Walk into any store that sells video games and you will no doubt be faced with two options for each game – the New version or Preowned. Preowned Games tend to be a bit cheaper and you can pick up some real bargains if you shop around and get lucky. But who benefits from these ‘bargains’ and are they as much of a good deal as we first think?
If you’re given the option of paying £40 for a game or £20 then its a no-brainer which you’d go for – cheaper the better, right? But what about when you’ve finished the game and want to get another? Do you borrow it to a friend or let it gather dust or do you take it a high street store and trade it in for cash or another game? It would appear that most of us are now opting for Trade-In which are then sold at cheaper-than-new prices so others can benefit from the bargain.
But when you are on the other side of the fence and trading your game in you are more often than not left feeling hard done to. For instance, just a few weeks after LA Noire was released we had completed and wanted to trade back in. Having paid £39.99 from a well known retailer we went back to the same shop and was offered £16. Checking the shelves later we saw it was on sale as pre-owned for £32.99. By our calculations that 50% mark-up being added by the retailer.
Lets break that down for a minute and go through who benefits and whatnot:
The gamer has just gained £16 towards a new title. If they buy a game ‘As New’ then that could cost around £39.99. The retailer will get a small profit from that game and the manufacturers of the game will directly benefit as it would be a sale towards that gaming company’s profits.
Preowned games – massive choice and discount
If the gamer decides to spend that £16 towards a pre-owned title (using LA Noire as an example again) then they are getting the same game at a cheaper rate, saving about £8 against the new version. However, the gamer will not be entitled to claim any pre-packaged DLC or codes that were included in the original version (as these are one-time claim codes). Also, the gaming company will receive nothing from the sale – not even a smiley face. The retailer, however, will recoup 100% of the money for that game. Sticking with the same example, if they gave us £16 for this game and someone else paid £32.99 then that retailer has earned a profit of £16.99. Not bad eh?
So at the moment the only people getting a raw deal out of this are the gaming companies and us for getting pittance for our LA Noire.
But this transaction has a knock-on-effect. As a direct result of LA Noire being sold as a pre-owned title, Rockstar/Team Bondai have lost out on a potential sale of an ‘As New’ title which damages their revenue and profits. Some of us might not shed a tear over this given that £40 a pop for a game is pretty steep as it is. But take into account what goes into making a game from start to finish and £40 doesn’t seem that bad.
There’s all the programmers, engineers, graphic designers, marketing & advertising, testing and manufacturing of the game/disc to be done. Games take months and years to create and even then some end up as a disaster so won’t sell as well. Add up all the costs to make 1 title, slice a bit off for retailer profit and £40 doesn’t go that far. Yes the games are sold worldwide and on many formats but distribution and coding for different platforms isn’t cheap either!
It might sound like we are sympathising with the manufacturers and creating a case for games to be more expensive – far from it!! We’re gamers as much as you.
Ads like this crop up everywhere for Preowned Games
But if the trend of retailers taking the lion’s share of the profits by selling pre-owned games then the game manufacturers will have to start cutting back to compensate and this means the end result of the games could start to suffer as well.
We’ve already seen a number of decent gaming studios having to close due to the economy but how much effect the pre-owned sales market has had on these studios is unclear. Gamers don’t seem to be buying less games so if gaming companies are going bust or being forced to be swallowed up by the big boys (Activision and EA) then surely the finger must point at pre-owned games?
The upsides of the Preowned market is of course that we as gamers and consumers get to benefit from cheaper games. Also the high street retailers (who are struggling due to the recession and online retailers) benefit with the profit from pre-owned games and therefore remain strong in business giving us more options of places to buy games from which can only be a good thing.
Its also becoming easier to trade in your games. So many retailers now offer this service and HMV have even go so far as to launch a free iPhone and iPad app called HMV RePlay so you can scan a barcode to see how much you’d get from their store!
Games developers have already started to take action against the preowned sales of games by offering special content with the ‘As New’ games. This might be early access to weapons or cars or something a bit more appetising such as extra missions that would otherwise have been a DLC option. Indeed the original example of LA Noire, the ‘Naked City’ case was bundled with our new game but wouldn’t have been available to the gamer buying our preowned copy. As well as this certain companies have now started adding a one-time use code for access to multiplayer modes. EA are the main player in this with Tiger Woods and Buletstorm being just 2 that spring immediately to mind although the second-hand gamer can purchase the online pass from the Playstation network or Xbox Live marketplaces.
Its not necessarily enough to make gamers opt for the more expensive option but it does make us compare the contents and price before we slide over to the cashier. We’re sure it wont be long before the market moves towards online activation codes as the PC gamers market does (although we appreciate this is more for anti-piracy). This would open up an entirely different can of worms though as that could force the high street retailers to extreme measures before they suffer too much…!
For more news and reviews of games and films visit the PlayEject site or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Preowned Games - Who Really Benefits?
Walk into any store that sells video games and you will no doubt be faced with two options for each game – the New version or Preowned. Preowned Games tend to be a bit cheaper and you can pick up some real bargains if you shop around and get lucky. But who benefits from these ‘bargains’ and are they as much of a good deal as we first think?
If you’re given the option of paying £40 for a game or £20 then its a no-brainer which you’d go for – cheaper the better, right? But what about when you’ve finished the game and want to get another? Do you borrow it to a friend or let it gather dust or do you take it a high street store and trade it in for cash or another game? It would appear that most of us are now opting for Trade-In which are then sold at cheaper-than-new prices so others can benefit from the bargain.
But when you are on the other side of the fence and trading your game in you are more often than not left feeling hard done to. For instance, just a few weeks after LA Noire was released we had completed and wanted to trade back in. Having paid £39.99 from a well known retailer we went back to the same shop and was offered £16. Checking the shelves later we saw it was on sale as pre-owned for £32.99. By our calculations that 50% mark-up being added by the retailer.
Lets break that down for a minute and go through who benefits and whatnot:
The gamer has just gained £16 towards a new title. If they buy a game ‘As New’ then that could cost around £39.99. The retailer will get a small profit from that game and the manufacturers of the game will directly benefit as it would be a sale towards that gaming company’s profits.
Preowned games – massive choice and discount
If the gamer decides to spend that £16 towards a pre-owned title (using LA Noire as an example again) then they are getting the same game at a cheaper rate, saving about £8 against the new version. However, the gamer will not be entitled to claim any pre-packaged DLC or codes that were included in the original version (as these are one-time claim codes). Also, the gaming company will receive nothing from the sale – not even a smiley face. The retailer, however, will recoup 100% of the money for that game. Sticking with the same example, if they gave us £16 for this game and someone else paid £32.99 then that retailer has earned a profit of £16.99. Not bad eh?
So at the moment the only people getting a raw deal out of this are the gaming companies and us for getting pittance for our LA Noire.
But this transaction has a knock-on-effect. As a direct result of LA Noire being sold as a pre-owned title, Rockstar/Team Bondai have lost out on a potential sale of an ‘As New’ title which damages their revenue and profits. Some of us might not shed a tear over this given that £40 a pop for a game is pretty steep as it is. But take into account what goes into making a game from start to finish and £40 doesn’t seem that bad.
There’s all the programmers, engineers, graphic designers, marketing & advertising, testing and manufacturing of the game/disc to be done. Games take months and years to create and even then some end up as a disaster so won’t sell as well. Add up all the costs to make 1 title, slice a bit off for retailer profit and £40 doesn’t go that far. Yes the games are sold worldwide and on many formats but distribution and coding for different platforms isn’t cheap either!
It might sound like we are sympathising with the manufacturers and creating a case for games to be more expensive – far from it!! We’re gamers as much as you.
Ads like this crop up everywhere for Preowned Games
But if the trend of retailers taking the lion’s share of the profits by selling pre-owned games then the game manufacturers will have to start cutting back to compensate and this means the end result of the games could start to suffer as well.
We’ve already seen a number of decent gaming studios having to close due to the economy but how much effect the pre-owned sales market has had on these studios is unclear. Gamers don’t seem to be buying less games so if gaming companies are going bust or being forced to be swallowed up by the big boys (Activision and EA) then surely the finger must point at pre-owned games?
The upsides of the Preowned market is of course that we as gamers and consumers get to benefit from cheaper games. Also the high street retailers (who are struggling due to the recession and online retailers) benefit with the profit from pre-owned games and therefore remain strong in business giving us more options of places to buy games from which can only be a good thing.
Its also becoming easier to trade in your games. So many retailers now offer this service and HMV have even go so far as to launch a free iPhone and iPad app called HMV RePlay so you can scan a barcode to see how much you’d get from their store!
