Sunday, March 7, 2010

What Have You Played This Week?

Unfortunately, I Didn't play many games this week. I managed to finish Okami after a shy over 40 hours of playing.

Football Manager 10 – PC – thought I would have a go with another team. I'm now Annan and making my way through the first season.

Okami – Wii – Finished...and Wow what a game. I am soo glad that I played the game. The graphics were perfect for the story. The story was engaging and just kept on going until the brilliant conclusion. There were some issues with the game however, the noise they use to replace people talking is irritating, and the camera starts to become annoying towards the end of the game. The change from the initial main story to the real main story could have been done a bit better, but it doesn't detract from the story as a whole. The music is authentic Japanese yet modern and appropriate for the game and the different areas. There is soo much to like about the game that its a shame the sequel is coming to the DS as the graphics and style would've been soo beautiful to see in HD. If you have a Wii or PS2 and want to play a RPG that looks different, has a great story, and is something different...Okami is a must.

Patchwork Heroes – PSP - Demo – This is one of those unique games that is coming to the PSN from Japan. Right from the off its clear to see that the game is unique. The demo offers a few levels to play and they show many of the games mechanics. The demo starts of slow, you've only got a couple of people to rescue and the ships to take apart is small, but only a few levels and the difficulty ramps up a lot which could be an example of what happens in the game. I do like the mechanics, but worry about how difficult the game could be.

Picross 3D – DS – Demo – This game has been getting a lot of attention from game sites and personalities so I thought i'd give it a go once the demo came to the Nintendo channel. Its best to do the tutorials first that come with the demo. But, whilst they do a decent job of explaining things, its when you play a level that the mechanics start to become clear. The demo comes with 2 different tutorials, each with 3 example levels to practice on, and I feel they do a good job showing what the game is. Picross 3D does feel more like a game you'd play occasionally, rather than sit for a few hours.

What have you been playing this week? feel free to add your weeks gaming selection in the comments, or comment on my selection for this week


Saturday, March 6, 2010

Microsoft Announce Update To Xbox Live Code Of Conduct

Microsoft have announced that they have updated the Xbox Live code of conduct. This update will allow Xbox Live members to more freely express their race, nationality, religion and sexual orientation in Gamertags and profiles.

Letter

Dear Xbox LIVE members,

Since the beginning, Microsoft has made an investment in the security and safety of Xbox LIVE and created tools and monitoring practices to ensure it is a fun and welcoming entertainment experience for people of all races, nationalities, religions and sexual orientations. And thanks to this investment and the enthusiasm of community members like you, we’re proud to be the strongest and most diverse online community of its kind at 23 million.

The Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct are designed to create a place where people can safely enjoy all of the ways to interact on our service, be it online multiplayer gaming, photo sharing, Netflix parties, or social games such as 1 vs. 100, without fear of discrimination or harassment. As the service evolves and our customers provide us with feedback, these rules evolve to incorporate new features or changes in how people wish to interact.

With that in mind, I’d like to announce an update to the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use and Code of Conduct which will allow our members to more freely express their race, nationality, religion and sexual orientation in Gamertags and profiles. Under our previous policy, some of these expressions of self identification were not allowed in Gamertags or profiles to prevent the use of these terms as insults or slurs. However we have since heard feedback from our customers that while the spirit of this approach was genuine, it inadvertently excluded a part of our Xbox LIVE community. This update also comes hand-in-hand with increased stringency and enforcement to prevent the misuse of these terms.

I truly believe that our diversity is what makes us strong: diversity in gaming and entertainment options, and diversity in the people that make up this amazing community. I look forward to seeing you on LIVE soon.

Jump in,

Marc Whitten
Gamertag - Notwen
www.twitter.com/notwen

Sony Online Entertainment Reveal The Dates For This Years SOE Fan Faire

Sony Online Entertainment have revealed this years SOE Fan Faire dates. The SOE Fan Faire will run From 5-8 August, At Bally's Las Vegas. There will also be a chance for gamers to meet some of the people behind the Sony Online Entertainment games at this fair.

