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This week on XBLA (March/15/2010)

Dylan Radcliffe
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Deal of the Week
This week, Xbox LIVE Gold members can download the following special deals until March 22nd:

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for 800 points
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne for 800 points
Fable I for 800 points

All content may not be available in all regions. Check your Game Marketplace on your console for details

Thoughts:
I personally have all 3 of these games on disc format, but they are all a very good deal at $10 each. Specially Fable and GTA:San Andreas; if you haven’t played either of those games, get them now!

This Week’s Arcade Title:
The Xbox LIVE Block / House Party promotion rolls on with the release Perfect Dark which will be available this Wednesday on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 points.

Thoughts:
This game is a very good deal at only 800MSP ($10). It also includes 2 gamer pictures, 2 avatar awards (Perfect Dark shirt Male/Female; Alien (elvis) doll prop), and even a theme. If you haven’t picked up any of the block party releases, or even if you have Perfect Dark quite a steal!

Keep your eyes peeled on this site for the review in a day or two.

Red Steel 2 “Super Powers” Trailer

Philip Federico
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6

Not only will you have weapons and special moves at your disposal, but you will also be able to unlock super powers. Check this out in this latest Red Steel 2 featurette video. The Swordman’s fate is now in your hands.  Do you have what it takes ?  I think I do .. but what about you 😉

Check out for more on http://www.redsteel2.com

Whats everyone think of Red Steel 2 … I personally can’t wait to get my hands on it.  With the support for the Wii Motion Plus fighting with the blade is going to be even more realistic.   What do you guys think ?

Might & Magic CLASH OF HEROES Coming soon for Playstation Network & XBOX Live Arcade

Philip Federico
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Might & Magic CLASH OF HEROES Coming soon for Playstation Network & XBOX Live Arcade

AUSTRALIA – March 15, 2010 – Today Ubisoft announced that it will bring the critically acclaimed Might & Magic Clash of Heroes to the Playstation® Network (PSN) from Sony and Xbox LIVE Arcade (XBLA) from Microsoft.  Developed by Capybara Games, the creators of Might & Magic Clash of Heroes for the Nintendo DS ™ system, Might and Magic Clash of Heroes XBLA/PSN will give players the opportunity to enjoy the remarkable gameplay now in high definition (HD). 

“We’re very excited to bring Might & Magic Clash of Heroes to PSN and XBLA,” said Senior Producer, Romain de Waubert de Genlis.  “Not only have we had the chance to adapt all of our graphics to High-Definition, but we’ve also had the opportunity to improve the game even further, both in single-player battles and in the main campaign. We took many of the community’s recurring wishes into consideration, allowing players to match their strategic skills and taking full advantage of the online capabilities of PSN and XBLA.” 

Might and Magic Clash of Heroes XBLA/PSN will take advantage of the next-gen console’s capabilities to increase its visual appeal and enrich the multiplayer experience. With a unique mix of RPG and an exceptional puzzle battle system. This upcoming release will give Might & Magic fans something to look forward to this Summer 2010. 

Key features include:

  • Rich Might & Magic Universe
  • High-definition  environments with manga art design
  • Five different factions and five different heroes with five different stories
  • Fresh turn-based puzzle battle system with offensive & defensive combos
  • Unlockable heroes
  • Online Level-up & Ranking          
  • Multiplayer mode for 2-4 players local and online. 

For the latest information on Might & Magic Clash of Heroes, please visit: http://mightandmagic.com/clashofheroes/

DLC – the right and the wrong

Dylan Radcliffe
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There are many different views surrounding DLC. The views vary depending on who is looking at it. I will lay out some general viewpoints on DLC, and discuss them in further depth.

When a consumer sees DLC certain things run through their head:

  • If it’s free, it is picked up without question.
  • If it costs money, many people feel more then $10 is too much.
  • If it is released at the same time as the game and it costs money, many people won’t even buy the game because of it.

When a developer releases DLC, there are a few reasons:

  • They want to boost their sales and make more money through the DLC.
  • They didn’t have enough time to finish and release the rest of the game later
  • The game is good enough to continually add more stuff to extend the play time of the game.

The Consumer’s viewpoints broken down:

Free DLC: Pick it up! even if you don’t have the game or don’t like what it is for, pick up the free DLC anyway. DLC that is free doesn’t always remain free. After you download it once, you can always delete it and redownload it.

The Price: The price is a big factor that determines whether a person purchases DLC.

  • A good price is about $5. Someone sees $5 DLC they are more willing to look at it and look into if they want to buy it.
  • $10 DLC is looked at only if the DLC is for a game your really enjoyed.
  • More then $10, and it better be a bundle. A single piece of DLC for more then $10 will only be purchased by the wealthy. Or, you really really enjoyed the game, and the DLC is massive!

