Posts with tag microsoft-game-studios
Ask a Ninja promotes Ninja Gaiden II
Joystiq talks to Itagaki about Ninja Gaiden II
Spring Showcase no shows: Halo Wars and Alan Wake
It's kind of hard to believe that an event designed around letting journalists try their collective hand at all the latest games isn't the right venue for these games (or any game, really). We suppose it's fair to say that Alan Wake -- a survival horror game -- might require more intimacy to appreciate, but Halo Wars? Perhaps Microsoft thought journos wouldn't be able to grasp the controls in the 30-45 minutes of playtime they were allowed.
Whatever the reason behind the decision to leave out two of Microsoft Games Studios' biggest titles from the Spring Showcase, we hope we'll see something soon. And we really hope that their absence doesn't portend any delays.
Microsoft: No Alan Wake release day yet
Since its reveal at E3 2005 action-thriller fans have been clamoring for more information on Alan Wake. Developed by Remedy, the team behind Max Payne, the PR camp has been quiet on new details for the title and today is no different. Speaking with Venture Beat, Microsoft's Shane Kim dissapointingly continued Alan's media blackout. "We haven't announced a firm date for Alan Wake." Kim added that Microsoft, who announced it would exclusively publish the title for Xbox 360 and PC at E3 2006, would set a release date for the title when it was ready.
With next to no new information released since 2006, is Alan Wake still on your radar?
[via Big Download]
CliffyB: No party system in GOW2 would be "a pretty big f*ckup"
Yeah, that should be enough to pique your interest. Head over to Joystiq for the full interview.
GOW2 details: multiplayer, vehicles, Carmine's back!
- Gears 2 will feature 5-on-5 multiplayer with more modes and more maps out of the box than Gears 1. Online functionality wasn't detailed, but Cliffy promises it will be "very competitive with other titles in this space." Dare we hope for a Halo-inspired party system?
- About executions:
- Chainsaw duels can end in a draw, but only occasionally.
- The curb stomp is back
- Players are no longer invulnerable when performing executions
- Once a duel is over, the actual chainsawing is faster, making the entire duel last about as long as a normal chainsaw kill.
- Players who are down but not out can now attempt to crawl away, tapping the A button to crawl faster.
- The game will have "buckets and buckets" of blood. For example, Marcus will leave trails of blood on a wall while taking cover after being injured. "Meat shields" (i.e. hostages) will also drip blood as they are dragged around.
- Players will be able to drive the new Centaur tank, which is something like a cross between a tank and a monster truck (we think it's briefly in the video at around 3:50)
- Carmine (most famous for being on the receiving end of a headshot in the first Gears) will return ... somehow.
New Banjo 3 details: co-op and online play
Oh, and in case you'd rather not futz with the do-it-yourself vehicle creation (you old fuddy-duddy, you), the fact sheet assures gamers that many pre-built vehicles are available. The fact sheet also refers to the vehicle creation as user created content. Could this mean that players will be able to trade their vehicle designs? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
Gallery: Banjo-Kazooie 3
Fable 2 arrives Holiday 2008, new media
click to enlarge
Gears of War 2: 4 screens from Assault
Microsoft released four screen grabs from the first gameplay footage of Gears of War 2. Hitting this November, Gears 2 is the sequel to the critically and commercially successful Gears of War which released exclusively on the Xbox 360.In Gears 2 humans are bringing the fight to the Locust, utilizing new moves, weapons and various ways to cut dudes in half.
Gallery: Gears of War 2
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts trailer headshots Mario
[Thanks, Tony]
Gallery: Banjo-Kazooie 3
Halo Wars audio designers make birds you can't see
Read - Interview pt. I
Read - Interview pt. II (including sound files)
First Ninja Gaiden 2 DLC: Hello Horse Armor [update]
With so much Ninja Gaiden news arriving this week we're having a little trouble keeping pace. What with the pre-orders, the videos, the generally liberal amount of blood, and the "Power Rangers for grown-ups" character design, things having been looking pretty good. So it was only logical that there would be some bad news eventually. In this case it's the return of the deadly Horse Armor Syndrome. Come this July, Live will see DLC the likes of which it has not seen since the dark days of the early Marketplace.Each of the first three pieces of DLC is just a skin, just a texture and model. Just, ya know, Horse Armor. Those in Europe will receive a download code for their Dress-Up Ninja™ DLC packs as their pre-order bonus, but the rest of us will have to pay 200pts per pack if we want them. And sadly, (so long as there is some sort of Hurricane-Pack-thing as well) we really do want them.
Update: Microsoft has clarified that the 200 point DLC will in fact contain five new costumes, not just one.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Ninja Gaiden 2 video madness continues
Halo Wars designer talks controls, DLC, and more
With this in mind, the team at Ensemble created simple controls, consolidating similar actions -- such as different types of unit selection to presses of a single button. For example, single press of the A button will select one unit, a double click will select all units on screen, and a triple click will select the entire army. Another addition, all levels have been designed so that they can be completed without rotating the camera. Sure, players can rotate the camera, but they don't have to.
Finally, Devine mentions that there may be a level editor included with Halo Wars and also details Ensemble's plans for downloadable content. At the moment, new units and maps are definitely in the works. Even more exciting, Ensemble is considering releasing extra campaigns as well. Hit the "read" link for the full interview.
A few Ninja Gaiden 2 pre-order bonuses
Read, Walmart Wall Scroll
Read, Amazon $10 Gift Card
