It might be late, but L.A. Noire is due to arrive on PC in a little over a fortnight in the form of L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition. Hitting shelves, both physical and digital, on November 12, PC gamers who hadn't already placed their pre-order on Steam are in for a rude shock.
As of today, the Australian Steam price is now listed as $89.99 USD, with a 10% discount for pre-orders making it $80.99 for those who buy in advance.
Until now, the Steam price for Australia had been the same as America, priced at $44.99 USD.
Thứ Tư, 26 tháng 10, 2011
Ed Boon wants Mortal Kombat vs Street Fighter to happen
To me, it’d be cool to see other characters from other fighting games, Ken and Ryu from Street Fighter or someone from Tekken would be fun ones as well.
We absolutely have thought about it. We’ve all dreamt with crossing over with Street Fighter or Tekken. Killer Instinct was also one that was coming up since they were an M-rated game as well. But I’ll tell you that we’ve had many, many conversations along those lines.
We absolutely have thought about it. We’ve all dreamt with crossing over with Street Fighter or Tekken. Killer Instinct was also one that was coming up since they were an M-rated game as well. But I’ll tell you that we’ve had many, many conversations along those lines.
Thứ Ba, 25 tháng 10, 2011
Watch Harrison Ford Play Uncharted For Almost Seven Minutes
As previously posted, Harrison Ford is appearing in Uncharted 3‘s Japanese television commercials.
The above video shows Ford playing Uncharted 3 and talking about the game. It’s the best clip of the bunch–far better than the actual commercial, which feels phony.
The commercial does feature Ford speaking Japanese as well as his calligraphy. Ford wrote “スゲェ”, which means “fantastic” or “great”, along with his name.
I like hearing Harrison Ford talk about Uncharted. It’s like hearing my mum talk about video games, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Thanks, PoweredByHentai for the tip!
The above video shows Ford playing Uncharted 3 and talking about the game. It’s the best clip of the bunch–far better than the actual commercial, which feels phony.
The commercial does feature Ford speaking Japanese as well as his calligraphy. Ford wrote “スゲェ”, which means “fantastic” or “great”, along with his name.
I like hearing Harrison Ford talk about Uncharted. It’s like hearing my mum talk about video games, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Thanks, PoweredByHentai for the tip!
The Prodigal Son: One Developer’s Journey From THQ Studio Australia To Montreal
fter the closure of THQ’s Australian studios, we follow the progress of ex-THQ Studio Australia Game Programmer Anthony Reddan, a young developer who recently left Australia to work overseas in Canada. Is his journey representative of a brain drain in the Australian games industry, or is the local indie development scene on the verge of a glorious rebirth?
October 5. Anthony Reddan sells almost all of his belongings. He says goodbye to his friends and family. He packs his clothes; he packs the remainder of his gear, and despite the fact that his flight disembarks in Montreal, he packs his surfboard.
August 10. Just two months ago, THQ ‘right-sizes’ three of their studios, leaving 200 men and women redundant; Anthony Reddan is among that 200 — a programmer who had spent his entire professional life working at THQ Studio Australia in Brisbane.
Now, in the wake of the THQ closures, Anthony Reddan is about to join the contingent of Australian game developers working overseas, part of a skills migration that could hamper the Australian industry as it attempts to recover from the recent closures plaguing local development.
We spoke to him about the move and the strange circumstances that led to the closure of THQ Studio Australia and Blue Tongue.
The best years of my life
October 19. Today Anthony turns 25 and celebrates his birthday in Montreal, Quebec, having just finished his first week working with Ubisoft on an unnamed project.
It wasn’t always this way. Once upon a time Anthony was putting his skills to use in an Australian studio, recruited straight from University.
“I studied a double bachelor of IT/Multimedia at Griffith University,” says Anthony. “As with most degrees, we were offered the opportunity to intern somewhere in the industry during final year. The Uni has a whole bunch of existing partners you can choose from, or you could find your own. It was mid-way through third year and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at that point.
“I loved games, but all I’d heard about the games industry was that the barrier to entry was ridiculous, so I guess I kinda wrote it off as a career choice in the back of my mind.”
A chance lecture at Griffith by Scott West from THQ, however, gave Anthony the opportunity he was looking for.
“In my final semester we had this rad lecturer who organised for guys from the games industry to come talk to us,” explains Anthony. “We had Matt Ditton and Morgan Jaffit from Pandemic, and Scott West from THQ. These guys were super inspiring, I was blown away.
“I recorded each talk, and at the end I asked if they had any internships going. Scott said he thought the THQ Technical Director might be looking for some interns. We wasted no time. Three of us from that class ended up working at THQ as Intern Programmers.”
Eventually, THQ offered Anthony a permanent job.
“After the intern year I was offered a full time position as an Associate Programmer,” says Anthony. “I moved onto general programming for Megamind and did a bit of everything.
“I was shifted onto our final project — The Avengers — early and was one of two gameplay programmers in the pre-production team, which was an amazing experience. In production I was part of the combat strike team, working with the most talented people around. I was responsible for writing our attack framework, projectile behaviours, cameras, interactive finishers, among other things.
October 5. Anthony Reddan sells almost all of his belongings. He says goodbye to his friends and family. He packs his clothes; he packs the remainder of his gear, and despite the fact that his flight disembarks in Montreal, he packs his surfboard.
August 10. Just two months ago, THQ ‘right-sizes’ three of their studios, leaving 200 men and women redundant; Anthony Reddan is among that 200 — a programmer who had spent his entire professional life working at THQ Studio Australia in Brisbane.
Now, in the wake of the THQ closures, Anthony Reddan is about to join the contingent of Australian game developers working overseas, part of a skills migration that could hamper the Australian industry as it attempts to recover from the recent closures plaguing local development.
We spoke to him about the move and the strange circumstances that led to the closure of THQ Studio Australia and Blue Tongue.
The best years of my life
October 19. Today Anthony turns 25 and celebrates his birthday in Montreal, Quebec, having just finished his first week working with Ubisoft on an unnamed project.
It wasn’t always this way. Once upon a time Anthony was putting his skills to use in an Australian studio, recruited straight from University.
“I studied a double bachelor of IT/Multimedia at Griffith University,” says Anthony. “As with most degrees, we were offered the opportunity to intern somewhere in the industry during final year. The Uni has a whole bunch of existing partners you can choose from, or you could find your own. It was mid-way through third year and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at that point.
“I loved games, but all I’d heard about the games industry was that the barrier to entry was ridiculous, so I guess I kinda wrote it off as a career choice in the back of my mind.”
A chance lecture at Griffith by Scott West from THQ, however, gave Anthony the opportunity he was looking for.
“In my final semester we had this rad lecturer who organised for guys from the games industry to come talk to us,” explains Anthony. “We had Matt Ditton and Morgan Jaffit from Pandemic, and Scott West from THQ. These guys were super inspiring, I was blown away.
“I recorded each talk, and at the end I asked if they had any internships going. Scott said he thought the THQ Technical Director might be looking for some interns. We wasted no time. Three of us from that class ended up working at THQ as Intern Programmers.”
Eventually, THQ offered Anthony a permanent job.
“After the intern year I was offered a full time position as an Associate Programmer,” says Anthony. “I moved onto general programming for Megamind and did a bit of everything.
“I was shifted onto our final project — The Avengers — early and was one of two gameplay programmers in the pre-production team, which was an amazing experience. In production I was part of the combat strike team, working with the most talented people around. I was responsible for writing our attack framework, projectile behaviours, cameras, interactive finishers, among other things.
Chủ Nhật, 23 tháng 10, 2011
StarCraft 2 mod tool updates to let players create custom models, UI and cutscenes
StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm won’t just mean a massive shake-up for the StarCraft 2 esports scene, we’ll be getting the Blizzard Arcade as well, a hub designed to show off the very best creations from the StarCraft 2 modding community. Blizzard plan to give modders more power with a suite of updates to the mod tools supplied with StarCraft 2.
Blizzard will release the full suite of art tools which will let designers export custom 3D models from popular 3D modelling software, 3DS Max. This will give modders the scope to create new buildings, units and tilesets, opening the doors to total conversions, and giving modders far more scope to create entirely new games within the StarCraft 2 engine.
Blizzard will release the full suite of art tools which will let designers export custom 3D models from popular 3D modelling software, 3DS Max. This will give modders the scope to create new buildings, units and tilesets, opening the doors to total conversions, and giving modders far more scope to create entirely new games within the StarCraft 2 engine.
All It Takes Is A Dollar And A Dream In EA Sports’ Oklahoma Lottery Cards
You can’t buy a cold six-pack* in Oklahoma, but next time you’re at the likker store for a carton of Parliaments and a fifth of Evan Williams you can buy some EA Sports-branded lottery scratch cards.
The Oklahoma Lottery teamed up with the sports video games label for the lottery’s latest sports-themed scratcher, seen above. The usual instant-win money prize is offered, with video games, consoles and “one-of-a-kind experiential prizes,” according to a news release, which makes it sound like EA is branding lotto cards in more states than just Oklahoma.