DLC released along side of the game: If it’s not free, many people feel cheated out of the game and they feel that the company is taking as much money as they can. This gives companies a bad name and companies should never do this! Many people don’t even bother picking up a game if the company Charges for DLC on the same day. What is even worse, is when a company charges for DLC that is already in the game, and all you doing is buy a key that unlocks that bit of content.

The Producer’s viewpoints broken down:

They want to boost their sales and make more money through the DLC: This is not a smart idea, you will make more money in the short run, but prolonged practice will cause a decrease in sales when people begin to realize that you are taking as much money as you can out of their pockets. Many developer’s reputations are permanently scarred because they practiced this.

They didn’t have enough time to finish and release the rest of the game later: This is fine, if handled correctly. Do not pull a chunk of the game out because you couldn’t finish, and then release it later. This was seen in Assassin’s Creed 2, where the developers pulled out 2 entire sequences because they didn’t have time to finish them. They then released them later on as DLC for $5 each. The price is right, but they were supposed to already be in the game, so you shouldn’t be charging for them. God of War 3, had to cut a chunk out of the ending of the game due to time restraints, but the developers are saying that if they get around to finishing it, they will release it for free. This will work for them in the long run very well. It will get people to hold on to their copy of the game until the DLC is released, and when it is released other people will buy more copies to play it.

The game is good enough to continually add more stuff to extend the play time of the game: This is perfectly fine. In games like Fallout 3 and borderlands, the game is good enough and popular enough for DLC to be released. It will keep the game popular as well as add more to it. The DLC that was added to Fallout3, and Borderlands is big enough to constitute being DLC. The armory of general knoxx was about a gigabyte of memory and only for $10. This is how you properly release DLC.

Gurren Lagann Parallel Works 2 Announced!

Travis Bruno
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Gurren Lagann Parallel Works 2 Announced!

Animation company Gainex has announced that they will be releasing a sequel to Gurren Lagann Parallel Works! Gurren Lagann was an extremely popular Mecha anime that is now licensed in the US by Bandai. The show may have ended nearly two and a half years ago, but who says you need to let a finished product stand alone?

Gurren Lagann’s story was based upon a desolate world where humans live underground in tunnels dug by their own drills, fearful of the Beastmen who rule the world above. Until Simon, a resident of one of the towns, discovers a key to control a giant “Gunmen” named Lagann. Then the battle for the dominance of the world ensues.

However this is in the past and Gainex has already released Gurren Lagann Parallel Works, which is a collection of alternative universes and stories that are shown in 3-4 minute music videos set to the anime’s original soundtrack. These vary from being a tantalizing taste of what could have been, to completely odd. Though some may bear extreme resemblance to a few video game opening movies, such as Wild Arms 3.

However Gainex has now announced that Parallel Works 2 will arrive on May 26.

Personally I can not wait for this to come out. Gurren Lagann was full of comedy and action, and left you wanting for more. It’d be interesting to see if they were to take any of these changed settings and create an actual branch anime out of them.

The opening video for the original anime can be seen below.

Brink – Movement, Customization, and Gameplay Videos

Dylan Radcliffe
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6

Earlier a posted a trailer for the game Brink, being developed by Bethesda. If you enjoyed the trailer, you probably want to know more.

So here it is, 5 videos for your viewing Pleasure. What does everyone think of the game so far? with singleplayer, co-op with up to 7 friends, and online multiplayer. (Which will most likely comprise of 8 resistence and 8  security). Brink will be available on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. (Current release date is September/7/2010). Learn more at http://www.brinkthegame.com/

SMART – Free running on the environment

Character Customization

An Objective perspective, Container City parts 1-3



Let us know what you think of it 🙂

Major Nelson Show #353: Wil Wheaton, MW2 Stimulus Package and Supreme Commander

Philip Federico
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7

This week Major speaks to Infinity Wards’ very own Robert Bowling regarding the highly anticipated Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Map Pack, find out all u need to know straight from the source Mr @fourzerotwo

Thanks Major !!!

Host: Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-host : e (Xbox LIVE ) (Twitter)  
Co-host : lollip0p (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter)
Co-Host: Stepto (Xbox LIVE) (Twitter)

Special Guest Star: Wil Wheaton

Interview: Chris Taylor, Supreme Commander 2 (37:01 – 48:49)
Interview: Robert Bowling, Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Map Pack (48:39 – 1:00:51)
Going to South By Southwest? We are too! Listen to find out about the Xbox LIVE Community event.

Show Details: 

Duration (approx):1:32:58
File size (approx) :42.5 MB
Format:MP3

Subscribe:
Subscribe directly using your preferred podcasting tool:

[iTunes]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3) Listen in iTunes? Submit a review
[Zune]Subscribe to the Podcast directly in Zune

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Brink – Official Trailer

Dylan Radcliffe
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7

This game looks wicked, free running first person shooter. what is that? FRFPS?

what do you guys think?

