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Grid 2 gameplay trailer drifts through Japan
This gameplay video for Grid 2 shows a racer drifting around turns on a downhill course in Okutama, Tokyo in Japan. Grid 2 is coming to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC on May 28.
PSN Tuesday: Metro: Last Light, Dust 514, Jacob Jones
It's quite the week for content on Sony platforms, with several major releases making their debut on the PlayStation Network today. Metro: Last Light, the 4A Games' sequel salvaged by Deep Silver, launches today. If you haven't had a chance to read our review yet, be sure to give that a gander. It's joined by CCP's EVE Online offshoot (get it?) Dust 514, available free to all PSN users. Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery eases its way onto PS Vita today as a $3 download, while Rockstar makes good on its promised Manhunt for $10. PlayStation Plus subscribers' freebie this week is Knytt Underground, which is flanked by discounts on both Metro: Last Light and a special pre-order price on Grid 2. For the full list of what's in this week's content dump, hit up the PS Blog through the source link below.
The Perfect Ten: MMOs that died in development hell
If you know me, you probably know that I have a weird fascination with alternate history. You know, the daydreams of historians when they're not rewriting the past to suit the latest trends. "What if?" my mind wonders, especially when it comes to MMOs. You see, for every game that actually makes it to launch, there are several that die gasping and alone in the bowels of development hell. Sure, many of these are pathetic creatures that didn't really stand a chance anyway, but there are some that could have made an impact on the industry if they had reached release and been halfway decent. We'll never know what a world would look like with these games in them, but we can always muse, "What if?" Continuing Perfect Ten's recent dark streak, here are 10 MMOs that died in development hell; it's to our eternal loss that we'll never get to play them.
Double Fine, Codemasters, former president Rubin, more seeking payment from THQ
THQ may be no more, but several parties have filed claims against the defunct video game publisher. The Kurtzman Carson Consultancy group shows Double Fine, Codemasters and even individual former executives Jason Kay and Jason Rubin are seeking financial compensation for unpaid obligations from THQDouble Fine (PDF link) is looking for $595,000, claiming THQ offered up Stacking and Costume Quest as free PlayStation Plus downloads without Double Fine's knowledge, and that none of the PS Plus revenue was shared. Codemasters (PDF link) is looking for an exact $1,002,714.25, seeking reimbursement for unpaid royalties and storing quantities of Bodycount, Dirt 3 and F1 2011 discs in a warehouse somewhere. Kay (PDF link) and Rubin (PDF link) are seeking $2.1 million each for failed "employment obligations." The two claim unpaid vacation time, sick leave and severance.THQ's final assets were auctioned off for nearly $7 million earlier this week, including Darksiders, Homeworld and the Drawn to Life series. The results of the first auction were posted in January, facilitating the transfer of ownership for Saints Row 4, Homefront, Company of Heroes 2 and more.
GRID 2 shows off elimination racing in Europe
We always known being in last place at any time in a race was a bad thing, but in Grid 2's European circuit, it's extra bad due to their preferred Elimination-style racing: every few minutes, the car in last place is immediately kicked from the race.
Sony completely revises list of PS4 EU studios, down from 53 to 30 [updates]
Sony made wholesale corrections to the list of European/PAL companies confirmed as PS4 developers and publishers, reducing the list of named studios from 53 to 28. Curiouser, not one of the developers and publishers named on the previous list makes an appearance on the new roll call. A spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed to us the first list, sent out last week, was erroneous, and this new one is correct. There are no revisions for any other regions.The new list removes a number of significant names, including Mojang (Minecraft), Rovio (Angry Birds), Frozenbyte, Criterion Games, and City Interactive. In their stead are some new noteworthy studios, such as CD Projekt, who've confirmed The Witcher 3 as a PS4 game. Also included are Bohemia Interactive, Deep Silver, Ninja Theory, IO Interactive, Codemasters, 2K Games, and Sumo Digital. The full list can be found after the break.We've reached out to a number of studios for comment. Mojang's Daniel Kaplan reiterated to us the comments he gave to Gamasutra, saying his studio hasn't decided anything yet, and that the error is "confusion from Sony's side." Gamasutra's article also confirms Super Crate Box developer Vlambeer and Skulls of the Shogun creator 17-Bit, both included in the original list, as not currently working on anything for the PS4.A spokesperson for Monsters (probably) Stole My Princess developer Mediatonic, included in the original list but not in the corrected one, told us he couldn't make any comment on his studio and PS4 development. Meanwhile, Sumo Digital's inclusion adds weight to the rumor the British studio is working on LittleBigPlanet 3, but for the PS4. When approached previously about LBP3, a studio representative told Joystiq, "No comment." Update 1: A spokesperson for 505 Games tells us the Italian company is "definitely" planning to publish games on the PS4. 505 Games was in the original list of European/PAL PS4 developers and publishers, but not the revised list. The spokesperson noted the company's logo appears in the image showcasing PS4 partners, as shown during last week's event, as do many of the names in the revised list. Update 2: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe informs us the list of European PS4 studios has been further revised. Two more studios are now present in the form of Criterion Games and Ghost Games (an EA studio) - both were in the original list of 53. That takes the tally of confirmed European studios up to 30.