“We are pumped to be the first state to launch EA SPORTS theme lottery games,” said Jay Finks, Marketing Director for the Oklahoma Lottery. “We have been looking for a brand that will appeal to core Lottery player sports fans but also has a propensity for attracting younger adult players to the category as well. We believe that EA Sports helps us achieve this objective.”
Football-themed scratchers are available now; basketball tickets will release in November.You can’t buy a cold six-pack* in Oklahoma, but next time you’re at the likker store for a carton of Parliaments and a fifth of Evan Williams you can buy some EA Sports-branded lottery scratch cards.
The Oklahoma Lottery teamed up with the sports video games label for the lottery’s latest sports-themed scratcher, seen above. The usual instant-win money prize is offered, with video games, consoles and “one-of-a-kind experiential prizes,” according to a news release, which makes it sound like EA is branding lotto cards in more states than just Oklahoma.
“We are pumped to be the first state to launch EA SPORTS theme lottery games,” said Jay Finks, Marketing Director for the Oklahoma Lottery. “We have been looking for a brand that will appeal to core Lottery player sports fans but also has a propensity for attracting younger adult players to the category as well. We believe that EA Sports helps us achieve this objective.”
Football-themed scratchers are available now; basketball tickets will release in November.
The Oklahoma Lottery teamed up with the sports video games label for the lottery’s latest sports-themed scratcher, seen above. The usual instant-win money prize is offered, with video games, consoles and “one-of-a-kind experiential prizes,” according to a news release, which makes it sound like EA is branding lotto cards in more states than just Oklahoma.
“We are pumped to be the first state to launch EA SPORTS theme lottery games,” said Jay Finks, Marketing Director for the Oklahoma Lottery. “We have been looking for a brand that will appeal to core Lottery player sports fans but also has a propensity for attracting younger adult players to the category as well. We believe that EA Sports helps us achieve this objective.”
Football-themed scratchers are available now; basketball tickets will release in November.You can’t buy a cold six-pack* in Oklahoma, but next time you’re at the likker store for a carton of Parliaments and a fifth of Evan Williams you can buy some EA Sports-branded lottery scratch cards.
The Oklahoma Lottery teamed up with the sports video games label for the lottery’s latest sports-themed scratcher, seen above. The usual instant-win money prize is offered, with video games, consoles and “one-of-a-kind experiential prizes,” according to a news release, which makes it sound like EA is branding lotto cards in more states than just Oklahoma.
“We are pumped to be the first state to launch EA SPORTS theme lottery games,” said Jay Finks, Marketing Director for the Oklahoma Lottery. “We have been looking for a brand that will appeal to core Lottery player sports fans but also has a propensity for attracting younger adult players to the category as well. We believe that EA Sports helps us achieve this objective.”
Football-themed scratchers are available now; basketball tickets will release in November.
The Best Quotes Of GDC Online
Last week, I attended the Game Developers’ Conference Online in Austin. I was there to give a talk about game storytelling, but I stayed for the entire event, and caught a good number of talks, workshops and keynotes. On Monday, Gamasutra (who helps put on GDC each year) ran a fun collection of quotes from the event, which do a great job of capturing the vibe and overarching messages of GDC Online. I thought I’d add a few of my own favourites, and share some of theirs as well.
“GDC Online” is a bit of a confusing name, since it implies that the conference itself takes place on the internet. At least, when I first heard the name, what’s what I thought it was — a sort of remote GDC, similar to the one held each year in San Francisco but available online. But of course that isn’t the case; GDC is a standard convention, but one aimed at online games. For the most part, the talks are given by developers working in social and online games, from Facebook titles to iOS games to MMOs. There is also something going on called the “Narrative Summit,” in which game writers meet to discuss the challenges of their trade and to workshop game writing.
The bulk of the sessions I attended were in the narrative summit. Video game storytelling is something I’m really interested in, and I feel like sometimes I’m overly hard on game writers when they aren’t actually at fault for a game’s lackluster story. Often, the problem is that writers are brought in at the last minute to “fix” the game’s story, and it’s far too late for them to do anything more than apply a veneer of narrative over an already finished game.
One of the talks I most enjoyed was the one given by Deus Ex: Human Revolution‘s head writer Mary DeMarle, who showed the entirety of Human Revolution‘s story in spreadsheet form. When Eidos was getting ready to make the game, DeMarle said, they did something very smart: “They hired me.” It was a bit of a laugh line, but throughout her talk, she made it clear how integral her ground-floor presence had been to making the game have a story that was coherently crafted. DeMarle also shared that the outsourced boss fights and the somewhat tacked-on ending were both sacrifices that the team had to make due to a lack of time. “We did want to have a deeper level of choice than just being in a room and hitting a button,” she said, “but unfortunately that also came down to scheduling and time.”
Here are a few of the quotes from Gamasutra’s collection that I, too, enjoyed:
“I’m inherently super-duper lazy, so if I think of something, it’s going in.”
Valve writer Eric Wolpaw responds when asked if he has a larger vision of his games’ worlds than what players experience on screen. Teammate Marc Laidlaw agreed, saying that creating things that don’t make it into the game is “kind of counterproductive”.
“You click through everything until it explodes with blood and treasure.”
-Blizzard’s Kevin Martens’ mantra for the upcoming Diablo III. He, along with several other writers and designers, provided a fast and off-the-cuff talk about their inspirations and what makes a great gaming moment.
“Writers don’t often get to sit at the adults table.”
-Game writer and Extra Lives author Tom Bissell calls for writers to be ingrained deeper in the development process.
“A few Kotaku articles and IGN front pages do not make a hit game.”
-BioWare San Francisco’s Ethan Levy, from an insightful and open talk about how the studio’s social game Dragon Age Legends attracted a lot of temporary Facebook likes, yet wasn’t a big hit.
“GDC Online” is a bit of a confusing name, since it implies that the conference itself takes place on the internet. At least, when I first heard the name, what’s what I thought it was — a sort of remote GDC, similar to the one held each year in San Francisco but available online. But of course that isn’t the case; GDC is a standard convention, but one aimed at online games. For the most part, the talks are given by developers working in social and online games, from Facebook titles to iOS games to MMOs. There is also something going on called the “Narrative Summit,” in which game writers meet to discuss the challenges of their trade and to workshop game writing.
The bulk of the sessions I attended were in the narrative summit. Video game storytelling is something I’m really interested in, and I feel like sometimes I’m overly hard on game writers when they aren’t actually at fault for a game’s lackluster story. Often, the problem is that writers are brought in at the last minute to “fix” the game’s story, and it’s far too late for them to do anything more than apply a veneer of narrative over an already finished game.
One of the talks I most enjoyed was the one given by Deus Ex: Human Revolution‘s head writer Mary DeMarle, who showed the entirety of Human Revolution‘s story in spreadsheet form. When Eidos was getting ready to make the game, DeMarle said, they did something very smart: “They hired me.” It was a bit of a laugh line, but throughout her talk, she made it clear how integral her ground-floor presence had been to making the game have a story that was coherently crafted. DeMarle also shared that the outsourced boss fights and the somewhat tacked-on ending were both sacrifices that the team had to make due to a lack of time. “We did want to have a deeper level of choice than just being in a room and hitting a button,” she said, “but unfortunately that also came down to scheduling and time.”
Here are a few of the quotes from Gamasutra’s collection that I, too, enjoyed:
“I’m inherently super-duper lazy, so if I think of something, it’s going in.”
Valve writer Eric Wolpaw responds when asked if he has a larger vision of his games’ worlds than what players experience on screen. Teammate Marc Laidlaw agreed, saying that creating things that don’t make it into the game is “kind of counterproductive”.
“You click through everything until it explodes with blood and treasure.”
-Blizzard’s Kevin Martens’ mantra for the upcoming Diablo III. He, along with several other writers and designers, provided a fast and off-the-cuff talk about their inspirations and what makes a great gaming moment.
“Writers don’t often get to sit at the adults table.”
-Game writer and Extra Lives author Tom Bissell calls for writers to be ingrained deeper in the development process.
“A few Kotaku articles and IGN front pages do not make a hit game.”
-BioWare San Francisco’s Ethan Levy, from an insightful and open talk about how the studio’s social game Dragon Age Legends attracted a lot of temporary Facebook likes, yet wasn’t a big hit.
Thứ Bảy, 22 tháng 10, 2011
Phineas And Ferb 3D Game – Disney XD Games 63
New Disney Game – Phineas and Ferb
Disney released a new game. Phineas and Ferb 3D online game. Klick here to read the complete review.
The new game is available at the Disney XD discovery channel. Get ahead of the game before its officially released next week!
Disney is introducing the brand new DisneyXD game. Phineas and Ferb in: The Transport inators of Doooom!
Doofenschmitz is up to his old tricks again, and who has gone missing? Phineas! Help Ferb find his brother and try to help Agent P thwarth Doofenschmitz evil plans!
Check out this new exciting Disney XD online game before all others do at the Disney Cartoon network games website!
Check out Disney’s cartoon network to find a lot of amazing games and news. Disney offers a lot of cartoon games on their site. So head over to the Disney XD site and play the new Phineas and Ferb – The Transport-inators of Doooom! game!
Disney released a new game. Phineas and Ferb 3D online game. Klick here to read the complete review.
The new game is available at the Disney XD discovery channel. Get ahead of the game before its officially released next week!
