I was browsing the forums at GameSpot and Giant Bomb and came across threads reporting that some error code (8001050F, for those wondering) is preventing people from logging into the PlayStation Network, is corrupting trophy data, and preventing users from launching certain games. The issue seems pretty wide-spread, with message boards all over the web, twitter messages, and even news sites reporting on it.
No word on when this will be fixed has been issued yet, and until it is, I suggest all you PlayStation 3 owners keep those consoles off for the time being.
February 28, 2010
February 26, 2010
Well, this is a pleasant surprise: Black Powder Red Earth resurfaces
Anyone who was a frequent visitor of GameSpot back in 2007 will most likely remember their little documentary on a small developer called Echelon and their game, Black Powder Red Earth. It was a popular, entertaining, and enlightening series. It also generated a lot of interest for their game.
But after a few months, the series ended. After that, nothing about it had been released. And thus, many people began to think it wasn't going to come out anymore.
It's now been three years since the series began, and still no new info has come -- well, until today, that is. Today, a trailer for Black Powder Red Earth surfaced on Giant Bomb. And while it doesn't reveal much of anything about the game itself, it proves that the game is still coming.
Here's the trailer in question:
As you can see, no gameplay was shown. Instead, it explains the narrative behind the game. And from the sounds of it, they've left the Mars setting behind in favor of the middle-east -- a popular setting for shooters these days.
Still, I'm glad to see that the Echelon guys are making progress. Breaking into the industry -- especially the development side -- is no easy task, so its good to see they're doing well. Hope the game turns out good.
But after a few months, the series ended. After that, nothing about it had been released. And thus, many people began to think it wasn't going to come out anymore.
It's now been three years since the series began, and still no new info has come -- well, until today, that is. Today, a trailer for Black Powder Red Earth surfaced on Giant Bomb. And while it doesn't reveal much of anything about the game itself, it proves that the game is still coming.
Here's the trailer in question:
As you can see, no gameplay was shown. Instead, it explains the narrative behind the game. And from the sounds of it, they've left the Mars setting behind in favor of the middle-east -- a popular setting for shooters these days.
Still, I'm glad to see that the Echelon guys are making progress. Breaking into the industry -- especially the development side -- is no easy task, so its good to see they're doing well. Hope the game turns out good.
Split/Second to decemate store shelves May 18
The over-the-top racing, environmental destruction game from Black Rock Studio's that Giant Bomb claims "makes Burnout look like a leisurely Sunday drive" has been slated for release on May 18.
In it, players are cast as contestants in a dangerous reality TV show where racers can be "taken out" by triggering various events called "Power Plays," like blowing up something, or making something collapse. These events can also create shortcuts, or alter the layout of the track.
Here are just a few the Power Plays you can expect to see in the game:
In it, players are cast as contestants in a dangerous reality TV show where racers can be "taken out" by triggering various events called "Power Plays," like blowing up something, or making something collapse. These events can also create shortcuts, or alter the layout of the track.
Here are just a few the Power Plays you can expect to see in the game:
February 25, 2010
FACT: Lemmings is hard
Which is why it's brilliant: because the solutions are always the least obvious one.
Take this one, for example (I apologize for the bad video quality, it was the only one I could find):
This one has had me stumped for a while now, because I'd have never thought of that. By comparison, this makes the earlier puzzles seem like nothing. I fear to think what the ones under "Mayhem" will be like.
Serious gripes with Serious Sam, and investigations with Miles Edgeworth
Okay, I've been trying to come up with a snappy opening for the past ten or so minutes, so let's just cut to the chase, shall we?
Serious Sam: Next Encounter
This game has been a big disappointment, for me. It sounded like it would take the frantic pace of TimeSplitters' multiplayer, put it into a single player game, and pit you against hoards of enemies. It sounded great. I was getting pretty pumped for it. But then I played it, and everything fell apart.
Serious Sam: Next Encounter
This game has been a big disappointment, for me. It sounded like it would take the frantic pace of TimeSplitters' multiplayer, put it into a single player game, and pit you against hoards of enemies. It sounded great. I was getting pretty pumped for it. But then I played it, and everything fell apart.
February 24, 2010
More Art Style...
...because this series is awesome, and should be known by all.
In addition to revealing Light Trax today, Nintendo also revealed Rotozoa. Think of it like the Wii's equivalent to flOw on the PlayStation 3 and PSP, which, as a fan of flOw, makes me quite excited about it.
Here's an interview to help you get an idea of what's it's about:
So there you have it. That's Rotozoa. No release date info has been revealed yet, but I suspect it, like Light Trax, will be released sometime later this year. And I shall be eagerly awaiting its release.
