A demo of Namco Bandai’s Soul Calibur IV is now available for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 879MB.
"The world’s premier weapon-based fighting game franchise returns to showcase the epic struggle between the spirit sword Soul Calibur and the cursed sword Soul Edge." - PlayStation Store
I still refuse to call it by this new Soulcalibur name.
Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.127.1, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.127u1, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
The MAME development team has made version .127u1 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator available for download. As with most interim updates, this one focuses on bug fixes, driver updates and background changes - so unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release.
Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
A demo of Electronic Arts’ NFL Head Coach 09 for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in Canada and The United Statesvia the Xbox Live Marketplace. Approximate file size is 1.3GB.
"In NFL Head Coach you take complete control over an NFL Franchise. You will have to manage everything from the teams personnel to the on field performance in order to succeed." - Xbox Live Dashboard
This is it! - It's the last week of Microsoft's Summer of Arcade promotion, and it looks like we're going to finish with a bang. If you're like me, you've been waiting for the release of Castle Crashers for what feels like ages now and were beginning to believe this day would never get here. Yup, as promised, Castle Crahsers is finally available in the Xbox Live Arcade.
A side-scrolling hack-em up in the same vein as Golden Axe at it's heart, Castle Crashers looks to add RPG character advancement elements to the mix, creating what developer The Behemoth hopes is an utterly addictive combination. Personally, I've been sold since the day I first saw the first few screenshots of the game - there's just something about those little knights that cracks me up.
For those of you who may need a little more substance before you decide to shell out 1,200 points ($15) on this title, a demo is available.
Title: Castle Crashers
Developer: The Behemoth
Publisher: The Behemoth
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 8/27/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4
Full Game: 1200 points ($15)
Rating: T (Teen) - Blood & Gore, Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Hack, slash, and smash your way to victory in this red-hot arcade adventure from the award-winning development studio, The Behemoth! Featuring hand-drawn characters, Castle Crashers® delivers unique hi-res illustrated visuals like nothing you've ever seen before.
Hack, slash, and smash your way to victory in this red-hot arcade adventure from the award-winning development studio, The Behemoth! Featuring hand-drawn characters, Castle Crashers® delivers unique hi-res illustrated visuals like nothing you've ever seen before.
- Intuitive combo and magic system: Unlock new combos and magical attacks as your character progresses through the game. You have an almost limitless amount of combos to perform alone, or with a group of friends.
- Arena mode: This mode allows players to battle each other head-on with four unique modes to choose from!
- Experience system: As you fight your way through the various levels of Castle Crashers, your character gains more experience points that will in return give you the option to adjust your four main stats — Strength, Magic, Defense, and Agility.
- Weapons weapons weapons! Each player has the ability to unlock more than 40 weapons.
- Animal orbs: These little companions add enhancements to your attributes. Each pet has different abilities to benefit you, with various ways of unlocking each one. Defeat a boss and steal his companion, dig them up, or buy them at a store.
- Treasure hunt: Unlockable items, weapons, pet companions, and characters are buried throughout the various levels of Castle Crashers.
- Stores: Spread across the various worlds of Castle Crashers, every store has specific items to sell. Collect gold from killing enemies, finding treasures, or opening chests, then take your collected gold to these stores for some weapons, items, character unlocks, and more!" - Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade release - While I enjoyed Galaga Legions, I have to say that it fails to live up to the hype it was given prior to release. It's certainly a good shooter, but unlike the work Namco did in updating Pac-Man with Pac-Man Championship Edition, Galaga Legions never quite feels like a Galaga game. The problem is that it just doesn't bear much of a gameplay resemblance to it's forebearer - unless you count the original's bonus rounds.
What I'm saying here is that if you like shooters and go in not expecting to play a more modernized version of Galaga, you'll probably enjoy this one - but if you are going to go in expecting the same mix of old-time nostalgia with new excitement that Pac-Man CE delivered, you may want to look elsewhere. Lucky for you there's a demo available so you can try it before you buy it.
That’s right kids, it’s movie time! With the release of Mercenaries 2: World in Flames now less than a week away, I felt it was time to take a closer look at just how well things go boom with the help of the good people over at GameTrailers.com. Do I really need to say more?
I didn’t think so.
