BioShock Infinite will not be a corridor shooter, says Levine

One of the sticking points for some gamers with BioShock was for all its inventiveness, it did at times play like a standard corridor shooter -- lots of small spaces, resulting in similar encounters with enemies over and over.

Developer and creator of that title and also the forthcoming BioShock Infinite says the latter will definitely be focused on more varied gameplay.

"The previous games gave players a lot of tools, but there was a tendency for encounters to have a lot of similarities: narrow corridors and one or two enemies. So the tendency was for tools like the Electro-Bolt and shotgun to be commonly used because they were extremely effective. So the sniper rifle weapon (the crossbow) and the area-of-effect attacks were less effective and less used."

"We wanted to make sure we had a broad range of weapons and powers [for BioShock Infinite], and that the environments and challenges demanded those weapons and powers. So there are a ton of interior spaces in the game that will feel like a traditional BioShock spaces, very intimate. But we also focus on spaces that are quite different from what you’ve seen in a BioShock game: huge, open, outdoor spaces with broad ranges."

As mentioned previously, you can now fight up to about 15 enemies at one time now, too. This and the other changes are thanks in part to the updated engine.

"We’re using an entirely new graphics engine — there’s no shared code or assets with any previous BioShock game, though it’s based on Unreal 3.0 technology. The reason we had to go with a new engine, and one of the reasons development has taken awhile, is because we couldn’t do what we wanted to do otherwise. We couldn’t do this kind of scale, or the scenes on the Skylines where you’re in combat while traveling at 60 miles per hour, or scenes where you’re fighting 15 enemies at once."

"And something like a sniper rifle now make a lot of sense! It becomes meaningful now that we’ve changed the dynamics of the environment. Vertical movement across big, broad spaces and multiple enemies who work together against you — these are things you haven’t seen in a BioShock game before."

While we were kind of hoping from the premise the game would abandon shooter mechanics altogether, it's at least a mild departure from standard fare.

Source:PlayStation Blog

Sections:Microsoft Consoles, Console Games, PC Games, Sony Consoles

|

moreRelated news storiesHomefront will have dedicated servers, clan support on PCAugust 19, '10Ken Levine approves of BioShock 2August 13, '10Irrational's "Icarus Project" is BioShock InfiniteAugust 12, '10Blast your friends in the Mega Man 8-bit Deathmatch demoJuly 07, '10E3 2010: Conduit 2 single player revealedJune 28, '10E3 2010: XCOM strikes againJune 28, '10E3 2010: Spec Ops: The Line leaves us hangingJune 28, '10Singularity trailer reveals new Impulse ability for TMDMay 27, '103 Point Games community creates Team PortressMay 19, '10

Valve promises extended lifespan for Team Fortress 2

So each Team Fortress 2 class each now has its own set of unlockables for players to use. Item trades, a new game mode, and the Polycount Pack are still on the way as intended but what else is in the cards now for the class-based shooter?

Valve project lead Robin Walker says the class updates aren't going to get some major revisions but they do want to address some minor tweaks such as making Nastacha a bit weaker and just about doing whatever else with the Sandman (ugh!). And you know how items had levels attached to them, hinting at random attributes? The devs still haven't figured a proper way to add individual qualities to items; they're pretty happy with major differences like a stock Demoman versus a Demo with The Chargin' Targe and The Eyelander equipped.

As for future updates, Walker cannot offer a proper answer as to when Valve will stop working on Team Fortress 2. They will move on at some point (certainly not anytime soon from the looks of things) but not when the game would feel "incomplete". Players shouldn't be left hanging if only the Medic and the Pyro got new loadouts and that's it.

Source:PC Gamer

Section:PC Games

|

moreRelated news storiesTorchlight II trailer shows multiplayer in actionAugust 20, '10Super Scribblenauts' puzzles let you solve them as you pleaseAugust 19, '10Guitar Hero 5 and Band Hero chills out with WeezerAugust 17, '10Amazing Team Fortress 2 rage capturedAugust 17, '10Make business with item trades in Team Fortress 2August 11, '10

Front Mission Evolved Gets New EU Launch Date

Following up last month's delay, Square Enix and Double Helix Games have announced that their upcoming mech shooter, Front Mission Evolved, will begin shipping to stores across Europe on October 8th, 2010. Here's the official word:

London (18 August 2010) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces FRONT MISSION EVOLVED®, developed in collaboration by Double Helix Games and Square Enix, will be available on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and in stereoscopic 3D (or non-3D) for Windows® PC on the new date of 8 October 2010.

