[GameRatty] tag: white

Ubi spends $10 million on South Park ad push

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:42:55 +0000

According to this BrandWeek piece, Ubisoft has spent $10 million buying all the US ad space in the first two episodes of the next season of South Park, beginning October 8. The first episode will feature three separate two-minute spots for its flagship Shaun White Snowboarding, Prince of Persia and Farcry 2 titles. The second episode [...]

Mad violence for Australia

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:32:53 +0000

Contrary to recent reports, Sega has confirmed it will try to release the controversial Madworld in Australia next year, a Wii game with "over-the-top violence" and "murderous moves".

In Madworld, players control a character called Jack caught up in a murderous game created by terrorists. To survive, players must master the use of weapons and items, perform brutal finishing moves delivered by the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller, and compete in "ultra violent" mini-games "designed to push you over the edge".

Sega say they hope the game will become an "instant classic" on the Wii thanks to its highly stylised black and white graphics and "irreverent humour and over-the-top violence" which "delivers a visceral gaming experience".

A Sega spokesperson said today that "in response to recent reports regarding the Australian release of Madworld, Sega Australia would like to clarify that we are currently planning on releasing Madworld to the Australian market.

"We believe Madworld will be an asset to the industry and will do what we can to support its release in our territory."

But Sega is likely to face difficulty in getting the game approved for release in Australia by the Classification Board. If the game is deemed unsuitable for an MA15+ rating it will be refused classification and unavailable for sale due to the ongoing absence of an R18+ rating for games in this country.

Late last month horror game Silent Hill: Homecoming became the fourth game this year to be refused classification by Australia's censors. The Classification Board decided that several "high impact" moments made the game unsuitable for an MA15+ rating, including scenes where the main character is decapitated and has a drill forced into his eye.

Censorship ministers in March agreed to canvas public opinion on the proposed introduction of a long overdue R18+ classification for games, but are still working on the mechanisms to let Australians have their say.

Faking the Band 2 - Cuatro cinco cinco seís [Oct. 7]

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:59:10 +0000

Faking the Band 2 is a weekly feature detailing the latest in DLC for the Rock Band platform.

Gunter glieben glauchen globen, gamers! No, no, we’re not talking the sugar-submerged pop rockers of Def Leppard. Today’s DLC features a three-song set from the SoCal princes of punk The Offspring. The pack spans their sardonic and socially conscious history, from Smash’s self-critical “Self Esteem,”Ixnay on the Hombre’s grieving “Gone Away” and Americana’s mocking “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy).” Players can expect quick riffing, powerful drum rhythms and an overall abundance of energy. Apparently a Master’s in Molecular Biology makes for excellent punk rock. Who knew?

As for all those establishment types, they can enjoy today’s smattering of singles. An eclectic group, to be sure: the grunge of Screaming Trees, the blues-rock of Free and George Thorogood, the indie comeback of Harvey Danger and the industrial metal of Static-X. Oh, and don’t tell “The Man,” but we let fellow punkers Against Me! duck the police tape and join the party. Rock and roll for everyone!

Offspring Pack 01 [160 MS points per song / 440 for pack / all masters]

Assorted singles [160 MS points per song / all masters]

“Stop!” - Against Me!

“All Right Now” - Free

“Bad to the Bone” - George Thorogood and the Destroyers

“Cream & Bastards Rise” - Harvey Danger

“Nearly Lost You” - Screaming Trees

“Push It” - Static-X

Qore Episode 5 Hits PSN Thursday

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:48:48 +0000

Hey everyone, my name is Kevin Furuichi and I’m the new Executive Producer here at the PlayStation Network. The Qore team’s put together a spook-tacular, monster-themed Halloween Special for Episode 05 available in the PlayStation Store on Thursday, October 9, here’s a preview.

Fallout 3
Nuclear winter in Washington, D.C. and mutated humans and beasts are really not so happy about the way things turned out. Do you dare leave the bunker and confront their radiation-amplified personality issues?

Resident Evil 5
The series that invented the term “Survival Horror” is back and better than ever on PlayStation 3 - just don’t call them “zombies” – they HATE that!

Dead Space
Talk about creepy. Our “trio of terror” is complete with a game that’s banned in China, Germany, Japan. When you see the gameplay, words really fail to describe… well, actually, how about “Strategic Dismemberment.” Also included is an exclusive graphic novel!

Shaun White Snowboarding
Well, it’s not exactly spooky, but Olympic Champion Shaun White is a monster on any mountain. Veronica meets “The Flying Tomato” in Park City, Utah for a personal tour of his new game.

