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GAME Over: Press start to continue Yes/No

Apr 10 2012 05:39 PM | Smokey-Smokerson in Blogs & Editorials

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It happened, after several months of GAME denying financial difficulties in the wake of being unable to afford to stock new releases, the truth came out along with a disaster amount of debt, some £180 million worth.

GAME now has a new CEO in place and the company now out of administration, the true question is; where does the company go from here?

With the loss of some 277 stores, almost half of their retail units, the remaining stores will have to adapt with a new business model that will see the company survive the economic turmoil that has now plagued the high street for five years.

Several key areas need to be looked at into the high street survival of the chain. The good news is that OpCapita, the buyer who has taken on the debt, are ‘retail turnaround specialists’. Recently they acquired Comet for nominal fee of £1 (plus debts). So far things have been looking up for them and it is this adaption that will likely take place with GAME.

Firstly, an assessment of where GAME has gone wrong will highlight all the key areas which will need to be addressed. Why did the company fall behind? What is the main downfall to the rise in debts?
And what can be down to stop this?

A lot of people will be quick to point out their prices of games. The majority were not cheap with supermarkets and online retailers being able to offer the same titles at a fraction of GAME’s asking price. We have become a very shrewd bunch of people since the economic downturn and this has without question had an effect on their performance. But the simple fact is, GAME could not afford to drop their prices, at least not by a significant amount. We are quick to judge and mock the price tag instore and compare it to online but we also forget some key facts, online retail has a greatly reduced amount of overheads in terms of rent, utilities and wages. Stores have to keep prices higher just to be able to afford to stay in the bricks and mortar around them. We then ask another question; well supermarkets can sell them cheaper and they are retail stores, why? It has been proven that a supermarket will happily sell a title, sometimes at a loss, just to increase the footfall through their doors. Their philosophy is that if you come in to buy a game, then you will likely buy some groceries whilst you’re there too.

The biggest threat of course is online. Retailers such as Amazon are able to offer new releases much cheaper and it is this very problem that has hampered other retailers of the past such as Woolworths and Zavvi.

The solution may very well lay in the theory of retail. McNair introduced the idea of the ‘wheel of retail’ in 1958. This is a process where new up and coming retailers have something new and refreshing that first breaks into the market before moving on to a trading up phase and cementing their position as a lead retailer. The wheel turns full circle though once a company has matured and if adaption is overlooked, then another competitor will enter the market at the beginning leaving your business in turmoil. Adaption is the key to survival, much like the theory of evolution; retail needs to adapt to survive.

OpCapita certainly have a monumental task on their hands with the remaining stores. Retailers are all about the ‘consumer experience’ in this century, something that will likely be addressed by the new CEO. But they are a company with bankers backing and a proven track record. GAME could very well continue, but it is clear their business model, design and approach to consumers will have the final say on whether the game truly is over.

Tim

Five great gaming soundtracks

Feb 18 2012 12:57 PM | Smokey-Smokerson in Blogs & Editorials

Soundtracks in games have evolved with systems. Long gone are the days of 16-bit midi files as we are now treated to all manor of quality soundtracks. For me, the music can make a game even greater, or can even make a bad game seem not too bad. Listed below I have selected a handful of tracks that have enhanced my experience over since games have been on disc format.

1. Shenmue - Main Theme

2. Final Fantasy VII Aerith's Theme

3. Mirrors Edge - Main Theme

4. Metal Gear Solid - The Best Is Yet To Come

Heavy Rain - Redemption

These just scratch the surface on some of my personal favourites. Let us know below what inspirational songs you adore, post videos and share the love for gamings great, and somewhat underrated, music scene.

GAME over: Is this the end for the UK retailer?

Feb 01 2012 02:00 PM | Smokey-Smokerson in Blogs & Editorials

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Reports today are flying around that UK retailer GAME are facing credit insurance issues, leading to the company unable to stock new releases.
According to MCV, GAME's financial landscape has changed "significantly since the beginning of the year" and that it's currently having to work with individual publishers to find solutions to financing issues.

GAME have however confirmed that new releases will be instore this coming friday.

How did this all begin? With their own webiste not stocking 3DS survival horror Resident Evil Revalations last week. GAME cited a technical error for the reason but is this just a corporate cover up?

It's no secret that GAME are ridiculously over priced. Not just compared to online but to other UK retailers on the high street. Rumors that staff have not been paid have also been said to be false.

