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XBLA celebrates with the “Summer of Arcade”

July 28th, 2008, 11:03 am by

EteRnal PAL mug

Microsoft announces the “Summer of Arcade” for Xbox Live Arcade. This release lineup is easily the best we’ve seen yet for XBLA. Here is the press release:

Xbox LIVE Arcade Celebrates the “Summer of Arcade” with an Incredible Lineup of Blockbuster Games and Chances to Win Hot Prizes!

“Summer of Arcade” lineup features five incredible games launching over five scorching weeks; beat the heat and play for a chance to win prizes including 100,000 Microsoft Points, an Xbox 360 Elite console and more!

Summer is in full swing, and Xbox LIVE Arcade is celebrating with the hottest lineup of games ever, starting on Wednesday, July 30 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT) with the highly-anticipated retro shooter “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2.” Also on Wednesday, Xbox LIVE Arcade users can earn entries into our “Summer of Arcade” Sweepstakes by logging in and playing the trial or full version of the featured Summer Arcade game of the week for a chance to win amazing prizes.

XBLA Summer of Arcade

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Posted in: Latest game news • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 1 Comment »

Newsguy777′s top five games of E3

July 27th, 2008, 10:12 pm by

E3 & Game Rover

John Crandall

We were wrong. About the best game at E3, I mean.

I asked a number of different game reviewers, columnists and reporters at E3 to pick THE GAME OF E3 – I actually asked in bold, capital letters like that – and they gave me a lot of different answers. Left 4 dead, Prince of Persia, Fallout 3 and Spore were some of the top picks.

In fact, we had a poll on what games you, our discerning readers, were most looking forward to at the event and the most votes went to Spore. I know I thought Spore was going to be THE GAME OF E3 (cue echo and thunder and lightning).

However, I can say that we were all categorically wrong. Spore was great, but one game beat it. So without further ado or adon’t, here are my choices from my trip to video game nirvana.

The top 5 games of E3

5. Halo Wars by Ensemble Studios

This game has to go on the list, not only because I’m a huge Halo fan, but also because the game looked … well, pretty. It had the traditional real-time strategy gameplay feeling (like Command and Conquer or Age of Empires), but the thing looked so doggone beautiful that (though this is sacrilege in the gaming community) I felt I could have just watched someone else play instead of playing the game myself.

The metal shimmered, the weapons glowed and the whole game had that familiar shine of a program polished like the brass ring on a carousel.

4. Red Wars: Guerrilla by THQ

I already previewed this game, but suffice to say, in this futuristic martian dystopia buildings done blowed up real good.

3. Fracture by Lucasarts

Fracture was the last game I got to play at E3, and it was wonderful.You have these grenades you can use to change the surrounding terrain and … words don’t do it justice, so check out the video here.

2. Spore by Maxis

Spore has so much depth, so much replayability and so much charm that it’s hard to believe it was greater than I thought it would be. But it beat all my expectations. However one game topped it and that is …

1. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed by Lucasarts

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was the best game at E3. It sounded great, it played well, and it looked as close to the CGI that Lucas throws at the big screen as we’re going to get.

Aside from the brilliant graphics, the game gives the player the heady rush of absolute power. Whether it’s crumpling a two-story robot walker into a ball(I know they’re called AT-STs, Star Wars fans) or picking up a spaceship with the Force (if you don’t know what the Force is, I weep for you) this game will grab you and not let go until it’s shaken all the change from your pockets.

For those of you who played Psi-Ops you’ll understand. For those of you who didn’t, shame on you, that game was great.

Even if you don’t see have some sort epiphany while playing Star Wars: The Force Unleashed when it arrives in September, you’ll have a lot of fun.

Unfortunately for my readers, THE GAME OF E3 (distant rumble) title is subjective and completely dependent on my whims, so there are bound to be some who disagree. If you do, leave a comment. The more comments the better. And tell us your top E3 game.

For my next post, I’ll be answering the questions you sent me about E3.

Posted in: E3 • Events • Latest game news • The Business • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • | 5 Comments »

Is this year’s E3 its last?

July 25th, 2008, 12:00 am by

EteRnal PAL mugGame Rover at E3A week has passed and as the dust settles on the E3 2008 Media and Business Summit, rumors are running rampant on whether or not this was E3′s last show.  After a one-year hiatus from E3, I was somewhat glad to be back.  I skipped out on last year’s show because I didn’t want to deal with traveling around from hotel to hotel through Santa Monica.  Having all games at one location as opposed to being scattered is what I personally prefer.

Unfortunately, the new format that E3 has taken on left me with mixed feelings.  Some words to describe the new E3: somber, low-key, tame, relaxed.  This year’s event was all about scheduling appointments and arriving on time at each respective meeting room.  Since fewer companies attended, the show floor itself was drastically reduced in size and fewer games represented.

With E3′s new format, I was not able to check out the games that I was most interested in, such as “Gears of War 2,” “Fallout 3″ (although Joe was fortunate enough to check that one out), “Resident Evil 5,”"Halo Wars,” “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” and the list just goes on.  Note to self for next year (if E3 still exists): schedule an appointment with companies showing games I’m most interested in.

