New Games |
- Cook slain monsters in the stunning Battle Chef Brigade
- Another one bites the dust: EA VP Jeff Brown departs
- Man at Arms forges Sephiroth's Masamune blade
- Tekken movie gets a prequel: Tekken - A Man Called X
- New Road Redemption footage shows graphical progress
- Capcom: Next-gen takes 'eight to ten times' more work
- Jazzpunk release date announced
- Oculus Rift games could be more expensive, says CEO
- Podtoid 278: A Giant Filthy Ball in a Hallway
- New tracks from the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy sequel
- Outlast is the next free PS Plus game for PS4 owners
- Rain World looks AMAZING, stars a slugcat
- The first Puzzle Quest is $0.99 on Steam right now
- The filthy sexy truth about Pokemon breeding exposed
- People see Vita as 'iPod of handheld gaming' says Sony
- Live show: More Rust ridiculousness
- Huge News: Censorship strikes again
- You are a fish with a gun, and you must shoot other fish
- MonkeyPaw is bringing Tomba! 2 and five others to PSN
- Wreck your owner's room in Catlateral Damage
- How casual speedrunning can help you enjoy games more
- Here's some juicy info on The Binding of Issac Rebirth
- Left Behind DLC for The Last of Us will be $14.99
- CastleStorm on the Wii U is a solid port
- Xbox One commercial says it best, toots own horn
- Watch someone program Pong within Super Mario World
- PC Port Report: KickBeat
- Nidhogg is now available for purchase
- Become Michael Myers in the new Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC
- This Xbox One ad is too immersive
- Rhythm Thief on iOS is not the same as the 3DS game
- SimCity will finally be playable offline
- ViviTouch: The future of feedback
- The Need for Speed movie story can go anywhere
- The last two Skylanders: Swap Force types are out
- Turns out blacksmithing is tougher than in Skyrim
- Toyota's FT-1 concept car hits Gran Turismo 6 tomorrow
- Japanese indie dev event BitSummit returns for 2014
- This AGDQ Metroid race is an excellent teaching tool
- BioShock Infinite your next PlayStation Plus freebie
- PlayStation 14 for '14 sale has something you want
- Silicon Knights loses appeal against Epic Games
- Cat mama births two cute kittens in first Mew-Genics clip
| Cook slain monsters in the stunning Battle Chef Brigade Posted: 13 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST Trinket Studios' Battle Chef Brigade has come out of seemingly nowhere, but looking over the first artwork for this fantasy cooking competition game, the team has surely been hard at work on the concept behind the scenes for quite some time. It screams "passion project" to me. "Our goal is to create a game that affords the creativity displayed in cooking competitions (peanut butter fish!) while also introducing a humorous fantasy world with a cooking twist," writes the developer. Before you even get to begin cooking, you'll need to fight and kill monsters who you can then use as ingredients. Magic will also come into play when preparing meals -- from the sound of it, you'll be able to buff pots, pans, and knifes. I love everything I've seen so far, especially the character design of the judges. My main concern right now is how long it'll take before Battle Chef Brigade ends up in our hands, but it should be out this year for Steam and consoles. Yeah, I can deal with that. BCB Announced! [Trinket Studios] |
| Another one bites the dust: EA VP Jeff Brown departs Posted: 13 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST EA? More like lEAve. Because that's what a lot of people are doing. PopCap (Plants vs. Zombies) CEO Dave Roberts and studio co-founder Jason Kapalka left PopCap. Criterion Games' (Burnout) co-founders have departed. Chillingo's founders have split. Next is Jeff Brown who has served as EA's senior VP for corporate communications for the last 14 years. He's shacked up with camera-maker GoPro, according to VentureBeat. Brown was infamous for his freewheeling quotability. He once told Oddworld's Lorne Lanning that he, "recommend[s] Lithium for the paranoia and Tourette Syndrome," in response to Lanning's claim that EA tried to buy him up during Stranger's Wrath struggles. In a much more amiable quote, Brown emphasized that he is leaving EA not because of any issues with or at the company, but because of how much he likes GoPro. "I spent 14 years at EA," he said. "The only institution I have ever done longer is my marriage. When I started, I thought it would be a 12-month gig. I had no intention of staying that long. I fell in love with games, and I have a lot of close friends at EA. I am completely supportive of Andrew. But it was a good time for me to say goodbye." There's a weak joke about the Call of Duty dog's GoPro and EA's failed attempts to topple Activision in here somewhere. The master of zinger quotes, EA spokesman Jeff Brown skis off to GoPro [VentureBeat] |
| Man at Arms forges Sephiroth's Masamune blade Posted: 13 Jan 2014 01:30 PM PST I'm pretty hooked on watching the Man At Arms series of videos, which feature the blacksmiths of Burbank, California's Sword and Stone as they forge replicas of fantasy blades found in games. And this installment is a big one, literally, with the creation of Sephiroth's 7' long katana from Final Fantasy, the Masamune. Unlike a lot of the massive, unwieldy swords made on Man At Arms, the Masamune almost looks like you could swing it for a few seconds before your arm is violently ripped from its socket due to momentum. |
