Cosmonaut Games are at it again with a brand new title for the iPad and iPhone, Inkub. The title rolls off the tongue well but I am sure you want to know a little more about the game itself. Inkub is a unique strategy/action game putting players in the role as an employee of Inkub, a company that maintains and preserves species thanks to genetic engineering and high-level technology. Mixing genes from existing species, extinct and human, Inkub seeks the artificial creation of carbon based organisms to avoid their disappearance.
INKUB has a spacecraft navigating through different systems to offer their help to other civilizations with problems. It is in this spacecraft´s process plant where the embryos start their creation inside accelerated growth plasma incubators. However, bacteria, parasites, and other species that have evolved for years and live in the plasmatic liquid constantly threaten the growth of these embryos. The objective is to ensure the growth of said specimens, eliminating the threats. INKUB has
perfected defense systems within the incubation plants that must be used to end all threats and preserve the developing species.
Inkub is like a tower defense game where you must defend incubator containing a growing specimen with different weapons and powers that will help you destroy, pause, or block these enemies. These threats will try to enter the incubator through the Plasma tubes that connect it with the life-giving energy that makes them grow.
Each of the enemies will have special features (speed, resistance, range) and, likewise, the weapons and blockers will have other features (damage, range, speed…). A total of 8 different weapons will be available, all of them upgradeable, which you will obtain as you advance through the 40 rounds that make up the game. The whole system is sustained by energy. Therefore, using that energy, you will be able to acquire and upgrade all of the available weapons. You can obtain energy by constantly improving the energy cells that appear on each round.
Features Include:
3D Graphics: All scenarios are in 3D, making the most of the iPad and iPhone graphics.
3 Difficulty Levels: 3 different difficulty levels have been prepared so that you can adjust the
game to you ability.
Adventure Mode: 5 different Worlds, each of them containing 8 rounds. A total of 40 rounds
full of action, enemies and danger where you must prove your defense skills.
Survival Mode: Beat the record in each one of the game worlds in this non-stop mode,
where each wave is stronger than the previous one.
Scenario Rotation: With an innovative play system, slide your finger over the screen to rotate
the level perspectives and access the rear tubes.
Sniper: Discover special rounds where you must crash the enemies.
Enemies: Up to 21 enemy feature variations available.
Weapons: Up to 24 variations in all of the weapons at your disposal.
Files: Review enemies and weapons in the game files. Learn more about each of the
available weapons and the enemy features.
Unlocking system: Unlock weapons, enemies and play modes as you pass each one of the
Adventure Mode rounds.
Complete soundtrack with 7 songs performed by El Topo Negro.
Inkub looks like a great tower defense title that is sure to be an addictive experience for anyone wanting a great title on the go. You can pick up the title now on the AppStore for only $.99 for the iPhone and $2.99 on the iPad. Check out the trailer below which shows off the gameplay and the incredible soundtrack. We also have screenshots for both versions below. For a great price and a solid looking title, all those with an iPhone or iPad should definitely look into this surely addicting game.
Following suit of the releases of Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi, Sega is now bringing some more Dreamcast classics to the Xbox Live Arcade and Playstation Network.
“The release of these games marks SEGA’s ongoing effort to bring its best-sellers from the Dreamcast era to the latest consoles,” said Haruki Satomi, Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA. “We want to enable a new generation of players to experience some of the most celebrated titles our video game history has to offer, while at the same time appealing to our enthusiastic and much appreciated community of fans.”
First up is one of my personal favorites, Space Channel 5 Part 2. Never released in America for the Dreamcast but later released on the Playstation 2 with the original title, the sequel had another rhythm/action adventure with Ulala, Pudding, Space Michael and all the rest up against the evil and mysterious Perge using dance as the ultimate weapon. I personally loved both the Space Channel 5 games and seeing a re-release is wonderful news.
Next up is another classic, Sega Bass Fishing. This realistic 3-D bass fishing simulation shines with eight fishing environments and fourteen different lures. This should be a welcome revival as well for fishing fans or anyone wanting a fun retro-like experience on the newer consoles.
