Dementium
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Renegade Kid's Project M revealed as DS action title 'Moon'
From the fetid halls of Dementium to the vacuous surface of the moon, developer Renegade Kid has proven that it isn't shy about taking its first two projects into uncharted territories. Publisher Mastiff has revealed that the dev's second project, previously known as "Project M," is in fact a futuristic action title for the Nintendo DS simply called Moon.While we'll continue to wait for a simulation of that timeless Saturday night ritual of flashing our bare posteriors to cars on the freeway, Moon instead will take us to the lunar surface in 2058 for a first-person adventure that according to Mastiff's hilariously titled "Head Woof" Bill Swartz is "frequently violent" and "always disturbing." We'll have to take his word for it, as neither screens nor a release date have been released, leaving us to replay Dementium and squint at the screen while mentally replacing crazed mental patients with equally crazed aliens -- we should do all of our previews this way.
DS releases for the week of January 14th
Wherever you are this week, there's not a lot to choose from. That isn't to say there aren't a few worthwhile titles hitting the shelves, but the key words here are "a few." As in "not many." As in, "not a big burden on your wallet." Considering everything we've got coming up for the DS, around the world, that's probably pretty good news. Corvette Evolution GT Miami Nights: Singles in the City Nanostray 2 For the rest of the world's major markets, see the release lists after the jump.
Reminder: End of the Year Blowout (day four)
Each day, between now and the 26th, we're going to look at a different piece of the DS Fanswag End of the Year giveaway as a reminder of exactly why you need to hightail it over there and enter -- and today, it's another piece of the Grand Prize pack. Specifically, Dementium: The Ward. Did you waffle on buying Renegade Kid's debut? No worries -- go throw your name in the hat and you might just score one for free, along with a matching skin. Remember, you can enter once per day. And if you're having any trouble with the comments, check here for a handy walkthrough.
Five gifts that PAL gamers should import this Christmas
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Five_gifts_that_PAL_gamers_should_import_this_Christmas'; Gaming sites are inundated with holiday gift guides at the end of the year, listing the best and most popular games that everyone pretty much already has (or knows about). Well, we're not going in for that this year. Our gift guide will help you find the best gifts in categories the other sites won't cover -- because we just made them up. Nintendo's indifference towards PAL regions is infamous, but there's arguably less room for complaining when it comes to the DS. See, the DS is (and we do not use this phrase lightly) an importer's dream. It doesn't faff around with region-specific software, there's a huge library of diverse and interesting NTSC-only titles, and the games themselves are cheap. As in, cheaper than they'll be when they arrive in the UK/Europe/Australia six months from now. Frankly, we can't think of a good reason for you not to import. Which brings us to our latest anti-guide, featuring the five DS-related gifts that PAL regions won't be seeing until 2008 at the earliest -- if ever. All deserve to be imported without hesitation, so read on fellow PAL folk, and prep that credit card!
DS Fanswag: End of the Year Blowout!
It's been a good year, but sadly, like all those other years, it must come to an end. Before we roll out the red carpet for 2008, however, we wanted to give 2007 the send-off it deserves -- and what better way to do that than by offering up huge prize packs for our loyal readers? All you have to do is leave a comment on this very post telling us which DS model(s) you own, between now and December 26. The giveaway closes that night at 11:59 p.m. EST, and we'll announce the winners, chosen in a random drawing, on December 27. You may only enter once per day, and as usual, entries are limited to legal U.S. residents age 18 and older. Please check the official rules for any other questions.But enough of the details -- let's get to the prize packages!DS Fanboy's End of Year Fanswag BlowoutGrand Prize Limited Edition Gold DS Lite + The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (bundle) ($149.99) Nintendo DS headset ($9.99) Custom Robo ($29.99) Dementium ($29.99) Drawn to Life ($29.99) Fullmetal Alchemist: Trading Card Game ($19.99) John Deere: Harvest in the Heartland ($29.99) Mega Man ZX ($29.99) Pokémon Diamond ($34.99) The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (GBA) ($19.99) Geometry Wars: Galaxies swag Dementium skin Pokémon Diamond stylus Cruise on past the break to see the rest of the prizes!
