Up late talking games & writing? You're...

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However, after I put the game aside, my wife got bitten by the bug and jumped into MH3U (WiiU/3DS). Now that we're done with 3U (which we did complete 100%) she ended up getting a Vita and has just now started MHFU herself. She's just beginning, but she's already deep into it and making fast progress.

If you’re a Monster Hunter who's never played Freedom Unite, or if you never completed it, I'll be posting about the game and the progress we make through the year. As such, I invite you to play along with us and post comments here about your own progress. Also, last I checked it was still possible to still hook up with people online through a PS3 (although it's kind of kludgey) but the option is always there.

Also, I still owe @J_Monster an essay which is currently half-completed, so I want to assure him that I have not forgotten. :-)

It started out quite well, but it became too repetitive too soon. It didn't have enough of the detail and nuance that keeps a game like that going, and I put about 15 hours into it before it just got so boring that I couldn't keep on. 

It's still a good game and it makes some smart choices, but the fact is that once you've played the best, there's not really a lot of reason to play second-best. I’d say it’s still worth a look for newcomers, but as someone who’s spent hundreds of hours carving parts with the game that basically invented the genre, there's not enough here to hold my attention.

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In other games news, I recently completed the Left Behind DLC for The Last Of Us, and it was absolutely fantastic. 

I would recommend it without reservation to anyone who was a fan of TLOU, and I salute Naughty Dog for what they pulled off there. My review should be up soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

I haven't played Banner myself and won't be able to because my PC is a pile of garbage at the moment, but I did play 999 for a while and found it incredibly tedious. However, I have been assured by multiple people that VLR (its sequel) fixes most of those problems and is a worthwhile play. I have my hands on a copy now, so I’ll be checking into it before our next recording.

Feel free to play any or all of these before you listen in, and we may also bring up Lightning Returns (AKA Fashion Fantasy) as a backup, so heads-up on that one if it's in your near future.

I'm not at liberty to discuss it at the moment, but the Cone Of Silence will be shattered on February 24 -- although I'm not sure I'll have release-day coverage ready. It seems like a pretty chunky game with a lot to get through, and having only received code two days ago, I'm a little skeptical that I'll have it finished and written up by then.

What I can say is that it's a hotly-anticipated title with quite a few people hoping to see it crash and burn, but so far it's been quite a good time. It's not perfect, though. I'd say it's about 85% ‘awesome’ and 15% ‘Jesus, what were they thinking?’ but that's a really good ratio for a game of this sort.

Also, certain things about it have surprised me, frankly. Some aspects of the control scheme turned out to be much better than anticipated, and I was also treated to some of the most explicit sex I've ever seen in a videogame. I was actually quite happy that no one else was home at the time that I got to that part, because that would've been extremely awkward to explain to the wife and son. After all, it's not every day that you get a full-screen view of a naked woman riding cowgirl-style, or a man begging to have his nipples pinched.

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Straight from the keynote in downtown San Francisco, NIS America is proud to announce four new title acquisitions for the North American and European markets for 2014! Please see below for the titles and press releases.

Battle Princess of Arcadias (PS3 - PSN Only) - Click here to read the press release!
Disgaea®4: A Promise Revisited (PS Vita) - Click here to read the press release!
Danganronpa™ 2: Goodbye Despair (PS Vita) - Click here to read the press release!
Fairy Fencer F™ (PS3) - Click here to read the press release!

Have a hankering for fresh squid? Skip the sushi bar and pay a visit to the Nintendo eShop instead when SQUIDS Odyssey arrives on Wii U™ and Nintendo 3DS™ this spring. In this fanciful role-playing game from The Game Bakers, an insidious black ooze is seeping into the Squids' lush underwater kingdom, turning ordinary crabs and shrimp into dangerous monsters. For the first time on consoles, join a brave shoal of Squid heroes on their quest to protect their homeland.

In this tactical RPG, the heroes' squishy bodies become their best weapons: simply stretch a Squid's tentacles, then let go to fling it across the battlefield. Choose among 15 Squids in four classes, each with unique abilities and attacks, to build the perfect party. Then lead your team into turn-based battles against corrupted crustaceans using the party's strengths, the environment, and enemies' weaknesses to devise strategic attacks. The game's captivating adventure storyline and 90+ missions promise at least 15 hours of gameplay, while 65+ stat-boosting helmets provide numerous ways to customize.