Catacombs Video Review on iPhone / iPod Touch

Philip Federico
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6
Catacombs Video Review on iPhone / iPod Touch

Game Name: Catacombs
Platforms: IPHONE / iPOD Touch
Publisher(s): InMotion Software
Genre(s): Action
Release Date: 18/02/2010
ESRB Rating: (Everyone 9+) Infrequent/Mild Realistic Violence
Price: .99cents US
Buy now :  Catacombs

Are you a fan of classic style Gauntlet games ?  Well your in luck.  iPhone game developer InMotion Software have just released a cool little dual analog style controlled Hack & Slash Dungeon Crawler called Catacombs and today MasterAbbott has strapped on his warriors armour and helmet, picked up his axe of awesomeness + 20 and entered the Catacombs to bring you this video review.

As with all video reviews, there is less reading and more watching.   Catacombs is a top down dual analog action dungeon style game modelled after the legendary Gauntlet series.  It contains of a total of 24 levels (you have an option to purchase another 24 level mission called the forrest as a DLC for an additional 99cents) with three difficulty settings.  The game is only single player game with no multi-player capabilities, its a shame as playing online with friends or even via bluetooth would of made it that little more fun.

Check out the video review :

Graphically for an iPhone game, InMotion have done quite a remarkable job.  The dungeons are well designed and have a nice amount of detail to them, enemies you encounter look realistic are not just little blobs of sprites chasing you around the dungeon. 

Sound effects are clear and crisp with the sound of crumbling skeleton bones and potion pick ups echoing in the dark and dingy halls of the dungeon makes the experience even more realistic.  Music was good but does get a little repetitive after a while and might force you to mute the sound and just leave the sound effects which is what I ended up doing.

Along your adventure you battle, Skeletons, Spiders and Slimes and that’s about it.  I personally was looking for more of a variety buy it didn’t come.  Some of the Skeletons had a red glow to them but they were still skeletons.  A mini boss every few levels would of been a good but that didn’t happen. He must of been on holidays or something.

As you venture forth trying to escape the dungeons you do gain experience and gold.  Unfortunately these two classic building blocks for RPG games are not really used.  You level up but you don’t get to allocate any points or skills towards your character in any way, and once I reached level 15 I stopped leveling up (this was about a little over half way through the adventure) .  The gold you pick up is only really used as a score indicator and nothing else.  I was desperately looking for  an opportunity to haggle with a troll or something down in the dungeons for a new axe but that too didn’t happen.    But we have to take into consideration that Catacombs was modelled after Gauntlet and back in the day when we all played Gauntlet you collected gold for high scores and didn’t really care what level your warrior was as long as he survived.

Catacombs is a fun easy to pick up and play action game with a fair amount of replayability and very appealing on the eyes and for only 99cents its a bargain.

Capsule Computers gives Catacombs a 7.5 Capsule Out Of 10

7-5-capsules-out-of-10

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Final Fantasy XV to be more like an RPG?

Travis Bruno
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Final Fantasy XV to be more like an RPG?

I’m sure many of us have either heard or been the source of some of the complaints about FFXIII being extremely linear in the beginning of the game. Being as there are no towns, and no shops at all. Well that may change next time around.

Motomu Toriyama, the game director behind the 13 installment, has been quoted saying the following:

“Personally, the Final Fantasy games that I have worked on have been very story-driven, so in terms of the development I wanted to, of course, use my personal strengths which where those.”

“The next title that we will create will have those (RPG) elements, and the improvements to those elements that you (the fans) were mentioning.”

I say Final Fantasy XV, because FFXIV is already slated to be an MMORPG whose beta has just opened up to possible enrollment.

So far I’ve gotten as far as Disc 2 on FFXIII, however I am actually enjoying the linear game play and loving the storyline. Though from what I have heard the gameplay expands into being more open worlded after arriving on Disc 3. So although the beginning may be linear, the entire game is not.

Especially with how some games put the storyline on the shelf and focus mostly on the action and the looks of the game, it is refreshing to see a well fleshed out story with intriguing characters (standard J-RPG archetypes included even).

Though from the looks of that statement, he was truly not expecting that many people to dislike the new changes to the series. It seems that they will be returning the game more to its RPG elements, including towns and everything that was removed.

Though Motomu Toriyama has also tried to explain his reasoning for removing these elements

“In the previous Final Fantasy games on non-high definition consoles, we were able to kind of take everyone’s ideas and include them in the games.

I call it a bento box system, where you have all of the different little things in there. So we had minigames or towns were you were able to talk to all of the townspeople. But with the HD console you’re not really able to do that because it takes so long to develop.”

However Bioware seemed to have no trouble making even small towns for Dragon Age. And neither did Tri-Ace when they made Star Ocean: The Last Hope. So the question is why couldn’t Square Enix?

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