DemonSlayer.com

Let's get right to the point: Borderlands is sh*t-hot. More and more, I'm beginning to think that the game's surprise makeover was really just a clever ploy to get people to pay attention. If so, I'll be Goddarned if it didn't work. While Cliffy B and BioWare's Ray Muzyka are busy pontificating about whether or not the RPG and FPS genres are blurring together, Randy Pitchford and Gearbox are making it happen -- check out GameSpot's exclusive new trailer after the break. To be honest, I really want this game because I can play it with my girlfriend. In an interesting role reversal, I'm the RPG buff, but she's a fragging machine (although I've finally convinced her to play Final Fantasy IX). Since the game has local and online co-op, the two of us (and two friends) can get together and have the best of both worlds. I can only hope that it will be as blissful as my imagination makes it out to be.  If you haven't been paying attention to Borderlands, here's the quick-and-dirty: it's a sci-fi steam-western that  takes place on a desolate planet, but the hook is that all of the areas to explore on Pandora are randomly generated (like Diablo), as are the guns. If the final product is anything like I hope it is, you'll get great twitch shooting with the strategy and resource management of an RPG, as well as access to "87 bazillion guns," as the trailer proudly exclaims. Speaking of the trailer: it's badass. It simply oozes style, and it makes me more excited than ever. Does anybody know what the music is? It doesn't show a lot of gameplay, but, in an interview with Nick, Gearbox chief Pitchford made it clear that it would be top-notch: "When I move right or move left or rotate my view or pull down the trigger and look down my sights, it’s just totally natural. And this is because it’s our lineage, you know, that’s what we do." In any case, the game hits U.S. shelves on October 20th, and will storm Europe three days later. If that awesome dancing robot from the trailer is anywhere in the game, it'll be worth the $60.     from destructoid

Not only do we get to see new character Hope Estheim wield his boomerang, we also get new images of Szah, too. The dying wish of Hope's mother was for motorcycle dude Snow Villiers to protect her son. She died while trying to fend of PSICOM troops. Famitsu scans reveal new FFXIII screenshots [Final Fantasy-XIII.net]

from kotaku

Sports simulations, ostensibly, are about recreating the on-field experience in videogame form as well as possible. But as time went on, gamers wanted more out of their sports games; they wanted to try running a team as opposed to just playing for one, which is why most sports sims have some sort of franchise mode. However, aside from 2K Sports’ MLB Front Office Manager, we haven’t really seen any games (or game modes) that focus solely on the general manager, whose job it is to maintain a team’s roster. Last year, EA Canada innovated in the playing-on-a-team space with the introduction of the vaunted Be A Pro mode, and in NHL 10 this year, they’re debuting a Be A GM mode. In the video after the jump, you can watch NHL 10 producer Andy Agostini explain how Be A GM works. It appears to be a separate setup from the regular Dynasty mode, and quite a deep one, at that. The GM Tracker gives you a wealth of information about your team and your situation as a general manager, and as you complete tasks (such as winning the Stanley Cup or making a two-for-two trade), you’ll be able to upgrade your staff and improve your team. Agostini explains that the dev team looked at real-life GMs and found that they’re judged on three things each year: the NHL Entry Draft, the trade deadline, and free agency. So those are the main areas you’ll concentrate on in the Be A GM mode. The video also mentions an all-new prospects game, so you’ll be drafting on real in-game experience, and it announces the return of the fantasy draft as well. Can you perform well enough to be honored as a legendary GM? Hit up the Inside EA Sports blog for more info on Be A GM mode. NHL 10, with over 200 gameplay improvements and refinements, will be out for PS3 and 360 on September 15th.     from destructoid

 

The Conduit

The Wii deals keep rolling in… this time it’s on the recently released The Conduit! Waiting to pick up this amazing Wii shooter? Well wait now more as now you can get it for $20 less than what you would pay for a new Xbox 360 or PS3 game… now thats a deal.

 

click here for more info:
The Conduit

 
MadWorld

Now is your chance to pick up Madworld for just under $20. It is for today only and something you can not miss. FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25!

 

click here for more info:
MadWorld

Microsoft’s latest Deal of the Week is stellar. People who missed the first batch of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed downloadable content can now download the “Jedi Temple Mission Pack” for 400 Microsoft Banana Dollars instead of the usual 800 Microsoft Banana Dollars price. According to Major Nelson’s math, that’s a fifty percent savings on the fictional space content. See? Stellar. The “Jedi Temple Mission Pack” features the mysterious Sith apprentice. The dashing lad is looking for information about his father in the destroyed Jedi temple. According to the official blurb, the secret apprentice is forced to confront “his inner demons.” Oh, Star Wars. This DLC debuted in December 2008 and we’re guessing if you enjoyed the The Force Unleashed, you probably already purchased this thing. If you did, give us the low-down. Is it worth the reduced price?     from destructoid

