[06.05.15] Bethesda drops ‘Fallout 4’ official trailer, game already on sale

Bethesda

Bethesda

Everyone knew it was coming. It’s been rumored, it’s been leaked, and it’s been teased. It’s been a while since we’ve entered – or left – the vaults and explored the decaying remains of our vibrant society, so really, it was owed to us. Yet somehow, when that countdown timer reached zero, the anticipated excitement everyone had was finally meet with actual, real hard confirmation. At 9:00am CDST on Jun 3, it happened. Bethesda released the awe-inspiring official trailer for “Fallout 4.”

The trailer was exciting for many, many reasons. Immediately apparent was the visual upgrades the game is receiving. Now, this was a given with the new generation of consoles and the drastic improvements in computers, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. The game is stunningly beautiful and everything really pops. In comparison, the older games actually look somewhat washed out. Instead, “Fallout 4” has a graphical styling which matches its quirky personality.

The rumored Massachusetts setting can officially be confirmed as well, thanks to the trailer. Visible were a modified version of the Bunker Hill Monument as well as a dilapidated and fortified Fenway Park. All things considered, the city is actually in relatively good condition. What exactly this entails is unknown at this point. Either the city was a decent distance away from a blast zone or the citizens have done an exceptional job at rebuilding. Either way, it provides a very unique take on Boston and the East Coast.

We also get a look at a lot of vintage Fallout infused throughout the trailer. Vault Boy, the iconic mascot of Vault-Tech, makes a brief cameo in his bobble head form. The Power Armor also makes an appearance, along with a bunch of Nuka Cola memorabilia and a Nuka Cola machine. We even get a quick glimpse at the Pip-Boy during the very end of the trailer. Much like everything else Fallout-related, none of this is really a huge surprise.

What is surprising is that the game is already available on sale or the PC. Not on sale as in download and play it now, but on sale as in a reduced price, that is. With a promo code (23PERC-ENTOFF-48HOUR), you can get a nice discount on the unreleased game over at GreenMan Gaming for a very limited time. Of course, you’re going to have to wait quite a while to actually experience the game.

Still, when it finally comes, the new setting will be an exciting change of pace. The trailer clearly shows that Bethesda has again absolutely nailed the atmosphere with “Fallout 4.” Not to mention the new visuals will aid the atmosphere and just be all-around appealing. The release date is still unknown, but many are hopeful for a late release in 2015. The one thing that can be sure, however, is that nobody can wait for their chance to get their hands on the crew of Vault 111.

[06.02.15] ‘Fallout 4’ officially (almost) announced

Bethesda

Bethesda

Rumors have been swirling around a new “Fallout” game for quite some time now, however things just got real. At about 9:30am on Jun 2, Bethesda Game Studio’s Twitter account dropped a teaser image saying “please stand by” on a black and white background in the style of an old movie production countdown… say the kind you might find on a movie reel used in the 1950s. The tweet also had a link attached which directs to http://fallout.bethesda.com. The website features the same image, animated with a ticking clock in the background and a countdown timer just below the “please stand by” which is set to expire tomorrow morning at 9:00am CDST, presumably revealing a grand announcement of the forthcoming “Fallout” sequel.

All of this is, of course, just speculation as Bethesda has yet to officially announce anything “Fallout” related. In an interview with “Rock, Paper, Shotgun” back in February, Bethesda game director Todd Howard stated, “We don’t have a timeframe for our next game announcement, but I think it’s gonna be a while.” However, hints at a new “Fallout” game have been dropped since as early as January of 2013. Everything combined with the fact that we haven’t seen a “Fallout” game since “Fallout: New Vegas” in 2010 seems to indicate that it’s about that time to return to the wasteland. If rumors hold true, that wasteland could be Boston, and it looks like we’ll be heading there soon.

[04.14.15] Activision unveils 'Guitar Hero Live'

Activision

Activision

It’s time to get real. Real different, anyway. That’s because Activision announced this morning, April 14, that the beloved blockbuster franchise “Guitar Hero” is making its return later this year with “Guitar Hero Live” and with it comes an entirely new experience. “Guitar Hero Live” will feature changes on both the physical and digital sides of the game, and it’s unlike anything that has launched before.

Everything about “Guitar Hero Live” is about creating a more real, live experience. The game puts you in the first-person perspective up on stage with real, live band mates and a real, live audience that dynamically reacts, in real time, to everything you do. The better you play, the happier everyone is. If you start to stink it up, well… be ready for their wrath. As the lead guitarist, it all falls on you, from the smallest bar venues to the largest stadium rock concert. Can you handle the pressure of a real stage environment?

