comic-con-2011
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Darksiders 2 preview: Death pays a visit
So you have a pretty popular game, starring an interesting and original rendition of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It sells well. In fact, it sells well enough that it gives a distraught publisher a much-needed influx of revenue and then, when the time comes to make the sequel, you decide to completely replace the protagonist everyone knows, and bring in a brand new character that wasn't ever seen in the first game. That's what comic book artist-turned Vigil Games founder Joe Madureira did, and though Darksiders 2 definitely looks like it's turning out well, even he says he had doubts. "I still wonder if it's a smart thing," he told me at Comic-Con this week, "because usually when you're building a franchise around a character, you really try and keep the same character." Well, yeah. "But it was a momentary apprehension. As soon as we concepted him and we had him running in the game, it was a cooler character." He says that THQ didn't have a problem with the change either: "They were like, yeah, this is a cool idea." %Gallery-128681%
Retro City Rampage playable at Comic-Con, even without a pass
If you don't mind hanging out in a Hard Rock establishment, you have an opportunity to play a bunch of unreleased games, including Retro City Rampage. In case it weren't abundantly clear from our past coverage of RCR, we're big proponents of not just the game itself, but of the developer's dogged entrepreneurial spirit, so we wanted to make sure you knew about two chances this weekend to play it at Microsoft's Hard Rock-based Comic Con Xbox lounge. Extra convenient? No SDCC pass is required to attend. In between snacking on sliders and getting your 8-bit open-world on, you may also want to check out some of the other games available to play -- everything from Orcs Must Die to Batman: Arkham City, we're told. And before you head over, why not take a look through a brand new set of Comic-Con screens for RCR, just below? Details for the weekend can be found after the break.%Gallery-128947%
Spider-Man goes to the Edge of Time in Comic-Con video
Here's a new Spider-Man: Edge of Time video so fresh from the floor of Comic-Con that its heart is still racing a bit from meeting Garth Ennis. In it you'll find more than your fair share of web hammers, well-orchestrated falling and, puzzlingly, exploding punches. Enjoy. %Gallery-128878%
Freddy Krueger haunting Mortal Kombat August 9
The news of Mortal Kombat's next downloadable brawler, Nightmare on Elm Street antagonist Freddy Krueger, is weird for a number of reasons. First off: It's Freddy Krueger in Mortal Kombat. We didn't know non-gaming murderers were allowed to join the party! Secondly: Wouldn't his inclusion be predicated on the fact that everyone in the Mortal Kombat universe is asleep while they're fighting? That seems like it would be difficult to do. Check out Freddy's appropriately brutal announcement trailer above, and decide whether you're going to grab him from your respective DLC marketplace when he arrives August 9. Update: A Warner Bros. press release has revealed that Freddy will cost 400 Microsoft Points ($4.99), and will be free to Season Pass subscribers. Comic-Con 2011 attendees can check out his sweet, Baraka-esque moves at the GameStop in San Diego's Westfield Horton Plaza between 7 and 10 p.m. PT.
Dive through the clouds with Link in the latest Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword trailer
We've seen an awful lot of Link sporting goofy farmer clothes in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, but the latest trailer plays on key nostalgia factors. Green tunic? Check. Z-targeting? You bet! Losing Zelda to "evil forces?" Of course. And there's a bonus, too: big birds!
