Remember SOPA? Sorry if i've brought up any purposefully-repressed memories. Fortunately, the world saw some kind of sense (or more likely certain members of congress saw that popular opinion was so against the acts that there was little money to be made from them), and it was put to bed. But it seems corporations' war against people sharing stuff has merely swapped battlegrounds, and it is now the games industry whose freedom is potentially to be restricted.

A quick look over to IGN today and any casual browser of the internet will be beset by rumours that the next generation of consoles, most specifically the Xbox 720, could introduce a feature which locks games to a single owner. The upshot of this is that we will no longer be able to buy pre-owned games, or lend games to a friend.

I suppose the ideology behind this is sound enough. You want a game, you pay for the game, and the people who made the game get the money, thus allowing them to make more games and continue the industries happy cycle. However, in order for games to be sold, they need retailers. And figures show that the most popular game retailer over here in the UK, the imaginitively titled 'GAME', makes more money from pre-owned game sales than it does from original sales. And even then, GAME and its rivals are struggling. Many GAME shops have had to be closed in the last year, due to sales being stolen from them by cheaper online services like Amazon. If we cut away the majority of these stores' income, then games won't have a place to be sold, and no matter what ideology you use, that will never be a good thing for the industry.  Read More  »

Dropping the 'Smackdown vs Raw' title for WWE 12, A new chapter in WWE games has been made. This latest decision is set to give the series an overhaul, with better graphics, camera angles used in WWE programming, simpler controls and more modes.

Create an Arena is a brand new mode, with the tools to create your own logo, style of rope, barricades, outside mats and announcer tables. This is excellent fan service by Yukes, allowing players to create their own PPV arena or even replicate an old one.

The ring is a lot more realistic now that physics have been applied to it. Reacting to a move performed in the ring, as you see in real matches. The animation system  has also been improved, allowing players to interrupt a move and perform combos during tag matches . Previously you had to wait for the finisher or move to end, before you could grapple someone again. Read More  »

Specialist video game retailer GAME is holding its first Event, open exclusively to reward card holders. GAMEFest will take place at NEC Birmingham on 16th - 18th September.

You can expect to play games such as, Batman: Arkham City to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It's great to see the giants of the games industry, finally visiting Birmingham for a change.

The prices are a steal, adults (Aged 12 onwards) can enter for £10 and Children (Aged 11 and under) for £5.

Feast your eyes on the list of games, from publishers attending GAMEFest:

Microsoft Xbox 360:

Gears of War 3

Sony Playstation 3:

Resistance: 3

Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception

Nintendo:

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Super Mario: 3D Land

MarioKart 7

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D

Activision:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

EA:

Battlefield 3

Need for Speed: The Run

Fifa 12

Mass Effect: 3

THQ:

Saints Row: The Third

WWE 12

U Draw Game Tablet

Disney: Read More  »

 
It’s a curious thing popular opinion. Quite often, it’s held in spite of the facts. In this instance I’m referring to the popular opinion that the Japanese games industry is on its knees creatively. “They ain't got it no mo” the cry goes.
 
But that doesn’t really hold up to any scrutiny. For a region that supposedly can’t compete against the western (primarily American) development teams. Japan has cranked out a strangely large number of excellent games.
 
A case study might help perhaps. Platinum Games formed in 2006 the wake of the closure of Clover Studio, the team responsible for such critical darlings as Viewtiful Joe and Okami. Already with a great pedigree, Platinum have gone on to make the well-received Madworld and Infinite Space, before hitting serious gold with Bayonetta – which earned itself full marks from both Famitsu and Edge – and Vanquish.
 
It appears then that this team have managed to turn out hit after hit since 2003, covering most of the period that this region has apparently been on the slide. So are they simply the exception that proves the rule, or are we downplaying the quality of other games in the last decade?
 

  Read More  »

The announcement of the new Nintendo console is going to be made at this year's E3 (June 7th - 9th 2011) and we've rounded up the best of the rumours about what it's expected to be.  So to find out what the new Nintendo console might be and to read the latest new Nintendo console rumours, read on, but first lets just quickly set the scene.