If not, maybe the second offering of “Guitar Hero Live,” known as “Guitar Hero TV,” is more your style. GHTV is the first-of-its-kind playable music video network. If you’re familiar with the Xbox exclusive karaoke game “Lips,” it’s just like that, only with a guitar. The platform will be constantly evolving and will feature multiple channels and themed shows as well as the ability to play songs on-demand. Players can take on their friends in the same room or attempt to climb the online leaderboards from around the world. GHTV will elevate the unmatched party atmosphere and encourage music discovery.

A major physical change comes to “Guitar Hero Live” with a completely redesigned controller that marries the feel of the vintage axe with the new in-game experience. Much like how the live experience emulates realism, the new 3x2 layout of the controller is supposed to make playing “Guitar Hero Live” feel more like a real guitar. It provides gameplay that is easy to learn but difficult to master. On expert mode, the unique button layout will create an experience closer to playing chords and playing multiple strings than has ever been done in “Guitar Hero” before.

“Guitar Hero Live” offers you the opportunity to play your way with multiple game modes and a release that spans consoles, tablets, and mobile phones. It will release this Fall on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and the Wii U. Select mobile devices will be announced soon.

[04.07.15] Warner Bros. picks up movie rights to ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’

Scott Games

Scott Games

 

"Five Nights at Freddy’s,” a popular horror video game series, is now on track to have a movie adaptation. According to an April 7 announcement from The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. has picked up the rights to transform “Five Nights at Freddy’s” into, what will hopefully be, a very memorable film. The movie will be produced by Roy Lee of Vergo Entertainment along with Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg of KatzSmith Productions.

“We’re looking forward to working with Scott to make an insane, terrifying and weirdly adorable movie,” said Grahame-Smith.

The game is set in the fictional “Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza” which is like a much scarier and evil version of the beloved Chuck-E-Cheese franchise. Your goal is to survive five consecutive shifts inside the security room while the animatronic band roams around with a murderous mission. While most of the mechanics implemented in the game are nothing original, the backstory across the series is vast and deep, assuming you’re willing to dive into the lore.

"The story really lends itself to being a movie and it taps into a largely unexplored niche of horror that a lot of people will be able to relate to," said Cawthon.

While it’s currently in the writing stage, the film is in great hands. Lee helped produce “Run All Night” starring Liam Neeson as well as the “Poltergeist” remake due out next month. Grahame-Smith and Katzenberg are currently working on the highly anticipated “Beetlejuice” sequel in production. All three are also producing the upcoming adaption of Stephen King’s “It,” which begins shooting this summer.

As of right now, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” still has no director or head writer. It’s projected for a 2017 release.

[04.02.15] Hyperkin reveals April Fools’ Day Joke, ‘SmartBoy,’ is actually real

 

Hyperkin

Hyperkin

April 1 is the most frustrating day on the internet. Not simply because of all of the pranks, but rather because it causes you to question everything announced that day. Of course, some are obviously jokes from the get-go, such as Redbox’s Petbox, but then there are others that make you take a second guess, such as the Amazon Dash button. At first glance, “SmartBoy” appears to fall right into the former category and that assumption was, technically, right… sort of. According to the press release that independent hardware developer, Hyperkin, put out on April 1, “SmartBoy” was planned to be just an April Fools’ Day joke, but quickly became something real.

The “SmartBoy” is currently being developed as an attachment for the iPhone 6 Plus with plans for more devices at a later date. The device will fit around the entire bottom half of the iPhone6, plugging the phone in like a cartridge. On the back of the device will be a port that will accept both Gameboy and Gameboy Color cartridges. It will also feature an eight-way D-pad, A and B buttons, start and select buttons, and an included 5-hour battery that can be charged through the phone. The Phone’s screen will be used to output the gameplay and is planned to upscale it as well. It will also include a cheat database and save states.

The device will launch in only the “classic 80s grey,” but could have more colors later on. It will have an exclusive app bundled with it that allows the device to operate and provides the cheats and save features. As of right now, the “SmartBoy” is 100% in concept phase, but Hyperkin is committed to the project.

"We wanted to create a retro device that can be easily adapted into any modern gamer's arsenal of devices," said Hyperkin's product developer, Chris Gallizzi.

