New Games |
- GTA Online introduces captures modes tomorrow
- If you don't own Just Cause 2, go scrounge up $3
- Wario Land 4 to be critically analyzed in 600-page eBook
- Skullgirls will be reborn on the PSN and XBLA as 'Encore'
- Overgrowth joins Steam Early Access
- Sweet Tooth planks in this Robot Chicken Killzone ad
- Starbomb is here, shove it in your eyes and earholes
- Can you guess the best-selling iOS game of 2013?
- Live show: Two Brothers with Ackk Studios
- Review: D-Link DGL-5500 Gaming Router
- Humble Bundle 8 is for computers and mobiles
- Nominees for Destructoid's best platformer of 2013
- Mutant Mudds Deluxe arrives on PS3 and PS Vita
- Contest: Win some awesome art books and graphic novels!
- Videogames Clubhouse: We're hanging out with Neverwinter
- Dogfighting module for Star Citizen pushed back
- Check out these Lightning Returns-themed Japanese snacks
- Review: Assassin's Creed IV: Freedom Cry
- Atlus RPG Conception II gets collector's items at launch
- Nominees for Destructoid's best 2013 shooter
- New gameplay for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare
- When it gets dark, Dying Light will freak you out
- Smithsonian adds Flower and Halo 2600 to its collection
- Review: The Walking Dead Season 2: All That Remains
- Typing of the Dead Overkill gets sweary with Filth DLC
- The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is back with some GIFs
- Nominees for Destructoid's best story of 2013
- Eidolon is an indie exploration game, here's a trailer
- There's a new Star Wars space combat game for PC
- Skyrim mod restores content cut by Bethesda
- Sonic 2 on iOS has hidden controller support
- A guided tour of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
- Nintendo Direct scheduled for tomorrow morning
- Nominees for Destructoid's best visuals of 2013
- Dota 2 removes sign-up process and is finally open to all
- Play the original Tomb Raider on iOS for $0.99
- Ubisoft inspired by Rockstar to delay Watch Dogs
- Obsidian is planning another Kickstarter project soon
- Republique dated on iOS, reveals pricing model
| GTA Online introduces captures modes tomorrow Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST As of an update dropping tomorrow on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, there's going to a GTA mode in Grand Theft Auto Online in Grand Theft Auto V. Huh? Rockstar is introducing 20 new Jobs in GTA Online based on capture the flag, which will be playable in four different modes:
Unnamed fixes and tweaks will also make it into this patch on PS3 and Xbox 360. As nice as this all sounds, it's still not co-op heists and until those are available, nothing will seem good enough. |
| If you don't own Just Cause 2, go scrounge up $3 Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST It's remarkable to think back on the joy Just Cause 2 has given me in light of its absurd sale price right now on Steam: $2.99. For that little money, it'd be a mistake not to add this to your library, plain and simple. Even if you've no intention of trying out the mod-enabled multiplayer, there's almost certainly some aspect of the game that'll click with you. While Just Cause 2 regularly goes on sale, I don't see it getting much cheaper. The fact that Square Enix is comfortable going this low is already staggering. No more excuses! I only nag because I care and would want you to do the same for me. Friends make friends play JC2. |
| Wario Land 4 to be critically analyzed in 600-page eBook Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST Game Design Companion: A Critical Analysis of Wario Land 4 is a 600-page eBook that will analyze the entirety of Wario Land 4. I'll just give you a moment to let that sentence sink in. Seriously, Daniel Johnson has put together 600 pages of critical analysis on Wario Land 4 to, as he says, take the structure of videogame design in this under-appreciated gem and cover topics such as mechanics, psychology, education, level design, and game feel. Daniel wants to pursue evidence-based analysis of games rather than socio-culture critique. The same thing has already happened in virtually any other medium, with things like Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings being so epic and complex that there are numerous college classes taught focusing on various aspects within that universe alone. Maybe someday there will be a Wario Land 4 class with this book used as the textbook? That would be pretty rad. We're huge fans of Wario here at Destructoid, with a few of us specifically enjoying this game quite a bit. I know I'll be checking this out as I'm inherently interested in game design and mechanics, while also just super curious how in detail Daniel gets in this thing. Also, the cover art is top notch. Game Design Companion will be available tomorrow, December 18, for a limited-time price of $4.99 through Stolen Projects. Wario Land 4 Book [Daniel Primed via NintendoLife] |
