Splinter Cell: Conviction Behind the Scene #01

One of the strategy Ubisoft loves using when promoting its flagship titles is to release a long series of highly stylized Behind-the-Scene featurettes that spends most of the time on developer interviews, intercut with tiny segments of real gameplays.

Below is one of those for what's probably my the most anticipated game of this year's holiday season, Splinter Cell: Conviction.

Appropriately for a franchise that has gone low for a few years, this video focuses on redefining, or, in the light of today's trends, rebooting of the franchise. Shortly after I got my Xbox360, I grabbed a copy of Splinter Cell: Double Agent. While it has vivid graphics and animations, the gameplay felt rather slow and clunky. So, I am really excited about this reboot, as they promise to bring more fast-paced, action-oriented game where Sam truly feels like a deadly top-secret agent.

Enough of my words, here's the Behind the Scene video:

Video Games Splinter Cell: Conviction Behind Closed Doors #1: Redefining Splinter Cell

XBox 360 Playstation 3 Nintendo Wii

Update: This video actually got me all gloom and doom. Not that there's something wrong with it, but rather, it was just too good; I was reminded how much I'd rather work in game industry than where I am now. *sigh*

I Wanna Draw Again.

What's with Persona series? It sure looks like a typical JRPG on yester-gen PS2, but it's been generating a large fandom. There was a fan art competition, too! Anyways, that competition had one piece, the first place winner in fact, that I really, really liked. So here you go. Hope you like it!

Go here for more fan art.

Watch FFXIII Demo Playthough Video!

I must say, probably the most anticipated game, like ever, seemed to never see a release date. Yes, I'm talking about Final Fantasy XIII.

But SquareEnix somehow managed to develop it just fine, as evident by the bundled demo disc inside Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete (that's a long name...) that was released not too long ago.

As if to prove its mega-over-the-top-crazy-gargantuan hype, a gentleman from Japan, who's acquired a copy of the demo disc, has recorded entire his playthough, and have posted on YouTube. Now, you can enjoy how XIII will look and play without blowing a hole in your wallet.

Enjoy now since you never know when SE will smack down these videos off the 'Net!!!

Note: This is Part 1 of Part 5 playthough. Here are rest of the playthough links:
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5-Final

So, what do you think?

Shadow of the Colossus, the Movie

I don't know if you've heard, but there's a quite a stir among gamers cause of a news from Sony: they're making a movie out of Shadow of the Colossus! If you're thinking 'How dare you, Sony?!' or 'That's impossible!', than you're on the same page.

Here's what I think:

I think it'll make a good movie. If, and only if, it were created by some revered Japanese director, supported by top of the line Hollywood special effects studios. I say this because some of the greatest Japanese movies has alot in common with the game; they're quiet, has minimal dialogues, and tone is so calm and subtle. The game, too, has very small amount of dialogues or narrations. And out of that quietness comes touching stories.

I am generally happy to see more games turned into movies. I think that as more games gets translated into movies, the better those movies will become. Going to watch those movies myself is another story. Anyways, with this one, I am worried, and rightfully so; the one holding the pen for this movie is none other than the same writer behind the epic-failure, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.

(Que Psycho sound effect.)

Now you can freak out.

Huh? A Game Based On My Blog?!

End Of Eternity: Sega / tri-Ace Collaboration On PS3 & 360 Revealed

As you can see, this blog's title is "Eternity Begins." I have another blog called "Eternity Ends," and now, there's a game being produced with title "End of Eternity." It's a Sega and tri-Ace (guys behind Valkyrie Profile and Infinite Undiscovery) collaboration work.

While I didn't like their previous games all that much, and hence, am not very excited about the announcement (or rather, leak), the title did grab my attention. It's actually one of the titles I've considered using when I was starting the other blog.

If I did, could I have asked for some money from Sega to use the same name? Heh.

Behind the Normal Surface of Our World...

Two posts in one day. What a day!