Grid 2 is to racing what UFC is to fighting
Grid 2 imagines a world where one driver, across all disciplines, is crowned the king of the road. As the player, you're off on a trek across the globe, competing in the disciplines permeating North America, Europe and Asia – recruiting drivers into the World Series of Racing along the way.The WSR is the dream of Patrick Callaghan, the organizer of the WSR and mouthpiece throughout Grid 2. While you're racing to improve your own status and become a top driver, you're serving double duty to prove that the WSR is the place for the elite drivers to compete at the very top level.So, essentially Grid 2 is the Ultimate Fighting Championship of racing games.%Gallery-178677%
Namco Bandai extends Codemasters EU distribution deal through 2013
Namco Bandai Europe is continuing to distribute British developer/publisher Codemasters' games throughout Europe, Australia, and New Zealand this year. That distribution now covers "all key" EU territories, including the UK & Ireland. The new agreement represents both an extension and expansion of the two companies' distribution partnership, first cemented in 2010, and includes Grid 2 plus some "unannounced" Codemasters games.The news follows the recent announcement of restructuring at Codemasters, with 80 people reportedly laid off as a result. As for this side of the ocean, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment handled Codemasters' distribution in the Americas throughout last year after taking over from THQ - we can't see Namco Bandai America going back, somehow.
Grid 2 slides into North America May 28, May 31 elsewhere
Codemasters' Grid 2 crosses the retail finish line on May 28 in North America, and on May 31 outside of those shores. The British developer, which endured layoffs earlier this month, also outlined the racer's various pre-order bonuses for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC today. GameStop pre-orders come with the McLaren Racing Pack and GTR Racing Pack. The former includes the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, and two extra routes to navigate the Brands Hatch circuit with, while the latter offers the Nissan GT-R SpecV and five routes for Yas Marina. Both packs grant access to exclusive online events.Best Buy pre-orders get the IndyCar pack, which bundles in the Dallara IndyCar, two more routes for the Indianapolis Motor SpeedWay Oval circuit, and again access to a special online event. Meanwhile, Amazon gets the Head Start pack, which includes the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT, discounts for car upgrades, and a RaceNet bonus. %Gallery-177736%
Leisure Suit Larry 'Greatest Hits and Misses' collection now on GOG
Classic PC adventure gaming examples of how not to pick up women have been spritzed with horrendous cologne and dressed up as GOG's Leisure Suit Larry "Greatest Hits and Misses" collection. The $10 pack includes the first five Larry jams, the oldest of which (Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards) comes in both Original and VGA flavors.The release of this collection marks the first time that Larry's adventures have swung both ways, by which we mean "been both PC and Mac OSX compatible," obviously. The collection also includes the 1981 text-based DOS/Apple II game Softporn Adventure, which despite how it sounds, is mostly about navigating a bar and reading newspapers. Not that we've played it or anything.Since this collection's screenshots and trailer are borderline not safe for work, we've decided to err on the side of caution and refrain from hosting them on our family friendly internet blog-o-site. Clicking all up on the source link below will take you where you want to go, if you're into that sort of thing.
Codemasters restructuring, reports suggest 80 layoffs
Grid and Dirt developer Codemasters is consulting "affected employees" as part of a restructuring process, with 80 people reportedly being laid off as a result. A "strong source" told GamesIndustry International the figure, saying the majority of those layoffs are being made at the company's global headquarters in Southam, England.A Codemasters spokesperson told us there is no confirmed number of affected employees, referring to numbers reported elsewhere as "speculative." Codemasters' official statement says the restructuring is "not companywide," and that the process isn't expected to affect development of "core console and PC titles" like Grid 2 and this year's Formula One game.Codemasters' official statement reads: "As the Company realigns its operations to focus on areas of increased strategic importance and decrease resources in areas that are not delivering value for the business, the Company has proposed the restructure of certain aspects within its digital development and publishing units in line with future product strategy. As a result of the proposed restructure, the Company has therefore entered into a period of collective consultation with the affected employees. The restructure is not companywide and is not anticipated to impact the development of its core console and PC titles such as Grid 2 or its annual Formula One title."
Codemasters hires achievement bloggers to design achievements for Grid 2
Dan Webb is the editor-in-chief of both Xbox 360 Achievements and PS3 Trophies, two sites that have covered metarewards on the two major consoles for a few years now. But he's never actually helped write an achievement list, and so Codemasters is finally giving him that chance with Grid 2. Webb and the rest of his writers will not only create the achievements for the upcoming racing game, but will have a series of posts, videos, and other content showing off what actually goes into the process of giving away all of those gamerpoints."Codemasters have put their faith in us to work with them on creating the ultimate list," says Webb in the press release, "and we're looking forward to repaying that trust to design Achievements and Trophies with unique objectives that will put a smile on players' faces with each and every unlock." We're interested to see just what Webb and the developers create. Even if things don't work out, odds are they won't make the worst achievement list ever, right?