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames will be released on August 31st, 2008 on the PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
It's been a long weekend, so I'll be keeping this as short as I can. What we've got here is a genuine week full of big name titles - something that made it a little difficult to pick one clear cut winner from the lot. After due consideration and the strong desire to see things blow up, I've decided to hand the pick of the week slot to…(drum roll please) - Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.
The first Mercenaries was definitely one of my top 5 favorite games of the last generation, and I don't lie when I say that I expect big things from the title. The game is certainly going to have it's work cut out when it comes to living up to it's predecessor.
Beyond Mercenaries 2, there are still quite a few other games to drool over this week, so let's get to it;
Moving right along, here's what else you can expect to see in stores this week;
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
A demo of Electronic Arts’ NFL Head Coach 09 for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 1.27GB.
"Brought to you by EA SPORTS™, NFL Head Coach 09 demo gives gamers the opportunity to make all the decisions that a real NFL head coach makes. Gamers can sign free agents, chose gameplans, create plays, scout players and make all the critical calls to build a champion." - PlayStation Store
A demo of Namco Bandai’s Soul Calibur IV is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Approximate download size is 695.2MB.
"The world's premier weapon-based fighting game franchise returns to showcase the epic struggle between the spirit sword Soul Calibur and the cursed sword Soul Edge in SoulCalibur® IV." - Xbox.com
Please note: As of November 2008, Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available until sometime next week.
Oh, and yes, I refuse to call it by this new Soulcalibur name.
MameUI, the Windows GUI port of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, has now made the jump to v.127, incorporating all of the changes seen in the most recent build of it’s command line based parent.
Please note: this is the same emulator previously known as MAME32, however it's name has been changed as the builds now come in both 32bit and 64bit flavors.
Check out the official MameUI page here for more details and the download links.
The latest version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator is now available. Version 1.27 incorporates all of the changes made over the last series of interim updates, as well as the first officially supported Laserdisc machine in the emulator - Cube Quest. If you were having problems with anything in v.126, this new version may be the one for you.
The updated files can be found at the official MAME page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this release.
A demo of LucasArts' Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 1.32GB.
"The Star Wars®: The Force Unleashed™ demo is now available on PSN for download to your PLAYSTATION®3 console. Play as Darth Vader’s “Secret Apprentice” and experience what its like to wield the power of the force as you make your way through the TFCF facility destroying everyone in your path. Unleash the demo today!" - PlayStation.com
A demo of LucasArts' Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all Xbox Live regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Approximate file size is 904.62MB.
"The saga continues in Star Wars™: The Force Unleashed, casting players as Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" and unveiling new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy. Set in the era between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, players must assist the iconic villain in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi, and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny." - Xbox.com
Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
We're now into week four of Microsoft's Summer of Arcade promotion, and this week the Xbox Live Arcade gets treated to a new game in Namco's Galaga franchise - Galaga Legions.
Galaga Legions was produced by the same team as the incredible Pac-Man Championship Edition, and if all goes well, should bring endless hours of joy to shooter fans everywhere. While I'm very excited at the prospect of a true sequel to Galaga, I will admit that some of the videos I've seen of the game to date haven't left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. It seems to be a little too busy, a little too over the top and a little too far from the original concept to meet the expectations mentioning the game in the same sentence as Pac-Man: CE would bring. I hope I'm wrong here and that next week I'll be talking about how much you have to buy this game.
Title: Galaga Legions
Developer: Namco Bandai Games Inc.
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games Inc.
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 8/20/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"The original Galaga captivated players all over the world, and now … it's back with Galaga Legions! But this isn't just a boring remake! Featuring table-turning game dynamics, super-slick visuals, and mind-blowingly vast waves of enemies, this is the definitive version of the arcade shooter classic!
- Classic Galaga action redefined: Galaga, the classic top-down arcade shooter released by Namco in 1981, is many fans' favorite arcade game of all time. Now, completely updated and revitalized, Galaga Legions bursts onto the scene with new game dynamics and spectacular graphics.
- Achievements: New achievements are offered for you to conquer. Show the world your old-school Galaga skills are new school enough to beat them!" - Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade release - I've got to say that I was a little disappointed by Bionic Commando Rearmed - I think somewhere in there, my lack of enthusiasm comes from the inability to jump - sure it was an integral part of the original arcade release, but I really do think it could have been added without ruining the experience. In fact, I'll go so far as to say there could have been some very interesting things they could have done with it. It probably didn't help that the 360's d-pad is still ill-suited to playing any type of arcade style game. Give the demo a try and decide for yourself.
