When you see the name Sanuk or Bulkypix, you know there is another downloadable powerhouse of a game coming your way. Coming soon for iPhone, iPad, Playstation Minis and DSiWare, a new mobile game called 3D Twist and Match is coming soon. Rotate 3D silhouettes, match them and keep going for that high score in the 10 ten different environments of the game. Jungle,Vehicles, Tools, Music, Sport, Electronics and many more backgrounds will be featured. With over 200 objects to match and crazy amounts of trophies to unlock, you won’t be putting this game down anytime soon. Plus, there will be Game Center Compatibility. On iDevices, the release date for the game is Feb. 10, 2011. Other versions of the game have unconfirmed dates for release.
Ubisoft has decided to launch a movie tie-in game for the movie smurfs. The only details we have so far are from the press release below, but if the movie and the tie-in game stay true to the Smurf’s roots, then we will probably play as smurfs as we run away from an evil guy who is trying to melt us down into gold. Because, you know… you melt smurfs into gold to become rich! Oh, there was also a cat!
Also, since it is a movie tie in, it will probably take place in whatever city the movie is located at. Who knows, but like I said all the details we have now are in the press release. Aside from the systems it will be released on, which is the Wii and DS, there isn’t much information. Oh yeah, and it will be out around august.
LAFIG BELGIUM AND SONY PICTURES CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC. SIGN UBISOFT® TO DEVELOP VIDEO GAME FOR “THE SMURFS®” FEATURE FILM
SAN FRANCISCO – January 20, 2011 – In anticipation of the August release of Columbia Pictures’ / Sony Pictures Animation’s 3D family comedy The Smurfs, Ubisoft announced today that it will develop and publish a video game based on the live-action / CG-animation hybrid film. Designed for the Wii™ system from Nintendo and the Nintendo DS™ family of hand-held systems, The Smurfs video game is scheduled to launch with the release of the feature film.
This summer, the Smurfs make their first 3D trip to the big screen in The Smurfs. When the evil wizard Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, they tumble from their magical world and into ours – in fact, smack dab in the middle of Central Park. Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to get back to their village before Gargamel tracks them down.
The film is directed by Raja Gosnell. The producer is Jordan Kerner. The screenplay is by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss and Jay Scherick & David Ronn, from a story by J. David Stem & David N. Weiss, based on the characters and works of Peyo.
Commenting on the announcement, Mark Caplan, Vice President, Consumer Products at Sony Pictures Consumer Products, said, “We look forward to continuing our work with Ubisoft in the video game space. The Smurfs video game will provide kids and families around the world with hours of enjoyment.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with Lafig Belgium and Sony Pictures on the Smurfs license. Our ongoing partnership with Sony Pictures Consumer Products allows us to create fun and entertaining video games based on some of the most popular family films,” said Christian Salomon, vice president of worldwide licensing at Ubisoft. “Ubisoft’s creative team is working hard on crafting the perfect video game experience that will appeal to new and old fans of The Smurfs.”
The sound of gunfire can usually only mean one thing; that somebody or something was just shot. But in this latest video released by Bethesda gunfire can also be music to your ears. Of course people get shot as well. In the newest video for Brink we see plenty of guns being shot which create a musical tune, but we also see the weapon customization in action and we also see the different statistics which each gun will actually have.
Now even though Splash Damage’s Brink hasn’t received a whole lot of coverage since it was announced back at E3, the game is still being released sometime this Spring so better take a good look at the video now so you can know what to expect when it arrives on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
It seemed like just earlier this week we saw this exact same trailer; except it was in Japanese. Well it was the beginning of the week actually but regardless of that fact, Square Enix has released the trailer for Final Fantasy XIII-2 themselves and it is in English this time around. Bear in mind before you watch the trailer below you should know that it contains spoilers regarding the ending of Final Fantasy XIII. Meaning if you haven’t finished that game then you should go do so now to experience the drama that is FFXIII.
Now in the trailer we can hear that Ali Hillis is returning to voice Lightning again, just like she is for Dissidia 012 [duodecim]. Unfortunately even though the trailer is now in English there hasn’t been much more revealed at this point regarding who exactly that person is and why is he/she Lightning’s new rival. It is worth taking notice that so far however, FFXIII-2 is only showing a PS3 release in Winter.
Square Enix has just announced that their second Final Fantasy cross over fighting game will be released in the US on March 22nd which is only a few short weeks after it’s expected release date in Japan. Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy will arrive on store shelves for a price of $29.99 and bring together some of the best fighters of all the Final Fantasy games.
New additions Lightning, Kain and Tifa join the already easily recognizable roster of characters, and to top that off each one of them will feature top of the line voice work. For example Rachael Leigh Cook will voice Tifa, Keith David as Chaos, Steve Burton as Cloud Strife, George Newbern as Sephiroth and Ali Hillis bringing her voice back to Lightning.
Now that we have a date set we can begin counting the days until we can visit the battle between the Chaos and Cosmos. Besides the main story mode however, Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy will also feature a fully functioning multiplayer battle system so you can take your fighting skills and compete against the world.
