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Countdown to E3 2009: The FPS Games We Want To See

May 17

Posted by Admin in News

As the days get closer to the launch of E3 2009 in early June, Big Download has been compiling wish lists of games that we would like to see during the revamped and larger trade show. We start out with a long list of first person shooter games. Some of the games on this list are indeed confirmed as being at E3 this year. Other games on this list are titles we think will be there. There are ever a few that we are just hoping might make an appearance at the show.

With that in mind let’s head over to our list. Next time we will give our E3 2009 wish list over to the action game genre.


BioShock 2

We’ve been waiting to return to Rapture and at E3 we will get to see a live demo of the sequel to one of the best games (if not the best) of 2007. 2K Marin takes over from Ken Levine and 2K Boston with this second installment.

We want to see if BioShock 2 is a true sequel with more features or if its just a glorified expansion pack. Levine has nothing to do with this game’s development so it should be interesting to see how Rapture and it’s various conflicts are handled in the sequel.

Modern Warfare 2

Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is still one of the most popular FPS games online and at E3 we should get to see how this highly anticipated sequel will compare to the 2007 title.

We want to see more than just a lot of fast shooting action; we know that Infinity Ward can do that well. But can they also make us believe in things like improved AI and mission design? We hope so.

Next Doom game?

id Software’s other in-house game besides Rage is an all new Doom title (which id will likely not title Doom IV). While its a bit of a stretch it’s possible id could reveal the first details of the game at E3 next month.

Like Rage the next Doom game will use id’s next graphics engine, id Tech 5, which could mean that Doom will finally get out of the corridors for once. It’s also possible id is waiting for its own QuakeCon event in August to reveal more about the Doom game.

New Epic Game titles?

Epic Games is making an appearance at E3 but officially it’s just showing off tech for its Unreal Engine 3 game development tools. However we wouldn’t be surprised if Epic reveals more details about its upcoming game projects.

It has a title from its satellite developer People Can Fly over at EA and its other division Chair Entertainment has projects in the works as well, including one based on the Ender’s Game sci-fi novel series. Will one or both made E3 debuts next month?

Wolfenstein

Teaming up with Raven Software yet again, id and Activision bring us another entry in their long running series that first started the FPS genre.

Since the game is scheduled to be released later this summer we expect to see a close-to-being-finished build of the game at E3 in June. Raven Software is one of the best developers so we can’t wait to see what they bring to the Wolfenstein legacy.

Darkest of Days

Phantom EFX is bringing this long-in-development FPS to E3 next month. Like Singularity it also deals with time manipulation. Unlike Singularity it’s more of a straightforward game as your character visits several different historical time periods.

From the US Civil War to WWI to the Roman Empire your character has to fight a conspiracy across history. If they can keep our interest up at E3 while crossing time lines we are so there.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Codemasters has been hyping up the realism of their upcoming military shooter sequel for some time and at E3 we should get a solid look at how this game is coming along.

Like the original the sequel will take place in an open world landscape with lots of weapons, vehicles and overall stuff to do on the battlefield. But will it truly be realistic?

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CryEngine 3: PS3 vs 360

May 17

Posted by Admin in PS3, Xbox 360

In an in-depth look at CryEngine 3 (the latest iteration of Crytek’s incredible tech) in this month’s Edge magazine, Mark Atkinson, Crytek’s director of technology, has plenty to say about the hugely promising console versions of the engine. “Everyone said we couldn’t do this on a console,” he said to Edge, “We did it.” Claiming the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of CryEngine 3 are “equivalent to medium- to high-spec PC settings” and coming complete with all the dynamic scenery and destructability from its big brother, we have high hopes for the first games to use this beast.

Development of the cross platform tech wasn’t easy though, as Atkinson says. “It’s been tricky, but we’ve got a strong PS3 engine with all the major systems running on SPUs. With middleware, what you want is for someone else to do all that so the developer can just concentrate on making games. We have parity between the platforms now: both run at the same speed.” Although this ’same speed’ clearly depends on what the engine is doing at that particular time. “If the game’s shader-heavy it runs a bit faster on 360; if it’s compute-heavy with physics and particles, then the SPUs take over and it’s a bit quicker on PS3.”

