Batman Origins: Blackgate will be released on October 25th 2013 for 3DS and PS Vita. It will hit stores and digital day-and-date with the console version of Batman: Arkham Origins for Xbox 360, PS3, PC and WiiU.
The portable version of the game is being developed by Armature Studio (founded by several key team members who developed the Metroid Prime series). To that end, Blackgate will play similarly to excellent 2D action adventure games of yesteryear, with a “2.5-D Metroid-style exploration action game.”
Like Metroid, players will be able to explore the open-ended environment however they see fit, with a non-linear path to obtaining new Batman equipment and Gear that will increase Batman’s abilities and allow him access to new, previously unaccessible areas, and allow him to gain deeper access to the Blackgate Prison. Gear that increases your abilities will replace XP or the concept of “leveling up”, with the focus instead being solely set on exploration and acquiring new abilities instead of simply beefing up stats.
Like in Mega Man, bosses that you will encounter can be defeated in any order the player chooses, but will be weak to specific Weapon types, which will be an incentive to fully explore every area. One neat feature is the ability to save anywhere, as opposed to say Metroid or Castlevania where you have to save at certain Save Rooms.
Despite the side-scrolling nature of Batman Origins: Blackgate, developer Armature is banking on making Blackgate appear as similar to the console Batman: Arkham games as possible, with the feel and all the elements players expect, fully intact in portable form. These include the free-flow combat system, the ability to access new vantage points, the ability to go in and bust-heads or use stealth, a deep countering system and a deep Detective Mode. Enemies reactions and behavior will also be regularly transmitted to the player as they explore, with any changes in their behavior noted, using various visual and audio cues and the like. This is due to the fact that less of the world is available to see visually because of the side-scrolling nature of the game, thus the developers had to put some thought into how to make the player more aware of the environment and enemies around them.
Hopefully this new portable Batman Origins: Blackgate game will restore the Batman videogame franchises to the style that was beloved with the original NES Batman and SNES Batman Returns, games that were highly regarded as great action titles of the 8bit era. It has been a very long time since we’ve seen a side-scrolling Batman game like that, so I see this as a welcome announcement!
Look forward to E3 2013 in June to learn much more about this promising new handheld AAA title. Personally I can’t wait!
Many of the biggest Marvel Super Heroes in Lego videogame form? Sign Me Up!
Lego Marvel Super Heroes has been announced! Avengers assemble! It will be released in Fall 2013 for Xbox 360, PS3, WiiU, PC, 3DS, DS and PS Vita! No regular Wii version, signalling the true end of the first Wii.
This will be the first Lego game to star Marvel super heroes, and follows the extremely successful and recent Lego Lord of the Rings title, and previous Lego games including Lego Star Wars, Lego Indiana Jones, Lego Batman and Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, among others.
Over 100 Marvel Super Heroes will be unlockable in the game and it will include all of the biggest Marvel superheroes that fans know and love including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Deadpool, Loki, Galactus and many more. It will also feature vehicles from the universe. The game will pack in a plethora of super-cool character abilities, combat-like action sequences, epic battle scenes, puzzle-solving and a unique story told with playful LEGO humor.
Additionally, Traveller’s Tales has confirmed that Lego City Undercover, the open world GTA-style Lego game exclusively for Wii U, is still on track for an early 2013 release.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes offers an original storyline in which Nick Fury calls upon Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine and other heroes spanning the Marvel Universe to save Earth from such threats as the vengeance of Loki and the hunger of Galactus, Devourer of the Worlds. LEGO and Marvel fans will enjoy classic LEGO videogame adventure and humor, while playing as their favorite Marvel characters.
“We’re very excited to bring a myriad of classic Marvel characters to life in LEGO form for some fun, family-friendly gameplay in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games Publishing. “Players will brave the ultimate mission to save the world as they explore famous landmarks in LEGO New York and take the adventure beyond Earth to iconic locations in the Marvel Universe.