| Tekken movie gets a prequel: Tekken - A Man Called X Posted: 13 Jan 2014 01:00 PM PST There's another Tekken movie coming out, Cinema Today reports. Inexplicably, it's a prequel to the Tekken movie that came out in 2009 that no one cared about. Just start over. No one would care. I was going to mention fond memories of watching Tekken with some Destructoid folks in a hotel room one evening at E3 2012 amongst cheap beer, but then I remembered we were watching DOA: Dead or Alive, a worse fighting game movie with a title that's more redundant than "ATM machine." Incidentally, handsome Dead or Alive actor Kane Kosugi will be starring in A Man Called X. Prachya Pinkaew is directing, so it could actually be okay, too. I've not seen Ong-bak, which Pinkaew is most known for, but some of the fight scenes from Chocolate were quite good, so hopefully we can expect as much. Still, I'm not going to let myself get tekken by optimism for a videogame film. ケイン・コスギ、ハリウッド映画初主演！人気ゲーム「鉄拳」の映画化最新作 [Cinema Today] |
| New Road Redemption footage shows graphical progress Posted: 13 Jan 2014 12:30 PM PST Billed as a spiritual successor to Road Rash, the long-dead Electronic Arts' motorcycle racing series, Road Redemption managed to achieve its funding goals back in May. This new video released by Darkseas Interactive shows some of the progress they've made on the game in the last six months. Specifically, the intent is to show where they're at with the visuals and demonstrate a couple of the game's ranged weapons, the uzi and grenade launcher. It's shaping up, for sure. Watching this has transported me back in time to being a teenager and yelling at Viper for being a total dick for taking my chain away from me. Still looks like they have a long way to go yet, but I'm hopeful that this can deliver on its promise. Road Redemption is targeted for release later this year on PC and Wii U. |
| Capcom: Next-gen takes 'eight to ten times' more work Posted: 13 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST Capcom's new engine, Panta Rhei, is powering upcoming PS4 game Deep Down. Xbox One launch title Dead Rising 3 runs on a proprietary engine built at Capcom Vancouver called Forge. Reportedly, much of the team's development time went towards updating the engine to handle everything they wanted to do with the game. MT Framework, which recently housed Resident Evil 6, is done, according to Capcom Senior Manager of Technology and Games Development Masaru Ijuin. "We believe 'MT Framework' is a powerful rendering engine, but it's clear that heightened game quality leads to a rise in the number of man hours," Ijuin said. "The amount of work involved in making games for next-gen consoles is eight to ten times greater than what is required for the current generation of consoles." "[P]roblems and limitations" with the MT Framework led to the decision to build a new engine, proving more efficient than updating the existing one. "Improvements to 'MT Framework' might have reduced the work time from one hour to 30 minutes. We sought to go beyond that and shorten those 30 minutes to ten." Maybe that "eight to ten times more work" is why Capcom keeps announcing mobile games and mobile franchise resurrections while it works on getting 'next-gen' business sorted. Capcom: Next gen development is "eight to ten times" more work [GamesIndustry International] |
| Jazzpunk release date announced Posted: 13 Jan 2014 11:45 AM PST Necrophone Games' Luis Hernandez stated today on Twitter that rollicking comedy adventure Jazzpunk will be released on February 7. This announcement comes just after the game was nominated for the Grand Prize in this year's Independent Games Festival Awards, alongside already loved titles like Don't Starve, Papers, Please and The Stanley Parable. That is some exceptional company to be in, and a lot to live up to. But if the final product is reflective of our past experiences and conversations about the game, it should fit right in. [Twitter] |
| Oculus Rift games could be more expensive, says CEO Posted: 13 Jan 2014 11:30 AM PST Speaking to GamesIndustry International, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe has suggested games supporting virtual-reality devices like the Oculus Rift may be more expensive for consumers. "It's going to be up to the developers," he said. "There will be some who make casual, simpler experiences -- maybe bite sized. There are going to be Indie developers that make bigger experiences. And there are going to be bigger teams that make really big experiences." That does concern me. Getting these devices into enough homes for it to be worth developers' time to meaningfully support virtual reality in their games is already no simple task. "They'd better deliver if they're going to charge more than $50 or $60 for a game," said Iribe, who went on to bring up microtransactions. "It's not to say [a possible price increase is] going to be upfront. It could be this is going to be an experience you get dialed into. We'll see how it monetizes." All of this, at least as it pertains to Oculus Rift, feels like it could still be years off before it breaks into the mainstream. "We're not going to ship until we have a version that delivers a highly immersive, comfortable experience at a low price," Iribe explained. "I don't mean just the foam padding and things like that. The experience of virtual reality has to be comfortable. VR has never been close to comfortable. We're confident we will deliver a very comfortable experience for version one. It's my belief that the age of 2D monitors has run its course." Oculus games may command a premium price [GamesIndustry International] |
