Wii Success Marks the Downfall of the Hardcore Gamer

As a gamer, the commercial success of the Nintendo Wii should be good news right?  Read more

Microsoft Screws Canadian Gamers Once Again

If you own an Xbox 360 and consider yourself a gamer, chances are you have had November 19th circled in your calendar.  Read more

NHL 2009 Unveils Revolutionary New Feature

Arguably the best sports game released in 2007 is set to return with a vengeance in 2008.  Already the recipient of much praise from journalists at IGN and 1Up, Electronic Arts’ Vancouver Studio has reinvigorated hockey for gamers with their innovative “skill stick.”  So what is new for NHL 2009?  Is it just going to be another roster update with a few extra skating animations thrown in?  The answer is a resounding no.  Once again, the NHL franchise will be pushing the thinking forward for sports games, integrating a new and very exciting feature called the EA Sports Hockey League (EASHL).  Really rolls off the tongue doesn’t it?  Ok, maybe not.  For millions of hockey fans that live and breathe hockey, this may be the feature that you have been waiting for.  For all other sports fans, you can bet that the NHL test bed for this idea will find itself soon in Madden, Fifa and many more EA titles to come.

So what exactly is the EASHL?  It isn’t just another online mode…it’s basically an introduction of RPG elements into the sports genre with a dash of MMO for flavour.  In the EASHL, you take control of your own player and you (yes you, it is your name on the back of that jersey and your real name that appears on the leaderboards – not your gamertag), play online and are graded on your performance.  With the new performance tracker feature, you are graded on how well you play hockey, not on how well you play a video game.  A new system for tracking your progress and skills allows players to “level up” their hockey player by attributing skill points and improving stats…just like an RPG.  Perform well on a consistent basis and your hulking power forward will improve with you.

When you first begin there will be 10 player types to choose from across 3 categories of players:

Forwards: dangler, grinder, playmaker, power forward, sniper
Defensemen: defensive defenseman, offensive defenseman
Goalies: stand up, hybrid, butterfly

Want to be the next Sidney Crosby?  Become a playmaker.  Think you may be the next coming of Patrick Roy…choose a butterfly style goalie.  Point is, you get to tailor your own player and make him into a superstar…that is, if you have the skills to back it up.

So how do the RPG elements work?  As you play online with your created skater you will be awarded hockey cards which give you points to spend on your player’s growth in three areas: offense, defense, and athleticism for skaters and reflexes, puck control, and athleticism for goalies.  You may choose to level up your player across any of the three areas.  Even better, if you decide at any point in your career to change player types you retain all of the points you have earned and can redistribute your skill points to the new player type.

So how is it like an MMO?  All of this player development takes place online in the EASHL with teams made up entirely of gamers just like you.  You will have to work with your team and play your position if you are to have any chance of winning.  Players can emerge online as snipers, grinders or shutdown defensive specialists.  Best of all, it will be your name the opponents fear.  As you prove yourself online you will ascend the leaderboards and can challenge for the distinction of being the best player in the game at your position.  For once the leaderboards truly will mean something.

For anyone that has ever played a sports game this has to come as exciting news.  Finally, gamers have the chance to prove themselves in a system that rewards the player for playing better than everyone else.  Maybe it will finally help answer the question that all sports fans ask…who is the best?

If you want to learn more about the game be sure to check out the official NHL 2009 website here.

Bungie Plays it Safe

Is it just me or was the recent revelation that Bungie Studios is rumoured to be announcing a Halo prequel very disappointing? Are gamers really ready for another installment with Halo 3 still fresh in our minds? Sure the Halo franchise has been great ride. I’ll be the first to admit I played and won them all within 24 hours of their release dates. But I can’t help but wish that Bungie, newly separated from Microsoft Game Studios (MGS), would put their immense talent into developing a new intellectual property. Something we have never seen before. They are basically the forefathers of the modern day first person shooter on consoles. With so much creative talent one can only imagine what other pet projects they have on the backburner or filed away in a desk somewhere.

With that being said, what has led to this decision to retread old ground?

Is Bungie continuing to work on the Halo franchise because the fans are demanding it? Do you, as a gamer, want another adventure with Master Chief? For me the answer is no. I think Bungie did a good job of wrapping up the story (if you want to call it that) and left the franchise on a high note with Halo 3. The multiplayer was amazing and still ranks in the top 3 most played games on Xbox Live month after month. Truthfully, I’m just not sure there are many new directions to take this franchise…and I fear it will only lead to disappointment in the future.

