Max "xtal" Boone
Max is a lousy hack who sometimes writes things.
Max is a lousy hack who sometimes writes things.
I’m hurtling down a country highway in an old, beat up station wagon; a pack of ravenous undead cling to the outside and try to claw their way in, all while the vehicle is engulfed in flames. They break in and quickly rip out this poor survivor; the car rolls into a tree, a blazing inferno. Four, five, six, maybe more of the “reanimated” pounce on the driver – this is not Ed Jones’ day. Suddenly, a bright and glorious flash of orange incinerates the attackers granting them their second death. Ed stands up – he still has two legs to do so – and surveys the wreckage: what was seconds ago his coffin on wheels, now his saviour. He’s nowhere near unscathed, but he’s still breathing and that counts. Time to head home.
This is just one of an infinite possibility of harrowing scenarios in Trumball Valley.
State of Decay might just be the Zombocalypse game you didn’t know you were waiting for.
Closure isn’t a half bad time if you want to experience a uniquely difficult yet easily playable puzzle platformer. But if you have Dark Souls, don’t bother reading further; just go play that. ‘How are they related’ you ask? Hah, well for that you will have to read on to find out!*
Lo! This quite-excellent news may have passed you by a week ago as it did me, so here as a public service, I offer you last week’s news: Stardock Corporation have acquired, from Atari, the rights to classic but never incredibly popular space fun franchise Star Control! They then immediately announced “now that we at long last own the rights to Star Control we’re figuratively burying it right beside that E.T. game which nobody also played but someone you know claims they did and you punched them for it. That was the right thing to do. Punch all liars!” Okay, I kid, they didn’t say that! Who ever would? No video game corporation is that evil.
..
…
Friends, put down the controller and don your finest headphones. Come, sit by my fire.
If you like reading excerpts then this may not be the review for you, because after you click the ‘Read More’ button there are no more excerpts in this article. I know, right? “Just one excerpt?! What was he thinking?” Who the bloody hell knows?
Dead Space 3 is upon us. Yes, Isaac and co. are back! And by “co.” I guess I’m referring to the dozens upon dozens of former humans who now reside somewhere in the grooves of Mr. Clarke’s stompy shoes. But this time he’s brought a friend! A friend called John ManHeroSomething. And John has stompy shoes too. Spoiler alert: in the pantheon of the greatest shooters of all time Dead Space 3 will take its place somewhere between Half-Life 2 and Daikatana.
2012 was a lot of things, as most years are. My colleagues have discussed most of these things quite entertainingly, and so I will spare you from further use of the words “Kickstarter,” “Greenlight,” “Entitlement” and so on. Except for right there, just then.
If you’re intensely plugged into the independent gaming scene then you probably consider 2012 a banner year for the continuing rise of the indie. I’m only slightly plugged into that scene, so I consider 2012 an okay year in which The Last Guardian still saw no light of day and increasingly slight hopes for a new Half-Life could be taken off life support with rumors buzzing that Valve intends to focus their energy on entering the console market.
However, those disappointments have been quelled almost wholly by my games of the year…
Year’s end: to some, respite; others, opportunity and new beginnings. To most everyone though: reflection. As many of us here look back on another year in search of inspiration or some meaning, I need to look deeper, farther back than a “year-in-review” will permit.
No, this is a life-in-review. I guess video games played a part in it.
So a lot of people like Tim Schafer. 19,689 people to be precise, at the time I’m writing this. Perhaps yesterday you heard about this? In case you didn’t I’ll summarize: the folks at Double Fine productions don’t believe it’s possible to receive publisher funding for a “classic adventure game”-type game in 2012. Not going to happen. So instead, they reached out to so called “people” to fund their adventure dreams. $400,000 worth of funding, to be specific. Kotaku figured it wouldn’t take a week. Turns out it didn’t take a day.
Check out Double Fine’s “Kickstarter” page for all the details. Tim’s amusing plea video follows the break.
For gaming, 2011 was a year like many that preceded it: from January to October not a lot happened, and in November a bunch of publishers thought it was a good idea to have their games compete with Modern Blopfare and Field of Battles. At least Epic and Microsoft had the sense to get Gears of Beefcake 3 shipped in September so people would care about it for two months.
Ah, but that’s not the whole story, is it…
Wadjet Eye Games yesterday announced that the wonderful Gemini Rue has come to Steam. Indeed, it has already gone live as of yesterday. This is excellent news for people who like great games, but also only like purchasing their computer games through the ever dominant Steam platform. It’s there, it’s 15% off ($8.49), and it could be one of your more memorable adventures this year. So, non-owners, your excuses are running out. Also, if you stroll …
Review by Max “Xtal” Boone Ico (Remastered) Developer Team ICO / Bluepoint Games Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment Released September 27, 2011 Available for PS3 Time Played Completed Verdict: 5/5 Gold Star “My greatest fear of overturning one stone too many– disturbing the memories I had from my original experience– was something not to be realized. Within fifteen minutes I had accepted that I was once again in this beautiful space, and that it would not be for worse.”
Over the past three months we’ve linked to several pieces in Electron Dance‘s series of retrospectives and developer interviews, titled “Where We Came From.” Well, in case you hadn’t realized, yes, it was indeed a series, comprised of fifteen segments, which concluded just a few weeks ago with its final entry.
Whether you missed a part here or there, or if you missed it entirely, what better time to delve into such treasures than the onset of a weekend? Be warned though: it’s as much a retrospective on 8-bit gaming as it is a journey of self-discovery. And not just for the man who penned it all, either…
Mystery awaits you: Where We Came From.
“Good day, sir. Say, that’s a fine hat you’re wearing.” “Indeed.” “Would you mind if I tried it on?” “Beg your pardon, I daresay you’re a madman, sir. You? Try on my hat? What would the lawman think?!” “By my best estimation, good sir, the lawman would hum a gay tune, tip his own headpiece, and go about his business. Why, didn’t you hear? Today’s the day the proposed law of Wearing Another Gentleman’s Hat has graduated …
One year ago Playdead Games‘ Limbo was announced as the lead-off title in Xbox Live’s “Summer of Arcade” for 2010. It wasn’t believed to be in development for any other systems until, little more than a week ago, a summer 2011 release for PS3 and Steam was announced. Today, Playdead have revealed those launch dates. Limbo will arrive on the PlayStation Network for North America and Europe on July 19 and 20, respectively, and worldwide on Steam, August …