Archive for May 8th, 2007
Water Water Everywhere: Gallery: Hydrophobia Revolutionizes Water
Blade Interactive recently released their three-years in the making HydroEngine, a fluid dynamics engine that allows for real flowing water in games, and today they’ve announced the game they’re using to showcase it, Hydrophobia.
The game is a sort of survival adventure tale about a systems engineer named Kate who gets caught up in a terrorist plot to destroy the Queen of the World, the largest ship ever built. It sounds absolutely intriguing.
HydroEngine provides truly dynamic water whose behaviour is altered by every physical action and event in the game; meaning you will never get the same behaviour twice. Survive it, manipulate it, master it; but never forget, in the world of Hydrophobia, you can never be sure what awaits you beneath the surface.
Looks like it will be coming to the 360, and I’d guess the PlayStation 3 as well. Check out our gallery of screenshots below, and hit up the Hydrophobia site for more on the really well thought out backstory to the game.
What Did The Crowbar Say To The Face?: Custom Freeman Action Figure
Reader Fisher spent 48 hours, MAN-hours, creating this custom Freeman figure. I especially like how Freeman appears to be biting his lower lip, perhaps, in anticipation of caving in your skull. Yes, YOURS!!!
Fisher points out that the tiny angry Freeman is both a work of love and a work in progress. He says he still needs to mold the hair from plastic, give him a second coat of paint and some dulling.
Nice job Fisher, I just wouldn’t go to sleep with that thing in your room, he looks really pissed off.
Go Get Learned: Capcom Releases Children’s Book
On May 1st, Capcom together with Gakken Co. will publish the first book aimed at introducing children to the vide game industry called, “Secrets of Video Games”. It’s part of a series of Gakken’s “Understanding” series that is recommended by the Japanese PTA Association as set educational comics.
“Secrets of Video Games” will not only introduce video games to children, it will also include information on various game creator professions, the process of creating video games, interacting with video games, expert opinions on social issues such as the effects of video games on the brain, and the competitiveness of the Japanese video game industry from an economic perspective.
The “comic” will be distributed to 24,000 elementary schools (that’s a lot of kids!) and 2,700 libraries across Japan. Either way, it’s gotta be less creepy than those episodes of “The Inside Story” we had to watch as kids with that guy in the body suit. So unnatural.
Capcom teams up with Gakken to publish “Secrets of Video Games” [Capcom via GamerCafe]
First We Crack The Shell: 360 TF Cybertron Edition Details
Yesterday I showed you the cover art for the Xbox 360 exclusive Cybertron Edition of Transformers: The Game, but could only speculate as to what the special edition would consist of. No sooner had I voiced my lack of details when the Activision PR Emergency Anti-Ignorance Squad leapt into action, issuing a comprehensive list of collector’s edition goodies:
Bonus unlockable levels
Bonus code to unlock two ‘Cybertron’ levels, one for each side in the game (Autobot and Decepticon)
Bonus Content Disc
Behind-the-Scenes Interviews and B-Roll from movie and game talent:
Peter Cullen (original Optimus Prime, Optimus Prime in game and film)
Frank Welker (original Megatron, Megatron in game)
“Making of” features with the game’s development teams
Film content including movie trailers and TV spots.
Prequel Comic Book
Volume 1 of 4 official movie prequel comic books.
Designed by Transformers artist legend, Don Figueroa. Published by IDG comics.
Storyline: Tells the back-story of the battle between Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron, as well as the importance of the All-Spark cube and how it was lost.
Limited Edition Packaging
Special packaging featuring classic Transformers icons and images of Cybertron.
Pretty nice little collections of extras. Definitely worth an extra ten spot in my book. The Cybertron Edition is only available at EBGameStop, so stop by today and make the game advisors fight each other to the death for your $5 deposit.
Eye Candy: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 3D Screen
How fancy is this screenshot? It’s all 3Dey and stuff. This one image seems to show off some pretty robust graphics. I especially like the smoke from the… missiles?