• The gaming industry is very different now to when the Wii first went on sale in 2006.
• Motion control is now an accepted standard in gaming
• Mobile gaming is substantially bigger, facilitated by smart phones especially Apple's App Store
• Social gaming has exploded onto the market largely through the Facebook platform giving titles like Farmville a chance to flourish
• 3D gaming is starting to enter the market and has already penetrated the film market
• The tablet market is bringing the fourth screen to our homes (after TV, PC, Mobile)
• The wii's success transformed a struggling Nintendo, turning them round to the tune of an annual march 2008-march 2009 profit of 279 billion yen (3.4 billion dollars by today's exchange rate). 
• The Wii is coming to the end of it's natural 5-6 year life cycle and with sales dropping to 15 million units in 2010 (though still higher than the PS3 at 12.5 million units and the Xbox 360 at 11.8 million units).

The big question is, will the new Nintendo console be as revolutionary and market changing as the Nintendo wii was?  Let's have a look at the rumours.

Read More  »

WWE: All Stars is a new IP developed by THQ San Diego, focusing on over the top action and arcade style gameplay. Tacking a step back from the annual wrestling simulation, which the Smackdown vs. Raw series offers.  The theme of the game is two generations competing in one ring, with WWE Legends in one corner and current WWE superstar in the other.

Among the Legends roster is Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, The Rock, HBK and there are current Superstars such as John Cena, Big Show, CM Punk, Edge etc. In total there are 30 characters and that’s not including Pre-Order DLC.

There are 4 different character classes ranging from Acrobat, Big Man, Brawler and Grappler. Acrobat allows you to perform exaggerated aerial attacks and leaps. Brawlers can string together powerful combination of moves and charge strikes, which allow you to juggle your opponents.

As a Big Man your moves will inflict massive amount of damage and allow you to juggle your opponent out of the ring. The Grapplers can chain together moves almost endlessly, depending on the skill of your opponent. Read More  »

The most anticipated Spider-Man game of 2010 is around the corner and will be available on Sony PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and DS on 10th September.

The plot is quite simple Amazing Spider-Man accidently, shatters the tablet of order and chaos during a scuffle with Mysterio. Now shattered into pieces the universe is in danger, any villain with the tablet is a threat.

Spider-Man must now obtain every single piece from 4 different dimensions, with the help of other Spider-Men. The dimensions that are featured in the game are the amazing universe, noire universe, 2099 universe and the ultimate universe.

The launch trailer focuses on each Spider-Man’s distinctive abilities which will help restore the tablet of order and chaos. You also get a glimpse at some of Spideys foes you will be facing next week such as Mysterio, Sandman, the Scorpion, Carnage, Deadpool, Hobgoblin, Kraven and the Vulture.

Beenox (latest dev to take on Spider-Man licence) have finally broken the mould of recycled Spider-Man games in sandbox New York. This new title presents us with a promising game that involves 4 different Spider-Man universes.

The gaming environment is now more confined and level based, with enough space for Spider-Man to flow. Before you read on watch this exciting opening trailer, of Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions.

The plot is quite simple Amazing Spider-Man accidently, shatters the tablet of order and chaos during a scuffle with Mysterio. Now shattered into pieces the universe is in danger, any villain with the tablet is a threat.

Spider-Man must now obtain every single piece from 4 different dimensions, with the help of other Spider-Men. The dimensions that are featured in the game are the amazing universe, noire universe, 2099 universe and the ultimate universe.

Each universe has a distinctive art style and gameplay mechanics. The amazing universe has Spider-Man wearing the famous red and blue suit. The combats main emphasis is web based attacks e.g. a huge hammer formed from Spider-Mans web. The amazing universe takes place in a jungle which is kraven’s lair. Read More  »

The Wii just got interesting again with the announcement and impending release of Monster Hunter Tri later in April. There are several exciting things about this game:

• Tracking and Hunting exciting creatures in an online world
• Evolving and levelling up your own creature
• Hunting in packs with online friends
• Living breathing, realistic, evolving eco system
• Dedicated UK servers

This game has been successful in Japan and it's arrival in the UK is good for Nintendo and good for gaming. It looks new, interesting, fresh and different and will be right at home in the Wii. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Monster Hunter Wii, in the mean time you can check out the details below along with a video.