Both are scheduled for release in early 2011 for the XBLA & PSN. Sega has been one of the most giving companies to fans that made them where they are today and it is great to see even more Dreamcast revivals. Now I will say Shenmue would be great as well, Sega. Hint..Hint..;)
Razer is on a roll this year with some of the hottest peripherals on the market for PC gaming. Keeping the pace of releases to be sure to make any pc gamer drool will be the new Starcraft II line of peripherals and just in time for Blizzcon. The line includes the Razer Spectre StarCraft II Gaming Mouse, the Razer Marauder StarCraft II Gaming Keyboard and the Razer Banshee StarCraft II Gaming Headset. It’s time to upgrade your equipment and prepare for battle, as these products are fully integrated into the StarCraft II experience.
“We have been anticipating the moment we could get these gaming peripherals into the hands of gamers and StarCraft players,” said Robert “Razerguy” Krakoff, president, Razer USA. “We could not be more happy with the massive feedback we’ve received over the unique APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System™ feature and remarkable design. This new line offers StarCraft II players a great new way to complement and customize their real-time strategy gaming experience.”
The Razer Spectre, Razer Marauder and Razer Banshee are all packed with features designed to enhance gamers’ play experience. All of the Razer StarCraft II gaming peripherals feature an APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System that provides the gamer with feedback on performance, providing a fully integrated gaming experience that responds directly to the player’s maneuvers and speed. Each peripheral also features a gaming-optimized design with an emphasis on portability for tournament play, and is stylized with design elements from the StarCraft universe.
So now to talk a look at each item:
Razer Spectre StarCraft II Gaming Mouse
Tournament-ready and designed for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, the Razer Spectre StarCraft II Gaming Mouse is a lightweight, five-button mouse designed to provide precision and control for RTS gamers. The Razer Spectre features the newly developed APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System with a multi-color LED that provides real-time performance feedback through changing lighting hues and adjustable mouse button force settings for optimal mouse click speed and control. Equipped with a powerful 5600dpi Razer Precision™ 3.5G laser sensor and a 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ 1 ms response time, the Razer Spectre StarCraft II Gaming Mouse gives gamers exactly what they are looking for in an RTS mouse.
PRICE: AU$149.95
FEATURES:
Gaming-Optimized Design inspired by the StarCraft universe
Lightweight, Fingertip-Grip 5 Button Mouse
5600DPI Razer Precision 3.5G laser sensor
Backlit Mouse with APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System
Mouse Click Button Force Adjustment
1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response
Hardware Configuration Utility
Razer Marauder StarCraft II Gaming Keyboard
Designed for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, the Razer Marauder StarCraftII Gaming Keyboard is a full-featured, tournament-ready keyboard maximized for compact design. The Razer Marauder features a multi-color backlit keyboard with an APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System that provides real-time performance feedback through changing color hues to complement the gaming experience. Enhanced with elevated keys for rapid command input and improved gaming performance and a dedicated on-the-fly macro recording system, the Razer Marauder is built with a gaming-optimized design inspired by the StarCraft universe.
PRICE: AU$199.95
FEATURES:
StarCraft-inspired Design
Optimized Key Travel Distance
Backlit Keyboard with APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System
Optimized Spacing with Laser-etched Keys
Razer Hyperesponse technology
1000Hz Ultrapolling /1ms response
Hardware Configuration Utility
Razer Banshee StarCraftII Gaming Headset
Designed for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, with a focus on maximum performance, comfort and sound isolation, the Razer Banshee StarCraft II Gaming Headset features a newly developed, multi-color APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System™ that provides real-time feedback on player performance. The Razer Banshee is equipped with a configuration utility for customized adjustments of equalizer, pitch and volume. Other special features include a detachable microphone boom for easy transport and a comfortable circumaural construction, all in a gaming-optimized design inspired by the StarCraft universe.
PRICE: AU$199.95
FEATURES:
Gaming-Optimized Performance & Comfort
StarCraft-inspired Design
Backlit Headset with APM (Actions-Per-Minute) Lighting System
Circumaural Design with 50mm Driver Units
Built-in Volume & Mic Control Buttons
Detachable Microphone Boom
Hardware Configuration
Razer StarCraft II Zerg Edition Messenger Bag
The Zerg Edition of the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Messenger Bag features artwork from the game and is designed to protect gaming gear in style.