The Metroid Prime Trilogy, being released by Nintendo on Aug. 24, is the same three Prime games we played before just with Wii controls added to the two GameCube games in the pack, Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Why do I want it so bad then!? I've played all these games multiple times and it isn't just the sexy box art that is attracting me. Maybe I just want another excuse to experience them again. The trailer Nintendo put together isn't helping me not spend my money on games I already own either. Not only does it bring back plenty of awesome memories from the games, but it also reminds us of how epic the score for the games were. In my opinion the games had some of the most atmospheric music in gaming and it fit so well with Metroid's solitary feeling. Hit the jump to be reminded why you want this bundle so bad.   from destructoid

Sometimes I like to fantasize about being John F. Kennedy. Except that I'd be smarter than to sic my brother on the Mafia after they helped ensure my presidential victory. And I wouldn't have abandoned those Cuban refugees. I'd still totally be tapping Marilyn, though. Some things just shouldn't change. Some strong deals this week. GameStop is doing their annual "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" sale on used titles, so it might be a good time to swing by your local store and see what's on the table. Game Crazy has some serious savings on their used handheld units. And Target is offering gift cards when you buy some Xbox 360 stuff, including MS points! Hit the jump for all the week's bargains. And, if you're in the UK, you should head over to Gemsi's cblog and check out what's on sale in your neighborhood. Software Discounts

• Killzone 2 [PS3] - $49.99 ($10 savings) 
• The Bourne Conspiracy [PS3] - $34.99 ($25 savings)
• The Bourne Conspiracy [360] - $26.80 ($33 savings)
• Armored Core 4 [PS3] - $25.57 ($24 savings)
• Blacksite: Area 51 [PS3] - $27.92 ($12 savings)
• Halo Wars [360] - $41.99 ($18 savings)
• Destroy All Humans: Path of the Furon [360] - $28.58 ($11 savings)
• We Love Golf! [Wii] - $7.96 ($12 savings)

Software Discounts

• Gears of War 2 [360] - $29.99 ($30 combined savings and price drop)
• Guitar Hero: On Tour Modern Hits [DS] - $39.99 ($10 savings)
• HAWX [360] - $39.99 ($20 savings)
• Terminator Salvation [360] - $39.99 ($20 combined savings and price drop)
• Halo Wars [360] - $49.99 ($10 savings)
• Prototype [360] - $49.99 ($10 savings)

BUY TWO GET ONE FREE ON ALL USED PS2, XBOX AND GAMECUBE GAMES Hardware Discounts

• Nintendo DS handheld - $59.99 (USED) 
• Nintendo DS Lite handheld - $79.99 (USED)
• PSP handheld - starting at $69.99 (USED)

  HUGE SUMMER SALE: BUY 2 GET 1 FREE ON ALL USED TITLES Software Discounts

• Guitar Hero: Smash Hits [360/PS3] - $49.99 ($10 savings)
• Guitar Hero: Smash Hits [Wii] - $39.99 ($10 savings)
• Guitar Hero: Smash Hits [PS2] - $29.99 ($10 savings)
• Prototype [360/PS3] - $49.99 ($10 savings)
• Classic Word Games [DS] - $24.99 ($5 savings)
• My Healthy Cooking Coach [DS] - $24.99 ($5 savings)
• Grand Theft Auto Trilogy [PC] - 19.99 ($10 savings)
• Bioshock/Oblivion Bundle [360/PS3] - $29.99 ($10 savings)
• Bioshock/Oblivion Bundle [PC] - $19.99 ($10 savings)
• Wii Play [Wii] - $9.99 ($5 savings, USED)
• Metroid Prime 3 Corruption [Wii] - $19.99 ($10 savings, USED)

Software Discounts

• UP [DS/PSP] - $19.99 ($10 savings)
• UP [360/PS3/Wii] - $29.99 ($10 savings)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [360/PS3/Wii] - $39.99 ($10 savings)

Other Promotions and Discounts

• 1600 MS Points Card - $19.99 ($5 gift card with purchase) 
• Wireless Controller for Xbox 360 - $49.99 ($10 gift card with purchase)
• Xbox 360 console w/ 60 Gb Hard Drive - $299.99 ($50 gift card with purchase)

Software Discounts

• Red Faction Guerilla [360] - $44.99 ($15 savings) 
• inFAMOUS [PS3] - $44.99 ($10 savings)
• Guitar Hero World Tour Band Kit [360/Wii] - $99.99 ($90 savings + $10 gift card w/ purchase)
• Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Kit [Wii] - $49.99 ($50 savings + $10 gift card w/ purchase)

  from destructoid

We've already heard the script for Star Wars: The Old Republic is more than 40 novels long. In this developer discussion, BioWare talks about the effort and why this is a game changer. SW:TOR promises a fully voiced, more immersive MMO experience - between player and NPC, player and quest-giver, etc. The result, they hope, is a deeper investment in one's character - which of course is the coin of the realm in designing a role playing game.
from kotaku

