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PSA: Army of Two: The 40th Day demo on XBL
A reminder from your friendly neighborhood Joystiq: The Army of Two: The 40th Day demo promised earlier this week is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Weighing in at a less-than-diminutive two gigabytes, the demo allows players to try out a part of the first level of the game. And, since Army of Two kind of depends on cooperative play, the demo thankfully offers both offline and online co-op for two players. The demo may or may not also contain bro hugs. We hope it does. Shortcut: Add the Army of Two: The 40th Day demo to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]
Army of Two: The 40th Day demo coming in less than 40 days
Actually, according to the EA press release we just received, the demo for Army of Two: The 40th Day will be released in significantly less than 40 days. It'll arrive on the PSN and Xbox Live Marketplace on December 17, and the PSP demo will drop on January 7 (January 14 in Europe). The preview will allow players to get a sneak peek at most of the game's first level, which takes place in Shanghai -- but you know what? None of that is important. What is important is seen in the trailer for the demo, which we've posted above. Now, jump to a little bit before the halfway mark, and keep an eye out for the strange interaction between the game's two beefy protagonists. What is that? It's like ... the future of fist-bumping technology. The forearm-bump. More subtle, yet still triumphant. Less aggressive, but still dripping with bravado. An alternative manly salutation or congratulation for the gentleman's mercenary. Study the technique, friends. This thing's gonna catch on like wildfire.
Watch Shanghai blow up in Army of Two: The 40th Day's intro
Modern Warfare 2 has made blowing up American capitals so passé. EA Montreal is far more visionary, preemptively blowing up the largest city of our future masters: Shanghai. The explosive intro to Army of Two: The 40th Day certainly fits the studio's new "blockbuster-type" focus and reassures doubters that this game will be a more serious affair than the first. Perhaps you've noticed the deliberate lack of bromance in this clip?
EA Montreal shifting focus to 'big, blockbuster-type titles'
According to comments made to Edge by EA Montreal general manager Alain Tascan, you can expect more big action titles like Army of Two: The 40th Day from the studio. While previous Wii games, including Skate It, Boogie Superstar and the recently released Need for Speed: Nitro, have enjoyed acceptable levels of success, Tascan believes that targeting HD consoles with "fewer and bigger things" might yield improved results. It's a prudent approach, no doubt stemming from the publisher's recent layoffs. Tascan explains that the Wii market is "a little bit unpredictable these days," further encouraging a shift to additional "big, blockbuster-type titles." We probably don't need Tascan to point out that Army of Two is "the most successful original IP EA has had in the last few years," since it's the first to get a big, blockbuster sequel ahead of Dead Space and -- can we dream? -- Mirror's Edge.
Army of Two: The 40th Day to offer weapon customization, garish camo
We've never felt satisfied by the weapon customization options afforded to us by first-person shooters. Oh, three different kinds of scopes? An optional grenade launcher attachment? Yeah, those are pretty cool, we guess -- however, we'd also like a different stock, ammo clip, suppressor and barrel on there as well. Hey, while we're at it, we also need a blender. You know, for when we require a cool coconut smoothie in the middle of a heated firefight. The latest trailer for Army of Two: The 40th Day gives us a look into the weapon customization engine we've always dreamed of, giving us unparalleled control over our in-game boomsticks. You can quickly turn your military grade M107 into a hulking, unwieldy monstrosity, complete with hideous, circus-themed camouflage. Sadly, the above trailer doesn't show off any kitchen appliance attachments -- we're sure they'll show up as DLC shortly after the game launches on January 12.
Army of Two: The 40th Day co-op video is fist bump free
While we must absolutely stress that the above headline is true, it's also misleading. It's true that the video above contains no fist bumps whatsoever; the bulk is comprised of the various co-op tactics that can be performed in Army of Two: The 40th Day, including back-to-back gun play, lifting, hostage grabbing and -- our personal favorite -- mock surrender. That said, there is bumping in the video, specifically the bumping of forearms. So why the change? What is the social significance of the forearm bump? Is it a sign of greater manliness, or are the characters in Army of Two simply trying to fight the spread of deadly germs? Please, contribute your theories in the comments.
New Army of Two: The 40th Day viral video has its priorities straight
All work and no play may make Jack a dull boy, but for the folks at EA Montreal making Army of Two: The 40th Day, playing is no longer an option -- unless they're playing their own game as a part of their job. That's what this latest viral video marketing the game shows, as Rios and Salem continue checking in with their developers and try to keep them on the right track. One thing we will say is that this new video is decidedly more downbeat than the pair's previous jaunt through the office. What's the matter, guys? Does somebody have a case of the Mondays?
