PixelVulture » Gaming http://www.pixelvulture.com Gaming // Tech // Reviews // Anything Geeky Wed, 22 May 2013 16:10:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Thoughts on the Xbox One Reveal http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/thoughts-on-the-xbox-one-reveal/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/thoughts-on-the-xbox-one-reveal/#comments Wed, 22 May 2013 16:10:47 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10228 Thoughts on the Xbox One Reveal
The new Xbox is here and it has a name, Xbox One. Last night’s unveiling of Microsoft’s next generation console left me with mixed emotions. The new console is extremely ambitious trying to tackle the full living room entertainment experience. I loved the TV integration, multitasking and fantasy league live viewing experience, but it’s hard ...]]> Thoughts on the Xbox One Reveal
The new Xbox is here and it has a name, Xbox One. Last night’s unveiling of Microsoft's next generation console left me with mixed emotions. Xbox One The new console is extremely ambitious trying to tackle the full living room entertainment experience. I loved the TV integration, multitasking and fantasy league live viewing experience, but it’s hard to get excited about this sort of thing when it will more than likely all be exclusive to the US. Microsoft showcased ESPN, NFL and Comcast - at a global launch - basically snubbing the rest of the global market place. Will any of these new features work outside of the US? No confirmation yet, but the general feeling is that they won't. Not a great start. While the  TV integration was interesting, the games are what we really care about. Unfortunately Microsoft didn’t show much when it comes to games (to be fair we can expect a strong focus on games at E3 in a few weeks time). They did mention there would be 15 Xbox exclusives within the next year of which 8 will be entirely new franchises. This is great as it was an area that Xbox has lacked recently and with the list of titles that Sony has lined up Microsoft needs some firepower here. Forza 5 They showed snippets of Forza 5, FIFA 14, Call of Duty Ghosts, NFL 14 and Quantum Break - but we didn't get to see much action let alone the Xbox One in action. You can check out all the trailers in HD over here. We expect Microsoft to come to the party at E3 and unveil some of the new IP's and show a lot of gameplay - so we will have to hold on a few more weeks. Xbox One box Onto the hardware. Unlike Sony, Microsoft actually showed us what the console looks like, splitting opinions down the middle with some loving it and others hating it. The new console itself lives up to it’s name with a very box like appearance, square and shiny  It gives the impression that it is hiding some impressive hardware underneath, which it is, although Microsoft didn't go into any real detail so its hard to compare with what the PS4 is packing - but don't worry the internet will be covered with comparisons once the data is released. xbox one specs The controller has always been one of Xbox’s best features and the new controller looks to build on that. It’s actually pretty damn gorgeous. The triggers now have feedback built in which should make racing experiences just that much better. Xbox One controller Disappointingly there was no mention of the Xbox Live marketplace – discovering content has always been an issue and Microsoft didn't show any mockups of what the marketplace would look like. Presumably the best/popular games will be featured in the trending dashboard.   We found this highlights video from the reveal which will give you a good glimpse at what happened: ]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/thoughts-on-the-xbox-one-reveal/feed/ 0 Gran Tourismo 6 Announcement Trailer http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/gran-tourismo-6-announcement-trailer/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/gran-tourismo-6-announcement-trailer/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 09:56:27 +0000 Brett Greaves http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10209 Gran Tourismo 6 Announcement Trailer
What is it about cars that gets our blood pumping? For the life of me I cannot put my finger on it, no matter how hard I try. It is impossible to justify a new car purchase to your wife. Yet, you never need to when you show it off for the first time to ...]]> Gran Tourismo 6 Announcement Trailer
What is it about cars that gets our blood pumping? For the life of me I cannot put my finger on it, no matter how hard I try. It is impossible to justify a new car purchase to your wife. Yet, you never need to when you show it off for the first time to your mates. It is like an unspoken agreement, a meeting of the minds. We don't know what it is but we happily provide our approval none-the-less. gran_turismo_6 Could it the looks - the way the light hits the curves of the car at every angle? Or the cheeky nose that stares at you with a hint of aggression when you stare back? Or is it the sheer speed - and if so what kind of speed? Is it going from 0-100 in 3 seconds? Or is it hitting 400km/h on a perfectly flat, straight road? Could it be the feeling of living on the edge, knowing that a single second lapse in concentration could be the end of your existence? Or is it the comfort? Possibly the feeling of accomplishment? Achieving that forth step on Maslow's pyramid? - For some that is more real than others. Better question, could it be the sound? That epic sound of a roaring V8 carburetor engine as it chews through fuel at 8000RPM or the high-pitch scream, unique to a perfectly refined Ferrari at 12000RPM? Rather, is it a combination of everything? The perfect sound embodied by a glistening exterior that is capable of achieving 250km/h in 3rd gear while you get a massage from the front seat... Whatever it