It would take more than a double-jump, grappling hook and a screw attack to reach the lofty goal of being a new generation's 2D Metroid or Castlevania. But that's what Shadow Complex could hope to be. I've spent two hours and twenty minutes this morning with the game, a game made with great love for its predecessors. And no, of course it's not as brilliant as Super Metroid — what has the cleverness, the pacing, the geographic diversity, the unusual mix of power-ups? But it's clearly a game built on the same values. It's a game made to be played like it's a map being traced with a finger, followed closely, fueled by the excitement of where to explore next and where to come back to later. Here's how it is shaping up so far… What Is It? Shadow Complex is an Xbox Live Arcade game set for release when it's steamy outside, an August alternative to the heat. It is a side-scrolling adventure game in the style of 2D Metroids and Castlevanias, but rendered with a 3D engine. As with its inspirations, it is a game about exploring, finding power-ups and using newly enhanced abilities to reach previously inaccessible areas of the map. This one's all about a guy fighting his way through an enormous underground sci-fi military base and, so far, trying to keep his girlfriend alive. It comes from Chair Entertainment and parent company Epic Games, chiefly designed by Donald Mustard with oversight from Gears of War alpha-developer Cliff Bleszinski. It's a 1200-point game, costing $15 and the build I downloaded, which appears to be final, is close to 900 MB. What We Saw I was supplied with code of the game that appears complete. I played the first two hours and twenty minutes, discovering 32% of the game's expansive 2D-map and finding 20% of its mostly-hidden power-ups. How Far Along Is It? The game appears to be done, but because it's a downloadable, it's probably eligible for more last-minute tweaking than most. What Needs Improvement? Too Much Nostalgia: One of the themes of Kotaku's coverage this week has been developers' love of past influences and the extent to which that love can be applied too thickly. Shadow Complex's first hour is almost a sequence of homages to sequences from Super Metroid, Empire Strikes Back and other boys-will-be-boys action-packed inspirations. Evoking the past so much is risky, especially given that this game's chief interactive predecessor is considered one of the greatest games of all time. That the early action in the game is more conventional and its environmental puzzles less interesting than Super Metroid's initially sets Shadow Complex needlessly back. It's only when Shadow Complex starts getting past the early homages and starts showing off its own ideas that it demonstrates its worth. (That first hour isn't helped with its Uncharted homage. It's too much. Yes, you have the voice-actor, but did you also need to dress your guy in the half-tucked shirt?) Ledge-Grabbing: The controls are mostly good but compromised in one common way: it's hard to sometimes know whether you're going to drop from a ledge or just hang from it, whether you're able to pull yourself up from a ledge or whether you're going to be stuck. A smoother scheme there would be nice. Otherwise, exploration is a breeze. Finding the hidden nooks and crannies is, as always, great fun. Blind Enemies: It was good for Metroids to be set on worlds full of dumb monsters and Castelvanias to have dullards as foes. It's less convincing to see Shadow Complex's military-base guards and super-soldiers not recognize our hero when he's standing in the same room, just because he's a little too far away but standing in plain view. What Should Stay The Same? An Identity Of Its Own: A couple of moments in the first two hours show what Shadow Complex can do that its predecessors never did. I won't spoil them, but just know that they take advantage of the modern technology being used in the game. And that tech helps this game a lot. This is a Metroid/Castelvania-style game with audio cues, lots of smart use of vocals, and great graphical depth. It's one in which 3D lighting and the hero's flashlight can make hunting for weakened hatches and ducts a more visually interesting endeavor. I did not get far enough into the game to find Shadow Complex's more unconventional gadgets, which will surely distinguish the game even more from others in its genre. Where I'm at, it's a game of machine guns and grenades — a different set of armament than you'd see in a Castlevania, to be sure — but not yet one that allows the action to be consistently clever. The good news is: the game appears to be getting there the further I play. Pacing: One of Bleszinski's favorite hallmarks of good game design is good pacing. That's evident early as Shadow Complex moves smoothly from one exciting firefight to the discovery of an interesting new environment and then back to an interesting combat scene, punctuated with the discovery of a new gun or the hints of a new hidden power-up to crawl around and find, maybe hidden under an elevator or above the cafeteria full of guards. Depth-Perception: The game's made in 3D but played in 2D. And that's used to great effect almost every minute of the first two hours. You'll think you've shot the last guard in the room when a door in what should have just been the boring background graphics of the level opens and a phalanx of troops rush in for the kill. It looks great and is fun, particularly because you can shoot into the background. You may only be able to move in 2D, but your gun does 3D. It's Shadow Complex's strongest quality and one that will make it tough to ever return to flatter games in this genre. Final Thoughts As I said up top, Shadow Complex could never hope to be as good as the best Metroid and Castlevania games, and I don't think its developers expected it to be. What I've played so far — past an opening a little too in love with the past — shows signs of how this genre can move forward. I haven't even mentioned the XP system which adds a little RPG character growth for every discovered room, every kill — and a multiplier for more if the kills are done creatively. Shadow Complex is looking like a strong new entry in a style of game that too few developers seem interested in trying to make. Maybe other developers are intimidated. The bravado evident in the well-paced action so far shows that these guys most certainly were not.
from kotaku