Article by: Hunter Etherington

This week I will be describing the processes I used to distress and stain the shield. This portion of the project has actually spanned two weeks but can be done in one. The reason it took more time for me is because I forgot how long it takes to stain wood. Once again the materials needed are very easy to get a hold of.

Materials:

• indoor wood stain (Ebony)
• paper towel

Tools:

• sander
• wire brush
• chisel or multicrafter (oscillating blade tool)
• paint brush

I really wanted to achieve an authentic look to the shield and to do that I had to distress it. I first attached a wire brush to an electric drill and went over most of the shield with it. In some spots I used pressure to create more texture. From there I wanted to replicate the appearance of a weapon strike. To do that I used a Multicrafter with an oscillating blade and started taking out chunks of wood.

From there I went on to staining; this is where I misjudged my time. If you haven’t done any staining, it’s a pretty simple process. The first step is to apply an even coat across the entire surface. Once that is done you have to wait for 10 to 15 minutes and then use paper towels to wipe off the excess. After it’s wiped off, it will take 4 to 6 hours to fully dry. While it’s drying it’s okay to flip it over and do the other side. Just use gloves or a paper towel to flip it and place it on a raised surface like a paint can. Repeat the steps on the back side and leave it to dry. When you come back, check if it’s as dark as you would like, if not add another coat. Repeat until you achieve the desired color. I only needed two coats and it turned out really well.

Next week I am going to paint the main yellow color and the emblem onto the front of the shield. If you need any directions clarified or have any other questions just leave a comment and I will answer you.

With the release of Jackie Estacado Deuce right around the corner, we have our first impressions on the demo here.

The original Darkness met with much fanfare when it was released early in the career of the PS3. While not a huge fan of the original, the demo for the sequel looks like it has great promise. Cel-shaded graphics coupled with a unique quad-wielding ability that utilizes all the trigger buttons for four separate attacks, The Darkness II looks like an interesting and innovative foray into first person shooters for 2012. Jackie may be in trouble at the start of the game, but The Darkness II will probably have no trouble appealing to comic fans and shooter addicts alike with its intriguing story of redemption and gunplay.

Source: VG247

Insomniac CEO Ted Price made a very simple, very definitive statement during a recent interview with VG247: “We won’t be making any more Resistances.”

The developer, who also created the Spyro The Dragon and Ratchet & Clank franchises, is now focusing their concentration on their upcoming multi-platform, four-player co-op shooter Overstrike.

Even though Insomniac is out of the Resistance business, Sony owns the rights to the name and is currently developing a PS Vita game titled Resistance: Burning Skies from developer Nihilistic Software.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced the Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition, a content-rich version of 2011’s award-winning Mortal Kombat videogame. The 2011 iteration of the legendary fighting franchise sold more than three million units worldwide.

Mortal Kombat: Komplete Edition delivers the critically acclaimed game and all previously released downloadable content. The DLC includes fan-favorite warriors Skarlet, Kenshi, and Rain, as well as the infamous dream stalker Freddy Krueger. The game also offers 15 Klassic Skins and three Klassic Fatalities for Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Reptile.

The Komplete Edition of Mortal Kombat will be available for PS3 and Xbox 360 on February 28.

Two of videogaming’s most iconic characters are entering the ring and going toe to toe. Exclusive to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions of Street Fighter X Tekken, Capcom’s very own Mega Man will be joined by Namco’s mascot, Pac-Man.

For the first time, the version of Mega Man featured on the original Mega Man 1 box art will make the jump from the cover to be a playable character, with Pac-Man taking on all challengers as he rides atop Mokujin.

Mega Man and Pac-Man join the previously announced PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita exclusive characters, Cole from inFAMOUS plus Toro and Kuro.

Source: Engadget

During a recent investor’s meeting, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced that the service has “no plans” to offer video games for rental. This was first mentioned as a possibility during the time when Netflix had an identity crisis and tried splitting the service in two… good riddance Qwikster.

Additionally, in regards to 3D movies, Blu-ray 3D discs are already being offered while the company is “looking into” streaming 3D.

Source: Xbox360Achievements

While the PlayStation 3 and Vita versions of Street Fighter X Tekken are set to include inFAMOUS‘s Cole MacGrath and Sony’s Japanese cat mascots Toro and Kuro, it looks as though Xbox 360 players won’t be getting any exclusive character surprises.

