New Games |
- Extroverted dorks and N64 dreams with Cassie Chui
- Conan O'Brien plays the Atari 2600 on Clueless Gamer
- Dead Island MOBA, Carmack Goes To Oculus & Double Zelda!
- More Dead Island? More Dead Island
- Looks like Target will have PS Vitas for $200 soon
- Say goodbye to Microsoft Points with the next 360 update
- Sleeping Dogs, Tropico, and Swapper are your daily deals
- DuckTales Remastered on Wii U to also get a retail box?
- The Wonderful 101 demo is live on the eShop
- God of War II director back at Sony Santa Monica
- Project Phoenix is an indie JRPG from Final Fantasy vets
- Review: Charlie Murder
- RAGE creative director has also joined Oculus VR
- Exploring the depths of the ocean in Assassin's Creed IV
- inXile is bringing the original Wasteland to GOG, Steam
- Friday Night Fights: Say hello, and wave goodbye
- Carmack's Oculus rift and Half-Life left for Left 4 Dead
- Get a closer look at the Black Ops II Apocalypse DLC
- Review: Pivvot
- Xbox One won't require multiple Gold accounts per console
- This edition of Saints Row IV literally costs $1M
- Here's how Mega Evolutions work in Pokemon X and Y
- Catch a smorgasbord of indie games for the Wii U
- Steam Greenlight: Viscera Cleanup, Satellite Reign, Nekro
- Grin maker: Wind Waker HD is beyond delightful
- Now Bloody Playing: Papers, Please
- Take a bath with your Kinect
- 'Surprise' Yakuza announcement coming August 18th
- Peek behind the skin: Sales numbers for Organ Trail
- Here's the trailer for that PS All-Stars Coca Cola thing
- Nintendo reveals Gamescom playable lineup
- Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds gameplay looks okay
- King of Fighters XIII seems to be coming to Steam
- Streets of Rage 3D Classic will come with a new mode
- GameStop wants to help you trade up from 360 to Xbox One
- So that's how the Gravity Gun works!
- Atlus unveils Etrian Odyssey Untold pre-order bonuses
- Onechanbara Z: Kagura with NoNoNo! coming to PS3
- Celebrate YouTube's Geek Week with a cosplay music video
- Mr. Wilson was TERRIFYING in the Dennis the Menace game
- Wii U still being sold at a loss, price cut unlikely
- A Civilization MMO is a thing that is happening
- The Daily Hotness: SpyParty is looking great
- Report: Amazon is developing an Android console too
| Extroverted dorks and N64 dreams with Cassie Chui Posted: 09 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT Last week's Sup Holmes (now on iTunes) was a real barn burner. Cassie Chui lit up the screen with her effervescent personality and passion for game design. She decided at the early age of eight that game development was in her future. It was the N64 that did it to her, though what part she would play in game creation remained unclear for many years. It wasn't until a game design theory class in college that Cassie's path was solidified. We didn't get to it in the actual interview, but I asked her after the fact what it was about this class that made her sure that game design was her passion. She told me "...that Game Theory class helped me discover that what I really wanted to do in games was create 'fun' for another person. The prospect of being able to create an experience like that for other people was really what drew me into game theory and game design." So this person wants to dedicate her life to helping you have fun, even though she doesn't even know you! How nice is that? Answer -- Pretty darn nice. We talked with Cassie about a whole slew of other topics, like her internship at Untold Entertainment Inc (creators of Sissy's Magical Ponycorn Adventure), her love of League of Legends, Animal Crossing, Monster Hunter, cosplay, and of course, the wild ride she's taken with Michael Todd and company towards creating Electronic Super Joy (now on Steam Early Access). Thanks again to Cassie for joining us, and tune in this Sunday at 1pm PST/4PM EST when we welcome Jeff Luke (Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land) to the program. It's the beginning of WayForgust! Expect at least one musical number. |
| Conan O'Brien plays the Atari 2600 on Clueless Gamer Posted: 09 Aug 2013 03:00 PM PDT In this episode of Clueless Gamer, comedian and late night host Conan O'Brien goes back in time, as he plays the Atari 2600. He takes on a number of games, including the iconic Pitfall, Space Invaders, and E.T. If you haven't seen or played an Atari 2600 before, it's worth watching just to get a glimpse of gaming history. As expected, he isn't a big fan of pretty much everything, but at least he tried! In regards to E.T., he proclaims that it "just simulates the cycles of depression." Sounds about right! |
| Dead Island MOBA, Carmack Goes To Oculus & Double Zelda! Posted: 09 Aug 2013 02:30 PM PDT Here's today's not-live Destructoid Show! On which we discuss the following: There are two new Zelda games coming out this fall, let's look at videos of them! id software co-founder John Carmack is now working for Oculus, along with his colleague Matt Hooper. Amazon is allegedly releasing an Android box, possibly with gaming potential, and Dead Island Epidemic is a free-to-play MOBA. Oh goody. Finally, to access the DVR functionality on Xbox One, you'll need a gold account, but that's not the case for the Playstation 4. |