| Skullgirls will be reborn on the PSN and XBLA as 'Encore' Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:30 PM PST Roughly a week ago, we learned that Konami was demanding that Skullgirls be delisted from the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network. Although we still don't know exactly why this is happening, we do know that developer Lab Zero is working on a solution. That solution is called Skullgirls Encore. On December 31st, both versions will be removed. The game will then be added back to the Xbox Live Arcade and PSN, but this time as Skullgirls Encore. The transition will take place over an undetermined period of time, but Lab Zero states that they "expect" it to be completed in January 2014, depending on the platform and region. The developer has detailed every situation in its blog, so look for your particular instructions here. Here are the important bits -- the PS3 version will be Cross-Buy into Encore -- the XBLA version will be seamlessly updated automatically in January -- both platforms will still allow for online play during the transition -- the character Squigly will be added as a free update in Encore. If you're playing it on PC, you're good to go. The game has already been updated with the Encore title screen. Nice job, Lab Zero! Skullgirls Encore And You [Lab Zero] |
| Overgrowth joins Steam Early Access Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST Early Access titles are slowly but surely starting to take over Steam's list of top sellers. Following the prolific DayZ Standalone alpha joining Early Access yesterday, another game that's been kicking around for a while now, Overgrowth, has been added today. On Steam, it's slightly cheaper, coming in at $24.95 vs. the Humble Store offer of $29.99 (which also includes a Steam key, and access to Wolfire Games' Receiver and Low Light Combat). Wolfire also has a put out a helpful video explaining what Overgrowth is beyond "that fighting game with the anthropomorphic animals." It is that, yes -- but it's also so much more. Combat is context-sensitive and technical in ways that screenshots can't do justice. It's exactly the kind of game I'm terrible at, but I have a substantial amount of respect all the same. |
| Sweet Tooth planks in this Robot Chicken Killzone ad Posted: 17 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST Sony partnered up with Adult Swim recently to task the guys over at Robot Chicken with creating an amusing little ad for Killzone: Shadow Fall. It starts out with Sweet Tooth enjoying the game in his living room, and getting ready to share a clip of him throwing a grenade at a Helghast soldier's crotch. The soldier doesn't want to be embarrassed on Facebook for Kratos to see, so as a "professional courtesy" the two of them plank on top of Sweet Tooth's house to impress Kratos instead. So, the moral of the story here is to plank on top of your house instead of using the DualShock 4's share button*. In all seriousness, it's a fun, silly ad that clearly doesn't take itself seriously, which is refreshing considering most first-person shooter ads these days try to sell to the hyper-bro crowd. *Please don't actually do this. |
| Starbomb is here, shove it in your eyes and earholes Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:30 AM PST Starbomb is the adult-oriented, videogame-themed supergroup of EgoRaptor, Game Grumps, and Ninja Sex Party, and it's here to rock your face off. The above video, "Luigi's Ballad," is the first single from the self-titled album, available today on all your digital download sources, and it's a pretty good indicator of what you'll hear on the full album. There are plans for more animated videos, with EgoRaptor's obviously being the first. The albums thirteen tracks run through classic games and characters such as Pokemon, Legend of Zelda, Kirby, and Mega Man, and throws in a bunch of dick jokes. While the concept itself may seem a bit juvenile, the awesome music (provided by Ninja Sex Party) and hilarious situations are more than enough to keep the more "mature" fan entertained. Some favorites include the above video (featuring comedian Rachel Bloom as Princess Peach), a song where Simon Belmont keeps interrupting Dracula and his pals while they try to have a party ("Crasher-Vania"), Kraid's inability to battle Samus because he never knew she was a girl ("Regretroid"), and the self-explanatory "Rap Battle: Ryu Vs Ken." The album is available on iTunes, AmazonMP3, Spotify, CDBaby, and physical copies are available via the band's merch page from their website. |
