Archive for March 23rd, 2010

When dealing with the enormity that is the "Star Wars" franchise, a lot can go wrong. Thankfully BioWare seems to have things well in-hand, as least when it comes to their prequel timeline and the "Old Republic" series of games. But LucasArts is always there to lend a helping hand if there's ever a question on what they can and can't do.

For example, here's rule number one for making a "Star Wars" game set before the movies, as told by Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, the co-founders of BioWare:

Greg: They had very specific rules for us when we started the original 'Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.' 'Don't blow anything up we'll use later.' We've been sticking to that, that's good advice.

Ray: Any planets in the movies, you can't blow 'em up. Seriously, that's actually one of the things that we got early on. So it's a very collaborative arrangement and that's really the only way to describe it. It's like a lot of communication, a lot of partnership, and we get great ideas. It's very much a co-production kind of process, and the team in Austin, we like working with our friends at LucasArts very much.

So if you happen to find yourself playing a mission on Alderaan in "The Old Repubic," you can feel safe that the planet won't implode at a moment's notice. Unfortunately the same goes for Naboo.

PopCap games didn't originally want zombies on their lawns. They wanted the game that became "Plants vs. Zombies" to take place in the world of their other title "Insaniquarium," but fate had other plans. In fact, zombies were initially a part of the supporting cast and gradually rose up from the sidelines to redefine the entire game concept, and sketches from the development team reveal aliens and bugs that gradually got left behind.

"We knew we wanted to significantly change up the gameplay for the ["Insaniquarium"] sequel," "Plants vs. Zombies" creator George Fan told Ars Technica, "and [we were] leaning toward it to being more defense-oriented than the first 'Insaniquarium.' During that time I was also playing a lot of tower defense games in 'Warcraft III,' and realized that they had this innate appeal that made me think of fond childhood memories like building forts out of sofa cushions and watching 'Swiss Family Robinson.'"

Fan also shared a landmark drawing in the flashback, explaining where pea-shooters took over and cemented the transition into a plants and zombies show.

"It marked the biggest gameplay change during development, which was the change from traditional tower defense paths to the 5-lane linear gameplay you see in the finished product," he said. "It also marked the transition of the game's adversary from aliens to zombies, as evidenced by the multiple alien references and the zombie in the lower left."

His little walk through history shines some light on details you never would have guessed in million daylight cycles, and the article even shows off some plants that didn't make the final cut. I recommend giving it a look-over.

What surprised you the most about origins of "Plants vs. Zombies"? Are you glad PopCap made the changes that they did? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

If you really want to give that special someone in your life a copy of "Street Fighter 4" or one of Square Enix's "Final Fantasy" re-releases on iPhone, you can now gift any one of them directly, instead of just relying on a gift card. Some changes to Apple's App Store this week opened up a gifting option on all of the apps and games there, meaning you don't have to worry about giving your friend a $10 gift card for a specific game, only to watch them accidentally blow it on similarly labeled player's guide or "photo album."

The new system allows givers to send redeemable app presents over email with a 500-word personalized message or on paper with everything necessary printed out directly from iTunes. The "Gift This App" Function appears when you go to buy something in iTunes. Apple doesn't currently allow such generous behavior from on board the iPhone or with free apps, however, so forget any plans you may have to give like a cheapskate through the App Store. The giving screen even allows you to give the same app to multiple recipients, which is also a neat feature.

I'm a bit surprised this wasn't already possible, but it sounds like a fine option for birthdays and holidays down the road.

What games do you see yourself giving to your favorite people now that Apple has opened up app giving? Is there any other functionality you would like to see them add to the App Store? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Some form of "LittleBigPlanet" gaming will be compatible with Sony's new PlayStation Move controller, but the heat went up under speculation that a "LittleBigPlanet 2" will a part of that plan now that the title has been mentioned by someone in the know. While casually describing plans for the Move, Sony Benelux's brand manager Folkert Langeveld seemingly mentioned "LittleBigPlanet Twee," and it's set off a debate over whether or not he simply misspoke while talking about "LittleBigPlanet" compatibility or intentionally acknowledged a full-on Move-ready sequel.

Though the interview was conducted in Dutch, you can analyze Langeveld's words for yourself over at Tweakers, where the video was posted.

Given that Sony showed off "LBP" support at GDC earlier this month, I would be really surprised if something as big as a full sequel entered the conversation in such an understated manner. Furthermore, if that sequel were on the record now, it would be odd for Langeveld to refer to it and glaze over the "LBP" integration info that's already out there.

Or, you know, maybe he wasn't using Dutch and accidentally leaked "LittleBigPlanet Twee," a super-cute '80s-infused spin-off game featuring music by Twee Pop bands like The Pipettes and Belle & Sebastian.

Do you think "LittleBigPlanet 2" is really happening, are people reading too much into Langeveld's words? Share your own take in the comment section below.

The Nintendo 3DS is coming, whether you like it or not. As it turns out, we're in the "like it" group...at least from the little we've heard so far. But as they say in the gaming world, it's all about the software. Here are five games that need to be made for the Nintendo 3DS.

