The Control Room

The Guild Hall

2012-07-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, after a long night of levelling, raiding and slaying countless Horde I sit back and think of what else I want to see in World of Warcraft. I think of little perks and massive changes...I think of...the Guild Hall. For those of you who have watched the internet series The Guild you may remember certain episodes featuring the introduction of the Guild Hall into the MMO that the characters in the series play. If you haven't seen it, then here's one episode below (it's less than 10 minutes long, fear not).

Ever since I watched season 4 of The Guild I have always wondered what WoW would be like with the introduction of Guild Halls to the game - places where guilds can meet, hang out, store items and customise the appearance of the hall to suit them. Of course, it would be a pretty big task and with the millions of people playing WoW it might be a little difficult, but there are other MMO's such as Runes of Magic that allow you to have your own home, and rumour has it that Elder Scrolls Online will be the same. Why not have a little haven where you can escape the deadly lag of Stormwind and the endless gold trolls on Trade Chat? Of course it would cost a fair bit of gold to actually craft a hall and the guild would have to be level 25 in order to unlock it in order to keep some order, but it would be well worth the effort.

It might be a big thing to ask, but if Blizzard did this I would be so happy - it might make up for the Pet Battles and various changes that are to come in Mists of Pandaria. What do you guys think - do you like the idea of a Guild Hall or are there other changes you want made to WoW?

Valhalla

LEAD THE REBELLION!

2012-07-15T03:46:00.001-07:00

It's time to rebel, to rise up against the tyrannical King Logan - also known as your thin, pale and generally sickly looking brother. In Fable III it's all about rebellion and leading an army to restore Albion to its former glory. This is the story of a prince (or princess) and their journey to becoming the ruler of Albion.

You start out well enough - woken up by your butler, dressed in the clothing of your choice, it's all very relaxed and peaceful. You go and meet your girlfriend (or boyfriend) in the gardens, you fool around a bit and then suddenly your calm and easy life is shattered right before your eyes. There are protesters outside the palace, yelling about the cruelty of Logan and how he has changed over the past four years of his rule. It is then that you are called to the throne room where your brother forces you to choose - send a group of protesters for execution, or your love interest? It's a difficult choice, but it has to be made. Once you have decided who dies, your Mentor, Walter, informs you that you must escape the palace along with your butler, Jasper, and your dog.

You have to agree he looks pretty unwell.

Once you've escaped your journey begins. It is you who must gather the armies together to fight against your brother in order to repair the broken cities and civilisations that live in Albion. Starting from the mountains way to the East of the palace before moving down to the city you will earn the respect and following of the people of Albion. The game is filled with personal choices on what you do, choices that can make your character good, or turn them into evil future rulers. With every quest you do and the enemies that you kill you collect Guild Seals which allow you to buy new skills and emotes to use with NPC's and other players, as well as allowing you to unlock the gates on The Road to Rule - the road leading you to the palace. It's not a particularly long game, the storyline is very linear which allows you to complete the story pretty quickly. However, there are loads of side quests that you can do too, meaning that you can either take longer to complete the game or do them once you've finished.

The controls are pretty easy to get the hang of, it's nothing drastically different from every other games. It's a simple game to play which allows for relaxed gameplay. The co-op features are excellent - you can complete the whole game whilst playing with your friends, I did it on XBOX live. You can enter business contracts with your friends, allowing them to buy/rent properties in your game (you share the money earned), you can marry the other player and even have children with them. It's a lot of fun, especially with the different interactions that are available to you. I have to say it's on of the best forms of co-op - gaming can be so much more fun when you're playing with your mates.

The graphics aren't amazing quality, and I know it's a slightly older game being two years old, but they could have been better. Regardless, it doesn't take away from the great storyline. There may have been a few parts of the main story that I found a little disappointing, such as the length of certain battles during the game, but you can never have a perfect game. Despite the few flaws it is a fantastic story and allows for really great, enjoyable gameplay. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Fable III from your local game store. Partly because it's a great game, but also as rumour claims the next Fable game will allow you to merge your Fable III save with it - but more on that later, watch this space...

Valhalla

Guest Review: FFXIII

2012-06-23T08:40:00.002-07:00

Well hey everybody it’s me, Faado, again - this time on a slightly older game all the way back from 2010. I would review a newer game but hey I’m rather skint so I’ll review what I have access to. And so today I give to you one of the most beautiful games I have ever played:

Final Fantasy XIII

Epic battles, amazing worlds, great stories and fantastic music, these are just some of the things that I personally associate with the name Final Fantasy and this instalment in the legendary series doesn’t disappoint… for the most part. This instalment takes us to Cocoon, a shell world floating above the planet of Gran Pulse, in which millions of people live out their day-to-day lives with everything from energy to food provided for them by crystal beings called fal’cie. An almost Utopian world. Of course the peace of the world hides the fact that everyone living in Cocoon is terrified of Gran Pulse and everything that comes from there, especially the pulse fal’cie and their chosen l’cie, humans gifted with magic and assigned a task of ‘focus’ to complete with the promise of eternal life in crystal or being turned into rampant monsters if they do not complete their ‘focus’ in time. The story follows a group of Cocoon citizens who have been unwillingly turned into Pulse l’cie in their quest to deny their given focus of destroying Cocoon and instead free the people from the tyrannical rule of the Fal’cie, a task which will force them from their life long home to the dreaded Gran Pulse and back again before they have the strength and resolve needed to perform the task laid before them.

As far as game play is concerned the world is, unfortunately for many fans of the series, fairly linear with very little room for open exploration, well for the most part anyway. The world doesn’t properly open up till quite late in the game but you should defiantly take advantage when it does. Some players on the other hand might prefer the linear game play as this means there is less chance of missing anything important and fewer tedious side quests (not to say that there are no side quests but they come in later). The battle system is an updated version of the active time battle used in the previous couple of games, but instead of waiting for the gauge to fill for your turn instead you stack a list of actions and when the gauge fills the character unleashes the stacked actions in one go. This gives combat a more dynamic feel than the rather static feel that came from many of the older titles. The nature of this ATB system means that you only control one character in battle while the others are controlled by the computer, now while this does mean that you are able to focus properly on what your leader is doing, you do have to rely on the computer controlled characters to do their job correctly, which as a credit to the development team they do the vast majority of the time.

The new class system in XIII is the Paradigm system, which is interchangeable mid battle and is done so without much interruption to the flow of the battle. This allows you to be able to tailor your battle team for what you need when you need it which means you never have a useless team member. The levelling system for the paradigm classes is called crystogenesis with crystogen points gained from battles being spent to upgrade each class, which as more classes are unlocked for the each character allow the player to choose which classes to specialise in for each character, though they do have three main classes that will upgrade easier than the others based on the characters personalities. After each battle crystogen is given to all characters rather than just the ones your active party. This means that everyone levels up equally and you don’t have to keep swapping your team around to keep everyone balanced which was a great relief as with a full party of six people not everyone gets used (one person in particular for me). With this you might also find that if you are struggling with a specific part (say a difficult boss) then you can rearrange your team and go straight into battle again rather than having to go back to level people up.

As far as the story goes in terms of gameplay, it is… disappointingly short, with you being able to move from one disc to the next in an afternoons worth of game play. This fact, for me personally, makes the linear world and lack of side quests all the more disappointing because it is very difficult to get as much play time out of each disc as you would like. The actual story of the game is not a bad one, with a group of heroes thrown together much more by chance than by choice, their struggle to come to terms with the fate that has befallen them and their decision whether to follow the task given them by the Fal’cie, or to defy their puppet masters and carve out their own destiny in a world where they are feared and hated by all. The characters are all quite well designed with each character having enough depth to make them feel believable without them turning into some depressing emo who looks on the bleak side of everything. Instead each hero has their own reasons for fighting and their own hopes that keep them going through the darkness, from the loving dad who just wants to see his child to the soldier looking for the next target to give their life meaning. Due to the lack of a primary protagonist the game often moves between different characters experiences which means that everyone gets their moments to show why they fight rather than just being stuck on one person all the time while the others stories happen on the sidelines.

