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How to Survive a Zombie Invasion!
by Joel Windels | 07/02/09 | 4:38 PM PST
Everywhere you look these days there are signs of an impending zombie apocalypse. The UK recently saw the release of Charlie Brooker's excellent Dead Set on DVD and this century has seen dozens of zombie-infested movies, a worrying rise that has also infected the world of video games. This generation has been swamped with zombies, from Dead Rising's limitless zombie horde to COD5's marching Nazi Zombies.
We all now have enough experience in dealing with the forthcoming undead doom, but just in case you need some advice in your preparation, here are some basic dos and don'ts in the imminent Armageddon.
DO
How to Survive a Zombie Invasion!
by Joel Windels | 07/02/09 | 4:38 PM PST
Everywhere you look these days there are signs of an impending zombie apocalypse. The UK recently saw the release of Charlie Brooker's excellent Dead Set on DVD and this century has seen dozens of zombie-infested movies, a worrying rise that has also infected the world of video games. This generation has been swamped with zombies, from Dead Rising's limitless zombie horde to COD5's marching Nazi Zombies.
We all now have enough experience in dealing with the forthcoming undead doom, but just in case you need some advice in your preparation, here are some basic dos and don'ts in the imminent Armageddon.
DO
- Assemble a team of survivors. Make sure they are capable with a weapon and unflinching in decapitating undead loved-ones. A team of 2-4 generally works best and if possible, recruit a multicultural group as to not provoke accusations of racism as you splatter the brains of the ethnically diverse gaggle of zombies. The lightest shade of milky brown will apparently pass as black.
- Get to a high, secure location. Zombies generally have poor dexterity and route-planning skills and will struggle when presented with sharp gradients.
... IF you want to live, read on.
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I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
by Joel Windels | 07/02/09 | 4:32 PM PST
I recently completed creating a flash-based game for a university project and during the design process took the opportunity to play a lot of games I had never played before. One of my favorite stories ever is a short one written by sci-fi legend Harlan Ellison called "I Have No Mouth, and I must Scream," which you can read here, and during my game research I stumbled across a 1995 PC game based on the story.
If you can't be bothered to read the story, it is about a supercomputer that has evolved and gained sentience in the wake of a global war and sets about destroying mankind: so far, so Hollywood. However, in this tale the computer (named AM) succeeds in laying waste to the entire planet and every living human, save for five sorry individuals. With its highly advanced intelligence and seemingly limitless hatred for mankind, AM manages to keep them perpetually alive despite the endless torture he performs upon them. The story takes place 109 years into the torture.
The game mechanic itself is anything but revolutionary, with the gameplay roughly mirroring what you would expect to find in a Myst game, but as with the book, the game totally blew me away.
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
by Joel Windels | 07/02/09 | 4:32 PM PST
I recently completed creating a flash-based game for a university project and during the design process took the opportunity to play a lot of games I had never played before. One of my favorite stories ever is a short one written by sci-fi legend Harlan Ellison called "I Have No Mouth, and I must Scream," which you can read here, and during my game research I stumbled across a 1995 PC game based on the story.
If you can't be bothered to read the story, it is about a supercomputer that has evolved and gained sentience in the wake of a global war and sets about destroying mankind: so far, so Hollywood. However, in this tale the computer (named AM) succeeds in laying waste to the entire planet and every living human, save for five sorry individuals. With its highly advanced intelligence and seemingly limitless hatred for mankind, AM manages to keep them perpetually alive despite the endless torture he performs upon them. The story takes place 109 years into the torture.
The game mechanic itself is anything but revolutionary, with the gameplay roughly mirroring what you would expect to find in a Myst game, but as with the book, the game totally blew me away.
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BioShock 2 Plunging Back Into the Depths
by Nick McCavitt | 07/02/09 | 4:20 PM PST
When it comes to up and coming games, I always try to keep in mind the rule about never believing what you read, unless it comes from the creators. I tried to do this with Bioshock 2: The Sea of Dreams, which once again brings us to Rapture for more mind-bending undersea adventures. This time, however, there's a twist that doesn't involve a sudden plane crash. Instead of playing the mysterious Jack of the Will You Kindly, you play a rogue Big Daddy, wandering Rapture, and assisting Little Sisters.
I admit to feeling an uncharitable view of the game, as it just seems to be letting you do all the same things you did in Bioshock 1, just as a Big Daddy. It's not that Big Daddies aren't tragic figures, as they've had their very humanity stripped away to act as weapons in a war they didn't volunteer for, but it seemed to be difficult to build a game around such a thing. However, I admit that I may have jumped too conclusions too soon. This has to do with the new information I received about the Big Sister, who has been mentioned to be kidnapping little girls to make into new Big Sisters, which she then uses into making into her new empire under the sea. She's now the Queen of Rapture, and she seems determined to make it Girls Only.