Disney is introducing the brand new DisneyXD game. Phineas and Ferb in: The Transport inators of Doooom!
Doofenschmitz is up to his old tricks again, and who has gone missing? Phineas! Help Ferb find his brother and try to help Agent P thwarth Doofenschmitz evil plans!
Check out this new exciting Disney XD online game before all others do at the Disney Cartoon network games website!
Check out Disney’s cartoon network to find a lot of amazing games and news. Disney offers a lot of cartoon games on their site. So head over to the Disney XD site and play the new Phineas and Ferb – The Transport-inators of Doooom! game!
A case of Corporate rip off: Gamestop
I own a PS3. The 80gig MGS4 bundle, the last model with backwards compatibility (B/c). Seeing as how I never really use the B/c and my electric bill is outrageously high I decided maybe it was time to trade up to the Ps3 slim. (It's suppose to use 40% less power) So being a smart shopper I decided to do some research and see how much I could sell my Ps3 for. Here are the specifics.
1) It is the 80gig MGS4 Ps3.
2) It has a backwards compatibility emulator in it, so it plays all ps2 and ps1 games.
3) I have installed a 320gig hard drive (HDD) in it. (This is well within Sony's warranty, in fact they actually encourage and explain how to change HDD in the instructions).
4) The system itself is in perfect condition, no scratches, dust, or chips in the system.
5) And I have a Brand New Playstation Move Sports Champion Bundle. (Gift from a friend) unopened.
I could easily get $350 dollars off Ebay for this, but I decided to call Gamestop to see how much they would give me. Here's what Gamestop said.
1) They would give me $120 dollars for the system.
2) $120 dollars is including backwards compatibility feature. (Backwards compatibility does not increase the price of the system.[I called back later and just said I had a Ps3 with no backwards compatibility, the price was the same])
3) They said I have to re-install the original 80gig HDD as the 3rd party one I had violated the warranty.
4) The man said he would have to charge me a refurbishing fee of $20 dollars to replace the outer shell of the system. (After telling him it was in perfect condition he said "It's company policy."
5) The man also told me that "Gamestop does not take new unopened merchandise." I would have to open the Sports champion bundle in which case I would get $20 dollars for the Wand, $20 for the eye, and $10 for the game.
Over all. I would receive $150 dollars from Gamestop for my 320 gig Backwards Compatible Ps3 with New Unopened PS Move sports champion bundle. That's about as much BS as I've ever heard.
350+ on Ebay or 150 from Gamestop. I think my choice is clear.
1) It is the 80gig MGS4 Ps3.
2) It has a backwards compatibility emulator in it, so it plays all ps2 and ps1 games.
3) I have installed a 320gig hard drive (HDD) in it. (This is well within Sony's warranty, in fact they actually encourage and explain how to change HDD in the instructions).
4) The system itself is in perfect condition, no scratches, dust, or chips in the system.
5) And I have a Brand New Playstation Move Sports Champion Bundle. (Gift from a friend) unopened.
I could easily get $350 dollars off Ebay for this, but I decided to call Gamestop to see how much they would give me. Here's what Gamestop said.
1) They would give me $120 dollars for the system.
2) $120 dollars is including backwards compatibility feature. (Backwards compatibility does not increase the price of the system.[I called back later and just said I had a Ps3 with no backwards compatibility, the price was the same])
3) They said I have to re-install the original 80gig HDD as the 3rd party one I had violated the warranty.
4) The man said he would have to charge me a refurbishing fee of $20 dollars to replace the outer shell of the system. (After telling him it was in perfect condition he said "It's company policy."
5) The man also told me that "Gamestop does not take new unopened merchandise." I would have to open the Sports champion bundle in which case I would get $20 dollars for the Wand, $20 for the eye, and $10 for the game.
Over all. I would receive $150 dollars from Gamestop for my 320 gig Backwards Compatible Ps3 with New Unopened PS Move sports champion bundle. That's about as much BS as I've ever heard.
350+ on Ebay or 150 from Gamestop. I think my choice is clear.
Thứ Năm, 20 tháng 10, 2011
Catherine Demo Playthrough
This game is a work of art. imagine if you will for those who can remember a mix between Inteligent Cube
(I-CUBE), Sakura Wars Taisen, Nightmare on Elm Street and Lain for those of you who can remember this anime.. put all that into a blender and you get Catherine. This is an edited Version of the demo Play through to give you an idea of why this game is worth importing if they don't bring it state side.
(I-CUBE), Sakura Wars Taisen, Nightmare on Elm Street and Lain for those of you who can remember this anime.. put all that into a blender and you get Catherine. This is an edited Version of the demo Play through to give you an idea of why this game is worth importing if they don't bring it state side.
wescan40 (User) Trainee 5 bubbles 5 in CRank Score: 2810 "" PM Add as friend Track Ignore Report NGP no 3D-no worry.
When thinking about Sony's NGP everyone seems to be somewhat concerned about the lack of announced 3D support, however, this decision not to include a 3d capable screen on Sony's new portable is not a mistake on Sony's part. Think about it for a second please, Sony must have made the decision not to include 3D within the NGP hardware itself along with all of the other features included in the console in order to keep the cost down. Besides that Sony has a new 3D head mounted display on the horizon that they showcased at this years CES, although it has yet to be released is not a worry to Sony, being that the NGP is not scheduled to be released till later this year. By the time the NGP is released the 3D head-mounted display should be available. also depending on the refresh rate of the NGP's screen (see link) www.trioviz.com you could purchase a pair of passive 3D glasses and still get a 3D experience without 3D being a part of the hardware itself. Even more so, if you opted to go with Sony's 3d head-mounted display, which I think is great, then you would have a virtual reality experience like no other given the innovations of Sony's NGP's technology to look around in the game world from the perspective of the on screen avatar just by moving around the NGP unit itself. so all of those concerned should not throw in the towel where Sony is concerned they are not out of this race yet.
Thứ Tư, 19 tháng 10, 2011
Disney XD News
DISNEY XD TO PREMIERE “FORT BOYARD – ULTIMATE CHALLENGE,” A REALITY ADVENTURE SERIES ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 17
Geno Segers (Disney XD’s “Pair of Kings”) and popular British television presenter Laura Hamilton (“Dancing On Ice”) host an exciting competition requiring brainpower, courage and teamwork, “Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge,” a 10-part series premiering MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET/PT), with a thrilling finale MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD. Based on the international game show phenomenon “Fort Boyard,” the series is set in a 19th century sea fort off the coast of France. It introduces six teams — 24 teens from the United States and the United Kingdom — who team up for a tournament where only one team will ultimately get the key to unlock the historic fort’s hidden treasures and win the honor of calling themselves “the conquerors of Fort Boyard.”
The reality adventure series marks the first kids’ version of the popular game show which premiered more than 20 years ago and has since been produced in over 38 countries worldwide.
In the premiere episode, team members from the Red Vipers and Yellow Scorpions compete in the first round of challenges to find out which team has what it takes to move on to become the conquerors of the fort.
“Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge” is produced by Zodiak Media Group’s production companies The Foundation and Adventure Line Productions, who created the concept for the original “Fort Boyard” and have been producing the series for 22 years.
The executive producers are Nigel Pickard and Ged Allen for The Foundation, Pierre Godde for Adventure Line Productions and Jamila Metran for CiTV. The producer is Steve Pinhay.
The series will be televised on Disney XD cable and satellite channels around the world (excluding France and the Nordics) and CiTV in the UK.
About “Fort Boyard”
“Fort Boyard” is the most successful adventure game show in the world, having sold to over 30 territories, while dominating France 2′s primetime summer schedule every year since 1990. The action takes place in an imposing fortress built in the middle of the ocean. This provides the perfect backdrop for strenuous, against-the-clock physical challenges and mind-boggling riddles, featuring strange characters and fearsome animals. All this and more awaits those attempting to reach the Treasure Room! Only the fittest and most intelligent contestants can hope to conquer Fort Boyard.
About Disney XD:
Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for Kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. Disney XD branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms. The programming includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser supported network that reaches over 78 million households via its basic cable and satellite affiliates. There are 22 other Disney XD Games channels around the world.
Geno Segers (Disney XD’s “Pair of Kings”) and popular British television presenter Laura Hamilton (“Dancing On Ice”) host an exciting competition requiring brainpower, courage and teamwork, “Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge,” a 10-part series premiering MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET/PT), with a thrilling finale MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney XD. Based on the international game show phenomenon “Fort Boyard,” the series is set in a 19th century sea fort off the coast of France. It introduces six teams — 24 teens from the United States and the United Kingdom — who team up for a tournament where only one team will ultimately get the key to unlock the historic fort’s hidden treasures and win the honor of calling themselves “the conquerors of Fort Boyard.”
The reality adventure series marks the first kids’ version of the popular game show which premiered more than 20 years ago and has since been produced in over 38 countries worldwide.
In the premiere episode, team members from the Red Vipers and Yellow Scorpions compete in the first round of challenges to find out which team has what it takes to move on to become the conquerors of the fort.
“Fort Boyard – Ultimate Challenge” is produced by Zodiak Media Group’s production companies The Foundation and Adventure Line Productions, who created the concept for the original “Fort Boyard” and have been producing the series for 22 years.