Next up is going to be the graphics and oh… my… god! Now as I have already said the story for this game in rather short which might leave you thinking “hey the Xbox version of this is 3 discs so if the story’s short… whats all that space being taken up by? Ha ha ha, well let me tell you. All of that room, 3 DVD discs worth of space (well the majority of it anyway) is taken up by the graphical quality. It is certainly a credit to the data size of blu ray discs that this game is able to fit onto a single disc with the quality of the game. Due to the fact that the game was designed for the PS3 and the blu ray discs the game designers were able to use the Final Fantasy budget to make a game that is a benchmark as to what is possible for the modern era and the 3rd generation consoles. There are very few games in which the quality keeps you intrigued and even when they do quite often after a few hours play you stop really noticing. But two replays later and there are still moments when I simply stop and admire the sheer beauty, and not even just the cut scenes (which might I say are utterly amazing) but the normal in game graphics which make me fear for the for the future of live action cinematography.

Now as far as the rating goes I’m going to give this game GGGGGGGg (7 ½/10). Over all it is a fairly good game with a good story, a good control scheme, a magnificent world and some of the best graphics I have ever seen. The only real problems in the game are the unsatisfactory length of the story, the linear nature of the majority of the game and Hope who is THE most useless character in history. And so if you’re a 3rd gen gamer and you want to see what is possible in terms of graphics and play quite a good game at the same time then this is the one for you. If on the other hand you’re your looking to play a good RPG then there are better choices out there than this particular title and it may leave you feeling a little disappointed. But no matter what it is your looking for, I would most defiantly recommend that people play this game at some point just for its sheer beauty.

10 Best Game Intros

2012-06-16T03:41:00.001-07:00

The intro to a game is probably one of the most important parts - it's what starts getting you involved in the story and gameplay, and there is nothing worse than a bad intro. Of all the games I have played there have been good and bad starts, and listed below are 10 of my favourite game intros with the video so you can watch them yourself. In no particular order, here we go.

1. World of Warcraft: Wrath of The Lich King

2. Star Wars The Old Republic

3. Diablo III

4. Skyrim

5. Halo

6. Baldur's Gate

I know it's old, but I still love it.

7. Batman Arkham City

8. Modern Warfare 3

There's something hypnotic and intriguing about it.

9. Fable III

10. Assassins Creed: Brotherhood

So there you have it, 10 of my favourite - and what I would consider the best - intros. Hope you've enjoyed this little update, tell us if you think there should be any other intros up here.

Valhalla

Pokémon Black and White 2

2012-06-06T13:35:00.002-07:00

I've said it before - whilst the Pokémon in Black and White were lacking creativity at best, the game really made me think about the morals of keeping Pokémon in tiny little balls and using them in fights for money. With this in mind it was with great interest that I delved deeper into the sequel of the most recent addition to the Pokémon saga...

According to my sources the game is due for release in Japan later on this month, with us Europeans seeing is towards the end of August/early September. The story will begin two years after the end of the previous game and will be in the same region as before - the Unova region. A mysterious icecap has covered parts of the region, leading to new cities and gyms forming to replace the ones that have been captured. There are two new conformed gym leaders - one who appears to be a rockstar of some kind (I would assume he uses electric Pokémon) and another who seems to use water-types. It would appear that Team Plasma are still wandering around and will likely serve as the main villains again. You'll have a new rival and apparently new playable characters too - something which I find highly intriguing. It looks like you can play characters that aren't traditional looking Pokémon trainers. However, it's hard to say. Many of the routes have been altered or changed drastically, making the area a lot different to the previous game, most likely so that it does not appear repetitive. You will begin the game in an area of Unova that was previously unreachable - a town called Aspertia in the South West.

The Pokédex is different too. Instead of starting of with a regional Dex of 150-200 Pokémon there will be 300 available in the region - most of which are Pokémon from other regions such as Psyduck and Mareep. It is the largest local Dex yet - the National Dex is sure to be massive.

There is also a new minigame known as the Pokéwood in which you will participate in the filming of a movie. Seems like an interesting idea. There is also the Pokémon World Tournament which will allow you to battle gym members from previous versions of the game - leaders such as Brock and Misty (I was very pleased to hear this).

Have a quick look at some of the official gameplay - it was unavailable in English but it gives you a good idea.

It's said that it will be released on DS, so those of you fearing that Pokémon would only be on 3DS from now on you can let out the breath you've been holding for the past year or so. Looks like things are going to work.

Whilst there is little information on the game out there, what I have discovered has been incredibly exciting. Being a Pokémon fan from pretty much the beginning, I can see myself buying this game. I love the Pokémon games too much to say no.

Valhalla

8-bit Masterpiece

2012-06-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

Those who know me would tell you that I hate Minecraft with a burning passion, that the idea makes me angry and the gameplay is confusing. I was a fool.

Yesterday, our anti-gamer invited me to his Minecraft server to try the game out. I was reluctant, but I gave it a go. I bought and downloaded Minecraft, thinking I had probably just wasted £16.95 of my hard-earned money. I was so wrong. So very, very wrong.

Minecraft is amazing. I've never been against 8-bit gaming, I just found the whole concept to be somewhat stupid. However, when the anti-gamer showed me the world he, Devinity and co had created my mind was changed. In Minecraft anything is possible, any structure can be built. It's just a world of possibility, limited only by your own imagination.

I said before that I found gameplay confusing. That was just me being a n00b. I just hadn't received the proper instruction. After around 15 minutes of me being generally n00bish, I got the hang of how to work the game and I was chopping down trees and crafting materials - it was fantastic. After killing Devinity's cows and getting my revenge on the anti-gamer for setting a load of monsters on me, I realized what I'd been missing out on every time I had declined a request to play Minecraft. It's a great social and creative game.

Not my creation - Fraps didn't save my screens. But it shows you what you can do.

Once the multiplayer server had been turned off for the evening, I decided to go solo for a while and see what I could do with my new favourite game. I played for a couple of hours, messing around with the tools and materials, until I eventually built a house. It may not be the greatest house, but I was quite proud of myself. I built it on the cliff facing the sea for that scenic look and outside I built two pens - one for my pack of wolves and one to house my cow and sheep.

There are several game modes that the anti-gamer showed me during my lesson on how to play Minecraft, all of which were very interesting. Survival mode was terrifying - mainly because he released a whole bunch of monsters and set them on me. I decided that mode was a little much for now as I was killed instantly by the creepers and zombies that were mauling me. Creative mode was definitely better, being able to fly and such made travel easier, and the full inventory was useful, even if it did take from the fun of mining for materials. Of course, if you want to play for free then Classic is available - it just isn't updated anymore.

Minecraft is a great game, and I honestly don't know why I hated it so much before. You haven't gamed until you've sat down on Mincecraft. You can get it for PC and XBOX so don't hesitate, visit minecraft.net now.

There are those who were ashamed of me for converting to Minecraft, but I can only say they haven't yet seen the light. I found my newest addiction.

Valhalla

Bordering the pyschotic

2012-05-28T09:45:00.002-07:00

It's every person dream to be in and alternate place void of rules and free to explore...

Throw in Eighty Gazillion guns..
A Duel Wielding, Gun toting lunatic..
A slightly MGS reminiscent ninja-esque , Sword swinger...
Yet another phasewalking, sneaky blue haired girl...
and a Sniper specialist and most gamers will be left assuming they'll wake up from this dream drooling on their favorite pokemon plushie anytime soon.
Well....
Gearbox has announced it, Gamer's have eaten every morsel of data about it up, I have passed out with excitment over it and well....

BORDERLANDS 2 WILL BE RELEASED IN 2012!

So yes, It is evident that this shooter/RPG's roleplaying elements were meagre at best and wern't what really sold the game, But if your like most humans and prefer to shoot and never bother to even ask questions afterwards, Then this beautifully crafted game featuring Gearbox's unique form of cell-shaded/photo-realistic violence and action including more guns than a terrorists shed! ... Is probably right up your insanely well armed street!

Throw into the mix that they have now ventured beyond the desolate areas of Pandora which you grew tiresome of in there first endeavor to include glacial areas reminiscent of Iceland/Antarctica and area reflective of the Scottish Highlands ensuring you'll start every gaming session screaming FREEDOM!

So to get back to why your here, Borderlands 2 is set five years after you realised that the vault hunters of Pandora were chasing fairytales and the 'trasure' was more a bloodthirsty monster and Hyperion Corporation have now crawled out of the woodwork with leader Handsome Jack who is striving to become ruler of Pandora.

Now featuring four new heroes who are now required to aide and fight alongside the original Brick, Lilith, Roland and Mordecai. Who have all been hard done by as a result of Handsome Jacks new regime of gun manufacturing and slight psychotic dreams of grandeur.

