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Treat your eyes to these MadWorld screenshots
Seriously, your eyes have been through a lot lately -- all-night gaming marathons, subjection to Repo! The Genetic Opera, possible self-gouging as a result of subjection to Repo! The Genetic Opera -- don't you think they've deserved a little positive visual stimulus? We're happy to deliver this to you in the form of some new screenshots from Platinum Games' stylish, carnage-filled action title, MadWorld. They may lack the brownish hues and bloom lighting we've come to expect from current-gen titles, but despite these deficits, we're sure you can find something to gleefully ogle in the gallery below. Gallery: MadWorld
Fresh blood from MadWorld
There's not much we'd rather do on the weekend than stare for hours at the gorgeous MadWorld, but since we can't look at the real thing, we'll have to settle for a few new screenshots. Not everyone agrees (blasphemy!), but we can't find anything wrong with a little black and white violence. Study the new screens (located in our gallery below) and see if you agree.%Gallery-22964%[Via GoNintendo]
Fans go nuts at anti-MadWorld campaign
Fans of MadWorld haven't been too pleased with Mediawatch-UK. See, Mediawatch-UK outright called for a ban of MadWorld for, uh, well ... all of the violence in the game. Those in the country looking forward to playing the stylish title from Platinum Games haven't taken to Mediawatch-UK's call lightly, as it's reported that Mediawatch-UK has received "a rain of hostile emails from gamers poured into our office telling us to 'shut the f*** up', suggesting that we had 'got our knickers in a twist', demanding, as though we were on trial for an heinous crime, to know what right we had to impose our 'narrow minded bigotry' on them and stopping them playing an 'adult' game of their choice," says John Beyer in the autumn newsletter.It isnt' just the more extreme, either, that've contacted Mediawatch-UK. "Others, of a more sober character, asked reasonably why we should be so concerned about games when there was so much violence in films and on television," commented John Beyer. So, what do you all think? Is MadWorld taking things too far? We're inclined to think not, thanks to the setting of the game and the cartoonish, over-the-top way the gore and violence are presented, but different strokes for different folks, and all of that.%Gallery-22964%[Via Eurogamer]
MadWorld boxart is simply awesome
Click for hi-res image Even before the boxart for MadWorld was unveiled, we found ourselves to be in love with the game. When we got our eyes on it back at E3, we entertained thoughts of pushing our way to the front of the crowd of journalists there to see the game, ripping the controller out of Atsushi Inaba's hands, and playing it for as long as we could before security came down to the area Platinum Games demoed the title for us and forcefully ejected us from the premises. The game just looks that good.What do you think of the boxart? Hate it? Love it? Indifferent?%Gallery-22964%[Via Go Nintendo]
Australia may join the MadWorld after all
Sega currently has no plans to release MadWorld in Japan or anywhere in Europe at the moment, faced with game content ratings boards that are less lenient toward violence than the American ESRB. Despite the apparent (and ironic) prudence in the choice of regions, Sega is going to try to get MadWorld released in what may be the region least friendly to violent games: Australia.Sega of Australia stated to Vooks that "We believe MadWorld will be an asset to the industry and will do what we can to support its release in our territory." Of course, their intention to release the game there may not translate into reality. It seems a bit more over-the-top than Dark Sector, which didn't make it. For those of us expecting an eventual release, or those who would like to enjoy what they can of the game even without the hope of playing it, IGN has a few new screens.%Gallery-22964%
Platinum working toward HappyESRB with MadWorld
How do you keep the ESRB from destroying a game like MadWorld, built as it is almost entirely around ridiculously overblown, graphic violence? By warning them, mostly. In order to avoid the dreaded, sales-killing AO rating, Platinum Games and Sega are keeping the ratings board apprised on the development of the game, sending periodic preview builds and getting feedback.While Platinum is ensuring the maximum allowable violence for an M rating here, they aren't seeking a release anywhere else at the moment. That basically ensures that they can tune the violence precisely to what one ratings board will allow rather than having to worry about many. If there's enough money to be had, Sega will look into other regions, but right now, it's totally US-focused.%Gallery-22964%[Via Game|Life]