| More Dead Island? More Dead Island Posted: 09 Aug 2013 02:00 PM PDT In a reddit Ask Me Almost Anything with Deep Silver creative director Guido Eickmeyer, question after question wondered about the state of Dead Island. After the recent announcement of Dead Island: Epidemic, a MOBA of all things, it seems fans are itching to hear about a possible return to the main series. Heh, "possible." As if this isn't totally happening. "For now, I can only ask you to wait a bit further, then some really nice things will be revealed about the future of Dead Island," Eickmeyer commented. He noted that he "would not expect the series to stop at this point," and suggested that "there will be always a strong link to 'islands', because this is just part of [the series'] DNA." The widely popular DayZ was also brought up, prompting Eickmeyer to talk in more hypotheticals about Dead Island's future. "I would say that exploration in an open-world game is key to being fun. Size is not the only answer here as not every gamer would like to have a DayZ-kind of experience, but you want to feel being part of a world, not a linear corridor of events." He noted that it was a source of inspiration and a great game, but that he doesn't "see Dead Island moving into such a super-harcore direction. For future titles, you will find many elements being inspired from this title. Not confirming anything ;) but I would say the survival motive is something in the focus for our upcoming DI games." I am Guido Eickmeyer, Creative Director at Deep Silver. AMAA! [reddit] |
| Looks like Target will have PS Vitas for $200 soon Posted: 09 Aug 2013 01:30 PM PDT A Target ad for the week of August 18 - 24 references a nice little deal on PlayStation Vitas, should you be in the market for the handheld. Both the standard Wi-Fi ($249.99) and 3G/Wi-Fi ($299.99) models are going to drop in price to $199.99 at the retailer. It's as good of time as any to grab a Vita if you're down for some indie games, particularly if you also own a PlayStation 3, in the case of Cross-Buy titles. That said, I can't help but feel like a price drop or at the very least some worthwhile bundles aren't too far off. It's already August, after all. Target Ad 8/18-8/24 [Blu-ray.com via Cheap Ass Gamer] |
| Say goodbye to Microsoft Points with the next 360 update Posted: 09 Aug 2013 01:00 PM PDT Microsoft Points are finally going to be phased out in favor of local currency on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One after the next 360 system update is released, Chief Product Officer Marc Whitten announced on Xbox Wire. "Our goal is to make this transition as easy as possible for you," Marc stated. "After the next Xbox 360 system update, when you go to buy something or redeem a Microsoft Points card or code on your console with your Microsoft account, we’ll add to your account an amount of currency equal to or greater than the Xbox Marketplace value of your Microsoft Points, which will be retired." New Xbox Gift Cards will be rolled out along with this update starting later this year, and any old Microsoft Points Cards can still be redeemed "until further notice." Also super important to note from their FAQ page: Your converted MS Points have an expiration date of June 1, 2015. So any MS Points you have in your account at the time of the switch will expire in a couple of years. Any currency you purchase after the switch won't have an expiration date though. |
| Sleeping Dogs, Tropico, and Swapper are your daily deals Posted: 09 Aug 2013 12:30 PM PDT Green Man Gaming has a big Crime and Punishment sale going on, cutting the price of a whole heap of cops and robbers titles. There's plenty on offer but my picks would be Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse for £6.24/$8.74, Sleeping Dogs plus all DLC for £11.48/$16.23, and Driver San Francisco for just £3.24 (UK-only offer it seems). GamersGate's daily deal is 75% off the Silverfall: Complete Collection for just £3.75/$6.28. GOG.com has reduced a selection of titles from Team 17 and Kalypso by 60%, which includes Omerta: City of Gangsters for $15.99, Tropico 3: Gold Edition for $5.99, and Worms United for $2.39. Recipient of a 10/10 Destructoid review, acclaimed indie puzzler The Swapper is half price for just £5.99/$7.49. If you don't mind waiting for a physical copy turning up, UK retailer Zavvi have reduced Operation Flashpoint: Red River to a silly price of just £0.98. |
| DuckTales Remastered on Wii U to also get a retail box? Posted: 09 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT DuckTales Remastered flaps onto the PlayStation Network, eShop, and Steam next Tuesday, August 13, but PS3 players will also have the option to wait an extra week and purchase a special boxed edition. It contains a download code rather than a disc, but for those who want to show off that sweet, sweet cover art and rock a collector's pin, what's a few extra bucks? But why should the PS3 be given preferential treatment? Well, if the rumors are true, other platforms may also be getting a boxed version -- or just the Wii U at least. On Nintendo's info page about the game, a full-on DuckTales Remastered Wii U box is displayed. For typical digital-only titles, that image would instead show the game's title screen with a banner below reading "Nintendo eShop Wii U Download." I was always planning on buying the PS3 box for my collection, but seeing as how I still don't own a PS3, this would be a more cost-effective option. If it's true, that is. DuckTales: Remastered [Nintendo via Pure Nintendo] |