The new heroes..
Salvador, The gunzerker...
Maya, The phasewalker...
zero, The sword-wielding ninja....
and
Axton, The sniper expert.

With a promise of more bullet spraying mayhem...

I SHALL SEE YOU IN PANDORA!!

Stay a while and listen....

2012-05-27T11:24:00.002-07:00

"It has been said that in the end of all things, we would find a new beginning. But as the shadow once again crawls across our world and the stench of terror drifts on a bitter wind, people pray for strength and guidance. They should pray for the mercy of a swift death... for I've seen what the Darkness hides."

- Leah,

Diablo 3 was finally announced after much speculation on June 28th, 2008 and following it's global release just 2 weeks ago on May 15th, 2012 became the fastest-selling PC game ever with gamers consuming 3.5 million copies on the first day of release!

According to a blizzard press release (available at - http://eu.blizzard.com/en-gb/company/press/pressreleases.html?id=4662221) Diablo 3 had shifted a total of 6.3 million units by the end of it's first week, Also with a soundtrack available on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id521963750), Music from previous games available too (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id526272040), A book wirrten by an in game character available on amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diablo-III-Book-Cain-Deckard/dp/1608870634/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338140766&sr=8-1) and various novels available on the blizzard website along with mousepads and various other fan merch. It's clear to say THIS IS BLIZZARDS YEAR, ANd 'EVIL IS IN ITS PRIME!

To go along with the release of the game, An anime short which explains a great battle which forged the history of Diablo was released on Youtube. Catch Diablo 3 : Wrath @ ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEAPxgMCEA8&list=UUxn8csYeZg6awRnZS-aqg0g&index=2&feature=plcp&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2Fdiablo ) along with an explanation of Diablo's Claymation roots from over 16 years ago called diablo retrospective ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLedw4HACNc&feature=relmfu ).

"15 years ago, The Lord of Terror was unleashed upon the world. In 1995 a small development studio called Condor Games approached Blizzard Entertainment with an idea for a clay-mation, turn based, single player, RPG With the working title of DIABLO." - Diablo retrospective (Youtube)

The beta for Diablo 3 went live on April 20th 2012 and saw people scrambling in their free time to test the game they had been waiting for and were not disappointed. Despite the game crashing various times in it's beta test and numerous faults, problems and error codes flashing. This game held it's own and brought 6.3 million people back by the 1st week of it's official global launch eager to see what happened after their beta ended their warriors battles at level 13 and half way through Act 1 after fighting The skeleton King (One of sanctuary's most known bosses).

So Diablo 3 was released and with it the Prime Evils newest story would be told with the introduction of new angrier Lesser Evils and the introduction of the new BLACK SOULSTONE. This Action-RPG game see's you visiting once again the fictional fantasy world of Santuary where your hero must quest to decipher rumours of a Fallen Angel and how this ties in with the tales of Deckard Cain and how "this is a sign.... an omen...that the end times have begun!"

Within Diablo 3 many old favorites are back including the games namesake Diablo along with The Butcher, King Leoric (Aka The Skeleton King) , Deckard Cain and Tyreal. Among the golden oldies are a mass of newer goodies and baddies to deal with along with Leah, Azmodan and Belial.

The game now features 5 diverse classes including The classic Barbarian and Sorcerer classes along with the new Monk, Demon Hunter and Witch Doctor classes. Though They may be new the clases that feature within Diablo 3 show a major similarity when it comes to spells/gameplay style for instance the Wtich Doctore summoning demons to fight for him is reminiscent of Diablo 2's Necromancer and The Monks Light and prayer skills are reminiscent of Diablo 2's paladin.

In Diablo 3 you are a Nephalem (Human basically) Who must venture around Santuary in the hope of finding clues to aid you to stopping the newest demon onslaught. With your adopted alias you must slay hordes of monsters and many elite creatures including bosses and monsters with special attack advantages such as arcane spells or the ability to lock you in a forcefield known as a jail. As you level up through generating XP you acquire stroger and more powerful items along with learning various skills to buff your hero.

CAUTION READ NO FURTHER, REST OF POST INCLUDES SPOILERS TO THE GAMES STORYLINE/ CHARACTERS!

The boss creaturs of Diablo 3!

Diablo 3 Demon Hunter

Diablo 3 Monk

Diablo 3 Witch Doctor

Diablo 3 Azmodan

Diablo 3 Barbarian

Diablo 3 Wizard

Aoineko Studio's Presents .......Kitaru!

2012-05-27T07:51:00.001-07:00

This week I sat down with Josh Taylor a level designer who is working on a project alongside Aoineko studios called Kitaru.

Kitaru is a jRPG and was the brainchild of project leader Ben Steele back in 2006.

Now running on the Unity3D gaming engine , Kitaru has developed from your standard jRPG into a delicious cocktail of mini-games, Intuitive touch controls and turn based active-time battles resulting in a mix of post-modern story telling and classinc RPG gameplay such as third person exploration and conversation driven NPC interactions.

Based in the heli galaxy on a planet known as Sen IV, The story takes place in Haifa, A war-ravaged country whih is home to four houses (reminiscent of factions in other games) which are in constant conflict with society in their struggle for money, control and power. These four houses are known as...

Yuna - The house that controls the deserts with their mystical powers.

Rham -The house that controls weaponry and the slave trade.

Masel - The house that controls the drug trade.

and Saph - The house that controls them all.

Within this war for dominance, The only thing maintaining order and balance within Haifa is the House of Saph and their powerful team of deadly assassins led by prodigy Akai.

Akai is a beautiful girl but her pretty exterior houses a headstrong soldier who has exceeded all other trainees in every aspect, With only one exception.....Her sadistic mentor Qoss.

Akai petitioned to have greater freedom,But Saph's ruler insisted she prove herself worthy of this privilege before being granted it, But Akai had other plans.....

As she takes off for a taste of some real action she uncovers a plot that will see the house of Rham smuggle weapons inot the city of Haifa right under the Saph's nose. Mr Taylor ended this meeting with a short but highly suggestive statement....

"Is this Akai's chance to prove herself or is she way over her head? To what cost will her pride and impatience take her?"

Kitaru is currently seeking it's final section of funding through www.kickstarter.com and has 856 people backing it with over $22,700 donated already to fund this project. Aoineko studios only need to reach $25,000 for this project to be entirely complete. If you wish to donate visit...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bensteele/kitaru/pledge/new?clicked_reward=false&logged_in=true&p=0&ref=category&v=u

There are various rewards to be had with your donation depending on the amount donated and they are..

$15 - FIRST MOVER – Pre-release copy of Kitaru for your platform of choice (PC, Mac, iOS, Android) AND an exclusive in-game object AND Official Supporter-stamped "Save the Game Designers" Digital Wallpaper and our heartfelt thank you!

$25+ -BEHIND THE SCENES - Exclusive access to Dev Blog, along with Pre-release copy of Kitaru for your platform of choice (PC, Mac, iOS, Android) AND an exclusive in-game object AND Kitaru Official Supporter-stamped Digital Wallpaper.

$50+ - MEDIA PACKAGE - Kitaru Original Soundtrack Vol. I (for download) AND Digital Wallpapers for main characters AND limited-edition Kitaru Digital Comic Book AND the previous reward level!

$75+ - GAME DEV SCHOOL - Learn indie game dev tips from our experienced team via exclusive VIP access to the Kitaru Dev Blog and a monthly video conference call with key members of dev team! AND Kitaru Original Soundtrack Vol. II (for download) AND Honorable Developer Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards!

