Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. Before we dive into Monki's weekly recap on everything video games, I'd like to point out some more breaking news. HALO 3 is probably the most anticipated game scheduled for release next year. Word is Microsoft has shown maps, designs and gameplay to some select press and that we'll begin seeing snippets here and there about the new game. On the message boards at www.neogaf.com there have been scans from a Swedish magazine with breaking images from the game, including new weapons and vehicles.
And GameSpot has this to say:
What we heard: Last week, Bungie mentioned in its weekly update that it had shown off early builds of Halo 3 to a variety of gaming press outlets and that magazine articles on the visit would start hitting mailboxes shortly. It appears that Swedish mailboxes are plum stuffed with Halo 3 news, as purported scans of the latest issue of LEVEL have hit the Internet with gobs of info about Bungie's highly anticipated first-person shooter. The multiplayer-focused sneak peek dished out details on new weapons, vehicles, and features for the game, some of it expected, some not so much. First, the bad news for hermitic gamers: According to the magazine article, Halo 3 won't have bots. If Halo 2 is any indicator, there shouldn't be any shortage of human opponents to frag online, but antisocial players or those who tire of powergaming play styles won't be able to fake their multiplayer fix. According to a translation on GAF, LEVEL quotes a Bungie rep as explaining that the developers would rather spend that time working on the weapons, levels, and netcode for the game. Speaking of weapons, Halo 3 will apparently feature a few new ways to off opponents. The Spartan Laser should help players open up vehicles like so many sardine cans, while the self-explanatory nail grenade should be a real hit at parties. There's also a Brute spiker to play with. As for new vehicles, the Mongoose ATV that was once intended for Halo 2 will be available. Although it lacks firepower of any kind, the Mongoose seats two and should be good for getting Spartans where they need to be ASAP. And while it isn't quite a vehicle, the "Man Cannon" will launch players across the map unprotected on air streams. Gamers launched by the cannon will be vulnerable to enemy fire, but they'll also be able to fire back. Bungie's also switching up some of the familiar Halo gameplay, according to the scans. For one thing, the X button will no longer reload. Instead, players will use the left and right bumpers on the Xbox 360 controller to independently reload their primary and secondary weapons. As for what the X button will do, Bungie is keeping that under wraps for now. In another tweak, players' secondary weapons will be visibly slung over their backs at all times, so players will no longer be able to conceal the fact that they're carrying around four-foot plasma swords in their pockets. Finally, the scan indicates that the limited-edition release of Halo 3 will be called the "Legendary Edition" and will come packed in a replica of the Master Chief's helmet. The four-disc set will include the game, documentaries and developer interviews, Red vs. Blue content along with other Halo tie-ins, and HD cutscenes from the whole Halo trilogy. The official story: Microsoft isn't talking, but Bungie today put up a news post acknowledging that magazine scans with new Halo 3 content had started hitting the Web and threatening a permanent ban for anyone posting them on the company's forums. Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus, although we hope the term "Man Cannon" is the result of a translation error.
Very cool that Red Vs. Blue will be included in the big souped up collector's edition release... I fuckin' hate button changes, but if they make it worth my while (I'm thinking it's a new melee move) then I'll learn to accept it. Anyway, thanks to Kraken for the heads up and enjoy the below scans from the Swedish magazine... and of course that darn Monki after all that... if he's not too busy playing with his red garden snake...
Greetings humans, Monki back in the great U.S. and A. to bring you some more fancy game news.
Almost immediately after getting back in from the Turks and Caicos film festival (which I still have another article to write....I'm lazy) I picked up the Project 8 demo on XBox Live Marketplace and went to work. Damn. This game is going to be saweeeet. In fact, the only press release I'm going to highlight is going to be about that.
On another note, I spotted a PSP on my trip back from the islands. Some creepy looking old guy was futzing around with his. But hey, one PSP out in the wild.
This should be a brief wrap-up as right now is the calm before the storm of November. PLAYSTATION 3, Wii, Gears of War, Guitar Hero 2. Huge month. Count me as very excited.
