GameCity launches new video game award

post from Destructoid on 16 September 2011 10:05:31 PM. © Destructoid

GameCity launches new video game award screenshot

GameCity, the annual video game festival in the UK, has launched an award which it hopes will become the "Turner Prize" for games. Festival director, Iain Simons, started the event in 2006 and created the award to celebrate the cultural impact of video games.

I'm bored of the debate of whether games are 'art' or not -- the question isn't 'if' they're interesting, but 'how' and 'why'... The GameCity Prize is about video games gaining cultural confidence and expressing their value in something other than financial terms.

The finalists, including Portal 2, Limbo and Minecraft, will be judged by a group of specialists who aren't part of the industry. Judges include Dave Rowntree from Blur and comedian Charlie Higson. The award ceremony will take place on October 29, at the end of the festival.

While it's always good to see video games getting recognition, this award seems to be more about their artistic merit. It's a very narrow way of looking at what is a diverse and vibrant industry. However, Simons admits to not being a gamer, but rather an artist who is "interested in all forms of cultural expression," so it makes sense that he wouldn't be as interested in a game's mechanics, for instance.

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Confirmed: PlayStation Vita is region free

post from Destructoid on 16 September 2011 09:06:14 PM. © Destructoid

Confirmed: PlayStation Vita is region free screenshot

We kind of thought that the Vita would be region-free, and at E3 we heard some positive news, but now we know for sure.

According to 1UP, Sony Computer Entertainment's president of Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida confirmed it. In response to a question sent to him on Twitter about Vita being region free, he said, "Yes, it is."

Guess what I'm doing in December?

I said I wouldn't be buying boxed games for the Vita, but now it looks like I am. That's cool. If the PlayStation Network stays the way it is, you'll need a Japanese credit card or point cards to pull down PSN titles. Still, it's great to hear that importing is officially a go. If Japanese language and terrible exchange rates aren't a hurdle for you, get your order in now!

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Weekend PC download deals: Tex Murphy, Paradox

post from Destructoid on 16 September 2011 09:06:13 PM. © Destructoid

$Weekend PC download deals: Tex Murphy, Paradox screenshot$

This weekend's digital PC deals are a real mixed bag; we've got an FMV sci-fi detective series on sale at Good Old Games and Steam is offering a crazy deal on Paradox titles. Be still wallet, be still!

First up, Good Old Games is offering 50% off the five titles in the Tex Murphy series. Set in a futuristic San Francisco, Tex Murphy is a tough, trenchcoat-wearing detective in that classic cyberpunk style. The series spanned almost ten years with the last title, Overseer, arriving in 1998 when FMV and adventure games were losing popularity. After enjoying LA Noire's atmosphere and setting and reading two William Gibson novels in the last week (explains my lack of sleep), I'm going to pick up some of these games and give 'em a try. Prices range from $2.99 to $4.99 for each game.

Steam's crazy deal is on Paradox titles. The publisher of such titles as Cites in Motion, Lead and Gold, Magicka and King Arthur - The Role-playing Wargame are offering between 50% and 75% off most of their titles this weekend, along with some daily deals that have been running since earlier in the week. If you're feeling flush, there's a huge Paradox pack available for $99.99.

If you're not in the mood to spend that much money, may I point you in the direction of Darksiders, which is knocked down in today's daily deal to a very tempting $5, and discounts on Star Wars titles.

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The DTOID Show: Who will win 'The Fall Haul'

post from Destructoid on 16 September 2011 09:06:13 PM. © Destructoid

The DTOID Show: Who will win 'The Fall Haul' screenshot

video details and more

Hey gang, in spite of the torrential downpour of news coming out of the Tokyo Game Show right now, the studio was closed today, so we had to shoot today's episode in advance.

With the sudden realization that the great Holiday season deluge of new games to buy is almost upon us, we decided to make a game show out of it. What games would we pick, if we only had a hundred bucks a month? And, you know. What if only one copy of each game was printed. We've got a poll going over on our Facebook page, so go vote for who had the best haul of games.

