Friday, June 29, 2007

Tomb Raider at 10


The Tomb Raider role playing game (RPG), starring Lara Croft (with her big boobies.. LOL!) is now 10 years old. To commemorate this celebration, Eidos Interactive has released the Tomb Raider: Anniversary early this June. The game is the latest installment of Tomb Raider series and the remake of the original Lara Croft Tomb Raider game released in 1996.

Anyway, check out this interview made by Game Daily (www.gamdaily.com) staff to Toby Gard, the original creator of Lara Croft (again… the boobies) and the lead designer in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary.

What was your inspiration for creating Lara?
"The most important part of it was the old English lores, the exploration, the Antarctic. [We wanted] a game with modern-day explorers. Lara's like a female Indiana Jones in that way."

Why was it important for the character to be female?
"Well at the time, everybody was saying you know, you had to have a square-jawed, blue-eyed male. And most of the characters in video games who were females were bimbos or dominatrix women."

You left Core Design shortly after Tomb Raider was released? Why was that?
"Well, I wanted to go off and do my own work, but also, I was realizing that I had very little control over the design. Towards the end of the production, I didn't actually have very much control over the character and what they were doing."

Were there particular things about the way they wanted to make Lara that you didn't like?
"The main point was the sexiness of Lara. The whole point was that most of the women in video games at the time were bimbos or dominatrices, really terrible stereotypes. Lara was supposed to be someone who was strong, and sexy but only because of her power. So I didn't like that part."

Now Legend was kind of a rebooting of the Tomb Raider franchise, and that was when you returned to the series, right? Tell me about that experience.
"It was a very good experience because everybody had been very nervous about this game. So it was actually very good because they were very open to me explaining the reasons for who she was, why she does the things she does."

Legend came on the heels of Angel of Darkness. Did you feel pressure to make changes to the franchise since the previous game received such poor reception?
"The problem was that Lara was not doing what she was supposed to do. It's a really weird situation for the character. It's like taking Superman and putting him in a gardening game, making I dunno, Supergarden. So the problem was that Angel of Darkness put her in an urban place. So the real change was just putting her back where she belonged."

Why do we want to go buy Tomb Raider: Anniversary?
"The core of the game is really searching out mysteries. The key thing is, well our thing is about discovery, looking at different parts of history."

How do you think Lara will adapt to new generations of gamers?
"Well in the first game, literally I was thinking about someone who was really almost psychopathic, really dangerous. But her goals were modern. Tomb Raider is about exploring history, and history is always something that you see people interested in, or at least I hope would stay relevant. As long as we retain that myth and that uncovering then I think people will stay interested."

And as long as she continues to age well.
"Ha, ha. That's the great thing about [her] isn't it? You don't have to worry about that."

[credits: www.gamedaily.com]

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Make Way for TRANSFORMERS: The Game


As a sort of marketing idea and to give movie goers a preview of the upcoming Transformers live action film, Hasbro Inc partnered with Activision to develop and create the Transformers game. The good news is Activation already rolled out the game in retailers starting June 26th. Yah, really. Check out what Will Kassoy, senior vice president of global brand management, Activision, Inc. said:

"TRANSFORMERS: The Game lets you choose your side – Autobots or Decepticons – to either protect or destroy Earth. The game features fully destructible environments, an army of playable characters, split second changes from robot to vehicle form and a storyline that goes beyond the film to include some elements from the property’s long history that will also appeal to Generation 1 fans."

“The Activision team has done an outstanding job of replicating the live-action movie scale and realism into TRANSFORMERS: The Game,” said Jeff Burdeen, Vice President of Digital Media for HPG, the licensing division of Hasbro Inc. “Across the current and next-generation platforms, gamers will have an awesome TRANSFORMERS experience from the amazing vehicle-to-robot changes to the heart-pounding action.”

For console gaming platforms as well as in PC, Activision presents the TRANSFORMERS: The Game, featuring campaigns that let the players choose their fave Autobot or Decepticon characters.