| Podtoid 278: A Giant Filthy Ball in a Hallway Posted: 13 Jan 2014 11:15 AM PST This week, Caitlin Cooke joins us via Jonathan Holmes' pet dog "Air-Bud" to discuss the cultural importance of Battletoads, Oxycontin use in the 90s, Senran Kagura lore and subtlety, anus chocolates, and probably some other stuff that vaguely pertains to video games. Podtoid is Andy Dixon, Jonathan Holmes, Max Scoville, and Conrad Zimmerman. Here's your direct download you can find us on iTunes and the RSS feed as well! |
| New tracks from the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy sequel Posted: 13 Jan 2014 11:00 AM PST Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy was the first game I bought for 3DS. If you like Final Fantasy music or rhythm games, it's a wonderful time. If you like both, it's a meditative haven. It's getting a huge sequel, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, that is coming soon to Japan. Dale played it at TGS and found it to be more of the same great Theatrhythm, but with over 200 songs, 60 characters, and music from Type-0, Advent Children, Final Fantasy XIV. A demo for Curtain Call recently hit the Japanese eShop and Nintendo Life has video of the three tracks from it. I can't wait. First Impressions: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call [Nintendo Life] |
| Outlast is the next free PS Plus game for PS4 owners Posted: 13 Jan 2014 10:45 AM PST In a blurb posted to Facebook, Red Barrels has announced that the PlayStation 4 version of Outlast will be free for PlayStation Plus members in February. The first-person survival horror title blew up on PC thanks to positive word of mouth and Let's Plays last year. It's a great game, too -- one that actually involved a lot of fleeing as opposed to shooting. This is another nice catch for PS4 owners following Klei's Don't Starve and Housemarque's Resogun. At this rate, if you own the console and are able to hold off on becoming a Plus subscriber, I'm impressed. I think that's probably a mistake, but I'm still impressed. Outlast [Facebook] |
| Rain World looks AMAZING, stars a slugcat Posted: 13 Jan 2014 10:30 AM PST
Look at that art. That animation. That slugcat. I saw glimpses of Rain World long enough ago that I had forgotten about it. How did I forget about this!? The liquidity of cats is a common joke as we watch internet videos of them squeezing themselves through socks and into bowls. Slugcat takes this to a whole new level. Just look at that physics-based globbing. Rain World is a survival platformer focusing on the interplay between sneaking away from larger, more capable murderous beast and hunting others. After being developed as a passion project for the last several years, it has taken to Kickstarter, already in an obviously fully playable alpha, to hit the requisite polish for a wide release. The page is also full of more amazing gifs and a soundtrack sample that I will probably zone out to for the rest of the work day. Right now it is slated for PC and Mac release. This is the hottest Kickstarter I've seen since Hyper Light Drifter, which rapidly expanded to include Wii U, PS4, and Vita releases when its campaign blew up. We reached out to see if any console release is planned and right now Rain World is only promised for PC and Mac, but the team is open to release on other platforms. So we'll have to see how the Kickstarter pans out. This would be a purrfect game to play on Vita. Existential crisis as I wonder if traditional cat puns are appropriate for slugcats. |
| The first Puzzle Quest is $0.99 on Steam right now Posted: 13 Jan 2014 10:15 AM PST I made it through the Puzzle Quest craze relatively unscathed, but others weren't so lucky. (Or, maybe they were, depending on your outlook.) If it's sheer hours of entertainment per dollar spent you're concerned with, this 48-hour Steam deal on Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is quite the bargain. At 90 percent off, the game is down to $0.99. The arguably less-good -- and certainly more divisive -- Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is also $0.99 in this promotion. As much as Marvel Puzzle Quest has my attention, its free-to-play hooks have me cautious to invest my time. Then again, Marvel. Hmm. |
| The filthy sexy truth about Pokemon breeding exposed Posted: 13 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST College Humor has discovered the shocking truth when it comes to Pokemon breeding in Pokemon X and Y. |
| People see Vita as 'iPod of handheld gaming' says Sony Posted: 13 Jan 2014 09:45 AM PST "Compared to PS3, Vita has had a higher percentage of games bought digitally since it was first launched," says PlayStation UK’s Managing Director Fergal Gara, in an interview with VG24/7. "It's interesting and it demonstrates how many people look at it as the iPod of handheld gaming." Gara continues to explain that, "More Vita games are still consumed through physical game cards than they are through digital, but things are increasingly moving the other way," before pondering that wince inducing future where, "Could be that in future physical games becomes the side we do without." The hesitant Luddite in me still shrinks at that notion every time. Of course, doing a lot of digital sales for the Vita is all well and good, but the system needs to sell a whole lot more hardware and software in general before