The executive producers are Nigel Pickard and Ged Allen for The Foundation, Pierre Godde for Adventure Line Productions and Jamila Metran for CiTV. The producer is Steve Pinhay.
The series will be televised on Disney XD cable and satellite channels around the world (excluding France and the Nordics) and CiTV in the UK.
About “Fort Boyard”
“Fort Boyard” is the most successful adventure game show in the world, having sold to over 30 territories, while dominating France 2′s primetime summer schedule every year since 1990. The action takes place in an imposing fortress built in the middle of the ocean. This provides the perfect backdrop for strenuous, against-the-clock physical challenges and mind-boggling riddles, featuring strange characters and fearsome animals. All this and more awaits those attempting to reach the Treasure Room! Only the fittest and most intelligent contestants can hope to conquer Fort Boyard.
About Disney XD:
Disney XD is a basic cable channel and multi-platform brand showcasing a compelling mix of live-action and animated programming for Kids age 6-14, hyper-targeting boys and their quest for discovery, accomplishment, sports, adventure and humor. Disney XD branded content spans television, online, mobile and VOD platforms. The programming includes series, movies and short-form, as well as sports-themed programming developed with ESPN. In the U.S., Disney XD is seen on a 24-hour, advertiser supported network that reaches over 78 million households via its basic cable and satellite affiliates. There are 22 other Disney XD Games channels around the world.
Thứ Bảy, 15 tháng 10, 2011
Would you pay to play?
First off let me say that I have absolutely no proof that this is going to happen. In fact Sony maintains the policy that they are NOT going to do this, but take a ride on the conspiracy train with me for a bit and tell me your thoughts.
Would you pay to play? With the PSN down for more than 3 weeks Sony took a significant hit to their stocks. Add that with the free content being given away and the Identity theft program (which I'm still waiting for) Sony has got to be hurting in the financial department right now. If I know anything about businesses (not saying I do) it's that they never can make "enough" money. Sure a company can make enough money to cover their expenses but they never make "enough" money. So what happens when Sony decides that they need to make up the losses they suffered during the network down time?
Charging for online play.
(Let me state right here that this is NOT Sony's policy, and they have stated multiple times over the years that they do not want to charge for online.)
But let's imagine for a second that they do start. They could say something like 'Due to the new and increased security on the PSN our operating costs have increased unexpectedly. It is due to this reason that we are forced to start charging for PSN online play...' If they did this would you pay for it? If you would how much? $5 a month or $50 a year? But hey since we're riding the crazy train let's go to the next stop.
Playing to pay games.
(Again I have ZERO proof that this will happen. In fact I can't even think of a reason why this would happen, but it certainly is possible.)
What would you do if Sony started charging you to play games. Impossible you say? No. Let's think about something for a little bit, how much control does Sony have over the PS3? Probably a lot more than you think. Yes they can block out your online ability, but can they block more than that? Yes. Before you say "no" think about it. With each update they change the operating system on the PS3. On update took away backwards compatibility, one update changed the XMB, one update made it so the PS3 can auto shutdown. Whose to say that Sony can't make it so that you have to pay to use your PS3?
Finally again, this is all just speculation and with no credible evidence to support this.
If Sony started charging you play your PS3 would you pay? What if Microsoft start charging you to play your Xbox? What if all the gaming companies started charging? Would you pay to play?
Would you pay to play? With the PSN down for more than 3 weeks Sony took a significant hit to their stocks. Add that with the free content being given away and the Identity theft program (which I'm still waiting for) Sony has got to be hurting in the financial department right now. If I know anything about businesses (not saying I do) it's that they never can make "enough" money. Sure a company can make enough money to cover their expenses but they never make "enough" money. So what happens when Sony decides that they need to make up the losses they suffered during the network down time?
Charging for online play.
(Let me state right here that this is NOT Sony's policy, and they have stated multiple times over the years that they do not want to charge for online.)
But let's imagine for a second that they do start. They could say something like 'Due to the new and increased security on the PSN our operating costs have increased unexpectedly. It is due to this reason that we are forced to start charging for PSN online play...' If they did this would you pay for it? If you would how much? $5 a month or $50 a year? But hey since we're riding the crazy train let's go to the next stop.
Playing to pay games.
(Again I have ZERO proof that this will happen. In fact I can't even think of a reason why this would happen, but it certainly is possible.)
What would you do if Sony started charging you to play games. Impossible you say? No. Let's think about something for a little bit, how much control does Sony have over the PS3? Probably a lot more than you think. Yes they can block out your online ability, but can they block more than that? Yes. Before you say "no" think about it. With each update they change the operating system on the PS3. On update took away backwards compatibility, one update changed the XMB, one update made it so the PS3 can auto shutdown. Whose to say that Sony can't make it so that you have to pay to use your PS3?
Finally again, this is all just speculation and with no credible evidence to support this.
If Sony started charging you play your PS3 would you pay? What if Microsoft start charging you to play your Xbox? What if all the gaming companies started charging? Would you pay to play?
Research Article Review #1
Last year, I embarked on what I’m hoping will be a lifetime of learning. Media Psychology is what I am passionate about, and I have done research in my specific focus of interest; gaming. Part of the challenge of research into gaming psychology, is the plentiful research into gaming and aggression (more on that eventually), and a lack of much else. I decided I was interested into possible correlations between gaming habits (e.g., game choice, online vs. local play, content, etc.) and personality (openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) or motivation. My first study conducted measured online vs. local game play preferences as a function of level of extroversion. I will post that study soon.
As part of that research, I looked at a wide variety of previous research on gaming and came across some very interesting research. One of the articles that helped me the most was this one by Mark D. Griffiths, Ph.D., Mark N.O. Davies, Ph.D., and Darren Chappell, B.Sc.. It gives demographic information about gamers and some other variables. Though this study is only done with EQ gamers, and computer gaming (not necessarily console gaming), it provides a good blueprint for further research into demographics.
This article presents research conducted via online questionnaire. Questions were asked measuring how much time gamers spent playing, whether they had to give anything up (like sleep or school focus), whether gamers were married, how old they are, gender, etc. What they came up with may or may not surprise you. Though the article is definitely worth a read because it provides insight into the specific methods and materials used for the research, as well as the reasoning behind the research, I will quickly summarize their findings, but you can find the full article here.
Gender
81% male
19% female
.01% unspecified
Age
8% 12-17 years
59% 18-30 years
22% 31-40
8% 41-50
3% over 50
Player Nationality
77% North American (US and Canada)
20% European (12% overall from UK)
Marital Status
55.5% single
1.5% separated
3% divorced
30% married
10% living with partner
Education
29% current or recently graduated undergrad student
13% postgraduate qualifications
23.5% some college
20% schooling through 16 years (high school)
.5% no schooling after age 11
Occupation
28.7% IT related
20% students
6.9% unemployed
remained in various fields including (but not limited to) armed forces, lawyers, tradesmen, unlisted, etc.
Playing History
average playing history 27.2 months
Playing Frequency
average frequency per week 25 hrs
Favorite Online Gaming Features
24% social game
10.2% grouping together
10% guild membership
6.9% assisting noobs (my term, not theirs)
6.5% playing solo
5.7% magic use
5.4% hand to hand combat
5.2% role playing
3.3% pvp
12.2% other
Least Favorite Online Gaming Features
18.7% immaturity of other players
15.4% selfishness of other players
14.8% camping
13.3% slow levelling
13.1% pvp
5.9% loss of experience after death
4.4% hand to hand combat
3.7% solo play
1.9% role playing
1.7% team play
1.7% assisting noobs
.2% magic use
5.2% other
Activities Sacrificed to Play
22.8% nothing
25.6% other hobbies
18.1% sleep
9.6% work/education
10.4% socializing with friends
5.4% socializing with partner
4.6% family time
The author suggests further research may include studies including players of other games, as demographics reported here may be specific to type of game and medium used for playing. In other words, this study was done specifically with EQ players, and doesn’t necessarily generalize to all kinds of gamers. It is a stepping stone.
I chose this article because Dr. Griffiths has done a lot of research into different gaming related variables, and I appreciate that his research is objective. There are those who are pining for the death of gaming, while several studies have shown it is not the seeming evil and aggression CAUSING (ugh) hobby it has previously been labeled. There are benefits to game use, and since we cannot (and some of us don’t want to) get rid of it, I believe understanding more about those who play, and their reasons for doing so, will help us mold it into the tool it could be.
As part of that research, I looked at a wide variety of previous research on gaming and came across some very interesting research. One of the articles that helped me the most was this one by Mark D. Griffiths, Ph.D., Mark N.O. Davies, Ph.D., and Darren Chappell, B.Sc.. It gives demographic information about gamers and some other variables. Though this study is only done with EQ gamers, and computer gaming (not necessarily console gaming), it provides a good blueprint for further research into demographics.
This article presents research conducted via online questionnaire. Questions were asked measuring how much time gamers spent playing, whether they had to give anything up (like sleep or school focus), whether gamers were married, how old they are, gender, etc. What they came up with may or may not surprise you. Though the article is definitely worth a read because it provides insight into the specific methods and materials used for the research, as well as the reasoning behind the research, I will quickly summarize their findings, but you can find the full article here.