Evidently, then, it appears the guys at Crytek have managed to wring the most out of both consoles, and created an engine that will surely rival the likes of Unreal 3 once the developers have gotten their hands on it.

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FFXIII 360 exhibits storage limitations, PS3 not affected

May 12

Posted by Admin in News, Xbox 360

According to Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase, the Xbox 360 version of the eagerly awaited RPG may only include English voiceovers due to its limited storage capacity per disc – the PlayStation 3 release, however, is not affected by such constraints thanks to Blu-ray.

“Obviously, when we talk about XIII it’s for PS3 and Xbox – with PS3 being on Blu ray there would be enough memory, but on Xbox probably not,” said Kitase. “At the moment we’re thinking of releasing the voice in English only. Are there many people who would like to play with Japanese voices?”

For the sake of all Final Fantasy fans lets hope that this is the only limitation, I don’t want the actual game outside of languages affected just because of the Xbox 360 alone.

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Final nail in the coffin for Duke Nukem Forever?

May 12

Posted by Admin in News

Believe it or not, but just over 12 years ago a group of huddled journalists excitedly scribbled in their notepads after hearing the first news of 3D Realms’ Duke Nukem Forever… and today, it’s finally been confirmed we’ll probably never get our hands on it. Here’s a history lesson…

The first iteration of Forever ran on the then-cutting edge Quake II engine and the debut screenshots in a November issue of PC Gamer looked far above anything else around in terms of visual quality. Speaking in that issue of PCG, Scott Miller said that the game would be released in 1998.

The first trailer (which you can watch below) was unveiled at E3 1998 and showed the first in-game footage of Duke Forever. However, the following month 3D Realms announced that it would be porting the shooter sequel over to Epic’s Unreal engine, and reassured fans that the transition from Quake to Unreal would take only “a month to 6 weeks” and Forever would be released the following year in 1999.

…then in 1999 3D Realms backtracked, announcing that it would be upgrading to the newer version of Unreal Engine, and released a Christmas card suggesting that Duke Nukem Forever was now set for the year 2000.

Almost a year later publisher Gathering of Developers announced that it would be taking over publishing duties for Forever, and 3D Realms released another Christmas card suggesting it would finally release in 2001.

At E3 2001 a second Duke Nukem Forever trailer was released (see below), revealing a few minutes of new gameplay footage including impressive game features such as destructible environments, advanced AI, weather effects and massive draw distance. The trailer, amazingly, still looks quite good today.

But it was never to see the light of day. Gathering of Developers closed down in August 2001, Take-Two took over publishing duties and Duke Nukem Forever was once again thrown into limbo.

In 2002, 3D Realms went back to the drawing board, hiring an army of new programmers and scrapping over 95 percent of the previous level design work in the process. The new engine was built using parts of Unreal Engine 2, with everything else written from scratch by the Nukem developer.

In early 2003 Take-Two CEO Jeffrey Lapin stated that Duke Nukem Forever would not be released that year. Duke creator George Broussard responded by telling Shacknews that “Take-Two needs to STFU imo”. Later that year Jeffrey Lapin said that 3D Realms told him DNF was now expected late 2004 or early 2005.

After denying claims that DNF was now running on the Doom 3 engine, in 2006 Broussard gave an update on the game’s development, stating that the team was finally tweaking and polishing the game.

In June 2006, a filing revealed that Take-Two was offering a $500,000 bonus if 3D Realms released Duke Nukem Forever by December 31, 2006. Broussard denied the rumours, saying that he would “never ship a game early… for 500K.”

In early 2007 a brand new in-game screenshot emerged alongside a 3D Realms job ad, followed by the release of Duke Nukem 3D on Xbox Live Arcade. Reports emerged that “significant progress” had been made on the shooter - now in its fourth or fifth iteration - and it would finally be released in 2008. 3D Realms seemingly confirmed the news with the release of the first teaser trailer in six years.

In January, 2008 Duke’s art director Tramell Isaac revealed that 3D Realms was currently “doing a lot of polishing of set pieces, environments, and characters,” and a full reveal looked likely to happen soon. And it did: in June 2008 a journalist actually managed to infiltrate 3D Realms and see Duke Nukem Forever being played in front of his very eyes.