is, we can all agree it is a franchise with huge earning potential. Generally speaking, boys as well as men will spend without a second's hesitation. No need to justify the purchase, because their inner-man already has the answers, irrespective of their ability to convey them...it is theirs to have, and they will if they can. This is what I'd like to think the Gran Turismo franchise is built on. Something that is there...yet it cannot be explained. Better yet, you won't need to sell a kidney to get it, and along with it, the same feeling of awesome that you'd get in real life...well, kinda. The announcement trailer of their 6th installment captures everything that the game is perfectly, yet to try and describe it would be near impossible. Check it out for yourself: Tell us what you think it could be. What we do know however, is that in the 15 years of Gran Turismo games, Sony and Polyphony have never failed to deliver! So trying to sell this game, or tell you how good it's going to be would be frivolous. Sony have said that GT6 will only be released for the PS3, leaving some pretty gaping questions as to what may lie in store for their new flagship release later this year. Watch this space for updates on GT6.]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/gran-tourismo-6-announcement-trailer/feed/ 0 Beautiful FIFA Interface Concept http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/beautiful-fifa-interface-concept/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/beautiful-fifa-interface-concept/#comments Wed, 15 May 2013 16:18:34 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10201 Beautiful FIFA Interface Concept
FIFA has re-invented their user inteface every couple of years with FIFA 13 getting quite a big overhaul. However it is generally very cluttered and difficult to find what you need. Well Rodrigo Bellão decided to apply his wizard like skills to the task and design a beautiful interface concept for FIFA. I really love the ...]]> Beautiful FIFA Interface Concept
FIFA has re-invented their user inteface every couple of years with FIFA 13 getting quite a big overhaul. However it is generally very cluttered and difficult to find what you need. Well Rodrigo Bellão decided to apply his wizard like skills to the task and design a beautiful interface concept for FIFA. I really love the graphical representation of data instead of the very dated % figures that EA still use. I hope someone at EA sees this and has applied some of the thinking to FIFA 14. FIFA-UI-Concept-2 FIFA-UI-Concept-6 FIFA-UI-Concept-7]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/beautiful-fifa-interface-concept/feed/ 0 Breaking Bad as a LEGO Game http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/breaking-bad-as-a-lego-game/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/breaking-bad-as-a-lego-game/#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 05:22:07 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10193 breaking bad lego game
As unlikely as it is for LEGO to be involved with a show based on cooking meth, merging two of my favourite things together would be undeniably epic. Animator Brian Anderson has done exactly that and imagined what a LEGO Breaking Bad video game would be like. The four-minute-and-thirty-second “parody” is modeled after developer Traveller’s Tales‘ LEGO video-game ...]]> breaking bad lego game
As unlikely as it is for LEGO to be involved with a show based on cooking meth, merging two of my favourite things together would be undeniably epic. breaking bad lego game Animator Brian Anderson has done exactly that and imagined what a LEGO Breaking Bad video game would be like. The four-minute-and-thirty-second "parody" is modeled after developer Traveller's Tales' LEGO video-game series, and features LEGO versions of Walter White, Jesse Pinkman and other Breaking Bad characters. The clip does have some spoilers so be warned if you have yet to watch Breaking Bad. ]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/05/breaking-bad-as-a-lego-game/feed/ 1 Watch Dogs SA Release Date & New Trailer http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/watch-dogs-sa-release-date-new-trailer/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/watch-dogs-sa-release-date-new-trailer/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:19:02 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10189 Watch Dogs SA Release Date & New Trailer
Watch Dogs is one of the most anticipated games this year with the concept, graphics and gameplay all looking amazing! Well the good news is that we finally have a launch date – November 21, 2013. Watch Dogs will release on PC, WiiU, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4 and “The game is also planned for other ...]]> Watch Dogs SA Release Date & New Trailer
Watch Dogs is one of the most anticipated games this year with the concept, graphics and gameplay all looking amazing! Well the good news is that we finally have a launch date - November 21, 2013. WD_Relaunch_Police-Takedown_LOW.155657 Watch Dogs will release on PC, WiiU, Xbox 360, PS3, PS4 and "The game is also planned for other next generation consoles" - which you can read as the new Xbox. Ubisoft also released a brand new trailer as well as a slew of details for the various collectors editions which you can check out below.     Details of each of the four Watch_Dogs collector’s editions available at launch: The Dedsec Edition This premium edition is ideal for Watch_Dogs fans wishing to immerse themselves in the hacker fantasy. It includes:
  • Physical content:
    • A 23cm Aiden Pearce Figurine
    • Steelbook™
    • DedSec Collector box
    • Watch_Dogs Artbook: artworks and illustrations that inspired the game
    • Original soundtrack of the game
    • Watch_Dogs map of Chicago
    • Set of 4 collectible cards: discover Watch_Dogs iconic characters through augmented reality