Gender
81% male
19% female
.01% unspecified
Age
8% 12-17 years
59% 18-30 years
22% 31-40
8% 41-50
3% over 50
Player Nationality
77% North American (US and Canada)
20% European (12% overall from UK)
Marital Status
55.5% single
1.5% separated
3% divorced
30% married
10% living with partner
Education
29% current or recently graduated undergrad student
13% postgraduate qualifications
23.5% some college
20% schooling through 16 years (high school)
.5% no schooling after age 11
Occupation
28.7% IT related
20% students
6.9% unemployed
remained in various fields including (but not limited to) armed forces, lawyers, tradesmen, unlisted, etc.
Playing History
average playing history 27.2 months
Playing Frequency
average frequency per week 25 hrs
Favorite Online Gaming Features
24% social game
10.2% grouping together
10% guild membership
6.9% assisting noobs (my term, not theirs)
6.5% playing solo
5.7% magic use
5.4% hand to hand combat
5.2% role playing
3.3% pvp
12.2% other
Least Favorite Online Gaming Features
18.7% immaturity of other players
15.4% selfishness of other players
14.8% camping
13.3% slow levelling
13.1% pvp
5.9% loss of experience after death
4.4% hand to hand combat
3.7% solo play
1.9% role playing
1.7% team play
1.7% assisting noobs
.2% magic use
5.2% other
Activities Sacrificed to Play
22.8% nothing
25.6% other hobbies
18.1% sleep
9.6% work/education
10.4% socializing with friends
5.4% socializing with partner
4.6% family time
The author suggests further research may include studies including players of other games, as demographics reported here may be specific to type of game and medium used for playing. In other words, this study was done specifically with EQ players, and doesn’t necessarily generalize to all kinds of gamers. It is a stepping stone.
I chose this article because Dr. Griffiths has done a lot of research into different gaming related variables, and I appreciate that his research is objective. There are those who are pining for the death of gaming, while several studies have shown it is not the seeming evil and aggression CAUSING (ugh) hobby it has previously been labeled. There are benefits to game use, and since we cannot (and some of us don’t want to) get rid of it, I believe understanding more about those who play, and their reasons for doing so, will help us mold it into the tool it could be.
Thứ Sáu, 14 tháng 10, 2011
My Yellow Light Of Death Conundrum
It was a sad day two days ago. My 60gb fat PS3 ,sadly, packed in after 4 years and 3 months. What makes this situation worst was I bought From Dust and was thoroughly enjoying it until my PS3 cut out. Now I am in a dilemma on how to move on. I have got all these PS3/PSN games that I still play so I would like to get another. But there is a surprising number of option out there.
One option is to wait. There are signs that the next generation is coming soon. I could wait for this generation to end before picking up a new console but the problem with this solution is how long the generation could be anything between a year to two or more years away. Sings may be there hinting at a new generation but with Uncharted 3 and ACR (my biggest games coming out) I would not only be missing out but I could be waiting for a while
The next option is to get it fix/fix it myself. I have had a look and it doesn't look to complex but how long does this fix really last? I have seen on forums that a fix can last 2 months and some of the prices floating around the web and at my local It shop are well a little extreme for something that can break again in as little of two months. So realistically this option doesn't make sense. It would mean I could play my PS2 games but not really a permanent fix.
So this leads me to one final option. Buying another PS3. £200 is not bad for another PS3. But this again runs into other options. There are basically two models. Is there much different between the two models? At the moment the cheaper it is the better. The other problem is the PS3 slims can't play PS2 games. I have a few PS2 games that I play from time to time. I could live without the function of playing my PS2 games but I would rather not. I could by a PS2 as well which are cheap around but this could be around £40 on top of something I am barley able to afford anyway. Instead, though, I could buy and old PS3 fat which range from £42 to £120 but the likelihood of these breaking is much higher and at those prices there is the same risk as if I was going to get it fixed.
I may be over thinking things but either option can be quite costly. I know I will get my situation sorted out eventually. I just wished it was as easy as it was to replace my PS2 when that broke. I want to take the financial plunge but which option is really the best?
One option is to wait. There are signs that the next generation is coming soon. I could wait for this generation to end before picking up a new console but the problem with this solution is how long the generation could be anything between a year to two or more years away. Sings may be there hinting at a new generation but with Uncharted 3 and ACR (my biggest games coming out) I would not only be missing out but I could be waiting for a while
The next option is to get it fix/fix it myself. I have had a look and it doesn't look to complex but how long does this fix really last? I have seen on forums that a fix can last 2 months and some of the prices floating around the web and at my local It shop are well a little extreme for something that can break again in as little of two months. So realistically this option doesn't make sense. It would mean I could play my PS2 games but not really a permanent fix.
So this leads me to one final option. Buying another PS3. £200 is not bad for another PS3. But this again runs into other options. There are basically two models. Is there much different between the two models? At the moment the cheaper it is the better. The other problem is the PS3 slims can't play PS2 games. I have a few PS2 games that I play from time to time. I could live without the function of playing my PS2 games but I would rather not. I could by a PS2 as well which are cheap around but this could be around £40 on top of something I am barley able to afford anyway. Instead, though, I could buy and old PS3 fat which range from £42 to £120 but the likelihood of these breaking is much higher and at those prices there is the same risk as if I was going to get it fixed.
I may be over thinking things but either option can be quite costly. I know I will get my situation sorted out eventually. I just wished it was as easy as it was to replace my PS2 when that broke. I want to take the financial plunge but which option is really the best?
5 Reasons I hate Gamestop......
5. Preorders - Seriously guys, I don't want to preorder the game as soon as its freaking announced. I'm pretty sure you won't run out of copies considering we live in the 20th century were we don't hand make these games in the back of the shop. If its a highly anticipated game I'm pretty sure the video game companies will produce enough for everyone. And if not, I can just walk across the street to the local Walmart to pick up a copy. So there we go douche!
( The funny thing is I actually accused one of the Gamestop employees of not preordering any games, and he actually showed me his "gamestop account" where he had every new game preordered. Yeah!? Just proves hes a bigger tool than I thought!!! )
4. Douchebag Vibe- As soon as you enter the store don't you feel the weird doucheness in the air? Yes its there BO and body sweat. I'm just kidding about that one. But they are what I like to call "Wannabe Douche" Its when they try to hard to be a douche bags that just makes them look like complete idiots. Every time a girl walks in they automatically drop what there doing and go help the lady out. Sounds polite? Well its not its pretty pathetic to me........ Ha!
3. DLC - They seriously find DLC to be the coolest thing around. "Woah Bruh, new DLC makes my gun change colorssss!!!!" NO! Its not cool "bruh"! I'd rather get a 20 dollar gift card for purchasing the game at Walmart than preorder it and Gamestop and get some shitty DLC......... "But Bruh! its a once in a life time!" Will "bruh" Im probably going to only play the game a month in my lifetime! .....Ha!
2.PC Games - Seriously Pc gaming isn't dead yet, so why do you pretend it is! And why is it you must open every Pc box and take out the disc and leave every product key showing. Do you take the disc lick it and put it on your shelf to remove the scratches? STOP LICKING MY PC GAMES!!!!!!!! And just leave them in the box please!
( The funny thing is I actually accused one of the Gamestop employees of not preordering any games, and he actually showed me his "gamestop account" where he had every new game preordered. Yeah!? Just proves hes a bigger tool than I thought!!! )
4. Douchebag Vibe- As soon as you enter the store don't you feel the weird doucheness in the air? Yes its there BO and body sweat. I'm just kidding about that one. But they are what I like to call "Wannabe Douche" Its when they try to hard to be a douche bags that just makes them look like complete idiots. Every time a girl walks in they automatically drop what there doing and go help the lady out. Sounds polite? Well its not its pretty pathetic to me........ Ha!
3. DLC - They seriously find DLC to be the coolest thing around. "Woah Bruh, new DLC makes my gun change colorssss!!!!" NO! Its not cool "bruh"! I'd rather get a 20 dollar gift card for purchasing the game at Walmart than preorder it and Gamestop and get some shitty DLC......... "But Bruh! its a once in a life time!" Will "bruh" Im probably going to only play the game a month in my lifetime! .....Ha!
2.PC Games - Seriously Pc gaming isn't dead yet, so why do you pretend it is! And why is it you must open every Pc box and take out the disc and leave every product key showing. Do you take the disc lick it and put it on your shelf to remove the scratches? STOP LICKING MY PC GAMES!!!!!!!! And just leave them in the box please!
Chinese Couple Sells All Three Kids to Play Online Games
by tin the thao tin the thao
Reply
A young Chinese couple has sold all three of their children in exchange for money to play online Nick jr games at Internet cafes, reports a southern Chinese newspaper.
According to Sanxiang City News, the couple met in an Internet cafe back in 2007 and bonded over their obsession with online video games. A year later, the parents — who are both under 21 — welcomed their first child, a son. Days after his birth, they left him home alone while they went to play online agame at an Internet cafe 30 km away.
In 2009, Li Lin and Li Juan welcomed their second child, a baby girl, and came up with the idea to sell her for money to fund their online game obsession. They did so, receiving RMB 3,000 (less than $500), which they spent entirely shortly after. The couple then proceeded to sell their first child and got 10 times as much for him — RMB 30,000, or about $4600.