Games developers have already started to take action against the preowned sales of games by offering special content with the ‘As New’ games. This might be early access to weapons or cars or something a bit more appetising such as extra missions that would otherwise have been a DLC option. Indeed the original example of LA Noire, the ‘Naked City’ case was bundled with our new game but wouldn’t have been available to the gamer buying our preowned copy. As well as this certain companies have now started adding a one-time use code for access to multiplayer modes. EA are the main player in this with Tiger Woods and Buletstorm being just 2 that spring immediately to mind although the second-hand gamer can purchase the online pass from the Playstation network or Xbox Live marketplaces.
Its not necessarily enough to make gamers opt for the more expensive option but it does make us compare the contents and price before we slide over to the cashier. We’re sure it wont be long before the market moves towards online activation codes as the PC gamers market does (although we appreciate this is more for anti-piracy). This would open up an entirely different can of worms though as that could force the high street retailers to extreme measures before they suffer too much…!
For more news and reviews of games and films visit the PlayEject site or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
If you’re given the option of paying £40 for a game or £20 then its a no-brainer which you’d go for – cheaper the better, right? But what about when you’ve finished the game and want to get another? Do you borrow it to a friend or let it gather dust or do you take it a high street store and trade it in for cash or another game? It would appear that most of us are now opting for Trade-In which are then sold at cheaper-than-new prices so others can benefit from the bargain.
But when you are on the other side of the fence and trading your game in you are more often than not left feeling hard done to. For instance, just a few weeks after LA Noire was released we had completed and wanted to trade back in. Having paid £39.99 from a well known retailer we went back to the same shop and was offered £16. Checking the shelves later we saw it was on sale as pre-owned for £32.99. By our calculations that 50% mark-up being added by the retailer.
Lets break that down for a minute and go through who benefits and whatnot:
The gamer has just gained £16 towards a new title. If they buy a game ‘As New’ then that could cost around £39.99. The retailer will get a small profit from that game and the manufacturers of the game will directly benefit as it would be a sale towards that gaming company’s profits.
Preowned games – massive choice and discount
If the gamer decides to spend that £16 towards a pre-owned title (using LA Noire as an example again) then they are getting the same game at a cheaper rate, saving about £8 against the new version. However, the gamer will not be entitled to claim any pre-packaged DLC or codes that were included in the original version (as these are one-time claim codes). Also, the gaming company will receive nothing from the sale – not even a smiley face. The retailer, however, will recoup 100% of the money for that game. Sticking with the same example, if they gave us £16 for this game and someone else paid £32.99 then that retailer has earned a profit of £16.99. Not bad eh?
So at the moment the only people getting a raw deal out of this are the gaming companies and us for getting pittance for our LA Noire.
But this transaction has a knock-on-effect. As a direct result of LA Noire being sold as a pre-owned title, Rockstar/Team Bondai have lost out on a potential sale of an ‘As New’ title which damages their revenue and profits. Some of us might not shed a tear over this given that £40 a pop for a game is pretty steep as it is. But take into account what goes into making a game from start to finish and £40 doesn’t seem that bad.
There’s all the programmers, engineers, graphic designers, marketing & advertising, testing and manufacturing of the game/disc to be done. Games take months and years to create and even then some end up as a disaster so won’t sell as well. Add up all the costs to make 1 title, slice a bit off for retailer profit and £40 doesn’t go that far. Yes the games are sold worldwide and on many formats but distribution and coding for different platforms isn’t cheap either!
It might sound like we are sympathising with the manufacturers and creating a case for games to be more expensive – far from it!! We’re gamers as much as you.
Ads like this crop up everywhere for Preowned Games
But if the trend of retailers taking the lion’s share of the profits by selling pre-owned games then the game manufacturers will have to start cutting back to compensate and this means the end result of the games could start to suffer as well.
We’ve already seen a number of decent gaming studios having to close due to the economy but how much effect the pre-owned sales market has had on these studios is unclear. Gamers don’t seem to be buying less games so if gaming companies are going bust or being forced to be swallowed up by the big boys (Activision and EA) then surely the finger must point at pre-owned games?
The upsides of the Preowned market is of course that we as gamers and consumers get to benefit from cheaper games. Also the high street retailers (who are struggling due to the recession and online retailers) benefit with the profit from pre-owned games and therefore remain strong in business giving us more options of places to buy games from which can only be a good thing.
Its also becoming easier to trade in your games. So many retailers now offer this service and HMV have even go so far as to launch a free iPhone and iPad app called HMV RePlay so you can scan a barcode to see how much you’d get from their store!
Games developers have already started to take action against the preowned sales of games by offering special content with the ‘As New’ games. This might be early access to weapons or cars or something a bit more appetising such as extra missions that would otherwise have been a DLC option. Indeed the original example of LA Noire, the ‘Naked City’ case was bundled with our new game but wouldn’t have been available to the gamer buying our preowned copy. As well as this certain companies have now started adding a one-time use code for access to multiplayer modes. EA are the main player in this with Tiger Woods and Buletstorm being just 2 that spring immediately to mind although the second-hand gamer can purchase the online pass from the Playstation network or Xbox Live marketplaces.
Its not necessarily enough to make gamers opt for the more expensive option but it does make us compare the contents and price before we slide over to the cashier. We’re sure it wont be long before the market moves towards online activation codes as the PC gamers market does (although we appreciate this is more for anti-piracy). This would open up an entirely different can of worms though as that could force the high street retailers to extreme measures before they suffer too much…!
For more news and reviews of games and films visit the PlayEject site or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Microsoft Kinect versus Sony Move
The next generation consoles seem to be quite a way off being released – there’s no scheduled date for any new Xbox (despite the many fanboys hoping for an Xbox 720 this year), Sony will no doubt be doing some serious damage limitation after their PSN fiasco and Nintendo are releasing a newer Wii but only to match the power of the Xbox 360 and PS3.
The only real developments we’ve seen are the introductions of the Microsoft Kinect and the Sony Move – both are motion controllers for their respective consoles – but who is using them and why aren’t these devices selling like hot cakes?
Microsoft Kinect
Most gamers will know about the Kinect by now – its been out a while and has been hyped up not only by the media but had a decent build up due to some great looking trailers and TV ad campaigns. 10 days after its launch in the US, Microsoft reported selling over a whopping one million Kinect devices – not bad.
Using its multiple cameras to work out distance as well as full body movement, the Microsoft Kinect plugs into the Xbox 360 and can be used as a controller for the navigation of menus as well as playing certain Kinect-compatible games. The voice activation features of the Kinect also allow you to perform certain actions on the Xbox 360 menus such as play a DVD and shut down the console, etc.
But its the games that most people will be interested in – boasting full body movement pickup, the Kinect was to set the world alight. Unfortunately, 6 months on from its release we are yet to see anything ground breaking or amazing. Yes the launch title games were great to play with friends or as a demonstration of the capabilities of the Kinect but major game releases are still based around the standard controller with only a handful of major games having Kinect compatibility – Tiger Woods: The Masters 2012 being the biggest release to date.
For all the features and promises the Kinect has, there are downsides aside from the lack of games for the more hardcore gamer. Many people reported a lack of responsiveness to their movements if they moved too quickly and others found themselves in the embarrassing situation of realising the Kinect takes pictures every so often during your gaming session – which could be more down to users not being aware of the full features of the Kinect and not knowing how to switch this off or on.
The fear is that unless the big boys of the developer industry release some serious titles for the Kinect soon, the device might end up being a glorified Wii or expensive gimic. For party games and kids the Kinect is ideal – with Kinect Adventures and Kinectimals and Dance Central being the biggest sellers but with the biggest titles of the year: Gears of War 3, MW3 and Batman Arkham City; not one of these will have Kinect features (so far)! So far its only really Forza 4 that looks like being of any real substance but how that actually works is yet to be seen…
PlayStation Move
Sony are never known for being outdone by competitors. They may have been a bit late to the next-gen console race but the PS3 sales have grown and seen some brilliant PS3-exclusive titles such as Heavy Rain and Little Big Planet 2. So a motion-based controller was a natural progression given the success of the Wii and what was promised from the Kinect.
The Sony Move was born. And at the much lower price than the Kinect!
The Sony Move is essentially a handheld controller (much in the same fashion as the Nintendo Wii Motion Controller) who’s movements are picked up by the Sony Eye camera (sold with the Sony Move Starter Kit). The Move controller fits easily into the players hand and has the key buttons on the handset as well as a globe on the top end of the controller which lights up depending on which player you are. The Sony Move controller itself is relatively comfy to hold and feels well built and is curved with ergonomics in mind.
The advantage of having a handheld controller like the Move over the Kinect is that you typically require less space to play most games in. The Kinect does require a lot of space to play properly whereas the Move can be controller by standing pretty much anywhere (within reason) or even sat down. Also, as the Move is controller based, there are already other gizmos that can be used with it – the main one being the Move Gun Controller. Rather than using a standard 6-axis controller to run around a battlefield, you can pick up the Move Gun and roam around as if you were actually in the game. Its a great way to enhance the gameplay experience – we tested it on Killzone 3 and after a few embarrassing tries we got the hang of it: navigating your way around a map with the built in buttons and aiming and shooting with the gun is great fun.
