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Reminder: Just Cause 2 demo grapples XBLM
As promised, the Just Cause 2 demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. While this post was written as a reminder of that fact, the game itself also serves as a reminder. You see, it reminds just how incredibly handy grappling hooks are. Watching the various trailers released for the game thus far, it's kind of hard to imagine starting a revolution without one. Just remember to bring your parachute. Shortcut: Add the Just Cause 2 demo to your Xbox 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light to be an 'original digital experience'
Crystal Dynamics has announced its first new game since the completion and launch of 2008's Tomb Raider: Underworld. Set to debut in 2010, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will see the roadworthy leading lady come to undisclosed platforms -- via download. It wouldn't be the first time the posh pot-smasher and exotic animal extinguisher stars in a downloadable format, as Tomb Raider: Anniversary was digitally distributed in the form of Tomb Raider: Legend DLC on Xbox 360 before getting a regular retail spot. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, however, is a standalone title that Crystal Dynamics GM Darrell Gallagher hopes will defy expectations. "This is a really exciting project for Crystal Dynamics, we have created something completely new and very different to what people might be expecting," he said. "Lara Croft is such an iconic character in videogames, with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light we have created what we believe is a truly original digital experience." We expect to catch our first glimpse of the game at next week's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, along with an indication on what else Crystal Dynamics has in store. Since the studio is staffed for two projects, we can't imagine this being the only Tomb Raider game in the works. The other one might even have "Tomb Raider" in the title.
Just Cause 2 demo drops in March 4
Just as promised, operative, you'll soon get your chance to bone up on your rocket car skills before entering the field, as the Just Cause 2 demo has been set for release next Thursday, March 4. The demo will arrive on Xbox Live, PSN and Steam and will grant access to 35 square miles of the Lautan Lama Desert -- one of the islands making up the game's promised 400 sq. miles of explorable Panau archipelago. So oil up that grappling gun and get your best black ops duds off to the dry cleaners. We want Rico looking mucho suavé out there! Just Cause 2 is set to dive into retail on March 23 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Games for Windows platforms.
Just Cause 2 plays chicken in second 'Anatomy of a Stunt' trailer
If Just Cause 2's previous trailers have taught us anything, it's that the second game in Eidos' "do crazy sh##" series will absolutely relish in the lengths to which it enables you to live out its mission statement. As evidenced once more in the second "Anatomy of a Stunt" trailer, wherein the game's main character mounts a speeding fire engine and takes on an aircraft, the game certainly seems to be jam-packed with the kind of insanity we like from our games (ask Red Faction Guerrilla!). Just wait until the trailers introduce a shark into that equation -- and the shark's on fire! But hey, you gotta save something for March 23 when the game comes out, right? %Gallery-65577%
New Just Cause 2 trailers dissect the 'Anatomy of a Stunt'
We love that Just Cause 2's trailers have simply devolved into demo reels showing off the ridiculous destructive powers the player can harness using a hookshot, a parachute and a bit of ingenuity. Two such videos were recently released by Square Enix, subtitled "Anatomy of a Stunt." The first, which shows a rather exhilarating car jump over explosive-lined jet fuel tanks, is posted above. The second, embedded after the jump, shows all the clever ways one can dispatch enemies using gravity. Sorry, Square Enix marketing team, but we're not comfortable classifying "murder" as a "stunt," no matter how creative said "murder" might be.
Square Enix explains The Last Remnant's technical shortcomings
The Last Remnant represented a major experiment for Square Enix. Not only was it one of the company's first Xbox 360 games, it utilized the Unreal Engine, a first for the Japanese publisher. Unfortunately, the experiment wasn't quite successful, with critics calling it "a technical mess." Thankfully, the company isn't simply ignoring its mistakes, with Square Enix's new chief technology officer explaining how the misuse of the Unreal Engine led to such disappointing results. "One of the traps with middleware (like Unreal) is that some game teams believe that, because they got this middleware, maybe they need less programmers on their team, or maybe they don't need that many skilled programmers," Julien Merceron told Gamasutra. By relying too much on middleware, teams face precarious situations when issues arise that can't be solved internally. "You don't have anyone that is able to solve the problem on your team," Merceron explained. In the case of The Last Remnant, the "problem" happened to be a wildly inconsistent framerate. Merceron isn't advising against using middleware, noting "it won't be possible anymore to work without middleware because of time, talent, and cost reasons." Hopefully, under the new guidance of Merceron, Square Enix won't repeat the same mistakes it made with The Last Remnant.
