May 18, 2013 | Game ON news

Saturday, May 18, 2013

News::NPD: Injustice and Dead Island lead sales in April

_{[DC zombie sculpts by Casey Love Designs]}

The NPD Group released US sales data for April 2013 two days ago, but a complete lack of enthusiasm on the part of the Destructoid staff has delayed our posting it. Not our fault! Look at the information below! It's just so... boring!

DC crossover fighter Injustice: Gods Among Us came out on top, while the middling Dead Island Riptide managed a silver medal performance. Somehow, even Trion Worlds' MMO TV tie-in Defiance eked a top 10 performance, which completely mystifies me.

Only Microsoft was willing to provide hardware numbers -- 130,000 units for Xbox 360 -- but at least Nintendo was willing to share some software deets. Combining digital and retail versions, LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins sold 94,000 copies; Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon scored 140,000 in April for a two-month total of 530,000; and New Super Mario Bros. U hit 770,000 after six months on the market.

Overall, the industry made $425.2 million, a decline of 25% from April 2012. This is clearly the result of fewer game releases as we transition into the upcoming generation. Like I said in the beginning, boring and hardly surprising. Regardless, do check the full top 10 list below.

NPD: Injustice and Dead Island lead sales in April screenshot

News::Days before the next Xbox's unveiling, NBA Live's social media decides to come out of hibernation.

News::4 Things Wed Like to See In Call of Duty: Ghosts

Bracken Lee-Rudolph from ITF Gaming writes: For me, Infinity Ward has always produced better Call of Duty than Treyarch games both in single- and multiplayer. I tend to get less lag when I play them, and I tend to enjoy the movement and feel of the IW games more.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257946/4-things-wed-like-to-see-in-call-of-duty-ghosts

News::The Top 10 Assassins We'd Like To See Go After Batman In 'Arkham Origins'

MTV Multiplayer: "We already know that Batman will face off against Deathstroke in this fall's Batman: Arkham Origins. But who are some of the other hired guns that might end up with the contract to kill the Bat?"

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257926/the-top-10-assassins-wed-like-to-see-go-after-batman-in-arkham-origins

News::Deadpool Never Shuts The Hell Up In Latest Gameplay Clip

GG3 gets the latest gameplay clip for that Deadpool game. One thing is for certain: Developer High Moon Studios will stay true to the comic's sharp wit and constant breaking of the 4th wall.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258089/deadpool-never-shuts-the-hell-up-in-latest-gameplay-clip

News::Marvel Heroes Shows Star-Studded Cast Video

Gamesta.com gets the latest trailer for Marvel Heroes. The upcoming MMO in hands of the creators of Diablo will add even more talent to their roster with acclaimed comics writer Brian Michael Bendis, voice talent Tara Strong, Nolan North, actor Keith David and much more.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258067/marvel-heroes-shows-star-studded-cast-video

News::New DICE LA studio is focusing on Battlefield 4

EA has clarified the role of the new DICE LA studio, sayig they are "100% focused on Battlefield 4" according to EA.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258092/new-dice-la-studio-is-focusing-on-battlefield-4

News::Cities in Motion 2 Review | ComboCaster

To create a network that can satisfactorily should start by knowing your customers and this aspect Cities in Motion 2 gives us more information than that which would be required to. We know the various types of people who inhabit the city, since the workforce is less qualified to large businesses. Students, tourists and all the rest of the population, they all have specific needs that the player must take into account when you are considering your transport network. There are plenty of means of transport available, each with associated costs and a degree of difficulty. Buses are probably the means of transport simpler to implement. First because they require only roads and it usually exists in a city, which leaves us only with the role of choosing the paths and put stops. Unfortunately the buses do not take many passengers and here start the problems and choices that the player has to make, assessing customer needs to know what type of transportation that should create.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258091/cities-in-motion-2-review-combocaster

News::Indie Game HQ Review: The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles by KING Art Games

In Indie Game HQs latest review, James takes a look at The Book of Unwritten Tales: The Critter Chronicles by KING Art Games. The Critter Chronicles is the prequel to the very popular adventure game The Book of Unwritten Tales. The game can be bought from many vendors for $19.99, but it is on sale for $4.99 through Steam until May 20th. All the necessary links can be found at the end of the review.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258093/indie-game-hq-review-the-book-of-unwritten-tales-the-critter-chronicles-by-king-art-games

News::Modded Controllers: Good or Bad?

