Tag Archives: Bethesda

First Impressions: Brink (360)

Brink Vault and Slide Shot
Future Tech: Non-stick low-friction pants. Classy.

First impressions are usually easy to write. You just put a new game in, play for a few hours, and then write what you feel. With Brink, however, it was a little trickier to get a bead on things.

After my first day with the title, Brink still has me a bit conflicted. Developer Splash Damage managed to pull of some amazing things with this game.They also managed to ship the game with some fairly major flaws. I can walk away from one play session and feel completely satisfied. Then the next time I head into the game I walk away frustrated and annoyed.  Click here to continue reading . . .


On the Eve of Brink – Official HD Launch Trailer

Brink hits store shelves tomorrow, and on the eve of launch, Bethesda brings us the official launch trailer. The trailer touches on the game’s story and the struggle erupting inside the Ark.

Brink is a first-person shooter that offers a fast-paced SMART movement system and deep character customization that spans both the single and multi-player modes. As previously mentioned, the game is set to release in North America tomorrow (May 10th), and will be available on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. For more information, please visit the official website.


RAGE ‘The Shrouded’ Video is Absolutely Gorgeous

Bethesda has released a new video from the id-developed RAGE. ‘The Shrouded’ shows off some NPC interaction, driving, and first-person shootouts all taken from actual game play footage.

It’s not just that the video is visually stunning — which it very much is — but that everything looks so well designed and full of character. I love the spider-drone!

Look for RAGE on PC, Xbox, and PS3 when it hits shelves on 9/13/2011.


Trio of Fallout: New Vegas DLC Packs Detailed and Dated

Bethesda has detailed plans for three new add-ons for their post-apocalyptic open-world RPG Fallout: New Vegas. The expansions will release simultaneously on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, and will each carry a $9.99 USD (or token equivalent, thank you MS points . . .) price tag.

Fallout 3 Screen

Cowboys and robots! Note: Not from the DLC. I just like Cowboys and robots.

Honest Hearts will be the first to release when it drops on May 17th. After being ambushed while exploring Zion National Park, you will find yourself in the middle of a savage tribal battle, as well as a conflict between a New Canaanite missionary and the mysterious Burned Man. And, in typical Fallout fashion, the choices you make and the sides you chose to ally with will decide the fate of the region.

Old World Blues is scheduled for a June release. With this pack, you’ll play the part of an unwilling lab-rat as you discover the origins of the regions mutated monsters. Pre-war research centers will provide clues to the technology you’ll need to either turn against your captors, or side with them as you face off against a bigger threat.

The last of the three, Lonesome Road, comes in July and introduces you to the original Courier Six; a man named Ulysses who plays an important role at the start of the New Vegas story. He promises to give you answers for his actions, but not until you complete one final task. The earthquake-ravaged and storm addled canyons of The Divide will provide the backdrop for this adventure, and will take you to a place that few have dared tread, and none have ever returned.

The content seems to carry on the strong theme of New Vegas’ gritty, western-wasteland. Certainly sounds like something to be excited about for fans of the series.

Source: Bethesda Softworks

Brink Hits Shelves Early

Bethesda sends word that the retail release of brink has been delayed by negative seven days. That’s right; it’s now set to hit stores one-week earlier than projected, on May 10th (Meaning I can pick it up when I go to pay the rest of my LA Noire pre-order! Convenient!)

Brink is a first-person shooter that features in-depth character customization and the vaunted ‘SMART’ movement system that allows players to quickly and seamlessly traverse various terrain/obstacles. The multiplayer videos I’ve seen very much remind me of a ‘Team Fortress’ style experience, which isn’t a bad thing. I haven’t gotten a hands-on, but I’ve heard great things from people who have.

(Source: IGN.com)


‘Prey 2’ Confirmed for 2012

Bethesda has finally made an official announcement regarding shooter-sequel Prey 2. The game is currently being developed by Human Head Studios, and is slated for release sometime in 2012.

Prey 2 will be built on the id Tech Engine. According to project lead Chris Rhinehart, the game will feature fast-paced action in a “open, alien world.”

(Source: Joystiq)


First Look at Skyrim Gameplay in New Trailer

Bioware has posted a new video that offers us our first look at Skyrim in action. I think it’s fair to say that it looks nothing short of being one of the most amazing games we have ever seen.

I don’t know anything now that I didn’t already know, but the video confirms that the visuals and the sound (at least, the soundtrack) are absolutely stunning. I think I really did drool a bit (but can you blame me? My mouth was agape in awe.)

Barring any major game-play issues, the latest in the Elder Scrolls series sure seems to be in a good position to take 2011’s game of the year. And that’s saying a lot considering the competition.

