Late Night Consoling
It's rare that a game pops up out of nowhere and manages to impress me based on a single magazine preview, but I must say, after reading the preview of the upcoming Xbox title Riddick in this month's GameInformer, I'm really, really looking forward to checking this game out at E3. The game isn't an adaptation of the upcoming film Chronicles of Riddick, nor is it adapted from its predecessor Pitch Black, but is instead a prequel to both of those movies, telling the story of how Riddick, a convict and generally badass sort of guy, escaped from a super-high security prison. The game is a first-person shooter and it's really looking sharp, with graphics in the Doom 3 range, and no HUD of any kind. Since Riddick can see in the dark (go watch Pitch Black for an idea of how that works) you can shoot out every light source in the game, which should add some nice stealth elements. Most encouraging however is the complete participation of actor Vin Diesel, who essentially created the main character and is an admitted gamer. While Diesel actually has his own development studio (the first game from which hasn't been unveiled yet) this is being developed at Starbreeze Studios, a developer previously only known for the two Enclave titles. Since this preview was obviously a GameInformer exclusive, look for the first details to hit the web in the near-future. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised (as I was).
| Battlefield 1942 Console-Only Sequel? There's been a new wrinkle in that rumor about an Xbox port of Battlefield 1942 with Xbox Live support...Xbox.IGN claims to have heard from an unnamed source that instead of a port (which was confirmed to be canceled some time ago), a console-exclusive title is in the works for Xbox and possibly PS2 as well. None of this has been confirmed of course, so take it all with that salt you all love so much. Note that this does not mean future PC games won't be made. Just that there may possibly be a second, console-only title (much like Activision's Call of Duty series). |
| Actraiser Rises Again? Now here's an interesting rumor...Computer and Video Games is reporting that Square Enix has renewed the trademark for Actraiser. SNES fans will recall this unique action/strategy game that was one of the highlights of that system's launch, and the franchise has laid dormant since the sequel over 10 years ago. Aside from the trademark registration, CVG says a Japanese magazine hinted that a GBA Actraiser is in the works, although whether this is a sequel or remake, or if it's even true, nobody knows at this point. |
|
| Xbox Live 3.0 Details? In their latest rumors column, Xbox.IGN has posted a list of new features that they say will be in version 3.0 of Xbox Live. Among the new additions in the update (which they say is due in April), are things like the ability to leave voice mail-like messages for friends, the ability to create teams that work across multiple games and online storage for game settings (although you only get 32k, so there's not a whole lot you can store there). |
|
| Sony Signs With Digimask for EyeToy Sony announced today that they have signed a deal with technology provider Digimask to allow owners of the EyeToy peripheral to photograph themselves for use in games as full 3D models. Obvious uses of this tech would be for something like SOCOM, where every player would look like the person playing, but the different ways this could be abused is simply staggering to think about. |
|
| Microsoft Reports Earnings: Xbox Sales Down, Live Subscriptions Up Microsoft revealed their fourth quarter earnings yesterday, which along with the rest of the mammoth company's various statistics, included new figures on the Xbox userbase. System sales are down some 6% from this time last year, but there are now 13.7 million Xbox owners worldwide, and some 750,000 Xbox Live subscribers. |
|
| Malice, Powerdrome Signed by Bethesda It looks like the rumors were true: Argonaut games' Malice has been picked up by Bethesda Softworks, along with another title, Powerdrome. Malice's troubled development has been of particular importance around here, because it was the very first game shown running on the Xbox system, and was at the time trumped up as a major launch title. |
| Ready for Dawn Studios Ready for Action Jeez, it seems like everyone's leaving for greener pastures these days...the latest to do so are Didier Malenfant, a senior programmer at Naughty Dog and senior artist Ru Weerasuriya and senior software engineer Andrea Pessino, both of whom are leaving Blizzard (hey is anyone left there anymore?). The trio have founded Ready for Dawn Studios, which has started work on their first title. |
