Tag: Videogames

Coffee Talk #532: Disney vs. LucasArts vs. Marvel

When Disney announced that it had snatched up Lucasfilm, most people speculated on the ramifications the acquisition would have on the world of movies. Astute gamers knew that developer/publisher LucasArts was part of the deal too. With a staggering roster of iconic characters to choose from and an established videogame arm, Disney has the potential for some crazy videogame crossovers. What kind of games would you like to see from Disney, now that it has LucasArts?…more

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, Verve’s Ethiopia Duromina, the new-look Lakers’ impotent Princeton offense, or whether Taylor Swift is hot/not, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

When Disney announced that it had snatched up Lucasfilm, most people speculated on the ramifications the acquisition would have on the world of movies. Astute gamers knew that developer/publisher LucasArts was part of the deal too. With a staggering roster of iconic characters to choose from and an established videogame arm, Disney has the potential for some crazy videogame crossovers. What kind of games would you like to see from Disney, now that it has LucasArts?

Yesterday, RPadholic bsukenyan mentioned a Marvel vs. Jedi vs. Sith game. Can you imagine a Smash Bros.-type romp with Wolverine, Buzz Lightyear, Boba Fett, and Aladdin duking it out? Do you see an adventure game with (the amazing) Spider-Man helping (and annoying) Indiana Jones? How about the Disney princesses getting a lesson in sass from a coked-up Princess Leia? There’s a ridiculous amount of possibilities!

Let’s forget for a second that the early buzz is that Disney is planning to focus on mobile and social games over console games. What kind of titles would you like to see from Disney? What killer crossover possibilities are brewing in your mind? Leave a comment and let me know (please!).

Sexy Videogame Halloween Costumes

As I was “researching” the important matter of sexy videogame Halloween costumes, I came across Yandy.com. This online store has a wide variety of costumes based on iconic videogame characters. Some of them are really cute, while others are so provocative that they’re borderline uncomfortable. Sexy Princess Peach is an obvious target for sexing up, but there’s something slightly wrong about making alluring costumes based on adorable videogame characters like Pikachu and Yoshi.

Due to copyright restrictions (no, these are not officially licensed products), some of these costumes have great names. The one based on Link, for example, is simply called “Green Adventurer.” Ha!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the selection of sexy videogame Halloween costumes I’ve curated for you. I spent hours on Yandy.com doing all this research for your viewing pleasure! When you get a chance, please let me know which costume is your favorite.

This Week’s Videogame Releases

It’s an absolutely loaded week for game releases, with heavy hitters like WWE 13 and Assassin’s Creed III hitting store shelves. The latter is accompanied by Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, which serves as a companion quest for the PlayStation Vita. But wait, there’s more! Need For Speed: Most Wanted might have a recycled name, but it (allegedly) brings all-new racing-action to the table. Ragnarok Odyssey brings the world of the hugely popular Ragnarok Online to the Vita. A group of Konami classics gets the compilation treatment in Zone of the Enders: HD Collection, while Sony’s venerable Killzone series gets bundled up as the Killzone Trilogy Collection. Lastly, if you’re looking for a game about a bunch of guys (made up of blocks) walking to a volcano (also made of blocks) then LEGO Lord of the Rings will be right up your alley (portable versions hit first).

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Preview / Interview

Please check out the video interview above with Josef Fares, game director of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and read my preview-ish thoughts below. This downloadable game is set to hit PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC in Spring 2012 courtesy of Starbreeze and 505 Games. I checked it out a few weeks ago and was really enamored with its art style and gameplay. The controls are simple, but used in a unique and compelling fashion. In some ways, it reminded me of a cross between Ico and Heavy Rain, but with a refreshing originality that was all its own. Continue reading “Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Preview / Interview”

Coffee Talk #530: Your Daily Driver Videogames

Today I’d like to talk about games you play every day. Sometimes there are videogames we all go back to, either due to a sense of habit or familiarity. There’s nothing surprising about these games (anymore), but there’s something comfortable about these daily drivers. For some people, these games have become a habit along the lines of eating, bathing, and brushing your teeth.

As for me, for most of the last three years, Civilization Revolution for iPad has been my daily driver. The gameplay is always fun for me, even though I know that every game I play will end with Queen Elizabeth conquering the world. Sure, there have been stretches when Civ was ignored in favor of games like Final Fantasy: Dimensions, but…more

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 San Francisco Giants’ World Series victory, your favorite park, or James Harden going to the Houston Rockets, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Today I’d like to talk about games you play every day. Sometimes there are videogames we all go back to, either due to a sense of habit or familiarity. There’s nothing surprising about these games (anymore), but there’s something comfortable about these daily drivers. For some people, these games have become a habit along the lines of eating, bathing, and brushing your teeth.

