headstrong-games
Latest
House of the Dead: Overkill - The Lost Reels now free-to-play
House of the Dead: Overkill - The Lost Reels dropped from an original price of $5 to the much rounder free this week. The iOS remix of the 2009 Wii shooter still features in-app purchases, including $2 for the third and final campaign of the story mode. Good news for iOS owners, but The Lost Reels retains its $5 tag on Android.
Valve employee spills the hardware beans: wearable computers, ahoy
When Michael Abrash started working for Valve, he expected the higher-ups to hand him a pile of work and tell him to hop to it. They didn't. Instead, he was told to figure out the most valuable thing he could do for the company, and then do it. So, Abrash wound up kicking off an in-house R&D project for wearable computers, and according to a recent blog post, is looking to expand his research team. More than me-too mice and gamepads, indeed. Abrash is quick to put a lid on rumors of "Steam glasses," however, and warns readers not to expect any big reveals at E3 -- this is just an "initial investigation into a very interesting and promising space," he says, and is more "research than development." Rearing to give Google's Project Glass a run for its money? Or maybe you're just itching for a detailed narrative of employee and employer? Either way, you'll find what you're looking at the source link below.
House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut 'Carnival' trailer is surprisingly tame
We know, we couldn't believe it either! The trailer for House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut's new Carnival stage doesn't drop a single F-bomb. Not a-one. Unless, of course, you consider "fabulous" to be an F-bomb, because it does slip that one in there.
HOTD: Overkill Extended Cut's second bonus chapter looks really gross
We kinda get why the game's been banned in Australia now -- the near-nude, skinless zombies are tough to look at. Good thing we'll get to shoot them right off the screen! Sega's revealed the second location for the Extended Cut bonus chapters in House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut, dubbed "Creeping Flesh" (the first was "Naked Terror"). Side story protags Candy and Varla must shoot their way through a slaughterhouse that has been taken over by "a meaty disease of sorts," Sega's David Bruno revealed in a post on the PlayStation Blog. There's also a boss with a giant meat cleaver named Meat Katie, who's half Katie, half cow. We're having a hard time seeing the cow in the image above. %Gallery-132174%
House of the Dead Overkill 'Extended Cut' refused classification in Australia
The new content in the "Extended Cut" of The House of the Dead: Overkill has resulted in the game itself being cut from Australian release. The Classification Board has refused classification of the PS3 update of the Wii game. The R18 rating has yet to go into effect, meaning that material considered too "adult" is still refused classification. The original potty-mouthed zombie shooting game was released in Australia in 2009, though there was some controversy at the time about the rating lacking notification about the vast, prolific use of profane language. Perhaps, then, it's not that this version is much more objectionable -- it could just be that the board wasn't paying close enough attention the last time. We've contacted both Sega and the Classification Board to learn more about the (expletive) situation.
House of the Dead: Overkill 'Naked Terror' screens are fortunately clothed
We were a little ... unsettled by the revelation that one of House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut's new levels, "Naked Terror," had a high likelihood of zombie nudity. Fortunately, the first batch of screens for the stage features only tasteful, partial zombie nudity. Which is still kind of rough.
House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut trailer is wall-to-wall impropriety
"May contain content inappropriate for children," warns the ESRB at the beginning of this House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut trailer. Well, let us get rid of any suspense you may have about the existence of inappropriate content. It's all inappropriate.
What's been extended in House of the Dead Overkill's Extended Cut
Sega posted a bit of an infodump to the PlayStation Blog about the upcoming 3D, HD House of the Dead: Overkill port. The changes go beyond the graphics and the relative glowiness of the controller -- there's actually a list of alterations made to the "extended cut." Those changes include two new levels not found on Wii, a "new baby mutant type" and a new crossbow weapon. In addition, all of the boss fights have been "improved," and the "Mother" boss fight has been extended. Even the cutscenes have been redone with new motion capture. There are also a couple of new modes: "Hardcore Mode," which forces you to perform headshots to kill enemies, and "Classic Mode," which gives you only the AMS Magnum. Overkill's Extended Cut will reach into retail in North America on October 25.
The House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut brings 3D cussin' to PS3
Finally, Sega has something for those of you who love both the PlayStation Move and the f-word. Today, the publisher announced a new PS3 version of the Wii's utterly vulgar House of the Dead: Overkill, which adds ... you know, the usual PS3 stuff: Move support and 3D. It also adds "two brand-new scenarios," offering even more opportunities for Agent G, Detective Washington and pretty much everyone else to scream obscenities at you as they shoot at zombies in a B-movie version of Louisiana. Maybe it can reclaim the record! The Extended Cut will be out in North America on October effing 25, and in Europe three effing days later, just in time for Halloween! Play it nice and loud, and keep those kids away from your house.%Gallery-124627%
Confused Joystiq writer immortalized in Art Academy promotion
The review copy of Art Academy sent to me by Nintendo included a bit of example art saved in its gallery. Specifically, this portrait.
Aragorn's Quest launch trailer shows the adorable forces of Sauron
Much of the launch trailer for Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest attempts to instill potential players with fear of Sauron's expansive, evil army. That goal probably would have been easier to achieve if we didn't want to scoop each of them up in our arms, and pinch their adorable wittle cheeks.
