A lot has happened in the game industry since I last posted. Luckily, I’ll be posting again soon (probably tomorrow or Wednesday) so keep an eye out for something being released this week. I’ve certainly got a lot to talk about…
Thanks for reading and keep on playing games,
Taylor Paige
If you saw the new Tomb Raider trailer, you’ll notice that things look a bit different. (And if you haven’t it’s at the bottom of this blog.) In an interview with Kotaku, Tomb Raider’s global brand director, Karl Stewart, said:
“We are not creating a character that just appeals to men. We want to have an effect that is deeper, that has highs and lows. You can see it’s not just about sex appeal. She can’t be huge chest and tight shorts. That was the vision of old Lara Croft. We needed to make substantial changes.”
He also mentioned that they were completely scrapping the back story from previous Tomb Raider games about Croft’s parents and her background. She no longer is wielding dual-pistols, no more of the signature look which we have all came to recognize. Stewart also said:
“We are very proud of the history that Tomb Raider has. But this will never tie into whatever she’s done before.”
Considering that Tomb Raider on the PS1 was the very first game I ever played, I have a bit of an interest in this series. However, over the years, my interest has faded, as the story has felt so repetitive to me. I felt as though Lara Croft was the same character, just rehashed each time. No growth as a character. If Tomb Raider’s reconstruction turns out for the best, this may just revive my interest in the series. We’ll have to wait and see. You can read the full interview at Kotaku
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Speaking of things that I’m interested in, the BioShock novel, titled BioShock: Rapture, has an excerpt that you’ll want to read here at Tor.com. I’m usually skeptical about video game books or movies. However, from the excerpt, this seems well worth reading the book. If you’re just as excited about this as I am, you can pre-order the book at Amazon.com. The book will be available on July 19th.
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I noticed recently in the searches for my blog, that someone requested a Modern Warfare 2 soundtrack release date. From my research, the Modern Warfare 2 soundtrack is not available for release on a physical CD, however a download from Amazon is available here. Or maybe you don’t want to buy it, but just listen to it. Luckily for you, a Youtube playlist has been made, which you can listen to here. There’s about 130 videos, which all feature the MW2 soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. So have fun.
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Finally, it’s time for some free things on the web. Valve is now offering free-to-play games via Steam. The games available include: Champions Online: Free for All, Global Agenda: Free Agent, Spiral Knights, Forsaken Worlds, and Alliance of Valliant Arms. You can find these games and more by accessing the Steam Store via the “Store” tab in Steam, then click on “Genres” and then “Free to Play” in the drop down menu. Or you could just type the name of the game you want into the search bar to make things easier.
Tomb Raider E3 2011 Trailer:
Thanks for reading,
–Taylor Paige
Sources:
Kotaku
Tor.com & Amazon
MW2 Soundtrack via Amazon & Youtube
F2P Games via Steam News
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
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
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
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
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
Activision has come out with the MW2 soundtrack, and Amazon has the entire album for $7.99 or $0.99 per track. There are 17 tracks from composer Hans Zimmer who has worked on great titles such as Gladiator, Rain Man, and the Dark Knight. Purchase it here.
According to counselor and therapist Steve Pope, ‘playing games for 2 hours is similar to doing a line of cocaine.’ While he has NO statistic data to back it up, he claims that he does not need reports, and reports and data are lies, lies, and more lies. Pope did have statistics that concluded that playing video games is the fastest growing addiction in the UK, but has not produced any stats yet. Two words: EPIC FAIL. So who wants to go do a line of MW2? You can read the full story here or by copying and pasting the link into your browser from the URL at the bottom.
Along with BioShock and it’s recently released predecessor BioShock 2, Take-Two chairman, Strauss Zelnick, has mentioned up to 5 BioShock sequels. So what’s the deal with BioShock 3? IGN has posted an editorial over at their website that lists the reasons why BioShock 3 should wait. Their problems with the two games include the following:
-New Engine Please: The current engine is eight years old, and is not just the ‘backbone of the graphics, but the entire world itself.’