In addition, there are also other versions of the game for exclusive gaming platforms. The TRANSFORMERS: AUTOBOTS and TRANSFORMERS: DECEPTICONS are available for the Nintendo DS, and was developed by Vicarious Visions. Savage Entertainment also developed a Transformers game for PlayStation Portable (PSP) featuring a different game play.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) gave the TRANSFORMERS: The Game “T” (Teen) rating for the Nintendo, PlayStation 2, and PC versions. The PSP versions earned an “E 10+” (Everyone 10 and older – Violence) rating as well as the TRANSFORMERS: AUTOBOTS and TRANSFORMERS: DECEPTICONS for Nintendo DS.

Now get those game pads ready and go to your nearest game shops and get yourself a copy of the Transformer game. As for me, I have to upgrade my Acura parts first and try to get a PC version of this game.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Quake 4 News and Reviews


Quake fans, here is one good news for all of us!

id Software, as we all know is the developer of Quake series, has recently launched a new multiplayer demo for Quake 4. The new demo comes with updates in the Quake 4 1.4.2 Point Release Patch. There are 3 maps available, but unfortunately, the new demo is NOT compatible with other Quake 4 versions. So this means that only players using Quake 4 1.4.2 can play with each other with this new demo and kick some ass!

Anyway, since I find this blog entry a bit short (I'm not used to write short blogs ...err...), Take time to read this review about the Quake 4 from gamesradar.com.

"The big surprise in Quake 4 isn't really a surprise - halfway through the game, your hero, bad-ass grunt Matthew Kane, gets captured and "Stroggified," which involves being tortured and upgraded into a cyborg. The silicon mind control chip inside your head hasn't been activated, so you still fight for the humans in the war to protect Earth. You'll dispatch baddies with the usual complement of Quake weaponry, including the railgun and the hyperblaster, as your missions of "go there and get this thing" unfold. Occasionally you’ll jump into a vehicle like a tank or an armored walker, but no matter how you attack enemies, you'll grow tired of seeing their AI do little more than jump out of the way of your shots.

The Strogg homeworld, land of unholy unions of flesh and technology, looks gorgeously creepy. But after you're Stroggified, the gameplay doesn't fundamentally change - you'll get small health and armor bonuses, but no ethical dilemmas. How cool would it have been to be forced, against your will, to fight for the Strogg? There's no point to the plot twist; so much for man vs. machine vs. self."

Oh I forgot! You can download the new Quake 4 demo in id Software's website at www.idsoftware.com. Hope you'll enjoy playing!

Friday, June 22, 2007

Top 10 Banned Games from gamesradar.com


Actually, there are lots of computer games banned all over the world, and Manhunt 2 is just one of them. The good news is… Games Radar.com compiled the list of these banned games and pick their top 10 list. Check them out!

Here are the top 10 banned video games around the world according to www.gamesradar.com

10. 50 Cent Bulletproof
Banned in: Australia
Why? "The Australian censor is notoriously heavy handed and ranks as one of the most ban-happy boards in the world. While the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) accepted the foul language, drug use and excessive violence in Fiddy's actually-quite-rubbish vanity exercise they were turned off by the slow motion counter-kills - specifically the ones involving knives and on-screen blood splatter. To be brutally honest is was no great loss..."

9. Commandos Behind Enemy Lines
Banned in: Germany
Why? "Germany enforces extremely strict censorship on videogames, and as such game publishers will often do a special Teutonic version to pacify the examiners. An oft quoted example is the use of green blood which marks out the character being killed as an 'alien', making it more acceptable. Commandos was banned on a more obvious technicality: an issue with missions that involve allied soldiers going on missions to kill Nazis, and use of the swastika."

8. Pokemon
Banned in: Saudi Arabia
Why? "One of the more bizarre bannings has religious foundations - in 2001 Pokemon and all its associated spin-off games were the subject of a fatwa in Saudi Arabia which said the card featured the Star of David, which was associated with Israel and international Zionism. It was suggested the games had "possessed the minds" of Saudi children. The edict was expected to be followed rather strictly as punishments would likely include lashings and deportation."

