Tag: Gaming

Homefront: The Revolution Announced!

by Shane O'Hare

After the fall of THQ, many of the games went up for sale, and developer Deep Silver (Metro, Dead Island) grabbed up a few. The Homefront franchise being one of them. Today Deep Silver announced their plans for the second game in the series. Teaming up with CryTek, they new duo released a nice little trailer to go alongside their PR.

If you aren’t too familiar with Homefront, let me bring you up to speed. Homefront one was a first person shooter set in the alternate future (or possible future?), a future where North Korea had unified the peninsula and started to expand its empire. Countless countries joined the DPRK as they moved West. The game takes place after a Korean invasion of the United States. You take the role of a freedom fighter trying to take your country back.

It had an amazing premise and the game starts out strong, but the story wasn’t as fleshed out as it should have been and it fell flat.

Homefront 2: The Revolution is set in an open world Philadelphia, where your actions directly affect the world around you. Players have to rely on guerrilla tech, ambushes and tactics all the while the enemy has nice shiny new guns and tanks!

Only a vague 2015 release date has been announced, but the promise of more footy and info at E3 makes us excited!

For a different take on a North Korean video game, check out Glorious Leader.

Yes, You Will Be Able To Drive A Mercedes-GLA In Mario Kart 8

by Shane O'Hare

http://youtu.be/_AkgJZGspCM

What you saw just now, was not a hoax or a prank. Not an actment of internet auteurs. That was an official commercial for Mercedes of Japan featuring a hunk of a Mario.

Details are slim, but Nintendo promises more info will be released soon. The good news is that it will be FREE DLC!

For more info (if you can read Japanese) head on over to Game Watch Impress.

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The Newest Update Video For ‘Mighty No. 9’ Has Us MEGA Excited!

by Shane O'Hare

The team over at Comcept have just put out this new update video for their Kickstarter success story, Mighty No. 9. The spiritual successor for Megaman is looking more and more amazing the further the project goes.

http://youtu.be/q1iEFfOBP1o

Amassing over Four Million USD, Mighty No. 9 is the brainchild of Keiji Inafune. He wanted to bring the best of the 16-Bit era side scrollers to today.

You can grab Mighty No. 9 sometime in April 2015, and it’s on pretty much everydamn platform including; PC, MAC, Linux!

 

Delays Aplenty: ‘The Evil Within’, ‘The Order: 1886’ Pushed Back

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It almost seems as though we’ve seen more delays than AAA game releases this year, and that trend is set to continue with two announcements today.

First up, Bethesda has pushed Shinji Mikami’s anticipated The Evil Within by two months, stating that “Shinji Mikami and his team at Tango Gameworks have asked for additional time to further balance and refine the game in order to deliver the polished, terrifying pure survival horror experience they set out to create.” The game will now release in October.

http://youtu.be/Zc-jvqJV4SI

Next up, gorgeous-looking PS4 exclusive The Order: 1886 has been pushed to early 2015. Ready At Dawn’s delay announcement was much more subtle, hidden among the text of a Playstation Blog post detailing the latest info on the shooter.

Which game were you most looking forward to? Are you disappointed in the delays, or would you rather have a better finished product?

‘Murdered: Soul Suspect’s 101 Trailer Teaches Us The Basics

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We covered it extensively at E3 last year, and now it’s nearly here: the release of Square Enix’s Murdered: Soul Suspect.

The game has been intriguing since its announcement, and it looks very cool from everything we’ve seen so far, but I’m really hoping that it doesn’t suffer the same fate as Beyond: Two Souls, which featured an insanely interesting plot and some great visuals, but boring you-can-barely-call-it-gameplay.

Square today released a 101 trailer for the game, which takes us through the basics of the plot, gameplay, and characters. It’s easy to see that there’s a lot of promise here, but early reactions to the non-finished product were decidedly ‘meh’. I’m hoping that things have improved for its retail release.

In any case, I’m all for new IP’s, so I’m looking forward to checking the game out. Murdered: Soul Suspect will hit PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC on June 3rd. Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know what you think!

Get Ready For ‘Shadow Of Mordor’ With The Newest Trailer!

by Shane O'Hare

Way back in January we peeped you the demo vid from Monoliths upcoming LOTR game, Shadow of Mordor. Since then not much has come out about the game, until now! Check out the official “Story” trailer below!