Upon having their third child — another boy — the parents followed in their previous footsteps and also got RMB 30,000 for him.
They were finally turned into authorities when Li Lin’s mother found out what her son and his girlfriend had done.
When asked if they missed their children, the parents answered, “We don’t want to raise them, we just want to sell them for some money.”
Sanxiang City Newsreports the couple didn’t know they were breaking the law.
Reply
A young Chinese couple has sold all three of their children in exchange for money to play online Nick jr games at Internet cafes, reports a southern Chinese newspaper.
According to Sanxiang City News, the couple met in an Internet cafe back in 2007 and bonded over their obsession with online video games. A year later, the parents — who are both under 21 — welcomed their first child, a son. Days after his birth, they left him home alone while they went to play online agame at an Internet cafe 30 km away.
In 2009, Li Lin and Li Juan welcomed their second child, a baby girl, and came up with the idea to sell her for money to fund their online game obsession. They did so, receiving RMB 3,000 (less than $500), which they spent entirely shortly after. The couple then proceeded to sell their first child and got 10 times as much for him — RMB 30,000, or about $4600.
Upon having their third child — another boy — the parents followed in their previous footsteps and also got RMB 30,000 for him.
They were finally turned into authorities when Li Lin’s mother found out what her son and his girlfriend had done.
When asked if they missed their children, the parents answered, “We don’t want to raise them, we just want to sell them for some money.”
Sanxiang City Newsreports the couple didn’t know they were breaking the law.
Play the Scary Maze Game With Your Friends!
Have you ever played the Scary Maze Game 8 now? If not, brotha you haven’t lived!!! This maze game is the most awesome game on earth! But in order to play it you MUST have a partner in the room with you. So go find a friend, co-hort, or even an enemy – it doesn’t matter! Then match your wits and your mouse skills with the game and see if you’re awesome enough to win the BIG prize at the end!
Thứ Ba, 11 tháng 10, 2011
CW's The Vampire Diaries series now a 'fang-tastic' Facebook game
Launched today, The Vampire Diaries: Get Sucked In follows the heels of BBC's announcement for Being Human, another popular supernatural drama set to become a Facebook role-playing game.
The CW's The Vampire Diaries (adapted from a novel series by L.J. Smith of the same name) is a show about a female high schooler's romantic entanglements with two vampire brothers and the mysterious events surrounding their town.
Fans of the show can now visit Mystic Falls anytime instead of just Thursday nights, thanks to developer Arkadium and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Though Arkadium is best known for creating Mahjongg Dimensions and bringing Cooking Mama to Facebook, they've done work for The CW before, producing a Facebook game for the hit teen drama, Gossip Girl.
Gallery: The Vampire Diaries: Get Sucked In
Promising to draw upon "key plot lines," the game is currently divided into chapters, with eager fans having already completed chapter one and are now impatiently awaiting chapter two. When you begin, you're dropped into a fog in the middle of a dream, where you meet two of the show's three major characters--Elena and Damon. You get two item-fetching missions that are essentially a tutorial, then wake up to your first day at the Mystic Falls High School. An interactive map allows you to navigate the key parts of campus, your home, and the town, including the Mystic Grill restaurant. And while there's no voice acting, there's plenty of readable dialog and the music absolutely works to enhance the mood. It's all a very immersive experience.
The Vampire Diaries game map
Arkadium has clearly done its research. While I've not seen the series, the developer has created a game that completely indulges and rewards the most loyal fans while crafting enough intrigue to not alienate the random player who wanders in. The ultimate indulgence for fans is the mini-game "Mystic Trivia," which you can only pass if you have arcane knowledge of events in the show, such as, "Who is the warlock Bonnie flirts with, then messes with in Season 2?" or "What is the color of Damon's eyes?" This Facebook rendition of Vampire Diaries is clearly aimed at the lovestruck fan girls out there.
And speaking of fan girls, the game will know if you're male or female and tailor certain missions to you accordingly. In one mission, female players are sent to the cheerleading squad tryouts, while male players are sent to the football team. Though when you begin, no one asks what your gender is nor does the game ask you for a name. You're basically a cipher, and the characters in the game treat you as a student or a peer.
That the developers would allow such ambiguity is certainly worthy of notice. It'll be interesting, if there's more to it further down the road. Aside from trivia, there's a simple hidden object mechanic that takes up the bulk of the gameplay, followed by the "Mystic Pix" mini-game, which has you compare two screenshots of the show side-by-side.
Click here to play The Vampire Diaries: Get Sucked In on Facebook now >
[Hat-tip: BuzzFocus]
Will you play a Facebook game for TV series you've never seen before? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
The CW's The Vampire Diaries (adapted from a novel series by L.J. Smith of the same name) is a show about a female high schooler's romantic entanglements with two vampire brothers and the mysterious events surrounding their town.
Fans of the show can now visit Mystic Falls anytime instead of just Thursday nights, thanks to developer Arkadium and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Though Arkadium is best known for creating Mahjongg Dimensions and bringing Cooking Mama to Facebook, they've done work for The CW before, producing a Facebook game for the hit teen drama, Gossip Girl.
Gallery: The Vampire Diaries: Get Sucked In
Promising to draw upon "key plot lines," the game is currently divided into chapters, with eager fans having already completed chapter one and are now impatiently awaiting chapter two. When you begin, you're dropped into a fog in the middle of a dream, where you meet two of the show's three major characters--Elena and Damon. You get two item-fetching missions that are essentially a tutorial, then wake up to your first day at the Mystic Falls High School. An interactive map allows you to navigate the key parts of campus, your home, and the town, including the Mystic Grill restaurant. And while there's no voice acting, there's plenty of readable dialog and the music absolutely works to enhance the mood. It's all a very immersive experience.
The Vampire Diaries game map
Arkadium has clearly done its research. While I've not seen the series, the developer has created a game that completely indulges and rewards the most loyal fans while crafting enough intrigue to not alienate the random player who wanders in. The ultimate indulgence for fans is the mini-game "Mystic Trivia," which you can only pass if you have arcane knowledge of events in the show, such as, "Who is the warlock Bonnie flirts with, then messes with in Season 2?" or "What is the color of Damon's eyes?" This Facebook rendition of Vampire Diaries is clearly aimed at the lovestruck fan girls out there.
And speaking of fan girls, the game will know if you're male or female and tailor certain missions to you accordingly. In one mission, female players are sent to the cheerleading squad tryouts, while male players are sent to the football team. Though when you begin, no one asks what your gender is nor does the game ask you for a name. You're basically a cipher, and the characters in the game treat you as a student or a peer.
That the developers would allow such ambiguity is certainly worthy of notice. It'll be interesting, if there's more to it further down the road. Aside from trivia, there's a simple hidden object mechanic that takes up the bulk of the gameplay, followed by the "Mystic Pix" mini-game, which has you compare two screenshots of the show side-by-side.
Click here to play The Vampire Diaries: Get Sucked In on Facebook now >
[Hat-tip: BuzzFocus]
Will you play a Facebook game for TV series you've never seen before? Sound off in the comments. 1 Comment
FarmVille could crop up on the big screen, Toy Story writers say
"So, yes, we will continue writing movies," Sokolow and Cohen told IGN. "We are also working on several new and very exciting opportunities. We're in conversations with Zynga to do something with one of their brands. Can't really say too much on that front yet, but 'Old MacDonald' didn't have a factory, if you get our drift."
That pretty much confirms it, but when contacted by IGN, the game developer declined to comment. That's most likely because no official announcement has been made regarding a film. (But we bet that some form of a press release is being written up right about now.)
You know, we normally cringe at the thought of a film based on a video game, much less on a game that has little to no action or plot. But we're cautiously confident, considering the writers behind one of the greatest animated films of all time are in on the potential project. Just forget about those ... other movies.
Are you psyched to hear that a FarmVille movie might be in the works? And now for the ultimate question: 2D or 3D? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
That pretty much confirms it, but when contacted by IGN, the game developer declined to comment. That's most likely because no official announcement has been made regarding a film. (But we bet that some form of a press release is being written up right about now.)
You know, we normally cringe at the thought of a film based on a video game, much less on a game that has little to no action or plot. But we're cautiously confident, considering the writers behind one of the greatest animated films of all time are in on the potential project. Just forget about those ... other movies.
Are you psyched to hear that a FarmVille movie might be in the works? And now for the ultimate question: 2D or 3D? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
Thứ Năm, 6 tháng 10, 2011
What Exactly Do You Comprehend Regarding Angry Birds?
I am fairly certain you’ve already found out about Angry Birds and Angry Birds Game Seasons Walkthrough. You don’t simply find out about this through your childhood friends, friends, or family. You actually hear it through movies and Tv programs likewise. The sort of recognition it features makes one curious regarding what it can be and what makes a lot of people discuss it often.
Angry Birds is simply a video game created by the company Rovio Mobile situated in Finland. Ever since it had been introduced, countless copies have been dispersed worldwide. This particular mind-boggling reaction encouraged the developers to come up with various other variations of the video game to appeal to certain gadgets for example Symbian and Android gadgets. This allows an incredible number of consumers around the world to take pleasure from the overall game and be amazed about its fantastic and exciting levels and stages.
