Apocalypso's Atomic Arcade: 3/7/10

2010/03/13

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Teaser Trailer

Those rumours about the fact that Deus Ex 3 is now subtitled “Human Revolution”, after a trademark filing was discovered earlier this year, were correct. Deus Ex 3 is now officially known as Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

And that little hint about a big reveal for the game that was going around recently? It was a trailer which was revealed at the GDC just recently, presented by Eidos Montreal, the developers of the game.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

The trailer is two minutes long, and it’s mainly just CG stuff, made with the help of Square Enix, and no real in-game footage is in it. The trailer introduces the character Adam Jensen, or AJ. You remember, JC… right? The screenshots that we saw the other day - the one with the lighter and cigarette - are from this trailer.

It starts of with some scene which involves AJ flying into the sun like Icarus in Greek Mythology. Of course Icarus is a name familiar to people who’ve played Deus Ex. And then we see AJ showing off some of biomechanical augmentations like secondary eyelids which act like sunglasses, and look, wrist blades like X-Men’s Wolverine or possibly out of Assassin’s Creed. Don’t leave home without them.

Still no mention of a release date, but I expect it will be this year sometime, probably in Q3 or Q4. The reason I day this is because more details are promised to be revealed at E3, and that’s only in June. No official confirmation on consoles either, but PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 look to be a safe bet, seeing as the logos for these platforms appear at the end of the trailer.

One thing that has been confirmed though, is that DX:HE will not feature multiplayer, and will be strictly a singleplayer experience, as Deus Ex should be.

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Source: Shacknews

2010/03/12

Ghost Recon Short Film Going to be Made

Ubisoft made a series of short live action films based on Assassin’s Creed II last year before the game’s release on consoles, of which I managed to catch one or two. Now they want to do the same with Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. And the film is going to be directed by Academy Award [Oscar] winners, Francois Alaux and Herve de Crecy. The film that won the Oscar was a short film by the name of Logorama.

Ubisoft will reportedly spend somewhere around $10 million to make this 20 minute short film, a prequel to Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, which is being written by Tim Sexton, who had something to do with a little film called Children of Men, which has been regarded by some as one of the best science fiction films of the last ten years.

So, the effort put into this and the resulting quality should be pretty good.

There’s been no word on when the movie will come out, but the game will be out by the end of the year sometime, so 2010 would be my guess…

P.S. I need some new Ghost Recon images to use in my posts, I know. There should be some new screens in OPM sometime soon. Do us a favour and upload some… anybody?

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Sources: Heat Vision – Big Download

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier First Details

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is featured in Official PlayStation Magazine’s latest issue, nearly out now, and some details of the game have been given.

Just like the other titles, the game take place in the near future, supposedly ten to fifteen years after the events of Ghost Recon Advanced Fighter 2, and sees the ghosts going against more ultranationalists.

In the game, we all ready know that you’ll be able to use optical camouflage, or cloak, like in Crysis, and exo-skeleton legs which allow the player to jump and roll, which you couldn’t do in previous titles, much to my frustration.

Just like other Ghost Recon titles though, there’s close quarters urban combat.

There’s four player co-op, and interestingly when they talk about tools that players can use depending on their class type, you get optical camo for the Recon class, shoulder mounted missiles for the Commando, and heart sensors.

Now, when you think of heart sensors, you’re probably going to think, Ah, another one copying Modern Warfare 2. But remember that heart sensors were featured in the first Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six games over ten tears ago – except they weren’t mounted onto the side of assault rifles, and operated a little differently. Still…

Another thing which is a first for the series is there won’t be any squad commands, which didn’t work in GRAW anyway, as far as I remember. So it’s probably not hard to see why.

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Sources: TVG

2010/03/11

New Medal of Honor Screenshots [Screens]

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Some people don’t like commentary to go with photos, claiming that it bores readers to death. But I love it!

