Category: Videogames

Coffee Talk #200: Gamers Should Hate Freddie Prinze, Jr.

It’s the 200th edition of Coffee Talk! I want to thank all of you for helping me make it this far!!! If you’d like to thank me then please do me a favor and start hating Freddie Prinze, Jr. You see, I saw him over Summer Slam weekend at the lobby of the Sheraton. Freddie used to be a writer for WWE and was visiting the wrestlers. Anyway, start hating him. Like now.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the awesomeness of Bryan Danielson, the soap opera that is the NY Mets, or stupid bombs on Wilshire, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

It’s the 200th edition of Coffee Talk! I want to thank all of you for helping me make it this far!!! If you’d like to thank me then please do me a favor and start hating Freddie Prinze, Jr. You see, I saw him over Summer Slam weekend in the lobby of the Sheraton. Freddie used to be a writer for WWE and was visiting the wrestlers. Anyway, start hating him. Like now.

Freddie is young, handsome, and rich. He’s also a total nerd. He loves videogames. He loves wrestling. I hate that he turned his markdom into a job with WWE (especially when my WWE writing skills are far superior to his). I hate that he’s young, handsome, and rich. I hate that he’s married to an incredibly hot woman. And by hate, I mean I’m completely jealous of this man to the point where I almost have a crush on him.

To help me deal with this issue, please let me know if there are any celebrity gamers that you hate. If you like, I can hate them too!

Dragon Age II Trailer Looks Awesome…Probably Nothing Like Game

As expected, the latest Dragon Age II trailer looks awesome. Having said that, I’m pretty positive it’s all pre-rendered and doesn’t look like actual gameplay. BioWare and EA did the same thing with the original game — release hot trailers and commercials that don’t truly represent the game’s look. As a huge BioWare fan, I’m fine with that because I know what the company does and I know I’ll love the results. I have to wonder if gamers unfamiliar with BioWare (a ridiculous notion, btw) feel duped by these videos.

Anyway, let me know what you think of the trailer and the matter I brought up (please).

Windows Phone 7 Launch Games and Xbox Live Connectivity Details

Microsoft has announced a ton of details on the gaming capabilities of its upcoming Windows Phone 7, including how the mobile OS interacts with Xbox Live. Here are the press release bullet points Xbox Live connectivity:

  • Be omnipotent. View, access and launch your full game library from one easy-to-navigate hub.
  • Get mad props. Earn, view and track Achievements, view Xbox Live leaderboards and build your Gamerscore every time you play an Xbox Live title.
  • Release your inner Mini Me. Connect to your Xbox Live profile and Avatar, or easily create a new one right from the phone.
  • Get tricky. Access Spotlight feeds, including the latest game titles, breaking news from Xbox LIVE, game tips and tricks, and more.
  • Play before you pay. Easily find, try and buy the games you want, either in the Marketplace or Games hub.
  • Flaunt your skills. Invite, connect and play against friends on other Windows Phone 7 phones or PCs with turn-based (asynchronous) multiplayer gaming.

Microsoft has also promised more than 50 launch games. Here are the upcoming Windows Phone 7 titles and their respective publishers:

  • 3D Brick Breaker Revolution (Digital Chocolate)
  • Age of Zombies (Halfbrick)
  • Armor Valley (Protégé Games)
  • Asphalt 5 (Gameloft)
  • Assassins Creed (Gameloft)
  • Bejeweled™ Live (PopCap)
  • Bloons TD (Digital Goldfish)
  • Brain Challenge (Gameloft)
  • Bubble Town 2 (i-Play)
  • Butterfly ( Press Start Studio)
  • CarneyVale Showtime (MGS)
  • Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst (MGS)
  • De Blob Revolution (THQ)
  • Deal or No Deal 2010 (i-Play)
  • Earthworm Jim (Gameloft)
  • Fast & Furious 7 (i-Play)
  • Fight Game Rivals (Rough Cookie)
  • Finger Physics (Mobliss Inc.)
  • Flight Control (Namco Bandai)
  • Flowerz (Carbonated Games)
  • Frogger (Konami Digital Entertainment)
  • Fruit Ninja (Halfbrick)
  • Game Chest-Board (MGS)
  • Game Chest-Card (MGS)
  • Game Chest-Logic (MGS)
  • Game Chest-Solitaire (MGS)
  • GeoDefense (Critical Thought)
  • Ghostscape (Psionic)
  • Glow Artisan (Powerhead Games)
  • Glyder 2 (Glu Mobile)
  • Guitar Hero 5 (Glu Mobile)
  • Halo Waypoint (MGS)
  • Hexic Rush (Carbonated Games)
  • I Dig It (InMotion)
  • iBlast Moki (Godzilab)
  • ilomilo (MGS)
  • Implode XL (IUGO)
  • Iquarium (Infinite Dreams)
  • Jet Car Stunts (True Axis)
  • Let’s Golf 2 (Gameloft)
  • Little Wheel (One click dog)
  • Loondon (Flip N Tale)
  • Max and the Magic Marker (PressPlay)
  • Mini Squadron (Supermono Limited)
  • More Brain Exercise (Namco Bandai)
  • O.M.G. (Arkedo)
  • Puzzle Quest 2 (Namco Bandai)
  • Real Soccer 2 (Gameloft)
  • The Revenants (Chaotic Moon)
  • Rise of Glory (Revo Solutions)
  • Rocket Riot (Codeglue)
  • Splinter Cell Conviction (Gameloft)
  • Star Wars: Battle for Hoth (THQ)
  • Star Wars: Cantina (THQ)
  • The Harvest (MGS)
  • The Oregon Trail (Gameloft)
  • Tower Bloxx NY (Digital Chocolate)
  • Twin Blades (Press Start Studio)
  • UNO (Gameloft)
  • Women’s Murder Club: Death in Scarlet (i-Play)
  • Zombie Attack! (IUGO)
  • Zombies!!!! (Babaroga)

