News 12.4: The Assassin’s Creed Post

Well, it has certainly been a while since I posted last. During that time, a lot has gone on in the gaming industry. The Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed series saw new releases before the holiday season hit, Rockstar Games released it’s amazing trailer for the upcoming game for L.A. Noire, and speaking of Rockstar, the talk of GTA V being released in 2012 has made it’s way around the web.

Of course, all of these topics will be covered in future posts, however, I’ve been really impressed by Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood lately. With that said, this entire post will be dedicated solely to Assassin’s Creed.

First and foremost, a new FREE DLC for Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood will be released on December 14th for both Xbox Live and Playstation Network. It will be titled: “Animus Project Update 1.0” and will include a new game mode (Advanced Alliance) and a new multiplayer map: Mont Saint-Michel. While that may not seem like a lot, who cares? It’s free!

Secondly, the Assassin’s Creed series may see another addition in 2011. Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, said the following response to a question asking about an Assassin’s Creed release in 2011:

“There will be something around Assassin’s. That’s the only thing we can say.”

Ubisoft executives said that it is their goal to have Assassin’s Creed games released on a yearly basis.

Well, if Ubisoft plans on releasing a new game each year, then they can hopefully expect to see some serious bank considering that Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood did so well on it’s first week. In Europe, AC: Brotherhood sold over 1 million copies in less than one week. In all, the Assassin’s Creed series has sold over 20 million units.

For those of you wanting to find out more information on the AC series, please check out the awesome Assassin’s Creed Wiki page.

Assassin's Creed

Assassin's Creed II

Ezio's Back in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood

Happy Holidays,
–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Sources:
AC 2011 via Kotaku
AC sales via MCVUK
AC DLC via IGN
Images Courtesy of Wikipedia
Video Courtesy of the Official AC Youtube Channel

Game News 8.14: Mafia II Demo & BioShock Infinite

This week I was rather happy with the release of the Mafia II demo and the announcement that there will be a new installment in the BioShock series.

If you haven’t played the Mafia II demo, I would suggest getting it here for the PC. Alternatively, you can download it through XBL or PSN to your console. And why not ‘like’ Mafia II on Facebook, and pick up Mafia I while your at it.
–Mafia II Demo Link

Just scroll down a little and look to the right to see a little gray box that says “Download the Demo.”

I was in for a shock when I saw the new teaser for BioShock: Infinite, the newest title in the BioShock series. Apparently, it is going to take place in the sky, in a city called ‘Columbia,’ according to CVG. It is expected to be released in late 2012. Of course, I’ll keep everyone who visits up to date on everything BioShock: Infinite.

A little background on the story:

“You, playing as ex-private detective Booker DeWitt, are hired to track down a woman who disappeared during the Colombia incident. The girl, Elizabeth, holds a secret; she’s hugely powerful and lies at the center of whatever is going on aboard the floating city.”

For more on the story, go here.

A preview of Columbia.

Check out more screens over at CVG.

Mafia 2 & Infinite Vids:

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Sources:
Infinite via CVG

Image via CVG

Game News 7.8: XBLA Revenues Hit $1 Billion; Red Dead Redemption’s New DLCs; & Blacklight: Tango Down

Hello again, it’s time for another installment of game news.

For the first time in 8 years, Xbox Live has made over $1 Billion Dollars. Half of the 25 million Xbox Live Members pay for the $49.99 annual cost for Xbox Live, which comes out to about $600 million, that combined with other content (avatar items, etc) comes out to $1.2 million. XBLA sales escalated from $800 million last year to $1.1 billion this year.

So far this week, my XBL friends have been raving about Blacklight: Tango Down. The arcade game features 7 game modes, 12 maps, online multiplayer, and four Black Ops-style missions. You can pick up Tango Down for 1200 MS Point or about $15 on XBL.

Apparently, Red Dead Redemption will be getting some DLC action in August. There will be a total of 4 DLC’s released for RDR which will include the Legends & Killers Pack, Liars & Cheats, Free Roam Pack, and the Undead Nightmare Pack. Legends & Killers features 9 new multiplayer maps, 8 new multiplayer characters, new achievements/trophies, and will cost $9.99/800 MS Points.
-Liars & Cheats will feature ‘Attack & Defend’ modes/challenges, new horse races complete with mounted combat, play as heroes and villains, 8 new multiplayer characters, multiplayer versions of Liars Dice & Poker, a new weapon: the explosive rifle with Challenges in both multi & single player, new achievements/trophies, and it will go for $9.99/800 MS Points.
-Free Roam Pack will include additional free roam challenges, new action areas/defensive placements, posse scoring/posse leaderboards, new ‘anti-griefing’ measures in Free Roam; the pricing may/will vary for the Free Roam Pack.
-Finally,the Undead Nightmare Pack will include a brand new single player adventure, challenges, and quests; 8 new multiplayer zombie characters, additional animals, new dynamic events, and it will cost $9.99/800 MS Points.

