All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

It’s incredibly odd talking to a high-profile game developer when they can tell you very nearly nothing. It’s akin to squeezing lemonade from a lemon husk that’s been sitting in an open garbage bin for upwards of a year. All that comes out is dust and lemon-scented whispers of “no comment.” But Bethesda’s case is special. The complete and total lack of any sort of Fallout 4 announcement has become the thing that people are talking about. And when they’re not doing that, they’re making hyper-elaborate bogus ARGs about it and registering false trademarks. So when Bethesda game director Todd Howard approached me on the D.I.C.E. red carpet, that’s exactly what I asked him about. Here’s what he told me.

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If you missed the 1980s, it's difficult to explain just how important ninjas were to the pop culture of the decade. The global zeitgeist was transfixed by Japan's mythical shadow warriors, and stealthy assassins appeared in everything, from movies to breakfast cereals to mutated amphibians. Video games were no exception, but few captured the essence of what made ninjas so popular as did Capcom's Strider, which allowed players to climb walls, flip around like acrobatic lemurs and slice through enemies as fast as their greasy digits could mash arcade cabinet's attack button.

Now, after 25 years of relative obscurity, Strider has returned. The ninja's latest mission features modern flair and a new world to explore, but at its core Strider is recognizable thanks to intuitive controls, an immediately responsive main character and reflex-dependent stage design. It may not be perfect, and most of the novel ideas in Strider can be traced to earlier games, but the end result is an engrossing adventure that cleverly blends the old with the new.

Strider is an unbalanced yet extremely stylish platformer, and the series’ best game since the original.

‘Bullet hell’ is one of the best genres, not because I like playing it – liking things is passé – but because it’s an exciting example of the way in which a genre and its audience can warp, and focus, and drill down, and close themselves off to outside influence. I find just the existence of Touhou exciting.

If bullet hell was to be picked up and poured back into the wider world of videogames, Tower Of Guns might be what it looks like. Check out the trailer below.

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Last year, there was concern about Atlus. Its parent company, Index Corporation, was in a pickle, and the Atlus brand ended up in Sega's hands. But Atlus is no longer simply a brand. Atlus is back!Read more...

Software

1. Bravely Default
2. Retro City Rampage: DX
3. Pokemon Dream Radar
4. Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
5. Super Mario Bros.
6. Donkey Kong Jr.
7. Animal Crossing: New Leaf
8. Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale
9. Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX
10. EDGE
11. Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
12. Liberation Maiden
13. Inazuma Eleven
14. Super Mario Bros. 2
15. The Legend of Zelda
16. Pokemon Y
17. Zelda: Oracle of Ages
18. Pokemon X
19. Witch & Hero
20. Gunman Clive

Videos

1. The LEGO Movie Videogame Trailer
2. Super Smash Bros. Champion of the Ring
3. Nintendo Direct: 2/13/14
4. Mario Kart 8 – Koopalings Trailer
5. Super Smash Bros. – Rosalina Reveal Trailer
6. Inazuma Eleven – Episode 1
7. Mario Kart 8 Trailer
8. Retro City Rampage: DX Video
9. Hyrule Warriors Teaser Trailer
10. One Piece: Romance Dawn Trailer
11. Kirby Triple Deluxe Trailer
12. Bravely Default – Gameplay Trailer
13. Yoshi’s New Island – Egg-otic Locales Trailer
14. Pokemon Battle Trozei – Announcement Trailer
15. Mario Kart 7 Video
16. Super Mario 3D World Trailer 3
17. Yoshi’s New Island Trailer 6/11/13
18. Retro City Rampage: DX Trailer
19. Steel Diver – Announcement Trailer
20. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Launch Trailer

Video additions

Wii U

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – Accolades Trailer
Just Dance 2014 Video 9
The Legend of Zelda Stage 8: Defeat Dodongo!
Spin the Bottle: Bumpie’s Party Video 5
Disney Infinity Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Trailer
Bayonetta 2 – Did you miss me?
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Launch Trailer
Super C Trailer
Mario Kart 8 Koopalings Trailer
Steel Diver – Announcement Trailer
Kirby Triple Deluxe Trailer
Yoshi’s New Island Egg-otic Locales Trailer
Pokemon Battle Trozei – Announcement Trailer
Mario Golf: World Tour Teaser Trailer
Nintendo Direct: 2/13/14
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy – Emmy’s Story
Weapon Shop de Omasse Trailer
Inazuma Eleven – Episodes 1-3

3DS

Kung Fu Rabbit Trailer
Retro City Rampage: DX Video 3
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – Accolades Trailer
Pokemon Bank Trailer
The Legend of Zelda Stage 8: Defeat Dodongo!
Disney Infinity Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Trailer
Bayonetta 2 – Did you miss me?
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Launch Trailer
Super Smash Bros. Champion of the Ring
Mario Kart 8 Koopalings Trailer
Inazuma Eleven Trailer
Spot the Differences! Trailer
Steel Diver – Announcement Trailer
Kirby Triple Deluxe Trailer
Yoshi’s New Island Egg-otic Locales Trailer
Pokemon Battle Trozei – Announcement Trailer
Mario Golf: World Tour Teaser Trailer
Nintendo Direct: 2/13/14
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy – Emmy’s Story
Weapon Shop de Omasse Trailer
Inazuma Eleven – Episodes 1-3

- Index will divide into two companies, Atlus and Index
- this will happen on April 1st
- Index Digital Media, Inc. will change its name to Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
- split will maximize the creation of synergies within Sega Sammy

Thanks to Joel for the heads up!

Track: El Coyote | Album: Flower Of Disease | Artist: GoatsnakeRead more...

With Godus, he's looking at something he describes as 'invest-to-play.'

