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Fist Puncher Brings Brawling to Steam

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:27:48 +0000

If you weren't interested in Skulls of the Shogun or Gun Monkeys being announced for Steam then perhaps this game will be more up your alley... Fist Puncher is a title that attempts to hearken back to the days when games didn't have complex storylines or fantastic graphics and just needed to showcase some pixelated people beating each other up.

There are fifteen playable characters in this sidescrolling beat 'em up and, just like the games of yore, local multiplayer is also included. In an attempt to modernize the style of game, there is also the ability to level up your character as well as unlocking skills to utilize during fights.

Those interested in exercising fist-induced justice will be able to do so when Fist Puncher launches on June 21st. Players who choose to pre-order get the game at a small 10% discount, making it cost $8.99 instead of $9.99. Oh, and if you pre-order you also get the robotic unicorn from Robot Unicorn Attack as a playable character. That's sure to entice at least a few people.

Gun Monkeys Jetting Toward Steam

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:03:07 +0000

Are you hungry for a game featuring guns, jetpacks, and monkeys? Well, one's about to launch on Steam anyway! Gun Monkeys is developed by Size Five Games. You might know the name from their games Ben There, Dan That! and Time Gentlemen, Please! What does their latest game offer aside from the obvious mammals and weaponry?

It's a platformer with focus purely on multiplayer, basically. Once players have jumped into a procedurally-generated level they're free engage in frantic deathmatches with the opposing monkeys. Gun Monkeys has fast-paced play in mind so definitely avoid it if you're a fan of low-key platformers.

No price has been set yet but the game is tentatively marked for launch on June 28th. As many other releases on Steam, it will included achievements, leaderboards, and new Steam Trading Cards.

Skulls of the Shogun Enhanced Edition Coming to Steam

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:48:36 +0000

Skulls of the Shogun was a cutesy take on the story of a Japanese samurai who is disgraced in the afterlife. The cartoon-styled strategy game also happened to see exclusive launch on Microsoft devices such as the 360, Windows Phone, and even Windows 8 operating system.

Developer 17-BIT announced today that the game is finally coming to Steam. It won't even require Windows 8 to run! What is best about this addition is that, like many later releases, it is going to be the definitive version to buy. This time around the game has the title Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition and features various enhancements.

The full list of new features can be viewed here and basically entails a new character, new mini-campaign (includes four new levels), six new multiplayer maps, developer commentary, and more. As the game is coming to Steam it also features achievements, Steam Trading Cards, and Steam-supported multiplayer.

Pre-ordering Skulls of the Shogun on Steam gets it 20% off for $11.99 and also grants the player immediate access to the title. Or you can choose to wait for the launch sometime in July and pay $14.99.

Indie Royale Chosen Brings Five Games

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:34:36 +0000

The initial Indie Royale Chosen bundle was a chance for bundle purchasers to influence what games would be included in a set. The first time they let users vote it was a success so now we're seeing the the second Chosen bundle go live.

Here are the five selected games:

Breath of Death VII (Windows, Steam, Desura)
Cthulhu Saves the World (Windows, Steam, Desura)
Eufloria (Windows, Steam, Desura)
Really Big Sky (Windows, Steam, Desura)
Runespell Overture (Windows/Mac, Steam, Desura)

Indie Royale runs their system where there is a base price that fluctuates dependent upon the prices other people purchase for. In general, the price will inch higher as more time goes on, so purchase early if you're interested. The cost for the Chosen 2 bundle stands at $4.28 at the time of this writing.

As usual, paying over $7 nets you the games as well as an album. This time around it's music via Disasterpiece. The bundle is up for six more days.

GOG Summer Sale Kicks Off with Free Torchlight

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:14:51 +0000

Most PC fans out there are patiently (or impatiently) awaiting the start of the Steam Summer Sale. Although there are still a few weeks for that, those dying to spend some money might want to look toward GOG in the meantime. They have just begun the 2013 #noDRM Summer Sale.