| The Wonderful 101 demo is live on the eShop Posted: 09 Aug 2013 11:30 AM PDT Nintendo held another Direct stream this morning, focusing entirely on The Wonderful 101 and why it might very well be the greatest thing ever. And rounding out the stream was the above seven-and-a-half-minute trailer that ran through the entire Wonderful Ones squad, introducing the Russian Wonder Yellow and gadget-loving Wonder Black for the first time. Following the Nintendo Direct, PlatinumGames announced that European and Japanese Wii U owners could download a demo from the eShop right now. From the wording, it sounded like Americans would have had to wait a few extra days or weeks to get their fix, but it's now officially available in the US as well. Everyone else gets the game on August 23 while the US has to wait until September 15, but this demo will make that wait so much easier. Thanks for listening to my pleas, Platinum! |
| God of War II director back at Sony Santa Monica Posted: 09 Aug 2013 11:00 AM PDT Cory Barlog has come back to Sony Santa Monica after stints at Just Cause maker Avalanche Studios and Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics. Previously, he served as lead animator on God of War, director on God of War II, and contributed to God of War III and the PlayStation Portable's Ghost of Sparta. He was a big part of the franchise, in other words. In a post on PlayStation Blog, Barlog recaps his time away from Santa Monica in great detail before eventually teasing the new project he's working on at the studio: "What am I working on, you ask? Good question. Sadly, I cannot tell you...yet. But I can say that it is freaking huge, and it will live up to the standards that I helped establish here at SMS," he wrote. "We're putting together a team as I type this, an Ocean's 11 kind of thing. We are searching the world high and low for the best of the BEST to come and be on the ground floor of this endeavor. So, hey, if you are a freaking rock star unafraid to roll your sleeves up and take risks, reading this thinking that your current digs are feeling...well...a bit small, a bit dull and in need of some excitement -- you need to contact me at Sony Santa Monica." Cory Barlog Returns to Sony Santa Monica Studio [PlayStation Blog] |
| Project Phoenix is an indie JRPG from Final Fantasy vets Posted: 09 Aug 2013 10:35 AM PDT There's a lot to digest here. Project Phoenix is an indie JRPG with real-time strategy elements. Its Kickstarter campaign will launch in a few days and it's asking for $100,000. Heading the project is Hiroaki Yura. Kiyoshi Arai (Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy XIV) is the art director and the music is coming from none other than famed Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu in his first work on an indie game. You had me at Final Fantasy XII -- its possibly my favorite in the series, in no small part because of its art direction -- but Uematsu, too? The project also features veterans of Halo 4, Crysis 3, LA Noire, and more. It's not just an Eastern affair. It also boasts some unannounced members, including, a "secret designer from a leading anime mecha title that changed the course of Japanese pop culture’s influence in the world." Does that mean Hideaki Anno of Evangelion fame? Also, one of the Kickstarter backer rewards will put you in the game as an NPC, "such as a bar owner," with your own personal theme music composed by Uematsu himself. Take all my money. |
| Posted: 09 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT Charlie Murder is a game that aims incredibly high. In addition to presenting an truly unique and fluid art style, it adds a compelling soundtrack to the mix, as well as a whole host of gameplay mechanics, on top of an RPG-like stat and inventory system. Not everything works out exactly how Ska Studios hoped it would, but beneath all of the questionable design decisions lies an incredibly interesting beat 'em up that makes quite an effort to break the mold. |
| RAGE creative director has also joined Oculus VR Posted: 09 Aug 2013 09:30 AM PDT Another id Software employee will be joining technical director John Carmack in Dallas to work on the virtual-reality headset Oculus Rift. The creative director of id's post-apocalyptic shooter RAGE, Matt Hooper, left the company earlier this year and is now a part of Oculus VR, it's been confirmed. "We are thrilled to have Matt Hooper join the Oculus VR team as our Director of Development," reads an official statement provided to Game Front. "Hooper will be working out of the Dallas, TX office. He's a top talent who had been out of id for a few months and ended up being a great fit for the Oculus team. We're looking for more all-stars!" Nice moves all around. I'm hopeful that, with the right team, this thing can truly take off. The pieces are starting to fall in place but, even then, it's not going to be easy. RAGE Creative Director Matt Hooper Works at Oculus VR Now, Too [Game Front] |
