Bayonetta Director Hideki Kamiya is all about stylish action. Not only is he responsible for the fast and flashy Devil May Cry series, but he's also working on a game starring a gun-toting witch who sports pistols on shoes -- fierce! Yeah, it's obvious he can make ass-kickings look fabulous, but will he look pretty after we hit him up with our five random questions? Let's find out.
Read more >>While most game industry people were tweeting about getting ready for E3, being ready for E3, or general excitement regarding E3, a few took the time to talk about something else (click 'Read more' to see them all):
Fez designer Phil Fish says what we're all thinking about the name of the latest PixelJunk game.
Dead Space Art Director Ian Milham acts like his cube isn't normally adorned with male blow-up dolls.
EatSleepPlay's David Jaffe puts out a call for change to the emoticon world. Current emoticon technology does not meet his needs. :/
Ubisoft's Clint Hocking kicks back, debugs game with his mind on Memorial Day.
Microsoft's Major Nelson updates his 36,869 followers on late-breaking lunch plan developments.
Ex-EGM editor and current Games Producer for Adult Swim Chris Johnston unleashes the beast on Prince of Persia.
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But now, with a newly refurbished laptop with some actual power, I decided to get back into PC gaming.
Read more >>We're still getting used to this transition from being at a big, established media outlet (EGM, 1UP) to working in new-kid-on-the-block, start-up territory. For example, we won't be in consideration for any cover-story-worthy exclusives anytime soon. Game Informer, GamePro, PC Gamer, and the official magazines from Future will be taking care of those just fine.
We still seem to be on most party lists, however. And even though we're not a part of this (and despite our livers' opposing votes), we're ready to make the call now for "Best E3 Party Invite" (winner: Access Communications, PR firm for Sega, Disney Interactive Studios, and 2K):
Details blacked out, of course, because not everyone with a web browser was invited, sorry.
Read more >>Yeah, we know -- this Kojima Productions teaser business is getting a little ridiculous. Don't worry -- this will all be over next week. Or will it? Oh, god...
News Blips:
• Yawn: Kojma Productions teaser still teasing. Yep, that damn cryptic site from the Metal Gear makers is still displaying random crap for you to ponder over. Today, however, it showed off something very interesting: the face of Solid Snake's pops Big Boss. Oh my god! What does this mean? Here, let us tell you: It obviously means the new game will feature bosses who are big. Duh! Do we have to figure out everything out for you? Answer: yes. [1UP]
• High Voltage stick yet another game in Wii socket; parents concerned for their safety/intelligence. Yesterday, we told you The Conduit developers are making the bloody, Roman-inspired fighter Gladiator A.D. for the Wii. Well, today they announced another Wii game, this one being a 4-player online co-op shooter entitled The Grinder. In the game, you fight hordes and hordes of undead things. Not zombies, though! Oh, no. Instead, you'll be taking a right turn and blowing the brains out of vampires and werewolves. Hmm, wonder why they didn't just call it "Right 4 Dead." [IGN]
• Oh, snap: African photo-shooting simulator finally showing up in America. The long-forgotten PS3 safari photography game Afrika is coming to the States thanks to niche publisher Natsume. Hopefully the elephants will clean up their mess before we breakout our fancy dancy telephoto lens. [IGN via 1UP]
• Disney Interactive scratch booty, out comes Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned. Propaganda games, the folks behind the recent Turok reboot, are developing a new action role-playing game based on the Pirates of the Caribbean flicks. We hope this game has good ARRmor! Seriously, that wasn't an ARRbitrary pirate joke. Uh, and neither was that one. Ahem. [IGN]
Hit the jump for some video blips, including a revealing Dark Void trailer, nightmare-inducing Super Mario figures, a retro 360 controller mod, and...more.
Read more >>A few thoughts on E3, Rockstar's latest, and Punch-Out!! as I browse Bitmob while prepping a bigger story for tomorrow:
Read more >>Our latest crop of stuff-you-shouldn't-miss by Bitmob members includes more arcade memories, a made-up interview with Funky Kong, and a wrap up of FanimeCon 2009, AKA Any Excuse to Show Cleavage 2009 (hit 'Read more' below for the full line-up).
Keep Your Head Up -- The Weird and Wonderful UmJammer Lammy
Benjamin Torrey takes a look back at one of the first music games, UmJammer Lammy. Along with a relentlessly surreal story, UmJammer Lammy also gave players more creative control over the actual music making than current kings of the genre, Rockband and Guitar Hero.
Arcades: A Youth Well Wasted
Arcade nostalgia runs deep and true for many Bitmob writers. Lee Bradley recounts his formative arcade years in A Youth Well Wasted, as does Brett Bates in Coin-Operated Memories. Meanwhile, Eric R. Cummings isn't going gently into that smoke-filled and dimly-lit goodnight; he's keeping the dream alive with an upcoming trip to Funspot XI. Possible Donkey Kong kill screen coming up!
