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The Game Archaeologist plays with MUDs: Your journeys, part 2
This is the end, my only friend, the end. Of our elaborate plans, the end. Of everything that MOOs, the end. No safety or aggro radius, the end. Man, listening to The Doors early in the morning does not put you in a happy state of writing, let me tell you! In any case, we've extended our MUD/MU* month here on the Game Archaeologist Channel to include a few more first-hand testimonies of Massively readers' favorite text-based MMOs. As much as anything else we've talked about in this column, it's vital that we not forget the roots from which our current MMOs were born nor neglect to take the opportunity to expose a whole new generation to a graphically simpler but textually richer experience. So let's kick the tires and light the fires of nostalgia as we talk with five of the baddest MUDders you'll ever know!
AvP game engine Asura 'fully functional' on NGP
Go ahead and add Aliens vs. Predator to the list of console games that are possible on Sony's next-generation portable. Rebellion has a "fully functional" version of its Asura game engine ready -- and ready to be licensed -- for NGP game development, reports CVG. According to MobyGames, Rebellion has used the engine since 2003's Judge Dredd: Dredd Vs. Death, with the most recent incarnation powering last year's multiplatform FPS AvP. The studio says it has an Asura-based, multiplayer third-person shooter demo running on NGP. "We'll be attending DICE [this week] and GDC to show what we have created and look for business partners," pitched CEO Jason Kingsley. "The technology, design and art teams have worked incredibly well with Sony's newest device," boasted Kingsley. "We have managed to make our engine fully functional and looking great on the hardware in double quick time." Okay -- but does the frame rate hold up in triple time?
Mario, Sonic, and Profits in Sega's fiscal 2010
Despite recent troubles in the North American and European branches, Sega overall had a good fiscal 2010, which ended March 31, financially speaking. The company as a whole saw its operating income rise to ¥36.7 billion ($397 million), a huge increase over fiscal 2009's operating income of 8.3 billion ($89.8 million). Operating income refers to profits minus expenses incurred in running the company -- in case you wondered why we picked up on that random statistic. The consumer games division made ¥6.3 billion ($68.2 million) in operating income, returning to profitability despite a year-over-year drop of 7.5%. The profits in this division were driven by ridiculously strong sales of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (6.53 million copies!), as well as million-plus sellers Aliens vs. Predator (1.69 million), Bayonetta (1.35 million), and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (1.07 million). Source [PDF] - Appendix of Consolidated Financial Statements Year Ended March 31, 2010 [Via Andriasang]
Aliens, Predators and prey available as Home costumes
No matter which species wins, we all lose. PlayStation Home has been invaded by Aliens vs. Predator costumes, in Europe at least. The outfits are available for a limited time and leave the Home universe on March 31. Virtual cosplay prices are: €2.99 for a complete costume. €1.99 for a pair of trousers or a top. €0.99 for a helmet or mask. We're having a tough time finding the costumes in the US store (maybe they're using Predator camo?), so if you know where they are hiding and pricing, please let us know in the comments. Outfits exist for both genders and are perfect for Quincying. %Gallery-88006%
Rebellion boss: AvP is a critical success, sequel in discussion
Speaking to Develop, Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley made it clear that his company is delighted with the success of Aliens vs Predator. The game recently landed in the number one sales position in the UK -- reason enough to be pleased, no doubt -- but Kingsley is also pleased with AvP's critical reception. "We wanted Aliens Versus Predator to be a critical success as well as a commercial success," said Kingsley, "which we think we have achieved." Kingsley's words might seem a little puzzling to anyone that's glanced at AvP's Metacritic average. Even the PC version, which has the highest average score, only manages a "mixed or average reviews" rating of 73. However, Kingsley noted that the game has received "three totally shit reviews by some Americans, which is a bit odd," adding that some of the reviews were "inexcusably bad." Said Kingsley, "If you discount those poor reviews AvP is averaging high for us." Whatever the overall scores, it seems Rebellion is bullish to keep pushing the franchise, with Kingsley noting that the company is already in discussions with Sega about a possible sequel. "We would love to work with Sega again," said Kingsley, "there were a lot of things we couldn't fit into the original." We're guessing these were things Rebellion couldn't fit into its 1994, 1999, or 2007 iterations either.