7. The Guy Game
Banned in: United States
Why? "A morally reprehensible game in theory and in practice (IGN gave it 7.7) The Guy Game was a fratboy's dream which focussed mostly on tits and beer with some trivia thrown in. What its makers failed to realise was that one of the cheerleaders who flashed her parts on camera during the course of the game was only 17 and thus under-age. She complained and the game became illegal."

6. Mercenaries
Banned in: South Korea
Why? "Not surprisingly South Korea don't take too lightly to games that involve fictional representations of wars between themselves and their slightly mental Northern cousins. To be honest we'd probably be the same if old Kim Jong II was breathing down our necks."

5. Command and Conquer: Generals
Banned in: China
Why? "This strategy game got the backs of the Chinese government up, with the Ministry Of Culture proclaiming it "smeared the image of China and the Chinese army". It also took offence that the game required players to destroy various national monuments like the Three Gorges dam."

4. GRAW 2
Banned in: Mexico
Why? "Recently seriously pissed off one Chihuahua Governor, Jose Reyes Baeza Terraces after he discovered Ubisoft's game featured a fictional storyline that saw the citizens of Chihuahua fleeing their town and being replaced by armed insurgents. Unfortunately, Terraces exposed his painful lack of video game knowledge when he was quoted as saying, "Violent video games ... attempt to divide the good will of the residents of American and Mexican cities".

3. Reservoir Dogs
Banned in: New Zealand
Why? "No great surprises here as anything associated with Quentin Tarantino seems to attract a fair degree of controversy - not that he had anything to do with this woeful adaptation of his 1992 film debut. Amazingly, given the film's cult classic status today, the BBFC (who is responsible for the banning of Manhunt) initially refused to give it a video classification and it wasn't until 1995 that UK film fans could see it outside of a cinema. The New Zealand OFLC banned it for on much the same grounds as the BBFC did, saying "the film tends to promote and support the infliction of extreme violence and extreme cruelty…for the purpose of entertainment."

2. Marc Ecko's Contents Under Pressure
Banned in: Australia
Why? "Although style guru Marc Ecko's graf game was initially granted a 15 rating by the Australian OFLC it was later banned after an appeal ruled that the game promoted an illegal act (graffiti) give hints and tips on how to do it and rewarded the player for scribbling 'I love Tracey' on public buildings and infrastructure. Clearly the Aussies don't do hip-hop."

1. Postal
Banned: In 13 countries
Why? "The fact it's advertised as banned in 13 countries works in the same way that Ruggero Deodato's exploitation classic Cannibal Holocaust was supposedly banned in 50 countries - it's a great selling point. Unsurprisingly, it's not available in Germany and Australia and someone tried to get it banned in the US. It's got a lot to do with the fact the minimal plot involves the lead character going on a killing spree, shooting people, innocent or not, simply because he's angry about being evicted from his house."

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Manhunt 2 Not Available in the UK


Rockstar Games' sequel to the Manhunt video game called the Manhunt 2 for Wii and PlayStation 2 (PS2) is scheduled to be released this coming July 10, 2007. Unfortunately, even though the game is not yet released, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) banned the game and refused to give ratings.

According to David Cooke, Director of BBFC: "To issue a certificate to Manhunt 2 would involve a range of unjustifiable harm risks, to both adults and minors, within the terms of the Video Recordings Act, and accordingly that its availability, even if statutorily confined to adults, would be unacceptable to the public".

Cooke added: "Manhunt 2 is distinguishable from recent high-end video games by its unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing. There is sustained and cumulative casual sadism in the way in which these killings are committed, and encouraged, in the game."

This news is quite surprising for UK gaming fans as BBFC rated the Manhunt game 18 during its first release last 2003. In addition, the Irish Film Censor's Office has also announced that the game is banned in Ireland.

