As we near the end of July I’m quickly coming to realize summer is ending far sooner than I’d like. Though with the heat we’ve had the last few weeks I almost don’t mind. July’s been fairly slow but August will keep me so busy it will surely be over too soon. The upside? The Utes get back to the gridiron on August 30th, at home against the Northern Colorado Bears. Oh yeah, there’s also this small side trip to Florida for Star Wars Celebration VI. It was 1999 when I took the Greyhound bus to Denver for the first Celebration. I never expected that would lead me to five more of them. I also didn’t realize that the guy I met on that blizzard-y bus ride would one day become my editor, Swank-mo-tron. If you’re headed to the event this year, be sure to sign up for the Bounty Hunt. While I won’t be defending my win from the Friday competition in 2010, you’ll definitely see me there. But let’s get on to the game news:
If you were savvy enough to pick up Quantum Conundrum when it recently released to your download service you’ve certainly been enjoying your fair share of physics puzzles. If you’ve already finished, you may be wanting more. You’re getting more. Two DLC packs, “The Desmond Debacle” and “IKE-arambe!,” are scheduled for release August 15th and September 12th, respectively ($2.99/ea). Each pack will introduce a new wing of Quadwrangle Manor. The first pack will focus on the bird, Desmond. The second will see you trying to rescue IKE, the Interdimensional Kinetic Entity.
All of the innovation promised for the Kinect has actually resulted in only three things: tacked on additions for games that don’t need it, mini-games for children, and interactive exercise videos. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’re like me, you probably spend half of your gaming time shouting at the TV anyway. And kids like games too. Not to mention, you could probably use a little aerobic exercise. Look at Mass Effect 3 or Skyrim for the first example. For the children (and the kid in you), two new games have been announced for September 18th: Kinect Nat Geo TV and Sesame Street TV. Each will have eight interactive episodes available (400MSP per episode or 2400 for all eight, full “season” also available on disc). For the fitness minded, Nike has a new addition scheduled for October 30, 2012, Nike+ Kinect Training. You’re heading to the game store for Assassin’s Creed 3 that day anyway. Might as well get yourself the modern day version of the Jane Fonda workout tape to help burn off the excess Halloween candy at the same time.
Do you remember Capcom’s 2005 PS2 release of Haunting Ground? Based on sales figures, you probably don’t. Reviews weren’t great, but they weren’t horrible, resulting in a current score of 67 on Metacritic. Why do I ask? Because the ESRB recently rated the game again, indicating a potential release on PS3. It does have a significant niche following, even for a mediocre title. Whether you’ll be helping Fiona and her German Shepherd escape a haunted castle as a PS2 Classic release or an HD remaster isn’t yet clear. As soon as I hear something official from Capcom I’ll include it in a later edition of VGQH.
Based on Matthew Lourdelet’s community campaign, the “Cold Stream” DLC for Left 4 Dead 2 has been released on Steam. It was scheduled for XBLA on Tuesday, but was not included in the update. According to Valve, it’s been delayed, but they “are working with Microsoft on a release schedule. [They] don’t have an ETA yet but… hope to have it out soon.” Expected price is 560 MSP when it releases. Blood Harvest, Crash Course, Dead Air, Death Toll, and No Mercy maps should be included along with some “surprises.”
I am not the biggest Resident Evil fan, my experience really begins and ends with the second game. The release of Resident Evil 6 doesn’t have me excited in any way. But, being so immersed in gaming culture, I can’t help but love the limited quantity pre-order incentive Capcom recently announced. It’s an Umbrella umbrella. This bonus is only available from the Capcom Store and in very limited quantities. Even better, it’s also available as a separate item for only $16.95. Maybe I should try jumping back in to the series, or maybe I should just buy me a new umbrella. The game is set for October 2, 2012 but you can preorder now.
Like so many games in a crowded market, the Worms franchise has always interested me, but I never seem to get around to it. Several titles have released to PSN and XBLA since the remake of the 1995 original showed up in 2007. If you’re not sure where to start, but would like to give it a go, maybe you should wait until the Worms Collection is released. This retail bundle will include Worms, Worms 2: Armageddon and Worms: Ultimate Mayhem (which is a collection itself, combining Worms 3D and Worms 4: Mayhem). It also includes six DLC packs for the various titles. No pricing was announced and it’s currently only listed for Europe, but I expect more details and a US version soon.
Are you excited for Sleeping Dogs? Do you still have a Just Cause 2 save? It seems to a be bit of a random combination, but that save game will immediately unlock a set of Rico gear for Wei Shen in your first safe house. Not only does the gear look cool, but the zipline will allow you to action hijack vehicles from a much greater distance. So keep that save a little longer, Sleeping Dogs is out on August 14th.