You can get your hands on Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor October 7th! Available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Check Out The First Clips Of ‘Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire’ In Action!

by Josh Jackson

Hoenn confirmed!

Last week, Nintendo officially announced Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the long speculated remakes of the Game Boy Advance originals. However, aside from the confirmation and worldwide release date, nothing else was said about the 3DS titles.

Sensing our thirst for more, Nintendo has released a trailer showing off the cover legendaries, Groudon and Kyogre… but not much else.

Well… it’s better than nothing, right? Either way, it looks like forthcoming information is going to be a slow burn until its November release date. Either that, or they’re saving the big news for the upcoming E3 Expo. Still, it makes you wonder why we haven’t seen 3D Hoenn yet, but if history is any indicator, there are sure to be some surprises in store for Pokemon trainers around the world when the release date finally hits.

If anything is announced in the coming weeks, you can count on Geekscape to bring you all the incoming details as they’re released.

Want To Play ‘Mario Kart 8’ Weeks Before Release? Head To Your Participating GameStop Stores This Weekend!

by Josh Jackson

Nintendo and GameStop are teaming up again to bring Mario Kart 8 to the people two weeks before its release date. On the weekend of May 17th, select stores will have the game on display for anyone who wants to give the game a test drive with an exclusive demo version.

Coming exclusively to the Wii U, new and existing preorders will receive a Mario Kart 8 poster for attending. In addition, GameStop will be giving away prizes up to the release of the game with its #MarioKartMemories campaign, so those time where you got hit by a blue shell off of Rainbow Road right behind the finish line might be useful for more than just immense rage.

For further details, including entry rules for the #MarioKartMemories campaign and participating store locations for the Test Drive event, visit these links. For now, check out the game in motion and share your excitement with the world! Mario Kart 8 will release on May 30th.

All Hail The Glorious Leader! Kim Jong-Un Gets His Own Video Game!

by Shane O'Hare

Our glorious leader, son of Demi-God Kim Jon-Il, is finally being immortalized in a video game!  It accurately shows the true exploits of our leader in battle, from riding on the legendary flaming unicorn, to taking on the entire capitalist army on his own.

The true great allies in the West, Money Horse Games, have released THIS statement on the game.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea commands you to know that the capitalistic pigs at Moneyhorse LLC, are developing Glorious Leader! , an epic tale about the triumph of Kim Jong Un over the entire American army. Battle through 7 unique levels as you defeat waves of imperialists, combat over-the-top bosses, and ride unicorns!

Glorious Leader! is coming soon to PC and something called a mobile device. Finally, you will know why North Korea truly is the best Korea.

No release date has been announced, but we know our savior and glorious leader, will come precisely when he is needed.

‘Watch Dogs’ Gets A 9-Minute ‘101’ Trailer

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Watch Dogs is finally almost here, and Ubisoft has debuted a new 9-minute ‘101’ trailer for the game that takes us through almost every facet of the experience.

The video showcases some intense action that we haven’t seen before, introduces us to some interesting characters, shows off the game’s intriguing smartphone app, and plenty more. Some of it does look a little silly however, like running away from the cops as a mechanical spider in one of the game’s ‘Digital Trips’.

The game looks like a lot of fun, and as I’ve definitely been looking for something new to play on my PS4, I can’t wait to pick it up. Watch Dogs was my “must have” title for the PS4 launch before it was delayed, so I sure hope that it’s worth the wait.

Take a look at the video below, and let us know what you think! Watch Dogs hits PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC on May 27th!

‘Sunset Overdrive’ Is The Most Incredible Looking Thing I Have Ever Seen

by Shane O'Hare

We’re no strangers to (love) Insomniac Games. They are responsible for some of the greatest adventure games out there. Does Spyro or Ratch and Clank ring a bell? Well it looks like they’ve pushed the limit again with Sunset Overdrive, because I just watched this gameplay trailer and bout busted out my credit card right here.

I still cannot wrap my head around how fucking good this looks. I am really happy that we are finally starting to see true “next gen” games coming out. That respawn system looks hilarious.

The only downside, for me personally, is that this is an Xbox One exclusive.

No specific release date has been announced, save a vague “2014”.

For more info and some beautiful hi res pics, be sure to hit up the official website.

Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Announced With This Teaser Trailer

by Shane O'Hare

No fanfare. No lead up. No hilarious vid featuring Reggie Fils A Mech. Just this very innocuous and to the point trailer.

