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PS3 responsible for Turok delay
How are you enjoying playing Turok? (Don't answer that truthfully, peoples' feelings could be hurt!) Were you aware that you were supposed to be playing it around November of last year? That's when it was originally scheduled to be released, at least. Unfortunately Propaganda Games had some trouble getting the quality of the PS3 version up to scratch, so the game was delayed to earlier this month. Similar delays occurred with other UE3 powered games last year, though none were pushed back as far as 2008.We're expecting Sony to receive a nice "Thankyou!" hamper from Turok's developers any time now. All joking aside though, with the amount of games that were released during the last quarter of 2007, especially shooters, Turok would've been swallowed up and ignored. No doubt the game is receiving far better sales now than it could have in November, considering it has the entire month of February to itself with regards to the first person shooter market. Epic have gone on record to say that the engine is now fully optimised for the PS3 (and has been since UTIII was released, so this should be the last delay of this type that we see. Hopefully.[Via Joystiq]
Turok devs blame delay on PS3 version
The new Turok title was originally scheduled for release in November of last year, but only came out this past week. The reason for the four-month delay? According to developer Propaganda Games, it's the PS3's fault.Josh Holmes, VP and studio manager at Propaganda, tells Canada.com that lead development of Turok took place on the Xbox 360, due to the console's easy compatibility with the Unreal Engine 3. Though the Xbox 360 version was finished on schedule, the PS3 version took a bit more finagling to get it "up to the standard of the 360 version."X3F points out that Propaganda's difficulties stem somewhat from the sub-par PS3 port of Unreal Engine 3, which also led to Silicon Knights' lawsuit against Epic.[Via X3F]
PS3 Fanboy review: Turok
Ever want to like something more than you do? That's the feeling you get while playing Turok. When it works, Turok absorbs the player into a vicious world, one of incredible beauty and ferocity. Struggling against the ever-present menace of dinosaurs, players will find themselves blending in with the environment, using their tools to quietly, and effectively, kill without being seen. Clear moments of brilliant game direction aren't too hard to find -- the problem is, they're buried underneath a mountain of frustrating and questionable design choices. There's a good, if not great, game waiting to arise from Turok. Unfortunately, this latest entry on Xbox 360 and PS3 is not the one to realize that potential.There are some wonderfully memorable sequences in Turok. At its finest, the game successfully meshes stealth and action into something truly fun. Players can sneak around in tall grass, slowly taking the opportunity to sneak up behind enemies, and quietly knife them in the back. From afar, they can use their bow and snipe enemies quickly and quietly. Finally, players can throw a flare at an unsuspecting guard, luring hungry dinosaurs their way. Pulling these maneuvers off, while keeping an eye on the grass for any sudden movements, is incredibly satisfying. If the game managed to continue highlighting these sequences, it would've been a clear winner.%Gallery-12563%
Free $10 gift card with DMC4 or Turok purchase
Last week, we mentioned that if you pre-ordered either Turok or Devil May Cry 4 at Circuit City you could score a $10 gift card. Well, it looks like they've extended the offer to anyone who purchases either game this week, pre-order or not. From Tuesday through Sunday, Circuit City is offering a $10 gift card to Turok, DMC4 or DMC4 CE purchasers and (for those who like their guides) is also taking $10 off the DMC4 strategy guide's price tag. No too bad of a deal, especially if you've recently put yourself in the DMC4 or Turok market after playing the game demos.
Shipping this week: Nero sans fiddle edition
Golly gee willickers there's a lot of games out this week. First of all, we should mention that Turok is officially out this week (though it was released early in some areas; we saw it at Blockbuster yesterday). The star of the show this week is probably Devil May Cry 4 though, what with its demon slaying antics and longstanding pedigree. But wait, what's this? There's more? Yes, it seems the post-holiday dearth has finally ended (for the moment anyway), as this week sees three more titles as well. All told we have: Devil May Cry 4 Turok Culdcept Saga The Spiderwick Chronicles Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore See, there's something for everybody (even gamers dying for a CCG / Monopoly hybrid). Not bad. Not bad at all.[Via Joystiq]
New games this week: Devil May Cry 4 edition
It seems like the release train is back at full speed now, after taking a month-long stop at Sleepytime Station post holidays. This week we've, of course, got the demonic emo action of Devil May Cry 4 and the actual release of Turok for the action fan. On portables, there's the new DS version of Assassin's Creed. PS2 owners are even getting a nice release with Twisted Metal: Head-On: Extra Twisted Edition. Welcome home, video games. ... Welcome home.
Turok demo finally comes to North American Xbox Live
With the revamped version of Turok apparently not shipping out until next week, you still have a little time to decide if you're going to be able to take the dino-killing brute back into your life. Now, you non-PS3 gamers have been given the tools to do so, with the demo for the game arriving on Xbox Live Marketplace. You PS3 players have already had the chance to take it for a spin.So, here's what we need to know: What's the verdict? Are you going to be able to give Turok another chance to win you over? Or is the new effort too little too late?
