gamezplay

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

New Island (Big Surf Island) for Burnout but not for free

This first shot shows your arrival point on the island. From here, you can make out the awesome cylindrical tower referred to in this Crash TV Episode 15. With the right car, it’s possible to drift all the way to the top of this tower and back again. But you’re unlikely to drive down, because this location is all about massive jumps. For a while, we considered naming it Big Air Island!

The building to the right is the hotel we named after one of our die-hard fans. DBC9MX earned the right name the hotel after winning the Downtown Showtime Showdown competition and chose to name it after his son – Taylor J. You check out the footage in Crash TV

This second shot is the first time we’ve shown you the view looking back down from the island towards the bridge and mainland Paradise City. Our mantra is ‘if you can see it, you can drive it’ – which means that even the bridge to the city features multiple levels and massive jumps.

The construction yard in the foreground is loaded with gameplay and the scaffold at the top features in one of the island’s most memorable pieces of gameplay. Everywhere on the island is like this.

This third image is the first look at the other side of the island, featuring the palm trees that give it a distinctly tropical flavour. The unusual shape of the lighthouse, and the massive ramp in front of it are more tell-tale signs that the geometry is more than just scenery.

And finally, here’s our favourite shot.

This shows the kind of action the island is built for. The scaffold towers in the construction yard can be climbed and all the hoops can be jumped. If you want a taste of what the island is all about, head for the airfield, quarry or beach in Burnout Paradise right now and imagine an area the size of Downtown dedicated to that kind of gameplay. The car featured here is the Dust Storm. It will be made available at the same time as the island.

We’d mentioned in a previous podcast that this would be free content, but we can now confirm that it will be premium paid-for content.

Here’s why. We never expected to create anything this ambitious for the island, but as it progressed we got more and more excited about what it could become. (In fact, that’s the story of all our Downloadable Content.)

Big Surf is the culmination of everything we learned creating Paradise City, and we want it to bring you a truly spectacular new experience – the highlight of a year of incredible premium content. Burnout already delivers incredible value for money – literally hundreds of hours of gameplay with your original disk or PSN purchase, plus more with the free Cagney Pack and free Burnout Paradise Bikes.

We want Burnout Paradise players to experience the greatest support ever seen in a console game. We’re transforming not just Burnout Paradise, but the whole Burnout franchise through DLC, and we appreciate the support we know you guys will give us for our paid content. We think it’s worth it.

Next week, we’ll bring you the first of our “Paradise City Boroughs” guides - Downtown Paradise. We’ll cover the whole of Paradise City borough-by-borough in some detail, culminating in a big reveal of the island in the new year.

From the official website here...

Uncharted 2 - Among Thieves revealed in video

Sony has lifted the lid on the sequel to its PS3 action-adventure, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, via a trailer and a Game Informer magazine cover.

Uncharted 2 - Among Thieves "revolves around the 13th century explorer Marco Polo and his voyages", according to Game Informer's teaser.

The magazine also says that "free climbing" and stealth will be the major gameplay additions to the third-person adventure from the Jak & Daxter developer, Naughty Dog.

A short teaser trailer has also been released, showing hero Nathan Drake struggling through a snowy landscape to retrieve some kind of ancient artefact. Going by this and the cover, Uncharted 2 will swap the first game's steamy jungle for a cold, mountainous setting.

We can expect more detail when Among Thieves gets its "world premiere" a week on Sunday - December 14th - at the 2008 Video Game Awards.

Watch the trailer here (click on MEDIA heading)...

Source: Eurogamer

Wii make six dollars profit on every Nintendo Wii...

Nintendo makes a profit of 6 dollars on every Nintendo Wii they sell.

While Sony makes a loss on each PlayStation 3 and Microsoft may break even with the Xbox 360, Nintendo makes a profit.

The Nintendo Wii is expected to sell more software than any other games console this year, with a target of 220 million units, compared with 120 million for PlayStation 3 games and 125 million for Xbox 360 titles.