Announcing Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems! Prepare for an epic adventure exploring a world filled with Pokémon!

Pokémon fans first enjoyed Pokémon Ruby Version and Pokémon Sapphire Version when it launched in 2003 for the Game Boy Advance. Now, a whole new generation of Pokémon fans will experience the dramatic storyline that unfolds in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire.

Look forward to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire when the games launch worldwide in November 2014!

They’re really following their formula quite well right here. Make great Pokemon game > Make the third for that generation > Make next generation > Remake last generation.

This isn’t really a “SURPRISE” in anyway, but it is still great news none the less. Sapphire was my last and favorite Pokemon game, and it looks like I am going to be getting Alpha come this November.

The Legend of Zelda Meets Unreal Engine 4

by J.C. Marquez

Legend of Zelda fans are fiercely passionate. Through different forms of social media, fans express their love of the franchise via cosplay, music, art, and even tattoos. Sometimes, there are fans who go one step further.

Using Unreal Engine 4, along with software programs Maya, Z-brush, and Photoshop, Michael Eurek has recreated the iconic Temple of Time from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.  The short video shows of the most realistic interpretation of the aforementioned temple–complete with Sacred Stones and the legendary Master Sword. This is in no way a preview of the next Legend of Zelda game for Wii U–simply a ‘What If’ project showcasing the possibilities of what a Zelda game running in Unreal Engine 4 would look like.

Would fans want a Zelda game with this kind of look, or would they find it too realistic? While opinions will run high, Nintendo will make clear what fans can expect in a few short weeks when the next Legend of Zelda game will be fully revealed during Nintendo’s Digital Event.

An Anime Adaption Of ‘Persona 4 Golden’ Will Jump From The Shadows In July

by Josh Jackson

It seems like Atlus is making these Persona teases a regular thing, although every announcement can’t be as awesome as a Persona 5 announcement.

The publisher has announced an anime version of its hit Vita game, Persona 4 Golden, the enhanced port of the PS2 classic. Retelling the story of a high schooler who arrives in a small town, only to be caught up in a supernatural murder mystery, the anime will include the additional scenes featuring Marie, a new character who was added specifically for the Vita version.

The confusing part in all of this though, is that there’s already a Persona 4 anime. Golden‘s story is exactly the same aside from Marie and a few other minor scenes, (many of which are optional), so I wonder how this is supposed to play out. Is this an anime of an anime? Will it run redone episodes, or will they just blend the new content into the old episodes? Or maybe this won’t be a series at all, and will only be a movie or OVA.

Either way, as much of a fan as I am, I see this as completely unnecessary. With that said, we shouldn’t be surprised. With another fighting game, a dance game and a chibi-fied spinoff, the fourth game is everywhere these days.

Check out the trailer and tell me how wrong I am. Persona 4 The Golden Animation will release in Japan in July with a Western release yet to be announced.

Sail The Skies With This New ‘Skies Of Arcadia’ Vyse Figure!

by Josh Jackson

Maybe you picked up the classic RPG, Skies of Arcadia, on the Sega Dreamcast, a console that was ahead of its time, but ultimately couldn’t withstand a decade of bad decisions. Maybe your were like me and didn’t get to try it until the enhanced Gamecube remake. Either way, those who have played it can go on for hours how incredible this game was, from its battle system and story to its ship battles that still put Assassin’s Creed to shame. Now, courtesy of First 4 Figures, you’ll have a chance to own the captain of the Blue Rogues himself, Vyse!

Featuring both a standard and exclusive version that brands his trademark cutlass, Vyse has been recreated on a 1/6 scale. Vyse measures approximately 11″ tall on his own, and from the foot of the base to the tip of the pirates flag, the entire statue measures an impressive 17″ tall.

This is the third Sega All Stars figure, which included Akira Yuki from Virtua Fighter and Ryo Hazuki, the star of another Dreamcast classic in Shenmue. I have to say, I’m pleasantly surprised that if they wanted to choose another character that represents Sega’s glory in its final days as a 1st party publisher, Vyse is who they decided to go with.

Vyse will be released in the fourth quarter of 2014. For more information, including pre order details and additional images, check out First4Figures.com. Afterwards, make sure to let us know if you’re planning on picking this one up!

