| Peter Molyneux Talks Fable III Features, And The Potential For A Syndicate Return?
August 24, 2009 at 9:52 pm
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| | Microsoft’s big surpise reveal at their GamesCom 2009 press briefing was Peter Molyneux introducing Fable III. Granted, getting to play Fable II in episodic chunks was also a big surprise, but it was the debut of Fable III that shook the city of Cologne. We got the exclusive opportunity to chat with Molyneux about Fable III and some of the elements that Lionhead are incorporating into the game including becoming the king of Albion, the concept of dynamic touch, what judgments are, and more. Now that you get to rule the kingdom, will the story of Fable end with Fable III? Molyneux dishes out the answers. Watch Larger Version of this Video And since we could, we had to ask if Molyneux if he would ever consider getting involved with another Syndicate title or Populous. While EA holds the rights to these games, Molyneux apparently has heard there’s something cooking with them. Very interesting indeed. Are you excited for Fable III? Are you going to download Fable II's episodes to try the game out? What would you like to see in a new Syndicate or Populous? |
| Diablo III Game Director Interview - The Endgame Won't Be Repeated Boss Runs
August 24, 2009 at 9:29 pm
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| | After getting some hands-on time with Diablo III, including the recently revealed Monk class, I was able to sit down with game director Jay Wilson to talk about the Monk, itemization & player economies, and why you probably won’t be doing endless boss runs in the end game of Diablo III. G4: In your vision for Diablo III, is the endgame going to be a lot like Diablo II, where players are doing Pindle runs and just repeating the same content over and over or will it explore a greater variety of content? Jay Wilson, Diablo III Game Director: It’s definitely better if the players explore more of the game. It will be a lot more fun for them, but players will gravitate toward the route that is fastest for what they want. Even if that route makes them crazy… even if that route is not fun at all. It’s not their fault. It’s our fault as designers. It’s our job to make sure that the path of least resistance is also the path of most fun. We do have specific systems planned for the late game and our goal for those systems is to make sure that players are experiencing as much of the content over again as possible. The best example of where we feel we do this well in our other games, in World of WarCraft, is the quest system, which really gets you to move all over the world and do lots and lots of different things. The basic, core actions of the game are very repetitive. It’s not that they’re not fun, but the boredom with anything comes with repeating the same thing in the same way. If you could repeat the same thing in a different way it stays interesting a lot longer and that’s definitely going to be a goal for us. Read the full interview for more on Diablo III. |
| World of Warcraft: Cataclysm BlizzCon 2009 First Impressions
August 24, 2009 at 8:21 pm
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| | You may think you know what to expect from Blizzard's recently announce expansion World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, but until you read G4tv.com's Brian Leahy's first impressions of the game from the show floor at BlizzCon 2009, then you don't really know what you think you know. In this preview, Brian takes a look at two of the game's new races: the Horde’s Goblins and the Alliance’s Worgens, and what he found may surprise you. "The racial abilities of the Goblins are also humorous, but useful. The first allows the player to launch themselves forward with a jetpack, jumping a long distance. I’m curious as to what areas in the current game will now be reachable with this racial ability. The second uses rockets to throw an instant direct-damage spell at a targeted enemy. The most useful racial for the end game might be the Goblin’s ability to call in a 'Pack Hobgoblin' giving the player access to his or her bank for one minute. If only there was one for Auction House access…" What? You didn't think I'd give away the best bit in this post, did you? For the really good stuff, you'll have to check out Brian's full preview. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version |
