Microsoft to show Natal’s ‘full lineup’ at E3

Still busy over here in the office, but I’ll be doing my best to keep up with any major happenings at GDC. As a reminder, this year is supposed to revert back to a time more focused around actual game developers and not big announcements.

Still, you’d be crazy to think it’s going to be all work and no play.

Don’t expect much on Natal, though. Like most major fall debuts, Microsoft is holding off for E3.

“As a history, Microsoft works very strong with third-party developers, so we’re hoping that we’re going to get some great titles from that,” Microsoft’s Mindy Mount said. “You’ll be able to see more news about that this summer at E3. We’ll show you the full lineup.”

Makes sense. E3 is but a few short months away so why wouldn’t they wait?

Microsoft says that more than 70 percent of publishers worldwide are actively working on Natal. What “actively working” on means is up for debate, but I’d assume it’s merely Microsoft saying “we got lots of Natal support, y’all.”

Over and out.

Source

Space Invaders launching attack on silver screen?

Since we’ve all been begging for a Space Invaders movie, the LA Times reports that Warner Bros. is in talks with Taito to make our dreams a reality.

That’s right, Space Invaders might get a movie.

The only thing keeping this from being completely shocking or mind blowing is that Asteroids is also getting a movie. If Universal can make a movie of Asteroids, Warner Bros. has an epic trilogy on their hands.

You know what? Screw it; I want this to happen. We’re already stuck with nearly every movie based on a videogame completely sucking ass, so why not have a little fun with a series completely non-conducive to a film adaptation?

I only hope they go completely campy with it and the aliens show at least vague similarities of their iconic look.

Source

Little King’s Story developer Cing files for bankruptcy

What a bummer. Hotel Dusk and Little King’s Story developer Cing has filed for bankruptcy being some 250 million yen in debt.

Personally, I blame you. I tried to tell you to buy Little King’s Story because it’s a fantastic game, but you didn’t listen.

OK, so it’s not all your fault, but the next time you play Modern Warfare 2, I curse you to feel a little guilty about it (I’m no better, I only ever bought one Cing game, LKS).

This is a real shame. With quality games like Another Code R, Little King’s Story and Hotel Dusk, it’d be lovely to see a small developer succeed. Hell, the Hotel Dusk and Another Code series were published by Nintendo so I assumed Cing was doing well.

Apparently not.

Source

Explore the depths of space; also, Samus Aran’s background

Dan Hsu over at Bitmob scored an interview with Nintendo of America’s localization producer Nate Bihldorff to discuss Metroid: Other M. Rather than asking some of the many questions I’d like to have answered, he honed in on the more fleshed out Samus and storyline we’re seeing in previews.

I’ll forgive him though because that is what Nintendo’s pushing right now, so why not learn about the motivation behind it?

While the story largely draws from previous Metroid titles — Metroid II and Super Metroid specifically so far — Yoshio Sakamoto also refers back to the Japanese manga North America never saw. It’s an easy enough manga to find a translation for and it might help you understand some of the characters and events in the footage (both leaked and intentionally released) we’ve seen.

We do learn who the voice actress for Samus is, too. Her name is Jessica Martin, and though she’s done a lot of stage work, this is her first time to enter the lovely world of videogames.

“But she was amazing. It’s been a very long recording project — we’ve been doing this for over a year. I mean, in bits and pieces — I don’t mean recording for a year straight. That’d be the longest game of all time. [Laughs],” Bihldorff said.

Like I said, she didn’t have any video game experience, so it wasn’t like she was coming in, hanging her coat up on a hook, and banging out the lines. It was something new for her, and she was great.”

I still don’t understand why Nintendo didn’t opt for Jennifer Hale, especially since they worked with her for Metroid Prime. Normally I’d think it would be a money issue, but Nintendo has been giving Other M luxurious treatment and I doubt they’d slack up there. Apparently Sakamoto was even sent samples to help decide on who to go with, ultimately opting for Martin.

I’ll give her a chance. People were pretty harsh on her work in the demo at Nintendo’s recent summit, but in the latest trailer, she isn’t bad at all.

For more of the interview, check out Bitmob.

Bit.Trip Runner is what dreams are made of

I enjoy the Bit.Trip series a lot. It’s rare to come by a high quality third party WiiWare exclusive, much less a whole franchise worth of ‘em. And, they’re cheap, too.

