Rock, Paper, Shotgun: "blades, guns, toughness, cunning, voodoo"

The Sunday Papers

Jim Rossignol — Sun, 27 May 2012 09:39:07 +0000

Sundays are for sitting inside, avoiding the boiling sun. You’ll probably want to shut the curtains so that you can concentrate on important writings about videogames, like the ones below.

This is kind of breath-taking: “For Superlevel, I went on a quest to test all 1.402 games of the Ludum Dare #23 – yes, every single one. I’d like to give you an overview over particularly innovative gameplay, wonderful ideas and exquisite digital entertainment. Have fun!”

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Kickstarter Katchup 26th May 2012

John Walker — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:46:57 +0000

And now it is a regular. Below you’ll find the latest on the PC Kickstarters that have caught our eye over the last week, including many that people have contacted us about. Want to let me know about your/a vital Kickstarter? There’s no promise of being included at all, but send an email via the link in my name above, and it’ll go in the pot. I think the theme that really comes out this week is just how much money half a million dollars is. When Schafer pitched at $400,000, he thought he was being crazy. That he made $3.5m I think made it look too easy. A few aren’t going to make it, because the numbers are simply too high for the accompanying interest. On the other hand, smaller indies looking for more modest targets are reaching their totals this week. Which opens up the next question of whether these modest targets are unrealistically low… I think there are going to be a lot of interesting tales told in six to eight months time. So as usual, please understand that our listing games here doesn’t mean we endorse them, or think they’re definitely worth your money – it’s your gamble to back anything.

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The RPS Bargain Bucket: Not Quite Right

Lewie Procter — Sat, 26 May 2012 11:17:45 +0000

Is it sunny where you are today? It’s a gorgeous day here at Savy Towers, with a bright blue sky and beaming hot sun. What better weather could there be to stay inside and play some cheap computer games. None, says I. None whatsoever. If you’re in the mood for buying some new slices of digital fun, here’s your handy weekly guide to the very best offers available this weekend. I’m off to find some cider and sit in the sun, but you can find my regular gaming bargain hunting exploits chronicled over here, if you like. (more…)

Space Punk’s Not Dead: Mass Effect 3′s Rebellion DLC

Nathan Grayson — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:00:14 +0000

Sadly, this is not the intergalactic sequel to Brendan’s now-deceased column series. Much as we wanted to mix things up with a sassy Elcor sidekick, contractual issues left the whole thing stalled out on the launch pad. So instead, you’ll just have to settle for some particularly rebellious Mass Effect 3 multiplayer DLC. Specifically, the Vorcha are making their no-good, law-breaking debut by, er, joining your baddie-smashing squad and cooperating. In addition, Quarians and Ex-Cerberus add two new characters a piece to the fray, with two new maps, three weapons, and a stat-altering persistent gear slot rounding out the package. Best of all, unless you’re playing a used (read: impossible on PC) or scandalously acquired copy, it’s all free from the get-go.

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What Did I Just Watch? – Mad Riders

Nathan Grayson — Sat, 26 May 2012 09:00:49 +0000

A few weeks ago, I was accosted by a disarmingly elderly-looking salesman during the after-party of a gaming event. While everyone else clutched refreshing beverages in their keyboard-calloused hands, he brandished a clipboard in much the same way a soldier would handle a firearm. His spiel, which ended up sounding sort of like an elevator pitch for Gamification, was all at once targeted and messy – like a SWAT shotgun that fired heaping gobs of butter. It was the weirdest thing. I walked away – or escaped, really – not quite grasping what he was trying to tell me, but understanding that he wanted people to notice the goddamn hell out of it.

And now, I’m getting an eerily similar feeling from the latest trailer for Ubisoft and Dead Island dev Techland’s Mad Riders because, well, goodness. Lots of things happen in this trailer. Occasionally, they’re even related. First it’s a parody, then it’s a parody of itself, and by the end, I think it might even be parody of that parody. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cringe. You might even do all three at once. So maybe have an ambulance on speed dial – just in case.