$100+ - JOIN THE BETA TEAM! - Participate as a Beta Game Tester during game development AND Ability to personally submit your game ideas via private Kitaru Team email address! AND Five Limited-Edition 4"x6" Character Cards AND Bronze Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards! (Please add $20 for international shipping)

$250+ - SWAG BAG - Limited-Edition Designer Kitaru T-Shirt from creator, Ben Steele AND Limited-Edition Kitaru Game Poster, numbered & signed by Ben Steele and the dev team (suitable for framing) AND Remastered DVD of award-winning Fragile Machine, signed by creator, Ben Steele AND Silver Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards! (Please add $20 for international shipping)

$500+ - GET INVOLVED – Have your Name or Handle Image placed in the game AND a 30 minute Video Conf with Ben Steele to discuss the development of the Kitaru story AND a ONE OF A KIND Kitaru Game Poster, featuring your screen shot, signed by Ben Steele and the dev team AND Original Kitaru Level Design Sketch by Danny Escoto (first 10 donors) OR Original Kitaru Character Sketch by Ben Steele (second 10 donors) AND Gold Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards! (Please add $20 for international shipping) (99 of 100 remaining)

$700+ - Have you ever played a game but thought to yourself, "Man I really wish I could pick up this (BLANK) and use it as a weapon", or, "Man, I really wish someone would invent s (BLANK) in game weapon." Your wish is now granted!!! At a $700 pledge level, you can now design a weapon of your choice, for the game KITARU, as well as receive the rewards at the $250 tiers and lower. (15 of 15 remaining)

$1000+ - THE NAME GAME - Work personally with our design team to name a character in the game AND a ONE OF A KIND Kitaru Game Poster, featuring your named character, signed by Ben Steele and the dev team AND Ten 4"x6" Character Cards, featuring your character to share with friends AND VIP and Beta access to all future releases of Kitaru! AND Get a Kitaru Voice Actor to personally record your voicemail! (Choices include Ben10/The Prince of Persia Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt from Bleach, Naruto & FFXIII) AND Platinum Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards at the $250 level and lower! (13 of 15 remaining)

$2500+ - BE A STAR! - Work with design team to create an in-game virtual character of yourself AND a ONE OF A KIND Kitaru Game Poster, featuring your virtual character, signed by Ben Steele and the dev team AND Ten 4"x6" Character Cards, featuring your personalized character to share with friends AND all previous rewards at the $250 level and lower! (10 of 10 remaining)

$3000+ - FEATURED PRODUCTS - Prominent in-game billboard and/or product placement (for yourself or your company), AND all previous rewards at the $250 level and lower! (5 of 5 remaining)

With only seven days and $3000 to go and a chance for you guys to get yourself some tasty rewards I can see Aoineko Studios and Kitaru paving themselves the way to great things. To view the entire project visit ...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bensteele/kitaru?ref=category

to view the trailer on Youtube visit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRpvhNE8iNw&list=UUHMmY5UAPOsUCENxD27-MiQ&index=9&feature=plcp or

visit Aoineko Studios own Youtube/web page...

http://www.youtube.com/user/aoinekostudios

http://www.aoineko.com/

3, is the magic number

2012-05-25T14:25:00.001-07:00

This year 3 seems to be the magic number when it comes to game releases, and on that note so does 2...and 4...

Regardless, it's a year filled with numbers and exciting games to go with them - we all love sequels. So, without further ado I present to you a post displaying all the awesome sequels that are due for release/have been released this year.

Out now:

Final Fantasy XIII-2

Soulcalibur V

Disgaea 3

Witcher 2

Max Payne 3

Diablo III

Coming this year:

Prototype 2

Darksiders II

Boarderlands 2

Dead or Alive 5

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Halo 4

Resident Evil 6

Assassins Creed III

I have to say, I don't think I've been this excited about a year's gaming for a while. 2011 was pretty epic, but this year just pushes it aside. Are you looking forward to this year too?

Valhalla

5 Things Every Gamer Needs

2012-05-15T15:27:00.002-07:00

The world of the gamer is tough, we know that, we understand the constant struggle to beat the worldwide high score, the desperation to obtain that ultra-rare sword. That's why we, at The Control Room, have put together a list of 10 things every gamer needs to survive those long nights spent blasting zombies and handing in quests. From PC gamer to XBOX fanatic, we have what you've been looking for.

1. A gaming platform.

Yes, if you want to play video games you're going to need something to play them on. It all depends on what you want - here are some platforms that we suggest.

XBOX 360

PS3

Wii

Or, for you PC gamers you have the harder choice of which laptop/desktop to choose. Personally, I like the feel and power of an Alienware, but you might prefer something else.

2. Games

You should always have a good selection of games to play during the night - you might feel like switching games after a few hours and a decent variety is always good to have. In an evening I like to have something like this - how about you?

3. A comfy place to sit.

This is incredibly important. Being comfortable allows for better gameplay. A hard wood floor when playing consoles is not comfortable, trust me, and can really damage my aim in shooter games. A nice cushy chair in front of the PC or a nice fluff;y couch can really help you relax and get into the game.

I want this chair so bad...

4. Food, drink and lots of it.

You're pulling an all nighter to complete that all important raid or finally finish the level that's been driving you crazy for weeks - or maybe you're just battling your friends. Either way, you're going to need energy to help you stay alert and ready for action. Before starting a long gaming session we suggest running to the store and picking up loads of snacks.

You'll go through at least 10 of these plus soda.

5. To enjoy the game.

It may sound cheesy, but there is nothing worse than sitting down to play a game and getting stressed over certain levels. Make sure to stay relaxed and just take the game as it comes. If you have to try a certain part again, then don't worry - it's all experience in the end.

So there you have it - 5 basic things that every gamer needs to enjoy themselves. If you have friends to play with then drag them over to you place or challenge them to PvP style or co-op battles online. The possibilities are endless.

Valhalla

Nintendo's new Console

2012-05-10T03:57:00.001-07:00

You may have heard of Nintendo's latest console in passing. It's been talked about for quite some time, and, more recently, Nintendo have told us when to expect it to hit our shelves. The Wii U is coming in the fourth quarter of 2012, and the company are expecting to hit high sales with their latest creation. However, the reviews are mixed and so we ask, what exactly is the Wii U all about?

I did some research in hopes of finding a balanced argument, as we aren't lucky enough to have a Wii U of our own to play on. From what we've seen it looks like two consoles in one - something that we found very interesting. The main console is similar to the Wii in size, being only slightly larger. It's the controller that's really different. It's a touchscreen controller, not dissimilar to the touchscreen on a 3DS and it can be used for a whole host of things whilst playing video games.

Let's take a closer look at the controller, it seems to be the main point of focus. The controller is relatively flat and around the same size as a 3DS, but it only has one screen. The controller can be used to enhance gameplay (such as viewing the inventory on the Zelda game) or to continue playing a game that was previously on the TV if somene changes the channel whilst you play. This can be seen in the trailer below. Regular Wii controllers are compatible with the Wii U as the newst Nintendo console has been made backwards compatible with the Wii. So, if you want to go multiplayer on a game the best thing to do it bring out the old Wii controllers. Why not use two Wii U controllers you might ask. Well, the main reaosn is that whilst it is technically possible for two Wii U controllers to be used, the console was only really designed for one, mainly due to the high price of indiviadual controllers. It has yet to be confirmed if two Wii U controllers are definitely compatible. The wonderful thing about the controller is the fact that it can do so much. Art, internet browsing, enchancing gameplay, acting as its own handheld, built in camera...the list goes on. It's more about the new controller than the actual console.

The only noteable changes to the actual console are that the graphics have been enhanced, the shape is different and it's slightly bigger than the Wii, but still smaller than the XBOX 360 and the PS3. This is where the arguments come in. Some sources claim that the Wii's graphics will not be as a good as the XBOX and PS3, making the console less valuable and saleable. Others say that the graphics and quality are just as good and don't hinder gameplay in any way. I can't tell you who's right, but it seems like an interesting debate. Perhaps the London Expo will have a Wii U for trial?

What I do know is that Nintendo have got some really hardcore games coming out on the Wii U - and I mean some serious stuff. Just take a look at a few of the current planned releases.

Assassins Creed III
Darksiders II
Arkham City
A new Battlefield

For us older gamers this is heaven on a plate - Nintendo is releasing some pretty fantastic titles on their latest console. I reckon I'll be there - will you?

Take a look at the trailer here.

We'll keep you posted on any news that we come across!

Valhalla

Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

2012-05-06T05:39:00.000-07:00

A post from our guest blogger Faado. A massive thank you to him for this review on the latest Zelda game. - The Control Room.