X-Men Destiny preview: Designer genes
Silicon Knights founder Denis Dyack is happy to hear that X-Men Destiny looks unlike many of the games already based on Marvel's mutant universe. "We've been collaborating with Marvel and Activision to do things very differently," he says. In most X-Men games, you pick a familiar hero, like Wolverine or Gambit, and then explore the world from his or her point of view. In X-Men Destiny, however, Dyack and his team have been given free reign to separate powers from characters. Your custom-built hero can play through the RPG-driven side of the game by equipping powers as you would gear. You could combine Cyclops' eyebeams with Juggernaut's charge, or Wolvie's healing factor, all while finding a place in the campaign somewhere between the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants. Unfortunately, while there are a lot of interesting touches in the story and powers system, X-Men Destiny's core game struggles to hold the higher ideas up. The graphics look only marginally better than those leaked screens, and even in the short demo I played the game's combat and enemies teetered on the verge of becoming notably repetitive.%Gallery-128867%
Report: Kirby Wii officially named 'Kirby Returns to Dreamland'
After waking up just in time to briefly appear at Nintendo's E3 2011 press conference, Kirby will apparently be heading back to Dreamland in his forthcoming Wii appearance. In speaking with a Nintendo rep at this week's San Diego Comic Con, Siliconera heard that the none-too-subtly-named Kirby Wii will actually be named "Kirby Returns to Dreamland" when it arrives this fall. Nintendo has yet to confirm the title, but we expect we'll hear official word when the company decides to make a big release date announcement. And given how much we liked the game when we played it back at E3, here's hoping that announcement comes soon.
Final Fight's Poison playable in Street Fighter X Tekken
A couple of Street Fighter X Tekken trailers appear to have gotten out early -- something that's been happening a lot lately -- revealing a noteworthy addition to the roster. Poison, first seen as an enemy in Final Fight and later as Hugo's manager in Street Fighter 3, will be playable in Street Fighter X Tekken -- only her second playable appearance in a fighting game, after 1999's Final Fight: Revenge. Another trailer, after the break, reveals Yoshimitsu. Surprise! Yoshimitsu's in a Tekken game! Also seen for the first time in these trailers are Dhalsim and the teased Steve Fox.
R2D2-style Xbox 360 Kinect bundle rolling out for Kinect Star Wars [update]
"Beep! Beep beeeeep boop whiiiirrr boop boop (fall over)!" Or, in English, Microsoft just revealed a new R2D2-styled Xbox 360 Kinect bundle at Comic-Con, in honor of Kinect Star Wars. The Xbox has a special R2D2 look and custom console sounds, and is bundled with a gold, C3P0-style controller (Oh, my!) and an all-white Kinect. It also includes Kinect Star Wars, Kinect Adventures, and a 320GB hard drive! The bundle will be out this fall. Pre-orders for the $449 bundle are expected to begin today. Update: Added official pics to the gallery, and moved our Comic-Con snapshot past the break! Update 2: According to Gavin Spicer of Xbox UK PR, the bundle is coming to the UK as well, though no details have been announced yet.%Gallery-128885%
Activision reveals April launch for Prototype 2, September for X-Men Destiny
Kicking off its San Diego Comic Con announcements, game publishing giant Activision today revealed two solid, very different release dates for two hopefully solid, very different games. First up, Prototype 2 will surf victims' bodies into retail on April 24, 2012. A new trailer for next year's sequel is available just below the break, fresh from San Diego. Additionally, a new trailer for X-Men Destiny was released, which puts a September 27 launch date on the next project from Silicon Knights. Given the origin of both pieces of info, SDCC attendees should be aware that X-Men Destiny will be playable at this week's show, while "15-minute live stage presentations" for Prototype 2 will be going off at the Activision booth. Still here? Both trailers are just below -- follow us!