When asked about this, Producer Yoshinori Ono stated:

“We do have the exclusive characters for the Sony platform. We have Cole, the two Sony cats, Kuro and Toro. But basically for the Xbox 360, we were in discussions with them (Microsoft) for which character to put in as an exclusive, but we weren’t able to decide on a character because of differences in timing and things like that. So unfortunately for Street Fighter X Tekken, only the PlayStation family will be getting the exclusive characters, but it’s something we wish could have happened. It’s just too bad, basically.”

Ono did have hopes to see a couple particular Xbox characters in the game:

“In terms of characters we wish we could have put in the game, Master Chief or Marcus Fenix from Gears of War would have been really cool, but it was just really difficult.”

Source: PlayStation Blog

In addition to the trailer reveal for Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock, Simon Harris (Executive Producer for BBC Worldwide) has announced the monster line-up for the game: the Silence, Cybermen, Silurians and the Daleks. It was also revealed that two new versions of these monsters have been created as bosses in the game. Apparently, “there is a tiny sight of one of them in our new monster trailer” below…

Source: LittleBigPlanet 2

The audience whispers excitedly as the lights dim in Muppet Theatre. Indeed, tonight’s Muppet Show features quite the special guest. It’s none other than Little Big Planet’s very own Sackboy! But beware; the mysterious Phantom has plans to get in the way. With the help of new inventions – Attract-O-Gel and Attract-O-Tweak – it’ll be up to you to help the Muppet cast put on the show of a lifetime. On with the show!

The Muppets pack is filled with tons of decorations, stickers, objects, music tracks, sound effects, and voices, plus 7 new trophies, 12 new pins AND a bonus costume of Rowlf the Dog.

But that’s not all folks, that new glowing blue Attract-O-Gel material mentioned above allows Sackboy to walk on walls and ceilings, whilst the Attract-O-Tweak gadget can be used to give these sticky properties to any material.

The Muppets Premium Level Kit is available today, January 24th for $5.99 on PSN.

I remember seeing the hulking monitors at New York Comic Con showcasing Asura’s Wrath, a game I think will arguably become Capcom’s next big-time franchise. With the release a little less than a month away, the demo is available now on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Asura’s Wrath really is something quite unique from this gamer’s perspective. It is inherently episodic in nature, having an hour television show-like quality to it. The demo offered up Episodes 5 and 11 and boy was I floored at the graphics alone. Everything in this game screams big, brash, and loud with a sick amount of detail. It is epic in its scale, as much as it is unique in its gameplay, which was pretty easy to pick up and also varied.The majority of the game, from what I could tell, involves highly stylized cinematic battles akin to the boss battles in games such as God of War and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. Most notably, however, is that this was a good chunk of the first demo level, yet it was interspersed with a rail shooter-like element which has protagonist Asura charging the boss and using the triangle button to take out parts of his body in order to weaken his foe and build up something called a burst gauge. This enables a powerful attack and is also  used to advance the battle, which relies heavily on the cinematic and stylistic. Eventually, the gameplay style changes and you are using an energy blast type of power to take out a large flying ship and using a melee attack to take out ground enemies. I won’t go much more into detail on the gameplay other than saying it is a varied affair and you never know what buttons you are going to have to press to interact with the bosses.

The chapter 11 boss battle was completely different in the gameplay department, with a third person battle on some kind of asteroid or planet surface. The same button pressing was required but it was more melee combat centered than running and firing energy bursts like the boss of the previous episode. The action is over-the-top, insane, and crazed.

So, we have Asura’s Wrath shaping up to be a unique entry into the stale winter video game market. It is definitely unique, melding elements of sci-fi and mythology together and I like the variation from episode to episode, especially when it comes to Asura’s arms which grow and fall off when he is damaged. The story is a bit simple with Asura trying to rescue his daughter from the enemy deities, but it’s interesting, as are the characters I have seen thus far. It definitely draws heavily on Japanese anime wildness with its over-the-top characters. My only pending gripe may be the game’s length. Since it takes place in episodes, I feel I should pose these two questions: 1) Will it end definitively? 2) How long is the game? Capcom needs to focus on length if they want to launch a successful new franchise because I was done with these two levels in about 45 minutes. I guess we’ll have to wait and see when the game is out of the gate on February 22. Until then, the demo is a recommended download.