Aliens vs Predator DLC 'soon after release'
Speaking to VG247, Rebellion's Tim Jones has revealed that day-one special edition DLC for Aliens vs Predator will eventually be available for everyone else. The DLC will be made available on release day for those that purchase the special edition (which is pretty hard to miss) and, as is becoming tradition, vanilla edition purchasers will have to wait. As for the DLC itself, Jones says that it will include four separate multiplayer maps (two for the survival mode, two for other modes). Concerning future DLC, Jones simply says, "Watch this space." Alas, it looks like our dreams of a day-one Alf skin for the Xenomorphs have been dashed. Here's hoping someone at Rebellion jumps on this potential DLC goldmine.
Latest Aliens vs. Predator trailer has disco fever
There are plenty of things worth highlighting in this Aliens vs. Predator trailer. The foreboding "blip ... blip ... blip" of the motion tracker and the lone marine with only a pistol to protect himself from the onslaught of scurrying Xenomorphs are just a few, but what irks us most is the digital lady dancing on the pole of the disco. Is that, like, really the future of t3h pr0nz? We were hoping for some kind of Star Trek Holodeck-type action.
Rumor: AvP demo arriving this Thursday
According to tipster Mike, an ad for an Aliens vs Predator demo recently popped up in the Spotlight section of the Xbox 360 dashboard. The ad reportedly announced that the demo will be released February 4, this Thursday. Unfortunately, the ad has since been pulled, though AvPGalaxy reports finding the ad as well. The site also notes that the demo will arrive on the same day for PSN and Steam as well, adding that an official announcement from Sega is forthcoming. Given that the game will be hitting retail shelves in just two weeks, the timing for the demo would certainly make sense. We'll be sure to update this post if and when Sega makes things official. Update: it's official! [Via Destructoid]
Rebellion refuses to 'water down' Aliens vs. Predator, readying demo
In a recent interview with AvPGalaxy, Rebellion Studios' Martin Kennedy and Alex Moore openly spoke their minds regarding last month's Australian ratings fiasco with Aliens vs. Predator before revealing news of an upcoming demo for the game. "People who want the game will get [it] imported, it's not going to hurt us ... if anything it's been a bit of decent publicity," Kennedy said. "We're not going to water down the game for countries that can't treat adults like adults," continued Moore. Moore even went as far as to compare Australia's ban-happy government (as of late, at least) to past situations with Germany. "Germany's always one of those places that we've known it was going to be difficult because the first one [game] got banned in Germany as well." When pressed on the subject of a demo, however, the duo were more careful in their wording. "There will be a demo ...that's all we can say," Moore confirmed. Considering the game is still on schedule for an "early 2010" release (maybe February?), we're hoping that the demo will be arriving sooner rather than later. %Gallery-63762%
Sega: Aliens vs. Predator reclassified in Australia without edits
Sega has announced its victory in the fight over whether or not Australians will get to (legally) play Aliens vs. Predator. According to a statement given to Kotaku, Sega has successfully appealed the OFLC's decision to refuse classification to the FPS and has secured the game a rating of MA-15+, which has yet to be reflected in the OFLC database. "We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever," Sega Australia general manager Darren Macbeth told Kotaku. "This is a big win for Australian gamers. We applaud the Classification Review Board on making a decision that clearly considers the context of the game, and is in line with the modern expectations of reasonable Australians". We now urge our Australian friends not to do anything that might appear even the least bit inspired by this game. If you see a ravenous, monstrous alien, let it go unblasted.