As the ultimate SQUIDS compilation, SQUIDS Odyssey includes two campaigns previously released on PC and mobile devices with tons of improvement and tweaks, along with a brand new campaign in the Japanese kingdom of Wakame.SQUIDS Odyssey also includes a new Squid hero named Oktoku and four exclusive themed helmets. The controls have been completely reimagined for the Wii U console: players can use the Left Stick to aim and shoot, go hands-on with the Wii U GamePad touch screen, or even play exclusively on the GamePad. The Nintendo 3DS version features a choice between the +Control Pad or the Nintendo 3DS stylus, plus a gorgeous layered 3D effect that shows off the Squids' underwater utopia like never before.

SQUIDS has become a globally recognized brand with more than two million game downloads to date. A digital comic book series is underway from APE Entertainment and a children's television series is in early production. Learn more about SQUIDS on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SquidsTheGame

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CastleStorm is coming to mobile devices! The mobile adaption of the game will be free to play and offers players an incredible amount of content and exciting features that made the game a success on console and PC platforms.

Featuring console quality graphics and controls tailored for the touch screen, CastleStorm – Free to Siege includes four full campaigns with 150 battles and four nations with distinct troop classes, weapons, spells, bonus rooms, eight playable hero characters as well as brand new spells for the mobile version!

Players with Android devices interested in getting their hands on the game early are invited to participate in a private beta starting today. To join the beta, join the CastleStorm – Free to Siege Google Group by visiting http://www.castlestormgame.com/freetosiege/, opt-in to the CastleStorm Beta on the Google Play Store and then download the CastleStorm Beta. Community feedback can be submitted via the Zen Studios Forums. Space is limited so join today!

CastleStorm – Free to Siege will release on iOS, Google Play and Amazon later this spring.

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Today we are pleased to inform you that publisher, Rising Star Games has just announced that the cult hit Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut: Ultimate Edition, and Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut standard edition are now available on the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system across North America at the permanently reduced price of $19.99.

Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut, the award-winning game from the creative mind of Hidetaka "Swery" Suehiro, gives players a mysterious open-world experience featuring detailed interactions with Greenvale locals, as well as numerous side quests and mini games to help solve the murders and uncover hidden town secrets.

Playing as special agent Francis York Morgan (just call him York - everyone else does), players must investigate the brutal murder of a young local beauty. Amidst the backdrop of soaring mountains and a small American town, York must solve the mystery of the Red Seed Murders and stay alive in a place where supernatural creatures and a killer seek to end his investigation.

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One of the most anticipated PSone® games of all time, Tomba! 2: The Great Adventure, is now on the PlayStation®Network on for $9.99 from MonkeyPaw Games, Inc. for PlayStation®3, PSP® and PlayStation®Vita.

The wait is over - Tomba! 2 is here and it’s ready to be downloaded to your handhelds and console today.  MonkeyPaw Games worked tirelessly to bring the sequel of the cult, retro hit Tomba! and is proud to be delivering on their promise to fans in North America.  The game is presented in its original Japanese form - a true import.  Players not fluent in Japanese can check the MonkeyPaw Games website for play-by-play instruction on how to progress.

Continuing the events of the original game, Tomba! is living happily until he gets an anonymous letter that his friend has been kidnapped. Not letting his friend disappear without a trace, Tomba! attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery. It quickly becomes apparent that pink colored animals with curly tails traditionally found on farms might hold some clues.

Tomba! 2 expands on the first game in nearly every way imaginable. Better visuals, more diverse missions and even power suits that grant Tomba! special abilities. The platforming gameplay retains all the classic charms and touches that make the Tomba!series such special games to experience and are truly a platform gamer’s dream. The swine won’t know what hogtied them.

Tomba! 2 is part of the Retro Rush event from MonkeyPaw Games. MonkeyPaw is working toward releasing six PSone® titles on the PlayStation®Network in the first quarter of 2014. More information about the Retro Rush event can be found on the MonkeyPaw Games website at www.MonkeyPawGames.com/retro-rush/.

In terms of what I've been playing, I'm still putting quite a bit of time into Marvel Puzzle Quest, although there's not a lot to say on that except that there will be big changes coming in the next six weeks. A recent list of new features went up, and it includes things like character respecs, alliances, and changes to the boosts.

Otherwise, I'm currently in the process of reviewing Toukiden: The Age Of Demons on Vita. 

The embargo just dropped so I'm free to talk about it as much as I wish, and right now I think it's safe to say that it's probably the best Monster Hunter clone that's come down the pipe so far -- and believe me, when I say it's a clone, I mean that quite literally. Almost everything about this game is directly lifted from Capcom's series with a few tweaks here and there, but since we aren't going to get a new Monster Hunter until MH4U drops in 2015, I'm more than happy to spend some time on a wannabe that's this good. Toukiden understands what makes MH tick better than most, and it shows. 