Sega working with ESRB on MadWorld rating
In an interesting gesture of cooperation, it appears that Sega is working with the ESRB to make sure that MadWorld releases with an "M" rating in the US. MTV Multiplayer reports that the publisher has been submitting new builds to the ESRB and noting the rating organization's feedback. This is all, of course, an attempt to avoid an "AO" rating, which would not only ban the game from retail, but prevent it from being licensed for the Wii (or any other console, just to be clear).The Sega reps also aren't expecting MadWorld to release in developer Platinum Games' native land of Japan until after its March 2009 release in the States. The company is focused on making it a Western hit -- and don't expect it to be shown at this week's Tokyo Games Show. %Gallery-30116%[Via GamePolitics]
Sega re-working MadWorld controls, game still looks awesome
Excitement quickly turned to disappointment when we realized that Sega and Platinum Games' super-stylized Wii action title, MadWorld, was up-and-running on two kiosks at Nintendo's Fall Media Summit ... but wasn't actually playable by the media. Instead, Sega reps informed us that the game is currently undergoing some fundamental changes to its control scheme and that, well, they basically didn't want us to play it in its current state.It sure looked bloody fun (emphasis, of course, on the "bloody"). We watched those around us slowly back away as we giggled with child-like glee at the on-screen ultra-violence (hey, we'd had a very bad morning in traffic). Someone urged Sega's testers to show off the most over-the-top move they could think of, so we were treated to a gameplay sequence wherein an enemy was restrained with a tire, skewered through the head with a stopsign post, then cleaved in twain by the main character's chainsaw.We also got a peek at the chainsaw in action while riding a motorcycle down the side of a building and along a highway at innapropriate speeds. A sequence which, again, made us even more steamed that we couldn't grab the controls and try it ourselves. Not mad enough to run anyone through with a signpost, mind you, but most definitely irked.
New MadWorld trailer is a chainsawin' good time
A new video for Sega and Platinum Games' upcoming gorefest MadWorld has made its way onto the internets (it was a DVD supplement to the latest issue of Famitsu) and, for fans of vroom-ing chainsaws, it's sure to be a delight. We're not cheering for the title due to its bucketloads of violence, personally, but rather because an over-the-top violent experience that parodies game shows sounds like a treat across all fronts. Plus, you know, it's Platinum Games.Catch the video after the break.%Gallery-22964%
MadWorld feels 'at home' on Wii
Despite what the Daily Mail says, Platinum Games' Atsushi Inaba thinks that MadWorld is a perfect fit for the Wii. Not in the sense that you can play as your Mii (you can't), or because it contains a bunch of minigames (it doesn't), but because indulging in wanton slaughter is very, very intuitive."As you can see [from our Leipzig presentation] it's really easy to pick up and play, so when we came up with the concept of MadWorld, the Wii felt like a good console for that," Inaba told CVG. "It feels like a game that is at home on Wii." By the sounds of it, Inaba couldn't really imagine MadWorld on any other console. Not that we would expect him to say he'd prefer it on the Xbox 360 or anything.%Gallery-22964%
February: the month of campy violence?
Far-flung release dates on Gamestop are rarely accurate, since they give publishers so much time to change their minds. But as of right now, February 2009 is slated to be the best time for Wii owners (or gamers in general) who like over-the-top, silly gore, thanks to a sequence of high-profile releases.According to the retailer's website, The House of the Dead: Overkill comes out on February 3, followed by Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers on the 10th, and then MadWorld on the 24th. Of course, the next game on the list is Sadness, but that's neither ultraviolent nor an actual release.We predict delays for at least two of these games which will push them out of the same month, but if such a confluence actually does occur, just go ahead and try not to watch any TV news or read any newspapers this February.
