If your dream is to become the world's next Snowboarding phenom, thne Destineer's got you covered this fall with their latest offering for the Xbox 360, Stoked, and open-world dynamic snowboarding title that promises lots of bang for your buck.
Destineer set out to do Stoked right, partnering with developer Bongfish and snowboarding movie creator Absinthe Films in an effort to really capture the maverick spirit of the pro backcountry boarders, with always changing, never predictable dynamic backcountry backdrops. Says Patrick ("Brusti") Ambruster, co-founder of Absinthe, "Developing a snowboard video game has always been a dream of mine. There are endless synergies between a snowboard film production and a game developer that were just waiting to be activated. Bongfish and Destineer have realized this potential, and have shown a real passion for snowboarding, and together we’ve worked to bring snowboarding luminaries from across the planet together for this project."
And just who are these "luminaries? The sport's top professional snowboarders, including Travis Rice, Nicolas Mueller, Wolle Nyvelt, Annie Boulanger, Romain de Marchi, Tadashi Fuse, Gigi Ruef, and Bjorn Leines.
And that's not all, Stoked has also lined up 30 of the sport's authentic sponsors, familiar names like Burton, Dragon, Arcus, Von Zipper, Eleven, 686, Billabong, DaKine, Electric, LibTech, Nitro, Northwave, Oakley, Quiksilver, Ride, Hart, Rome, Salomon, TechNine, Vans, Volcom, and more.
Stoked promises a game that relies "more on style and finesse" than button mashing, allowing you to customize your own style while riding five famous mountains and ove4 45 square miles of open terrain in each location. You can discover new drop points by helicopter, be challenged by ever-evolving weather conditions, and track conditions tha suit your own individual taste.
Team up with friends for cooperative and competitive plays, then head to Xbox LIVE to face other riders in sponsored events to boost your fame. Own trick spots, show up rivals, and build your reputation. Take pictures of friends and capture video of your best moves to win the kind of attention that lands you on the cover of a snowboarding magazine.
With all that Stoked has to offer, the attention to detail, key names in the industry and dynamic backcountry environment, Destineer's latest offering, expected on shelves in November, promises to be a hell of a ride.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
We're Stoked for Destineer's Latest Offering
Trailer Released for Natsume's New Princess Debut!
Natsume, the group who brought you Harvest Moon, have released the trailer to their latest endeavor, Princess Debut, for the Nintendo DS. You can find the trailer here in Quicktime format.
Princess Debut is like an anime version of Cinderella: players (naturally, the game is geared towards young girls) have 30 days to prepare for the big ball where they will meet not one but six handsome Princes (this is apparently a multi-nation ball) and win him over. Because of course that is the dream of every young girl, right?
How to 'prepare for the ball'? Master your dance moves, of course! You can practice for the dance and, "meet and woo the princes through the game's large, branching storyline and exciting event system." So, no one-size-fits-only-the-perfect-girl glass slipper required, and fortunately you don't have to slave away for a cruel stepmother and stepsisters while you are waiting.
Once the player convinces a prince to be their dancing partner (this is a family game, so I'm assuming there's no hanky-panky involved), it's time to go out on the dance floor!
This is a really neat feature of the game: utilizing the Touch Screen on the DS lets you guide your character gracefully across the dance floor in time with their partner's rhythm. And the dance moves are real, taken from moves the professional dancers use. According to Natsume, this makes the game as much fun to watch as it is to play, like watching your friends trying to keep up with Guitar Hero or Rock Band.
And there are 18 dance styles to choose from (including Tango, Latin, Waltz, etc.) as well as a myriad of costume choices for your aspiring Princess.
Princess Debut is scheduled for release sometime this fall.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
New Game Announcements
The stand-alone Crysis Warhead, a first-person shooter from EA and Crytek, ships to stores September 16 in the US (Euros will get a September 12 release). The game retails for just 29.99. Pre-Order online through EA and you will pay only $24.99. The latest version of Crysis will include a new multiplayer mode , "TeamInstantAction." Also included are 21 maps, 6 of which feature InstantAction/TeamInstantAction play, and a new PowerStruggle map.
PC strategy game publisher Paradox Interactive announces, "Elven Legacy," a new Fantasy Strategy game scheduled for release during the first quarter of 2009.
From the press release, "Elven Legacy delivers a world filled with magic...a thrilling nonlinear storyline... Through an epic quest to restore the former glory of the Elven race, this fantasy strategy game offers both depth and scope, all in colorful and inspirational settings."
Players can choose between an elf or human character in the two primary campaigns, while
bonus missions include gameplay as Orcs. Players can also use the accompanying tools to create their own missions and campaigns and then share them through multiplayer play.
Technorati Tags: PC First Person Shooter, Crysis Warhead, Elven Legacy, Game Releases, New PC Games, EA games, Paradox Interactive
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Play ball! Madden NFL '09 is Out
The long wait is over. Maden NFL '09 hits the shelves today.
That's right, Brett Favre is back, dominating the field like a general commanding his troops in battle.
Except, you know, without the hacked-off limbs and decapitated heads.
Unless of course you wanna really play Madden-style football.
And you know what's really cool about EA? How quickly they reacted to the whole Favre situation. Because although you can still play as Favre with the Packers if you want, or download EA's extra content to put him in his new Jets uniform.
Madden NFL '09 is out on the shelves today, and here are some of the innovations that make this version even better than its predecessors:
- Play in online leagues with up to 31 of your closest friends (sucks to be you, player #33)
- Create winning strategies with new combination plays
- Play against AI opponents that learn adapt to your strengths and weaknesses
Coming soon: A special 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition (Xbox 360 and PS3 only).
