RAM Gone Wild: Overclocker Pushes G.Skill TridentX Kit to 3,900MHz
Memory maker G.Skill is laying claim to the "world's fastest RAM" after an overclocker goosed the company's TridentX Extreme Performance
memory kit to 1,950MHz (3,900MHz effective). Whether you want to
qualify that as the world's fastest RAM is up to you (and clearly
G.Skill does), but it is a new memory frequency world record, so there
are some well deserved bragging rights to go around.
Overclocker
"Christian Ney" achieved the world record just a few days after another
overclocker, "HiCookie," first broke the record with the same kit.
HiCookie achieved 1,677MHz (3,354MHz effective) using a Gigabyte
Z77X-UD4H motherboard and Intel Core i7 3770K processor.
Christian
Ney trumped HiCookie's frequency using an AMD system with a Gigabyte
GA-A75-UD4H motherboard and A8-3870K processor. In both cases, a healthy
dose of liquid nitrogen was required to keep everything cool.
"Despite
being the world's fastest RAM manufacturer, G.Skill will continue to
strive for first-class quality at competitive pricing to the market," said Bill Wang, VP at G.Skill.
Gee, good to know G.Skill isn't hanging its hat up and calling it quits.
A (spoiler-free) jaunt through Guild Wars 2's Lost Shores
Guild Wars 2's Lost Shores
update is just around the corner -- that is, if you can consider
nighttime to be a corner. What I'm trying to say is that Lost Shores
goes live tomorrow. We brought you a content primer a couple of days ago to give you the basics of what's going on. Now it's time to take a closer look at what's to come.
Skip on below the cut for a spoiler-free look at the Lost Shores
content. I mean, reasonably spoiler-free. I'm going to tell you that the
karka are involved
and that there's a dungeon where you fight things. We can't really have
much of a conversation elsewise, but what I'm not going to do is give away any big finales or gotcha moments. Now that we understand each other, let's get going.
On the Surface, Microsoft's "Kludgey" Tablet is Hardly Competition, Says HP
Microsoft's hardware partners continue to take potshots at the company's Surface tablet. Last week, Acer warned Microsoft
that delving into hardware is like "hard rice and "is not so easy to
eat" (no joke, though something may have been lost in translation), and
now HP is piling on the criticism, calling Surface a "slow" and "kludgey" solution. HP credited the press for hyping up a tablet that otherwise isn't very competitive.
"I'd hardly call Surface competition," Todd Bradley, head of HP's PC business, told IDG Enterprise in an interview, according to CiteWorld.com.
"[Reason] one, very limited distribution. It tends to be slow and a
little kludgey as you use it. It's expensive. Holistically, the press
has made a bigger deal out of Surface than what the world has chosen to
believe."
HP's last real attempt at the consumer tablet market was
the ill-fated TouchPad, a promising webOS tablet that was perhaps
priced too high to woo buyers away from the iPad. These days, HP is more
focused on enterprise slates, and that isn't about to change.
"We're
not entering the consumer tablet fray any time soon," Bradley added.
"We'll be doing something next year, but you won't see a consumer tablet
from HP before Christmas. You'll see convertibles that are focused on
how you use the device, keyboard, clamshell."
Bradley also expressed interest in getting into the highly competive phone business, but hasn't yet formulated a strategy.
EVE Online prepares to roll out Retribution ship rebalancing
With EVE Online's newest expansion, Retribution, only a couple of weeks away, the devs are all abuzz over the features and changes coming with it. One of the biggest of these is a widespread effort to rebalance ships and put them in line with each other. CCP Fozzie reports that 40 new and existing spaceships are slated for the expansion overhaul, with more on the way after that.
Even though change can be a scary prospect, Fozzie sees the rebalancing as a boon to the community: "Every time EVE's balance
changes, it creates new opportunities for clever players to demonstrate
their creativity and separate themselves from the pack. We know that
our customers are amazingly creative with ship fittings and tactics and
that if we give them a new set of tools they'll do things better than we
could have imagined with them."
