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The Daily Grind: First or third person?
It may simply be due to having different gaming roots; it may be down to a simple question of taste. Whatever way you slice it, most gamers have a preference one way or the other. Those who love FPS games tend to veer towards staying in the first-person in MMOs, and third-person seems to be an eclectic game-type mix from those we've spoken to. Since many MMOs are set up to do both points of view, it's obvious the designers intended for the option to be there. That said, which way do you tend to prefer running in - first or third? Is there any particular reason you run your game that way? Or do you switch back and forth, with no real preference for either?
Red Faction: Guerrilla trailer shows off tools of destruction
If you like weapons and exploding buildings, then you'll likely enjoy the latest trailer from Red Faction: Guerrilla. Either that, or you're an action hero. Unless your driver's license says Bruce Willis, however, then it's safe to bet you just like action, and don't find yourself as a regular participant in its chaos. The same cannot be said for folks on Mars, as action finds them on a daily basis. Don't believe us? Watch the trailer past the break, which depicts the everyday violence happening on the red planet. Here's what we've learned from said trailer: Quaid managed to start the reactor, but Kuato's rebellion hasn't won yet.%Gallery-19834%
Epic contemplates Gears of War 2 ranking system overhaul
If you've been playing Gears of War 2 since its release in early November, then the ranking system is just one item of complaint on a list of many. Thankfully, Epic's Rod Fergusson has proposed a change in the way players are ranked, introducing an experience-based alternative on the Gears of War forums. The response was pretty much positive, as many of the comments are in favor of the proposed changes than the existing Trueskill-based system.In case you were wondering where we stand, you can bet we're in support of Rod's idea. Mainly because we've had our rank since the first day and it hasn't changed in the slightest. You'd think 10,000 kills would be enough to rank up, but then you'd be wrong.
Keiji Inafune mentions Lost Planet, Dead Rising sequels, may be multiplatform
We completely understand talk of a sequel to Lost Planet. With a movie in the works, it makes sense to revisit the misplaced orb that's so wonderfully overrun with bugs and mechs. As for Dead Rising 2 ... we want more Frank West in skimpy clothing. Also, we want to kill 53,000+ zombies again.The mega man behind the Mega Man series and Capcom top dog, Keiji Inafune, recently sat down for a chat with Japanese mag Famitsu and was pretty direct about his forthcoming projects, making sure to refrain from beating around bushes. "We're finally putting out new Dead Rising and Lost Planet games," he exclaimed. He went on to say that Capcom is "thinking about multiplatform, and expanding upon both slightly from the Xbox 360 version." CVG asked a Capcom UK spokesperson about the matter, who said that Dead Rising "was a huge success for us and is obviously the kind of game we'd like to continue to make." He elaborated further, adding that, "At the moment we have made no official announcement regarding a sequel. As the source is Famitsu, I can only suggest that it was a mistranslation." Mistranslation, huh?So, what say you all? Want another Lost Planet? We know you want another Dead Rising already. We asked your mom and she said you loved the first game, so we're glad to be in agreement there.
Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes impresses as an iPhone shooter
Here we go -- Doom on the jailbreak aside, the iPhone hasn't really had a nice example of shooter gameplay, though Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes (iTunes link) seems like it might be the breakout. It's made by Gameloft, who've been making mobile games for a while now, but the good news is that it doesn't look like a mobile game at all. The graphics are 3D and vibrant, and the sounds are very impressive. The control scheme is interesting -- it's more of a third person shooter, as you use the lower left wheel to move your character, and you can use the touchscreen to move the aiming reticule (seems like there's a little autoaim help in there as well). There are even cutscenes, multiple weapons to choose from, vehicles to drive, and a cover system (though there kind of has to be, with aiming that slow in places).Still, very impressive for an iPhone game, and a very good bar-setter for the first major shooter we've seen on the platform. As you might expect, this isn't going to be cheap -- it's $9.99 in the App Store, and while this would be the perfect title for a demo (how else do you expect to sell a $10 app?), there's not one to be found at all. Still, if there's going to be such a thing as a premium game on the iPhone, this is probably it. For all of the colorful little puzzle and wordplay games on the iPhone, sometimes you just want to shoot some Nazis.
Joystiq E3 hands-on: Red Faction: Guerrilla
Volition's decision to change the perspective in Red Faction: Guerrilla from the first to the third-person couldn't have been an easy choice to make, but it seems to be the right one, something that even now feels strange to put to words. Even as a fan of the developer's terrain-deforming original, it's difficult to look back on Red Faction without qualifying my enthusiasm with the promises and potential of what might have been. However, after sitting down with Volition senior artist Jasen Whiteside over a hurried E3 lunch and actually playing the title, it's evident that action game fans shouldn't feel at all awkward about adding Red Faction: Guerrilla to their list of titles to look forward to in early 2009.%Gallery-19834%
TurpsterVision: An MM-No?
Every Tuesday think "T" for Turpster and take the "a" in "day", capitalise it, remove the little bit in the middle, turn it upside down and you get a "V". Put the two together and you'll have TV for TurpsterVision -- the best Internet video podcast on Massively! (Never mind that business about it being the only video podcast on Massively...) I've made my name here at Massively reviewing MMOs; it's what I do. This week brought to my attention that not all the games here at Massively are as massive as you might believe – no I haven't gone and reviewed a game where you play as a tiny ant fighting other tiny ants...on a grain of sand. Though I must admit that it sounds like a totally awesome idea! It would rock, so consider it copyrighted. Instead, using my patented Random Augmented Nuclear Dart Yaw machine, or the R.A.N.D.Y Machine for short, I have managed to select a game that I don't think quite belongs here.