|
| Kevin Bachus Resurfaces Kevin Bachus, who along with a handful of other people was instrumental in the development of the Xbox console, has resurfaced, after the demise of Capital Entertainment Group, the incubation company he founded with fellow former Microsoft employee Seamus Blackley. So where as he shown up? Blackley wound up at a Hollywood talent agency, but Bachus? As noted in this article at HeraldTribune.com, he's at Infinium Labs, the people making the Phantom "console". Yikes. |
| DDR for Your Health The rather remarkable stories of people getting in shape (and in many cases losing lots of weight in the process) thanks to Dance Dance Revolution has prompted e-tailer RedOctane to start up GetUpMove.com, which showcases ways in which DDR is good for you. While it is obviously a front for their DDR sales, a portion of sales from the site will go to P.E.4LIFE, a non-profit organization that offers, "health, fitness and sports activities to all students, every day in school." |
|
| Taiko No Tatsujin Coming to America Speaking of games that make you look like an idiot, Namco has revealed plans to bring two of the games in their Taiko No Tatsujin series to North America. Taiko No Tatsujin is a series of rhythm games in which you use a custom drum controller to keep beat with the game. These games also served as the foundation for the Namco-developed Donkey Konga (which should also be coming out here). |
|
| Colin McRae Rally 04 in March North American gamers will finally get a chance to play Colin McRae Rally 04 for Xbox...Codemasters announced today that the game will be published here in March for the low, low price of $19.99. |
|
| Sega's Samurai Jack Game According to IGN, Sega is working on a game based on the Cartoon Network series Samurai Jack. Known as Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku, the game is in development for all three systems, and may be out as soon as March. The game is apparently going to be formally announced on Monday. |
|
| Yet Another SWON Update LucasArts has announced a fourth (and final) content download release for Secret Weapons Over Normandy. In this release is a new two-player mission, a new plane and two new camouflage skins. Someone really needs to explain to LucasArts that extra content is supposed to be released slowly (if at all) and even then for a small fee. Oh, wait. No, they should just stick to what they're doing. |
|
| Misc. Q&As/Interviews HomeLAN has posted a Q&A with the Transformers: Prelude to Energon development team at Melborne House, as well as a Q&A with the producer of The X-Files: Resist or Serve. Also, GameSpot has R-Type Final and Tenchu: Return from Darkness interviews up and CVG has a Q&A with Yuji Naka of Sonic Team and a Q&A with the studio manager at Juice Studios, where the racing game Juiced is in development. |
| Misc. Media/Previews | |
|
| Cube.IGN has posted new media from the U.S. version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, The Magic Box has new shots from The Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords + and CVG goes hands-on with FFCC. |
|
| Italian site Gamescreenshots.it has posted a slew of new shots from Siren, GameSpot has a new preview of Firefighter F.D.18 and new media from Seven Samurai 20XX, GamePro has a Gran Turismo 4 "blowout", IGN goes hands-on with Nightshade, has new shots from Onimusha 3 and has a Drakengard progress report, GameSpy has both a preview and developer's diary for R-Type Final, The Magic Box has new shots from Dragon Quest V and Dororo and CVG goes hands-on with Transformers: Prelude to Energon. |
|
| IGN has posted new shots Conan and the gorgeous-looking Otogi 2, GameInformer goes hands-on with Breakdown, Team Xbox has the first shots from Bad Boys II and CVG has shots from Ninja Gaiden (some, if not all look like reposts). |
|
| GameSpot, GameInformer and IGN all have hands-on looks at Metroid: Zero Mission. |
| Both GameSpot and IGN have first looks at 100 Bullets (PS2, Xbox). Also at GameSpot are new shots from X-Men: Legends (GC, PS2, Xbox) and new media from NBA Ballers (GC, PS2, Xbox), Worms 3D (GC, PS2, Xbox) and Wrath Unleashed (PS2, Xbox) and IGN has new previews of Serious Sam: Next Encounter (GC, PS2) and Mafia (PS2, Xbox) and new shots from StarCraft: Ghost (GC, PS2, Xbox), Van Helsing (PS2, Xbox) and Puyo Puyo Fever (GC, PS2, Xbox, DC). |