But, where does it diverge from the source material? The difficulty level is lower, it has better tutorials, more info is given to the player, it has a story for those who enjoy some plot between bosses, and most missions feature up to 3 AI companions who can generally hold their own. 

If you've ever been curious about jumping into Monster Hunter but felt like it was too cryptic or daunting, this would be the perfect gateway drug in which to dip a toe. There's no danger of it replacing Capcom's beauty on any level, but more of a good thing (especially when it's this approachable) is always welcome.

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is now accepting applications and submissions for its 2014 Gamers In Real Life (G.I.R.L.) Game Design Competition. Through the G.I.R.L. scholarship program, SOE will award one winner with a $10,000 scholarship to be applied towards tuition, room and board, and other educational expenses at the winner's college or university. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will also be given the opportunity to be hired as a paid intern for up to 10 weeks at SOE's headquarters in San Diego for hands-on experience working on award-winning franchises, including PlanetSide® and EverQuest®.

Now in its seventh year, the scholarship has played a major role with helping aspiring game developers gain knowledge and skills in the video game design field, while providing them with valuable assistance for educational expenses. Past winners have gone on to make their own impact across the gaming and art industries.

  

Submissions for the 2014 G.I.R.L. Game Design Competition will close on March 19, 2014. To apply, applicants must register with Scholarship America®, SOE's scholarship administrator, and submit their application for evaluation, as directed here: https://www.scholarsapply.org/gamersinreallife.

For more information about G.I.R.L., please visit www.girl.soe.com. To follow G.I.R.L. on Twitter, go to https://twitter.com/SOE_GIRL or to join G.I.R.L. on Facebook, go to http://tinyurl.com/SOE-GIRL.  

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Capcom today announced that Strider will officially release across North America on February 18th as a $14.99 digital download title on PSN (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3), with the XBLA (Xbox One, Xbox 360) and PC (Steam) versions out on February 19th. The original assassin returns soon, along with two all-new Challenge Modes and a slew of extras and bonus content that are sure to please Strider fans of all ages.

Revealed today, two new Challenge Modes have been added to the core Story Mode included in Strider. Beacon Run offers a “speed run” race style mode that gives players a white-knuckled experience, challenging them to hit consecutive checkpoints while slicing through enemies, in the shortest amount of time. Survival Mode tests player’s combat skills with a variety of different item and ability load outs, as waves of progressively difficult and diverse enemies converge on Strider Hiryu.

Global online leaderboards track both Challenge Modes, as well as Story Mode times and status results. Whether competing against the world’s best speed runners or going head-to-head against friends, players can track their stats via the Striderleaderboards, which introduce an addictive layer of depth and replayability.

Furthermore, players can unlock new sets of costumes by uncovering the vestiges of Striders fallen in battle against Grand Master Meio’s evil empire. Unlock all costumes to have access to a full array of customization options, allowing players to create their own unique and playable Strider character.

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This week sees the first outing for the new Family Gamer TV weekly news show. The program, hosted by long-time contributor to the channel Jordan Erica Webber (video-game critic for the Observer amongst others), aims to pick out applicable gaming news for families while also taking a look at video-game sales chart broken down by the PEGI age groups.

Andy Robertson of Family Gamer TV said of the new enterprise, “While families will often dip in to more avid gaming sites to find out what’s happening with the likes of Skylanders, Minecraft, Disney Infinity and LEGO games there hasn’t been video that keeps them up to date with news on a weekly basis. We are simply filling that gap.”

         First Episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPG41gOLoD8

         Playlist: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyg_c5uZ7rcgSPN85mQFMfg

Focusing on game sales by age group offers a different take on what is hot in video-games. Titles otherwise submerged beneath big sales in the PEGI 16 and PEGI 18 category can now get more of the limelight. It also reveals how few big selling games are found in the PEGI 12 category, something the industry would do well to rectify.

From here the show dips into the latest news, rumours and updates on the big family games, while also keeping an eye out for indie titles and lesser known experiences that might be a good fit for families.

Finally the show rounds things off with a look at the upcoming releases, again grouped by PEGI rating. This offers a chance for families to plan how they may spend their gaming allocated funds a little more wisely.

Webber commented on taking up the new project, “With so much gaming news out there, families can find it hard to know where to go and what to trust. I want to make it easy for them to keep up to date with the news that matters to them.”