1UP Show CX
This week's 1UP Show video ... podcast ... show ... thing-with-people-talking-and-also-footage-of-games takes a break from the constant Rock Band coverage to talk about new games on some weirdo handheld system with two screens. If, instead of reading about Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings and Dementium, you'd like to watch and hear about them, this is a prime opportunity for that!The discussion about categorizing Revenant Wings for a country with few strategy games is particularly interesting. As is the pronunciation of "Ivalice" -- who knew? The real star of this video, of course, is Game Center CX, the current obsession of every retrogamer who can get it and read the text. There's video! Oh, Game Center CX. We will continue to read and watch things about you for as long as we can. Fun fact: Ray Barnholt, who leads the discussion of the game, is also largely responsible for bringing the show to the attention of the American enthusiast audience with his exhaustive guide.
DS Fanboy Review: Dementium: The Ward
If there's one thing Dementium: The Ward delivers on, it's atmosphere. From the audio -- which is truly something special in the DS library -- to the overall mystery of the story of Redmoor Hospital, Dementium provides exactly what it promises: a survival horror/FPS fusion that you can take with you.What it's not is perfect. Of course, no game is, but Dementium is peppered with a few looming frustrations that bring down the game experience. It is developer Renegade Kid's first effort, and at times it shows, and it's a somewhat clichéd game from a genre built on the power of cliché. The good news is that none of those frustrations are terribly huge. The bad news, however, is that some of those flaws may be just the sort that keep certain types of gamers away. %Gallery-4929%
TRU just says no to Dementium
Looks like Target isn't the only one turning down titles lately -- Toys 'R' Us is getting into the game as well by not carrying either Manhunt 2 ... or Dementium! We're terribly disappointed in the retailer, but we could understand the motivation -- after all, if any store was ever aimed at children, it's TRU, and Dementium is a mature title.However, it's not that simple. Word around the campfire is that the TRU folks made the decision not because of the game's rating, but because they didn't think it would be very popular and they didn't want to waste the space. Now, we're not sure what the gaming section is like at your local Toys 'R' Us, but we've seen some pretty questionable shovelware gracing the shelves down here. Is it an excuse to avoid any controversy, or is the retail giant planning to focus future shelf space only on release they feel are more likely to sell?Regardless of the reason, while we can again understand a retailer aimed at children skipping mature titles (if they were consistent about it, that is), but randomly deciding what will and will not be popular is pretty lame. We remember another little game that got such treatment at first ....
DS Fanswag: And Dementium goes to ...
Another DS Fanboy contest has come to an end, and our copy of Dementium is wrapped up and ready for ... HellsHammer! The winning comment was left on the very first day of the contest, and read:28. Wow, I can't believe it's not been listed already...Clock Tower for PS1 was the scariest game ever. I was like 12 or 13 and I spent the night at my friend's house. His dad had just gotten a playstation and Clock Tower and we stayed up until about 3 am. The first time I saw that scissor man start opening closet doors to find (and stab) me, I called my mom to come bring me home. Needless to say, she wasn't exactly happy to pick me up, in a terrified state no less, at 3 am.-Also, I'd like to see a dsfanboy review on The Ward.Posted at 1:38PM on Oct 30th 2007 by HellsHammerDon't worry -- we'll have a review for you soon enough. For now, enjoy your free game, on us ... and watch this space for the next contest!
DS Fanswag: Don't forget, Dementium up for grabs
Sunday is the last day to throw your name in the hat for the free copy of Dementium: The Ward, so get over there and leave a comment! Since you can only enter once per day, you've got two more chances to get in there for consideration. You want free stuff, don't you?