New Downloadable Content:
Included in this episode is exclusive access to SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles demo. Qore Episode 05 also contains three different shooting galleries. Clear the galleries to reveal a horrifying bonus video segment.

Finally, check out the “What’s Hot” section for Audrey Cleo’s roundup of the top Blu-ray releases in October.

Enterbrain's Hamamura lists big games for TGS 2008

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:49:19 +0000

With only a couple of days left before Tokyo Game Show 2008 unfolds, there's a lot of speculations and predictions as to what games will shine through and deliver at this year's event. President of Famitsu magazine publisher, Enterbrain, is not spared from making his own predictions.

At a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, Hirokazu Hamamura rankles off the titles that he is looking forward to see and what could be its possible impact to their respective companies and platforms.

He reveals that he is looking forward to seeing the Square Enix booth for the almost-ripe-for-the-picking Final Fantasy XIII. He believes that the way the game will be presented will have a direct impact on the sales of the PlayStation 3 console. Of course that makes sense. The more the audience is enticed into buying the game, then the more people will see the need to buy the console.

He also would like to check out if Dragon Quest IX, also from Square Enix, will be playable. It should be interesting to see how this latest installment of the franchise will fare especially when it comes out next year in March.

Monster Hunter 3 is also a must-see. After all, Hamamura views the game as "one of the keys Nintendo must unlock before the Wii appeal to core gamers." He's also hoping to catch Sony's White Knight Chronicles, which he predicts will "gather a lot of attention."

Well, it won't be long till we found out for ourselves, right? In case you haven't marked your calendars yet, the Tokyo Game Show 2008 will be happening on October 9 to 12 (that's already this Thursday, folks!) at the Makuhari Messe outside of Tokyo. However, the first two days are exclusive for the media folks only. But don't worry, Saturday and Sunday will be open to the public.

Enterbrain's Hamamura lists big games for TGS 2008

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:49:19 +0000

Enterbrain's Hamamura lists big games for TGS 2008

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:49:19 +0000

Box Art Reviews: Fracture, NBA Live 09, More

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:00:45 +0000

Check out our weekly box art reviews to see what covers get it right and what covers don’t. Such as…

“Ten Pin Alley 2″ (Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: You can throw bowling balls at people! (”You” being a one-legged contortionist.)
Pros: It’s definitely bowling, no doubt about that. And it looks like the designers tried to do something different…
Cons: But is that pin humongous or is that man tiny? Why is a bowling ball being hurled at him? And I only count seven pins on this cover, not 10!
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.

“Imagine Babysitters” (DS)
What the Box Tells Us: Sometimes babies just pop out of nowhere, like from under the bed. That’s why you need a sitter.
Pros: Well, there are babies in it (extra points for the one pointing with the sunglasses on). And someone that looks like a babysitter.
Cons: But it’s “Babysitters” not “Babysitter” — I only see one babysitter and four babies. This should be “Imagine Babyz.” Oh wait…
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.

“NBA LIVE 09 All-Play” (Wii)
What the Box Tells Us: Something good just happened, so cover athlete Tony Parker looks mildly enthused. Not overjoyed though.
Pros: EA sticks with its happy-go-lucky attitude of its “All-Play” line by showing the less serious side of its cover athletes to appeal to a broader audience.
Cons: If I didn’t know what the NBA was or what the sport the Spurs were in, I’d have no idea. I’m just sayin’ a basketball would be nice.
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.

“Fracture” (Xbox 360, PS3)
What the Box Tells Us: There’s an earthquake in San Francisco! As evidenced by the collapsing Golden Gate bridge. There also seems to be burning buildings, space ships and bad guys with guns. Uh oh!
Cons: But who’s who? The good guys and the bad guys sort of look the same. But I’m also squinting to see… so… tiny…
Pros: Instead of showing us the front of the protagonist (booo-ring), we get behind him and see what he’s about to face. It ain’t pretty.
Love It or Leave It: Love it.

“Imagine Fashion Designer New York” (DS)
What the Box Tells Us: In New York City, the paparazzi wear all white and use old-timey cameras with bright flash bulbs. Oh, and the fashion designers get mobbed in Times Square.
Pros: At least the alleged fashion designer stands out from the rest of the box.
Cons: Um, did the box art designers ever watch “Project Runway”? I think the girl’s outfit might be described as a “hot tranny mess.”
Love It or Leave It: Leave it.

Review: Sonic Chronicles Serves Up Best Sonic in Years

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:25:09 +0000

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, a new role-playing for the Nintendo DS, is the best Sonic the Hedgehoggame in years.