There is currently no planned release date for the “SmartBoy.”

[03.29.15] Review - ‘Cooking Fever’

Nordcurrent

Nordcurrent

Cooking Fever

Rating:

3 Stars

It has been a very long time since I've reviewed a game; although, I’m not entirely sure that this is even a review, a public service announcement, a blog, or what. I stopped writing reviews on principle. I don’t really believe most of what is put out is “bad,” and you can see that based off of the review scores I would attach to my early reviews. A lot of gamers and developers have gone a long way to argue that video games are art, and – assuming that is so – art is a subjective matter. So if these games are going to be viewed as art, then quality is really in the eye of the creator. That’s not to say that things can’t be bad, but very few things, at least until this past year, are released completely broken. In reality, it all comes down to a difference in opinions on what people find fun, and I respect that. Just because I don’t particularly enjoy MMORPG’s doesn't instantly make all of them bad. I think there’s pleasure to be found in most any game, evidenced by my review of “Duke Nukem Forever” which was absolutely obliterated by other reviewers everywhere. “Duke Nukem Forever” might be an extreme example, but sets an important precedence. Sometimes things don’t meet expectations, other times they just might be of very little interest to you, but neither of these things make a game terrible.

In the current day where studios pump out annual titles which all try to match the financial success of “Call of Duty,” there has spawned a belief that every title released has to be the number one seller or it’s a piece of garbage. Despite the iconic words of Ricky Bobby, there is – in fact – a whole spectrum of bad to good in which things can land. Companies gauge their success on Metacritic scores, but most review sites treat a scale of 1 to 10 as a scale of 1 or 10. That’s why I dropped the scoring system in favor of simply explaining what I enjoyed and what I didn't enjoy. That same belief is what later led me to drop reviews overall. Really, what authority am I on what you think is fun? We may have similar tastes, but I would rather you experience it for yourself and make your own decision. If you’re interested in knowing what games I do like (I’m flattered, and thank you for reading!), I generally prefer to cover the things that interest me. If I don’t like it, I probably won’t talk about it as much, and what better endorsement is there than free advertising?

Enough about me, though. The reason I’m writing all of this is because of a recent experience I had with a game which was an absolute blast, until it destroyed its own experience for me. There is a parasite that has infected the gaming industry to the frightening extent in which we’ve come to accept that this is “just how things are now.” Micro-transactions have infiltrated every kind of game and have hurt or even completely destroyed many promising titles. Obviously, from a financial standpoint, micro-transactions offer unmatched benefits, but at what cost? Some games can pull it off, such as “Grand Theft Auto V.” The micro-transactions are there, but they are unobtrusive and have minimal effect on those who chose not to use them. Other games are playable, such as “Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time,” but created a very frustrating environment where you’re constantly pestered and feel penalized if you don’t buy in. Then there are games, such as the one I’m reviewing, which essentially render themselves useless you shell out some cash.

The jarring end to my playtime in “Cooking Fever” is what ultimately inspired me to write this review. I was so disappointed that I was barred from progressing through the game without grinding tirelessly or shelling out some cash. I would have happily spent a few dollars to purchase this game or even put up with intermittent advertisements since the game was a free download. What I refuse to do, however, is pay into this unhealthy ecosystem created by micro-transactions, just so I can continue to play this one game. There are other experiences out there which I would rather spend my time on, and this is why my time with “Cooking Fever” has come to an end. This is why I’m writing my first (and possibly last) review in years.

The Fun Stuff:

“Cooking Fever” follows a similar formula to the one perfected by “Diner Dash.” Serve customers, do it correctly, and do it quickly. In return, you earn some money, customize or upgrade your restaurant, then do it some more. “Cooking Fever” takes it one step further by packing in multiple restaurants with many different foods to serve while negating the seating of the customers and color matching in favor of the actual assembly of their orders. You can then upgrade your kitchen, your restaurant, and eventually buy additional restaurants to get new levels.

When you begin each restaurant, you start with simple orders. As you beat levels, you gain additional dishes to serve or different toppings and sides for the foods, such as lettuce and tomatoes for burgers, bowls of rice and soup, or fruit toppings for cakes. Meals become more complex and the number of orders increases as well. You also unlock the ability to upgrade your food and ingredients. Eventually, it becomes necessary to upgrade your food as well as your restaurant in order to earn enough money to 3-star levels, as it uses the same grading system popularized in “Angry Birds.” As you beat levels, you earn XP which allow you to level up, earn bonuses, and unlock additional restaurants. Customization is always a nice touch, so letting you pick and choose which restaurants you want to play, as well as customize your interior and kitchen via upgrades, is fantastic.

