Full FeedGamertell Review: Drug Wars for PC
Paleo Entertainment shot itself the foot with the original version of Drug Wars, Merchants Of Brooklyn (MOB), by releasing it uncompleted. After changing the name to Drug Wars and implementing several fixes, the company hoped to have a worthwhile final product.
The story’s the same, a multiplayer component has been added and there were several invisible fixes. The question is whether or not these changes make it worthwhile.
Gamertell Review: Warhammer Online Age of Reckoning: Dark Storm Gathering by Chris Wraight
After a pretty lackluster literary performance, WAR seems to have hit a pleasing note in terms of the literature backing it up. Dark Storm Gathering, sequel to Empire in Chaos, made a lot of really interesting fixes that made the story a lot more compelling. Also, as an added gift, it’s written in a way where you don’t lose much if you pick this up without reading Empire in Chaos.
Opinion: Releasing Silent Hill: Shattered Memories for the PS2 a bad idea
At E3 2009, Konami announced the release of a re-imagining of the original Silent Hill. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is a pretty good idea, because the development team of the original was pretty limited by the technology at the time. This re-imagining of the original game is coming out for the Wii, PS2 and PSP.
The PS2 choice might be a questionable one, at least.
The choice of the Wii is fine because it offers entirely new possibilities with the motion sensitivity. PSP is an interesting choice because they’re starting to utilize all of the possibilities that the handheld allows for. In terms of controls, regardless of what they port to, they’re jumping from motion controls to a situation where more is actually less. Where most of the control scheme for the Wii would be motion sensitive, they’d have to program entirely new controls for everything from looking around to shaking enemies off. This is the Jumping to the PS2 also puts it in that position since there’s less motion capabilities and more buttons that would lead to the standard gameplay we’ve all grown accustomed to. It would make it harder to make it a more original spin on the world. They would also cause a scaling back graphically to a certain extent.
Putting it out for all of the current generation consoles, rather than one last generation console, with the development of motion sensitivity across the board would’ve been wiser. It would allow for graphics to be further built up to draw the player into the world. For the other current generation consoles that don’t have motion sensitivity (at least not yet), they would just have to program it so that it can be played with the typical gamepad or with motion sensitivity when those components are ready for the public to purchase. At least that way, when the motion sensitivity is released for the 360 and the PS3 you can have a gameplay experience that’s closer to the Wii’s. They’ve just got to think about how to maximize their options with the game.
Sure, they can still scale it back a bit even after they released it for the current gen-consoles, so the PS2 option isn’t closed entirely. They should’ve held off on developing for the PS2 until the big three consoles have their port.
Yes, quite a few people still have a PS2. However, for most of original games in the series other than Silent Hill Origins for the PSP and PS2, there were also a lot of PC and Xbox sales for the franchise. So releasing SHSM for the Wii, PS2 and PSP might end up cutting out part of the franchise’s fan base. This is not to say that the Wii or PSP are bad choices. The Wii gets the audience more involved, which makes it terrifying, and the PSP allows for playing on the go.
Putting it out for the current generations consoles and then the PS2 would be more effective. It’s getting more exposure for the game. It would call all the hardcore gamers and fans of the series, which are spread across almost every console, to get the game. It would also be able to call newer players and attract them into the series if they weren’t already pulled in by past visits to the town.
Site [Konami] Read [GoGamingGiant]
RelatedE3 2009: More details about Mass Effect 2
During E3, BioWare ended up bringing out more details in this highly-anticipated sequel. It’ll take place sometime after the original game, obviously. Many of the surviving characters from the original are also returning. How this will be handled for characters that have their deaths are based more off of your choices rather than defined scripting will be hard to say but either way. Yes, you’re still playing Shepard. He’s not dead yet. Though he might be after this game.
BioWare officials revealed that the mission he’s sent on in this game will essentially be a suicide mission for Shepard. But for those of us who are used to thinks like 24, the hero even has to survive a suicide mission somehow. Due to the fact that it’s supposed to be a suicide mission, the game’s pitcher said that it is going to be an emotional game. It’s going to be even more thoroughly grounded than the original was and that’ll be a feat in itself.
