BitSnark

Released just before the weekend, the Mass Effect 2; Prelude To E3 trailer gives us our first real look at the sequel to one of 2007’s best games (at least IMHO anyway).

Besides looking like all different kinds of awesome and detailing in perhaps some of the vaguest terms the improvements to the game that will be fully unveiled at E3, comes the confirmation that the bombshell that we all knew (and most would hope) would come; all characters that died last time won’t be around for the party this time.

Wow. That must be one of the few games to ever start with multiple beginnings.

Anyways, as I mentioned the trailer is drowning in awesomeness, take a look:

Released just before the weekend, the Mass Effect 2; Prelude To E3 trailer gives us our first real look at the sequel to one of 2007’s best games (at least IMHO anyway).

Besides looking like all different kinds of awesome and detailing in perhaps some of the vaguest terms the improvements to the game that will be fully unveiled at E3, comes the confirmation that the bombshell that we all knew (and most would hope) would come; all characters that died last time won’t be around for the party this time.

Wow. That must be one of the few games to ever start with multiple beginnings.

Anyways, as I mentioned the trailer is drowning in awesomeness, take a look:

Those ever so talented folks behind post apocalyptic epic Fallout 3 and the equally well received fantasy RPG series The Elder Scrolls, have revealed that they are in fact in the process of creating ‘mature’ games for Nintendo’s shovelware beleaguered console.

According to Sean Brennan, the European boss at Bethesda said it would be ‘churlish’ to ignore the huge 50 million plus userbase that the Wii enjoys, whilst ensuring that they are ‘not going to establish a new range and call it ‘My Girly Game Range’ or whatever these other companies are doing, it’s so me-too and boring’, he added.

Specifically when talking about the market share that Bethesda would be aiming at for an adult orientated title, Brennan had this to say:

“I’ve got consoles at home but I wouldn’t sit and play an 18-rated game with my family on the Wii. Is there space in the Wii market for that? I think there is, but again, it’s all about finding out how big that is. Is it five per cent? If it’s five per cent of the market and you can own that space it’s worth doing because you can achieve volume. If you can’t own it at five per cent, it’s not worth doing, quite frankly”.

So with 5% of 50 million being some 2.5 million Wii users, Bethesda would certainly have their work cut out for them. This is especially true given the fact that Sega who somewhat bravely released two mature themed titles early this year, namely House Of The Dead: Overkill and Madworld, is not even breaking 300,000 sales with those titles.

Combined.

As always, i’ll be very interested to see any mature offerings for the Wii just due to the simple fact that ‘mature’ for the Wii is also a byword for ‘different’. Amusingly, this is a somewhat ironic predicament given the fact that when ‘mature’ approaches are taken on titles for the 360 and PS3 these days, the relative saturation on the market of mature titles means that they are invariably met with the same justified groans and cynical murmurings of disinterested familiarity if they don’t bring something new or incredible to the table.

Well maybe in the Wii’s case, games absolutely cannot be mature in order to sell units and serve the bottom line.

I hope i’m wrong.

Those ever so talented folks behind post apocalyptic epic Fallout 3 and the equally well received fantasy RPG series The Elder Scrolls, have revealed that they are in fact in the process of creating ‘mature’ games for Nintendo’s shovelware beleaguered console.

According to Sean Brennan, the European boss at Bethesda said it would be ‘churlish’ to ignore the huge 50 million plus userbase that the Wii enjoys, whilst ensuring that they are ‘not going to establish a new range and call it ‘My Girly Game Range’ or whatever these other companies are doing, it’s so me-too and boring’, he added.

Specifically when talking about the market share that Bethesda would be aiming at for an adult orientated title, Brennan had this to say:

“I’ve got consoles at home but I wouldn’t sit and play an 18-rated game with my family on the Wii. Is there space in the Wii market for that? I think there is, but again, it’s all about finding out how big that is. Is it five per cent? If it’s five per cent of the market and you can own that space it’s worth doing because you can achieve volume. If you can’t own it at five per cent, it’s not worth doing, quite frankly”.

So with 5% of 50 million being some 2.5 million Wii users, Bethesda would certainly have their work cut out for them. This is especially true given the fact that Sega who somewhat bravely released two mature themed titles early this year, namely House Of The Dead: Overkill and Madworld, is not even breaking 300,000 sales with those titles.

Combined.

As always, i’ll be very interested to see any mature offerings for the Wii just due to the simple fact that ‘mature’ for the Wii is also a byword for ‘different’. Amusingly, this is a somewhat ironic predicament given the fact that when ‘mature’ approaches are taken on titles for the 360 and PS3 these days, the relative saturation on the market of mature titles means that they are invariably met with the same justified groans and cynical murmurings of disinterested familiarity if they don’t bring something new or incredible to the table.

Well maybe in the Wii’s case, games absolutely cannot be mature in order to sell units and serve the bottom line.