Blacklight: Tango Down Trailer

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

XBLA Revs via IGN
Blacklight: Tango Down via GameSpot
RDR DLC via Spawn Kill

Game News 7.1: ‘Mafia 2’ Disposes of Multiple Endings & BioShock 2 Single Player DLC

First, I would like to thank you guys for checking out my blog. I know the beginning of this may sound like the starting of an acceptance speech, but whatever.

An anticipated release for me, Mafia 2, will no longer feature multiple endings. The original concept featured four different endings, according to Senior Producer Denby Grace. He said,

“We had four multiple endings at one point in the game, and then we looked at it and we had one really outstanding great ending to end our story..”

He continued on to talk more about Mafia 2 which can be read at this nice little link. Basically, I’m happy with one ending. I mean, it’s a game and story about the Mafia, how many endings could you possibly have? Either you raise to power and become a Don or not. What I’m really excited about, and this may seem small and petty, is the changing environments that Mafia 2 will feature. If you saw the video below, they point out that the weather changes from snowy and winter-y to nice and spring like. Which is something that you really don’t see in a lot of open-world mafia/gang-based games such as The Godfather and Scarface: TWIY. Well, they are aiming towards realism, so way to go.
Mafia 2 will be released in August 2010 for the US.

Speaking of 2k and multiple endings, 2k Marin’s BioShock 2 will be getting a single player DLC next month on August 3rd for PC, X360, & Ps3 for 400 MS Points/$4.99. Basically the new DLC will be called “Protector Trials” and will feature 6 new maps, 3 unique difficulty levels, new unlockables, and 7 new achievements/trophies. The DLC will focus around you, the Big Daddy, fighting off splicers to protect the little sister while she gathers (hence the name “Protector Trials”). This seems a little disappointing considering I thought that the most tedious part of BioShock 2 was the gathering with the Little Brats..er..I mean, Sisters.

Hm.. two videos?

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Mafia 2 via Playstation Lifestyle
BioShock DLC via Buzzfocus

Game News 6.30: Super Mario is Really Super: Mario Kart Saves Child From Blindness

After playing Mario Kart for 2 hours a day, 6 year old Ben Michaels, eyesight improved by 250%. Michaels suffers from amblyopia, or severe lazy eye syndrome.  His mother says,

“When he started he could not identify our faces with his weak eye. Now he can read with it although he is still a way off where he ought to be.”

I think this is great. This is a perfect example of how video games are beneficial, sure they can lead to some things like childhood obesity, but hey, that’s what Weight Watcher’s is for right? Indeed. A representative from the Great Osmond Children’s Hospital says that video games can increase focus due to repetitive eye movement. While he’s improving his focus and eyesight, he’s also having fun at the same time. Instead of going to an eye doctor and letting him poke around at your corneas for two hours trying to get your eye back in shape, playing games is obviously the way to go.

Good for you Nintendo, I would suggest rolling with this great publicity and making some bucks off it. Because we all now you would anyway. 🙂 Maybe they could help find the cure to cancer. How ’bout it?

So, in part, I leave you with this video of complete randomness:

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Super, Super Mario via The Escapist

Game News 6.29: Take-Two Says ‘BioShock 2’ Was Not Hugely Successful :(

BioShock was a pretty awesome game. BioShock 2 was, well, not as epic.

Take-Two boss Brian Feder said that the familiarity of the environment was what made BioShock 2 seem less mystical and not as wonderful as the first game. Which, according to him, hurt game sales. Feder said that the BioShock series has so much more ‘life to it.’

“Sometimes they work for you and sometimes they work against you. Our goal is to have them work for us, more often than not.”

Well, duh. He also said that BioShock 2 was profitable for the company, 2k, but was overall not as successful as they would have liked it to be. Gee, I don’t know, selling 3 million copies sounds successful enough to me. Obviously, you’ve done something right. Sure, it wasn’t amazing and mysterious like the first game, but the gameplay was better right? Right?

So that means something interesting could happen for BioShock 3? Ok, question of the day: What do you think will happen in BioShock 3? Come up with your own short plot, story, etc.

Time for a totally random MW2 video. (I seriously couldn’t think of anything else)

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

BioShock 2 Story via The Escapist

Game News: 6.28: Dead Rising 2 Delayed..AGAIN

So, because I haven’t featured any news in a while (thanks to a busy schedule) I’m going to give you guys  a quick update on something that I’m personally pissed off by this week.