| Exploring the depths of the ocean in Assassin's Creed IV Posted: 09 Aug 2013 09:15 AM PDT Water is usually a background element in action/adventure games. Or at best, water gets a temporary spotlight in levels that let you take a break from standard play -- a quick splash and then back to land. It's rarely ever a focus in these games. Usually, underwater segments are the worst parts of these games. Poor water. The ocean played a sizable role in Assassin's Creed III with its naval battles, and while that was fantastic, it only served as a tease for what the ocean offered. Reacting to feedback, Ubisoft is now bringing the deep blue sea to the forefront in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. They've embraced the open-world concept, and the free exploration extends to the ocean, not only by boat, but through underwater play. We visited the team behind Assassin's Creed IV's ocean tech, Ubisoft Singapore, to learn how deep they were willing to dive this time around. |
| inXile is bringing the original Wasteland to GOG, Steam Posted: 09 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT Now this is a pleasant turn of events. inXile Entertainment plans to sell Wasteland on GOG.com and Steam ahead of the release of its new Wasteland 2. Those of you who contributed to the game's crowdfunding initiative will get a free copy of the classic role-playing title, as has been the plan for a while now, but after talking it over with Electronics Arts, everyone will have the chance to buy the game on those digital platforms. And if you regret not participating in the campaign originally, inXile is still accepting funding. This free Wasteland offer extends to late backers, too. Nice to see this finally happen. You Asked For It [Wasteland 2 Kickstarter] |
| Friday Night Fights: Say hello, and wave goodbye Posted: 09 Aug 2013 08:30 AM PDT [Yes, those are my kids. And yes, I know they are awesome.] It's been almost two years to the day since I took over writing the front page Friday Night Fights posts here on Dtoid, and I haven't missed a single week since. (That's over one million FNF posts, for those of you who know math good like me.) In that time, we've brought you some awesome community playdates (some of which were featured on Xbox Live), given out lots of FNF-themed prizes, and even commissioned a new Friday Night Fights banner which will feature the avatars of over 40 Dtoiders duking it out in a giant brawl when all is said and done. Not a bad legacy, if I do say so myself! In spite of all that, I've been feeling lately like it's time to bring some new ideas to the table to reinvigorate this long-standing Dtoid tradition, so last week I called up my friend Chillybilly and asked him if he was interested in taking over the job; he couldn't have been more excited. And so, it is with great pleasure that I welcome in the newest member of Destructoid's community team, Bill Platt! As Playdate Manager, Bill will be handling all the front page Friday Night Fights and Team Fortress 2sday posts from here on out, as well as any other community playdates we happen to do (hint: we're going to be doing a lot more). Playdates are nothing new to Bill -- he's been curating the Xbox FNF blog for years now -- but he brings with him a fresh perspective and energy that I think will go a long way toward making our community gaming sessions more exciting and varied than ever. Of course, I won't be going anywhere -- I'm still your Community Manager. But my hope is that, with Bill in charge of this part of my job, I'll be free to focus my efforts on other awesome things, both on and offsite. But enough about that! You're here for one reason and one reason only: to FIGHT! So hit the jump to see what we've got in store for you tonight. You kids have fun <3 |
| Carmack's Oculus rift and Half-Life left for Left 4 Dead Posted: 09 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT In this latest installment of Office Chat, I'm joined by Jim Sterling and Jordan Devore to commiserate over Valve's seeming decision to prioritize Left 4 Dead 3 ahead of Half-Life 3. Plus, John Carmack has joined the team developing the Oculus Rift VR headset, but is anybody going to care anymore once the thing is actually in consumer hands? |
| Get a closer look at the Black Ops II Apocalypse DLC Posted: 09 Aug 2013 07:30 AM PDT The very last piece of the Call of Duty: Black Ops II Season Pass is on the way, in the form of the map pack Apocalypse. The pack will feature four maps, two of them being remakes, and a new zombies mode that looks particularly amazing. If you want to get a better look at it, Treyarch has released a new video that goes over some of the layouts, as well as some design insight. While the prospect of two more remade maps isn't really enticing, I have high hopes for the new zombie map. If you still play Black Ops II, stay tuned shortly after launch for my impressions. |
| Posted: 09 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT I'm always thankful when developers of games that don't fall under a strict, established genre come up with a phrase to describe their work. In the case of Pivvot, we're looking at a "strategic avoidance" game, which really is the best descriptor for this iPhone and iPad title. That sense of gratefulness also extends to developers who make good use of the platform they're creating for. Again, this applies to Pivvot -- it's got a simple, effective control scheme in which you're literally tapping either the left or right side of your device's screen. No more, no less. Why can't it always be this easy? |
