April's Game of the Month: Child of Light

Yeah, yeah, it's NOT April for another five or so hours, but Ubisoft's upcoming RPG, Child of Light is so gorgeous and innovative on the artistic front that it's an automatic BUY for me as well and April's Game of the Month. Thankfully, it's coming to PC, Mac and a a few consoles on April 30th, so you can play it as well. Just look at those trailers above and below and you'll be on board. Or at the very least you'll be bugging someone you know who plays games to grab this and let you watch them play... 

March's Game of the Month: Dark Souls II

But of course: Yes, I’m a little early, but based on some demo time and the fact that veteran developer FromSoftware didn’t water the experience down one bit (in fact, in a few ways the games is more challenging than previous Souls titles), Dark Souls II is my Game of the Month for March. Offline play is key for me and many others and while the game does have that wonderful and extremely annoying element of other live players being able to pop into your online game to stalk or assist you (or both), it’s in the solo mode where many new and veteran players will first poke around just to see if the game is as intense as ever (it is and then some). Add in the new game engine (which makes for some even lovelier character models, creepy as all get out enemies and lush, deadly environments – see the site banner and background), improved gameplay, a much bigger world to explore and a massive amount of replay value for an instant classic. No matter which version you get your hot little hands on, you’re guaranteed a VERY well crafted and rather intense and gloomy singular experience that’s also pretty interesting to watch someone play if you’re not into the gaming thing. March 11 is the date for the North American launch and I’m expecting some people to contract a strange flu-like non-flu for a few days around that time (myself included)…

February's Game of the Month: Earth Defense Force 2025

  

Yeah, it's not even out until the 18th of the month, but I've owned the Japanese version of the game since it came out last July and it's pretty amazing and VERY replayable, a great thing in this age of games you can blow through in less time that it takes to make a crock pot dish. EDF 2025's four distinct classes, 780 weapons, over 90 levels (with more coming through three DLC expansions) and both couch co-op and multiplayer modes means this one will be in some play stacks for a good long while.

Sure, it's not the "best" looking game and yes, developer Sandlot isn't whipping out visuals that are going to compete with the greatest-looking games of last generation. That said, the scale of the maps plus the level of destruction here is remarkable, and combined with the seemingly simple gameplay that grows deeper as the game gets more challenging, makes this one a keeper even after you've beaten it. Which will take weeks if you're going for every bit of content.

So yeah, BUY THIS GAME. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 only (Sandlot doesn't make PC Games, sorry!).

Your Pretty Obvious Game of the Month: Grand Theft Auto V

September 17, folks. Yeah, yeah, it's not even out yet, but between all the content descriptions, teasers, trailers and screens it's more than clear that this is Rockstar's biggest game to date and it will be a major distraction for those fans who buy in and tune out the even crazier goings on in the real world. Provided the planet doesn't blow itself up, melt or get invaded by aliens (and variations of two of those three things could happen), it should be a great holiday season for anyone employed at the company when those bonus checks go flying around...

Random Game of the (Upcoming) Week: Remember Me

Despite the heavy focus on multiplayer and "socializing" game experiences to the point of insanity (every game really doesn't need a co-op or online mode!), single player story-based games aren't quite a dying breed, but neither are whiny gamers who demand every game be some sort of open world experiece. Capcom's Remember Me, (out June 4, 2013) is looking like one of those cool new IP that will please fans of games where atmosphere and intriguing characterizations are more important than back of the pack bullet points. I'll have a full review on the NEW DAF site in a few days, so pop on over and check it out...

It's Toy Fair Time Again!

Hey... it's that time of the year again, folks. It's said that he (or she) who has the most toys wins, which means Toy Fair ALWAYS wins every single year. I'll be there covering the big event from a few angles on the other DAF blog, so pop on by during the week of the show for some thoughts on stuff that I like. I'm going through my too-packed inbox making appointments, so I'm going to be busy as heck that entire week. Even better, Electronic Arts will be in NYC for their spring press event, so I'll have a few games to write about as well. Hmmm... sometimes I think need some interns or something, as I have too much on my plate every so often. But then again, it costs a lot to care and feed interns and no one makes that perfect robot companion that can do it all, so I guess I'm flying solo once again!

