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Trailers created for World Destruction
Following Square Enix's lead, Sega has released new CG-dominated trailers for its forthcoming RPG, World Destruction: The Will That Leads, replete with dramatic music and shots of sky-bound airships.Advocates of in-game clips need not raise their voices, as the publisher has put out an alternate trailer with combat scenes , as well as another movie advertising the planned anime, World Destruction: The Six People Who Destroy the World, both videos embedded past the post break. We're sure that were it possible, Sega likely would have put together a trailer for the upcoming World Destruction: Two Angels manga, too.The trailers and details for the mix media production were debuted at a recent Sega meeting, in which the game's scheduled Japanese released date (September 18th) and 2 gigabits cart were revealed. The game includes some 300 event scenes, a large variety of maps, and, in particular, a large set of voices. World Destruction will be making the most out of all that space, featuring over 300 event scenes, a generous amount of maps, and an impressive set of voices. Check our gallery below for screenshots, character art, and CG grabs from the trailer!%Gallery-24031%
Valkyrie Profile trailer is the cat's pajamas
As much as we love to knock Square-Enix for its incessant rehashes and poor online mode implementations, the publisher can still put together a trailer guaranteed to knock our socks off. Never mind that it's all CG -- who cares when it's this well executed?The lonesome music and desolate scene work together in this clip to effectively convey that something epic and desperate is taking place, that you'll not only miss out on a great RPG if you pass on the game, but a great experience. That's not to say we're assuming Valkyrie Profile: The Accused One will automatically be a perfect release; we just appreciate the money and effort Square-Enix invested to get us hyped.Even if you're unfamiliar with the tri-Ace-developed series, how could you not be interested after seeing a trailer like this?
Typecasting in games, from a character's perspective
Yesterday's Boing Boing TV video features a short film called Mauvais Rôle ("Bad Role"), a look at a midboss-style monster who wants more out of life than to briefly frighten, then be easily defeated by, a player character. Finally deciding he's fed up with being nothing more than an ego boost for some hero, he splits and goes looking for another job.The next step is hitting a casting center for game characters, during which he tries, and fails, to show his versatility in some well-known game types. In an ending that should be familiar to Wii fans, the big, awkward, horned monster finds his niche in the gaming world. How inspiring to know that fake people can find happiness in this big (fake) world.
Commodore unveils lineup of US-bound gaming desktops
Unlike some companies we've seen, it appears that Commodore Gaming is actually keeping its word, as the company has just now released the final details on its lineup of flashy US-bound gaming rigs. The Cg, Cgs, Cgx, and Cxx machines progress gradually from least extreme to highly 1337, and all four can be customized to suit your every fantasy. To give you an idea of what's on tap (if you've got the coin), the Cxx packs a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 processor, twin 500GB 7,200RPM hard drives in a RAID 0 array, 2GB of Corsair RAM, DVD-RW optical drive, an 850-watt power supply, Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer sound card, Windows Vista, and dual 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra GPUs to boot. As far as pricing goes, word on the street is that the base system will start out around $1,700, but we'll know for sure when these come stateside in Q3.[Via CNET]
Final Fantasy IV's CG-tastic trailer
Contrasting the absolutely wicked, gameplay-filled trailer that we received last week for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, the Final Fantasy IV DS video Square Enix posted at the title's teaser site today is pretty light on action. The CG scenes, dramatic soundtrack, and breathy voice-over serve the story-driven RPG well, but if you're looking to see some combat or world map travel, you won't find much satisfaction here.The tail end of the clip hints that we'll be seeing the game's release before year's end, so plan your budget accordingly. Hop a ride on an airship, and sail past the post break for the 3D remake's two-minute movie.
CGI night elf stuns European forums
The uncanny valley is a longtime hypothesis about human reaction to robots and computer-generated images. The basic gist is that people like robots/CGI figures that aren't made to imitate humans --- thus the cartoonish style of WoW. We notice the humanlike characteristics of the non-humans and empathize with them. But as the robots get closer and closer to looking like humans, we become strongly repulsed and tend to notice the small things that set them apart from real people. Eventually, though, someday someone will make a figure that looks exactly like a human, and the uncanny valley will disappear. And it looks like we're pretty close to that point, at least going by the CGSociety article going around the European WoW Forums. If it weren't for the step-by-step tutorial, I would have sworn that this picture of a night elf -- made by artist Max Kor for a Blizzard fan art competition -- was of an actual woman in night elf makeup. The eyes, which are usually the big thing that catches people in CG, look totally normal. Forumgoers are also pretty impressed; Megg of Scarshield Legion says, "In 15 years, that's what WoW4 will look like." What do you think about this art?
Gemotion display boasts reactive 3D functionality
We've seen dozens of (mostly futile) attempts to bring 3D technology into our lives in a non-gimmicky manner, but the 54-year old Yoichiro Kawaguchi has developed yet another device that will likely fall by the wayside rather than gain steam. The University of Tokyo professor has devised a psychedelic 39- x 24-inch screen that boasts no fewer than 72 air cylinders behind the flexible fabric front, which are used to "push and pull" based on whatever action is being portrayed. The creator describes the Gemotion as a "soft, living display that that bulges and collapses in sync with the graphics on the screen," creating a moving display that's likely to terrify (or thrill, depending on perspective) small children. Apparently, the idea is to use computer software to convert images projected onto the screen into specific movements, allowing characters on screen to literally "jump out" at viewers, and can purportedly liven up your average "video game, TV show, or film" by giving it "an element of power never seen before." While the idea seems impressive in theory, we'd definitely need to see this thing in action before taking it too seriously, but those hanging around the National Art Center in Tokyo can drop by and give it a once over for us until February 4th.[Via PinkTentacle]
Citizen Siege: Oddworld studio's new game & CG film project
Lorne Lanning has confirmed that work has begun on Citizen Siege, the new project from his Oddworld Inhabitants studio. "Citizen Siege was conceived as a game and film from the very beginning," Lanning told GamesIndustry.biz, revealing that John H. Williams will produce the CG animated feature, and Lanning himself will direct. The game concept is currently being shopped around to publishers.Lanning is interested in merging the game and film mediums, hoping that Citizen Siege will become a reference point for future ventures. The idea is that both parts are created simultaneously, influencing each other's courses; rather than one providing the basis for the other. While doing so, it will be important for Lanning and has team to create the right distance between the game and movie. If the finished products demand consumers invest in both, Citizen Siege will have lost a huge chunk of its potential demographic; the group that exclusively watches films -- and does not play games.
Ridge Racer 2 intro and gameplay video
There's something about the PSP and its great affinity towards CG women. The Ridge Racers series is famous for the CG model Reiko Nagase posing seductively on top of the cars. The upcoming Ridge Racers 2 is no different, as it continues the tradition. This video showcases some of the gameplay from the upcoming sequel and also shows you the sleek intro sequence as well. The game hasn't been announced for US release yet, but will be available in Japan in September.[Via IGN]
An extensive look into Killzone: Liberation
GameVideos.com has a beautiful, lengthy video of Killzone: Liberation in action. Not only will you see some great gameplay footage, you'll get to see some truly beautiful real-time PS3 footage CG movies. If that made you long for more, don't forget to check out previous coverage of the game. The killing comes to us at the end of October.
