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NYLatenite's Gamer's Paradise News Archives
Tuesday, 8 August 2006
SAM & MAX: SEASON ONE INTERVIEW AT FIRING SQUAD

Firing Squad has posted an interview with Dan Conners, Dave Grossman and Dave Bogan of Telltale Games in which they spoke a bit about the upcoming Sam & Max graphic adventure game.

There's nothing much new revealed in the article, other than a few tidbits about what we can expect from the plot of the first episode;

"In the first episode, Sam & Max’s neighborhood is mysteriously beset by former child stars committing unusual crimes, all seemingly connected to a new ocular fitness video. Our heroes do some investigating, some lunatic driving, indulge in a little gunplay and hit several people over the head, and eventually scrounge their way to the murky bottom of things. But we get the impression that this may only be the tip of the iceberg..." -Dave Grossman, Telltale Games

While this certainly sounds like something I could see Sam & Max getting caught up in, the poor experience I had when playing the Bone demos still weighs heavy on my mind. Please guys, don't screw this up - because if you do, it will not only kill the chances of graphic adventures returning to the market, but will give LucasArts the perfect opening to say "I told you so".

One other thing to note - Dan Connors states that no demo of the game will be made available prior to the games release. This of course leads to the question of whether one will be available at all, or if people will have to buy into the series to see if it's worth their time.

Check out the full Firing Squad interview here and keep your fingers crossed that Sam & Max doesn't disappoint.


Posted by nylatenite at 2:16 AM EDT
PSP TRIGONOMETRY WARS

Once again, the PSP homebrew scene makes a great argument for why Sony should embrace it. Trigonometry Wars is a freeware PSP homebrew port of the Xbox 360 hit Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved. Since I don't have a PSP, I can't tell you if it's any good, though I would imagine the lack of twin sticks is going to at least take something away from the game.

The game can be downloaded from it's official site located here. If you're able to run homebrew games on your PSP and decide to give it a shot, please let us know what you thought of it in the comments section.


Posted by nylatenite at 1:27 AM EDT
MORE XBOX LIVE ARCADE TITLES DATED

Reports at both ArsTechnica and the Official UK Xbox Magazine are stating that Microsoft has dated the next batch of Xbox Live Arcade titles that will be premiering in the weeks to come. I've listed the prices that have been mentioned when these games have been discussed in the past after each title.

While checking out both articles, I noticed that once again both Time Pilot and Scramble were treated as if they were second rate, unknown titles. Hell, even Microsoft is in on the act, as they don't even have product descriptions for either title at Xbox.com. You have no idea how much this disturbs me.

I'll be picking up both Time Pilot and Scramble so long as they have survived the translation process, I'll want to try Lumines Live! before I commit, and I just don't see myself picking up Texas Hold'em. Sure it may be the best form of poker to televise, but give me real poker games over "Poker for Dummies" any day.

You can check out the ArsTechnica article here and the OXM UK article here - and if you've heard of Time Pilot and/or Scramble, please show them some love in the comments section.


Posted by nylatenite at 12:57 AM EDT
Monday, 7 August 2006
ELECTRONIC ARTS ENDING ONLINE SUPPORT FOR SOME "OLD" TITLES

Game Informer is reporting that Electronic Arts has decided to end online play support for several of their older titles. While I can understand the desire to cut costs, some of the titles seem a bit too new to me to be getting shut down already.

The ones that seem most out of place to me are Fight Night: Round 2 and NBA Street V3 - both titles were released in February of 2005 and personally, I think that a game should see online support well past the first 18 months.

This is one of the reasons why I prefer it when games also have the option for online play via direct IP connections - I like the idea that if a friend and I want to play an older game just for nostalgia value, or to settle some old argument that we can still do it.