Australian Attorney General offers insight into Aliens vs. Predator classification refusal
We've heard from Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson in the past on why he thinks certain games shouldn't be available to Australian consumers. And when he was asked recently by ABC why the upcoming Aliens vs. Predator was refused classification in his country (read: banned), he echoed previous sentiments on the interactivity of games having a stronger affect on people than other mediums. "I accept that 98 percent, 99 percent of gamers will tell the difference between fantasy and reality, but the 1 to 2 percent could go on to be motivated by these games to commit horrible acts of violence," Atkinson said. When the subject of AvP comes up, though, Atkinson put on his game reviewer cap and offered, "You don't need to be playing a game in which you impale, decapitate and dismember people." So, what're you thinking, Mr. Atkinson -- 5.0/10 maybe? 4.7/10? We're all ears. [Via GamesIndustry.biz]
Rebellion won't release 'sanitized' AvP in Australia
In a statement released this morning by Rebellion's Jason Kingsley, concerning the Australian Classification Board's so-called "ban" of Rebellion's Aliens vs. Predator game, the CEO expressed his studio's disappointment with the board's ruling, but added, "as we understand the law in that country the authorities had no choice as we agree strongly that our game is not suitable for game players who are not adults." The subtle swipe at the Australian ratings system, which tops out at an MA15+ classification, turned into a full-on blow as Kingsley concluded, "We will not be releasing a sanitized or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices." Ouch! You feel that too, Germany? "It is for adults," Kingsley insisted of AvP, "and it is bloody and frightening, that was our intent." Clearly, that's why PEGI assigned an 18-rating. Check out the box art for PAL territories that will release the game -- for adults -- come February 2010 worldwide: %Gallery-79584%
Unlock skins with Aliens vs. Predator pre-order at GameStop
Click image for full-size action pose Aliens vs. Predator is kind of a misleading title. Aside from the titular extra-terrestrials, mankind's future badasses, the Colonial Marines, will also be able to get some in Rebellion's upcoming FPS romp. And for some of your pre-sale cash at GameStop, you'll be able to use one of the more badasserer (we're still working on that one) humans around: Sgt. Kaneko. This dude "wrote the book on small-scale Xeno containment," which is great because we hear there's a lot of Xeno in the game that needs, uh, containing. Joining Kaneko are Number Six -- the blue thing on the left that looks like it's from The Darkness -- and Alien Head Predator, the "most successful Xenomorph Hunter of all time." That's how he she it got that neat Cylon mask! Both are very adept at being super scary-looking and can be yours if you pre-order at GameStop. Unless you live in Germany, in which case you get nothing.
Aliens vs. Predator vs. your eyeballs
The Sega blog recently uploaded some fresh images from Rebellion's Aliens vs. Predator and they contain all of the items necessary for a good Aliens vs. Predator screenshot post: humans killing aliens; aliens killing humans; and billiards in a smokey bar? Okay, that last one isn't part of the game (it's a promotional thing for the movies in New Zealand, actually), but there's no way we're letting something as awesome as that escape a mention on Joystiq. Head into the gallery below for the new screens.%Gallery-70493%
Impressions: Aliens Vs Predator
"It has no relationship to the movies," we were told at a recent Sega event. Thank goodness: gamers would be outraged if the Aliens Vs Predator franchise were to be tainted by the recent films. Another good sign: Rebellion, developers of the fan-loved 1999 PC game, are at the helm of this current-gen reboot.Like its predecessors, AvP will offer three unique game experiences based on each of the warring species: Aliens, Predators and puny, delicious humans. We were able to see two of the game modes: one scenario with the gun-toting marines and another as the stealthy Predators.In spite wielding powerful automatic rifles, playing as a marine is a terrifying experience. Light is hard to come by in this universe, meaning players will have to rely upon sound and the HUD's radar. Aliens are able to crawl out of any vent and traverse across walls and ceilings, making them rather difficult to spot. Players will have a few tools at their disposal: turrets that can be thrown and deployed anywhere, and an infinite number of flares to throw (although only two can be active at once).%Gallery-63762%
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem Blu-ray Disc gets reviewed early
While we certainly had some fun with the original Aliens vs. Predator Blu-ray Disc at CES, The Man Room was able to get their paws around the sequel a fortnight or so before its official release. Irrespective of your views on the plot itself, reviewers found that the 1080p AVC-encoded transfer managed to "successfully hold onto detail even in the darkest of scenes," though one particular scene involving night vision goggles did produce "noticeable image degradation in handling the gradation of green hues." As for audio, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Lossless Audio track was deemed a "real aural treat," and of course, the bundled Digital Copy made things even sweeter. All in all, critics found AvP:R to be a "must-see for technological advancements in special effects and high-definition," though even they couldn't completely ignore the "amateurish and unimaginative storytelling."
