New Games |
- First 4 Figures launching Knuckles statue for $169
- 93,000 PSN accounts compromised in attempted attack
- Damn, guys! C'mon already!
- Crusader Kings II enters closed beta
- Sonic Generations PC supports cloud saving, 3D, and more
- Rune Factory takes to the open seas in Tides of Destiny
- Blizzard introduces tradable World of Warcraft pet
- Villains: I'm not sure you're right for me, Ganondorf
- Trine 2's co-op breaks out with Unlimited Mode
- FEZ wins big at IndieCade 2011
- Here's a Warriors Orochi 3 trailer for you
- 'Repair Box' brand launched providing parts for consoles
- No Valkyria Chronicles III for Europe or North America
- Duke Nukem Forever cut down to size on Steam
- Live show: ICO & Shadow HD on Mash Tactics
- GeForce LAN takes place this weekend on the USS Hornet
- Forza wants to remind you that it has lots of music
- Young gamers go mobile, up from 8% to 38% since 2009
- GUNNAR Optiks' Contest: Win unreleased gaming eyewear
| First 4 Figures launching Knuckles statue for $169 Posted: 11 Oct 2011 04:00 PM PDT First 4 Figures are once again showing everyone that they can continue to make things like these with the unveiling of this: a new statue showing Knuckles the Echidna being a total badass. The Knuckles statue, which is 10 inches tall, will come in two different editions. The Standard Edition will see 1,500 units made and cost $169.99 while the more flashy Exclusive Edition will only see 500 made and cost $189.99. The difference between them is simple: the Exclusive version has the lava rock Knuckles has pounded light up. They're both quite pricey and limited, but there are probably Knuckles fans out there willing to shell out that much money to have their beloved Knuckles staring at them with his badass eyes (and if it's the Exclusive Edition light up) so here are links to pre-order both Standard and Exclusive. It's coming out sometime in 2012.
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| 93,000 PSN accounts compromised in attempted attack Posted: 11 Oct 2011 03:01 PM PDT Sony has announced that a new attempt to attack the PlayStation Network has put a relatively small percentage of accounts at risk. 93,000 users (less than one tenth of one percent) spanning PSN, SEN and SOE may be at risk, and while no serious threat is detected, everybody's being encouraged to update their login details. Credit cards are said to not be at risk. "We want to let you know that we have detected attempts on Sony Entertainment Network, PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment ('Networks') services to test a massive set of sign-in IDs and passwords against our network database," stated security officer Philip Reitinger. "These attempts appear to include a large amount of data obtained from one or more compromised lists from other companies, sites or other sources. "In this case, given that the data tested against our network consisted of sign-in ID-password pairs, and that the overwhelming majority of the pairs resulted in failed matching attempts, it is likely the data came from another source and not from our Networks. We have taken steps to mitigate the activity." If you are one of the people whose login attempts did not fail, Sony will require you to reset your password. If you're in the greater majority who got away scot-free, you've very little to worry about. Nevertheless, this is a bit of a sad reminder that our personal details are all still at risk, wherever we go.
