Bethesda has today confirmed that Fallout 3 DLC The Pitt has returned to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, following work to fix the problems that marred its release two days ago.
Over the last few years, games have started to develop a few nasty traits. Like in any person, traits are generally part of the evolution of character, game elements that develop when developers try to find new ways to innovate, or in some cases, even take shortcuts. In some cases, these aspects of design can become innovation stalwarts, providing standards for the industry. But over time, they can become stale, or crutches to disguise bad design. But sometimes, they shouldn’t have existed at all.
These traits can arise for all sorts of different reasons, from laziness, to create mass appeal, and even, more recently, one of greed or exploitation. Sadly, the more games that start to use these elements, the “cheaper” the titles become. In this article, I’ll cover a few of my top pet hates, and establish why I think that games should remove them, and what I think that developers find some appealing about including them.
Professor Layton was fantastic. Unfortunately, it had appeared that we were not going to get it anytime soon. Fortunately for us, Level 5 confirmed that they were working on localizing Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box for North American and Europe, along with all the forthcoming Layton games. The second title should be released within the next six months.
The ‘Daily Limit’ is a feature that we publish at the end of each day, containing the day’s interesting articles from around the web. The Daily Limit is short, to the point and pretty much just links.
Information has slowly been spreading regarding an anime series based on the Valkyria Chronicles PS3 game starting up in Japan in April. The anime’s trailer closely mirrors its game counterpart, even boasting the same amazing music from the game as composer Hitoshi Sakimoto has signed on to do the score. Click the jump for the trailer. Read more… »
How many times have you played casual puzzle games and said to yourself “I wish there was something challenging”. Far too many puzzlers these days seek to satisfy casual gamers rather than the hardcore puzzler niche. Creat Studios and TikGames, as co-publishers and co-developers, have been hard at work making something to answer that call. Have you been seeking a unique challenge for a long time? Look no further than Cuboid. Read more… »
It seems The Legend of Zelda series has finally moved out of the age of chivalry and is finally edging its way closer to a more modern day aesthetic. Instead of drifting romantically across the ocean or grazing the fields atop your trusty steed, the hero of Hyrule is taking the “Eye of Sauron” approach and is instead plowing through the untraveled fields of (presumably) Hyrule. Also in this Zelda, expect child labor, depression, and eventually contact with a world outside of Hyrule. That last one is actually still up for debate. Read more… »
Katamari Damacy Tribute is on its way to the PS3 in glorious 1080p High Definition resolution. Siliconera reports a magazine scan that boasts shiny new graphics, but claims that the graphical polish looks like “plain old Katamari.”
The games industry is becoming quite a monster. Just last week we reported how Resident Evil 5 had pretty much outsold everything apart from Mother’s Day cards in the UK. Remarkably, this came as no real surprise to anybody that has been following the growth of the sector over the past year or two, which says a hell of a lot for the confidence that is flowing through the industry in 2009.
The film industry, in particular, appears to be suffering as a direct result. Music has been in trouble for a long time – blame stubborn major record labels for that – but film has managed to ride a technological storm that is now slowly (but surely) transforming the business into a so-called “dinosaur”. Games are closing the gap – both financially and contextually – becoming, in many people’s eyes, the natural successor to Hollywood. After all, who would argue that Grand Theft Auto IV, for example, doesn’t offer a more worthwhile narrative and dramatic experience than most of today’s movies? Read more… »
Titmouse Games, the independent developer that recently released the trailer for Seven Haunted Seas, is also hard at work on another title. The developer is partnering with Kevin Eastman, creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and epic fantasy magazine Heavy Metal to bring us a game based on the ultra and ultra violent publication. Click continue for details and the full press release. Read more… »
We were all hoping for an announcement on Square-Enix’s plans for Final Fantasy on the Wii. Naturally we expected a game would be revealed. However we we’re wrong, whilst we expected one game, we got three. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata reveals all in his GDC Keynote speech. Hit the jump.
A brand new Zelda game is coming, and it’s on the Nintendo DS. Those of you who expected the announcement of a new Zelda title were very correct. Because The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is coming. And it looks good.
