The television ad for Fable III’s US debut has surfaced online before making its way onto the airways. It features what looks like a revolution of the people against their tyrannical leader King Logan. The trailer plays to the music of The Black Angels, which also had their song “Young Men Dead,” featured in Alan Wake. The song is available on the game’s soundtrack and also plays after the ending to one of the chapters.
Fable III comes out at the end of this month on October 26th in the US and October 29th in the UK.
First the information was leaked onto Amazon.com and later was quickly pulled down, EA has confirmed now that they do have a special edition for Dead Space 2, but have named it for UK releases only.
The bundle pictured above includes a piece of artwork from the game, though we are not sure if there will only be one piece standard with each edition, or a number of pieces spread across different copies. Also included is a redeemable DLC card exclusive to the special edition, the soundtrack for Dead Space 2, and a very amazing looking replica Plasma Cutter.
No price yet for this edition but the Plasma Cutter looks extremely well made, and hopefully is just as detailed in life as it is in the picture. Catch this edition and the normal game when it releases on January 25th for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. This special edition however is only for the PC and 360 version, as the PS3 will come with Dead Space Extraction.
As the title says folks, Gran Turismo 5 has been delayed until the holiday season. No longer November 2nd release date. Here are the words straight from the PS blog:
“We can confirm that Gran Turismo 5 will not be available this November 2nd, but the game’s release will be coming this holiday season.
We sincerely apologize to GT fans for the delay, however, creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the team at Polyphony Digital want to make certain they are creating the perfect racing experience, and we are confident that this ambitious game will exceed expectations when it launches.
We’ll have more information for you in the near future.”
Hopefully holiday season means December. Lets also hope that it won’t delay again and jump on the bandwagon with Gran Turismo PSP.
Game Name: Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes
Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom
Platforms: Playstation 3, Wii
Genre: Action, Adventure
Released: October, 12th 2010
Price: $39.99
Rating: T
Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes hit stores yesterday. Thinking about picking it up? Heard of it but don’t know what to think? Never heard of it at all? Well, read on to find out if this is a game you want to be playing.
What is it?
Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes (SBSH) can easily be described “like dynasty warriors, but…”. At its most basic, it is a carbon copy of the tried and true formula that dynasty warriors has been using for almost a decade now, putting the player in control of an overly powerful general in battlefields with thousands of generic, nameless soldiers ripe for slaughter. To go with the previous description, SBSH is like dynasty warriors, but with style. I wouldn’t call dynasty warriors a bland or boring game, it certainly has its faire share of style and intrigue, but what SBSH does is on an entirely different level. The game breathes style, from the way each character is designed right down to their movesets, the game can sell itself based solely on the eyecandy. Even though this game is based off of historical events, with each character being a general or soldier that actually existed, the game takes a few liberties with fleshing them out in this stylized world. For example, a man famous for arming troops with guns(Magoichi Saika) is now represented as a woman while a general famous for being the survivor of over 60 battles yet never having been significantly wounded (Tadakatsu Honda) is represented as a giant and powerful robot. Needless to say, despite the fact that this game actually has some history in it, players would never know it as the characters are more like super heroes than simple generals in an army.
What does it play like?
There are two modes, quick battle and heroes story. Quick battle is just as its name entails, you pick your character of choice and select any mission you want, with all the experience/money/items you get being saved to the overall game. Heroes story is the meatier of the two, with you picking a character and playing out their story, their role in this war. This part is a bit like a board game of sorts. Each faction is represented as a little icon over the island of Japan. You are given a choice of which other faction to do battle with, each different choice slightly altering the story for each character. After your battle, the game updates you on what happened with the rest of Japan, which factions won their own battles, effectively slimming down the competition for future battles. This is likely where most of your time will be spent, as you need to play this mode several times with various characters to unlock not only more characters to play as, but other scenarios that can play out as you play this mode.
Each character has a basic combo that can be done just by mashing the attack button. You also start out with two abilities (special moves) and can unlock a total of 5 more, couple that with the fact that each ability may or may not upgrade over time and each character has a significant level of depth to their playstyle. At its most basic, the formula for the game is “capture all enemy bases then kill the boss”, but that is just at its most basic level. Similarly, halo can be described by saying “shoot everything while moving forward”. Each level will have its own unique set of objectives (usually involving killing an enemy general or capturing bases). After each level you are rewarded with experience based on your performance, money and materials based on how you played along with any items/materials/weapons you got from killing enemies during that level. The items and materials you get throughout each level can be used to create accessories that you attach to your weapons, granting you various bonus’s.