The game requires using a slingshot to launch birds at pigs which are on or inside certain structures. The main target of the video game will be to destroy every one of the pigs around the playing field. The actual set ups in which the pigs are usually stationed are tough to eliminate at times. Therefore, you might need to launch a number of birds before getting to destroy every one of them. When you proceed to the next levels in the game, unique forms of birds appear with entirely new unique skills. Their expertise will help you destroy the structures and the pigs much more easily.
There are three special versions in the game namely the Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio, as well as Angry Birds Magic. Angry Birds Seasons was designed to fit the various occasions of the year for instance Halloween, Christmas time, as well as Valentine’s. Angry Birds Rio is a stand-alone edition when the characters happens to be in Rio de Janeiro and connect to characters from the movie. The actual reception of this version has been very optimistic. It is downloaded 10 million times since its very first release. Newbies immediately created a good Angry Birds Rio to assist first-timers understand the new edition of the game. There are many of searches about the secrets and cheats to actually pass the stages.
Angry Birds is simply a video game created by the company Rovio Mobile situated in Finland. Ever since it had been introduced, countless copies have been dispersed worldwide. This particular mind-boggling reaction encouraged the developers to come up with various other variations of the video game to appeal to certain gadgets for example Symbian and Android gadgets. This allows an incredible number of consumers around the world to take pleasure from the overall game and be amazed about its fantastic and exciting levels and stages.
The game requires using a slingshot to launch birds at pigs which are on or inside certain structures. The main target of the video game will be to destroy every one of the pigs around the playing field. The actual set ups in which the pigs are usually stationed are tough to eliminate at times. Therefore, you might need to launch a number of birds before getting to destroy every one of them. When you proceed to the next levels in the game, unique forms of birds appear with entirely new unique skills. Their expertise will help you destroy the structures and the pigs much more easily.
There are three special versions in the game namely the Angry Birds Seasons, Angry Birds Rio, as well as Angry Birds Magic. Angry Birds Seasons was designed to fit the various occasions of the year for instance Halloween, Christmas time, as well as Valentine’s. Angry Birds Rio is a stand-alone edition when the characters happens to be in Rio de Janeiro and connect to characters from the movie. The actual reception of this version has been very optimistic. It is downloaded 10 million times since its very first release. Newbies immediately created a good Angry Birds Rio to assist first-timers understand the new edition of the game. There are many of searches about the secrets and cheats to actually pass the stages.
Mobile social game taps into 700K player base for children's charity
What do you do when you're a well-respected mobile game with 700K players worldwide? You design a virtual soup can helmet and sell it to your players for charity! At least, that's what Per Blue's Parallel Kingdom is doing (with Playmob) for the SOS Children relief in North Kenya.
SOS Children's Villages is an independently operated, international organization that's been saving kids since 1949. Currently, funds are needed for emergency food and medical aid due to a severe drought in the area. Soup Can Helmets cost 550 Food each (the virtual currency of Parallel Kingdom), which is the equivalent of $5.50 USD and enough to feed three children. Since the helmet is priced with Food, it's possible for you to not spend any real money on the helmet for it to still count. (In fact, for those of you who haven't liked the game's Facebook page yet, there's a free 100 Food offer that you can use towards a helmet purchase.)
According to Per Blue, this charity drive is at its halfway point with only a week left to go. So far, 550 Soup Can Helmets have been sold, which means 1,650 children have been cared for. If you play the game, you can buy the Soup Can Helmet in the PK Swag section of your local Trade Post until September 29.
Parallel Kingdom Donate Food
If you're new to the game and feeling adventurous, then after the tutorial stage, click on the Food tab on the bottom of your game screen to reach the Get Food menu. You'll see the Donate Food option, but it's really just a notice for the charity drive. Instead, you need to go to Travel, click on a Trade Hub (the one in Madison, WI is one of the two biggest ones), and locate your Local Trade Post, which should be a white building with a red roof buried under a dozen other players who are represented as little heads. Finally, you need to be at Level 2 to be allowed to purchase the helmet. (If you get lost, fire up the in-game chat. Special thanks goes to MisMoon, MoldyBanana, and ZeroGr@vity for their help.)
Parallel Kingdom Trade Post
Parallel Kingdom is best described as FourSquare meets a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game). It surpassed a half million players in June, was voted 2009 Best Augmented Reality App Second Place (first place went to XMG Studio Inc.'s Pandemica) and 2009 Best MMO Game Third Place (beaten by ngmoco's Eliminate Pro, with Miraphonic's Epic Pet Wars in first place). Although Parallel Kingdom is not a true Facebook game (its Facebook game app simply links you to register on the website), it does possess Facebook Connect and can be played on your PC with a web browser.
Would you try out a game just to donate to charity? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
SOS Children's Villages is an independently operated, international organization that's been saving kids since 1949. Currently, funds are needed for emergency food and medical aid due to a severe drought in the area. Soup Can Helmets cost 550 Food each (the virtual currency of Parallel Kingdom), which is the equivalent of $5.50 USD and enough to feed three children. Since the helmet is priced with Food, it's possible for you to not spend any real money on the helmet for it to still count. (In fact, for those of you who haven't liked the game's Facebook page yet, there's a free 100 Food offer that you can use towards a helmet purchase.)
According to Per Blue, this charity drive is at its halfway point with only a week left to go. So far, 550 Soup Can Helmets have been sold, which means 1,650 children have been cared for. If you play the game, you can buy the Soup Can Helmet in the PK Swag section of your local Trade Post until September 29.
Parallel Kingdom Donate Food
If you're new to the game and feeling adventurous, then after the tutorial stage, click on the Food tab on the bottom of your game screen to reach the Get Food menu. You'll see the Donate Food option, but it's really just a notice for the charity drive. Instead, you need to go to Travel, click on a Trade Hub (the one in Madison, WI is one of the two biggest ones), and locate your Local Trade Post, which should be a white building with a red roof buried under a dozen other players who are represented as little heads. Finally, you need to be at Level 2 to be allowed to purchase the helmet. (If you get lost, fire up the in-game chat. Special thanks goes to MisMoon, MoldyBanana, and ZeroGr@vity for their help.)
Parallel Kingdom Trade Post
Parallel Kingdom is best described as FourSquare meets a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game). It surpassed a half million players in June, was voted 2009 Best Augmented Reality App Second Place (first place went to XMG Studio Inc.'s Pandemica) and 2009 Best MMO Game Third Place (beaten by ngmoco's Eliminate Pro, with Miraphonic's Epic Pet Wars in first place). Although Parallel Kingdom is not a true Facebook game (its Facebook game app simply links you to register on the website), it does possess Facebook Connect and can be played on your PC with a web browser.
Would you try out a game just to donate to charity? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment
Putting the 'face' in Facebook games: Arkadium and Image Metrics
Arkadium is likely best known on Facebook for games like Mahjongg Dimensions and Cooking Mama, but that's about to change. Thanks to a brand new partnership with Image Metrics, an animation studio best known for the facial capture technology it provides to traditional game developers, your own face could be the star of Arkadium's next Facebook game.
During an interview with Gamasutra, the new found duo revealed Portable You, a new toolset for Facebook game developers--starting with New York City-based Arkadium--to allow players to include their own face as the centerpiece of their avatars. Using a simple webcam, Portable You, embedded in any given Facebook, could create a 3D rendering of your head and face.
By the way, that picture to the right is a 3D reproduction of an actress's face done by Image Metrics--it's not real. But we doubt Portable You will be as powerful. This is especially considering the technology was bought through an acquisition of Big Stage earlier this year.
"Mostly we've been the user of our own technologies," Image Metrics CEO Robert Gehorsam said to Gamasutra. "But we've also really come to realize and believe there's a major shift going on in how people want to represent themselves, express themselves and communicate online, starting with creating your own character in a game."
"We work directly from video; we don't require any kind of markers, or the special makeup," Gehorsam told Gamasutra. "We can go directly from a video screen or from a single image to 3D animation... through a whole bunch of equations that recognize the face in a 2D context. It's not a photo; it's really 3D."
Sure, this has the potential to introduce a never-before-seen level of immersion to Facebook games. The idea of representing or expressing yourself more accurately than ever has plenty of charm. But the more pressing question I have for Image Metrics is: How well does Portable You render beards?
What do you think this type of technology means for Facebook games in the future? Would you ever place a 3D version of yourself into your favorite Facebook games? Sound off in the comments. Add CommentAdd Comment
During an interview with Gamasutra, the new found duo revealed Portable You, a new toolset for Facebook game developers--starting with New York City-based Arkadium--to allow players to include their own face as the centerpiece of their avatars. Using a simple webcam, Portable You, embedded in any given Facebook, could create a 3D rendering of your head and face.
By the way, that picture to the right is a 3D reproduction of an actress's face done by Image Metrics--it's not real. But we doubt Portable You will be as powerful. This is especially considering the technology was bought through an acquisition of Big Stage earlier this year.
"Mostly we've been the user of our own technologies," Image Metrics CEO Robert Gehorsam said to Gamasutra. "But we've also really come to realize and believe there's a major shift going on in how people want to represent themselves, express themselves and communicate online, starting with creating your own character in a game."