BioShock 2 Plunging Back Into the Depths
by Nick McCavitt | 07/02/09 | 4:20 PM PST
When it comes to up and coming games, I always try to keep in mind the rule about never believing what you read, unless it comes from the creators. I tried to do this with Bioshock 2: The Sea of Dreams, which once again brings us to Rapture for more mind-bending undersea adventures. This time, however, there's a twist that doesn't involve a sudden plane crash. Instead of playing the mysterious Jack of the Will You Kindly, you play a rogue Big Daddy, wandering Rapture, and assisting Little Sisters.
I admit to feeling an uncharitable view of the game, as it just seems to be letting you do all the same things you did in Bioshock 1, just as a Big Daddy. It's not that Big Daddies aren't tragic figures, as they've had their very humanity stripped away to act as weapons in a war they didn't volunteer for, but it seemed to be difficult to build a game around such a thing. However, I admit that I may have jumped too conclusions too soon. This has to do with the new information I received about the Big Sister, who has been mentioned to be kidnapping little girls to make into new Big Sisters, which she then uses into making into her new empire under the sea. She's now the Queen of Rapture, and she seems determined to make it Girls Only.
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Update: Warner Bros. $33M Offer To Midway Approved
by Jeff Grubb | 07/02/09 | 2:44 PM PST
Warner Bros.' $33 million bid to buy Midway was approved today by the court overseeing the acquisition. This puts WB in control of Midway's biggest property, Mortal Kombat.
The deal will officially be closed in ten days, but Vin Diesel and Larry Kassanoff are two people who won't be happy to read this news. Both men filed objections to the sale, claiming that they had rights to different properties.
Update: Warner Bros. $33M Offer To Midway Approved
by Jeff Grubb | 07/02/09 | 2:44 PM PST
Warner Bros.' $33 million bid to buy Midway was approved today by the court overseeing the acquisition. This puts WB in control of Midway's biggest property, Mortal Kombat.
The deal will officially be closed in ten days, but Vin Diesel and Larry Kassanoff are two people who won't be happy to read this news. Both men filed objections to the sale, claiming that they had rights to different properties.
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Confirmed: Resident Evil: Afterlife Hitting Theaters in September 2010
by Bob Crossen | 07/02/09 | 12:34 PM PST
Update:
At the time of this writing, Shock Till You Drop received confirmation from Sony that what was rumor is indeed true. Will you be seeing it a year from this September, or is that too much of a time commitment?
Original Post:
Rumor in the middle of the venn-diagram that is movies and video games today is that there will be a fourth movie in the Resident Evil series. Titled Resident Evil: Afterlife, we can likely expect to see the same zombie crushing action we all enjoy.
The rumor claims that a Sony Pictures internal memo concerning the movie gave it a September 17, 2010 release. Considering that this isn't the first time hearing rumor about its existence, we find this to be more credible than your average rumor.
Just to be safe, keep your skepticism hat on and tell us whether you think another Resident Evil movie is even necessary in the comments below.
Confirmed: Resident Evil: Afterlife Hitting Theaters in September 2010
by Bob Crossen | 07/02/09 | 12:34 PM PST
Update:
At the time of this writing, Shock Till You Drop received confirmation from Sony that what was rumor is indeed true. Will you be seeing it a year from this September, or is that too much of a time commitment?
Original Post:
Rumor in the middle of the venn-diagram that is movies and video games today is that there will be a fourth movie in the Resident Evil series. Titled Resident Evil: Afterlife, we can likely expect to see the same zombie crushing action we all enjoy.
The rumor claims that a Sony Pictures internal memo concerning the movie gave it a September 17, 2010 release. Considering that this isn't the first time hearing rumor about its existence, we find this to be more credible than your average rumor.
Just to be safe, keep your skepticism hat on and tell us whether you think another Resident Evil movie is even necessary in the comments below.
source: Via Joystiq
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Mizuguchi, Suda, and Hino Look Back on E3 2009
by David Oxford | 07/01/09 | 2:44 PM PST
Weeks later, and I'm still wondering how many of Microsoft's millions it took to get those two to do that on the world stage.
Anyway, Natalephants aside, this was a fairly memorable E3, one which some might even deem a landmark event: The event itself returned to its former glory (or at least something more closely-resembling it than the past few years have shown), Sony and Microsoft finally pulled the trigger on the motion control revolution, and Metal Gear returns to Microsoft (Metal Gear Solid 2 was on Xbox, if you'll remember).
