New Games |
- Things the Wii U needs more than AAA third-party support
- Devil's Third is coming next year, promises Itagaki
- Urban Trial Freestyle is this week's PS Plus game
- Huge News: Year-end awards spectacular BLOWOUT
- This blacksmith made Chrom's sword from Fire Emblem
- The real world is '80s inspired chiptunes, apparently
- This guy made a game to propose to his girlfriend
- I'm going to play this Mew-Genics track all day
- Review: Ridge Racer Slipstream
- Minecraft on Wii U 'makes sense' but isn't happening now
- Mega Man X will help celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2014
- Streaming games from PC to the Wii U GamePad possible
- Top ten game music tracks to get you pumped for the gym
- Rockstar verifies the cream of the crop GTA Online jobs
- Nintendo offers easy fix for 3DS code redemption issues
- Steam sale: Outlast, Metro: Last Light, Injustice
- Games with Gold: Sleeping Dogs, Guardian of Light
- Mega Man The Board Game is going international
- Loads of Comiket 85 cosplay galleries
- Here's a ton of Pokemon X & Y legendary transfer footage
- GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME BRAVELY SECOND
- The Cave is free on Android right now
- The second Mega Manathon is coming to MAGFest
- Sega to experiment more with free-to-play on 3DS
- Square Enix accidentally sold exclusive DLC for own game
- Half-Minute Hero creator has new RPG launching next month
| Things the Wii U needs more than AAA third-party support Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST In the past, the success of a console and its amount of marquee third-party titles engaged in a chicken-and-egg relationship where it was hard to tell which drove which. The NES had much more third-party support than the Sega Master System, and it was by far the more successful of the two. The SNES and the Genesis had about equal third-party support, and were also about equal in sales. The PS1 and PS2 had huge third-party support and huge sales. Did the third parties support the consoles because they sold well, or did they sell well because third parties supported them? Fans would argue either point no end, but regardless, the correlation between third-party support and consoles sales seemed pretty clear. Until the Wii came along. The Wii certainly got a lot of third-party support, but very few of them are what most of us would call "marquee" titles. On-rail shooter spinoffs of major action/horror series, strange cartoonish violent action/comedy beat-'em-ups, mini-game collections, and very little in the way of major AAA budgeted games. Yet the console managed to go on to be Nintendo's best-selling home system in history, and arguably the most influential and profitable console of the last generation. Similarly, the 3DS seems to be carrying on quite well for itself, with nary a AAA third-party game in sight, unless you count Resident Evil: Revelations and Monster Hunter 4. This begs the question, does the Wii U need AAA third-party support to stay afloat, or are there other things that would be even more beneficial to the console in the long run? |
| Devil's Third is coming next year, promises Itagaki Posted: 30 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST I haven't exactly been wondering what designer Tomonobu Itagaki's been up to as of late, but now I'm curious. His team at Valhalla Game Studios was working on Devil's Third last we heard, although updates on the project have been few and far between. I'd just assumed it wasn't going to see release and the studio had quietly moved on to something new. "Next year will be the year we'll be releasing the console game, Devil's Third," Itagaki told 4Gamer. "At the moment, it is about 80% complete, and we can about see the end of it. However, there's still a little more polishing that needs to be done. That's also one of the reasons I've decided to work independently. For you fans out there, I'd like to apologize for making you worry. We'll be going all out next year, so please look forward to it." I like Ninja Gaiden (both old and new). I even like Dead or Alive, despite generally not being much of a fighting game player. But I haven't been given many compelling reasons to have confidence in Devil's Third. The game did survive the demise of THQ, though. If Itagaki and co. can finish that final 20 percent next year as promised, that's really what this is: a survivor. It's Alive! Devil’s Third Is 80% Complete, Coming Out Next Year [Siliconera] |
| Urban Trial Freestyle is this week's PS Plus game Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST January is a terrific month for PlayStation Plus members with titles like Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons (PS3) and Don't Starve (PS4). But we're still a week off! The last addition to the Instant Game Collection for 2013 is Urban Trial Freestyle for PS Vita. Look for it tomorrow. This obviously isn't as glamorous as what's coming in the new year, however, the game is one I doubt as many people have played, so there's always that. Think off-brand Trials HD and you're getting close. In his review, Chris called Urban Trial Freestyle "a serviceable game. It's just a shame that a little more couldn't have been done to make Freestyle leap ahead of the pack." PlayStation Plus: Urban Trial Freestyle Free on Vita for Members [PlayStation Blog] |