Article about the use of modded controllers in games

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258076/modded-controllers-good-or-bad

News::Weekly Digital Roundup: y cant metroid crawl?

"If this Weekly Digital Roundup will teach you anything, its that some people suck at Super Metroid. Okay, that was a little too harsh, I apologize. In actuality, its quite fascinating to see some peoples first time with Super Metroid, which is on the Wii U Virtual Console for the ridiculously amazing price of $0.30. Even if some of those Miiverse posts are potential trolls, it does show us how many gamers of today are spoiled by the hand-holding tutorials of todays games. Whatever happened to overcoming obstacles via your own exploration of a games mechanics? But I digress. Nintendos eShop has seen its fair share of action this week, with Super Ghouls n Ghosts and Super Mario Bros. 2 now available for $8 a pop (or $1.50 and $1 respectively if you already own the Wii versions). The 3DS now has Mega Man 5 and Harvest Moon (GBC) on the Virtual Console." - Patrick Kulikowski

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258085/weekly-digital-roundup-y-cant-metroid-crawl

News::Men beating up women - dispelling the myth

Some would have you believe that women in gaming are hapless and weak, whose existence is there to solely pander to the whims of male characters and their egos which in turn relates to male players and their goals and desires to be tough, save the girl and get some loving afterwards.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258074/men-beating-up-women-dispelling-the-myth

News::Review: The Starship Damrey

"This game contains no tutorials or explanations. Part of the experience is to discover things for yourself."

Thus reads the disclaimer when you fire up a new game of The Starship Damrey, Level-5's atmospheric sci-fi adventure and first of the Guild02 trilogy. Those words are meant to evoke memories of classic point-and-clicks, of scouring every corner of the room to find the tools you need to advance, of the solution eluding you until that blessed "Eureka!" moment. Here is a game, you think, that seeks to defy modern conventions and allow us to solve problems on our own.

What a bold promise. Too bad the game doesn't live up to it.

Review: The Starship Damrey screenshot

News::Various Disney racer domains registered

Disney has registered a whole slew of domain names that point to a new racer of some sort.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257594/various-disney-racer-domains-registered

News::Metro: Last Light PC Review l Vortex Effect

Vortex Effect: As stated in the opening, theres nothing dumbed down about this game and I enjoyed it more than part one thanks to some subtle refinements to the gameplay. Thus far that seems to be the growing consensus out there amongst fans of this series and I hope theres a part 3 or some kind of continuation of the concept.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258082/metro-last-light-pc-review-l-vortex-effect

News::Still Playing: Bioshock Infinite

EDGE: "Games arent movies. Theyre theatre. Each one an in-the-round performance with room for improvisation and that encourages audience participation. Theres a theatrical maxim that goes by the name of Chekovs Gun, and what it boils down to is that if a rifle is hung on the wall of a set in the first act of a play, it must be taken down and fired in the second. It ties in to both efficient, lean design with no surplus ornamentation, and the old adage that you should show rather than tell. Games do this all the time, as you perhaps watch enemy soldiers in an FPS using heavy weapons youll surely be using against them later, or more specifically in BioShock Infinite when you meet the Handy Man at the fair."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258078/still-playing-bioshock-infinite

News::Metro: Last Light Review | WGTC

Chaz from We Got This Covered wrote: There are few games like the Metro series out there, and thats honestly a shame. The original, Metro: 2033, broke away from the masses when its developer shunned the idea that a FPS needs to be nothing but bullet porn and then pulled us into an uncomfortable world with an outstanding level of immersion. Metro: Last Light tried to improve upon that formula, and while its team did so in some key ways, they seem to have lost track of what made Metro just so great to begin with. Whats left is a fine game in its own right, but it may not be what people are expecting to sit down with.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258081/metro-last-light-review-wgtc

News::PCGamer- Thief Preview: Garrett returns to a city of voyeurism and detail, power and character

PCG:The studio behind this reinvention, Eidos Montreal, have previous experience with this kind of material. They were founded in 2007 for the specific task of bringing back Deus Ex and Thief, two games associated with an influential creative group that moved between the Looking Glass and Ion Storm studios at the turn of the last century, and are spoken about in the kind of hushed tones normally reserved for great artists or really old people. The games were bound by common ideals: first-person perspective, choice, immersion and the first reinvention, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, succeeded because it made excellent choices about what to keep from the original and what to update and improve. Now the same process is being applied to Thief.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258054/pcgamer-thief-preview-garrett-returns-to-a-city-of-voyeurism-and-detail-power-and-character