That opens up the whole market as far as we can see and wonder how long developers pick up on this and release things like the Move Wheel for playing Need for Speed or the Move Racket for Virtua Tennis 4, etc.
The major downside of the Move is that because its not a full body scanner, some movements can be lost – playing Virtua Tennis 4 for example, we realised that gentle flicks or subtle movements were sometimes registered as completely different shots meaning we had to adjust the way we played the game to how the game wanted us to play it. Also, if you want to play multiplayer Move games on the same console you will need to fork out for an additional Move Controller as you only get one with the starter pack.
The other big advantage the Sony Move has over the Kinect is that Sony are pushing the Move with their games. Taking a look at what is available on the PS3 you will see the little blue strip across the top of the case on so many of the latest releases to indicate games are Move Compatible. Even older games have been updated to have the Move compatibility – Heavy Rain being one that works so well. And thats a big advantage when you consider the lack of titles (good and bad) for the Kinect.
Kinect versus Sony Move
So which is the best? Well in terms of technical achievements, the Kinect wins hands down. It has so much to offer as a game accessory as well as general console functionality. So long as Microsoft can really lean on games developers to make some really decent Kinect titles in the next 12 months it will become a revolution.
However Sony Move is already building up a decent catalogue of games and is catering not only for the casual market but the more hardcore gamer as well by releasing the majority of its games as being Move compatible. But it doesn’t have the same level of technical ground breaking as the Kinect.
Tricky one to call but ultimately it comes down to how each gamer prefers to play as many are quite happy and prefer the standard controllers meaning all this Kinect/Move could be a massive waste of time…!
The only real developments we’ve seen are the introductions of the Microsoft Kinect and the Sony Move – both are motion controllers for their respective consoles – but who is using them and why aren’t these devices selling like hot cakes?
Microsoft Kinect
Most gamers will know about the Kinect by now – its been out a while and has been hyped up not only by the media but had a decent build up due to some great looking trailers and TV ad campaigns. 10 days after its launch in the US, Microsoft reported selling over a whopping one million Kinect devices – not bad.
Using its multiple cameras to work out distance as well as full body movement, the Microsoft Kinect plugs into the Xbox 360 and can be used as a controller for the navigation of menus as well as playing certain Kinect-compatible games. The voice activation features of the Kinect also allow you to perform certain actions on the Xbox 360 menus such as play a DVD and shut down the console, etc.
But its the games that most people will be interested in – boasting full body movement pickup, the Kinect was to set the world alight. Unfortunately, 6 months on from its release we are yet to see anything ground breaking or amazing. Yes the launch title games were great to play with friends or as a demonstration of the capabilities of the Kinect but major game releases are still based around the standard controller with only a handful of major games having Kinect compatibility – Tiger Woods: The Masters 2012 being the biggest release to date.
For all the features and promises the Kinect has, there are downsides aside from the lack of games for the more hardcore gamer. Many people reported a lack of responsiveness to their movements if they moved too quickly and others found themselves in the embarrassing situation of realising the Kinect takes pictures every so often during your gaming session – which could be more down to users not being aware of the full features of the Kinect and not knowing how to switch this off or on.
The fear is that unless the big boys of the developer industry release some serious titles for the Kinect soon, the device might end up being a glorified Wii or expensive gimic. For party games and kids the Kinect is ideal – with Kinect Adventures and Kinectimals and Dance Central being the biggest sellers but with the biggest titles of the year: Gears of War 3, MW3 and Batman Arkham City; not one of these will have Kinect features (so far)! So far its only really Forza 4 that looks like being of any real substance but how that actually works is yet to be seen…
PlayStation Move
Sony are never known for being outdone by competitors. They may have been a bit late to the next-gen console race but the PS3 sales have grown and seen some brilliant PS3-exclusive titles such as Heavy Rain and Little Big Planet 2. So a motion-based controller was a natural progression given the success of the Wii and what was promised from the Kinect.
The Sony Move was born. And at the much lower price than the Kinect!
The Sony Move is essentially a handheld controller (much in the same fashion as the Nintendo Wii Motion Controller) who’s movements are picked up by the Sony Eye camera (sold with the Sony Move Starter Kit). The Move controller fits easily into the players hand and has the key buttons on the handset as well as a globe on the top end of the controller which lights up depending on which player you are. The Sony Move controller itself is relatively comfy to hold and feels well built and is curved with ergonomics in mind.
The advantage of having a handheld controller like the Move over the Kinect is that you typically require less space to play most games in. The Kinect does require a lot of space to play properly whereas the Move can be controller by standing pretty much anywhere (within reason) or even sat down. Also, as the Move is controller based, there are already other gizmos that can be used with it – the main one being the Move Gun Controller. Rather than using a standard 6-axis controller to run around a battlefield, you can pick up the Move Gun and roam around as if you were actually in the game. Its a great way to enhance the gameplay experience – we tested it on Killzone 3 and after a few embarrassing tries we got the hang of it: navigating your way around a map with the built in buttons and aiming and shooting with the gun is great fun.
That opens up the whole market as far as we can see and wonder how long developers pick up on this and release things like the Move Wheel for playing Need for Speed or the Move Racket for Virtua Tennis 4, etc.
The major downside of the Move is that because its not a full body scanner, some movements can be lost – playing Virtua Tennis 4 for example, we realised that gentle flicks or subtle movements were sometimes registered as completely different shots meaning we had to adjust the way we played the game to how the game wanted us to play it. Also, if you want to play multiplayer Move games on the same console you will need to fork out for an additional Move Controller as you only get one with the starter pack.
The other big advantage the Sony Move has over the Kinect is that Sony are pushing the Move with their games. Taking a look at what is available on the PS3 you will see the little blue strip across the top of the case on so many of the latest releases to indicate games are Move Compatible. Even older games have been updated to have the Move compatibility – Heavy Rain being one that works so well. And thats a big advantage when you consider the lack of titles (good and bad) for the Kinect.
Kinect versus Sony Move
So which is the best? Well in terms of technical achievements, the Kinect wins hands down. It has so much to offer as a game accessory as well as general console functionality. So long as Microsoft can really lean on games developers to make some really decent Kinect titles in the next 12 months it will become a revolution.
However Sony Move is already building up a decent catalogue of games and is catering not only for the casual market but the more hardcore gamer as well by releasing the majority of its games as being Move compatible. But it doesn’t have the same level of technical ground breaking as the Kinect.
Tricky one to call but ultimately it comes down to how each gamer prefers to play as many are quite happy and prefer the standard controllers meaning all this Kinect/Move could be a massive waste of time…!
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Predators - the tables are turned...
Predators – even the name sounds a bit scary. Afterall, its a word to describe something that hunts down its prey with the intent to kill. Being dropped into a dense jungle with no memory as to how you arrived with a bunch of strangers is also scary. Finding out you’re being hunted by a gang of Predators – well thats not much fun!!
And thats essentially how Predators begins – Royce (Adrien Brody)waking up in the middle of a jungle with some strangers and then going on the run to survive against the deadly enemies that are seemingly hunting for fun. The strangers introduce themselves to each other and between them work out that they are all highly skilled fighters of some kind. From Special Forces veterans to Japanese Yakuza (Gangster), it seems the best of the best are all thrown in together on what they soon discover is an alien world, home to the Predators, where they are hunted as part of a game.
The band of soldiers get some help from the strange character, Noland (Laurence Fishbourne) who has been trapped on the planet for years – surviving by learning about the Predators and hiding in an old crashed ship. Noland and Royce put together a plan to get off the planet but ego’s and tempers flare and cause disarray to the plans.
The twist on the traditional Predator story is clever – it has always been the Predators coming to Earth to hunt humans. Taking humans out of their comfort zone and hunting them for sport is a novel spin and in theory it works well. The action is mostly huge guns against the stealth of the aliens but the story moves along well for the action to stay in keeping and not gratuitous.
For the full Predators film review check out PlayEject.com
PlayEject - movies and games reviews
And thats essentially how Predators begins – Royce (Adrien Brody)waking up in the middle of a jungle with some strangers and then going on the run to survive against the deadly enemies that are seemingly hunting for fun. The strangers introduce themselves to each other and between them work out that they are all highly skilled fighters of some kind. From Special Forces veterans to Japanese Yakuza (Gangster), it seems the best of the best are all thrown in together on what they soon discover is an alien world, home to the Predators, where they are hunted as part of a game.
