Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek Review (PC)

post from Gamezebo: Casual Game Reviews, Previews, Cheats, Tips, Forums, Free Games, and More on 05 September 2011 11:48:14 PM. © Gamezebo: Casual Game Reviews, Previews, Cheats, Tips, Forums, Free Games, and More

Gamezebo Rating:

To be honest, I didn?t have many expectations for Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek. It looked to be just another haunted town, amnesiac protagonist, dark hidden object game. And it is, but it?s also so much more. Enigmatis is a gorgeous game that takes a tired storyline and makes it interesting again.

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The LPO celebrates its 'Video Game Heroes' with a
concert

post from Destructoid on 05 September 2011 11:06:27 PM. © Destructoid

The LPO celebrates its 'Video Game Heroes' with a concert screenshot

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As part of the Vision Sound Music festival at the Southbank Centre, London, the world renowned London Philharmonic Orchestra put on a special concert dedicated to the wonderful world of videogame music. Entitled "Video Game Heroes," it's a collection of music from games old and new, all of which are close to conductor Andrew Skeet's heart.

Unfortunately for us (except the people who went of course), the concert took place last Saturday ( September 2.) However, there is an album coming out this Fall so look out for that. In the meantime, take a look at the set list and if possible read Mr. Skeet's blog about the project. Decide on whether you think his balance was just right, and enjoy the only footage from the concert so far below.

Set List

Advent Rising: Muse Tommy Tallarico
Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Jeremy Soule
Call of Duty: Main Menu Theme Stephen Barton & Harry Gregson-Williams
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2: Theme Hans Zimmer & Lorne Balfe
Legend of Zelda Koji Kondo
Super Mario Bros. Theme Mahito Yokota & Koji Kondo
Little Big Planet: Orb of Dreamers: The Cosmic Imagisphere Daniel Pemberton
Splinter Cell: Conviction Michael Nielsen, Kaveh Cohen, Amon Tobin
Battlefield 2: Theme Joel Eriksson
Final Fantasy: Theme Nobuo Uematsu

Interval

Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty Theme Harry Gregson-Williams
Dead Space: Welcome Aboard the U.S.G. Ishimura* Jason Graves
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune Greg Edmonson
World of Warcraft: Seasons of War Jason Hayes
Halo 3: One Final Effort Martin O’Donnell & Michael Salvatori
007: Blood Stone: Athens Harbour Chase* Richard Jacques
Bioshock: The Ocean on his Shoulders Garry Schyman
Mass Effect: Suicide Mission Jack Wall & Sam Hulick
Fallout 3: Theme Inon Zur
Tetris Alexey Pajitnov
Super Mario Bros. Gusty Garden Galaxy Koji Kondo
Final Fantasy: Liberi Fatali Nobuo Uematsu
Angry Birds Ari Pulkkinen
Enemy Zero: Last Movement Michael Nyman

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London Philharmonic Orchestra - Video Game Heroes [LPO]

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Uwe Boll returns with another baffling videogame
movie

post from Destructoid on 05 September 2011 10:05:44 PM. © Destructoid

Uwe Boll returns with another baffling videogame movie screenshot

Remember Zombie Massacre for the Amiga? No? Well, that's fine because Uwe Boll does. He remembers it so fondly, he is adding it to the long, long, list of games he believes would translate into movies. The 1998 Doom clone is apparently pulsating with captivating story elements and entertaining characters that are truly deserving of being woven into the rich tapestry of Uwe Boll's adaptations.

Unlike the mastery of his earlier work, Boll is taking a producer's chair for Zombie Massacre. Co-directors of a previous zombie movie of Boll's, Luca Boni and Marco Ristori, will be taking the reins for this film. It currently has no release date but hopefully they schedule the star-studded, red carpet opening night for Christmas Day. That way, we can all give ourselves a wonderful present when the curtains part and Zombie Massacre begins. God bless us, everyone.

Zombie Massacre is another gaming film from Uwe Boll [Joystiq]

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The DTOID Show: Dead Island Review!

post from Destructoid on 05 September 2011 10:05:43 PM. © Destructoid

The DTOID Show: Dead Island Review! screenshot

Happy holidays, Destructdudes! In light of the extended weekend and today's much-anticipated release of Dead Island, Max and I are coming at'cha with a full 20+ minute review of Deep Silver's latest zombie thriller. (Spoiler alert: It's fun!)

This is the first full-on review we've done on the show, so please let us know what you thought or how we could tweak it! Alternatively, if you prefer reading to watching, be sure to check out Jim's thoughts on the game.

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SMT: Persona 2 gets a new trailer and a release
date

post from Gaming Nexus on 05 September 2011 09:53:00 PM. © Gaming Nexus

by: Charles Husemann
NEWS - Atlus has announced that SMT: Persona 2 will be available in stores on September 9th. To celebrate the release date they've also released this trailer which I'm assuming makes sense to fans of the series.