Star Fox 3

Yeah, that's right. "Star Fox 3." Nintendo hires Q-Games to jump back on the Lylat Wars bus, with Dylan Cuthbert at the helm to create an official sequel to 1996's unreleased "Star Fox 2." Prepped for the 3DS launch—and following a "Star Fox 2" release on Virtual Console—"Star Fox 3" will act as a technological benchmark for three-dimensional game presentation, just like it did with the FX Chip back in the day. When you do a barrel roll in your highly detailed, cel-shaded Arwing, the fighter will look like you can touch it in the real world. It will also be so good that "Star Fox: Assault" and "Star Fox Adventures" will completely disappear from your memory.

Hologram Time Traveler 2

Awww yeah, "Hologram Time Traveler." Sega takes the 3DS bull by the horns by crafting a brand new sequel to Rick Dyer's 1991 stereographic FMV game. You will once again play as a cowboy gunslinging across both time and space, but this time you'll be rendered in polygons instead of a doofy actor in a five-dollar costume. The remarkable 3D effect of the original will be recreated on the go, but now you'll be able to wander about on a full adventure instead of being restricted to a single screen. Sega will also include a sweet local multiplayer option where you can actually see your cowboy shoot your friend's cowboy across the two 3DSes you're playing on.

WarioWare: Depth!

Nintendo R&D1 finally puts together a proper handheld sequel to 2004's "Touched!." "Depth!"'s brand new microgames will incorporate the best of "Touched!"'s tactile play and will also incorporate "Smooth Moves"'s gesture-based action, taking advantage of the 3DS' gyroscopic tech. Laughter abounds as you literally stick your finger into Wario's nose as it bursts from the screen! Chortle as you pump your hands up and down watching a balloon inflate into three-dimensional space! R&D1 will almost decide to make a full-color remake of "Virtual Boy Wario Land" instead of "Depth!" before realizing that associating the 3DS with the Virtual Boy in any way would be disastrous.

Rad Racer

Square-Enix gets back to their 3D roots with a sequel to their all but forgotten NES racing series. The best part will be that the game will actually be 3D this time, instead of just coming with 3D glasses and pulling off some headache-inducing graphical effects. Square-Enix will actually make their first 3DS game a truly special event by bringing back the original minds behind the franchise to work on it. In their first collaboration with Mistwalker, S-E will have Hironobu Sakaguchi and Nobuo Uematsu will return to the series that didn't make them famous in any way. The game may or may not be compatible with the new 3DS Power Glove.

Kid Icarus

Finally. Flush from the high of their collaboration on "Metroid: Other M," Yoshio Sakamoto, Team Ninja, and Nintendo SPD Production 1 will finally give the fans precisely what they want, crafting a franchise relaunch of the inexplicably beloved "Kid Icarus." In addition to the vintage side-scrolling and dungeon exploration of the original, "Kid Icarus 3DS" will feature some sweet, "Space Harrier"-style 3D flight levels as well as some "Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword"-style melee combat. It will be okay, not amazing, but it will finally get people to stop asking for a new "Kid Icarus."

If Hollywood can remake "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and "King Kong," why shouldn't Square Enix be open to updating "Final Fantasy VII"? Afterall, they've already polished up "Final Fantasy" and "Final Fantasy II" for the iPhone. Well, it turns out that they may be open to remastering "VII," too, even if they haven't picked out a platform.

"Right now we don’t have a clear direction, but many fans have requested we remake 'Final Fantasy VII,'" Square Enix president and CEO Yoichi Wada told Siliconera. "We’re going to explore the possibility -- whether or not we’re going to do it, if we’re going to do it, and the platform."

That means we may see it for PlayStation 3, the PlayStation Portable, or who knows, maybe even in 3-D. I'd love to know what it would take to port a game like over to Sony's new PS3 3-D settings meant to take advantage of 3-D TV's this summer, and "FFVII" could be a worthy candidate to experiment on. If it's not a PS3 remake, I'm not sure I'd see the point, though. The game just doesn't fit elsewhere in my mind, but they could show a demo six months from now and surprise me.

Would you like to see a "Final Fantasy VII" remake? Are there any other games that you would like to see given HD upgrades? Share your suggestions in the comment section below.

Four years ago Eidos Interactive released a forgettable open-world, action game set on an island called "Just Cause." The game's hook was actually a hook; the main character, Rico Rodriguez, had a grappling hook and a never-ending supply of parachutes that helped you explore the tropical island of San Esperito. "Just Cause" returns with a sequel that doesn't suffer from the sophomore slump, and is actually a much more competent and enjoyable title than the original.

The Basics

Rico Rodriguez is a covert operative for the C.I.A., and the game opens with him investigating the disappearance of a fellow agent on the Southeast Asian island-nation of Panau, but what he discovers is something much bigger than he expected. Along with the return of Rico "Just Cause 2" sees the return of the series' signature grappling hook and parachute combo that make exploring Panau a very different experience than your standard third-person shooters.