Last week, NCsoft and media broadcast company Daum has made an joint
effort to launch the "Blade and Soul TV", actually it's a live stream
program on the internet, not exactly on TV. So it means that Blade &
Soul will be having its own live show everyday except Tuesdays.
MMO Update: Allods Online is going to release a new update titled Autumn Wind
Allods Online is going to release a new update titled Autumn Wind on
October 30. The update comes with changes to its interface, changes in
the Xadaganian female model and additions to the craft systems and to
the popular skirmish system.
MMO Toys: World of Warcraft Mega Blocks commercial airs
Don't call them "LEGOs" or "Blocks," although we would forgive you if
you did make one of these common mistakes when dealing with Mega Bloks.
The definitely-not-LEGO toymaker is releasing a series of World of Warcraft sets and now has the commercial to prove it. The 30-second spot shows the creation of Stormwind castle, one of the Horde zeppelins, and several action figures of WoW
characters (including Arthas). Each has interchangable armor, which is
right in step for what you'd expect from an MMO franchise.
MMO News: Dungeon & Fighter – New zombie mode for Halloween
Nexon Korea added in a new zombie mode for Dungeon & Fighter
recently, just in time for the Halloween season. In this mode, a minimum
of 6 (maximum 8) level 15 characters will enter the dungeon, where 2
players will be randomly changed into zombies. [Read more atGameforumer.com]
MMO News: Winged Beasts to Take Flight in Newly Announced Dragon's Prophet
Last night at its annual fan event, SOE Live, Sony Online Entertainment
LLC (SOE) announced a new licensing and publishing partnership with
Runewaker Entertainment to bring the fantasy massively multiplayer
online game (MMO) Dragon's Prophet™ to North America. Developed by
Runewaker Entertainment, Dragon's Prophet transports players to the
dragon-filled, beautiful world of Auratia, where they can capture, train
and ride dragons.
MMO News: DC Universe Online's Upcoming DLC Pack: Home Turf
Heroes and Villains will soon have a place to call home as Sony
Online Entertainment, LLC (SOE) today announced Home Turf, its sixth
downloadable content (DLC) pack for DC Universe™ Online (DCUO).
Available in early 2013 for download on the PC and PlayStation®3
computer entertainment system, Home Turf will introduce customizable
housing for the first time to the popular massively multiplayer online
(MMO) game, providing players with a base of operations, and all-new
customizable backdrops for super-charged combat.
MMO Update: Aion Released Shooting Star Preview Trailer
With the reveal of the new class 'Shooting Star', many of you must be
more and more interested in this new class in Aion 4.0. Several days
ago, you've seen the concept arts of the new class, today you are going
to check out the preview trailer of the Shooting Star.
MMO News: Saga Kingdoms Releases Kickstarter Page, Quest System Revealed
If you are a crazy game fans, that you must know saga, a 2008 MMORTS
with collectible card game-like elements. Saga Kingdoms is the
continuation of that franchise, seeking to create a MMORTS with more of a
focus on co-op and quests than the pure PvP of contenders past. Here
are some early details on how this questing system will function.
MMO Release: Cabal II - First English Server Announced
The first English (and overseas) server for Cabal II will made by
Southeast Asia publisher, Asiasoft, which has its headquarters in
Thailand offices in various SEA countries such as Singapore, Malaysia
and Vietnam. Asiasoft will be publishing Cabal II in the English and
Thai languages for 3 years.
MMO New Launch: Wizardry Online Beta Begins October 29th
Wizardry Online's beta will begin on October 29, Wizardry Online is a hardcore MMO spin on the classic dungeon romp game play of Wizardry, featuring permadeath, fiendish monsters, and
brutal traps.
Short MMO News: Guild Wars 2 - Dealing With Mesmer Clones in PvP
Hey everyone, today I am a bit enrage and mad at something that is
going on in 'World vs World', I will try to be polite but the nature of
what I am going to say can be a bit harsh to some people. Just in case,
it had something to do with mesmers!!!!
MMO Short News:Assassins and Aimons: New Class and Race Coming to SEVENCORE
Gala Networks Europe, one of the leading free-to-play games publishers
and operator of the www.gPotato.eu portal, today announces the addition
of new in-game contents to its recently launched fusion fantasy MMORPG
SEVENCORE: From November 1st, 2012, onwards, players will be able to
also dive into their adventure by playing assassin class characters, as
well as to choose from a new race, called Aimons. Furthermore, the level
cap will be raised to 95.