The company cannot survive. In the current economic climate of the UK they have the wrong business model and cannot compete with online, or supermarket retail chains. The very fat that they are having to work with individual publishers to stock new releases is worrying enough. There is a debt building above them and I will give them no more than three months before they file for administration. Ofcourse there could be a buyer who will transform the business. The government could help them out in some aspects. But the future is looking bleak as UK retail enters another recession.

Something needs to be done to protect the high street retail. The UK has already lost Woolworths and Zavvi as game stockists. HMV are highly likely to follow suit during 2012. A new focus needs to be found to entice the consumer back toward the high street, and this focus must be a messge sent and fully backed from the government all the way.

Have some loyalty points on your GAME card? I may suggest spending them before they end up in the hands of an Official Receiver.

Feature source: MCV

2012: Smokey's Predictions

Jan 26 2012 01:38 PM | Smokey-Smokerson in Blogs & Editorials

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Please remember, I am no paid analyst and this is merely more for fun than anything else but this is how I see the next year panning out.

Sony to announce PS4: Sony have publicly stated that this will not be shown or announced at this years E3. This however doesn't mean it won't be announced this year. I'm going to take a stab at the Tokyo Games Show where Sony will announce, but not show any tech for the next generation console, with a full showing at E3 2013.

Xbox 720: I see Microsoft stepping up and being the next company to announce a new console. A mid-2013 release maybe with full connectivity for Kinect. I personally believe the rumors that it will act as a DVR and full media center will also come to fruition.

PS Vita price cut: I think the Vita will struggle to meet targets in the west and Sony have room for a pre-Christmas price drop. In the UK I think it will nose dive to around £179.99 for the Wifi and a touch over £200 for the 3G model. The US can also expect $50 shaved off each model and this will give Sony the edge over Nintendo this coming holiday season.

3DS lite: To be announced at E3 and out in the fall at a lower price, it will come with twin sliders from the start and possibly a slightly larger screen. This would be the only chance for Nintendo to gain momentum over Sony this fall.

Wii U: Simultaneous release in November 2012. I foresee all regions having a similar release date within a week or two. Filled with cheap ports of PS3 and 360 games, it will boast a marginally impressive line up, but fail to have a killer app until next year. A $300/£279 price tag will be the set RRP, but online retailers will gain an advantage but knocking that down before Christmas.

The Last Guardian: The title we all want to know more about will eb shown off in full at E3, but will miss out on a 2012 release.

PS2 classics to receive trophy support: A complete dream prediction and probably never likely to happen, but Sony could do no harm by adding trophies to PS2 classics such as GTA 3.

Sega release Shenmue 1 & 2 as Dreamcast classics: As another tease to fans, Shenmue 1 & 2 will be available for digital downloads in an attempt to raise money toward the production of Shenmue 3, which will then become a PS4 launch title in fall 2014. And if you believe that, you'll believe anything.

Remember, this is all speculation and for fun. Let us at YGC know what you predict for the coming year in the comments below.

Sonic Generations Demo: Did SEGA Get it Right?

Jun 30 2011 04:20 PM | BobbbyLight in Blogs & Editorials

Last night I finally got a chance to take the new old Sonic for a spin in his newest demo for the upcoming Sonic Generations. The newest title in the Sonic series looks to bring together both the classic, 2D Sonic with the new school, 3D Sonic. Both Sonics will take on the same, classic themed levels, but of course their perspectives will be very different.

The demo only lets us play the older Sonic which is good, because after the so-so release of Sonic 4 - Episode 1, everyone wants to see if SEGA can finally get back that feel we remember from the Genesis days. I have to say that I was pretty happy with the results. There is only one playable level, a re-imagining of Green Hill Zone. You take Classic Sonic through the level as fast as you can, with controls and momentum just like you remember it from the older games. With SEGA finally nailing the feel of Sonic (again) it gives me more hope for this game than I had before I played it. He runs and jumps just like you remember and of course his spin dash attack is there as well.

The updated visuals for the game are excellent. There is a ton of movement in the background of the stage making it feel full of life. The shading between the foreground and background is amazing. The crabs and bees that used to make you drop your rings in the first Sonic game are back with great animations and their look is well retained. Waterfalls in the background look perfect and overall the game's most recognized level has been brought into the world of HD as well as it could have been.

So the demo has me pretty happy, but I also have to remind myself that the demo is only showing one side of the game. How will 3D Sonic fare compared to his old school brother? If they can bring back the feel of the early Dreamcast games, we could be in for a treat. If we get the same 3D Sonic from his last few releases, we are going to be in trouble. At the very least, I think the demo is a valid reason for Sonic fans to be excited. The king of speed platforming might be back. Just can't wait to try out the other half of the the game.

