One of the biggest sneak hits of last year was Skylanders: A Spyro Adventure. I remember buying it, thinking this might be cool, and I now own 20+ of the little bastards. This game has been wildly successful, as an example, I can think of several occasions chatting up the management at the game store I frequent while several panicked parents kicked in the door begging for Skylanders. If you want to grab the next generation of Skylanders, you may want to prepare for war. This fall at the North American International Toy Fair, you will see 8 new giant sized Skylanders, (which I assume will cost more than your initial Skylander), and also 8 new regular sized pieces. The new game will also include new element types. Your Portal of Power and initial figures will work with the new game, and your characters will retain their level. Are you excited?! I’m Excited, comments after the trailer.

Just in case you missed Zombietron’s story from Sunday, or haven’t checked your email, Sony is renaming their PlayStation Network for PS3 to be more in line with their other electronic services. Beginning on Wednesday, the PSN will now be known as the Sony Entertainment Network. Usernames, passwords, subscriptions, etc. will not be affected, other than to have a new icon. While you’ll also notice the change on PS Vita when it releases later this month, they are not currently doing anything to PSN on PSP. Ultimately, most consumers will not be affected by this in any way (except for a firmware update I’m sure). But you should still expect an explosion of looneys on the internet Wednesday afternoon when the folks that were too busy to check their email think Sony’s trying to pull one over on them.

One of the later stories in Friday’s edition of VGQH was THQ’s delay of Metro: Last Light, reportedly for more polish. We’ll have to wait and see the merits of this and what it means for THQ’s new brand focus. In the meantime, one of their other franchises is getting here a little quicker than I expected. I had thought to see Darksiders II in fall, but it has now been announced for a June release. This sequel sees the horseman Death attempt to clear War’s name, who stands accused of accidentally triggering an early apocalypse. The first game was rated very highly and was often described as a mash-up between God of War and Legend of Zelda.

Another release date was recently announced, and it’s also coming up very quick. Then again, when you’re cross marketing through different mediums, it’s nearly always a good idea to have products releasing in similar time frames. Game of Thrones, the RPG from Cyanide Studios, is set to release May 15th. That puts it about halfway through the course of the television show’s second season on HBO. (The first season will be available on DVD and Blu-ray March 6th.)

If you’ve been playing Mass Effect since the first game on PC or XBox 360 you’ve already grown accustomed to keeping your save games to import into the next game. For PS3 users, who had a choose-your-own-adventure motion comic to set up decisions from the first game, we’re still looking forward to sending our various Shepards into Mass Effect 3 on March 6th. Despite repeated assurances that this will end Commander Shepard’s story, BioWare suggests you keep your files from this trilogy-ender as well. Obviously this doesn’t have to mean Mass Effect 4, but other events in the same universe will obviously be affected Shepard’s activities (Rachni destruction, Krogan genetic engineering, etc.). While this is obviously not an announcement for anything, it does give hope that we haven’t seen the last of this impressive universe. But, with rumors abound concering next-gen hardware, what could saving that file mean? Should we expect a use for it in the next year to insure we’re sitll playing it on our PS3s or 360s? Do they have a plan for moving it to PS4 or neXtBox? Are any other franchises using this forward-thinking save utility that may need to answer the same questions?

Just in case there was any doubt about all of the other leaks we’ve heard about Capcom’s Street Fighter x Tekken, we’ve now some visual evidence of the four unconfirmed fighters: M. Bison, Akuma, Jin, and Ogre. A pair of move list graphics clearly show the four, along with instructions for performing some of their special attacks. In addition to these four, and the myriad other fighters on the roster, PS3 players will have exclusive access to Kuro, Toro, Cole McGrath, Mega Man (of sorts), and mecha Pac-Man.

EA has made no secret of their plans for another Medal of Honor sequel, and they’re getting set to reveal even more of those plans. Invites have started going out to various press outlets to attend an event on March 6th, the same week as the Game Developers Conference. The invites are quite clear that this will be the big reveal of the next Medal of Honor. Considering we all know it’s coming, this will be the first chance to see just what it will be.