Ok so I was looking through the past reviews and I noticed that there was a review for twilight princess but not skyward sword. So I thought to myself “something must be done about this! Challenge accepted”

And here it is:

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Ok so by this point in life we should all know the main characters in the Zelda series and if you don’t then you need to get down to the local game store and buy yourself a Nintendo console ('cause you obviously don’t own one. How else can you explain the lack of Zelda in your life?). For this particular title you will be needing a Nintendo Wii and a Wii motion plus controller. But I digress; this is about the game itself not the amazing consoles. So the game starts as the hero Link (not Zelda, Zelda is a girls name) is waking up on the day of his final flying exam, but as with any teenager his first thoughts upon waking up are not ‘HOLY MOLEY, I HAVE AN EXAM TODAY!’ No his first thoughts were ‘right lets go chill with my mates for a bit, 'cause that’s just how epic I am” so he goes to find the most important person to him, good old, not so princess, Zelda. And what does she do? She does what any good girl would do - completely ignores everything he says and throws him off the edge of their flying island only to realise that something is wrong, dive off the edge to save him with her giant bird, and then break down in tears when she realises she almost killed her ‘best friend’. So then your left with one major question, “hey where the heck is my giant bird? I’m the main character, I need a giant bird!” and this is where you meet the most obvious character in the game. Obvious how? Well Link is effectively in school, and what does every good school need? That’s right, an overconfident bully. Enter Groose, the greatest idiot to have ever graced a legend of Zelda game. Turns out in an effort keep our man Link out of the final exam, which takes the form of a race, Groose and his boys have somehow managed to capture and lock away your faithful, flying companion. Of course this is no problem for our great adventurer and he quickly rushes of to free his bird and wipe the smug grin off Grooses face.

Now it’s not too long after this that our heroes’ world gets casually flipped upside down and he is forced to watch as his precious friend is dragged down below the thick clouds that had been the edge of their world for as long as anybody had known. And so Link is forced to begin his search for a way down below the clouds, which inevitably leads to the acquisition of the titular, Skyward Sword, and the meeting with a character so annoying I actually cried for Navi at times. Once you’re stuck with Fi (and when I say stuck I mean there is absolutely no getting rid of her) then you're off for your first experience of good old fashioned Hyrule and you know what that means… your first dungeon, and more importantly your first boss; who is quite possibly one of the campest bosses in video game history and my personal second favourite character in the entire game. Now as stories go Skywards swords is pretty good, admittedly it can be a little predictable at times, but I found that those moments weren’t disappointing in the slightest - instead they managed to make you feel good about story and the way in which it was heading.

Now as far as the actual game play is concerned the most difficult thing about it, in my opinion, was getting used to the motion plus controls. Being an unfortunately lazy gamer I found myself trying to play the game with just general swings of the remote - the kind required for twilight princess… or any Wii game before the motion plus. Of course once I realised that just wasn’t going to happen, I picked myself a seated position that allowed adequate arm swinging room and started playing the game properly, like a boss. My personal favourite feature of the game is the rather simple item upgrades, that’s not just the sword but pretty much everything from bug nets to the rather beautiful bow… well that, of course and the flying on a giant bird (can’t express how cool they are.).

Next up is the graphics. Now as a hard core gamer and someone who had just transferred from the mighty Skyrim, there was something about the Skyward Sword graphics that weren’t quite the HQ games I was used to and at the same time weren’t quite the cell shading of the wind waker. Now at first the ever so slightly cartoony feel to the graphics made me weary, but after playing the game for a while I started to realise that they gave the game its own unique charm, like it had looked at the big high def games of the Xbox and PS3 and thought ‘you know what? No. I’m not gonna compete with them. Instead I’m gonna do what Nintendo does best. I’m gonna make you fall in love with me in a way that means once you’ve got bored of you Call of Duty and your Battlefield, you’ll come back to me and you’ll love me all the same.’ Now if you are looking for a Zelda game that will compete with the quality of the of the HD consoles then you have two choices. One, go play Twilight Princess or two, wait for the legendary Wii U and the beautiful Zelda that will be coming with it (hopefully).

Now as for ratings I give Skyward Sword 9/10 my only real problems with the game were the fact that Fi obviously thinks we are all total morons, and that the final boss left me wishing for so much more. But it did manage the incredible feat of keeping me away from Skyrim for a full 2 weeks which is no easy feat (just ask any of my four characters) and it’s the kind of game I will happily go back to weeks, months even years later and love it just as much as ever. The legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is most defiantly a game the series and the fans can be proud of.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

2012-05-02T02:04:00.000-07:00

You may have seen it all over Twitter and plastered across the internet. It's no lie - Black Ops 2 is a reality and due for release November 13th 2012. We're buzzing over here and want to bring you a few recently discovered pieces of information. If I could do this as a live blog, I would. Instead, I'm planning on staying up until all the information is released and writing this as the news reaches me. Black Ops 2 is due to be announced tonight and we cannot wait to hear all the details for the next CoD game. MW3 was spectacular and we hope this one will live up to its expectations.

Set in 2025, there's a new problem facing humankind - a lack of rare earth elements. It's no longer about the energy crisis, this is far more important. Rare earth minerals power many of our everyday products, from phones to military equipment. In BO 2, China is refusing to trade anymore elements with the USA and the rest of the world, following an attack on the Chinese stock market. This starts a new cold war between China and the USA, with Russia attempting to provoke both side into full-out war - sneaky.

The game will start in the 1980's as a build up to the current situations. During the 1980's period you'll play as Alex Mason (you may remember him from the previous BO game). In this part of the game there is also the opportunity to ride horses during one of the missions (as suggested by the trailer (see below)) - which looks great. A lot of fans are excited about this particular feature. However, once you reach 2025 his son, David Mason, will take over and you'll be saving the world with him. Now, in 2025 military weaponry is pretty advanced and uses drones, autopilot planes and all that kind of futuristic-Terminator-stuff. When you first see these it'll be in Los Angeles as it is called for evacuation. Basically, the whole intro is filled with bombs, guns and a whole load of robot machinery. The robot machinery is seriously cool. Just take a look at C.L.A.W who looks a lot like a horse. But that's just the intro, what the game is actually like, no one yet knows, but if this fantastic introduction is anything to go by then it's going to be fantastic. For those of you who liked covert missions in BO, don't worry - there will be loads of those.

Here's the most exciting part - your decisions on the game WILL impact the story. The death and survival of your group in missions will have a massive effect on the story. You have the choice to go it alone or control an entire team of soldiers. This looks more than a little exciting. Think of how different this game will be now that you can choose how the story ends - will Menendez succeed or fail?

When it comes to multi-player there isn't much that we know except that it will be filled with zombies, burning buildings and a lot of shooting.

Check out the trailer here, it looks amazing.

November 13th is on its way and the excitement is rising. Are you looking forward to Black Ops 2?

Just don't get shot...

2012-04-27T02:25:00.001-07:00

Unit 13 - I love it. It's a third person shooter for the PSVita and it is awesome, for lack of a better word.

There isn't really a storyline for this game. You're a member of a counter-terrorism force, infiltrating and taking over enemy bases and sometimes collecting important objects along they way. Each mission varies in its level of difficulty, and you can only play the next mission once you've completed the one before it. They're not stupidly long either, it's just incredibly fun, and tense, but still enjoyable. It tests your mind when it comes to things like stealth and attempting to find the best route to your destination, which is something I like in shooter games. Being a bit of a bruiser when it comes to war games, playing the missions that don't allow me to be anything but stealthy were a challenge - and a good one at that.

Gameplay is great. Unit 13 really makes you use all the controls, whether it's in an attempt to seek cover from the enemy or to zoom in for the perfect head shot. I have to say, the sniper abilities on this game are great - it allows for an incredibly accurate shot. There's a lot of freedom to move around in this game, you don't need to follow the guiding arrow at the top of the screen to find the best and most efficient way around the game. The graphics are fantastic, especially for a handheld console. The movement of characters is fluid, there's no lag which is something I was pleased to see.

The training grounds at the beginning of the game are incredibly useful as they teach you how to use the controls, change weaponry and target things quickly and accurately. The controls are mapped out really well, with the dual sticks being used to set up a close range and move around. The shoulder buttons are used to zoom in on aim and fire round after round of bullets. Grenades are easy to access, and if you don't want to use the various buttons for these things then you always have the option to use the touchscreen instead, especially when it comes to things like disarming mines.

For each mission you're able to select a soldier that you think would be best for completing it in fast and efficient time. The game will tell you which soldier is recommends, but you don't have to go for that one, you can make your own judgment. Every soldier is from a different part of the world and has their own speciality. There are different forms of missions as well. Covert missions require stealth and for you not to be caught by alarms or the terrorists you're attempting to sneak around. Others will require you to go right in and blow things up, collect items and shoot anyone that dares cross your path.

People say that this game can't beat CoD, but I don't know how far I agree with this statement. When CoD arrives on Vita we shall see, but until then I would urge all you shooter fans to run down to your local video game store and demand a copy. It's well worth it.

A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma

2012-04-20T16:26:00.001-07:00

For the past 5 years blizzard have been gently teasing the gaming world, but since last year we have a bit more definitive proof.