What the staff want this Christmas

Dec 19 2011 04:20 PM | Smokey-Smokerson in Blogs & Editorials

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With Christmas now under a week away, Santa and his elves will be extremely busy gearing up for the big night ahead of them. Will he deliver just what you want though? That all depends ofcourse on whether you have been good or not

This Christmas at YGC Towers, the staff - who have all been very good except patacama (sleeping on the job) are hoping for some great new games to see them through the festive season.

The newly reformed guide team are first out the hat with their Christmas wishes. King_0_Hell says that he would "like to get Assassin's Creed Revelation's and Arkham City".

ZOLANTON is wishing for a game tht is not even out yet and states; "Well my most desired game for this Christmas is the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. It's something I waited for since trophies were implemented for the PS3 system. My favourite series of all time remastered and with trophies".

Valentort46 is a bit more realistic in his release schedule and "would like to receive Saints Row the Third".

xX_shoemaker_Xx is content and says; "I already got everything I wanted for Christmas... It is a little in the future, but I'd want the Jak & Daxter HD Collection".

With Christams being a time for family, site owner Sefjwm said; "this year I asked for 2 multiplayer games I can play with my wife; Ratchet and Clank All 4 1 and Lego Harry Potter years 5-7". A sentiment that I think hits the nail on the head for the festive season.

Fertjuh, our trophy database extraodinaire cuts to the chase - Skyrim and Saints Row: The Third

Our leader of all things YGC, WeakerYouth follows a similar and enthusuastic path - "Skyrim, Skyrim, and Skyrim... and maybe Batman. Also, Skyrim."

As for myself, I have held out in the hope Saint Nick brings me Sonic Generations. I also mentioned Goldeneye Reloaded and Zelda: Skyward Sword would be much appreciated

And that is what we want, but what is it that you hope turns up under the tree come Christmas morning? Let us now, as always, in the comments below and Have a fantastic Christmas from all of us at YourGamerCards.

Games that the Staff are looking forward to this fall.

Sep 12 2011 02:11 AM | Smokey-Smokerson in Blogs & Editorials

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With fall season upon us, and with it starting means many hours spent on brand new games released in the next three months. It also looks like this will be the best year for new releases as sequels for beloved games are coming out and other great games as well. Though what games exactly are the staff looking forward to? Well here they are. Though what games are you looking forward to this fall?

sefjwm - Owner & Card Design Team

Disgaea 4 - One of the best of the remaining few strategy rpgs. For some reason I just can't get enough level grinding. The again I never really "beat" the last one so maybe I should work on that instead.
Elder Scrolls Skyrim - I figured my life wasn't busy enough so I better throw a ton of my free time into this game. Like the above game never "beat" the last one but maybe I finally will complete one of these life drainers.
Rage - It's like Fallout had a baby with Borderlands. I'm a big fan of post apocalyptic settings and anything id makes so this game is a no brainer.
The Baconing - My wife and I are huge fans of Deathspank. Already got this one pre-ordered on the new PSN Play system.

DarthIbis - Card Design Team

Ace Combat: Assault Horizons - Always been a fan of modern flight-combat, but this will be my first Ace Combat game. The Tom Clancy's HAWX franchise has been decent, but lacks polish and attention to detail, so I'm hoping that Ace will fill the void.
Battlefield 3 - DICE has produced a solid franchise, and I've enjoyed Bad Company. The multi-theater combat looks intense, and I think this will be elevated to the next level with the addition of jet fighters to the mix.
Uncharted 3 - Really shouldn't need any explanation for this sequel to 2009's Game of the Year. The Uncharted series has really been the jack-of-all-trades as an action/platformer/shooter/puzzle/story-driven masterpiece. Multi-player should be fun, but the story mode is where these have always been worth the price of admission, and I anticipate Naughty Dog will easily clear the bar they previously set with Among Thieves.

BobbbyLight - News Team

Bloodrayne: Betrayal - No, I haven't played a Bloodryane game before... but have you seen this? The style looks insane, like a comic book version of the 2d Castlevania games we grew up on. The game has a ton of cartoonish gore and what appears to be a very quick combat system. Mix in some puzzles and we get a game that is clearing wanting to be Castlevania, but there are worse things to try and be, no?
Rayman Origins - So, is it obvious I like 2-D side scrollers? This game jumped out at me and despite Mr. Caffeine's attempt to sink Ubisoft's E3 presser, this game looked very impressive. Again the style will be the first thing to jump out at you with some wonderful hand drawn graphics which reminded me a bit of the fluidity of Critter Crunch. The game looks to have some fun co-op moments and could be one of those games the whole family can actually enjoy.

