August 16, 2007 -
BioShock is Irrational's finest offering to date, as well as the swan
song for the Irrational brand in a way, since they recently relinquished their longstanding and well-established studio name
for the more corporate, faceless tag of 2K Boston and 2K Australia. BioShock is a first-person shooter set in the fantastically
unsettling city of Rapture, a metropolis built under the sea by the megalomaniacal Andrew Ryan. Throughout your lengthy stay,
you'll find options for combat as intricate and enjoyable as the story and characters are to interpretation, something that
only a handful of games can ever claim to offer.
But to call this game simply a first-person shooter, a game that successfully
fuses gameplay and narrative, is really doing it a disservice. This game is a beacon. It's one of those monumental experiences
you'll never forget, and the benchmark against which games for years to come will, and indeed must, be measured. This isn't
merely an evolution of System Shock 2, but a wake-up call to the industry at large. Play this, and you'll see why you should
demand something more from publishers and developers, more than all those derivative sequels forced down our throats year
after year with only minor tweaks in their formulas. It's a shining example of how it's possible to bring together all elements
of game design and succeed to the wildest degree.
Mafia 2 In Developement
Just when you think you're out, they pull you back into a sequel!
August 21, 2007 - Illusion Softworks is developing a follow-up to the 2004 gangland
crime game Mafia.
Set in the 1940s and 1950s, Mafia 2 will feature "high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative," according to a press release by
publisher 2K Games.
"As the original Mafia was a big success, we are excited to leverage the power of next generation
console technology to create an all-new experience, while embracing the elements that resonated with the previous game's fans,"
said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. "The 'wow' factor of Mafia 2 is definitely the benchmark-setting visual quality
and action that you expect to see only in Hollywood movies."
Illusion, based in Prague, Czech Republic, developed
the original Mafia game and is also responsible for the Hidden and Dangerous and Vietcong series.
Mafia 2 is being
developed for PC and "next-generation consoles," 2K said, but no specific platforms were mentioned.
Day
Time
To Do
Monday
0:00 am
N/A
Tuesday
0:00 am
N/A
Wednesday
3:00 pm
Registration
Thursday
10:00 am
Video Game Convention
Friday
5:45pm
Go Too Dads
PGR4 delayed, 360 wheel 'retrofitted'
Bizarre Creations' high-speed racer bumped to October 2 on Xbox 360; Microsoft peripheral overheats.
Between Blue Dragon, Halo 3, Project Gotham Racing 4, and Mass Effect, Microsoft has a number of big-name exclusives headed
to its console in the next few months. At its press conference during this year's E3 Media and Business Summit, the publisher was quick to highlight all of these games, as well as reveal launch windows for several, including Mass Effect
in November and Project Gotham Racing 4 in September.
However, apparently unwilling to share the limelight with Bungie's megaton-hit-in-waiting Halo 3, Bizarre Creations announced
today that PGR4 would not be coming out in September as initially planned. Instead, the supercharged racer will hit the gas
on Microsoft's console come October 2.
PGR4 marks a new direction in Bizarre's long-running series. While the game features its standard array of classic, slick,
and meaty cars, PGR4 will complement that list by introducing motorcycles to the mix. The second major addition to the series
is dynamic weather effects, which will impact courses by introducing unpredictable road conditions. PGR4 is rated E for Everyone
and will retail for $59.99. Check out GameSpot's previous coverage for more on PGR4.
In related news, Microsoft today announced today that the smoke being emitted by some Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheels is,
in fact, a mechanical malfunction, and not the result of some revolutionary new immersive technology that simulates burning
rubber. Accordingly, the hardware maker will be "retrofitting" all wireless wheels free of charge. Microsoft acknowledged
a problem has been reported with a component within the peripheral that overheats if it is used while plugged in using the
AC/DC power supply in "a very small number" of 360s. Wheels being operated through battery power are not affected by this
issue.
All owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should contact Microsoft tech support through its Web site, or by calling 1-800-469-9269, to receive their free fix.
Activision adds 11 international offerings to sequel's setlist, confirms
five-song Xbox 360 demo to premiere in copies of Tony Hawk's Proving Ground.With the Leipzig Games Convention in full swing, Activision has added some international flavor to its Guitar Hero III: Legends
of Rock setlist and detailed its plans for a five-song Xbox 360 demo of the game. In an effort to make the game musically
relevant to gamers around the globe, Activision is broadening the selection of bands providing tracks for Guitar Hero III.
During its Leipzig showing, the publisher revealed 11 new tracks from local favorites in Spain, Italy, Germany, and elsewhere.
The final game will have more than 70 tracks, with 70 percent of those being performances by the original artists. The 11
new songs are listed below. "Minus Celsius" by Backyard Babies "Hier Kommt Alex" by Die Toten Hosen "In the Belly of
a Shark" by Gallows "I'm in the Band" by The Hellacopters "Avalancha" by Heroes Del Silencio "Take This Life" by
In Flames "Ruby" by Kaiser Chiefs "Closer" by Lacuna Coil "Generation Rock" by Revolverheld "Mauvais Garcon" by
NAAST "Radio Song" by Superbus Activision has also unveiled its plans to release a five-song demo of the Xbox 360 edition
of the game. In a stroke of synergy, the publisher will be promoting the Neversoft-developed rhythm game in the studio's other
new release this holiday season, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. When Proving Ground for the Xbox 360 ships on October 9, it will
include a demo of Guitar Hero III, featuring Pearl Jam's "Even Flow," Tenacious D's "The Metal," The Scorpions' "Rock You
Like a Hurricane, Priestess' "Lay Down," and the previously unannounced "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," by Pat Benatar. The
Scorpions and Pat Benatar songs will be cover versions, with the remaining three performed by the original artists. Fans on
the fence about a Guitar Hero III purchase won't need to buy Proving Ground to get a taste of the rhythm game. Activision
has said it will release the demo on Xbox Live two weeks after Proving Ground hits stores.