| Can you guess the best-selling iOS game of 2013? Posted: 17 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST The top paid iPhone and iPad app this year was... Minecraft - Pocket Edition. Of course it was. As for the top free app of 2013, you can almost certainly call that too -- it was Candy Crush Saga, which also topped both the iPhone and iPad charts. The full list, viewable below, isn't surprising so much as it is humorous. Apple has also named its App Store game of the year, and I'm all for its picks. BADLAND was the iPad game of the year, while Ridiculous Fishing took the top honors for iPhone. The runners-up were XCOM: Enemy Unknown and DEVICE 6, respectively. Ridiculous Fishing and Badland named as Apple's Games of the Year [MCV] |
| Live show: Two Brothers with Ackk Studios Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:30 AM PST [Mash Tactics airs Monday through Friday at 4p.m. Pacific on Dtoid.TV. Watch Rick 'King Foom' Olson play a variety of games, each day with its own theme. With a heavy focus on community and viewer interaction, you can be as much a part of the show as anything else.] This evening on Mash Tactics, we'll once again be showing off the best independent games out there for your viewing pleasure. The focus this week will be on a game that feels like a nostalgic nod to past greats such as The Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy Adventure, and others all while standing out with its own charm, personality, and depth. That game is Two Brothers. Also, as a special treat tonight, we'll be joined by a couple amazing members of the development team behind this wonderful adventure, Andrew and Brian Allanson of Ackk Studios. So be sure to come by and join in on the conversation while we sit down and showcase the first few hours of the game. Whether you've been curious about this title, or even if you've never heard of it, if you like action RPGs, then you owe it to yourself to check this out for yourself tonight over at Dtoid.TV! QotD: What are some of your favorite handheld games? |
| Review: D-Link DGL-5500 Gaming Router Posted: 17 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST Having a good router is a necessity these days. Every electronic device you own connects to the internet, and many play games online and stream HD video. Your PC and consoles are beginning to rely more and more on digital copies of games, and patches for those games are growing in size. In my apartment we have several computers, iPods, iPads, phones, and game consoles, and they are all hooked up to the internet. I need a good router to keep up with demand. I've had D-Link's newest gaming router, the DGL-5500, hooked up for a few weeks now, and I am actually surprised at well it's been working out. It might not be the best router you can buy, but it certainly won't disappoint. |
| Humble Bundle 8 is for computers and mobiles Posted: 17 Dec 2013 08:30 AM PST It seems like once on Humble Bundle finishes, another one comes along to tempt us with more cheap games. The new Humble Bundle 8 is offering us the usual option of a core group of titles which you can name your own price and some extra games if you beat the average price. What's interesting is that these games are available on PC, Mac, Linux, and Android. You can pay what you want for Jack Lumber, Little Inferno, Gemini Rue, and AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!!for the Awesome. If you pay over the average, you'll get Hero Academy and Anomaly 2, plus you'll get soundtracks for all of the games. You guys and gals all know how these bundles work but I have to say it's been a lot easier to add the games to my Steam library and to gift games to my friends. Keep an eye on that average price and you'll get some great titles. |
| Nominees for Destructoid's best platformer of 2013 Posted: 17 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST Pardon me, as I sit here in my leather armchair, pontificating on the year that was 2013. 'It was a good year,' I'll say in a snobbish tone whilst swirling a glass of Bordeaux. I'll remark on this year's vintage and how it tastes of cherries, but with subtle tones of oak and accents of something else probably. Yes, it was a good year. There were many lovely games released since we last gathered 'round the fire to reflect on things such as the goodness of the previous twelve months. Anyway, without further ado, here are Destructoid's nominees for best platformer of 2013. |