Apparently, Dead Rising 2 has been pushed forward from it’s August release date for the US to September 28th.

Great. I’m not sure exactly what’s going on with these guys, whether they’re doing super improvements on the game or what, but all I know is that I have waited for this for a while and I would like to have a date set in stone for this game. I expect to be very impressed after waiting all this time. The thing is, it’s not a very compelling game, but it’s just fun. Well, at least Dead Rising 1 was. I mean, who doesn’t want to roam around in a mall for 72 hours with anything and everything as your weapon?

Let’s not disappoint, Capcom. The pressure is on.

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Dead Rising Delay via IGN

Game News 6.17: E3 2010, 10 Dumbest Moments in Game History, & What Should You Get Your Gamer Dad for Father’s Day?

So after being gone for a while due to some technical difficulties, I’m back and ready to fill everyone in on what’s been going on in the game news. Obviously, one of the biggest (if not the biggest) gaming event, E3, is going on this week in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to E3 this year, but at least I can report and analyze it. If you watch G4 then you can get E3 coverage or visit your favorite gaming website for full Live coverage of the event. As of right now,  I haven’t gathered EVERYTHING E3 possible, as that would take hours. But expect to see it soon. Between balancing my personal life with my blogs, things have gotten a bit hectic. Thank you for your patience. 🙂

Father’s Day is June 20th, if you want something inexpensive What They Play has created a list of some affordable apparel that you could give as a gift. Of course, giving out console accessories (mics, Xbox Live Gold Subscription Card, MS Points, skins for the console, Wii Sports Resort Accessories, even an additional controller) and used games are also other options you could go for. See the site here. Or ya know, you could always take the easy way out and get them a gift card.

Obviously, I have a lot of news to cover. With that said, I chose the first thing that stood out to me. The top 10 dumbest moments in video game history, posted by the great folks over at damnlag.com have noted many stupid moments including: Pac-Man 2600 for the Atari, many systems that have FAILED, and a few stupid quotes by Nintendo’s 3rd president, Hiroshi Yamauchi. Those quotes include the following:

“I have been saying this for some time, but customers are not interested in grand games with higher-quality graphics and sound and epic stories. Only people who do not know the videogame business would advocate the release of next-generation machines when people are not interested in cutting-edge technologies.”

“[People who play RPGs are] depressed gamers who like to sit alone in their dark rooms and play slow games.”

“There are many people in the industry that know nothing about games. In particular, a large American company is trying to do engulf software houses with money, but I don’t believe that will go well. It looks like they’ll sell their game system next year, but we’ll see the answer to that the following year.”

You can read all 10 moments here.

And oh yeah, there’s this cool Fallout: New Vegas interview via Gameplanet with the senior designer of the game. <<<—click the link to read the interview, bro.

Next time I’ll be talking about how the new Xbox 360 (yes, NEW(and slimmer!)) consumes 10% less power for those of you who are concerned about that type of thing.

Fallout: New Vegas E3 2010 Trailer:

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Father’s Day via WhatTheyPlay
Fallout: NV via GamePlanet
Dumbass Moments via DamnLag
Fallout: New Vegas Trailer via Impersonator280 on Youtube

Let’s Discuss: Game Prices

Something that I’ve really been thinking about lately is game prices.

There have been many attacks on the used game market by big players in the Gaming Industry. Basically, they’re losing money. But they wouldn’t have to get all worked up over losing some dollars if they’re games are moderately priced.

I rounded up my gaming expenses for one year:

I usually buy between 5 to 10 games a year, both used and new. So just say I buy a max of 10 games: 5 new and 5 used. New games for the 360, my main unit for new games, are $60. That’s $300 dollars right there. I usually pick up used games for about $20. That’s $100. $400 a year max on games. Just games alone.

Now let’s factor in repairs, accessories, DLC, Xbox Arcade Games, 360 Gold Cards, and MS Points. Which comes out to:

A lot of f***ing money!

Also let’s throw in a new console every once in a while. Which is a few hundred in it’s self.

I understand that the $60 or doesn’t just go to the publisher. Developers and others need to be paid in the process.

But is it really worth that for 8 hours of gameplay? I would pay $45 maximum. They should charge $60 or $65 for special editions. I typically wait to get games if I’m not a huge fan of the series. For example, I’m going to wait a few months after Dead Rising 2 comes out. Because I know that it’s going to cost $60 as soon as it is released. So why not wait a few months and let the price drop? I’m not that anxious to get the game.