As for Fable II Pub Games, it is exactly what it says it is - simple little gambling games to give you a leg up when Fable II comes out. It's a worthwhile addition if you're getting it free, but I really would not recommend spending 800 points ($10) on it.
A demo of 2K Sports NHL 2K9 for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 638MB.
"Developed by award-winning Visual Concepts studios, NHL 2K9 brings a totally rebuilt NHL experience to life with a brand-new in-game presentation system, as well as fresh player animations and controls that fans will enjoy from the moment they play their first game, until well after they become a seasoned veteran." - PlayStation Store
Well, it's another light release week, made even lighter for me by the fact that my Xbox 360 - the Xbox 360 I just got back from repair - now has a dead DVD drive. Thanks Microsoft, good work there. While I wait to get in touch with customer support about my wonderful console, you get to try this week's releases.
This week isn't looking too stellar for anyone without an Xbox 360, as the only two titles really worth mentioning are system exclusives. Of those two, I'm going to go with Too Human as my pick of the week - not because I want to give Denis Dyack some wood, but because I just haven't been too enthused by what I've seen of Galaga Legions so far.
So it's been what now, 9 years since Too Human was first announced at E3? From PlayStation to Gamecube to Xbox 360, the game has certainly had it's fair share of false starts. It's finally going to be time to see if all the hype (and the delayed development of a sequel to Eternal Darkness) has been worth it. Take the role of Baldur, son of Odin and protector of the human race as he battles against machines intent on harvesting human blood in an attempt to become more humanlike.
Moving right along, here's what else you can expect to see in stores this week;
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
A demo of Electronic Arts’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 1.0GB.
"Tiger Woods’ coach is now your coach! In Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09, Hank Haney will be there from the start to assess your skills, help you tune your clubs and give you feedback after every round as you attempt to climb the leaderboards and win the FedExCup." - PlayStation Store
A demo of Electronic Arts’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all Xbox Live regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 1.00GB.
"Everyone Plays in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 09 – Play the demo featuring 3 holes on the new course, Gary Player Country Club in South Africa. After playing you’ll receive custom feedback from Tiger’s very own personal performance coach, Hank Haney. Hank will provide you with custom drills to improve your Power, Accuracy, Short Game or Putting. You’ll also be able to go into the all new Club Tuner and maximize your swing by customizing you’re clubs." - Xbox Live Marketplace
Hey Kids, it's time for another MAME update! Yes, our dear friends with the MAME Development Team have upgraded the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator to v.126u5, bringing all the fun and thrills one could expect from a software update.
As usual, unless you've been having problems with your current installation or wish to help test this build for the dev team, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. (Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.)
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
As mentioned earlier this week, Capcom's Bionic Commando Rearmed hit the PlayStation Store earlier today - since I'm about as disgusted as I can be right now thanks to Microsoft's wonderful hardware and it's bag of many marvelous failures, I'm going right to the product description on this one. (Sorry to punish you for Microsoft's sins Sony, but I'm just too pissed right now to be chatty)
"Featuring intense shooting and iconic grappling action, this amazing update gets a HD makeover and more! Discover a remixed musical score, enhanced gameplay, new weapons, online rankings and new unlockable content for the upcoming sequel. Team up in the new 2-player co-op mode and take your own path while still in view on the split screen! Download the game today!" - PlayStation Store
Bionic Commando Rearmed is priced at $9.99 and a demo is available.
Not content to just put out hardware that doesn't break down for no good reason, Sony also released Street Fighter Alpha (PlayStation version) as part of it's PS1 classics collection.
"FIGHT! The classic Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors’ Dreams returns! With an improved Super Combo system based on Super Street Fighter II Turbo, the addition of the “Alpha Counter,” “Air Blocking,” and “Chain Combos,” Street Fighter Alpha set a new standard in arcade-style fighting gameplay. Download this PSone Classic today!" - PlayStation Store
Street Fighter Alpha is priced at $5.99 and is compatible with both the PlayStation 3 and PSP. No demo is available.
