Archive for August, 2010

Rounding out a Monday that has seen an "Epic Mickey" Collectors' Edition announced and a "Far Cry 3" Collector's Edition either imagined or leaked, "Tron: Evolution" has decided to throw its hat in the ring and reveal its own deluxe set that comes crammed with a light cycle collectible from Sideshow Collectibles and a display case, judging from the images that Disney distributed.

"Tron has proven to be a franchise that inspires loyal fans and collectors and will continue with the holiday's new entries," Disney Interactive Studios senior vice president of global marketing Craig Relyea. "This collector’s edition will give fans of 'Tron: Evolution' and the Tron movies a great opportunity to not only get the game but also a unique Tron collectible."

"Evolution," which is scheduled to ship on December 7, 2010, will come priced at $129.99 and arrive just ahead of "Tron: Legacy," which Disney will be delivering to theaters on December 17.

The game itself takes place "during the era between the two Tron films," and though you'll only be able to get the light cycle with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions, other variations and permutations based on its story and events will be released for the Wii, DS PC and PlayStation Portable. All of them will have huge shoes to fill, however, since the original "Tron" arcade machine was one of the greatest inventions ever to honor arcades and Showbiz Pizza with its presence. I can't vouch personally for the quality of the $70 light cycle.

Are you interested in the "Tron: Evolution" Collector's Edition? What are your impressions of the game at this point? Share your perspectives in the comment section below.

If you can read the Japanese-language "Super Street Fighter 4" blog that Capcom maintains, you've been privy to some hardcore teasing about the all-but-announced new fighters for the "SSF4" arcade edition. The blog traditionally updates on Fridays, and last Friday's entry anticipated something important seven days down the road.

Hints will arrive in this week's update, the game's assistant producer Tomoaki Ayano wrote, according to a report on Andriasang which hypothesizes that full reveals could come as soon as next week at a Japanese amusement machine show in Chiba.

Of course, the "SSF4" machine hasn't been officially listed for that show yet, and Capcom has been teasing the new competitors for more than a month now. And even if they do show up in Chiba, there's no guarantee that they'll be ported into North American consoles — though I can think of precious few reasons not to toss them into the development meat grinders for some DLC after they're public.

Furthermore, Capcom has said that "SSF4" will be the last full game released in the 4 series for consoles, so it's unlikely that they'll pull an about face and try to shoehorn the new fighters into a "Super Street Fighter 4 Alpha: Tournament Edition" or something along those lines in 2011. Or, maybe we'll just see them show up in "Marvel vs. Capcom 3." That would be the ultimate tease.

Do you want to see new characters on the "SSF4" arcade machine? Are you ready to see them make it onto DLC for the console too? Share your perspectives in the comment section below.

Nintendo made news by announcing lowered prices on the DSi and DSi XL this week, but Microsoft has generated their own message board buzz today by taking some prices in the opposite director. Starting on November 1, twelve-month Gold subscriptions are going to rise from $49.99 to $59.99, three months will cost $24.99 instead of $19.99 and one month will run $9.99 instead of $7.99.

"Since launching Xbox Live in 2002 we have continually added more content and entertainment experiences for our members, while keeping the price the same," Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb wrote on his Major Nelson blog. "We're confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox Live Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry."

Microsoft undoubtedly hopes that users will see that value in the video communication and ESPN features that it showed off at E3. Still, with Kinect already costing $149.99 this fall, higher subscription fees won't make the XBL transition into 2011 any easier.

Microsoft is taking advantage of their two-month window between now and the November 1 hike just as you would expect them to, with Xbox.com plugging the "act now" angle. Other card retailers like Newegg are likewise touting their $39.99 subscription cards. Those would have been fine deals anyway, but with this news setting off a ticking clock, retailers just got a great marketing push from Major Nelson.

Nevertheless, the pressure will be on Microsoft to deliver features to Kinectless users after November arrives. If ESPN looks as good as it did at E3, sports fans should appreciate where their money is going whenever that new service launches, but I can see how the average player who doesn't yet see a reason to buy Kinect might feel like they're being pressed to subsidize premium playing experiences for Kinect and Windows Phone 7 users that happen to have extra hundred-dollar barriers in front of them.

What do you make of the XBL's new rates? Does the news affect your plans to renew? Share your perspectives in the comment section below.

Seemingly ahead of the game, just as they purported to be with premature Project Natal and "Crysis 2" Nano Edition listings, Swedish online retailers have looked into their crystal pre-order balls and opened up pages for "Far Cry 3." The game hasn't been officially unveiled or tagged for release yet, but regular and collectors' editions of the title have been priced in Swedish crowns for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Both GAME.se and WEBHALLEN.com currently offer the sequel through their Web portals. Even stranger, they both have "Far Cry 3" slotted to come out in 2010, which may indicate something fishier than a hunger for pre-orders going on behind the scenes.