Nintendo Dives Into The World Of Season Passes With ‘Mario Golf: World Tour’

by Josh Jackson

For the most part, Nintendo has stayed away from downloadable content until very recently. Adding new level packs in games like New Super Mario Bros 2 and Pikmin 3 amongst others have served as the company’s way of testing the waters with paid expanded content, but it looks like they’re going all in with Mario Golf: World Tour for the 3DS.

If you happened to steer clear of the many Mario spinoffs that have been released over the years, I assure you that Mario Golf has traditionally been one of the better ones. After playing a demo at Wondercon this year, it seems like everything is essentially the same as previous years on the Mushroom Kingdom greens. New power shots accompany the tried and true two click swing mechanics of most mascot golf games of this nature, where pressing A in sync with the power and accuracy meters result in better shots. The demo had standard tournament mode, coin mode where players collect coins with their swings, and ring mode, where the goal is to hit the ball through, well… take a guess.

Mario Golf World Tour Screen 1Fun times were had, but you can’t expect too much change from a golf game.

It was just as fun as I remember it, if not a little familiar. But the most significant change to the series won’t come until release date, when Nintendo launches their first DLC Season Pass with the title. DLC is a sensitive subject for many in the gaming community. Some see it as a great way to expand on a game, while others see it as a cash grab that can be used as an excuse to hold back content for the purpose of selling it later. While some might have seen Nintendo’s attempt at the business strategy as the end of times, their approach with Mario Golf seems to be pretty reasonable.

Adding 108 holes and four extra characters to a game that already features 126 holes to play on, the $15 or $5.99 that the individual packs cost can almost double the amount of content. Starting on May 2nd, (the game’s release date, which is usually a DLC cardinal sin), players can pick up the Mushroom Pack, which comes with Toadette. The Flower Pack with Mario Galaxy star, Rosalina, and the Star Pack with New Super Mario Bros U newcomer Nabbit, will release in the coming weeks. Those who buy the pass will gain exclusive access to Gold Mario, who comes with the Golden Flower power up, causing his shots to generate coins as they travel! Buying all of the individual packs will unlock him as well, but only once the last pack is released.

Mario Golf World Tour Gold MarioAll Gold Everything

While this is all well and good, some fans might still see this as nickel and diming, (which I admittedly did too at first), but considering the game is already being sold at a discounted price of $29.99, including the season pass makes it about five dollars more than a standard 3DS game for double the content. Combined with the online functionality and tournaments that it promises to bring, and it’s looking like a pretty good deal. To top it off, each pack will have demo versions so you can try before you buy. That’s something every piece of DLC should have if you ask me. I could have saved a decent amount on crappy Rock Band tracks if I had known they had boring track layouts.

So what’s the verdict on Nintendo’s approach of their first season pass? Do you think other companies should follow this model, or do you think it’s a slippery slope leading to us having to pay for our special worlds in later installments? Let us know, and be sure to check back for a full review of Mario Golf: World Tour in the days after its release.

Geekscape Games Previews ‘Kirby Triple Deluxe’

by Josh Jackson

While walking through the halls of Wondercon, there were two thoughts on my mind: where the hell could I find a new Huntress book to add to my collection and where were all the games? Thankfully, Nintendo had half of that problem solved, displaying many of their most anticipated games for the public to experience before their release. One such title was Kirby Triple Deluxe, the 3DS debut of the pink puffball. But with so many games under his belt, could Kirby still have that platforming magic? If my brief time with the demo was any indication, it’s looking like he’s got a few tricks left in his cooking pot.

Kirby Triple Deluxe Screen 1

As you’d expect from a Kirby game, Triple Deluxe has players floating through bright stages while inhaling and absorbing powers from enemies. New to this title are a larger variety of attacks that can be pulled off with each power, so even classic abilities like the sword or beam forms have new ways they can be used. Even the stages themselves feature a foreground and background, making the most of the 3D feature of the handheld. Even old bosses like Whispy Woods make their return, complete with updated boss battles that have just enough nostalgia to bring back old memories while still feeling new.

Most importantly, Kirby’s new ability to inhale entire screens of enemies was definitely the highlight of my playthrough. We focus on Kirby’s copy ability so much that it’s easy to forget that all he could do is inhale once upon a time, so it’s nice to see his original move get its own spotlight. Solving puzzles by pulling blocks, creating mass havoc for helpless enemies and an impressive destructive effect all make this ability one to look out for.

