Tag: Xbox 360

Dead Space 2 Gamescom 2010 Screens

I was very impressed with Dead Space 2 when I saw it at E3 2010 for Shacknews. The game appears to retain the creepy atmosphere and sense of helplessness that made the original so cool while adding new features that round out the gameplay. Check out the latest screens and let me know if you’re interested in this thriller from Visceral.

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Mortal Kombat Gamescom 2010 Screens

Mortal Kombat was on my list of games I wish I played at E3 2010, but didn’t have time to check out. The latest screens have me wishing I was in Germany, hanging out with other game writers, drinking large steins of beer, and playing this game. It looks old-school cool! These latest screens feature Cyrax, Sektor, Reptile, Kung Lao, Kitana, and more. Check ’em out!

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Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Gamescom 2010 Screens

Back at E3 2010 I wrote the following about Namco Bandai’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West:

Combining action, puzzle solving, and escort missions, Ninja Theory’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West offers variety, a cool setting, and a dose of Gollum.

The game has a unique look and some fun “imitation cooperative” gameplay. While I’m not as high on this one as Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, I’m keeping an eye on this title as well. Kindly check out these new screens and share your thoughts (like a Care Bear!).

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Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom Gamescom 2010 Screens

Remember my Shacknews preview of Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom from E3 2010? At the time I said:

Flying under the radar at E3 2010 was Game Republic’s upcoming title that combines Ico-like graphics, stealth, puzzles, and an adorably goofy creature that looks like a Studio Ghibli reject. The diverse gameplay on display was fun and the visuals were a joy. If it all comes together, this could be one of 2010’s sleeper hits.

I’m still looking forward to this game. I think it’s going to surprise a lot of people. For now, please check out these screens of Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom and let me know what you think (please)!

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WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 Screens

Here’s fresh batch of WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 screens — you know, that game with the phenomenal writing? This set includes shots of John Cena, The Miz, Randy Orton, The Undertaker, Raymond Stereo Rey Mysterio, Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and sexy WWE Divas. There are no tables or chairs to be found, but there’s plenty of cage and ladder action. Check ’em out!

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Coffee Talk #201: Foursquare is Like Xbox Achievement Points

I’ve been having a blast with foursquare for the last two months. A lot of people hate the location-based check-in service, but I don’t think they get it. Sure, it’s another way for vain people to use the Internet to share more mundane details of their mundane lives, but foursquare can be fun and useful. I love checking out where my friends eat, drink, and shop; I’m more likely to try a restaurant an IRL friend likes than a random one. The baseball lover in me marks out at all the stats available on foursquare; it’s interesting to see the patterns and statistics of your social life.

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, Akron hating on Cleveland, Wyclef Jean’s bid for presidency, or Justin Timberlake being a celebrity Android lover, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve been having a blast with foursquare for the last two months. A lot of people hate the location-based check-in service, but I don’t think they get it. Sure, it’s another way for vain people to use the Internet to share more mundane details of their mundane lives, but foursquare can be fun and useful. I love checking out where my friends eat, drink, and shop; I’m more likely to try a restaurant an IRL friend likes than a random one. The baseball lover in me marks out at all the stats available on foursquare; it’s interesting to see the patterns and statistics of your social life.

The biggest reason I’m into foursquare is because it’s like Achievement Points on Xbox 360. I’ve told several of my friends that foursquare is like getting Achievement Points for life. You get points for checking in when you go out. You get bonus points for checking out places that are new to you. The points are absolutely useless, just like the ones earned in Xbox 360 games, but I want them! I love competing with my friend Tom each week to see who can rack up the most points by Sunday. It’s good fun.

Besides, I’m still hoping that foursquare will lead to me getting a beautiful 19-year old stalker. Anyway, let me know what you think of check-in services like foursquare. If you think it’s irritating now, just wait until Facebook and Google unveil their versions. This stuff is going to be huge!

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?

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?