LBP’s “Game Changing” Level Packs
December 19, 2008
Gaming site 1UP managed to snatch away Media Molecule’s Alex Evans during the 2008 VGA’s, in which he became a little talky about the upcoming LBP level packs. While the “Festive” pack, featuring Christmas-themed decorations and costumes, is already out on the PSN starting today, more will soon be on the way. Says Evans:
“So what I said to the team is that each of these packs that we do over the next year or so has to be shocking. These aren’t little add-ons or side tweaks. These are like serious, game changing, massive — how can we really mess with peoples’ heads and change what they think about LBP. The first example of that is the Metal Gear Solid pack, which we just finished. I don’t think that people are expecting what it’s going to be and I’m so excited by that…”
That Metal Gear pack in question is rumored to hit soon, as can be seen by the pic above. Does this give us free reign now to skirt over copyright issues with MG-themed levels? It would seem so, give the as-of-yet unknown items to be included in the pack, which in itself does nothing to resolve the confusing controversy surrounding the copyright debate in user-made levels. Check out more on what he had to say in the link below.
Source: 1UP
3D Realms wishes you a Merry Xmas…
December 19, 2008
And when 3DRealms do it, they do it big, releasing one new wallpaper screenshot of the upcoming – is that word even valid for a game that has been “in the making” for more than a decade? – Duke Nuke’em Forever. As Shacknews notes, no other information has been revealed, which is hardly surprising given DNF’s long and mired history.
While the game is infamously regarded as the largest piece of vaporware in the industry, it seems 3D Realms is bent on making it a reality, keeping an apparent fanbase just interested enough to care.
Source: Shacknews
RE 5: Now with Boxart!
December 18, 2008
Take a gander at the recently released boxart for Capcom’s Resident Evil 5. Badass gun pose? Check. Appropriately attractive female sidekick? Check. Impossibly huge biceps? Check, check, and check.
RE5 is scheduled to arrive on US shores for a March 13th, 2009 release.
VGA 2008 Video Round Up
December 18, 2008
If you missed the Spike TV video game awards show this past Sunday (as did I), you missed a bevy of “world premier” trailers/teasers of hotly anticipated titles coming to the console of your choice. But cheer up, buttercup! GameTrailers.com have since released all such videos in glorious HD for you to dissect and blabber about to your friends across the interwebs. And what better way to make it even easier for you to watch by compiling it all into one simple post?
A stroke of genius, you say? Oh you are too kind.
Brutal Legend (Multiplat)
Saved from publisher-purgatory by the sweeping hands of EA, Tim Schafer and Double Fine’s next game is well on its way to release. Needless to say, this trailer is full of face-melting WIN.
GTAIV: The Lost and Damned DLC (360)
Interesting glimpse into what we can expect to see in Rockstar’s first attempt at DLC; though, as a owner of the PS3 version of the game, this means almost nothing to me 
God of War III (PS3)
Not too shabby, though I expected more of an actual trailer than the small teaser (of gameplay footage, I might add) we got here. And is it just me or does Kratos sound noticeable different – a different VA perhaps?
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
Good to see ol’ Nathan Drake back in action, but as with GOW3, all we got this time around was another teaser. Be sure to pick up the latest issue of GameInformer, however (as per my previous post) to find out more info about the game.
Dante’s Inferno (Multiplat)
If only our dear old Dante Alighieri could have lived to see the day that his beloved epic poem be turned into a videogame! While we are only given a bunch of concept art and prerendered cinemas, given EA’s track record of late with new IPs, this could be promising…
Terminator Salvation (Multiplat)
Based on the Christian Bale-helmed flick releasing next summer, there is only one question on every gamer’s mind when the words “movie” and “game” are combined: bucking the trend, or just more licensed crap?
Watchmen: The End is Nigh (Multiplat0
Watchmen as a movie: Who woulda thunk it? Watchmen as a videogame: WTF mate!? Before you start tearing your eyes out over the absurdity of it all, the videogame takes place as a prequel to the comicbook, in the more action-oriented days of Rorsharch and buddy Night Owl. Count me in as cautiously optimistic.