Another journalist who saw the game behind closed doors reported that it was “looking great” after spending “a good half hour” witnessing “several different DNF gameplay scenarios, mechanics, and environments being demonstrated”.

Confidence grew. Actually getting our hands on the infamous FPS finally looked likely, though 3D Realms decided to skip showcasing the game at the “irrelevant” E3 show in 2008. 3D Realms chief Scott Miller reassured fans “development is swimming along nicely. Seriously nicely.”

Nothing more was seen of the game in 2008… or at all. In April 2009, 3D Realms boss George Broussard gave a final development update on his Twitter, stating “71 more tasks to do and we started with probably 800-900. Been a good push. Next one starts Monday.” But it wasn’t to be.

On May 7, 2009 reports rolled in that 3D Realms had closed its doors as a result of “funding issues”, later confirmed by its publisher Take-Two.

“We can confirm that our relationship with 3D Realms for Duke Nukem Forever was a publishing arrangement, which did not include ongoing funds for development of the title,” said Take-Two VP of communications Alan Lewis. “In addition, Take-Two continues to retain the publishing rights to Duke Nukem Forever.”

It’s been an emotional, decade-long rollercoaster ride. Perhaps one day another developer will pick up where 3D Realms left off and we’ll finally get that proper Duke Nukem sequel we’ve been waiting so, so long to recieve.

Until then, it’s DNF for Duke Nukem Forever… thanks, it’s been fun.

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First Modern Warfare II footage

May 12

Posted by Admin in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360

TV ad shows 15 seconds of awesome action

The first footage of Modern Warfare 2, sequel to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has been aired in a TV commercial. It’s only 15 seconds long, but it shows some incredible action, including what appears to be hand to hand combat. Check it out below:

12 May 2009 GamesGateway.co.uk

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BioShock 2 multiplayer by… Digital Extremes

May 9

Posted by Admin in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360

2K’s released the first details on BioShock 2’s multiplayer mode, which is being developed - surprisingly - by Dark Sector and BioShock PS3 dev Digital Extremes.

Set before the events of the original BioShock when Rapture was still a thriving underwater metropolis, BioShock 2’s pequel multiplayer mode combines CoD 4-esque experience gathering with “reworked” fast-paced combat.

Players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject for Sinclair Solutions, a premier provider of Plasmids and Tonics in Rapture.

“The fans asked for a multiplayer experience and we answered,” said 2K boss Christoph Hartmann (did we?) “With Digital Extremes delivering a multiplayer experience for BioShock 2 that features all of the things that make BioShock unique, we’re holding ourselves to a high standard so that we can deliver the depth and variety that fans of the BioShock universe demand.”

Here are, in 2K’s words, the key features:

Evolution of the genetically enhanced shooter - Earn experience points during gameplay to earn access to new Weapons, Plasmids and Tonics that can be used to create hundreds of different combinations, allowing players to develop a unique character that caters to their playing style.

Extend the Rapture fiction - Players will step into the shoes of Rapture citizens and learn more about the fall of Rapture as they progress through the experience.

See Rapture before the fall - Experience Rapture before it was reclaimed by the ocean and engage in combat over iconic environments in locations such as Kashmir Restaurant and Mercury Suites, all of which have been reworked from the ground up to deliver a fast-paced multiplayer experience.

FPS veterans add their touch to the multiplayer experience - Digital Extremes brings more than 10 years of first person shooter experience including development of award-winning entries in the Unreal and Unreal Tournament franchise.

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This week’s Nintendo downloads

May 9

Posted by Admin in News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii

All three of Nintendo’s game download shops got new goodies this week, in the form of Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure for WiiWare, Fantasy Zone II for Virtual Console and A Little Bit Of… Magic Made Fun: Deep Psyche for DSiWare.

Here’s the official blurb:

WiiWARE - Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure!
(Square Enix, 800 Wii Points):

n Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure!, players control the rainbow magic-wielding Bubby or Bobby and climb the seven seamless areas of a tower that reaches towards the heavens. You must be careful to defeat the enemies with their rainbow powers.

Bosses controlled by the scientific genius Dr. Crescent await players at the end of every area. Attempt to get through every area to meet the rainbow-coloured comet known as Holly’s Comet within the allotted time.

There are 3 game modes for this game. You can enjoy the tale of Holly’s Comet in Story Mode, Challenge Mode where players attempt to climb as high as they can from 0m, and Time Attack where players select an area and see how fast they can climb it. Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! is an exhilarating action game where you use rainbows to climb into the heavens!

Virtual Console - Fantasy Zone II
(Sega Master System, 500 Wii Points):

10 years have passed since Opa-Opa restored peace to the Fantasy Zone. But now history is repeating itself and the Fantasy Zone once again finds itself under attack!

The mastermind of the Nenon planet forces is secretly constructing a huge fortress in the Fantasy Zone and it’s up to Opa-Opa to stop him!

Nintendo DSiWARE - A Little Bit Of…Magic Made Fun: Deep Psyche
(Nintendo, 200 DSi Points):

Impress your friends with mesmerising magic using A Little Bit of… Magic Made Fun - a collection of easy-to-perform tricks that you can carry wherever you go!

Deep Psyche uses the Nintendo DSi system to reveal a person’s current condition through a series of fun psychological questions. The result may surprise you!

Also included are two additional tricks: Today’s Special, which makes spookily-accurate predictions based on random numbers, and Vanishing Card, which appears to turn your Nintendo DSi system into a mind-reading machine!

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Is Rockstar still working on the PS3 exclusive?

May 4

Posted by Admin in News, PS3

In June 2007, director of third party relations at Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) Michael Shorrock revealed on the Official PlayStation Blog that Sony and Rockstar had come to an agreement on developing a new PS3 exclusive.

“As part of our long standing relationship with Rockstar, and the incredible success for both companies with the cultural icon that is Grand Theft Auto, we’ve agreed to the PlayStation exclusive rights of the next great franchise from the Rockstar studios,” Shorrock wrote.

“Rockstar really wanted to make a game that you can truly only do on PS3, harnessing the power of CELL and Blu-ray disc and this deal lets them do just that…This is really a win-win situation for both companies.”

President and CEO of SCEA Jack Tretton further discussed the new agreement with Rockstar on Spike TV’s Game Head show with Geoff Keighley, confirming that the unnamed project was not L.A. Noire and that Sony was able to release Take-Two from GTA IV exclusivity in exchange for acquiring the rights to the publisher’s next franchise.

“What we’re really excited about is the next great franchise from Take-Two and in exchange for letting them out of that exclusive (Grand Theft Auto IV), we’ve got the rights to the next great franchise from Take-Two.”

So, what could the Rockstar PS3 exclusive be? Let’s take a look.

L.A. Noire

Boasting a “perfectly re-created Los Angeles” from the 1940s, L.A. Noire was first revealed back in 2005 as one of two signed exclusives with Sony for the PS3. In late 2006, Rockstar became the official publisher of L.A. Noire and in 2007 the game was listed down for release on PS3 only in Take-Two’s financial report.

However, Team Bondi’s official website lists L.A. Noire for “next generation consoles” and recent job postings hint that the game will be released for multiple platforms. As a result, it’s unlikely that L.A. Noire is the PS3 exclusive Sony and Rockstar have up their sleeves.

Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 9%

Max Payne 3

Although the original Max Payne was an exclusive for PlayStation 2, the sequel, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, made the transition over to multiple platforms, hitting Microsoft’s Xbox in addition to Sony’s PlayStation 2. Given that Rockstar Vancouver recently confirmed that the third installment in the series would be hitting PS3, Xbox 360 and PC later this year, we can safely rule out Payne’s latest outing as a possible candidate.

Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 0%

Red Dead Redemption

As with Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption will be released on multiple formats this fall, rendering this an impossible option. The sequel is being headed by Rockstar San Diego, which is currently busy churning out fresh content for Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 0%

Grand Theft Auto V

While it’s no secret Rockstar’s multi-million selling crime series has remained virtually synonymous with the PlayStation brand over the past decade or so, we’ll be the first to admit that the prospect of GTA V jumping ship to the PS3 exclusivity camp is a very, very far stretch of the imagination.

