Gamer Times No. 4
Hello, dear readers!
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To preempt your questions: no, our clock is working fine, and yes, we are aware that three weeks have passed since the last issue. This is a one-time... well, let's go in order.
During the finalization of the previous issue and especially at the start of work on what you see now, that series of errors that occurred at the beginning resurfaced once again. In particular, this is a) design b) the operating system did not take into account that we are a periodic publication c) issues with synchronous translation with the administration.
The last point has recently been resolved, but with the main problem — the transition to a “periodic” system, in which everyone can work peacefully at the same time, regardless of the actions of others, it was not so easy to sort things out. Generally, there were two options: slowly but surely rebuild “as is,” or take a short break to normalize quickly enough. We chose the second option. I think the next issue will also be slightly smaller than usual, but in a month we expect to fully reach “cruising speed.”
In this issue, there are only two “innovations.” Firstly, we have abandoned text wrapping with images (those who have seen previous issues will understand). It did not justify itself — did not evoke the “wow effect,” took a long time to work on, consumed a lot of traffic, created a limit of 100 images, and did not show up in search... In the next issue, we will implement new design and technical achievements that we could not switch to earlier.
The second innovation is the complete redesign of the “News” section. I would even say, radical. Previously, we examined each event in detail; in this issue, we switched to the “two lines” system. Don't miss the voting at the end of the post on this topic.
At the end of the “introductory word,” I will traditionally remind you of the incredibly useful “follow” button in our profile. This helps not to miss any of our issues.
A Devil May Cry 5 (by Capcom) was announced. Overall, the gaming community reacted quite skeptically to this news, not least due to, um, the “redesign” of the main character.
On October 14, Allods Online celebrates its birthday at the “Velvet” club (Moscow, of course, what else would you expect?). The age restriction is 18 years, which, of course, is not just a coincidence. We have naked level 80 elves!
Bobby Kotick, the head of Activision Blizzard, was visited by a crazy idea — to compile all the cutscenes of Starcraft II, proudly call it a “movie,” and sell it for around twenty dollars. Or even thirty. We hope that this will not be implemented after all.
Announced another DLC for Mafia II — Joe's Adventures. Later, almost all available DLC appeared on Steam. And all of this — for three dollars each. Each pack includes two or three costumes and two cars. This seems... a bit pricey, doesn’t it?
APB is closed. Given that only two months have passed since its release, this should be more accurately called a “catastrophic failure.” The servers were shut down, and “compensation” (practically any EA Store game of your choice) was received. However, it was only received by those who bought the game through Steam; everyone else was left with only a slim hope that APB would be released again and “rebooted.”
On September 22, the iPhone 4 finally made its way to Russia... only to sell out immediately. No, things were not as bad as when iPhones were completely sold out before sales even started (through pre-orders), but they also ran out quite quickly. Although they have reappeared now and this time in a more or less sufficient quantity.
Steam forever! Huh? What? You hate it? Unfortunately, our American “keyboard colleagues” are already actively switching to digital distribution. To be precise, it has first surpassed boxed sales.
A patch 1.1.0. for Starcraft II has been released. For the first time, the patch description takes up more space than just two lines. And preparations for 1.2. have begun. At this rate, maybe we’ll reach 2.0 in a couple of years.
The Polycount Pack has been released — an update for Team Fortress 2, opening up a ridiculously large amount of weapons and the long-awaited “trading” feature. Oh, and we nearly forgot: now you can buy almost anything in the game for real money.
Yandex launched a new music service (link). What is particularly pleasing — the player appears in relevant search results. The music database, while not infinite, is quite impressive. You cannot download music (at least not legally, heh heh...), you can only listen to it online.
EA vs Kotick. Lately, the name Bobby Kotick has been unusually frequently seen in the news. Black PR? Anyway, the head of Activision “attacked” EA (saying they can't work and are generally bad publishers). The next day, EA launched a counterattack (but personally at Kotick), which was generally more convincing.
- The First Gaming channel ceased its broadcasting at the end of September. The online broadcast is still trying to stream something, but it is already clear that everything is over — Gameland.tv has been renamed to Man.tv and is already broadcasting. It was a channel for gamers; now it’s a channel “for men.” The reason — non-profitability and lack of demand. What can I say... A moment of silence.
Release and localization dates.