The hashtag #noDRM saw its birth on Twitter during the whole Xbox One affair and may have even contributed to Sony's stance on leaving used game control and internet requirements out of the picture. Either way, GOG only sells DRM-free video games so they deserve some credit for for their efforts. Steam, the biggest competitor, certainly doesn't do the same.

What does this sale offer? Most of the games GOG sells are at least fifty percent off. That means there are over 500 games available at a discounted price right now and they will be until July 5th. Considering most games on GOG cost $5 or $10 normally, you're likely to get some good deals from their library.

To celebrate the latest sale, Torchlight has also been marked as freely available for the first 48 hours of the sale. Unlike a Steam download the same game, GOG's includes the official soundtrack as well. In order to download the game you do need a GOG account.

Tomodachi Collection: New Life Might Come to North America

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:10:54 +0000

Most of us are busy playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf right now, but 3DS owners in North American may soon be getting a similar game that is centered around everyday play.

Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's president, was interviewed by MTV Multiplayer and said this when asked if similar games to New Leaf would release in the future:

"Certainly. You're absolutely correct, that 'Animal Crossing' is the type of game that you want to play certainly every day, and there are benefits to having the digital version right there on your hardware. I have to say, personally, I don’t find it a huge inconvenience to be swapping out my game cards. There are other games, 'Tomodachi Collection' in Japan, which is something that we are looking hard at for our market, that's another one that benefits from those short bursts of play, on a day-in, day-out basis."

Hopefully we'll see some sort of official word on a NA release for Tomodachi Collection: New Life soon!

State of Decay Coming to PC

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:53:27 +0000

State of Decay arrived on XBLA just a few weeks ago on June 5th. Since then, the zombie-filled survival game has done very well. Yes, there are bugs and glitches which were not even fixed by the latest patch, but people seem willing to deal with it for the overall experience.

This game has gone on to be the fastest-selling original game on XBLA ever. There's just something about zombies that is still a huge draw for gamers, it seems. So what's next for developer Undead Labs? They're bringing their game to PC!

Undead Labs said the following about a PC release:

"We're currently working on a PC version for release on Steam. Fortunately it's been in development alongside the Xbox 360 version since Day 1, so we just need to integrate with the Steam platform and add native support for keyboard and mouse control."

360 fans don't need to worry about the developer ignoring them in favor of the PC port though as they also assured players that they will continue to update the XBLA version as well. One such update will be a much-requested sandbox mode to live out all your horror movie fantasies within. So far, a PC release has no date but it is coming to Steam.

Steam Week Long Deals for June 17-24

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:22:47 +0000

As we inch closer and closer to the impending Steam Summer Sale it may be a good idea to hold off on deals. Or maybe not, if these sales will end up being exactly the same once the infamous sale launches. Well, regardless of your opinion on the whole thing, Steam's latest Week Long Deal list has gone live.

Five games have been selected this week:

There is one odd thing to note about this sale. It seems that just because a game is highlighted by it once doesn't preclude it from being available again later - and at a lower price. During the week of May 13th, Anodyne was put up in a Steam Week Long Deal at the cost of $6.69. Now it is back with a few more bucks chopped off the price.

Massive Layoffs Hit IO Interactive

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:10:01 +0000

IO Interactive is a developer best known for the Hitman series, although they have produced a handful of other games in their career as well. Fans of the Kane & Lynch series, for example, should also be familiar with IO's work.

In a statement made from the company to Develop, we're now learning that parent company Square Enix laid off almost half of the staff at IO. Previously, they had been working on multiple franchises alongside the next Hitman game, but now they are to focus all their attention on Hitman. Some of those laid off from cancelled projects will be relocated within the company to other positions.

Here is the official statement that Square Enix shared:

"The studio will focus resolutely on the future vision for the Hitman franchise and is in pre-production on a new triple-A Hitman project.

However we have taken the difficult decision to cancel other studio projects and initiatives at IO and reduce the workforce in this studio, which will impact almost half of the employees currently at IO, as we make internal adjustments to face the challenges of today’s market.