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| Posted: 11 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT While reviewing White Knight Chronicles II for the PS3 this happened to me. I was standing idle at a camp when I noticed that my party was off in the distance, marching in place toward a small rock. There was no input from the controller. They did this non-stop. Even after the video, when I finally moved, they marched in place, caught. Yulie, one of the party members, let out her default you're-moving-too-fast cry: "Hey! Speedy! Wait up!" No, bitch. You're not moving. I'm still not done with this game. There's too much stuff on my plate! |
| Crusader Kings II enters closed beta Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:30 PM PDT It's time to get your medieval intrigue on, Crusader Kings II closed beta sign ups started today. I've been waiting for this dynasty focused grand strategy game for what seems like an eternity. I've been playing the original a lot in anticipation and I'm considering picking up similarly themed Sengoku just to get my fix. In Crusader Kings II players don't take charge of a nation, per say, instead they control a noble dynasty. You still manage lands and armies, but the joy is in developing a powerful family that spreads across Europe, dominating everything. Of course, sometimes it's better to set one's sights a little lower. You win more by keeping your dynasty unbroken until the end of the era. That's easier said than done when you have to contend with popular revolts, war, plague, and the treachery of your so called loved ones. Remember your favorite brother? The one who you honored with the title "Count of Cornwall?" Yeah, he's raised an army and now he's trying to take the throne out from under your inept arse. Everyone's a critic. There's no reason why you wouldn't want to go through that. Go sign up. Now. |
| Sonic Generations PC supports cloud saving, 3D, and more Posted: 11 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT Following the listing of Sonic Generations for PC by digital distribution outlets, Sega has finally made a formal announcement regarding the existence of this version. In addition to the aforementioned services, Direct2Drive and Green Man Gaming, expect this latest Sonic adventure to be sold on Steam as well. Sega says Steamworks (cloud saves!), stereoscopic 3D, achievements, online leaderboards, and resolutions up to 1080p are planned. Both the PC and console versions of Sonic Generations are due out on November 1 in North America and November 4 in Europe, with the latter also receiving a boxed PC version later in the month. [Thanks, de5gravity] |
| Rune Factory takes to the open seas in Tides of Destiny Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT The newest Rune Factory, for the Wii and PS3 is out today. Tides of Destiny takes place on an island, and will allow players to travel the open seas in search of adventure, enemies and plots of farmable land. Tides will cost $39.99 for the Wii and 49.99 for the PS3, which is a nice change from the usual $59.99. I've never played a Rune Factory game on anything but the DS, so this should be an interesting experience and one I am looking forward to. The story sounds interesting and I've always been a fan of the two genres that this series combines. Hopefully the added element of seafaring exploration will bring even more to a franchise that already has a lot going for it. |
| Blizzard introduces tradable World of Warcraft pet Posted: 11 Oct 2011 01:00 PM PDT Blizzard has detailed the Guardian Cub companion for World of Warcraft, and if there were ever a time to pay attention to virtual MMO critters, now would be it. Coming soon, this $10 pet is the first of its kind to be tradable, and much to the disappointment of fans, it's a one-time use companion that is good for only a single character. "While our goal is to offer players alternative ways to add a Pet Store pet to their collection, we’re ok with it if some players choose to use the Guardian Cub as a safe and secure way to try to acquire a little extra in-game gold without turning to third-party gold-selling services," writes the company. "Also, it’s important to note that we take a firm stance against buying gold from outside sources because in most cases, the gold these companies offer has been stolen from compromised accounts." How immediate an impact this will have on the WoW economy, gold farmers, and even the types of virtual goods Blizzard sells in the future remains to be seen. I'm sure many of you have predictions. How Blizzard’s Guardian Cub pet could change World of Warcraft’s economy forever [PC Gamer] |
| Villains: I'm not sure you're right for me, Ganondorf Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:30 PM PDT [Last week, I asked you to write anything you wanted about videogame antagonists. Today's blog is from Yamagato333, who discusses the various incarnations of Ganondorf throughout the Zelda series and why he ultimately found Skull Kid to be a more interesting villain. Want to see your own blog on the front page? Write a blog on the current topic: Integration. -- JRo] I have a love/hate relationship with the Zelda franchise. I love Majora’s Mask. I hate Twilight Princess. I enjoyed The Windwaker. I’m not clouded by nostalgia for Ocarina of Time. Did I mention I’m not too fond of Ganondorf? My first outing in the world of Hyrule came on Christmas day 1998. I popped Ocarina of Time into my Nintendo 64 and began a journey that would change the way I perceived video games for the rest of my life. Before this fateful day video games were merely a hobby; an excuse to stay locked away in my bedroom because I didn’t feel like playing football at that particular moment. Ocarina of Time turned my hobby into a love affair. I was hooked. I searched Hyrule for every collectible; I memorized every dungeon; I fell in love with princess Zelda. That last one is a lie. I actually fell in love with the ginger girl from Lon Lon Ranch. I really wanted to destroy Ganondorf because he’d wronged me. He’d taken the Triforce of Power and really messed up my Hyrule. I was ready to make him suffer, and suffer he did. I relished every second he spent being electrocuted by his own Kamehameha blast. I laughed feverishly every time I slashed at his deformed tail with my giant Goron Sword. I savoured the moment the Master Sword entered his skull. However, he never once struck me as an interesting villain. I want to rule the world. I get power. Now I rule the world. I want more power. This is all standard villain stuff. There was nothing truly compelling behind his particular