Just Cause 2 demo falling from the sky any day now
In the land of Twitter, Just Cause 2 developer Eidos is a fairly new entrant. Having just, 10(ish) hours ago, joined up via Square Enix Europe community manager Keir Edmonds, the company account has already dropped one bombshell: a Just Cause 2 demo is "on its way." Though the account merely alludes to "details to follow," we'd be downright surprised if the demo hit any later than the game's March 23 release date. Just to make sure Eidos didn't want to say anything else, we've reached out for more information and we'll update this post if we hear anything else. %Gallery-65577%[Via CVG]
Cursed Mountain dev Deep Silver Vienna shuttered
As confirmed by parent company Koch Media to Develop, Cursed Mountain developer Deep Silver Vienna has apparently been closed. Citing "the overall economic situation" and noting "this decision is not easy for us," the 20-person staff was recently cut and told they would receive pay through the end of March. Develop posits that the studio's other game -- Ride to Hell -- will likely remain unaffected by the shutdown, as UK dev house Eutechnyx is handling development and Koch Media's Munich offices will oversee the game's management. Deep Silver Vienna was formed in the wake of Rockstar Vienna's closing back in 2006, and originally called itself Games That Matter. Ex-Rockstar Vienna heads Hannes Seifert and Niki Laber launched the studio, and it is said that Siefert has moved on to a position at Square Enix Europe as a creative director. As with every case like this, we'd like to wish those affected the best of luck.
Just Cause 2's interactive trailer lets you choose your own adventure
Just Cause 2 has had its fair share of titillating promotional materials over the past few months, but the latest piece of marketing for the game -- an interactive trailer -- really goes for broke. It's basically showing off the various options you have when faced with a tricky hostage scenario. Hijack a fighter jet? Storm the area in a Humvee? Ride your parachute in, sneaky-creepy style? All are possible in the trailer, which we've posted after the jump. However, the trailer's not nearly as sandbox-esque as we expect the game to be. What if, instead of infiltrating the enemy base, we just tethered two fighter jets together using our grappling hook, and then flew around clotheslining unlucky sentries? Yeah, that's a pretty specifically-tailored plan of action, but we're pretty sure that's all we're going to do once we get our hands on the game. Eidos, we expect a revised version of the trailer on our desks by tomorrow morning.
Eidos not involved in Batman sequel, Arkham Asylum has 'almost run its course'
Noting that publisher Eidos' name was missing from the Batman: Arkham Asylum sequel's teaser trailer, we contacted Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment yesterday to ask if Eidos (Square Enix Europe) was involved with the game. A company representative informed Joystiq, "WBIE is publishing. Eidos is not involved. We are not disclosing any additional information at this time." In addition, our request to learn the sequel's actual name was not granted. Meanwhile, in an interview with PC Zone magazine (via CVG), Rocksteady Senior Gameplay Programmer Paul Denning stated that the Arkham Asylum angle for Batman has "almost run its course." He elaborated, "Gotham itself is a fantastically realized fictional city and there are so many places that would be probably be ideal for gameplay and great to explore." But don't expect Grand Theft Gotham just yet, as Denning notes that "you have to be so careful when you take that route." Especially because of all the carjackings.
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days officially announced for 2010
Square Enix Europe has officially announced Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days, confirming that the trademark application from July and the recent viral video portended the return of the notorious duo -- well, "notorious" for all the wrong reasons. The action vets at IO Interactive claim to have infused Dog Days with "a new visual experience ... inspired by documentary filmmakers and the user-generated era." We've placed the two K&L2 viral videos after the break. The game will release in 2010 under the Eidos brand for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
Goodbye Eidos, hello Square Enix Europe
Eidos is now merely a memory, much like Midway, Brash and Atari ... what do you mean Atari is still around!? Anyway, Square Enix announced today that the Eidos reorganization is complete and the company has been reborn as Square Enix Europe, which we still haven't come up with a clever nickname for: Le SquEnix? Der Europa Enix? SEEurope? Eh, still working on it.SEE will oversaw watch over development studios Crystal Dynamics, IO Interactive, among others, but the company brand will show up on the box as either Square Enix, Eidos or Taito. Bon Voyage, Eidos (the company), may you find peace in the afterlife. Now, can we talk about how positive you all are that Atari still exists?Update: Noted the brand "Eidos" still exists, even if the company doesn't.Source: Square Enix Europe press release [PDF link]
Eidos dissolved into 'Square Enix Europe,' layoffs likely
It's a brand! Square Enix today welcomed (tentatively named) Square Enix Europe into the world; an "efficient and powerful" newborn division that looks just like Eidos' worldwide studios combined with various European sales and marketing personnel from existing Square Enix and Eidos lineages. Current Eidos CEO Phil Rogers has been selected to raise the baby branch, which replaces Eidos as a publishing label, though the Eidos brand will live on through its studios' credits. Additionally, Eidos' North American marketing, sales and distribution operations have been delegated to the territory's Square Enix office, which is led by John Yamamoto.Of course, the icky part of Edios' arranged marriage to Square Enix and the subsequent birth of Square Enix Europe is the anticipation of an unknown number of layoffs. "Unfortunately we are expecting some jobs to be impacted directly by this in both Europe and North America," an Eidos spokesperson confirmed. "We are hoping to minimize this wherever possible and offer support and advice to any employees directly affected."
