Activision boss Bobby Kotick might be the least popular figure in the video games industry to date. But recently Blizzard founder Mike Morhaime defended Kotick’s reputation within the industry having told MCV, “I have an advantage there because I know Bobby personally and we have very long, in-depth conversations.” So, they’re more than just co-workers?
Much about the Dragon Age II differs from the original, but recently DA2′s lead designer Mike Laidlaw has opened up about his feelings on all things Dragon Age II and continue to try to spin criticisms of design choices from a different light.
Known for developing the beloved Halo series, Bungie has gained a strong following for their leadership in FPS gameplay design. Now, Bungie is proving to be a leader once more within the video game industry by reaching out to victims of the Japanese earth quake disaster.
By visiting the Bungie Store, gamers can help give aid by purchasing a wrist band, all proceeds will forward to Red Cross and aid the quake victims.
It’s a touching act that speaks on Bungie’s commitment to not just the gaming community but to the human one as well.
The bands are like the ones you can find for other causes like Lance Armstrong’s Live Strong campaign. Embossed in the wristband itself is a text that reads: “Ganbare Nippon,” which according to Bungie is a phrase used to uplift the spirits of people in need.
“It is a show of support and a call for unity,” said Bungie via their announcment of Ganbare Nippon.
Japan has been the center of gaming for all the decades previous and no doubt they will remain so in the coming years. The quake and the tsunami that followed has been a shocking world event. As gamers we feel a certain unmatched connection to Japan and the Japanese people.
“Help us spread this message. Copy this link into the communities you visit,” said Bungie. “Ask your family, friends, and those you game with to get involved in any way they can in support of Japan Quake Relief 2011.”
[Source: Ganbare Nippon - Japan Quake Relief 2011 via Joystiq]
What do you think of this news?
The vaunted Game Developers Conference wraps up tomorrow, and though we weren’t in attendance rounding up some hot news from the event right here seems the next best thing. So, in case you’ve been too busy actually playing video games this week to read about them, here are a few big stories to come out of the annual event.
WHAT’S A GAME CONFERENCE WITHOUT AWARDS? ‘Red Dead Redemption’ and ‘Minecraft’ top GDC video game awards [USA Today] Cowboys and zombies are an odd mix, but two of 2010s most beloved games managed to steal the hearts of the judges.
PROMOTION GONE WRONG San Franciscans angry over video game balloon stunt [CNET] Oh, THQ – couldn’t you just take a page out of EA’s book and run a silly ad campaign instead?
When author and psychiatrist Carole Lieberman told Fox News that playing out sexual situations in video games could lead to an increase in violent sexual acts such as rape carried out in the real world, gamers understandably freaked.
Like an overprotective parent guarding their doe-eyed offspring (even if he or she does have a slingshot tucked away in their back pocket), the reaction to Lieberman’s claim that playing a hyper-violent game like “Bulletstorm”- the focus of the original article – might encourage players to rape was intense. And not in an “I’m writing a strongly-worded letter to her!” way. No – some people decided bombing her books’ Amazon.com listings with unflattering fake reviews would teach her a lesson: don’t mess with video games, lady!
Instead, it reinforces one of the worst gamer stereotypes: that we’re knee-jerk reactionaries who lack the intelligence (or grace) to argue reasonably and instead get personal.
Just pretend that says '2011'
I was close to posting a list of my own personal video game-related resolutions for the coming new year, but then realized doing so would be both derivative and lame. Who wants to read about a promise to not yell anymore when playing Call of Duty online? It’s a resolution I probably couldn’t keep anyway. Instead, I decided after some consideration to turn the concept of the “New Year’s resolution” on its head. Here are a five trends that I’d like to see others resolve to stop (or start) doing in 2011. You’ve all got your work cut out for you.
I was reading through my Facebook updates, and I noticed a couple about new “Uncharted 3″ videos. Well, to be honest, I noticed similar puns in both headlines based on the fact that the gameplay on display occurs in a mansion engulfed in flames. Not to be undone, I’ve decided to supply some of my own forced and obvious wordplay about the new clips that could double as headlines.
The heat is on Drake in these new videos.
Light your fire with new Uncharted 3 videos.
Nathan Drake falls into a ring of fire in Uncharted 3.
Can Drake kiss this firehouse goodbye?
Drake didn’t start the fire, but he has to fight it.
But you didn’t come here to listen to smarmy commentary and easy puns, did you? Click the jump for a new “Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception” video.
Mostly using Wikipedia as the source material, Philipp Lenssen cobbled together a 500-page book on the history of graphic adventure games. That’s the kind if idea you wish you had first. “Graphic Adventures” covers all the greats, like Grim Fandango, Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island and Myst, and thanks to the unpaid volunteer editors at Wikipedia, you can rest assured that the information within is for the most part pretty close to being accurate.
Gamers can be a harsh bunch. They have a habit of overreacting, exaggerating, and being downright mean. And then you have video game publishers who love to get in on the action too – like a couple months ago when EA dubbed Treyarch, the developers of Call of Duty World at War and the upcoming entry Black Ops, the “B Team.” If nabbing the publishing rights to ex-Infinity Ward development house Respawn Entertainment’s first game was the middle finger to Activision, that comment was a full moon. There’s also some skepticism that Fallout: New Vegas will live up to Fallout 3 because it’s being handled by Obsidian, not Bethesda. But is there any truth to the notion of a “B Team”? Can we chalk up any critical shortcomings these two highly-anticipated titles may receive to sky-high expectations and the whole “B Team” script that both game journalists and gamers seem to have latched on to rather than quantitative flaws?
