Condemned
Latest
Condemned 2 dated March 11, multiplayer detailed
Sink your hooks into Condemned 2 come March 11, Sega says. If that's not enough to whet your appetite for macabre delights, the publisher has also revealed several multiplayer modes that look standard on paper, but are decidedly vicious in practice (see videos after the break). Aside from the usual Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch modes, there's "Bum Rush" (one team has 3 minutes to survive a ... bum rush) and "Crime Scene," which attempts to incorporate Condemned's analytical investigations into the otherwise chaotic blood sport as one team tracks evidence while the other 'protects' it – Quick! Lose that 2x4 and grab a mop for that bloodstain! Multiplayer matches support up to eight players on both Xbox Live and PSN. %Gallery-5081%
Condemned 2 dated March 11, new multiplayer details
Sega has officially unveiled the North American release date for Condemned 2: Bloodshot. The title is set to release March 11 (it was previously revealed that the game will see it's European release on March 14). More exciting than the revelation of its release date is the detailing of Bloodshot's multiplayer modes. The modes available will be Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch (we know those better as Hobo Fight Club) alongside two previously unannounced modes, Crime Scene and Bum Rush. Crime Scene is undoubtedly the most interesting of the two. It involves two teams in a round based game in which one team attempts to collect and analyze evidence while the other team will endeavor to "keep the evidence hidden and protected." Somehow we're guessing that protecting the evidence involves a lot of neck snapping. Bum Rush is more or less a survival game type in which one team must remain alive for a certain amount of time while the other team does their best to prevent this. Again, we're guessing the snapping of necks will be involvedColor us excited.[Via press release]%Gallery-14432%
See two minutes of Condemned 2
Although there are some obvious differences in Condemned 2 from its predecessor (Greg Grunberg we hardly knew ye!) it seems from this new trailer that those who liked the first title are going to be pleasantly satisfied with what the sequel has to offer. Grisly crime scenes? Check. Bizarre weapons including but not limited to prosthetic limbs? Check. Zombos, that dark marriage of zombie and hobo? Sadly for those especially attached to their brains or Wild Turkey, check. If we have one reservation it's Grunberg's stand-in and the pseudo tough guy dialog he's given to say (we're looking at you "the rest of these jerks are too scared of getting killed". Blech.) We'll withhold judgment for now, but if anyone starts talk of brick parking in zombo toilets, we'll be very put out.
Condemned 2 gets delayed until March
We're really excited about Condemned 2: Bloodshot. So excited, in fact, that we're actually not very upset that Sega quietly pushed back the game's U.S. release date from February to March. It probably means the game still needs some more work, and we'd much rather Monolith tune this baby to perfection than to try to rush it to meet its deadline.Heck, at least it's not as bad as the delays for Haze and Home delays, right?[Via Sega Nerds]
Zombos return for Condemned 2 trailer
There's not a whole lot to see in this new trailer for Condemned 2, but it seems to be hitting on all the "scary game trailer" cylinders. Threatening, disembodied voice? Check. Annoying but creepy alarm-like sound effect? Check. Getting your head smashed in by a brick-wielding zombo? ... Check. The one thing we're still questioning is the point in the clip where the hero appears to be wielding a prosthetic arm. Either that's a weapon (sort of cool) or the damage in the game is so realistically modeled that injuries can result in infection, amputation, filing an insurance claim for a new limb and months of rehab (not as cool). We're pulling for the first one.
Condemned 2 has more NPCs, better forensics
Eurogamer has posted a new preview of Condemned 2: Bloodshot from Monolith. The preview details the game's new combat engine and the Fight Club mode as well as some new information about non-player characters and forensics. We've heard about Fight Club (even though we don't talk about it) and the new combat engine before, but the NPC and forensics stuff hasn't been discussed before.