For those affected, we are extremely grateful for the hard work which they have contributed, and where it’s possible and appropriate to relocate staff to open positions at other studios within the group, we will try to do so. We are also reaching out to other companies for outplacement opportunities. We sincerely wish them well in their future careers."

Hopefully those laid off from IO Interactive shall see their positions reinstated in other areas of the company or find jobs with other developers soon.

Castlevania: Lament of Innocence is Latest PS2 Classic

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:53:55 +0000

Even in this era of HD collections there are many game series' which will never get the benefit of being released on one. The majority of these collections are exclusive to PlayStation franchises, but of course you can also get single games via PSN's PS2 Classics line of digital downloads.

This week's update (on Tuesday as per usual) includes two titles. One is Castlevania: Lament of Innocence which was one of two Castlevania games to grace the PS2. Both had 3D environments which is something that will likely always bother some Castlevania fans.

The other game of the week is Corvette Evolution GT. With how random these additions seem to be it is likely Sony isn't even seeking out games for release on PSN. Rather, they just have deals with companies and they are selecting what "Classic" wares to bring to the system.

PS Plus Adds Saints Row: The Third

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:33:31 +0000

Well, E3 is now over and there is a collective sigh of relief about certain aspects of the convention. With that all out of the way we can finally go back to playing games! If you've got PS Plus then Sony have two new Instant Game Collection titles lined up.

The first is none other than Saints Row: The Third. This is of course the third of the Saints Row series which also stands as the peak thus far in how over the top it was. Having this game on the service will do well to get players amped for the upcoming Saints Row IV release. Both are of course PS3 titles.

Vita owners can nab a free download for God Eater Burst. The game was released on PSP back in 2011 and, as such, was ignored by all but the hardcore PSP audience. If you missed it this is your chance to enjoy the title on the larger Vita screen.

Alongside these two additions there are two games making an exit from IGC. They are BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend and Vanquish. Remember, if you download them now you will retain access to both titles even after they are removed from IGC.

E3 2013: Hands-On With Sonic Lost World

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:37:38 +0000

Note: The majority of the article (black text) was written by me, Leah. The blue text is written by Marcus Estrada, who added his own thoughts on the game's demo as well.

In recent years, Sonic has been steadily regaining his former glory and effectively putting a stop to the infamous “Sonic Cycle.” Even though I still haven’t gotten my hands on the last few great titles, such as Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations, I still wanted to try out the recently announced Sonic Lost World and see what it had to offer. So, Marcus and I made our way towards Sega’s E3 booth to get that started.

In regards to Sonic, I'm even further out of the loop than Leah. I've focused my time with the Genesis games the most, of course, with attention paid to the Sonic Adventure games as well. Then I took up some of the more dubious titles - Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and Shadow the Hedgehog - which really means any Sonic game I play next will be considered "good" by comparison.

For this preview, I’ll be focusing on the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World. I decided to try out the Windy Hill Zone level, which is more 3D-focused versus the other playable Desert Ruins level, which felt akin to old 2D Sonic games.

Immediately, I was greeted by bold, bright colors and fluid animation. After fiddling around with buttons and learning the controls, I was soon blasting through the level as the blue hedgehog. Like with any other Sonic game, the goal is to dash through the level while defeating any enemies that may get in your way. To improve your score, it’s advised to avoid damage and collect as many rings as possible.

Leah actually had a really hard time with the controls because they were not logically placed, at least to both of us. A separate button for running meant that she actually waddled through most of the level instead of running which Sonic is so well known for. I was able to play with a great deal of speed and still found some segments to be impeding Sonic's dash through the world.

As I progressed, Sonic Lost World felt more and more similar to the Wii’s Super Mario Galaxy. Floating land masses? Check. Bouncing between said land masses in an extravagant fashion? Check. Gravity not a problem as you run around each area? Check. Some people may think it’s blatant copying and that it will just be a Super Mario Galaxy clone. However, I have played and watched enough of Sonic Lost World to say that this is not the case. It’s different enough to be its own game, and a promising one at that.

