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Are There No More Bad Games Being Made?

October 17th 2008 05:56
fallout 3


The latest copy of PC Powerplay has reviewed a raft of new games, many of which are the big name releases for the coming holiday season. And lets face it, games that are acrsoss platforms these days are pretty much the same. Startling, these games, of which there are eleven, average out at a score of 7.9/10. It's easy to say that most of these titles are flagship IP's for the publishers, but in an age where smaller developers are being consumed by the EA's and Activision Blizzard's of the world, it seems to indicate that blockbuster titles are becoming the norm, designed with low risk and huge amounts of community feedback along the way.

Perhaps you put these remarkably high scores down to the reviews themselves... The question has been raised in the past as to the legitimacy of game reviewers scores, with many tarred with the gamespot brush, but this magazine has long had a reputation for quality and impartiality and there has been no reason to think otherwise.

The actual list of games looks like this:

Fallout 3 : 9
Far Cry 2 : 10
Warhammer Online : 7
Dead Space : 7
Crysis: Warhead : 7
Civilisation 4 : 8
Brothers In Arms HH: 8
Mercs 4 WIF : 7
Pro Evolution 9 : 7
X2 : 8
Falcon 4 : 9

Production values in games are at Hollywood levels now, with professional writers and directors involved. Gameplay mechanics are being improved through the boot camp of expos, media and community events held showing early builds of their games. It's a smart system, allowing hard core fans the opportunity to let the developers know where they are doing well or screwing up and giving them the chance to fix it before launch. And a system that seems to be resulting in monotonously predictable review scores.

The upside is that we are getting higher quality product, it's becoming gamers paradise. The downside... Too many to choose from? Or is it the new ways in which games are selling and marketing themselves through DLC and micro transactions? Like those changes or not, the fact is that consistancy seems to be the word of the season, with something of quality for every genre fan. And in the year to come there can only be more of the same, as developers get to grips with console technology and the emerging engines.

And the reason for the picture? I suppose it's because the moral of the story is that we can now pretty much have our cake and eat it too.

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Microsoft Tokyo Game Show Booth List

October 8th 2008 03:19
tokyo game show


Microsoft has announced their list of games to be shown at the Tokyo Game Show.... It's looking like a fun place to be.

The list is:

The following games will have both trailer and demo consoles:

FIFA 09: World Soccer (Electronic Arts)

Mirror's Edge (Electronic Arts)

Bionic Commando (Capcom)

Street Fighter IV (Capcom)

Resident Evil 5 (Capcom)

Otomedius G - Gorgeous (Konami)

World Soccer Winning Eleven 2009 (Konami)

Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope (Square Enix)

The Last Remnant (Square Enix)

Sonic World Adventure (Sega)

Gundam Musou 2 (Namco Bandai)

Ninja Blade (From Software)

Race Driver Grid (Code Masters)

Fallout 3 (Bethesda)

Fable II (Microsoft)

Banjo Koozie: Nuts and Bolts (Microsoft)

Far Cry 2 (Ubisoft)

H.A.W.X. (Ubisoft)

End War (Ubisoft)

Prince of Persia (Ubisoft)

Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi (5pb./Genterprise)

Dodonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou Black Label (5pb./Genterprise)

Saints Row 2 (THQ Japan)

The following games will have trailers only available:

Bayonetta (Sega)

11eyes Cross Over (5pb./Genterprise)

Chaous; Head Noah (5pb./Genterprise)

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fracture lucasarts xbox


Our predictions for Fracture are, thankfully, still looking hopeful thanks to the early review of Fracture from Kotaku.

Opinions are divided about the game, but I still hold firm on the idea that it's in multiplayer that the unique features will shine, and it sounds like others are agreeing. In fact, those that don't mention multiplayer are the ones panning the game. Sure, a compelling single player experience would be nice, but lets face it, nobody was expecting it. LucasArts are arguably making a habit of weak storyline... Ahem Force Unleashed...

