Still November, still playing Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation. I did get pretty frustrated with it a couple of times last night though. There are a few areas where navigation isn’t as clear as it should be, one mission in Mexico in particular. That same mission also saw a clue mini-game that makes very poor use of the Vita’s motion controls. Starting with memory sequence four, full synchronization has gotten a bit more complicated. I also had a severe setback in the shipping mini-game that sets up your basic economic system. I somehow lost two loads of cargo to pirates and one entire ship to hurricanes on the Bridgeport-Seville run. Only my light schooner loaded with steel survived unscathed. My money situation is now in shambles. Looks like I’ll be skipping trans-Atlantic voyages for a while. But enough about my news, you want gaming news:
Grand Theft Auto V is now available for preorder at Best Buy, GameStop, Amazon, and Rockstar Warehouse. The second trailer will be launched November 14th, hopefully including some kind of confirmation of some newly leaked details. While Rockstar has played this pretty close to the vest so far, they’ve been unable to prevent multiple leaks that have proven incredibly accurate. There is a huge reveal planned for December’s issue of Game Informer, but the highlights have also been leaked prior to the official drop. Once again, these bullet points are unconfirmed, just like all of the other totally accurate leaks we’ve seen so far:
- You play as 42 year old Albert DeSilva – half American half Puerto Rican, divorced, two kids.
- Breaking Bad has a little influence on the game. Albert is drawn to a life of crime at an older age for the money.
- You also play as Dougie Viejo, a younger criminal just coming up in Los Santos.
- Los Santos is the only large city, smaller towns round out the countrtyside.
- Grove Street is back. Carl and Sweet do not.
- Money plays a large part. Albert is broke due to a ponzi scheme.
- Property buying returns.
- The only customization for characters are clothes/hair/facial hair. No gym, no tattoos, no getting fat.
- One or more characters from GTA IV may appear.
- Car customization returns. Seems odd for Albert, but likely right up Dougie’s alley.
- Lovefist Lovefist! They’re back, but calling themselves The Jezzies. Sounds like the old school rockers turned to Christ.
- Partial soundtrack: My Michelle-Guns and Roses, Magic Power-Triumph, California Dreaming-The Beach Boys, and Beautiful-Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell.
- Confirmed mini games: golf, tennis, and surfing.
- GI played a mission called “Alimony.” It featured the jewelry store robbery scene from the trailer.
- Robbery returns but only for Dougie, dispensaries are a large source of cash income.
- You can switch between Albert and Dougie by holding down the back button (on 360). The game will autosave when you switch.
- Stinger returns.
- Unconfirmed: Aziz Ansari voices a radio DJ for a current hip-hop station.
The next hunk of DLC for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been announced. “Dragonborn” will run the same price as “Dawnguard” (1600MSP) and is expected to be of similar scope. This addition will see you discovering that you are not the first Dragonborn. New enemies will also be arriving, so expect oil-spitting lizards, the undead, and floating demons. For long-time fans, it looks like you’ll be heading back to Morrowind, at least the Solstheim area. Expect this December 4th for XBox 360. Don’t expect it at all for PS3.
Dead Island: Riptide is starting to build some media momentum. Deep Silver recently talked more about the inclusion of water-based areas in the highly-anticipated sequel, and now they’ve revealed the newest character to join the cast. John Morgan is a Navy man with hand-to-hand expertise, currently serving as a cook on Navy ship. He’s joining forces with the original four protagonists: a rapper, a spy, a disgraced cop, and a past-his-prime footballer player. The game is scheduled for April 2013.
Financial troubles continue at THQ. Losses were expected for the last quarter, but $21 million is a heavy blow whether you see it coming or not. Jason Rubin, President, has made some tough decisions about a few titles, ones that were coming relatively soon. According to Rubin, “fourth quarter releases are the first titles that [he has] had the ability to materially impact, and experience told [him] that the games needed additional development time to be market-ready.” Delays cost extra development money, and no money comes in until they’re released, but his long-term strategy seems to be quality games, not just getting them to market. As such, Metro: Last Light and Company of Heroes, both scheduled for this year, have been delayed until March 2013. Additionally, South Park: The Stick of Truth is being delayed from March 2013 to “early fiscal 2014” (likely July 2013 at the earliest). Something definitely needs to turn around for the company, as equity sales and eventual bankruptcy are definitely on the horizon.