GayGamer.net tag:gaygamer.net,2009-01-30://1 2012-02-22T11:31:42Z For boys who like boys who like joysticks! Movable Type Open Source 4.1 Sony Looking At New Motion Controller? tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.46024 2012-02-22T04:23:15Z 2012-02-22T11:31:42Z Super Swede patent1.jpg


Controller-free gaming: Once the collective fever dream of the gaming world, they have found a happy little home in this generation of consoles. All three manufacturers have their offerings, though the Kinect stands out for using neither wand nor nunchuck: rather, it is your salacious, salacious body of yours that provides the input.

Now, with the Move already under its belt, Sony may be looking to encroach on Microsoft territory, according to a recently-discovered patent, filed back in October of 2011. While initially annoying - the Move brought accusations across the web that Sony was simply ripping off the Wii, and the company will no doubt face accusations of ripping off Microsoft - it is worth remembering that Sony has been working with controller-free gaming since the PS2. Invented by Richard Marks, who brought us the Eye Toy, Move and PlayStation Eye, the patent is for a device that provides a "real-time three-dimensional interactive environment using a depth sensing device." While the above sketch is rather basic - no doubt owing to Sony's "thousand of chimpanzees using MS Paint on thousands of PCs" department - it does give credence to the notion that such a device will be, at its core, a ramped-up incarnation of previous camera-based gaming peripherals. News is scant - we'll be providing updates as more details come in - but according to Eurogamer's summary, Marks & Co. aims to provide a more natural, fluid experience than previous devices.

While motion-control gaming has yet to dethrone the almighty controller, the success of the Kinect has shown that such devices can be successful in the marketplace, even if only to fill a niche. Thus, in the interest of f**ktons of cash diversifying one's gaming portfolio, it's not terribly surprising that Sony has an interest in developing a successor to the PlayStation Eye.

So until we step boldly into the inevitable future - 2040 will be the year Microsoft unveils the "NeuroBox 360 Reality Synthesizer" - we'll simply have to settle for our primitive toys. I for one am disappointed. We were promised holodecks; instead, we have tricked-out webcams strapped to our televisions.

This is not the future I was hoping for.

]]> Trailer: Reign Of Thunder tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.46022 2012-02-21T04:45:00Z 2012-02-21T04:59:23Z For those who like their robots bipedal (and armed to the gills), the prospective loveliness of Reign of Thunder brings smiles, excited giggles, and enough suspension of disbelief to make one forget that when it comes to mechanized combat, walking robot armies are wholly impractical, vastly expensive, and unlike their tank counterparts, can be rendered prone by a well-placed (and sturdy) tripwire. The game is being developed by Day 1 Studios, known for their work on the MechAssualt series, and as one would expect, takes place in the Battletech universe. According to the press release, Reign of Thunder will be a "fast paced, multi-player focused title" from a third-person perspective. Players can customize their mechs - having never played an of the MechAssault games, I can only hope my "scores of heat sinks and enough PPCs to rip holes in space-time" strategy will still be possible - and as an added bonus, the orgy of mechanized destruction will be free-to-play. The game is without a solid release date, though TJ Wagner, Creative Director and Executive Producer of Reign of Thunder, says that "time is very, very near." Platforms have also yet to be announced, though one would suspect PC will be on the bill. via Videogamer.com... Super Swede

For those who like their robots bipedal (and armed to the gills), the prospective loveliness of Reign of Thunder brings smiles, excited giggles, and enough suspension of disbelief to make one forget that when it comes to mechanized combat, walking robot armies are wholly impractical, vastly expensive, and unlike their tank counterparts, can be rendered prone by a well-placed (and sturdy) tripwire.

The game is being developed by Day 1 Studios, known for their work on the MechAssualt series, and as one would expect, takes place in the Battletech universe. According to the press release, Reign of Thunder will be a "fast paced, multi-player focused title" from a third-person perspective. Players can customize their mechs - having never played an of the MechAssault games, I can only hope my "scores of heat sinks and enough PPCs to rip holes in space-time" strategy will still be possible - and as an added bonus, the orgy of mechanized destruction will be free-to-play.

The game is without a solid release date, though TJ Wagner, Creative Director and Executive Producer of Reign of Thunder, says that "time is very, very near." Platforms have also yet to be announced, though one would suspect PC will be on the bill.

via Videogamer.com

]]> Friday Frivolity: "The FP" Trailer tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.46018 2012-02-18T04:30:15Z 2012-02-18T21:07:31Z There are films, and then there are masterworks. Cinema's primitive origins - privileged audiences of the 19th century found themselves enthralled with the simple wonder of Eadweard Muybridge's "Sallie Gardner at a Gallop" - have birthed a groundswell of creativity, capturing the mind's eye of artists across the globe through the magic of the moving picture. Yet every now and again, there comes a truly transcendent work, and staggered by the grandeur, you find yourself left in helpless submission to that singular moment when the third eye opens - the majesty of the infinite possibilities and variables of space-time suddenly beheld by a quivering spirit - into which flows the truth about life, love, sex, death, and the central axiom upon which all existence, both material and transcendent, fundamentally rests. The sudden flood of revelations tears your corporeal form asunder, erasing from this dimension all that was once your mortal essence. Yet it is in this divine trance that the transmigration of the soul begins, hurling toward the Great Expanse on a wave of white hot-flourescene: an ethereal stream, stretching from the now-opened mind into the infinite firmament. Then, finding yourself awash in a sea of celestial light - you, intrepid star-child of the Higher Planes - the screen goes black, a slow crescendo of melody envelopes your being, and the credits roll. Such is probably not the case with "The FP," a "Warriors"-style jaunt though the fields of silliness. Set in a dystopian future, rival gangs game to the death - their weapon of choice, a knock-off of Dance Dance Revolution - in a battle for pride, power, and the prestige of being the greatest dancer in all of Fraizer Park. Grills shall be flashed, dancing boots shall be donned, and the eyepatch of our noble protagonist shall serve as a harbinger of the baditude that is to come. In "West Side Story," territorial disputes were settle through dance-offs; in "The FP," such disputes are settle through "beat-offs." So check out the 2:30 fever dream that is "The FP," and happy (very late) Friday!... Super Swede

There are films, and then there are masterworks. Cinema's primitive origins - privileged audiences of the 19th century found themselves enthralled with the simple wonder of Eadweard Muybridge's "Sallie Gardner at a Gallop" - have birthed a groundswell of creativity, capturing the mind's eye of artists across the globe through the magic of the moving picture. Yet every now and again, there comes a truly transcendent work, and staggered by the grandeur, you find yourself left in helpless submission to that singular moment when the third eye opens - the majesty of the infinite possibilities and variables of space-time suddenly beheld by a quivering spirit - into which flows the truth about life, love, sex, death, and the central axiom upon which all existence, both material and transcendent, fundamentally rests. The sudden flood of revelations tears your corporeal form asunder, erasing from this dimension all that was once your mortal essence. Yet it is in this divine trance that the transmigration of the soul begins, hurling toward the Great Expanse on a wave of white hot-flourescene: an ethereal stream, stretching from the now-opened mind into the infinite firmament. Then, finding yourself awash in a sea of celestial light - you, intrepid star-child of the Higher Planes - the screen goes black, a slow crescendo of melody envelopes your being, and the credits roll.

Such is probably not the case with "The FP," a "Warriors"-style jaunt though the fields of silliness. Set in a dystopian future, rival gangs game to the death - their weapon of choice, a knock-off of Dance Dance Revolution - in a battle for pride, power, and the prestige of being the greatest dancer in all of Fraizer Park. Grills shall be flashed, dancing boots shall be donned, and the eyepatch of our noble protagonist shall serve as a harbinger of the baditude that is to come. In "West Side Story," territorial disputes were settle through dance-offs; in "The FP," such disputes are settle through "beat-offs."

So check out the 2:30 fever dream that is "The FP," and happy (very late) Friday!

]]> Far Cry 3 "Stranded" Trailer (NSFW) tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.46013 2012-02-17T04:40:33Z 2012-02-17T20:50:59Z For me, stealth-oriented games, or anything in the ballpark thereof, is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it looks brilliant on paper: favoring tactical prowess over a mindless barrage of bullets, such games encourage the player to utilize those precious, precious mental faculties, offering an experience far above the simpleton's flavor of ultraviolence. On the other hand, I'm extraordinarily impatient, and even the faintest waft of danger - harkening back to a time when we gleefully bashed one another's heads in for food, shelter, and the endless pursuit of the fabled "badonkadonk" - sends my little Simian brain into some kind of primal bloodlust, immediately spelling ruin for my most carefully laid plans. Such was my pain with the original Far Cry, a game that I never finished, on account of "being generally terrible" at such titles. Yet for many of my more savvy peers, the game was not only a visual feast; it was a rather fine FPS title with an immersive environment, engaging gameplay, and of course, a focus on strategically eliminating one's targets, rather than the more intuitive approach of rampaging through the jungle like some kind of coked-up psychopath. In anticipation of Far Cry 3, a new trailer has been released, offering some cinematic prettiness, as well as giving one a bit of insight into the story, characters, and the environment in which our hapless protagonist finds himself. More details await after the jump!... Super Swede

For me, stealth-oriented games, or anything in the ballpark thereof, is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it looks brilliant on paper: favoring tactical prowess over a mindless barrage of bullets, such games encourage the player to utilize those precious, precious mental faculties, offering an experience far above the simpleton's flavor of ultraviolence.

On the other hand, I'm extraordinarily impatient, and even the faintest waft of danger - harkening back to a time when we gleefully bashed one another's heads in for food, shelter, and the endless pursuit of the fabled "badonkadonk" - sends my little Simian brain into some kind of primal bloodlust, immediately spelling ruin for my most carefully laid plans.

Such was my pain with the original Far Cry, a game that I never finished, on account of "being generally terrible" at such titles. Yet for many of my more savvy peers, the game was not only a visual feast; it was a rather fine FPS title with an immersive environment, engaging gameplay, and of course, a focus on strategically eliminating one's targets, rather than the more intuitive approach of rampaging through the jungle like some kind of coked-up psychopath.

In anticipation of Far Cry 3, a new trailer has been released, offering some cinematic prettiness, as well as giving one a bit of insight into the story, characters, and the environment in which our hapless protagonist finds himself.

More details await after the jump!

]]> Edge magazine has a feature article about the game; for those of us who have cast aside this antiquated method of information distribution (i.e. paper and credit cards), and have an iOS device at the ready, the relevant content can be found via the free Edge app. For those who share my general impatience for "everything," VG247 sums up the plot rather nicely:

The protagonist in the game, James Brody, has been on the island for years trying to find his kidnapped girlfriend. During his stay, he starts having a mental breakdown, and his actions are accompanied by hallucinations based on an "unreliable perspective." No word if this is caused by post traumatic stress disorder or not due to his stay on this mad island, but surely there is a reason for this strange, mental behavior in the game someplace.

Gametrailers recently posted an interview with Mark Thompson, Level Design Director on the project, who states that Far Cry 3 with emphasize player choice over strictly linear gameplay. While one will still have a set of objectives, how one goes about it - whether you choose to be deathly silent, or a sort of testosterone-fueled super commando - is a matter of preference, and level design is being approached with this in mind.

The game is set for release on Sept 4th. While no system requirements have yet been announced for PC (the game will also be released for Xbox 360 and PS3), and while the gameplay footage (shown during the Gametrailers interview) doesn't seem horrifically daunting, Crytek has had a reputation for making some rather technically stunning, and thus demanding games. Luckily, that's why we have tax season. So if you're willing to let that dental work wait, favoring instead a graphics card capable of rendering the fourth dimension in stunning, crystal-clear 1080p, you can enjoy the full, pixelicious feast that is the latest Far Cry.

Fancy graphics cards: Making you better than your peers since Doom III.

]]> Unstoppable Gorg Demo Now Available tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.46010 2012-02-15T04:44:55Z 2012-02-15T05:42:01Z Finland: Despite not having invented Black Metal like Norway, you jerks being relatively low-profile in the collective consciousness, its fertile, Nordic womb is responsible for birthing Futuremark Studios, which in turn birthed the recent tower defense game, Unstoppable Gorg. It's a title I previously reviewed, and despite not being much of a tower defense aficionado, I found it devouring days of my life, featuring a sort of style and humor that set it apart the from genre's standard fare, "build things and watch them shoot other things" gameplay. For those curious about Unstoppable Gorg, or those who have succumbed to its omniversal charms, yet lack the funds to purchase the game, Futuremark Studios has made a demo version available for play. Those with a Steam account can find the demo on Unstoppable Gorg's Steam page; those who have yet to board the S.S. Valve, or simply prefer a standalone application, can obtain it via direct download for either PC or Mac. Check out the system requirements after the jump, and for those confident in the fortitude of their internet machine, consider joining your comrades in arms - repelling the mlien menace from this lonely rock that we call home - with the retro-themed, scif-fi frolic of Unstoppable Gorg!... Super Swede news.jpg

Finland: Despite not having invented Black Metal like Norway, you jerks being relatively low-profile in the collective consciousness, its fertile, Nordic womb is responsible for birthing Futuremark Studios, which in turn birthed the recent tower defense game, Unstoppable Gorg. It's a title I previously reviewed, and despite not being much of a tower defense aficionado, I found it devouring days of my life, featuring a sort of style and humor that set it apart the from genre's standard fare, "build things and watch them shoot other things" gameplay.

For those curious about Unstoppable Gorg, or those who have succumbed to its omniversal charms, yet lack the funds to purchase the game, Futuremark Studios has made a demo version available for play. Those with a Steam account can find the demo on Unstoppable Gorg's Steam page; those who have yet to board the S.S. Valve, or simply prefer a standalone application, can obtain it via direct download for either PC or Mac.

Check out the system requirements after the jump, and for those confident in the fortitude of their internet machine, consider joining your comrades in arms - repelling the mlien menace from this lonely rock that we call home - with the retro-themed, scif-fi frolic of Unstoppable Gorg!

]]> PC
  • Windows® XP SP3 / Windows® Vista / Windows® 7
  • Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 (2Ghz) or AMD® Athlon 64 (1.6GHz) processor or better
  • Memory: 1GB RAM
  • Hard Disk Space: 2GB free
  • Video Card: NVIDIA 6600 or ATI X700, 256MB GPU memory or better
  • DirectX®: DirectX® 9 or later
  • Sound: DirectX compatible sound card
Mac
  • OS X version Leopard 10.5.8, Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later.
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • Memory: 1GB RAM
  • Hard Disk Space: 2GB free
  • Video Card: NVIDIA Geforce 9400M
]]> Valentinian Gush: Video Games Edition tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.46008 2012-02-14T04:48:38Z 2012-02-14T23:51:18Z Gamers: We exist in a world of illusion - awash in a sea of pixels and fancy bloom effects - knowing not of Valentines, flowers, chocolates, or any other silly dalliances. Preferring an endless mashing of buttons to the tender embrace of a lover, we troglodytes of the digital realm fritter away the days of our existence behind the comfort of the screen: an elaborate array of colors serving only to veil our otherwise grey existence. Yet there are those who claim otherwise - that button-mashers and thumbstick jockeys of Earth can, in fact transcend their station - exposing the terrible secret that in the end, we, like our non-gamer counterparts, all long to have doted upon us those three little words: "Come hither, sexy." So how best to express your Valentinian bliss? You could bow before the altar of the greeting card industry - that monstrous, corporate hydra, mass-marketing sentiment to the masses, with the implicit notion that refusing to buy their snake oil means that you don't love the object of your affection - or you could turn to the mad, mad world of "free and clever" that is the internet. Suck it, Hallmark. Indeed, for those among you with a special gamer in your life, the infinite cyberscape has gifted you with some video game-themed Valentine's Day cards. Even Andrew Ryan, whose immense displeasure with "all things love" has been duly noted on the site, finds himself powerless against Cupid's pagan sorcery. So check out the lovely loveliness after the jump, and prance fancifully (or gaily, depending on that for which the moment calls) through the flowering fields of love, and into the soft, pillowy bosom of Dame Romance. A world of warm fuzzies awaits after the jump!... Super Swede tf2-heavy-valentine.jpg

Gamers: We exist in a world of illusion - awash in a sea of pixels and fancy bloom effects - knowing not of Valentines, flowers, chocolates, or any other silly dalliances. Preferring an endless mashing of buttons to the tender embrace of a lover, we troglodytes of the digital realm fritter away the days of our existence behind the comfort of the screen: an elaborate array of colors serving only to veil our otherwise grey existence.

Yet there are those who claim otherwise - that button-mashers and thumbstick jockeys of Earth can, in fact transcend their station - exposing the terrible secret that in the end, we, like our non-gamer counterparts, all long to have doted upon us those three little words: "Come hither, sexy."

So how best to express your Valentinian bliss? You could bow before the altar of the greeting card industry - that monstrous, corporate hydra, mass-marketing sentiment to the masses, with the implicit notion that refusing to buy their snake oil means that you don't love the object of your affection - or you could turn to the mad, mad world of "free and clever" that is the internet. Suck it, Hallmark.

Indeed, for those among you with a special gamer in your life, the infinite cyberscape has gifted you with some video game-themed Valentine's Day cards. Even Andrew Ryan, whose immense displeasure with "all things love" has been duly noted on the site, finds himself powerless against Cupid's pagan sorcery.

So check out the lovely loveliness after the jump, and prance fancifully (or gaily, depending on that for which the moment calls) through the flowering fields of love, and into the soft, pillowy bosom of Dame Romance.

A world of warm fuzzies awaits after the jump!

]]> affection.jpgandrewryan.jpgbaddudes.jpgl4d-survivor-left4dead-valentine-500x388.jpgmasseffectvalentine.jpgMetroid--article_image.jpgmgs_valentine.jpgGodofWar--article_image.jpgresidentevil-valentine.jpgvalentine_sotc_beavotron.jpg]]> Double Fine Adventure Exceeds Its Kickstarter Goal tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45994 2012-02-10T04:44:59Z 2012-02-11T04:11:25Z Adventure Games: They lit up our youths, showed us the joys of that primitive thing known as DOS, and taught me the hard lesson that "Holy Christ an ogre for the love of god RUN" was not an input recognized by my computer. As time went on, they increased in sophistication, abandoning the archaic ways of text input-based commands, in favor of a more direct, "point and click" affair. While adventure games aren't quite the phenomenon they used to be (my heart will always beat for you, Sierra), they still exist, and the kids over at Double Fine Productions have brought it upon themselves to breathe new life into the genre with an upcoming game: Double Fine Adventure. The company was started by Tim Schaefer back in 2000. Those of my age group probably know him best from his work on Grim Fandango, The Secret of Monkey Island, and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, though youngsters (and their god d*mn hula-hoops) may know him better from games such as Psychonauts and Brutal Legend. Find out more after the jump!... Super Swede

Adventure Games: They lit up our youths, showed us the joys of that primitive thing known as DOS, and taught me the hard lesson that "Holy Christ an ogre for the love of god RUN" was not an input recognized by my computer. As time went on, they increased in sophistication, abandoning the archaic ways of text input-based commands, in favor of a more direct, "point and click" affair.

While adventure games aren't quite the phenomenon they used to be (my heart will always beat for you, Sierra), they still exist, and the kids over at Double Fine Productions have brought it upon themselves to breathe new life into the genre with an upcoming game: Double Fine Adventure. The company was started by Tim Schaefer back in 2000. Those of my age group probably know him best from his work on Grim Fandango, The Secret of Monkey Island, and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, though youngsters (and their god d*mn hula-hoops) may know him better from games such as Psychonauts and Brutal Legend.

Find out more after the jump!

]]> In order to finance the project, as explained in their most entertaining introduction video (posted above), Double Fine has turned to Kickstarter to encourage you, upstanding citizen of the People's Democratic Republic of Internet, to donate to the project. The total stands at a rather astonishing $1,159,143 as of 11:15 PM CST - well above the projects $400,000 goal, which was met in under nine hours. For those with the financial means, $15 gets you a copy of the finished game; donations above that mark will grant you "a selection of premium rewards ranging from a download of the full documentary series in splendid 1080p HD video with bonus footage, to unique posters, original concept art, and even a mini painting of yourself done by the game's artist!"

So what is to be done with the excess riches? According to Schafer, the money will be used to buy $600,000 worth of blow, which will be snorted off the ankles of a $100,000 "lady of the night" over the course of several months improve the game, the documentary, open up the possibility of release on multiple platforms, as well as foreign-language translations, among other possibilities. For those interested to see how the development progresses, Schafer & Co. are enlisting the help of 2 Player Productions - currently working on "Minecraft: The Story of Mojang." and a follow-up bit about of Mojang's Scrolls - to produce "monthly video updates exclusively to the Kickstarter backers."

So if you have $15 laying around, and like myself, still enjoy that which kids will soon start referring to as "grandpa games," it's worth considering opening up your heart - as well as your wallet - to Double Fine's project - particularly since you are effectively buying a copy of the game. For those who want to contribute, but are rather short of funds, the Kickstarter account allows for donations as low as $1.

]]> Vita Games Already Available On PSN tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45990 2012-02-09T04:46:39Z 2012-02-09T05:59:43Z With not long before the Vita's North American launch, those who plan to snatch up the PSP successor can prep their wallets for some hot, digital download action. Serving mainly as a tease, while you stew in resentment toward a future that simple will not come, the early release on PSN does ensure that at least five titles will be ready at launch - thus giving oneself a handsome library the day of release - as well as reducing time spent at one's local video game retailer, thereby limiting exposure to the smelly, dead-eyed troglodytes that my bourgeois relatives refer to as "the working class." As revealed by G4, the games are: Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational: $35.99 Uncharted: Golden Abyss: $49.99 Wipeout 2048: $35.99 Modnation Racers Road Trip: $26.99 Super Stardust Delta: $9.99 (PSN exclusive) So for those willing to become Sony's guinea pigs early adopters of the Vita, and prefer digital downloads over physical media (I know you exist; I read the comments section), this probably comes as welcome news. However, one must remember the size of Vita games - on the high end, Golden Abyss is almost 2GB; other games average just over 1GB - which can eat up those precious, proprietary memory cards in short order, particularly if you're planning to download previous PSN purchases onto your device. For those more inclined toward actual game cards, it seems as though some GameStop locations are already selling Vita titles - Golden Abyss is currently listed as "in stock" at several locations in my Minnesotan frost-scape - though one would be wise to call ahead to confirm that it is available for purchase.... Super Swede internet.jpg

With not long before the Vita's North American launch, those who plan to snatch up the PSP successor can prep their wallets for some hot, digital download action. Serving mainly as a tease, while you stew in resentment toward a future that simple will not come, the early release on PSN does ensure that at least five titles will be ready at launch - thus giving oneself a handsome library the day of release - as well as reducing time spent at one's local video game retailer, thereby limiting exposure to the smelly, dead-eyed troglodytes that my bourgeois relatives refer to as "the working class." As revealed by G4, the games are:

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational: $35.99

Uncharted: Golden Abyss: $49.99

Wipeout 2048: $35.99

Modnation Racers Road Trip: $26.99

Super Stardust Delta: $9.99 (PSN exclusive)

So for those willing to become Sony's guinea pigs early adopters of the Vita, and prefer digital downloads over physical media (I know you exist; I read the comments section), this probably comes as welcome news. However, one must remember the size of Vita games - on the high end, Golden Abyss is almost 2GB; other games average just over 1GB - which can eat up those precious, proprietary memory cards in short order, particularly if you're planning to download previous PSN purchases onto your device. For those more inclined toward actual game cards, it seems as though some GameStop locations are already selling Vita titles - Golden Abyss is currently listed as "in stock" at several locations in my Minnesotan frost-scape - though one would be wise to call ahead to confirm that it is available for purchase.

]]> Mass Effect 3 Embracing iOS tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45984 2012-02-08T04:45:10Z 2012-02-08T05:52:41Z Indeed, Mass Effect is the latest series to hop aboard the iTrain (you may remember the iOS version of Dead Space for the iPhone), with an upcoming title called Infiltrator. Shacknews acquired a promotional pamphlet at a recent EA event, which describes the game as such: Take the all-out galactic war in Mass Effect 3 on-the-go with Infiltrator, a fully-featured iOS third-person shooter showcasing stunning graphics and authentic weapons and powers from the Mass Effect series [...] "Inspired by the deep and immersive Mass Effect 3 universe, in Infiltrator players will help to free prisoners from a hostile Cerberus base and will receive rewards for collecting evidence of Cerberus' crimes along the way. Every completed rescue and intelligence discovery in Infiltrator will increase a player's Galactic Readiness rating directly through the Galaxy at War system in Mass Effect 3. No release date has been announced, but those interested should expect to get Infiltrator sometime in the near future. According to the Shacknews article, "the iOS game will also unlock 'exclusive weaponry' for use in the main game." As unsavory as the thought of playing a shooter on an iOS device may be - I for one have a vendetta against touchscreen controls, particularly if the game in question is meant to replicate a game controller - the iPad in particular has shown that it's no chump when it comes to graphics and, as the earlier Dead Space video demonstrated, can be a step above the throwaway fun to which we've become accustomed with iOS games. Yet concern citizens of the Apple-scape may chirp, "But what about Mass Effect 3? Must I be parted from my iThing?" As it happens, no. ME3 will integrate with iOS gadgets through the "Mass Effect Datapad" app. As video from the EA event reveals, the app enables players to get updates on the war, via the galaxy map, receive messages from characters you have met over the single-player campaign, and perhaps most interestingly, "with an in-app mini-game, you can deploy troops and fight the war against the Reaper." Granted, it's doubtful that this will influence the campaign, but it's certainly interesting to see this sort of integration with portable devices. Integration with the iPad seems especially promising, and one can only imagine a future: a bold new tomorrow, in which tablets belong not only to rich folks, like myself at least in my deluded fantasy of bourgeois comfort but to whole of the the Great Unwashed, thus offering developers the opportunity to whet our collective appetite for new and interesting gameplay mechanics - either that, or an endless array of gimmicky nonsense.... Super Swede shapherd.jpg

Indeed, Mass Effect is the latest series to hop aboard the iTrain (you may remember the iOS version of Dead Space for the iPhone), with an upcoming title called Infiltrator. Shacknews acquired a promotional pamphlet at a recent EA event, which describes the game as such:

Take the all-out galactic war in Mass Effect 3 on-the-go with Infiltrator, a fully-featured iOS third-person shooter showcasing stunning graphics and authentic weapons and powers from the Mass Effect series [...] "Inspired by the deep and immersive Mass Effect 3 universe, in Infiltrator players will help to free prisoners from a hostile Cerberus base and will receive rewards for collecting evidence of Cerberus' crimes along the way. Every completed rescue and intelligence discovery in Infiltrator will increase a player's Galactic Readiness rating directly through the Galaxy at War system in Mass Effect 3.

No release date has been announced, but those interested should expect to get Infiltrator sometime in the near future. According to the Shacknews article, "the iOS game will also unlock 'exclusive weaponry' for use in the main game." As unsavory as the thought of playing a shooter on an iOS device may be - I for one have a vendetta against touchscreen controls, particularly if the game in question is meant to replicate a game controller - the iPad in particular has shown that it's no chump when it comes to graphics and, as the earlier Dead Space video demonstrated, can be a step above the throwaway fun to which we've become accustomed with iOS games.

Yet concern citizens of the Apple-scape may chirp, "But what about Mass Effect 3? Must I be parted from my iThing?" As it happens, no. ME3 will integrate with iOS gadgets through the "Mass Effect Datapad" app. As video from the EA event reveals, the app enables players to get updates on the war, via the galaxy map, receive messages from characters you have met over the single-player campaign, and perhaps most interestingly, "with an in-app mini-game, you can deploy troops and fight the war against the Reaper."

Granted, it's doubtful that this will influence the campaign, but it's certainly interesting to see this sort of integration with portable devices. Integration with the iPad seems especially promising, and one can only imagine a future: a bold new tomorrow, in which tablets belong not only to rich folks, like myself at least in my deluded fantasy of bourgeois comfort but to whole of the the Great Unwashed, thus offering developers the opportunity to whet our collective appetite for new and interesting gameplay mechanics - either that, or an endless array of gimmicky nonsense.

]]> Final Fantasy X Getting A Facelift tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45983 2012-02-07T02:17:21Z 2012-02-07T21:10:06Z The Good Ship Nostalgia is once again nearing port, and in its cargo bay is none other than our PS2-era friend, Final Fantasy X. The existence of an "HD remake" was reported last September - it was originally meant to commemorate FFX's 10th birthday, back in 2011 - and there had been some hope among those who aren't complete nihilists like myself that the game would receive a proper remake, similar to FFIII and IV on the DS. Instead, as revealed during a Q&A at the Taipei Game Show, Square Enix's Shinji Hashimoto stated that FFX will be an HD "remaster" title for the PS3 and Vita, complete with shiny new pixels, and a (presumably) less shiny, yet suitably new price tag. While this may be a disappointment among those hoping for a true remake - and for those like me, a juicy little morsel, bolstering Sony's removal of backwards compatibility in later incarnations of the PS3 as evidence of conspiracy - I'm not terribly averse to the idea of purchasing an HD version of FFX. Aside from being quite a lengthy jaunt through Spira, it does hold a special place in my heart as the last Final Fantasy title of my youth. A trip through the wayback machine awaits after the jump!... Super Swede final fantasy.jpg

The Good Ship Nostalgia is once again nearing port, and in its cargo bay is none other than our PS2-era friend, Final Fantasy X. The existence of an "HD remake" was reported last September - it was originally meant to commemorate FFX's 10th birthday, back in 2011 - and there had been some hope among those who aren't complete nihilists like myself that the game would receive a proper remake, similar to FFIII and IV on the DS. Instead, as revealed during a Q&A at the Taipei Game Show, Square Enix's Shinji Hashimoto stated that FFX will be an HD "remaster" title for the PS3 and Vita, complete with shiny new pixels, and a (presumably) less shiny, yet suitably new price tag. While this may be a disappointment among those hoping for a true remake - and for those like me, a juicy little morsel, bolstering Sony's removal of backwards compatibility in later incarnations of the PS3 as evidence of conspiracy - I'm not terribly averse to the idea of purchasing an HD version of FFX. Aside from being quite a lengthy jaunt through Spira, it does hold a special place in my heart as the last Final Fantasy title of my youth.

A trip through the wayback machine awaits after the jump!

]]> As I peer back into the swirling fog that is my memory, FFX was a rather odd, but ultimately enjoyable title - yet my initial impressions were less than kind:

Tidus seemed to possess the mental faculties of some kind of lobotomized skater boy - or "sk8r," as no one calls them anymore. Wakka had all the gravitas of a rejected cast member from "Cool Runnings." Yuna was like a Quaalude with legs, with a voice timid enough to make "Georgette" from the Mary Tyler Moore show seem like a screaming lunatic. Going above and beyond Square's "one annoying, pubescent girl per game" policy, Rikku had the distinction of being the only Final Fantasy character that made Yuffie seem low-key. While Lulu gets a bit of a pass, mainly on account of her all-encompassing gothness, not that I'm completely biased god I love black and eyeliner, she exists mainly in my memory of having a stuffed Moogle, as well as everyone's favorite, breasts large enough to have their own gravitational pull. I'll spare you the rest.

Yet as the story went on, I quickly found myself powerless against FFX's charms, and the characters that had been an immediate object of ridicule became dear to my heart - and as the somber melody of "To Zanarkand" played, as the party sat before the ruins of the once-great city, I couldn't help but feel the faintest fluttering of this phenomenon called "emotion."

So what do you think, gamers? Does the prospect of a FFX remaster bring delight to your little boy/girl heart, or is this just another ruse by which the fangs of Capital suck the lifeblood from the working class? Sound off in the comments section below!

]]> Get A Hands-on With The Vita tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45975 2012-02-06T01:18:37Z 2012-02-06T00:36:15Z Despite my often tumultuous relationship with my PSP, I can't help but be seduced Sony's brand-spankin'-new SuperOval, the PlayStation Vita. As with its predecessor, the device aspires to bring the console experience to one's grubby paws, and as is inevitable, it will probably fall short of the mark. Still, for those of us who aren't expecting an on-the-go PS3 experience, the Vita is a prospectively fascinating device, if only by virtue of the fact that it joins the long line of "latest and greatest" handheld tech. Many of us have been curious to see how the Vita plays, and now, in this Foul Year of our Lord 2012, "more than 3,300 U.S. GameStop stores now have playable demo units of PlayStation Vita," according to Game Informer. The Vita will have a decent selection of demos available, including: Uncharted: Golden Abyss Little Deviants Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational EA Sports FIFA Soccer ModNation Racers: Road Trip Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition Escape Plan wipEout 2048 So if you've been curious about this pint-sized (or perhaps no so much) wonder-thing, and wish to get your own hands-on preview, head down to your local Gamestop and give it a whirl.... Super Swede keanu.jpg

Despite my often tumultuous relationship with my PSP, I can't help but be seduced Sony's brand-spankin'-new SuperOval, the PlayStation Vita. As with its predecessor, the device aspires to bring the console experience to one's grubby paws, and as is inevitable, it will probably fall short of the mark. Still, for those of us who aren't expecting an on-the-go PS3 experience, the Vita is a prospectively fascinating device, if only by virtue of the fact that it joins the long line of "latest and greatest" handheld tech.

Many of us have been curious to see how the Vita plays, and now, in this Foul Year of our Lord 2012, "more than 3,300 U.S. GameStop stores now have playable demo units of PlayStation Vita," according to Game Informer.

The Vita will have a decent selection of demos available, including:

  • Uncharted: Golden Abyss
  • Little Deviants
  • Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
  • EA Sports FIFA Soccer
  • ModNation Racers: Road Trip
  • Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition
  • Escape Plan
  • wipEout 2048

So if you've been curious about this pint-sized (or perhaps no so much) wonder-thing, and wish to get your own hands-on preview, head down to your local Gamestop and give it a whirl.

]]> Mortal Kombat On Steam, Promises Gruesome Murder And Whatnot tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45973 2012-02-03T04:40:14Z 2012-02-03T04:47:15Z When I was but a wee Swede, the arcades were where the cool (and not so cool alike) kids went to mingle, drink copious amounts of caffeinated beverages, and of course, lay waste to one another in the latest fighting game. I gave them all a go: Killer Instinct was the visual marvel of its day; Samurai Showdown caused me to fall madly in love with SNK, and indeed, I even pumped quarter after quarter into the positively asinine Primal Rage - mainly on account of the fact that it featured a murderous dinosaur that shot fire, and despite my childhood aversion to the typical "masculine" mold, the Y chromosome compelled me to find anything involving dinosaurs, fire, or the joining of the twain, utterly irresistible. Yet there was a schism between the two most popular games of the day: Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat. Typically you picked one crowd or the other, and while I had a passing appreciation for the former - though it will always remain in my memory as "Chun-Li and some other d**chebags that aren't Chun-Li" - I tended toward its more grisly counterpart. So for those in my camp, or those who don't feel the need to be stupidly partisan when it comes to video games (for the record, I actually do enjoy the Street Fighter Series), you can take a little trip down nostalgia lane with Mortal Kombat: Arcade Kollection, which features the first three games in the series. While available to PS3 and 360 owners since August, Steam is now selling bundle for $8.49 - 15% off the normal price of $9.99. It's one of those things that causes me to entertain the notion of buying a controller for my PC, given that when it comes to fighting games, keyboard controls are rather, shall we say, unpleasant. Still, for those who don't mind - or those who already have a USB controller for their internet machine - check out Mortal Kombat: Arcade Kollection at this link! via Joystiq, image via lolblog... Super Swede lolmortalkombat.jpg

When I was but a wee Swede, the arcades were where the cool (and not so cool alike) kids went to mingle, drink copious amounts of caffeinated beverages, and of course, lay waste to one another in the latest fighting game. I gave them all a go: Killer Instinct was the visual marvel of its day; Samurai Showdown caused me to fall madly in love with SNK, and indeed, I even pumped quarter after quarter into the positively asinine Primal Rage - mainly on account of the fact that it featured a murderous dinosaur that shot fire, and despite my childhood aversion to the typical "masculine" mold, the Y chromosome compelled me to find anything involving dinosaurs, fire, or the joining of the twain, utterly irresistible.

Yet there was a schism between the two most popular games of the day: Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat. Typically you picked one crowd or the other, and while I had a passing appreciation for the former - though it will always remain in my memory as "Chun-Li and some other d**chebags that aren't Chun-Li" - I tended toward its more grisly counterpart.

So for those in my camp, or those who don't feel the need to be stupidly partisan when it comes to video games (for the record, I actually do enjoy the Street Fighter Series), you can take a little trip down nostalgia lane with Mortal Kombat: Arcade Kollection, which features the first three games in the series. While available to PS3 and 360 owners since August, Steam is now selling bundle for $8.49 - 15% off the normal price of $9.99. It's one of those things that causes me to entertain the notion of buying a controller for my PC, given that when it comes to fighting games, keyboard controls are rather, shall we say, unpleasant. Still, for those who don't mind - or those who already have a USB controller for their internet machine - check out Mortal Kombat: Arcade Kollection at this link!

via Joystiq, image via lolblog

]]> Save Money With Vita Downloadable Games tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45969 2012-02-02T04:45:22Z 2012-02-03T02:45:42Z As fellow travelers on the great cyber-plane know, there's some well-warranted annoyance at the thought of identical pricing for both physical and digital copies of video games. It's a simple notion: With the costs of manufacturing, shipping, and printing eliminated, savings should be passed on to the consumer. After all, the refrain "costs will be passed along to the consumer" is echoed every time something threatens a company's bottom line (i.e. taxes and non-prison labor), and as a matter of fairness (hold your chuckling), the corporate world should reward lower-cost customers with lower prices. Luckily, this has come to pass in Japan, where digital downloads of Vita titles are roughly $10 cheaper than their rectangular, physical counterparts. Now, it seems that those of us on this side of the pond shall share in the spoils of Capital. Game Informer recently quoted an SCEA representative, who confirmed that "there will be a discount," on digital downloads; however, the representative refused to give an exact price, stating only that details are forthcoming. I've always had a love-hate relationship with this "downloadable" bother: On the one hand, I like the idea of the PSN having all my games backed up; unfortunately, retrieving said games becomes somewhat of an ordeal, given the time spent downloading said title - call me old fashioned, but I enjoy the simple task of popping a game into my console - and limited space, particularly Vita games being quite a bit larger than their PSP counterparts. So what do you think, gamers? Does the prospect of a discount make you any more inclined (assuming you're presently disinclined) to go the digital download route, or will you, like your humble and obedient servant, stick with your old man ways (seriously, get the f**k off my lawn) and resists the charms of Lady Modernity? Sound off in the comments section below!... Super Swede vitb.jpg

As fellow travelers on the great cyber-plane know, there's some well-warranted annoyance at the thought of identical pricing for both physical and digital copies of video games. It's a simple notion: With the costs of manufacturing, shipping, and printing eliminated, savings should be passed on to the consumer. After all, the refrain "costs will be passed along to the consumer" is echoed every time something threatens a company's bottom line (i.e. taxes and non-prison labor), and as a matter of fairness (hold your chuckling), the corporate world should reward lower-cost customers with lower prices.

Luckily, this has come to pass in Japan, where digital downloads of Vita titles are roughly $10 cheaper than their rectangular, physical counterparts. Now, it seems that those of us on this side of the pond shall share in the spoils of Capital. Game Informer recently quoted an SCEA representative, who confirmed that "there will be a discount," on digital downloads; however, the representative refused to give an exact price, stating only that details are forthcoming.

I've always had a love-hate relationship with this "downloadable" bother: On the one hand, I like the idea of the PSN having all my games backed up; unfortunately, retrieving said games becomes somewhat of an ordeal, given the time spent downloading said title - call me old fashioned, but I enjoy the simple task of popping a game into my console - and limited space, particularly Vita games being quite a bit larger than their PSP counterparts.

So what do you think, gamers? Does the prospect of a discount make you any more inclined (assuming you're presently disinclined) to go the digital download route, or will you, like your humble and obedient servant, stick with your old man ways (seriously, get the f**k off my lawn) and resists the charms of Lady Modernity? Sound off in the comments section below!

]]> The Witcher 2 Xbox 360 Trailer Is Really Quite Awesome tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45965 2012-01-31T04:38:48Z 2012-02-02T02:16:59Z The Middle Ages: They were simpler times, back when the "male hindquarters" equivalent of a high five was comedy fit for royalty. Yet as history tells us, every decent medieval comedy act was followed by a frost spell grenade, the destruction of a ship, and of course, the obligatory "assassination by decapitation" of said royalty. Such is the crux of the Xbox 360 trailer for The Witcher 2. PC gamers have been exploring its splendor for some time, but for those like myself, owning what those in the business call "a glorified electric abacus, barely capable of running Qbasic," are left with only the 360 to whet our collective appetite for action, adventure, and polyamourous protagonists that are full of what the kids (no longer) call "baditude." So for those hoping to follow the continuing adventures of Baron Von Sexy Geralt, but find your computer woefully inadequate, The Witcher 2 will be released on April 17th. In the meantime, be sure to check out the trailer! It's stylish, rather stunning, and most importantly, delivers an epicness of pants-wetting proportions.... Super Swede

The Middle Ages: They were simpler times, back when the "male hindquarters" equivalent of a high five was comedy fit for royalty. Yet as history tells us, every decent medieval comedy act was followed by a frost spell grenade, the destruction of a ship, and of course, the obligatory "assassination by decapitation" of said royalty.

Such is the crux of the Xbox 360 trailer for The Witcher 2. PC gamers have been exploring its splendor for some time, but for those like myself, owning what those in the business call "a glorified electric abacus, barely capable of running Qbasic," are left with only the 360 to whet our collective appetite for action, adventure, and polyamourous protagonists that are full of what the kids (no longer) call "baditude."

So for those hoping to follow the continuing adventures of Baron Von Sexy Geralt, but find your computer woefully inadequate, The Witcher 2 will be released on April 17th. In the meantime, be sure to check out the trailer! It's stylish, rather stunning, and most importantly, delivers an epicness of pants-wetting proportions.

]]> Friday Frivolity: "The (Not So) Pleasant Cycle Of Thundermountain" tag:gaygamer.net,2012://1.45958 2012-01-28T07:37:24Z 2012-01-28T18:07:59Z Internet, you are nothing if not quirky. After a caffeine-induced jaunt through the labyrinth of YouTube's "related videos" section, yours truly was met with a rather curious TF2-themed bit of multimedia weirdness, "The (not so) Pleasant Cycle of Thundermountain." Utilizing the famed "Gary's Mod," the video is an offshoot of the "Vicious Cycle of X" meme. The videos feature frantic, offbeat weirdness - bearing all the hallmarks of something scraped together from crayon scribblings on the walls of a lunatic asylum - inspiring YouTube user "Sakuukuli" to buck the trend in a most subversive way. Casual viewers may be charmed by the juxtaposition of an otherwise-violent video game with the sweet, classical stylings of Georges Bizet's "Les Toreadores;" yet beneath the sheen of silliness, the above video paints a harrowing portrait of that irredeemable species of which we are all a part: humanity. "The (not so) Pleasant Cycle of Thundermountain," presents us with a portrait of a brave, egalitarian age. With the scourge of Capital and it's trappings vanquished, mankind sought to forsake the law of the jungle and step, ever so tenuously, into the age of genuine civilization. The old ways of thinking (one might even go so far as to call it a "vicious cycle") of warfare, hatred, and social division would die, and in its place would be erected a new system of relations - one built on the principles of kindness, compassion, and the Universal Brotherhood of Man (just a poetic flourish, ladies). Internationalism would rule the roost, and a united humanity would step boldly, arm in arm, into a brighter future, Leaving behind material want, and vulgar lust for power, ours would forevermore be the epoch of peace, progress, and the pursuit of happiness not for a select few, but for all. Yet in the end, our bestial origins prevailed, and like the savage apes from whence our humble species arose, we once again sought to destroy the reviled "other." Tribe against tribe, friend against friend, the Brotherhood of Man was torn asunder Indeed, the empty battlefields of TF2 are a tomb - not for a soldier, nor even an army, but for mankind's highest aspirations. Our species would died not in a blaze of glory, as the video may superficially suggest: Rather, our demise was the dull consequence of our pride, our callousness, and above all, our stupidity. One cannot help but dwell on the haunting words of T.S. Elliot: "This is the way the world ends: Not with a bang but a whimper." So enjoy the video, happy Friday, and may God have mercy on your souls.... Super Swede

Internet, you are nothing if not quirky. After a caffeine-induced jaunt through the labyrinth of YouTube's "related videos" section, yours truly was met with a rather curious TF2-themed bit of multimedia weirdness, "The (not so) Pleasant Cycle of Thundermountain."

Utilizing the famed "Gary's Mod," the video is an offshoot of the "Vicious Cycle of X" meme. The videos feature frantic, offbeat weirdness - bearing all the hallmarks of something scraped together from crayon scribblings on the walls of a lunatic asylum - inspiring YouTube user "Sakuukuli" to buck the trend in a most subversive way. Casual viewers may be charmed by the juxtaposition of an otherwise-violent video game with the sweet, classical stylings of Georges Bizet's "Les Toreadores;" yet beneath the sheen of silliness, the above video paints a harrowing portrait of that irredeemable species of which we are all a part: humanity.

"The (not so) Pleasant Cycle of Thundermountain," presents us with a portrait of a brave, egalitarian age. With the scourge of Capital and it's trappings vanquished, mankind sought to forsake the law of the jungle and step, ever so tenuously, into the age of genuine civilization. The old ways of thinking (one might even go so far as to call it a "vicious cycle") of warfare, hatred, and social division would die, and in its place would be erected a new system of relations - one built on the principles of kindness, compassion, and the Universal Brotherhood of Man (just a poetic flourish, ladies). Internationalism would rule the roost, and a united humanity would step boldly, arm in arm, into a brighter future, Leaving behind material want, and vulgar lust for power, ours would forevermore be the epoch of peace, progress, and the pursuit of happiness not for a select few, but for all.

Yet in the end, our bestial origins prevailed, and like the savage apes from whence our humble species arose, we once again sought to destroy the reviled "other." Tribe against tribe, friend against friend, the Brotherhood of Man was torn asunder Indeed, the empty battlefields of TF2 are a tomb - not for a soldier, nor even an army, but for mankind's highest aspirations. Our species would died not in a blaze of glory, as the video may superficially suggest: Rather, our demise was the dull consequence of our pride, our callousness, and above all, our stupidity. One cannot help but dwell on the haunting words of T.S. Elliot:

"This is the way the world ends: Not with a bang but a whimper."

So enjoy the video, happy Friday, and may God have mercy on your souls.

]]>