If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can get a sneak peek of All Roads, the graphic novel to be available exclusively in the Fallout: New Vegas Collector’s Edition.
By checking this link you can have access to 12 full pages of All Roads, which introduces the world of New Vegas, a town of dreamers and desperados being torn apart by warring factions vying for complete control of this desert oasis, and a tells an intriguing tale of loyalty and violence that leads right up to the beginning of the game.
Created in conjunction with Dark Horse Comics and written by Chris Avellone, the game’s senior designer, All Roads is tightly integrated into the story of New Vegas, even containing clues to in-game missions for the sharp-eyed reader. Artists Jean Diaz (Incorruptible) and Wellinton Alves (Shadowland: Blood on the Streets, Nova) and cover artist Geof Darrow (Hard Boiled, The Matrix, Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot) offer their stunningly interpretation the world of New Vegas.
Fallout: New Vegas is slated for release on October 19th in North America, October 21st in Australia and October 22nd in Europe.
Jimmy’s Vendetta, the new DLC for Mafia II, is going to be released tomorrow, September 7th.
In this new DLC Players will experience arcade-style gameplay with more than 30 new quests and leaderboard ranking. Jimmy’s Vendetta takes place in an alternate perspective of the mob through the eyes of Jimmy, the guy the other guys call when they need to finish the job. Players will get their hands dirty helping Jimmy clean up other people’s messes as they deal with the Italian and Irish mobsters that reside in Empire Bay.
As players progress, a slew of new quests are unlocked, including assassination and timed vehicle pursuits ending in dramatic shootouts and explosive car chases. Execute with deadly head shots or charged explosives, and rack up points for precision-timed vehicular power slides, lofty jumps, and supercharged velocity. Multipliers and combos add bonus points to overall scores that will be immediately posted to thenew online leaderboard system, providing extensive re-playability as players work to rise to the top of the ranks.
Jimmy’s Vendetta will be available tomorrow on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 for U$9.99/800 Microsoft Points. Be prepared to go back to the Mafia by checking the launch trailer:
As we already posted last month, Minerva’s Den, the final DLC for Bioshock 2, will be centered in the Rapture Central Computing, a never-before-seen district of the undersea city, and uncover the dark secrets hidden in its founder’s past.
Wield new high-tech weaponry and a devastating new Plasmid to best the towering threats in Minerva’s Den: more dangerous Splicers that command the power of the elements, upgraded Security Bots that throw rockets and lightning bolts, and even a never-before-seen type of Big Daddy. Developed by 2K Marin, Minerva’s Den offers new twists on the story-driven experience that drew players into BioShock 2 when it launched earlier this year.
We still don’t have a date, but a launch trailer has been released for this final DLC. You can check it right below:
Is there anything Aksys can’t do? Seeming not, as the Bit.Trip developers tackle another genre, with their latest instalment in the Bit.Trip series. Their latest project is called Bit.Trip Fate, and this time, is of the side scrolling shooter genre. It follows on from their last release, Bit.Trip Runner which was a rhythm-based platformer, as well as the other Bit.Trip titles of other genres too, showing the teams incredible talent for making games, and their diversity for adapting to different genres with pleasing results.
In this newest game, you’ll use the nunchuk to move the wii remote pointer to aim. Plus, characters from other games such as Super Meat Boy are set to make a guest appearance. Like previous efforts, the game will feature a dub-step sound track complimented chiptune sound effects, and if the other Bit.Trip games are anything to go by, should be an absolute classic.
It releases on WiiWare this Autumn/Fall, but for now here’s the trailer which gives the perfect insight of what is to come:
G.G Series Ninja Karakuri Den is a platforming game from Genterprise Inc. and part of the popular G.G. game series in Japan.
Story
Ninja Karakuri Den doesn’t have a story or a huge plot as it is made to be a simple game with quick gameplay. You take control on a small unnamed ninja and defeat enemies and objects to move to the next levels door. There are small moments of light dialogue, but these are mainly taunts that come with a boss victory.
Gameplay
In Ninja Karakuri Den you will try to make it through the 60 stages in the game, fighting other Ninjas and enemies in your way. The main objective of standard levels is to break all the gears to open the door to the next level. There is quite a catch though. The floors are made up of platforms which upon stepping on fall out from under your ninja and you must quickly jump onto the next platform. There is also a timer to keep in mind as well as once it is out, you must restart the level. Various enemies will also be in your path to the door with different abilities that can push you back, cause you to fall straight down, or just simply finish the hero off.