If you thought making the dragons of Skyrim into Macho Man hybrids was strange, this My Little Pony mod takes it up a notch. You can get the mod here: Pony Dragon Mod

Capcom has announced that Resident Evil 6 is in full development and scheduled for release on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 20, 2012 with a Windows PC version to follow. Blending action and survival horror, this latest installment in the multi-million selling franchise is the most ambitious, immersive and feature rich title of the series to date and promises to be the dramatic horror experience of the year.

It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity. Due to be by the President’s side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world’s population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left.

In a first for the franchise, Resident Evil 6 sees series favorites Leon and Chris come together to face this unprecedented threat. They will be joined by new characters, each with their own unique perspective and involvement, in this relentless dramatic horror experience enacted on a global scale.

“Resident Evil 6 represents a giant stride forward in the evolution of the series,” commented Katsuhiko Ichii, Head of R&D and Global Marketing. “The development team, led by Hiroyuki Kobayashi, is working tirelessly to deliver the most impressive Resident Evil title ever both in terms of scope and production values. We are all genuinely excited by the title and cannot wait to share it with the world.”

Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Resident Evil 6 Executive Producer added: “From the outset the team’s intention was to create an experience that delivers a gripping storyline, tense single-player and co-op action all set against a constant theme of horror. We are calling this fusion dramatic horror and are confident it will resonate with both existing fans of the series as well as newcomers.”

It’s the post-apocalyptic, wild west gunslinging, Mad Max-style driving FPS in which ID Software and Bethesda deliver one of the most undervalued titles of 2011.

The “post-apocalyptic FPS” genre has been something of a popular gaming commodity in the past few years. I remember games like Borderlands, and, to a degree, Singularity trying to provide gamers with an experience that included ravaged landscapes, obliterated cities, crazed, marauding gangs and vile monsters. Well, suffice to say neither of these games did it for me. I could dismiss Rage as simply another game that delves into what I consider a burgeoning genre, yet one that I predict will only flourish in popularity in the future, but has not had an experience captured correctly on consoles. Yet I must concede that ID Software and Bethesda have delivered an enjoyable, co-op romp and race through savage territory at breakneck speeds.

Story/Presentation: The truth be told, the story for Rage is pretty vague. You play the role of an “Ark survivor,” an individual who crash lands on a nondescript planet inhabited by roving gangs and bandits, mutants, and other aberrations that I’ll leave the player to experience. On top of all these problems the player encounters, a government group called The Authority is on the lookout for Ark survivors and you are public enemy number one if they discover you. Again though, pretty vague story if I do say so myself.

The game menus are pretty standard, with little or no gloss or flair added. A basic start and load screen are coupled with longer than usual load times, as well as a huge (8GB) install on the PS3 (note that the game is spread across 3 discs for the Xbox 360). I was not a fan of the 20 minute install on the PS3, but understand why it was done in order to cut down the load times. The whole game pretty much runs off the hard drive.

Gameplay: Rage’s gameplay is a varied experience for a FPS, with three ways to play the game. It has no “true” competitive multiplayer except for a car combat mode (we’ll get to this shortly though).

The single player campaign mode can be tackled with a friend or alone. The main story involves players traveling around the wasted planet, going to various settlements and taking on a myriad of jobs and tasks from the denizens that reside there. All these tasks earn you anything from goods, cash, weapons, junk, etc. Goods in this game range from materials used to build your own devices, extra weapons, and cash… which is king in Rage. The game relies heavily on cash and looting the corpses of fallen foes, as you use money to buy many serious upgrades from shopkeepers. Junk and other materials can be used in conjunction with recipes that are collected, which can be purchased at shops or found throughout the world. I really enjoyed the engineering aspect of Rage where you craft awesome items (think building stuff in Bioshock). Weapons are pretty standard, such as pistols, a couple of shotguns, machine guns and a crossbow (rockets become available as the game progresses). All of the weapons have different ammo types (i.e. electric crossbow bolts are one type of ammo that lets you shock enemies, or shoot water puddles to kill multiple enemies who happen to stray into them). What I like about the various ammo types is that you get a decent weapon load out early in the game and hold onto all your weapons throughout the game without having to pick up any on the ground like so many shooters these days. Ammo can also be engineered if you are low, provided you have the right parts.