| Xbox One won't require multiple Gold accounts per console Posted: 09 Aug 2013 06:30 AM PDT A bit more positive news has come out of Microsoft's camp today. Xbox outlined the details of its Home Gold program, and it'll ultimately result in decreased costs for households that keep several Xbox Live Gold accounts on a single console. On Xbox 360, Gold is granted only to the gamertag that paid for the subscription. Under the new program, every account that's created on an Xbox One will be given the premium status if just one of them has Gold. This means that everyone will be able to use their own gamertag for the likes of multiplayer gaming and entertainment applications. Microsoft has stated that the intent behind this change is to make your gamertag feel like your personalized account. There will no longer be the need to share access for a different person to utilize the features of Gold. I'm sure a fair number of people will save some cash with this new policy. Xbox One: Sharing Digital Games and Gold [Xbox Wire] |
| This edition of Saints Row IV literally costs $1M Posted: 09 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT The best version of Saints Row IV will also be far and away the most expensive one. We're not talking a couple hundred dollars for some figurines. No, the Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition will run a cool one million dollars, and is only for the adventurous at heart. The extravagantly priced bundle comes with, among other things, a space flight, a hostage rescue experience, plastic surgery, a day of spy training, seven days in both Dubai and Washington D.C., and a Lamborghini Gallardo. Oh yeah, it comes with a copy of Saints Row IV, too. There's only one of these bad boys available, so prospective buyers have the assurance that this is the most limited edition of the game on the market. They also have the assurance that the game itself will definitely be the most boring and unexciting part of their videogame purchase. Saints Row IV Super Dangerous Wad Wad Edition Product Details [Game Retail Limited] |
| Here's how Mega Evolutions work in Pokemon X and Y Posted: 09 Aug 2013 05:30 AM PDT Following our coverage of the recent Pokemon X and Y info dump from CoroCoro, The Pokemon Company has come out with official art and some additional details on how the games' new Mega Evolutions will work. The biggest thing you need to know is that they only take place during battle, after which point your Pokemon will go back to its normal form. The new evolution will be brought on by Mega Stones, which are scattered throughout the region of Kalos and are named after the individual Pokemon they're suited for. There is one exception: the Mega Stone Blazikenite can't be found in-game. Rather, it'll be distributed via Wi-Fi starting October 12, which is when Pokemon X and Y launch worldwide. Sounds about right. Funny how X and Y were -- I don't want to say off my radar entirely -- but they weren't high up there, either. In light of this week's information on Mega forms, I'm fairly excited. Always was a bit of a Digimon fan, so perhaps that's why. Also, I want to squeeze Dedenne. Even if it results in a horrifying death by electrocution. |
| Catch a smorgasbord of indie games for the Wii U Posted: 09 Aug 2013 05:00 AM PDT Last week we got word that Wii U owners should expect 20-30 new indie games by the holidays. The hefty load could help spell a console that is still struggling to land desirable retail games, but how conceivable is it? Well, this recent Wii U indies trailer features 18 titles, and that's purely from European and Australian developers. Guess they weren't kidding. Not everything on display is entirely new; there is a Director's Cut version of Q.U.B.E, for instance. There's also the basically-The-Legend-of-Zelda Ittle Dew, which might be too cute to chastise for unoriginality. There is even a game called Monkey Pirates, which had me at "monkey pirates." Good things all around. Is there anything here you're particularly excited for? |
| Steam Greenlight: Viscera Cleanup, Satellite Reign, Nekro Posted: 09 Aug 2013 04:30 AM PDT Valve's approach to approving games on Steam Greenlight in smaller, more agile waves seems to be working out nicely. The new batch has the usual stuff: zombie survival, open-world sandboxes, adventure and, of course, some horror for good measure. Here's the list:
Standouts for me are The 7th Guest (this is an official re-release), Strike Vector, Viscera Cleanup Detail, and on more of a conceptual level, The Novelist and Stranded Deep. |
| Grin maker: Wind Waker HD is beyond delightful Posted: 09 Aug 2013 04:00 AM PDT Yep, I'm definitely more excited for The Wind Waker HD than A Link Between Worlds. I'm not trying to wind you guys up, really. Wind Waker is just one of the few Legend of Zelda games that I really dig and everything about seeing it in HD makes me smile. Its aesthetic is so clever, so colorful (literally and figuratively), so emotive. It doesn't just hold up. In HD, visually, this decade old title still leaves most contemporary efforts in its winding wake. Things in the video aren't too different from what you remember, which is fine by me. A couple of the small touch ups, including faster sailing and smoother, quicker Wind Waker movements, are plenty welcome. Otherwise, this one really stands the test of time. Now I just need a Wii U before October. Look at his adorable little face. |