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TGS: Rayman Origins on Vita looks like a PS3 game

post from Destructoid on 16 September 2011 09:06:13 PM. © Destructoid

TGS: Rayman Origins on Vita looks like a PS3 game screenshot

Console quality in portable games is officially here with Ubisoft's Rayman Origins on PS Vita. I say this because the Vita version I saw today looks a lot like its console counterpart. There may be slight differences, but in no way would I say that it's worse. The game is still beautiful, and the Vita's OLED screen makes it look even more crisp and vivid than it did on a HDTV when I saw it last.

This pretty platformer does have some touchscreen tricks up its sleeveless sleeves. iPhone style pinch-to-zoom is supported for the game's camera, letting you pinch to zoom out or open two fingers to zoom in. It was pretty much exactly what I wanted already; portability is just the icing on the cake. Put one of my most anticipated games on my most anticipated game system and I'm happy.

Rayman Origins only supports one player on the Vita. Makes sense.

A platformer of this caliber going portable from console and losing little to no visual quality is unheard of. I can't wait to get my hands on the full game.

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Bioware announces Dragon Age II DLC pack, Mark of
the Assassin

post from Gaming Nexus on 16 September 2011 08:42:00 PM. © Gaming Nexus

by: Russell Archey
NEWS - If you've finished up Dragon Age II and are craving more, you're in luck. Bioware has recently announced Dragon Age II: Mark of the Assassin, an upcoming DLC pack for Dragon Age II. The story-based DLC pack will include a new adventure set in all-new environments with new items, enemies, and a new playable character named Tallis, who is voiced by Felicia Day.

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rk-of-the-Assassin/Item24178.aspx

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TGS: Hands-on with Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's
Treasure

post from Destructoid on 16 September 2011 08:05:41 PM. © Destructoid

TGS: Hands-on with Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure screenshot

If you ask me what my favorite Nintendo DS games are, it won't take me long until I bring up Elite Beat Agents and Professor Layton. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, a game for the 3DS that pretty much combines the two into a European-themed mystery with rhythm action driving the narrative.

The visuals are every bit as charming as Professor Layton; even though SEGA is copying Level-5, the quality of the art direction speaks for itself. Likewise, the gameplay wisely borrows concepts from a diverse amount of games to make a rhythm title that is a unique amalgamation of some of the best portable games of recent years.

In Rhythm Thief, you take on the role of Raphael: A master thief who is an even better dancer. Known for stealing renowned paintings in Paris, Raphael is an unlikely and mysterious protagonist. His own story is unwound alongside the larger narrative surrounding the rhythm mini-games. Much like Professor Layton, half the fun is progressing in order to get to the next great reveal.

While the first mini-game and general vibe of Rhythm Thief evokes the cult-hit Elite Beat Agents, the structure of the game is much more akin to Rhythm Heaven and Professor Layton. As you explore Paris, citizens and even pigeons will trigger a different rhythm game which can often be drastically different than the one before it.

The 20-minute TGS demo started up with a variation on Elite Beat Agents, where you swipe the stylus in the indicated direction in time with the beat. The other three games in the demo couldn't be more different. They include gyroscope-exploiting "shake" mechanics, dodging sequences that resemble the classic NES title Punch-Out!!, and a simple "press a button to the beat" sequence that feels directly ripped from Rhythm Heaven.

Along with these two, there is also a game where you punch enemies to the beat via the d-pad and A-button. My favorite has to be the one you play as you sneak into a museum. In order to bypass the security guard, you must strike a pose in front of various statues. Each pose is linked to four buttons on the lower-screen, which is simple enough until the song speeds up. It's the sort of game that is fun enough for a couple minutes, making you wish there was something more -- and, thankfully, there is a lot more.

None of the four games are particularly deep or challenging, but they are all wonderfully realized with spectacular visuals and hummable melodies. As much of an upgrade as Rhythm Heaven Wii may be for that series, it can't compare to this game. Seeing Rhythm Thief in motion is a real treat and the 3D depth-of-field just makes it even better.