In turn, I did pay $60 for BioShock 2 and I don’t regret it. But I did pay only $30 for BioShock 2 about 1 year ago from Target.

So my question is: Do you think it is acceptable that average people should pay that much for games?

Thanks for reading and keep playing,

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Game News 5.27: Rockstar Says “You’re a bad parent,” Mafia II, Guitar Hero 6, MW2, Free Nintendo DS, & Just Cause 2

J ust Cause 2 has a new DLC Black Market ‘Boom” Pack available from the Xbox Marketplace. It costs 160 MS Points and adds three new items: Quad Launcher Launcher, Cluster Bomb Launcher, & an Air Propulsion. Expect some serious damage with all these weapons!

Rockstar, creators of Red Dead Redemption, said that if you bought RDR then you’re a “terrible parent.” “Our games are not designed for young people,” said Rockstar Games’ John Lazlow talking in an interview with the BBC last Friday. “If you’re a parent and buy one of our games for your child you’re a terrible parent. “We design games for adults because we’re adults. There’s a lot of kids games out there that we’re not interested in playing. Just like you enjoy watching movies and TV shows with adult themes and language and violence that’s the kind of thing we seek to produce.”

2K Games is going to release a Collector’s Edition for Mafia II. The special edition will be sold for $79.99 and will include two cars, a “vintage tux” for Vito, a 100-page art book, official orchestral soundtrack CD, and map of Empire Bay with marked spots. If you pre-order the game, then you’ll receive exclusive DLC content. Basically, depending on what place you buy it from then that will determine what DLC you will get.
GameSpot: Vegas Pack & War Hero Pack
Amazon: Renegade Pack
Best-Buy: Greaser Pack
Wal-Mart: $10 Gift Card
You can view the details for the packs here.
MW2 three-day weekend has been announced by Robert Bowling: Robert Bowling on Twitter:

“Memorial Day weekend is coming up, which means 3-DAY WEEKEND! We’ll be flipping on double XP for Modern Warfare 2 on all platforms!”

Guitar Hero 6: Warriors of Rock will feature the following songs:
AFI – Dancing Through Sunday
Black Sabbath – Children of the Grave
Buzzcocks – What Do I Get?
Children of Bodom – If You Want Peace… Prepare for War
Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar on Me
Dethklok – Bloodlines
DragonForce – Fury of the Storm
Jane’s Addiction – Been Caught Stealing
Kiss – Love Gun
Megadeth – Sudden Death
Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne – Paranoid (Live)
Muse – Uprising
My Chemical Romance – I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Rammstein – Waidmanns Heil
Silversun Pickups – There’s No Secrets This Year
Slayer – Chemical Warfare
Tesla – Modern Day Cowboy
The Cure – Fascination Street
ZZ Top – Sharp Dressed Man
Enjoy. I’m personally kind of sick of seeing Guitar Hero games. Not to mention that Sharped Dressed Man was on Guitar Hero 1. The only songs that I am remotely interested playing is the live version of “Paranoid” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Apparently, Nintendo of Australia received a letter from an 11 year old girl doing a school project requesting a Nintendo DS because “her parent’s did buy her one because the family already has a Wii.” In response, Nintendo checked the validity of the claim and sent the girl a free Nintendo DS to share with the class. But that doesn’t mean that Nintendo will just give things away for free, they contacted the principal. Good for them.

MW2 Resurgence Pack:

–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09

Just Cause 2: http://www.gamerzines.com/xbox-360/news/black-market-boom-pack-out-now.html via David Scammell @ gamerzine
“Terrible Parents”: http://www.gamerzines.com/ps3/news/rockstar-games-terrible-parent.html via David Scammell @ gamerzine
GH6: http://www.whattheyplay.com/blog/2010/05/25/guitar-hero-6-will-be-warriors-of-rock/ via Nadia Oxford @ WhatTheyPlay
Mafia 2L http://www.nowgamer.com/news/3268/mafia-ii-collectors-edition-detailed via Dave Cook @ NowGamer
Mafia II: http://www.justpushstart.com/2010/05/26/mafia-ii-collectors-edition-pre-order-bonus-detailed/ via Mark Fajardo @ JustPushPlay
Mafia II AGAIN: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6263833.html?tag=nl.e576 via Tom Magrino @ GameSpot
MW2: http://playstationlifestyle.net/2010/05/26/celebrate-memorial-weekend-with-double-mw2-experience/ via Kyle P @ Playstation Lifestyle
Free DS: http://www.whattheyplay.com/blog/2010/05/24/nintendo-of-australia-receives-little-girls-letter/ via Nadia Oxford @ WhatTheyPlay (Original)