Well, the good news is we can play this game in the US as the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) rated the game as Adults Only. Anyway, check out this sneak preview of the characters in Manhunt 2.

* Daniel Lamb - The playable protagonist. He was a former scientist with "The Pickman Project" but ended up locked away in the Dixmor Institute for the Criminally Insane for six years. Apparently he has no recollection of who he was before the Project started. Danny was born on May 29, 1963.

* Leo Kasper - The second playable character. Psychotic inmate who was also put in the asylum by the Project. According to Rockstar's official Manhunt 2 website, he appears to be a former government agent. That might explain his expertise in combat, evasion, infiltration, and assassination techniques. He helps Lamb escape and teaches him his own well-honed tricks of the trade. Leo was born on June 19, 1972.

* Dr. Laura Whyte - Head of "The Pickman Project.".

* Dr. Pickman - High ranking medical practitioner within "The Pickman Project." The project seems to be named after him.

* Judy - Works at a brothel (Honey Pot) and holds information valuable to Daniel. An OPSM preview indicates that Judy used to work with Lamb.

Expect a lot of brutal killings and other violent themes on this game. Ok guys, it is time for me to look for quality performance Honda part on the web so chill out!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

UPDATE: More Unlockable Cars in GT4


Actually, there are more than 10 sections in Gran Turismo 4 where you can unlock different car models. So far, I've already posted the guides from Game Spot (www.gamespot.com) on how to unlock the cars in 4 sections including License Center, Beginners Hall, Professional Hall, and Extreme Hall.

Now get ready to hop in 3 continents and know how to unlock the cars found in American Hall, European Hall, and Japanese Hall. There are lots of exciting and rare vehicle models in these 3 sections like the patented Mercedes-Benz Motor Wagen produced in 1886, and the Honda Life van model equipped with Honda cabin filter.

Unlockable Cars in American Hall

CHEVROLET Corvette Convertible (C1) '54 - Win American Championship
CHEVROLET Camaro LM Race Car '01 - Win Stars and Stripes
CHEVROLET Chevelle SS 454 '70 - Win American Muscle Car Championship
PLYMOUTH Super Bird '70 - Win Classic Muscle Car Championship

Unlockable Cars in European Hall

ALFA ROMEO Giulia Sprint Speciale '63 -Win 1000 Miles
VOLVO 240 GLT Estate '88 - Win European Hot Hatch Car Championship
MERCEDES-BENZ Benz Patent Motor Wagen '1886 - Win European Classic Car Championship
CITROEN 2CV Type-A '54 - Win French Championship
ALFA ROMEO 155 2.5 V6 TI Race Car '93 - Win Italian Festival
MERCEDES-BENZ AMG CLK-GTR Race Car '98 Win German Touring Car Championship
LOTUS Europa Special '71 - Win British Light Weight Car Race
JAGUAR E-Type Coupe '61 - Win British GT Cup
JAGUAR XJ220 LM Edition '01 - Win European Championship
MERCEDES-BENZ AMG 190E 2.5 16V Evolution II (DTM) '92 - Win Schwarzwald League B
BMW M3 GTR Race Car '01 - Win Schwarzwald League A

Unlockable Cars in Japanese Hall

NISSAN Fairlady Z Concept LM Race Car '02 - Win Japanese Championship
NISSAN MOTUL PITWORK Z (JGTC) '04 - Win Japanese GT Championship
NISSAN SKYLINE Hard Top 2000GT-R (KPGC10) '70 - Win Japanese 70's Classic
MITSUBISHI HSR-II Concept '89 - Win Japanese 80's Festival
NISMO 400R (R33) '96 - Win Japanese 90's Challenge
HONDA LIFE STEP VAN '72 - Win Japanese Compact Car Cup

More guides on how to unlock cars in other sections in GT4 will be coming soon… so watch out for it.

