Demigod Exclusive to Stardock’s Impulse Download Service April 12, 2008
Posted by raxdakkar in digital distribution, internet, technology, videogames.add a comment
What’s the best way to gain support for your new digital distribution platform? With an exclusive title of course! That is why Stardock’s new Impulse service will be the only place you can get Chris Taylor’s new RTS/RPG hybrid, Demigod, which Gas Powered Games hopes to have in beta by this summer.
The service, which will be similar in many ways to Valve’s Steam, intends to have everything that users of the aforementioned service now expect: Friends lists, game scheduling, Xbox 360 like achievements, and of course digital game downloads. Stardock intends for Impulse to have “equivalent game content as Direct2Drive and Steam by end of year.”
The biggest advantage Impulse hopes to have over a service like Steam is its very user friendly DRM scheme. Similar to Stardock’s recently released critical and commercial success, Sins of a Solar Empire, games on Impulse will not require a disc or an internet connection like Steam. Simply buy the game and play it on your terms (and most likely get your updates/patches using your serial key). Sounds like Steam may finally get some real competition on the PC.
A Few Awesome Video Game Wallpapers April 12, 2008
Posted by raxdakkar in videogames.add a comment
While most companies release standard wallpapers to promote their games, usually plastered with logos and full of poorly chosen angles and layout, the best art often comes from the fans who love those games. Here are a few fine pieces of artwork you don’t have to be totally ashamed of letting someone else see.
Portal
An stark, clinical image of one of Portal’s many chamber warning maps, but with cake! Found by Bits, Bytes, Pixels, & Sprites on 4chan.
Shadow of the Colossus
With the game already having such beautiful art design, it’s no wonder a multitude of fans create fantastic interpretations. This one from deviantARTist ‘adonihs captures the epic scale of the Colossus and insignificance of the main character from the game.
Bioshock
Just because you never saw it in the game never means the Big Daddy’s didn’t enjoy themselves from time to time. Also found by Found by Bits, Bytes, Pixels, & Sprites on 4chan.
Teamfortress 2
With one of the most original art styles of 2007, Teamfortress 2 animated characters are ripe for artful presentation. Flamingmenace on deviantART has created a series of slick picture containing various characters from the game in an assortment of poses. The mirror effect and depth used here makes them look almost like little action figures you can pick up and play with. Here are two of my favorites.
Put a Smile on Your Face: Burn the Rope! April 12, 2008
Posted by raxdakkar in flash games, internet, videogames.add a comment
In this flash game that is inspired by Portal in many more ways than one, You Have to Burn the Rope is the most fun you can have in the next five minutes (and counting).
I’ll list reasons this is similar to Portal: It’s incredibly short, the title is a reference to the game’s most central gameplay element, and it has an awesome credits song, complete with hilarious lyrics based on the game (make sure you stay until it says “Game Over”).
No, it’s not the most in depth game you’ll play on the internet (far from it), it isn’t the most innovative, but when it comes right down to it you would have to be pretty iron-hearted not to enjoy this fun little excursion.
Is this Really even News Anymore? April 2, 2008
Posted by raxdakkar in Uncategorized.add a comment
I am pretty much contradicting myself by writing about this, but yet another “main stream” Journalist thinks video games are super terrible for society and that something must be done to stop them.
The source in question comes from an editorial written by Giles Whittell, writer and parent from the Times of London, where said Journalist has come to the conclusion that video games are as bad as heroin and teenage pregnancy. (sigh) The writer believes that they shouldn’t have to try games to know their bad just like they shouldn’t have to try heroin or teenage pregnancy to know their bad. An obvious indication of how little this person knows about games is their repeated use of the phrase “I will never buy my children a Nintendo” (because apparently someone at the Times believed it crucial that Giles actually try a game before criticizing it).
At this point I’m just going through the motions. Turns out crime has gone down as Video Game popularity has risen. The largest market isn’t kids, it’s 18 – 35 year olds. Heroin kills people and teenage pregnancy often leads to broken families. Video Gamers often grow up to be skilled, intelligent, and productive members in a increasingly technology dependent society. Video Games shouldn’t be a babysitter, they are a form of entertainment, as much as reading a child a book or taking them to the park. Video Games can teach children valuable skills including teamwork, the villainy of cheating, accomplishment and working with loss.
Nothing is safe from April Fools Days April 2, 2008
Posted by raxdakkar in Uncategorized.add a comment
Video Games are one of the biggest targets for April fools day pranks, from a futuristic Zelda, to multiple Blizzard pranks, to Sonic being in a Super Smash Bros game (how silly). This April Fools day is no different with a host of jokes from new voice acting for Grand Theft Auto 4, an Assassins Creed and Metal Gear Solid 4 mash up, and a slew of more jokes from Blizzard. My favorite was the Tuaren Marines, which Blizzard went as far as to create the character and place them in a few Battles in Starcraft 2. Hope theirs a cheat code for them in the retail release.
Videos Below
A Little GTA4 Prediction April 1, 2008
Posted by raxdakkar in politics, videogames.add a comment
Grand Theft Auto has always been a lightning rod for controversy. From being accused of causing real life murders, to hiding sex minigames, Grand Theft Auto has played the largest part in bringing both the main stream media and politicians into an anti-violent video games crusade. I thought I’d make a little prediction on what I really expect to see happen this coming April 29th, when Grand Theft Auto 4 is released onto the public.
Anyone following the Democratic primaries knows what a crazy season it’s been. From upsets in Iowa and New Hampshire to the mere fact that either the first African America or woman will be a presidential candidate is keeping the high stakes competition on the minds of Americans. So why do I bring up what I just explained to be pretty much common knowledge? Because I believe that the Democratic primaries and Grand Theft Auto 4 are going to collide in a media explosion.
Hillary Clinton is losing, not by much, but enough to make her chances at the nomination seem less likely with each super-delegate going to Barack Obama. A closer look at Clinton’s current situation shows her losing her most stalwart block of supporters: women. What could bring back the Mothers (and Fathers) concerned about their children while at the same time getting a lot of free publicity? To bring a strong anti-violent video games stance into the presidential race, starting with Grand Theft Auto 4.
Here are some of the reasons I believe this while happen:
Clinton has fought video game violence before, specifically Grand Theft Auto: Sand Andreas (she led and effort to have the Federal Trade Commission investigate the “Hot Coffee Mod”)
Clinton is behind in the delegate count, meaning she is going to be more “desperate” and look for every possible angle to take on Obama. Obama’s few comments on Video Game violence make it seem like he favors a more industry moderated approach. Clinton might hope to catch him off guard as being insensistive to families and children by not preventing violent games from getting into the hands of young people.
Grand Theft Auto 4 is going to be on the news a lot in the coming weeks. Much like Halo 3 before it, this game is going to have a massive launch, with all the usual suspects to go along with it. I wouldn’t be suprised at all to see Jack Thompson getting interviews on cable networks, along with anyone else who has a problem with violent video games. Hillary will take advantage of this by getting her name into nearly every report done on the game by saying she wants legislation of some sort that prevents the game from getting into the hands of minors.
Of course, this is only a prediction. Perhaps Clinton will see that the most pressing matter to voters this political season are the Economy, Iraq, Health Care, and numerous other problems in front of Video Game Violence. Still, even a small comment is very likely.
~Update – Post Election~
In retrospect, I was not only wrong that Hillary Clinton did not mention Grand Theft Auto 4 at all, but rather Barack Obama was the only politican to make a passing comment at the series.