The Collectors' Edition for the Xbox 360 shows up costing the equivalent of just over $130, and I'm sure that if Ubisoft really wanted to compete in the holiday market with the "Epic Mickey" Collectors' Editions and "Call of Duty: Black Ops" Prestige Editions that are already going to be floating around out there, they would have wanted to put some more marketing oomph into their sales pitch by this point.

Whether the online entries were just mislabeled, left over from previous secret retailer sales plans, or just plain erroneous, they got some box art from somewhere, and "Far Cry 3" isn't exactly a huge secret. Perhaps we'll see some more accessible North American listings by the end of the year or in 2011. Only Ubisoft knows for sure.

Are you ready to see "Far Cry 3" in stores? Do you think it will be out by 2011? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Blizzard has always been a cinematic game developer. Its focus on storytelling and cutscenes (both in-engine and out) is undeniable, with Hollywood-quality tales of heroism, revenge and war. Way back in 2006, Blizzard announced that it was working with Legendary Pictures to make a live-action movie set in the "WarCraft" universe, and last year it was announced that Sam Raimi would be directing the film. Rob Pardo, the EVP of Game Design at Blizzard recently spoke to me about the progress of the "WarCraft" film and whether Blizzard has any other Hollywood aspirations for its franchises.

Regarding the "WarCraft" movie, Pardo said that there's not a whole lot to report on at the moment. "We're still super excited about it," he said, "but it's still in that story-development phase."

With the success of "StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty" it certainly makes you wonder whether other Blizzard franchises might make it to the silver screen. Pardo said that the company has always wanted to go this route with its franchises, but that they really need to find the right production team for project.

"We've always had an interest in seeing our stuff on film or TV. It's just tricky to find the right partners. We probably could have made a ['StarCraft'] movie or something on TV years and years ago, but it's really important to us that we find creative people that are really talented but also really excited about our properties. That's always been the challenge for us. I think if Jim Cameron came to us tomorrow and said, 'You want to make a 'StarCraft' movie?' we'd probably sign that."

Pardo went on to emphasize that, with the "World of WarCraft" movie, Blizzard found such a partnership. "That's why we did the 'WoW' movie. We were really excited about being involved with Legendary Pictures, who we thought had a really good track record with these sorts of movies that would make sense for our franchises."

So, James Cameron, ball's in your court! If you need contact info for the Blizzard folks, just let me know. I'd be happy to hook you up.

Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 copies of "Epic Mickey" may not be available to pre-order order at this point, but the as-of-right-now Wii-exclusive game does have a new Collectors' Edition up for grabs. Junction Point's odyssey through Disney history will come with a few extras, including a five-inch Mickey figurine, console skins, a remote faceplate, and a DVD with "behind-the-scenes video" if you're willing to put down $69.99 instead of the standard $49.99 MSRP attached to the basic game-in-a-plastic-case package.

"We're thrilled to roll out this Collectors' Edition featuring so many unique items including the collectible 'Disney Epic Mickey' figurine and content that will surprise and delight gamers and Disney fans alike," Disney Interactive Studios executive vice president and general manager Graham Hopper said in a press release. "The addition of the bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes video and more will enhance and expand the overall 'Disney Epic Mickey' experience."

Toys"R"Us already has this XL box available for pre-orders, and other retailers will be presumably follow suit. The package design is definitely classy and tasteful, but the extra $20 the Collectors' Edition will demand looks like it will chiefly go into the DVD and figurine. This may be a gimme for Mickey hoarders, but I want to know more about the DVD contents before I judge the offering as a whole.

Warren Spector has already shared a lot of insight into this project, and he's a fascinating guy to listen to. If there's a full documentary's worth of content on board, I may be sold, but if it's something that could have been just as easily divvied up among a few YouTube clips the sell will be a little more difficult. I'm keeping my eyes open for a runtime estimate.

Will you pick up the "Epic Mickey" Collectors' Edition? What do you want to see included on the DVD? Share your desires in the comment section below.

Nintendo is usually last among the big three gaming publishers to announce a price drop, as evidenced by the DSi, which has gone since its launch in November 2008 at its current price of $169.99. Nintendo will be dropping that price on September 12, bringing the standard DSi down to $149.99. The DSi XL, the newer, larger cousin of the DSi, is also getting a price drop on that day: From $189.99 to 169.00.

Obviously the important thing to ask is Why? The lower price will undoubtedly increase sales over the holiday season, which is exactly what Nintendo wants in the months leading to the release of the 3DS. After all, the moment Nintendo releases the new 3D handheld, sales for the DSi and DSi XL will probably take a nosedive, so they're better off getting while the getting's good.

So where does that leave you? Should you take advantage of the new price drop or hold off for the new handheld in 2011? Well, that all depends. If you already own a DS Lite, and it isn't on the verge of death, I'd say you should just hold off until the 3DS, which has all the features of the DSi, plus a whole lot more.

If you're without a handheld gaming console and you think you're going to need one between September 12 and next spring (which is when the 3DS is projected to release), I'd suggest going with a DS Lite, which remains at $129.99. Most people don't use the bells and whistles of the DSi and you're really just looking for a stopgap until the next big thing.

