Who: Everyone
When: 9 p.m. EST, June 2nd
What: Red Dead Redemption
Where: Xbox Live
Why: Because this town actually is big enough for all of us.
Game Night: Red Dead Redemption
– May 31, 2010Posted in: Game Night, Main
Archive for May, 2010
The Rumble Reader Episode 4: Yippie Kai Yai What?
– May 28, 2010Posted in: Justin, Main, Nicolo, The Rumble Reader
In an industry that often demands too much from its creators, we may need more than sheriff to keep everyone in line. As Justin and Nick explore the wilderness of Red Dead Redemption, an essay from above the 49th Parallel forces them to think about fair trade and that particular game’s stressful development. However, the crunch-time blues can work both ways, as they see in a blog entry from Raven’s Manveer Heir. In the second half of the show, Justin and Nick explore a 1up feature that asks why there aren’t more interactive Westerns. Should we heed the author’s Mad Dog decree?
Relevant Links:
Nels Anderson’s “Do We Need Fair Trade Games?”
Manveer Heir’s “Reflections of a Five Year Vet”
John Constantine’s “Manifest Destiny”
Your Next Reading Assignment: Nintendo Magic
The Suit Makes The Mario
Mario’s been chomping mushrooms and picking fire flowers for more the 20 years now, but after his third Super outing, his wardrobe became a little dull. Sure, the cape and winged cap were neat, but neither had the allure of the Tanooki Suit or the Frog Suit. However, both New Super Mario Bros. Wii and the Super Mario Galaxy games gave our favorite plumber a long-desired makeover. Keeping in that spirit, we present our dream designs for his next interstellar (or terrestrial) adventure. Saving the princess is hard work, but there’s no reason why you can’t look good in the process.
Kappa Suit
(Tailor: Nicolo)
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Mario once again takes inspiration from a Japanese folklore creature with the Kappa Suit! Unlike the Tanooki Suit, this water-sprite-inspired garb grants our hero water-based powers to help him excel in those pesky swimming stages. In addition to granting Mario 360 degree turning abilities while storming through the soup, the lily-pad-like bowl that sits atop the suit is capable of shooting streams of water at enemies and is particularly effective at putting out charging bob-ombs. As the Kappa is an extremely polite creature, to access the Kappa suit, Mario must bow (duck) in front of kappa statues, which will release the power-up to Mario to aid him on his quest. Failing to do so, however, might result in kappa-enemies attacking Mario from the depths (they love to feed on children), so mind your manners!
Episode 139: SHOOOT HER!
Hold onto your butts! These Mayed men are buried in a pile of games, with little hope of escape. They toss around a bloody controller in BIT.TRIP RUNNER, root and toot in Red Dead Redemption and confront the darkness in Alan Wake. Kaz also uses his godly powers to move dumpsters in Skate 3, resident “Fun Hater” Justin goes on a big game hunt in Gran Pulse and Nick wonders why Vaseline sponsored Metal Slug XX.
Relevant links:
Doing What Nintendon’t (Week of 5/17)
– May 21, 2010Posted in: Blogs, Doing What Nintendon't, Justin, Main
My “Nintendon’t” column is back and here to stay. While I haven’t decided if it’s going to be weekly or biweekly at this point, you can at least expect it towards the end of the week so that I can get enough time to really delve into each game. Also, as before, I won’t have the cash to buy everything, but I will playtest anything that interests our readers. In this installment, I look at a potentially nifty 3D tech demo, the long awaited fourth BIT.TRIP from Gaijin Games, the indisputable king of Kirby games and a throwaway Tetris clone from a developer that should know better. Other releases include a new Frogger, a Flips book and Blood Beach, a WiiWare turret shooter.
Looksley’s Line Up
DSiWare/Nintendo
500 Points
When this game was first announced in Japan, I recall a lot of my friends erroneously assuming that this was early software for the 3DS. Thank goodness that this ended up being DSiWare instead. Looksley’s Line Up is a fun little download, but the head-tracking technology is in no way ready from prime time.
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Via Domus: How Not to Make a Lost Game
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The time has finally come. Only two and a half more hours of Lost footage remain to be aired before a wild six-season ride comes to a definitive close. As someone who has followed the show religiously since the first season, there are a lot of hopes for closure resting on this last episode. When it somehow turns out to be a “Kate’s Greatest Hits” retrospective, please refrain from leaving nasty comments – I’ll be too dead inside to read them. In the time it has been on the air, Lost has generated the kind of pop-culture merchandising potential that most creators and producers can only dream about. In addition to the officially licensed ABC merchandise that keeps J.J. Abrams’ bedsheets permanently lined with million dollar bills, a plethora of fan created content exists, much of it solely in celebration of the show and the fan community built around it. After the curtain has fallen on our remaining castaways, what remains for the unsated? When making your own knock-off Dharma Oreos and fish biscuits won’t cut it, there’s always Lost: Via Domus, right?
Episode 138: Pockets Full of Pizza
Smash brothers, unite! This week, the Pack assembles in the nation’s capitol for an impromptu Super Street Fighter IV tournament. As the battle rages on, Tom tells the guys about 3D Dot Heroes and Rocket Knight, while Kaz and Tony wrap up their Starcraft II beta experience. Nick shares his Deadly Premonition and Justin receives an avalanche of pizza-flavored Gamer Grub(s). Plus, dueling Dee-Jays, Tommy Wiseau, Hudson Hawk and plenty of laughs in this special reunion episode.
The Rumble Reader Episode 3: The Wrong Place at the Wright Time
– May 14, 2010Posted in: Justin, Main, Nicolo, Podcast, The Rumble Reader
As gamers mature, so must the industry. That’s the general theme for this week’s Reader, which has Justin and Nick pondering how developers can cater to broader audiences without abandoning the core gamer. They first look at a recent opinion piece from GamePro’s John Davison, in which the industry veteran suggests that “more content” doesn’t necessarily mean “better game.” In the second half of the show, Justin and Nick talk about the challenges of localizing the Ace Attorney series. Who knew that such a ridiculous game could work as a sly satire, too? Not Americans, apparently.
Relevant Links:
John Davison’s’ “Too Big and Too Hard”
Fintan Monaghan’s “Phoenix Wright’s Objection”
The first details on Best Buy’s @Gamer
The Rumble Reader Episode 3: The Wrong Place at the Wright Time: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (189)Episode 137: Our Picross to Bear
All praise to HAL Laboratory for bestowing upon us the ultimate time killer. That’s right – Picross 3D has taken hold of the Rumble Pack and isn’t letting go. However, its blocky charms did not consume the guys completely. Kaz stages a zergling rush in the Starcraft II beta, Tony follows the liter in another Left 4 Dead 2 mutation, Tom pitches in a few shillings for the Humble Indie Bundle and Justin wanders around Sword Base aimlessly in the Halo Reach beta. Plus, LittleBigPlanet 2 reactions and the fattest fingers in town.
Relevant Links:
The Humble Indie Bundle Official Page
Episode 136: Battle of the Bald Stars
Hope you’re ready for a fight, because the Pack has Ultra Combos coming out of the wazoo! This week, the guys take on all world warriors in Super Street Fighter IV, a worthwhile expansion even if it didn’t need to be pressed to a disc. How much would you pay for a greasy tussle? Kaz shares fond Halo memories in preparation for the Reach Beta, Justin reflects on Mighty Flip Champs and Tony also becomes a Patchwork Hero. Plus, the road to Gran Pulse, a pedometer on the loose, Bungievision and Breaking Bad “bald asses.”
Relevant Links
International Sensation GOO PUNCH!