Besides, I’ve read that it’s not good to have just pictures in a post, and that should at least have a few lines of text, as it’s better for SEO or search engine optimisation and all that stuff that I don’t understand too well.

Anyway, these are the new Medal of Honor screenshots released the other day. Let’s see what we have: there are two guys who I swear are undercover, because they look Middle Eastern, but are using US army issue gear and weapons – they feature in quite a few of the screenshots released for the game so far; we have some nice views of the deserts and rocky hills and mountains; some city streets and slums; the ATV or 4-wheeler which also features in Bad Company 2, but didn’t appear in Modern Warfare 2 (HA!); a helicopter – let’s hope you can fly it or at least shoot out of it; and some urban close quarters combat.

Onto related news: I read that a new trailer for Medal of Honor will be arriving on Friday. I’ve also gotten info from the main website that the game’s write-up and trailers and such are available on Xbox Live Marketplace.

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Source: medalofhonor.com

Corey Haim Passes Away at 38, Double Switch?

Yesterday, the 10th of March, marked the day that Corey Ian Haim, the once famous Canadian child star and teen idol from the 80’s, passed away. He was 38. The LA police say that it looks like it was an overdose of drugs. Whether intentional or not is still to be determined. An autopsy will take place on his body to find more answers.

In addition to reading all the tweets on Twitter about his passing, I just happened to read on Games Radar that in addition to films, in which he usually co-starred along side another 80’s heartthrob by the name of Corey Feldman, he also had a game which starred non other than Corey Haim, called Double Switch. It’s apparently the only game that ever starred the actor.

You might not have known this, especially if you didn’t know who Corey Haim was [and quite a few people don’t apparently, especially the younger ones, but some of the older ones too – but that’s probably from Alzheimer's]. I decided to to a little digging and see what I could find.

It was a full motion video game developed and published by Digital Pictures, and released for several platforms, including the Sega CD, Sega Saturn, Mac, and Windows, in the early to mid 90’s. It was one of the first DirectX games for Windows 95.

The game got mixed reviews, with the Windows version reviewed by CVG back in 1996 giving it a full 5 stars, and most of the other reviews, based on the Saturn CD version went from average to good. Most compared it to another earlier game called Night Trap.

Other than Corey Haim, it also starred R. Lee Ermey, a guy you might remember as "Gunny" from Full Metal Jacket.

When they talk about trap ‘em ups, the one I remember most was Home Alone, which I played on DOS years ago. That was an awesome game.

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Source: Games Radar

2010/03/10

Video Game Deals on Amazon: Avatar, Xbox 360 Bundles

So this week we’ve got two new Xbox 360 Bundles to look at, which you’ll find below. As for games, the best notable ones (which means games I’ve heard of) include deals on Twin Sector for the PC, Avatar on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and a deal on SAW, that game based on the movie, for the 360 as well.

Best deals:

Imagine: Soccer Captain - $9.96 - Save $16.28 [DS]
Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun [Game Download] - $6.99 - Save $13.00 [PC]
Elements of Destruction - $9.06 - Save $10.93 [PC]
Twin Sector - $17.98 - Save $10.51 [PC]
XIII Century: Blood of Europe [Game Download] - $19.99 - Save $10.00 [PC]

Consoles, bundles, and special deals:

Xbox 360 Elite bundle with Forza 3 and ODST - $299.99

Splinter Cell Conviction 360 Bundle - $399.00

Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun [Game Download] - $6.99 - Save $13.00
Elements of Destruction - $9.06 - Save $10.93
Twin Sector - $17.98 - Save $10.51
XIII Century: Blood of Europe [Game Download] - $19.99 - Save $10.00

PS2

Stuntman: Ignition - $7.88 - Save $7.11

PS3

Karaoke Revolution: Presents American Idol Encore 2 w/Microphone - $17.47 - Save $8.87
Avatar - $29.99 - Save $9.97

Xbox 360

Avatar - $29.99 - Save $8.00
UFC Undisputed - $22.98 - Save $6.98
SAW - $29.00 - Save $10.00

Nintendo DS

Imagine: Soccer Captain - $9.96 - Save $16.28
Petz Hamsterz Superstarz - $15.40 - Save $10.00

Nintendo Wii

Jonas - $9.99 - Save $9.97
Nerf 2: N-Strike Elite - $29.99 - Save $9.01

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Source: Nowinstock.net

Jagged Alliance Gets New Publisher, In Development Again

Last year, almost all hope on Jagged Alliance 3 ever seeing the light of day was lost when it was reported that development on the title had ceased and the game was possibly cancelled.