| Now Bloody Playing: Papers, Please Posted: 09 Aug 2013 03:15 AM PDT Papers, Please hit Steam just yesterday, and your ol' pal Jim Sterling is on hand to give your a whirlwind tour through the beautiful realm of Arstotzka. Who shall be let in? Who shall be denied? You must watch n' see! This is a good game, by the way. Yes indeed it is. |
| Posted: 09 Aug 2013 03:00 AM PDT Pop culture has taught me to keep plugged in electronics away from bath tubs lest I be victim of some accidental or nefarious plot upon my life. Because electricity. Thankfully, no one seems to have taught this to University of Electro-Communications' Koike Laboratory researchers, who have managed to do another cool thing with a Kinect that most people will never experience. By mucking up some water to make it opaque, the water then becomes a surface viable for projection. Add a Kinect, and it becomes a dazzlingly interactive touchscreen capable of reading finger movements from above or below the deep, among other cool actions. It's more like Minority Report than any other Kinect things I've seen, but with the added bonus of a loving warmth, rubber duckies, and battleships. Too bad I have a crappy, tiny bathtub I don't fit in. Just the surface projection alone is sort of neat and could make for a wonderful, entertainment filled bathing session. Definitely beats my current set up of tenuously hanging my TV above my tub with a system of rope and pullies whenever I want to watch Jaws while I get my clean on. I'm going to need a bigger tub. Holy Crap, This Water-Based Display Makes Water’s Surface a Touchscreen [Gizmodo] |
| 'Surprise' Yakuza announcement coming August 18th Posted: 09 Aug 2013 02:45 AM PDT Gematsu is reporting that Sega is planning a "surprise announcement" at their Yakuza Character General Election on August 18th, which will be viewable outside of the Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. While the election is basically just a chance for fans to vote for their favorite characters, something else major could very well come out of the event. I seriously hope it's an announcement of a worldwide release of Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition for the Wii U. Yakuza [gamer.ne.jp via Gematsu] |
| Peek behind the skin: Sales numbers for Organ Trail Posted: 09 Aug 2013 02:30 AM PDT Organ Trail, the delightful play on Oregon Trail, has done well for itself. The indie game, launched one year ago after six months of full time development by five individuals, has crowdfunded, graced multiple platforms, been included in Humble Bundles, and more. In a comprehensive post on The Men Who Wear Many Hats' blog, co-owner Ryan Wiemeyer has dumped the game's year long sales history into some interesting, digestible graphs. There are various interesting tidbits. The team asked for $3,000 on Kickstarter, raised $16,339, and received about $8,000 after sending out rewards. The game has sold almost 430,000 units to date -- 400,000 units past its original goal -- 82% of which came in the last five months thanks to a Humble Bundle bump. While Organ Trail graced many platforms, including the Ouya (where 4% of demo downloaders go on to buy the full product), Wiemeyer noted the team would, "probably only focus on iOS, Android, Steam and the Humble Store" for its next release. Apparently the team is also looking at Wii U and a mystery platform for another Organ Trail release. Vita? Hooray pie charts! Hooray indie success! Organ Trail: One Year Later [Hats' Blog] |
| Here's the trailer for that PS All-Stars Coca Cola thing Posted: 09 Aug 2013 02:20 AM PDT Remember that bizarre PlayStation All-Stars Island iOS and Android App that was announced yesterday? Today it has a brand new trailer to give you a better look at the four core games that are included, as well as the "Coke Challenges." The Uncharted mini-game looks like a blatant rip-off of Temple Run, and the Little Big Planet Karting game looks pretty generic, but the Gravity Rush and other extra games look fun enough. I still have no idea how I feel about this. I wouldn't mind Sony branching out in general to other non-Sony platforms, but the blatant Coca Cola advertising really turns me off. Either way, you can get it for free on iOS here, and Google Play here. |
| Nintendo reveals Gamescom playable lineup Posted: 09 Aug 2013 02:15 AM PDT On August 21st through the 25th, Gamescom will commence in Europe, and for the very first time, gamers will have a chance to play Pokemon X and Y in the EU. Nintendo also has revealed that there will be playable 3DS demos for Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, as well as The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. But while the 3DS has no shortage of incredible games in general, it looks like Nintendo will be focusing on the Wii U, with tons of demos on hand. In fact, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Wind Waker HD, Sonic Lost World, Wii Party U, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Super Mario 3D World, Wii U Karoake U, and Mario Kart 8 will be readily available. That's quite a bit of games, some of which are pretty far off, so it should be a great chance for many people who missed E3 to play them. Pokemon X & Y [Nintendo Life] |
| Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds gameplay looks okay Posted: 09 Aug 2013 02:00 AM PDT Shadow Triforce, cute green protagonist, dual worlds, bomb puzzles. Yep, this is a Zelda game. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, a follow up to the beloved A Link to the Past, is dropping in November. It's also adding a new mechanic reminiscent of Sideway New York. Link flattens to a 2D sketch and adheres to walls. Not terribly inventive, but it could be used well in puzzles. I think getting caught up in the excitement that is a sequel to A Link to the Past might have skewed my expectations for A Link Between Worlds. Everything looks sufficiently Legend of Zelda, but the 3D models are sort of killing it for me for some reason. I mean, I am aware of my own preference toward 2D art in a lot of instances, but Wind Waker is also my favorite title in the series. It's not just the 3D that's bothering me, it's that it looks so bland. Blandness aside, I'm sure the familiar trappings and return to a top-down orientation will at least sate some Legend of Zelda fans and the gameplay is liable to be as solid as usual. Our own Tony Ponce dug what he played of A Link Between Worlds at E3. I kind of just want to go play Wind Waker HD or even A Link to the Past instead, but I bet a lot of you are excited, right? |
| King of Fighters XIII seems to be coming to Steam Posted: 09 Aug 2013 01:30 AM PDT Fighting games showing the PC some love seems to be all the rage these days. Mortal Kombat 9 made its way over to Steam this year following a Vita port last year. Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition eventually graced PCs. Divekick is releasing on PC, PS3, and PS Vita simultaneously. Now it seems the gorgeous King of Fighters XIII will follow suit and make its way to Steam. CVG caught a now defunct trailer, "which features gameplay footage as well as a logo containing the text 'The King of Fighters XIII Steam Edition'." Despite no official announcement, it seems PC-only players will soon be able to experience the beautiful, 2D fighter for themselves. I only ended up playing King of Fighters XIII because it was free on PlayStation Plus, but I was totally absorbed by it for a while. I am terrible at fighting games, but perpetually drawn in by the sprite work and animation. The only reason I want to be good at them is to watch them in expert motion. KoF XIII is at times as gorgeous as Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. That Q animation. Do you think the relatively niche fighter can gain some ground on Steam, away from the traditional fighting game scene? King of Fighters XIII may be headed to PC, according to a trailer found on Steam [CVG] |
| Streets of Rage 3D Classic will come with a new mode Posted: 09 Aug 2013 01:15 AM PDT Sega is keeping the 3DS Classic train rolling, and in Japan, Streets of Rage will hit the 3DS on August 21st. This isn't a straight port though, as it'll add a "One hit Deathblow Mode" to the game, which allows players to kill enemies in, well, one hit. This is on top of co-op support and button re-mapping. I have no problem with ports in general, but I really appreciate it when developers add small little extras like this. I don't think I'd ever use this mode in particular, but it's no secret that millions of gamers out there already own a number of retro ports, so putting a little extra icing on the top is an easy way to encourage a double-dip. Streets of Rage [Siliconera] |
| GameStop wants to help you trade up from 360 to Xbox One Posted: 09 Aug 2013 01:00 AM PDT I bet GameStop is a little happier selling Xbox Ones now that the used game market is back. To show this support, the company is running a somewhat neat promotion. If you are a PowerUp Rewards member and buy select games for your Xbox 360 (likely prior to the Xbox One's release), you'll be able to trade said games back in and upgrade to the Xbox One versions for an additional $10. It's not a bad deal if you can't wait to play Call of Duty: Ghosts, Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14, Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, but also want them with Xbox One graphics and Kinect commands. If you buy any of those $60 games (and are a PowerUp Rewards member) within 30 days of their release, you are guaranteed a $50 trade-in credit when you upgrade to the Xbox One version and burn all your Xbox 360 consoles, accessories, and games, because backwards compatibility is "backwards." For those of you still set on buying an Xbox One, how is enticing is that deal? Is it worth dishing out an extra $10 to "upgrade" or are you find sticking with the 360 versions? Do you even need these games at launch on 360? |
| So that's how the Gravity Gun works! Posted: 09 Aug 2013 12:00 AM PDT WITH TRANS-DIMENSIONAL SPACE CRYSTALS! |