Incoming 2! NEOGEO X Gold... GET!

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I couldn't help myself. Pre-order placed (thanks Best Buy!), as people are already trying to sell these for almost $100 more (and up!) on eBay. Lovely on them, but not when you can get it at its actual price and with free shipping to boot. Some in the industry think and keep going on about dedicated handheld systems being dead thanks to the glut of me-too mobile devices, but I say they're dead wrong if someone manages to do something as cool as this. I'll get a review up on one of the blogs sometime in mid-December after my system arrives. Now, go get one of your own, I say...

Or maybe get one for that gamer guy or gal on your Nice list - they'll thank you 'til the cows come home!

Jack the Giant Slayer Trailer: Well, It's Got To At Least LOOK Better Than the Original, Right?

 

Hey, I'm old enough to remember seeing the original 1962 flick on TV a few times during the late 60's and early 70's, but even then I thought it was pretty cheesy when it came to the special effects. That was thanks to seeing almost all of Ray Harryhausen's work in better films and noting my my smart little head right away that the "special" effects in Jack weren't up to snuff. Hell, 1940's The Thief of Bag(h)dad beats JtGK by a few miles in terms of sheer visual punch.Anyway, some who view this trailer are crying "sacrilege!" or claiming Warner Bros has RUINED their childhood memories, but I say this new coat of CG paint might at least be a better film in terms of looks. OK, and acting as well, as I never could stand Kerwin Matthews as a lead. There was something about him was so wooden that the effects in the fantasy films he was in were more compelling (well, except for the ones in the original JtGK). We'll see about the story and all that in a bit, I suppose...

Babycastles Summit Info - Get Ready For A Big Gaming Blast!

Are you going? This is looking like the event of the year for the NYC gaming "scene" (eek), but I'm not going to gawk at geeks and geekettes galore. No, sir - I'm all business, mister! OK, I'll dip into that game project thing and see what's what and maybe smile once or twice (I'm near my quota for the month already)... 

BABYCASTLES SUMMIT AUGUST 24th 25th 26th featuring KEITA TAKAHASHI IVAN SAFRIN KAHO ABE NEIL FRIDD Brought to you by NYU GameCenter CITE Game Innovation Lab TAKAHASHI TAKES NYC Special Interview with Keita Takahashi by Frank Lantz ✌ THREE DAYS OF ✌   BANDS ✌ WORKSHOPS ✌ TALKS Inspired by Keita’s kid-friendly play-scape designs and Anna Anthropy's book, "Rise of the Videogame Zinesters: How Freaks, Normals, Amateurs, Artists, Dreamers, Drop-outs, Queers, Housewives, and People Like You Are Taking Back an Art Form" Our goal is to inspire and encourage people who didn't think they could make games to make games. Babycastles will be building four video game play-scapes designed by Keita Takahashi In association with Kaho Abe, Neil Fridd and Ivan Safrin. They will be on display and available for play throughout the summit at the Museum of Art and Design. RSVP HERE. 2 Columbus Circle // NEW YORK // NY 10019 Sponsored By THE NYU GAME CENTER CITE GAME INNOVATION LAB ALSO ANNOUNCING: Join Gameifesto and Babycastles on a journey through videogame's dynamic history, from the arcade to the living room and beyond, we'll discuss how technology, design, culture, and commerce have all influenced each other to create the most important medium of the 21st century. Featuring Anna Anthropy, Nolan Bushnell, Phil Fish, Tim Schafer, Keita Takahashi, Doug Wilson + more! #WhatsInAGame CHECK OUT OUR DEBUT TRAILER PREMIERE NICE HAIR The Babycastles summit is a three-day series of talks, panels, bands, hands-on workshops and custom video game installations designed by Keita Takahashi, game designer of Japan’s Katamari Damacy.  The summit will be hosted by the Museum of Art and Design from August 24th through the 26th as part of the “Fun Fellowship”. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE JEAN CLAUDE VAN JAM A NEW GAME JAM ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ celebrating the film career of the most excellent actor  JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME ☜ ☚ ☜ ☚ ☜ ☚ ☜ Come make games with Babycastles & Eyebeam! --------- RSVP www.jeanclaudevanjam.com BABYCASTLES WANTS YOU to join our Volunteer List

☺ HELP US OUT AND VOLUNTEER  xoxox  - Syed Salahuddin, Colin Snyder and all of Babycastles

The Walking Dead Season 3 Trailer: So, Prison Was A Bad Idea After All, Huh?