“Cooking Fever” is also very pretty, with a detailed-yet-cartoony graphic palette, reminiscent of early “Roller Coaster Tycoon” games. The restaurant environments are fun and feel like they belong in a Saturday morning cartoon. The foods themselves actually look delicious and make you want to go out and buy something similar in real life. Menus are laid out nicely, are easy to follow and understand, but are just on the verge of packing in too much information.

The Frustrating Stuff:

This style of game benefits greatly from a touch screen control scheme. On a 5” screen, however, it can be rather problematic at times. The game looks pretty, but over half of the screen real-estate is wasted on displaying the backdrop, customers, and their orders. This severely limits the playable area and makes everything very cramped. Combine that with opacity of a human finger and you’ll find there’s going to be the occasional misstep combining ingredients, which can’t be undone. It’s not game-breaking by any means, but it’s most definitely frustrating when it happens. If you have the hardware, opt into a tablet experience for this game.

That point may be moot, as there is one glaring issue with this game: the premium currency, or rather, the lack of readily available premium currency. After 3-staring every level in the first restaurant and about half the levels in the second restaurant, my progress came to a grinding halt. Even with virtually perfect runs, I could only 2-star the remaining levels in the restaurant. After burning through all of my gems (premium currency) to upgrade the restaurant and food, I bought every single upgrade possible that only required coins (base currency). Still, I could not earn enough to 3-star a level. There is a casino available in which players can gamble coins in hopes of earning gems, but after spending over 450,000 coins max-bidding at 500 and only winning gems once, I gave up.

The only other way to earn gems was to level up, which would require playing the same levels over and over again numerous times, or to earn them from the daily bonus. Gems, however, were not awarded until the 7th consecutive day played and I was only on my 3rd. The reward is also only 2 gems, and the lowest upgrade cost 10. This means I’m left with three options: hours of grinding, waiting it out for a week and a half, or buying gems. This is where my playtime came to an end, as I lost interest for having to wait days to really be able to play and progress. Perhaps it was so jarring because the game presented itself as a “play at your pace” kind of game and has the “Diner Dash” model, which traditionally would let you play as much or little as you wanted. It also could be because the currency system is set up similar to games like “Tiny Tower,” but completely bars progress instead of just slowing it like in those games. Either way, this is where the game ultimately ruined itself for me.

Bottom Line:

“Cooking Fever” was an absolute blast, while it lasted. As a free download, I highly recommend you pick it up to at least enjoy as much as you can. With the right pacing of upgrades, it might be possible to prevent getting locked up as quickly as I did; however, you will inevitably hit a brick wall at some point. If you so choose, you can always buy gems… although I strongly encourage you to vote with your money and refuse to give in to the temptations. While micro-transactions will never go away, hopefully we can fight this current trend in which they have infiltrated virtually every game released today. While I wholeheartedly believe developers deserve money for the work they have done, I don’t believe it should be paid out in a way that compromises the quality of the game.

“Cooking Fever” was developed by Nordcurrent and is available on Google Play for Android and the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

 

[03.18.15] New concept art for 'Wolfenstein - The Old Blood' revealed

Bethesda

Bethesda

“Wolfenstein: The New Order” was a surprising title coming out of 2014 that did everything that modern video games aren’t supposed to do. It was a stand-alone, single player only experience. It did not feature micro-transactions or any sort of downloadable content or expansion packs. Although it is part of a long-time franchise, it was not an annually recurring title. Despite all of these things, “New Order” was an absolutely incredible game. So since there is not going to be any expansion coming for it, what exactly does a developer do when fans demand more? Surly, a sequel or follow up title is in the works, but we want it now! Enter “Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,” a stand-alone experience much like “Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.” Today, Mar 18, Bethesda Softworks released more information on the upcoming prequel including some tantalizing weapon art.

“Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,” announced just two weeks ago, will be a completely stand-alone title fully playable without “New Order.” This is especially good news if you haven’t had a chance to take on the latest “Wolfenstein” title as “Old Blood” will actually take place during the events leading up to “New Order.” “Old Blood” will be an exciting two-part story which will take B.J. Blazkowicz into the depths of Bavaria. Blazkowicz must take on an insane prison warden while breaking into Castle Wolfenstein to confiscate information detailing the location of General Deathshead. His mission then takes him to the city of Wulfburg where he runs into an obsessed Nazi archaeologist exhuming mysterious artifacts which have the potential to unleash a dark ancient power.