What really has me sold on the game is its narrative and how elegantly its told. Well-produced animated cutscenes and chapters, that focus on different sub-plots and key moments, give the narrative momentum and cohesion. It's like a great mystery novel wrapped around an adventure with a rhythm game spread all over it like buttered toast. As with Professor Layton, you can hunt around for coins -- I'm not sure what you spend them on though (certainly not hints). You can also find secrets that will give you new items if you beat a brief mini-mini-game, such as a game of musical Simon Says.

From the aesthetic to the music, Rhythm Thief has me set on finally buying a 3DS. It really has that much potential. My only worry is that the game will be too easy, as I got an A on each rhythm game with no problems. However, the games in the demo were clearly taken from the opening tutorial which may explain this. Here's hoping the game finds a way to add some challenge without making harder rehashes of levels like in Rhythm Heaven.

The best/worst thing about TGS this year is that it has convinced me that I finally have to shell out for a 3DS, and Rhythm Thief is to blame.

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TGS: Hands-on with Lumines Electric Symphony

TGS: Hands-on with Lumines Electric Symphony screenshot

What do you want from me? It's Lumines, man. What do you want me to say?

I'm kidding. Kind of. But it really is just Lumines, but now on the Vita. And that's all we really wanted, right?

The TGS demo for this sequel was really short, like 1.5 stages short. I got to refresh my block dropping skill on the first stage, a pink and grey colored throb-fest that looked fantastic on the Vita's screen. Blocks seemed to pop off the screen, and now they're 3D. From there the game moved on to a more mildly colored level where windmills spun in the background. And just when I got into it the screen faded to black and thanked me for playing. That's all there was.

Still, the good news is that Lumines is coming to the Vita, and it looks really nice on that big ol' screen. The Vita's d-pad and clicky face buttons play well with Q! Entertainment's newest. There's nothing to complain about. I just need more.

Stay tuned, as we're hearing things about planned social features for Lumines Electric Symphony. There will also be touchscreen and rear touch panel functionality that we didn't get to try out in this TGS demo.

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TGS: And the "WTF, Japan!!" Award goes to ...

TGS: And the

Maybe I’ve just been desensitized from years of nsfw Google searches and the increasing lunacy on display in Western media, but I haven’t experienced the culture shock so many speak about when visiting Japan. Walking the show floor of TGS is like walking any other show floor, except all the models are Japanese posing as anime characters I’ve never heard about.

It wasn’t until I stumbled upon the Serious Game: Mommy Tummy booth that I thought, “What in the hell is going on here!?!” Crammed into a small corner of the student games section (kind of like the PAX 10 of TGS -- more on this later) is a game (I think, that’s what it is) with five men in lab-coats and a pregnant man surrounding it.

Since I don’t know Japanese very well, it was very hard to make sense of any of it. Not that I'm sure it would have helped. A 3D baby rotated on screen, as the other men looked on and shook their heads. Whatever the screen was showing, it didn’t look all that scientific. Neither did the terrible Super Smash Bros.-esque multiplayer game beside the 3D baby.

It was as if someone smashed Katamari Damacy into pixie dust, sprinkled it on a turd and then called it a game. With no sound, gravity and graphics that would make the worst 3D releases of 1996 blush, it certainly wasn’t going to win any awards at the show.

So, I’m giving it some pity points and giving it the Destructoid “WTF, Japan!?!”-award. Those gross, yet delicious mini-pancakes sandwiches filled with butter and syrup at convenient stores are a close runner-up.

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NBA Jam: Balls, nets and honey badgers

NBA Jam: Balls, nets and honey badgers screenshot

I confess that I don't know much about basketball, but if I had known that honey badgers played it I would have been all over it. For obvious and logical reasons honey badgers will feature in NBA Jam: On Fire Edition. It will be available on PSN and Xbox Live on October 5th. If you can't wait that long feel free to risk your life by challenging a real honey badger to a game or two.

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