we go around making iPod connections. Gara was equally humble and conciliatory that the Vita hasn't done as well as they hoped. Still, with Sony, it's always a long game, and with the successful release of the PS4, the Vita may be just about to hit its stride. "We always planned for Remote Play with the PS Vita and PS4," Gara explains. “From an architecture point of view, that compatibility between the two was always designed into the Vita's system. By the time PS Vita development started we were well into the development path of the PlayStation 4, so things were very much designed to work together." What with my three favorite games of the last two years all appearing on the Vita and Gravity Rush 2 on the horizon, I'm about as big of a Vita supporter as there is. It will be interesting to see how the PS4 launch, as well as the PS Vita TV and a small redesign, affect development and sales for the handheld. PS Vita: “People look at it as the iPod of handheld gaming,” says Sony boss [VG24/7] |
| Live show: More Rust ridiculousness Posted: 13 Jan 2014 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.] It would seem that the good ol' Steam Dev Days have caused all my interviews that were scheduled for this week, to be pushed back to next week, including my much anticipated sit down with Facepunch Studios, creators of the open-world survival game Rust. But that's ok, there's no reason we can't still get together and smash a bunch of things with rocks, right? Tonight on Mash Tactics I'll once again be jumping into the barren and foreboding world of Rust with a few friends, and more than likely causing more harm than good. Maybe today, I'll actually get to wear pants, then again, maybe not. Really, I'm more than fine just running around with my floppy man bits hanging out, while I blare the Space Jam soundtrack for all to hear. Want to join in on what is bound to be a grand adventure of trolling, and backstabbing survival and friendship? Then get over to Dtoid.TV tonight for all the details on how to do just that. See you there! QotD: Have you ever played a game where it was more fun to troll people than to actually play? |
| Huge News: Censorship strikes again Posted: 13 Jan 2014 09:15 AM PST We have a very passionate episode of Dtoid Huge News of the Week today, as the dynamic duo address the throbbing controversy over a sexy trailer for Sengan Kagura Cooking Rhythm pulled down by YouTube. Plus, Caitlin presents a new product which efficiency-minded gamers seem likely to lap up, PlayStation Now is a thing you can sign up for later, and Holmes proves himself to be the most extreme of the hardcore in the Lightning Round. Don't forget that you can contribute to the program by sending us an e-mail at holmessupholmes@gmail.com which Caitlin or Jonathan may read in a future episode! And thanks once more for being a HUGE member. This show is the kind of thing you can only get away with when someone's got your back, and you have ours. Cheers. |
| You are a fish with a gun, and you must shoot other fish Posted: 13 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST Shütshimi is a retro-style shoot 'em up where you are a gold fish with bad memory problems and big beefy arms. With those beefy arms you will shoot up other fish because who cares. You're a fish with beefy arms and guns, do you really need to know anything else? Shütshimi is up on Steam Greenlight for voting, and will eventually be released for PC and Xbox Live Indie Games in the near future. There's a demo you can check out from the official site too if you feel so inclined. |
| MonkeyPaw is bringing Tomba! 2 and five others to PSN Posted: 13 Jan 2014 08:45 AM PST MonkeyPaw Games has more Japanese import games lined up for release on PlayStation Network this year. The company's six-week Retro Rush event kicks off tomorrow with Double Dragon (the fighting game spinoff), and there will be a new title every Tuesday. With the exception of Tomba! 2, which is going to be $9.99, all other PSOne Classics are priced at $5.99 a piece. ● Jan. 14 - Double Dragon I had no idea there was a sequel to Human Entertainment's Super Nintendo title The Firemen, which never saw release in North America. It's the best firefighting game I have ever played, and I'm not merely saying that because it's the only one I've touched. |
| Wreck your owner's room in Catlateral Damage Posted: 13 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST Feel like trashing a room whilst remaining totally innocent? Then Catlateral Damage is for you. It's a simple game that puts you in control of a cat who has to traverse its owner's room, knocking over as many personal items as possible in two minutes. It's like a Katamari game in reverse; instead of cleaning you're messing things up. As a former cat owner (to quote Eddie Izzard, you don't really own a cat, a cat owns you) I'm sure there will be some perverse glee to be had in wrecking someone else's possessions. My cat would just casually knock things over or saunter all over my keyboard which was annoying. The cat was never as willfully destructive as my dog that once chewed up my DS amongst other things but then again the cat never savaged my crotch like the cat would. This is why my next pet is going to be something less harmful that needs very little hands on care. Like a snake. |
