Uncharted sets course for Hollywood

The game which has sold more than 2.6 million units, Uncharted finally will be ready to appear on the big screen. A promising game-based film, a reporter reports that Columbia Pictures- a division of Sony Pictures -is developing big-screen version of Drake’s Fortune, Screenwriter Kyle Ward has been asked to pen a script which will follow the story of the video game, which starred Nathan Drake–an adventurer and descendant of British naval hero Sir Francis Drake–in search of the fabled lost city of El Dorado.

Well not much detail has been revealed, all we can do is hope the movie turns out successful as the game, which has created a huge hype, Uncharted 2 set course to release this year.

Besure to check out Uncharted 2, screens and trailer if you haven’t yet checked it out

By clicking here
Or just watch it below

Tecmo: Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 less gory

It appears that assumption is correct, according to Sigma 2′s producer, Yosuke Hayashi. Hayashi, who was in London today at an event for the game, told journalists “When we developed Ninja Gaiden 2, we very much placed the emphasis on the violence. Since last year, the number of games featuring high levels of violence increased. So rather than do something the same as everyone else is doing, we decided to make it different.” Despite this, GameSpot UK can confirm Sigma 2 will still contain blood, limb dismemberment, and decapitations, though the level of blood spatter is markedly less than in Ryu Hayabusa’s last Xbox 360 outing.

In addition to less gore, the other major change this time around, according to Hayashi, is an improved camera system and adjustments to the level of difficulty-something else for which the series is known. Hayashi also played down any plans to support Sigma 2 with downloadable content, saying “We are not going to support downloadable content for the time being.”

Well all we can do is hope the game doesn’t get too toned down as most fans of the series prefer the high blood content.

Zeno Clash

Where do we begin, it takes a huge leap of faith to do something as drastically different with the FPS genre as ACE Team has done with Zeno Clash. Over the years people have been deeply engrained with how an FPS should feel and play like. You have your Halos, Call of Dutys, Medal of Honors, Battlefields, Killzone 2, Unreal Tournaments, Gears of War, Resistance, and countless other shooters all basically designed with the same idea in mind with variations to the rules, when you sum it up in a nutshell.

There are extremely few companies that dare to challenge the status quo, and even fewer games that result from this where elements of two or more genres are combined into the same experience. Of these few games that really shine there are a few if you can recall them. Battlezone by Activision and Battlezone 2 by Pandemic (both published by Activision), amazing games for their time that combined tank simulation, first person shooter viewpoint and real time strategy. To get a better idea of what this game was like simply Google it, or check out planetbattlezone.com, everything dedicated to it is there. Battlezone 2 had received much critical praise however due to two very different play styles being meshed together dissuaded the general populace from picking this title up, the modding community has kept this game alive still. Another game that tested these waters and met with great success is Bioware’s Mass Effect, but a note on this title is that it still IS a shooter with RPG elements.

Now we have Zeno Clash, a first person…fighting game shooter, which is probably the best way to describe it. The story takes place in Zenozoik, a world full of fantasy, betrayal, long journeys and discovery. Kudos to ACE Team, practically every level is so unique in its design, textures, look, feel, sound and music that you literally feel a certain level of discomfort and mystery as to where the heck is this game taking place. Common questions constantly on the back of this reviewers mind are, is this prehistoric Earth? Or is it some other world altogether?  Alternate dimension? Will someone please reveal to me where this is?

Part of the reason these questions came to mind is due to the fact that this game is made using the Source Engine, and it’s been put to full use. A player won’t be able to shake off the familiarity of the effects, yet there is nothing there that is similar to what has been seen with the Source Engine before.

ACE Team definitely has a vision in mind for this game, it opens with some clouded images of the events that take place just prior, your character apparently having done something terrible to someone who is close to him and now your family is out for your head. The compassionate Deadra offers her assistance to help you escape. Around this same time is when you are thrown into a dream sequence which serves as training to get you familiar with the combat system, the highlight of Zeno Clash.

Here’s how the basic gameplay mechanic works, it controls just like any other FPS, WASD keys to strafe, move forward and back, and the mouse to turn with. When you do have weapons the left click still shoots, the right click however is used to aim before you shoot. So what happens the rest of the time when you aren’t actually using weapons you ask? Good question, because this is where the meat of the game lies.

Left click throws a punch, 3 clicks or simply holding it down will do a 3 punch combo. Right click will do a hard punch, holding it down will charge it up and do a hard punch. Looking down and either mouse button makes Ghat kick. When in one on one combat, pressing E once will lock on or ‘focus’ you onto the target. E can also be used to switch between multiple targets or deselecting a target. Running backwards also deselects any target. Holding spacebar blocks…yes the spacebar blocks.