Kirby Triple Deluxe

With the promise of a ton of replay value thanks to Streetpass, collectable keychains and a full on versus mode, Triple Deluxe is looking like a worth successor to the Kirby line. Of course, the biggest flaw with the series has always been with its lack of difficulty, but let’s hope the expanded abilities have brushed off on the enemies as well. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that this one should be on your radar when it releases tomorrow, May 2nd, so be sure to keep an eye out for our review in the coming days!

Capcom Takes The Ace Attorney To The Meiji Era With ‘The Great Ace Attorney’

by Josh Jackson

Last month, the Japanese Nintendo Direct teased a brand new Ace Attorney game; one that would be completely different from what we expect. Well, details have finally emerged, and it turns out “different” is a huge understatement.

Tentatively titled The Great Ace Attorney, this title is set to be the start of a new spinoff franchise. Players will take control of Naruhodō Ryūnosuke, who is possibly directly related to Phoenix Wright considering their Japanese surnames are the same. Taking place in Japan during the Meiji Period, (1868-1912), it’s easy to imagine how the legal system, setting and characters will possibly bring some fresh ideas to the lawyer’s desk. And with series creator Shu Takumi back on the job, it looks like this bold direction is being placed in good hands.

Check out the teaser trailer below and let us know if you want to see The Great Ace Attorney make its way stateside!

Source: metro.co.uk

Buy ‘Mario Kart 8’, Get Another Wii U Title FREE!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Nintendo has just announced a ton of sweet new info for Mario Kart 8, which hits stores on May 30th.

First up, if you’re not yet a Wii U owner, an excellent new bundle has just been announced that’ll give you everything that you need to get started. The bundle costs a cool $329.99, and will include a Wii U Deluxe Set system, a Mario Kart 8 game, a red Mario Wii Wheel accessory and a red Mario Wii Remote Plus controller. That’s enough for you and a pal to get your Kart on.

MarioKartBundleAlready own the console? If you buy Mario Kart 8 and register it with Club Nintendo before July 31, you’ll receive a free Nintendo eShop download code for an ANOTHER Wii U game. You’ll have the choice of New Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, or Wii Party U. This offer also applies to people who get the game in the Mario Kart 8 bundle or digitally in the Nintendo eShop.

So you’re buying a game that you know is going to be amazing, and you’re getting another critically acclaimed titled for doing it. That’s awesome.

Will you be picking up the game? Grabbing a console just so you can play it? Be sure to let us know!

Nintendo Gives Us A Sneak Peak At Their E3 2014 Lineup

by Shane O'Hare

Looks like Nintendo finally “gets it” and put out a compelling advert! FEATURING OUT FRIENDS OVER AT MEGA64! Check out their E3 trailer below!

A few weeks ago during their Nintendo Direct, Masahiro Sakurai let loose some details on the upcoming Smash Bros. titles that really piqued the interest of the competitive scene, and with the announcement of their tournament it shows they obviously learned from their mistakes.

Watch live as 16 highly skilled Super Smash Bros. players take each other on in the first-ever Nintendo-sponsored Super Smash Bros. tournament. We’ll share more information soon about the invited participants, the announcers, and how fans can view the tournament in person and via webcast.

The most exciting news from the video is the fact that we all can get our hands on Smash Bros at Best Buy’s around the country! No specifics were announced as to when that will happen, but be sure to stick here at Geekscape and keep an eye on the official Nintendo E3 website!

Red Vs. Blue Season 12 Premieres TONIGHT!

by Shane O'Hare

If you’ve been around the internet as long as I have, then you aren’t a stranger to the crew over at Rooster Teeth. They are responsible for some of the best online content around; from Lets Plays and Podcasts, to original narratives. Their flagship show Red vs. Blue has been running for over 10 years, and Season 12 premieres tonight!  Check out the trailer below!

 

In Season 12 of Red vs. Blue, the hapless and hopeless “heroes” of Blood Gulch find themselves stuck in the middle of a planet-wide civil war. With half of the Reds and Blues captured by the ominous Federal Army, it’s up to Tucker, Grif, Simmons, and Caboose to work with the New Republic rebellion to free their friends. The twelfth season of the longest running, web-based comedy is packed with new friends, new enemies, and is primed and ready to deliver tons of laughs and awesome action.