Naturally, it leads one to wonder what some of the creators of our favorite titles thought of the event. To that end, Famitsu caught up with Q Entertainment's Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Grasshopper Manufacture's Goichi Suda, and Level-5's Akihiro Hino to see what they thought of the event.
Mizuguchi, Suda, and Hino Look Back on E3 2009
by David Oxford | 07/01/09 | 2:44 PM PST
Weeks later, and I'm still wondering how many of Microsoft's millions it took to get those two to do that on the world stage.
Anyway, Natalephants aside, this was a fairly memorable E3, one which some might even deem a landmark event: The event itself returned to its former glory (or at least something more closely-resembling it than the past few years have shown), Sony and Microsoft finally pulled the trigger on the motion control revolution, and Metal Gear returns to Microsoft (Metal Gear Solid 2 was on Xbox, if you'll remember).
Naturally, it leads one to wonder what some of the creators of our favorite titles thought of the event. To that end, Famitsu caught up with Q Entertainment's Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Grasshopper Manufacture's Goichi Suda, and Level-5's Akihiro Hino to see what they thought of the event.
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President Obama Honors Cancer Fighting Game Publisher
by Jeff Grubb | 07/01/09 | 10:46 AM PST
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama praised a handful of non-profit organizations that are bringing innovation to their causes. As reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal, one of those non-profit groups was the foundation responsible for the cancer fighting game Re-Mission, HopeLab Foundation.
The President gave a speech in person honoring the non-profits that were present and calling out to other innovators to join with the government with the goal of improving their communities. The President said:
Re-Mission is a PC videogame that was developed from the outset to help children and young-adults deal with and learn about the effects of cancer. You can find out more about the game by visiting Hopelab.org or the Re-Mission website.
President Obama Honors Cancer Fighting Game Publisher
by Jeff Grubb | 07/01/09 | 10:46 AM PST
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama praised a handful of non-profit organizations that are bringing innovation to their causes. As reported by the San Mateo Daily Journal, one of those non-profit groups was the foundation responsible for the cancer fighting game Re-Mission, HopeLab Foundation.
The President gave a speech in person honoring the non-profits that were present and calling out to other innovators to join with the government with the goal of improving their communities. The President said:
You teach us that there is no such thing as a lost cause if you are willing to be creative and challenge the conventional wisdom.
Re-Mission is a PC videogame that was developed from the outset to help children and young-adults deal with and learn about the effects of cancer. You can find out more about the game by visiting Hopelab.org or the Re-Mission website.
source: Gamepolitics
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First Live Footage of Gaikai Games-On-Demand Service
by Christopher Burke | 07/01/09 | 9:58 AM PST
Forget On-Live and say hello to Gaikai. This impressive service, led by industry veteran Dave Perry, is looking to take a chunk out of the upcoming games-on-demand market.
Read on to learn four things about this demo that might surprise you, and how Gaikai is taking a radically different approach to delivering games.
First Live Footage of Gaikai Games-On-Demand Service
by Christopher Burke | 07/01/09 | 9:58 AM PST
Forget On-Live and say hello to Gaikai. This impressive service, led by industry veteran Dave Perry, is looking to take a chunk out of the upcoming games-on-demand market.
What's different about Gaikai? It runs right out of your browser - no box, wires, or software installation required - and they have a live demo of the service in action that you can watch below.
Gaikai Technology Demo (JULY 1, 2009) from David Perry on Vimeo.
Read on to learn four things about this demo that might surprise you, and how Gaikai is taking a radically different approach to delivering games.
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Disney Wants You to Enjoy 3-D
by Bryan Roush | 07/01/09 | 9:39 AM PST
When you are playing video games, do you ever feel like you are missing something? Missing an element so big that you feel like a character should pop out at you? If so, Disney feels the same way, which is why they have added 3-D to two of their games this Summer. The tie-in game to the movie "G-Force" and Toy Story Mania! will both have the option to be played in 3-D. Even though the move seems a little out of the blue, Disney will be the first to have games on the current generation of systems to feature three-dimensional stereoscopic technology.
Check out the reasoning for the move after the break.
Disney Wants You to Enjoy 3-D
by Bryan Roush | 07/01/09 | 9:39 AM PST
When you are playing video games, do you ever feel like you are missing something? Missing an element so big that you feel like a character should pop out at you? If so, Disney feels the same way, which is why they have added 3-D to two of their games this Summer. The tie-in game to the movie "G-Force" and Toy Story Mania! will both have the option to be played in 3-D. Even though the move seems a little out of the blue, Disney will be the first to have games on the current generation of systems to feature three-dimensional stereoscopic technology.
