More DLC is now available from Activision for the popular Transformers game War For Cybertron. This content is for both Xbox 360 and PS3. Transformers: War For Cybertron Map and Characters Pack 2 is exactly what its name implies with a price tag of $9.99 (US), and that is new playable characters and maps. The two [...]
Posted on September 9th, 2010 at 1:02am by feedback@gamesareevil.com (The Games Are Evil Family)
Filed Under: News, Platform Evil, Playstation 3, Transfor, War for Cybertron, Xbox 360, activision, dlc, transformers
So it looks like Gamestop isn’t going to give up customers to DLC, but I don’t see how they aren’t. Gamestop has announced that all of it’s stores will be selling cards with codes on them to redeem on Xbox Live which is usually where you buy the games in the first place.
The only way I can can see a good argument for doing this is the freedom of choice. By being able to pay for the DLC you want the way you want without having to buy more Microsoft Points than you need, which in my opinion is the point of MS points. I can’t forget that you can use trade credits to go toward DLC.
I could sit here and make the knee jerk comment of ‘that’s dumb’ but to be frank, it’s actually a good idea — for Gamestop. It’s easy to tell people you want certain DLC and they need to go buy a card at Gamestop which makes it easier for people to buy you what you want. It’s also a great product to push at the register and Gamestop can use it’s influence to help certain games and/or companies. Last but not least you can use trade in credit which helps Gamestop make awesome profits.
There are 45 different cards available and some are for Limbo, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, and map-packs for Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin’s Creed 2 and are the same prices if you convert points into dollars. It isn’t said if the cards will be available to other retailers or how Gamestop even made this happen.
Discussion: Would you use DLC cards? Do you think DLC cards would be better than MS points?
Update: I had missed a key point that has caused minor confusion. There was a test run in 35 stores and now the cards are available in 4,400 stores nationwide.
GameStop Starts Selling Xbox Live Downloads [USA Today]
Posted on August 23rd, 2010 at 7:00pm by Nic
Filed Under: Main, News, Xbox 360, dlc, gamestop, microsoft-points, xbox-live
Valve has officially revealed The Sacrifice, some brand spanking new DLC for the 2009 zombie hit Left 4 Dead. Which will be compatible with both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2.
The Sacrifice is the story of L4D2‘s first DLC, The Passing, as told through the eyes for the original survivors. It will show how Bill, Zoey, Francis and Louis manage to get down to Georgia — where Bill ultimately dies.
This is where the DLC gets interesting. Valve is leaving the fate of one of the survivors, where you will get the choice of which original cast member dies, and The Passing will play around it, so rather than Bill staying dead, the game will leave a blank slate which will be filled in every time you boot up The Sacrifice.
Other things added are a digital comic to be released along with the DLC, and No Mercy, the first campaign from Left 4 Dead, will be fully updated with all the weapons from Left 4 Dead 2.
However, if you want full compatibility with The Sacrifice and The Passing, you have to own both Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2. It sucks, but if you are a fan you’d already have both.
Pricing has yet to be announced, but will be free for PC, while Xbox 360 players have to pay. No set date has been announced, but is slated for the upcoming month.
New Left 4 Dead Expansion Lets You Choose Who Will Live Or Die [Kotaku]
Posted on August 21st, 2010 at 12:00pm by Matt
Filed Under: Bill, Francis, Louis, Main, News, Xbox 360, Zoey, dlc, left-4-dead, pc
On this episode, Scott and James talk to another friend of the show Brian about his recent acquisition of a current gen system. We go over games that will probably be the easiest to jump in to, and why.
Posted on August 14th, 2010 at 3:20am by feedback@gamesareevil.com (The Games Are Evil Family)
Filed Under: 360, DoubleJump, Sony PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, dlc
Game: Blue Toad Murder Files: The Mystery of Little Riddle
Publisher: Relentless Software
Developer: Relentless Software
Genre: Puzzle
Pros: Chance to actually solve a mystery based on information. Quirky cast, “Professor Layton” style game for the PSN, option to play with multiple players (offline).
Cons: Kinda slow in multiplayer, No hints… if you are stuck, you are STUCK. Might be a bit pricey for some, for all 6 episodes.
I love puzzle games. I also happen to be quite the fan of the BBC and most of its comedy programming. Being able to play a game that combines the two in such a fun little package was a pleasure for me.
