crysis
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Rumorang: Crysis '1.5' to PS3, not Xbox 360
The latest whispers down the lane from Crytek sound something like a Crysis port bound for PlayStation 3, but not Xbox 360, at least, that's what PlayStation World UK is hearing (reposted by Games Radar). "Technical reasons" are cited for the lack of Xbox love, but with money kinda tight these days, we're guessing the gang hasn't turned its back on Microsoft's console just yet. (Heck, Ubisoft managed to shovel some semblance of Far Cry onto the original Xbox.) You can bet EA's got a few tricks up its sleeve too.We've reached out to the publisher for the customary "no plans" comment. We'll keep y'all posted.[Thanks, Eugene]
Zero Punctuation causes 'Crysis' with vaguely positive review
Not since the Orange Box review has Zero Punctuation's Yahtzee spoken so highly of a game as he does this week about Crysis. And by "so highly" we mean he hates it slightly less than usual and barely manages a recommendation of it.Yahtzee was certainly enamored with how pretty Crysis is, going so far as saying if the game were personified and in a male prison it would probably have it pretty rough -- well, unless the first-person shooter was into that sort of thing. Speaking of "that sort of thing," he does mention that your high-end PC may not be able to sit for a couple days given the PC parts needed to get it running at its very best.Anyway, check out this week's NSFW review of Crysis after the break.
Crazy curved Alienware monitor perfect for Crysis
Many uses come to mind when thinking of a curved, 2,880x900 resolution (16:5 aspect ratio) monitor - multitasking aside, we'd have quite a fun time opening every Photoshop panel simultaneously, or created the most complex, intricate World of Warcraft user interface imaginable. Alienware decided to show off its arcing display at CES with Crysis, the apparent benchmark for all technology of the future.Our friends at Engadget who are attending the show noticed three faint vertical lines, indicating the curved illusion is assisted by four sub-panels. The DLP display with LED illumination is due out the second half of this year for a currently-unknown price. Check out their gallery of the monitor; we also have video of the display embedded after the break.
Crysis patch clamps water tessellation (finally!)
We can't tell you how many sessions of Crysis were ruined for us by the rampantly unclamped water tessellation. Of course, the primary reason for that may be that we actually... don't know what water tessellation is. It has been thoroughly clamped though!So say the notes released alongside the 139MB Crysis 1.1 patch, now available for download. Other issues dealt with (listed after the break) include improper water droplets, motion blur, FSAA optimization, animation bugs and memory leaks. If you've been having a blast with Crytek's visually stunning first-person nanosuiter, be sure to grab the first patch for tomorrow's game today.
Rumorang: EA says "no plans" for Crysis on Xbox 360
Like some sort of nanosuit-powered supersoldier, EA hurled yesterday's Crysis-on-360 rumor into a nearby shed (which, it's worth noting, broke apart and splintered with startling accuracy). Surprising no one, the software giant has said they have "no plans for an Xbox 360 version of Crysis" reports TGR, despite an Austrian retailer listing an "uncut edition" for release in November '08. The Crysis console question has been considered before – and EA has denied it before – but with sales not blowing any sheds over and a comment by Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli that strong PC sales could convince the developer to work on a console port, we're at an impasse of sorts. Or maybe that was a passive aggressive suggestion: if they sell more on PC then maybe they'll port it to consoles. Hear that PC gamers? Git shopping! [Via X3F]
EA says no to Crysis 360 ... again
In a move that surprises absolutely no one, Electronic Arts has again denied that an Xbox 360 version of Crysis is in development. Speaking to TheGameReviews.com, an EA spokesperson said that there were currently no plans for a 360 version of the game. Of course, the denial is more or less expected now. Recounting the yes and no roller coaster is getting strenuous at this point, but here we go. First, a Crytek designer said that it was impossible to port Crysis to the 360, then a Crytek artist claimed it was possible, then 1UP reported a special version featuring new graphics and gameplay was headed to 360, which EA later said was a "miscommunication." Oh, and then Crytek's CEO said that Crysis could be ported to consoles with optimization and that this was always Crytek's stance on the matter. All of this, of course, leads to the Austrian listing discovered yesterday where gamers could actually pre-order the 360 version of Crysis (€70? Ouch) supposedly hitting shelves in November of 2008. This in turn, has now been denied as well, hence the existence of this article.Frankly, we think it's bunk that EA has no plans for a console port of Crysis. EA is in the business of making money, and the money is in console gaming. This is especially true in the case of Crysis, which hasn't exactly been lighting the world on fire with high sales (which might have something to do with its gargantuan hardware requirements). Maybe EA doesn't have any official "plans" but we bet there's a memo circulating somewhere.