| Mutant Mudds Deluxe arrives on PS3 and PS Vita Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:45 AM PST Mutant Mudds has been slowly creeping its way around to platforms for nearly two years now, starting life as a Nintendo 3DS title, followed by releases on PC and Wii U. You can now add PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita to that list, as Mutant Mudds Deluxe has become available today on the PlayStation Store. While 2D platform games are probably my favorite to play, I've still not tried Mutant Mudds. I was watching Jordan play it the other week, however, and the screams of frustration as I watched him struggle with the exceeding challenge have made me question whether or not I'm man enough for it. It scares me, frankly. Mutant Mudds Deluxe Makes a Splash on PS3 and PS Vita Today [PlayStation Blog] |
| Contest: Win some awesome art books and graphic novels! Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST Our friends at Titan Books have shipped us a hefty bundle of art books and graphic novels to hand out to one lucky Dtoider! Included is a copy of The Art of Dead Space, The Art of Assassin's Creed IV, The Art of Battlefield 4, Max Payne: The Complete Series graphic novel, and Assassin's Creed: The Ankh of Isis Trilogy graphic novel. Sweet! To win the bundle, just leave a comment in this thread! You have until this Sunday, December 22 at 11:59pm Pacific to enter, and the contest is open to anyone in the U.S. Limit one entry per person. Two runners up with take home the Assassin's Creed graphic novels. Good luck! And don't forget, our Huge members get automatic entry into all contests (as well as a bunch of other awesome perks). It's pretty great! |
| Videogames Clubhouse: We're hanging out with Neverwinter Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:15 AM PST Remember back to all those weeks ago when we promised the Videogames Clubhouse would be a place for the community to talk to developers. We haven't really made good on that promise, but baby we're tryin' to do right by you. Today at 2pm pst over on Dtoid.tv we'll have the developers of Neverwinter, the crazy Dungeons and Dragons MMO into the studio to answer all of your questions! But if that's not enough we're loading up our prize cannons and have them pointed at your face, so you know it'll be a good time! |
| Dogfighting module for Star Citizen pushed back Posted: 17 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST There are many things about Star Citizen I fail to grasp -- most notably, where is all of this money coming from? -- but dogfighting I get. That's coming as its own module for the game, but not in December as previously anticipated -- it's been delayed a couple months. "I feel that the Dogfighting module, especially with Star Citizen's greatly increased profile, needs to be more polished than a typical 'alpha,'" writes Chris Roberts. "There are a lot of eyes on the game, and more than a few people wanting us to fail. Because Dogfighting is the first module that will involve significant gameplay, it has to be good -- I don't feel that we will get a pass just because it is pre-pre alpha." And he's so right. Expectations are going to be out of control. The full post is worth a read as it does a good job of explaining how the team got into a position where delaying was the best decision for Star Citizen, but here's the relevant quote: "So we had two choices: either fork development and spend time building something that would involve throwing away work in order to meet the December deadline and deliver something that wouldn't have the level of polish I'm happy with, or stay on course to build something that would lead directly into the finished game." On Friday, December 20 at 9:00am Pacific, Roberts and co. will have a two-hour livestream with updates on Squadron 42, The Hangar, and Dogfighting. Letter from the Chairman: On Dogfighting [RSI] |
| Check out these Lightning Returns-themed Japanese snacks Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:45 AM PST Square Enix sent a little holiday gift to my office this week. They're trying to make me fat, it seems. In Japan, there's a strong tie between game marketing and snack food, so you often see game-themed snack food on convenience store shelves around a large title's launch. That's exactly the case for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy, so Square Enix sent me a few of the products on shelves now. The candy packaging features images of Lightning Returns characters Lumina, Snow, Vanille, and Lightning. Inside it is just yummy junk food -- no chocobos or moogles or anything like that. You can get a better look in the video above. Thanks, Square Enix! |