The band of soldiers get some help from the strange character, Noland (Laurence Fishbourne) who has been trapped on the planet for years – surviving by learning about the Predators and hiding in an old crashed ship. Noland and Royce put together a plan to get off the planet but ego’s and tempers flare and cause disarray to the plans.
The twist on the traditional Predator story is clever – it has always been the Predators coming to Earth to hunt humans. Taking humans out of their comfort zone and hunting them for sport is a novel spin and in theory it works well. The action is mostly huge guns against the stealth of the aliens but the story moves along well for the action to stay in keeping and not gratuitous.
For the full Predators film review check out PlayEject.com
PlayEject - movies and games reviews
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Forget about the Royal Wedding - become a King (or Queen) with Fable 3
Fable 3 is the latest installment from Lionhead studios that allows the player to become a hero or a villain in the massive open world of Albion. Set 50 years after Fable 2, the old king of Albion has died and reign has gone to Logan -a King who doesn’t seem to have the best intentions of the people at heart!
You play Logan’s brother – the Hero – who, after a blazing row with your older brother, flees the kingdom and ends up in the mountains with the Dwellers. Its from here that you start rebuilding your life and plan to build up a revolution of followers to take on Logan’s army in the Kingdom and become King yourself.
There are a huge number of quests and missions available – some are optional and are there to help boost your player with experience or money whereas others are part of the epic story. The missions vary from the early menial tasks of fetching or killing a few bandits, to much more interesting and in-depth missions where you will face some more advanced foes and test your skills in battle by using a combination of weapons and magic.
Whilst playing Fable 3 you’ll find yourself earning some money – not much at first but it will steadily build up. You can then chose what to do with your hard earned cash – buy some new weapons maybe, or some property so you have a place to stay and rest, maybe furnish the houses own to rent out, or even better – buy a shop so you get regular income over time. You’ll soon become a property mogul in Albion and end up owning most of the houses. Be careful though – the temptation to raise prices in shops or rent might seem like a good idea to make a quick buck but the citizens of Albion will start to dislike the idea of a tycoon taking all their money and will turn against you – making you slightly evil.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg as all your actions throughout Fable 3 will either make you loved or hated. As with previous Fable games, you can perform expressions on anyone you meet and try to charm them to get gifts off them, or scare people into doing your bidding. Each action will affect your Karma meter and end up with certain reactions from the locals – you have been warned.
But building up an empire and becoming King is just the start – we were quite chuffed with ourselves when we eventually gain the Kingdom through hard work and some great battles. But little did we know that was just half the game...!
For the full Fable 3 Review visit playeject.com
PlayEject - Movies and Games reviews
You play Logan’s brother – the Hero – who, after a blazing row with your older brother, flees the kingdom and ends up in the mountains with the Dwellers. Its from here that you start rebuilding your life and plan to build up a revolution of followers to take on Logan’s army in the Kingdom and become King yourself.
There are a huge number of quests and missions available – some are optional and are there to help boost your player with experience or money whereas others are part of the epic story. The missions vary from the early menial tasks of fetching or killing a few bandits, to much more interesting and in-depth missions where you will face some more advanced foes and test your skills in battle by using a combination of weapons and magic.
Whilst playing Fable 3 you’ll find yourself earning some money – not much at first but it will steadily build up. You can then chose what to do with your hard earned cash – buy some new weapons maybe, or some property so you have a place to stay and rest, maybe furnish the houses own to rent out, or even better – buy a shop so you get regular income over time. You’ll soon become a property mogul in Albion and end up owning most of the houses. Be careful though – the temptation to raise prices in shops or rent might seem like a good idea to make a quick buck but the citizens of Albion will start to dislike the idea of a tycoon taking all their money and will turn against you – making you slightly evil.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg as all your actions throughout Fable 3 will either make you loved or hated. As with previous Fable games, you can perform expressions on anyone you meet and try to charm them to get gifts off them, or scare people into doing your bidding. Each action will affect your Karma meter and end up with certain reactions from the locals – you have been warned.
But building up an empire and becoming King is just the start – we were quite chuffed with ourselves when we eventually gain the Kingdom through hard work and some great battles. But little did we know that was just half the game...!
For the full Fable 3 Review visit playeject.com
PlayEject - Movies and Games reviews
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Mass Effect 3 Preview - Read it here now
Mass Effect 3 will conclude the epic saga of Commander Shepard and his battle against the Reapers in the same amazing action as we've seen in the previous two Mass Effect releases.
If you've seen the trailer then you'll appreciate how amazing the cut scenes are looking and hopefully be as excited as the rest of the PlayEject team where when we watched a lone injured soldier take out an enemy with a single round from a sniper rifle. The camera pans back and reveals the soldier sat within the clock face of Big Ben in London with Reaper ships all around the capital and explosions seen all around. Pan out even further and we see Earth being decimated from every angle while looking out from aboard the Normandy over Commander Shepard's shoulder.
With the action taking place on Earth where Shepard is on trial - an extension to the main story that follows the latest DLC from Mass Effect 2, expect to see a number of famous landmarks that will mark numerous battles as you fight your way through the Reapers with the help of Quarians and Salarians and a few familiar faces.
There's not been any gameplay footage revealed at time of writing and Bioware haven't yet said what will happen to Shepard's powers that you earned throughout Mass Effect 2. Weapons are apparently no longer restricted by class and can be customised with pickups and collectables. We've also found out that the skill tree for shepard is more advanced than in the last outing, meaning more avenues to explore and enhance your player to suit your own style of play.
Biotics and Tech Powers make a return but as we've not seen them in action we can only assume they are going to be more of the same with perhaps some new additions thrown in?
Depending on what you did in the previous Mass Effect games will determine who appears in Mass Effect 3. For example, in one of the hardest interactive decisions we've made on a console game was in the original Mass Effect when we chose not to save Wrex. Regretting that ever since, Mass Effect 2 continues with your decisions and ME3 is no different!
But for many, its not just the action and the exploring that grabs so many people to enjoy Mass Effect - its the story and the levelling up and the story reaches its climax in this third outing - maybe we will finally find out who the Illusive Man really is and what he has in store for Sherpard, T'Soni, Captain Anderson and your other team mates.
Due to arrive in November 2011, PlayEject will keep you updated with more when we have it!
If you've seen the trailer then you'll appreciate how amazing the cut scenes are looking and hopefully be as excited as the rest of the PlayEject team where when we watched a lone injured soldier take out an enemy with a single round from a sniper rifle. The camera pans back and reveals the soldier sat within the clock face of Big Ben in London with Reaper ships all around the capital and explosions seen all around. Pan out even further and we see Earth being decimated from every angle while looking out from aboard the Normandy over Commander Shepard's shoulder.
With the action taking place on Earth where Shepard is on trial - an extension to the main story that follows the latest DLC from Mass Effect 2, expect to see a number of famous landmarks that will mark numerous battles as you fight your way through the Reapers with the help of Quarians and Salarians and a few familiar faces.
There's not been any gameplay footage revealed at time of writing and Bioware haven't yet said what will happen to Shepard's powers that you earned throughout Mass Effect 2. Weapons are apparently no longer restricted by class and can be customised with pickups and collectables. We've also found out that the skill tree for shepard is more advanced than in the last outing, meaning more avenues to explore and enhance your player to suit your own style of play.
Biotics and Tech Powers make a return but as we've not seen them in action we can only assume they are going to be more of the same with perhaps some new additions thrown in?
Depending on what you did in the previous Mass Effect games will determine who appears in Mass Effect 3. For example, in one of the hardest interactive decisions we've made on a console game was in the original Mass Effect when we chose not to save Wrex. Regretting that ever since, Mass Effect 2 continues with your decisions and ME3 is no different!
But for many, its not just the action and the exploring that grabs so many people to enjoy Mass Effect - its the story and the levelling up and the story reaches its climax in this third outing - maybe we will finally find out who the Illusive Man really is and what he has in store for Sherpard, T'Soni, Captain Anderson and your other team mates.
Due to arrive in November 2011, PlayEject will keep you updated with more when we have it!
Due Date - Film Review
It would be easy to mistake Due Date as a bizarre follow-up to The Hangover with Zach Galifianakis playing an almost identical character, Ethan Tremblay – a wannabe actor who has some odd tendancies but is lovable, and Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) as a businessman stuck on the wrong side of America and desperately trying to make it home in time for the birth of his first born child.
Due Date is a simple enough story and you would think it be easy enough to get from one side of the USA to the other pretty easily nowadays but when Peter’s wallet is lost and he gets kicked off the airline, banned from all flights due to his reaction to Ethan’s antics, the due end up sharing a rental car together.
Its not just another Road Trip story though as there are some wake-up moments for Peter Highman as he tries to keep his anger issues in check while constantly being wound up by Ethan Tremblay and his ability to cause havoc wherever he goes.
