gamescom-2010
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Don't be scared, they're just new FEAR 3 screens
Let's see. Poorly lit hallways, bloody graffiti on the walls, an otherworldly red glow, dudes with guns, dilapidated playground, creepy little girl and the unfortunate fellow seen here. Yup, must be new F.E.A.R. 3 screens from Gamescom. Turn the lights off and check 'em out.%Gallery-99762%
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 isn't short on characters
Naruto games tend to be on the gorgeous side of things, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 looks to be another visually impressive entry in the franchise. And that attractiveness won't be lacking for applications, as the game features "over 40" playable characters, evidenced by its latest trailer from Gamescom. If you were looking for a Naruto trailer with, like, dozens of combinations of characters fighting each other, this is the one for you. If not, well, maybe this Dragonball: Raging Blast 2 trailer is more up your alley? We're doing the best we can here, folks.%Gallery-99730%
Razer BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard offers backlit, programmable keys
There are mechanical keyboards, and then there's Razer's newest duo. For the past three years, the gaming accessory company has been toiling in a back room trying to figure out how to really get mechanical keyboards right; according to it, the vast majority of the options today "feature stiff keys that cause key actuation fatigue," and it has sought to remedy said issue with the BlackWidow and BlackWidow Ultimate. Launched today over at Gamescom, these two keyboards offer key actuation that feels much like a mouse click, with an actuation point that's actually halfway through the full travel distance. The company claims that its power-packin' pair has one of the lightest actuation forces for all keyboards, making it ideal for hardcore gamers who can't be bothered with missing a single keystroke. The standard BlackWidow offers up fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording as well as five additional gaming keys, while the Ultimate edition adds individually backlit keys with five levels of lighting, 3.5mm audio and microphone out jacks as well as an additional USB port. Both 'boards are due out next month for $79.99 / $129.99, respectively, and you can peek the full specs list in the press release just past the break.
Wish granted: New The 3rd Birthday media from Gamescom
And you thought nobody was paying attention when you blew out the candles on your birthday cake earlier today. We were watching, little Timmy! ... Okay, so we can't take all of the credit for the new screens and trailer from Square Enix's upcoming spin-off in the Parasite Eve universe, The 3rd Birthday. The new media comes direct from Gamescom 2010 in Germany, but, like, if you want to credit us with making your dreams come true, we're cool with that. In the end, isn't having your wishes fulfilled all that matters? %Gallery-99782%
Super Scribblenauts screenshots are really, really (adjective)
You guys already know the drill: 5TH Cell has released a new batch of screenshots for Super Scribblenauts, one which follows the format of all the developer's previous asset blasts for the series. That is to say: There's a lovely, illustrated desktop background, followed by: A handful of clever solutions to a few in-game puzzles, which leads into: A couple of screens showing the puzzle creation tools, and finally: A screen showing that, yes, the game is capable of discerning between cerulean, sunlit, cow-like, centaurian, tricolor and cotton elementals. This screen is commonly referred to as "5TH Cell's really just showing off now." %Gallery-99780%
How 'From Dust' turns manipulating nature into a game
We already know quite a bit about how From Dust (née Project Dust) uses a few layers of basic elements to create a highly realistic and malleable virtual world. What's been less clear was how Eric Chahi and his team were going to make an actual game out of this lava-filled sandbox. Until today, that is, when Chahi and producer Guillaume Bunier presented the first details of From Dust's gameplay in a Gamescom demonstration.%Gallery-99786%
Preview: The Fight
Sony had a new, roughly 60% complete build of The Fight on hand at a pre-Gamescom press event, and I have to say, my experience with the game couldn't have been more different from the one Chris Buffa had a few months ago (when the game still had its "Lights Out" subtitle). For one, I found the artificial intelligence to be at least competitive, if not overly hard. My computerized opponent -- a thin, bouncy, tattooed Asian gangster -- came at me constantly, using quick jabs to take advantage if I opened myself up with too many attacks and not enough guarding. The player who went before me actually lost to his computer opponent, a beefy black man in a wifebeater who countered an endless series of high, straight punches with some accurate low body blows. For another, I didn't notice any discernible lag between my real-life motions and the punches on screen. That's not to say there wasn't any lag -- in fact, there probably was -- but just that it wasn't easily discernible in the heat of the battle. I didn't find myself making a punching motion and then waiting for a second to see if the game would recognize it as a punch or anything like that. On the contrary, the game seemed pretty good about moving my on-screen fighter's arm almost immediately when I moved my own.