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Dying Light’s “Humanity” trailer shifts the focus from the infected to the survivors – people who had enough strength and luck to endure the outbreak. Yet, the worst is not over, as in the quarantine zone every day is a struggle and every night is a challenge. Sadly, the human mind can withstand only so much.

In what ways does the quarantine zone influence you? Does killing the infected really leave no trace on your mind? How long can you defend your humanity? What will happen when you eventually break?

Watch the “Humanity” trailer at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K9ubaYRzf8

Dying Light is a first-person action survival horror game set in a vast and dangerous open world, where players scavenge for supplies during the day as to be best prepared to survive the night. The game will launch for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2014. For details visit www.DyingLightGame.com and www.facebook.com/DyingLightGame.

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TECMO KOEI America is pleased to announce today that TOUKIDEN: THE AGE OF DEMONS has shipped for the PlayStation®Vita handheld system and is available at retailers across North America and for digital download via the PlayStation®Store. Developed by Omega Force, creators of the famedDynasty Warrior series, TOUKIDEN: THE AGE OF DEMONS casts players in the role of a Slayer, a skilled warrior charged with hunting monstrous Oni (demons) that threaten all of humanity. 

“With a rich story exploring many eras of Japanese history, memorable characters, stunning visuals, complex combat system, and four-player support, TOUKIDEN: THE AGE OF DEMONS represents the most ambitious title to date from the team at Omega Force,” said Amos Ip, SVP and General Manager of TECMO KOEI America. “Following its massive success in Japan, we are very excited to be able to bring this title to gamers and fans in North America.”

TOUKIDEN: THE AGE OF DEMONS is set in a vibrant, fantasy infused representation of Japanese history spanning from the Asuka period to the final days of the Tokugawa shogunate. New Slayers will begin their journey on the frontlines of battle in the Utakata Village, build a party from a cast of memorable characters, and join the hunt for adventure with up to four friends via ad-hoc or online multiplayer.

But be warned: Defeating the Oni threat will be no small task. Utilizing the unique Targeted Destruction combat system, Slayers must master a variety of weapons and attacks, working closely with allies to systematically slash, thrust, and crush the towering Oni, piece-by-piece. From the ashes of fallen Oni, arises Mitama, the souls of legendary heroes, which Slayers can use to imbue their weapons with special abilities and attributes. With over 200 Mitama in the game, the ability to customize and combine lets Slayers bring their weapons of choice to life with the power and influence unique heroes of legend.

TOUKIDEN: THE AGE OF DEMONS is developed by Omega Force and published by Tecmo Koei. The ESRB rated “T” (Teen) game is available on the PlayStation®Vita handheld system for an MSRP of $39.99 (USD).

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I don't keep meaning to come back to Marvel Puzzle Quest, but I've been spending a lot of time with it lately (and so have a lot of my friends) so it's a topic that comes up often.

Two things.

First off, I don't understand why people have such a problem with the idea that a person might kick a few dollars into this free-to-play game. People don't blink at the idea of paying $60 (plus tax) for a triple-A game that they probably won't even finish before putting on a shelf or deleting from their hard drive, but tell somebody you spent five dollars on a free-to-play? They laugh like you're an idiot.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be a cheerleader for free-to-play in general. I'd much rather have a standard "buy the complete thing for one price" model and there are plenty of evil, predatory "games" out there that exist solely to suck money out of people, but when someone does free-to-play right, there's no shame in that.



Second thing. Still talking about Marvel Puzzle Quest, but slightly shifting gears… Obviously I love the game quite a bit, but I'm becoming more and more frustrated with the way the tournaments are run, and I really hope that the developers do something to tweak it.

Basically, people who are below you in rank can challenge you. If your team loses, the winning team steals some of the victory points that are used to determine your final standing and prizes. It doesn't seem like a big deal at first, but it's possible for multiple people to attack you at once, and it's frequently impossible to earn back as many points as you lose. 

For example, I was participating in a lightning round today and I went from being #40 to#200 in the span of one match because six or eight people had attacked me when I was busy fighting someone else.

It's mega-frustrating to work your way up the ladder only to be taken down by *groups* of people below your rank, and if you take the time to retaliate against the attackers, the points you earn almost never make up what you lost -- and of  course, while you're fighting them to regain your lost points, other people are in the process of taking away even more.

I really, genuinely enjoy this game and I've already put tons of hours into it, so I bring this up not to tear the game down, but because I want it to be better. It's kind of sad that I feel the only time it's "safe" to play in a tournament is late at night when less people are active, and although I certainly admit that this is a complex problem to solve, the way it is now is definitely not to my satisfaction. Demiurge has gotten so much of this game right, I have faith that they will be able to figure out something that works better.