You can get eyes on Season 12 TONIGHT at 7 PM CT, only at the official Rooster Teeth website!

We here at Geekscape are very excited for the next step in the hilarious Red vs. Blue story, and give all our well wishes to our friends over at Rooster Teeth.

Still on the fence about watching? Why don’t you check out this first look clip!

http://youtu.be/tL3LIZlEZic

 

‘Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes’ Platform Exclusive Content Wont Be Exclusive Much Longer

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: The short-ass game with a ton of replayability, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is about to get some new content.

At launch, Sony and Microsoft platforms each had an exclusive mission. In celebration of over 1 million copies sold, a new title update will unlock and allow all users to access the Déjà vu and Jamais Vu missions, regardless of the platform you’re playing on!

Originally launched exclusively for PlayStation platforms, the Déjà vu mission, often referred to as a “throwback” mission, is based on missions from the original METAL GEAR SOLID game and lets users play as a pixelated, low polygon Solid Snake. To progress in the mission, players must recreate the key scenes. As a reward, players will see flashbacks to the previous game.

“Jamais Vu”, the Xbox platform exclusive mission, references the 1988 game, “SNATCHER,” the second video game written and directed by Hideo Kojima. In the mission, the menacing bioroid “Snatchers” are dropped into Camp Omega to kill and steal the identities of everything they come in contact with. To kill off these enemies, players need a hero other than Snake—enter Raiden, the superhuman ninja cyborg from previous METAL GEAR titles, including most recently METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE. This time, Raiden dispenses with his High-Frequency Blade in favor of heavy weaponry to completely annihilate the “Snatcher” threat.

Have you picked up the title yet? What are your thoughts on the game? Are you looking forward to another mission? Sound out below!

Check Out 8 Minutes Of ‘Watch Dogs’ Multiplayer Footage!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: After what seems like forever, Watch Dogs is finally just a month away from release.

Ubisoft has just launched an eight-minute multiplayer walkthrough for the title, which showcases some fantastic cat and mouse gameplay. According to the description, in “Watch Dogs’ groundbreaking multiplayer modes where everything and everyone is connected. Learn how Watch Dogs is blurring the line between single and multiplayer, and get a glimpse into three distinct and exciting modes including Online Hacking Contracts, ctOS – Mobile Companion App, and Competitive Decryption Combat.”

The game looks like a lot of fun, and as I’ve definitely been looking for something new to play on my PS4, I can’t wait to pick this one up. Watch Dogs was my “must have” title for the PS4 launch before it was delayed, so I sure hope that it’s worth the wait.

Take a look at the video below, and let us know what you think!

Top Gamers Go ‘AFK’ In Machinima’s Newest Series

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Machinima is at it again, this time with a hilarious unscripted series called AFK.

According to the show’s description, “Pulling the world’s greatest gamers away from the keyboard to find out how they will fare in a real-life demolition derby or roller derby bootcamp is no easy task. That is exactly what Machinima, in association with GEICO, has done in the first-ever original travel competition starring some of the biggest YouTube gaming influencers”

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Hosted by Bruce Greene, host and producer of Machinima’s INSIDE GAMING, one of YouTube’s most popular daily gaming news shows, the first season of AFK brings the Minecraft Universe center stage as YouTube Minecraft Legends MINECRAFTUNIVERSE and Jerome ASF battle each other in a wide range of events including competing in a real-life demolition derby in Dallas, TX, battling it out for Supremacy in a GTA 5 flash-gaming challenge, a Trials Evolution flash-gaming challenge, and a real-life roller derby bootcamp in Austin, TX.

There are three seasons of AFK currently in the works, so if you like what you see here, there’s plenty more coming down the pipeline. Take a look at the series’ first episode below, and let us know what you think!

http://youtu.be/aoanxwPKHUQ

Capture The Newest Trailer For ‘Monster Hunter 4’!

by Shane O'Hare

Still a year away from a US release, Monster Hunter 4 is poised to be another slam dunk for Capcom. Expanding on the monumental success of Monster Hunter 3 G/Ultimate on the 3DS, 4 just goes bigger and badder. Check out the newest trailer BELOW!

HOT DAMN IS THAT EXCITING! New monsters, weapons and allies make this game look like it’s going to be action packed as all get out. I spotted a giant enemy crab!

Monster Hunter 4 is already out in Japan and Korea, but you can get your hands on an English copy early next year!