The German publisher known as bitComposer Games, which recently published Stalker: Call of Pripyat in Europe, has now obtained the rights to Jagged Alliance 3, which has been in the proverbial development hell for years now. Not only Jagged Alliance 3, but apparently the entire Jagged Alliance IP has been obtained from Strategy First.

"Although Jagged Alliance 2 was published over ten years ago now, the game still represents a milestone in the genre and boasts a huge following of loyal fans."

"We are delighted to acquire this classic game for bitComposer, and want to continue the success of the previous titles in the series, while giving the new version a contemporary look, bearing in mind the strong features of its predecessors."

A new developer for the game still has to be revealed, and platforms confirmed, but it’s a safe bet that the PC will be in there somewhere, seeing as that was the plan initially. A release date is said to be somewhere in 2011, so it won’t be out anytime soon, obviously. Apparently the game is in a preliminary development stage.

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Source: Shacknews

Keen Dreams: Finger Bang You

The Keen Dreams series is all about video games in dreams, or video games and dreams, or dreams in video games. You get the picture.

I’ve noticed something that is a recurring element in all my dreams involving violence of some sort. I always shoot with my hand. You remember when you were a kid, and you would run around shouting “Phew, Phew!” and “Bang, you’re dead!” while holding your hand in the shape of a pistol with your finger extended, sometimes simulating the squeeze of the trigger?

That’s exactly what I mean. And it frustrates me, even during the dream. I’m like, where the hell is my gun? Why the hell am I shooting with my finger? Damn it, man!
Sometimes it’s even worse when the baddies in my dreams have guns of some sort, and here I am with my finger, shouting “Bang!”, “Kapow!”, and so on, while they have a big rifle. It’s very emasculating and makes you feel so very small.

It’s even worse when your squad all have guns, and they’re like “Take point!”, while sniggering to themselves. Very funny. Just wait until I get a gun and blow your head off for that! But I eventually have to settle for poking him in the eye.

But maybe it’s a representation of what it’s like in video games, if you think about it. When I sit there on my PC, playing Duke Nukem 3D [yes, I still play that game, and yes I still play PC games], I’m using my finger on the mouse to shoot the gun in-game.

I have held a real gun several times, though. Years ago my dad had a .22 target pistol, which was a rare one, seeing as it was a nine shot revolver instead of an eight or ten, which were more common. That got stolen. Then there was the big Webley& Scott .45 revolver, an antique heirloom, nearly one hundred years old, which he ended up handing in to the police at the pig sty. That pissed me off no end.
I even have several air rifles, and paint ball guns, and some model shotguns and pistols. Hell, I’ve still got some plastic pistols modelled on a Colt 1911 .45 hanging around.

And yet, my mind chooses to place me in a dangerous situation, surrounded by mean men with big guns, and I have my bloody finger.

You know what? I think it was because I watched that movie Race to Witch Mountain recently, and some guy was always in some situation where he would be saying “Gun? a Gun please.” But even that guy got a gun in the end.

Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?

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2010/03/09

BioShock’s Arcadia Demade in Doom II

This is quite old. The original was posted at the end of February, and the first I heard of it was early March, like the 2nd. Anyway, it’s made its way all over the internet, and ended up here eventually.

Some guy who was involved in the making of BioShock and BioShock 2, Jean-Paul LeBreton, demade the great level in BioShock called Arcadia, which was probably one of the spookiest and most well-designed places in the game. He “demade” it in Doom II.

