Gamernode: Latest Game and Console News

Give me more: Games that need sequels

I've been thinking a lot about sequels lately, and how so many original games these days will eventually have at least one sequel somewhere down the road. It really doesn't matter if the game is good, great, mediocre, or utter crap, either, because sequels are low-cost, high-profit products. It makes a gamer really appreciate games that actually deserve a second, third, or even fourth edition.

I'm planning to spend a few weeks (maybe not all in a row) talking about sequels: games that need sequels, franchises that need to call it quits, exemplary sequels/series', and more are all on the menu. Today I'll begin with a short list of games that I feel are so worthy of sequels that it saddens me not to see them made. I hope and wish and dream that follow-ups for these gems will one day exist.

Cli...

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Daily Q: What is your favorite console of all time...

If there was ever a question that could spark a hot internet debate, this is it.

In my time as a gamer, I've seen many videogame consoles come and go, as sure as the sun rises and sets each day. The one thing that remains the same is the fan support. Every console will have its diehard followers and its bitter opponents, but in the end, each one plays games relatively the same way as the others, and it's really the software that counts. So my question to you is this:

Do you have an all-time favorite console? Which one?

I admit that I love asking these questions, yet I hate answering them. Indecision is a killer, so I'm just going to spit something out, even if I may change my mind later. I'll go with the Nintendo 64 because it introduced the third dimension to videogames in the biggest...

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"One More War to Fight" Assault Heroes 2 Contest

It's contest time again here at GamerNode, and this time around we're giving away a free Xbox Live Arcade Game (or three) to the most creative GN reader out there in internet land.

In celebration of this week's release of Vivendi Games' Assault Heroes 2, we're having you guys write us a (short) essay about something you'd like to see in a future installment in the franchise. The top three answers to either of the following questions, as determined by our panel of celebrity judges (that means jambo, Brendon, and whoever is next on the GN fame-o-meter), will receive their very own 25-character XBLA code for Assault Heroes 2.

The questions are as follows (choose one):

1) What would be the Ultimate Storyline for the next epic Assault Heroes game?2) What kind of Boss would you most like to see in...

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Are games getting shorter?

According to Gregg Mayles, head of design at Rare, games are now decreasing in size because, quite frankly, gamers do not want to be bothered with lengthy games.

Rare, the creator of Banjo Kazooie and others, would be expected to at least defend extended games given some of their titles' playing times, but Mayles simply stated that "...people are now less tolerant of really, really long games."  He went on to say that "if you're going to have a really long game it has to be structured in such a way that the majority of the players play the game up to a certain point and are happy with it, but that section is shorter and then make sure the tail-end of the game suits the people that want to carry on." 

According to Mayles, developers should shorten their games in length in order to appease ga...

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Daily Q: Which videogame character are you?

Much like characters in novels, movies, and other stories, videogame characters can resonate strongly with the playing audience, oftentimes because players identify with certain characteristics that they exhibit or circumstances surrounding them.

I'd like to think that we have all imagined ourselves as one videogame character or another at some point in our lives. At least I hope so, because I don't want to have been the only child on the block prone to such whimsy. Now I'm "all grown up," and my mind has wandered back to the question:

"If you were a videogame character, who would you be?"

I'm only now realizing how difficult a question this is to answer. There are many character who like, but few who I can really identify with. If I had to choose, I might say Wander from Shadow of the C...

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CBS moves to buy CNET Networks for $1.8 billion

CBS has announced that it will buy CNET Networks for $1.8 billion. CNET is the parent of the websites GameSpot, TV.com, CNET News, ZDNet, CNET, UrbanBaby, Search.com and BNET.

The deal would move CBS into the top 10 most frequently visited Internet destinations in the US. With the merger of CBS and CNET, Gamespot may possibly reap the rewards of CBS Network's extensive infrastructure of news stations and outlets. 

Leslie Moonves, President and CEO of CBS Corporation said, "CBS stands for premium content and unparalleled reach, and CNET Networks will add a tremendous platform to extend our complementary entertainment, news, sports, music and information content to a whole new global audience."

The Board of Directors at CNET Networks approved the deal and have recommended that CNET shareholder...

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Tweaking WoW-- How to make the game look better

World of Warcraft is three years old, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to hear the game doesn't look the best or is the biggest drain on a normal system. Where WoW makes up for the lack of graphic fidelity is style.