According to the Game Informer article, there are two cut-off dates - one of which has already passed. Here's the information on the games that are being removed from online play along with their cut off dates;

August 1st, 2006

FIFA Soccer 2005 for PS2
FIFA Soccer 2005 for Xbox
FIFA Soccer 2005 Demo for Xbox
FIFA Soccer 2005 for PC
EA Sports Fight Night Round 2 for PS2
EA Sports Fight Night Round 2 for Xbox
NCAA March Madness 2005 for PS2
NCAA March Madness 2005 for Xbox
NBA Live 2005 for Xbox
NBA Live 2005 for PC
NBA Live 05 for PS2
NBA Street V3 for PS2
NBA Street V3 for Xbox
NCAA Football 2005 for PS2
Need for Speed Underground 2 Demo for PC
Need for Speed Underground 2 for PC
Need for Speed Underground 2 for Xbox
NHL 2005 for PS2
NHL 2005 for Xbox
NHL 2005 for PC
Total Club Manager 06 for PS2
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 for PS2
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 for PC
UEFA Champions League 2004-2005 for PS2
UEFA Champions League 2004-2005 for PC
UEFA Champions League 2004-2005 for Xbox

October 1st 2006

Madden NFL 2005 for PS2
Madden NFL 2005 for Xbox
Madden NFL 2005 for PC
NFL Street 2: Unleashed for PS2
NFL Street 2: Unleashed for Xbox

While we're on this subject, Stix over at the Gamer's Lounge forums brought up a very interesting question;

"for these games that are still in game stores, do game stores have to put stickers on them saying that where it says it is playable online that they are no longer supported?" - Jason "Stix" Buckley, Gamer's Lounge

My guess is that if the stores haven't done it yet, they sure will after the first few lawsuits. Check out the Game Informer article here and the Gamer's Lounge discussion on the server shut down here.


Posted by nylatenite at 1:31 AM EDT
PLAYSTATION 3 TO USE ADAPTER FOR PS2 SAVES

Joystiq has a story up right now regarding the fact that the Playstation 3 will require an adapter in order to accept Playstation 2 memory cards (and thus, save files).

While you may think I'm about to start griping about the added cost, I'm not. Given the fact that Microsoft didn't offer owners of the original Xbox that option, I'm personally thrilled that Sony will offer owners of their previous consoles the ability to move their old saves onto their new console.

CHeck out the Joystiq article here. People can gripe about this one all they want, but so long as it's reasonably priced, I give Sony a thumbs up for at least giving Playstation 3 adopters the choice.


Posted by nylatenite at 12:59 AM EDT
A QUICK THOUGHT ON MADDEN '07

I downloaded and watched the "lead blocker" Madden '07 demonstration video from Xbox Live earlier today, and it left me with one question. If when you select the lead blocker on a running play, isn't the fact that you've selected that player instead of your quarterback going to tip off your opponent that you've called a running play? (For those who haven't seen the video, on running plays, you start off by selecting the player you wish to control (the lead blocker) and as with all other modes, that player is highlighted in a circle... which means your opponent can see you've selected him. )

While you can argue that you could probably start as the quarterback and switch to the blocker after the snap, that seems to me to be something that would work against you, just like the vision cone did last year.

You can check out the video I'm referring to in the Xbox Live Marketplace - I'd add a video, but it seems no one has posted it on the 'net yet. On a side note, is anyone else absolutely boggled by the fact that ESPN has a pay-per-view Madden '07 special this year? What the hell is that all about?!


Posted by nylatenite at 12:39 AM EDT
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE DEAD RISING DEMO

While we're on the subject of the Dead Rising demo, Joystiq has posted a list of things you can find and do in the demo that you may not have discovered during your first few run throughs. (The FAQ was originally posted at IGN's forums, but they won't let you look at it unless you pay them for a subscription) There's a lot of stuff here, so be sure to check it out sp you get the most out of your zombie killing experience.

As for me, I tried a few of the "hidden" weapons and found that they just add to the feeling that the game is going to grow old fast. The submachine gun is as accurate as a rifle and can be single fired, the katana doesn't have any more durability than other melee weapons - in other words, all the weapons seem alike. Hell, the shotgun you start the demo with is better at LONG range than it is in close quarters. Ho screwed up is that?!

Check out the Joystiq article here and join me in hoping the missions add a whole new element to the game - because I really want to like this one, but I just can't bring myself to do it so far.