    • Set of 3 exclusive badges
  • Digital content: 3 single payer missions with up to almost 60 minutes of additional gameplay:
    • Palace Pack: A police raid is planned on the luxury palace of an Internet mogul. His impressive databanks have intimate details on thousands of people…including Aiden Pearce. Break inside, wipe those hard drives and escape before the raid begins.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: investigation bonus allows gamers to unlock more investigative opportunities inside the network databanks, and ATM hack boost which boost the cash rewards when hacking bank accounts.
    • Signature Shot: A biometrics weapon has been smuggled into Chicago for a captain of the Black Viceroys gang. The weapon only works for the first person who holds the gun. Breach a stronghold, steal the package and be the first to hold the weapon.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ulc mission: black viceroys gang colours outfit and biometric assault rifle.
    • Breakthrough Pack: A secret gathering is underway. The Chicago Club is negotiating power with Corporate CEOs. The Club has hired scramblers to block surveillance devices. Drive around the city to find the scramblers and take them out. Retrieve all names from the meeting and upload their images to the world.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: vehicle expert perk allowing players to get free vehicles from underground car contact and earn discounts on select cars.
The Vigilante Edition This edition is for gamers who want to embody a real life hacker vigilante with the iconic mask and cap of Aiden Pierce. It includes all they need to become a modern day hero:
  • Physical content:
    • Vigilante Collector box
    • Aiden Pearce’s iconic cap
    • Aiden Pearce’s mask
    • Original soundtrack of the game
  • Digital content: 1 single payer mission:
    • Palace Pack: A police raid is planned on the luxury palace of an Internet mogul. His impressive databanks have intimate details on thousands of people…including Aiden Pearce. Break inside, wipe those hard drives and escape before the raid begins.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: investigation bonus allows gamers to unlock more investigative opportunities inside the network databanks, and ATM hack boost which boost the cash rewards when hacking bank accounts.
The Uplay Exclusive Edition This exclusive edition available only on Uplay website addresses to gamers who wants to improve their hacking skills through 3 single player missions. It includes:
  • Physical content:
    • Exclusive Steelbook™
  • Digital content: 3 single payer missions with up to almost 60 minutes of additional gameplay:
    • Palace Pack: A police raid is planned on the luxury palace of an Internet mogul. His impressive databanks have intimate details on thousands of people…including Aiden Pearce. Break inside, wipe those hard drives and escape before the raid begins.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: investigation bonus allows gamers to unlock more investigative opportunities inside the network databanks, and ATM hack boost which boost the cash rewards when hacking bank accounts.
    • Signature Shot: A biometrics weapon has been smuggled into Chicago for a captain of the Black Viceroys gang. The weapon only works for the first person who holds the gun. Breach a stronghold, steal the package and be the first to hold the weapon.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ulc mission: black viceroys gang colours outfit and biometric assault rifle.
    • Breakthrough Pack: A secret gathering is underway. The Chicago Club is negotiating power with Corporate CEOs. The Club has hired scramblers to block surveillance devices. Drive around the city to find the scramblers and take them out. Retrieve all names from the meeting and upload their images to the world.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: vehicle expert perk allowing players to get free vehicles from underground car contact and earn discounts on select cars.
The Special Edition This special edition features the retail copy of the game and an exclusive single player mission for gamers who want to step into the action right away:
  • Digital content: 1 single player mission:
    • Breakthrough Pack: A secret gathering is underway. The Chicago Club is negotiating power with Corporate CEOs. The Club has hired scramblers to block surveillance devices. Drive around the city to find the scramblers and take them out. Retrieve all names from the meeting and upload their images to the world.
    • Rewards unlocked upon completion of the ULC mission: vehicle expert perk allowing players to get free vehicles from underground car contact and earn discounts on select cars.
]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/watch-dogs-sa-release-date-new-trailer/feed/ 0 Watch the Oculus Rift in Action with an Omnidirectional treadmill http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/watch-the-oculus-rift-in-action-with-an-omnidirectional-treadmill/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/watch-the-oculus-rift-in-action-with-an-omnidirectional-treadmill/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:53:04 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10170 omnidirectional treadmill oculus rift
Yes, you read that correctly, an omni-directional treadmill paired up with the Oculus Rift and Team Fortress 2! This awesome setup was created by Virtuix who have been working on a consumer level omnidirectional treadmill for virtual reality applications, and it has combined its device with the Oculus Rift, and Team Fortress 2. Is this ...]]> omnidirectional treadmill oculus rift