“Fans of both LEGO and Marvel have wanted this game for years, and we’re addressing that demand with more Marvel Universe characters than ever in a console game. If you’re a fan of Spider-Man, the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy or scores of other Marvel characters, this is the game for you.” said TQ Jefferson, Vice President, Games Production, Marvel Entertainment.
Will the PS Vita ever overtake the 3DS? Or will Nintendo forever dominate?
Will PS Vita ever outsell PSP? Much less the 3DS?
That is the question as we head into the holiday season, where the PS Vita is having a rough ride. A lot of people are claiming doom and gloom for Sony’s next-gen powerhouse system.
Although with it’s innovative features (from a touchpad on the back to dual Control Sticks and a touchscreen to unique wi-fi GPS features like Near and Party to 3G Support) and the backing of Sony, only a fool would count the system out.
The launch of the PS Vita wasn’t exactly a raging success, and the system had too little big-name games that have kept the system from selling in big numbers. Only 2 million systems have sold WORLDWIDE, although reports say that software and videgame sales, both digital and hardcopy, are brisk and going well for the games that are out there.
However, with Nintendo just hitting its stride with the 3DS and launching with big-name titles for the holidays like New Super Mario Bros. 2 (released in August), Pokemon Black & White 2 also out now (granted they are DS titles, but can be played on 3DS), Paper Mario: Sticker Star hitting in later November and Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask releasing later this month; It’s going to be hard for the PS Vita to compete.
For the PS Vita there are few big-name games for this holiday. The biggest of them probably being Assasssin’s Creed III: Liberation, Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, Silent Hill: Book of Memories and Persona 4 Golden. Read the rest of this entry »
Summer game time! But is this the last summer for Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3?
It’s that time again, SUMMER GAME TIME!
Summer Game Time (TM :P) is a time when playing videogames is as important as going to your job. Why? Because you MUST FINISH your backlog of games that you never completed all year and from years past, in order to prepare yourself for the absolute ONSLAUGHT of holiday releases; many of which are sequels. If you are to enjoy those sequels to their fullest, then you must finish the games that preceded them in order to catch yourself up on what is happening in said sequels.
So what games are YOU planning on playing before the holiday rush?
Sequels being released this holiday include: Assassin’s Creed III, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Resident Evil 6 (October 2nd), Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (July 31st), Borderlands 2 (September 18th), Pokemon Black and White Version 2 (October 7th), Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time (October 1st), Fable: The Journey (October 9th), Medal of Honor: Warfighter (October 23rd), Far Cry 3 (September 4th), Gears of War: Judgement (2013), Splinter Cell: Blacklist (2013), etc.
The Last of Us from Naughty Dog impressed everyone and dropped jaws at the Sony E3 2012 Conference.
The full, entire E3 2012 Sony Press Conference video is here for your viewing pleasure! If you missed anything, check it out and you’ll be all caught up on Sony’s biggest new titles for both PlayStation 3 and PS Vita.
New announcements and highlights include: Beyond: Two Souls (newest title from Quantic Dream, makers of Heavy Rain turned heads with phenomenal graphics and an intriguing serious story revolving around what happens when we die!), The Last of Us (newest game from Naughty Dog, makers of Uncharted), God of War 4: Ascension (first single-player gameplay footage), Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation for PS Vita (the first game in the series to star a female protagonist!), Assassin’s Creed 3, WonderBook (a peripheral that brings storybooks to life!) alongside the first announced book, J.K. Rowling’s “Book of Spells” Harry Potter exposition, Far Cry 3, PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale and the announcement of PlayStation Mobile (previously PlayStation Suite) and new and broader interconnectivity between PS Vita and PS3.
Full Sony E3 2012 Press Conference Video
How would you rate Sony’s E3 2012 Press Conference?
Will Xbox 360 SmartGlass be able to compete with the Wii U tablet or better it?
Xbox 360 SmartGlass has everyone’s head abuzz with opinions. Is SmartGlass a Wii U killer? Has Microsoft significantly jumped the gun on Nintendo enough to actually gain an upper hand?
Will this development send Nintendo back to the drawing board as far as what new features the Wii U will be compelled to support simply to compete with this new development?