Monday, June 11, 2007

The Alfa Romeo Brera in NFS: Carbon


Unveiled as a concept car at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show and produced in 2005, the Alfa Romeo Brera sports cars now invades the console gaming industry with its participation in the 2006 video game Need for Speed: Carbon.

When you start a Career in NFS: Carbon, the Alfa Romeo Brera will be used as a default vehicle in the game during the Tier 1. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t show the specs and features of the Alfa Romeo Brera that is why I come up with this idea to post the specs of the vehicle. Check them out!

Alfa Romeo Brera Specs

Body Type: 3-door coupe

ENGINE
Type: 2.2 JTS 16V
Fuel Type Unleaded 95
Number And Layout Of Cylinders: 4 In Line
Total Displacement Cc: 2198
Maximum Power KW: 136 @ 6500 Rpm
Maximum Power HP: 185 @ 6500 Rpm
Maximum Torque Nm: 230 @ 4500 Rpm
Top Speed Kmh: 222
0-100 Kmh: 8.8

Capacities
Towable Load Kg - Trailer With Brakes: 1450
Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 liters
Kerb Weight Kg : 1470

Dimensions:
Length: 4410 mm
Width: 1830 mm
Height: 1341 mm
Wheelbase: 2520 mm

Fuel Consumption: (Litres Per 100 km)
Urban (City Use): 13
Extra-Urban (Highway) 7.3
Combined (37% Of Urban & 63% Of Extra-Urban: 9.4

SAFETY FEATS
Anti lock brakes (ABS)
Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
Driver And Passenger Airbags
Driver And Passenger Seat Airbags
Driver Knee Airbag
RH And LH Window Airbags
Inertia Fuel Cut Off Switch
Follow Me Home Headlamps
Rear Child Safety Door Locks
Drivers Seatbelt Reminder System
Driver And Passenger Seatbelts With Pretensioners
All Seats (4) With 3 Point Seatbelts
Isofix Child Seat Restraints
Reversing Sensors
Xenon Lamps
Headlamp Washers

OTHER FEATURES
Dual Zone Climate Control
Remote Alarm System With Central Locking
Heated And Electric Door Mirrors
Cruise Control
2 Rear Headrests
6 Speed Manual Gearbox
Split And Folding Rear Seats
Electric Front Windows
Style Leather Upholstery
Electric Front Seats
18" Alloy Wheels (Spoked)
Front Foglamps
All Wheel Drive System

The Alfa Romeo Brera is also equipped with oxygen sensors similar to Chrysler oxygen sensor found in Chrysler Group's sports car models.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

More Unlockable Cars in GT4



Here is the continuation of the post I made last June 4th about unlocking secret cars featured in Gran Turismo 4 (GT4) that are found on the different halls. This time, take a look and learn these guides on how to unlock those cars found in Beginner, Professional, and Extreme halls, which I got from Game Spot (www.gamespot.com), one of the leading video game information provider on the web.

Unlockable Cars in Beginner Hall

Autobianchi A112 Abarth '79: Win the Sunday Cup
Mazda Atenza Concept '01: Win the FF Challenge
Nissan SKYLINE 2000GT-B '67: Win the FR Challenge
Toyota Motor Triathlon Race Car '04: Win the 4WD Challenge
Lotus Esprit Turbo HC '87: Win the MR Challenge
Ginetta G4 '64: Win the Light Weight K Cup
Chrysler Prowler '02: Win the Spider & Roadster
Chevrolet Silverado SST Concept '02: Win the Sport Truck Race
Mazda 6 Concept '01: Win the FF Challenge (U.S Version)

Unlockable Cars in Professional Hall

Mazda Mazdaspeed Atenza '05: Win Clubman Cup
Nissan OPTION Stream Z '04: Win Tuning Car Grand Prix
Honda NSX-R Concept '01: Win Race of NA Sports
Mazda BP Falken RX-7 (D1GP) '03: Win Race of Turbo Sports
RUF CTR Yellow Bird '87: Win Boxer Spirit
Mercedes-Benz Daimler Motor Carriage '1886: Win World Classic Car Series
Honda S800 RSC Race Car '68: Win World Compact Car Race
Cizeta V16T '94: Win Supercar Festival
Ford GT LM Edition Spec-II '04: Win Gran Turismo World Championship
Mazda Mazdaspeed 6 '05: Win Clubman Cup (U.S Version)