| Looking For A Good iPhone Game? Start Downloading Spider Right Now
August 24, 2009 at 8:08 pm
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| | I'm an unabashed fan of Deadly Creatures, the creepy crawly-starring THQ action game for the Wii from earlier this year. I'm a sucker for games with spiders, even if spiders creep me out. Thus, my interest in iPhone platformer Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor was two-fold. One, spiders! Two, Arkane Studios designer Harvey Smith has been hyping Spider on his Twitter since he first saw it a few months ago. The hype is no lie. Spider is one of my favorites so far this year -- iPhone or not. The mechanics are devilishly simple. You swipe at the screen to make your spider jump and if you tap the spider beforehand, he'll distribute web during the jump. String together strands to create a web. Where Spider's tricks come into play are by introducing varieties of bugs requiring alternative strategies to web. Some fly in predictable patterns, others require you to nudge them into webs, while another requires no web trapping at all -- just time a jump to consume them mid-air. Yuck. Spider makes wonderful use of the iPhone's best assets for good gameplay (minimal, effective touch screen use), backed by a massive amount of high-resolution, hand-drawn art. The spider, bugs and backgrounds all look like they were lifted off someone's notebook, adding a charm to Spider you simply don't see very much in games these days. The likely painstaking effort is appreciated. All this goodness and it's only $2.99. If you've been itching for a great new iPhone game, or are one of those folks who simply doesn't get what all the hype is about for iPhone games these days, give Spider a try. I can't imagine it wouldn't change your mind. It's just a really good game. [iTunes] |
| Diablo III BlizzCon 2009 Hands-On Preview -- Monk Class Will Blow You Away/Apart
August 24, 2009 at 7:08 pm
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| | Blizzard’s eagerly awaited Diablo III gets more drool worthy every time it’s on display, a fact that our own Brian Leahy is all too familiar with, and sadly found out all over again during BlizzCon 2009. Mr. Leahy managed to grab some hands-on time with the game, and sends back this report, which features plenty of great details about the game's mechanics, presentation and design, as well as a solid introduction to the newly revealed Monk class. “I quickly got a quest to eliminate a cult that had taken over a city and moved deeper into the desert through from the cliffs. Enemies swarmed from off-screen and on top of the cliffs and were quickly dispatched with my dual-wielded maces, one doing fire and the other doing cold damage. The first items dropped and I was hooked all over again.” If you think that sounds cool, then you definitely need to check out Brian’s full preview here. If you don't think that sounds cool, then we can no longer be friends. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version |
| Gran Turismo 5 Coming At End Of 2009?
August 24, 2009 at 6:26 pm
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| | Gran Turismo 5 is a huge game in Europe, so it's a little peculiar that the title was not mentioned during Sony's presentation at GamesCom 2009. It was playable at the show, but no info was made available during the press event. Apparently, though, Sony handed out a pamphlet indicating a 4th quarter of 2009 release date for the racing simulation, leading to speculation that Sony is planning on revealing a lot of info on Gran Turismo 5 at the Tokyo Game show in October. According to the GamesCom info, GT5 will more than double Forza 3's number of cars -- 1000 vehicles, 20 tracks in 60 different layouts, custom soundtrack support, and a damage model for certain car manufacturers. All very interesting, sure, but I personally can't wait until Tokyo, where I hope gamers the world over will get an in-depth peek at the car racing game. It is, of course, a PlayStation 3 exclusive. So, if you like racing games, are you a Gran Turismo guy or a Forza guy? Source |
| FIFA 10 Features Trailer: What's New This Year?