I miss the craziness of past E3′s – the loud music, the free swag that was passed out like candy at Halloween, the variety of shows, the skateboarders, the celebrities, the long lines and yes, let’s not forget about the booth babes.  This spectacle of mixing business and pleasure is simply no more.

In its place is a more organized event that contains no thrills.  A place where you can rub elbows with the gaming industry’s finest… just in a more sterile environment.  With the video game industry growing rapidly and being accepted by the masses as a viable form of entertainment, it does seem like the correct approach for E3 to continue in this form.

We’ll be sure to post any new information we receive on E3 and its future plans so stay tuned.

Posted in: E3 • Events • Latest game news • • • • • • • • | 2 Comments »

'Saints Row 2' expands options, improves co-op

July 18th, 2008, 9:23 am by

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EteRnal PAL mugGame Rover at E3“Saints Row 2” picks up right from where the first one left off: a huge explosion that had players wondering what happened to their character.

The sequel begins in a hospital controlled by police. The protagonist is wrapped in bandages and finally regains consciousness. That sets up the player to create a character again for the first time.

Vast improvements have been made to the game’s customization options. You can now create a female gangsta, which opens up a new set of of options, including make-up application.

New customizable character traits include selectable voice, taunts and combat style. You can choose the way your character walks, what kind of gang attire he wears and even the car your gang drives.

Saints Row 2

After you’re done creating your character, the real fun begins. You are in charge of the Saints gang now, but who actually runs a gang behind bars? This is where players bust out of the hospital and learn about all the new things they can do.

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Spore for the Wii could happen, says one Maxis producer

July 17th, 2008, 6:39 pm by

E3 & Game Rover

John Crandall

Spore for the Wii is a possibility, says one of the game’s producers.

Though the upcoming life simulation game will not be making an appearance on Nintendo’s console any time soon, Thomas Vu, a producer at Spore’s development company Maxis, said it could happen.

“It’s something we have considered,” Vu said. “It’s one of the options on the table.”

“Nothing we want to announce though, ” Vu added.sporsewmacpftright.jpg

I talked to Vu momentarily at E3 while he was showcasing a version of the game at the Electronics Arts meeting room. When we spoke he was guiding a herd of creatures that looked like the dinosaur Yoshi from Super Mario Bros. to attack a neighboring tribe.

Spore is slated for release for PC and Nintendo DS this September.

More E3 Spore/Sims coverage:


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New ‘Brothers In Arms’ brings WWII back to mature gaming

July 17th, 2008, 1:51 pm by

EteRnal PAL mugGame Rover at E3There was a period when WWII-based shooters were all the rage. Each of the top-rated titles in the genre brought something different to the table to draw in gamers: “Call of Duty” with their scripted events, “Medal of Honor” with its character-based story telling and “Battlefield” with its large scale battles.

“Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway” is the third in the “Brothers In Arms” series and follows in the same footsteps as its predecessors to provide gamers with a realistic-paced strategic first person shooter.  Sgt. Matt Baker (from the first BIA) returns as the hero.

Hell’s Highway

The E3 demo (Xbox 360 version) I played starts off on a mission where the squad needed to clear out a town full of Nazis. The biggest change to the gameplay is the ability to take cover, a la “Rainbow Six Vegas.” Sgt. Baker can shoot back and give orders while behind cover. Sprinting has been added to help players get around or run from cover to cover much quicker.

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Lara Croft returns in visually stunning ‘Underworld’

July 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm by

EteRnal PAL mugGame Rover at E3 2008I got an opportunity to sit in on a demo walk through of “Tomb Raider: Underworld.” Hot off the success of “Tomb Raider: Legend” and “Tomb Raider: Anniversary,” Crystal Dynamics is back and working on Lara Croft’s next adventure.

The demo started off in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. You see Lara Croft donning a wetsuit as the presenter proceeded to dive into the ocean. She now has scuba gear so there is no need to worry about searching for air pockets while underwater like in past games. While underwater, Lara’s guns won’t do much damage to any threats so gamers do have access to a spear gun.

“Tomb Raider: Underworld”

Lara eventually makes it into an underground cavern where she finds out that an enormous kraken is in the way, bracing the doors shut.  I was told that gamers will now have many different ways to approach puzzles in “Tomb Raider: Underworld,”  a welcomed change. After some trademark climbing, Lara was able to get the kraken to loosen its grip and slip away by shooting the chains of a giant stone structure hanging over its head.

As the demo came to an end, I couldn’t help but be impressed by the visuals. The cavern walls glisten from the water pouring down and little details were everywhere, like water dripping from the kraken’s tentacles. I was pleasantly surprised at how great everything looked underwater as well, from the bubbles rising all around you to the plant life swaying around on the ocean floor.

A great feature they added  is that Lara now carries a digital camera on her expeditions, which makes a lot of sense since anyone in her shoes would want to take pictures to remember what they have experienced.  This in turn will give players the ability to take pictures during their adventures, upload them and then share the images with friends over Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network.

“Tomb Raider: Underworld” is scheduled to release in November 2008.  A demo will be made available prior to launch.  The promising demo gives Tomb Raider fans, myself included, a lot to look forward to this holiday season.

More Game Rover E3 coverage:

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