Pre-order FRONT MISSION EVOLVED today to receive two exclusive, FRONT MISSION® Wanzers. The pre-order items are only available through selected retailers.

Calm: A Wanzer that has long been a part of the FRONT MISSION series. Although its appearance is far from intimidating, this war machine is unmatched in melee combat as well a2129s long-range firefights when equipped with the appropriate weapons.Rexon: As in previous FRONT MISSION titles, Rexon is a skilled sniper-type Wanzer. Once equipped with a rifle, it becomes a threat to anything that crosses its line of fire.

The first of its kind in the series, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED is an action-packed Third-Person Shooter and the next instalment in the classic FRONT MISSION franchise. Players will take full control of the Wanzer, a massive humanoid, fully customizable war machine, in single player campaign and online multi-player.

Featuring Hollywood style production values and a totally immersive storyline, players are thrust deep into a swirl of destruction, conspiracy and crumbling alliances, and battle through intense combat situations as man strives to create the ultimate humanoid fighting machine in a war against terror.

Larry Sparks, Vice President Brands PAL Region of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “We’re excited to be releasing this intense new chapter in this classic franchise and invite existing fans and gamers new to the series to enjoy all the action that FRONT MISSION EVOLVED has to offer.”

For more information about FRONT MISSION EVOLVED, please visit the official website at www.frontmissionevolved.com

Front Mission Evolved will be available in North America on September 28th.

Steam Weekend Deal: 75% Off S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Bundle

Saving us some cash this weekend, Steam is offering a 75% discount on GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Bundle, which includes S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat. The deal runs from now until 10AM PDT on Monday, August 23rd. So if you're looking for something new to play and are into "hardcore" shooters, you should definitely consider picking these up. ;)

Steam sale saves indie developer from going under

Indie developer Introversion was on the brink of closing down. Just when things were looking bleak for the four-man team, a sale of their DEFCON title on Steam brought in a hefty $250,000 that would keep them going for two years.

Introversion put their faith in a console port of Darwinia (winner of Independent Games Festival 2006) on Xbox Live to save them but, according to Introversion's Mark Morris, sales were poor due to the high cost put in by Microsoft. Due to the success of the Steam sale, Morris believes that "if you're not on Steam, you're not an indie developer of note".

Subversion is the latest project being worked on Introversion, which is still very early in development. It will rely on randomly generating cities filled with buildings, roads, and highways.

Source:Eurogamer.net

Sections:Microsoft Consoles, Console Games, PC Games

|

moreRelated news storiesPortal 2 reboots February 9, 2011August 18, '10BioShock 2 going on sale next week via Xbox LIVEAugust 18, '10Bing search results to show up on Yahoo shortlyAugust 17, '10

Italian-American organization want to halt Mafia II release

Upcoming free-roam action game Mafia II has been getting its fair share of controversy lately, but it doesn't stop there. UNICO National, an Italian American service organization in the United States with the aim of promoting and enhancing the Italian-American community, have decided to challenge publisher Take-Two Interactive regarding the portrayal of their people in Mafia II.

UNICO president Andre' DiMino called the game a "pile of racist nonsense" and openly attacked Take-Two, saying they're "directly, blatantly and unfairly discriminating and demeaning one group to the exclusion of all others. We are demanding they halt release of the game and cleanse it of all references to Italians and Italian-Americans."

He also sent a letter to Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick requesting a meeting and advising against using Italians and Italian-Americans in Mafia games, because it furthers the "denigrating stereotype of organized crime being the exclusive domain of Italians and Italian-Americans."

Zelnick responded to UNICO, telling them that the Italian-American gangster genre is "a subject that for decades has been featured in movies, television shows and novels. Neither UNICO nor any other organization purporting to represent Italian-Americans has seen or played Mafia II."

Take-Two refused to give in to UNICO's demands. Zelnick concluded saying that he "fully and completely stands behind their creative teams and products, including Mafia II."

Source:Gamasutra

Sections:Microsoft Consoles, Console Games, PC Games, Sony Consoles

|

more 

 

 

1 thumbs!Sakuraba Neku

since May 2008 | 1 day 6 hours agoI might have to buy this game now.

1 thumbs!chautemoc

since Mar 2008 | 1 day 6 hours agoYou may be disappointed as there's nothing in there in terms of depicting Italians that there isn't in other films and games of the genre. 2K handled it quite tastefully, I thought. It's going to be great besides, though.

0 thumbs!Dutch Oven

since Sep 2008 | 1 day 4 hours agolol UNICO is obviously bored with having nothing to whine about,saying that a game about La Cosa Nostra shouldnt feature italians is like saying Yakuza shouldnt feature asians.