Bitmob Community Podcast Update
The planning continues, spearheaded by Derek Lavigne, Trevor Hinkle, and Brett Bates -- now's the time to contribute ideas and segments!
Behind the Videogames: Funky Kong
Andrew Hiscock's satirical interview with Funky Kong has some good moments ("...in focus tests, children found him to be obnoxious, trying too hard, and simply too Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle"), but maybe spends a little too much time dwelling on Funky's supposed lifestyle choices....
In other FAB-u-LOUS news, the Internet has uncovered more gameplay footage of Wiiware title Muscle March, the highly-anticipated (by me and maybe a couple other people) game about bodybuilders desperate to recover their jar of stolen steroids. I mean vitamin supplements. I mean amyl nitrate. Whatever, who knows what's in that magical jar? Just tackle that guy!
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Betcha didn't know we were giving away a couple of pint-sized games, did ya? That's because you didn't read this massive thing.
So the winner of my copy of Rhythm Heaven (thanks to a random number generator): Brett Bates. And the winner of my Burn, Zombie Burn download code: Anthony Galindo. I'll contact you guys via email!
Speaking of contests, check out this beaut of a custom-designed PC that Destructoid's giving away. Go win it, now!
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Rockstar just announced The Ballad of Gay Tony, a new downloadable episode for Grand Theft Auto 4. The official press release is copied below if you're interested in such things, but I gotta say...this logo is FAB-u-LOUS!
I'm quite impressed that Rockstar doesn't shy away from potentially controversial subject matters. When the country was in tizzy over the violence in GTA, out comes Manhunt, a much, much more brutal game. I even complimented Rockstar for this in my EGM review of Manhunt at the time, although some readers and my fellow reviewers didn't agree, calling it more a desperate plea for attention and sales.
But trust me. The heat that politicians, Jack Thompsons, and middle America can put on, Rockstar doesn't want...especially when legal costs are involved. So with The Ballad of Gay Tony (and its FAB-u-LOUS! logo), I'm still glad the publisher is willing to go where other games and Miss California dare not.
It's just too bad some things are out of Rockstar's control. They got screwed bad when the original Manhunt 2 was slapped with a retail-killing Adults-Only ESRB rating.
Here's more info on Gay Tony's adventures via the press release:
Read more >>Well, we all knew the new Tony Hawk doohickey would be expensive, so we're not really surprised. We're still holding off for a peripheral-based rollerblading game, though.
News Blips:
• Wheel-less plastic skateboard costs more than real, wheeled skateboard. Online videogame shop GameStop is saying the upcoming peripheral-packed Tony Hawk Ride will cost a whopping 120 bones. Think that's a lot? Imagine if that thing had wheels. [Kotaku]
• David Jaffe declines four-way offer with Electronic, Entertainment, and Expo. The outspoken God of War director officially confirmed via a video blog that he will not be showing off his not-so-mysterious new game (rumored to be a new PS3 Twisted Metal) at next week's E3 trade show. Performance anxiety, maybe? [VG247]
• High Voltage stick another game in Wii socket. The developers behind upcoming Wii shooter The Conduit announced they're making Roman-inspired fighter Gladiator A.D. for the Wii as well. Nice to see a developer giving the Wii some hardcore love. [IGN]
• New PixelJunk game is a shooter, officially. Well, the name of the game is at least. Developer Q-Games announced its new PSN game will be entitled PixelJunk Shooter. Sadly, you don't play as a gun. Or a one to four-ounce alcoholic beverage. [Joystiq]
Hit the jump for some video blips, including some Diablo 3 demons, drunk anime chicks, and...more.
Read more >>We all know that E3 is the most anticipated event of the year for the world of videogames, and those of us at Area 5 are going to do everything we can to bring you with us! Next week, CO-OP will have three recorded/edited shows and three LIVE shows! Check out the full schedule for both us and the Totally Rad Show guys at http://revision3.com/e3.
We take a bit of a breather at The Napper Tandy again (the local, Irish beer-me-and-food-me), this week, and talk with G4's Patrick Klepek about what we're most excited to see at E3 next week. The big three, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are on everybody's lips and we're all planning to Sam Fisher our way into their events, but for us it's all about the games we already know will have a showing. Follow our predictions and then share with us on our blog or here at Bitmob what you're most excited about!
Patrick was also kind enough to hang around after our E3 chat and talk with Matt about the enigmatically difficult Patapon 2. They both agree that it may be too much for the typical adult life to handle, but it's got some real genius.
It's not every day you get to have a conversation with 1UP's David Ellis and Scott Sharkey on our balcony. They do us a solid and come by to share the love over Nintendo's latest nostalgic rehash: Punch Out!!. Will there ever come a time when our childhood gaming memories will be insufficient cause to make us open our wallets? May that day never come. Watch or download the show after the jump!
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