Mad World violence anemic compared to Manhunt 2
Mad World, with its inky wellspring of monochrome gore, will likely give those opposed to virtual violence another round of ammunition, replacing Manhunt 2 as the industry whipping boy of choice. An unfair comparison, at least according to seasoned game journo Beth Dillon, who cites the controversy magnet's realistic take on violence as much more disturbing than Mad World's "contrasting and beautiful" approach. There's no question that Mad World will stand out like a bludgeoned thumb among the Wii's more family-friendly library, but Dillon writes that where Platinum Games' upcoming action opus separates itself from Manhunt 2 is in its sense of style. The bigger issue, as she she sees it, is the effect motion-sensitive controls have on players playing violent games -- regardless if they're realistic or more over-the-top -- something we fully expect to have society's ills pinned on the game industry's already swollen posterior for years to come.
New MadWorld footage shows off motorcyclin', boss battlin'
We ache for this game. We're not going to say that there will be some clearly inappropriate fondling of the game case before we insert the disc into our Wii, but know this: if there was a choice between saving this game from an apartment fire and, say, you, then we're clearly grabbing the game. Our apathy towards your life when compared to Platinum Games' title aside (otherwise, we totally love you and stuff), have you watched the MadWorld trailer above yet? Uh, why not? None of this text matters. Just watch it already!%Gallery-22964%
Predictably, new Mad World footage looks amazing
We don't really see the point in new footage of Mad World. Oh, don't get us wrong, we're grateful for it. It's just that we're so clearly going to buy the game the moment it's within the reach of our grubby mitts, we don't know why Sega is trying to convince us to buy it harder. But for those of you that weren't convinced pre-trailer, we're just going to assume you've firmly aligned yourself with the believers. Did you see that dude throwing other dudes into a fan? Did you see those cyclones picking up cars? Did you see that dude rubbing that other dude on a moving train? Are they serious with this? Can we buy two, one to play and one to crush up and mainline?
MadWorld, House of the Dead won't be released in Germany
According to a statement given to Nintendo-Online by Sega of Germany, Platinum Games' MadWorld and the newly-announced House of the Dead: Overkill will not be released in Germany. Based on what has been shown so far, Sega does not believe that the restrictive USK ratings board would give the games a rating, and so rather than go to the trouble of changing all the enemies into robots, they have opted not to release them.In other news, gamers and press from all over the world are in Germany this week to see new games like Sega's MadWorld and House of the Dead: Overkill at the Leipzig Games Convention.%Gallery-22964%[Via NeoGAF]
MadWorld could impact the future of Wii gaming
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/MadWorld_could_impact_the_future_of_Wii_gaming'; The brewing controversy around MadWorld may seem similar, after the Manhunt 2 media debacle, but at least one person is concerned it may have a deeper effect on Nintendo and the Wii's future library of games. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that writer and advertising student Thom Dinsdale thinks the Wii market will be driven by the "Wii Sports generation," and that there will be little place for riskier games like MadWorld. On the face, it sounds like the oldest argument we've heard about the Wii: that the large casual focus is going to somehow damage gaming.Well, Wii gaming, anyway.Dinsdale seems to think that Nintendo is attempting to ride two horses at top speed, and is uncertain the company can balance the casual appeal with games like MadWorld. While he grants the fact that the publications lambasting the game are known for sensationalism, he also reluctantly admits that they're read on a daily basis by millions in the U.K., and he worries that other third party developers will look at the controversy and shy away from future Wii exclusives. We can only hope he's wrong, and have the system's history with Manhunt 2 on our side, but we certainly don't want to see MadWorld toned down ... and we'd rather it not negatively impact future third-party releases, either. Dinsdale's arguments are well-reasoned, but we're keeping our fingers crossed on this one. After all, things are looking up for non-Nintendo releases on the system, and that's after the last major controversy. Gallery: MadWorld [Via GoNintendo] Still not had your fill of storm-in-a-teacup controversy? Then hop over here to learn more about Manhunt 2's woes, here to catch up on Charlie Daniels' unfavorable views of Guitar Hero, or here to read about the fuss over Beer Pong. If you need us, we'll be here, soaking up the latest MadWorld footage.