| Huge News: Year-end awards spectacular BLOWOUT Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:40 AM PST This is it, Huge members! The AAA budget, brutally honest, no-holds-barred, DH Not W year-end awards special extravaganza! We've got guest appearances from GoNintendo's Raw Meat Cowboy, Sony's Shane Bettenhausen, the return of Marshtomp from Teenage Pokemon, and a whole lot more! You will not believe your eyes and ears when you see and hear the things that happened so hard. So hard. That's how they happened. Starting next week, we'll be back to the news, review recaps, and answering your wonderful questions, so be sure to write in to HolmesSupHolmes@gmail.com with all your comments and inquires. Chances are high that we'll read one on the air. Take a chance on us. You wont regret it. |
| This blacksmith made Chrom's sword from Fire Emblem Posted: 30 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST I've always wanted arms like a blacksmith. Not weaponry. I'm talking those sinewy anchor arms and mallet fists that would have you coughing up blood with a few quick pummels. Yet, they're delicate and expert enough to emboss fine designs into metals and hug kittens. Man at Arms' blacksmiths went ahead and made an absolutely Chromulent rendition of Chrom's Falchion from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Or is it Lucina's Parallel Falchion? Hmm?!? What's more, he made it on suggestions from the comments, so go comment on the video and ask him to make more cool game swords like their Buster Sword, Minecraft sword, and Skyrim axe. I'm voting for Yun-seong's Han Guang from Soul Calibur II. |
| The real world is '80s inspired chiptunes, apparently Posted: 30 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST I have been a part of the "real world" for a few years now, and I can say from experience that it certainly is not as glamorous as William "WillRock" Harby's new album Welcome to the Real World. We have previously seen a snippet of Harby's work as a contributor for and compiler of 9-bit Blitzkrieg, but this one is all his. It is described as an '80s inspired nostalgia trip, and it incorporates elements of progressive rock, chiptunes, and a bit of cheesy vocals on one track. The final track can be downloaded for free, while the rest of the album sells for £3, or about $5. Of course, the entire album can be streamed using the widget below. |
| This guy made a game to propose to his girlfriend Posted: 30 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST A 3D artist at SuperGenius by the name of Robert Fink went a step above for his marriage proposal: he created a videogame. "I couldn't allow myself to just do a normal proposal, it had to be special," he wrote. "Something we would remember forever to remind us where we started. Simple times playing games together growing up and learning that games can convey all sorts of emotion, I wanted her to see all the spikes I would jump over for her." The game itself, Knight Man: A Quest for Love, is playable from a browser. Fink, along with two of his buddies, developed the project in secret over the course of approximately five months while using the all-too-effective excuse of crunch time at work. When it was finally ready, he convinced his girlfriend to come playtest a new game at SuperGenius, culminating in the big question being raised in Knight Man, her saying yes, and family members and co-workers rushing in to congratulate the couple. There's even a heartwarming reaction video. Just try not to smile at this one. [Via Indie Statik] |
| I'm going to play this Mew-Genics track all day Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:30 AM PST Two Caturdays ago, Team Meat showed off cat identities in its upcoming cat-lady sim Mew-Genics. Notably, there was a cat with a mustache. Hard to top, right? Well, revealing a couple amazing tracks, including the above "Dirty Mittens," might top it because I can listen to it on repeat all day while working whereas it's slightly harder to tab over to look at that adorable mustache cat. It's literally mewsic to my ears. |
| Review: Ridge Racer Slipstream Posted: 30 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST People can get restless for another entry in their dream franchise. For many years, Ridge Racer was the dominant racing game for some, offering up a sense of style with a selection of great tracks, and fun cars. But in an odd twist of fate, the newest title in the Ridge Racer series isn't a glorious return to console racing -- it's actually a mobile game. It is a return to the franchise's roots though, and if you can overlook the inclusion of annoying in-app purchases, it's a decent ride. |