Hands-on with the Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access iOS app
We know, we know. You're fit to be tied waiting for the complete Star Wars collection to be released on Blu-ray in September, but there's good news for impatient iPad owners here in the US. You see, some of the collection's bonus materials can be had for free a bit early -- as in tomorrow -- courtesy of the Star Wars Blu-ray: Early Access App. Even better, we've got video of the app in action plus a gallery of pics for you to drool over until you can download it yourself. And for folks abroad or those with an iPhone or iPod touch, the same sneak peek will be available in August. The app itself is a ported version of what you'll see on the Blu-ray discs, but there's some added touchscreen functionality -- pinch-to-zoom on the concept art and users can spin props and models with the flick of a finger in the "Collection" section. The app also lets you selectively download the content, so all that artwork and video won't eat up an undue portion of your iPad's memory. After getting handsy with it in person, we found the app easy to use and the content compelling (where else can you examine the Death Star up close?), but we were left wishing that there was a bit... more. Of course, the lion's share of extras are reserved for the paying customers come September 16th -- though we were disappointed to discover that, currently, there are no plans to make it all available on the app even if you buy the Blu-rays. Regardless, you get what you pay for, and that makes this gratis addition to the Star Wars universe a darn good deal. Update: Grab the app and try it out for yourself at the iTunes link below! %Gallery-128683%
Star Trek Online's Dine with the Devs event details
With San Diego Comic-Con right around the corner, attendees are making their final plans on what events and attractions they are going to visit in the historic city by the bay. While there is always a decent turn out of Star Trek fans, many Star Trek Online players have always hoped for a stronger presence from Cryptic. Whether it be a panel interview, a booth, or even just a casual meet-up, Captains want to connect with their developers. Well, dreams are about to come true! Priority One, the STO podcast for which I am Executive Producer, will be hosting the first ever Dine with the Devs event this Friday evening, July 22nd. While not affiliated with Massively, this casual meet-up will take place off-site at a local restaurant in the San Diego area. As we dine on the patio, the devs in attendance will be answering players' questions about the game and explaining their roles on the project. It is important to note that each attendees' expenses are their own responsibility. For more information, including location and time, visit the information page.
Sony unveils San Diego Comic Con lineup, panels, crazy arcade cabinet
Sony's presence at this year's San Diego Comic Con is, like Qwark's chest, large and complex. Beyond bringing major retail releases like Resistance 3 and Twisted Metal for attendees to play, the publisher is showcasing a variety of wares from PSN indies like thatgamecompany's Journey and Minority Games' Papo & Yo. The company is hosting several presentations on a handful of its games -- everything from Starhawk to Uncharted 3 -- along with with the chance to play a variety of unreleased PlayStation titles. If that weren't enough, the construction of a full Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One arcade cabinet specifically for SDCC 2011 should help to get you on board. Take an early peek at the cabinet in working order just below the break.
Halo: Primordium is next Forerunner Saga novel, available January 2012
Halo: Primordium, the second novel in the Halo Forerunner Saga, will be available in book and audio editions on January 3, 2012. Award-winning science fiction author Greg Bear returns to the writer's chair and continues the story he began in Cryptum. Bear will also be present at the San Diego Comic-Con this weekend in the back-to-back Halo panels, "Writing in Videogames: In-Game, Novels, Comics, and Other Franchise-Building Offshoots" (Room 32AB), and "Halo Universe" (Room 6BCF), at 10AM and 11:30AM, respectively. At 2PM, he'll be doing signings at booth #2707 with Frank O'Connor, Karen Traviss and Kevin Grace, so bring your cat helmets.
Star Wars Blu-ray extras revealed early by iOS app launching at Comic-Con
We're still a few months away from the Star Wars movies release on Blu-ray, but dedicated fans can get a preview of the set this week in the Early Access app for iOS. Set to debut in time for Comic-Con on July 20th, the free app promises some of the 40+ hours of bonus materials planned for the discs, including concept art, models and interviews with cast and crew. We've already seen iPad apps pulling in extras to go along with movies like Tron: Legacy, but this is the first one we've seen launch ahead of the Blu-ray release. Check out a couple more screenshots and detailed description after the break, then come back tomorrow for our hands-on look at the Star Wars app.