In settlements, mini-games and gambling are ways to earn quick cash, and these can be some much needed diversionary enjoyment. There is a Magic: The Gathering-style card game with 54 cards players can collect in game, and customize their decks accordingly to play the game. A knife stabbing game is a nice homage to Bishop in Aliens, where players have to stab accordingly in between their fingers to earn money. “Tombstones” is a futuristic version of Craps, where players roll dice to take out holographic mutants before they attack, and various vehicle races which the player can tackle at their leisure.

Racing and driving is an integral part of the game, and surprisingly, really flawlessly executed. Players can access various cars they can upgrade by earning race certificates in various wasteland races. Ammo, guns, tires… all of these things are upgradeable, and various defensive measures can be purchased for cash such as vehicle shields, caltrops, and vehicle repair modules. It’s like 007′s Aston Martin capabilities, but in a Mad Max style junk car! Driving is a breeze, and your car even flips over for you if you land upside down on the roof, which negates the need of crawling out of your conveyance and running away before it explodes (which I call the crappy GTA model of escaping a wrecked vehicle). Should your vehicle be wrecked, a tow service gets you back to town and your car repaired. Just call it in the game.

Combat in Rage is the classic ID formula, with fan service paid to lovers of the classics such as Doom and Quake. Run-and-Gun coupled with intelligent enemy AI, even on Normal difficulty, make this a shining example of what FPS games should be. Bandits move with speed, guile, and finesse, player sniping requires patience, and all in all this is all I could have asked for from ID. Using the trigger buttons allows for quick weapon switches and item deployment. For example, automated sentry bots and turrets can be constructed for combat defense, damaging enemies with lethal precision. I like the fact that simple items the player constructs help the player in a positive way thanks to competent AI. Enemies range from foot soldier archetypes to gargantuan and heavily armored. My only gripe is with damaging these armored enemies that show up in the game at the midpoint. It takes careful strategy, correct ballistic selection, and explosives to take them down, and this can be difficult if you don’t have the correct ammo loadout. Fortunately, dying in game means life. Players are equipped with an upgradeable defibrillator unit that brings them back to life, depending on the charge you receive in the defibrillator “mini-game” that activates when you die. The catch is that the unit needs time to recharge, so if you die, you have to plan attacks more cautiously, or else dying again will cause you to reload your previously saved game.

Graphics: I don’t say this lightly: Rage has some of the best graphics for the current generation consoles. The drab colors of the desert, the crystal blue sky when you look up, and the level of detail put into the world, especially around destroyed buildings and cities, made me feel like I was living after the apocalypse. The details really made the game shine. Also, the game runs at at least 35 frames per second (if not more) with no slowdown. Enemy movements are fluid, and I would say the character models rival such games as LA Noire and Uncharted 3. ID developed games are known for being graphic powerhouses and they don’t disappoint on this one.

Sound: DTS quality sound bring out the grunts, groans, clip loading, gunshots, the rev of engines, screech of tires, and the clink of miniguns on top of your ride. Rage has some superb sound design and some colorful dialogue to boot. Definitely should be experienced on a DTS capable system.

Multiplayer: A quick note on multiplayer… Rage includes a competitive combat mode for all-out four player racing wars. The car handling in game is great, so I can assume it is great in multiplayer as well. Purists I am sure pissed and moaned like babies that there was no competitive FPS multiplayer, but Rage’s structure and campaign would have made that hard to achieve. I was pleased that co-op was included, and the AI, as far as the campaign was concerned, was sufficient enough for a challenge.

Verdict: Rage is one of those games that, in my opinion, fell under the radar during the game rush of the 2011 holiday season, probably due to the fact that conformist, bottom-feeding fools saved their gaming dollar and went out to pick up Modern Warfare 3 because everyone else did. It really is unfortunate, because this is one of the BEST shooters to come out in a long time. There is something for everyone in the package, especially for those looking for an original shooter combined with car combat style racing. The only improvement that could have been made, and I admit I am nitpicking, would be for better, maybe slightly easier, ways to take down armored enemies and a little more variety in the vague story. This is after all, a game that should be heavily story driven, as there is no true FPS multiplayer component. The story dragged a little toward the second half of the game, but overall it’s a 12 plus hour game to do everything in the campaign, a rarity (and welcome one) in gaming today.

Shortcomings notwithstanding, Rage remains purely enjoyable in a Bioshock sort of way, and if you see it is on sale (as I have seen it recently) definitely pick it up. Loot Rage today, like a dead mutant, for it could very well be the template for future games based on the “post apocalyptic world” genre!

