[GameRatty] tag: world

Isnt it bromantic?

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:11:26 +0000

My greatest complaint about the otherwise testoterone-tastic Gears of War 2 is how cheesy and clunky the romance subplot comes across as, and I think the reason is clear - it’s not amateurish writing or awkward dialogue, but rather the fact that Dom’s struggle to find his wife Maria, who went missing during the Locust horde onslaught, just doesn’t come close to the emotional gravitas of his unspoken love for fellow Gear-head, Marcus Fenix. And I’m not the only ones who thinks so. GameDaily is highlighting the top 12 greatest, and chastest, dude-on-dude love affairs in the history of gaming, the purely platonic phenomenon known as the “bromance.”

“Their heterosexual love affair plays out through a series of fist-pounding frathouse antics,” according to GameDaily. “Think Michael Cera and Jonah Hill in Superbad, Vince Vaughn and John Favreau in Swingers, or, in the video game world, Marcus Fenix and his buddy Dom in Gears of War 2.”

Counted among the happy couples are Bill Rizer and Lance Bean from Contra, Tyson Rios and Elliot Salem from Army of Two and Sonic the Hedgehog and Miles “Tails” Prower from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, proving that true love knows neither gender nor species. But it’s still not okay for Harry Potter to schtupp that horse.

Third parties still dont understand Wii, Reggie says

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:32:19 +0000

It’s been an argument that has been put through the paces ever since the GameCube: third party titles cannot compete with Nintendo offerings. Sure there have been some companies such as EA, Capcom, and Activision that have seen some success, but most other companies have been left out in the cold.

Reggie Fils-Aime has an answer for why that might be. While speaking with Forbes, he stated that he believes third party developers “still don’t quite understand the Wii audience,” also adding, “I will be able to say our licensees ‘get it’ when their very best content is on our platform.”

Part of the problem he sees is that companies are just trying to tack motion controls onto a property, without taking the time to fully develop the game. If you look at many of the multi-platform titles for Wii, and how they usually end up being PS2 ports with motion controls, it’s hard to argue against his claims. The future isn’t all that bleak, as developers like High Voltage look to show the world that the Wii isn’t just a shovel ware, waggle fest. But the message from Fils-Aime is clear, if third parties want to see some measure of success, put more time and care in developing your titles.

Ultimate Gamers now have Guitar Hero World Tour

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:58:45 +0000

If you have not joined the Ultimate Gaming group on Wednesday evenings, you might want to make some time in December.

We started the group in 2006 and had a great year playing DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). Last year Guitar Hero was added. This fall we added the Wii, and most of the teens want to play Super Smash Bros.

But I just had to get GH4. Since 4 teens play at once, there is less time to wait for a turn. If we can add a larger TV to the Program Room equipment, it will be less painful for the gamers using the TV. I have been switching games between the overhead projector and the TV each week until we got GH4. The teens convinced me that 4 players would have to have a TV that is larger than the one currently in the Program Room.

We meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30. You will need to have a parent permission slip signed the first time you attend. If you have any questions, please call the teen librarian, Mrs. Harrigan at 797-4528.

Activision sponsors YouTube Live

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:47:33 +0000

Activision is excited to make Guitar Hero® a lead sponsor of YouTube Live, YouTube’s first ever official live community celebration. A surprise real-live guitar legend will perform on stage alongside Guitar Hero expert and YouTube star Freddie Wong. Guitar Hero® World Tour kiosks will also be available throughout the event.

The in-person audience of thousands will experience some of YouTube’s renowned musicians, bedroom vloggers, side-splitting comedians and world-class athletes at Herbst Pavillion in Fort Mason on November 22. The more than 50 YouTube and real-world stars scheduled to appear on Youtube Live have a combined 2.5 billion video views on YouTube. Artists scheduled to perform are Katy Perry, Akon, William.I.Am, Soul Ja Boy Tell’ Em, Esmee Denters, Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters, Bo Burnham and Mc Hammer and many more.

For more information, visit http://youtube.com/live. At the same URL, fans can sign up for a chance to win tickets. The event will be streamed live on YouTube starting around 5pm (PST) on November 22nd via http://youtube.com/live.

Have you heard about the Ustream/GoNintendo charity event to benefit Child’s Play? Click here for more details. Also, please click here to bump our DIGG! We really need your support to make this happen!