| Minecraft on Wii U 'makes sense' but isn't happening now Posted: 30 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST Despite having no interest in playing ports of Minecraft on new platforms, plenty of others are eager to do exactly that, and I do think getting this piece of pop culture on Wii U would benefit Nintendo. Every game matters. And considering the GamePad's functionality, it'd also likely be a worthwhile version of Minecraft in its own right. But such a port isn't happening -- not yet, anyway. A recent tweet by creator Markus "Notch" Persson covered the topic: "I agree a Wii U version would make sense, btw. The only reason for no current plans is we've got too much work already. I <3 Nintendo." I don't doubt that the studio is busy. I also don't see Minecraft losing significance anytime soon. As such, I think this will be something for Mojang and 4J Studios to look at again down the road. [Via Game Informer] [Image source] |
| Mega Man X will help celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2014 Posted: 30 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST In case you haven't heard, comic book publishers and retailers run a yearly "Free Comic Book Day" promotion. Basically, you go into your local comic book shop, grab a bunch of free comics (some stores limit you to a few pickups), meet new people, and realize that said stores exist. Archie ran a free comic book last year with their Mega Man and Sonic line, and it looks like they're repeating that in 2014. On May 3rd, 2014, you'll be able to grab a special comic involving Mega Man X. It's a "flipped" comic, so it has Mega Man on one side and Sonic on the other. Make note of the date and make sure to shop up early if you want a shot at grabbing the book of your choice! As a side note, Street Fighter will make an appearance as well. Archie Mega Man X Getting Free Comic Book Day Edition [Rockman Corner] |
| Streaming games from PC to the Wii U GamePad possible Posted: 30 Dec 2013 06:30 AM PST Hackers booto, delroth, and shuffle2 have reverse engineered the Wii U GamePad and the results are impressive. The group's findings were presented at the Chaos Communication Congress including a demonstration in which The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was emulated on PC and streamed to the GamePad where it was playable minus some bugs. Skip to the 48-minute mark of the video above to see for yourself. The slides from the presentation are also viewable here, but for most of us, the crucial point is that there are plans to release more user-friendly tools for pairing GamePads to Windows and OS X. What's out there right now is intended for developers, though you can take a look if you're curious about this stuff. Talk about exciting! I love the idea of the NVIDIA Shield but not its cost, and GamePad itself is a great controller. There are some wonderful possibilities here. Hackers reverse engineer Wii U GamePad to stream from PC [Engadget] |
| Top ten game music tracks to get you pumped for the gym Posted: 30 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST Like our last issue of The Sound Card, which focused on music to sleep to, this has also been on my back burner for some time. I have over 300 tracks on my exercise playlist in iTunes, and a lot of that is game music. I thought to myself, what better way to bring in the New Year with people hitting the gym to meet those weight loss goals than provide a list of ten tracks that I wouldn't be caught without at the gym! Admittedly, putting this list together has been the hardest one yet. I had 33 tracks set aside to consider, and I had to make some excruciating cuts, but hey, maybe that leaves the door open to more lists like this in the future. Also, I only stuck to original soundtrack versions of tracks, as opening it up to arrangements (as much as I love them for the gym) would make the task even harder. Count down with us our top ten picks for tracks to take to the gym, and, as always, chime in with some of your own personal favorites... if you're one of those weirdos who bring game music to the gym! |
| Rockstar verifies the cream of the crop GTA Online jobs Posted: 30 Dec 2013 05:30 AM PST We sure do love to work. Throw us into an online degeneration simulator, and we'll just end up making jobs for ourselves. Anything to feel that familiar slow trickle of income as our life slow-trickles away. That's what's going on in Grand Theft Auto Online. Rockstar boasts that its community has created more than one million virtual jobs (Thanks, Obama). To commemorate the occasion, Rockstar's verified its favorite races and deathmatches so that everyone can experience the best that life has to offer. Of course, you don't need to play by society's rules and do what's acceptable. You could go your whole GTA Online life and never take a single job, just doing what it takes to eke by. You don't need their system because you're not just another sheep. The First Rockstar Verified GTA Online Jobs [Rockstar Games] |