Jerk Gustafsson, executive producer at Machine Games, said the team has had a blast revisiting the world of Wolfenstein.

“We’ve enjoyed exploring the events leading up to The New Order. We think fans will really enjoy the story, all the action and, of course, jumping back into the combat with new weapons.”

The new weapons are nothing crazy or over the top, but they are definitely very pretty. Included in the pack was a complete range of weapons. For long distance, Blazkowicz is getting a new Bolt-action Rifle. For midrange, the compact Kampfpistol will be the new trusty sidearm. As for the close quarter battles, a very unique looking Shotgun 46, with what appears to be a bevy of attachments, will be available.

“Wolfenstein: The New Blood” will be released in stores and for download on May 5. It will launch at a price of $19.99.

[03.16.15] EA drops Tiger Woods, announces new generation game

Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts

Over the last few years, Electronic Arts has been hesitant about headlining their cover athlete for their annual golf game, “Tiger Woods PGA Tour.” After dancing around it by trying to highlight other aspects, such as the inclusion of a laser-scanned Augusta course, it seems EA has finally called it quits. Today, Mar 16, EA announced the next rendition as “Rory McIlroy PGA Tour.”

With a press release and a stunningly-beautiful teaser trailer, EA has officially re-branded and named a new cover athlete and namesake for their prized golf simulator franchise. Rory Mcllroy, a 4-time Major Champion, grabs the honor of launching the new wave of games on a new console.

“I’m very proud and humbled to see my face and name on EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR. This is a great honor, and something I couldn't even dream of growing up playing the sport. I really hope people enjoy the game and I’m very glad I can be a part of it.”

Along with a name change, this game also marks the dawn of a new engine. “Rory McIlroy PGA Tour” will take full advantage of the Frostbite engine. The "gameplay" trailer really didn't offer much in the way of actual gameplay, however it did show off the incredible capabilities of the engine and gave us a glimpse at the quality of visuals we can expect. Other than just incredible looking environments, this also means fully render golf courses in one go. Now players won’t have to wait for load times between holes and players should also be able to play a shot from virtually any lie. There will be new game modes and features, although nothing has been announced yet.

Further details are planned to be announced this spring while the game is set for a June 2015 launch.

[03.05.15] ‘Rock Band’ series returns after 4 year hiatus

Harmonix

Harmonix

In the early hours of March 5, a surprising announcement, 4 years in-the-making, has thrilled fans of the music game genre who have been otherwise nearly abandoned for half a decade. Harmonix, the brilliant minds who started it all with the smash hit “Guitar Hero” before later developing the beloved “Rock Band™” series, have brushed the dust off the latter and declared that an all new title will be launching later this year with “Rock Band 4!”

Harmonix has been busy maintaining previous “Rock Band” titles almost constantly since the launch of “Rock Band 3” while also trying their hand at a few other games, such as “Fantasia: Music Evolved” and the very popular “Dance Central” series for Kinect. After releasing what appeared to be the final DLC for “Rock Band” in April 2013, it was left virtually untouched, until the surprise release of new tracks in January this year. Surveys were also sent to many fans about their interest in future “Rock Band” titles. Still, hopes were anything but high. That’s why it was so surprising that today’s announcement included plans for a 2015 launch on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Mad Catz is developing and manufacturing new peripherals to be sold in two different bundles:

Band-in-a-Box Bundle: “Rock Band 4” game, wireless Fender™ Stratocaster™ guitar controller, wireless drum kit controller, and a microphone

Guitar Bundle: “Rock Band 4” game and a wireless Fender Stratocaster guitar controller

They are currently working on gaining backwards compatibility for older instruments as well, however nothing is set in stone. Sadly, Keyboardists will have to find a solo act elsewhere as those have been axed in this sequel. Those with massive music libraries have nothing to fear though. Every single one of the roughly 2000 tracks released since 2007 will be able to transfer into the new game seamlessly and completely free, assuming it was previously purchased. Hundreds of additional tracks are expected to be added, come release day, along with regular updates post launch.