MadWorld, indeed: the backlash begins
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Daily_Mail_Wii_s_MadWorld_is_most_violent_game_ever'; Britain's most hysterical newspaper and preferred litter tray liner the Daily Mail has caught wind of MadWorld -- and it wants us to know all about it. For our children's safety. THINK OF THE CHILDREN.In a piece entitled "Parents horrified as most violent video game ever to launch on 'family friendly' Wii," the newspaper illogically huffs and puffs about the forthcoming Platinum Games project, which it claims has "shocked anti-violence pressure groups." Near the top of the article, the Mail quotes a spokesperson from MediaWatch-UK, while a retort from Nintendo is relegated to the very bottom of the article. Little has changed from the Mail's previous coverage of videogames, with the familiar, outraged tone and Luddite views present throughout. The paper also ignores the imminent release of Manhunt 2, and conveniently forgets that MadWorld will almost certainly be granted an "18" certificate.Most absurdly of all, the Mail suggests that MadWorld will "dramatically transform Wii's image," as though the game is likely to sell in the tens of millions. Seriously, if the Wii is synonymous with MadWorld (and not Wii Sports) two years from now, we'll eat the hat of everybody reading this.%Gallery-22964%[Via MCV] Still not had your fill of storm-in-a-teacup controversy? Then hop over here to learn more about Manhunt 2's woes, here to catch up on Charlie Daniels' unfavorable views of Guitar Hero, or here to read about the fuss over Beer Pong. If you need us, we'll be here, soaking up the latest MadWorld footage.
Top 5: Upcoming Original IPs from Third Parties
var digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/top-5-upcoming-original-ips-from-third-parties/'; Man, there are those who really love to complain. After viewing Zero Punctuation's latest video, I've decided that the old phrase distributed liberally by parents and teachers is indeed very true: "you can't please everyone." Nintendo themselves must have felt this pretty hard after their E3 showing was widely perceived as sub-par. On the gamers' side, even those who were most disappointed usually turned to any of the numerous third party efforts for hope. Understanding that Zero Punctuation is mostly intended as farce, it's difficult to call them out. Yet one glaring assertion must be rebutted: E3 2008 was most definitely not the year of the sequel. In fact, on the Nintendo side, the exact opposite was true. For the first time in a long while, I'm much more excited about upcoming third party releases than Nintendo titles as a whole (save for Wario Land: Shake It!). As those of us who braved the GameCube generation quickly learned, a console cannot survive on first party titles alone -- even those of the highest quality. Here are the top five original third party games that we are excited about. NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, check out What Are You Playing?, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.
MadWorld interview reveals more on multiplayer, MotionPlus, Man Darts
Siliconera has snagged a short interview with Sega Associate Producer Christopher Kaminski about Platinum Games' forthcoming MadWorld. Topics covered include whether or not the gorefest will support the Wii MotionPlus (it won't, sadly), more of the backstory, and whether the title will accomodate multiple players (Kaminski gave a "no comment" to this one, which keeps our hopes for a MadWorld multiplayer mode alive).There was also some discussion about "Man Darts," another of MadWorld's ridiculously over-the-top finishing moves -- one that involves whacking dudes with a baseball bat, brutally slamming them into a giant dartboard. Judging by the above screenshot, points can be scored, making this sort of a game within a game. Siliconera's Spencer Yip wondered if this could be played as a party game. "I'm going to go with no comment with that one," replied Kaminski.Probably the wisest response, but it looks a lot more fun than Game Party.%Gallery-22964%
Joystiq E3 eyes-on: MadWorld (Wii)
Click to embiggen Upon walking into the tiny room Sega had Platinum Games crammed into in their closed-door section of the E3 floor, we thought that Bayonetta would be the only title on-hand. Then, our wildest dreams came true and we were graced with what is sure to be a day one purchase for us: Wii title MadWorld.We're not kidding. You'll want to buy this game.%Gallery-22959%