Due Date is a film that most people should enjoy - some more than others, granted - but its an easy to watch film that we enjoyed relaxing to on a Sunday afternoon. Its not hard to follow the plot and offers good comedy value. It might not be our favourite film but is definitely worth seeing.
For a full review of Due Date check out PlayEject.com
PlayEject - Films and Games review
Due Date is a simple enough story and you would think it be easy enough to get from one side of the USA to the other pretty easily nowadays but when Peter’s wallet is lost and he gets kicked off the airline, banned from all flights due to his reaction to Ethan’s antics, the due end up sharing a rental car together.
Its not just another Road Trip story though as there are some wake-up moments for Peter Highman as he tries to keep his anger issues in check while constantly being wound up by Ethan Tremblay and his ability to cause havoc wherever he goes.
Due Date is a film that most people should enjoy - some more than others, granted - but its an easy to watch film that we enjoyed relaxing to on a Sunday afternoon. Its not hard to follow the plot and offers good comedy value. It might not be our favourite film but is definitely worth seeing.
For a full review of Due Date check out PlayEject.com
PlayEject - Films and Games review
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
C64 - the C stands for Comeback!!
C64 returns - long live the king!
Any gamer over the age of 25 will have fond memories of the classic Commodore 64 with its distinct beige keyboard and tape deck, rainbow logo and the famous blue and white display from the load screen. Anyone thats played on a Commodore will no doubt remember the insane loading times, watching the counter on the tape deck tick round until the epilepsy-inducing loading screens finish flashing and the pixellated characters appear on screen and you can start playing...
Well thats soon to be a reality all over again as Commodore USA are releasing a brand new version of the console which will run on Microsoft Windows 7. The new C64 console is also boasting a DVD or Blu Ray slot as well as Wireless capabilities (online Chuckie Egg anyone?).
The new Commodore device is on sale now from the CommodoreUSA.net site with a basic system costing $250 going up to a whopping $895 but is also expected to be on sale in stores later on this year across Europe. The console currently comes shipped with the Classic Games package but we're hoping that more games will be released in time so we can relive some of our favourites - Dizzy being top of the list!!
The release of the new C64 console follows Commodore releasing its game-cabinet application through Itunes for the iphone and ipad, allowing gamers to select retro classics such as manic miner, Chuckie Egg and others. Commodore has also been present in both the original Tron film and the Tron Legacy film released on DVD and Blu Ray this year.
What's next - Sega releasing the Master System or Atari and the doomed Lynx?
PlayEject - films and games reviews
For more news and reviews on films and games visit PlayEject.com
Any gamer over the age of 25 will have fond memories of the classic Commodore 64 with its distinct beige keyboard and tape deck, rainbow logo and the famous blue and white display from the load screen. Anyone thats played on a Commodore will no doubt remember the insane loading times, watching the counter on the tape deck tick round until the epilepsy-inducing loading screens finish flashing and the pixellated characters appear on screen and you can start playing...
Well thats soon to be a reality all over again as Commodore USA are releasing a brand new version of the console which will run on Microsoft Windows 7. The new C64 console is also boasting a DVD or Blu Ray slot as well as Wireless capabilities (online Chuckie Egg anyone?).
The new Commodore device is on sale now from the CommodoreUSA.net site with a basic system costing $250 going up to a whopping $895 but is also expected to be on sale in stores later on this year across Europe. The console currently comes shipped with the Classic Games package but we're hoping that more games will be released in time so we can relive some of our favourites - Dizzy being top of the list!!
The release of the new C64 console follows Commodore releasing its game-cabinet application through Itunes for the iphone and ipad, allowing gamers to select retro classics such as manic miner, Chuckie Egg and others. Commodore has also been present in both the original Tron film and the Tron Legacy film released on DVD and Blu Ray this year.
What's next - Sega releasing the Master System or Atari and the doomed Lynx?
PlayEject - films and games reviews
For more news and reviews on films and games visit PlayEject.com
C64 - the C stands for Comeback!!
A retro gamers' heaven - the C64 is making a comeback!
Any gamer over the age of 25 will have fond memories of the classic Commodore 64 with its distinct beige keyboard and tape deck, rainbow logo and the famous blue and white display from the load screen. Anyone thats played on a Commodore will no doubt remember the insane loading times, watching the counter on the tape deck tick round until the epilepsy-inducing loading screens finish flashing and the pixellated characters appear on screen and you can start playing...
Well thats soon to be a reality all over again as Commodore USA are releasing a brand new version of the console which will run on Microsoft Windows 7. The new C64 console is also boasting a DVD or Blu Ray slot as well as Wireless capabilities (online Chuckie Egg anyone?).
The new Commodore device is on sale now from the CommodoreUSA.net site with a basic system costing $250 going up to a whopping $895 but is also expected to be on sale in stores later on this year across Europe. The console currently comes shipped with the Classic Games package but we're hoping that more games will be released in time so we can relive some of our favourites - Dizzy being top of the list!!
The release of the new C64 console follows Commodore releasing its game-cabinet application through Itunes for the iphone and ipad, allowing gamers to select retro classics such as manic miner, Chuckie Egg and others. Commodore has also been present in both the original Tron film and the Tron Legacy film released on DVD and Blu Ray this year.
What's next - Sega releasing the Master System or Atari and the doomed Lynx?
PlayEject - films and games reviews
For more news and reviews on films and games visit PlayEject.com
Any gamer over the age of 25 will have fond memories of the classic Commodore 64 with its distinct beige keyboard and tape deck, rainbow logo and the famous blue and white display from the load screen. Anyone thats played on a Commodore will no doubt remember the insane loading times, watching the counter on the tape deck tick round until the epilepsy-inducing loading screens finish flashing and the pixellated characters appear on screen and you can start playing...
Well thats soon to be a reality all over again as Commodore USA are releasing a brand new version of the console which will run on Microsoft Windows 7. The new C64 console is also boasting a DVD or Blu Ray slot as well as Wireless capabilities (online Chuckie Egg anyone?).
The new Commodore device is on sale now from the CommodoreUSA.net site with a basic system costing $250 going up to a whopping $895 but is also expected to be on sale in stores later on this year across Europe. The console currently comes shipped with the Classic Games package but we're hoping that more games will be released in time so we can relive some of our favourites - Dizzy being top of the list!!
The release of the new C64 console follows Commodore releasing its game-cabinet application through Itunes for the iphone and ipad, allowing gamers to select retro classics such as manic miner, Chuckie Egg and others. Commodore has also been present in both the original Tron film and the Tron Legacy film released on DVD and Blu Ray this year.
What's next - Sega releasing the Master System or Atari and the doomed Lynx?
PlayEject - films and games reviews
For more news and reviews on films and games visit PlayEject.com
Friday, 8 April 2011
Skyline - Dont Look Up!!
After seeing the trailer for Skyline, the PlayEject team were very excited – we admit freely to loving a good alien/monster movie and this one looked right up our street. With the massive space craft seen hovering over the cities with helpless people getting sucked up and the strange blue light, Skyline was definitely on our radar.
Skyline starts off promisingly well with a couple, Jarrod (Eric Balfour – 24) and his pregnant girlfriend, waking up to a bright blue light outside their window. When they hear screams from the next room, Jarrod investigates but finds himself transfixed by the blue light and we see his skin turn an odd colour and his veins bulge before the camera cuts and takes us back 15 hours earlier. So far – so good.
We then get introduced to the couple who are visiting Jarrod’s successful friend, Terry (Donald Faison – Scrubs) and his wife in LA. Its not long before we are given a quick introduction to everyone and the lives of the rich in LA before we end up back at the scene with Jarrod being sucked towards the blue light…
Skyline takes a different approach to the alien-invasion genre and becomes a battle to survive rather than fight back with the group of survivors arguing amongst themselves which is the best course of action – sit it out or make a run. Rather than see ‘heroes’ in a film of this nature it is refreshing to see the main characters scared and not knowing what to do for the best – a sense of desperation.
Unlike another recent movie release of the same genre (Monsters) we do see a lot of the aliens and their main aim becomes apparent as the film progresses. However, Skyline does feature a lot of slo-motion sequences which at first are acceptable to emphasis the action but after a while (and each scene featuring any action) it does become annoying.
We also got the impression that the writers lost their way with Skyline – with what starts off so promising and a possible Cloverfield beater soon starts to feel like there was no definite direction. We won’t spoil any part of the film in terms of what happens but after you watch the film you will probably see what we mean.
Overall, Skyline is not a bad film but its really not the blockbuster that the trailer made it look. There are a few familiar alien-stereotpyes (tentacles that come from something larger and look for humans, etc) and annoying moments but at the same time its fairly enjoyable.