The First ‘The Last Of Us Remastered’ Trailer Shows Little, Is Still Exciting

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Sony just announced The Last of Us Remastered yesterday, and today the publisher has launched the game’s first trailer.

The video is filled with quotes of praise from various outlets, and only showcases a small piece of (albeit gorgeous) footage. It’s still pretty exciting as, well, we’re getting The Last of Us on PS4, so take a look at the video below, and let us know if you’ll be playing again on Sony’s newest console!

‘The Last Of Us Remastered’ Officially Announced For PS4

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: A few weeks back it was rumoured that The Last of Us would be making its way to Sony’s PS4 this Summer.

Sony has just made the rumour official by announcing The Last of Us Remastered on their official blog. The added power of the PS4 has allowed the team at Naughty Dog (the port is being handled internally… always good news) to “remaster an already phenomenal looking The Last of Us in 1080p with a list of upgrades including higher resolution character models, improved shadows and lighting, upgraded textures, along with even more improvements.”

The Last of Us has won over 200 Game of the Year Awards (including a couple from us at Geekscape) and I’m beyond excited to hear that it’s coming to Sony’s newest console, both because I really want to play the game again, and I’m also happy that gamers who missed out on the stellar game the first time around will be getting another chance to play.

The remastered edition will include the base game, plus all of the expansions (including the excellent single-player chapter, Left Behind), and will also feature an “exclusive director’s commentary for all in-game cinematics featuring Creative Director and Writer, Neil Druckmann; Voice Actor, Troy Baker, who plays Joel; and BAFTA Award winning Voice Actress, Ashley Johnson, who plays Ellie.”

The Last of Us Remastered will release this Summer. Will you be picking it up?

Here’s A Freaky-Deaky New Trailer For ‘The Evil Within’

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: Bethesda has just launched a creepy new trailer for Shinji Mikami’s Summer horror game, The Evil Within.

The latest video shows the game’s protagonist probably going crazy, and then (appropriately) questing his sanity himself. The trailer shows off some absolutely gorgeous segments, and also features exactly the creepy shit that you’d expect to see from the creator of Resident Evil.

Take a look at the trailer below, and let us know if you’re looking forward to the game. The Evil Within launches for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC on August 26th.

Nintendo Direct Wrap Up: Smash Bro. 3DS & Wii U Info Extravaganza

by Shane O'Hare

Nintendo’s latest direct is over, but the excitement hasn’t faded. The father of the Pink Puff Ball, Masahiro Sakurai led the event from his studio, and oh boy did he have a bunch of fantastic news for us!

The biggest, and obviously the most important are the release dates. They’ve narrowed down both the 3DS and Wii U windows. Expect 3DS out this Summer and the Wii U version ships this Winter. Both versions will have the same characters and we can expect the game to run in a solid 60 FPS. What I found very interesting is backgrounds and assist trophies will run in 30 FPS so as not to slow down the gameplay.

It’s obvious Nintendo wants to win back the competitive players with this iteration, as they’ve included two online battle modes. “For Fun” will feature all levels, items and only wins are recorded. “For Glory” will feature no Items and only Final Destination is available as a playable battlefield. Wins AND loses will be recorded on the player profile. The most exciting news for this mode is that most of the new levels will have a “Final Destination Mode”. This is basically a re-skin of the very popular Final Destination level from Melee.

Unique to the 3DS version is the “Smash Run” mode. Players are dumped into a dungeon and have five minutes to scour the level for upgrades. Speed, attack, defense, special and more can be collected. Each powerup stacks and gets added to your overall stats. Then its battle time! Sakurai said he took the idea from Kirby’s Air Ride City Trial mode.

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Example of stat changes in Smash Run

An awesome addition for local play and online with friends is the custom move sets. Players will be able to take their favorite fighter and adjust how they are played. No specific details were released but from the footage shown it looks like speed and power can be tweaked.

Gone are the characters that change during battle due to a trigger. No more Zero Suit Samus after the Final Smash; those characters are all now selectable on their own. Samus, Sheik and Charizard have been confirmed.

Notably the most anticipated news was the inclusion of new characters. New to the franchise is Greninja, the final evolution of Froakie (Seriously, fire the guy who names Pokemon. He peaked with Jigglypuff) from Pokemon X and Y.