| Nintendo offers easy fix for 3DS code redemption issues Posted: 30 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST Thousands of people have recently picked up a Nintendo 2DS or 3DS (good choice, by the way!), and as a result, there have been a ton of issues with every facet of the eShop. One issue in particular involves the constant error codes that have plagued folks who have attempted to redeem codes. Thankfully, Nintendo has offered up a possible solution. If you encounter the errors "Error Message: This Code Has Already Been Used," or "A Download Code is not working because it has already been redeemed," check your download history first (eShop > Menu > Settings/Other > History > Your Downloads). It's a simple solution, yes, but one that many may not think of as they're frantically trying to redeem their brand new codes. Error Message [Nintendo via GoNintendo] |
| Steam sale: Outlast, Metro: Last Light, Injustice Posted: 30 Dec 2013 04:45 AM PST Today's daily deals in the Steam sale just hit, and there's sort of an overarching spooky theme to it (if you look really hard and don't think about it too much). Titles like Outlast, Metro: Last Light, and Alan Wake are all on discount, and all are sure to keep you tensed and on the edge of your seat. In the same vein, Game Dev Tycoon is also on sale, and the life of a game developer might be scarier than anything found in those other three games. Daily deals:
The current flash sales are Limbo ($4.99), Spacebase DF-9 ($12.49), Shadow Warrior ($9.99), and Tropico 4 ($5.99). The community has chosen Nihilumbra ($2.99) as the title to be discounted for the time being. The next community choice game will be either Anno 2070 ($7.50), Europa Universalis IV ($20.00), or Age of Empires II HD ($5.00). |
| Games with Gold: Sleeping Dogs, Guardian of Light Posted: 30 Dec 2013 04:30 AM PST Before Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider reboot, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light was my go-to game in the franchise. In many ways, this twin-stick co-op shooter still is. It's joining United Front Games' open-world action title Sleeping Dogs in Microsoft's Games with Gold this month. Gold subscribers will be able to download both games for free, starting with Sleeping Dogs from January 1 - 15, and then Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light from Jan. 16 - 31. As continues to be the case with these promotions, both are worth downloading -- if you haven't already acquired them in the past either here or on a different platform. January Games with Gold: Sleeping Dogs, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light [Xbox] |
| Mega Man The Board Game is going international Posted: 30 Dec 2013 04:00 AM PST The Mega Man Board Game is a thing that's happening, and starting today, international pledges will be honored. The gates have opened for Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East, which is a major upgrade from the limited territories offered initially. If you're in those locations and want to pledge, an early bird pledge level has been added to allow for you to obtain the same initial deal as everyone else. As a side note, the Kickstarter has pushed the $250,000 mark with 20 days to go. Wow! Mega Man The Board Game [Facebook] |
| Loads of Comiket 85 cosplay galleries Posted: 30 Dec 2013 03:30 AM PST There's nothing else going on this New Year's Eve eve so I thought I'd let you in on what I'm doing this morning. I've been looking at cosplay photos from this winter's otakufest, Comiket 85, which is running from December 29-31, 2013, at Tokyo Big Sight. As always, there's a little bit of everything in here, from hilarious to horny. Enjoy! Here are links to some of the better stuff I've found:
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| Here's a ton of Pokemon X & Y legendary transfer footage Posted: 30 Dec 2013 03:00 AM PST Everyone is still waiting for the full release of the Pokemon X & Y Bank and Transfer App. When that day comes, the proverbial "flood gates" will be opened up, and allow for players to enjoy every single Pokemon from prior generations (all 718). Well those gates were momentarily opened up in Japan, and some people have already grabbed a bit of footage from these hasty transfers. Serebii has one video in particular that shows off pretty much every legendary you could ask for, including Entei, Lugia, Latios, and more. I still think it's incredible that Game Freak has provided 3D models for every single Pokemon, and included signature moves on top of that. That's an insane attention to detail. |
| GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME BRAVELY SECOND Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:30 AM PST This morning's freakout over Square Enix's Bravely 3DS RPG franchise is a normal occurrence for me. It's just what I do. Freak out with me over these new trailers of the recently announced Bravely Second and Bravely Default: For the Sequel. The concept art for Second (seen in both trailers) is stunning. Everything is just... aaah I can't take it! 2014, guys. It's happening soon. |