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PlanetSide 2 Trailer Makes Interesting Soundtrack Choice

Nathan Grayson — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:00:22 +0000

I have to say, this PlanetSide 2 trailer is probably one of my favorite pieces of game-related promotional material in quite some time. No, it’s not packing the megaton budget of, say, Metro‘s fantastic live-action scene-setter, but in this case, simplicity wins the day. For one, it’s yet another impressive demonstration of battles’ ridiculous scale, with a colossal swarm of ships raining rockets on the parades of just about everything except an actual parade. But also, it features what would surely have become the 1856 videogame trailer equivalent of overused dubstep – if, you know, they had videogames in 1856. Or trailers, for that matter.

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Funcom Illuminatis Slight Secret World Delay

Nathan Grayson — Sat, 26 May 2012 07:00:50 +0000

Did John’s latest glimpse into The Secret World entice you? Did it make you (skeptically) ponder the possibilities of an MMO with diabolical puzzles and authentic female characters that finally offset the catastrophic damage Tera did to the balance of the universe? Well then, you might want to sit down. Ah, you’re already sitting. Well then, I give you permission to eat a cookie or something – even if you’re on a diet. But just one, because honestly, this isn’t that big of a deal. The Secret World, you see, has been delayed. By a couple weeks. And you’re getting more beta weekends. Actually, you know what? Give me back that cookie.

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Text My Breath Away, StoryNexus

Richard Cobbett — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:00:46 +0000

While it’s still at the ‘sign-up for info’ stage, Fallen London creators Failbetter Games are getting ready to launch a cool sounding set of tools that could let you beat them at their own game. It’s called StoryNexus, and with it anyone will (eventually) be able to create their own card/text based adventures. There’s also going to be a new game based on the technology, described with the company’s ever-erudite panache as “kind of a musketeer noir thing”.

I’m really looking forward to seeing this in the flesh, for a number of reasons…

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The Flare Path: Up With The Larks

Tim Stone — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:30:41 +0000

The best part of Flare Path’s day? Probably dawn. That’s the time he goes out and checks all his Simulation & Wargame News traps. This morning in the treadle cage by the old pig-sties he found 400 words on a rather promising FSX add-on. The snares in the plantation were empty, but saucer-eyed and struggling in the one in the Chalk Lane culvert was the prettiest little HistWar: Les Grognards snippet you ever saw. Even without the Over Flanders Fields communiqué almost bitten in half by the 7” gin under the Cottonworth bridge, it would have been a good bag. (more…)

Underground Overlord: Gnoblins

Adam Smith — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:00:43 +0000

Gnoblins is called Gnoblins and that’s pretty much all I needed to know to convince me that downloading the freely available alpha version might be a very good idea indeed. That it turns out to be a first person RPG, with roguelike features such as random levels, lots of items to equip and mysterious dangers to discover. The Gnoblins themselves are minions, to be added in a future release, that will apparently provide an RTS element to the game and there’s even mention of developing areas of the dungeon for your own use. Dungeon Keeper plus roguelike plus Ultima Underworld? Let’s hope so. It’s tremendously exciting, even if the early version is obviously missing lots of planned features and content. Try the alpha and if your name is Richard Cobbett, click more.

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Xcommunication: XCOM – Enemy Unknown Interview

Adam Smith — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:00:01 +0000

After playing XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Adam sat down with associate producer Pete Murray and asked him about some of the changes that have been made, as well as seeking clarification on a number of issues. Discussion of the chryssalids’ new look attracts the wrath of an unseen assailant, queries about base invasions lead to talk of balance and punishment, and an unhealthy interest is shown in the various ways that a soldier can bleed to death.

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Speed Raiser: Charity Gaming For Autism Research

Richard Cobbett — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:00:14 +0000

Blisteringly fast gamers are currently racing their way through top games in front of a live audience to raise money for autism research. It’s the Speed Demos Archive Summer Games Done Quick event, running from the 24th to the 28th, and you can watch it live. There are prizes to be won, games to be played, and large generous donations to be made.

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