Tim Schafer is a development celebrity. It probably seems strange to outsiders that gamers have behind the scenes favorites, but it seems strange to me that Jeff and Jimmy of the Big Movie Mouth Off have such an encyclopedic knowledge of directors, producers, and effects artists that I think of as obscure. Regardless, Schafer and his team at Double Fine have made some of the best-loved games around – including Stacking, Costume Quest, Brutal Legend, and most importantly, Psychonauts. The high praise and enduring fan loyalty to Psychonauts continually brings up the question of Psychonauts 2, a project Schafer has publicly declared he would like to do. It came up again recently in an interview, with Schafer lamenting that he hasn’t been able to get a publisher interested. This piqued the interest of another development celebrity, Markus “Notch” Persson. Notch is the founder of Mojang who recently completed Minecraft, a cult smash. Utilizing the millions he’s earned from Minecraft, Notch recently opened a publishing branch of Mojang, which factors in heavily to the messages he’s sent to Schafer via Twitter. When Schafer mentioned that he needs a few million dollars from a publisher to make Psychonauts 2 happen after all these years, Notch responded with “How many millions exactly?” He followed up with telling Schafer he wants to “make Psychonauts 2 happen,” and that he’s “serious.” This doesn’t actually mean anything will come of it, but this could certainly be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. And the fans will be reaping all the benefits.

With Twisted Metal making its return to consoles on Valentine’s Day, this should be a triumphant time for David Jaffe and Eat Sleep Play. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. Jaffe is apparently leaving the company, reportedly of his own accord, while they’ve just released 8 employees through layoffs. Eat Sleep Play was founded in 2007 “to provide gamers with small-to-medium sized games that look great, run fast, and — most importantly — are fun and commercial.” A high profile release like Twisted Metal doesn’t seem to fit that description very well, but we haven’t really seen it in action yet. With the loss of Jaffe, who created the car combat series and the bestselling action-platformer God of War, and the recent layoffs, Eat Sleep Play is down to 26 employees. The new plan is to focus on iOS games for the iPhone and iPad. But what does this mean for the three game contract they had with Sony?

Speaking of Twisted Metal, you didn’t think a simple release on Valentine’s Day was going to end its glory did you? Three additional vehicle skins will be available by drinking NOS energy drinks and entering the promo code online. That will get you a download code to pick up a specialized Dollface truck, gore-dripping hearse, or bright pink ice cream truck complete with a grinning clown. While these skins are advertised as exclusives, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them become available as paid DLC at a later date.

In the world of special editions, Starhawk has the latest reveal. This Limited Edition is not a paid upgrade, you’ll need to preorder at GameStop for free access to these bonuses when the game launches on May 8th. It’s a fairly robust package too, one I’d normally expect to see an extra $10-20 charge to upgrade. It comes with a PS3 theme, the official soundtrack, a free download of the original Warhawk from PSOne, and two DLC add-ons (a $20 value). What do those add-ons include? Here’s the summary from the PlayStation Blog:

• Maw of Despair Outcast Pack – Includes the Maw of Despair Co-op Map and Shade Warrior MP Skin. This challenging co-op mission takes place deep beneath the planet’s surface in a particularly dangerous Rift mine. The Maw of Despair is home to the oldest Outcast tribe, the Shade Warriors. The heart of each Shade Warrior blazes with pure Rift energy, granting them extra toughness and combat ability. The firefights you’ll encounter in the Maw of Despair co-op mission will push your shooting skills to the edge!
• Echo Scrapyard Rifter Pack – Includes the Scrapyard Homeworld and Huxley Ardin MP Skin. An exclusive player Homeworld, the Echo Scrapyard features Huxley’s mechanics shop and junkyard — known throughout the Frontier as the best place in the Frontier for Rifters to get spare parts for their Razorbacks and Sidewinders. And in the canyon basin below, Huxley’s shop is a network of roads and trails for players to hone their own Razorback 4×4 and Sidewinder Jetbike driving skills.

It looks like that settles it for another early edition of Video Game Quick Hits. Come back again on Friday for more short bites of the top news.

Emails sent to users over the last few days described the upcoming changes to the Playstation Network accounts. All accounts will be migrated to the newly established Sony Entertainment Network umbrella in preparation for the upcoming Vita release. I’m hoping this migration will stop some of the fragmentation throughout Sony’s device lineup. For example: I buy a Sony Xperia Play, but I can only purchase 10 PSOne classics because I’m forced into a separate market place, as opposed to the PSN market place. Will Xperia’s and all of their products have access to the Sony Entertainment Network? Or will this simply be a user shift for Playstation 3, and prospective Vita owners? I hope option a is the effect. Comments after the sony email.