In addition to revealing Light Trax today, Nintendo also revealed Rotozoa. Think of it like the Wii's equivalent to flOw on the PlayStation 3 and PSP, which, as a fan of flOw, makes me quite excited about it.
Here's an interview to help you get an idea of what's it's about:
So there you have it. That's Rotozoa. No release date info has been revealed yet, but I suspect it, like Light Trax, will be released sometime later this year. And I shall be eagerly awaiting its release.
Check this out: Art Style: Light Trax trailer
As you may now, the Nintendo World Summit just started today, and with it came a bloat load of release date news (see here for more info). And that's good and all, but the thing that caught my eye was the latest Art Style game for WiiWare, Light Trax.
Here's a trailer for it:
From what was shown, it seems like a racing game of some sort, but with colored lines instead of cars. The twist seems to be the numerous obstacles, and the constantly changing perspective. It looks like a true 2.5D game, as the track is always two-dimensional no matter how the camera is positioned.
It looks like a really cool game. Can't wait to play it. Hopefully it'll come out soon.
Here's a trailer for it:
From what was shown, it seems like a racing game of some sort, but with colored lines instead of cars. The twist seems to be the numerous obstacles, and the constantly changing perspective. It looks like a true 2.5D game, as the track is always two-dimensional no matter how the camera is positioned.
It looks like a really cool game. Can't wait to play it. Hopefully it'll come out soon.
Guess I'll be playing that new Prince of Persia game...
Nintendo's Media Summit just began today, and one of the things they mentioned during the opening remarks was that the Wii version of this year's Prince of Persia game, The Forgotten Sands, will include the SNES version of the original game. And with that, I'm sold.
Also, Mario Galaxy 2 comes out May 23. That's soon! Can't wait!
Also, Mario Galaxy 2 comes out May 23. That's soon! Can't wait!
February 20, 2010
Get this: Sony's making a universal controller
One that could work with anything from PlayStations, to Nintendo and Microsoft platforms, to Atari. Sega, and other old platforms.
How it works is that it essentially downloads the button layout via a special receiver of some sort. Once obtained, the button layout would be displayed on the unit's LCD touch screen. The unit can store up to three controller configurations at a time, and can also be used as a alpha-numeric keyboard (whatever that means).
Sounds cool, right? Yeah, I thought so, too, until I heard about that LCD touch screen. I don't know about the rest of you, but pressing buttons on a screen would just feel weird. Tapping a screen doesn't give the same feedback as an actual button does.
When you press on a button, you feel it moving down into the controller, and hear a small tapping noise. These little ques are what let's us know that our actions are being successfully processed. When we tap a screen, that feedback isn't there. And that could be a problem where you need to be sure you're imputing the correct actions (e.g. fighting games). (And, let's face it, we could end up breaking the darn thing from too much button mashing.)
I like the idea of a universal controller, but the current execution leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe a better way to handle it will come along when someone else attempts this idea in the future.
Source: GameSpot
How it works is that it essentially downloads the button layout via a special receiver of some sort. Once obtained, the button layout would be displayed on the unit's LCD touch screen. The unit can store up to three controller configurations at a time, and can also be used as a alpha-numeric keyboard (whatever that means).
Sounds cool, right? Yeah, I thought so, too, until I heard about that LCD touch screen. I don't know about the rest of you, but pressing buttons on a screen would just feel weird. Tapping a screen doesn't give the same feedback as an actual button does.
When you press on a button, you feel it moving down into the controller, and hear a small tapping noise. These little ques are what let's us know that our actions are being successfully processed. When we tap a screen, that feedback isn't there. And that could be a problem where you need to be sure you're imputing the correct actions (e.g. fighting games). (And, let's face it, we could end up breaking the darn thing from too much button mashing.)
I like the idea of a universal controller, but the current execution leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe a better way to handle it will come along when someone else attempts this idea in the future.
Source: GameSpot
February 18, 2010
OnLive launch details to be revealed 'soon'
Which, if Blizzard's usage of that word has taught us anything, could mean anywhere between tomorrow and the end of time itself. My money's on the latter, at the moment, given how they've been silent on new details since it was revealed last March. (The conference held today didn't reveal anything new either.) Feel free to prove me wrong, though, OnLive guys.
What about you? Still interested in OnLive? Or has the continued silence killed interest? Post your thoughts below.
What about you? Still interested in OnLive? Or has the continued silence killed interest? Post your thoughts below.