Consider that both a compliment and an insult: Sonic Chronicles , developed by BioWare, is a success for Sega mascot's only because it's unlike any previous game featuring the character.

By focusing purely on what it does best, BioWare has created a whimsical, accessible, handheld role-playing adventure that almost totally eschews the detritus that has come to define Sonicin recent years.

Unfortunately, even Sonic Chronicles' most enjoyable RPG elements can't completely mask the negative aftertaste of the hedgehog's expanded, hyper-anthropomorphized universe.

If you're a gamer, the name BioWare probably conjures up memories of exquisitely deep role-playing experiences filled with characters who almost never fall into an easily defined "good" or "evil" role.

BioWare is almost defined by the shades of gray in its storytelling, so how could the developer possibly tell a story set in a colorful, cutesy-poo, saccharine-sweet world where the good guys have sparkling white teeth and well-coiffed hair?

Surprisingly well, actually.

Over the last few years, Sega has done its best to ruin Sonic's good name. From turning him into a werewolf to eschewing the single most crucial facet of Sonic's personality -- his speed -- in favor of gimmicky "attitude," times have been bleak for The Blue Blur.

Key to the success of what BioWare has done here is a metaphorical pruning of the Sonic the Hedgehogseries' extraneous "limbs." Not being both blind and deaf, BioWare seemingly realized that Sega's recent work on the 'hog had been detrimental to the character, and so created a role-playing title that feels like it's based on the 16-bit Sonictitles (or, at least, the 2-D, handheld Sonic Rushseries).

Sadly, BioWare can't quite capture the jubilliant freedom of spring across the landscape at the speed of sound. Instead, most of the game is spent methodically meandering around Sonic's home world.

This leads to the game's first major flaw: its control mechanisms.

Remember when the Nintendo DS was first released and developers felt the need to shoehorn stylus use into every game they made? BioWare seemingly thought that sort of slavish devotion to the stylus was a great idea.

In Sonic Chronicles, you tap the screen to run to a point, tap context-sensitive icons to jump up ledges or run through a 360 degree loop, and tap icons on the map to destroy obstacles. The system is far from difficult, but it's so mind-numbingly brain dead that you have to wonder if BioWare wasn't aiming this game directly at the preschool crowd.

Honestly, by forbidding the use of the DS' much more intuitive directional pad, BioWare ensured that the vast majority of players will be annoyed by the game within the first 10 minutes of play.

This heavy reliance on the stylus does add a novel twist to combat, though. In Chronicles,each of your party members uses a standard attack complimented by a handful of "spells." These character-specific attacks take advantage of the character's themes: For instance, Sonic uses his speed to attack foes, Tails uses technology to heal and harm robots, and so on.

Instead of the typical "select a spell, watch the animation, see your foes die" routine of most RPGs, Chroniclesadds an interactive twist. Each spell has a certain pattern of taps and swipes you must complete with the stylus during casting for it to work. Certain spells require a perfect re-enactment of the spell's moves, while others -- generally attack spells -- are difficult to outright fail, although mimicking these forgiving spells perfectly will do much more damage.

This new system is complex to be sure, especially since each spell has unique stylus maneuvers. But it also adds a novel sort of interaction to what is usually a very passive gameplay mechanic.

What role-playing game would be complete without obnoxiously long side quests that have no crucial bearing on the main story line? Chroniclesattempts to court your need for adorable, collectible critters by including a miniature Chao Garden in the game.

As you play through the story line, you'll find eggs that can be hatched into supercute ragamuffins dubbed "Chaos." Aside from filling the scenic Chao Garden found in your Options menu with a legion of cuteness, the Chaos also double as a kind of magical armor. By bonding a Chao to a character, it affects your stats in a number of ways; once you start finding rare Chaos, you'll realize that these lil' guys are the best items in the game.

Overall, Sonic Chroniclesis an above-average game with the potential to be truly fantastic, possibly even good enough to make Sonic's legions of fans forget about the last decade of disappointing games.

If you've ever been a fan of Sonic or have grown tired of Final Fantasy-style role-playing titles on your handheld, Sonic Chronicles' $35 price tag is well worth it. If enough gamers buy it, perhaps BioWare will put together a sequel that amends its quirky annoyances.

Images courtesy Sega

WIREDInventive spell system, great graphics, surprisingly intriguing story line

TIREDForced stylus usage, still needs more speed

$35, Sega

Rating:

Read Game|Life's game ratings guide.