August 24, 2009 at 6:13 pm
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| | Olé...Olé, Olé, Olé! Like with all sports franchises, gamers have to question what new features are in this year's installment would warrant a purchase. Thankfully, trailers like this one for EA Sports' FIFA 10, makes the process a much more painless one. However, is it enough to make you break out the bills? Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version |
| Coveroo's Street Fighter And Resident Evil Phone Art
August 24, 2009 at 6:11 pm
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| | In Morning Hangover #34, I wrote about the awesome job Coveroo did on my BlackBerry 8900. I mentioned that the company also offered Resident Evil and Street Fighter art for mobile phones. Here are some photos of Coveroo's gaming art. Read More? |
| Microsoft Responds To Game Informer's Xbox 360 Failure Rate Poll
August 24, 2009 at 6:03 pm
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| | You're asking for skewed data when polling a group of hardcore gamers who use their hardware religiously about their experiences with failed Xbox 360 hardware, as Game Informer recently did, but when the numbers suggest more than 50% of Game Informer's 5,000 polled readers -- 54.2%, to be exact -- have seen their hardware fail, it's alarming. Tech website TG Daily recent contacted Microsoft for a response to the numbers, but the company avoided commenting on specifics. "Microsoft stands behind the Xbox 360 as a superior entertainment console with one of the best warranties in the industry," said a Mirosoft spokesperson. "We are constantly improving the design, manufacture and performance of the console through extensive testing of potential sources of any problems. Xbox 360 is pleased to maintain the title of 'most played console' and the vast majority of Xbox 360 customers have enjoyed a terrific gaming and entertainment experience since their first day, and continue to, day in and day out." There isn't much reason for Microsoft to dispute the numbers. Any admission of an abnormally high failure rate would be jumped on. In this case, it made sense for Microsoft to stay quiet, even if their timid response essentially acknowledged the numbers had some real-world truth to them. I'm still on my second Xbox 360, knock on wood. What about you? Source [image credit: flickr / tomasland] |
| SmackDown Vs. Raw Gets "Stone Cold" Steve Austin And Social Networking
August 24, 2009 at 5:54 pm
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| | Fans of WWE Hall of Fame inductee "Stone Cold" Steve Austin will be interested to know that he is the exclusive bonus character for SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. Players that pre-order the game at GameStop or EB Games will receive a code that unlocks "The Texas Rattlesnake". As Austin would say, gimme a hell yeah!!! In related news, THQ is using social networking services to promote the game. The company has Facebook and Twitter pages that will give SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 some modern marketing. While you're at it, you might as well follow me too and check out my preview of the game. Will any of you be pre-ordering the game to get Austin? What do you think of game publishers using Facebook and Twitter to promote their titles? |
| IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey Developer Diary Examines Full Production Value Sound
August 24, 2009 at 5:48 pm
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| | ATTN: WWII audiophile gamers. 505 games examines the amount of effort placed into authentic sound reproduction of the WWII air combat, dogfighter simulation IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey. See, in a game where a split second means the difference between a kill and you turning into a pile of wreckage, witness how you'll be able to use sound and force-feedback vibration to react. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version |
| Multiplayer Beta For Rage Doubtful, Demo More Likely
August 24, 2009 at 5:41 pm
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| | Sorry to burst your beta bubble folks, but it doesn’t look like you’ll be getting your hands on a multiplayer beta for id Software’s post-apocalyptic FPS/racing hybrid Rage anytime soon. Now, although id CEO Todd Hollenshead told VG247 that an open beta for Rage is doubtful, he also said, “There could be something that’s more along the lines of a PC demo or maybe a Mac demo that comes out from a test perspective. But really, at this point, that’s speculation.” Notice how that still leaves Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 users Rage-less prior to the game’s release sometime next year. But, as Hollenshead points out, id is usually pretty good when it comes to demos, so if the game reaches a solid enough point, chances are a demo will follow shortly thereafter. Until then though, commence holding your breath in three…two…one… Source |
| WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2010 Preview
August 24, 2009 at 5:32 pm
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| | Last weekend at WWE SummerSlam, THQ unveiled SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. Although the company has yet to unveil all the game's features and its roster, a lot of the game's creation tools were shown. Here's what TheFeed's Raymond Padilla I had to say about it: "To kick off its hype train (not to be confused with The Godfather’s Ho Train), the company is emphasizing four C’s: creation, customization, content, and community. The version of the game that I saw showed numerous improvements in the creation tools and some potentially cool online features." For more info on the game, including a storyline that includes X-Play's Adam Sessler and Blair Herter, read the full preview. |
