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Whip it real good, Lego Indiana Jones site now live
The Lego Indiana Jones website is now live and features a little "treasure hunt" game where users search for riches and can then "purchase" wallpapers, avatars and coloring sheets. There's also the standard stuff like a community forum and screenshots, along with the trailer for the game. A downloadable demo should be available for PC on May 13 (also available on the movie DVDs) and we're not finding any information on a console demo, but that doesn't mean there won't be one. Lego Indy begins beating up Nazis random cult members at retail June 3.
Lara Croft parent SCi gets 60m from Warner Bros.
SCi Entertainment, video game publisher Eidos' troubled parent company, has been on the ropes as of late. After rumors of a takeover earlier this month and turning down an outright acquisition offer earlier this week, it's gotten a £60 million investment from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment with the sale of 171 million shares.SCi also announced a strategic relationship with the entertainment giant – which also has a presence in gaming with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – giving the UK-based company "increased scale" in the North American market. Warner apparently has great faith in SCi's "new management team" and "their track record of rich franchises" like Tomb Raider (Underworld remains "encouraging" they say), Hitman, Deus Ex, and Thief.... alright, we made up the Thief part. We're just still curious what Eidos Montreal is up to.[Via GameDaily BIZ]
Lego Indy to have more than 60 playable characters
Pop quiz time, hot shot: Name 60 characters from the Indiana Jones movies. Having trouble? We got to about a dozen before we had to start stretching the definition of "character" with things like "Nazi guard No. 2" and "Train Car Full of Snakes." Despite this, Activision is somehow promising to squeeze 60 playable characters into the upcoming Lego Indiana Jones, according to a fact sheet reprinted by VideoGaming247.com. Of course it's easy to have a boatload of characters when creating a new one is just a matter of putting a new jacket and hat on a Lego Minifigure, but the info. sheet also promises "character specific abilities" such as "excavation by Satipo, an umbrella slide by Marcus Brody, and monkey access by Marion Ravenwood." That's all well and good, but we're really looking forward to "Nazi Guard No. 2's" special ability, which we hear involves melting and exploding. Fun for the whole family.
Video: Shooting Project Origin's crab people
Nothing says happy Friday like seeing a twisted and freaky bloody monster-thing doing the crab walk all while he tries to eat off your face. Lovely. Embedded after the break you can view the latest "Abomination" trailer for Monolith's F.E.A.R. sequel Project Origin and between the freaky crab person bits, we get to see actual gameplay. And if we ever mocked Project Origin's graphics before, we take back those statements because (visually) it looks dandy fine. Okay, back to watching the bloody crab walk ...
Project Origin trailer: Alma just wants to play
After watching the latest "Swingset Trailer" for Monolith's upcoming Project Origin, we have absolutely no doubt that the Lith are experts at creating crazy, twisted and totally freaky experiences. Then again, have we ever doubted them? Go ahead, give the latest Project Origin trailer a looksy and try to tell us Alma doesn't send a chill up your spine or that the swingset doesn't freak you out. Yeah, we've been harsh on Project Origin because of its "dated" graphics, but when it comes to building tension and totally messed up story lines ... well, Lith gets our seal of approval.
Project Origin community website launched
Since delivering on expectations at last E3 and being later christened with a new, acronym-deficient title, developer Monolith has been eerily quiet regarding its upcoming horror-themed follow up to 2005's F.E.A.R. Now the company has launched a community website for the game, offering a one-stop buffet if you will for all things F.E.A.R. 2 Project Origin. The site is currently light on content, offering just a smattering of developer blog posts (lead engineer Russ P says the game is "coming together nicely") alongside some backstory and information about the game's various weapons. However, it's the included gameplay trailer that proves the most interesting addition to the website, showing an early look at the sorts of nasties Alma Wade has in store -- though most of all we just hope that Project Origin will bring the chills that the first game promised but never delivered.
Lith to improve upon everything with Project Origin
Now that they've sent Condemned 2 on its merry way, Monolith will now be focusing all its energy towards F.E.A.R.'s not-so sequel Project Origin and that crazy, crazy Alma. IGN sat down and chatted with Project Origin lead designer John Mulkey to get the dirt on how development is progressing, what Monolith's goals are with Origin and what we can look forward to. And the general theme we're hearing is that Origin will take what was offered in F.E.A.R. and add more. More enemy types, more weapons, more locations and more variety. We can't be sure if more variety will equal commercial success or if Origin will still be looked at as F.E.A.R. 1.5, but we can be sure that Monolith is confident and that gives us some comfort for now. Our only gripe thus far is the game's "soft" and "flat" graphics, but maybe that's just us being nit-picky.