Posted by nylatenite at 12:17 AM EDT
THIS WEEK'S RELEASES: AUGUST 7TH - AUGUST 13TH

Wow, you know it's a slow week when there isn't even an assload of bargain PC titles hitting the shelves. The only titles of note this week are both for the Xbox 360. First off, we have Capcom's Dead Rising, which I'm sure many people are looking forward to getting their hands on. Secondly, we have Namco's release of Pac-Man via the Xbox Live Arcade. As soon as we get a chance to try them, we'll let you know what we think of them via "first impressions" stories - until then, feel free to check out out initial thoughts on the Dead Rising demo here.

Here are the weeks scheduled releases;

  • Games Explosion - GBA - 8/08/06
  • Glow Worm - PC - 8/08/06
  • Seawolves: Submarines on Hunt - PC - 8/08/06
  • Backyard Baseball 2007 - PC - 8/09/06
  • D1 Grand Prix - PS2 - 8/09/06
  • Dead Rising - 360 - 8/09/06
  • Pac-Man - 360 - 8/09/06
  • Pirates: The Legend of Black Buccaneer - PS2 - 8/09/06
  • Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots - GBA - 8/09/06
  • Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation - GBA - 8/09/06
  • Pony LUV - PC - 8/12/06

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.


Posted by nylatenite at 12:14 AM EDT
Sunday, 6 August 2006
1UP.COM PREVIEWS SAM & MAX: SEASON ONE

Ok, so I'm a little late posting this one, but Matt Leone at 1up.com posted a pretty cool preview of what we can expect from Telltale Games Sam & Max: Season One.

The article breaks down just how exactly Telltale expects the "episodic" content to work from both a gameplay standpoint as well as a financial one. The current plan is for the initial pilot to be released, followed by a brief lull, which will then followed up by monthly installments.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Telltale can make the games better than their current "Bone" series, as I found those games to be lacking when compared to the graphic adventure games of old. I'm also hoping the episodes are reasonably priced and not just designed around milking as much money out of customers as possible. I already see the Xbox Live Marketplace starting to head down that road, and I'd hate to see that type of thinking become prevalent everywhere.

Still, it's Sam & Max and that alone is reason enough to follow this title - if it's even half as good as LucasArts' Sam & Max Hit The Road, it should be worth a purchase - or at least a reason to take Gametap up on their free 2 week trial. (For those that haven't been following Sam & Max Season One, it will be available for download from Telltale or it can be played via the Gametap service.)

You can check out the 1up.com article here and Telltale's Sam & Max site here.


Posted by nylatenite at 2:03 AM EDT
STREET FIGHTER II BECOMES FASTEST SELLING LIVE ARCADE GAME

Capcom has announced that Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting has become the fastest selling title in the history of the Xbox Live Arcade;

"Capcom® today announced that Street Fighter® II’ Hyper Fighting, the company’s first title for Xbox Live® Arcade for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, has seen a phenomenal record of downloads since it’s debut on August 2. Within the first 24 hours of it’s unveiling, Street Fighter II’ Hyper Fighting has become the fastest selling Xbox Live Arcade title to date with hundreds of matches being played every hour." - Capcom press release

While no exact sales figures are provided in the release, I find no reason to doubt the fact that SFII has broken XBLA sales records as people had been going nuts over it ever since it was first announced. Certain parts of the text make me laugh though;

"It'll be exciting to see who ranks number one on Xbox Live Arcade after the first weekend of gamers playing the greatest arcade title in history." -Charles Bellfield, vice president of marketing, Capcom Entertainment

From what I understand, that would be the kid who can unplug his connection the fastest when he/she is losing.

On one hand, I'm thrilled that Capcom is seeing the benefits of the Live Arcade as that can only lead to more of their titles appearing. On the other hand, I hope they don't expect to keep collecting $10 a shot on these titles because of Street Fighter II's sales figures and more importantly, I hope they're taking a lot of the criticism about the title seriously.

You can check out the full Capcom press release here and obtain the game itself via the Xbox Live Marketplace. My advice to you is to download the demo first so you know exactly what it is you're buying.


Posted by nylatenite at 1:37 AM EDT

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