EZ Gamer Issue 1
The Cheat Mistress
Published Ice Games Ltd at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 The Cheat Mistress
Discover other titles by The Cheat Mistress at Smashwords.com:
Welcome to EZ Gamer
Hello, and welcome to an exciting new video game ezine, EZ Gamer. Throughout this text-based ezine we aim to provide you with an insightful view on all things video games. We are dedicated gamers with many years of video games experience - We believe a social life is not necessary if there's an awesome new game coming out.
In EZ Gamer Issue 1 we are giving you insightful previews to some of the top games coming out later this year. We take a look at the early mission reveals in Call of Duty: Black Ops. A hands-on impression of the Halo: Reach multiplayer. Plus a look at the return to the nuclear apocalypse in Vegas, with Fallout: New Vegas.
We also put plenty of focus on Nintendo's Metroid saga, with an in-depth retrospective of all the games the series has to offer, plus a detailed review of the imminent Metroid: Other M for Nintendo Wii. Along with reviews for gritty shooter Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days and Lara Croft's first downloadable outing in The Guardian of Light.
In addition to all this great content, we also give you an insight into two highly respected developers, Valve and Square Enix. Plus the full walkthrough guide for Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption. So sit back, prepare you eyes and enjoy this edition of EZ Gamer.
News
Release Dates
Previews
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Fallout: New Vegas
Halo: Reach Multiplayer
Dead Rising 2
Max Payne 3
Features
An Insight Into Valve
The Story of Genre
Looking At Square Enix
Metroid Retrospective
Top 10 Arcade Games
Reviews
Metroid: Other M
Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Singularity
Transformers: War for Cybertron
Looking Back: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Looking Back: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Looking Back: Metroid Prime Trilogy
Red Dead Redemption Guide & Cheats
Cheats
News
BioShock: Infinite Revealed
Rapture in the sky!
What a difference a night makes in the gaming world. One night I'm going to bed dreaming about girls and games. The next morning I wake up and a new BioShock has been announced. A third outing in Rapture wouldn't have been a surprise, but someone must have put some funny stuff in my cornflakes this morning. 2K and Irrational Games has announced BioShock: Infinite - set in the sky!
I used to joke about BioShock 2 being set in the sky, as did the whole of the interent, and they've actually gone and done it! BioShock: Infinite is in development at Irrational Games, fronted by the creative genius behind the first BioShock, Ken Levine. Let's take nothing away from BioShock 2, that's still potentially my game of the year for this year, but the first BioShock was better. The Infinite hype begins.
Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite introduces an entirely new narrative experience that lifts players out of the familiar confines of Rapture and rockets them to Columbia, an immense city in the sky. BioShock Infinite is currently planned for release during calendar 2012.
Originally conceived as a floating symbol of American ideals at a time when the United States was emerging as a world power, Columbia is dispatched to distant shores with great fanfare by a captivated public. What begins as a brand new endeavor of hope turns drastically wrong as the city soon disappears into the clouds to whereabouts unknown.
The player assumes the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the lost city to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned there since childhood. He develops a relationship with Elizabeth, augmenting his abilities with hers so the pair may escape from a city that is literally falling from the sky. DeWitt must learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of dozens of new weapons and abilities.
"We are excited to expand the world of BioShock, which is one of the industry's most critically acclaimed and beloved franchises," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "We believe that Irrational Games will lend their meticulous attention to detail and unique storytelling expertise to make BioShock Infinite an incredible entertainment experience that will immerse new and diehard fans of BioShock alike."
With the original BioShock selling over 4 million copies and being many peoples game of the year, it defined what us gamers wanted from a first-person shooter, "But when it came to begin work on BioShock Infinite," said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games, "we only had one rule: No sacred cows. This game is both true to what people love about the series and unafraid to question every assumption."
Levine continued, "In order to explore the floating city of Columbia, we needed an entirely new engine. To bring Elizabeth to life, we had to build brand-new animation and AI systems. To create wide-ranging indoor and outdoor firefights at 30,000 feet, we had to rethink, rebuild and expand the BioShock arsenal. The only thing gamers can be certain of is this: the rules of the BioShock universe are about to change."
BioShock Infinite is in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, and is set for a 2012 release.
Batman: Arkham City Revealed
The action spreads...
The sequel to the awesome Batman: Arkham Asylum is called Arkham City, as revealed by Warner Bros.
Arkham City takes the action to, well, Arkham City. Yes, that's Arkham City not Gotham. Arkham City is a new maximum security prison city with heavily fortified walls, located in the heart of Gotham. When the prisoners run riot, it's once again up to the Bat to save the day.
Arkham City "draws together a new all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight."
