NAG October 2011 Issue Out This Week

The new NAG is on the shelf today. But the local 711 (now Friendly 711) near where I live says that it won’t be in on Thursdays from now on – they can only manage Fridays, maybe Saturday.

Maybe I’ve mentioned this before, but I read in the NAG years back that to get the NAG on Monday is impossible; Tuesday is rare; Wednesday is uncommon; Thursday is common; Friday is definite; and Saturday or Sunday means that you should try buying the magazine elsewhere in the future. I didn’t ever think I would fall in to the last category. But I have. I should really consider subscribing after all these years. You think I would have learned by now.

Anyway, this NAG has some special stuff in it. There’s a big Borderlands 2 feature – and if you know NAG, you’ll know they’re massive Borderlands fanboys, the lot of them.

There’s some “impressions” or a preview of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, Darksiders II and The Darkness II (try not to get confused). There’s reviews of some worthwhile games for a change. Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Resistance 3, F.E.A.R. 3 – some good solid games there.

Unfortunately for the DVD, it seems that NAG has gone back to putting whatever they like on the DVD again, as for the life of me I can’t see a new DVD Suggestion thread on the forum – it used to be a sticky at the top of the “gaming” section. There was a lack of one last month, and this month it’s the same. It was mostly rubbish that was posted there anyway. People were asked to post direct links and they didn’t. Nobody reads anymore.

But I don’t even need the DVD anymore, seeing as I’ve still got a broadband deal for the next few months – and I’m putting it to good use even though the service often sucks. I wonder why I just don’t stop buying the NAG altogether. You think I would have learned by now.

The DVD has the usual trailers, plus some new Pop Fiction videos – which I look forward to. There’s also the some Rage teaser clips and mp3s showing all of those who didn’t go just what they missed out on. Living in Cape Town sucks if you’re a gamer. Barely any LANs; no expos like Rage; full of jocks – this is starting to sound like that column from an issue or two ago. Stop it.
----
http://www.nag.co.za/
http://www.nag.co.za/forums/showthread.php?17607-NAG-October-2011-issue

NAG October 2011 Issue Out This Week

Video Game Character Lookalikes: Matt Horner [StarCraft II]

We’re back with another instalment in the Video Game Character lookalikes series.

As you know, StarCraft II was released to much critical acclaim in July, and I couldn’t help but notice while playing the game that one character in particular reminded me of an A-list actor.

You know Matt Horner? That generic-named, goody two shoes captain of the Hyperion starship which was “borrowed” from the Dominion? He’s a dead ringer for Christian Bale, don’t you think?
Come on, they’ve got the same face basically, the same hair colour more or less, and Horner even shares the same hairline as Christian.

             
                           Christian Bale                             Matt Horner

                              “Little Matt Horner sh@t in a corner.”

Video Game Character Lookalikes: Matt Horner [StarCraft II]

September 2010 Issue of NAG out This Week

It’s nearly that time again. Yeah, last Thursday of the month. And that means NAG time! The post detailing it over at NAG Online was up early this time.

As you can see, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II gets the cover, and should also get an award for one of the longest video game titles in recent memory. It makes Rage a great pleasure to type in comparison.
Previews include Dead Rising 2, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (there’s a review of it in the Techno Times supplement that comes with the Cape Times – it turns out it ain’t that good, just average). There’s also a look at Portal 2, Fable III, which will be hitting the PC this time too, and Killzone 3.

Reviews don’t seem to have anything special apart a feature review on StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Cracking game that. I’m playing it right now.

The Cover DVD has a demo of Kane & Lynch 2 on it (my brother all ready bought the game – I’ll have to ask him if it’s worth a try). It also says there on the contents page that there are 11 Free games, and of course the videos. All 200 of them. Well, it’s not that many – about 153 at least – but close enough.
----
Source: [NAG Online]

September 2010 Issue of NAG out This Week

Best Selling Video Games and Products on Amazon in April 2010

So let’s have a look at what were the best sellers for last month on Amazon as far as video games and related products are concerned.

It’s interesting, yet not surprising to see StarCraft II, a PC and Mac only game, on both lists this time. Usually it’s just console stuff.

Other games like SSFIV, Read Dead Redemption is there too, and God War III is still hanging in there from last month where it was number 1.

Best Selling Games:

1. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board
2. Super Street Fighter IV [PS3]
3. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition [PC]
4. Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]
5. Just Dance [Wii]
6. God of War III [PS3]
7. New Super Mario Bros. Wii [Wii]
8. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction [Xbox 360]
9. Red Dead Redemption [Xbox 360]
10. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty [PC]

Best Selling Products:

1. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board [Wii]
2. Playstation 3 120 GB
3. Super Street Fighter IV [PS3]
4. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Collector's Edition [PC] 
5. Nintendo Wii
6. Super Mario Galaxy 2 [Wii]
7. Just Dance [Wii]
8. God of War III [PS3]
9. New Super Mario Bros. Wii [Wii]
10. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction [Xbox 360]

----

Sources:

Amazon
Top 10 Best-Selling Games on Amazon in April [Examiner.com]

Best Selling Video Games and Products on Amazon in April 2010

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Releasing in July

Damn it! quite a few games have had release dates announced just recently. The most notable ones are Rage, scheduled for next year, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II – for October. Not to mention the Black Wii; coming in May.

