Too Human
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Molyneux feels sorry for Dyack and Too Human
Why all the Denis Dyack (stuck) hating? That's the question Fable 2's Peter Molyneux (stuck) seems to have asked himself because recently, in an interview with VideoGamer, Molyneux expressed sorry feelings for Dyack and how he and Too Human have been treated as of late. "I feel sorry for Denis Dyack because you know, I think a few things were said wrong, there was that really unfortunate showing at E3 a few years ago" Molyneux continued, saying that "everyone got on the bandwagon of saying things about Too Human." Peter then threw his support behind Too Human saying that "it's a good game" admitting that "it doesn't deserve a lot of that harsh criticism."A perfect example of how developers have to stick together if they want to survive in the industry. Strength in numbers, friends, strength in numbers.
Too secret Too Human achievements
Today, in achievement news, the fellas over at 360Sync were able to score a list of all 50 Too Human achievements including descriptions, Gamerscore values and achievements artwork. Though, most of them (21 to be exact) are the dreadfully dreadful "secret" achievements of which we only get to view their Gamerscore values. Stupid secret achievements, always trying to be so darn secretive. We can only hope that by the time we achieve the "True Son of Odin" achievement we'll have earned all the secret ones as well. If not, a few Silicon Knights heads will roll.
E308: Too Human screens, character art
In development for nearly a decade, Too Human is an action-RPG from Canadian developer Silicon Knights. Its story revolves around an alternate reality where Norse mythology and cybernetics govern the world. As Baldur, son of Odin, players are tasked with fighting off a mechanized horde of invaders hellbent on destroying the human species. Sounds cool right? Well, you don't have to rely on our "back of the box" style description because you can play Too Human right now! The demo, as we've mentioned before, is on Xbox Live right now. Give it a shot. Expect a special X3F Demo Impressions video of the Too Human Demo soon. In the meantime, check out our galleries of screenshots and character art from E3 2008.%Gallery-27736%%Gallery-27737%
Too Human demo now available
As promised, the Too Human demo is now available for download. We haven't had a chance to play it yet, because we're trying to get ready for the MS press conference in a couple hours and make sure that certain bloggers clean up (it's like trying to bathe cats, seriously). Let us know what you think about the Too Human demo -- especially those controls -- and be sure to come back in a little bit for our Microsoft Press Conference liveblog.[Via X3F, Thanks Fernando]
E308: Too Human Demo Online now
After all the controversy that has surrounded the game, gamers can finally give Too Human a shot for themselves. While it's possible that the demo of the Norse inspired dungeon crawler might not give one the full flavor of the game considering how story and loot driven the experience is supposed to be. Still, something is better than nothing, especially with a game that has been so divisive as this one. The demo is 1.1 gigs and is online now.
Microsoft bringing home Too Human demo next week
We can go ahead and cross off one square from our press conference bingo. Microsoft has announced that, as part of their annual "Bringing it Home" series, the Too Human demo is coming to Xbox Live next week during E3 (via IGN). No word yet one what else will be available, but expect a usual flock of videos, themes, gamerpics and other random surprises. So how does Dyack's epic stack up to the hype? Find out yourself next week.
MS will be Bringing it Home from E3, Too Human demo confirmed!
Microsoft just made two huge E3 related announcements this morning. The first being that they'll be connecting E3 and Xbox Live users by holding another Bringing it Home campaign! And we know how much our fellow fanboys love their Bringing it Home. Complete with daily E3 wrap-ups, game trailers, game videos, screenshots, gamer pictures, themes and game demos, Bringing it Home will allow gamers to experience all the goodness that E3 has to offer all from the comforts of their Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live Marketplace. Microsoft's second huge announcement, Bringing it Home will be bringing a Too Human demo home to the XBLM sometime next week during E3. A Too Human demo, w00tacular! Also, be sure to mark your E3 Bingo Cards, because we just received our first official free space!
Microsoft E3 2008 press conference: Let's play bingo!