| Diablo III BlizzCon 2009 Monk Debut Cinematic And Gameplay Trailers
August 24, 2009 at 5:24 pm
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| | If you've been under a Blizzard media blackout for some reason over the weekend, then you might of missed the awesome, new Diablo III Monk trailers that spawned out of BlizzCon 2009. Here they are below for the few of you left to see them. If you like your dungeon crawling up close and personal, then the Monk might be for you. Hit the jump for the actual gameplay trailer. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version Read More? |
| Apogee Rebooting Old School Gore Shooter Rise Of The Triad
August 24, 2009 at 5:12 pm
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| | I didn't expect to spend my Monday reading about Rise of the Triad, one of the goriest old school shooters around. Rise of the Triad was a ridiculously over the top shooter from the Duke Nukem 3D days that the newly reenergized Apogee Software is apparently rebooting, according to a Gamasutra interview with 3D Realms co-founder Scott Miller (3D Realms is actually still alive). There are no other details on the new Rise of the Triad, only that it's supposedly being considered for a revival. Rise of the Triad was originally designed to be the sequel to Wolfenstein 3D but eventually became its own, hilariously violent game. Don't believe me? Check out the video above. Source |
| Industry Analysts Weigh In On The Possibility Of A 360 Re-Design
August 24, 2009 at 4:52 pm
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| | Now that we all know about the PlayStation 3 Slim, industry analysts are weighing in on the possibility of Microsoft coming out with an Xbox 360 Slim, or the 360 Half-Pint Or the Xbox 180 or some other catchy name. Industry Gamers spoke to a variety of different experts who all gave their opinions on the possibility of a aesthetic or hardware re-design of the Xbox 360. Opinions are split, but most analysts think some kind of re-design could come with the introduction of the 360's motion sensing Project Natal in 2010. Ben Schachter from Broadpoint AmTech put it succinctly: "Yes, I think they will release a new look for the hardware in conjunction with the motion sensor next year." On the other side of the spectrum, Michael Pachter, from Wedbush Morgan said: "I don't think so. They had a redesign to eliminate the RROD issue, changed the heat sink, fan and a couple of other components. I'm not sure that they need to redesign the box, although I see the Elite black box becoming the standard." Read More? |
| EA Executive Says German Game Ratings System Represents "Censorship"
August 24, 2009 at 4:18 pm
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| | By now, it’s well understood that the German government has some serious issues with video game violence. It seems that every week or so another story comes out about German officials calling for an all out ban on violent video games, and in fact, as GamePolitics points out, the German Parliament is scheduled to consider this very issue next month. So it’s hardly surprising to hear Electronic Arts executive vice president and general manager of international publishing Gerhard Florin calling out Germany’s USK rating system, and insisting that it be replaced by the popular European rating system, PEGI. As GamesIndustry.biz reports, Florin said of the USK system: “What we’re doing here is censorship. And no one complains. When we talk about games here it's about violence or their alleged addictiveness, and not about their cultural status. The few good studios are asking themselves why they should stay here anyway." Read More? |
| Champions Online Trailers Address Post-9/11 Superhero Wish Fulfillment And More
August 24, 2009 at 3:54 pm
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| | There's a new horizon of Superhero MMOs coming down the pipe. How will you tell them apart? Cryptic Studio developers examine the cultural fascination of the superhero and the evolution of Champions Online and how they're attempting to deliver the premiere comic book MMO experience. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version Read More? |
| Guitar Hero 5 Downloadable Content Won't Work In Guitar Hero: World Tour
August 24, 2009 at 3:35 pm
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| | With Guitar Hero 5, Neversoft and Activision are delivering a hotly requested feature introduced in Rock Band 2: the ability to transfer downloadable content from one game to another. Your Guitar Hero: World Tour downloadable content will work just fine in Guitar Hero 5, but there's a catch: it won't work the other way around, according to an Activision rep who spoke with Destructoid. "The advancements and innovations made to the franchise do not allow for downloadable content to be backwards compatible with Guitar Hero World Tour," said the company. Rock Band and Rock Band 2 do not currently have this problem. You can purchase downloadable content released that's been released after Rock Band 2 dropped and use it in Rock Band without issue. Whether Harmonix and MTV Games will able to maintain such promises as the Rock Band gameplay evolves remains to be seen, but there's evidence it's already an issue. The Beatles: Rock Band downloadable content won't work in other Rock Band releases, nor is there an export music option, ala Rock Band. Source |