Mike Fahey runs through the entire game and lays it out pretty simply. The single player doesn't cut it, but the terrain deformation in multiplayer makes for a fun and replayable battleground. The weapons come across as being well balanced, with the right mix of ass kick and graph-gasm to turn on hard core gaming fans.

So it sounds like the variety and fun in the game is up to you, dear reader. Through creative use of the terrain deformation many enjoyably bone crunching deaths can be created. I can't wait to see this played in touraments, it will be an extremely enjoyable contest of brain snapping strategy and slaughter.

Us mere mortals can get our hands on the game now.
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dead space


EA are letting you choose which console will be the better for the upcoming space horror shooter Dead Space


[ Click here to read more ]
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PS3 Left For Dead By Valve

September 24th 2008 05:30
valve


Valve are among the most respected and successful game developers of recent history. With a string of uber-successful titles franchises such as Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal and in the future the highly anticipated Left 4 Dead. Add to that what is arguably the most used and reliable digital distribution system, Steam, and you have a very desirable business partner


[ Click here to read more ]
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Fallout MMO Hot On The Heels Of Fallout 3?

September 24th 2008 00:17
fallout 3 MMO

The pre-release hype machine is building Fallout 3 to almost unachievable proportions, with any possibility of more Pip-goodness being lapped up like water for a thirsty canine companion. Interplay has supplied one more ration for Fallout starved fans with the hint at a Fallout MMO currently being worked on at their new Orange County office.

[ Click here to read more ]
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quantum of solace


Bond. James Bond. I am a fan, always have been. I've even dabbled in a Martini or two based on nothing more than that they are the drink of choice in the movies. They're good by the way


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Fallout 3 The Weapons: Video Montage

September 23rd 2008 06:15
fallout 3 guns weapons


This may be the only video that could replace the simple yet entrancing appeal of a model in a bikini firing a machine gun, Fallout 3 and its weapons in a glorious montage


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fracture


It looks crazily hectic and a load of laughs. Check out the world mangling fun of Fracture mutliplayer in the clip below


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guitar hero rock band


Guys who run gaming companies are the kind of people who don't like to let you die wondering. In a classic piece of schoolyard pouting, Activision boss Bob Kotick would like to let you know that Guitar Hero is doing well. So well that Rock Band can go suck eggs because it has girls germs


[ Click here to read more ]
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More Age Of Empires On The Way?

September 11th 2008 02:19
age of empires


With the demise of Ensemble, the Microsoft owned development team, rumours and concerns have circulated as to the fate of the venerable Age Of Empires franchise


[ Click here to read more ]
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fallout 3


Australia is an island. And that's we way we want to stay according to Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus. Debus wades into the debate surrounding the modification, or non-modification of Fallout 3 to comply with the Australian Classifications Board. "In the board's view the game warrants an RC classification in accordance with item 1(a) of the computer games table of the National Classification Code," Debus said


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fallout 3


There are some great things about Australia. Our beaches, appreciation of English humour and Jennifer Hawkins to name but a few. Then there is the Classifications board. The anti-Hawkins. I say this because all of the great work she has instigated to create the image of Australia overflowing with fantastic sights and beautiful people is about to be overshadowed by what is being called Fallout 3 - Australian Edition. This is the now infamous version of Fallout 3 that has to be created to cater for the Australian Classifications Boards willingness to ignore the fact that discerning adults play video games


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left 4 dead


It is well established that this generation of gaming platforms are for different gamers. The Xbox was for your online community gamer, Playstation for your Asian style games and Nintendo for casual gamers. And then there was PC. The venerable gaming platform has suffered from a complex recently, with analysts predicting everything from its death by console in the imminent future, to it being the only platform available within a console generation. With the latest games requiring costly upgrades, only the MMO and solitaire gamers seem to have stuck by their trusty, clunky boxes. The most worrying thing about consoles taking more of our gaming time is the concessions being made for the convenience of the controller. It started within strategy games, the RTS scene. Different aspects had to be compromised in many peoples eyes to allow for the lack of hotkeys and mouse. And though a few RTS titles have managed to please both sides of the fence, the reality is that a dozen odd buttons cannot replace a keyboard


[ Click here to read more ]
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