I hope i’m wrong.

Back in days when looking up and down was luxury, as was being able to jump, crawl or do anything else expect turn, strafe and shoot. Back also when the level design was constricted to one floor, with nothing above you or below you; it was the game that pioneered the whole FPS shebang way back in 1992; Wolfenstein 3D is due for a re-release on XBLA and possibly PSN.

I say ‘possibly’, as the proof that the title exists was dredged up from an xbox.com page detailing the title with a release date ‘tbd’. However, whilst there has been no confirmation of an official announcement either way, I don’t believe there would be any reason for the title not to grace the PSN – especially as it is listed on the ESRB as being so:

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp

I just hope we don’t get charged the Earth for what is a basic seventeen year old FPS.

Back in days when looking up and down was luxury, as was being able to jump, crawl or do anything else expect turn, strafe and shoot. Back also when the level design was constricted to one floor, with nothing above you or below you; it was the game that pioneered the whole FPS shebang way back in 1992; Wolfenstein 3D is due for a re-release on XBLA and possibly PSN.

I say ‘possibly’, as the proof that the title exists was dredged up from an xbox.com page detailing the title with a release date ‘tbd’. However, whilst there has been no confirmation of an official announcement either way, I don’t believe there would be any reason for the title not to grace the PSN – especially as it is listed on the ESRB as being so:

http://www.esrb.org/ratings/search.jsp

I just hope we don’t get charged the Earth for what is a basic seventeen year old FPS.

That git Kojima, he seemingly cant get enough of viral teasing and his latest tease is regarding that of his next project, due for a reveal on Monday, with a subsequent showing at E3.

Below is the link to the aforementioned viral site thingy:

http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/next/

With the next MGS in development as alluded to by Kojima himself, odds on favourite are that the next title will indeed be the next Metal Gear Solid.

Wouldn’t it be nice though if it was something completely a new? A brand new IP?

No? Ok then.

That git Kojima, he seemingly cant get enough of viral teasing and his latest tease is regarding that of his next project, due for a reveal on Monday, with a subsequent showing at E3.

Below is the link to the aforementioned viral site thingy:

http://www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/next/

With the next MGS in development as alluded to by Kojima himself, odds on favourite are that the next title will indeed be the next Metal Gear Solid.

Wouldn’t it be nice though if it was something completely a new? A brand new IP?

No? Ok then.

Sega have announced that no less than seven games will hit Microsoft’s XBOX Live Arcade this summer. Up first is Gunstar Heroes, the beloved Treasure side scrolling shooter that made it’s debut on the Sega Megadrive waaaay back when in 1993. Also of note, Gunstar Heroes will also hit the Playstation Network at the same time. Next up, is the game that made throwing shuriken into people’s faces cool in 1988 (does it ever go out of fashion?), side scrolling ninja title Shinobi.

The undead bashing, creature changing Altered Beast is up next followed by the comic based fighting game, Comix, whereby you fight legions of ‘drawn’ enemies whilst trapped within the panels of an actual comic. Phantasy Star 2 arrives to satisfy any retro RPG cravings you might have and in addition to this, third time’s the charm for as he returns to XBLA with Sonic 3.

Finally, Sonic & Knuckles will be the last Sega title to get a release on XBLA at the end of the summer. The title is also said to feature the cross-compatibility with Sonic 2 & 3 that the Sega Megadrive originals had. Good stuff.

What isn’t good however, is why these titles are being re-released for XBLA, when five out of seven of these titles can already be bought in the Sonic Megadrive Collection (which in itself contains more than forty titles) released for £20 just a couple of months ago.

Sega have announced that no less than seven games will hit Microsoft’s XBOX Live Arcade this summer. Up first is Gunstar Heroes, the beloved Treasure side scrolling shooter that made it’s debut on the Sega Megadrive waaaay back when in 1993. Also of note, Gunstar Heroes will also hit the Playstation Network at the same time. Next up, is the game that made throwing shuriken into people’s faces cool in 1988 (does it ever go out of fashion?), side scrolling ninja title Shinobi.

The undead bashing, creature changing Altered Beast is up next followed by the comic based fighting game, Comix, whereby you fight legions of ‘drawn’ enemies whilst trapped within the panels of an actual comic. Phantasy Star 2 arrives to satisfy any retro RPG cravings you might have and in addition to this, third time’s the charm for as he returns to XBLA with Sonic 3.

Finally, Sonic & Knuckles will be the last Sega title to get a release on XBLA at the end of the summer. The title is also said to feature the cross-compatibility with Sonic 2 & 3 that the Sega Megadrive originals had. Good stuff.

What isn’t good however, is why these titles are being re-released for XBLA, when five out of seven of these titles can already be bought in the Sonic Megadrive Collection (which in itself contains more than forty titles) released for £20 just a couple of months ago.