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Dead Island, yup...there's an app for that

post from Gaming Nexus on 05 September 2011 09:45:00 PM. © Gaming Nexus

by: Charles Husemann
NEWS - With Dead Island shambling into stores tomorrow the folks at Bradygames will be releasing the Dead Island Map App for iOS devices that will help guide you around Banoi Island and find everything you need to complete the game. While it does say app in the name it looks like Brady is releasing a digital strategy guide but without all the paper and heft of a normal strategy guide.

I'm not normally a fan of strategy guides but this does look like a pretty cool change in direction for Brady and given that it's only $2.99 means you really won't lose a lot of money if it sucks.

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Yakuza 5 development and PSP sequel announced

post from Destructoid on 05 September 2011 09:06:42 PM. © Destructoid

Yakuza 5 development and PSP sequel announced screenshot

Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio ("Like a Dragon" Studio, or just Yakuza Studio to us) has announced two new games currently in the pipeline. The first is the PSP sequel of Yakuza's spin-off series, Kurohyou 2: Asura Hen (Black Panther 2: Fighting Demon Chapter.) The second is Yakuza 5.

The PSP sequel follows Tatsuya Ukyô, aka "Kamuro District's Mad Dragon" -- the same protagonist of the first game returning home a year later having unable to find happiness in America. He meets old acquaintances and is eventually forced to return to a place he never wanted to enter again -- the underground battle arena "Dragon Heat." Waiting there are Osaka's strongest gang of fighters -- the Asura -- vying to take control of Tokyo, and thus starts Tatsuya's fight against them.

Essentially this is Yakuza 2, but with a different story, and on a different platform. This game allows you to explore the same Osaka location once again -- Soutenbori, where the studio say they collaborated with real companies in the area "to recreate a lifelike Osaka atmosphere." There's also been some tweaking done with the "Brawl Battle," where surrounding onlookers burst in from time to time, forcing you to be constantly aware of your surroundings. Finally, they haven't forgotten to include plenty of "playspots" such as cabaret clubs for you to frequent and enjoy the "spicy atmosphere."

Yakuza on the PSP is out in Summer 2012 and the fact it's on the PSP will probably raise a few eyebrows considering the Vita will have been out for half a year in Japan by then. You can probably make a few theories over this, but most probably Sega are just playing it safe, knowing that they have an established base on the PSP and forecasting that not everyone will jump on the PSV bandwagon right away. You'll also get to see more of the game during TGS.

Next is Yakuza 5, and confirmation that development has started on it. However, any more detail could not be given as the "game has been going through various changes, and there's a huge amount we have to do." Producer Toshihiro Nagoshi did state that the current Yakuza series is supposed to end with Yakuza of the End, and with this game they felt they "had to make a fresh start ... even if we were unwilling to do so ... " If they didn't change the formula, he says that Yakuza 5 could be made quickly, but that's not what they want. He, as a creator, wants to repay your kindness for allowing him to have fun with making Yakuza of the End and wishes to make a game that you will want to wait for.

When asked about changes in the concept, Nagoshi said that "looking for a fresh and technical face and innovative ways of having fun is a must, however there will be not much change in the way the series portrays drama." He goes on to say that more details on the game may not appear at TGS as the game's planning may change. In the meantime we'll just have to make do with these pics of the studio members who all look like Yakuza themselves, whilst pondering on what the game will look like, and on what console it'll be on. I have a feeling that it could be on the Vita. If so, what would you think about that?

Toshihiro Nagoshi's Comments about Yakuza 5 and Black Panther 2 [Famitsu - Japanese]

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Cheetahmen commercial was a 'failed expirement'

Cheetahmen commercial was a 'failed expirement' screenshot

Lights, cameras, Action 52
I'm a cheetah with a bow who's only got two moves
Walkin' down the road to the invisible dude
You ain't got no excuse since '92

The Cheetahmen are videogame legends... in their own way. Originally featuring on the unlicensed Action 52 compilation pack for the NES, the Cheetahmen were designed to compete against the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Developer Active Enterprises had comics, toys, a TV show, the works planned for their "failed expirement."

Above is the (unaired?) Action 52 commercial, starring the Cheetahmen. It is beautiful.

Cheetah Men TV Advert (Action 52) [YouTube]

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Xbox LIVE Rewards finally launches in Australia

Xbox LIVE Rewards finally launches in Australia screenshot

Ten months after the launch of Xbox LIVE's Rewards program in the US and UK, the ability to earn Microsoft Points for doing stuff on Xbox LIVE is now up and running for Australia. Invitations are now being sent out to Australian Xbox LIVE users offering the program which includes free (albeit small) points and the future promise of "cool prizes" and "VIP offers." The program also now encompasses Canada, Mexico, France, Germany and New Zealand.

I've signed up and so far I think I have earned a grand total of forty Microsoft points. Twenty for signing up and another twenty for taking a single question survey. These points aren't exactly like wining the lottery here, since I'm pretty sure nothing on the Xbox Live Marketplace is as low as forty points. But to be honest, I had to do next to nothing for free money. Maybe in a few years I could afford that XBLA version of Discs Of Tron.

Xbox LIVE Rewards [Xbox Australia]

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