On February 8, 2012, your “PlayStation®Network account” will be renamed a “Sony Entertainment Network account” or a “SEN account” in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation®3 system software and PlayStation®Vita system software updates. (Note, this change will not be applied to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system at this time.)

For general purposes, this account change is a change in name only. Your username or password will not change, nor are we asking you to change them. In accordance with this transition, some necessary naming changes will be made to the TOS and Privacy Policy.

This transition is based on Sony’s goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering. As a series of these activities Sony started last September, PlayStation®Network will be aligned with “Sony Entertainment Network.” This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account.

Thank you for your continued loyalty and support during this transition.

Sincerely,
The Sony Entertainment Network Team

This week’s late edition has a wide and varied array of topics, so let’s get to it:

Wasn’t Resident Evil 6 just announced in the last month? Capcom isn’t wasting any time. We usually see the first screens from a game when it’s still a year or two out, especially when it’s from a franchise this big. But it looks like Capcom is sticking with their plans to launch it in November. They’ve already announced a demo available in July (for 360, September for PS3), and committed to it by including early access in the box for Dragon’s Dogma, their new RPG. New copies of that game will include a code redeemable for access to the demo when it comes to their console.

Longtime fans of Risen have good reason to be excited for Risen 2: Dark Waters, and now they have even more reason. A DLC chapter for the upcoming sequel is planned that will pick up a plot thread from the first game and finally bring it to close. The “Treasure Isle” expansion will focus on Harlok, a cook from Captain Steelbeard’s ship that steals clues to the hidden location of the captain’s treasure. In exchange for helping him, your hero will be rewarded with new environments and puzzles, as well as a legendary item that gives you a permanent stat boost. The DLC will be free for those who preorder, though it should be available for about $10 at a later date. The game launches on April 24th.

Things are getting shaken up over at Sony, but it looks to be a good thing and only tangentially related to the gaming side of the business. Sir Howard Stringer, President and CEO of Sony Corp., is finally acting on the succession plan the company has been building for three years. He’ll be stepping down March 31, to be succeeded, as expected, by Kazuo Hirai, current head of the company’s consumer electronics (including PlayStation) and Chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Hirai originally started with Sony’s music division in 1984 and has been moving up the chain ever since. His contributions to the PlayStation brand since joining that division in 1995 are numerous and he has been an architect for the current state of the gaming industry. This is an exciting and promising change for the entire Sony brand. Sony hasn’t yet announced his replacement in the consumer electronics division, but we should be hearing it soon.

Another leak from Capcom brings us a fresh round of rumors about Street Fighter x Tekken DLC. There’s no official announcement, but Capcom leaks rarely prove to be wrong and this does seem to match their pattern. Eight DLC packs were leaked, with a value of almost $40. The contents appear to be two gem packs of nine gems each ($2.99/ea); a color editing pack (free); a Tekken and/or Street Fighter costume pack giving you new fighter costumes based on stars from the opposite series ($9.99/ea, or $15.99/pair), a New Challengers pack with Guy, Cody, Christie, and Leo ($7.99); and an unlock pack ($4.99) that gives you acces to Akuma, Ogre, and other in-game unlockables without having to actually earn them yourself. On the surface, it looks like Capcom is prepared to support the game heavily after release. What’s really happening is that they’re preparing the Ultimate Hyper Puppies and Kitties Edition which will be announced two weeks after the last expansion hits your online store.

With the Gotham City Impostors beta already running it’s about time we get a release date. How about next week on February 7th? That’s when it should be hitting your console’s online store for $14.99. I’ve had fun in the beta, but didn’t get as much time with it as I would have liked. If I were actually any good at FPS or competitive online this might be the game that drew me into it. Seeing as I suck, I’m just not sure I can justify $15 for frustration.

If you’re not joining the legions of Batman and Joker knock-offs killing each other online there is another title releasing next week you may be interested to play. Or replay if you grew up in the same arcades I did. The Simpsons Arcade Game will be coming to PSN and XBLA next week. The best news out of this is that PS+ members will get the game for free on PSN. Which only seems fair to me. After all, I think I spent enough quarters to buy the full cabinet two or three times over as a kid.

