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Blacksite: Area 51 goes gold, releases Nov. 12
It's been a bumpy road for BlackSite: Area 51, but now the game is gold and ready to invade PC and Xbox 360 Nov. 12. The PS3 version is currently caught in a temporal vortex and is expected to release before "the holidays." The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions sport different features, so figure out what's important to you before buying.BlackSite is actually best known at this point for its delays and developer comments -- one of which involved it being a good idea to release BlackSite the same week as Halo 3. Well, good luck to BlackSite, the pool is looking awfully full this holiday.
BlackSite loses online co-op, PS3 version lacks voice support
IGN's preview of Area 51: BlackSite is sort of a mixed bag. Sure, we loved hearing new game modes like Abduction and how weapons would affect running speed, but imagine how disheartened we were when the preview ended with the news that online co-op had been cut from the game. It was like an awesome birthday party with a cake made of SARS.In other disappointing news, the article says that while the 360 version will feature ranked and unranked play as well as constant chatter for teammates, the PS3 version won't, and the PC version is still a question mark. Sure, there's cause for concern, but, luckily for Midway, we really, really hate aliens.
Alienware laptops now sporting 640GB of storage
We've seen a couple monster laptops with internal RAID arrays before, but Alienware is the first manufacturer we've seen to load its machines up with two 2.5-inch 320GB drives -- letting you lug around over half a terabyte of data. "Lug" is definitely the operative word, of course -- only the 17-inch Area 51 m9750 and Aurora m9700 offer the option, and each weighs 8.5 pounds -- but that's still some serious capacity for a portable.[Via TG Daily]
New Area 51 trailer looking damn good -- and just a bit freaky
Straight from the Leipzig Game Convention comes a new Blacksite: Area 51 trailer, which highlights some impressive graphics and freaky looking alien weirdness. While not as hot looking as Killzone 2 or Call of Duty 4 (few games are), the trailer shows off some impressive Unreal Engine-powered set pieces and some really nice lighting. Watching the town get ripped to shreds by 80 foot tall aliens is damn cool, and it looks like the gameplay holds its own as well.
Blacksite: Area 51 delayed until November
This has to be the best bit of news today. Midway has announced that Blacksite: Area 51 has been delayed, and will ship out to North America on November 5th and to Europe on October 26. "But wait," you ask, "how can this be the best news of the day?" Well, for those who've put blood, sweat and code into the game, we'd bet that any move away from Blacksite's previous launch date during September is very good news indeed.Sure, they've put on a brave face, even claiming at one point that launching near a certain other sci-fi FPS would actually make them stronger. As sweet as the attempt was, we're happy to see Blacksite back in a position where it's free of competition ... if you're not counting Haze, Assassin's Creed and Army of Two, of course.
Joystiq impressions: Blacksite
Blacksite: Area 51 is traversing into controversial territory. Harvey Smith, game designer of Blacksite, has received a ton of flak for his attempts at making a story that tackles modern political issues. He's unabashedly left-wing, and is willing to make obvious remarks about the current Bush administration in his game. We love seeing game storytelling pushed to new, unexplored territories, but we wonder -- is an alien invasion really an appropriate backdrop for serious commentary on politics?Unfortunately, we don't think so. This Unreal Engine-powered FPS certainly looks good, featuring the same sheen that Unreal games tend to. However, it doesn't feel as visceral as the myriad of other FPS games available at the show. The squad-based mechanics seem inspired by Gears of War: your partners are rough commando types that seem fearless. Commanding them is easy, with everything assigned to one button. Smith promises a morale system that intrigues us: performing as a leader will have your allies acting more confident, but poor leadership will lead to low morale. They'll become sluggish, and take more cover. Their shots will become less accurate, and they'll become far less aggressive. It's certainly a novel concept, but we weren't able to see it in action.Other than the morale system, we haven't seen anything that looks extraordinarily original. The game will feature online co-op (no split-screen co-op, unfortunately). Hopefully, with more time with the game, we'll see some of its more original features, but for now, it feels like just-another-shooter.%Gallery-1680%
New BlackSite trailer (temporarily) excites us again
We'll be honest, we're going back and forth on BlackSite: Area 51. Sometimes we'll get excited, then something like the recent demo will come along and we'll be convinced that the game is excruciatingly pedestrian. Then, a trailer like the above one gets posted, and we get re-convinced that the thing might be pretty good, if not as Duchovony-rich as its predecessor.Inevitably, these internal tete-a-tetes end with us remembering what other game is being released in September. Then we decide our feelings on the game are probably moot.