For a full review of the Skyline film jump over to PlayEject.com
PlayEject - movies and games reviews
Skyline starts off promisingly well with a couple, Jarrod (Eric Balfour – 24) and his pregnant girlfriend, waking up to a bright blue light outside their window. When they hear screams from the next room, Jarrod investigates but finds himself transfixed by the blue light and we see his skin turn an odd colour and his veins bulge before the camera cuts and takes us back 15 hours earlier. So far – so good.
We then get introduced to the couple who are visiting Jarrod’s successful friend, Terry (Donald Faison – Scrubs) and his wife in LA. Its not long before we are given a quick introduction to everyone and the lives of the rich in LA before we end up back at the scene with Jarrod being sucked towards the blue light…
Skyline takes a different approach to the alien-invasion genre and becomes a battle to survive rather than fight back with the group of survivors arguing amongst themselves which is the best course of action – sit it out or make a run. Rather than see ‘heroes’ in a film of this nature it is refreshing to see the main characters scared and not knowing what to do for the best – a sense of desperation.
Unlike another recent movie release of the same genre (Monsters) we do see a lot of the aliens and their main aim becomes apparent as the film progresses. However, Skyline does feature a lot of slo-motion sequences which at first are acceptable to emphasis the action but after a while (and each scene featuring any action) it does become annoying.
We also got the impression that the writers lost their way with Skyline – with what starts off so promising and a possible Cloverfield beater soon starts to feel like there was no definite direction. We won’t spoil any part of the film in terms of what happens but after you watch the film you will probably see what we mean.
Overall, Skyline is not a bad film but its really not the blockbuster that the trailer made it look. There are a few familiar alien-stereotpyes (tentacles that come from something larger and look for humans, etc) and annoying moments but at the same time its fairly enjoyable.
For a full review of the Skyline film jump over to PlayEject.com
PlayEject - movies and games reviews
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Marvel v Capcom 3: Battle of the comics?
It doesn't seem that long ago when PlayEject used to pump our 10p's into Street Fighter 2 in the arcades and enjoy sonic booms and hadoukens. Then came along the Super versions and the Tekken's and it all esclated to a new level. Sure enough a new twist was added with the popular characters of the Marvel comic books making an appearance and here we are in another rendition of the oh-so familiar 2-d fighter: Marvel versus Capcom 3: Fate of 2 Worlds.
So what makes this different to the others, especially if you forked out for the recent Super Street Fighter games for the Xbox 360 or PS3? Obviously these games didn't have the Marvel characters but also, the advanced mechanics in Marvel games are different to SF games and thats the key.
For Marvel virgins, the 6-button layout is slightly different than Street Fighter and the advanced mechanics allow for things like Crossover Counters, Advancing Guards and Snap Backs as well as team fighting (like Tekken-Tag). Now you can have Iron Man, Ryu and Wolverine take on Dante, Magneto and Arthur - the chap from the Ghouls and Goblins games! The variations in the teams and difference each carefully picked member can bring to the table will determine how you fight and how successful you will (or won't) be.
As with Street Fighter games, it is crucial that if you want to be good at Marvel v Capcom, you will have to put in a lot of practice. If you don't - you will lose. Stringing together a lucky combo with a fireball or two is all very well and good. Beating an opponent with a team that are well put together and well practised is not an easy thing. If you decide to take the fight to the masses online via XBL or PSN and you haven't put much practice in then we guarantee you will come away from most fights with a loss every time to the point you may want to give up.
That's where this game will divide audiences - some gamers love the challenge and want to perfect their team and moves to get the best combo with the best X-Factor finisher and can happily spend all day playing online against people from all over the world with the same characters. Others will hate it - they will want to pick random characters to try them out and so they should - thats part of the fun of any game. But playnig more experienced gamers will take the fun away after you've been beated 10 times on the trot (we know from experience).
As part of the Marvel series, this is one of the best we've played - the graphics are brilliant, the characters are chunky and feel like they look - with the larger ones (Hulk, Sentinal, Haggar, etc) feeling heavier and stronger than the smaller guys (Spiderman, Pheonix, Arthur, etc) and then the 'medium class' of Ryu, Dante and Iron Man do their job of being somewhere inbetween meaning each fighter style can be catered for.
The downside is that the game will divide audiences as it has done with past Street Fighter games and the devotion to the practice means picking up and playing a quick game online is not always the most attractive option. Not for everyone but for fans - its a must.
Visit PlayEject.com for the full review of Marvel versus Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
PlayEject - movie and games reviews
So what makes this different to the others, especially if you forked out for the recent Super Street Fighter games for the Xbox 360 or PS3? Obviously these games didn't have the Marvel characters but also, the advanced mechanics in Marvel games are different to SF games and thats the key.
For Marvel virgins, the 6-button layout is slightly different than Street Fighter and the advanced mechanics allow for things like Crossover Counters, Advancing Guards and Snap Backs as well as team fighting (like Tekken-Tag). Now you can have Iron Man, Ryu and Wolverine take on Dante, Magneto and Arthur - the chap from the Ghouls and Goblins games! The variations in the teams and difference each carefully picked member can bring to the table will determine how you fight and how successful you will (or won't) be.
As with Street Fighter games, it is crucial that if you want to be good at Marvel v Capcom, you will have to put in a lot of practice. If you don't - you will lose. Stringing together a lucky combo with a fireball or two is all very well and good. Beating an opponent with a team that are well put together and well practised is not an easy thing. If you decide to take the fight to the masses online via XBL or PSN and you haven't put much practice in then we guarantee you will come away from most fights with a loss every time to the point you may want to give up.
That's where this game will divide audiences - some gamers love the challenge and want to perfect their team and moves to get the best combo with the best X-Factor finisher and can happily spend all day playing online against people from all over the world with the same characters. Others will hate it - they will want to pick random characters to try them out and so they should - thats part of the fun of any game. But playnig more experienced gamers will take the fun away after you've been beated 10 times on the trot (we know from experience).
As part of the Marvel series, this is one of the best we've played - the graphics are brilliant, the characters are chunky and feel like they look - with the larger ones (Hulk, Sentinal, Haggar, etc) feeling heavier and stronger than the smaller guys (Spiderman, Pheonix, Arthur, etc) and then the 'medium class' of Ryu, Dante and Iron Man do their job of being somewhere inbetween meaning each fighter style can be catered for.
The downside is that the game will divide audiences as it has done with past Street Fighter games and the devotion to the practice means picking up and playing a quick game online is not always the most attractive option. Not for everyone but for fans - its a must.
Visit PlayEject.com for the full review of Marvel versus Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
PlayEject - movie and games reviews
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
WWE All stars - on the road to Wrestlemania?Knockout or Knockdown?
WWE is a massive business – for many years now have THQ and Activision produced an annual rendition of the latest Wrestling game featuring the many names of the sport. From Smackdown to Raw, from Superstars to Diva’s – spandex to Suplex – over the many years we have seen all the things from TV appear in consoles with mixed reactions.
This time, however, WWE All Stars seems to have taken a slightly different standpoint on the mechanics of how the game will be played. Rather than the tried and tested ‘grapple’ system that so many other Wrestling games have used and allowed for technical moves to be strung together, All Stars is using a more Arcade-y system that wouldn’t look out of place in a Street Fighter game.
The big feature of All Stars is the older Superstars in the same game as the more recent ones. This means old faces like Ricky The Dragon Steamboat and Andre the Giant can team up with the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock to fight against The Undertaker, John Cena and Rey Mysterio. For fans of WWE this is heaven sent as those what-if dream matches of old-school versus new can now take place. Its a lot like the Fight Night Champions premise (where Tyson could fight Ali).
Graphics & Sound
The first thing that will strike you when you see the game is how chunky the characters are – they are overly exaggerated, presumably to emphasise their real-life counterparts. The whole look and feel of the Wrestlers and the camera angles makes the atmosphere seem as close to the TV shows with decent entrances and music. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but its a drastic turn around from motion capture.
Gameplay
In the demo version of WWE All Stars you can tell that the Wrestling aspect of earlier games is pushed to one side and THQ have gone for a more fun and entertaining approach. One thing to be wary of – this is not a typical Wrestling game – it is a decent fighting game though.
After selecting the match type and Superstar to play as, the action begins with the usual entrances and gesturing to the crowd and each other but when the bell rings, don’t expect to be put into a headlock and worked around the ring like a pro – instead you’ll be throwing punches and special moves (all of which are accurate to the individual wrestler and the way they move in real life) and knocking people out of the ring in no time.
And its here that we’re torn – PlayEject makes no bones about it – we like a good Wrestle every now and again and as exciting as it is to be able to play as our favourite Superstar Legends against the modern wrestlers is exciting – finally we can see Andre the Giant take on the Big Show! But its the way the game delivers itself that bothers us. We were hoping for a more traditional style game but instead been thrown a few curveballs with over-exaggerated finishing moves and animations. Having said that, what is the point in bringing out the same game with new faces – its been done before so bravo to THQ for trying something brave and new.
