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Codemasters overrules Overlord PS3 rumor
Speaking to Eurogamer, a Codemasters spokesperson has made it inescapably clear that evil minion sim Overlord will not be conquering the PlayStation 3 anytime soon. "We are not porting Overlord to PS3." Gosh, that's a lot more direct than we're accustomed to in the world of video game news. Usually we'd expect something along the lines of "Codemasters may fail to not rule out considering the possibility of not creating a version of Overlord for the PS3 currently at this time not." The rumor initially sprang from a job listing by developer Triumph Studios which politely asked for a PS3 programmer, one capable of "porting X360/PC code base to PS3." We have no idea what game Triumph is working on next, but we sincerely hope someone sends Overlord writer Rhianna Pratchett a PS3 by the time it comes out.
Jericho demo due out in August for all platforms
Codemasters want us to play their latest horror title, Jericho, in demo form. The demo is going to hit the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live, and PCs simultaneously this August. Looks like developers are finally recognizing that giving PS3 owners a demo alongside the other platforms might be worth their while!Demos are starting to get announced left and right. Heavenly Sword, the rumored Lair demo that we still don't see, Bladestorm, Jericho, and others are all scheduled for demos in the near future. We're glad to see the revamped support for the PS Store and Sony gamers in general, so with that pleasant note, we're going to end this song and start ourselves on Persona 3.[via N4G]
Joystiq impressions: Rise of the Argonauts
Liquid Entertainment's Charley Price describes Rise of the Argonauts as an "RPG without the clutter." Menus and detailed statistics are absent from Jason's mythological quest to find the Golden Fleece, thrown overboard in the developer's attempt to focus on storytelling. Though Liquid's track record (featuring Battle Realms, some Dungeons, Dragons and, err, Desperate Housewives) is somewhat uneven, the proclaimed prioritization of plot is certainly commendable. When we ask if removing "clutter" from a role-playing game doesn't simply yield an action game, Price explains that an RPG is marked by a "depth of experience" and a player's ability to "impact story and character." We'll meet him halfway and call it an action RPG. And there is action, just so you know. The combat is classically themed and has a sense of lethality, with swords clanging against shields and spears perforating enemy soldiers in notably unpleasant ways. "We're sick of games where you stab a guy ten times before he falls down," comes the corresponding quip. Jason's party, here comprised of Atalanta and a comically proportioned Hercules, will automatically join the fray, fending for themselves and even holding down enemies for Jason to skewer. It's hard to tell how much depth there is to the fights without playing, but they're presented in the same bold style that permeates much of the game's richly colored graphics. Once the argonauts defeat a gigantic wild boar, we're reminded again of the game's clutter-free ideals -- there's no summary screen displaying experience points and potions.%Gallery-4360%
In video: Clive Barker's Jericho
After questioning Jericho's lack of presence so close to its impending September release in our initial impressions, we're finally able share some (very dark) gameplay videos from Gametrailers. The clips focus mainly on physical combat, though you'll catch a few glimpses of the character switching mechanic and the destructive magical abilities that prompted us to describe the depicted struggle as a "micro-war between fantastic supernatural beings." Also of note is the fact that voice acting is not yet finalized and that the soundtrack, composed by God of War's Cris Velasco, is currently absent.[Warning: Videos contain some profanity, violence and the line, "I'm very dusty, sir."]
Joystiq takes a look at Clive Barker's Jericho
So, what was the best game at E3 that you haven't heard anything about? According to Joystiq, it might be Clive Barker's Jericho. Apart from featuring gobs of ghastly ghoulies, Jericho also looks to be sporting some very solid gameplay. The primary gameplay element revolves around the character switching dynamic, which gives players a multitude of skills and abilities spread across six different squad members. If the idea of blasting monstrous baddies with mind-controlled bullets sounds exciting. Hit the "read" link to check out Joystiq's in depth preview. Oh, ever wondered what the first person view of decapitation looks like? Yeah, that's in Jericho.