Eurogamer: Lego Indiana Jones dated for Europe June 6
A press release for Play.com's Live event revealed that Lego Indiana Jones, slated to be playable at the event, is coming to retail channels on June 6. Eurogamer has confirmed the date with the ever-reliable "Top Secret Games Industry Source" and, frankly, we're happy for our European readers who don't have to wait for the usual long delay between North American release (coming June 3). The June 6 date reportedly applies to all platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii and DS. Eurogamer's source also noted that Lego Batman is coming later this year.
New Indy movie DVDs to include Lego Indiana Jones demo
It's a safe bet that every video game nerd worth their fedora has June 3 already circled on their calendar, and plans to brave venomous asps and rolling boulders in order to pick up and play Traveller's Tales upcoming Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures the day it swings to retail. Still, those few who remain unconvinced of the marriage of twelve o'clock shadow and Lego bricks can look forward to trying the game out early, as Paramount and Lucasfilm plan to include both a trailer and playable demo on a set of special edition DVD versions of the Indy movies shipping out in mid-May. The discs will be available both individually, as well as bundled together as a box set, and will be available on May 13, just prior to that new Crystal Skull adventure. It's unclear which version of the game will be represented by the included demo, with Lego Indiana Jones currently expected to fight Nazis anonymous cultists on every platform under the sun -- though let's be honest, we hope the demo will make the rounds online on or around the same time.
Lego Indiana Jones to feature two-player co-op, not four
An earlier report that LEGO Indiana Jones will feature four-player cooperative play has proven to be false. The game will instead feature the same two-player drop-in, drop-out gameplay as seen in the LEGO Star Wars titles, as well as the upcoming LEGO Batman. The confusion stems from MTV's recent sit-down with developer Traveller's Tales, who discussed the game's features, including the ability to have up to four characters on-screen at any time. Understandibly, MTV misconstrued this to mean that four players could play simultaneously, when in fact Traveller's Tales was merely highlighting that players could switch between multiple on-screen characters -- a feature that should be familiar to fans of TT's other LEGO games. Apologies to our readers for the erroneous information. We cool?
Lego Indiana Jones whips up 4-player co-op
MTV's Multiplayer spent some time with Traveller's Tales' upcoming Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures and survived a giant boulder to reveal various details about the game chronicling Indy's first three adventures. If you've played any of the Lego Star Wars games then you're already familiar with the set-up of this title. Barnett College serves as the hub (like Mos Eisley cantina in Star Wars) allowing players to access the 18 levels of the game. There are other Star Wars standards like the "Free Play" mode, but the producers say that Lego Indy will be more "adventure style" than Star Wars' fighting emphasis. As for game mechanics, the whip on Wii will function similar to the lightsaber waggle and not have "1:1 remote-to-whip synchronized control." Though the Nazis have been removed from the game, the producers say the movie plots will stay intact. They also say despite puzzles being designed for two players, the console versions will support up to four players simultaneous. Lego Indiana Jones should be ready for discovery June 3.
Joystiq impressions: Lego Indiana Jones
Update: LucasArts contacted us with the game's final title. "The Original Adventures" makes sure leaves sequel potential. There is that fourth movie coming out. Plus Young Indy. Da-da-da-dum... da-da-duuuuum... I'm coming off a screening of the Raiders shot-for-shot remake, so I'm ready to sing the Indy theme at the drop of a fedora. If you haven't heard of it, a few kids were so inspired by Raiders of the Lost Ark that they decided to stage an elaborate remake. It's a scrappy do-it-yourself homage with a persevering group of nerds at its heart; the movie took between 1982 and 1989 to complete. I also recently saw a demo of Lego Indiana Jones: The Videogame Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures on a 360, and it captures a little bit of this uberfan spirit. The cut-scenes and ways that developer Traveler's Tales re-imagines the Indy stories through non-speaking plastic toys amused me and shared some similarities with the kids standing in for adult actors. (The moment where Indy does the old sandbag-for-idol trick in the movie? Just as pensive in the game, he swaps the idol for a Lego cup.) Of course the corporate powers behind these two franchises weigh on the game, too. You'll be able to get it for seven different platforms. That's PS3, Wii, 360, PS2, DS, PSP, and PC. (Collect them all!) But the spirited combination of Indy remade in Legos looks fun. %Gallery-16045%
F.E.A.R. sequel finally named: nothing special
Remember a while back, we alerted you to the contest where Monolith was allowing gamers to name the sequel to F.E.A.R.? Well, the contest has finally ended and the winning name has been chosen. No, it's not L.A.M.E., but the chosen title is rather ... stale. Project Origin. We feel like we've seen that title countless times! Even though it's fairly unoriginal, it does get the idea across that the next game will all be about the creepy little girl, Alma, and what her purpose is. That's not all, though. Also, on the main webpage, there's a link to the names that got outright rejected. Some of these are pretty entertaining and are worth a look just to see if you can decipher the logic that went into creating them. While this contest ended with a less-than-stellar choice, we feel, it still means progress will be made onto another FPS/Horror game and we're excited to see what Monolith does with the franchise.
