LucasArts, Day 1 Team Up on ‘Fracture’
May 3, 2007
Officials from LucasArts and developer Day 1 Studios have announced the development of Fracture, a new original title for next-generation console platforms.
Fracture development, as well as a few details, were first announced this past August, and LucasArts and Day 1 have now revealed that the title will involve an “intriguing storyline” concerning a conflict of ideologies leading to war in the year 2161.
Little has so far been revealed regarding Fracture’s gameplay, but LucasArts and Day 1 officials note that the third-person action title will involve terrain deformation so that players can “literally change the battlefield on the fly.” In Fracture, gamers play as Mason Briggs, a demolitions expert, and utilize an array of weapons to fight for the cybernetic Atlantic Alliance against the genetically-enhanced soldiers of the Pacifican army. Those damn Pacificans.
Among the examples offered by LucasArts and Day 1 regarding Fractured’s robust terrain deformation technology are the ability for players to burrow beneath otherwise impassable structures using rockets, as well as the use of vortex grenades to pick up surrounding rocks and debris to be used as weapons.
“LucasArts sees simulation-based gameplay as an essential component of a true next-gen experience, and that’s exactly what Fracture delivers,” said Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product development at LucasArts. “Day 1 Studios has done a phenomenal job of creating true next-gen tech that not only dazzles on a visual level but also serves as a core gameplay mechanic. Unlike many other next-gen games on the market, Fracture simply isn’t possible in the previous generation of consoles.”
Fracture is currently expected to ship this summer for the PS and Xbox 360.
“Grittier, Dirtier” New Mortal Kombat Coming in 08
April 23, 2007
Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon Boon stated that the next fighting game to come from the Mortal Kombat franchise will be “serious” and “a lot more realistic looking.”
“[W]e’re not joking around in this one, it’s not going to be like jokes,” he told CVG in an interview. This news comes after the confirmation from Midway that the company’s next-gen games (including the next Mortal Kombat title) would be powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine 3.0. As a result, Boon confirms that this as-of-yet untitled fighting game would be “a lot grittier, dirtier” than previous entries in the Mortal Kombat series.
In addition to claiming that his team is looking to adapt the Mortal Kombat series to next-gen console technology (such as the implementation of motion-sensing functions), Boon has also stated that his development team has wiped the slate clean. Certain features in past games may be in danger of being eliminated: “We’re not putting any restrictions like we HAVE to keep weapons or we HAVE to keep fighting styles and stuff like that…we’re going to try to introduce as many new characters as possible, new features, new stuff like that and take advantage of the amazing presentation, graphics that all of a sudden you can do, things that are a lot more real.”
Boon revealed that his game probably won’t come out until the end of 2008.
Atari and CD Projekt to Deliver The Witcher
February 6, 2007
Third-party video game publisher Atari and game developer CD Projekt announced yesterday that they have entered into a publishing agreement for The Witcher. The Witcher is scheduled for release on Games for Windows, the new brand optimized for Windows XP and Windows Vista.
Based on the works of best-selling Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher tells the story of Geralt, a master swordsman and monster slayer who is gifted with superhuman abilities. “The Witcher presents a fresh approach to traditional role-playing, blending an expansive, twisting plotline – in which the impact of individual decisions can drastically alter the outcome of the game – and fast-paced combat against a wide variety of foes. Using advanced graphics and physics systems, The Witcher delivers brutal action, multi-faceted RPG options and an intriguing story to engulf all players who dare,” a press release reads.
“The Witcher is a tremendous game that has been on everyone’s radar since CD Projekt began development,” said Jeremiah Cohn, Product Manager, Atari, Inc. “With this publishing deal, Atari continues its quest to bring highly impressive titles to North America and we have our sights set on making The Witcher one of the most anticipated RPGs of the year.”
The series has already been represented as short stories, novels, comic books, a feature-length movie, a television series, and a table-top role-playing game. This will be the first video game to be based on the series and its characters. The game is currently under development using Bioware’s Aurora Engine and will be strictly single player. The game’s developers have sung the praises of its realistic character movements and fighting techniques, based on genuine medieval sword combat. While the original European release will be out in stores this Spring, look for Atari’s localized version to be out this fall.
Scarface, Zorro Coming to Wii
February 5, 2007
Tony Montana, one of the most vulgar, violent stars of film and now gaming, is making his way to the mostly family-orientated Wii this year. Scarface: The World is Yours will come with the obvious controller enhancements, using the Wii Remote like a gun to manually target enemies.
You will also get to fist fight enemies (or any passer-by on the street) with motion control, or use the Remote to mangle people with a chainsaw while the sound of the engine revs from the speaker in the Remote. Scarface will release on Wii later this year, so check back for mre specifics
Speaking of gangster fun on Wii by the end of 2007, The Godfather has been confirmed for Wii and Driver: Parallel Lines is reported to be on the way too.