Should Microsoft be punished for blatantly ripping the Wii U off? Should Nintendo be praised for once-again setting an industry standard that everyone else copies and then improves on? Is Xbox 360 Smart Glass just a natural development in the direction videogames and videogame developers were already headed in? That is, would Microsoft have developed Xbox 360 Smart Glass or something like it, even without the Wii U?
So many questions… so little answers.
It’s really anyone’s guess. One thing that IS certain though, and you can glean this from both Microsoft AND Sony’s press conferences… as well as from third-party developers… mobile gaming has literally changed the landscape of gaming as a whole. Similar to social network games and popular, household words like Facebook, the gaming landscape has shifted and is now taking these huge new changes into account. Better yet, the gaming industry is taking advantage of these new technologies to offer gamers new and ever-more-interactive and interconnected experiences. Experiences that are beginning to spread out… outside of a single game console.
While the BIG THREE won’t be getting together to make woopie anytime soon, the fact is these manufacterers have recognized that it is to their advantage to bring mobile devices and other machines into their fold. While allowing your mobile device to LITERALLY become a videogame controller and control your system using your smartphones touchscreen is a HUGE new development (who’s worth cannot be understated. This is BIG), if you think back even a couple years ago to Sony and their “PlayStation Suite”, or to Microsoft and their Windows Phone platforms… this kind of connectivity with mobile devices is something that has been bubbling under the service for years and years now.
However, I think it took the Wii U and its tablet controller and Nintendo’s fancy eye for innovate innovation, to violently shove Microsoft and Sony to put all they have into persuing their mobile ideas that they were already half-heartedly working on, thinking about, and considering. But now they’ve gone beyond thinking and considering and into action. And I can’t see how anyone could say this is a bad thing.
When the Windows Phone 7 was first announced, it was revealed that, if you bought one, you could instal your Xbox Live Avatar and Gaming Card onto the device by linking with your Xbox 360 account (which could also be done on Windows) and keep track of all your Xbox 360 Achievements, your GamersScore, etc. while you were on-the-go. Cool right? Sure. Who wouldn’t say that is pretty sweet. But is it cool enough to make you buy a Windows Phone over another platform? No. When Sony a few years ago announced the “PlayStation Suite” service, the goal was to expand the PlayStation brand into the mobile space. AWESOME!!! We all said. Then it was revealed that “bringing PlayStation to mobile”, in reality, meant being able to play 15-year-old PlayStation One games on your phone… and old crappy ones that everyone already owns at that. Yawn.
Do you see where I’m going with this? This development was already under way, but the way in which these publishers went about it was all wrong. Then in steps Nintendo. Out of absolutely NO WHERE, the company introduces the Wii U, a videogame system whose controller IS a touchscreen tablet, with traditional gaming controls built-in on the sides. Nintendo proceeds to show the Wii U Remote and Nunchuk and other devices interacting with the Wii Controller tablet (no officially called the Wii U GamePad) in ways that expand on what is being seen and percieved on the TV. They turn heads by showing a guy golfing, where the ball sits in a hole in the sand displayed on the Wii U tablet’s screen, and the guy then hits the Golfball by swinging the Wii Remote and the ball flies FROM the Wii U tablet and onto the TV screen…. Ingenius.
This causes Microsoft and Sony to kick themselves and say “Why didn’t we think of that?” Oh wait, we kinda did! We just didn’t really follow through with it! And that brings us to today. Yesterday Microsoft announced Xbox 360 SmartGlass, and that they are now putting their FULL WEIGHT behind mobile devices in order to move the Xbox 360 and all that it offers onto devices NOT CALLED the Xbox 360. While this may not include playing Xbox 360 games on other devices like PC, cellphones and tablets, it WILL mean more interconnectivity with Windows PCs, your Xbox 360, and your mobile devices than ever before. And it will mean new ways of interacting with your Xbox 360 using other devices.