“Inspired partly by TIGSource’s amazing Bootleg Demakes Competition, I used a modern Doom level editor called SLADE to recreate Arcadia and the Farmer’s Market, the sections of BioShock on which I was the primary designer. It’s a monster of a level, crammed full of weird little BioShock-to-Doom transmutations and symbolism. If you’re a fan of either game, I hope you enjoy it.”

And the best part is that you don’t just have to look at it. He’s put it up for download. Included in the zip file is the Doom WAD, instructions, as well as developer commentary on the level. I’m glad to see that some people other than I haven’t forgotten about the classics.

Demakes are all the rage right now. Remember that Left 4 Dead demake? I might just give this a try. I’ve got ZDoom and Doomsday around here somewhere…

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Source

Hex in the City: Issue #2 [Video Game Comics]

This is just another one of those comics I talked about, that I made years ago. As you can tell, it’s Benny the lovable guard from Thief, with Garrett in his Thief II: The Metal Age get-up.

2010/03/08

Duke Nukem Eternity Sees its First Release, and First Patch

I covered this just the other day, saying that a release for this game was scheduled for this month. Well, just like I said, it’s been out for a few days now: the first episode of Duke Nukem Eternity, a mod for EDuke32 (source port for Duke Nukem 3D) and the HRP.

As Bluesnews puts it: “it’s a mod of a mod for a source port”.

But damn, it’s looking good.

The first official patch for the mod is available too. And a walkthrough for the episode is available on YouTube.

Note that you need EDuke32, the HRP, Polymer (comes with later releases of EDuke32), and DukePlus in order to run this mod.

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Source: Mod DB - Bluesnews

Apocalypse Then: Firestorm

10 Years of Firestorm

Back in 2000, around the end of February, beginning of March (damn release dates – Wikipedia says it’s today, the 8th), Firestorm, the sole expansion for the RTS great, Command& Conquer: Tiberian Sun, was released.

It brought some new GDI and NOD units to play with, new upgrades, new maps, a random map generator, and a whole new story and missions.

Recently EA released both Tiberian Sun and Firestorm as freeware, and you can download them off the C&C website.

New Lara Croft Game to be Available Digitally

2009 went by without a Tomb Raider game. The last one was Tomb Raider: Underworld, in 2008.

Well now we know that a new game will be coming, but it’s not Tomb Raider: it’s just Lara Croft – Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, to be precise. And another first is that this game will not be available retail wise, it seems, but via digital distribution outlets, perhaps like Steam.

And there have been some details leaked about the game, which say that the game will be top-down isometric game designed for co-operative play. Players can choose to control Lara or some Mayan dude named Totec.

"This is a really exciting project for Crystal Dynamics, we have created something completely new and very different to what people might be expecting," Crystal Dynamics general manager Darrell Gallagher said in a press release. "Lara Croft is such an iconic character in videogames, with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light we have created what we believe is a truly original digital experience."

More details on the game will be made public at GDC (Game Developers’ Conference) this week.

Personally, I think there’s a reason that this game doesn’t have the Tomb Raider title in it. Because this isn’t a Tomb Raider game – not really. This is just some game to tide people over until the next TR release probably, sort of like Duke Nukem Manhattan Project was supposed to be a bridge between the main games in the DN series, namely Duke Nukem 3D and Duke Nukem Forever – except the latter title never did come out, or hasn’t yet, anyway. That sounds very optimistic.

Sorry for the Duke Nukem reference – I’m playing a lot of Duke Nukem 3D lately. But seriously, if it really was Tomb Raider, there would be a retail release, mass promotion, and new technology, not going back in time with top-down isometric views (not that there’s anything wrong with that – I’m all for retro stuff).

