XBLA Wednesday: Mutant Storm Empire

I have to be totally honest. I didn’t really like Mutant Storm Reloaded. It was the bastard little brother of Geometry Wars Retro Evolved and I just didn’t have much time for it. Remind me never to have children… Anyway, the next iteration is coming and I’m actually looking forward to it. Pom Pom have upped the graphics and changed a few of the quirks about the first game. And the biggest selling point? It doesn’t have to contend with Geometry Wars. So I’m going to give it a new shot and see how it goes this Wednesday. It is only 800 MSP ($10 USD) after all. Check out the demo at the very least. Hopefully it will surprise us.

– David “Whet Wurm” Wetty –

Xbox Live Arcade is not so Indie anymore

I came across an interesting article over at Shacknews about the current state of Xbox Live Arcade. Xbox Live Arcade has seen it’s fair share of hits like Small Arms, Cloning Clyde, Roboblitz, plus others. What these games share in common is the fact that these games were released by small independent development studios which don’t have a big budget like some of the major companies out there.

Xbox Live Arcade was touted as being this place where if two buddies created a game in their garage and wanted to put it on Xbox Live Arcade all they had to do was pitch the idea to Microsoft and see if they would bite. According to the article on Shacknews it seems that the once treasured ground for Indie developers is not so treasured anymore.

Design Director of “Frozen Codebase” who is working on the upcoming XBLA game “Screwjumper” said it himself that the climate has changed.

“I think Xbox Live Arcade has gotten to the point where the dreaded realities of business models are setting in. The wild wild west period is over.”

Frozen Codebase’s Ben Geisler goes on to say that being under a publisher is not that bad, if they’re the right one for you.

“As much as I like it, I think [in the indie environment] there’s a lot of whining about how publishers are big, bad and evil,” noted Frozen Codebase producer Ben Geisler. “If you find the right publisher, there will be a benefit there.”

Has the tide changed for independent studios? Time will tell but hey I still want my Small Arms 2… right Don?

XBLA Dev: ‘Dreaded Realities of Business Models’ Setting In [Shacknews]

-Michael “Thrills Killa” Pacheco-

“Army of Two”: Recruitment Trailer

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Check out this trailer for Army of Two which shows more of what we’ve already seen. Plus blood, tons of blood.

-Michael “Thrills Killa” Pacheco-

Did Somebody Say *NOT* FREE?!? Guitar Hero 3 DLC Incoming…(Update 1)

Even though it was QUICKLY pulled from Major Nelson’s blog, the miracle that is Google Reader has captured the evidence in glorious cache. It turns out that there will be a “Companion Pack” for Guitar Hero 3 which will include 3 extra songs for you to enjoy. What’s better is… ready for it? IT’S FREE. “Like OMFG!!!11! O RLY? BBQ!” free. Considering how Red Octane and Activision have been completely against satisfying the customer, this marks a huge turn in their attitudes. Granted, I know the packs following this won’t be free, but if you average FREE across another pack of (assumed price of) 500 MSP, that’s 6 songs for $6.25 USD. I’ll bite! Anyway, here are the (no longer existing) details from Major Nelson:

Content: Companion Three Pack
Price: Free
Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions
Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) MILD LYRICS,MILD SUGGESTIVE THEMES] “Carcinogen Crush” as performed by AFI, “Putting Holes in Happiness” as performed by Marilyn Manson. Remixed by Nick Zinner”, “Tina” as performed by Flyleaf. For all song credits please visit www.redoctane.comEnjoy the speculation… and you heard it here first!

UPDATE 1- According to the good folks at X3F Major Nelson has confirmed to them that these 3 songs are not Free on the marketplace. To get them free you must first purchase the GH3 soundtrack which includes a code to get these songs. Sucks Huh?