| Review: Assassin's Creed IV: Freedom Cry Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:30 AM PST Assassin's Creed IV was quite the ride. Bringing new meaning to the phrase "a pirate's life for me," it was such a step up from the third entry that many fans are now clamoring for a full-on pirate spinoff series. Honestly? I wouldn't mind that one bit, so long as it was every other year -- Black Flag was that good. Until that day comes however you can enjoy an additional campaign compliments of Edward's former Quartermaster. |
| Atlus RPG Conception II gets collector's items at launch Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:15 AM PST Yay! Upcoming 3DS and Vita RPG Conception II will get collector's items at launch. Both will come in a special box, and will include a 10-track CD with by super talented game music composer Masato Kouda. These packages will land at participating retailers, but only for a limited time after launch. Atlus says that pre-orders are guaranteed to nab this special box. Conception II is set to launch in spring 2014, priced at $39.99. You should poke around in the fresh batch of screenshots we have here. You'll see the protagonist, who is said to be "God's Gift." I called myself that in school too. You'll also see some of the seven heroines of the story, including Fuuko, the girl that makes the hero's first Star Children. Conception II has you not only working through labyrinths, but also balancing relationships with the seven heroines through what they call "Classmating." Ha! If all goes well, you'll create Star Children to help your fight. |
| Nominees for Destructoid's best 2013 shooter Posted: 17 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST When all of us are dead and gone, shooting games will most likely live on. As one of the most popular genres in the industry, developers can't stop making them, and the public can't stop buying them. With the advent of new consoles we've seen more feature parity with the PC platform, a welcome feature that will no doubt benefit shooters going forward. So without further ado, here are the nominees for best shooter of 2013. |
| New gameplay for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:45 AM PST The reveal of Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare took a lot of people by surprise at this past E3. The series is known for its strategy and quirky elements, and seeing it as a real-time shooter threw a number of fans through a loop. But strangely enough, it works! It definitely retains the strategy and quirkiness of the previous games, while including a greater focus on coordination and teamwork within fast-paced gameplay. Now, we have a new video showing off the Gardens and Tombstones mode, which is essentially a modified version of Battlefield's Conquest mode. We also get a neat look at the other zombie classes, such as the Engineer, who can build turrets and call in 'zombomb' strikes. Check it out! |
| When it gets dark, Dying Light will freak you out Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:30 AM PST Daytime? Nice, warm rays of orange sunshine as if you were perpetually awaking from a refreshing cat nap? Sure, whatever. Drop kick zombies freely, like you're Faith from Mirror's Edge. Even zombies look a bit silly and listless in the daytime. But at night? That's when things get spooky. Checking out Dying Light at PAX, Hamza said the daytime portions felt quite similar to Dead Island. Not surprising -- they both come from Techland. Thanks to a day and nighty cycle, like in Pokemon Silver, the game can get dramatically more horrifying. The idea of "Mirror's Edge x zombie game" entices me more than just about any thing someone could try and do with a zombie game -- and they sure as hell are trying them all. Mostly it's because you said, "Mirror's Edge." That's my weakness. Mirror's Edge x the Yalta Conference? Sign me up. But, really, only killing your way through zombies, as we're wont to do in games, seems silly when we could turn tail and run. Having a better system of escape seems reasonable. Sometimes the best defense is not guns, but runs. |
| Smithsonian adds Flower and Halo 2600 to its collection Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:25 AM PST The Smithsonian American Art Museum has added another two videogames to its ever- expanding collection: thatgamecompany's Flower and Halo 2600, developed by Ed Fries. Whilst Flower had already been showcased at the 2012's Art of Videogame exhibit, it's a worthy addition to collection. I wouldn't be surprised to see thatgamecompany's Journey added very soon. Halo 2600 is a surprising choice though; Ed Frie's "demake" of the console FPS was limited to just 500 carts and only playable on an Atari 2600, although a flash version was available. I think this game has been picked as it shows the love there is for old hardware and how the core ideas of a videogame can transcend the hardware that's it's played on. Feel like I'll need to visit this exhibit sometime myself. |
