Bank Run combines an online interactive movie with iPhone gaming
One of the most difficult and time consuming activites that a website editor does on a daily basis is tackle the press release beast. I, for example, receive dozens of very similar-sounding games and gaming accessory pitches in my inbox, with one being barely distinguishable from the next. Bank Run is not one of those games.
Pac-Man tattoo makes for interesting visuals
The last thing that I want to wake up to is a photo of a rear end in my email with a Pac-Man level tattooed on it. Why? It is visually mind boggling. I mean, what if he pops the cherry? Or maybe he’s got to jump the Grand Canyon to get to the other side? The concept is sure cool and a decent amount of symmetrical work went into this, but this otherwise makes me a Sad 2D Panda. But who knows: video game-related ass tats may replace “Juicy” jeans/pants during Fashion Week.
[Hattip: Kokugamer]
Capcom reveals Mega Man 10’s release dates, weapons, and challenge modes
Mega Man 10. You’ve seen the previews. You’ve seen the hands-on. Now it’s time to see what Capcom’s been keeping under wraps lo these many months.
First up, the most important info: release dates. Mega Man 10 will touch down on WiiWare first (March 1st, 1000 points), but will then be followed by PSN (March 11, $9.99), and XBLA (March 31st, 800 MSP).
Secondly, the weapons. Oh my, the weapons.
Realview V-Screen turns 2D PSP games to 3D
Although it’s been out since January, it’s worth it to note that Realview’s V-Screen can turn all your 2D PSP games into a 3D experience. It works by enhancing perceived depth of field in the graphics to give you something that will pop out more as opposed to looking flat.
This sounds similar to how modern day cinematography works in that your foreground can be more in focus and your background and mid-ground be out of focus and therefore a bit harder to see. However, I haven’t actually seen a demo of the product in action, but we just got one in the house so we’ll let you know howthe visuals play out in coming days.
Realview especially recommends the $39.99 V-Screen for racing games when you’re on the track and trying to tear it up. 2D NSFW content with this screen may be really something to check out (not that we condone such action, heh).
SEGA begins to unveil the mystery that is Project Needlemouse
Longtime Sonic fans who have been consistently abused by the hedgehog’s post 16-bit adventures have flocked to Project Needlemouse as the series’ savior. The famous trailer that dropped last year hyped the series’ return to classic 2D gameplay, and was seen as the great vindicator for over a decade of subpar Sonic offerings (despite any information being revealed).
Consider the Project Needlemouse hype machine in full blast. SEGA’s building excitement leading up to the grand unveiling of Project Needlemouse by recruiting fans to spread the word about the upcoming game. There appears to be a number of contests that will appear this week, which will lead up to the grand unveiling of the game’s playable characters.
Probably the most interesting news here is that Project Needlemouse doesn’t refer to Sonic himself; Sonic has a friend named “Mr. Needlemouse.” Color me a bit skeptical that there’s yet another buddy added to the Sonicverse, but I have (stupidly or no) faith that SEGA has learned from its mistakes.
Note: Does anyone else find it odd that Knuckles and Tails aren’t listed in the image above?
CES 2010: Hands-On with Mega Man 10
CES 2010, as mentioned in our preview post, proved to be a very solid showcase for video game related news. Although there were pockets of games and accessories on the LVCC’s floor, a significant (and impressive) chunk of it was located inside of Capcom’s Planet Hollywood suite. There the company allowed me to get down and dirty with a number of 2D games, including the much-talked about Mega Man 10.
Capcom gave us access to a single boss level (unfortunately, we can’t disclose the name of said robot master), which made us engage in the usual mega man shenanigans: platforming, shooting, and avoiding spikes. We were able to breeze through the level presented thanks to the new Easy Mode, which changes enemy attacks and removes the danger element presented by the series’ trademark spike pits. The boss fight was still challenging, only I didn’t need to take a shot of gin before playing in order to settle the nerves.
Chrono Twins DX trailer shows us how to play in two time periods
It’s been a hot minute since we’ve first leased of Chrono Twins DX, a time hopping action title that’s headed to Wii Ware on Januray 11, but the trailer is finally here to dazzle you with its temporal gimmick. The clip showcases how events from the present affect the past…or is it how events from the present are affected by the future? Whoa.
My initial reaction to the action was of confusion. I wasn’t quite sure what I was witnessing, which, I suppose, is the hallmark of virtually decent time travel story except Back to the Future. But in the interest of fair and balanced journalism, I withhold judgment until I get hands-on with the downloadable.
Battle Beat merges music and tower defense on your Xbox 360
Outside of innovative titles such as Rez, few music games have attempted to be more than simple “press the button when the icon is in the right position” rhythm games. That formula was the basis of Parappa the Rapper, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band, and has proved highly successful with wannabe music mavens. Fortunately, developer Stegersaurus Games attempts to elevate the genre.
Battle Beat (available for 400 MSP) is a new game available in the Xbox 360 Indie Games channel that eschews pseudo rockstar status by placing gamers in the role of space commander that must save his home world from hostile alien forces. Using instrument or standard Xbox 360 controllers, players command a squad of troops to launch attacks in this music-meets-tower-defense title.
Really, it’s an intriguing use of the plastic axes that populate our homes, but all it really does is Beg for a kick ass Macross 7 game to be created. LISTEN TO MY SONG!
Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard Heading To Xbox on Xmas
What better way to celebrate the yuletide cheer than by severing undead heads? Press Start Studio, an independent game developer out of France, is bringing its Twin Blades : The Reaping Vanguard to the Xbox Live Arcade Indie Games platform on Christmas Day for just 240 MSP.
Twin Blades: The Reaping Vanguard is a frantic 2D run-and-gun action shooter set in a medieval-fantasy zombie-filled universe featuring stylized manga-like graphics. Players take control of the a scythe-waving nun with a mission to clear the city of all its undead inhabitants. But the big blade isn’t the only weapon in her arsenal: she carries a number of ranged weapons, too. The game features:
- Ranged weapons ranging from machine gun to explosive nukes
- Upgradable skills which can be bought and trained
- 7 different kind of zombies, mind the grabbers!
- 5 cool musics and exclusive sound effects which will immerse you into the epic slaughter
- A local Challenges & High-Scores system which keeps track of players’ progress
TimeWasters: Galactic Colonization
TimeWasters highlights many of the excellent Web-based/lightweight downloadable titles that you can dive into within the space of a lunch break. This week, Chris Gampat explores Galactic Colonization.
I’ve always had dreams of taking over the world through use of bacon, but Galactic Colonization (a very simple, extremely frustrating, and seriously addicting game) doesn’t allow for that. Instead, it’s about spreading your civilization quickly, upgrading, and hoarding resources. Move fast, or you’ll end up at the bottom of the food chain.
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