Unlike dynasty warriors, this game doesn’t have more characters than one can count. It has only a handful, which some will like and others won’t. Due to the smaller roster, each character feels uniquely different, creating a wholly different experience when playing the game with different characters. The story for this game is based off that of the Sengoku period of Japan, one of the iconic feudal era’s of Japan, just like how Dynasty Warriors is based off of the romance of the three kingdoms, a similar situation that took place in China. The more astute of you know that this game is called Sengoku Basara 3 in Japan, meaning this is a sequel, yet this is the first installment of the series in the west. Despite this fact, the story is still easily understandable, requiring no knowledge of previous games to get the overall message. If you by chance had imported previous games, there are things players will notice from SB2 to SBSH, but not having played SB2 won’t hinder you in any way.
Why should you care?
Let’s be honest, if you know you don’t like games like Dynasty Warriors, you likely aren’t going to like this. However, if you do like those games or even if you have never played them but are open to the idea of trying them out, this is the game for you. Dynasty Warriors has fallen into a bit of a pit the past couple years, just like how Sonic has been in the ditches lately (though it seems to be pulling itself out). If you liked Dynasty Warriors back when it was good then this game is made for you. Unfortunately, for the super fans or those well versed in Japanese culture, you will notice some flaws in the localization. There is a small bit of engrish (only in item/ability descriptions as far as I’ve seen) to those who can recognize it and some of the locations of certain battles are just plain historically incorrect, but these will go unnoticed by most players. With the addition of couch coop (no online here, sorry guys) this is a great game to play with a friend if you are just looking for a bit of mindless fun without having to invest a lot of time to leveling up a character. Though if its depth you are looking for, go no further. I’ve invested easily 20+ hours and the games completion counter is still only at 17%. Although, players who are looking for a challenge, a la Devil May Cry, this will disappoint a bit. The game is a bit on the easy side, though there are harder difficulties to play on (which you will need to if you want to find the rarer equipment).
Final thoughts
So, to recap…
Good
– Highly stylized setting and characters
– Lots of content
– Easy to get into
– Has co-op
Not So Good
– If you don’t like Dynasty Warriors, you won’t like this
– Localization has flaws
– No online play
– Doesn’t require much skill
If you even think you might like this game, I urge you to try it out at the very least. As a fan of the older Dynasty Warriors, this game was a blessing. Coupled with the immense replay value and ability to play with a friend and this game should keep you occupied for a long time.
It was the announcement everybody was waiting for, the classic SEGA arcade game, made famous on arcade machines around the world, has been given a release date and trailer. Due to a leak everybody already knew about the game, but it’s nice to get it fully confirmed, and the release date is some new information which we’re sure will be of interest to a lot of you.
Countless coins have fallen victim to this game in the arcades, slotted into the slit for an eternity of imprisonment in the dark box inside…Which is why you’ll be happy to know that from 24 November, this game will be on XBLA and PSN for 800 msp and about $10 respectively. No longer will you have to plunge into your pocket for change for this addictive game once you’ve made this one-off payment, for you will be able to play it as much as your heart desires from the comfort of your own home.
Game Dev Story
Developer: Kairosoft Co.
Publisher: Kairosoft Co.
Genre: Simulation
Released: 9th October
Price: $3.99 BUY NOW
Have you ever wanted to run your own video game company? Well I have! I’ve always wanted to know what it was like managing a team of dedicated programmers, writers, graphic designers, sound engineers, producers and directors. Well the fine people over at Kairosoft have provided us with that opportunity. Game Dev Story is a sim management style game that will allow you to experience what it’s it like to create a game from start to finish including hiring and firing employees, placing ads to help grow and maintain a fan base, attend game show events and press conferences and even build your own gaming console.
The sky is the limit with Game Dev Story. Do you have what it takes to make that Number one hit title and receive recognition from the game reviewers and magazines for a perfect score ? Step up and take the challenge -you won’t regret it.