Yes, you read that correctly, an omni-directional treadmill paired up with the Oculus Rift and Team Fortress 2! omnidirectional treadmill oculus rift This awesome setup was created by Virtuix who have been working on a consumer level omnidirectional treadmill for virtual reality applications, and it has combined its device with the Oculus Rift, and Team Fortress 2. Is this the next dimension in gaming? It looks like a great way to keep a gamer in shape at least... Virtuix has plans for a Kickstarter to help fund its treadmill, the Omni, soon. You can find out more about it here. Check out the video of the treadmill and Oculus Rift in action below:   ]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/watch-the-oculus-rift-in-action-with-an-omnidirectional-treadmill/feed/ 0 Deus Ex gets a face-lift for the Wii U http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/deus-ex-gets-a-face-lift-for-the-wii-u/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/deus-ex-gets-a-face-lift-for-the-wii-u/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:42:36 +0000 Brett Greaves http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10159 Deus Ex gets a face-lift for the Wii U
The introduction of the Nintendo Wii U got the team at Square Enix all giddy about their Deus Ex masterpiece. They saw an opportunity, rather than simply port the game as is to the new console they popped the hood and gave their title an overhaul. Oh yes, the introduction of the Wii U’s interactive ...]]> Deus Ex gets a face-lift for the Wii U
The introduction of the Nintendo Wii U got the team at Square Enix all giddy about their Deus Ex masterpiece. They saw an opportunity, rather than simply port the game as is to the new console they popped the hood and gave their title an overhaul. Oh yes, the introduction of the Wii U’s interactive controller opened up a world of possibilities for the development team at Square Enix. Naturally, they have taken full advantage of the additional second screen by incorporating it into the game as Adam’s neural hub. The gamepad will now be used for hacking, inventory and praxis hub management, looking around corners and sniping - amongst other things. For now the team have said that the Directors Cut will only release on the Wii U, and will only land later this year. When it does come out in all its revitalized glory, it will offer an additional 8 hours of developer commentary and a 45 minute “making of” video that that reveals some of what went on during the transformation of Deus Ex: Human Revolution to the epic Directors Cut version. Check out this short behind the scenes video that delves into the philosophy behind the development of Human Revolution – Directors Cut: Huge kudos must go to the team at Square Enix for taking the time and putting in the effort on this console port, this is not something we see often enough from big publishers. If you have not yet played Human Revolution and are a proud owner of a Nintendo Wii U, then this is a title worth checking out. Read our review based on the PC version of Human Revolution here.]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/deus-ex-gets-a-face-lift-for-the-wii-u/feed/ 0 All you need to know about FIFA 14 http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/all-you-need-to-know-about-fifa-14/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/all-you-need-to-know-about-fifa-14/#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:41:32 +0000 Matthew Arnold http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10149 All you need to know about FIFA 14
Yes, it’s that time of year, time for another FIFA. Before EA Sports announced the new features for FIFA 14 I couldn’t help but wonder “what the hell are they going to add that will get me to upgrade from 13?” It’s a good question. In fact it is THE question that we try to ...]]> All you need to know about FIFA 14
Yes, it's that time of year, time for another FIFA. Before EA Sports announced the new features for FIFA 14 I couldn't help but wonder "what the hell are they going to add that will get me to upgrade from 13?" It's a good question. In fact it is THE question that we try to answer every year. I am a huge FIFA fan and am still playing FIFA 13 at the moment as I am sure a lot of you football fans are. The last few editions of FIFA really pushed the envelope in terms of gameplay and the introduction of some really cool features like Matchday. So FIFA 14 has been unveiled, what do you need to know to help you make that decision? The new innovations for FIFA 14 are set to inspire fans to build play through midfield, dictate the tempo of a match and create rewarding opportunities. Great football matches are achieved through measured build up and incredible finishing. A new feature in FIFA 14 called Pure Shot and a brand-new ball physics system will transform shooting, making every shot attempt feel real, and when players connect with the perfect strike, feel exhilarating.
“FIFA 14 will play the way great football matches are contested with build up through midfield, tension throughout the match as chances are created, and incredible finishing,” said David Rutter, Executive Producer for FIFA 14. “Opportunities in FIFA 14 will be rewarding and great goals will look stunning.”