Joystiq impressions: Clive Barker's Jericho
"Seen any great games so far?" It's a question that's constantly passing between members of the press during the E3 Media Summit, with answers including the likes of "Assassin's Creed," "Halo Wars" and, in what surely came after a bout of heavy drinking, "The Golden Compass." When the conversation turns to the Codemasters-published Jericho, however, most people have to pause in order to search through their memories, hoping to extract any tidbits of information to discuss. "Oh yeah, it's that Clive Barker game," is the best most can manage. We find ourselves similarly stunned upon seeing the game in action for the first time. Though this result speaks highly of the game's unique content, it's somewhat alarming when the title in question is nearly 95% complete and scheduled for release this September. When queried about the game's lack of buzz and information (just try finding a video of gameplay!), creative lead Joe Falke shrugs and exchanges an uncertain glance with a colleague. "Well... we're not sure how the marketing people are handling this." Rather poorly, we think. Lucky for them (and for you) our job is to equip you with enough knowledge to muster a better answer the next time somebody inquires about Jericho. "Oh yeah, it's that Clive Barker game. You know, that squad-based, time-traveling horror first-person shooter that lets you steer bullets with your mind."%Gallery-4998%
Picking up the PS3 version of DiRT? It's ready to rumble
John Yan recently took the time to tour the booths at E3 and came away with his impressions for a few games, but one bit near the end caught our attention above all else. He saw the PS3 version of Colin McRae's DiRT and claimed it looked more refined than the 360 and PC counterparts. We're not worried about the graphics and all that, though. There was something else that piqued our interest. There was a rumble option in the game's options screen. John asked the folks showcasing the game if the rumble feature would exist in the final product for the PS3 and they answered yes. DiRT is prepared to take advantage of the new rumble feature coming to the Sixaxis controller in a matter of months. Isn't that exciting? The controller isn't out yet, but game developers are already prepared to offer the feature in their games. It's great news for all of us, especially those who really need to feel some vibrations in their hands. You know who you are! [Thanks, John!]
DiRT for the PS3 "looks fantastic compared to the 360"
PlayStation 3 owners currently have to deal with some headaches when it comes to third party multiplatform titles. Games like Rainbow 6 and GRAW 2 come months and months after the 360/PC versions and games like The Darkness that arrive on time frequently are missing a couple of the graphical flourishes found on the other versions. It's frustrating though not entirely unexpected considering the complexity of the PS3 and it's shorter time on the market. Fortunately, as developers get more accustomed to developing for the PlayStation 3 they're getting better and better at making the PS3 version of multiplatform games.Codemaster's DiRT is a good example, while it is arriving a couple months after the PC/360 version it's not a huge delay and it appears that the time isn't being spent simply bringing the PS3 version up to the quality of the 360 version. No, according to a Gamespot interview, the time is being spent making the PS3 one better than the other versions. The developer espouses at length about how much better the PS3 version will be, saying that it "looks fantastic compared to the 360." He further explains that the framerate is better, that there is full support for all the PS2 steering wheels, and that they now have full uncompressed 7.1 surround sound -- something 'the 360 didn't allow us to do.' Great news all around for PS3 owners frustrated about the delay of the highly anticipated racer. While it's always nice getting a game as soon as possible, getting a better game by waiting a couple months is a pretty solid trade-off. DiRT will be out this fall (around September) and according to the developer we'll also be getting a demo before then, so keep an eye on the PS Store for more gorgeous offroad racing.[Via N4G]
Sensible Soccer achievements roll in
Sensible Soccer achievements have just rolled in, detailing what exactly one would need to achieve August 29th to earn their 200 Gamerscore points. The achievements aren't anything uber exciting, although the artwork is pretty nifty in all its 8-bit glory including our favorites "Possession" and "Champs". What can we say, we enjoy zombies and cheerleaders even if they are a tad blocky. Achievements detailed in a Codemaster provided graphic after the jump with actual Gamerscore points still pending.[Thanks, Shawn]
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty trailer lets you kill Nazis ... again!
First off, this guy chose a really inopportune time to take a nap in his cab. Secondly, he's a pretty competent fighter, real level-headed and whatnot. Third, we're excited to see another "alternate WWII" plotline. Instead of aliens invading, like Resistance, this game has ... aliens invading the US. Illegal aliens, called Nazis. They are most unwelcome, with their parachutes and tanks and battleships! It's up to you to push them out of the United States and hopefully rid the pests from the face of the earth altogether. The game is shaping up nicely, but let's hope Codemasters keep the quality control up and give us a great experience!