-Rapture needs a new outlook: Publisher Patrick Kolan suggested: “Why not let players explore vast habitats that emulate the surface world – more indoor forests and mountains – albeit with a gorgeously realized arching ceiling holding back the oceanic pressures? Why not create multiple cities, linked with a broader transport system that could ferry the player from the arctic seas to the warm, tropical expanses of the Mediterranean? Each area’s ocean, filled with local flora and fauna, could bring a unique look to the surrounding seas and influence the Art Deco architecture in turn.”
-Plasmids aren’t cutting it anymore: While Plasmids are a staple of Rapture, a change or growth system should be intertwined in the character.
-See ya later, Multiplayer!: Pretty self explanatory.
-Putting a stop to BioShock?: Should the series be continued on? Are 5 sequels a bit much? Face the music, people: all good things come to an end.
For answers to these questions go here.
BioShock 2 E3 Trailer:
–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09
MW2 Stuff: http://www.neoseeker.com/news/14002-modern-warfare-2-soundtrack-now-available/
Video Game Addiction: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=248698
BioShock 3: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/109/1094442p2.html
Fallout New Vegas Trailer via Machinima on Youtube
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
Since I’ve missed some days where I wasn’t blogging, obviously, I have a LOT of news for you guys.
On June 3rd the second MW2 DLC was released. IGN has released their review of the DLC. Despite the skepticism surrounding the new DLC considering the last disappointment with the Stimulus Pack. IGN claims that while the new DLC is pricey, it’s worth it. Are you planning on buying the Resurgence Pack? Or did you already buy it, and what do you think of it?
Some people say that video games can lead to violence, well this is one case where that is true. A 21 year old Virgina man, Bruce Jamar Walston, threw his girlfriend’s cat across the room and killed it after the cat pulled the plug on his video game console. Jamar was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and misdemeanor animal cruelty for throwing the kitten in front of his girlfriend’s young children. Obviously, this drew the attention of PETA, who have taken the initiative to have people write a letter to Commonwealth Attorney A. Lee Ervin to work hard to prosecute the case. I was personally disgusted by this story for two reasons: 1. the guy killed an innocent animal for a completely idiotic reason and 2. because this just gave people who have been trying to prove that video games lead to violence an example. Thanks a lot douche bag.
Game to movie transitions don’t have the best reputation and usually when you hear of a game being made into a movie, there is doubt surrounding it. However, the great people over at GameSpot have taken the time to make a list of the games that have been made into movies as part of their ‘History of Video Games’ feature. The list includes: Mortal Kombat(1995), Resident Evil(2002), Street Fighter(1994), and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider(2003). You can check out the full list here.
Supreme Court Justice O’Connor has praised video games as ‘fabuolous’ teaching tools. She said that “We’ve had tests done, and the students go up 20% in their knowledge by playing those games.” While this is aimed toward students, why not let it help adults too? See, playing games are good. 🙂
Super Mario Galaxy 2 has topped the charts for Nintendo Wii in the United States and Japan. Red Dead Redemption takes the number one spot for the Xbox 360 and the PS3 in the US and the UK, while Alan Wake won in Japan. The Sims 3 is number one in the US for PC, Mario Kart DS is number 1 for the DS, and FIFA World Cup topped for PSP. You can see everything at Gamasutra.
–Taylor Paige
©2010 taylorpaige09
Check out this psycho: http://www.chipchick.com/2010/06/video-game-kitten.html
Game Movies Are Bad: http://www.gamespot.com/special_feature/vghm2010_movies/image-feature/index.html?image=1
Good Games: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28734/Justice_OConnor_Hails_Games_As_Fabulous_Teaching_Tools.php
Game Charts: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/28829/Saling_The_World_Mario_Galaxy_2_Heads_Charts_in_US_and_Japan.php
GameVault360 