Check out the reasoning for the move after the break.
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So, Seth, About a New MegaMan Legends...
by David Oxford | 06/30/09 | 5:27 PM PST
Recently, Gaming Union conducted an interview with none other than Capcom's Community Manager, Seth Killian. They spoke on a number of topics, mostly involving Seth's specialty: Fighting games (he can beat you in Street Fighter with only one hand, remember). Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, Street Fighter IV, even some Dark Void-- it's all there.
However, there is one question in particular which has caught peoples' attention, mine included.
The picture and headline are a dead giveaway, but just the same, you can see what he has to say after the cut.
So, Seth, About a New MegaMan Legends...
by David Oxford | 06/30/09 | 5:27 PM PST
Recently, Gaming Union conducted an interview with none other than Capcom's Community Manager, Seth Killian. They spoke on a number of topics, mostly involving Seth's specialty: Fighting games (he can beat you in Street Fighter with only one hand, remember). Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, Street Fighter IV, even some Dark Void-- it's all there.
However, there is one question in particular which has caught peoples' attention, mine included.
The picture and headline are a dead giveaway, but just the same, you can see what he has to say after the cut.
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Gamer vs. Aliens in the Attic
by David Oxford | 06/30/09 | 3:22 PM PST
It's funny how a different take on a similar concept can hold a greater appeal for a person.
Last month, we were sent some assets for a movie called Gamer, which happened to have a trailer showing prior to my viewing of TransFormers: Revenge of the Fallen last week. It's about convicts who are controlled by kids in a real-life video game of sorts. And not to disparage the movie; it's an interesting concept, but what I've seen doesn't really do a whole lot for me. In some ways, it almost felt a little condescending to gamers somehow, though I can't quite put my finger on just how, exactly (feel free to give your thoughts in the comments).
Immediately following that trailer came another for this next movie, Aliens in the Attic:
Yes, you did just see Doris Roberts from Everybody Loves Raymond perform a picture-perfect Shoryuken (at about 1:20). Also, check out the kid in the oldschool Activision Grand Prix t-shirt.
Say what you will, but of the two, this one just looks a lot more fun to me, and like the people who made the movie had more fun with the game concept than what Gamer has going for it.
Thanks to Endsights for the reminder.
Gamer vs. Aliens in the Attic
by David Oxford | 06/30/09 | 3:22 PM PST
It's funny how a different take on a similar concept can hold a greater appeal for a person.
Last month, we were sent some assets for a movie called Gamer, which happened to have a trailer showing prior to my viewing of TransFormers: Revenge of the Fallen last week. It's about convicts who are controlled by kids in a real-life video game of sorts. And not to disparage the movie; it's an interesting concept, but what I've seen doesn't really do a whole lot for me. In some ways, it almost felt a little condescending to gamers somehow, though I can't quite put my finger on just how, exactly (feel free to give your thoughts in the comments).
Immediately following that trailer came another for this next movie, Aliens in the Attic:
Yes, you did just see Doris Roberts from Everybody Loves Raymond perform a picture-perfect Shoryuken (at about 1:20). Also, check out the kid in the oldschool Activision Grand Prix t-shirt.
Say what you will, but of the two, this one just looks a lot more fun to me, and like the people who made the movie had more fun with the game concept than what Gamer has going for it.
Thanks to Endsights for the reminder.
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Women Make Up 28% of Console Gamers
by Chris Holzworth | 06/30/09 | 12:05 PM PST
Believe it or not, the amount of women playing console video games has only increased by roughly 1 percent each year since video games went mainstream back in 1985, with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System. At least, according to NPD's Gamer Augmentation 2009 report.
Back in January, the NPD Group conducted a study designed to track gaming trends within the U.S. They included over 20,000 participants between the ages of 2 to 65 in order to cultivate this data, and the results revealed that women now make up 28 percent of all console gamers. This is a five-point raise from last year's 23 percent.
Women Make Up 28% of Console Gamers
by Chris Holzworth | 06/30/09 | 12:05 PM PST
Believe it or not, the amount of women playing console video games has only increased by roughly 1 percent each year since video games went mainstream back in 1985, with the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System. At least, according to NPD's Gamer Augmentation 2009 report.
Back in January, the NPD Group conducted a study designed to track gaming trends within the U.S. They included over 20,000 participants between the ages of 2 to 65 in order to cultivate this data, and the results revealed that women now make up 28 percent of all console gamers. This is a five-point raise from last year's 23 percent.