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A ninjas ass frog. I’m not sure how I feel about this.

Be sure to watch the full Nintendo Direct for all the motion picture goodness, and keep and eye out here for more news as it is released.

Check out the full detail list below:

 

“New Super Smash Bros. games are a major event for video game fans everywhere, and present an experience that only Nintendo can offer,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Fans have two launches to look forward to this year, and they will want to get in plenty of practice with the Nintendo 3DS version so that they can be prepared for the launch of the Wii U game later in the year.”

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct. Today’s announcements included:

-Launch windows: The Nintendo 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. is planned to launch this summer. The Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. is planned to launch in winter 2014.

 

–Silky-smooth 3D: Most game-play elements of the Nintendo 3DS version of the game will run at 60 frames per second, all in stereoscopic 3D.

 

-“Smash Run”: Exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS version of the game is a new mode called “Smash Run.” In this mode, four players have five minutes to enter a dungeon and explore the surroundings, fight enemies and obtain power-ups to enhance their fighters. Once the five minutes are up, all four fighters enter a battle arena using their newly equipped items and power-ups. Enemies encountered in the Smash Run mode are from a wide range of game series. Multiple Nintendo 3DS systems and games are required for multiplayer modes.

 

-New challenger!: Greninja, the awesome final evolution of Froakie from Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, joins the roster as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS.

 

-Oldies but goodies: Many of the classic characters from past Super Smash Bros. games that are returning in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS have new powers and abilities. Four characters that have appeared in previous games, but had yet to be announced before this Nintendo Direct, include:

Zero Suit Samus: That’s right, Zero Suit Samus is back, but this time she is her own fully playable character, separate from suited Samus. In the new game, she is given jet boots to make her even more powerful.

Sheik: As with Zero Suit Samus, Sheik is another character that appeared in previous Super Smash Bros. games, but will be a unique playable character for the first time in the new Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games. Sheik has new moves like Burst Grenade and Bouncing Fish.

Yoshi: In previous games, Yoshi stood on two legs and hunched over, as if Mario were going to jump on top of him at any moment. This new version of Yoshi stands completely upright, making him an even stronger fighter.

Charizard: After appearing from a Poké Ball in Super Smash Bros. Melee and becoming playable by using Pokémon Trainer in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, this fire-breathing Pokémon is now a selectable character.

 

-Online play: Both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions of Super Smash Bros. will offer online multiplayer game play with other players on the same platform. Players with broadband Internet access can battle it out with anyone else who is online and also has the game.

-When playing with random players online, two modes are available: “For Fun” and “For Glory.” In “For Glory,” only Final Destination stage variations are available. There are no platforms, elevated areas or items in this mode. It is a nice, clean battle between characters. In “For Fun,” all stages are picked randomly and all items and power-ups are available.

-When playing with friends, full customisation is available – players can set the rules, stages and items however they want.

 

-Variety of stages: While the cast of playable characters is the same in both versions of the new games, the stages where the battles take place are vastly different, depending on which system a player chooses. The Wii U stages are primarily based on past home console games, while the Nintendo 3DS stages draw from hand-held games for inspiration.

 

-Boss characters, such as the Yellow Devil in Dr. Wily’s Base, will make appearances in some stages. When bosses appear, fighters will have to battle the boss, as well as one another. The boss can even be used in strategic ways to damage other fighters.
-Almost all the stages in both versions of the game will have a “Final Destination form,” an alternate form of each stage that is inspired by the relatively simple layout of the much-loved Final Destination stage.

 

-Items, trophies and Pokémon: Items, assist trophies and Poké Balls all return in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. New to the games are Master Balls, special Poké Balls that contain Legendary Pokémon like Arceus and Xerneas.

 

-Get connected: There will be elements in Super Smash Bros. that link both versions of the games. More details about this will be revealed at a later date.

 

-Custom moves: In a series first, players can now customise move sets when playing locally or online with friends. More information about this feature will be announced in the future.

A ‘Smash Bros.’ Nintendo Direct Goes Live At 3PM Eastern! Watch It Here!

by Derek Kraneveldt

We have no idea what we’ll be seeing in today’s unusual afternoon Nintendo Direct, but as the huge Smash Bros. fans that we are, we’re damned excited.

The show starts in just a few minutes at 3PM PST, so watch it below, and let us know what you think of the announcements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrWL4EuCp5E&feature=share