According to ex-SCE Worldwide Studios President Phil Harrison, the reason the previous entry went multiplatform was due to the fact that the PS3 didn’t have the install base to support Rockstar’s investment in GTA IV on its own. Furthermore, given that GTA IV has sold over 10 million on Xbox 360 and PS3, we’d argue that Rockstar would want to continue multiplatform development to keep revenue as high as possible.

Nonetheless, GTA V as a game (disregarding platform) is all but confirmed. With Rockstar Vancouver working on Max Payne 3 and Rockstar San Diego developing Midnight Club DLC and Red Dead Redemption, this leaves Rockstar North open to the possibility of developing the sequel. Other than the second Grand Theft Auto IV DLC pack, the prestigious developer has a huge studio at its command for another project. Still, we’re almost absolutely certain that GTA V — when it’s inevitably announced — will be a multiplatform game.

Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 1%

Unannounced Franchise

Rockstar has shown that it has no problem thinking outside of the box, developing new franchises completely disparate from that of Grand Theft Auto. Some popular ones that come to mind include Manhunt, Bully, and The Warriors. Thus, our most likely candidate is the possibility of an entirely new, currently unrevealed video game franchise. We’re stumped as to what it might be, but we’d definitely put our money on a brand new IP as opposed to an established brand. After all, Tretton mentioned ‘the next’ franchise when discussing the elusive title.

Chance of being the PS3 exclusive: 60%

Vaporware

We’re slowly creeping up to the two year mark since the initial announcement of the ‘next great PlayStation-exclusive franchise’ from Rockstar, and literally no information has slipped out since that initial reveal. Thus, our final option is that the Rockstar PS3 exclusive is no longer in development.

Hopefully we’ll be privy to some new developments at this year’s E3 convention. If neither Rockstar nor Sony reveals something soon, however, you might as well sign this off as another vaporware title and look forward to other exciting PS3 exclusives, including Uncharted 2, God of War III, and Final Fantasy Versus XIII.

Chance that the Rockstar PS3 exclusive is no more: 30%

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Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles First Look Preview

May 1

Posted by Admin in News, Nintendo Wii

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, the on-rails shooter released for the Wii early last year, led some to criticise Capcom for milking its biggest-selling franchise. But that did the game a disservice. It was a fast-paced romp through the first four Resident Evil games (chronologically), with excellent graphics (for the Wii) and fun two-player co-op play. And, crucially, it sold over a million copies worldwide. At Captivate 09 Capcom took the lid off the sequel, The Darkside Chronicles, and took press through a live gameplay demo of the game’s first half hour.

Although plot details are thin on the ground, it looks like The Darkside Chronicles will focus on the story, locations and characters from 1998’s Resident Evil 2, for many the best Resident Evil game. As Capcom begins the live gameplay demo, the similarities reveal themselves to be stark. Like in Resi 2, The Darkside Chronicles lets you pick from two playable characters: rookie Raccoon City Police Department cop Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, who’s in town searching for her missing brother (in multiplayer both are playable). And like in Resi 2, the game begins in a charred city street at night. Abandoned cars are aflame, eerie music haunts the air and the night sky lends a sense of dread. Zombies are everywhere, slowly ambling towards the screen. Leon and Claire stand together, desperate to escape, desperate to make their way to the Police Department, taking shots with their trusty handguns at zombie skulls. They pass through the gun shop from Resi 2 - once again the shopkeeper can’t be saved. They pass through familiar streets, open familiar gates and face off against familiar enemies. The trailer that Capcom shows before the gameplay demo begins details lickers, a giant crocodile and, wait for it, the T-103. The demo ends at the entrance to the Police Department, a place any Resi 2 fan knows is full of horrors. It’s just like it was a decade ago, except this time it’s in first person.

Other returning characters include sexy temptress Ada Wong, Resi bad guy Albert Wesker, Sherry Birkin (the little girl Claire spent so much time protecting), and her father William Birkin, the mad scientist who injects himself with the G-Virus after his work is nicked. How they all fit together in the plot isn’t known at this point, indeed how much the game strays off the Resi 2 path will be interesting for fans to discover. The official blurb from Capcom says the game features “a brand new storyline that will fill in missing pieces of the “Chronicles” series”, but we don’t know how extensively it will explore previously unseen areas and reveal previously untold story. Whatever the case, Resi obsessives will feel compelled to eke out any new plot titbits the game has hidden within its virtual innards.