Nintendo sells 60 per cent of Wii games itself, compared with 30 per cent for Microsoft and 15 per cent for Sony.

Part of this success is placed upon Nintendo's practice of keeping price down, with the console itself retailing for around USD 250, compared to the PlayStation 3 at around USD 400, while Nintendo Wii games are priced around USD 50 rather than USD 60 on the other two consoles.

"The key thing about Nintendo is they want their things to be at price points that anyone can respond to."

Source: GamesIndustry

From The Creator of Enigmo and Cro-Mag Rally Comes Antimatter, A New Electrifying Game for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Antimatter, a unique physics based arcade-style game, is now available for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch.

“Antimatter is the first game Pangea designed from the ground up for the iPhone operating system,” stated Brian Greenstone, president of Pangea Software. “It’s a physics based arcade game that will really appeal to anyone who liked Enigmo. The Antimatter graphics are stunning, the audio is incredible and the gameplay is extremely addictive!”

Antimatter is the ultimate arcade game for the iPhone and iPod Touch! To complete each level the player will need to control a stream of antimatter particles and use it to affect Cosmic Strings in order to alter their color before the Antimatter Energy Meter runs out, all while collecting power-ups and bonus points. This remarkable title was designed specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch, featuring a simple and intuitive control scheme that allows for a true interactive experience.

Antimatter is available through the App Store with a limited time special introductory price of $.99.

To purchase Antimatter, please visit the App Store at: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=298032129&mt=8.

Zavvi games supplier goes bust - no more orders being taken

Zavvi has confirmed earlier reports that it is struggling to meet demand as it suffers stock shortages due to its supplier, Entertainment UK, going into administration.

The UK retailer has suspended taking orders on its website for all DVD, music and videogames products, however books are still available. Yesterday, Gamesindustry.biz broke the news that EUK-supplied stores were still waiting on copies of the PlayStation 3 exclusive title Resistance 2.

"Regretfully we are unable to fully guarantee the supply of DVD, music and games products to our customers," the company commented on its website today. "We have decided to suspend taking orders for these products while we work to resolve the situation and get back to normal."

"We have not taken this decision lightly, but we believe that this is the right course of action under the circumstances."

Source: Games Industry

Blue Dragon Plus for Nintendo DS

Are you ready to discover Blue Dragon Plus for Nintendo DS in an all new way? Immerse yourself in a larger-than-life visual experience by visiting the all-new www.yourbluedragon.com. From the moment you enter the site, watch the epic story of Blue Dragon Plus unfold before your eyes as Ignition Entertainment interweaves traditional website sections with an engaging cinematic story presentation, revealing a deeper look into the mystery behind Blue Dragon Plus.

“With such an extraordinary game, we knew we had to create an equally extraordinary site – a Blue Dragon website - PLUS!” said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. “We designed the Blue Dragon Plus site with a primary goal of blurring the lines between the cinematic experience and the interactive experience. We hope gamers will enjoy the ride!”

Packed with fan favorites including character bios, screenshots, storylines and wallpapers, the new game portal also boasts a fully dedicated Blue Dragon Plus forum where gamers can breathe fire alongside other Blue Dragon Plus fans from all over the world.

Tales of Pirates: Exploring the Treasure Gulf

In Tales of Pirates the Treasure Gulf is the first scene of the Caribbean Sea map. It is also an important transfer station through which players can access Skeletar Isle, Naval Base, Abaddon and Heaven. Like other treasure places, Treasure Gulf hides many precious items. Players may be able to get them by salvaging or fishing, and if they don't get what they want, it’s easy to sell them for a profit. It is also the only place which allows PK on the Caribbean Sea map.

Treasure Gulf Features

I. Silent Fleet

It is said that there are 7 sunken ships under the Treasure Gulf. In name and appearance they are all alike, but one among them is a special ship containing much more precious treasure chests.

When opening a common treasure chest, players will get ordinary materials, but when opening a special treasure chest they may obtain lots of gold, Mystic Panda Caps, Refining Gems and Attribute Gems.