Anyways, since I looooooooooooooooooved Dreamfall: The Longest Journey from Funcom (yes, the studio that created the largely flopped Conan MMORPG), I really don't have to tell you how excited I am to come across the following video:

This is an alternate-fantasy MMORPG game, The Secret World, headed by the same dev behind Dreamfall, Ragnar Tørnquist (How'd you pronounce his last name?). I am more excited because they'll be releasing this MMORPG on Xbox360, along with PC. Meaning, I will be able to enjoy the game without dishing out extra bucks to upgrade my old, clunky PC.

I know the video is only a CGI, and that the game itself most certainly won't resemble that (unless of course, if we're talking about Killzone 2), but still, the fact that this is the game that strays far from traditional RPG games, and that it's from Ragnar, I swear, I will jump on, as soon as they release the game.

Love you, Ragnar!

Giant BOMB Review of 50 Cent Game.

This was just too funny to pass. Enjoy this review of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand by my recent favorite game-related site, Giant Bomb:

And yes, the guy reviewing here is none other than Gerstmann of the infamous "Gerstmann Gate" scandal.

Shake It!!

You gotta love SNL. Check this out:

The Persian Prince

I love it when big corporations take their product very seriously, to the level of artistic work, instead of just money making junk food. Fortunately for me, many of the mega game publishers have been changing their strategy towards this, and "Prince of Persia", the latest reboot of everyone's beloved franchise, received such love. This commercial is the proof of it..

Proposal in Chrono Trigger

This is a video of a hacked Chrono Trigger, where a whole new level was created for proposal. I'm not sure how the future-fiance felt, but I'm sure she was happy.

Watch it and see if you have nerd in you as well.

Chrono Trigger 'Proposal Hack' gameplay clip

One Could Dream. Yes?

Konami Officially Comments on Xbox 360 Metal Gear Solid 4 [Kotaku]

Ha, can I say "I told you so"? I know this is not a solid confirmation, but here this official statement from Konami:

"The worldwide demand for an Xbox 360 version (of MGS4) is quite high," admitted Konami's Yoshitaka Arai to Japanese investor bulletin Morningstar. "It is something we are currently looking into."

I think it's no brainer that this will come to Xbox360, provided they don't find a major technical obstacle, and then I will have saved $500.

Wait, Sony still has LittleBigPlanet... Damn it!

*Cries*

• Sky Crawlers (Studio I.G. 2008)
  
• ゲド戰記 (Tales from Earthsea, Studio Gibli 2006)
  
• FRAGILE ～さよなら月の廃墟～ (Furajīru Sayonara Tsuki no Haikyo, Namco Bandai 2009? for Nintendo Wii)
  
• 朧村正妖刀伝 (Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Vanilla Ware 2009? for Nintendo Wii)
  
• Sky Crawlers (Namco Bandai for Nintendo Wii)

So Fragile, and So Beautiful

Nintendo's Wii is finally becoming attractive. First, it's getting Vanillaware's fantastic looking Oboro Muramasa, and now... they're getting this:

This game titled Fragile is developed and published by Namco Bandai for Nintendo's Wii. I think it's just announced at Tokyo Gameshow 2008. This looks like a game suitable for all ages, and I sincerely hope this is the first major title that does not include any combat and still delivers a compelling narrative and emotional experience. This game seems like a perfect game to accomplish that major feat.

...unless I'm missing out on another game like that.

Finally. Today Is The Day.

It's here! It's here!!

Are you excited yet?

This Is What I Call Terrible Marketing.

Okay, I know marketing strategy better be changed to match each region's taste and culture, but how is this..

Ubisoft-altered US version of the title design

..better than this??

The Original Japanese Title Design

Please, Ubisoft, just bring back the old design...

I Give Up. I'm Defeated By The Hype Machine.

I like being skeptical. I want to evaluate things with keen eyes. That makes it hard for me to like something very much. But when I do, I really, really fall for it.

This time, it's EA's soon-to-be-released horror sci-fi title, Dead Space. Check out the video below, and the comic releases I've posted before (plus new releases on their website), and hopefully, you'll also be pumped about this game.

Dead Space

From time to time, there are new intellectual properties (IP for short) developed that get massive marketing, and thus, get hyped. Many times, it's done by futile means like banner-spamming or using celebrities or hot developers to go on video and talk about the game. But other times, publisher does the right thing and lets the actual property do the talking. Things that are developed in this kind of marketing strategy creates deep and intricate world and creates appreciation towards the game and the property.