John Rhys-Davies, Sean Astin sign up for Aragorn's Quest
There's nothing quite like John Rhys-Davies getting into a voice acting role on camera to cap off a week. Sure, him and fellow voiceover actor for Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest Sean Astin talk about the game a bit, but we're much more entertained by Rhys-Davies' proclamation that "Behind every Aragorn, there's a dwarf!" See for yourself after the break.
Art Academy in session on DS October 25
Nintendo is bundling its two DSiWare Art Academy apps, developed by Headstrong Games (yes, that Headstrong Games) into a single cartridge, for budding artists who appreciate beautiful objects like DS cartridges. Art Academy features all the lessons from both downloadable releases, new "Mini Lessons" and 80 selectable "motifs" (reference pictures). It'll be in stores October 25 for $20. Nintendo announced this with the above picture, drawn in-game by Nintendo PR coordinator Krysta Yang. A recent ad for the European release shows more of what the app can do. Or, more accurately, what can be done with the app by someone who can actually draw. Luckily, it's designed to teach people to draw!
Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest makes 'Move' to PS3
[Wii version] Warner Bros. Interactive has revealed that, in addition to the previously announced PS2, PSP, DS and Wii releases, it's putting Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest on PS3 -- with PlayStation Move support. The kid-friendly LOTR game will now be released this fall (delayed again!) on all five platforms, with the Wii version developed by Headstrong Games (yes, that Headstrong Games) and the others by TT Fusion. Of course, the Wii and PS3 versions will be the only ones with motion control, and they will also be the only versions featuring two-player co-op (with the second player controlling Gandalf). The PS3 version won't be an exact port of the Wii one, but it's the same idea -- a game for which the Wii was originally the lead platform, now spreading to the PS3 thanks to the existence of a very Wii-like motion controller. It may be the first, but this is definitely not the last time we'll see this!
New trailer reminds us that LOTR: Aragorn's Quest exists
For the first time since the announcement of the game's burial in the first quarter of 2010, WBIE has released new media for The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest. In case you've forgotten about the upcoming Wii/DS/PS2/PSP action-RPG, it's a kid-friendly game starring a cuddly incarnation of Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn -- and, in the Wii version, an equally huggable Gandalf (for a second player to handle). It seems that, even though you're in the middle of a war and hacking up thousands of monsters, the game's been approved for kids because your avatar has big feet.
The House of the Dead: Underpriced at Newegg
If you like film grain effects, shooting zombies, and getting cursed at, but you haven't picked up The House of the Dead: Overkill yet, this deal from Newegg is exactly what you've been waiting for. The online retailer has marked the game down to $12.99 (with free shipping). Be warned, there really is a lot of cursing. Even the first 15 minutes of the game sounds like someone stepped on Samuel L. Jackson's foot. That's what that M rating is about. Well, that and all the disgusting dead people exploding and stuff. [Via GoNintendo]
Aragorn's Quest bumped to most popular release quarter of all time
A recent Warner Bros. press release has revealed the cuteified Lord of the Rings RPG Aragorn's Quest will follow the example of a number of big-name titles, moving from its inital launch window of fall 2009 into spring 2010. Based on the screenshots we've seen from the game, we're guessing they accidentally used up all the color in the world, and are now scrambling to find new sources of brilliant hues. We worried that this adorable adventure might get swept away in the burgeoning first quarter of next year, as it's set to face off with some extremely hyped, sometimes jetpack-equipped giants. However, it's filling the somewhat uninhabited niche of "family-friendly co-op RPGs set in a colorful, pint-sized reimagination of a historically bleak and robust fantasy world," so, you know. It might do okay.
House of the Dead: Overkill shambling off Amazon for $20
Looking for an excuse to pick up the already cheap (and awesome) House of the Dead: Overkill? Amazon has got you covered, as Sega's ill-fated yet profitable zombie blaster is the latest Deal of the Day. These babies are priced to move at a mere $20. If you've been hankering for some decent, co-op undead action, you'd be hard-pressed to do much better.Be warned though. While one would certainly think a zombie shooting spree would be fun for the whole family, Overkill is not for the kids. Turns out there are just a few swear words in there.
House of the Dead: Overkill stirs up trouble down under
We all know how much swearing there is in House of the Dead: Overkill. There's a world record-setting amount. For some reason, though, the game has no warning about said language in its Australian classification of "MA15+ Strong Horror Violence" -- and some people are understandably upset. Do the people responsible for classifying games down under even play them?Pro Family Perspective director, Angela Conway, is leading the charge against Sega's game, calling for research into the impact of violent video games on players. She says players will be affected by the amount of "sexually aggressive violence and aggressively violent language" found in the game. Wait, what? We think she got her adjectives mixed up. Shouldn't it be sexually aggressive language and aggressively violent violence? That doesn't sound right either ...Source - House of the Dead: Overkill lacks language warningSource - Australian watchdog group protests House of the Dead: Overkill rating%Gallery-29952%
House of the Dead: Overkill has most swearing ever
Well, f**k yeah! Though it may not be the sales record we were hoping for, the absolutely G** ***n awesome House of the Dead: Overkill has made it to the top of a list. It's just been honored by Guinness World Records as having the most profanity of any game ever. 189 "f**ks". Count 'em.Here's hoping some of you mother f*****g sons of b*****s actually get out there and buy the G** ***n game for f**k's sake. So p****ing help us, if that r***er isn't on the j**ing sales chart, we're going to take a giant n***b all over you faces. El S****, if you will.