February 13, 2010
Going with the flOw
The works of thatgamecompany have always interested me. Their more artistic approach to game design has lead to games that, well, aren't so much games as they are relaxation tools, but are still interesting experiments that explore what the videogame medium is capable of.
Flower proved this to me with its unconventional gameplay, soothing melodies, and gorgeous imagery. Of course, I haven't actually played said game (been too busy with other ones, but I'll start it soon -- I swear!), but just by watching it you can get a good feel for what it's about.
The same goes for flOw in a lot of ways. Originally a flash game, flOw is a game about aquatic organisms that tasks players with taking their organism and making it eat other similar organisms to make it evolve. The premise is simple, and the game itself is surprisingly fun and addictive.
Flower proved this to me with its unconventional gameplay, soothing melodies, and gorgeous imagery. Of course, I haven't actually played said game (been too busy with other ones, but I'll start it soon -- I swear!), but just by watching it you can get a good feel for what it's about.
The same goes for flOw in a lot of ways. Originally a flash game, flOw is a game about aquatic organisms that tasks players with taking their organism and making it eat other similar organisms to make it evolve. The premise is simple, and the game itself is surprisingly fun and addictive.
flOw is now free on PSN (until the end of the day)
If any of you haven't yet downloaded thatgamecompany's first game, flOw, now's your chance. Today until 9pm PST, you can download it for free (provided you live in the US or Canada). So get it while you can!
EDIT: Offer is now over! Hope all you who downloaded it are enjoying your free game!
EDIT: Offer is now over! Hope all you who downloaded it are enjoying your free game!
February 5, 2010
Report claims decline in Wii development
First sales and now developer support? Man, Nintendo just can't catch a break, can they?
So according to a Game Developer Research survey, the number of developers making games for the Wii has dropped from the 42 percent of last year to 30 for this year. That's quite a drop. Especially when compared to the 69 and 61 percent of developers supporting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 respectively.
The drop could easily attributed to the poor sales of third-party titles on Wii, which are luck to ever break the hundred thousand mark. All too often third-party offerings have a less than stellar performance at retail because of... well, I don't know. It could be anything: lack of advertising, lack of interest, or maybe it's just because Nintendo games are all anyone buys for the Wii. All we know is that they don't do terribly well.
Whatever the reason, the news of development beginning to decline isn't good. Nintendo games may always be hits, but they take so damn long to come out that the console can't survive on those alone -- which is what it'll end up doing if developer support dwindles too much.
Hopefully the Wii will be able to regain some of that support in the coming months.
Source: GameSpot
So according to a Game Developer Research survey, the number of developers making games for the Wii has dropped from the 42 percent of last year to 30 for this year. That's quite a drop. Especially when compared to the 69 and 61 percent of developers supporting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 respectively.
The drop could easily attributed to the poor sales of third-party titles on Wii, which are luck to ever break the hundred thousand mark. All too often third-party offerings have a less than stellar performance at retail because of... well, I don't know. It could be anything: lack of advertising, lack of interest, or maybe it's just because Nintendo games are all anyone buys for the Wii. All we know is that they don't do terribly well.
Whatever the reason, the news of development beginning to decline isn't good. Nintendo games may always be hits, but they take so damn long to come out that the console can't survive on those alone -- which is what it'll end up doing if developer support dwindles too much.
Hopefully the Wii will be able to regain some of that support in the coming months.
Source: GameSpot
First footage of Bit,Trip Runner surfaces
Check 'em out here, or watch the videos below:
As you can see from the videos, the game seems to revolve around collecting piles of gold (CommanderVideo must need the money or something), while jumping over and sliding under various obstacles. Also, you can kick things, so there will probably be a bits of combat here and there (as shown during the boss battle video).
The series' trademark rhythm gameplay seems to be present as well, albeit in a less obvious form. If you watch and listen closely, you'll notice the beat of the music playing in conjunction with CommanderVideo's jumps. It doesn't seem like it plays as big of a part as it did in previous installments, but it's nice to see that they haven't abandoned it.
IGN has a preview for it on their site as well, so you can check there for a more in-depth look at what to expect from CommanderVideo's next trip. (I'm not going to, only because I don't read previews anymore.)
Hopefully we'll get a release date soon. I can't wait to get my hands on it, so the sooner it comes the better I say.
I just played Burnout Paradise...
...and it's awesome. Really awesome. Easily one of the best buys I've made in a long time.
More in-depth impressions forthcoming (assuming I can make myself sit down and write that).
More in-depth impressions forthcoming (assuming I can make myself sit down and write that).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)