Jaffe talks Twisted Metal (no sequel or DLC planned) and his future (browser games)

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Nicole Kline

David Jaffe was recently interviewed by Game Informer about his decision to leave Eat Sleep Play, as well as what was in the future – for both him and Twisted Metal.

First off, fans will be disappointed to know that there won’t be a sequel or any DLC for Twisted Metal. “Right now there are no plans,” Jaffe said. “I always thought it was going to be a great game. But we weren’t nursing these illusions that we were making Call of Duty in terms of sales. If it’s a big enough hit I’m sure Sony won’t let it wither on the vine. But right now there are no plans at all.”

So what’s in Jaffe’s future? Well, I’m happy to report that Jaffe said “Scott [Campbell, one of Eat Sleep Play’s co-founders,] has been itching to get into iPhone and Android games for a while. I love those kinds of games, but the article that ran in Salt Lake misrepresented me by saying I wanted to do casual games. I love those games, and one day I may want to make them, but I’m very interested in the browser space as well as the next-gen space.”

I was ecstatic to read that – though the whole “browser space” comment worries me. Jaffe is too brilliant to leave console game development. But he gave me hope by adding “There hasn’t been a game in the browser space in my opinion that speaks to players and gamers that I usually make games for.” Hey! I’m one of those gamers! I think I’d still prefer a new Jaffe console game, though.

Twisted Metal will be out February 14.

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BurgerTime: World Tour added to Wii Shop

Posted on February 9, 2012 by John Scalzo

After making stops on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, BurgerTime: World Tour finally found its way to the Wii Shop Channel today.

The condiment compiler will be joined by two other titles:

Maru’s Mission (3DS eShop) – Play as the ninja Maru in this action-packed side-scrolling game that will take you on a journey across the world. To rescue his girlfriend, Maru must face a number of mythological monsters.

40-in-1 Explosive Megamix (DSiWare) – Do you like arcade games – puzzles, action and shooting games? Then this is just what you have been waiting for. 40 games in one collection! Choose between classic games like Sudoku, Match-3 and Cooking games, and try out new and completely original fun games in various genres. Amazing graphics and unique features such as high-score tables and unlockable games will provide hours and hours of fun.

BurgerTime: World Tour (WiiWare) – This new version of the arcade classic features an innovative 3D environment and elevated retro game play. Enjoy challenging platform elements, boss characters and more than 20 meaty levels.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii | Tagged

Daily Scoop: February 9, 2012 – Just a Bit.Trip!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Hooray, it’s nearly the weekend! How exciting. What are you going to be doing? Playing video games with some kitties on your lap? Rolling dice with friends? Getting your board game on?

You should surely be prepping for the “Walking Dead” on Sunday, that’s for certain!

The only deal I’ve got today is Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games, which is Aksys’ Bit.Trip Complete for the Wii. It’s just $27.99 today, so scoop it up!

And don’t forget, these PC download games are all still on sale, and now some of them are even cheaper than they were earlier in the week:

  • Dungeons for $4.99
  • Dungeons: Map Pack – DLC for $0.75
  • Dungeons – Into the Dark – DLC Pack 1 for $0.99
  • Dungeons: The Dark Lord for $4.99
  • Tropico Trilogy for $4.99
  • Airline Tycoon 2 for $4.99
  • Disciples III – Resurrection for $4.99

There are also a few video gaming shirts up for grabs today!

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Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

No UMD Passport for Vita in US

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Buying a PlayStation Vita in a week or two? Excited about the prospect of playing your UMD games on it? If you live in North America, that dream has just been shattered. Sony told Kotaku that they will not be bringing the UMD Passport Program to North America.

The UMD Passport Program in Japan allowed Japanese users to pay a small fee to download their UMD games on their Vitas. North American customers will still be able to access their digital purchases through the PlayStation Network – but that pile of UMDs you have will be more useless than ever before.

The Vita will be out February 15 for early adopters and February 22 for gamers who have smaller wallets and more sanity.