brand of evil. Then came Majora’s Mask. It was weird. It was different. It scared me. There was a massive Marilyn Manson moon hanging over my head. A weird little kid I met during Ocarina of Time was now running around making Manson’s face fall out of the sky. He was doing this by harnessing the power of a magical and evil mask. I was freaking out, and I didn’t understand why I was so captivated by it all because it strayed so far from its predecessor, and I usually hated change. Gradually, I fell deeper into its clutches, and my love for Ocarina of Time began to fade. I appreciated Skull Kid because he was a villain I felt sympathy for. Here was a young boy that wanted nothing more than a friend. A child who had been corrupted by the evil of a mask, and turned into a monster. I never experienced this feeling of remorse when I plunged the Master Sword into Ganon’s skull. I savoured every second of that kill. Yet here I was promising myself that I wouldn’t kill Skull Kid. No, he did not deserve Ganon’s fate. As I got older I began to understand that the reason Majora’s Mask had made me forget about Ocarina of Time was that its story was more compelling; its villain more relatable, and as a result, the game was less one dimensional. The fact I could relate to, and ultimately sympathise with, Skull Kid made him feel more real to me. I was fully immersed in this world because the characters had so much life within them. I mean, seriously, if you track each citizen of Termina over the course of the games' “72 hours” you begin to notice that most of them appear to be living out actual lives. They show up in different places. They are doing different things. You get a sense of peril from the various citizens you encounter. You truly feel as though this little kid is really going to bring about the apocalypse. Skull Kid was the new villain on the block. Ganondorf just wasn’t doing it for me anymore. Then came a trailer for Nintendo’s next Zelda game for the oddly named Dolphin console. A trailer that depicted its protagonist, Link in an epic duel with Ganondorf. I wasn’t impressed. Sure, the graphics looked awesome, and the trailer had a good amount of action, but honestly, Ganondorf is back? I’ve heard he was in a few Zelda games before Ocarina, and I figured you’d be doing more of that crazy Majora’s Mask style stuff. However, much to my surprise, and jubilation, this trailer was not the Zelda that would appear on the newly minted Gamecube. No, this Zelda was to be just as intriguing as the one that came before. This was The Windwaker. Once again I spent many an hour in the world that Nintendo had so lovingly created, and enjoyed every second of it. That is until I met an old friend. Yep, Ganondorf is back. Now, in a game that seems so new and fresh - a new graphical style; a new concept for travel; a giant ocean to explore - you’d think that Nintendo would have provided me with a more imaginative and compelling villain. I’m not saying Ganaondorf totally sucked in The Windwaker, but I am saying that his presence was underwhelming. He just didn’t fit. I expected more. I wanted more. It was something that gave me a feeling of déjà vu that I never really shook on my first play through. This was only my third Zelda game, however, and two out of three ain’t all that bad. So then Nintendo introduced us to Twilight Princess; the game to appease everyone who felt wronged by the cartoon graphical style of The Windwaker. Twilight Princess was an interesting concept, I mean, you change into a wolf and hunt shiny bugs. Okay, that sounds a lot lamer than it actually is. The game showed promise when it revealed the main villain, Zant; a strange looking fellow, who seemed to be spreading an interesting graphical filter all over my lovely Hyrule. I was digging this guy. He was weird. He was pretty intimidating – until he took the helmet off – and he was fresh. Yeah, this was a Zelda villain I could enjoy. Well, I wasn’t privy to any spoilers, so I was pretty upset when I discovered that Zant was merely a pawn in Ganondorf’s evil scheme. Ganondorf, really? We’re really doing this again, Nintendo? Shigsy, I know you’re fond of this guy, but seriously, he’s not cool anymore. I want that other guy. The weird looking one back there. Yes, him. No, not the giant pig version of Ganondorf. Just forget it. I literally turned off my Gamecube, and it would be an entire year before I saw the ending of Twilight Princess. Video game villains are important tools when it comes to keeping one’s interest in a narrative. They often serve as the primary catalyst of the protagonist’s ultimate struggle, and as a result can be a thin thread holding together a fragile concept. A good villain keeps you engaged; they keep you playing. A bad villain makes you stop. They make you question whether you should keep up the fight. They make you question whether it’s really all worth it. Fortunately, most Zelda games have flourished irrespective of their repetitive villain choice. We play these games for so many more reasons than a simple choice of villain, and yet somewhere, deep within the recesses of our minds, there is a voice. A voice asking where is that weirdo at Nintendo? The one who succeeded with his idea for Majora’s Mask. You know, that guy who who tried to make Zant the main villain of Twilight Princess. That voice is begging, pleading for that guy to come back. Hoping that he was working on Skyward Sword. Telling us to check the basement. Shigsy keeps him locked up in the basement. You all hear that voice, right? Just me? Okay, then. |
| Trine 2's co-op breaks out with Unlimited Mode Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:15 PM PDT I really enjoyed the first Trine and its three-way character swapping and it felt like a concept that was just ripe for a cooperative experience. Luckily, developer Frozenbyte is coming through for us in that regard. What really looks interesting is the new Unlimited Mode that allows for all three players to jump in with the same character, rather than fill each of the roles exclusively. Apparently it "changes the game mechanics a lot and it's a very different experience." Considering how the first game depended on each character's unique abilities to progress, this little twist could be pretty neat. Trine 2 "Unlimited Mode" Trailer [BluesNews]
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| FEZ wins big at IndieCade 2011 Posted: 11 Oct 2011 12:00 PM PDT I love that independent gaming is large enough to support multiple award ceremonies. This past weekend, the winners of IndieCade 2011 were announced. Destructoid readers should recognize some of the names.