As if The Simpsons aren’t enough free goodies for PS+ members, February is a great month to be a subscriber. In addition to the arcade classic, PS+ also gets the PSOne Classic Final Fantasy V, two free minis (Hungry Giraffe and Gold Medalist), Far Cry 2 for PS3, and six PSN games (Battle Fantasia, Fatal Inertia, Hamsterball, Inferno Pool, Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom, and Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket Powered Battle Cars). All for free. In case you missed the SEGA bundle because you joined too late, or are just joining this month to get these deals, all six of those titles (Altered Beast, Comix Zone, Golden Axe, Sonic 1 & 2, and Streets of Rage 2) will be back for free as well. The usual raft of discounts, free game trials, themes, avatars, and Qore will also be available. Seriously, February looks to be one of PS+’s best months ever.

Even more on the downloadable front, Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc HD has been announced for release on March 21, 2012. I don’t have the pricing yet, but this comes from the same people who did the Beyond Good & Evil HD remake so I expect it will be similar to that price ($10). I’m a little ashamed to say that I didn’t experience Rayman until the recent Rayman: Origins. I have absolutely no idea why that was an origin story, or even if there was an actual story to it, but it was some excellent platforming and I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely going to be diving into this character’s back catalog.

As you probably recall from Tuesday’s edition of VGQH, I went on a bit of a rant about online passes and the way they affect games. In a curious spin on that news, EA has announced that Syndicate will have no online pass. According to Jeff Gamon of EA partners, this decision was made because the game has no competitive multiplayer and contains such a wealth of content that they don’t think anyone will trade it in. EA was one of the pioneers the online pass, and are even requiring it for acces to story missions in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which is single player only. [More on that game later.] According to Gamon, “Under normal circumstances it would have had an online pass, but because it didn’t have competitive multiplayer and because we wanted as many people as possible to be playing co-op, we got away with it.” I’m not complaining, but does it seem like EA is feeling a little bipolar about this controversial tool they created?

If you’re planning to pick up UFC Undisputed 3 on February 14th, you’ll want to consider how much of the DLC you’ll want. There’s plenty of it coming, but you’ll be able to pre-purchase it all at a discount via the Season Pass for $17 on release day, a $9 savings. As usual, the Season Pass will get you all of the planned DLC as soon as it hits your store. Plans for the DLC are:

• Fight of the Night Pack – Five new fighters, $5, March 2012
• International Pack – Five new fighters, $5, April 2012
• Ultimate Submissions – Five fights, free, launch day
• Ultimate Rivals – Five fights, free, launch day
• Ultimate Upsets – Five fights, $5, March 2012
• Mixed Bag – Five fights, $5, April 2012
• Alistair Overeem, $1, March 2012 (free at launch if you did the Facebook thing)
• Create-a-Fighter Boost – Extra points for fighter development, $3, launch day
• All Unlockables – Unlock everything without earning it, $2, launch day

On top of THQ’s financial troubles, it was revealed during an investor call this week that Metro: Last Light is being delayed from 3rd quarter 2012 to an unspecified date in 2013, citing the usual need for more polish. This may not be a bad sign. THQ has recently dropped a lot of IPs and refocused on providing top shelf experiences for core gamers. This delay may just be showing their commitment to that goal. In addition to delaying the game, they have also revised the marketing budget, doubling that of the previous game. It’s unfortunate to see a delay, but this game will be our first real chance to see what THQ is doing with their new business plan. A lot is riding on the title and I’m very interested to see how it all turns out.

It’s become kind of a niche franchise, but if you’re one of the many awaiting the console release of Worms: Ultimate Mayhem, combining the best elements of Worms 3D and Worms 4, the release date is nearly here. This week it was confirmed the game will be hitting PSN and XBLA on Valentine’s Day, February 14th. The price hasn’t been confirmed, but it’s $15 on Steam, so plan accordingly.

I’m still not sure what to think of Lollipop Chainsaw, but the pre-order outfit tells me they’ve at least got their inspiration from the right place – depending on where you buy your copy. The highlight for me is the GameStop preorder, which gets you an Ash inspired set of threads straight from the Evil Dead trilogy. [Hot girl dressed as Ash? Is it okay that I like that? In a dirty way?] Power Up Rewards members will also get an outfit inspired by Jimmy Urine of Mindless Self Indulgence (a punk band contributing to the soundtrack). Alternatively, preorders at Amazon will get you the Rockabilly and Pin-Up outfits, or Best Buy scores the Goth Girl and Foxy Funk sets.