Finishing has been transformed with Pure Shot so players have the intelligence to adjust their stride and approach angle to find the best position for hitting the back of the net. Well-hit balls feel more exhilarating and rewarding.  New shot types include pure strikes, as well as off-balance and rushed shots. Plus, Real Ball Physics now determines the trajectories of balls, enabling players to kick the ball with force from distance, drill low rising shots with accuracy, and blast dipping or turbulent shots, just like real footballers. FIFA 14 screenshot Fans will be able to create rewarding build up to opportunities and have the tools to dictate the tempo of a match through four new features. Protect The Ball will enable players to fend-off and block defenders from the ball while dribbling at any speed, or out-muscle opponents for position before receiving the pass, then turn defenders to carve out opportunities. Teammate Intelligence has been improved on both sides of the ball. New decision-making logic delivers tighter, smarter marking and improved run tracking where defenders recognize opportunities to provide support and win back possession, while attacking players have new ways to outsmart their opponents by creating space for themselves, running along the backline and checking their pace. Major changes to ball control add new tools to win the midfield battles. FIFA 14 new screenshots Sprint Dribble Turns enable players to turn in every direction at sprint speed while preserving momentum, delivering the control and confidence to take on defenders one-on-one. Variable Dribble Touches introduces variety on touches when sprinting. Skilled players will have better touch and more control when sprinting with the ball. In addition to innovations to gameplay, FIFA 14 is introducing a brand new way to play Career Mode. The Global Scouting Network brings the world of professional scouting to life. Players now develop and refine a scouting network and search for talent year-round. Scouts can evaluate footballers all over the world to uncover the attributes and traits of every player in the game, in preparation for the transfer windows. Plus, a new hub delivers easy navigation, fewer interruptions and live scouting reports. This is something that really excites me and something that all the career mode junkies will love. fifa14_gen3_fr_protect_the_ball_wm A couple of extra features that will also be coming as part of FIFA 14:
  • Changes to the wildly popular FIFA Ultimate Team
  • A new online Mode that will encourage social competition
  • Multiple new features and benefits to EA SPORTS Football Club, the live service that is the heartbeat of FIFA
  • Complete authenticity with more than 500 officially licensed clubs.
So as always it's a big list of new features that continue to improve the realism of gameplay on the pitch with a sprinkling of new updates to the proven features of the game. FIFA 14 has my interest, now lets see the gameplay videos - that will provide a more tangible view as to the value of upgrading.  ]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/all-you-need-to-know-about-fifa-14/feed/ 0 Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon – doubles search volumes for “VHS”, “Tape-deck” and “Roller Skates” http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-singlehandedly-doubles-search-volumes-for-vhs-tape-deck-and-roller-skates/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-singlehandedly-doubles-search-volumes-for-vhs-tape-deck-and-roller-skates/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:33:05 +0000 Brett Greaves http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10137 Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon – doubles search volumes for “VHS”, “Tape-deck” and “Roller Skates”
But not really. Bring on the 80’s in this new FPS shoot ‘em up with added neon lights, 2D cartoon animation, some VHS filters and a whole lot of Duke-Style attitude – Yeah! The year is 2007 and the apocalypse has just had an apocalypse, the only person standing between total global annihilation is you, ...]]> Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon – doubles search volumes for “VHS”, “Tape-deck” and “Roller Skates”
But not really. Bring on the 80’s in this new FPS shoot ‘em up with added neon lights, 2D cartoon animation, some VHS filters and a whole lot of Duke-Style attitude – Yeah! 1365716088-far-cry-3-blood-dragon The year is 2007 and the apocalypse has just had an apocalypse, the only person standing between total global annihilation is you, Sergeant Rex Colt, a badass mark IV cyber commando that is half human –wait for it- half cyborg and all American. Stand back Duke, USA has a new breed of hero that will make Jason Brody look like a 14-year Old schoolgirl by comparison - and yes, he bears a remarkably strong resemblance to MacGyver.  Coincidence…I think not. Ubisoft have announced that Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon will be released on 1 May 2013, which is just around the corner and comes complete with it’s own 80’s-style website. What’s more, players who pre-order the game will also get a free copy of the soundtrack by Power Glove. Check out the kick-assery you can expect from Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon in the launch video below: One thing I will openly admit is that I am really glad Jason Brody is not appearing in this sequel. The other thing that makes me really excited is the notion that this may not be the first game of it’s kind that plays on the ‘older-generations’ nostalgia for the 80’s and leaving some asking: “WTF is a VHS?”]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/far-cry-3-blood-dragon-singlehandedly-doubles-search-volumes-for-vhs-tape-deck-and-roller-skates/feed/ 0 The emergence of MMO Zombie survival games and what you need to know http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/the-emergence-of-mmo-zombie-survival-games-and-what-you-need-to-know/ http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/the-emergence-of-mmo-zombie-survival-games-and-what-you-need-to-know/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:12:37 +0000 Brett Greaves http://www.pixelvulture.com/?p=10115 WarZ
A new breed of game a Survival Horror MMO that immerses players in a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic world in which a viral outbreak has decimated the human population leaving in its wake, a nightmare of epic proportion. Essentially this is the promise that has been made to gamers across the world that have all be yearning ...]]> WarZ

