The Upcoming Week: Full of Sausage

Here is just a quick summary of what to expect this upcoming week…

Reviews

• Frontlines: Fuel of War (360)
•  Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (360)
•  Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (PS3)
•  Army of Two (360)
•  Brain Challenge (360)

Features

…I am planning to do a Top 10 list for all the consoles I have ever owned, all the way back to the NES (I can’t remember my Atari 2600 that well…I’m a young boy *cough* I mean man…). So I am not sure how I will work this out, whether I will post one a day or one a week. I have my lists written up already so I’ll just wait and see…

Here are the platforms I’ll be working with…

NES, Sega Genesis, PC, Playstation 1, Sega Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, Xbox and Portables (no reason to break all systems up imo). I may also do a “360 so far” list as well.

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Other than that I plan to hopefully get a preview on Dark Sector if I can find the game to rent. Possibly a review of Condemned 2: Bloodshot if I find the time. Lastly I will start work on character concepts for the Distributed Failure poster…starting first with Rob “Big Daddy” Wood!

So stay tuned for many updates to the Sausage this week and remember to check out the Distributed Failure podcast which is recorded every Wednesday at 6pm CST and posted around 10pm. So give it listen: Love it, Hold it, Squeeze it, Want it, Have it, and Share it will everyone you know. Our Failure is your sweet, sweet listening pleasure!

And always remember “The cake is a lie, but the sausage isn’t”

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3) First Impressions

I know I'm pretty late to the party on this one, but you know...it's only on the PS3. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself, but back to business. I was really looking forward to this game; it was actually one of my most wanted games of 2007. From what I've played I have to say that the game is a mixed bag. The visuals are obviously gorgeous, but the perfect puff of smoke that follows every explosion gets a bit distracting for me. Nathan is an interesting (and human) character and his story is what keeps me coming back for more because the combat sure isn't doing it for me.

For a game that is about treasure hunting and exploration; there sure is a lot of shooting. Every time I find myself immersed in the story (or platforming), I suddenly find myself in a shootout that would feel at home in a game like Gears of War, but not in this game. I enter an area and a shootout begins; I kill a few enemies and then more magically arrive to keep the fire fight going. These scenarios don't belong in this game. I wouldn't have a problem if these fights were with a small group of men and were more tactical in nature. Instead you just find yourself shooting up countless generic enemies who are capable of taking way too much damage, not to mention that the hit detection is a bit off. If the story wasn't interesting to me I wouldn't see a reason to keep coming back because the shooting isn't doing anything for me (besides pissing me off).

It's way too early for me to truly judge this game, but from what I've heard the shooting only gets worse. As long as the story keeps me involved I will still really enjoy the game, but I can't help thinking about how amazing this game could be with a little less shooting and a little more exploration.

Sonic...Going back to it's roots!?

So apparently some screen shots of a new Sonic game have shown up on the internet. If the pictures are true then the game will actually be taking place mostly on a 2D plane; I will be extremely excited about a Sonic game for the first time in years. Sonic works in 2D and I don’t know why everyone feels the need to put every single game in a 3D world. Would Contra be the same if it wasn’t a side-scroller? I don’t think so. Shattered Soldier was an amazing game for the PS2 and I hope that this new Sonic game (possibly called Sonic Unleashed) goes back to it’s 2D roots because if that happens we may actually find ourselves with an actual good new game featuring our favorite blue hedgehog. Just remember that as of right now nothing is official and nothing had been announced; this is all pure speculation at the moment, but it's looking good.

…and Sega…Where is my next-gen Earthworm Jim!? Come on, you know we want it and it could be awesome. I know there’s still good somewhere inside of Sega so just let it out. Don’t make me have to play my Genesis and Dreamcast for Sega sweetness; remind people of how good Sega once was...for me. :)

2008: Let's play in the sand

2008 is being called by most “The Year of the Playstation 3”, but I believe this to be the year of the open-world game. Besides the possible biggest game of the year, GTAIV; 2008 has over 10 open-world game scheduled for release. Is this a good thing? I don’t really know, but it would seem that “playing in the sandbox” is becoming the new WWII shooter. As much as I love this genre; an overpopulation of open-world games isn’t really a good thing. This is more obvious when you see that some of these games aren’t really that different from each other.

