Since our staff is responsible for covering pretty much everything related to the video game industry on a daily basis, it can be tough to post all the stories we think our readers would like to see. Videos go unwatched, new release dates are missed and silly quotes just float away without ever being heard. So, instead of ignoring the news that slipped through the cracks each week, we decided to put it all in one convenient place!
This week, we learn that the long-delayed The Last Guardian is still in development, get a look at some new trailers for Dark and God of War: Ascension and find that a few old favorites will be available to own soon.
‘The Last Guardian’ still in development
An eagle-eyed Internet junkie caught onto this tidbit of information earlier this week. It’s a barely substantial piece of information for people desperate for news of The Last Guardian, but it’s consolation at the very least. Here is a page where Fumito Ueda, one of the leads on The Last Guardian, assures fans that the game is still in development. However, any news on the game is up to Sony to release, so we should stay tuned. Still, this should quell the fears of anyone that was afraid the game was permanently stalled in limbo.
‘Dark’ gameplay trailer
Get your weekly dose of “Gee, I hope this turns out ok” with the gameplay trailer to Realmforge’s Dark, a vampire stealth game. Mechanically, it doesn’t look amazing, but there are some pretty neat vampiric powers to play with as well as some interesting moody environments. In a perfect world, we might even get something similar to Deus Ex in terms of gameplay, though that’s probably unlikely. As long as it’s nothing like Vampire Rain, I’ll be ok. I’ll remain hopeful for this one, as well as award it bonus points for effective use of the Wilhelm Scream around the 1:38 mark. I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life when I tell you that anything that uses the Wilhelm Scream is worth my attention.
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Epic says next-gen hardware will be a big step up
There are few better voices to speak on the next generation of hardware than the creators of one of the industry’s most popular and oft-used engines, Epic Games. Epic is currently developing the 4th version of their Unreal engine, and company founder Tim Sweeney believes that the next generation will be ‘a substantial leap’ over what the current generation has to offer. Sweeney points to current high-end PCs as a good representation of what to expect, but still believes that the reality will be far more attractive. For you indie game devs, Unreal Engine 4 is worth looking at: according to Sweeney, the tools offered in the engine could technically allow for game development without any heavy-duty programming. All this talk from Sweeney makes my weenie…tingly.
‘God of War: Ascension’ video shows off some motion capture
It’s pretty common now for games to employ motion capture, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting to watch the process unfold. In yet another diary for the upcoming Ascension, we get to see some behind-the-scenes motion capture, as well as some of the additional animation finesse the artists get to put on the video after it’s been filmed. It’s all pretty awesome stuff, so take a look at it here, and try not to get too excited over the upcoming game.
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‘System Shock 2’ available on GOG
If you haven’t played System Shock 2, you have probably at least heard of it, likely within the same breath as Bioshock, its spiritual successor. Both games were designed by Ken Levine, and both feature exploration- and story-heavy gameplay. The difference is that System Shock 2 is widely considered one of the scariest games ever made, and even in the videos I’ve watched, features some extremely unsettling violence and atmosphere. I’ve never played this, but for $9.99 it’s not much of a risk to give this apparent classic a try.
‘Brutal Legend’ coming to PC
Double Fine’s Brutal Legend had its flaws, but it was generally a pretty awesome (really awesome) game that blended a ton of gameplay styles and only barely didn’t pull it off (remember the RTS-lite elements?). Now, a few years later, the game is going to find a home on the PC. Even watching the trailers and videos, I’m getting really excited for this. I can look past some of the annoying RTS segments (which may be improved by PC control) and instead remember the wonderful art style, fantastic soundtrack, and perfect writing. The game will be $20 on Steam when it releases February 26, but you can get 25% off that price if you pre-order the game. If you haven’t played the game, now is a perfect time to get in.
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