| Review: The Walking Dead Season 2: All That Remains Posted: 17 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST I'll just come right out and say it -- Telltale's The Walking Dead was my 2012 game of the year. Although I really didn't dig the first episode, by the conclusion of the second I was absolutely hooked, and it didn't really let up until its memorable finale. While the follow-up 400 Days wasn't quite as compelling, it was still held to the same gold standard as the series proper. In that regard, Season Two has some big shoes to fill, and Clementine has stepped up to the plate to do just that. Although I'll refrain from spoiling any major plotpoints, note that there will of course be minor story details discussed below, as well as spoilers for Season One. |
| Typing of the Dead Overkill gets sweary with Filth DLC Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:45 AM PST Considering that Typing of the Dead: Overkill wasn't known about until the day of release and almost never saw the light of day, it's great to see more DLC packs extending the life of the game further. First there was the Shakespeare pack, then the free Football Manager pack (jumpers for goalposts and all that) and now there's the profanity-spewing Filth DLC pack which costs you just $2.99/£1.99 on Steam. No, it's not a DLC pack created after the James McAvoy starring movie adaptation of the Irvine Welsh novel but there's probably an equal amount of swearing in it. As you can tell from the screenshot above it's a foul-mouthed expansion that fits with Overkill's trashy B-movie aesthetic. To be honest, from the in game footage I've seen the language is about on par for an average work night out here in Glasgow, so it's not shocking to me. |
| The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is back with some GIFs Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:30 AM PST "GIF. The least effective, the most beloved video format of 2013." The Vanishing of Ethan Carter developer The Astronauts isn't wrong. And as much as I would have been just fine with a standard trailer, any footage of this "weird fiction horror game" will suffice. Yes, it's one of those games. I simultaneously want to see more and not spoil the surprise. The studio has released three animated GIFs, one of which features not a ghost train, but a ghost draisine. As you may recall, the protagonist of Ethan Carter, an occult detective, has the ability to see memories of the deceased. Mmm. Real excited to play this and uncover its mystery. |
| Nominees for Destructoid's best story of 2013 Posted: 17 Dec 2013 04:00 AM PST From the moody and mysterious to the sublimely depressing to the hilarious and endearing, there were a lot of games this year that tickled our minds as much they drove our fingers through dextrous gauntlets. Represented are everything from surprisingly moving AAA releases to poignant pixel art pieces to sprawling JRPGs to, well, whatever exactly The Stanley Parable is. |
| Eidolon is an indie exploration game, here's a trailer Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:45 AM PST Eidolon looks fantastic, and it sound like it will be really fun to play. It's set in a "post-human Western Washington", and it's a game that revolves around exploration. The developer's website sets up the game like this: "You will be dropped into the dreary and mystical Western Washington circa 2400 c.e. with a bow, fishing rod, and little to guide your way. Awaiting you is a vast landscape filled with wildlife, edible plants, and the historical artefacts of our now-dead culture—journals, newspapers, zines, brochures, transcripts, and more. You must spend your fleeting moments moving through this place, collecting what was left behind, and piecing together what happened to these people, both from a historical perspective and from a much more personal one." Eidolon will be out sometime next year for the PC and Mac, and it's on Steam Greenlight right now. It looks great, and I will definitely be paying attention to it. |
| There's a new Star Wars space combat game for PC Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:30 AM PST We love us some Rogue Squadron around these parts, but Star Wars: Attack Squadrons is not that. Wishing does not make it so. Disney Interactive announced the Area 52 Games project this morning with the trailer above and some basic details. A free-to-play online space combat title centered around PvP, Attack Squadrons will offer customization through items and upgrades, which is presumably where we'll be able to optionally spend real-world money. There's support for up to 16 players, with a few modes: Free for All, Team Dogfight, and Base Defense. Confirmed ships include the X-Wing and TIE Interceptor. Should you have some interest in playing this, there are sign-ups for a closed beta which starts next year. Just head to the official site for the game at the link above. |