In addition to strong thid-party support, it’s great to see first-party franchises like Crackdown and Halo coming to Windows Phone 7. Like I’ve said several times before, Microsoft is going to have an extremely difficult time catching up to Apple iOS and Google Android. Gaming is one of the ways it can differentiate Windows Phone 7 from its competitors. The initial announcements are a great start and are making gamers pay attention to the OS. It also makes the Android/PSP rumor a bit more interesting, hey?

As always, I want to know what you think about Windows Phone 7’s gaming initiatives. Fire away (please)!

This Week’s Videogame Releases

New games are still thin on the ground (what does that even mean?), but there are a pair of titles that might interest some of you. First up is Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. If old-school RPGs are your thing then you might want to pick up Ys Seven.

There’s really not much else aside from these two games…which is just the calm before the storm — from September to November you’ll be flooded with more titles than you can handle! Any of you picking up new games this week?

The Seven Wonders of Ys Seven

Xseed localization specialist Tom Lipschultz posted this excellent video of the upcoming Ys Seven for PlayStation Portable. The game hits next week, but if you want a glimpse at Ys Seven’s world then check out this video.

I’m super psyched for more Ys. The series means a lot to longtime JRPG nerds. While loads of my friends can’t wait for the game, I was wondering if the series means anything to you. Anyone down for some new Ys action?

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NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of July 2010

July’s best-selling games were also a bit on the Bizzaro side — at least to me. A lot of games that have made the list for the last year were knocked off by newcomers. Check it out:

  1. NCAA Football 11 (Xbox 360): 368,000
  2. NCAA Football 11 (PS3): 298,000
  3. Crackdown 2 (Xbox 360): 208,800
  4. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 193,000
  5. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Nintendo DS): 141,700
  6. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360)
  7. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Wii)
  8. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (Nintendo DS)
  9. New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)
  10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)

I’m so not interested in NCAA Football. That’s what I get for going to a Division III college with a crappy sports program. As a Harry Potter nerd, I’m pleased that the game is doing so well. As a fan of Japanese RPGs, I’m disappointed that Dragon Quest isn’t selling more — what’s wrong with you America?!? Despite the general disappointment in the game, Crackdown 2 made the top three.

Anything on July’s list surprise you? Out of curiosity, did any of you go to schools with legendary sports programs?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I’m almost definitely not playing videogames this weekend. For some reason, I woke up with a pounding headache this morning (without the benefit of being drunk the night before). I should be receiving a Motorola Droid 2 for review tomorrow. THQ is having an event for the outstanding WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 on Saturday, which will be followed by Summer Slam on Sunday. Some San Francisco friends are going to stop by on their drive up from Disney. I also need to go to the post office. There’s no time for games (sadly)!

Actually, I still have games of Wordfeud on Android going with some of you — I’ll definitely be playing those. I’ll even cut off The Miz during our interview just to play with you guys. Ha! So…what’s on your weekend playlist?!?

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Developer Diary 1

Here’s a cool developer diary from Ubisoft Montreal on Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. Once you get past the silly concept of the team trying to look menacing in their hoodies, the content is very cool. This installment goes over the game’s background and story. The gang wants you to know that this isn’t AC 2.5, but a full-on sequel that continues Ezio Auditore’s story.

Check it out and let me know what you think (please)! And don’t forget how special the game’s special edition is.

Coffee Talk #198: What’s Your Favorite “Hard” Game?

There’s a fine line between a satisfyingly difficult game and a game that’s so annoying that you want to hurl your controller through your television. Some titles have tough sections that adequately reward your Herculean efforts. Others are just difficult for the sake of being difficult. In my mind it’s the difference between something like Ninja Gaiden and Mega Man 9. It’s so tough to do it right.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, whether Lada Gaga is a fashion genius or a fashion nut job, James Toney’s MMA career, or (the asthmatic and old) Dave Batista’s possible MMA career, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

There’s a fine line between a satisfyingly difficult game and a game that’s so annoying that you want to hurl your controller through your television. Some titles have tough sections that adequately reward your Herculean efforts. Others are just difficult for the sake of being difficult. In my mind it’s the difference between something like Ninja Gaiden and Mega Man 9. It’s so tough to do it right.

Today I’d love to learn about your favorite “hard” games. What are some titles that really challenged you and pushed you to the limits in a satisfying way? While you’re at it, what are some games that were so hard that you had no choice but to quit? Sound off (please)!!!

Spencer Halpin’s Moral Kombat Documentary Available on Hulu

Spencer Halpin’s critically acclaimed Moral Kombat is now available on Hulu (or you can just watch it in the embed above). The documentary covers the “controversy” of videogame violence and first amendment rights. It features some of the biggest developers in the business, including Lorne Lanning and American McGee. My good friend Andy McNamara, editor-in-chief of Game Informer, is in there too.

It’s an interesting documentary with lots of interesting points on both sides of the argument. Check it out if you have a chance and let me know what you think of it (please). Kudos to Hulu for offering content like this!

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