Joystiq

3D Realms: 'Several hours' of Duke Nukem Forever sort of done

Randy Nelson — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:30:00 EST

Is that the sound of Satan sharpening his skates? According to a new interview with Team Xbox, 3D Realms boss George Broussard implies that - dare we say? - development of Duke Nukem Forever is going along swimmingly. You know, just like it has been since ... 1998.

~~All~~ most kidding aside, Broussard tells the site that the developer has "several hours of fairly polished game to play," and that, "It's fun, it's in focus, we know what bits are fun and which are not, and it's just a matter of time now." But clearly, time moves a little slower in 3D Realms', er ... realm. Given that the company has already denied reports that it's coming this year, we'll have to make due with Duke Nuken 3D on XBLA "sometime in September." Of 2008. Really. Promise.

[Via Big Download]

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Joystiq hands-on: Quantum of Solace

Jem Alexander — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Features, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

This hands-on report is based on the Xbox 360 version of the game, though the developers assure us that the PS3 version will be almost completely identical.

While I may not be the biggest Bond fan, and only watched Casino Royale because the Blu-ray came free with my PS3, Quantum of Solace was probably the most interesting game in Activision's Leipzig lineup. Going in with very few expectations and, to be honest, little interest in the title, I was impressed and intrigued with what I saw. It's easy to dismiss QoS as just another licensed movie game that will inevitably suck, but that's certainly not the case here.

The first section of the game that I played was set in the sewers of Sienna, where I'm chasing someone (the developers weren't allowed to say who). The first thing you notice about the game is that the environments are gorgeous. For the most part these have been lovingly recreated from reference photos taken on the set of the movie, so they'll look identical to the film. As a result they're incredibly detailed and, in parts, colorful.

The controls are both solid and fluid (if that's even possible!), leaving you to worry about what's going on on-screen, and not in your hands. Thanks to various set pieces throughout the level, you feel like you're interacting with the environment, rather than restricted by it. Everything feels a little less static and rigid when you're jumping over railings, falling through rotting wood and clambering over mounds of earth. Even if they are sometimes scripted.
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Far Cry 3 probably sticking with African setting

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, First Person Shooters

Far Cry 2's Narrative Designer Patrick Redding informs VG247 that Ubisoft Montreal has started work on the next Far Cry game. He tells the site that Africa still has a "huge amount of promise" and there are still things they'd like to do with the setting, but he hedges it all by saying that the team is still in "preliminary stages" of development.

Redding expresses that the Far Cry 2 engine could be used to make other locales, but that to save time the team will probably build on the sequel's African setting. He wants to stick with the series' exotic settings, but feels that jungle islands aren't as exciting as when the original Far Cry released four years ago.

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Bungie: No new Forge features for Halo 3

Randy Nelson — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:01:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

Bungie's latest community update takes an energy sword to rumors that sprung up following the developer's Edge Award for Interactive Innovation acceptance video. Specifically, the dev clarifies that, "There will be no insertion of Campaign objects, enemies or friendlies via the Forge as folks have speculated." Okay then. What else? Oh, yeah, no "new feature that implements Campaign objects into multiplayer" is in the works, either.

Seriously, folks ... let's be more ambitious with our rumors! The video is clearly hinting at the fact that Halo 4 won't be developed by Bungie, or even Gearbox, but by gamers themselves. That way, if you don't like the story or missions, you'll have no one to complain to but yourself.

[Via X3F]

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Microsoft releases its PAX schedule: Gears 2, Halo Wars, New Xbox Experience

Kevin Kelly — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:40:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Online

Microsoft has released their partial game schedule for the upcoming Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, and it's chock full of Gears of War 2, Halo Wars, and the New Xbox Experience ... experience. Sure there's plenty of other stuff happening at their booth as well, but we're drooling over these three right now, fetch the bibs. Hopefully those "TBA" slots mean there's going to be some surprises from ~~Bungie~~ someone, which will really kick our saliva glands into high gear.

If you're going to be at PAX, be sure and stop by for some hands-on time with these titles, and then search out one of your favorite Joystiq bloggers to pal around with. We'll be the ones with the plastic spit-shields on to keep the precious electronics dry.

Pictured: our inner child at the Microsoft PAX booth, via Gamerscoreblog's Flickr feed.

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Left 4 Dead: Delayed 2 November 20

Randy Nelson — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Online

Valve's four-player fix of zippy-fast zombie action has been pushed back a bit, but thankfully not 28 days later; just 16. Left 4 Dead had been slated to hit PC and Xbox 360 on November 4, but its evil will instead take up residence on your platform of choice November 20. The date is significant in that it's the 10th anniversary of another Valve game you may have heard about - the original Half-Life.

If you just can't stand a first week of November devoid of something new to play, fear not. Might we suggest: Fallout 3 (Oct. 28) or a little game called Gears of War 2 (Nov. 7).