Calendar
**Title** **Genre** **Release Date**
NBA 2K11 Basketball/Sport October 5
Left 4 Dead 1/2: The Sacrifice Add-on October 5
Lionheart: Kings' Crusader Strategy October 8
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 Football/Sport October 8
Arcania: Gothic 4 RPG October 12
Medal of Honor Military FPS October 12
EverQuest: House of Thule Add-on/MMORPG October 12
Lost Planet 2 Futuristic Action October 15
Fallout: New Vegas RPG October 19
\The editorial team is not responsible for possible delays in release dates.*
Localization Corner
Hello everyone. Today I will again tell you about the closest releases in our country. One thing I can say for sure - we will definitely not be bored, as a considerable number of expected (and not so much) projects are hitting the shelves. There will be something for both adventure game lovers and RPG fans, as well as for those who cannot live without action and shooters.
||TitleGenreDate****PublisherThe Elusive WorldAdventureOctober 81C-SoftClub/Snowball Studios**Gothic 4: Arkania**RPGOctober 12Akella**Medal of Honor**Military FPSOctober 14Electronic Arts**Front Mission Evolved**Robot ActionOctober 14New Disk**Lost Planet 2**Futuristic ActionOctober 151C-SoftClub**Sid Meier's Civilization VI**StrategyOctober 22C-SoftClub
\The editorial team is not responsible for possible delays in release dates.*
On October 8, the Russian version of the relatively new quest called The Elusive World (original title — The Whispered World; developer and overseas publisher — Daedalic; “1C-Soft Club” and Snowball Studios**) will be released. The plot of the game will tell us the story of a young clown named Cedric, who loves to explore the mysterious world. In his dreams, the boy saw that the world was in danger, and only he could prevent this terrible disaster. The game promises us beautiful, stylish graphics, the atmosphere of a fairy-tale world, an exciting plot, and much more. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Fans of RPGs can rejoice, as on October 12, we will see the fourth part of the once-great RPG series “Gothic.” The new chapter of the saga is named “Gothic 4: Arcania.” The action of the game will take place in the city of Feshir, where our new nameless hero, driven by a thirst for revenge, must find those responsible for the attack on his native village. As usual, they promise beautiful graphics and an exciting story, in the spirit of previous installments of the series, a vast, living world, and so on. Will they keep their promises? And yes, you can already download a demo version with a small part of the island and a few quests.
Can’t live without shooters? Here’s a celebration for you too. On October 14, fans of gripping battles in both single-player and multiplayer modes can purchase a new installment of the popular franchise “Medal of Honor.” This time, we are not expecting any more adventures during World War II, but modern warfare in contemporary Afghanistan. The single-player campaign is based on real events told by members of the Tier 1 unit. As an elite Tier 1 fighter in one of the US Army units, the player must fight against the forces of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. The multiplayer mode of Medal of Honor is developed by DICE, known for the “Battlefield” series. By the way, just yesterday, another beta test began, open for everyone willing to participate.
Autumn is encroaching on our gaming wallets from all genre fronts. And it's still only September!
As it approaches its twentieth anniversary, Civilization remains vibrant and alive. Successfully weathering a transition to the third dimension in Civilization IV, the fifth entry experiments with sociality, achievements, and DLC. Yet it also allows players to not think about all that and simply enjoy a gameplay polished for decades, which I find unnecessary to describe in mini-reviews. “Civilization” is magnificent and eternal.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 91/100,
Player Opinion: 7.5
History is an interesting thing. In 2000, the developer studio Bungie was bought by Microsoft. Bought for Halo, but the team was given the opportunity to bring to release the cult classic Oni for Take-Two. Leaving MS after ten years, Bungie, in gratitude for this, creates for the last time the most powerful part of the series Halo: Reach — a prequel to the series, set just weeks before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. The canonical first-person shooter is infused with deep cooperation and elements of space simulator. All this, coupled with a traditionally huge budget and dozens of multiplayer modes for every taste. Halo is considered to be at the forefront among “fanboy” series, with high ratings awarded merely for the name. Some previous installments were indeed highly overrated, particularly Halo 3. But Reach is a masterpiece, comparable only to the first part, Combat Evolved. A moderately epic, moderately dramatic story of the fall of one of humanity's main worlds will require both shooter skills and tactical thinking. And believe me, an hour into the game, you will forget that you are holding a gamepad instead of a mouse. Truly, Remember Reach.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 92/100,