– David “Whet Wurm” Wetty –

Sit Down and Learn: Some facts about Ninja Gaiden II

 

I don’t know about any of you; but I’m certainly excited to see Ninja Gaiden making its way back to the Xbox. I’m sure this must be the sequel to the original Ninja Gaiden that started on the Xbox. Now, we know this as being one of the hardest games I’ve ever encountered and still love to this day. What’s Ninja Gaiden without some blood and gore? I’ll give you a hint; its called Tenchu Z. Anyway; why don’t we just sit down and learn some interesting facts about this upcoming sequel, shall we? You can check out more after the break.

Jereme “Restless Devil” Puik

[Via Press Release]

“Ninja Gaiden® 2” makes its long-awaited debut on Xbox 360 as the blockbuster action-packed sequel to “Ninja Gaiden®.” “Ninja Gaiden® 2” features a new and improved game engine, developed from the ground up exclusively for Microsoft and Xbox 360 by Team Ninja and legendary game developer Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of the famed “Dead or Alive” franchise.

In “Ninja Gaiden® 2,” gamers must guide Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Armed with an assortment of ninja weaponry, players must help Ryu skillfully maneuver through a world fraught with peril and danger. “Ninja Gaiden® 2” will feature an all-new gameplay engine, a new auto-health regeneration system, levels, adventures, enemies and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise.

Channel 10 speaks with the designer of the original Xbox

Vodpod videos no longer available.

The original Xbox was often criticized for being nothing more than a big black box. Something that most of the Japanese world has taken to heart even now, considering the fact that its successor was designed with an attempt to appeal more to their taste. Japan aside, the big black box connotations garnered by the Xbox had a lot of thought behind them.

Luckily, Laura Foy of Channel 10 (formerly of Pseudo/G4 fame)  sat down with design firm Teague to talk a little bit about the original concept for what we now know as Xbox. The Xbox 360 racing wheel is also designed by Teague and also talked about. Fire jokes non permitting, the amount of thought and fore site that goes into many of the products that so many of use become so attached to is something that no one ever thinks about, so it’s nice to see the other side of the equation.

[Via Channel 10]

-William “thewilleffect” Bell-

SHOCKER-Gears of War Multiplayer was almost cut out

Put this in the “Thank God it didn’t happen” Category. Around E3 2006 time Epic Games head honcho Mike Capps was not happy with the way the multiplayer was shaping up for Gears of War.

“I was going to cut multiplayer from Gears because I thought it wasn’t coming together fast enough, right,” confessed Epic president Mike Capps. “The day before E3 I’m like “no guys, it’s not pulling together.” And they made it, they pulled it together, and then we won every award.”

I enjoyed Gears of War multiplayer for about 11 or so months as I’m sure a lot of people did. Sure it had glitchers, Host Advantage, plus other negatives but it was still a blast to play. I’m glad your team proved you wrong Mike.

[Via Dtoid]

-Michael “Thrills Killa” Pacheco-

EA has no plans for SKATE Downloadable Content

Electronic Arts who has had their history of milking gamers for money through Downloadable Content is giving gamers a break when it comes to SKATE.

In the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly EA’s Scott Blackwood was quoted as saying…

“[We’re] not planning any new content for Skate 1 … We didn’t want to go back and ask [people] for more money to get more shoes and shirts,” said EA Black Box Executive Producer Scott Blackwood in an Afterthoughts interview featured in latest issue of EGM. “That’s not how we wanted to enter this market.”

Scott also spoke about why SKATE sees such a lack in female characters…

“We really wanted women to be in there and have all sorts of cool stuff to wear and hairstyles,” he said. “You have to choose between watering the whole thing down and making it just really mediocre for everybody, or do you focus? We decided to focus. I will say, however, that was the hardest decision on this project. But we are going to make it up to you. When we do it — and we will — it’s going to be done very well.”

That’s nice of EA to give gamers a break from their overpriced DLC. I think the only people who are mad are gamers who have the money to buy tons of pieces of DLC for SKATE.

No DLC Content for Skate [1up]

-Michael “Thrills Killa” Pacheco-