Finally, I got a chance to play the demo for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. RPG demos that just show you the first few minutes of a game are hardly a fair thing from which to judge, but it’s what they provided. Based on my time with the demo, which is available now on PSN and XBLA, I don’t see myself buying this game. The story didn’t make much sense, not that I’d really expect it to in the short amount of time I played. The audio mixing seemed very off, especially the dialogue, and the mute hero was just off-putting. I know the point of a mute hero is so you can “hear” your own voice instead of having one projected on you, but far from making me feel like I was the hero, it actually separated me from him. Furthermore, when choosing his dialogue options (similar to Mass Effect‘s wheel sometimes, and occasionally just a list of topics to discuss), the game suffered awkward camera cuts and and strange responses from the AI. Combine that with some wonky camera controls and combat being a little sloppy and I felt no connection at all. I do appreciate the bonus armor unlocked for Mass Effect 3, but I didn’t even continue the 45 minute free roam the demo allowed after completing the introductory stage. With dozens, or even hundreds, of hours planned for the retail title, I think I’ll have to pass. I was bored and annoyed after a half-hour.

If you’ve been following lately rumors have been flowing about the new Xbox and what magic it heralds. Evil Avatar Evil avatar had a post explaining that Cedrick Dalmax stated:

In a response to a question inquiring about the rumor suggesting the announcement of the next Xbox at E3 this year, Cedrick said:

“We’re in an industry that talks a lot, that likes to tell stories. I am not convinced things will happen this year. Xbox 360′s cycle is not at all finished. The proof is that we don’t see the logic in cutting the price this year. E3 is still premature. What’s certain is that there’ll be nothing new in 2012.”

Delmas said that Microsoft won’t be making any hasty moves in a bid of counter Nintendo as they prepare to launch Wii U.

“We’re not here to counter Nintendo and they’re not here to fight the other manufacturers. Nintendo has put itself in a different cycle, they’re advancing at their own pace.”

I have to say I’m not suprised, with Microsoft laying off huge portions of their R&D department a few hours ago, and the strength of the Xbox currently, releasing a new console this year would be viewed as a rush to market. This could, however, be an MSoft employee speaking out of turn, but I still feel we won’t see a new console til the end of 2013 at the earliest.

Thoughts?

Submissions Open for IndieCade 2012 Festival of Independent Games!

LOS ANGELES – Feb. 1, 2012 – Submissions for IndieCade’s 2012 International Festival of Independent Games are now open at the IndieCade website: www.indiecade.com

IndieCade invites independent game artists and designers from around the world to submit interactive games of all types. Works-in-progress are encouraged.

IndieCade programs are designed to bring visibility to and facilitate the production of new works in the independent game community.

“Our mission is to spotlight the best cutting-edge work and the most innovative game designs — often thriving at the fringes of the game industry,” Stephanie Barish, CEO, IndieCade explains. “Our goal is to bring public as well as industry attention to exciting, innovative games, created by independent developers.”

Games selected will be spotlighted at the annual IndieCade Festival, Oct. 4 – 7, 2012; featured on IndieCade’s website and promoted via social media. Finalists will be considered for more than 12 categories, with winners honored at a formal awards ceremony during the fall festival.

Game-makers selected as finalists will receive two VIP all-access tickets to IndieCade 2012, including admission to the awards celebration and all VIP receptions and social events.

Any team that submits a game receives a main festival pass; an invitation to participate in IndieXchange, a day long program offering practical workshops, networking opportunities and one-on-one meetings with art leaders, publishers and potential funders.

About IndieCade:

IndieCade supports independent game development globally through a series of international events highlighting the rich, diverse, artistic and culturally significant contributions of indie game developers. IndieCade’s programs are designed to bring visibility to and facilitate the production of new works within the emerging independent game community.

IndieCade was formed by Creative Media Collaborative, an alliance of industry producers and leaders founded in 2005. www.indiecade.com

The PS Vita has began making it’s way into the wild blue yonder to assault our senses with it’s glorious gaming prowess.  I was fortunate enough to spend about an hour with one, and have been able to compile my initial thoughts on the highly anticipated gadget. I have voiced previous concerns about sales numbers in Japan, the abysmal numbers have been attributed to launch content and the initial price point. I can confidently say after spending my time with the device I hold those same reservations, but find myself yearning to get my hands on one all the same. I marveled at it’s size; the 5′ display is gorgeous, brilliant and, crisp. The touch screen is responsive and simple to manipulate. The system was locked into demo mode, which, to my dismay, barred me from trying any of the social media features. I did also find it was a touch thick for my liking, packing a ton of power requires some thickness, but I still hoped for a slender toy. The dual analog sticks are an absolute godsend, the button positioning is perfect, and the O.S. runs so smoothly. The hands on with the Vita gave me renewed hope towards its success. Pricing and a lackluster list of games didn’t stop me from yearning. I shouldn’t say lackluster, more or less, small. If third party support doesn’t follow with some strength the system is doomed to fail, and my heart is set to be broken.