The big draw was the ability to use your tablet or cellphones touchscreen to control your Xbox 360. Now there will be no need to fiddle around with the Xbox 360 controller when watching a TV show, as you can just sit back and use the cellphone in your pocket as a remote with which to select the show or entertainment you want to watch on your Xbox 360 and to pause, rewind, fast forward, skip scenes, etc. Beyond that, Xbox SmartGlass brings new functionality to your entertainment by allowing the additional screen to know what it is that you are doing on another device. Be it a Windows PC or your Xbox 360, your device will display relevant information or interactive features, greatly enhancing your experience.
All of this begs the question… will you be able to use the new screen in ways like the Wii U? For example, in an Aliens: Colonial Marines game, can you use your Xbox SmartGlass connected cellphone as a radar screen? The answer is YES. This was shown in multiple examples… however they were just examples… we’ll need to wait and see to find out how it will actually compare to what the final form of the Wii U brings to the table.
I would believe the Wii U has the edge, because unlike the tablet or cellphone which was not originally built with the Xbox 360 in mind, the Wii U tablet WAS built with your TV in mind, and can instantly with 100% NO LAG, display what is on the TV on your controller, and vice versa, as well as enhancing it.
As for Sony, they went as far as to rename their “PlayStation Suite” service and simply call it “PlayStation Mobile”, and they, just like Microsoft, are renewing their focus on hooking the PS3 and PS Vita to mobile devices. They are also pushing hard the ability to hook your PS3 up to your PS Vita, and to use the two vices together. Connectivity between the two will mean the ability to play the same game on both machines, and then stop playing on one machine, and pick up from where you left off on the other. The ability to share save files between both your PS3 and PS Vita, and surely much more.
Of course, Nintendo also messed around with portable connectivity between their GameCube and the Game Boy Advance back in 2004-2006, but that didn’t go anywhere important and very few people used it. Will people use it now with Sony?
I think the more likely answer is “probably not”. Few people have both a PS Vita AND a PS3, and for the most part they probably cannot be bothered or won’t care enough to link the two together and use them constantly. And the same goes for Microsoft. And THIS is where the other two run into problems that Nintendo avoids. Unlike Nintendo, these devices must already be owned, and must then be hooked up and synced in with the home system. Beyond that, the person has to give a sh*t about what you are doing with the connectivity. While people think that being able to see information about a TV show or movie on their cellphone as the movie or TV show is playing is cool, how many will actually care? When was the last time YOU watched a DVD/Bluray information pop-up special feature where you watch the whole movie as it pops up tidbits of info while you are watching it?
Most people do not care and find it distracting, and would rather just watch the movie. i.e., how often will you actually look down at your Xbox 360 SmartGlass-connected tablet or cellphone while you are watching The Matrix 4? It is more likely that you will NOT do this. Nintendo’s advantage is that everyone who buys a Wii U is buying it SOLELY for the Wii U tablet. This is the big selling point of the Wii U, and everyone who buys one will immediately be interested in using said tablet, and will not have to hassle with connecting the devices together and then remembering to use them.
Having additionally connectivity and functionality is one thing. Remembering to use it and caring enough to do so is a whole other ballgame. Case-in-point, I often have bought calenders, and hung them on my wall. But how often do I REMEMBER to check it every single morning? Hardly ever. I always forget even when I MEAN TO check it. This is Sony and Microsoft’s challenge. And it’ll be extremely interesting to see where we go from here. :)
She just got to TOUCH THE MAGIC… Watch and you’ll understand.
The full, entire E3 2012 Ubisoft Press Conference video is here for your viewing pleasure. If you missed anything, check it out and you’ll be all caught up for what Ubisoft had to show and announced for E3 2012!
Many people thought that Ubisoft had the strongest and best E3 2012 Press Conference by far, out of the E3 2012 Press Conferences for Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony and EA. What do you think? Did Ubisoft wow you between Assassin’s Creed 3, Splinter Cell Blacklist, Rayman Legends, ZombieU and Watch Dogs? Do you think they stole the show? Do they win by default by the simple fact that they managed to slip Assassin’s Creed 3 and other Ubisoft games into each and every major press conference? VOTE NOW!
How would you rate Ubisoft’s E3 2012 Press Conference?