2008 VGA’s: Game Premiers Galore
December 7, 2008
Normally when it comes to video game award shows – whether that be G4’s “Gphoria” or as in this case, Spike TV’s “2008 Video Game Awards” – I normally don’t bat a eyelid; they are often cringe-worthy, at best, to watch due to the way the respective networks seem to organize it. If you have been paying some attention to gaming news within the last week, however, this year’s VGAs is quickly shaping up to be a must-watch due to the insane amount of premiers it has in store.
As I posted previously, Uncharted 2 will be making a formal appearance, as well as the first appearance since E3 for Sony’s God of War III(!). On Geoff Keighley’s (host of GTTV/Bonus Round, and all-around game journalist) GT blog, he outlined a handy list of premiers that we can expect when the show airs on December 14th:
“- GRAND THEFT AUTO IV: THE LOST AND DAMNED. Rockstar Games will be presenting the first-ever trailer for THE LOST AND DAMNED exclusively on the VGAs. (And you’ll of course see it right here on GT.com after the show). You’ll finally learn more about the story of the first GTA episode coming to Xbox Live in February.
- GOD OF WAR III. Kratos soon arrives on the PlayStation 3 and only the VGAs will bring you the first-ever glimpse at this game. And let me put all you skeptics to rest right now. I’m happy to confirm you’ll be seeing real-time gameplay footage.
- FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 4. EA Sports President Peter Moore will be live on the VGAs to reveal the next Fight Night boxing game for the first very time anywhere in the world. Hardcore gamers will remember the famous Fight Night Round 3 super punch that wowed the crowd at Sony’s E3 press conference in 2005. Can EA top themselves again? Find out on LIVE on December 14th.
- UNCHARTED 2. Nathan Drake is back for an entirely new adventure, and at the VGAs you’ll get a first-ever glimpse at this PlayStation 3 exclusive from Naughty Dog…again, it’s all real-time, in-engine action. No CG here.
- GEARS OF WAR 2 ANNOUNCEMENT. What’s next for Gears of War 2, one of the best reviewed games of the year? You’ll get to find out only at the 2008 Video Game Awards.
- TERMINATOR SALVATION. Next summer Christian Bale brings the Terminator franchise back to life, and at the 2008 VGAs you’ll get the first-ever look at the game. (There aren’t even any screenshots out online yet).
- MAFIA II. This long-awaited open world game from 2K Games arrives in 2009, and at the VGAs you’ll get the first look at the game running in real-time.
- WATCHMEN: THE END IS NIGH. Zach Snyder’s film is picking up a lot of buzz online, but what about the videogame? You’ll see it in action for the first time at the VGAs when we world premiere this action brawler.”
And according to Keighley, this isn’t the end of what we can expect. The best part about it? That most of this will include actual gameplay footage, which is key for the bigger franchise makers on the list. If you’re not convinced to watch the VGAs yet, then you can always watch the trailers online afterwards. . . but c’mon, do you really want to be the last kid on the block to see GOW3 in action?
That’s what I thought.
Source: Geoff’s GT blog
Killzone 2 gets a solid release date
December 7, 2008
Mark your calendars folks; G4 has dropped the news that Guerrilla’s futuristic shooter is heading to PS3s on February 27, 2009 in the US. The Killzone 2 hype machine is in full swing now that the holidays are almost over, with an invite-only beta test shutting its doors this coming Monday – the feedback from which has been overwhelmingly positive so far, especially encouraging given the sour taste the first game left on the PS2.
G4 also revealed two new weapons in the form of the Flamethrower and a Bolt Gun, videos of which you can find in the link below.
Source: G4: The Feed
Introducing Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
December 3, 2008
As the current blockbuster-packed gaming release season is winding down to a close, many haven’t even begun thinking about the bevy of titles to be released in 2009… and looks like that’ll have to change real soon. Among such heavyweights as Killzone 2 and Halo: ODST was yesterday’s official revealing of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, the sequel to Naughty Dog’s excellent 2007 adventure. Both GameInformer and GameTrailers have taken their turn in the recent unveiling, with the former announcing the game as its cover story for next month, with GT having a small teaser for a trailer to be shown at this year’s Spike Video Game Awards on December 14th.
According to the GI story, Uncharted 2’s plot will deal with 13th century explorer Marco Polo and will feature “a free climbing mechanic” and some “stealth gameplay”. In both the teaser and cover announcement, Drake seems to have a grown a bit more scruffy as of late, venturing into what looks to be a harsh artic climate. Check out the video here:
