Microsoft

Digital Extremes, the team behind Dark Sector, the PS3 port of Bioshock and co-developer of the first 3 Unreal Tournament titles is working on a Bioshock Multiplayer for Bioshock 2.

While details are still sketchy, the multiplayer mode is expected to contribute to the overall story of the franchise by being placed as a prequel to Bioshock, with snippets of story line and information to be gleaned from locations, scenarios and characters. 

More details, yet to be released, are expected to confirm the specifics of the multiplayer modes. Some ideas being banded around on the internet currently involve modes in which one player will play as a Big Daddy with other team members competing again him and each other to take him down, a plasmids Vs weapons mode, bog standard team deathmatch and a VIP style mode in which one team must protect a Little Sister against the other.  I'd definitely like to see the appearance of a “Nazi Zombies” or “Horde” style mode  in which you fight as a small group to stay alive against increasingly difficult waves of enemies. With the different levels and grades of enemies I think this would work well. It does seem to have been confirmed though that there will not be a co-op option within the actual campaign mode. This doesn't bother me too much – using the first one as an example, having a team mate with you would potentially ruin the atmosphere and feeling of the game. 

The action will take place before and during the fall of rapture as you play a Plasmid Test Subject for Sinclair Solutions.  You'll earn experience points for kills and actions in the game which will allow you to access new weapons, plasmids and tonics.  One possible scenario for this is the COD4 and COD5 route which sees an ongoing development taking you through a lot of gameplay hours.

After that ending (FIRST GAME SPOILER: The Prince releases Ahriman to resurrect Elika) of the first game last year it’s a relief we don’t have to wait a year or two for more. If you didn’t already know, this isn’t a full-blown sequel to last year’s best adventure game, it’s more of a segue before the bound-to-be-announced-soon sequel. Unless of course, Ubisoft is planning on slowly drip-feeding us one downloadable episode at a time?
 
Understandably, Elika isn’t too pleased and is giving the Prince the cold shoulder. So despite his best efforts to lighten things up this is a much darker affair which kind of comes with the territory of imminent global destruction via an angry dark god.
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Konami have announced a new Game 'Zombie Apocalypse' for Xbox 360, which will be available via Xbox LIVE®Arcade in summer 2009.Zombie Apocalypse allows you and up to three friends to become heavily-equipped gun-slingers left to fight for survival in a world where the undead have risen and are feasting on the living (surprise what else do zombies do?). Your task is simply kill as many zombies as possible to save humanity!Eleven weapons are available which includes assault rifles, flame throwers and a teddy bear filled with C4 explosives, players can play together on one console or over live as they work together to stop the zombie attacks and rescue survivors. Players can also use a chainsaw to melee zombies and can also use environmental hazards to crush, burn, slice, or cause other types of destruction on the masses of zombies (but expect much teddy bear massacering).Failure results in players becoming one of the undead (I believe some people on live are closer to that goal all ready), and on completing a mission, players can re-live the apocalypse with seven challenging unlockable game modes.

Brendan Griffiths talks to Tom Farrer, Producer of Mirror's Edge at Dice Studios, Stockholm.

Mirror's Edge was one of last year's most highly rated games in the melee of Christmas releases. Its brave ideas and excellent execution has changed the way we look at the first-person genre.

Jumping in first-person games is commonly poorly done. So why the decision to do a whole game based on it?
In some ways it was for that very reason. We wanted to do something new. First person platforming isn't bad it's just been badly implemented usually because it isn't a core focus of the games it is in. We are fans of titles like Prince of Persia but there is always a degree of separation when playing in third person. We wanted to really put you in the moment, have you be the one making the death defying leap, seeing every moment through the eyes of the character you're playing. We believed that it would be a very powerful experience.

The Xbox Live Arcade Awards for 2008 will be accepting votes from March 3 at 10:00 A.M. GMT, and ends Tuesday, March 10 at 11:59 P.M. GMT so get your votes in now if you'd lke to see an arcade favourite of yours get recognition.  There are 9 categories and the final winner for each one will be decided with votes from the Arcade Awards Voting Application downloadable from the Xbox Live Game Marketplace.  All games can be viewed in screenshots or downloaded directly from links within the Voting application if you'd like to check them all out first hand before you vote.  Votes can be downloaded at any time before the deadline.
More details, and the winners once they're announced, can be viewed here: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/events/xblaawards/.
I'll be the first to admit I'm not particularly well versed in arcade game downloads from xbox live (though i did have a browse through some of the original xbox games available and will be downloading a movie with some free points I got) but I really like the fact that these kind of votes are happening.  Hopefully the voting application will be put to more uses in the as it is with the wii voting channel.
 
Best Family Game

• Boogie Bunnies
• Roogoo
• A Kingdom for Keflings
• Lost Cities
• Meteos Wars

Best Original Game

• Castle Crashers
• N+
• Braid
• Penny Arcade Episode 1
• Schizoid
• Age of Booty

Best Classic/Remake Game

• Bionic Commando Rearmed
• Street Fighter II HD Remix
• Mega Man 9
• Galaga Legions
• Rez HD

Best Overall Arcade Game Read More  »

As spring begins to rear its beautiful, beautiful head, a new string of games prepares themselves for release towards the final half of the first quarter. With releases like Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil 5, Halo Wars, and Guitar Hero: Metallica, many titles will inevitably be overlooked. Titles that will offer closure; that will offer innovation; that will not be the afterbirth of Age of Empires (yes, I’m talking to you Halo Wars). Fear not though, my young gaming padawans, for I am your guide amongst these highly anticipated beasts, and promise you will not get lost in the fray, nor will you be consumed by the hype being vomited out faster than Lindsay Lohan can binge and purge her last supper.
Whether you simply just enjoy an RPG, get totally batshit loco over them, or loathe them with every living breath, Square Enix is set to release Star Ocean: The Last Hope (a week ahead of schedule by the way); the series’ “final” installment, one that will wow even the most devoted “hater.” The Last Hope will actually be the beginning of the entire Star Ocean story, chronicling the consequences, and subsequently, the discoveries, that followed the third World War and led up to the first SO. The game will provide much background information for veterans of the series, for it takes place well over 300 hundred years prior to the first game, just as the occupants of planet Earth begin anew. Read More  »

Does anyone remember the original Xbox/PC game Crimson Skies? If not, I’d highly suggest digging for it at Gamestop, you’ll notice about a 5 dollar price tag for one of the best games to grace 6th generation consoles. It was a masterful blend of flight and combat, veering away from flight simulation for a more “arcady” feel and focus on dogfighting. Theres been nothing quite like it since, nor have their been many traditional flight simulators released, besides Ace Combat 6. Aerial combat games and flight simulators have become a rapidly dying breed, yet, there is a ray of hope in Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X (High Altitude Warfare eXperimental squadron). Read More  »

With a new slew of games beginning to rear their heads, the first major title being released in less than a week, the entire videogaming world is gearing up for an all out brawl when Street Fighter IV is released on February 17th in America, Japan, and Europe almost simultaneously (all within a week of each other). Being released on consoles, some may find the controller a little unfitting when attempting certain moves (Akuma’s murder-punch comes to mind). For those needing their arcade stick and 6 button layout, special controllers will be available on SFIV’s release, a hefty little pricetag of about 80 bucks; mind that these controllers are manufactured by third parties, which don’t always yield the greatest results. However, if you’re a hardcore fighting addict, don’t think third party controllers are exactly the best quality, and you have about two and a half grand to blow, then I’ve got the product for you: Dreamcade Impact. Read More  »

The Bafta video games nominations 2008 have been announced.  There's lots of familiar faces in the line up, and maybe a few that appear too many, plus one or two you may not have expected to see.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is up for 7 awards, which is fully deserved in my opinion. In many ways this is a stronger title that world at war, it's a shame they didn't include some kind of Zombie-Evil-Generic-Terorist level in though! (zombie nazi's is one of the main features that is taking me back to COD5). I'm pleased to see Fable 2 getting nominations. I really enjoyed this game, though it wasn't exactly challenging and it did get a little repetetive towards the end it was a great way to spend January's gaming time and i'd like to see it take some accolades.

I'm surprised at Assassins Creed popping up where it does but maybe I'm just spoilt now and what was a great game I'm overlooking.

I've starred what in my opinion should take the title.  My game of 2008 was Modern Warfare, I'd be very interested to hear what yours was? I'd also be interested to know what you think the winners should be - leave me comments below it'll be interesting to see how things compare.

 
The much publicised Resident Evil 5 demo finally hit Xbox Live on Monday and although Capcom point out before hand that the demo does not fully represent the final product, it is shaping up to look pretty impressive. As a visual showcase the attention to detail is outstanding, with beautifully realised landscapes and effects ( the exploding barrel effects are some of the best this generation has to offer).
 
The style of gameplay carries on with the action based approach what Resi 4 started and the option to use the D-pad to switch quicker between some key items is a welcome addition. Not being able to move whilst shooting makes a what some might call an unwelcome return and although the control style has not changed much, it isn't the perfect marriage that RE4 had with the Gamecube controller and takes a while to get used to. Having Sheva by your side comes I handy when reloading or on the brink of death, but on the flipside can become a hindrance when having to do the same for her. I cannot comment on the co-op mode ( my username is my Gamertag if anyone wishes to try it with me sometime).
 
Overall first impressions from the demo seem to imply a well presented action experience, that could be hindered by a jerky camera and fiddly controls.

OK, so this is not really news, and it's not really opinion, but I just wanted to say a big hell yeah to the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica that's due out on at the end of March. Having just seen the tracklisting I can say I am wetting my pants and pumping my fists (there's an image) in anticipation. As much as I love Guitar Hero, there's a little too much filler on some of the discs for me, but I can honestly say that I would be happy listening to and playing most of the tracks on this version.
 
For those of you who haven't seen, the game will include 28 Metallica tracks (31 on Wii and PS2 owing to the lack of DLC) and 21 from bands who have inspired Metallica over the years. There's also an Expert-Plus mode to really get those fingers going, although having struggled to even master half of GH World Tour on Expert, this prospect terrifies me. If my fingers are able to type after the metal meltdown, prepare yourselves for a review.
 
Metallica Tracks: All Nightmare Long, Battery, Creeping Death, Disposable Heroes, Dyers Eve, Enter Sandman, Fade To Black, Fight Fire With Fire, For Whom The Bell Tolls, Frantic, Fuel, Hit The Lights, King Nothing, Master of Puppets, Mercyful Fate (Medley), No Leaf Clover, Nothing Else Matters, One, Orion, Sad But True, Seek And Destroy, The Memory Remains, The Shortest Straw, The Thing That Should Not Be, The Unforgiven, Welcome Home (Sanitarium), Wherever I May Roam, Whiplash (Wii/PS2 extras - Broken Beat & Scarred, Cyanide, My Apocalypse
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Many xbox live gold members were treated with the new Resident Evil 5 demo which came out 1 week earlier than the PS3  .... too bad the treat had a razor blade in the center.
This needs to be said...It really makes no sense why you can not move when aiming/shooting or when reloading. I mean come on who would really just stand there and let something try and kill them? ever heard a multitasking? at least let me blind fire if ur not gonna change the no moving when doing more than 1 thing. What is it with these game developers not keeping up with the times? This is the next gen of game why can't we move on? I thought it was a undead fact that when u shoot one in the head they die instantly not 3 to 4 shots later. Don't get me started on the melee, thats they most point less move in the game the only thing it's good for is chopping fruit to get ammo. I'm not complaining about this to make the game easier i just want it to be playable. If these few things aren't change expect me and a lot of modern horror fans to not buy this game! (I know I sort of drove straight into the bad but this is how I feel moments after playing the demo) but the graphics look nice!

/cancels pre-order
 
 

The current generation of consoles are great, aren't they? We've reached a real high-point, in which people can do more and more with their platform of choice. Web-browsing, streaming media, even coupling console and handheld together to extend the gaming experience; they all offer more ways to enjoyably pass our time.

Of course, by far the most popular 'modern' application of console gaming has to be multiplayer, by which I mean broadband gaming; it's amazing, when you think about it. Players unite across the globe, complete strangers, all playing together, all enjoying the online experience as conjured up by developers. Much has been written about multiplayer games and what they mean for social interaction; but what of the darker side? For sure, games like World of Warcraft have famously acted as matchmakers – real world marriages resulting from virtual encounters. But how many online experiences have gone the other way, resulting in negative attitudes and emotions?

First of all, let me define my scope. World of Warcraft is a PC game, and one that bears little relation to the multiplayer games available on Xbox 360 or PS3. In this article I'm going to have to limit the discussion to console games, since PC gaming is truly a whole other can o' worms. So, the multiplayer console experience. Where better to go than a real giant in console terms, Halo?

Halo 3 has what is often regarded as the best in online multiplayer. Title screen to match can take seconds to negotiate. Matches are rarely beset by technical issues, meaning players can focus on the game, not the platform. But how multi-player is such multiplayer? Am I alone in feeling that, rather than bringing people together, such multiplayer pursuits are in fact intrinsically lonely affairs?