Hoecs Games

/ In this latest Skate 2 developer diary-style video featurette, online producer Brian Lindley reveals new online multiplayer modes for the game before storming off set and ultimately killing a guy with eldritch energies.

Brian does a fine job of detailing Skate 2’s new online features despite being obviously uncomfortable in his role of straight man to Cuz, who comes off as so annoying that he’s almost enough to make me not want to buy the game. The ability to create your own spaces and share them online with other users is definitely nifty, as is the mini-game that rewards the most hideous falls - the only one I can ever see myself winning. I just wish I hadn’t spent the entire video muttering “shut up, shut up, shut up” under my breath while rocking back and forth in my chair like a patient in a psychiatric ward.

[Read more →]

Although PC soccer management sim Championship Manager is experiencing a 90% piracy rate, its publisher is not planning to add DRM to the mix.

Roy Meredith of Beautiful Game Studios told CVG:

[The 90% piracy figure is] not just a number in the air, we can measure it and we know that there are a huge amount of pirated copies. There’s a real issue around DRM … I’d love to defeat pirates, but actually, with all this mess on Spore and Football Manager, which I haven’t been able to play this year… I spent about three hours trying to go through this registration process and I really want to play it but I’ve got other things to do with my life.

There are actually other ways of dealing with piracy too. One is to compete price-wise. We haven’t got to pay [console licensing] royalties to Sony or Microsoft, so we can go into territories and price compete.

[Read more →]

In the tight-lipped, image-massaged corporate world in which game company execs exist, it’s refreshing to find someone who isn’t afraid to speak his mind - even if he is calling out the gaming press in the process.

Thus, we thoroughly enjoyed EA Sports boss Peter Moore’s rant at Eurogamer for leaving FIFA 09 out of its Top 50 games for 2008:

Tuesday morning, coffee in hand and clad in my Liverpool FC officially licensed pajamas (you think I’m kidding, don’t you), I log in and scroll down the list from 10 to 1, getting more excited as I get closer to the top spot. World of Goo? I’m sure it’s fun, and the reviewers certainly loved it, but surprised to see up so high…  I scrolled quickly all the way to the number one spot…Huh? WTF?? As in WHERE THE HELL IS FIFA 09???

Now I get that the sports genre is the Rodney Dangerfield of games when the awards are handed out. But c’mon, one of the best sports games of recent times not even in the Top 50? This title will sell in excess of 10 million units when all is done and dusted, but doesn’t even rank a mention?

Really? Seriously? Is it not cool to include a so-called mass market game? Bangai-O Spirits (no disrespect Treasure) makes it and FIFA 09 doesn’t? Eurogamer - you are and always will be one of my favorite gaming web-sites, but you were waaaay offside on this one.

[Read more →]

EA Sports president Peter Moore’s Christmas could’ve been better. After tearing through five days’ worth of wrapping paper, the one gift he most desired failed to materialize. And sadly, no amount of Hallmark-disguised holiday cash will ever net FIFA 09 a spot on Eurogamer’s prestigious Top 50.
“Huh? WTF?? As in WHERE THE HELL IS […]

[Read more →]

EA Sports president Peter Moore’s Christmas could’ve been better. After tearing through five days’ worth of wrapping paper, the one gift he most desired failed to materialize. And sadly, no amount of Hallmark-disguised holiday cash will ever net FIFA 09 a spot on Eurogamer’s prestigious Top 50.
“Huh? WTF?? As in WHERE THE HELL IS […]

[Read more →]

Chris Kluwe, who punts for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, is a big-time World of Warcraft player.

In fact, he told the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune that he has given some thought to adding Warcraft to his name. For pay, of course. Kluwe, who does a local radio program, commented on his gaming:

I think more people like to hear me talk about playing video games than football. I’ve played video games since I was 4 years old. I play them a lot more than I kick a football. I kick the ball about 45 minutes a day. I play video games about five or six hours a day. But that’s OK. I don’t watch TV…

 

Back when [Bengals receiver] Chad Johnson changed his name to Ocho Cinco, I told the guys at [radio station] 93X that I was going to change my name to Chris ‘World of Warcraft. They said that’s too long. So they started calling me Chris ‘Warcraft.’ I could make a lot of money if I changed my name to that.

GP: Personally, I’m hoping that Kluwe is thinking about WoW instead of his punting chores on Sunday when the Vikes host my beloved Iggles (that’s the official Philadelphia pronunciation) in the playoffs.

Via: Kotaku

[Read more →]

University of Kansas fullback Dezmon Briscoe has had an amazing year, with 78 catches for a school record-breaking 1,206 yards and 12 touchdowns. His secret weapon? Madden NFL 09.

In an interview with the Kansas City Star, KU’s Briscoe explains that improvements between Madden 08 and Madden 09 were the key to his performance on the field.

“I’d have to say the updated Madden 2009,” Briscoe said. “In Madden 2008, they didn’t really roll their coverages as much…I mean, I play Madden a whole lot,” Briscoe explained. “They roll their defenses now. The game systems these days are just crazy. Me playing Madden, it helps me read the defense on the field.”

So instead of going to the film room to watch endless replay reels, Briscoe heads over to teammate Rell Lewis’ dorm room to play video games. I smell a future Madden cover athlete in the making.

Video game helps Kansas’ Briscoe improve on the football field [KansasCity.com]

[Read more →]

And this is taking things too far. In the video we see one 13-year-old Danny playing Guitar Hero center court during the halftime of a Dallas Mavericks game. Apparently young Danny won a GameStop contest, and then he was told he had to dress up like a douche in order to play center court surrounded by cheerleaders. Live and learn. Live and learn.