| Skyrim mod restores content cut by Bethesda Posted: 17 Dec 2013 03:00 AM PST Skyrim modder Arthmoor managed to find some content that didn't make it into the game's release, and he has done his best to add it back into the game. He released the Cutting Room Floor mod to restore a few NPCs, some quests, and a couple locations that Bethesda had cut from the game. While it's not a lot of content, it is cool to see that someone took the time to restore it with a mod. I am always up for more stuff to do in Skyrim, so I will be adding this to my installed mods for sure. |
| Sonic 2 on iOS has hidden controller support Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:45 AM PST Sega has released a new iOS update of Sonic 2 recently, and it's pretty amazing. This version is essentially the definitive port of the game, with a finished Hidden Palace Zone -- a level that's never been fully playable before. But strangely, iOS 7 controller support is not listed anywhere on the game's page or the iTunes description. Following up on a tip I received from CNET's Scott Stein, I attached a Powershell and an Ace Power to my device, and found out there's actually hidden iOS controls natively supported. Since Sonic 2 is essentially a one button game anyway, it works perfectly. Hopefully Sega can get iOS controls up and running for every game on the marketplace. |
| A guided tour of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:30 AM PST I don't need a guided video tour because I'm already hours into Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. That's right -- I kicked off my workday with a brag. This video shows off how Lightning Return's gameplay works as well as some of the quest and exploration you can expect. I think you probably know a lot of these details already, though. You'll get more out of watching closely over the video's almost six minutes to pick out some of the new costumes and scenery. Neon cacutars! If you're impatient, just skip to 1:56 to hear Lightning say "Meow meow, choco-chow." Just do it. |
| Nintendo Direct scheduled for tomorrow morning Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:15 AM PST Nintendo sends word of a Nintendo Direct broadcast, scheduled for tomorrow, December 18, at 6 a.m. PT (9 a.m. ET). They say they'll be focusing on Wii U and 3DS software launching thorough Spring 2014. As always, we'll have the news covered here on Destructoid as soon as it breaks. Watch along with us on Nintendo's streaming page. Do you think we'll hear about some new games tomorrow? |
| Nominees for Destructoid's best visuals of 2013 Posted: 17 Dec 2013 02:00 AM PST I like my games pretty. Hey, if I'm going to have to stare at it for upwards of 50 hours (hello, Ni no Kuni), I'd like it to massage my eye holes with spectacular tendrils. This year proved, as most do, that good-looking games are more art than horsepower. One voxel-filled PS4 game did creep onto the list, though, joining the likes of small indie titles, wonderfully artistic handheld games, and good old last generation fare. Long live the Cell processor. |
| Dota 2 removes sign-up process and is finally open to all Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:30 AM PST In case you aren't one of the 611,480 people playing Dota 2 as I write this, you will be happy to know that the game is finally open to everyone. While it officially released this summer, Valve had been slowly allowing more players to sign up, to help prevent the servers from crashing. The sign up process has been removed, and everyone can just download the game on Steam and start playing right away. Valve made this announcement on the official Dota 2 blog, saying "we have recently completed a set of server management upgrades as well as released a huge number of enhancements to the new user experience, we're going to remove all restrictions to playing Dota 2." Dota 2 already has over six million players every month, and I imagine that it will grow now that there won't be a wait to start playing it. The Age of Sign-Ups has Ended [Dota 2 Official Blog] |