Some Planned activities for the Fan Faire are:
  • Special announcements and sneak peaks of upcoming SOE titles
  • In-game tournaments and live, game-themed competitions and quests
  • Developer forums and roundtables
  • Cool giveaways and other fun items!

Press Release

Join Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) at Bally’s Las Vegas for three days of fun and games at Fan Faire 2010 from August 5-8. If you have never been to an SOE Fan Faire before, this is the time to make the trek to Sin City! Fan Faire is a great place for gamers to mix, mingle and meet with some of the faces behind their favorite SOE titles.

Here are just some of the great activities we're planning:

Special announcements and sneak peaks of upcoming SOE titles
In-game tournaments and live, game-themed competitions and quests
Developer forums and roundtables
Cool giveaways and other fun items!

And, that's just the beginning! Visit the Fan Faire website
at www.soefanfaire.com for up-to-date information on registration, pricing and schedules. Tickets are expected to go on sale early this spring.

Square Enix Europe Announce Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition Is Coming Out 26th March

Square Enix Europe have revealed that a Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition is coming out in Europe and PAL territories, only, from 26th March. This Game Of The Year Edition come with the original game as well as 6 new challenge maps and a option to play the Game in 3D.

The Game features TriOviz 3D support on both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game and it is compatible with both HD and SD television sets. The game will come with the appropriate 3D glasses. the 3D effect seen is that the depth of the game is increased by the 3D technology.

The Game is coming to the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Games for Windows Live.



Press Release

Square Enix London Studios, a part of Square Enix Europe, today announced a Game of the Year Edition for the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Comics. Available across Europe and other PAL territories from March 26th, 2010, the new edition will come complete with six extra challenge maps on disc and features an innovative new technology which offers a play-in-3D option compatible with all standard and high definition TV sets.

Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition adds a new dimension to the multi award-winning gameplay experience, with support for TriOviz 3D on both the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. TriOviz 3D is a patented 3D process which adds depth to the game, visible to players wearing the included 3D glasses. By leveraging the depth-of-field while maintaining the original gameplay and colour integrity, TriOviz 3D creates a far more immersive gaming experience, allowing console players to dive deeper into the gothic world of Arkham Asylum.

Expanding the gameplay of the original boxed edition, the Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition comes with all six previously released Downloadable Content Challenge Maps on disc, giving players further opportunity to hone their combat skills. Gamers can face-off against Arkham Asylum’s toughest inmates in some of the iconic environs from the game such as the infamous Crime Alley and the insane Scarecrow Nightmare.

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, BATMAN finds himself trapped inside the confines of Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, ARKHAM ASYLUM. The Joker has set a trap for the DARK KNIGHT and has conspired with the deranged inmates to eliminate Batman once and for all. Adding to the authenticity of the game are veteran animated Batman voice talents Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy, who reprise their roles as The Joker and Batman respectively.

Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story by Paul Dini, Batman writer and five-time Emmy Award winner whose credits include Lost and Batman: The Animated Series. Gamers will move in the shadows, instil fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains, including HARLEY QUINN, BANE, KILLER CROC, POISON IVY and SCARECROW, who have taken over the asylum.

The Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition will be available across Europe and other PAL territories from March 26th, 2010, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Games For Windows® LIVE. You can find out more on the official website at www.BatmanArkhamAsylum.com.

Square Enix Europe Have Released A Teaser Image For Deus EX 3


Square Enix Europe have released a new teaser image for Deus EX 3. They say that this image is from a upcoming trailer. you can click on the picture to see it bigger.


Square Enix Europe Have Released A New Just Cause 2 Trailer

Square Enix Europe have released a new trailer for Just Cause 2. this trailer is simply in-game footage of a fire truck and a aeroplane playing a game of chicken. watch the trailer to see who wins.




Polyphony Digital Have Released A New Gran Turismo 5 Trailer Focusing On NASCAR

Polyphony Digital And Sony have released a new trailer for Gran Turismo 5. this trailer focuses on the NASCAR aspect of the game and shows some new footage of NASCAR cars, races, and pit-stops in the game. The Trailer features Kazunori Yamauchi talking about NASCAR and showing him experiencing his first ever NASCAR race at a circuit.