Another game that has just gotten a release date is that of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Blizzard says that the game should be out all over the world on July 27, 2010, for PC and Mac. No console versions I’m afraid.

Mike Morhaime, CEO, cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment:

“We’ve been looking forward to revisiting the StarCraft universe for many years, and we’re excited that the time for that is almost here. Thanks to our beta testers, we’re making great progress on the final stages of development, and we’ll be ready to welcome players all over the world to StarCraft II and the new Battle.net in just a few months.”

This is has been said by many to just be a thumbsuck, as Blizzard has a reputation for not committing to release dates. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the first in a planned trilogy of games, with a Zerg campaign, Heart of the Swarm, and a Protoss campaign, Legacy of the Void, arriving later on.

----

Source: StarCraft II releasing on July 27 [VG247]

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Releasing in July

StarCraft II: Pricing Details, Collector’s Edition Goodies, Box Arts

There is now confirmation that a Collector’s Edition for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty exists.

Items that it contains include StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, a 176-page art book, a 'Thor' unit pet for World of WarCraft, the original StarCraft plus the Brood War expansion on a USB thumb drive shaped like Jim Raynor's dog tag, behind-the-scenes DVD, the official StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty soundtrack CD, StarCraft comic book issue #0, and exclusive Battle.net downloadable content.

This is said to be one of the best collectors editions ever, and for good reason. There’s a lot of good stuff there. The Collectors Edition goes for $99.99 and is no doubt a retail product only. The standard edition is $59.99. [1]

 

Wings of Liberty is the first in a trilogy in StarCraft II, with Zerg and Protoss campaigns to come later, after the game is released this year. So far StarCraft II is in closed beta, which just received a patch the other day, resulting in some game balancing.

It’s also been confirmed that unlike Command& Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, StarCraft II will be playable offline, and doesn’t require any of this always online, new DRM malarkey. You only need to activate it once with a Battle.net account. There won’t be any LAN play though [3].

---

Source: [1] Shacknews - [2] Examiner [Box Arts] - [3] Fudzilla

StarCraft II: Pricing Details, Collector’s Edition Goodies, Box Arts

StarCraft II Beta Started, Proper Specs Revealed

Everyone is excited, because the multiplayer beta test for StarCraft II, the sequel to one of the most acclaimed strategy titles ever, has begun.

And you remember when that placeholder was put up, that gave the incorrect system specs for the beta, and it was actually found that those specs belonged to World of WarCraft. They did seem easy going for a game coming out in 2010 (hopefully).

These are the real specs for the beta:

- Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1/Windows 7
- 2.2 Ghz Pentium IV or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
- 1 GB system RAM/1.5 GB for Vista and Windows 7
- 128 MB NVidia GeForce 6600 GT/ATI Radeon 9800 PRO video card
- 1024x768 minimum display resolution
- 4 GB free hard space (Beta)
- Broadband connection

Bet you can’t wait until the bloody game’s released though, right? Should be this year…

----

Source: Big Download

StarCraft II Beta Started, Proper Specs Revealed

New StarCraft II Screenshot Posted on Facebook

On the official StarCraft Facebook page, a new screenshot of StarCraft II has been posted recently:

By the way, when the game is released, hopefully this year, under the name StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, in addition to the Terran campaign, there will be a Protoss mini-campaign.

----

Big Download

New StarCraft II Screenshot Posted on Facebook

StarCraft 2 Delayed into 2010

Well, StarCraft 2 has officially been delayed into 2010.

Couldn't say I didn't see it coming. The team say they need more time to perfect the game and make sure it's okay. They also say that Battle.net is to blame.

Funny- I thought that it had been outed that playing too much World of Warcraft was the culprit?

Source:

StarCraft 2 Delayed to 2010, Battle.net Blamed

StarCraft 2 Delayed into 2010

Weekly Video Game Pictures& Videos Collection- 07/05-07/11

Assassin's Creed II: 1
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising: 1 - 2 - 3
Uncharted 2: 1 - 2
Mass Effect 2: 1 - 2
BioShock 2: 1
Trine: 1
StarCraft II: 1
Wolfenstein: 1
Battlefield 1943: 1 - 2 - 3
MechWarrior: 1
Command & Conquer 4: 1
Tekken 6: 1
Prototype: 1
Singularity: 1

Weekly Video Game Pictures& Videos Collection- 07/05-07/11

Blame WoW for Delayed Games Like StarCraft II

StarCraft II's development started back in 2003. There was a playable version of StarCraft II as far back as 2005. It's 2009 now, and some say that the game might only make it next year.

What took so long? What delayed the game so much?

World of WarCraft- part of Blizzard's other best-selling franchise.

And it may not be an isolated case. Back in 2008 in an interview with Jace Hall, 3D Realms' George Broussard jokingly said that DNF was delayed because of playing World of WarCraft. Oh well, if that's true, at least they paid for it in the end.

Sony Online Entertainment will shut down The Matrix Online for good this month- maybe Blizz should do that with WoW, or at least prevent developers working on an important project that should have been out years ago from playing it.

Blizzard claims that team members were designated to "work" on WoW, and StarCraft II consequently took a back seat, basically.

Source:

News: WOW held up StarCraft II for a year

Blame WoW for Delayed Games Like StarCraft II