Maybe it’s part of the deal signed with Microsoft when they struck out to be independent. Perhaps they were only permitted to distance themselves from MGS if they promised to continue developing games exclusively for the Xbox 360 for a certain number of years. That would certainly make sense for a company like Microsoft strictly from a business perspective. In effect, Bungie would be unable to develop games for rivals Nintendo or Sony. The console wars continue…unless the unthinkable happens to Xbox 360 fanboys and the game is announced for multiple platforms (retribution at hand for Sony fans perhaps?)

Heck, it may just be that Bungie loves Master Chief and the Halo universe so much that they are eager to visit it again. For some reason, I think this may not be the case. They have worked on Halo games now for the better part of a decade. It’s like eating macaroni and cheese every day. Sure you love mac and cheese, but on the one day you are offered the chance for a hamburger wouldn’t you take it?  I don’t think Bungie was allowed to reach for that burger…at least not yet.

Regardless of the reasons a new Halo game is on the way. And that only leaves one question remaining…are you happy about the upcoming game that is essentially Halo 4? Is this something you wished for every time you saw a falling star? You know what I think already. Let’s hear what you have to say.

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Too Human Demo: Vindication for Denis Dyack

Everyone knows the long and sordid history of Silicon Knights’ new game for the Xbox 360, Too Human.  It had a terrible showing at E3 in 2006, is part of a huge lawsuit against Unreal 3 engine maker Epic Games and is being led by one of the industries most outspoken individuals in Denis Dyack.  Since that poor showing in 2006 Too Human has been on its heels trying to repair the damage done by an on-floor demo that was crippled by an incomplete Unreal Engine and in a form not ready to be seen by the public.  For Dyack, this battle has raged on now for almost 3 years…and is finally about to come to its dramatic conclusion.  The game is finally releasing in August of 2008 and, as promised, Canada’s own Silicon Knights have released a demo for a game many not only expect to fail, but want to fail.  Dyack has ruffled enough feathers and talked enough game to rile up the most outspoken gamers in the community.  The question now is, did Dyack deliver a hit, or is it another Haze?

Once I fired up the game I was already impressed with the visuals.  This has been a point of contention on the net with many claiming that the game looks no better than PS2 games with sparse envirnoment and terrible character models.  Well, no, it certainly doesn’t look like a PS2 game.  I have just come off playing some of the best games that the PS2 has to offer in God of War 2, Okami and MGS2.  Too Human takes them all to school.  The art design is excellent and the norse setting make for a truly unique game world.  Character models look good, not great.  Certainly, Too Human should not be confused with the visual powerhouses of the industry – think Gears of War 2 and Killzone 2.  However, the game manages to have its own style and it works well here.

In the demo only one character class is unlocked, but you can access all of them through some easter eggs that the Silicon team threw in there.  If you want to try all the classes, here is how you do it:

1. Disconnect from Xbox Live.
2. In the Dashboard go to System blade > Console Settings > Clock
3. Go to “Date and Time” and change the year from 2008 to 2009
4. Launch the Too Human Demo
5. By changing the date you have already unlocked the Berserker and Commando classes
6. To play as the Defender or Bio-Engineer position the screen on that character class.  Then simultaneously flick the left thumbstick right and press A, to play the demo as a Defender or Bio-Engineer

Sounds complicated but its as easy as pie.  Definitely check out all the classes.  I’ve now gone through and played the demo with all of them and they are all unique with very different sets of abilities.

Now, the important part.  How is the gameplay?  Does the fixed camera work?  Is it fun to play?  Well, the short answer to all those questions is yes.  As Dyack has been claiming all along, you really need to experience Too Human before you will understand it and how it plays.  I’m inclined now to agree with him.  Watching countless videos and looking through screenshots isn’t going to convey how this game feels, and it feels great.  Using the right thumbstick to attack with the triggers as guns is not only intuitive, but is surprisingly deep.  The combo system and air juggling turned out to be far more robust than I imagined and had a great time dispatching the hordes of cybernetic enemies that litter the screen.  Many people have worried that the combat may be too simplistic, but I would challenge that notion after having played the game.  I only played about 45 min of the demo with a low level character and was still learning the intricacies of the combat as I tried each character class.