Pleasantly surprised to see Deepak garner some affection. And yeah, FEZ -- we know you're awesome, now let us play you! |
| Here's a Warriors Orochi 3 trailer for you Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:45 AM PDT
Oh hello there, you just caught me watching this trailer for Warriors Orochi 3! It's the third game in a series that mashes Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors characters together and adds demons. You can't really argue with that! DW7 and SW3 characters are all included, along with some brand new unaligned characters. There's also a great big hydra, because why not? As stated earlier this week, Dynasty Warriors is now officially the Citizen Kane of gaming, so this is going be great, probably. |
| 'Repair Box' brand launched providing parts for consoles Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:30 AM PDT Hyperkin, the people who provide peripherals like the Hyperkin Xbox 360 Keypad, has today announced that they're launching a whole new brand called the "Repair Box." Repair Box will offer replacement parts for video game consoles that you've either smashed in rage, dropped down a toilet or, you know, just accidentally damaged. Hyperkin has also announced the first product that Repair Box will be pushing out; the SNES PowerJack. Those that still own and play their SNES will probably know of a common problem where the plastic around the AC jack decides that it wants to break. Replacement parts for these aren't very common nowadays, and obviously shipping your whole console to a place to get it fixed is going to cost you quite a bit so Repair Box's PowerJack just contains parts to replace the housing itself. The PowerJack comes complete with a 6-month warranty and a pre-assembled plastic housing. No release date has been given but it's been priced at $12.99 |
| No Valkyria Chronicles III for Europe or North America Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:15 AM PDT If you were looking forward to another round of fantasy-anime World War II shenanigans, I've got some bad news to you. According to a SEGA Singapore rep, Valkyria Chronicles III will not be coming to Europe or the United States. Boo! According to the rep, Valkyria Chronicles II did not sell enough copies for the publisher to justify localizing another game. He added said that the PSP was not well liked in Western territories, citing that as another factor in the decision to keep VCIII locked in the East. That's a shame, but if the series has really sold that poorly, it's hardly a shock. I guess fans of the series better bone up on their Japanese and get ready to import. Valkyria Chronicles III not coming to US and Europe [GameSpot] |
| Duke Nukem Forever cut down to size on Steam Posted: 11 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT Bet that'll affect his ego meter. Yes, it's finally Duke Nukem Forever's turn to be the midweek deal on Steam, reduced by 50% to just $9.99. It actually surprised me to see how cheap DNF was being sold for just five months after release, but hey, consumers want Duke. Apparently. Also released is the new "Hail To The Icons Parody Map Pack," which offers some more multiplayer maps derived from games like Modern Warfare and Team Fortress 2. There's three new multiplayer modes included, making the pack a reasonable value at $9.99. It's hard to know what to say about Duke Nukem Forever at this stage. Has this discount finally swayed you into buying? Are there enough people playing the multiplayer to make this map pack worthwhile? Is it even worth getting worked up over Duke anymore? |
| Live show: ICO & Shadow HD on Mash Tactics Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:30 AM PDT [Not sure what Mash Tactics is? I've included a classic highlight to show you just a glimpse of what you've been missing, you daft fool! You can see all of Destructoid's previously aired live shows in our archives.] Today, Mash Tactics is playing The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection, a graphically upscaled release of the original PlayStation 2 games for the PlayStation 3, available in stores now. If these revered classics have slipped past you, here's a chance to get an in-depth look. Mash Tactics airs Monday through Friday at 4pm Pacific. Watch Jon Carnage and Wesley Ruscher let loose with off-the-wall humor and discuss the issues of the day in the live chat on Destructoid's Twitch.tv channel. Also, there are videogames being played. Join us for your chance to win prizes, talk to industry guests, and witness all of the glorious antics. |