I shall explain.

PROJECT TITAN.

In 2007 we saw the arise of internet speculation on a Blizzard Internet Forum started that a game was in development after the company has advertised for 'character and environment artists' to work on a 'Next-Gen MMORPG' that was 'Top secret'. This was later confirmed that the advert was not posted for World of Warcraft expansion pack. Which as you can imagine added wind to the flames. but it had promised to be something fresh and new for Blizzard devotee's to dig into.

2010 Gave us more information on what had seemed a forgotten rumor at the time, when in that November blizzard gave us the low down that the project, now named 'Titan', was going to be a release ready for the fourth quarter of 2013. Frank Pearce (co-founder)said Titan was 'our next-gen MMO, and we've only started talking about it in a limited fashion because we want to leverage the fact that we're working on something like that for the purpose of recruiting--getting some of the best talent in the industry on that'

The excitement increases.

Then 2011, Blizzard reveals that they were using lessons learned from years of World of Warcraft, and pulling some of the most experienced MMORPG developers working on the project. Significance was put on Titan being a game which was to be played with people they know as appose to strangers. towards the end of the year it was said there was 90 developers working on the project, it nearly being ready to enter full production mode.

There's one detail that has not been confirmed by Blizzard but strongly rumored. Titan is supposed to be a free game with no subscription required, something new and fresh from Blizzard.

To read up slightly more on a few details I may have skipped check out http://geek.pikimal.com/2012/02/23/blizzards-project-titan-possibly-free-to-play-according-to-rumor

"I'm Batman"

2012-04-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

I finally got Arkham City for PS3. I'd been meaning to pick it up for some time, and this week I decided to just do it and stop procrastinating. I'm so glad I did.

I haven't finished the game yet, but I already know that this game is one of the best I have ever played. Being a bit of a comic book nut, I was expecting to enjoy Arkham City anyway, but my mind was blown by the sheer awesomeness of this game. From the second the start screen appeared and the music began to play, I prepared myself to enter a game unlike any other.

You are Bruce Wayne, a.k.a Batman. Set after the events of Arkham Asylum, you are opposed to Arkham City you hold a press conference to express your anger. However, during this press conference you are attacked and kidnapped by Hugo Strange's men from his group TYGER. You wake up in a dark room with a TV that is showing Dr. Strange listing the rules of Arkham city - you have to escape. I can tell you that after listening to Strange list the rules over 15 times it starts to drive you a little crazy yourself - I had some trouble escaping. After moving the L stick left and right for what seems like an eternity, you'll eventually fall over, alerting the guard outside. You're prompted to counter attack him, and do so before being captured again.

As you're led through the prison, the other guards and inmates will refer to you by your nickname 'rich boy' and throw other insults at you such as 'you're my bitch, Wayne'- you'll take the intimidation and the insults, 'cause you're Batman and nothing can get you down. Eventually, you're given the opportunity to beat up the guards that had been guiding you to a different part of the prison before climbing up the walls and escaping onto the roof of the prison, Dr. Strange yelling at you from below. After giving Alfred a quick call, he drops a package on top of a nearby building that contains your suit. Time to suit up and get to work. The thing is, the whole of Arkham city is crawling with criminals, it's an open-air prison and the inmates are allowed to roam free as long as they do not attempt to escape. It makes moving around ten times more difficult. The first thing you do when you escape the prison building is go in search of Catwoman - she might have information you need.

You find her in an old museum, tied up and dangling over what looks like a pool of acid. She has been captured by none other than Two-Face (who have never ceased to make me shiver when I see him)who is trying her in his own court for stealing. Catwoman, being her usual self, tries to flirt her way out of it. It's you who has to save her. After battling with Two-Face and his goons, Catwoman exchanges places with her captor and she's free. Sadly, it seems she doesn't know too much, and after the Joker attempts to assassinate her you decide that he's the one to track down and find. Leaving Catwoman, you encounter Harley Quinn next who runs off leaving you with her thugs. You dispose of them, but all the criminals think you're dead - good cover for you. It's then that you pick up the Joker's radio signal and start to follow is across Arkham City to the Sionis Steelworks. After entering the steelworks you start tracking down the Joker, knocking some thugs out on the way. Turns out that the Joker is dying, and the doctor they borrowed to try and cure him has failed in making him any better. As a result they plan to torture and no doubt kill her, so you go and save her - classic superhero stuff. You learn from the doctor that the Joker is dying from toxins on his blood caused by TITAN - an unstable steroid that turns men into monsters. The Joker has basically overdosed himself and there's no way to save him. With this useful information tucked away safely in your mind, you continue to track the Joker down.

That's as far as I've got, took a few hours, but I'm a leisurely gamer. I'll tell you all how I do in the rest of Arkham City as I play.

Let's take a look at how good gameplay, control and storyline are.

Gameplay:

It's a tactical game that involves being stealthy and secretive - something I'm not particularly good at. The Dark Knight has always been known for his ability to camouflage himself in darkness and his epic gadgets - a lot of which are in this game. Unfortunately, I don't have any of these gadgets, when I levelled up I chose more durable armour. should have gone with the gadgets. The only gadgets I currently have are my little throwing weapons, such as the Batrarang, and my grappling hook (which has come in handy numerous times).
There's a lot of useful technology - such as the radio and criminal tracker as well as the detective mode which is used to find evidence and potentially dangerous traps.

When it comes to battle it tends to be a 'beat-em-up' game that involves a lot of hand-to-hand combat. Traditionally, the Bat has never carried firearms and has always relied on his skill as a martial artist. The only problem is that he's pretty weak against guns and other firearms, resulting in a near instant death.

Robin and Catwoman are also playable characters - but you need to either buy and download them from the online store as DLC (e.g. PSN) or buy a copy of the game that includes them. I was supposed to buy the Robin version but ended up with Catwoman.

Controls:

It's all pretty easy to get the hang of. Fighting controls use the typical, Circle, Triangle, Square movements with X serving as the control for running. Combos include pressing two or more of the right hand control pad buttons, sometimes using the L and R buttons located on the back of the controller. All the necessary controls and combinations are quickly accessible which prevents you from stalling and losing HP as a result. The game will also prompt you to use certain controls during battle, so if you forget you've always got the game to lend you a hand.

Storyline:

I am guilty of having never played Arkham Asylum before. It's a game I really need to pick up at some point. Because if this, some say I may not be able to fully appreciate the storyline of Arkhamn City, but I think they're wrong. I was intrigued by the story from the first line spoken. I have found it gripping throughout and there hasn't been one moment so far that hasn't excited me. I am looking forward to my next Batman Arkham City session.

That's what I think of the game so far. For those of you who may have already played, what did you think of the game? Was it better than Arkham Asylum or were you disappointed?

Valhalla

Marvel Heroes

2012-04-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

I was going to treat you all to another Skyrim update, but I had to postpone it when I received the latest news on what was formerly known as Marvel Universe Online (MUO). Marvel has to be my favourite in the comic book world, with DC following a close second, and so finding out about these comic book MMORPG's was incredibly exciting. I was left feeling a little disappointed after DCUO, but I'm willing to blame that on the poor quality of my last TV's screen instead of the game - downloading patch notes now to test the game out again. So, I'm expecting good things from Marvel Heroes - I don't want it to be a let down.

The game has no set release date (although I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this year)and it will be released on PC only from what we've been told so far - which I'm pleased with. It will be a free-to-play browser-based game, which is especially nice for those of us who really cannot afford another online subscription, and it will feature the awesome-ness that is Dr. Doom as the main villain. Sounds pretty good so far.

Playable superheroes:

- Iron Man
- Ms. Marvel
- Human Torch
- Storm
- Cyclops
- Hulk
- Spider-man
- Thor
- Wolverine
- Captain America
- Thing
- Squirrel Girl
- Nova
- Cable
- Deadpool

Personally, I'm hoping that this list is going to grow, because there are certain heroes I want to see as playable characters such as Hawkeye, Ant-man, Black Panther...the list goes on.

The question you may be asking is 'how is this going to work', the answer being, we're not entirely sure yet. From what I've been told it will be similar to Marvel Superhero Squad Online (MSSO) - a game I had never played because it's for kids. However, as this one is aimed at an older audience I decided to make an account and play around on the kids version so that I could tell you more about the gameplay to give us all a clearer idea of what the game will be like.