The hands on demo gave me a different perspective on what I consider the “must play” titles:

Gravity Rush is going to to sell, I don’t think it won’t have a 100% attach rate, but I’d be shocked if it wasn’t close. The unique game play style, and cell-shaded animation will have a unique draw to the core gamer snagging the system. The initial demo was breath-taking, fun, and odd to control. Getting used to the unique control style took me a while. It didn’t help to have the unit tethered to a wall either. It was definitely the highlight of my demo session.

Wipeout 2048 wasn’t on my list before, and it still isn’t. I don’t get the vibe of wipeout. I’m sure it’s phenomenal to fans of the series, there has to be a draw there, to me it’s pretty much high-speed standard racing with guns.. I can get the same high speed experience from F-Zero.

We’re just about 2 weeks from the launch for those that pre-ordered the special bundle, who’s getting on board and who’s getting off?

Comments below:

How can January be over already? Doesn’t it seem like it just started? Is this an indication of how quickly the whole year will be passing by, or is it just this month? I’ve got a few landmark dates in my calendar this year, and I’m fairly certain those will feel all but unreachable as they get closer. Regardless, there isn’t a lot of news to finish the month so I’m going jump right in. Fair warning though. To make up for the lack of news I’m going to ramble off another editorial about online passes inspired by several of the news pieces this week.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is coming March 20th and it’s got many fans itching. You can scratch your survival horror, zombie killing, and four player team online itches all in one game. The level of excitement for this game means DLC is a very strong possibility. Actually, what level of possibility is higher than “very strong?” How about, “practically guaranteed?” Previews are already in the hands of many reviewers, and it’s been noted that the trophy list references the “Echo Six Expansion Pack” with 20 additional trophies. Some of the trophies, like Rocket Socket – Kill 5 enemies with a rocket launcher, may be teasing new weapons for the expansion. Others, like Bigger They Are – Complete Longest Yard, indicate some kind of expansion to story, mission type, maps, or game modes. Here’s the complete list:

• Secret Trophy – Continue playing to unlock this secret trophy
• Rocket Socket – Kill 5 enemies with a Rocket Launcher
• Happy Trails – Complete By the Trail of Our Dead
• Hot Pants – Complete I Now Know Why You Cry
• Oh Yeah!!! – Complete Nothing is as it Seems
• Boom Worse than Bite – 13 Bomb Dogs Detonated
• Ticket to the Gun Show – As Tweed, use C4 to open door in Foundry
• Ladies Night – Beat an Echo Six Expansion Pack mission with the 3 female characters in your party
• Who needs Guns? – Complete an Echo Six Expansion Pack mission without killing anything with a gun
• Bigger They Are – Complete Longest Yard
• Leave no Dead Man Behind – Kill every zombie in the Park before leaving
• Birth of an Abomination – Complete Root of All Evil
• Derailed – Complete The Places We’re Meant to Die
• Tyranical – 5 Tyrants Slain
• Burning Inside – Kill Another Player with Crucible in a Foundry Versus Match
• Delivery Specialist – Deliver all 5 Virus Samples for your team in Dispatch’s Biohazard Mode
• Turret’s Syndrome – Shut Down or Destroy 5 Turrets
• Boys Club – Beat an Echo Six Expansion Pack mission with the 3 male characters in your party
• Supernaut – 3 Super Tyrants Slain
• Divided We Fall – Complete an Echo Six Expansion Pack mission with no human player incapacitated from death or infection

So, whatever happened to Harmonix after they went independent? Sure, they’re still releasing expanded content for the Rock Band and Dance Central franchises, but are they working on any new games? The answer is yes, but it may not be what you expect. CEO Florian Hunziker mentioned recently that they have some music games in the pipeline that “won’t resemble” its other franchises. Pair that up with a resume for Brian Chan listing him as Lead Designer for “unannounced [Harmonix] title” for PSN, XBLA, and Facebook, and you’ve got the makings of a solid rumor. Rumors aren’t news, but Harmonix has a good track record and you should definitely be taking notice if they make an announcement soon.