| GeForce LAN takes place this weekend on the USS Hornet Posted: 11 Oct 2011 10:15 AM PDT In case you weren't aware, GeForce LAN 6, a 48-hour-long LAN party, is being hosted by NVIDIA on the USS Hornet in Alameda, California. Having a bunch of people bring their own computer onto an actual aircraft carrier is crazy enough to work, I think. Interested? The event kicks off this Friday, October 14. Tickets for general admission are $20 and will be sold onsite. The main attraction for this one seems to be the 64-player Battlefield 3 setup, though I'm sure there's plenty more excitement to be found in contests and other activities. What happens on the carrier stays on the carrier. |
| Forza wants to remind you that it has lots of music Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:45 AM PDT Microsoft is happy to advertise that Forza Motorsport 4 features the return of award winning composer Lance Hayes. Lance's music in Forza 3 was apparently quite well received, as the soundtrack won an award from G4 TV, being marked as one of the 10 best electronic albums of 2010. Fancy. Lance Hayes has produced 19 different tracks for use throughout the games interface and races, clocking in at over 100 minutes worth of content. Lance is apparently known for being a diverse composer, and it sounds like some of his stuff is my style (acid jazz makes an appearance in Forza 4.) I'm an outdated racing fan, though. When I think racing game soundtracks I hear the crazy music from old Sega racers. I'm sure all of you know that Forza Motorsport 4 is out today, and for any of you curious about Forza's musical style you can download the older soundtrack from iTunes. |
| Young gamers go mobile, up from 8% to 38% since 2009 Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:30 AM PDT The latest data from the NPD Group is packed with lots of interesting factoids on the growth of gaming today, but the most interesting is how mobile gaming is the biggest thing with younger gamers. The number of young'ins that play mobile games has grown from 8 percent in 2009 to 38 percent today. Compare that with the growth of gaming on portable game systems -- a more modest 38 percent to 45 percent today. More kids are playing games in general, says NPD. A whopping 91 percent of kids age 2-17 play games today, up from only 9 percent two years ago. That's a crazy increase in a short time, but it makes sense when you look around and see just about every kid with an iPod Touch. It's still all about us, though. Even with all the new kids gaming these days, the average gamer is still 37. |
| GUNNAR Optiks' Contest: Win unreleased gaming eyewear Posted: 11 Oct 2011 09:15 AM PDT By now, you've surely heard about GUNNAR, the eyewear company that specializes in glasses that increase contrast and reduce eye fatigue. I skeptically picked up a pair at PAX and I am happy to report that they are actually the real deal: it takes a little getting used to the slight curvature but the eyestrain relief becomes increasingly apparent with regular use. I definitely recommend them to anyone who lives in front of a monitor all day, whether you're a wannabe pro gamer or just a giant nerd like me. If you missed them at PAX they're now available at Best Buy. Win yours right now: GUNNAR is looking for a new style name for an upcoming, unreleased design. You can check out their existing product line here. Your job is to dream up the best name ever and suggest it in the comments below. All ages are eligible to win, and multiple entries per person may be submitted. Three winners will receive one of the unreleased holiday colors pictured above, and one lucky winner will win the new GUNNAR SteelSeries Desmo design before you can buy it! Rules: Please limit one awesome idea per comment. Winners will be selected by a nefarious panel of Dtoid editors and GUNNAR staff on October 27th. DESTRUCTOID and GUNNAR are not responsible for any medical injuries caused to dudes with giant potato heads. The contest is open to all territories worldwide. Prizes are for non-prescription lenses (though you can take the frames to Carl-Zeiss to modify them if you'd like). See full contest rules below. Good luck! |
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