TriangleOffense - News Team

Dark Souls - The Spiritual Successor to one of the (IMO) greatest games ever made is coming out in the US on October 4th. The game promises to keep with the formula that made Demon's Souls such a success while still offering tons of new content to spice things up. For those who played Demon's Souls do not fear the difficulty that you came to love is coming back with avengence, there will be over 100 different types of enemies in this game compared to the mere 45 from Demon's Souls. Magic and Weapons will also be getting a jump in numbers so get ready to get killed all over again.

Jin_Man - Moderator

Batman: Arkham City - Batman: Arkham Asylum is probably one of my favorite games on the playstation 3 and with a sequel coming out in the horizon I'm just thrilled. As the whole Batman cast will be joining Batman as Robin, Catwoman, Penguin and many others will be in this upcoming hit.
Saints Row: The Third - Never played a Saints Row game before but after seeing 15 mins of it I just fell in love with the game as it's everything I would want from a game. As it looks like it will be including an amazing gameplay experience and a compelling story. I see it as GTA IV on drugs.

F.E.A.R. 3 - Is It Better Than....

Jul 06 2011 02:28 PM | BobbbyLight in Blogs & Editorials

Welcome to a new feature I plan to keep where I compare releases to other games within their genre or the last game in the series. This time around I am going to dive into F.E.A.R. 3 and let you know how it stacks up.

Is it better than F.E.A.R. 2? - Yes
F.E.A.R. 2 was just an average shooter in my opinion, with nothing scary about it and a rather boring multiplayer element. It was also a stupid, massive grind if you were interested in getting platinum. F3 is still an average shooter but it adds some things that are a lot of fun to the mix, making it a better game than the last installment. Day 1 Studios have implemented a point system to the single player which helps you to level up your character. The points are based on different actions you can do during a mission such as killing a certain number of bad guys with melee or finding psychic links around the level. This point system gives you a lot more to do besides just shooting people to get to the next level. On top of that, the game has a proper co-op campaign which is missing from even the biggest shooters (COD: CO, Killzone 3 is only offline). You can play as Pointman who is your standard FPS guy with the ability to slow time or Fettle who is a psychic who can take over enemy’s bodies and use them to kill off others. The co-op is online and can be quite a bit of fun. The multiplayer modes are better than last time around, but the rooms are already dead. It's hard to find games in certain match types.

Is it better than Killzone 3? - No
It's not even close. Killzone 3 has the better campaign, better graphics, better controls and better weapons. Killzone's multiplayer is much more fleshed out and much more fun. With that said, F3 is probably my 2nd favorite FPS of the year (so far) but there are a lot of games I'd recommend before it and this is one of them. Killzone got a little bit of flak for being a bit too short but what people must have missed was all of the action that got packed into those 6 or 7 hours. There were more big moments in KZ3 than in any other FPS in a while and that's why it's going to be in my top ten on my Games of the Year list.

Is it better than Dead Space 2? - No
While DS2 is a 3rd person shooter it does share a trait with F.E.A.R. 3 and that is the scare factor. Unfortunately for both games, neither is very scary at all, but if I have to pick, Dead Space 2 is the better game and it delivers a better atmosphere. Dead Space has a much more interesting setting of a huge spaceship called the sprawl while F.E.A.R. 3 is very much stuck in the real world. Levels in F3 include a big box store, a freeway bridge and a slum taken straight out of COD: MW2. Not only does DS2 have a better setting, the weapons and enemies are much more interesting. F3 has your standard guys with guns, a few creepy crawlers and some cool super soldiers. Dead Space 2 has necromorphs. Advantage: Dead Space.

Summary
While F.E.A.R. 3 isn't the best in its genre this year and there are probably 7 or 8 games you should play before you even think about it, that doesn't mean it's a bad experience. The shooting mechanics are well done, the point system makes otherwise dull levels more interesting and the co-op is an awesome thing that so many other games are missing. If you are dying for a new shooter, F.E.A.R. 3 isn't a bad choice at all, just understand there are much better games out there from 2011.

