Home // 2009 // January

Review: Mirror’s Edge

Mirror's Edge

Developer - EA Digital Illusions CE
Publisher - Electronic Arts
Available On - PC, XBOX 360, Playstation 3
Reviewed On - XBOX 360

Bounding into stores in acrobatic style this holiday season is the most unique title to be found from the gaming fiesta of ’08, Mirror’s Edge. Scaling heights in creativity and atmosphere Mirror’s Edge is definitely a refreshing title that tries something new and stands out amongst the rest, coming to us straight from EA’s Digital Illusions CE, famous for their recurring first person shooter Battlefield franchise. Mirror’s Edge may retain the first person aspect of the Battlefield series but with a focus on weaponless combat and environmental navigation the similarities end there. Ingenuity and absorbing art design polish the experience of playing as the spunky new Asian acrobat Faith but it doesn’t stop her from frequently slipping up and spoiling what could have been a much smoother affair.

Don't look down, or up.

Set in a futuristic city shadowed by skyscrapers and the oppression of an overpowered Government, our heroine Faith lives the daily life of delivering secret messages from rooftop Read more [+]

Resident Evil 5 XBOX 360 Demo Released Tomorrow, Available Now

Japan’s XBOX 360 gamers have had access to a demo of Resident Evil 5 featuring new enemies and areas since early December 2008. While the demo will be available to the rest of the world tomorrow January 26th, it seems not everyone will be playing catch-up to explore the inital offerings of this next installment, as the demo is currently available online for free easy and legal download to anyone with bandwidth and a blank DVD.

After a brief experience with early code last November I know I’m definitely keen to get into this demo ASAP but whether to wait and save some effort is up to you.

Simple instructions to obtain the demo Read more [+]

Crackle cracks me up

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I believe the internet is the future of video serial entertainment but for a long time the only example of this I have been able to use has been the Revision3 network which consistently creates programming that rivals the TV networks in quality. The problem that Revision3 has is that they currently have very few shows that appeal to a wider audience outside of their base tech geek demographic. Even beyond that a decent percentage of internet users aren’t looking for hours of entertainment they don’t have the time or patience for it (I’m not one of them btw) and the majority of Revision3′s quality entertainment is within hour long shows and even now with the daily 5 minute versions of their shows they lack most of the entertainment and interest that the full sized episodes contain.

So with this in mind I started checking out the internet video network Crackle from Sony Pictures Entertainment. Early in Crackles life I thought I had just stumbled upon another internet media failure like so many before it. However along came the Jace Hall Show which was a fantastic mix of exclusive video game news, scripted and unscripted humour that enticed me enough to check out more of Crackles programming to find anymore hidden gems. So here are my picks for the best of Crackle and some of the best internet based video serials on the web. Read more [+]

Review: Fallout 3

Developer - Bethesda Softworks
Publisher - Bethesda Softworks
Available On - XBOX 360, Playstation 3, PC.
Reviewed On - XBOX 360.
Official Site

Of all my planned holiday locations for this Christmas, a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C. wasn’t on the list. I’ve never even been overseas. Claiming this is now difficult, having survived the wastelands of Bethesda’s Fallout 3. Continuing a stellar series of role playing games, Bethesda have managed to build even more on a popular franchise, delivering on every expectation and despite a few bugs along the way the overall experience is immeasurable in grandeur, a role playing adventure like no other that adapts and takes form as the player progresses and continually rewards those who explore and discover the exciting world.

Juxtaposing 1950’s culture and fashion within a futuristic sci-fi environment, Fallout 3 retains many key concepts of the series Read more [+]

B1G League Pilot episode

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The pilot for the brand new competitive gaming show B1G League from Michael Woods (Anything Interactive) and Ash (Tektime Radio) is now out. The show is a live recording of competitive gaming matches; in this pilot the game was Counter-Strike 1.6 and the teams were Metro Melb VS Mayhem Bros. I was lucky enough to work one of the cameras during the shoot and it went pretty well, the only problems being the match wasn’t particularly exciting and the players could of been a bit more enthusiastic but technically it went great and that’s really want you want from a pilot. You can check out the official site for more info and also become a fan on Facebook.

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B1G League Pilot Episode:
Part 1 – Facebook | Direct (WMV 366MB)
Part 2 – Facebook | Direct (WMV 279MB)

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When You Gonna Call?

Atari have announced a release date alongside a new trailer for the new video game set as an official third installment for the Ghostbusters films.

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the original film release North America will bust ghosts come June 16th while Europe and the rest of the world will get their ghost on June 19th.

Co-written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as well as starring Read more [+]

UGO Entertainment buy 1UP, lose lives.

The 1UP Network has educated many gamers around the world for a long time now through global magazines, podcasts and several popular online outlets. Today this is set to change as 1UP have confirmed their acquisition by UGO Entertainment (owned by Hearst Corporation) and with so the loss of the long running magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly.

For now the multiple websites Read more [+]

Review: Dead Space

Dead Space

Developer - EA Redwood Shores
Publisher - Electronic Arts
Available On – XBOX 360, Playstation 3, PC
Reviewed On - XBOX 360

Space; it certainly isn’t living. While it’s not dead either it’s about to get a lot more of the latter with Electronic Art’s latest space-based action horror title Dead Space. Mashing elements of third person survival horror against fast paced action, Dead Space combines the best traits of some well known series to tell a horrific tale of discovery and survival set within the bowels of a recovered mining space ship, the Ishimura.

Dead Space 1

While “Resident Evil in space” is often an unfortunately accurate summary for the most part of Dead Space, one must look at the continual enhancements and refinements of the third person survival horror genre presented within. The audio package is top notch and well realised, utilised to the full potential that clear and appropriate sound effects can have in establishing an atmosphere in horror Read more [+]

Game Damage Full Pilot Available

The Game Damage crew have released the full pilot of their television series on YouTube for media and fans to see an early sample of what the guys have planned for the new series.

Yahtzee also joined Matt and Yug on another Australian Gamer podcast to discuss feedback and plans for the series so it’s definitely worth a listen.

Check out the pilot above and be sure to visit the official site, hit the forums, and let them know what you think!