Week three of Microsoft's Summer of Arcade promotion kicks off today with the release of Capcom's Bionic Commando Rearmed, while elsewhere in the Xbox Live Arcade, Fable II Pub Games makes it's debut appearance. (Please be sure to see my comments regarding the ways to get Fable II Pub Games for free later in the article before spending 800 points on the game)
Let's start off by talking about Bionic Commando Rearmed. What we've got here is a re-envisioning of Capcom's 1988 Arcade hit Bionic Commando. While I'm sure many of you have fond memories of this one, I have to say I don't. Don't get me wrong, I think Bionic Commando deserves much of the praise it gets - I just really sucked at it. It was one of those games that I'd inevitably wind up avoiding in the arcade because it would just eat through my limited teenage quarter supply too quickly. (For those totally unfamiliar with this term, arcades were places where people used to go in public to pay money to play video games - I know, crazy right? /sarcasm)
That little admission aside, I really am interested to see what Capcom has done with this one - especially with the upcoming Bionic Commando sequel coming to consoles at some point in the near future. 800 points ($10) is the buy in, a demo is available.
Title: Bionic Commando Rearmed
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 8/13/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: M (Mature) - Blood & Gore, Language, Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Bionic Commando® Rearmed sees a return of the intense 2-D side-scrolling, shooting, and grappling action from the much-loved 1988 Bionic Commando. Bionic Commando Rearmed brings the amazing gameplay up to date with stunning new visuals, new weapons, online rankings, and a reworked musical score just for starters.
Bionic Commando Rearmed delivers two-player co-op, a frenetic multiplayer mode for up to four players, and a series of over 50 devious challenge rooms to test your swinging skills.
Wire-tapping the enemy communication in Bionic Commando Rearmed will give you access to information about weaknesses for the newly-designed Imperial bosses in the game. Play Bionic Commando Rearmed to unlock the original NES character costume and use it in Bionic Commando.
- Classic gameplay: Experience the classic Bionic Commando gameplay focused around the use of the bionic arm.
- Multiplayer modes: Team up or go All vs. All in multiplayer modes, including Last Man Standing, Death Match, and the intriguingly named Don't Touch the Floor.
- Updated graphics: The game has received a total modern visual revamp, including dynamic shadows, particle effects, and environmental damage.
- Cross-game interoperability: Complete specific parts of Bionic Commando Rearmed to unlock new content and hints for the Bionic Commando sequel.
- Visual style: The in-game art was designed by one of Capcom's most talented artists, Toshiaki Mori." - Xbox.com
Next up, is Fable II: Pub Games - a series of gambling mini-games that are designed to allow players to earn digital gold that they'll be able to transfer into Microsoft's Fable II when the game releases this October. While the game is priced at 800 points ($10), let me say right off the bat - DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. I say this for two reasons;
So there you have it - let's move on to the particulars…
Title: Fable II Pub Games
Developer: Carbonated Games
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 8/13/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 800 points ($10)*
Rating: RP (Rating Pending)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"The Fable II Pub Games include three exciting casino-style games set in the world of Lionhead's award-winning Fable® series. The games include Fortune's Tower (a pyramid card game in which each row can make or break your fortunes), Keystone (a game of dice and chance with numerous betting options), and Spinnerbox (where luck is everything). When you get the retail version of Fable II, you can transfer gold and unique items that you've won in these pub games to your characters in the world of Albion.
- Gold transfer to Fable II: Earn gold playing the Pub Games weeks before the Fable II release, and then transfer the gold into the world of Albion for a head start.
- In-game unlockables: The Pub Games allow you to unlock game variants based on the amount your play regardless of wins or losses.
- Bust out options: You have several options when you bust out. Participate in free tournaments paying off gold for time mirroring FII jobs, or utilize the credit system based on meta game's star rating.
- Tournaments: Win 15 unique Fable II items in in the Pub Games via tournaments. You can even unlock new Fable II concept art, a first taste of Fable II for the hardcore." - Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade release - while I did enjoy the demo of Braid - and have heard nothing but great things about it from those who have purchased the full version - I just didn't find myself pulling the trigger on it. While I loved the puzzle solving and story style displayed in the demo, the game just didn't capture my attention. Maybe it was some negative connotation in the back of my mind centered around the platforming elements in the game, but it's found it's way to my "games I'll think about buying someday" list.