Now hang on one second I hear you say, if spacebar blocks how do you jump? That’s just it, you don’t jump for anything in this game, at all, whatsoever for anything. This is my first gripe against this game, however I want to emphasize something extremely important. This game needs to be approached with an open mind, as I said earlier, we are so accustomed to the standard way an FPS works that we do not want to think about the controls when we pick up the next FPS that comes down the pipeline. The controls should be the same right across them all. I have to mention this minor quirk because it’s my job, not because it’s very easy to forget about once you get used to it.

UFC 2009 Undisputed

Undisputed is the first UFC game on this generation consoles, as well as the first game released under THQ. The game is described as a mixed martial arts simulator, featuring a roster of over 80 fighters, spread amongst 5 weight classes. So how does this game stand up?

The gameplay is your basic mashup of fighting styles – Boxing, Ju-jitsu, Judo, Kickboxing and Wrestling. There are several standard gameplay modes, from career, in which you have to build a fighter, to multiplayer (online and offline), as well as replaying classic matches. The controls respond well, with the punches and kicks being hard and fast. Blocking also feels very responsive. However, there is a very sharp difficulty curve (in career mode), as you progress the CPU tends to play too well, making successful  blocking and striking (more often than not) a matter of luck. However, since each fighter has varying styles, the player rarely gets stuck for long. The basics are fairly simple to learn, but some of the more advanced moves may appear intimidating. Luckily there are some great tutorials, as well as a practice mode to hone some of the more difficult skills. The matches however, are sometimes inconsistent – you could be dealing major damage to your opponent, when a seemingly minor jab, somehow knocks you out. However these are fairly uncommon.

The graphics are impressive, especially on the ring, with fighters modeled with over 30,000 polygons. The octagons look great, with authentic advertisement logos, and the NPCs such as the annoncers, referees, and ring-girls look fantastic. The fights are fluid, with solid animation really helping with the realism. There is very little clipping – infact, Clay Guida (fighter) had a problematic hairstyle that would make collision detection inaccurate, so, they asked the fighter to cut his hair, even offered him money. However, Clay Guida refused, so he couldn’t be included in the game. The game also has the small details down, from the fighters nipples to the cuts and bruises (and their accompanied swellings) that they attain during the fight. Punches and blows feel heavy, with fighters recoiling, and reacting you’d expect them to. During more brutal matches, sweat and saliva wont be the only fluids lost during the punches. Blood will litter the floor of the octagon and even dot the fighters bodies. 

The soundtrack however, is a hit or miss – some people may like it, others wont. Regardless, It suits the game perfectly. The commentary is spot on, coming from UFC announcers Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg, it really adds to the TV style presentation of the fights. To add to that, some rather good videos shown during classic fights mode, including all the fighters trash talk that people don’t admit to liking. Also during classic fights, sound clips from the real match are played, all to enhance realism, and to recreate the the tension surrounding these fights.

Getting to the fights is rather clunky however, with loading screens between every level of menus. Also during career mode, you spend a substantial amount of time outside of the arena, doing menial (but important) tasks like assigning points, and training/sparring. A lot of time will also be spent on E-mails, a disproportionately large amount. Fighting is best along side a human competitor, but playing online is also another weak aspect- more often than not matches were laggy, making animation look jerky, and often disrupting timing completely.

These flaws are minor and in the end UFC 2009 Undisputed is a solid game which does best what it sets out to do : perform in the octagon. The fights are sweet and brutal, and you can easily get in the game, regardless if you’re a UFC fan, or if you want to dabble into the realms of fighting games.

Team Fortress 2 – New Patch Released

A new update has been released for Team Fortress 2. The patch will be automatically applied once your Steam client has been restarted. Here is the changelog:

Linux Dedicated Server:

• Improved connection logic to help servers that aren’t automatically reconnecting to Steam, and added extra logging to track it
• Added extra data gathering to help us understand and improve Linux performance

Team Fortress 2:

• Changed cl_flipviewmodels so it can no longer be set while connected to a server
• Fixed problem with Loadout Menu "Back" button not preserving the currently equipped weapon
• Fixed a case where an observer could set the observed player’s view models
• Fixed the Heavy’s punches not matching mouse button presses when the view models are flipped
• Fixed Bonk! ammo count exploit after using a regeneration locker
• Fixed Dead Ringer damage reduction exploit involving Spy taunting
• Reverted Force-A-Nature and airblast knockback on disguised Spies, so that they can once again be knocked back

Missed Notes From Previous Update:

• The Ambassador no longer penetrates buildings
• Removed the movement speed penalty on The Razorback

The Agency – New Trailer

The Agency is "a fast-paced, online persistent shooter in a modern setting of bullets, bomb blasts, and betrayal. Live the life of an elite agent in a world of super spies and rugged mercenaries, who use both the highest technology and the lowest tactics to accomplish their goals. Featuring cooperative and competitive play, The Agency is designed to provide instant action and long-term strategy for all fans of espionage, intrigue, and explosive gameplay."