#bingochart { border: 2px solid #111; border-collapse: collapse; } #bingochart td { padding: 1px 0px 1px 0px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; margin: 0; font-size: 80%; line-height: 90%; } #bingochart th { padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: top; text-align: center; margin: 0; } #bingochart a{ filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=100); -moz-opacity: 1;} #bingochart a:hover { filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Alpha(opacity=80); -moz-opacity: 0.80;} XNA GamesLaunch Deets Fable 2Online Co-op Alan Wake Demoed SecretRare Game 60 GIGHard Drive Gears 24 player Co-op HaloChronicles Too HumanXBLM Demo Rock Band 2On Stage Bungie TalksNew Game DashboardReborn J AllardReturns FREE SPACEAvatars! Cliff AppearsWith Lancer Metal GearOnline Xbox 360Price-Cut 'LIPS'Revealed Halo WarsRelease Date EternalDarkness 2 Third PartyXbox 360 Xbox LiveGoes Free DishwasherReleased NewX360 SKU MotionController Top SecretXBLA Games var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Microsoft_E3_2008_press_conference_Bingo'; In anticipation of next week's E3 Media and Business Summit, we've prepared bingo cards for each of the big press conferences, filled with some likely (and some not-so-likely) predictions for what each of the big three console makers intends to announce at arguably the biggest trade shows of the year.Today's card is for Microsoft (special thanks to X3F). We're going out on a limb and giving Avatars away as the free space. Click on each of the slides above for more information about our predictions. Microsoft's E3 press conference is scheduled for next Monday at 10:30 am PT (that's 1:30 pm Joystiq Time / ET). As always, we'll be liveblogging the event, so you can play along in real-time with us.Stay tuned for more press conference bingo cards in the days leading up to the conference. (Also: check out our bingo card for Sony's press conference.)Download a copy (PNG file) and play along!Update: Only hours after we post this ... N2, you hit my battleship!
Too Human makes spiders friendly again
Let's face it, spiders are scary. They're creepy, crawly, sometimes hairy, and they are positively loaded with legs. And eyes. They also make webs and have nasty pincer mouths. Nobody likes spiders. Anyone who claims to like spiders is lying. They would be lying ... unless of course they were talking about the awesome robot spiders in Too Human! Yes, we've been hit with yet another video featuring Silicon Knights head Dennis Dyack extolling the many virtues of Too Human. This time it's about spiders, helpful little robots that can be summoned to your aid when crawling the cyber-Norse dungeons of Too Human. They can help you juggle foes, destroy incoming missiles, and oh so much more. Watch the video above and sleep well knowing that not all spiders are evil.
IGN to Silicon Knights: Here's how to fix Too Human
With initial previews of Silicon Knights' Too Human painting the long-in-development action RPG as a few miles short of Valhalla, IGN has stepped up, offering the developer a handful of advice concerning items that site would like to see corrected before the game ships in August.According to IGN, among the issues needing a little extra lovin' are the game's lock-happy camera, random loot drops, and "sluggish" framerate, as well as a general lack of combat hand-holding and backstory -- each of which the site is only too happy to offer up a helpful tip or two to correct. Of course, with Dyack and Co. set to take their seemingly flawed action romp on the road next month, we doubt that a few choice words from an outside source will help right a decade of stumbling.
Too Human previews start rolling in
It looks like the promised early preview copies of Too Human have started to arrive, as we're now being flooded with new video from the game as well as previews from both Wired and MTV's Multiplayer. Joystiq has gone to the trouble of summing up both previews. We recommend reading both previews if you have the time. Having read the previews, the reaction definitely seems to be a mixed one. Both previews note that the game is very short, clocking in at around 10 hours, and that the cliffhanger ending doesn't live up to the rest of the game, with Wired's Chris Kohler noting noting that there was "not nearly enough payoff for all the story exposition." What story is present is apparently well told though, and, more importantly, the gameplay is reportedly very solid, as MTV's Steven Totilo notes the game "has the potential to win fans of pure play."That said, Kohler notes that the game can be played again using the same character and that the game will be repopulated with more challenging enemies and remixed levels. From the sound of both previews, Too Human will find a home with fans of dungeon crawlers who intend to play through multiple times and get the best loot, but may suffer with those who only intend to play through once in order to enjoy the story. Frankly, we'd settle for a good dungeon crawl on the 360. We'll have to wait and see if the game delivers when the reviews start showing up in August.In the meantime, enjoy some more Too Human footage after the break.
Behold: New Too Human previews hit
We're just two months out from the release of Too Human, a game that would have garnered its share of attention – though not nearly as much as it's getting for being in development 10 years across at least three platforms. The game (the first in a planned trilogy) is finally hitting on Xbox 360, and two of our blogosphere compatriots have offered up their thoughts on its current state in new previews. Read what MTV and Wired had to say after the break. Source: 'Too Human' Xbox 360 Preview, In The Shadow of 'Metal Gear' – MTVSource: Too Human in 10 hours – Wired%Gallery-16464%
GoldenEye 007's KLOBB returns in Too Human
Silicon Knights' long-awaited Xbox 360 action game Too Human is giving a shout out to a N64 classic, according to Wired. GoldenEye 007, the groundbreaking console FPS developed by Rare, featured a gun called the "KLOBB" – a nod to then Nintendo designer Ken Lobb, who helped out during the game's development. The gun was also the weakest in the game. D'oh!Too Human promises hundreds of items ... and one of them, as Wired has uncovered, is the KLOBB. Not surprising considering that Ken Lobb is now serving as Creative Director at Microsoft Game Studios and is working closely with Silicon Knights on its game. For the record, it has a damage rating of 18.%Gallery-16464%
Video: Too Human classes trailer
We're trying really hard to stop harping on Too Human for its lack of four player co-op. Silicon Knights, it seems, is doing its best to make it as hard as possible for us to do that. You see, in this video, studio head Dennis Dyack talks about the various classes in Too Human and how they can complement one another. For example, the Bio-Engineer class has a healing buff that constantly heals himself and other party members. Oh wait, party member. See, that's where that stinging pain sets in. It's when Dyack uses words like "group" and "combinations" that the two player co-op reality crashes down.Of course, it's still valid, and certain classes will complement others, but we can't help but think of how dynamic it might have been.