PRICE: AU$129.95
FEATURES:
Tear-resistant, weather-proof heavy duty 1680D ballistic nylon outer shell
Single shoulder sling design for added mobility
Easy one-handed release chest clasp enables quick and convenient access
Built-in compartments for laptops, gaming peripherals and portable gaming device
Padded inner lining protects electronic devices and provides ample shock absorbency while on the road
The accessories all look amazing and should please any Starcraft II fan when they are released in November. For more information about the products listed or pre-order info, check out www.razerzone.com.
Majesco’s new puzzle-platformer, Flip’s Twisted World is now available for the Nintendo Wii as of October 19th. We recently brought you a gameplay trailer for this unique title that lets players think outside the box and navigate a world that is literally in the palms of their hands. Flip looks like a title certainly worthy of any platforming fans attention as not only is the game interesting and reminiscent of some of the great platformers from the past, it has a score developed by none other than Tommy Tallarico himself.
Here is the official announcement of release from Majesco:
Featuring an original score from video game legend, Tommy Tallarico and the voice talent of Anthony Stewart Head, Flip’s Twisted World follows the adventures of Flip, who messes with a forbidden magic book and gets sucked into a crazy cubed universe where up and down are just a matter of perspective. With a simple flick of the wrist using the Wii Remote™, players can rotate the environment 90 degrees in any direction, opening new paths and possibilities; an obstructing wall can turn into a path and a pit can turn into a corridor. In their journey, players travel through six bizarre, puzzle worlds: a celestial backwater, a fractured castle, a dense jungle full of booby-trapped temples, a frozen arctic wasteland, a network of subterranean lava caves and an intricate clock tower in the sky. Along the way, Flip will encounter both friendly and menacing creatures as he collects magical items and powerful weapons like the Ice Spray, Zapper or Water Cannon. Players can also unlock goodies and alternate costumes and learn more about the secrets of the magic universe’s past by finding pieces of The Master’s lost journal.
Flip’s Twisted World can be found wherever video games are sold at $29.99 (US). To watch a new gameplay trailer and find out more, please visit www.FlipsTwistedWorld.com.
Don’t want to pay for Foxtel IQ or Installation fees? Well, me neither. Good news is that pricing has been revealed for the upcoming November launch of the Foxtel on Xbox 360 service. The service will feature a range of live streaming television channels and on-demand programs.
The ‘Get Started’ package will launch with eleven channels which include FOX8, MTV, Nickelodeon, Channel [V], Lifestyle YOU, Discovery, National Geographic Channel, TV1, SKY NEWS, FOX Sports News and CNN. This will only be 20 bucks while it eats away at your download limit.
The entertainment package features the Comedy Channel and SCI-FI, the sports package should provide you with more live and delayed sport than you could ever need and two different movie packages are also available. The price of these add-ons starts at around $10 a month.
An on demand service is also available which allows you to catch up on on some TV and rent movies on Foxtel’s service. But unfortunately the service is only available in metropolitan areas, requires an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription, and will require a decent broadband speed.
In addition Microsoft currently has no unmetered download partnerships other than IINET. We’re looking at around 800MB for a 90 minute film; however this service is more than likely a trial and will hopefully grow in proportion if Australia’s “National Broadband Network” is successful in its implementation.
Sports games never have a story in them, but NBA 2K11 has reversed that trend and given us the task of recreating Michael Jordan’s legacy. I was really excited to find out more about the Legend. In this respect, NBA 2K11 is much different than other sports games; it would be amazing if the trend continues too. Playing through Michael Jordan’s career lends focus and direction to a game that would otherwise merely be modes that gamers have already played through many times over. Born in 1990, I do not remember ever seeing Michael Jordan play, but now, actually playing parts of what made him great, it makes me respect him much more. At first, I was worried that 2K would have trouble topping this. However, the more I played “The Jordan Challenge” I became more disconnected than I wanted to be. It would have been amazing to have some original footage or even commentary from those games. Even though the commentators and text in the game do their best, it never really totally feels like I am actually watching MJ play. 2K had a chance to school some NBA noobs like me, but they only captured the highlights Jordan’s career. NBA 2K11 is an awesome experience, but it could’ve been so much more epic. Another feature that is a little bit disconcerting is that there are only 10 moments from his days in the NBA. Although it is innovative & great, the “story” mode could have been like Michael Jordan himself: a never to be forgotten legend that lives on.
