pure
Latest
DIS officially announces Split/Second for PC, PS3, Xbox 360
click to make bigger, more explode-y If you only take your octane in high, then this bit of news is likely to put your pedal right down to the metal, as Disney Interactive Studios has officially unveiled Split/Second. Set for release early next year on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, Split/Second is described as an "action-racing game where speed meets strategy in a city rigged for destruction."The press release also mentions a new site for the game, although that doesn't seem to have gone live yet. And, as suspected, Black Rock has created a world where "competitors vie to be the first across the finish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction," so expect plenty of Running Man jokes on our end as we write about the game in the future.%Gallery-47488%
Split/Second debut trailer is highly destructive
As promised, last night's episode of GameTrailers TV brought our first non-fuzzy look at Pure developer Black Rock Studio's upcoming racing title, Split/Second. Keighley's ominous warning seems accurate -- it appears to be trying to give Burnout a run for its money. However, rather than participating in high-speed (probably illegal) street racing for your own amusement, it looks like Split/Second will be placing your automotive exploits in front of an enraptured televised audience.Split/Second will also add a neat gameplay element hinted at in the trailer -- it looks like players will be able to "trigger" destructive events on the track in order to impede their opponents (or themselves, if they're not on top of their respective games). Watch the trailer if you want an example. The developers promise further info about the game next Wednesday -- til' then, you can check out the trailer here!
ZTE's fancy concepts at MWC 2009
None of these look particularly easy to use, but ZTE showed off some wild concept devices at Mobile World Congress this year. There were a couple of wristwatches in the mix that unbuckled to become USB modems, but our favorite has to be the "Xer," a handheld "inspired by family theater." It's not clear how you'd hold it effectively if you wanted to type on the QWERTY keyboard, but we suppose that's what makes it a concept instead of a production device. Also shown was the "Pure," featuring a "globoid keypad design" that looks only marginally more usable than the Xer -- or, as ZTE puts it, a "novel key-pressing experience." Click on for the full gallery.%Gallery-45641%
Pure developer Blackrock teases new action racer
Blackrock Studio, which came out of nowhere to deliver last year's knockout off-road racer, Pure, has officially released the teaser trailer for its next project. (Someone had leaked it onto YouTube last week.) Good news: It's another racing game. But it's not Pure 2. Not by a mile.The purposefully obscured footage provides a glimpse at what looks to be an action-filled arcade racer, one that's part Ridge Racer, part GRID and part Midnight Club. We get some very stylized cars, a huge crash and ... an exploding gas station. More on the game is promised for March 11. Consider us thoroughly teased. Hop on over to Big Download for a high-def-ier version of the video ... and tell 'em the 'Stiq sent you.
Rumor: Pure devs tease new racing game [update]
With off-road racing suitably redefined, Pure dev Blackrock looks to be taking its show on the road. A new viral video seemingly for the studio's next project has pulled out onto the internet, teasing street racing, crashes and more than a passing resemblance to Burnout Paradise. In fact, assuming the video itself was posted by Blackrock, the fact that it is tagged with both "burnout" and "paradise" seems to indicate that the former Climax Racing studio is looking to Criterion's open-world racer as a template for its next sprint to the finish line. Nothing else is known, though the brief glimpse concludes, "To Be Continued March 11, 2009," leaving us time to run to the concession stand for popcorn before finding out more.Update: This is no longer a rumor, folks -- check it out.[Thanks, Chris]
Revolutionary: Pure Excitement
In the summer of 2006, inside the Los Angeles Convention Center, there was a historically long line to get into the Nintendo's E3 booth and lay eyes and hands on the yet-unreleased Wii and its wares. After finally getting into the booth, attendees were faced with the choice of which long line they'd want to wait in next to play a game. When I got inside the booth and surveyed the selection, my first pick was Excite Truck. Once I'd finally gotten my hands on the controller and made a few laps around the track, I knew this would be a day one purchase for me. Even after scoping out the upcoming stuff for Xbox 360 and PS3, I was convinced that Excite Truck embodied the true essence of the "next generation." New gameplay dynamics met vast dynamically changing terrain that stretched beyond what we had grown accustomed to. So when Disney Interactive showed their new ATV racer, Pure, with vertiginous jumps, wild tricks, and expansive vistas, I thought I was looking at the spiritual successor to one of my favorite Wii launch titles, but a Wii version was not in the cards. At least we have a PC version to hack together a GlovePIE script for and give it the Excite Truck treatment.
