Archive for January, 2006
The Godfather game interview
GameSpot.com recently interviewed David DeMartini, executive producer of The Godfather about the current status of the game. The new Godfather game is being developed and published by Electronic Arts and is based on the 1972 movie of the same name. It’s an open-ended (like Grand Theft Auto) style action adventure game where you assume the role of a member of the Corleone family. The game was originally supposed to come out at Christmas but has been delayed for extra polish. The game should get a final release date soon.
GameSpot: Given the ESRB’s scrutiny of games in the wake of the Hot Coffee scandal, have you been concerned about the game’s content to the point where you’ve changed anything?
David DeMartini: We have been consistent with our direction on this project from the beginning, and we have always been expecting an M rating. This game is going to be consistent with the content in the film–which is rated R–and the book, and that includes violence and crime. We aren’t going over the top, but we also aren’t making a game for kids.
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No comments »Metal Gear Solid and Killer 7 creator’s collaborating on new game?
Gouichi Suda, creator of Killer 7, and Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the Metal Gear Solid franchise, may work together on a game project. During a panel at a recent game event, Suda expressed interest in working with Kojima, whose early works have been a major influence on him.
Suda said that Snatcher, Kojima’s hard-boiled adventure game from 1988, was what inspired him to get into the industry, and he cited the game as the reason his studio, Grasshopper Company, makes adventure games like Killer 7 and Chicago.
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GTA Liberty City Stories game size interview with Rockstar
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is a particularly huge game. IGN wanted to know how Rockstar North, in conjunction with Rockstar Leeds, managed to pull it off.
This is your second PSP game after Midnight Club 3. How has it been working with the PSP hardware the second time around, is the team more comfortable with it?
Gordon Hall: So far it’s been a lot of fun. The team here had been working primarily on GBA games, our last one was Max Payne for GBA. Moving into a true 3D realm and getting to work AAA franchises like Midnight Club and Grand Theft Auto has been stellar. The PSP is really a magnificent piece of kit, it does things none of us believed possible when we first saw the specifications.
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Square-Enix confirms release date for Grandia 3
Publisher Square-Enix interactive entertainment, announced today that GRANDIA III will be released in North America on February 14, 2006, exclusively for the PlayStation 2.
Features:
* Romp through vibrant and colorful fantasy locales and natural environments
* Stunning cinematic sequences are animated by hand without the use of motion capture
* Scan surroundings to look for search points or treasure chests
* Ply the skies by plane to journey from one place to another
* Use your sword in the “random encounter free” field to destroy objects or stun enemies before attacking
* Seamless transition from field screen to battles with over-the-top animations
* Semi real-time battle system allows for fast paced action and strategizing with a Command Wheel that breaks the RPG mold of typical command text windows
* Perform and link up Aerial Combo attacks for massive damage
* Multiple auto-battle settings for each character dictate fighting strategy — in addition, utilize the Strategy Advice System for tips during critical moments in battle
* Control conversation flow during special event scenes.
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PlanetSide plans free service
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will soon have their Massive Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter (MMOFPS) title, PlanetSide, feature a free-to-play service alongside its existing subscription tiers. Currently scheduled for February 14th 2006, the “Fodder Program” will allow free players full access to the game, but impose limits on their BattleRank and CommandRank, restricting their arsenal.
Also planned to kick off at the same time is an improved training system for new players, meaning that newbies should be able to jump into battle within a few minutes. SOE may be anticipating competition from the upcoming MMOFPS Huxley, or trying to attract new players in hopes of revitalising the game—but a free service should benefit anyone wishing to try out a new genre of MMO.
Monkey Ball Adventure announced for PS2, PSP, NGC
Developed by Traveler’s Tales and published by Sega. Monkey Ball Adventure will take you on an adventure in five themed worlds, where you’ll discover different kinds of balls (yes, what a shocker). For example, a wooden ball, so AiAi, MeeMee and friends can roll on water. This news has been released by “Official PlayStation 2 Magazineâ€. The game is coming to Playstation 2, PSP and GameCube. Remember that there’s another Monkey Ball game in the works for the DS as well.
Sega licensed classic console and handheld systems remade
While re-releasing classic Sega games and putting them in a console isn’t new. Putting them in a handheld with screen is! The makers of PSPonTV (PSP to TV adapter) sent DCemu some rather interesting news. At the time we don’t know when it’s going to be released in your area, but here’s the press release to tide you over:
“First, the most exciting thing to happen this year for us may be the SEGA licensed TV game systems. We hope you are equally excited. Sega licensed direct “Plug & Play” TV-game. Since the HK Toy Fair finished, we have finalized the official license from Sega to manufacture many Sega licenced TV game systems and a hand-held console (like Gameboy).
Until now, we have nearly 50 licensed Sega games that you can choose from! Many of them are Sonic the Hedgehog and other big name titles! Our product design is done by a famous Japanese product designer, and resembles the Sega & Sonic style outlook. You will be quite impressed by our current in-house designs.
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Stargate SG-1 The Alliance cancelled
The Stargate SG-1: The Alliance game developed by Perception (would-be published by Namco) set for PC, PS2 and Xbox is now cancelled. Quoting a post appearing courtesy of an admin on the official Stargate SG-1: The Alliance forum:
“It pains me to say this but unfortunately Stargate SG-1 The Alliance has been canceled (sic). An official statement is forth coming from MGM and/or perception in the coming days.” Considering that the now-cancelled Farscape series even got a game outing, and this game was quite far along, it’s sad this adventure game had to go. Look at some pictures here.
Rez heading to PSP?
Citing a discussion with a “Sega source”, ShackNews reports that Rez PSP is indeed a reality and is being feverishly polished inside Sega as we type. For those unfamiliar with the game, it’s a unique shooter with a clever synthesis between gameplay, visuals and music, with an impressive soundtrack that builds depending on the player’s actions. The game was created by Lumines and Meteos pioneer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, who is now heading up Japanese developer Q entertainment.
Interview about Quake Wars: Enemy Territory
In London where Splash Damage are located, CVG went and subjected lead designer Paul Wedgwood to an interview to learn the innermost workings of what Splash Damage are plotting.
Here’s the interview:
Can we kick off by getting a bit of background on the game – how it came about?
Paul Wedgwood: We’d just finished Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory with id Software and I’d worked through that whole project for a year and a bit with Kevin Cloud from id Software. He was lead designer on Quake 2 and executive producer on Return to Castle Wolfenstein and executive producer on Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory and we’d spent a lot of time discussing design ideas and things we’d like to have done in Wolf ET. So in much the same way as Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory came about as a result of the wish list of things that didn’t make into Return to Castle Wolfenstein multiplayer, there were ideas for Wolf ET that we really felt would improve the game.
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