GameTrailers updates

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:26:23 +0000

Fishing Master World Tour - Safari Teaser

Football Director DS - Debut Trailer

Job Island - Japanese Men TV Spot

Job Island - Japanese Making of the TV Spot

Job Island - Japanese Characters Trailer

Job Island - Japanese Job Montage Trailer

Psychologist tells us how to deal with online bigots

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:23:10 +0000

We’ve played games online before. You’ve had voice chat through the DS, and now you have it with the Wii. While most voice chat sessions are kept to friends only, that is slowly changing. We already know of the online gaming voice chat world. It’s full of people that love to spout racial slurs, and say horrible things about people. I, for one, am usually offended by just how insensitive some people are when chatting through a game. Psychologist Stuart Twemlow tells us how to deal with people like this.

“Ignore it completely. When you act very unexpectedly, and when that person is caught up in what you’re doing, they lose their orientation. And in that little window, you can control their mind. It’s an intervention to unseat you. And one advantage they have is the anonymity of being online. It’s so open and yet a person feels anonymous enough to say the most outrageous things, practically to your face. And the reason for doing that is because it exposes your weakness. It means you really want to win. And that means you’re not a good player, because an expert player would never say that winning is the be all and end all.”

Dr. Twemlow also says that spouting subtle jabs at your opponent…ones that imply that can’t play well without making those remarks.

Link

Need for Speed: Undercover PC

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:17:20 +0000

My heart is broken, but I have to do this. The world needs to know the truth about Need for Speed: Undercover, and that’s what I am going to give you - the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but first of all, let’s take a look into my Need for Speed-related past, shall we?

When I saw the original Need for Speed, around 1995-1996, if I recall it well, I was simply stunned. It was love at first sight, and despite the fact Need for Speed II got away from the impressive realism of the first game in the series, I spent countless hours playing split screen matches with a friend of mine.

Although Need for Speed III and IV, subtitled Hot Pursuit and High Stakes, came with various new things, the big step - and the apex reached by the Need for Speed franchise was Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed, released almost a decade ago, in 2000. Since this is not today’s topic, I will only say this: I loved it from first second, I love it, and I will always love that game!

Next, came along the beginning of the end - Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, saved by the presence of a BMW in the car list(I loved that car). After that, the tuning madness started with Need for Speed: Underground, and old fans started to wait. The wait for a real Need for Speed game, and we’re still waiting now, in 2008, after 12 games in the series, including Need for Speed: Undercover…

..but let’s leave the past where it belongs now, and move on to what you’ve been waiting for, the one and only PlayerzBlog…

Need for Speed: Undercover PC Review

Just look at this - Need for Speed: Undercover is available for an amazing range of platforms, probably more than the cars available in the first Need for Speed game: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Wii, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation Portable, iPod Touch, iPhone, N-Gage 2.0! Anyway, that doesn’t necessarily make it better, it only gives it better chances to be purchased and played by more people, and that’s all. These being said, let’s check the plot, graphics, gameplay, and the amazing things I discovered in the time I spent with this game…

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Plot

Some people enjoyed ProStreet simply because that game didn’t have any silly plot, but this time things have changed - you’re UNDERCOVER! Yeah, right, just think about this - you’re a cop, and you have to infiltrate the street racing gangs in Tri-City, but once you’re inside the first gang…you have to “take out” your team mates, because “you don’t have to raise suspicions.” I don’t know exactly where did they see this, but I missed that movie where the cop infiltrates a gang and starts killing all members, just to avoid being uncovered!

Anyway, if you think the above sucks, think once again - did you see “The Transporter?” Watch it if you have the chance, it’s a great action movie, and I am sure those into Need for Speed: Undercover also saw it, since you will end up facing some missions from a mysterious customer, asking you to deliver some packages here and there.

OK, “The Transporter” is one thing, but what about “Gone in Sixty Seconds?” Yeah, I know, the blonde Angelina Jolie is totally smokin’ in there, but think about the plot of that movie, and the part of the game here where you have to steal “six cars within 48 hours.” Expensive exotics, of course. Nothing in common, right? Suuuuure…

The people involved in those useless movie scenes intended to keep you connected to the “story” include international movie star Maggie Q, as detective Chase Linh, your hot high heels contact, American television actor David Rees Snell(the big, bad wolf) and Christina Milian, as Carmen Mendez, a hot chick that you get to race a few times and even save her from the bad guys.

All in all, the plot and those cutscenes are nothing more but money and time diverted from things that really matter, like graphics and gameplay, as we’re going to see right away…

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Graphics

“Look, mom, I discovered a new Pixel Shader function, it’s called Blurrrrr!,” said the little programmer, and its poor drawings, once animated, started to look better… that’s exactly what happens in Need for Speed: Undercover.