| Sony PSP Minis Approval And Royalty Details Revealed
August 24, 2009 at 3:09 pm
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| | In addition to the official announcement of the PlayStation 3 Slim and a $100 PS3 price cut, Sony also revealed its new games program, PSP Minis, at this year’s GamesCom. The new program will feature downloadable games no larger than 100MB that will be playable on the PSP and the upcoming PSP Go. Sony didn't reveal too much info on the nitty-gritty of the new Minis service, however the folks over at PocketGamer recently found a PDF document on Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s licensing site outlining some of the new program's policies. For starters, Sony is clearly taking obvious steps to avoid the kinds of vitriolic criticisms Apple’s App Store approval process has received from developers by promising “no requirement for content approval.” The games will still be subjected to a quality assurance period, but that process will be shortened, and, according to Sony, will be “transparent, trackable and predictable,” another clear indication that Sony wants to be as unlike Apple in this area as possible. Read More? |
| PS3 Firmware 3.0 Last Major 2009 Update, But More Tiny Updates Likely
August 24, 2009 at 3:02 pm
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| | On September 1st, Sony will release firmware 3.0 for the PlayStation 3, evolving the look and feel of the primary interface for its console. Firmware 3.0 completely revamps the information board, a feature most users ended up turning off, introduces premium avatars and animated themes and a variety of other tweaks broken down into great detail at the PlayStation Blog. While firmware 3.0 is the last major update the PlayStation 3 will see during 2009, I recently asked Sony if this was the last update period for the calendar year. "You know, I wouldn't say that or sure just yet because we are working on some things," said PlayStation Network operations director Eric Lempel in a phone interview following Sony's GamesCom announcements. "But this is a big and significant update, so you would be correct to assume that [it's the last major update for 2009]." I asked Lempel whether the number of feature being packed into firmware 3.0 signaled Sony could be taking a more Microsoft-like approach -- fewer updates with bigger feature sets. "We try to release updates a few times a year and try to put as much as we can in them and depending on the different schedules and what we have ready at a certain moment, it may or may not make it into an update," he explained. "We do want to continue to evolve the PS3, continue to go along our road map but also listen to what the users are saying and making the necessary enhancements to make their experience better." Any requests for the rest of 2009? [image credit: flickr / wlodi] |
| SmackDown Vs. Raw 2010 Videos
August 24, 2009 at 2:53 pm
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| | THQ has released a pair of videos for SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. First up is the "It's Your World" trailer. In addition to the WWE Superstars you know, love, and (in some cases) hate, the clip touches on the new creation modes. Created wrestlers and created scenes can be found in the video. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version Next is a short SummerSlam trailer featuring the excellent heel Randy Orton and some guy named John Cena. The video shows off Orton's excellent repertoire of moves and two of the five holds that Cena knows. Read More? |
| This Week's New Releases: Batman, Layton, Final Fantasy
August 24, 2009 at 2:13 pm
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| | Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version There are actually quite a few different games out this week, which means that every type of gamer out there should find something to their liking. Of course, the most high profile release this week is clearly Eidos’ Batman: Arkham Asylum. Given what our own Sterling McGarvey had to say about the game in his review, it’s clear that this isn’t just a fantastic comic book game; it’s a terrific and satisfying game, period. If you love solving puzzles and getting caught up in deadly mysteries, then you need to check out Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box for the Nintendo DS. (Check out my review for more on why this is one of the year’s best.) For those looking for a reason to dust off your Wii’s, there’s Metroid Prime: Trilogy, which includes all three critically acclaimed titles for the price of one. And Final Fantasy fans in the mood for a little RPG brawling should take a look at Dissidia Final Fantasy. If you’re on the fence about the game, be sure to check out Mr. Raymond Padilla’s review. PlayStation 3 Batman: Arkham Asylum Wii Metroid Prime: Trilogy Cursed Mountain Reel Fishing: Angler’s Dream Harvey Moon: Magical Melody Click through to see the full list. Read More? |
| Aliens: Colonial Marines Release Date Depends On Aliens Vs. Predator's Success
