Tag: Videogames

Coffee Talk #481: Your Favorite Run and Gun Shooters

I really enjoyed you guys and gals talking about your favorite beat-’em-up games yesterday. Today I’d love to hear about your favorite run-and-gun shooters. Another staple of 8-bit, 16-bit, and arcade gaming, these shooters all had the same concept: run and shoot. Differences in level design, character design, and…

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, your Spurs vs. Thunder prediction, United Airlines CFO John Rainey calling customers over-entitled, or RFID shielding wallets, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I really enjoyed you guys and gals talking about your favorite beat-’em-up games yesterday. Today I’d love to hear about your favorite run-and-gun shooters. Another staple of 8-bit, 16-bit, and arcade gaming, these shooters all had the same concept: run and shoot. Differences in level design, character design, and weapons made the best run-and-gun shooters distinct. From Ikari Warriors to Commando to Rambo to Rush’n Attack, these games sucked up countless quarters in arcades and consumed millions of hours on home consoles. Which games in this genre did you like best?

As for me, I have to go with Contra on the NES. The Konami code. The spread gun. The awesome multiplayer. Jumping so high that your partner perishes. Contra is just an amazing classic. I have so many fond memories of this game and I’m sure many of you feel similarly. Playing this game with my brother and my friend Alex Morgan…ah, the good old days.

Now it’s your turn! What are some of your favorite run-and-gun shooters?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

May keeps rolling along with several interesting videogame releases. Fans of action-RPGs and giant dragons (as opposed to the baby dragons currently on Game of Thrones) will want to check out Dragon’s Dogma. If gunplay is more your thing then Ghost Recon: Future Soldier should have you covered. Sorcery is a PlayStation Move game that got a lot of attention (good and bad) at E3 2011. Lastly, Men in Black: Alien Crisis is the videogame companion for the third installment of the Will Smith movie franchise (actually going to a screening today, btw).

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Coffee Talk #480: Your Favorite Beat ‘Em Up Games

Beat-’em-up games ruled in the 8-bit, 16-bit, and classic-arcade days. From Double Dragon to River City Ransom to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to X-Men, these games have entertained millions of people by allowing them to beat the crap out of countless minions and the occasional level boss. The best beat-’em-ups…

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 NBA playoffs, the Facebook IPO, or Miley Cyrus’ latest red carpet outfit, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Beat-’em-up games ruled in the 8-bit, 16-bit, and classic-arcade days. From Double Dragon to River City Ransom to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to X-Men, these games have entertained millions of people by allowing them to beat the crap out of countless minions and the occasional level boss. The best beat-’em-ups had a magical blend of simple gameplay that anyone could enjoy coupled with clever design that kept players addicted. What were some of your favorite beat-’em-up games?

As for me, I’m going with Streets of Rage for Sega Genesis. This is a total nostalgia pick. I’ve played better games in the genre, but this one has a special place in my heart. I have fond memories of playing Streets of Rage with my brother over and over and over again. We’d spend hours a day as Axel Stone and Blaze Fielding, keeping the city safe from the diabolical Syndicate. We were dazzled by the smashing, combos, and oh-so-cheap special attack from our companion in the police car. To this day, Streets of Rage is one of my favorite multiplayer experiences.

Now it’s your turn! Did you dig any of the aforementioned games? Or are you more of a Golden Axe or Final Fight fan? Please share your favorite beat-’em-up games in the comments section.

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I so want to be playing Diablo III this weekend, especially after Blizzard’s outstanding launch event and getting to chat with the game creators. Unfortunately, I have to play secret game for a work project. I also have to play some Dragon’s Dogma for another site. All that said, I fully appreciate what a wonderful problem I’m blessed with. Beats the hell out of assembling iPhones in a Chinese sweatshop, no?

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

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Renders

Here’s a trio of high-res parody renders Warner Bros. Interactive sent out to promote the upcoming LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. The LEGO versions of Catwoman, Joker, and Robin are obviously a nod to the outstanding Batman Arkham City. With more than 50 characters rumored to be playable, LEGO Batman 2 is a comic-book nerds dream! The rumored roster includes Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Green Lantern, Superman, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Cyborg, Katana, Shazam, Zatanna, and Wonder Woman.

As a Nightwing mark, I get goofy every time he’s featured in a game. How about you? Now’s the time to out yourself as a closet Black Lightning fan! Which DC superhero would you like to play as in LEGO Batman 2?

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Check Out The Sandbox For iOS!

At GDC 2012, I was smitten by Pixowl Games’ The Sandbox for iOS. The game is a wonderfully creative blend of “god” gaming, puzzle solving, and art creation — very cool and very unique. The Sandbox is now available through the iOS App Store. I encourage you to check it out. It’s free-to-play so you have nothing to lose! If you’re into puzzles, pixel art, and controlling worlds (and really, you should be into all three of those things) then there’s a great chance that you’ll dig The Sandbox.