Your ninja will be jumping the whole time as you quickly move from platform to platform. When a platform disappears another one will appear somewhere on the level just a few seconds later which lead to saving my ninjas life on several occasions. Jumps are performed automatically but using the up and down buttons on the D-Pad controls how far you move up or down during each leap. Our hero also comes equipped with throwing stars, a sword and a dash that can quickly get you from falling to your demise. Using the main sword attack and the dash together also performs a special attack which can be very helpful in tough situations. I found the weaponry all to work quite well but the key to every attack due to the constant jumping is timing and precise and accurate hits. One thing I did learn was that the sword is probably the most effective weapon in the arsenal as it is the most powerful item. The throwing stars are useful during boss battles but can be more of a hassle due to their weak attack when playing a standard stage so I didn’t really mess with them for the main part of the game.
After every few stages a boss which is usually a Ninja Adept or Master will appear to fight. Instead of breaking gears, you must defeat the boss to move forward. The earlier bosses are quite easy and will only throw projectiles from afar, but the latter are equipped with bombs and many other gadgets that will take much time and thought out strategy to take down. These higher level ninjas are much different from the standard enemies as they can take a lot of hits so come prepared to time your jumps right on these levels. Many of the bosses are simply repeated which was kind of disappointing but I didn’t really think about that too much as the levels move so quickly it doesn’t effect much of the overall product.
Graphics/Audio
As far as graphics go, everything is in 2-D and looks fitting for the game. I kind of thought the sprites reminded me of a 2-D version of I-Ninja which is a game I liked when it was released quite a few years ago. Movements and animations are also well done and everything runs smooth with no slowdown which is great considering on how fast paced the gameplay is. I will say one small thing I found unfitting was the brightly colored curtain that pulls in-between levels which just didn’t really fit with the rest of the presentation.
The music is sounds appropriate as well and captured the ninja world presented well. Sound effects were on cue but a bit generic for the most part but the background music made up for that as well so I think it evened out fine in that area.
Overall
Ninja Karakuri Den is fast-paced and has some addictive game-play that can keep you going for a few hours at a time. The unique style of gameplay made up for the lack of story and generic sprites and certainly involved quite a bit of skill to complete each level. At times it may be a bit bland and a bit repetitive but for just 200 points I think this one is definitely a great addition to the DSiWare and a decent game to pick up and play for those wanting something quick and simple to play on the go.
Duke Nukem. If you were born after 1992 then chances are you really don’t know much about Duke Nukem. Sure, you may say you’ve played the games, you may say you’ve heard the name, but Duke Nukem is really a character you needed to be there from the beginning to appreciate. Gearbox recently revealed that they were taking control over the “long-in-development” Duke Nukem Forever, and when I say long-in-development, I’m talking 13 years of development Hell. They’ve taken on the Duke, and they showed what he’s made of, and maybe now they’re actually going to release this game.
But let’s talk a little about Duke Nukem for a minute, who exactly is he? A big-tough action movie parody on the surface. Sure, that’s good for a couple laughs. His games are standard first person shooters, those are popular, seems like a fun game. But what about who he was in his time? Like Captain America, Duke Nukem just woke up after 13 years in suspended animation that now it might seem like he’s irrelevant.
I remember being about seven years old and playing Duke Nukem 3D over a friends house and thinking “wow this game is CRAZY” simply because it was the first, hell, probably the only game at the time that glorified violence, catch phrases, curse words, strippers, gambling, all your favorite sins. At the time most kids were playing Sonic, Mario, Final Fantasy, Legend of Zelda, all these games that were family friendly. Of course, there was Mortal Kombat and Doom, but they weren’t as human as Duke Nukem. The Duke was different, he was the cool guy we all wanted to be, we all looked up to him.
These days, kids look at Duke and think “oh, another generic video game character, probably a tough guy, his games are probably first person shooters, alright that’s cool I guess”, but back in the day, we were going nuts over Duke because the things he was doing, the things he was saying, none of that had been done in video games at the time. And don’t let me forget to mention, the gameplay was off the wall too!
Trust me, this article isn’t just a trip down memory lane, but also a look to the future. Duke Nukem Forever is finally being released, but not in the same market it was originally intended for. When Duke Nukem was first supposed to come out, games like Halo and Gears of War were still little baby ideas, good ol’ Uncle Duke was supposed to usher in the current generation of First Person Shooters. Well he missed his plane, and Master Chief wound up carrying the torch on that one. Now today, almost every game that comes out is a First Person Shooter that resembles something else that’s out, and almost all of them took their core gameplay values from Duke.
To release a Duke Nukem game today in a sea of games that took what they know from the Duke, what do they think will happen? The original Duke Nukem’s relied on humor and shock value as the icing on the delicious cake that was great gameplay, but now almost every game has the same gameplay, almost every game has the humor and shock value. What will separate Duke Nukem Forever from the Halos and the Gears of Wars?
