Hoecs Games

You see? This is what happens when you don’t always bet on Duke. You’re going to be taken for a ride.

Last week, we heard a rumor that, somehow, the long-in-development Duke Nukem Forever--currently in a state of limbo after 3D Realms was forced to lay off the development team due to the company's inability to continue self-funding the game--was going to be “resurrected” in the hands of Texas-based developer Gearbox, the developers of last year’s excellent first-person RPG, Borderlands. When asked to comment on the rumor, Gearbox president/Samba De Amigo fan Randy Pitchford tweeted that he would be able to "clarify" the rumor at this weekend’s PAX. 

And now, just days before the start of PAX and that supposed clarification, George Broussard, current president of the empty office that is 3D Realms, tweeted the following image.

 

Huh. Flying pigs.  
 
Wait. Isn't there some sort of metaphorical significance of flying pigs? Aren’t pigs supposed to fly when something super crazy and unexpected happens? And hey! What’s up with the sunglasses on that pig in the front? It kind of look like that flying pig is wearing Duke Nukem’s glasses.

That’s weird.

I’m sure this doesn’t mean anything. I mean, it’s not like this image somehow corroborates the rumor, right? I mean, it’s crazy to say this image indicates that, yes, Duke Nukem Forever is once again in development, and Gearbox is somehow involved with that new development, and that we will hear more information on the current arrangement at PAX.

That would just be crazy, right? Right?

Let me be clear, right off the bat (sorry); we have no idea who leaked this gamut of screenshots supposedly from Batman: Arkham City, the follow-up to Rocksteady’s terrific Arkham Asylum. The screenshots were first spotted on an anonymous Flickr account, where they found their way to NeoGAF and, surprisingly enough, our own Arkham City wiki page. Several hours later, the screenshots were taken down from the anonymous account, replaced with a single picture of The Joker.

The point is, these screenshots were not released through what we would call “official channels.” There is every possibility that these pictures featuring Batman, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Joker, and Catwoman are an elaborate fake.

But they’re probably not.

And thank goodness for that, because these screenshots look ill. I’ve posted the whole gallery at the end of the article, but here are the most interesting shots of the bunch, complete with a pithy caption.
 

 
What do you folks think? What's your favorite part of these new screens? And what do you think they suggest about the kind of game Batman: Arkham City could be?

Alongside the announcements of iTunes 10 and the new Apple TV, Epic Games President Mike Capps took the stage at Apple’s Fall Press Conference today to announce his company’s first game for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

Developed by Epic-owned studio Chair Entertainment, the team behind last year’s Best Xbox 360 Game, Shadow Complex, the game--currently codenamed Project Sword--is a one-on-one multiplayer sword fighting game set in medieval times. Players will take control of a knight and duel other knights in portable, touch-screen-based sword duels. 
 
 

What makes this project so interesting is that, much like the scaled down version of Rage, developed for the iPhone and running on id Tech 5, Project Sword is being powered by a scaled down version of the Unreal Engine, which means that the game looks way better than other polygonal games that have been released for the iFamily of hardware.
 
Let this serve as just one more reminder that engine developers going forward are even more concerned with the scalability of their tech; they want to develop engines that can run on any and all platforms, including cell phones.
 
Project Sword is aiming for a release later this year, but you don't have to wait until then to see the game's visuals in action. Following the show, Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski tweeted that a Project Sword engine demo was currently available for free on the iTunes store for the iPad, iPhone 4G, and iPhone 3GS.  And if you don't want to go download that demo yourself, you can just watch Will and Norm over at Tested, as well as our own Brad Shoemaker, who have taken a look at that Unreal demo on video. If you want to get a sense of how the engine that powered Gears of War and Batman: Arkham Asylum translates into your pocket, check out the video! 

   
 
Images courtesy of Joystiq.

The developers at Telltale are getting busy. Between the completion of the current season of Sam & Max : The Devil's Playhouse, the announcement of new episodic games currently in development, and the reveal of that bizarre teaser trailer--hinting at a partnership between Telltale, Valve and Hothead--the little developer that does episodic adventure gaming right has a full docket of new projects ahead of them. And today, we got to hear the first concrete details about one of those projects: a new episodic adventure game series based on the classic film series, Back To The Future.
 