Video: Blacksite trailer is all about being home
There's a new Blacksite: Area 51 trailer in town and it's all about the pretty visuals and those rascally aliens landing on our home turf. Embedded above is Midway's latest Blacksite trailer aptly named "Followed Home" featuring an entire gamut of aliens including tall ones with skinny legs, wormy ones, spider ones and aliens that shoot rockets. Yup, when you're followed home by these aliens we recommend putting on your running shoes and taking off. That is unless you are military trained. Which, luckily for us, we are.
Halo 3 will boost BlackSite sales, dev prays
According to BlackSite designer Ricardo Bare, there are two "schools of thought" among developers who must release their games alongside Halo. The first, and most obvious, is the understanding that your game is doomed, and therefore you should curse your publisher for scheduling an imbecilic release date and quickly settle into the realization that you won't be receiving a bonus for all those sleepless hours spent smoothing out the buggy corridor in that damned missile silo near the end of level four. But then, there are those, like Midway (who has no publisher to blame), who believe that blockbusters like Halo 3 help to spur sales of like-genred alien shooters. (Note our reaction to this theory in the image above.)"Whenever you go and see a really bad ass action movie like X-Men, it just makes you want to go and see Spider-Man 3, right? You usually want more of the same," Bare told CVG, adding, "when something really huge comes out, it helps the other two or three really good games that also come out, because you want more FPS action." But Bare was also quick to draw a distinction between Halo 3 and his team's Area 51 follow-up, which adds squad-based tactics and political commentary to the alien extermination plot. So whether you want "more of the same" or something a bit different, BlackSite has you covered? Have we got the slogan right? Midway had best launch a stronger marketing campaign than that (and start reaching out to the PC and PS3 crowds) and, even more importantly, beat Halo 3 to store shelves. In other words, stop cannibalizing resources for another demo (this time with multiplayer) and don't waste any more time pondering the BlackSite sequel -- Halo 3 is here September 25th. Guys, maybe it's time to consider a 'strategic' delay?
New multiplayer BlackSite demo on the way, sequel rumored
Speaking to Eurogamer, Midway's Harvey Smith, creative director for BlackSite: Area 51, admitted that he's already thinking of ways to expand the next game in the series. While he doesn't officially confirm a sequel is in development, it seems at least that he's hoping for one. More intriguing to those of us who exist in the here and now, Smith intimates that Midway is considering another demo in addition to the one already available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Smith notes that it may be longer than the (very short) demo already available. Also, the new demo should include some multiplayer elements from the game. The retail game is expected to include deathmatch, CTF, and co-op modes, so a multiplayer demo would certainly be welcome. No date for the new demo has been announced
Area 51: BlackSite demo Live, government still denying existence
You don't know, man! I've been living in a trailer in southern Nevada for nigh on 27 years, and I've seen some things. Things that Uncle Sam ain't exactly thrilled to be talking about sort of things. Just last night, I was laying in the back of my El Camino peering through my Advanced Ritchey-Chretien Telescope with UHTC Coatings when I saw it: A brilliant blue light, hovering right above Groom Lake. It was what Area 51 junkies like myself had been waiting for for since Art Bell was in short pants: Real proof.So, I tell my harpy of a wife this morning, what does she do? She says I never even made it outside last night. She says I blacked out on the Davenport after my 13th (possibly 17th) PBR. She says the kids were up all night playing the "new demo for BlackSite: Area 51," whatever the hell that means. Now, I'm not as concerned about another sighting going tits up as I am about the kids playing their AxeBox 360 without their foil hats. How can I protect them if they're not willing to save themselves?%Gallery-1680%
Happy Friday! Area 51 demo on Marketplace
There are few things better than an unexpected Friday demo. We were delighted to see a demo for BlackSite: Area 51 sitting quietly on Marketplace this morning. After a few minutes we had the demo downloaded and took it for a spin. Upon firing up the demo, you will be quickly greeted by some impressive Unreal Engine 3 visuals. The character models are top notch, and the lighting effects (particularly the wet, reflective surfaces) look fantastic. Not only does it look great, but most of the environment is destructible. The gameplay is sort of a streamlined version of Rainbow Six Vegas, with one button squad commands (you start with two team members) and tactical firefights. You won't be issuing any complicated commands, it's all basic things like "go there" or "open that door," so it's not overwhelming. The demo is very short, you basically make your way through three firefights and that's it. The closing screens of the demo promise more tactical gameplay, lots of vehicles, levels based in US cities, and a robust multiplayer component.All in all the demo is sweet but just a little too short. Hopefully, we'll see a multiplayer demo before the game hits retail this year.