| Play the original Tomb Raider on iOS for $0.99 Posted: 17 Dec 2013 01:00 AM PST Square Enix just released the original Tomb Raider for iOS, and it's just $0.99. The old Tomb Raider games were really good, so it's tempting to grab this for this cheap. It comes with the extra chapters from the 1998 re-release, so that's kinda cool. According to the iTunes page, Square Enix haven't "messed about with it, so it’s the full, unedited, unadulterated experience from the classic release at a super-low price." This probably means that they didn't spend any time on the port, and the controls will be awful. It will support iOS controllers like the Moga Ace or the Logitech PowerShell. It requires iOS 7 or later, and it will work on an iPad, iPhone, and an iPod touch. I'm sure it's not the best port in the world, but for a buck it's hard to pass up. |
| Ubisoft inspired by Rockstar to delay Watch Dogs Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:30 AM PST Ubisoft's North American President, Laurent Detoc, says that the company was inspired to delay Watch Dogs because of the success of Grand Theft Auto V. Detoc told IGN recently that "the guys at Rockstar have showed us again that if you make a 96-percent game, people will come. Watch Dogs, I can only hope we get to that level. There's an attachment to the brand, in the case of GTA (Grand Theft Auto), that makes people really want to give it that 100-percent review. We'll be missing that on Watch Dogs until we go further, potentially. That's what we're after." Detoc went on to say that the decision to delay the game was "not just about delaying for the sake of delaying it." He emphasized that Ubisoft wants to make sure that Watch Dogs is really good, and a well polished game. "We know it's not where we want it to be. Can it get there? What will it take to get there? That's why it takes a longer process. But in August we really thought we were going to have that game at launch.” |
| Obsidian is planning another Kickstarter project soon Posted: 17 Dec 2013 12:00 AM PST Obsidian's CEO Feargus Urquhart recently spoke with Rock, Paper, Shotgun on the studios plans for another Kickstarter project. The company is already working on Pillars of Eternity, but they don't want that to be the only classic role-playing game they work on. Obsidian would like to use its new engine from Pillars of Eternity to create another game, similar to how Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale shared an engine, but were very different games. One idea Urquhart mentioned was how they would like to "make something that is more like a Skyrim for PC – forget console for now – with the engine we made in Unity for Eternity," which has my full attention. He also mentioned how they are thinking of exploring episodic content. "How much would it cost? Would it make sense for it to be episodic? Because going out there and saying, ‘We’re gonna make 100 hours of gameplay,’ everyone goes, ‘Oh my god, how could it not cost millions?’ But could we create ten hours and have people pay ten bucks? And generally when we say ten hours, it’s usually 15. But if we go with five episodes, then people get between 50 and 75 hours." Whatever this new project is, Obsidian is hoping to launch it by March or April in 2014. I just want inXile and Obsidian to make role-playing games forever, and I can't wait to see what they come up with. Obsidian’s Bold Future: Eternity Meets Skyrim, A Second KS [Rock, Paper, Shotgun] |
| Republique dated on iOS, reveals pricing model Posted: 16 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST [Update: Date corrected.] Hey guys, remember République? It was part of one of the earlier waves of game crowdfunding, and developer Camoflaj aimed to make their stealth-action game a "Triple-A iOS experience". And now the long road to release is coming to an end, as their latest backer update reveals a release date for the iOS version: December 17th, 2013. December 19th, 2013. That's...today Thursday! They've also released a launch trailer over at IGN. The same backer update revealed the game's pricing, which emulates the Telltale model: République will be priced at $4.99 for each of five planned chapters, released in 2-3 month intervals. Players will be able to pick up the whole thing for $20, and backers who pledged at the $10 level and up will get all the chapters, plus other goodies as a thank-you for supporting Camoflaj early on. Additionally with the iOS version about to release, Camoflaj "ready to shift focus" to prepping the game's PC and Mac versions, and will be taking feedback as to how best to adapt the game for mouse-and-keyboard. I have to say, it's nice to see this wave of crowdfunded games reaching market-ready state. To avoid disappointment, I usually just just write off any money I give to this sort of thing, so it's always a pleasant surprise to remember that "Oh, this thing is coming out, and my lunch money helped it happen." |
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