Wii owners could have more Wii Remote-operated swordplay to look forward to with blade-ninja Zorro making his debut Wii appearance in The Destiny of Zorro. Pronto Games say the game will focus on being “instantly engaging” and fun: “The visuals are high quality, as are the audio and storyline.” That sounds both engaging and fun to me.
In The Destiny of Zorro, Zorro will do battle against a dual-sword-weilding skeleton known as Calavero, pictured below. No further gameplay details have been announced, but it’s probably a good bet that you’ll be swinging the Wii Remote in some sword-like fashion. The Destiny of Zorro is due to release this Christmas.
Konami Announces New Projects
February 2, 2007
Konami, at its recent Gamer’s Day, revealed two major new releases for the upcoming year: an original Wii and a remake of Castlevania: Rondo of Blood for PSP. Both games were announced without release dates but are expected in 2007.
Konami’s new Wii game, from Elebits producer Shingo Mukaitoge, was revealed to be Dewy’s Adventure, marking the second original IP from Konami for Nintendo’s Wii console.
Players are to use the Wii controller for nearly all of the in-game puzzle-solving and platforming interactions, such as tilting it to roll the titular Dewy character, a living water droplet, around his environment, using the d-pad to heat or cool Dewy to steam or ice, or fanning the controller to create gusts of wind.
The game will also include an edit mode in the same manner as Elebits, and will also make use of the Wii’s internet connectivity in a yet-unannounced way.
Konami also announced the long-anticipated official debut of its classic Castlevania franchise for the PSP with Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. Unlike recent DS adventure originals, the first Castlevania PSP outing will be a remake of the PC Engine Super CD cult hit Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo, also known as Castlevania: Rondo of Blood. The PSP remake of Rondo is being done with fully 3D assets, but maintains the 2D perspective.
Also included in The Dracula X Chronicles will be a portable version of PlayStation classic Symphony of the Night, featuring a reworked localization and slightly reworked graphics, making it the second forthcoming release of the game, alongside the Xbox Live Arcade Version, which is also due soon.
PS3 Confirms Saints Row
January 31, 2007
THQ has confirmed that Saints Row will debut for the PS3 this spring, following the successful debut of the game on Xbox 360 last August. Developed by Volition, Saints Row has sold over 550,000 copies for Xbox 360 in North America since its debut, has been largely well-received critically since its debut.
The Grand Theft Auto-inspired title will include multiplayer elements on the PS3 version, commenting that the game will bring open world gaming to the PS3 system for the first time, allowing gamers to battle rival gangsters in a variety of single and multi-player modes and will support players online via the PlayStation Network.
So it looks like Sony has resolved issues with apparent late delivery of multiplayer SDKs for the PS3 launch, which saw third-party launch titles such as Tony Hawk’s Project 8 lacking significant multiplayer and networked high-score functionality compared to the Xbox 360 version of the same title.
“Saints Row has established itself as one of the most successful original properties in next generation gaming, and we’re excited to bring the groundbreaking experience to PlayStation 3 system fans worldwide,” said Kelly Flock, executive vice president of worldwide publishing, THQ.
Debut of Splinter Cell Double Agent Demo
August 9, 2006
Ubisoft’s development team will be doing Xbox 360 multi-player demos, as well as single- and multi-player demos for PC. No official dates have been given, but Ubisoft says that the demos will come no sooner than one month before the game’s official release. That said, it looks like players will see some demo action in September, a month before the game’s release on PC, Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2, and GameCube.
5 Things Wrong with Miami Vice:The Game
August 7, 2006
Before I rented this game, I figured I’d read up on some of its reviews, which described it as “aggravating,” “a carnival shooting gallery,” “losing some authenticity,” and a “wretched cop adventure.” So, I rented it. Below are some of my knocks on Miami Vice: The Game (Sweet title):
1. Enemies: Because they are passive and offer no real competition, you’re forced to chase them. eventually, they come out of hiding and pop up and down to be blasted.
2. Lackluster Graphics and Sound: Eh…
3. Predictable Action: You chase the bad guys from room to room, kill them, and confiscate their drugs. Rinse and repeat.
4. No Real Plot: The game is a series of missions requiring you to break up drug rings.
5. Trustworthiness Meter: After you confiscate drugs, you can sell them in true Miami drugworld fashion. Before completing the transaction, however, your trustworthiness is measured by a meter. No, I’m not joking. To get the desired trustworthiness meter reading, just hold the cursor in the middle of the meter for a little while.
5 Cool Things About Batman Begins (Xbox)
August 4, 2006
1. Impressive opening - The action starts immediately.
2. Easy to play - It’s a stealth game that can be played with one button.
3. Game is kind to players - There are no glitchy parts. Xbox Magazine puts it best: “If you jump up to a ledge, you will land on it. Nothing goes wrong.”
4. More action than the movie - This game has all the action of the blockbuster movie and allows you to play missions that were not in the movie.
5. Fight fair (sort of) - Batman scares the evil-doers, they drop their guns, and you beat them into oblivion.
Play on, playa…
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