Almost everything you want to know about Condemned 2
Condemned was a launch title for the 360 -- it was mostly overshadowed by other 360 launch titles, but those who played it derived more enjoyment from it than they honestly expected to. It was creepy, violent, and overall a good experience to introduce them to the new off-white console. Condemned 2 is coming and it's not just on the 360 -- it's coming to the PS3 as well. Here's what PSU learned about the upcoming game in an interview with senior producer Dave Hasle: There's more open-endedness when it comes to forensic parts of the game -- your power of observation and tools to use are entirely up to you. If you feel like it, you can skip right past those bits and continue fighting baddies. Whatever you prefer. While that sounds open-ended, the overall experience will be quite linear. We expect one, maybe two endings depending on how involved you get in the story. Weapon count right now is at 60, might hit 90 by the time the game finishes up. Throwing weapons are making a pretty big impact on the dev team: bowling pins, booze bottles, etc. No cross-platform play, but online modes to be announced later. Monolith has already murmured of an online co-op feature, but until super-duper official announcements are made, we'll take that with a grain of salt. No Sixaxis features implemented. Take that as good or bad, whatever your taste. We didn't go into the storyline or other, more particular, features of the game to save the surprises for our readers who like to stay in the dark on some things. If you are curious, though, check out the full interview and become a knowledgeable person ... about Condemned 2. It's slated for a Spring '08 release, so until then, we'll keep looking for more info.
'The Cell' director to helm Condemned-related movie [update]
The Hollywood Reporter reveals that director Tarsem Singh is set to helm a film based on the source material that also spawned Monolith Productions' 2005 survival-horror game, Condemned: Criminal Origins. In the year 2000, Singh trapped Jennifer Lopez within the mind of a serial killer and yanked out Vince Vaughn's intestines -- though normally he'd be praised for such actions, both events took place in "The Cell", a visually ambitious film that didn't really please the critics (save for our friend, Mr. Ebert).The film, which will be dubbed "The Unforgettable" (hopefully not unforgettable in the same way Super Mario Bros. is), is to be produced by Basil Iwanyk, David Goyer and Monolith founder Jason Hall. Hall later became senior vice-president of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and then moved on to found production company HDFilms Inc.Details about the movie's plot are scarce, but The Hollywood Reporter expects it to be about "a cop who in the course of a murder investigation realizes that he is not human and uncovers a war between good and evil aliens." In a message on HiDef.com, Jason Hall clarified that the film would be based on the "same founding concept" and would not be derivative of the game itself. Think of them as distant and considerably creepy cousins.[Update: Clarified film's relation to Condemned: Criminal Origins. Thanks, Sir Gossip!]
Sega of America president: Sonic unfit for adults
Sega's Simon Jeffery discussed his company's strategy for increasing sales in a Business Week interview. Basically, it can be summed up in two words: "sell out." They're "aggressively pursuing high-profile movie licenses" including The Golden Compass and upcoming Marvel Comics movies like The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Thor (there's a Thor movie?) But that's not the most controversial decision. Jeffery downplayed the importance of Sega's longtime mascot by saying that Sonic the Hedgehog is "an amazing recruitment vehicle" for younger gamers but "loses its cool factor when you get about 12 years old." The antidote to kiddy Sonic is, of course, ultraviolent fare like Condemned.We find that statement unfair and inaccurate. Since we know more about the game business than the president of Sega of America, we can more accurately gauge when Sonic games lose their cool factor. Every time a new character is added to the series, it bleeds a little bit of what remaining cool factor it had. Even adults would play and enjoy Sonic if, you know, Sega made a good one. [Via NeoGAF]
Condemned 2 movie tie-in still underway
The nerds over at Sega ... Nerds unearthed some details on the upcoming tie-in movie to Condemned 2: Bloodshot, The Forgotten. According to scriptwriter Kurt Sutter, a director is now attached to the project, though we have to wait until Warner makes the official announcement. Sutter also mentioned that he is doing another big rewrite of the script. As for the storyline, Kurt couldn't give any new info, but said that their technique for not falling into the "crappy game movie" trap was pretty cool, as they screenwriter and devs were each given a 15 page outline of the character and world, and told to make a great script and game, respectively, on their own. So rather than one being based on the other, they're both inspired by the same core concept. We'll be sure to keep you informed on any new developments for the game or film.
Condemned 2 will feature four combat layers
In an interview with CVG, Condemned 2: Bloodshot senior producer Constantine Hantzopoulos talks specifics about Bloodshot including the new (and improved) combat system. Hantzopoulos says that Criminal Origins' fighting stayed true to the visceral feel they were going for, but was too bland and repetitive. But now with Condemned 2 they've added four layers to their combat system that'll make killing so much more bloody fun. First, you can fight with your fists, something the original didn't let you do. Second, you can use all the same objects you did in the original to knock around your enemies. Third, you can chain attacks together God of War style to create some crazy intense sequences. And fourth, you can use the environment as a weapon by slamming their head into a TV or tossing them into a wood chipper. Gory .. we know. The interview also reveals details about multiplayer combat, how forensics will work, cut scenes and something called Hobo Fight Club. And let's just say Hobo Fight Club sounds crazy fun where a player can get in a ring with a bunch of hobos to unleash their built up anger. But the game in a nutshell is summarized best by Mr. Hantzopoulos when he simply says that Condemned 2 "will f**k with you". You know, in a good way.