Blizzards most Cash Cow: WoW renowned as World of Warcraft keeps its next foot to Patch 5.1 with the Launch of Mists of Pandaria. A Uniqueness in Character "Panda" or Bear" which specializes in Monk ability.
Go Gamers Pay more and Get More Goodies..... At Last empty your Pockets (become Poket).. :)
Blizzard Entertainment launches new pets for their Milking Cow or Cash Cow: Mists of Pandaria with lots of Petties to assist with What do you Say??? More Cash you pay and get some goodies to assist you with??? :( :)
District 187: Sin Streets has recently come out on Open Beta, updating
its map and weapon selection. But is it worth playing? Should you take
the time to download and play District 187, as opposed to more popular
online first-person shooter (FPS) games such as Alliance of Valiant Arms
or Blacklight: Retribution?
Aion 4.0 – NCsoft reveals Shooting Star preview trailer
1 of the 3 new upcoming classes for NCsoft's Aion version 4.0, the
Shooting Star class got its first preview trailer earlier. This made me
realize why Blade & Soul's new class isn't a gunner-type, but rather
a melee one. NCsoft will be missing from G*Star 2012, with the focus
probably on Aion 4.0 [Read more at Gameforumer.com]
About once a year I like to take a look back at Dark Age of Camelot, the classic PvP MMO by Mythic Entertainment, just to reassure myself that older MMOs are still some of the best around. Dark Age of Camelot comes from that older crop of titles like Asheron's Call and EverQuest,
games that still shine despite their age. Of course the next logical
question is, "If these games are still so good, why aren't more of us
still playing them?" There's an easy answer, really. First of all, we
don't spend time sitting around listening to our favorite albums or
watching our favorite movies constantly, but we still appreciate them,
possibly more than we did when we first found them. Next, all games are
finite for us as individuals. There is no MMO that offers endless
content if we take away the endless player-made content that comes from
roleplay or exploration.
No matter how good a game like Dark Age of Camelot
was and still is, many of us have already experienced it quite a bit.
It's only human to become slightly bored with something we've played
with time and again. But once again, I've spent a week in a game that
shows it's always a good thing to check back on our favorites. They just
might surprise you all over again.
In
the livestream, the dimensions of Granite Falls Inn, Faen's Retreat and
Dormant Core were shown off. Players are able to have multiple
dimensions, with the first two available for free. At the launch of
Storm Legion, there will be 250 objects included in the system with more
to come.
Dimensions can be set to either private or
public, with the latter being able to hold up to 200 people at once.
Public dimensions have a rating system, may be joined randomly, and can
have the option to allow visitors to add their own creations as well.
You can watch the full dimensions video after the jump, and stay tuned for Massively's hands on with the beta!
Grind Your Mind: How Do you play some games Actively or Inactively?
I can log into RIFT any time I want. I have my subscription active, and I'm perfectly happy to give Trion Worlds
my money on a monthly basis. But my actual playtime with the game is
spotty at best. Despite this, I still describe myself as playing the
game, because I am still playing, just not in an active capacity. An
inactive capacity, if you will. With free-to-play
becoming the dominant business model in the MMO genre, it's easier than
ever to be an inactive player in your game of choice. You jump in for a
couple of days, let the game sit for a week, then jump back in without
any real penalties. You don't have to stick with any game longer than
you want to. Still, there are games that require a subscription to play,
and some people will pop into a free-to-play game to buy new things and
then jump right out. So what about you? Is there a game that keeps
getting your money even though it's not an active part of your play
rotation?
Recently one of our Author AmitTeli Uploaded 2 new videos to YouTube 1)
Youtube for Gameforumer.com. 2) Youtube Video of Gameforumer PC Tech.