Sega partners with PlatinumGames, reveals first MADWORLD shots
Click to enlarge. var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Blood_chainsaws_and_slaughter_Sega_reveals_MADWORLD_on_Wii'; Earlier this week on DS Fanboy, we reported on a rumor that Sega had signed up to publish three titles from PlatinumGames, the studio formed by former employees of the vaunted Clover Studio. To our delight, Sega just sent forth a press release confirming the partnership, along with the first two shots of PlatinumGames' Wii debut, MADWORLD.Described as a game that "straddles graphic novels and 3D worlds," MADWORLD looks every bit as stunning as early video footage had suggested. It's set for release during Q1, 2009, and promises weapons that range from chainsaws to street signs, irreverent humor, and sports commentary to accompany the slaughtering.Finally, there's a fourth title that Sega is keeping under wraps for now -- all we know is that it's being directed by Shinji Mikami, whose resume includes the first three Gyakuten Saiban games, God Hand, Killer 7, Resident Evil 4, and Viewtiful Joe.%Gallery-22964%[Via press release]
Checking out interactive environments in Alone in the Dark
A new trailer for the PC version of Alone in the Dark just hit the internet, giving us a glimpse into what to expect from the title. We're anticipating pretty much the same experience as the other versions of the game on the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3, just with some toned-down graphics. And, we're also incredibly excited about the high levels of interactivity the game's environments exhibit, as you all undoubtedly are.%Gallery-10200%
Capcom: Bionic Commando on Wii possible, if demand is there
When the game was revealed, we quickly replied with a "meh," anticipating the title would not arrive on our beloved Wii system (Capcom loves that 360 thing). Sure enough, it was only going to arrive on the other current-gen systems. But, times change and apparently Capcom could be open to changing the game up a tad and fitting it for the Wii. That is, if you all want it.And, after watching the game's hero whip things, we have come to the conclusion that we want the game. The reticle aiming and whipping action looks like it would be a perfect match for the Wii's control scheme. Of course, should the game turn out to be bad, we'll be kicking ourselves for making such a stink about the whole thing.What do you all think? Would you play the game, or could you not care less?
Destructible game, Fracture, announced for 2008
Fracture is the new collaboration between publisher, LucasArts, and developer Day 1 Studios. To be released in mid-2008 for the PS3 and 360, the third-person shooter will rely on destructible environments as a key component of the gameplay. We've heard that promise before, but like a bass noticing a Shad Rap, the game's potential is high enough for us to follow this lure to the boat.It's the year 2161, and the United States has been divided by its flooded Mississippi River. The East is full of cybernetically enhanced humans, while the West is populated with powerful mutants aided by genetic engineering. The freaks can't get along, and this premise -- which hopefully plays out better than it sounds -- incites a world war based in America. (We look forward to the "K" broadcasters finally settling their feud with the "W" stations.)[Update: Be sure to check out our impressions of the title as well.]%Gallery-2929%
Metareview - Killzone: Liberation
With that Killzone sequel stuck somewhere in the PlayStation 3 pipeline, Sony and Guerilla have opted to keep the franchise alive with a PSP spin-off, releasing this week. Guerilla was not up to the task of proving FPSs could be done well on PSP, so Liberation is brought to us in third-person, which has proved more stable and successful on the platform. But releasing alongside Vice City Stories and a pair of Q Entertainment puzzlers could mean Liberation gets slept on.Here are some mixed critiques: IGN (90/100) opines Killzone's got "depth" and "accessibility," making it "one of the best games on [PSP]." GameDaily (80/100) gives a clear-cut endorsement: "Killzone: Liberation is definitely worth buying." Game Informer (73/100) applauds Guerilla for "actually trying to do some quality work on the PSP," but warns, "this game will kick your ass" because of awkward controls and difficulty balance.
John Woo's Stranglehold hands-on
Take the gun out of your mouth folks. John Woo's Stranglehold looks like more than just a shot-to-sh-t cash-in on the Hong Kong action auteur's single-syllable last name. Senior Game Designer Patrick Curry (a loyal Joystiq reader) pulled me out of the crowd for a little quality time with Midway's homage to Woo's bullet ballets and I came away impressed. This 360 game is from the same team that did Psi-Ops: Mindgate Conspiracy, an awesome Xbox title that was on everybody's "best game that no one played" list. After commiserating with the staff over the inexplicable disappointing sales of that game, I picked up the controller to try out its "spiritual" next-gen sequel. Stranglehold plays like Max Payne with, better graphics, more style and more ridiculously cool slow-mo moves. Midway's pitch focused on the destructable environment, which allowed me to blow up everything from wall tiles to frozen pigs. Combined with an array of Woo-ish bullet-time maneuvers, the level I saw did a good job of recreating the vibe from the tea house shoot-out scene in Hard-boiled. I asked executive producer Brian Eddy for the honest truth about Woo's involvement and was told he really did write the script. He also personally nixed blown off limbs, which sadly aren't his stylistic bag. Fortunately, he does prefer that perforated enemies stack up a la The Killer rather than disappear, so the team is working on that feature. They're also adding melee moves beyond the standard pistol whip present in the current build. Employing a common E3 tactic, Midway is keeping multiplayer details close to the shoulder holster, but I was assured that bullet-time will be implemented in an innovative way. Oh, and no warehouse levels.