News::Uncovering the Secrets of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified | Giant Bomb

Giant Bomb: "After an extended disappearance, 2K Marin's XCOM shooter has resurfaced, and Alex had a chance to sit down and play it."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257931/uncovering-the-secrets-of-the-bureau-xcom-declassified-giant-bomb

News::Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine Review [NoobFeed]

Alex from NoobFeed takes a look at Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine. Pocketwatch Games developers managed to make a really charming and addicting game and the time attack part of the game adds a lot of replay value to the game. Ever dreamed of pulling a huge heist Mission Impossible style? Well nows your big chance!

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258056/monaco-whats-yours-is-mine-review-noobfeed

News::Metro Last Light - All Musical Instrument Locations

There are a total of 17 musical instruments in Metro Last Light. Finding all of them will earn you the Musician trophy or achievement. There are only 4 types of instruments: Guitar, Balalaika, Accordion, Piano. You have to find and play all 17 though. Playing one instrument of each type is not enough to unlock the trophy. You have to find all of them in one playthrough. Doing this via chapter select won't work.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257578/metro-last-light-all-musical-instrument-locations

News::Bloodlust Shadowhunter demo walkthrough impressions

A look at the PC demo of WRF Studios' vampire action role playing game Shadowhunter.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258070/bloodlust-shadowhunter-demo-walkthrough-impressions

News::NVIDIA Publicly Announces the GeForce GTX 780 At GeForce E-Sports

NVIDIA went ahead and publicly announced the flagship GeForce GTX 780 at the GeForce E-Sports festival in mainland China. The GeForce GTX 780 would be officially launched next week on 23rd of May 2013. VR-Zone and 4Gamer managed to take some shots of the public announcement by Scott Herkelman, NVIDIAs GeForce General manager, at the event which can be seen below.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258011/nvidia-publicly-announces-the-geforce-gtx-780-at-geforce-e-sports

News::Borderlands 2: Krieg the Psycho Bandit Review | Machinima

Machinima: "Making the most of Krieg requires more situational awareness than other Borderlands 2 characters. Between watching your health and cooldowns in your UI while dealing melee kills in crowds, theres a lot to handle. What you do get out of Krieg is a palatable rush regardless of how often you die, and at least dying gives you the chance of taking enemies with you."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257947/borderlands-2-krieg-the-psycho-bandit-review-machinima

News::GRID 2 Dev Roundtable: Addressing Gameplay Concerns

GamersNexus: "We covered a variety of topics for this pre-launch Grid 2 discussion, including vehicle customization, car tuning and tweaking, locations, RaceNet integration, and the revamped direction of the Grid franchise."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257570/grid-2-dev-roundtable-addressing-gameplay-concerns

News::New Remember Me Story trailer and Concept Art

LGN: "Dontnod Entertainment has issued yet another trailer for Remember Me accompanied by a few concept art pieces (click to enlarge), in a clear attempt to keep this action-adventure in our memories. The game, which takes place in Neo-Paris in 2084, revolves around former elite memory hunter and current amnesiac Nilin and her quest for rediscovering her past and figuring out who deleted her memories and why."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257569/new-remember-me-story-trailer-and-concept-art

News::Thomas Was Alone Review | Gamereactor UK

GR-UK writes: "The PC version of this charming platformer passed us by when it was released last year, so when it arrived on PS Vita at the tail-end of last month, it seemed the perfect opportunity to see what the game has to offer. Thomas Was Alone has a couple of unique selling points. The most prominent is the narration by Danny Wallace, who does a great job in delivering the game's narrative. The other is the game's distinct aesthetic."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258045/thomas-was-alone-review-gamereactor-uk

News::Indie Game HQ Review: Sang-Froid Tales of Werewolves by Artifice Studio

Sang-Froid Tales of Werewolves is the latest title from Artifice Studio. The game uniquely combines action and strategy with RPG elements. Sang-Froid has you assume the role of two brothers who must work to save their sister from a vastly superior foe. It is currently available for $14.99 through Steam for PC. All the needed links are listed at the bottom of this review.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258047/indie-game-hq-review-sang-froid-tales-of-werewolves-by-artifice-studio

News::Thunder Wolves PC Review - Chaos Hour

You Look Like A Blister I Had On My Ass Once... Therefore I'm Gonna Call You Blister Thunder Wolves is the latest arcade shooter from Bitcomposer and Most Wanted Entertainment. With both a powerful over the top script and storyboard setting, it provides the gamer with an old school approach to new arcade shooting games. You are the pilot of various aerial war machines and it is your mission to save the world once again. It sounds promising on paper but does the final result provide peace for your trigger finger or simply leave it hanging.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258061/thunder-wolves-pc-review-chaos-hour

News::Trophies or Troubles? What Do Gaming Achievements Mean to You?