Even though they are a very basic video we still recommend it to our
viewers (Guests) and readers. Hope you enjoy watching them. We have
disabled the commenting system as we wanted [Read more at Gameforumer.com]
A Review of Skylanders Giants Skylanders was one of the biggest
surprises of 2011. Pretty much everyone expected it to be a cheap
cash-in of 90s nostalgia to sell toys to unsuspecting kids — and boy,
were we wrong. It was actually a pretty fun, serviceable action game [Readmore at Gameforumer.com]
Trion Worlds has announced that the second beta event for the upcoming
RIFT expansion, Storm Legion, is now underway and will run through the
weekend. Additionally, Trion has lifted the NDA on Storm Legion, so feel
free to discuss the expansion to your heart's content!
MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012
Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July,
is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are
tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether
it'd be finished in time. During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby
addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be
"finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not
finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE]
think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now,
saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just
implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players'
feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know
what works better and what doesn't."
MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012
Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July,
is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are
tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether
it'd be finished in time. During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby
addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be
"finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not
finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE]
think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now,
saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just
implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players'
feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know
what works better and what doesn't."
MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012
Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July,
is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are
tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether
it'd be finished in time. During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby
addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be
"finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not
finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE]
think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now,
saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just
implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players'
feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know
what works better and what doesn't."
MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012
Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July,
is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are
tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether
it'd be finished in time. During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby
addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be
"finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not
finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE]
think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now,
saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just
implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players'
feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know
what works better and what doesn't."
MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012
Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July,
is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are
tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether
it'd be finished in time. During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby
addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be
"finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not
finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE]
think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now,
saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just
implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players'
feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know
what works better and what doesn't."
MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012
Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July,
is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are
tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether
it'd be finished in time. During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby
addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be
"finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not
finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE]
think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now,
saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just
implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players'
feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know
what works better and what doesn't."
MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012
Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July,
is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are
tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether
it'd be finished in time. During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby
addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be
"finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not
finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE]
think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now,
saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just
implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players'
feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know
what works better and what doesn't."
MMO News: DC Universe Online's next DLC introduces player housing
Currently, player heroes in DC Universe Online
can experience the same world as the iconic comic book heroes. They
walk the same streets, see the same sights, and even fight the same
villains. Players even interact with the legendary heroes themselves.
But there was always one part of the experience that was missing. What
super-hero experience is complete without a Batcave to call your own?
Now, with DCUO's next DLC, called Home Turf, Sony Online Entertainment is filling that void: Players will have personal secret lairs.
What's
better than having a your own place to get away from the rigors of
crime fighting in Gotham or Metropolis? Having a place you can
personalize to your own style and tastes! And while having a place to
hang your cape is all well and good, DCUO is going to offer more
than just a private space. Not only will players be able to decorate
their lairs, but they will be able to engage in battles right within
their own four walls. Friend or foe, you're having company over,
super-hero style!
MMO News: Star Trek Online shows off the Azure Nebula event
Sometimes you can't help but feel a little blue. Maybe it's because
you're overtired, maybe it's because you don't have as much money as you
want, or maybe it's because you've been trapped in the Azure Nebula by
Tholians. Admittedly that last problem is pretty much only applicable
for Romulan ships in Star Trek Online's upcoming Season 7, but it's still relevant to players, since they'll be the ones tasked with rescuing the captured ships for fun and profit. The
new event will be accessible via a queue system for players at Vice
Admiral/Lieutenant General rank or higher. Several Tholian prisons have
been set up through the nebula, and players will be tasked with freeing
as many ships as possible within a time limit. Bigger ships mean greater
rewards, but they're also guarded by more formidable Tholian warships.
Success rewards players with both fleet commendations and new Romulan
commendations, a fitting prize for making wayward ships feel a little less blue.
MMO Update: New super heroes arrive to Marvel Universe
Gazillion Entertainment has announced that Jean Grey, Nova and Luke Cage
are going to join Marvel Universe . These iconic super heroes join the
25 heroes that the game already have that includes Spider-man, Iron Man,
Captain America, Hulk and Wolverine. Source of information: Gazillion
Entertaintment press release
MMO Update: Guild Wars 2 has announced its first major content update, Shadow of the Mad King
On 22 October, Guild Wars 2 is going to release its first major content
update, called the Shadow of the Mad King. “Halloween has a long history
in Tyria, and in times past was always marked by the spirit of Mad King
Thorn cavorting among the people unleashing his own brand of insanity.