[Via Shacknews]

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Joystiq hands-on: Killzone 2 multiplayer

Jem Alexander — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:09:00 EST

Filed under: Features, Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Killzone 2's multiplayer gameplay was shown off behind closed doors at the Leipzig Game Convention this week and we were there to get our hands well and truly on. As is customary for these breakdown sessions, we were given a short presentation by members of the development team.

We were told about the Squad system, which allows players to form 4-man groups mid-game. Doing so will show your squadmates' health bars, allow you a private headset channel and let you use the squad leader as a spawn point, keeping you together constantly. Setting up squads is easily done in the spawn menu. When a player receives a squad invite, they will receive a flashing notification. Accepting or declining takes only a couple of button presses from that point, making sure you're kept in the game at all times.

Guerilla Games also ran through the extensive community features found in the game. Full clan support, featuring 64 players each, 16 vs 16 clan challenges, four separate leaderboards, a mind-boggling array of stats being tracked and a clan currency system. "Valor" is wagered by each clan at the start of inter-clan skirmishes, with the total being awarded to the winner. Earning valor will propel you up the leaderboards and the intention is to host official clan tournaments, made up of 256 clans, with the entire valor pot going to the overall winner.
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Project Origin pushed back to early 2009

Jason Dobson — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, First Person Shooters

Project Origin, Monolith's everything-but-the-name follow up to F.E.A.R., has slipped on all of that spilled gore, sliding back from the game's previous fall release until sometime in early 2009. The news came from Project Origin art lead, Dave Matthews, who took time during the Leipzig Games Convention to break the news -- and fans' hearts - confirming that players will have to wait until the first quarter of 2009 to find out just what Alma has been up to.

Softening the blow a bit, new details surrounding the upcoming shooter also emerged from last week's event, including news that the sequel will include more interactive and varied environments than those seen in F.E.A.R., while enemy A.I. has also been amped up as well. According to Monolith, the story itself will also be improved over the original, giving us all the more reason to think that maybe Project Origin is worth waiting for after all.

Source - GC 2008: Project Origin Progress Report, IGN

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Killzone 2 co-op to be patched after launch, bots confirmed

Jem Alexander — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

After watching the Killzone 2 multiplayer trailer, we wondered how much more fun the game's online mode would be without your typical multiplayer douche. Well, now we can find out! The upcoming FPS will, indeed, feature bots. These will be fully customizable difficulty-wise, and can fill in for players either online or offline, allowing any Billy-No-Mates to enjoy a friendly match every once in a while.

Additionally, vehicles are currently only available in the single player mode. Multiplayer vehicles will be patched in after the game is released. Also being patched post-launch is a co-op mode for the story. Whether this will be online or not, we're not entirely certain. Considering the long delay Killzone has ~~suffered~~ enjoyed, we're surprised this won't be included from the get-go. Perhaps we'll have to pay for it, but we're used to that by now, right? Be sure to check out our full Killzone 2 hands-on impressions, coming soon.

Update: Guerrilla has a history of making free DLC with Killzone: Liberation (PSP). It released an Infrastructure multiplayer mode and an extra single-player level months after the game's release.

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Only the Games: Call of Duty: World at War coming in November

Justin McElroy — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

Usually PR reps aren't so cavalier about dropping big news, so we're going to go ahead and posit that the team at Only the Games must be exceptionally attractive and/or cunning, because they managed to get an Activision rep to tell them during the X08 event in Toronto that Treyarch's Call of Duty: World at War would be arriving in November. Way to go guys!

Though we are rarely described as attractive or cunning ourselves, we tried to get more specific info from Activision, which told us, "wWe haven't made any announcement about date other than Fall of 2008." Before you whip out a calendar you should know that Joystiq can officially confirm that November falls within the autumnal season, so they could both be dead on. We'll keep an ear out.

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X08: Hands-on Portal: Still Alive (XBLA)

Xav de Matos — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Puzzle

A buzzing noise fills the room as you are shaken awake. Bright lights bounce off the windowed walls of your 4 foot by 5 foot holding cell, making them twice as bright. As you rise from your bed and adjust your eyes a timer clicks from beyond your transparent walls and immediately you can't help but to fear you've seen this all before.

Portal: Still Alive is the upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title based on the critically acclaimed original found in The Orange Box from Valve. Those who were unfortunate enough to never play the original Portal are in luck as Portal: Still Alive is essentially the exact same experience but with a few added bonuses.

Continue reading X08: Hands-on Portal: Still Alive (XBLA)

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X08: Cliff talks Gears of War 2 achievements, Seriously 2.0

Xav de Matos — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

In an interview with Gears of War 2 lead designer Cliff Bleszinski at X08 in Toronto, Canada, we learned of an upgraded version of the original "Seriously" achievement, first seen in the popular franchise's previous installment. The achievement, "Seriously 2.0," requires 100,000 kills across the single and multiplayer campaign of the anticipated title. Yikes!

Stay tuned for the entire interview where Cliff reveals his thoughts on the single-player experience, Gears of War 2's Horde mode (first revealed at E3 2008), Too Human and, err, his desire to pee. Yeah, he went there.

