Press Start, Bitch: Check out This BREAKING BAD 16-Bit RPG

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 31st, 2012 at 2:28 pm

If we get ultra-violent video games and shovelware TV and movie tie-ins, is it too much to ask that we combine the two (without the crap, rushed video game programming)?  College Humor came up with a nice alternate universe where we still made 16-bit RPGs and then tied one to Breaking Bad.  It’s not only fun, but a great way to sum up every season!  If you’re opposed to any kind of Breaking Bad parody, you should A) lighten up; and B) remember that the show has a sense of humor.  It’s a ridiculously dark sense of humor, but that’s part of what makes the show so amazing.

Hit the jump to check out Breaking Bad in 16-bit RPG form.

Video Game Trailers for THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTRON, BIOSHOCK INFINITE, MASS EFFECT 3, and More

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 1:34 pm

This weekend Spike TV aired the 2011 Video Game Awards, and like previous years, the VGAs were used to provide plenty of trailers for upcoming games.  This year, debut trailers were released for The Last of Us (a zombie game from Naughty Dog, the creators of Uncharted), Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD, Alan Wake: American Nightmare, Fortnite (the new game from Gears of War studio Epic Games), Rainbow Six: Patriots, Command & Conquer: Generals 2 (from Mass Effect studio BioWare), Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (have any of these games been good?), and The Amazing Spider-Man.  The Spider-Man one is interesting because it’s supposed to be an epilogue to the movie of the same name, but there are also giant subterranean spider robots.  I was under the impression that Marc Webb‘s Spider-Man reboot was supposed to be grittier and more realistic, but then I remembered that a new open-world Spider-Man game was probably in development before Webb’s film.

Hit the jump to check out the debut trailers along with new trailers for Bioshock Infinite, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (I don’t make up the names), Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Hitman: Absolution, Diablo III, and Mass Effect 3.

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 Made $1 Billion in 16 Days

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 12th, 2011 at 8:52 am

It’s no secret that people like video games, but boy do we love a good shooter. Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has crossed the $1 billion mark in a mere 16 days. Yes, $1 billion. This beats the previous record set in 2009 by Avatar, which hit the $1 billion mark in 17 days, solidifying MW3 as the game that everybody is playing. For comparison in the gaming world, it took Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 over two months to hit the $1 billion mark.

It’s important to note that MW3 is available on all platforms and each copy costs $60, with the “Hardened” edition retailing for $100, so that’s considerably more than the average movie ticket price (ie. less people bought MW3 than saw Avatar). However, $1 billion is still an incredibly impressive number and signifies the growing nature of the gamer market. Aiding in MW3’s success is the fact that it appeals to a wide range of gamers and features an extensive multiplayer experience that extends the game’s “I’m not bored with this yet”-ness (though I’ve recently fallen down the rabbit hole that is Skyrim). Hit the jump to read the full press release.

New Preview for Studio Ghibli and Level 5′s Visually Stunning Video Game, NI NO KUNI: WRATH OF THE WHITE WITCH

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 1st, 2011 at 11:44 am

Back in October, we told you about an upcoming PlayStation 3 JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game) called Ni No Kuni.  The game is notable not only for its gorgeous graphics, but because it comes from the celebrated animation studio, Studio Ghibli.  Studio Ghibli has been home to Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and the rest of Hayao Miyazaki’s filmography.  While he was not personally involved with the game, Ghibli has told other great stories and I hope that Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one of them.

A new preview for the game has gone online and gives a better idea of what we can expect from Ghibli’s collaboration with game developer Level-5 (Dragon Quest IX).  The story revolves around Oliver, a young boy who is transported to a magical world where he attempts to find his deceased mother.  There doesn’t seem to be anything revolutionary about the gameplay, but sometimes it’s better to do a solid job with something familiar rather than innovate for innovation’s sake (I’m looking at you, every Final Fantasy game since Final Fantasy X-2).  Hit the jump to check out the preview.  Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is due out in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2012, but it might get pushed back a little.

Find Out How You Can Use Your Geek Powers for Good by Donating Used DVDs, Video Games, and Comics

by David Lane    Posted: November 23rd, 2011 at 5:30 pm

This Friday will be the start of the heaviest shopping weekend of the year.  People rush to get the best deals they can find and they will find plenty.  Some will upgrade their DVDs to Blu-rays.  Old games will be left on the shelf as gamers go for the new releases.  The stack of old trade paperback comics will grow higher as readers opt for the latest collections or go for digital versions.  So what happens to the old DVDs, video games, and comic books?  Usually, they’ll be forgotten, sold on eBay, or traded in for store credit.  But this is a time of year where we should not only give to our friends and family, but to those who would greatly appreciate the entertainment we no longer use.