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day
Andrew: "Oh my god, you shot her in the face!" Ross: "Hey, we're an army of two. I don't want a third wheel." Seconds after booting up the Tokyo Game Show demo of Army of Two: The 40th Day, we managed to completely botch a hostage "rescue" operation, while brutally murdering the four terrorists involved. Our morality meter went down quite significantly after that, we're sure. Had we managed to progress with some more finesse, we would've been able to sneak behind two enemies, grab them and "negotiate" a solution for the others. Is there a morally "good" way out of a situation like that? Perhaps, but we'll never know. While it's easy to simply accuse Ross of insatiable bloodthirstiness, his less-than-graceful approach at this scenario could be blamed on the (admittedly early) build's choppy framerate, and the sometimes confusing controls. Ross found it difficult to stick to cover, and move from one place to another; I found myself inadvertently switching between crouching, cover and something in between. %Gallery-73808%
New AoT: 40th Day screens drop shield, charge head first
We're misleading you a bit. The screenshots aren't quite dropping anything themselves, so much as the stars of upcoming bromance sequel, Army of Two: The 40th Day, are putting down their shields. Donning masks with flames -- so as to terrify enemies into thinking they're being advanced upon by White Zombie, of course -- Salem and Rio are clearly concerned with meeting attire standards for the professional workplace: sporty, yet hardcore. That's what those bad guys get for standing in the way of movie night! %Gallery-73808%
EA done with Boogie franchise for now, SSX revived if market is 'ready'
In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, EA Montreal general manager Alain Tascan discussed the possibility of a SSX franchise revival, saying, "If the market is there and is ready for a new one then we'll consider it." While Wii gamers have already hit the slopes with SSX Blur, the closest PS3 and Xbox 360 users have been to the franchise is through shoddy backwards compatibility features. Tascan also discounted a new installment in the rhythm music franchise, Boogie. According to Tascan, the franchise has been a success for EA and, while the publisher is proud of its work with the series, there are no plans for Boogie to return at this time. Thankfully, the games industry has plenty of music games to spare nowadays. [Via G4TV]
EA Montreal VP unconvinced by movies that 'really respect' games
During an interview with Videogamer, EA Montreal VP Alain Tascan expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming Army of Two movie, most notably for Scott Z. Burns' script. Tascan seems to be satisfied with what he's seen so far, describing EA's approach to the film as being quite hands-off. "We're working together," he said. "We explain what the world is about, what the missions are about, and then we leave the guy to do his job." While this shows confidence in Burns, Tascan seems worried about the effects of an overbearing game bible. "So far, when movies try to really respect the games they're not always the best quality," Tascan remarked. Well, that explains it: game adaptations have just been too slavishly devoted to the source material. Oh, if only DOA: Dead or Alive hadn't been so intent on including the franchise's trademark nanobots and assassin sunglasses.
Army of Two: The 40th Day just got even more serious
We're not entirely sure what's going on with the mood swings of Army of Two: The 40th Day. On one hand, it's a bromance buddy comedy. On the other hand, it is about some serious stuff. The latest trailer debuted at GamesCom looks intense, showing feats of terrorism that send chills down our spines. Split-screen co-op is highlighted in this trailer, reminding us of the series' emphasis on teamwork. In spite of the first game's faults, The 40th Day looks like a strong contender in the crowded Q1 lineup.
Army of Two: The 40th Day joins the Q1 2010 party
EA has announced that Rios and Salam's latest outing, Army of Two: The 40th Day, is headed to the crowded Q1 2010 quarter, specifically January 12 in the US and January 8 in Europe. It's a good time to release a game, really. Look at every one of these other games doing the same thing! The press release also mentions a pre-order bonus for the game in "Extraction," a multiplayer mode available to those who pre-order The 40th Day. Everyone else will gain access one month later.
Salem and Rios visit EA Montreal in bizarre Army of Two trailer
We're not exactly sure what this new trailer for Army of Two: The 40th Day is supposed to tell us. Salem and Rios, the two masked stars of the series, stop by EA Montreal's office to play their own game and goof off. The ensuing mayhem results in the destruction of a defenseless copy machine -- without it, the game is certainly going to miss a 2009 release! Perhaps this bizarre trailer is meant to emphasize that the game isn't all about serious stuff, like morality ... and explosions. Perhaps this marks the return of the series' trademark "bromance"?