The environment lacks detail, colors lack any trace of life, and cars are EXTREMELY UGLY, as you can see in the screenshots around here - those in ProStreet were done much better, and I am not the only one to say this. After enabling 6X AA, the cars still have jagged edges, which is absolutely incredible!

Since I ran the game using an older Radeon X1950 Pro video card, I could say that performance was decent, although I was amazed to find that, after enabling antialiasing and anisotropic filtering, my framerate increased. Well, that’s not the only unbelievable part of Need for Speed: Undercover, but we’ll talk about unbelievable stuff in the game a bit later…

For now, just let me conclude that the graphics are outdated and ugly. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 looked better, honestly! I think “disaster” is best word to describe Undercover’s graphics, but wait and see what’s next…

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Gameplay

In Undercover, you start off with a highway chase, and once you evade the cops, a boring introductory cutscene tries to tell you more about what’s going to happen. In fact, it tells nothing, because you’ll basically play around a lot of races in the different game modes available, and sometimes receive “special missions,” most of them without any introductory cutscene.

When talking about game modes, it’s not my pleasure to tell you that the Drift and Drag races are gone, leaving us only with Circuit, Sprint, Highway Battle(similar to “Canyon Duel” from Need for Speed: Carbon, only that this time you’re on a highway with heavy traffic), Cost to State and Evade, two modes where you should do some damage and evade cops, or simply evade.

Last part worth being mentioned when talking about gameplay is that your driver gains levels, these levels giving you various (random) skill bonuses, and unlocking new cars and parts. Basically, you get to play a lot of repetitive races, and it all gets boring pretty quick, if you’re not into wasting time tuning your car and posting photos online… but let’s get to the really amazing parts of the game - you’ll love them, but fiiirst…

…here’s what PC gamers who will dare to buy and play Need for Speed: Undercover are losing: Criminal Scramble (Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable only) and Chase Down (PlayStation Portable only) are two game modes not available
for PC users, allowing you to play as the cop, chase and bust criminals.

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Incredible Stories

I could have named this section “bugs,” “lamest parts of a silly game,” or something similar, but let’s leave it this way. If I could rename this game, I would call it Need for Speed: Unreal, and here’s why…

First story - I just stole a Bugatti Veyron - the fastest production car on Earth, as we know it. The cops are somewhere behind me, and I am cruising on the highway at 361km/h. Officially, this car could go faster, but in the game, it stops here. So far, so good, but hear this - suddenly, two police SUVs overtake me with over 400km/h, and since they were a few hundred meters behind only second ago…probably some F-16 plane was pushing them, I have no idea!

Second incredible story, although it happened more than once. I am cruisin’, and suddenly I see a car being lifted a few meters in the air, and thrown away. Once, it happened with a bus! Poltergeist?!?

Needless to say, damage is as “realistic” as usual - after losing my wing, the car still remains in control at over 300 km/h, and once you see your Porsche taking 90 degrees turns at 250 km/h, there’s only one thing remaining for you to do, but I’ll keep that on hold for now.

One more, then I’ll go… what about being busted? I know, it’s not a pleasant situation, but take a closer look at the whole scene. Did you get it? OK, let me tell you about it…

I am being chased by the cops. It all happens on the highway. I manage to go through a few Pursuit Breakers and take down some of them, but they finally get me. On the highway, in the sun. Then, I get a CGI cutscene, with troopers jumping on me…in a parking lot! And when you think this happens in the 12th installment of a notorious racing game, all you want to do is draw…

Need for Speed: Undercover - The Conclusion

I guess someone will be glad to receive my copy of the game as a gift. Unfortunately, my hamster can’t use a computer. Hmmm…and I think he would also find his wheel more interesting than EA’s disaster… ehem, “game.”

If I had to award some scores, here’s what I would gladly award to Need for Speed: Undercover these -

Story: 0/10
Graphics: 2/10
Sound: 4/10
Gameplay: 2/10
Originality: 0/10
Tilt Factor: 5/10
Overall: 2/10

The soundtrack, pretty good, as usual, the wide range of cars and parts, as well as those BMWs I really enjoyed seeing included can’t save Need for Speed: Undercover from being nothing more than an abysmal title. I am sure that its name will help it sell too many copies once again, when compared to the fun provided for your money, but let’s hope this will happen for the last time.

Not even Jesus can save Need for Speed: Undercover, and the only thing remaining to be done I mentioned a bit earlier is this - go to Control Panel, enter Add/Remove Programs, and uninstall it. Take the DVD carefully, order some gift packaging, and send it to your worst enemy… but don’t forget to drop a comment below and share with the rest of us your opinion about this so-called “game.”

