This Week’s Videogame Releases

October kicks off with a slew of awesome videogames! If you’re looking for a supremely gorgeous post-apocalyptic shooter then you definitely want to pick up id Software’s Rage. There probably won’t be any NBA basketball played until next year, but that shouldn’t stop you from playing NBA 2K12. Spider-Man — both the current version and the 2099 version — are back for another wall-crawling adventure in Spider-Man: Edge of Time. Want something dark and brutally difficult? If so then Dark Souls, the successor to Demon’s Souls, is right up your alley. Finally, sometimes you just need to dance. If that’s the case then Just Dance 3 will do you good.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Journey (thatgamecompany) Coming in Spring 2012

Thatgamecompany creative director Jenova Chen has announced that Journey will be available in Spring 2012. Oh happy day! As many of you know, I loved Flower and am a big fan of thatgamecompany. I’m thrilled that the game has a more precise release date.

Anyone else looking forward to this one?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

There are tons of great games coming out this week! As a comic-book nerd and Silicon Knights fan, I’m most excited about X-Men Destiny. Football (soccer) fans have FIFA 12 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 to devour (go Man City!). The PlayStation 3 is arguably the most interesting platform this week with The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, Child of Eden, Tom Clancy’s: Splinter Cell Classic Trilogy , and Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland set for release.

Any of you planning to pick up new games this week?

DC Universe Online Moving to Free-to-Play Model

Sony Online Entertainment has announced that DC Universe Online will be switching to a free-to-play model featuring three tiers. Between the attractiveness of being “freemium” and the popularity of DC Comics’ “The New 52“, the game stands to catch another wave of success. Here are some more details from executive director of development Lorin Jameson via PlayStation Blog:

  • Free Access – Just like it sounds. Download and play the game for free. You also get all ongoing game updates (except DLC packs).
  • Premium Access – This next level of access opens up to you if you spend at least $5 in the in-game store. Premium Access grants you additional benefits that improve your experience in the game, such as more inventory slots, more character slots, bank slots and more free Vault tickets. So all you have to do is pick up some cool items in the store or buy a DLC pack and you unlock Premium Access. The best part? Once you unlock Premium Access you keep it for the life of your account.
  • Legendary Access – With Legendary Access you can unlock the maximum level of features and benefits. To unlock Legendary Access you can pay for a $14.99 per month game pass, or save big with a discounted multi-month pass. Lifetime members are automatically granted Legendary access. Legendary Access also includes all DLC packs at no extra charge.

I haven’t touched DCUO in months, but I’d be interested in giving it another go if any of you are down. So how about it? Any of you guys and dolls thinking of playing DCUO when it becomes free-to-play?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

So…who’s buying Gears of War 3 this week? Anyone? Anyone?!? If that’s not your bag then you can pick up Supremacy MMA for some arcade-style fighting laced with modern MMA. PSP gamers looking for some a game with crazy depth and challenge should consider Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 Innocent Sin. It’s a light week with most publishers wisely deciding not to go head-to-head with Gears, but there are still some solid choices.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Psyched for Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD (PSN)

I’m psyched that Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath will get a second chance to shine. It was a unique game that featured creative gameplay and a wonderful art style — you know, the things you typically find in an Oddworld Inhabitants game. Unfortunately for the excellent folks at OI, publisher Electronic Arts did a pathetic job marketing and supporting the game. Hopefully the second time will be a charm for Stranger and friends.

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD takes the game to PlayStation Network with updated graphics, new character models, remastered dialog, and PlayStation Move support. Check out the clip above and let me know what you think (please!). Just for kicks, here’s a photo of OI’s Lorne Lanning and me from 2004. It’s from a Stranger’s Wrath interview I conducted on the EA campus. Ah, memories….

Final Fantasy X HD Coming to PS3 and Vita!!!

At Sony’s Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2011 press conference, the company revealed a bunch of remastered hits for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. A lot of prospective Vita owners were psyched to learned that the Metal Gear Solid HD and Zone of the Enders HD games are coming to Sony’s upcoming handheld console. I love me some excellent Kojima Production games and all, but the big news for me was Final Fantasy X HD!

I’m an absolute mark for Final Fantasy X. I believe that it’s one of the best in the series. I love the “sphere grid” leveling system and the game’s soundtrack. I’m super psyched that FFX will be getting spruced up graphics to accompany its fantastic gameplay and wonderful music on the PS3 and Vita. This game will completely rock.

Any of you excited for Final Fantasy X HD? Or are you more about Metal Gear Solid and Zone of the Enders?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

Everyone could use a few more god-killers in their lives. This week Sony is providing a double dose in God of War: Origins. This compilation contains HD remasters of Kratos’ adventures in Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta. I know that a few of you are hockey fans and not Canadian (very strange), so I imagine that NHL 12 is a big deal for you. White Knight Chronicles II isn’t getting the hype of the original, but it looks better in several areas. Lastly, Nintendo fans can get tripping with Bit.Trip Complete (Wii) and Bit.Trip Saga (3DS).

Anyone picking up new games this week?

Read My Driver: San Francisco Review (Please)!

My review of Driver: San Francisco is up at Machinima. The game was a pleasant surprise. Its main gimmick is “Shifting” — being able to hop from body to body. This allows you to experience San Francisco from different perspectives and different cars. The developers did a great job at implementing the gimmick in clever ways. Now here’s the part where I quote myself:

Aside from a story that is sometimes too silly and a difficulty too unforgiving, there’s not a lot to complain about in Driver: San Francisco. There are certainly a lot of things to love. The gorgeous graphics and entertaining gameplay definitely make the game a thrill ride. The strong multiplayer options will make you take the game for a spin well after the story is done. Driver and John Tanner are back, and they’re better than ever!

When I was playing the game for review last week, it was only reviewers and Europeans online. Now that the game is available in America, I’m hoping for a more robust multiplayer crowd…and less Europeans (I’m kidding!). The multiplayer modes in this game are lots of fun. Shifting adds a really cool dynamic.

Anyway, check out the review if you have a chance. I know that a few of you dig games like Burnout and Split/Second. If you’re part of that crowd then this game should be right up your alley. Driver: San Francisco offers exaggerated driving action with a unique gimmick that makes for driving sequences you won’t find in any other game.

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Indie Game Store Owner Goes Off on Call of Duty Elite

My pal Chett Muzzalupo, owner of independent game store L1 Games, recently posted a great rant that covers Call of Duty Elite, EA Sports Season Pass, digital distribution, and more. He makes some great points that I completely agree with. He also makes some points that are a bit exaggerated. Lastly, he also exhibits great taste by professing his love for Red Dwarf.

Given our recent discussion on the escalating cost(s) of games and our numerous discussions about digital distribution over the years, I wanted to make sure that you saw this video. And to be completely honest, I just like Chett. He’s a cool guy with a great voice.

Kindly watch the video when you get a chance and let me know what you think of Chett’s points.