New Army of Two: 40th Day trailer takes aim at morality
Rios and Salem have a tough choice to make in this latest trailer for Army of Two: The 40th Day. The clip highlights the game's new morality system, a set of scripted events where the player (or players, if you're rocking co-op) must make a choice, shaping the way the game plays out. In the video above, the same scene we saw at E3, Rios and Salem find a gun stash, but a nearby officer walks in and catches the two in the act. As one might assume, he's not to happy with what he sees. Do Rios and Salem put the guns back? Do they take them anyway? Do they just shoot the crap out of the cop? You'll just have to watch to find out! (We've already made our choice.) The trailer also reveals that noted comic artists Chris Bachalo and Jock have signed up to do some illustrations for the game. Bachalo's even on hand at Comic-Con right now signing stuff, so if you're attending, hit up booth #5213. %Gallery-68603%
Army of Two: The 40th Day: All the gunplay, half the bromance
Army of Two: The 40th Day will tone down the gratuitous bouts of fist-bumping and other high-octane manlove celebrations so liberally sprinkled throughout the first game, developers have told USA Today. The shoot-everything-then-chest-bump-each-other mechanic of the first game will receive less emphasis than moral choices, which will require you to make difficult decisions at certain intervals throughout the game. It's a shame about all of the brolebrations, though, because we think they added a lot to the game. Well, okay, a lot for us to make fun of. %Gallery-47821%
Hands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day (PSP)
With all the complex new methods of interactivity and storytelling we saw out on the show floor, we desperately longed for something a bit less groundbreaking -- a palette cleanser, if you will. Our unique thirst was quenched during our EA booth tour, in which we got our hands on Army of Two: The 40th Day for PSP.The portable version of the bullet-riddled buddy flick doffs the third-person shooter gameplay of the first Army of Two in favor of a top-down multi-directional shooter format, ala Smash TV. Two players can take their mercenarial show on the road through the locales of the console version of the game, blasting foes, using cover and managing aggro as they move from point A to point B. EA Montreal has taken a lot of care to port as much as they could of the console experience to the PSP version, and from what we saw, most of it worked really well. Is it revolutionary? No -- but with two players, a lengthy enough campaign and low enough price tag, it could prove to be a welcome portable distraction in what's shaping up to be an intense holiday gaming season.
Impressions: Inside an Army of Two: The 40th Day weapons cache
Much like our initial reaction to Army of Two: The 40th Day, we were constantly impressed during a behind-closed-doors demonstration of the game at E3 this week. While much of the demo, overseen by executive producer Reid Schneider and creative director Alex Hutchinson, was a rehash of the finer points covered in our earlier preview, we did get a closer look at a new element, which we think illustrates a key dynamic of the more -- potentially -- humanistic sequel. EA Montreal is giving you (and your partner) "opportunities to express who you are in this environment," explains Hutchinson. More specifically, the game's environment (Shanghai in the midst of a violent invasion) is one in which everything goes horribly wrong and the "core story is about saving yourselves." So, what means will justify that end? The choices become yours. Enter: The weapon locker. %Gallery-47821%
Eyeball explosion: New Army of Two: The 40th Day screens
Click image for more bro-saving-bro action EA has assaulted our inbox in the most extreme way possible, unloading some fresh screens from upcoming bro-love simulator, Army of Two: The 40th Day. The new screens show off a lot of what you'd come to expect from this series: explosions; testosterone; and teamwork. There does seem to be a kid involved this time around, though, so that's new. Sadly, these screens lack the appropriate amounts of fist-bumping, but we're sure EA is saving the best stuff for last. %Gallery-64174%
Joystiq hands-on: Need for Speed Nitro
Just one note: there's no actual Need for Speed Nitro gameplay featured in the above video. If EA Montreal managed to make the game look that good, the Wii would be untouchable in sales. Oh wait, it already is. The fact of the matter is, Nintendo's darling is actually getting a Need for Speed title, and the sales numbers of that console are one big reason the franchise is leaping consoles with nitrous-assisted boosts.But if that doesn't represent gameplay, then what does Nitro look like on the WIi? We're glad you asked, because there are some images waiting for you in the gallery below. Images that actually came from the game. Read on to learn how it plays!%Gallery-43523%