Of course, that's just my opinion. This is your money we're talking about.

According to the Wii Shop Channel, "Physics-based Platformer" has spun off and become its own genre, since that is how the creative "And Yet It Moves" from Vienna-based indie developer Broken Rules has officially been categorized. "Physics-based platformer" is a phrase that's used to describe more and more nowadays, since it seems you need to offer something more than just a simple "platfomer" to interest potential consumers nowadays, and that's something "AYIM" does very well. Blending elements of time, gravity and momentum control this little WiiWare title pulls no punches when it comes to creating a great game, even in its developers first outing.

The Basics

Set in a world made up of torn paper, "And Yet It Moves"' nameless protagonist is tasked with navigating the twisting maze of levels by hurling himself through the air and making the world conform to the path that he wants to take. Since there is no apparent story presented in the game, the title relies heavily on its unique gameplay mechanics; the character only possesses the capabilities to run and jump, but the player is allowed to stop time, and rotate and spin the world by tilting the Wii controller. The title was originally released in 2009 as an independent PC title that evolved from a project by a group of students at the University of Technology in Vienna, but this release comes with additional content, and a significantly tweaked control scheme.

The Highs

The Gimmick
Throughout the first of three chapters of "And Yet It Moves" it seems like the game really only has on thing going for it, the rotating mechanic that allows the character to spin the level around. While that is essentially true, by the end of the game that concept turns out to be significantly more than just a one trick pony. Broken Rules have implemented numerous ideas around that core concept that it creates enough mind-bending puzzles that, by the end of the game, your brain will feel like it had a healthy workout.

The Controls
Since the PC release last year, the controls have been completely redesigned to take advantage of the Wii's motion sensing capabilities, creating one of the most tailored experiences on the console. Prior to the WiiWare release players could only rotate the world 90 or 180 degrees each spin, but the Wii controller now offers up the full range of 360 degrees allowing for more precisely controlled gameplay. If there are any doubts about how much better the Wii's controls are, the original "retro" rotation settings are included as an unlockable cheat, should you dare to compare.

The Extras
"And Yet It Moves" packs in a bunch of extras for your $10. While the campaign may be on the shorter side (see below) the game offers a copious amount of replay value, as long as you don't mind working through the same handful levels a couple different ways. The time trail and survival modes seem almost obligatory, but when introduced alongside achievements and a short list of unlockable cheats "AYIM" guarantees quite a bit of playtime. It also has the best credit sequence this side of "Katamari."

The Lows

The Length
The game's main campaign can be completed in a little over two hours, and is well worth the initial buy in, but it felt like there was still something missing. While there is a ton of additional content, it seemed like the new ideas that were introduced later in the game could have been stretched out to prolong the experience a bit. The game's pacing is near perfect, but a couple of additional levels to pad the playtime could have been dropped in without really hindering the overall experience, or making it feel forced.

The Speed
"And Yet It Moves" is a thinking man's game, and like many other thinking man's games there is more of an emphasis more on how you solve the problem than how quickly you solve it. While there is a time trial mode included which is unlocked after you beat a level, you play through the campaign with infinite lives and hit a save point either before you attempt any kind of puzzle or potentially dangerous activity. It doesn't drastically take away from the experience; the unhurried nature of the game does make completing a level feel a little less urgent.

The Verdict

Creating a great game in your first attempt is no small feat, and Broken Rules should be recognized for both their creativity and compelling gameplay that they have presented with "And Yet It Moves." While the core concept of rotating levels may have originated elsewhere (go look up "Cameltry" and "Time Pilot" for starters), the amount of new concepts that are layered upon that basic principal are astounding. That, mixed with the Wii specific controls, coalesces to create one of the best WiiWare games ever, and puts "And Yet It Moves" in the running to be one of the best Wii titles of 2010.

Four Games Announced.

The United States Supreme Court has set a date to hear out the State of California's appeal to preserve their 2005 law that addresses the sale of games to minors. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger backs the law and his side will face off against the Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA) when they appear November 2.

The Court's ruling on Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association will address the "constitutionality of [California's] ban on [the] sale or rental of violent video games to minors," according to the schedule posted on SCOTUSblog.

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA) will be submitting "a brief on behalf of American digital entertainment consumers and will be attaching the gamer petition," as they believe the law to be vaguely worded and a threat to free speech in the games industry.

Lower courts have already called the law unconstitutional, but this is the last stop in the U.S. appeals system, so both sides will want to make their day count. Governor Schwarzenegger wants hefty penalties for retailers who sell violent video games to minors or fail to have their wares properly labeled. The real kicker comes in this time around because a Supreme Court ruling here may effectively decide whether free speech rights apply to video games in the U.S. A lot of developers out there would obviously like to see Schwarzenegger fail here, but the former Last Action Hero wants to see angry Californian parents left with one less decision when they buy games for their kids.

What do you think of California's law? Do you think Scwarzenegger will come out on top? Share your predictions in the comment section below.