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X08: Duke Nukem 3D coming to XBLA 'sometime in September'

Xav de Matos — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

In an interview with Xbox representative Jason Ing, it was revealed to Joystiq that Duke Nukem 3D, developed by 3D Realms, has passed certification and is expected to release "sometime in September." The Xbox Live Arcade revival, which sports the same minimal graphical enhancements as Doom did on the service, is being published by Microsoft and is an exclusive release for the platform.

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Craig, Dench on board for Quantum of Solace game

Justin McElroy — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:50:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

We're happy to report that when James Bond returns to video games this fall with Quantum of Solace he'll be voiced by our new favorite 007, Daniel Craig. But we're a little worried about how we're going to focus on the game when our undies continue to spontaneously drop to the ground, coaxed off by Bond's baritone brogue! The game will also feature Judi Dench as M and new additions Mathieu Amalric and Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko.

... Listen, did we type that part about our undies dropping out loud? No? OK, thank goodness.

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GC 2008: New Killzone 2 footage shows game is 'pre-beta'

Ross Miller — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

While not as high quality as the falsified chat multiplayer trailer, the Kizzy Dos (remember, that's our nickname for Killzone 2) footage from Leipzig GC 2008 above does reveal that the game is now in pre-beta. When we last saw the game about a month ago at E3, K2 was rocking a pre-alpha build. We're happy to see the game progressing smoothly, even if we have to wait until February to play the final build. Here's to hoping developer Guerilla Games follows in the footsteps of its peers and opens a public beta for the game.
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Check out Far Cry 2's map editor

Ross Miller — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

Ubisoft has released video of Far Cry 2's map editor, complete with a soothing narrator who holds your hands through the 5-minute trailer. Quite frankly, we're excited for how intuitive it seems to be, but perhaps that's just wishful thinking that we'll be able to accurately recreate the island from LOST and play out our own scenarios (only with fewer polar bears). Weather and time of day can also be altered. The folks at IGN have detailed impressions of the editor.

~~It looks impressive, for sure, but remembering Unreal Tournament 3 for Xbox 360, what is unclear right now is how (if at all) console gamers will be able to trade maps.~~ Update: Curse our insomniac ways! Previous entry Far Cry Instincts featured ways to share maps over Xbox Live, so it'd be safe to assume a similar method will also be used for Far Cry 2.

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GC 2008: Killzone 2 multiplayer trailer looks good, sounds too real

Randy Nelson — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters, Online

Sony, Guerilla - our ~~hats~~ voice headsets are off to you. After all, you tried to deliver the total online play experience with your official Killzone 2 multiplayer trailer at Leipzig. The only problem is ... well, it sounds too much like real mutiplayer. Or maybe someone's polite approximation thereof.

Oh, we like what we see (and say, are those auto-turrets from Aliens?) but the "radio chatter" not only sounds forced - it's totally free of racial slurs and/or comments regarding the sexuality of those playing. Now, how can we expect to take that seriously?

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GC 2008: Killzone 2 says, 'Hey, look at me!'

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters, Galleries

click for maximum ogle

Perhaps "pretty" isn't the most appropriate word to describe Killzone 2. But if Guerrilla's shooter keeps showing up to the party looking like this, well, then what choice do we have? We're hot for you, Kizzy*. Three spooky red eyes and all!

(*Yup, official Killzone pet name confirmed.)
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GC 2008: Crysis cost $22 million, next Crytek engine due 2012

Randy Nelson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters, Business

Speaking at the outset of this year's Leipzig Games Convention, Crytek boss Cevat Yerli revealed that the developer's graphical tour de force, Crysis, cost an estimated $22 million to create. Yerli has previously lamented the effect piracy has had on the title, but reiterated that it's still recouped the development costs, saying, "If it wasn't profitable I wouldn't be able to stand here."

Best known for their stunning visuals, Crytek's game engines are also guilty of bringing even the mightiest of gaming PCs to their knees. While the upcoming, heavily-optimized Crysis: Warhead promises a significant performance increase even on mid-range systems, Crytek is already cooking up its next GPU melter, which Yerli says should be ready by 2012. That's when he anticipates GPU tech making the next major leap in its evolution; until then, he expects fellow developers to focus more on what they already have to work with, by means of stylized graphics and hardware accelerated physics.

Source - Crysis cost 22 million to make, IGN
Source - Crytek: New engine in 2012, IGN

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2K Games, would you kindly release BioShock PS3 on October 21?

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, First Person Shooters

Well, that was easy. 2K Games has complied with our subliminal request that it release the PlayStation 3 version of sublime, submerged shooter BioShock in North America on October 21. There was some mental resistance to our suggestions of a worldwide release, however, so you international folks will just have to make do with October 24.

BioShock comes to the PlayStation 3 sporting the same aquatic utopia-turned-dystopia that made the game one of 2007's best, along with Trophies, a new "Survivor" difficulty level and challenge rooms, to be released as downloadable content "shortly after launch."
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