Modern flight simulators - not the recreational kind, the actual kind used to train pilots - are enormous, expensive things. They're impressive, sure, but their cost and size mean they can't exactly be used every day. Which is why a company has been given money by the US Air Force to develop something a little more accessible.Read more...

Reader Sam Balcomb and his wife Kimi celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary this month. Congrats guys! To celebrate, Sam whipped up this awesome Skyrim panorama.Read more...

Newell offers some elaboration on Steam's anti-cheat protection.

Simon Robert is a freelance concept artist who has recently worked on the Game of Thrones TV series, Killzone (pictured above) and Ryse.Read more...

Software
1. Zelda: Wind Waker HD
2. Zelda: A Link to the Past
3. Super Mario World
4. NES Remix
5. Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
6. Super Mario Bros.
7. Super Mario 3D World
8. The LEGO Movie Videogame
9. EarthBound
10. Art Academy: SketchPad
11. The Legend of Zelda
12. Dr. Luigi
13. Super Metroid
14. Super Mario Bros. 2
15. Pokemon Rumble U
16. Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games
17. Unepic
18. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams
19. Super C
20. Mega Man X2

Videos

1. The LEGO Movie Videogame Trailer
2. Deluxe Digital Promotion Video
3. Nintendo Direct: 2/13/14
4. Mario Kart 8 – Koopalings Trailer
5. Super Smash Bros. Champion of the Ring
6. Super Mario 3D World Trailer
7. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Launch Trailer
8. Super Mario 3D World Trailer 2
9. Super Mario 3D World Accolades Trailer
10. Zelda: A Link to the Past Trailer
11. Mario & Sonic Trailer
12. Mario & Sonic: Sochi 2012 Launch Trailer
13. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Trailer 6/11/13
14. Remix I Stage 17: Go and Rescue Mario!
15. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Launch Trailer
16. Mario & Sonic: Sochi 2014 Gameplay Trailer
17. Mario Golf: World Tour – Teaser Trailer
18. New Super Mario Bros. U Video
19. Yoshi’s New Island – Egg-otic Locales Trailer
20. Dr. Luigi Trailer

3DS eShop

- Etrian Odyssey Untold for $20
- SMT: Devil Survivor Overclocked for $20
- both on sale until 2/24

Thanks to VGamer for the heads up!

Nick Thomadis, aka Darthmod, used to be one of the most celebrated modders in PC gaming. That was, until he walked away to go and make his own game. From scratch.Read more...

A user on Reddit has posted a decompiled module that claims Valve's anti-cheat service, VAC, is quietly going through your browser history and sending results back to its servers. Something Valve boss Gabe Newell has made a public statement to deny.Read more...

While the creatures in Pokémon aren't real, that doesn't mean they're not based on real things or scientific concepts. Heck, there are even scientific concepts named after things in Pokémon, amusingly enough. Read more...

Tales fans have Tales of Zestiria and Tales of Xilia 2 to look forward to, but those aren't likely to pull several Tales protagonists into one game. Tales of Asteria is, though! Bandai Namco has announced the mobile-oriented RPG with a spring release on iOS and Android devices planned for Japan. Visiting Asteria's promotional site shows some familiar faces - Lloyd, Milla, Yuri, Luke, Sophie and Cress are all accounted for.

Gematsu's report states that Asteria will feature voice acting and a "cross slide" battle system. Gematsu's translation adds that the story will involve "fragments of a star that [make] wishes come true." Unsurprisingly, Asteria's inhabitants seem eager to fight over magical, wish-granting star bits, which brings in the six protagonists to solve the problem.

Each hero is brandishing their own glowing object on the site's home page - we suppose stealing the star fragments for themselves could be a possible solution to the world of Asteria's conflict! Or ... you know, a great way for them to make a lot of new enemies. [Image: Bandai Namco]

Curious how they made The Last of Us? The documentary Grounded: The Making of The Last of Us is now free on Amazon. Apparently it's pretty good, too!Read more...

Maybe you know that you have an "other" inbox in your Facebook messages tab. But did you know that you can make your own avatar into an emoticon in Facebook chat?Read more...

A portion of a Nintendo Enthusiast interview with WaterMelon’s President Tulio Goncalves...

NE: Have you considered making use of any of the hardware’s unique features?

Tulio: On Wii U, we’re definitely putting the second screen to good use, a feature that will be exclusive of that platform — well, maybe not for long if we end up making it to the 3DS, but that’s for later. We planned a few functions for the second screen that will add to the gameplay; I’m sure the Wii U players will enjoy them. We’re hoping to release the game in April.

NE: Once development is complete, what’s on the cards next for you? Anymore Nintendo support?

Tulio: We do have two brand-new games coming up soon born from the Magical Game Factory: Project Y for Sega Genesis and Project N for SNES. We want to see both projects made for the modern consoles as well. Besides the working projects we have many other game concepts to explore for the years to come, both for retro and modern platforms alike!

Problems with Source licensing have necessitated a change of engine.

The great wars of the past were fought with biscuits and bread. The great wars of tomorrow will be fought with some amazing science pizza.Read more...

Jools Watsham is answering your questions over on Ask.Fm. If you want to ask a question, head over to the link and check it out! Here are some of the more interesting details thus far.

-Mudds 2 and Cult County for 2015
-2P Download Play for Treasurenauts
-Possibility for some kind of multiplayer in Moon Chronicles (but not this year)
-More use of the jumping plane for Mudds 2
-3DS update for Mudds 1 with MM Deluxe content is still being worked on, shooting to submit it to Nintendo for approval in March/April
-MM Deluxe content will hit 3DS before MM Deluxe hits Europe
-Treasurenauts will be hitting Steam
-Treasurenauts looking at a Summer 2014 release on 3DS