Player Opinion: 7.2
2010 marked by the release of two numbered Final Fantasy titles. The thirteenth part took the PS3 charts by storm in March, while the fourteenth quietly launched on the PC at the end of September. The game's second platform remains the same PS3, but due to technical problems, that release will only occur in March next year. The second coming of the Final Fantasy series online turned out to be of a practically equivalent level to the first seven years ago. The game does not make any revolutions in the genre and is not trying to lure players from its renowned competitors — this creation is for a narrow circle of aficionados of Japanese high culture, as well as for players looking for an unconventional online experience at a level comparable to WoW or Aion. It should be noted that the game’s technical side still needs a few months for improvements, just like nearly any large MMO. So, it's better to hold off spending money and wait until either they enable trial accounts or until the PS3 release occurs. By that time, Final Fantasy XIV will certainly present itself in all its glory.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 84/100,
Player Opinion: 5.0
Zombies are one of the central figures in the modern gaming industry. Computers and consoles finally allow rendering hundreds of the undead on-screen in real-time, and Dead Rising 2 is the Japanese variation of the zombie invasion on a megacity. The main feature of the game is a multitude of weapons and costumes available, set in an open world where adventures are limited only by a ticking timer. Although the technical level remains on par with the first installment from 2006, the sequel is a true gift for zombie fans and their extermination. And yes, don’t regret skipping the first part — the difference here is akin to the gap between parts of Left 4 Dead. There are enough zombies for everyone.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 76/100,
Player Opinion: 7.5
Finally, the exclusive contract with Sony has expired, and for the first time since 2002, a true major project dedicated to Formula 1 has appeared on our platform. It is doubly pleasing that the return has come under the auspices of Codemasters, who have breathed new life into the racing genre over the past couple of years. Stunning urban GRID, rally DiRT 2, and now the insane speeds of F1 – all of it in their signature manner of combining arcade style with realism just enough to feel like you're behind the wheel without banging your head against the wall at every turn. Just bear in mind, to love F1 2010, you need to know the real Formula 1 championship. Because here, 50 laps isn't a joke, but at times a harsh reality. And yes, it is officially confirmed that this series will be annual.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 84/100,
Player Opinion: 6.8
Launching on consoles in January of this year, Darksiders finally made its way to PCs in September. This epic slasher tells the story of the Horseman of the Apocalypse named War, who seeks to understand the reasons behind the destruction of the kingdom of men that occurred without his knowledge. A hundred years after the day of judgment, he embarks on an exploration of the ruined, demon-filled Earth and seeks to regain his former power. The main thing worth noting about Darksiders is the high quality of the port. The keyboard and mouse controls feel native in this game. Overall, the game recalls a high-budget version of the Ukrainian Collapse, rather than a multiplatform epic from the creators of Warhammer 40k: Dark Millennium Online. The game is undoubtedly worth checking out, especially given the genre’s deficit — and becomes essential for review. However, it seems very Russian when developers, with great technology and story, completely fail to gauge gameplay balance or understand player desire, swinging from one extreme to another. Yet, the first half of the game holds enough interest to ensure that Darksiders remains memorable. Who knows, you might want to finish it in a couple of years and discover what happens in the end...