Digital Extremes developing PC version of Homefront
THQ is showing off the PC version of Homefront for the first time at Gamescom this week, thanks to the efforts of Digital Extremes. The publisher announced that Digital Extremes, best known for Pariah, Dark Sector and for assisting on BioShock 2, is developing the PC release. According to THQ executive producer Frank De Lise, DI won't simply be dropping Kaos Studios' North Korean invasion-themed FPS onto PC. "We're building on the great game that Kaos Studios is making and enhancing it with specific PC relevant features," De Lise said, listing dedicated servers and clan support specifically. "We believe the core PC first-person-shooter fan will really appreciate these features, which are becoming increasingly rare." Who could that statement be directed at?
Come get slimed by Ghost Trick footage
We talked about it around the office and decided today's the day you have to get excited about Shu Takumi's Ghost Trick. It's all here in this Gamescom footage -- the amazing animation, the funky premise, the unique gameplay -- all you need to do is open your heart. Go ahead. Open it. We'll wait.
Cataclysm needs a "couple more months" before release
German entertainment site Gamona landed an interview with World of Warcraft Game Director Tom Chilton at Gamescom 2010. They cover a myriad of topics including Tol Barad, guild leveling, the state of the various classes in the Cataclysm beta and the reasoning behind Facebook integration into their games. But perhaps the most interesting piece of data is that according to Tom Chilton, Cataclysm needs "a couple more months" of work. While that might seem terribly obvious to some, it's the closest thing to an official timetable we've heard from Blizzard or a Blizzard employee beyond the aim for releasing in 2010. A "couple more months" would set the launch firmly after BlizzCon and leaning closer to the holiday season. Mike Morhaime recently confirmed that the expansion was still on track for a 2010 release, so we're most likely looking at a November or December launch. I, for one, look forward to another middle-of-winter midnight release. Head on over to Gamona.de for the full video interview.
Warhammer Online's RvR pack announced
Mention "Skaven" to your average Warhammer Online player, and you'll be treated to an almost instant recitation of all the reasons why the race ought to be playable. It appears that players might be due to get that wish -- as well as a few more wishes -- with the announcement of the RvR pack for the game. Although we only have the broadest strokes of an outline for the pack, it promises to expand the game's core focus of PvP with an increase in the renown ranks to 100. Executive Producer Carrie Gouskos has confirmed the involvement of the Skaven, although she's stated that they'll not be playable directly from level 1. How the integration will take place is unclear, as are most of the fine details, although the pack will clearly be a big change for the game's overall structure. The pack is also meant to move away from the "huge expansion" model that's common in the MMO genre, with the company presumably moving to several smaller expansions on a quicker timetable. It's good news for Warhammer Online players to see what's coming around the bend, especially if players can run about sowing chaos as ravenous rat-men.
Warren Spector says game devs are 'still making cartoons'
When Warren Spector told Gamescom attendees that the denizens of his chosen profession are "still making cartoons," he wasn't referring to his upcoming illustrated opus, Epic Mickey. Rather, he was voicing his opinion on what he sees to be one of the biggest challenges facing the industry today: game developers' proclivity for attempting (and ultimately failing) to mimic the storytelling techniques of movies, comics and other forms of popular media. Of course, one of his main problems with games' stories is their tendency to be dude-centric -- he warned the Gamescom crowd "if we don't break out of big buff guys with swords and guys in tights and space marines in armor, we're going to get marginalized in the way comics have been in the United States." He also warned about attempting to ape blockbuster films by filling games with obscenely expensive visuals, as "we still fall far, far short of what people expect from a movie." Ultimately, the only form of storytelling Spector thinks games should attempt to emulate is oral conversation, as the person interacting with the game is equally responsible for shaping its story. "Player experience comes first," Spector explained, "we have to allow them to show their creativity. No other medium has allowed them to do this. We are unique in the history of humankind. Every player becomes an author when they play a game."