Rumor: Crysis coming to Xbox 360 in November
An Austrian retail website created a listing for Crysis stating it's coming to Xbox 360 this November. Given the lackluster state of Crysis' sales on the PC it wouldn't be a shock if the game went multi-platform, but this is the first time a snippet of evidence – even an admittedly unreliable retail listing – has entered the channel.There's currently no PS3 listing on the Austrian website (and we'll spare you the effortless Wii joke) but it'll definitely make for some interesting comparison videos if we get to see the 360 version of Crysis running side-by-side with the demanding PC release. [Via X3F]
Rumor: Xbox 360 to get Crytek's Crysis in Nov
It seems like the rumor mill is spinning away at full steam lately, so it should come as no surprise that today's juicy rumor involves Crytek's Crysis coming to the Xbox 360 later this year. And, here we go ...The Crysis headed to the Xbox 360 rumor just started when a member of the inCrysis forums came across Austrian online gaming store Gamesonly.at's pre-order listing for Crysis on the Xbox 360. The listing has Crysis slated for a 360 release later this year on November 20th and even goes as far as to call it the "uncut edition". Does Austrian retail know more than we do about Crysis or is it simply a listing error on their end? And what about Crysis running on the 360. We thought Crytek was so proud that the game's physics and graphics were too advanced to run on consoles? Hmm, we seem to have created more Crysis questions than we actually answered. Oops.[Via Gaming Today]
As close as the Wii will get to having Crysis [update]
It was our understanding that you need a computer from four years in the future in order to play PC game Crysis, but it turns out that isn't the case. Some people are playing the game right now, enjoying its lush visuals and other cool stuff that we have no idea about (we are a Wii blog, after all). Thanks to a handy mod for the game, however, we might just have to set about playing the game ourselves. See, this mod adds full Wiimote and nunchuk functionality, allowing you to utilize the unique features of each peripheral to enhance the Crysis experience. We'd give it a try ourselves, but it would seem we're going to have to track down a spare $1,000 if we're going to be able to do this.Update: Thanks to commenter Lilinka, we've got the link to the actual mod. For more information and whatnot, hit up here.[Via Go Nintendo]
Crytek gives community Crysis map pack for Christmas
Although taking a beating in sales alongside another high-profile PC shooter, Crysis will still hang onto its Christmas cheer. Developer Crytek is celebrating the holiday season with free presents for Crysis owners. The big box under the tree is a Tournament Map Pack, including: Power Struggle - Desolation Power Struggle - Isolation Power Struggle - Training Instant Action - Excavation Instant Action - Terminal The map locales span the globe, with settings in the Americas, French Polynesia and North Korea. Crytek stocking stuffers include a 1600x1062 Christmas-themed wallpaper (pictured) and expanded documentation for the Sandbox2 editor. "But Crytek," you complain, "documentation sounds like books, and I hate reading." At this point, Crytek (or the personification thereof) sits you down on its laps, taps on his Alien Molecular Accelerator, and reminds you not to be ungrateful. And while you're at it, he says, be sure to buy three copies of the game to boost sales.[Thanks, Jeff]
Today's most indulgent video: 3,000 barrels in Crysis [update]
Want to see 3,000 barrels all tumble down at once? Or be blown away in a vortex? This four-minute video might be just what you're looking for. For some reason, watching the barrel de(con)struction makes us want to upgrade our systems and play Crysis more than any trailer released for the game. It's a testament to the ingenuity of the mod community to pique our interests with simple physics tests and, well, construction of entire buildings using explosive barrels. Video embedded after the break; stay tuned at the end when they decide to put the barrels to even better use and blow them up.Update: "What just happened, Neo?""A black cat went past us, and then another that looked just like it.""Uh oh. Deja vu. That means they've changed something in the system."
