Claptrap as seen in the original Borderlands
The next Borderlands isn't Borderlands 3, and it's not being developed by Gearbox. As we learned earlier this week, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (read our preview!) bridges the gap between Borderlands and Borderlands 2, it's only on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, and development has been handed to 2K Australia. Oh, and it's set on the moon.
Placing Borderlands with a new studio and introducing a new setting offered up a chance to reinvigorate the series, says 2K Australia general manager Tony Lawrence. "We had an opportunity to make it fresh. We sat down with these guys from Gearbox Software, talked about where it would be and who the characters would be, and what the fans would really like. The moon was something that came up quite a bit. So that was it: to the moon." The lunar environment naturally lends itself to The Pre-Sequel's headline features like low gravity and the necessity of oxygen. The Pre-Sequel also introduces the ability to freeze and shatter enemies with ice weapons.
And, of course, it has new playable characters. That includes allowing players to play as Claptrap for the first time, something that could be equal parts amusement and annoyance - but we'll get to that in a moment.
The Penny Arcade Expo takes another step towards global domination today, with the announcement of PAX South. The fourth installment of the massive fan celebration of gaming is set to debut in San Antonio, Texas January 23 - 25. Read more...
- Diancie will be distributed in theaters in Japan from July 19th to September 30th
- Diancie is Level 50
- has the moves Diamond Storm, Reflect, Moonblast and Return
- holding a Normal Gem
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror is a fun Metroidvania-esque ride, but it is not without its faults. The extra AI Kirbys don't always do what you want them to do, and the lack of the multiplayer option is disappointing. If you can get past this though, you get a game that plays well and is a unique take on the Kirby formula.
- Alex, Michael and Vella are all average folk
- takes place in near-modern times
- Alex uses his LP collection in battle
- he actually attacks enemies with vinyl records
- Michael takes pictures in battle
- Vella's main weapon is a keytar
- battles take place on a solid yellow background
A portion of a Nintendo Life interview with 4 Corner Games' Syrenne McNulty...
NL: So far you've only confirmed a North American release — can you outline the reasons for this?
SM: Of course. I’m sorry to say that I’m effectively broke and can barely afford anything, let alone international ratings. The ESRB has a great system wherein, if your game is download-only, your age rating is free. The other ratings boards, however, aren’t so progressive. I’d love to release in Europe – I have great friends who live in Europe, and I know that some people over there are looking forward to the game. To the European audience: Thank you. I understand you're wanting the game out there. Short of a Kickstarter or IndieGoGo campaign for the game to get a European release, I have to rely on the game to sell well enough to both justify itself and cover at least most of the ratings. I’m exploring different ideas as far as releasing worldwide, including (and nobody wants to hear this) releasing only in PEGI territories, or seeking a publisher for a European and Japanese release.
NL: How important is the budget pricing in terms of driving sales for I've Got to Run!?
SM: Budget pricing is a necessity. As many are quick to point out, there are many (less featured) runners available for free on PC and mobile devices. For $2 players are getting a 60fps experience across two screens on a console, that’s been polished and has three modes, with Miiverse score sharing. I comfortably feel okay charging $2 for that. I would feel considerably less comfortable charging $5 to $10 for that. I have absolutely no clue what to expect for sales, but I’m hoping for the best – and I’m hoping that the price point I chose is low enough for an impulse buy. Maybe even with the Digital Deluxe Points from a game like Mario Kart 8?
I would like to take this opportunity to address the issue of the “disparity” between the United States price of $1.99 and the Canadian price of $2.19. I have heard things said, including in your own comments section, such as “another developer screws Canada”. As of the time of release, $2.19 CAD is between $1.99 and $2.00 in USD in the exchange rate – the same price. I don’t like seeing the higher number any more than anyone else, but I feel the game should be sold at $2 USD. If I release in Europe, the pricing structure will be similar if not identical.
NL: Is Q2 still the release target, or can you narrow it down?
SM: All I’m saying is Q2, sorry. I would have to fail Nintendo’s Lotcheck many times for it to slip into Q3, but I will narrow it down by saying that it’d be unreasonable to expect it in April. There are absolutely no guarantees, but I hope to have it out before Mario Kart 8 launches.
When I ask Firaxis lead designer why the studio decided to take the Civilization series to space with Civilization: Beyond Earth - just announced at PAX East - his answer is simple: "Why not?" Designer and programmer Anton Strenger offers a little more meat. "I think that one of the things that space allows us to do as designers, and for the artists as well, is to get free from a historical context." Civilization has always been tied to human history, but Beyond Earth allows it to branch out in a fresh new direction (even if that direction isn't completely new to Firaxis).
"We, as designers, were free to come up with really fun new gameplay systems that didn't really make sense in a more historical game, or even like a fantasy game." Specifically, Strenger mentions one of Beyond Earth's new tactical elements, the orbital layer, which allows players to launch satellites over a planet, influencing the events below. Firaxis' artists had a field day creating satellite designs, says Strenger. Producer Lena Brenk chimes in, "Yeah, that was amazing to see the artists. Usually we have historic reference that they're working from, and right now they get to invent a world, basically, an alien planet in the future."
That's not to say, however, that Firaxis is just making everything up. "It's really important to us that the player be able to draw a line of plausibility through the entire experience," says lead designer Will Miller, "we want the suspension of disbelief maintained throughout." Beyond Earth begins around 200 to 250 years in the future, he says, and science-fiction fans will recognize plausible concepts like like ships that fly at sublight speeds and cryogenic stasis. "But where you end up is quite different, so we're going to draw that line from where we are now to these sort of post-human evolutions." You won't be starting NASA from scratch, in other words, but Beyond Earth starts in a believable place: Humanity travels to a new planet. The question is how you choose to master it.
Civilization is going to space. The next game in Sid Meier's iconic turn-based strategy series will take place on an alien planet, where you'll explore, colonize, and fight other factions as you attempt to navigate uncharted sci-fi territory.Read more...
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth was just announced at developer Firaxis' panel at PAX East. It's not a sequel to Alpha Centauri (those rights are owned by EA), but 2K Games is finally giving fans the spiritual successor to the sci-fi strategy game they've been constantly nagging Firaxis about for over 10 years.
The elephant in the room has been tackled right up front at the PAX East panel happening right now. Firaxis' Will Miller, who is lead designer on the Beyond Earth project, said, "The heart and soul [of Alpha Centauri] lives at Firaxis. For all the fans of Alpha Centauri, this is the game we've made for you."
Amir Hekmati, U.S. born one-time game developer jailed in Iran since 2011
for allegedly engaging in espionage for the CIA, has been given a 10-year prison termfollowing a secret retrial which took place in December. He had originally been sentenced to death, a ruling overturned in 2012
. Read more...