Area 51 being renovated at Hollywood's Paramount Pictures
As far as game-to-film adaptations go, Midway's Area 51 is almost certainly one of the easiest ones to pitch; the equivalent of a limp-wristed grandma flinging a roll of film at an executive producer sitting five inches away. Ticking nearly all of the boxes on Hollywood's quality assurance list, namely "aliens," "guns" and (this one is crucial) "aliens being killed by guns," Area 51 seems like a natural property for Paramount Pictures to abduct and perform hideous experiments on. Variety reports that comic book writer and artist, Grant Morrison, has been handed the task of adapting the 2005 first-person shooter (which was itself loosely based on the 90's light gun game) into a piece of cinema. Morrison's list of published works includes issues of Judge Dredd, New X-Men, Batman, JLA and Fantastic Four. If completed and released (Paramount has reportedly been sitting on the rights since 2004), Area 51 will mark his first produced film project. Hollywood monster guru, Stan Winston, is also attached as producer. Hopefully, the production team will gather some inspiration from forthcoming Area 51 sequel, Blacksite, which is said to be more politically charged and thoughtful than the first. Then again, perhaps Hollywood should concentrate on getting the basics right first.[Via FirstShowing.net]
Alienware shows off developer PCs
Alienware launched a new developer workstation and showed off a recent laptop at GDC. The company was tucked away in the meeting rooms of the North hall, and we stopped by unannounced to ogle the hardware.The MJ-12 8550i is the new high-end desktop machine with two quad-core Xeon processors, DDR2 memory, and other industry-leading specs. Alienware decided to ship this machine with the consumer-level Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX so that developers don't need to switch machines to test their progress. (Alienware reps even suggested getting in a game of F.E.A.R. while waiting for a recomplie.)We asked about a dual video card configuration, and we were told that that may happen; the company is even considering a switch that would toggle between pro and consumer cards connected to a single monitor.Keeping the desktop machine company, Alienware also showed the m5790 laptop that ships with a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo. And Alienware is so confident in the stability of the chip that it can overclock it under warranty to 2.66GHz.Prices for the systems vary by configuration, with the laptop starting at $1,300 and the workstation at $2,500. Of course, both are able to run thousands of dollars higher.%Gallery-2065%
BlackSite: Midway investigates Area 51 again
Midway has cracked the lid off of its Area 51 sequel, now known as BlackSite: Area 51 (no longer Area 52). As a sequel, BlackSite shares little in common with its predecessor beyond the general setting of hidden military facilities in Nevada and a pervasive alien threat. While Area 51 was deliberately campy, BlackSite is fear driven. It's squad-based too (with online co-op likely); and will utilize Midway's Massive D system, the same technology that drives the fragile environments in Stranglehold.GameSpy wasn't moved by a short BlackSite demo featured during a recent Midway junket in Las Vegas. We don't blame 'em. BlackSite, like Area 51 before it, looks to nail the formula without taking risks. Mediocrity can still drive sales.