Darren Richardson, President and CEO of Mad Catz, is confident in the upcoming relaunch:

“We are very excited to bring the band back together, and re-team with Harmonix to deliver the next installment of the legendary Rock Band franchise to a new generation of consoles. Harmonix understands music gaming better than anyone, and we are confident that the unrivalled music selection and next generation features will prove incredibly enticing to passionate gamers and music fans alike.”

Details on “Rock Band 4” are sparse, but more information should be coming at E3. “We’re doubling down on the energy and excitement of playing music live with your friends,” says Harmonix Chief Executive Officer Steve Janiak. “Focusing on the core experience that our fans have told us they love allows us to evolve established gameplay in meaningful ways that we can’t wait to share with everyone later this year.” However, in an interview, project manager Daniel Sussman struggled to contain his excitement and dropped a few hints:

“There is a certain dynamic [playing in a real band] that you feel that’s magical when you are playing with people who are in tune with what you’re doing and are paying attention to you and are reacting to you in cool ways. It’s one of the best things about playing music with people, and it’s an element of our band sim that I think is lacking. When you watch people play the game, you kind of have four people staring at their little track, completely oblivious to everything that’s going on around them until you get to the results screen and you go, ‘OK, I got this percentage.’ There are some dynamics in that moment that I think are entertaining, but what could we do from a game-design standpoint to allow you to pick your head up above the fray and reward you for paying attention for what other people in your band are doing. That ended up being a pretty rich trove of great ideas, a lot of which we prototyped, and some of which we’re building. It had an immediate impact on the multiplayer game. It made it instantly more fun and more social, which is what we’re all about. There are some huge wins there that we’re excited to show at E3.”

Sussman also went on to say that Harmonix was looking into giving players the ability to express themselves within the game. “One of the other elements of playing music that is viscerally satisfying is the idea that music is this performative art, and as you play a song, whether you wrote it or not, you are given the opportunity to express yourself and put your thumbprint on this piece of music.” He admits this will be tough within the realm of a game, but mentioned there were also prototypes in place for this as well. This could mean an expansion on the “Rock Band Network” similar to what the “Guitar Hero” series has done. It also could be a system rewarding musically-talented players for improvising within a song, although that would be somewhat subjective and very tricky to implement. Everything at this point, is purely speculation, but there’s no doubt whatever Harmonix comes up with, it won’t be a dissappointment.

The vocal systems are also being overhauled, along with the entire game engine. Everything is getting an upgrade, but it won’t be just a simple visual improvement either. The game is somewhat of a hybrid between a true sequel, an HD port, and a series reboot all at the same time. While clearly not a port of “Rock Band 3,” it’s still worth noting that this is its successor on grounds of innovation and evolution but is going back to the roots of “Rock Band [1]” (with the elimination of the Keyboard) and wants to double-down on the main four, since those are the instruments most people have. Overall, Harmonix just wants to deliver the ultimate concert-like experience and Sussman thinks the time-off they took has truly allowed them to do so.

“We have a lot more firepower at our disposal that we’re taking advantage of, and it’s more than an up-rez of the experience. We’re really going deep into the dramatic dynamics that you get at a live concert. The color palette, the atmosphere – I’m really into the atmosphere, like the smoke and the way the light cuts through it and all of that sort of stuff. The relationship to the audience and the venue in general, I think we’re going to knock out of the park.

[02.27.15] Xbox One gets exclusive ‘Fruit Ninja’ sequel

Following the success of the incredible “Fruit Ninja Kinect,” original developers, Halfbrick Studios, have announced today, Feb 27, that an all-new sequel is coming exclusively to Xbox One. “Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” will not be a simple visual upgrade, re-mastered for Xbox One. Instead, it is being rebuilt entirely from the ground up by Hibernum Creations out of Montreal, Canada. The sequel will feature five new game modes, four-way multiplayer, a new progression system, and new characters.

The new single-player game modes take place during the Blueberry Moon Festival and will utilize the new “Fruit Ninja” team members. During the events, players will attempt to dodge shurikens, chop through bamboo, and dance around spotlights in the ultimate test of stealth. The new progression system will also allow players to unlock additional blades, dojos, or belts as they complete challenges throughout the game. The four-person multiplayer will be available in both battle and party modes, welcoming brand new players easily while still testing the skills of the most seasoned veterans.

"This is the most satisfying, complete, and accessible party game ever created," said Shainiel Deo, chief executive at Halfbrick Studios. "The new Kinect sensor makes a world of difference, and Fruit Ninja Kinect 2 has been built from the ground up to take full advantage of the latest hardware. Fruit Ninja is our baby – it's what got us here today and we continue to maintain an incredibly high quality bar."

“Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” has big shoes to fill, as its predecessor won the award for “Best Casual Game” during the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. This is Hibernum’s first real venture into the console market, but Deo has complete faith in them. "Hibernum have exceeded our expectations every step of the way, and we think fans will get a huge kick out of the finished product."

“Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” received an “E for Everyone” rating by the ESRB and will launch at a price of $14.99 exclusively in the Xbox Games Store on March 18, 2015.

[02.18.15] FreshPlanet reveals plans for ‘SongPop 2’

FreshPlanet

FreshPlanet

Following the success of popular mobile game “SongPop,” FreshPlanet announced yesterday, Feb 17, they are currently working on the follow-up sequel, “SongPop 2.” The title follows the Name That Tune™ style of gameplay that made the original so loved, but has upgraded the interface and added new content as well. In addition to the visual upgrade, “SongPop 2” will feature new game modes, tens of thousands of new songs, and a new award system. Most importantly, avid players of the first game can sync their accounts and transfer all previously purchased content for use in “SongPop 2.”

FreshPlanet has also committed to updating the game, promising to release a new pack of six playlists every week, free to try, that will include 200 songs each. Any new users will begin with six personalized playlists and can then expand upon their collection with the updates.

The biggest addition to “SongPop 2” is the Party Mode, which allows multiple players to compete in a tournament-style game without the need to wait for other player’s progression. It also allows users to engage with songs outside of their own playlists and it will award prizes – including coins, power-ups, and VIP badges – to the top players.

Mathieu Nouzareth, CEO of FreshPlanet, said:

“We were thrilled to see how many people were playing SongPop over the years. I think of SongPop 2 as a love letter to our community. We listened to their feedback, and now we're using it to design a game that expands on everything they loved about the original - plus a fresh new look and a ton of extra surprises."

Speaking of surprises, FreshPlanet is also working on a rock ‘n’ roll themed spin-off titled, “Rock On – A SongPop Adventure,” which will be an entirely single player experience. Players answer trivia questions to progress through a virtual tour with a band. All of the questions will focus on the greatest hits of the rock ‘n’ roll throughout the years. It will also be an iOS exclusive title.

“SongPop 2” will be available in the Apple App Store, Facebook, and Google Play sometime this spring. An exact release date has not been given for either title.

[02.13.15] First ‘Just Cause 3’ trailer released

Avalanche Studios / Square Enix

Avalanche Studios / Square Enix

It’s been roughly half a decade since we have had the opportunity to hang out with Rico Rodriguez, but he’s finally making another appearance. Today, Feb 13, Avalanche Studios and Square Enix released the first trailer for “Jut Cause 3” as well as a handful of screenshots. The trailer is really just a teaser and doesn't offer much in the way of gameplay, but it certainly goes a long way creating excitement and anticipation for the game. What it does do well is re-hype the sandbox nature that allowed for endless hours of entertainment in the previous games.

The trailer opens with, what appears to be, a small explosion. As the explosion expands, you then realize the actual size as you start to see all-to-familiar structures, such as antennae and satellite dishes, being torn to pieces. Headlights appear and a car come bursting through the billowing smoke. As it flies through the air, explosion continue to destroy the military-esque complex around it. The car then crashes into a pillar and explodes, bringing an entire bridge down with it. Images of military banners burning and military statues crumbling become mere reflections in the eyes of Rico as he’s now revealed, plummeting towards the earth in free fall. After a log flash and right when you expect Rico to pull his ripcord and release his signature parachute, he instead reveals his brand new wingsuit, giving him control of his flight and springing himself right into the camera to end the trailer.

The combination of the exhilarating trailer and beautiful screenshots promise an exciting game on the horizon. It appears to be everything fans could ask for in a next generation “Just Cause” game. The most important part is that the game clearly made no attempts to reinvent itself with a more serious nature (thank goodness, as we have the “Far Cry” series for that!). Instead, the over-the-top physics and gameplay will continue, creating what will likely be the epitome of sandbox games. The trademark parachute and grappling hook have already been promised to make a return with improvements, which means the island of Medici will truly be your sandbox.

“Just Cause 3” has no hard release date yet, but is slated for a “Holiday 2015” release window. It is expected to launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.