There
is no question that World of Warcraft has been the top dog in the pack
for many years. But we contend that Rift is beginning to beat the leader
at its own game. Find out why we say that and then let us know what you
think in the comments.
The
Defiance website has been updated with a new interview with Nathan
Richardsson. For those not in the know: Richardsson was announced as the
brand new Executive Producer for Defiance and comes with a wealth of
experience from CCP Games.
The
Diablo III forum has been updated with the announcement that server
maintenance will be conducted on all regional servers on Tuesday,
October 16th. The express purpose of the maintenance is to bring patch
v1.05 to live status
KingsIsle
has announced that the doors have swung open on Pirate 101, the latest
game from the Austin studio. Like its predecessor, Pirate 101 is a
family friendly offering, this time focusing on pirate-y goodness.
Our
own Garrett Fuller was at GDC Online this past week, and spoke with
several members of ArenaNet's programming team for Guild Wars 2,
including Cameron Dunn, Studio Technical Director, Braeden Shosa,
Gameplay Programming Team Lead, Chad Taylor, Engine Programming Team
Lead, and Stephen Clarke-Willson, Server Programming Team Lead.
Bohemia Interactive has posted a new (and short) developer blog on the
DayZ site. Packed away within the blog are several awesome screenshots
showing off interiors the team has been working on lately. They are
clearly labeled "works in progress" but look pretty dang good already!
Trion
Worlds and the Rift team have announced that a live stream event will
take place this Friday, October 19th. The team has plans to show off the
new Dimensions feature that will arrive with the Storm Legion
expansion. Dimensions are fully customizable living spaces for player
1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES
Dissecting the Horror: The Mysteries of Spec Ops The Line
Cover Story: Writer Walt Williams discusses the enigmatic beats of this year's biggest surprise.
W
hen we look back on 2012 decades from now, I have no doubt that one of the defining titles will be Spec Ops: The Line. 2K Games managed to use the framework of a third-person shooter to create a horrific tale of what war does to man. Spec Ops tackled topics and utilized a lens our medium has rarely dared to dabble in. Its depictions of PTSD, justified murder, and moral ambiguity contributed countless emotional beats that lingered with the player long after the credits rolled. 1UP had a chance to sit down with writer Walt Williams and discuss his story's inspirations, ramifications, and ultimate goals in the continuing maturation of our medium.
1UP: So just kicking things off... At the start, I'm wondering how the story came to be. Was it the setting first? Did you always know this was going to be Dubai? Or did you start writing the story and all of a sudden the setting... We need to have this place with such a stark juxtaposition between the lavish and the impoverished...
The way Call of Duty Elite -- the subscription service for the massively popular FPS series -- worked never really seemed like the most sensible way to go. By having free and premium tiers, there was always a great deal of confusion among gamers, and this led to some unfair criticisms about how the money-hungry Activision was charging for stat-tracking services other games offered for free when, in reality, that was not the case. As Elite approaches the beginning of its second year in existence with the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops II next month, Activision is doing the sensible thing: it's making Elite (sans downloadable content) free for everyone to access.
When it was originally launched last year, the $50-per-year version of Elite offered a year's worth of downloadable content, extra storage for replay videos, the ability for clans to level up, tournaments with real-world prizes, and Elite TV. The DLC was obviously the big attraction, as on its own that same content would cost $60. But the manner in which DLC was handled was not immediately apparent: If I purchase an Elite membership this past June, do I get all of the previously released content? Do I get Black Ops II DLC released prior to next June? It was needlessly confusing.
1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES
The Unfinished Swan Review: Abstract Art
Cover Story: A gentle storybook comes to life in another excellent addition to the PSN library.