In the episodic title, “Blue Toad Murder Files: The Mystery of Little Riddle” you are tasked with solving various mysteries and crimes. At the beginning of the episode you can choose between four “members” of the detective agency to start your story. For each character there are various reasons for your arrival in Little Riddle, but to be honest, none of them have any bearing on any part of the rest of the game. You can also, if you choose, play with up to three other friends locally at the same time.
The game toes that fine line between being silly and over the top, “smack you in the face” humor… something a LOT of American actors have issues with. The entirety of the cast is voice by one person. Tom Dussek gives each character a voice all its own, complete with different accents and personalities. The narration is also done in a voice that reminded me of Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. The entire cast feels like they actually have a back story you may (or may not) be able to find out in the course of the episodes.
The game isn’t breaking new ground as far as visuals are concerned, but that isn’t to say that the game looks bad. Each setting is clean and each has its own personality, much like the characters. Again, I like the fact that this game doesn’t take itself too seriously. There are occasions where some of the in-game characters will look directly at the “camera” as if to say, “yes we know this is a game and should still be fun.” It’s not done often, but it is done to good comedic effect.
As you arrive in town, it just so happens, a murder has been committed and it’s up to you to find out whodunit. Well it’s not really up to you, but the local police are mostly inept, so really you are just doing your civic duty by helping them. Unlike “Professor Layton” the puzzles that you solve during your time in Little Riddle have a direct connection to the story and the world around you. For instance: one of the first puzzles you have to solve is basically a jumble involving the mayors diary. Some of the words have blanks and you have to fill them in with the correct letter to understand what he is writing. All of the puzzles that you come across will progress the story as well.
There are about 16 different puzzles in each episode and they are all very different. Most of them can be solved with out much thought at all. However, there are several puzzles that I had to sit and work through to make sure I had the outcome correct. Here is where the game gets a bit hard. First off, there is not so much a time “limit” as there is a time expectancy. Meaning that you can take forever to solve a puzzle but if you take longer than the par time, you will be penalized for it. Also unlike Layton, there are NO HINTS. If you get stuck and can’t figure it out, too bad. Your only option is to “Give Up” which will then give you the lowest puzzle rating, but does allow you to move the story to the next point. The caveat to opting out on a puzzle is that you don’t get the answer, which could hurt you in the long run.
The thing that Blue Toad does better than most games of this type, is its ability to make you actually feel like you are a detective. As the story progresses along, you are periodically given “quizzes” to take. These “quizzes” are basically a few multiple choice questions to make sure you are paying attention to the story.
At the very end of the game (no spoilers don’t worry) you are asked ultimately who did it. There is no summation of the clues, no hints, nothing like that. You are asked point blank to finger the perpetrator, based solely on the information that you gathered during play time. At first it kind of tripped me up. I was expecting something to help me out but that aid never came. Once I thought back through the story, pondering the clues I was given, or found, I was able to pick out the bad guy. This not only gave me a sense of closure, but made me feel like I had actually solved the crime on my own merits. It felt a kin to playing Clue back in the day and getting it right on the very first guess.
Gameplay with several players is turned based. Watch a bit of story, solve a puzzle then it’s the next persons turn. The quizzes are split up between players as well. Although you can play with three other people, this really isn’t the kind of game that you and a bunch of friends will sit down with for several hours a night and drudge through. The lone exception might be a night where everyone wants to play a slow moving board game like Life or Monopoly. The story just doesn’t move fast enough to keep a groups attention for an extended period of time.
The first Episode of the series took me about 45 minuets to play through, so extrapolating that it will take about 4-5 solid hours of gaming to finish all six episodes. Each episode will cost you about $7.50 and the pack of the first three is $15.00, so the entire game of all six could run you as much as $45. This will probably seem a bit steep for a downloadable game. However, I must say given the production value, the amount of gameplay found within, and the time it takes to complete the game, it averages all out to roughly a regular disc based release anyway. There isn’t really much bad I can say about this game. It’s been enjoyable for myself and my wife to play, and that alone speaks volumes.
Scott 3SMOVRadio.com
Sharing: It’s Win/Win
Posted on April 14th, 2010 at 7:22pm by feedback@gamesareevil.com (The Games Are Evil Family)
Filed Under: Blue Toad Murder Files: The Mystery of Little Riddle, Episodic Gaming, Playstation 3, Review, Reviews, dlc, featured, psn, puzzle games, sony