II. Cruising Sharks

There are many schools of sharks living in the Treasure Gulf. Players can salvage these sharks by using salvaging tools. The sharks have attack powers, and will damage players’ ships.

After using a shark, players will obtain any one of the level 75 apparel suits, Shark Meat, Shark Roe, Sharkfin, and Shark Bone which are very useful and can be used to manufacture new items players need after adding ingredients like salt and rice.

Shark Fillet is made with Shark Meat plus Mustard, and will restore 1000 health points.
Caviar is made of Shark Roe and salt, and will restore 1000 SP points.
Sharkfin Porridge is made of Sharkfin plus Rice, and will increase attack power by 50%.
Fish Bone Soup is made of Shark Bone and Water, and will increase Dodge Rating by 50%.

For more details about Tales of Pirates, visit their official website: http://top.igg.com/.

Angels Online - New PVP system called Holy Battlefield is now available

Angels Online: Outpost Battlefield and Monsters Overview
After the release of the Lost Atlantis, a new PVP system called Holy Battlefield is now available for all players to enjoy. It has evolved based on the Outpost Battlefield and the Totem Battle. Players must have been very familiar with the Totem Battle, so today the Angels Online team is giving a brief introduction concerning the Outpost Battlefield.

Outpost Battlefield
The Outpost Battlefield was the first PVP system released for Angels Online. Four appointed NPCs can be found in the four main cities. Different factions’ players can talk to corresponding NPCs and then enter the Outpost Battlefield and PK with players from other factions.
In order to protect lower level players, there will be two maps for level 21-40 players and level 41-60 players respectively. Players will be teleported to the corresponding map according to their level.

Strategies
Fighting system players always charge forward under heavy fire like tanks, and are very important in the Outpost Battlefield. Magic players should deal as much damage as they can in time to soften up their enemies for the main tanks. If there are more than two factions’ on a map, players who take part in the Outpost Battlefield the first time may become flustered, and this can be disastrous during battle.

Boss Monsters & Production
Monsters which are as powerful as BOSSes will come to the Outpost Battlefield from 6:00pm to 12:00am everyday. Players can organize teams to defeat these monsters and obtain certain Riddle Pieces. 200 Riddle Pieces can be exchanged for a Certificate.

A guild with more Certificates has a chance to occupy a map in advance in the Totem Battle. On the battlefield, production players can obtain some Riddle Pieces as well by collecting high-level materials. However, their Riddle Pieces are much sought after, these players may be attacked by players from other factions. It is better for them to team up with other fighters and collect materials together.

For more information about this and other events visit:
http://ao.igg.com/act/totemskirmish/

Microsoft say Black Friday Xbox sales strong...

Microsoft was the first to issue a press release, saying that U.S. Xbox 360 console sales over the Black Friday weekend were on pace to beat previous years. It estimated Black Friday sales were up 25 percent on 2007 numbers and that the Xbox 360 outsold the PlayStation 3 by a three-to-one margin.

Of course, analysts are expecting Nintendo to trounce Microsoft in consoles sold. Nintendo doesn’t have a Black Friday report ready yet.

Sony, meanwhile, thumped its chest back at Microsoft. Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing and PlayStation Network at Sony, said in a statement that the company’s U.S. sales are up 90 percent year-to-date and that sales are on track for the company’s fiscal year which ends March 31, 2009.

Retailers reported strong sales on Black Friday, but many analysts attributed that to deep discounting. Video game companies have bundled more games with each console, and Microsoft cut its console prices in September, but the industry hasn’t resorted to big discounts. In the game industry, the most expensive new games debut at $60, but there is always the danger that new games won’t sell well and that used games will surge. That isn’t the case right now, evidently.

Gears of War 2 lived up to the hype. I finished it last week and was quite delighted with the sequel to the 2006 original. Microsoft said it sold 2 million copies of that game on its first weekend after the Nov. 7 launch.