As for me, for most of the last three years, Civilization Revolution for iPad has been my daily driver. The gameplay is always fun for me, even though I know that every game I play will end with Queen Elizabeth conquering the world. Sure, there have been stretches when Civ was ignored in favor of games like Final Fantasy: Dimensions, but I knew I would eventually go back to it and I imagine that will be the case for the next few years. The game just makes me happy and all of us should do something every day that makes us happy. Since it’s probably a bad idea to eat bone-in ribeye steaks every day (and I can’t afford to), I’ll stick with Civ.

Now it’s your turn! Do you have any daily-driver games? If so, please let me know what they are. If not, why isn’t there a game you keep coming back to on a daily basis?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

It looks like a PlayStation 3 weekend at RPad.TV headquarters. I’m still loving The Unfinished Swan, but reading some of the reviews has made me angry. I will let go of that anger by getting lost in this beautiful game once again. I’m also making a trip to a friend’s house to play some PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. Earlier in the week I went to a party for the game. It was super-fun to play and watch. This one should be a hit at nerd gatherings. Also, I’m currently really bad at the game. Hopefully I can get enough practice in before it’s released so as not to embarrass myself online.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

Will You Buy a Halo 4 War Games Pass?

Microsoft has announced details and pricing for Halo 4‘s War Games Pass. This $24.99 subscription gives gamers three upcoming Halo 4 map packs at a discounted price. Fans will receive the Crimson Map Pack, Majestic Map Pack, and Castle Map Pack  in December 2012, February 2013, and April 2013, respectively. Here are additional details from Microsoft’s Major Nelson:

Retailing for $24.99 USD (2,000 Microsoft Points), the “Halo 4” War Games Map Pass confirms your access to three War Games map packs as they become available in December, February and April, and represents a savings of more than 15 percent versus purchasing the packs individually. In addition, Map Pass purchasers will receive two bonus in-game helmets, as well as a unique in-game emblem.

There’s no doubt that Microsoft will sell millions of copies of Halo 4, but will it also sell millions of Halo 4 War Games Passes? The discounted price is sweet and unique in-game items are always fun, but some players will want to wait to see how the map packs are reviewed before spending money on them. Then again, it’s Halo. The quality has been consistent and there are tons of players that will always want the latest.

How about you guys and dolls? Do you see yourself paying $24.99 for a Halo 4 War Games Pass?

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New Noobz Trailer in the House!

Here’s the latest trailer for Noobz, a road-trip movie about competitive gaming starring Jason Mewes and Zelda Williams. If the subject matter and stars aren’t enough reasons to watch it, Noobz also features Adam Sessler and the great Casper Van Dien. That reminds me, I have to call director Blake Freeman about casting me in Noobz II: Even Nerdier. Anyway, check out the trailer and share your thoughts on it in the comments section (please!). Continue reading “New Noobz Trailer in the House!”

Xbox Co-Creator Heads to Dave & Buster’s

I was surprised to learn that Xbox co-creator Kevin Bachus took a job with Dave & Buster’s as the company’s senior vice president of entertainment and game strategy. The possibilities are intriguing. Bachus is a sharp man, but he’s had a rough go of it since leaving Microsoft (see Infinium Labs/Phantom Entertainment). Although home consoles have greatly diminished the popularity of arcades, I believe people are still interested in them as a social destination based around gaming (the food and booze help too). I’m anxious to see what changes Bachus will make to the Dave & Buster’s formula. Here’s a quote from “Dancing” Dean Takahashi’s article:

Video game enthusiasts are always looking for the next big thing, and I believe Dave & Buster’s is uniquely positioned to deliver it to them. As a long-time fan of Dave & Buster’s, I am excited to have the opportunity to help shape the next phase of interactive entertainment outside of the home.

On a purely personal level, there are two things I hope this hiring results in. I hope that Bachus is successful in his new role and takes Dave & Buster’s to new heights. He was always nice to me and I’d like to see him to well. As a gamer and a consumer (of beer, spirits, and sliders), I’d love to see a fresh gaming experience at Dave & Buster’s. In my head, I see a cool form of gaming that can be enjoyed at home, but is enhanced when played at a physical location. Yes, that’s a really vague description, but I think there are some fascinating possibilities there. Imagine a social game that can play on your PC, phone, or tablet and also play — with more features and live social contact — at an arcade . That would be sweet.

Then again, I don’t know how appealing that idea would be to the valuable 18-34 demographic. I grew up with arcades and miss location-based gaming. Younger gamers that grew up with home consoles might not see the appeal…or they could see something completely novel. I’m not smart enough to intuit something like that.

That’s where you come in! I’d love to hear your thoughts on gaming at physical locations. Is that something you like to do every now and then? Or are you completely satisfied with the home-console experience?

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PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Live-Action Movie

Sony Computer Entertainment America has posted a live-action commercial for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. The combatants include Kratos (God of War), Nathan Drake (Uncharted), Cole MacGrath (Infamous), and Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet). I’m a fan of live-action anything featuring Sackboy. He’s especially cute when he’s dishing out violence against larger, more menacing opponents. While Sackboy is clearly the star of the show, the other guys look great too. This is a fun and well-done bit of advertising.

Check out the spot when you have a chance and kindly share your thoughts on it in the comments section!