I registered for MSSO under the name Hawkeye12345 (pretty unimaginative, I know) and got to work on testing out the controls. I think my Squad name is Chaotic Punisher as I just went for a random one. Then, the process of waiting for it to load on my browser began. As it's a browser based game, I figured I'd just use my writing laptop rather than pull out my gaming one...it takes a lot longer to load on a low powered laptop.

My first thought when the game was starting up was "I really hope the characters don't look like this in the new game" as the art was incredibly childish - which is good for children, but will hopefully be different in the new game. One thing I was pleased to see was some of the lesser known early Avengers were present on the loading screen. It died on my little laptop before the game could even start so I had to switch to the gaming one - a bit of a pain to be honest.

Re-starting the game, I was taken through the basic controls. If Marvel Heroes is going to work in the same way as MSSO then moving your character across the screen is very simple - simply hold down the left mouse button and slide the mouse in the way you want your character to move. It's a very easy way to move and is something different from the usual WASD or arrow key movement. As with most games, the spacebar is used to jump. To enter buildings or kill things you simply left-click, again making the controls easy to use. Whether or not they'll change this for the older version I'm unsure.

The thing that might make you wonder is the list of available heroes. It's not like DCUO where your character merely has powers that are similar to the chosen hero, no, it would appear that you are collecting heroes. If Marvel Heroes is anything like MSSO then you will be collecting heroes for your team so you can build the most powerful squad. That squad will work to complete missions which will earn you gold, silver or tickets. Gold can be used to purchase more heroes, silver for equipment and tickets on the spinning wheel on which you can win gold, silver or items. It's a fun and simple system. Taking the gameplay and controls in mind, it looks like Marvel's new browser-based game will be simple when it comes to playing allowing for relaxed gameplay. Whether or not they plan to complicate the controls, we don't know yet. However, I reckon it's going to be some light hearted fun. What do you think? Will Marvel Heroes be the next best free browser game or is it going to flop?

Valhalla

I Like to Move it Move it... Like a Jedi?

2012-04-03T14:52:00.001-07:00

Today marks an important day in the development of a Galaxy Far Far Away. For today is not only the 94th day of the year (don't say we never teach you anything) but it is also the day that Kinect Star Wars is released, something I feel many people will have been waiting for, for many years.

The idea of being able to Use The Force whilst wielding a lightsaber excites the inner child in me, and indeed my adult ultimate fantasy. (On another note my dedication to the Star Wars world is show by the fact that 'lightsaber' isn't even corrected by spell check any more...)

The most common case with Kinect games is that they are made up of several different 'mini-game' modes, but this one seems to have a sightly bigger campaign mode to work towards. The research I have done on trials of the game seem to indicate that the kinetic technology ultimately slightly lets down the whole ambiance of the game, but it is important to remember that while your fingers on a controller only have a few centimeters to move in a second on a controller it takes a full arm a few more seconds to conduct the movement required.

It seems generally speaking that the game has been a success although it has features which may aggravate the inpatient, it seems to have redeemed itself with its racing mini games. Ahh yes dear reader, for they have not only allowed us to fight like a Jedi, but also to acquire the perks of one, I'm talking pod racing, droid control, and a choice of ship. The game also has an option to join forces with friends in a co-op or duel mode, ensuring that friends can easily jump in and out of the action.

In all, there is much to be excited about over this game, but the platform its designed for is just not doing it justice, but there is one thing we can be certain of, this game has been predicted to be a success, and for good reason, there's is a lot that will appeal to any faithful member of the Republic (or indeed the Sith). I mean who wouldn't want to work out like Obi Wan Kenobi?

Valhalla's Adventures in Skyrim Continue

2012-04-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since I told you all how my adventures in Skyrim were going. The truth is, I haven't had much time to play it - which is quite sad. So, today I thought I'd spend a couple of hours playing so that I could tell you all how things were going. Since my last update a lot has happened. I took a carriage to Riften, bought a new horse and killed another dragon. I fought some undead - which I will never do again 'cause they make me jump - and I paraded around shouting at people (mainly guards) and laughing evilly when they hit the walls. I'm good friends with the companions, have a couple of houses and am looking for a warrior spouse. Today though, I focussed on questing, and questing alone.

Arrow to the knee...yes...haven't heard that one

Today I packed up my bag and decided to make my way to a quest that I had long ignored. After all, I'd left this guy on the mountain for weeks now and figured he was probably a little chilly. Being the thoughtful elf that I am, I grabbed the next carriage from Whiterun to solitude, one of my horses tied to the back of the cart. It took a long time to actually get there - it was afternoon when I left and around midnight when I actually reached the gates of Solitude, capital of Skyrim. The 'taxi' driver hadn't been kind enough to drop me off at the gates and so I had to run up an incredibly steep hill to actually get into the city - hills are always off-putting to potential attackers. According to the guard outside I was "Just in time to say 'hello' to Roggvir". Apparently he helped the Stormcloaks assassinate the High King. I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious.

Midnight execution

It seemed a bit odd to have an execution at close to one in the morning, but I figured they must be pretty desperate to get ride of the guy. a child begged for the executioner not to kill Roggvir, everyone else was pretty keen on him dying. I decided to get a front row seat, get in the splash zone for when they hacked his head off. Sadly, the spray wasn't powerful enough, but I still got a decent view - wood elves are bloodthirsty, you know. After the execution I spent the night at the Winking Skever. According to the innkeeper the name comes from his childhood pet - a Skever that winked. Back when Skevers were smaller and less dangerous.

In the morning, I decided to go buy another horse - I like to buy a horse in every city I visit. This time is was a nice pale/cream mare that I named Creamy. Creative, I know. I left my black horse, Knight, at the stables because I only really ride him in Whiterun and Creamy needed to be tried out. Supplies packed, I made my way to the now freezing man on the mountain. As I galloped up the mountain something strange crept into the screen. It looked like it was a moving flame but I couldn't be sure so I decided to take it slow for a moment. Of course, taking it slow is never really a good idea and it only led to me being pounced on by a witch and her flaming servant who I can only guess was a fire elemental of some description. From this point I legged it as fast as I could and made sure to escape her and the wolf that jumped out of the bushes. Escaping the crazy witch and the wolf I realized that my destination was actually down the cliff - which was annoying. There was a cave next to me that I thought might lead down, but instead I decided to see if I could jump. Most people would realize that that's not really possible, but I only figured that out when I died half way down the cliff. Going back to my last save, I decided to try a different route and made my way along a lower path. However, I jumped my horse at the wrong time and her legs and neck broke, killing my Creamy instantly. I was quite sad. Partly because I quite liked my new horse but also because I had lost 1000 gold pieces. Leaving her body on the road (I couldn't move it alone) I went back up the mountain.

Creamy :(

Flaming corpse. Nice...

Going back up the mountain I realized that having a horse is really helpful, mainly because you can outrun psychotic sorcerers and their weird elemental minions. I came across an apprentice and his minion and was killed pretty fast - setting me on fire was really impolite. They just threw my burning corpse aside. Returning to my last save point next to my dead horse I decided to walk back to the stables and grab Knight, even though I didn't want him in any danger. I have an incredibly loyal steed, you know. My horse, my awesome horse actually walked from the stables and to me as if he knew that Creamy had died. Touched by his gesture, I jumped on and decided to try and whole new route - around the mainland. I reached the docks and after some exploration of the area decided it would be best to try and use the path that seemed to wind around the mainland and beside the sea. I would have been able to see if that path actually led me to my destination but I was interrupted by a webcam call that made my game freeze and enraged my poor laptop. Annoyed, I accepted the call to complain about the interruption and then got distracted. So, I'll be back on Skyrim tomorrow and on Monday or Tuesday I'll tell you if that path actually worked.

Knight! So loyal...

Oh, and I'll be telling you all about our new blogger. You should be excited about that.

Valhalla

R.I.P Creamy. March 31st 2012 - March 31st 2012

Mists of Pandaria Beta now live!

2012-03-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it would seem that my fellow bloggers are still missing - I reckon the aliens are planting strange chips in their necks for when they are returned to me. I was going to do a Skyrim update today, but then I realized that the Mists of Pandaria update goes live today, and whilst it may not be the best looking expansion in the world, all you Warcrafters had better try it out.

If, like me, you're a World of Warcraft Annual Pass holder you will definitely be given a place as a beta tester before they start letting everyone else in. They're doing it in waves and I'm still waiting for my email. I knew the Annual Pass would have its perks [insert evil laughter].