A very Jenga-esque Crysis physics demonstration
We wonder if there's a psychological condition associated with our fascination in watching things fall down in video games. It started out harmlessly enough, with the popularization of the Gmod (and the Rube Goldberg machines that followed), then picked up steam with the brief Oblivion dominoes trend, but a recent video showing the various things you can do with 3,000 barrels in Crysis is the pièce de résistance in this eccentric genre.We can't stop fantasizing about what crude oil masterpieces we'd like to construct and demolish -- if only we were typing this on a sleek, gaming-centric rig, and not our trusty Performa 5200.[Via Kotaku]
Crysis sales in crisis; UT3 gets fragged too
Perhaps this can be considered a lesson for game developers eager to deliver tomorrow's game technology today: Crysis hit the PC market with an exoskeleton-enhanced thud. The critically praised -- but processing intensive -- title sold a disappointing 86,633 units in the States following its Nov. 13 release. Holding hands with Crysis is Epic's Unreal Tournament 3 which sold an even more disappointing 33,995 units following its Nov. 19 release. Although not a pixel pushing monster on the level of say, oh ... Crysis, the Unreal Engine 3 game is still a beast in an already crowded genre. At the very least UT3 will make up some sales with the recently released PS3 version and the future Xbox 360 version.We're ready for that Crysis console announcement whenever you are, EA.
Action MMO powered by Crysis engine? That'll be The Day
Former employees of NCSoft and Phantagram have created a new studio to design a 'third-person massively multiplayer online action game'? And it's powered by CryENGINE 2, the same game engine used in Crysis? Tell me more. As it says in the press release: Reloaded Studios are a Seoul-based game company that seem to lack neither experience nor funding. Their first project is entitled The Day, and it aims to have a heavy emphasis on PvP combat plus a unique, immersive storyline involving parallel worlds and the destruction of all humanity. I also aim to solo Illidan Stormrage tomorrow.The Day joins a growing list of MMOs to use the Crysis engine, along with Entropia Universe and Blue Mars. They're both more virtual world than action MMO, though, and there's a lot of untapped potential in the latter. Planetside never made much of an impact, but games in a similar vein are a market waiting to happen -- even if it isn't a Halo MMO.
German school licenses Crysis engine for courses
The engine behind Crysis is the current king-of-the-hill in the constant battle for technical superiority in games. So when the German Hochschule Darmstadt school reaches an agreement to license Crytek Studios' CryEngine 2 for their game development courses, it's a major coup.In addition to gaining access to the high-end middleware engine, students at Hochschule Darmstadt will have access to the Crytek team itself. Crytek will host lectures on using the engine, as well as on general topics such as design and conceptualizing. CryEngine 2 will be utilized for far more than simply game development: Hochschule Darmstadt hopes to use the technology in animation, video production, and sound design courses as well. It's a tremendous opportunity for students to be able to work with teams and technology of a AAA title, but does the highest-calibur technology necessarily give these students anything new to bring to the table?