Voice casting isn’t something that normally weighs heavily in my decision to play a game. But when you’ve got the kind of all star talent that Mass Effect 3 has, it’s definitely something to notice. Bioware has recently revealed more of the cast for the game, coming March 6th. Many roles feature returning actors, such as Mark Meer and Jennifer Hale (Shepard), Seth Green (Joker), Tricia Helfer (EDI), Ali Hillis (Liara T’Soni), Keith David (Captain Anderson), Lance Henriksson (Admiral Hackett), Yvonne Strahovski (Miranda Lawson), Carrie-Ann Moss (Aria T’Loak), and Martin Sheen (The Illusive Man). But new ones, like Freddie Prinze, Jr. as James Vega may become just as iconic.

The gaming industry is at a critical point in its evolution. While consumers are complaining about the rising cost of buying games at retail, publishers and developers are struggling to remain profitable as development costs increase. Building new graphic engines, crafting more open ended gameplay, and refining increasingly technical controls means the cost of creating games is rising. While consumers are balking at paying $60 for a 12 hour gaming experience, the simple cost and commitment to making a game means the retail price should probably be much higher. What’s the answer to this dilemma? Should game quality and development cycles be lowered to increase profitability? Should prices be raised? Should developers follow the CoD plan, releasing virtually the same game over and over again with little to no improvements at the same price to the buyer? Should we ban used game sales that, according to devs and publishers, take money right out of their hands? Or does the entire industry need to change its basic structure, much like the music and movie industries have had to do with the rise of new technology.

I don’t pretend to have all of the answers, but Curt Schilling of 38 Studios has recently had to address “online” passes, one of the recent changes in the business model. We’ve all seen the online pass by now. A new copy of a game comes with a pass allowing you online access and maybe some other bonuses. If you buy it used, you can access the same pass through your consoles’ online services, usually for $10. The online access pass is now in use by almost all of the major publishers, to some level or success or another. To many consumers this is preferable to launch day DLC that doesn’t actually download content, but simply unlocks items already on the game disc. In general, this seems like an effective tool. If you play online heavily you’re probably buying the game early (therefore new) to take advantage of the population. Those with little to no interest in online play can still buy later at used prices and be none the worse for wear. There have been a few notable missteps with this type of pass, however. The first one most of you will think of is Batman: Arkham City, in which Rocksteady used the pass to block access to the Catwoman content, a significant part of the campaign story and probably the biggest advertising point for the title leading up to launch. Which brings me back to Curt Schilling, as 38 Studios’ upcoming Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (which does not have an online component), will be using the $10 pass in a similar way. The “online” pass will unlock some Mass Effect inspired weapons and armor that can also be unlocked by playing the Mass Effect 3 demo, as well as an additional line of faction missions titled “House of Valor.” In response to fan outcry, Schilling addressed their concerns on the game’s forum.

It’s clear the intent right? To promote early adopters and MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO ME, REWARD fans and gamers who commit to us with their time and money when it benefits the company.

Every single person on the planet could wait and not buy Reckoning, the game would hit the bargain bin at some point and you could get it cheaper. 38 Studios would likely go away.

That’s just how business works. We MUST make a profit to become what we want to become. THE ONLY way we do that is to make games you CANNOT WAIT TO BUY! If we do that, and you do that, we want to reward you with some cool free stuff as a thank you.
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The industry is in a very odd place. The data coming in on used game sales is not saying the things many thought it should, or would. But companies are still trying to figure out how to receive dollars spent on games they make, when they are bought. Is that wrong? if so please tell me how.

Again, you can argue with methods, or process, and you absolutely can bitch and gripe about ANY DAY 1 DLC you are charged for, because I think I agree with many on that, but we are trying to create something here, product and company wise, and it takes dollars to do that.

The argument could be made, and should be made, that this is a brand new IP, which may not traditionally sell a lot of copies. It could very well be in the company’s best interest to have word of mouth build and get used copies of the game into the hands of traditionally thriftier buyers. Yes, it would result in some intial loss for 38 Studios and EA. But it also builds hype for the next release in the franchise, which could see much higher increase in sales. That’s long term thinking, and in an industry (and an economy) that needs increased cash flow, that may not be acceptable.