See Also:

Advanced Talisman Making in WAR

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:26:00 +0000

I was traveling from Friday to Monday, having only my game-free netbook with me. And last weekend I couldn't play either, so I'm really falling behind with my leveling in Warhammer Online. Most guild members are in tier 3, and I'm still smack in the middle of tier 2, at level 16. But the few occasions where I had the time to play a little, I spent with crafting. And when I wasn't there, my goods were still selling on the auction house. I'm up to 120 gold, which is 8 times the price of the first mount you can buy at level 20.

I made most of that money from salvaging, making and selling ingredients to other talisman makers. Unlike the real world, where people do professions to make a living, in MMORPGs people do professions for fun, usually financed by adventuring, and more often a money sink than a money maker. As I had enough money now, I started on the talisman making money sink, to see whether ultimately by getting my skill up I could do useful or even profitably things.

The most important thing about talisman making is that the "name color" rarity of the talisman you make depends nearly exclusively on the rarity of the magic item you salvaged (disenchanted) into a fragment. A green name magic item gives a white name fragment, resulting nearly always in a white name talisman, which is pretty much worthless on the auction house. Only if you manage a critical success will you get a green name fragment and green name talisman, which sell a bit better. The only exception is if you disenchant a magic item which gives a bonus to wounds into a wounds fragment; then you get the same color as the item you disenchant, green item gives green fragment, gives green talisman.

What the other ingredients do is not directly obvious. The container does nothing, there appears only one type to be in the game anyway. The gold essence, curio, and magic essence appear to be modifying how high a bonus your talisman will have, and how long the duration is. If you take only the basic level 1 ingredients you can buy from a vendor, you'll get only "weak" talismans. But that appears to be sufficient to get up your skill, so I got my talisman skill up to 95 by salvaging renown items into fragments, and making weak talismans from them, which I then gave away to guild mates or vendored. No profit to be made there.

Then I tried to make better talismans that would sell better. Buy green renown item, salvage into white fragment, combine with hellishly expensive gold essences, curios from the auction house, and magic essences produced as secondary product from salvaging, and you get a white talisman with slightly better bonus and better duration. Looking at auction house prices for talismans it became clear very quickly that there was no profit to be made there. Having over 75 skill and using crafting level 75 materials I could consistently make "lesser" talismans, better than "weak" or "inferior" ones, but while they weren't bad, they just don't look sexy with their white names. And then I saw an epic talisman on the auction house for 75 gold, and while I don't believe that one will sell, I realized that making purple talismans was the way to go.

So I searched the auction house for epics with +wounds bonus, and found a level 11 one for just over 3 gold. Salvaged it into a purple fragment, combined it with the best ingredients I had, and made a purple name talisman. +14 to wounds, no time limit, not bad. So I put it on the auction house for 15 gold, over twice the value of the initial epic and the other ingredients combined. And it sold a few hours later! Of course then I went and made a second, identical one, and put it up again, hoping to sell it by tonight. The limiting factor will be getting hold of cheap epics, but fortunately I don't need high level ones for this. I just wished Mythic would make the fragments for the other stats also be the same color rarity as the salvaged item, and not one step lower. I don't see why it isn't the same for all stats.

So this is where I see talisman making now: Salvage cheap (relatively) green renown gear and use basic ingredients to level the skill up, then use fragments from salvaged rare and epic gear combined with expensive ingredients to make good talismans for myself and for selling. I should be able to get past 100 skill level in talisman making soon, allowing me to use even better ingredients. I don't even know what the crafting skill cap is, but it doesn't seem to be related to rank (character level), if I'd spend enough gold I could reach it. But as the "epicness" of the talismans I can make doesn't depend on crafting skill, I'm not sure the expense would really be worth it.

What is ultimately the interest of talismans? I see two things there: One is that WAR does not have a raid circuit with ever improving epic gear. Once you reach level 40 you should pretty soon be wearing the best possible equipment. Then buying the best possible talismans is the only way for further improvement. The other big use I see is twinking. There are no level limitations on talismans. My level 6 Black Orc has 4 talisman slots in his low level gear, if I would be crazy enough to put epic talismans into those I could significantly increase his power. Even just wearing the scrap talismans giving +3 to +6 to his stats for 8 hours to 2 days is already a quite nice stat boost, and more reasonable given the rate at which he'll replace his gear. The richer the high level characters get, the more willing will they be to twink their alts with nice talismans. All in all talisman making thus isn't unlike enchanting in World of Warcraft, only that WoW has more restrictions on using it for twinking, and only gets an easy way to transfer enchantments to alts with the upcoming patch 3.0. But compared to WoW crafts, talisman making is more fun, because you don't have to hunt after stupid rare drop recipes. So I'm having fun, and I'm turning a profit, what more could I want?