Rating: 9/10  

Positives:

+ Awe-inspiring graphics

+ Consistent frame rate

+ Engineering of items

+ Variable ammo types

+ Many in-game diversions

Negatives:

- Vague story that could have been more varied

- Difficulty of armored foes

Capcom has released the names of six more fighters that are joining the ranks of Street Fighter X Tekken. From the Street Fighter corner… Balrog, Juri and Vega have now been confirmed and from the Tekken side… Paul, Law and Xiaoyu will be playable in the game.

The crew at Exploding Rabbit has revealed the next evolution of their crazy fun online game Super Mario Bros. Crossover. While waiting for the next version, you can check out the original here: Super Mario Bros. Crossover

Article by: Hunter Etherington

As the new year was approaching I realized I was talking a lot about how much I love DIY projects, but I have never really tried one of my own. So I decided that in the new year I was going to build my own custom costume. While playing Skyrim, I have spent a lot of time using the zoom function in the inventory to examine nearly every item I have picked up. While doing so I noticed that some of the items would be fairly easy to replicate. In particular, the guard outfits seemed like the easiest and would work as a good costume, especially if I placed an arrow in my knee.

So last weekend I started working on the shield portion of the outfit. For anyone who would want to know how to make it themselves I will outline my steps each week.

This is what the shield looks like.

When looking at the shield I realized I could make it with only a few materials that can be picked up at any hardware store.

Materials:

• 2 Pine boards 6x1x4 feet
• wood glue

Tools:

• scroll saw or jigsaw
• table saw or circular saw
• clamps or duct tape

I had previously estimated that the maximum diameter of the shield was going to be around 2 feet. The first thing I did was saw the two boards in half to create four two foot long pieces. When laid out side-by-side it creates a two foot by two foot square. From there, I was walking around my parents’ garage trying figure out what was the best way to create the circle I needed to cut out. I found an old garbage can lid which ended up being the perfect size for the final shield so I traced it onto the boards.

To cut it out I was thinking of using a jigsaw but I found that a scroll saw was much easier to create the shape I needed. It wasn’t perfect, but I will be covering the edge eventually anyway.

After the pieces were cut out I had to decide what was the best way to fasten it together while making sure it looked like it’s from the game. I found it best to just use wood glue as to avoid any visible hardware. When I started to get ready to glue the pieces together I couldn’t find my clamps so I ended up having to use duct tape. It was crude, but it worked really well.

One problem with the duct tape was that the glue application was a lot messier than it would have been with clamps. Because of that I had to spend some extra time sanding and this is how it turned out at the end of the day.

There are a few things I would have done differently. I would have used dowels to help keep the planks together as well as use a table saw to cut the planks in half.

Next weekend I will be distressing the wood and then staining it. If you have any questions about what I did so far, or any suggestions for the next phase of the project, please let me know in the comments below.

This new trailer for Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City introduces the six members of the US Spec Ops team – Tweed, Dee-Ay, Harley, Willow, Shona and Party Girl. Sent into the ill-fated Raccoon City to determine the source of the mysterious T-virus outbreak, the US Spec Ops team will use their elite skills and training to defeat the Umbrella Security Service (USS) team and ensure the truth behind the outbreak is revealed. This new trailer highlights the brutal triple threat combat between the USS, US Spec Ops, and zombies and B.O.W’s.

Swan is the goth geek villain who loathes people and society. Seeking revenge on the people who rejected and ridiculed him, Swan is on a mission to take over the world. But there was one thing he did not count on – Juliet kicking his ass!

In the post-apocalyptic action/adventure I Am Alive, even fresh air is a luxury. Learn the basics of surviving in this trailer for Ubisoft’s long awaited title.

Marvel smashes its way onto Facebook with the announcement of Marvel: Avengers Alliance, a unique combat role playing game experience with dozens of Marvel’s most iconic heroes and villains. Marvel: Avengers Alliance will be live on Facebook Q1 2012 from Disney Interactive Media Group’s Playdom studios.

Marvel: Avengers Alliance takes place in the wake of a galaxy-wide disaster, known as “the Pulse,” exposing Manhattan to attack from Marvel’s most formidable villains. This is a new storyline for the Marvel Universe created specifically for the game.

Players are recruited as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and tasked with assembling and leading teams of superheroes to keep New York City safe from the clutches of villains like Doctor Doom, Loki, the Red Skull and Magneto, as well as holding off the forces of the organizations AIM and Hydra. Marvel: Avengers Alliance will give players the chance to build an unstoppable Marvel team from iconic Marvel characters, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow and many more.