Orcs Must Die! coming to PC and XBLA this summer, Comic-Con this weekend
Robot Entertainment announced today that third-person tower defender Orcs Must Die! will be published by Microsoft Studios and available later this summer for PC and Xbox Live Arcade. The developer previously gave us a window of "late August or early September." Orcs Must Die! will be playable this weekend at San Diego Comic-Con in the Xbox Lounge, located at the Hard Rock Hotel, and Robot Entertainment will have an OMD prequel comic book available at the show. Not going to Comic-Con, but still want to get your hands on the transmedia companion fiction that is sure to deliver Great Gatsby nuance to the Orcs Must Die universe? Don't worry, the comic will be available in a digital format "later this summer, also at no charge."
Nintendo's Comic-Con lounge stocked with Mario, Zelda, Rhythm Heaven, and more
To keep you from ever having to look at an actual comic at Comic-Con, another game company has announced its lineup of playable demos. You'll be able to play a great deal of Nintendo's recent and upcoming 3DS lineup, most of its Wii lineup ... and Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 on DS. Nintendo will have both a normal booth at Comic-Con, #5135, and a "Nintendo Gaming Lounge" at the adjacent Marriott Marquis & Marina hotel. This "Gaming Lounge" will feature playable demos of Super Mario, Kid Icarus Uprising, Mario Kart, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Shinobi, and more 3DS games. In addition, you'll be able to try The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Rhythm Heaven, Fortune Street, and more on Wii. Bring your DS and/or 3DS when you go. From 4-6 pm on July 21, Nintendo will host a Pokémon Black/White meetup. The Lounge will also have a giant Pokédex 3D AR marker of Reshiram for you to take commemorative pictures with, and a "gallery" of oversized AR Cards. There will even be downloadable maps for Dragon Quest IX!
Play new Rabbids, Rayman and Just Dance games at Comic-Con
Ubisoft has announced its totally non-comic-related (but perhaps comical) contributions to the July 21-24 Comic-Con event, including opportunities to play its new games. Booth 4245 in the Exhibit Hall will host playable demos of Rabbids: Alive & Kicking, Just Dance 3, and Rayman Origins. On July 23, Ubisoft will hold an "Assassin's Creed: The Creation of a Universe" panel, featuring a preview of the Assassin's Creed Embers animated short. Outside of the Comic-Con venue itself, Ubisoft and "The Nerd Machine" are setting up a "Nerd HQ" in downtown San Francisco, where players will find demos of Rayman Origins. Yes, "Nerd HQ" is somehow not inside Comic-Con.
Marvel vs. Capcom 3 producer hosting panel at Comic-Con
Capcom veteran and Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Producer/Director Ryota Niitsuma will be hosting a pannel at this year's Comic-Con, where conventionistas will be the first to take a sneak peek at ... something. The schedule teases a new reveal of some kind, urging fighting fans to come to the pannel to hear "the fantastic news" about the series. What that news may be remains shrouded in mystery for the moment, but true believers can at least look forward to a Q&A session with Niitsuma. Attendees will also have the chance to fight on stage for "fantastic prizes" (in the game, probably). We expect at least one person will be kicked hundreds and hundreds of times.
SOTA's new Darksiders, Darkstalkers and Okamiden toys go to Comic-Con
Toymaker SOTA has announced that it's prepping a trio of exclusive, licensed video game-based items for this year's San Diego Comic-Con International, which runs July 21-24. The biggie (and by that we mean nearly a foot tall) is a statue ($160) of Morrigan and Lilith from the gothic fighter Darkstalkers, which depicts the two as they "fall, together, in a loose embrace, unaware of how much longer they have together" and "freezes in time a moment that Morrigan and Lilith wish to last forever." SOTA's words, not ours. Smaller and fluffier, a keychain-sized Okamiden plush will be included as part of a "San Diego Comic-Con Impulse Pak" ($40) that features three of SOTA's non-game-related Bobble Budds. Finally, there's our favorite of the bunch: Darksiders' War astride his horse, Ruin, in an LED-lit statue (above, $250) that looks as hot as the flames erupting from the Apocalypse rider's steed. All three items will be available at the show and through SOTA's online store. You can view more pictures and details at the source link.
