24/7 Player

Posted on December 26th, 2009 at 7:23pm by [email protected] (The Games Are Evil Family)
Filed Under: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, video

cdv Software Entertainment USA has announced that the Divinity II – Ego Draconis demo is now available for Xbox 360 and PC! The sequel to the critically acclaimed action-RPG Divine Divinity, Divinity II – Ego Draconis takes players back to the open, war-torn world of Rivellon. The demo allows allows players to check out what’s new before the game’s release on January 5, 2010.

After you’ve had a chance to play through the demo, visit http://www.honorofrivellon.com and use the clues and tips to enter to win prizes, including a Divinity II – Ego Draconis-themed Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft console, themed controllers, controller skins, game cards, in-game items and more!

Divinity II – Ego Draconis, is rated “M” for “Mature” by the ESRB, and you can find out more by visiting the website: http://www.divinity2.com.

Also, Gamestop is doing a nice pre-order bonus for the game:

Players who pre-order Divinity II – Ego Draconis for Xbox 360 from GameStop will receive the exclusive in-game Blood Echelon Armor and Weapon Set while supplies last. The Blood Echelon is a select lodge of elite Dragon Slayers who have earned the highest of distinctions on the battlefield. The pre-order program is available now through January 5, 2010.
**Please note that this program applies only to pre-orders of Divinity II – Ego Draconis for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft**

You can learn more at your local Gamestop, or on their website here: http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=75982.

Posted on December 22nd, 2009 at 11:45am by Cherith
Filed Under: Divine Divinity, Divinity II - Ego Draconis, News, Xbox 360, cdv, microsoft, xbox

The Australian Classification Review Board has had a long running feud with the gaming industry as a whole.  There is a long running history of games being released abroad with the global equivalent of a “Mature” rating, while getting rejected down under.  Some of these banned titles include the likes of every installment in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, the original Manhunt (Rockstar never even bothered attempting to release Manhunt 2), Fallout 3, Blitz: The League, and most recently Left 4 Dead 2.  Many of these games were later censored by developers so that they could see release, much to the dismay of the Aussie gaming population.

For this reason, many were alarmed earlier this month, when the console release of Sega’s upcoming Alien vs. Predator game was dealt a similar fate. Refusing to approve the game for an 15+ rating, ultimately killed all chances of the game seeing the light of day, at least in its current state.

Things then went from bad to worse when Jason Kingsley, the CEO of Rebellion (AvP’s developer) went on the record saying the following about the banning:

“The content of AvP is based on some of the most innovative and iconic horror movies, and as such we wanted to create a title that was true to the source material. It is for adults, and it is bloody and frightening, that was our intent.

We will not be releasing a sanitised or cut down version for territories where adults are not considered by their governments to be able to make their own entertainment choices.” — Jason Kingsley via GamesIndustry.biz

So if the game is deemed inappropriate by a country’s government and the developer is refusing to budge on the removal or censoring of objectionable content, that would render hopes of Aliens vs. Predator ever seeing the release moot, right? Well lets just say that the fat lady hadn’t quite sung yet…

In what seemed like a futile attempt to maintain the integrity of the product, Sega filed an appeal with the Australian Classification Review Board, citing that the context of the violence in the game was not being considered.  Though this sounds like a flimsy argument at best, it is actually very similar to one used by Warner Bros. Interactive in defense of F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, when it was banned back in November of 2008. To this date, F.E.A.R 2 was the only title to ever to have its banning overturned in Australia, without having to censor or remove content.

Well it looks as if Sega’s gamble may have payed off. Yesterday news was handed down that on appeal, they too have been granted the coveted 15+ rating, without the need to edit any material.  When excitedly addressing the Review Board’s sudden shift in stance, Darren Macbeth, Sega of Australia’s General Manager was quoted as saying:

“It is with great pleasure that we announce the success of our appeal. We are particularly proud that the game will be released in its original entirety, with no content altered or removed whatsoever. This is a big win for Australian gamers. We applaud the Classification Review Board on making a decision that clearly considers the context of the game, and is in line with the modern expectations of reasonable Australians”. — Darren Macbeth via Kotaku.com

To put things very bluntly, this is a dramatically unexpected result, especially given how poorly Left 4 Dead 2’s appeal went earlier this year.  Might we finally be seeing a shift in perspective from the previously stingy stances of the Australian Classification Review Board?  As a red-blooded American that is a strong support of our First Amendment Right to Free Speech, I hope that this is a sign of a things to come in regards to game ratings in Australia.  With two overturned bans in the last 12 months, this might very well be the case.

Posted on December 18th, 2009 at 5:07pm by [email protected] (The Games Are Evil Family)
Filed Under: Alien vs. Predator, News, PC Gaming, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, australia, avp, featured, opinion, rebellion, sega

This week on XBLA, we have hordes of angry aliens, and an excellent competitive puzzle game in the form of Alien Breed Evolution Episode 1, and Puzzlegeddon.

Long time gamers might remember the critically acclaimed 1991 Amiga game Alien Breed. This week, Alien Breed Evolution Episode 1 hits the XBLA bringing with it updated graphics, online co-op, and leaderboard support. The game puts you up against hordes of aliens as you fight your way through five levels of a rather large space station. Alien Breed Evolution Episode 1 seems like a decent action game, worthy of the 800 Mircosoft Point price tag.

This week’s other release is Puzzlegeddon, a unique puzzler first released for the PC back in 2008. Like most puzzle games, you have to clear blocks of the same color. Unlike most puzzle games, clearing blocks earns you points toward special abilities that can be used to defeat your opponents. You can attack, defend, disable your opponent, or boost your own abilities. With solid gameplay, awesome abilities, and six player online multiplayer, puzzle game fans should definitely take a look at Puzzlegeddon. Clocking in at 800 Microsoft Points, this game will provide hours of entertainment for puzzle game fans.

Posted on December 16th, 2009 at 7:17pm by [email protected] (The Games Are Evil Family)
Filed Under: News, XBLA Roundup, Xbox 360, dlc

Salem and Rios will be blasting their way on to the Playstation Network, and the Xbox Live Marketplace this Thursday, December 17th. The demo will give gamers a crack at most of the first level of the game, which puts everyone’s favorite two man private military team in the line of fire as Shanghai comes under attack. It’s also a safe bet that the demo will include some of the goofy dialogue, and top notch acting that helped make the first game such a hit. Check it out on your platform of choice this Thursday!

Posted on December 14th, 2009 at 9:18pm by [email protected] (The Games Are Evil Family)
Filed Under: News, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, dlc, ea