A new breed of game

a Survival Horror MMO that immerses players in a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic world in which a viral outbreak has decimated the human population leaving in its wake, a nightmare of epic proportion.
Essentially this is the promise that has been made to gamers across the world that have all be yearning for a different type of game, A new type of game, A game without a story, A game where the only objective is to survive…

WarZ

It is a game that puts you into the shoes of one of the last remaining survivors amidst a zombie apocalypse. Free to make your own choices within a massive open world environment that is infested with flesh-eating zombies. The catch – you are not the only survivor. Moreover, you are not the only survivor with a weapon of sorts. Not so simple when in order to survive, you need weapons, ammo and food - all of which are about as scarce as a blade of grass in the desert not to mention as difficult to retrieve. This all culminates in a bloodthirsty battle between the forces of good and zombie.

The competitive trio

If this sounds like the type of game you might be interested in, you need to know that there are 3 key game titles you will eventually have the choice between.

  DayZ

DayZ

The acclaimed first of the MMO Zombie Survival genre, It was initially released as a mod for Arma 2, but there is a standalone version of the game that is currently in development. What sets it apart DayZ is unique not only because it takes a more military stance towards the genre, but instead of encouraging players to go out and explore in order to acquire loot, players are encouraged to set up and dig in across specific locations of their choosing and then defend at those locations against waves of zombies and –if you decide- wondering explorers. The game includes vehicles by which users can use to quickly traverse the countryside and for quickly mowing down a horde of zombies.