F.E.A.R. 2 officially dubbed 'Project Origin'
And no, that's just "Project Origin," not "Pancake Robots Occupy Jamaica Every Century To Obtain Rapidly Ingested Gyration Inducing Narcotics." Monolith Productions told us it was all acronymed out, remember? Defeating the slightly less generic "Dead Echo" and the slightly more ambiguous "Dark Signal," "Project Origin" has been voted victor in the "Name Your Fear" contest. Expect to see the terrifying title transformed into a spooky logo and plastered across the paranormal first-person shooter's marketing campaign closer to its release in 2008. On an unrelated note, is a game about fighting inebriated pancake robots in Jamaica too much to ask for? Let's make that happen, developers.
Not F.E.A.R. 2 officially named Project Origin
Project Origin it is then. After narrowing down the list of user submitted titles to three, Monolith has announced the official name of the sequel to F.E.A.R. The new title, Project Origin, received the most votes and beat the likes of Dead Echo and Dark Signal. Honestly, none of the names seem to evoke the same feeling as the original title -- you know, the feeling of fear -- but there's not much we can do about it now. Like it or not, we're stuck with it. What does everyone think of Project Origin? Was it your pick, or did you want something else? Did you hate all the names? Share your thoughts! Speak your mind, knowing full well that your voice now counts for naught!
Speed Racer game will arrive alongside movie
Sing to the tune of "Speed Racer Theme" –Here it comesHere comes Speed RacerIt's a video gameIt's a game and it's gonna be based on the movieIt's comin' next May so you better look alive.To seem just like the film, that's for what it will strive.And though the odds are against itCause movie games don't work, it's trueYou bet your life Speed RacerWill .. try it's bestGo Speed RacerGo Speed RacerGo Speed Racer, Go!It's on your Wii and it'll also be on your DSWhen the DVD's out, it'll also be on your PS(2)Synergy's waitin' just ahead.Go Speed RacerGo Speed RacerGo Speed Racer, Go!
F.E.A.R. sequel title finalists need your vote
The official finalists of the "Name Your Fear" contest have been chosen. You may recall that Monolith and Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment began the contest earlier this year. The winner of said contest will (obviously) get their title slapped onto the sequel to F.E.A.R., and all three finalists have also won the honor of getting their likenesses featured in the game (probably in a more gruesome state than they remember leaving them). But enough of this, on with the final three titles: Dead Echo Project Origin Dark Signal There you have it folks. One of those titles will be the name of the F.E.A.R. sequel. Head over to the contest page and vote for your favorite. While you're at it, you might as well tell us what you picked, too. Alternately, you could come up with your own title, knowing full well it has no chance of making it now. [Via Joystiq]
Vote on F.E.A.R. sequel finalists (no acronyms this time)
After losing their traditional sequel title in a vortex of legality, Monolith and Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment were thoughtful enough to request the aid of F.E.A.R. fans in dubbing the forthcoming and explicitly terrifying entry into the series. The "Name Your Fear" contest has produced three finalists awaiting your ultimate decision and potential derision. In case you were wondering, your suggestions of Undead Kindergarten Crematorium and FPS: First-Person Scary were uniformly rejected. The final trio of titles consists of: Dead Echo Project Origin Dark Signal The option that receives the most votes will obviously stick to Monolith's sequel like electric boo glue. (Sorry.)
Name Your F.E.A.R. finalists announced
A long, long time ago, but in the very same galaxy, we gave you a heads-up for a contest to name the next game in the F.E.A.R. franchise. Well, it's been a while, but some finalists have been announced and their not quite as silly as we had secretly hoped. In fact, they're pretty cool if you're familiar with the F.E.A.R. story. We'll list the finalists below. Dead Echo Project Origin Dark Signal Of the three, we've got our eyes on Dead Echo because of the description written after it. From a writer's perspective, the title lends a lot to the ideas of the game and portrays two words that, alone, aren't necessarily frightening but put together in the F.E.A.R. world, they gain a whole new set of meaning. Check out the descriptions for the titles at the Name Your Fear website and let us know what you think!
Lego Indiana Jones announced
Traveler's Tales' Lego Batman may be bricking our consoles this fall, but it looks like Indiana Jones will be whipping us into shape in the summer of 2008 (YOU CALL HIM DR. JONES, DOLL!!). Lego Indiana Jones will chronicle the famous archaeologist across all three movies in the franchise. No platforms are announced yet, but all we can say is if we aren't getting Simon Belmont's whip on the Wii, we'll gladly take Dr. Jones'. LucasArts also points out that they remain hard at work on their internally developed Indiana Jones video game which takes place a year after The Last Crusade. The story is being overseen by George Lucas, but there is still no word on a release date for that. [Via Press Release]