Once a hero is added to the Avengers team, players can begin training them to unlock unique abilities and attacks, as well as using “ISO-8″ to further customize each character’s stats. Players will also be able to face-off against each other, challenging their social graph in super-powered asynchronous PvP battles.

More details and additional character reveals to come, so be sure to stay tuned!

The Facebook fan page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/avengersalliance

A ‘Macho Men’ mod brings the fury of Randy Savage-like dragons to the world of Skyrim. Oh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

Get the mod here: skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5518

Batman is back to save Gotham City and the action will only build from here! Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and The LEGO Group are teaming up once again to announce that LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes will be available beginning Summer 2012 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Windows PC, as well as the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and PlayStation Vita. The game is the sequel to the best-selling LEGO Batman: The Videogame, which to date has sold more than 11 million units worldwide.

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes complements the brand new, recently released LEGO Super Heroes: DC Universe toy collection. The line includes five construction sets, such as The Batcave and three buildable, detailed action figures.

In LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin join other famous super heroes from the DC Universe including Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern to save Gotham City from destruction at the hands of the notorious villains Lex Luthor and the Joker. Batman fans of all ages will enjoy a new and original story filled with classic LEGO videogame action and humor as players fight to put the villains back behind bars.

“LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes builds upon the action and cooperative gameplay experience established in our best-selling LEGO video game to date, LEGO Batman: The Videogame,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “We’re offering fans a rich and expansive Gotham City environment filled with cool characters, great customization options and plenty of surprises that families, young gamers and DC Universe fans can enjoy together.”

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes allows players to explore all new areas of Gotham City utilizing a variety of vehicles including the Batmobile and Batwing. In addition, they’ll be able to fight for justice by mastering new gadgets and suits, such as Batman’s Power Suit and Robins’ Hazard Cannon, and using all-new abilities including flight, super-breath and heat vision.

Yes, inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood was released months ago, but this latest trailer released by Sucker Punch highlights some of the great UGC Missions created by users.

David Jaffe has revealed via the PlayStation Blog that the first printing of the new Twisted Metal game, out February 14, 2012, will include a voucher for a free download of the original Twisted Metal: Black.

Showing off yet another environment in DmC: Devil May Cry, this trailer is set in a secret area of the game. Dante will get transported here when finding secret portals hidden throughout the game.

For the past three years, we have lived in the past life of Ezio Al’Auditore di Firenze. Ubisoft concludes that which it began in 2009, and it looks like it’s about time for a definitive Assassins Creed III, and not more sequels of a sequel.

Ubisoft has been cranking out Assassin’s Creed games for the past three years, trying to innovate both gameplay and multiplayer experiences into a unique package. Revelations, the third installment in the story that started in the second game, and followup to Brotherhood, returns again to the now all too familiar gameplay of the Assassin’s Creed series. Some “hits” and some misses, Revelations could have been a more ambitious conclusion to the current story arc, but overall, misses the “mark” by just a bit.

Story: Revelations begins pursuant to the events of Brotherhood. Desmond Miles is trapped in the Animus, yet is able to directly access the memories of Ezio thanks to the help of Subject Sixteen. The whole interplay between Desmond and Sixteen had a strange Tron-like feel to it since both are stuck in a digital world. In classic literary tradition, this, more than any other series entry, is a frame story, with Desmond’s story framing Ezio’s, and Ezio’s framing Altairs’ flashbacks. The Desmond bit being a smaller part of a complex story, the meat of the game is Ezio’s memories. Now in Constantinople, probably the heart of the Ottoman Empire in the 1500′s, Ezio is on a quest for the five keys of Masyaf. These access five memories of Altair (who you also play as in flashback sequences) and the secret he has buried in Masyaf long ago. Couple this quest with the turmoil in Constantinople that the Templars have brought to the city, and you are thrust into the final chapter to ensure the Templar menace is stopped. Is this for good? Far from it, as by the end of the game, shocking, albeit cryptic revelations are made.

Gameplay: While the story for Revelations was intriguing for the most part, the final chapter for both Ezio and Altair left me wanting. The gameplay is petty much the set of standard modifications made in Brotherhood, with two notable additions. The “hookblade” replaces one of Ezio’s hidden blades, and allows him to “zipline” through the city and execute a rollover move in combat (sadly, didn’t use this once). Hookblade = useless addition. The other innovation is the ability of bomb crafting, enabling the player to craft various types of bombs for the purposes of distraction or combat. This is an interesting addition to the franchise as a whole and breaks up the monotony of the gameplay tasks as you can create bombs out of many different materials, with differing payloads and effects.