Such is beeing done by none other than EA, and it's promoting a brand new IP, Dead Space.

Because of the notoriety EA had for a long time--it was well known that EA used to focus solely on profit and worked its employees to death, and acquired and ruined numerous, well respected studios, along with their games--I dismissed this game as another cookie-cutter game that will start racking up number next to the title, created just to generate profit and profit only. Even the initial gameplay footage, while it does look promising, didn't penetrate my already-built distaste at the name EA.

Anyways, the fact that I'm blogging about this should already have told you; I am sold on this game. Yes, I am very hyped up about this game now that I am going to grab it once it hits the store shelf.

What happened? What changed my mind? As it takes things that shows developers' love, care, and sweat in the property that changes my mind, it is these comic episodes they have created that expands the world in which the game is set, and the are embedded below.

Watch them, and enjoy:

Bio(logy)Ware

Okay, I know BioWare was founded by a couple or more of game enthusiasts who had professional career going as medical doctors, so, for long time, I've had this image of two bald, glasses wearing mid- to late-50s men donning white gowns grinning in front of computers. Well, I apparently showed a clear case of stereotyping, again; one of the founders of the company, interviewed in 1 UP Show (of 1UP.com) below shows he clearly doesn't fit my idea. Rather, he looks like an average gamer who seems to be interested in the young interviewer.

Never mind mediocre-looking Halo Wars, but when they talk about on BioWare's past smash hit, Mass Effect, I had to say a few things:

First, Mass Effect's romance subplot is not even average-rating story. It falls short of being a decent one, even.

That said, Mass Effect's main story is also nothing great. Far from it. (Really, the whole plot is really short and really, really straightforward.) Rather, the strength of the game is in the world, and its mythos. The real enjoyment came from learning about its really well thoughtout world and setting by reading codex and listening to dialogues.

That brings me to another point: the dialogue system, contrast to what tons and tons of reviewers exclaim, is nothing to go crazy about. It is the same old dialogue tree! But it did do a good job at letting player customize the tone of the game with it.

Anyways, that was my quick two cents on the game. Now, hope you enjoy the video.

Finally, Something To Look Forward To

All three major E3 press conferences came and gone, without any major new title announcements to get excited about; pretty much they focused less on hardcore game titles, but more of casual market and community experience. Because I was anticipating a megaton announcement of some title that will instantly grab my attention (something like a new IP on par with Assassin's Creed), it's obvious that I was very disappointed with the whole calmness--FFXIII360 isn't really a new title, and although there are several games that I am looking forward to (namely Mirror's Edge, for one), they're not the "exclusive killer app" I'm looking for.

However, that expectation was actually met just now, by a title that was long been announced: Prince of Persia.

The new, reimagined iteration of it for current-gen console systems, while not an exclusive to one platform, awed me just enough to get me looking forward to it. What does it do exactly? Watch the developer walkthrough below, and see what I mean:

That buzz-word "immersion" the developer talks about, is something I always look for in a game. The way the game transitions from failure to retry, the "dueling" feel of combat, how a clean strike with a sword actually means death, not just decrease in some artificial HP, and so on...

Assassin's Creed, from same studio, came close, and I hope this game carries it further.

PS. It feels like more innovative games are created outside of US these days. Is the center of gaming, along with center of world economy, shifting away from America? Although world economy certainly will inevitably be shifted and be shared by many in near future, I hope America stays as the leader of gaming for long. At least until I am ready to jump to wherever there is innovation.

FFXIII360

E3 2008's MS Conference should be over by now, and the software giant's pretty lame (if not completely lame) press conference didn't go away without a bang: Mr. Wada of Square-Enix declared the end of PS3 exclusivity for their flagship title, Final Fantasy XIII!!!! My God, how long I've waited for this announcement! This announcement alone topped the less than okay press conference Microsoft was suffering with for an hour.

But then again, with recent news of financial hardship and endless delay of development of FFXIIIVS (that's Final Fantasy XIII Versus), I guess it was only matter of time for this announcement.

Exciting news for Xbox360 owner. I think this just saved me $500+.