Oh The Pretty Pictures: Gallery: DS Style Screens Come Out
A while back I mentioned that Square-Enix was coming out with some “practical” games for the DS, and now the screenshots have surfaced for these gems of learning. World Walking series, Why Not Listen to Classical Music on DS?, and Flower Blooming DS: Gardening Life are set to come out, with Flower Blooming with the only semi-confirmed release in Q3 of 2007. These throwbacks to the Nintendo Touch Generation games will unfortunately be released in Japanese, which is predictable, but I often wonder why the only similar game that has been released in English has Brain Age. Not that it is norm, but I know people of my parents’ generation who have picked up DSs of their own because they saw it in Costco and now are at a loss for finding other learning games. And, besides going to Costco, their hobbies happen to include travel, gardening, and listening to classical music. I see a market, folks! Let’s turn these bad boys into English.
DS Style game screens [Go Nintendo]
Most Likely Friend: Spider-Man: Friend or Foe?
While many of us have been busy trying to cope with our disappointment over the current Spider-Man game, Activision has gone and raised a teaser website for the next Spider-Man game, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe.
A new twist on the legend. A new take on the movies. See what we can accomplish when we aren’t against a hard deadline and can’t optimize the game for each system. So far all that’s there is a brief, semi-animated bit featuring a stylized Green Goblin and the Fall 2007 release date, with a place to register for updates.
You want details? My friend, you can’t handle the details.
Okay, we don’t have any details, but it’s Spider-Man and Activision, so odds are if you have a video game delivery device you’ll be able to play it. We’ll let you know as soon as we find out more about Spider-Man: The Apology Friend or Foe.
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe Teaser Site [Activision]
Who’s Your Daddy?: Fallout 3 Lead Actor Announced
A bit of Fallout 3 news hit today with the site updating to show a new piece of concept art for the game by Craig Mullins and news of who will play the lead role in Fallout 3.
The art, shown below, seems to show a decimated Washington D.C. but nary a damn dirty ape. Fortunately, someone did blow it all up and will, I assume, be damned all to hell.
The lead role in Fallout 3, that of the gamer’s father, will be played by Liam Neeson, the Oscar nominated Irish actor known for his roles in Star Wars Episode I, Shindler’s List, The Chronicles of Narnia and Batman Begins.
Judging by the quote in the press release, Neeson’s role doesn’t really have a name:
“It’s been a pleasure bringing the father to life and working with the wonderfully talented people at Bethesda on Fallout 3,” said Neeson. “I hope the fans of the franchise and the game will be excited by the results.”
Odd.
Slimmer, Lighter: Night Note: Dropping Pounds, The Ban Hammer
To: Crecente
From: Ashcraft
Subject: Progress
Back before I got married and started blogging 24-7, I clocked in at whopping 59 kilograms (130 pounds). Then, the sitting happened and ballooned up to 80 kgs (176 lbs) in the span of six months. I felt like Help album era John Lennon. So, as you know, I started power walking a few weeks back. And hopped on the scale today. I’ve slimmed down to 75 kgs (165 lbs). And that’s without dieting or cutting down on beer. That is the power of power walking. Goal is to hit my fighting weight of 68 kilograms (150 lbs). So, to any fatties out there looking to drop a few pounds, try power weighting. And any to any bony waifs, try sitting for 8 to 9 hours at a time.
Ohhhh, did you see? There’s a new ban function. When people are banned, their accounts seem to actually be stamped “banned” in tiny letters. Guess everyone will now know when we strike! Mwahahahahahahaha.
Unit Shifters: SNES Virtual Console Top-Sellers
Apparantly it’s quite difficult getting hold of total sales data for Virtual Console games (or at least that’s their excuse), so for the Virtual Console Nintendo Power magazine have been breaking their regular sales charts up into specific platforms. In their June issue, they’ve listed the top 5-selling SNES games on the service (though there’s a touch of confusion over whether it’s just for February or for ALL TIME). Patchy listings and a lack of sales figures are hardly ideal, but we make do with what we got, and this is all we got.