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Special Editions Outed
Pre-order now
Activision has announced the Collector's Editions for Call of Duty: Black Ops are now available for pre-order for both Xbox 360 and PS3.
The two editions are the Hardened Edition and Prestige Edition.
Hardened Edition includes a limited edition Black Ops Collector's Medal with display case; four extra playable co-op maps not in the standard edition; exclusive Black Ops PS Home avatar outfit; premium, special-edition SteelBook case; the full game.
Prestige Edition includes the full Call of Duty: Black Ops Hardened Edition w/ Collector's Medal and four extra playable co-cop maps not in standard edition; RC-XD Video Surveillance Vehicle ¨C Fully custom RC vehicle modeled after in-game RC-XD Killstreak Reward; RC-XD Transmitter, 2" backlit TFT 220 x176 color screen to receive video from car.
These will be available, along with the plain standard edition on November 9th. The Prestige Edition is in limited supply and only available at HMV, Gamestation and Game.
Modern Warfare 2 Is The UK's Biggest-Selling Video Game
It's a brain killer
It has taken 41 weeks, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is now the biggest selling game ever in the UK. The shooter has taken over from Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training, which has been the biggest-selling for a number of years now, after taking over from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
It's been expected for a while, and it's finally happened: Modern Warfare 2 is the biggest-selling game, having only spent three weeks out of 41 out of the top 10. It's not as if the game is going to stop selling either.
It's going to take something special to beat this. All eyes on Grand Theft Auto V, Black Ops, or dare I say it... Even More Brain Training With Dr. Kawashima!
No More Heroes Makes A "Move" To PS3
Travis in HD
Konami has revealed that they will be publishing the first HD outing for No More Heroes, called Heroes' Paradise. Travis Touchdown will be making his debut on the PS3, and the game will be compatible with PlayStation Move.
As well as arm swinging, Heroes' Paradise will be playable with the standard control pad, but if you've played the Wii versions then you know the game was born to be played with the sensor remote.
No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise is due for release in 2011 only on PS3.
Resistance 3 Announced
Humans vs. Aliens Round 3
Insomniac games has announced Resistance 3. Yes, we knew it was coming, but here it is, the official announcement.
The announcement was made by Insomniac head, Ted Price via a teaser trailer. No other details were given. Expect more human vs. alien shooting action on PS3. That much is a given.
Kinect Dated
Remember, remember the 10th of...
Microsoft have finally put a release date on their camera operated motion controller Kinect. The date you will need to circle on your Hollyoaks babes calendar is November 10th - almost 2 months after Sony release their combatant into the Move-ing arena.
Microsoft announced the date at the Cologne-set GamesCom and here's what they said in the official press release, "We are bringing the Kinect experience to Europe for the first time at Gamescom because this is the biggest show in the region and we're committed to investing in Europe and the critical role it plays in Xbox's global success."
Chris Lewis, Microsoft's VP of Interactive Entertainment Business continued, "When Kinect launches on November 10, it's not just transformative for our business but its set to change how you use entertainment. We're already seeing a high level of anticipation in Europe with sales of the Kinect ready Xbox 360 250GB creating an all-time record weekly market share."
With Sony's Move expected for a September release, Kinect will have some catching up to do. The November release date is a clear intention from Microsoft that they want this to be a Christmas smash. One thing is for certain, it will be one hell of a stocking clash.
Front Mission 3 Coming To PSN
Classic PS strategy
PlayStation classic, Front Mission 3 is heading to PlayStation 3 and PSP, courtesy of Square Enix. Squaresoft's (as they were back then) strategy game will be available to download from PlayStation Network soon. I expect to coincide with the release of Square Enix's Front Mission Evolved this September.
Front Mission 3 is a strategy sci-fi adventure which gives you giant mechanical battle machines known as "Wanzers" to command in explosive, high-tech, turn-based warfare.
Featuring the Double Feature Scenario System, you can choose from one of two independent stories, each with its own unique characters, situations and environments. Up to 150 hours of engrossing gameplay - complete with a myriad of twists and turns - awaits you.
"With the forthcoming release of Front Mission Evolved, the Front Mission series is back with a bang. Before the evolution of the series, we think it's the perfect time to revisit a previous classic instalment with Front Mission 3," says Larry Sparks, Vice President Brands PAL Region of Square Enix Ltd. "We're very pleased to be able to bring this compelling title to the PlayStation Network."
Fourth Borderlands DLC Announced
Claptrap's Robot Revolution
We hoped it was coming and deep down we knew it would, 2K Games has unveiled the fourth expansion pack for Borderlands. Claptrap's Robot Revolution is the title, and if you played the main game you can probabaly work out where this is going.