Check out the video to learn more about the game from Dyack himself:

The bottom line is that Silicon Knights has delivered.  While it won’t be the most graphically impressive game to arrive this year, the unique combat system, incredibly deep loot and customization system and what appears could be an engaging story all add up to an experience that I am officially excited to begin.  I have to give Dyack credit.  His game is good.  My only hope is that enough people give it a chance so the trilogy can be completed.  Before you write this game off be sure to try the demo.  It may change your mind faster than you think.  I already pre-ordered the game…let’s make it the success it deserves to be!

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MEGATON: Final Fantasy XIII announced for Xbox 360

A day that will live in infamy.

Just in, Square Enix President and CEO Yoichi Wada has just announced at E3 that Final Fantasy XIII is coming to the Xbox 360.  This is a massive coup for Microsoft that has been trying for years to get the legendary franchise onto the console.

Obviously, more details to come.  The internet just exploded with this news.  Don’t believe me (because it is that unbelievable) then you can see the announcement yourself below.

E3 Countdown Begins…Time for all 3 Platforms to Show their Hands

As all gamers know, the biggest and most interesting game conference is just around the corner.  As is always the case, Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft will bringing out the big guns and showing the world why their console is the best.  Expect big new game announcements, new peripherals, firmware upgrades, movie services and the list goes on.

Check out just a few of the rumoured announcements that are making the rounds:

• PS3 and Xbox 360 have motion control on the way
• Halo 4 is in development already by Bungie
• Final Fantasy XIII will be there
• Alan Wake may be there
• the Xbox 360 will introduce a motion controlled dashboard (like seen in Minority Report)

And the list goes on.  This is the big industry event that sends game journalists into an over-stimulated frenzy.  Every year there are surprises that catch everyone off guard and the anticipation for the event can be felt throughout the gaming community.  You’d be hard pressed to find a gaming site that doesn’t have full blown, insane coverage of E3.

That being said, IGN has some awesome countdowns for the most exciting parts of E3….the press conferences for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo.  Make sure you don’t miss them.  It would suck to miss Peter Jackson walk out with an assault rifle only to announce his next movie is Halo.

Microsoft E3 2008 Press Conference Coverage at IGN

Nintendo E3 2008 Press Conference Coverage at IGN

Sony E3 2008 Press Conference Coverage at IGN

So sit back and relax…or get more excited with each passing second. The countdowns certainly don’t hurt the anticipation…

Why is Everybody Ignoring Dead Space? Here are 4 Reasons to be Excited

There, I said it.  Dead Space is being completely ignored by the gaming community already.  Why?  Well, for starters it comes out on October 31st this fall, smack dab in the middle of juggernauts such as Resistance 2, Gears of War 2, Little Big Planet and on and on.  True, there are in fact so many highly anticipated games coming out this fall that it’s easy for a new IP like Dead Space to get lost in the shuffle.  Frankly, that is unfortunate for many reasons.

First of all, the game is looking great.  The visuals look amazing and the atmosphere is very reminiscent of the Alien Trilogy (Quadrilogy my ass). If you enjoyed watching Ripley battle aliens in dark corridors against insurmountable odds this game should be on your radar.

Second, the story is almost exactly the same as the now legendary Ridley Scott directed Alien film…and that’s a good thing.  Set on a mining ship that is in, you guessed it, deep space, protagonist Isaac Clarke finds himself up against an alien species called “Necromorphs” that have taken over the ship and killed everybody.  It’s a classic science fiction story and one that perfectly creates a situation where you are completely alone and afraid.

Third, Dead Space is a third-person survival horror game that is very similar to Resident Evil 4 and the upcoming Resident Evil 5.  Chances are, if you like those types of games, this one will be much the same…only with less zombies and a sci-fi twist.

Fourth and finally, this game is a brand new IP from EA, a company that is traditionally very hesitant to take chances and move in creative new directions.  There is far too much money involved these days with developing new IP’s and the fact that EA is taking a chance on a new one is a positive sign not only for the industry but for gamers.  If you are tired of playing sequels and the same games that have been rehashed over and over again, now is the chance to throw your support behind a game that is trying something new.   Lets be honest, new IP’s don’t come along very often because of the financial risks involved. Too often a great new IP will be released that is gains universal critical acclaim…only to catch on too late with gamers. Fans of the amazing PS2 game Okami will agree that the game should have had far more success with the gaming community.

If you are one of the many that has not even seen this game yet be sure to check out the trailer below.  Better yet, be sure to see the awesome developer commentary video. Science fiction fans should be excited.