| How casual speedrunning can help you enjoy games more Posted: 13 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST Awesome Games Done Quick 2014 has wrapped up, and it raised over one million dollars for charity. If you haven't checked them out before, they basically hand pick a bunch of games to "speedrun" through and complete, with different parameters for each title. Some runs may use glitches or exploits, some may be more open-ended, but the ultimate goal is to master each individual game. I've never crossed over the professional line, but I've been a speedrun enthusiast for over 10 years now. Here's my story on how I got started, and how you can get involved. |
| Here's some juicy info on The Binding of Issac Rebirth Posted: 13 Jan 2014 07:45 AM PST With all the hullabaloo about Mew-genics, I forgot that Team Meat's Edmund McMillen was still working on the the new The Binding of Issac: Rebirth. Edmund has posted a big Q&A about the game's development that makes me really excited. There's lots of information, some of which we already knew but also some teases at big improvements, most notably the move away from Flash. The big change is going to be in the art style; Rebirth will have a 16-bit-esque look as Edmund was rushed in creating the original artwork. He's not too fond of it now but I still like the thick black outlines and the horrible little details. Edmund has also said that Rebirth is a "greatly improved" version of the original Binding of Issac offering "new enemies, items, characters, endings, secrets, rooms, chapters, challenges and a shit load of very new and unexpected additions." What's really exciting is the promise of full controller support, local co-op, and the tantalizing option of shared seeds, similar to Spelunky's Daily Challenges. Oh man, if that last one is definitely happening then I can see myself getting back into Binding of Issac in a big way. Daily Challenges were my "gateway drug" into Spelunky and I've already put 36 hours into Binding of Issac. Whilst there's no release date, Edmund did say that the game will arrive on Steam, PlayStation 4, and PS Vita in 2014. The Binding of Isaac Rebirth 2014 Q&A! [EdmundM] |
| Left Behind DLC for The Last of Us will be $14.99 Posted: 13 Jan 2014 07:30 AM PST Our last glimpse of the forthcoming Left Behind story DLC for The Last of Us had Ellie and her companion Riley stumbling upon a seemingly functional carousel. IGN has a short new cinematic clip in which Riley pretends to be an infected while Ellie is sleeping. Yeah, scare the girl with the blade under her pillow -- that seems like a good prank. The outlet confirmed the DLC's $14.99 price tag and also got to speak with Yaani King, the voice of Riley. She says "...there are moments in the DLC where you get to really learn the personalities and the heart of who these two girls are to each other through the adventures that they have. And there are some really fun, new, fresh dynamics and content that [is] in this that you don't necessarily see in the original game which I think add to who they are and who Riley is." According to the trailer, the DLC is "coming soon." Whenever they say that, it's not soon enough. Your First Look at The Last of Us’ Single Player DLC [IGN] |
| CastleStorm on the Wii U is a solid port Posted: 13 Jan 2014 07:00 AM PST CastleStorm has hit the Wii U, and if you haven't picked it up yet, this is a great chance to do so. Some people have described it as "Angry Birds with Vikings," but that's doing it a bit of a disservice. Yes it has a mechanic similar to Crush the Castle in that you're throwing projectiles at structures, but the other half of the game is pure castle defense, similar to Swords and Soldiers. CastleStorm is packed with content too if you're looking for something to do on your Wii U. There's a full campaign (with an upgrade system) and single player skirmish mode, castle creation, online play, and three local multiplayer modes to mess around with. Then you add in the fact that it has remote play (with touch controls, and dual screen multiplayer), and it's hard to deny that this is one of the best games on the Wii U eShop right now. I particularly enjoyed the option to play with traditional or touch controls, without being forced to pick one. There's only one real blemish -- Pro Controllers are supported for multiplayer, but not Wiimotes. So in order to play local multiplayer you'll need to have a Pro Controller on hand while one player uses the GamePad. It's a great controller anyway with lots of support, so it's worth picking up! |
| Xbox One commercial says it best, toots own horn Posted: 13 Jan 2014 06:45 AM PST Lots of people have had nice things to say about the Xbox One. Microsoft would like to remind you of a few, because that's what advertisements do. It's mostly just the regular "this is the console that you need in your living room" stuff that you'd expect. That is, until they threw in a quote from someone on Twitter that read "The Xbox One is the greatest thing that's ever happened to mankind." In my humble opinion, that may be a tad exaggerated. I'm ranking antibiotics and fire a spot or two higher. |