Its definitely a fun game to play and Wrestling fans old and young will enjoy it – we did and will no doubt be laying the smack down on all the Candy asses…!
To read the full review of WWE All Stars visit PlayEject.com - movies and games reviews
This time, however, WWE All Stars seems to have taken a slightly different standpoint on the mechanics of how the game will be played. Rather than the tried and tested ‘grapple’ system that so many other Wrestling games have used and allowed for technical moves to be strung together, All Stars is using a more Arcade-y system that wouldn’t look out of place in a Street Fighter game.
The big feature of All Stars is the older Superstars in the same game as the more recent ones. This means old faces like Ricky The Dragon Steamboat and Andre the Giant can team up with the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock to fight against The Undertaker, John Cena and Rey Mysterio. For fans of WWE this is heaven sent as those what-if dream matches of old-school versus new can now take place. Its a lot like the Fight Night Champions premise (where Tyson could fight Ali).
Graphics & Sound
The first thing that will strike you when you see the game is how chunky the characters are – they are overly exaggerated, presumably to emphasise their real-life counterparts. The whole look and feel of the Wrestlers and the camera angles makes the atmosphere seem as close to the TV shows with decent entrances and music. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but its a drastic turn around from motion capture.
Gameplay
In the demo version of WWE All Stars you can tell that the Wrestling aspect of earlier games is pushed to one side and THQ have gone for a more fun and entertaining approach. One thing to be wary of – this is not a typical Wrestling game – it is a decent fighting game though.
After selecting the match type and Superstar to play as, the action begins with the usual entrances and gesturing to the crowd and each other but when the bell rings, don’t expect to be put into a headlock and worked around the ring like a pro – instead you’ll be throwing punches and special moves (all of which are accurate to the individual wrestler and the way they move in real life) and knocking people out of the ring in no time.
And its here that we’re torn – PlayEject makes no bones about it – we like a good Wrestle every now and again and as exciting as it is to be able to play as our favourite Superstar Legends against the modern wrestlers is exciting – finally we can see Andre the Giant take on the Big Show! But its the way the game delivers itself that bothers us. We were hoping for a more traditional style game but instead been thrown a few curveballs with over-exaggerated finishing moves and animations. Having said that, what is the point in bringing out the same game with new faces – its been done before so bravo to THQ for trying something brave and new.
Its definitely a fun game to play and Wrestling fans old and young will enjoy it – we did and will no doubt be laying the smack down on all the Candy asses…!
To read the full review of WWE All Stars visit PlayEject.com - movies and games reviews
WWE All stars - on the road to Wrestlemania?Knockout or Knockdown?
WWE is a massive business – for many years now have THQ and Activision produced an annual rendition of the latest Wrestling game featuring the many names of the sport. From Smackdown to Raw, from Superstars to Diva’s – spandex to Suplex – over the many years we have seen all the things from TV appear in consoles with mixed reactions.
This time, however, WWE All Stars seems to have taken a slightly different standpoint on the mechanics of how the game will be played. Rather than the tried and tested ‘grapple’ system that so many other Wrestling games have used and allowed for technical moves to be strung together, All Stars is using a more Arcade-y system that wouldn’t look out of place in a Street Fighter game.
The big feature of All Stars is the older Superstars in the same game as the more recent ones. This means old faces like Ricky The Dragon Steamboat and Andre the Giant can team up with the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock to fight against The Undertaker, John Cena and Rey Mysterio. For fans of WWE this is heaven sent as those what-if dream matches of old-school versus new can now take place. Its a lot like the Fight Night Champions premise (where Tyson could fight Ali).
Graphics & Sound
The first thing that will strike you when you see the game is how chunky the characters are – they are overly exaggerated, presumably to emphasise their real-life counterparts. The whole look and feel of the Wrestlers and the camera angles makes the atmosphere seem as close to the TV shows with decent entrances and music. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but its a drastic turn around from motion capture.
Gameplay
In the demo version of WWE All Stars you can tell that the Wrestling aspect of earlier games is pushed to one side and THQ have gone for a more fun and entertaining approach. One thing to be wary of – this is not a typical Wrestling game – it is a decent fighting game though.
After selecting the match type and Superstar to play as, the action begins with the usual entrances and gesturing to the crowd and each other but when the bell rings, don’t expect to be put into a headlock and worked around the ring like a pro – instead you’ll be throwing punches and special moves (all of which are accurate to the individual wrestler and the way they move in real life) and knocking people out of the ring in no time.
And its here that we’re torn – PlayEject makes no bones about it – we like a good Wrestle every now and again and as exciting as it is to be able to play as our favourite Superstar Legends against the modern wrestlers is exciting – finally we can see Andre the Giant take on the Big Show! But its the way the game delivers itself that bothers us. We were hoping for a more traditional style game but instead been thrown a few curveballs with over-exaggerated finishing moves and animations. Having said that, what is the point in bringing out the same game with new faces – its been done before so bravo to THQ for trying something brave and new.
Its definitely a fun game to play and Wrestling fans old and young will enjoy it – we did and will no doubt be laying the smack down on all the Candy asses…!
To read the full review of WWE All Stars visit PlayEject.com - movies and games reviews
This time, however, WWE All Stars seems to have taken a slightly different standpoint on the mechanics of how the game will be played. Rather than the tried and tested ‘grapple’ system that so many other Wrestling games have used and allowed for technical moves to be strung together, All Stars is using a more Arcade-y system that wouldn’t look out of place in a Street Fighter game.
The big feature of All Stars is the older Superstars in the same game as the more recent ones. This means old faces like Ricky The Dragon Steamboat and Andre the Giant can team up with the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock to fight against The Undertaker, John Cena and Rey Mysterio. For fans of WWE this is heaven sent as those what-if dream matches of old-school versus new can now take place. Its a lot like the Fight Night Champions premise (where Tyson could fight Ali).
Graphics & Sound
The first thing that will strike you when you see the game is how chunky the characters are – they are overly exaggerated, presumably to emphasise their real-life counterparts. The whole look and feel of the Wrestlers and the camera angles makes the atmosphere seem as close to the TV shows with decent entrances and music. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but its a drastic turn around from motion capture.
Gameplay
In the demo version of WWE All Stars you can tell that the Wrestling aspect of earlier games is pushed to one side and THQ have gone for a more fun and entertaining approach. One thing to be wary of – this is not a typical Wrestling game – it is a decent fighting game though.
After selecting the match type and Superstar to play as, the action begins with the usual entrances and gesturing to the crowd and each other but when the bell rings, don’t expect to be put into a headlock and worked around the ring like a pro – instead you’ll be throwing punches and special moves (all of which are accurate to the individual wrestler and the way they move in real life) and knocking people out of the ring in no time.
And its here that we’re torn – PlayEject makes no bones about it – we like a good Wrestle every now and again and as exciting as it is to be able to play as our favourite Superstar Legends against the modern wrestlers is exciting – finally we can see Andre the Giant take on the Big Show! But its the way the game delivers itself that bothers us. We were hoping for a more traditional style game but instead been thrown a few curveballs with over-exaggerated finishing moves and animations. Having said that, what is the point in bringing out the same game with new faces – its been done before so bravo to THQ for trying something brave and new.
Its definitely a fun game to play and Wrestling fans old and young will enjoy it – we did and will no doubt be laying the smack down on all the Candy asses…!
To read the full review of WWE All Stars visit PlayEject.com - movies and games reviews
Is there still a growl in the Tiger? Tiger Woods Masters 2012
Tiger Woods has been a very busy chap over the last few years – not only on the Golf Course if the news is correct! But also being the face of EA Sports’ Golf series – what else did you think we meant?
So another year and another EA Sports title is hitting the shelves with the improved gameplay and tweaked graphics that cause the same arguments each year: Why should I buy Tiger Woods 12 if I have Tiger Woods PGA 2011?
The biggest reason to Golf Fans (apart from Tiger not being featured on the front cover of the game!) is the addition of the Augusta National Golf Course for the first time ever. We’re not massive golfers at PlayEject but this is a big deal and so is the inclusion of being able to play a Masters tournament.
So what else? Well there’s the new Caddie option which helps players chose between 2 types of shot – a conservative effort which will keep you safe from hazards but not help reach the Birdies and Eagles – and the more ‘attacking’ approach of driving down the course but with added risks to consider such as cross winds and bunkers, etc.
The Caddie tips won’t be to everyone’s taste and thankfully can be turned off. In fact we think most people, especially hardened Tiger Woods gamers will opt to switch this off permanently as it does seem to take a bit of the skill out of the shots – as selecting a preset Caddie shot is much easier than going through a club selection and lining up the shot. It is an excellent way for anybody new to the Fairways to get to grips with the game though.