| The Cave is free on Android right now Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:00 AM PST [Update: the deal/mistake is over -- the price has reverted back to $4.99] If you're an Android owner, stop what you're doing, follow this link, and grab The Cave. It isn't a game changer in the puzzle or adventure arena in the slightest, but it's still a particularly imaginative and fun game in its own right. This deal is available on the Amazon App Store (which is confusingly separate from Google Play), and it's not advertised as the "free app of the day" -- so make sure and grab it fast. It's still normally priced at $5 on Google Play. The Cave [Amazon - Thanks Dave!] |
| The second Mega Manathon is coming to MAGFest Posted: 30 Dec 2013 01:00 AM PST Last year Half Empty E-Tank ran a noble Mega Manathon for charity, and they're back again with MAGFest 12 this January -- once again they will be supporting Child's Play. If you want to get involved you can actually head over to their site right now and take a look at some Mega Man music bundles that are being offered. There's three tiers of music, with Tier 1 running at $1, Tier 2 at $10, and Tier 3 at $20, and it includes artists like Mega Ran and DJ Cutman. There's also a signed copy of Mega Man 1 up for grabs. So if you're a fan of Mega Man music and want to chip in for charity, head on over! Good luck to the folks over at Half Empty E-Tank. Mega Manathon 2 [Half Empty E-Tank] |
| Sega to experiment more with free-to-play on 3DS Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:00 AM PST Sega is experimenting with the free-to-play model right now on the 3DS in Japan, and it looks like it might yield some favorable results. They're scheduled to release their first F2P title soon with Initial D: Perfect Drift Online, and according to Famitsu, it looks like more games based on the model are in the works. Essentially, Sega is selling a "fair" F2P model where you can earn everything by playing offline or online, but you can "speed up the process" through IAP -- in essence, the same system as Gran Turismo 6. Project head Toshihiro Nagoshi (of Yakuza fame) is hopeful for the model on 3DS, despite the fact that smartphones would result in a larger customer base. It'll be really interesting to see how crowds react to the pricing scheme on the 3DS. As long as they don't go overboard, it could be a cool option. I'm not completely sure that I trust Sega to handle it with tact, though. Sega Will Release More F2P Games For Nintendo 3DS After Initial D [Siliconera] |
| Square Enix accidentally sold exclusive DLC for own game Posted: 29 Dec 2013 11:00 PM PST If you ever needed a reason to loathe "retailer exclusive" DLC, here's one. Recently, Lightning Returns went on sale in Japan, and was launched with tons of various retailer specific DLC promotions and schemes (anyone remember the Mass Effect Doctor Pepper codes?). Apparently, the Aerith costume was specific to the V Jump strategy guide -- or, it was, until Square Enix put it plainly on sale on the marketplace for everyone to grab. The DLC was subsequently pulled, after a public apology on Twitter to the publisher of the guide. Basically, this situation presents more problems than I can count. Not only are some fans essentially punished for not checking the store fast enough, but the vast majority of buyers are punished in general for not buying the guide to get the DLC. That's not even mentioning the age old argument of "what ever happened to everything being 'on the disc'?" With silly situations like this, it's becoming increasingly more difficult to justify retailer exclusive content. I get that a publisher has to make more money, but is the cost to fan loyalty worth it in the long term? As the phrase goes -- many people will "just wait until the Game of the Year Edition," and many more will just ignore the game altogether because of these anti-consumer deals. As a general rule I don't mind meaningful DLC, but retailer exclusive content needs to go away fast. Lightning Room [Twitter via Joystiq] |
| Half-Minute Hero creator has new RPG launching next month Posted: 29 Dec 2013 10:00 PM PST Half Minute Hero director Kotaro Yoshida has returned with a new deconstruction of the Japanese role-playing game called 100-Turn Hero. Like Yoshida's previous work, 100-Turn Hero sports exaggerated pixel art and limits on how much players can do within the game's various stages. However, rather than imposing time constraints, it sounds like players will need to defeat their foes in 100 turns or less. I can dig it. Hopefully this one makes it over to western shores. 100-Turn Hero will release in Japan on January 17, 2014 for 100 yen on iOS. 『勇者30』や『百人勇者』に続くシリーズ最新作『100TURN勇者』のリリース日が決定 [Famitsu via Siliconera] |
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