Click to read more ...

Rocketmen: Axis of Evil (360) Review

It may be called Rocketmen, but sadly Elton John is not featured in this game.

• Game: Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
• Developer: A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games
• Price: 800MS Points ($9.99)
• Release Date: 3/5/2008

Rocketmen: Axis of Evil is basically Smash TV with an attempt to add a story and RPG elements. What Puzzle Quest does for Bejewelled, Rocketmen does for Smash TV. I have to say that every time I play this game I can’t help but think of my friend Rob (aka Elton John), he is quite the rocketman! “I'm not the man they think I am at home; Oh no, no, no I'm a rocket man”, sorry I couldn’t help myself.

Click to read more ...

Most Influential Game

I was recently browsing some forums and came across a topic that intrigued me. The topic was “What game has influenced you the most?” and it was easy for me to pick one game. It was no question Shaq Fu! That game is so amazing and remarkably unique that I can’t help but think of how much worse the game industry might be if we were never given this sweet, sweet game of Godliness!

Sarcasm is such a lovely part of life. Honestly the game that has influenced me the most (our meant the most to me) is easily Metal Gear Solid. There are plenty of games that I have liked more and games that I think are better, but Metal Gear Solid at the time showed me something I had never seen in a game. A little back story here; I joined the Playstation orgy late and was still heavy in the Genesis due to being poor (The Genesis still kicks ass!).When I first got my Playstation I bought Madden and Metal Gear Solid and the game blew me away. I had never seen a game with so many story elements to it (I have never gotten into JRPGs). The game had such high production values; all the voice work, characters and cut-scenes. It was the first game that made me really care about a video game character. I remember reloading that torture scene over and over because I couldn't bring myself to let Meryl die. That shit is crazy! The game was amazing to me and was such a jump from all the games I loved from the past generation. Though I do like plenty of games more; MGS will always be the game that really showed me what this media could pull off and it all always will be.

I also want to give a strong second place "prize" to Bioshock. To me the game is absolutely amazing. The narrative and the story are so above every game to me, but the real special thing about Bioshock is that it really is a work of art. The game is beautiful and has so many little details in every aspect. They really went out of their way to think about every single thing in the game world. If anyone ever questions whether video games are art. You only need to show them Bioshock and if they still say that a game can't be art; then you'll know that they don't know what art really is...

Girls Got Game

To all the female gamers out there! (Guys are welcome too) You should all check out Girls Got Game! It’s a new site dedicated to bringing together the community of female gamers and showing that they can hang with the boys. Girls are just as important as guys in the world of games. They may still be out-numbered, but they still are just as passionate about video games as anyone else out there. So if you’re a gamer who is sausage free….please, please PLEASE go and check out Girls Got Game! …sign up and tell all your fellow gamers about the site. Spread the word and let it be known that Girls Got Game! kicks ass like a boot full of brass. You’ll be sitting in the grass looking for a pass to save your ass. Praying in mass won’t save your ass, I laugh that you even have to ask! So break off fool, this site is mad cool…and if you’re a girl, give it whirl. It won’t disappoint…pigs go oink! (Sorry, I couldn’t think of anything to rhyme with disappoint)

…also I’m sorry for the rhyming in general. It’s what I do…and yes I know I am a retard!

So anyways please check out the site for me, for you…for 55cents!?....alright
Girls Got Game!

XBLA size limit increased for Capcom

"Given the sizeable content in Bionic Commando Rearmed and Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Microsoft allowed Capcom to work with a larger file size limit for both of those titles in order to provide gamers with the game experience that Capcom desired, such as full hi-res textures (on Bionic Commando Rearmed) or 1080p support (for SSFIIT)," said the Capcom rep. "The Xbox Live Arcade versions of both titles will have complete feature and graphical parity with the iterations that will be available on other platforms. There were never any issues with 1942 or Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3, as those titles were designed from the ground up to meet [Microsoft's] standards."