| Watch someone program Pong within Super Mario World Posted: 13 Jan 2014 06:30 AM PST There were a lot of highlights out of Awesome Games Done Quick 2014 this year, but this one in particular takes the cake for me. During the Tool Assisted Videos portion of the marathon, the people behind TASVideos.org shared this very special demonstration based on Super Mario World. Masterjun is the creator of this TAS, and basically he was able to make Pong and Snake within Super Mario World without hacking it. There were eight controllers connected to the Super Nintendo via multitaps (remember those?) all synced to the TAS Bot, a Raspberry Pi attached to that R.O.B. Here's the technical breakdown from TASVideos. "In short: I manipulate where the moving objects (sprites) are located or where they despawn, then I swap the item in Yoshi's mouth with a flying ?-block (thus the yellow glitched shell) and using a glitch (stunning) to spawn a sprite which isn't used by SMW and since it tries to jump to the sprite routine location, it indexes everything wrong and jumps to a place I manipulated earlier with the sprites (OAM) and because of the P-Switch it jumps to controller registers and from there the arbitrary code execution is started." You can watch the live demonstration and explanation starting at around the 32-minute mark. |
| Posted: 13 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST Last year, KickBeat released on PS3 and PS Vita, and we quite liked the "music dressed up as a fighting game." The final word on it was that it featured solid rhythm gameplay, but was held back by a few questionable song choices and tedious means of unlocking content. Concerning the latter, it appears that Zen Studios was listening to the criticism, as much more of the content is available without as much grinding. Regarding the former, well, at least it is easier than ever to import custom songs into the game. |
| Nidhogg is now available for purchase Posted: 13 Jan 2014 05:45 AM PST Just a quick reminder that Nidhogg has been released on Steam and on the Humble Bundle store! The dualist game is available for Windows for the launch discounted price of $11.99 (normally $14.99). Or you can buy a two-pack for $21.59, 20% off the normal price. There is a single-player mode, but the two-player mode is what makes Nidhogg truly special. Also Daedelus is behind the soundtrack on this one, which is a nice surprise to me. You may recognize Daedelus from the Public Access Destructoid days. |
| Become Michael Myers in the new Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Posted: 13 Jan 2014 05:30 AM PST GameStop leaked the first look, and now Activision has given us an extensive overview of what to expect from the upcoming Onslaught downloadable content for Call of Duty: Ghosts. Onslaught includes four new small to medium sized maps (Fog, Bayview, Containment, Ignition), plus the first installment of the Extinction add-on content, Episode 1: Nightfall, will be included here. Expect new characters, a new weapon, plus new aliens that include a three-story tall alien enemy. Lastly, there's the new dual-purpose Maverick assault rifle/sniper rifle gun being added to multiplayer. So the multiplayer maps aren't just straight up new maps, as each offers something unique. In Fog, if you get a field order you will transform into Michael Myers. You know, from the Halloween movies. You even get his mask and a big bloody axe to swing around. A nice nod to old school Modern Warfare right there. Onslaught will be out first for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 on January 28. |
| This Xbox One ad is too immersive Posted: 13 Jan 2014 05:15 AM PST Come on, Microsoft. Nothing about this new commercial for Xbox One looks anything less than miserable. I'm not going to play Ryse if it makes me feel like I got cut by a sword. The infliction of pain isn't something I want to experience when I'm playing a game. Although, depending on whom you ask, getting cut might be preferable to playing Ryse. Hashtag sick burn. |
| Rhythm Thief on iOS is not the same as the 3DS game Posted: 13 Jan 2014 05:00 AM PST As you may have noticed, Rhythm Thief hit the iOS marketplace last week, but it's not the same game as the 3DS version. Even though I knew they'd be different, after some extended testing, I discovered for myself that The Paris Caper (iOS) is basically an abridged version of The Emperor's Treasure, which hit the 3DS in 2012. The good news is, most of the parts that made Emperor's Treasure great are intact. Nearly all of the rhythm sequences are there, and although the story is cut a tad, it still has the same charming characters as the original. But it's not necessarily less content heavy than the 3DS game, as a bunch of new exclusive minigames have been added -- presenting twitch activities like "tap the numbers in order in a certain amount of time." The touch controls are basically perfect, and I didn't have any issues with any of the minigames. The iOS version also adds "accomplices," which are basically a fancy way of saying "buffs" for your character, like adding extra score potential or safety nets to avoid failing missions. It's almost unnecessary, but since accomplices can be mixed, matched, and leveled up, it's a fun way to add some more RPG elements to the experience. There is an in-game shop, but it's pretty inoffensive and mostly consists of costumes. The only major flaw with The Paris Caper is that it requires an internet connection to play. It's a very, very odd requirement that I hope is patched eventually, and I know a lot of you will be ignoring it completely because of it. Overall though I did enjoy my time with Paris Caper, and I sincerely hope Sega isn't done with this IP. It basically reminds me of Lupin III: The Rhythm Game, and I really dig it. If you aren't down with iOS, look for a cheap copy of it on 3DS. |