Gameplay
After many years, the NBA games from 2K are polished to perfection. The A.I. is extremely good. If you want to win, you must play smart and like a real player. For example, when shooting it is not a good idea to just haphazardly use the shot stick, even on the lowest difficulty. The defense will always know what you are up to and react accordingly. I only found one time when the game acted funky. At the end of the a close game, the defense fouled me about 10 times. I understand that fouling is a strategy, but 10 times in 30 seconds? Other than that, I found no real game killing elements present. 2K has given the hardcore what they asked for: a rock solid basketball game that will not let you skate by.
For the casual NBA player, take note that this game may take months of practice to truly master. 2K11 is jam packed with offensive and defensive tools to make you a NBA Pro, but I personally found the controls and moves dizzying. Often, it was hard to remember the control combinations, plus what I could do with my player. This was especially true of dribbling. The tutorial was of little help . Although the tutorial would say what controls to use, only when completing jump shots would the game give an indication of how well you did, and what needed improvement. Sometimes, I would try to pull off a specular dunk, only to find that I had mismatched my buttons. If the sequel could create some intuitive controls, it would be a giant leap forward in an already spectacular series.
The final niggling problem was the User Interface. It often took many minutes to find what I was looking for. To illustrate, I saved a replay and knew it could be uploaded. So I looked for the replay in the “reel” section. Alas, no saved films. Worried, I looked in every place imaginable. In the most esoteric of places, I finally found my replay in the “LOAD” section. Then I had to transfer it to the reel section and then upload. And that is just one example. Generally though, once found, a feature is so insanely spiffy that previous woes are forgotten. Going back to the replay section example, once I found it, it was really fun to edit, add sounds and do all sorts of stuff. This is true for most of the game. There are at least 10-15 game modes, each packed with options and different game play.
Graphics and Audio
Graphics are best described in one word: TERRIFIC! Sure, there are weird parts when teeth and mouths look all cartoony. And there are times when two players would magically turn into one, sharing arms or legs. But these are rare, and for a sports game with so much action, it is truly amazing how good the graphics are. Facial expressions and free throws animations are all beautifully captured and add to the atmosphere.
Audio and commentary are usually one of the most defining aspects of a sport. Each sport has its signature sound or announcers. Even crowds sound different at different events. The squeaking of shoes and the crowd are well rendered in NBA 2K11. The soundtrack is also varied and crazy cool. A mix of hip hop, rap, alternative and rock, it really gets the groove on and psychs up the game. With the ability to create your own play list, it is pretty neat. One caveat I had with the soundtrack was the commentary. Initially it was great, and it felt odd playing without it. Eventually though, they just KEPT saying the same thing over and over. It seems inconceivable to me for them not to able to switch up a couple their tracks once in a while. Take as an example, the alley-oop. Every time I was able to perform one, the announcers would, without fail say the same phrase. This was also the case with steals and rejections. To be fair, they were smart with the color analysis and them being able to read & interpret current stats was really sweet.
Overview
Unintuitive controls are the main reason this game is not perfect. Sure, there are some flaws in the MJ mode. But they are fairly easy to overlook. Playing as Michael Jordan is just too darn cool to really criticize it that much. Even the commentary and UI is easy to forget. If you want a great basketball game, look no further. Just be warned that if you have not played a NBA game in awhile, it may take some time to make sense of everything (also, you may want to switch to the handy “Casual” game play style.)