Check the trailer out here. Seriously, check it out.


Bethesda Dates Two Titles on Same Day, Hopes Wife Won’t Find Out

It’s a good ‘ol fashioned date’stravaganza, as Behtesda offers up release dates for two more of their titles. Brink is slated to hit stores on May 17th, and Hunted will arrive on June 1st. (Source: Gameinformer)

Brink is currently under development by the Splash Damage team, creators of Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (which makes me wonder why this new title isn’t called ‘Brink: Territory of Enemies’ or something.) Brink is a first person shooter whose features include extensive character customization, dynamic objectives and goals, and the all new SMART button control scheme. Check out the game (here).

InXile’s Hunted is a co-op action game that takes players through enemy infested dungeons. More information can be found at their website (here).


nJoystic Daily News (01.20.2011)

New Free-to-play MMO, Salem, Announced – Paradox Interactive announces development of a new free-to-play MMO under the working title of ‘Salem’, which boasts features such as player-constructed buildings and modifiable terrain, as well as permanent player death. For more information and to view video of Designer/Creative Director Bjorn Johannessen, see PC Game’s article (Here.)

Konami Takes Over HudsonA majority shareholder since 2005, Konami has decided to make the move to become full owners of developer Hudson. Konami intends to use the developer to further it’s social and mobile games. (Source: GamesIndustry.biz)

Splash Damage’s Chris Sweetman on Brink’s Audio Design, Choir of Guns TrailerThe Bethesda blogs have posted an update from Splash Damage’s audio director Chris Sweetman, offering a tidbit of the full blog post from Brink’s website (post can be found here) as well as a video titled ‘A Choir of Guns’. Find the video here.

Price and Release Date for Stacking Announced – Double Fine’s unique puzzle game, Stacking, will cost just under $15 when it hits PSN on February 8th, and XBLA the following day (That’s the 9th, for the counting-impaired.) I’ve been excited about this game since I stumbled across Gameinformer’s preview a few months ago, so I consider this all very good news, which is why this whole blurb is in headline-green. (Source: Giant Bomb)

Possible LA Noir Release Date? According to gameinformer, Amazon and Gamefly have posted an April 5th release date for Rockstar’s next big title, LA Noir. Rockstar has not confirmed this date, however, and retail dates are always subject to change. I’ll stay optimistic, as April 5th is semi-near my birthday, so that could make a good present. Just say’n. (Source: Gameinformer)

APOX Now Available via SteamAPOX, the post-apocalyptic real-time strategy game from Blue Giant Interactive is now available on steam, for 33% off no less (currently $9.99) Check it out on steam here.

Modern Warfare 3 in November? Keeping with the release-date rumors theme, online reports (namely, the LA Times’ article found here) say that Modern Warfare 3 is well into development, and Infinity Ward is aiming for a November launch. Also of note; Sledgehammer Games has reportedly been contracted to help develop the single-player content, while Raven Software is working on the multiplayer element.

The last part of the rumor states that MW3 will depict a brutal civil war scenario, in which America is divided East versus West. Of course, I just made this last rumor up, but I could be right . . . right?

John Romero Working on the Wrong Kind of Doom; Social GamesGameinformer brings us word that id co-founders John Romero and Tom Hall are forming a new company, Loot Drop, and are now working on a social game to be published by RockYou. Lucky us. (Source: Gameinformer.)


nJoystic Daily News (01.17.2011)

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is 25 Hours Long?According to an article in the current edition of PC Gamer, developer Edios Montreal says Deus Ex: Human Revolution will take roughly 25 hours to complete. They also note that most of their testers do not complete the game in their six-hour-a-day, six-day-a-week testing, and [via tweet @ediosmontreal], that while 25 hours may be enough to complete the game, it’ll take much longer than that if you “want to do everything.” (source: CVG)

New L.A. Noir Screens Rockstar brings us four new screen shots of their in-development game, L.A. Noir. These show off the interrogation setting(s), and showcase the new character animation system. They look great so check them out here.

A Look at First Strike DLC for Black OpsGet a sneak peek at the First Strike map-pack coming to XBox 360 on February 1st. The pack offers four new maps; — plus a fifth “zombie map.” The DLC will also be available on PC and PS3, but no date has been given for these platforms yet.  (Source: Kotaku)

Game Informer on Skyrim TechGame Informer continues their preview of Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls: Skyrim with a look at the technology behind it. This includes the new Creation engine, which drives the environment and visual effects, the Havok’s behavior technology behind the NPC movement, as well as the improvement of the Radiant AI system and the all new Radiant Story system. Bethesda seems happy to make the ten or so months we have to wait as torturous as possible. Check it out here.