Press Release of the Week!
I have an interview with a project director on the Project 8 game that I'll be posting in a few days, in the meantime here is some info from the PLAYSTATION 3 version.
Santa Monica, CA - October 19, 2006 - Neversoft is taking interactivity to all new heights in the upcoming Tony Hawk's Project 8 video game for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. By leveraging the next gen console's SIXAXIS wireless controller, players will be able to balance and steer skaters through every rail grind, manual, revert, ollie and combo, as well as control slow motion nail the trick moves as they compete to be a part of Tony Hawk's elite project 8 team. The game, which ships to retail outlets nationwide timed to the launch of the highly anticipated PLAYSTATION 3 system, has been rated "T" (Teen) by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $59.99.
Tony Hawk's Project 8 features the likeness and skating styles of more than 11 world class athletes. By tilting and twisting the SIXAXIS wireless controller, gamers will have the power in their hands to control each skater's actions, which were captured for the game using three-dimensional body and face scanning technology, as well as motion capture data.
Joining Tony Hawk in Tony Hawk's Project 8 are well-known skateboarders:
-Bob Burnquist
-Dustin Dollin
-Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins
-Nyjah Huston
-Bam Margera
-Rodney Mullen
-Paul "P-Rod" Rodriguez Jr.
-Ryan Sheckler
-Daewon Song
-Mike Vallely
-Stevie WilliamsFor more information on Tony Hawk's Project 8, visit www.thp8.com
I don't even know if Sheckler and P-Rod were alive during the first release. These damn young-uns. I remember being holed up in my dorm playing THPS 1 on the Dreamcast. Man it looked so good.
So, again, keep an eye out for my Project 8 interview in the next couple of days.
Pretty Images of the Week!
I mentioned this one in last week's article which really became this week's earlier article due to the Gilligan's Island type setup I had for internet while I was in the Caribbean. Anyways, Def Jam: Icon is one I am REALLY excited about. I enjoyed the hell out of the first couple of games and this one looks sweeeet.
Obviously this one isn't even close to being done, but how sweet is the environment moving and bouncing around? Very very cool.
Next up is a new cinematic trailer for Gears of War. This one is just beautiful; the music and the images work so well together. Gorgeous.
Both of these vids are from Game Trailers, a site I visit about 10 times a day. Loads more cool stuff there.
My Goal in Life of the Week!
I'm not really sure what got me thinking about this, maybe it was the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza party at the Drafthouse that kick-started this dream of mine again. As all young filmmakers do, I have dreamt of my ultimate film to produce/create/direct/edit. That film?
THE WIZARD
That's right. I want to re-make the Wizard. The Christian Slater / Fred Savage / Super Mario Bros. 3 masterpiece. Why hasn't anyone else directed more children cross America via hitch-hiking and video game hustling? The Wizard was a huge part of my childhood and I burned through tons of tapes of it on my ancient VCR.
How many of you went out and picked up PowerGloves after seeing this incredible film because they "were so bad?" I sure as hell know I did.
So there ya go, I want to make this movie. If you work in the movie industry and have access to the rights of this one, e-mail me and we can go ahead and start the paperwork. I work cheap and the only thing I require in the movie is a cameo by Fred Savage. So, any super-rich producers out there ready to do this one? Let me know.
Stupid Wrap-Up of the Week!
So, that is it for this week's wrap up. By this time next week it will be November and everything will be going nuts in the game world. I can't freakin' wait. Also that means we are going to be one month closer to the Geek Christmas known as Butt-Numb-a-Thon. I got in by the hairs of my chinny-chin-chin and will be hopping up and down in my seat praying to Zelda that we will get to see Frank Miller's 300. That one looks so insane. Coooool.
I leave you with my poster I made for my BNAT submission this year. It is sort of an annual thing that I do for myself and my buddy Edison who comes in from Ft. Worth for the fest. My Photoshop skills aren't the best, but I'm happy with how it turned out.