Gameplay screenshot of the first PS Vita FPS in action, Resistance: Burning Skies.
The first Resistance game for Sony’s new portable, the PlayStation Vita, is out now. It marks, if you can believe it, the FIRST first-person shooter for the PS Vita system. I’m kinda surprised it took so long!
The game offers fans of the first-person shooter Resistance franchise (of which this is the fourth game in the series, following Resistance 1: Fall of Man in 2006, Resistance 2 in 2008 and Resistance 3 in 2011. A PSP third-person spin-off called Resistance: Retribution was also released in 2009) a deep single-player campaign as well as an online multiplayer component. In multilayer a new hook comes from the ability to get infected by the Chimerian virus.
This really cool feature actually allows you to spread the virus to others on your friends list or those NEAR you! :D Being infected gives you bonus experience in multiplayer, and allows others to gain that same experience if they get infected by you (“Near” is the name of one of the PS Vita’s key features, a GPS feature that allows you to see other players who are playing the PS Vita system or the same game as you and live physically near your location).
Get a glimpse of the game and the Chimera Infection Feature in this Resistance: Burning Skies NEAR video.
Resistance: Burning Skies also offers fans of the series a console-like experience on a handheld for the first time. Players step into the shoes of a Fireman named Tom Riley, as he experiences the first day of the alien Chimera invasion from the vantage point of New York City.
Thanks to the dual-analog sticks of the PS Vita, fans will be immediately familiar with the controls in Resistance: Burning Skies. They can play through a robust single-player mode, or tackle the fully-fledged online multiplayer.
Key Features of Resistance: Burning Skies include:
* Pinpoint dual analog controls for an uncompromised FPS experience
* Multiplayer Gaming for up to 8 players
* Enhanced front touch controls for quick melee and for targeting your weapon’s secondary fire function.
Here is the launch trailer for Resistance: Burning Skies, showing lots of awesome gameplay footage.
It’s worth noting that Resistance: Burning Skies was met with poor review scores, mostly average ratings across the board. Even so, you may still be interested in checking the game out, especially given that it is the first FPS for the PS Vita, or if you are a fan of the series. Some of the reviews said it was NOT a “console-quality” experience, and that you may like the game if you keep your expectations in check. Destructoid gave the game a terrible 2 out of 10.
Gameplay of Diablo III in action! The long-awaited sequel launches on May 15, 2012 for PC!
What videogame releases of May 2012 release this week? The week of May 14th to May 20th sees some HUGE heavy hitters in the videogame arena.
The biggest release of this week, if not of the month, is most definitely Diablo 3. Diablo 3 is the long-awaited Blizzard-developed sequel to the hit hack-and-slash loot-dropping action RPG series that blew up on the PC and became one of the biggest and most long-played PC videogame series of all time. The original Diablo was released way back in 1996 with its sequel, Diablo 2, hitting over a decade ago in 2000. To put that into perspective, Diablo 1 was released the same year as Super Mario 64 on the N64 and Diablo 2 was released a year BEFORE Final Fantasy X. Old games indeed, but even so people still routinely play and praise them today!
Finally, a modern entry in the series has been released with Diablo 3! This game has been in development for an ETERNITY, first announced way back in 2008. So the game has been in-development for no less than four-years! A true eternity in videogame time. Will the game be worth the wait? We’ll have to wait and see! But already the game sits pretty atop the pre-order charts, so sales for Activision Blizzard are sure to be through the roof!
The Diablo III Collector’s Edition logo. Epic.
Not to be outdone is the long-waited third entry in Rockstar’s Bullet-time action series “Max Payne”, with Max Payne 3. Finally the action hero of last-generation is being restored for modern times. So this is a very exciting release and definitely one of the biggest and most highly-anticipated releases of the year!
Another big release this week is Game of Thrones, a huge, epic western-style RPG published by Atlus Games (Of Japanese RPG fame), and based on the hit TV show of the same name. It’ll be interesting to see how big of game it is, and how well it sells. Making it an RPG in the vein of “The Witcher” or “Skyrim” was a very smart idea… The 3DS is also getting a new title with Mario Tennis Open from Nintendo & Camelot!