From all the previews I’ve seen the humor was upped ten-fold, the action was upped ten-fold, hell, there’s even a button mapped for BEER. Most games use their buttons wisely, utilizing them for something important like “switching weapons”. Not Duke. He uses his buttons for beer. But will this be enough? Will Gearbox be able to polish this game enough to the point where it’ll be relevant in today’s video game world? Duke’s former glory is all but a memory now, we can never go back to the days where the M rating was given out to only 5 games a year, but I’m sure Duke Nukem Forever will be able to usher in a new era of Duke. He won’t reclaim his throne, but instead erect a newer, bigger, more bad-ass one than the one that was robbed from him.
In the past few years, there truly has been an explosion of puzzle games in the gaming market. Many games have came out and really pushed the genre to the edge of innovation while others stuck to the classic brick destroying formula. Nintendo will soon be releasing a brand new title for the WiiWare download service that is sure to be a title that will be bringing something completely fresh to the genre, a game by the name of Fluidity. Here is a bit of information about this brand new puzzle title:
Nintendo’s Fluidity combines an amazing physics engine that realistically models flowing water with innovative puzzle game play. Using the three forms of water – liquid, ice and cloud – players will solve challenging puzzles across multiple chapters of an illustrated magical book called Aquaticus. The game offers detailed tutorials that introduce basic game mechanics, but the complexity quickly ramps up as special powers are acquired and enemies are introduced, testing players’ reflexes and ingenuity
When it comes to first party titles, Nintendo is known for bringing top shelf production into their work which is why Fluidity will be a WiiWare game to keep an eye on. Nintendo has also recently released a trailer on how the game works. To me it seems a bit like the Loco Roco series but with liquid and some platforming mixed in which is a good thing. I am also very curious to see how motion controls play out based on the gameplay shown so far. Fluidity is currently not dated yet but I expect to see more information come forward soon. Take a look at the trailer below and we will be bringing our readers updates as they are released.
The Sims, a franchise known for creating a whole new life to control in the digital world is now expanding even more musically. EA has now announced some of the artists that will be contributing their “Simlish” versions of their hit songs to the new Sims 3 coming to consoles. Among some of the artists contributing are 3oh3!, Kelly Roland, Flo Rida and many more so players can turn up their volume and jam out to familiar tunes in the Sim’s universe. Here is an official statement about the new tracks:
“The Sims may be one of the biggest and best-known brands in popular culture today and for a major artist to be asked to re-record their music in ‘Simlish’ has become one of the most unique and exclusive opportunities in the world of entertainment,” explained Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Music and Music Marketing, EA. “Over the past decade, hundreds of artists – including superstars as diverse as Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum, Flaming Lips, Damien Marley, Depeche Mode, Nelly Furtado, Matt And Kim, and so many more – have all become a part of this global phenomenon. For more than a hundred million The Sims players and fans every day, we are truly providing the soundtrack to their lives.”
“I’m always trying to find new ways to reach different audiences with my music and The Sims 3 was a perfect way,” explained Flo Rida who laid down his lyrics from “Fresh I Stay” in Simlish with Jovi.
The experience is unlike any other for some of the artists and can even prove to be challenging. “We couldn’t stop laughing while re-recording “Double Vision” in Simlish because it just sounds super bizarre,” 3oh!3’s Sean Foreman commented during their recording session. “I’ve always been a fan of The Sims games and could never figure out what the characters were saying in the game. I’m not sure if Simlish can be translated, but it’s darn fun to speak!”
“Singing in Simlish was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was a blast!” said Travie McCoy who sang his upcoming single “Need You” in the game’s one-of-a-kind language. Kelly Rowland added, “I have to say it was quite challenging to sing “Rose Colored Glasses” in Simlish, but also incredibly fun!”
Global artists and Simlish re-recorded songs featured in The Sims 3 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii include:
22-20’s – “Latest Heartbreak”
3oh!3 – “Double Vision”
Aceyalone and RJD2 – “Ever Seen This”
Aeroplane – “We Can’t Fly”
Alpha Rev – “Phoneix Burn”
Cody Simpson – “IY IY IY”
Crash Kings – “You Got Me”
deadmau5 – “Some Chords”
Flo Rida featuring Jovi – “Fresh I Stay”
Free Energy – “Free Energy”
Hot Chip – “We Have Love”
Innerpartysystem – “American Trash”
Jasmine V – “All of These Boys”
Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”
John Butler Trio – “Gonna Be a Long Time”
Kidz in the Hall – “Flickin’”
Lazee featuring Apollo Drive – “Calling Out”
Mickey Factz – “Dreamland”
Ozomatli – “Are you Ready?”