Don't let my hatred of platformers dissuade you though - there's a gem of a game in there, and with a free demo available, you have no excuse to miss checking this one out. Give it a try and see if it's for you.
Just a quick note here for those of you Madden NFL 09 owners who absolutely have to have the most latest roster changes and updates for the game - Electronic Arts has released updated covers for the game that feature Brett Favre in a New York Jets jersey.
The covers can be downloaded from this link in .pdf format - you're on your own as far as printing them though.
Madden week. To some it's the crowning moment of the gaming year, for others, it's that week that you want to avoid the stores at all costs. No matter what you're feeling on the subject, there's no denying that every year the Madden launch becomes more and more like a mini-holiday. It's because of that madness - and the general lack of anything else worthwhile coming to retail, that I name Madden NFL 09 as our pick of the week.
I don't think at this point I need to say anything else, by now you've got to know what to expect from the yearly Madden upgrade, right? Wrong! I do need to say one more thing, as it's a thought that's been on my mind ever since I tried the demo… I just don't quite know what to think about that adaptive system - I mean, part of the fun of playing someone is pitting your skill against theirs - kinda ruins the fun when the game decides to make it easier or tougher for one of the players. I really hope that can be shut off.
And now for something completely different… a list of the rest of this week's releases… wait, that's something completely the same, isn't it?
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
EDIT 8/11/08 - 4:00AM: Ok, I officially suck. I Completely forgot about Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People - so I'm adding it to the mix!
It seems Amazon.com has been on a bit of a tear of late in getting exclusive goodies that gamers are going to want. First it was the Amazon exclusive Fallout 3 Survival Edition and now they've managed to obtain an exclusive agreement with Neca to distribute a replica of the Lancer Assault Rifle from Gears of War.
At first glance, the whole thing may seem just a smidge overpriced at $139.99… until you read the fine print. You see, from now through November 7th 2008, every pre-order of the Lancer Assault Rifle will ship with a free copy of Gears of War 2 or, if you're so inclined to pay an additional $10, a copy of the Gears of War 2 Limited Edition. Yeah, I figured that would get your attention.
So what do you really get for that price? Well, as I just said, you're going to get a copy of Gears of War 2, but what about the rifle itself? That's a pretty good question. Based on the pictures at Amazon, it would appear to be made of plastic- which is a bit of a downer, but it does have some nifty features in it's arsenal. Let's take a look at the product features as listed by Amazon;
Based on that, I'm guessing if you want to pretend you're shooting the rifle, you're just going to have to make the noises yourself. A little disappointing. Still, it's a nifty item for the Gears enthusiast, and at least on my end, it's caused me to seriously consider switching my pre-order over. The only thing holding me back? The fact that there's a good chance that those buying from Amazon may not get their orders on launch day - in fact, even with one day shipping selected, I was quoted an estimated receive date of November 12th. Ugh.
Gears of War 2 is scheduled to release on November 7th, 2008 exclusively for the Xbox 360.
Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.126.4, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.126u4, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
It's time for another MAME update! Yes gang, the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator has now been upgraded to v.126u4, an update which re-enables the cheat menu that was shut down in v.126u1. While the cheat menu may be back, work on it is still continuing as evidenced by the fact that you currently cannot create new cheats.
Those of you honest, non-cheaters, who want to download the updated emulator files should head on over to the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org, while those of you who can't contain your curiosity about this latest build can click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
As always, unless you've been having problems with your current installation or wish to help test the update for the dev team, I'd suggest holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Enjoy!
You may have noticed that there was an update to the Xbox 360's system software yesterday… before you drive yourself insane looking for all those features you've been hearing about since E3, please note that this was not the highly touted Fall Update - this was just a background update to lay the groundwork for it.
"A few minutes ago, the team released a system update for the Xbox 360 over Xbox LIVE. Sometime over the next few hours when you sign in to Xbox LIVE you’ll recieve a prompt to accept this mandatory update. This update contains code to ‘prepare for future growth of the service.’ There are no other changes or enhancements in this update…in other words no new features.
To be clear: This is not the new Xbox experience update. That will come in the Fall." - Major Nelson
Got that? Are we clear on this? Read my lips, no new dashboard. Move along folks, nothing to see here.
Week two of Microsoft's Summer of Arcade promotion takes effect today as Braid makes it's debut in the Xbox Live Arcade.