WRUP: Getting Demented edition
There is really only one game that came up on our radar of releases this week and it's none other than Dementium: The Ward. We like the survival-horror genre as it is, not to mention that this looks like the first engaging FPS game on the DS (not to say that Metroid Prime Hunters wasn't engaging, but the single-player was a bit lacking). We haven't a had a chance to pick the game up yet, but you can bet that we will be doing so immediately.What about you all? Are you planning on picking up the game or are you playing something else?
Metareview: Dementium: The Ward (DS)
Dementium: The Ward surprised the hell out of us at Gamecock's E3 retreat at the Hotel California. The survival-horror game brought the genre to the Nintendo DS in an incredibly smooth package. We actually almost missed our next appointment at E3 because the game just grabbed us with an unexpected level of design, unexpected from a survival-horror FPS on a handheld. But did it hold reviewers' attention beyond that initial shock of Renegade Kid's technical proficiency? GamesRadar (80/100): "The DS isn't supposed to do FPS horror right? Those were our initial thoughts too, as you start out in a dark room with a layer of black fog. But as soon as you snag a flashlight (which is immediately), Dementium proves its worth by displaying vast areas, numerous enemies and lengthy corridors with disturbing zeal and no loss in framerate." IGN (80/100): "It's pretty amazing that, for a system that's been out for three years now, there have been very few first-person shooters made for it. The Nintendo DS is a prime (no pun intended) system for the genre, what with its touch screen that can easily mimic the precise movement of mouse controls. Dementium: The Ward fills that void nicely - it's appropriately gory (it is a shooter, after all) but also adds an element of mystery to the whole thing. Some design issues do get in the way a tiny bit, but not so much that you'll hate on the game...and unless you've got the expectations of a PC shooter fan, it's hard to not be impressed with what Renegade Kid managed to pull off on the Nintendo DS hardware." Game Daily (80/100): "Dementium doesn't do anything we haven't seen before, such as playing a piano to reveal a secret, acquiring special colored keycards to open doors and shot gunning monsters. Yet at the same time, the experience feels new, since there's almost nothing like it on the platform, save for the aged Resident Evil Deadly Silence. So shut off the lights, put on a pair of headphones and get lost in this demented adventure. It's without question one of the DS' most under hyped games, and also one of its best."
Mastiff to publish Renegade Kid's next game
Mastiff, publisher of games like Gurumin, La Pucelle: Tactics, and the totally excellent Technic Beat, has made a deal with Renegade Kid to publish their next game, codenamed Project M. This announcement comes immediately following the release of Renegade Kid's first game, Dementium: The Ward. The most obviously positive bit of news to take away from this announcement, of course, is that Renegade Kid is making a new game. According to the press release, the game will be in 3D, using the existing Dementium engine. Dementium looks great, and we certainly wouldn't want poor, tiny Renegade Kid to blow any unnecessary resources, so good for them.All we can do now is speculate about what Project M is. The long-awaited Mork and Mindy game? A megaphone simulator in which you yell into the DS and your voice is amplified and distorted by the tiny speakers (in 3D)? Or are we assuming the wrong word stress for "Project", obscuring the game's true identity as an adventure in which your goal is to run around town turning on projectors in order to project the letter M? [Via press release]
Today's scariest video: IP gone wild
Shhhh. We're scared. Don't make a sound or the bad man will come back. We passed on a few Halloween-themed videos to post, but this is the one that gives us nightmares.See the horror in the first video after the break, and we'll even toss in those other less-scary clips as a bonus afterwards. Our eyes! They burn!
