Doom 3 BFG Edition Release Date and Price June 20, 2012
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Bethesda has just announced the final price and release date for the Doom 3 BFG Edition. Announced recently, this updated version of Doom 3 will include more than just Doom 3 and its expansion pack Resurrection of Evil, but also Doom 1, Doom 2, and new, never before seen “lost levels”.
As I have previously reported, the BFG Edition will offer a few new features over the original Doom 3 PC game. It will take full advantage of Widescreen HDTVs, something that Doom 3 did not support natively on the PC. But a new feature that I don’t think was previously mentioned is the updated game will feature a persistent flashlight coming from the armor. This new feature is a HUGE deal. Since it was launched, the major complaint about Doom 3 was its dark environments were TOO dark, and what was probably the first feature that modders added to Doom 3 was a persistent flashlight beam.
The BFG Edition will also have 3D support and a full list of trophies on the Playstation 3 and achievements on the Xbox 360. Finally, a new checkpoint save system, allowing for smoother, faster saving is being implemented as well.
Doom 3 BFG Edition is coming October 18th, 2012 for a price of $39.99US on Xbox 360 and PS3. The PC version will cost $29.99US.
Dead Space 3 E3 2012 Gameplay June 19, 2012
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EA showed more of Dead Space 3 than just what was at the E3 Media Briefing at E3 2012 this year. They showed over twenty minutes of footage for the game, and in particular the differences between the game’s story when played either alone in single-player or with a friend in drop-in drop-out cooperative play.
The video switches between different gameplay sections in the second act of the game, showing both the single player and cooperative sides of some sections. Breaking it up is filmed introductions by the game’s producer, Steve Papoutsis. While he does set up what we’re about to see during the filmed introductions, he does not speak over the game footage and interrupt the gameplay. It’s a great watch for anyone interested in how the game will be different from previous games, and also its similarities.
So just who is this new character that finds himself with Issac Clarke on a planet that’s very, very cold? Well, maybe the opening of this new animated graphic novel will help show you just what kind of character is John Carver, and why he’s so determined to destroy the marker.
Dead Space 3 is coming in 2013 to PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.
Game Boys Animated Series Announced June 15, 2012
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Brad Jones, better known to the internet as The Cinema Snob, has just announced that he intends to release a follow-up to his 2008 independently produced and freely released comedy film Game Boys as a weekly animated series.
The series will be animated by artist (and supervillian) Andrew Dickman. Brad Jones has announced that all the major characters from the original movie will be reprised by their original actors including himself, Alyx Shryock, Jake Norvell, Jerrid Foiles, and Jillian Zurawski. However, Bianca Queen, who played Sally, Brad’s main love interest in the movie, has retired from acting and Jones is unsure if she will return.
I for one am thrilled for this announcement. I was a huge fan of the original movie Game Boys, I thought it was a breath of fresh air in a world where major movies either completely ignore talking about video games or if they did, completely botch their depictions of it. To me, it felt like Game Boys was authentic, as it was done by people who had a passion for the games they played, and I have been hoping that Brad would return to the film and make a sequel. If you want to hear my full thoughts about the movie, you can watch my review of it here. Here’s to hoping that other ancillary characters like Richardson and Virtual Boyd will also return!
You can read the full announcement for the series here. If you have not yet seen the original Game Boys movie yet, you can watch it here free of charge.
UPDATE: I’m being notified by several sources (including Brad Jones himself, *points down*) that Bianca Queen will indeed return as Sally. I think this is wonderful news as she is a fantastic actress. I loved her in Game Boys and Midnight Heat, both directed by Jones, and can’t wait to see her back with the rest of the returning ensemble cast.
My Xbox Live App Updated June 14, 2012
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A new version of My Xbox Live has been released, updating the iOS and Android versions of the program.
My Xbox Live is a mobile app designed to give Xbox Live users access to their Live accounts, track their achievements, stream exclusive videos, and update their avatars. With this update, they can do a lot more.
With the updated app, all the previous features are still intact but now users can interface with their 360 directly and have some control over it. For example, you’ll be able to pause and rewind movies directly from your phone without having to pick up a controller or Xbox remote.
Microsoft announced their new SmartGlass software at this year’s E3. With it, they are promising a deeper level of integration between devices and the 360. You’ll be able to downloaded or steamed movies across your devices, regardless of platform. You’ll also get access to game specific content and control over the Internet Explorer browser (when that is released).
Since the program now gives the user some control over their own Xbox 360 It looks like this could be the first step for SmartGlass.
Once updated you’ll need to follow a step by step process to link your device to your Xbox 360 before making use of the new features.
Microsoft SmartGlass is expected to launch in Fall 2012 to a wide range of smartphones, tablets and PCs.
My Xbox Live is out now for your smartphone and tablets and you can download it free through the Apple App Store or Android Marketplace. Current users will need to update their old versions to make use of the new features.
Watch Dogs Companion App Detailed June 13, 2012
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The big reveal at this year’s E3 seemed to be Watch Dogs, which premiered at the Ubisoft Media Briefing. If you want to learn more about the premise and details of the game, I recommend checking out our coverage of the announcement here.