Engadget HD destroys Format War Central in AVP challenge
As much as we love CES for all the HD gear, we also really enjoy meeting fellow tech bloggers. But as you might expect, there's some friendly competition between us and those who cover the same beat. So to prove that we were the ultimate HD experts once and for all, we challenged Tyler from Format War Central to a friendly game of Alien Vs. Predator's BD Live game. We'll save Tyler from the embarrassment of the final score, but rest assured we killed a lot more aliens.
PSP Fanboy interview: Aliens Versus Predator
The upcoming PSP-exclusive Aliens Versus Predator game is based on the upcoming movie, Requiem. We had a chance to chat with Rebellion's Tim Jones, Head of Design, on why they keep on developing for Sony's handheld and what fans of the original PC classics can look forward to in this surprising "sequel," of sorts.The question on everyone's mind is: why make it a PSP exclusive?It was ultimately a question of logistics. The opportunity came up to do a tie-in game for the movie which had a fixed release date of Christmas 2007 and it really wasn't possible to develop a game for another platform in the time available -- especially since the game has to be complete and ready to hit the shelves well in advance of the movie release.Rebellion has been working on a lot of PSP-exclusive projects lately, most notably Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. What's so appealing about the PSP?The PSP has a beautifully sharp and colorful screen and an incredible amount of processing power squeezed into such a small piece of mobile hardware. We have had considerable success developing for it at Rebellion and have a great deal of affection for the platform.%Gallery-5892%
Playing as the Predator in upcoming AvP game
With Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron behind them, Rebellion must now finish their next why-is-it-exclusive-to-PSP game, Alien vs. Predator. Yes, AvP holds a dear place to most PC gamer's hearts. Although Rebellion worked on the original, it appears the new PSP game will be quite different.Speaking to IGN UK, the team reveals that the game is based off the upcoming Aliens vs. Predator film, entitled Requiem. Strange that the franchise has come full circle: it's a game based on a movie based on the game. Unlike the FPS originals, this third person shooter focuses solely on the Predators, and their desire to rid the Alien infestation on Earth. "As bad guys they do have some kind of code of honor that dictates who they think is worth fighting and who deserves sparing, and that is key to the game."This honor is crucial to how the game plays: you must be ruthless against the Aliens, but killing innocent humans will lower your honor significantly. Predators must manage their energy, which can be used to heal ailments, and power weapons. They'll have access to different kind of vision modes, a la Syphon Filter. As with all movie tie-in games, we should still be skeptical of Alien vs. Predator, but at least we can see there's a lot of effort, and heart, being placed into this PSP exclusive.%Gallery-5892%
Rebellion making PSP Aliens vs. Predator game, screens inside
After some speculation last week, Sierra has finally let us in on some of the details behind their upcoming PSP game based on this winter's Aliens vs. Predator movie. Most importantly, the new game is being developed by Rebellion, best known for their well received 1995 Jaguar game, Aliens vs. Predator, and its similarly named (and even better received) PC successor.Unlike those outings, this PSP release will be a "third-person action-adventure" (that's okay, since we know how FPSs on the PSP invariably turn out), putting you in the giant slimy boots of a lone Predator, with all the accompanying goodies. These, of course, include Super Heat Vision™, Invisi-Cloak Tech™, and Ultra Wrist Triangle Red Lasers™, always good for a chuckle ... oh, and for killing Aliens and future governors. Though the press release doesn't say, we'll presume the target for this game is this holiday, alongside the movie. %Gallery-5907%
