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Next Tron game teased, debuting at VGAs
[Image Source] Joining games the likes of Halo: Reach and 2K's new Spec Ops debuting at this year's Spike Video Game Awards is a new installment in the Tron franchise. It's not the first time we've heard of the game -- it was rumored to be in development back in January of this year. Still, its existence is confirmed by an all-too-brief teaser at GameTrailers, which promises a proper unveiling at Spike's awards show on Saturday, December 12. Based on the teaser, the game may simply be titled Tron -- although the logo and art style found in the footage are very similar to that of the upcoming movie sequel, Tron: Legacy. We'll find out exactly what to expect on the Game Grid in just a little over two weeks' time. For now, check out the teaser after the break. [Via That Videogame Blog]
Comic-Con 2009: A real-life Flynn's Arcade
One of the most buzzed about things at the San Diego Comic-Con this year was the viral Flynn's Arcade that Disney created to plug the upcoming Tron: Legacy. In the teaser trailer they showed at the Con, Flynn's son (Garrett Hedlund) revisits his father's now-dusty and cobwebbed arcade, and steps up to the actual Tron arcade game from the 1980s. In the world of Tron: Legacy, Flynn actually went on to create to Tron game, and several others, before disappearing. He hasn't been seen for the past 20 years.Of course, that's where the computer world comes in. At Flynn's Arcade, they replicated the teaser, complete with neon signs for all the the games Flynn created (covered in dust and faux cobwebs, natch), and a Tron cabinet standing by itself on the back wall. After allowing about 10 minutes of open play on dozens of arcade machines, the lights flicker, there's an electrical surge, and ... the entire Tron cabinet swings away from the wall revealing a dark tunnel beyond.Inside there were plasma screens showing off light cycle generation 2 sketches, and ... a complete cycle itself around the corner. Head on after the break for some videos from the event (that include said cycle), and you can check out the gallery of images below.%Gallery-68749%
Cheech and Chong trip on Tron
Microsoft and MEAN Magazine premiered Cinemash last week, where Hollywood stars appear in seven short film reinterpretations of classic movies. The first episode featured Zoey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Sid and Nancy, and this week is Cheech and Chong in Tron, complete with some mind-bending graphics. It's probably the closest we'll ever get to an actual Cheech and Chong video game.In a nutshell, they get baked, debate how the economy has affected the price of dime bags, and then race around on lightcycles in a Tron-off to see who wins the argument. There's definitely a lot of cue card inspired line delivery up front, but some of those graphics are brain melting enough to make you feel like you're tripping yourself. You can watch the video just beyond the break, or via the Zune Marketplace. With any luck, these will be available on Xbox Live later in the year.
Epic Games to demonstrate new Unreal Engine 3 features at GDC
Though we usually have some expectations for what big announcements will be dropped at the annual Game Developers Conference, the happenings of this year's event, beginning next Monday, seem to be veiled in secrecy. However, Epic Games recently announced something for PC gamers to look forward to -- the developer will be showcasing some of the big changes it's implementing in Unreal Engine 3 during GDC 2009.Among said changes is the introduction of the Unreal Lightmass, which will add "high-quality static lighting with next-generation effects." It will also include a few tools to make things easier on Unreal-focused artists and designers, such as the Master Control Program, which tracks and collects statistics of online gaming activity. It also enslaves and destroys its fellow programs, attempting to take over the world from within the ENCOM mainframe computer. End of line!
Rumor: Disney Interactive begins work on new TRON game
Greetings Program. With a sequel to 80s nerdgasm TRON set to digitize theaters in a couple years, Disney Interactive Studios is already rumored to be working to put an adaptation of the upcoming film on the Game Grid. The news follows reports earlier this week of layoffs and studio shrinkage at Disney's video game arm, though according to Variety this hasn't stopped the company from talking to potential game developers about the project.Master Control has not yet revealed what the rumored game will be like. Perhaps it will be a shooter like Monolith's TRON 2.0, or simply let us dress up a grizzled Jeff Bridges in a variety of rotoscoped outfits. End of line.
