New Game from thatgamecompany will “change the industry in a positive way”

Posted on April 9, 2013 by John Scalzo

thatgamecompany-logoAsher Vollmer used to work for thatgamecompany. He joined the developer right out of college, but in the last few days he’s decided to go independent (um… independent-er). But before he left, he revealed a few tidbits about the company’s “New Game” in a farewell post on his tumblr page.

According to Vollmer, “New Game” is bigger than anything thatgamecompany has done before. He doesn’t mean big as in a large game, though it is large enough that it’ll likely be years before we get a chance to play it. But Vollmer thinks it’ll be worth the wait, in a big way:

Obviously I can’t divulge any details about it, but… It’s going to be huge. And I don’t mean it’s going to be a long sprawling game, I mean it’s going to be an IMPORTANT game. I genuinely believe it’s going to change the industry in a really positive way.

You could argue that Journey changed the game industry in a positive way, so if anyone can back up this claim, it’s thatgamecompany.

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Transistor Hands-On Preview: Speechless

Posted on April 8, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Supergiant’s first game, Bastion, was an action RPG in the Legend of Zelda mold that didn’t tread on any new gameplay ground. But its narrative voiceover (provided by actor Logan Cunningham), and the way it integrated music into the story, moved Bastion beyond being just an enjoyable XBLA title and pushed it into Game of the Year contender territory back in 2011.

The developer’s second game, the sci-fi action RPG Transistor, made its worldwide debut at last month’s PAX East show. Using a similar isometric view, it’s clear that Transistor shares a fair bit of Bastion’s DNA, but it is also so much more. It’s almost like Bastion turned up to 11.

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Rumor: Xbox 720/Durango to cost $300 with a subscription, $500 standalone

Posted on April 8, 2013 by John Scalzo

Paul Thurrott is a technology journalist who runs Supersite For Windows. With his high-profile in the tech community, he’s managed to provide accurate reports about the future of Microsoft before. Now, his sources are talking about the Xbox 720/Durango, and Thurrott has appeared on the latest episode of the What the Tech videocast (embedded above) to relay what they told him.

According to Thurrott, he is hearing that the next-generation console will retail for $500, with a $300 “subscription” model also available for purchase. Details on the contract that would go with the subscription contract were unavailable, but Thurott is sure that “Durango is going to be expensive.” The journalist is also hearing that the Xbox 720/Durango will be revealed during a presentation on May 21. A more complete reveal will follow a few weeks later at the E3 Expo. Can’t say there’s anything too shocking about that.

What is surprising is that Thurrott has also corroborated the “always-online” rumor that blew up last week. Writing on his site, Thurrott said: “Folks, the next Xbox is going to require an always-on internet connection. I don’t know the specifics of what that means. […] This piece of information had been communicated to me, along with some other relevant tidbits, in January. It’s true.”

Microsoft’s official statement on the matter (via Major Nelson) is a particularly wordy form of “no comment.” But the statement did say that Adam Orth’s comments “do not reflect the customer centric approach we take to our products.”

I know the evidence is piling up on the “always-online,” but I’ll be very surprised if it’s present in public version of the Xbox 720/Durango.

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Daily Scoop: April 8, 2013 – Regularly scheduled programming

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Nicole Kline

Well hello, friends! I apologize for my absence – I have been very busy lately. Not that it’s gotten any less busy, but at least I can catch my breath! The good news is that I think Anthony and I have found the apartment we’re going to be moving into. The bad news is that it means we’re going to have to start the process of moving! I’ve been in my place for the last six years, so I am not looking forward to it. But I’m excited about having a new place with him! Woo!

Let’s see, what are the deals going on today? Amazon’s got Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Dead Space 3 on sale for $39.99 each. Dishonored is $29.99, the Forza Horizon Limited Edition is $49.41, and you can also get Tomb Raider on sale for $45.99 (or the Tomb Raider Survival/Collector’s Edition for $75.99.

GameStop also has Dishonored on sale for $29.99, as well as the EVE Online Starter Pack – Amarr Bounty Hunter for $4.99, The Walking Dead Survival Instinct for $39.99, and the intense God of War: Ascension Legacy Bundle PS3 for $299.99. Scoop ’em up!