Codemasters says DiRT sold 500,000 in one week
Behold the power of mud! Rally racer DiRT has sold globally 500,000 copies in its first week of release, according to Codemasters. The publisher cites statistics from web site VG Chartz that the Colin McRae-less US version was number one on the Xbox 360 charts, a move that is sure to get the NPD a little hot and bothered.Speaking with Joystiq, VG Chartz president Brett Walton said that the 500,000 shipment figure "is likely to be a shipment figure" (i.e. Codemasters has sold 500,000 to the retailers, not necessarily to the consumer). Walton said that the sales were 110,000 in the US (70,000 for Xbox 360 and 40,000 on the PC) and around 150,000 total in Europe.
DiRT kicks up 500,000 copies in one week
Codemasters announced today that DiRT has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide in its first week of sale. Codemasters further notes that the game has reached the number one sales position in North America for Xbox 360 and is in the top 5 globally for all platforms. Additionally, the company notes that the Xbox Live Marketplace and PC demos have been downloaded in excess of 500,000 times. On a console dominated by shooters and action games, a racing game landing at number one is a hefty feat indeed, and landing in the top 5 globally is impressive for any title. It would seem Codemasters is on a roll, with both DiRT and Overlord receiving impressive reviews. We're curious to see how well Overlord does at retail (we're guessing that 500,000 copies is a bit high).
Rise of the Argonauts screenshots and trailer revealed
First announced back in April, Codemasters has finally released screenshots from the upcoming "epic scale action-RPG" Rise of the Argonauts. We have to admit, it's looking pretty epic so far. Few game details have been released, though Codemasters hints that "earning a god's favour will grant players powers ... but drawing a god's wrath may cause them to inflict a torment on the heroes at the worst possible moment". Argonauts will be released on Games for Windows and "major console platforms" sometime next year. Check out the trailer after the jump.%Gallery-4360%
Rise of the Argonauts and promising new games
Greek Mythology is one of those things that you either love or hate. You can't really "kinda" be interested in mythology because then you'll come across as a fool who Wikipedia's myths to sound smart. Of the big three mythologies, Greek, Roman (more a variation of Greek than anything else, along with Christian overtones later down the pipes), and Norse, we'd prefer Norse above all else. Greek is a close second. Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most celebrated Greek myths. So much so, in fact, the tale is getting its own game, with the flavorful twists to spice up the story. We present Rise of the Argonauts.We like IGN's analogy of the ship, Argos. They said "think of it as a buoyant Suikoden fortress and you'll get the general idea." Obviously they skipped over the fourth installment in the franchise. The fact remains, your ship will grow with you -- recruits will pop in depending on your path and actions. Speaking of teammates, the other All-Star myth heroes will pop in to help you fight your battles in your stead (Jason was a sissy, after all) and the actual fighting mechanics play out akin to God of War or The Mark of Kri or some hybridization of the two.Your teammates matter, much like certain parts of the X-Men Legends titles. In the demo IGN got to sample, using Hercules as a teammate against a giant boar creature (we'll spare you the mythological background) proved effective as he could stop the creature in its tracks by holding onto the tusks and digging into the ground with his powerful little feet. This lets Jason cut up the bad ol' boar with ease. What's cool is the damage. Cuts and wounds appear on enemies in real-time. Everything will have realistic reactions, basically. This game has so much promise, especially with online co-op, and we could talk about it for a long time, but we'll leave it up to you to decide if it's worth your time. We think it just might be.