Final Fantasy XIII-2: Extended Preview

Jun 24 2011 10:22 PM | BobbbyLight in Blogs & Editorials

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We did see the trailers and announcement of Final Fantasy XIII-2 back eariler this year in Janurary, but until now Square has kept silent about the sequel to the only Final Fantasy game to appear on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. Since E3 we've had a lot more news and media about this game. Read below for more:

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Final Fantasy XIII wasn't the huge success Square Enix had hoped for, so, with the XIII-2 iteration, it hopes to refine the gameplay of the original while expanding on the story and adding many of the features demanded by fans.

We've heard about the title at the beginning of the year, but only now, during this week's E3 2011 conference, did the Japanese company decide to share some more details about the upcoming role-playing game.

In case you're not familiar with this new iteration of Square Enix's massively successful Final Fantasy series, then rest assured that the company wants to make up for the lackluster XIII by upgrading every aspect, including a brand new story that bases itself on characters from the previous title, a new battle system that adds plenty of updates onto the Paradigm one from its predecessor, as well as some more streamlined RPG aspects coupled with larger, more open maps, not just corridors or caves.

Now, Final Fantasy XIII-2 has finally received a proper trailer, combining both the top notch cinematics Square Enix is famous for, which explains a part of the story in this spin-off, as well as gameplay from the new title, which depicts some of the changes implemented by the new title over the original Final Fantasy XIII.

What's more, Andriasang also reports that Square Enix is aiming for a release of the game during December of this year in its native Japan, while North America or Europe will be getting their hands on the new Final Fantasy title in early 2012.

Up until now, the company confirmed that Final Fantasy XIII-2 will be out in winter.

Source

In all honestly, at least as far as I'm concerned, FFXIII wasn't a flop or a disappointment. It was (again, this is only my opinion) one of the best FF games released. True, a lot of fans didn't like it and the game has been subjected to a tidal wave of bashing and rejection. Square Enix has admitted their supposed "mistake" and has promised to fix things up to suit the fans. If this will turn out to be true is another matter all together.

As you can see in the trailer, it looks pretty silimar to FF13. It's not too surprising as the game is a direct sequel, but as almost every Final Fantasy game that has come before it, a change will most likely be taking place. For one, we see that you have the ability to wander around the towns, talking to your fellow citzens and exploring the land. It's a fond memory of fans of the old FFs to explore and visit towns in the middle of the game or possibly at any point, so it wasn't surprising that this was a major complaint about FF13. There weren't really towns, at least not in the classic sense.

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For Final Fantasy fans, the announcement of Final Fantasy XIII-2 couldn't have been much of a surprise. Square Enix spent a lot of time working on Final Fantasy XIII, and probably wanted to get at least one more game out of the resulting product.

Now that Final Fantasy XIII-2's first trailer is officially available in English, we get a little more explanation about what it'll be about from the main woman herself. Lightning is shown turning from crystal to human in the events that occur right after Final Fantasy XIII. "That time was lost, but time continued onwards," she says.

Lightning then tells "divine Etro," referring to the Goddess Etro, to "sleep in peace," and says she will stand guard over her. In the realm "beyond time," Lightning reveals that her "life begins anew."

The scene changes to a newly armored Lightning kneeling in front of what might be Etro's resting place, shaking the feathers out of her sword. Lightning's rival stands behind her, whom is perhaps one of the enemies she must protect Etro from. I don't understand why the rivals in Final Fantasy always have cooler looking swords than the main characters.

I was one of the people that had a tough time adjusting to Final Fantasy XIII, but I'm still willing to give Final Fantasy XIII-2 a shot. If Square Enix follows the formula of Final Fantasy X-2, which swapped in a bunch of new gameplay mechanics, it could make for a title that certain gamers enjoy more than the original.

Source

We don't know too much about the story, but we what do know is that Lightning has apprantly gone missing and believed to be dead. You do play as Serah and a few other un-named characters in search of her, starting the story quest. Sqaure hasn't really said much else about the story, or it's length.

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Even though I did think that FF13 had the best battle system in the series, the battle system maybe looks a little too silimar to FF13's. Of cousre this is just screenshots, so we can't really comment on that at the moment. Remember, trust in Square...but that didn't go so well for everyone last time.

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We haven't seen Serah in battle before. It would be interesting to see how she fights.

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As well as all the Final Fantasy XIII-2 details featured in Dengeki’s feature today, Toriyama has also confirmed that “Easy Mode” will be coming to Final Fantasy XIII for Playstation 3.

Easy Mode was one of the features added to the Japanese Xbox 360 release of FFXIII known as Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International. Toriyama says that a patch will be released for the PS3 version which will add this feature. The patch will be released in Japan on 21st July to coincide with the Ultimate Hits PS3 version release. He doesn’t mention whether the patch or budget version of the game will see an international release.