1. Super Mario World
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
3. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
4. Super Castlevania IV
5. Donkey Kong Country
All hail these victorious five. To the losers…shame. And death!
Wii VC SNES Sales Rankings (thru Feb?) [Nintendo Power, via donny2112 @ NeoGAF]
Rock The Vote: Sam & Max Contest Finalists
Okay, we’ve picked the finalists, and now it’s up to you, the folks who
A). Didn’t enter
B). Aren’t finalists
C). Voting for yourself
to select the winner. Contest info: Telltale Games is giving away full digital versions of all six Sam & Max episodes from Season 1 to three (count ‘em) separate Kotaku winners. There are six finalists, so write down which three you like in the comments section. The Finalists are…
- Finalist Number 1
- Finalist Number 2
- Finalist Number 3
- Finalist Number 4
- Finalist Number 5
- Finalist Number 6
Voting closes tonight at midnight, EST.
Har-har: The DS Comedy Trainer
With brain training games being old hat, Japan is craving for something new. Enter comedy training games. Ha. Developer Skip has created Arukime DS, a two to four player game. In fact, it’s not possible to play the game alone! (Well, you can play it alone, but you’ll need two DSes.) A question is posed, and the other players write funny or witty answers in a certain time limit. Gut busting responses are then selected, and the funniest ones get points in the form of cushions. Game is out in Japan mid-July. Sounds hilarious.
People Playing It [Tsutaya via Famitsu]
AARRGGHH: Clip: Swashbucklers
Pirates. In the Civil War. With boss fights, ridiculous dialogue (”I want box”) and badass Mexicans with machine guns.
It’s already game of the year. 10/10.
Shocker: Crap Zelda Add-Ons
OH COME ON. These Twilight Princess Wii-mote add-ons aren’t even trying. For US $29.99, you’d think that they could make something that wasn’t so rotten. Can you imagine sitting in your house, gaming with these things? Or worse yet, the individuals who have already purchased these? *Shudder*
Bad Zelda Peripherals [FRY'S via Fashionfunky]
Muzak: Video Games Live Goes A Little More Global
The Video Games Live concert series has always been a global affair. Sort of. While it’s turned up in places like Brazil and New Zealand, it’s never been to Europe (well…the UK once), Australia or many parts of Asia. Is now. IMG Artists and the William Morris Agency have signed on as representatives for the series, VGL co-creator Jack Wall saying:
Working with IMG Artists in Europe, Asia and Australia is very much taking us to a new level on our quest to be a perpetual world touring entity. We know that there is strong interest for what we are doing in these territories and IMG Artists will be helping to get us there.
No word on dates or anything like that. Much too early in the game for that kind of business. Expect that to come later. For now, just bask in the soft, warm glow of the initial announcement.
IMG Artists Joins Video Games Live [GameDaily.biz]
Who Cares About Sonic: Sega Shakes Up Arcade Gaming. Literally.
Arcade gaming dead? Not quite. Sega has rolled out House of the Dead 4 Special for Japan and Europe. Players can either have a go as House of the Dead 2’s James Taylor or new character Kate Green. Outfitted with two 100 inch XGA projector screens, the game runs on Sega’s Lindbergh CG arcade board, and the cabinet puts players in a twirling, vibrating seat-belted seat. Think: Giant rumble pack! So when zombie attack, burst of air are blown on players faces, and things shake. Good to see some people still give a flip about the arcade experience.
House of the Dead 4 Special [Sega via Siliconera]
Two Of These Games Are About Hats!: Twenty (FREE) Point-N-Clickers
Via Derek over at TIGS comes this time-obliterating list of twenty upcoming, free adventure games. Depending on your personal tastes (whether you’re more a Loom guy than a Grim Fandango type), there’s pretty much something for everyone here. So long as “everyone” likes free shit and enjoys point-n-click adventure games.
Which is, yeah, everyone.
Tim’s Upcoming Freeware Adventure Game List [TIGSource]