Sun. deals: Gift cards with Pure, Silent Hill and more
Here we go again, a weekly gaming deals roundup thanks to X3F. We search for 360 deals, because we like saving money and because we care about your bank account. So, let's do this. This week at Best Buy, you can grab a free $10 gift card with the purchase of Pure and a free Silent Hill DVD with purchase of Silent Hill: Homecoming. Target has CoD4, Battlefield: Bad Company, and LEGO Indiana Jones for $39. Our retailer friends over at Circuit City are giving out free Pyramid keychains with Silent Hill: Homecoming, free $10 gift cards with both Pure and Baja: Edge of Control, Rock Band bundles for $139, and they have wireless controllers for $5 off. And the bonus deal this week is over at Circuit City where, with the purchase of either Rock Band, Ninja Gaiden II, Tiger Woods 09 or Madden 09, you can score a free $20 gift card. W00t to that.
Metareview - Pure
We're been excited for Pure since E3, when we first got our hands on the ATV racer. Built by Blackrock Studios (formerly known as Climax Racing) Pure is gorgeous, with a Burnout-esque structure and a "why has no one thought of this" boosting risk/reward system that's just brilliant. Here's what the rest of the internet thought: GameDaily (90/100): "When it comes right down to it, though, Pure has some of the best racing action we've seen all year. The throttling gameplay, gorgeous presentation and sweet multiplayer options make it a ride you cannot miss." IGN (86/100): "Pure delivers an outrageous, arcadey off-road racing experience with style and slickness. The controls are intuitive, the tracks are pure eye candy and the tricks are so crazy and over-the-top that you'll find yourself gasping with glee when you land your first Lazy Girl." 1UP (83/100): "Thrilling on the ground, downright heart-stopping in the air, and beautiful throughout, Pure's a blast from start to finish. A career mode would've gone further than the game's 'World Tour' in fully eliminating repetitiveness, but Black Rock has otherwise built a real winner here." Gameplanet (85/100): "This is a great example of what can be achieved if fun is the primary aim. Massive tricks, amazing scenery, hugely modifiable bikes - what more do you want?"
Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of September 21st
It's almost like magic. The first day of Autumn hits tomorrow and the game industry intends to start the season as it means to go on. In short, by throwing game after game directly at your face until your wallet sits empty and your hands are blistered from constant gaming. Ouch. Here's the full release list:US Games Baja: Edge of Control Buzz! Quiz TV Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2009 Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway (Limited Edition) Lego Batman EU Games Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Pure SBK 08: Superbike World Championship 2008 NHL 09 G1 Jockey 4 2008 Baja: Edge of Control Asian Games Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Aquanaut's Holiday Madden NFL 09 Ratchet & Clank: Quest For Booty Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 X Edge Release dates are constantly subject to change, so contact your local retailer if you're uncertain. Feel free to go on an import spree if you feel like it, but keep in mind that DLC for any game generally has to be bought from the PSN store of the same region.
Pure's ATV racing coming to A TV near you on Sept. 23
Disney Interactive Studios has informed us -- by means of a very elaborate musical number -- that its edge-of-the-seat ATV racer, Pure, has shipped out and should be available in "all major retailers" on September 23. Several online retailers are already sending out copies, however, so you'd best check in with your favorite store if next week lies outside your boundaries of patience.If you're not sold on developer Black Rock Studio's high-flying bag of tricks, there's a downloadable demo waiting for you on the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation store. Gallery: Pure
Shipping this week: Rock Band 2 Unleashed edition
The big releases are starting to drip out as the industry steadily ramps up for yet another packed holiday season. This week, the Xbox 360 plays host to some decent titles including the likes of Rock Band 2, Pure, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. On top of those, we've also got Armored Core: For Answer and ... um ... Battle Fantasia. To our disappointment, we have learned that Battle Fantasia is not a fighting game about the Disney movie Fantasia. It's a shame, really, because we were ready to throw down with some tutu-wearing hippos.[Via Joystiq]
Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of September 14th
This week the Force unleashes worldwide whilst Americans get their hands on off-road racer, Pure. Europeans can enjoy recording TV onto their PS3 hard discs (while playing games, no less) and the Japanese finally get their hands on Eternal Sonata (though they choose to call if Trusty Bell, and why not?) Here's the full release list:US Games Star Wars: The Force Unleashed[Get a free $20 gift card at Toys R Us stores; Get a free $5 gift card at Circuit City] Armored Core: For Answer Pure EU Games Star Wars: The Force Unleashed PlayTV Asian Games Star Wars: The Force Unleashed GI Jockey 4 2008 Trusty Bell: Chopin no Yume Unreal Tournament 3 Don't forget, release dates are constantly subject to change, so check with your local retailer if you need any of the above information confirmed. We're now only a month away from one of our most anticipated titles of the year -- Dead Space starts the holiday season off on October 14th and after that it's a terrifyingly expensive avalanche of titles until years end.