But there’s more to the story than just what was shown at the Media Briefing. Ubisoft was also showing off a companion app during the E3 demos for the game. The app, which was shown running on a tablet, interacted with the player’s game and granted deeper immersion into the game’s world.
With the app, which you can run on your tablet device as you play the game on your platform of choice, tracks your game progress by keeping a record of all the decisions you made during each sequence. You’ll also be able to see an entire map of the Chicago hub (yes it’s an open world game taking place in Chicago), the layouts of all the buildings inside the game, and background information with locations on targets.
You’ll also be able to keep track of the progress of your friends in the game (completely agnostic to whatever platform they’re playing the game on) as well as compare notes as to what decisions they made to get through certain sequences with you. Since you’ll be able to join your friend’s games and either provide them assistance or work against them in a not yet demoed competitive mode, using this app to determine how your friend plays the game could give you an advantage which can either help you help them, or help you beat them.
It’s a fascinating new feature which fits in perfectly with the game’s premise. I know this ties in with what Microsoft is hoping to do with SmartGlass, and what Nintendo is working on with the Wii U, but this feature fits in perfectly with the game’s premise, that digital information is the greatest weapon and it can be gotten at any time by a device that simply fits in your pocket.
Watch Dogs is coming in 2013 to PC and Consoles.
Lollipop Chainsaw Midnight Release Details June 11, 2012
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Living in Southern California? Have I got an event for you to check out. GameStop is hosting a midnight release party for Lollipop Chainsaw tonight from 9PM-12:30AM PST at the GameStop in West Hollywood. The game’s writer and the stars of the game will be in attendance and there’s going to also be a costume contest for the best zombies and cheerleaders at the event!
You can check out all the details for the party here on the game’s official twitter feed. The event is going to be hosted at the West Hollywood GameStop 7100 Santa Monica Bvd, Suite 117.
Don’t know anything about the game? Let me show you this official game trailer. I wasn’t able to check out the game at PAX East 2012 so this was the first trailer I saw of the game. I think it pretty much speaks for itself.
Lollipop Chainsaw is coming June 12th, 2012 for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
UPDATE: Here’s the game’s official launch trailer!
Halo Waypoint Updated With Kinect Support June 10, 2012
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Halo Waypoint, a free downloadable app for the Xbox 360 where you can view the latest news about Halo, track your game statistics, and learn more about Halo’s expanded universe, has just been updated. While there are some new stability and performance improvements in the update, the new version of Halo Waypoint now offers support for the Kinect, giving a whole new way to navigate the program without the need of a controller. There is also a new Halo 4 section in the program where you can view the most recent trailers, screenshots and behind the scenes videos for the new game.
The Halo Waypoint launched in 2009 around the time of the release of Halo 3 ODST, and pretty much set the stage for the Xbox 360 to bring in non-game related applications like Hulu and Crackle. It gave Halo users expanded capabilities and goodies for downloading the app, and gave both players and non-players the opportunity to learn more about the series everyone has been playing for the past eleven years.
Halo Waypoint can be downloaded for free from the Xbox Live Marketplace for the Xbox 360. If you already have it downloaded it will ask you to download the update when logging in. You can also get Halo Waypoint apps for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone 7.
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two Release Date June 9, 2012
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During its showing at E3 2012, the developers of the highly anticipated multiplatform sequel to the Wii-Exclusive game Disney’s Epic Mickey have set a release date for the game along with a brand new trailer and behind the scenes documentary for it. Take a look!
The game adds cooperative play to the series, continuing some time after the events of the first game. Mickey Mouse returns to the Wasteland, and this time he has the assistance of his brother, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, the first creation of Walt Disney. Both characters have their own abilities. With Mickey armed with his ability to use Paint and Thinner, Oswald is armed with new features such as a special remote control that can assist while navigating the Wasteland.
Don’t know anything about Mickey’s brother Oswald the Lucky Rabbit? Check out this documentary about him.
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two is coming November 18th, 2012 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.
Unreal Engine 4 Elemental Demo June 9, 2012
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Epic has revealed the next generation of graphical game engines at E3 2012 and boy does it look just as groundbreaking as its previous incarnation did when it was first revealed.
Unreal Engine 4 is the latest graphical engine developed by Epic Games, the makers of Gears of War and Unreal Tournament, and is intended for the next generation of consoles and PCs. The increase in graphical fidelity and effects power is unquestionable.
For those of you who want to know when actual games will be coming that will use this technology, here’s some information for comparison. Unreal Engine 3 was first shown in 2004, a year prior to the announcement of that era’s next generation consoles. Epic would release their first game to use it in 2006, the highly successful Gears of War for the Xbox 360.
My question is, when will Epic release their first game for it, and what is that game going to be?
Kojima Productions E3 2012 Briefing June 6, 2012
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Twenty-five years after the first Metal Gear game was released in Japan, Konami is ready to show the next entry in the Metal Gear saga to the world at this years E3. It’s been four years since we’ve last seen a Metal Gear game, and the wait has been excruciating.
In this fantastically produced documentary Hideo Kojima and other members of Kojima Productions and Platinum Games talk about the enduring legacy of the Metal Gear franchise, its history, and some tidbits about the new game. It’s a great watch.
Metal Gear Rising Revengeance is coming Early 2013 to Xbox 360, PC, and Playstation 3.