The Highs

There's Always Something To Do In Panau
While I don't know this for a fact, I have a theory that you could play "Just Cause 2" for six months straight and still not hit 100% completion. Panau has miles upon miles of terrain to explore, as well as hundreds of settlements, cities and military bases peppered all over the country, and it's going to take you a while to cover it all. In addition to the military bases that are the central points of most of the missions, there are civilian settlements all over the map, each of which includes collectables that help you level-up your weapons, vehicles and armor. So, while it may seem like a daunting task to visit over 350 settlements, it behooves you to do so.

Everything Goes Boom
One of the ways to progress the story in the game is by causing chaos throughout the island, which basically translates to blowing the government's stuff up. Scattered throughout the island are thousands of radio towers, fuel tanks, satellite dishes, surface-to-air missiles and pretty much everything else an island nation needs to sustain a military minded dictatorship, and it's all flammable. If something is marked with the Panau government's red star, it will explode. One of the biggest draws of "Just Cause 2" is that there's a lot of stuff to blow up and it never gets old.

The Hook Brings You Back
The controls for Rico's grappling hook take a little getting used to (it's mapped to the left bumper button), but once you have them locked down the hook becomes an invaluable item on your journey. It makes the game feel faster, better paced, and more interesting when you're zipping around areas and climbing up walls to get the drop on mounted gunners. It's the perfect hybrid between "Crackdown" and "Spider-man," and is basically what the "Bionic Command" re-launch should have been. The only downside of the hook is that you can't upgrade it like the rest of your weapons, which seems like a big missed opportunity.

The Lows

Breaks in the Story
In order to progress the story in the game you have to generate a certain level of chaos on the island in order to unlock each new agency mission, and, while it's a great concept, the execution tends to get a bit frustrating. After every agency mission you just want to move on to the next chapter, but instead you have to spend hours running around the island, doing mini-missions for each of the island's three gang factions, causing chaos. It sure is a good thing that Avalanche Studios made destroying Panau so much fun, or else this could have been the tipping point for the game.

A.D.D. Gamers Beware
It's extremely easy to get distracted between, and even during, missions on Panau. Whether you just want to clear the stronghold that you've just captured to 100% or you want to visit the island's blimp brothel, you can lose a lot of time just exploring the Panau's various offerings. On the plus side, you'll probably never finish this game, and there will always be something left for you to do. On the down side, completionists, you'll probably never finish this game.

Another Escort Mission?
Each of the factions have a series of stronghold takeover missions, which are weighted more heavily than their standard, less challenging tasks. Unfortunately, all nine of these missions involve escorting a member of a faction to the other side of a military base so they can hack into a computer. They're all essentially designed exactly the same, and by the third one you can predict where you're going to meet resistance, as well as the fact that you're going to be the one who has to climb over the fence and open the gate for them at the beginning of each mission.

Getting From Place To Place
Visiting a place that you have already discovered in "Just Cause 2" is a piece of cake; you simply call your Black Market dealer, and he gives you a lift. However, if you need to venture to a new part of the island, which is extremely common for newly unlocked missions, you have to discover it yourself. With kilometers inbetween you and your new destination traveling all the time can be extremely laborious, especially later in the game when you just want things to move along.

The Verdict

"Just Cause 2" is a case of the developers examining what was wrong with their first game and improving it. At every turn there will be elements that remind you of great games like "Crackdown," "Test Drive: Unlimited," "Pursuit Force," and "Red Faction Guerrilla" but "Just Cause 2" manages to avoid feeling derivative, and actually ends up being quite enjoyable in the end. Even if you overlooked the original, "Just Cause 2" is worth some of your time, especially if you want an action game that you can play for a very long time.

While Marvel's next Spider-Man, Thor and Captain America games continue along the road to release, their biggest competition may be staking out a not-so-secret lair in Canada. Warner Interactive announced that they would be opening a new studio in Montreal this week, and they've now reportedly said that it's chief purpose will be to work on DC Comics properties.

The studio's first project at its new La Belle Province location will be something high-profile, leveraging their DC license, Warner Interactive president Martin Tremblay told GameFocus.

Warner recently bought their "Batman: Arkham Asylum" developer Rocksteady Studios. If Rocksteady keeps that franchise, a Superman game would be the next logical choice, though with a Green Lantern movie currently going into production, he could be at the front of the line as well.

The studio's establishment comes under a broader strategy in the last year that's seen DC establish an overarching DC Entertainment brand across its comic book, movie, TV and video game properties in an effort to make its creative branches work more efficiently together.

It should be noted, though, with Sony's 3-D technology on the horizon for the PlayStation 3, and DC's new up-tempo approach to entertainment, there has never been a more perfect time to create an Aquaman undersea 3-D adventure title.

What DC Comics properties would you like to see Warner's new studio use first? Do you think they're smart to devote an entire studio to DC characters? Share your reactions in the comment section below.

As you probably already know, the Nintendo 3DS has been announced. What you may not know is that Nintendo 3DS is actually a temp name for the device and it may end up being called something entirely different.

Here's the official announcement from Nintendo:

Do we have another Revolution vs. Wii moment on our hands?