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Source: Gamespot

2010/03/07

Portal 2 Officially on the way, Some Details Floating Around

April Issue Cover of Game Informer

Portal is a sequel of sorts to Narbacular Drop, which was developed by a bunch of college kids, before they were typically recruited by Valve, famous for employing modders and the likes, and the game was released in the form and under the name it’s known as today.

It was released in the Orange Box, along with Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life 2 Episodes 1 and 2. The game was praised as a witty, humourous, and ingenious take on the puzzle game genre, and although it lacked guns of any sort, besides the portal gun, it still managed to win over many fans.

Well, if you’re not the sort of person who was bored to death by the game, then you’ll be pleased to know that a sequel, Portal 2, has officially been announced by Valve, and Game Informer is the lucky one to get the first details on it in their magazine. The April edition will have a cover story on the title [1].

Some details that have been leaked so far include "a stand-alone, full-price retail release" (unlike the preqeul), "new gameplay mechanics, storyline, and some surprising new twists."

Details were also deciphered in some Morse code messages hidden in updates for Portal 1, and have revealed that the baddie in the game will be one Cave Johnson [4].

GameStop says that the game will feature separate two-player cooperative campaign, as well, and the retail price will be $60 for the console version, and $50 for the PC one [2].

“Coming this holiday. Portal 2 is the sequel to 2007's Game of the Year and draws from the award-winning formula of innovative game play, story, and music that earned the original over 70 industry accolades. Features single and multiplayer co-op modes.

The single-player portion of Portal 2 introduces a cast of dynamic new characters, a host of fresh puzzle elements, and a much larger set of devious test chambers. Players will explore never-before-seen areas of the Aperture Science Labs and be reunited with GLaDOS, the occasionally murderous computer companion who guided them through the original game. The game's two-player cooperative mode features its own entirely separate campaign with a unique story, test chambers, and two new player characters. This new mode forces players to reconsider everything they thought they knew about portals. Success will require them to not just act cooperatively, but to think cooperatively.”

Portal 2 should be out this holiday season (November, early December, probably), 2010, and it will be available on PC, Mac, and Xbox 360 [3].

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Source: [1] Game Informer - [2] Kotaku - [3] Eurogamer – [4] MTV

Video Games Coming out This Week [03-07 – 03-13, 2010]: Assassin’s Creed II PC, Resident Evil Gold

AAA’s Targets of the Week: Assassin's Creed II, BioShock 2: Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition

Yes, this week seems to be another stacked one. We have Assassin’s Creed II for the PC, which seems to have jumped forward a week – it was supposed to come out on the 16th initially, but now it’s the 9th. DRM issues aside, I can’t wait to get my hands on this game!

In addition to that big release, there's also been confirmation that BioShock 2’s first DLC, Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, will be out this week for all platforms (PC, Xbox 360, PS3), barely a month after the release of the original game which has done very well for itself.

Another bunch of DLC that’s coming out this week is in the form of Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition, a retail edition of Resident Evil 5 but this time packed with the two DLC packs, Lost in Nightmares, and Desperate Escape – but only for the console versions of the game. Doesn’t look like anybody’s bothered with the PC, as usual.

As for the rest, no doubt everybody’s excited about Final Fantasy XIII [13]. Apart from that being one of my favourite numbers, I’m not really into the whole FF thing. And there’s Warhammer 40, 000: Dawn of War II Gold Edition, as well as Supreme Commander 2 for the Xbox 360. The PC version saw a release last week.

Available links will as usual take you to game detail pages at Amazon, Direct2Drive, Steam, etc., where you can pick up the game of your choice, or just browse like most people do.

Full list of titles coming out this week:

Assassin's Creed II [Amazon - Retail] [Direct2Drive - Digital]
Battle of the Immortals [Free MMORPG]
BioShock 2: Sinclair Solutions Test Pack [GFWL]
Order of War: Challenge [Steam]
Project Runway
Rise of Prussia [Digital Distribution]
Sam & Max: Season Two - Beyond Time and Space
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising [Steam]
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Gold Edition