Razer’s latest peripheral, the Razer Onza Xbox 360 Controller can now be pre-ordered ahead of its arrival toward the end of February; with its sister peripherals, the Razer Onza Tournament edition and Razer Chimaera soon to follow.
The controller stands out as one of the most sleek looking pads around, offering a professional-standard, responsive gaming experience to everyone. The Razer Onza carries adjustable analog sticks for precision movement and aiming/camera-control in-game, programmable buttons which can take on the function of any button on the controller for ultimate customisation to suit your play style, and a defined D-Pad for improved accuracy which is ideal for those impartial to the odd beat ’em up.
Amongst these practical benefits come other design features: a shimmering, glossy finish, back-lit buttons and ergonomic rubber handles which probably boast improved grip to the controller too.
It’s certainly looking like an impressive piece of kit that could be vital for giving you an egde online on the battlefield. It looks like it has something to offer everyone, no matter what your favourite genre is, and if it lives up to claims and controls as good as it looks then we’re in for a real treat.
For more information and a better look at the controller, check out the video we captured at TGS 2010 that features an interview with one of the Razer staff members who gives a rundown of what the controller has to offer, interviewed by our very own MasterAbbott.
This morning at 1:00AM AEST (or 15:00 CET) was an event of magnificent proportions. This event was the Nintendo Europe live conference for the 3DS. The event had previews on games, features and functionality of the device. The most impressive thing about the event would have to have been the 3DS itself, so sleek, so pretty and so very beautiful.
The night itself was full of special appearances by various producers, designers and business partners with Nintendo and other developers. These guests include – Laurent Fischer, NINTENDO Marketing Europe; Jonathon Ross, Comedian/Host; Mr. Ono, CAPCOM; Mr. Enomoto amd Mr. Hatsumi, KONAMI; Mr. Shibata, NINTENDO; and lastly David Sproxton, Executive Chairman Aardman Animations. As you can tell from some of these names they’re not western and didn’t speak English too well so we had a handy translator on the scene who remained unnamed throughout the event.
The 3DS device is feature packed and utilises new networking technologies to create a new dimension in gaming. The new technologies vary from screensizes and 3D utilisation to new ways to Network your device and share data between hotspots. This technology is what separates the 3DS from it’s rivals and even from its own predecessor, the DS.
The tech demonstrated and previewed at the event are:
Slide Pad – The slide pad offers three-dimensional movement throughout games, similar to a gamepad analogue stick, only it’s a tablet that slides.
Top Screen – The screen on the top half of the device will be larger than the top-screen on the DsiXL.
Backwards Compatibility – The 3DS is fully backwards compatible with both DS and Dsi titles. Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced and Gameboy Colour games were previewed to be available from the 3DS E-Store. Purchases from the DSi E-Store may be fully transferrable.
Cameras – The 3DS has 3D cameras built onto the device. There was also something about a game where you can use pictures of faces to play some kind of space shooter.
3D – Glasses free 3D.
Motion Sensing – The 3DS comes fully equipped with Gyroscopes and other methods to detect any movement the player may be making. It seems weird to have in a device that is designed to played in a specific location for the 3D to work. But, by removing the actual 3D and replacing it with movement, is that not a different third kind of dimension?
SpotPass – SpotPass is a new innovation by Nintendo where your 3DS leeches off wifi hotspots in order to update content. The LED power indicator illuminates while this happens. Works through sleep-mode.
StreetPass – A kind of LAN that automatically connects to nearby 3DS devices to share data or play some type of game, it works in sleep mode as well. In some cases a game may not even have to be inserted for this to occur.
Wifi Connection – Similar to the one the Wii and DS uses.
Adhoc LAN – Basic 3DS to 3DS Local Area Connection.
Configuration – Allows you to configure the 3DS’ features and connection sharing modes.
3D Slider – The 3D depth slider allows you to control the level of 3D for maximum comfort or battery consumption.
Colours – At launch both a blue and a Black model are expected to be released.
Layout – The 3DS’ layout is similar to the DS with the exception of a slidepad at the top-left corner, the power button being located to the bottom right just outside the lower touch screen and ‘Start’, ‘Select’ and ‘Home’ buttons being against the lower touchscreen.
Mii’s – Using the Mii maker tool, you can either use a photo of yourself as a reference for the software and then edit your Mii, or make one from scratch.
Over the course of the night there were many games being previewed and showcased. These included –
The Legend of Zelda – Ocarina of Time 3D
Starfox 3DS
Dead or Alive Dimensions
PES 2011
Splinter Cell
Ghost Recon
Mario Kart
Rayman Raving Rabbids 3DS
Lego Starwars
Super Streetfighter IV 3DS
Asphalt Racing
Pilotwings 3DS
Steeldiver
Paper Mario 3DS
Metal Gear Solid
Animal Crossing
Kid Icarus
The Sims 3
Samurai Warriors
Resident Evil: Revelations
Resident Evil: Mercenaries
Nintendogs/Cats
and a few other great looking games.