GameSalad Creator Comes to Windows PC

A few weeks ago, I wrote about programming tools that allow you to make games without needing to code. One of the ones I mentioned was GameSalad Creator, which allows you to make games for Android, HTML 5, iOS, and more. Previously available for Mac OS, GameSalad Creator is now available for Windows. If you’re interested in the product then you can sign up for the beta here. To give you an idea of GameSalad Creator’s look and feel, check out the image gallery at the end of this post.

Even though GameSalad allows designers to make games without coding, it’s still a very powerful tool. In fact, the company has had great success (like Borat) on the iOS platform. Here’s more from GameSalad director of marketing Jonathan Hunt:

The GameSalad developer community is both passionate and productive. In just three years, our platform has been used to create more than 60 Top 100 Games in the U.S. App Store, including a game that earned the number one slot. We are thrilled to welcome Windows users to our community and expect that this will open up a floodgate of creativity, resulting in even more high quality games for players everywhere.

I know that many of you have game design ideas floating around your head. I also know that most of you are Windows PC users. Any of you willing to give this product a shot? Perhaps the RPad.TV community will be playing the chart-topping iOS-game you created with GameSalad Creator for Windows!

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Halo 4 Limited Edition Details Revealed

Microsoft has revealed details on spectacularly luxurious limited edition of Halo 4. In addition to a sweet-looking box, gamers that opt for the $99.99 version of Halo 4 will get the following…

Microsoft has revealed details on the spectacularly luxurious limited edition of Halo 4. In addition to a sweet-looking box, gamers that opt for the $99.99 version of Halo 4 will get:

War Games Map Pack Access
The competitive multiplayer modes of Halo 4 are known as War Games. The Limited Edition includes access to nine maps – three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations, available for download post-launch on Xbox LIVE. Yes, you read that correctly; you get nine maps in the form of future DLC with the purchase of the Halo 4 Limited Edition. Score!

Specializations
Everyone will have access to select Specializations, but those that purchase the Halo 4 Limited Edition will receive the ability to unlock six Specializations early, available at launch on Xbox Live. You can use them, one at a time, to achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career. In addition to gaining access to new ranks, Specializations unlock new customization options. We’ll be releasing more information about Specializations at E3, so expect additional details about this particular feature then.

UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet
The UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet includes a Spartan armor customization schematic, information about UNSC weapons, an introduction to the massive ship UNSC Infinity, and insight into what it means to be one of humanity’s finest warriors: The Spartan-IVs. Story lovers will especially enjoy this in-fiction offering that provides a glimpse into the indoctrination of Spartans aboard the Infinity.

Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn Special Edition
The Special Edition of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn is a 90-minute extended version of the live-action digital series which will take fans back to the terrifying beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC’s greatest vessel ever: the UNSC Infinity.

Digital content also includes in-fiction bonus content that expands the characters and stories of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, special featurette Bringing Gaming into Reality, and a behind the scenes look at the making of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn.

Bonus digital content through Xbox Live
The Limited Edition includes the following bonus digital content through Xbox Live: unique in-game Spartan-IV armor skin, unique in-game weapon skin for the Assault Rifle, an exclusive in-game emblem, Xbox Live Avatar prop, and Xbox Live Avatar Spartan IV armor set.

Any of you going to buy this baby? Halo 4 Limited Edition looks hot!

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Aerith and Sephiroth Were Originally Brother and Sister

Did you know that Final Fantasy VII Aerith Gainsborough and Sephiroth (Jones?) were originally written to be brother and sister? It’s true! Legendary game designer Tetsuya Nomura said so. In this nifty bit of translation from Andriasang, Nomura spilled the beans on the evolution of Aerith. Check it out:

The original character setting had Aerith and Sephiroth as brother and sister. The effect of this setting can still be seen in the designs of their front hair. Later, they changed the setting so that Sephiroth was Aerith’s first love. That eventually resulted in Zack.

Wow. Sephiroth would have been even more of a dick for killing his sister. Killing his ex-girlfiend would have been nasty too. As it ended up, killing an unrelated mystic/flower merchant was pretty evil, but I wonder how much more impactful it would have been with the other scenarios.

Check out the entire translation for lots of great info on Final Fantasy VII from Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, and Kazushige Nojima. Also, let me know if Aerith’s death would have been different for you had she been Sephiroth’s sister or lover.

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Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Screens Show Character Team-Ups

The newest batch of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy screenshots show off the music selection and characters. As a longtime Final Fantasy nerd, I was particularly geeked out by the latter. I totally marked out seeing “chibi” versions of the Warrior of Lights, Bartz, Terra, Cloud, Squall, Tidus, Zidane, Firion, and more sharing the same screen. I want this game now!!!

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