Despite the excellent word of mouth surrounding this title, I really don't know much beyond the fact that it mixes platform elements with puzzle solving, has a great sense of humor about it and is priced at a somewhat high 1200 ($15) points. Without much more than that to go on, I highly suggest you give the demo a try before purchasing this one.
Title: Braid
Developer: Number None Inc.
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 8/06/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 1200 points ($15)
Rating: E10 (Everyone 10+) - Language, Mild Cartoon Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Braid is a puzzle-platformer, drawn in a painterly style, where the player manipulates the flow of time in strange and unusual ways. From a house in the city, journey to a series of worlds and solve puzzles to rescue an abducted princess. In each world, you have a different power to affect the way time behaves, and it is time's strangeness that creates the puzzles. The time behaviors include: the ability to rewind, objects that are immune to being rewound, time that is tied to space, parallel realities, time dilation, and perhaps more. Braid treats your time and attention as precious; there is no filler in this game. Every puzzle shows you something new and interesting about the game world.
- Forgiving yet challenging gameplay: Braid is a 2-D platform game where you can never die and never lose. Despite this, Braid is challenging—but the challenge is about solving puzzles, rather than forcing you to replay tricky jumps.
- Rich puzzle environment: Travel through a series of worlds searching for puzzle pieces, then solving puzzles by manipulating time: rewinding, creating parallel universes, setting up pockets of dilated time. The gameplay feels fresh and new; the puzzles are meant to inspire new ways of thinking.
- Aesthetic design: A painterly art style and lush, organic soundtrack complement the unique gameplay.
- Nonlinear story: A nonlinear fiction links the various worlds and provides real-world metaphors for your time manipulations; in turn, your time manipulations are projections of the real-world themes into playful "what-if" universes where consequences can be explored.
- Nonlinear gameplay: The game doesn't force you to solve puzzles in order to proceed. If you can't figure something out, just play onward and return to that puzzle later." - Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade release, I just can't say enough good things about Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2. Even without online multiplayer support, the game just shines. It's taken over the free time of many of my friends, leading to many an epic battle over a leaderboard slot. I hope to have some time to sit down and write a full review of this one at some point this week, but for now, let me just say I recommend this one without any reservations.
A demo of Atari's Alone in the Dark for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all Xbox Live regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Approximate file size is 1.35GB.
"Action Blockbuster Alone in the Dark reveals the secret of Central Park" - Xbox Live Marketplace
Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
A demo of THQ’s Wall-E for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all Xbox Live regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Approximate file size is 1.44GB.
"Play as Wall•E and EVE following their directives, make trash cubes, explore the desolate earth and the Axiom spaceliner, and blast your way through robots trying to stop you from saving humanity" - Xbox Live Marketplace
Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
Wow, talk about going from feast to famine. Last week we had two great titles duking it out for pick of the week, and this week… well, let's just say things aren't quite so exciting.
I'm having a really hard time even saying there will be a pick of the week with this lot, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Braid could well bring home the prize. The game has gotten excellent advanced word of mouth and, since it's an Xbox Live Arcade title, I won't feel too bad if it doesn't pan out since a demo will be available.
So let's look at Braid…
Beyond that, it really is looking grim - see for yourself;
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
Just in case you missed it, Sony made PlayStation 3 system update v2.42 available late last week - the reason you may have missed it? The update doesn't really do much. According to PlayStation.com, this update is simply a background update to improve the wat the system handles some games.
"New for 2.42: Playability of some PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation® format software has been improved." - PlayStation.com
If you haven't already downloaded it, you'll get the usual prompt next time you log onto the PlayStation Network.
Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.126.3, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.126u3, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
The weekend is finally here - there were times I didn't think I'd make it. To celebrate, I bring you news of the latest update to the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator - yep, MAME v126u3 is now available for download.
Before you race off with this good news, all isn't as rosy as it would seem. You see, the MAME development team has also announced that they have made some serious changes to the way the emulator works which could have unforseen consequences. As a result, I really have to stress that unless you've been having a lot of problems with your current installation or really want to help test this latest build that you wait until the next full release before upgrading.
On the flip side, if you do want to help test this build for the dev team, head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
To make a long story short, the weekend giveth, but it also taketh away. Fickle thing those weekends are. Getting back to the point, the updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