0 thumbs!Noraf45

since Sep 2008 | 1 day 3 hours agoquote"denigrating stereotype of organized crime being the exclusive domain of Italians and Italian-Americans."So if they threw in a handful of other ethnicities it would be fine to have Italian mobsters?

0 thumbs!Shadow of Death

since Feb 2003 | 1 day 3 hours agoHahahahahahahaha XD

Sounds no different than the other silliness in the media that's directed at video games. Making mountains out of rural anthills XD Sure, it's a stereotypical portrayal, but stereotypes are present in all media, like that Zelnick fella stated.

0 thumbs!sprkidjar

since Apr 2008 | 1 day 2 hours agoi think UNICO should be more worried about jersey shore.

0 thumbs!Honor

since Jan 2007 | 1 day 1 hour agolmao bloody idiot I remeber reading it on the 2k forum I guess he never heard of the italian mafia or people like Al CaponeAdd your comment:

Name *:  Members, please LOGIN before posting 

Email:  

Live user
verification *: 

Enter the letters you see in the image (without spaces) 

Comment *:

 

 

 Hardware Newsletter:
Email:Related Product

Mafia IIPS3PCXBOX360Net ReviewsVideos (6)Screens (15)CheatsForumLatest CommentsBlizzard offering free StarCraft II name change soon [1][Update] Rock Band 3 leak reveals 31 tracks [9]Free-to-play EverQuest beta goes live [1]Sweet mod splices Doom with Modern Warfare 2 [1]Age of Empires Online team is 75% veterans [6]Most CommentsTexas news reports on the dangers of "Nintendo Xbox" [27]S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 confirmed, going multi-platform [23]Valve apologizes for accidental bans with copies of Left 4 Dead 2 [22]Gears of War movie director bails, criticizes lack of romance [22]Group making Pokémon ROM hack based on creepy story [21]Latest NewsFri, Aug 20GoldenEye 007 multiplayer trailer showcases classic charactersTorchlight II trailer shows multiplayer in actionSweet mod splices Doom with Modern Warfare 2Free-to-play EverQuest beta goes liveBioShock Infinite will not be a corridor shooter, says Levine[Update] Rock Band 3 leak reveals 31 tracksDisturbed brings the 'Asylum' to Rock Band 2Jagged Alliance 2 being revamped with 'Reloaded'Capcom confirms new brawlers for SSFIV arcade[Update] Viewtiful Joe and Dormammu beef up Marvel vs Capcom 3 rosterThu, Aug 19Steam sale saves indie developer from going underBrowser-based MMORPG Jagged Alliance Online announcedIntel buys McAfee for $7.68 billionCryEngine 3 can use up to 8 CPU coresHomefront will have dedicated servers, clan support on PCValve promises extended lifespan for Team Fortress 2APB to live on as developer hit with major layoffsCastlevania: Lords of Shadow stakes retail this October 5thBattlefield gamescom report: 1943 PC still on, 2142 patch incomingRaptr: Madden 11 demo-to-retail game converts drop 50 percentDeep Silver announces Risen 2, Sacred 3Italian-American organization want to halt Mafia II releaseTeam Persona jumps into HD with CatherineWed, Aug 18Super Scribblenauts' puzzles let you solve them as you pleaseCarmine looking to stay alive in Gears of War 3.newsinhousearticles img {margin-top: 3px;margin-bottom: 3px;}Latest Net Reviews

 Intel Core i5 760 

 Sparkle GeForce GTX 460 

 Seasonic X-400 

 InWin Dragon Slayer 

 Seasonic X 

 Corsair AX850 

Latest Inhouse

table.pricecheck { border: 1px solid #336699;}td.pctop { border-bottom: 1px solid #336699;}td.pcbot { border-top: 1px solid #336699;}

Compare PricesMotherboards
Abit
ASUS
Gigabyte
MSI
eVGA
Intel
Tyan
More...

Processors
AMD
Intel
More...

Memory
DDR
DDR2
DDR3
More...

Video Cards
ATI
eVGA
XFX
BFG
Sapphire
More...
search for lowest prices

Crysis 2 "Hero's Journey Multiplayer" Trailer

Grabbing our attention this afternoon, Crytek has released a brand new gameplay trailer for their highly anticipated first person shooter, Crysis 2. Running just under four minutes long, this video features some intense multiplayer action set on a rooftop level. Enjoy:

The above stream is courtesy of YouTube. Mirrors are also available at the following websites:

GamersHellFileShackActionTrip

Crysis 2 is scheduled for release in North America on March 22nd, 2011 and Europe on March 25th, 2011.