August 24, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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| | Aliens: Colonial Marines will be released eventually, Sega president and COO Mike Hayes told me in a phone interview last week. It's a question of when, whose answer hinges on another game entirely. Sega's grand plans for rebooting the Aliens franchise have changed. The Aliens RPG from Obsidian Entertainment was cancelled, while Gearbox Software's Aliens: Colonial Marines was placed on the backburner and Rebellion's Aliens vs. Predator moved to the forefront. Gearbox continues to work on the squad-based shooter while its future remains in limbo. Hayes said Sega still hasn't nailed down a release date for Aliens: Colonial Marines because there are several factors at play. "I think the detail of that [release date] is probably still too early," said Hayes. "What I would say is it's unlikely that we'd launch anything within six months [after Aliens vs. Predator], but probably nine months, eight to 12 months possibly. Though we literally are looking at that at the moment and a lot of is going to depend, as well, on how successful AvP is at the box [retail]." There's a problem for Aliens: Colonial Marines in this scenario. Sega has a great amount of confidence in Aliens vs. Predator. Hayes said Sega's received more feedback from fans about the release of that game than anything else in its lineup. If Aliens vs. Predator is wildly successful, Sega can move ahead with Aliens: Colonial Marines sooner, possibly even before the end of 2010. If gamers reject Rebellion's shooter, though, Sega could decide to hold off for a while. "It's what level of 'well' does it do," said Hayes, speaking of Aliens vs. Predator's potential sales, "do we then determine when we want to bring the next one out and then, of course, determine what the third one in the series is likely to be." Despite the cancellation of the Aliens RPG, Sega is still committed to producing a third Aliens game. "Oh, absolutely," said Hayes. |
| 'Magneto' Origin Film Moving Forward?
August 24, 2009 at 2:10 pm
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| | Writer/Director, David S. Goyer, the guru behind The Dark Knight, has recently given (somewhat) of an update on his X-Men prequel, X-Men Origins: Magneto. Apparently, Goyer believes that the stalled film will indeed move forward. As he tells MTV about its current state: "They're still thinking about doing it, they're definitely looking into doing other X-Men spinoffs." Later adding: "I've been in touch with them, I'm sure that project will move forward in the next year or so." The project, which has been known about nearly as long as this year's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, has been in developmental limbo for a long time. Earlier in the year, it appeared that Marvel Studios and/or 20th Century Fox were simply waiting out the numbers for the May release of Wolverine. Those numbers yielded nearly $180 million domestic with a $363 million worldwide total. Plus we have yet to see revenues for the September 15 Blu Ray/DVD release of the film. (Which are sure to boost those numbers.) Needless to say, Wolverine certainly pulled his weight. Whether Magneto could do even close to the same, is a bit more of a complex question. Even if Ian McKellen were able to reprise his role in the film (which would be likely) and in a full-time starring capacity (not so likely), Magneto will probably need an established star to play a younger version of the iconic X-Villain and master of magnetism. Why is that? Because at the end of the day, Wolverine is Wolverine -- one of the most popular and beloved characters in the Marvel Universe. Magneto, while an essential character, is nowhere in that stratosphere. Read More? |
| First Trailer for Valkyria Chronicles 2 Spotted
August 24, 2009 at 1:25 pm
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| | The first look at Valkyria Chronicles 2 sees daylight in the form of a Japanese commercial. Brief, completely in Japanese, but solidified by the iconic Sega stamp at the end. Set two years after the original PS3 action RPG, look to get your sequel fix exclusively on the PSP. |
| Xbox Deal of the Week: Grand Theft Auto's "The Lost And Damned"
August 24, 2009 at 1:18 pm
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| | This week's Xbox Live Deal of the Week might be the best one in the history of deals of the week: Microsoft is offering "The Lost and Damned" Grand Theft Auto IV expansion pack for only 1,200 Microsoft points (A/K/A 15 bucks.) It's available for one week, beginning today In case you've been living under a rock since it was released in February, "The Lost And Damned" sets a new standard for DLC in games by offering a full, interesting plotline, and incredible value for your money. Seriously, this pack was well worth it at the original price of 1600 points ($20). Now that it's cheaper, you can't afford to not buy it. Many, many hours of play will be yours to behold for a very low price. (I'm going to stop now because I sound like an infomercial.) The only issue with this deal is the fact that most people who are interested have already paid full price for this piece of content -- I think every GTA IV fan here at G4 has already finished with this one. What do you think? Is "The Lost and Damned" the best piece of downloadable content ever, or is it over-hyped nonsense? Source |
| 'The Hobbit': Ian McKellen Says Bilbo Is Already Cast
August 24, 2009 at 12:47 pm