School Of Seven Bells – “Dust Devil”
The Dirty Heads – “Stand Tall”
As the world’s greatest life simulation on console, The Sims 3 combines the freedom of open world life simulation where players can create Sims – the unique characters found in The Sims games – with distinct personalities, fulfill their desires…or not, and control their lives with the guided gameplay of an all-new achievement system. As players complete challenges and collect dozens of achievements they will earn Karma points – all the while deciding the destinies of their Sims. Karma points can be used to unlock and unleash all-new Karma Powers to the grand benefit or wicked detriment of their Sims making it easier than ever to play with life. Players can help their Sim “get lucky,” bless them with “instant beauty” or be deviant and curse them with an “epic fail.” But players should use these powers wisely—they may have unexpected results and karma may come back to bite. The game will also be connected to the worldwide community through a seamlessly integrated creation exchange on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Players can design, build, and share creations, or download content from other players around the world – and for the first time ever – without ever leaving the game.
The music doesn’t stop there as the new expansion, The Sims 3 Late Night will also be getting quite the overhaul of tunes as well.
The Sims 3 Late Night includes:
3oh!3 – “Double Vision”
Bryan Rice – “There for You”
Chiddy Bang – “Here We Go”
Electrolightz – “Miss Outta Control”
Eliza Doolittle – “Rollerblades”
Foxy Shazam – “Unstoppable”
Hadag Nahash – “Lo Maspik”
Hadouken! – “M.A.D.”
Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”
Junkie XL – “Live Wired”
Kelis – “Brave”
Kelly Rowland – “Rose Colored Glasses”
King Fantastic – “All Black Ying Yang (The Party Song)”
My Chemical Romance – “Na Na Na”
Nikki & Rich – “Next Best Thing”
The Ready Set – “More Than Alive”
Soulja Boy – “Speakers Going Hammer”
Travie McCoy – “Need You
The Sims 3 Late Night gives players all-access and lets them loose on a vibrant, active downtown scene where they’ll rub elbows with celebrities at the hottest parties, hit the local bar after work, tour the scene with their Sims’ band, kick back in a plush hot tub, and discover what’s lurking in the thick of the night. Players will be able to take their Sims into the bustling urban setting where they’ll be able to become a celebrity, member of a music band, mixologist, director, and more. To gain entrance into the most elite clubs in town, players need to keep their attitude in check otherwise they’ll be given the cold shoulder by tough bouncers or find another way onto the list. If chilling is the player’s forte, their Sims can lounge at a chic club or dive bar. If they like to live on the edge, they can be initiated into the dark life of a vampire. Whether embarking on a new career, painting the town red, or throwing a party on the rooftop of a penthouse, it’s always up to the player to tell their unique stories with The Sims 3. What will happen when the lights go out and Sims get all-access?
I would say this announcement is quite awesome for any fan of the Sims series. I still remember my first taste of simlish music with the Black Eyed Peas in The Urbz and seeing all of artists in the line-up, there is sure to be something for everyone. The Sims 3 is currently available for PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod touch and mobile devices and in the fall 2010 on Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360®videogame and entertainment system and Wii and in 2011 the Nintendo 3DS.
Here is an update on Kingdom Hearts: Birth by sleep.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ is an action roleplaying game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation Portable, the 6th installment of the Kingdom Hearts series. The game is going to be released on the 7th of September in North America, so look forward to it in about a day!
“Birth by Sleep is a prequel to the first Kingdom Hearts game, taking place ten years prior. Like the other games in the series, the player progresses through a collection of various worlds, based on various locales from the Disney animated features canon: Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Enchanted Dominion from Sleeping Beauty; Castle of Dreams from Cinderella; Olympus Coliseum from Hercules; Deep Space from Lilo & Stitch; Neverland from Peter Pan (featuring for the first time most of the main island setting new to the series rather than Captain Hook’s pirate ship and Big Ben from the first game and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days); and Mysterious Tower from Fantasia.Winnie the Pooh franchise, which had appeared in most other games of the series, only appears as a Command Board in Birth by Sleep. The game also features various new worlds specially created for the series by Square Enix such as the Land of Departure and Radiant Garden. Disney Town, which is the town that surrounds the castle grounds of Disney Castle, serves as the game’s minigame world. Worlds such as Destiny Islands and Castle Oblivion also appear in the form of cutscenes, while the 100 Acre Wood from the ” -Taken from Wikipedia
Hopefully some of you are looking forward to this game, and by the screenshots I’ve seen, it looks fantastic.
In North America, people can expect to be paying $39.99,
The votes are in and everything has been tallied… now with results in their hands Epic Games’ Cliff Bleszinski and Rod Fergusson thank the fans and supporters of the ‘Fate of Carmine’ fundraising program for raising more than $150,000 to benefit Child’s Play Charity.
Now the question that’s on everyones mind is DOES CARMINE live or DIE !! … well personally I hope the poor bugger survives and takes his revenge for his fallen brothers. If the Gears make it out alive, then so should Carmine 😉 Well we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Enjoy the video below. Let us know what you think. Do you believe Carmine will die or live in the final installment of Epic’s Gears Of War.
Fallout: New Vegas is slated for release on October 19th in North America, October 21st in Australia and October 22nd in Europe.