Grid 2 drives forward years later after tech upgrade
By the time Grid 2 wheels into stores it will have been nearly five years since the Race Driver series welcomed a new installment. Codemasters spoke previously about waiting for technology to meet the Southam studio's ambitions, but we wanted to know the specific ways in which the lengthy pitstop benefits the racer."The thing for us is that sometimes you get a car that's been modeled to such beautiful, beautiful detail," Grid 2 Associate Producer Iain Smith told Joystiq, "that when you see it in the environment it just jars. It looks like it's from a showroom. It's not lit the same way as the environment, it just feels like this glossy thing in the middle of something that's actually quite tangible and real. We try to make sure those two things blend in a much more realistic way."
Codemasters not ruling out Wii U ports
A Wii U version of Grid 2 isn't being ruled out, Codemasters tells us. The British studio announced the racing sequel for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC last month, but not Wii U. However, Grid 2 Associate Producer Iain Smith told Joystiq "there's every opportunity at some point down the line" for the racer to come to Wii U."It's not being ruled out certainly," Smith said, "And certainly [that applies] across all Codemasters titles. Some platforms are more appropriate for certain types of games, but we just have to make decisions as and when they're appropriate. We can't say too much more at the moment."
Grid 2 gets out of the garage in summer 2013
Grid 2 is set to launch next summer, Codemasters' Ben Walke writes on the European PlayStation blog. The video above provides a look at some of the new cars, tracks and settings, along with an ESRB warning that assures us this is a US and EU endeavor. Grid 2 will feature "handpicked automotive icons" covering four decades from the US, Europe and Asia, and will take place in Paris, Abu Dhabi, the California Coast and many other "beautiful" cities, Walke writes. Grid 2 will also include an extensive multiplayer system utilizing RaceNet, Codemasters' online tracking system.
Grid 2 announcement teased
It looks like Codemasters is poised to bring its Grid racing series back for another lap. Earlier today we saw the teaser trailer above, which depicts a car spinning its wheels, followed by a logo identical to the one used by the original Grid in 2008, save for the extra "2." According to the trailer, "The Race Returns" on August 8, 2012. Codemasters further teased the video on its official Twitter account. "This looks... interesting?" the company wrote, before doling out the obligatory promotional hashtag, #TheRaceReturns. Codemasters was partly acquired by Indian company Reliance Big Entertainment in 2010, after which it promised another Grid game. "In Southam it's full steam ahead with the next iteration in our Flashpoint series, as well as the next Dirt and Grid," said Gavin Cheshire, former VP of studios at Codemasters and current CEO of Caperfly. We guess they've been gassing up the cars this whole time.
Dirt Showdown multiplayer demo(lition) available today
The demo for Dirt Showdown will be alive and kicking up dust on Steam, Xbox Live Marketplace and PSN today, Codemasters has announced. The demo includes the single-player mode's 8 Ball race, which runs by San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, and the multiplayer Rampage mode. Rampage is an eight-player demolition derby where points are earned for crashes and take-outs.The Dirt Showdown demo also offers the first taste of RaceNet, a free online tracking and comparison extension for Codemasters racing games. Those who sign up for RaceNet get some special perks when the full game launches on May 25, including $20,000 of in-game currency. Yes, 20 big ones. Either that's an awesome bonus, or Dirt Showdown operates in a universe where everyone is a millionaire.
Dirt Showdown shows up May 24 in Europe, May 29 in North America
DiRT Showdown, Codemasters' spinoff about spinning out, will crash wildly into retail starting May 24. Codemasters announced regional release dates for the Xbox 360/PS3/PC racer today, with that May 24 date kicking off the release in mainland Europe.A UK release will follow on May 25. The game will then drive across the Atlantic in time for a May 29 release in North America. A demo will be released worldwide May 1, featuring both single-player and multiplayer wreckin'. The release is the first from the new "Codemasters Racing" label, and will be the first game to use "RaceNet," an online hub for Codies racers. You'll be able to join up for the demo, and track your progress against friends.Along with the date announcement came some rare news: Dirt Showdown will be sold at GAME, which, along with Gamestation (and Walmart in North America), will offer an exclusive "Hoonigan" edition of the game with some in-game bonuses ... like Monster Energy liveries for some of the cars. Free advertising with your game!
Warner Bros. to distribute Codemasters games in 2012
British developer/publisher Codemasters has left THQ Partners, who handled its distribution in the Americas during 2011, in favor of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, who will now take care of distribution, sales and marketing for all of Codemasters' 2012 releases in North and South America, including Dirt Showdown and F1 2012.Fake eyewitness accounts report seeing THQ Publishing outside of Codemasters' bedroom window, holding a ghetto blaster above its head that was said to be playing "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. We have, however, received conflicting reports that a freshly embittered THQ Publishing has opened a record shop and hired a young and enthusiastic Jack Black to work behind the counter.
Dirt Showdown is about driving cars into other cars
Take all that serious business about driving you learned in the Dirt rallycross games and throw it out the window. Actually, throw it through the damn window, as smashing stuff is pretty much par for the course in Dirt Showdown. We're pretty sure that's all you do in it, actually.
