Posted 11/23/11 9:48 am EST by Matt Clark in DC Comics, News, video games
So, maybe you've already played through the entirety of "Batman: Arkham Asylum." You've snagged every Riddler trophy, you've completed the Catwoman missions, you've even downloaded the Nightwing character pack. What's left to do? Well, you're in luck, because Rocksteady just released some brand-new content this week, featuring none other than the Boy Wonder.
Posted 11/18/11 5:12 pm EST by Matt Clark in DC Comics, Review, video games
"Superman," the new iOS game, is the best Superman videogame I have ever played. Now, normally, that might sound like a fairly grandiose statement, and you would be correct in that thinking, if it weren't for the fact that every other Superman game in history has sucked – hard. Going all the way back to his first appearance – on the Atari in 1979 – the Man of Steel has found himself licensed into an endless stream of digital garbage.
Thanks to mobile publisher Chillingo and developer Tiger Games, this marks the very first occasion -- with the exception of ensemble games like "DC Universe Online" -- in my three decades of life that I didn't want to throw a Superman game into a black hole.
Posted 11/17/11 4:43 pm EST by Matt Clark in DC Comics, News, video games
"GoldenEye 007." "NBA Jam." "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2." What do these seemingly unrelated videogames all have in common? Each one allows you the opportunity to pursue the age-old tradition of the Big Head Mode. Sure, you can play as the Bulls the normal, boring way, or you can stretch Scottie Pippen's head to disgusting proportions.
The gag was all the rage in the mid-nineties, but you just don't see the cranium enlarging easter egg show up in games all too often today. Apparently, Rocksteady still gets a kick out of the classics, because the mode was secretly placed into "Batman: Arkham City."
Posted 11/17/11 12:54 pm EST by Matt Clark in DC Comics, News, video games
Get ready for the surprise of the year: "Batman: Arkham City" is in the running for basically every Game of the Year award everywhere. The annual Spike Video Game Awards are no exception, where "Arkham City" is up for more than just the biggest honor. Rocksteady's game received 10 nominations for the upcoming award show, only trailing behind "Portal 2" for the most nominations of any game.
Valve's "Portal 2" received 12 nominations, leading the pack of potential GOTY nominees which also includes "Arkham City," "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim," "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword," and "Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception."
Posted 11/16/11 3:21 pm EST by Matt Clark in Marvel, News, video games
Yesterday, Marvel Comics and Capcom's ongoing feud – OK, I guess it's not really a feud, but they are "versus," apparently – continued with the latest iteration in the "Marvel vs. Capcom" series, "Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3." The franchise is huge with fighting genre fans, but you might ask yourself if the game is really worth the admission price, considering that it's not a numbered sequel. Is this game really "ultimate" enough for your hard-earned bucks?
Posted 11/16/11 11:29 am EST by Matt Clark in Marvel, News, video games
Marvel's "Super Hero Squad" toy line has maintained a successful presence since its inception five years ago. The little action figures – basically weird, deformed dwarf versions of Marvel superheroes – have since spawned their own Cartoon Network show, an online game, and are now making their way back to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii.
"Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat" is not only novel for its incredibly long title, but the game also takes advantage of publisher THQ's new uDraw GameTablet.
Posted 11/15/11 2:16 pm EST by Matt Clark in DC Comics, News, video games
If ever you wondered why massively multiplayer online games are all going free-to-play, look no further than "DC Universe Online." The previously subscription-only game just recently opened up to all us freeloaders, and by Green Arrow's beard, has this game suddenly taken off with a fury. Just one week into the new tiered structure and over one million new players hopped aboard.
Sony Online Entertainment are obviously more than a little enthused with the sudden onslaught of new players. It's not immediately clear how those million people are split between the game's three options of pay, but it's a staggering number that apparently covers both platform options.
Posted 11/14/11 3:14 pm EST by Matt Clark in DC Comics, News, video games
Working at a videogame development studio probably isn't as much fun as you think. Contrary to popular belief, the job doesn't always involve playing games all day long and the development process can be arduous. Certainly, working on a follow-up to the smash hit "Batman: Arkham Asylum" brings an extreme level of pressure. It's not all bad though; after production wraps, sometimes studio employees get to kick their feet back at the Wayne mansion.
UK-based Rocksteady Studios wrapped up work on the amazing "Batman: Arkham City" last month, and according to animator Simon Warwick (via Siliconera), the whole team was taken out for a night on the town, Dark Knight style.
Posted 11/10/11 4:39 pm EST by Matt Clark in DC Comics, News, video games
If "Batman: Arkham City" takes its thematic elements from the more somber tales of the Dark Knight, "Gotham City Impostors" might be loosely based on some wonderfully weird Bob Kane fever dream. Since playing a match at E3 this summer, I've waited with anticipation to spend more time with the upcoming online, competitive multiplayer game. Today comes news of not only an official release date, but an open beta for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 users.
Posted 11/10/11 2:24 pm EST by Matt Clark in Marvel, News, video games
Quebec-based game developer Beenox are having a sort of hit-and-miss go at licensed "Spider-Man" titles. 2010's "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions" was an enjoyable game, thanks to an engaging story and mechanics that felt fresh. This year's outing, "Spider-Man: Edge of Time," wasn't received so graciously by critics. So while details on the upcoming comic-turned-movie-turned-game "The Amazing Spider-Man" are slim, today we get our first glimpse at some concept art.