The latest entry, Runner, looks epic.

It mixes platforming with rhythm gaming for a hybrid that sort of looks like Canabalt but with a lot more to it. It carries over the slick visual style the Bit.Trip is known for, but ups everything by about 100 percent (give or take a percent).

I could make this a lengthy post about how kick ass Runner looks, but the trailer is right up there and you really should watch it, it’s fantastic. Stick around until the end, too. After the gameplay ends an awesome chiptune kicks in.

Valve brings more promise of cake, probably lies

Portal 2 is official, and I think we can all let loose a squeal of happiness. Valve confirmed today that the game will see a release during the upcoming holiday season, so expect a Decemberish launch.

Sometimes sequels take a little away from what makes the original so special, but sometimes you just don’t care and want more. This is a case where I want more, and I’m elated to have a Portal 2 on the way.

Make a note of it: in 2010, a gaming apocalypse did happen. Ain’t no way 2011 can match this year; ain’t no way, son.

Source

Musically Inclined — Metroid II: Return of Samus

Metroid II: Return of Samus doesn’t get enough respect, even among the Metroid crowd. A lot of the criticisms it receives can actually by credited to the limited technology of the Game Boy and its glorious black and white screen.

Undoubtedly it’s the hardest of the series to go back to and convincing someone to play it for the first time? Well, that’s a hard thing to do.

It’s a shame, too, because Metroid II is fantastic — there’s a sense of dread and terror to it that goes unmatched. SR388 is extremely hostile, and there are weird creatures (probably a Metroid) around every corner wanting to eat your face off.

The soundtrack matches the environment with discordant tracks reaffirming that you are, in fact, an unwelcome visitor. Like most things with the game, its OST has gone overlooked, too.

We’ve heard plenty of remixes of classic Metroid tracks over the years, but Return of Samus always gets the shaft. I’m crossing my fingers for a familiar tune from Sr388 in Other M.

More than Metroid needed Zero Mission, Metroid II needs a remake. There are numerous fan projects in the works (they look great, too), but I’m looking for an official product.

A cople more tracks can be found after the jump.

READ MORE

Socom? More like so-so.

Oh I totally went there with the headline.

It’s pretty busy here at work so, you know, slow day and all that noise. It seems that Zipper announced Socom 4. Anytime a company puts a number at the end of a new entry in a long running franchise, it’s serious business.

This is especially true if said series has been in the gutter for an extended period of time. As a former Socom fan, I can confirm that the series has indeed been in the gutter for years.

I’m finding it hard to care about this game. The prospect of a playing a quality Socom is cool, but there have been so many other military shooters since my Socom 1 and 2 days that I can’t find it in me to get excited. Actually, I was over the series when GRAW stepped into my life.

Maybe Zipper will surprise me. It looks nice enough graphically, but the game touts a 32 player online experience which doesn’t sit well with me. Socom was at its best when it featured a limited number of players per round.

Also, please no vehicles.

Socom 4 hits this fall.

Source

The complex anatomy of a Cubivore

This is a sort of morbid, sort of awesome look at the anatomy of one of the beasts from the GameCube title Cubivore. I find it interesting that someone put so much attention to detail in this art when the in-game visuals are about as simple as it gets.

The art is from the manual, by the way.

I’ve always had an interest in games based around evolving a character since playing the Super Nintendo game E.V.O.: Search for Eden.

Despite my initial intentions to buy Cubivore at launch, it wasn’t until years after its release that I picked it up used at GameStop. Sadly, I never put the time into that I would’ve liked.

It’s graphically crude overall (it was an N64 title originally), but the Cubivores have a charm that’s hard to overlook.

I should really pop in Cubivore again…

Source (and bigger picture)

Valve embraces Apple confirmed, basically

Well, it’s pretty much confirmed: Valve is going Apple and they’re bringing Steam with ‘em. People dug around Steam and found some files related to Mac OS X. That could’ve amounted to nothing, but now Valve has released a set of six images to various members of the press with one clear message: expect Valve products on Mac.

This should excite plenty of Mac owning gamers who, let’s face it, get shafted in the worst way when it comes to getting games.

Having recently bought a MacBook, I’ll be sure to check this out when it launches.

Source