To this day few games have managed to nail its appealing look. But let's assume for a moment that you are sitting with a nice gaming rig at your feet. Crysis on high barely makes the machine sweat, so World of Warcraft is a joke to your computer. Would you like some graphic tweaks that exceed those of the settings within WoW itself?

The best way to do this is setup a marco for a quick, one button change as opposed to making it one individually through the chat window. Ease of use is what we want.

/console farclip 777 /console horizonfarclip 6226 /console groundeffectdensity 2...

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Daily Q: Is GTA worthy of its review scores?

Ok, so we've all had ample time to play Grand Theft Auto 4 and I'm certain some readers have already finished the main story. I have played very little of the game. My roommate however has logged over 20 hours and I have been sitting next to him for probably 18 of them.

Here at GamerNode I have already talked about the perfect 10 review score and how four of the highest rated games ever have been released in the past ten months. Eddie has also chimed in about the review scores for GTA4, believing 10 is a little high, and I agree there.

Then you have GameSpot changing their review from a 9.5 to a 10 after all the other reviews went live. A strange practice indeed, though not an uncommon one for that particular site (Jeff Gerstmann anyone?).

Comparing GTA4 to other GTA games and giving it ...

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Kojima talks casual games, world panics

It's great when games designers can be objective in viewing the state of the industry, and don't just think it's all about their game or genre. Hideo Kojima, for example, makes games for gamers; you're grandmother isn't going to play Zone of the Enders or Metal Gear Solid. But despite this affinity for making games that suit the hardcore, he acknowledges the casual space and doesn't hate on it.

"Casual games have become mainstream in the industry. It's not just a Japanese phenomenon but also something that's happening worldwide. There are new markets and possibilities opening up thanks to the trend, which is great."

Now, you might be a little afraid at this point. Wondering if Mr. Kojima was thinking of alienating the community by making Metal Gear Island: Party Game Sensation for the Wii...

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Pro Tip: Team Fortress Two

Team Fortress Two is one of the best multiplayer games I've ever played. The team at Valve has done a fantastic job of balancing the classes, weapons and maps. They did everything in their power to ensure their multiplayer game was as good as it possibly could be, except include a party system... but that's a discussion for another feature.

My biggest problem with Team Fortress Two is on the users' end. Every time I play that game it is players that get me frustrated. And there is a quick fix to get me unfrustrated.

Pro Tip: Use a microphone

I've only played the 360 version so I'm not sure if this is an issue on the PC at all. But no one talks during TF2. This is probably more important than in any other multiplayer game because it is all objective based. How are you supposed to know h...

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Are MMOs Sony's trump card?

Consoles are known for the genre they do the best at. Currently, the Xbox 360 could be considered the shooter console, while it wouldn't be a stretch to call the Nintendo Wii the party platform. The PlayStation 3, like the PlayStation 2, has it the best since there is no definite genre the console excels at.

In reality it has or will have good games across all genres. This is something both Microsoft and Nintendo wish they had, and the only reason the PlayStation 3 is sitting in such a nice spot is thanks to the immense success of the PlayStation 2.

The president of Sony Online Entertainment, John Smedley, would like the PlayStation 3 to be known specifically for MMOs. Like anyone these days, thanks to World of Warcraft, the MMO market is opening up, and Mr. Smedley believes the PS3 sits in...

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Xbox 360: 10 million served

Microsoft has just announced that the Xbox 360 has become the first console this generation to sell 10 million units in the US. In addition to the 10 million now sold in the US, Microsoft has sold 9 million consoles in other parts of the world, making the total sales for the Xbox 360 19 million.

"This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad," said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry."  

No doubt the sales were fueled by GTA4, which also he...

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1 million strong for Age of Conan beta

With World of Warcraft dominating the MMORPG market, seasoned online gamers are always on the lookout for new online titles to play. One of the most anticipated online RPGs to hit the market this year would be Age of Conan from Funcom.

In fact, yesterday, Funcom and publisher Eidos announced that over 1 million people have signed up for the game's beta. In the months leading to the game's release, Funcom mentioned that over 5 million unique visitors went to the Age of Conan website in 2008.

Morten Larssen, vice president of sales and marketing for Funcom, said, "Funcom has not been able to find any higher beta numbers for MMOs in the western world. We believe it represents the largest ever beta sign-up figure in the history of the genre. How all of our strong figures convert into later sales...