Born for Wii: Discs of Tron
The year is 1982, and your mind has just been blown straight out of the back of your head into an alternate reality of endless imagination and gripping fantasy. Why? Because you just saw Tron. The iconic Disney film, which was one of the first movies in history to use computer graphics, cemented itself in the public conscience as an integral part of 80s pop culture. A handful of legendary scenes are still instantly evoked when Tron is mentioned, such as the lightcycle sequence -- and many of them have found their way into a real videogame over the years.One of those games was Discs of Tron, released in arcades a whopping 25 years ago. Inspired by a few minutes of the film, the game pits you against an adversary in a small arena on floating platforms, charged with "derezzing" your opponents before you bite the digital dust yourself. Unfortunately, you can't kick quite as much ass as Tron himself, but the game did an admirable job (especially by 1983 standards) of taking a single concept and making it fun. And even though the original really shows its age now and wouldn't stand up against the competition in 2008, just think of it this way: how could a murder disc simulator not be Born for Wii? #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; } NEXT >> %Gallery-34937% Every week, Born for Wii digs into gaming's sordid past to unearth a new treasure fit for revival on the Nintendo Wii. Be sure to check out last week's entry in the series, Cosmic Smash, and for more great titles that deserve your attention, take a look at Virtually Overlooked.
Movies that could be MMOs: Tron
"Greetings, programs." These are the first words you hear as you enter the vast, coldly glittering chamber, prodded forward by a hulking, cowled figure wielding a shockstaff. You glance nervously around you. Your companions seem equally confused and frightened. High above you upon a raised platform, glowing redly, is an Enforcer -- one of the Master Control Program's elite warriors. "You have been chosen to compete against each other for our amusement. Failure to compete is rewarded with deresolution. A victory ensures another day of life. You shall compete until you lose. A loss is punished with deresolution. Today you will receive training. Tomorrow you shall compete. End of line."One of the cowled figures roughly thrusts a glowing blue disc into your trembling hands, which you hold to yourself like a lifeline, which it is. Your training begins.Released into theaters in 1982, Tron is a movie about computers, written before the emergence of the World Wide Web. It posited a world inside the hardware, occupied by anthropomorphized programs. Though some of its ideas bear little resemblance to reality, the story and themes still hold up to repeated viewing, and it's a fun ride with interesting visuals. Despite the numerous adaptations into videogame form the movie has endured, the world of Tron could make a fun and engaging MMO. We'll take a look at how its mechanics might work after the jump.
The real-world impact of virtual identities
Can you truly be held responsible for something you've done in a virtual world? Should the implications of your actions carry over to "the other side"? If so, then to what extent? This has been a daunting subject, even since the days of Tron, but a recent book by Jacob van Kokswijk entitled "Digital Ego" addresses this very issue.The comparison of the virtual identity to our real-life identity is becoming of ever-increasing importance. This not only pertains to consequences and responsibilities in both realms, but also economic factors such as an advertising target audience. Will this trend continue to grow as the casual virtual world blossoms, and we begin to blur the line between a physical and virtual existence? Let us know your opinion.
Giant Bomb to watch, evaluate every game-based movie
It's common knowledge that movies based on games are generally awful (much like games based on movies). But for all the internet griping about everything from Dead or Alive to Hitman to anything by Uwe Boll, how many of us are insane enough to want an encyclopedic knowledge of every awful game-based movie ever made?The answer to that question is "at least one" and that one is former Gamespotter Ryan Davis, who has publicly set out to watch every game-based flick as part of "The Giant Bomb Video-Game Movie Experiment." While the project sadly leaves out game-inspired movies like Tron and WarGames and animated classics like Pokemon: Yet Another Insipid Movie, we still have to admire the moxie required to even attempt such a project. Will Davis' determination be enough to see him through? Will his sanity hold out? Find out this summer, only in theaters on the web.
XBLA in Brief: Discs of Tron
When we came up with XBLA in Brief, it was never our intention that it would be this brief, but here we go. We spent a little time with the trial version of Discs of Tron today, and we do mean a little time. The demo offers up two levels of play, and that's it. Of course, there are only twelve levels, so it's not like Disney Interactive could give away much more.