Yes, there are those that think Shepard is dead as the new trailer (included below) reveals with an Asarii saying she thought Shepard was dead. The reasoning on why really isn’t brought up. Then again, some secrets have to be kept to pull in the audience. Part of the game, much like the first game, will be spent recruiting. The enemy isn’t really revealed. They say it’s not Geth but they show Geth-like zombies going around. It’s mysterious. It really pulls you in and makes you want to play.
They also said that they’d be working on the gameplay in terms of exploration and combat.
Mass Effect is one of those games that really sets itself up well for a sequel. However, it’s also one of those games that really sets itself up for defeat because it’s hard to follow up the quality of a game like that. Then there was that teaser trailer with a Geth trooper wearing Captain Shepard’s uniform while announcing Shepard is dead. Different, yes. Interesting also puts it as a complete understatement.
From what we can see and what was pitched, it seems like something that would be well worth the time to develop it and the time it would take to play. We’ll be finding out sometime in early 2010 when the game is released for Xbox 360, PC and PS3. Prove us right about the quality, BioWare.
Site [Mass Effect 2] Read [Gamertell: E3 2009]
RelatedE3 2009: More rockin’ Brutal Legend details
If you like RPGs and heavy metal, Brutal Legend from Double Fine and EA seems like it would be the game for you. A preview trailer and some information was given at E3 for this humorous game that tries to prove that metal is not only gameworthy but is also not a young man’s game anymore.
Probably the youngest person in the cast for the game is Jack Black, actor, musician and goofball extraordinaire. Premise for the game is that a roadie is pretty much sucked into a fantasy realm that is ruled by metal. For some reason, this lush metal world is in danger and it is up to the roadie and a group of metal gods to save this world. So, to quote one of the lines from trailer, “Time for a mosh pit.”
E3 2009: More about Star Wars the Old Republic
Last E3 (2008) we reported that the rumors for a new Star Wars MMO were finally confirmed. This E3 (2009), convention goers were treated to a lovely surprise consisting actual details on the upcoming MMO (release date yet to be announced) that’s being developed by BioWare titled Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Lenovo releasing a game-worthy netbook, the IdeaPad S12
Lenovo and NVidia are currently working on a new netbook and, from the description, there will be a lot to offer in this laptop for the gaming population.
Using the NVidia Ion graphics technology, Lenovo’s IdeaPad S12 is said to have enough graphics power for full 1080i HD playback and Blu-ray support as well as having a graphics processor powerful enough to be able to offer full HD performance for many of the newer games out there. This doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to support them without a problem since some of the specs are low. Then again, for a starting price of $449 you get what you pay for in terms of power.
2Bits: Game industry “Oscars” would be destroyed by its own politics
The idea of a video game industry awards show, one much like the Oscars, is a pretty intriguing idea. Much like the Oscars, though, it would most likely fall apart due to industry politics.
One of the great things about entertainment is that some people do it simply because they love to do it. If not, they at least love to please an audience. However, with the multitudes of industry-specific awards, most of the love and life that went into industries including music, film and literature has disappeared…
A few suggestions for maximum relaxation through tabletop gaming
If, like me, you’re a student, you’re probably nearing finals and are on the verge of an educational burn out. Sometimes all you need is something fun to play to distract yourself for a short time and so you can relax. After all, a calm mind will help you in the long run.
Here are a few tabletop games you can play to help you relax along with a few additional suggestions that should help rest (or reset) your mind…
Chicago store selling War on Terror outside its market
After Black Sun Games was one of only two stores in America to become a part of TerrorBull Games’ Coalition of the Willing, they got a call from Boston. It was someone who had heard about the board game War on Terror and wanted to buy it.
On the WoT website, until recently, it listed only Black Sun Games as a place where you can get the game without having to import it from Britain. WoT is a satiric board game in the humor of previous games like Nuclear War. The game itself was announced in 2006 and was released 2007. Even with the fun and addictive play, it’s satiric view of modern day politics lead the game to being banned from most major gaming conventions the first year it was out.
Experience what it’s like to download at unlimited speeds from a massive collection of over 800 Terabytes of user uploads. You’ll max out your Internet connection downloading a file in… Continue Reading »
Black Friday 2009
Black Friday is almost here! Gadgetell's got you covered with all the latest news on who's offering the best deals. Dangerous crowds? You're on your own.
Important Importables
Jenni Lada brings us information about all of the groovy new gaming imports from around the world.