It's not like Super Mario Galaxy is the only game that features traveling across planets, but Sonic Lost World sure does make it seem a lot similar. However, I feel that Sonic works better with it than Mario ever did. Jumping from planet to planet flows better when you're the famous blue hedgehog and it doesn't seem out of place for a Sonic game.

I say that Sonic Lost World is a game from Sega to look forward to. Not only that, but it’s a seemingly good game that the meager Wii U library needs. I know I’m definitely going to keep my eye on it as its release draws near!

E3 2013: Hands-On With Killer is Dead

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:50:19 +0000

Suda 51 is a name that became known in the West primarily after the release of the stylish and gory Killer7 on GameCube and PS2. The cel-shaded graphics were used to great effect in the geopolitical thriller and made an impression on many, including myself.

Ever since then, I’ve been happy to play other Grasshopper Manufacture games but have never felt the way I did as with that first foray into Suda-ness.

Killer is Dead doesn’t bring back that old feeling, but it seems far more like his older style than other, more recent diversions, such as the No More Heroes series. In the game, you play as Mondo Zappa, an assassin, who spends most of the game slicing things up. Despite his handsome appearance, he also seems to be rather hit or miss with wooing women.

The demo I played was specifically tailored to give a good taste of one chapter in Killer is Dead. Starting off on the level, I am immediately surrounded by enemies and must kill them all with my katana. This works very smoothly and there didn’t seem to be any issue with simple button mashing. Of course, you can also dodge which I found very useful as well. Enemies seem to always make you aware of their incoming strikes, making it easy to duck away at the last moment.

I was also able to harness some special abilities which took the form of Zappa either performing extra gory kills or professional wrestling moves. Yes, Suda’s love for suited men and wrestling moves are still present. Fights as a whole were very frantic and at times were hard to comprehend. This has often been the case with his more recent work though, where blood and gore complicate the visuals beyond recognition. Of course, even when they're impossible to discern, the graphics are still incredibly stylish.

A slight bit of the story was shown as well, which focused around some sort of monstrosity that murdered a young woman for her “perfect” ears. This seems like a very Suda style storytelling device and one which many Western players appeared confounded by. It’s definitely weird, of course, and the rest of the story is probably far stranger. Of course, without context we can only speculate as to how odd it is. After that, I fought a boss who was pretty easy enough to take down without fear of death.

My experience on PS3 was just fine, but the 360 dev kit situated next to me was not. People who played that version were forced to deal with color bars on the screen, crashes, and moments where the game would simply not restart. I’m not sure why the 360 version is in such a poor state right now, but owners of both systems may be wary about where they purchase in case all these problems aren’t cleared up before release.

Playing Killer is Dead was fun, even if it tired my hands out from the copious swordplay required. This is a good thing, though, considering the recent Lollipop Chainsaw almost felt like a step backward in regards to modern, speedy attack controls. Judging from the story showcased, it’s safe to say that Killer is Dead will satisfy a specific audience when it launches this August.

E3 2013: Hands-On With Saints Row IV

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:36:15 +0000

For a long time, it seemed that Grand Theft Auto was the main series people went to for sandbox style exploration and intense levels of possible violence. Of course, there are other games that exist with expansive worlds to explore (and possibly wreak havoc in) but GTA stands as the best known.

When Saints Row first came out, many took it as an obvious copycat of the GTA formula. Although the game wasn’t great it did manage to carve out a new identity for itself. It wasn’t trying to be serious in any way, but to mock the establishment of GTA. Saints Row 2 worked to further tailor this image and by Saints Row 3 we had a perfectly capable and hilarious franchise. How does Saints Row IV fare?

From what I tried of the demo at E3, it is shaping up to be the most incredibly asinine versions of Saints Row yet - and that’s a good thing. The game started me off with little pretense. Thanks to the ad campaign around the game I was aware that I’m playing as the President, but nothing in the game really alerted me to that. Instead, I was popped out into the middle of a city, given slight explanation of buttons, and then free to wreak havoc for ten minutes.