This Wednesday: Commanders, Discs of Tron assault XBLA
Turn-based strategy and relentless disc flinging will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade this week, with Commanders: Attack of the Genos and Discs of Tron scheduled to arrive on Wednesday. Sierra Online's Commanders pits you (a commander, we suspect) against an invading army of genetically modified miscreants who, at the very least, are polite enough to wage war in turns. Fifteen missions, fifteen specialized units and a "retro-futuristic" setting can be had for 800 MS Points ($10).%Gallery-15772% As the title succinctly implies, Discs of Tron is primarily concerned with opponents hurling Tron discs at each other, very often while standing on discs within Tron. The disc-less download, which sports enhanced graphics and "CD-quality sound," will require you to discard 400 of your MS Points ($5).%Gallery-2940%
Discs of Tron hits XBLA in time for Valentine's
We know you've got a special someone in your life. That someone might be sitting next to you right now, or maybe at work, or maybe that someone doesn't yet know that he or she is your special someone. Given the time of year, you're probably scrambling to figure out what would make the perfect gift for that someone. Sure, you could opt for a dozen roses or the collection of nail trimmings and skin shavings you keep on your secret love altar, but why not try something a little less conventional? Why not give them Discs of Tron, which makes its Xbox Live Arcade debut next week on February 13, just in time for Valentine's Day? Honestly, nothing says "I love you" like tossing light Frisbees at an evil computer program. Nothing.[Via Joystiq]%Gallery-15615%
Discs of Tron uploads into Xbox Live next week
Midway's Discs of Tron, the second Tron arcade game to hit Xbox Live (the first arrived a month ago) will debut next week, according to a press release from Tron license holder Disney. The game will feature upgraded visuals and audio, although a "classic" option is reportedly available.Although concepts from the game are 25 years old, you will reportedly not be able to digitize yourself into the virtual environment -- you'll just have to make do with the Xbox 360 controller. So sad. You can take on Sark yourself on February 13.%Gallery-2940%
Omega Five and Tron hit XBLA
It's hard to get used to the now consistent barrage of bite-sized games offered on Xbox Live Arcade. This week brings the ever delectable combo of both a retro title and an original title. Lest you don't know which is which, Tron is an arcade game circa 1982. You may recall an awesome movie of the same name. The game features both original and improved graphics, online and offline multiplayer gameplay, and kick ass light cycles. As is the case with most retro titles, the only question you really have to ask yourself is if you enjoyed the original enough to plunk down the 400 MS Point entry fee. Of course, you can always give the trial version a go.Omega Five is an omni-directional side-scrolling shooter. In other words, you move with the left stick and shoot with the right stick, just like many other shooters on XBLA. Unlike many other shooters on the service though, Omega Five pays tribute to the Japanese shoot 'em ups that littered both arcades and consoles in the late eighties and early nineties. Pick a character, move to the right, and shoot everything that moves. Honestly, except for the addition of a few more directional options, game design hasn't changed that much, has it? Alas, Omega Five's multiplayer is restricted to local co-op. Still, if blasting is your thing, you may want to give it a try. If it tickles your fancy, the whole enchilada can be had for 800 MS Points.%Gallery-13038%%Gallery-12550%Read -- Tron - Game Detail PageRead -- Omega Five - Game Detail Page
XBLA screeny blowout: Rez, Tron and Poker Smash
After sniffing through the deep, dark and musty bowels of Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade marketing materials, not only did we get a nasty sinus infection, but we came across spiffy new screenshots from a few upcoming XBLA games. What Arcade games? Well, you're jumping the gun there stallion with all your questions as we were just about to tell you. Ahem. Screenshots from XBLA games including Rez, Tron and Poker Smash which can all be viewed in the galleries posted after the break. So please do us a favor and make our sinus infection worth getting by viewing as many screenshots as possible. We read somewhere that the only way to cure a blogger's sinuses is to view their screenshot galleries ... just saying.
