Gadgets and Video Games

Filed under: Mac , PC , Meta (about Joystiq) GDC 2010 is history and, as predicted, there was quite a bit of news from the world’s largest annual gathering of game creators. Let’s review the past week and see what we can find: Exclusive features Supreme Commander 2 review : We give our final verdict to Gas Powered Games’ sci-fi RTS sequel. Boot Disk : Our retro games feature checks out the original version of Serious Sam: The First Encounter . Command and Conquer Canon Retrospective : Ahead of this coming week’s release of C&C4 , we look back at the fictional history of the RTS game series. All You Need To Know : This week, our 411 column gives you the info on R.U.S.E

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The Best of Big Download: March 8-14

[Flickr user Kossy@FINEDAYS ] If you guys like mathematical equations — and, since you’re a regular reader of the Japanese hardware sales feature, we’re guessing you are — then you’re going to love this little ditty we whipped up earlier today: “A blogger flies west across three time zones at 450mph for five hours. Upon his arrival, he covers a week-long gaming convention .

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Japanese hardware sales, March 1 – March 7: Jetlagged edition

Battle vs. Chess appears to bring Battle Chess to a new generation, with a similar hook and a name that just skirts a potential copyright lawsuit. With “upbeat combat visuals & mechanics,” the game sounds like a modern update of the classic chess game that let us watch chess pieces beat the stuffing out of each other. There don’t appear to be any videos showing BvC ’s animations.

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Liked Battle Chess? Meet Battle vs. Chess

You hear that, developers? You should be shakin’ in yer boots — motion-based gaming is going to force you to throw away everything you’ve ever learned about game design and start anew. At least that’s what Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux (not so exaggeratedly) had to say when quizzed on the subject of the “arms race” between the big three for waggle supremacy. “All of this stuff is making all the designers sweat — I’ve met lots of designers at GDC, and we’re all very bleary-eyed at the moment because every rule we’ve got, we’re having to throw away,” Molyneux told Eurogamer . And understandably so.

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Molyneux: Motion gaming is making devs ’sweat’

“I find this talk offensive.” — A half-joking independent developer listening to Chris Taylor of Gas Powered Games and Epic’s Mike Capps discussing being independent studios at DICE. But, how do we define independent? And is it different from being “indie?” We know that Mega 64 has a violent reaction about the latter question. Now, it’s hard to imagine Mike Capps, who swims in a pool of Unreal Engine cash, being defined as independent. He even dryly stated during the conversation, “We became Microsoft five years ago.” However, Chris Taylor, whose company doesn’t have an engine that runs many of the games out there stated, “My children will probably not go to college because of Demigod .” He also mentioned that in 2008 the company went from 125 people to 45 and then had to build back up again.

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Overheard@DICE: How do you define indie?

As expected, the first of two Resident Evil 5 expansion episodes , “Lost in Nightmares,” has been released today on Xbox Live (tomorrow on PSN) for the unterrifying price of 400 ($5). An additional Costume Pack , also the first of two, has hit the Marketplace as well, for 180 ($2), and joins the free Extra Figures DLC that appeared on Monday. Capcom has also confirmed that the second episode, ” Desperate Escape ,” previously dated for March 3 and 4 on XBLM and PSN, respectively, will also launch at the 400 / $4.99 price point and be joined by Costume Pack 2 (180 / $1.99)

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PSA: RE5 ‘Lost in Nightmares’ DLC out now for $5, Costume Pack for $2

Apparently ” early 2010 ” meant “right now,” as it looks like Apogee’s Wolfenstein pseudo-sequel Rise of the Triad is already available for the iPhone. To mark the release, Apogee has announced that developer Mobilia Interactive plans to deliver a free update to the game entitled Extreme Rise of the Triad . The update will include 40 new maps containing “deviously different tricks, traps and treachery not seen in the original Triad .” Not bad, especially considering the update is free. Check out a new trailer above, which includes some snippets of both the game’s God Mode and the far superior Dog Mode. Rise of the Triad ($4.99): iPhone Rise of the Triad getting free add-on originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:30:00 EST.

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iPhone Rise of the Triad getting free add-on

Filed under: Arcade After telling Joystiq just yesterday that it was working on a fix for unavailable original Xbox DLC , Microsoft has restored the content to Xbox Live. Major Nelson made the news known via his Twitter account . We popped a copy of Halo 2 into the ol’ Xbox 360 and, sure enough, all the map packs were once again available for download. Ninja Gaiden worked as well

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Major Nelson: Original Xbox DLC back online

The return to Rapture may not be as universally exalted as the original adventure, but nevertheless reviewers tend to agree it’s a journey worth taking (again). The enchanting aesthetic of the game world appears to have remained intact in this sequel, which doesn’t veer far from the original’s tone, despite delivering a different message . So, would you kindly dive below and observe what critics have said of Rapture’s reemergence: IGN (91/100) : “Anyone looking for a first-person shooter that offers more than flat, stereotypical characters and copy-and-paste supersoldier plots, one that attempts to establish a sense of right and wrong and loops you into the decision making process, and one that’s set in one of the most vividly realized settings around should pick up BioShock 2 .” GameDaily (90/100) : “Much of it looks and feels familiar, but 2K Games proved that there is a whole other side of Rapture worth exploring, as well as new and interesting stories to tell. Gripping, wondrous and at times horrifying, it’s a superb effort that opens the door for perhaps another game, but don’t worry about that.” GameSpot (85/100) : “Rapture may not be as mysterious and intriguing this second time around, but it is nonetheless host to a powerful and moving tale that allows you to better realize — or pervert — [Andrew] Ryan’s principles at your own discretion. Regardless of whether or not this is a return visit to paradise lost, there is plenty to be found here to make it a worthwhile, meaningful, and compelling one.” Eurogamer (80/100) : “Your passage through Rapture may not be a matter of free will – a challenge someone surely ought to take up with this series — but BioShock 2 argues even within the strictures of fate that mercy and compassion or bitterness and revenge ring loud enough to echo through the lives of those who follow.

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Metareview: BioShock 2

Justin McElroy: The first details are out on the return of the Pok