Some of you may have actually played this, as it is about a year or two old. Now I know that a flash game is something that generally doesn’t excite people. In fact, you are probably reading this right now with a bored expression on your face thinking, “Really? A FLASH game? This game better pay me thousands of dollars if this guy is writing an article about it.” but trust me, this game is great. For those of you who are advocates of the “games are art” notion, this game should interest you. I’m not going to go terribly into detail so as to not ruin the experience, (as the game is short) but the game is pretty much entirely revolved around exploration and discovery. The game’s art style is one of the big selling points here, being in a retro/minimalist look, your character is but 3 pixels. To counter this the levels are, by comparison, massive. It’s rare for me to care so much about a flash game, let alone at all, but I’ll be damned if a particular level in this didn’t unleash a deep, festering pool of nostalgia in me. I wanted to just take a screenshot of each level as it was completed to show you the artistic/creative design that went into them, but that would destroy the experience.
This game was made by David Shute, who runs a blog with various other flash games. This game has won various awards and has been praised by many, and rightfully so. For those of you who haven’t experienced this yet, it only takes about 10-20 minutes to complete and once done you will be begging for more. Click on over to David Shute’s site to play this indie gem.
As soon as I heard the news about Netflix coming to the Nintendo Wii, I requested a disc on day one. To my surprise the quality of service was excellent and the Wii-Mote made streaming Netflix fast and as easy as ever before. There was only one problem, getting the disc. I had to request it many times before it actually came and then when it did, the slipcover it originally came with didn’t protect it as well, so my time was very limited with Wii Netflix. I really don’t blame either party, but getting anything by mail seems to be a mixed bag these days. Nintendo have now delivered news on this though and are making the service a download for Free from the WiiShop! Here is the official announcement below:
Beginning today, Netflix members in the United States and Canada can stream content through their Wii™ consoles with Netflix installed on their Wii Menu. The Netflix disc that was used for instant streaming on the Wii console will no longer be required. Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month ($7.99 in Canada), a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection can now instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed directly to their TVs by simply downloading Netflix from the Wii Shop Channel. This new channel is available at no extra cost. The new disc-free option installs Netflix on the Wii Menu, making it convenient for Wii owners to quickly access streaming movies and TV shows.
“At this time of year, consumers have a near-insatiable demand for family entertainment,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “And this simplified Netflix access will help bring families together more quickly, more easily and in more ways than ever before. More than 3 million Wii systems have already connected to Netflix, demonstrating how easy the service is to set up and use.”
“Wii is a consummate home entertainment platform and has quickly become one of the best and most popular ways to enjoy movies streamed from Netflix,” said Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix. “The availability of Netflix right on the Wii Menu adds significantly to the ease and convenience that attracts our members to the Netflix streaming experience and is an important step in our efforts to continuously improve the service.”
Convenience at it’s finest. Broadband internet and a Netflix account is of course required but this is a welcome addition as now the Wii is caught up with the competition on the digital version of Netflix. So get on it and try Disc Free Netflix Wii today! (Had to rhyme that)
Gameloft have released the N.O.V.A. 2 – “The Hero Rises Again” Teaser Video for the Apple iPhone. This sequel is shaping quite nicely from what you can see from the teaser trailer a lot of extra cool stuff has been added along with some mean looking enemies waiting to destroy you and the rest of the humanity. Do you have what it takes to be the HERO and rise up once again ? Well watch the trailer below and Captain Karl Wardin fulfill his destiny.
Developer: Markus Persson
Publisher: Mojang Specifications
Platform: Java platform, Java applet
Release date : May 17, 2009
Genre: Sandbox, Adventure
Mode : Single-player, Multiplayer Download Now
Minecraft: All the fun of Meth, without the tooth decay!
A couple weeks back, I was browsing about the internet, trying to find something that would hold my interest for longer than 30 seconds, when I came across a fan-made trailer for a game called Minecraft.
Now, I had heard a lot about this so-called “Minecraft,” nothing about the actual game, but I had heard it mentioned, and this video piqued my interest. It appeared to be a game where you mine resources, then craft them. To what end, I had yet to discover, but of course there must be some sort of end goal. I mean, what kind of game has no goal or structure, right?
So after a few days of holding out and doing a bit of digging on the interwebz, I thought, “Meh. It seems interesting, but I don’t really want to pay money to play the full version.”
This is when two very important things happened.
One, I saw this video, in which a man with perhaps the penultimate nerd voice explains how he is building a working computer, inside of Minecraft.