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Medal of Honor 2 to be unveiled at GDC 2012

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Nicole Kline

EA has sent out an invitation confirming the announcement of a sequel to 2010’s Medal of Honor, according to GameSpot.

The invitation indicates that EA’s announcement will be on Tuesday, March 6, at 8 PM PST. This puts it right smack in the middle of the 2012 Game Developer’s Conference, which is in San Francisco from March 5 to March 9.

I personally am thrilled to hear that they’re releasing a sequel – I loved Medal of Honor and played a ludicrous amount of it. Also, my birthday is on March 8, so I can’t think of a better present EA could give me. Thanks, guys!

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D3 Publisher teams up with Dreamworks Animation

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Nicole Kline

D3 Publisher and Dreamworks Animation SKG have announced a publishing agreement for games based on Dreamworks’ next three feature films. The three films are Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Rise of the Guardians, and The Croods.

D3 and Dreamworks are excited about the publishing agreement. Chris Hewish, head of global interactive for DreamWorks Animation, said, “D3 Publisher has a wealth of experience in both the creative development and marketing of family friendly licensed games. This, along with their proven track record, makes them an ideal interactive partner for our next three films.”

Bill Anker, vice president of business development and licensing, at D3, said, “The upcoming video games based on the DreamWorks Animation films truly fit our commitment to making fun games that are enjoyable and accessible for the whole family across many platforms and handhelds. We look forward to working closely with the DreamWorks Animation team to deliver an authentic and compelling gameplay experience that will take the adventures in exciting new directions inspired by the films.”

Madagascar 3: The Video Game will be out in June along with the film. The game based on Rise of the Guardians will be out this holiday season, while The Croods game and movie are scheduled for release in spring 2013.

Posted in News |

“Gamers At Work” book released

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Ever want to know about the entrepreneurial history behind the start of the video game industry? Gamers at Work: Stories Behind the Games People Play is a book you might be interested in.

Written by Morgan Ramsay, the founder of Entertainment Media Council, this book brings the history of the video game industry to light through interviews with some of gaming’s most successful – and notorious – names. Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts, is on the list, along with Warren Spector (founder of Junction Point Studios), Ted Price (founder of Insomniac Games), and, of course, Nolan Bushnell, the infamous cofounder of Atari… and the founder of Chuck E. Cheese.

The book takes readers – presumably gamers – on a journey through the turbulent history of the creation of the video game industry as we know it today, following the stories of these men and others through their successes and failures. After reading The Ultimate History of Video Games, I don’t think anything can surprise me, but I’m definitely going to read this book anyway, because I’m a sucker for books about the industry.

To find out more about the book, check out the website at gamersatwork.org.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Square Enix brings back True Crime series as Sleeping Dogs

Posted on February 9, 2012 by John Scalzo

About six months ago, Square Enix picked up Activision’s discarded open-world game, True Crime: Hong Kong. Now, the Japanese publisher has rechristened the game Sleeping Dogs and announced that it’ll be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in the second half of 2012.

Developed by United Front Games, Sleeping Dogs (like the True Crime series before it) flips the typical open-world game on its head. Instead of featuring the criminal element in all of their sadistic glory, it follows an undercover cop, Wei Shen, as he infiltrates the Hong Kong Triad. Naturally, this involves a lot of fighting and brutal combat:

Offering players an island packed with action, every street corner, market stall, harbor dock or city skyscraper can become an opportunity for intense shoot-outs, adrenaline-fuelled street races and intense, brutal martial arts combat. Featuring one of the most intuitive and imaginative combat systems, Sleeping Dogs empowers players to perform an extensive set of martial arts moves, singlehandedly taking on numerous opponents. Players perform bone-crunching kicks and combos, vicious counters and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns making use of countless real-world items from circular saws to phone booths, incinerators to refrigerator doors.

To give you an idea of what the melee combat will look like, Square Enix has produced a live action trailer for Sleeping Dogs that you can view after the break.

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