The first thing I realized was that I could fly. For reasons that must make sense in context, the President has powers that grant him the ability to jump really high, run super fast, and glide around high in the air. It seemed that the main character was overpowered just with these functions, but it’s possible the demo had these abilities maxed out or something. Either way, after bouncing around off buildings onto unassuming people, I decided to check out the weaponry.

There are some “normal” weapons in the President’s stash, but also a handful of wacky weapons. First, I made use of the dubstep gun because, honestly, how can anyone ignore it? The results were as funny as expected, wherein the gun blasts dubstep music at its targets as they crumple to the ground. Other weapons included what looked like a water gun with lasers, a black hole gun, and lightsaber lookalike.

Beyond using some incredibly strange weaponry, I was also able to hijack cars and motorcycles to head toward glowing markers. These areas featured a handful of side quests, although the ones I visited weren’t particularly interesting. One was based around matching objects that the game requested. For example, there was a human-shaped silhouette which I had to fill with a distraught citizen. The event was timed and pretty dull. The same could be said of a race I entered which had the President running at full speed down busy streets.

With that said, the full Saints Row IV is obviously going to have far more to show for itself than these two minigames, including a story. I feel that the story is what will really set this game apart as the wackiest yet, and since I didn’t get to experience it in the demo I’m really missing out. So far though the game looks great, controls well, and has a nice set of weapons and abilities. Fans of the series won’t be disappointed by what IV brings to the table.

E3 2013: Hands-On With The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 04:38:49 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is definitely one of the best games I’ve ever played. When an HD version for the Wii U was announced, I was ecstatic. Not only is it the perfect excuse to replay Wind Waker for the thousandth time, but it’s also a chance to experience the game in a new light. While I wandered around Nintendo’s booth during E3, I definitely made some time to try out the Wind Waker HD demo that was provided.

In this Wind Waker HD demo, there were two playable modes: Island Stroll and Boss Battle. Island Stroll is basically the beginning of Wind Waker, where you’re given tutorials and attain your sword. You’re also given some weapons like the bow to mess around with. This mode is pretty much a way to show off Wind Waker HD’s updated graphics and new control scheme.

I tried out and will be focusing on the Boss Battle mode. This mode features the battle against the Helmaroc King at Forbidden Fortress. I know how this battle works like the back of my hand, but the Wii U GamePad made it into a very different experience.

If you’re quick enough and you aren’t slowed down by bokoblins, you can make it to the top to start the battle without having to use your grappling hook. Unfortunately, a bad jump caused me to fall all the way back down to the bottom. When I had to whip out my grappling hook, I realized I had to aim by moving the GamePad around. It was very awkward to accomplish perfectly, though, and I missed more than half the time. On the other hand, Link is now able to move in any direction without having to stop his swinging completely. In any case, I eventually did make it to the top.

Thus, my showdown with the mighty Helmaroc King commenced. The battle remained largely the same, and I cracked open his protective headgear in no time and proceeded to slay the bird. I also had a chance to really appreciate how smooth and beautiful the new graphics looked (though I still have some problems with how much of the bloom effect is used).

Another thing about Wind Waker HD to delve into is how the GamePad is taken advantage of. Similar to Ocarina of Time 3D, the GamePad’s screen contains everything from the main menu – weapon selection, the map, and so forth. This will make things a lot easier, especially with selecting weapons.

Personally, I was very pleased with my time playing the Wind Waker HD demo and can’t wait for October to come so I can once again dive into Wind Waker’s world.

E3 2013: Bayonetta 2 Preview

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 01:19:04 +0000

If there was one game nobody would expect to come to the Wii U it was most certainly Bayonetta. Of course, gamers were rightly shocked to hear that a sequel was coming to that very device.

Now that we’re aware of it, the multiplayer mode, and most importantly, Bayonetta’s new hairdo, we must appraise whether or not the game is as good as the original.