This video is astounding to me. Not only for the fact that it is at all possible to make a computer inside of a little PC game, but because in the short time it took to watch that video, a gained a better understanding of how computers work at a basic level than I ever did simply trying to read (to anyone who denies that games can be learning tools, HA!).
The second thing that happened was perhaps even more important than that awe-inspiring video. The weekend after viewing that video, the Minecraft servers went down, and Notch (the creator of the game) declared that weekend to be a free-play weekend.
The stars aligned, and I downloaded the fuck outa that game.
I started it up, and saw that everything, from sheep to trees, from dirt to the sun itself, was made of large blocks; if I smack the blocks enough, they break and enter my inventory, where I can equip and place the blocks as I see fit. This, as you may well have guessed, is where the “mine” portion of the title comes from.
The “craft” portion was a bit stickier. I had heard that I was able to craft loads of objects; picks, doors, armor, ladders, fences, whatever. What I had not heard was how to do so.
You see, unlike crafting systems in other games, you do not simply take two objects and magically transmogrify them into a single, totally different object. This game makes you LOGIC shit through, something I greatly respect. So instead of selecting a cat and a fish and hitting the “combine” button to get a catfish, you actually have to place materials in a certain way within the 2×2 crafting box to get a certain item out of it. But the game doesn’t exactly tell you up front what you can craft, or what shapes you need to make to craft it. I figured you can’t go wrong with wood (ba-dum-tish), so I began collecting some by smacking the nearby trees. Which proceeded to defy gravity.
Science!
I entered my inventory, and, lacking anything better to do, put the wood in the crafting box (giggity).
And that is how I discovered how to make wood planks… ALL BY MYSELF!
But the limits of my ingenuity had been reached, and a jaunt to the Minecraft Wikiwas required. I clicked around for a bit, and voila! I learned to make a pick.
So I made a low-quality pick out of wood, and began mining my way into the side of the nearby mountain. The deeper I went, the more iron, gold, and diamond I found. But I also found myself burning up in underground pools of lava, falling through the ground to be dashed to death on the floors of massive caves, and being attacked by zombies, skeletons, spiders, and suicide-bombing “creepers.” If I wanted to continue lower, I needed a way to stay alive
The combat in the game isn’t exactly complex (it consists of holding down the smack button until your enemy says “blargh” and falls down), and I honestly think the game would be better off without it. It draws attention to a core problem with this game: the fact that after all is said and done, there’s really no point to playing.
There’s no experience system, so no reason to fight the baddies other than to survive. But wait, why are you down where the enemies are anyway? You’re only there to get the better materials, after all. And why are you getting better materials, except to get better items, like swords and armor? Which you only need for killing zombies? When you think about it, you never really accomplish anything, and there is no goal or reason to try and improve. Unless you can find some way to motivate yourself to play, the novelty wears off pretty quick, and you quickly stop playing. So what can you do to keep yourself interested, motivated, and occupied?
Build.
There lies the genius of this game. It is the ultimate sandbox. You can change the scenery as much as you want, able to both create and destroy nearly anything you come across. You want a giant castle on top of a mountain? You can build it. Underground temple to Cthulhu surrounded by lava waterfalls? You can build it. With the introduction of redstone powder, you can even create electrical circuits, switches, and traps. So as long as you can keep yourself interested in building, the game can last forever.
But a problem occurs when so much of the game is about creation: You can never be truly finished. Sure, you finally constructed a tunnel from your home base to you mining camp, but it takes a while to get from one side to the other. Maybe adding a minecart track would speed things up! And while you were making that, you discovered another vein of iron leading off from the main shaft, and had to dig that up, which led you to a patch of redstone. Well, now that you have that, you can create switches so you can have your minecart track change directions. So you add another branch to your track, leading you to a new area, etc. etc. You get locked in a continuous cycle of improvement, and you just… can’t… stop.
This tower started as a 4x4 wooden hut.
This incessant need to improve can manifest itself in several ways, but mostly appears as procrastination. I only signed into Minecraft again to get some pictures for this article, and ended up taking 2 more days to write this than I should have. Oops.
The game is still in its Alpha stage, so there is still a lot of work to be done. The game gets updates every couple of weeks, so there’s often new content to try out, and there is a thriving community based around the multiplayer servers that the game supports.