This brings us to combat. Sadly, the game has soured me on this aspect. Fundamentally, the combat has not changed since the last entry, but the enemies have gotten more difficult (Janissaries, in particular, the elite Ottoman guard) requiring a mix of pistol, poison, and blade to be utilized in tandem in combat. This disrupts the flow of combat in my opinion, as well as your ability to create kill streaks successfully.

Two additions that were added that really detracted from the game, and definitely DON’T belong in the Assassin’s Creed world are Den Defense and shop upgrade notoriety. An addition to Revelations is the optional (yet annoying when you have to) Den Defense. Depending on your notoriety level, Templars will attack one of your reclaimed dens, at which point you must play a poorly executed tower defense mini game where you assign troops to rooftops to defend your den. This mode might be a great addition to multiplayer, but not the single player campaign. Take note that player notoriety increases when you purchase shops and faction buildings also. I would buy two buildings, then have to reduce my notoriety before it got into the red zone. Reducing it is a chore in itself, with the only ways being bribing a herald or killing a witness (witnesses only appear when your notoriety is very high). Unfortunately, the lollygagging back and forth between buying and bribing hurts the game flow. On the topic of purchasing, by the games end I had not purchased any landmarks in Constantinople, hardly purchased any weapons, and instead of classic art this time around, any of the books available at booksellers. Money collection in this installment, with shop prices soaring, was a lot more difficult to utilize and collect than the last two games.

The Masyaf key quests and high powered action sequences were amusing enough to keep me playing, and Revelations shines when it comes to the Altair flashback missions because we finally find out more about this enigmatic man, at least enough to keep this gamer satisfied. The Desmond sequences (accessed by collecting Animus fragments in the world) leave a lot to be desired, with poor first person platforming. If you really want to find out about Desmond’s past and earn a few trophies, go for it.

Graphics: For a three year old engine, Revelations still looks good compared to most other games. Constantinople and the Bosphors are beautifully rendered, as are the facial expressions of characters. We have come a long way since the original game. Cutscenes, sadly, are mediocre at best with a lot of choppiness and skipping on a few. As good as it looks, the engine shows its age. 3D was added this time around, but time for an upgrade.

Sound: Music has always shined in the series and there’s no exception here. DTS sound would have been a good addition, but the digital gets the job done. The soundtrack builds upon the music from the last game, with subtle changes here and there. The typical combat sounds are present as is the always comical din of the crowd when you climb a wall or barrel through someone escaping from a fight or chase.

Overall: The culmination of this chapter in what is arguably one of the “top 5″ franchises in video games right now is not quite the sharpest blade in the vambrace. Ezio’s blade, however, still shines with purpose. I have no real gripe with Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, I just desire a polished, definitive sequel. This game played like Assassin’s Creed 2.75, and as stated left me wanting more. It is essential playing if you want to see where the story goes for Ezio and Altair, yet it is more of the same of what we saw in Brotherhood. The den defense and notoriety were found to distract this gamer from the tasks at hand, and add a level of frustration I never felt before in the series. Nevertheless, these small gripes aside, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is a decent pickup, especially if you have been playing the series from day one. Jump once more into the animus before Assassin’s Creed III comes along to decide the fate of the world in what will hopefully be an all-out clash between Templar and Assassin.

(Note: PS3 owners will get a copy of the original Assassin’s Creed on their Blu-Ray disc. Also, Assassin’s Creed: Embers is a 20-minute short film detailing what happens to Ezio upon finishing the game.)

Rating: 8/10  

Pros:

+ Still great visuals

+ Bomb crafting adds a layer to the game

+ Well researched story

Cons:

- Den defense

- Useless hookblade addition

- Poor notoriety system changes

Capcom has shared new information regarding the innovative GEM system in the upcoming Street Fighter X Tekken for PS3, Xbox 360, Vita and PC. A brand new feature that combines customization with strategy, the GEMs add an extra level of depth and provide a pioneering way to experience fighting games.

A total of 57 GEMs (5 Assist and 52 Boost) come standard in Street Fighter X Tekken. Players have the ability to equip three different GEMs that improve upon weaknesses or capitalize on strengths to enhance their inherent play style. The two types of GEMs, Assist and Boost, each have specific advantages and disadvantages.