Too Human completion "likely just days away"
Yes, you read that correctly. A game that began its life waaaaaay back on the original Playstation is finally nearing completion. According to a developer blog entry from Silicon Knights guru Dennis Dyack, Too Human is "likely just days away" from being sent to certification, where it will reach the hallowed 'gold' status that all games must attain before release. Dyack throws a few more tidbits into the update, noting that gamers can expect to earn at least 600 achievement points on their first runs through the game. Furthermore, he states that it would be difficult for anyone to comprehend the complexity of the game after playing only a short demo (a point we concede), and assures everyone that press will get their review copies "well in advance of the release date."Really? Does that mean we can have ours right now? We've got a serious desire to build a new tank (we guess Joystiq can be our healer ... maybe).[Via Joystiq]
Too Human 'just days away' from done
Silicon Knight's controversy-fuelled Too Human is nearly finished, as company president Denis Dyack confirms on his IGN blog that the game "is likely just days away" from being completed. Writes Dyack, the team is currently working to squelch a pair of "rare crash bugs" before sending the long-in-development sci-fi Norse action game off for final approval. The exec also notes that "there will be plenty of time for press to critique Too Human as they will receive evaluation copies well in advance of the release date." This means that when scores come rolling in this August they should not be based on rushed play throughs to meet unrealistic deadlines, at least that's the theory. We admit that part of us will miss the roller coaster ride that has been Too Human's road to retail, though we can't help but wonder what Dyack will be up to next.
Microsoft confirms not so surprising E3 lineup [update]
Update: So, uh ... yeah. Halo Wars is actually on the E3 list. Honestly, we can't read, we didn't think it was part of the blogging gig. Anyway, our apologies as we say bring on the Halo Wars!As E3 gets closer and closer, the video game industry as a whole are dotting their "i"s and crossing their "t"s for the craziness that'll go down next month. And Microsoft, being the organized folks that they are, just released a confirmed list of games that'll be making an appearance in Los Angeles on July 14th. A list that isn't all that unexpected.It should be no surprise that Microsoft's confirmed list of E3 video game attendees will be hot 2008 releases including Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Too Human, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise. See, nothing crazy different then what we already expected. But noticeably absent from their list are games like Halo Wars Halo Chronicles and Alan Wake, all games (except Chronicles) that are the latter is still slated for a 2008 release. Though, our confidence in that "fact" is waning.Also, one thing we can count on at this year's E3 will be at least one super duper surprise. Whether it be a new game announcement, new hardware, new peripherals or some unthinkably awesome tidbit of info, we're uber excited. E3 is coming ... get happy!
Video: the battlecries of Too Human
A new Too Human video has been released, this time discussing the game's battlecries (game developers can make two words into one now?). For those unfamiliar with the game, battlecries are essentially part of the game's magic system. When activated, battlecries bestow positive effects on players, including co-op partners. Some examples in the video (as explained by studio head Dennis Dyack) are a battlecry that makes all hits critical hits, giving players the ability to deal twice as much damage (pretty handy in a fight) and an ice shield that freezes enemies when they attack (also useful). Now, if we could just find the battlecry that makes it August right now.
Score new armor with Too Human pre-order offer
Chris from the Gamerscore Blog just sent us an update (and the fancy schmancy video embedded above) regarding Too Human and a new pre-order program they're running in North America. How it's planned, when you pre-order Too Human at any participating retailer, you'll receive five sets of exclusive in-game armor (one for each character class) that not only maximizes each class' abilities and sport two slots for customization, but they also look totally badass. Especially the Bioengineer ... total badassery. So, if you're cool with two player co-op instead of four and support Mr. Dyack, then go get your pre-order on before August 19th to score some new armor duds. Also, feel free to look over the five sets of pre-order armor goodness in the gallery below.%Gallery-24530%
Too Human video: Thor smash!
GameTrailers has posted a new trailer from the upcoming Silicon Knights hack and slash, Too Human. There is no gameplay feature. However, what it lacks in gameplay, it makes for it with Thor. As the Norse god of thunder, Thor has something of a temper, which is fairly evident in the video. Watch as Baldur and Thor search for the doorway to the serpent's lair. We hate to spoil it for anyone, but let's just say that if you're the god Thor and you carry a giant hammer, you can make doors.