 

I still haven't read the comics yet (other than six pages of the first issue), so I'm really not one of those complaining about anything different from the books or how Season Two wasn't packed top to bottom with zombie slaughterhouse action every single episode. I loved much of the pacing and tension in the last season and hell, that payoff was worth it in the last few shows, right? Season Three looks to be a bit more chaotic, but I'm hoping to hell the show's writers aren't going to respond to EVERY criticism about downtime by going full-tilt with the weapons to the head or flesh-chomping just to feed those who can't grasp a damn great story that takes TIME to evolve their weekly meal. Given that the comic has hit issue #100, I can see the show going on for a while... but I'd say they'd need to replace (or get rid of) some characters before they start getting too old to be the ages they're supposed to portray...

It's May, So That Must Mean It's Max Payne Month...

With Rockstar teaming up with Marvel Comics and rolling out a Max Payne 3 comic (digital and limited retail release), the game arriving soon afterward and a bunch of ads all over doing their thing, I'm predicting old Max will be feeling better about himself once he's back in the gamer eye for a bit. I'll be covering the game on the NEW DAF blog, so remember to boogie on over thataway to see what I think of Rockstar's wrap-up to the series (well, it's looking like some sort of finale, but I'm expecting to see Max pop up elsewhere at some point in some playable form)...

A Shadowrun Reboot Is On Kickstarter. That's All You Need To Know...

For me, FASA's Shadowrun was (and is) one of the great gaming experiences from the 90's back on the Super Nintendo and Genesis (I never played the tabletop games at all, my loss, I know) and now it's coming back as a Kickstarter project. Even better, it's a single player RPG, not some shooter, MMO or co-op focused game that goes far away from what the originals were. Hmmm... this crowdfunding thing is getting out of hand... but in an extremely good way. Still, I can see bigger publishers wanting to muscle in on things even if Kickstarter won't let them. How so? Well, I can't imagine some of the more important publishers today NOT being a bit ticked off that people are putting up MAJOR money to get smaller indie projects done while ignoring quite a lot of AAA titles for any number of reasons. My only problem with all this is the lack of retail versions of most of these Kickstarter games, or at least the promise of budget-priced disc versions that don't come with a bunch of swag some have no use for. One of these days I really HOPE someone puts out a few of these titles on something a lot more permanent than an invisible download...

Silent House: A Nicely Creepy, Single Shot Horror Flick Coming To A Theater Near You...

 

I'm posting this here instead of the new DAF blog as Wordpress gets kind of funky about embedded stuff like this. OK, I finally saw the commercial for Silent House last night and while it didn't really scare me, I love the real-time, done in a single shot aspect of the film as well as some of the "jump out" scares common to the horror scene. I really hope it's well paced and doesn't suffer from a lot of the logic flaws that have plagued other real-time movies in other genres. Will it be like Hitchcock's classic ROPE, or more of an 88 Minutes? We shall see on March 9, I guess. In any event, new horror films always do well at the box office, so there's that. Feel free to hit up the official site link above or the Facebook and Twitter pages for more info and updates.

Game of Thrones: Season 2 "Shadow" Teaser - Winter in April? No Fooling...