I can’t pretend to know everything about Bayonetta 2 just yet, but giving the demo a spin at Nintendo’s E3 booth help gave me an idea of where it’s going. So far, the game has all the hallmarks of the first, still gorgeous graphics, and a new play mode possible only on Wii U. Here’s my thoughts on the upcoming title.

If you were worried that Bayonetta has been toned down for her Nintendo debut then you’d be dead wrong. The game still includes plenty to be seen during Bayonetta’s transformations as well as incredibly unorthodox camera angles. Even with her new poncho made of hair, you’re still treated to lovely visuals such as when the poncho fans out to act as wings for Bayonetta to fly around with.

The original game was downright gorgeous and included many flourishes like these. All of this design savvy appears intact and even amplified at parts, which sometimes makes it even harder to see what’s going on. Of course, that sometimes proved an issue in the original game too. However, even if you never know how to actually play, it’s likely you’ll be able to pull off kick-ass combos all the same.

Those who abhor mashing controller buttons may choose to play through the game using the new GamePad mode. The entire game can be played in this way using only touch screen functionality. Bayonetta 2 appears on both the TV and GamePad screen and you tap on enemies, user interface icons, or paths to make Bayonetta fight, use a special weapon/item, or move about the level.

It ends up being an incredibly simple way to play the game. All you really ever need to do is press on a character to have her wail away at enemies. Combos are much easier to pull off, and especially so if you choose the easiest difficulty. The only problem with this mode seems to be that it can be hard to see the enemies considering the screen is not terribly large. Your hand will also cover up boss enemy HP if you’re right-handed or items if you’re left-handed.

The mode is very, very easy although Nintendo didn’t allow players to choose a higher difficulty setting than “easy”. Hopefully there will be harder difficulties available on the GamePad mode to make it a truly interesting mode for big fans of the series and not just new players. For the most part, though, it seems most should simply gravitate to standard controls for Bayonetta 2.

E3 2013: Hands-On With Game & Wario

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:32:18 +0000

The WarioWare franchise has been one of my favorite Nintendo character spin-off games out there. Of course, the whole thing began to change once WarioWare D.I.Y. came out. Instead of granting players another bunch of microgames, they decided to let us make our own. Although the concept is interesting, it wasn’t what I wanted from WarioWare. We may never get back to that classic style of play though if Game & Wario is a sign of things to come.

Your enjoyment of Game & Wario may also be dependent on whether or not you feel similarly wistful for the original games. It's a little too early to call it right now, but here are descriptions and opinions on two of the sixteen included games in the upcoming collection.

In Game & Wario, players are tasked with only a handful of minigames. These are far longer than any of the microgames of the series’ past and, for the most part, far less quirky. Each minigame has multiple levels to play through as well as a listing for high scores. Nintendo only had a few minigames playable at E3, so I played two.

First was a game titled "Kung Fu," where you must play as Young Cricket to try and reach the Master to snag his meal. All you do in the game is move the character and he jumps whenever he touches the ground automatically. What makes this difficult is that he is forced to traverse pretty dangerous territory. Falling into water or lava ends your run pretty abruptly.

What makes this game interesting is that sometimes you’ll do better by looking at the TV screen and other times it is best to use the GamePad screen. On occasion, you’ll actually need to look at both to safely navigate. The GamePad shows a top down perspective which is useful for landing on small platforms while the TV showcases the world in third person.

At one point during the demonstration, I had to dodge columns of lava shown on the TV screen while also jumping across very small platforms. The simple concept of using two screens to navigate proved to be quite difficult at that point, but also fun, and encouraged “backseat gaming” as well to keep me aware of incoming lava. Although some may dislike it, I found it fun to ask for the aid of others in such an instance.

The next minigame, Gamer, felt more like a classic WarioWare title. Playing as 9-Volt or 18-Volt, I was meant to play WarioWare microgames on the GamePad until my mother popped into my room. At that point, you’re supposed to act like you’re sleeping instead of gaming. Just the premise is funny enough but the execution was excellent.