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| | Depending on your enthusiasm for the upcoming two (possibly three) part film epic, The Hobbit, it would seem that star, Ian McKellen has recently dropped a bombshell. At a special London marathon screening of the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings films over the weekend, McKellen had a bit of a talk with Slashfilm. In addition to confirming his reprisal of the Gandalf role (which was long-presumed and confirmed by other inside sources), McKellen then stated that the coveted role of main character, Bilbo Baggins has already been cast. As Slashfilm states: "According to McKellen, the starring role of Bilbo Baggins has been successfully cast already. Not only that, but he knows who has the role and he’s sure that the fans will be very, very pleased." However, lest thoughts immediately point to presumed Bilbo front-runner, James McAvoy, Slashfilm further points out: "Over just the last few days we’ve revealed that he’s (McAvoy has) signed on for I’m With Cancer and is negotiating for a role in Robert Redford’s Lincoln drama The Conspirator. This isn’t a man with a big Hobbity hole in his calendar, it would seem." It has been generally speculated for the last year or so that the three main front-runners for the role have been Dr. Who's David Tennant, Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, and of course, James McAvoy (Wanted, Atonement.) Now, assuming McKellen is not being coy or deceptive, and assuming that he is referring to one of the front-runners (which, in itself is speculative), we can come to a conclusion. If we were to assume that Slashfilm's analysis about McAvoy's full plate is correct, then that eliminates him. As for Daniel Radcliffe, he's already confirmed his non-involvement with The Hobbit. Therefore, process of elimination would leave David Tennant. Read More? |
| Just Cause 2 Trailer: Violent Harmony, The Secret Everyone Is Talking About
August 24, 2009 at 12:41 pm
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| | Eidos invites you to visit the unparalleled island of Panau... just so you can blow it all up in Just Cause 2. Apparently, the secret everyone is talking about is that over-the-top violence and harmony can coexist. Sounds like my kind of resort. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version The Cause sequel is slated for a 2010 PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 release. |
| SwitchGames Gets SafeTrade
August 24, 2009 at 12:30 pm
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| | Used game trading service SwitchGames has announced that it is adding SafeTrade to its roster of services, so you can trade over the internet with serenity and peace. If you use SafeTrade, and exchange a game with some dude, you are guaranteed "the full coverage of a member's game in the unfortunate event it is lost in the mail or stolen by a fraudulent user." So take that, fraudulent traders! Making SafeTrade offers on the site is free, but a $5.95 fee kicks in if your offer is accepted. SwitchGames is free to use and has over eleventy-jillion games and accessories for sale and trade (actually, over 58,000). Poke around the site awhile and check it out. And buy a used game and enjoy being confident you will not be ripped off. |
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat Debut Trailer Is Densely Atmospheric
August 24, 2009 at 12:09 pm
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| | GSC Game World takes a wasteland safari of the third installment of their highly-acclaimed survival FPS franchise with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat. Check out five minutes of hallowed-out, in-game footage and the series continued trademark of atmospheric environments. Watch Larger Version | Watch HD Version Pripyat arrives this Fall on the PC. |
| Verbinski Out Of Bioshock Movie
August 24, 2009 at 11:26 am
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| | When last we heard news of the Bioshock movie, Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski was directing a huge-budget movie for Universal. Then, Universal got cold feet over the money the epic flick was costing it, and pulled the plug on Verbinski in favor of making a cheaper Bioshock movie in another country. Verbinski was like, "I don't know if I wanna do that..." and it looked like the whole movie was sunk (get it?). But not so fast... Slash Film reports that the movie has found a new director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. Fresnadillo directed 28 Weeks Later, and that's about all he's directed, as far as U.S. films, so you can't help but regard this as a step down in scale for the Bioshock movie. While 28 Weeks Later is a competent, enjoyable sequel, Verbinski's resume and versatility just blows Fresnadillo out of the water. The guy made The Ring, The Weatherman, and Pirates of the Caribbean -- each of which is a mind-blowing movie in totally unrelated genres. Verbinski is amazing, while Fresnadillo is... let's say "untested." As for the budget, personally, I don't think size matters. Gore Verbinski could make a great movie with 16 bucks and cam-corder, and you could give Uwe Boll a billion, and he still wouldn't make a good flick. But Universal's general lowering of expectations for the Bioshock movie does not inspire confidence in me, as a member of the audience. I also don't know if Bioshock would be that great of a movie no matter who made it. The material in the game is perfectly suited to the video game genre, but I don't know it it could make a viable film. Sure, you could create an epic, special effects extravaganza based on the setting and plot, but watching the Little Sisters being either saved or harvested is a far cry from deciding whether to do it yourself... and the entire "Would you kindly?" plot twist only works in a game... Still, it's sad that we probably won't get to see what Verbinski would have made of it. Source |
| Gambling And Video Games: Perfect Together?