Read More  »

Unless you’ve had your head stuck in a box of the plastic bricks for the last five years, you will be well aware of the presence of the series of videogames which has been reducing the heroes of our favourite movies down to tiny plastic figures who possess a considerably higher level of charm and wit than the actors who portray them in the films. I am referring, of course, to the Lego videogame series developed by Traveller’s Tales, which so far has released two (soon to be three) Star Wars titles, two Indiana Jones entries, as well as a Batman game. While the critical responses to some of the more recent of these games have begun to wane in their original enthusiasm, which seemed to peak at the first Indy game, all of the games inhabit an irresistible likeability, particularly when it comes to accessibility for all types of gamers and friendly multiplayer, which has you and a buddy cooperating happily, working in unison to solve charming puzzles instead of trying to blast each other’s heads off with a sniper rifle, which has been the general objective for the most recent cooperative games.

Now Traveller’s Tales next Lego game is on the horizon and it looks to be the best yet. While the main flaw with the series’ latest games has been their persistent inability to improve on the weaker elements of their predecessors, never seeming to even try and fix problems which were present in the first Lego Star Wars which was released five years ago, a lot of effort seems to have gone into this next game. And what could bode better than it being based on one of the most successful franchises in history; Harry Potter?

Focussing on years 1-4 of Harry’s time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (which makes sense seeing as once Warner Brothers are finished with the series, there will be a total of eight films, allowing TT to make two games, each containing the content of four films), Lego Harry Potter boasts the biggest location ever included in the Lego series, Hogwarts, which apparently will constantly expand as your progress though the game. The latest two non-Lego videogames based on the Harry Potter movies have adopted a sandbox gaming format, where the character is free to roam around the massive virtual campus of the enchanted school. Presuming this game is going to follow the trend set by all the other Lego games, however, it can be assumed that this will have levelled structure. That’s probably for the best, really, as the two games in question were painfully tedious as you walked wearily from one end of the school to another doing boring tasks. Read More  »

On the surface of things, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars Review looks like to be the rightful successor to Marvel vs. Capcom 2; the spirit of teamwork, hectic, over the top fighting and a hugely accessible gameplay. But in practice? Well we can thank Capcom and developers Eighting for not just delivering an exciting fighting game, but also giving Wii owners a title they can be proud off.

It’s a given that many won’t know much, if any, about Tatsunoko and may feel they are an odd choice when compared to X-Men, Marvel and SNK characters. This is perhaps why we don’t get as many characters when compared to most of the other vs. series games. However, what we do get is a fine selection itself, though you have to ask where is Ken? And why is the Mega Man in Ultimate All-Stars the one from Mega Man Legends? Minor quibbles aside, you’re bound to have fun with characters familiars such as Ryu and Morrigan, to new stars like Yattaman-1 and Polimar.

Read More  »

Despite the DS outselling its Sony rival and even the big consoles on a regular basis, Nintendo are determined to get one into every gamer’s (and their relative’s) hands. With the children's market sorted they’re going for the grownups in force.

Handheld console manufacturers just can’t help but fiddle around. With both the DS and PSP getting numerous make-overs over the last few years getting bigger, smaller, slidier but rarely cheaper.

So it’s surprising to say that this is one upgrade that looks pretty good. Adding all the extra functions of the still recent DSi and supersizing the console to fit in adult hands and give them a screen big enough to make all the extra features worthwhile for once. While still not exactly cheap, the console will retail at £150 which is only £10 more than the smaller DSi.

So what does it do that we haven’t seen before on the DSi? Well not much to be honest. No Nintendo, new colours don’t count. There are only two colours available at launch, Wine Red and Dark Brown. It would seem Nintendo believe this the best strategy to attract the more ‘mature’ gamer, assuming they all like merlot and dirt. Read More  »

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Ultimate All-Stars looked like it wasn’t going to be released in the west after all. In fact, next to Yakuza 3, it seemed like it would be the most likely game (since it was revealed) not to make it to Europe and North American shores. Well thank God that Capcom managed to pull it off. It’s a bit complex how the localization came to be but in a nutshell, Ultimate All-Stars will have some new characters and online play via Wi-Fi.

And it’s about time, since we haven’t had enough fighting games that can showcase the frantic, over-the-top action Capcom manage to produce when they teamed up with Marvel. While the Super Smash Bros series, Guilty Gear series, and Blazblue contained hectic gameplay, I don't think those games came close to the action MvC 2 provided, something that Ultimate All Stars promises to deliver.

Read More  »