[Thanks Brad]

[Read more →]

Sony has announced the next version of their baseball franchise, MLB 09 The Show, revealing new features for the series including the ability to record your own crowd chants. Hilarity ensues.

Along with a host of returning features from previous iterations of the series, MLB 09: The Show introduces several new innovations in the area of sound that should make the game a bit more interesting for those of us not normally inclined to play a baseball title. Innovations like the new Custom Music feature, that allows players to create their own walk-up tunes via their own MP3s. Nifty, but not as nifty as being able to record your own chants that integrate into the ambient crowd noise. Imagine all of the crass, vulgar statements you’ve ever wanted to hurl at the opposing team. Now imagine everybody chanting them. So much potential. “Touchdown!” “Go fiberglass!” “Mayonnaise!”

Check out the press release for a whole list of the new features coming to MLB 09: The Show, due out for the PlayStation 3, PSP, and PS2 in time for Spring Training.

MLB 09 THE SHOW ANNOUNCED FOR PLAYSTATION®3, PSP® (PLAYSTATION®PORTABLE), AND PLAYSTATION®2

Top-Selling MLB Franchise Ready to Toss Another Complete Game with Enhanced Franchise Options, In-Game Pitcher and Batter Analysis, and Online League Play

FOSTER CITY, Calif., December 22, 2008 - Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) announced today the North American release of MLB 09 The Show™ available for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™), PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), and PlayStation®2. MLB 09 The Show will arrive in stores in time for Spring Training as the longest running, officially licensed baseball title, delivering true-to-life gameplay, deeper franchise and season modes, and incredible detail not found in any other title.

“The MLB franchise has been recognized as the industry leader in terms of realism and overall gameplay and we’re looking to stay at the forefront by taking it to another level with MLB 09 The Show,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. “With enhanced gameplay features and more attention to detail than ever before, MLB 09 The Show is prepared to deliver an unsurpassed next-gen baseball experience.”

MLB 09 The Show continues to set itself apart from the other MLB games on the market with its attention to detail and unparalleled gameplay. Looking to build on that reputation, the game has added several new features and subtleties that play a huge role in bringing the baseball experience to life. Incredible stadium detail and signage, wear and tear on the field, dusk to night lighting transitions, and stadium JumboTron animations help immerse users in the ultimate baseball experience.

The popular “Road to the Show” feature returns, giving fans the chance to play offense and defense and truly immerse themselves in gameplay from a custom-created player’s perspective. This year, Road to the Show includes interactive training and coaching as users navigate through a career that culminates with a shot at the big leagues. “Online Season Leagues” are also newly available, allowing fully functional drafts and providing players with a flex calendar to play games ahead in the schedule. Also back for PS3 and PlayStation 2 is “Franchise Mode,” complete with the long anticipated 40-man roster. In Franchise Mode, fans must think and act like an owner while dealing with issues such as salary arbitration, waiver transactions, and September call-ups along the way. However winning games isn’t the only thing that matters, as users must deal with clubhouse chemistry, roster management, and other issues that arise over the course of a season.

MLB 09 The Show brings back the ability to create custom music tracks using the “My MLB Music” feature. However for this year, players will be able to edit music tracks to assign batter walk-up tunes using the “Custom Music” feature. Additionally, fans can record their own customized chants and yells and integrate them seamlessly into the ambient crowd noise to create an even more personalized rivalry.

The popular “Pitcher/Batter Analysis” feature returns on MLB 09 The Show for PS3 and PSP, detailing the breakdown of how a batter has performed based on pitch type and result. The game offers up 17 different pitch types for players to master and MLB 09 The Show details the different pitch grips and arm angles that hitters must address. Players can also hone their skills using a wide variety of “Training/Practice” drills, with each set of drills focusing on a different area of the game. Utilizing the “Progressive Batting Performance” feature, players are rewarded for superior skills at the plate but are also penalized for hitting slumps.

Once users master the basics and create highlights of their own, they can save each dazzling play to the PS3 hard drive with the “Replay Vault” feature, where every key play in the field and clutch at-bat can be replayed at any time. Also new to the highlight system is “End of Game Replays” where users are given an instant post-game summary of the most exciting and important plays of the game.

For fans who want to take their game on the road, MLB 09 The Show for PSP delivers big baseball action in the palm of your hand by utilizing core gameplay features found on the PS3 version. Unique to PSP, MLB 09 The Show will feature “SportsConnect News2Go” which offers fans the ability to go online to select and save the latest news feeds to their Memory Stick Duo and review at their leisure.

Exclusive for PlayStation 2 is the unrivaled “Player Creator”, providing users with endless possibilities for creating players, including everything down to their player’s face with EyeToy®. Users can also adjust their personal rituals, swings, and even emotions as they create and place themselves in the heat of a pennant race.

[Read more →]

The weekend. ‘Skins v Eagles. Washington are up 10-3, and in the final seconds of the game, Eagles receiver Reggie Brown takes what should be the game-winning catch…but is stuffed at the 1.

Time for the Washington announcers to get with the party music. So what tape did they reach for? They reached for a copy of “Oh No You Didn’t”, the kooky theme song for Pandemic’s Mercenaries 2.

Before you ask, sadly, no it was not the Peter Stormare version.

Oh No You Didn’t: Mercs 2 Song Plays as Skins Hold Off Eagles [GamePolitics]

[Read more →]