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Pitfall Harry falls onto the Wii

We last saw Pitfall Harry in his 2004 title Pitfall: The Lost Expedition. It was a merely passable game but Activision must have saw enough success to warrant a sequel. Enter Pitfall: The Big Adventure exclusive to the Wii.

The game apparently boasts over 60 levels with a diverse range of landscapes and areas. Players will use the Wii Remote to pull off various feats. The title is being developed by Edge of Reality, the same people who brought us the previous Pitfall game. The Big Adventure is set to hit store shelves this fall.

From what I've seen, the game doesn't look too great. Actually the graphics are downright awful compared to other Wii titles or even other GameCube games. This game looks even worse than its predecessor with worse lighting, texture tearing, and poor draw distance.

A...

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Xbox 360 games list and launch dates revealed

Microsoft released its list of blockbuster games on the Xbox 360 for the rest of the year and the mix looks like a nice balance for both hardcore and casual gamers.

First on the illustrious list is Penny Arcade Adventures. Next is Ninja Gaiden II, followed by Too Human, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise (which will offer online co-op), Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, Gears of War 2, and Fable 2.

The release dates for these games are as follows:

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Metal Gear Solid movie will have Kojima as produce...

Metal Gear Solid 4 is releasing later in June, but talks are already ongoing for the Metal Gear Solid movie. Everyone can take a sigh of relief since no one is interested in having Uwe Boll direct the film (except Ewe, of course).

What is interesting is Metal Gear Solid games play very much like movies themselves. Their cinematography, action scenes, and dialogue, at times, rival that of some action flicks. Some fans are ever considering the release of MGS4 to be the blockbuster of the summer regardless of the movies versions of Iron Man, Speed Racer, Indiana Jones, and even The Dark Knight. I'd have to agree with them. MGS4 is going to have some major payoffs.

So the question remains, how does one make a Metal Gear Solid movie without making it feel like we, the gamers, are just watching a ...

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Daily Q: What games have you dreamt about?

I need to share this because it's happening to me again. I will wake up with distinct memories from a videogame as if I had been playing it all night, but I know they were only dreams.

What games have you dreamt about?

The first time it ever happened was with Command and Conquer: Generals. I absolutely loved that game and used to play it a lot with my roommates. I had dreams about building my army and gathering resources. I don't remember any fighting, just preparing for battle.

The whole dream was top down, just like the game. It freaked me out when I woke up because I did so much preparation but there was no battle. I, of course, turned on my computer and started playing immediately.

I didn't have an intense videogame dream until about four years later when I picked up Mario Kart DS....

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Dell phasing out XPS line of computers?

It looks like Dell's high-end computer line may be seeing its last days as the Wall Street Journal is reporting that starting next month, Dell will be discontinuing four of its XPS PCs in order to concentrate on their Alienware computers. Dell purchased Alienware in 2006 in its effort to appeal to the hardcore PC gamer.

Dell also makes XPS laptops as well, but there is no word as to the plans Dell has for this popular line of computers.

Alienware CEO, Nelson Gonzalez, said at the time of the takeover by Dell last year, "We believe that this acquisition will offer our customers the best of both worlds an Alienware that takes advantage of the world-class business practices and operational efficiencies that have made Dell one of the most respected companies in the world, while preserving the D...

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Activision stealing the Band out of Rock Band

When Harmonix left the Guitar Hero business and got scooped up by MTV games it was kind of a big deal. They sold the rights of their franchise to Activision and decided to pursue other interests. Perhaps you've heard of Rock Band.

Activision had been content with owning the Guitar Hero franchise, even though the brains behind it were gone. Guitar Hero III sold record numbers this holiday season and was one of the best selling titles of last year. It seems, however, Rock Band has been picking up some steam. They have sold over 2 million songs via DLC and keep selling tons of copies of the game at the retail level.

It seems Activision wants in on some of that whole band money. According to the upcoming Game Informer, and a commenter on NeoGaf, Guitar Hero 4 will include vocals and drums...

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Portable Sega Dreamcast

Whenever I see any portable console manufactured by a fan online, it makes me want to hit the tech section of my apartment and get to work building something cool for myself. Today's handheld creation is a huge brick of a Sega Dreamcast that features a design resembling Nintendo's Gameboy Micro at about 15 times the size. The back has a hinged cover that flips up to reveal the guts of the system, along with the cd drive, and the whole thing runs on either a 12 volt battery or DC power. It looks awesome, and more importantly, it works.

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