I’ve got a few t-shirts for you today as well!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

StarCraft: Ghost officially still in development at Blizzard

Posted on April 8, 2013 by John Scalzo

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The boys at Blizzard are nothing if not optimistic. Seven years after active development for StarCraft: Ghost ended (and almost a full year after last discussing the game’s status), Blizzard’s Matthew Burger confirmed that it has still never been officially canceled during an interview with a Official PlayStation Magazine UK editor at this year’s PAX East show:

OPM: Is StarCraft: Ghost still an active project for Blizzard?

Burger: It’s on hold. It has never been cancelled.

OPM: So it might still get released?

Burger: Maybe.

If you recall, StarCraft: Ghost was a stealth action game in development at Nihilistic Software (and later, Swingin’ Ape Studios) for the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox. After four years of starts and stops, the game was put on “indefinite hold” in 2006. Presumably, if StarCraft: Ghost were released in the future, it would make the leap to the PS3, Xbox 360, or Wii U. But since this would require Blizzard to, more or less, rebuild the game from the ground up, I’d say there’s not much difference between “on hold” and “canceled.”

But as OPM UK’s David Meikleham says, if Gearbox can release Duke Nukem Forever, no game can ever truly be considered dead.

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Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist webseries hadokens Kickstarter

Posted on April 8, 2013 by John Scalzo

Have you seen the Street Fighter: Legacy fanfilm before? If not, I highly recommend checking it out on YouTube. After that, you might want to swing over to Kickstarter and check out Joey Ansah and Christian Howard’s next project: a prequel webseries known as Street Fighter: Assassin’s Fist.

Ansah (the director) and Howard (who plays Ken) are seeking £625,000 (about $950,000) to produce the series with 25 days currently remaining on the Kickstarter clock. More than a mere fanfilm, this time the duo has secured the rights to create a live-action Street Fighter film from Capcom. So Assassin’s Fist will have the blessing (and marketing support) of Capcom if its successful on Kickstarter:

It is a true warrior’s tale; a coming of age story for Ryu and Ken as boys become men; told in parallel with the dark tale of the generation that came before them, filled with tragedy, loss and heartbreak.

This story really contains all the elements of universal, classic, conflict based story telling; father vs. son; brother vs. brother; a love triangle; betrayal; revenge; and the ultimate question: Can a man change his destiny? Or will the inevitable catch up with him?.

According to Ansah, the production, which has been in various stages of development for the last three years, needs to secure the rest of its budget now, or the team runs the risk of losing the financing they’ve already secured. No pressure or anything.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Halo 4: Castle Map Pack now available; Halo 4 DLC discounts coming April 12

Posted on April 8, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Microsoft has announced that Halo 4‘s “Castle Map Pack” is now available to download from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Like the previous two DLC map packs, it’s been priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10). The pack adds three new maps to the game’s multiplayer mode:

  • “Daybreak” is set in a military facility against the backdrop of an idyllic mountain range.
  • “Outcast” plunges you into the warrens, canyons and arches of an alien edifice.
  • “Perdition” takes players into the heart of an urban sprawl, with tactical speed and situational awareness its key features.

And if you haven’t completed your Halo 4 DLC collection yet, Microsoft has got a deal for you this Friday, April 12. For one day only, the War Games Map Pass and the first two individual map packs will be on sale:

  • War Games Map Pass: 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) / Regular Price: 2000 Microsoft Points ($25)
  • Crimson Map Pack: 600 Microsoft Points ($7.50) / Regular Price: 800 Microsoft Points ($10)
  • Majestic Map Pack: 600 Microsoft Points ($7.50) / Regular Price: 800 Microsoft Points ($10)
Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Project X Zone crosses over to America on June 25

Posted on April 7, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Namco Bandai has revealed, through the game’s official website, that June 25 will be the official release date of the 3DS game Project X Zone.

Project X Zone (which was said to be a working title at the time of the game’s announcement, but is apparently the game’s final title) is a strategy RPG crossover developed by Monolith Soft that brings together characters from Namco Bandai’s stable of games as well as those from Sega and Capcom. As you can see, this bizarre amalgam of a game will include appearances by Dante from Devil May Cry, Mega Man, Ulala from Space Channel 5, Ryu from Street Fighter, Jin Kazama from Tekken, and more than 45 others. In all, more than 200 Namco Bandai, Sega, or Capcom characters will make an appearance in the game.

That’s a lot.

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