| SimCity will finally be playable offline Posted: 13 Jan 2014 04:45 AM PST What a difference 48 hours makes. On Saturday we talked about how Maxis was introducing modding to SimCity but were leaving some fairly restrictive rules in place to preserve the integrity of the multiplayer side. Today however, Maxis studio manager Patrick Buechner has announced that an offline single-player mode will be part of an upcoming update. So what will this mean for players? Patrick confirms that "all of your previously downloaded content will be available to you anytime, anywhere, without the need for an internet connection." A separate singe-player mode will be available that has local save files. Staying online will of course give you access to leaderboards and all the online features you'd expect. Adding mods to SimCity makes more sense now that the game will be able to be played offline as there won't be any cheating to get top spots on the leaderboards. Still this whole thing has been a fiasco. Initially SimCity couldn't be played offline, then some folks found a way, then offline play was a possibility, and now it's arriving almost six months after the original release. The only silver lining I can see from this is that the publisher will seriously think twice before having an always-online single-player game that could work just as well offline. |
| ViviTouch: The future of feedback Posted: 13 Jan 2014 04:30 AM PST You know how controller rumble works right now, don't you? In most controllers you'll find a couple of motors that spin weights. These spin up when you're supposed to feel the rumble effect, and then begin spinning down when the effect is supposed to stop. The result: you hands shake. While vibration technology has advanced over the years, we're still basically getting the same kind of feedback -- a general controller shaking. What if there were a way to localize feedback to a single button or stick? What if there were a way to have varying degrees of vibration sent to each zone? Instead of just a single kind of hand-numbing buzzing, what if we could feel a full range of sensations in our fingertips? |
| The Need for Speed movie story can go anywhere Posted: 13 Jan 2014 04:15 AM PST This will probably blow your mind, but the movie based on a videogame franchise about cars going really fast is going to involve cars going really fast. That's pretty much the extent of the criteria for slapping the Need for Speed namesake on this film. As Aaron Paul (cars, bitch!) points out in this behind-the-scenes video, this means that the story can go anywhere. All we know is that it's a story of "revenge and redemption", which is vague and untelling. But, cool cars going fast is confirmed! If the Need for Speed spot isn't enough for your Aaron Paul fix, you're a damn junkie and you need help! Okay, I'll enable you just a bit more with a video of him on The Price is Right. In fact, it might just turn you off to him altogether. |
| The last two Skylanders: Swap Force types are out Posted: 13 Jan 2014 04:00 AM PST If you haven't been following Skylanders, the game requires specific physical toys to unlock content. Not only does each character have a unique challenge, but they also have particular elemental powers (to unlock certain gates), and in Swapforce, a few characters have different "movement types." Activision releases toys in waves, and last week marked the final distribution. Kotaku reports that the last two figures needed to 100% the story mode (Rubble Rouser and Stink Bomb) have been released. No matter how you feel about locking content behind physical toys, you have to admit this whole marketing scheme is pretty genius. Skylanders: Swap Force Finally Gets The Toys Needed To Finish The Game [Kotaku] |
| Turns out blacksmithing is tougher than in Skyrim Posted: 13 Jan 2014 03:45 AM PST I don't think that anyone really thought that Skyrim provided an accurate depiction of a blacksmith's trade. I mean, those dudes have to hit stuff for a really long time. It looks too tedious to be fun. Unless they have a power hammer, which is an incredibly cool tool. I think I'm going to unnecessarily add it to my Amazon wishlist. Impressively (and through the magic of the power hammer), this real life blacksmith makes a piece of armor and a dagger out of some soda cans and leather strips. It probably won't be good enough to take down his first dragon, but I guess I haven't seen many of those around anyway. |
| Toyota's FT-1 concept car hits Gran Turismo 6 tomorrow Posted: 13 Jan 2014 03:30 AM PST Are you a car person? It's so weird talking about cars to someone that isn't a car person. It's like when someone talks about football to me. I always just picture a televised game in super fast forward, where the damned ball is just going back and forth, back and forth, showing how silly it all would be with some perspective. But I suppose that isn't much different than cars going in circles over and over. Well, if you are a fellow car person, you'll appreciate that Polyphony Digital has yanked Toyota's FT-1 Concept straight from the International Auto Show and plopped it right into PS3 racer Gran Turismo 6. What's neat is that concept house Calty Design asked Polyphony Digital to to create a digital version of their concept as part of their pitch to Toyota. After seeing the Gran Turismo version of the FT-1, Toyota gave them the nod. Now we get to drive that digital simulation. What's even neater is that you'll be able to drive the FT-1 in Gran Turismo 6 tomorrow. An update will add the car to the game. Sony says that if you rank bronze or better in the FT-1 Laguna Seca challenge, you'll receive the car. You can also just buy it from the Toyota dealership if you'd like. |