It is expected that the launch window of the 3DS will have 25 titles appearing within it.
The night was quite epic to have watched and appearing throughout it were some amazing video clips to demonstrate the capabilities of the 3DS. These videos were both informative and quite creative. Hopefully it is an indicator as to what the handheld will bring, creativity and innovation. The 3DS will hopefully stir the imagination of developers and create new and interesting ways to play games, hopefully at least some of them will be challenging enough to be rewarding to gamers while still remaining open to newcomers. The 3DS will be epic.
Sure the title may sound a bit like a slogan but hey when you can explore a labyrinth full of danger what else can you expect? Well you can expect to pick up the quest in game if you happen to pre-order from Gamestop. When you pre-order from Gamestop you will receive the exclusive dungeon quest which is called a Labyrinth and pulls straight from the Greek Labyrinth in its complexity.
Plus it wouldn’t be safe to go alone so it is always good to take a large sword along, and with your pre-order you will also be getting the two-handed sword Lucidendar to help cleave your enemies in two. You can catch some footage of the special Labyrinth dungeon below and also see the Luciendar sword above, including the stats that the weapon will be giving your hero when you equip it.
Red Faction: Armageddon, developed by Volition inc. and set to be published by THQ, has been showcased through a new story trailer. The video gives a nice glimpse at the game universe, the interesting range of hostile creatures, and a suggestion as to the plot and main character. While it has been left shrouded with a fog of mystery for dramatic reasons, the video sets a background to the tale, and the in-game footage shows that visually it doesn’t look dissimilar to Dead Space given its space-age setting and creepy, lurking enemy-types.
Are you planning on picking this up when it launches in March this year? Or will it more likely be a case of ‘Armageddon outta here’?
If for some reason you did not have enough announcements of 3DS titles today, you are in luck as Ubisoft have now announced eight titles they will be releasing this year for the 3DS. No, none of the Imagine series titles as of yet! Instead we are seeing many big name franchises as well as new titles that are all included in is what is to be Ubisoft’s first venture into the 3D world. From the familiar face of Rayman to the new puzzler “James Noir’s Hollywood Crimes” there is something for everyone in this batch, so let’s now get started in listing these off.
Rayman 3D
Remember back near the beginning of the Nintendo DS when Rayman was released? That title was of course an “improved” port of the first Rayman game, and Rayman 3D will be more of a sequel as it is an adaptation of Rayman 2: The Great Escape which was originally seen on the Sega Dreamcast. Ubisoft is promising major updates for this remake though with accessibility, progression and the learning curve all being completely overhauled. Being honest, I was not the biggest fan of Rayman DS but this new title may just get the once loved mascot back to the glory he deserves.
Rabbids 3D
Over the past few years, the little Rabbids have turned into a powerhouse for platformers and party titles alike. At the moment there isn’t too much known about Rabbids 3D overall aside from a few clips which identifies this title as a platformer, but if the huge success of the past titles is any indication, The Rabbids are destined for greatness in their new outing.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
If you want to make in entry into a new console, sometimes the best approach is to completely shift genres instead of giving the players the same old title with a new look. That is exactly what Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars is aiming to do. Shadow Wars is a Tactical, Turn-Based Strategy take on the Ghost Recon series that features eye-popping 3D cut scenes and in-game effects, deep team management options and a 1vs1 multiplayer mode on the same console.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell
Sam Fisher may be giving Snake a run for his money on the 3DS with this new installment of the popular stealth/action series. Using stereoscopic 3D as well as the brand new control scheme to enhance the realism and offer a more intense experience, Splinter Cell is without a doubt a front-runner of Ubisoft’s first offerings on the 3DS.
James Noir’s Hollywood Crimes
Imagine Professor Layton, add in a much darker world and plot covered in murder and twists and you have James Noir’s Hollywood Crimes. This fresh IP tackles the adventure and puzzle genres while putting the player fully into an interactive world where the plot and mystery unfolds.
Asphalt 3D
Gameloft’s portable racer is revving up for a comeback after seeing much success on the DS, PSP, and the mobile scene. This new entry is set to include 40 licensed vehicles, 17 exotic track locations and complete StreetPass functionality.
Combat of Giants Dinosaurs 3D
Laugh if you will at this title as Combat of Giants is bringing what young fans loved about the Battle of Giants series and adding a full 3D prehistoric world where players can customize and explore. Kids title or not, battling dinosaurs in 3D still sounds like an awesome concept to me.
Driver Renegade
With Driver San Francisco right around the corner, Ubisoft is giving the portable scene some love as well with Driver Renegade. Players will embody the Driver series hero John Tanner and use the accelerometer to unleash their urban driving skills with some high octane 3D car chases.
Quite a line up Ubisoft has! Now I know many of you might want a date, and the good news on all of these titles is that each will be released during the first half of 2011 so we are just months away from these titles spilling into shelves and onto consoles. For anyone getting a 3DS at or near launch, 2011 is going to be the summer of the portable for sure. Now you can tell us in the comments section which one of these are you most looking forward to.
