Oct
11
2008
Atari have apparently been listening to the criticisms of their much-hyped rethinking of the adventure classic, Alone in the Dark. So much so, in fact, that it looks as if Eden are going to improve the game in several areas ready for the PS3 release.
The following are some of the changes that will apparently be taking place:
- Full 360 degree camera control: enhanced camera controls allows complete freedom of the camera and better handling of third person movement for even more immersive gameplay enabling players to view the fire and mass destruction they are causing in all of its glory.
- Fine-tuned controls: quicker and smoother reactivity of the hero’s movements in third person view increases the pace of the game and makes for faster, reflexive gameplay during tense fighting scenarios;
- Inventory system more accessible: more logical jacket inventory system with the ability to scroll rapidly through the inventory with the D-pad or analog stick to combine objects. In addition, gameplay is paused when accessing the inventory system to allow maximum creativity in combining items to create unique flammable weapons;
- More tips: additional on-screen tips will help players quickly adapt to controls and easily understand how to overcome tricky situations;
- Spectral Vision tuning: a tutorial earlier in the storyline explains the need to burn roots in order to gain spectral vision (a power that grants you the ability to see the unseen) and difficulty tuning means less spectral vision is required to reach the end of the game;
- Improved car dynamics and handling: driving has been tuned with increased suspension and reduced drifting giving overall better handling to make driving a fun walk in the park every time;
- 59th Street level tuning: one of the game’s most exciting sequences just got better. 59th Street has been tweaked for a more satisfying race against the fissure with difficulty tuning, an added checkpoint at Columbus Circle and clear voice directions given by Sarah;
- Brand new thrilling action sequence: an exclusive new sequence has been added in Episode 6 for even more excitement and variety of gameplay in the episode.
This begs the question; how well spent were the gazillions poured out by Microsoft in securing staggered “exclusive” releases, if it gives developers an extra six months to listen to any criticisms, and release a better version of the game on the competitors’ console? Also, with the changes seemingly being so significant, will they be released via a patch for 360 owners?
We can all find out just how improved the game will be when the demo sets PSN alight in early November.
UPDATE: Folks seem to think I’m saying AiTD was one of Microsoft’s paid-for exclusives. It was not. My point was; what does this mean for those games with staggered release dates in terms of developers having an extra six months’ potential development time. AiTD is just an example of a developer having enough time to alter a build between platform release dates.
Oct
09
2008
Yet another game series that has made its way across from Sony. Namco’s beat ‘em up, Tekken 6, has just been confirmed as a multiplatform game, releasing simultaneously on the PS3 and the 360 at launch.
I would go into how all the good series seem to be going multiplatform if they were PS3 exclusive, but that’d be fanboyish of me. Seriously though, with Tekken having been a mainstay to the Playstation arsenal, this is almost as big of a blow as FFXIII going to the 360.
Oct
09
2008
Dare I say that I am not interested in the slightest in this game?
The developers Phantagram and Q Entertainment are banding together once again to create a sequal to the lacklustre hack-and-slash Ninety-Nine Nights. No mention of anything that will be featured in it, although one can expect the multiple stories and the difficult gameplay to feature, without a doubt.
I bought the original game for £12, and I wasn’t impressed with it at that price. Who’s to say that I will pay £40 for a sequel if it’s equally bad? With a lack of hack-and-slash titles available for the 360, let’s hope this one has promise, and isn’t another gaming faux-pas.
Jul
23
2008
Microsoft recently announced DirectX 11, the sequel to DirectX 9 (A known and loved video-game programming interface for Windows - much unlike the quiet middle-child we call DirectX 10) during a recent Video-Game developer conference. Unsurprisingly it’ll be a vista exclusive, with probable support for future operating systems.