Activision wanted us to figure out that Bike Hero was created by an ad agency

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:14:00 +0000

“We shot all through the night. We wanted it to feel gritty and of the medium. This was always created and put out there to engage the creativity of our gamers. It didn’t take people very long, as we expected it to, for them to unlock the first of the codes, if you like. We wanted people to first figure out that it was something in the marketing realm and then dig in and have more of the conversation that we’re having about how it was done, have people figure out where all the cutting points were, where there was potentially CGI, and engage with that. It’s not meant to be deceptive. It’s meant to be fun.” - Brad Jakeman, Activision

Activision also says that there will be more sneaky advertisements coming out for World Tour. It’s up to us to hunt them down and smoke out the details, I guess.

Link

Organize your life with My DoItAll for DS

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:05:05 +0000

Check out more screens here

TOMY Corporation today announced that My DoItAll is currently in development exclusively for Nintendo DS. The first-ever lifestyle game for both boys and girls, My DoItAll is an all-in-one title that gives players the ability to have fun and interact with friends through customization capabilities, mini-games and voice over and sound effect applications. Players can also stay organized and up-to-date with a calendar and reference tools.

My DoItAll provides gamers a unique way to socially interact with friends and have fun, while staying organized on their DS handheld system. Players start off by customizing their very own avatar with a personal look and style, followed by creating a privacy protected Friend Card that includes basic details such as contact information, likes/dislikes, and personal data. From there, My DoItAll becomes a treasure chest of applications for the player to explore. Taking full advantage of the Nintendo DS capabilities, the game also allows players to connect wirelessly with up to six friends to participate in questionnaires, plan social activities, and play mini-games. As an added bonus, My DoItAll features a voice changer that records with the microphone, as well as a sound effects machine comprised of over 25 sounds. To complete the all-in-one package, players can also manage their schedules, keep a journal, and utilize reference tools such as a calculator and world map in order to become the ultimate whiz-kid.

(more…)

PlayStation Store Update

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:59:29 +0000

Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PlayStation Store weekly update.

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet Sack in the Box Costume (free)
A community costume for SackBoy!
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet LocoRoco Costumes ($2.99)
A costume kit for SackBoy! Contains 5 different costumes.
File size: 1.04 MB

BioShock PS3 Challenge Rooms ($9.99)
Experience the intense, terrifying world of Rapture like never before with the all-new PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive Add-On Game Content featuring three unique Challenge Rooms and some very cool extras. In “A Shocking Turn of Events,” rescue a trapped Little Sister in a disturbing carnival in Rapture. In “The I in Team”, defeat a Big Daddy using only your wits. In “Worlds of Hurt” plow through eight rooms filled with the worst Rapture has to offer.
File size: 402 MB

Dead Space

Dead Space Astronaut Pack ($2.99)
Download the Astronaut Suit and Weapon Skin Pack, featuring an amazing 26th Century Astronaut Suit and new skins for the Plasma Cutter, Pulse Rifle, and Ripper!
Dead Space Big Gun Pack ($0.99)
Download the Steam Punk Force Gun, the ultimate in Necromorph-killing destruction.
Dead Space Heavy Damage Pack ($2.99)
Download the Heavy Damage Weapon pack featuring a cool new look and massive firepower for the Plasma Cutter, Contact Beam, Pulse Rifle, and Ripper.
Dead Space Hot Rod Pack ($0.99)
Download the Hot Rod Weapon Skin Pack, featuring awesome flame graphics for the Flamethrower and Pulse Rifle.
Dead Space Military Pack ($3.99)
Download the Military Weapon Pack for a new look and enhanced power for all 7 Dead Space weapons.
Dead Space Obsidian Pack ($1.49)
Download the exclusive Obsidian Suit and Weapon Skin Pack now, available only for the PLAYSTATION 3! Includes an upgraded Level 5 suit, and weapon skins for the Line Gun, Plasma Cutter, and Pulse Rifle, all in jet-black PLAYSTATION 3 colors.
Dead Space Obsidian Weapon Skin Pack ($1.49)
Download the exclusive Obsidian Weapon Skin Pack now, available only for the PLAYSTATION 3 Includes weapon skins in jet-black Playstation 3 colors for the Line Gun, Plasma Cutter, and Pulse Rifle.
Dead Space Pedestrian Pack ($1.49)
Download the Pedestrian Weapon Skin Pack, featuring a fresh new look for the Contact Beam, Plasma Cutter, and Ripper.
Dead Space Scorpion Pack ($3.99)
Download the Scorpion Pack featuring an upgraded Level 5 Suit and three powered up weapons, all decorated in an awesome red Scorpion Skin.
Dead Space Scorpion Weapon Pack ($2.25)
Download the Scorpion Weapon Pack featuring a faster death-dealing Plasma Cutter, Line Gun, and Force Gun in awesome red skins.
Dead Space Speed Kills Pack ($2.25)
Download the Speed Kills Weapon Pack! Includes faster-firing Force Gun, Line Gun, and Plasma Cutter.
Dead Space Tank Pack ($3.99)
Download the Tank Pack featuring an upgraded Level 5 Suit and powered up Flamethrower, Force Gun, and Line Gun, all covered in Unitology script.