As a volunteer working in the Family Library at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, I can tell you our selection of movies, video games, and comic books would be cherished more than you can know.  While we treat this entertainment as a fun diversion, to patients and their families it’s a needed comfort and distraction.  Hit the jump for details on how you can donate and help not only children and families this holiday season but for years to come.

SAINTS ROW: THE THIRD Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 14th, 2011 at 8:20 pm

A dildo bat does not a great video game make.  Video game developer Volition landed a cult hit with Saints Row 2.  Rather than try to emulate the dark-and-gritty nature of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, Saints Row 2 wisely went in another direction and turned your character into a garish supervillain.  There was a deep level of character customization when it came to your appearance, and the gameplay and design was solid and immersive.  There were glitches (including one that would unforgivably corrupt your saved game), and the controls and driving needed to be tightened, but it played well enough.  More importantly, the game design was terrific and offered a diverse world filled with various landscapes and fun activities like spraying buildings with poop and throwing unruly celebrity hounds into jet engines.

Saints Row: The Third improves the character customization and the controls, but it loses almost everything else in a major step backwards for the franchise.

ASSASSIN’S CREED Deal Terms May Neutralize the Project

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: November 3rd, 2011 at 3:57 pm

When we reported that Sony Pictures had planned to adapt Assassin’s Creed, we told you that “Ubisoft has set the terms of the deal to be a more active participant in the movie’s development.” Mark that as the understatement of the year, because details have emerged suggesting that Ubisoft now exercises an unheard of amount of control over the project. Says one insider: “As a director, even Steven Spielberg cannot get this kind of deal.”

Sony apparently has granted Ubisoft control over the budget, casting, script and release date, in a deal that sets a dangerous precedent. Though, in the history of video game franchises made into movies, there have been more busts than blockbusters. Perhaps Ubisoft and Sony think this is the answer to the problem. Or perhaps Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot threatened the studio execs with a hidden blade. Hit the jump for more details.

First Trailer for GRAND THEFT AUTO V

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 2nd, 2011 at 9:40 am

Rockstar Games has released the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V.  Unsurprisingly, it’s big on atmosphere and non-existent on gameplay details, and that’s fine for an announcement trailer.  Once again, it looks like the subtext will be about The American Dream, but this time it’s from the perspective of a guy dreaming about going straight and building a good life for his family.  It’s a set-up for a fine story, but that’s not my concern with GTA V.  My concern is game design, which is where Grand Theft Auto IV fell painfully short.  I’m sure folks will rave about the multiplayer, but the single-player experience is a mess. Restarting your mission from your phone is worthless when you have to drive to your objective anyway.  Your friends are a bunch of tough guys who will get pissy if you don’t go bowling with them.  If you have the audacity to fire your gun or get into a minor traffic accident, expect to run from the cops for the next twenty minutes.  I’m sure GTA V will have a large world (this time it’s based on Los Angeles) and a deep story, but will it be fun?

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.

New Trailer for NI NO KUNI, Studio Ghibli and Level-5′s Gorgeous-Looking RPG

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 17th, 2011 at 12:07 pm

A new Japanese trailer for the beautiful-looking RPG Ni no Kuni has gone online. The PlayStation 3 game was created by Level-5 (the folks behind the Professor Layton games) and Studio Ghibli, the animation studio co-created by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away).  I can’t remember the last time I saw a video game that was so visually stunning.  I have no idea what’s being said by anyone in this trailer, but there are plenty of crazy Japanese RPG elements floating around and there seems to be a nice variety of combat, puzzles, and exploration.  Level-5 put together some great RPGs on other systems (Rogue Galaxy, Jeanne d’Arc, and Dragon Quest VIII), but they’re still looking for their PS3 RPG hit since the also-visually-impressive White Knight Chronicles games have been met with a lukewarm-at-best response.  If Ni no Kuni‘s gameplay matches its visuals, it will be one of the best games ever made.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  Ni no Kuni (literally translated as “Second Country: The Queen of White Sacred Ash“) hits stores in Japan on November 17th and is due out in the U.S. in early 2012.

Final Trailer for BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 14th, 2011 at 8:35 am

I’m counting down the hours until Batman: Arkham City is released (as of this posting, it’s 84).  I’ve been anticipating the game since the moment I finished Batman: Arkham Asylum, and judging by the reviews (which I take with a grain of salt, although I’d like to believe them) it’s been worth the wait.  We’ve received trailers for almost every major villain in the game, but with the game only days away, a final trailer has gone online and it’s the best one yet.  The teaser trailer focused on Dr. Hugo Strange, the man ostensibly in charge of the entire prison district although various street gangs vie for control.  We’ve now come back to the bad doctor and his continued fascination with the Dark Knight.  Everything is on display here, from the action to the gadgets to the landscape and hopefully to the quality story (the one aspect that has caused me serious concern despite Paul Dini’s involvement).  I’ve had high expectations for Arkham City from day one and these trailers have only served to make them higher to the point where they may be unreachable.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  Batman: Arkham City hits Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 18th.

