Deadlight- A Different Take on Zombies

Microsoft Game Studios is publishing Deadlight from Tequila Works. The zombie survival game is a side scroller with a unique presentation. It is slated to launch this summer on XBLA. Take a look at what promises to be one cool game.

Favorite NBA Player

Last night, our team had a practice game with another local high school and the boys put in a great performance. One of the players came away with 32 points (in 4 ten minute quarters) and was what I would call, King Under The Ring. At the end of the night, I gestured to hand him the MVP trophy, but I had nothing to hand over. The team understood and we all smiled. It was a cool moment and it got me thinking that it would be fun to get some figures of some of the finest in the NBA, that I can present (and reuse) for outstanding performances. Dennis Rodman is on the top of my list, and will be awarded for most rebounds and/or best team player. Some of the other personalities I am considering are:

Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Dwyane Wade, Scottie Pippen, and of course, Michael Jordan.

I want to represent a variety of skills/positions and I need to be relatively current and high profile or some of the meaning will be lost on the students. They don’t regularly watch NBA games here. Perhaps I can change that for next year.

Any suggestions for addition or exclusion would be gratefully received. I would like to place an order within the next couple of days.

TFtG:Just When I Thought I Was Out…

This is a Tales from the Grave episode, an FOD recap.

The boys have grown up quite a bit since the release of Gears of War, which is when we bought our first 360.  It took them a while to learn how to “handle their booze”, so to speak, and until recently, we had to be very strict about weekday gaming.  That has changed as they have matured, and lately they have been allowed some time online even during the week.  Last night, at 7:00pm sharp, I could heard Johann and Cornie chatting cheerfully as they set up and then jumped into their respective worlds, Minecraft for Cornie and BF3 for Johann.  Cornie later showed me his awesome room, buried deep in the ground, accessible only by a long ladder from his treasure room above.  It is still burned in my memory.  Amazing how cool something can look, even with those massive pixels.

Every Meal’s A Banquet!

UPDATE: SUSPENSE TRAILER

Aliens: Colonial Marines -IGN’s Single-player Preview

Via EvAv.

Rumor Confirmed: BF3 Premium – 5 Expansion Packs

Looks like the rumor Blankman scooped has substance.

“Battlefield Premium contains all 5 Battlefield expansion packs with early access, new camos, and exclusive in-game items for a one-time fee.“  (launch June 4th, 2012)    Battlefieldo

This also confirms rumors of 2 yet-unannounced expansion packs.

Before I get to my own thoughts about this particular offer, I need to address the jargon that publishers have themselves chosen to brandish as if it were magical swords that would help part us with our hard-earned dollars.

There is a difference between the Season’s Passes/Elite/Premium “subscriptions”, and real subscriptions  a la WoW.  The former are one time fees of varying amounts for content of varying substance, that doesn’t disappear when the period of time has passed.  The latter are recurring rental fees for playing in someone else’ game, a game that becomes non-accessible when payment is withheld.

It boggles the mind that any company trying to sell the former would choose to advertise their product so as to be associated with the latter.  But such is the greed, confusion, and disconnect of the corporate MBAs.  Thank you for all who provided insight in Blankman’s thread because it has made the issue crystal clear.

Hit the jump for my thoughts on Battlefield Premium.

The Last of Us: Truck Ambush Trailer

This is the second CGI video we have seen of the game. That has me crinkling my eyebrow.

Via EvAv.

By the way, The Walking Dead is selling well. Looking forward to buying all episodes for cheap after they are released.

P.S. and O.T., the gloves just came off when Gearbox announced that they were including a Bobblehead in their Special Edition release of Borderlands 2. I can see Kenny on his ass in the corner of the ring, all black-eyed, pockets pulled inside out, fly down.

Bwahahahahaha

Strong-Arming The Bully

Activision and EA have settled, literally a day after Klepek published his article on Project Icebreaker “an ongoing Activision initiative to uncover information regarding West and Zampella by accessing their work email, computer, and phones”.

Sans the appearance of an assassin, the suit couldn’t have had a more dramatic ending. I suspect more than fear of the public’s opinion, Activision was afraid that after news of those privacy violations, everyone at their company might just up and quit.

Via Joystiq.

Prometheus Soundtrack

Marc Streitenfeld‘s Prometheus Soundtrack is now available for purchase on iTunes, and will be released on CD on June 12th. AICN’s Nordling gave it a rave review, and after listening to the preview clips on the iTunes page, I can hear why, if you are into that kind of music. Do want. Only 23 more days.

Glass Payne

Playing Max Payne 3 last night and something… interesting happened. Mute the volume unless you like computer noises.

 

Push Hands

After my dalliance with break dancing I took up Tai Chi. Ty reminded me of my love for that martial art, and my excitement spilled over into this post.

It may not look like much, but if you think about trying to hurt a dangling rope by punching it, you get a little idea of what an attacker will be up against.

EA Planning a CoD: Elite Service for BF-series

If this rumor is indeed true, then GTFO EA. The BF-series will be dead to me even though I rarely play the current Battlefield as it is. BF3 just didn’t click for me, but it is resonating with many of the folks here (and that is a good thing).

I knew that Activision’s Elite offering was going to start yet another negative trend in MP-gaming. We applauded EA’s declaration that they wouldn’t be stooping to Activision’s levels when the CoD: Elite service was announced. Well, this may have all been for naught. I guess when the bottom line is million of dollars in revenue, it’s easy to renege on your previous promise.

Minecraft

I had a chance to try the demo, listen to others chat as they explored and tunneled in Zos’ virtual realm, and check out some of the things people are “building” in (360) Minecraft. What struck me today was the fact that, while the environment will change depending on who is “serving” it (a considerable limitation, imo), I wouldn’t mind setting up my own private digs, even in multiple realms. And then it struck me that it is what Sony’s Playstation Home should have been, or rather, that we could make it what it should have been. I have made it no secret that what I like about gaming online is you guys, and there are times when playing even my favorite game is too intense. The beauty of Minecraft is that I could “build” a house with a couch, and then just chat with y’all as I lie there sipping on a virtual martini! Cheers!

I don’t suppose I will be waiting for Minecraft to drop in price.

Click here for a fun read on the pedagogical opportunities Minecraft presents.