Team kill achievement in Turok is no more
Well, it looks like gamers can finally rest easy. Readers may recall that Turok was to include an achievement called "Grab Bag" that rewarded players for killing their own team members. Specifically, players had to kill "at least 1 creature, 1 enemy, 1 teammate, and yourself in the same round of a public match." With griefing players already ruining multiplayer games everywhere, gamers were naturally upset when Turok's developers decided to actually reward them for it. Thankfully though, the devs at Propaganda have seen the light and will be altering the achievement with a launch day patch for the game. The achievement will remain in the game after the patch, but will now only require players to kill a creature, an enemy, and themselves. So it's mostly fixed, but don't be surprised if your teammates are constantly throwing grenades at their feet.[Via Joystiq]
Turok demo wanders into North America's XBLM
Someone must have informed Touchstone today that their Turok demo still hadn't been released to the North American XBLM even though it has been readily available to other Live regions two weeks ago. We say this, because magically today said Turok demo became available to United States, Canada and Mexico Xbox Live members. We're guessing that the two week delay was due to North America's generally negative cultural view on killing dinosaurs without reasonable cause. Oh well. Download the 1.17GB demo if you want and take out some anger by killing a few dinosaurs ... but only the ones that can be justified. Otherwise, it just wouldn't be right.
Turok developers remove team-kill achievement with launch-day patch
Concerns over developer-encouraged griefing can now be quelled, as Game|Life reports that a patch will be released the same day that Turok launches in the US (Feb. 5), removing the controversial team-killing achievement from the online modes of both the PS3 and Xbox 360 version.The patch will keep the "Grab Bag" achievement (and its parallel PS3 "accomplishment") intact, but remove the requirement that players must kill a team-member to acquire it. Once patched, the achievement will only require players to kill at least one creature, one enemy, and themselves in order to unlock.Since the achievement only affects online play, the patch will probably have to be downloaded before any players can engage in multiplayer mayhem. We're happy Propaganda Games decided to release this patch sooner rather than later, though here's hoping eager griefers who heard about the sadistic achievement will also hear about its removal. Otherwise, there or not, the achievement may turn Turok into a TK nightmare.
Shipping this week: manly edition [update]
You know, when you think about it, Turok is a manly game. In fact, it's just about the manliest game it could possibly be. Let's take a look at the facts. One, you play Joseph Turok, a burly, burly man with a jaw hewn from marble and cheekbones to die for. Two, he kills gun toting soldiers using a bow that fires exploding arrows. Three, he hunts dinosaurs with a knife. Finally, don't tell anyone, but we have it on good authority that he goes bear wrestling with Chuck Norris every other Saturday. So yeah, Turok looks to be a game you can show off to impress menfolk without fear of reprisal. Oh, and it's the only new game on 360 this week, so here's hoping it's actually good.Update: While GameStop notes that the game launches this week, many readers have pointed out that the official Turok site still maintains the February 5 release date. In other words, it looks like gamers will be waiting another week before controlling Turok and his manly shoulders.
Halo 3 for $38 and free gift card w/DMC4 pre-order
If you're currently in the market for a fresh copy of Halo 3 then you're in luck, because this week Best Buy is offering Master Chief for the cheap. Through Sunday, they're selling standard edition copies of Halo 3 for the gotta have it price of $38. We are also hearing that some Best Buy stores are super clearancing out leftover Legendary Edition copies for as low as $79, but your mileage will vary on that. This week we also spotted a solid pre-order deal over at Circuit City where you can score a free $10 gift card when you pre-order either Devil May Cry 4 or Turok. Finally, on the hardware side of things, Circuit City has taken $10 off their entire lineup of 360 wireless controllers (including pink and black) and our friends at Best Buy Canada are offering an Xbox 360 Pro bundle (which comes bundled with GRAW2 and RSV) for $399. That's about it for crazy exciting deals this week. Remember to spend wisely and make sure there's food in the pantry before spending this week's entire paycheck on video game goods.[Thanks, Trekster_Gamer]
New games this week: Turok edition [Updated]
Maybe we've taken one too many cerebral bores to the head, but we've decided to feature Touchstone's Turok relaunch as our game of the week. Since we didn't get the demo here in the states, (Ed: The demo is available, but only on PSN). We have no idea if it's a solid title or more of the dreck that the series devolved into. But we hate dinosaurs so much we want it to be awesome. Nay, we need it to be. Check the full list after the jump.[Update: Though GameStop has the game set to launch this week, Turok's official site says Feb. 5. So don't go looking for it this week.]
Turok demo coming to the EU PSN Store in February
We've been writing a lot of "X coming to Y in Z" posts recently, which we assume can only be a good thing. Compared to this time last year when the only thing we knew was coming to the PSN was Calling All Cars. With so much stuff on its way in the future, however, it does make us a little restless now, with nothing new to play. Good thing it's PSN update day.Europeans will be waiting until February 7th in order to get their first taste of Turok. That's one whole day before the game launches. Americans, on the other hand, will no doubt receive it earlier. Not only because they always receive things earlier, but also because the game is out in America this month. Don't expect to see it today, though.