| Atlus unveils Etrian Odyssey Untold pre-order bonuses Posted: 08 Aug 2013 11:00 PM PDT More so than perhaps any other publisher, Atlus consistently goes the extra mile to reward their loyal fans. Whether it's a gorgeous Dragon's Crown art book or that massive Shin Megami Tensei IV strategy guide, the company almost always seems to go above and beyond the call of duty with gratuitous goodies. Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl will be no different when it arrives on October 1. First-run copies of the Nintendo 3DS-exclusive role-playing game will include a collection of bonus items dubbed "Etrian Untold, Unseen, Unheard." The package contains a 7-track music disc with exclusive recordings and a design book featuring character art, comics and notes all for the standard price of $39.99. |
| Onechanbara Z: Kagura with NoNoNo! coming to PS3 Posted: 08 Aug 2013 10:00 PM PDT Hey! Remember the Onechanbara series? You know, the game featuring bikini wearing vampire sisters fighting zombies and stuff. Onechanbara Z: Kagura came out for the Xbox 360 a while ago, but it's now finally heading to the PlayStation 3 in Japan. This is an enhanced port, featuring NoNoNo from the Dream Club Zero games. Onechanbara Z: Kagura With NoNoNo! debut trailer, screenshots [Gematsu] |
| Celebrate YouTube's Geek Week with a cosplay music video Posted: 08 Aug 2013 09:00 PM PDT It's Geek Week on Youtube, and among those partaking in the festivities is Sneaky Zebra. You might know them from us posting almost every single cosplay video they put out, and for good reason. For Geek Week, they're bringing another look at some of the better cosplayers of San Diego Comic-Con. Special mention goes to the Iron Man-Deadpool crossover. |
| Mr. Wilson was TERRIFYING in the Dennis the Menace game Posted: 08 Aug 2013 08:00 PM PDT The Game Grumps have been playing a lot of random old games as of late in one off videos, such as Dennis the Menace for the Super Nintendo. The game, as one would suspect, isn't that great. It's also pretty terrifying once Mr. Wilson makes his appearance. Stick around for the Mr. Wilson song at the end of the video. |
| Wii U still being sold at a loss, price cut unlikely Posted: 08 Aug 2013 07:00 PM PDT While selling hardware at a loss is commonplace for most all companies that have tried their hand in the console space, Nintendo has largely stood as the exception to this rule. With the Wii U's first birthday coming up, Nintendo has confirmed to Gamesindustry International that each Wii U is still being sold at loss. This news all but makes a price drop impossible for the foreseeable future, but is even more unsettling to hear just a week after learning only 160,000 units were moved worldwide in three months. With a current operating loss of $387 million, Nintendo has been having a rough start in this generation. Yet they still strike me as the little company that could; just get those first party heavy hitter titles out there and see if that doesn't help. Oh, and the billions upon billions of liquid cash they're sitting on should help. Nintendo still selling Wii U at a loss [Gamesindustry International] |
| A Civilization MMO is a thing that is happening Posted: 08 Aug 2013 06:00 PM PDT Civilization Online is an upcoming MMO being developed by XLGAMES and 2K Games. Unlike other Civilization games where you control entire empires, this one has you playing as an individual unit in one of four different cultures. You'll be playing on a procedurally-generated open world map, and everything is happening in real time. There will be different eras, from Ancient to Modern, and once a victory condition is met through the PVP aspect (such as world conquest or winning the space race), the world will reset. Interestingly, players can take on leadership roles. And if these leaders end up sucking, then there will be ways to oust bad leaders. You'll also be able to add to the world by building structures, contribute to Wonders, and there will be auction houses where you can sell your crafted items to other players. So that's happening. The game is being built on the CryEngine 3 for the PC, and as of right now, is only planned for those in South Korea. Jake Song introduces Civilization Online [Massively] |
| The Daily Hotness: SpyParty is looking great Posted: 08 Aug 2013 04:59 PM PDT For years now, we've been talking about how unique SpyParty is, in spite of its awful placeholder graphics. After seeing the images in Patrick's preview of the new environments, it is finally a game we can show to regular people without having to worry that they think we have lost our minds. Otherwise on Destructoid, the Podtoid crew released another episode, Chris reviewed Dropchord, some Pokémon Mega Evolutions were shown, the Year of Luigi continued, and so much more happened on this fine day. Destructoid Original: |
| Report: Amazon is developing an Android console too Posted: 08 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT Game Informer is reporting that Amazon is looking to enter the Android console business. Sources approached the magazine with the information, and it seems the we can expect this console by the end of this year, probably around Black Friday. Amazon is already well saturated with games that can work for such a dedicated console, so they'll have a way bigger advantage over Ouya and GameStick in this market. The system will have its own dedicated controller as well. Amazon Developing Android Console For Release By End Of 2013 [Game Informer] |
| You are subscribed to email updates from destructoid To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