Players can select any combination of the Assist GEMs, which provide helpful bonuses that are always activated but balanced by handicaps in other areas. Conversely, Boost GEMs provide a stat increase in one of five areas (attack, defense, speed, cross gauge, vitality) but require a specific condition to be met in order to be activated. As an example, a particular speed Boost GEM will be activated automatically after a player blocks 2-3 stringed attacks from their opponent. As GEMs are assigned prior to a match, the activation conditions for the Boost GEMs are hidden from opponents, promoting an element of surprise that requires players to think and act quickly.

Available now are two new DLC packs for Batman: Arkham City, as well as a free Batman Inc. Batsuit Skin.

The Arkham Bundle brings together the Nightwing Bundle Pack, Robin Bundle Pack and the Arkham City Skins Pack for 1,200 Microsoft Points, or $15 on PSN.

Also available for download now is the Challenge Map Pack, which includes The Joker’s Carnival Challenge Map, the Iceberg Lounge Challenge Map, and a brand new invisible predator challenge map, The Batcave. The Challenge Map Pack is available for 240 Microsoft Points, or $3 on PSN.

Fans of the game will also be treated to the new Batman Inc. Batsuit Skin at no cost. This skin can be worn in the story campaign upon completion of the main story and in the challenge maps.

But let’s say you don’t want to wait. You want to wear your new Batman skins now.  Game director Sefton Hill has your solution, as he posted a thank you note on the game’s blog including a code which allows you to use any alternative Batman skin in the main game, without having to complete the full game.

To unlock this, simply press the following combination on the Main Menu screen (after you have selected your save slot):

Left, Left, Down, Down, Left, Left, Right, Up, Up, Down

You will get an audio confirmation and when you continue your game, you will get the option to select your favorite skin.

Source: Capcom Unity

Continuing the “what-if” scenario posed by Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is the new Heroes multiplayer mode, where you can choose among several classic RE characters and pit them against each other in 4-on-4 matches. Eight characters who played a major role in RE2 or RE3 (the time period in which RE:ORC takes place) are represented in this new mode.

Choose either Heroes (Leon, Claire, Jill, Carlos) or Villains (Ada, Hunk, Lone Wolf, Nicholai) and then hunt down the opposing team to win – but as is the case with all of RE:ORC, the zombies and BOWs present a neutral third party that will attack anything in sight.

Along with the first details of Obsidian’s upcoming RPG, South Park: The Game, came the list of classes available for a player to select: Wizard, Paladin, Adventurer, Rogue, or one other currently unannounced class… until now. The mysterious final class has been revealed as the ‘Jew’.

Lead designer Matt MacLean made the announcement in a Game Informer interview, describing the class as a “Paladin/Monk type character” designed for “high-risk/high-reward” gameplay. “The closer he is to death, the more powerful his abilities become. So you’re strongest when you are at one hit point, but you’re also just about to die.”

Be the master of movement and avoid your opponents attacks to take control over any situation using the “Quick Step.”

Learn about the new feature “Critical Edge” that will enable any player to deal massive damage.

Tago-San himself (the game’s producer) shows you around the very complete and immensely fun character creation that you’ll find in SoulCalibur V.

Seventeen years ago, the ultimate clash between Siegfried and Nightmare brought a cataclysmic conclusion to an era and ignited a new one. Since then, the sword was thought to have lost its power… But the new story that unfolds will prove everyone to be wrong.

The game that started it all is back and better than ever! Get your first glimpse at Tony Hawk‘s first chapter revamped in HD.

Naughty Dog shocks the World as they announce a brand new title coming exclusively to PlayStation 3, The Last of Us.

The Last of Us is a genre-defining experience that blends survival and action elements to tell a character driven tale about a modern plague decimating mankind. Nature encroaches upon civilization, forcing remaining survivors to kill for food, weapons and whatever they can find. Joel, a ruthless survivor, and Ellie, a brave young teenage girl who is wise beyond her years, must work together to survive their journey across what remains of the United States.

The trailer for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance has leaked online prior to tonight’s debut on the VGA awards.

DC Universe Online‘s second DLC Pack is out now! Devastate enemies or heal allies with new Electricity Powers, take on new solo and group combat encounters in the new Central City map, and travel back in time to save The Flash.