Take note: Pure demo coming tomorrow
We said in our "New Games This Month" post that Pure was the best racing you weren't anticipating, and believe us when we say we weren't, in the parlance of the hills, just whistling Dixie. It an incredibly smart take on ATV racing that intertwines your turbo and combo meter to create a risk/reward dynamic unlike anything else we've seen in the genre.Now, you'll get to see what all the fuss is about firsthand when demos for Pure land on Xbox Live and PSN tomorrow. Just don't come crying to us that you weren't warned before your face got rocked clean off.
Pure demo out this Thursday on PSN
If you've read Andrew's hands-on preview for the off-road arcade racer known as Pure, you would know that a demo was promised for sometime in September on PSN. That playable demo will be arriving sooner than expected as it's hitting this Thursday, September 4. The demo will take gamers on a three-lap race against 15 other opponents. It'll be on the Italian Mount Garda track -- one of 35 different tracks available in the game. A tutorial on controls is also included, as usual.%Gallery-29721%
Pure demo pops onto the XBLM this Thursday
As promised, Disney and Black Rock Studios have just sent us press release love to inform us that a PURE demo will be releasing to the Xbox Live Marketplace this Thursday, September 3rd. Along with a quick tutorial mode, the demo will include one racing location, the Italian Mount Garda track, but we don't believe there to be any online support. Then again, that's PURE'ly speculation (you see what we did there, eh?) Presser after the break.
Pure gets with the internet radio game, debuts EVOKE Flow
Man, talk about quick reflexes. Not even a fortnight after Radiopaq announced its WiFi radio-enabled Rp5, along comes Pure Digital to keep things competitive. The stylish-in-its-own-way EVOKE Flow not only taps into the intarwebz for streaming music, but it also includes FM / DAB tuners and support for DAB+. Expect it to hit British tables next month for £150 ($279).[Thanks, Joe]
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Pure
Click for high-resolution image. We had a chance to play a small demo of Disney Interactive's upcoming Pure. The off-road racing game will be available on both PS3 and Xbox 360 in September and our first hands-on with the game felt promising. This off-road arcade racing game is all about air, with an emphasis on giant hills and jumps and mid-air stunts. It's a rather amusing sight to see a pack of a dozen racers all jump magically into the air as they compete for pole position.For PS3 fans, this game will most likely remind them of MotorStorm. However, the similarities between the two are few and far apart. Yes, the game features the same dirty off-road environments that the PS3 franchise is known for. And yes, knowing when to use boost is crucial to the gameplay. But, the vehicles of Pure are much more responsive than the ones in MotorStorm. Turns are a lot easier to handle, which should help attract a more casual audience.Players will have to work to earn their boosts. Before each hill, players will push down on the analog stick and flick it forward to launch the riders into the air. While flying, players can input buttons: X for easy tricks, O for harder tricks and Triangle for the hardest tricks. The boost meter increases with each successful trick, and having more boost unlocks more complex tricks in the air. Pulling off and landing the tricks are surprisingly easy.%Gallery-29721%
A dirty PURE demo to release to the XBLM in Sept.
Disney just revealed that their off-road, high-flying ATV racer PURE will be spawning a downloadable demo onto the Xbox Live Marketplace sometime in September. The demo is said to include a tutorial mode as well as a complete racing track based in Italy where there is "a lake seen in the distance" ... huzzah! Not patient enough to wait until September for your PURE demo experience? Then simply pre-order PURE at your local participating retailer and you'll be given the demo on a convenient DVD. It's nice. It's PURE. We're thirsty.[Via CVG]
E3 awards: Fallout 3 = Best of Show; LittleBigPlanet = Best Console game
This is it, folks. The winners of the official Game Critics Awards for E3 2008 – as chosen by 36 representatives (including yours truly) from most of the leading video game outlets – have been revealed. Leading the pack with two wins each are Fallout 3 – winner of "Best of Show" and "Best RPG" – along with LittleBigPlanet – winner of Best Console game and Best Social/Casual/Puzzle game.The top publisher was EA (just like in our own awards) with five wins, while Sony took second place with an impressive three wins. In terms of platform concentration, the Xbox 360 barely edged out the competition with eight wins versus both the PC and PS3's seven (for those of you keeping track, the Wii only managed one win and that was for its version of Madden 09). We've got the full list after the break, or check out the Game Critics site for the breakdown by publisher and platform or refresh your memory with this list of nominees in the various categories.
Pure debuts ONE Elite DAB / FM radio
There are few more prolific DAB proponents out there than the folks at Pure, and it looks like the company isn't showing any signs of letting up, with it now introducing the ONE Elite radio to fill in its lower-end offerings. True to that status, this one keeps its features as basic as its appearance, with just DAB and FM radio and none of that fancy internet radio on offer, but you will get a line-in jack to accommodate the audio device of your choice, and even a USB port, although that's apparently only used to provide updates to the radio itself. Like its other recent radios, this one is also manufactured to Pure's own EcoPlus standards, and it's available in your choice of black or white, each of which will set you back £70 (or $140).[Via Tech Digest]