The graphics look excellent – some of the shots we’ve seen look picture-perfect as the sun is behind a tree with the light shining through as the golfer takes a swing – its a masterpiece to watch.
The PS3 Move version of the game will apparently feature Tiger Woods on the cover as ‘Special Edition’ but not much has been said about this so don’t hold your breath but is it a sign from EA that they no longer think they need Tiger to brand their successful games??
Maybe next year will reveal more…
Read the full Preview for Tiger Woods PGA Masters 2012 at PlayEject - movies and games reviews.
So another year and another EA Sports title is hitting the shelves with the improved gameplay and tweaked graphics that cause the same arguments each year: Why should I buy Tiger Woods 12 if I have Tiger Woods PGA 2011?
The biggest reason to Golf Fans (apart from Tiger not being featured on the front cover of the game!) is the addition of the Augusta National Golf Course for the first time ever. We’re not massive golfers at PlayEject but this is a big deal and so is the inclusion of being able to play a Masters tournament.
So what else? Well there’s the new Caddie option which helps players chose between 2 types of shot – a conservative effort which will keep you safe from hazards but not help reach the Birdies and Eagles – and the more ‘attacking’ approach of driving down the course but with added risks to consider such as cross winds and bunkers, etc.
The Caddie tips won’t be to everyone’s taste and thankfully can be turned off. In fact we think most people, especially hardened Tiger Woods gamers will opt to switch this off permanently as it does seem to take a bit of the skill out of the shots – as selecting a preset Caddie shot is much easier than going through a club selection and lining up the shot. It is an excellent way for anybody new to the Fairways to get to grips with the game though.
The graphics look excellent – some of the shots we’ve seen look picture-perfect as the sun is behind a tree with the light shining through as the golfer takes a swing – its a masterpiece to watch.
The PS3 Move version of the game will apparently feature Tiger Woods on the cover as ‘Special Edition’ but not much has been said about this so don’t hold your breath but is it a sign from EA that they no longer think they need Tiger to brand their successful games??
Maybe next year will reveal more…
Read the full Preview for Tiger Woods PGA Masters 2012 at PlayEject - movies and games reviews.
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Saw: Is this the end for Jigsaw?
Rarely in recent years has a series of films divided audiences in the way the Saw franchise has managed. To some, the films are cult classics that have helped define the modern horror genre, to others, the seemingly endless run of sequels have tried but ultimately failed to recreate the brilliance that was the first, and widely regarded, best Saw instalment. Billed as ‘the final chapter’, we were intrigued to discover if this would indeed prove to be the final piece of the jigsaw.
As a teaser of the new series of torture devices to come, the films’ two key storylines are briefly held back whilst for the first time, a ‘moral test’ is played out in front of the public. Following the inevitable bloodshed, the film is poised to release onto its audience more traps than ever before seen in one Saw instalment. Herein however lies our first issue. Having seemingly challenged themselves to cram as many traps as possible into a 90 minute window, the time needed to develop both the storyline and the characters is lost.
Picking up from the end of Saw XI, The Final Chapter finds Jigsaw’s Widow Jill running to the police to save herself from her husband’s former partner, Detective Hoffman. In exchange for immunity, Jill is willing to share all she knows of the Jigsaw murders. Sensing the police to be closing in on him, Hoffman appears intent on seeking revenge on Jill, a character many will feel saddened to see reduced to the role of a seemingly weak and frightened individual, having previously been portrayed as the strength behind Jigsaw.
If you'd like to read more on Saw: The Final Chapter then visit PlayEject.com
A brief introduction to Gaming!
The gaming industry is massive - a multi million dollar industry that has grown at a tremendous rate over the last 10 years and continued to do so despite a global recession! So how has this happened and what makes gaming so popular?
Well to find that out we need to go back a few years to the days when Arcade consoles were much more popular and had the graphical power and unique selling points of steering wheels, flight sticks and vibration feedback chairs. Basically, the stuff that we now take for granted in all our games and consoles. During the Arcade years, people would plough money into a machine at 50p or £1 a time for a few minutes of enjoyment where they try to beat a score or a level. And therein lies the key. We are competitive by nature - we want to beat something, whether thats a score, level or a friend. And thats where it started...
So a few years and a few million $'s of investment and research later we have seen a number of companies hold the crown of being a power house in the gaming market from Sega to Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft (the big 3) who now have consoles which provide all the thrills of the Arcade games, each without taking up the space of a vending machine per game!
But how we play games has also changed. The very first home consoles had the multiplayer options (pong!) on a simple scale as the manufacturers realise that its the competitive streak in us all that keep us coming back for more. But that isn't enough - playing the guy sat next to you or the girl next door is not always possible so along came the ability to play online and the boom of Xbox Live and the Playstation network (other online services are available!) which allows us to connect to users all over the world and chat while playing the games we love. Its as close as we can get to having friends in the room with us when playing and works extremely well.
Its not just investment into the technology that has been massive either - its now just as common to see an advert or trailer on TV for the latest game as it is for a movie. Think about that for a moment - 10 years ago a cinema blockbuster was raking in the money by tens of millions and had the budget to do so. Nowadays, Homefront, Call of Duty or the latest FIFA soccer game will advertise massively on TV before and after their launch and still turn over a huge profit. That is one example of how big the gaming industry has become.
The introduction of Gamer Points/Trophies and Achievements was simply genius though - this was the most natural and obvious progression for competitive spirit to drive gamers to the next level. No longer is beating a level good enough - we are now all used to beating a section of a game to get an Achievement point and boost our profile to show off to friends. Think about it - what do we use our gamer cards for? They don't grant access to any special part of a game. They don't allow us to purchase anything. We don't get a congratualtory email from Mr Gates' team when we get 1000gp on a game. But still we play and still we collect points (sometimes as a natural progression but sometimes because we play to get them) - why? Because we are competitive and the big 3 know this.
So where now? The Kinect? Wii motion plus? Sony Move? These are tipped to be the next big thing for the consoles (especially as there's no new console in the pipeline at the moment) but are they enough to keep gamers coming back for more? Will they feed our Competitive spirit enough? Or are we happy with gaming as it is?
Check out my website PlayEject.com for reviews and news on games and movies.
Well to find that out we need to go back a few years to the days when Arcade consoles were much more popular and had the graphical power and unique selling points of steering wheels, flight sticks and vibration feedback chairs. Basically, the stuff that we now take for granted in all our games and consoles. During the Arcade years, people would plough money into a machine at 50p or £1 a time for a few minutes of enjoyment where they try to beat a score or a level. And therein lies the key. We are competitive by nature - we want to beat something, whether thats a score, level or a friend. And thats where it started...
So a few years and a few million $'s of investment and research later we have seen a number of companies hold the crown of being a power house in the gaming market from Sega to Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft (the big 3) who now have consoles which provide all the thrills of the Arcade games, each without taking up the space of a vending machine per game!
But how we play games has also changed. The very first home consoles had the multiplayer options (pong!) on a simple scale as the manufacturers realise that its the competitive streak in us all that keep us coming back for more. But that isn't enough - playing the guy sat next to you or the girl next door is not always possible so along came the ability to play online and the boom of Xbox Live and the Playstation network (other online services are available!) which allows us to connect to users all over the world and chat while playing the games we love. Its as close as we can get to having friends in the room with us when playing and works extremely well.
Its not just investment into the technology that has been massive either - its now just as common to see an advert or trailer on TV for the latest game as it is for a movie. Think about that for a moment - 10 years ago a cinema blockbuster was raking in the money by tens of millions and had the budget to do so. Nowadays, Homefront, Call of Duty or the latest FIFA soccer game will advertise massively on TV before and after their launch and still turn over a huge profit. That is one example of how big the gaming industry has become.
The introduction of Gamer Points/Trophies and Achievements was simply genius though - this was the most natural and obvious progression for competitive spirit to drive gamers to the next level. No longer is beating a level good enough - we are now all used to beating a section of a game to get an Achievement point and boost our profile to show off to friends. Think about it - what do we use our gamer cards for? They don't grant access to any special part of a game. They don't allow us to purchase anything. We don't get a congratualtory email from Mr Gates' team when we get 1000gp on a game. But still we play and still we collect points (sometimes as a natural progression but sometimes because we play to get them) - why? Because we are competitive and the big 3 know this.
So where now? The Kinect? Wii motion plus? Sony Move? These are tipped to be the next big thing for the consoles (especially as there's no new console in the pipeline at the moment) but are they enough to keep gamers coming back for more? Will they feed our Competitive spirit enough? Or are we happy with gaming as it is?
Check out my website PlayEject.com for reviews and news on games and movies.
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