Red Dead Redemption goes femme fatale

Like Age of Conan developer Funcom before them, Rockstar elevates the women of their new game in a new femme fatale teaser trailer. There is only one thing to say about this game: I want it, and I want it now!

Just the idea of a proper western open world sanbox game is absolutely fantastic. And with the cinematic quality of their previous sandbox game Grand Theft Auto 4 fresh in my mind, I am already… erh… smiling (you can’t say aroused on Internet).

April 27 just can’t come around fast enough.

Brand new Civilization this autumn

We all knew it was only a questino of when, and now 2K Games has announced a smashing sequal to Sid Meier’s magnificent turn based strategy game. Sid Meier’s Civilization V is ready for release this autumn.

In addition to a brand new game engine, some core game play mechanics will be redesigned and hopefully improved. The traditional square based world will now be devided into hexagons (not unlike those old turn based strategy games), “stunning organic landscapes” (obviously), and a more realistic gameplay experience.

How much the core game play will change we’ll have yet to see. In any case it’s still Firaxis Games developing the game, with legendary designer Sid Meier behind the wheel.

Personally, I am a great Civilization fan and would gladly welcome any new installment in the series. However, let’s hope we’re not talking a reimagined version of Civilizatino IV, with better graphics. After all, what we know so far has a lot to do with graphics and fully animated leaders.

I want an even more realistic AI, and a flexible and realistic diplomacy feature. Oh yeah, Mr. Meier! If you’re going to include wonder movies; make them good like in Civilization II, and not bland and boring like in Civilization IV.

StarCraft 2 live for beta testing

Everyone who has previously signed up for beta testing of Blizzard’s new installment of StarCraft, may now log in and have their way with the Zergs and whatnot.

The client is available for download from Battle.net, a massive 1.64GB piece of nerd love.

Me? Another generic space-themed real time strategy game? Sorry Blizz, not my cup of tea.

Molyneux talks Fable 3

This British game designer really likes to talk about his new games. His newest brainchild Fable 3 will, according to his statements at Microsofts X10 arrangement, come with a few ground breaking and revolutionary concepts.

I wonder when Peter Molyneux’ newest game did not come with revolutionary ideas.

To name the three main new features brought into attention by Molyneux himself, the new incarnation of his fantasy action RPG will feature context sensitive triggers, cool weapons and the ability to rule Albion as its beloved (or hated) king.

The trigger sensitive button feature means that the same trigger button will trigger different responses from the game depending on the situation. It may kill somebody, it may help a little child to find her way home.

In other words, the exact same feature that Molyneux eagerly presented to the press and fellow game developer about a year before the release of Fable 2, and was missing in the final release. Only back then, he talked about a bar fight scene and how the trigger button would pick up a bottle and smash it over somebody’s head.

The cool weapons feature means weapons that morph depending on what you do with them; what you kill and how often you kill it.

In other words, the creature from Black and White; only it’s a sword.

The ability to rule Albion sounds like the most interesting feature of Fable 3 thus far. However, we already knew all about that one.

What I’m interested in, is how Natal fits into all of this. I want to know if I can punch that child in the face and watch it cry.

OMG! A fantasy-themed video game!

So it’s official: Obsidian is making the video game adaption of Robert Jordan’s fantasy soap opera The Wheel of Time.

Great! I was wondering when anybody would come up with the brilliant idea of exploring a fantasy world, casting spells and killing of hordes of nasty orc-like creatures.

When is the MMORPG arriving?

Mega Man 10 with new easy mode

According to a recent game trailer, the upcoming Mega Man 10 will include an all new easy mode that can be activated.

Great! Now maybe even mortals may finish the game with a few strands of hair still remaining on their heads.

Redneck clay platformer insanity

There’s just something about clay modeling, it just gives that totally awsome feeling to everything. Who doesn’t love Wallace and Gromit, and not to mention Pingu (that penguin that says “meeh-meeh”), right? Well here comes a snack for the eyes: a platformer made completely out of clay. This is Cletus Clay.

It had to be British, it just had to. Obviously you play as a redneck farmer fighting invading aliens and UFOs. When he gets drunk, he becomes invincible, and he is a frenzy with his shotgun. There even is a shrubbery boss to take care of.

According to the developer, TunaSnax, the game will be released when it’s finished. Whenever that might be. Hopefullt we’ll see it on Xbox Live Arcade in not too long. Obviously, when recession strikes, new and original ideas drift to the surface. And this is definitly lovely innovation.

Head over to the game’s web site to check out the gameplay videos, screenshots and making of footage.

A wooly challenge for Mega Man

That’s right: our favourite blue semi robot hero’s latest foe is a mechanised sheep. And that’s almost a good enough reason right there to buy a Nintendo Wii to get my hands on the new Mega Man 10.

In all seriousness, that has got to be the most awsome enemy ever to play a part in a video game.

I feel an urge to play that boss fight. The evil robot Sheep Man. You just have to love the way that sounds.

Sam & Max return next year

Little information has been revealed about the upcoming third season of Telltale’s episodic and rather loony franchise. But that doesn’t matter much, since the fact that it’s actually in development and not too far around the corner fills my heart with joy.

Telltale has proven again and again that they are the worthy heir to the Lucasarts brainchildren. Sam & Max seasons one and two were absolutely magnificent; and having just finished the final Tales of Monkey Island episode, I must say I’m impressed.

This time around, the plot obviously evolves around a giant space gorilla, which pretty much sounds like a wacky enough theme for a Lucasarts inspired adventure game. The third Sam & Max season is scheduled for release in 2010, probably close to the summer holiday season. Telltale has had a habit of announcing their games quite close to release.

Noone does adventure games as well as Telltale at this point, and in my opinion Sam & Max is what Telltale does best!

Oh no, now we’re going to feel stuff again

In a recent press conference about Mass Effect 2, it is obvious that emotions play a crucial part in Bioware’s upcoming deep space RPG shooter. This is according to statements from CEO Ray Muzyka.

There will be memorable and emotional moments, emotional connection to the Mass Efffect storyline, emotional characters and simply a down-right emotional gmmeplay.

There are a lot of emotions going about, not doubt about it. Someting that makes a bitter taste in my mouth. Not because I’m an emotionless bastard (I do actually cry sometimes, like when my little brother accidentally pulled out the power plug as I had just finished off King Bowser in Super Mario Bros. 3 for the first time and was finally going to watch the ending).

I just don’t… care… about video game characters. And it’s just that I can still recall the last time I heard a developer brag about emotions in his awsome new game.

That’s right, Peter Molyneux. I did not enjoy having to keep my spouse happy when I’d rather kill hobbes, and I did not fall in love with your dog. In fact, I killed your dog.

How’s that for emotional, eh?