Microsoft Announces International TV Partners for Xbox LIVE Including HBO, Epix, SyFy, Comcast Xfinity and More

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: October 5th, 2011 at 2:18 pm

In a move that finally gives the Xbox 360 a bit of an edge over the Playstation 3 as an all-encompassing entertainment device, a whole slew of international TV partners have been revealed by Microsoft to be providing services to users of the popular video game system. The new deal allows for channels like SyFy, Bravo, Epix, Crackle, TMZ, UFC, Verizon FiOS, ESPN and the morning news program The Today Show to be available through Xbox LIVE. However, the real cream of the crop comes from Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand service and (drumroll please) HBO GO to be available through the game system, but only in the United States at the moment. Personally, I can’t wait to be able to watch older HBO shows like Six Feet Under and The Sopranos thanks to this new deal. As for the rest of the world, there are plenty more TV partners for Xbox LIVE coming your way, and you can check out the full press release with the list of new partners.

The Joker Trailer for BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 22nd, 2011 at 10:10 am

We’ve seen Batman: Arkham City villain trailers featuring Catwoman, The Riddler, The Penguin, and Mr. Freeze but with less than a month to go until the game’s release, it’s time to give a trailer to Bats’ biggest bad, The Joker.  The Joker was running the show in Batman: Arkham Asylum but from what we know so far, it looks like Dr. Hugo Strange is in charge of Arkham City.  The new video game is packed to the gills with Batman’s foes (in addition to the aforementioned rogues, there’s also Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Calendar Man, Victor Zsasz, Talia al Ghul, Solomon Grundy, and Deadshot), but I refuse to believe that developer Rocksteady would make Joker just another baddie.

We’ll all find out when Batman: Arkham City is released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 18th.  Hit the jump to check out the new trailer.

Mr. Freeze Trailer for BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY; Plus Gameplay Impressions

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 15th, 2011 at 6:44 am

Too many villains can’t bring down a movie, but it can work perfectly for a sprawling video game like Batman: Arkham City.  We’ve already seen trailers for Catwoman (more of anti-hero but whatever) and The Riddler plus we know that Two-Face, Hugo Strange, Harley Quinn, and Joker are back (there was also a trailer for The Penguin which we didn’t post but you can check out here).  Now the folks at WB Games and Rocksteady have released a new trailer showing that Mr. Freeze is in the mix.  We’re a little over two months away from the game’s release and I’m wondering what other villains will be in store.  My bet is we’ll be seeing the Scarecrow again and the teaser trailer hinted that Black Mask will be around as well.

Hit the jump to check out the new trailer along with my impressions of the game from the brief demo I played at Comic-Con.  Batman: Arkham City hits Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Games for Windows on October 18th.

Riddler Trailer for BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 11th, 2011 at 9:27 am

A new trailer for Batman: Arkham City has gone online.  In this new trailer, Riddler gets the spotlight as the teaser tries to hint at how his presence will be different this time around.  In Arkham Asylum, you merely had to collect his trophies or spend half an hour trying to get the camera angle just right so you could view a giant question mark.  This trailer hints that in Arkham City it won’t be enough to simply find clues, but that digital lives are at stake.  Presumably, the Riddler will still be relegated to side-mission status, but we’ll find out for sure when Batman: Arkham City hits Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on October 18th.

Mind-Blowing Demo for BIOSHOCK INFINITE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: July 8th, 2011 at 7:57 am

We usually don’t cover video game stuff on Collider, but I had to post this extended demo of BioShock Infinite.  We’ve seen a brief trailer for the game, but this is a full-on, 15-minute look at the gameplay and my jaw was on the floor.  The art direction alone is astonishing.  As your character Booker DeWitt moves through the floating city of Columbia, I just wanted to tell the demo’s player to slow down and gaze at everything.  This looks like a game you won’t lose yourself in just because there’s so much to do, but also because it’s too beautiful to look away.  And it’s not just a pretty picture.  2K Games looks like they’ve built on the mechanics they introduce in BioShock, created a richer narrative, and crafted what could be one of the most immersive video games of all time.  There’s a ton of promise in this demo and it makes the wait until the game’s release (sometime in 2012) feel like an eternity.  If you had a most-anticipated game that wasn’t BioShock Infinite, it’s about to be pushed aside.

Hit the jump to check out the demo.

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