I think this game is going to be worth taking a “chance” on.  To learn more from someone that has actually played the game, check out a hands-on preview written by IGN’s Hilary Goldstein.

To be clear, I’m not advocating that you should go out and buy this game…yet. But if it comes out and is actually really good I only hope that gamers will give it a chance. Otherwise, all we may have to look forward from EA will be the next iterations of Tiger Woods and Burnout for years to come.

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Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness Review

Fans of Penny Arcade have long known that this game was coming…but has anybody else noticed? Released on Xbox Live Arcade and the PC, Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness (Darkness from here on) manages to create a game that will delight fans of the comics and will make RPG fans stand up (or likely sit down) and take notice. The game follows the exploits of Gabe and Tycho as they try to uncover the mysteries of giant robots, mimes, clowns and hobos. On first glance, the games story seems preposterous…but for Penny Arcade it works. The developers have done an admirable job of creating a world and atmosphere that really let the unique humour of Penny Arcade shine through. While the humour may not be for everyone, for those that enjoy it, Darkness manages to make you laugh, which is the point isn’t it?

Many gamers will end up mistaking Darkness for an adventure game. Even those who download the demo may not get far enough into the story to realize that Darkness is in fact an RPG, and a very good one at that. RPG fans should take notice. The battle system in Darkness utilizes real time mechanics but adds a turn based flavour (Final Fantasy fans may yawn at this point…but there’s more). As you select commands for your group you are also responsible for blocking enemy attacks, which actually is a game in itself. Timing a block takes practice and it will keep you on your toes throughout the game. Like any good RPG, each character has a special attack that charges over time and can be unleashed after completing a successful mini-game. In action, the battle mode is at the same time frenetic but also very strategic. It needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

Technically, Darkness looks and runs great. The cartoonish animations and comic panel approach give the game an authentic comic book feel that works incredibly well. Add in some Mass Effectesque dialogue trees and the game does well to immerse you into its crazy world and ridiculous story. Darkness is easily one of the best looking XBLA games to-date.

Of course, there is some bad with the good. The cost of entry for Darkness is a bit high at $20, making it the most expensive stand-alone XBLA title so far. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if the game was a bit longer…most gamers will be finished with Darkness after 7-9 hours. Unfortunately, Darkness doesn’t lend itself to multiple playthroughs, so once you are done, you likely won’t be replaying it. In addition, despite being relatively short the game still manages to require a fair amount of backtracking which may turn off some gamers.

The Good:

+ Fantastic battle mode mechanics
+ Refreshing humour (if you like Penny Arcade especially)
+ Graphics and presentation are great

The Bad:

- A bit short at 7-9 hours of gameplay
- Some backtracking
- High cost of entry

The Verdict: BUY IT

Penny Arcade’s first game manages to overcome a high price tag with a game that will win over RPG fans and Penny Arcade enthusiasts alike. For those who are on the fence, at the very least you should try the demo. For me, I’m already looking forward to the next episode. Let’s just hope they don’t make us wait too long.

If you want to see the game in action, check out a clip here:

Prince of Persia Reinvented for Next Gen

For anyone that owned a Playstation 2 or Xbox, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was likely a title you picked up…and enjoyed. Controlling time and picking your way through the immense palace to save the princess with the acrobatic prince was incredibly fun. Due to its huge success there was an inevitable sequel that took on a much darker tone: The Warrior Within. The second installment focused much more on combat and seemed to get away from what made the prince such a likable character in the first game. Then, the trilogy was completed in The Two Thrones. Sadly, the formula felt tired at this point and the prince faded away into obscurity…until now.

Ubisoft has been hard at work on a new Prince of Persia game and has finally lifted the curtain on the next-generation reinvention of the Prince (though apparently he isn’t a Prince in this iteration). Rather than follow the previous storyline, the new game is a full reboot of the franchise. Gone are the abilities to control time and the princess. This time around, you are a vagrant who is swept up in events that lead you into a battle against “the corruption” a black ooze like substance that is released upon the land. While details of the story are still very sparse, it has been revealed that the prince will have an AI companion named Elika who will work with the Prince throughout the game.

While still very early, the visuals for the game look impressive. Instead of going the usual route, the new Prince will take on an “illustrative” look and feel…which is hard to explain and must been seen. The shots look amazing (courtesy IGN).

To see why this game is something to get excited about, check out the first video of the game posted by IGN. I think it’s all CG, but it certainly does the trick of getting Prince fans excited for his return this fall.

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