Nega-review: Crysis
"Crysis is imperfect in a number of ways." (3) "The acting and story aren't spectacular." (5) In fact, "the story ... is pretty standard background fodder for a FPS," (7) and "the game is pretty linear for the story's sake." (4) "I'm sure some people will be disappointed by the eventual alien-powered denouement, or mystified or bored by turns as they discover what lies inside the mountain." (3) "Don't start expecting any narrative cleverness or characters who do much beyond move the plot from one stage to the next." (8) "When was the last time you upgraded your system? It doesn't matter because you'll probably have to do it again: Crysis is that demanding." (5) "Crysis may very well kick your computer in the balls at Very High settings;" (1) but "results are a bit mixed at medium and low settings. ... At the lowest detail settings, objects pop in and out with a fair degree of consistency. It's annoying at best and frustrating at worst, as it can impact gameplay." (6)"The constant tweaking of system specs needed to get the game running optimally is also a drag, and the average PC gamer will probably find that their system is nowhere near powerful enough to get this beast even up and running to standard." (5) Without a strong enough rig, the game "may very well turn into more of a slideshow than you'd probably prefer and in some cases become completely unplayable." (1)
Metareview: Crysis (PC)
For months and months, all the PC fanboys have gotten their jollies by pointing out to the irrelevance of consoles by lauding the release of Crysis. There have been plenty smug statements of superiority reveling in the fact they've had to take out a second mortgage just to afford a damn graphics card to play the 'effing game (some viewing it as a bloody red badge of courage -- and not what it really is -- sheer stupidity). Because of all this noise, it's been had to pay attention to the game's actual merits. But, it finally releases this week, so the time has come to don paper bags to obscure our faces as console owners from the blinding awesomeness that is Christ-is Crysis, right? GameTap (100/100): "Ultimately, even with the sudden change in design style, and some minor quibbles (suit power, technical horsepower required for the best visuals), Crysis remains a landmark shooter. Yes, it's aggravating that the flat-out brilliance of the early early levels isn't sustained, but even still, the most that change did for me was to turn Crysis from a 'so f---ing awesome game' to a mere 'awesome game.'" Eurogamer (90/100): "This is a game that feels supremely engineered, like a precision machine, or a German automobile. It's makes Half-Life 2 seem old and frail, but by the same token it does nothing to diminish the imaginative achievements of that series. Crysis is impressive, but not imaginatively bold. Nor does it engage us like some other great shooters -- such as BioShock -- have done with their world and their personality. It's far better than Far Cry, and it's clearly going to create a rabid army of fans, many of whom I hope will plug themselves into the absurdly easy-to-us level editor and create us more single-player campaigns. Personally I'd like to see where this astounding world-forging technology will take us. And I can't wait to see what Crytek will do next." 1UP (80/100): "And on it goes. Stints in motorized air-defense systems ... that don't move. Low altitude flight in a leaden VTOL, where defeating drones dissolves invisible barriers no one intends to notice, allowing us to fly forward, fight off another three drones, dissolve another invisible barrier, fly forward ... Fast forward through scraps of miserable story and melodramatic dialogue, along with a 'boss battle' inherited from the coin-op class of '88 (see: Contra), and the ordeal is done -- beautiful throughout, mostly amazing, but vegetative by the end."
Crysis commercial keeps it simple
We're really excited for the ten people out there with the PC rig capable of playing Crysis when it comes out Nov 16; may they enjoy the next-next-gen graphics. For the rest of us, we'll just have to watch the ads on television, which keep to a pretty basic formula: Show clips of the game using the in-game engine. The transparency of it is all so very un-EA.
Crysis shines gold, due out November 16
Electronic Arts has announced that the gorgeous (i.e. hardware-intensive) PC shooter Crysis has gone gold. Not just any gold, mind you, but a shiny brick of gold enhanced by HDR lighting and sure to require at least five denimite mem-shards.Crysis, the first game to utilize CryENGINE 2, is still on track for its November 16 release. For those who want to brick their PCs early, the single-player demo is now available.
The big games left for 2007
We've already had some of the big bombshells of 2007 come out already, including the big boys like Halo 3, Heavenly Sword, and Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction ... but what's still coming down the pipeline? Guitar Hero III will be out tomorrow, and the rest of October and all of November are bringing a ton of great games out for every platform from the Xbox 360 to the Nintendo DS. Megatonik has put together a great list, chock full of release dates and goodies, or what's left in store for the rest of this year. Chances are once these games start dropping, you're not going to have much left in your wallet for the holidays. So it's time to start figuring out where you're going to get that cash from and get your game on.