Unlockable Cars in Extreme Hall

Mercedes Sauber C 9 Race Car '89: Win Formula GT World (US version)
Ford GT '05: Win Premium Sports Lounge
Nissan Gran Turismo Skyline GT-R (PaceCar) '01: Win Real Circuit Tours
Polyphony Formula Gran Turismo '04: Win Formula GT World (Japanese version)
Volkswagen W12 Nardo Concept '01: Win Like The Wind
Opera Performance S2000 '04: Win Polyphony Digital Cup
Nissan GT-R Concept LM Race Car '02: Win Dream Car Championship
BMW MacLaren F1 GTR Race Car '97: Win Gran Turismo All Stars

Every method on how unlock these cars are really challenging. Anyway, I am still wondering if there are hidden pick up tuck models in the game like the Ford Super Duty equipped with Ford Truck performance parts.

Monday, June 4, 2007

Unlocking GT4 Secrets


Now get that PlayStation 2 (PS2) controllers and insert your Grand Turismo 4 (GT4) game DVD! Why? It is because I'll be presenting to you video game fans the how tos and secrets of the GT4.

Let us start in the unlockable cars in the game. Did you know that the rarest cars featured in GT4 are found in the License Centre? Here’s how to unlock them.

Unlockable Cars in License Centre

Acura DN-X '02: A License All Silver or better (US Version)
PONTIAC Solstice Coupe Concept '02: Get All Silver in Super License
FORD Model T Tourer '15 : Get All Golds in Super License
DOME ZERO '78: Get All Gold in International A License
MERCURY Cougar XR-7 '67: Complete Super License
NISSAN GT-R Concept '01: Get All Silver in International A License
NISMO 270R '94 (S14): Complete: International A License
JENSEN HEALEY Interceptor Mk.III '74: Get All Gold in International B License
MAZDA RX-8 Concept (Type-II) '04: Get All Silver in International B License
NIKE One 2022 : Complete International B License
NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R '01: Get All Golds in Domestic A License
HONDA DUALNOTE '01: Get All Silver in Domestic A License (Japanese Version)
PONTIAC Sunfire GXP Concept '02: Complete Domestic A License
HONDA S500 '63: Get All Golds in Domestic B License
MAZDA KUSABI '03: Get All Silver in Domestic B License
VOLKSWAGEN Lupo 1.4 '02: Complete Domestic B License

Like all other games, GT4 also comes with walkthroughs and game secrets for the players to discover. But for you, you wont need to discover those secrets coz here are some of the GT4 secrets I found on Game Spot. Check them out!

Free Horsepower
When you buy or win a new car, take it for an oil change. After the oil change, your car's horsepower will increase.

Licence Guides
To get a Blue (acceleration) and Red (brakes) Licence Test Guide simply push R3 during 3,2,1,Start. It shows you the best route to go and where to start braking. This only works on the B and A license tests and tests where there is no pace car.

Speed up replays, and turn off BGM
To speed up your replays simply press down L3 and to turn off the background music simply press O.

Stay in same gear in Automatic transmission
When using the automatic transmission option, hold R2 to make your car remain in the same gear. This is great for remaining at a given speed through a corner, or stretching the top end of a gear for a little extra speed/performance.

Hidden Black Cars
On days 694-700 in the used car lots you can buy special black versions of:
1.Toyota GT One Race Car
2.Mazda 787B
3.Nissan R390 Race Car
4.Nissan R92CP Race Car

To Buy them all it comes to roughly 9,000,000 credits

[source: Game Spot (www.gamespot.com)]

I wonder when GT developers will feature pickup truck models like GMC Sierra equipped with GMC running board in GT game series.