Left 4 Dead – New Patch Available

Valve has released a new patch for its survival action title Left 4 Dead. Here are the changes:

Client

Removed an infinite ammo exploit for molotovs

Add-on Campaign Support

• Players download third party campaigns as single .VPK file
• Players can manage and select add-on maps and campaigns via game UI
• Added matchmaking support and download/update prompt for add-on campaigns
• Custom campaign support in Leader boards
• If not already registered, left4dead.exe registers .VPK extension to allow automatic install of add-ons
• Servers and the steam API have been extended to allow servers to send up a list of keys for matchmaking up to 1200 bytes in size

Left 4 Dead Authoring Tools

• Fixed missing fgd error
• Added vpk.exe command line tool for extracting, creating, and appending .VPK files
• Removed info_versus (not used)
• Added info_gamemode which fires outputs for Coop, Versus or Survival depending on what game mode the map is loaded in
• Updated tutorial_standards example map, repackaged as ‘Dead Line’ campaign example add-on
• Sample content now includes source files for official maps

The patch will be automatically applied when your Steam client is restarted.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince PC Demo Available

A PC demo for EA’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the latest installment in the book-movie based franchise, has been released for public magicery. The 595MB demo features two sections from the game: "Gryffindor Dueling Club" and "Flying Club."

Half Blood Prince is scheduled to release on June 30, 2009 (along with the movie) for all platforms (literally all of them, yes). You can grab the demo from here or here.

Brutal Legend – Meatbones Trailer

Jack presents the third Brutal Thoughts trailer, Meatbones, promoting EA’s upcoming action-adventure title Brutal Legends. Have a look:

Bethesda Parent Acquires id Software

Press release:
ZeniMax Media Inc., parent company of noted game publisher Bethesda Softworks, today announced it has completed the acquisition of legendary game studio, id Software, creators of world-renowned games such as DOOM, QUAKE, Wolfenstein, and its upcoming title, RAGE. The acquisition by ZeniMax Media joins together two of the finest, most respected videogame developers in the world, combining the first person shooter (FPS) expertise of id Software with acclaimed role playing game (RPG) developer Bethesda Game Studios – creators of the 2008 Game of the Year, Fallout 3, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bethesda Softworks will publish the titles of id Software other than upcoming releases previously committed to other publishers.

Founded in 1991, id Software established itself as an industry leader with some of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed video games of all time. id Software created the original first-person shooter, Wolfenstein 3D, and subsequently set new standards in the genre with the blockbuster releases of its DOOM and QUAKE titles. In addition, id Software developed cutting edge, proprietary technology with the id Tech engine which powers many notable FPS titles, and continues to make great advances in game technology under the direction of John Carmack, one of the country’s technology leaders and a member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame.

Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software, commented on the transaction: “This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles. In addition, we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans.”

id Software will continue to operate as a studio under the direction of its founder, John Carmack. No changes will be made in the operations of id Software in the development of its games. All the principals at id Software have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games at the studio.

“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” said John Carmack, who will continue to serve in his current role as Technical Director. “We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them. We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am."

Robert Altman, the founder, Chairman & CEO of ZeniMax Media stated, “We, along with many others, consider id Software to be among the finest game studios in the world, with extraordinary design, artistic and technical capabilities. They have demonstrated, repeatedly, that rare ability to create franchise properties that are critical and commercial successes. Our intention is to make sure id Software will continue to do what they do best – make AAA games. Our role will be to provide publisher support through Bethesda Softworks and give id Software the resources it needs to grow and expand.”

ZeniMax Media Inc, which is privately held, was founded in 1999 to create quality interactive entertainment products to meet the growing worldwide demand. The Company is headquartered in Rockville, MD and maintains offices in Hunt Valley, MD, London and Tokyo. Among its wholly owned subsidiaries are Bethesda Softworks, a premier publisher of video games, Vir2L Studios which develops games for the casual market, and ZeniMax Online Studios, a studio dedicated to massively multi-player online games (MMOG).

Bethesda Game Studios, the development group at ZeniMax Media, is one of the top video game studios in the world. Its most recent release, Fallout 3, was the 2008 winner of more than 60 Game of the Year awards, including The Associated Press, Official Xbox Magazine, Yahoo, PC Gamer, IGN, Game Critics Awards, Game Developer Choice Awards, and Gamespy. Bethesda also created the 2006 PC and Xbox 360® Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and the 2002 PC and Xbox® Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. Bethesda Game Studios has created 2 of the 10 best games of all time, Fallout 3 and Oblivion, on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation® 3 platforms, as reported by the industry scoring system found at www.metacritic.com and www.gamerankings.com.

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