This Wednesday: Omega Five, Tron get digitized, sucked into Xbox Live
We already knew about Omega Five (you did read that post, didn't you?) so we're not going to waste your time going through all the gory details. It's 800 points, it's an action game, we liked it. No, we're going to skip right to the retro release this week: Tron, a 400-point HD sprucing of the old arcade favorite.Not only will you experience the visceral thrill of speeding around in light cycles and killing a dude with a dinner plate, you're also going to be able to do it 2-player, an option not available on the arcade original. If we have one quibble, it's that Discs of Tron (also in development for XBLA) isn't included in the package. Are the two really worth splitting up?%Gallery-2940%%Gallery-3982%
Omega Five and Tron launch to the XBLA this week
We just received a heads up from the folks over at the Gamerscore Blog telling us that this week we'll be treated to an XBLA twofer. One that we fully expected and one that sort of snuck up on us.Both Hudson's Omega Five and some very, very old-school Tron will make their way to the XBLA this Wednesday, January 9th with a reception the scale of a presidential inauguration. Omega Five will release for 800 Microsoft points and feature pretty 3D graphics, local co-op and crazy amounts of "boom!", "kablam!" and "splat!". Tron on the other hand will release for 400 Microsoft points and feature multiplayer co-op local or over Live (double the grid bug killing fun!) as well as a versus mode too. Not to mention it'll also sport some sexy CD quality audio. Again, both games will release to the XBLA this Wednesday, so give 'em a try and be smiley.
MMOs get the movie treament in 'Game'
In an interesting spin on the ever-rising deluge of movies based off of popular game properties (and vice versa), we stumbled on a movie in production that, while it doesn't forcibly sodomize feature any of our favorite franchises directly, it casts the future of the massively multiplayer online genre in less than rose-colored glasses. The movie, titled "Game" and being directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, is set in the not-so-distant future, in a dystopian world where mind-control has become a pervasive aspect of human existence. The latest and greatest MMO has players remote-controlling other humans in their games of sport. The hero is the best and most well-known warrior (played by Gerard Butler) of the game called "Slayers" as he seeks to rebel against the system that has enslaved him. Rapper Ludacris and Zoe Bell (Grindhouse) are part of the resistance group called HUMANZ, seeking to bring down this system. It's also reported that Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia has joined the cast in some capacity. Oh my.Seemingly combining equal parts Matrix, The Lawn Mower Man, and TRON, we're praying that Game doesn't take itself too seriously and try and lay down any serious social commentary or anything heavy-handed like that. This has B-movie written all over it, and that's way it should be. If they can manage to sneak in a few inside jokes to MMO players without coming off as condescending, they might even have the workings of a cult hit on their hands. Who knows, maybe there'll even be a "Game: The Game!"
Today's most Tron-in-reverse video: The Gamer trailer
What do you get when you mix video game junkies and a video camera? Well, in most cases you get a lot of unwatchable junk. However, these guys have put together a fan-made retro gaming film trailer that ain't half bad. Sure, the acting isn't going to win them any Academy Awards or spots on the People's Choice list, but hey ... when you can stick some retro-gaming action in with live-action footage, we're all over it.Check out the video above and imagine what you'd do if Donkey Kong showed up in your world. We'd be running the other direction, phoning every Italian plumber we knew.
Joystiq interviews Gaia Industries on Street Trace (XBLA)
We sat down at the Gaia Industries launch party of Street Trace for Xbox Live Arcade a few weeks ago in their Downtown NYC offices. The Xbox Live-enabled title is one of the most ambitious for the XBLA service, focusing primarily on online racing battles. As revealed in our interview Street Trace has come a long way, inspired by Tron, moving on to a PSP concept, and then finally ending up on XBLA.Where did the concept for Street Trace come from?The concept came from a game I actually built twenty years ago. Tron just came out and I was a kid, just about eleven or twelve and I made a little Tron-based game on the Zedex Spectrum, a really old machine.It certainly sounds old.That was the initial thing, and made it 3D about five years ago. And although it came from this initial idea of the trails, about three years ago we made this prototype. We changed it from being futuristic to grungy, and changed a lot of the stuff around. A lot of our inspirations are coming from games like Twisted Metal, Tony Hawk, SSX, the whole hoverboard and skating genre that we love. It's a mix of all those things.