Condemned 2 developers working closely with ESRB
Manhunt 2's de facto banning by the ESRB due to its AO rating is causing other developers like Monolith – creators of the upcoming Condemned 2: Bloodshot – to take notice and work closely with the ESRB. CVG reports Condemned's senior producer, Constantine Hantzopoulos, has pulled features from the game because of the Manhunt 2 drama. Hantzopoulos says that things like someone's head being put into a vice (Casino, anyone?) and a couple decapitations were removed from the game. It's not like Hantzopoulos isn't used to dealing with ESRB censorship – he also worked on Indigo Prophecy which had to cut some sex scenes from the US version. We can't wait until five or six years down the road when we get to organize the absurd censorship fights developers have with the ESRB for a post. We can already imagine the conversations now: "OK, so, three decapitations is an M, but two decapitations with a blood spurt is AO? Got it."
Condemned 2 altered to prevent AO rating
We haven't really covered it here on Xbox 360 Fanboy (for obvious reasons) but most of our readers are probably aware of the Manhunt 2 AO rating debacle -- the game received the AO rating from the ESRB for both PS2 and Wii. As a result, the game will have to be altered if Rockstar ever wants it to see retail shelves. It looks like this occurrence is already affecting the rest of the industry, as Condemned 2 producer, Constantine Hantzopoulos, reveals to CVG. According to Hantzopoulos, the Condemned 2 team is cutting certain content from the game in order to avoid an AO rating. As examples, he states that the ability to put an enemies head in a vice has been cut, as have several decapitations. Judging from Hantzopoulos' comments, other environmental attacks, like putting someone's head through a TV, may be cut as well. Condemned 2: Bloodshot, whatever its final state may be, is expected to arrive early next year.
Joystiq impressions: Condemned 2: Bloodshot
"You're a total badass at this point," explains Marty Caplan, Associate Producer for brutal bum brawler, Condemned 2: Bloodshot. We can't really argue the point, as we watch him pummel vagrants with his fists, grab them by the collar and hurl them into broken television sets and sparking circuit boxes. Condemned's first-person melee combat has been dramatically expanded in the sequel, with grappling, fisticuffs, multiple strengths of attack and the ability to throw weapons lending each encounter more fluidity and excitement than the "one-trick pony" ridden in the first game. "Now there are many tricks to the pony," says Caplan. Even the finishing moves performed on dazed enemies have been made more elaborate, the humble neck snap now joined by rather unpleasant deaths facilitated by environmental hazards. Honestly, we have trouble reconciling adorable ponies with this sort of depravity.Improving upon 2005's Criminal Origins, the reactionary animation is just as incredible to behold as it is to inflict. Watching a snarling zombie hobo (zombo?) reel backwards and struggle to remain on its feet after you've struck a blow injects some reality into the fights, somehow convincing you that the pipe you're wielding is very heavy indeed. The rest of the visuals have also clearly been enhanced, with high-dynamic range lighting and depth of field blurring being the technical tricks responsible for the grimy and starkly lit alleys in the demo's opening moments. The textures also seem to belong to a more colorful, earthy palette than we recall seeing in the previous crime horror.%Gallery-5081%
SEGA: Rally Revo this Fall, Condemned 2 in Feb
Today, SEGA must have felt a little left out of the E3 hubub and as a result decided to share its video game release schedule through 2008. SEGA isn't giving out concrete dates, but has announced that Xbox 360 games Virtua Fighter 5 and SEGA Rally Revo will be available this Fall, The Golden Compass this December, Condemned 2: Bloodshot is penciled in for February, Iron Man next Spring, Universe at War: Earth Assault Q1 of 2008, and The Club will make its way to retailers Winter 2008. So, later this year SEGA will grace us with some online Virtua Fighter 5, SEGA Rally Revo and The Golden Compass and anything releasing in 2008 we won't comment on, because 2008 is way too far in the future for our A.D.D. minds to care about. Bring on the 2007 games!