"We work directly from video; we don't require any kind of markers, or the special makeup," Gehorsam told Gamasutra. "We can go directly from a video screen or from a single image to 3D animation... through a whole bunch of equations that recognize the face in a 2D context. It's not a photo; it's really 3D."
Sure, this has the potential to introduce a never-before-seen level of immersion to Facebook games. The idea of representing or expressing yourself more accurately than ever has plenty of charm. But the more pressing question I have for Image Metrics is: How well does Portable You render beards?
What do you think this type of technology means for Facebook games in the future? Would you ever place a 3D version of yourself into your favorite Facebook games? Sound off in the comments. Add CommentAdd Comment
Thứ Bảy, 1 tháng 10, 2011
FarmVille: Coin Tree and Giant Coin Tree now available in the store
While you may already have a collection of Giant Coin Trees on your farm(s) in FarmVille, if you're like me, you were probably fairly disappointed in the "giant" size of that particular tree. Well, be disappointed no longer friends, as Zynga has finally fixed the size discrepancy with these trees, making them truly giant (at least when compared to other giant trees in the game), and has even released them for purchase in the store.
Not only that, but we see the Level 1 tree of this pairing - the regular Coin Tree - also available to buy in the game's marketplace. The pair goes for 5 and 10 Farm Cash each, which is exciting for those that were tried of the 7/8-14 Farm Cash prices we've seen take over the store in the past few months. Again, this Giant Coin Tree is the same one you likely already have on your land to begin with, and you don't have to do anything special (or purchase any additional Giant Coin Trees) to automatically convert all of your existing trees to the new "Giant" size.
For a look at the two different trees, you can check out our picture at right. Keep in mind that the Giant Coin Tree used to look like the version on the left, which is now just the standard Coin Tree. The larger tree on the right is the Giant Coin Tree as it functions today in the game, the way it should have been all along.
If you don't happen to have one of these Giant Coin Trees on your farm, or you just wish to purchase the smaller version to go along with it, make sure to do it fast as they'll only be available for five more days.
Will you purchase either of these Coin Trees from the store? Did you notice that your Giant Coin Trees had grown in size automatically over the past few days? Sound off in the comments.
Not only that, but we see the Level 1 tree of this pairing - the regular Coin Tree - also available to buy in the game's marketplace. The pair goes for 5 and 10 Farm Cash each, which is exciting for those that were tried of the 7/8-14 Farm Cash prices we've seen take over the store in the past few months. Again, this Giant Coin Tree is the same one you likely already have on your land to begin with, and you don't have to do anything special (or purchase any additional Giant Coin Trees) to automatically convert all of your existing trees to the new "Giant" size.
For a look at the two different trees, you can check out our picture at right. Keep in mind that the Giant Coin Tree used to look like the version on the left, which is now just the standard Coin Tree. The larger tree on the right is the Giant Coin Tree as it functions today in the game, the way it should have been all along.
If you don't happen to have one of these Giant Coin Trees on your farm, or you just wish to purchase the smaller version to go along with it, make sure to do it fast as they'll only be available for five more days.
Will you purchase either of these Coin Trees from the store? Did you notice that your Giant Coin Trees had grown in size automatically over the past few days? Sound off in the comments.
Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of Neverwinter goes live on Facebook
Released previously only in a private beta, Dungeons & Dragons Heroes of Neverwinter has now officially gone live on Facebook. Developed by Atari and set in the Neverwinter realm, the game already has 166,000 monthly players from its time in beta, but if you'd like to join them, here's a taste of what you can expect.
When first starting Heroes of Neverwinter, you'll be allowed to create a character using either set templates of a Fighter, Wizard, Cleric or Rogue (each with their own stats and specialties), or can create a custom character to customize your gender, stats, class, race and more. In this, the game can immediately start out being as complex or as straightforward as you like.
Upon launching into the game proper, you're met with a story of amnesia and will be introduced to Edrick, a scout that was guiding you on your way to Neverwinter before a pack of Goblins knocked you unconscious. Through this introduction, you're told of Neverwinter, a place of hope and civilization that has survived the Ruining, and that you had originally wanted to travel there to purchase a home and earn your fortune. With this as a base, you're sent on your way.
Movement is achieved on a grid, with this turn-based game automatically allowing you to move at the beginning of each turn. When commanding a party, you'll be able to complete multiple actions, including attacking or opening your inventory with each character before needing to manually end their turn and start over with the next character. Once each "adventure" in the game is complete, you'll receive experience points for the battles you won and the tasks you completed in the process. For immediate prizes, you'll sometimes be able to loot your fallen enemies, selecting a prize from a list of ten. You can choose randomly from ten cards, or can use a potion to reveal items before you choose.
In terms of actual combat, you'll have a wide variety of options, depending on the classes of characters in your party. You might be able to attack an enemy from far away, eliminating them before they ever become a threat, or surround an enemy with multiple characters, giving everyone a combat advantage. There's enough strategy here to keep more hardcore players satisfied, but the initial sections of gameplay are incredibly simple and work well to help an unfamiliar player get up to speed.
Gallery: Dungeons & Dragons Heroes of Neverwinter on Facebook
Back in Neverwinter proper, you can access a variety of buildings including the Adventure Board where you'll accept new Adventures (Adventures require energy and have multiple difficulty levels), the Tavern where you can purchase energy potions or Adventure boosts to your stats, the Trade house where you'll purchase similar potions or new equipment items, and even your own home, which you'll be able to fill with treasures as you complete different achievements or tasks within the game (collecting a certain amount of gold, for instance).
That being said, the main focus here (understandably) is in the Adventures themselves. There are plenty of them to undertake, each with an additional focus on bringing your friends in to help you (early on, it's entirely possible to fail even the most basic of Adventures by simply going it alone). The lore within the game is presented through text boxes at the beginning and end of most scenes and encounters, and will likely satisfy current D&D fans. Still, this isn't the first game of its kind of Facebook, so hopefully the D&D name alone will help draw more followers into the fray.
Will D&D Heroes of Neverwinter win over the "Zynga" crowd with its fairly in-depth, and somewhat slow-going gameplay? Likely not, but there's plenty of content here for fans who go out specifically in search for it.
Play Heroes of Neverwinter on Facebook -->
Have you tried Heroes of Neverwinter on Facebook? What did you think of it? Sound off in the comments.
When first starting Heroes of Neverwinter, you'll be allowed to create a character using either set templates of a Fighter, Wizard, Cleric or Rogue (each with their own stats and specialties), or can create a custom character to customize your gender, stats, class, race and more. In this, the game can immediately start out being as complex or as straightforward as you like.
Upon launching into the game proper, you're met with a story of amnesia and will be introduced to Edrick, a scout that was guiding you on your way to Neverwinter before a pack of Goblins knocked you unconscious. Through this introduction, you're told of Neverwinter, a place of hope and civilization that has survived the Ruining, and that you had originally wanted to travel there to purchase a home and earn your fortune. With this as a base, you're sent on your way.
Movement is achieved on a grid, with this turn-based game automatically allowing you to move at the beginning of each turn. When commanding a party, you'll be able to complete multiple actions, including attacking or opening your inventory with each character before needing to manually end their turn and start over with the next character. Once each "adventure" in the game is complete, you'll receive experience points for the battles you won and the tasks you completed in the process. For immediate prizes, you'll sometimes be able to loot your fallen enemies, selecting a prize from a list of ten. You can choose randomly from ten cards, or can use a potion to reveal items before you choose.
In terms of actual combat, you'll have a wide variety of options, depending on the classes of characters in your party. You might be able to attack an enemy from far away, eliminating them before they ever become a threat, or surround an enemy with multiple characters, giving everyone a combat advantage. There's enough strategy here to keep more hardcore players satisfied, but the initial sections of gameplay are incredibly simple and work well to help an unfamiliar player get up to speed.
Gallery: Dungeons & Dragons Heroes of Neverwinter on Facebook
Back in Neverwinter proper, you can access a variety of buildings including the Adventure Board where you'll accept new Adventures (Adventures require energy and have multiple difficulty levels), the Tavern where you can purchase energy potions or Adventure boosts to your stats, the Trade house where you'll purchase similar potions or new equipment items, and even your own home, which you'll be able to fill with treasures as you complete different achievements or tasks within the game (collecting a certain amount of gold, for instance).
That being said, the main focus here (understandably) is in the Adventures themselves. There are plenty of them to undertake, each with an additional focus on bringing your friends in to help you (early on, it's entirely possible to fail even the most basic of Adventures by simply going it alone). The lore within the game is presented through text boxes at the beginning and end of most scenes and encounters, and will likely satisfy current D&D fans. Still, this isn't the first game of its kind of Facebook, so hopefully the D&D name alone will help draw more followers into the fray.
Will D&D Heroes of Neverwinter win over the "Zynga" crowd with its fairly in-depth, and somewhat slow-going gameplay? Likely not, but there's plenty of content here for fans who go out specifically in search for it.
Play Heroes of Neverwinter on Facebook -->
Have you tried Heroes of Neverwinter on Facebook? What did you think of it? Sound off in the comments.
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