Microsoft said that Fable II and Lips (a sing-along game) also sold well. And it said that sales of Xbox 360 hardware have been strong worldwide since the company cut prices in September. Among the big titles that should push November U.S. sales of video games are Gears of War 2, EA’s Left For Dead, Sony’s LittleBigPlanet and Resistance 2, Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, THQ’s WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, and Nintendo’s Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia for the Nintendo DS handheld game player. NPD is expected to publish November game sales results on Dec. 11.

Full text source: The standard

Tomb Raider Underworld video game review...

Tomb Raider is certainly ready to move in new directions. However, before it does, Underworld serves as a suitable exclamation point to wrap up old ideas before moving on to the next big thing. In that capacity, the game is a huge success, delivering the best of what makes Tomb Raider games fun while excising most elements that have irked players in recent years. This game won't likely change your opinion of the character or her adventures, but it's a grand ride for those who still look forward to globetrotting with the British heiress.

Crystal Dynamics acknowledges from the start that it's time to sweep out the old and bring in the new, opening the game with a bang (bye-bye Croft Manor), making it abundantly clear that things are changing for Lara. Underworld features the most cinematic and exciting Tomb Raider plot yet, filled with tense drama and awe-inspiring scenes of discovery. Without explicitly saying so, Underworld serves as the final act of the seemingly disconnected stories presented in Legend and Anniversary. Culling characters and unanswered questions from both, this closing chapter won't leave fans hanging.

The series' basic design tenets remain intact, but they are more polished here than ever before. Clambering along ledges, leaping across dangerous gaps, dodging ancient mechanical traps, and culling endangered animal species... it's all here. What has changed is the sense of scale. Underworld is all about huge mechanisms and sprawling levels. The platforming is top notch, and navigating the varied locales of the game world has never been more fun. Lara's actions feel and look more natural, thanks to some excellent motion-captured animation; cracks only show during occasional transitions between animations. Her moveset is also dramatically expanded, giving her more facility to interact with the environment in the way you want.

The mind-bending puzzles are fun, particularly the impressive number of optional challenges scattered throughout the game to find extra relics and treasures. If anything, some of the puzzles may be too big. I'm as much of a fan of gigantic, pulley-rigged ancient statues as anyone, but there are times where the scale of these contraptions is too massive to even understand what you're doing when you place widget A in slot B. Beyond this frustration, most of the puzzles are a blast to solve, delivering repeated "aha" moments that puzzle gamers can't help but love.

Combat is a marginal step up from previous incarnations, but is still heavily focused on wild leaps around the environment as you hold down the trigger. Unlike before, these combat encounters frequently pop up while you're in the midst of hanging off a ledge or leaping between posts, upping the excitement significantly. Legacy camera problems, meanwhile, haven't improved significantly and is probably the biggest problem still facing the talented development team.

In tone, Underworld hits the target dead center, delivering the perfect mix of isolation and discovery with larger dramatic encounters. No modern cities mar Lara's excursion this time, this is tomb-raiding from beginning to end. Remarkable visuals sell the experience, and a moving score deepens your involvement. The formula behind the game is ready for some fresh ideas, but as a wrap up of old ideas, Underworld hits the sweet spot.

All gamezplay.org posts including video and sexy Alison Carroll the new face of Lara Croft...

PLATFORM: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
STYLE: 1-player action/adventure
PUBLISHER: Eidos

CONCEPT: Explore the hidden ruins of the ancient past in one of Lara Croft's best adventures
GRAPHICS: Gorgeous environments, moody lighting, and slick animation make this a surprise contender for one of the finest looking games of the year
SOUND: A fantastic score sets the mood for exploring mysterious ruins and shooting in desperate gun battles
PLAYABILITY: Lara reacts with ease and precision, but the camera is sometimes frustrating
ENTERTAINMENT: A thrilling adventure for any gamer, but long-time tomb raiders will especially love all the nods to previous narratives
REPLAY VALUE: Moderate
THE BOTTOM LINE: 8.75 out of 10

Source: Courant

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Tuesday, December 02, 2008