If you don't have the Annual Pass then there is no need to be disappointed or feel like you're going to miss out - because you're not. If you don't want to commit to a one year contract to become an Annual Pass holder then all you have to do is 'opt-in' to the beta. Clink this link and it will take you to the page that links you to your battle.net account. You know, if you do sign up for the Annual Pass you get Diablo III for free...free...free...

As soon as I get my confirmation email I'll be straight on here telling you all about what's happening in the latest WoW expansion pack. As any screens and information form this beta are allowed to be published I have every reason to show you guys just what this expansion is going to be like, and with rumours of the Cloud Dragon mount who wouldn't be excited?

Valhalla's Corner

2012-03-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Well, it would appear that my fellow bloggers were abducted by aliens and failed to inform me that they would be missing for over a week. Obviously, I wasn't invited to the abduction party and have been left wondering where in all the galaxies they are and whether or not they've been eaten or are being treated like some strange gods some weird alien race. That's actually a pretty funny image...

Artists Impression...

So, whilst they were gone I started writing the next instalment of Valhalla's Adventures in Skyrim. However, it's not finished yet and so I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next week (I'm sorry!). So, I'm sitting here on a Monday evening scratching my head and wondering what to write about. Once I manage to scrape enough money together I'll be picking up Mass Effect 3 because I know there are some of you who wanted a walkthrough and you are going to get it even if it takes us a little while. It looks really awesome and I need it on my game shelf. I really do.

Every week I'm going to be starting something new on our YouTube Channel. It's called The Bloggers Corner where my currently abducted co-bloggers and myself will be providing you with videos about all sorts of games, consoles and accessories. It may also inspire you to send us your videos with your own opinions on certain games, consoles and other technological things. Make sure you check it out - the first entry will be up this weekend with yours truly.

Now for a little bit of gaming news for all your World of Warcrafters - an it's pretty exciting. Most of you will know about the Scroll of Resurrection. You know, the one that you send to your friends and it will give them seven days of WoW time free? Yeah, there's nothing super special about that. Well, there never used to be. The Scroll of Resurrection just got ten times more awesome, Blizzard have really outdone themselves here. It will give you the incentive to send out as many scrolls as your tiny mouse can click on. What are these rewards, I hear you ask? Well, just take a look.

Send your friend a Scroll of Resurrection which can be found in the friends panel on your WoW screen, or do it from your Battle.net account.
Your friend receives it and opens it, not expecting what comes inside. Your friend will receive the following:
- a FREE upgrade to Cataclysm
- ANY character boosted to level 80 instantly (you can even make a new one)
- FREE realm/faction change to the same realm/faction as your friend (or either one)
- 7 days of game time for FREE
Yeah, you want to be receiving this in your inbox.

For those of you who send the invitation you will get an extra special gift as soon as your friend buys 30 days of WoW time. You have a choice of:
- A Spectral Gryphon for Alliance players

Bold and mighty Gryphon

- A Spectral Wind Rider for Horde players

Nice Kitty...

They're pretty good looking mounts, wouldn't you agree?

If I were you I would go out and find a player who has an inactive account and needs a scroll. Go forth and find that poor player and receive your mount! Or, go find someone to resurrect you and reap the benefits. Go on little Warcrafters, go on and find those awesome gifts!

Valhalla

Assassins Creed III - what we know

2012-03-02T01:50:00.000-08:00

As many of you may know, Assassins Creed III is due to hit our shelves this October, and for the average AC fan, it may seem like quite an exciting time. Whilst there hasn't been much info on the game, I'm here to tell you what I've discovered so far.

First thing to tell you is that AC III is going to be bigger than all of the previous games. A lot of people complained that the previous AC games didn't last as long as they would have liked and so Ubisoft have done what the players wanted. They say the story will be bigger and better with more quests and added features.

The question you may be asking is where is the game set? It has been confirmed that AC III will be set during the American Revolution and that it will focus on the Assassin trying to prevent the end of the world in 2012 - hence it's being released before the apparent date of the 'apocalypse'. It was to be expected that there would be 2012 games this year, considering the date is fast approaching. However, I don't know if this is going to work out with AC, it's always seemed like a sword and fist game to me. There will still be swords by the looks of things, but the game will be gun dominated. Oh, and you can say goodbye to Altair and Ezio, there's a new assassin in town and he has powerful friends, namely George Washington. A new era, a new protagonist and a whole new gameplay. AC III is set to sell fast this year.

As you can see, Ubisoft have been pretty hushed about this one. However, whether the game is going to be good or not has yet to be decided.

What's the name of this mysterious new assassins? Who is he? These questions have not yet been answered and when they are we'll let you know. Assassins Creed III, will you be pre-ordering/buying it?

Valhalla

Show me the Vita!

2012-02-23T06:30:00.000-08:00

Before I start this post on the epic handheld console that is the PS Vita, I would like to thank Tanky for covering for both myself and Titus whilst we were away. I'm sending virtual applause.

I was going to get this up last night, bit I was far too excited by the new addition to my console family to even think of writing a post. So, just over twenty four hours after purchasing the PS Vita, here's what I think about Sony's latest creation.

The PS Vita, or PSP2 as it is sometimes referred to, was released yesterday in Europe. It had taken a while for me to decide whether or not to pre-order the console, and so I only got 'round to it on Sunday but I was excited nonetheless. After picking it up from my local GAME I raced home and instantly unwrapped it, marvelling at its beauty. In my excitement, I took a while to figure out where my memory card went and where to insert the game, but I got there in the end...with some help. Sadly, the game I pre-ordered (Dungeon Hunter: Alliance) had not arrived in store and so I bought Wipeout 2048 instead so that I at least had something to play.

Once I had tapped in all the required details (PSN, etc.) I started playing Wipeout 2048 - a racing game set in what is now the not-so-distant future. My parents remember having this game on our PS1 all those years ago and were surprised to see remake of it - it was their favourite game. I have to say, it's brilliant. I thought Mario Kart on the 3DS and Wii was fun, but I hadn't yet come across this beast of a game. It's ruthless, the cars (or perhaps ships) are awesome and it's exciting as you do your best to at least finish in fifth place. I like futuristic racing games...they're awesome. So, a lot of yesterday was spent with me and my younger sister playing Wipeout 2048 in an attempt to beat each other...I always win...of course. The controls are pretty easy to get the hang of and there are some tracks where you're able to tilt the screen in order to steer the ship-car, which is pretty epic.

Deeply upset by the absence of Dungeon Hunter: Alliance, I decided to download the free trial from the PlayStation store and give it a go. Of course, they put strict limits on you - you started as a level six and could only reach level ten. I've played this game a hundred times before on my phone, and I don't believe the storyline has changed, but I still love it - a basic RPG without anything fancy. You choose one of three classes and get out there. I've only ever played as a warrior or a rogue and so gave the mage a chance this time 'round. Not sure if I like that class so much, he keeps getting killed. I found the controls to be a little irritating at times, especially having to tap the screen in order to activate my fairy powers rather than having an assigned button, but it's not a massive flaw.

The Welcome Park seemed to me a waste of time when I first turned my Vita on. However, I started playing with it last night and it's actually a lot of fun. They're really games to get you used to the controls, but I use them purely for the element of fun. There's one where you have to tilt the screen to move a skateboard so that you can dodge giant balls, another where the rear touch pad comes into use so that you can destroy numbers that are floating around. There is also a game where you speak into the microphone and create balls with that sound which will play on a loop - it's very odd. I haven't finished exploring the Welcome Park yet, but I know there's some stuff to to with Augmented Reality (where the console makes it looks like there's things crawling around your house), which is pretty cool.

The PS Vita is amazing, it's a revolutionary piece of handheld gaming. I would really recommend you get out there and buy one. Although, I would suggest getting the WiFi version over the 3G one, because there isn't much more you can do with the 3G and it just costs more money initially and in an additional contract. WiFi all the way!

Valhalla

Me and my PS Vita...fetching...

The skyrim that could have been...

2012-02-19T04:54:00.000-08:00

So what would they do with such a task... well...here are some of the results.....

Goblins as a species, rather than dungeon dwelling vermin...

horse back fighting...

Cooler mounts...

Portal gate fast travel system..

DRAGON MOUNTS!!!....

Kinect voice activated shouts...

FAT GIANTS...

Werebears....

More realistic water effects...

the chance to become a flying Vampire Lord...

Spears...

Magic kill cams...

Adoption?

The chance to build your own house...

complete with SKELETON BUTLER..

season effects....

Season effects continued...