Brady Ruiters from ITF Gaming writes: Achievements and Trophies are somewhat new to the gaming world, only really appearing during the current generation of consoles. There have always been challenges within games to perform certain tasks but there wasnt always tangible evidence or rewards for completing them.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258059/trophies-or-troubles-what-do-gaming-achievements-mean-to-you

News::Fantastic Neighborhood 65: In Space, No One Can Hear You Shred

Ubsisoft writer CJ Kershner stops by to guest host this week's episode of Fantastic Neighborhood. He and Fred discuss the finer points of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Duke Nukem Forever, and banana phones.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257534/fantastic-neighborhood-65-in-space-no-one-can-hear-you-shred

News::Video Games Are the New Rock and Roll - Gamer Horizon

Early this month Vice President of the United States Joe Biden met with several leaders of faith-based organizations to discuss gun control, immigration, and video games. Joystiq, via Politico, reported that Franklin Graham, CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association suggested media and entertainment that portray violence should be subject to a special tax, with the proceeds going to help victims and their families. Has he read the Bible?

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257864/video-games-are-the-new-rock-and-roll-gamer-horizon

News::10tons Announces Sparkle 2

10tons Ltd. announced today a sequel to the hit action puzzle Sparkle. The game will be released in June 2013 for iOS, Mac OS X, and Windows.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257705/10tons-announces-sparkle-2

News::Battle bad bots in Bad Bots, available now on Steam

Killer bots are on a collision course with Earth and only you can stop them! Sharpen your axe, grab extra ammo packs and dash into the chaotic fray with Bad Bots now available on Steam for both Mac and PC.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257706/battle-bad-bots-in-bad-bots-available-now-on-steam

News::Red Panda Games Releases Nowhere Safe: Unintended Silence

Red Panda Games is pleased to announce their release of Nowhere Safe: Unintended Silence, the sequel to Nowhere Safe.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257707/red-panda-games-releases-nowhere-safe-unintended-silence

News::Panky: "The Spring split of the EU LCS didn't really surprise me"

Ryan from Velocity Gamer writes: "Christopher Panky Pankhurst is a League of Legends shoutcaster (description below) who has casted multiple events such as IEM Katowice and Dreamhack Winter 2012 among others. I recently spoke to Panky about his role as a shoutcaster, what advice he would give to an aspiring caster and he also gives his take on the spring split of the European League of Legends Championship series."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257735/panky-the-spring-split-of-the-eu-lcs-didnt-really-surprise-me

News::Rugby Challenge 2 Test Drive at Game in Kingston May 22nd

Gamers heading to Kingstons GAME store can expect refined and expanded gameplay, as well as a range of new features including quick taps, quick lineouts, mauls from lineouts, interceptions, contesting ball at the breakdown, removing players from the ruck and number 8 scrum pickups.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257746/rugby-challenge-2-test-drive-at-game-in-kingston-may-22nd

News::What's Kicking? Episode 1

The best games and technology from the popular crowd-sourcing sites all brought under one roof. A new weekly post on what's kick-starting with plenty more to come.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257467/whats-kicking-episode-1

News::GotGame | Gaming Soon May 17 2013

On today's episode, we explore some new developments in Pokemon X and Y, a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game that's recently thrust itself from the shadows, and we discuss the console and PC ports of one of the more successful Resident Evil games. All of this and more, on today's episode of Gaming Soon.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257869/gotgame-gaming-soon-may-17-2013

News::Top 10 Survival Horror Games of all-time (Examiner)

A list that took games like Eternal Darkness, Fatal Frame, Clock Tower, and Condemned into consideration.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257891/top-10-survival-horror-games-of-all-time-examiner

News::Metro: Last Light Now Available

Metro: Last Light, the highly anticipated sequel to Metro 2033, is available throughout Europe from today. In the year 2034, a nuclear war has turned the world into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. In Moscow, the tunnels of the Metro have become a new home for the former inhabitants of the city; survivors struggling against the hardship of a nuclear winter, and one another.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257451/metro-last-light-now-available