Turok demo supposedly available now [update]
If you're one to believe a certain Major Nelson, then there is currently a Turok demo available on Xbox Live Marketplace right damn now. Alas, it seems as though Major's many spies (birds, beasts) are misinformed, as said demo is nowhere to be found. Nope, nothing. We continue to stare at the screen, hoping desperately that the demo will make itself known to us. We've uttered all the elvish passwords we know, but so far our efforts have been fruitless. With any luck, we'll stumble upon the answer soon.Update: Major Nelson has updated the availability for the game. The demo is available in the following regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom [Via Joystiq]
Turok demo now due on Xbox Live [update]
We had our heart broken by Turok more than a few times in the past, so we were a bit trepidacious when he showed up on our doorstep again, clean-shaven and with a handful of flowers. But we decided, after dancing in our pajamas and eating ice cream with some of our closest female friends, that love, real love, was worth the risk.So when we saw Major Nelson's post that a demo had hit Xbox Live Marketplace we'll admit we were a bit excited. We found one of the black dresses from our college days that still fits, put on our best perfume. And then hopped on to Xbox Live to find that he was nowhere to be found. We're sitting there all alone just listening to the violinist and eating breadsticks, waiting for him to arrive. What's worse, people in the UK say they've already seen him! We'll let you know when he gets here, but he better have a great excuse. Unless he comes in missing an arm and with velociraptor teeth marks on his head, we are finished. Again.Update: Major Nelson has updated the post to say that two-timer Turok will be available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom. Or in other words, not in North America. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have to go buy a pint of Chunky Monkey and take a long bath.
Team kill achievement may be pulled from Turok
Speaking to CVG, Turok developer Propaganda Games made it known that the developer is considering the removal of the now infamous "Grab Bag" achievement. For those that don't recall, the "Grab Bag" achievement awards gamers 20 points in Turok multiplayer for killing "at least 1 creature, 1 enemy, 1 teammate, and yourself in the same round of a public match." The online community received the achievement with almost universal disdain. Apparently, Propaganda was listening, as vice president Josh Holmes said that the developer is considering the release of a patch "it if it does become an issue when the game releases." Holmes noted that the achievement was created as the result of many first-time Turok players managing to kill themselves and teammates during their first match. The achievement was intended purely as a joke, but Holmes admits that Propaganda underestimated just how far "achievement whores" are willing to go.It's important to reiterate that the patch to remove the achievement is not a certainty yet, so expect the early days of Turok's release to be filled with griefing, team killing bastards.
Turok developer may consider removing team kill achievement
After reviewing concerns about its Xbox achievement choices, Propaganda games says it'll consider removing the "team kill" award after the Turok launch early next year. Although CVG reports in its headline "Turok dev to scrap team kill achievement," the quote from Propaganda VP Josh Holmes is actually, "We are currently looking at readying a patch or solution for it if it does become an issue when the game releases" (um, looks like somebody forgot to read the story before writing the headline). That's not a definitive statement that Propaganda will nix the controversial achievement, but merely acknowledgment that the developer will consider doing so after the game releases.Actually, a few statements made by Holmes in the interview are a little frightening. For example, he says that the team kill achievement -- which gives ten points for killing one creature, enemy, teammate and yourself in a single round -- was originally created as a joke because they found that players in their first Turok match met all the criteria. That's not exactly a confidence builder.
Demo Turok after you pre-order Turok
There's a new Turok demo available right now, but you'll have to pre-order the game to play it. Available at select retailers in the US (Best Buy, Wal-mart, GameStop and Game Crazy) they're handing out a Turok demo disc that gamers will get once a pre-order is placed and cash exchanges hands. The demo is said to give about 30 minutes of gameplay, which we think is a pretty good taste of what dinosaur killing will feel like. And if you're one of those people who hates pre-ordering games, we wouldn't worry. We're sure the Turok demo will be available for download off the Marketplace soon'ish. We're sure of it.
Turok goes dino hunting with pre-order demo for Xbox 360
In a show of confidence, Touchstone (read: Disney) and Propaganda games are making a pre-order demo available now for Turok -- a full two months before the full game's Feb. 5, 2008 release. The disc has "approximately 30 minutes of gameplay from Turok" and is available at Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart.com and Game Crazy. Although there doesn't appear to a release date change for the PS3 version, the pre-order demo is currently only available on Xbox 360. The PC version of Turok will begin stalking reptiles sometime in Spring 2008.The demo disc also includes a "premium item" and at this point.... we have no idea what that means. Our short time with Turok at E3 did impress us, so we're looking forward to getting another chance to experience the hunt two months before launch. No word if a PS3 demo will be distributed some other way, but we're just happy that Propaganda and Disney had some sense to release next year instead of dropping Turok like a cow into the raptor pit of this holiday season.[Via Press Release]