Clive Barker talks of games as art, of Jericho, of sequels
Clive Barker is scary. He writes scary stuff. If we're going to use very faulty, feeble and silly logic, we'd say "Clive Barker is a writer. He writes scary stuff. Thus, Clive Barker is scary stuff." Crazy logic is fun and that seems to be a driving point with his games, such as Jericho, which is planned as a trilogy. We had a big preview of the game a while back and we're pretty excited to see how it turns out. But does he really think games are art? Here's a hint from us: they are.When asked about the claim that games are inferior to things like film or books, Barker frighteningly replied, "That's bullshit ... We can debate what art is, we can debate it forever. But if the experience moves you, some way or another, even if it just moves your bowels, I think it's worthy of some serious study ... Games mean something to a lot of people." Right on, Clive, right on.He discussed Jericho and some future games, namely the two sequels. The game was supposed to be a book, initially. He couldn't decide what medium exactly, but for some reason he was drawn into making it as a game. Why? He clarifies: "It would make a f***ing terrible novel. It really would, it doesn't work! It screams out to be something other. Maybe if games hadn't existed, I would've made it a movie. But I much prefer the idea of having twenty hours to play this world, to enter this labyrinth than the two hours or the way movies are going now." We agree with him and we can't wait to play Jericho either. We're glad it's not a book. We like games.
Shipping this week: mo' DiRT edition
With the demo available for weeks, rally racing fans can finally get their hands on Colin McRae: DiRT. At first we were hoping it was the long awaited video game adaptation of Joe Dirt. Much to our chagrin, this is not the case. Still, it appears that DiRT is a competent racing game. We're told these "racing games" typically involve automobiles which are attempting to circumnavigate a predetermined path as fast as possible, preferably faster than the other automobiles. We're also told that it is purportedly "badass" with the Wireless Racing Wheel. Alas, there are no other retail releases for the 360 this week.
New games this week: DiRT edition
This week's new batch of games marks the release of DiRT, once headlined by Scottish racer Colin McRae until he was deemed less popular than dirt for the US release. Those looking for something a little creepier may be happy to know that everyone's favorite smokey-voiced merchant has returned for the now-thrice-released Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition. Otherwise, there's a rather nasty drought of new-gen games this week, though PC and portable consoles have plenty to play until next Tuesday. You can commence reading the release list starting .... wait for it ... now.%Gallery-4072%
Founders of Codemasters bought out by venture firm
After redesigning its face, European publisher Codemasters has now undergone some internal changes as well. A capital venture firm, Balderton Capital, has acquired the remaining stake held by the publisher's founders, David, Richard and Jim Darling. The purchase is accompanied by a further £50 million in finance from Goldman Sachs for the future growth of the company -- already the largest independent video game developer and publisher in Europe."This new investment heralds the next stage for Codemasters as it realises its ambitions to be a global player, readying itself for the digital age," says Codemasters CEO, Rod Cousens. "For more than 20 years, Jim, David and Richard built Codemasters to become one of the video game industry's great British success stories; they brought enjoyment to many and made a valuable contribution to the industry as a whole." Have a look at their latest contributions, Dirt and Overlord, later this month.
IGN UK rates Overlord; Verdict: Impressive
IGN UK got their hands on the retail build of Overlord, and have given the game its rounds and came back with a nice review, scoring an 8.1 . Those who liked the demo will be happy to hear that the cool experiences had in that initial level continue on through the game, with capabilities of having 50 minions on screen with no slow down. Their only gripes, gameplay wise, was that it appears to require backtracking in order to summon particular minions for their specialties later on in a given level. They also felt the multiplayer felt "tacked-on" to the over all experience. So, if you want an advance look at what's coming your way later this month, click the "Read" link.
New Jericho preview with details to scare you silly
If these Clive Barker's Jericho screens don't already demand your attention, we're not sure what else will. Judging from the success of the last Clive Barker Undying outing on PC alone, this is definitely a highly anticipated title for all consoles. The boys at IGN had their fill of the latest build and felt similarly to CVG during their earlier play-test. Needless to say, they came away impressed, noting crisp textures across the diverse levels and enemies with clever touches of detail throughout the world, like swarms of helpful black flies that scurry fallen enemies off the map. Cool. The game also features interactive anxiety-riddled button-pressing segments (ala Resident Evil 4). No official word on SIXAXIS interactivity for these scenes, but the type of game play during these scenes practically screams for it. At any rate, feast your looking balls on the new gallery and stay tuned for more updates as we approach the September release date for Clive Barker's Jericho. %Gallery-3908%