Over on USA Today's "Game Hunters" blog, Mike Snider revealed just a small taste of what we can expect from Telltale's latest. For starters, Telltale has secured the likenesses of both Michael J. Fox and Christopher LLoyd for their iconic roles as Marty McFly and Doc Brown. Furthermore, according to Snider, Christopher Lloyd will be reprising the role of Doc Brown for the game.
 

 
Beyond the revelations about the core characters returning in game form, Telltale told Snider that many of the film's classic locations and inventions will appear in the game. Expect to spend time in Hill Valley, California, driving, of course, a DeLorean time machine car vehicle transport. The most interesting thing Telltale revealed about the game is that it will take place in 1985, the same year as the first film. This is no "modern retelling" of the events of the original film, and I couldn't be more pleased. I can't wait to see the mid-'80s, and all of its fashions and trends, modeled in Telltale's exaggerated art style. I bet that could make portions of the game look bizarre.
 
And last, but certainly not least, Telltale told Snider that Bob Gale, the screenwriter of all three films in the franchise, is working with Telltale on the story and its arc over one season. Gale is a perfect fit for this project, as, unlike so many Hollywood screenwriters, he has video game experience. After all, Gale wrote the original story idea for Tattoo Assassins. And that game was rude. 
 
 
 
 
Doesn't that video make you feel good about a Back To The Future game?

One of the oldest design oddities of the Xbox 360 controller--its concave disc D-pad that proved an ill fit for any game played in two dimensions--is finally getting addressed. Today, Xbox Live director of programming Major Nelson revealed that a new, redesigned wireless controller--bundled complete with Play-and-Charge kit--will arrive on stores shelves on November 9 in the US. 
 
What makes this controller noteworthy, other than removing the various colors associated with the controller's face buttons (the rationale being that gray is "stylish"), is what Nelson refers to as the patented "transforming D-pad." By twisting the D-pad itself on the controller, you'll be able to shift that pad between two different design modes: the current, concave "disc" directional pad and a more traditional "plus" shaped pad, raised outside of the "well" on the controller. 
 
And that new raised D-pad looks a little something like this!
 

 
Look at how much higher that D-pad! It barely touches the well at all! Finally, I'll be able to pull off Zangief's supers and ultras without have to rely on crazy felines.  

If you're looking to get your hands on this new controller, however, you're won't be able to grab it on its ownsome; Microsoft is currently only selling the new controller in a bundle set that includes the 360 Play-and-Charge Kit. However, Microsoft isn't charging any premium for their redesigned controller; like other controller-plus-charging cable bundles, the redesigned 360 controller with Play-and-Charge Kit will retail for $64.99.  And while the new controller design is set to come to the U.S. first, Nelson assures that the new pad will make its way to Europe sometime closer to February.
 
In fact, you can watch Nelson show off the new controller and its new D-pad in detail in video form. 
 
 
 
 
I feel like it's not a huge leap to say that the environment in which this control pad will really be tested is in fast-paced Super Street Fighter IV play. So, I turn to you fighting game fans out there; you haven't had the chance to try it out yet, but, do you think that, given the the new design, this raised D-pad looks to be a more suitable way to play Street Fighter than the old "disc?"

Fans of classic Game Boy Advance RPGs, get excited. Nintendo has announced that Golden Sun: Dark Dawn--the long-awaited followup to the two excellent Golden Sun games on the GBA--will be rising in retail stores on November 29th for the Nintendo DS.  
 
Dark Dawn begins 30 years after the events of The Lost Age and puts you in control of a new party of warriors. The world of Golden Sun was radically altered after the lighting of the Elemental Lighthouses, and the world has become harsher than ever before. Players will guide their party on a quest to stop a new magical apocalypse, once again seeking the aid of over 70 Djinn sprites for assistance in battle and in puzzles.


 
I've always held the Golden Sun franchise in particularly high esteem, and with good reason: Both Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age were loving throwbacks to the JRPGs of the Super Nintendo and Genesis, featuring a long, dense quest in a world brimming with secret weapons, powerful spells, and ridiculous sprite-based summons (all of which developer Camelot has in their blood, given that they created Shining Force). Best of all, the Golden Sun games melded that classic JRPG formula with a couple of neat twists that made the series more than just a Final Fantasy also-ran. I always appreciated that the techniques you were learning in combat could also be used out of battle to solve the game's various environmental puzzles.    
 