Well it seems that what everyone expected has now become official. Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix and more importantly Bionic Commando Rearmed will not be subject to the 150MB limit that is currently enforced my Microsoft. I am not surprised by this news, but I am glad to finally hear the official words spoken. Now people won't be able to question whether or not the 360 version will be up to par with the PS3/PC versions.

Though this news is good news...I really want to hear Microsoft come out and officially raise the limit for all developers. Then we will be able to see more games that are as big (not is size, but in content) as a game like Rearmed. If they choose to keep the normal limit at 150MB and just make an exception here and there...we may see a surge in the downloadable games for PSN and a decrease in XBLA games. Plus with more room to work with, the more variety we can get. Also, Microsoft is selling Xbox Originals on Live and those can take up to 6GB of space! I think they can raise the limit for arcade games, don't you?

Bioshock 2 Confirmed...Why?

Ok, so the real question isn't why (To make money), but do we really want another game Bioshock 2 has been officially announced by Take-Two and that's all we know so far. We don't know if this game will be a sequel, a prequel...or a new game for that dusty N-Gage! (Just kidding). Personally I think this is absolutely horrible news! I don't think there is anymore to tell in this universe and can't help but feel that this game will one of the worst sequels in recent memory. THAT IS if this is a true sequel...A prequel may actually be a bit intriguing. Even though I don't want another Bioshock game that may possibly taint my love for the first game, but seeing how this world came to it's demise right from the start; That has a chance of being just as amazing as the first with many different ways of tackling that subject.

It would be very interesting to see these characters before Rapture turned to hell. I would like to interact with Andrew Ryan and learn more about his motivation to make this world, from the mouth the creator himself. I would like to learn about the discovery of the plasmids and the initial Big Daddy/Little Sister project. Rapture is a world that I am still interested in pre-Bioshock, but a game that took place after the fact wouldn't even make sense. Both endings don't give material for a sequel and the "good" ending was perfect in my eyes and I don't want to see anymore.

All we know for now is that another Bioshock game is coming and that it's going to be developed by 2K Marin (not the original developers). I don't know if Ken Levine will be involved in this project, but I would assume he is because otherwise I (and I think many other people) wouldn't be interested in this game at all. I trust Ken and if he is working on this game then I can't wait to see where it's going.

...I think I have a good subtitle for the sequel...

Bioshock 2: The Sausage Cometh

X360 Price cut in Europe

This article was taken from Gamespot.com

"Let the price wars commence--Microsoft has thrown down the gauntlet and cut the price of all Xbox 360 SKUs in Europe.

The Arcade pack will have a recommended retail price of £159.99 (down from £199.99), the Premium pack will be £199.99 (down from £259.99), and the Elite £259.99 (down from £299.99).

The price drops are effective from this Friday, March 14, and notably the new recommended retail price for the Arcade brings it in cheaper than the Wii--which at £179.99 has been the most budget-conscious next-gen console option since its launch in December 2006.

Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business Europe's VP, Chris Lewis, commented, "History shows that £159.99 is the price point where a console’s audience begins to expand, and with these new ERPs in place we’re ready to bring more consumers into the Xbox 360 world." "

I think that this is really good news for those in Europe thinking about purchasing a 360. I'm not saying this is good because of the Arcade pack, but because of the premium pack. With the HDD version now only £199.99 (Down £60!) people can get a fully functioning 360 for only £20 more than a Wii. You can't beat that deal and it makes me wonder if the states will see a price drop here as well. Maybe a drop to $300 for the Premium to coincide with the launch of GTAIV!? Who knows, but I think that would be a really good idea.

If the States do get a cut here our my price predictions...

X360 Arcade: $229.99
X360 Premium: $299.99
X360 Elite: $379.99

I know I have very optimistic thought about the Elite's price, but I think that would be the best price for it...