While playing microgames on the GamePad, you can hear when mother is approaching from outside the hall, outside your window, or whatever else weird location she may appear from. However, just staring at the GamePad screen won’t let you know when she’s about to peer into the room - you have to look up at the TV to be sure. When she does appear, it’s often quite frightening/hilarious! It was also fun to see some classic WarioWare games brought back for this mode.

I found myself often getting caught up in the microgames, just as 9-Volt would, before being spotted. What makes the game more interesting is that you can't simply hide every time you hear a creak, either. If the player uses the hide function too much then they'll actually just end up falling asleep! Overall, the game is quite comedic as well as an interesting use of the two screens.

Of the two modes, I only really found one compelling enough to want to play again. Of course, there are sixteen modes in all but it’s tough to say if they will skew more towards entertaining or something akin to tech demos. For the most part, it appears that Game & Wario has lost much of its series’ charm and I really hope that appraisal is off the mark.

Here is a video of the first stage of Kung Fu:

Upcoming 3DS System Update Will Make It Easier to StreetPass Others

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:07:59 +0000

If you own a Nintendo 3DS, you may have noticed how difficult it is to get even one StreetPass. In Japan, it's easy enough because it's a crowded and small place. But in North America, Europe, and other countries, StreetPassing happens rarely as people are more spread out. Nintendo has come up with a plan to remedy that, however.

Sometime this year, Nintendo will release an update that takes "advantage of Wi-Fi access points and implementing a StreetPass relay feature into the Nintendo 3DS hardware." Quite simply, this means you'll exchange StreetPass information with anyone that has visited the same location at a different time.

This relay feature will be provided at over 28,000 wi-fi access locations in the U.S. (which includes McDonald's and Starbucks), and at 24,000 wi-fi access locations in Europe.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut Jumping to 360, PS3, and PC

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:45:22 +0000

When Deus Ex: Human Revolution initially launched back in 2011 it was available for PS3, 360, and PC. As is often the case, Wii was left out. More recently, Square Enix revealed that they were going to release the Director's Cut version of the game on Wii U exclusively. Not only would it include DLC and gameplay tweaks but also GamePad functionality.

Now Square has announced that this better version of the game is coming to PC, PS3, and 360 alongside Wii U. How exactly will these other systems replicate the Wii U-exclusive aspects? Simple! SmartGlass technology will be used on Windows and 360 while the Vita can be used as a second touch screen with PS3.

Of course, these methods require the player to own a SmartGlass-compatible device or Vita alongside their home consoles, but it is a solution all the same. Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut was asked for by fans of other platforms which is why we're now seeing it lose Wii U exclusivity. Players can get a shot at the definitive Deus Ex: Human Revolution experience later this year.

Indie Gala June Bundle is Massive

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:14:19 +0000

In the past, the Indie Gala people have been known for choosing unusual names for their bundles. This time it appears they took the easy route by simply naming it after the month it debuted in. The Indie Gala June bundle is live now and features a whole host of games across three price tiers.

The lowest tier includes three games:

Creatures: The Albian Years (Windows)
Pirates of Black Cove (Windows: Steam)
Mystery game (Windows: Desura)

Paying over $3.62 adds the following:

Aquanox (Windows: Steam)
Chester (Windows: Desura)
Sword of the Stars: Complete Collection (Windows: Steam)
Vessel (Windows: Steam)
Mystery game (Windows: Steam)

Finally, for $5.97 you get everything:

A New Beginning: Final Cut (Windows: Steam)
Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes (Windows: Steam)
Star Ruler (Windows: Steam)
3 mystery games (Windows: Steam)

Including the locked mystery titles, this bundle offers up 14 games. More, if you count the Sword of the Stars set as multiple games. The only problem that one might have with Indie Gala June is that the collection is so Windows and Steam-centric. If you love Steam and run a Windows PC though then you're ready to grab any or all of these tiers.