Of course, as good as those first two Golden Sun games were, they were still pretty traditional, especially in comparison to some of the other, more radical RPGs being released on the GBA at the time, like Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga and Fire Emblem. And now, seven years after the release of Golden Sun: The Lost Age (you read that right. Seven years since the last Golden Sun. I couldn't feel older.), the RPG landscape has shifted even more dramatically, with a prioritization of action-oriented combat in favor of turn-based combat.
 
I've got enough nostalgia for this franchise that I'll buy this game on day one, but what about the rest of you? Does your familiarity with the Golden Sun franchise make this game appealing, or has it simply been too long since the series was relevant? Are you DS players who consumed all of Dragon Quest IX's content ready for more traditional RPG action? Or would you rather Camelot made another good Mario sports game?

Do you own a DS yet? Looking to upgrade from a Lite or Phat model to the newer DS with that great camera and all those totally sweet download games? Then Nintendo has good news for you! The company has announced today that come September 12, both the DSi and the DSi XL are receiving a price drop. 
 
The new MSRP of the DSi XL, the newest model in the family, is now $169.99, down from its current $189.99 price. The regular DSi--not quite as big, but it still has all those sweet DSiware games--will retail for $149.99, down from its $169.99 former price. That's a $20 savings on every DS... except for the DS Lite, which will retain its $129.99 price tag, if only to further nudge consumers into convincing themselves, "Well, the DSi is only $20 more, and it plays all of these radical downloadable games!"

So, yeah, the DS models are getting cheaper. That's all fine and good if you're just getting into the current generation of handheld systems, but what's more interesting about these price drops is that they further suggest that the 3DS is coming out soon. As anyone who has followed console pricing knows, manufacturers need to blow out their older model of hardware before the new hardware comes out. If they don't get rid of the old hardware, then the manufactures will never get rid of it, as consumers will seek out the newer model in lieu of the old stuff.
 
So Nintendo's current desire to try and cut DS prices in order to get them off of shelves is a good indicator that they're preparing for the launch of the 3DS. So, yes, you could technically wait for the 3DS to ship before you get into handheld upgrading. But you'll miss all of those rude DSiWare games.

Xbox Live Director of Programming Major Nelson has announced that Microsoft will increase the cost of several Xbox Live subscriptions packages in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Starting on November 1st, the price of a one-year subscription to Xbox Live in the US will be adjusted to $60 a year, up from its current price of $50.
 
Here's the full breakdown of the price changes Microsoft will make to subscriptions in each of the four regions.
 


Major Nelson recommends that those subscribers who would like to buy a subscription at the current price do so now, before the new pricing structure takes effect. Those who do resubscribe now will be able to purchase a one-year subscription for $39.99, a $20 discount on the new price.

Today, Blizzard revealed the first details of the upcoming patch 1.1 for StarCraft II in their " Situation Report." Expected to hit in mid-September, patch 1.1 will include a suite of updates for the game, including new features, bug fixes, and, most exciting of all, balance changes.  If you've been avoiding StarCraft II altogether, or you're just not that interested in the multiplayer side of the game, then you'd best find another news story, because the following changes and balancing described below won't make any sense to you.
 
Let's start with the changes that probably aren't going to affect your high-tier 1v1 play. The StarCraft II 1.1 patch will add support for NVIDIA's 3D Vision tech and glasses. Yep, that means 3D StarCraft. While it's tempting (and frankly, preferable) to ignore this feature, along with all other attempts to force stereoscopic 3D into consumers hands, think about this: a 3D UI. Imagine if the StarCraft UI was floating on top of the action. Floating text. It's going to change everything.
 


Beyond the additions of technology that are probably used by one percent of the total player base, StarCraft II's patch 1.1 will add usability improvements to the game's editor and a slew of mod upgrades, as well as some additional upgrades to custom game creation and play. And, of course, expect patch 1.1 to ship with some bug fixes.
 
Alright, time for the main event: balance adjustments. While the full details haven't been released yet, all three factions in StarCraft II will be receiving changes, and many units and strategies will be greatly impacted. And not in a good way. 
 
Terran players, your time has come.
 
Here's the short list of changes coming to StarCraft II's online play:
 

General Changes

• Friendly units will no longer provide vision after they've been killed. Enemy units previously revealed in vision cannot be targeted.