News::Epic Games' Mark Rein: "PC innovation suffered" from Intel's decisions to not fix their graphics

DSOGaming writes: "Now this is really interesting. An article about the battle between Intel and Samsung caught Mark Rein's, Epic Games' CEO, eye who afterwards claimed that PC innovation suffered from Intel's decision to not fix (or improve) their graphics cards."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258029/epic-games-mark-rein-pc-innovation-suffered-from-intels-decisions-to-not-fix-their-graphics

News::ChristCenteredGamer Blood Dragon review

If you're into humorous over-the-top first-person shooters like Duke Nukem and Bulletstorm, you may enjoy this game. However, for those who would rather play a game that isn't edgy for the sake of being edgy, you may want to avoid this game and spend your money elsewhere.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258028/christcenteredgamer-blood-dragon-review

News::Deadpool Preview | GameGrin

High Moon Studios has harnessed the ridiculous awesomeness of Wade Wilson and put it to some really good use in the form of a new third-person action adventure game, simply named: Deadpool.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258002/deadpool-preview-gamegrin

News::Bring home the hardcore bacon in Mr. Bree+ | GamesRadar

GamesRadar: "Porky Pig never had to deal with all these spikes. If you're a fan of platformers that push your run-and-jump abilities to their limits, you need to keep tabs on Mr. Bree+, a deceptively charming game from Brazilian indie team TawStudio Entertainment."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257912/bring-home-the-hardcore-bacon-in-mr-bree-gamesradar

News::CSM - Metro: Last Light Review

CSM - Parents need to know Metro: Last Light is a violent sci-fi shooter played from a first-person perspective. Gun-based combat is tense, visceral, and scary, with shouts of pain ringing loudly in closed spaces and gushes of blood spraying across the screen, sometimes obscuring the player's vision. Characters are given to frequent and strong profanity, and seem to smoke and drink whenever afforded the opportunity. A couple of scenes show women in various stages of undress, including a graphic lap dance by a topless girl who straddles the player's character.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257990/csm-metro-last-light-review

News::CSM - Dead Island: Riptide Review

CSM - If you enjoyed the first game then you'll likely have fun running, gunning, and slashing through this bloody sequel. If you can forgive the lame story and bland characters who don't seem to have any real "life" to them -- unlike Telltale Games' amazing zombie story, The Walking Dead -- this new gorefest includes open-world gameplay, role-playing game (RPG)-like elements, new vehicles (like boats) and enemies, and a focus on four-player first-person co-op action.

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257995/csm-dead-island-riptide-review

News::Wii U Version Of Ghost Recon Online Still On Hold

Still not showing up on the radar by Andy Green Way back in 2011, Ubisoft announced Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online and stated it would be coming to PC and Wii U, however, the developer has since put the Nintendo adaptation on hold while it focuses on the PC version. It seems the situation hasn't changed as the game's official Twitter account confirmed earlier that the Wii U version remains out of active duty:

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258016/wii-u-version-of-ghost-recon-online-still-on-hold

News::StarDrive Review | Gaming Trend

Gaming Trend: "Despite its problems, Stardrive does a lot of things very well and Id really like to give it my recommendationexcept for the hefty pricetag. Its hard to justify recommending Stardrive over Galactic Civilizations 2, Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity, or AI War: Fleet Command when those games offer more content for less money. If youre a big fan of space-themed 4X games, and find it on sale, Id say you should pick it up. But everybody else is better off leaving this one for the space-bears."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1257881/stardrive-review-gaming-trend

News::Will Kaidan Alenko be in Mass Effect 4? Interview: Raphael Sbarge

Excerpt: I was thrilled when they introduced the Homosexual romance options in Mass Effect 3 just because obviously there was a huge audience. I spoke to the developers about it, they said they provided so many different choices we were proud of, to be really honest it was just another piece of extra content that didnt make the final cut in the other games. Whats amazing about the game for people is that you can cross gender! You can play through in any capacity you want, imaginatively for any of us thats a huge factor in the experience. All of the opportunities and complexities are fascinating, and thats what games allow to go down the rabbit hole and explore it."

via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1258003/will-kaidan-alenko-be-in-mass-effect-4-interview-raphael-sbarge

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Saturday, May 18, 2013