[02.11.15] 'The Jackbox Party Pack' makes the jump to OUYA

Jackbox Games

Jackbox Games

Yesterday, Jackbox Games and OUYA announced the exciting release of “The Jackbox Party Pack” on OUYA. The buffet of entertainment packs in five hilarious party games that will provide endless hours of entertainment for a gathering of any size, from one to 100. It’s also on sale for a limited time. The best part? It's available now, after launching on Feb 10, for the special price of $19.99 – or just $4 per game.

“The Jackbox Party Pack” includes:

- “You Don’t Know Jack 2015”: The classic that started it all has been revamped and updated with the latest in pop-culture trivia. (1-4 players)

- “Fibbage XL”: It’s OK to lie in this game; in fact, it’s encouraged! Get ready to put your lying and lie-detecting skills to the test, now with even more questions than the original hit. (2-8 players)

- “Drawful”: The best drawing game that benefits creativity in the form of art skills and lies. You even get to draw your own little character. (3-8 players)

- “Word Spud”: A complete-the-phrase word game that can be as family friendly or family unfriendly as you want. Compete to create a novel or just throw in silly phrases to get the most votes. (2-8 players)

- “Lie Swatter”: The wacky, fast-paced trivia game that is as simple as true or false. Best of all, it can accommodate the most rambunctious of parties. (1-100 players)

The secret is in the unique user interface that utilizes a web browser, allowing any internet-connected phone, tablet, or computer to be the controller. After the game is launched using the system, everyone connects with the device of their choice via jackbox.tv and a unique room code. Just be warned, once you start, you probably won’t be able to stop until your face hurts from laughing… you may not even be able to stop then. Make sure you grab this now while it’s on sale. Next week, it will be returning to its regular price of $24.99. If you don’t have an OUYA, it’s also available on Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Steam, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and the Mac App Store at the regular price. Even then, it’s absolutely worth the money.

[02.01.15] 'Duke Nukem' making a return on Android

It’s been 19 years since the groundbreaking release of “Duke Nukem 3D” on January 29, 1996; and what a crazy ride it has been. If there’s one thing Duke Nukem fans have, its patience. That is, considering the painstaking release process of the heavily debated and frequently-delayed “Duke Nukem Forever.” Fortunately, with the announcement of the “Duke Nukem 3D: Hail to the King Collection” for Android, fans of The King won’t have to wait quite so long for another title… well, hopefully.

In celebration of the passing anniversary, Voidpoint LLC - comprised of the EDuke32 team and its founder Richard Gobeille – announced the thrilling return of multiple Duke Nukem titles all packaged together in the form of the “Duke Nukem 3D: Hail to the King Collection.” The HD collection, set to release exclusively on Google Play, will feature the original “Duke Nukem 3D” as well as the expansions “Duke it Out in D.C,” “Duke Caribbean: Life’s a Beach,” and “Duke: Nuclear Winter.” Also included will be the 1997 original Nintendo 64 release “Duke Nukem 64” and the PlayStation original “Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown” from the same year.

The team at EDuke32 has worked continuously for the past 10 years to preserve the original design for “Duke Nukem 3D” while simultaneously enhancing the visuals. They formed Voidpoint and acquired the commercial rights to all the original titles, paving the way for “Duke Nukem 3D: Hail to the King Collection.” Voidpoint is a completely independent venture from EDuke32 and aims to publish many more classic games, as well as some original titles, with the same attention to detail that EDuke32 is known for throughout the last decade.

While this collection may be their first release, it looks to be a very impressive package. In addition to bundling the aforementioned games and DLC, the “Hail to the King Collection” will also have a few unique features included as well.

· Never-before available re-release of Nintendo 64 version 'Duke Nukem 64' including redesigned and exclusive levels, censorship, lack of strippers/hookers (if that's your thing), new weapons, and new enemies.

· Never-before available re-release of PlayStation version 'Duke Nukem: Total Meltdown' featuring the exclusive episode 'Plug N' Pray,' new enemies, and Mark ‘TDK’ Knight’s atmospheric soundtrack.

· Kick ass on the go with an all-new touch control scheme, or with Bluetooth, PS3, or Xbox 360 controllers.

· Alternate soundtracks, refined visuals, and more! Duke has never looked so good.

Here’s the catch that will be sure to stir sour memories in any true Duke Nukem fan: There is no hard release date, yet. At the moment, it’s set for a “Q1 2015” release. That gives the team at Voidpoint about 2 months to finish and distribute the final package – or, you know, just 14 years and 10 months to beat the “Duke Nukem Forever” timetable.