I don’t pretend to have all of the answers but I have to disagree with EA and 38 Studios’ plans for this game. I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad plan in theory or concept. But I really feel it makes little sense in the context of a new IP. If they aren’t willing to invest in the franchise, why should I? Frankly, they could have had an almost identical plan, branded slightly different, and I believe the mass market would have swallowed it much easier. You see, Naughty Dog released Uncharted 3 in November with promises of DLC. You could have preordered all of the DLC at a discounted rate soon after release. Or, you could wait until each piece was released, buying only what you want, but ultimately paying a premium for not buying the bundle. While I believe Naughty Dog also used an online pass in conjunction with this, couldn’t they have been combined? Would 38 Studios and EA be better positioned if they announced a set amount of upcoming DLC, say two episodes priced at $7 each, that are accessed for free with a code included in the retail box? Is this the same as day one DLC that angers consumers? Possibly. But it could be actual expanded content as well. Stuff that would have been included in the game but caused a delay could be held off as expansion content, thereby getting the game to retail sooner and also providing you with a potential of $14 income from used buyers. Is that a perfect plan? Of course not. But promising retail buyers additional content, rather than taking content away from used buyers, is the kind of propagandized marketing that could make all the difference in how it’s accepted.

It seems I’m not the only one with this thought in mind either. As Prototype 2: RADNET Edition from Radical Entertainment and Activision will be coming with its own variation on April 24th. Retail copies of the game will have a one-time use code that unlocks 55 pieces of future content. While this will include in-game events and challenges, bonus mutations, etc., not all of the extra content will be game-related. Other items will include dynamic themes for your PS3 and behind the scenes footage. This edition will be a limited run, and it’s not clear yet whether the additional content will be available for a fee to other buyers.

For another variation, look no further than the upcoming reboot of the SSX franchise, another EA published title, which will also be utilizing an online pass when it launches on February 28th. Oddly, this pass won’t be required for online play. Players without the pass will be able to compete in the game’s Explore and Global Events online, where you’ll earn credits for use in buying upgraded equipment for your boarder or bonus modes. The catch is, if you want to spend those credits you’ll need to activate your pass, either through the retail code or a $10 purchase on PSN/XBLA. I’m not sure if this is a better or worse use of the online pass, just different. In a sense, this seems more similar to the free-to-play MMO strategy, letting you use the service free, but making it better or more competitive by spending money.

As a side note, if publishers hate used game sales so much why do they offer pre-order incentives to GameStop, the largest marketer of used games? Preorder bonuses are a good way to get people to buy new copies of course. But giving me a couple extra weapons in Mass Effect 3 by getting my copy from GameStop means EA is getting me into a store where I might decide to buy a used copy of Reckoning. I would expect EA to offer better incentives to competing retailers like Best Buy or Wal-Mart, stores that don’t traditionally offer used copies.

In the meantime, I have no intention of redeeming my online pass for Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. Is there market for selling that code to someone who bought the game used?

Word has it this game has been axed and Marvel is looking for a new studio, but I still thought the footage was worth showing…

(Source: Marvel Movies)

Update: Sources are saying that Nintendo plans to launch the Nintendo Network in Japan on February 16 of this year.

Kotaku reported today that during Nintendo’s share holder meeting President Satoru Iawata not only announced, a time frame for their new console, but also a new digital distribution vision from Nintendo. This is a separate piece that Nintendo is moving towards releasing as opposed to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Channel. During the meeting Iawata said:

Unlike Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, which has been focused upon specific functionalities and concepts, we are aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers,”

This distribution network will be focusing on bringing full retail titles for the 3DS and Wii-U digitally. Hopefully your stash of SD cards in is high supply to pack the 1 gig 3DS games nice and deep. This leads to the hope that the Wii-U will have a decent amount of available memory right out of the box. I have to say the more these announcements come down the pipe I find myself boggled that Nintendo hasn’t simply began included solid-state memory in their consoles to help out the consumer. I realize this is a way they cut cost on the product for distribution, but passing the cost to the end user for storage will effect their digital sales when they launch the Nintendo Network. The other thought that continues to roll through my head is, it’s about damn time! Microsoft and Sony have been utilizing this model for 2+ years, and seeing Nintendo bring a real digital distribution solution forward will be a relief. I love utilizing the eShop for my re-releases of NES, SNES, and other older console titles. But the release flow has been slow, and the title availability has been spotty. Maybe, just maybe, the Nintendo Network will give them the fire to push all of their content digitally, with more efficiency. Or, maybe it will go the way of the PSP GO, and have consumers still looking at game shops wondering why they can’t put a UMD in their system.

Thoughts?