Dementium: Sneaky Torsos, Vomiting Maws, and some simple strategy
Facing off against terrifying, ungodly beasts can be a little traumatic, but not knowing how to defend yourself against those abominations is even more frightening. When you tear open your copy of Dementium (perhaps obtained gratis from us), how will you proceed? DS Fanboy is here to help. This guide should be just what you need to gain a slight edge in learning how to deal with some of the more unpleasant residents of The Ward in a quick and painless (well, at least for you) manner. Of course, nothing beats experience -- but for now, settle back for a little spooky Halloween strategizing. %Gallery-4929%
Mastiff to publish Renegade Kid's Dementium followup: 'Project M'
Timed to coincide with today's release of the Gamecock-published horror FPS Dementium: The Ward, publisher Mastiff has announced that they'll be taking over the publishing role for developer Renegade Kid's sophomore effort.We still don't know much about the followup, except that it will also be on Nintendo DS, will use the same 3D engine as Dementium, and goes by the ominous working title "Project M." Will it be another M-rated scare fest, or does that 'M' stand for something far less frightening ... maybe Project Mittens or Project Milk (and cookies)? Oh, who are we kidding, look at that skull in their logo! It's probably Project Manhunticide.
Scares and heartwarming fan letters at the Dementium launch party
Gamecock held the launch party for their first title, Renegade Kid's Dementium: The Ward last night in Austin, Texas, and we (knew some people who) were on the scene to report on the creepy goings-on. Did any gruesome monster attacks take place? You'll have to wait until the end of this sentence to find out (they didn't)!Apparently people are so eager for a DS horror game that they've been writing in to Gamecock to share their excitement. According to chief executive Mike Wilson, an industry veteran since Doom days, the amount of mail received is unusual for an unreleased game-- which bodes well for consumer interest.The party continued with a short film and a performance by The Unbearables, and nobody fell into the hellish depths of madness or anything. Check out the Joystiq link for video and a gallery! And hit the Unbearables link above for some free music!
Dementium: The Launch (filed from Austin, TX)
While we were putting the finishing touches on our Portal Halloween costumes, friend of the site – and games business journalist – N. Evan Van Zelfden made his way to Gamecock's Halloween-themed Dementium launch and filed this report: An art-house theater in Austin, Texas was the location of last night's launch party for Dementium: The Ward, a survival horror game for Nintendo's DS which goes on sale today. Made by three guys in a garage – each had over a decade of development experience – Renegade Kid signed with Gamecock in May of this year, and the game was gold by the end of October. "The game technically releases tomorrow," Gamecock's Jason Livergood told the audience of developers, adding that this hadn't kept some retailers from releasing it a few days early. Not only have people started buying the game, they've started writing the publisher.%Gallery-9531%
DS Daily: Favorite horror game?
Even with Dementium out, there's not much in the way of horror gaming on the DS. In fact, there's just that, Resident Evil: Deadly Silence, and, we guess, Touch the Dead. However, since we really wanted to talk about horror gaming today, we think we'll go outside the boundaries of the DS library for today's discussion.There's a pile of Resident Evil games, of course, and Silent Hills, as well as other survival horror classics like Clock Tower, Fatal Frame, and Siren. Not to mention the House of the Dead series, and its precursors Chiller and Corpse Killer. Castlevania is at least horror-themed, if not all that frightening. From Night Stalker to Phantasmagoria, games have been trying to scare us since the developers realized we could care enough to get scared. What is your favorite horror game, and why? Is it because of the presentation or the gameplay? In our minds, horror is one of the few genres of gaming in which lackluster control schemes and not-so-great combat are less important than telling a good story and setting atmosphere. Which is why it should be no big surprise that Silent Hill 2 is our favorite game in the genre.
DS Fanswag: Check into The Ward
We've been talking about it forever, and now you've got a chance to win it -- a copy of Dementium: The Ward, valued at $29.99, will land in the lap of one lucky reader. Want it? All you have to do is leave a comment on this post talking about the scariest moment you've ever had playing a horror game. Did someone happen to slip up behind you while you were sneaking past Bad Things? We want to hear about it. Never been scared? Flex your anti-horror muscles all you want. Just leave a comment -- and remember, you can only enter once per day -- between now and Sunday, November 4, because at 11:59 EST, we'll be closing down the contest. Monday, November 5, we'll toss everyone into the random drawing and choose one winner, who'll receive a spankin' new copy of the game. There are, of course, a few caveats. Winners must be both U.S. citizens and over the age of 18. You can check out the full official rules here.