File sizes: 4.12 MB - 18 MB

Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

“Consoler of the Lonely” by The Raconteurs ($1.99)
“Hold Up” by The Raconteurs ($1.99)
“Salute Your Solution” by The Raconteurs ($1.99)
The Raconteurs Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring “Consoler of the Lonely”, “Hold Up”, and “Salute Your Solution” by The Raconteurs. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as a part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
Expand your Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 library by purchasing these tracks.

(I Just) Died In Your Arms ($1.49)
All You Wanted ($1.49)
Black Hole Sun ($1.49)
It’s Not Unusual ($1.49)
September ($1.49)

File sizes: 9.73 MB - 44 MB

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

“That’s When I Reach for my Revolver” - Mission of Burma ($1.99)
“That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate” - Mission of Burma ($1.99)
“Mica” - Mission of Burma ($1.99)
Mission of Burma Pack 01 ($5.49) - this track pack includes all of the above Mission of Burma singles.
“Police Truck” - Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
“Holiday in Cambodia” - Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
“California Über Alles” - Dead Kennedys ($1.99)
Dead Kennedys Pack 01 ($5.49) - this track pack includes all of the above Dead Kennedys singles.
“Gone” - Crooked X ($0.99)
“Swamped” - Lacuna Coil ($1.99)
“Forever” - In This Moment ($1.99)
“Closer” - Lacuna Coil ($1.99)
Century Media Girls of Metal Pack 01 ($5.49) - this track pack includes

File sizes: 15 MB - 36 MB (singles)

Game Demos (free)

MotoGP 08 Demo
MotoGP 08 brings the premiere motorcycling championship to your home console! Speed down 18 official tracks in 15 countries and challenge others in online races, alone or with friends. Featuring easy-to-learn controls, MotoGP 08 is the most accessible motorcycle racing game to date.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 672 MB

Game Videos (free)

MotorStorm Pacific Rift Features and Strategy Trailer
File size: 70 MB (HD), 118 MB (1080)

Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe: Kreating the Comic Trailer
File size: 129 MB (HD)

Lord of the Rings: Conquest Trailer
File size: 81 MB (HD)

NBA 2K9 Momentous #1 Trailer
File size: 85 MB (HD), 100 MB (1080)

NBA 2K9 Momentous Trailer 2
File size: 116 MB (HD), 155 MB (1080)

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Launch Trailer
File size: 77 MB (HD)

FIFA 09 “In The Game” Part 8 - Online Team Play
File size: 191 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - Chad Kagy
File size: 109 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - Adam Jones
File sizes: 107 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - From Flow to Pro
File sizes: 97 MB (HD)

Dew Tour: Orlando - BMX Dirt Dew Cup Race
File sizes: 125 MB (HD)

Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers

Hancock Trailer
File size: 124 MB (HD), 156 MB (1080)

This Christmas Trailer (Blu-ray)
File size: 120 MB (HD), 156 MB (1080)

Tenacious D - The Complete Masterworks Trailer
File size: 30 MB (SD), 112 MB (1080)

Sara Bareilles - Between The Lines Trailer
File size: 50 MB (SD), 261 MB (1080)

Incubus “Look Alive” Trailer
File size: 48 MB (SD), 229 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes

NBA 2K9 Theme (free)
File size: 1.99 MB

Hancock Theme (free)
File sizes: 2.40 MB

Timea Mojorova Theme ($1.99)
File sizes: 5.41 MB

University of California Theme ($1.99)
File sizes: 5.17 MB

Shadowy Graves Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 5.09 MB

Darklight Fractais Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 6.14 MB

Mrs. Claus Theme ($1.49)
File sizes: 6.86 MB

GunGirls Theme ($0.99)