As far as improvements go, Capcom, along with Tokyo developer Cavia, have concentrated on two areas: the horror atmosphere and the graphics. Let’s start with the graphics. It’s immediately obvious that The Darkside Chronicles will be one of the best-looking Wii games ever when it’s released. The character models are well detailed, as are the many zombies that try to kill you. The Havoc-powered physics are a joy, and the zombie hit animations might even be better than those in Resi 5. But it’s the environments that steal the show. The fire effects, especially, are stunning for a Wii game. The detail on show is superb - Resi 2 fans will have as much fun spotting items and objects they remember from the classic PSOne title as they will from shooting zombies in the head.

Cavia’s chief producer Kentaro Noguchi, who’s playing the game for us, says a great deal of time and money has been spent on getting “next-gen” graphical effects to work on the Wii. “We wanted to focus on a very realistic approach,” he says. “We didn’t want it to be cartooney like some Wii games can be. We spent a lot of time and effort trying to get the latest technologies into the Wii itself: HDR, global illumination, a special system known as SH Lighting, and some special shadows and lighting filters, as well as specular maps. It’s one of the few Wii titles that’s going to look this good.”

Now onto the horror atmosphere. Capcom’s at pains to stress that one of its chief goals with the game is to try and make players feel a more heightened sense of dread. To achieve it, it’s implemented a number of gameplay tweaks Umbrella Chronicles fans will find interesting. Camera control has been completely wrestled away from the player into the hands of the developers. While this is bound to give some players the fear, Capcom insists it’s spent a lot of time making sure the camera work is top notch, so there’s no need to worry.

“It didn’t work well in the first game,” insists Capcom producer Masachika Kawata. “A lot of people may not like that, but it really does fit a horror game to have the camera removed from you. It also directly shows you what you can shoot. The game itself therefore may not be as difficult to beat as the last game, but if you want to truly master it it’ll be much harder.”

Part of making the game easier is making the action smoother, another focus point. Now, collected herbs won’t have to be consumed on the spot, but can be stored away for use later. A new sub-menu will allow you to tinker with your load out. Perhaps best of all, though, is the ability to map weapons to the Wii Remote d-pad, allowing you to switch between the handgun and, say the shotgun or machine gun, in-game at will. Thank God for that.

Capcom also points to the conversations Leon and Claire have during the game as another example of how the atmosphere has been improved. Capcom’s managed to hunt down the voice actor used for Resi 4’s Leon, as well as the voice actress used for Claire in the original Resi 2. The game’s got the original Ada Wong, too. Sherry though, has a different girl’s voice: “We tried to use the same person for Sherry,” Kawata explains, “but she’s now grown up and no longer sounds like a girl! So we had to find a new person for that.”

Perhaps more important than getting the original voice actors on board is keeping faith with the cheesy b-movie dialogue the series is famous for. Thankfully Darkside Chronicles pulls no punches in this regard. At one point crows emerge from the night sky and start attacking Leon. “Guess they want a piece of me,” he says.” “Very funny,” Claire replied. Later, it gets even better (worse). “This is like a horror movie!” Leon screams. “Bet you don’t have to do this many stunts in a horror movie.” Wow.

At certain points in the game “dramatic events” will trigger, where you have to save your partner from certain death. One of these sees Leon knocked to the ground by an explosion, leaving him disorientated and with a ringing in his ears. Claire then saved him, shooting zombies off his back. Right now it’s not clear how this mechanic will work when the game is played cooperatively - will the game force these events on players or can they be avoided?

As much as the game has changed, it will still provide an instantly familiar experience. Exploding gasoline tanks are everywhere (one section sees you blow up a zombie-filled bus with one well-placed shot to a barrel), and there are points where you can decide how you’re going to get to your intended destination. And, of course, the game’s core gameplay mechanic hasn’t been tinkered with. You’ll still be pointing the Wii Remote, moving a targeting reticule on the screen, and shooting lots, and lots, of zombies, for the majority of the game.

