Apocalypso's Atomic Arcade

2009/02/04

Ruffian Games

There's a new game development Studio by the name of Ruffian Games in town- in Dundee, Scotland of all places apparently.

The team is comprised by veterans that have worked on games like Fable 2, Crackdown, Moto GP and Grand Theft Auto. So, that's a lot of experience with cars, bikes, crime, and fantasy; interesting.

Their website is still under development with the homepage still quite empty, but they are looking to fill positions too.

http://www.ruffiangames.com/

On This Day: The Sims

On the 4th of February 2000, The Sims was released and created a huge cult following.

One would assume by the gameplay that only desperate housewives and the like would play it, but there was a wide demographic who took great joy in playing god.

Several of my friends had the entire collection, including all the expansions and add-ons that were available.

In 2004 there was a sequel, aptly named The Sims 2, and this too had many expansions and add-ons of its own.

Sims fans rejoice as The Sims 3 is due out this month- the 20th of February to be exact, so fingers crossed! In addition to this there will also be The Sims 3 Collector's Edition.

2009/02/03

PC Games released today- Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box

February 3, 2009 Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box

According to IGN, the latest in the series of Burnout racing games is now available on PC.

Jesper Kyd’s birthday today

Jesper Kyd turns 37 today! He was born on February 3, 1972.

Who is Jesper Kyd, you ask? Well, he is a famous game and movie music composer. I first found out about his work while playing the Hitman series of games, and I especially like the soundtrack to Hitman: Blood Money.

Here is a rundown of all the projects he’s worked on and accolades he’s received:

Games

2008 - The Chronicles of Spellborn
2008 - The Club
2007 - Assassin's Creed
2007 - Unreal Tournament 3
2007 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
2006 - Hitman: Blood Money
2006 - Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
2006 - Gears of War (concept music)
2004 - Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX 2 (songs .59 -remix-, Istanbul café, and Red Room)
2004 - Robotech: Invasion
2004 - Hitman: Contracts
2004 - Todd McFarlane's Evil Prophecy
2003 - Freedom Fighters
2003 - Brute Force
2002 - Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
2002 - Minority Report: The Video Game
2001 - Shattered Galaxy
2001 - The Nations: Alien Nations 2
2000 - Hitman: Codename 47
2000 - Messiah
2000 - MDK2
2000 - Soldier (unreleased)
1999 - Time Tremors
1996 - Scorcher
1996 - Amok
1995 - Adventures of Batman and Robin
1994 - Red Zone
1993 - Subterrania
1993 - AWS Pro Moves Soccer
1989 - USS John Young

Movies

2008 - Staunton Hill
2008 - Year Zero
2007 - La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (1928, new score)
2006 - Sweet Insanity
2003 - Night All Day
2002 - Pure
2002 - Death of a Saleswoman

Short films

2006 - Virus
2006 - Impulse
2003 - Cycle
2002 - Pure
2002 - Paper Plane Man
2002 - Day Pass
2001 - Going with Neill
2001 - The Lion Tamer
2000 - Organizm

Trailers

Assassin's Creed TV Launch Trailer
Assassin's Creed Cello TV Trailer
Gears of War E3 Trailer
V For Vendetta (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Hitman: Blood Money TV Trailers
Hitman: Contracts TV Trailers
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin TV Trailers

Awards and nominations

2008 ELAN Awards - Best Video Game Score Winner
2007 GameSpot - Best Video Game Score Nomination
2007 3 G.A.N.G. Nominations Including Music of the Year
2006 MTV Video Music Awards - Best Video Game Score Nomination
2006 IGN Best Original Score Winner
2006 Golden Joystick Awards - Best Game Soundtrack Nomination
2006 4 G.A.N.G. Nominations Including Music of the Year
2005 BAFTA - Winner Best Original Music Award (British Academy Award)
2005 G.A.N.G. Winner Best Music for Cinamatic/Cut Scene
2005 PSE2 Editor's Choice GOLD - Freedom Fighters Soundtrack CD
2004 Billboard Awards Best Music Nomination 2004
2004 IGN - Best Soundtrack Nomination
2004 3 G.A.N.G. Nominations
2004 PSE2 Editor's Choice GOLD - Hitman Contracts Soundtrack CD
2003 GameSpot - Best Soundtrack of the Year Winner
2003 Game Reactor - Best Original Soundtrack Winner
2003 PSE2 Editor's Choice GOLD - Hitman 2 Soundtrack CD
2002 Games Agent - Best Original Soundtrack Winner
2002 GameSpot - Best Original Soundtrack Of The Year Nomination
2002 X-Sages - Soundtrack Of The Year Nomination
2002 IGN - Best Sound Nomination
2002 Action Vault - Outstanding Achievement In Music
2002 Bolt Games - Bolt Games Music Award

On This Day- Unreal II: The Awakening

Six years ago, Unreal II: The Awakening was released. Although the name suggests that it is the sequel to Unreal, the game itself offers little in the way of continuation of the original. The only real remnant from the first game is the Skaarj, those funny lizard-like creatures with blades coming out of their hands, a total rip-off of Wolverine.

Despite this, it is a great game to play, and I must have played and clocked it a few times. Aida, the intelligence officer, was certainly a motivator in this regard.

2009/02/02

Groundhog Day!

PC games released today:

February 2, 2009 Pristontale 2: The Second Enigma

Apparently this is a free MMORPG. It's free to download, free to play- just plain free!

2009/02/01

Current Gaming Trends: Nacht Der Untoten

What the hell is this Nacht Der Untoten that people are going on about lately?

Well, Call of Duty: World at War, the latest title in the COD WW II shooter series, features a bonus level that has this name, which translates from German into ‘Night of the Living Dead’. The level is unlocked once you finish the main campaign as far as I know, since I’ve played the game.

It can be played in both single-player and multi-player mode, and it entails human players as soldiers taking on German zombies. It’s only one map though, and yet so much fuss is being made over it. It plays similarly to Counter-strike, with money being awarded for doing certain tasks and you are able to open up certain areas of the level and buy weapons and other equipment with your hard-fought-over cash. It could also be compared to Left 4 Dead, another game with zombies released lately.

You progress through rounds that get harder as you go, with stronger zombies that also grow in number and are faster.

NAG magazine has really taken to this map lately, even producing a strategy guide and a custom made wallpaper. It seems to obviously be an office favourite when they’re slacking off as usual, and nearly missing deadlines.

Oh well, we’ll see how long it lasts, unless there’s a map pack full of zombie missions released. Perhaps an original title like 'Tag Der Untoten' would be fitting.

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