G
iant Sparrow had me at hello, although their greeting was a bit on the untraditional side. Upon entering the world of The Unfinished Swan, the very first thing a player can do is toss a ball of black paint onto the stark-white canvas of a three-dimensional world. The entire game is built upon variations of this wildly simple action, but the sheer joy that comes from filling in the geography of Swan's environments immediately demanded my attention. After playing through the brief, but lovely title multiple times over the course of a single day, it became clear to me that Giant Sparrow has created a PSN title that embraces the pleasures of exploration, all through the guise of a Golden Book come to life.
You play as Monroe, an inquisitive boy stuck in a world comprised of questions. At the birth of his adventure, he finds himself amidst the infinity of a featureless landscape, and armed only with a supply of paintballs. Every ball of paint that you hurl answers countless riddles about the environment around you, and in such, Monroe's journey through this magical kingdom is inherently tied to the core act of uncovering the secrets of the world. Each area of The Unfinished Swan is uniquely gorgeous in a way that ties in with the core mechanics of that given moment. When you're painting in the world around you, the final artistic result stems directly from the type of player that you are. Those who go trigger happy and flood the world with color will find themselves in an environment that looks wildly different from someone who plays the game with an eye for conservative minimalism.
1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES
Cover Story: Gaming's Greatest Mysteries
Join us all this week for a thorough exploration of digital enigmas.
It's no coincidence that some of the most popular games of all time contain their share of secrets; both Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda kept people talking long after they defeated the final boss, if only to share intel on hidden items, warps, and Easter eggs. The answer to some mysteries, like Samus Aran's gender, became common knowledge after hitting the pages of Nintendo Power, but these early examples taught us all that poking and prodding at a game's exterior could eventually yield a beautiful bounty. And though modern games tend to overexplain themselves for the benefit of a wider audience, contemporary developers have learned from these classics of the 8-bit era, causing most new releases to include at least a handful of squirreled-away secrets for the most diligent of players.
The advancement of narrative in gaming would eventually present many opportunities for mystery, as games that show rather than tell fill our minds with questions and leave us wanting more. Stories that don't end with a definitive conclusion keep us wrapped in discussion years after their original release, as we've seen with titles like Ico, Silent Hill 2, and Portal. (Though fans of Mass Effect don't seem to appreciate this approach.) And these mysteries aren't just limited to the games themselves; the fickle, unpredictable nature of the industry brings forth even more head-scratching opportunities, as projects and people fade from relevance, never to be seen again. Needless to say, with so many of its elements shrouded in mystery, our little hobby does an excellent job of appealing to the natural curiosity of the human brain.
1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES
Among the Missing: Notable Games Lost to Time
Cover Story: Why we can't play some intriguing pieces of game history.
I
n a perfect game industry, nothing would be lost. Developers would back up every project assiduously. Companies would archive every scrap of data. And every commercially released game would be perfectly stored by anyone who bought it. Yet ours is not a perfect game industry, and even today's technology allows a few games to slip into oblivion. A look back into earlier eras reveals that some games were rescued by pure luck, while other endangered titles have never bobbed to the surface.
We discuss canceled games in another feature this week, and here we explore those lost games that were apparently complete. Some vanished just before hitting stores, and a few even disappeared after they were available to the public. All of them share one unfortunate trait: they haven't yet been rediscovered in an age where the great majority of older games are preserved and disseminated for anyone to enjoy.
The framing device of a video game can often have a profound effect on a its presentation, especially if used creatively. Games like Viewtiful Joe, LittleBigPlanet, and Kirby's Epic Yarn each present their own unique devices and closely tie them into game play. Just think of those cardboard cutouts, the strips of duct tape on the sets, and the adorable hand-stitched nature of LittleBigPlanet's world, and you'll realize how perfectly it represented the idea of a canvass for virtual do-it-yourself ideas.
Revealed this past August for the PS3, Puppeteer takes a similarly inspired approach -- one where the game takes place on a theatrical stage and resembles a 3D animated puppet show of sorts. Surprisingly, the title comes from a diverse set of talent that include Sony's Japan Studio, Gavin Moore as game director (formerly the lead animator on The Getaway), lead game planning by Kazunobu Sato (formerly a lead character designer on Siren and Siren 2), and producer Takashi Mizutani -- who previously served as a lead artist for three installments of the Metal Gear Solid series.
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