Capcom’s decision to make an on-rails Wii shooter based on Resident Evil 2 seems a smart one. The game sold just under five million copies on the PlayStation, and is Capcom’s second best-selling game of all time. That’s a lot of people to tempt with a zombie-filled trip down memory lane. Kawata says it best: “Resident Evil 2 is one of the titles that a lot of people say is the best in the series. If you remember playing it you’re going to see a lot of familiar places and faces.” We can’t wait.

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is due out exclusively for the Wii this winter.

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Aliens: Colonial Marines - PC,PS3,Xbox 360

May 1

Posted by Admin in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360

In Aliens: Colonial Marines, players are part of a United States Colonial Marine squad and must prepare to face an Aliens assault more intense and horrific than ever before. Players must destroy the enemy with classic Aliens weaponry ranging from pulse rifles to flamethrowers as well as brand-new equipment.

Aliens: Colonial Marines features a story driven single-player mode and a four player co-op mode allowing players to share the chilling experience with three friends. In co-op mode, each player assumes the persona of a United States Colonial Marine and have a distinct role to play in the completion of every mission.

The primary enemies of the game are Aliens which will generally attempt to sneak up on or outflank the player, forcing the player to use tactical combat to confront them. Several different types of Aliens will appear and will attack differently. Facehuggers will attempt to attach themselves to the player character’s face, implanting an embryo inside them which will then kill them. “Warrior” Aliens are the primary enemies and are based primarily on the appearance of the Alien in Aliens. “Scouts” are faster and will spy on the player characters’ activities.

They will work in small groups or alone. These Aliens will be based on the appearance seen in Alien. “Drones” primarily carry and position eggs and work in the heart of the Hive serving the Queen; they were originally going to be in Aliens along with the “Warriors”. An Alien queen will also appear as a “boss” enemy. Quick time events will be used for one-on-one combat between the player characters and Aliens.

The Aliens will occasionally flee rather than attack when confronted by more than one marine. Quick time events are also the primary mechanic when the player is attacked by a facehugger.

The game will allow two players to play cooperatively on the same console, using a split screen to show the two perspectives. Online multiplayer will allow up to four players to play cooperatively, each using their own console and screen.

Competitive multiplayer modes have been announced, but the development team has discussed the possibility of competitive online play based on the “Gloom” mod of Quake II.

The story of Aliens: Colonial Marines is being written by Battlestar Galactica writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle. The events of the game are set after those of the film Alien 3. A Colonial Marine search and rescue team has been sent to investigate the U.S.S. Sulaco in search of Ellen Ripley, Corporal Dwayne Hicks, and the rest of the missing marines who were dispatched to LV-426. The Sulaco, LV-426, Fiorina “Fury” 161 prison facility, and the derelict alien spacecraft from Alien all serve as environments in the game, as well as other locations yet to be detailed

Development

A previous game titled Aliens: Colonial Marines was developed by Check Six Games and published by Fox Interactive and Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 2 in 2001, but was cancelled before its release. A more traditional first-person shooter, it shared the same subject matter and setting as the upcoming Gearbox-developed game. Its story was to be set between the events of Aliens and Alien 3, concerning a rescue team of Colonial Marines searching for the Sulaco. Despite the similarities in gameplay and story, however, Gearbox has claimed that their upcoming game is unrelated to this early version.

On December 11, 2006, Sega announced they had purchased the electronic rights to the Alien franchise from 20th Century Fox. On December 15, Gearbox Software and Sega announced that they were working on a completely new game based on the franchise. In February 2008 the game’s title was officially announced as Aliens: Colonial Marines and it was featured as the cover story of Game Informer magazine.

The development team took great pains to recreate the vehicles and settings of the films by using original set designs to recreate the exterior and interior of the Sulaco and LV-426. Concept artist Syd Mead, who had worked on Aliens, was hired to design areas of the Sulaco that did not appear in the film but would be used in the game.

According to a Kotaku article, Sega said that their new Alien vs Predator game to be released in 2010 would be the first of their Aliens games to be released, meaning that Aliens: Colonial Marines will be sometime afterwards.

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