Confession time: Although I've seen bits and pieces of some episodes, I actually JUST started watching Season One from the beginning a few days ago (thank you HBO On Demand!). I haven't read any of the books either (too busy doing the gaming and blogging and poking about for work thing), but going in cold was actually a great thing for me as it's making me want to take a look at the books at some point. Anyway, it's a great show (as you know, blah, blah, blah) and Season 2 (starting April 1, no joke) is looking even better. Of course, given the penchant for anyone to get killed off at any time, I wouldn't be surprised to see nothing but the crew left sometime around episode 8 or 9 of the new season (ha ha)... Anyway, this same post is going up on the NEW DAF - I just wanted to run it here as well just so you folks still hanging out here would have a little more to read... ;^P

Dark Souls "All Saints' Day" Trailer + Serious Statues To Do Battle For

With its October 4 US release date right around the corner, here's a last at the latest Dark Souls trailer plus some awesome one of a kind statues created by one of the game's biggest fans, sculptor Peter Nordstrom. These five absolutely beautiful artworks are actually being given away over on the Dark Souls community page, so there will be a few lucky gamers who are going to walk away with some incredible showpieces you won't find anywhere else. If you want to give it a shot, it;'s actually not too late. Just head on over to the PREPARE TO DIE Forums and have at their interesting puzzle contest. Good Luck!

The House of the Dead Overkill EC Gets Eye-Popping (and Retro) 3D Modes

Nice. Now Sega can add "Retro-ier" to that "Longer, Harder, Gorier!" tagline for its upcoming M-rated arcade shooter. The company is really going all out with this super-enhanced HD remix of the Wii sleeper hit. In addition to PS Move support, both Anaglyph as well as Stereoscopic 3D support have been added so you can play the game on any TV and have zombies even more in your face. Of course, if you don't have a 3DTV or hate those cardboard red/blue or red/green glasses, you can still get your shooting on without the added effects. Me, I plan to blaze through the game many times in at least two of the three modes, as I don't yet own a 3DTV. No matter, I'm still expecting a total blast for as long as I can stand wearing those goofy 3D glasses I've kept since the 80's. Check out the new screens below (you DO have a pair of 3D specs around the house, right?). The House of the Dead OVERKILL Extended Cut is set to hit retail on October 25 (just in time for a little scary Halloween fun).

Sony Teases Gamers With A Little Mystery Project...

Hmmmm... My head is too full of other stuff to even venture a guess, so it looks as if I'll be holding out until October 5 to get the answer. Of course, it'll probably leak before then, but that's how it goes. It's probably something Home-related, but I'm just throwing out the first thing off the top of my head. Which means I'm probably wrong. Still, it WOULD be nice if we all found out The Agency was being revived from the dead, right?

Xseed Bringing Grand Knights History To North America (Go Vanillaware!)

Even if you're not into gaming, it's hard not to look at a Vanillaware game and see the love and care that goes into them. While the company has only a handful of titles under their belts, each has been a truly memorable experience well worth playing. From the absolutely beautiful 2D character art and richly colored backgrounds to the gameplay that's simple, yet intensely challenging and rewarding, George Kamitani and his dedicated team of artists and programmers always bring their best work to whatever platform they touch. Based on these screenshots, it looks as if Grand Knights History is no exception. Xseed has grabbed the publishing rights to Marvelous Entertainment's PSP game and is targeting a Winter release for this fantastic-looking RPG. Expect a deep character customization system, lengthy quest set in a colorful medieval fantasy setting, online play and more. By the way, "Winter" could mean anywhere from Holiday 2011 to early 2012, but that's what updates are for, right? We'll keep you posted once an actual date surfaces...

GoldenEye Reloaded Stealth Walkthrough

Mr, Bond, I presume? As far as replay value goes, it certainly looks as if GR will give players a few ways to go through the game (just like the Wii version). Here's a bit of fun with vents galore in this walkthrough for the upcoming FPS set to shoot into stores on November 4. I'm leaning towards the PS3 version just for the Move controls (it's just grand that shooters play so well with the peripheral).

New Aliens: Infestation Trailer (Yes, There's Still Life Left In That Nintendo DS!)

WayForward and Gearbox' upcoming DS exclusive is probably going to be the best thing to happen to the DS in terms of licensed movie titles and definitely the best portable Aliens game I can think of. Of course, it IS coming from one of the best developers of 2D games working today, so it's pretty much a given that it's going to be a solid game. October 11 is rushing up really fast, so put this one on your to-do lists. Thank you, Sega!