Many of you have already preordered Transformers: Fall of Cybertron from your favorite retailers. Others have been waiting to find the best incentive. Do you want bonus skins and weapons? A free copy of the previous game? Or do you just want to save some money? Activision has finally given us a breakdown:
- GameStop: G1 Optimus Prime Skin (SP/MP), G1 Megatron Gun and Shockwave Blast Cannon (SP only)
- Amazon: G2 Bruticus Skin (SP only)
- Wal-Mart: Download code for Transformers: War for Cybertron ($20 value)
- Best Buy: $10 off and 15% off the strategy guide
The game is set for release August 21, 2012 but a demo is scheduled for July 31st. Expect two single-player missions, competitive multiplayer, and character customization in the demo.
Can’t say I actually know anyone eagerly awaiting Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2, but it’s delayed again. It was originally slated for August and recently slipped back to October. Now it’s headed for 2013. Did they heed my warning and decide not to oppose the juggernauts of fall/holiday gaming? Or does it still need “further polish?” Namco Bandai and City Interactive have both confirmed the delay, but the reasoning is still vague. The most official response so far simply says they want it to be successful and they love the engine. They did say the level of polish needs to be high, but didn’t exactly cite it as a reason for delay. Maybe they’re afraid to admit they don’t want fight Call of Duty for retail space. I see nothing wrong with that, it’s just savvy marketing.
Square Enix first mentioned a version of Final Fantasy XIV for PS3 back in October but has been very silent since. Though very little was revealed, they’ve recently broken their Mute spell with the announcement of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Playing off of the core concept of rebirth, this “2.0” version includes the new world Hydaelyn. According to Naoki Yoshida, Producer/Director, “Since announcing our plans for the future of the title last October, we have been working tirelessly to include all of the elements that we have promised in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn…. This new title not only becomes a symbol of a completely new Final Fantasy XIV, but also marks the beginning of a new stage as the latest title in the Final Fantasy series.” Release date, cost, and fee (or free) to play were not announced. Normally I’d follow this up with a “stay tuned for details soon” kind of statement. But this Square Enix talking about Final Fantasy, this might be the last we hear about it for years.
CDProjekt Red is looking for a Multiplayer Programmer with “experience in developing RPG games,” “physics in a multiplayer environment,” and “creating gameplay systems in a multiplayer environment.” Further requirements are “at least one shipped multi-platform, multiplayer title,” and experience “with matchmaking solutions on different platforms.” The position is for two RPGs, one in a “dark fantasy world” and the other in the cyberpunk genre. In response to the immediate rumors that started over this ad, the marketing head, Michal Platkow-Gilewski, clarified. He stopped short of confirming the “dark fantasy world” is The Witcher 3, as that game hasn’t been announced. But that was clearly the message. Cyberpunk is their previously announced adaptation of the 1980s pen and paper game from Mike Pondsmith. According to Platkow-Gilewski’s statement, “We believe that there’s still a lot of space for innovation in the RPG genre. At this stage of our games’ development, we want to explore all possible directions, check what would be cool, what’s feasible and – always the most important for us – what suits our games the best.” What I’m reading into this is that there will certainly be a multiplayer component to the two games and that at least one, possibly both, will be multiplatform. It’s good to remember that a multiplayer component doesn’t necessarily mean a horde mode or big arena battles. Technically, Dark Souls had a multiplayer component; as did inFamous 2. Neither of them fit the traditional view of multiplayer.
Still playing Battlefield 3? Want details about “Aftermath,” the upcoming fourth DLC expansion? Of course you do. It will apparently include four new maps set in war-ravaged Tehran. The maps will encourage vertical and horizontal combat. Also planned are modified troop transports and civilian vehicles that have been adapted for combat. It will be free with Battlefield Premium and is coming in December.
There are a few games you can point to throughout each generation that really pushed the medium forward. You probably had two or three jump into your head just now and I’m betting at least one was a Zelda game. One of the most important in my eyes is the original “system seller” for PS2, the one that introduced the modern concept of an open world game, and the one that made Jack Thompson a household name: Grand Theft Auto III. The top down games on PS1 were great, but really laying waste to Liberty City (and killing hookers for a refund) started with the franchise’s first entry on PS2. This game eventually led to a retro-romp through 1980s Florida in Vice City and the zenith of the generation, San Andreas. When I first noticed the game had been recently re-submitted for rating I wondered what new form it would take. It’s already on iOS. Could we be getting an HD collection? No, but it is coming to PSN on July 31st. Which, ultimately, is actually a disappointment. The game’s 12 years old. As fun as this was, it’s not going to hold up. No motorcycles, no multiplayer, no HD upgrade, no trophies, etc. This could be a fun nostalgia title, but the price point for that attraction is $2.99, not $9.99. Vice City was also included in the rating submission, but it was not announced for release. If it were a dual pack for ten bucks I might consider it. But I actually still have a functioning PS2 and both discs. If Rockstar wants me to revisit this one on PS3 it’ll have to be a freebie for PS+. An HD trilogy, on the other hand….
That’s all for the week. If you’re in the Salt Lake area, come to Brewvies on Sunday to watch Sylvester Stallone ruin the future. Geek Show Movie Night’s free double feature this month is Judge Dredd and Demolition Man. We know the movies are terrible, that’s why we have beer.