Dengeki Playstation has just been released with an eight page spread covering the Final Fantasy XIII-2 details from E3. Most of it is things we’ve already heard but there are a few new details Toriyama and Kitase failed to mention elsewhere.

As already confirmed, Noel will be a major character in XIII-2 but in Dengeki, Toriyama confirms that he’ll have a more prominent role than Lightning with the game mainly progressing with Noel and Serah. Snow has been confirmed to make an appearance in XIII-2 but there’s no mention of him being playable.

The Mog Clock system which we’ve covered before apparently was implemented to help make battles shorter according to Toriyama.

Towns and the NPCs within them have a much larger role in XIII-2 with particular effort being put into the towns people. Members of your party will walk around towns freely getting into conversations with residents. The towns people will also have some form of individual AI according to Toriyama. One example of how it’s implemented is that NPCs will seek cover when it begins to rain. Apparently the weather in a certain area will also effect battles.

Since 2006, we’ve all assumed Agito, and now Type-0, would be released worldwide like any Final Fantasy title. That assumption has been called into question with producer Yoshinori Kitase unable to confirm a release outside of Japan. Gaming Union questioned Kitase about Type-0′s release at E3.

“As you may know very well, with the PSP market, the situation is very different in Japan than outside of Japan. We are having to be very very careful in how we decide what would be the best way to deliver the game to all the gamers. At the moment I can’t give you any confirmed decision, so please be patient for a little bit longer.”

It seems unlikely that the game won’t see an international release, especially with the official site being updated during E3. It just seems they haven’t put much thought into the idea yet. We can remain fairly confident that the game will see the light of day in the West eventually but for now, we can’t be sure.

Although FFXIII sold over 6 million units worldwide, the team realised the launch was fairly lackluster with a mixed reaction from gamers and reviewers.

Toriyama believes with Final Fantasy XIII-2, the franchise is back on track. Linearity was the main cause of concern. They decided that for the sequel, all the positive parts of the game would be included or improved upon and the parts which were criticized would absolutely have to be tackled. They knew things had to be changed from the original formula.

Source

That's just about all the news I have about the game now. I'll post more when I have additional information for you. I hope you enjoyed the article.

Written and submitted by Kerwan_Ratchet

Duke Nukem Forever First Impressions

Jun 14 2011 08:25 PM | BobbbyLight in Blogs & Editorials

Written and Submitted by Jin_Man

Hey Guys, Im going to start doing these for new games I get. These will show what I think of the game thus far. As I haven't played the game enough to give it a final score. Also with these First Impressions, they will cover the gameplay, presentation, trophy difficulty and what I thought was either great for the game or not so great.

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You play as Duke Nukem, who is asked to save Earth from an invasion of aliens. You will go through Vegas and other areas in the USA while kicking ass and taking a piss every so often. Duke Nukem Forever is a First Person Shooter with Platforming segments in the game. These segments can be quite tedious as you will be doing these a lot during the main story of the game. Something which Gearbox included in the story was a variety of other things to do, like playing a game of pinball or air hockey. Though they have included a multi-player mode which doesn't add much value to the game.

The game was in the making for over 10 years and it can be seen in its presentation. Some of the characters models aren't the greatest and Duke's walking animation is just funny when you see it in the many mirrors of the game. The aliens in the game are decent, but nothing special. Also most of the weapons in the game are pretty generic like shotguns, snipers and rocket launchers. Though you will have access to some different weapons like a Freeze Gun though these aren't as used much in the game.

Like always, I will talk about the trophies. Firstly the Trophy List is hilarious with trophies which require you to do a variety of things. These include picking up a piece of poo to drinking beer. Though there are always a down side to game's with great trophies, firstly you will have to play the game at least twice. Though I haven't played the game on Insane yet, im going to guess its going to be as difficult as the pinball game Balls Of Steel. There are also a couple collecting trophies though these aren't that hard and can be a little fun when earning them. Also you will have to carry the golden pistol which is probably the weakest weapon in the game.

So in conclusion I will say if the game is worth buying. I suggest to wait the game to go on sale, a price between $20 - $30 would be good for the game. Also there isn't much replay value for the game except multi-player but after a week or two of the game's release, the mult-player will be a ghost town. For difficulty for the platinum, I would say around 7/10 if Insane is difficult. Also reaching 1,000,000 points in the Balls of Steel Pinball game could stop you from earning this platinum. Stay tune for a more in-depth review of the game.