Game Dev Story starts off as most sims do. You begin with $500K in your account and a loyal and trustworthy assistant, who guides you through a small part of the game, helping you hire your staff. There isn’t too much to learn even though it may feel a little daunting at first. But if you have the time there is a very handy 29 page manual in the options menu that gives a fairly decent rundown on how things work which I would recommend you read right at the start so you don’t get lost or many any silly mistakes that could ruin your chances of having fun later in the game.
The gameplay in a nutshell is quite simple – there’s a perfect blend of options that are not confusing making it perfect for newcomers to the sim genre as well as hard core sim specialists. It’s totally up to you how you want to run your own gaming company because in the end it all boils down to having fun and making sure your dedicated team are happy and content and fully trained in their specific skills. More importantly, your fans should be excited with the quality of the games you create.
There is so much to talk about in Game Dev Story I could go and on about it for hours. For starters the game begins with you the young in-experienced CEO naming your company and settling in to your new office as your secretary walks you through some of the basics. You then have the task of hiring staff. You can do this by placing ads on the net or in a magazine, or by word of mouth – all of which cost money and will attract a specific amount of interest depending on how much you spend.
You start off in a fairly small office building only capable of holding four staff, so make sure you pick the right blend of people so that you can grow and create a game that will start making you money and building up your fan base. Game Dev Story is set to run for a total of 20 years (in game time that is, but you can continue playing after that period ends if you wish). You start right at the beginning by purchasing a licence to develop games on the humble PC. Then as the years roll by – and you earn more money, you will have the option to develop new games on any new consoles released by other companies, and launched at press conferences.
Due to copyright laws, all of the consoles and gaming companies are named differently in the game and Kairosoft have thought of some very funny mock-up / parody name for games and consoles which had me laughing and even got me in the mood to mock up my game titles once I created them in the game.
As your gaming company begins to grow (well we hope it does) you start building up a fan base which is broken down demographically – males/females of specific ages who also evolve with the game. So after a while specific ages drop off and you get a new breed of gamer that has no idea who you are so you need to attract them to your games by placing ads in a variety of specific ways from radio, to magazine and tv just to name a few. Again, everything costs money and the more you can burn the more fans and hype you can generate for your game and gaming company.
There are two types of resources in the game. One is the almighty dollar which is used for a variety of things from paying for a console license so you can develop games on it, to paying employee salaries, to placing ADS for staff, to promoting your company, to training your staff – all of which unlock extra features that will allow you to create a more broader range of game genres such as RPG, ACTION, PUZZLE type games. The key is to ensure your staff are always trained up as they are your backbone and if they are not at full capacity you will need to look elsewhere –and hire, for example, other 3rd party contracters who provide a specific service. This will increase the amount of money you need to develop your game.
The other resource is research points. During the course of the game your staff will discover “research points” – which can happen either while they are working on a game or when they are sitting around doing nothing. Research points are also used in a variety of different ways from “Levelling Up” your staff (MAX Level Cap is 5) to using them to increase your game’s FUN, Creativity, Graphical, Story and Sound features. Learning how this works combined with other items that boost those features is very important in creating that NO#1 top selling title that will earn you that “GAME OF THE YEAR” award at the yearly game awards show (just like Video Game awards we have each year).
As your pool of money increases, you have the option to move into bigger and more spacious offices that can accommodate more staff and will allow you to create bigger and better games. The process then continues, hire extra staff, train them up, give them the appropriate training they require, promote your game and company, research more genre’s, create and hype up another title and hope the game critics give you a great review score.
Graphically Game Dev Story is not spectacular, but if you love the retro look then this is right up you alley. Personally I think the retro look suits the game to a tee. Of course not everyone is a fan of the old retro style games taking one look at it and thinking it looks too basic and not taking advantage of the iPhone 4 “Retina Display” and graphical capability. But if you’re looking for something that is totally original and will get you hooked from the start, then look no further. If you’re a video game addict and always wished you could own your own video game company – then Game Dev Story is for you!
Once you start you won’t be able to put this down. Another great feature is that it won’t take too much of your battery (that’s an upside of using 16-bit graphics) Controls and save options also work fine (even though you only have one save game slot which is a little bit of a downer) as you can access the menu system from anywhere on the screen to pick and execute specific commands etc.