Console and PC Releases of the Week, Physical and Digital (May 14-May 20th 2012):
* Diablo III + Collector’s Edition (May 15th) – PC
* Max Payne 3 (May 15th on Xbox 360 and PS3. May 29th on PC)
* Game of Thrones (May 15th) – Xbox 360, PS3
* Mario Tennis Open (May 15th) – 3DS
* Battleship (May 15th) – Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS; Based on the movie of the same name.
* Akai Katana (May 16th) – Xbox 360; Bullet-hell 2D side-scrolling Shooter published by Rising Star Games.
* Test Drive: Ferrari Legends (May 15th) – Xbox 360, PS3
* Kids Learn To Think: A+ Edition (May 15th) – DS
Here is a Diablo 3 Trailer:
Max Payne 3 Launch Trailer:
Keep an eye out for the Digital Releases of the Week this Thursday.
Tera Online is this week’s newest MMO release for PC.
Here are the new physical and digital videogame releases of April 30th – May 6th 2012.
It was a pretty barebones release week, with only a handful of console titles hitting shelves.
Physical Releases of the Week:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Mac)
Mortal Kombat 2011 (PS Vita)
Sniper Elite V2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Tera Online (PC)
Digital Releases of the Week:
Xbox Live Arcade (Xbox 360): Awesomenauts (800 Microsoft Points/$10), Fable Heroes (800 Microsoft Points/$10) Full Xbox 360 Games Released This Week: Kinect Adventures! ($20), PES 2012: Pro Evolution Soccer ($30), Cabela’s Survival: Shadows of Katmai ($30), Puss in Boots ($40) PlayStation Network (PS3): Awesomenauts ($10), Doc Clock: The Toasted Sandwich of Time ($7.49) Full Digital PS3 Games: Battlefield: Bad Company 2 ($20), Disney Universe ($30) PSOne Classics: Legend of Dragoon ($6) PS2 Classics: Max Payne ($10), Rayman 2 Revolution ($10) Full Digital PS Vita Games: Mortal Kombat PS Vita ($40) PSP minis: Floating Cloud God Saves The Pilgrims ($2.99) Wii Virtual Console: Super Hang-On (Arcade, 900 Wii Points) WiiWare: No Releases This Week 3DS eShop: Bird Mania 3D ($2) DSiWare: Amoebattle ($5) Steam — The big news with Steam this week is a slew of all-new Sega classics, which can be purchased together for $7.50 as the Sega Classics Pack 5! Or you can purchase them individually for $3. Games released on Steam this week include: Toy Soldiers ($10), Sniper Elite V2 ($50), Phantasty Star III: Generations of Doom (Genesis), Vectorman 2 (Genesis), Wonder Boy In Monster World (Master System), Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis), Streets of Rage 3 (Genesis), Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium (Genesis), Phantasy Star II (Genesis), Golden Axe III (Genesis), Beyond Oasis (Genesis), Dynamite Heady (Genesis), Origin: Dino Beatdown ($9), Port Royale 3 ($40) GOG.com — Spacehem ($10), Myst 5: End of Ages (Limited Edition) ($10), Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver ($6), Rollercoaster Tycoon 3: Platinum! ($20), Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell ($10), Anomaly: Warzone Earth ($10), Thief 3: Deadly Shadows ($10) Origin.com — Mass Effect 3 ($60 Standard, $80 Deluxe), The Sims 3 – Showtime Expansion: Katy Perry’s Collector’s Edition ($50), Star Wars: The Old Republic (Standard $35, Deluxe $45) OnLive – Saints Row: The Third ($7), Assault Heroes 2 ($5), Batman: Arkham City ($15), Assassin’s Creed: Revelations ($50), Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 ($40), Dead Island ($30), Operation Flashpoint: Red River ($6), Major League Baseball 2K12 ($6), Air Conflicts: Secret Wars
Anything you are looking forward to picking up over the weekend?
Here is a Quick Look at Tera Online from Giantbomb.