| Japanese indie dev event BitSummit returns for 2014 Posted: 13 Jan 2014 03:00 AM PST Vocaloid Japanese businessman singing karaoke "Unforgettable" in space is the best. Thank The Orb. The above video comes from last year's inaugural BitSummit, showcasing some of the cool, weird games shown off there, including an announcement from Pixel, the makers of Cave Story. The event began last year as a way to bolster and bridge Japan's scattered indie scene. It's coming back to Kyoto this March (7-9), engorged on the blood of last year's sacrifice. There will be two public days that visitors can attend (500 yen each); developer attendance is free. Musical guests and speakers will also be in attendance. If you can't make it out to Kyoto, don't fret. Our own Dale North will be there covering. And eating a lot of good food. |
| This AGDQ Metroid race is an excellent teaching tool Posted: 13 Jan 2014 02:30 AM PST Awesome Games Done Quick just raised over one million for charity, and one of the most interesting events had to be the four way Super Metroid run. In short, speedrunners Garrison, Krauser, Zoast, and Ivan all "race" each other to beat Super Metroid with an "any percentage" goal -- meaning they can beat it by any means necessary without being required to get certain upgrades. The commentary is excellent, as it explains every single thing in the run, including all of the tricks that the runners are using. One of the standout parts is the quality behind the sequence breaking commentary, as they explain why in addition to how they're doing it. They also explain a few major boss tricks and exactly what elements of the game are random. As a fan of the game, one of my favorite parts is really subtle at 14:00 in, when the runners completely pass over an area that normally "requires" an ice beam to traverse. Another amazing moment is the home stretch, involving a dramatic "Metroid skip" at approximately 38:00. It's just under an hour, and I'd recommend that any Super Metroid fan watch it. |
| BioShock Infinite your next PlayStation Plus freebie Posted: 13 Jan 2014 02:00 AM PST Bioshock Infinite will be free for PlayStation Plus subscribers tomorrow. Now its price matches the amount of American flags and murderous patriots in the game. Freedom! Maybe at that price you can then stomach its premium DLC prices. Proteus is also being discounted for Plus users, separate from the earlier announced 14 for '14 sale. You can nab it for $5.94 -- that's 3 bucks off. It's cross buy for PS3 and Vita as well. I wonder if there is someone out there who subsists solely on PS+ membership and plays nothing else. I wonder if there is someone out there who has actually gotten through all of the free games PS+ throws at them. I sure haven't. |
| PlayStation 14 for '14 sale has something you want Posted: 13 Jan 2014 01:00 AM PST Enslaved for as low as $5? How can you pass that up? Make amends for not buying that gem the first time around. It's a lovely game. Puppeteer for $7, down from $40? You couldn't shut me up about that gorgeous platformer last year and still no one bought it. To spite me, probably. This is a heck of a sale, especially for PlayStation Plus users. Cool, smaller titles like Rain, Spelunky, and Thomas Was Alone for Steam-sale pittance. Full disc releases like Tales of Xillia and Puppeteer cut to ten bucks and under. You can finally buy some games for your Vita. The 14 for '14 sale will run from January 14 (hah!) to January 20. Check all the PS3 and Vita deals below. What are you buying? I might actually want to try that new Sly Cooper. |
| Silicon Knights loses appeal against Epic Games Posted: 13 Jan 2014 12:00 AM PST If you haven't been following the Silicon Knights vs. Epic Games Saga, it hasn't been pretty. A North Carolina court ordered Silicon Knights to pay Epic Games millions ($4.5m in damages, and $4.7 in court fees), after a failed lawsuit by SK and a successful counterclaim by Epic. The counterclaim alleged that Silicon Knights was in breach of their licensing agreement, and the court seemed to agree. Midway through 2013, we learned that Silicon Knights was still alive and fighting the claim, but it appears as if the tale may be at an end, as a January 6th appeal judgment has ruled in favor of Epic. The only real remnants of SK that we can really track out in the open is Denis Dyack, who jumped ship to Precursor Games and helped head up a Kickstarter that failed multiple times. As someone who grew up with Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Eternal Darkness, and Twin Snakes -- it's pretty depressing to see a once great studio go out like this. No. 12-2489 [United States Court of Appeals For the Fourth Circuit via Gamasutra] |
| Cat mama births two cute kittens in first Mew-Genics clip Posted: 12 Jan 2014 11:00 PM PST Team Meat has provided the first clip from its upcoming catlady sim Mew-Genics. In a turn that can be described as, "very internet" if you have no paternal instincts towards the English language, the first clip is not a teaser trailer, but an animated gif (below). Also, be sure to read Edmund McMillen's explanation of the process and how you can start to see the mechanics at work in this little miracle. Such a smile on the glowing mother's face. And the babies just pop! out in a cloud of dust or possibly amniotic fluid. Probably the fluid! Very excited for this game. |
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