Microsoft Noggin Chris Satchell explains that the discontinuity between DirectX 9 and 10 (caused by the unnecessary necessity of DirectX 10 being limited to specific hardware) and that "DX11 is totally compatible with DX10. There’s not that 9/10 discontinuity we created before," while sweat emerged from his forehead and his eyes darted about the room… maybe Good news for the majority of gamers who don’t want to upgrade before their time.
Among the features announced is the fascinating inclusion of technology which will allow your GPU’s power to be shared with/work in parallel with the processor - meaning that you would be able to use any spare juice from your graphics card(s) as general processing power. An interesting concept which would hopefully, among other things, mean that you would be able to use your graphics card(s) as extra power for desktop (and other graphically non-intensive tasks).
Jul
23
2008
Microsoft’s supposed PC-equivalent of Xbox Live has finally been made free - news which made me put down my cold beans on toast an applaud.
I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping that over the next year or so, people will flock to GFW Live simply because it’s free, and we might see the advantages of MS’s relationships with indie developers come to fruition in the form of a wave of launch titles for the (inevitable?) stand-alone client and marketplace.
Check out the Gamerscore Blog for the announcement.
Jul
21
2008
The first o
f the big three, and arguably the best conference was delivered by Microsoft this year. They not only made a reasonably beefy number of announcements but also covered a lot of highly anticipated games and gave us a deeper look into them.
They also introduced the new dashboard design, along with their infamous new Avatars which are due to hit Xboxes worldwide come Autumn (delivered via the mandatory Autumn update). Don’t worry if you bought any themes before the upcoming new dashboard… Microsoft assures that they will be compatible with the new dashboard, and Gamerpics are rumoured to follow suit.
Follow us for our comprehensive coverage of the Microsoft E3 Press Conference…
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Jul
16
2008
Games Of..., ds, industry, microsoft, news, nintendo, pc, ps2, ps3, psp, sony, video, xbox360 | Dave Barlow | 
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Apr
30
2008
Ooorah?
Seriously though, because I have very little time before I bundle off to work, and I know that most people will just read the top few because they’re funny, and then spend the rest of their evening in Liberty City, I will make it easy on you. I’m just going to link to the articles themselves, and call it at that. OK? OK.
Three observations:
- Daily Mail was obviously the first to link the stabbing to a violent video game, despite how quickly it was pointed out that the victim wasn’t even in line for the damn thing.
- The PS3 version is the one that has been listed for both points of failure listed above.
- People will always, without doubt, try to wring anything for money (but that’s a given, yes?)
Enjoy!
Apr
29
2008
OK, that might be slightly sensationalist, but it’s certainly true to a degree.
There will be no Xbox Live Arcade release this week, due to Grand Theft Auto IV. Not sure if you’ve heard of it, but it’s supposed to be this average sandbox game where you play a two-bit criminal trying to get rich and get on top of the gangs in a place called Liberty City.
Should do well.
On a serious note though, I don’t like this. I don’t like how Microsoft are sitting on their laurels, and not releasing a game. Granted, they’re not really that good anyway (imho), and it’s always good to give workers some time off, but in a game that’s selling more for their major opposition than for them, especially in system sales as well, I would hope that they used the time to come up with something else. With MGS4’s ominous arrival, Microsoft will no doubt have tough times ahead.
Apr
24
2008
Been watching the idiot box recently? Well, my WAG has and occasionally my ears will prick up when I hear the ‘Wii noise’ or the words “Grand Theft Auto”.
The former is potentially one step too far in the direction of casuality. The ad lasts about 20 seconds and focuses on a family living room with Dad leaning side to side. the voice-over tells us that Wii Fit will “help with balance” among other things. Visually, the only game footage we see is pretty much a chart telling Dad he’s fat, and the coordinates of his centre of gravity. Now I’m sorry, but what the hell Nintendo? Who are you aiming this at? It isn’t Christmas (although Mother’s Day is coming up I believe?) You’re either assuming people (read: women) will latch on to your connotations of weight-loss and fitness (certainly not helped by the title’s misleading name), or you’ve just dropped the ball in terms of marketing.
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