Latest Splatterhouse trailer shows off retro roots, machetes them
The strangest concept for us about this fall's Splatterhouse re-imagining is the departure it takes from the series' 16-bit origins. Oddly, the latest trailer features a mashup of the original game with the new one, spliced with music from the original. We'll be honest -- it's pretty confusing. That, however, is significantly less of an issue than one of the screenshots Namco sent along with the new trailer. It's ... well, let's just say it's probably not the safest image for your boss to see. Or anyone, really. Actually, you know what? Maybe just stick with the trailer for now. Besides, you probably don't have enough Tide in your house to get out the stains left by this screen. We sure didn't.%Gallery-99731%
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow whipping up Oct. 7 EU release date, Oct. 8 in UK
During a Konami press conference at Gamescom, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow producer David Cox took to the mic to announce European and UK release dates for the forthcoming game: October 7 in Europe and October 8 in the UK. Furthermore, Konami UK rep Richie Churchill revealed via his Twitter account that the game will be getting a distinct collector's edition for (at very least) the UK, featuring the game's original soundtrack and a "replica God Mask in awesome packaging." Wait a minute -- why don't we get a God Mask?! Anyway, given the way European and UK releases work, it's fair to guess that Lords of Shadow will land stateside on October 5 (as compared to the Halloween release date Amazon gave it), sans God Mask. That's exciting enough, we guess.
New Enslaved: Odyssey to the West screens
Though the vivid colors and lush foliage might suggest otherwise, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is an Unreal-powered action game due this October. These latest screenshots once again place the environments somewhere between utopia and dystopia, and highlight the volatile cooperation between lead characters Monkey and Trip. It's no Melissa & Joey, but it'll do. %Gallery-99728%
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep trailer just needs seven minutes of your time
Though the seven-minute Gamescom trailer for Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep isn't what we'd call a "lighthearted romp," it's certainly worth the time investment for fans of the series. Or fans of Square-Enix's trademark overdramatic dialogue, because, hoo boy, this trailer's got it in spades.
Suda 51 announces 'Sine Mora' for XBLA, PSN
Suda 51 just announced Sine Mora for PSN and Xbox Live Arcade this evening at Gamescom. The horizontal space shmup is being co-developed through a new partnership between Suda's Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality. Grasshopper will provide art direction, music and sound. Digital Reality, perhaps best known as the developer of the Imperium Galactica games, will be publishing the title. The partnership between the two companies will also include "a range of [other] titles," though no information about further releases was forthcoming. Sine Mora is scheduled for a worldwide Q3 2011 release and will support 3D in the PSN version. The lack of major announcements at this year's convention prompted Suda to joke that "this is going to be the biggest announcement of this Gamescom."
Mortal Kombat's latest kombatants: Cyrax and Kitana
Two more familiar fighters have re-upped their active roster status for next year's return of Mortal Kombat. As part of its Gamescom showing, Warner Bros. Interactive has provided a glimpse of what the fan-wielding Kitana and robotic Cyrax will look like in the new game. (Hint: they look really cool.) The duo joins a roster already confirmed to feature a number of characters from MK1, MK2 and MK3, including: Flame, Jax, Johnny Cage, Kano, Kung Lao, Liu Kang, Mileena, Nightwolf, Raiden, Reptile, Scorpion, Sektor, Shang Tsung, Smoke, Sonya and Sub-Zero. Looks like there's something for everyone there, except for that one guy who wants a character that imparts the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi to his opponents. Sorry, pal.%Gallery-99753%
Diablo 3 adds Artisans to craft items for you
In Diablo 2, you had the assistance of a mystical Horadric Cube to alchemize new items. In Diablo 3, adventurers have the much simpler option to just ask some guy to make you stuff. As revealed today at Gamescom, your character can meet and befriend Artisans, including a blacksmith, mystic and jeweler, who will then follow you around the world of Sanctuary, making new items from raw materials you extract from unwanted loot. The blacksmith makes weapons and armor, of course, and can add sockets to items when possible. The mystic enchants items and creates magical implements like scrolls, potions, runes and charms. The jeweler creates gems, amulets and rings, and can also combine existing gems and remove socketed gems. Each artisan has a quest line and backstory and has skills that can be upgraded by the player. A Blizzard game with crafting? It'll never work. %Gallery-99749%
Behind the scenes with Guild Wars 2 cinematics and demo
ArenaNet scheduled quite a few hands-on sessions for Guild Wars 2 at Gamescom this week, and the first reports are beginning to show up from those lucky enough to get playtime on the first day. IGN has an overview posted with plenty of exciting new details on character creation, events, weapons, and much more. The demo included quite a few events that the writer stumbled across and a battle with an "enormous, purple, glowing dragon," presumably an unrecognized Shatterer. If you've not seen the write-up yet, it's definitely worth your time. While you're at it, pay a visit to the ArenaNet blog as well. The crew back in Seattle is keeping busy, and there is a new blog entry with a video entitled "Creating Guild Wars 2 cinematics." Finally, don't forget to watch for Massively's recap of the Gamescom events on Monday!