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 84/100,
Player Opinion: 8.6
A mad creation of marketers that cast a shadow on Katauri and branded 1C as the corporation of Evil. “Crossroads of Worlds” — a collection of modifications, comparable in scale to “KR2: Reload”. Only if there it was presented as a collectible collection, here the cover shamelessly promises a massive expansion. And considering that “Princess in Armor” was also a large expansion, the average buyer was expecting a new chapter in the series. However, it comes with an editor, and fans are sure to create many interesting things that will ultimately redeem the costs. I recommend that all series fans wait for a collected edition of the entire “trilogy” of King's Bounty. Although its release is, unfortunately, under big question marks. But if you've missed Princess in Armor, definitely buy the Crossroads — it's worth it.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 75/100,
Player Opinion: none
Lara Croft's new adventure has shed the Tomb Raider prefix and ventures into a different genre than the main series. Guardian of Light is an isometric cooperative platformer. Isometric because the view is from above, cooperative because the game is designed for cooperative play, like the recent Alien Swarm, although the single-player campaign turned out to be sufficiently long and detailed. Lara will be joined by the Guardian of Light, a millennia-old keeper of light (no, not Svet, he's Black). However, the online co-op patch has yet to be released, so only a two-player mode on one computer is currently available. It's nice that developers aren't limiting themselves by the traditional gameplay boundaries of the series, but come up with new ideas that genuinely work and please gamers.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 81/100,
Player Opinion: none
Once again, Activision attempts to reclaim the former popularity of the Guitar Hero series, but unfortunately, Warriors of Rock turned out too similar to the fifth installment. The campaign mode isn't anything special, and it lacks novelty in the rest to make players rush to stores like five years ago. Especially dire are the series' prospects in the age of Move and Kinect – the trend is shifting towards these devices, and if they don’t find a way to integrate these technologies into Guitar Hero, the future for such musical games may be quite grim.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 72/100,
Player Opinion: 5.6
She wanted to be a Japanese Gears of War, but was born a dude in Saratov. Move along.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 40/100,
Player Opinion: 1.0
Every full-length three-dimensional animated film must be accompanied by a game based on it — a marketing rule of recent years. Such games are created under tight deadlines, often under heavy licensing pressure, binding developers hand and foot. Usually aiming to cover all possible platforms, this time PC was overlooked. What a pity — the game turned out to be a quite decent... annex. Detached from the movie, Legend of Guardians holds no value, but if you connected with the film in the theater and want more, the game is a perfect option.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 66/100,
Player Opinion: none
The most interesting indie release of the past two weeks. Hydrophobia was announced back in 2008, and only now reached the player (thus far only on Xbox 360). As the name suggests, the most important element of the game is water. A unique engine was created for the game, realistically managing water flows at an unprecedented level. Against the backdrop of this physical beauty, the main character solves equally physical puzzles and of course saves the world. Critics' reactions have been wildly varied (from 20 to 90 out of 100), so we are eagerly awaiting the PC version.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 60/100,
Player Opinion: 6.1
The new incarnation of the annual football simulator from EA Sports. Only two important things are worth mentioning: this year, the computer FIFA finally looks as beautiful as on consoles, and the Russian Premier League has debuted in the versions for PS3 and Xbox 360. Other innovations are so specific that it's somewhat awkward to mention them here.
Metascore Rating:
Press Opinion: 89/100,
Player Opinion: 8.6
Let’s skip the unnecessary preface. Today we have a lot of flash games — both good and different. Flash games themselves take up a lot of time, so the sooner you start, the better for your sleep ;)
[**When the bomb goes off**](http://coolmoose.net/games/flash/wtbgo.php)
The end of the world is near. In about five seconds, a nuclear bomb will be dropped on the planet. No one will be left alive. Who dropped the bomb, with what intentions... When the bomb goes off won't give you the answers to these questions, but offers you the chance to make a couple of hundred pitiful lives very happy. You need to help people finish their last business. However, if you don't succeed, no one will blame you — everyone is dead.
Essentially, this flash game is a set of various mini-games. In some, you’ll have to use your wits, while in others, just react quickly. For example, one person has a dream of jumping from a skyscraper onto a bird in midair (notably, a rather large one). If we fulfill the dream - great; if not — no worries, better to concentrate on the next poor soul. You have precisely five seconds to complete the task, and in the end, the game will provide you with a result and suggest restarting. Sometimes vague, When the bomb goes off still deserves a couple of minutes of your free time.
Many believe that casual games, including flash games, should be simple. Well, this second guest for today fits that definition perfectly — Poto & Cabenga, controlled with just one button, the space bar. What’s the catch and how does it work?
At one unfortunate moment, our main characters — a strange amigo with a feather on his head and an equally quirky “horse” — are separated. The action of the game unfolds across two screens: one showing our humanoid buddy, the other his faithful steed. The challenge is that a mental connection has developed between the friends, causing them to repeat each other's actions. Therefore, one’s jump means the other jumps too. As you've guessed, the space bar triggers that jump, around which the entire gameplay of Poto & Cabenga revolves. We need to overcome various obstacles (set to good music), while keeping an eye on both the amigo and the steed (reminds me of a scene from “Taxi 4”). At the end, the duo enjoys a happy reunion.
The idea behind this next flash game is probably the most original in today's selection. The authors of Upgrade complete jokingly satirize the upgrade system present in nearly every other game. As my acquaintance said,