 

Terran Changes

• Reaper build time increased from 40 seconds to 45 seconds.
• Bunker build time increased from 30 seconds to 35 seconds.
• Siege Tank damage decreased from 50 to 35, +15 against armored.
• Siege Tank upgrades decreased from 5 to 3, +2 against armored.
• Battlecruiser damage against ground units decreased from 10 to 8.

 

Zerg Changes

• Ultralisk damage decreased from 15, +25 against Armored, to 15, +20 to armored.
• Ultralisk Ram attack is being removed.

 

Protoss Changes

• Zealot build time increased from 33 seconds to 38 seconds.
• Warp Gate cooldown time increased from 23 seconds to 28 seconds.

 
Damn.  Those are some significant performance hits across all the races. Terran players are especially going to feel that patch next month. To be fair, though, Wings of Liberty was built with a Terran focus at its core. I think everyone expected that the Terran were going to get some form of balance changes that would help bring them in line with the other races.   

 
 
And I can't speak to everyone out there, but as a player who has chosen to, ahem, "main Toss," I'm not feeling good at all about the Zealot build time increase. I've used the Zealot rush to great effect in the past, especially against other Protoss players. But with that timer increase, that strategy just isn't going to fly. And how am I going to stop a 6-pool now?!
 
Oh. Brad said I should boost one Zealot to the choke point and hold position. Never thought of that. Huh.
 
You can read the full rationale behind all the decisions in Blizzard's Situation Report, but, having read that general list of the big adjustments, how are you guys feeling about these first balance changes to StarCraft II? Any players reading these changes and deciding to break their StarCraft II disk out of anger? Not that it'll do you much good, since the game doesn't need a CD to load up anyway. But the gesture is what will count.

 Online Liars’ Dice. I’m in.

I mean, ostensibly, there’s other content to look forward to in Red Dead Redemption’s “Liars And Cheats” DLC, the second piece of paid content released for Rockstar's wild west opus. It’s hypothetical that you’re looking forward to playing online Poker with your cowpolks and cowfolks in bars across all of New Austin. Or maybe you’re interested in some multiplayer Horse Racing action, where you’ll take your Kentucky Saddler and your pistol as you race your friends for cash and XP.

But as far as I’m concerned, that’s all just window dressing, and I’m looking forward to the damn window. Or maybe I'm not! I could be lying about my window. That’s how much I love lying. And Dice.    

 
So, while I’m sitting with the drunks in Thieves’ Landing, shaking my leather cup and lying about how many fours I have (I’ll tell them I have three, but the joke is on them!), y’all can enjoy the rest of Red Dead’s latest content update, due out on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on September 21 for $10 or 800 Microsoft Points. And there’s more content here then you might expect! 
 
Due to, as Rockstar describes it in the press release, the “platform networks’ restrictions on numbers of free (DLC) packs we can give away”, (which is secret code for, “because Microsoft doesn’t want to give away things for free, so neither platform can get this content for free), Rockstar is not going to be able to release the Free Roam DLC pack--which features comprehensive enhancements to the online Free Roam mode--on its own without charging for it. It sounds like Rockstar intended for that pack to be released as download free. However. as a compromise, the Free Roam DLC is being rolled into the Liars and Cheats pack and released as a single pack. So, it’s still free content! You just have to pay $10 to get that free content.
 


 Here’s the full list of features that your $10 will get you in the Liars and Cheats pack.

• Multiplayer Poker and Liars' Dice Games
• Multiplayer Horse Races
• The Explosive Rifle (along with corresponding single player and multiplayer challenges)
• 7 New Gang Hideouts
• 4 New Hunting Grounds
• Stronghold Competitive Multiplayer Mode (a new Attack-And-Defend team-based mode)
• Posse Scoring and Leaderboards (now your posse has a rank on the leaderboards!)
• 15 multiplayer skins (taken from the single player campaign)
• New achievements and trophies

There’s still some information about features in the pack that we don’t know yet, like if pistol dueling will still play a role in multiplayer Poker (it should!), but that’s still sounds like a pretty sizable chunk of content for only $10. If you’re still playing Red Dead online, it sounds like you may want to give this pack.

Which brings us to the question; are you still playing Red Dead Redemption's multiplayer mode? And, if you are, do you want to play Liars’ Dice with me?