WarZ

WarZ

The WarZ is a very controversial title and albeit very similar to DayZ the two are not to be confused, nor are related in anyway. The WarZ has come under massive fire for copying what the developers for DayZ have done, but I am not going to go into that here – I don’t want to bring up the Quake, Heritic and Doom argument of who copied who, from the 20th Century – WarZ in its purest form is a survival game. Players are randomly thrown into the middle of a huge map with virtually nothing and are required to loot items in the form of food, equipment and guns in order to survive. What sets it apart Firstly it is a lot grittier than DayZ and takes a more real world “The Walking Dead” stance towards the Genre, so naturally, it is the most realistic in my opinion. It demands that players go out and explore the countryside in order to build up their supplies and arsenal, rather than to fortify and defend a specific location. In doing so, it is a lot more rewarding. Unfortunately there are no vehicles, so traversing the map takes some time, so does building up a decent inventory. What WarZ does well is encourage team play quite a bit, as this makes taking area’s with a more zombies, as well as bandits a lot easier. State of Decay

State of Decay

The lesser known of the three right now, but by far the most commercial. This game is currently in development by a company called Undead Labs, and will eventually be published by Microsoft on both the PC and Xbox platforms. About the only thing we don’t know about this game is the release date. What sets it apart   Both the WarZ and DayZ have relatively slow gameplay, State of Decay by contrast has a much faster more “fun” and active gameplay. I have heard some describe it as “Grand Theft Auto with Zombies”. The Map is substantially smaller, so traveling from one side to the next is a lot quicker than WarZ or DayZ, especially if you are in a vehicle. What the developers have done really well, amongst other things is include grenades and what they are calling ‘fire bombs’ to the gameplay, allowing users to take out masses of Zombies at once. The difference in SOD is zombies respawn a lot faster than in DayZ and WarZ, adding to the pace of the gameplay. SOD is also said to include a single player mode (phase 3), which will be geared towards saving survivors in order to expand your group, and therefore increase your chances of survival.

Don’t expect perfection

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What you need to understand and get to grips with before tackling any of these titles is not to expect them to be flawless games or comparable to the likes of a Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption. They have all been created and developed by small indie game companies - At least this is true for WarZ and DayZ - Not sure yet if the same is true for SOD because they are under the watchful eye of Microsoft. WarZ and DayZ still have a long way to go in terms of development, that said, they have huge support from fans (which could be why Microsoft decided to jump onto the band wagon) as such updates are continuously made to the games, the likes of balancing issues, hit-tracking, animation and anti-hacking are all big concerns and big bug bears at this point that need to be addressed and will be in time.
It is great to log on and see what changes have been made to the game. It is almost like playing a whole new game all over again, much like going from playing Crysis 2 to playing Crysis 3.

Cash is king

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To this exact point, one can understand why these indie companies launched these games the way and when they did, unlike big development houses, they simply cannot survive without a consistent revenue stream – and believe me, there is cash to be made. WarZ alone has over 600,000 subscribers, of which 120,000 log on daily - that was as of February 2013. So one can only imagine how much revenue they pull in on a monthly basis, not just from game sales but from in game purchases as well. So expect this trend to be pulled through in both DayZ as well as SOD. The unique twist about the in-game purchases in these types of games is that when you die, you lose all of your stuff. Meaning, if you purchased anything you just lost, it is gone forever. Undead Labs have recently come out to say that players must not get attached to their characters, but rather get used to replacing them frequently due to immanent and inevitable death. We know this to be true in both WarZ and DayZ already.

Enjoy it for what it is

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This all said, none of these games are AAA titles, so don’t expect flawless graphics, original mechanics or next generation gameplay. Rather, expect a new type of challenge, one that involves some strategy, some stealth, some shooting, some team play, a lot of walking, a lot of blood, a lot of dying, a lot of backstabbing and of course zombies. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, then these are definitely titles that I would suggest you check out. When you do though, don’t play the game for 15 minutes or until your first death and then uninstall it. Give it a solid hour of your time, take a minute to adjust to the slower, vastly different gameplay and if you are not completely hooked within an hour of solid gameplay, then it is probably not for you.]]> http://www.pixelvulture.com/2013/04/the-emergence-of-mmo-zombie-survival-games-and-what-you-need-to-know/feed/ 2