Video Game News from June 2008
Monday - June 2, 2008
I just spent a good hour or so playing through the demo of The Bourne Conspiracy, available on Xbox Live. The game is due to ship tomorrow, June 3rd, for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
My time with the game is what I'd guess a meth addict experiences while playing Grand Theft Auto IV, that is, it's all very twitchy and slightly confusing.
Any grace, polish, and roundness that a game like GTA4 or Bioshock has is exactly what this game is missing.
The game itself follows the movie The Bourne Conspiracy (the first one in the trilogy of films), reenacting some scenes exactly, but without Matt Damon, much less any other star/likeness.
The lack of the iconic image of Damon as Bourne fits perfectly into my feelings about this game: it feels like a B-movie version of better games. And, that goes for every aspect that I've played from the melee fighting, to gun fighting, to driving. It's all very 3rd grade ADD influenced with a physics engine that makes driving about as much fun as staring directly into a strobe light for half-an-hour.
We'll have to play more of the full game when it's released to really get a feel for it, and to decide if it's walkthrough-worthy. For now, though, count me as unimpressed.
Wednesday - June 4, 2008
We are beginning work on the LB LEGO Indiana Jones Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for the Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii and PC.Upon finishing, the guide will contain all artifacts and hidden items, thus giving you a detailed walkthrough of the story mode and free play mode. In ohter words, it'll be a 100% completion guide.
Per usual, you can check in on our growing guide as it's being written.
LB Game Guide: LB LEGO Indiana Jones Game Guide.
Update: For those who need LEGO Indiana Jones help beyond the current scope of the walkthrough, please post your questions in our LEGO Indiana Jones Help Thread in our forums.
Friday - June 6, 2008
The hard working people over at GamePolitics have the latest details on the current world of Jack Thompson (the ambulance chasing attorney who blames all adolescent violence on video games and those who make video game consoles). GP has done a great job, so I'll just provide links to the specific articles, along with a quick summary:
- Florida Bar Wants Jack Thompson Disbarred For 10 Years; Thompson Storms Out of Hearing - The Florida Bar requested that Jack Thompson be disbarred for 27 counts of professional misconduct. Thompson nearly made it 28 counts by storming out of the courtroom soon thereafter.
- Jack Thompson's Suit vs. Florida Supreme Court Dismissed by Federal Judge - In a separate case, a U.S. District Court Judge dismissed a lawsuit by Thompson, which accused the Florida Supreme Court of unconstitutionally barring Thompson from representing himself in front of the high court. I guess that's just what happens when you needlessly include pornography in your court filing.
- Jack Thompson: Sweet & Sour - Sweet: The title of an e-mail Thompson sent out to various publications yesterday, explaining that "Certain Florida Bar officials need to hire criminal defense lawyers today". Sour: Thompson caught telling a lie under penalty of perjury about something that involved GamePolitics.
I think it's fair to say Thompson's days as an attorney in Florida are numbered. I just wonder if the mainstream media will ever catch on and stop using the man as a respected source of the effects of video game violence on society. Doubt it, but it's a nice thought.
Forbes.com has an interesting article titled, "Why Apple Could Kill the Nintendo DS"
While there is not much that could kill the DS other than, well, the next DS, the article does argue that Apple's iPhone may soon become a successful player in the handheld gaming market.
The first point is that Steve Jobs is set to announce the App Store which allows developers to create software for the iPhone (rather than just Apple itself). This will allow users to download games and could create a thriving developer community.
Secondly, and I think more importantly, EA will release it's next huge "Sims"-like game, "Spore," on the iPhone the same day it goes on sale for all other systems, including the DS. If it is even mildly successful, other large gaming companies are sure to take notice and will begin to develop and release AAA games to the iPhone.
Continue reading "Could Apple kill the DS?"Monday - June 9, 2008
According to CVG, Nintendo is getting ready to test USB devices for the Wii.
Nintendo has pretty much put the kibosh on it being an external hard drive, so what could it/they be?
My first guess would be a new keyboard/mouse combo for surfing the web and playing certain games. Any ideas?
A few days ago I commented on an article discussing if Apple could kill the Nintendo DS.
Today, Steve Jobs is giving his keynote presentation at Apple's developer's conference (WWDC) and Engadget is live blogging it.
You'll see from the picture above, and if you visit the Engadget link, that a big focus of the new App Store (where iPhone users can buy applications) is games. Amazingly, the game pictured above is only two weeks into development, and it already looks great.
While Apple will never overtake Nintendo's lead in the handheld market, I do think that iPhone games will be successful.
More pics and info from Engadget
Friday - June 13, 2008
Our free LEGO Indiana Jones Game Guide tells you exactly where to go and what to do in order to make it through this hilarious Indy adventure.
For those who want a clear walkthrough along with everything needed to earn 100% completion, please see below...
For our 100% completion guide, including ALL Artifacts, ALL Mailboxes/Parcels, and Stud Tips:
Screenshot and Text Versions Included!
Download Now with the LunaPass - $4.95 | More Info
Monday - June 16, 2008
I was looking at the NPD data for May sales the other day and it got me thinking about how many consoles have sold to date.
Well, in the US the install base of the Wii and Xbox 360 is about the same, just over 10 million. That is pretty amazing taking into consideration the head start for the 360. The Wii, if it continues on its current pace, will soon overtake the 360 in the US.
Overall world sales of the three consoles break down like this (NextGenWars):
Wii: 21.8 million
X360: 18.9 million
PS3: 10 million
What's more, Michael Pachter (Wedbush Morgan analyst), is confused (go figure) by the lackluster sales of GTA4 and inability to drive sales of the 360 and PS3. You can read about his lack of skills here: Gamespot.
I have an idea why a $400 console isn't selling along with a $60 game: It's the economy, stupid!
Oh, and if you want to see why Pachter isn't very good at his job, it's because he doesn't understand gamers.
Wednesday - June 18, 2008
The Wii has a storage problem. With only 512 MB of on board capacity, if you're at all interested in downloading games or Wii Ware, well you'll quickly run out of space.
According to various sources, including Spong, Nintendo are definitely aware of this problem, but aren't working on a hardware solution.
So, what's left? Online storage. Just like logging into your gmail or yahoo account to check your email, your games could all be sitting there, waiting for you to enjoy.
We'll see if there is any news on this any time soon.
Friday - June 20, 2008
The Guardian's Game Blog points out that the PS3's latest firmware has a few online features that is making Xbox LIVE's online advantage tenuous.
Two such features are "XMB" and "Trophies." XMB is Sony's cross media bar (if you own a Bravia TV or PSP, you'll be familiar with this) which in the case of online PS3 means that you can message friends, issue invites, etc., in-game. Previously, you would have to exit out of the game to do this.
Trophies are essentially Xbox Live achievements.
The blog entry finishes...
Of course, Live remains more tightly integrated and is likely to remain the better service even with these PS3 updates. But the gap is closing and you have to wonder how long Microsoft can go on charging for access to Live when many of its features are free on PS3.
Tuesday - June 24, 2008
That's right! Now all of you playing on the DS can triumph in the glory of finding every artifact, red brick, map piece, and gold brick, much less use a comprehensive walkthrough to earn yourself 100% completion!
What's more, as of publication, this is the most complete LEGO Indiana Jones (DS) walkthrough available anywhere!
For an online sample of the guide, you can visit the LEGO Indiana Jones DS Guide Guide.
For our 100% completion guide, including ALL Artifacts, ALL Red Bricks, and ALL Map Pieces:
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