August 24, 2009 at 11:02 am
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| | Does playing video games a lot make you into a gambling addict? A study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide for the Journal of Gambling Studies (one of my top eight favorite journals) has found a connection between the two hobbies. Here's how the research states it: "If you look at those young people who are classified as pathological gamblers you will find that they do have a higher frequency of involvement with many different types of videogame. They're much more likely to play games on Xboxes and similar consoles. They are also more likely to play arcade games... Those sort of young people who've had this need for more sort of unstructured activities probably also drift into gambling a bit more because it's another activity which you can do if you're out on the street." Of course, with all studies, keep in mind: Correlation is not causation! I think video games and gambling offer many of the same "rewards" as gambling, so it makes sense that games would gravitate toward gambling. What do you think? Do you hit the blackjack table after a rousing night of Ms. Pac-Man? Source |
| Morning Hangover #39: Jake Loves Console Price Cuts And Raymond's Down With Cryme Tyme
August 24, 2009 at 9:00 am
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| | Welcome to "Morning Hangover" -- an excellent way to start your day with the crew at TheFeed...no matter what you're recovering from. Every morning you'll hear musings from two of TheFeed's editors and have the chance to share your thoughts on what's going on in the gaming world. So buckle up, unleash a limit break on a new week, and keep reading! Jake Gaskill: I really, really hope the supposed upcoming $100 price cut for the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite is in fact for real. Like I said on Friday, it’s not that I have some vested interested in Microsoft or Sony, and I desperately want to see them become locked in some bloody competition to determine which one claims next-gen console victory now that they are on equal footing. I just think that having the PlayStation 3 (and the PS3 Slim) and the 360 on store shelves for the same price could very well help quell the console fanboyism out there that continually drags every video game discussion into a juvenile hate fest. The real benefit of the new price points is that it will, obviously, be much easier for gamers to invest in both consoles, and, as a result, have a more informed perspective of the current video game environment. There is no doubt that each console has its weaknesses, but those issues pale in comparison to the ridiculous gaming experiences both systems are capable of providing. And what these new price points ensure is that the old strategy of talking up one console’s games without having any understanding of the other console’s offerings will seem all the more ludicrous, because there will really be no excuse for that kind of ignorance now. At least that’s the hope of this wide-eyed fool…. Read More? |
| GamesCom 2009 Recap -- Previews, Features, And Videos
August 21, 2009 at 9:00 pm
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| | The G4tv.com crew has been working uber hard at GamesCom 2009, bringing you excellent previews and videos from the show. In case you've missed any of the coverage, here's a list of what's been posted so far and what you can expect in the next few days. Previews APB Star Wars: The Old Republic Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Aliens vs. Predator Heavy Rain Gran Turismo 5 Final Fantasy XIII Final Fantasy XIV Assassin's Creed 2 Command & Conquer 4 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 DJ Hero Napoleon: Total War Modern Warfare 2 Mafia II Read More? | | | 
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