If you love your sim style games, you’re a video game fan and you’ve always wondered what it’s like to run your own gaming company (employing staff, attending game show events and press conferences etc) then what are you waiting for? Make your way over the iTunes store NOW and purchase Game Dev Story you will not be disappointed !!
THQ is planning to revolutionize the shooter genre with Homefront, a game set in America where America must fight invading Korean forces. It will definitely be interesting to see how it stacks up to some other high profile shooters, and I can’t wait to see how the original looking shooter will play. The story is penned by John Milius and I hope it will be especially interesting. For now, enjoy the new screenshots, and look for the game on store shelves in early 2011 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
Recently we reviewed Zenonia for the DSiWare. It was a spectacular experience and one of the best takes on an old-school action RPG in years in my opinion which brings some great news for our Sony fans itching to play the game. Gamevil are now launching Zenonia as a Playstation Mini on the Playstation Network for both the Playstation 3 and the PSP.
“We’re excited to bring forward ZENONIA to another hundred million potential devices.”, said Kyu Lee, Vice President and Head of GAMEVIL USA. “We will continue to expand our portfolio serving gamers on multiple platforms and bring ‘GAMEVIL Anywhere’.”
If you have access to the PSN at all, I highly recommend you check into Zenonia as the experience is one not to be forgotten. Even better news is that Zenonia will be available by the end of today..so as you are reading this, you could be downloading Zenonia already at a great price of just $6.99. Check out our DSiWare review HERE.
Its coming to that time of the year again. Christmas time. Just wanted to update everybody on what Playstation has to offer right now. It is not a bad way to go for gifts.
Playstation 3
Out of all the Playstation products this year, this would be the one to get. It is one of the best consoles on the market today. You can’t really go wrong with a PS3 in your house. The only console to support 3D games and 3D blu ray video playback (only if you have one of those expensive TVs), It is the big daddy of Playstation.
$499.95(160gb), $599.95(320gb)
US: $299.99(160gb), $399.99(320gb move bundle)
Playstation Move
I have done a feature on the Move games so there is no need for another one. High definition motion control gameplay is basically what it is. With an awesome game line up this year and next year, It doesn’t look too shabby a gift for the ps3 fan.
In PAL countries it comes in 30 dollar and 50 dollar cards. In the US it comes in 20 dollar and 50 dollar cards. The recipent will be able to get what they want with these: Movies, music or a full list of games and downloadable content.
Playstation Portable
Playstation on the go. Have this powerhouse in your pocket wherever you go. It has the best graphics ever seen on a portable gaming machine. If your loved one likes power on the go, this is perfect. Varied size memory sticks add versatility so they can also carry music, movies and pictures.
$279.95 (psp 3000)
US:$ 169.99 (psp 3000)
Just a few Playstation product overviews just in case you were looking for that perfect gift. There are plenty of games like Gran Turismo 5 and Singstar Dance. It all depends on the one you want to give the gift to. Make sure to keep Playstation in the back of your mind when going over gift plans!
Looking for Playstation Move games for gifts? Find it here.
I have always loved racing games, but they have become so realistic lately that, well, it takes the fun out of it! Why can’t you go fast without flying off the track? SBK X is a new motorbike racing game coming out soon, and one that I am a little more excited than most. Why? Because they are going to have a mode that allows you to just have FUN racing again!
Preview
Arcade is a customizable mode that will allow you to race how you want to. There are several different options, including an arcade-only Story Mode feature. You’ll compete in races to move up to the next level of course, but each time you have two options: to continue the easy route or the hard route. I like this option because there are some days that you just want to have fun playing your game, while other days you are looking for a challenge. Halo: Reach multiplayer? Challenge. Fable II? Fun!
Story Mode will also still have the ability to customize your character. In normal racing games this doesn’t matter since you never really see your character (I just completely realized how weird it was to be a car instead of a character of some kind), but you will be staring at your back the entire race, so why not customize him/her? I guess unless you are one of those strange beings that like playing in first person.
Moving on though, in Arcade mode, the physics have been altered some to allow you to hit maximum speed without becoming unstable. Of course, that doesn’t mean to say that physics won’t exist at all – you still have the ability to wipe out. There is something enticing about going as fast as possible though…
