months.

  • Masters Moments – Play through memorable, historic moments as players try to measure up against some of the sport’s greatest legends.
  • Tiger at the Masters – Relive each of Tiger’s four wins at the Masters by attempting to equal or beat his scores in each round of the Tournament.
  • The Caddie Experience – Behind every great golfer is a trusted and reliable caddie. Players will have a caddie by their side on every swing, providing strategic advice, from shot selection to reading greens, helping them become a more successful golfer.
  • The Closest Thing to Being There – For the first time ever, EA SPORTS™ utilized a new state-of-the art laser scanning technology at Augusta National Golf Club to laser scan every hole featured in the game. This will provide players with the most authentic digital representation of the Tournament and Par 3 courses. Every tree, every azalea and every undulation in every green was recreated down to the smallest detail.
  • Broadcast Presentation – Feel the emotion of every swing as called by the all-new commentary team of Jim Nantz and David Feherty, who headline a completely revamped TV broadcast presentation package.
  • Career Mode – The all-new career mode will closely mirror the journey of an amateur golfer’s rise through the ranks and chase the title of Masters champion.
  • New Players – Over 20 professional golfers to choose from, including Zach Johnson (2007 Masters Champion) and Bubba Watson (2010 Ryder Cup – Team USA).
  • Championship Courses – Take on the best of the best on sixteen of the world’s most celebrated courses, including Augusta National Golf Club, Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia), Atlanta Athletic Club, TPC San Antonio, St Andrews Links and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Yet Another Pokémon Event Coming to Gamestop…

Dustin Spencer
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Last week we told you about the three legendary beasts, Entei, Raikou, and Suicune which are all being distributed to the owners of Pokémon Heart Gold, Soul Silver, Diamond, Pearl and Platinum but now it is looking like Celebi will also be given some downloadable love as well as many GameStop employees are reporting that a new Celebi event will happen shortly after. Press materials have apparently shown up a bit early which give a bit of information on this Celebi, and since the Japan had the same treatment last year (though Celebi was distributed over wi-fi), this all makes a lot of sense to see the elusive second generation legend finally getting a release overseas.

From Feb. 27 through March 7, players will be able to download the Celebi which is actually quite special. Downloading this particular Celebi will trigger an event in Pokémon Heart Gold & Soul Silver known as the time-travel event. Celebi will also be used if transferred to Pokémon Black & White to obtain Zorua. Set your dates for this one as well, all you Poké-faithful as this might be the final event for the fourth generation titles (as of now anyway…).

New Video Shows Off Mii Creation on the 3DS…

Dustin Spencer
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Over at Japan’s Weekly ASCII, a 3DS was on display and of course video was shot showing off some of the features of Nintendo’s newest portable. In the video we get a first look at Mii Creation for the 3DS. Now if you ever created a Mii before, the process looks the same from a menu standpoint as all the shapes and appearance of the Mii itself are nearly identical to the Wii’s creator. The most interesting thing about Mii creation on the 3DS though is how the camera involved.

In the video, we see one of the testers snap a photo of himself which pops up on the Mii’s head. After an animated sequence, the Mii soon transforms and gains the facial features from the photo itself. Of course Miis are not exactly the closest thing to actual appearances, but just having this available on the system is yet another reason we are so hyped to get our hands on the 3DS, which still has a looming “April” release date for the world outside of Japan. Check out the video below to watch the transformation take place.

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