They're back, BlackSite: Area 51 is 360 bound [update 1]
Midway Studios just confirmed that their "aliens gone wild" game BlackSite: Area 51 will be coming to the Xbox 360 this summer. Not only did they make that announcement, but they also released a few new screenshots, a trailer, and game details. BlackSite: Area 51 looks to be going with a more realistic and modern approach to the Area 51 series, something we're thinking fans will enjoy. Midway also announced a few gameplay tidbits and revealed the multiplayer modes including Death Match, Team Death Match, Capture the Flag, and Human vs Reborn. Jump into the Hummer and get on the chain-gun soldier ... we're taking back our base! Video and screenshots after the jump.Update 1: Fixed some grammar issues.
A new Area 51 game emerges for certain!
How many of you remember that classic Midway arcade title, Area 51? With that weird 3-D live action characters and the fairly wonky, but cool as hell, aiming system (I swear I missed completely, yet I nailed many a creature more often than not)? If so, get excited, since it seems the rumors of an Area 51 sequel are true -- enter the trailer for Area 51: BlackSite. It's a PS3 game for sure. In the trailer at least, no other platform is mentioned, but there will probably be word on that later on. Not much else to say about this -- check out the trailer on IGN and see for yourself if this brings back memories or if I've gotten some Area 51's mixed up in my distant arcade-rocking past.
Area 51 sequel in the works for next-gen
GamesAreFun has pointed out that according to some recent job postings, Midway is currently looking for a little help in developing a possible Area 51 sequel, called Area 52, of course. According to the listings, the game will most likely appear on the 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Sorry Ninty fans, no Wii.There is also another new IP listed as Criminal for the PS3 and 360. Area 51 was a decent FPS, so it'll be interesting to see what direction Area 52 will go. We can only hope David Duchovny will make a return appearance.
Alienware Area 51 m5500 notebook reviewed
While Alienware is a name commonly spoken in any high-end notebook discussion, its managed to mingle in less elite crowds by offering more financially manageable options. The Area 51 m5500 is a mid-range laptop with all the "prestigious styling cues" associated with the company, but lacks some of the bleeding-edge hardware found in the upper-echelon offerings. Reghardware's review model was actually a scaled-down version of the current machine (albeit with the same price), but it still performed fairly admirably. The finalized units will receive an Intel Core Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, either a Mobility Radeon X1400 or a GeForce Go 7600 with 256MB of RAM, 100GB SATA HD, a DVD-playing CD burner, a 15.4-inch display sporting a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire connector, and the standard wireless suite (WiFi and Bluetooth). The subtle beast faired well considering the tame innards required to hit the £899 (and up) price point; the biggest gripes came from the weak battery life (1:30-2:00) and the rubber grips atop the lid that "added unnecessary weight," but it's possible the bragging rights you'll gain would far outweigh any extra pounds they add. If you're scouting a gaming laptop, there's definitely a world of options, but if you need that element of extraterrestrial distinction to set you apart from the rest, the m5500 will be landing in August.
Alienware's Superman-themed limited-edition Area-51 systems
Not to be outdone by parent company Dell's X-men-themed XPS machine, Alienware fired up their factory on the planet Krypton to produce a limited number of their Area-51 laptops (limited to 350) and desktops (limited to 250) with artwork, themes and a mousepad from the upcoming movie Superman Returns. The desktop, which is emblazoned with an impressive mural by comic artist Tommy Lee, starts at $1,899 (without a monitor, of course) but quickly heads skyward when you add upgrades like a 3.4GHz Pentium D dual core processor, liquid cooling, 1TB of storage and the ability to turn back time by reversing the earth's rotation. The 17-inch Core Duo notebook starts at around $2,500 and is slightly less bawdy in appearance, ditching the mural for a sleek blue finish and the Superman shield in place of the usual alien head. You can keep track of how many of the individually-numbered systems are sold via Alienware's website, so we'd recommend you move faster than a speeding something-or-other should you want one.