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Movie Games Improving Appeal With Gamers
by Jeff Grubb | 06/30/09 | 11:39 AM PST
There was a time where simply saying the words "movie tie-in" would make a gamer laugh. Apparently, those days are waning. Nielsen has released a report finding that the movie tie-in games are being viewed in a more positive light.
The obvious appeal of big name summer movies are driving the intent to purchase with games like Terminator Salvation and Transformers 2 both taking slots at the top of the list. However, both games are bested by Godfather II -- a series that has not seen a new movie in 19 years.
This inflation of hype for a type of game that has historically been a quick money grab may be due to several reasons.
Consumers may simply be excited about IPs that they have an emotional investment in. Ghostbusters: The Video Game is doing a great job at cashing in on the goodwill that fans of the series have for the movies. At the same time, these games may be improving their track records. Ghostbusters has received many favorable reviews and presently has a Metacritic rating of 80 for the Xbox 360 version.
It may also be that there are so many people playing games that any property with enough name power will have an audience to sell to. We're looking at you, the 22% that intend to purchase Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings.
Movie Games Improving Appeal With Gamers
by Jeff Grubb | 06/30/09 | 11:39 AM PST
There was a time where simply saying the words "movie tie-in" would make a gamer laugh. Apparently, those days are waning. Nielsen has released a report finding that the movie tie-in games are being viewed in a more positive light.
The obvious appeal of big name summer movies are driving the intent to purchase with games like Terminator Salvation and Transformers 2 both taking slots at the top of the list. However, both games are bested by Godfather II -- a series that has not seen a new movie in 19 years.
This inflation of hype for a type of game that has historically been a quick money grab may be due to several reasons.
Consumers may simply be excited about IPs that they have an emotional investment in. Ghostbusters: The Video Game is doing a great job at cashing in on the goodwill that fans of the series have for the movies. At the same time, these games may be improving their track records. Ghostbusters has received many favorable reviews and presently has a Metacritic rating of 80 for the Xbox 360 version.
It may also be that there are so many people playing games that any property with enough name power will have an audience to sell to. We're looking at you, the 22% that intend to purchase Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings.
source: Gamasutra
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Weekly Poll Results: What was your E3 2009 Game of the Show?
by Ken Cauley | 06/30/09 | 6:46 AM PST
At the beginning of each week, we update our Weekly Poll. You can check out the results for last week's poll just below.
What we asked: What was your E3 2009 Game of the Show?
What you voted...
Weekly Poll Results: What was your E3 2009 Game of the Show?
by Ken Cauley | 06/30/09 | 6:46 AM PST
At the beginning of each week, we update our Weekly Poll. You can check out the results for last week's poll just below.
What we asked: What was your E3 2009 Game of the Show?
What you voted...
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New Project Being Developed by "Third Team" at id Software
by Bob Crossen | 06/30/09 | 6:39 AM PST
After recently being bought out by Bethesda's parent company Zenimax, id Software has been working out plans for the future. According to Techradar, id has been planning a "third team" for development on a new project.
In regards to questions about new projects, Pete Hines, VP of PR and Marketing at Bethesda, told Techradar, "We expect id will keep doing what they've always been doing, and that includes the projects they are already working on. They have a team working on RAGE, which will be published by EA next year, and they have a second team working on DOOM 4."
He goes on to tease, "They'd like to start building up a full third team and, as a result of this deal, they'll be able to do that more quickly than they could have previously with the additional resources they have to work with now."
Seeing as DOOM 4 is already in the works, as is RAGE, I have a feeling that this third team is working on a completely new IP. If that's the case, than color me excited with a streak of anxiety.
New Project Being Developed by "Third Team" at id Software
by Bob Crossen | 06/30/09 | 6:39 AM PST
After recently being bought out by Bethesda's parent company Zenimax, id Software has been working out plans for the future. According to Techradar, id has been planning a "third team" for development on a new project.
In regards to questions about new projects, Pete Hines, VP of PR and Marketing at Bethesda, told Techradar, "We expect id will keep doing what they've always been doing, and that includes the projects they are already working on. They have a team working on RAGE, which will be published by EA next year, and they have a second team working on DOOM 4."
He goes on to tease, "They'd like to start building up a full third team and, as a result of this deal, they'll be able to do that more quickly than they could have previously with the additional resources they have to work with now."
Seeing as DOOM 4 is already in the works, as is RAGE, I have a feeling that this third team is working on a completely new IP. If that's the case, than color me excited with a streak of anxiety.
source: Via VG247
June 30, 2009