Sega reveals oodles of game dates
Yes, perhaps we have heard of practically all the games Sega says they're showing at E3, but we now know a bit more specifically when we'll get our soon-to-be-E3-cramped mitts on them. Due this fall are Bleach: Shattered Blade (Wii and DS), NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (Wii), SEGA Rally Revo, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, PC) Sonic Rush Adventure (DS), Universe at War: Earth Assault (PC) and Virtua Fighter 5 (Xbox 360). In the holiday season, expect Ghost Squad (Wii), The Golden Compass (Multi), Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS). Next year, look for Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360, PS3) in February, Iron Man (Multi) in spring, Universe at War: Earth Assault (Xbox 360) in Q1, The Club (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) in winter, and Space Siege (PC) at some point during the year. If you want to learn more about any of these, we've taken the liberty of posting the whole release after the jump.
Condemned 2 to be violent and deadly
IGN's pre-E3 coverage continues with an interview with the developers of that bashingly violent sequel Condemned 2: Bloodshot. Producer David Hasle and associate multiplayer producer Tarl Raney talk with IGN about the game's story, what they're changing, what's staying the same, and how they used input they received from Criminal Origins to make this sequel all the better. The interview touches on a few interesting Condemned 2 tidbits revealing that the combat system will be much more interactive, the forensic scenarios will be optional, and those oh so intense finishing moves will be back, but will now allow you to move your victim around and use the environment to torture them. Also interesting is that the main character Ethan suffers from hallucinations throughout the game in which he sees and battles the lovely "tar men" you see above. Crazy, we know. It really sounds like the dev team listened to the gaming community, added more goodness, and made sure the sequel stuck to the original's gruesome roots. We're already in love and are uber excited to see what the team will show off at E3. Be sure to take a look at a few new screenshots from Condemned 2: Bloodshot after the break.
Condemned 2: Bloodshot's bloody details
A fresh and visceral look at Condemned 2: Bloodshot is hitting newsstands soon as new details and gory images await in the August issue of OXM. Not only does OXM show off some new twisted screenshots like the one above, but they also talk specifics. Condemned 2 takes place years after the original where our forensic hero Ethan Thomas has since left investigative work behind and now wanders the streets, drinking his sorrows away and battling his inner demons. But Thomas is forced back into the investigator role again when his partner mysteriously disappears. Condemned 2 promises a new hand to hand combat system, disturbing visuals, 30+ weapons, and a multiplayer element that's still under wraps. Condemned 2: Bloodshot is slated for a Spring 2008 release, so hopefully SEGA can stay away from the ESRB for a little while longer, because we're sure they could find something AO worthy in their current mood. [Thanks, NitroFrost]
Boom, Bloodshot! Condemned sequel announced
SEGA announced that there is indeed a sequel planned for Xbox 360 launch title Condemned: Criminal Origins in early 2008. The Xbox 360/Playstation 3 multiplatform Condemned 2: Bloodshot will continue the storyline of the original, as well as provide online multiplayer, which will have "the most brutal hand-to-hand combat experience the first person genre has ever seen." The funny part is that that sounds surprisingly similar to the "review" describing it as "A superb sequel of brilliantly brutal bloody hand to hand brawling..." Our only question is, will you run faster with a knife?
Condemned 2 stalking the PS3 in 2008
Condemned 2: Bloodshot has just been announced at the Sega Gamer's Day event for release on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 in early 2008. Re-assuming the identity of Ethan Thomas, the severely messed up main character from the first game, players will be tasked with hunting down the location of his missing partner and taking down serial killers. The game will expand upon the violent, bloody first person combat of the previous game with a more robust fighting system and more impromptu weapons. They are also including a variety of online modes, including Deathmatch - something fans of the first game have been asking for for a while. I thought the first game was pretty good. It was definitely creepy and atmospheric and the graphics were very cool in a Silence of the Lambs kind of way. It was also pretty refreshing to see them mix up the first person shooter genre by putting a lot of emphasis in gory hand-to-hand combat and melee weapons. It had a number of things holding it back from greatness though, including a hackneyed bunch of investigative tools that added nothing to the gameplay, repetitive enemy animations, and bad AI. I have no idea how many times maniacal killers would smack me in the face with a 2x4 and then go 'hide' behind a pillar 1/10th the size of him like he had tricked me. Still, it sounds like Sega is on the right track, and they have about a year before release, so I have high hopes. Any other fans of the original out there? [Via N4G]