But, like... I hope they hurry.

I can't say much besides the embargo will drop on February 11, but this was a title I was really looking forward to. It was tough to get a sense of what the full experience would be like from the demo (which was great) but I didn't complete the game because it was so goddamn boring that I couldn't force myself to keep playing it. Basically, another big-budget dud that fails to find the fun. 

Look forward to the full writeup on launch day.

Definitely check it out, and I'm guessing that the physical copies will become quite rare in a hurry. Don't say you weren't warned!

I got my copy a couple of days ago, and it is absolutely fantastic and worth every penny if you're a MH fan. It's as thick as a small telephone book, in full-color, and goes into painstaking detail on armor, weapons and monsters. Absolutely 100% recdommended. 

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Seattle Retro Gaming Expo is back and bigger than ever for 2014! This year, SRGE doubles in size as we move to our permanent home at the Washington State Convention Center, Hall 4C! This June 28th and 29th, video game collectors, retailers, and enthusiasts will descend upon the Emerald City to come together for SRGE 2014. PreSale tickets are available now! Tickets can be found online at www.SeattleRetro.org and locally at participating locations. PreRegistrants are allowed early entry to the vendor hall to secure the best deals from our vendors.The first 300 presale will be entered to win 1 of 20 mini 3D printed NES as seen on Kotaku! Sponsored by Game Gurus (www.seattlegamegurus.com), SRGE 2014 will focus on the main components of what makes retro gaming fun: collecting and trading games, playing your favorite games with friends, multiplayer tournaments where everyone is in the same room, and meeting new people who share a passion for the classics. SRGE 2014 has all of these aspects covered and more. We will feature 20,000 square feet of vendors, game rooms, tournaments and panels on the fourth floor (4C) of the Washington State Convention Center!

The 2014 vendor hall will be bigger than last year! Our vendor hall features local game stores and sellers, artists, products and best of all; it will be filled with collectors and video game fans of all ages. SRGE 2014 will also feature an exciting panel lineup with topic including collecting, industry insights and more! SRGE will release more information as the show approaches via http://www.facebook.com/SeattleRetro and http://www.twitter.com/SeattleRetro.

The Freeplay Zone is open to all attendees, and features over 1200 games, including every US SNES and Nintendo 64 game ever released, all free to play! In addition, there will be consoles from every generation (not currently in production) with games, challenges, contests, and more for free. We also have a multiplayer room, with 8 Steel Battalion controllers, and over 50 Multiplayer Xbox system link games all set up for epic LAN partystyle fun!

Seattle Retro Gaming is dedicated to strengthening the local retro gaming community. We have partnered with Ninkasi Brewing and the EMP to bring retro gaming events to Seattle. In  addition, the last Tuesday of every month SRGE is sponsoring the QUESTION BLOCK Video Game Trivia Night at the Wilde Rover in Kirkland (www.wilderover.com). Details for these events and more can be found at www.SeattleRetro.org.

About Seattle Retro Gaming Expo

Seattle Retro Gaming Expo provides a conduit for local business and video game enthusiasts to connect and build a community. SRGE embraces the diversity and range of fandom, and strives to bring gamers together locally and globally. Established in 2011, SRGE was cofounded by Gerald Levinzon and Nathan Martin. Gerald and Nathan have also worked with NWCGE (Northwest Classic Gaming Enthusiasts) and PRGE (the Portland Retro Gaming Expo),  SakuraCon, and PAX, providing classic games and consoles for everyone to enjoy.

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Banshee’s Last Cry is a suspenseful visual novel and choose-your-own-adventure story that takes readers on a deadly ride of murder and deception. While staying at a hotel around a ski resort, vacationers find themselves caught up in a murderous “whodunit” game when a guest winds up dead. With the lodge completely snowed in and no escape, they will have to use all their cunning to solve this mystery and protect themselves from being the next victim! Local legend tells of a banshee whose screams can rip through flesh, but, is the killer really a deadly monster or the work of a madman?
 

Banshee’s Last Cry features a “choose-your-own-adventure” style reading meaning that the choices readers make ultimately affects the story. Each path readers take will take them into a unique story with over 30 endings - some serious and some, even a little silly! With visuals that bring the scenes to life and music to add foreboding to every decision, Banshee’s Last Cry is more than just a book, it’s a thrill ride. The Banshee's Last Cry App is available for $3.99 from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.AppStore.com.

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